The JR Chess Report (August 2): Vachier wins Biel; Anand falls in Mainz; Shaba ties for 1st in PanAm

[Jack Rabbit]

Ivanchuk Leads in Biel after Six Rounds



French national champion Maxime Vachier Lagrave, 18 years old, won the grandmaster tournament at the 42nd Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland with 6 points in ten rounds.

M. Vachier Lagrave won only two games, but it was enough in a tournament in which the players, with the exception of Russian GM Alexander Morozevich, found decisive games hard to come by. Vachier Lagrave started the tournament by drawing six games in a row before winning two consecutive games against Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana and Morozevich.

Morozevich, who won 4 and lost 3 for 6½ points, tied for second place with Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who won two and lost one.


Anand's reign as world rapid champ ends in Mainz; Aronian takes title



GM Levon Aronian of Armenia defeated Russian GM Ian Napomniachtchi in a four game match for the world rapid chess championship at the annual Mainz Chess Festival, ending the ten year long reign of Indian GM Vishy Anand.

Anand failed to qualify in the prelimanry rounds, scoring only 2½ points out of six to finish behind Aronian and Napomniachtchi.

The time control for rapid chess in Mainz is 20 minutes plus five seconds per move.

In the Ordix Open, the rapid open tournament at the Mainz Festival, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan took the event and qualifies for next year's world rapid championship when Aronian will defend his title. Almost 700 players participated in the Ordix Open.

Earlier in the festival, Aronian was also the runner up to US national champion Hikaru Nakamura in the chess960 championship. Chess960, also called FischeRandom ehess, is a chess variant developed by the late former world champion Bobby Fischer in which the pieces are placed in a random order at the beginning of the game rather than the traditional chess starting position.

The chess960 open tournament in Mainz, sponsored by FiNet, a German financial services firm, was won by Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk.


Yank Shabalov, Cuban Corrales tie for first in Pan-Am Championship



Former US national champion Alex Shabalov and Cuban grandmaster Fidel Corrales tied for first place with 9 points each in eleven rounds in the Pan American Championship in the tournament completed just a few minutes ago in São Paulo.

Mr. Shabalov and el señor Corrales began the day tied for first and faced each other over the board, but the game ended quickly in a short draw. Both players qualify for the World Cup to be held in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, November 28 thru December 15.

The only other players with a shot at tying for first today were Julio Granda of Peru and Argentina's Diego Flores. The two played each other for a draw and finish in a tied for third place.



Calendar

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial, London 8-17 August. Played at historic Simpson's Divan.

International Festival d'échecs, Montreal 27 August-7 September. Grandmaster Tournament will include Bacrot, Onischuk, Shulman, Naiditsch and Maze; more to be added.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify.

Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 27 September-9 October. Topalov, Anand, Carlsen, Radjabov, Jakovenko and Wang Yue.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

European Club Cup (Team Championship), Novi Sad (Serbia) 21-31 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Nakamura has been invited to play in group A.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Site TBA c. April 2010.


This Week's Games will be posted later today.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. 42nd Biel Chess Festival. Biel

Old Town, Biel/Bienne, Berne Canton, Switzerland
Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Morozevich - Vachier Lagrave, Round 8

This is a wild one.



Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Maxime Vachier Lagrave
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 8
Biel, 28 July 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3

• The usual move to establish the Chandler-Nunn Opening is 6.Be3. Earlier in the month in San Sebastián against Nakamura, Vachier Lagrave essay the annoying 6...Ng4 in response, inviting a repetition of moves. The text move is employed to avoid 6...Ng4.
• For 6.Be3 and the usual moves following it, see Domínguez-Wojtaszek, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2008.
• For a survey of 6...Ng4, see Akopian-Karjankin, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

6...e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 b4

• If 10...Bb7 then:
• If 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 then:
• If 14...Rc8 15.Qxb4 Qc7 then:
• 16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Qa4+ Nd7 18.Ne2 gives White the advantage in space (Nakamura-Vachier Lagrave, IT, San Sebastián, 2009).
• 16.Kb1 d5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Bd3 dxe4 20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nd5 22.Nb5 gives White more space and the initiative (Lafarga-Schoonhoven, cyberspace, 2003).
• 14...Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4 d5 17.b5 dxe4 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Nb5 Qc8 21.Bf4 Nd5 22.fxe4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 gives White a great deal more space (Ivanchuk-van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).
• 11.Bd3 Ne5 12.Rhe1 Rc8 13.Kb1 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc4 15.Qe2 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b4 17.Nd5 g5 18.Nf5 Rg8 gives White the advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges (Morozevich-Topalov, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).

11.Nce2 Qc7

• 11...Qa5 12.Kb1 Bb7 13.Nf4 e5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Nf6 17.Bg2 a5 18.f4 Nxg4 19.Rhe1 a4 20.Nc1 Be7 is equal (Morozevich-Gelfand, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

12.h4 d5

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 12...d6d5

13.Nf4?

• 13.e5 Nxe5 14.b3 Bd7 15.Rg1 Rc8 16.Kb1 Bc5 gives Black the more active game (Najer-Shomoev, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
• 13.Bg2 dxe4 14.g5 Nd5 15.fxe4 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 hxg5 17.hxg5 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Ne5 is equal (I. Smirnov-León Hoyos, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2009).

13...e5?

• The novelty is highly suspect. White is busted after 13...dxe4! 14.fxe4 e5! 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 exd4 17.Bxd4 f6.

14.Nfe6 fxe6 15.Nxe6 Qa5 16.exd5 Qxa2

• This is a moment that I would like to tell my silicon sidekick that he's nuts, if only I knew how to say it in binary. On the basis of Black being a piece up, he's telling me that Black is winning. Most of the time that would seem reasonable, but in this case it's unconvincing without a plan as to how to develop Black's kingside. While watching this game live online, I actually thought White was a good deal better here.

17.Qd3!?

• White misses a chance to take full advantage of Black's inaccuracy.
• 17.Nc7+! Kf7 18.Qd3 Rb8 19.Qf5 g6 20.Qe6+ is equal.

17...Kf7

• 17...Qa1+ 18.Kd2 Qa5 19.Qg6+ Ke7 will give Black a hard time developing his kingside.

