Sports

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:31 PM

Sep 2012

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 13 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on [link:http//:imgur.com/|imgur].com.
[center]
BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)
[/center]

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

2. Russian National Championships, General and Women's Groups

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:32 PM

Sep 2012

[center]

Red Square, Moscow
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Adam Baker, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

3. Andreikin - Sjugirov, Round 6

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:36 PM

Sep 2012

Former world junior champion Dmitry Andreikin, 22, won a six-way playoff to become the new Russian National Champion.

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Dmitry Andreikin available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Andreikin,Dmitry - Sanan Sjugirov
Russian National Championship, Round 6
Moscow, 9 August 2012

Open Caro-Kann Game: Karpov Defense

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bd3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Ne5 0-0 12.Ngf3 a6 (N)

For moves and variations up to here, see the [font color="blue"]blue notes to Black's fourth move[/font] in Kamsky-Seirawan, US Ch, St. Louis, 2012.
If [font color="red"]12...Nbd7 13.0-0 Qc7 14.Bf4 Bd6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Rfe1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Nc5 16.Rad1 b6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.c3 Bb7 18.Bc2 Rfd8 19.Rd4 a5 20.b4[/font] gives White a small advantage with the initiative and more space (Godena-Malakhov, Op, Montecatini Terme, 1997).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Bb5 Nd5 18.Bg3 Bb7 19.c4 Nf6 20.Rxd6 Qxd6[/font] is equal (Klovans-Vyzmanavin, Soviet Ch ½-final, Minsk, 1983).

If [font color="darkred"]15...Nxe5!?[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Nxe5 b6 17.Rad1 Bb7 18.Bg3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Rad8 19.c3 Ba8 20.Bb1 Qb7 21.f3 Be7 22.Bf2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Geller-Dlugy, Athens, 1984).
[font color="darkorange"]18...Rfd8 19.c3 Bd5 20.Bb1 Rac8 21.Rd4 Qb7 22.Ng4[/font] is equal (T. Horvath-Chandler, IT, Keszthely, Hungary, 1981).

[font color="magenta"]16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.Qxe5 Qxe5 18.Nxe5 Rd8 19.Rad1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Godena-Papaioannou, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Bxd6 Qxd6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Ne5 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Nxd7 Rxd7 20.c3 Rad8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with command of the d-file (Jansa-Kholmov, TT, Budapest, 1976).
[font color="magenta"]17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Qe5 Rac8 19.Qxc7[/font] draw (Vladimirov-Kharitonov, Soviet Army Ch, Frunze, 1988).

13.g4

White has a small advantage in space.

13...Nbd5?!

The Knight a b6 covers weak light squares on the queenside. At d5, the Knight has little future.
If [font color="red"]13...Nfd7 14.Bd2 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Qf6 16.0-0[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

14.Rg1!?

This isn't objectively the best, and may have been a calculated risk that paid off in spades.
If [font color="red"]14.g5! hxg5 15.Bxg5 Qa5+ 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.0-0-0[/font] gives White command of the center and a safer King.
Also worth considering is [font color="blue"]14.Bd2[/font] when:

[font color="blue"]14...Nd7 15.h4 Bd6 16.g5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
If [font color="darkblue"]14...Qb6?! 15.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]15...Nd7 16.h4 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bd6 18.Nc4 Qc6 19.g5[/font] leaves White poised for a vicious kingside attack.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Nb4? 16.Bxb4![/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16...Qxb4 17.Rhg1[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]17...Qf4+ 18.Kb1[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]18...Nd7 19.g5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 hxg5 21.Qh5 Qh4 22.Bh7+[/font] wins it all after 22...Kh8 23.Nxf7+ Rxf7 24.Qxf7 Kxh7 25.Rd8.
[font color="steelblue"]18...Nd5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="steelblue"]19.c3 g6 20.g5! h5 21.Qc2 Bd6 22.Rde1.[/font]

[font color="slateblue"]17...Bd6[/font] then White wins after [font color="slateblue"]18.h4 Nd5 19.a3 Qf4+ 20.Kb1.[/font]

If [font color="darkcyan"]16...Bxb4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkcyan"]17.Rhg1 Qa5 18.c3 Be7 19.g5 hxg5 20.Nxg5.[/font]

14...Bb4+?

White apparently doesn't see the calamity after White's reply.
[font color="red"]14...Qb6 15.a3 Bd4 16.Kf1 Bxe5 17.Nxe5 Nd7 18.c4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Sanan Sjugirov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andeikin[/center][center]Position after 14...Bc5b4+[/center]

15.Kf1!

White does what he has to do. The King is only slightly safer here than in the center, but White had a better cneter and the makings of a kingside attack.
[font color="red"]15.Bd2? Nf4 16.Qe3 N6d5 17.Qe4 Bxd2+ 18.Nxd2 f5[/font] is equal; White's King is still in the center, his Queen is being knocked about and Black's Knight are at play in the center.

15...Be7 16.g5!

The pawn advance brings White's who position to life.

16...hxg5 17.Nxg5

Suddenly, Black's kingside looks unprepared.
Also good is [font color="red"]17.Bxg5 Qc7 18.Qd2 Ne8 19.Bh6 f5 20.Re1.[/font]

17...Bd6

No better is [font color="red"]17...Qc7 18.Nh7[/font] when:

[font color="red"]18...Ne8 19.Qh5 f5 20.Nxf8 Bxf8 21.Ng6[/font] White's Queen and Knight are ready to knock the Black King from g8 to Timbuktu.
[font color="darkred"]18...Nxh7[/font] loses quickly after [font color="darkred"]19.Bxh7+ Kh8 20.Bd3 Ne3+ 21.Qxe3 f5 22.Qh3+.[/font]

18.Nh7 Qc7 19.Bh6!

Black is completely busted.

19...Ne8

If [font color="red"]19...g6 20.Nxf6+ Nxf6 21.Nxg6!![/font] (stripping the Black King of all protection) [font color="red"]21...fxg6 22.Rxg6+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22...Kf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]23.Rg7+ Ke8 24.Bg6+ Rf7 25.Rd1[/font]
[font color="darkred"]22...Kh8 23.Bxf8 Bxf8 24.Rxf6 Kg8 25.Qh5[/font] puts the Black King in a mating net.

20.Bxg7 Nxg7

[center]BLACK: Sanan Sjugirov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andeikin[/center][center]Position after 20...Ne8g7:B[/center]

21.Rxg7+!!

The sacrifice rounds off a splendid attack.

21...Kxg7 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.Nf6 1-0

If [font color="red"]23...Ne7[/font] then White gives mate after a forced march: [font color="red"]24.Qh4+ Kg7 25.Qh7+ Kxf6 26.Ng4+ Kg5 27.Qh6+ Kxg4 28.h3+ Kf3 29.Qe3#.[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

4. Pogonina - Gunina, Round 5

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:38 PM

Sep 2012

Natalia Pogonina is the new Russinan Women's Champion.

[center][/center]

[center]Natalia Pogonina[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Otdanon in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Natalia_Pogonina)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Natalia Pogonina - Valentina Gunina
Russian Women's Championship, Round 5
Moscow, 7 August 2012

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 h6

For moves up to here, see N. Kosintseva-Danielian, Grand Prix W, Jermuk, 2012.

7.Nbd2 Bg6

If [font color="red"]7...Nd7 8.Nb3 Bh7 9.Bd2 Ng6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.a4 Be7 11.a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...0-0 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qb8 14.Re1 Rd8 15.Qe2[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Efimenko-Joriczik, Bundesliga 0809, Tegernsee, 2008).
If [font color="darkred"]11...a6?! 12.c4 0-0 13.cxd5 exd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Ne1?! c5 15.f4 Nh4 16.Nf3 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Naiditsch-Röder, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
[font color="magenta"]14.Re1! Re8 15.Bd3 Ndf8 16.Qc2 Ne6 17.Nc1[/font] gives White a fair advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]10.c4 dxc4 11.Na5 Rb8 12.Nxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Nb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Na5 Nh4 14.b4 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3[/font] is equal (N. Mamedov-Jobava, Op, Baku, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]13.Rc1 Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Be7 15.Bd3 0-0 16.g3[/font] gives White a samll adavantage in space.

[font color="magenta"]12...Nh4 13.Nxh4 Qxh4 14.f4 Nb6 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Be3[/font] gives White a fair advantage; the pawn break d4d5 may be of some use (Lastin-Timman, Op, Buku, 2008).

8.Nb3

[font color="red"]8.c3 Nf5 9.Nb3 Nd7 10.a4 Be7 11.g4 Nh4[/font] is equal (Pogonina-Ushenina, World Epd ChW, Batumi, 2012).

8...Nf5

If [font color="red"]8...Nd7 9.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Nc8!? 10.c4 dxc4 11.Na5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Qc7 12.Nxc4 Ncb6 13.Ba5 Be7 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Ivanchuk, Mindgames Blind, Beijing, 2011).
If [font color="darkred"]11...Rb8 12.Nxc4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Ncb6?! 13.Ba5! Be7 14.Qb3 0-0 15.Rac1[/font] gives White a comfortable game.(Svidler-Dreev, World Rpd Ch, Astana, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]12...Ndb6 13.Ne3 Be7 14.a4 Nd5 15.a5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorchid"]9...Nf5! 10.Rc1! Be7 11.Ba5 b6 12.Bd2 0-0 13.c4[/font] is equal (Grischuk-Bologan, World Rpd Ch, Astana, 2012).

9.a4 Nd7 10.a5 a6 (N)

[font color="red"]10...Rc8 11.c4 Be7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 0-0[/font] is equal (Karjakin-Grischuk, World Rpd Ch, Astana, Kazakhstan, 2012).

11.c4

White has a slight advantage in space.

11...Be7 12.cxd5

[font color="red"]12.Bf4!? 0-0 13.h3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 c5[/font] is equal.

12...cxd5 13.Bd3

White should overprotect his head pawn.
[font color="red"]13.Bf4 b6 14.g4 Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxh4[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

13...0-0 14.g4 Nh4

[liObviously, the Knight has no place else to go.]
15.Nxh4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Bxh4

White continues to enjoy a slight edge.

17.Bd2 f5 18.h3!?

White eschews the c-file.
If [font color="red"]18.Rac1 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.f4 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Rf7 21.h3 g5 22.Kh2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]19.Be3!? b5! 20.axb6 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Qxb6 22.gxf5 Rxf5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 18.h2h3[/center]

18...Rf7!?

Black does likewise.
[font color="red"]18...Rc8! 19.Rac1 Rxc1 20.Nxc1 Qe8 21.Kg2 Nb8[/font] is equal.

19.f4!?

White has a clear advantage in space on the kingside, but still invites Black to seize the queenside.
If [font color="red"]19.Rac1! Bg5 20.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...Bh4 21.Qc2 Qe7 22.Rf3 Nb8 23.Nc5 Nc6 24.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]20...Be7!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Kh2 Rc8 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Rc1 Qb8[/font] gives White command of the c-file and a tremendous advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]21.Qc3!? Nf8! 22.Rc2 Qd7 23.Qd3 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Qxc8[/font] is equal.

19...Rc8!?

Black takes the file, but cannot hold it this way. White should still have a slight advantage.
If [font color="red"]19...Be7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Kh2 Rc8 21.Rg1 Bf8 22.Rac1 Nb8 23.Rxc8 Qxc8 24.Rc1 Nc6[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]20.Rac1 Nb8 21.Na1 Nc6 22.Nc2 Qd7 23.gxf5 Rxf5 24.Ne3 Rf7[/font] is equal.

20.Kh2!?

This simply allows Black to correct her mistake from his previous move.
[font color="red"]20.Rac1! Rxc1 21.Rxc1 g5 22.Kh2 Kg7 23.Qe2[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

20...Be7!

The game is equal.

21.Rg1 Nf8

[font color="red"]21...Bf8 22.Rac1 Nb8 23.Rxc8 Qxc8 24.Rc1 Qd8 25.Kg3[/font] remains equal; although White has advanced her King on the third rank, a King and pawn ending would be a likely draw.

22.Rg3

If [font color="red"]22.Rac1![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22...Rc7 23.Rxc7! Qxc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]24.Nc1! Bh4 25.Ne2 Qd7 26.Ng3 Bxg3+ 27.Kxg3 Ng6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="magenta"]24.Rc1!? Qd7 25.Nc5 Bxc5 26.dxc5 Qc6 27.Kg3 Ng6[/font] gives each side a passed pawn, but Black has already set up a blockade.

[font color="darkred"]22...Rxc1 23.Nxc1! Qd7 24.Ne2 Bh4 25.Ng3 Bxg3+ 26.Kxg3[/font] remains equal.

The imporance of keeping the c1 file clear for use by the Knight in the above Fritz-furnished variations is to prevent the Knight from becoming a liability on b3 with no good squares to which to move.

22...Rc7 23.Rag1

If [font color="red"]23.Rc1 Rxc1 24.Nxc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Kh7 25.Rg1 Ng6 26.Qg3 Qe8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]24...b5!? 25.Rg1! Qc8 26.b3 fxg4 27.hxg4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

23...Bh4!?

Black wastes a tempo chasing a Rook that is just a well placed at g2 as g3.
Better is [font color="red"]23...Qd7[/font] (hitting the uncovered square a4) [font color="red"]24.Rc1[/font] when:

[font color="red"]24...Qc8 25.Rxc7 Qxc7 26.Rg1[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]24...Rxc1 25.Nxc1 Qa4 26.Ne2 Bb4[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 23...Be7h4[/center]

24.R3g2!

White takes a small advantage in space.
[font color="red"]24.Rf3 Qe7 25.Rff1 Qd8 26.Nc5 Be7 27.b4[/font] gives White a durable advantage in space with better chances of breaking through her opponent's position.

24...Qc8 25.Bc3?!

Somewhat better is 25.Nc5, cutting the c-file even shorter and attacking two weak pawns.
If [font color="red"]25.Nc5 Be7 26.gxf5 Bxc5 27.fxe6 Qxe6 28.dxc5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

25...Ng6!

Black puts pressure on White's f-pawn.

26.Qe3!?

Since the Queen is well placed at d3, White should cover the pawn with 26.Rf1.
If [font color="red"]26.Rf1 Qe8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27.Bd2 Nf8 28.Bb4 Be7 29.Bxe7 Qxe7 30.Nc5[/font] gives White a small advantage.
[font color="darkred"]27.Nc5 Bd8 28.Bd2 Nh4 29.Rgg1 Rc6 30.Be1[/font] gives White a small advantage.

26...Ne7!

The game is equal.

27.Nd2!?

The Knight should go forward to c5, where it blocks the c-file controled by Black. The Knight has little future on the kingside.
If [font color="red"]27.Nc5 fxg4 28.hxg4 g5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29.fxg5 Bxg5 30.Qd3 Rxc5 31.dxc5 Qxc5 32.b4[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]29.f5 exf5 30.e6 Rf8 31.Kh1 Qd8 32.Nd7 f4[/font] remains equal.

27...fxg4!

Black has a small advantage in space.

28.hxg4 g5 29.f5?!

White allows Black to obtain connected passers.
If [font color="red"]29.fxg5 Bxg5 30.Qd3 Qf8 31.Bb4 Rf2 32.Kh1 Kg7[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

29...exf5!

Black takes advantage of White's inaccuracy.

30.e6

If [font color="red"]30.gxf5[/font] then [font color="red"]30...Rxf5 31.Kh1 Qf8 32.Qd3 Ng6 33.Rh2 Rc6[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and connected kingside passers.

30...Rf6?!

Black doesn't need to be in any hurry to take the pawn.
Better is [font color="red"]30...Rf8![/font] when [font color="red"]31.gxf5 Nxf5 32.Qe5 Re7 33.Qxd5 Qxe6[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and connected kingside passers.

31.gxf5!

Black still has a comfortable game with virtually an extra pawn (White's pawn at f5 is dead wood) and two connected passers on the kingside, but White's passed pawnat e6 is a bone in Black's throat.

31...Rc6

Black has ways to blow her winning chances.
If [font color="red"]31...Nxf5?![/font] then [font color="red"]32.Qe5! Rxc3 33.bxc3 Qxe6 34.Nf3[/font] gives White more freedom and activity in compenstion for Black's two extra pawns.

32.Qh3 Nxf5 33.Nf3 Rcxe6?!

Black throws away a likely win.
If [font color="red"]33...Kh8 34.Bd2 Qxe6 35.Nxg5 hxg5 36.Bxg5 Rg6[/font] gives Black an extra piece.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 33...Rc6e6:p[/center]

34.Nxh4!

The game is equal; White has a piece for two pawns.

34...Qc7+

[font color="red"]34...Nxh4?! 35.Qxh4! Qc7+ 36.Kh1 Qf4 37.Qh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37...Qf3 38.Qxf3 Rxf3 39.Rc1 Rf4 40.Kg1[/font] gives White active pieces and an extra piece for just two pawns; Black also active Rooks.
If [font color="darkred"]37...Re3?? 38.Rxg5+!! hxg5 39.Rxg5+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...Qxg5 40.Qxg5+ Kf7 41.Qxe3[/font] leaves Black kaput.
[font color="magenta"]39...Kf8 40.Bb4+! Rd6 41.Bxd6+ Qxd6 42.Qh8+ Ke7 43.Rg7+[/font] leades to mate.

35.Kh1 Re3 36.Nf3 Qf4

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 36...Qc7f4[/center]

37.Nxg5!!

The sacrifice is the only move.
If [font color="red"]37.Rf1?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]37...Nh4 38.Rg4 Rxf3 39.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 40.Qxf3 Rxf3.[/font]

37...hxg5

If [font color="red"]37...Rxh3+?? 38.Nxh3+ Ng3+ 39.Rxg3+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Qxg3 40.Rxg3+ Kh7 41.Kg2[/font] leaves White two pieces to the good.
If [font color="darkred"]39...Kh7[/font] then [font color="darkred"]40.Rg7+ Kh8 41.Rg8+ Kh7 42.R1g7#.[/font]

38.Rxg5+ Kf8??

There is a big, big difference between putting the King on the second rank and the back rank now.
If [font color="red"]38...Kf7 39.Qh7+ Ke6 40.Qg8+ Kd7 41.Qxd5+ Kc7 42.Rh5[/font] remains equal.

39.Rg8+!

Suddenly, Black is lost. Apart from that, the most devastating this about the move is that it gets the Rook into action. That doesn't happen after 38...Kf7 because g7 in unavailable for White.

39...Ke7 40.Bb4+ Kd7 41.R1g7+ Kc6

If [font color="red"]41...Re7[/font] then [font color="red"]42.Rxe7+ Kc6 43.Rc8+ Kb5 44.Rc5+ Kxb4 45.Qa3#.[/font]

42.Rc8+ Kb5 43.Rxb7+ Ka4 44.b3+ Kxb3

Black can no longer escape mate, but she's lost even without an immediate mate in the air.
[font color="red"]44...Rxb3 45.Qxb3+ Kxb3 46.Bd6+[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 44...Ka4b3:p[/center]

45.Rc3+

No matter how Black gets out of check, the King march to doom continues.

45...Ka2

If [font color="red"]45...Rxc3[/font] then [font color="red"]46.Qxc3+ Ka2 47.Qc2+ Ka1 48.Bc3#.[/font]

46.Qg2+ 1-0

White soon delivers mate.
Valentina Evgenyevna resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

19. Karjakin - Alekseev, Round 7

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:03 PM

Sep 2012

[center]

Sergey Karjakin
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sergey_Karjakin)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Sergey Karjakin - Evgeny Alekseev
Russian National Championship, Round 7
Moscow, 10 August 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d6 7.Nf3 Re8

For moves up to here, see Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.
For what follows [font color="red"]7...Nbd7 8.e3 b6[/font[ see [font color="darkblue"]Koneru-A. Muzychuk, Euro Club CupW, Ohrid, 2009[/font] and subordinate lines in the Bacrot-David game.

8.g3 Qe7 9.b4 (N)

[font color="red"]9.Bg2 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.0-0 a5 12.Be3 a4[/font] is equal (Firsov-Shmakov, Zheleznogorsk Ch, 2007).

9...e5

The game is equal.

10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Bb2

[font color="red"]11.Bg2 Nc6 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Be3 a6 14.Rad1 h6[/font] remains equal.

11...Nc6 12.Bg2!?

White should play this, but there will be time later; first, he should play aggressively against Black's weak points.
If [font color="red"]12.b5 e4 13.Nd2 Ne5 14.Bg2 Bf5 15.0-0[/font] remains equal.

12...Nd4!

Black finds some forcing moves that leaves White feeling discomfort in the e-file.

13.Nxd4 exd4

Black is a pawn to the good. The pawn at d4 is protected by nothing less than the threat of mate at e2.
Fritz rates the game as equal, but we see no reason not to call it a small advantage for White.

14.Qd2 Bg4 15.f3 Be6!?

Black blocks his own attack on the backward e-pawn and leaves his d-pawn exposed
If [font color="red"]15...d3 16.Qxd3 Rad8 17.Qc2 Qe3 18.Bc1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 15...Bg4e6[/center]

16.Bxd4!

White gets a moment to breathe and finds he has a small advantage in space.

16...Bxc4 17.e4 Nd7

[font color="red"]17...Rad8 18.Qc3 Qe6 19.Kf2 Rd7 20.e5 Nh5 21.Rhe1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

18.Qc3 b5 19.Bxg7!?

It certainly isn't too early to go pawn huunting and this capture weakens Black's King position. However, it also allows Black to chip away at White's spatial advantage and White's King safety is becoming a concern.
If [font color="red"]19.Kf2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"] 19...Rad8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Bf1 c5 21.bxc5 Nxc5 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Qxc4[/font] gives White a small advantage; Black should play 23...Rc8 in order to maintain his presence on c5.
If [font color="darkred"]20.Rhd1 c5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Be3 h5 22.h4 a6 23.Rac1 f5 24.Bg5[/font] gives White the initiative and a slight advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]21.Bxg7!? Qg5 22.Bh3 Be6 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.Rd2 cxb4[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkred"]19...g6 20.Rhd1 c5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.bxc5 Nxc5 22.Bf6 Qc7 23.Kg1 Rac8 24.Rab1[/font] gives White better activity for his pieces; Black has a distant pawn majority.
If [font color="magenta"]21.Be3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]22.bxa5 Ne5 23.Kg1 Red8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rb1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.
[font color="darkorange"]22.bxc5?! Nxc5 23.Bh3 Na4 24.Qd4 Red8 25.Bd7[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space

If [font color="blue"]19.Bf1 Bxf1 20.Kxf1 f5 21.Qb3+[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]21...Kh8 22.exf5 Qe2+ 23.Kg1 Ne5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Kg2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
[font color="darkblue"]21...Kf8 22.Kg2 fxe4 23.Rac1 Qe6 24.Qxe6 Rxe6 25.Rxc7[/font] gives White a clear advantage with the Rook on the seventh rank.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 19.Bd4g7:p[/center]

19...f5!

Black takes advantage of White's neglect of his King safety.
Also good is [font color="red"]19...Rad8! 20.Bf1 f6 21.Bh6 Ne5 22.Kf2 f5[/font] with equality.

20.Bh6!?

White continues to neglect his King safety.
If [font color="red"]20.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...a5 21.bxa5 Nc5 22.Bf6 Qf7 23.e5 Rxa5[/font] reamins equal.
[font color="darkred"]20...Qxg7? 21.Qxg7+! Kxg7 22.Rxd7+ Kf8 23.e5[/font] gives White a Rook on the seventh ranki that is simultaneously attacking two loose pawns, a masked attack on the Rook at a8 and a passer aty e5.

20...fxe4!

Black has a slight advantage in space.

21.0-0-0 a5

If [font color="red"]21...c5 22.Qg7+ Qxg7 23.Bxg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Nb6 24.bxc5 Kxg7 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Kb2 b4[/font] continues to give Black the advantage.
[font color="darkred"]23...Kxg7?! 24.Rxd7+ Kf8 25.bxc5 exf3 26.Bxf3 Rac8 27.c6[/font] gives White a clear advantage.

22.bxa5 Nc5 23.Bf1 Nb3+!?

Black misses a chance to give the White King a case of clostrophobia.
If [font color="red"]23...Ba2![/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Be3 Na4 25.Qb4 c5!! 26.Qxb5 Qg7 27.Qxa4 Qc3+[/font] forces the exchange of Queens, leaving leaving the pawns in the a-file defenseless.
If [font color="darkred"]24.Qb2 Be6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.f4 e3 26.f5 Nb3+ 27.Kb1 Nd2+ 28.Rxd2 exd2[/font] gives Black a material advantage and an assortment of dangerous pawns.
[font color="magenta"]25.Re1?[/font] allows Black to penetrate on the a-file with devastating effect after [font color="magenta"]25...Rxa5! 26.Kb1 Rea8 27.Re3 Rb8 28.fxe4 b4.[/font]

24.Kb1!

The game is equal.

24...Nxa5 25.Bc1 Qe5 26.Qxe5 Rxe5 27.fxe4

[font color="red"]27.Bf4 Ree8 28.fxe4 Rxe4 29.Bxc7 Re3 30.Kb2 Rb3+[/font] remains equal; after White's a=pawn falls, Black's b-pawn will be as much a liability as an asset.

27...Bxf1!?

Take is a mistake. -- Igor Smirnov
Black allows White to bring his King's Rook into the action.
Correct is [font color="red"]27...Rxe4 28.Rd7 c6 29.Rc7 Be2 30.Bxe2 Rxe2 31.Bb2[/font] with continued equality.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 27...Bc4f1:B[/center]

28.Rhxf1!

Of course.

28...Nc4 29.Rd7 Rxe4!?

Black has a choice of teo pawns to take. He picks the wrong one.
If [font color="red"]29...Nxa3+ 30.Bxa3 Rxa3 31.Rff7 Rh5 32.Rfe7 Rf3 33.h4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage with better coordinated Rooks; Black has two connected passers, but one is almost dead wood.

30.Rff7!

White has two Rooks on the seventh rank; Black pawns will fall.

30...Nxa3+ 31.Bxa3 Rxa3 32.Rg7+ Kh8

If [font color="red"]32...Kf8 33.Rxh7 Rb4+ 34.Kc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Ke8 35.Rxc7 Rc4+ 36.Kb2 Rxc7 37.Rxc7 Rd3 38.Rc3[/font]
[font color="darkred"]34...Ra1+? 35.Kd2 Kg8 36.Rdg7+ Kf8 37.Rxc7 Kg8 38.Rcg7+[/font] gives White some serious mating possibilities that Black will avoid only with great care.

33.Rxh7+ Kg8 34.Rdg7+

If [font color="red"]34.Rxc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Re1+ 35.Kb2 Rf3 36.Rh6 Ree3 37.Rhc6 b4 38.Rc8+[/font] gives White only a small advantage.
[font color="darkred"]34...Rc4?! 35.Rcg7+! Kf8 36.Rb7 Kg8 37.Rhg7+ Kf8 38.Rgd7[/font] puts White on the brink of winning.

34...Kf8 35.Rxc7

White has a comfortable game with an extra pawn and two Rooks marauding the seventh rank.

35...Rb4+

Black's best course of action is to exchange one Rook.
If [font color="red"]35...Kg8?! 36.Rcg7+! Kf8 37.Rb7 Kg8 38.Rhd7 Re1+ 39.Kb2[/font] gives White a strong advantage. Must play a Rook to a place where a back rank mate can be blocked on the following move.

36.Kc2 Rc4+ 37.Kb2 Rxc7

The text move is forced. Anything else loses immediately.

38.Rxc7 b4

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 38...b5b4[/center]

White clearly wins any King-and-pawn ending. Black must therefore keep his Rook on the board and his b-pawn safe. White will be happy to exchange Rooks unless the Black King is able to capture one of White's pawns with letting the other get ahead of it. The best way to prevent this is to not advance the pawns prematurely and always keep the pawns in an echalon formation.

39.Kb1!?

The best plan is to attack the pawn laterally.
If [font color="red"]39.Rc4! Rd3 40.Kc1 Rb3 41.Rc2 Ke7 42.Rb2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42...Rf3 43.Kb1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Rf1+ 44.Ka2 Rf8 45.Rxb4[/font] allows White to shift his concern to making progress with his pawns.
[font color="burgundy"]43...b3 44.Rd2 Kf6 45.Kb2 Kg5 46.Ka3 Kg4 47.Rb2 Re3 48.Rxb3[/font] wins the pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]42...Rc3+ 43.Kb1 Rc4 44.Ka2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]44...Re4 45.Kb3 Kd6 46.Rf2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]46...Kd5 47.Rf5+ Kc6 48.Rf4 Re2 49.Rc4+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]49...Kd6 50.Rh4 Kc5 51.Rh5+ Kd4 52.g4 Rg2 53.h3[/font] allows White to take the pawn on the next move.
If [font color="magenta"]49...Kd5 50.Rh4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]50...Ke5 51.Kxb4 Rb2+ 52.Kc4 Ra2 53.Kd3[/font] leaves Black with a winning advantage.
[font color="darkorange"]50...Rg2 51.Kxb4 Ke5 52.g4 Kf6 53.h3 Rg3 54.Rh5[/font] should be enough for Black to win.

[font color="burgundy"]46...Ke5 47.Rd2 Kf5 48.Rb2 Kg4 49.Ka4 Kh3 50.Rxb4[/font] White's pawn will triumph.

[font color="darkpink"]44...Ke6 45.Kb3 Re4 46.Ka4 Kf5 47.Rxb4[/font] should be enough for White to win; if Black exchanges Rooks, which he should not, then the King cannot capture the hindmost pawn without giving the foremost an unobstructed path to the queening square.

If [font color="blue"]39.Rb7?! Rd3![/font] then:

[font color="blue"]40.Rh7 Re3 41.Rh5 Ke7 42.Rc5 Kd6 43.Rc2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
[font color="darkblue"]40.Rxb4? Rd2+! 41.Ka3 Rxh2 42.Rg4 Rh5[/font] draws.

39...Rb3+ 40.Kc1 Ra3?

The Rook will have more freedom if it plays to the long side of the pawn.
[font color="red"]40...Rf3 41.Rd7 Ke8 42.Rd2 Ke7 43.Kb1 Re3 44.Rb2[/font] gives White a strong game, but the b-pawn isn't going to fall yet.
[font color="blue"]40...Ke8 41.Rc2 Kd7 42.Rb2 Rc3+ 43.Kb1 Rc4 44.Rd2+[/font] leaves the b-pawn present for mow.
[font color="#008000"]40...Re3? 41.Rc4 Rb3 42.Rc2 Re3 43.Rb2 b3 44.Rd2[/font] allows the Black pawn no further progress and its capture is imminent.

41.Rc2!

Black's pawn is doomed.
If [font color="red"]41.Kb2?! Rf3 42.Rc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]42...Ke7 43.Re4+ Kf6 44.Re2 Kf5 45.Ka2 Ra3+[/font] gives Black chances to hang on.
If [font color="darkred"]42...b3??[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]43.Rf4+!.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 41.Rc7c2[/center]

41...Kg7

If [font color="red"]41...Ke7 42.Rb2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42...Rc3+ 43.Kb1 Rc4 44.Ka2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]44...Rd4 45.Kb3 Kd6 46.Rf2 Re4 47.Rf4 Re2 48.Rh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]48...Rg2 49.Kxb4[/font] wins the pawn.
[font color="burgundy"]48...Kc5 49.Rh5+ Kd4 50.Kxb4[/font] wins the pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]44...Kd6 45.Kb3 Re4 46.Rc2 Kd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]47.Rc4 Re2 48.Rh4 Rg2 49.Kxb4[/font] wins the pawn.
[font color="magenta"]47.Ka4 Ke6 48.Rb2 b3+ 49.Kxb3[/font] wins the pawn.

[font color="darkorchid"]42...Rf3 43.Kb1 Rf1+ 44.Ka2 Rf3 45.Rxb4[/font] wins the pawn.

If [font color="blue"]41...Ra1+? 42.Kb2 Ra3 43.Rc4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]43...Re3 44.Kc1 Re1+ 45.Kd2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]45...Rh1 46.Rh4 Ke7 47.Kd3 Rb1 48.Re4+[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]48...Kf6 49.Kc2 Rh1 50.h4 Rh2+ 51.Kb3 Rh3 52.Rg4[/font] leaves Black no way to save the pawn.
[font color="#4080FF"]48...Kf7 49.Kc2 Rh1 50.h4[/font] wins the pawn as in the [font color="red"]red variation.[/font]

If [font color="darkblue"]45...Ra1 46.Rc2 Ra3 47.Rb2 Kg8 48.Kc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]48...Rf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]49.Kb1 b3 50.Re2 Kf7 51.Kb2 Kg6 52.Ka3[/font] wins the pawn.
[font color="darkcyan"]49.Rxb4?? Rf1+! 50.Kd2 Rf2+ 51.Ke3 Rxh2 52.Rg4+ Kf7 53.Kf3[/font] is a book draw.

If [font color="dodgerblue"]48...Rc3+ 49.Kb1 Rf3 50.Rxb4[/font] wins the pawn.

If [font color="darkblue"]43...Rd3 44.Kc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]44...Rb3 45.Rc2 Ke7 46.Rb2 Rc3+ 47.Kb1[/font] wins the pawn.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]44...b3 45.Rf4+ Ke7 46.Rf2 Ke6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]47.Rd2 Re3 48.Kb2 Rf3 49.Ka3 Kf5 50.Rb2[/font] wins the pawn.
If [font color="darkcyan"]47.Re2+[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]47...Kf5 48.Kb2[/font] wins the pawn with the sam maneuver that concludes the [font color="blue"]main variation.[/font]
If [font color="slateblue"]47...Kd5[/font] then the pawn falls after [font color="slateblue"]48.Rd2 b2+ 49.Rxb2.[/font]

If [font color="#008000"]41...b3[/font] then the pawn falls soon after [font color="#008000"]42.Rd2 Kf7 43.Kb2 Ra2+ 44.Kc3.[/font]

42.Rb2!

This is easily the best move.

42...Rf3

If [font color="red"]42...Rc3+ 43.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]43...Rc4 44.Ka2 Rc3 45.Rxb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45...Kf6 46.Rf4+ Ke5 47.Kb2 Rc8 48.Rb4 Kf5 49.Rh4[/font] wns.
If [font color="magenta"]45...Rc2+[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]46.Rb2 Rc3 47.Rd2 Kf7 48.Kb2 Re3 49.Kc1[/font] black must either allow the pawns to advance or exchange Rooks.

If [font color="darkred"]43...Rf3[/font] then the pawn falls after [font color="darkred"]44.Rxb4 Rf1+ 45.Ka2 Rf2+ 46.Rb2.[/font]

43.Kb1 b3 44.Re2 Kg6 45.Kb2 Kg5 46.Ka3 Kg4

If [font color="red"]46...b2+ 47.Kxb2 Kg4 48.Re4+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]48...Kf5 49.Rc4 Rf2+ 50.Rc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]50...Rf3 51.Kc1 Rd3 52.Rf2+ Kg5 53.Rf8 Kg4 54.Rf4+[/font] wins.
If [font color="magenta"]50...Rf1[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]51.Rc5+ Kg4 52.Rc4+ Kf5 53.h4 Rf2+ 54.Kb3 Rf3+ 55.Rc3.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]48...Kh3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]49.Rh4+ Kg2 50.g4 Rf2+ 51.Kc3[/font] when Black must take time to untangle his King and Rook.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 46...Kg5g4[/center]

47.Re4+!

White is now well on his way to victory.

47...Kf5

If [font color="red"]47...Kh3 48.Rh4+ Kg2 49.Kb2 Rf1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]50.g4 Kf3 51.Kxb3 Rf2 52.g5 Rg2 53.Rh5[/font] followed by 54.h4 allows White's pawns to continue progressing toward their goal.
If [font color="darkred"]50.Kxb3[/font] then [font color="darkred"]50...Rb1+ 51.Kc3 Kf3 52.Rh8 Rc1+ 53.Kd4[/font] White may soon begin advancing his pawns.

48.Rb4 Rf2 49.h4 Rg2 50.Rb5+ Ke4

Black's b-pawn falls.
[font color="red"]50...Kf6 51.Rxb3 Kg6 52.Rf3 Kh5 53.Rf5+ Kg6 54.Rg5+[/font] almost forces the Black King to make a stand in the h-file.
If [font color="blue"]50...Kg4??[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]51.Rg5+ Kf3 52.Kxb3 Ke4 53.h5.[/font]

51.Rxb3

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 51.Rb5b3:p[/center]

51...Rc2

[font color="red"]51...Rg1 52.Rb4+ Kf5 53.Rb5+ Kg6 54.Rg5+[/font] almost forces the Black King to make a stand in the h-file.

52.Rb4+ Ke5 53.Kb3 Rf2 54.Rb5+ Kf6 55.Kc4

[font color="red"]55.Rg5 Rd2 56.Kc3 Ra2 57.Kd3 Ra3+ 58.Ke4[/font] cuts off the King from the White pawns and assures that the pawns will continue to march forward.

55...Rg2 56.Rg5 Rd2 57.Rg8

If [font color="red"]57.Rg4 Rh2 58.Kd3 Ke5 59.Re4+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]59...Kf5 60.Ke3 Rh1 61.Rc4 Rg1 62.Rc5+ Kf6 63.Kf4[/font] is an easy win for White.
If [font color="darkred"]59...Kd5[/font] then White wins after [font color="dafrkred"]60.Ke3 Rh1 61.Rb4 Ke5 62.Rb5+ Kf6 63.h5.[/font]

57...Kf7 58.Rg4 Kf6

[font color="red"]58...Rh2 59.Kd4 Rb2 60.Ke4 Rb4+ 61.Kf3 Rb5 62.Rg5[/font] allows White to make progress with his pawns.

59.h5 Rh2

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 59...Rd2h2[/center]

60.Rg6+!

This is White's only move to keep the advantage.
If [font color="red"]60.Rf4+?[/font] then Black draws after [font color="red"]60...Kg5! 61.h6 Rxh6 62.Rd4 Ra6 63.Rd5+ Kg4!.[/font]

60...Kf7 61.g4 Rd2

Black's Rook cannot find sufficient checking distance to effectively menace White's King.
If [font color="red"]61...Re2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]62.Kd4 Re1 63.Kd5 Re2 64.g5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]64...Rf2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]65.Ke5 Re2+ 66.Kf4 Re7 67.Rf6+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]64...Rg2 65.Ke5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]65...Re2+ 66.Kf4 Rf2+ 67.Ke4 Rf1 68.Ra6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]68...Rg1 69.Kf4 Rf1+ 70.Ke3 Re1+ 71.Kf2 Re8 72.Kf3[/font] leaves White's connected passers slinking up the board.
If [font color="darkorange"]68...Re1+[/font] then White wins easily after [font color="darkorange"]69.Kd5 Rg1 70.Ra7+ Kg8 71.g6 Rh1 72.Ke6.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]65...Rg1[/font] then White's connected passers triumph after [font color="magenta"]66.Kf4 Kf8 67.Rc6 Kg8 68.Kf5 Kf8 69.h6[/font] when the White King can take shelter from the checks on g6.

[font color="darkorchid"]62.Kd3 Re8 63.Kd4 Re1 64.Kd5[/font] transposes.

62.Rg5 Rd1 63.Rd5 Rg1 64.Rf5+ Kg7 65.Rg5+ Kh6

No better is [font color="red"]65...Kf6 66.Rg6+ Kf7 67.Kd5 Re1 68.Kd4.[/font]

66.Rg6+ Kh7 67.Kd5 Re1 68.g5

Also good is [font color="red"]68.Kd4 Kh8 69.Rc6 Kg8 70.Kd5 Rg1 71.Rg6+.[/font]

68...Ra1

If [font color="red"]68...Rd1+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]69.Ke4 Rh1 70.Ke5 Rg1 71.Kf6.[/font]

69.Rc6 Rg1 70.Rc7+ Kg8 71.g6 Rg5+ 1-0

Evgeny Vladimirovich resigns without waiting for Sergey Alexandrovich to reply.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

20. Ovod _ Gunina, Round 3

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:06 PM

Sep 2012

Defending champion Valentina Gunina finished second this year.

[center]

[/center]

[center]Valentina Gunina[/center][font size="1"]Uploaded to YouTube by EugenePotemkin
[/font]

Evgenia Ovod - Valentina Gunina
Russian Women's Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 5 August 2012

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Lundin Variation)

1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 b4 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Bb7 11.0-0 Bd6 12.a3 bxa3 13.Nd2 Qc7

For notes up to here, see Carlsen-Shirov, IT, Biel, 2011.

14.b3 (N)

[font color="red"]14.Nc4 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Nb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Nxb6 axb6 17.g3 Bxg3 18.fxg3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...a2 19.Kg2 0-0[/font] is equal (Stafansson-Sveshnikov, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
[font color="magenta"]18...Qxg3 19.Qh5 Ra5 20.Qxf7+ Kd8 21.Bg2[/font] gives White a piece for three pawns and the advantage in space (Kramnik-Shirov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).

[font color="darkred"]16.b3 Nxc4 17.bxc4 Bd6 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qh6 Bf8[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and the initiative (Nebolsina-Girya, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2010).

14...Bxh2+

Black has a small advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]14...f5!? 15.Bf3! Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 Bd6 17.Bh5+ g6 18.Bf3 0-0[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

15.Kh1 Bd6 16.Nc4 Be7!?

Black still enjoys a slight advantage with an extra pawn; White has more space.
[font color="red"]16...Bb4!? 17.Bxa3! Bxa3 18.Rxa3 0-0 19.Ra5 f5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn for which White is compenated with more space.

17.Bxa3!

The game is equal.

17...Bxa3 18.Rxa3 0-0 19.Qa1!?

White feels secure enough in the center to entertain thought of nabbing the a-pawn.
[font color="red"]19.Ra5 f5 20.Bf3 Rf6 21.Re1 g5 22.g3 c5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Evgenia Ovod[/center][center]Position after 19.Qd1a1[/center]

19...a6!?

This advance fortifies the a-pawn, but weakens Black's hold on b6.
[font color="red"]19...f5 20.Bf3 g5 21.Kg1 g4 22.Be2 c5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

20.Na5!

The game is equal.

20...f5 21.Bf3 Nf6 22.Rc1

[font color="red"]22.Kg1 Nd5 23.Rc1 Rf6 24.Nxb7 Qxb7[/font] remains equal.

22...Ng4 23.Kg1 Qh2+

[font color="red"]23...Rfc8!? 24.g3! Nf6 25.Qc3 Nd5 26.Qc5 g6 27.Nc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

24.Kf1 Rab8 25.Rc5!?

White feels the need to restrain White's pawn.
Better is [font color="red"]25.Qc3 e5 26.dxe5 Nxe5 27.Nxb7 Rxb7 28.Bxc6 Nxc6 29.Qxc6[/font] with equality. Tthe material balance level.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Evgenia Ovod[/center][center]Position after 25.Rc1c5[/center]

25...Ba8!

Black has a small advantage in space.

26.Qc3

If [font color="red"]26.Ke2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26...e5 27.dxe5 Rb5 28.b4 Qh4 29.g3 Qh2[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage given the coordination of her Queen and Knight.
[font color="darkred"]26...Rb5!? 27.Nxc6! Rxc5 28.dxc5 Bxc6 29.Bxc6 Qh4[/font] is equal.

26...Nf6!?

Black relieves the pressure on f2.
If [font color="red"]26...e5 27.dxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27...Qh1+ 28.Ke2 Qh4 29.Qe1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Qe7 30.Qc1 Nxe5 31.Nxc6 Bxc6 32.Bxc6 Nxc6 33.Rxc6 f4[/font] still gives Black a slight edge.
[font color="magenta"]29...Rb5!? 30.Rxb5! cxb5 31.Nc6 Bxc6 32.Bxc6 Nxe5[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkred"]27...Rb5!? 28.Nxc6 Qh1+ 29.Ke2 Qg1 30.Rxb5 Qxf2+ 31.Kd3[/font] is equal.

27.Qc4!?

White misses a chance to finally get her pawn back.
[font color="red"]27.Nxc6 Bxc6 28.Rxc6 Ne4 29.Qc1 h5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

27...Kh8!?

This is a prophylactic move that, as it turns out, comes in handy.
If [font color="red"]27...Rbe8![/font] (directly protecting the e-pawn) [font color="red"]28.Re5 Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29.Nxc6 Bxc6 30.Qxc6 Rc8 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.Rxf5 Qh1+[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]29.b4?! Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Qb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31.Rd3 Rb8 32.Qb3 Qxb3 33.Nxb3 Nxb4 34.Rd2 Kf7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]31.Qb3?! Qc1 32.Bxd5 cxd5 33.Ra2 f4 34.Qd1 Qc7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and better command of open lanes.

28.Qxe6?

Although it was actually a mistake, Black's prophylactic move now comes in handy. If this pawn capture were made with check, it could be quite devastating for Black.
Better is [font color="red"]28.Nxc6 Qh1+ 29.Ke2 Bxc6 30.Rxc6 Ne4 31.Qc1 Qh4[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Evgenia Ovod[/center][center]Position after 28.Qc4e6:p[/center]

28...Rbe8!

Black prepares to make life miserable for the White Queen in the center and the King in its camp.

