The JR Chess Report (Christmas Day): Grischuk and Galliamova Lead Superfinals in Moscow

[Jack Rabbit]

Chess Set featuring Santa Claus as King

Photo: The Chess Piece


Merry Christmas
from Jack Rabbit and his impressive staff


Grischuk, Galiamova Lead Russian Championships after Five



Alexander Grischuk and Alisa Galliamova lead the national and women's competitions after five rounds of the "Superfinal" of the Russian championships in Moscow as the players take a day off for Christmas.

Alexander Igorovich, now with 3½ points, took the lead yesterday when he won his game from Alexander Riazantsev while defending champion and fourth-round leader Peter Svidler lost his game to 16-year-old Kalmyk Sanan Sjugirov. Svidler fell into a tie for second with Nakita Vitiugov, who beat Dmitry Jakovenko to move up. Svidler and Vitiugov have 3 points each.

Alisa Mikhailovna, the former wife of Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, has a perfect score after five rounds. Defending champion Nadezhda Kosintseva is in second place with four points and new mother Natalia Pogonina and Russian girls' champion Valentina Gunina are tied for third with 3½ points each. Nadezhda Alexyevna's sister, Tatiana, with her grandmaster's title fresh out of the smelter, began with a loss to Anatasia Bodnaruk but has won her last two games in a row.

Alisa Mikhailovna, who twice has been the runner up for the women's world championship, will play White against Nadezhda Alexyevna when play resumes tomorrow.


Calendar

Starting this weekend:

Hastings Chess Congress 26 December 2009-5 January 2010.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 27 December 2009-5 January 2010.

Reggio Emilia Tournament 27 December 2009-4 January 2010.

Events beginning in 2010:

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Group A: Anand, Carlsen, Caruana, Dominguez, Ivanchuk, Karjakin, Kramnik, Leko, Nakamura, Shirov, Short, Smmets, Tiviakov and van Wely.

Gibraltar Chess Festival 26 January-4 February.

Moscow Open 29 January-8 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 9-17 February.

27th Ciudad de Linares 12-25 February.

European Individual Championships, Rijeka (Croatia) 5-19 March.

Russian Team Championships, Dagomys 1=12 April.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Sofia 23 April-10 May.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

[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 downloaded free here.

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


I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Russian National and Women's Chamionships, Moscow

Red Square, Moscow

Did you know that the name Red Square for Moscow's city center pre-dates the Bolshevik Revolution by 200 years?

Photo by Adam Baker, flickr (Creative Commons Copyright, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Grischuk - Riazantsev, Round 5

Alexander Grischuk
Photo: Russian Chess Federation


Alexander Grischuk - Alexander Riazantsev
Russian National Championship, Round 5
Moscow, 24 December 2009

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Alekhine's Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5

• If 4...Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c4 Nb6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...d5 10.c5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nc8 12.f4 Nc6 then:
• 13.f5 exf5 14.Bf3 Bg5 15.Nxd5 f4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 17.Nxf4 Nxd4 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Qg4 gives White a healthy initiative and an extra pawn (Sypnicki-Krainski, Op, Bydgoszcz, 2001).
• 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 f6 15.Bd3 Qe8 16.Qg4 f5 17.Qh3 a5 18.b5 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Short-Alburt, Match, Foxboro, 1985).
• If 9...Nc6 10.exd6 cxd6 then:
• If 11.b3 d5 12.c5 then:
• If 12...Nc8 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 Bf6 15.a4 N8e7 16.b5 then:
• 16...Na5 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nc4 19.bxa6 Nxe3 20.fxe3 bxa6 21.Qd3 Qc7 22.Rb6 Nc6 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Nxd5 Black resigns (Rodríguez-Sawyer, Corres, 1995).
• 16...axb5 17.axb5 Bxf3 18.bxc6 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 bxc6 gives Black more activity (Hoellrigl-Baburin, Op, Oberwart, 1991).
• 12...Nd7 13.b4 f5 14.b5 Na5 15.Qa4 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.Be2 b6 18.c6 Qc7 19.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Bouwmeester-Sefc, TMatch, Rotterdam, 1955).
• If 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bf6 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qb3 is equal (Gufeld-Grigorian, Soviet Ch, Baku, 1972).
• 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Rd2 Qa5 16.Qxa5 Nxa5 17.Rc1 Be6 18.b3 d5 is equal (Asomaeki-de Carlos, Cyberspace, 2002).

5.Nxe5 g6

• If 5...c6 6.Be2 then:
• If 6...Bf5 then:
• If 7.0-0 Nd7 then:
• If 8.c4 then:
• 8...N5f6 9.Bf4 Qb6 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Qd2 e5 12.dxe5 0-0-0 13.Nc3 is equal (Smeets-Short, Staunton Mem TM, London, 2009).
• 8...Nb4 9.Nd3 Nxd3 10.Bxd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 e6 12.Bf4 Nf6 13.Nc3 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Dragun-Degraeve, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2009).
• If 8.Nf3 e6 then:
• 9.a3 Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 11.c4 N5f6 12.Nh4 Qc7 13.g3 Bh3 14.Nc3 Rfe8 15.Be3 e5 is equal (Wang Hao-Gonzales, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 Nc2 11.Bg5 f6 12.Rc1 fxg5 13.Rxc2 Bxc2 14.Qxc2 wins the exchange for Black (Zelcic-Rozentalis, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 7.g4 Be6 8.c4 then:
• If 8...Nb6 9.b3 f6 10.Nd3 Qxd4 11.Bb2 Qd8 12.Nc3 Na6 then:
• 13.Qd2 Qc7 14.Qe3 Bf7 15.Rc1 Nd7 16.Ne4 e5 gives Black an extra pawn (Cheparinov-Narciso, IT, Montcada, 2009).
• 13.f4 Bf7 14.Bf3 e6 15.Qe2 Nd7 16.0-0-0 Qa5 gives Black a little more freedom (Brenjo-Bogdanovski, IT, Belgrade, 2008).
• 8...Nc7 9.Rg1 Nd7 10.Nf3 g6 11.Nc3 Bg7 12.Be3 0-0 13.Qd2 b5 14.cxb5 cxb5 15.Nxb5 Nxb5 16.Bxb5 Bd5 is equal (Anand-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 6...Nd7 7.Nf3 g6 8.c4 Nc7 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.Qd2 c5 14.d5 gives White an advantage in space (Weatherly-Benjamin, New York StCh, Colonie, 2006).

