The JR Chess Report (December 12): Asians Dominate Women's Championship; Vishy, McShane Tied in Lond

[Jack Rabbit]

Asians Dominate Women's Championship

Reigning world women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk was eliminated from her bid to defend her title today as ladies from China and India took six of the eight slots for the quarter final round in the World Women's Championship Knock Out Tournament in Antalya, Turkey.

Alexandra Konstantinovna, a full grandmaster, was upset in the third round by WGM Ruan Lufei when the Chinese lady took the second two-game set of their rapid playoff today, 1½-½. to take the match 3½-½.

In another major upset in the third round, French IM Almira Skripchenko defeated Viktorija Cmilyte of Lithuania by winning both games of the third set of the playoffs, which were Blitz games.

Former world girls' champion Dronavalli Harikia had to go to an amageddon game against Mariya Muzychuk to quaify for the third round. Ms. Muzychuk lost the game when her time expired in a winning position.

The quarter-final round begins tomorrow with the following matches:

Dronavalli Harika - Ruan Lufei . . . . . . . Koneru Humpy - Ju Wengen
Zhao Xue - Almira Skripchenko. . . . . . . . .Katya Lahno - Hou Yifan


Vishy, McShane Tied in London after Fifth Round

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand is tied a surprisingly strong British GM Luke McShane after five rounds in the seven-round London Chess Classic.

The duo have 9 points each in the tournament, which scores three points for a win and one for a draw.

McShane began the tournament with an upset victory of world number one Magnus Carlsen, who clebrated his twentieth birthday on November 30. Magnus has since won four games in a row to move into a three-way tie for third place with former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and American GM Hikaru Nakamura.


Baden-Baden Leads Bundesliga after 7 Rounds

The team from Baden-Baden leads the German Bundesliga after 7 rounds of the 15-round 2010/2011 German chess season witn 13 points after winning two contests this weekend.

Baden-Baden, playing this weekend in Hamburg, defeated Hamburg yesterday by a score of 5½-2½ and Berlin today, 5-3.

The Green and White from Bremen, playing in Munich, held the pace, trailing Baden-Baden in the standings by a single match point, by winning against Aue today, 5-3 and crushing Munich yesterday, 7-1.

Eppingen, also winning twice in Hamburg this weekend, is in third place with 11 match points.

The next set of matches in the Bundesliga are scheduled for the first weekend in February.



Games will be posted later today.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. World Women's Championship

The old part of Antalya (Antioch)
Photo by Bernard Gagnon in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Romanko - Hou Yifan, Round 2/Game 1

Hou Yifan
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Marina Romanko - Hou Yifan
World Women's Chess Championship, Round 2/Game 1
Antakya, 7 December 2010

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0

• For other main variations of the Capablanca Opening, see Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.
• For 5.a3, see Onischuk-So, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech U, 2010.

5.a3

• This is an unusual move.
• For the main variations of the Capablanca Opening, see Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Qe8

• More common is 6...b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 as in Onischuk-So, cited in the last note.

7.f3 d5

• 7...d6 8.e4 e5 9.Be3 Nfd7 10.Ne2 c5 11.d5 gives White the advantage in space (Drasko-Tatai, Op, Saint Vincent, 1999).

8.cxd5

• 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.e3 c6 10.b3 dxc4 11.bxc4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Nickel-Rosen, Corres, 1996).

8...Nxd5

• The game is equal, but completion of development is still pending.

9.Qc2 Qc6!?

• Black not only neglects her development, but makes development of the queenside difficult.
• 9...e5 10.dxe5 Qxe5 11.e4 Nc6 remains equal.

10.Qb3

• 10.Qxc6!? Nxc6! 11.e3 Rd8 solves Black's development problems.

10...Qb6?!

• Black really wants to exchange Queens.

11.Qxb6

• Exchanging at b6 doesn't help Blacjk as much as exchanging at c6 would have.

11...axb6 12.Bd2 Nc6 13.e3 e5!?

• Black is not finished with her development, so the boilerplate critique would be that she should not yet open the center. However, her development isn't really bad since the Queen's is on an open file and she has a Knight in the center, while none of White's kingside pieces have move and a White pawn occuies the ideal square for developing the King's Knight. On balance, the seems an acceptable risk.
• 13...Rd8 14.Rc1 Nf6 15.Nh3 Nd5 16.e4 gives White the advantage in space and a more stable center.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Marina Romanko
Position after 13...e6e5

14.dxe5!

• White will enjoy some initiative from taking the pawn, so there are benefits as well as risks for her, too.

14...Nxe5 15.e4

• White pushes the Knight back and assumes a slight advantage in space.

15...Ne7

• Somewhat better for both sides may be 15...Re8 16.0-0-0 Ne7 17.Bc3 N7g6 when each player combines necessity with developing moves.

16.Bc3 N7c6 17.Kf2

• White wants to keep ant Black Knight out of e6.
• If <17.Rc1[/i> then:
• 17...Re8 18.Bb5 Re7 19.Kf2 f5 20.Kg3 fxe4 21.fxe4 continues to give White a slight advantage.
• 17...Rd8?! drops a pawn to 18.Bxe5! Nxe5 19.Rxc7 .

17...Be6

• If 17...Rd8 then:
• If 18.h4 Be6 19.Nh3 Bb3 20.Nf4 f6 21.Rc1 then:
• If 21...Ne7 22.Bxe5 fxe5 then:
• 23.Nd3 Nc6 24.Be2 Rd7 25.Rc3 gives White a greater advantage in space than before.
• 23.Rxc7!? exf4 24.Rxe7 Rac8! 25.Bb5 Rc2+ is equal.
• If 21...Rac8 22.Ke3 Rd6 23.g4 Re8 then:
• If 24.Bb5 Re7 25.Rh2 leaves White clearly better.
• 24.Rg1 Ne7 25.Be2 c5 26.Bd1 Bf7 (26...Bxd1 intiates exchanges that leaves Black with no active pieces) 27.Ba4 continues to give White the initiative.
• 18.Rc1 Be6 19.Nh3 Nd4 20.Nf4 c5 21.Nxe6 continues top geive White the advantage in space.

18.Nh3!?

• Better is to advance the obstructing f-pawn and develop the Knkight on its normal square.
• 18.f4 Nd7 19.Nf3 Nc5 20.Re1 Bb3! 21.Nd2 Bc2 is equal.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Marina Romanko
Position after 18.Ng1h3

18...Bxh3!

• Black takes a small advantage in space.

19.gxh3 f5 20.f4

• If 20.Ke3? fxe4 21.fxe4 Rf3+! 22.Ke2 Ra4 23.Re1 Rxe4+ wins a pawn for Black.
• 21...Rf6? 22.Be2! Rh6 leaves Black with nothing more than a slime edge in space.

20...fxe4 21.Ke3 Ng6

• White trie to close the game in space by simply grabbing more space for herself.
• Better is to take away space from Black: after 21...Nd3 22.Rg1 Rf7 23.Kxe4 Nc5+ Black has only with a small advantage in space.

22.Bc4+ Kh8 23.Rad1!?

• If 23.Rhf1 Nce7 24.Be6 Nf5+ 25.Bxf5 Rxf5 contains Black's advantage to a minimum.

23...Nce7!

• This gives Black a small advantage in space with pieces concentrated on White's weak f-pawn.

24.Rd7

• If 24.Rhf1?! then Black gains a larger share of space after 24...Nf5+! 25.Ke2 Rad8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Be6 Nge7.

24...Nf5+ 25.Kxe4 Rae8+ 26.Kd3?!

• White opens her King to attack.
• 26.Kf3 Re3+ 27.Kf2 Re7 28.Rhd1 Nd6 leaves Black with only a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Marina Romanko
Position after 26. Ke4d3

26...Rd8!