29.Qxf5

If [font color="red"]29.Qc4[/font] then Black wins quickly after [font color="red"]29...f4 30.Ke2 fxe3 31.fxe3 Nd5 32.Qc1 Nf4+.[/font]

29...Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Nd5 31.g3

This could be a harikari move.
If White wants to endure slow torture, then [font color="red"]31.Qg4 Qg1 32.Nc4 Nf4+ 33.Kd2 Qxf2+ 34.Kd1 Nd3[/font] will accommodate.

[center]BLACK: Valentina Gunina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Evgenia Ovod[/center][center]Position after 31.g2g3[/center]

31...Rxe3+!!

The Rook sacrifice is the harbinger of the end.

32.fxe3 Qh2+ 33.Kd3

If [font color="red"]33.Kd1[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]33...Nxe3+,[/font] winning the Queen.

33...Rxf5 34.Be4

If [font color="red"]34.Bxd5 Qb2 35.Nc4 Qb1+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Kc3 Qe1+ 37.Kd3 Qf1+ 38.Kc3 cxd5 39.Nd6 Rf8[/font] gives White a Queen against a Rook.
If [font color="darkred"]36.Ke2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...Qf1+ 37.Kd2 Rf2+ 38.Kc3 Qe1+ 39.Kd3 Qc1 .[/font]

34...Rf1 35.Bxd5 Rd1+ 36.Ke4 cxd5+ 37.Kf5 Rf1+ 38.Ke6 Rf8

White's King is in a mating net.
Evgenia Ovod resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

5. Biel Chess Festival, Grandmaster Tournament

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:42 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Biel[/center][font size="1"]Photo by GoodRJ in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CH_Biel_Altstadt-5.JPG)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

6. Wang Hao - Giri, Round 10

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:45 PM

Sep 2012

Wang Hao persevered to win the Biel Chess Festival in spite of losing both his game against runner up Magnus Carlsen.

[center][/center]

[center]Wang Hao[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Datti4 in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_Hao_%28chess%29.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Wang Hao - Anish Giri
Biel Chess Festival, Round 10
Biel, 2 August 2012

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Russian Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qa4+ Bd7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 a6 7.d4 b5

The position after [font color="red"]7...Bg7 8.e4[/font] often arises out of the Russian Opening to the Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense). See Pashikian-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009.

8.Qb3 c5?!

The pawn sacrifice has been palayed with good results for Black.
Safer is [font color="red"]8...Nc6[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]9.Bf4 Bg7 10.e3 0-0 11.Be2 Be6 12.Qd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.0-0 Qd7 15.Qc2 f5 16.a4[/font] gives White a comfortable game regardless of whther White takes on a4 or keeps the queenside closed (Roussel Roozman-Barbeau, IT, Montreal, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]12...Nh5 13.Be5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 c5 15.Bxh5 cxd4 16.exd4[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkred"]9.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...Be6 10.Qd1 Bg7 11.e3 0-0 12.Be2 Nd5 13.Ne4[/font] is equal (Navara-Svidler, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]9...h6 10.Bxf6 exf6 11.Rd1 Bd6 12.g3 0-0 13.Bg2[/font] is equal (Chucelov-P. Popovic, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).

[center]BLACK: Anish Giri[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 8...c7c5[/center]

9.dxc5! Bg7 10.e4 0-0

If [font color="red"]10...Be6 11.Qc2 Nc6 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Qc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.h3 Nb4 15.Qb1 Qxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Be3 Qc8 17.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Nc6 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Qb8 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.e5[/font] is equal (Peng-Nepomniachtchi, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]17...Qb7 18.Nd4 Bc4 19.a3 Nc6 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Bf3[/font] gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space; the threat is 22.e5!. (Piket-Avrukh, IT, Biel, 1999).

[font color="darkpink"]16.a3 Nc6 17.Be3 Qd6 18.Rd1 Qb8 19.Nd5[/font] is equal (Volkov-Khalifman, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]14.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Qa4 a5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Nd4!? Ng4! 18.Bxg4 Bxg4 19.Be3 Rfd8 20.Nde2 Bd7 21.Qd1[/font] is equal (Cychov-Vachier Lagrave, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]17.Be3 Ng4 18.Nb5 Qb7 19.Bd4 Bd7 20.h3 Nf6 21.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="purple"]17.Bb5 Rfc8 18.Ng5 Bd7 19.Qb3 e6 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.Bxd7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="magenta"]14...Rad8 15.g3 Qa7 16.b4 Nxe4 17.Bb2 Nxc5 18.bxc5 Qxc5 19.Rad1 b4[/font] is equal (Werle-Vachier Lagrave, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]17...Nf6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] is equal.

11.Be2 Be6

If [font color="red"]11...Bc6 12.e5 Nfd7 13.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Qc7 16.f4 Bg7 17.Rad1 e6 18.Qc2 Qb7 19.Rf2[/font] gives White a small-to-fair advantage in space (Tkachiev-Sutovsky, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]15...e6 16.a4 bxa4 17.Nxa4 Qc7 18.f4 Bg7 19.Nb6[/font] gives White the initiatve and a fair advantage in space (Gelfand-Svidler, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).

[font color="darkred"]13...e6 14.0-0 Nxe5 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.Nge4 Nbd7 17.f4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

12.Qc2 Nbd7

If [font color="red"]12...Qc7 13.Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Bc4 14.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.0-0?! b4 17.Na4 Nxe4 18.Qf3[/font] draw (Sosonko-Ribli, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).
If [font color="darkred"]16.f3! b4 17.Na4 Nxe4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18.Nb6 Ra7 19.Nb3 Nf6 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
[font color="magenta"]18.fxe4?! Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nb6[/font] gives WBlack a slight advantage in space.

[font color="darkpink"]14...Rd8 15.Rd1 e5 16.Nb3 Nc6 17.0-0 Bxb3 18.axb3[/font] give and extra pawn (passed) and a slight advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Praszak-Tseintlin, Op, Gdynia, 1989).

[font color="darkrochid"]13...Qxc5 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Be3 Qc6 16.Rc1 Nbd7 17.0-0[/font] gives White better pawns and more space (Conquest-Hünerkopf, Bundesliga 8788, Germany, 1987).

13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rd1

If [font color="red"]14.c6 Rxc6 15.Nd4 Rd6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Nxe6 Rxe6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.f3 Qa5 18.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Rc8 19.Rfd1 Nb6 20.Qb3 Nfd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Nd5?! Nxd5 22.exd5 Rxe3 23.Qxe3 Bxb2 24.Rab1 Ba3[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Braun-Bobras, Bundesliga 0809, Germany, 2008)
[font color="purple"]21.a4 Bxc3 22.axb5 Qb4 23.Qxb4 Bxb4 24.bxa6[/font] gives White two passed pawns for a piece, one of which is advanced and dangerous.

[font color="darkorange"]18...b4 19.Nd1 Nb6 20.Nf2 Nfd7 21.Nd3 Rb8 22.Kh1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Wojtaszek-Piorun, Polish Ch, Warsaw, 2010).

[font color="magenta"]17.0-0 Qc8 18.Rac1 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Qxc2 20.Rxc2 Rxe4[/font] is equal (Tomashevsky-T. L. Petrosian, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

[font color="darkred"]16.Rd1?! Ng4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.f3 Ne5 19.Bf2 Nc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Nakamura-Kamsky, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).

14...b4 15.Nd5

[font color="red"]15.Na4 Qa5 16.0-0 Nxe4 17.c6 Nd6 18.b3 Bd5[/font] is equal (Onischuk-Svidler, IT, Foros, Ukraine, 2008).

15...Bxd5 16.exd5 Nxc5 17.0-0 a5

If [font color="red"]17...Nce4 18.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...Qd6 19.Qxa6 Rc2 20.Bd4 Nc5 21.Qxd6[/font] gives White a small advantage in pawn structure and space (Jakovenko-Svidler, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]18...a5 19.Ne5 Qc7 20.f4 Qc2 21.Nc6 Qxd3 22.Nxe7+[/font] yields an extra pawn to White; Black has some compensation in space (Sandipan-Svidler, Bundesliga 1011, Baden-Baden, 2010).

18.Bb5

[font color="red"]18.Bc4 Qd6 19.Bd4 Ncd7 20.Qe2 Ng4 21.Rfe1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Aronian-Grischuk, Candidates' Match, Kazan, 2011).

18...Nce4 19.Bc6 Qc7 (N)

If [font color="red"]19...Nd6!? 20.Qe2! Nf5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Rfe1?! Qc7! 22.Rc1 Ng4 23.Bc5 Nd4 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Rf1 Bf6[/font] draw (Bluvshtein-Mekhitarian, Aerofloat Op, Moscow, 2011).
If [font color="darkred"]21.Ne5 Qc7 22.f4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22...h5 23.Bf2 Ng4 24.Nxg4 hxg4 25.Qxg4 Bxb2 26.Qe2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]22...Nxe3 23.Qxe3 Rfd8 24.h3 e6 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.Rfe1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Anish Giri[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 19...Qd8c7[/center]

20.Rc1

White has a slight edge in space.

20...Nd6 21.Qe2

[font color="red"]21.Qb3 Nf5 22.g3 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 Rfd8 24.Kg2[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

21...Nf5 22.Bc5!?

White in one stroke double attacks the e-pawn, but relinquishes the f4 square that Black could use to place a Knight.
If [font color="red"]22.g3 Nxe3 23.Qxe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Rfd8 24.Kg2 Ng4 25.Qe2 Ne5 26.Rc5 Nxf3 27.Qxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and Black better pawns.
[font color="darkred"]23...Ng4 24.Qe2 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.Rfe1 Qxe2 27.Rxe2[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

22...Bh6!?

Black misses a chance to equalize. The moves costs a valuable tempo.
[font color="red"]22...Rfd8! 23.Qa6 Nd7 24.Qe2 Bh6 25.Rc2 Nxc5 26.Rxc5[/font] is equal.

23.Rc2!?

White misses a chance to gain more.
If [font color="red"]23.Rc4! Rfd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Rd1 e6 25.Bd4 Qe7 26.dxe6 Qxe6 27.Qxe6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]24.Bd4!? Nd7 25.Re1 Qd6 26.h4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

[center]BLACK: Anish Giri[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 23.Rc1c2[/center]

23...Rfd8!

The game is equal.

24.Rd1 e6?!

This could be Black's most critical error in the game. It allows White to open the center and weakens Black's central pawns.
If [font color="red"]24...Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25.Ne1 e6 26.g4 Ne7 27.Bxe7 Qxe7 28.dxe6 Qxe6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]25.Rc4!? e6! 26.Bd4 exd5 27.Bxd5 Qd7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

25.dxe6 Rxd1+

If [font color="red"]25...Qxc6??[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]26.exf7+! Kh8 27.Be7! Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 Nxe7 29.Rxc6.[/font]

26.Qxd1 fxe6 27.Ba4 Qd8?

White leaves the e-pawn unguarded.
[font color="red"]27...Qb7 28.Bb3 Ng7 29.Qd6 Nd5 30.Bd4 Bf4 31.Ne5[/font] gives White domination of the center with his pieces trained on Black's King.

[center]BLACK: Anish Giri[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 27...Qc78d8[/center]

28.Qe2!

There are a number of points in Black's position inadequately guarded. White attacks the low-hanging fruit.

28...Ng7 29.Ne5 Ne4 30.Nc6 Rxc6

No matter how he plays, Black must lose a piece.
If [font color="red"]30...Qg5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]31.Qxe4 b3 32.Bxb3 Re8 33.g3 Qf5 34.Qe1.[/font]

31.Bxc6 Nxc5 32.Rxc5 1-0

Mh. Giri resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

23. Wang Hao - Carlsen, Round 7

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 10:48 PM

Sep 2012

Magnus went through Biel scoring four wins without a single loss, but still had to settle for finishing runner up to a man he beat twice.

[center][/center]

[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Wang Hao - Magnus Carlsen
Biel Chess Festival, Round 7
Biel, 30 July 2012

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb7 6.Bg2 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

A more common way of getting to something like this is [font color="red"]1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 c6 6.g3 d5 7.Bg2 Nbd7.[/font] See Topalov-Carlsen, IT, Nanjing, 2010.

7...c5

If [font color="red"]7...a5 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 d6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Nc3 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Rfe1 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Be4 13.Qb2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...c6 14.Bf1 b5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Nh4 b4 16.Bd2 c5 17.a3 Qb6 18.axb4 axb4 19.f3 Bb7 20.Be3[/font] draw (Vasquez-Milos, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).
[font color="burgundy"]15.Rac1 bxc4 16.bxc4 c5 17.Nd2 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc6[/font] is equal (S. Bercys-Critelli, Op, Philadelphia, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]13...Re8 14.Nd2 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 c5 16.e4 cxd4 17.Bxd4[/font] (Sosonko-Dorfman, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1993).
[font color="#FFA000"]13...a4 14.Bf1 Bb7 15.Nd2 c5 16.b4[/font] is equal (Topalov-Adams, Rpd IT, Frankfurt, 2000).

If [font color="darkred"]11.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Qe7 12.Ne1 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 c5 14.Nb5 d5 15.Nf3[/font] is equal (K. Georgiev-Eljanov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
If [font color="magenta"]11...Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Be4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.Qc1 a4 14.Bh3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14...Qe7 15.Nd2 Bb7 16.Qc2 axb3 17.axb3 c5 18.Qb2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Istratescu, Rpd Match Rd4, Bucharest, 2005).
If [font color="darkorange"]14...axb3 15.axb3 Rxa1 16.Qxa1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]16...Qa8!? 17.Nd2![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17...Qxa1!? 18.Rxa1! Ra8 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8 20.f3 c5 21.e4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Bologan-Istratescu, IT, Poijkovsky, 2007).
[font color="purple"]17...d5 18.Qb2 Bf5 19.Bg2 Qb7 20.b4 b5 21.c5[/font] gives White a samall advantage in space.
[font color="hotpink"]16...Qe7 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd7 Qxd7 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.cxd5[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkorange"]13.Qb2 c6 14.Bf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14...b5 15.Nh4 d5 16.f3 Bg6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.Be1 Qb6 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Rac1 Rfc8 20.e3[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Karpov-Istratescu, Rpd Match Rd2, Bucharest, 2005).
[font color="purple"]17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.e3 Qb6 20.Be1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kempinski-Safarli, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2007).

[font color="hotpink"]14...h6 15.Ne1 d5 16.Nd3 Bh7 17.Rac1 Ne4 18.Be1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Malakhatko-Safarli, Op, Baku, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]10.Bc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...d5 11.a3 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Nbd2 Na6 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.Ne5 c5 15.Qb2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tkachiev-Hamdouchi, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
[font color="burgundy"]12.Bb2 Na6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage (Cheparinov-Hellstein, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]10...Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.a3 Bxc3 12.Nxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12...Re8 13.e4 e5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Rad1 Rc8 15.Rfe1 Qe7 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 c6 18.Qd2[/font] draw (Dorfman-Zhong Zhang, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2000).
[font color="hotpink"]14.d5 c6 15.Rfe1 Rc8 16.Rad1 cxd5 17.exd5 Ba6[/font] is equal (Sachdev-Safarli, Op, Dubai, 2008).

[font color="purple"]12...c6 13.e4 Qc7 14.Rfe1 e5 15.Rad1 Rfe8 16.Qb2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Stefansson- Kristjansson, IT, Selfoss, 2002).

[font color="darkorange"]11.Rd1 d5 12.a3 Be7 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Nc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tkachiev-Efimenko, IT, Coventry, England, 2005).

8.0-0 0-0 9.Bc3

If [font color="red"]9.Bxb4 cxb4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Qd3 d6 11.Nbd2 a5 12.e4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nbd7 13.Rfe1 e5 14.Nh4 g6 15.Nf1 Re8 16.f3[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Grischuk, World Blitz Ch, Rashon le Zion, Israel, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]12...e5 13.Ne1 Nc6 14.Nc2 Re8 15.Rfe1 Qc7 16.Rad1[/font] is equal (Shirov-Grischuk, Rpd IT, Odessa, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]10.a3 Na6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Ne5 Bxg2 12.Kxg2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...d5 13.e3 Qc7 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Na3 Qb7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Kg1!? Ne4 17.Qe2[/font] draw (Karolyi-Kuligowski, IT, Brussels, 1986).
[font color="burgundy"]16.f3 Rfd8 17.Nc2 Nc6 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Nb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkpink"]12...Qb8 13.Nd3 bxa3 14.Rxa3 Qb7+ 15.Kg1 d5 16.Nd2[/font] (Hracek-Dorfman, Bundesliga 0102, Hamburg, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]11.axb4 Nxb4 12.Nc3 Qe7 13.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).
[font color="darkorgange"]13...Rfd8 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 d6 16.Nf3 d5 17.Rfc1 [/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (Arbakov-Balashov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1989).

9...Na6

If [font color="red"]9...d5 10.cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nxd5 11.Bb2 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Qf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.a3 Qxd4 14.Nxd4 Bc5 15.Nb5 Nc6 16.b4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Karpov-Korchnoi, IT, Biel, 1992).
[font color="burgundy"]13.Ne5 Bc5 14.Qd2 Qe7 15.Nd3 Na6 16.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage with the threat of 17.b4 (Tratar-Savon, Op, Ljubljana, 1992).

If [font color="darkred"]10...exd5 11.Bb2 Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.dxc5 bxc5 13.a3 Ba5 14.b4 Bb6 15.Nc3[/font] gives White a small advantage (Frias Pablaza-Chandler, Op, London, 1990).
[font color="magenta"]12.a3 Ba5 13.Nfd2 f5 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Nc3 Na6[/font] is equal (Ehlvest-Chandler, World ChT, Lucerne, 1989).

10.a3

If [font color="red"]10.Bb2 cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Qxd4 Be7 12.Nc3 Nc5 13.Rad1 Qc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.Qe3 d6 15.Bh3 Qc6 16.Nb5 Nce4 17.Bg2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Wells-Caoili, Op, Bled, 2001).
[font color="magenta"]14.Ng5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qc6+ 16.f3 Rfd8 17.Nge4 d5[/font] is equal (Horvath-Salov, Euro Club Cup, Hilversum, 1993).

[font color="darkred"]11.Nxd4 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 Qc7 13.Nf3 Be7 14.Nc3[/font] is equal (Aronian-Carlsen, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2011).

10...Bxc3 11.Nxc3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxg2 13.Kxg2

One other game got this far, where the contestents agreed to a draw (Dorfman-Tkachiev, French Ch, Besançon, 2006).

13...Nc5 (N)

There's too much at stake to toss in the towel here.

14.Rc1

Fritz says that White has a fair advantage in space; my staff and I give White a small advantage.

14...Qc7 15.b4 Nb7?!

This move is a bit passive. Black has no reason to be afraid of exchanges at the moment as it is White who has the advantage in space.
Better is [font color="red"]15...Nce4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qd3[/font] when:

[font color="red"]17...Nf6 18.c5 a5 19.c6 axb4 20.axb4 dxc6 21.Nxc6[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]17...f5!? 18.Rfd1! Nf6 19.c5 bxc5 20.Rxc5 Qb7+ 21.f3[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Cartlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 15...Nc5b7[/center]

16.Ncb5!

White launches aggressive operationa on the queenside.
Also good is [font color="red"]16.e4! a6 17.Re1 d6 18.Qd3 Rfc8 19.Red1 Nd8 20.f3,[/font] giving White a whale-sized advantage in space, but Black's hedgehog formation leaves White few good targets.

16...Qb8!?

Black completely takes the pressure off c4.
If [font color="red"]16...Qc8 17.Nf3 Qc6 18.Qd3 a5 19.Kg1 d6 20.Rfd1[/font] gives White a great deal more space, but Black has pressure on a weak pawn at c4.

17.Qd3!

White has a comfortable game with more active Knights.

17...Rc8 18.Rfd1!?

White should play 18.e4! in order to esdtablish a stable advantage in the center.
[font color="red"]18.e4! a6 19.Nc3 Qc7 20.Rfd1 h5 21.h3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

18...h6!?

This looks like a simple waiting move, but there is nothing to wait for. White is pressing his advantage on the opposite wing.
If [font color="red"]18...a6! 19.Nc3 Nd6 20.Nb1 a5 21.f3 axb4 22.axb4[/font] gives White only a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 18...h7h6[/center]

19.f3!?

White prevents 19...Ng4, but that's not an immediate threat.
If [font color="red"]19.e4! a6 20.Nc3 Qc7 21.Rc2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21...d6 22.f3 Nd8 23.Qe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Qa7 24.Nce2 Nc6 25.Nxc6 Rxc6 26.Nd4[/font] gives White a large advantage in space, but few good targets.
If [font color="burgundy"]23...Qxc4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]24.Nce2! Qxc2 25.Nxc2 Rxc2 26.Rxd6 b5 27.Rd2.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]21...Qxc4?[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Qf3! Qc7 23.e5 Qxe5 24.Qxb7 b5 25.Rcc1[/font] gives White greater activity and a better center for two pawns; he should win.
[font color="magenta"]22.Qxc4? Rxc4! 23.e5 Rac8 24.Nde2 Ng4 25.h3 Nxe5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.

19...a6!

White must content himself with a small advantage in space for now.

20.Nc3 Nd6 21.Nb1 Nde8!?

Black retreats the Knight in order to free the d-pawn and gain space in sthe center.
[font color="red"]21...a5 22.c5 Nde8 23.c6 Rd8 24.Qc2 axb4 25.axb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

22.Nd2!

White seems willing to allow d5.
If [font color="red"]22.e4![/font] (establishing a bind on d5) [font color="red"]22...a5 23.Nb5 h5 24.Qe2 e5 25.h4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage.

22...Qb7!?

The Queen is probably more effective at b8. Black eschews any attempt to break up White's queenside pawns.
[font color="red"]22...a5 23.e4 axb4 24.axb4 Qd6 25.Qc3 e5 26.Nf5[/font] leaves White with a small advantage.
[font color="blue"]22...d5!?[/font] is premature and after [font color="blue"]23.cxd5 Nxd5 24.e4 Ne7 25.Rxc8 Qxc8 26.Nc4[/font] White still has a comfortable advantage.

23.c5!?

This move could be played after proper preparation.
If [font color="red"]23.N2b3 d5 24.c5 bxc5 25.Nxc5 Qb6 26.Na4[/font] give White a small advantage

23...bxc5?!

Black could level the game.
If [font color="red"]23...a5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Rc4 axb4 25.axb4 bxc5 26.bxc5[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]24.Qb5 axb4 25.axb4 Qb8 26.cxb6 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Nd6[/font] is equal.

24.bxc5!

White takes on a weak pawn, but one with dynamic possibilities. Let's keep an eye on this fellow.

24...Qa7 25.N2b3!?

The c-pawn is better protected if White plays the foremost Knight to b3.
If [font color="red"]25.N4b3 a5 26.a4 Rcb8 27.Nd4 Rb4 28.Nb5[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

25...Nd5!

White continues to have a small advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]25...Nc7 26.c6 Ncd5 27.Qd2 Ne7 28.cxd7 Qxd7 29.Nc5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 25...Nf6d5[/center]

26.c6!

White sacrifices a pawn and gives his piece more potenital. The activity and space he gets for the pawn is quite impressive.

26...dxc6?!

This is thw wrong way to recapture. Black takes on weak pawn that gives White a lasting advantage with dynamic possibilities.
[font color="red"]26...Rxc6! 27.Rxc6 dxc6 28.Nxc6 Ne3+ 29.Kg1 Qb6 30.Rc1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

27.e4!?

The c-pawn should be the target.
[font color="red"]27.Na5! Ne7 28.Ndxc6 Nxc6 29.Nxc6 Qb7 30.Qc2[/font] clearly gives White a more active game.

27...Ne7!

This is a wise prophylactic move. Black overprotects the c-pawn.
If [font color="red"]27...c5?! 28.exd5 cxd4 29.dxe6 fxe6 30.Qe4 Rxc1 31.Qxe6+[/font] gives White a fair game; if 31...Qf7 then after the exchange of Queens and the completion of the exchange of Rooks, White will have a more active game.

28.Nc5

White has a giant advantage in space in compesation for a pawn.

28...Nf6

Black puts pressure on d5. An alternat plan is to seize the d-file.
[font color="red"]28...Rd8 29.Qc3 Rab8 30.a4 h5 31.Ne2 Rxd1 32.Rxd1[/font] continues to give White spatial compensation for the pawn

29.Ndb3!?

[i[29,Qc3 maintains White center better.
If [font color="red"]29.Qc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...a5 30.a4 Rab8 31.Rb1 Rd8 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.Ndb3[/font] gives White space and activity in compensation for a pawn.
[font color="darkred"]29...Rab8 30.Ndb3 Ng6 31.a4 h5 32.h4[/font] clearly gives White more activity and space; Black still has an extra pawn.

29...Ng6!?

Black misses a chance to equalize.
If [font color="red"]29...Rcb8! 30.Qd6 a5 31.Rd4 Ne8 32.Qf4 Nf6 33.a4[/font] is equal.
If [font color="blue"]29...Rab8!? 30.Qc3! Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]31.a4 Ng6 32.a5 Ra8 33.Rb1 Rxd1 34.Rxd1[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space for the pawn.
If [font color="darkblue"]31.Rxd8+!? Rxd8 32.Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]32...Rb8! 33.Rd1 Ng6 34.Rd6 Ne5 35.Qc3 Nfd7[/font] is equal; White will regain the pawn but lose his advantage in space.
[font color="dodgerblue"]32...Ra8!? 33.Rd1 Qb8 34.Rd3 Ng6 35.a4 Qe5 36.Rd8+[/font] gives White a fair advantage overall.

30.Qc3 Nf8!?

The Knight appears to have few options from f8.
If [font color="red"]30...Rab8 31.Na5 h5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.h4 Ne7 33.a4 Qb6 34.Rc2[/font] continues to give White a huge spatial advantage in compenstion for a pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]32.Rd6!? Qb6 33.Rc2 h4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34.Qb4 Qxb4 35.axb4 Rxb4 36.Nxc6 Rb1 37.Nxa6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; the material balance is level.
If [font color="magenta"]34.Rcd2!? Qb1![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]35.Qd3 Qa1 36.Nab3 Qxa3 37.Rd4 Rb4 38.Rxb4 Qxb4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and only a slight disadvantage in space.
[font color="darkorange"]35.Rd1?! Rb2+ 36.Kh3 Rc2 37.Qb3 Qxb3 38.Naxb3 hxg3[/font] gives Black a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 30...Ng6f8[/center]

31.Na5!

White still has more than enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

31...Rab8

[font color="red"]31...Ng6 32.Rd6 Qb6 33.Nd3 Rab8 34.Rxc6 Rxc6 35.Nxc6[/font] leaves White with a small advantage in space after leveling the material balance.

32.a4 Kh8!?

This might make sense if Black is trying to maneuver his Knight to e7 via g8 in ordet to watch over potential outposts for White at d5 and f5.
That can be accomplished quicker by [font color="red"]32...Ng6 33.Rc2 Ne7 34.Rd6 Qb6 35.Rd4 Qa7 36.Rd1,[/font] but White still has fine compensation for the pawn.

33.Rb1!?

White still has a considerable advantage in space in compensation for his pawn..
If [font color="red"]33.Rd6! Qb6 34.Nd3 Qe3 35.Nc4 Qe2+ 36.Nf2[/font] gives White a more comfortable game.

33...Rb6

White continues to have excellent compensation for the pawn.

34.Rxb6 Qxb6 35.Nab7?!

White has ideas of disrupting Black's queenside plans, but should cut the Queen's way forward, not its retreat.
Correct is [font color="red"]35.Nab3 Rb8 36.Rd2 Ng6 37.a5 Qa7 38.Qd4[/font] when White has more space and Black an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 35.Na5b7[/center]

35...Rb8!

White has a slight advantage in space.

36.Nd6 Kg8

If [font color="red"]36...Qb2+ 37.Qxb2 Rxb2+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Kh3 Kg8 39.Nd3 Ra2 40.Ne5 Rxa4 41.Ndxf7[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]38.Kg1 Kg8 39.Nxa6 Ng6 40.Nc5 Ne5 41.Rf1 Rc2[/font] is equal.

37.Rd2!

White has a small advantage in space.

37...a5 38.Nd3 N8d7 39.Nc4

[font color="red"]39.Rb2!? Qe3 40.Rxb8+ Nxb8 41.Nc4 Qe2+ 42.Nf2[/font] is equal.

39...Qa6

Black takes some pressure off the b-file, but the Queen has little future at its new post.
If [font color="red"]39...Qb3 40.Qxb3 Rxb3 41.Nxa5 Rc3 42.Nf2 Ne5 43.f4[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

40.Rc2!?

White has a small advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]40.Rb2 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]41.Nde5 Nxe5 42.Nxe5 c5 43.Nc4 Qc6 44.Qc2[/font] continues to give White compensation for the pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]41.Nd6!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]41...Rd8! 42.Nf2 h5 43.Rb3 c5 44.Nc4 Ne8 45.Rb5[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
[font color="magenta"]41...Ra8?! 42.Rb3 Ne8 43.Nc4 Rc8 44.Ndb2 Nc5 45.Rb6[/font] continues to give White more abundant space for the pawn sacrificed about 15 move hence.

40...c5!?

If [font color="red"]40...g5! 41.Nce5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]41...Nxe5 42.Nxe5 Rb1![/font] (threatening mate with the Queen on f1) [font color="red"]43.Rf2 Qb6 44.Nxc6 Kg7 45.Nxa5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but the game is equal overall owing to Black'superior activity and preesure on White's King position from a distance.
[font color="darkred"]41...Rb6 42.Nc5 Nxc5 43.Qxc5 Rb7 44.Qxc6 Qxc6 45.Nxc6[/font] gives White a slight advantage

If [font color="blue"]40...Nb6?! [/font] then:

[font color="blue"] 41.Nce5! Nbd7 42.Qxc6 Qxc6 43.Rxc6 [/font] gives White a comfortable game.
[font color="darkblue"]41.Qxa5?! Qxa5 42.Nxa5 Ra8! 43.Rxc6 Nfd7 44.Nc4 [/font] still gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 40...c6c5[/center]

41.Rb2 Rb7 42.Rxb7 Qxb7 43.Qb2

[font color="red"]43.Nxa5?! Qa6! 44.Kg1 g5 45.Nf2 Qa8 46.Nb3 g4[/font] is equal.

43...Qa6 44.Qb5 Qxb5 45.axb5 a4 46.Ndb2?!

Black has a fine game after 46...Nb6. Advancing the passed pawn is essential.
[font color="red"]46.b6 a3 47.Nc1 Ne8 48.e5 f6 49.f4[/font] continues to gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Cartlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 46.Ndb2[/center]

46...Nb6!!

Suddenly, Black has a huge advantage. The proffered Knight is a big blue frog.
One should always be aware of facets of the endgame. In this case, Magnus uses the fact that Knights have a difficult time defending against Rook pawns.

47.Kf2

The King is a long way from the the action, but it must get there. It has time.
If [font color="red"]47.Nxb6??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]47...a3! 48.Nd3 a2.[/font]

47...Nfd7 48.Ke3 Kf8 49.f4

White will keep Black's Knights out of the center.
If [font color="red"]49.Na3!? Ke7 50.f4 Kd8 51.e5 f6 52.exf6 Nxf6[/font] puts d5 at the disposal of Black's Knights.

49...f5 50.exf5!?

The pawn exchange is unwise. Black will now be able to bring his King through the center if necessary.
Better is [font color="red"]50.e5[/font] when [font color="red"]50...Ke8 51.h4 Nxc4+ 52.Nxc4 Nb6! 53.Na3 Kd8[/font] gives White a difficult but defensible position.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Cartlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 50.ef5:p[/center]

50...exf5!

Black happily opens the center. The Black King now becomes a dynamic feature. If White had a pawn at c4 and his Knight at a3, this would be so critical.
If [font color="red"]50...Nxc4+?! 51.Nxc4! exf5 52.Kd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]52...Ke7 53.Kc3 Nf6 54.Nb6 Ne4+ 55.Kb2[/font] leaves White with only a small advantage.
[font color="darkred"]52...Nb6??[/font] throws it all away and White wins after [font color="darkred"]53.Nxb6 a3 54.Kc3.[/font]

51.Kd3 Ke7 52.Na3!?

Better is [font color="red"]52.Kc2 Ke6 53.Kd3 g6 54.Kc2 g5 55.h3 Kd5[/font] when Black still has a comfortable game with an extra pawn but mo clear way to amke progress.

52...Nf6!

Black is a little bit better off than before.
If [font color="red"]52...Kd6!? 53.Nbc4+ Nxc4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]54.Nxc4+ Kc7 55.Kc2 g6 56.Kb2 Nb6 57.Ne5 g5[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]54.Kxc4?! Nb6+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]55.Kd3 Kd5 56.Kc3 g5 57.fxg5 hxg5 58.Nc2 Nc4[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn; each side has a passer, but White canno approach the pawn at a4 not advance his pawn at b5.
If [font color="magenta"]55.Kc3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]55...Kd5 56.h3 h5 57.h4 g6.[/font]

53.Nbc4 Nxc4 54.Nxc4 Ne4 55.Ne5?

White's Knight should not wander from the queenside. White is a pawn down, so his defense is more critical.
If [font color="red"]55.Kc2[/font] then [font color="red"]55...Nd6 56.b6 Kd7 57.Ne5+ Kc8[/font] stops White's passer, but White's Knight and King can defend against Black's remaining queenside pawns.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Cartlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 55.Nc4e5[/center]

55...Kd8!

The b-pawn cannot queen.

56.g4 fxg4 57.Nxg4

If [font color="red"]57.Kxe4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]57...a3 58.b6 a2 59.b7 Kc7 60.Nd7 Kxb7.[/font]

57...Nd6 58.b6 Kc8 59.Ne3 Kb7 60.Nd5 Kc6 0-1

If [font color="red"]61.b7[/font] then after

[font color="red"]61...Kxb7 62.Nc3 a3 63.Na2 Nb5[/font] White will advance his King and c-pawn with an easy win.
Wang Xiansheng resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

7. World Junior Championships, Athens

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:53 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Athens[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Steve Swayne (http://www.flickr.com/photos/68686051@N00) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Parthenon_in_Athens.jpg) and Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/68686051@N00/2416778389)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

8. Ipatov - Baron, Round 4

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #7)

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 04:55 PM

Sep 2012

The new world junior champion is Alexander Ipatov of Turkey by way of Ukraine.

[center][/center]

[center]Alexander Ipatov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Andreas Kontokanis (karpidis, http://www.flickr.com/people/8022405@N02) from Wikimecia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_Ipatov_2012.jpg) via Flickr
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alexander Ipatov - Tal Baron
World Junior Championships (Boys' Group), Round 4
Athens, 3 August 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Ne2 b6 10.0-0 Ba6

For moves and variations of the Sämisch Opening up to here, see the [font color="#008000"]green notes to White's fourth move[/font] in Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.

11.f3

If [font color="red"]11.Bxa6 Nxa6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Bb2 Qd7 13.a4 Rfe8 14.Qd3 c4[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO, Holland, 1938).
If [font color="darkred"]12.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Nc7 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.c4 Rb8 15.Qc2 dxc4 16.Rd1 Qe7[/font] is equal (Kotov-Benko, IT, Budapest, 1949).
[font color="magenta"]12...Qc8 13.f3 Re8 14.Ng3 Qb7 15.Ra2 Re6 16.Re2 Rae8 17.Rfe1 h5 18.Qf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Beliavsky-Short, IT, Linares, 1990).

11...Re8 12.Ng3

[font color="red"]12.Ra2 Qc8 13.Bb1 Bc4 14.Rb2 Qa6 15.Re1 Nbd7 16.a4[/font] is equal (Gulko-Ljubojevic, Ol, Moscow, 1994).

12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nc6 14.Bb2

If [font color="red"]14.Ra2!?[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Qd7 15.Re2 Rad8 16.Bb2 Re6 17.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17...cxd4 18.cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Na5 19.e4 Rc8 20.e5 Ne8 21.f4 Rec6 22.f5 Nc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23.Ba1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23...Qd8!?[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Qf3!? b5 25.Ree1 Qg5 26.Rd3 Nc7 27.Bc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Steadman-West, Op, Auckland, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]24.Rde1! Qg5 25.Qf3 Nc7 26.a4 a5 27.Rf2[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

[font color="darkpink"]23...Qe7 24.Qf3 Qxa3 25.Qxd5 Ne3 26.Qf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorchid"]23.Qf3 Nxb2 24.Rxb2 Rc3 25.Rd3 Qa4 26.Rxc3 Qxd4+[/font] is equal (Montalvo-Patriarca, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

[font color="#C08016"]18...Ne8 19.e4 Ne7 20.e5 Rc8 21.f4 g6 22.f5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Khaifman-Bologan, IT, Prague, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]17...g6 18.e4 dxe4 19.fxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19...h5 20.Ree1 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Qf1 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Nxe4 Qxe4[/font] gives Black stronger pawns, a radiant Queen and more space (Serper-Onischuk, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
[font color="darkorange"]21.Qf3 h4 22.Nf1 Nxe4[/font] give Black a comfortable game (Borg-Kunte, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

[font color="magenta"]19...Ng4?! 20.Red2! Qe7 21.h3 Nf6 22.Qb5[/font] is equal

If [font color="darkred"]14...Rc8 15.Re2 Re6 16.Bb2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Na5 17.e4 cxd4 18.cxd4 g6 19.e5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Menezes-Izso, Op, Oberwart, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]16...Ne7?! 17.e4! cxd4 18.cxd4 Ng6 19.Qd2[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Djukic-Maksimovic, Serbian ChW, Pancevo, 2007).

14...Qd7?! (N)

If [font color="red"]14...Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Rae1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...h6 16.e4 cxd4 17.cxd4 dxe4 18.fxe4 Ne5 19.Qd1[/font] gives White a center duo and a good center; overall, Black's pawns are better (Kotov-Unzicker, ITZ, Saltsjobaden, 1952).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Na5 16.e4 Nc4 17.Bc1 b5 18.Bg5 Qb6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.exd5 cxd4 21.cxd4 a6[/font] is equal (Miedema-Hort, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
[font color="purple"]15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc7 17.e4 Ne7 18.e5[/font] gives White more freedom (Gligoric-Damljanovic, IT, Sarajevo, 1969).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Rad1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...h5 16.Rfe1 g6 17.e4 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qd7 19.e5[/font] is equal (Khurtsidze-N. Kosintseva, Eruo CHT, Novi Sad, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]15...Na5 16.e4 Nc4 17.Bc1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Nd7 19.e5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gupta-Sanikidze, Op, Kavala, Greece, 2012).

15.e4!

White has a center pawn duo that is better than Black slightly off-center duo; a break to e5 cannot be stopped.

15...dxe4!?

This allows White to open the f-file to begin storming Black's castle walls.
If [font color="red"]15...Red8 16.e5 Ne8 17.Bc1 Nc7 18.Be3 Na5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

16.fxe4!

White has a comfortable game.

16...Qg4?!

The attack on White's center pawns is doomed to failure.
[font color="red"]16...Ne5 17.Qe2 Ng6 18.e5 cxd4 19.cxd4 Re6 20.Nf5[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game. White's center pawns are well protected and hindering Black's mobility, but White's center pawns are weak and his Bishop is bad.
[font color="blue"]16...Rad8 17.Rxf6 gxf6 18.Nh5 Qd6 19.Rf1 Kf8 20.Nxf6[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but his Bishop is bad and Black's Rooks are centralized.

[center]BLACK: Tal Baron[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Ipatov[/center][center]Position after 16...Qd7g4[/center]

17.e5!

The pawn is a bone in Black's throat.

17...Nh5 18.Qf5 Qxf5 19.Nxf5

[font color="red"]19.Rxf5?! Nxg3! 20.hxg3 Rad8 21.Raf1 Re7 22.R5f4 b5[/font] leaves Black better with a superior minor piece.

19...g5?

The pawn is weak and vulnerable.
Better is [font color="red"]19...Rf8 20.g4 g6 21.gxh5 gxf5 22.Rxf5 f6 23.e6,[/font] but this leaves White close to a winning position.

[center]BLACK: Tal Baron[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Ipatov[/center][center]Position after 19...g7g5[/center]

20.Nh6+?!

White misses a quick win.
White wins after [font color="red"]20.Bc1! f6 21.g4 Nf4 22.Bxf4 gxf4 23.exf6[/font] when he has an extra pawn, the initiative and the makings of a kingside attack.

20...Kg7!

White still has a vastly superior game, but Black has dodged a bullet for now.

21.Nxf7 Nf4 22.Nxg5

[font color="red"]22.Nd6 Rf8 23.Rad1 cxd4 24.cxd4 Kg6 25.Rf2[/font] gives White two connected center passed pawns and a Knight at d6; Black may find some counterplay if he can activate his Queen's Rook.

22...Nd3 23.Rf7+ Kg8 24.Raf1

[font color="red"]24.Rb1 cxd4 25.cxd4 Nxb2 26.Rxb2 Nxd4 27.Rd7[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.

24...Nxb2?

Black loses too much time taking the Bishop.
Better is [font color="red"]24...cxd4 25.cxd4 Nxb2 26.Rxh7 Re7 27.Rh4[/font] gives Black three pawns for a piece, but White's kingside activity gives him a healthy advantage.

[center]BLACK: Tal Baron[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Ipatov[/center][center]Position after 24...Nc4b2:B[/center]

25.Rxh7!

White already has three pawns for the piece.

25...Re7 26.Rh6

Stronger is [font color="red"]26.Rh4 cxd4 27.cxd4 Rf8 28.Rf6 Rxf6 29.exf6.[/font]

26...Rc8 27.Rff6

If [font color="red"]27.e6! cxd4 28.Nf7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28...Nd8[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]29.Rh8+ Kg7 30.cxd4 Rxe6 31.Nxd8 Rd6 32.Nf7.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]28...Ree8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]29.Rf5! Kf8 30.Nd6+ Kg7 31.Rh3 Rxe6 32.Rf7+.[/font]

27...Rg7

With an opportunity to get at least one foot out of the hole, Black digs his grave deeper.
[font color="red"]27...cxd4! 28.cxd4 Nxd4 29.Rhg6+ Rg7 30.Rd6 Nf5 31.Rxg7+[/font] still leaves White with the exchange, two extra pawns and an advanced passer.

28.Ne6 cxd4

[center]BLACK: Tal Baron[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Ipatov[/center][center]Position after 28...cd4:p[/center]

29.Nxg7!!

The sacrifice strips away the last vestige of protection from the Black King.

29...Nxe5

Black is now in a mating net.
If [font color="red"]29...Kxg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]30.Rhg6+ Kh7 31.Rxc6 Rxc6 32.Rxc6.[/font]

30.Ne6!

Black's King has no move.

30...dxc3 31.Rh5 Ng6

If [font color="red"]31...c2[/font] then [font color="red"]32.Rg5+ Ng6 33.Rgxg6+[/font] transposes into the text.

32.Rg5 c2

If [font color="red"]32...Rc6[/font] then [font color="red"]33.Rf8+ Kh7 34.Rh5#.[/font]

33.Rgxg6+ Kh8

If [font color="red"]33...Kh7[/font] then [font color="red"]34.Rg7+ Kh8 35.Rh6#.[/font]

34.Rh6+ Kg8 35.Rfg6+ Kf7 36.Rg7+ 1-0

White gives mate on the next move.
Baron resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

24. Shimanov - Rapport, Round 10 (Slav/Tikhi Opening Theory)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #7)

Sat Sep 15, 2012, 02:59 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Richard Rapport[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Gerhard Hund (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:GFHund) from Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rapport,Richard_2012_Deizisau.jpg)
([link:http:creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Aleksandr Shimanov - Richard Rapport
World Junior Championship, Round 10
Athens, 11 August 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Schallopp Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening[/center][center]Position after 4.e2e3[/center]

4...Bf5

The text is the Schallop Defense
[font color="red"](Pin Defense)[/font] If [font color="red"]4...Bg4 5.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]5...Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e4 e5 12.d5 Nb6 13.Bd3 cxd5 14.exd5 h6 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Rac1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Gelfand, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009).
If [font color="darkred"]a) 8...Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Re8 11.Qe2 Qe7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Bd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.d5 e4 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Qe5 17.g3 Qf5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Hebden-Burgess, 4NCL, Telford, 2003).
[font color="burgundy"]14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.g3 b5 16.Bb3 Nc5 17.Bc2 b4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Franco Ocampos-Felgaer, Spanish ChT, Olite, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.Qh4 h6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16.c5 Bc7 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qxh6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18...Red8 19.g4 Rxd4 20.Qg5+ Kf8 21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Qg5+[/font] is equal (Pilaj-Peralta, Ol, Torino, 2006).
[font color="hotpink"]18...Rad8 19.Qg5+ Kf8 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Qg5+ Kf8 22.Qh6+ Kg8[/font] draw (Barbosa-Gomez, Op, New Delhi, 2012).

[font color="purple"]16.Bd2 Rad8 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qxh6 e5 19.Qg5+[/font] draw (Vorobov-Movsesian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]15.Qf3 e5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Rb1 Rad8[/font] draw (Kosic-Movsesian, Bosnian ChT, Neum, 2002).