6.Bc4 Be6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Re1

• If 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Bb3 c6 then:
• 10.c4 Nc7 11.Rd1 Nd7 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Ne6 15.Qe3 Gives White the advantage in space (Mullon-Corvi, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
• 10.Rd1 Nd7 11.c4 N5b6 12.Nf3 a5 13.a4 Bg4 14.h3 gives White the advantage in space (Ioselani-Arakhamia, ITW, Gronigen, 1997).

8...0-0 9.Nd2

• If 9.Bb3 c6 then:
• If 10.Nd2 then:
• 10...Nc7 11.Ndf3 Bxb3 12.axb3 Nd7 13.Ng4 h5 14.Ne3 Nb6 15.Nc4 Ne6 16.c3 Bf6 17.Bh6 Bg7 18.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (deFirmian-Alburt, Op, Reykjavik, 1984).
• If 10...Nd7 then:
• 11.Nef3 Nc7 12.Ne4 Bxb3 13.axb3 Ne6 14.c3 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.b4 Ng7 17.h4 h5 18.g3 Nf5 19.Qe2 a5 20.bxa5 draw (Andreev-Sikula, IT, Alushta, 2001).
• If 11.Ndf3 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 a5 13.c3 Qc7 14.Nd3 Bf5 15.Bg5 Rfe8 16.Qd2 a4 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Nb4 Rad8 19.Bf4 Qc4 is equal (Adams-Agdestein, Match, Oslo, 1994).
• If 10.h3 Nd7 11.Nf3 Nc7 12.c4 Nb6 13.Qe2 a5 14.a4 Ne8 15.Rd1 Nc8 16.Ba2 Ned6 17.Nc3 Nf5 18.Ne4 b6 19.Neg5 Bd7 20.g4 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (S. B. Hansen-Soppe, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

9...Nd7 10.Nef3 N7f6

BLACK: Alexander Riazantsev
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 10...Nd7f6

11.Rxe6!?

• Grischuk introduces an exchange sacrifice to opening theory,
• 11.Bf1 c6 12.c4 Nc7 13.b3 Nce8 14.Bb2 Nd6 15.Ne5 Nd7 16.Ndf3 f6 draw (G. David-Adams, 1990).

11...fxe6 12.Ng5

• 12.Qe2 Nf4 13.Qe1 Kh8 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Qd6 gives White enough compensation for the exchange for an equal game.

12...Qd6

• 12...Qd7 13.Qe2 e5 14.Qxe5 c6 15.Ne6 also gives White equality.

13.Qe1 b5!?

• 13...c6 14.Qxe6+ Qxe6 15.Nxe6 Rf7 16.c3 b5 17.Bd3 remains equal.

14.Bb3!

• White keeps the pressure on the center and his Bishop is specifically aimed at the hapless pawn at e6.
• If 14.Bd3!? then after 14...Nb4! 15.Qxe6+ Qxe6 16.Nxe6 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rfc8 any compensation White had for the exchange lays in the dust. He has a doubled pawn on an open file and his minor pieces in the rear need to be untangled.

14...a5 15.a4 bxa4

• 15...c6 16.Qxe6+ Qxe6 17.Nxe6 Rfc8 18.Nf3 bxa4 19.Rxa4 gives White the better game; the Knight on e6, although not protected by any White pawn or piece, will not be easy to dislodge.

16.Nc4!

• White has successfully created several weaknesses in Black position and goes about expoiting them.

16...Qc6 17.Rxa4 Ra6

• 17...e5? 18.dxe5! Nh5 19.Ne3 Rfd8 20.Nxd5 Rxd5 21.Rd4 wins for White.

18.Rxa5 Rfa8

• If 18...Ng4?! 19.Rxa6 Qxa6 20.Nxe6! then:
• 20...Rf5 21.Nxg7 Kxg7 22.f3 Ngf6 23.Ne3 Nxe3 24.Qxe3 gives White a powerful position up the middle.
• 20...Rxf2? 21.Nxg7! Kxg7 22.h3 Rxc2 23.hxg4 Rxc4 24.Qe5+ wins for White.

19.Bd2!

• White has his part of the a-file covered so that penetration by Black's Rooks is too costly.

19...Bh6 20.h4

• If 20.Ba4 then:
• 20...Qxa4 21.Rxa4 Rxa4 22.Na3 Rxd4 23.Qxe6+ exploits the pawn weakness created by the sacrifice on White's 11th move.
• 20...Qxc4!? 21.Bb5! Qxc2 22.Bxa6 Bxg5 23.Bxg5 gives White the advantage up the middle.

20...Bxg5?

• The Bishop could have been preserved to defend the dark squares around the Black King.
• 20...R8a7 21.f4 then:
• 21...Bxg5 22.hxg5 Ng4 23.Ra3 Rxa3 24.bxa3 Qd7 25.Qe2 e5 26.Nxe5 allows White's minor pieces to storm through the center.
• 21...Bg7 22.Qxe6+ Qxe6 23.Nxe6 Rxa5 24.Nxa5 Kf7 25.Nc5 allows Black to fight on a bit longer.
• 20...Rxa5 21.Nxa5 Qd7 22.Nc4 Ra7 23.Nxe6 then:
• 23...Bxd2 24.Nxd2 c6 25.Nf3 Qd6 26.c3 leaves White in domination of the darksquare on Black's kingside.
• If 23...Bg7 24.Nxg7 Kxg7 25.Ne5 then:
• If 25...Qd6 then:
• 26.c4! Rb7 27.Ba2 Qa6 28.Bb1 Rxb2 29.cxd5 wins for White.
• Also good is 26.Bh6+ Kg8 27.c4 Qb6 28.Qd1.
• If 25...Qb5? then 26.Nd3 Qd7 27.Nc5 Qc6 28.c4! is crushing.
• The immediate 20...Bg7? proves premature after 21.Nxe6! Rxa5 22.Nxa5 Qd7 23.Qe5 c6 24.Ba4 giving White a won game.

21.hxg5 Nd7

• If 21...Nh5 then after 22.Ne5 Qd6 23.Rxa6 Qxa6 24.c4 Nb6 25.Kh2 Black's queenside initiative is not enough to overcome White's dominance on the kingside.

