The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (August 24): Moro leads the Tal

[Jack Rabbit]

Morozevich leads Tal Memorial



Reigning Russian national champion Alexander Morozevich leads grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine by a half point after six rounds of the annual Mikhail Tal Memorial Tournament in Moscow.

Morozevich scored a win over Ukraine's Ruslan Ponomariov in 37 moves today while Ivanchuk, playing Black, defeated Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko.

Morozevich has thus far scored three victories without a loss for 4½ points, while Ivanchuk has two wins and four draws for 4 points. Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand is currently in third place with 3½ points after defeating Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in today's play. It was Gelfand's first decisive game of the event.

The category 20 tournament concludes after the ninth round on Wednesday.


Youth leading Seniors in Amsterdam by wide margin

A five-member team of Rising Stars leads a five-member team of experienced grandmasters ranging in ages from 41 to 77 at the half way point of the annual Youth-Experience Team Match in Amsterdam as of today.

The overall score is 19-6. The Rising Stars team have won 14 games. The senior squad scored its first victory today when the senior senior, the legendary Viktor Korchnoi, defeated Dutch grandmaster Erwin L'Ami in 59 moves.

The leading scorer on the Youth team will be invited to participate in next year's Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold tournament in Nice or Monte Carlo. As of now, Wang Yue of China is in position for that honor, but Bulgaria's Ivan Cheparinov is only a half point behind.

Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana, 15, and Dutch grandmaster Daniel Stellwagen round out the Youth team. In addition to Korchnoi, the Seniors team includes Artur Jussupow of Germany, Serbian GM Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Russia's Evgeny Bareev and the two-sport star Simen Agdestein of Norway, the only person to represent his national team in both the Chess Olympics and in World Cup Football competitions.

The event comes to a merciful end after the tenth round Saturday.


Women's Knock Out Championship to begin without Georgian players



The Knock Out Tournament to name the Women's World Chess Champion begins Thursday in Nalchik in the north Caucasus Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia without the six women from the Republic of Georgia who were invited to attend.

The six include former women's world champion Maia Chiburdanidze, who became world champion in 1980 at the age of 17 by defeating Nona Gaprindishvili in a match. The others are Lela Javakhishvili, Sopio Gvetadze, Maia Lomineishvili, Sopiko Khukhashvili and Nino Khurtsidze.

The women stated their concerns in an open letter to FIDE dated August 12. The women stated that they would not feel safe playing in Russia only days after Russia and Georgia fought over control of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia and suggested the event be postponed and relocated.

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also the president of the Autonomous Russian Republic of Kalmykia, a position to which he was appointed by then-Russian President Vladimir Putin, urged the Georgian Chess Federation to allow the women to play.


Calendar


Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-13 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 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. Morozevich - Kramnik, Round 3, Tal Memorial, Moscow

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Vladimir Kramnik
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 3
Moscow, 20 August 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz-Shabalov Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Nxg4

• In this variation, Black takes the poffered pawn.
• For notes on other moves, see Aronian-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008.

8.Rg1 Nxh2

• If 8...Qf6 9.Rxg4 Qxf3 10.Rxg7 then:
• 10...Nf8 11.Rg1 Ng6 12.Be2 Qf6 13.Bd2 Bd7 14.0-0-0 Bxh2 15.Rh1 Bc7 16.e4 0-0-0 17.e5 Qe7 18.f4 f6 19.cxd5 fxe5 20.d6 Qxd6 21.dxe5 Qc5 22.Ne4 Qxc2+ 23.Kxc2 Ne7 24.Ng5 Rde8 25.Bg4 h6 26.Nxe6 is equal (Kransenkow-Piket, Bundesliga, Germany, 2002).
• 10...Nf6 11.Rg1 Bxh2 12.Be2 Qh3 13.Rf1 Ng4 14.e4 Rg8 15.Bxg4 Rxg4 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Be3 Qf3 18.exd5 Bf5 19.Qe2 Qxe2+ 20.Kxe2 0-0-0 21.dxc6 bxc6 is equal (Hua Lefong-Sandipan, Op, Ottawa, 2007).
• 8...f5 9.h3 Ngf6 10.Rxg7 Ne4 11.Bd2 Qf6 12.Rg2 Nf8 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.Bd3 Ng6 15.Rdg1 Bc7 16.Be1 0-0-0 17.Kb1 Kb8 18.Na4 e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.f4 Bd6 22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.Bc3 Qe6 24.Bxh8 Rxh8 25.cxd5 cxd5 26.Nc5 Bxc5 27.Qxc5 (Kasparov-Nielsen, Rapid, Reykjavik, 2004).

9.Nxh2 Bxh2 10.Rxg7 Nf8

• 10...Qf6 11.Rxh7 Rxh7 12.Qxh7 Bd6 13.Qd3 Qf3 14.Qh7 Nf6 15.Qh8+ Ke7 is equal (Kempinski-Wieczorek, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).