If [font color="magenta"]10...Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11.Bd2 Rfe8 12.Bf1 Rad8 13.Rac1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...a6 14.Be1 g6 15.a3 Bb8 16.g3 Nb6 17.b3[/font] is equal (Bönsch-Jackelen, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
[font color="purple"]13...h6 14.a3 a6 15.Re1 Bb8 16.g3 dxc4 17.Bxc4[/font] is equal (Jussupow-Dautov, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).

[font color="darkorange"]11.e4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 e5 13.d5 Nb6 14.Bb3 cxd5 15.Nxd5 Nfxd5[/font] draw (Bareev-Gelfand, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]b) 8...Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.a3 Ba5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Re8 13.Rac1 e5 14.Bc2 exd4 15.exd4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3[/font] draw (Bacrot-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
If [font color="magenta"]11.b4 Bc7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...Nb6 14.Rac1 Qd7 15.g3 Rab8 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Nd5 19.Rfd1 Bb6 20.h4 Rbc8 21.h5 h6 22.Be3 Rfd8[/font] is slightly in Black's favor, for if White were to initiate exchanges at d5 then Black would end up with the good Bishop (Bindrich-Caruana, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
If [font color="darkorange"]13...Re8 14.e4 e5 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 g5 17.Bg3 exd4 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]20.Qf5 Nxd3 21.Bxc7 Qxc7 22.Qxd3 Qe5 23.Rad1 Qxd5 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Rxd4[/font] draw (Siebrecht-Loeffler, Bundesliga 0708, Kreuzberg, 2007 and Predojevic-Fridman, Bundesliga 0708, Kreuzberg, 2007).
[font color="purple"]20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Rfc1 Kg7 22.d6 Qxd6 23.Qxb7 Qb6 24.Qf3[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]24...Rac8!? 25.Rxc8! Rxc8 26.Qf5[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]26...Qe6? 27.Qh7+! Kf8 28.Bf5[/font] Black resigns (Kharlov-al Sayed, Op, Dubai, 2003).
[font color="darkpink"]26...Re8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.g3 Rc8 29.Qf5 Qe6 30.Re1 Qxf5 31.Bxf5 Re8[/font] gives White a small advantage, but it is doubtful this can be converted to a win.

[font color="hotpink"]24...Qf6 25.Qxf6+ Bxf6 26.Rc7 Be5 27.Rb7 Kf6 28.Kf1[/font] gives White nothing better than a small edge.

If [font color="magenta"]10.0-0 Re8 11.a3 Ba5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.b4 Bc7 13.cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13...exd5 14.b5 Nf8 15.bxc6 bxc6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16.Rfc1 Ne6 17.h4 c5 18.dxc5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18...d4 19.Ne4 dxe3 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qxe3 Ng5[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Iotov-San Segundo Carillo, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
[font color="darkpink"]18...Nxc5 19.Nxd5 Be5 20.Bb5 Nb3 21.Bxe8 Nxd2 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.Qe2[/font] gives White a material advantage (Kveinys-Matamoros Franco, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If [font color="darkorange"]16.Qd1 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.Qc2 c5 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Nb5 Bb6 20.Rfd1[/font] is equal (Lysyj-Movsesian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
[font color="purple"]17.Qa4 c5 18.Nb5 Bb6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc2 Nfe4[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Gelfand-Kramnik, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008).

[font color="darkpink"]13...cxd5 14.e4 e5 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 g5[/font] transposes into [font color="darkorange"]Siebrecht-Loefler, etc.,[/font] above.

If [font color="darkorange"]12.Qd1 Bc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Rfd1 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Nb6 16.Bf1 e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.dxe5 Qxe5 18.g3 h5 19.h4 g5 20.hxg5 Qxg5[/font] is equal (Navara-Le Quang Liem, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
[font color="purple"]17.Be1 Rad8 18.dxe5 Qxe5 19.g3 h5 20.Bg2 h4[/font] is equal (Alekseev-Ragger, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).

[font color="hotpink"]13.Rc1 a6 14.Qc2 Rc8 15.Rfd1 Bb8 16.e4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 c5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage (Kostiuk-Pähtz, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).

If [font color="darkred"]5...Bh5 6.Nc3 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.Bg2 dxc4 11.Qe2 Nb6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...g5 14.a4 a5 15.e4 Nfd7 16.Be3 e5 17.d5 Qb8 18.b3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...f6 19.bxc4 Bc5 20.Bxc5 Nxc5[/font] is equal (Hebden-L'Ami, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]18...cxb3 19.Rab1 Nc5 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Rxb3 Qd6[/font] allows Black to hang on to the extra pawn.

If [font color="magenta"]13...Nfd7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.e4 e5 15.dxe5 Qc7 16.e6 fxe6 17.g5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Stefanova-Predojevic, Op, Chalkida, 2009).
[font color="darkorange"]14.Ne4 Rc8 15.a4 a5 16.Nd2 Bd6 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4[/font] regains the pawn with equality.

If [font color="magenta"]10.Bd2 Bb4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.Qb3 a5 12.f3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.a3 a4 15.Qc2 Ba5 16.Kf2 Qh4+ 17.Kg2 Bc7[/font] is equal (Fridman-C. Balogh, Bundesliga 1112, Germany, 2011).
[font color="purple"]14.0-0-0?! a4 15.Qc2 a3 16.Kb1 Qa5 17.Bb3 axb2[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Kveinys-S. B. Hansen, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).

[font color="darkorange"]11.Rc1 Qc7 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ne4 14.Bg2 Nxc3 15.Rxc3 Nb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Bareev-Najer, Op, Philadelphia, 2009).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Schallopp Defense)[/center][center]Position after 4...Bc8f5[/center]

5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6

If [font color="red"]6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...Qc7 9.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Rc1 Nc6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Na4 Nd7 14.Bd3 Rb8[/font] is equal (Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009).
If [font color="darkred"]11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Kb1 a6 14.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...0-0 15.g4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Rfc8 16.h4 Na5 17.Qc2 Nc4[/font] is equal (Khmelniker-Yordanov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Na5 16.Qd1 Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.e4 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Drozdovskij-C. Balogh, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

[font color="magenta"]14...Nd7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Ne2 Qb6 17.Qd1 Bb4 18.h4 Bxd2 19.Qxd2[/font] is equal (Tregubov-Bareev, Euro Club Cup, Fügen, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nbd7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Rc1 Kb8 16.h3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Qd6 17.Ba6 Nb6 18.Bd3 Nd7 19.Ba5[/font] gives White the initiative (Vitiugov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Nf6 17.Bd3 Nh5 18.Rc3 Ng3 19.Rhc1 Ka8 20.Qa4[/font] gives White the initiative (Bagheri-Poat, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).

[font color="darkpink"]14.e4 0-0-0 15.exd5 cxd5+ 16.Kb1 Qd6 17.g3 g5 18.Bd3 Kb8[/font] is equal (Kishnev-S. Volkov, Euro Club Cup, Halidiki, 2002).

If [font color="magenta"]11...a6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12.Kb1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Bd3 c5 15.dxc5 Nbd7 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxc5 18.Qc3 Bf6 19.Qc2 Rc8[/font] is equal (Le Quang Liem-C. Balogh, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Kb1 Nc6[/font] transposes into [font color="darkred"]Khmelniker-Yordanov[/font] and subordinate lines, above.

If [font color="darkred"]9...Nbd7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...0-0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 Nb6 15.Bg5 Re8 16.Bd3 Ng4 17.Rhf1[/font] gives White the advantage in space, anchored by a central pawn duo (Tregubov-Peng, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]11...Be7 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.e4 dxe4 14.fxe4 Nb6 15.g3 0-0 16.Bf4 Qd8 17.h4[/font] gives White the advantage in space, again featuring a central pawn duo (Sargissian=Beliavsky, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]8...Qb6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Qxb3 12.axb3 Bd6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1 0-0 16.Kb1 a6 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Red1 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Eljanov, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]11...Be7 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.Qc2 Kb8 14.g4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rh3 16.g5 Nd5 17.e4 Nxc3+ 18.Qxc3[/font] is equal (Tkachiev-Shirov, Rpd Op, Corsica, 2003).

7.Nxg6

If [font color="red"]7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0 Bd6 9.g3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...0-0 10.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Qb3 Rb8 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Qc2 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nb6 15.Bd3 Rfd8 16.Bd2[/font] is equal (Rodshtein-Ragger, Aeroflot Open, Moscow, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]11.b3 Qe7 12.Bf3 Rac8 13.Bg2 Rfd8 14.Bd2 Bb4 15.a3 Bxa3 16.c5 Bb2 17.Rxa7[/font] gives White the more active game (Gelfand-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).

[font color="darkred"]9...Qe7 10.a3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Be2 0-0 13.Bd2 Rfe8 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Qc2 e5 16.dxe5 Bxe5[/font] is equal (Meier-S. B. Hansen, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

7...hxg6 8.Bd3

If [font color="red"]8.g3 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]9.a3 Be7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bg2 Nb6 12.0-0 Qd7 13.Re1 0-0-0[/font] is equal (Baumann-Shirov, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
If [font color="darkred"]9.Bg2 dxc4 10.Qe2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Be7 11.Qxc4 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.0-0 Nb6 13.Qe2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...exd4 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Rxd4 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.e4 Qe5 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Bf4 Qe6 19.Rad1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tregubov-Carlsen, Op, Reyjavik, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]16.b4 Rad8 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.b5 Nfd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bb2[/font] gives White the Bishop pair, stronger pawns and a slight initiative; Black has a slight edge in space (Inarkiev-Zakhartsov, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]13...Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.e4?! g5! 16.h3 Bc5[/font] is equal (Stefanova-Malchonova, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
[font color="darkorange"]14.a4 exd4 15.exd4 0-0 16.a5 Nbd5 17.Bg5[/font] gives White a fair advantae in space.

If [font color="magenta"]12.Ne2!? exd4 13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.Qc2 Bb4+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15.Bd2 Bxd2+! 16.Qxd2 0-0 17.Rc1 Qe7 18.0-0 c5[/font] is equal (Aronian-Anand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Kf1 Qd6 16.f4 Ned7 17.h3 0-0-0[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="magenta"]10...Nb6 11.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11...Bb4 12.a3 Ba5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13.Bd2 0-0 14.Ne4 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 Qe7 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4[/font] gives White athe advantage in space (Hillarp Persson-Cheparinov, IT, Malmö, 2007).
[font color="hotpink"]13...Qe7 14.Ne4 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 e5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tkachiev-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).
[font color="purple"]13.Rd1 Qe7 14.e4 e5 15.Be3[/font] draw (Ponomariov-Shirov, IT, Foros, 2006).

If [font color="darkorange"]11...Be7 12.Rd1 0-0 13.e4[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]13...Nfd7 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 Rad8 16.h4 c5[/font] is equal (Nyback-Ragger, Bundesliga 0809, Wattenscheid, 2008).
[font color="purple"]13...Re8 14.h4[/font] draw (Citak-Atakisi, Mediterranean Ch, Antalya, Turkey, 2006).

If [font color="blue"]8.Bd2 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]9.Rc1 Bd6 10.g3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]10...Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]12...g5 13.Bg2 gxf4 14.exf4 g6 15.b4 a6 16.Qf3[/font] is equal (Campos Moreno-M. Gurevich, Op, Andorra, 2005).
[font color="steelblue"]12...Ba5 13.Nb1 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.h4[/font] is equal (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2004).

[font color="slateblue"]10...0-0 11.Qb3 Rb8 12.Bg2 Bc7 13.0-0[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Dreev-Felgaer, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2005).

If [font color="darkblue"]9.g3 Bb4 10.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10...Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4 12.Bg2 Nxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Qxc3 f5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14.0-0 Qe7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.b4 Nf6 17.Rfc1[/font] gives White a small advantage on the queenside (Kramnik-Topalov, World Ch Match, Elista, 2006).
[font color="steelblue"]14.0-0-0 Nb6 15.b3 Qe7 16.Kb1 a5 17.c5 Nd7[/font] is equal (Tregubov-Wang Yue, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

[font color="slateblue"]13.bxc3 Qc7 14.Rb1 Rb8 15.Bf3[/font] draw (Dreev-Motylev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Ba5[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]11.Bg2!? 0-0 12.0-0 Nb6! 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Rad1 Re8 15.Bc1 Qd7 16.Qc2 g5[/font] draw (Wang Yue-Wang Hao, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
[font color="darkcyan"]11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Bd3 Qb6 13.Qa4 0-0 14.Rb1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

8...Nbd7 9.0-0 Ne4!? (N)

If [font color="red"]9...Bd6 10.h3 Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nh5 13.Ne2 f5 14.Bd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Movsesian-Motylev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2012).
If [font color="darkred"]12...Ng8 13.b4 a6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.e4?! dxe4 15.Nxe4 Ndf6 16.Ng5[/font] is equal (Sargissian-S. Brunello, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]14.a4! Nh6 15.Bd2 Nf5 16.Qf3[/font]

If [font color="blue"]9...Be7 10.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]11.cxd5 exd5 12.Qf3 Nb6 13.Rad1 Bb4 14.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage (Molchanova-Gunina, Euro ChW, Gaziantep, 2012).
[font color="darkblue"]11.Rc1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 a6 13.a4 c5 14.Qe2 Nb6[/font] is equal (Posedaru-Ludwig, World Youth BU18, Vang Tau, 2008).

10.g3

White has a small advantage in space.

10...Nd6

[font color="red"]10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Qa5 13.Qc2 0-0-0 14.e4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

11.b3

If [font color="red"]11.cxd5 exd5 12.Re1 Be7 13.e4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...dxe4 14.Nxe4 0-0 15.Nxd6 Bxd6 16.Re2 Nf6 17.Qa4[/font] gives White the advantage in space, but also an isolated pawn.
[font color="darkred"]13...Nxe4?! 14.Nxe4! dxe4 15.Bxe4 Nb6 16.Bf4 0-0 17.Qf3[/font] gives White a small advantage; Black take the d-pawn, but White could take on g6 and come out slightly better.

11...Nf5 12.a3!?

White decides to keep position closed for now, although both sides would probably benefit from a more open game.
If [font color="red"]12.cxd5![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...cxd5 13.Bb2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Rc8 14.Qf3 Be7 15.Rac1 0-0 16.Rc2 Qa5 17.Rfc1[/font] gives White a small advantage.
[font color="burgundy"]13...Bb4!? 14.Rc1! Rc8 15.a3 Be7 16.Qe2 0-0 17.Na4[/font] gives White a fair advantage; the exchange in the c-file will benefit White, regardless of who initiates the exzchange.

If [font color="darkred"]12...exd5 13.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Nf6 16.Qf3 Qd7 17.Ba5[/font] gives White a small advantage with active Bishops and stronger pawns; Black has command of the h-file.
If [font color="magenta"]13...Be7?! 14.e4![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14...dxe4 15.Bxe4 0-0 16.d5 Nc5 17.Bxf5 gxf5 18.Ba3[/font] assures White of gaining at least a pawn.
[font color="darkrorange"]14...Nxd4 15.Be3 dxe4 16.Bxd4 exd3 17.Bxg7 Rh7 18.Bd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and development.

12...a6!?

Black plays an equally noncommittal move and keeps the position closed.
If [font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Qe2 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.Bb2 Qd7 15.a4 Bb4 16.a5 0-0 17.Rfc1[/font] give White a small advantage; Black's Bishop is in an awkward position.
[font color="darkred"]14.Bd2 Qd7 15.c5 g5 16.g4 Nh4 17.f3[/font] gives White a small advantage with slightly stronger pawns.

13.Re1!

White appears to be aiming to advance his e-pawn.
If [font color="red"]13.Bb2!? Qg5! 14.Re1 Bd6 15.c5 Bc7 16.Bf1 0-0-0[/font] is equal.

13...Qf6

Black will forstall the advance by putting pressure on White's d-pawn, which would be weakened if the e-pawn advances.
If [font color="red"]13...Bd6 14.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...cxd5 15.e4 Nxd4 16.exd5 0-0 17.dxe6 Nxe6 18.Bb2[/font] gives White a small advantage with stronger pawns, the Bishop pair on an open center and a slight edge in space.
[font color="darkred"]14...exd5?! 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Be7 17.Bb2 0-0 18.Qc2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

14.Bb2 Bd6 15.Qf3

If [font color="red"]15.Rc1 0-0 16.Qg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...b5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Nxa4 Rfb8 20.Qd1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black an edge in space.
[font color="darkred"]16...Qe7 17.c5 Bc7 18.Rcd1 Rfb8 19.Rb1 a5[/font] is equal.

15...0-0-0 16.Rad1!?

White's e-pawn is unlikely to become moble any time soon. The Rook is probably better in its original square.
If [font color="red"]16.h4 Kb8 17.a4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...a5! 18.Red1 Bc7 19.Rac1 Nd6 20.Qxf6 Nxf6 21.Kg2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]17...Bb4 18.Rec1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...a5 19.Rc2 Nh6 20.Qxf6 Nxf6 21.Kg2 Be7 22.b4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]18...Nh6 19.Kg2 Qxf3+ 20.Kxf3 Nf6 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Ba3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Richard Rapport[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Aleksandr Shimanov[/center][center]Position after 16.Ra1d1[/center]

16...Rh5!?

It will do little good for now to cue heavy pieces in the h-file.
[font color="red"]16...Kb8 17.a4 Bb4 18.Rc1 dxc4 19.bxc4 g5 20.Red1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

17.Bf1!

White has a fair advantage.
[font color="red"]17.cxd5 cxd5 18.h4 Kb8 19.Rd2 Qe7 20.b4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

17...Rdh8

[font color="red"]17...Ne7 18.Be2 Qxf3 19.Bxf3 Rh3 20.e4 dxc4 21.bxc4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

18.h3?!

The pawn is doomed. It is better to move somethin else.
If [font color="red"]18.e4! Rxh2[/font] (this is a given) [font color="red"]19.exf5 gxf5 20.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...exd5 21.Re8+ Rxe8 22.Kxh2 g5 23.Kg1 g4 24.Qg2[/font] is equal; neither side has any target at which to strike.
If [font color="darkred"]20...cxd5 21.Bg2 Nb8 22.Rc1 Nc6 23.Kf1 f4 24.Ne2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

18...g5?!

It seems White's last move had the desired psychological effect. Correct, of course, is to take on h3.
If [font color="red"]18...Rxh3! 19.Bxh3 Rxh3 20.Qg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...Rh8 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Qf3 Qg5 23.Qg2 Bxg3 24.fxg3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]20...Rh5 21.cxd5 Rg5 22.Qf3 exd5 23.e4 Bxg3 24.Kf1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

19.Bg2?!

This move covers nothing that isn't already covered and attacks nothing that can be taken.
If [font color="red"]19.g4![/font] (where one can play a tactical stroke and when in doubt, play it) [font color="red"]19...Rh4 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.e4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Ne7 22.Rd3 Qxf3 23.Rxf3 f5 24.exf5 exf5 25.Rfe3[/font] gives White a comfortable game as he threatens to win two piece for a Rook and plant a Rook on the seventh rank.
[font color="darkred"]21...dxe4??[/font] drops a piece to [font color="darkred"]22.Nxe4! Qe7 23.gxf5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Richard Rapport[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Aleksandr Shimanov[/center][center]Position after 19.Bf1g2[/center]

19...Rxh3!!

Black sacrifices the exchange in order to remove a defender; Black pieces can quickly come into the attack, while White's pieces are caught off balance and cannot easily come to the aid of the King.

20.Bxh3?

However, there is no rule that says White must take the proffered Rook.
If [font color="red"]20.cxd5 Bxg3 21.fxg3 Rxg3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22.Ne4! Rh1+ 23.Kxh1 Qh6+ 24.Kg1 Rxf3 25.dxe6 Qxe6 26.Bxf3[/font] remains equal.
If [font color="darkred"]22.Qf2?? Qh6! 23.Kf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]23...Nf6 24.Ne4 Rxg2![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Nd6+[/font] then White is toast after [font color="darkred"]25...Nxd6 26.Qxg2 Nxd5 27.Ke2 g4 28.Kd2 Qg5.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]25.Qxg2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]25...Nxe4 26.dxc6 Nfg3+.[/font]

[font color="magenta"]23...cxd5?! 24.e4 Rg4 25.exf5 Rf4[/font] doesn't win, but it still gives White a vastly superior position.

If [font color="blue"]20.e4?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="blue"]20...Bxg3!! 21.fxg3 Rxg3 22.Qf2 dxe4 23.Nxe4 Qh6.[/font]

20...Rxh3!

White has only a pawn for the exchange, but his pieces are more active and trained on White's King position.

21.Qg2

If [font color="red"]21.Ne2 Qh6![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22.cxd5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]22...cxd5 23.Rf1 Nf6 24.e4 dxe4 25.Qg2 Ng4.[/font]
[font color="darkred"]22.Kf1 Rh1+ 23.Ng1 g4 24.Qg2 Rh2[/font] traps the Queen.

21...Qh6!

Also good is [font color="red"]21...g4! 22.Rf1 Qg6 23.Ne2 Nf6 24.e4 Nxe4[/font] when Black pieces are all in on the attack.

22.Ne2 Nf6 23.cxd5 exd5 24.e4

If [font color="red"]24.Rf1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]24...Ne4 25.Bc1 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Nfxg3 27.Nxg3 Rxg3.[/font]

24...Nxe4 25.Rf1 Bxg3 26.fxg3

If [font color="red"]26.Nxg3 Nexg3 27.fxg3 Ne3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28.Qf3 g4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]29.Qf4 Rh1+ 30.Kf2 Nxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Qxf4+ 32.gxf4 Rxd1[/font] practically leaves Black a Rook up.
[font color="magenta"]29.Qxf7 Rxg3+ 30.Kf2 Qh2+ 31.Ke1 Nc2#.[/font]

[font color="darkred"]28.Qe2 Rxg3+ 29.Kf2 Rg2+ 30.Ke1 Nc2+ 31.Kd2 g4+[/font] wins the Queen.

[center]BLACK: Richard Rapport[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Aleksandr Shimanov[/center][center]Position after 26.fg3:B[/center]

26...Ne3 0-1

White is beat every way possible.
Aleksandr Aleskandrovich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

27. Ziaziulkina - Guo Qi, Round 9

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #7)

Sat Sep 22, 2012, 01:29 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Guo Qi available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Natassia Ziaziulkina - Guo Qi
World Junior Championships (Girls' Group), Round 9
Athens, 11 August 2012

Open French Game: Rubinstein Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7

For a survey of the Open French Game, see Friedel-Yang, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011.

5.g3

This is unusual; there is little point for White to fianchetto his King's Bishop after playing 1.e4 except to be unusual.

5...Ngf6

If [font color="red"]5...Be7 6.Bg2 Ngf6 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Be3 exd4 11.Bxd4 c6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.a4 a5 13.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Nf6 15.Qc5 Re8 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.c3[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Short-Seirawan, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
[font color="burgundy"]13...Qc7 14.Ra3 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Qb6 16.Rd3 Qxd4 17.Rxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Hracek-Meier, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).

[font color="darkpink"]12.Re1 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Nb6 14.a4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4[/font] gives White an early advantage in space (Volokitin-Tratar, Op, Ljubljana, 2002).

[font color="darkorchid"]10.c3 exd4 11.Nxd4 c6 12.Bf4 Ne5 13.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Makropoulou-Makka, Greek ChW, Athens, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...e5 10.d5 Be7 11.c4 a5 12.Be3 Nc5 13.f4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Tiviakov-Dumbacher, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2007).
If [font color="magenta"]9...Rb8 10.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...Nb6 11.Be3 Nd5 12.Ne4 Nxe3 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.fxe3[/font] gives White the initiative and more space (Shirov-Pelletier, IT Rd 9, Biel, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]10...b5 11.Qd3 a6 12.a4 b4 13.Ne4 a5 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Bg5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Pelletier, IT Rd 8, Biel, 2011).

6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bg2

If [font color="red"]7.Nf3 b6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Bb5+ Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.Be2 Bc6 10.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Bd6 11.Ne5 Bxe5 12.dxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Qd5 13.Qxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.Bd2 a5 15.f3 0-0-0 16.Rfd1 h6 17.a3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Bologan-Laznicka, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
[font color="#FF8064"]14.Rd1 0-0-0 15.Bd2 Ne7 16.c4 Be4 17.Bc3[/font] draw (Vachier Lagrave-Meier, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

[font color="burgundy"]12...Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Nd7 14.f4 0-0-0 15.Be3 Nb8 16.Kf2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Meszaros-Varga, Op, Heviz, Hungary, 2010).

[font color="darkpink"]10...Bb7?! 11.Ne5! a6 12.c4 Bd6 13.Bf3 Qc8 14.Bc6+[/font] gives White a very comfortable game (Timofeev-Rianzantsev, Russian Ch HL, Ulan Ude, 2009).

[font color="darkorchid"]9.a4 a6 10.Be2 Bc6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Ne5 Bxe5 13.dxe5[/font] gives White a small-to-fair advantage in space (Morozevich-Peletier, IT, Biel, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]8.Bg2 Bb7 9.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9...Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.Qe2 0-0 11.Rd1 Qc8 12.c4 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.b3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...c5 14.Bb2 cxd4 15.Rxd4 Qc7 16.Qe5 Rac8 17.Rad1[/font] gives White a small in space (Svidler-Gelfand, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
[font color="hotpink"]13...a5 14.Bh3 Nd7 15.Qd3 Qd8 16.Bg2 Nf6 17.Ne5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Anand-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2001).

[font color="purple"]13.Bh3 Be4 14.Ng5 Bf5 15.Bg2 h6 16.Nf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1997).

[font color="darkorange"]10.c4 0-0 11.b3 a5 12.Bb2 a4 13.Qe2[/font] is equal (Shirov-Anand, World Rpd Ch, Mainz, 2004).

[font color="magenta"]9...Bd6 10.Qe2 0-0 11.Rd1 Qc8 12.Bg5 Ne4 13.Be3[/font] is equal (Nakamura-Grachev, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).

7...e5

If [font color="red"]7...c5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.Nxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Bc5 11.Nb3 Bd6 12.Be3 Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.Bc5 Bxc5 14.Nxc5 Nb4?! 15.Kd2 Nc6 16.Bxc6+ bxc6[/font] gives White a clear advantage in activity, space and development (Tseshkovsky-Polovodin, Op, St. Petersburg, 2001).
If [font color="darkred"]13.Bd4 0-0 14.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...b5?! 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 g6 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Rxd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a better center and more space (Bogut-Benderac, IT B, Sarajevo, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]14...Bd7 15.Na5 b6 16.Nc4 Bb4 17.c3 Rac8 18.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]10...a6 11.Bf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Nd5 12.Bd2 b5 13.a4 b4 14.Nc6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Alekseev-Pridorozhni, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]11...Be7?! 12.0-0! 0-0 13.Rad1 Rd8 14.c4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (So-Yang, IT, Montreal, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]8.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Qb6 9.0-0 Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.c4 cxd4 11.Nxd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Rd8 12.Be3 Bc5 13.b4 Qxb4 14.Rb1 Qc3 15.Bxb7[/font] gives White a small advantage with greater activity for his pieces; Black has more space, but only as long as the queen is c3 (Van der Wiel-Berg, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]11...Bc5 12.Nb3 Bc6 13.Bxc6+ Qxc6 14.Na5 Qb6 15.Qa4+[/font] gives White the initiative and a slight edge in space; Black's King is force to lose its castling privilege, but he has more active pieces (T. Horvath-Behm, Euro Club Cup, Panormo, Greece, 2001).

[font color="magenta"]10.Bg5 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Be7 12.c3 e5 13.Nf3[/font] gives White the initiave and Black more space (Zhong Zhang-Dableo, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2008).

If [font color="magenta"]8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10.c4 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 e5 13.Nb5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vavarin-Khudyakov, Golden Autumn, Alushta, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]10.c3 h6 11.Qc2 Qb6 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.b4 Bd6[/font] is equal (Gudmundsson-Gudmundsdottir, Op, Reykjavik, 2009).

8.Ne2

If [font color="red"]8.Qe2 Qxd4 9.Nf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Qd5 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Re1 Bg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 e4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4+ Qxe4 16.Rxe4+[/font] is equal (Svidler-Anand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]12.Nxe5 Bxe2 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxe2 0-0 15.Nc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Apicella-Vaisser, French Ch, Chartres, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Qe4 10.Qxe4 Nxe4 11.Nxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nc5 12.Be3 f6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Nf3 Bd7 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.Rd5 Na4 16.Rhd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Pavasovic-B. Kovacevic, Op, Rijeka, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]13.Nc4 Be6 14.Na5 0-0-0 15.b4 Ne4 16.0-0 f5[/font] si equal (Svidler-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).

[font color="magenta"]11...Nf6 12.Be3 Bd6 13.Nc4 Be7 14.0-0-0 0-0 15.Bf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Timman-Hobber, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2012).

8...exd4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4?! (N)

[font color="red"]9...Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Bf4 0-0 11.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Bg4?! 12.Qe3!? Bd6 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.f3 Re8 15.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (A. Kovacevic-Teofilovic, Op, Djakovo, Croatia, 2005).
[font color="magenta"]11...c6 12.Rhe1 Qa5 13.Qe5 Bd8 14.Qxa5 Bxa5 15.c3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[font color="darkred"]10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1 Qxd4 12.Rxd4 c6 13.Rd3[/font] is equal.

10.Nxd4!

White has a comfortable game with small advantage in space and command of the long light diagonal, which slows down Black from completing her development.

10...Bb4+

If [font color="red"]10...Bd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Bf5 13.Nxd6 cxd6 14.Bxb7 Rab8 15.Bg2 Bxc2 16.b3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the Bishop in an open center.
[font color="darkred"]12...Re8 13.c4 Rd8 14.Nxd6 Rxd6 15.Bf4 Rd7 16.Rfe1[/font] gives White the Bishop pair in an open center

11.c3 Ba5

[font color="red"]11...Bc5[/font] drops a pawn to [font color="red"]12.Nb5 Bb6 13.Bf4 0-0 14.Nxc7 Bxc7 15.Bxc7.[/font]

12.0-0

White continues to enjoy a comfortable game.

12...0-0 13.Bf4!?

White develops his last piece.
If [font color="red"]13.a4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...c6 14.Bg5 Nd5 15.Rfe1 f6 16.Bd2 Rd8 17.Nb3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.
[font color="darkred"]13...Bb6 14.Be3 a6 15.Rfe1 Rd8 16.a5 Ba7 17.Nb3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 13.Bc1f4[/center]

13...Bb6!

White still has a small advantage in space.

14.Nb5 Ne8

[font color="red"]14...c6 15.a4 cxb5 16.a5 Nh5 17.axb6 Nxf4 18.gxf4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

15.a4! a5 16.Na3

[font color="red"]16.Rad1!? c6! 17.Nd4 Bg4 18.Rde1 Bxd4 19.cxd4[/font] gives White only a small advantage in space.

16...c6 17.Nc4

[font color="red"]17.Rfd1!? Be6! 18.Bf1 Nf6 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.Bxc4[/font] gives White the Bishop pair and the advantage in space; Black may challenge White's command of the d-file.

17...Bd8 18.Rfe1 Be6

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 18...Bc8e6[/center]

19.Bf1

If [font color="red"]19.Ne5 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Nf3 Bb6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 Rfe8 23.Rae1 Kf8[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]20.Be3!? Bc7![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Nd3 Nd7 22.Bf4 Bxf4 23.Nxf4 Bb3 24.Nd3 Rad8[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]21.Bd4 Rad8 22.Nd3 Rfe8 23.Re2 Bf5 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8[/font] is equal.

19...Bc7

[font color="red"]19...Nf6 20.Nd6! Bc7 21.c4 Bxd6 22.Bxd6 Rfd8 23.Rad1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

20.Bxc7

[font color="red"]20.Be5!? Bxc4! 21.Bxc4 Bxe5 22.Rxe5 Nd6 23.Bd3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

20...Nxc7 21.Nb6 Rad8 22.Nc4!?

[font color="red"]22.Rad1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Re8 24.f4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

22...Bxc4!

White still has a slight advantage.

23.Bxc4 Rfe8 24.Rad1!?

The Rook will only have to move again after Black takes on e1.
[font color="red"]24.Kg2 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Kf8 26.Kf3 Rd2 27.Re2[/font] continues to give White a narrow advantage.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 24.Ra1d1[/center]

24...Rxe1+!

The game is equal.

25.Rxe1 Kf8 26.Re2 Rd1+ 27.Kg2 Ra1 28.Bb3!?

White blocks the Rook's escape route.
If [font color="red"]28.Rd2 Ke7 29.Bxf7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Rxa4 30.Bb3 Ra1 31.Re2+ Kd6 32.Rd2+ Kc5[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]29...Kxf7?! 30.Rd7+ Kf6 31.Rxc7 Rxa4 32.Rxb7[/font] gives White a strong game with an extra pawn and an active Rook.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 28.Bc4b3[/center]

28...Na6!

Black threatens 29...Nc5 with a small advantage.

29.Bc2

If [font color="red"]29.Re5 b6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.Bc2 Ra2 31.Bf5 g6 32.Bd7 Nc5 33.Re8+ Kg7[/font] gives Black a small advantage; each side will take a pawn.
[font color="darkred"]30.Rf5 f6 31.Bc2 Ra2 32.Rf3 Nc5 33.Bxh7 Rxb2[/font] gives Black stronger pawns. and a small advantage in space

29...Nc5

[font color="red"]29...g6! 30.b3 Nc5 31.Re5 b6 32.Re3 Ra2[/font] gives Black the initiative and a clear edge in activity.

30.Re5 b6

[font color="red"]30...Rc1!? 31.Bxh7 b6 32.Bf5 g6 33.b4 Nxa4[/font] is equal.

31.b4 axb4 32.cxb4 Nxa4 33.Re3!?

This doesn't do a lot for White. The third rank might be more navigable than fifth, but not appreciably.
If [font color="red"]33.Bf5[/font] (threatening 34.Bd7) then:

[font color="red"]33...g6 34.Bd7 Rc1 35.Re8+ Kg7 36.Rc8 Nb2[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.
[font color="darkred"]33...Rd1!?[/font] proves pointless after [font color="darkred"]34.Bc2! Ra1 35.Bf5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 33.Re5e3[/center]

33...b5!

Black has a small advantage in space and a tactical edge. White cannot take the pawn at h7 without her Bishop becoming trapped nor can White shift the attack to f7 withe the Bishop becoming pinned on b3.

34.Bb3?!

Whit apparently has 36.Rf3 in mind.
If [font color="red"]34.Rf3 Nb6! 35.Be4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...Nd5 36.Bxd5 cxd5 37.Rd3 Ra4 38.Rxd5 Rxb4[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn, but White has the more active Rook.
[font color="darkred"]35...Rc1!? 36.Bxh7 Nd5 37.Be4 Ke7 38.Bxd5 cxd5[/font] gives Black a small advantage, but far from a win; Black would have an outanding advantage in a King-and-pawn ending..

34...Ra3!

This is crippling to White. The Rook is tied to the third rank and it really isn't a good idea to move the Bishop, which allows the exchange at e3 resulting in another pawn weakness.

35.Kf3!?

This covers the Rook with the King so that White will not have to recapture with the pawn. 35.Rf3 accomplishes the same thing and better protects White's f-pawn.
If [font color="red"]35.Rf3 f6 36.h4 h6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Bd1 Rxf3 38.Kxf3 Nc3 39.Bb3 Ke7 40.Ke3 Na4[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn and White a better minor piece in the poistion.
If [font color="darkred"]37.Bc2 Rxf3 38.Kxf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]38...Ke7 39.Ke4 Nb6 40.Bb3 Na8 41.h5 Nc7[/font] gives Black the advantage with the extra pawn and the threat of 42...Na6,, but it will be difficult for her to win while White has a more active King and a Bishop with pawns on both wings.
If [font color="magenta"]38...Nb6 39.Be4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]39...Nd7 40.Ke3 c5 41.Bc6 Ne5 42.Bxb5 cxb4[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage; White has compensation for the pawn minus in having a Bishop against a Knight with pawns on both wings.
[font color="darkorange"]39...Nd5!? 40.Bxd5 cxd5 41.Ke3 Ke7 42.Kd4 Kd6[/font] is equal.

35...c5!

Black obtains a passed pawn and drives away the Bishop.

36.bxc5 Nxc5 37.Bd5?

White's best shot now is shift the attack to h7.
If [font color="red"]37.Bc2 b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Ke2 g6 39.Kd2 Ra7 40.Bb1 Rd7+ 41.Kc2 b3+[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (passed) and better piece coordination. The Black King will be activated when needed.
If [font color="darkred"]38.h4?[/font] (intending 39.h5 and 40.Bxh7) then after [font color="darkred"]38...b3! 39.Bb1 g6 40.Rc3 Na4 41.Rd3 Kg7[/font] Black's passer is dangerous.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 37.Bb3d5[/center]

37...b4!

White's pieces are too far away from the center of gravity to have any real effect. Black will win.

38.Ke2 b3 39.Kd2 Ra2+ 40.Kc1 Rxf2!

Black now has a pawn majority on both wings.

41.h4 b2+ 42.Kb1 Na4!

The Knight covers the passed pawn, freeing the Rook for action elsewhere.

43.Be4

If [font color="red"]43.Bc4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]43...Rg2 44.Rf3 Ke7 45.Bf1 Rd2 46.Rd3 Rf2.[/font]

43...f5 44.Bc2

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 44.Be4c2[/center]

44...Rf1+!

The Rook maneuver enhances White positions.

45.Ka2 Ra1+ 46.Kb3 b1Q+ 47.Bxb1 Rxb1+ 48.Kxa4

The White King is conined to the a-file, unable to assist in the defense against Black's pawn ajority on the opposite wing.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 48.Kb3a4:N[/center]

48...g6 49.h5

Reserve pawn tempi is prescious and shouldn't be wasted.
If [font color="red"]49.Re2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]49...Kg7 50.Ka3 Kh6 51.Re3 Rh1 52.Kb4 Rh3.[/font]

49...Kg7 50.hxg6 hxg6 51.g4 Kf6 52.gxf5 gxf5

With the White King confined to the opposite flank, White cannot prevent Black from reaching the Lucena position.

[center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 52...gf5:p[/center]

53.Re8 f4 54.Ka3 Kf5 55.Ka2 Rb7 56.Rf8+ Kg4 0-1

[font color="red"]57.Rc8 Kg3 58.Rg8+ Kf2 59.Rf8 f3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]60.Ka3 Kg2 61.Rg8+ Kf1 62.Rf8 f2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]63.Rf6 Rg7! 64.Kb4 Rg5![/font] (Diagram)
This is the Lucena Position; now follows [font color="red"]65.Kc3 Ke2 66.Re6+ Kf3 67.Rf6+ Ke3 68.Re6+ Kf4 69.Rf6+ Rf5[/font] and the pawn queens.
[font color="burgundy"]63.Ka4 Rg7 64.Kb5 Rg5+[/font] is again the Lucena posistion.

If [font color="darkred"]60.Rf6 Kg2 61.Rg6+ Kf1 62.Rf6 f2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]63.Rf8 Rg7 64.Kb3 Rg5![/font] is again the Lucena position.
[font color="magenta"]63.Rf5 Rb4 64.Ka3 Rg4[/font] wins for White.

Nastya resigns.

[center]Analysis Diagram[/center][center]BLACK: Guo Qi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natassia Ziaziulkina[/center][center]Position after 64...Rg7g5[/center][center]The Lucena Position[/center]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

9. French National Championship, Pau

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 05:33 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Château de Pau, French Pyrenees[/center][font size="1"]Photo by |Jibi44 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jibi44) from Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Château_de_Pau.JPG)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

10. Vachier Lagrave - Lagarde, Round 3

Mon Sep 3, 2012, 05:36 PM

Sep 2012

[center]

Maxime Vachier Lagrave
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maxime_Vachier-Lagrave)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Maxime Vachier Lagrave - Maxime Lagarde
French Championships (General Group), Round 3
Pau, 15 August 2012

Symmetrical English Game: Mikenas-Carls Opening

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Be2 e5 6.d3 h6 (N)

Most English games are less theoretical than openings featuring a center pawn.
If [font color="red"]6...d6 7.0-0 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Ne1 0-0 9.f4 exf4 10.Bxf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Be6 11.Nc2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Nd7 12.Qd2 h6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.Ne3 Nde5 14.Rf2 Ng6 15.Bg3 Bg5 16.Re1 Nd4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Golubovic-B. Vuckovic, Bosnian ChT, Vogasca, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]13.b3 Nde5 14.Be3 Bg5 15.Bxg5 hxg5 16.d4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Rublevsky-Bu Xiangzhi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

[font color="darkpink"]11...Rc8 12.Qd2 Nd7 13.Nd5 Nde5 14.a3 Ng6 15.Be3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Beim-Kummer, Austrian ChT, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nd4 11.Nc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Nxc2!? 12.Qxc2! Be6 13.Rad1 Ne8 14.d4 cxd4 15.Nb5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Agdestein-L'Ami, TM, Amsterdam, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]11...Qb6 12.b3 Bd7 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]8.a3 0-0 9.Rb1 a5 10.Ne1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Ne8 11.Nc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Bg5 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Bxc1 14.Qxc1 b6 15.Nd5[/font] is equal (Peng Xiaomin-Liang Jinrong, ZT, Hei Bei, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]11...Nc7 12.f4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Bf6 14.Bg4 Ne6 15.Be3[/font] is equal (Rublevsky-Vasquez, Ol, Elista, 1998).

[font color="magenta"]10...Nd4 11.Nc2 Bd7 12.f4 Nxc2 13.Qxc2 exf4 14.Bxf4[/font] (Yandemirov-Shestoperov, Russia Cup, Samara, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]7...g6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.a3 Bg7 9.b4 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.Rb1 Ne8 11.Nd5 Nc7 12.bxc5 dxc5 13.Re1 Ne6 14.Bb2[/font] draw (Andreikin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2012).
[font color="burgundy"]10.bxc5 dxc5 11.Rb1 b6 12.Nd5 Ne8 13.Nd2 Nd6[/font] is equal (Malakhov-Shipov, Moscow Ch, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]8.Ne1 Bg7 9.f4 Nd4 10.Nc2[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]10...0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.Ne3!? exf4 12.Rxf4 Be6 13.Rf2 a6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space ( Moranda-Markowski, Polish Ch, Poznan, 2005).
[font color="purple"]11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Bg5 Qd6 13.Nxd4 cxd4[/font] is equal

[font color="darkorange"]10...h6 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Nb1 0-0 13.Na3 Bd7 14.Rb1[/font] is equal (Pogosian-Shipov, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2010).

7.0-0

The players have broken from the book well before completing development. For what it's worth, White has a slight edge in space.

7...g6!?

This move weakens Black's kingside unnecessarily. Black should save time and develop his Bishop at e7.
[font color="red"]7...Be7 8.Bd2 d6 9.Nd5 0-0 10.h3 Bd7 11.Qb3[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

[center]BLACK: Maxime Lagarde[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 7...g7g6[/center]

8.b4!?

White has the right idea (attacking c5), but goes about it the wrong way. The pawn should be attacked by a piece from a distance, so that it remains at c5.
If [font color="red"]8.Be3! d6 9.a3 Bg7[/font] (Black must develop his Bishop on the flank as a preparation to castling) [font color="red"]10.b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...b6 11.Rb1 0-0 12.Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nxd5 13.cxd5 Nd4 14.bxc5 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 bxc5 16.Nd2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]12...Nd4 13.bxc5 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 dxc5 15.Qd2 Kh7 16.Qb2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkred"]10...Nd4?! 11.bxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5 Nxe2+ 13.Qxe2[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

8...Nxb4?!

Black fails to take advantage of White's inaccuracy.
If [font color="red"]8...cxb4![/font] (this pawn exchange frees Black's game) [font color="red"]9.Nd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Bg7 10.a3 bxa3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Rxa3 b6 12.Be3 Bb7 13.Qc1 d6 14.Bd1[/font] gives a superior center against Black's extra pawn
[font color="burgundy"]11.Bxa3!? d6! 12.h3 0-0 13.Qb3 b6 14.Bb2 Na5[/font] is equal

If [font color="darkred"]9...Bc5 10.Nxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...Bd4 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Ng4 Qg7 13.Rb1 d6 14.Ne3[/font] gives White a comfortable game with mor freedom.
[font color="magenta"]10...Nxe5?! 11.Bb2! Nxd5 12.cxd5 Qe7 13.d4 Bd6 14.f4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

9.Nxe5!

White has a comfortable game with a better center and a small advantage in space.

9...d6 10.a3?!

White misses a more aggressive continuation and throws away his advantage.
[font color="red"]10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.Rb1[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game with two Bishops, a better center, superiority on the queenside and more space.

10...dxe5!

The game is equal.

11.axb4 cxb4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Qb6!?

Again we have an example of the right idea played the wrong way. Black is right to make a show of force on the queenside, where he has a cluster of three passed pawns, but would do better to stake out the claim with a pawn.
If [font color="red"]13...a5 14.d4 Bg7 15.Bb2 exd4 16.Bxd4 0-0 17.f4[/font] remains equal.

14.d4!?

Black sacrifices a second pawn, which is usually a dubious proposition.
[font color="red"]14.Qc2! Bc5 15.Bb2 Bd4 16.Bxd4 Qxd4 17.Qc7[/font] gives White a slight advantage ovarall with a great deal more space; Black still has an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Maxime Lagarde[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 14.d3d4[/center]

14...exd4!