BLACK: Alexander Riazantsev
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 21...Nf6d7

22.Rxa6!

• Any thing that resembles a good plan wins for White.
• 22.Ba4 Qxc4 23.Bxd7 Qxd4 24.Bxe6+ Kf8 25.c3 also wins.

22...Qxa6 23.Na5 c5

• Black attempts to undermine White's center.
• 23...Rf8? 24.Ba4! Nb8 25.Qe4 Qc8 26.b4 Kf7 27.c4! leaves White even more dominant.

24.Ba4 Ra7

• If 24...Rd8 then after 25.Nc6 Qxa4 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 27.Nxd8 Whtie is two pawns to the good with a mating attack.

25.Bxd7 Rxd7 26.dxc5 Nc7

• 26...e5 27.Qxe5 e6 28.b4 Rd8 29.b5 Qxb5 30.Qxe6+ wins for Whtie.

27.c4

• 27.b4 e5 28.c4 Qe6 29.b5 Rd3 30.b6 leaves White's queenside pawn mass unstoppable.

27...Qa8

• 27...e5 28.b4 Qd6 29.b5 transposes into the previous note.

28.c6 Rd3 29.Bc3 Qf8

• 29...Kf7 30.Qe5 Ne8 31.Qh8 wins for Whtie.

30.Qe5 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 1-0

• Black's last move was merely a spite check.
• If 31...Na8 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Qxh7+ Ke8 34.Qxg6+ then:
• 34...Qf7 35.Qxf7+ Kxf7 36.b4 White's queenside pawn mass cannot be stopped.
• If 34...Kd8 35.Be5 Nc7 36.Qc2 Ra1 37.Qd2+ then:
• 37...Ke8 38.Qd7+ Kf7 39.Qxc7 gives White a prohibitive material advantage and pawns that cannot be stopped.
• 37...Kc8 38.Qd7+ Kb8 39.Qxc7+ Ka8 40.Qb7#.
• Grandmaster Riazantsev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Galliamova - Pogonina, Round 3

Alisa Galliamova
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alisa Galliamova - Natalia Pogonina
Russian Women's Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 22 December 2009

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Benko Gambit)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.g3

• If 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.g3 Bg7 10.Kg2 0-0 11.Nf3 Nbd7 then:
• If 12.Re1 Ng4 then:
• If 13.Qe2 Nge5 14.Nd2 Nb6 15.f4 Ned7 then:
• If 16.a4 Ra7 17.a5 Qa8 then:
• 18.a6 Qc8 19.Nb5 Ra8 20.Nf3 c4 21.Nfd4 Rxa6 22.Nc6 Bf6 23.Be3 gives White a narrow lead in space (Vaisser-Degraeve, French Ch, Marbonne, 1997).
• 18.Qb5 Rb8 19.axb6 Rxa1 20.Qxd7 Rxb6 21.Ndb1 Qb8 22.e5 Ra7 23.Qg4 dxe5 24.fxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Qxe5 26.Qc8+ Kg7 27.Qxc5 Rab7 is unclear: White has more space, but Black has a theoretical equivalent of an extra pawn in material (Lugovoi-Khalifman. Muni Ch, St. Petersburg, 1996).
• 16.Nf3 Na4 17.Nd1 Qc8 18.e5 Qb7 19.Qe4 Kh8 20.b3 Nab6 21.Nc3 f5 22.Qd3 e6 23.exd6 exd5 Black will soon recover the gambit pawn with the better game (Jussupow-Baklan, Bundesliga, Germany, 1997).
• If 13.Re2 Qa5 14.Bg5 Rfe8 15.Rc1 then:
• 15...Nb6 16.h3 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Qd3 Qb4 19.a3 Qa5 20.Nd1 c4 21.Qd2 Qa6 22.Ne3 Bg7 23.Ng4 Nd7 24.Bh6 Bh8 25.Be3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Spassky-Vaganian, IT, Linares, 1987).
• 15...Qa6 16.b3 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Na4 Rab8 19.Bd2 c4 20.Re3 e6 21.f4 cxb3 22.axb3 Nd7 23.dxe6 Rxe6 is equal (Gavrikov-Tseshkovsky, Spartakiad, Moscow, 1979).
• If 12.h3 then:
• If 12...Ra6 13.Re1 Qa8 then:
• 14.Re2 Rb8 15.Qc2 Ne8 16.Be3 Nc7 17.Rd1 Nb5 18.Nxb5 Rxb5 19.b3 Rb4 20.Bf4 c4 21.e5 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Rxe5 Rxa2 25.Qe4 Qa7 26.Rf1 Rd2 27.bxc4 Qd4 28.Qxd4 Rxd4 29.c5 Rbc4 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has her Rooks behind the two most dangerous ones and should be all right (M. Gurevich-A. Muzychuk, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bd2 e6 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.Qc2 g5 18.a4 d5 19.Ra3 Rf7 20.exd5 exd5 21.Nb5 Qb7 22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.Nxg5 (White has a comfortable advantage in space) 23...Nf8 24.Nxf7 Qxf7 25.Rf3 Ne6 26.Qf5?! Qh5! 27.Qxh5 Nxh5 is unclear: White has the material advantage, but Black just took over the spatial advantage (S. Atalik-Khalifman, Op, Hastings, 1996).
• 12...Qa5 13.Re1 Rfb8 14.Re2 Ne8 15.Rc2 Nb6 16.Qe2 Qa6 17.Qxa6 Rxa6 18.b3 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Bb2 Bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxd5 givews Black a consierable advantage in space (Zlotnik-Carrasco, IT, Lorca (Spain), 2001).

7...d6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Rb1 Ne8

• If 11...Qa5 12.Bd2 Rfb8 13.Qc2 then:
• 13...Ng4 14.a4 Nge5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Rfe1 Qd8 17.b3 Rb7 18.f4 Bg7 19.h3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Zhukova-Pogonina, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2005).
• If 13...Qc7 14.b3 Nb6 15.Nh4 Bb7 16.e4 Ba6 17.Rfe1 Ng4 18.Nf3 Bd4 19.Nd1 Bg7 20.Bc3 gives White an extra pawn while she challenges Black for control of the long diagonal (Zhao Xue-Houska, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

12.Re1

• If 12.Qc2 Nc7 13.Rd1 then:
• 13...Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Bxe2 15.Re1 Nb5 16.Qe3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Nd4 18.Bd1 Rxa2 gives Black an extra pawn (Zaiatz-Pogonina, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2006).
• If 13...Nb5 then after 14.Nxb5 Bxb5 15.b3 Qb6 16.a4 Ba6 17.e4 Rfb8 18.Be3 Qd8 19.h3 White still has an extra pawn (Shaidullina-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Orel, 2006).

