The Jack Rabbit Chess Report: Magnus, Aronian win in Wijk aan Zee

[Jack Rabbit]

Corus Chess Tournament concludes in Wijk aan Zee



Magnus, Aronian share Group A first prize in Wijk

Nowegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who at 17 is seldom called wunderkind any more, and grandmaster Levon Aronian of Armenia shared first prize in the 2008 Corus Chess Tournament that concluded today in the Dutch seaside resort of Wijk aan Zee.

Magnus drew his game with Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan in the thirteenth and final round today while Aronian drew with Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar. The two finished with 8 points each. Magnus won 5 games, lost 2 and drew 6 while Aronian won 4, lost 1 and drew 8.

Radjabov and reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India tied for third with 7½ points apiece.

The tournament featured a battle between Magnus and Aronian over the last few rounds for first place, with one leading one day and the other the next.


Movsesian wins Corus B

Slovakian grandmaster Sergei Movsesian comfortably won the Corus Touranment's Group B in Wijk aan Zee with 9½ points.

Tied for second were British grandmaster Nigel Short and Etienne Bacrot of France.

For his efforts, Movsesian will get a berth in Group A at next year's tournament in Wijk aan Zee.

Both Short and Bacrot have competed in Group A before. Short lost a match for the world title against Garry Kasparov in 1993.


Corus C: Fabiano Caruana runs away with first place

Fifteen-year-old grandmaster and Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana won Group C in the Corus Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee by two points over his nearest rivals.

Fabulous Fabiano defeated grandmaster Parimarjan Negi of India, who turns 15 next month, in today's final round. Fabiano won 9, lost 2 and drew two for a total of 10 points.

Negi and Dimitri Reinderman, a grandmaster from Holland, finished tied for second with eight points each.

Caruana, who was born in Miami, Florida, holds duel citizenship with Italy and the United States.



Bu Xiangzhi leads in Gibralter after 6 rounds


British Airways

Chinese grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi is alone in first place after six rounds in the GibTelecom Masters' Tournament after deafeating Var Akobian of the United States today in Gibraltar.

Bu has 5½ points to lead fellow countryman Wang Hao and Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova, the former women's world champion, by a half point. The trio started today's play tied for first with 4½ points each.

Also tied for second after six rounds are Viorel Bologan of Moldova, Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine and Bulgaria's Kiril Georgiev.

It is the first time in quite some time that a woman has held or shared the lead in a major mixed gender Swiss system event at the half-way point. Ms. Stefanova held the women's world title from 2004 to 2006.

Bu is China's number one grandmaster with a FIDE Elo rating of 2691.

The ten-round event concludes Thursday.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Wijk aan Zee

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Carlsen - J. Polgar, Corus A, Round 6

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1482235">Magnus Carlsen - Judit Polgar
Chorus Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 6
Wijk aan Zee, 18 January 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e3

• If 10.Nf3 Bf5 11.b4 0-0 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...b6 13.b5 bxc5 14.bxc6 Qa5+ 15.Nd2 Rab8 16.c7 Rb3 17.Rd1 c4 18.e3 is equal (Kaparpv-Renet. Evry, 1989).
• After 12...Re8 13.Qb3 b6 14.cxb6 Qxb6 15.e3 a5 16.Nd4 Bg6 17.Be2 axb4 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Rc1 White has the better of it (Miton-Mitkov, Eur ChT, Crete, 2007).

10...Qf6 11.f3 Qh4+ 12.g3 Nxg3 13.Qf2 Nf5 14.Qxh4 Nxh4 15.b4!?

• 15.Kf2 Ne5 16.Bd2 f6 17.f4 draw agreed (Dydyshko-Hracek, Chech ChT, Czechia, 2007).

15...a6

• 15...Ne5 16.Kf2 Rg8 17.Bb2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 dxc4 is equal.

16.Kf2

• 16.Bb2 Nf5 17.e4 dxe4 18.fxe4 Ne3 19.Bd3 f6 20.Ke2 will give White a spatial edge after the Knight moves.

16...Ne5 17.Bb2 f6 18.Rd1 Be6 19.Ne2 Bf7 20.Rg1

• If 20.Nf4 Nhxf3 21.Nxd5 21...Rd8 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Bg2 a5 24.Kg3 gives White more space and better minor pieces.
• 21.Bg2 Nh4 22.Bxe5 fxe5 23.Nxd5 Rf8 24.Kg3 Nf5+ is equal.

20...Nc4?!

• 20...Nhxf3 21.Rxg7 Kf8 22.Rg3 Nxh2 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Bg2 h5 is equal.

21.Bc1!

• White continues to have a slight edge in space after 21.Ba1 Nxa3 22.Rxg7 Nf5 23.Rg1 Nc2 24.Bxf6 Rf8 25.e4 Nfe3.

21...g5 22.Nc3

• If 22.Nd4 Ke7 23.Bd3 Rae8 then:
• 24.Bc2 h6 25.Rge1 Rhg8 26.Ba4 Rc8 27.e4 Ne5 28.exd5 maintains White's advantage.
• 24.e4? h6 25.Rge1 Kf8 26.a4 Ne5 27.b5 is equal.