Black has a small advantage with two extra pawns; White has a small advantage in space and greater development.

15.Bf4 Bc5 16.e5

[font color="red"]16.Bc4 0-0 17.Bxh6 Re8 18.Qf3 Bd6 19.g3 Bd7[/font] continues to leave Black a pawn to the good.

16...Bf5!?

The Bishop is vulnerable to attack from here.
[font color="red"]16...0-0 17.Bxh6 Re8 18.Bf4 Bf5 19.Bc4 d3[/font] still gives Black an extra pawn.

17.Bc4!?

White misses an opportunity to exploit the inaccuracy of Black's last move.
If [font color="red"]17.Bd3! Bxd3 18.Qxd3 g5 19.Bd2 0-0-0 20.d6 Kb8[/font] continues to give Black two extra pawns and White more space.

17...g5

The game is equal.
If [font color="red"]17...h5 18.Qa4+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...Bd7 19.Qb3 0-0 20.d6 Kh7 21.g3 Bh3[/font] still leaves Black two pawns to the good with an attack to White's King's Rook.
If [font color="darkred"]18...Kf8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.d6 h4 20.h3 Rh7 21.Qb3 Re8[/font] continues to give Black a pair of extra pawns; White has more space.
[font color="magenta"]19.Qb3 Kg7 20.d6 Rhf8 21.h3 Rac8 22.Bg5 f6[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and the initiative; White has a slight advantage in space

18.Bg3!?

The Bishop is not as safe here as if he retreated in the other direction.
[font color="red"]18.Bd2 0-0 19.d6 Bg6 20.Qf3 Rae8 21.Qg3 d3[/font] remains equal.

18...h5!?

The pawn advance would work bett if Black were to bring more support for the maneuver to the kingside first.
If [font color="red"]18...Qg6 19.Qa4+ Kf8 20.d6 Be6 21.Qb5 b6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

[center]BLACK: Maxime Lagarde[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 18...h6h5[/center]

19.e6!

White has a small advantage in space.

19...fxe6 20.dxe6 Ke7 21.Qf3?!

The queen will be vulnerable to frontal attacks here.
If [font color="red"]21.h4![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21...Rac8 22.Qf3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...Rcf8 23.hxg5 Bg6 24.Qe2 Rf5 25.Bd3 Rhf8 26.Rfe1[/font] leaves White with a superior game owing to flexibility in the center in spite of being down two pawns.; Black faces a grim uphill fight to preserve a half point.
If [font color="burgundy"]22...Rhf8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]23.Rae1 g4 24.Qf4 Kd8 25.Qe5.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]21...Qc6? 22.Re1 Raf8 23.Qe2 g4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]24.Qd2 Rhg8 25.Ra5 Qb6 26.Rb5 Qc6 27.Bf4.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]23...d3[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]24.Bxd3 Bd4 25.Ra5 Qc3 26.Bd6+!! Kxd6 27.Bxf5.[/font]

21...Raf8!

Black has leveled the game.

22.Qd5 Qc6?!

Black invites an exchange of Queens that gives White the opportunity to regain the upper hand.
Better is [font color="red"]22...d3 23.Rfe1 Qc6 24.Qe5 Rf6 25.h4 g4 26.Bd5[/font] with equality.

23.Qe5!

White again has a comfortable game.
[font color="red"]23.Qxc6? bxc6! 24.h4 g4 25.Rfe1 Bb6[/font] leaves Black up by two pawns and winning.

23...h4??

This move looks like a killer and it is. It's suicidal.
If [font color="red"]23...Rf6 24.Rfc1 Bd6 25.Qxd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Rd8 26.Qe3 Bf4 27.Bxf4 gxf4 28.Qxa7[/font] gives White a comfortable game with stronger pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]25...Bxg3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]26.hxg3! Rd8 27.Qxa7 Rc8 28.Qe3.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Maxime Lagarde[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 23...h5h4[/center]

24.Bd5!

White also wins after [font color="red"]24.Qg7+! Ke8 25.Bb5 Rh7 26.Bxc6+ bxc6 27.Qe5.[/font]

24...Qb5 25.Qc7+ Kf6 26.Be5+ Kg6 27.Bxh8 1-0

Also good is [font color="red"]27.Qg7+ Kh5 28.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28...Rfg8[/font] then after [font color="red"]29.Qf7+ Bg6 30.Qf6 Be7 31.Qxe7[/font] White wins.
If [font color="darkred"]28...d3+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]29.Kh1 Rfg8 30.Qf7+ Bg6 31.Qf6 Be7 32.Qxe7.[/font]

After the text move, if [font color="blue"]27...Rxh8[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]28.Qf7+ Kh6 29.Qf6+ Kh7 30.Qxf5+[/font] when White has the King trapped in a mating net.
[font color="#008000"]27...Kh5 28.Bg7 Qb6 29.Qe5 Qd6 30.Qxd6 Bxd6 31.Bxf8[/font] leaves White with two Rooks and a Bishop against two Bishops and two extra pawns.
M. Lagarde resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

21. Edouard - Tkachiev, Round 9

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:09 PM

Sep 2012

Romain Edourad is 21 years old. This is the first time he has won or shared the French national title.

Vladislav Tkachiev, originally from Russia and Kazakhstan, lives in Cannes and has taken French citizenship. He won the French national championship in 2006 and the European championship in 2007.

[center][/center]

[center]Romain Edouard[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Edouard_rd7_4thEUIO.JPG)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Romain Edouard - Vladislav Tkachiev
French Championships (General Group), Round 9
Pau, 22 August 2012

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Rubinstein Opening/Hübner Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Bxc3 8.bxc3

For moves and variations of the Hübner Variation up to here, see Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.

8...d6 9.e4 e5 10.d5

If [font color="red"]10.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...b6 11.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Re8 12.d5 Ne7 13.Kh2 Ng6 14.g3 h6 15.Ng1[/font] is equal (Vasilevich-Makropoulou, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]11...Qe7 12.d5 Na5 13.Nd2 h6 14.Qe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Andriejunas-Plunge, IT, Vilnius, 1969).

If [font color="darkred"]10...h6 11.Be3 b6 12.d5 Ne7 13.Kh2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Nh7 14.Nd2 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Ne4 Nf6 17.Ng3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (I. Ibragimov-Browne, Op, Philadelphia, 1992).
If [font color="magenta"]13...g5?! 14.Ng1?![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14...Nh7!? 15.Ne2! f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ng3 Bg6 18.Qc2[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Jussupow-Gómez Esteban, Rpd IT, Oviedo, 1993).
[font color="darkorange"]14...Ng6! 15.Rb1 Bd7 16.Re1 Nf4 17.Nf3 N6h5 18.Bc2[/font] is equal.

10...Ne7 11.Nh4

If [font color="red"]11.Nd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...h6 12.Re1 Nh7 13.Nf1 f5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Ng3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qd7 17.a4 Rf7 18.Re2[/font] is equal (Zilberman-Psakhis, IT, Hertzliya, Israel, 1993).
[font color="burgundy"]14.f3 f4 15.Rb1 g5 16.g4 h5 17.h3 Kf7[/font] gives Black a comfortable game.(Hesselbarth-Jaracz, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Ng6 12.g3 Bh3 13.Re1 Ne8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Rb1 Qd7 15.Rb2 b6 16.f3 h6 17.Qe2 f5[/font] is equal (Taimanov-Vyzmanavin, IT, Leningrad, 1984).
[font color="magenta"]14.f3 Qc8 15.Bf1 Bd7 16.Bg2 f5 17.exf5 Bxf5[/font] is equal (T. Ernst-Zadrusny, Rilton Cup 0607, Stockholm, 2006).

11...Kh8

If [font color="red"]11...h6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.f4 Ng6 13.Nxg6 fxg6 14.f5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...b5 15.g4 bxc4 16.Bc2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Qa5 17.Qf3?![/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...g5 18.Rf2 Bd7 19.Rg2 Rab8 20.h4 Nh7[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space; Whit has stronger pawns (Bjork-Bergstrom, IT Jr, Hallsberg, 1975).

[font color="burgundy"]17...gxf5 18.gxf5 Bd7 19.Kh1 Kh8 20.Rg1 Rab8[/font] gives Black more space, but the sacrifice 21.Bxh6!! opens up BLack's kingside (Visier Segovia-Mecking, Ruy López Mem, Las Palmas, 1975).

If [font color="darkred"]16...Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.g5? hxg5 18.Bxg5 gxf5 19.exf5 Qa5[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn, the initiative and a lot more space; White is toast (Khokhlov-Rieseler, Corres, 1989).

[font color="magenta"]17.a4 Qa5 18.Bd2 g5 19.Qe1 Nxg4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more space.

If [font color="darkred"]14...gxf5 15.exf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Qe7 16.Qe2 b6 17.Bd2 Ba6 18.Be4 Rf7[/font] is equal (Knaak-Csom, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).

[font color="magenta"]15...e4 16.Be2 Qe7 17.Be3 Bd7 18.Qe1 Nh7 19.g4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Gligoric-Mecking, IT, San Antonio, 1972).

If [font color="darkred"]12.Qf3 Ng6 13.Nf5 Bxf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Qxf5 Nh7 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.g3 Rac8 17.h4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Hort-Adamski, IT, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1977).

[font color="magenta"]14.exf5 e4 15.Bxe4 Ne5 16.Qe2 Qa5 17.Bd2 Rfe8[/font] gives Black a small advantage with stronger pawns an a slight edge in space (Potlin-S. Zhigalko, Russian ChT, Olginka, 2011).

12.g3

[font color="red"]12.f4 Ng6 13.fxe5 Nxe5 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6[/font] breaks up Black's kingside and gives White a significant advantage (Gligoric-Keene, IT, Hastings, 1973).

12...Bh3 13.Re1 Qd7 (N)

[font color="red"]13...Nfg8 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Qd7 16.Qc2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gelfand-Grischuk, World Rpd Ch, Astana, 2012).

14.f3

White has a small advantage in space.

14...Nfg8

[font color="red"]14...h6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.a4 Bd7 17.a5 Kg8 18.Qe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="blue"]14...Kg8 15.Bg5 Ne8[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]16.Qc2 h6 17.Be3 f5 18.exf5 Nxf5 19.Ng6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkblue"]16.Rb1!? b6 17.Qc2 h6 18.Bc1 Nf6 19.Qf2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 14...Nf6g8[/center]

15.g4!

White entombs Black's Bishop on h3.
If [font color="red"]15.Qc2 Qc7 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.f4 b6 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Qe2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="blue"]15.Rb1 f5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]16.Rb5 b6 17.Bg5 Nf6 18.exf5 Nxf5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]19.Ng2 Rab8 20.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]20...a6 21.Rb2 h6 22.Bd2 b5 23.Reb1 Rbc8 24.Qd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
[font color="#4080FF"]20...h6 21.Bd2 g6 22.Qd1 h5 23.a4 Kg7 24.a5[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

If [font color="darkblue"]19.g4?! Nxh4 20.Bxh4 e4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]21.Bxe4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rae8 23.Qd3 Rxe4 24.Qxe4 Qf7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but Black is fully compensated and then some with stronger pawns and superior piece placement that assures that Black will level the material balance and free his Bishop.
[font color="dodgerblue"]21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Bxe4 f5 23.gxf5 Rg8+ 24.Kf2 Bxf5[/font] gives Black the advantage in space.

[font color="#8040C0"]16.Rb2 b6 17.exf5 Nxf5 18.Bxf5 Bxf5 19.g4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

15...Ng6!?

Black might consider 15...Nf6 with at least the possibilty of freeing the entombed Bishop.
[font color="red"]15...Nf6 16.Bc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...a6 17.Qe2 Rg8 18.Nf5 Nxf5 19.exf5 e4 20.fxe4 Bxg4[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]16...Nxg4?! 17.fxg4 Bxg4 18.Ba4! Bxd1 19.Bxd7[/font] gives White a minor piece for two pawns.

16.Nxg6+!?

This simply allows black to open the f-file for his Rook against White backward pawn.
[font color="red"]16.Nf5 h5 17.gxh5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Nh4 19.f4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

16...fxg6!

The game is equal.

17.Kh1 h5 18.gxh5

If [font color="red"]18.g5 Rf7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Be2 Ne7 20.Be3 Kg8 21.Rb1 b6 22.a4 Qc7[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]19.Rb1 Ne7 20.Be3 Kg8 21.Be2 Qc7 22.Qb3 Rb8[/font] remains equal.

18...Qf7 19.Be2

[font color="red"]19.f4 gxh5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Re3 Bg4 22.Be2 Nh6[/font] remains equal.

19...gxh5 20.Rg1 Nf6!?

More direct is to retreat the Bishop, which cannot be defended at h3.
If [font color="red"]20...Bd7 21.Rb1![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...b6 22.Qe1 Nf6 23.Qh4[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]21...Be8 22.Bg5 Rb8 23.Qe1 Nf6 24.Qh4[/font] remains equal.

21.Qe1!

The Queen has more freedom here.
Also good is [font color="red"]21.Rb1![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Rg8 22.Qe1 Raf8 23.Bg5 Bc8 24.Qh4 Qe8 25.Rg2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space and more freedom.
[font color="darkred"]21...Rae8!? 22.Qe1 Bc8 23.Qh4 b6 24.Bg5 g6 25.a4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

21...Nh7!?

Black apparently intends 22...g5 in order to fix White backward pawn at f3
If [font color="red"]21...Rae8 22.Qh4 Bc8 23.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Bd7 24.Raf1 g6 25.Bg5 Qg7 26.Rg2 Rf7 27.Rfg1[/font] gives White a small advantage; White's Rooks are doubled against a weak pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]23...b6 24.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...g6 25.a4! Kh7 26.Rgb1 Kg7 27.a5 bxa5 28.Rxa5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]24...Kh7!? 25.a4! g6 26.a5 bxa5 27.Rxa5 Re7 28.Rb5[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

22.Qh4!

This move is better than 22.Bg3 because it at once gains a tempo on the Bishop and put pressure on the h-pawn. White has a comfortable game.
[font color="red"]22.Qg3!? Bd7 23.Rb1 b6 24.Qh4 Rg8 25.Bd2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

22...Bd7 23.Be3!?

Given the potential of White's position, this move is timid.
More aggressive is [font color="red"]23.Bg5! Nxg5 24.Rxg5 Be8 25.Rag1 Qf6 26.Qh3[/font] when White continues to enjoy a comfortable game.

23...g6!?

Black fails to capitalize on White's passive play.
If [font color="red"]23...Rg8 24.Raf1 g5 25.Bxg5 Nxg5 26.Rxg5 Rxg5 27.Qxg5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 23...g7g6[/center]

24.Raf1!

White has a Rook trained on a weak g-pawn and a fair advantage in space.

24...Qf6 25.Qg3!?

White piles on the weakling at g6, but amy have had a better way of going about the problem.
If [font color="red"]25.Bg5! Nxg5 26.Rxg5 Rf7 27.f4 exf4 28.Bxh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28...Rh7 29.Rxf4 Qe7 30.Bxg6 Rxh4 31.Rxh4+ Kg7 32.Rh7+[/font] wins the Queen.
If [font color="darkred"]28...gxh5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]29.Rfg1![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]29...Qxg5 30.Rxg5 Rg7 31.Rxh5+ Kg8 32.Rh8+[/font] puts Black in a mating net.
If [font color="darkorange"]29...Bg4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]30.R1xg4 Qxg5 31.Rxg5 Rg7 32.Rxh5+[/font] when he soon delivers mate.

[font color="magenta"]29.Qxh5+?? Rh7! 30.Qg6 Rf8 31.Qxf6+ Rxf6 32.Rfg1 Rf8[/font] leaves Black a piece up and winning.

25...Rg8 26.h4 Qe7?!

Black removes a guard from his weak g-pawn.
[font color="red"]26...Qg7 27.f4 Nf6 28.Bf3 b6 29.fxe5 dxe5 30.Bg5[/font] gives White a passed pawn at d5.

27.f4!

White fixes the backward pawn at g6.

27...Rae8 28.fxe5 dxe5

[font color="red"]28...Qxe5[/font] (simultaneously attacking the weaklings at c3 and e4) [font color="red"]29.Qxe5+ Rxe5 30.Bf4 Ree8 31.Bf3 Nf6 32.Re1[/font] gives White a substantial advantage with the pawn at d6 under attack.

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 28...de5:p[/center]

29.Kh2!

The King is safe here. Without a dark square Bishop and with a Black pawn occupying e5, Black cannot access any avenue of attack aimed at h2.

29...b6 30.Bh6 Ba4 31.Rf2 Bc2 32.Rgf1 Bxe4?

Black takes an extra pawn and creates a passer, but exposes his own e-pawn to attack on a file that is open to White and a diagonal that White already commands.
If [font color="red"]32...Qd7 33.Bg5 Rg7 34.Bxh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Bxe4 35.Bg4 Bf5 36.Bxf5 gxf5 37.Rxf5 e4 38.Qg4[/font] gives White a king sized advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]34...gxh5??[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]35.Rxc2! Nxg5 36.hxg5 Qg4 37.Qxg4 hxg4 38.Rf5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 32...Bc2e4:p[/center]

33.Rf7! Qd8 34.Bxh5

White wins after [font color="red"]34.Rxh7+ Kxh7 35.Rf7+ Kh8 36.Bg5 Rg7 37.Bf6.[/font]

34...Re7

If [font color="red"]34...Bd3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]35.R1f3 Be4 36.Re3 Re7 37.Rxe7 Qxe7 38.Bd1.[/font]

35.Bg4?!

White wins after [font color="red"]35.Bd1! Qc7 36.Rxe7 Qxe7 37.Re1 Nf6 38.Bg5.[/font]

35...Bf5!

Black's position is now marginally defensible.
If [font color="red"]35...Rxf7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]36.Rxf7 Qb8 37.Be6 a5 38.h5 b5 39.hxg6.[/font]

36.Rxe7 Qxe7 37.Bh3 Bxh3

[font color="red"]37...a6 38.a4 a5 39.Rf2 Bxh3 40.Qxh3 Re8 41.Qg4[/font] continues to give White domination of the kingside.

38.Kxh3 g5?

Black advances a pawn and opens f5 for White's Rook.
If [font color="red"]38...Qd7+ 39.Kg2 Re8 40.Rf2 Qe7 41.Kg1 Rg8 42.a3[/font] gives White a coordinated kingside attack and a passed pawn; Black also has a passer.

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 38...g6g5[/center]

39.hxg5?

White misses an opportunity to win right away and gives Black good drawing chances.
[font color="red"]39.Rf5![/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39...gxh4 40.Qxe5+ Qxe5 41.Rxe5 Nf6 42.Re6.[/font]

39...Nxg5+!

White still has a small advantage in space.

40.Bxg5 Rxg5

[font color="red"]40...Qxg5 41.Qh4+ Qxh4+ 42.Kxh4 Rg7 43.Rf5[/font] gives White a small advantage; Black's e-pawn must fall.

41.Qh4+

White has a small advantage; the Rook is pinned.

41...Kg8 42.Rf5!

White maintains a small advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]42.Rg1!? Qd7+![/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.Kh2 Rxg1 44.Kxg1 Qf5 45.Qe7[/font] is a likely draw.
If [font color="darkred"]43.Rg4 Rg6 44.Qh5 Rg7 45.Kg3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]45...Qxg4+ 46.Qxg4 Kf7 47.Qxg7+ Kxg7 48.Kf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]48...Kf7! 49.Ke4 Kf6 50.a3 a6 51.a4 a5[/font] transposes to [font color="darkorange"]Black's 50th move,[/font] below.
If [font color="magenta"]48...Kf6 49.Ke4 a6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]50.a3 b5 51.cxb5 axb5 52.Kd3 Ke7 53.c4[/font] is equal
If [font color="darkorange"]50.a4 a5 51.Ke3 Kg5 52.Ke4 Kf6[/font]is equal and likely drawn.

If [font color="magenta"]45...a6 46.Kf3 Qf7+ 47.Qxf7+ Kxf7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]48.Rh4 b5 49.cxb5 axb5 50.a4 bxa4 51.Rxa4 Kf6 52.Rc4[/font] is equal and likely drawn.
[font color="darkorange"]48.Rxg7+ Kxg7 49.Ke4 Kf6 50.a3 b5[/font] is equal and likely drawn.

42...Rg7

Exchanging Queens is Black's only playable option.
White has a comfortable game.

43.Qxe7 Rxe7 44.Kg3 e4

[font color="red"]44...Rg7+ 45.Kf3 Rg1 46.Ke2 Rh1 47.Rxe5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn, that being a passer, but also weak pawns at a2, c3 and c4.

45.Kf2!

White has a comfortable game with a better passed pawn.

45...Rh7?

Black's e-pawn must fall.
If [font color="red"]45...e3+ 46.Ke2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]46...Re4 47.Rf3 Rh4 48.a4 Rg4 49.Kd3 e2 50.Re3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.
[font color="darkred"]46...Kg7?! 47.Rf3 Kg6 48.Rxe3 Rh7 49.Re6+ Kf5 50.Kd3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Vladislav Tkachiev[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Romain Edouard[/center][center]Position after 45...Re7h7[/center]

46.Ke3!

White demonstrates the power of blockading the passed pawns. Black will soon run out of reserve pawn tempi, making him vulnerable to Zugzwang.

[
46...Rh3+

[font color="red"]46...Re7 47.Rf4 Kg7 48.Rxe4 Rd7 49.Kf4 Rd8 50.Re7+[/font] wins the a-pawn.
If [font color="blue"]46...Kg7[/font] then after [font color="blue"]47.Kxe4 Kg6 48.Ke5 Rh1 49.Rf8 Re1+ 50.Kd6[/font] Black pawns fall ripe summer fruit.

47.Kxe4

The rest of the game almost plays itself.

47...Rxc3 48.d6 Rxc4+ 49.Kd5 Rd4+ 50.Kc6 c4 51.d7 1-0

If [font color="red"]51...Kg7[/font] then Black is kaput after [font color="red"]52.Rd5 Rd3 53.d8Q.[/font]
M. Tkachiev resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

28. Fressinet - Bauer, Round 8

Sat Sep 22, 2012, 04:50 PM

Sep 2012

Christian Bauer was probably playing the best chess of his life when his infant child died suddenly just before the final round, when M. Bauer, M. Vachier Lagrave, M. Edouard and M. Bacrot were tied for first place. The fianl round and any necessary playoff was canceled and the four men were declared French co-champions for 2012.

M. Bauer's most important win came in the eighth round against the ratings favorite, Laurent Fressinet.

[center][/center]

[center]Christian Bauer[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikipedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christian_Bauer.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Laurent Fressinet - Christian Bauer
French Championships, General Group, Round 8
Pau, 21 August 2012

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening/Bronstein Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qb3

This sortie is relatively unusual.
For more common lines of the Queen's Indian, see Grischuk-Topalov, IT, Linares, 2010.

5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 Na5

If [font color="red"]6...d5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...Bd6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Bb7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Nc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...0-0 12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Rc1 Rfe8 15.Be5[/font] is equal (Riazantsev-S. Zhigalko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
If [font color="darkred"]7...Qd7 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Qc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...0-0 10.Ne5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.b4 dxc4 13.Nf3[/font] gives White a small advantage with a greater ability to generate threats (Ponomariov-Anand, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2003).
[font color="magenta"]9...Bb7 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 a6 12.Bb2 Rfd8 13.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Brynell-E. Agrest, Swedish Ch, Goteborg, 2005).

[font color="darkpink"]9...Na5 10.Qa4+ c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 c5[/font] is equal (Banusz-So, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).

[font color="burgundy"]11...Be7?! 12.Bf4 0-0 13.Ne3 Qd7 14.0-0 Ba4 15.Qd3[/font] gives White fewer pawn weakness, better piece coordination and a slight edge in space; Black can drive away White's Queen with ...Bb5 (Beliavsky-Stefansson, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Qa4 Bb7 8.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Qd7 9.0-0 Bd6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.cxd5 10...exd5 11.Nb1 Ne4 12.Be3 Ne5 13.Qxd7+ Nxd7[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Grischuk, TM, Moscow, 2002).
[font color="burgundy"]10.Qc2 Nb4 11.Qd1 c5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.b3 0-0[/font] gives Black the advantage in space, buty he has no way to go forward (Piket-Leko, Amber Rapid, 2002).

If [font color="magenta"]8...Bd6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nc4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]10...Bb4+ 11.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11...Bxd2+ 12.Ncxd2 0-0 13.0-0 Qd6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Rac1 a5 15.a3 Nd8 16.e3 Ne6 17.Nb1 c5[/font] is equal (Riazantsev-Brodsky, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]14.e3 a5 15.Rfc1 Nb4 16.Ne1 c5 17.dxc5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more freedom; Black has more space (Gyimesi-Kovacevic, Bosnian ChT, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]11...dxc4 12.Bxb4 Qd5 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Ne5 Ne4 15.Nxc6[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Goldin-Ashley. US Ch, Seattle, 2003).

If [font color="darkorange"]10...dxc4!? 11.Ne5![/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]11...Bxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]12.Bxc6+ Bxc6 13.Qxc6+ Kf8 14.dxe5 Qd5 15.Qxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kramnik-Leko, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).
[font color="purple"]12.dxe5?! Nd5! 13.Bf4 0-0 14.0-0-0 Ncb4 15.Bxd5 Nxd5[/font] gives Black a better center that holds in front of the Queen.

[font color="hotpink"]11...Bb4+ 12.Kf1 0-0 13.Nxc6 Qe8 14.Qxb4 Bxc6 15.Qxc4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Almasi, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2003).

If [font color="darkorange"]9.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]10.cxd5 exd5 11.Nb1 Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Na5 14.Nd2 Qe8 15.Qd1 Qc6[/font] is equal (Morovic Fernández-San Segundo Carillo, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
If [font color="burgundy"]12.Bf4 Re8 13.Rc1 Bxf4 14.gxf4 Ne7 15.Nc3 Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gelfand-Leko, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).

If [font color="hotpink"]10.a3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]11.Qc2!? a4! 12.Rd1 h6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Na5[/font] gives Black a comfortable game (Kuraszkiewicz-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
If [font color="purple"]11.Re1 Qd7 12.b3 Rad8 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Rac1 f5[/font] is equal.

7.Qa4

If [font color="red"]7.Qc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...c5 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Bb7 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Be7 13.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...0-0 14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Qe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nd4 17.Bc3 Rb8 18.Bxd4 cxd4 19.Qxd4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Bareev-Gelfand, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Bg6 16.Bc3 Qb6 17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Rd2 a5 19.Rad1[/font] gives White fewer pawn weaknesses (Dautov-Ibraev, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rb8 14.Re1 Bg6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Nd2 f6 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.axb3 fxe5 18.Qxe5[/font] (Huzman-Beliavsky, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
[font color="magenta"]15.Bg5 Nc6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.h3 0-0 18.Rad1 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Sargissian-A. Ivanov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Nc6 13.0-0 Rb8 14.Re1 Bxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Qxf3 Nd4 16.Qd3 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.b3 Qc7 18.Bb2 d6 19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.Qxd4 dxe5[/font] is equal (Galliamova-Videnova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Rb1 a5 18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Be4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gustafsson-Eljanov, Bundesliga 0708, Hamburg, 2008).

If [font color="magenta"]15.Bxf3 Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Bg2 Be7 17.Rb1 Qb6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Riazantsev-S. Zhigalko, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bd1 Be7 17.Be3 Qc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]18.Rb1!? Qxe5![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]19.Bxd4?! cxd4! 20.Qd2 Qc5 21.Be2 0-0 22.Red1 e5[/font] gives Black mobile pawns marching up the center (Shirov-Gelfand, IT, Banza, 2009).
[font color="purple"]19.Bf4 Qf5 20.Bg4 Qxg4 21.Bxb8 0-0[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

[font color="hotpink"]18.Qd2 0-0 19.a3 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.b4 a5[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkred"]9...d6 10.a3 Bb7 11.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nc6 12.Bg2 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.b5 Qa5 14.Qd3 Ne5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.0-0[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Kramnik-Almasi, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]13.0-0 Nd7 14.Bb2 Bf6 15.Qb3 Bxb2 16.Qxb2[/font] is equal (Girya-Arabidze, Euro Ch, Giazantep, 2012).

[font color="magenta"]11...cxb4 12.axb4 Nc6 13.b5 Nb8 14.Bg2 Nbd7 15.0-0[/font] gives White a fair advantage; Black's Bishop at b7 has no place to go but c8.

If [font color="darkred"]7...d5 8.c5 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9.Bg2 0-0 10.b4 Nc6 11.cxb6 Bb5 12.b7 Rb8[/font] is equal (Wells-P. Carlsson, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]9.e3 Bxf1 10.Kxf1 Qd7 11.a4 Nc6 12.Ne5 Nxe5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Van Wely-Hracek, Bundesliga 0405, Holfeim, 2005).

7...Bb7 8.Bg2 c5 9.dxc5 Bc6 (N)

If [font color="red"]9...Bxc5 10.b4 Bc6 11.Qa3 Be7 12.Qc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nb7 13.Bb2 Nd6 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sargissian-A. Zhigalko, Euro Club Cup, "Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
[font color="darkred"]12...Ne4! 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.0-0 Nc6 15.Bb2 Bf6 16.Qd2[/font] is equal.

10.Qc2

White has a small advantage in space.

10...bxc5 11.0-0 Be7 12.b3 0-0 13.Bb2 d6!?

The weakest points in Black's position are the Knight at a5 and the pawn at a7.
[font color="red"]13...Qc7 14.Bc3 Rad8 15.Rad1 d5 16.Ne5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space

14.a3!

White has a comfortable game. The text move prepares and advance of White's queenside pawns.

14...Rc8 15.Rfd1?!

White loses a little bit of his advantage. The position White pieces indicates 15.e4.
If [font color="red"]15.e4! Qd7 16.b4 Ba4 17.Qc3 Nb7 18.b5[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

15...h6!?

Black makes a waiting move. Although Black is in no immediate danger and can't create any threats at the moment, there's plenty to do. The pawn at a7 could become a target without too much effort, for example.
[font color="red"]15...Qc7[/font] (covering the a-pawn)[font color="red"]16.b4[/font] (opening the queenside) [font color="red"]16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Nc6 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.b5 Qb7 20.Nb3[/font] gives White a small advantage.
If [font color="darkred"]16...cxb4?! 17.axb4 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxc4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Qxc4 Qxc4 20.Nxc4 Rxc4 21.Rxa7[/font] gives White a passed pawn and a Rook on the seventh rank.
[font color="magenta"]19.Nxc4!? d5! 20.Rdc1 dxc4 21.Bd4 Bxb4 22.Rxa7 Qd6[/font] [is equal./li]

16.e4

White continues to have a comfortable game with a better center and dynamic opportunities on the queenside.

16...a6 17.b4 Nb7 18.Rab1!?

White is ready to advance his pawns on the queenside. It would work better to bring the other Rook to b1.
[font color="red"]18.Rdb1! e5 19.Bc3 Bd7 20.b5 Qb6 21.a4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

18...Qe8!?

Black is more afraid of leaving his Queen in opposition to White's Rook than warrented.
If [font color="red"]18...e5 19.Bh3 Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20.Bf5 cxb4 21.axb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...a5 22.b5 Qb6 23.Bxd7 Nxd7 24.Nf1 Nbc5 25.Ne3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="burgundy"]21...Bxf5 22.exf5 Qc7 23.Re1 Rfe8 24.Rbd1 Nd7 25.Re3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]20.Bxd7!? Qxd7 21.Bc3 Nd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Nf1 Qc6 23.N3d2 Ne6 24.Ne3 Nd4 25.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]22.Qd3 Ne6 23.Nh4 g6 24.Ng2 h5 25.h4 Nd4[/font] is equal.

19.Qc3!?

White should keep pressure in the center.
If [font color="red"]19.Qd3 Ba4 20.Rdc1 Qd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.Bc3 Qc7 22.b5 axb5 23.cxb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...c4 24.Qe2 d5 25.exd5 exd5 26.b6 Qd8 27.Ne5[/font] gives White an advanced passed pawn and a slight advantage in space against Black's two connecte passers.
[font color="magenta"]23...Qd7?! 24.b6 Rfd8 25.Nc4 d5 26.exd5 exd5 27.Ne3[/font] gives White a better center with the command of the e5 square and a comfortable advantage in space

[font color="darkred"]21.e5 dxe5 22.Qe2 Rfd8 23.Bc3 e4 24.Ne5[/font] gives White a comfortable game with stronger pawns and the initiative.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 19.Qc2c3[/center]

19...e5!

Black locks the center.

20.Ne1!?

White's idea of moving the Knight so the Bishop can cover e4 is the right one, but e1 should be left available for a Rook.
If [font color="red"]20.Nh4 Ba4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Rdc1 g6 22.Qd3 Nd8 23.Bc3 Ne6 24.Bh3 Bd7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and stronger pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]21.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21...Nd8 22.Nf5 Ne6 23.Nf1 g6 24.Nxe7+ Qxe7 25.Ne3[/font] is equal; White would have an easier time targeting Black's backward d-pawn if he could put a Rook on d1.
[font color="magenta"]21...g6!? 22.Bf1 cxb4 23.axb4 a5 24.bxa5 Qd7 25.Ba3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

20...cxb4!

Black has leveled the game.

21.axb4 a5 22.bxa5 Ra8

If [font color="red"]22...Nc5!? 23.Qe3 Ra8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Ba3! Ba4 25.Rdc1 Rxa5 26.Bxc5 Rxc5 27.Nd3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]24.Nd3!? Nxd3! 25.Qxd3 Rxa5 26.Bc3 Ra2[/font] is equal.

23.Ra1 Ba4 24.Rdb1 Bd8 25.Ba3!?

White would gain at least a tempo by making Black take the a-pawn with the Rook on a6 instead of the Bishop on a5.
[font color="red"]25.a6 Rxa6 26.Nd3 Ba5 27.Qc1 Qd7 28.c5 Bxd2[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 25.Bb2a3[/center]

25...Bxa5!

Thanks to his two active Bishops, Black has a small advantage.

26.Qe3 Nc5!?

Black, who has a small advantage in space, gives White an opportunity to exchange and relieve the pressure.
If [font color="red"]26...Qd7 27.Nef3 Bc6 28.Nb3 Ng4 29.Qe2 Bc3[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

27.Bxc5!

The game is equal.

27...dxc5 28.Nb3 Bxb3

If [font color="red"]28...Bxe1 29.Rxe1 Bxb3 30.Qxb3 Qb8 31.Qxb8 Rfxb8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage on the queenside with two Rooks bearing down on open files.

29.Qxb3 Bxe1 30.Rxe1 Qe7 31.Bf3

White makes sure that his pawns are protected and overprotected.
[font color="red"]31.Qb5!? Rxa1 32.Rxa1 Qd6 33.Qa4 Qd3 34.Qb5 Qd4[/font] gives Black a small initiative. White will play 35.Re1.

31...Rab8

The game is equal.

32.Qe3!?

This is a very slight inaccuracy to leave the c-pawn unguarded in this position.
[font color="red"]32.Qc2 Rfd8 33.Reb1 Rxb1+ 34.Rxb1 Rd4 35.Rb8+ Kh7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage. Depending on where White places his Queen, Black can attack either the c-pawn or e-pawn, whichever is more vulnerable.

32...Rb4!?

Black fails to exploit the error.
[font color="red"]32...Rfd8! 33.Be2 Rb2 34.Ra5 Rd4 35.Ra8+ Kh7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

33.Rec1!?

White should keep his options open with the Rooks.
Better is [font color="red"]33.Be2! Rd8 34.f3 Rb2 35.Reb1 Rc2 36.Rc1 Rcd2[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 33.Re1c1[/center]

33...Rd8!

Black has a slight advantage in space.

34.h4 Qc7 35.Ra6 Rb6!?

Black has a slight advantage in space and shouldn't be too anxious to exchange Rooks. In any case, the exchange isn't forced.
[font color="red"]35...Rd4 36.Rxf6 gxf6 37.Qxh6 Qc6[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

36.Ra5!

The game is equal.
[font color="red"]36.Rca1 Rd4 37.Kg2 Rxc4 38.Ra8+ Kh7 39.g4 Qc6[/font] is equal.
[font color="blue"]36.Rxb6 Qxb6 37.h5 Qb2 38.Kg2 Rd4[/font] is equal.

36...Rb3 37.Qxb3 Qxa5 38.Kg2 g6 39.Rb1

[font color="red"]39.Qb5 Qa3 40.Rb1 Kg7 41.Rb3 Qa2 42.Rb2 Qa1[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with the more active Queen; any King-and-pawn ending would be drawn.

39...Kg7 40.Qb5 Qc7!?

More aggressive is to deploy the Queen in White's territory.
If [font color="red"]40...Qc3 41.Rb3 Qd4 42.Re3 g5 43.hxg5 hxg5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 40...Qa5c7[/center]

41.Qa6!

The game is equal.

41...Rd6

[font color="red"]41...Rd7 42.Rb5 g5 43.hxg5 hxg5 44.g4 Rd4[/font] gives Black a slight edge. White's best move here is 45.Rb7.

42.Qa8

If [font color="red"]42.Rb7 Rxa6 43.Rxc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Ra5 44.Re7 Ra4 45.Rxe5 Rxc4 46.Re7 Kf8 47.Rc7[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]43...Rd6!? 44.Rxc5 Rd4 45.Be2 Rxe4 46.Kf1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

42...Rd2 43.Rd1?!

White feels the discomfort of the Black Rook on the seventh rank.
If [font color="red"]43.Qa3 Qd6 44.Rb2 Rd3 45.Rb3 Rxb3 46.Qxb3 Qd4[/font] gives Black a small advantage owing to the better position of his Queen.

43...Rxd1!

With more space, the exchange of Rooks mostly benefits White.

44.Bxd1 Qd6 45.Be2!?

While Black has a clear advantage, the game has a stable quality to it. For about the next dozen to two dozen moves, the situtaltion changes little. White's e-pawn doesn't fall for another four moves, but it's already deadwood. The exchange of minor pieces on move 57 is of a modest benefit to Black, but with Queens on the board, he still has a hard time making progress with his extra pawn.
[font color="red"]45.Qa1 Nxe4 46.Bf3 Nf6 47.Ba8 Qd8 48.Bb7 Qd4[/font] gives Black a clear advantage, but pushing the pawn will not be a slam dunk.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 45.Bd1e2[/center]

45...Qd2!

The Bishop must abandon the pawn.

46.Bf3 Qd4

[font color="red"]46...Qc2?! 47.Qa1! Qxc4 48.Qxe5 Qd4[/font] is equal.

47.Qa2

[font color="red"]47.Qb8 Nxe4 48.Bxe4 Qxe4+ 49.Kg1 Qe1+ 50.Kg2 Qc3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, an active Queen and the initiative.

47...Ne8 48.Be2

White must loose a pawn one way or another.
If [font color="red"]48.h5[/font] then Black wins a pawn by [font color="red"]48...g5 49.Be2 Nf6 50.f3 Nxh5.[/font]

48...Qxe4+

White's e-pawn falls.

49.Bf3 Qd4 50.Qe2

If [font color="red"]50.Qc2 Nf6 51.Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]51...Qd7 52.Bf3 Qe6 53.Qc3 e4 54.Be2 h5[/font] gives Black and extra pawn and more space.
[font color="darkred"]51...Kg8 52.Qe2 Kh7 53.Qf3 Kg7 54.Qe2 Qd6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and command of the d-file.

50...Nf6 51.Bc6 h5

[font color="red"]51...e4 52.Kf1 h5 53.Kg2 Kh7 54.Ba8 Kh6[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawna and the more active Queen.

52.Kg1

[font color="red"]52.f3 Ng8 53.Ba8 Nf6 54.Bc6 Kh7 55.Qa2 e4[/font] forces the exahange at e4.

52...Ng8

[font color="red"]52...e4 53.Kg2 Kh6 54.Kf1 Qa1+ 55.Kg2 Qe5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but for the moment Black must train both his pieces on the pawn at e5.

53.Kg2

If [font color="red"]53.Be4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]53...Nh6 54.Bf3 Kf8 55.Kf1 Ng8 56.Kg1 Nf6[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn and more activity.
[font color="darkred"]53...Nf6 54.Bc6 Kf8 55.Qf3 e4 56.Qe2 Kg8[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn and more activity; with every piece on the board trined on the pawn at e4, the situation is critical..

53...Ne7 54.Bb7 Nf5 55.Bd5 Nd6

If [font color="red"]55...Nh6!?[/font] then:

[font color="red"]56.Bb7 Ng4 57.Bc6 Kg8 58.Bf3 Nf6 59.Bc6 e4[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn and moreactivity, but the e-pawn is under seige.
[font color="darkred"]56.Bf3 Kf8 57.Qe4 Ng4 58.Qe2 Nf6 59.Bc6 e4[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn and moreactivity, but the e-pawn is under seige.

56.Qa2 Ne4!

If permitted to remain on the board, the Knight would become a menace in White's territory.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 56...Nd6e4[/center]

57.Bxe4

Exchanging pieces is White's best option.
If [font color="red"]57.Ba8? Nc3! 58.Qb3 e4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]59.Qb8 Nd1 60.Qf4 e3 61.Qxd4+ cxd4 62.fxe3 d3![/font] makes it hard for White to stop the d-pawn.
[font color="darkred"]59.Qc2 Qxc4 60.Qb2 Qd3 61.Kh2 Kh7 62.Qa3 Qd4[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.

57...Qxe4+ 58.Kg1

If [font color="red"]58.f3 Qe3 59.Qc2 Kf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]60.Qd1 Qd4 61.Qc2 e4 62.fxe4 Ke5 63.Kh2 Qxe4[/font] leaves Black a pawn to the good; Black easily wins any King-and-pawn ending.
If [font color="darkred"]60.Qb2 Qd4 61.Qe2 Kf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]62.Kh3 e4 63.fxe4+ Qxe4 64.Qf1+ Ke5 65.Kh2 Qc2+[/font] leaves Black a pawn to the good.
[font color="magenta"]62.Qf1 Qd2+ 63.Kh1 Qc2 64.Kg1 Ke6 65.Kh1 Qd2[/font] leaves Black a pawn to the good with the active Queen.

58...Qe1+ 59.Kg2 Qe4+

[font color="red"]59...Qc3 60.Qe2 Qd4 61.f3 Qc3 62.Kf2 Kf6 63.Kg2 Qd4[/font] clearly gives Black the better game with an extra pawn, but still one difficult to win.

60.Kg1 Qd3

If [font color="red"]60...Qd4 61.Qa4 e4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]62.Kg2 Qc3 63.Kh2 Qd2 64.Kg1 e3 65.fxe3 Qxe3+[/font] gives White an extra pawn, and active Queen and more freedom.
If [font color="darkred"]62.Qb5? e3! 63.fxe3 Qxe3+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]64.Kh2 Qf2+ 65.Kh1 g5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]66.hxg5 h4 67.gxh4 Qxh4+ 68.Kg1 Qxg5+ 69.Kh2 Qf4+[/font] leaves the White Queen tied to the defense of White's last pawn whilte the Black Queen is able to give check at will.
[font color="burgundy"]66.Qb3 gxh4 67.gxh4 Qxh4+ 68.Kg2 Qg4+[/font] gives Black two passed pawn that should be enough to win.

If [font color="magenta"]64.Kg2 Kh7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]65.Qa6 Qe2+ 66.Kg1 Qf3 67.Qd6 Qe3+ 68.Kf1 Qc1+[/font] wins the c-pawn.
[font color="darkorange"]65.Qa4 Qe2+ 66.Kh1 Qf1+ 67.Kh2 Qf2+ 68.Kh3 Qg1[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative (the threat of mate on h1).

61.Qa4 e4 62.Qb5 Qd1+ 63.Kh2

Under no circumstances can White allow the Black Queen to capture on f2.

63...Qd4 64.Kg2

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 64.Kh2g2[/center]

64...e3

Black strips away the King's palace guards.
Also good is [font color="red"]64...Qe5 65.Qc6 e3 66.fxe3 Qxe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]67.Qd5 67...Kf8 68.Qa8+ Qe8 69.Qd5 Qe2+ 70.Kg1 Qe7[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn.
[font color="darkred"]67.Qa4 Qe2+ 68.Kg1 Qf3 69.Qa1+ Kh7 70.Qe5 Qd1+[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn.

65.fxe3 Qxe3

Black now has a pawn majority on the kingside.

66.Qb2+ Kg8

Black must not play Qd4?!, when the exchange of Queens allows White to capture the Black's queenside pawn and escort the pawn, resulting in a draw.

67.Kh2 Qd3

Although Black has an extra pawn, the position is stable and could easily result in a draw.
If [font color="red"]67...Kh7 68.Qa2 Qe4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]69.Qb3 Kg7 70.Qb2+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]70...Kf8 71.Qb3 Qe5 72.Kg2 Qe2+ 73.Kh1 Kg7[/font] makes no progress.
[font color="burgundy"]70...Qd4 71.Qe2 Qf6 72.Kg2 Qc6+ 73.Kf2 Qa6[/font] still gives Black an extra pawn and he still can't maneuver.