18.g5

• If 18.Qf5 g6 19.Nd8+ Ke8 then:
• 20.Qxg6+! Kxd8 21.Bb6+ Nxb6 22.Qxf6+ is equal.
• 20.Qe6+!? Be7 21.d6 Qxe6 22.Nxe6 Bd8 gives Black an extra piece, but for the moment White has the initiative.

18...Nxd5 19.Bh3 Nxe3 20.Nd8+ Ke7 21.Nc6+ Kf7 22.g6+

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 22.g5g6+

22...Kg8

• The material count is deceptive. Black is two peices up, but his King's Rook is entombed.

23.Qxe3 Bc5 24.Qe4 Nf8 25.Rd8 Bb7

• If 25...Bxh3 26.Rxa8 Bd7 27.Kd2 then:
• 27...Be6 28.b3 Qb2 29.Qxe5 Qxe5 30.Nxe5 gives White a clear advantage.
• 27...Qe6 28.Nxe5 Bb5 29.Rd1 Bd6 30.Nd3 Qc4 31.h5 puts Black in serious trouble.

26.Rxa8 Bxa8 27.h5 Rh7!

• At first glance, this move looks suicidal, but it is in fact prophylactic. Black may soon need to move his King to safety on h8.
• 27...Be3+ 28.Kd1 Bg5 29.Bf1 Ne6 30.Bc4 Bxc6 31.Qf5 Black must either submit to mate at f7 or give up his Queen (31...Qb1+ 32.Ke2 Qxc2+ 33.Qxc2).

28.Re1

• 28.Kd2 Bxc6 29.gxh7+ Kh8 30.Qxc6 Be7 31.Ke2 gives White the exchange.

28...Bxc6

• 28...Bf2 29.gxh7+ Kh8 30.Rf1 Bd4 31.Kd1 is equal.

29.Qxc6 Bd4 30.Kd2 Qxb2 31.Qc4+ Kh8

• See note to Black's 27th move.

32.Kd3 a5

• 32...Qc3+? 33.Qxc3 Bxc3 34.Rd1! Kg8 35.Kc4 Bd4 36.f4 wins for White as he simutaneously attacks the Rook at h7 and undermines the defense of the Bishop at d4.

33.Qc8?!

• If 33.f4 Bf2 then:
• If 34.Rxe5 Qa1 35.Ke2 then:
• 35...Bh4 36.gxh7 Qe1+ 37.Kf3 Qf2+ 38.Ke4 Kxh7 39.Rxa5 White is an exchange to the good.
• 35...Qe1+? 36.Kf3 Qh1+ 37.Kxf2 Qxh3 38.gxh7 wins for White.
• After 34.gxh7 Qa3+ 35.c3 Kxh7 36.Rxe5 Black has only a pawn for the exchange.

33...Qa3+ 34.Ke4

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 34.Kd3e4

34...b3!

• Black sacrifices a pawn to assure an open line between d4 and a1.

35.cxb3?

• Eschewing the draw, White plays for the loss.
• 35.c3 b2 36.Kd3 then:
• 36...Bxc3 37.Qxc3 Qa2 is a likely draw,
• 36...Qd6 37.cxd4 Qa3+ 38.Qc3 Qa2 39.Qc2 is equal.

35...a4 36.Rb1

• 36.gxh7 axb3 37.Bf5 b2 then:
• 38.Rb1 Qe3+ 39.Kd5 Qxf3+ 40.Kd6 Qa3+ 41.Kd5 Qa2+ 42.Kd6 Qf7 gives Black the better game.
• 38.Qc4 Nxh7 39.Bxh7 Kxh7 40.Qc6 b1Q+ 41.Rxb1 Qe3+ wins for Black.
• 36.bxa4 Bf2 37.Qc4 Bxe1 38.gxh7 Nxh7 39.Bg4 Qd6 leaves Black a piece to the good with nothing entombed.

36...Qb4!

• Black pins the pawn./li]

37.Qc4 Qb7+ 38.Qd5 Qb4 39.Qc4 Qd2 40.Bg4

• If 40.gxh7 Qe3+ 41.Kd5 Qxf3+ 42.Kd6 Qf6+ then:
• 43.Kd5 Qd8+ 44.Kc6 Qb6+ 45.Kd5 a3 White's King is in the center with little protection while Black threatens to advance his passer.
• If 43.Kc7 Qb6+ 44.Kc8 Nxh7 then:
• If 45.Bf5 a3 46.Bxh7 Kxh7 47.b4 Qa7 then:
• 48.Qa2 Qa6+ 49.Kd7 Qb7+ 50.Ke6 Qc6+ 51.Kf5 g6+ wins for Black.
• 48.Qc2+ Kg8 49.Qa2+ Kh8 50.b5 Bb6 deprives White of pawn moves.
• 45.Qxa4 Nf6 46.Rc1 Bc5 47.Qa8 Bf8 48.Rc3 Nxh5 White's King is in danger of trapped in a mating net.

40...a3 41.Qf7

• If 41.gxh7 Kxh7 42.Qc8 Qf4+ 43.Kd5 Qf7+ then Black wins by sacrificing his passer and gaining an extra piece:
• If 44.Kd6 .Qf6+ 45.Kd5 Kg8 46.Qa8 Qf7+ then:
• If 47.Ke4 Bb2 48.Qa4 Qf4+ then:
• 49.Kd3 Qd4+ 50.Qxd4 Bxd4 51.Rd1 a2! wins for Black.
• 49.Kd5 Qd2+ 50.Kc6 Bd4 51.Kb7 a2! 52.Rh1 Qc2 53.Re1 Qc3 wins for Black.
• 47.Kd6 e4 48.Qd5 a2 49.Rd1 Qxd5+ 50.Kxd5 a1Q wins for Black.
• 44.Ke4 a2! 45.Re1 a1Q 46.Rxa1 Bxa1 leaves Black a piece to the good.

41...Qc2+ 42.Kd5 Qc5+ 43.Ke4

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 43.Kd5e4

43...a2!!

• Black uses the passed pawn to win the Rook.

44.Rc1 a1Q 45.Rxc5 Bxc5 46.Qd5 Qe1+ 47.Kd3 Qd1+ 48.Kc4 Qxd5+!

• Black is temporarily two pieces up and is assured of keeping at least one of them. It is a good time to exchange Queens.

49.Kxd5 Ba3 50.Bf5

• If 50.Kxe5 then after 50...Kg8 51.gxh7+ Nxh7 52.Bf5 Ng5 53.Bg4 Nf7+ White will not be able to advance his remote passer.