11.Rg2 Bd6

• 11...Bc7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 f5 14.Bg5 Qxd4 15.Bf6 Ba5+ 16.Ke2 Qxe4+ 17.Qxe4 fxe4 18.Bxh8 Ng6 is equal (I. Rajlich-Salgado, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

12.e4

• This weakens the f4 square for White, but there is nothing better.
If
• 12.Be2 h5 13.c5 Bc7 14.b4 h4 then:
• 15.Rg1 h3 16.Bb2 Ng6 17.Rxg6 h2 18.Kd2 Qh4 Black should win.
• 15.b5 h3 16.Rg1 e5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Qa4 Rh6 gives Black a strong initiative and an extra pawn.

12...Ng6!

• A novelty by which Black immediately takes advantage of White's inaccuracy.
• 12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Bh6 Ng6 15.0-0-0 Bd7 16.Bg7 Rg8 17.Be5 Qa5 18.Kb1 0-0-0 19.Nd6+ Bxd6 20.Bxd6 c5 21.dxc5 is equal (Johannesson-Leer-Salvesen, Norwegian Ch, Molde, 2004).

13.Bg5

• 13.e5 Be7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bd3 Nh4 16.Rg3 h5 17.f3 Be6 Black still holds the extra pawn.

13...Be7

• If 13...f6 14.Be3 then:
• 14...Nh4 15.Rg7 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf5 17.Rg1 Qa5 18.Bd2 Bb4 is unclear: White has more space, but Black still has an extra pawn.


• 14...dxe4 15.Qxe4 f5 16.Qf3 e5 17.d5 e4 18.Qe2 Be5 White has more space and Black still has the extra pawn.

14.Bxe7?!

• 14.Qd2 f6 15.Be3 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nh4 17.Rg3 Nf5 keeps Black a pawn up.
• If 14.Be3 then:
• 14...Nh4 15.Rg3 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf5 17.Rh3 Bb4 keeps Black a pawn up and gives him superior pawn structure.
• 14...Qc7? 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.exd5 Nf4 17.Bxf4 Qxf4 18.Rd1 equalizes.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 14.Bg5e7:B

14...Qxe7

• With the dark-bound Bishops exchanged, a good plan for Black would be to take advantage of the weak dark squares on White's kingside and then advance the h-pawn.

15.0-0-0 dxe4?!

• Here Black begins a series of inferior moves that take him from a superior position to equal to lost.
• 15...h5! 16.e5 h4 17.Kb1 Bd7 18.Rh2 f5 gives Black advantages in space and mobility in addition to an extra pawn.

16.Nxe4 f5

• 16...Bd7 17.Qb3 0-0-0 18.Qg3 Be8 19.c5 Qc7 20.Nd6+ is equal.

17.Nd2 c5 18.dxc5

• 18.d5 Bd7 19.Nb3 0-0-0 20.d6 Qf6 21.Nxc5 Bc6 gives Black the advantage in mobility.

18...Bd7?!

• 18...Qxc5 19.Nb3 Qc7 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.c5 0-0-0 gives Blkack better mobility and an extra pawn.

19.b4 0-0-0 20.Rg3 e5 21.Rd3 Be6?!

• 21...Nf4 22.Rd6 h5 23.Nf3 e4 24.Qd2 Ba4 25.Qxf4 is equal.

22.Ra3 a6

• Black is now in trouble.
• If 22...Kb8 23.Qa4 a6 24.c6 then:
• 24...Bc8 25.cxb7 Qxb7 26.c5 Rd4 27.Bxa6 remains equal.
• If 24...Qh4? 25.c5 then:
• If 25...Bd5 then after 26.cxb7 Qxf2 27.Bxa6 Ne7 28.Bb5 White wins.
• White wins after 25...Bc8 26.cxb7 Bxb7 27.Bxa6 Qe7 28.c6.

23.c6 bxc6 24.c5 Qg5 25.Rxa6!

• White threatens 26.Qa4 Kd7 27.Qxc6+ Ke7 28.Qxe6+ Kf8 29.Ra7 when mate is in the air.

25...Kd7?

• 25...Bd5 26.Ra7 Rd7 27.Ba6+ Kd8 28.Ra8+ Ke7 29.Rxh8 Nxh8 remains equal.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 25...Kc8d7

26.Bc4!

• 26.Kb1 Qf4 27.Ra7+ Ke8 28.Nc4 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Qxf2 30.a3 remains equal.

26...Bxc4

• 26...Bd5 27.Bxd5 cxd5 28.Qa4+ Ke7 29.Qc6 Kf8 30.b5 gives White a distinct advantage.

27.Qxc4 Ne7 28.Kc2 Ke8

• 28...Nd5 29.Nf3 Qg8 30.Nxe5+ Ke8 31.Re1 sets up a devastating discovered check.

29.Nf3 Qf6

• After 29...Qg8 30.Rxd8+ Kxd8 31.Ra8+ Nc8 32.Qa6 Kd7 33.Qb7+ White wins.