If [font color="darkred"]69.Kg1 Qf3 70.Kh2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]70...Qf6 71.Kg2 Kg7 72.Qb3 Qd6 73.Qe3 Kg8[/font] leaves Black better, but White's Queen continues to be a splendid defensive piece.
[font color="magenta"]70...Qd3 71.Kg2 Qc3 72.Qe2 Kg7 73.Qe4 Qb2+[/font] leaves Black clearly better, but still can't advance his pawns.

68.Qb8+ Kh7 69.Qf4 Qe2+ 70.Kg1 Kg7

Let's stop and do an expiriment. The position below is the present position with Black's c-pawn removed.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]White to move[/center]

The position is drawn.
If [font color="red"]71.Qd4+ f6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]72.Qa7+ Kf8 73.c5 Qe3+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]74.Kg2 Qe2+ 75.Kh3 Qf1+ 76.Kh2 Qf2+[/font] White cannot escape perpetual check.
If, on the other hand, if we remove White's pawn then Black wins easily regardless of who is to move.
[font color="burgundy"]74.Kh2 Qf2+ 75.Kh1 Qf1+ 76.Kh2 Qf2+ 77.Kh3 Qf1+ etc.[/font] draws.

If [font color="darkred"]72.Qd7+ Kf8 73.Qd8+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]73...Kf7 74.Qd5+ Qe6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]75.Kf2 Ke7 76.Qb7+ Kf8 77.Qc7 Ke8 78.c5 Qd7 79.Qf4 Qc6[/font] is equal and likely drawn.
If [font color="magenta"]75.Qxe6+ Kxe6 76.Kf2 Kd6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]77.Ke2 Kc5 78.Kd3 g5 79.Ke4 gxh4 80.gxh4 Kxc4 81.Kf4 Kd4 82.Kf5 Kd5 83.Kxf6 Kd6[/font] is a well-known book draw.
If [font color="darkorange"]77.Kf3??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]77...Kc5 78.Ke3 Kxc4 79.Ke4 Kc5 80.Ke3 Kd5.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]73...Kg7 74.Qd7+ Kh6 75.Qd4 Qe1+ 76.Kg2 Qe2+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]77.Kh3 Qf1+ 78.Kh2 Qe2+ etc.[/font] draws.
If [font color="darkorange"]77.Qf2 Qxc4 78.Qxf6 Qe2+ 79.Kh3 Qg4+ 80.Kh2 Qe2+[/font] draws.

71.Kh1 Qg4 72.Qf1

Black wins any King-and-pawn ending.

72...Qe4+ 73.Kh2 Qc2+ 74.Kg1 Qf5

[font color="red"]74...Qd2 75.Kh1 Kg8 76.Qb1 Kh7 77.Qg1 Qd7 78.Kh2[/font] allows Black no progress.

75.Qe2 Qg4 76.Qe5+

If 76.Qv3+ then White wins thanks to reserve pawn tempi.
If [font color="red"]76.Qb2+? Qd4+! 77.Qxd4+ cxd4 78.Kf1 Kf6 79.Ke2 Ke5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]80.Kd3 f6!! 81.c5 Kd5[/font] (forcing White to give way and allow Black to take on c5) [font color="red"]82.Kd2 Kxc5 83.Kd3[/font] and Black wins with [font color="red"]83...f5!![/font] (a second instance of reserve pawn tempi) [font color="red"]84.Kc2 Kc4,[/font] seizing the opposition.
If [font color="darkred"]80.Kd2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]80...Kd6 81.Ke2 Kc5 82.Kd3 f6!!.[/font]

76...Kh7 77.Qxc5?

White blinks and drop the g-pawn.
If [font color="red"]77.Qc3 Qe2 78.Qc1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]78...Kg8 79.Kh1 Qe4+ 80.Kg1 Qf3 81.Kh2 Qf2+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]82.Kh3 Qe2 83.Qc3 Kf8 84.Qc1 Qf3[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn, but without much hope of further progress..
If [font color="burgundy"]82.Kh1??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]82...Qxg3! 83.Qc2 Qxh4+.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]78...Qf3 79.Kh2 Qf2+ 80.Kh3 Kg8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]81.Qc3 Qf1+ 82.Kh2 Qe2+ 83.Kg1 Kf8 84.Qc1 Qf3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but the game is noty yet won.
[font color="magenta"]81.Qd1 Qf5+ 82.Kh2 Qe4 83.Qc1 Kf8 84.Qc3 Ke7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but it isn't passed.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 77.Qe5c5:p[/center]

77...Qxg3+ 78.Kf1

78.Kh1 is no better.

78...Qxh4!?

If [font color="red"]78...Qf4+![/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]79.Kg2 Qe4+ 80.Kg1 Kg7 81.Qg5 Qxc4.[/font]

79.Qd5! Qf4+ 80.Kg1?

White loses again.
If [font color="red"]80.Kg2! Kh6 81.c5 h4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]82.c6 Qg3+ 83.Kh1 h3 84.Qe4 g5 85.Qc2 Qc7 86.Qc3 Kg6[/font] gives Black no immediate win.
[font color="darkred"]82.Qd6 Qe4+ 83.Kh2 f5 84.c6 Qc2+ 85.Kh3 Kh5[/font] leaves the game in doubt: Black has three connected passers, but White has a andvance passed pawn unobstructed and under escort.

[center]BLACK: Christian Bauer[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 80.Kf1g1[/center]

80...h4!

The pawn move down to squeeze the space out of the King sanctuary.
If [font color="red"]80...Kg7 81.c5 h4 82.c6 h3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]83.Kh1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]83...Qxc7 84.Qd4+ f6 85.Qg4 Qc1+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]83.c7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]83...g5 84.c7 Qc1+ 85.Kh2 Qxc7+ 86.Kxh3 Qf4.[/font]

81.c5 Kg7 82.c6 h3 83.Kh1

[font color="red"]83.Qd7[/font] loses to [font color="red"]83...Qg3+ 84.Kf1 Qg2+ 85.Ke1 h2.[/font]

83...g5 84.Kg1

If [font color="red"]84.c7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]84...Qc1+ 85.Kh2 Qxc7+ 86.Kxh3 Qf4 87.Kg2 f5.[/font]

84...g4 85.c7 g3 0-1

No matter White moves, mate cannot be prevented.
[font color="red"]86.Qc5 h2+ 87.Kg2 h1Q+ 88.Kxh1 Qf1+ 89.Qg1 Qh3+ 90.Qh2 Qxh2#.[/font]
[font color="blue"]86.c8Q Qf2+ 87.Kh1 Qh2#.[/font]
M. Fressinet resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

29. Bacrot - Istratescu, Round 6

Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:31 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Etienne Bacrot[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikipedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christian_Bauer.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Etienne Bacrot - Andrei Istratescu
French Championships, General Group, Round 6
Pau, 18 August 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Cameleon Defese

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5

For a brief survey of the Cameleon Defense, see Kazhgaleyev-S. Volkov, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009.

6.c5 Bg4 7.Qb3!?

White plays an unusual move to get his opponent out of the book quicker.
If [font color="red"]7.h3 Bxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Qxf3! Nbd7 9.g4 e5 10.g5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...e4 11.Qe2 Ng8 12.h4 g6 13.f3[/font] gives White more active pieces, the ability to nibble at Black's center and a small advantage in space (Zvjaginsev-Amonatov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
If [font color="darkred"]10...Ng8 11.h4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Qe7 12.Ne2 h6 13.Bh3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...g6 14.Bd2 f5 15.gxf6 Ngxf6 16.Qg2[/font] gives White fewer exploitable pawn weaknesses, the initiative against Black's kingside and more space (Sakaev-Bryzgalin, Russian Ch, Kazan, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]13...exd4? 14.exd4! 0-0-0 15.a4 b4 16.Bd2 a5 17.0-0-0[/font] gives White more freedom, more space and better development.

If [font color="magenta"]11...h6 12.Bh3 Ne7 13.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...Qc7? 14.Ne2 e4 15.Qg2 g6 16.f3[/font] gives White firm command of the kingside (Bischoff-Muse, German Inet Ch, Cyberspace, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]13...g6 14.0-0-0 Bg7 15.Rhe1 hxg5 16.hxg5[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]8.gxf3?![/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Nbd7! 9.f4 g6 10.Bd3 e6 11.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Bg7 12.b4 Ng8 13.a4 Ne7 14.Ne2 Nf5[/font] is equal (Piket-Bosch, Dutch Ch, Amsterdam, 1994).
[font color="burgundy"]11...Be7 12.b4 0-0 13.a4 Nh5 14.Qe2[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

If [font color="magenta"]8...e5?! 9.dxe5! Nfd7 10.f4 Nxc5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11.Bg2!? 11...Be7! 12.0-0 0-0 13.e4 d4 14.Ne2 d3[/font] is equal (Hammes-Diogo, Portuguese ChT, Matosinhos, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]11.Bd2 Nbd7 12.Qc2 Qb6 13.b4 Ne6 14.Ne2[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

7...Bxf3! 8.gxf3 e5 9.a4 Nbd7 10.Na2!?

If [font color="red"]10.Qa3 Rc8 11.axb5 axb5 12.Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Qxd8+ Bxd8 14.Ra6 0-0 15.Bh3 Rc7 16.Bd2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Svetushkin-Braun, Op, Werther, 2005).
If [font color="darkred"]12...Rc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Qa8!? Rc8! 14.Qa5 Rc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Bxb5?! cxb5 16.Nxb5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16...Rb7!? 17.Qa6! Qb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18.Na7? Bxc5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc6+ Nfd7[/font] gives Black a solid center and stronger pawns; White's forward pieces are stranded (Tihonov-Zakhartsov, Op, Kharkov, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]18.Qc6 Ke7 19.Ra5 h5 20.Bd2[/font] gives White a strong game with an exceptional advantage in space.

If [font color="magenta"]16...Rc8 17.Qxd8+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17...Kxd8! 18.Na7 Rc7 19.b4 Rg8 20.b5 exd4 21.exd4[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]17...Rxd8?! 18.c6! e4 19.cxd7+ Kxd7 20.fxe4 dxe4 21.Rg1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and two passers; Black has a better Bishop.

[font color="burgundy"]15.Bg2 Be7 16.0-0 0-0 17.f4 e4 18.f3[/font] gives White a small advantage by chipping away at Black's center and holding a great deal more space.

If [font color="magenta"]13.Bg2! Be7 14.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15.Na2 Nh5 16.f4 exd4 17.exd4 g6 18.Nb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space while Black has better kingside pawns and a target in the weakling at f4.
[font color="darkorange"]15.f4 e4 16.f3 exf3 17.Rxf3 Nh5 18.Bd2[/font] gives White more space; Black has slightly stronger pawns.

10...Qc8 11.Qa3 (N)

[font color="red"]11.Nb4 Be7 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 14.Qa3[/font] is equal (P. Smirnov-Fatkhutdinov, Polugaevsky Mem, Samara, 2012).

11...Be7

The game is equal.

12.Nb4 0-0 13.axb5 cxb5 14.Bh3

[font color="red"]14.Qb3 exd4 15.exd4 Re8 16.Be2 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] remains equal.

14...a5 15.Nd3 exd4!?

Black weakens his central pawns.
[font color="red"]15...e4 16.Ne5 Qc7 17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Bg2[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 15...ed4:p[/center]

16.exd4!

White has a small advantage in space.

16...Qb7 17.0-0 Nb8

Black will redeploy the Knight at c6, where it will attack d4.

18.Ne5 Bd8

Going immediately to c6 is premature.
[font color="red"]18...Nc6 19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20.Re1 Bd8 21.Bf4[/font] continues to give White a passed pawn and a small advantage in space.

19.Qd3 Nc6 20.Re1

White decides not to exchange on c6; he has the advantage in space and such an exchange would relieve pressure on Black.
If [font color="red"]20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Bf4 Re8 22.Be5 Bc7 23.f4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

20...a4

Black would not benefit from exchanging Knights, either.
If [font color="red"]20...Nxe5?![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.dxe5! Nd7 22.b4 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Qf5!! Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Rae8 26.Qd6 f5 27.c6[/font] makes White's passed pawn more dangerous.
[font color="burgundy"]24.Bb2 Bxe5 25.Bxe5 axb4 26.Rd1 Ra6 27.Bg2[/font] gives White two active Bishops for a Rook and a pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]21.Rxe5?![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21...Bc7! 22.Re1 h6 23.Bf1 Rfb8 24.Bg2 a4 25.Qf5[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]21...Nd7! 22.Re1 Nb8 23.Bf1 Nc6 24.Be3 Bf6 25.Rad1[/font] is equal.

21.Kh1!?

White is preparing to bring the Rook to g1, perhaps followed by Nc1h6.
If [font color="red"]21.Bf4![/font] (completing development and reinforcing the central Knight) [font color="red"]21...Nb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.Qe2 Re8 23.Bf1 Re6 24.Bg3 Rb8 25.Qd1[/font] gives White a better center.
If [font color="darkred"]22.Qc3 Nc6 23.Nxc6 Qxc6 24.Re3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...Ra7 25.Bf1 Bc7 26.Bxc7 Rxc7 27.Qa5 Rb7 28.b3 gives White a small advantage in space.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]24...Ba5 25.Qc2 Nh5 26.Bd6 Rfd8 27.Bf5 g6 28.Bd3[/font] gives White a better center and a slight edge in space; Black has a safer King and a queenside majority.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 21.Kh1g1[/center]

21...Re8!

White still has a small advantage

22.Bf4 Ba5

[font color="red"]22...Bc7! 23.Bg3 g6 24.Bf1 Rab8 25.Nxc6 Qxc6 26.Re3[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

23.Re3

If [font color="red"]23.Rg1! Nh5 24.Be3 g6 25.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Bc7 26.Bd7 Bxe5 27.Bxe8 Bxf4 28.Bxc6 Qxc6 29.Rae1[/font] gives Black only a pawn for the exchange.
If [font color="darkred"]25...Nb4 26.Qe2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26...Ng7 27.f5 Rxe5 28.dxe5 Nxf5 29.Bxf5 d4+ 30.Rg2 dxe3 31.e6[/font] gives Black the material edge but White is much more active.
If [font color="magenta"]26...Nf6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]27.f5! Kg7 28.Qf3 Ra6 29.fxg6 hxg6 30.Bf5.[/font]

23...Nh5 24.Bg3 Nxg3+ 25.hxg3 Nxe5

If [font color="red"]25...Nb4?! 26.Qe2 Nc6 27.Rd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27...b4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]28.f4 g6 29.Kg2 f5 30.Kf1 Rad8 31.Bg2[/font] gives White a passed pawn and a fair advantage in space; Black has a queenside majority.
If [font color="darkred"]27...Nxe5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]28.f4! Ra6 29.Rxe5 Rxe5 30.fxe5 Rh6 31.Kg2.[/font]

26.dxe5

[font color="red"]26.Rxe5 Rxe5 27.dxe5 Qc6 28.Qd4 Bd8 29.Rd1[/font] gives White a passed pawn, the better Bishop and a small advantage in space; Black has a passed pawn and a queenside majority.

26...d4?!

The pawn sacrifice is dubious. Black is looking to gain activity for his Rooks.
If [font color="red"]26...Qc6 27.Qd4 Bd8 28.f4 Be7 29.Rc1 Ra7 30.Rd3[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 26...d5d4[/center]

27.Qxd4!

White has a comfortable game.

27...Rad8 28.Qe4 Qxe4 29.Rxe4

White has an extra pawn.

29...Rd2

Thanks to the activity of the Rook, Black recovers the pawn.

30.b4 axb3

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 30...ab3:p (ep)[/center]

31.Rxa5!!

This doesn't win a piece, but it is the beginning of an exchange sacrifice.

31...Rd1+ 32.Kg2 b2 33.Rxb5!

White sacrifices the excange and picks up two pawns.

33...b1Q

The pawn is a desperado. This is far and away the best way to give it up.
If [font color="red"]33...Rd2?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]34.c6! Rc2 35.Bd7 Kf8 36.Reb4.[/font]

34.Rxb1 Rxb1 35.Rc4?!

More efficient is to use the Bishop to cover the pawn on c6, leaving the Rook free to occupy an open file.
If [font color="red"]35.Bd7 Rd8 36.c6 Rc1 37.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37...Kf8 38.Rb4 Rc2 39.g4 h6 40.Rb7 Rc4 41.Kg3[/font] gives White two pawns for the exchange with a passer on the sixth rank.
[font color="darkred"]37...g6?! 38.Rb4 h5 39.f5 gxf5 40.Rh4 Kf8 41.Rxh5[/font] gives White two pawns for the exchange, stronger pawns and a passer on the sixth rank.

35...Rb7?!

One of White's assets is his kingside majority. Black should take the opportunity to eliminte it.
If [font color="red"]35...Rxe5! 36.c6 Ree1 37.Bf5 Rbc1 38.Bc2 f5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 35...Rb1b7[/center]

36.c6!

White is quite comfortable now. With the Bishop firing at the promotion point, Black's next move is forced.

36...Rc7 37.Bd7

Slightly better is [font color="red"]37.f4 Rb8 38.Bd7 Kf8 39.Ra4 Ke7 40.f5,[/font] giving White two pawns for the exchange and more freedom. Black's Rook at c7 cannot move.

37...Rb8 38.f4 f6?!

Black allows White a second passed pawn.
If [font color="red"]38...Kf8 39.Ra4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Ke7 40.g4 Rd8 41.f5[/font] gives White two pawns for the exchange, including a powerful passer; Black's Rook at c7 cannot move.
If [font color="darkred"]39...f6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]40.g4 Ke7 41.g5 Rf8 42.Ra3 f5 43.Rb3[/font] gives White two passed pawns for the exchange.
[font color="magenta"]40.e6!? f5 41.f3 Ke7 42.Ra5 Rf8 43.Kf2 g6[/font] gives White two passed pawns for the exchange; Black's Rook at c7 cannot move.

39.e6!

White has a second passed pawn.

39...Kf8 40.f5 Rb5?!

It is necessary to blockade to e7. The Rook should not leave th back rank.
If [font color="red"]40...Ke7 41.Rg4 Rg8 42.Rb4 Rd8 43.Rb6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...g6 44.Kf3 gxf5 45.Rb1 h5 46.Kf4 Rg8 47.Ra1[/font] gives White two passers, stronger pawns and more freedom; Black has White's passers under blockade and he could get some counterplay on the g-file.
If [font color="darkred"]43...Ra7? 44.Rb7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]44...Rda8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]45.Bc8+ Kd6 46.c7 g6 47.Rxa7 Rxc8 48.Kf3.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]44...Rb7[/font] then White wins easily after [font color="magenta"]45.cxb7 Rb8 46.Bc8 Kd6 47.Kf3 Ke7 48.Ke3.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center]40...Rb8b5[center]Position after 40...Rb8b5[/center]

41.Ra4!

White wins whether he seizes and open file, threatens a black or supports one of his own pawns.
If [font color="red"]41.Re4![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]41...Re5 42.Rh4 h6 43.Ra4 Ke7 44.Rg4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]44...Kf8 45.Rb4 Ke7 46.Rb8 Kd6 47.Rg8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]47...Ra7 48.Rxg7 Rxf5 49.f4 Rc5 50.e7 Rxd7 51.e8Q Rxg7 52.Qf8+[/font] leaves White with a Queen against a Rook.
If [font color="burgundy"]47...Rc5[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]48.Rxg7 R5xc6 49.Rf7 Rc2 50.Rxf6 R7c5 51.Rf8.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]44...Kd6 45.Rxg7 Rxf5 46.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]46...Rxc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]47.Bxc6 Kxc6 48.Rd7 Ra5 49.Rd8 Ra7 50.Rf8.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]46...Rc5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]47.Rf7 Rc2+ 48.Kf3 R7xc6 49.Bxc6 Kxc6 50.Rxf6.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]41...Ke7 42.Rg4 Kf8 43.Rh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]43...h6 44.Ra4 Ke7 45.Rg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]45...Kf8 46.Kh3 Rc5 47.Rb4[/font] gives White two pawn and a safer King for the exchange.
If [font color="magenta"]45...Kd6? 46.Rxg7 Rxf5 47.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]47...Ra5 48.e7 Ra8 49.Kh3 Rca7 50.Kg4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]50...Ra5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]51.e8Q Rxe8 52.Bxe8 Ra8 53.Rd7+.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]50...h5+[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]51.Kxh5 f5 52.e8Q Rxe8 53.Rg6+ Kc7 54.Bxe8.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]47...Rxc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]48.Bxc6 Kxe6 49.Bd7+.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]43...Rc5 44.Rxh7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]44...Ra7 45.Rh8+ Ke7 46.Rg8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]46...Kd6 47.Rxg7 Rxc6 48.Rf7 Rc2 49.Rxf6 Raa2 50.Kh3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]50...Re2 51.Rf8 Ke7 52.Re8+[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]52...Kf6 53.Rg8 Rxf2 54.Rg6+ Ke7 55.Rg7+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]55...Kd6 56.Bb5 Rxf5 57.e7 Re5 58.e8Q[/font] wins a Rook.
[font color="burgundy"]55...Kf6 56.e7 Ra8 57.e8Q Rxe8 58.Rg6+![/font] wins a Rook.

If [font color="darkpink"]52...Kd6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkpink"]53.f4 Rh2+ 54.Kg4 Rh6 55.f6 Rxf6 56.Kg5.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]50...Rxf2 51.Kh4 Ra8 52.g4 Rg8 53.Rg6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]53...Rxg6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]54.fxg6 Rf8 55.Kg5 Rg8 56.Kf6 Rf8+ 57.Kg7.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]53...Rb8 54.f6 Rf3 55.f7[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]55...Rh8+[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]56.Kg5 Rf8 57.Rg8 R3xf7 58.exf7 Rxf7 59.Bf5.[/font]
If [font color="hotpink"]55...Rf8[/font] then White wins after [font color="hotpink"]56.g5 Rf1 57.Rg8 R1xf7 58.exf7 Rxf7 59.Bg4 Rh7+ 60.Bh5.[/font]

If [font color="purple"]46...Rxf5[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]47.Rxg7+ Kd6 48.f4 Rc5 49.Rf7 Rc2+ 50.Kh3.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]44...Rc2 45.Rh8+ Ke7 46.Rg8 Kd6 47.Rxg7 R2xc6 48.Rf7[/font] White wins.

If [font color="blue"]41.Rh4 h6 42.Rf4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]42...Rb6 43.Ra4 Rb8 44.Kh3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]44...Ke7 45.Kh4 Rb2 46.Rf4[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]46...Ra7 47.Kh5 Rc7 48.Rg4 Kf8 49.e7+ Kxe7 50.Rxg7+[/font] leaves Black's pawns ready to fall like autumn leaves.
If [font color="darkblue"]46...Rb5 47.Kg4 h5+ 48.Kh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]48...g5+ 49.fxg6 Rg5 50.Rxf6 Kxf6 51.e7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]51...Re5 52.e8Q Rxe8 53.Bxe8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]53...Ra7 54.f4 Ra3 55.Bd7 Rc3 56.f5 Rc5 57.Kxh5[/font] gives White four moble passed pawns for the exchange.
If [font color="#4080FF"]53...Kg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="#4080FF"]54.f4 Kh6 55.g4 hxg4 56.Kxg4 Ra7 57.Kf5.[/font]

If [font color="#8040C0"]51...Rg4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="#8040FF"]52.Kxh5 Re4 53.e8Q Rxe8 54.Bxe8.[/font]

If [font color="dodgerblue"]48...Rb8[/font] then White wins after [font color="dodgerblue"]49.Kxh5 Rh8+ 50.Kg6 Rh6+ 51.Kxg7.[/font]

If [font color="#8040C0"]44...Rb5[/font] then White wins after [font color="#8040C0"]45.Ra8+ Ke7 46.Rg8 Kd6 47.f4 Rc5 48.Kh4.[/font]

If [font color="darkblue"]42...Rb8 43.Kh3 Rb1 44.Ra4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]44...Rh1+ 45.Kg2 Rc1 46.Ra8+ Ke7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]47.Rg8 Kd6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]48.Rxg7 R1xc6 49.Rf7 Rc4 50.Rxf6 R4c5 51.g4[/font] allows White's pawns to triumph.
White also wins after [font color="steelblue"]48.Rf8 Rc5 49.Rf7 Rxf5 50.e7.[/font]

After [font color="slateblue"]47.Re8+ Kd6 48.Rf8 Ra7 49.Rf7 Re1 50.Rxg7[/font] Black's remaining pawns will soon fall.

If [font color="dodgerblue"]44...Rf1 45.Ra8+ Ke7 46.Rg8[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]46...Kd6 47.Rxg7 Rh1+ 48.Kg4 h5+ 49.Kf3 Re1 50.Rf7[/font] is an easy win for White.
If [font color="darkcyan"]46...Rxf2 47.Rxg7+ Kd6 48.Rf7 Re2 49.Rxf6 h5 50.Kh4.[/font]

41...Rb8 42.Rh4 h6 43.Ra4

Just as good is [font color="red"]43.Rg4 Rb2 44.e7+ Kxe7 45.Rxg7+ Kf8 46.Rh7.[/font]

43...Ke7 44.Kh3 Rb2?

Things are looking grim for Black as it is. The text move attacks a pawn that is already sufficiently protected and leaves the back rank undefended.
[font color="red"]44...h5 45.Kh4 Rh8 46.Ra2 Kd6 47.Ra3 Ke7 48.f3[/font] gives White a substantial advantage with two pawns for the exchange, two advanced passers and more freedom.. Black's Rook still cannot stray from c7.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Istratescu[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Etienne Bacrot[/center][center]Position after 44...Rb8b2[/center]

45.Rg4! Kf8 46.Rf4

If [font color="red"]46.Re4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]46...Ke7 47.Rf4 Rb6 48.Kg4 Rb5 49.Kh4.[/font]
[font color="blue"]46.e7+?! Kxe7! 47.Rxg7+ Kf8 48.Rg6 Ke7 49.f4[/font] gives White only a small advantage in spite of have two pawns for the exchange and an advanced passer. The White Rook has little freedom, allowing Black's Rook to frolich in counterplay..

46...Re2 47.Kh4 1-0

If [font color="red"]47...Ke7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]48.Kh5 Rc2 49.g4 Rc1 50.Kg6[/font] when Black's pawns fall.
M. Istratescu resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

32. Skripchenko - Safranska, Women's Group, Round 6

Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:55 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Almira Skripchenko[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Velho in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category: Almira_Skripchenko)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Almira Skripchenko - Anda Safranska
French Championships, Women's Group, Round 6
Pau, 20 August 2012

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Alekhine Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 Nd7 7.Nf3

For moves up to here, see Hou Yifan-Dimakiling, Op, Kuala Lumpur, 2010.

7...N7f6

If [font color="red"]7...g6 8.c4 Nc7 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Nf6 12.h3 a6 13.Bf4 Ne6 14.Be3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Dimalking, Op, Kuala Lumpur, 2010).
[font color="magenta"]11...b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.Qd2 c5 14.d5 e5 15.Ng5 f5[/font] is equal (Weatherly-Benjamin, New York State Ch, Colonie, 2006).

[font color="darkred"]11.Re1 c5 12.d5 b5 13.cxb5 Nb6 14.Be3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (deFirmian-Miles, Op, Chicago, 1994).

8.0-0 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5

[font color="red"]9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 e6 11.c4 Nb6 12.b3 Be7 13.Bb2[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Karjakin-Carlsen, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

10.c4 Nb6 11.b3 e6 12.Bb2! (N)

If [font color="red"]12.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (S. Ali-Hamer, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]12...Nbd7 13.Nc3 Bb4 14.Qc2 Bg6 15.Qb2 Qa5 16.Nb1[/font] is equal; White's pawn duo is offset by Black advantage on the queenside; furthermore, Black has pressure on e4, while White is not cover the square at all (Smeets-Schroll, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

12...Be7

White has a small advantage in space. Mlle. Skripchenko novelty will likely be seen again from time to time. The idea is to put pressure on Black's King position once the center opens.

13.Nbd2 0-0 14.Ne5 Bxe2

[font color="red"]14...Bg6?! 15.Nxg6! hxg6 16.Qc1 Nbd7 17.Nf3[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

15.Qxe2 c5?!

This allows White to open the game to her advantage.
Better is [font color="red"]15...Nbd7[/font] when [font color="red"]16.Qe3 Qc7 17.Nd3 h6 18.Nf3 Qa5 19.Nde5[/font] continues to give Black a small adfvantage in space

[center]BLACK: Anda Safranska[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Almira Skripchenko[/center][center]Position after 15...c6c5[/center]

16.Rad1!

White now has a substantial advantage in space.
Also good is [font color="red"]16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Ndf3 h6 18.Rfd1 Qc7 19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.Nd3.[/font]

16...cxd4 17.Ndf3

The pawn at d4 is attacked three times and defend only by the Queen at d8.

17...Qc7 18.Nxd4 a6

If [font color="red"]18...Bc5 19.Nb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...Qe7 20.Nd3 a6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Nxc5 axb5 23.Rd6[/font] gives White greater activity for her pieces.
If [font color="darkred"]19...Qc8 20.Qf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...Ne8 21.Rd2 Bb4 22.Bc3 Bxc3 23.Nxc3 f6 24.Ng4[/font] gives White greater activity for her pieces.
[font color="magenta"]20...Be7 21.Rfe1 Nbd7 22.Nxd7 Nxd7 23.Re3 Nf6 24.Bxf6[/font] allows White to plop a Knight firmly on d6.

If [font color="blue"]18...Rad8 19.Nxf7 Rxf7 20.Nxe6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]20...Qc8 21.Nxd8 Bxd8 22.c5 Re7 23.Qf3 Nbd7 24.b4[/font] gives White a Rook and two pawns for a minor piece..
If [font color="darkblue"]20...Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Qc6 22.Ng5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]22...Nbd7 23.Bc3 Nf8 24.Nxf7 Kxf7 25.Re1 Ne6 26.b4[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]22...h6 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.Re1 Bf8 25.Bxf6 Kxf6 26.Qe5+[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.

[center]BLACK: Anda Safranska[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Almira Skripchenko[/center][center]Position after 18...a7a6[/center]

19.Rd3

White has a solid grip on the center and a healthy queenside majority

19...Rad8

Black needs to be concerned about White doubling her Rooks in the d-file.

20.Rfd1 Qc8 21.Bc3 Bc5 22.Ng4!?

White has the advantage in space and shouldn't be looking to exchange pieces.
If [font color="red"]22.b4! Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23.Rg3 g6 24.c5 Nbd7 25.Nc4 Qc7 26.Bb2[/font] gives White more activity and a substantial advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]23.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]23...Nfd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Bd2 Nd7 25.Nxf7 Rxf7 26.Nxe6 Re8 27.Rxd5[/font] gives White a tremendous advantage in space.
If [font color="darkorange"]24.cxb6??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]24...Nxc3 25.Qe1 Nxd1 26.Rxd1 Rd5.[/font]

[font color="magenta"]23...Nbd5?! 24.Bd2 Qc7 25.Re1 h6 26.a3[/font] gives White better minor pieces and a substantial advantage in space.

22...Nxg4 23.Qxg4 g6 24.Qe4 Rde8?

Black plays the wrong Rook to e8. The Rook is useful at d8.
If [font color="red"]24...Rfe8 25.Nf3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Rxd3 26.Qxd3 Qc7 27.a4 Be7 28.a5 Nc8 29.Qd4[/font] fotces White to further weaken her queenside pawns in order to avoid an immediate mate.

[font color="darkred"]25...Be7 26.Ne5 Rxd3 27.Rxd3 Rd8 28.Rxd8+ Bxd8 29.Ng4[/font] gives Whie a strong game.

If [font color="blue"]24...Qc7? 25.Nxe6!![/font] then:

[font color="blue"]25...Rxd3 26.Nxc7 Rxd1+ 27.Kh2 Bd6+ 28.Be5 f5 29.Qf4[/font] gives White a Queen and a pawn for two Rooks and a healthy queenside majority.
[font color="darkblue"]25...fxe6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkblue"]26.Qxe6+ Qf7 27.Qxf7+ Rxf7 28.Rxd8+ Rf8 29.Rxf8+.[/font]

25.b4?!

White creates a hole at a4.
If [font color="red"]25.a4! e5 26.Nf3 a5 27.Bxa5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27...Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Qc5+ 29.Re3 Qxa5 30.Qxb7 Qc5 31.Ng5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and greater activitty.
If [font color="darkred"]27...f5? 28.Qh4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]28...e4 29.Ng5!![/font] (threatening mate on h7) [font color="darkred"]29...Re7 30.Rd6!! Bxd6 31.Rxd6 Nxc4 32.bxc4[/font] gives White two pieces for a Rook.
If [font color="magenta"]28...Qc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]29.Bxb6 Qxb6 30.Rd7 h5 31.a5 Qf6 32.Qxf6 Rxf6 33.R1d5.[/font]

25...f5?!

Black fails to exploit the hole while she can; and now:
If [font color="red"]25...Na4 26.bxc5 Nxc5 27.Qh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27...Nxd3 28.Rxd3 e5 29.Nc2 Qf5 30.Rd2 g5 31.Qg3[/font] gives White two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn and more activity.
If [font color="darkred"]27...e5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]28.Re3! f6 29.Nc2 g5 30.Qh6 Qf5 31.Re2.[/font]

If [font color="blue"]25...Bd6 26.c5 Nd5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]27.a3 Nxc3 28.Rxc3[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]28...Rd8 29.Nc6 Bh2+ 30.Kxh2 Qxc6 31.Qxc6 bxc6 32.Rd6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="#4080FF"]28...Be7?! 29.c6 Rd8 30.Rdd3 bxc6 31.Qxc6 Kg7 32.Qb6[/font] gives White a better center and mor active pieces.

If [font color="darkblue"]27.Bb2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]27...Bb8 28.Nb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]28...Nf4 29.R3d2 Rd8 30.Qf3 Rxd2 31.Nxd2 e5 32.Nc4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
[font color="darkcyan"]28...Bc7 29.h4 Rd8 30.g3 h5 31.a3 Qd7 32.Qc4[/font] gives White a tactical advantage.

[font color="dodgerblue"]27...Bc7 28.Ne2 b6 29.Qc4 a5 30.a3 axb4 31.axb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Anda Safranska[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Almira Skripchenko[/center][center]Position after 25...f7f5[/center]

26.Qe5!

White takes command of the long dark diagonal, an open lane of attack tangent to the Black King.

26...Nd7 27.Qg3?!

White should not remove the Queen from the center.
If [font color="red"]27.Qe2 Bxd4 28.Rxd4 Nf6 29.Qe5 Rf7 30.c5[/font] continues to give White an excellent center and more freedom.

27...Bxd4?!

The Knight has few good escape routes. Black should wait before taking.
If [font color="red"]27...f4! 28.Qh4 Be7 29.Qh6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]29...Rf7 30.Nxe6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...Ne5! 31.Bxe5 Qxe6 32.Bxf4 Qxc4 33.Rd4 Qxa2 34.Re4[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]30...Qxc4?! 31.Nxf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Bxb4 32.Bxb4 Qxb4 33.Rxd7 Qxf4 34.Qxf4 Rxf4 35.Rxb7[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]31...Bf8 32.Qg5 Qxf4 33.Qxf4 Rxf4 34.Rxd7 Re2 35.Bd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]29...Ne5? 30.Nf3 Nxf3+ 31.Rxf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Bf6 32.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Rxf4 Rxf4 34.Qxf4 e5 35.Qe4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more activity.
If [font color="magenta"]31...Rf7 32.Rxf4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]32...Ref8 33.Be5 Bf6 34.Bxf6 Rxf6 35.Rxf6 Rxf6 36.Qh4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, more activity and the initiative.
[font color="darkorange"]32...Bf8? 33.Qg5! Rxf4 34.Qxf4 Rd8 35.Rxd8 Qxd8 36.c5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, better pawns and command of the long dark diagonal.

28.Rxd4! Rf7?

With White's Rooks in command of the d-file, Black should keep his back rank defended move the Knight to safety.
If [font color="red"]28...Nf6 29.Qe5 Rf7 30.c5 h5 31.Rd6 Kh7 32.f3[/font] gives White more freedom, but Black's position is defended.
If [font color="blue"]28...Nb6?[/font] then after [font color="blue"]29.Qe5! Re7 30.Rd8 Qxd8 31.Qh8+ Kf7 32.Qf6+[/font] when White wins at least a Rook.

29.Qd3?!

White dallies. The correct rejoinder wins the game.
If [font color="red"]29.Rd6! f4 30.Qd3 Nf6 31.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]31...Nh5 32.f3 Ng3 33.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]33...Nf5 34.Rexe6 Rxe6 35.Rd8+ Re8 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.c5[/font] gives White a strong extra pawn and a Queen againts a pair of Rooks.
[font color="magenta"]33...Rf5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]34.c5 Kf8 35.Qd2 Nh5 36.Re4 a5 37.Red4.[/font]

[font color="darkred"]31...a5 32.Re1 f3 33.Qxf3 Nd5 34.Qd3 axb4 35.axb4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative.

29...Nf8?

Of course, the Knight must leave d7, but at b6 it ties the foremost Rook to the defense of the c-pawn.
If [font color="red"]29...Nb6 30.f4 Kf8 31.Rd8 Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Qxd8 33.Rxd8+[/font] is clearly better for White, but Black has relieved some pressure by exhanging Queens and now has some room to maneuver.

[center]BLACK: Anda Safranska[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Almira Skripchenko[/center][center]Position after 29...Nd7f8[/center]

30.Rd6!

Black has no good moves for her pieces.

30...g5 31.c5 Qc7 32.Qc4 h6 33.a4 Rc8

A more stubborn defense is [font color="red"]33...Qe7 34.c6 Rc8 35.b5 axb5 36.axb5[/font] but it's too late to change the outcome.

34.Qd4 Kh7 35.Qh8+ Kg6 36.g4 1-0

If [font color="red"]36...fxg4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]37.hxg4 Qe7 38.Re1 Rf6 39.Qg8+.[/font]
Mlle. Safranska resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

33. Maisuradze - Milliet, Women's Group, Round 6 (Opening Theory QID Petrosian -- Ending K+B+N vs K)

Thu Sep 27, 2012, 01:34 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Sophie Milliet[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1810758954/)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)[/font]

Nino Maisuradze - Sophie Milliet
French Championships, Women's Group, Round 6
Pau, 20 August 2012

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening/Main Line)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center][/center]East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening)[center]Position after 4.a3[/center]

4...Bb7

The text is the Main Line.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening/Bronstein Variation)[/center][center]Position after 4...Ba6[/center]

[font color="red"](Bronstein Variation)[/font] If [font color="red"]4...Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Nb3 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Bf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Bd3 e5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Be7 14.0-0 d6[/font] is equal (Z. Almasi-I. Sokolov, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="darkpink"]11.Nxc5 bxc5 12.Bd6 Nd4 13.Qd3 Re8 14.b4 e5 15.Rb1 cxb4 16.axb4 Re6 17.c5[/font] is equal (M. Bosboom-Alekseev, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]11.0-0-0 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bd3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 h6 16.Bh4 Qe7 17.Kb2 Rac8[/font] gives Black the more active game (Pliasunov-Ionov, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]10...e5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.f3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Rc8 14.0-0-0 a6 15.Kb1 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Bf2 Bxf2 18.Qxf2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Nxb5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, passers on the queenside more space (Kamsky-Freidel, World Op, Philadelphia, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]13...Be7 14.Rd1 Nh5 15.Bf2 Nf4 16.Qd2 d6 17.g3 Ne6 18.Bh3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Agdestein-Polugaevsky, Op, Reykjavik, 1987).

[font color="burgundy"]10.Be2 0-0 11.h3 Nbd7 12.0-0 a6 13.Rfd1[/font] gives White command of the d-file, the initiative against the d-pawn and more space (Johanessen-A. Kogan, IT, Oslo, 2002).
If [font color="darkred"]10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Nd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Bd3 Qb8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Bg3 Be5 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.Kb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...d6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qe2 Rd8 19.Qe3 Rd4[/font] is equal (Khenkin-Adams, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
[font color="purple"]16...Rc8 17.Rhe1 d6 18.f4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 b5 20.e5 Nd5 21.Qd4 bxc4 22.Bxc4 Nc3+ 23.Qxc3 d5 24.f5 Ba6 25.Qe3[/font] draw (Zhu Chen-Xu Yuhua, FIDE Knock Out W, Shenyang, 2000).

[font color="darkorange"]14.0-0 Be5 15.Bg3 Bxg3 16.hxg3 Qe5 17.Rad1 h5 18.f4 Qc5+ 19.Qf2 Ng4 20.Qxc5 bxc5 21.Rd2 h4 22.gxh4[/font] draw (Ghaem Maghami-Yu Shaoteng, Asian Ch, Cebu, 2007).

[font color="magenta"]13.0-0-0 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Bxe4 15.Qd4 Bc6 16.f4 Rc8 17.Kb1 0-0[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Pallister-Rowson, 4NCL, Birmingham, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]7.dxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]7...bxc5 8.Bf4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...d6 9.e3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...Nh5 10.Bg3 Be7 11.Be2 Nd7 12.Rd1 Nxg3 13.hxg3[/font] gives White open files for his Rooks (Dokhoian-Khalifman, Bundesliga 9192, Germany, 1992).
If [font color="magenta"]9...Be7 10.h3 0-0 11.Be2 Qb6 12.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12...Rd8?! 13.b4! Nbd7 14.Nd2 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Na4[/font] gives White the initiative, stronger pawns and a considerable advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Aronson, GMA Qual, Moscow, 1990).
[font color="darkorange"]12...a5 13.Rad1 Nbd7 14.Rd2 e5 15.Bg3 Bc6 16.Ng5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="magenta"]8...Be7 9.Rd1 0-0 10.e3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nc6 12.Be2 Qb6 13.0-0 Rfd8 14.Rd2[/font] is equal (Döttling-Carlsen, Dos Hermanas IT, Cyberspace, 2006).
[font color="darkorange"]10...Qb6 11.Be2 d6 12.0-0 h6 13.Rd2 Nh5 14.Bg3 Nxg3[/font] gives Black a slim advantage (Bartel-Olsewski, Polish Ch, Warsaw, 2012).

If [font color="magenta"]7...Bxc5 8.Bf4 0-0 9.Rd1 Nc6 10.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]10...Nh5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.Bg3 f5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.Be2 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Rf7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14.g4 g6 15.gxf5 gxf5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.b4 Bf8 17.e4 Qf6 18.exf5 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.fxe6 dxe6 21.Rd3[/font] gives White an extra pawn, more piece activity and more space (Nechepurenko-Niemer, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, Turkey, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Rh3?! Rg7! 17.g3 Qf6 18.Nb5 Rc8 19.b4 Bf8[/font] is equal (S. Atalik-Kurajica, IT, Sarajevo, 2004).

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Nb5 Qf6 15.Qc3 Qxc3+ 16.Nxc3 h6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.Nb5 Rc8 18.b4 Bf8 19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Rxd6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Gelfand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2000).
[font color="purple"]17.e4 fxe4 18.Nxe4 Nd4 19.Nxc5 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 bxc5 21.Rh5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Matveeva-Xu Yuhua, OlW, Bled, 2002).

If [font color="darkorange"]12.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]12...Qf6!? 13.Bd6 Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Rab8 15.Be2 Qg6 16.0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Iljin-Tomashevsky, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
[font color="purple"]12...Nxg3 13.hxg3 Rf7[/font] transposes into [font color="magenta"]S. Atalik-Kurajica[/font] at Black's 13th move, above.

If [font color="darkorange"]11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nb5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]13...d5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Be2 Rac8 16.Qa4 a6 17.Nbd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (K. Georgiev-Saric, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="purple"]13...Nf6 14.Nd6 Rab8 15.Be2 Ne8 16.Nxb7 Rxb7 17.0-0[/font] gives White a slight edge (Banikas-Nikolov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If [font color="darkorange"]10...Rc8 11.Be2 Be7 12.0-0 a6 13.Qb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]13...Nh5 14.Bd6 f5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Na4 Qd8 17.c5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Yakkimaienen-Kholmov, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).
If [font color="purple"]13...d6 14.b4[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]14...Qc7?! 15.c5 e5 16.Bg5!! dxc5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5[/font] gives White a strong initiative and a splendid advantage in space in compensation for a sacrificed pawn (Rowson-Grant, Scottish Ch, Hamilton, 2004).
If [font color="hotpink"]14...Re8 15.c5 d5 16.Na4 bxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.bxc5[/font] gives White a passed pawn and a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening/Main Line)[/center][center]Position after 4...Bb7[/center]

5.Nc3 d5

Black stakes a claim in the center now, but he could postpose this action for later.
If [font color="red"]5...Be7 6.d5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]6...0-0 7.e4 d6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Be2 e5 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.b4 a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Be3! Nh5 12.g3 g6 13.Bh6 Ng7 14.Qd2[/font] gives White a powerful advantage in space (S. Ivanov-Kolbus, Rilton Cup 0506, Stockholm, 2005).
If [font color="darkred"]11.Bb2!? Nh5 12.g3 g6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Ne1 Ng7! 14.Nd3[/font] gives White a small advantage ins space (E. Agrest-Vijayalakshmi, Op, Bajada de la Virgen, 2005).