• White is forced to exchange Rook, depriving her King of a defender.

27.Rxd8 Rxd8+ 28.Ke2 Nxf4+

• Black has won a pawn.

29.Kf3 Nd5 30.Be5 c6 31.Rg1?!

• White wins faster after 31.Re1 Re8 32.Bd3 Nd4+ 33.Kg3 Kg8 34.a4 Nb3.

31...Re8!?

• Better is 31...Nh4+ 32.Kg3 Ng6 33.Bd4 b5 34.Bb3 Nde7 , giving Black the initiative.

32.Ke4?

• After this, the White King will have trouble getting out of the center.
• If 32.Re1! Kg8 33.Ba2 Nh4+ then:
• 34.Kg4 Ng6 35.Bc3 Rxe1 36.Bxe1 Kf8 37.Bxd5 cxd5 is equal.
• 34.Kg3?! Ng6! 35.Bc3 Rxe1 36.Bxe1 Kf8 37.Bf2 Ngf4 Black is again all over White's King.

32...Nd6+!

• After this, Black is riding high again.

33.Kd4

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Marina Romanko
Position after 33.Ke4d4

33...Nf5+!?

• 33...Rxe5 should have been played immediately unless White was worried about gain time on the clock.

34.Ke4 Nd6+!

• Black appears to invite a draw, but she has something deadly in mind.
• After 34...Nfe3!? 35.Bxd5 Nxd5 36.h4 Re7 37.Kf5 Ne3+ White continues to enjoy an extra pawn, but must toil to convert the point.

35.Kd4

• This brings us back to the position after White's 33rd move.

35...Rxe5!!

• The trap is sprung. The sacrifice is an obvious sham.

36.Kxe5 Nxc4+

• Black has a material advantage eqivalent to two pawns while White's King has nowhere to hide.

37.Ke6 Kg8 38.b3

• White might put up a little bit more stubborn defense after 38.Rb1 b5 39.Kd7 b4 40.axb4 Nxb4 41.b3 Nd2.

38...Nd2

• Black wins faster after 38...Nxa3 39.Ra1 Nc7+ 40.Kd7 Nab5 .

39.Rg3

• White molves back to protect her pawns.
• She would survive longer after 39.b4 b5 40.Rg3 Nc4 41.Kd7 Kf7.

39...Ne4 40.Rg4 Nc5+ 41.Kd6

• No better is 41.Ke5 Nxb3 42.Ra4 Kf7 43.h4 Kg6 44.Ra7 Na5.

41...Nxb3 42.a4 Kf7 43.Rg3

• Better is 43.Rh4 h6 44.Rg4 Kf6 45.Rg1 Nc3 46.Rf1+ Kg6, but not enough to matter.

43...Na5 44.Rf3+ Kg6 45.Rg3+ Kh6 46.Rg4 g6 47.Ke6 Kg7

• Winning faster is 47...Kh5 48.Ke5 Nb3 49.Ke6 Nc5+ 50.Kf7 Nd3 51.Kg7 N3f4.

48.Kd6 Kf6 49.h4 Kf5

• Further resistance is futile.
• If 49...Nb3 50.h5 then after 50...g5! 51.Rg1 Nc5 52.Rf1+ Kg7 White cannot even touch Black.

50.h3

• It's time to turnm out the lights.
• No better is 50.Rg5+ Kf4 51.Rg1 Nc4+ 52.Ke6 Nb2 53.Ra1 Nd3.

50...Nb3 51.Rg5+ Kf6 52.Rg4

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Marina Romanko
Position after 52.Rg5g4

52...Nc5!

• Black's pawns are protected.

53.a5 Ne3 54.Rf4+ Nf5+ 55.Kc7 bxa5 0-1

• If 56.Kb6 then 56...Nb3 57.h5 g5 58.Rf3 a4 59.Rf2 c5 wins easily.
• Ms. Romanko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Zhao Xue - Chibudanidze, Round 2/Game 2

Zhao Xue
Photo by Leigh Atkins in Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Zhao Xue - Maia Chiburdanidze
World Women's Chess Championship, Round 2/Game 2
Antakya, 8 December 2010

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4

• For other main variations of the Capablanca Opening, see Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

5...d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bd3

• White embarks on a plan where she will allow Black to determine when to either exchange at c3 or retreat her Bishop. An alternate plan puts the question to the Black Bishop now.
• If 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Kf1 then:
• 11...Nc6 12.Ne2 f6 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.exf6 Qa6 15.h3 is equal (I. Turova-Kovanova, Russian ChTW, Dagomys, 2009).
• 11...Bd7?! 12.Ne2 f5 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Be3 Bc6 16.Ng3 gives White a slight advantage with fewer pawn weaknesses (Karpov-Stefansson, Rpd, Reykjavik, 2004).
• If 9...Qa5 10.Ne2 cxd4 11.cxd5 exd5 12.f3 Nxc3 13.Nxd4 then:
• 13...Ne4+ 14.Ke2 Qc3 15.Bxe4 Qxa1 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Rd1 Nc6 18.Bb2 Nxd4+ 19.Bxd4 Qxa3 gives Black a strong advantage (van Vleit-van Ketel, Club Tournament, Bussum, 2008).
• 13...Nb5+ 14.Bd2 Nxd4 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Bxa5 Nxc2+ 17.Bxc2 gives White a small advantage in space and a lead in development (Hillarp Persson-deFirmian, IT, Malmø, 2004).

7...c5 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7 10.Bf4 Qh4

• If 10...Ndc5 11.0-0 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 then:
• If 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 b6 then:
• If 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Rfd1 Bb7 16.c4 then:
• If 16...Qa5 then:
• If 17.Nb5 Bc6 18.a4 Qb4 then:
• 19.Nd6 Rad8 20.f3 Nxd6 21.exd6 Bxa4 22.Rdb1 gives Black an extra pawn while White is more than compensated with a passer at d6 and the initiative against the Black Queen (Javakhashvili-T. Kosintseva, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 19.Be3 Rfc8 20.Rdb1 Qe7 21.Nd6 Nxd6 22.exd6 Qb7 23.f3 e5 24.Qd2 e4 25.f4 Qa6 26.a5 bxa5 27.Rxa5 draw (Kasimdzhanov-Effimenko, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 17.f3 Nc5 18.Qe3 Rfc8 19.Nb5 Bc6 20.Nd6 gives White a small advantage in space and the initiative (Krush-van der Wiel, ITC, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If 16...Qd8?! 17.f3! Nc5 18.Qe3 Qh4 19.Nb5 then:
• If 19...f5?! 20.exf6 Qxf6 21.Bd6 Rfd8 22.Rd4 then:
• 22...Bc6? 23.Be5 Qf8 24.Bxg7 Black resigns (Fridman-Wells, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2009).
• 22...Ba6 23.Rad1 Bxb5 24.cxb5 Nb7 25.Be5 still gives White a substantial advantage in space.
• 19...Bc6 20.Nd6 Qh5 21.Bg5 leaves White a small advantage in space.
• If 14.Nc6 Qd7 15.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 16.Nb4 Bb7 17.f3 Nc5 18.Qd2 Rac8 19.Be3 Ne6 is equal (Eljanov-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 16.Qxd5 Qxd5 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Nxd5 gives White a slim edge in space.
• If 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be7 then:
• 14.Rad1 Qa5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qg3 Re8 is equal (Morozevich-Leko, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 14.Rfd1 Qa5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nb3 Qa4 17.Qg3 Qe4 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 Re8 is equal (Gordon-Beliavsky, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

11.g3 Qh3

• Thi note and the one to Black's 16th move show the contrast between cautiously holding the Black Queen back in her own territory and the aggressive sortie ...Qh3.
• 11...Qh5 12.0-0 g5 13.cxd5 gxf4 14.Bxe4 Nxe5 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f3 Nc4 gives White a slight edge in space (Ivaniesevich-Z. Almasi, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

12.0-0-0 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Ba3+ 14.Kb1 Nb6 15.Bf1 Qh5 16.Be2 Qh3

• 16...Qg6 17.Bd3 Qh5 18.Be2 Qg6 19.Bd3 Qh5 20.Be2 draw (Kasimdzhanov-Bacrot, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).