22...0-0-0 23.e4

• After 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Ne4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Bg6 26.Rd4 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 Black's c-pawn must fall.

23...dxe4

• After 23...d4 24.Nd5 Ne5 25.Bh3+ Kb8 26.f4 gxf4 27.Nxf6 Nhg6 White maintains his edge in space and his superior minor pieces.

24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Nxe4 Kc7?

• The text move does nothing for Black.
• Better is 25...Ne5 26.f4 Nef3 27.Rh1 Be6 28.Nxf6 gxf4 29.Nxh7 when:
• 29...Rd4 30.Nf6 Ne5 31.h3 Bc4 32.Be2 Bxe2 33.Kxe2 Nf5 is equal.
• After 29...Ng6 30.Nf6 Nfe5 31.Be2 f3 32.Bf1 Rd1 33.Be3 White is a pawn up.

BLACK: Judit Polgar
!""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$+oL +v+o%
$o+ + O +%
$+ P + O %
$ Pm+n+ M%
$P + +p+ %
$ + + K P%
$+ B +bR %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 25...Kc8c7

26.Nxf6!!

• This is better than exchanging minor pieces on c4.
• 26.Bxc4 Bxc4 27.Nxf6 Rd3 28.Be3 h6 29.Rg4 Rc3 30.Ne8+ Kc6 is equal.

26...h6 27.f4 Nd2

• After 27...Rd1 28.Bxc4 Rxg1 29.Kxg1 Bxc4 30.Kf2 gxf4 31.Bxf4+ Kc6 32.Bxh6leaves White two pawn up with majorities on both wings.

28.Be2 Nb3 29.Be3 Nd4 30.Bxd4

• Stronger is 30.fxg5 Nxe2 31.Kxe2 Bc4+ 32.Kf2 hxg5 33.Bxg5.

30...Rxd4 31.fxg5 Rf4+ 32.Ke1 hxg5

• White wins easily after 32...Kc6 33.Rf1 hxg5 34.Nh7 Rxf1+ 35.Kxf1 g4 36.Nf6 Nf3 37.Nxg4.

33.Nh7 Bd5 34.Nxg5 Kc6 35.Rf1 Rxf1+ 36.Bxf1 a5

• If 36...Nf5 37.Bd3 Ne3 38.Kd2 Ng2 39.Ne4 then:
• 39...Nh4 40.Ke3 Be6 41.Nd6 b6 42.Ne4 leads to an exchange of pawns that will benefit White.
• 39...Nf4 40.Bc2 b6 41.Ba4+ b5 42.Bc2 emphasises the strength of White's extra pawns.

37.Kd2 axb4 38.axb4 b6 39.cxb6 Kxb6 40.Bd3 Bc6 41.Kc3 Bd7 42.Be4

• 42.h3 Bf5 43.Bxf5 Nxf5 44.Ne6 is also good.

42...Bg4 43.Nf7 Bf3 44.Bd3 Bc6

• 44...Ng2 45.Ne5 Bh5 46.Kd4 Nf4 47.h4 Be8 48.Nc4+ is equally hopeless.

45.Ne5 Bd5 46.Ng6 Ng2

• No good is 46...Nxg6 47.Bxg6 Kc7 48.h4 Kd6 49.h5 Ke5 50.h6 Kf6 51.h7 Kg7 52.b5. is equally hopeless.

47.Kd4 Bb7 48.h4 Bf3 49.Bf1 Ne1 50.Ne5 Nc2+ 51.Kc3 Be4 52.h5 1-0

• The h-pawn can be stopped only at the cost of a piece.
• Ms. Polgar resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Aronian - Radjabov, Corus A, Round 7

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Teimour Radjabov
Corus Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 7
Wijk aan Zee, 19 January 2008

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Catalan Attack)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 c5

• More common is 4...0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 with an equal game.

5.d5

• If 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 Nc6 then:
• If 8.dxc5 dxc5 then:
• If 9.Bf4 Nh5 10.Be3 Nd4 11.Qd2 is equal.
• 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qa4 Nd4 11.Rad1 Bd7 12.Qa3 Nc2 13.Qxc5 b6 14.Qg5 h6 15.Qf4 g5 16.Qe5 Rc8 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Bc6 20.Qxd8 Rfxd8 and after some further moves, the game ended in a draw (A. Petrosian-Morozevich, Moscow, 1991).
• 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 a6 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 12.Bb2 bxc4 13.bxc4 Bh6 14.f4 is equal.

5...0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.Nf3 e6

• 7...Na6 8.0-0 Nc7 9.a4 Rb8 10.e4 a6 11.a5 Nd7 12.Bf4 b6 13.axb6 Nxb6is equal (Keene-McKay, World ChT U26, Dresden, 1969).

8.0-0 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8

• 9...a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.Nd2 Re8 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 is equal.

10.Nd2 b6

• 10...a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 is equal.