50...Kg8 51.Kxe5

• Taking the Rook is better, but it does White little good in the long run.
• 51.gxh7+ Nxh7 52.Bxh7+ Kxh7 53.Kxe5 Kg8 still leaves Black a piece to the good.

51...Rh8 52.Kd5 Nh7 53.gxh7+ Kf7 54.Bg6+ Kf6 55.f4 Bc1 56.f5 Bd2 57.Kd6

• If 57.Kd4 then after 57...Rc8 58.Kd5 Bc3 59.Kd6 Rd8+ 60.Kc6 Ke5 White's position is almost immoble.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 57.Ke5d6

57...Be1

• Also good is 57...Rd8+ 58.Kc7 Ba5+ 59.Kc6 Bc3 60.Kc7 Ra8 61.Kb7 Rh8.

58.Kd7 Bb4 59.Kc7 Ke5 60.Kd7 Ba3

• After 60...Kd5 61.Kc7 Kd4 62.Kc6 Kc3 63.Kd7 Kxb3 White still has few satisfactory moves.

61.Kc6 Kd4 62.Kc7 Kc3 63.Kd7 Kb4 64.Kd6

• 64.Ke6 Kxb3 65.Kd5 Bb2 wins for Black.

64...Kxb3+ 65.Kd5 Bb2 66.Kd6 Bf6 67.Kc5 Kc3

• 67...Rc8+ 68.Kd5 Rd8+ 69.Ke4 Kb4 70.Bf7 Rh8 Black is running out of moves.

68.Kd6 Kd4 69.Kc6 Rd8 70.Kb6

• 70.Kc7 Kd5 71.Bf7+ Ke5 72.Bg8 g6 73.h8Q Bxh8 74.Kxd8 gxh5 White will be unable to stop White's pawns.

70...Kd5 71.Kc7 Kc5 72.Bf7 g5 73.fxg6

• 73.hxg6 Rd4 (the Bishop at f6 stops all three pawns.) 74.Be6 h5 75.Bd7 h4 76.Bc8 Kd5 wins for Black.

73...Rd6 74.Be8 Be5 75.Kb7 Rb6+ 76.Kc8 Kd6 0-1

• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Ivanchuk - Morozevich, Round 9

Having lost to Vachier Lagrave the day before, Moro decided the tournament in the young Franchman's favor by defeating Chuckie in Round 9.



Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vassily Ivanchuk - Alexander Morozevich
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 9
Biel, 29 July 2009

Open Queen's Gambit: Alekhine Defense (Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 a6 6.a4 b6 7.Bxc4

• The game has transposed into a stereotypic Open Queen's Gambit.

7...Bb7 8.0-0 Bb4

• 8...Nbd7 9.Qe2 then:
• If 9...c5 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Rxd5 Be7 15.b3 then:
• 15...Bf6 16.Bb2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 0-0 18.Rg5 f6 19.Rd5 Rad8 20.Rad1 Nb8 21.Qd2 Nc6 22.h3 Qe7 draw (Lomineishvili-Botsari, Euro ChTW, Gothenburg, 2005).
• 15...Qb7 16.Rd3 0-0 17.Bb2 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Nf8 draw (Ftacnik-Ganguly, Op, Philadelphia, 2008).
• 9...Bb4 10.Bd3 Qe7 11.e4 c5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Bg5 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Bd2 Rg8 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Bxb4 cxb4 White stands better in terms of space and pawn structure (Guichard-Collas, French ChW, Pau, 2008).

9.Qb3

• 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Bd3 Qe7 12.e4 e5 13.d5 Nh5 14.g3 g6 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bh6 Ng7 17.Rac1 Bd6 18.Nh4 Nc5 19.Bc2 Rae8 20.Ng2 is equal (M. Gurevich-Bartel, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

9...Nc6!?

• 9...Qe7 10.e4 Nxe4 11.Re1 Nc6 12.Rxe4 Na5 13.Qc2 Nxc4 14.d5 Qc5 15.dxe6 0-0 16.Rh4 f5 17.Na2 Be4 18.Rxe4 fxe4 19.Qxe4 Rad8 20.Bg5 Nd2 21.Bxd2 Rxd2 22.Rf1 Rxb2 23.Nc1 Rxf2 24.Nd3 R2xf3+ White resigns as mate cannot be averted (I. Sokolov-Golod, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

10.Rd1

• The game is equal.

10...Bd6 11.Qc2

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 11.Qb3c2

11...Nb4!?

• Black should move his king to safety befre undertaking operations on the queenside.
• 11...0-0 12.b3 Nb4 13.Qe2 Nbd5 14.Bb2 remains equal.

12.Qe2 Ne4

• 12...Nbd5 13.a5 bxa5 14.Bd3 Nb4 15.e4 Nxd3 16.Rxd3 gives White the advantage in space for the pawn.

13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Bd2 Bxf3 15.Qxf3

• White has the advantage in space.

15...0-0 16.a5 c6 17.axb6 Qxb6 18.h4

• If 18.Ra4 Rfc8 19.Rda1 then:
• 19...c5 20.Bxb4 cxb4 21.Bd3 a5 22.Be4 gives Black the initiative.
• 19...a5 20.Bc3 c5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.Qg3 gives White a strong initiative.

18...a5 19.h5 Be7

• 19...c5 20.h6 cxd4 21.hxg7 Rfc8 22.exd4 Nc2 23.Ra4 gives White an extra pawn.

20.Rdc1 Rfc8 21.b3

• If 21.Ra4 c5 22.Bxb4 cxb4 then:
• After 23.h6 g6 24.d5 Qd6 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.Qe4 White threatens to win a pawn.
• 23.Qe4 Qc6 24.Qxc6 Rxc6 25.b3 Bd8 26.g4 Rac8 is equal.

21...h6 22.Ra4 Nd5 23.e4 Bb4 24.exd5

• 24.Rc2 Bxd2 25.Rxd2 Nf6 26.Be2 Rd8 27.Qe3 Rab8 is equal.

24...Bxd2 25.dxe6!?

• The sacrifice of the Rook is risky, but it ought to draw if done right.
• 25.Rc2 cxd5 26.Rxd2 dxc4 27.bxc4 Rab8 remains equal.

25...Bxc1 26.Qxf7+?

