The JR Chess Report (June 20): Leinier wins in Havana, Cheparinov in Zafra

[Jack Rabbit]

Domínguez Takes Capablanca Memorial in Havana



Cuban grandmaster Leinier Domínguez won the Elite Group 44th Capablanca Memorial Tournament in Havana Thursday with 6½ points out of ten rounds.

El señor Domínguez actually competed the tournament the day before, having played his tenth round game against compatriot Lázaro Bruzón on Saturday in order to allow el señor Bruzón to travel to the Zonal Tournament in Asunción, Paraguay.

Leinier, as he is known in Cuba, won three games, including his final game against German GM Georg Meier, and drew seven. Boris Savchenko of Russia was second with 5½ points and Meier third with 5 points.

In the Premiere Group, Neuris Delgado of Cuba scored 6½ points to take first prize.


Cheparinov Wins Ruy López Magistral



Grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria won the seven-round Magistral of the Ruy López Festival in Zafra, Badajoz province (Spain) yesterday with 5 points.

Cheparinov won three games and drew four without a loss.

British GM Mickey Adams was second with 4½ points, while grandmaster Julio Granda of Peru, reigning Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana and Spanish IM David Lariño tied for third with 3½ points each.


Kings' Tournament Begins in Transylvania



The third annual Kings' Tournament began last Sunday in the town of Bazna in the legendary Transylvania region of Romania.

The event is a double round robin of six players (ten rounds). The participants are Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Alexei Shirov (Spain), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Gata Kamsky (United States) and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania).

At the half way point in the tournament, Ivanchuk and Gelfand lead with 3½ points each with Shirov and Radjabov tied for third at 2½ points apiece. Yeasterday was a rest dayn. The action resumes today and the tournament ends Thursday.


Calendar

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2-12 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants; US Champ Nakamura will also compete.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 19-30 July. This year's GM Tournament is a Category 19 that includes Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier Lagrave and Caruana.

Pan-American Continental Championship, São Paulo 25 July-2 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

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

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

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

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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

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

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana

Havana
Photo: Domincan Today

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Domínguez - Meier, Elite Group, Round 9

Leinier Domínguez
Photo: Website of the 2005 Bermuda Chess Festival


Leinier Domínguez - Georg Meier
44th Capablanca Memorial (Elite Group), Round 9
Havana, 17 June 2009

Open French Game: Rubinstein Defense

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

• This is the foundation of the Rubinstein Defense.

4...Nd7

• 4...Nf6 is usually played here, with ...Nbd7 being played on the fifth or sixth move, resulting in the following variations.

5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+

• If 6.Bd3 Be7 then:
• If 7.Qe2 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 c5 9.0-0 cxd4 10.Rd1 Nc5 then:
• 11.Nxd4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 0-0 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Nb3 Qh5 15.Bd4 Qg6 16.Qxg6 hxg6 17.a4 Rd8 18.Be5 f6 19.Rxd8+ Bxd8 20.Rd1 Be7 21.Bd6 draw (Bacerra-Kaminski, USCL, Cyberspace, 2005).
• If 11.Rxd4 Qb6 then:
• If 12.Be3!? Qxb2 13.Rad1 then:
• If 13...Bf6!? then:
• If 14.Rd8+!? Bxd8 15.Bxc5 then:
• If 15...Bd7? 16.Qd3! (beginning the attack on Black's King) and now:
• If 16...Qb5 17.c4 Qxc5 18.Qxd7+ Kf8 19.Qxb7 g6 20.Qxa8 Kg7 Black resigns (Anand-Robatsch, Pl, Manila, 1992).
• 16...Bb5 17.Qd6 Qxa2 18.Bxb7 f6 19.Nd4! wins for White.
• 15...Bf6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Nb3 Rd8 18.Na5 Bc8 Black still has more activity.
• 14.Bc1 Qb6 15.Rd6 Qa5 16.Bd2 Qa4 is equal,
• 13...0-0 14.a4 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 Rd8 16.Red4 Rxd4 17.Bxd4 Qa2 gives Black a more active game.
• 12.c3 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 0-0 14.Ne5 Bc5 15.Rd2 Qc7 is equal.
• 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nexf7 Rxf7 12.Nxe6 Qc8 13.Bg6 Nf8 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.Nxg7 Ba6 16.c4 Qg4 17.Qxg4 Nxg4 18.Nf5 Bxc4 19.Rd1 gives White the material advantage and more activity (Colle-Tartakover, IT, Niendorf, 1927).

6...Nxf6 7.c3

• If 7.Bd3 c5 then:
• If 8.0-0 cxd4 9.Nxd4 then:
• If 9...Bc5 10.Nf3 0-0 11.Qe2 b6 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Rad1 Qc7 then:
• If 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Be4 Rfd8 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.c3 a5 then:
• 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.Rxd4 Rg8 21.Qh3 Rg6 22.Rfd1 Rag8 23.g3 Kg7 24.Rd7 gives White the initiative (Savanovic-Konjevic, TT, Jahorina (Bosnia), 2001).
• If 18.Qc4 Rac8 19.Qh4 Be7 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qh5 Kg7 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.Qh5 Kg7 24.Rfe1 gives White the advantage in space (Brynell-Kosic, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If 14.Ne5 Rfd8 15.Rfe1 then:
• 15...Rd4 16.g3 Qc8 17.a3 a5 18.Bh4 Qc7 19.c3 Qc8 20.Ba6 Bxa6 draw (Sjugirov-Grachev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
• 15...h6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Ng4 Qf4 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Qg5 20.Qf3 draw (van der Wiel-Cifuentes, Dutch Ch, Rotterdam, 1997).
• If 9...Be7 10.c3 0-0 then:
• 11.Qe2 a6 12.Bf4 Re8 13.Rad1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Bf6 15.Be4 Qe7 16.Rfe1 Bd7 17.Qc2 Qc5 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Be4 b5 20.Qe2 g6 21.Nf3 Kg8 22.Ne5 Ra7 23.Nf3 Black resigns (Tiviakov-Lahaye, Canadian Op, Ottawa, 2007).
• 11.Bg5 Qd5 12.Bh4 b6 13.Be2 e5 14.Re1 e4 15.Qb3 Bb7 16.Rad1 Qxb3 17.axb3 is equal (Kobalia-van Ketel, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• If 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qe2 0-0 then:
• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Nd5 then:
• 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Bg3 Ba4 15.Qd2 Nb4 16.0-0 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rfd8 18.Qe4 Bc6 19.Qg4 Qa4 20.Qh5 Rd5 21.Ne5 Be8 22.Qe2 Rad8 23.b3 Qa3 24.Bf4 Be7 25.Rfd1 Bf6 is equal (Brenke-Chiburdanidze, Lippstadt, 1995).
• 13.Qe4 f5 14.Qc4 Bb6 15.Ne5 Ne3 16.fxe3 Qxe5 17.0-0-0 Bxe3+ 18.Kb1 Qf4 19.Rhe1 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 f4 21.Be7 Re8 22.Bd6 b6 is equal (Saravanan-Astegno, Op, Cannes, 2007).
• 10.0-0 b6 11.Bg5 Bb7 12.Rad1 Qc7 transposes into the main variation.
• If 7.Bg5 then:
• If 7...Be7 8.Bd3 c5 9.dxc5 Qa5+ 10.c3 Qxc5 11.Qe2 0-0 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Rd8 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Rfe1 Rd5 16.c4 Rdd8 17.Qf3 Rac8 18.Qh3 g6 19.Re3 Nd7 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Ng4 is equal (Pillsbury-Burn, IT, Vienna, 1898).
• 12...Bd7 13.Ne5 Rad8 14.Rad1 Bc8 15.Nf3 b6 16.Ba6 Bxa6 17.Qxa6 Qc7 draw (Mitrovic-Milanko, IMT, Belgrade, 2008).
• If 7...h6 then:
• If 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qe2 Be7 then:
• 12.dxc5 0-0 13.0-0 Bxc5 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Ne5 Be7 16.Bg3 Qb6 17.Nc4 Qa6 18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 b6 20.b3 Rad8 is equal (Ivanchuk-Bareev, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 2004).



• 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.dxc5 Qc6 14.Ne5 Qxc5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd7 Bxb2+ 17.Kxb2 Qb4+ 18.Kc1 Qa3+ 19.Kb1 Qb4+ 20.Kc1 Qa3+ draw (Kindermann-Psakhis, Baden Baden, 1992).
• If 8.Be3 Nd5 9.Qd2 Bd6 10.0-0-0 Qe7 then:
• 11.Bc4 Nxe3 12.Qxe3 Bd7 13.Rhe1 0-0 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.Qxe5 Qd6 16.d5 Qxe5 17.Rxe5 Rae8 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Rde1 gives White teh active game (A. Sokolov-Vaisser, French Ch, Chartres, 2005).
• 11.Ne5 Bd7 12.Bc4 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Bc6 14.Qd4 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Qg5 16.f4 Qxg2 17.Rhg1 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Bxe4 19.Rxg7 draw (Leko-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).

7...c5 8.Ne5

• If 8.Be3 then:
• If 8...cxd4 9.Bxd4 Qc7 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.Ne5 Qb5 13.a4 Qd5 14.Qe2 then:
• 14...Qe4 15.a5 a6 16.f3 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Rc8 18.Ra4 gives White more freedom (Anand-Pelletier, Euro ChT, Kemer, 2007).
• 14...a6 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rfd1 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Nc4 Rg8 19.Nb6 Rb8 is equal (Palac-Pelletier, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).


• 8...Qc7 9.Ne5 a6 10.Qa4+ transposes to the text.