17.Nf3 dxc4?

• Black opens the game to her opponent's delight.
• If 17...Nxc4 18.Ng5 then:
• 18...Qh6?! 19.h4 Be7 20.Ka1 Na3 21.Qc1 gives White the advantage in space; Black's Queen can't move (Ganguly-Meier, Marx Mem, Paks, 2009).
• 18...Qf5 19.Qxf5 exf5 remains equal.

18.Nh4!

• The Black Queen has no quick escape.

18...Nd5 19.Rd4 Be7

• White already has a tremendous advantage.
• 19...Bc5 20.Rxc4 b5 21.Rxc5 Nxf4 22.Qe4 wins a piece.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze



WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 19...Ba3e7

20.Bg5!!

• White uncorks a double piece sacrifice that nets her the game itself.

20...Bxg5 21.Bg4!

• The second Bishop sacrifice nets the queen.

21...Qxg4 22.Rxg4 Be7 23.Rxc4

• White has a material advantage of a Queen against two Bishops.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze



WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 23. Rg4c4:p

23...b5 24.Rd4 Bb7 25.Rhd1

• 25.Rc1 Bc5 26.Nf3 Bxd4 27.cxd4 Rac8 28.Qb2 a6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

25...Rfc8 26.Rxd5?

• The exchange sacrifice is unnecessary.
• 26.Kb2 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Nxc3 28.Kxc3 leaves White with the advantage, although not as great as just after the combination.

26...Bxd5!

• Black equalizes.
• If 26...exd5?! then 27.Nf5! Bf8 28.Nd6 Bxd6 29.exd6 continues to give Black a sustantial advantage.

27.Nf5 Bf8

• The more aggressive 27...Bc5 28.Nd6 Bxd6 29.exd6 Rd8 30.a4 a6 31.Qb2 remains equal.

28.Ne3?!

• Better is 28.Rd4 Bc5 29.Rxd5 exd5 30.Qd2 Rc7 31.Qxd5 Rac8 when Black has only a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze



WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 28. Nf4e3

28...Bf3!

• Black takes advantage in holes in White's position.

29.Rd4 Rc5 30.Qd2 Rxe5

• Black has a considerable advantage in space.

31.Rd8 a5 32.Rd4?!

• White misses a chance to cut down on Black's advantage.
• 32.Rxa8! Bxa8 33.Qd8 White has thus far gained some time) 33...Bf3 34.a3 a4 35.h4 Rc5 36.Kb2 gives Black only a small advantage in space.

32...Rc5! 33.Rd8

• 33.Rf4? Bc6! 34.Qd3 Be7 35.Kb2 Rd8 wins for Black.

33...Re5 34.Rxa8

• 34.Rd4 b4 35.c4 a4 36.Rd8 Rea5 maintains Black spacial plus.

34...Bxa8 35.Qd8 Be4+

• Also good is 35...Bf3 36.a3 h6 37.h4 a4 38.Kb2 Rc5 with equality.

36.Kb2 a4?

• So many losing move are just passive excursion that accomplish nothing.
• 36...Rh5 37.h4 a4 38.a3 Rc5 39.g4 h5 40.g5 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze



WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 36...a5a4

37.Qd4!

• The double attack cannot be easily refuted.

37...a3+ 38.Kc1 f6

• This appears to refute the double attack, but that is far from the case.
• If 38...Rf5 39.Nxf5 Bxf5 40.Qd7 b4 41.c4 then:
• 41...g5 42.Qd8 g4 43.c5 Be4 44.Qb6 Bd5 45.Qxb4 wins.
• 41...b3 42.axb3 a2 43.Kb2 Bb1 44.Qd8 is an easy win for White.

39.f4!

• The Rook is attacked a second time. Something has to give way.

39...Bc5

• Could that something be White's Queen?
• If 39...Rc5 then White wins after 40.Qxe4 Kf7 41.Nc2 Rxc3 42.Kd2.
• 39...Rh5 40.Qxe4 Kf7 41.Qb7+ Be7 42.f5 Rxf5 43.Nxf5 is time to tun out the lights.

40.Qd8+

• No, it's the Black Bishop shielding the King from check that gives way.

40...Kf7

• If 40...Bf8 then 41.fxe5 Bg6 42.exf6 h5 43.g4 gxf6 44.Qxf6 is a clear win for White.

41.Qd7+ Kg6 42.Qe8+ 1-0

• If 42...Kh6 then 43.Ng4#.
• The former world women's champion resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Kovanova - Pogonina, Round 1/Game 2

There is no photo of Baira Kovanova available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Baira Kovanova - Natalia Pogonina
World Women's Championship, Round 1/Game 2
Antakya, 5 December 2010

Closed Sicilian Game: Italian Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Qe2

• If 5.d3 then:
• If 5...g6 6.c3 Bg7 7.Bb3 0-0 then:
• If 8.Re1 b5 then:
• If 9.h3 a5 10.a3 a4 11.Bc2 Nd7 12.Be3 Nb6 13.Nbd2 e5 14.b4 axb3 15.Bxb3 is equal (Safarli-Sutovsky, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 9.Nbd2 b4 10.Nc4 bxc3 11.bxc3 d5 12.Ncd2 dxe4 13.dxe4 Ba6 14.Ba3 Qa5 is equal (Perunovic-Bromberger, EU ChTU18, Balatonlelle, 2000).
• 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 b5 11.Be3 Nd7 12.Nd2 Rb8 13.Rac1 Na5 14.d4 gives White a small advantage in space (Yusadin-Foygel, US Open, Framingham, 2001).
• 8.h3 b6 9.Re1 Ba6 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nb4 12.Bg5 d5 13.exd5 Rc8 14.Ne5 Nbxd5 is equal (Seul-Pelletier, IT, Essen, 2001).
• 8.Nbd2 b6 9.Re1 Ba6 10.Nf1 Ne5 11.Bc2 Qc7 12.h3 e6 13.N3h2 Nc6 14.f4 e5 is equal(Benjamin-Baklan, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• 5...e6 6.Bb3 Be7 7.c3 0-0 8.Re1 b5 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Nf1 Rc8 11.Ng3 b4 12.h3 bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne5 14.Bc2 Qa5 15.Bd2 c4 16.d4 Nd3 is equal (Kostur-Najer, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

5...e6 6.c3 Be7 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d4 Qc7!?

• If 8...d5 9.exd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bg5 Re8 remains equal.

9.dxc5 dxc5 10.e5

• White has a small advantage in space, but Black has a clear advantage in development.

10...Nd7!?

• Black would do better to post the Knight where it is supported by a pawn.
• If 10...Nd5 11.Rd1 Bd7 12.Na3 a6 13.Qe4is equal.

11.Bf4

• White fortifies her pawn at e5, leaving Black's game cramped.

11...Rd8!?

• Black needs to grab space where she can, and where she can is the queenside.
11...b5 12.Nbd2 c4 13.Bc2 Bb7 14.Rfd1 a6 15.a4 is equal.

12.Nbd2 Nf8?!

• If 12...b5 13.Rfd1 c4 14.Bc2 Bb7 15.h4 gives White a slight edge in space.