30.Rd6 Rxd6 31.cxd6 1-0

• No matter how Black plays, he must lose a piece.
• Former World Champion Kramnik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Jussupow - Caruana, Team Match, Round 1, Amsterdam

Fabiano Caruana
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game, please click here and select the Jussupow-Caruana game.


Artur Jussupow (Experience) - Fabiano Caruana (Youth)
Youth-Experience Team Match, Round 1
Amsterdam, 20 August 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit

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

• 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 then:
• If 8...Bb4 9.Bd2 a5 10.a3 Be7 then:
• 11.e4 Nc5 12.dxc5 dxe4 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxa5 Ra8 16.Bb4 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rfd1 Ke7 19.Kf1 f6 20.Rac1 e5 is equal (Cacho-Shirov, Spanish ChT, Cala Galdana, 2001).
• 11.b3 0-0 12.Rfd1 Qc7 13.e4 draw (Korchnoi-Oll, Op, Antwerp, 1994).
• 8...Be7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 0-0 12.Bf4 Qa5 13.Rfd1 Rfe8 14.Rd3 Qa6 15.b3 Bf6 16.Ne5 Rad8 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.a4 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qb6 draw (Ilincic-Savic, Bosnian ChT, Vogosca, 2007).

6...Be4

• 6...Bg6 then:
• If 7.Be2 Nbd7 then:
• 8.0-0 Bd6 9.g3 0-0 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.b3 Qe7 12.Bf3 Rac8 13.Bg2 Rfd8 14.Bd2 Bb4 15.a3 Bxa3 16.c5 Bb2 17.Rxa7 Nxc5 18.Nb1 Na6 19.Qc2 Ba3 20.Nxa3 Qxa3 21.b4 b5 22.Rb1 Ne4 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.h4 e5 25.Bc1 Nxb4 26.Qc5 Qd3 27.Rxb4 Rd5 28.Qe7 Rf8 29.Ba3 c5 30.Rb2 b4 31.Bxb4 draw (Gelfand-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).
• 8.Bd2 Be7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qc2 Qc7 11.h3 a6 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Bxc4 g5 15.e4 g4 gives an opportunity to either gain a pawn or spoil White's kingside pawn structure (Malakhov-M. Gurevich, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk. 2005).
• 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Rc1 Bd6 then:
• 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 (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2004).
• 10.Qb3 Rb8 11.g3 Qe7 12.Bg2 e5 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Qxc4 Nb6 15.Qb3 0-0 16.a4 Rfc8 17.Rfe1 Nbd7 18.Rcd1 b5 19.axb5 a6 20.Ra1 axb5 21.Ra7 gives White the advantage in space (Sasikiran-Kayumov, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, 2005).
• 7.Qb3 Qc7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.g3 Nbd7 10.Bd2 Be7 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.h3 0-0 14.Be2 Qd7 15.Kf1 is equal (Hort-L'Ami, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).

7.f3 Bg6 8.g3

• If 8.Qb3 then:
• If 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.e4 then:
• 14...0-0-0 15.exd5 cxd5+ 16.Kb1 Qd6 17.g3 g5 18.Bd3 Kb8 19.f4 f6 20.Rde1 Nb6 21.Re2 Rc8 22.Rhe1 Nc4 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Qf3 Bd8 25.d5 Rc5 26.fxg5 Qxd5 27.Bf4+ Kc8 28.Qxd5 draw (Kishnev-Volkov, Euro ChT, Halkidiki, 2002).
• 14...Nb6 15.g3 0-0-0 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.e5 Be7 18.h4 Kb8 19.Bd3 Qc8 20.Kb1 Ka8 21.Rc1 Qe6 22.Rhe1 Rc8 23.Be3 Nc4 24.f4 Nxe3 25.Rxe3 gives White the advantage in space (Najer-Wang Yue, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• If 9...Nbd7 10.cxd5 then:
• If 10...exd5 then:
• 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 Nb6 15.Bg5 Re8 16.Bd3 Ng4 17.Rhf1 f6 18.h3 Ne5 19.dxe5 fxg5 20.e6 Qe5 21.Be2 Bc5 22.Rf7 Re7 23.a4 Rhe8 24.a5 Be3+ 25.Kb1 Qxa5 26.Nd5 cxd5 27.Qxe3 dxe4 28.Qc1+ Black resigns as she faces further material loss (Tregubov-Peng, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 then:
• 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxf7 exf3 15.gxf3 Nb6 16.Qxg6 Rxd4 is equal (M. Gurevich-Dorfman, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2000).
• 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1 Nf5 16.Kb1 Nb6 17.Rc1 Nd6 18.e4 Ndc4 19.Re2 Nxd2+ 20.Rxd2 Qf4 21.Rdc2 Kb8 22.a4 Qe3 is equal (Chiburdanidze-Zhu Chen, FIDE Knock Out W, Moscow, 2001).
• If 10...Nxd5 11.e4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be7 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.g3 then:
• 14...Rd8 15.Be3 0-0 16.Be2 b5 17.a4 a6 18.Kf2 Nb6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra2 Ra8 21.Rha1 Rxa2 22.Rxa2 Rb8 23.Qd1 gives White more mobility (Khrismatullin-Lastin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 14...Rxh2 15.Rxh2 Qxg3+ 16.Rf2 Bh4 17.0-0-0 Qxf2 18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qxc6 Qxf3 20.Bb5 Rxb5 21.Qxb5 Qxe4 22.Qa6 Nb6 23.Qxa7 Qc6 24.Qa5 Bf6 25.Kb1 Nd7 26.Re1 is equal (Volkov-Guidarelli, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).
• If 8...Qb6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 then:
• 11...Be7 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.Qc2 Kb8 14.g4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rh3 16.g5 Nd5 17.e4 Nxc3+ 18.Qxc3 Qc7 19.Bc1 Nb6 20.Bb3 Rxh2 21.Rxh2 Qxh2 22.d5 Qe2 23.Re1 Qb5 24.Qxg7 Qd3+ 25.Bc2 Qxf3 26.dxe6 Bb4 27.Re3 Qh1 28.Re2 fxe6 29.Qf6 Kc7 30.a3 Bd2 31.Qe5+ Kc8 32.Qxe6+ Kb8 33.Qe5+ Kc8 34.Qe6+ Kb8 35.Qe5+ draw (Tkachiev-Shirov, Op, Corsica, 2003).
• 11...Qxb3 12.axb3 Bd6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1 0-0 16.Ne2 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 a5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Kb1 Rfc8 20.Rc1 Rxc1+ 21.Bxc1 Nb8 22.Rc2 draw (Tregubov-Malakhov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).