12...Nc7 13.e4

• 13.a4 Bc4 14.e4 Qb8 15.Bf4 Bb3 16.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Babula-Lauk, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

13...Bc4!?

• 13...Nb5 14.Ne2 Qb6 15.Be3 Rfb8 16.a4 Nc7 17.b4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Avrukh-Hendricks, Corus B, 2000).

14.a3

• White has an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

14...Rb8 15.Qc2

• 15.Bf4 Bb3 16.Qd2 Nb6 17.Qc1 e5 18.Bg5 weakens Black's kingside pawns.

15...Bb3 16.Qd2

• Better is 16.Qe2, overprotecting the e-pawn and keeping out the of way of the Queen's Bishop: 16...c4 17.Be3 e6 18.Ra1 exd5 19.Nxd5 maintains White's advantages.

16...Nb6 17.Bf1!?

• Up to here, White has had it pretty much her way in the opening. Now Black will have some opportunity to fight back.
• If 17.Qe2 f5 18.Nd2 Bc2 19.Ra1 then:
• 19...fxe4 20.Ndxe4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Qe8 retains White's extra pawn.
• If 19...Bxe4 20.Ndxe4 fxe4 21.Qxe4 Bd4 22.Re2 White still has an extra pawn.

17...e6 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Bg2 d5 20.e5

• The game is equal.

20...d4!?

• This allows White a foothold in the center.
• 20...Nc4! 21.Qe2 Nb5 22.Nxb5 Rxb5 23.Nd2 Nxd2 24.Bxd2 remains equal.

BLACK: Natalia Pogonina
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WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 20...d5d4

21.Ne4!

• The Knight is well protected and will be difficult to dislodge.

21...Nc4 22.Qd3 Rxf3

• If 22...Qd5 23.Ra1 then:
• If 23...Ba4 24.b4 Bc6 then:
• 25.bxc5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Qxe5 27.Bf4 Rxf4 28.gxf4 gives White a material advantage.
• 25.Nxc5!? Nxe5! 26.Rxe5 Bxe5 27.Nh4 Qd6 28.Bh6 Rf7 is equal.
• 23...Rb6 24.Ned2 Na5 25.Qe4 Rd8 26.Qh4! threatens the pawn at h7.

23.Qxf3!

• This is the only way to recapture.
• If 23.Bxf3? then after 23...Nxe5! 24.Qe2 d3 25.Qe3 Nd5 26.Qxc5 Nxf3+ Black wins.

23...Nxe5 24.Qe2 d3 25.Qe3!

• The text is better than 25.Qd2!? Nc4! 26.Qf4 e5 27.Qg5 Qxg5 28.Bxg5 Bc2 when Black equalizes.

25...Bc2

• Black's opportunities are slipping away.
• 25...c4 26.Nc3 Qd6 27.Ra1 Rf8 28.Ne4 Qd8 29.f4 gives Black a clear advantage.

26.Ra1 Nc4?

• This is a moment of crisis for Black. She doesn't get through it today.
• Correct is 26...c4 fortifying Black's passd pawn; and now 27.a4 Nd5 28.Bg5 Qd7 29.Nf6+ Bxf6 30.Bxf6 Ng4 31.Bc3 gives Black lots of play and chances to hold the game.

BLACK: Natalia Pogonina
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WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 26...Ne5c4

27.Qxc5!

• Natually, White takes the pawn.

27...Nxb2

• Black has nothing but moves that lose.
• 27...Ne5 28.Bg5 Qd7 29.Nf6+ Bxf6 30.Bxf6 Ng4 31.Bc3 threatens victory on the long diagonal.

28.Bg5 Qd7 29.Nf6+ Bxf6 30.Bxf6 Rb5

• No better is 30...Na4 31.Qa7 Rc8 32.Qb7 d2 when:
• I33.Bc6!! dxe1Q+ 34.Rxe1 Nc5 35.Bxd7 Nxb7 36.Bxc8 gives White a material advantage equivalent to three pawns.
• 33.Red1 Bxd1 34.Rxd1 Nc5 35.Rxd2 Nd5 36.Qxd7 Nxd7 37.Bb2 leaves White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Natalia Pogonina
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WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 30...Rb8b5

31.Qc3!

• White finds the simplest and most certain win.
• If 31.Qc6!? Qxc6 32.Bxc6 Rb3 33.Be4 then:
• If 33...Kf7! 34.Be5 then:
• If 34...Nb5! then:
• 35.Rec1! Nc4 36.a4 Nxe5 37.axb5 Kf6 38.f4 Nc4 leaves White up by an exchange.
• If 35.Reb1? Bxb1 36.Rxb1 then:
• 36...Nd6! 37.Bxd6 d2 38.Bb4 d1Q+ 39.Rxd1 Nxd1 gives Black a material advantage.
• 36...Nxa3? 37.Rxb2 Rxb2 38.Bxb2 d2 39.Bf3 wins for White.
• If 34...Nd5 35.f4 Nc3 then:
• 36.Bxc3 Rxc3 37.Rf1 Nc4 38.Kf2 Nd2 39.Rfe1 is equal.
• 36.Bf3 d2 37.Re3 d1Q+ 38.Bxd1 Nbxd1 39.Re1 gives White a small advantage after surviving the advance of Black's d-pawn.
• If 33...Nc4!? 34.a4 Nd5 35.Bxd5 exd5 36.Rec1! then:
• 36...Rb4 37.a5 Ra4 38.Rxa4 Bxa4 39.Bg5 wins for White.
• If 36...Kf7!? 37.Bd4 Rb4 38.Bc3 Rxa4 39.Rxa4 Bxa4 Black's passed pawns tilt the game in her favor.

31...Rb3 32.Qd2 Nc4 33.Qf4 Nb6

• Black has been fighting an uphill battle for a time and now gives up the ghost.
• Better is 33...Nxa3 34.Bd4 Nab5 35.Bc5 Qd8 36.Qd2 Nc3 37.Be3, but White remains an exchange up with more activity.

