The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (October 18): Anand draws first blood; Three tie in Russian Chmpnship

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand Draws First Blood; Leads Kramnik after Four Rounds




Current world champion Vishy Anand of India drew first blood against his predecessor, Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik, in the third round of their world championship match in Bonn yesterday.

Today's fourth round game, like the first two games of the match, ended in a draw, giving Anand a 2�-1� edge toward his title defense.

Kramnik will attempt to regain the title he lost in Mexico City last year when Anand won a championship tournament of eight of the strongest players in the world. Kramnik had held the title since the Autumn of 2000, when he defeated the great Garry Kasparov in a fourteen-game match in London. Kramnik underscored his right to the title in 2006 when he narrowly defeated Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov, who held FIDE's version of the world championship after winning a strong tournament in San Luis, Argentina. That ended a long schism in chess in which two champions claimed the title simultaneously for 13 years.

Anand, one of the most popular players in the world, played Kasparov for the title in 1995 in New York, losing a scheduled 20-game match in 18 games, 10�-7�; Kasparov won four games to Anand's one. Since that time, Anand remained one of the two or three top ranked grandmasters in the game. He is the first world champion of Asian heritage.

The winner of the match will play against the winner of a match between Topalov and US grandmaster Gata Kamsky to be held in Ukraine in December.

The fifth game of the match will be held Monday. The twelfth and final round will be played October 31 with November 2 being set aside for playoffs in the event of a tied match.


Superfinal Ends in Three-Way Tie in Moscow



The "Superfinal" of the Russian National Championship ended Wednesday in Moscow in a three-way tie among four-time former champion Peter Svidler, former champion Evgeny Alekseev and Dmitry Jakovenko.

Each player scored 7 points in 11 rounds. They were followed by defending champion Alexander Morozevich, Nikita Vitiugov and Evgeny Tomashevsky in a three-way tie for fourth place at 6� points.

The last three rounds were a wild scramble at the top, percepitated by Artyom Timofeev's miniature defeat of Svidler in the ninth round. That yanked Svidler out of first place, where he was replaced with Timofeev and Jakovenko with 6 points each.

In the tenth round, Alekseev took sole possesion of first place by defeating Konstantin Sakaev in 59 moves. Meanwhile, Vitiugov moved into second place with 6� points by defeating Timofeev in 64 moves. Vitiugov was the only player with any chance of overtaking Alekseev in the final round. Timofeev, Jakovenko and Svidler were in third place with six points with the possibility of catching but not surpassing Alekseev.

In the final round, Alekseev, playing White, fell to Svidler in 34 moves while Jakovenko, also playing White, ended Vitiugov's hope by dispatching him in just 30 moves. Timofeev's bid to make it a four-way tie at at the top were dashed on the rocks by Tomashevsky in 58 moves.

A six-round rapid playoff will take place among the first place finishers on Tuesday, October 28. While a two-way playoff would have been appended to Wednesday schedule, a three way playoff is much more complicated and would not have ended until 1 am.


European Club Cup Begins in Greece



The annual European Team Championship, also called the European Club Cup, began yesterday in Kallithea on the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece.

After two rounds Sverdlovsk and Saransk, both Russian teams, lead the 63-team general competition. The women's competition is led by Radnicki Rudovci, a team from Serbia.

The seven-round event lasts through Thursday.


Calendar

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Pan-American Championship, Boca Raton, Florida 1-7 November.

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

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Hasting Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February 2009.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Match for the World Title, Bonn

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

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess M�rida, 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. Round 3 (Kramnik 0-1 Anand)

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 3
Bonn, 17 October 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Reynolds Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6

• This is the starting point of the Reynolds Opening.
• The Wade Opening is also a popular variation of the Meran: If 8...Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 bxa3 then:
• If 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...axb2 14.Bxb2 a5 15.Qa4 Bb4 16.Ba3 Nd5 17.e4 Nb6 18.Qb3 Qe7 19.Rab1 Bxa3 20.Qxb6 Bb4 21.Ne1 0-0 22.Nc2 Rfd8 23.Nxb4 axb4 24.Qxb4 Qxb4 25.Rxb4 Ba6 26.Bxa6 draw (Gelfand-Kramnik, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 13...Be7 14.bxa3 0-0 15.Rb1 Qc8 16.e4 c5 17.e5 Nd5 18.Qc2 h6 19.dxc5 Rb8 20.Qc4 Rd8 21.Bd2 Bxc5 is equal (Peralta-Real, Argentine Ch, Mendoza, 2008).
• 12...Bd6 then:
• 13.b3 Nf6 14.Nd2 Qc7 15.Bf3 Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 Bd6 17.Nc4 Be7 18.Bxa3 0-0 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Ra5 Rfd8 21.Kg1 c5 22.Rxc5 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, World Ch M Rd 4, Elista, 2006).
• 13.b4 Nf6 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...a5 15.b5 c5 16.Bxa3 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 is equal (Aldy-Gaponenko, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 14...Nd5 15.Bxa3 Nxb4 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Ba6 Rb8 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Qa4 0-0 20.Qxc6 is equal (Mamedyarov-Modiaki, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 12.bxa3 Bd6 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qc2 h6 16.Bb2 Rfc8 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.h3 c5 is equal (Ribli-Agdestein, Bundesliga, Germany, 1999).

9.e4

• 9.b4 a5 10.Rb1 axb4 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.0-0 Bd6 13.e4 g5 14.exd5 cxd5 gives White an extra pawn (Feingold-Shulman, No Amer Invitational, Schaumburg, 2006).

9...c5 10.e5


• If 10.d5 c4 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.Bc2 Qc7 13.0-0 Bb7 then:
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ng5 Nc5 16.f4 h6 17.Nf3 Nd3 18.Bxd3 cxd3 19.Qxd3 Rd8 20.Qe2 Bxf4 21.Kh1 0-0 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Ng1 Qe5 is equal (Hahn-Adamson, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 then:
• 15...e5 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5 0-0 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Qe2 Qe6 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.exd5 Qxd5 24.Qg4 Bd4 is equal (Jakovljevic-Vitiugov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 15...0-0-0 16.Qe2 e5 17.Nf3 Ne6 18.Rfd1 Bc5 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Nd4 21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Bxd4 Rxd5 23.Bxc5 Qxc5 24.Be4 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 gives White the more aggressive game (Onischuk-Fernandez, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 14.Ng5 Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Nxe6 Rfc8 22.h3 Rab8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd6 b4 25.Na4 Rd5 26.Rb6 Rb5 27.Rxb5 draw (Gelfand-Shirov, IT, Biel, 1995).

10...cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5


• If 11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 axb5 13.Bxb5+ Bd7 14.Nxd7 Qa5+ 15.Bd2 Qxb5 16.Nxf8 Kxf8 17.a4 Qxb2 18.0-0 Ne4 19.Qf3 f5 20.Bf4 Qc3 21.Qh5 d3 22.Rac1 Qf6 23.Rc7 Qg6 24.Qf3 Rd8 25.Rd1 stops the d-pawn and gives White the more active game in compensation for his pawn minus (Milov-Bacrot, Euro ChT, Le�n, 2001).
• 16...Rxf8 17.a4 Qc4 18.b3 Qd3 19.Qf3 Qe4+ 20.Qxe4 Nxe4 21.b4 Ke7 22.f3 Nc3 23.Bxc3 dxc3 24.Ke2 Rfd8 25.Rhd1 c2 26.Rdc1 Rd4 27.Rxc2 Rxb4 28.a5 draw (Kramnik-Kasparov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
• 13.0-0 Qd5 14.Qe2 Ba6 15.Bg5 Be7 16.f4 0-0 17.Rf3 Bb7 18.Rg3 Rxa2 19.Re1 g6 20.h4 Qb3 21.Rb1 Nd5 22.Qh5 Bxg5 23.Nxg6 fxg6 24.Bxg6 Nf6 25.Bxh7+ Nxh7 26.Rxb3 Bxf4 27.Rxb5 Be4 is equal (Alexandrova-Bets, IT, Alushta, 2001).

12.exf6 gxf6

• 12...Qb6 13.fxg7 Bxg7 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Bf4 Bd5 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 f5 20.Qe2 Rf7 21.Bxb5 Rxa2 22.Rxa2 Bxa2 23.h4 Qd6 draw (Ftacnik-Inkiov, IT, Warsaw, 1987).

13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bb7!?

• If 14...b4 15.Rd1 Bc5 then:
• If 16.a4 h5 17.Bf4 Kf8 18.Bg3 e5 19.Rdc1 then:
• 19...Ba6 20.Qe4 Ra7 21.Bb5 Be7 22.Nh4 Nc5 23.Qe2 Nb3 24.Bxa6 Nxc1 25.Rxc1 Qxa6 gives Black a considerable material advantage (Kashdan-Horowitz, US Ch, New York, 1946).
• 19...Be7 20.a5 Qd8 21.Qe4 Ra7 22.Nxd4 Bb7 23.Qe3 Bc5 24.Ne6+ fxe6 25.Rxc5 Ra8 26.Rb5 Ba6 27.Rxb4 Bxd3 28.Qxd3 Qc7 29.Rc4 Black resigns as White's attack will be decided by the queenside pawns (Moiseenko-Kotanjian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16.Bf4 h5 17.Rac1 Kf8 18.Bb5 Ra5 is equal (Gomez-Korneev, Euro ChT, F�gen, 2006).
• 14...Ba6 then:
• If 15.Rd1 Rd8 16.b4 Bxb4 17.Rb1 Bc3 then:
• 18.Bxb5 Bxb5 19.Rxb5 Qc6 20.Bb2 Rg8 21.g3 Rg4 22.Nxd4 Rxd4 23.Rxd4 Bxd4 24.Bxd4 Ra8 25.Rb2 Ra4 draw (Avrukh-Vera, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 18.Ba3 Qc6 19.Bxb5 Bxb5 20.Rxb5 Ra8 21.Bb4 Rxa2 22.Nxd4 Bxd4 23.Qxa2 Rg8 24.g3 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Qxb5 26.Qa8+ Qb8 27.Qa4 Qb6+ 28.Ke2 Qb7 29.Rxd7 draw (Sasikiran-Goloshchapov, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 15.a4 Nc5 16.axb5 Bb7 17.Rxa8+ Bxa8 18.Nxd4 Qd6 19.b6 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Qxb6 21.Be3 Qb7 22.f3 Be7 23.Bh6 Bf8 24.Be3 Be7 25.Bh6 Bf8 26.Nf5 Qd5 27.Qxd5 Bxd5 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.Ne3 gives White the advantage of the outside passer (Bareev-Karjakin, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).