8...Be7

• 8...Nbd7 9.a3 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 a5 12.b3 Rc8 13.Ra2 c5 14.Nb5 cxd4 15.exd4 a4 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.cxd5 axb3 18.Qxb3 Nxd5 is equal (Ilincic-Porat, First Saturday, Budapest, 2008.03).

9.Bd2!?

• This is a novelty, although it looks like a stereotypical move.
• 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Kf2 e5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bb5+ Nc6 15.Ba4 Qd7 16.Ne2 a6 17.Bd2 b5 gives Black the advantage in space (Karpov-Hübner, Blitz, Cologne, 2002).

9...a6!?

• In response, Black punts.
• 9...Bh5 10.Ng2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nd5 12.Bb3 is equal.

10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.c5

• The game is equal.

11...e5

• 11...Nbd7 12.Bd3 e5 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Bf1 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 remains equal.

12.dxe5 Nfd7 13.f4!?

• The text move is good for equality.
• 13.e4! d4 14.Na4 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.f4 gives White more mobility.

13...Nxc5 14.Qc2 a5 15.Rd1

• 15.0-0-0 b5 16.Ne2 Ne4 17.Be1 Qb6 18.Nd4 Qc5 19.Bg2 remains equal.

15...Nba6 16.Bxa6?

• For no reaosn, White trades his good Bishop for a Knight.
• 16.a3 Qb6 17.h3 Nc7 18.Bc1 Rd8 remains equal.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Artur Jussupow
Position after 16.Bf1a6:N

16...Nxa6!

• The text is better than 16...Rxa6 17.e4 dxe4 18.Be3 Nd3+ 19.Ke2 when the game remains equal.

17.e4

• 17.a3 g5 18.e6 gxf4 19.exf4 fxe6 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.Qxe6 Bf6 gives Black a small advantage with his center and queenside pawns; this will become more apparent as the endgame approaches.

17...Nb4 18.Qb1 Qb6 19.a3

• If 19.h4 d4 20.a3 dxc3 21.bxc3 Bc5 then:
• 22.Rh2 Na6 23.Qxb6 Bxb6 24.Bc1 a4 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 22.axb4 Bg1 23.Ke2 Qf2+ 24.Kd3 Qf3+ drives the White King to the open.
• 19.Ne2 dxe4 20.Qxe4 0-0-0 21.Kf1 Nxa2 leaves White a pawn to the good.

19...Rxh2 20.Rxh2 Qg1+ 21.Ke2 Qxh2+ 22.Kf3

• After any other move White is soon mated.

22...d4 23.axb4 dxc3 24.Bxc3 Qh5+

• After 24...g5 25.f5 axb4 26.Bd4 g4+ 27.Kxg4 Qe2+ Black has a won position.

25.Kf2 axb4 26.Bd4 Qh2+ 27.Kf3 g5 28.Bf2

• If 28.f5 g4+ 29.Kxg4 Qe2+ 30.Kf4 Rd8 then:
• If 31.Qd3 then Qxd3 32.Rxd3 c5 wins a piece.
• 31.f6 gxf6 32.Re1 fxe5+ 33.Bxe5 Qh5 34.Rh1 Bg5+ is lights out.

28...g4+!

• White is damned if he takes the sacrifice and damned if he doesn't.

29.Ke2

• Black wins easily after 29.Kxg4 Qxf2 30.Kh3 g5 31.f5 Ra5 32.Qd3 Rxe5.