34.Bd4 Nc4 35.Qf6 d2 36.Bc6 dxe1Q+

• If Black takes on c6, then White mates on g7; taking on d4 loses the Queen: 36...Qxd4 37.Qxd4 dxe1Q+ 38.Rxe1.

37.Rxe1 1-0

• Black cannot recover the lost piece.
• Natalia Andreevna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. khismatullin - Svidler, Round 2

Peter Svidler
Photo: Russian Chess Federation


Denis Khismatullin - Peter Svidler
Russian National Championship, Round 2
Moscow, 21 December 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Slav-Grünfeld Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Ne5

• If 8.0-0 Ne4 then:
• 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Ne5 Qd5 11.Be3 Nd7 12.Qc2 Nxe5 13.Bxe4 Qc4 14.dxe5 Qxc2 15.Bxc2 Bxe5 16.Be4 Be6 17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Bxa7 draw (Kosyrev-Yandemirov, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2001).
• 9.Ne5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Qb6 13.Ba3 Qa6 14.Qxa6 Bxa6 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.Bf1 e6 17.e3 Bxf1 18.Kxf1 Bf8 is equal (W. Schmidt-Doda, Polish Ch, Krakow, 1978).

8...e6 9.0-0 Nfd7

• If 9...Nc6 then:
• 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4 Nd7 12.Bf4 Ba6 13.Rc1 Bb5 14.Nc3 Ba6 15.Na4 Bb5 16.Nc3 Ba6 17.Na4 draw (Szabo-Gligoric, IT, Asuncion, 1960).
• 10.Bf4 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Bd7 12.Qd2 Bc6 13.Rfd1 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Rac1 Nf6 16.Qf4 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch Match, London, 1986).

10.f4 Nc6 11.Be3 Nb6

• If 11...f6 12.Nf3 Nb6 13.Bf2 f5 14.Ne5 Bd7 then:
• 15.b3 Nc8 16.Qd2 Nd6 17.Rac1 Qe7 18.Na4 is equal (Ravi-Sasikiran, Indian Ch, New Delhi, 2001).
• 15.Rc1 Qe7 16.h3 Be8 17.Qd2 Kh8 18.b3 Nc8 19.Qe3 is equal ()Bareev-Leko, IT, Sarajevo, 1999.

12.Bf2 Ne7

• 12...Bd7 13.e4 Ne7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.e5 Rfc8 16.Rc1 Bf8 17.Bf3 Rc7 18.b3 Rac8 19.Qd2 Nc6 is equal (Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch Match, Seville, 1987).

13.Rc1

• If 13.a4 a5 14.Qb3 Bd7 then:
• If 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Qxb7 Rb8 17.Qa6 then:
• 17...Rb6 18.Qd3 Rxb2 19.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 20.Rxb1 is equal (Bareev-Svidler, BMT, Kazan, 1995).
• 17...Rxb2 18.Rab1 Rb6 19.Qd3 Nc6 is equal (Lomineishvili-Pashikian, Op, Batumi, 2001).
• If 15.Rfc1 then:
• If 15...Bc6 16.Nb5 Nbc8 17.e3 Nd6 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch Match, Seville, 1987).
• 15...Nf5 16.Nb5 Bxb5 17.Qxb5 Nd6 18.Qb3 is equal (Karpov-Svidler, Rpd, Odessa, 2009).

13...Bd7 14.e4

• 14.b3 Bc6 15.Qd2 f6 16.Nd3 Nf5 17.Nc5 gives White a slight edge in space; Black's backward e-pawn could become a problem and his Bishops need some air (Jakovljevic-Rabrenovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

14...Be8!?

• 14...dxe4 15.Bxe4 Bc6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qd3 Rc8 18.Rfd1 Nbd5 is equal (Beim-Smirin, Rpd, Tel Aviv, 1996).

15.Qb3

• White has the advantage in space.

15...a5 16.Rfd1

• 16.Rfe1 a4 17.Qc2 Rc8 18.b3 dxe4 19.Qxe4 is equal.

16...dxe4 17.d5

• 17.Bxe4 a4 18.Qc2 Ned5 19.Bg2 a3 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 is equal.

17...Nbxd5

• If 17...Nexd5!? 18.Bxe4 Bc6 then:
• 19.Bxb6 Qxb6+ 20.Qxb6 Nxb6 21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.Bxc6 is equal.
• If 19.Nxc6 then Black remains a pawn to the good after 19...bxc6 20.Bc5 a4 21.Qxb6 Qxb6 22.Bxb6 Nxb6.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
$t+ WvTl+%
$+o+ MoVo%
$ + +o+o+%
$O +mN + %
$ + +oP +%
$+qN + P %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 17...Nb6d5:p

18.Nxd5

• 18.Bxe4!? leads to some hot, wild chess after 18...a4 19.Qc4 a3 when:
• If 20.b4 then:
• 20...Ba4! 21.Nxa4 Rxa4 22.Bc5 Qe8 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Qb3 gives White enough activity to compensate for the pawn minus.
• If 20...Rc8!? 21.Qb3! f6 22.Nc4 Nxc3!? then:
• 23.Rxc3! Nd5 24.Bc5 f5 25.Bxd5 exd5 26.Ne5 White wins the exchange on f8.
• 23.Rxd8?! Ne2+! 24.Kg2 Nxc1 25.Qc2 Rxd8 26.Qxc1 gives Black a material advantage.
• If 20.bxa3 Bc6 21.Bc5 Re8 then:
• 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Rxd5 Qxa3 is equal.
• 22.Nb5 Nc8 23.Qe2 Ra5 24.Nd4 Ba4 25.Nb3 Ra6 is equal.

18...exd5!

• Black has two connected central passed pawns.

19.Bb6 Qb8 20.Bc5 a4 21.Qc3 Qc7 22.Ba3?

• White allows Black to penetrate on the c-file.
• If 22.Qa3 Nc6 23.Rxd5 Nxe5 24.fxe5 Bd7 then:
• 25.Bxe4 Bxe5 26.Qe3 Rfc8 leaves Black better, but White has won back a pawn.
• If 25.Qe3 Rfc8 26.Bxe4 Be6 27.Rdd1 then:
• 27...Bxa2! 28.Bd6 Qd7 29.Ra1 Bb3 30.Rd4 Re8 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 27...Qxe5 28.Bxb7 Qxe3+ 29.Bxe3 Rxc1 30.Bxc1 Rb8 is equal.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
$t+ +vTl+%
$+oW MoVo%
$ + + +o+%
$+ +oN + %
$o+ +oP +%
$B Q + P %
$pP + +bP%
$+ Rr+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 22.Bc5a3

22...Bc6!