15.Bxb5

• White replies with the most obvious response and gains the more active game.

15...Bd6

• 15...Rg8 16.Rd1 Rd8 17.a4 Qc5 18.Bf4 Qh5 19.Rd3 White meets the pressure on f3, which indirectly pressures the White King.

16.Rd1 Rg8 17.g3

• The simplest way to meet the masked attack on the King, and probably the best.

17...Rg4 18.Bf4?!

• White should find a better way to develop the Bishop, since he has the open center.
• 18.Qd3 Rd8 19.h3 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Rg6 21.a4 gives White more activity.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 18.Bc1f4

18...Bxf4!

• Now it is Black who has excellent Bishops.

19.Nxd4 h5

• If 19...Rg6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxd7 Kf8 22.Qh5! then:
• 22...Rg7 23.Rxg7 Kxg7 24.gxf4 gives White two extra pawns.
• 22...Rd8 23.Qxh7 Rxd7 24.Qxd7 Bg5 is equal.

If 19...Rg8 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxd7 Kf8 then:

• 22.Qh5! Rg7 transposes into the red line.
• 22.Qd3 Rg6 23.Rxh7 Rh6 24.Rxb7 Qxb7 25.gxf4 f5 is equal.

20.Nxe6

• 20.Bxd7+ Kxd7 21.h3 Rg6 22.Nxe6+ Bd6 23.Nd4 Rg5 gives Black more freedom and activity.

20...fxe6 21.Rxd7 Kf8 22.Qd3
BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 22.Qe2d3

22...Rg7!!

• The net result of this move is the sacrifice of a Bishop.
• 22...Bc8 23.Rh7 Kg8 24.Rxh5 Rg7 25.Qe4 gives White the advantage in space.

23.Rxg7

• 23.a4 Rxd7 24.Qxd7 Rd8 25.Qh7 Be5 26.Be2 Bd4 keeps White from winning another pawn.

23...Kxg7 24.gxf4

• The sacrificial combination is complete.
• White has realized his chances of going up by two pawns; Black's pieces are still more active, especially the Rook, and White's kingside pawns are in disarray.

24...Rd8 25.Qe2

• White finds the most active move.
• 25.Qb3 Kh6 26.a4 Rg8+ 27.Kf1 Rg2 28.Qe3 Qxe3 29.fxe3 Rxh2 30.Ke1 Rxb2 gives Black more activity.
• If 28.Qc2 then Black launches a mating attack with 28...Rxh2 29.Ra3 Bg2+ 30.Ke1 Rh1+ 31.Kd2 Qxf2+ .

25...Kh6 26.Kf1 Rg8 27.a4?

• White still needs to shut down Black's potential counterplay.
• 27.f5! Bg2+ 28.Ke1 Bh3 29.Rc1 White still has two extra pawns.

27...Bg2+ 28.Ke1 Bh3 29.Ra3

• If 29.Rd1 Rg1+ 30.Kd2 Rg2 31.Ke1 Bg4 32.Qf1 then:
• If 32...Rxh2 33.Qg1 Rh3 34.Qf1 Qa5+ 35.Rd2 Qa8 then:
• If 36.Rd4 then Rh1 37.Qxh1 Qxh1+ wins for Black.
• If 36.f3 then 36...Rxf3 37.Qg1 Qe4+ 38.Be2 Rxf4 Black wins.
• If 32...Qb7 33.Be2 Rxh2 34.f3 Qb4+ gives Black the freedom to continue the attack.

29...Rg1+ 30.Kd2 Qd4+ 31.Kc2

• The text is better than 31.Rd3 Qxb2+ 32.Ke3 Qa1 33.Qc2 Rc1 when:
• If 34.Qd2 then Re1+ 35.Kf3 Bg4+ 36.Kg3 Rd1 wins.
• 34.Rd2 Rxc2 35.Rxc2 Qe1+ wins for Black.

31...Bg4!

• If 31...Bf5+ 32.Kb3 Rc1 then:
• If 33.Ra2 then after Bc2+ 34.Qxc2 Rxc2 35.Kxc2 Qxf2+ Black wins another pawn.
• 33.a5 Rc2 34.Qxc2 Bxc2+ 35.Kxc2 Qc5+! gives Black a material advantage.

32.f3

• If 32.Rd3 then 32...Bf5 33.Kb3 Bxd3 34.Bxd3 Rg4 wins the exchange, theoretically erasing Black's material deficit.

32...Bf5+ 33.Bd3

• This move is poison, but 33.Kb3 Rc1 34.a5 Rc2 35.Qxc2 Bxc2+ 36.Kxc2 Qc5+ is note too appetizing for Black, either.

33...Bh3

• Black overlooks an almost immediate win.
• 33...Bxd3+! 34.Rxd3 Qc4+ justifies resignation.

34.a5

• It's all over but the shouting.34.Qd2 Rg2 35.Be2 Bf5+ 36.Kc1 Qg1+ wins another pawn.


• No better is 34.f5 Rg2 35.Qxg2 Bxg2 36.fxe6 Bxf3 37.a5 Qc5+ .

34...Rg2 35.a6

• If 35.Qxg2 Bxg2 36.f5 Bxf3 37.fxe6 transposes into the blue variation of the previous note.

35...Rxe2+

• All moves from here to the end are forced. White could have resigned here.

36.Bxe2 Bf5+ 37.Kb3 Qe3+ 38.Ka2 Qxe2 39.a7 Qc4+ 40.Ka1 Qf1+ 41.Ka2 Bb1+ 0-1

• Further resistance is pointless.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

Kramnik resigns to Anand to end Round 3
Photo: ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Round 2 (Anand �-� Kramnik)

Anand and Kramnik at the start of the action in Game 2
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
Match for the World Title, Round 2
Bonn, 15 October 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (S�misch Opening/Lilienthal Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3

• This position can also be reached by 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3 5.bxc3 d5 6.f3.
• Anand has already uncorked two surprises on Kramnik. First, although as White a persistant 1.e4 player, he opened with his Queen's pawn. Second, once Kramnik veered the game into a Nimzo-Indian, Anand adopted the unusual but perfectly good Lilienthal Variation. See also Levon Aronian's remarks on ChessBase.com

6...c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 f5

• If 8...Qa5 9.e4 then:
• If 9...Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 then:
• 12.Nh3 e5 13.Nf2 Nec6 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Qa4 Be6 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Rb5 b6 18.0-0 Rfb8 19.Rfb1 is equal (Arencibia-Lobron, Intzonal, Manila, 1990).
• 12.a4 Nec6 13.f4 Na5 14.Qa3 Nd7 15.Nf3 b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nd2 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.0-0 Rfa8 20.Qb4 gives White an extra pawn (Khalifman-van der Wiel, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1991).
• 9...Nf6 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Nfd7 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qa3 b6 14.cxb6 axb6 15.Nh3 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.0-0 Nac5 18.Qb4 draw (Arencibia-S. B. Hansen, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

9.Qc2

• 9.Nh3 0-0 10.c4 Nf6 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Nf2 Nc6 13.Bb2 e5 14.Nd3 Nd4 15.Kf2 e4 16.Bxd4 Rxd4 17.Ne5 Rd2 gives White an extra pawn, but counts for little in light of his tangled kingside (Winants-Pelletier, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

9...Nd7

• If 9...0-0 10.e4 fxe4 11.fxe4 Nf4 then:
• 12.Nf3 Qc7 13.Be3 Nd7 14.Bc4 Nxc5 15.0-0 Bd7 16.e5 Ba4 17.Qb1 h6 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.Rae1 a5 20.Qb1 b5 21.Ba2 Nfd3 22.Bxe6+ Nxe6 23.Qxd3 Qxc3 24.Qd6 Rc6 25.Bd2 Qc4 26.Qe7 Rc7 27.Qd6 Rc6 28.Qe7 draw (Kahn-Grabinger, Corres, 1999).
• 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Qd2 Nd7 14.Qd6 Qa5 15.Rc1 e5 16.Nf3 Rf6 17.Qe7 Qa4 18.Nd2 Rf7 19.Qd8+ Rf8 20.Qc7 Kh8 21.g3 Ne6 22.Qd6 Nf6 23.Qd3 Ng4 24.Bg1 Qxa3 gives Black the initiative (Milov-Pantsulaia, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• 9...f4 10.g3 0-0 11.c4 Ne3 12.Bxe3 fxe3 13.Qc3 Nc6 14.Qxe3 e5 15.Rc1 Bf5 16.Bh3 Nd4 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Qc3 Qe7 19.Nh3 e4 20.Nf4 exf3 21.Qxf3 Ne3 22.Rc3 Rae8 23.Kf2 Nf5 24.Qd5+ gives White the advantage in space.(Cebalo-Naumkin, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2004).

10.e4 fxe4 11.fxe4 N5f6 12.c6 bxc6 13.Nf3 Qa5!?

• 13...Qc7 14.Bd3 0-0 15.0-0 Ng4 16.h3 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Rxf1+ 18.Bxf1 Qxe5 19.Be3 Nf6 20.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space (Portisch-Kluger, IT, Ungarn, 1962).

14.Bd2

• 14.Rb1 Nc5 15.Rb4 Ba6 16.Ne5 Bxf1 17.Rxf1 is equal.

14...Ba6

• 14...0-0 15.Be2 Ba6 16.c4 Qh5 17.Ng5 Qg6 is equal.

15.c4

• The game is equal.
• 15.Nd4 Bxf1 16.Rxf1 Nc5 17.e5 Nfd7 18.Bf4 0-0 is equal.

15...Qc5 16.Bd3 Ng4

• 16...Nb6 17.Rf1 Ng4 18.Qc3 0-0 19.Be2 remains equal.