[font color="magenta"]13.Re1 Qc8 14.Qc2 Rd8 15.Na4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

If [font color="darkred"]8.Bd3 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.0-0 Nbd7 10.b4 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.Bc2 Bc8 12.Ba4 a6 13.Bc6 Ra7 14.h3[/font] gives White a whale-sized lead in space (Farago-Ljubarski, Euro Sr Ch, Hockenheim, 2007).
[font color="darkrorange"]11.g3 Bf8 12.Nh4 g6 13.Be3 Bg7 14.Rc1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Antonshin-Martirosian, Sr IT, Yerevan, 1981).

[font color="magenta"]9.h3 Nbd7 10.g4 c6 11.Be3 cxd5 12.cxd5[/font] is equal (Tjiam-Lauritsen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]6...exd5 7.cxd5 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Re8 9.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9...c6 10.0-0 cxd5 11.exd5 d6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Bf4 Nbd7 13.Rc1 a6 14.Re1 Rc8 15.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Lukey-Watson, New Aealand Ch, Auckland, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]12.b4 Nbd7 13.Bb2 a6 14.Bc2 Ne5 15.Bb3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Volodin-Njili, Ol, Torino, 2006).

[font color="darkpink"]9...c5?! 10.0-0! d6 11.Nd2 Ba6 12.Qe2 Bxd3 13.Qxd3[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Krasenkow-Lodhi, IT, Dakha, Bangladesh, 1995).

If [font color="magenta"]8...d6 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...Nc5 11.Bc2 a5 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nd4 g6 14.Bh6[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Bashkov-Matsenko, Op, Chelyabinsk, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]10...Ne5 11.Be2 Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 Nd7 13.Qc2 Ba6 14.Rd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (G. R. Lock-J. Ruigrok, Op, Guernsey, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]8.g3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]8...Re8 9.Bg2 Bf8 10.0-0 c6 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nh3[/font] gives White a small advantage (Gaprindashvili-Ioseliani, Candidates' ½-final Match W, Tbilisi, 1980).
If [font color="darkorange"]8...a5 9.Bg2 Na6 10.Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]10...Ne8?! 11.0-0! Rc8 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Be3 f5 14.Qd2[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Timman-Cardoso, IT, Nethanya, 1975).
[font color="purple"]10...Nc5 11.Nf5 Ne8 12.Nb5 Bf6 13.0-0 Be5 14.f4[/font] gives White a slight adavantage in space.

If [font color="blue"]5...Ne4 6.Nxe4 Bxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]7.Nd2 Bb7 8.e4 Qf6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]9.d5 Bc5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]10.Nf3 Qg6 11.b4 Qxe4+ 12.Be2[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]12...Bd6 13.0-0 Qg6 14.Nd4 0-0 15.Bf3 f5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Schussler-W. Hartmann, Bundesliga 8182, West Germany, 1982).
[font color="#40C0FF"]12...Be7!? 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bd3 Qg4 15.Re1 Bf6 16.Ra2[/font] is equal (Korotylev-Ionov, Petroff Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2000).

If [font color="darkblue"]10.Qf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]10...Qxf3 11.Nxf3 a5 12.Bd3 d6 13.dxe6 fxe6[/font] draw (Cmilyte-Kilio, EU Ch, Cork, Ireland, 2005).
[font color="dodgerblue"]10...Bd4 11.Qxf6 Bxf6 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Re8[/font] gives Black more activity and, should the position soon open, he will have the better of it (Piket-Anand, IT, Guasdal, 1986).

If [font color="darkblue"]9.e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]9...Qg6 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 f6 13.Bf4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Polugaevsky-Speelman, IT, London, 1986).
[font color="dodgerblue"]9...Qd8!? 10.Nf3 d5 11.Be3 Nd7 12.cxd5 Bxd5 13.Bd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Polugaevsky-Unzicker, Ol, Lucerne, 1982).

If [font color="darkblue"]a) 7.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]7...Be7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 d5 10.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10...0-0 11.0-0 dxe4 12.Qxe4 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Rd1 Nf6 14.Qe2 c6 15.Bf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]15...Qc8 16.d5 Re8 17.dxe6 Qxe6 18.Qxe6 fxe6 19.Re1[/font] (Rodshtein-K. Arkell, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="#80C0FF"]15...Rc8 16.Ne5 Nd7 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 Nxe5 19.dxc6[/font] is equal (Gheorghiu-Panno, IT, Buenos Aires, 1978).

[font color="#8040FF"]13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Be3 Nf6 15.Qc2 Ng4 16.Bc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fiorito-Slipak, Najdorf Mem, Buenos Aires, 2000).

[font color="#4080FF"]10...dxc4 11.Qxc4 Nd7 12.Qc6 0-0 13.Bf4 Rc8 14.Rd1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Krasenkow-E. Torre, IT, Djakarta, 1996).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]7...c5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Be7 12.e4 Qc7 13.0-0 0-0 14.b3[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bf6 15.Ra2 Rfd8 16.Rd1 Rac8 17.g3 d6 18.Bf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gheorghiu-Ree, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1979).
[font color="#8040FF]14...a6 15.Rd1 Ra7 16.g3 Rc8 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.b4[/font] gives White a smal advantage in space (Gheorghiu-U. Andersson, IT, London, 1980).

If [font color="darkcyan"]10.Nxd4 Nc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]11.0-0 Be7 12.Nf3 0-0 13.e4 Bf6 14.Ra2[/font] is equal (Browne-Kavalek, ITZ, Manila, 1976).
[font color="slateblue"]11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.Qe4 Qc7 13.Bd2 Bd6 14.Bc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Marjanovic-Browne, IT, Banja Luka, 1979).

If [font color="darkblue"]b) 7.Bf4 Be7 8.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]8...0-0 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10...d6 11.e4 Nd7 12.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]12...e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bd6 16.Qd5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Psakhis-Prandstetter, Capablanca Mem, Cienfuegos, 1983).
[font color="steelblue"]13.Be3 exd4 14.Nxd4 Bf6 15.Rad1 a5 16.b3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Hort-Ambroz, IT, Trencianske Teplice, 1979).

[font color="slateblue"]12...Qc8 13.h3 Qb7 14.b4 Rfd8 15.Qc2 a5 16.Bd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Huss-Keene, IT, Zürich, 1975).

[font color="darkcyan"]10...a5 11.0-0 d6 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.e4 Qc8 14.Qc2[/font]gives White a small advantage in space (Benjamin-Burger, Op, Reykjavik, 1986).

[font color="dodgerblue"]8...c5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 a6 12.Rd1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space and a slight lead in development (Petrosian-Korchnoi, Trng Trmt, Moscow 1966).

6.Bg5

If [font color="red"]6.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.e3 g6 8.Bb5+ c6 9.Bd3 Bg7 10.Na4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nd7 11.e4 Ne7 12.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.Qe2 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 bxc5 16.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Carlsen, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Kh7 15.Qb3 Qc7 16.Rad1[/font] gives White a solid center and more space (Kozul-Grischuk, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Qc7 11.0-0 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.e4 Nf4 13.Bc2 0-0 14.Be3 Rad8 15.Nc3 c5[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).
If [font color="magenta"]12.Bd2 0-0 13.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...Rfd8 14.Qb3 Rac8 15.Rfe1[/font] is equal (Kuljasevic-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]13...Rad8 14.b4 e5 15.Qb3 N5f6 16.Bb1 Qb8 17.Rfd1[/font] is equal ((Grischuk-Anand, Rapid m, Mainz, 2005).).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Qc2 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...c5 10.Bb5+ Bc6 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Bf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Jankovic-Sachdev, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
If [font color="magenta"]9...0-0 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11...Qc8 12.Qe2[/font] (White has a small advantage in space) [font color="magenta"]12...Ba6 13.Rd1 Bxd3 14.Rxd3 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.e5 cxd4 16.cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16...Qc4 17.Bg5 Bd8 18.Rad1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]18...Qd5 19.h4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19...f6?! 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Re3 h6 22.Bf4 Rae8 23.Bg3[/font] gives White a comfortable game(Radjabov-Leko, IT, Dortmund, 2003).
[font color="#C08040"]19...h6 20.Bxd8 Raxd8 21.Rc3 Rc8 22.Rdc1 Rxc3 23.Rxc3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[font color="burgundy"]18...Rc8 19.h4 h6 20.Bf4 Qd5 21.Nh2 f5 22.Bxh6[/font] gives White a tactical edge on the kingside (Kransenkow-Cvitvan, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

[font color="darkpink"]16...Re8 17.Bg5 Nf8 18.h4 h6 19.Rc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Radjabov-Akopian, IT, Enghien-les-Bains, 2003).

If [font color="darkorange"]15.h4 Qa6 16.Bg5 Rfe8 17.e5 Rac8 18.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18...Bf8!? 19.Qe4!? cxd4 20.cxd4 Rc4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Kursova, FIDE Knock OutW, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
[font color="purple"]18...h6 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Nd2 cxd4 21.cxd4[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkorange"]11...Qc7 12.Qe2 Nd7 13.Bb2 Rac8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Rad1 Rfd8 15.Nd2 Qf4 16.e5 f5 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.Ne4 Qf7 19.Rfe1 cxd4 20.cxd4 Nf8 21.Qg4 Rd5 22.Rc1 Rxc1[/font] draw (Cmilyte-Kunte, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
[font color="purple"]14.Nd2 Bg5 15.a4 Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Nf8 17.a5 Ng6 18.axb6 axb6 19.g3 Bf6[/font] draw (Ruck-Z. Almasi, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]8.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]8...0-0 9.e4 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11...Qc8 12.Bd3 Rd8 13.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13...c5 14.d5 c4 15.Be2 exd5 16.exd5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...Bf6 17.Nd4 Bxd5 18.Nf5 Be6 19.Bxf6 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Nxf6 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Bxc4[/font] is equal (Miles-Polugaevsky, Biel, 1990).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Nf6? 17.Ng5! Bxd5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Bf3 Bxf3 21.Rde1[/font] Black resigns (Khmelnitsky-Rodgaard, Op, Copenhagen, 1989).

If [font color="darkorange"]13...Nf8 14.b4 Ng6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]15.Qb2!? Bf8 16.Bd2 c5 17.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17...Bc6?! 18.h4! Qb7 19.h5 Ne7 20.Rfe1 cxd4 21.Nxd4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage (Lputian-Z. Almasi, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
[font color="purple"]17...Qd7 18.Bg5 Be7 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.Rxc5[/font] gives White a small tactical advantage.

[font color="hotpink"]15.Rfe1 c5 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.Ba5 Rd6 18.dxc5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkorange"]11...c5 12.dxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]12...Qc7 13.cxb6 axb6 14.Bb5 Nc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]15.Be5 Qc8 16.0-0 Bxe4 17.Qc3 f6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Bd5 20.b4[/font] draw (Zakharevich-Brodsky, Op, Krasnodar, 2003).
If [font color="purple"]18.Bg3!? Bd5 19.Rfe1[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]19...Qb7?! 20.b4! Na4 21.Qe3 Rfc8 22.Rc1[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Timoshchenko-Langeweg, Op, Benasque, 1996).
[font color="hotpink"]19...Rd8 20.Qc1 Ne4 21.Nd4 Bc5 22.Nc6 Re8[/font] remains equal.

[font color="purple"]15.Rd4 Rfd8 16.0-0 Rxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxe4 18.Qc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Riazantsev-Sulskis, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
[font color="hotpink"]12...Qc8 13.cxb6 axb6 14.Bb5 Nc5 15.Rd4 Rd8 16.0-0[/font] gives White a small tactical advantage (De Haan-Postny, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).

If [font color="darkorange"]11.0-0-0 Qc8 12.h4 Rd8 13.Rh3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]13...h6 14.d5 Nf6 15.Ng5 hxg5! 16.hxg5 Ng4 17.f4[/font] (Akopian-Granda Zuñiga, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
[font color="purple"]13...Nf8 14.h5 c5 15.Rg3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Bf6 17.Nb5[/font] is equal (Piket-Karpov, Match, Monte Carlo, 1999).

If [font color="darkorange"]8...Nxc3 9.Bxc3 Qd5 10.e3 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]11.Bd3 Nf6 12.Ne5 0-0 13.f3 c5 14.e4 Qd8[/font] is equal (Bonin-Reshevsky, Op, Philadelphia, 1988).
[font color="purple"]11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Qa4 Kb8 13.Bc4 Bc6 14.Qa6 Qh5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Galliamova-Als. Maric, Candidates' Trmt, Tilburg, 1994).

6...Be7 7.e3

White cements her center. An alternative is to make a show of force on the weakened queenside.
If [font color="red"]7.Qa4+ c6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.g3 0-0 11.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...c5 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.0-0 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Na6 15.Rd2 Nc7 16.Rfd1 c4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Ne5 b5 18.Qa5 a6 19.Ng4[/font] is equal (Almeida Quintana-Quesada Pérez, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Qc2 g6 18.Re1 b5 19.h4 Rab8 20.Rde2 a6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space; he should press on the queenside (Vitiugov-Sasikiran, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]14...Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Ne1 Nf8 16.dxc5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc5 18.c4[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Zvjagintsev-Savon, Moscow Op, 1991).
[font color="magenta"]15.Qb3 c4 16.Qc2 Nf8 17.Rfe1 Ne6 18.h4 Rac8[/font] is equal (Delemarre-Van Wely, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).

If [font color="darkred"]14.Rfe1 Na6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.e3 Nc7 16.h4 Ne6 17.Nh2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17...h5 18.Qb3 Qd7 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc2 Qe6 21.Nf3[/font] is equal (Van Wely-Onischuk, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
[font color="darkorange"]17...cxd4 18.exd4 h5 19.Bh3 Rd6 20.Nf3 Bc6 21.Qc2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Van Wely-Bacrot, French ChT, 1998).

[font color="magenta"]15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Ng5 Qd7 18.Qxd7 Rxd7 19.Nxe4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; he will probably end up with stronger pawns (Van Wely-Z. Almasi, TT, Buekfuerdo, Hungary, 1995).

[font color="darkred"]11...Re8 12.0-0 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Rfd1 g6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Rac1 Bg7 15.e3 Nf8 16.b4 a6 17.Qb3 Qd6[/font] is equal (Piket-Lutz, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1995).
[font color="burgundy"]14.e3 Bg7 15.Ne1 Nf6 16.Nd3 Qd6 17.Rac1 Ng4[/font] is equal (Eljanov-Hera, Euro ChTU18, Balatonlelle, 2000).

If [font color="magenta"]13.Rad1 c5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Rfe1 a6 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.e3 Qc7 17.Rc1 g6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Zlochevskij-B. Thorfinnsson. Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]14.Qc2 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Rac8 16.dxc5 Rxc5 17.Nd4 Rc4 18.Nf5 Qc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Zhu Chen-Liu Shilan, Chinese ChTW, Suzhou, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]8.cxd5 exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.e3 0-0 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Rad1 Ne4 13.Bxe4 Bxg5 14.Bb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Bh6 15.Rfe1 g6 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nf6 18.Ne5[/font] leaves White slightly better (Piket-Ljubojevic, IT, Roqueburne, 1992).
If [font color="magenta"]14...Be7!? 15.Rfe1! g6 16.e4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...dxe4!?[/font] then:

if [font color="darkorange"]16...Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.Nxe4! Qc7 18.Ba2 Rf8 19.Neg5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Kharitonov-Yasudin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1988).
[font color="purple"]17.h3 dxe4 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Kg7 20.Rd3[/font] gives White the edge with better piece placement; although Black has the Bishop pair and White an isolated d-pawn, Black's Queen's Bishop is poorly placed.

[font color="darkpink"]12.Rac1 a6 13.Rfd1 Bd6 14.Qb3 h6 15.Bh4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Wang Yue-Ljubojevic, TM, Amsterdam, 2008).

[font color="darkorchid"]9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.g3 0-0[/font] transposes into the main line of this note[/fonte] at Black's tenth move.

7...0-0 8.Rc1 Nbd7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bd3

If [font color="red"]10.Be2 h6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Bf4 c5 12.0-0 a6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qb3[/font] gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Maiwald-Jakovenko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
[font color="darkred"]11.Bh4 c5 12.0-0 Rc8 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qb3 Qb6[/font] is equal (Reggie Olay-D. Chakravarthy, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

10...c5 11.0-0 Ne4 12.Bxe7

White may either exchange or pull back.
If [font color="red"]12.Bf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Nxc3 13.Rxc3 c4 14.Bb1 b5 15.Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Nf6 16.f3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...Nh5 17.Bg3 Bd6 18.Bf2 Qe7 19.g4 Nf6[/font] gives Black a comfortable game (H. J. Plaskett-Psakhis, IT, Troon, 1984).
[font color="burgundy"]16...a5 17.g4 Nd7 18.Rc2 Nxe5 19.Bxe5 Bd6[/font] gives Black a comfortable game owing to his advanced queenside pawn majority (H. J. Plaskett-Chandler, IT, Hastings, 1986).

If [font color="darkred"]15...Nxe5 16.Bxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Bd6 17.f4 f5 18.g4 Bxe5 19.fxe5 fxg4 20.Qxg4[/font] is equal (Bisguier-Pliester, Op, New York, 1989).
[font color="magenta"]16...g6 17.f3 Re8 18.Rc2 a5 19.g3 Bf8[/font] gives Black a comfortable game with a tactical advantage; the threat is 20...f6 (Vaganian-M. Damljanovic, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1971).

If [font color="darkred"]12...a6 13.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...f5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Rfd1 Qc8 16.b4[/font] (Vaganian-Karpov, TT, Leningrad, ).
[font color="magenta"]13...Ndf6 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Rfd1 Qe8 16.b4 Be7 17.Be2[/font] gives White command of more open lines and a small advantage in space (Genius-Kasparov, Rpd IT, London, 1994).

12...Qxe7 13.dxc5

If [font color="red"]13.Bb1 Rfd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.Re1 Rac8 15.Qa4 a6 16.dxc5 Ndxc5 17.Qd1 Rc7[/font] is equal (Romanko-Makka, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="darkred"]14.Ne2 Rac8 15.Nf4[/font] draw (Pytel-García Martínez, Op, Hastings, 1973).

13...bxc5 14.Re1 (N)

If [font color="red"]14.Qe2 Rab8 15.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...f5 16.Bb5 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Nf6 18.Ne1 Ne4[/font] gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space (S. Dukic-Petrenko, Serbian TChW, Pozarevac, 2009).
[font color="darkred"]15...Ndf6 16.h3 Rfd8 17.Bxe4[/font] draw (Leko-Piket, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).

14...f5

The game is equal.

15.b4 c4 16.Bf1!?

The Bishop is shut in by the c-pawn on this diagonal.
Better is [font color="red"]16.Bb1 Ne5[/font] when:

[font color="red"]17.Nd4 Qh4 18.Re2 g6 19.f4 Ng4 20.Nf3 Nxc3[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]17.Nxd5 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Qg5+ 19.Kf1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Nxf2 20.Kxf2 Rad8 21.Ba2 Bxd5 22.Qe2 Qh5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]19...Rad8 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxd5 22.Bxd5+ Rxd5[/font] is equal: White has an extra pawn against Black's activity, initiative and space.

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 16.Bd3f1[/center]

16...Ndf6!

Black has a small advantage in space with a good grip on the light squares in the center.

17.Nd4 Nxc3!?

Black should not initiate the exchange.
If [font color="red"]17...a5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.Nxe4 fxe4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Qd2 axb4 20.Qxb4 Qf7 21.Be2 Bc8 22.h3 Qc7[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]19.Rb1!? axb4 20.axb4 Nd7 21.Be2 Ra6 22.b5 Rg6[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

[font color="darkred"]18.Ncb5?![/font] (White must create a more potent threat in order to keep the a-file closed) [font color="darkred"]18...axb4! 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Rb1 Qa5[/font] gives Black a substantial advantage in space.

18.Rxc3!

Black now has a slight advantage in space.

18...Ne4 19.Rc2!?

This move could cost White a valuable tempo. If this Rook wants to back the a-pawn, then it should do so on a1 rather than a2, when ...Nc3! wins the exchange.
If [font color="red"]19.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...Rf6 20.f3 Nd6 21.Qd2 a6 22.a4 Qd7[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.
[font color="darkred"]19...a6!? 20.Qa4 Rf6 21.Qa5 Re8 22.g3 Qf7[/font] is equal..

19...a5!

Black has a small advantage in space.

20.f3

[font color="red"]20.Qb1 axb4 21.axb4 Rf6 22.g3 Ra4 23.b5 Qc5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

20...Nd6!?

White now gains a passed pawn without any compensation for Black.
If [font color="red"]20...axb4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.axb4 Ng5 22.Rc1 Rf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23.Qc2 g6 24.Qf2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Ne6 25.Qd2 Qd6 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.e4 fxe4 28.fxe4 Qb6+[/font] still gives Black a small advantage.
[font color="burgundy"]24...Rb6?! 25.b5 Qc7 26.Ra1 Rc8 27.Ra7 Re8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]23.Ra1 Qxb4 24.Qb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...Qe7 25.Nxf5 Qc7 26.Rxa8+ Bxa8 27.e4 Qc5+ 28.Ne3[/font] is equal.
If [font color="magenta"]24...Qxb1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]25.Rxa8+ Bxa8 26.Rxb1 Kf7 27.Ra1 Bb7 28.Nxf5 Rb6[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]25.Rexb1?! Rxa1! 26.Rxa1 Ne6 27.Nb5 Kf8 28.Nc3 Nc7[/font] gives Black a comfortable game.

If [font color="darkred"]21.fxe4 b3 22.Rb2 fxe4 23.Qc1 Kh8 24.Nxb3 cxb3 25.Rxb3 Bc8 26.Be2 Be6[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]24.Bxc4 Rac8 25.Rxb3 dxc4 26.Rb2 c3 27.Rc2 Ba6[/font] continues to geve Black a small advantage in space.

21.b5!

The game is again equal.

21...Nc8 22.e4 fxe4 23.fxe4 dxe4?

With more haste than wisdom, Black grabs a pawn and leaves her own pawn weak and vulnerable.
[font color="red"]23...Nb6 24.Nf3 Rae8 25.Qd4 Qc7 26.exd5 Bxd5[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 23...de4:p[/center]

24.Bxc4+!

White recaptures with tempo.

24...Kh8 25.Ne6 Nb6

Black's misplay on move 23 has led directly to the loss of the exchange.
If [font color="red"]25...Rf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]26.Qd8+ Qxd8 27.Nxd8 Nd6 28.Nxb7 Nxb7 29.Bd5.[/font]

26.Nxf8 Qc5+ 27.Kh1 Rxf8 28.Rf1

If [font color="red"]28.Bb3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28...Qf5 29.Rc7 Bd5 30.Rc5 Qf2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]31.Rxd5 Nxd5 32.Bxd5 Qc5 33.a4 e3 34.Bf3[/font] gives White a protected passed pawn and an extra Bishop.
[font color="magenta"]31.Bxd5? Qxc5 32.Bxe4 Qxb5 33.g3 Qc5 34.Qc1 Qf2[/font] gives White a slight advantage based on the theoretical superiority of the Bishop over the Knight when there are pawns on opposite wings.

If [font color="darkred"]28...Qe7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]29.Qd4 Nc8 30.b6 Rd8 31.Qc5 Qxc5 32.Rxc5.[/font]

28...Rb8

If [font color="red"]28...e3[/font] then Black wins easily after [font color="red"]29.Be2 Qxa3 30.Rc3! Qb4 31.Rxf8+ Qxf8 32.Rd3.[/font]

29.Be2!?

White wins in a cakewalk after [font color="red"]29.Bb3! Qe7 30.Rf7 Qg5 31.Rcf2 Rg8.[/font]

29...Qe5

Black isn't losing as badly as before.

30.Rd2!?

Since Black can still block the d-file with 30...Bd5, White would do better to shift the attack to the c-file.
White wins quicker after [font color="red"]30.Qc1 h6 31.Rc7 Bd5 32.Qf4 Qxf4 33.Rxf4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 30.Rc2d2[/center]

30...Bd5!

See previous note.

31.Qe1

Stronger is [font color="red"]31.Qa1[/font] when:

[font color="red"]31...Qg5 32.Rd4 Rc8 33.Qe1 e3 34.Bg4 Re8 35.Rf5.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]31...Qxa1 32.Rxa1 Rc8 33.Rad1 Rc5[/font] then:

White wins after [font color="darkred"]34.Kg1 34...g5 35.Kf2 Kg7 36.Ke3 Kf6 37.Kd4[/font] marks Black's high water point; Black can make no more pregress.
Dallying with [font color="magenta"]34.a4?![/font] allows Black to activate his King with [font color="magenta"]34...g5! 35.Kg1 Kg7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]36.Ra1 Kf6 37.Bg4 Ke5 38.Rf2 e3 39.Rf5+![/font] drives the Black King back and gives Black time to redirect resources to an effort to restrain and blockade the e-pawn.
If [font color="darkorange"]36.Kf2?[/font] then Black wins the race to centralize her King after [font color="darkorange"]36...Kf6! 37.Ke3 Ke5 38.Rb2 Nxa4 39.Rbb1 Nb6[/font] is equal.

31...h6 32.Qg3 Qxg3 33.hxg3 Rc8

[font color="red"]33...Bc4 34.Re1 Bxe2 35.Rexe2 Nc4 36.Rd5 Nxa3 37.Ra2[/font] gives White the initiative; Black has only a pawn for the exchange.

34.Rfd1 Rc5 35.Kg1 Kh7 36.Kf2

[font color="red"]36.g4 g6 37.Kf2 Kg7 38.Rh1 Rc8 39.Ke3[/font] gives White the material advantage and the active King.

36...Kg6 37.g4 Kf6

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 37...Kg6f6[/center]

38.Rd4?

White throws away her strong advantage by bringing the Rook to a unnavigable rank.
If [font color="red"]38.Rh1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...Ke6 39.Rh5 Rc3 40.Ke1 Bb3 41.g5[/font] continues to leave White up by the exchange.
[font color="darkred"]38...Ke5 39.Rh5+ Ke6 40.Rd4 Rc2 41.Ke1 Rc1+ 42.Rd1[/font] continues to leaves White with the exchange.

38...Ke5!

White still has a small advantage in space.

39.g3?!

The pawn should be held back as reserve pawn tempi is becoming critical for both sides.
Better is [font color="red"]39.R4d2 Rc3 40.Rb2 Rxa3 41.Rc2 a4 42.Rc7[/font] when White still has a small advantage in space.

39...Rc3!

Black now has a comfortable game. White cannot penetrate to Black's side of the board with her Rooks.

40.Kg2?

White reaches the time check only to find herself in a lost position.
[font color="red"]40.a4 Bb3 41.Rd8 Bxd1 42.Bxd1 Nd5 43.Ra8 Kd4[/font] gives Black the active King and better centralization, but White will soon have two conncted passers.

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 40.Kf2g2[/center]

40...Rxa3!

Black has a pawn and greater piece activity for the exchange.

41.Kh3

If [font color="red"]41.g5 hxg5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]42.Kh3 a4 43.R4d2 Rc3 44.Bg4 g6 45.Ra1 a3[/font] gives Black two passed pawns for the exchange.
If [font color="darkred"]42.Kf2 Rb3 43.Bf1 a4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]44.Ke1 a3 45.R4d2 Rxg3 46.Rc2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]46...g4 47.Rc7 a2 48.Ra7 Kf4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]49.Rd2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]49...Rb3 50.Rf2+ Ke5 51.Rfxa2 Rb1+.[/font]
If [font color="burgundy"]49.Rxd5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]49...Nxd5 50.Rxa2 Rb3 51.Ra7 Rb1+ 52.Ke2 Rxb5.[/font]

[font color="darkpink"]46...a2 47.Ra1 g4 48.Ke2 Rf3 49.Ke1 g3[/font] crushes White under the advance of passed pawns.

If [font color="magenta"]44.g4 a3 45.Ke1 a2 46.Rxd5+ Nxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]47.Bc4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]Re3+ 48.Kf2 Rf3+ 49.Ke1 Nc3 50.Rc1 Kd4[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]47.b6[/font] loses right away to [font color="darkorange"]47...Rb1 48.b7 Rxd1+ 49.Kxd1 a1Q+.[/font]

41...Rc3 42.R4d2 a4!

White cannot do anything to stop the a-pawn from advancing to a3.

43.Bf1 a3 44.Ra1

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 44.Rd1a1[/center]

44...e3!

A second passed pawn manifests its lust to expand.

45.Rd3 Rxd3 46.Bxd3 a2! 47.g5 Kd4

If [font color="red"]47...hxg5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]48.Kg4 Kd4 49.Be2 Kc3 50.Kxg5 Kb2.[/font]

48.gxh6 gxh6 49.Bb1

Whites best chance of salvaging the game appears to be to descend into an endgame featuring a Bishop and Knight against a lone King.
If [font color="red"]49.Be2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]49...Kc3 50.Kg4 Kd2 51.Bf1 e2 52.Bxe2 Kxe2.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 49.Bd3b1[/center]

49...axb1Q!

White at least has the satisfaction of having forced Black to part with her most advanced passer.

50.Rxb1 e2 51.g4

[font color="red"]51.Kh4 Ke3 52.Kh5 Kf2 53.Kxh6 Kxg3[/font] leads to the Bishop and Knight ending.

51...Ke3 52.Kg3 Be4

[font color="red"]52...Bc4[/font] shows better technique by overprotecting the e-pawn, but it amounts to pretty much the same thing after [font color="red"]53.Kg2 Bd3 54.Ra1 Nd5 55.b6 Nxb6.[/font]

53.Ra1 Nd5 54.g5

No better is [font color="red"]54.Kh4 Nc3 55.Re1 Kf2 56.Rxe2+ Kxe2 57.Kh5 Kf3.[/font]

54...hxg5 55.Kg4 Nc3 56.Re1

The text is forced.
[font color="red"]56.b6[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]56...Nb1!.[/font]

56...Nxb5 57.Kxg5

White has nothing better than to decend into a lone King vs. King, Bishop and Knight ending and hope Mlle. Milliet doesn't know how to convert it.

57...Nd4 58.Rxe2+ Nxe2

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE:Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 58...Nd4e2:R[/center]

59.Kg4

And away we go.

59...Nd4 60.Kg5 Bf5 61.Kf6 Ke4 62.Ke7 Ke5 63.Kf7

Most international masters and grandmasters know how to mate a lone King with a Knight and Bishop. The general formula is to get the King into a corner where it can be checked by the Bishop. If the mate is completely forced, then on the next to last move, Black gives check with one minor piece and then on the next move gives mate with the other. If the mate is forced, the participating Bishop will always be on the long diagonal. If the White King is not in the corner (a8) when mate is given, then it is on the edge of the board in either square adjascent to the corneer (a7 or b8). If the King is not on one of those saquares when mated, then it is because the player chose to make a harikari move. The mated King will always be at the edge of the board when mated.
Mate takes the following general pattens:

[center]Analysis Diagram[/center]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Pattern 1[/center]

A variation of the first pattern is how this game would have ending had White chosen to play to mate. In that case, the White King would have been on a7, the Black King on c7.

[center]Analysis Diagram[/center]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Pattern 2[/center]

In pattern 2, the Bishop can be anywhere on the long diagonal. The Knight may be on c8 and if it is, then the Black King is at c7.

[center]Analysis Diagram[/center]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Pattern 3[/center]

Pattern 3 is a spcecial case of pattern 2. The Bishop gives mate on the long diagonal on the seventh rank (b7). It moved from either c8 or a6. The Knight may be at c8 as long as the Black King is at c7 or at a6 if and only if the King is at b6.

63...Nc6

[font color="red"]63...Ne6 64.Kg8 Kf6 65.Kh8 Nd8 66.Kg8 Nf7[/font] transposes into the text at Black's 69th move.

64.Kg7 Be4 65.Kf7 Kf5 66.Kg7

In the note that follow, the font color="red"]main variation[/font] and the [font color="darkred"]maroon variation beginning with 72...Bg4[/font] are perhaps the purest forms of the Bishop and Knight mate against a lone King. They should be memorized and studied until they are thoroughly understood.
If [font color="red"]66.Ke8 Bd5 67.Kd7 Ke5 68.Ke8 Be6 69.Kf8 Kf6 70.Ke8 Ne5 71.Kf8 Ng6+ 72.Ke8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]72...Ke5 73.Kd8 Kd6 74.Ke8 Bd5 75.Kd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]75...Bc6 76.Kc8 Nf8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]77.Kd8 Ne6+ 78.Kc8 Kc5 79.Kb8 Kb6 80.Kc8 Bb5 81.Kb8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]81...Ba6[/font] then [font color="red"]82.Ka8 Nd8 83.Kb8 Nc6+ 84.Ka8 Bb7#.[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]81...Bd7[/font] transposes into the [font color="darkorange]orange line at Black's 83rd move[/font] in the [font color="darkred]maroon line beginning with 72...Bg4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]77.Kb8 Nd7+ 78.Ka7 Nc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]79.Kb6 Nb7 80.Ka7 Kc7 81.Ka6 Bd7 82.Ka7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]82...Nc5 83.Ka8 Kb6 84.Kb8 Na6+ 85.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]82...Bb5 83.Ka8 Nd6 84.Ka7 [/font] transposes into the [font color="magenta"]pink line at White's 86th move,[/font] below lines suborinate to the [font color="darkred"]maroon notes beginning with 72...g4.[/font].

If [font color="magenta"]79.Kb8 Bd7 80.Ka8 Kc6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]81.Kb8[/font] then [font color="magenta"]81...Kb6 82.Ka8 Be6 83.Kb8 Na6+ 84.Ka8 Bd5#.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]81.Ka7[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]81...Kc7 82.Ka8 Kb6 83.Kb8 Na6+ 84.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]

[font color="burgundy"]75...Ne5 76.Ke8 Nd7 77.Kd8 Bf7[/font] transposes into the [font color="darkred"]maroon line immediately below at Black's 79th move.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]72...Bg4 73.Kd8 Ke5 74.Kc7 Kd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]75.Kd8 Kd6 76.Ke8 Be6 77.Kd8[/font] (note that when the Knight is on the fourth rank it has the effect of confining the White King to the back rank) [font color="darkred"]77...Ne5 78.Ke8 Nd7![/font] forcing the White King to move queenside.[font color="darkred"]79.Kd8 Bf7[/font] (the King still must move queenside) [font color="darkred"]80.Kc8 Nc5 81.Kb8 Be6 82.Ka8 Kc7 83.Ka7 Bd7 84.Ka8 Kb6 85.Kb8 Na6+ 86.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]75.Kb6 Bd7 76.Kc7 Bc6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]77.Kb6 Kd6 78.Ka6 Ne5 79.Ka5 Kc5 80.Ka6 Nf7 81.Ka5 Nd6 82.Ka6 Bb5+ 83.Ka7 Kc6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]84.Kb8 Kb6 85.Ka8 Kc7 86.Ka7 Nc8+ 87.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]84.Ka8 Kc7[/font] transposes into the [font color="magenta"]pink line at Black's 85th move,[/font] immediately above..

If [font color="darkorange"]77.Kb8 Kd6 78.Kc8 Nf8[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]79.Kb8 Kc5 80.Kc8 Ne6 81.Kb8 Kb6 82.Kc8 Bb5 83.Kb8 Bd7 84.Ka8 Nc5[/font] transposes to the [font color="darkred"]maroon line,[/font] immediately above.
[font color="purple"]79.Kd8 Ne6+ 80.Kc8 Kc5 81.Kb8 Kb6 82.Kc8 Bb5 83.Kb8[/font] transposes to the [font color="darkred"]maroon line,[/font] immediately above.

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 66.Kf7g7[/center]

66...Ne5 67.Kg8 Kf6 68.Kh8 Nf7+

The Knight will make a "W" manuever (Nf7-e5-d7-c5). As hinted at in the notes to White's 66th move, the Knight moves to the fourth rank (rank number 5) to confine the White King to the back rank and then to the second rank (rank number 7) to prevent the King from returning to the "wrong" corner, i.e., the one where the King will not be checked by the Bishop.
[font color="red"]68...Bg6 69.Kg8 Nf7 70.Kf8 Bh7[/font] transposes to the text at Black's 70th move.

69.Kg8 Bf5 70.Kf8 Bh7 71.Ke8 Ne5!

This is really the only good move here. Black's progress is measure on forcing the White King toward a8. White may go back to f8 on the next move, but she must not be forced to so.

72.Kd8

If [font color="red"]72.Kf8[/font] then [font color="red"]72...Nd7+! 73.Ke8 Ke6 74.Kd8[/font] keeps the situation on the right track for Black.

72...Ke6 73.Kc7 Nd7 74.Kc6

If [font color="red"]74.Kb7 Kd6 75.Ka6 Kc5 76.Kb7 Be4+ 77.Kc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]77...Bf5 78.Kb7 Ne5 79.Kc7 Nf7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]80.Kb7 Be4+ 81.Ka7 Kb5 82.Kb8 Kb6 83.Kc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]83...Bf5+ 84.Kb8 Nd6 85.Ka8 Nb5 86.Kb8 Bd7 87.Ka8 Nc7+ 88.Kb8 Na6+ 89.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]
[font color="darkred"]83...Bd3!?[/font] doesn't really help White, but it forces Black to re-do some of her hard work after:

[font color="darkred"]84.Kd7 Kc5 85.Ke6 Nd6 86.Ke5 Bf5.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]84.Kb8 Nd6 85.Ka8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]85...Kc7 86.Ka7 Nc8+ 87.Ka8 Be4#.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]a) 85...Nb5 86.Kb8 Bf5 87.Ka8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]87...Nc7+[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]88.Kb8 Na6+ 89.Ka8 Be4#.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]87...Na7[/font] then [font color="purple"]88.Kb8 Bc8 89.Ka8 Bb7+ 90.Kb8 Nc6#.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]b) 85...Bf5[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]86.Kb8 Nb5 87.Ka8 Nc7+ 88.Kb8 Na6+ 89.Ka8 Be4#.[/font]

If [font color="darkpink"]80.Kb8[/font] then [font color="darkpink"]80...Kb6 81.Ka8 Nd6 82.Kb8 Nb5 83.Ka8 Nc7+ 84.Kb8 Na6+ 85.Ka8 Be4#.[/font]

[font color="darkorchid"]77...Bc6 78.Kd8 Kd6 79.Ke8 Bd5[/font] tranposes into the [font color="burgundy"]burgundy line (75...Ne5 76.Ke8 Nd7)[/font] in the [font color="darkred"]maroon line beginning with 72...Bg4[/font] in the notes to White's 66th move.

[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 74.Kc7c6[/center]

74...Bd3!

The most important things are to confine the White King to an ever shrinking piece of real estate and keep it headed in the general direction of a8.

75.Kc7 Bb5

If [font color="red"]75...Be4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]76.Kc8 Kd6 77.Kd8 Bg6 78.Kc8 Nc5 79.Kd8 Nb7+ 80.Kc8 Kc6 81.Kb8 Kb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]82.Kc8 Bf5+ 83.Kb8 Nc5 84.Ka8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]84...Bd7 85.Kb8 Na6+ 86.Ka8 Bc6#.[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]84...Bc8 85.Kb8 Ba6[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main line notes for White's 74th move[/font] at Black's 88th move.

If [font color="darkred"]82.Ka8 Nd6 83.Kb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]83...Bd3 84.Ka8 Kc7[/font] transposes into the [font color="magenta"]pink line of the moves to White's 74th move[/font] at Black's 85th move.
[font color="magenta"]83...Bf5 84.Ka8[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main line to White's 74th move at White's 85th move.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]76.Kd8 Kd6 77.Ke8 Bg6+ 78.Kd8 Nc5 79.Kc8 Bf5+ 80.Kd8 Ne6+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]81.Kc8[/font] then [font color="darkred"]81...Kc6 82.Kb8 Nc5 83.Ka7 Kc7 84.Ka8 Kb6 85.Kb8 Na6+ 86.Ka8 Be4#.[/font][/li
If [font color="magenta"]81.Ke8[/font] then [font color="magenta"]81...Bg6#[/font]

76.Kd8 Nf6 77.Kc8 Ke7 78.Kb7

If [font color="red"]78.Kc7 Nd5+ 79.Kb8 Ba6 80.Ka7 Bc8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]81.Ka8 Kd6 82.Kb8 Ne7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]83.Ka8[/font] then [font color="red"]83...Kc7 84.Ka7 Nc6+ 85.Ka8 Bb7#.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]83.Ka7 Kc7 84.Ka8 Bb7+[/font] is the text postion at move 84.

[font color="darkred"]81.Kb8 Kd7 82.Ka8 Kc7 83.Ka7 Nb4 84.Ka8[/font] is the text postion at move 84.

78...Nd5 79.Kc8 Ba6+ 80.Kb8 Kd7 81.Ka7

[font color="red"]81.Ka8 Kc7 82.Ka7 Nb4 83.Ka8[/font] is the text position at move 84.

81...Bc8 82.Kb8

[font color="red"]82.Ka8 Kc7 83.Ka7 Nb4 84.Ka8[/font] is the text position at move 84.

82...Nb4 83.Ka7 Kc7 84.Ka8 Bb7+ 0-1

If [font color="red"]85.Ka7[/font] then [font color="red"]85...Nc6#[/font]
Mlle. Maisuradze resigns.

[center]Analysis Diagram[center]
[center]BLACK: Sophie Milliet[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nino Maisuradze[/center][center]Position after 85...Nc6#[/center]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

11. Politiken Cup, Helsignør

Tue Sep 4, 2012, 03:17 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Kronborg Castle, Helsignør (Elsinore), Denmark
Scene of Shakespeare's Hamlet[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Fiskfisk in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helsingoer_Kronborg_Castle.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

13. Bulski - Cheparinov, Round 9

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #11)

Tue Sep 4, 2012, 03:21 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Ivan Cheparinov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1892150984/) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ivan_Cheparinov)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Krzysztof Bulski - Ivan Cheparinov
Politiken Cup, Round 9
Helsingør, 4 August 2012

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 Rb8 9.Nd5

For moves and variations up to here, see Maiorov-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010.

9...Nxd5

If [font color="red"]9...e6 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Bg5 Qf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxg5 15.Qa7 Bd7 16.Bxb7 a5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Rfd1 Rfd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Bg2 Qc5 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3 Kf8 21.Re3 f6 22.f4[/font] yields the edge in space to White (Mamedyarov-McShane, Young Masters, Lausanne, 2003).
If [font color="darkred"]18.Bf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Qc5 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3[/font] gives White a significant advatange in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Bologan, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]18...Rbc8[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]19.Rac1 a4 20.b4 e5 21.b5 Bg4 22.Rc3[/font] White holds his position and his edge in space.

[font color="burgundy"]17.Rad1 Rfd8 18.Rd3 Kf8 19.Rfd1 Ke7 20.Bc6 Rb6 21.Bb5 Qc5[/font] gives White the advantage in apce on the queenside (Ruck-Fedorov. Eur Club Cup, Fügen (Austria), 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]12.Be3 e5 13.Qd2 Qh5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.d5 Ne7 15.Ng5 h6 16.Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...f5 17.Bf3 Qh3 18.Bg2[/font] draw (A. Graf-McShane, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
[font color="darkorange"]16...b6?! 17.h4! Kh7 18.Rad1[/font] gives White a camfortable game (Timman-Fedorov, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).

[font color="magenta"]14.Rfe1 Bh3 15.Rad1 Rbd8 16.Qc1 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 e4[/font] is equal (Grigoriants-Amonatov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

[font color="darkorchid"]11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 d5 13.c5 Qe7 14.Rc1 f5 15.Qc2 Rd8[/font] gives White the edge in space, but Black's center is well defended (Adorjan-Bouaziz, Szirak, 1987).

If [font color="blue"]9...Nh5 10.Bb2 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]11.Nc3 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]12.d5 Ne7 13.dxe6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]13...fxe6 14.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]14...dxc5 15.Qc2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]15...Nc6 16.Rad1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]18.Ne4 e5 19.e3 Bf5 20.Qc5 Rf7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]21.exd4 exd4 22.Rxd4 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]23.Ba1?! Qxc5 24.Nxc5 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Rd8[/font] gives Black the edge in space to go with being an exchange to the good (Sargissian-Nijboer, Ol, Bled, 2002).
[font color="#8040C0"]23.Qd5 Re8 24.Rc1 Nf6 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.h4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkcyan"]21.Rd2 Qe7 22.exd4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 exd4 24.Qc6 Rf6[/font] is equal (Anastasian-Jenni, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

If [font color="darkblue"]18.e3 e5 19.exd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]19...exd4!? 20.Nd5 Bg4 21.Rd2 d3 22.Qxd3 Bxb2 23.Rxb2[/font] gives White better activity for his minor pieces (K. Georgiev-Antic, Yugoslave ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
[font color="dodgerblue"]19...Bf5 20.Qc1 exd4 21.Nd5 d3 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 23.Rfe1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

If [font color="darkblue"]15...Bb7 16.Nd1 Qd6 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 18.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]18...Nef5?! 19.Qxc5! Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Rbc8 21.Ne3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Karpov-Shirov, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1999).
[font color="dodgerblue"]18...e5 19.Qxc5 Bxf3 20.Qxd6 cxd6 21.Bxf3[/font] remains equal.

[font color="#8040C0"]14...Bb7 15.cxd6 cxd6[/font] is equal (Grabarczyk-B. Socko, Polish Ch, Polanica Zdroj, 1999).