11.Re1!?

• White's novelty shoud be good for equality.
• 11.a4 Ba6 12.Nb5 Nbd7 13.Nc4 Bxb5 14.axb5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Bf4 Re7 is even (Quinteros-Granda, Op, Mar del Plata, 1993).

11...Nbd7 12.h3

• 12.Nb5 Ne5 13.f4 Neg4 14.Nc4 Ne4 15.Bxe4 Rxe4 is equal.

12...Ba6!?

• 12...Bb7 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.e4 Qd6 16.Bg5 a6 17.Qf3 maintains the balance.

13.Qa4 Bd3?!

• 13...Bb7 14.Nc4 Ne5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 remains equal.

14.Nf1!

• White finds the best way to regroup.
• White only maintains the balance by14.Nf3 Be4 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bc1.

14...b5 15.Qd1

• 15.Qa6 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 then:
• 17.Ne3 Ne4 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.f3 Bxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 is equal.
• 17.Bg5 Bc4 18.Ne3 b4 19.Nxc4 bxc3 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.bxc3 Ne4 is equal.

15...Bc4 16.Nd2 Nb6

• 16...Rb8 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.Bd2 h6 20.Rab1 Rb7 21.f4 gives White the initiative.

17.Nxc4 Nxc4

• After 17...bxc4 18.e4 Nbd7 19.Bf4 Nh5 20.Bxd6 Qb6 21.e5 White has more space and better mobility.

18.Nxb5 Qa5 19.a4 Nd7 20.Bf4?!

• Better is 20.Rb1 a6 21.Na3 when:
• 21...Nxa3 22.Bd2 Qd8 23.bxa3 c4 24.Qc2 Rc8 25.Rb4
• 21...Ncb6 22.b3 Bc3 23.Rf1 Rab8 24.e4 Re7 25.Bg5

20...Bxb2 21.Rb1 Be5 22.Qc1 a6?

• This is a dubious pawn sacrifice.
• If 22...Bxf4! then:
• 23.Qxc4 Be5 24.f4 a6 is equal.
• 23.Qxf4 Nde5 24.Rec1 a6 25.Nc3 f5levels the game.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
!""""""""#
$t+ +t+l+%
$O +m+o+o%
$ + O +o+%
$WnOpV + %
$p+m+ B +%
$+ + + Pp%
$ + +pPb+%
$+rQ R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 22...a7a6

23.Qxc4!

• 23.Nd4? Qxa4 24.Nc6 Bg7 25.Rb7 Nde5 is good only for equality.

23...axb5 24.axb5 Nb6 25.Qc1

• As a result of accepting the pawn sacrifice, White has more freedom in addition to the extra pawn.

25...c4

• 25...Na4 is a more resiliant defense: after 26.e4 Bxf4 27.Qxf4 Nc3 28.Qxd6 Nxb1 29.Rxb1 c4 30.b6 Qa2 Black can present White with some complications.

26.Bxe5!

• The text move is far superior to 26.Be3? Rec8 27.Qc2 Nd7 28.f4 Bg7 29.Bd2 when Black is back in the game.

26...Rxe5 27.e4 Ree8 28.Re3 Qa2 29.h4

• 29.Rc3 Rec8 30.Bf1 Rc5 31.Rb4 Qa5 32.Qb1 also keeps Black's position strong.

29...Nd7

• White wins in all variations.
• 29...f5 30.h5 fxe4 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Bxe4 Rf8 33.Bc2
• If 29...Rec8 30.Rc3 Rc5 31.h5 Qa5 32.hxg6 then:
• 32...Rxb5 33.gxh7+ Kxh7 34.Rxb5 Qxb5 35.Rf3
• 32...hxg6 33.Bf1 Rxb5 34.Rxb5 Qxb5 35.Bxc4
• 29...Qa4 30.Re1 Qa7 31.h5 Qe7 32.hxg6 fxg6 33.Bh3 Kg7 34.f4

30.Rc3 Nb6 31.h5 Re5

• If 31...Re7 32.h6 Re5 33.Rc2 Qa7 34.Qb2 f5 35.exf5 gxf5 36.Re2 Rae8 37.Rbe1 Black is tied down to the defense against mate on g7.
• After 33...Qa4 34.Qb2 f6 35.f4 Re7 36.Rf2 Kf7 37.Qd4 all the threats come from White.

32.h6

• If 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.Re3 Rh5 then:
• 34.Qd1 Rc8 35.Re2 Qa7 36.Qd4 Kf8 37.e5 dxe5 38.Rxe5 Rxe5 39.Qxe5 White is up by a passed pawn.
• If 34.Re1 Qa3 35.Qd2 Qc5 36.Re3 Re8 37.Rc3 Kg7 38.Qb2) 34...Rc8 35.Re2 Qa7 36.Qd4 Kf8 37.e5 dxe5 38.Rxe5 Rxe5 39.Qxe5

32...f5 33.exf5 Rxf5 34.Rc2 Qa3 35.Qd2

• White can also win by 35.Bh3 Qxc1+ 36.Rbxc1 Rh5 37.Bf1 Rxh6 38.Bxc4.