8...a6 9.Be3

• If 9.Bg5 Qc7 10.Qa4+ Nd7 then:
• 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qa3 Rc8 15.Be2 Ke7 16.0-0-0 Rhd8 17.f3 draw (Nakamura-Akobian, Op, Philadelphia, 2007).
• 11.Nf3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 e5 13.Qh4 f6 14.Bd2 Nc5 15.b4 Na4 16.Bd3 Be6 17.0-0 0-0-0 18.Bc2 Nb2 19.Bb3 Bf5 is equal (Meszaros-Meier, IT, Brno, 2006).

9...Qc7 10.Qa4+ Nd7

• 10...Bd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.g3 0-0-0 13.Bg2 Nb6 14.Qb3 Nd5 15.Bg5 Rd7 16.0-0 cxd4 17.cxd4 Kb8 18.Bd2 Be7 19.Rac1 Qd6 20.Rc4 gives White the advantage in space.(Grischuk-Nogueiras, TT, Beer Shiva, 2005).

11.Bb5

• If 11.0-0-0 cxd4 12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Qxd4 then:
• 13...e5 14.Qb6 Qxb6 15.Bxb6 Rc8 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.Rhe1 Ke7 19.Bf3 b5 20.Bd5 Be6 21.Bxe6 Kxe6 22.f4 f6 23.Rd4 Rhc8 24.Kc2 a5 25.Kd3 Rd5 26.fxe5 fxe5 draw (Shen Yang-Drozdovskij, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 13...Bc6 14.Bc4 Rd8 15.Qg4 h5 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Qg3 Qd6 18.f4 h4 19.Qg4 Be4 20.Rd1 Qc6 21.Bb3 Bf5 22.Qf3 Be4 23.Qf2 Rh5 24.g4 hxg3 25.hxg3 draw (Anand-Bareev, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2004).

11...cxd4 12.Bxd7+ Bxd7 13.Qxd4 Bb5

• 13...f6 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qxd7+ Kxd7 16.0-0-0+ Kc7 17.a4 a5 18.Rd4 Ra6 19.Rhd1 gives White solid command of the d-file (Z. Almasi-Meier, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2007).

14.a4 Bd6 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ke2 Qc6!?

• 17...Rhd8 18.Rxa8 Rxa8 19.Rd1 Ra6 20.b3 Be7 21.Qg4 Qxc3 22.Qh5+ Kf8 23.Qxh7 Qxb3 24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Rd8+ Bxd8 27.Qe8+ draw (Vachier Lagrave-Grachev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2009).
• 17...b4 then:
• 18.Rxa8 18...Rxa8 19.Rc1 Be7 20.cxb4 Qxh2 21.Qg4 Qe5 22.Qf3+ Kg6 23.Qg4+ Kf7 24.Qf3+ is equal (Mastrovasilis-Akopian, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 18.Rhd1 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 bxc3 20.Qxc3 Rc8 21.Qxc7+ Rxc7 is equal.

18.Rhd1
BLACK: Georg Meier
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WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 18.Rh1d1

• White's supoerior pawns on the queenside tip the balance ever so slightly in his favor.

18...Rxa1 19.Rxa1 b4!?

• Black attempts to sacrifice a weak pawn in the hopes of weakening White's queenside and gaining some initiative.
• If 19...Rd8 20.Qb6 Rd7 21.Qxc6 bxc6 22.Ra6 then:
• 22...c5 23.Rb6 b4 24.Rc6 Bxh2 25.Bxc5 bxc3 26.bxc3 gives White the remote passer.
• 22...Rc7 23.h3 Ke7 24.b3 h6 25.Kf3 gives White more activity.

20.Rd1 Rd8 21.Qh4 Be7 22.Qf4+

• 22.Qxh7 Rxd1 23.Kxd1 Qxg2 24.Qh5+ Kf8 remains equal.

22...Kg8

• 22...Ke8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Qxb4 Qxg2 25.Qb5+ Kf8 26.Bc5+ gives White the initiative.

23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Qxb4 Qxg2 25.Qb5 Qc6?

• The decision to exchange Queens on c6 is a positional blunder.
• Better is 25...Kf8! 26.Bc5+ Be7 27.Qb4 Bxc5 28.Qxc5+ Kg8 then:
• 29.Qc8+ Kf7 30.Qc7+ Kg6 31.Qe5 Qd5 is equal.
• If 29.Qe5 Qd5! 30.Qb8+ Kf7 31.Qf4+ Ke8 is equal.
• 30.Qxd5 exd5 is equal.

BLACK: Georg Meier
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WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 25...Qg2c6

26.Qxc6!

• White exchanges Queens to make the best use of his queenside pawn majority.
• Every sound, uncompromised pawn majority is capable of yielding a passed pawn. -- Nimzovich.
• 26.Qd3 Bc7 27.h4 b5 28.b3 Qd5 remains equal.

26...bxc6 27.b4

• Now that he has the remote pawn majority in a minor piece ending, White must strive to make a passed pawn out of it.

27...Kf7

• If 27...Be7 then White maintains his advantage with 28.Kd3 g5 29.f4 gxf4 30.Bxf4 Kf7 31.Bd2.
• If 27...Bf6!? gives White exactly what he wants after 28.c4! Kf7 29.b5 cxb5 30.cxb5.

28.Kf3

• The simplest way to gain the passed pawn is 28.c4! Ke8 29.b5.

28...Bf6 29.c4!

• White is assured of a passed pawn.

29...g6 30.Ke4 Bg7 31.b5 cxb5 32.cxb5 Ke7

BLACK: Georg Meier
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WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 32...Kf7e7

33.Bd4!

• White offers to exchange Bishops.

33...Bh6

• Black does not want to exchange Bishops. Without Bishops on the board, White wins effortlessly.

34.Be3 Bg7 35.Bd4 Bh6 36.Be5 Kd7 37.Kd4 Bf8

• Both Kings are blocked from directly approaching the b-pawn.

38.Bg3 Bb4 39.Kc4 Be7

BLACK: Georg Meier
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WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 39...Bb4e7

40.Kd4!

• White doesn't need the b-pawn to win. The King is headed for more fertile fields.

40...Bb4 41.h4

• White's plan is to restrain Black's pawn movements and put his opponent in Zugzwang, then capture the remaining Black pawns, then bring his last pawn home for promotion.

41...Ba3 42.b6 Kc6 43.Ke5!

• While Black is preoccupied with the b-pawn, the White King will snack on Black pawns.

43...Bc5 44.Kf6!

• White does not spend a tempo taking the e-pawn. He wants the two kingside pawns.

44...Bd4+ 45.Kf7 Bxb6

• No better is 45...Kxb6 46.Kg8 h6 47.Kh7 e5 48.Kxh6 e4 49.Kxg6.

46.Kg7 e5 47.f3 Kd5 48.Kxh7!

BLACK: Georg Meier
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WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 48.Kg7h7:p

• Zugzwang! Black is out of reserve pawn tempi and must fall on his sword.

48...e4

• Moving the other pawn shortens the agony. If Black moves a piece, White takes the g-pawn and queens with the h-pawn.

49.fxe4+ Kxe4 50.Kxg6 Be3

• White's win is now a matter of technical skill.

51.Bd6 Kd5 52.Be7 Ke6 53.Bg5 Bc5 54.h5 Bf8 55.Bh4 Kd5 56.Bf6! 1-0

• Zugzwang! The Bishop is forced away from the diagonal.
• Herr Meier resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Delgado - Corrales,Premiere Group Round 6

Neuris Delgado
Photo cropped for Wikipedia Commons from Flickr.
Photography by Flickr user Ollanta (Luciana Morales) used with attribution under Creative Commons copyright.


Neuris Delgado - Fidel Corrales
44th Capablanca Memorial Tournament (Premiere Group), Round 6
Havana, 14 June 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6

For detailed survey of the Taimanov Defense, see Smith-Stellwagan, IT, Malmø, 2008.

6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.0-0 d5 8.Nd2

• If 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 then:
• 10.b3 Nd7 11.Na4 Re8 12.Bb2 Bf6 13.e5 Be7 14.f4 Nf8 15.Rad1 f5 16.c4 d4 17.Kh1 a6 18.Bc1 c5 19.Rf3 Bb7 20.Rh3 Bc6 21.Nb2 Qb6 is equal (Mortimer-Maroczy, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).
• 10.Qf3 e5 11.h3 d4 12.Ne2 Nd7 13.Ng3 Bg5 14.Nf5 Bxc1 15.Raxc1 Nc5 16.Bc4 Bxf5 17.exf5 Qf6 is equal (Najdorf-Stahlberg, Buenos Aires, 1947).
• If 10.Bg5 d4 11.e5 Ng4 12.Qxg4 c5 13.Rad1 h5 14.Qe2 Qa5 gives Black the advantage in space (Shrimbeck-Loidl, Salzburg, 2001).

8...Be7 9.b3

• 9.Qe2 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.b3 a4 12.Bb2 Bb7 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nf3 Ba6 15.Qc2 h6 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Rab1 axb3 18.axb3 Rab8 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.Bc3 Bb4 21.Bd4 Bc5 22.Bc3 Bb4 23.Bd4 Bc5 draw (Lakos-Navara, Op, Oberwart, 2003).