If [font color="darkblue"]13...Bxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]15...b4 16.Nd1 Nf6 17.Ng5 Bc8 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4[/font] gives White slight more activity for her minor pieces (Houska-A. Hunt, British Ch, Canterbury, 2010).
[font color="dodgerblue"]15...Nf6 16.Ng5 Bf5 17.Rfd1 b4 18.Nce4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).

If [font color="darkblue"]12.cxb5 axb5 13.Rc1 b4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14.Na4 Na5 15.Qc2 Ba6 16.Rfe1 c6 17.e4[/font] gives White a better center and Black a slight advantage in space Romanishin-Nijboer, IT, Essen, 2001).
If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Nb1 Na7 15.Ne1[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...c5 16.Qd2 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 cxd4 18.Qxd4[/font] is equal (Szabolcsi-Resika, Spring Op, Budapest, 2001).
[font color="darkcyan"]15...Nb5 16.Qd2 Bb7 17.Rc4 Bxg2 18.Nxg2[/font] is equal (Roamnishin-I. Smirin, IT, Ischia, 1996).

If [font color="darkblue"]11.Ne3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11...f5 12.Qd2 Ne7 13.Rac1 Bh6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14.Ne1 g5 15.Nd1 Rf6 16.e3 g4 17.Nd3[/font] gives White more freedom (Grachev-G. Szabo, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="#8040C0"]14.Rc2 Nf6 15.Qd3 g5 16.c5 g4 17.Nd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Grigoryan-Fier, Op, Varna, 2012).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Ne7 12.Qd2 b6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]13.Ne1 f5 14.f4 h6 15.Nd1 Nf6 16.Nf2 Bb7[/font] is equal (Grachev-Krylov, Moscow Op, 2007).
[font color="darkcyan"]13.Rac1 Bb7 14.Rfd1 h6 15.c5 Nf6 16.cxb6 cxb6 17.Ba3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Rausis-Bologan, IT, Enghien-les-Bains, 1999).

10.cxd5 Nb4 11.e4 f5 12.Ng5 c5

If [font color="red"]12...fxe4! 13.Bxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...c6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]14.Nxh7! Kxh7 15.Qh5+ Kg8 16.Bxg6[/font] White wins (Romanishin-Kantsler, IT, Tbilisi, 1986).
[font color="darkred"]13...Bf5 14.Qe1 a5 15.a3 Nc2 16.Bxc2 Bxc2 17.Qe6+[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

13.dxc6 Nxc6 14.exf5 Bxf5 (N)

[font color="red"]14...Rxf5 15.g4 Rf6 16.Be3 d5 17.h3 h6 18.Nf3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Rustemov-Loginov, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).

[center]BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Krzysztof Bulski[/center][center]Position after 14...Bc8f5:p[/center]

15.Be3

The game is equal..

15...d5 16.g4

If [font color="red"]16.Rc1 h6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Nh3 e5 18.g4 Bc8 19.Rc5 Qh4 20.dxe5[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]17.Nf3 g5 18.Qe2 Qd6 19.Rfd1 e6[/font] remains equal.

16...Bc8 17.h3 Qd6 18.Qd2 h6!?

[font color="red"]18...e6[/font] (giving Black a bind on f5 in particular and a good command of the light squares overall) [font color="red"]19.Rac1 a5 20.f4 Ra8 21.Nf3 a4 22.Ne5[/font] remains equal.

19.Nf3!

White has a slim advantage in space.

19...h5

If [font color="red"]19...g5 20.Rad1 Be6 21.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Nxe5 22.dxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxd5 Rfd8 24.Be4 Qxd2 25.Rxd2 Rxd2 26.Bxd2[/font] continues to give White a slim edge with stronger pawns.
[font color="darkred"]21...Qb4?! 22.Nxc6 bxc6 23.Qc2 Qd6 24.Qc1 a5 25.f4[/font] gives White a small-to-fair advantage with the critical point at f4; Black should not play 25...gxf4 as White would plant a piece on the square.

20.gxh5 Bxh3!?

Black wins a pawn, but White gains in space.
If [font color="red"]20...gxh5 21.Ng5 Rf5 22.h4 Rf6 23.Rac1 Bg4 24.a4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Krzysztof Bulski[/center][center]Position after 20...Bc8h3:p[/center]

21.Bxh3!

White has a small advantage in space.

21...Rxf3 22.Bg2!?

[font color="red"]22.Kg2 Rxh3 23.Kxh3 Qe6+ 24.Kh2 Rf8 25.f3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="blue"]22.Bg4!? Rf7 23.h6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]23...Bf6! 24.Rac1 Rd8 25.b4 Bh4 26.Rb1 e5 27.b5[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkblue"]23...Bh8!? 24.Rac1 e5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Be2 Qe6 27.Kg2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

22...Rf5!

Black has a slight advantage in space.

23.h6 Bh8 24.Rad1 Rbf8 25.f4!?

White cuts the file from under Black's Rooks, but the h-pawn is doomed.
If [font color="red"]25.Bh3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Rh5 26.Kg2 Kh7 27.Rh1 Rh4 28.f4 Bf6[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage since the h-pawn is deadwood.
[font color="darkred"]25...Rf4 26.Bxf4 Rxf4 27.Kg2 Bxd4 28.Be6+ Kh7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more space; the White Bishop is protected by the threat to Black's Rook.

25...Kh7!

Black takes a fair advantage in space.
[font color="red"]25...Rh5!? 26.Bf3! Rxh6 27.Qg2 Rf5 28.Bg4 Rf7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

26.Rf3 e6?!

A better try is to pre-empt a White display of force in in the h-file, where Black has his King and White a passed pawn.
If [font color="red"]26...Rh5 27.Rh3 Rxh6 28.Rxh6+ Kxh6[/font] continues to gives Black a fair advantage.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Krzysztof Bulski[/center][center]Position after 26...e7e6[/center]

27.Bh3

Black again has just a small advantage in space.

27...Rh5 28.Qg2?!

Black's pawn at g6 is far too easily protected for White to make a target of it.
If [font color="red"]28.Kg2 Ne7 29.Rh1 Nf5 30.Bxf5 Rfxf5 31.Rfh3 Qe7[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

28...Ne7!

With that, the pawn is safe.
[font color="red"]28...Rxh6 29.f5 exf5 30.Bxh6 Kxh6 31.Bxf5 Bxd4+ 32.Kh1[/font] is equal.

29.Bg4

If [font color="red"]29.Qe2 Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.Rc1 Rh8 31.Kg2 Nf5 32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Qc2 Qe6[/font] Black will soon take the h-pawn; White has some counterplay in the c-file.
[font color="darkred"]30.Bg4 Rh4 31.Rh3 Rxh3 32.Bxh3 Nf5 33.Qd2 Kxh6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.

29...Rh4 30.Rh3?

White now falls into a hopeless position.
If [font color="red"]30.Bf2 Rxh6 31.Rh3 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.Bh4 Nf5 33.Bxf5 exf5 34.Bg5 Rxh3 35.Qxh3+ Kg8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn; White has a little more space.
[font color="darkred"]32.Rdd3 Nf5 33.Bxf5 Rxf5 34.Rdf3 Qb4 35.Rxh6+ Bxh6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, more activity and more space; White may be able to free a piece for counterplay.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Krzysztof Bulski[/center][center]Position after 30.Rf3h3[/center]

30...Rxh3!

Black wins in all variations.

31.Qxh3

If [font color="red"]31.Bxh3 Nf5 32.Bxf5 exf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]33.Rc1 Re8 34.Qd2 Kxh6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35.Kg2 Bf6 36.Qc3 a5 37.a4 Bd8 38.Kf2 Qe7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and command of attacking lanes.
If [font color="darkred"]35.Qh2+ Kg7 36.Qe2 Kg8 37.Qd3 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]38.Kg2 Bh6 39.Qd2 Re4 40.Kf3 Bf8 41.Rg1 Qe6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and power up the center.
If [font color="magenta"]38.Kf2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]38...Qe7 39.Rh1 Rc8 40.Ke2 Kf7 41.Rh2 b5[/font] ().

If [font color="darkred"]33.Qe2 Kxh6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]34.Qh2+ Kg7 35.Qd2 Kf7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]36.Rc1 Re8 37.Qc3 Re7 38.Kg2 Bf6 39.Qd3 Re4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, more freedom and pressure in the center.
If [font color="magenta"]36.Bf2 Re8 37.Kg2 Re4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]38.Rh1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]38...Bf6 39.Rh7+ Bg7 40.Kf3 Qe6 41.a4 Kg8.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]38.Bg3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]38...Rxd4 39.Qc2 Rxd1 40.Qxd1 Qe6 41.Kg1 Qe3+.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]34.Qc2 Re8 35.Rd3 Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]36.Qc1 Bh4 37.Bd2 Kg7 38.Qc5 Qd7 39.Qc3 Bf6 leaves Black a pawn up with command of critical attacking lanes; the White Queen at c3 doesn't promise any fruitful counterpaly.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]36.Qf2 b5 37.Qd2 b4 38.Kg2 Kg7 39.Bg1 a5[/font] leaves Black a pawn to the good with command of attacking lanes.

31...Nf5 32.Bxf5

If [font color="red"]32.Bd2 Qb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]33.Bxf5 Bxd4+ 34.Kf1 Rxf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35.Kg2 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Re1 e4 37.a3 Rh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Qc8 Kxh6 39.f5+ Kh7 40.Qe6 Qxe6 41.fxe6 Kg7[/font] leaves Black two pawns to the good.
If [font color="burgundy"]38.Qd7+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]38...Kxh6 39.Qe7 Qf6 40.f5+ g5 41.Qd7 Be5.[/font]

If [font color="darkpink"]36.Qg4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkpink"]36...exf4 37.Bxf4 Be3 38.Re1 Bxf4 39.Re7+ Kg8.[/font]

[font color="darkorchid"]35.Ke2 e5 36.Rf1 e4 37.Rc1 a5 leaves Black a pawn to the good with much more active pieces.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]33.Kh1 Qxd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34.Bxf5 Rxf5 35.Qf3 Be5 36.Bc1 Qb4 37.Bd2 Qf8[/font] wins the f-pawn.
[font color="magenta"]34.Rc1 Rf7 35.Qh2 Ne3 36.Bxe3 Qe4+ 37.Qg2 Qxe3[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good once the deadwood f-pawn falls.

32...exf5 33.Qf1

If [font color="red"]33.Kf1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]33...Re8! 34.Rd3 Bf6 35.Qh2 Qe7 36.Qg3 Qe4[/font] ().

33...Re8 34.Qd3

If [font color="red"]34.Qh3 Qe7 35.Kf2 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Rd2 Rc3 37.Qg3 Qe6 38.Ke2 Qe4 39.Qf3 Kxh6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.
[font color="darkred"]36.Re1 Bf6 37.Rc1 Bh4+ 38.Kg1 Rxc1+ 39.Bxc1 Qe1+[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn in minor piece ending.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Krzysztof Bulski[/center][center]Position after 34.Qf1d3[/center]

34...Re4

The pressure in the center leaves White with no satisfactory moves.

35.Rc1

If [font color="red"]35.Qc3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]35...Qe7 36.Rd3 Qh4 37.Bf2 Qxf4[/font]
If [font color="blue"]35.Bd2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="blue"]35...Bxd4+ 36.Kf1 g5 37.Re1 g4 38.Kg2 Kxh6.[/font]

35...Qe7 36.Rc3 Rxe3 0-1

If [font color="red"]37.Qxe3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]37...Qxe3+ 38.Rxe3 Bxd4 39.Kf2 Kxh6.[/font]
Bulski resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

25. Ochsner - I. Sokolov, Round 3

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #11)

Sun Sep 16, 2012, 05:16 PM

Sep 2012

Ivan Sokolov, a Dutch grandmaster by way of Bosnia, won more games in Helsingør than any other competitor. As we have mentioned before, he perhaps the world's foremost expert on the theory of Black's side of the Spanish Grand Royal Game.

In this early-round game, Mh. Sokolov takes risks trying to confound against a lower rated opponent, gets in trouble and nearly loses. But in the end, because he knows his way around the pawn skeleton resulting from this opening, he bouces back when finally presented the opportunity and emerges victorious.

[center][/center]

[center]Ivan Sokolov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Falcongj in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ivan_Sokolov.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1674002
Bjørn Møller Ochsner - Ivan Sokolov
Politiken Cup, Round 3
Helsingør, 29 July 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Arkhangelsk Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3 Be7

For moves and variations up to here, see the [font color="darkred"]maroon notes to Black's fifth move (beginning with 6...Bc5)[/font] in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=187636&mesg_id=187644 Van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

8.Re1

If [font color="red"]8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bd2 d6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.a4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Na5 11.Ba2 b4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzmin-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]16.b4 cxb4 17.Bxb4 Bg4 18.h3 Bh5 19.Re1 Rb8[/font] is equal (Watson-Chiburdanidze, IT, Frunze, 1985).

[font color="darkpink"]14...b3 15.Bxb3 Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Rab1 Qd7 18.Rfe1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more space (A. Zhigalko-van der Wiel, Op, Groningen, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]12.Ne2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ng3 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Planinc, IT, Madrif, 1973).
[font color="magenta"]12...c5 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nf5 Bc8 15.N3h4 Be6[/font] is equal (Topalov-Beliavsky, EU ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.e5 Nd7 15.Re1 Re8 16.Qf3 Nf8 17.Nf5 Ne6 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 Bf8 20.Qg4[/font] gives White some initiative (Gallagher-Lenic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="darkorange"]14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.e5[/font] gives White the initiative and more space (Matulovic-Malich, IT, Sarajevo, 1965).

[font color="magenta"]12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Qd7 15.Re1 Bf6[/font] is equal (Navara-Mikhalchishin, Euro ChT, León, 2001).

[font color="darkorchid"]10.Nd5! Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7[/font] continues to give White the advantage in space (Khairullin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

8...d6 9.a3 Nb8 (N)

If [font color="red"]9...0-0 10.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...g6 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Qf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Bg5 Kg7 17.Qf4 d5 18.Bh6+[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Kovacevic-Vujosevic, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).
[font color="burgundy"]16.c3 dxc3 17.bxc3 c4 18.dxc4 bxc4 19.Ba4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Van Oosterman-Bücker, Corres, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]15...Bf8 16.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Be7!? 17.a4 Kg7 18.Qf4 d5 19.Bh6+[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Kovacevic-Vujosevic, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).
[font color="magenta"]16...Bg7 17.Bd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 h6 20.Bxf6[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[font color="burgundy"]13...Bc8 14.h3 Ne8 15.c3 Bf6 16.cxd4 Bxd4 17.Ne2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Dannevig-Jansson, Norwegian Ch, Sandnes, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Qd7 11.h3 Nd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5 Ne6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Qf3 c5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Nd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.exd5 Nd4 18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Bf4 Bf6 20.Qg3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Fedorchuk-Stern, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Bf4[/font] is equal (D. Mastrovasilios-Stern, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]16.Be3 c4 17.Ba2 Rac8 18.Rad1 Bf8 19.Nd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Shirov-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.f3 Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxd7 Rdxd7 20.Rxe5 h6 21.Be3 Nd5 22.Re1 Re8[/font] draw (Efimenko-Aronian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]17.Be3 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Kf2 h5[/font] draw (Galkin-Aronian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
[font color="purple"]17.Bd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Nf8 19.Rxe7 Qxe7[/font] is equal.

If [font color="magenta"]12.Ne2 Ne6 13.Ng3 Rfe8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14.c3 c5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 d5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]17.e5 Ne4 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]19...Rac8 20.dxc5 N6xc5 21.N5d4 Nxb3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]22.Qxb3 Nc5 23.Qd1 a5 24.Qb1 Ne4 25.Rd1 b4[/font] is equal (Kamsky-Ponomariov, IT, Sofia, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]22.Nxb3 Qd8 23.Qd3 f6 24.exf6 Qxf6 25.Qd4 Qd8[/font] gives Black more space, but the isolated pawn could be a problem (Svidler-Inarkiev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]19...a5 20.Bc2 Rad8 21.dxc5 N6xc5 22.N5d4[/font] is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

[font color="hotpink"]17.dxc5 dxe4 18.Qxd7 Nxd7 19.c6 Bxc6 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Rxe4 Ndc5[/font] (Shirov-Adams, Candidates' ½-final M, Elista, 2007).

[font color="purple"]15.a4 Bf8 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Bc2 g6 19.Ng5 Bg7 20.Bb3 d5 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.exd5[/font] draw (Z. Almasi-Onischuk, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]14.Ng5 c5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.c3 Bd8 17.a4 Bb6[/font] is equal (Leko-Aronian, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008).

10.Nbd2

White has a small advantage in space and mobility.
If [font color="red"]10.Be3 0-0 11.Nc3 c5 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Nd5[/font] also gives Whie a small advantage in space and mobility.

10...c5 11.Nf1 Qc7

If [font color="red"]11...0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.a4 Nc6 13.Bd2 c4 14.dxc4 bxc4 15.Bxc4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space; the square to watch is d5.
[font color="darkred"]12.Ne3 c4 13.Ba2 Nbd7 14.Nf5 Re8 15.Bd2[/font] is equal.

12.Ng3 g6?!

Black keeps White's Knight out of f5 at the cost of weakening the dark squares around the usual castled position.
If [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.Nf5 Bc8 14.N3h4 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Be3 Nc6 16.Qf3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...g6 17.Bh6 Rfb8 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Ne3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="burgundy"]16...Bxb3 17.cxb3 Kh8 18.b4 g6 19.Nxe7 Qxe7 20.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]15.Bg5!? Nc6![/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Qf3 Kh8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.a4 c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.dxc4 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 bxc4 21.Nxe7 Qxe7[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorgange"]17.Rac1 Bd8 18.Bd5 Bxf5 19.Nxf5 Nxd5 20.Bxd8 Raxd8 21.exd5 Ne7[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]16.Re3!? c4 17.Ba2 Ne8! 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Bxe7 Qxe7[/font] is equal.

13.Ba2

If [font color="red"]13.Bh6! Ng4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.Bd2 14...0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Qe2 Nc6 16.a4 Qd7 17.h3 Nf6 18.Bh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]15.Ba2 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.h3 Ngf6 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.c4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]16.Qe2 Rac8 17.Bc3 Ngf6 18.h4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorchid"]14.Qd2 Nxh6 15.Qxh6 Bf8 16.Qh3 Bg7 17.Ne2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Nbd7

White has a small advantage in space.
Also good is [font color="red"]13...h5! 14.h3 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Ne2 0-0 16.Bh6 Rfd8 17.Nc3 c4 18.dxc4 bxc4 19.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]15.Bg5 0-0 16.Ne2 Rfe8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Qd2 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Qg5[/font] is equal.
If [font color="magenta"]17.c4 bxc4 18.Bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18...d5 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.Nc3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]18...Nb6!? 19.Nc3! Nxc4 20.dxc4 Rab8 21.Rb1 Red8 22.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

14.Bh6

White has a small advantage in space.

14...Ng4 15.Bd2

If [font color="red"]15.Bg5 Ngf6 16.h4 h5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Nf1 0-0 18.Ne3 Rfe8 19.Qe2 Nb6 20.Nd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]17.Qd2 0-0 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.Nf5 d5 20.Rad1[/font] gives White a small advantage with more aggressive pieces.

15...h5?!

Black has not yet committed to castling. This would appear to put his King in a diffcult spont no matter on which side it castles, or if it remains in the center.
[font color="red"]15...0-0 16.Qe2 Ngf6 17.Rad1 Rac8 18.h4 c4 19.Bh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 15...h7h5[/center]

16.h3!

White has a comfortable after the Knight retreats.

16...Nh6?!

Objectively better is to retreat to f6.
[font color="red"]16...Ngf6 17.Ne2 0-0 18.Bh6 Rfc8 19.Nc3 Nb6 20.Qe2[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

17.Qe2! Rc8 18.Rac1!?

White obviously intends to push the c-pawn forward.
[font color="red"]18.Nf1! c4 19.dxc4 bxc4 20.Rad1 Ng8 21.Ne3 Ngf6[/font] gives White the advantage because he can take the pawn on c4 more easily than Black can take on e4.
[font color="blue"]18.c4 Nb6 19.Rac1 bxc4 20.dxc4 Ng8 21.b4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
If [font color="#008000"]18.Be3!?[/font] then:

[font color="#008000"]18...Ng8! 19.a4 Ngf6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bg5 c4 22.d4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="#4CC417"]18...c4!?[/font] then:

[font color="#4CC417"]19.dxc4 bxc4 20.Nd2 h4 21.Ngf1 Nf6 22.Rad1[/font] gives White a strong initiative
[font color="forestgreen"]19.Rad1 Ng8 20.Bg5 Ngf6 21.Qe3 0-0 22.Bh6[/font] gives White a fair game.

18...Nf8

If [font color="red"]18...c4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.dxc4 bxc4 20.Nf1 Nf6 21.Bxh6 Rxh6 22.N1d2 Kf8 23.Bxc4[/font] gives White a comfortable game with an extra pawn and more space.
[font color="darkred"]19.Nf1 f5 20.Bxh6 Rxh6 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Ng3 f4 23.Nf5[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

19.b4 c4 20.dxc4!?

If [font color="red"]20.Bc3! h4 21.Nf1 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.dxc4 Nf4 23.Qd1 0-0 24.Bd2 bxc4 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.N1d2[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game with a threat to win a pawn at c4 and stronger pawns overall.
If [font color="darkred"]22.Qd1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]22...Ng8! 23.N1d2 Nf6 24.dxc4 bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Re3 Bf8 26.Nxc4 Nxe4 27.Bb2 Rh5 28.Qd3 Nf4[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkorange"]25.Rb1 Rh5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]26.Qe2 26...Nf4 27.Qf1 Kf8 28.a4 Nd7[/font] is equal.
[font color="people"]26.a4!? Kf8 27.a5 Nf4! 28.b5 axb5 29.Rxb5 Ba6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

[font color="magenta"]22...Nf4 23.dxc4[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main line.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 20.dc4:p[/center]

20...bxc4!

White still has a small advantage in space.

21.Bxh6

If [font color="red"]21.Bc3 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.Rcd1 Ng8 23.Bd2 h4 24.Nf1 Kf8 25.Ne3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]22.Nd2!? Nb6! 23.Rcd1 0-0 24.Nf3 f5 25.Qd2 Nf7[/font] is equal.

21...Rxh6 22.Qe3

[font color="red"]22.Nd2 h4 23.Qe3 Rh8 24.Ngf1 c3 25.Nc4[/font] continues to give White a small adavantage; Black's pawn at c3 is deadwood.

22...Rh8 23.Nd2 h4

The Kinght is serving no special role for White and would probably be redeployed anyway.
If [font color="red"]23...Ne6 24.Nxc4 Bc6 25.Qb6 Bb5 26.Qxc7 Rxc7 27.Ne3[/font] gives White an extra pawn against a small advantage in space for Black.

24.Ngf1

This is somewhat pedestrian.
A faster way to make use of the Knight is [font color="red"]24.Ne2![/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...a5 25.Bxc4 Ne6 26.bxa5 Qxa5 27.Red1 Kf8 28.Bxe6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns; Black has a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]24...Ne6 25.Nxc4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25...Kf8 26.Rcd1 Kg7 27.Na5 Ba8 28.Bc4 Rb8 29.Bd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a significant advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]25...d5? 26.exd5! Bxd5 27.Nb6 Bxa2 28.Nxc8 Qxc8 29.c4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, the initiative and the advantage in space.

24...f5?

Black weakens his King psoition.
[font color="red"]24...c3 25.Nc4 Ne6 26.Qxc3 Rh5 27.Qb3 Kf8 28.Na5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 24...f7f5[/center]

25.Bxc4!

White has an extra pawn and a substantial advantage in space.

25...Bxe4 26.Bxa6 Bxg2

If [font color="red"]26...Bb7 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.Qb3 Nd7 29.Ne3 Kf8 30.Rcd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a safer King.

27.Bxc8 Ba8 28.Ba6?!

The Bishop is unimportant. White could win by kicking in Black's center.
If [font color="red"]28.f4 Rh5 29.Ba6 Qc6 30.Nf3 Qxa6 31.N1d2[/font] gives White a strong initiative; Black must scramble to prevent his center from being ripped apart.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 28.Bc8a6[/center]

28...Qc6!

White is no longer in possession of a winning advantage.

29.f3 Qxa6! 30.c4 Nd7 31.a4?!

The pawn is just loose here.
If [font color="red"]31.Qb3 Kf7 32.Ne3 Kg7 33.Kh1 Nf6 34.c5[/font] gives White a strong game with his queenside passers.

31...Rh5?!

White should now improve his advantage in space.
Correct is is [font color="red"]31...Qxa4! 32.Ra1 Qc6 33.Qf2 Bd8 34.Ne3 Bb7 35.Kh1[/font] when White still has a slight advantage.

32.b5!?

White advantaced the center pawn and leaves the a-pawn unguarded
If [font color="red"]32.a5![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]32...Kf7 33.Re2 d5 34.Qb3 e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...Nf6 36.Ne3 d4 37.c5+ Kg7 38.b5[/font] gives White a significant advantage from three passed connected pawns.
[font color="darkorange"]35...g5 36.cxd5 Qxe2 37.d6+ Kf6 38.dxe7 Kxe7 39.Qg8[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]35.Rg2 f4 36.c5 e3 37.Nxe3 fxe3 38.Qxe3[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkred"]32...Rg5+?! 33.Kh2! f4 34.Qf2 Kf7 35.Ne4 Bxe4 36.Rxe4[/font] gives White a significant advantage from is mobile queenside pawns.

If [font color="blue"]32.Kh1!? Rg5 33.a5[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]33...Kf7! 34.b5 Qc8 35.Qa7 e4 36.fxe4 fxe4 37.Kh2[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkblue"]33...Qb7!?[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]34.Qb3! Qa7 35.c5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]35...Kf8 36.Qe6 dxc5 37.Re3 Qc7 38.bxc5 f4 39.Rb3[/font] gives White the means to drive Black off the board.
If [font color="darkcyan"]35...e4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkcyan"]36.Re3! dxc5 37.f4 Rh5 38.bxc5 Kf8 39.c6[/font]

[font color="dodgerblue"]34.Rb1 f4 35.Qe2 Qc8 36.Kh2 Nf6 37.Ne4[/font] gives White a comfortable game with connected passers on the queenside, the initiative and more freedom on the kindgide.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 32.b4b5[/center]

32...Qc8!

The game is equal.

33.c5

[font color="red"]33.Qc3 Nc5 34.Ne3 Nxa4 35.Qc2 Rg5+ 36.Kh2 Nb6[/font] is equal.
[font color="blue"]33.a5 Nc5 34.Qc3 Bf6 35.Ne3 Rg5+ 36.Kf1 Rg3[/font] is equal.

33...Rg5+ 34.Kh2 dxc5!?

This is the wrong way to recaputure. While Black blocks the c-file, he opens the d-file.
[font color="red"]34...Nxc5 35.Rc4 Rh5 36.a5 Qb8 37.b6 Bb7[/font] remains equal.

35.Nc4!

White has more freedom. Black's dark bound Bishop must defend d6 from a Knight fork.

35...Qb7 36.Rc3 e4?

Black gives the central dark squares to White.
If [font color="red"]36...Qb8 37.Kh1 e4 38.f4 Rh5[/font] remains equal.

37.f4! Qb8

This is too late now. The horses have already left the barn.
If [font color="red"]37...Rh5 38.Rd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...g5 39.Nd6+ Bxd6 40.Rxd6 Qc7 41.Qd2 Ke7 42.Ne3[/font] gives Black only a pawn for the exchange.
If [font color="darkred"]38...Kf8 39.Qf2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...g5 40.Nfe3 Qc7 41.Nxf5 gxf4 42.Ncd6 f3 43.b6[/font] leaves White up by the exchange.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Qc7? 40.a5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]40...Bf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]41.b6 Qc6 42.Rd6 e3 43.Rxc6 exf2 44.Rc8+.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]40...g5 41.b6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]41...Qc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]42.Nfe3 Qe6 43.Qd2 Bc6 44.Qxd7 Bxd7 45.b7.[/font]
[font color="purple"]41...Qc8[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]42.Nfe3 Nf6 43.Nd6 Bxd6 44.Rxd6 Ne8 45.Rg6.[/font]

38.Kh1?!

This is how close White came to defeating one of the world's most respected grandmasters.
If [font color="red"]38.Rd1! Rh5 39.Qd2 Kf8 40.Kg1 e3 41.Qxe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]41...Qb7 42.Kf2 Bf6 43.Rxd7 Qxd7 44.Qxc5+ Qe7 45.Ne5[/font] wins as 45...Qxc5 is met by 46.Kd7+ and 45...Bxe5 is refuted by 46.fxe5 Qxc5 47.Rxc5 Ke7 48.b6! Rh8 49.b7!! winning the light-bound Bishop.
If [font color="darkred"]41...Qc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]42.Rcd3.[/font]

38...Rh5!

The game is agains equal.

39.Rd1?!

This is possibly the result of time trouble near the forty-move time check.
[font color="red"]39.b6 g5 40.Qe2 Nf6 41.Rb3 e3+ 42.b7 Bxb7+[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 39.Re1d1[/center]

39...g5!

Black gains connected passed pawns, balancing White's advantage on the opposite wing, and freedom for his pieces on the kingside.

40.Qe2

White attacks the hanging Rook. This is good enough to avert loos for now.
If [font color="red"]40.fxg5?[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]40...f4!![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]41.Rxd7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]41...fxe3 42.Rxe7+ Kxe7 43.Ncxe3 Rxg5 44.Ng4 Rd5.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]41.Qe2 e3+ 42.Kg1 Rxg5+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]43.Qg4 Ne5 44.Nd6+ Bxd6 45.Qxg5 Nf3+[/font] wins the Queen.
[font color="magenta"]43.Kh2 f3+ 44.Nd6+ Bxd6+ 45.Ng3 Bxg3+ 46.Kg1 Bf2+ 47.Kf1 Rg1#.[/font]

[font color="darkred"]40...Bxg5? 41.Qe2 Rh6 42.Nfe3 Qg3 43.Nd5 e3 44.Ncxe3[/font] gives White a small advantage.
[font color="magenta"]40...Rxg5?! 41.Nd6+ Kf8 42.Rc2 Rh5 43.Rg2 Bxd6[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage.

40...Nf6 41.Ne5

White seeks safety for the Knight in a forward position.
If [font color="red"]41.Nfe3? gxf4 42.Qg2 Kf8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.Qg6 Qe8 44.Qxe8+ Kxe8 45.Nb6 fxe3 46.Nxa8 f4[/font] gives Black a Bishop and two pawns for a Rook. Black's unchecked mass of advanced passed pawns is particularly dangerous.
If [font color="darkred"]43.Rg1? fxe3! 44.Qg7+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]44...Ke8 45.Qg6+ Kd7 46.Rd1+ Ke6 47.Nxe3 f4.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]44.a5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]44...f4 45.Nb6 Kf7 46.Nd7 Qe8!! 47.Qg6+ Ke6 48.Qxe8 Nxe8.[/font]

41...gxf4 42.Nc6 Qc7 43.Rdc1?

Doubling Rooks doesn't help White; it just relinquishes control of the d-file.
If [font color="red"]43.Qg2! Kf8 44.Rdc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]44...Bd6 45.a5 Bxc6 46.Qg6 Qf7 47.Qxf7+ Kxf7 48.bxc6[/font] leaves Black with two minor pieces and two extra pawns against a Rook.
[font color="darkred"]44...Bxc6?! 45.Rxc5!! Bxc5 46.Rxc5 f3 47.Qb2[/font] is equal.

43...f3!

This is sufficient to nail down the victory.
Black als wins after [font color="red"]43...Rg5! 44.Qc4 e3 45.Qe6 Ne4 46.R3c2 Qd7.[/font]

44.Qa2

No matter what he does with the Queen, White loses.
If [font color="red"]44.Qh2 Qxh2+ 45.Kxh2 Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]46.R3c2 Bd6+ 47.Kh1 Kd7 48.Na5 Nb4 49.Rd2 f2[/font] threatens 50...e3#.
If [font color="darkred"]46.Nxe7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]46...Nxc3 47.Rxc3 Kxe7 48.Rxc5 Rg5 49.Ne3 Ke6.[/font]

If [font color="blue"]44.Qf2 f4 45.Nxe7 Qxe7[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]46.Ne3[/font] (blocking the advance of the pawns) [font color="blue"]46...fxe3 47.Rxe3 Kf7 48.Rd1 Qe6 49.Rg1 Nd5[/font] forces White to give way before the pawns.
If [font color="darkblue"]46.Rxc5 Rxc5 47.Qxc5 Qxc5 48.Rxc5 e3![/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]49.Re5+ Kd7 50.Rxe3 fxe3 51.Nxe3 f2+[/font] leaves Black a piece to the good.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]49.Rc8+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="dodgerblue"]49...Kd7 50.Rxa8 e2 51.Kg1 e1Q.[/font]

If [font color="#008000"]44.Qb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="#008000"]44...f4 45.Nh2 Bxc6 46.bxc6 Qxc6 47.Qb5 Kd7.[/font]

44...f4 45.Qe6 Bxc6!?

Black falls into a tempting exchange that leaves him fighting for his victory.
If [font color="red"]45...Qd7![/font] then Black wins easily after [font color="red"]46.Qxd7+ Kxd7 47.Rxc5 Rxc5 48.Rd1+ Bd6.[/font]

46.Rxc5?

White fails to find the best move.
If [font color="red"]46.Qxc6+! Qxc6 47.bxc6 Kd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]48.a5[/font] then Black has no immediate win after [font color="red"]48...Kc7 49.a6 Rh8 50.Rc4 Bd6 51.Ra4 e3.[/font]
[font color="darkred"]48.Rb3 e3 49.Rb8+ Kc7 50.Rb7+ Kxc6 51.Rxe7 e2[/font] gives Black only three pawns for a Rook, but just look at them!

[center]BLACK: Ivan Sokolov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bjørn Møller Ochsner[/center][center]Position after 46.Rc3c5:p[/center]

46...Bd5!

Black wins easily.
Even stronger is [font color="red"]46...Rxc5! 47.Rxc5 Bd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]48.Rxd5 Qc1 49.Rg5 Qxf1+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]50.Rg1 Qe2[/font] then [font color="red"]51.Rg7[/font] gives White a last fire in Black's position which Black extinguishes with
[font color="red"]51...Qe1+ 52.Kh2 Qf2+ 53.Kh1 Qc5.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]50.Kh2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]50...Qe2+ 51.Kh1 f2 52.Rg8+ Nxg8 53.Qxg8+ Kd7.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]48.Rxc7[/font] then Black wins quickly after [font color="darkred"]48...Bxe6 49.b6 Bd6 50.Rc6 Kd7 51.Rxd6+ Kxd6[/font] when Black is a piece to the good and and the King has time to stop White's pawns.

47.Qxf6

White self-destructs, but all moves lose.
If [font color="red"]47.Rxc7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]47...Bxe6 48.b6 Bd5 49.b7 Bxb7 50.Rxb7.[/font]

47...Bxf6 48.Rxc7 e3

Not as strong, but still strong enough, is [font color="red"]48...f2 49.R7c5 e3+ 50.Rxd5 e2.[/font]

49.Kh2 f2 50.R7c2 Rg5 51.Nd2 Rg2+ 52.Kh1 Rg1+

Stronger is [font color="red"]52...e2 53.Rc8+ Bd8 54.Rb1 e1Q+ 55.Nf1 Rg1+ 56.Kh2 Rh1#.[/font]

53.Kh2 exd2 0-1

If [font color="red"]54.Rc8+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]54...Bd8 55.Rxd8+ Kxd8 56.Rxg1 fxg1Q+ 57.Kxg1 d1Q+.[/font]
Bjørn Møller resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

12. British Championships, North Shields, Northumberland

Tue Sep 4, 2012, 03:20 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]North Shields Fish Quay[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Les Hull in Geograph.org.uk
(Creative Commons License, Arrtibution/Share Alkike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

14. Ledger - Jones, Round 11

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Tue Sep 4, 2012, 03:25 AM

Sep 2012

With this victory, Gawain Jones earned the right to meet Stephen Gordon in a playoff for first place, which Mr. Jones won.

[center][/center]

[center]Gawain Jones[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jones_rd6_4thEUIO.JPG)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

David Ledger - Gawain Jones
British Championships, Round 11
North Shields, Northumberland, 4 August 2012

Open Sicilian Rat Game: Dragon Defense (Yugoslav Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rb8 11.Bb3 Na5 12.h4

For moves and variations up to here, see Sjugirov-Timofeev, Russian Ch HL, Taganrog, 2011.
If [font color="red"]12.Bh6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.g4 14...Nxb3+ 15.Nxb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Rb6 18.Rhe1 e5 19.dxe6 fxe6[/font] gives Black a backward pawn to target (Domínguez Pérez-Carlsen, IT, Linares, 2009).
[font color="darkpink"]17...Ba4 18.Nd4 Qa5 19.h4 Rfc8 20.Kb1 Qxd5 21.b3 Bd7[/font] is equal (Kritz-Jianu, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]17...Qc7 18.h4 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.h5 Rfc8 21.Rh2 Bxb3 22.axb3 Rb6[/font] is equal (Anuprita-Premnath, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

[font color="darkred"]14.h4 e5 15.Nde2 b4 16.Nd5 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Rb6 19.h5 g5 20.f4 Bg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Nd4 gxf4 22.g3 fxg3 23.Rg1? Qh4 24.Kb1 f6 25.Ne6[/font] gives Black two extra pawns (Zambrana-Zhao Zong Yuan, IT, São Paulo, 2008).

If [font color="magenta"]21.fxe5 Bxe2 22.exd6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]22...Rb5!? 23.Re1![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]23...Re8 24.d7 Re5 25.Qc6 Rbxd5 26.exd5 Re7 27.Rxe2[/font] wins for White.(Gwaze-P. Littlewood, IT, Coventry, 2005).
[font color="purple"]23...Rxd5 24.exd5 Re8 25.d7[/font] gives White a strong position for the piece; Black has no room for error (Haldane-Snape, Corres, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]22...f6 23.e5 Rb5 24.Rxb5 Bxb5 25.Rd1 fxe5[/font] leaves Black with a Bishop for a pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]12...b5 13.h4 Nc4 14.Qg5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Kh8 16.Qg5 Rc8 17.h5 gxh5 18.Qh4[/font] is equal (Gutsche-de Blasio, Corres, 2002).

If [font color="magenta"]14...Nh5?! 15.Bxg7![/font] (White has a comfortable game) [font color="magenta"]15...Kxg7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Bxc4! bxc4 17.g4 h6 18.Qe3 Nf6 19.e5[/font] gives White more activity and an impressive advantage in space (Sandipan-Tan, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
If [font color="darkorange"]16.Kb1?! h6! 17.Qc1 Ng3 18.Rhe1[/font] then:

[font color="darkrorange"]18...a5?! 19.Ndxb5! Bxb5 20.Nxb5 Rxb5 21.Bxc4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Land-Ong, Texas Ch, Houston, 2006).
[font color="purple"]18...Qa5 19.Nd5 e6 20.Ne3 e5 21.Ne2 Nxe2 22.Rxe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

12...b5 13.h5

If [font color="red"]13.Kb1 Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.Ka1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Qb6 16.Rb1 Qa6 17.Bh6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17...Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qa5 19.h5 Rb6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.g4[/font] is equal (Villaba-Urtnasan, World Youth BU16, Porto Carras, 2010).
If [font color="darkred"]17...e5 18.Nde2 Be6 19.h5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19...Rb6 20.g4 Qb7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]22.Ng3 Rb8 23.Qc1 Kf8 24.Qg5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Ter Shahakyan-Dvirnyy, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010).
If [font color="magenta"]22.Nd4!![/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]22...exd4[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]23.Qxd4 h6 24.g5 hxg5 25.h6+ Kh7 26.Qxf6 (Rybka 4).[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]22...Re8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Nxe6+ Rxe6 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.g5.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]19...Bxh6 20.Qxh6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]20...Qb7 21.g4 Rfe8 22.Ng3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]22...Qe7 23.Nf5!! gxf5 24.gxf5 Kh8 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.Rhd1[/font] gives White pressure on the kingside, but Black has defended well and has counterplay in the center.
If [font color="purple"]22...Red8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]23.Nf5!! Ne8 24.f4 Rd7 25.Nh4.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]20...Qa5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]21.g4 Qc7 22.g5 Ne8 23.f4 Qd7 24.Rbf1.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]15...h5 16.g4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16...hxg4 17.h5 Nxh5 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Rdg1 Qd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]20.Rh4 f5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bh6 e5 23.Nxf5 Qxf5 24.a3!?[/font] is equal (Kanarek-Can, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010). 24.Bxg7 gives White a small advantage.
If [font color="magenta"]20.Bh6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...Qb7 21.b3 Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Qb4 23.Nd5[/font] leaves Black in a mating net and he resigns (Henry-Nicholson, Op, Toronto, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]20...Be5! 21.Rh4 Qb7 22.Rb1 Qc8 23.Bxf8 Kxf8 24.Nd5[/font] is equal.

If [font color="magenta"]16...Qb6 17.Rb1 Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18.gxh5!? Nxh5 19.Rhg1 Rfc8 20.f4 e5[/font] is equal (Piorun-Barski, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010).
[font color="darkorange"]18.g5 Ne8 19.Rhd1 Kh7 20.Nde2 Nc7 21.Bd4[/font] is equal.

13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.hxg6

[font color="red"]15.g4 Qb6 16.Rdg1 Qxb2+ 17.Kd1 Bxg4 18.fxg4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kulkami-Abhilash, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).

15...fxg6 16.Bh6 Qb6 17.b3 cxb3 (N)

[font color="red"]17...Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Rf7 19.Nde2 Qb4 20.Qe3 a5[/font] is equal (Sánchez-Oliver, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

[center]BLACK: Gawain Jones[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: David Ledger[/center][center]Position after 17...cb3:p[/center]

18.axb3

The game is equal.

18...Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Rf7 20.Qg5!?

White wants to exploit the weaknesses in Black's kingside, but this requires that he neglect his own weaknesses.
[font color="red"]20.Rd3 e5 21.Nde2 Qb4 22.Rhd1 Rb6[/font] remains equal.

20...Rc8!

Black immediately jumps on White's hanging Knight.

21.Nd5?!

White allows Black to extablish a piece presence in the center.
Better is [font color="red"]21.Nde2 a5 22.Rd3 Qb4 23.Kd1 Qa3 24.Qc1[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Gawain Jones[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: David Ledger[/center][center]Position after 21.Nc3d5[/center]

21...Nxd5!

Black opens up the center, resulting in augmented strength on the queenside.

22.exd5 Qa5!?

This would make more sense if White only had one Rook on the back rank, but as it is it only wastes a tempo.
[font color="red"]22...Qc5![/font] (striking at c2) [font color="red"]23.Kb2 a5 24.g4 a4 25.Qe3 Kh8[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.

23.Kb2!

Black now has only a small advantage.

23...e5?!

Black neglects White's counterplay on the queenside.
If [font color="red"]23...Qc5 24.g4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Qc3+ 25.Kb1 Rc5 26.Rd3 Qa5 27.c4 e6[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]24...a5 25.Qe3 a4 26.Rd3 axb3 27.cxb3 Ra8[/font] is equal.

24.Ne2?!

White also neglects his counterplay on the queensice.
If [font color="red"]24.Nc6! Bxc6 25.Rxh7 Kxh7 26.Rh1+ Kg7 27.Qh6+ Kf6[/font] is equal.

24...Bf5! 25.Rd2

[font color="red"]25.c3 Rb7 26.Rh4 Qc5 27.Qd2 Qf2 28.Ra4 Qxg2[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

25...Rb7?!

This move is inaccurate. Black should put all the pressure he can on White's weakness at c2.
[font color="red"]25...Qc5! 26.Rc1 a5 27.g4 Bd7 28.Rd3 a4 29.Qe3 Qb4[/font] continues to give Black a dangerous a-pawn and a substantial advantage in space.

26.Ra1?

White allows Black to correct his mistake from the last move.
If [font color="red"]26.Qe3! Rc5 27.Rh4 Qd8 28.g3 Qc8 29.c3 Qb8[/font] gives Black pressure on b3 and only a small advantage in space; White has serious hopes of saving the game.

[center]BLACK: Gawain Jones[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: David Ledger[/center][center]Position after 26.Rh1a1[/center]

26...Qc5!

Black piles up on c2.

27.Rc1

Nothing will save c2. The time would be better spent, if therre were more time.
If [font color="red"]27.Ra3 Bxc2 28.Qf6 Rbc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29.Qh4 Rb8 30.Qa4 Qe3 31.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 32.Kxc2 Qxe2+[/font] leaves Black a Rook to the good.
[font color="darkred"]29.Qe6+ Kg7 30.Qh3 Qb4 31.Qxc8 Rxc8 32.Rxa7+ Kf8[/font] leaves Black with a Queen for a Rook.

