The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for May 27: Shaba-Daba-Doo!!

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending May 27

Shaba-Daba-Doo!! Running Deep in Stillwater
Movsesian Wraps up Sarajevo early
Chisese Women Taking No Prisoners
Candidates' Matches Begin



Image: US National Champion Alex Shabalov
from Rocha de Kuppenheim (Germany)

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending May 27

Shabalbov Runs Deep in Stillwater



Latvian-born grandmaster Alex Shabalov, a popular swashbuckler who cut his teeth on the late Mikhail Tal, won the US National Championship in Stillwater, Oklahoma last week by a half point over his nearest rivals.

Shabalov, called Shaba by his fans, began the 36-player, nine round Swiss system event with five consecutive victories over some of the strongest chess masters in the United States to take a point a a half lead over the field. In round six last Sunday, Shabalov lost to the defending champion and his fellow Soviet expatriot, Alex Onischuk, to cut his lead to a half point. Onischuk drew even the following in round seven when he defeated Hikaru Nakamura while Onischuck drew with Jaan Ehlvest. Both players drew their eighth round games on Tuesday. In the final round on Wednesday, Onischuk drew his game with Boris Gulko, the only man to win both the Soviet and US Championships, while Shaba defeated another immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Sergey Kudrin, to take a clear first prize.

It is the second time Shaba has won the US Championship outright. He last won the event in 2003. He shared first prize on two other occasions: in 2000, when his finished in a three-way tie with Joel Benjamin and Yasser Seirawan and in 1993 when he shared first with Alex Yermolinsky.


Movsesian Wraps up Sarajevo early



Armenian native Sergei Movsesian wrapped up a clear first place in the SK Bosna 2007 tournamet in Sarajevo a round early today when he drew his game against pre-tournament favorite Alexander Morozevich of Russia.

The draw gave Movsesian a two point-lead over Morozevich, British grandmaster Nigel Short and the young GM from Bosnia, Borki Predojevic.

Unofficial Cross Table
SK Bosna 2007
Sarajevo

------------------------- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- T- (W)
1 Sergei Movsesian . . . .-- 1* 1½ 1½ ½½ ½½ 6½ (3)
2 Nigel Short. . . . . . .0* -- 01 01 1½ ½½ 4½ (3)
3 Alexander Morozevich . .0½ 10 -- ½* 01 1½ 4½ (3)
4 Borki Predojevic . . . .0½ 10 ½* -- ½½ 1* 4½ (2)
5 Ivan Sokolov . . . . . .½½ 0½ 10 ½½ -- ½½ 3½ (1)
6 Artyom Timofeev. . . . .½½ ½½ 0½ 0* ½½ -- 3½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

The last round will be played tomorrow.


Chisese Women Kicking Ass and Taking Names in Ekaterinburg



The team from China is dominating the Women's World Team Championship in Ekaterinburg after sevem rounds.

In terms of match points, the Chinese team leads Russia by two, 13-11, but the real story of China's dominance in the event is told by the fact that the team has scored 24 out of a possible 28 inidividual points.



The Chinese Team in Ekaterinburg
Reservist Huang Qian, Top board player Zhao Xue, Hou Yifan, Shen Yang and Ruan Lufei
Photo: ChessBase.com

The only blemish against China's team record is a drawn match against Georgia in the fourth round. In rounds two and three, they whitewashed Russia and Poland respectively, 4-0. China was won each of their four other matches by scores of 3½-½.

The Chinese team is made up of Zhao Xue, who has five wins and two draws for 6 points; 13-year-old Hou Yifan who leads the team with six victories; Ruan Lufei; junior world champion Shen Yang; and reserve player Huang Qian, who has won both games that she has played.


Candidates' Matches Begin in Elista



The cnadidates' matches to fill the four unseeded spots in Spetember's world championship tournament began today in Elista, the capital of the Russian autonomous republic of Kalmykia.

The sixteen players are divided into four groups. Within each group, two six game semi-final matches are held ending with any necessary playoffs on June 3; this will be followed by a final match between the semi-final match winners in each group from June 6-14.

The winners of each final match will go in September to Mexico City, where they will join world champion Vladimir Kramnik and three other seeded players, Vishy Anand of India and Russian Alexander Morozevich and Peter Svidler, for a tournament to determine a new world champion.

The winner of that tournament will play Kramnik in a world championship match or, should Kramnik win the tournament, he will play Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov, the last FIDE world champion.

The semi-final groups and pairing are:

• Group A
• Magnus Carlsen vs. Levon Aronian
• Peter Leko vs. Mikhail Gurevich
• Group B
• Mickey Adams vs. Alexey Shirov
• Judit Polgar vs. Evgeny Bareev
• Group C
• Boris Gelfand vs. Rustam Kasidzhanov
• Ruslan Ponomariov vs. Sergey Rublevsky
• Group D
• Gata Kamsky vs. Etienne Bacrot
• Alexander Grischuk vs. Vladimir Malakhov

In today's action, Aronian defeated Magnus and Grischuk won his game with Malakov. All other games were drawn.



Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar drawing for colors
The white sheep means she plays White in her first game against Evgeny Bareev
Photo: from the website of FIDE

As has come to be expected, the opening ceremony last night in Kalmykia was extremely colorful. One player from each pairing, chosen by lot, choose between two boxes, each containing a Black or White sheep, with that player have the color of the sheep in the first game. The sheep were given to the players as gifts.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Tuesday): Elista Semi-Finals at half way point

Russian grandmaster Sergei Rublevsky defeated Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine in a 92-move marathon a few minutes ago to take a 2 points to 1 lead in one of eight semi-final candidates' matches in Elista, Kalmykia (Russia).

Earlier in the day, 16-year-old Magnus Carlson of Norway defeated Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian to knot their match at a point and a half each. Aronian won the opening round Sunday.

Today's action concludes the first half of the semi-final matches. Tomorrow is a rest day. The matches resume Thursday.

The players are divided in four groups of two pairs. The winners of each semi-final match within each group will play a final match against each other. The winners of the final matches will play in the World Championship Tournament in Mexico City this Fall, joining world champion Vladimir Kramnik and three other seeded players, Vishy Anand of India and Russians Alexander Morozevich and Peter Svidler.

Candidates' Matches
Semi-Finals
Elista

Group A
Magnus Carlsen . . .0 ½ 1 * * * - 1½ . . . Peter Leko . . . . .½ 1 1 * * * - 2½
Levon Aronian. . . .1 ½ 0 * * * - 1½ . . . Mikhail Gurevich . .½ 0 0 * * * - .½

Group B
Mickey Adams . . . .½ ½ ½ * * * - 1½ . . . Judit Polgar . . . .½ 0 ½ * * * - 1.
Alexey Shirov. . . .½ ½ ½ * * * - 1½ . . . Evgeny Bareev. . . .½ 1 ½ * * * - 2.

Group C
Boris Gelfand. . . .½ ½ ½ * * * - 1½ . . . Ruslan Ponomariov. .½ ½ 0 * * * - 1.
Rustam Kasidzhanov .½ ½ ½ * * * - 1½ . . . Sergey Rublevsky . .½ ½ 1 * * * - 2.

Group D
Gata Kamsky. . . . .½ 1 1 * * * - 2½ . . . Alexander Grischuk .1 ½ ½ * * * - 2.
Etienne Bacrot . . .½ 0 0 * * * - .½ . . . Vladimir Malakhov. .0 ½ ½ * * * - 1.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features of the JR Chess Report

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.

Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Hikaru Nakamura - Alex Shabalov, US National Championship, Round 4, Stillwater
Alex Onischuk - Alex Shabalov, US National Championship, Round 6, Stillwater
Alexander Morozevich - Sergei Movsesian, SK Bosna Tournament, Round 4, Sarajevo
Nadezhda Kostinseva - Hou Yifan, Women's World Team Championship, Round 2, Ekaterinburg
Evgeny Bareev - Dmitry Jakovenko, Russian Team Championshiops, Round 3, Sochi
Alisa Galliamova - Tatiana Sadrina, Russian Team Championshiops, Round 10, Sochi
Anna Zozulia - Nigel Short, President's Cup Open, Round 3, Baku

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Nakamura - Shabalov, Round 4, Stillwater

Alex Shabalov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Hikaru Nakamura vs. Alex Shabalov
US National Championship, Round 4
Stillwater, Oklahoma May 2007

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Alekhine's Defense)

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 cxd6

• If 5. -- exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 then:
• 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nge2
• 8. -- Bg4 9. f3 Bh5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Nf4 Bg6 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. d5 Ne5 14. b3 Nbd7 15. Bb2 Nc5 16. Nce2 Bf6 17. b4 Ncd7 18. Qb3 a5 19. a3 c6 20. Kh1 Qb6 is level (Lahno-Tomashevsky, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg 2002).
• 8. -- 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. b3 Bg5 11. d5 Bxc1 12. Rxc1 Ne5 13. Bb1 Qh4 14. Qd4 Qxd4 15. Nxd4 gives White the edge in space (Drabke-Fridman, German Internet Ch, Cyberspace 2005).
• 7. h3 0-0 8. Nf3 Bf5 9. Be2 Bf6 10. 0-0 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rc1 h6 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nd4 Bh7 15. b3 Nbd7 16. Na4 Nc5 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Nb5 b6 is equal (Brodsky-Panchenko, Soviet Ch, Simferopol 1990).

6. Be3 g6 7. d5?!

• If 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Rc1 0-0 9. b3 then:
• 9. -- Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Be2 f5 12. f4 Ng4 13. Bxg4 fxg4 14. Nge2 e5 15. dxe6 Bxe6 16. 0-0 Qe7 17. Qd2 Rae8 18. Bd4 Bd7 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rcd1 gives White more pressure in the center (Nataf-Hjartarson, Icelandic TCh, Reykjavik 2004).
• 9. -- e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. c5 N6d7 13. Bc4 Nc6 14. Nf3 h6 15. Ne4 Na5 16. Bd5 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Rd1 Kg7 19. 0-0 Bd7 gives White a spatial plus (T. Kosintseva-Anatsko, Eur Youth Ch, Halkidiki (Greece) 2001).

7. -- Bg7 8. Bd4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 0-0 10. h4!?

• White breaks from the book. This move seems to have no other recommendation than that.
• 10. Nc3 e5 11. Qd2 f5 12. Nf3 N8d7 13. 0-0-0 Qf6 is satisfactory for both sides (Suttles-Fischer, Interzonal, Palma de Mallorca 1970).

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 10. h2h4

10. -- e5!

• The proper response to a premature demonstration on the flanks is a thrust in the center.

11. Qd2 f5

• The pawn formations now have a familiar King's Indian look to them.

12. Nf3 Qf6 13. Nc3 Na6 14. Qh6

• White makes a bid for space, but it is easily rebuffed.
• After 14. h5 e4 15. Nd4 g5 16. Be2 h6 17. Rd1 Nc5 Black has more freedom.

14. -- Qg7 15. Qd2!?

• It is better to exchange Queens than to waste time retreating.
• 15. Qxg7+ Kxg7 16. Kd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 e4 18. Nd4 Kf6 is unclear.

15. -- h6 16. Nb5 Rf6 17. Qa5 Nd7 18. Qa3?!

• Both sides are probing the other's position for weaknesses. White has a slight initiative.
• 18. Be2 b6 19. Qa3 Ndc5 20. Nd2 Nc7 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. h5 g5 is unclear.

18. -- Qe7 19. Be2 e4!?

• The pawn advance disrupts White's kingside and center, but it reliquishes control of d4.
• 19. -- Ndc5 20. 0-0 Bd7 21. Nc3 Rff8 22. b4 Ne4 23. h5 Qf6 is unclear.

20. Nd2

• 20. Nfd4 is more energetic: 20. -- Ne5 21. Rd1 f4 22. 0-0 Bd7 23. Rfe1 Bxb5 Nxb5 24. f3 is still cloudy.

20. -- Ne5 21. 0-0-0?!

• White misreads the position. He wants to challenge Black for space on the kingside and therefore castles long.
• Better is to castle short: 21. 0-0 Bd7 22. Nd4 Rff8 23. f4 exf3 24. N4xd4 Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 Qf6 remains unclear.

21. -- Nc5 22. Kb1 Ncd3!

• Black plants a Knight on d3.
• 22. -- Bd7 23. Nd4 Ncd3 24. Bxd3 Nxd3 25. Rhf1 Qe5 Black's pieces are more active.

23. Bxd3 Nxd3 24. Rhf1 Bd7 25. Nd4

• This move does nothing to improve the spatial balance for White.
• 25. Nc3 h5 26. Nb3 Rc8 27. Qxa7 Rxc4 28. f3 Qe5 29. Na5 Rc8 30. Qxb7 Nxb2 31. Qxb2 Qxc3 32. Qxc3 Rxc3 000

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 25. Nb5d4

25. -- Qe5!

• The Queen moves to a post where it radiates power.

26. Qc3 b5 27. cxb5 Rf7 28. f3?!

• White wants to see if he can get anything going by opening the f-file.

28. -- Rc8!

• Black leaves White with no time for that.

29. Nc4?

• White has the right idea, almost. Either the text or the 29. Nc6 leaves the d-pawn hanging, but this move allows for additional pressure to be put on White's queenside while the alternative is more robust.
• If 29. Nc6! Qxc3 30. bxc3 e3 then:
• After 31. Nc4! e2 32. Nxd6 Bxc6 33. dxc6 Rb8 34. Nxf7 Kxf7 35. a4 exf1Q 36. Rxf1 Nc5 White's extra pawns are better than Black's Knight.
• 31. Kc2? Nf4 32. Rfe1 exd2 33. Rxd2 Re8 34. Kd1 Rxe1+ 35. Kxe1 Be8 gives Black an extra piece.

29. -- Qxd5 30. fxe4 Qxc4

• Black initiates a simplification that leaves Balck with an advanced paseed pawn on a board with few pieces remaining.
• 30. -- fxe4 31. Rxf7 Qxf7 32. Nxd6 Rxc3 33. Nxf7 Rc4 34. Nf3 exf3 Black wins.

31. Qxd3 Qxd3+ 32. Rxd3 fxe4 33. Rxf7

• White is reduced to futile gestures.
• After 33. Rdd1 d5 34. g3 Rxf1 35. Rxf1 Rc4 36. Ne2 Bxb5 37. Re1 Rc6 38. Nf4 Rd6 Black wins.

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 33. Rf1f7:R

33. -- exd3!

• Black wins faster with the text move than with 33. -- Kxf7 34. Re3 d5 35. Rc3 Kf6 36. a4 Ra8 37. Nc6 Ke6.

34. Rf1 Rc4 35. Nc6

• White would last longer after 35. Nf3 Bxb5 36. Rd1 Bc6 37. h5 gxh5 38. Ne1 h4 39. b3 Rg4.

35. -- d2 36. Ne7+ Kg7 37. Rd1 Kf7 38. b3 Rc1+ 39. 0-1

• White loses a piece: 39. Rxc1 dxc1Q 30. Kxc1 Kxc7.
li]Mr. Nakamura resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Onischuk - Shabalov, Round 6, Stillwater

The defending champion handed the new champion his only defeat in Stillwater.



Alex Onischuk
Photo: website of the 2007 New York Masters

Alex Onischuk vs. Alex Shabalov
US National Championship, Round 6
Stillwater, Oklahoma, May 2007

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Hastings Opening (Botvinnik Defense) (Anti-Meran Gambit)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4

• 5. -- h6 is the Moscow Defense.

6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4

• 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb4 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Be2 c5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nxb5 cxd4 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qg4+ Kh7 17. Qh5 Nc6 is unclear (Geller-Koblents, Sverdlovsk 1947).

8. -- g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Qa5

• The position is a sharp on in which neither player has much margine for error.
• If 11. -- Qb6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 then:
• 14. a4? 14. -- b4 15. Ne4 c5 16. Qb1 Qc7 gives Black a strong position (Denker-Botvinnik, US-Soviet team match, via Radio 1945).
• If 14. h4 Bh6 then:
• 15. a4? Bxg5 16. hxg5 b4 17. Ne4 c5 18. a5 Qc7 gives Black a tactical initiative (Ragozin-Botvinnik, Trng Match, Moscow 1941).
• White's game is difficult but playable after 15. Qd2 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Ne5 17. Rfd1 Rh4 18. Qe3 Rdh8 19. f3.

12. Be2

• If 12. g3 b4 13. Ne4 Ba6 14. Qf3 0-0-0 then:
• 15. Bg2?! c3 16. Nxc3 Nb8 17. Ne4 Rxd4 18. Be3 b3+ 19. Nc3 Ra4 Black has a healthy spatial edge and queenside threats (Berkes-D'Amore, Eur Team Ch, 2005).
• 15. Be3 Nb8 16. Bg2 Bb5 17. h4 Na6 18. Ng5 is equal.