29...Bc5 30.Rf1 Qg2 31.Qd3

• After 31.e6 fxe6 32.f5 Rd8 33.f6 b3 34.Qc1 Qf3+ 35.Ke1 Bb4+ Black delivers mate on the next move.

31...Rd8 32.Qc2 Qf3+ 33.Ke1 b3 0-1

• After 34.Qe2 Bb4+ Black delivers mate on the next move.
• Herr Jussupow resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Hou - Georgescu, World Junior Championship, Round 2

Hou Yifan, 14, finished in a tie for third at the World Junior Championship in Gaziantep, Turkey.

Had she participated in the Girls' competition, which was won by Dronavalli Harika of India, she would have been the top seed by almost 100 points.



Hou Yifan
Photo: First Saturday (Hungary)


Hou Yifan - Tiberiu Georgescu
World Junior Championship, Round 2
Gaziantep, 4 August 2008

Spanish Sicilian Game

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4

• 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Be3 b6 7.Qd2 e5 8.Nge2 Nf6 9.h3 0-0 10.Bh6 Qd6 11.0-0 Nh5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 f6 16.Raf1 Be6 17.b3 Rad8 18.Nd1 is equal (Shaw-Kett, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

4.Nf3 g6

• If 4...e6 5.Bc4 then:
• If 5...Nf6 6.0-0 a6 7.d3 b5 8.Bb3 Nxb3 9.axb3 Bb7 10.e5 then:
• If 10...Nd5 11.Ne4 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nfg5 Be7 14.Qf3 Qb6 15.Qh3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 0-0 17.Re1 Rf5 18.Be3 Qc6 19.Re2 Raf8 20.Rae1 h6 21.f4 R5f7 22.Ng3 Bd6 23.Nh5 Kh7 24.Rf2 g6 then:
• 25.f5? gxh5 26.Qxh5 Rg7 27.Bxh6 Qxg2+ 28.Rxg2 Rxg2+ 29.Kf1 Rxf5+ 30.Bf4+ Rxh5 White resigns (Elliott-Belkhodja, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 25.Ng3 Bxf4 26.Rxf4 Rxf4 27.Ne4 h5 28.Bxf4 Rxf4 equalizes.
• 10...b4 11.Na4 Nd5 12.d4 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Rc8 14.c4 bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne7 is equal (Tisser-Wells, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• 5...Ne7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.d3 0-0 10.Bb3 b6 11.f4 Bb7 12.Kh1 Kh8 13.f5 d5 14.exd5 Na5 15.Nxd4 Nxb3 16.axb3 Qxd5 17.Qg4 gives White an advantage in space (Najer-Rowson, World Jr Ch, Zagan, 1997).

5.Bc4 Bg7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Qf3 Nh6

• 7...e6 8.Nb5 d6 9.Qa3 Ke7 10.c3 dxc3 11.dxc3 a6 12.Nd4 e5 13.Nf3 Qc7 14.Qb3 Nf6 15.Bxf7 Nxe4 16.Bd5 Nc5 17.Qc4 Bf5 18.0-0 h6 19.Nh4 Bd3 20.Nxg6+ Bxg6 21.Qg4 Kf6 22.f4 Bd3 23.fxe5+ Black resigns as he is soon mated (Kotronias-Moskow, IT, Gausdal, 2008).

8.Ne2 0-0 9.d3 d6

• If 9...Ng4 10.Bb3 d6 11.Qg3 then:
• If 11...a5 12.a4 then:
• If 12...Nf6 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Bg5 Nc5 15.Qh4 Re8 16.Bd5 Be6 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Bh6 Bf6 19.Qg3 Qb6 20.b3 Qc5 then:
• 21.Ra2? Qh5! 22.Bc1 Qxe2 23.f3 Be5 24.Qh4 g5 25.Qh5 Bf4 26.Bxf4 Qxg2+ White resigns as 27.Kxg2 Nxf4+ loses a piece (Sabirova-Cmilyte, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 21.Qf3 Rad8 22.Rac1 d5 23.Rfd1 is equal.
• 12...Qb6 13.h4 h5 14.Nf4 e6 15.Nh3 Re8 16.0-0 Ne5 17.Bf4 Bd7 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.f4 is equal (Bulski-Momeni, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 11...Nf6 12.Nxd4 Nxe4 13.dxe4 Bxd4 14.h4 Be6 15.h5 Qa5+ 16.Bd2 Qe5 17.Qxe5 Bxe5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.c3 Rac8 21.Ke2 Kg7 draw (Heberla-Alekseev, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).

10.Qg3!

• The novelty is a big improvement over older lines. White prepares to launch an assault on the kingside.
• 10.h3 e5 11.0-0 Kh8 12.Qg3 f5 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.Qh4 Ng8 15.f4 b5 16.Bb3 Bb7 17.Ng3 Rae8 draw (Buckley-Jurkiewicz, World Jr Ch Girls, Athens, 2001).

10...Kh8?!