35...Qc5 36.Bh3 Rf3

• After 36...Rf6 37.Qe1 Qc7 38.Qc3 Raf8 39.Be6+ Black is kaput.

37.Rc3 Rf6 38.Be6+ Kh8 39.Re3

• Winning faster is 39.Qb2 Na4 40.Ra1 Qd4 41.Rc2 Qxb2 42.Rxb2 Rff8 43.Rba2.

39...Raf8 40.Qb2 Na4 41.Qa3 Rxf2 42.Qxc5 dxc5

• 42...Nxc5 43.b6 R2f6 44.b7 Rb8 45.Bf7 Rxf7 46.Re8+ Rxe8 47.b8Q then:
• Ref8 48.Qxd6 Nb3 49.Rd1
• 47...Rxb8 48.Rxb8+ Rf8 49.Rxf8#.

43.Ra3 Nb6 44.Rd1 R2f6 45.Rda1 g5 46.Ra6 c3 47.Rxb6 c2 48.Rc6 1-0

• 48...Rf2 49.Rc8 Rxc8 50.Kxf2 Re8 51.Ke3 is lights out for Black.
• Radjabov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Braun-Caruana, Corus C, Round 8

Fabiano Caruana
Photo: ChessBase.com


Arik Braun - Fabiano Caruana
Corus Chess Tournament, Group C, Round 8
Wijk aan Zee, 20 January 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Noteboom Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0

• 8...Nbd7 then:
• 9.Qe2 0-0 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 is equal.
• 9.Nh4 0-0 10.f3 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.e4 e5 13.Be3 Qe7 transposes into the Gelfand-Anand game quoted below.

9.Nh4

• Most common is 9.Qe2 Nbd7 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 with equality.

9...Qe7

• If 9...Nbd7 then:
• 10.Nxf5 exf5 11.Qc2 g6 12.f3 Rc8 13.Kh1 c5 14.Ba2 Qb6 15.dxc5 Qa6 16.Nb5 Nxc5 17.Qe2 is equal (Pia Cramling-Shaw, Op, Gibraltar, 2003).
• 10.f3 Bg6 11.e4 e5 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Qe2 Rfd8 15.Kh1 exd4 16.Bxd4 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rad1 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8 21.e5 Nd5 22.Qd2 draw agreed (Gelfand-Anand, IT, Biafra Wydra (Israel), 2000).

10.f3!?

• If 10.Nxf5 exf5 then:
• 11.Qc2 g6 12.f3 c5 13.Qf2 Nc6 14.Na2 Ba5 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Bb5 Bb6 is equal (Barirov-Mamedyarov, President's Cup, Baku, 2005).
• 11.f3 c5 12.d5 Rd8 13.Qd3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qe5 15.Rb1 Rd7 16.Ba3 Nxd5 17.Bb5 Nc6 18.Bxc5 Rc8 is level (Abdul Moula-Shaw, Ol, Torino, 2006).

10...Rd8 11.Qb3 Bg6!?

• If 11...c5 then:
• 12.d5 Ne8 13.Nxf5 exf5 14.Bd3 Nd6 15.Na2 Ba5 is equal.
• 12.e4?! Nc6 13.e5 Na5 14.Nxf5 exf5 15.Qa2 Ne8 16.Nd5 Qd7 17.e6 Qxe6 18.Nxb4 Nxc4 19.dxc5 Qe2 with a strong initiatuve and spatial edge for Black.

12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Na2

• If 13.Ne4 then:
• 13...Nfd7 14.a5 b6 15.axb6 Nxb6 16.Qc2 f5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 Nxc4 19.Qxc4 gives White only a slight spatial plus.
• 13...Nxe4 14.fxe4 Nd7 15.Qc2 Rac8 16.b3 gives White an advantage in space.

13...Ba5 14.Rb1 a6

• 14...Nd5 15.Rd1 Bc7 16.Nc3 Qh4 17.f4 b6 18.g3 Qg4 19.Be2 gives White a strong initiative.

15.Qc2 Nbd7 16.b4 Bc7 17.a5 e5!

• After 17...Qd6 18.g3 b6 19.axb6 Nxb6 20.Bb3 Nbd5 21.Ba4 Ne7 22.Rd1 White retains a slight edge in space.

18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Be2 g5

• 19...Nd3 20.Bxd3 Qd6 21.Rf2 Qxd3 22.Nc3 Rac8 give Black the spatial edge.

20.Rb3

• If 20.e4 Qd6 then:
• 21.g3 g4 22.Bg5 gxf3 23.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 24.Rxf3 Qd4+ 25.Kg2 Be5gives Black a slight edge in space.
• 21.Rd1? Nxf3+ 22.Bxf3 Qxh2+ 23.Kf1 g4 Black has a fierce attack.