9...a5 10.Bb2 Ba6

• If 10...0-0 then:
• If 11.Qe2 a4 then:
• If 12.f4 Ba6 13.c4 Bb4 14.e5 Nd7 15.Nf3 Be7 16.f5 then:
• 16...Nc5? 17.f6! gxf6 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Ng5! Bxb2 20.Qh5 Qxg5 21.Qxh7# White wins (Bergstrom-Rayner, Hallsberg, Jr IT, 1975).
• If 16...Qb6+ 17.Kh1 axb3 18.axb3 exf5 19.cxd5 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 is equal.
• If 12.c4 Bb7 13.e5 transposes to Lakos-Navara (see note to Black's ninth move).
• If 11.c4 Bb7 12.Qc2 h6 13.Rad1 a4 14.Rfe1 axb3 15.axb3 Qb6 16.exd5 cxd5 17.h3 Rfd8 18.Rb1 Ra2 gives Black a more active game (Yunis-Leitão, IT, Santiago, 2005).

11.c4!

• White introuces a new move which improves on a previous edition of this opening.
• 11.Bxa6 Rxa6 12.Qe2 Ra8 13.f4 0-0 14.e5 Nd7 15.f5 exf5 16.Rxf5 Nc5 is equal (Lariño-Damljanovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

11...0-0

• White has the advantage in that he can either advance his e-pawn or keep it at e4.
• 11...Bb4 12.e5 Nd7 13.Rc1 a4 14.bxa4 Qa5 15.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space and a slight initiative.

12.Qc2

• White chooses to make a stand with the center he has.
• 12.e5 Nd7 13.Qh5 h6 14.Rfd1 Qb6 15.Rab1 Rad8 is equal.

12...h6 13.Rad1 a4 14.Nf3 axb3

• If 14...Qb6!? 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 then:
• 17...Rac8 18.Qe2 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 exd5 20.Qd1 remains equal.
• 17...Rfc8 18.Qe2 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 exd5 20.Rfd1 remains equal.

15.axb3 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Qc8 17.Qc3

• 17.Ne5 Bb7 18.Rfe1 c5 19.Bd3 Rd8 remains equal.

17...Bb7 18.Bb1

• 18.Bc2 would better protect the b-pawn, but after 18...c5 19.Ra1 Qc7 20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Qc3 f6 the game is still equal.

18...c5 19.Ne5 Rd8 20.Qg3

• 20.f4 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Qc7 22.Re1 Qd6 23.f5 exf5 24.Bxf5 remains equal.

20...Qc7 21.Rde1 Ra6

• 21...Ne8 22.f4 Rd2 23.Rf2 Rxf2 24.Qxf2 Bf6 remains equal.

22.Re3 Nh5 23.Qg4 Bg5?

• Black is mistken to believe that White needs to take time out to retreat the Rook.
• Correct is to fall back into a defensive position with 23...Nf6 24.Qg3 Rd2 25.Bc3 when:
• If 25...Rdd6! 26.Ng4 Nxg4 27.Qxg4 then:
• 27...Bf8 28.Be5 Ra8 29.Rd1 Rxd1+ 30.Qxd1 Qd8 remains equal.
• 27...f6? 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Qh7 Ke8 30.Qxg7 wins for White.
• If 25...Rd8?! 26.f4 Qb6 27.Rfe1 then:
• 27...Nh5! 28.Qf2 Qc7 29.g4 Nf6 30.g5 gives White the initiative.
• 27...Rd6?! 28.Ng4 Nxg4 29.Qxg4 Bf8 30.Rg3 gives White a strong initiative.

BLACK: Fidel Correles
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WHITE: Neuris Delgado
Position after 23...Be7g5

24.Qxh5!!

• White sacrifices the exchange to put Black in a mating net.
• Black has nothing left on the kingside to defend the King.

24...Bxe3 25.fxe3 Rd2 26.Rxf7

• White sees his way clear and makes no effort to save the Bishop.

26...Rxg2+ 27.Kf1 Rxb2

• Black allows himself to be mated in three moves, but 27...Rg5 28.Rxc7 Rxh5 29.Rxb7 is just a general massacre.

28.Bh7+ Kh8 29.Rf8+! 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• El señor Corrales resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Ruy López Festival, Zafra

Zafra
Photo: TeamGeist (Lothar Wilhelm).
Please Click here for terms of use (attribution, share alike).

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Cheparinov - Koneru, Round 3

Ivan Cheparinov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ivan Cheparinov - Koneru Humpy
Ruy López Festival (Magistral), Round 3
Zafra, Badajoz, 15 June 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Breyer Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8

• Along with the Chigorin and Zaitsev Defenses, the Breyer Defense is one of the best ways to meet the Spanish main line.

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8

• 12...c5 13.d5 g6 14.Nf1 Nh5 15.Bh6 Re8 16.b3 Bf8 17.Be3 Nb6 18.a4 bxa4 19.bxa4 Nc4 20.a5 Bc8 21.N3d2!? Nxa5 22.Ra3 Bd7? 23.Qa1! White wins back the pawn with advantage (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

13.Nf1

• If 13.b4 Bf8 14.a4 then:
• If 14...Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Bb2 then:
• If 16...Qb8 then:
• 17.Rb1 c5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.c4 Qf4 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.cxb5 Red8 24.Qc1 Qc3 25.Nf3 Qxa5 26.Bb3 axb5 27.Qf4 gives Black an extra pawn and White a fierce initiative (Fischer-Spassky, World Ch, Reykjavik, 1972).
• 17.c4 bxc4 18.Ba4 c6 19.Nxc4 Qc7 20.Rc1 Rac8 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Qb3 is equal (Savon-Mukhin, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1972).
• 16...Rb8 17.Rb1 Ba8 18.Ba1 g6 19.c4 exd4 20.cxb5 axb5 is equal (Planinc-Spassky, IT, Amsterdam, 1973).
• 14...a5 15.axb5 axb4 16.Bb2 bxc3 17.Bxc3 c6 draw (Kavalek-Portisch, IT, Wijk aan Zee 1969).

13...Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.Bg5

• If 15.a4 c5 16.d5 then:
• If 16...c4 17.Bg5 then:
• If 17...h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 then:
• If 19...h5 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Ra3 then:
• If 21...Rb8 then:
• If 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Be3 Bf6 24.Rea1 Bg7 25.Qe2 then:
• 25...Bc8 26.Nf1 f5 27.axb5 axb5 28.exf5 gxf5 29.Ng3! wins a pawn for White (Inarkiev-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 25...Qc7 draw (V. Popov-Khalifman, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rea1 Nh7 24.Be3 Qc7 25.Qd1 Ra8 26.Ra7 Rxa7 27.Rxa7 gives White the advantage in space (Quezada-Blanco, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2007).
• 21...Nfd7 22.Be3 Qc7 23.Qe2 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Nh2 Nbd7 27.Qd1 draw (S. Zhigalko-Khairullin, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 19...Kh7 then:
• 20.Nh2 Bg7 21.Rf1 Qe7 22.Rae1 Nxa4 23.Bxa4 bxa4 24.f4 exf4 25.Rxf4 Nd7 26.Ref1 Rf8 27.Bd4 Ne5 28.Ng4 Nxg4 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Rxg4 Kh7 31.Rgf4 Bc8 32.Rf6 is equal (Borriss-Lindfeldt, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Nh2 Bg7 22.Rea1 Qc7 23.Qc1 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Rxa8 draw (Luther-Acs, World TT, Yerevan, 2001).
• 17...Bg7 18.Qd2 Nc5 19.Nh2 h5 20.Nf3 Qc7 21.Ra3 Rab8 22.Bh6 Bh8 23.Rea1 gives White a small advantage in space (Kuzmin-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).
• If 16...Nb6 17.Qe2 Nxa4 18.Bxa4 bxa4 19.Rxa4 then:
• 19...Nd7 20.c4 Nb6 21.Ra3 a5 22.Bg5 f6 23.Bd2 a4 24.Nh2 Bc8 is equal (Ljubojevic-Gligoric, IT, Milan, 1975).
• 19...Bc8 20.b3 Re7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Qe3 Qf8 23.Qd3 h6 24.Bd2 Nh7 25.c4 Rb7 draw (Balashov-Smejkal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).
• If 15.b3 c6 16.Bg5 Bg7 17.Qd2 Qe7 18.a4 Qf8 19.Rad1 then:
• 19...Rac8 20.Bd3 h6 21.Be3 Rcd8 22.Qa2 Ra8 23.Bc1 Re6 24.Qd2 Qb8 25.c4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Re8 27.Bb2 draw (Motylev-Grigoriants, Russian Ch semif, Tomsk, 2006).
• 19...Rad8 20.Be3 h6 21.Qc1 Kh7 22.b4 Re6 23.Qb1 d5 24.dxe5 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.Nxe4 Nxe5 27.Nfg5+ hxg5 28.Nxg5+ Kg8 29.Nxe6 Rxd1 30.Qxd1 fxe6 31.Bd4 gives Whitee a slight advantage in space; the material is balanced but asymmetrical (Carlsen-Pruijssers, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).

15...h6 16.Bd2 Bg7 17.a4

• If 17.Qc1 then:
• 17...Kh7 18.h4 d5 19.h5 dxe4 20.hxg6+ fxg6 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 exd4 24.Rxe8 Qxe8 25.cxd4 Rc8 is equal (Geller-Rubinetti, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
• 17...h5 18.Bh6 Nh7 19.Qd2 Bxh6 20.Qxh6 Qf6 21.a4 Ndf8 22.d5 gives White more freedom and space, although the White Queen is in an awkward fix (I. Smirin-Giorgadze, Soviet Ch, Odessa, 1989).

17...c5

• 17...Nb6 18.axb5 axb5 19.b3 Nfd7 20.Bd3 b4 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 dxe5 24.Qc2 bxc3 25.Bxc3 is equal (Karpov-Korchnoi, Match, Leningrad, 1971).