• 10...Ng4 11.0-0 Bd7 12.h3 Ne5 13.Bd5 Qb6 14.f4 is equal.

11.h4 f6

• If 11...Ng4 12.h5 Be5 13.f4 then:
• 13...Bg7 14.Bxf7 Rxf7 15.hxg6 Rf8 16.f5 Nf6 17.Rxh7+ gives White three pawns for the piece and a fierce attack.
• 13...d5 14.Bxd5 Bg7 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Bxb7 Bxb7 17.Qxg4 gives White twwo extra pawns.

12.h5 g5 13.f4?!

• This weakening of g4 is by no means a dreadful error, but it gives Black some counterplay.
If 13.Nxd4 f5 14.Bxg5 then:
• 14...Qb6 15.Nb3 fxe4 16.dxe4 Qb4+ 17.Nd2 Qxb2 18.Rd1 gives White a healthy advantage in space.
• 14...fxe4 15.Bxh6 Bxh6 16.dxe4 Qb6 17.Qc3 e5 18.Nf3 leaves White up by two pawns.

13...Bg4?!

• Better is 13...gxf4 14.Nxf4 Qa5+ 15.Bd2 Qe5 16.0-0-0 Bg4 17.Rde1, although White continues to enjoy an advantage in space.

14.Nxd4 gxf4 15.Bxf4 e5

• 15...Qb6 16.Bxh6 Bxh6 17.Qxg4 Qxd4 18.c3 f5 19.Qe2 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Tiberiu Georgescu
!""""""""#
$t+ W T L%
$Oo+ + Vo%
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$+ + O +p%
$ +bNpBv+%
$+ +p+ Q %
$pPp+ +p+%
$R + K +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 15...e7e5

16.Bxh6!

• White doesn't let up for a second, nor should she.
• 16.Bd2? exd4 17.Bxh6 Bxh6 18.Qxg4 Qa5+ 19.b4 Qxb4+ is equal.

16...Bxh6 17.Qxg4 Qa5+ 18.c3 exd4 19.0-0

• Also good is 19.Qf5 Qxf5 20.exf5 dxc3 21.bxc3 Rae8+ 22.Be6.

19...dxc3 20.bxc3 Qxc3

• Black has won back the pawn, but his Queen is out of play.

21.Rab1 b6 22.Rb5!

• White lifts her Rook to a fully navigational rank.

22...a6 23.Rbf5 b5 24.Bd5 Rae8 25.Qg3 Qd4+

• 25...Re5 26.Kh2 Rb8 27.Qh3 Bg5 28.R5f3 maintains White's advantage.

26.Kh1

• The text is sufficient, but slightly better is 26.Kh2 (protecting the Queen) 26...Qb6 27.Qh4 Bg5 28.Qg4 Rc8.

26...Re5

• If 26...Rc8 27.Kh2 Rfd8 28.Be6 Rc1 then:
• 29.Rxc1 Bxc1 30.Rd5 Qe3 31.Qxe3 Bxe3
• 29.Rxf6 Rxf1 30.Rxf1 Qe5 31.Bf7

27.Kh2!

• 27.R1f3? Rc8 28.Kh2 Bg5 29.h6 Bxh6 is equal.

27...Bg5?

• Black can fight on after 27...Rfe8 28.R1f3 Bg5 29.Qg4 Rxf5 30.Qxf5 Rd8.

BLACK: Tiberiu Georgescu
!""""""""#
$ + + T L%
$+ + + +o%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 27...Bh6g5

28.Qxg5!!

• The Queen sacrifice clears the way to the King.

28...fxg5

• 28...Rxf5 29.Qxf5 Qe5+ 30.Kh1 b4 31.Qg4 Re8 32.Rf5 leaves White up by a piece.

29.Rxf8+ Kg7 30.R1f6 1-0

• Black cannot prevent mate on h6.
• Master Georgescu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Bonus Game: A famous Tal sacrifice

There are two kinds of sacrifices: sound ones and mine. -- Mikhail Tal (1936-1992)



Mikhail Tal
Photo: ChessGraphics

Resource:
Tal, Mikhail (Ken Neat, trans), The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal (Everyman Chess, London, 1997), Game 67 (pp. 326-30).

Mikhail Tal - Bent Larsen
Candidates' Semi-Final Match. Round 10
Bled, August 1965

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Matanovic Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3