20...Nd5 21.g3 Bd6 22.Qb1

• After 22.Qf5 Re8 23.e4 Nxb4 24.Bxg5 f6 25.Nxb4 Bxb4 26.Be3 Bxa5 Black is a pawn up.

22...Bb8 23.e4

• 23.Kg2 Bd6 24.e4 Nc7 25.Nc3 Ne6 26.Be3 Bc7 27.Qa1 Rd7 28.Na4 is equal.

23...Ba7+ 24.Kh1 Nc7 25.f4 Ng6

• 25...gxf4 26.gxf4 Nd7 27.Kg2 Nb5 28.Rg3 Nf6 29.Bd3remains even.

26.e5

• If 26.Bh5 Rd4 27.Bxg6 fxg6 28.Nc3 then:
• 28...Nb5 29.e5 Nxc3 30.Rxc3 Qxb4 31.Qb3+ Qxb3 32.Rxb3 Rd5 is equal.
• 28...gxf4?! 29.gxf4 Rd7 30.Ne2 Re8 31.e5 Qf7 32.Be3 gives White the initiative.

26...Nd5 27.Qe4

• 27.Nc3 Nxc3 28.Rxc3 gxf4 29.gxf4 Rd7 30.Rd3 Rad8 31.Qb3 is level.

27...Re8 28.Bd3 Qd7 29.Qf3 Qh3?!

• 29...gxf4 30.gxf4 Rad8 31.Bxg6 fxg6 32.Re1 Qf5 33.Qh3 Kf7 is equal.

30.Nc3!

• 30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.Nc3 Nxc3 32.Rxc3 Qe6 33.Re1 Rad8 34.fxg5 Rf8 is equal.

30...Nxc3 31.Rxc3 Rad8 32.Bc4?!

• 32.Bxg6! fxg6 33.Rd3 Rxd3 34.Qxd3 gxf4 35.Qc4+ Qe6 36.Qxe6+ Rxe6 37.gxf4 gives White more space in the center and more room to maneuver overall.

32...gxf4 33.Bxf4 Rf8 34.Rd3 Rxd3

• 34...Rde8 35.Rdd1 Bb8 36.Qd3 Qg4 37.Qd7 Qxd7 38.Rxd7 Re7 39.Rxe7 Nxe7 40.Rd1 gives White the edge in space.

35.Qxd3 Bb8 36.Rf2

• 36.e6 Nxf4 37.exf7+ Kh8 38.gxf4 Qxd3 39.Bxd3 Rxf7 is even.

36...Qh5 37.Qe4?

• White slips up enough for White to win a pawn and the game.
• 37.Qd7 Bxe5 38.Be2 Qh7 39.Bxe5 Nxe5 40.Qxb7 Re8 is level.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
!""""""""#
$ V + Tl+%
$+o+ +oO %
$o+o+ +m+%
$P + P +w%
$ Pb+qB +%
$+ + + P %
$ + + R P%
$+ + + +k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Arik Braun
Position after 37.Qd3e4

37...Nxe5!

• Black takes the pawn without hesitation.
• 37...Nxf4 38.gxf4 Rd8 39.Be2 Qh4 40.Qe3 Bc7 41.e6 Qe7 is equal.

38.Be2

• 38.Bxe5 Bxe5 39.Be2 Qg5 40.Rf5 Qc1+ 41.Rf1 Qb2 42.Bd3 g6 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

38...Qg6 39.Qd4 Ng4 40.Rf1

• After 40.Bxg4 Black increases his strength by 40...Qxg4 41.Kg2 Bxf4 42.Rxf4 Qe2+ 43.Qf2 Qe5 44.h3 Qd5+ 45.Qf3 Rd8.

40...Bxf4 41.Rxf4 Nf6 42.Bd3 Qg5 43.Rf5 Qh6

• A faster win results from 43...Qg4 44.Qxg4 Nxg4 45.Rf4 Ne5 46.Rd4 Re8 47.Bc2 c5 48.bxc5 Nc6 49.Re4 Rxe4 50.Bxe4 Nxa5

44.Re5 Qh3 45.Kg1 Qc8 46.Bc4

• 46.Bf5 Qd8 47.Qxd8 Rxd8 48.Re7 Rb8 49.Kf2 Kf8 50.Re2 Rd8 , bit Black still wins.

46...Rd8 47.Qf2 Qd7 48.Re1 Qd4!

• The text is quicker than 48...Qd6 49.Rb1 Qd4 50.Qxd4 Rxd4 51.Ba2.

49.Qxd4 Rxd4 50.Rc1 Kf8 51.Kf2

• 51...Ng4 is just as hopeless after 52.Be2 Rxb4 53.Rc5 Nf6.

51...Ng4+ 52.Ke2 Ne5 0-1

• After 53.Bb3 Rxb4 54.Bc2 Rb2 55.Kd2 Ra2 White has lost one pawn and will lose yet another.
• Herr Braun resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from Gibralter

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Pähtz-Bu, Round 1

This game was a real roller coaster ride for both players. Both deserve congratulations for their efforts.