• Black covers his central pawns and leaves White no immediate way to penetrate.

23.Bxe7 Qxe7 24.Nxc6 bxc6 25.Qxc6 Bxb2

• Black remains two pawns to the good.

26.Rb1 a3

• 26...Rab8! 27.Qxd5 e3 28.Qd7 Qxd7 29.Rxd7 Bc3! wins for Black as the e-pawn will be costly to stop.

27.Qxd5 Rfe8 28.Re1

• White might hold out a wee bit longer after 28.f5 Rad8 29.Qa5 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Qg5 31.Qa4 Re7, but the result is no longer in doubt.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
$t+ +t+l+%
$+ + Wo+o%
$ + + +o+%
$+ +q+ + %
$ + +oP +%
$O + + P %
$oV + +bP%
$+r+ R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 28.Rd1e1

28...Rad8!

• Black drives White from the center.

29.Qc4 Rd2 30.Kf1 Qd7

• After 30...Kg7 31.h3 Qd7 32.Re2 Rd4 33.Qa6 Qd5 Black wins.

31.Re2 Rd4 32.Qb3 Kg7 33.Kg1

• 33.Rbe1 f5 34.Rc2 Rd3 35.Qc4 Re7 gives Black a winning advantage: he has and extra pawn and White's Bishop is trapped in the White kingside quadrant of the board unable to penetrate Black's pawn chain.

33...Rd3 34.Qc4 Bd4+

• 34...f5, completing the construction of the pawn chain, is stronger: 35.Kh1 Qf7 36.Qxf7+ Kxf7 and now Black bring the King up to support the passed e-pawn.

35.Kh1 Rc8 36.Qb4 e3

• Once again, 36...f5 is stronger, but it is of no practical matter.

37.Be4

• 37.h3 Bb2 38.Qe4 Rd1+ Black wins easily.

37...Bc5 38.Qb5

• If 38.Qe1 Rd2 39.Bf3 Rd8 then:
• 40.Rxd2 Qxd2 41.Rd1 Qxe1+ 42.Rxe1 Kf6 43.Re2 Rd2 leaves Black strong even after teh exchange of Rooks.
• If 40.Rc1 then 40...Qd6 41.Qf1 Rb8 42.Rxd2 exd2 43.Rd1 Qd4 is an easy win for Black.

38...Qxb5 39.Rxb5 Rd2! 40.Bf3

• If 40.Rxd2 then after 40...exd2 41.Bf3 Be7 42.Rb7 Rc3 43.Bg4 h5 Black wins in a cakewalk.

40...Bd4 41.Rd5 Rcc2 42.Rxd2

• 42.Rxd4 Rc1+ 43.Kg2 Rxd4 leaves Black up by an exchange.

42...Rxd2 43.g4

BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + +oLo%
$ + + +o+%
$+ +r+ + %
$ + V Pp+%
$O + Ob+ %
$p+ T + P%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 43.g2g4

43...Rxa2!!

• The Bishop sacrifice rounds out a fine game by Peter Veniaminovich.

44.Rxd4 e2 0-1

• It will cost White the Bishop to stop the pawn.
• If 45.Re4 Rd2 46.Bxe2 a2 White has the Hobson's choice of 47.Ra4, losing the Bishop and still not being able to take the a-pawn, or anything else, in which case the a-pawn queens.
• Grandmaster Khismatullin resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Steponaia - N. Kosintseva, Round 2

Nadezhda Kosintseva
Photo: Russian Chess Federation


Tatiana Stepovaia - Nadezhda Kosintseva
Russian Women's Championship, Round 2
Moscow, 21 December 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6

• For a survey of theory concerning the Rauzer Opening, see T. Kosintseva-Zdebskaja, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2009.

8.0-0-0

• 8.f4 Qc7 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.0-0-0 Bd7 11.Kb1 h5 12.Bc4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qc5 14.Qd3 b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Ne2 Bb5 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Zbedskaja, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2009).

8...Bd7 9.f4 b5

• If 9...Be7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 then:
• 11...gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 0-0-0 14.g3 Kb8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh3 Bc8 then:
• If 17.Qe1 Rhe8 18.Ne2 Bf8 19.Rf1 Bg7 20.Nf4 Qc5 21.a3 f5 22.exf5 exf5 is equal (Karjakin-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• If 17.Qh6 Qc5 18.Rhf1 then:
• If 18...a5!? 19.Ne2 d5 20.exd5 Nb4 21.Ned4 Qxd5 then:
• 22.b3? e5 23.Ne6?? Qc6! White resigns as the Knight is lost (Beliavsky-Tal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).
• 22.a3 Qa2+ 23.Kc1 Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Qxb2 25.axb4 Rxd4+ is equal.
• If 18...Rdg8 19.Ne2 Rg6 20.Qc1 Bf8 21.c3 Bh6 22.Qc2 Ne5 23.Nh4 Rg7 24.Nd4 Nc4 gives White the more active game (Suetin-N. Weinstein, IT, Budapest, 1976).
• If 11...Bxf6 12.Qxd6 Be7 13.Qd2 b4 then:
• If 14.Na4 Ra7 15.Qe3 Qa5 16.b3 Rb7 17.Nd2 Na7 18.Nc4 Qc7 then:
• 19.Rxd7 Qxd7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Qxc5 Nb5 is equal (Psakhis-Geller, Moscow, 1986).
• 19.e5 Bxa4 20.bxa4 0-0 21.Bd3 Rd8 is equal (Ziatdinov-Tseshovsky, Hodzhaev Mem, Tashkent, 1987).
• If 14.Ne2 Ra7 15.Kb1 0-0 16.Nc1 Qb6 17.e5 a5 18.Bd3 leaves White with an extra pawn (van der Wiel-Spassov, IT, Amsterdam, 1979).