17.Bb4?!

• If 17.Rf1 Rd8 18.Qc3 0-0 19.Be2 Nde5 then:
• If 20.h3 20...Nxf3+ then:
• 21.gxf3 Ne5 22.Be3 Qd6 23.Rd1 gives White the active position.
• 21.Bxf3 Ne5 22.Be3 Qxc4 23.Qxc4 Bxc4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 20.Qb4 Nxf3+ 21.gxf3 Qe5 22.Qc3 Rxd2 23.Kxd2 Rd8+ is equal.

17...Qe3+!

• 17...Qh5!? 18.Rb1 Nc5 19.Qc3 Nxd3+ 20.Qxd3 Rd8 21.Qc3 Rd7 is equal.

18.Qe2 0-0-0?!

• 18...Nb6 19.Qxe3 Nxe3 20.Kf2 Nexc4 21.Nd4 is equal.

19.Qxe3 Nxe3 20.Kf2 Ng4+

• If 20...Nxc4?! 21.Bxc4 Bxc4 22.Rhc1 then:
• If 22...Nb6 then 23.Ne5 Rd4 24.Ke3 Rhd8 25.Nxc6 wins the exchange.
• 22...Bb5 23.a4 Ba6 24.Rxc6+ Kb7 25.Rxe6 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 20...Ne3g4+

21.Kg3!

• White finds the best move.
• The King is a strong piece; use it! -- Steinitz.

21...Ndf6

• 21...Nge5 22.Rhd1 Nxf3 23.gxf3 Ne5 24.Bf1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 gives White the more active position.

22.Bb1 h5 23.h3

• 23.Bc5 h4+ 24.Nxh4 Rd7 25.Rc1 Rh5 26.Bf8 Ne3 is equal.

23...h4+ 24.Nxh4 Ne5

• If 24...Ne3? 25.Ng6 Rh5 26.e5 then:
• After 26...Nd7 27.Kf4 Nxg2+ 28.Kg4 Rxe5 29.Nxe5 Nxe5+ 30.Kg3 White is up by an exchange.
• 26...Ng8 27.c5 Bc4 28.Rg1 Nf5+ 29.Kf2 White is a pawn to the good.

25.Nf3 Nh5+

• 25...Nxc4 26.Rc1 Kb7 27.Ng5 Rhe8 28.Ba2 gives White the advantage.

26.Kf2 Nxf3
BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 26...Ne5f3:N

27.Kxf3!

• The weakening of the h-pawn would have consequences.
• If 27.gxf3?! Nf4 28.Ba2 c5 29.Bc3 Rd3 30.Bxg7 then:
• 30...Nxh3+! 31.Ke1 Rg8 32.Rxh3 Rxg7 is equal.
• 30...Rg8 � 31.Rag1 Rxa3 32.Bb1 Bxc4 33.Rg4 gives White the advantage.

27...e5 28.Rc1

• Stronger is 28.Bc3 Rhf8+ 29.Kg4 Rf2 30.Rg1 Nf6+ 31.Kg3.

28...Nf4 29.Ra2 Nd3 30.Rc3 Nf4 31.Bc2

• 31.Rb2 Rd7 32.Kg4 Rh6 33.Kg3 Rb7 34.Rcc2 Nd3 is equal.
• 31.Bc5 Rd7 32.Kg4 Rh6 33.g3 Rg6+ 34.Kf3 Nxh3 is equal.

31...Ne6 32.Kg3 Rd4 �-�

• After 33.c5 Rhd8 34.Ba5 R8d7 35.Rb2 White has a clear advantage, but Anand was in time trouble, which is unusual for him, and perhaps feared making an error.
• Draw agreed.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Russian National Championship

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

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess M�rida, 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]

5. Tomofeev - Maslak, Round 7, Moscow

Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


{link:|Artyom Timofeev - Konstantin Maslak]
Russian National Championship, Round 7
Moscow, 10 October 2008

Symmetrical English Game: Four Knights' Opening (Catalan Variation)

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4

• If 7...d6 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...a6 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...bxc4 13.bxc4 Bh6 14.f4 e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Bg7 18.Qc1 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Ng4 20.Rb1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Ne3 22.Qa3 Re8 23.Qd3 Qa8 24.Bf3 Nxf1 25.Nxf1 Qa7 26.Nd2 Re3 27.Qc2 f5 28.Qa4 is equal (Jussupow-Kindermann, IT, Baden Baden, 1992).
• If 12...e5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 then:
• 15.Nce4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Bb7 18.Rad1 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bg2 Nc6 21.Rfe1 Rc8 22.e4 d4 23.e5 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.b4 Rfd8 27.Red1 Qxe5 draw (W. Schmodt-Sax, IT, Budapest, 1977).
• 15...Bb7 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Bxb7 Nxb7 20.Qd3 b4 21.Ne4 Qe7 22.h4 Ra8 23.Rd2 Rf5 24.Rc2 Rd5 25.Qe3 Na5 gives Black more activity (Petrosian-Vaingold, IT, Tallinn, 1979).
• If 9...e5 10.e4 Ng4 then:
• 11.b3 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Bb2 e4 14.h3 Ne5 15.Rb1 Nd3 16.Ba1 a6 17.Qe2 b5 18.f3 exf3 19.Qxd3 fxg2 20.Kxg2 Ra7 21.Ne2 Bxa1 22.Rxa1 Rg7 23.Nf4 Qg5 24.Kh2 Nb7 25.Rg1 Bd7 26.Rae1 Nd8 27.Nf3 Qh6 28.Re3 Rff7 29.Rge1 gives White the advantage in space (Baburin-Leit�o, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
• 11.h3 Nh6 12.b3 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Bb2 Bd7 15.Qc2 b6 16.Ne2 Nb7 17.f4 Rb8 18.Kh2 Qc7 19.Rae1 Rbe8 20.Nf3 Nd8 21.Nc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Wojtkiewicz-Smejkal, Op, Neu Isenburg, 1992).

8.Nxd4 d6

• If 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.Qd3 a6 then:
• 11.Bd2 Rb8 12.Rac1 Nd7 13.b3 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nd5 Ne5 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Qa7 Nc6 18.Rxc6 Bxc6 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Bxc6 Ra8 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxa8 Rxa8 23.Rc1 Black resigns (A. Grant-R. Cohen, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).
• 11.Be3 Ng4 12.Bd4 Ne5 13.Qd1 Rb8 14.Rc1 Be6 15.Nd5 b5 16.cxb5 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 axb5 18.f4 Nd7 19.Ba7 Rc8 20.Qd2 Nc5 21.b4 Qc7 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Rxc5 Qa7 24.Kg2 draw (Ribli-Gheorghiu, IT, Las Palmas, 1973).
• If 8...Ng4 9.e3 d6 10.b3 then:
• 10...Nxd4 11.exd4 Nh6 12.Bb2 Nf5 13.Ne2 Rb8 14.a4 e6 15.b4 b6 16.Qb3 Ba6 17.b5 draw (Pfleger-Smejkal, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1988).
• 10...Nge5 11.h3 Nxd4 12.exd4 Nc6 13.Be3 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Bc5 Re8 16.Nb5 Bf8 17.Bxf8 Kxf8 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Rad1 Kg7 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.Bxc6 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 bxc6 23.Rd8 gives White the more active position (Miles-Caposciutti, Op, Rome, 1990).

9.Nc2

• If 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8 11.Bg2 Qa5 then:
• 12.Nb5 Bb7 13.Bxb7 Rxb7 14.Bd2 Qa6 15.Bc3 Rc8 16.a4 Rxc4 17.b3 Rc8 18.Rc1 Ne4 19.Bxg7 Rxc1 draw (Jussupow-Wahls, Baden Baden, 1992).
• Ifont color="darkred"]12.Qc2 Bb7 13.Bxb7 Rxb7 14.b3 d5 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.Na4 Qa6 17.Rac1 dxc4 18.bxc4 Rbc7 19.Nb2 Qe6 20.Bc3 Qh3 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Nd3 Rxc4 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.Rxc4 h5 25.Rfc1 gives White two Rooks for a Queen and command of thethe c-file (Markowski-Vuilleumier, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

9...a6

• If 9...Bd7 10.b3 then:
• 10...Qc8 11.Bb2 Bh3 12.Ne3 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Ne4 14.Qc2 Ng5 15.Ncd5 Qh3+ 16.Kg1 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 e5 18.Rad1 Nd4 19.Rxd4 exd4 20.Qxd4 Ne6 21.Ne7# White wins (Barzanu-Anton, Romanian Ch, Baile Tusnad, 2005).
• If 10...Qa5 11.Bb2 a6 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Bxg7 Nc3 14.Bxc3 Qxc3 15.Ne3 then:
• Ifont color="darkred"]15...Be6 16.Rc1 Qa5 17.Qc2 Rab8 18.Qb2 Qe5 19.Qd2 Rfc8 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.cxd5 Qd4 22.Qg5 f6 23.Qh6 Ne5 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Bh3 Ng4 is equal (Welling-Molvig, Copenhagen, 1995).
• Ifont color="magenta"]15...Qb2 16.Nd5 Bg4 17.Qc1 Qe5 18.e3 Rac8 19.Qd2 Be6 20.Rac1 gives White the initiative (Brennickmeijer-J. Polgar, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).
• If 9...Be6 10.b3 Qd7 11.Bb2 Bh3 then:
• If 12.Ne3 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 then:
• If 13...Ne4 14.Qc2 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Qe6 17.Nd5 Rac8 18.Rad1 Rfe8 19.Rfe1 Qe5 20.Qd2 Qg7 21.e4 Ne5 22.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Leko, IT, Horgen, 1994).
• 13...Rfd8 14.Qd2 e6 15.Rfd1 d5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Ncxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5+ 19.Qxd5 Rxd5 20.Rxd5 Bxb2 21.Rad1 Kf8 22.e3 Bf6 is equal (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Frankfurt, 1998).
• 12.Rb1 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Rfd8 14.e4 e6 15.Ne3 a6 16.a4 Rac8 draw (Barbero-Zueger, Op, Lenk, 1991).