12. -- Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 14. Qc1!?

• There's not much more in this book White wants to read, so he starts writing his own chapter.
• 14. Bf4 Nxf6 15. Bf3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. Ne2 Qc7 18. h3 e5 White resigns (Zimmerman-Paoli, Venice 1949)

14. -- c5 15. Rd1 cxd4?

• Black's attempt to create complications will backfire.
• Better is 15. -- Bd6 16. Bf4 Qc7 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Bf3 Qb6 with equality.

16. Rxd4 Bc5

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Alex Onischuk
Position after 16. -- Bf8c5

17. b4!!

• Of course, the pawn sacrifice must be accepted.
• If 17. Rh4 Rhg8 then:
• 18. a4 Qb6 19. Nd1 Ne5 20. Rh3 b4 21. a5 Qc6 22. Rg3 Bd6 is murkey.
• 18. Kf1 Qb6 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Bxf2 21. a4 Bg1 22. Be3 Qc6 22. Rg3 Bd6 is unclear.

18. -- Qxb4?

• Taking it the other way doesn't work, either/
• 17. -- Bxb4 18. Nxb5 Qxb5 19. Rxc4+ Bc5 20. Rb1 Qa5 21. Be3 wins for White.

18. Rb1 Qxb1 19. Qxb1 Bxd4 20. Nxb5 Ne5

• Black would have survived longer after 20. -- Bc5 21. Qc1 Rdg8 22. a4 a6 23. Bxc4 Kb8 24. Qf4+ but the outcome is still beyond doubt.

21. Bf4 Nc6 22. Nd6+ Rxd6 23. Bxd6 c3

• 23. -- Rd8 24. Be7 Rd7 25. Bxc4 Nxe7 26. fxe7 Rxe7 27. h4 Black is still hopeless.

24. Bf3 Bb6 25. Bb4 Bd4 26. Bxc3 1-0

• 26. -- Bxc3 27. Bxc6 Bxc6 28. Qc2 leaves White up by an exchange and two pawns.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Morozevich - Movsesian, Round 4, Sarajevo

Sergei Movsesian
Photo: ChessBase.com

Alexander Morozevich vs.Sergei Movsesian
SK Bosna Tournament, Round 4
Sarajevo, 05.2007

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Ragozin Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5

• If the more usual 5.Bg5 then:
• 5...h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.Nce2 Qe7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Bd3 Rfc8 18.Rxc6 Rxc6 19.Be4 Rc7 is equal and a draw was soon agreed (Karpov-Giorgadze, Spanish TCh, Cala Galdana 2001).
• 5...Nbd7 6.e3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 13.Bxd7 Nxd7 14.Rae1 Nb6 15.f3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bd7 17.h4 Re6 18.e4 f6 19.Bf4 Rae8 20.h5 Ba4 21.Qc1 Bc6 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Qc2 Ba4 24.Qb2 Bc6 draw agreed (Zhu Chen-Ioseliani, Ol, Istanbul 2000)
• 5...dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qb3 a6 13.Be2 Nc6 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Qa3 Rc8 16.Rad1 Rg8 17.f4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Qc3 19.Rf3 Qxa3 20.Rxa3 is equal and a draw qas soon agreed (van Wely-Piket, Amber Tmnt, Monte Carlo 1999).

5...exd5 6.Bg5 0-0

• If 6...h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Nd2 then:
• 9...Nxg3 10.hxg3 c6 11.e3 Bf5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.a3 Bf8 14.0-0 Bg7 15.e4 dxe4 16.Ndxe4 0-0 17.Nd6 Be6 18.Qc2 Qb6 000 (Kiseleva-Khurtsidze, Eur Women's Ch, Warsaw 2001).
• If 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Rc1 then:
• 11...Bb2 12.Bxc7 Qe7 13.Bd6 Qe6 14.Rb1 Bc3 15.Ba3 Nc6 16.e3 Bxd4 gives Black more space and mobility.
• 11...Ba5 12.h4 g4 13.e3 c6 14.Be2 000
• If 6...Nbd7 transposes into Zhu Chen-Ioseliani in the notes to White's fifth move.

7.e3 c5 8.dxc5

• Exchanging, and in the process sticking Black with an isolated pawn, is one option; another is to continue development.
• 8.Bd3 c4 9.Bc2 h6 10.Bh4 Nbd7 11.0-0 Qa5 12.Ne2 Re8 13.b3 Ba3 14.bxc4 dxc4 15.Rb1 b5 16.Ne5 a6 17.f4 Nxe5 18.fxe5 Nd5 gives Black the edge in space (K.Georgiev-Kascheishvili).

8...Nbd7 9.Rc1 Nxc5

• 9...Qa5 10.Nd2 b6 11.c6 d4 12.cxd7 dxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bd3 Bxd7 16.Rc2 Rfd8 17.0-0 Bxd2 18.Rxd2 Bf5 19.e4 Be6 is equal and a draw was soon agreed (Bacrot-Carlsen, Rapid Tmnt, Cap d'Agne 2006)

10.Bd3!?

• White parts from the known texts with a simple developing move.
• 10.Qd4 (blockading the isolated d-pawn) 10...Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Nce4 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Bd3 Bg4 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Qd4 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Qb6 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.a4 g6 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.Kf1 Kf8 21.Ke2 draw agreed (Shulman-Zvjaginsev, FIDE World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk 2005).
• 10.Nd4?! drops a pawn to 10...Nce4 11.Bh4 Qa5 12.Qb3 Nc5 13.Qc2 Qxa2.

10...Bg4 11.0-0 Bxf3

• Black, who is saddled with an isolated pawn, chooses to disrupt his opponent's pawn structure.
• 11...Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Rc8 14.Rfd1 h6 is unclear.

12.gxf3 Bxc3!?

• Black is confident in his position and risks giving White two Bishops against two Knights.

13.Rxc3 Ne6 14.Bh4 d4 15.Rc4 b5

• Black has time to protect the pawn and stir up some complications.
• 15...a6 16.Qb1 b5 17.Rcc1 h6 18.Rfd1 Qb6 is equal.

16.Rc2

Black: Sergei Movsesian
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White: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 16.Rc4c2

16...dxe3!?

• Instead of immediately protecting the b-pawn, Black first give White something to think about.
• 16...a6 17.Rd2 Rc8 18.exd4 g5 19.Bg3 Qd5 20.b3 is unclear: White has an extra pawn; Black has an edge in space.

17.fxe3

• The alternative is 17.Bxb5 Qb6 18.Bd3 Nf4 then:
• 19.Bc4 Rad8 20.Qb1 Qd4
• After 21.Bg3 Nh3+ 22.Kb1 Nxf2+ 23.Bxf2 exf2 24.Rfxf2 Qf4
• 21.Bxf6 exf2+ 22.Rxf2 Nh3+ 23.Qf1 Qd6 gives Black the more active game.
• 19.Rc4 g5 20.Bg3 N6h5 21.Qc2 Nxg3 22.Hxg3 exf2+ 23.Rxf2 Nh3+ 24.Kg2 Nxf2 25.Qxf2 Qxf2 26.Kxf2 Rad8 Black has a powerful position.

17...Qb6

• Black protects the b-pawn and threatens 18...Qxe3+.
• If 17...a6 18.Qd2 Re8 19.Rd1 Qe7 then:
• After 20.Rc6 Ne4 21.Bxe7 Nxd2 22.Rxd2 Rxe7 White has more piece activity.
• White equalizes with 20.Qc3! Nf8 21.e4 Rac8 22.Bxf6 Rxc3 23.Bxe7 Rxf2 24.Bxc2 Rxe7.

18.Bxf6 Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 gxf6 20.Re2

Black: Sergei Movsesian
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White: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 20.Rc2e2

20...Qh6

• The position is unclear, but wrought with dangers for Black.
• White wins after
• 20...Qf4? 21.Re4 Qh6 22.Rg4+ Kh8 23.Qe1 Nc5 24.Bxh7.