• Black will keep his material advantage.
• If 26.e7 Kh8 27.Bxf7 Qb5 28.Qe4 c5 29.Rc4 then:
• If 29...Ba3 30.dxc5 Bb4 31.Rc2 then:
• 31...Bxc5 32.e8Q+ Rxe8 33.Bxe8 Bxf2+ 34.Rxf2 Rxe8 is equal.
• 31...Ba3?! 32.Re2 Qxc5 33.e8Q+ Rxe8 34.Bxe8 gives White an extra pawn and an attack around the enemy King.
• 29...cxd4 30.Rxc8+ Rxc8 31.e8Q+ Rxe8 32.Bxe8 Qxb3 33.Qxd4 is equal.

26...Kh8 27.Bd3

• If 27.Qg6 Qd8 28.Bd3 Qg8 then:
• If 29.e7 29...Bg5 30.Bf5 Re8 then:
• After 31.Be6 Qh7 32.Qxh7+ Kxh7 33.Rc4 Ra6 34.Bf5+ Kg8 the d-pawn falls, leaving Black with an easy win.
• If 31.Qxc6 Rxe7 32.d5 Re1+ 33.Kh2 Bf6 then:
• 34.f4 Qd8 35.d6 Rd1 36.d7 Ra7 the d-pawn falls.
• 34.Be6 Qd8 35.Qc2 Re5 gives Black an easy win:
• 29.Bc4 Bg5 30.Qf5 Rf8 31.Qd3 Be7 wins for Black.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 27.Bc4d3

27...Qd8!

• 27...Qc7?! 28.Qg6! Kg8 29.Qh7+ Kf8 then:
• 30.Qh8+! Ke7 31.Qxg7+ Kd6 32.Qe5+ puts White in the driver's seat.
• 30.Qf5+?! Ke7 31.Qc5+ Qd6 32.Qxc1 is equal.

28.Qg6

• If 28.e7 Qd5 29.Qg6 then:
• If 29...Qg8! 30.Be4 Ra7 31.Rc4 then:
• If 31...Bg5 then after 32.Rxc6 Rxc6 33.Qh7+ Qxh7 34.Bxh7 Kxh7 35.e8Q Rc1+ Black has essentially an extra piece.
• If 31...Bb2 32.Bd5! then:
• 32...Qe8! 33.Qxe8+ Rxe8 34.Bxc6 Rexe7 Black still has a Rook for two pawns.
• If 32...cxd5? 33.Rxc8! then:
• 33...Rxe7 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 35.Qd6 Re1+ 36.Kh2 Bc3 37.Qxd5+ wins for White.
• 33...Qxc8 34.e8Q+ wins for White.
• If 29...Kg8? then it's White who wins after 30.Qh7+ Kf7 31.Bc4!.

28...Qg8 29.Rc4 Ba3 30.g3

• No better is 30.Qf7 Qxf7 31.exf7 Rab8 32.Be4 Rxb3 33.Rxc6 Rxc6.

30...Be7 31.d5 cxd5! 32.Rf4 Bd6 33.Rf7 Rc7

• Also good is 33...Rc1+ 34.Kg2 Re1 35.Bf5 Rf8 36.Rxf8 Bxf8.

34.Rd7 Be5 35.Qf5

• White might get better resistance from 35...Bf6 36.Rf5 Be7 37.Kg2 Rc3.

35...Rxd7 36.exd7 Bc7 37.Bb5 Rf8 38.Qg6 Qf7 0-1

• 39.Qxf7 Rxf7 40.f4 Kg8 41.Kf2 Kf8 42.Ke3 Ke7 Stops the pawn permanently and leaves Black a piece to the good.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Caruana - Ivanchuk, Round 8

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Fabiano Caruana - Vassily Ivanchuk
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 8
Biel, 28 July 2009

Moorish Game: Dragon Defense (Pirc Defense)

1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6 6.Bh6

• The most common lines are 6.Nf3 (the Imperial Opening) and 6.f4 (the Austrian Opening). See Wang Jue-Tan Zhongyi, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009.

6...Bxh6

• 6...0-0 7.f3 e5 8.Nge2 b5 9.h4 Qa5 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h5 b4 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.Nd1 Be6 14.a3 Na6 15.c3 Rab8 16.g4 Ng8 17.dxe5 bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxe5 19.f4 Qxc3+ 20.Nexc3 Nc5 gives Black a more active game (Hennings-Gietl, German Ch, 1997).

7.Qxh6 Qa5 8.Bd3 c5 9.Nge2 Nc6!?

• If 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qb6 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Bb5 Bd7 13.Qe3 0-0-0 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Ne5 16.Bxd7+ Rxd7 then:
• 17.f4? Qxb2+!! 18.Kxb2 Nc4+ 19.Kb3 Nxe3 20.Rd2 Nxd5 21.Nb5 Nc7 22.Nxa7+ Kb8 White resigns (F. Pruess-Matthiesen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2000).
• 17.Qd2! Rc7 18.Kb1 Kb8 19.a3 Rhc8 20.Qb4 Qxb4 21.axb4 remains equal.

10.d5

• White has the initiative and the advantage in space.

10...Ne5

• 10...Nb4! 11.Qd2 0-0 12.0-0 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 a6 14.Qf3 is equal.

11.Bb5+ Kd8 12.Ng3 c4 13.h3

• If 13.f4!? Neg4! 14.Qh4 Ne3 15.Kd2 Nxg2 16.Qh6 Qb6 17.Kc1 a6 gives Black the initiative.
• If 14.Qg7?? then the Queen is trapped after 14...Rg8! 15.Qxf7 Nh6!.

13...a6 14.f4 Nf3+ 15.gxf3 axb5

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 15...ab5:B

16.0-0!?

• Castling should wait until immediate threats are resolved.
• 16.Qg7 Rg8 17.Qxf7 b4 18.Nb1 b3+ 19.Nc3 remains equal.

16...b4!

• Black has the more active game.

17.Nce2 Qc5+ 18.Kg2 Bd7

• 18...Rg8 19.Rfb1 Ra5! 20.Qg5 Qa7 21.Nc1 b5 gives Black more freedom.

19.c3 bxc3 20.Nxc3 b5!?

• Black omits the prophylactic 20...Rg8 and allows White to equalize.
• 20...Rg8 21.Rfe1 b5 22.a3 Bc8 23.Nge2 Bb7 maintains Black's advantage by seriously discouraging the advance e4e5.