13.Rad1

• White prepares to wrest command of the d-file from Black.

13...b6

• Better and more aggressive is 13...b5 14.Bg3 Qa5 15.Ne4 Rxd1 16.Rxd1 when White has a small advantage in space.

14.Bg3!

• White has a well fortified center.

14...Bb7 15.Ne4 Rxd1

• 15...Na5? 16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.exf6 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qc6 19.Qg4 gives White an overwhelming position.

16.Rxd1 Rd8 17.Nf6+ Kh8?

• After this, Black's position becomes untenable. Therte were two alternatives, equally good.
• 17...gxf6 18.exf6 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 then:
• 19...Qd7 20.Qxd7 Nxd7 21.fxe7 Nxe7 22.Nd2 give Black better chances of survival.
• Not as good is 19...Qd8 20.fxe7 Qxe7 21.Bc2 Qd7 22.Qc1 Black brings the Queen to the kingside.
• If 17...Bxf6 18.exf6 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 then:
• 19...Qd7 20.fxg7 Qxd1+ 21.Bxd1 Kxg7 22.Bc2 still gives White the better game.
• 19...Qd8 20.Qxd8 Nxd8 21.fxg7 Ng6 22.Nd2 gives White much greater activity.

BLACK: Natalia Pogonina



WHITE: Baira Kovanova
Position after 17... Kg8h8

18.Ng5!

• Suddenly, Black is surrounded and pounded.
• 18.Rxd8 Nxd8 19.Ne4 Bd5 20.c4 leaves Black fighting for a draw.

18...Rxd1+

• Black is running out of moves.
• If 18...gxf6 19.Nxf7+ Kg8 20.exf6 Rxd1+ then:
• 21.Qxd1 Qd7 22.Nh6+ Kh8 23.Qg4 Ng6 24.Nf7+ is an easy win for White.
• (21.Bxd1 Qd7 22.Nh6+ Kh8 23.fxe7 also wins.

19.Qxd1 Nd8 20.Qh5

• If 20.Bc2 g6 21.Qd2 Qc6 22.Be4 Qa4 23.b3 wins.

20...gxf6

• If 20...Qc6 21.Bd5 Qa4 22.h3 then:
• 22...gxf6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf7+ Kg8 25.Nxd8 Bxd8 26.Bxb7 Qxa2 27.Qe2 gives White a huge advantage.
• If 22...Bxf6 23.exf6 Bxd5 24.Nxf7+ then:
• 24...Kg8 25.Nxd8 e5 26.f7+ Kh8 27.Qg5 is an easy win for White.
• If 24...Nxf7 loses right away to 25.Qxf7 Qe8 26.Qxg7#.

21.exf6 Qc6

• White threatens mate at g2. It is an idle threat.

BLACK: Natalia Pogonina



WHITE: Baira Kovanova
Position after 21...Qc7c6

22.Bd5!!

• White proffers her Bishop in a sham sacrifice.

22...Qe8

• Black doesn't accept, but her game is lost anyway.
• If 22...Qxd5 23.Nxf7+!! Nxf7 then:
• 24.Qxd5! Bxd5 25.fxe7 leaves no way for Black to stop the pawn.
• If 24.Qxf7?? then 24...Qxg2#.

23.Qh6 Bxf6 24.Qxf6+ Kg8 25.Be5 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• Natalia Andreevna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Second London Chess Classic

Photo by Diliff in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kramnik - Nakamura, Round 2

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo by James F.Perry in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vladimir Kramnik - Hikaru Nakamura
Second London Chess Classic, Round 2
London, 9 December 2010

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.d4

• The game has transposed into a Nimzo-Indian Defense.

7...Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7

• 8...Nc6 9.Bf4 Re8 10.Qd3 Nh5 11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Rfd1 e5 is equal (Stocek-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).

9.dxc5

• 9.Nd2 e5 10.Re1 Nbd7 11.e4 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Ba3 Ne5 is equal (Kindermann-Kuzmin, IT, Dortmund, 1981).

9...dxc5 10.Ne5

• 10.Bf4 Rd8 11.Qb3 Nc6 12.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 13.Rxd1 e5 14.Bg5 Be6 15.Nd2 Bf5 16.Nf1 gives White the advantage in space (Dvirnyy-Leniart, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010).

10...Qc7

• The game is equal.

11.Bf4!?

• One of the first things your humble learned from studying games of great chess players was that, in a position where White's King's Bishop is fianchettoed, the f4 square is not a good post for White's Queen's Bishop due to the pawn at g3.
• 11.Nd3 e5 12.Bg5 Nfd7 13.Be3 Re8 14.Qa4 Na6 remains equal

11...Nh5

• Black takes advantage on Black's Bishop and assumes a small advantage in space.

12.Qd2?

• White drops a piece.
• Much better is 12.e3 Nxf4 13.exf4 when:
• 13...Bd7 14.Re1 Bc6 15.Nxc6 contines to give Black a slight edge in space.
• 13...f6 14.Nd3 Na6is equal.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 12.Qd1d2

15...Nxc6] 12...g5!

• Black again takes advantage of the Bishop's awkward post (see note to White's 11th move.

13.Bxg5

• 13.Ng6 gxf4 14.Nxf8 Kxf8 15.Rab1 Nd7 16.Bf3 Nhf6 gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook.

13...Qxe5

• Black wins a piece.

14.Rad1 f6 15.Bh6 Ng7

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 15...Nh5g7

16.Bf4

• White must take advantage of what counterplay he can generate from Black's pawn weaknesses and poor development, for such is the fallout from White's combination.

16...Qh5 17.Bd6 Re8 18.Qf4 Nd7 19.g4 Qf7

• If 19...Qg6 20.Kh1! Kh8 then:
• 21.Be4 f5 22.gxf5 exf5 23.Bf3 Ne6 leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• 21.Qe4 e5 22.Qxg6 hxg6 23.Be4 Kh7 24.Bd5 Nb6 leaves Black winning.

20.Rd3 e5 21.Qh6

• If 21.Qg3 then after 21...Ne6 22.e3 Qg6 23.Rfd1 e4 24.Rd5 Nb6 Black wins.

21...Qg6

• With a material advantage which White has no way of contesting, Black offers an exchange of Queens.

22.Qxg6

• White only makes things worse if he tries to preserve his Queen.
• If 22.Qh4? Nb6! 23.Bxc5 Bxg4 then:
• 24.Rg3 h5 25.h3 Nf5 26.Qxg4 hxg4 27.Rxg4 Qxg4 28.hxg4 gives Black a Rook for two pawns.
• 24.h3 Bxe2 25.Rg3 Qf7 26.Bxb6 Bxf1 27.Bd5 Re6 leaves Black up by a whole piece.

22...hxg6 23.Be4 Kf7 24.f4 exf4 25.Bd5+ Ne6 26.Bxf4 Nb6!?

• Black invites White to counterplay in ther center.
• If 26...a5 27.g5 Ra6 28.gxf6 then:
• 28...Nb6 29.Be3 Nxd5 30.cxd5 c4 31.Rd2 Nf8 leaves Black with some initiative and a material advantage of a minor piece against two pawns.
• 28...Kxf6?! 29.Bg3+ Kg5 30.Bxb7 Bxb7 31.Rxd7 is equal.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 26...Nd7b6

27.Be5!

• Black is still much better, but he'll have tol paly with extra care in order not to throw the win away.

27...Nxd5 28.cxd5 Nf8

• While Black is struggling to make up lost ground, at least he isn't losing more.
• If 28...c4? 29.Rxf6+! Kg8 then:
• If 30.Rh3! Ng7 31.Re3 Ne6 32.Rxg6+ Kh7 33.Rf6 gives White a strong initiative.
• Not as good is 30.Rdf3 Nf8 31.Rf7 Bxg4 32.Rg7+ , but it's still plenty bad for Black.