10.b3 Qa5

• 10...Bd7 11.Bb2 Rb8 12.Rc1 b5?! 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd5 Na5 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Nb4 Ra8 18.Rc2 Bf5 19.Rc3 Re8 20.Rfc1 gives White more activity (Stahlberg-Enevoldsen, Nimzovich Mem, Copenhagen, 1960).

11.Nd5!?

• White plays a new move looks like a good one.
• 11.Qd2 Ng4 12.Bb2 Qh5 13.h3 Nh6 14.Kh2 Ng4+ 15.Kg1 Nh6 16.h4 Ng4 17.Ne3 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Bd4 19.Qd2 Bg7 20.Nd5 Bg4 21.Rfe1 h6 22.Rad1 Rad8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Ne3 is equal (Anelli-Perez, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 2004).

BLACK: Konstantin Maslak
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 11.Nc3d5

11...Be6?

• From here, everything goes down hill for Black.
• 11...Nxd5 12.cxd5 then:
• 12...Ne5 13.Be3 Bg4 14.h3 gives White a slight initiative.
• 12...Bxa1?! 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Nxa1 Qb6 15.Qc2 Bb7 16.e4 gives White the advantage in space.

12.Bd2 Qd8 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Nce3

• If 14.Bc3 Nxd5 15.Bxg7 Ne3 16.Nxe3 Kxg7 17.Qd2 then:
• 17...Qb6 18.Rfe1 Ne5 19.Rc3 Rc7 20.Rd1 is equal.
• 17...Qa5 18.Qxa5 Nxa5 19.Rfd1 gives White more freedom.

14...Re8 15.Bc3 Ng4

• If 15...Bxd5 16.cxd5 Ne5 17.Qd4 then:
• 17...Qd7 18.Qb6 then:
• 18...Nfg4 19.Bh3 f5 20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Ng2 gives White the advantage in space.
• 18...Neg4?! 19.Nc4 Rc5 20.h3 Nh6 21.e4 gives White a huge advantage in space.
• 17...Nfd7 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.Bh3 gives White a more active game.

16.Nxg4!

• The text is better and simpler than waiting for Black to initiate the exchanges.
• 16.Qd2 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Qa5 18.Nxg4 Bxg4 19.b4 Qd8 20.Rfc1 still leaves White better, but Black is not as bad off in this variation as in the game.

16...Bxg4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd2 Bd7

• 18...Be6 19.Rc3 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Ne5 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Rc1 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

19.Rfd1 b6

• After 19...Ne5 20.f4 Nc6 21.c5 dxc5 22.Ne3 Nd4 23.Bxb7 White wins a pawn.

20.b4 e5

• 20...Be6 21.c5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 bxc5 23.bxc5 Ne5 24.Bh3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

21.Qe3 Rb8 22.b5

• White fixes the b6 pawn as a target.

22...axb5 23.cxb5 Nd4

• If 23...Na7 24.Nc7 then:
• If 24...Nxb5 25.Nxe8+ Qxe8 gives White a material advantage.
• If 24...Re7 25.Rxd6 Rc8 26.Qg5 then:
• 26...Kg8 27.a4 h6 28.Qf6 Qf8 29.Rxb6 White is two pawns up.
• 26...h6 27.Qf6+ Kh7 28.Bb7 Rb8 29.Bc6 Nc8 30.Rcd1 White wins material.

BLACK: Konstantin Maslak
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 23...Nc6d4

24.Rxd4!!

• White sacrifices the exchange for a strong initiative.

24...exd4 25.Qxd4+ f6 26.e3

• If 26.Rc7 Rxe2 27.Ra7 then:
• 27...Ra8 28.Rxa8 Qxa8 29.Qxf6+ Kh6 30.h3 has Black tied in knots.
• If 27...Re1+ 28.Bf1 Re6 29.Bh3 then:
• If 29...Ra8 then 30.Rc7 Rc8 31.Bxe6 Rxc7 32.Nxc7 Qxc7 33.Bxd7 Qxd7 34.Qxb6 wins.
• 29...Re1+?? loses immediately to 30.Kg2!.

26...Rf8 27.a4 Be8

• 27...Rf7 28.h3 h6 29.Nf4 Qe8 30.Qxd6 gives White the active game.

28.h4 Rf7 29.Bh3

• After 29.Nf4 Re7 30.h5 gxh5 31.Bd5 Qd7 32.Bc6 Black has the exchange, but White still has the initiative.

29...Bd7

• After 29...Rfb7 30.Be6 h6 31.e4 Bf7 32.Bxf7 Kxf7 33.Rc6 White has more freedom in compensation for a slight material deficit.

30.Bxd7 Rxd7

• The text is better than 30...Qxd7 31.Nxb6 Qa7 32.Rc6 when White is poised to win more material.

31.Rc6 Rc8

• After 31...Rdb7 32.h5 Kf7 33.Qc4 Kg7 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Nxb6 White's Knight and queenside pawns will trump Black's Rook

32.Rxc8 Qxc8 33.Nxf6

• Also winning is 33.Qxf6+ Kg8 34.Ne7+ Rxe7 35.Qxe7.

33...Qc1+

• 33...Rc7 34.Ne8+ Kg8 35.Nxc7 Qxc7 leaves White two pawns to the good.

34.Kg2 Rf7 35.Ng4+ 1-0

• 35...Kf8 36.Qxd6+ Re7 37.Qf6+ Rf7 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Ne5 wins the exchange, leaving White three pawns to the good.
• 35...Kg8 36.Nh6+ Kf8 37.Qxd6+ Kg7 38.Nxf7 Kxf7 also yields a clear three pawn advantage to White.
• Grandmaster Maslak resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Sakaev - Alekseev, Round 10, Moscow

Evgeny Alekseev
Photo: ChessBase.com


Konstantin Sakaev - Evgeny Alekseev
Russian National Championship, Round 10
Moscow, 14 October 2008

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

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

• 6...b6 7.Bg5 c5 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.f3 Nc6 10.e3 Rb8 11.Nh3 h6 12.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Shen Yang-Zhao Xue, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

7.Nf3

• 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.c5 dxc5 9.dxc5 e5 10.e3 Qe8 11.Qc2 e4 is equal (Huang Qian-T. Kosintseva, Team M, Ningbo, 2008).

7...b6 8.g3 Bb7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.0-0 Qe7 11.b3

• 11.b4 c5 12.Bb2 Rac8 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 is equal (Matveeva-Xu Yuhua, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

11...c5

• If 11...a5 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...Be4 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.Bf1 c5 15.Nd2 cxd4 16.Qxd4 e5 17.Qc3 Rac8 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qe3 Nef6 20.Rac1 Qe6 21.Red1 d5 is equal (Korchnoi-Karpov, IT, Biel, 1992).
• 12...Rfe8 13.Rfd1 h6 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Qf8 16.Bh3 Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Ra8 18.Ra3 Ne4 19.Qd3 Rxa3 20.Qxa3 Qa8 21.Qxa8+ Bxa8 22.Bg2 Nef6 gives White more freedoml (Karpov-Ivanchuk, Blitz, Moscow, 2008).

12.Bb2 Rac8

• 12...cxd4 13.Qxd4 e5 14.Qe3 Nc5 15.h3 Rad8 16.Rad1 Nh5 17.b4 Ne6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Nxg2 is equal (Shabalov-Kosten, Op, Belgrade, 1988).

13.d5?!

• The novelty isn't very good. Black takes the advantage in space.
• 13.Rad1 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Nd2 Rfd8 16.e4 cxd4 17.Qxd4 e5 gives Black the advantage in space (Ftacnik-Z. Almasi, Bundesliga, Germany, 1995).

13...Rfe8?!

• Black does not find the move to exploit his advantage.
• 13...exd5! 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Rfd1 Be4 16.Rac1 d5 Black retains the advantage in space.

14.dxe6

• The game is now equal.
• 14.e4 b5 15.Rfe1 bxc4 16.bxc4 Rb8 17.Rab1 Nb6 gives White the advantage in space.

14...fxe6 15.Qd2

• 15.Rfd1 d5 16.Qd2 Ne4 17.Qc1 remains equal.

15...d5 16.Ne1

• 16.Rad1 Rcd8 17.Qg5 Rf8 18.Rd3 Qf7 19.Qf4 d4 remains equal.

16...Bc6 17.Nd3

• 17.Rd1 dxc4 18.Bxc6 Rxc6 19.bxc4 e5 remains equal.

17...dxc4 18.bxc4 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 e5

• 19...Rcd8 20.Rad1 e5 21.Qg5 remains equal.

20.Qc2 Qd6

• 20...Qe6 21.f3 Rc6 22.e4 Rd8 23.Rad1 remains equal.

21.Rad1 Nb8?!

• This should have dropped a pawn.
• 21...Qc6+ 22.Kg1 a6 23.f3 e4 24.Nf4 Rcd8 25.Nd5 remains equal.

22.f3?!

• White restores the balance, squandering an opportunity.
• 22.Nxe5 Qe6 23.e4 Rcd8 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Rd1 leaves White a pawn to the good.

22...Qc7

• The game is again equal.

23.Nf2 Nc6 24.e3 Rcd8

• 24...Qe7 25.Ne4 Rcd8 26.h3 Qe6 27.Ng5 Qc8 remains equal.

25.Ne4

• If 25.g4 Qf7 26.g5 Nd7 27.g6 hxg6 then:
• 28.Ne4 Qf5 29.Qa4 Ndb8 30.Rd5 Rf8 remains equal.
• 28.Rd6?! Na5 29.Rc1 Rf8 30.Qe2 g5 reamins equal.

25...Na5

• 25...Qe7 26.h3 Qe6 27.Ng5 Qc8 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.f4 Qb7 30.e4 Qe7 remains equal.

26.Nxf6+ gxf6 27.Rd5
BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Konstantin Sakaev
Position after 27.Rd1d5

27...Rxd5!

• Black concedes a passed pawn to White at d5, but gets an imposing queenside majority of his own.
• 27...Nc6?! 28.Rfd1 Ne7 29.R5d2 Rxd2+ 30.Qxd2 Nc6 31.Qd5+ gives White more activity.