21.a3 Kc7 22.Rad1

• If 22.Rfc1!? then after 22...Rhg8 23.b4 Qd4! 24.Nge2 Qe3 25.Ra2 g5 White defends too many weak pawns.

22...Rhg8!?

• 22...b4 23.axb4 Qxb4 24.e5 Ne8 25.Rf2 Kd8 is equal.

23.e5!

• White dislodges the Knight.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 23.e4e5

23...Nh5!

• However, Black finds the best replay.
• 23...Ne8!? 24.Nge4 Qb6 25.Ng5 f6 26.Ne6+ gives White a strong initiative.

24.Rfe1 g5 25.exd6+!?

• 25.Qxh5 gxf4 26.Nce4 Rxg3+ 27.Kh2 Qb6 28.Qxf7 dxe5 is equal.

25...exd6 26.Nxh5?

• White allows his to be attack without a good escape hatch.
• If 26.Qxh5! gxf4 27.Nce4 then:
• 27...Rxg3+ 28.Kh1 Rxh3+ 29.Qxh3 Bxh3 30.Nxc5 dxc5 31.Re7+ gives White the active game.
• 27...Qb6!? 28.Qxf7 Rgf8 29.Qxh7 Rh8 30.Qe7 fxg3 31.Rh1 gives White an extra pawn.

26...Rg6!

• Black equalizes.

27.Ne4?

• 27.Qxh7 gxf4+ 28.Qxg6 fxg6 29.Nxf4 b4 remains equal.

27...Rxh6 28.Nxc5 dxc5 29.Ng3 gxf4

• If 29...Bxh3+ 30.Kf2 gxf4 then:
• If 31.Ne2 Bf5 32.Rh1 Rxh1 33.Rxh1 Kd6 gives Black two extra pawns.
• 31.Ne4 Bf5 32.Rh1 Rxh1 33.Rxh1 b4 gives Black two extra pawns.

30.Ne2 Kd6 31.Nxf4

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 31.Ne2f4:p

31...Rg8+!

• Black is assured of winning a pawn.

32.Kf2 Rh4 33.Ng2

• 33.Ne2 Rxh3 34.Rh1 Rxh1 35.Rxh1 Kxd5 36.Rxh7 Be6 gives Black an extra pawn.

33...Rxh3

• Black wins a pawn.

34.Rh1 Rgg3 35.Rxh3 Rxh3 36.Re1

• 36.Ke3 h5 37.Rd2 h4 38.Nf4 Rh1 39.Nh5 Re1+ wins for Black.

36...h5 37.Re4 Rh1 38.a4 Rb1 39.axb5 Rxb2+ 40.Kg3 c3 41.Ne3 Bxb5 0-1

• If 42.Nf5+ then after 42...Kxd5 43.Re1 c2 44.Kh4 Bd3 45.Ne3+ Kd4 White must lose a piece to stop the pawn.
• Fabiano resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Pan-American Chanpionship, São Paulo

São Paulo
Photo: Brazilian Tourist Ministry via Theodora.com

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Cori - Shabalov, Round 7

Here is a charming minature from former US national champion Alex Shabalov.



Alex Shabalov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Jorge Cori - Alex Shabalov
Pan-American Championship, Round 7
São Paulo, 30 July 2009

Spanish Sicilian Game: Rat Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 Ngf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 b6 7.d3

• 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb7 9.f3 e6 10.c4 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Rc1 Qc7 14.Qd2 Qb8 15.Qf2 Rfe8 16.Red1 Bd8 17.b3 Bc7 18.Qh4 Ne5 is equal (Rogulj-Zwitter, Op, Aschach, 2005).

7...Bb7 8.Nbd2 g6!?

• 9.c3 Be7 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.a3 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.b4 Bf8 15.f3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Ne4 Ne5 18.Bb2 g6 is equal (Minasian-Kotanjan, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 2007).

9.c3

• The game is equal.

9...Bg7 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0

• 11...Rc8 12.Bd3 0-0 13.Qe2 a5 14.b3 Nh5 15.Qe3 remains equal.

12.b3 e5 13.Bb2 exd4 14.Bxd4 Re8 15.Qc2

• 15.Bd3 Nc5 16.Qb1 Qc7 17.b4 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 remains equal.

15...Nc5 16.e5 Ng4

• 16...dxe5 17.Bxe5 Rc8 18.Qb2 Ncd7 19.Bd4 Qc7 remains equal.

17.exd6 Bxd4

• Such was the quiet before the storm.

18.Rxe8+??

• A catastrophe ensues.
• 18.Nxd4 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Qxd6 20.N4f3 Rd8 21.Nc4 Qf6 remains equal.

18...Qxe8 19.Nxd4

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
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WHITE: Jorge Cori
Position after 19.Nf3d4:B

19...Qe5! 0-1

• Black wins a piece.
• El señor Cori resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Final Rounds: Politiken Cup, Helsingør

Kronberg Castle, Helsingør (Elsinore)
Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Avrukh - Malakhov, Round 10

Israeli GM Boris Avrukh needed a win over Russia's Vladimir Malakhov to take a share of first place in Helsingør.



Boris Avrukh
Photo: Wikipedia


Boris Avrukh - Vladimir Malakhov
Politiken Cup, Round 10
Helsingør, 26 July 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Chamelion Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5

• For other moves, see Morozevish-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2008.

5...Nbd7

• If 5...Bf5 6.Bf4 Nbd7 7.e3 e6 8.Be2 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...h6 10.b4 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Bg3 Qc8 13.Bf3 Bd8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.Ndxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Be7 gives White a solid advantage in space (Piket-Zagrebelny, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 10...Qc8 11.a4 b6 12.a5 b5 13.g4 Bg6 14.h4 Bd8 15.h5 Bh7 16.Qb3 Bc7 17.Bxc7 Qxc7 18.f4 Ng8 19.Rf1 gives White the advantage in space (Najer-I. Popov, Russian Ch FL, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bg6 10.b4 Qc8 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 Re8 13.Bg3 Bd8 14.f4 Bc7 15.a4 Kh8 16.Bh4 Ng8 17.Nb3 Ngf6 18.Bd3 b6 19.cxb6 Bxb6 20.a5 Bd8 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nc5 Bxd3 23.Qxd3 Nd7 24.N5a4 Rb8 is equal (Akobian-Adu, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).
• 8...Ne4 9.Nxe4 Bxe4 10.0-0 Be7 11.Nd2 Bg6 12.b4 0-0 13.Nb3 Re8 14.a4 Bf6 15.Bg3 Bf5 16.Qd2 e5 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Qe7 19.Bf3 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 exd4 21.Nxd4 Nxc5 22.Nxf5 gives White the advantage in space (Arutinian-Kayumov, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 5...Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.e3 g6 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Re8 11.Nd2 Bf6 12.Bxf6 Ndxf6 13.f4 Ng7 14.Nf3 Bf5 15.Ne5 Nd7 16.Nf3 e6 17.Rc1 Qc7 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.Qd3 is equal (Evdokimov-Volkov, Russian Ch FL, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).