29.Rxf6+ Kg8 30.Bd6 Kg7

• Again, Black could do a lot worse for himself.
• If 30...Nh7 31.Rxg6+ Kf7 32.Rh6 Kg7 then:
• If 33.Rh5! Bxg4 34.Rg3 Kg6 35.Rh4 Nf6 then:
• 36.h3 Rxe2 37.hxg4 Rae8 38.g5 Nxd5 39.Rh6+ Kf5 gives Black still the better of it, but White's g-pawn is now menacing.
• 36.e3 Kg5 37.Rhxg4+ Nxg4 38.h3 Rxe3 39.Rxg4+ Kh5 gives Black a doubble attack on crucial pawns.
• 33.Rhh3 c4 34.Rde3 Bxg4 35.Rxe8 Rxe8 still gives Black a comfortable advantage, but the possibility of White's survival are looking better.
• 33.g5!? Nxg5! 34.Rh4 Ne4 35.Rf4 Kg6 keeps the initiative in Black's favor.

31.Rf4 g5 32.Rf2?!

• White gives Black time to solidify his queenside.
• If 32.Bxf8+ Rxf8 33.Rxf8 Kxf8 then:
• If 34.Rh3 Kg7 then:
• 35.Rh5 Bd7 36.Kf2 Rf8+ 37.Kg3 Kg6 still gives Black a solid advantage, but White has a passed d-pawn and a pawn majority with piece support on the kingside.
• If 35.e4? then Black wins after 35...Bd7! 36.e5 Re8 37.e6 Bb5.
• If 34.Rf3+? Ke7! then:
• 35.e4 b5 36.Rh3 Bxg4 37.Rg3 Be2 38.Rxg5 Bc4 wins for Black.
• 35.h3 b5 36.e4 a5 37.Kf2 b4 gives Black a strong advantage with a more distant pawn majority and more material.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 32. Rf3f2

32...b6!

• Just what the doctor ordered.

33.Rdf3

• 33.Bxf8 no longer works as well as it would have a move earlier.
• If 33.Bxf8+ Rxf8 then:
• If 34.Rxf8 Kxf8 then:
• 35.Rf3+ Ke7 36.e4 Ba6 37.Kf2 Bc4 38.Rf5 Rg8 freezes White's center pawns in their tracks.
• If 35.Rh3 then Black wins after 35...Kg7 36.e4 Ba6 37.Re3 Re8.
• 34.e4 Ba6 35.Re3 Bc4 36.a3 Rxf2 37.Kxf2 Rf8+ wins.

33...Ng6 34.Rf7+ Kh6 35.h3

• 35.R2f6 Bxg4 36.e4 Be2 37.Be7 Bc4 38.Re6 Bxa2 leaves Black a whole piece to the good.

35...Ba6 36.R2f6

• 36.R2f5 Bc4 then:
• 37.h4 Nxh4 (otherwise White plays 38. hxg5#) 38.Bf8+ Rxf8 39.Rxf8 Rxf8 40.Rxf8 Bxd5 still gives Black a tremendous advantage, although to win with two minor pieces againt a Rook requires great technical skill.
• 37.a3? Rxe2 38.h4 (White threatens 39.hxg5#) 38...Re1+! 39.Kf2 Rf1+ 40.Kg3 Rg1+ 41.Kh3 Nxh4! wins for Black.

36...Bxe2 37.Be7 Bc4 38.Rd6 Bxd5 39.Bxg5+

• If 39.Rxd5 then Black wins after 39...Rxe7 40.Rxe7 Nxe7.

39...Kxg5 40.Rxd5+ Kh4 41.Rf3?

• White threatens mate on the next move.
• Better is 41.Kg2 Re5 42.Rxe5 Nxe5 43.Rf5 Nxg4 44.hxg4 Rg8 when White preserves his slim hopes.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 41.Rf7f3

41...Re5!

• So easily refuted is White's threat. His slim hopes have vanished.

42.Rxe5 Nxe5 43.Rf5 Nd3 44.Kh2

• White again threatens mate.

44...Rh8

• Again, the threat is effortlessly swept aside.

45.a4

• If 45.a3 Nb2 46.Rf7 a6 47.Ra7 Nc4 then:
• 48.a4 a5 49.Rb7 Rh6 50.Re7 Nb2 wins for Black.
• If 48.Rxa6 then after 48...Rd8 49.Ra4 Rd2+ 50.Kg1 Kg3 White will soon be mated.

45...Rh6 46.Kg2

• White could have resigned here.

46...a5 47.Kf3 Nb2 48.Kf4 Nxa4 49.c4 Nc3

• 49...Nb2 50.Rf8 Kxh3 51.Kg5 Rd6 52.Rf3+ Kg2 should also be enough to persuade White to hoist the white flag.

50.Ke3 a4 51.Kd3 Nd1 52.Rf8 Kxh3 53.g5 Rd6+ 54.Ke4 Kg4 0-1

• As he could have many moves earlier, Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Adams - Howell, Round 1

Mickey Adams
Photo by Brittle Heaven in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Mickey Adams - David Howell
Second London Chess Classic, Round 1
London, 8 December 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7

• The usual continuation is 5...Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Ne4. See Istratescu-Breder, Masters 0910, Hastings, 2009.

6.Qe2 Nd6 7.Bxc6 bxc6

• This is the old way of playing the Petit Spanish Gothic.
• 7...dxc6 is playable, but Black can get into trouble after 8.dxe5 Nf5 9.Rd1 Bd7 when:
• If 10.e6 fxe6 11.Ne5 Bd6 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Nxg6 Ng7 14.Qh6 Nf5 then:
• If 15.Qh3 Rg8 16.Qxh7 Rg7 17.Qh5 Qf6 then:
• 18.Ne5+?! Ke7 19.Ng4 Qg6 20.Qxg6 Rxg6 21.h3 gives White an extra pawn, two connected passers, but no queenside development (Svidler-Morozevich, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• If 18.Qh8+! Kf7 19.Qxa8 then:
• 19...Qxg6 20.g3 Qg4 21.Rd3 Qh3 22.Rf3 Rh7 23.Nd2 leaves White clearly better, but Black can fight on (Fritz).
• 19...Rg8? 20.Qxb7! Qxg6 21.g3 wins for White.
• 15.Qh5 invites a draw.
• If 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Ne4 Qe8 12.b3 then:
• 12...Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Bb2 Bf5 15.Qh5 Bxe4 16.Qxh4 Bxc2 17.Rdc1 gives White more space and Black an extra pawn (Motylev-Riansantsev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 12...b6 13.Bb2 c5 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Qe4 gives White a clear advantage in space (Alekseev-Kurnosov, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).

8.dxe5 Nb7 9.c4

• If 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Nc5 11.Nd4 Ne6 then:
• If 12.Be3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 c5 14.Be3 d5 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Rad1 Qf6 then:
• 19.c4 Rfe8 20.Qg4 Bc6 21.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Dr. Tarrasch-Dr. Lasker, World Ch Match, Munich, 1908).
• 19.f3 Rfe8 20.Qb5 Reb8 21.Qd7 d5 22.Bxc5 gives White an extra and much greater actiovity (Teichmann-Bardeleben, Match, Berlin, 1909).
• If 12.Nf5 then:
• If 12...f6 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 then:
• 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Ne4 Qg6 16.Ng3 d5 17.c3 Nc5 18.Be3 Nd3 19.Red1 Ba6 20.Qc2 c5 is equal (Taubenhaus-Showalter, US Chess Congress, New York, 1889).
• 14.f4 fxe5 15.Qxe5 d6 16.Qe4 d5 17.Qe3 Qd6 leaves Black threatening to win a pawn (Pillsbury-Showalter, US Ch, New York, 1897).
• 12...d5 13.b3 Re8 14.Bd2 Bg5 15.Rad1 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 is equal (Boleslavsky-Ravinsky, City Ch, Moscow, 1942).
• If 10...Re8 11.Bf4 d5 12.Nd4 Bc5 13.Rad1 then:
• 13...Bxd4 draw (Galkin-M. Turov, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• 13...Bd7 14.Qd3 Bb6 15.Qg3 Qe7 16.Bg5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Chekhover-Tolush, TT, Leningrad, 1938).