• If 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Be3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 then:
• If 9...a6 10.a4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 then:
• 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bg2 Na5 18.Qf2 Nc4 19.Bc1 Bf8 20.Nd4 Na5 21.f5 Ne5 22.Nce2 Nac6 23.c3 exf5 24.exf5 Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Bb7 is equal (Jansa-Ftacnik, Prague, 1989).
• 12.Bd3 Nb4 13.a5 Bd7 14.Qe1 Rac8 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.g4 e5 18.Nf5 exf4 19.Bb6 Qc6 20.g5 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 d5 22.Nxd5 Bxg5 23.Nc3 Rxe4 24.Nxe4 gives White a winning game (Jakovenko-A. Volokitin, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 9...Bd7 10.Nb3 a6 11.a4 b6 12.Bf3 Qc7 13.Kh1 Rfe8 14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Qh5 Nb4 18.Rf2 Bf8 19.Raf1 Re7 20.Qh3 Rae8 21.Bc1 g6 i equal (Bromberger-Jakovenko, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).
• 9...e5 10.Nb3 exf4 11.Bxf4 Be6 12.Kh1 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nxd5 Ndxe5 15.c4 Bg5 16.Nc5 Bxf4 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Nxf4 Rf6 19.Qb3 Qe7 20.Qe3 Raf8 is equal (Hoiu Yifan-Gvetadze, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).
• 6.g4 Nf6 7.g5 Nd7 8.Be3 Be7 9.h4 0-0 10.Qd2 a6 11.0-0-0 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 b5 13.Kb1 Rb8 14.h5 b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Qd2 Nc5 17.f3 Be6 is equal (Stammberger-Nitsche, Corres, 1989).
• 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 0-0 11.g4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Rg1 Nc5 15.e5 dxe5 16.Rh4 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 g6 18.Ne4 f5 19.gxf6 Bxf6 20.Rhg4 Bg7 21.h4 Rf5 22.h5 Rxh5 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 24.Rxg6+ hxg6 25.Rxg6+ Bg7 26.Qxh5 Bd7 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Bh6+ Kh7 29.Bf4+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ Kf8 31.Qh6+ draw (Grechinin-Glek, Kuibyshev, 1981).
• 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bd7 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Be7 10.Nb3 0-0 11.a5 Ne5 12.Qe2 Qc7 13.f4 Nc4 14.g4 b5 15.axb6 Qxb6+ 16.Kh1 Bb5 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Rxa8 Rxa8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.e6 gives White an advantage in pawn structure (¥artel-Brandenburg, EU Ch, Cork (Ireland), 2005).

6...Nf6 7.f4

• If 7.f3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 then:
• If 9...a6 10.g4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 then:
• If 13...Qc7 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 then:
• 16...Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Nc4 d5 22.Nb6 Rad8 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Qe3 Ng4 25.Nxd5 Nxe3 26.Nxc7 Bxd4 27.Nxe6 Nxd1 28.Rxd1 Bf6 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ draw (Leko-Svidler, IT, Linares, 2006).
• 16...d5 17.g6 fxg6 18.Bh3 e5 19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.Bc5 d4 21.Nb6 Qc7 22.Bxe7 Qxb6 23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.Qg5 Qe6 is equal (Bologan-An. Volokitin, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2004).
• 13...b4 14.Na4 Bb7 15.Nb6 Nxb6 16.Qxb4 Rb8 17.Bxb6 d5 18.Bc5 Bxc5 19.Qxc5 is equal (Najer-Ehlvest, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 9...d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.c4 Qd6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Bd3 e5 15.Qc2 f5 16.Rhe1 Be6 17.Kb1 Bh4 is equal (Erenburg-Huzman, Rapid, Beer Shiva, 2004).

7...Be7 8.Qf3 0-0

• 8...e5 9.Nde2 exf4 10.Nxf4 0-0 11.h3 Ne5 12.Qf2 b6 13.Bd4 Bb7 14.0-0-0 Qc7 15.Re1 Bc6 16.g4 Qb7 17.Qg2 Nfd7 18.g5 Rae8 19.h4 Bd8 is equal (Bronstein-Furman, TM, Moscow, 1965).

9.0-0-0 Qc7!?

• This was a novelty when Larsen played it in this game.
• 9...Bd7 was a new move at the time: 10.Nb3 a5 11.Nd2 d5 12.e5 Ne8 13.Nb3 a4 14.Nc5 b6 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Kb1 Nc7 17.Nb5 a3 18.Nxc7 Qxc7 19.b3 f6 20.Qh3 is equal (Bilek-Darga, IZonal, Amsterdam, 1964).
• from this decade comes 10.Rg1 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.g4 then:
• 12...Qa5 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 b5 15.f5 Ne5 16.Qf4 b4 17.f6 Bd8 18.fxg7 Re8 19.Nb1 Qxa2 20.h5 Qa5 21.g6 fxg6 22.hxg6 Nxg6 23.Qh6 Bxe4 gives Black two extra pawns (Kupreichik-Korobov, IT, Kramatorsk, 2001).
• 12...Nd7 13.Kb1 Qa5 14.f5 Ne5 15.Qg3 Rfe8 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.g5 Bd8 18.h4 b5 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Rd6 Rc8 21.Bh3 b4 22.Rxe6 Bb6 23.Rf1 bxc3 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Qf3 Bf2 26.Rxf2 Qd8 27.bxc3 Rf8 28.Qxf8+ Qxf8 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 gives Black the positional advantage (Hennings-Savon, Student Ol, Orebro, 1966).