6.Bf4 Nh5 7.e3 Nxf4

• If 7...g6 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Re8 then:
• 11.e4 dxe4 12.Bxe4 Ndf6 13.Bc2 Be6 14.Re1 Nd5 15.Qd2 Qd7 16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 gives White the advantage in space (Nikolic-Dautov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• 11.Nd2 Bf6 12.Bxf6 Ndxf6 13.f4 transposes to Evdokimov-Volkov in the previous note.

8.exf4 b6 9.b4

• 9.cxb6 e6 10.Bd3 Bd6 11.g3 Qxb6 12.0-0 g6 13.Na4 Qa7 14.Rc1 Bb7 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Bb8 18.Rfe1 0-0 is equal (Fressinet-Svetushkin, Aeroflot Opm Moscow, 2006).

9...Qc7 10.Qd2!?

• 10.g3 g6 11.Rc1 Bg7 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 bxc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qxc5 Qxc5 19.Rxc5 Bxa2 is equal (I. Sokolov-Bacrot, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

10...g6

• The game is equal.

11.Rc1!?

• White provokes an attack on his f-pawn.
• 11.cxb6 Qxb6 12.Rb1 Bg7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 Nf6 remains equal.

11...Bh6 12.g3 bxc5

• 12...b5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Ra1 0-0 15.Bg2 Rb8 16.Nxa4 is equal.

13.bxc5 0-0 14.h4 e5

• The game is again equal.
• 14...Nf6 15.Rb1 Rb8 16.Rxb8 Qxb8 17.Bd3 Bg7 18.Ne5 is equal.

15.dxe5 Nxe5!?

• One of many chess axioms is that when one's opponent leaves his King too long in center, one should tear open the center and attack. Like most chess axioms, this one does not always apply.
• 15...Re8 16.Qc2 f6 17.h5 g5 18.Bd3 remains equal.
• 15...Nxc5!? 16.h5 Kg7 17.Qe3! then:
• 17...Qa5 18.Nd4 Qb6 19.Nd1 Qb4+ 20.Qc3 Qxc3+ 21.Nxc3 gives White the initiative.
• 17...Bg4?! 18.Nh2 d4 19.Qxd4 Ne6 20.Qa4 gives White an extra pawn.

16.Nxe5 Re8

BLACK: Vladimir Malakhov
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Position after 16...Rf8e8

17.Be2!

• It's best to give the Kings some sxtra cover, since the pawn at f4 really can't defend the Knight.
• 17.Qd1 f6 18.h5 fxe5 19.hxg6 exf4+ 20.Ne2 fxg3 gives Black an extra pawn.

17...Rxe5 18.h5 gxh5 19.Kf1!?

• 19.Kd1 Re8 20.Na4 Rb8 21.Nb6 Bg7 22.Rxh5 is equal.

19...Re8 20.Rxh5 Bg7 21.Kg2 Qe7

• 21...Qa5 22.Bd3 h6 23.f5 d4 24.f6 is equal.

22.Bd3 h6 23.f5 Qf6

• 23...Qe5 24.Na4 Bb7 25.Qb4 Rab8 26.Nb6 d4 27.Kh2 is equal.

24.Nd1 d4 25.Nb2!?

• 25.f3 Qe5 26.Be4 Rb8 27.Nf2 Kf8 28.Bxc6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

25...Qe5!

• 25...Re5 26.f4 Rd5 27.Be4 Rd8 28.Nc4 Bb7 29.Ne5 maintains White's advantage in space.

26.Nc4

• 26.Na4 Bb7 27.Nb6 Rab8 28.Qa5 Red8 is equal.

26...Qxc5 27.Rch1 f6 28.Rxh6 Ra7?

• Black's game was difficult, but this is the fatal moment.
• 28...Qd5+ 29.f3 Bxf5 then:
• 30.Nb6 Bxh6 31.Rxh6 Bxd3 32.Nxd5 Re2+ 33.Qxe2 Bxe2 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 30.R6h5 Bxd3 31.Qxd3 Qe6 32.Kf2 Rab8 33.g4 Rb5 is equal.

BLACK: Vladimir Malakhov
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Position after 28...Ra8a7

29.R6h5!

• White plays a simple winning move. The Bishop at d3 is overloaded protecting both the Knight at c4 and the pawn at f5, while the Rook at h6 was under attack. The text move takes care of both problems. Meanwhile, Black has no good moves.

29...Rae7

• If 29...a5 30.Qf4 Qd5+ 31.f3 then:
• 31...Ba6 32.Qg4 Kf8 33.Rh8+ Bxh8 34.Rxh8+ Ke7 35.Rh7+ wins a Rook.
• If 31...Rae7 32.Qg4 Re2+ 33.Bxe2 Rxe2+ 34.Kf1 then:
• 34...Bxf5 35.Rh8+ Kf7 36.Qxf5 Qxf5 37.Nd6+ wins the Queen.
• 34...Rh2 35.R1xh2 Qxc4+ 36.Kg1 Qc1+ 37.Kg2 Qd2+ 38.Kh3 followed by 39.Qg6 puts Black in a mating net.

30.Nb6 Bxf5

• 30...Qxb6 31.Bc4+ Kf8 32.Rh8+ Bxh8 33.Rxh8+ Kg7 34.Qh6#.

31.Rxf5 Qxb6 32.Bc4+ Rf7 33.Qc2 Qb7 34.Rfh5

• Also good is 34.Bxf7+ Kxf7 35.Qc4+ Kg6 36.Rc5 Rd8 37.Qd3+ Kf7 38.Rb1.