28.cxd5 b5 29.e4 Nc4 30.Bc1

• 30.Qc3 Qd6 31.f4 a6 32.Ba1 Re7 33.Kh1 Rg7 remains equal.

30...Nd6

• 30...Qd6 31.Rd1 a6 32.Qc3 Rf8 33.f4 Rf7 remains equal.

31.Be3

• 31.Rd1 a6 32.Qd3 Nc4 33.d6 Qd7 34.Qd5+ wins a pawn, but Black keeps sufficient pressue on the d-pawn to equalize.

31...Rc8 32.f4 Qg7

• After 32...Nc4?! 33.Bc1 Qd6 34.Qe2 Rc7 35.Qg4+ White will open the kingside to his advantage.

33.fxe5

• White thinks there is some advantage to opening the f-file.

33...fxe5 34.Bc1 Qg4!?

• Whate plays a provocative move.
• If 34...a5 then:
• 35.Re1 a4 36.Qb2 Qg6 37.Qxe5 Re8 remains equal.
• After 35.Bb2?! b4 36.h3 Qg5 37.Rb1 Rf8 gives Black more freedom./li]

35.Re1?!

• The text is a wee bit passive
• If the more active 35.Bb2 Qxe4+ 36.Qxe4 Nxe4 then:
• 37.Bxe5 Nd2 38.Rf5 Nc4 39.Rg5+ Kf8 40.Rh5 Nxe5 41.Rxe5 b4 remains equal.
• If 37.Rf5?! c4 then:
• 38.Rxe5 c3 39.Rxe4 cxb2 40.Rb4 Rc2+ 41.Kf3 a6 42.h4 the pawn at b2 gives the position in Black's favor.
• 38.Bxe5 c3 39.Bf4 c2 40.Bc1 Rd8 41.Rf4 the the pawn at c2 favors Black.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Konstantin Sakaev
Position after 35.Rf1e1

35...Rf8!

• Black takes command of the open file on the kingside in a bid for an advantage.

36.Qe2 Qxe2+ 37.Rxe2 a5!?

• This move does little harm, but Black is not read to open the queenside.
• 37...Rf7! 38.Bb2 Nc4 39.Bc1 Kf8 40.h3 Ke7 prevents White from making progress with his d-pawn, while Blackj's queenside majority is a slight but palpable advantage.

38.Bb2 Nc4 39.Bc1

• If 39.Ba1? b4 40.axb4 cxb4 41.Ra2 Rf6 42.h4 b3 43.Ra4 Ne3+ 44.Kh3 Rf1 puts the White King in a tight spot.
• 42.Kh3 Kf7 43.Kh4 b3 44.Ra4 b2 45.Bxb2 Nxb2 gives Black a material edge.

39...b4

• 39...a4 40.Rc2 Rf7 41.g4 Kf8 42.h4 is equal.

40.Rc2 Nd6 41.Rxc5 b3 42.Kh3?

• This inaccuracy will cost White a crucial tempo.42.Kg1 a4 43.Bb2 Nxe4 44.Ra5 Nf2 45.Bxe5 is equal.

42...a4 43.Bb2 Nxe4 44.Rc7

• 44.Ra5 Nf2+! (compare this to the previous note) 45.Kh4 Nd3 46.Rxa4 Nxb2 47.Rg4+ Kh8 gives Black a Knight for a pawn.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Konstantin Sakaev
Position after 44.Rc5c7

44...Nf2+!

• This is the punishment for White's inaccurate 42nd move.

45.Kh4 Nd3 46.Bc3 Rd8 47.Kg5 Rxd5 48.Kf6

• Qhite plays an idle mating threat.

48...Rd6+ 49.Kf5 Rb6 50.Rc8+ Kf7 51.Rc7+ Kf8

• After 51...Ke8 52.Ke4 b2 53.Bxb2 Nxb2 54.Rxh7 Rb3 Black wins.

52.Ke4 b2 53.Bxb2 Nxb2 54.Rxh7 Nc4

• If 54...Rb5 55.Kf5 Rb3 56.Kxe5 Rxa3 then:
• 57.g4 Kg8 58.Rh5 Rc3 59.Kd5 a3 Black wins.
• After 57.Ra7 Re3+ 58.Kf4 Re7 59.Ra8+ Kg7 the game hinges on Black's Knight being able to stop White's pawns.

55.Ra7 Rd6

• Not as effective is 55...Rb5?! 56.Rxa4 Nd6+ 57.Kf3 e4+ 58.Ke3 Rb3+ 59.Kf4 when Black will have a harder time pushing his pawn.

56.Kf5 Rd4 57.Kf6

• White plays another idle threat of mate.

57...Ke8 58.h4

• If 58.Ra8+ Kd7 59.Rxa4 e4 60.Ra7+ Kd6 61.Ra8 e3 then:
• 62.Re8 Rd2 63.Rd8+ Kc5 64.Re8 Rxh2 65.g4 e2 66.Kg5 Nxa3 67.Kf4 Kd4 Black wins.
• After 62.Rd8+ Kc5 63.Re8 Rd6+ 64.Kg5 Kd4 65.Kg4 Kd3 66.Kf3 Rf6+ 67.Kg4 e2 Black wins.

58...e4 59.h5 e3 0-1

• One plausible continuation is 60.h6 Rd6+ 61.Kg5 Rxh6 when:
• If 62.Kxh6 then e2 wins.
• If 62.Ra8+ then 62...Ke7 63.Ra7+ Ke6 64.Ra6+ Nd6 wins.
• Grandmaster Sakaev resings.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Vitiugov - Timofeev, Round 10, Moscow

Nikita Vitiugov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Nikita Vitiugov - Artyom Timofeev
Russian National Championship, Round 10
Moscow, 14 October 2008

Hollander Game: Dutch Queen's Gambit (Stonewall Defense)

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nc3 f5 6.Ne5

• If 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.b3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Nd7 10.Ne2 Qf6 11.Rc1 g5 12.Rc2 g4 13.Nd2 Qh6 14.g3 is equal (Cvitan-Erenburg, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 7.Qc2 Ne4 8.Ne5 Nd7 9.f4 0-0 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Be2 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Be7 13.Bd2 Bd7 14.Qb3 b6 15.0-0 Kh8 16.Bg4 Qe8 is equal (S. Foisor-M. Bensdorp, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).

6...Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 b6

• If 8...Nbd7 9.f4 Ne4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Bd2 Nxe5 then:
• If 12.fxe5 Be7 13.b4 Bd7 14.a4 then:
• 14...Rxf1+ 15.Qxf1 a6 16.Ra2 Qf8 17.Qb1 g6 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Rxa2 20.Qxa2 Qc8 21.b6 Qd8 22.Qa7 Bc8 23.cxd5 exd5 24.e6 h5 gives Black stronger pawns, but White is more active at the moment (Lautier-Pridorozhni. World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• 14...a6 15.g3 Qe8 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8 17.Qf1 Be7 18.Qh3 Bg5 19.Qg4 Bh6 20.a5 Qe7 21.Rf1 Rf8 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.h4 Qf5 24.c5 draw (Zvjaginsev-Zhong Zhang, IT, Poikovsky, 2004).
• 12.dxe5 Be7 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.b4 Kh8 15.Bc3 b6 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.Rfc1 Qb7 18.Bd4 Rfd8 19.Rab1 Bf8 20.a4 gives White the advantage in space (Dydyshko-S. Zhigalko. Byelorussian Ch, Minsk, 2005).

9.Qc2!?

• 9.f4 Bb7 10.Bd2 c5 11.Nb5 Be7 12.Bf3 Nc6 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.b4 Bxb5 16.cxb5 Bd6 17.Bc3 Rc8 18.Rc1 Qe7 19.a3 Rc7 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Rxc7 Bxc7 is equal (Kazhgaleyev-Lautier, Grand Prix, Aix-En-Provence, 2004).

9...Ba6

• The game is equal.
• 9...Bb7 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nb5 Ba6 12.b3 Bxe5 13.dxe5 gives White more activity.

10.f4 Qe7 11.b3

• 11.a3 dxc4 12.Nxc4 Bc7 13.b3 Nd5 14.Rf2 Qf6 15.Bf3 gives White more activity and freedom.

11...Bb7

• 11...Ne4 12.Bb2 Qh4 13.a4 c5 14.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space.

12.a3 Nbd7 13.b4 c5

• 13...dxc4 14.Nxc4 Bc7 15.Bf3 Nd5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.fxe5 is equal.

14.bxc5

• If 14.Nb5 cxd4 15.exd4 dxc4 16.Bxc4 then:
• 16...Nd5 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Bb2 White has the advantage in space.
• 16...Rfc8 17.Qe2 Nd5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.b5 Nxe5 20.fxe5 gives White the advantage in space.

14...bxc5 15.Rb1 Nb6 16.Nb5 Bxe5

• 16...Rfc8 17.cxd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Qd3 is equal.

17.dxe5 Ne4 18.cxd5

• If 18.Rd1 Rfb8 19.cxd5 Nxd5 20.Bc4 Bc6 21.Rb3 then:
• 21...Bxb5 22.Rxb5 Rxb5 23.Bxb5 Ndc3 24.Rd7 Qh4 25.g3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 21...Rb6 22.Nd6 Nxd6 23.exd6 Qxd6 gives Black an extra pawn.

18...Bxd5 19.a4

• 19.Rd1 Rab8 20.Bb2 Bc6 21.Nc3 Nxc3 22.Qxc3 Na4 gives Black more activity.

19...Bc6 20.Bf3 Nxa4 21.Ba3 Rfb8?!

• White is better developed on the queenside. This move invites White to open up when Black should try to keep the wing closed or exchange pieces to take the sting out of its opening.
• If 21...a6 22.Nd6 Nac3 23.Bxe4 Nxb1 24.Bxc5 fxe4 then:
• 25.Nf5 Qd7 26.Bxf8 Nd2 27.Rd1 Rd8 gives Black a small tactical initiative.
• 25.Rxb1? Qh4! 26.Ra1 Bd5 leaves Black up by the exchange.

22.Bxe4!