18.d5 c4 19.b4

• 19.Be3 Nc5 20.Ra3 Rb8 21.Qd2 Kh7 draw (Karajica-Ivanovic, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1984).

19...cxb3 20.Bxb3 Nc5 21.c4 Qd7!?

• 21...bxc4 22.Bxc4 Qc7 23.Qe2 Reb8 24.a5 Bc8 25.Be3 Nfd7 26.Rec1 gives White the advantage in space (Ponomariov-Gyimesi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

22.Ba5

• The game is equal.
• 22.cxb5 axb5 23.a5 Ra6 24.Qb1 Rc8 25.Bc2 Ne8 is also equal.

22...Rec8

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 22...Re8c8

23.Bc2!?

• White tries to provoke something by ignoring the attack on his c-pawn.
• 23.Nd2 (overprotecting the c-pawn) 23...Nd3 24.Re3 Nb2 25.Qe2 Nxa4 26.Bxa4 bxa4 27.Rea3 remains equal.

23...Rab8

• Black gains nothing by taking the pawn.
• 23...bxc4 24.Rb1 Rab8 25.Rb4 remains equal.

24.Nd2

• 24.axb5 axb5 25.cxb5 Qxb5 26.Re3 Ra8 27.Rea3 remains equal.

24...Ba8 25.axb5 axb5 26.Qe2

• 26.cxb5 Rxb5 27.Qf3 Rcb8 28.Bc3 Ne8 29.Rec1 gives White the advantage in space.

26...Bf8

• If the text is a waiting move, it's way out place.
• 26...h5 27.Reb1 h4 28.Ngf1 Nh5 then:
• 29.Ne3 Nf4 30.Qf3 bxc4 31.Ndxc4 Qe7 32.Qg4 gives White an impressive advantage in space.
• If 29.Qg4 Qxg4 30.hxg4 is equal.

27.Reb1!

• White takes advantage of Black's passive play to marshall his forces on the queenside.
• Also good is 27.Qf3 Nh7 28.cxb5 Ng5 29.Qe3 Rxb5 30.Bc3.

27...bxc4 28.Nxc4 Rxb1+ 29.Rxb1 Qe8

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 29...Qd7e8

30.Bb4!

• Black's weakest point is the d-pawn. This move puts pressure on it and ties the shielding Knight to its defense.

30...Nfd7

• If 30...Qd8 then after 31.Ra1 Nfd7 32.Ra7 Kg7 33.Qg4 Nf6 34.Qf3 White begins applying pressure to Black's kingside weaknesses.

31.Na5 Rb8 32.Nf1 Bb7 33.Ne3

• White prefers the text, which aims to exploit his superiority in queenside space, over an alternative that moves forces to the opposite wing.
• 33.Nxb7 Rxb7 34.Ne3 Qb8 35.Qe1 Qc7 36.Ng4 is not as good as the text in the long run.

33...Ba6 34.Qd2!?

• White plays in keeping with his queenside plan.
• 34.Qg4 Rc8 35.Ra1 Nd3 36.Ba3 Nf6 37.Qd1 gives Black more opportunities for counterplay.
• On the other hand, 34.Qf3! now makes a kingside initiative plausible after 34...Bg7 35.Nc6 Rb7 36.Ng4 Qf8 37.Bb3.

34...Qc8 35.Nc6 Ra8 36.Qc3

• White has been taking risks with is advantage.
• 36.Ng4?! Kh7 37.Qe3 h5 38.Nh2 Bb5 39.Na5 Ne6! equalizes.

36...Bb7 37.Na5 Ba6

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 38...Bb7a6

38.Kh2!?

• This unfortunate move does nothing for White's maneuvering against Black's weaknesses.
• 38.Nec4 Qd8 39.Qf3 Qh4 40.Nd2 Rc8 41.Ba3 keeps the pressure on Black's d-pawn.

38...Nd3 39.Nc6 N7c5

• Better is 39...Nxb4 40.Rxb4 Bb7 41.Rb2 Kh7 with equality.

40.Bxd3 Bxd3 41.Rd1

• 41.Rc1 Bxe4 42.Bxc5 dxc5 43.Qxe5 Qe8 44.f4 f5 is equal.

41...Nxe4 42.Qxd3 Nxf2 43.Qf1 Nxd1 44.Qxd1

• The game is equal.

44...Qa6?!

• Black attacks nothing that isn't already protected and defends nothing with this move.
• If 44...Qc7 then:
• 45.Nc4 f5 46.Qb3 Kh8 47.h4 offers equal chances. Black should try to mobilizes her central pawns, if that is possible.
• 45.Ng4 f5! 46.Ne3 Qf7 is equal.
• 44...f5 45.Qf3 Qd7 46.Nc4 Qc7 47.Qb3 Kh8 48.h4 gives White more activity

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 44...Qc8a6

45.Ng4!

• The Knight heads for the hole at f6.

45...Kh8

• 45...Qb7 46.Nf6+ Kg7 47.Qf3 Qc7 48.Bd2 gives White more freedom.
• 45...f5? fails against 46.Nf6+ Kg7 47.Nd7 when:
• If 47...Be7 then after 48.Nxe7 Qb7 49.Bxd6 Qxd7 50.Bxe5+ Kh7 51.Nc6 White should win.
• If 47...Qc4 then 48.Nxf8 Rxf8 49.Bxd6 Re8 50.Bxe5+ White should win with a material superiority ands a protected passer.

46.Nf6!?

• White jeopardizes his advantage.
• If 46.Qd2! Qf1 47.Ngxe5 then:
• 47...Re8 48.Qe3 Kh7 49.Qf3 Qxf3 50.Nxf3 White has the active game.
• 47...Ra1 48.Nd7 Rd1 49.Bc3+ Kg8 50.Qe3 Rd3 51.Qe1 forces Black to exchange Queens, after which White is much better.

46...Qc4 47.Qf3 Ra1 48.Nxe5

• If 48.Ne8 Rf1 49.Qe3 Qxd5 50.Bxd6 then:
• 50...Bg7 51.Bxe5 Bxe5+ 52.Nxe5 Kg8 53.Ng4 gives White more activity, but Black has counterplay.
• If 50...Qxc6 then after 51.Bxf8 Qc1 52.Qxe5+ f6 53.Bg7+ Kg8 54.Nxf6+ Black must give up the Rook or submit to mate.

48...Qxb4 49.Nxf7+ Kg7 50.Ne8+ Kg8 51.Nd8 Ra7

• 51...Rh1+ 52.Kxh1 Qe1+ 53.Kh2 Qxe8 54.Ne6 Bg7 55.g4 mobilizes White's pawns.

52.Nf6+ Kh8 53.Nc6 Qa4

• Black might do better to return the exchange.
• 53...Qb7 54.Nxa7 Qxa7 55.Qe4 Qf7 56.Qe6 gives Black reason to fight on.

54.Nd7?!

• White endangers his superiority with this move. Black almost pulls out a draw.
• After 54.Nxa7 Qxa7 55.Qe4 Qf7 56.Qe6 Kg7 57.Ne8+ Kg8 the struggle continues.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 54.Nf6d7

54...Bg7!

• Now Black should draw.
• 54...Rxd7 55.Qxf8+! Kh7 56.Ne7 threatens mate on the next move, forcing the return of the exchange and the winning of Black's d-pawn.

55.Nf8

• 55.Nxa7 Qxa7 56.Nf8 Be5+ 57.g3 Qa2+ 58.Qg2 draws.

55...Rb7?

• Black misses the draw and the game is lost.
• 55...g5!! 56.Nxa7 Be5+ 57.g3 Qa2+ then:
• 58.Qg2 Qxa7 59.Qe2 Qd4 then:
• 60.Qc2 Bxg3+ 61.Kxg3 Qf4+ 62.Kg2 Qxf8 is equal.
• 60.Qf3 Qd2+ 61.Kh1 Qe1+ 62.Kg2 Qd2+ draws.
• If 58.Kh1 Qa1+ 59.Kg2 Qa2+ 60.Kf1 Qa1+ 61.Kg2 draws.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 55...Ra7b7

56.Nxg6+!

• The death watch begins.

56...Kh7 57.Qf5 Qa8

• If 57...Rc7 58.Nce7 Qc2 59.Qf7 Rc8 then:
• 60.Nxc8 Qxg6 61.Qxg6+ Kxg6 62.g4 White, with the extra pawn, still has better chances; Black has no more reserve pawn tempi.
• 60.Nf5!? Qc3! 61.Nxd6 Rd8 62.Nf5 Qf6 gives Black counterplay.

58.Nce7!

• White forces the return of the exchange.

58...Rxe7

• 58...Be5+ 59.Nxe5+ Kh8 60.Qf7 dxe5 61.Ng6#.

59.Nxe7+ Kh8 60.Ng6+ Kg8 61.Ne7+

• The immediate 61.Qe6+ is more economical.

61...Kh8 62.Ng6+ Kg8 63.Qe6+ Kh7 64.h4 Qa4

• If 64...h5 then White wins with 65.Nf4 Be5 66.Qg6+ Kh8 67.Qxh5+.

65.Qf5 Qe8 66.Nf4+

• White wins faster after 66.Ne7+! Kh8 67.Qe6 Be5+ 68.Kh3 Kh7 69.g4.

66...Kh8

• 66...Kg8 67.Qe6+ Qxe6 68.Nxe6 Bf6 69.Kh3 Kf7 70.g4 wins for White.

67.Ng6+!?

• The quickest winning line is 67.Ne6! Be5+ 68.Kh3 Qc8 69.Qg6.

67...Kg8

• 67...Kh7 68.Ne7+ Kh8 69.Qe6transposes into the note after White's 66th move.