10.Ndb5 Qb8 11.g4 a6 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5

• 13...e5 14.g5 Ng4 15.Nd5 Re8 16.Bc3 exf4 17.Rg1 Bd8 18.Rxg4 Bxg4 19.Qxg4 Black resigns (Schoonhoven-Pinus, Corres, 2002).

14.g5 Nd7 15.Bd3!?

• At first I wated to play the prophylactic 15.a3 so as to maintain the Knight on c3. Variation of the type 15...b4 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.Qh5 Rb8 18.Rd3 Qxb2+ 19.Kd1 appeared quite attractive, but then my attention was drawn to the idea of the Knight sacrifice at d5, opening lines for attack. On this occasion I persuaded myself not to reject such a tempting, though not unhazardous, idea. The amusing variation which I found at this moment...reinforced the conviction that to refrain from such a sacrifice would be simply shameful...I even used a sort of internal monologue in order to make up my mind: "If in the end, Misha, you are destined to lose this match, there is no need for the reason to be cowardice." (Tal)

15...b4!?

• A few years after the present game was played, Black tried 15...Bb7 without success: 16.Qh3 Rd8 17.Rhg1 e5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 g6 20.f5 exd4 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Nf8 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.g6+ Kg7 25.Rdf1 Bf6 26.Rxf6 Black resigns (Suetin-Jimanez, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1969).
• If 16.a3 (Tal's choice) then Fritz gives 16...Rc8 17.Rhg1 b4 18.axb4 Bc6 19.f5 with equality.

BLACK: Bent Larsen
!""""""""#
$tMv+ Tl+%
$+ +mVoOo%
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$+ + + P %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Mikhail Tal
Position after 15...b5b4

16.Nd5!?

• The piece sacrifice has something of a positional nature. Black's pieces are grouped on the queenside (Rook on a8, Queen on b8 and Bishop on c8), and it is by no means easy for them to come to the aide of their King. The open e-file (after the ensuing pawn exchange -- JR) is a barrier, Besides, both White Bishops are aimed at the enemy King, and the standard combination with successive Bishop sacrifices at h7 and g7 is threatened. Black cannot defend against this without making position concessions. (Tal)

16...exd5 17.exd5 f5

• On 17...g6 White can continue the attack by 18.h4 or by 18.Qh3, which is, in my opinion, more active. (Tal)
• Subsequent analysis favors 18.h4.

18.Rde1 Rf7 19.h4 Bb7

• If 19...Nf8? 20.h5 Qb7 21.g6 then:
• If 21...hxg6 22.hxg6 Nxg6 23.Qh5 then:
• 23...Nh4 24.Rxh4 Bxh4 25.Qxh4 Rf8 26.Rh1 White kingside attack wins in spite of Black having the exchange.
• 23...Rf6 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qxg6 White soon delivers mate.
• 21...h6 22.gxf7+ Kxf7 23.Qe2 Qd7 24.Bxf5 White wins.

20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.Rxe7 Ne5?!

• If 21...Rf7 22.Rxf7 Kxf7 23.Qe4 Nf8 24.Re1 then:
• 24...Qd8! 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qe7+ Qxe7 27.Rxe7+ Kg6 equalizes.
• After 24...Qc8? 25.Bxg7 Kg8 26.Bxf8 Qxf8 White wins.

22.Qe4 Qf8 23.fxe5 Rf4 24.Qe3 Rf3?

• Black misses his last chance to equalize. Bent has defended quite well but falters in time trouble.
• 24...Bxd5 25.exd6 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 Bxh1 27.Qc4+ is equal.

BLACK: Bent Larsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Mikhail Tal
Position after 24...Rf4f3

25.Qe2!

• This is the only move that works.

25...Qxe7 26.Qxf3 dxe5 27.Re1 Rd8

• 27...Rf8 28.Rxe5 Qxe5 29.Qxf8+ Kxf8 30.Bxe5 Bxd5 31.Bd6+ leaves White two pawns up.

28.Rxe5 Qd6 29.Qf4 Rf8 30.Qe4 b3

• 30...g6 31.b3 a5 32.Kb2 a4 33.bxa4 Ba8 34.Qe3 Bxd5 35.Bc5 Qc6 36.Bxf8 is easily won for White.

31.axb3 Rf1+ 32.Kd2 Qb4+ 33.c3 Qd6 34.Bc5

• Also good is 34.b4 Bxd5 35.Qxd5+ Qxd5 36.Rxd5 leaving White a piece to the good.

34...Qxc5 35.Re8+ Rf8 36.Qe6+ Kh8 37.Qf7! 1-0

• Black must lose material.
• Bent resigns.

[nickgutierrez]

6. The lesson for today, kids: Develop your pieces.

16. Nd5 is a piece sacrifice on paper, but when you look at black's bishops, his a8 rook, even his queen which has been shipped all across the board, they're playing no role in the game. The finish is elegant, but not unpredictable - once Tal got his rooks involved, the game was over.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Morphy: Help your pieces so they can help you.

I think it is an exaggeration to call Morphy the first positional player, but he may have been the first one to know that there was something better than to just come out of the box attacking.