Elisabeth Pähtz and Bu Xiangzhi in Gibraltar
Photo: Official websiter of the Gibraltar Chess Festival


Elisabeth Pähtz - Bu Xiangzhi
GibTelecom Masters Tournament, Round 1
Gibraltar, 22 January 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Rauzer Attack)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7

• More common is 7...Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 Nc5 with an equal game.

8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 0-0-0!?

• Black introduces a new move. It is very risky to castle into such an open position,
• If 11...Be7 12.Qg3 b4 13.Nd5 exd5 then:
• 14.exd5 Kd8 15.Nc6+ Bxc6 16.dxc6 Nc5 17.Bh4 Rg8 18.Bxh7 Rh8 19.Qxg7 Rxh7 20.Qxf6 Rxh4 21.Qxf7 Rh8 22.Re5 Rf8 23.Qg7 Ra7 is an extremly wild position (Vukovic-Tadic, Serbia-Montenegro ChT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 14.e5!? dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 16.Qh4 Bxg5+ 17.Qxg5 g6 18.e6 Nc5 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Kg8 21.Nf5 Ne6 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Nh6+ Kg7 25.Nf5+ Kg8 draw agreed (Luther-Nielsen, Siegman & Co, Malmö, 2002).

12.f5!?

• 12.a3 Be7 13.Qg3 Nc5 14.Bh4 Kb8 15.f5 e5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 is equal.

12...e5 13.Nb3 Be7 14.Kb1

• 14.Qg3 Nc5 15.Kb1 Rhe8 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd2 Kd7 is equal.

14...Kb8 15.a4 bxa4 16.Nxa4 d5 17.exd5 Bb4

• 17...Bxd5 18.Qe2 Bb4 19.Bd2 Bxb3 20.cxb3 a5 21.Ba6 is unclear.

18.Re4 Qd6?

• If 18...Bd6 19.Rc4 Bxd5 20.Rxc7 Bxf3 21.Rxd7 Bxd1 then:
• 22.Rxf7!! Rd7 23.Rxg7 Rxg7 24.Bxf6 is very good for White.
• 22.Rxd8+!? Rxd8 23.Nc3 Bh5 is equal.

BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi
!""""""""#
$ L T + T%
$+v+m+oOo%
$o+ W M +%
$+ +pOpB %
$nV +r+ +%
$+n+b+q+ %
$ Pp+ +pP%
$+k+r+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Elisabeth Pähtz
Position after 18...Qc7d6

19.c3!

• Even stronger is 19.c4! Nxe4 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.Qxe4.

19...Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Rc8 21.Be3 Rc4

• 21...Rhd8 22.Bf2 Rc7 23.Rd3 a5 24.cxb4 Qxb4 25.Nbc5 gives White a strong spatial advantage.

22.Nd2 Rcc8

• The Text move further deteriorates Black's position. White is clearly better and perhaps even winning.
• Better for Black is 22...Rc7 23.cxb4 Qxb4 24.b3 Rhc8 25.Qf2 Qa3 26.Ba7+ Ka8 27.Qg1 Nf6 when he has some pressure on White's King position.

23.cxb4 Qxb4 24.b3 Rc7 25.Bf2 Nf6

• If 25...Rhc8!! 26.Qe3 then:
• 26...Ba8 ) 27.Nb6 Nxb6 28.Qxb6+ Qxb6 29.Bxb6 Rb7 30.Bf2 Rb4 and White wins.
• Worse is 26...Re8 27.Qa7+ Kc8 28.Bc5 Qb5 29.Bd6 when White wins easily.

26.Qe3 Bxd5 27.Bxd5 Nxd5 28.Qxe5 Rd8 29.Bg3 Ka8 30.Qe4?!

• White misses a win by 30.Qe2 Rc6 31.Qf3 Ka7 32.Bf2+ Kb8 33.Ne4 Qb5 34.Nec5.

30...Rb7 31.Qxb4 Nxb4 32.Be5?

• White lets her advantage slip away. Now Black has chances to equalize.
• Better is 32.Bf2 Rb5 33.g4 h5 34.Nc3 Re5 35.Nc4 Rxd1+ 36.Nxd1 Re8 when White is still clearly winning.

32...Nc6 33.Bxg7 Rxb3+ 34.Nxb3

• Better is 34.Nb2 Rb5 35.Bc3 Rxf5 36.Nf3 Rxd1+ 37.Nxd1.

34...Rxd1+ 35.Kb2 Rg1 36.g3 Rg2+ 37.Ka3 Rxh2 38.Nac5 Rf2 39.Nxa6

• There is nothing White can do to prevent Black from equalizing
• 39.f6 Rf3 40.g4 Rg3 41.Nxa6 Rxg4 42.Nc7+ Kb8 is equal.

39...Rxf5 40.Bf8?

• This keads to loss.
• Even 40.Bh6 Rf3 41.Bf4 Nd4 42.Nac5 Ne2 43.Bc7 Nxg3 gives Black a slight edge.

BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi
!""""""""#
$l+ + B +%
$+ + +o+o%
$n+m+ + +%
$+ + +t+ %
$ + + + +%
$Kn+ + P %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Elisabeth Pähtz
Position after 40...Bg7f8

40...Rf3!

• Black wins White's last pawn.
• To her great credit, Frln. Pähtz continues to make a fight of a lost position, hoping to find time and a way to mate Black's cornered King with three minor pieces.

41.Ka4 Rxg3 42.Nbc5 Rg4+ 43.Kb5 Nd4+ 44.Kb6 Rg6+ 45.Kc7

• After 45.Ka5 Black wins by 45...h5 46.Nc7+ Ka7 47.Nd3 h4 48.Bc5+ Kb7 49.Bxd4 Kxc7 50.Kb5 Rg5+ 51.Kc4 h3.

45...h5 46.Kd7 h4 47.Nc7+ Ka7 48.Nd3 Nf3

• Stronger is 48...Kb7 49.Nc5+ Kb8 50.Bd6 h3 when:
• 51.Bf4 52.Bd6 Ka7 53.Nd5 Nb5 54.Bh2 Rg2 55.Bf4 h2 it will cost White a piece to stop the pawn.
• After 51.Ne4 Nf3 52.Ne8+ Ka7 53.N8f6 Rg2 White must surrender her Bishop to allow the pawn to advance.

49.Bc5+ Kb7 50.Nb5 h3 51.Nd6+ Ka6 52.Nf2 Ne5+ 53.Kd8 h2 54.Nde4 f5 0-1

• After 55.Bd6 fxe4 56.Bxe5 e3 57.Nh1 e2 58.Bc3 Rc6 59.Bb4 Kb5 a pawn must queen.
• 55.Nd2 Rg2 56.Nf1 Rxf2 57.Nxh2 Rxh2 is hopeless for White.
• Frln. Pähtz resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. T. L. Petrosian-Stefanova, Round 3

Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


T. L. Petrosian - Antoaneta Stefanova
GibTelecom Masters Tournament, Round 3
Gibraltar, 24 January 2008

Italian Royal Game: Classical Defense (Evans Gambit)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bd6?!

• On the principle of not blocking one's own center pawns in the opening, this is a bad place for the Bishop.
• 5...Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.0-0 then:
• 7...d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.d5 Na5 10.Bb2 Ne7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nc3 Ng6 13.Ne2 White has some extra space for his pawn.
• 7...dxc3 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 0-0 12.Rad1 b5 13.Bd3 Qg4 14.h3 Qe6 15.Nd5 b4 16.Bxh7+ Kh8is unclear (Young-Zukertort, 1882).
• 5...Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 then:
• If 7...Bb6 8.0-0 d6 9.d5 Na5 10.Bb2 Ne7 then:
• 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nc3 Ng6 13.Ne2 c5 White has too little compensation for the pawn.
• 11.Bxg7?! Rg8 12.Bb2 Bh3 is strong for Black.
• 7...Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Nbxd2 d6 is equal (Pukkila-Frey, Ol, Bled, 2002).

6.d4 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 b6!?

• Black introduces a novelty. This shortens the length of a file open for White.
• After 8...h6 9.Nbd2 Re8 10.Qb3 Qe7 11.Bd3 Na5 12.Qa4 b6 White has some spatial compensation for the pawn.(Fe;gaer-Harikrishna, IT, Dos Hermans, 2005).

9.Bd5 Nxd5!

• 9...Qe7? 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Ba3 Bd6 12.e5! Bxa3 13.exf6 Qd6 14.Nxa3 Qxa3 15.Ng5gives White a vicious attack.

10.exd5 e4 11.Ng5!

• 11.Rxe4 Ne7 12.Qb3 Bb7 13.c4 c6 is level.

11...Ne7

• 11...Be7 12.Nxe4 Na5 13.Ba3 Bb7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 is equal or even slightly adventageous to White.

12.Qh5 h6 13.Nxe4

• White has recoved the gambit pawn. Black cannot prevent the doubling of her pawns at d6.

13...f5?

• Black buys herself a whole of trouble.
• Correct is 13...Bb7 14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.c4 b5 16.cxb5 Nxd5 17.Na3 Re8with an equal game owing to the neutral state of the e-file.

14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.Ba3

• If 15.Bf4 Rf6 16.c4 Ng6 then:
• 17.Qf3 Ba6 18.Na3 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 then:
• 19...Qf8 20.Qe3 Rg6 21.Qb3 Qd8 22.f3 Qh4 23.Rad1 is equal.
• 19...Rc8 20.Rac1 Rc7 21.Rc2 Qc8 22.Rce2 Qb7 23.Qg3 gives White more space and more possibilities.
• 17.Bd2 Bb7 18.Na3 f4 19.f3 gives White the edge in space.

15...Rf6!

• The Rook lift is Black's best bet to fight back.

16.Nd2 Ba6 17.c4 b5 18.Qe2?