34...Re5 35.Rxe5 fxe5 36.Rb1 1-0

BLACK: Vladimir Malakhov
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Final Position after 26.Rh1b1

• 36...d3 37.Qxd3 Qa7 38.Qg6 Qxf2+ 39.Kh3 wins for White,
• Vladimir Nailyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Negi - Berg, Round 10

Parimarjan Negi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Parimarjan Negi - Emannuel Berg,Emanuel
Politiken Cup, Round 10
Helsingør, 26 July 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Keres Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 h6

• 7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2 Bc5 10.Nb3 Bb6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.Qf3 a5 13.a4 Nc6 14.0-0 Ndb4 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.Qe4 e5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Nb4 19.Qb5 Ra6 gives White the advantage in space (Drasic-Yilmaz, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

8.Bg2 Nbd7

• If 8...Qc7 then:
• 9.f4 b5 10.0-0 Bb7 11.g5 hxg5 12.fxg5 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 e5 15.g6 Qc5 16.Be3 exd4 17.Bxd4 Qb5 18.a4 Qa5 19.Qe2+ Kd8 20.Rxf7 Nd7 21.Qe3 b3 22.c3 Rc8 23.Re1 Kc7 24.Bb6+ Qxb6 25.Rxd7+ Black resigns as White wins the Queen (Kudrin-Robson, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).
• If 9.Be3 Nc6 10.f4 Bd7 11.Qe2 Be7 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.Qf2 b5 then:
• 14.Nb3 g5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxg5 hxg5 17.Rhf1 Nd8 18.Bb6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Cardelli-Glaser, Corres, 2001).
• 14.g5 hxg5 15.fxg5 Nh7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.h4 b4 18.Ne2 Ba4 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nb3 is equal (Rosen-Hort, Bundesliga 8081, Germany, 1981).
• If 8...Nc6 9.Be3 Ne5 10.Qe2 g5 11.f4 gxf4 12.Bxf4 Bd7 13.0-0-0 Rc8 14.Kb1 Be7 15.Rhf1 Rxc3 16.bxc3 Qc7 17.Qe1 Nc4 18.Bc1 Ne5 19.Ka1 Ba4 20.g5 hxg5 21.Bxg5 Nfd7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Qg3 Rc8 24.Qh4+ Ke8 25.Qh8+ Ke7 26.Qh4+ Ke8 27.Qh8+ draw (Timofeev-Movsesian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2009).

9.f4!?

• 9.0-0 Qc7 10.f4 e5 11.Nde2 exf4 12.Bxf4 Ne5 13.Nd4 Be6 14.Kh1 Be7 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 0-0-0 17.a4 g5 18.Ra3 Kb8 19.Rc3 Qa5 20.Qe1 gxf4 21.Rc8+ Rxc8 22.Qxa5 gives White the material advantage (Sapozhnikov-Knox, Op, Toronto, 2009).

9...Qc7

• White has the advantage in space.
• This is a typical strategem for both sides in the Open Sicilian; White expands on the kingside and Black on the opposite, while the center is up for grabs.

10.Qe2 g6!?

• Black should continue his queenside operations.
• 10...Rb8 11.g5 hxg5 12.fxg5 Nh5 13.g6 Ne5 gives Black enough of a foothold in the center to equalize.

11.Be3 Nb6

• 11...e5 12.Nf3 b6 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 gives White the advantage in space.

12.0-0-0 Bd7?

• 12...Nc4 13.Bf2 Be7 14.Nf3 Rb8 15.Bh4 b5 gives Black some counterplay.

13.e5

• Even stronger is 13.Rhf1! Rc8 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Bxb7 when:
• If 16...Rxc3 17.bxc3 Nbd5 18.Rd3 Qc7 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Qf3 gives White the exchange and command of the f-file.
• 16...Rc7 17.Bxa6 Nfd5 18.Bf4 Qxe2 19.Bxe2 Nxf4 20.Rxf4 gives White an extra pawn.

13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Nh7

• 14...Nfd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 exd5 17.e6 fxe6 18.Nxe6!! Bxe6 19.Bd4! gives White the Rook at h8 for the minor piece.

15.Rhf1 Nc4 16.Nd5!!

• White proffers the Knight and now wins in all variations.

16...Qc8

• White declines the sacrifice, but accepting is little better.
• 16...exd5 17.Bxd5 Nxe3 18.Bxf7+ Ke7 19.Qxe3 Qa5 20.Qd3 wins for White.

17.Qf2 f5

• 17...exd5 18.Qxf7+ Kd8 19.Bxd5 Kc7 20.Bxc4 Ng5 21.Ne6+ wins for White.

BLACK: Emanuel Berg
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 17...f7f5

18.exf6!!

• Again White proffers the Knight. This time Black accepts.

18...exd5 19.Bxd5 Bd6 20.Bf4

• Also good is 20.Bxh6 Rf8 21.Qh4 Kd8 22.f7+ g5 23.Bxg5+. winning.

20...Qc7

• 20...Kd8 21.Qe2 Nxf6 22.Bxc4 Re8 23.Ne6+ wins for White.

21.Bxd6 Nxd6 22.Qe3+ Kd8 23.Qe7+ Kc8 24.Ne6 Qb6

• If 24...Bxe6 25.Bxe6+ Kb8 26.Rxd6 Qxe7 27.fxe7 then:
• If 27...Kc7 then after 28.Rd7+ Kc6 29.Rf3 Ng5 30.Rc3+ Kb6 31.Bd5 White wins.
• If 27...Ka7 then after 28.Bf7 Ng5 29.Bxg6 Nxh3 30.Rf3 Ng5 31.Re3 wins for White.

25.f7 Qe3+

• If 25...Ba4 then White wins after 26.Bxb7+ Nxb7 27.f8Q+ Rxf8 28.Rxf8+.

26.Kb1 Qe5 27.f8Q+ Rxf8 28.Rxf8+ 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• Emanuel resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Gajic - Cmilyte, Round 8

Viktorija Cmilyte led the ladies cometing in Helsingør with 7½ points (6 wins, one loss and 3 draws).