68.h5 Qf7

• 68...Bd4 69.Kh3 Bg7 70.Nf4 Qe1 71.Qe6+ wins for White.

69.Nh4 Be5+ 70.Kh3 Qxd5 71.Qg6+ Bg7

• If 71...Kf8 then after 72.Qxh6+ Kg8 73.Qg6+ Kh8 74.Qf5 Qb3+ 75.Nf3 White's extra pawn triumphs.

72.Nf5 Qb3+ 73.g3 Qb7 74.Nxh6+

• White has connected passers on the wings. Black must protect her d-pawn at all costs.

74...Kf8 75.Qf5+ Ke8 76.Qe6+ Qe7

• 76...Kd8 77.Nf7+ Kc7 78.Qxd6+ Kc8 79.Qd8#.

77.Qxe7+ Kxe7 78.Nf5+ 1-0

• If 78...Kf6 then after 79.Nxg7 Kxg7 80.g4 d5 81.Kg3 d4 82.Kf4 the pawn is taken.
• Koneru Sahibah resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Koneru - Pérez Candelario, Round 2

Koneru Humpy
Photo: ChessBase.com


Koneru Humpy - Manuel Pérez Candelario
Ruy López Festival (Magistral), Round 2
Zafra, Badajoz (Spain), 14 June 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

• Koneru Sahibah and el señor Pérez continue a discussion on the Stoltz Opening they began at last year's edition of the Ruy López Fesitval, held in Mérida.
• For a more detailed look at this opening, see Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009.

6...Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5

• If 9...a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 then:
• 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.Qh4 Re8 15.Bd3 h6 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Qh4 Be7 draw (Burmakin-Dreev, Op, Novgorod, 1999; several games since have ended here or after one or two more moves in an agreed draw).
• 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.a3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Be5 16.Bf3 c5 17.Nde2 c4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Nd4 g6 is equal (Bologan-Karjakin, IT, Dortmund, 2001).

10.Be2 Bb7 11.e4 e5 12.Rd1 Qb8

• If 12...Qc7 then:
• If 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

13.g3

• If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 then:
• 14...Neg4 15.g3 g6 16.Bf3 is equal (Koneru-Pérez, IT, Mérida, 2008).
• If 14...Ng6 15.g3 Re8 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Bf8 17.Bf3 b4 18.Nb1 c5 favors Black since White's queenside is cramped.(Evdokimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16...Bc5 17.a3 a5 18.Bg5 Qe5 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Na4 Bf8 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 is equal (Alverez-Scheffner, cyberspace, 2000).

13...a6!?

• 13...Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

14.dxe5

• The game is equal.

14...Nxe5 15.Nd4

• 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Be3 Re8 remains equal.

15...Ned7 16.Nf5 Bc7!

• Retreating the Bishop is simplest and best./li]
• If the time-robbing 16...Be5?! then Black is immediately punished with 17.f4! and now:
• If 17...Bxc3 18.Qxc3 then:
• 18...Nb6 19.b4 Na4 20.Qe3 Rd8 21.Ba3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 18...Rd8 19.Be3 a5 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Nxc6 b4 22.Qc4 gives White a strong initiative.
• If 17...Bc7 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.e5 Bb6+ 20.Kf1 then:
• 20...Nxe5 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Nf5 Rae8 23.Nd6 gives White the active game, but Black has counterplay opportunities.
• 20...Nd5?! 21.Ncxd5 cxd5 22.Nxd5 Qe8 23.Qf5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Manuel Pérez Candelario
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 16...Bd6c7

17.Bg5!?

• The game still remains equal, but the text is more enterprising (and riskier) than retraining Black's queenside
• 17.a3 Re8 18.f4 g6 19.Ne3 Qa7 20.Bf3 Bb6 remains equal.

17...Re8 18.Bf3 Be5

• 18...h6 19.Bh4 c5 20.Bg2 Ra7 21.Bh3 b4 22.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Bg2 c5 20.Qd2 b4 21.Nd5 Bxd5

• If 21...Nxd5 22.exd5 then:
• 22...h6 23.Be7 Qa7 24.Rac1 Qb6 25.Qc2 Qg6 26.Nd6! remains equal.
• 22...Bd6 23.Re1 Qc7 24.Be7 Bxe7 25.Nxe7+ gives White the advantage in space.

22.exd5 c4 23.Rab1!?

• White refrains from the best move in order to make Black think a little harder.
• If 23.Rac1 Qb5 24.Bh4 Rad8 then:
• 25.d6 Kh8 26.Bf1 Bxb2 27.Qxb2 Qxf5 28.Bxc4 remains equal.
• 25.Qg5 g6 26.Rd2 c3 27.bxc3 bxc3 28.Rdd1 remains equal.

23...c3?

• Black attacks the Queen, and in so doing misses the best continuation.
• 23...b3! keeps active the Bishop.s attack on the pawn at b2; if now 24.axb3 then after 24...Qxb3 25.d6 Rab8 26.Bxf6 Bxf6 27.Bd5 the game remains equal.

BLACK: Manuel Pérez Candelario
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 23...c4c3

24.Qc2!

• Another good continuation is 24.bxc3 Bxc3 25.Qd3 Qb5 26.Be3 Qa4 27.d6 when White has the active game.

24...cxb2 25.d6!

• White opens the lane to win the exchange.

25...Bc3

• Black cannot prevent White from winning the exchange.
• 25...Ra7 26.Ne7+ Rxe7 27.dxe7 Qe8 28.Re1 Rc7 29.Qa4 gives White the material advantage and the initiative.

26.Ne7+

• White can take her time before capturing the Rook.

26...Kh8 27.Bd2

• 27.Bxf6 Bxf6 28.Bxa8 Qxa8 29.Nd5 gives White a completely won game.

27...Qxd6 28.Bxc3 Qc5

• If 28...Qxe7 then after 29.Bxf6 Nxf6 30.Bxa8 Rxa8 31.Qxb2 a5 32.Re1 shows White has designs on the back rank.

29.Bxa8!

• The exchange will wait no longer.

29...Rxa8

• If 29...bxc3 then after 30.Nd5 Rxa8 31.Nxc3 Rc8 32.Rd3 Ne5 33.Rbd1 White wins.

30.Qxb2 bxc3

• White is a theoretical pawn to the good, but more importantly her heavy pieces have open access to Black's camp.

BLACK: Manuel Pérez Candelario
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 30...bc3:p

31.Qb8+!!

• A gem of a Queen sacrifice finishes Black's resistance.

31...Ng8

• 31...Rxb8 32.Rxb8+ Nxb8 33.Rd8+ Ng8 34.Rxg8#.

32.Qxa8 Qxe7 33.Rxd7 1-0

• If 33...Qxd7 then after 34.Qxg8+ Kxg8 35.Rb8+ White mates on the next move.
• El señor Pérez resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Third Kings' Tournament, Banzna

Bran Castle, also known as Castle Dracula
Transylvania Region, Romania
Photo: ObscureHorror.com

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Nisipeanu - Ivanchuk, Round 1

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu - Vassily Ivanchuk
Third Kings' Tournament, Round 1
Bazna, 14 June 2009

Spanish Gran Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bb7 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Bc2

• If 12.d5 Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7 then:
• If 14.N3h2 then:
• If Rc8 then:
• 15.Bg5 h5 16.a4 g6 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bc2 gives White the advantage in space (Ni Hua-León Hoyos, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2008-09).
• 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.Qxg4 Nc5 17.Bc2 c6 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Ne3 g6 20.Rd1 Bh6 21.b4 Ne6 22.Bb3 Kh8 23.Nd5 Bxc1 24.Raxc1 Rf8 25.Rc2 f5 is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• If 14...Nc5 15.Bc2 c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bg5 then:
• 18...h6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Bd7 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.Bb3 Be6 24.Red1 Re7 25.Qd3 Rec7 26.Rac1 Qg5 27.Rc2 d5 28.Ng3 draw (Gashimov-Inarkiev, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 18...Qc7 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.hxg4 Bb7 22.Re3 Be7 23.Bb3 Bg5 24.Rf3 Rf8 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Rd1 Be6 27.Ne3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 a5 29.Bxe6 fxe6 is equal (Carlsen-Navara, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 14.Ng3 g6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Bc2 c6 17.b4 Ncd7 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Bb3 Nb6 20.Qd3 Rb8 21.Rad1 Rb7 22.Nh2 Bd7 23.Bxb6 Rxb6 24.Ngf1 Bh6 25.Ne3 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Be6 27.Nf3 Kg7 28.Rd3 Qc7 is equal (Short-Ivanchuk, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).
• If 12.a3 g6 then:
• If 13.Ba2 Bg7 14.b4 a5 15.d5 Ne7 then:
• 16.Bb2 Nh5 17.Nb3 axb4 18.axb4 Bc8 19.Na5 Nf4 20.c4 g5 21.cxb5 g4 22.Nh2 gxh3 23.g3 Neg6 24.Bb1 Qg5 25.Bc1 is equal (Adams-Grischuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 16.Nb3 axb4 17.cxb4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bxd5 19.Nfd2 then:
• 19...Bxe4 20.Nxe4 h6 21.Bb2 Kh7 22.g4 Rf8 23.Rc1 f5 24.gxf5 Nxf5 is equal (Iordachescu-Nikolic, IT, Valjevo, 2007).
• 19...f5 20.Re1 e4 21.Na5 Qd7 22.Bxd5+ Nxd5 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Shen Yang, TMatch, Ningbo, 2008).
• 13.Bc2 Bg7 14.d5 Nb8 15.c4 c6 16.b4 Qc7 17.Bb2 bxc4 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.Nxc4 Rad8 20.Ba4 Nxe4 21.Qc2 d5 draw (Sax-Short, Intrznl, Biel, 1985).
• If 12.Bc2 g6 13.d5 Nb8 14.b3 c6 15.c4 then:
• 15...Nbd7 16.a4 Qc7 17.Ba3 Rec8 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb6 20.b4 Rc3 21.Nb1 Rcc8 22.Bc1 bxa4 23.Qxa4 Qd8 24.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 15...a5 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Bg5 Nb4 20.Bb1 Bxc4 21.bxc4 h6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.a3 Na6 24.Nd2 Nc5 25.Bc2 Reb8 26.Rb1 Qc6 27.Qf3 Bg7 28.Rec1 Nfd7 29.Qd1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1991).