21.Bxb5 Kh8 22.Bc4 Rad8

• Black seizes the initiative by challenging White's control of the d-file.
• If 22...Qh3 then:
• 23.Re4 Rab8 24.Qe2 Rg8 25.Rg4 h5 26.Rxg8+ Rxg8 27.Rg1 Rxg1+ 28.Kxg1 equalizes.
• If 23.Rg2 Rg8 24.Rg4 h5 25.Rxg8+ Rxg8 then:
• 26.Qc2 Nf4 37.Rf2 Qd7 is equal.
• 26.Qd2 Nf4 27.b4 Qg2+ 28.Qxg2 Rxg2 29.Bxf7 Rb2 30.a3 is level.

23.Qc1

• The position is even and White invites exchanges as a way of keeping it that way. The exchange is not forced and Black has other ideas.
• 23.Qe1 Nf4 24.Rd2 Rc8 25.Rd4 Rg8 26.Qd2 Qh3 27.Rxf4 Rxc4 gives Black a strong initiative.

23...Qh3 24.Ref2?!

• This makes both Rooks passive. The f-pawn isn't the one that needs protected. Any mating threats will be directed at h2.
• Better is 24.Rff2 Rg8 25.Qf1 Qf5 26.Rd2 Qh5 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Rg2 a5 29.b3 with equality.

24...Rg8 25.Qe3?

• The train to salvation just left the station with White remaining on the platform.
Correct is 25.Rd1 Qf5 26.Rxd8 27.Qf1 Rg8 28.b3 Ng5 29.Qe2 Ne6 with equality.

Black: Sergei Movsesian
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White: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 25.Qc1e3

25...Ng7!!

• Black nails down the victory.
• If []font color="red"]25...Rc8 26.b3 Rc7 then:
• 27.Rd1 Re7
• 28.a3 Rg5 29.Rd8+ Kg7 30.Rd5 doesn't give Black enough of an advantage to win.
• 28...Qh5 29.Bd5 Qe5 30.Qxe5 fxe5 is headed for a draw.
• 27.Rel Rd7 28.a3 Rg5 29.Bf1 Qh4 30.Rfe2 is equal.

26.Rg1

• After 26.Bxf7 Nf5 27.Qe6 Ng3+ 28.Kg1 Nxf1+ White must give up material or submit to 29.Kh1 Ng3+ 30.Kg1 Rd1+ etc.
• Another desperate try is 26.Qxa7 Nf5 27.Qxf7 Ng3+ 28.Kg1 Nxf1+ 29.Kh1 Ng3+ 30.Kg1 Ne2+ 31.Kh1 Rg1#.

26...Nf5 27.Qe1 Rxg1+ 28.Kxg1

• This allows a forced mate.
• White is completely hopeless regardless of how he plays.28.Qxg1 Rg8 29.Rg2 Rxg2 30.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Ne3+ is lights out.

28...Rg8+ 29.Kh1 Ng3+ 30.Kg1 Nf1+ 31.Kh1 Nxh2 32.0-1

• White is quickly mated from here: for example, 32.Be6 fxe6 33.Qxe6 Nxf3+ 34.Qxh3 Rg1#.
Morozevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. N. Kosintseva - Hou Yifan, Round 2, Ekaterinburg

Mig Greengard calls 13-year-old Hou Yifan "everybody's favorite player."



Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia) vs. Hou Yifan (China)
Women's World Team Championship, Round 2
Ekaterinburg, May 2007

Symmetrical English Game: Chistiansen Defense

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4

• As far as can be determined, the text move was first played in an international tournament by grandmaster Ljubomir Ljubojevic in the World Cup, Bussels, 1988. Later that same year, American grandmaster Larry Christiansen played the move twice, once in the German Bundesliga and again in Cologne, becoming the first master to adopt the move more than once. The following year at the Cannes Open in February, American grandmaster Joel Benjamin and Vishy Anand of India, then 19 years old, became the first masters to win a game with Black from the position; Anand's victory came against former world champion Mikhail Tal.

4. e3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 g6 6. Be2!?

• This game is going to be anti-theoretical.
• 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 d6 8. g3 Rb8 9. Bg2 Nh6 10. Qd1 0-0 11. 0-0 Bd7 12. a4 Bc6 13. d4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Rc8 15. Qd3 cxd4 16. exd4 Nf5 17. d5 Qb6 with equality (Tal-Anand, Cannes 1989).

6. -- Bg7

• This is one of several moves that maintains the balance. 6. -- d6 transposes into the text.

7. 0-0 d6 8. Rd1 Nh6

• This is an unusual place to develop the Knight. It's headed for f5.

9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 Nf5 11. Qe4

• Black's position is solid enough that the White Queen doesn't radiate with as power in the center as it otherwise might.
• If 11. Be3 0-0 12. Rd3 then:
• 12. -- Nxe3 13. Qxe3 Bf5 14. Rdd1 e5 15. d5 b6 16. b4 a6 is cloudy.
• 12. -- Be6 13. Rd2 Qc7 14. Nb5 Qa5 15. a3 Rfc8 16. d5 Bd7 is unclear.

11. -- 0-0 12. Bf1 Bd7 13. Be3

• White smartly overportects the headpawn.
• 13. Qxb7?! Bxd4 14. Qf3 Rb8 15. b3 Qb6 16. Bb2 Bc6 Black has the edge in space and the initiative.

13. -- Rb8

• Black intends to advance the b-pawn.

14. Rac1 Re8 15. d5 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 a6 17. b4 a5!?

• Black tries to stir up the pot with the second best move.
• 17. -- b5 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Qa5 20. Rd2 Qa3 21. Rdc2 Rbc8 is unclear.

Black: Hou Yifan
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White: Nadezhda Kosintseva
Position after 17. -- a6a5

18. a3?!

• Should White play 18. b5, Black's alternate plan is to pressure the weak c-pawn.
• If 18. b5 then:
• 18. -- Rc8 19. Bd3
• 19. -- b6 20. Na4 Rb8 21. Nc3 Qc7 22. Be2 Qc5 23. Na4 Qxe3 24. fxe3
• 24, -- Rec8 25. g4 Bf6 26. h3 h5 27. Kf2 White holds.
• 24. -- h5 25. Rd2 Rec8 26. Rcd1 Bg4 27. Rc1 Bxe2 28. Rxe2 g5 is level.
• 19. -- e6 20. Qf3 Qc7 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Ne4 Rf8 23. Qh3 e5 24. Qe3 Rfd8 is equal.
• 18. -- b6 19. Be2 Qc7 20. Ne4 Rbc8 21. Re1 h6 22. Rcd1 Ra8 23. Qf3 is equal.

18. -- axb4

• White opens up the a-file for her heavy pieces.
• 18. -- Rc8 19. c5 dxc5 20. bxc5 Bxc3 21. Qxc3 Ba4 22. Rd4 b5 23. Rb1 the attack on b5 gives White the initiative.

19. axb4 Ra8 20. Ne4?!

• The Knight is nicely centralized, but there is nothing for it to do on e4.
• Better is 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 e6 22. dxe6 Bxe6 23. Re1 Bd7 24. Qd2 Rxe1 25. Qxe1 with equality.

Black: Hou Yifan
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White: Nadezhda Kosintseva
Position after 20. Nc3e4

20. -- Ra4!

• White must now scramble to protect her queenside pawns. For the next few moves, she will be walking on eggshells.

21. Qb3

• The text move is virtually forced.
• If 21. Rb1 Bf5 22. Bd3 Qc7 then:
• 23. c5 Rea8 24. Re1 dxc5 25. bxc5 Bxe4 26. d6 exd6 27. Bxe4 Re8 Black is poised to win more material.
• 23. Rb3 Rea8 24. c5 Qd8 25. cxd6 exd6 26. Nc3 Bxc3 27. Rxc3 Bxd3 28. Qxd3 Rxb4 Black has greater mobility.

21. -- Qb6 22. b5 Qa5 23. Qe3 Ra3

• 23. -- b6 24. Be2 h6 25. Bf3 Qa7 26. Re1 Qc7 27. Nd2 Bf5 28. Bd1 is also good for Black.

24. Rd3 Ra2 25. Nc3

• If 25. Rd2 Ra3 26. Bd3 Rc8 then:
• 27. Rdd1 Ra8 28. c5 Bxb5 29. cxd6 exd6 30. Nxd6 Bxd3 31. Rxd3 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qb4 gives Black the initiative and better mobility.
• 27. Rdc2 Bf5 28. Re2 Qa7 29. Qxa7 Rxa7 30. f3 Ra3 31. Rd1 Kf8 32. g4 Bd7 is equal.