Viktorija Cmilyte
Photo: ChessBase.com


Mladen Gajic - Viktorija Cmilyte
Politiken Cup Round 8
Helsingør, 24 July 2009

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Na3

• If 5.Nf3 Bg7 then:
• If 6.Na3 then:
• If 6...Nf6 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 cxd4 then:
• 10.Bxd4 Nc6 11.Re1 Qf5 12.Be5 Rd8 13.Qb3 Ne4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Rad1 Qc5 16.Qc2 gives White the initiative (Pavasovic-Bukic, Slovenian ChT, Ljubljana, 1997).
• 10.Nxd4 Qe5 11.Qf3 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rfe1 Qc7 14.Bf4 Qb7 15.Bb3 a5 16.Ba4 Ra6 17.Nc4 Be6 18.Qd3 Bxc4 19.Qxc4 Nd5 is equal (Sermek-Cebalo, Croatian ChT, Sibenik, 2005).
• 6...cxd4 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3 Nh6 9.cxd4 0-0 10.0-0 Nf5 11.Qb3 Nd6 12.Bd3 Qg4 13.Rac1 Nc6 14.h3 Qd7 15.d5 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bg5 Rd8 18.Rfe1 Bf6 19.Bxf6 exf6 20.Qc3 Kg7 21.Re3 Nf5 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.Nb5 Bd7 24.Nd6 Qxd5 is equal (Rasch-P. Carlsson, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• 6.Be3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nf6 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Bc4 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.a3 Nb6 12.Ba2 Nbd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bd2 Qd8 15.Re1 Bg4 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 e6 draw (Kovacevic-Pikula, Yugoslav Cup, Herceg Novi, 1999).

5...cxd4 6.Nb5 Na6 7.Qxd4

• 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.Rd1 Qxd4 10.Bxd4 b6 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bf3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 0-0 14.0-0 Rfc8 15.Be5 gives White the edge in space.

7...Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Nf6 9.Ngf3 Bg7 10.Bc4!?

• 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.0-0 Nc7 12.Bc4 Nfd5 13.Re1 f6 14.a4 a6 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.Rxe6 Kf7 is equal (Simacek-Karjakin, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).

10...Nc5

• The game is equal.

11.0-0 a6 12.a4

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
$+o+ OoVo%
$o+ + Mo+%
$+ M + + %
$p+bN + +%
$+ P +n+ %
$ P + PpP%
$R B +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Mladen Gajic
Position after 12.a2a4

12...Bd7!?

• White provokes an attack on her kingside through the center as a way to destablize the game.
• 12...Nfe4 13.Re1 Nd6 14.Bf1 Bg4 15.Ne5 remains equal.

13.Re1 Rc8 14.a5

• 14.Ne5 e6 15.a5 Nfe4 16.f4 Nd6 17.Ba2 White continue to enjoy the advantage in space.

14...e6 15.b3 0-0 16.Ba3 Rfd8

• Black has weathered the storm.

17.Rac1!?

• It would be better to put the Rook on the open d-file.
• 17.Rad1 Nd5 18.Bb4 Be8 19.Bxd5 Rxd5 20.Kf1 remains equal.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
$ +tT +l+%
$+o+v+oVo%
$o+ +oMo+%
$+ M + + %
$ +bN + +%
$BpP +n+ %
$ + + PpP%
$+ R R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Mladen Gajic
Position after 17.Ra1c1

17...Nd5!?

• If 17...Nfe4 18.Bxc5 Nxc5 then:
• 19.Rcd1 Na4 20.Rc1 Nb2 21.Bf1 Be8 22.Re4 e5 is equal.
• If 19.Ne5 Bb5 20.Bxb5 axb5 then Balck wins material:
• 21.f4 21...Bxe5 22.fxe5 Nd3 23.Nxb5 Nxe1 wins the exchange for a pawn.
• 21.Nxb5 Bxe5 22.Rxe5 Nd3 wins the exchange.

18.Bf1 Bf8 19.c4 Nf4 20.Rcd1 Be8 21.g3 Nfd3 22.Re3 e5 23.Nxe5?

• White misses the best continuation and finds a loser instead.
• 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.Rexd3 exd4 25.Nxd4 Bb4 26.Bg2 leaves White a pawn to the good.

23...Nxe5 24.Rxe5 Nxb3 25.Bb2

• Now it is Black who wins the pawn.
• 25.Bxf8 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Nxd4 27.Rc5 Bc6 28.Bh6 f6! gives Black a strong initiative with the threat of 29...g5 or 29...Nb3.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
$ +tTvVl+%
$+o+ +o+p%
$o+ + +o+%
$P + R + %
$ +pN + +%
$+m+ + P %
$ B + P P%
$+ +r+bK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Mladen Gajic
Position after 25.Ba3b2

25...Bg7!

• The a-pawn is the target. First, Black eliminates the defender.

26.Rd5 Rxd5 27.cxd5 Nxa5

• Black takes the pawn.

28.Bg2 Nc4 29.Ba1 Ba4 30.Rc1 Nd6 31.Re1

• 31.Rxc8+ Nxc8 32.Kf1 Nd6 33.Ke2 a5 34.Kd3 b5 mobilizes Black's connected passers.

31...a5 32.f4 Kf8 33.Bf1

• 33.Kf2 Rc4 34.Ne2 Bxa1 35.Rxa1 b5 36.Ke3 Rc2 leaves Black with an extra pawn and a pin on White's pawn rank.

33...Bd7 34.f5

• A more stubborn defense is 34.Nf3 Bxa1 35.Rxa1 a4 36.Ne5 Be8 37.Nd3 Rc2.

34...gxf5 35.Rb1 Rc5 0-1

• 36.Bg2 Ne4 37.Nf3 Bxa1 38.Rxa1 Rxd5 leaves Black three pawns to the good.
• Mladen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Thursday): Young Yank Robson, Monika Socko lead in Tromsø after 6

Fourteen-year-old American IM Ray Robson and Polish GM Monika Socko are the surprise leaders of the Arctic Chess Challenge in Tromsø, a town on the Norwegian coast of the Arctic Ocean, after 6 rounds with 5½ points each.

In today's action, young Robson played Black and defeated Danish GM Allan Stig Rasmussen in 43 moves while Mrs. Socko, the wife of tournament top seed Bartosz Socko, took down Sarunas Sulskis of Lithuania in 42 moves. Both Rasmussen and Sulskis atarted the day in a four-way tie for first place with Robson and Mrs. Socko.

Action resumes tomorrow at noon local time (3 am PDT) when Mrs. Socko and Robson will likely be paired against each other, with Robson probably playing White.

The nine-round Swiss system tournament with 120 participants concludes Sunday.

Tromsø has been chosen to host the 2014 chess olympics.