9...0-0 10.Nc3 f6 11.Re1

• 11.Be3 fxe5 12.Nxe5 Bf6 13.f4 Qe8 14.Qd2 d6 15.Nf3 Bf5 16.Bd4 is equal (Matulovic-Gipslis, CT, Sousse, 1967).

11...fxe5 12.Qxe5

• If 12.Nxe5 Bf6 13.Bf4 then:
• 13...Bxe5 14.Bxe5 d6 15.Bd4 Qh4 16.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Dorfman, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
• 13...Qe8 14.Qc2 Bxe5 15.Bxe5 Qf7 16.c5 d6 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.Bg3 gives White a slight edge in space (Mecking-Panno, ITZ, Petropolis, 1973).

)
12...Bf6

• White has a small advantage in space.

13.Qg3 Nc5 14.Bg5 Nd3!?

• Black is neglecting his development.
• If 14...d6! 15.Re3 Bf5 16.Rae1 then:
• 16...Nd3 17.Re7 Bg6 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 19.R1e2 is equal.
• 16...Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h6 18.Nge4 White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

BLACK: David Howell



WHITE: Mickey Adams
Position after 14... Nc5d3

15.Re3!

• White has a good advantage in space.
• Not as effective is 15.Re2 Rb8 16.b3 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 when:
• 17...Nf4 18.Rd2 Bb7 19.Re1 Qxg5 20.Nxg5 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 17...Qxg5 18.Nxg5 d6 19.Rd1 Nf4 20.Re7 gives White a small advantage in space.

15...Nxb2 16.Rae1 Bxg5?

• This move looks impressive, but is premature and recoils on Black. Before underoing such operations, he should complete his development so that he can bring all his pieces into the attack or some auxiliary operation like shutting down counterplay.
• Correct is 16...Ba6 (forcing White to defend the c-pawn, which is now attacked twice) 17.Re7!! then:
• 17...Bxc3 18.R1e3 Rf5 19.Rxc3 gives White much more compensation than he needs for the pawn.
• 17...Bxe7 18.Rxe7 Rxf3 19.gxf3 Qf8 20.Rxd7 gives White the active game.

17.Nxg5 Qf6 18.Rf3!

• White wins in all variations.

18...Qd8

• If 18...Qd6 19.Rxf8+ Qxf8 20.Nce4 Kh8 21.Nd6!! wins for White:
• If 21...cxd6 22.Qh3 h6 23.Qf5!! then:
• 23...hxg5 24.Qxf8+ Kh7 25.Re7 Kh6 26.g4 Nxc4 27.Qxg7#.
• 23...Qxf5 24.Re8+ forces mate on the next move.
• If 21...Kg8 22.Ndf7 Bb7 23.Nh6+ then:
• If 23...gxh6 24.Ne6+ Kf7 25.Nxf8 then:
• 25...Rxf8 26.Re4 Nd3 27.Qf3+ Kg8 28.Rg4+ is mate on White's next move.
• 25...Nd3 26.Qf3+ Kg8 27.Re7 Ne5 28.Qf6 is mate in no more than two moves.
• If 23...Kh8 24.Ngf7+ Qxf7 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Re7 then:
• 27...Rg8 28.Nf7#.
• 27...gxh6 28.Qg7#.

19.Nce4 Ba6 20.Nxh7 Rxf3

• No better is 20...Kxh7 when 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Qf3+ Qf6 24.Nh7+ wins.

BLACK: David Howell



WHITE: Mickey Adams
Position after 20...Rf8f3:R

21.gxf3!!

• 21.Qxf3! Kxh7 22.Qf5+ Kg8 23.Ng5 also wins, but this is prettier.

21...Kxh7 22.Ng5+ Kg8 23.Qh4 Bxc4 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Re5 Be6

• If 25...Qf6 then White wins after 26.Qh8+ Bg8 27.Nh7+.

26.Qh8+ Ke7

• Black commits harikari by allowing mate in two.
• If 26...Bg8 then White wins easily after 27.Rf5+ Qf6 28.Nh7+.

27.Qxg7+ Kd6 28.Ne4# 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

6. 77th Brazilian National Championship, Americana

Matrix Church of Sto. Antonio,
Americana, state of São Paulo, Brazil
Photo by Carlosar in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Vescovi - Leitão, Round 7

Giovanni Vescovi won the Brazilian National Championship last week.



There is no photo of Giovanni Vescovi available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Giovanni Vescovi - Rafael Leitão
77th Brazilian National Championship, Round 7
Americana, 4 December 2010

Slav Queen's Gambit: Karlsbad Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6

• For moves and vafriations up to here, see Carlsen-Nakamura, IT, London, 2009.

7.Be2

• 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.e4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bb4 10.Qd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 a5 12.Bg5 e5 13.Rad1 Qb6 14.d5 0-0 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Qg3 Qc5 is equal (Alberrán-Gómez, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 2004).

7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bh5 9.Be2

• 9.Qb3 b5 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Qc2 Rc8 12.a3 a6 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Be2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 0-0 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Papaioannou-Leitão, World ChT, Bursa, 2010).

9...Bxe2 10.Qxe2 c5

• 10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rd1 Nbd7 13.Nf3 c5 14.e4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Qb8 16.Nf3 Rd8 gives White the advantage in space (Tomashevsky-Malakhov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).

11.Qb5+

• 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.0-0 cxd4 13.Rd1 Be7 14.Nxd4 Qb6 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Eljanov-Jakovenko, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).

11...Qd7

• The game is equal.

12.dxc5 a6 13.Qxd7+ Nbxd7

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 13...Nb8d7:Q

14.c6!

• White returns the pawn and creates a weakness on Black's queenside.

14...bxc6 15.Ke2

• 15.Nf3 Rb8 16.Rb1 Bb4 17.Bd2 e5 18.Ke2 Ke7 remains equal.

15...Bd6

• 15...g5 16.Nf3 g4 17.Nd4 c5 18.Nc2 Bd6 remains equal.

16.Nf3 Ke7!?

• The text move is passive.
• Better and more active is 16...Nd5 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.Rac1 Ke7 19.Nd4 gives White a slight edge in space.

17.b3!

• White moves his pawn to a safer square and takes the advantage in space.

17...Rhc8 18.Bb2 Nb6!?

• Black is spreading himself too thin. The Knight moves to a square where it is without protection.
• 18...Rab8 19.Nd2 Nd5 20.Nc4 Bc7 21.Rhd1 continues to give White the advantage in space.

19.Nd2

• White has a larger advantage in space than before.

19...Kf8

• The move leaves the Bishop hanging, but Black may not have any good moves at all.
• If 19...a5 20.Nce4 Bb4 then:
• 21.Rhc1 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 f6 23.a3 Bd6 24.Rd1 gives White an impressive advantage in space.
• If 21.Nxf6!? gxf6 then:
• 22.Rhc1 a4 23.Nc4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If 22.Rac1 a4 23.e4 Nd7 24.Bc3 then:
• 24...Rcb8 25.Bxb4+ Rxb4 26.Rhd1 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 24...Bxc3 25.Rxc3 c5 26.Rhc1 Rcb8 27.R1c2 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

20.Nce4!