• If 22.Nd6 Rxb1 23.Rxb1 Nac3 24.Rc1 then:
• 24...Qd7 25.Bxc5 Nxd6 26.exd6 Bxf3 27.Qxc3 Bb7 is equal,
• 24...a5?! 25.Bxc5 Qd7 26.Bd4 Nxd6 27.exd6 Bxf3 28.Qxc3 gives White the more active game.

22...Bxe4
BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Nikita Vitiugov
Position after 22...Bc6e4:B

23.Qxa4!!

• The exchange sacrifice is the point of White's 22nd move.

23...Bxb1 24.Rxb1

• White has not merely compensation for the exchange, but a clear advantage.

24...Qd7

• 24...a6 25.Nc3 Rxb1+ 26.Nxb1 Qd8 27.Bxc5 gives White the material edge with two minor pieces for a Rook.

25.Rd1 Qc6 26.Nc3 Qxa4

• 26...Qe8 27.Qc4 Rd8 28.Rd6 Rxd6 29.exd6 Qd7 30.Qxc5 the advanced pawn is dangerous because of White's mobility.

27.Nxa4 c4 28.Nc5!

• White shields the coming attack on the c-pawn.

28...Rb6

• If 28...Rd8 then White restores his material advantage with 29.Rc1 Rab8 30.h3 Rd2 31.Rxc4.

29.Kf2 Rc8 30.Rc1 Kf7?

• Black has been at a disadvantage, but this move takes him into the realm of lost games.
• If 30...Rb5 31.Rxc4 Ra5 32.Rc3 then:
• 32...g5 33.Kg3 Rxa3 34.Rxa3 Rxc5 35.Rxa7 gives White an extra pawn, but exploiting the advantage will be difficult.
• 32...a6 33.h3 Rxa3 34.Rxa3 Rxc5 35.Rxa6 yields an extra pawn to White.

31.Ke2 Rb5

• If 31...g5 32.Kd2 Rd8+ 33.Kc3 then:
• 33...a5 34.Rc2 Rd1 35.Kxc4 Re1 36.e4 gives White the material advantage of twi minor pieces against a Rook and the more active game.
• 33...Kg6 34.Rc2 h5 35.Kxc4 Rd1 36.Bb2 gives White the active game with his King being as active as Black's Rooks.

32.Rxc4

• White takes a pawn.

32...Ra5

• 32...Rb3 33.Nxb3 Rxc4 34.Kd3 Ra4 35.Bb2 Rb4 36.Kc3 gives White the material edge of two minor pieces against a Rook.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Nikita Vitiugov
Position after 32...Rb5a5

33.Nb7!

• White makes the win of the pawn permanent and takes the material edge of two minor pieces against a Rook.

33...Rxc4 34.Nd6+ Kg6 35.Nxc4 Rb5

• 35...Rd5 36.h3 Kh5 37.Nd6 Ra5 38.Bb4 Ra2+ 39.Bd2 gives White more freedom.

36.Nd2

• 36.e4 Rb1 37.Bc5 fxe4 38.Bxa7 Rc1 39.Nd6 wins a pawn for White.

36...Ra5 37.Nc4 Rb5 38.Kd2 Rb1 39.Bc1

• White's minor pieces are wonderfully coordinated and block Black's Rook from gaining counterplay at every turn.

39...h6 40.Kc2 Rb4 41.Na5 Kf7

• If 41...Rb5 then 42.Bd2 Rc5+ 43.Kd3 Rd5+ 44.Ke2 preserves White's material advantage.

42.Bd2 Rb8

• If 42...Ra4 43.Kb2 then White retains a material advantage in all variations:
• If 43...g5 44.Nb7 Ra6 45.Bb4 Rb6 46.Nd6+ Kg6 47.Kc3.
• If 43...Kg6 44.Nb7 Ra6 45.Nd6 then:
45...Ra4 46.Bc3 Kh5 47.h3 Ra6 48.e4 fxe4 49.Nxe4.li]45...Rb6+ 46.Kc2 Ra6 47.e4 Ra2+ 48.Kc3 fxe4 49.Nxe4.
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43.Nb3 g5 44.Nd4 gxf4

• 44...g4 45.h3 h5 46.Bc3 a6 47.Nb3 Rc8 48.Kd3 Rd8+ 49.Nd4 gives White more freedom.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Nikita Vitiugov
Position after 44...gf4:p

45.exf4!

• 45.e4? fxe4 46.Bxf4 h5 47.Kd2 Rb2+ 48.Ke3 a5 gives Black sufficient sounterplay.

45...h5 46.g3 Rb6

• 46...a6 47.Ba5 Rc8+ 48.Kd3 Rc1 49.Bb4 Rh1 50.Nf3 White threatens to win a pawn with 51.Ng5+!.

47.Ba5 Rb8 48.Bc3 Rb6 49.Nb3 Rb5

• If 49...Rb8! 50.Na5 Ke8 51.Nc4 then:
• 51...Kd7 52.Bd4 a6 53.Nd6 should still win for White, but Black will be able to put up better resistance.
• 51...a6?! 52.Ba5 Kd7 53.Nd6 is better for White.

50.Nd2 Rc5 51.Kb3 Ke8

• 51...Rd5 52.Nf3 Rd1 53.Ng5+ Ke7 54.Nh7 h4 55.gxh4 gives White a passed pawn.

52.Kb4 Rd5 53.Kc4 Kd7 54.Bd4

• Stronger is 54.Bb4 Kc6 55.Nf3 Rd8 56.Ng5 Re8 57.Nh7 when White threatens to win a pawn.

54...Ra5 55.Bc3

• Better is 55.Kb3! Rd5 56.Kc3 Ra5 57.Kc2 Ra2+ 58.Bb2 h4 59.Nc4 hxg3 60.hxg3 the Rook's sortie into White's territory is refuted.
• 57.Kb4 Ra2 58.Bc3 Rc2 59.Kc4 a6 60.Kd3 the Rook is blocked away from the action.

55...Rd5 56.h4 Ke8 57.Nf3 Rd8

• If 57...Rd7 58.Ng5 Rc7+ 59.Kd3 then:
• After 59...Rg7 60.Nxe6 Rxg3+ 61.Kc4 Rg4 62.Bd2 Rxh4 63.Ng7+ White maintians a small material edge.
• 59...Rc6 transposes into the next note.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Nikita Vitiugov
Position after 57...Rd5d8

58.Ng5!

• White breaks through by winning a pawn.

58...Rc8+ 59.Kd3 Ke7

• If 59...Rc6 then 60.Bb4 Rb6 61.Kc4 Ra6 62.Bd6 Kd7 63.Nh7 wins the h-pawn.

60.Bb4+ Kd7 61.Nh7 Kc6

• If 61...Kc7 then after 62.Nf6 Rh8 63.Ba5+ Kc6 64.Kc4 Rh6 65.Bb4 White's pawns are completely defended, leaving Black no counterplay.

62.Nf8 a5 63.Bd6 Kd5 64.Ng6 1-0

• If 64...Re8 then 65.Ne7+ wins the Rook.
• Grandmaster Timofeev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Alekseev - Svidler, Round 11, Moscow

Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alekseev - Peter Svidler
Russian National Championship, Round 11
Moscow, 15 October 2008

Closed German Game: Short Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.b3

• If 7.Nbd2 Nh6 then:
• If 8.Nb3 Nf5 9.Bd2 Be7 then:
• If 10.g4 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 then:
• 12...f5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nc1 Qb6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c4 fxg4 17.Bxg6+ hxg6 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.f5 0-0-0 21.Bf4 gxf5 22.e6 Bd6 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Nc5 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 b6 26.e7+ draw (Radjabov-Popov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 12...Be4 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.cxd3 Be7 15.f5 Nf8 16.Qf3 Qd7 17.h3 h5 18.gxh5 exf5 19.Qxf5 Qxf5 20.Rxf5 g6 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Rf3 Ne6 23.Raf1 gives White a small advantage in space (Fressinet-Arsian, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 10.c4 dxc4 11.Na5 Rb8 12.Nxc4 Nb6 13.Bc3 Nd5 14.Qd2 0-0 15.Rfd1 b5 16.Ba5 Qd7 17.Ne3 Nfxe3 18.fxe3 c5 19.a3 h6 20.Bd3 cxd4 21.exd4 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 b4 23.Nd2 bxa3 24.bxa3 Nf4 25.Qe4 Qxd4+ 26.Qxd4 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 Nxd4 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Macak-Grigoriants, Euro Ch, Rd 1, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 8.c3 Nf5 9.Ne1 then:
• If 9...c5 10.Ndf3 Be7 then:
• If 11.Nd3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Bh5 13.Nf4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 then:
• If 14...g6 15.Bg4 Ng7 16.Qd3 0-0 17.g3 Qc7 18.h4 Rac8 19.h5 Qc4 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Qe3 then:
• If 21...Rfd8 22.Kg2 Bg5 23.Rh1 Qc2 24.Qf3 then:
• 24...Nf8 25.Nxd5 Rxd5 26.Bxg5 Qxb2 27.Bf6 Nd7 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Rh7+ Black resigns facing checkmate (Volokitin-Bareev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• 24...Be7 25.Nd3 Rc4 26.Qe3 Nf8 27.Bd2 gives White an overwhelming position.
• 22...Qc2 23.Nd3 Nb6 24.Rh1 Nc4 25.Qh6 Nh5 26.Bxh5 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 21...Nf5 22.Bxf5 gxf5 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Qh6 is equal.
• 14...Qb6 15.Bg4 Qxd4 16.Bxf5 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 exf5 18.Nxd5 Bd8 19.f4 Nc5 20.b3 Ne6 21.Ba3 Rc8 22.Kf1 Rc6 23.g3 h5 24.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Areshchenko-Akesson, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 11.h3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.g3 Be7 15.h4 h6 16.h5 Be4 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Nxd3 0-0 19.Be3 Rc8 20.Qa4 draw (Motylev-Pantsulaia, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9...h5 10.Ndf3 h4 11.Nd3 Bh5 12.Nf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 g6 14.Bg4 Bh6 15.Re1 Qb6 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.Qh5 Bg7 18.Qg5 Kf8 19.Nh5 Bh6 20.Qxh4 Bxc1 21.Raxc1 Qxb2 22.Qg5 Rg8 23.Qh6+ Ke7 24.Nf4 b5 25.Qh4+ Ke8 26.Qh7 Ke7 27.Qh4+ Ke8 28.Qh7 Ke7 29.Qh4+ draw (Morozevich-Dreev, World Blitz Ch, Moscow, 2007).