12...h6 13.d5

• If 13.a4 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 then:
• If 17...f5 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 22...Ra7 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Re7 is equal (Haba-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, 2003).
• 17...c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 is equal (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

13...Ne7 14.b3 c6 15.c4 cxd5 16.cxd5 Nd7 17.a4!?

• 17.g4 Ng6 18.Nf1 Nf4 19.Kh2 Rc8 20.Bd2 h5 21.Ne3 hxg4 22.hxg4 Nf6 23.Rg1 g6 is equal (Ivanchuk-Morozevich, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009).
• 17.Nf1 f5 18.exf5 Nxd5 19.b4 N7b6 20.Be4 Qd7 21.N1h2 Rac8 22.Ng4 Rc4 23.Bd2 h5 24.Ngh2 Nc3 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative (J. Polgar-Morozevich, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2008).

17...f5

• The game is equal.

18.axb5

• 18.exf5 Nxd5 19.Bb2 b4 20.Rc1 remains equal.

18...axb5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 20.Bd3 Nf6!?

• 20...b4 21.Nh4 fxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxd5 23.Nxd6 Rd8 24.Ne4 remains equal.

21.Bxb5 Rc8 22.Bc4

• Black was threatening to win a pawn with 22...fxe4 23.Nxe4 Nexd5.

22...fxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Rxe4 Bxd5 25.Rg4

• White threatens 26.Bxh6!.

25...Kh8 26.Be3?

• 26.Ne1 Bxc4 27.Rxc4 d5 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 29.Bb2 Qe6 remains equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
!""""""""#
$w+t+ V L%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 26...Bc1e3

26...Bxf3!

• Black's plan suggests itself after White's mistake: weaken White's kingside pawns roll forward with the center pawns.

27.gxf3 d5 28.Bd3 Rc3!

• 28...d4!? 29.Bd2! Rb8 30.Be4 Qa2 31.f4 leaves Black better, but White has a lot more fight than he gets in the text.

29.Bb1 d4 30.Be4!?

• White gets a more stubborn defense from 30.Bd2 Qxf3 31.Qxf3 Rxf3 32.Bc2 g5.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
!""""""""#
$w+ + V L%
$+ + M O %
$ + + + O%
$+ + O + %
$ + Ob+r+%
$+pT Bp+p%
$ + + P +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 30.Bb1e4

30...Qa2!

• Lights out!

31.Bd2 Rxb3 32.Kg2

• If 32.Bc1 Rc3 33.Bd2 Ra3 then:
• If 34.f4 Qb2 35.Bc1 Ra1 then:
• If 36.Bxb2 Rxd1+ 37.Kg2 d3 38.fxe5 d2 then:
• 39.Bc2 Rc1 40.Ba4 d1Q Black is a piece up.
• If 39.Bf3 Rb1 40.Rb4 Kh7 41.Bc3 d1Q Black is a piece to the good.
• If 36.Kg2 then after 36...Rxc1 37.Qf3 Rc3 38.Bd3 Nf5 39.fxe5 Qa3 Black wins material.
• 34.Bc1 Qa1 35.Kg2 Rc3 36.Bc2 Nd5 37.Re4 Nb4 wins for Black.

32...Rb2 33.Be1 Nd5 34.Kg1 0-1

• 34.Bxd5 Qxd5 35.Qd3 Be7 36.Qg6 Bf6 is a more stubborn defense, but it won't change the final outcome.
• After the text, 34...Nf6! 35.Rh4 Nxe4 36.Rxe4 Rb1 37.Qd3 Qa1 is lights out.
• Dl. Nisipeanu resigns without waiting for Vassily Mikhailovich to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Shirov - Gelfand, Round 5

Boris Gelfand
Photo: RussiaChess.org


Alexei Shirov - Boris Gelfand
Third Kings' Tournament, Round 5
Bazna, 18 June 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Bronstein Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3

• For an overview of the main line of the Queen's Indian, see Wang Hao-Zhou Jianchao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009.

4...Ba6 5.Qb3

• This is a relatively unusual way to meet the Bronstein Variation. Most common moves here are 5.b3 and 5.Nbd2/li]

5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 Na5

• 6...d5 7.Bg2 Bd6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Nc4 0-0 12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Rc1 Rfe8 15.Be5 Ng4 16.Bh3 f5 17.f4 Ba4 18.Qa3 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Bb5 20.Qf3 g6 21.g4 Kh8 22.0-0 Qe7 23.gxf5 gxf5 24.Kh1 c5 is equal (Riazantsev-S. Zhigalko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

7.Qc3

• 7.Qa4 Bb7 8.Bg2 c5 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.0-0 Be7 11.Ne5 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 0-0 13.Ndf3 Qc7 14.Rd1 d6 15.Bd2 Nb7 16.Nc6 Ne4 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Be1 f5 19.a3 Nd8 20.b4 Nf7 21.Qc2 Rac8 draw (Beliavsky-Psakhis, IT, Debrecen, 1992).

7...c5 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.e4 Bb7

• 9...d6 10.a3 Bb7 11.b4 Nc6 12.Bg2 Nd7 13.b5 Ne7 14.0-0 Ng6 15.Bb2 h5 16.h4 Be7 17.Rad1 Bf6 18.Qc2 Qc7 19.Rfe1 Rd8 20.Nb3 Bxb2 21.Qxb2 0-0 22.Ng5 is equal (Zhukova-Chiburdanidze, No Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk, 2004).

10.e5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bg2 Nc6

• If 12...Be7 13.0-0 then:
• 13...Nc6 14.Re1 Bg6 15.Bf4 0-0 16.Rad1 Rb8 17.Rd2 Qc7 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Rfd8 20.Rd6 Nd4 21.Nf3 Nf5 22.Rd2 Bh5 23.Bh3 Bxf3 24.Bxf5 Ba8 25.Bc2 g6 26.f3 Qb6 27.Be4 draw (Riazantsev-Anisimov, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
• 13...Rb8 14.Re1 Bg6 15.Bg5 Nc6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.h3 0-0 18.Rad1 Rfd8 19.Rd6 f6 20.Red1 gives White a small advantage in space and the initiative (Sargissian-A, Ivanov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

13.0-0 Rb8 14.Re1 Bxf3 15.Bxf3

• 15.Qxf3 Nd4 16.Qe4 Be7 17.Rb1 a5 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.Qxd4 Bc5 21.Qd3 0-0 22.b3 Rfd8 23.Rbd1 draw (Svidler-Eljanov, IT, Foros, 2007).

15...Nd4 16.Bd1!?

• 16.Bg2 Be7 17.Rb1 Qb6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Qd3 a5 20.Be4 g6 21.Red1 Rfd8 22.Qa3 is equal (Riazantsev-S. Zhigalko, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

16...Be7

• The game is equal.

17.Be3 Qc7 18.Rb1?!

• If 18.Bxd4 cxd4 19.Qxd4 Bc5 20.Qg4 then:
• 20...Rxb2! 21.Qxg7 Bxf2+ 22.Kf1 Rf8 23.Re2 Bd4 Black has the active game.
• 20...0-0?! 21.Re2 f6 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.Ba4 Rbf8 24.Rf1 gives White an extra pawn and more activity.

18...Qxe5!

• Black assures himself a passed pawn.

19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.Qd2 Qc5 21.Be2?

• White lapses into uncharacteristic passivity and never recovers.
• 21.Qd3 Qa5 22.Re2 Qxa2 then:
• 23.b4! Qa6 24.Qxd4 Bf6 25.Qd3 d6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.
• 23.b3!? Qa5 24.Qxd4 Bf6 25.Qe4 h5 gives Black a clear advantage in space.

21...0-0 22.Red1

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
!""""""""#
$ T + Tl+%
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 22.Re1d1

22...e5!

• Black has a passed pawn and will form his winning strategy around it. For starters, he'll overprotect it.

23.Qd3 f5!

• Black will also use his central majority to create connected passers on the d- and e-files.

23...f5 ]
24.g4

• White tries to create some counterplay on the kingside.. .

24...g6

• ... but Black nips it in the bud.

25.gxf5 gxf5 26.b4

• Having failed on the kingside, White looks for play on the queenside.

26...Qc6!

• Black will stop White on the sixth rank, which he can also use to navigate his heavy pieces to the opposite wing.

27.b5 Qb6 28.Qg3+

• If 28.Bh5 Kh8 then:
• If 29.Kh1 Bc5 30.Rg1 Qb7+ 31.Rg2 Qe4 then:
• 32.Qf1 d3 33.f4 d6 34.Rc1 Rg8 35.fxe5 Rxg2 White is kaput.
• If 32.Qxe4 then after 32...fxe4 33.Kg1 d3 34.h3 Rbd8 35.a4 d5 Black central pawn mass crushes White.
• If 29.Rb3 then after 29...Qc5 30.Bf3 e4 31.Qxd4+ Qxd4 32.Rxd4 e3 Black has the upper hand.