• As day follows night, White attacks the hanging Bishop.

20...Nxe4 21.Nxe4

• White has better minor pieces.

21...Be7 22.Rhc1!?

• White should lose some ground as result of this move, which uses the wrong Rook.
• 22.Rac1! c5 23.Rhd1 Rc6 24.Rc2 f6 maintains White's advantage.

22...a5!?

• However, Black misses his chance.
• 22...c5 23.Ba3 c4 24.Nd6 Bxd6 25.Bxd6+ leaves White with only a small advantage in space.

23.Bd4 Nd7 24.Nc5 Nxc5 25.Bxc5 Ke8?!

• Black falls further behind; he needs to overprotect his c-pawn.
• If 25...Ra6 26.f4 Rb8 27.Bd4 f6 28.Rc4 a4 29.bxa4 gives White a fair-to-middlin' advantage in space.

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 25...Kf8e8

26.Rc4!

• The Rook comes to a navigable rank.

26...Bxc5 27.Rxc5 Kd7?!

• The quarterback voluntarily comes out of the pocket.
• 27...a4 28.b4 a3 29.Rb1 Ra6 30.Rb3 Rb8 31.Kd3 isn't good for Balck, but it's no worse than before.

28.Rac1

• White will keep the c-pawn under pressure with one Rook while the the other moves elsewhere.

28...Ra6 29.R1c4 Kd6

• Black attacks the foremost Rook to force White to move.
• It would more flexible for White to use the hindmost Rook: if29...g6 then 30.Rh4! Rh8 31.Rf4 Ke7 32.Ra4 Rha8.

30.Rh5 Rh8 31.Rd4+ Ke7 32.Ra4 f5 33.e4

• If 33.f4 Kf6 34.e4 c5 35.e5+ Kf7 36.Rh3 gives White more freedom.

33...Kf6

• If 33...fxe4? then Black is in a world of hurt after 34.Rhxa5! Rxa5 35.Rxa5.

34.Rh3 c5!?

• The weak pawn strays out from under the protection of the Rook.
• Better is 34...h6 35.Rc3 Rb8 36.Rac4 fxe4 37.Ke3 Rb5 38.h3 when Black still has his pawns under cover.

35.Rc3!

• White takes advantage of Black's weak queenside. Black's reply is practically forced.

35...Rc8 36.Rc2 Ke5

• this move is best under the circumstances.
• 36...h5!? 37.b4 Ke5 38.exf5 exf5 39.b5 Ra7 40.f4+ restricts Black's mobility and forces Black to contend with White's passed b-pawn.

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 36...Kf6e5

37.h4!

• White moves to shut down counterplay on the kingside.
• Also good is 37.Ke3! f4+ 38.Kf3 h6 39.Kg4 g5 when:
• 40.Kh5 Raa8 41.Rac4 Rc7 42.f3 Rac8 43.a3 Kd6 44.Ra4 gives White a greater potential for initiative.
• If 40.g3 Rc7 41.Rac4 Rac6 42.R2c3 then:
• 42...Rf7 43.Rxc5+ Rxc5 44.Rxc5+ Kxe4 45.Rxa5 gives White an extra pawn and two connected passers on the queenside, the fruit of weakening Black's queenside on move 14.
• 42...fxg3 43.hxg3 Rc8 44.Kh5 Rf8 45.f3 Rc7 46.Rxc5+ gives White an extra pawn and the more active Rook.

37...g6

• If 37...h6?! 38.h5 then:
• 38...fxe4 39.Ke3 Rd6 40.Rc3 Rd5 41.Rxa5 Kf6 42.g4 gives White more freedom.
• If 38...f4? then after 39.Kf3! Rc7 40.Rac4 Rac6 41.a3 strips Black of his reserve pawn tempi, and now:
• 41...Kd6 42.Kxf4 Rf7+ 43.Kg4 Rb7 44.R2c3 gives White a winning position.
• 41...Rc8 42.b4 axb4 43.axb4 then:
• If 43...Ra8 44.Rxc5+ Rxc5 45.Rxc5+ then:
• 45...Kd4 46.Ra5 Rc8 47.b5 Rc3+ 48.Kxf4 gives White two extra pawns.
• 45...Kf6 46.Kxf4 g5+ 47.hxg6 Ra2 48.g7 Kxg7 49.Ke5 White wins.
• 43...Rb8 44.Rxc5+ Rxc5 45.Rxc5+ Kd4 46.Kxf4 Rf8+ 47.Kg3 gives White two extra pawns.
• If 41...a4 42.b4 then:
• If 42...Kd6 43.Kxf4 e5+ 44.Kf5 cxb4 45.Rd2+ Ke7 then:
• 46.Rxb4 Ra7 47.Rb5 Rf6+ 48.Kxe5 Kf7 49.f3 wins.
• If 46.Rxc6!? then White should still win after 46...Rxc6 47.axb4 Rb6 48.f3 Rxb4 , but with more difficulty.
• 42...Rd7 43.Rxc5+ Rxc5 44.Rxc5+ Kf6 45.Kxf4 gives White two extra pawns.

38.Ke3 Ra7

• If 38...Rc7 39.Rac4 Rac6 40.g3 h6 41.f4+ Kd6 42.e5+ gives White more freedom.

39.f4+ Kd6 40.b4 fxe4

• If 40...c4 41.bxa5 c3 42.e5+ Ke7 43.g3 Rc5 44.Kd4 assures that Black will remain at least one pawn ahead.

41.Kxe4 c4 42.bxa5 Rc5?

• Black's c-pawn is inadequately protected.
• If 42...c3 43.g3 Rc5 44.a6 Rc6 45.a3 then:
• 45...h5 46.Ra5 Ke7 47.Kd4 Kf6 48.Kd3 leaves Black with an uphill battle for a draw, but he has much better chances than in the text.
• 45...e5 46.fxe5+ Ke6 47.g4 Raxa6 48.Rxa6 Rxa6 49.Rxc3 gives White two extra pawns, but he has no good moves.

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 42...Rc8c5

43.Rcxc4!

• White overprotects his a-pawn while taking advantage of Black's last move and taking the c-pawn.
• Wrong is 43.Raxc4?! Rcxa5 44.Rc6+ Kd7 45.a4 Rh5 46.R6c4when White has one extra pawn which he will have to struggle to hold.

43...Raxa5 44.Rd4+ Ke7

• If 44...Kc6 45.g4 Rxa4 46.Rxa4 then:
• 46...h5 47.Ra6+ Kd7 48.g5! leaves Black with no reserve pawn tempi and White with a extra pawn and a more active Rook.
• 46...Kb7 47.a3! h6 48.Kd3 h5 49.Re4 leaves Black with no reserve pawn tempi.

45.Rxa5 Rxa5 46.a4 Kf6

• If 46...Rh5 47.g4 then:
• 47...Ra5 48.g5 Ra8 49.Kd3 leave Black with no reserve pawn temp whil White has a passed pawn.
• 47...Rxh4?? loses immediately to 48.a5.

47.g4 e5

• Black is running out of reserve pawn tempi and must weigh carefully the benefits and disadvantages of every pawn move.
• If 47...h5 48.g5+ Ke7 49.Kd3 Ra8 50.Kc3 then:
• 50...e5 51.fxe5 Ke6 52.Re4 leaves Black with no effective moves.
• 50...Rc8+ 51.Kb4 Rb8+ 52.Kc5 Rc8+ 53.Kb6 etc.