7...Nh6 8.c4 Nf5 9.Nc3

• 9.h3 Be7 10.Ba3 Bxa3 11.Nxa3 0-0 12.Nc2 f6 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Qd2 Rad8 15.Ne3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Rde8 17.Rae1 e5 18.cxd5 exd4 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Nxd4 cxd5 is equal (B. Socko-Azmaiparashvili, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).

9...Bb4 10.Bb2

• 10.Bd2 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.g4 Nh6 13.h3 Kh8 14.c5 Ng8 15.Ne1 f6 16.f4 fxe5 17.fxe5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 d4 19.Na4 d3 20.Bf3 Qd4+ 21.Kg2 Qxe5 22.Bc3 Qg5 23.Nxd3 gives White an extra piece (Sylvan-Rasmussen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2006).

10...0-0 11.Bd3!?

• The new move is good for equality.
• 11.c5 f6 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.Na4 b5 14.cxb6 axb6 15.Qc1 b5 16.a3 Bd6 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 e5 19.a4 bxa4 20.Rxa4 Rxa4 21.bxa4 Ra8 22.Qa1 d4 gives Black a slight edge in space (Perez-Pogorelov, Op. Linares, 2003).

11...f6

• This move is intended to break up White's pawn center.
• If 11...dxc4 12.bxc4 then:
• If 12...f6 13.Qb3 then:
• 13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Qxb4 Nxd3 16.Qd6 fxe5 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 gives Black space and initiative for his material deficit.
• 13...Bxc3?! 14.Qxc3 fxe5 15.dxe5 Nc5 16.Rfd1 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 gives White space and initiative.
• 12...Bh5 13.Ne4 Nb6 14.Ng3 Nxg3 15.fxg3 Qe7 16.a4 remains equal.

12.Ne2

• There is no need for White to take the pawn.
• 12.a3 Ba5 13.Qd2 fxe5 14.dxe5 Bh5 15.Bxf5 exf5 remains equal.
• 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.a3 Bd6 14.Ne2 Bh5 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Ng3 Bg4 remains equal.

12...fxe5

• 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qe7 14.Nf4 Bf7 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Ne5 gives White a slight advantage in space.

13.dxe5 Nc5 14.Nf4 Nxd3

• 14...Nh4 15.Bxg6 Rxf4 16.Nxh4 Qxh4 17.a3 Ba5 18.b4 gives White the initiative.

15.Nxd3 Bh5 16.Nf4 Bxf3

• 16...Qe8 17.a3 Bc5 18.Nxh5 Qxh5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Rc1 remains equal.

17.Qxf3 Qe7 18.cxd5!?

• White takes a calculated risk.
• If 18.Rad1 Rae8 19.Rd3 then:
• 19...Qg5 20.Bc1 Nh4 21.Qg3 Qxg3 22.hxg3 Nf5 remains equal.
• 19...Ba3 20.Bxa3 Qxa3 21.Qe2 Qe7 remains equal.

18...cxd5

• This maintains the balance.
• 18...exd5 19.a3 Bc5 20.Qd3 Rae8 21.b4 Bb6 remains equal.
• If 18...Nh4?! then after 19.Qg4! exd5 20.Nh5 Kh8 21.e6! White has conjured a serious attack from nowhere.

19.Qg4

• 19.Rfd1 Rad8 20.Rac1 Ba5 21.Qg4 Bb6 remains equal.

19...Bd2 20.Nd3 Rac8

• If 20...Bh6 21.Rad1 Rfc8 22.Bc1 b5 then:
• 23.a4 Rab8 24.axb5 Rxb5 25.Qa4 Rbb8 26.Bxh6 Nxh6 remains equal
• 23.Nb4 d4 24.Bxh6 Qxb4 25.Bg5 h6 26.Be3 a5 remains equal.

21.Qd1?

• If 21.Qe2 Rc2 22.Rac1 then:
• 22...Rxb2 23.Nxb2 Bxc1 24.Rxc1 Qg5 25.Nd3 Nd4 26.Qb2 remains equal.
• 22...Rfc8 23.Rxc2 Rxc2 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 Bxc1 26.Nxc1 remains equal.

21...Qg5!

• Black maintains his Bishop at an outpost in White's camp and sets up a masked attack on the King.
• 22.Qe2 Qg5 23.f4 Qg6 24.Rac1 is equal.

22.g3 Be3 23.Kh1

• 23.fxe3 Nxg3 24.Rf4 Ne2+ 25.Kh1 (
  
• If 25.Kf2 Rxf4+ 26.exf4 Nxf4 27.Nxf4 Qxf4+ then:
• 28.Kg1 Qe3+ 29.Kg2 Qe4+ 30.Kg1 Rc2 wins for Black.
**25...Qh5 26.Kg2 Qg6+ 27.Kf1 Nxf4 28.exf4 Rc2 29.Qxc2 Rxf4+ 30.Ke1 Qg1+ 31.Kd2 Qg2+ 32.Kc1 Rf1+ gives Black the upperhand.
• 28.Ke1 Qh4+ 29.Kd2 Qxh2+ 30.Qe2 Rc2+ wins the White Queen.

23...Qh6

• 23...Bb6! 24.Rc1 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 Qg6 26.Bb2 Qf7 27.Nf4 Rc8 gives Black a small advantage in space.

24.Bc1 d4?

• Black misses the winning line.
• 24...Rxc1 25.Nxc1 Bxf2! 26.Rxf2 Nxg3+ 27.Kg1 Rxf2!! 28.Kxf2 Qxh2+ puts the White King in a mating net.

25.Kg2?

• White, in his turn, fails to take full advantage of Black's error.
• 25.Ba3! Bxf2 26.Rxf2 Nxg3+ 27.Kg1 Rxf2 28.Nxf2 Nf5 29.Rc1 gives White a material edge and a slight initiative.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 25.Kh1g2

25...Rc3!

• Black's pieces spring to life.
• The text is better than 25...Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Bxc1 27.Nxc1 Qg6.

26.Qe2 Qg6?

• Black will have to win all over again.
• Better is 26...Bxc1 27.Raxc1 Nh4+ when:
• 28.gxh4 Qg6+ 29.Kh1 Qxd3 30.Qxd3 Rxd3 31.Rc7 Rd2 giving Black the active game.
• 28.Kh1?? Nf3 29.h4 Nxh4 White wins.

27.fxe3!

• White fionds the move to put him back on the road to equality.
• If 27.Ba3? Rxd3 then:
• 28.fxe3 Rxe3 29.Qc4 Nh4+ 30.Kh3 Nf3 gives Black a strong attack on the White King.
• 28.Qxd3?? loses immediately to 28...Nh4+!.

27...Rxd3 28.Kg1 Nxe3

• 28...Rc3 29.e4 Nh4 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Ba3+ Kg8 32.Rf1 equalizes.

29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Bxe3 dxe3

• Black cannot hold his extra pawn; the game is equal.

31.Rc1 h6 32.Rc8+ Kf7 33.g4?

• White fails to find the best defense.
• 33.Qf1+ Qf5 34.g4 Qxf1+ 35.Kxf1 Rd2 36.Rc7+ is still a fight.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 33.g3g4

33...Qe4!

• That turns out the lights, just like that.

34.Rc4 Qd5 0-1

• 35.Rc1 Rd2 36.Qf1+ Kg6 37.Re1 Qxe5 38.Qh3 Qf4 is lights out.
• Evgeny Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Jakovenko - Vitiugov, Round 11, Moscow

Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: Bundesliga (Germany)


Dmitry Jakovenko - Nikita Vitiugov
Russian National Championship, Round 11
Moscow, 15 October 2008

Closed French Game: Steinitz Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6

• If 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 then:
• If 11.h4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 then:
• If 13.Rh3 then:
• 13...b4 14.Na4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.Bb5 Rb8 17.Bd3 Qc7 18.h5 Qc6 19.h6 g6 20.b3 Ba6 21.f5 Rbc8 22.Rd2 Bxd3 23.Rhxd3 Qc7 24.Re2 Qd8 25.Kb2 Rc7 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.fxe6 fxe6 28.Rxf8+ Nxf8 29.Qa7 Qc7 is equal (L'Ami-Vaznonis, World Youth U16, Opressa del Mar, 2001).
• 13...Bb7 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.h5 Rac8 16.h6 g6 17.Re3 b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 20.Nd4 Ne4 is equal (H. Rudolf-Schaefer, Bundesliga, Neukoelln, 2001).
• 13.h5 b4 14.Na4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.Bb5 Rb8 17.Bd3 Bb7 18.h6 g6 19.f5 Bc6 20.fxe6 Qg5+ 21.Kb1 Qxe5 22.Qxe5 Nxe5 23.Nc5 fxe6 24.Rhe1 Nxd3 25.cxd3 d4 26.Nxe6 Rfe8 is equal (Dr, Nunn-Lputian, Ol. Manila, 1992).
• 11.Qf2 Bxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Be3 b4 14.Na4 a5 15.h4 Ba6 16.h5 Qc7 17.h6 g6 18.Nb6 Nxb6 19.Bxb6 Qd7 20.g4 a4 21.Kb1 f6 22.exf6 Bxf1 23.Rhxf1 Rxf6 24.Qe3 Rb8 25.Bd4 Rf7 26.Be5 gives White the advantage in space (Melia-M. Socko, Euro Ch, Plovsiv, 2008).