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 28.Qd3g3+

28...Qg6!

• Once again, Black uses the sixth rank as a passage to easily navigate his heavy pieces to the opposite wing.

29.Bh5 Qxg3+ 30.hxg3

• 30.fxg3 e4 31.Rxd4 Bc5 32.Rbd1 d5 wins for Black.

30...Bc5 31.Kg2 e4 32.Rh1

• If 32.a4 then after 32...Rfd8 33.Be2 Kg7 34.Rbc1 Rf8 35.Rb1 f4 Black's pawns are unstoppable.

32...d3 33.Bd1 f4 34.Rh5 f3+

• Also good is 34...d6 35.Rd5 f3+ 36.Kf1 Rf6 37.Rh5 Re8.

35.Kf1 d6 36.Bb3

• 36.Ba4 Rb7 37.Rh4 Re7 38.Re1 d2 39.Rexe4 Rfe8 wins for Black.

36...Rbe8 37.Re1 d2!

• One more step to go.

38.Rd1

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 38.Re1d1

38...Bxf2!!

• Black sacrifices either his Bishop or the advanced passer, but either way the end is near.

39.Rxd2

• If 39.Kxf2 then after 39...e3+ 40.Kg1 e2 41.c5+ Kh8 the time comes to draw tne curtain.

39...Bc5 40.Bc2

• 40.Rxc5 dxc5 41.Rh2 e3 42.Rh1 Rd8 43.g4 Rd2 is lights out.

40...Re7 0-1

• The price for stopping Black's connecected passers is too high.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Kamsky - Shirov, Round 1

Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Gata Kamsky - Alexei Shirov
Third Kings' Tournament, Round 1
Bazna, 14 June 2009

English Game: Agincourt Defense

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5

• This is the Agincourt Defense, basically a French Defense to the English Game; it is named after the historical battle where the French met the English in 1415. Historically, English longbowmen under the command of King Henry V slaughtered the French forces with their cumbersome crossbows; in chess, the French (Black) fare much better and chaces are about 50/50.

3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7

• If 4...c5 5.b3 Nc6 then:
• If 6.cxd5 exd5 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...Bg4 then:
• 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Bd6 10.Nc3 Be5 11.Ba3 Qa5 12.Bb2 0-0 13.Bg2 Rac8 14.Rc1 Qa6 15.a4 Rfe8 is equal (Gelfand-Eljanov, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).
• 8.Bb2 Be7 9.d3 Qd7 10.Re1 h5 11.h4 d4 12.Nbd2 Rd8 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.Rc1 b5 15.Ncd2 Qd7 16.Ng5 Nb4 17.Nde4 is equal (Colle-Znosko-Barovsky, IT, Paris, 1925).
• If 7...Be7 8.d4 0-0 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Bb2 Bf6 11.Na4 Re8 12.Rc1 then:
• If 12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Bf5 15.e3 Qd7 16.Bb2 Qe6 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.Rxc5 Be4 19.Qh5 Rad8 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rg5 f6 22.Qh6 g6 23.Rxg6+ hxg6 24.Qxg6+ Kf8 25.Bxf6 Re7 26.Bg7+ Kg8 27.Bf6+ Kf8 draw (Uhlmann-Spassky, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
• If 12...b6 13.dxc5 Bxb2 14.Nxb2 then:
• 14...bxc5 15.Na4 Ba6 16.Re1 c4 17.Nd2 cxb3 18.axb3 Nd4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 is equal (D. Gurevich-Cooper, SX, Illinois, 1993).
• 14...Nxc5 15.Nd3 Ba6 16.Nf4 g5 17.Nd3 gives Black the advantage in space (Aronian-Halkias, World ChU20, Yerevan, 1999).
• If 6.0-0 Be7 7.e3 0-0 8.Bb2 b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 then:
• If 11...Qxd5 12.d4 Rad8 13.Ne5 Qd6 then:
• If 14.dxc5 Qxc5 then:
• 15.Qe2 Nxe5 16.Bxb7 Bf6 17.Rfd1 Ng4 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 is equal (Botvinnik-Keres, IT, Amsterdam, 1966).
• 15.Nd7 Qg5 16.h4 Qh6 17.Rc1 e5 18.Qg4 Rfe8 19.Nxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Valdes-Batchuluun, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qg4 cxd4 16.Bxd4 g6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Rac1 Qd6 19.Rfd1 draw (Toran-O'Kelly, IT, Olot, 1969).
• If 11...exd5 12.d4 Ba6 13.Re1 then:
• 13...c4 14.bxc4 Bxc4 15.a3 Rc8 16.Nd2 Na5 17.Bc3 Be2 18.Qxe2 Rxc3 19.Qf3 Rxa3 20.Qxd5 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Qxd5 22.Bxd5 gives White the active Rook (Sadorra-Kravtsiv, Mindsports, Beijing, 2008).
• 13...Nb4 14.Ne5 f6 15.a3 fxe5 16.axb4 Bb7 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.bxc5 Bxc5 19.Bxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Pavlovic-Kulago, Op, Hastings, 2006).
• If 4...dxc4 5.0-0 then:
• If 5...c6 6.a4 then:
• If 6...a5 7.Na3 then:
• If 7...Na6 8.Nxc4 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.b3 Nb4 11.Nfe5 Qc7 12.Bb2 Rd8 13.e3 gives White the advantage in space (Tomashevsky-Sjugirov, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 7...Bxa3 8.bxa3 0-0 9.Qc2 b5 10.Rb1 Ba6 11.axb5 cxb5 12.Nd4 Qxd4 13.Bxa8 gives White the exchange (Tomashevsky-Korneev, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 6...Na6 7.Na3 Bxa3 8.Rxa3 Nb4 9.b3 cxb3 10.Rxb3 a5 11.d4 0-0 12.Ba3 Qc7 13.Qb1 Nfd5 14.e4 Nb6 15.Bxb4 axb4 16.Rxb4 Nxa4 is equal (Rittner-Thiele, Corres, 1968).
• A not-too-unusual set up is 5...Nbd7 6.Qa4 a6 7.Qxc4 b5 8.Qc2 Bb7 leading to easy equality.

5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d4

• If 6...c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.Nc3 Rad8 then:
• 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Rxd5 14.d4 Rd7 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Ng5 Rfd8 17.Rxd7 Qxd7 18.Qc2 f5 19.Qc4 Re8 is equal (Kharitonov-Kholmov, City Ch, Moscow, 2002).
• If 12.Rac1 then:
• 12...dxc4 13.bxc4 a6 14.d3 Rd7 15.Ne1 Na5 16.f4 Bxg2 17.Qxg2 Rfd8 18.Qe2 Nc6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Lukov-Reshevsky, GMA Qual, Moscow, 1989).
• 12...Qb8 13.cxd5 exd5 14.d4 Rfe8 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Na4 Be7 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 gives White the advantage in space; Blackshould seek piece exchanges (Panno-Zambrana, ENTEL Cup, Santiago, 2004).

7.e3 c5 8.exd4 cxd4 9.d3 Nc6 10.Qe2!?

• 10.Re1 Nd7 11.Na3 e5 12.Nc2 a5 13.Rb1 f6 14.a3 Nc5 15.b4 Na4 16.Bd2 axb4 17.axb4 then:
• If 17...Bf5? 18.b5! (the Knight has no good squares) 18...Nb8 19.Nfxd4!! (the sacrifice blows away Black's center) 19...exd4 20.Bxb7! Ra7 21.Bd5+ Kh8 22.Nxd4 then:
• 22...Bxd3 23.Ne6 Qc8 24.Ra1 Bxc4 25.Qg4 Bb4 26.Bxb4 Bxd5 27.Bxf8 Bxe6 28.Rxe6 Black resigns in a mating net (Nikolic-K. Szabo, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• No better is 22...Bd7 23.Qh5 f5 24.Bf7 f4 25.Bg6.
• 17...Nc3 18.Bxc3 dxc3 19.Rb3 Bg4 20.c5 b6 remains equal.

10...a5

• The game is equal.
• 10...Bd6 11.Nbd2 e5 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Qf6 is also equal.

11.Na3 a4 12.Bb2 Nd7 13.Nb5 e5 14.Nd2 Nc5 15.Ba3!?

• 15.f4 Bf5 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 remains equal.

15...Bf5!

• Black ties White's pieces to the defense of the e-pawn.

16.Bxc5 Bxc5 17.Kh1

• 17.Ne4 Bb4 18.bxa4 Rxa4 19.a3 Be7 is equal.

17...Bg6!?

• Stronger is 17...Qd7! 18.bxa4 Bg4 19.f3 Bh5 20.Nb3 Bb4 when Black has the advantage in space.

18.Ne4!

• The game is again equal.

18...Be7 19.f4 f5

• If 19...exf4 20.gxf4 Bf5 then:
• If 21.Ng3 Bd7 22.Rab1 axb3 23.axb3 Re8 24.Qf2 Bg4 is equal.
• 21.bxa4 Rxa4 22.Ng3 Bd7 23.Ne4 Re8 24.Qd1 is equal.

20.Nd2 exf4 21.gxf4

• 21.Rxf4 Bg5 22.Bd5+ Kh8 23.Rff1 Be3 24.bxa4 Rxa4 is equal.

21...Re8

• 21...Kh8 22.Qd1 Re8 23.bxa4 Bf6 24.c5 Be7 is equal.

22.Qe6+ Kh8 23.Nf3?!

• Black is setting up an attack on the queenside; White would do well to nip it in the bud.
• 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Qxc6 Rc8 25.Qg2 is equal.

23...Bb4!?