25. -- Ra1 26. Rxa1 Qxa1 27. Ne2?

• This move allows White to strengthen her initiative.
• Black has a healthy advantage in mobility after 27. Ne4 Ra8 28. Qg5 Qe5 29. Qh4 Bf5 30. Re3 Bxe4 31. Rxe4 Bf6 32. Rxe5 Bxh4.

Black: Hou Yifan
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White: Nadezhda Kosintseva
Position after 27. Nc3e2

27. -- Qa4!!

• White begins by threatening a pawn, but each time White defends one hanging target, she creates another.

28. Qf4 Be5 29. Qh4 Bf6 30. Nc3

• If 30. Qf4 Rc8 31. b6 Rxc4 then:
• After 32. Qe3 Qa5 33. Ng3 Rb4 34. Ne4 Rxe4 35. Qxe4 Bf5 36. Qc4 Bxd3 37. Bxd3 Qxb6 Black has two extra pawns.
• After 32. Qd2 Bf5 33. Rf3 Rc2 34. Qe3 Qa1 35. Ng3 Rc3 36. Qd2 Rxf3 37. gxf3 Bh3 Black has an extra pawn and a tactical initiative.

30. -- Qc2 31. Qg3 Bf5 32. Re3 Bd4 33. Ne2

• White has nothing better than to give up the exchange.
• If 33. c5 Bxe3 34. Qxe3 Ra8 then:
• After 35. c6 bxc6 36. dxc6 Ra3 37. b6 Rxc3 38. Qxe7 Qb1 Black is up by a Rook.
• After 35. cxd6 exd6 36. Qe1 Rc8 37. Ne2 Re8 38. b6 Bd3 White is crushed.

33. -- Bxe3 34. Qxe3 Qxc4 35. Nc3 Qc5 36. Qxc5

• After 36. Qf3 White wins a piece: 36. -- Ra8 37. Nd1 Ra1 38. g3 Qc1 39. Ne3 Bd3.

36. -- dxc5 37. f3 Ra8 38. g4 Ra3 39. gxf5 Rxc3 40. fxg6 hxg6 41. Kf2 Kg7 42. 0-1

• Black's material advantage is more telling with every move.
• Ms. Kosintseva resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Bareev - Jackovenko, Round 3, Sochi

Evgeny Bareev
Photo: ChessBase.com

Evgeny Bareev (Elara) vs. Dmitry Jakovenko (Tomsk-400)
Russian Team Championships, Round 3
Sochi, May 2007

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 0-0 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bf4

• 8. Bg5 Bb7 9. e4 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. Rd1 Nh5 12. Bg3 a6 13. e5 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qc7 15. f4 d6 16. f5 dxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Qg6 Nf6 19. Rg1 gives White the edge in space (Gagunashvili-Macieja, Eur Club Cup, Rethymnon (Greece) 2003)./li]

8. -- Bb7 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. e3 Nh5

• 10. -- Rc8 11. Be2 Be7 12. 0-0 a6 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Qc7 15. Rfd1 Na5 16. R6d4 Rfd8 17. Rh4 h6 18. b4 Nc6 gives White more space, but Black's position is solid (Hjartarson-C. Hansen, Eur Jr Ch, Groningen 1981)./li]

11. Bg3 h6

• 11. -- f5 12. Be2 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Rf7 14. Nb5 Qf6 15. Qc3 Qxc3+ 16. Nxc3 h6 17. e4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nd4 19. Nxc5 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 bxc5 21. Rh5 Rc8 is balanced (Matveeva-Xu Yuhua, Ol, Bled 2002)./li]

12. Be2

• White's varies from one of Jakovenko's previous games.
• 12. Ne4 Nxg3 13. hxg3 f5 14. Nxc5 bxc5 15. g4 Ne7 16. Qd2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 d5 18. Bh3 Ng6 19. gxf5 Ne5 20. Qe2 gives Whit the opportunity to blast away Black's center (Bu Xiangzhi-Jakovenko, Team Match, Taiyuan 2006)./li]
• 12. Qd2 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qb8 14. g4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Rh5 f5 17. gxf5 Rxf5 18. Rxf5 Qxf5 19. Qxd7 Rf8 20. Qd2 is level (Matveeva-Bojkovic, FIDE Women's KO Ch, Elista 2004).

12. -- Rc8

• If 12. -- Be7 then:
• 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Qe7 15. Rd2 Rac8 16. 0-0 Nf6 17. e4 d6 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 is equal (Lysyj-Tomashevsky, Russian U20 Ch, Cheboksary 2006).
• 13. 0-0 Nxg3 14. hxg3 d6 15. Rd2 Qb8 16. Rfd1 Rd8 gives White an edge in space (M. Gurevich-Marin, EU Ch, Batumi 2002).

13. Qd3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Nb8 15. g4!?

• White breaks out of the book altogether with a move intended to fix Black's kingside.
• 15. Nb5 a6 16. Nd6 Bxd6 17. Qxd6 Qc7 18. Rh4 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Rc6 20. Rhd4 Rfc8 21. Ne5 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 Bc6 23. b4 Kf8 24. b5 Ke7 25. Rd4 Bb7 26. a4 draw agreed, although Black has a superior position (Herraiz-Spassov, Cullera 2003)./li]

15. -- Be7!

• This, in turn, is to keep White from advancing to g5.
• If 15. -- a6 16. Na4 Be7 17. Qb3 b5 then:
• 18. cxb5 Bd5 19. Rxd5 exd5 20. b6 Rc1+ 21. Bd1 is even.
• After 18. Nc3? Bxf3 19. gxf3 bxc4 20. Bxc4 d5 Black has a very distinct advantage in mobility.
16. Nb5 Ba6 17. Nfd4 Bxb5 18. Nxb5 a6 19. Nd6!


• If one has the opportunity to take advantage of a hole at d6, do it.
19. -- Rc6!


• Obviously, 19. -- Bxd6 20. Qxd6 doesn't solve any of Black's problems. This does.
20. Ne4 b5 21. cxb5?!


• This move is far from the best. White has just opened the queenside for Black at a moment when Blach has his pieces there.
• If 21. c5 f5 22. gxf5 then:
• After 22. -- exf5 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. cxd6 Rf6 25. Qd5+ Kh7 Black has more freedom.
• 22. -- Rxf5 23. b4 Qc7 24. Rh5 Rxh5 25. Bxh5 gives White a fimr advantage in space.
21. -- axb5 22. b4 Ra6 23. 0-0!?


• White castles with the idea of moving the heavy pieces queenside.
• If 23. Qb3! then:
• 23. -- Qb6 24. Nc3 Qc6 25. e4 Bf6 26. Nxb5 Qxe4 27. Nd6 Qe5 28. Rh5 Qc3+ equalizes.
• 23. -- d5 24. Bxb5 Ra8 25. Nd2 Qb6 26. Bd3 Nd7 27. Bc2 is level.
23. -- Qb6


• Black brings his Queen into action, grabbing some space.
• If 23. -- d5 24. Qb3 Qd7 25. Nc3 Rb6 26. e4 d4 27. Nxb5 Rxb5 28. Bxb5 Qxb5 29. Rxd4 gives White two connected remote passers and a Rook for two minor pieces.
• After 25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. bxc5 Qa7 27. Qxb5 Ra4 28. c6 Rc8 29. c7 White has equalized.

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Evgeny Bareev
Position after 23. -- Qd8b6

24. Qb3?

• White misses an opportunity to take over the queenside.
• If 24. Rc1 d5 25. Nc5 Ra7 26. Rc3 then:
• 26. -- Bf6 27. Rb3 Na6 28. Qxb5 Qxb5 29. Bxb5 Nxc5 30. bxc5White's queenside pawns will play the tune to which Black must dance.
• After 26. -- Bxc5 27. bxc5 Qc7 28. Qxb5 Nc6 29. Qb6 Qe5 30. Rfc1 White owns the queenside.
• 24. Qxb5 does not win a pawn on account of 24. -- Qxb5 25.Bxb5 Rxa3 26. Nc5 Bxc5 27. bxc5 Ra5.

24. -- Qa7 25. Ra1 Rb6 26. a4!?

• Having mostly esctuted his plan, White finds that Black is still holding the queenside and has the backward a-pawn in his sites. Therefore, White goes for complications.
• 26. Qd3 Nc6 27. Nc3 Rfb8 28. Rfc1 Bf6 gives Black more space and mobility.