• White throws away his superior position.
• If 18.cxb5 Bxb5 then:
• 19.Qf3! Qf8 20.Qb3 Rb8 21.Rab1 Rb6 22.Bc5 Rb7 23.Bxa7 wins a pawn.
• 19.Rab1?! a6 20.Qf3 Qf8 21.Rbc1 Qf7 22.Nc4 Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Nxd5 is equal.

18...Ng6!

• Black finds the only move. All others lose.
• After 18...bxc4? 19.Qxe7 Qa5 20.Bc1 Qxd5 21.Bb2 Rg6 22.f3 Qa5 23.Nb1 White's position, with its material and spatial advatages, is solid.
;


• 18...Qa5? 19.Bxd6! Rxd6 20.Qxe7 Rg6 21.Nb3 Qc3 22.Re3 Qxc4 23.Qxd7 gives White more space and an extra pawn.

19.cxb5

• Better is 19.c5 Qa5 20.Bb2 Nf4 21.Qe3 Nxd5 22.Qb3 Bb7 23.Nc4, but the game is still equal.

19...Bb7!

• If 19...Qa5?! 20.bxa6 Qxa3 21.Qb5 Rc8 then:
• If 22.Nf1 f4 23.Reb1 Qc3 24.Rc1 Qxc1 25.Rxc1 Rxc1 then:
• 26.Qb2 Rd1 27.f3 Nh4 28.Kf2 is good for White.
• 26.Qb8+ Kh7 27.Qb2 Rc7 28.Qb1 is slightly advantageous to White.
• 22.Re3?! Rc3 23.Rxc3 Qxc3 24.Nb3 Nf4 25.Rc1 Qb2 is equal.

20.Nc4

• If 20.Qf3 Ne7 21.Nc4 Rg6 22.Ne3 Qf8 23.h4 then:
• 23...f4 24.h5 Rg5 25.Bxd6 fxe3 is good for Black.
• 23...Qf7? 24.Rac1 Bxd5 25.Nxd5 Nxd5 26.Re7 Nxe7 27.Qxa8+ is strong for White.

20...Bxd5 21.Nxd6 Nh4 22.Qe5?

• If 22.Qe7 Rg6 23.Qxd8+ Rxd8 then:
• If 24.g3 24...Nf3+ 25.Kf1 Nxe1 26.Rxe1 Bxa2 27.Ra1 Bd5 then:
• 28.Nxf5 28...Bc4+ 29.Kg1 Bxb5 30.Ne7+ Kf7 31.Nxg6 Kxg6 is equal.
• 28.Bc5 Ra8 29.Nxf5 Bc4+ 30.Kg2 Kf7 31.Ra5 a6 32.b6 White's passer gives him compensation for the exchange.
• 24.Kf1? Bxg2+ 25.Ke2 Nf3 26.Rac1 Re6+ 27.Kd3 Nxe1+ Black wins.

BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova
!""""""""#
$t+ W +l+%
$O +o+ O %
$ + N T O%
$+p+vQo+ %
$ + P + M%
$B + + + %
$p+ + PpP%
$R + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: T. L. Petrosian
Position after 22.Qe2e5

22...Bxg2!!

• A gem of a move.
• 22...Bf3? loses to 23.Qf4! g5 24.Re8+ Qxe8 25.Nxe8 gxf4 26.Nxf6+ Kf7 27.Nxd7.

23.Qg3 Be4 24.Qb3+

• 24.Qxh4 Rg6+ 25.Kf1 Bd3+ 26.Re2 Qxh4 27.Nxf5 Qh5.

24...Re6 25.Nxe4 fxe4 26.Kh1 Nf3 27.Re3 d5

• Stronger is 27...Qg5! 28.Rxf3 exf3 29.Rg1 Qf5 30.d5 Rg6.

28.Rxf3 exf3 29.Rg1

• Black also wins after 29.Bc5 Qd7 30.Qxf3 Rf6 31.Qg2 Re8 32.a4 Re2.

29...Qd7 30.Qxf3 Rae8 31.Bc5 Re1 32.a4

• 32.h3 R1e2 33.a3 Rb2 34.Rg6 Kh7 35.Rd6 Qxb5 provides more stubborn resistance.

32...Rxg1+ 33.Kxg1 Re1+ 34.Kg2 Ra1 35.Ba3

• No better is 35.Qb3 Qg4+ 36.Qg3 Qd1 37.Qf4 Qh1+ 38.Kh3 Rg1 ,

35...Qe6 36.a5 Qg6+ 37.Kh3 Kh7 38.Kh4 Rg1 39.Be7 Qe6 0-1

• White's King is in a mating net.
• If 40.Qd3+ g6 41.Qg3 Qxe7+ then:
• 42.Kh3 Qe6+ 43.Kh4 Qf6+ 44.Kg4 Qf5+ 45.Kh4 Qh5#
• 42.Kg4 Qe6+ 43.Kh4 Qf6+ 44.Kg4 Qf5+ 45.Kh4 Qh5#.
• Mr. Petrosian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Links to above Gibraltar games are now available. and here they are

Pähtz - Bu
Petrosian - Stefanova