10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6

• If 12.Nce2 then:
• If 12...Rc8 13.g3 b4 14.Bg2 a5 then:
• If 15.Rhe1 a4 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Nd4 Qc5 18.Re3 Be7 19.c3 Rb8 20.cxb4 Qxb4 21.Qxb4 Rxb4 22.Rc3 is equal (Arakhamia-Galliamova, Candidates' Tournament, Gronigen, 1997).
• 22...Qc1+ 23.Qxc1 Bxc1 24.Nxf6 Kxf6 25.Kxc1 Rag8 26.Rxd6+ Kxf5 27.Rf3+ Ke4 28.Rxf7 Rxg2 is equal (Gallagher-Jankovic, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Rhe1 a4 18.e5 fxe5 19.fxe5 d5 is equal (Mahesh Chandran-Venkatesh, Op U20, Tehran, 2001).
• If 12...b4 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.f5 e5 15.Ng3 then:
• If 15...h5 16.h4 Qc5 17.Bd3 Bh6 18.Qe2 Qe3 19.Nxh5 Ke7 20.Qf1 Bxe4 21.Rh3 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 Qe4 23.Qd1 Rad8 24.g4 Bf4 then:
• 25.Rh1 Rxh5 26.Re1 Qc6 27.gxh5 Bh6 28.Rd5 Qc4 29.Qd3 Qxh4 30.Rd1 gives White a material advantage and command of the d-fille (Vachier Lagrave-S. Atalik, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 25.g5 Qxf5 26.gxf6+ Kf8 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Qxd6+ Kg8 29.Rd3 Kh7 30.Nxf4 Qxf4 31.a3 gives White an extra pawn (Gallagher-Miton, Ol. Bled, 2002).
• If 15...Qc5 16.Bd3 a5 17.Nh5 Ke7 18.g4 Rg8 19.Rhg1 a4 20.h4 a3 then:
• If 21.Bc4!? Rd8 22.Bb3 Bxe4 23.bxa3 bxa3 gives Black an extra pawn (Najer-Miton, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• 21.b3! Rc8 22.g5 fxg5 23.hxg5 gives White superiority on the kingside and better pawn structure.

12...Bxc6 13.Qe1 Be7

• If 13...Ra7 14.Bd3 then:
• If 14...h5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.f5 b4 17.Ne2 e5 18.Ng3 then:
• 18...Qf2 19.Rhf1 Qc5 20.Nxh5 Kd8 21.g4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage on the kingside (Tiviakov-Das, Op, Dhaka, 2003).
• 18...Qe3 19.Nxh5 Qg5 20.Qxg5 fxg5 21.Ng3 gives White an extra pawn (Pokazanjev-Rombaldoni, Op, Winterthur, 2008).
• 14...Qc5 15.f5 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Qh4 Be7 18.Nc1 a5 19.b3 Qb6 is equal (Fercec-Kotronias, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2005-06).

14.f5

• If 14.Bd3 h5 15.f5 then:
• 15...Qc5 16.Rf1 Kd7 17.Rf3 gives White good chances of setting up a kingside attack (Short-E. Torre, ITZ, Manila, 1990).
• 15...b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Ng3 h4 18.Nf1 Bf8 19.Bc4 gives White a strong square at d5 and a weak pawn to target at d6 (And. Volokiitin-Lupulescu, Bundesliga 0910, Eppingen, 2009).

14...Qc5 15.Bd3 a5

• 15...b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Ng3 a5 18.Qe2 Rc8 19.b3 0-0 20.Bc4 is equal (Adams-Kozul, Euro Ch, Belgrade, 1999).

16.Ne2

• 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Ne2 b4 18.Nf4 Qe5 19.Rf1 Rc8 20.h4 a4 is equal (So-Gupta, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).

16...e5 17.Nc1!?

• 17.Qg3 Kf8 18.Qh4 h6 19.Rhf1 a4 20.c3 a3 21.b3 gives White better mobility (Charbonneau-Krush, IT, Montreal, 2001).

17...Rg8!

• This is a more active move than any taken by Black in the Charbonneau-Krush game just quoted.

18.Qe2

• The game is equal.

18...a4 19.Rhe1

• 19.c3 b4 20.cxb4 Qxb4 21.a3 Qb7 22.g3 Rb8 remains equal.

19...a3 20.Nb3 Qb6 21.c4 b4 22.g3

• 22.bxa3!? Rxa3 23.Rd2 Bf8 24.Rb2 Ba4 25.Qd2 remains equal.

22...axb2 23.Rd2

• 23.Qxb2 Qa6 24.Na1 Qb7 25.Nc2 Ra4 tilts the game in Black's favor on the foundation of her queenside strength.

23...Kf8 24.Rxb2 Kg7

• This looks like a good time to take stock. Black has a little more space; White's pawn structure has fewer weaknesses, but Black's weaknesses are less exploitable.

25.Qd2!?

• White's Queen has better contol of the light squares from e2 than it has over the dark squares from its new post.
• 25.Kc1 Ra3 26.Kd1 Rga8 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qe2 Ba4 remains equal.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Stepovaia
Position after 25.Qe2d2

25...Ra3!

• Black aims at putting White's queenside under tight restraint.

26.Bc2 Rga8

• 26...Ba8 27.Nc1 Rb8 28.Rd1 Qc5 29.Bd3 Bd8 gives Black the advantage in space.

27.Nc1 Qa7!?

• Black is unable to make solid he advantage.
• If 27...Rb8 28.Rd1 Qc5 then:
• 29.Bd3 Bf8 30.Nb3 Qa7 31.h4 Qa8 forces White into the defense of the e-pawn.
• If 29.Qe2 Rc3 30.Bd3 Rc8 then:
• 31.Qd2 Ra8 32.Nb3 then:
• 32...Qb6 33.Rc1 Qb7 34.Rxc3 bxc3 35.Qxc3 Bxe4 is equal.
• If 32...Qa7 33.Rc1 Qb7 transposes.
• If 31.Nb3 Qa7 32.Rc2 Rxc2 33.Bxc2 Ra8 gives Black a small tactical edge.

28.Bb3!?

• 28.Qxb4 Qa6 29.Rd1 Ra7 30.Rd3 Rxd3 31.Bxd3 Qc8 32.Qd2 Bf8 33.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space.

28...Qb7!

• Black protects her b-pawn and attacks White's keystone e-pawn.

29.Qe2 Bd8!?