If 9...cxd4 10.b4 then:

• If 10...Nxb4 11.cxb4 Bxb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 b6 then:
• If 14.Kf2 Ba6 then:
• I15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Nf3 d3 17.Ne1 Qc4 18.Nxd3 Qd4+ 19.Kf1 0-0 20.g3 b5 21.Ndc5 Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 bxa4 23.Nxd7 Rfc8 24.Rb1 Rc2 25.Rg1 Rxh2 draw (Chandler-Speelman, London, 1986).
• 15.Nf3 Rc8 16.Nxd4 0-0 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Re1 Rc4 19.Nb2 Rb4 20.Qd2 Qa3 21.Nd1 Qa4 22.Ne2 Nc5 23.Kg1 Ne4 24.Qd3 Rc8 25.f5 Qa5 26.Rf1 Nc5 27.Qf3 exf5 28.Ne3 Black resigns (Timman-Akhmilovskaya, Lugano, 1983).
• 14.Bd3 Ba6 15.Nb2 Nc5 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Qe2 Qa3 18.Qb5+ Ke7 19.0-0 Qe3+ 20.Rf2 Rhc8 21.Raf1 f5 22.exf6+ gxf6 23.Nd1 Qd3 24.Qb2 Nd7 25.Nf3 e5 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.Re2 Kd6 28.Nf2 Qc3 29.Qb1 d3 30.Nxd3 e4 31.Nf4 Rc5 32.Ng5 Re8 33.Rd1 Nf6 34.Nxe4+ Black resigns (Kamsky-Kraai, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2007).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 then:
• 12.Bxd4 Nb8 13.b5 b6 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.0-0 Nc5 16.Bc2 Bd7 17.Rb1 Rc8 18.f5 Nxa4 19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Bxa4 Bc5 21.Rf2 0-0 22.Bc2 g6 23.Qd2 Bxd4 24.cxd4 gives White a healthy advantage in space (Saravanan-Barua, Indian ChT, Nagpur, 2002).
• 12...Be7 13.Bd3 g6 14.0-0 b6 15.Rc1 0-0 16.Nb2 a5 17.c4 dxc4 18.Nxc4 Qb8 19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Rc3 Qb7 22.Rf4 axb4 23.Rg3+ Kh8 24.Qh5 Rxa2 25.Rxf5 Nf6 26.exf6 Rxg2+ 27.Rxg2 Black resigns (Rowson-Floor, Corus Reserve, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).

If 9...c4 10.b4 Qc7 11.Be2 Be7 12.0-0 then:

• 12...f5 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Ne5 0-0 15.Qc2 b6 16.Nb2 Bb7 17.Bf3 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Ne4 19.Bg4 Qc8 is equal (T. Kosintseva-M. Socko, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).
• 12...0-0 13.g4 b5 14.Nc5 a5 15.a3 axb4 16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.axb4 f5 18.gxf5 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Rxf5 20.Bd1 Bd8 21.Bc2 Rf7 22.Qb2 Qc8 23.Ra1 Be8 24.Qb1 h6 25.Ra2 Rf8 26.Qf1 Ne7 27.Nh4 Nc6 28.Nf3 Ne7 29.Nh4 Nc6 30.Nf3 draw (Kuloats-Ivanchuk, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

8.Qd2 b5 9.a3

• If 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.Qf2 Qb6 12.Bd3 b4 13.Ne2 a5 14.0-0 Ba6 15.Kh1 Ne7 16.Rad1 then:
• If 16...Na4 17.Qxb6 Nxb6 18.Ned4 Na4 19.Rb1 0-0 20.Kg1 then:
• 20...Rfc8 21.Kf2 Rc7 22.g4 g6 23.Ke3 Nc5 24.h4 a4 25.h5 is equal (Dr. Nunn-Glek, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1993).
• 20...h5 21.g3 Rfc8 22.Kf2 Nc5 23.Ke3 Rc7 24.h3 a4 is equal (Kristensen-Pasierb, Cyberspace, 1997).
• 16...h6 17.Nfd4 g6 18.Nb3 Na4 19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.Nc5 Bxd3 21.cxd3 Nf5 22.Rc1 Ke7 is equal (Kuipers-Barsov, Op, Vlissingen, 1997).

9...Bb7 10.Bd3 g5!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 10...Qb6 11.Qf2 c4 12.Be2 b4 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Rc1 h5 15.Ng5 g6 16.g4 hxg4 17.Bxg4 Nc6 18.0-0 Ne7 19.h4 Nf5 20.h5 Be7 21.Ne2 f6 22.hxg6 White resigns before losing the Knight to 22...fxg5 (P. Smirnov-Filippov, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).

11.fxg5

• 11.dxc5 d4 12.Nxd4 gxf4 13.Bf2 Ncxe5 14.Be4 Bxe4 15.Nxe4 is equal.

11...cxd4 12.Nxd4

• 12.Bxd4?! Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxe5 14.0-0 Rg8 15.h4 Qb6 gives Black more freedom.

12...Ndxe5 13.0-0 Bg7 14.Nxc6

• 14.Rae1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Nf3+ 16.Rxf3 Bxd4+ 17.Kh1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 reamins equal.

14...Bxc6 15.Bc5!?

• If 15.Bd4 Qc7 16.Qf4 Rc8 17.Be2 then:
• After 17...Ng6 18.Qe3 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 h6 Black is poised to push White back.
• 17...h6?! 18.Rad1 hxg5 19.Qxg5 Rg8 20.Rf2 Qe7 21.Qe3 is equal.

15...Qc7

• 15...Rc8 16.Bd4 Nf3+ 17.Rxf3 Bxd4+ 18.Kh1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Rg8 remains equal.
• 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qd7 17.Rf3 Rc8 18.Raf1 e5 19.Qf2 gives White pressure on the f-file while Black's pieces are uncoordinated.

16.a4!?

• White palys another provocative move.
• 16.Rae1 Bb7 17.b4 Rd8 18.Kh1 Rd7 19.Qe2 Nc4 remains equal.

16...Nc4

• White has an advantage in space.
• 16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 bxa4 18.Qe3 Be5 19.h3 Rg8 20.d4 Bg7 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has more space.

17.Qf2

• 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.Rae1 d4 19.Nb1 Bxa4 20.Qb4 Bd7 gives Black an extra pawn, but White continues to enjoy the advatage in space.

17...b4

• 17...Nxb2 18.Bb6 Qe7 19.Bd4 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Rg8 gives Black an extra pawn, but White haas more than enough space to compensate.

18.Bxb4

• White continues to hold the advange in space.
• After 18.Na2 Nxb2 19.Bd4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Qa7 21.Qxa7 Rxa7 22.Nxb4 White is more active..

18...Nxb2
BLACK: Nikita Vitiugov
!""""""""#
$t+ +l+ T%
$+ W +oVo%
$o+v+o+ +%
$+ +o+ P %
$pB + + +%
$+ Nb+ + %
$ Mp+ QpP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 18...Nc4b2:p

19.Rab1!

• White is forced to part with his most active piece.
• 19.Ba5 Qe7 20.Rab1 Nxd3 21.cxd3 h6 22.Rb6 gives White the active position.

19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Be5 21.Rbc1

• White's plan is to break through on the queenside.
• 21.Rbe1 a5 22.Rxe5 axb4 23.Qf6 0-0 give White more freedom and activity.

21...Rb8 22.Na2 Rb7

• 22...f5? 23.gxf6 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1 Bd6 25.f7+ Kd7 26.Qe1 gives White more activity.

23.Qc2 Bd7 24.Qf2 Bc6 25.Rc2!

• White prepares to double the Rooks in the c-file, compressing tremendous energy.
• 25.Kh1 Qd7 26.a5 Bb5 27.Qf3 Bc7 28.Bd2 Rg8 leave White with the active game.

25...a5?

• Black is lost.
• If 25...Bxh2+ 26.Kh1 Bg3 27.Qf3 a5 28.Rfc1 then:
• 28...Rxb4 then 29.Nxb4 axb4 30.Rxc6 Qf4 31.Rc8+ wins.
• If 28...Qf4 then 29.Rxc6 Rxb4 30.Qxf4 Bxf4 31.Nxb4 axb4 32.Rc8+ wins.
• If 28...Rb6 then 29.Bxa5 0-0 30.Bxb6 Qxb6 31.Rxc6 wins easily.

26.Rfc1!

• White doubles the Rooks.

26...axb4 27.Rxc6 Qa5

• Black tries to swindle White out of a win.

BLACK: Nikita Vitiugov
!""""""""#
$ + +l+ T%
$+t+ +o+o%
$ + +o+ +%
$W +oV P %
$pO + + +%
$+ +p+ + %
$n+ + QpP%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after (move)
27...Qc7a5
28.R6c5!

• White doesn't fall for it.
• 28.Rc8+? Ke7 29.Rxh8 Bxh8 30.Qh4 Qxa4 31.g6+ Bf6 32.Qxh7 Kd6 is equal.

28...Qa7

• 28...Qxa4 29.Rc8+ Ke7 30.Rxh8 Qa7 31.Qxa7 Rxa7 32.Nxb4 leaves White a Rook to the good.

29.Nxb4 Bc7 30.Rxc7 1-0

• After 30...Rxc7 31.Qxa7 Rxa7 32.Rc8+ White remains a piece up.
• 30...Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Rxc7 32.Rxc7 keeps White a piece to the good.

Nikita Kirillovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Monday): Vishy takes Game 5 in Bonn

World chammpion Vishy Anand won for the second time in the last three rounds to take a two point lead against former champion Vladimir Kramnik in the fifth game of their 12-game title match in Bonn today.

Anand, playing Black, defended against Kramnik's Queen's pawn opening with the sharp Meran Defense, which he also used to win the third game on Saturday.

The sixth round, with Anand playing White, will be played tomorrow starting at 15:00 Central Europe Daylight Time (6 am PDT).

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Tuesday): Anand wins game 6, Victory is near

World champion Vishy Anand defeated challenger and former worild champion Vladimir Kramnik a few minutes ago in the sixth game of their world title match in Bonn.

The win gives Anand a 4�-1� lead in the match at the half-way point. Few observers believe that even a player of Kramnik's prowess can overcome a three-point deficit in just six games. The winner of the match is the first player to score 6� points.

Anand played White and again opened with 1.d4, as he has in his other two White games in the match. Kramnik adopted a variation of the Orthodox Queen's Gambit known as the Ragozin Defense, which is akin the the Nimzo-Indian that has brought Anand two points with Black so far in the match. The game lasted 47 moves and was the first White vicotry of the match.

The players have tomorrow off and will resume the second half of the match with Anand having White in the seventh round on Thursday.