48.g5+ Ke6 49.fxe5 Rxe5+ 50.Kd3 Ra5

• If 50...Rc5 51.Rb4 Ra5 52.Kc4 then:
• If 52...Kd6 then White drives Black back with the Lasker Maneuver: 53.Kb3 Ra7 54.Rb6+ Kc5 55.Rb5+ Kc6 56.Kb4.
• 52...Ra8 53.Kb3 Kd5 54.Rb7! wins a pawn.

51.Kc3 Ke5 52.Rb4

• White wins faster after 52.Rg4 Kd5 53.Kb4 Ra8 54.a5 Rb8+ 55.Kc3.

52...Ra7

• Black digs his grave deeper.
• 52...Kd6 53.Kb3 Ra7 54.Rb6+ Kc5 55.Rb5+ Kc6 gives White a clear advantage, but not as clear as the text.

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 52...Ra5a7

53.Rb5+!

• White is clearly making progress.
• Also good is 53.Kc4 Kd6 54.Kb5 then:
• 54...Kd5 55.Kb6 Ra8 56.Rb5+ wins for White.
• 54...Rb7+ then after 55.Ka5 Ra7+ 56.Kb6 White wins easily.

53...Kf4

• Black sends his King off to attack White's Kingside pawns and drives another nail in his own coffin.
• Little better is 53...Kd6 54.a5 Kc6 55.Kc4 Ra8 56.Rc5+.

54.Kb3 Kg4 55.Rb4+ Kf5 56.Rc4 Ke5 57.Kb4 Kd5

BLACK: Rafael Leitão



WHITE: Giovanni Vescovi
Position after 57...Ke5d5

58.Rc5+

• White has a quicker win from 58.Kb5! Rb7+ 59.Ka6 Rf7 when:
• If 60.Rc8 Rf4 61.a5 Rb4 62.Ka7 then:
• 62...Kd6 63.a6 Rxh4 64.Kb6 Rb4+ 65.Ka5 wins easily for White.
• 62...Ke5 63.a6 Kd6 64.Rh8 Rxh4 65.Kb6 Rb4+ 66.Ka5 wins.
• If 60.Rc1 then:
• 60...Rf4 61.Kb5 Rxh4 62.Rc5+ Kd6 63.a5 h5 64.Rc6+!! re-establishes White's material superiority and now he simply put his Rook behind Black's passer and escorts the a-pawn to promotion.
• 60...h5 61.a5 Rf4 62.Kb5 Rxh4 63.a6! leaves Black unable to stop the a-pawn.

58...Kd6 59.a5 Rb7+ 60.Rb5 Rf7

• No better is 60...Rd7 61.Rb6+ Kc7 62.Kc5 when:
• 62...Rd2 63.Re6 Rc2+ 64.Kd4 Ra2 65.a6 Ra4+ 66.Kc5.
• 62...Re7 63.a6 Re5+ 64.Kd4 Ra5 65.Rb7+ wins.

61.a6 Kc6 62.Ra5 Rf4+ 63.Kc3 Rf8 64.a7 Ra8 65.Kc4 Kb6

• If 65...Kb7 then White wins after 66.Kb5 Kc7 67.Ra4.
• If 65...Kd6 66.Kb5 then:
• 66...Kc7 67.Ka6 Kc6 68.Ra3 Rf8 69.Rb3 Kc7 70.Rb7+ wins.
• Black may as well resign as play 66...Rc8 67.a8Q Rxa8 68.Rxa8.

66.Ra2 Rc8+ 67.Kd5 Ra8 68.Ke6 1-0

• If 68...Kc6 then after 69.Kf7 Kd5 70.Kg7 Black's kingside pawns fall.
• O senhor Leitão resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Thursday): Magnus-ificence in London; Russian National Championship; Women's Semifinals

Magnus Pulls it off in London

Twenty-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who at 18 become the youngest person ever to be rated number one on FIDE's official ranking list, survived two early losses and was very fortunate not to take a third in the sixth round to win the seven-round second annual London Chess Classic.

Magnus also won the first London Chess Class one year ago.

Magnus won four, lost two and drew one to finsh ahead of world champion Vishy Anand and British GM Luke McShane, who each won two games and drew five. The tournament uses the "soccer style" scoring system where a win is worth three points and a draw 1, giving Magnus a total of 13 points while the world champion and Mr. McShane scored 11 points each. In the conventional scoring system, all three would have had 4½ points each and Magnus would have had the lowest tie break score to relagate him to third place.

Magnus lost his first round game to McShane and his third round game to Anand before winning two games in a row to suddenly emerge in the running for the top prizes. In Round 6, he faced former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russian, who was beating Magnus for most of the day but an endgame misstep from one of today's finest endgame artists allowed Magnus to scratch out a draw. With all three on ten points going into the final round, Magnus crushed British GM and former challenger to the world title Nigel Short, while Anand drew with Kramnik and McShane drew with fellow British GM David Howell.


Russian Superfinal Begins; Svidler leads after 6 Rds

The Russian National Championships, formally given the informal name "Superfinal", began last Saturday in Moscow.

Five-time Russian national champion Peter Svidler of St. Petersburg leads the event after six rounds with 4½ points. Just behind him is Sergey Karjakin with 4 points, followed by defending champion Alexander Grischuk and young GM Ian Nepomniachtchi with 3½ points each.

The tournament is a single round robin among 12 contestants. The final round will be played December 22. Tomorrow is a rest day.


World Women's Championship Begins Semi-Final Round

The knock out tornament to determine the new world women's chess champion started its semi-final round today in the Turkish city of Antakya (Antioch) with ladies from Asia filling all four slots.

Sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan from China again battles Koneru Humpy of India, ranked number 3 and 2 among women respectively, in an encore performance of their semi-final confrontation in the last world women's championship two years ago. Ms. Hou, then only 14, won that contest before falling to Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk in the final round. In today's first game of the semi-finals, Ms. Hou, playing White, defeated Ms. Koneru in 78 moves.

The other semi-final match features grandmaster Zhao Xue against WGM Ruan Lufei, both from China. In today's game, with Ms. Ruan playing White, the ladies agreed to a draw in just 25 moves.

The action continues tomorrow with the player who had White today playing Black. Saturday is set aside for any necessary playoffs and Sunday is a rest day. The winners of the two semi-final matches will meet in the final round beginning Monday. The final round is a four-game match with a fifth day set aside for tiebreaks. The new world women's champion will be crowned Christmas Eve.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Friday): Going way out on a limb, we predict the next women's champ . . .

Going way out on a limb, we predict the next world women's champion will be from China.

Hou Yifan Advances to Final in Antakya



Hou Yifan
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan of China defeated India's Koneru Humpy today in their semi-final match of the women's world championship in Antakya, Turkey, 1½-½, after today's game ended in a draw and advances to the final round beginning Monday.

Ms. Hou offered a draw on the 45th move holding a commanding position which she would have most likely won had the game continued. Having won yesterday's game, she needed only to avoid loss today in order to advance.

In the other semi-final match, Zhao Xue and Ruan Lufei, both of China, drew their second game and end the standard games in a 1-1 tie. They will play rapid and blitz games tomorrow to determine which of them will face Ms. Hou in the final match starting Monday.

Ms. Hou also defeated Ms. Koneru in the semi-final round in the last women's championship knock out tournament two years ago in Nalchik, Russia. Ms. Hou lost the final match to Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia, who was eliminated in the third round of the present event.

Ms. Hou should be a heavy favorite to win the title in the final match over the eventual winner of the Ruan-Zhao match.

Should Ms. Hou become the world women's champion, she will be the youngest ever to hold the title. Maia Chiburdanidze of Georgia, then part of the Soviet Union, won the title in 1978 at the age of 17.