26. -- bxa4

• Black picks one of the better coninuations.
• 26. -- Qb7 27. a5 Rc6 28. Rfb1 Na6 29. Nc5 Bxc5 30. bxc5 Rxc5 is also strong for Black. ,

27. Rxa4 Qc7!

• Black takes command of the dark squares.

28. b5 d5 29. Nd2

• White digs in deeper -- he's really in hole, now.
• Better is 29. Qc3! when
• 29. -- Qxc3 30. Nxc3 Bf6 31. Na2 Rb7 32. Nb4 Rc8 33. Ra8 White has drawing chances.
• 29. -- Rb7 30. Qxc7 Rxc7 31. Ng3 Bd6 32. Kh2 Rfc8 33. Rfa1 g6 gives Black more freedom.

29. -- Nd7 30. Qa2 Rc8

• Black doubles on the c-file while maintaining command ot the dark squares.
• After 30. -- Rfb8 31. Nb3 Qe5 32. Nd2 Bd6 33. Nf3 Qf6 34. Ra1 Ne5 Black has more mobility and enough defensive resources to withstand anything White throws at him in the a-file.

31. Nb3 Qe5 32. Nd4 Bd6?!

• Usually, it's a good thing to threaten mate. In this case, it helps Black's opponent to beat him to the punch.
• Better is 32. -- Nc5 33. Ra7 Bd6 34. g3 Bb8 35. Ra8 Ne4 36. Bd3 Qg5 when it's still Black's game to lose.

33. g3!

• Of two possible ways to deal with the threat of mate, White picks the right one.
• After 33. Nf3? Qf6 34. Ra8 Rbb8 35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. Qa6 Nb6 37. Rc1 Qb2 Black wins a piece.

33. -- Rc3

• Black makes another inferior move. This threatens nothing.
• If 33. -- Rb7 34. Ra8 Rxa8 35. Qxa8+ Rb8 36. Qc6 Bc5 then:
• 37. Qxd7! Bxd4 38. Rc1 Bxe3 39. Rc8+ Rxc8 40. Qxc8+ gives White a modest advantage in that, although a pawn down, he still has the most important pawn on the board.
• 37. Rd1? Rd8 38. Qb7 Qb8 restores Black to dominance.

34. Ra8+! Kh7?

• The is the worst possible place to retreat the King. It is on a square where an open diagonal and a file half-open for White meet.
• White's objective is to demolish Black's kingside pawns.
Memorize the above remarks.
• After 34. -- Bf8 35. Nc6 Qd6 36. Ra1 Rc5 37. Qd2 Nb8 38. Nd4 Rb7 39. Nb3 Rc8 Black continues to enjoy better mobility.

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Evgeny Bareev
Position after 34. -- Kg8h7

35. Qd2!

• Also winning is 35. Nc6 Qe4 36. Qa7 Ra3 37. Qxd7 Rxa8 38. Qxd6 Ra2 39. Qd8 when White has a dangerous initiative and two minor pieces for a Rook
• Black's remaining moves are forced.

35. -- Rc7 36. f4 Qf6 37. g5 Qe7 38. Bd3+

• White takes command of the open diagonal with tempo (see the note to Black's 34th move).

38. -- g6

• 38. -- f5 39. gxf6+ wins the Queen.

39. Qh2 Nb8 40. Qxh6+!

• White has just opened the h-file (see the note to Black's 34th move).

40. -- Kg8

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Evgeny Bareev
Position after 40. -- Kh7g8

41. Bxg6!!

• White sacrifices a Bishop and gets a mating attack. This demolishes White's remaining kingside pawns (see the note to Black's 34th move).

41. -- fxg6 42. Qxg6+ Qg7 43. Qxe6+ Qf7 44. Rxb8+!

• White sacrifices the exchange and caps off the game.

44. -- Rxb8 45. Qxd6 1-0

• White has the sacrificed Bishop back and has four pawns for the exchange.
• Jakovenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Galliamova - Shadrina, Round 10, Sochi

The winning team of the ladies' competition in the Russian Team champion was Ladya, led by two-time women's vice champion Alisa Galliamova.



Alisa Galliamova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alisa Galliamova (Ladya) vs. Tatiana Shadrina (Academy)
Russian Team Championships, Round 10
Sochi, May 2007

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5

• The main alternative here is 4. -- Bg4. See Mamedyarov-Kamsky, Rd 1, Sofia 2007 (JRCR May 13).

5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4

• 6. -- Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. Rc1 Bd6 10. g3 Qe7 11. c5 Bc7 12. f4 Ba5 13. Nb1 Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. h4 f5 17. Kf2 Nf6 18. Be2 Kf7 19. a3 a5 20. Qd2 Rhb8 21. Rc2 b5 draw agreed??! (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow 2004).

7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7

• 8. -- Qb6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2 Nbd7 11. 0-0-0 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bd6 13. h3 Nh5 gives Black a little more freedom (Kramnik-Shirov, Astana 2001).

9. Bd2 Nbd7 10. g3

• If 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Be7 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. g3 e5 15. f4 exd4 16. cxd4 Nf6 17. Bg2 Rd8 18. Bc3 g5 19. 0-0 Ng4 20. h3 Ne3 21. Rf3 gxf4 22. Rxf4 Bg5 23. Rf3 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 gives White the edge in space and mobitlity (Stefansson-Middelburg, Eur Club Cup, Saint Vincent (Italy) 2005).
• 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 dxe4 14. fxe4 Nf6 15. 0-0-0 0-0-0 16. Bg5 Rh5 17. h4 Rxg5 18. hxg5 Qf4+ 19. Kb1 Nxe4 20. Qh3+ Kc7 gives Black a significant advatage ins space and mobility (Zhao Jun-Kamsky, FIDE World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk 2005).

10. -- Be7 11. Rc1 Nb6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nxg6!?

• The position is unclear as White sets out for unchartered lands.
• If 13. Kf2 0-0 then:
• 14. Be2 Qd7 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. h4 c5 17. Qb5 cxd4 18. exd4 Qe6 19. b3 Bd6 20. g4 Rac8 21. Rce1 gives White a slight edge in mobility (I. Sokolov-Peng, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee 2002).
• 14. Nxg6 fxg6 15. Kg2 Kh8 16. g4 Rfe8 17. Bd3 Bd8 18. Rhe1 Qf7 19. Kf1 Bc7 Black resigns (Svetushkin-Beliavsky, Eur Ind Ch, Istanbul 2003).

13. -- hxg6

• The rule is capture toward the center. This opens a file for the Rook and keeps the polition level.
• After 13. -- fxg6 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 Qd7 16. Be3 White has the advantage in space.

14. Bd3 Qd7 15. Ne2 g5

• Black is planning a kingside attack. 14. -- Qd7 converges with the Rook on h3 and 15. -- g5 keeps from defending h3 at f4.

Black: Tatiana Shadrina
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White: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 15. -- g6g5

16. e4

• As long as Black intends a kingside attack, White will strengthen her center.
• 16. g4 Bd6 17. h3 Qc7 18. e4 dxe4 19. fxe4 Nxg4 is equal.

16. -- dxe4 17. fxe4 Qh3 18. Bxg5 Qg2

• The Kingside attack may net the h-pawn, but not much else.
• 18. -- Qg4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Rf1 Qe6 21. Qxe6+ fxe6 22. h4 e5

19. Rg1 Qxh2 20. a4!?

• White now shows aggressive intentions on the queenside.
• More consistant with her last move is 20. e5 Ng4 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Rf1 Qh5 23. Be4 Nh6 24. Qb4+ with an attack converging in the center.

20. -- 0-0?

• This move is wrong for several reasons. It removes the King's Rook from the h-file, where it has been playing an active part and it neglects the strenth of White's queenside thrust.
• Perhaps Black thought with after White advanced un the center and on the Queen's wing that the best place for the King was on the kingside.
• Correct is 20. -- Qh5 21. Bxf6 Qa5+ when:
• 22. Rc3 Bxf6 23. e5 Be7 24. f6 25. Bg6+
• 22. Kf2 Bxf6 23. Rh1 then:
• 23. -- 0-0-0 24. e5 Bg5 Rxh8 Rxh8 26. Rc5 Qxa4 27. Qxa4 Nxa4 28. Rc2 Nb6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 23. -- Rh6 24. Bc4 Nxc4 25. Rxh6 gxh6 26. Rxc4 is level.