If [font color="blue"]27.c4 Rxb3+[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]28.Kc1 Qa3+[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]29.Kd1 Qxa1+ 30.Nc1 Qxc1+[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]31.Ke2 Rb1 32.Qxf5 Qe1+ 33.Kd3 Rb3+ 34.Kc2 Qb1#.[/font]
[font color="#40C0FF"]31.Kxc1 Rb1#.[/font]

[font color="darkcyan"]29.Rxa3 Rb1#.[/font]

If [font color="darkblue"]28.Kxb3 Rb8+[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]29.Ka4 29...Qb4#.[/font]
[font color="dodgerblue"]29.Kc3 Qb4#.[/font]

27...Kg7

Black wins after [font color="red"]27...Rb6 28.Qxf5 gxf5 29.Rcd1 Ra6 30.c4 Qa3+.[/font]

28.g4

White might hold out longer after [font color="red"]28.Rdd1 Bxc2 29.Rd3 Qb5 30.Re3 h6.[/font]

28...h6 29.Qh4

[center]BLACK: Gawain Jones[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: David Ledger[/center][center]Position after 29.Qg5h4[/center]

29...Bxc2!!

The piece sacrifice is the icing on the cake.

30.Rcxc2

If [font color="red"]30.Qe7+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]30...Rxe7 31.Rdxc2 Qe3 32.Rxc8 Qxe2+.[/font]

30...Rxb3+ 31.Kc1

If [font color="red"]31.Ka1[/font] then [font color="red"]31...Qa3+ 32.Ra2 Qc1+ 33.Nxc1 Rxc1#.[/font]

31...Qa3+!

This is the quicket way home.

32.Kd1 Rb1+ 33.Nc1 Qxf3+ 34.Re2 Qd3+ 0-1

White must hemorhage material.
Mr. Ledger resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

26. Gordon - Roe, Round 2

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Sun Sep 16, 2012, 05:29 PM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Steve Gordon[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gordon_rd7_4thEUIO.JPG)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Steve Gordon - Simon Roe
British Championships, Round 2
North Shields, Northumberland, 24 July 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Swedish Variation) (Tarrasch Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 c4

This is the Swedish Variation of the Normal Defense, more frequently called the Tarrasch Defense. For the Main Line, see the [font color="darkred"]maroon notes[/font] to Black's fourth move (the game [font color="darkred"]Kasparov-Illescas[/font] and related lines) in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=173961&mesg_id=173982 Vachier Lagrave-Salgado López, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

7.0-0 Bb4 8.b3

If [font color="red"]8.Nc3 Nge7 9.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...dxe4 10.Nxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.a3 Ba5 12.Qa4 Bb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Qxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Nxd4?! 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Qe2! Qd7 16.Rd1 Qe6 17.Rd6[/font] gives White a muscular game (Gligoric-Kostic, Yugoslav Ch, Ljubljana, 1947).
[font color="burgundy"]13...Be6 14.Qd3 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxd4 17.Nd6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkpink"]13.Be3 Be6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Nd5 16.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Korchnoi-O. Rodríguez, IT, Salamanca, 1991).

If [font color="darkred"]11.Qc2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Bf5 12.Nh4 Rc8 13.Nf6+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Kh8 14.Nxf5 Nxf5 15.Qxf5 Qxf6 16.Qxf6 gxf6 17.Be3[/font] gives Black greater activity; Black will not be able to hold his extra pawn (Lautier-O. Rodríguez, IT, Barcelona, 1992).
[font color="darkorange"]13...gxf6? 14.Nxf5 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Ba6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns.

[font color="magenta"]11...Bg4 12.Qxc4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Qxd4 14.Qxd4 Nxd4 15.Bg2[/font] is equal (Thi Thanh An Nguyen-Zhukova, World ChTW, Mardin, Turkey, 2011).

[font color="burgundy"]10...Bf5 11.Ne5 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nxd4 13.a3 Bxe4 14.Bxe4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Nimzovich-Stoltz, IT, Stockholm, 1934).

If [font color="darkred"]9...0-0 10.exd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.d5[/font] gives White stronger pawns, more pressure in the center and more freedom; Black has a slight edge in space (Tukmakov-Lputian, Rpd, Tilburg, 1994).
If [font color="magenta"]13.a3 Ba5 14.Ne5 Qb5 15.a4 Qa6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Rfc1 Rab8 19.Bf1[/font] gives White more activity (Timoshchenko-Tseitlin, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
[font color="darkorange"]16.Ng4 Bd8 17.Bf4 Nb4 18.Bd2 Nc6 19.d5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Stocek-Bazant, Czech Championship, Olomouc, 1995).

If [font color="magenta"]11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.a3 Ba5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.Nxc6 15...bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Bf4 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Be6 19.Bf1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Igla-Bertrand, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Qh5 Be6 17.Ra3 Rad8 18.g4 g6 19.Qe5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Gligoric-Furman, TM, Leningrad, 1957).

If [font color="darkorange"]15.Be3 Be6 16.Qh5 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Bd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]18.Nd7?! Rxd7 19.Bxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]19...Rfd8!? 20.Be4 g6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Lautier-Conquest, IT, Clichy, 2001).
[font color="purple"]19...g6 20.Qf3 Nb4 21.Be4 f5 22.Bb1 Re8[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.

[font color="hotpink"]18.Bxd5 Rxd5 19.Qf3 Rd6 20.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkpink"]13.Ng5?! Qxd4! 14.Qa4 Bd8 15.Rd1 Qe5 16.Bf4[/font] gives White only a slight advantage (Szabo-Bronstein, Candidates' Trmt, Amsterdam, 1956).

8...cxb3 9.Qxb3 Nge7 10.Ba3

If [font color="red"]10.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...0-0 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.e3 Be6 13.a3 Be7 14.Qxb7[/font] is equal (Sousa Mendes-Stahlberg, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).
[font color="darkred"]10...Qb6 11.Nd3 Bd6 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Nc3 Nxd4 14.Bf4[/font] gives White the initiative (Avrukh-Kiik, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

10...Bxa3

If [font color="red"]10...a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Nc3 0-0 12.Rfc1 Bf5 13.e3 a4 14.Qb2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Przezdziecka-Zhukova, Euro ChW, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).
If [font color="darkred"]11.Bxb4 axb4 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.a3 Qa5 14.Ra2[/font] gives Black more space and White stronger pawns (Baburin-Juarez Flores, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

11.Qxa3 0-0 12.Nbd2 (N)

[font color="red"]12.Nc3 Bf5 13.Rfd1 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Rac1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Antoshin-Mikenas, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1970).

12...Be6 13.Nb3!?

The game is equal.
[font color="red"]13.e3 Rc8 14.Rfc1 Qa5 15.Qb2 b6 16.Ne5[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

13...b6!

The game is equal.

14.Rfc1 f6 15.Ne1 a5!?

Black looks for space on the queenside, but he should imporve his minor pieces first.
[font color="red"]15...Qd7[/font] (covering the otherwise unguarded Bishop) [font color="red"]16.Nd3 Bf5 17.Rc3 a5 18.Rac1 Kf7[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Simon Roe[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Steve Gordon[/center][center]Position after 15...a7a5[/center]

16.e3!

White has a small advantage in space; the text move allows the Knight to move from b3..

16...Nb4!?

Black opens the c-file to White's Rook. It is difficult to see what Black expects in compensation.
Better is [font color="red"]16...Qd7[/font] (reinforcing the minor pieces tasked ith keeping lines closed) [font color="red"]17.Nd2 Rfc8 18.Nd3 Bf5 19.Bf1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

17.Qb2!

White has a comfortable game with command of the open file and stronger pawns.

17...Qd6 18.Bf1!?

White takes pressure off of Black's isolated central pawn.
[font color="red"]18.a3 Nbc6 19.Nd2 Rab8 20.Nd3 g5 21.Nb1[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

18...Bf5!

White has a small advantage in space.

19.Nd2 Rab8!?

Black uses the wrong Rook.
If [font color="red"]19...Rfb8[/font] (now White has Rooks behind both pawns) [font color="red"]20.a3 Na6 21.Bd3 Ra7 22.Qb1 Bxd3 23.Nxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Simon Roe[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Steve Gordon[/center][center]Position after 19...Ra8b8[/center]

20.Nb1!

White has a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="red"]20.Qb3!? Nbc6! 21.Nd3 g5 22.a3 Rfc8 23.Nb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

20...Rfc8 21.Nc3 Kh8 22.a3

White has a comfortable game.
If [font color="red"]22.Qb3 Nbc6 23.Nd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...g5 24.a3 Kg7 25.Be2 Nd8 26.g4 Bg6 27.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage with the threat of 28.Nb5.
If [font color="darkred"]23...Be4 24.a3 g5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Be2 Kg7 26.Nb2 Bg6 27.Bf3 Bf7 28.Nba4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
[font color="magenta"]25.Nb2 Bf3 26.Nba4 Qe6 27.Bg2[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

22...Nbc6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.Qe2

[font color="red"]24.Be2 Rdc8 25.Qb5 Qd7 26.Qb3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

24...Na7 25.Nd3!?

White's plan seems to involve bringing a Rook to b1 (the text move blocks the diagonal from the Black Bishop) in order to put more pressure on the b5 square to keep the Black pawn from advancing.
If [font color="red"]25.h4 Nac6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26.Nd3 Qd7 27.Bb5 Rbc8 28.Nf4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]26.Bb5!? Na7![/font] (preparing to drive back the Bishop) [font color="darkred"]27.Ba4 Rdc8 28.Nd3 b5 29.Bb3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Simon Roe[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Steve Gordon[/center][center]Position after 25.Ne1d3[/center]

25...b5!

Black simply gets this move in before Whit can put more pressure on the b-file.

26.Nc5

The Bishop cannot move from a6. This is the only way to keep it on the board.

26...Qb6?!

Black want to prevent the Bishop from breaking out with 27.Bxb5, which is now possible thanks to White's last move that attacks b5 a third time with the Queen.
If [font color="red"]26...Qc6 27.Nd1 Rb6 28.a4 Rxa6 29.Nxa6 Qxa6 30.Rc5[/font] gives White only a small advantage in space.

27.Ra2!

White threatens to put the Rook on a2; Black has no more pieces to defend the pawn.

27...b4

Black is forced to let the Bishop out in order to save the pawn.

28.axb4 axb4 29.N3a4

White has a comfortable game with stronger pawns and a fair advantage in space.

29...Qc6 30.Nb3?!

The Knight is at a good post and should remain there in order to keep the c-file closed to Black's heavy pieces.
If [font color="red"]30.Qd2 Qd6 31.Rb2 Kg8 32.Rxb4 Rxb4 33.Qxb4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

30...Qd6!?

Black attacks the Bishop; the Bishop has no square to move where it would not be under attack.
[font color="red"]30...Qe8! 31.Nac5 Nb5 32.Bxb5 Qxb5 33.Qxb5 Rxb5 34.f3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.

31.Nac5!

White preserves the Bishop at a6 and takes a significant advantage.

31...Qb6 32.Qf3 Nb5?

Black had better moves here, but none that could offer any prolonged hope.
If [font color="red"]32...Nac6! 33.Rca1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]33...Ra8 34.Bb7 Rxa2 35.Rxa2 Bc8 36.Bxc8 Rxc8 37.Qe2[/font] continues to give White active Rook that has a6 available for its use.
[font color="darkred"]33...Qc7 34.Bd3! Bxd3 35.Nxd3 Qd6 36.Qd1 Rb5 37.Nbc5[/font] gives White complte command of the a-file

[center]BLACK: Simon Roe[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Steve Gordon[/center][center]Position after 32...Na7b5[/center]

33.Bxb5 Qxb5 34.Ra7 Nc6

If [font color="red"]34...Bd7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]35.Rc7 Rbc8 36.Rb7 Qc6 37.Ra7.[/font]

35.Rxg7 Kxg7 36.Qxf5

White has an extra pawn and an extra piece.

36...Rd6 37.Ne6+ Kf7

[center]BLACK: Simon Roe[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Steve Gordon[/center][center]Position after 37...Kg7f7[/center]

38.Qxh7+

Better is [font color="red"]38.Nbc5 Rh8 39.Qh5+ Ke7 40.Ng7 Kd8 41.Nf5,[/font] during the course of which Black should resign.

38...Kxe6

White still has two pawns for a Rook, but much, much better pawns.

39.Nc5+ Qxc5 40.dxc5

White's material advantage now is a Qurrn and two pawns against a Rook and Knight.

40...Rdd8 41.Qd3 Rd7

If [font color="red"]41...b3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]42.f4 Ne7 43.Rb1 b2 44.Qa3 Rdc8 45.g4.[/font]

42.Ra1 Rc7 43.Ra6 b3 44.Rb6 b2 45.Qb5 1-0

[font color="red"]45...Rxb6 46.Qxb6 Rc8 47.Qxb2[/font] leaves Black without a prayer.
Mr. Roe resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

15. Ukrainian National Championship, Kiev

Fri Sep 7, 2012, 03:31 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]The Golden Gate of Kiev[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Håkan Henriksson (Narking, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Narking) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-gate-2008.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

16. Korobov - Miroshnichenko, Round 8

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #15)

Fri Sep 7, 2012, 03:32 AM

Sep 2012

Anton Korobov won the Ukrainian national championship ahead of Ponomariov, Areshchenko and Volokitin.

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Anton Korobov available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Anton Korobov - Evgenij Miroshnichenko
Ukrainian National Championship, Round 8
Kiev, 4 August 2012

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Grand Anti-Meran Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 g6 10.0-0 Bg7

For moves and variations up to here, see Anand-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

11.Qc2

If [font color="red"]11.Rc1 0-0 12.b4 Qe7 13.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...b6 14.b5 Bb7 15.bxc6 Bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Qb1 Bb7 18.Bd3 Rac8 19.Be4 Nf6[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Karjakin, IT, Foros, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Nd2 a6 17.Bd3 b5 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Ncxe4[/font] is equal (Nikolic-Anand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1998).

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rd8 14.Rfd1 Nb6 15.Be2 Bd7 16.Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Be8 17.Nc5 Nc8 18.Ne5 Nd6 19.a4 Rac8 20.g3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Aseev-Korotylev, Petroff Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2000).
[font color="magenta"]16...Nd5 17.Nc5 Be8 18.a4 Rac8 19.Bf1 Bf8 20.Rb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (N. Pert-Korotylev, Op 0203, Hastings 2002).

If [font color="blue"]11.e4 e5 12.d5 Nb6 13.Bb3 Bg4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qxf3 16.gxf3 Ke7 17.dxc6 bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]18.Rac1 Rhd8 19.Rc2 h5 20.Nd1 Rd6 21.Ne3 a5[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Meier-Quattrocchi, Corres, 1998).
[font color="#4080FF"]18.Rfc1 Rhd8 19.Nd1 Rd6 20.Rc3 a5 21.Ne3 h5[/font] is equal (Khalifman-Akopian, IT, Yerevan, 1996).

If [font color="darkblue"]14.Rc1 0-0 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qxf3 17.gxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]17...Rfd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]18.Rfd1 Bf6 19.dxc6 bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]20.Kf1 Bg5 21.Rc2 Kf8 22.Ke2 Rxd1 23.Nxd1 Rc8[/font] is equal (Salgado López-Debashis, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, Poland, 2010).
[font color="slateblue"]20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Nd1 Rd6 22.Rc5 Kf8 23.Kf1 h5[/font] is equal (Carlsen-Karjakin, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2009).

[font color="darkcyan"]18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Nd1 Rac8 20.Rc5 Bf8 21.Rc2 h5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Aronian-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).

[font color="dodgerblue"]17...Rfc8 18.dxc6 Rxc6 19.Nd5 Bf8 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.Bd5[/font] is equal (Leko-Gelfand, Rpd M, Miskolc, 2010).

11...0-0

If [font color="red"]11...Qe7 12.Rad1 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Rfe1 Nb6 14.Bb3 c5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Ne4 cxd4 16.exd4 Bd7 17.Qc7 Rab8 18.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after 18...Rfc8 forces the exchange of Queens (Cebalo-Djuric, Montecatini Terme, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]15.a4 c4 16.Ba2 Qb4 17.Ra1 Bd7 18.Bb1 a5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Z. Rahman-Villamayor, Op, Calcutta, 2001).

[font color="darkred"]13.a3 b6 14.Rfe1 Bb7 15.e4 Rac8 16.e5[/font] gives White the advantage in space, but also a pawn weakness at d4 (Bu Xiangzhi-Pashikian, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).

12.Bb3 Qe7 13.Rad1

If [font color="red"]13.Ne4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...e5 14.Nc3 Kh7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Rfe1 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Rac1 e4 17.Nd2 f5 18.Ne2 Nf8 19.Qc5 Qxc5 20.Rxc5 Be6 21.Rc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Rad8 22.Bxe6 Nxe6 23.b4 h5 24.Nb3 h4[/font] is equal (Gupta-Sandipan, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]21...Bxb3 22.Nxb3 Ne6 23.Nc5 Nxc5 24.Rxc5 Bf8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Gupta-Palit, Op, Kolkata, 2009).

[font color="darkpink"]16.Rad1 e4 17.Nd2 f5 18.Nc4 Nb6 19.Nxb6 axb6[/font] is equal (Mamedyarov-Gelfand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Rad1 f5 16.d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...e4 17.Nd4 Ne5 18.Nce2 Nd3 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Qxc6[/font] remains equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Motylev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]16...Nc5 17.Bc4 a5 18.Be2 Bd7 19.Nd2 e4 20.Nc4[/font] gives White, who is better able to open the center, a slight edge (Vayser-Papenin, Cores, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rd8 14.Rad1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...a5 15.a3 Ra6 16.Rd2 Nf6 17.Nc5 Ra7 18.Ne5[/font] gives White a comfortable game with his Knights providing a large advantage in space, but at least one of them soon will be driven off (Bareev-Dreev, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).
[font color="magenta"]14...Rb8 15.h4 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.h5 gxh5 18.Qe4[/font] gives White the advantage in space and better pawn structure; Black's position is defensable (Korobov-Sakaev, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2010).

13...b6

[font color="red"]13...a6 14.Rfe1 b5 15.Ne4 Bb7 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5[/font] is equal (Hebden-Collins, Op 0708, Hastings, 2008).

14.e4 Bb7 15.Rfe1 Rad8 (N)

Black's strategy will be based on play in the center.
[font color="red"]15...Rfd8[/font] (in this variation, Black will play on the queenside) [font color="red"]16.e5 Nf8 17.Qe2 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxd5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Chernin-Kuczynski, Euro ChT, Drebrecen, 1992).

16.e5

White is slightly better.

16...a6 17.Qe4 b5

White remains slightly better. This is an awful position for Black's Bishops.

18.h4!?

White embarks on a plan to restrain Black's kingside.
Better is [font color="red"]18.Qf4[/font] (this is a prophylaxis against the potential unmasking of the attack from the Bishop at b7 that still keep the Queen in the extended center) [font color="red"]18...a5[/font] when:

[font color="red"]19.Bc2 c5 20.Be4 cxd4 21.Nxb5 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 d3[/font] is equal
[font color="darkred"]19.Ne4 c5 20.d5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Rxd5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anton Korobov[/center][center]Position after 18.h2h4[/center]

18...Ba8!?

Black replies with a waiting move that does nothing to free his game.
[font color="red"]18...Nb6! 19.Qf4 c5 20.dxc5 Rxd1 21.Bxd1 Qxc5[/font] is equal; Black's Queen and Queen's Bishop have more scope.

19.h5! c5

[font color="red"]19...b4 20.Na4 c5 21.d5 exd5 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5[/font] leaves White threatening a pawn on the kingside.

20.d5 c4

If [font color="red"]20...b4 21.Na4 exd5 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Nf6 24.exf6 Qxe4 25.Rxe4 Rxd5 26.fxg7 Kxg7 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]23...g5?! 24.Qc4! Rfe8 25.g3 Rc8 26.b3 Rc7 27.Kg2[/font] gives White a substanial advantage in space.

21.Bc2 exd5?!

The pawn exchange only weakens Black's center.
If [font color="red"]21...b4 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Nh4 Qc5 24.Nxg6 Rxf2[/font] is equal.

22.Nxd5!

White has a comfortable game and will soon have an extra pawn.

22...Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Nc5 24.Rxc5 Qxc5 25.hxg6 f5?!

White has two extra pawns, two passed pawns and a better center; Black has more space.
If [font color="red"]25...f6 26.e6 f5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27.Qf4 Rde8 28.Nh4 Qd4 29.Qxd4 Bxd4 30.e7[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]27.Qe2!? Qe7! 28.b3 Bc3 29.Rc1 Rd6 30.Qe3 Bg7[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anton Korobov[/center][center]Position after 25...f7f5[/center]

26.Qf4!

White has an extra pawn and threatens to win more material.

26...Qb6

[font color="red"]26...Qc6 27.Bxf5 Qxg6 28.Bxg6 Rxf4 29.e6 Bf8 30.e7![/font] wins the Bishop.

27.Bxf5 Qxg6

This is Black's only move that give him any hope of survival.
[font color="red"]27...Rxf5??[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]28.Qxf5 .[/font]

28.Bxg6 Rxf4 29.e6 Bf6

[font color="red"]29...Bf8 30.e7 Bxe7 31.Rxe7 Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Rf6 33.Bc2[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game. Black's Rook is in an awkward place.

30.e7 Bxe7 31.Rxe7 Rd6?!

White clearly has the upper hand. Black could do more tp disrupt White's position.
Better is [font color="red"]31...Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Rf6 33.Bc2[/font] when:

[font color="red"]33...Ra1 34.a3 Kf8 35.Re2 c3 36.bxc3 Rxa3 37.Ne5[/font] leaves White threatening to win the exchange with 28.Nd7+.
If [font color="darkred"]33...Rc1? 34.Re2 Ra1[/font] then:

White wins after [font color="darkred"]35.b3! c3 36.b4 Kg7 37.Bb3 Rc1 38.Nd4[/font] prevents Black's pawn from coming any further.
[font color="magenta"]35.a3!? c3 36.Bb3+ Kg7 37.bxc3 Rxa3 38.Nd4[/font] gives White a slight material advantage and more freedom.

[center]BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anton Korobov[/center][center]Position after 31...Rd8d6[/center]

32.Bc2!

White has more freedom; Black's Rook at f4 can scarcely navigate the rank.

32...Kf8 33.Re2 b4?

Any advance of the Black's queenside pawns is doomed. With two minor pieces, White can halt the advnce with no difficulty.
If [font color="red"]33...Rf7[/font] (falling back to defend the King) [font color="red"]34.Kf1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Re7 35.Ne5 Rc7 36.f4 c3 37.bxc3 Rxc3 38.Kf2[/font] still gives White a cleart advantage, but the Black Rook at c3 makes it deifficult to activate the King.
[font color="darkred"]34...Rfd7 35.g3 Rd8 36.Re4 Re8 37.Rf4+ Ke7 38.a4[/font] continues to give White two pieces for a Knight.

34.Kf1!?

A stronger idea is to inhibit the advance of a passed pawn.
If [font color="red"]34.Re3![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]34...c3 35.bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...Rc4 36.Bb3 Rxc3 37.Re4 a5 38.Nd4 Rc1+ 39.Kh2[/font] gives White the material advantage equivalent to two extra pawns.
[font color="magenta"]35...Rc6[/font] loses immediately to [font color="magenta"]36.Ne5 Rd6 37.Ng6+ .[/font]

[font color="darkred"]34...a5 35.Ne5 Kg7 36.g3 Rd2 37.gxf4 Rxc2 38.Rg3+[/font] leaves White with an extra piece.

34...Rb6?

Black still has very few moves that don't lose.
If [font color="red"]34...c3 35.Bb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...Rf5 36.bxc3 bxc3 37.Ne5[/font] Black will not be able to make any further progress with his passed pawn.
[font color="darkred"]35...a5? 36.bxc3! bxc3 37.Re3 a4 38.Bc2 Rc4 39.a3![/font] leaves the Rook at c4 with only limited navigation of the rank.

[center]BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anton Korobov[/center][center]Position after 34...Rd6b6[/center]

35.Re3!

White has more freedom and the material equalivalent of an extra pawn.

35...a5

[font color="red"]35...Rf7 36.Ke2 Rc7 37.Re4 a5 38.Nd4 Re7 39.Ke3[/font] prevents Black's queenside pawns making further progress.

36.Ne5 Rd4 37.Ke1 b3

If [font color="red"]37...Kg7 38.Rg3+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...Kf8 39.Rf3+ Ke7 40.Ke2 b3 41.axb3 cxb3 42.Bd3[/font] continues to give White two pieces for a Rook and a pawn; White has the only passed pawn on the board. Black's Rooks are active, but Black's defense against them has been accurate and harmonious.
[font color="darkred"]38...Kf6[/font] loses right away to [font color="darkred"]39.Rg6+ Kxe5 40.Rxb6 .[/font]

38.axb3 cxb3 39.Bxb3 a4

If [font color="red"]39...Kg7 40.Rg3+ Kf8 41.Ng6+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]41...Ke8 42.Re3+ Kd8 43.Ne5 a4 44.Bd1 Kc7 45.Rc3+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]45...Kb7 46.Nd3 Rg6 47.f4 Re6+ 48.Kf2 Kb6 49.Bf3[/font] gives White the material advantage equivalent to two extra pawns.
[font color="burgundy"]45...Kd6 46.Nc4+[/font] leaves White a piece up.

If [font color="darkred"]41...Kg7 42.Ne7+ Kf8 43.Nc8 Re4+ 44.Kf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]44...Rbe6[/font] then [font color="darkred"]45.Bxe6[/font] leaves White a piece up.
If [font color="magenta"]44...Rxb3[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]45.Rxb3 .[/font]

[center]BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anton Korobov[/center][center]Position after 39...a5a4[/center]

40.Bxa4!

The liquidation of the queenside pawns makes the game simpler.

40...Rxb2 41.Bd1

Also good is [font color="red"]41.Nd3 Rb6 42.Bc2 Rc6 43.Kd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Rd8 44.Bb3 Rc5 45.Re4 Kg7 46.Rh4 Rd7 47.g3[/font] White wins by advancing his connected pawns.
[font color="darkred"]43...Kg7 44.Bb3 Rc7 45.g3 Rdd7 46.Re5 Re7 47.Rh5[/font] White wins by advancing his pawns.

41...Ra2 42.g3 Kg7

[font color="red"]42...Ra1 43.Nd3 Kg7 44.Kd2 Ra3 45.g4 Rd8 46.f3[/font] leaves Black out of reserve pawn tempi.

43.Bb3 Rb2 44.Kf1 h5 45.Nf3 1-0

[font color="red"]45...Rd6 46.Kg2 Kh6 47.Rc3 Rb6 48.Bc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]48...Rb8 49.Nd4 Kg7 50.Ne6+ Kf6 51.Nf4[/font] wins the pawn.
[font color="darkred"]48...Kg7 49.Ne5 Re6 50.Rc7+ Kf8 51.Ng6+ Kg8 52.Nf4[/font] wins the pawn.

Evgenij Vitalijovich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

17. Ponomariov - Volokitin, Round 5

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #15)

Fri Sep 7, 2012, 03:33 AM

Sep 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Andrei Volokitin[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1809866421/)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Ruslan Ponomariov - Andrei Volokitin
Ukrainian NAtional Championship, Round 5
Kiev, 31 July 2012

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening/Pterodactyl Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 Qa5+

Dr. Eric Shiller, an American international master, has dubbed this the Pterodactyl Variation.
More convetional variations of the Tal-Indian are found in Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

6.Nc3

If [font color="red"]6.Bd2 Qb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Nc3 cxd4 8.Na4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...Qd8 9.Nxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...0-0 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.e3 e5 13.Nb3 Nc6 14.Be1 Nf6 15.Bc3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Aseev-I. Smirin, Alekhine Mem Op, Moscow, 1992).
If [font color="darkred"]12.Nb3 Nc6 13.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Bg4!? 14.Qc4 Nf6?! 15.Bc3! Qc8 16.Nac5 Bh3 17.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kursova-Ni, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]13...Qd6 14.Rad1 Ndb4 15.Qc4 Qe6 16.Rc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Rc1 d5 13.Be3 e6 14.Nc5 Qe7 15.cxd5[/font] gives White a small advantage (Dzindzichashvili-D. Gurevich, US Ch, Jacksonville, Florida, 1990).
[font color="magenta"]12.c5 Rb8 13.b4 Nd5 14.Rb1 Ba6 15.Re1[/font] gives White a slight edge (Astashov-Loginov, St. Petersburg Ch, 2005).

[font color="darkorchid"]8...Qd6 9.Bf4 Qb4+ 10.Bd2 Qd6 11.Bf4 Qb4+ 12.Bd2[/font] draws by repetition (Antoshin-Adorjan, IT, Budapest, 1973; Izeta Txabarri-Shulman, Op, Ubeda, 1997; and Maletin-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Tyumen, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]7.dxc5 Qxc5 8.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Nc6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Rc1 d6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.Be3 Qa5 12.Bd2 Qc5 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Qb4[/font] (14...Qc5 is a threefold repetition) [font color="red"]15.Qxb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Smejkal-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8788, Germany, 1988).
[font color="burgundy"]11.Nd5 Ne4 12.0-0 e6 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Nc3[/font] is equal (Lafuente-Shulman, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If [font color="magenta"]8...d6 9.Nc3 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10.0-0 Nc6 11.Be3 Qh5 12.Nd5 Ng4 13.h3 Nxe3[/font] draw (Vucic-Shulman, IT, San Francisco, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]10.Be3 Qa5 11.0-0 Na6 12.a3 Bd7 13.Qa2[/font] gives White a slight edge (Beliavsky-Shulman, Op, Koszalin, 1998).

If [font color="blue"]6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]8.N4b3 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]9.c5 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.cxd6 Qxd6 12.Nc4 Qb4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Vaganian-Szekely, Moscow Chess League, 1982).
[font color="#4080FF"]9.0-0 d6 10.Nb1 Be6 11.Na3 0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Djuric-Velimirovic, IT, Sarajevo, 1984).

If [font color="darkblue"]8.Nc2?! 0-0 9.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]9...d6 10.e4 Bg4 11.f3 Be6 12.Kh1 Rac8[/font] gives Black a significant advantage in space (Zagorskis-Fressinet, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).
[font color="dodgerblue"]9...Qh5 10.e3 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 b6 12.b3 Bb7 13.Bb2[/font] is equal (Christiansen-Leko, Op, New York, 1994).

6...Ne4 7.Qd3

If [font color="red"]7.Bd2 Nxd2 8.Qxd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...d6 9.0-0 Nc6 10.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.h3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Bd7 12.a3 Rfc8 13.b4 Qd8 14.Nd5 e6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Dydyshko, Op, Münster, 1995).
[font color="burgundy"]11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Rfd1 Nxd4 14.exd4 Be6 15.Nd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Khaifman, IT, Linares, 1995).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Bg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 0-0 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Rfd1[/font] is equal (Matlak-I. Radziewicz (Ralich), 1st Saturday June, Budapest, 2001).
[font color="magenta"]11.d5 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Ne5 13.Be2 Qb4 14.Ne4[/font] is equal (Karpov-J. Polgar, Rpd M, Budapest, 1988).

If [font color="darkred"]8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 10.e3 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Nxd4 12.exd4 d6 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.a3 Qc7 15.Nd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Morovic Fernández-Shirov, Rapid KO, León, 1995).
[font color="magenta"]11...Rd8 12.Rfd1 e6 13.a3 a6 14.Rac1 Ne5 15.Ne4[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Karpov-Timman, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1988).

7...cxd4

[font color="red"]7...Nc6 8.0-0 Nxc3 9.bxc3 d6 10.Bd2 Qa4[/font] is equal (Tregubov-Y. Vovk, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).

8.Nxd4 Nc5 9.Qd1 Nc6 10.e3

If [font color="red"]10.Be3 Ne6 11.Nxe6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 dxe6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Qb3 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Qb5 Bd7 16.Rab1 Rab8 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Bf4 e5 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.Qxe5[/font] draw (Baburin-Ivanchuk, Ol, Yerevan, 1997).
[font color="magenta"]15.c5 Bd7 16.Rab1 Rab8 17.Rfd1 Na5 18.Qb4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Hulak-Vaganian, IT, Marseille, 1987).

[font color="darkred"]11...dxe6 12.Qb3 0-0 13.0-0 Nd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Rfd1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Lohmann-Masek, Corres, 2007).

10...Ne6

[font color="red"]10...0-0 11.0-0 Qd8 12.Rb1 a5 13.b3 b6 14.Ba3[/font] give White more freedom (Laznicka-Ponomariov, Euro Club Cup, Ragaska Slatina, 2011).

11.Nxe6 (N)

If [font color="red"]11.0-0 0-0 12.Nxe6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...fxe6 13.Bd2 Qb4 14.Qb3 a5 15.Rab1 Ne5 16.Qxb4 axb4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Dizdar-Stevic, Croatian Ch, Marija Bistrica, 2011).
If [font color="darkred"]12...dxe6 13.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...Qc5 14.Qe2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Ne5?! 15.b3 Rd8 16.Rfd1 Rb8 17.Ne4 Qc7 18.Bc3[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Dizdar-Vaganian, IT, Sarajevo, 1987).
[font color="darkorange"]14...Na5 15.b3 Bd7 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advatage in space.

[font color="magenta"]13...Qa6 14.Qa4 Qxa4 15.Nxa4 Ne5 16.b3 Bd7[/font] reamins equal.

11...Bxc3+

Black has a slight advantage in space.

12.bxc3 dxe6 13.0-0

[font color="red"]13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Rb1 0-0 15.Ba3 Rd8 16.Qb5 e5[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

13...0-0 14.Qb3 Qc7 15.c5!?

the outposts off c4 are of mor use to White than those stemming for c5.
If [font color="red"]15.Ba3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...e5 16.Rfd1 Bg4 17.Rd5 Rab8 18.Rb1 Be6[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]15...Na5 16.Qb4 Re8 17.Qc5 Nc6 18.f4 Bd7 19.Rfd1[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White more space.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Volokitin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ruslan Ponomariov[/center][center]Position after 15.c4c5[/center]

15...e5! 16.c4 Bf5!?

16...Bg4 hits at d1, preventing the Rook from going there before White prepares the move.
[font color="red"]16...Na5! 17.Qb4 Bg4 18.Bb2 Nc6 19.Qa4 Be2[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

17.Bd2!?

White puts a hanging pieces on an open file.
[font color="red"]17.Bb2 Rac8 18.Rad1 Bg4 19.Rd5 Be6 20.Rc1 f6[/font] is equal.
If [font color="blue"]17.Rd1 Kg7 18.Rd5 h5 19.h4 Be6 20.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]20...f6 21.Rb1 Rab8 22.Be4 Rfc8 23.Qa4 Nd8 24.Bb4[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkblue"]20...Bxd5!? 21.cxd5 Nd8 22.Rc1 f6 23.e4 b6 24.c6[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

17...Rad8!

Black has a small advantage in space.

18.Rfd1!?

A better idea is to get the Bishop out of the way now, then drive the Rook from d8.
[font color="red"]18.Bc3 Bd3 19.Rfd1 e4 20.Rd2 f6 21.Rb2 Rd7[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Andrei Volokitin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ruslan Ponomariov[/center][center]Position after 18.Rf1d1[/center]

18...Bg4!

The attack on the Rook that protects the Bishop gives Black a comfortable game.

19.f3 Be6 20.Bf1?!

White remove protection from the f-pawn. It is soon lost.
[font color="red"]20.a3 f6 21.Be1 Kg7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22.Rac1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Nxd8 25.Qb5 Nc6 26.Kf2 Bd7 27.Bc3 g5[/font] gives Black a small adavntage.
[font color="magenta"]24...Qxd8 25.f4 Qd7 26.Bd5 Bh3 27.Bc3 Qf5[/font] gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space. White cannot play 28.Qxb7?? because of 28...Qd3!

[font color="darkred"]22.Kf2?! Nb8! 23.f4 exf4 24.exf4 Nd7 25.c6 bxc6[/font] gives Black a comfortable game.

20...e4! 21.Bc3

It does White no good to save the pawn.
If [font color="red"]21.fxe4?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]21...Bg4! 22.Bc3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Bxd1 24.Qxd1 Ne5.[/font]

21...exf3

Black has an extra pawn.

22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rd1 Rxd1!?

Black allows White to take command of the d-file; better is to maintain the tension.
If [font color="red"]23...g5! 24.Rxd8+ Nxd8 25.Qb1 f6 26.Qe4 Qxc5[/font] leaves Black two pawns to the good

[center]BLACK: Andrei Volokitin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ruslan Ponomariov[/center][center]Position after 23...Rd8d1:R[/center]

24.Qxd1!

Of course.

24...Ne5 25.Bxe5 Qxe5 26.Qd8+ Kg7 27.Qd4

If [font color="red"]27.Qd2?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]27...g5! 28.c6 bxc6 29.Qd4 Qxd4 30.exd4 Kf6!.[/font]

27...Qxd4

White's central pawn mass is nowhere near as dangerous as it appears.
If [font color="red"]27...Qf6 28.Kf2 Bf5 29.Qxf6+ Kxf6 30.Kxf3 Bb1 31.a3 Kf5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a more active Bishop.

28.exd4 g5 29.Bd3 g4 30.a3?

White plays a waiting move when there is no time to wait.
If [font color="red"]30.Be4 b6 31.Bb7 Bxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]32.c6 Bd5 33.a4 a6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]34.Ba8 b5 35.axb5 axb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.c7 Be6 37.Bb7 b4 38.c8Q Bxc8 39.Bxc8 h5[/font] gives Black thre pawns, including a passer, for a Bishop.
If [font color="darkred"]36.Kf2 Be6 37.Bb7 Kf6 38.c7 b4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39.c8Q Bxc8 40.Bxc8 h5[/font] gives Black thre pawns, including a passer, for a Bishop.
[font color="magenta"]39.d5? Bd7! 40.c8Q Bxc8 41.Bxc8 Ke5[/font] gives Black thre pawns, including a passer, for a Bishop; it's an easy win.

If [font color="darkred"]34.Kf2? b5! 35.axb5 axb5 36.Ba8 Be6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37.Bb7 b4 38.c7 b3 39.c8Q Bxc8 40.Bxc8 h5.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]37.c7 Bc8 38.Be4 b4 39.Ke3 b3 40.Kd3 f5!.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]32.a3 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]33.c6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]exd4 34.c7 Be6 35.c8Q Bxc8 36.Bxc8 h5[/font] gives Black four pawns, including a passer, for a Bishop.
If [font color="magenta"]33.cxb6?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]33...axb6 34.dxe5 f6! 35.h3 fxe5 36.hxg4 Bd3.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Andrei Volokitin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ruslan Ponomariov[/center][center]Position after 30.a2a3[/center]

30...f5!

Black's pawns are safe.

31.Kf2 Kf6

If [font color="red"]31...Bd7 32.Bc2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]32...Kf6 33.Bb3 e5 34.d5 f4 35.gxf4 exf4.[/font]

32.h4

If [font color="red"]32.h3 h5 33.d5 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34.hxg4 hxg4 35.Bc2 Ke5 36.Ke3 Be8 37.Bd3 e6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a passer.
If [font color="darkred"]34.Bc2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]34...gxh3 35.Bd1 e5 36.Bxf3 e4 37.Bd1 Ke5.[/font]

32...Bd7 33.Bc2

If [font color="red"]33.Ke3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]33...e5 34.d5 Ba4 35.Bb1 e4 36.Kf2 Ke5.[/font]

33...e5 34.d5

If [font color="red"]34.dxe5+ Kxe5 35.Ke3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Bb1 Ba4 37.Bd3 h6 38.Bb1 Bb3 39.Bd3 Ba2[/font] leaves White running out of playable moves.
[font color="darkred"]36.Bd3 Ba4 37.Bf1 Bd1 38.Bd3 Be2 39.Bb1 Bxc4[/font] leaves Black with two extra pawns

34...h6

A quicker win comes after [font color="red"]34...e4 35.Bd1 f4 36.gxf4 Kf5 37.Kg3 e3.[/font]

35.Ke3 e4 36.c6

If [font color="red"]36.Bd1 Kg6 37.Bc2 Be8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38.Bd1 Kf6 39.Bc2 Ke7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40.Bd1 Ba4 41.d6+ Kd8 42.c6 bxc6 43.Bxa4 f4+[/font] leaves Black an easy win.
If [font color="magenta"]40.d6+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]40...Ke6 41.Bb1 Ba4 42.Kf2 Kd7 43.Kf1.[/font]

[font color="darkred"]38.Bb3 Kg7 39.Bc2 Kf7 40.Kf2 Kf6 41.Bd1 h5[/font] leaves Black the the resources to restain and eliminate White's pawn mass on the queenside of center.

36...bxc6 37.Ba4

If [font color="red"]37.Bd1 Ke5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38.Bb3 Be8 39.a4 a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40.d6 c5 41.Bd1 Kxd6 42.Kf2 Ke5[/font] leaves White unable to halt the march of Black's moble pawns.
If [font color="magenta"]40.Ba2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]40...Bd7 41.Bb3 cxd5 42.cxd5 Be8 43.Ba2 Bxa4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]38.h5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]38...cxd5 39.cxd5 Kxd5 40.Bc2 Kc4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Andrei Volokitin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ruslan Ponomariov[/center][center]Position after 37.Bc2a4[/center]

37...cxd5!!

Also good, but less spectacular, is the pawn sacrifice [font color="red"]37...f4+!! 38.gxf4 g3 39.dxc6 Bg4 40.c7 f2.[/font]

38.Bxd7 d4+ 39.Kd2

The White King is caught in a mating net.
[font color="red"]39.Kxd4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]39...f2 40.Kd5 e3 41.Bb5 f1Q 42.h5 Qf3+.[/font]

39...e3+ 40.Kd3

If [font color="red"]40.Ke1 Ke5 41.c5 d3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42.h5 Kd4 43.Bb5 Kc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]44.c6 e2 45.Bxd3 Kxd3 46.c7 Ke3 47.c8Q f2#.[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]44.a4 e2 45.Kf2 Kd2 46.Kg1 e1Q+ 47.Kh2 Qf2+ 48.Kh1 Qg2#.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]42.Bb5 Kd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]43.Kf1 e2+ 44.Kf2 Kc3 45.Bxd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]45...Kxd3 46.c6 Kd2 47.Kg1 e1Q+ 48.Kh2 f2 49.c7 Qg1#.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]45...Kd2[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]46.Bxe2 fxe2 47.h5 e1Q+ 48.Kg2 Ke2[/font] Black give mate in three.

If [font color="magenta"]43.Kd1[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]43...Kc3 44.Bxd3 Kxd3 45.Kc1 Kc3 46.Kd1 e2+[/font] Black delivers mate quickly.

40...e2 41.Kd2 d3 42.Ke1

If [font color="red"]42.Bxf5 Kxf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]43.Ke1 Ke4 44.Kd2 Kd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45.Ke1 Ke3 46.c5 d2#.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]45.Kc1 Kc3 46.Kb1 Kb3[/font] Black gives mate on the following move.

If [font color="darkred"]43.c5 f2 44.Kc1 d2+[/font] Black soon gives mate.

42...Ke5 43.c5 Kd4 0-1

If [font color="red"]44.Kd2[/font] then Black delivers mate soon after [font color="red"]44...f2.[/font]
Ruslan Olegovich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

18. Update from Istanbul (Thursday, September 6): USA! USA! USA!

Fri Sep 7, 2012, 04:06 AM

Sep 2012

[font size="1"]Photo by Robster1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Robster1983) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%B0stanbul-Ayasofya.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]
Reigning US champion Hikaru Nakamura defeated former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and former Soviet child prodigy Gata Kamsky, now an American citizen, scored over Alexander Grischuk as the US team defeated Russia by the score of 2½-1½ in the ninth round of the general group at the fortieth Chess Olympiad today (Thursday) in Istanbul.

Russia came into today's round alone in first place, but after the US upset the Russian team it finds itself in a four-way tie for first with the US, China and Armenia, all with 15 match points each.

Tomorrow, the US will play China, Russia will play Argentina and Armenia goes up against Holland.

In the women's group, China took down France, 3-1, and continues to hold 1-point edge over the Russian women going into tomorrow's tenth round. Russia also won today by the score of 3-1 over India.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

22. Update (Sunday, September 9): Olympics Finish; ARM, RUS win general group; RUS, CHN win women's

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:56 PM

Sep 2012

[font size="1"]Photo by Robster1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Robster1983) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%B0stanbul-Ayasofya.JPG)
(Public Domain)
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The fortieth Chess Olympiad ended today in Istanbul, which as Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, with Russia and Armenia tying for first place in the general group and Russia and China tying in the women's group.

The Armenian general team and the Russian women's team will be awarded gold medals based on tie break points.

The Chinese general team began the day in first place, but faltered and lost to Ukraine in today's final round when the fabled veteran Vassily Ivanchuk took down Wang Hao on board one in just 26 moves. Ukraine took the bronze medal as a result.

Individual gold medals in the general group go to Levon Aronian of Armenia for his performance on board 1, David Navara (Czechia) on board 2, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) on board 3, Vlad Tkachiev (France) on board 4 and Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) for the reserve players. In the women's group, reigning women's world champion Hou Yifan (China) wins gold on board 1, Zhao Xue (China) on board 2, Nadya Kosintseva (Russia) on board 3, Huang Qian (China) on board 4 and reigning Russian women's champion Natalia Pogonina for the reservists.

madinmaryland

(64,933 posts)

30. Imagine if they had designated pawns in chess.