• 23...Bf6! 24.Qd6 Re3 25.Rae1 Rxd3 26.Ne5 Rd2 gives Black a more active game..

24.Qd5 Bc3 25.Rad1

• If 25.Rac1 Bb2 then:
• 26.Rce1 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Qxd5 28.cxd5 Nb4 is equal.
• if 26.Rc2!? then after 26...a3 27.Ne5 Nb4 28.Qxd8 Raxd8 29.Re2 Bh5 Black stands better.
• If 25.Qxd8 Raxd8 26.Rac1 then:
• 26...Nb4 27.Ne5 a3 28.Bxb7 Nxa2 29.Rb1 Rb8 is equal.
• After 26...Re2 27.bxa4 Ba5 28.c5 Rxa2 29.Nd6 White stands slightly better.

25...Qe7

• If 25...axb3 26.axb3 Ra2 27.Qxd8 Rxd8 28.Rc1 then:
• 28...Bd2 29.Nxd2 Rxd2 30.Rcd1 Rb2 31.Rb1 is equal.
• 28...Nb4 29.Nxc3 dxc3 30.Rxc3 Nxd3 31.Ne5 is equal.

26.Nd6 Nb4 27.Qe5

BLACK:Alexei Shirov
!""""""""#
$t+ +t+ L%
$+o+ W Oo%
$ + N +v+%
$+ + Qo+ %
$oNpO P +%
$+pVp+n+ %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 27.Qd5e5

27...a3!!

• Black sacrifices the exchange for the initiative wrought by an advanced passer.
• 27...Nc6 28.Qxe7 Rxe7 29.Nh4 axb3 30.Nxg6+ hxg6 31.Rf3 is equal.

28.Nxe8 Qxe8 29.Rf2 Bb2 30.Nh4?

• White needs to deal with the looming threat on his queenside.
• Correct is 30.Qc7 Nxa2 31.Nxd4 Nc3 32.Rdf1 a2 33.Nc2 with equality.

30...Qxe5

• The text is good enough, but even more effective is 30...Bh5! 31.Rdd2 Nxa2 32.Bxb7 when:
• After 32...Nc1! 33.Qxf5 a2 34.Be4 Bg6 35.Nxg6+ Qxg6 material dwindles as Black's pawn at a2 casts a large shadow over the entire board.
• 32...Qxe5!? 33.fxe5 Rb8 34.Rxb2 axb2 35.Rxb2 is equal.

31.Nxg6+ hxg6 32.fxe5

• White seeks compensation for Black's gains by establishing advamced passed pawns in the center.

32...Nxa2 33.Bxb7 Ra7!

• Black seizes the initiative, compensating for the exchange.
• If 33...Re8? 34.Re1 Nc1 35.Bd5 then:
• If 35...g5 36.Bf7 Ra8 37.Rxf5 then:
• If 37...g6 then after 38.Rxg5 a2 39.Rxg6 a1Q 40.Reg1 Black must give up the Queen or submit to mate.
• 37...a2 38.Rxg5 g6 39.Rxg6 Ne2 40.Rxe2 a1Q+ 41.Rg1 wins for White.
• 35...Nxd3 36.Rf3 Bc1 37.Rxc1 leaves White up by a Rook.

34.Bd5

• The game is equal.
• 34.Bc6 Re7 35.Re1 Nb4 36.Bd5 Kh7 37.Rf3 is equal.

34...Nb4 35.Rf3

• White threatens mate on h3.
• If 35.Rf4 Nxd5 36.cxd5 then after 36...a2 37.d6 a1Q 38.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 39.Kg2 White's advanced connected passers compensate for his material deficit.
• 36...Bc3? 37.d6! Kg8 38.e6 Ra8 39.Rh4 wins for White.

35...Nxd5 36.cxd5

BLACK:Alexei Shirov
!""""""""#
$ + + + L%
$T + + O %
$ + + +o+%
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WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 36.cd5:N

36...a2!

• With the exchange of minor pieces having parried the mating threat, Black turns to a plan to win a Rook by queening.

37.Rff1

• The Rook is forced to retreat; White must return the exchange in order to stop the a-pawn.
• 37.d6 a1Q 38.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 39.Kg2 Kg8 40.e6 Ra8 remains equal, this time in spite of Black's material advantage.

37...Kg8!

• The Black King must partake in the fight.

38.Ra1 Bxa1 39.Rxa1 Ra5 40.b4!?

• White juggles the best move order in an attempt to swindle Black, who now has the better game.40.e6 Kf8 41.b4 Rxd5 42.Rxa2 Ke7 43.Rg2 Kxe6 gives Black a clear upper hand.

40...Rxd5!

• 40...Ra3? 41.b5 Ra5 42.e6 wins for White.

41.Rxa2 Rxe5 42.Ra8+ Kf7 43.Rd8 Re1+

• Also good for Black is 43...Ke6 44.Rxd4 g5 45.Kg1 Re2.

44.Kg2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 g5!?

• The advance of the pawn mass is premature.
• 45...Rb2! 46.Rxd4 Ke6 47.Rh4 Rb3 48.Rf4 Rxd3 gives Black an extra pawn.

46.Rxd4 g4 47.b5

• 47.Rd7+ Kf6 48.b5 Rb2 49.Rd5 Ke6! gives Black the elements he uses to win (see note to Black's 48th move.).

47...Rb2 48.Rd5

BLACK:Alexei Shirov
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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$ + + + +%
$+p+r+o+ %
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$+ +p+ + %
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WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 48.Rd4d5

48...Ke6!

• The keys to Black's victory, a dozen moves hence, are his strong, solid pawn mass, his active, centralized King and his more active Rook,

49.Rc5 g5!?

• The text makes Black's pawns weaker, not stronger.
• Much better is 49...g6! (fortifying the f-pawn) 50.d4 Kd6 51.Re5 Rb4 52.Rc5 Rxd4 when Black has the more active King and Rook.

50.d4

• If 50.Kh1 Rd2 51.b6 Rb2 52.Rc6+ Ke5 Black's pawn mass rules over White's scattered weaklings.

50...Rb4!

• Black positions himself to win another pawn.
• If 50...Rd2?! 51.Rc6+ Kd7 then:
• 52.Rc5! Rd1+ 53.Kg2 f4 54.Rxg5 f3+ 55.Kg3 Rxd4 is equal.
• 52.Rg6? Rxd4 53.Rxg5 Ke6 54.b6 Rb4 55.Rg7 Kf6 White must either abandon his b-pawn or allow Black's pawn to advance.

51.Rc6+ Kd5 52.Rc5+ Ke4 53.Re5+ Kf4 54.Rd5

• This is the only move that will prolong the game.

BLACK:Alexei Shirov
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+p+r+oO %
$ T P Lo+%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + P%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 54.Re5d5

54...Rb1+!

• Black avoids the last pitfall.
• If 54...Rb3!? then after 55.Rc5! Rb1+ 56.Kf2 Ra1 57.Rd5 Ra2+ Black's game is not strong enough to convert to a win.

55.Kg2 Rb2+ 56.Kg1 Rd2! 57.Rc5

• If 57.Kh1 then after 57...g3 58.h3 g4 59.h4 g2+ 60.Kh2 g3+ the White King is in a mating net.

57...Rxd4 58.b6 Rb4 59.Rc6 g3 60.h3 Ke4 0-1

• If 61.b7 then after 61...Rxb7 62.Rc4+ Kd5 Black's pawns march forward.
• Mr. Kamsky resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Sunday afternoon): Chuckie jumps to full point lead in Bazna

Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, returning to the form that made him the unofficial world's number one chess master for a brief period last year, won his third game in a row today defeating Spanish-Latvian GM Alexei Shirov in 84 moves to take a full point lead in the Third annual King's Tournament in the Transylvanian town of Bazna, Romania.

Ivanchuk has 5½ points in seven rounds.

Israeli GM Boris Gelfand, who drew his game today with Romanian GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, is in second place with 4½ points.

In the only other game today, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, the youngest and highest rated player in the Category 20 tournament, moved into third place ahead of Shirov with a victory over Russo-American GM Gata Kamsky.

* * *

I see a rumor that I don't use this weekly feature to trash talk any one on this forum. Come on, guys. I've called FIDE President Kirsan Illyumzhinov "the George W. Bush of chess." Isn't the the worst thing you can say about any one at DU?

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Updates (Thursday)

Ivanchuk wins in Bazna



Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk won the Kings' Tournament in the Transylvanian town of Bazna, Romania earlier today with 7 points out of a possible 10.

Details this weekend.

Jobava wins Tbilisi City Hall Cup



Grandmaster Baadur Jobava of Georgia won the Tbilisi City Hall Cup in an open tournament completed yesterday in the Georgian capital with 8 points in nine rounds.

Details this weekend.

Bluvshtein, Kovalyov lead Quebec Invitational



Grandmasters Mark Bluvshtein of Canada and Anton Kovalyov of Argentina lead the Quebec Invitational Championship in Montreal with 5½ points each after six round.

Round 7 starts today about 5:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2:30 PDT) with live games (parties en direct) broadcast on the website of the Quebec Chess Federation.

The tournament ends Saturday.

Details this weekend.

[madinmaryland]

14. Dammit, JR. I need to brush up on my chess skills.

My wife won't play chess, and I really haven't played in 15 years. I really miss the strategy of chess.

Thanks for your threads!

[Jack Rabbit]

15. I hope these help.

Your wife won't play and she's the one who wants a $300 Lewis Carroll theme set?

[madinmaryland]

16. Uhmmm.

She has a bit more than that in Lewis Carroll books.

They are in a cabinet and not a book shelf. She has like four bookcases of books.

She got all of them before me.