Black: Tatiana Shadrina
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White: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 20. -- 0-0

21. a5!!

• This does more than just attack the Knight. It actually traps it.

21. -- Nbd7

• 21. -- Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxg5 23. Rh1 Qxh1+ 24. Bxh1 Bxc1 25. Nxc1 wins for White.

22. e5!

• Black must lose a piece.

22. -- Rae8 23. Rf1 Ng4

• If 23. -- Bd8 24. Bd2 Nxe5 25. dxe5 Rxe5 26. Kd1 then:
• After 26. -- Rfe8 27.Nf4 g5 28.a6 gxf4 29.axb7 White continues to enjoy a strong position.
• After 26. -- Bxa5 27. Bxa5 Rxa5 28.Qxb7 Rd8 Kc2 will net White another pawn.

24. Bd2

• 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25. Bf5 Ndxe5 26. dxe5 Nxe5 27. Rc2 Rd8 28. Rd2 gives White a strong initiative.

24. -- Ndxe5 25. dxe5 Nxe5

• 25. -- Bd8 26. Bb4 Nxe5 27. Be4 c5 28. Rh1 wins Black's Queen.

26. Be4 Ng4 27. Qf3 f5 28. Bxf5 Ne5 29. Qh1 Qxh1

• 29. -- Rxf5 30. Axh2 Nd3+ 31. Kd1 Rxf1+ 32. Kc2 Nxc1 33. Nxc1 is clearly won for White.

30. Be6+ Nf7 31. Rxh1 Bd6 32. Bb3 Bxg3+ 33. Kd1 Be5 34. Bb4 Rd8+ 35. Kc2 Bd6

• 35. -- Rfe8 36. Rcd1 Bf6 37. Rxd8 Bxd8 38. Nf4 White holds her material edge.

36. Bxd6 Rxd6 37. Rcf1 Rf6 38. Nf4 g6 39. Ne6 1-0

• After ]39. -- Rxe6 40. Bxe6 Kg7 41. Bxf7 Rxf7 42. Rxf7+ White is up by a Rook against two pawns.
• After 39. -- Rxf1 40. Rxf1 Re8 41. Ng5 Re2+ 42. Kc1 Kg7 43. Rxf7+ White mops up.
• Ms. Shadrina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Zozulia - Short, Round 3, Baku

Nigel Short
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Anna Zozulia vs. Nigel Short
President's Cup Open, Round 2
Baku, May 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Norwegian Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. 0-0 d6 7. d4 exd4

• 7. -- Nxb3 8. axb3 f6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Nh4 Qd7 11. Nd5 Ne7 12. Qh5+ Kd8 13. c4 Nxd5 14. cxd5 g6 15. Qf3 Be7 gives White an advantage in space and fewer problems with his remaining development. Black's King does not look terribly safe heading for the queenside (Short-Sulskis, Ol, Bled 2002).

8. Nxd4 Bb7 9. c4

• If 9. Bd2 Nxb3 10. Nxb3 then:
• 10. -- Nf6 11. Re1 Be7 12. Na5 Rb8 13. Nxb7 Rxb7 14. Qf3 Qc8 15. Nc3 c6 16. Ne2 0-0 17. Nd4 then:
• 17. -- Re8 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Qg3 Nc5 21. f3 Ne6 22. Be3 d5 23. exd5 cxd5 is equal (Ehlvest-Kupreichik, Sverdlovsk 1984)./li]
• 17. -- g6 18. e5 Nd5 19. Bh6 Rd8 20. e6 Bf6 is level (Smagian-Kupreichik, Soviet Ch sf R9, Minsk 1985)./li]
• 9. Qe1 c5 10. Bd2 Nxb3 11. Nxb3 Be7 12. Na5 Ra7 13. a4 b4 14. Nxb7 Rxb7 15. Qe2 Rb6 16. Rd1 Nf6 17. Bg5 0-0 18. Nd2 d5 is even (Platonov-Savon, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1969).
• If 9. Re1 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. exd6+ Kd7 12. Qg4+ then:
• 12. -- Kc6 13. Qe4+ Kd7 14. Qg4+ Kc6 15. Qe4+ Kd7 draws.
• 12. -- Kxd6 13. Bxf7 Kc7 14. Bf4+ Bd6 15. Qxg7 Ne7 16. Qxd4 White has advantages in space and mobility.

9. -- c5?!

• White gets the upper hand anfter this.
• Better is 9. -- Nxc4 10. a4 c6 when:
• 11. Qe2
• 11. -- Ne7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 Bg7 15. Nd2 0-0 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Qxc4 c5 18. Ne2 Nc6 is equal (Leonhardt-Schlechter, German Chess Congress, Nuremberg 1906).
• 11. -- Na5 12. Bc2 Qh4 13. f4 b4 14. Rd1 Qf6 is unclear.
• 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Qxa8 is equal

10. Nf5 g6 11. Ng3 h5!?

• Since most of the theoretical lines favor White, Black introduces a novelty. The move is a threat to the Knight.
• If 11. -- Bg7 12. Nc3 b4 13. Nd5 Nf6 14. Ba4+ Kf8 then:
• After 15. a3 15. -- Nxc4 16. Nxf6 Bxf6 17. axb4 Kg7 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. Qb3 White has more mobility. (Tseshkovsky-Kupreichik, Soviet Ch st R4, Minsk 1985).
• If 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg5White has more space and greater mobility for her Rooks.
17. Bg5 Nd4 18. Qd1 h4 19. Ne2 gives White more mobility.

12. cxb5

• White finds a sound move in response. The exchange weakens Black's b5.
• If 12. f3 Bg7 13. cxb5 axb5 then:
• 14. Bd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. Nc3 b4 17. Nce2 h4 18. Ne4 is unclear.
• 14. Nc3? Nxb3 15. Qxb3 b4 16. Nd5 Ne7 17. Bg5 h4 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxf6 is a huge advantage for White.

12. -- axb5 13. Bd5 Bg7 14. Nc3

• White has a significant edge in space and a threat to take the pawn at b5.

14. -- Qd7

• White elects to defend the pawn immediately.
• 14. -- h4 15. Nge2 Nf6 16. Nxb5 Nxd5 17. exd5 h3 18. g3 0-0 19. Re1 053
• 14. -- b4 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. Nd5 h4 17. Ne2 Nf6 18. f3 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 gives White greater mobility, but Black could conjur some counterplay.

15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. Nd5 Ra6

Black: Nigel Short
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White: Anna Zozulia
Position after 16. -- Ra8a6

17. Qb3!

• White wins the pawn at b5.
• If 17. f4 Nf6 then:
• 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Ne2 0-0 20. f5 Raa8 21. Nf4 White has a small edge in space and a focus on the g6 point.
• 18. Re1 Nxd5 19. exd5+ Kd8 20. Qc2 Re8 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal.

17. -- Na5 18. Qxb5 Qxb5 19. Nc7+ Kd7!

• Black finds the best move to restore balance.
• 19. -- Kf8 20. Nxb5 Nb3 21. Rb1 Rxa2 22. Nxd6 h4 23. Ne2 Ra6 24. Nb5 Nf6 25. f3 White retains the extra pawn.
• 22. -- Nd4 23. h4 Ke7 24. Nb7 Nb3 25. Bg5+ Black has the pawn back but White has the edge in mobility,

20. Nxb5 Ne7!

• Black clears the back rank to bring his Rook into play.
• If 20. -- h4 21. Ne2 Nb3 22. Rb1 Rxa2 23. Bf4 then:
• 23. -- Bxb2 24. Rfd1 Ra1 25. Nxd6 Ke7 26. Nc4 Bg7 27. Bg5+ White has a mating attack in progress and will at least win material.
• 23. -- Kc6 24. Nxd6 g5 25. Nf5 Bxb2 26. Bxg5 h3 27. Rfd1 White's command of open lines focusing on the Black King is a winning advantage.

21. Rb1 Rb8 22. a4 Nb3 23. Nc3

• The position remains unclear.
• After 23. Rd1 Bd4 24. Bf4 Rxa4 25. Nxd6 f6 26. Ndf5 Rb5 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Ne2 White has better mobility, but Black controls more space.

23. -- Nd4 24. Rd1 Nec6 25. Bf4

• White attacks a weak pawn, but one too well protected for the move to be a real threat.
• If 25. Be3 Rab6 then:
• If 26. Nb5 Nxb5 then:
• 27. Bxc5 Nc3 28. Rxd6+ Kc7 29. Bxb6+ Rxb6 30. Rc1 Kxd6 31. bxc3 Ra6 White extra pawns are too weak to be a match against the Bishop.
• 27. axb5 Rxb5 28. Rd2 Bc3 29. Rc2 Bxb2 30. Ne2 Nd4 31. Bxd4 Bxd4 32. Rxc5 Rxb1+ Black wins.
• If 26. Rd2 26. -- Rb4 27. Nge2 Nxe2+ 28. Nxe2 Rxa4 then:
• 29. Rbd1 Bd4 30. Bxd4 Nxd4 31. Nxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Rd2 is balanced.
• 29. Bxc5 Rxb2 30. Rdxb2 Bxb2 31. Rd1 Be5 Black enjoys a patial advantage mostly attributable to his active Rook.
• 25. h3 h4 26. Nf1 Ne6 27. Be3 Bxc3 28. bxc3 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Rxa4 30. Rb7+ is level.

Black: Nigel Short
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White: Anna Zozulia
Position after 25. Bc1f4

25. -- Ne5

• Black simply blocks the attempt to harrass the pawn, showing his determination to maintain the pawn where it is.
• If 25. -- Na5 then:
• 26. Bc1! Nc4 27. Rd3 h4 28. Nf1 Nb6 29. a5 Rxa5 30. b4 cxb4 31. Rxb4 is equal.
• 26. Nge2? Nxe2+ 27. Nxe2 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Bxb2 29. e5 Nc4 30. exd6 Rxa4 31. Kf1 Ra1 Black wins a pawn after the exchange of Rooks, leaving Black with a won minor piece ending.

26. Kf1

• The game is at the ending phase. White is smart to move her King to the center.
• 26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. Nf1 Rab6 28. Nd2 Rxb2 29. Rxb2 Rxb2 30. Nc4 Rc2 31. Nd5 Ne2+ is clearly better for Black.

26. -- Rab6 27. Nge2 Nxe2 28. Kxe2 Rxb2+ 29. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 30. Rd2?

• White is now behind in space, so she invites an exchange of Rooks. It would be a better move if Black had to accept.
• If 30. Kf1! Kc6 31. Nb5 Bf8 32. Na7+ then:
• 32. -- Kc7! 33. Nb5+ Kc6 34. Na7+ Kb6 35. Bxe5 dxe5 36. Rd8 Rb1+ is equal.
• If 32. -- Kb7? 33. Bxe5 then:
• 33. -- Ra2 34. Bxd6 Bxd6 35. Rxd6 Kxa7 36. Rd7+ White remains a pawn up.
• 33. -- dxe5 34. Rd7+ Ka6 35. Rxf7 c4 36. Rxf8 c3 37. Rc8 c2 38. Ke1 White is in time to stop the pawn and win.

30. -- Rb4

• Black won't fall that.
• 30. -- Rxd2+? 31. Bxd2 Nc4 32. Nd5 Kc6 33. f3 Nxd2 34. Kxd2 is an equal game.

31. f3 Nc4 32. Nd5 Rxa4?

• Black losses his grip momentarily and White get back in the game.
• After 32. -- Nxd2 33. Nxb4 Nxe4 34. Na2 Nc3+ 35. Nxc3 Bxc3 Black stops the a-pawn and wins.

Black: Nigel Short
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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$+ On+ +o%
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White: Anna Zozulia
Position after 32. -- Rb4a4:p

33. Nb6+!

• White has been given the oppotunity to make a fight of it and she does.
• 33. Rc2? sets things right for Waite again after 33. -- Kc6 34. Kd3 Nb6 35. Ne3 Bd4 when Black remains a pawn to the good.

33. -- Nxb6 34. Rxd6+ Ke7!

• Black must play carefully to avoid pitfalls.
• 34. -- Kc7? 35. Rxg6+ Kb7 36. Rxg7 White laps up Black's kingside pawns and wins/

35. Rxb6 Bd4!

• White threatens to advance the passer with a gain of time.
• 35. -- Ra2+? 36. Kd3 Rxg2 37. Rb7+ Ke6 38. Rb6+ Kd7 39. Rb7+ Ke6 40. Rb6+ draws.

36. Rb7+

• White has nothing better than to harrass the King to a safe harbor.
• If 36. Kd3? Ra2 37. Rb7+ Kf6 38. Rb6+ Kg7 then:
• After 39. g4? Rf2 40. Bg3 Rxf3+ 41. Kc4 hxg4 Black is up by two pawns and should win.
• If 39. g3 then:
• After 39. -- Rxh2 40. Rb3 Ra2 41. Kc4 f6 42. Bd6 Rc2+ Black has the advantage of the outside passer, but it is problematic as to whether it can advance.
• 39. -- Rf2 40. Bd6 Rxf3+ 41. Kc4 Rf2 42. h4 Rc2+ gives Black an outside passer.
• After 39. Bd2 39. -- c4+ 40. Kxd4 Rxd2+ 41. Kxc4 Rxg2 Black wins the h-pawn, giving him a big advantage in the endgame.

36. -- Ke6 37. Rb6+ Ke7 38. Rb7+

• 38. Kd3 doesn't work here, either.
• 38. Kd3? Ra2 39. Rb7+ Kf6 40. Rb6+ Kg7 41. Bd2 c4+ 42. Kxd4 Rxd2+ 43. Kxc4 Rxg2 Black wins the h-pawn.

38. -- Kf6 39. Rb6+ Kg7 40. Rc6

• It's difficult to find a good continuation for White.
• If 40. Rd6!? Ra2+ 41. Bd2 Be5 42. Rd5 Bd4 43. Kd3 then:
• After 43. -- Bg1 44. Bc3+ Kh6 45. h4 Rxg2 46. Rd7 Rh2 47. Rxf7 Rxh4 48. Bd2+ White's Rook will get behind Black's c-pawn and stop it.
• 44. -- Bd4? 45. Bxd4+ cxd4 46. Rxd4 Rxg2 will net Black the h-pawn.
• 43. -- Kf6 44. Rd6+ Ke7 45. Rb6 Be5 then:
• 46. Be3 Ra3+ 47. Ke2 Bd4 48. Bd2 f6 49. f4 Black has chances with thw c-pawn, but the game will likely end in a draw.
• 46. f4 Rxd2+ 47. Kxd2 Bxf4+ 48. Kd3 Bxh2 gives Black chances with pawn majorities on both wings.
• 43. -- Ra3+ 44. Kc4 Ra2 45. Kd3 Ra3+ 46. Kc4 Ra2 draws.

40. -- Ra2+ 41. Kd3?

• This is the equivalent of a premature resignation. White will lose a pawn.
• 41. Bd2 Bc3 42. Rd6 Kf8 43. Rd7 Bxd2 44. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 45. Kxd2 g5 46. Kd3 Ke7 47. g3 should end in a draw.
• 41. Kf1? Rf2+ 42. Kg1 Rxf3+! leads to checkmate.

Black: Nigel Short
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White: Anna Zozulia
Position after 41. Ke2d3

41. -- Rxg2

• Black snacks on a pawn before it runs away.

42. Bd6 Rf2 43. Bxc5

• White would last longer after ]43. f4 Rxh2 44. Bxc5 Bxc5 45. Rxc5 when:
• 45. -- h4 46. Ke3 h3 47. Rc1 Ra2 48. Kf3 h2 49. Rh1 Kf6 50. Kg4 Rd2 puts Black in a position to eliminate White's reamining pawns while keeping one of his own.
• 45. -- Rh3+ 46. Ke2 h4 47. Rg5 Rb3 48. Rg4 h3 49. Kf2 Kf6 50. Kg1 Re3 while the White King takes two moves to eat the h-pawn, Black plays 51. -- Rxe4 and 52. -- Kf5.

43. -- Bxc5 44. Rxc5 Rxf3+ 45. Kd4 Rf2 46. h3 Rf3 47. e5

• White should see now that she is lost.
• No better is 47. h4 Rh3 48. Rb5 Rxh4 49. Ke3 Rh1 50. Kf3 h4 51. Kg2 Re1.

47. -- Rxh3 48. Rc7 Rh1 49. Ke4 Rf1 50. 0-1

• After 50. Ke3 h4 51. Ke4 h3 52. Rc2 g5 53. Rh2 g4 54. Ke3 Kf8 55. Ke4 g3 one of Black's pawns must reach the goal.
• Ms. Zouzolia resigns.