• The game has become somewhat unstable as both players vie for advantage.
• If 29...Kh8 then:
• If 30.Nd3 then after 30...Bd8 31.Qg4 Bb6 32.Qh4 Kg7 33.Qg4+ Kf8 34.Rbe2 Bd4 Black has more power concentrated against the White King than White against the Black King.
• 30.Qh5? Bxe4+! 31.Bc2 Bxc2+ 32.Rxc2 Bf8! wins a key pawn for Black.

30.Rd2 R3a6 31.Nd3 Ba4 32.Bxa4!?

• White should let Black make the capture and recaptue on b3, keeping Black's b-pawn blocked.
• 32.Kc2 Bxb3+ 33.axb3 then:
• 33...Kh8 34.Qg4 Ra2+ 35.Kd1 remains equal.
• 33...Ra2+ 34.Kd1 Ra1+ 35.Nc1 Qa6 36.Qg4+ is equal.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Stepovaia
Position after 32.Bb3a4:B
32...Rxa4

• The b-pawn is now a weapon.

• If 33.Rb2 Bb6 then:
• 34.Qd2 Bd4 35.Rxb4 Rxb4+ 36.Qxb4 Qxb4+ 37.Nxb4 Bc3 leaves White up by a pawn with the initiative.
• 34.Qg4+ Kf8! 35.Ree2 Bd4 36.Rb3 Qa6 gives Black a won position.

33...b3 34.axb3 Ra1+ 35.Kc2 Ba5!

• Black wins the exchange.

36.Red1?

• White misses her last shot getting her King to a safer place and having a chance at salvaging the game.
• 36.Qe3! Bxd2 37.Kxd2 Rb8 38.Rd1 Qc7 gives Black the material edge, but the White King can make its way to to other side of the board where it would be relatively safe.

36...Bxd2 37.Rxd2

• If 37.Qxd2 then Black wins after 37...R8a2+ 38.Nxa2 Rxa2+ .

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
$t+ + + +%
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WHITE: Tatiana Stepovaia
Position after 37.Rd1d2:B

37...Rxc1+!!

• The voluntary return of the exchange settles matters.

38.Kxc1 Qxb3 0-1

• If 39.Rc2 then 39...Ra1+ 40.Kd2 Qb4+ 41.Kd3 Ra3+ 42.Rc3 Qxc3# .
• Ms. Stepovaia resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Pogonina - Romanko, Round 1

Natalija Pogonina
Photo: Ajedrez (Argentina)


Natalia Pogonina - Marina Romanko
Russian Women's Championship, Round 1
Moscow, 20 December 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Rauzer Opening/Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 g6

• This is rarely played. The usual move is 6...e6.

7.Bxf6 exf6 8.Be2

• If 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.Ndb5 0-0 then:
• If 10.Qxd6 f5 11.0-0-0 Qg5+ 12.f4 Qh6 13.Kb1 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bg4 15.Rde1 then:
• 15...a6 16.Nbc3 Rad8 17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Nxg4 Qh4 19.Qc5 Qxg4 20.Qg5 is equal (Mokry-Chernikov, Op, Rimavska Sobota, 1990).
• 15...Rad8 16.Nf6+ Kh8 17.Nxg4 Qh4 18.Qc7 Qxg4 19.Nd6 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Goloshchapov-Chernikov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• 10.0-0 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Nxd6 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc2 14.Qd5 Qd7 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Rfe1 Rfd8 is equal (Ahn-Nabaty, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

8...Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Ndb5 f5

• 10...Be6 11.Qxd6 Qxd6 12.Nxd6 Rab8 13.Bc4 Bxc4 14.Nxc4 Rfd8 15.Rfd1 gives White an extra pawn and better development (Koltanowski-Wong, SBX, San Francisco, 1960).

11.Nxd6!?

• 11.Qxd6 Qxd6 12.Nxd6 Bxc3 13.bxc3 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Bd3 gives White an extra pawn (Koltanowski-Edmondson, SBX, San Francisco, 1960).

11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 fxe4 13.Nxe4

• White has an extra pawn.

13...Qe7

• In spite of White's material advantage, the game can go in many directions/
• 13...Bf5 14.Bd3 Re8 15.Re1 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 then:
• If 16...Qc7 17.Qf3 Rad8 then:
• If 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.Qxc6 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 bxc6 21.Kf1 then:
• 21...Rd2 22.Rb1 Rxc2 23.a4 Ra2 24.Rb4 is equal.
• 21...Kg7 22.Re4 Rd2 23.Ra4 Rxc2 24.Rxa7 Rxc3 25.Ke2 is equal.
• 18.a4!? allows Black to take the initiative and after 18...Ne5! 19.Qg3 b6 20.Rab1 Qc5 21.Re2 Qc4 she has a fine game in spite of the pawn minus.
• 16...Qxd1 17.Raxd1 f5 18.Bxc6 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 bxc6 20.Re7 gives Black the active Rook.

14.Bd3 b6 15.Qf3 Bb7 16.Rfe1 Kg7!?

• 16...f5 17.Nd2 Qc5 18.Bc4+ Kh8 19.Rad1 Na5 20.Qe2 White still has an extra pawn.

17.Qf4

• If 17.Re3 f5 18.Nd2 Qa3 19.Rae1 Rad8 20.Qf4 White still has an extra pawn, for if 20...Qxc3?! 21.Qc7+ Rf7 22.Qxf7+!! Kxf7 23.Bc4+ then White wins back the Queen with a net material gain.

17...Na5?

• White voluntarily offsides her Knight, taking it away from the defense of the center and kingside, which is where all the action is.
• Better is 17...Rad8 18.Re3 h6 19.Ng3 Qg5 20.Qc7 Ba8 21.Nf5+ , although White continues to enjoy more activity with an extra pawn.

BLACK: Marina Romanko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 17...Nc6a5

18.Re3!

• White is building a kingside attack. The Rook lift allows for more fire power against the Black King.

18...Rad8 19.Ng3 Qc5

• Black hits at the unprotected and weak c-pawn in an attempt to gain material equality, but she has no time to take it.

20.Nf5+!

• As the Godfather said, "Make her a proffer she cannot accept."

20...Kg8

• If 20...gxf5?? then 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Qf6+ Kg8 23.Rg3#.

21.Qh6!

• White threatens mate on g7.

21...Qxc3

• This move is forced.

22.Rh3?!

• White misses an immediate win.
• If 22.Bf1! then after 22...Qxa1 23.c3!! Black must sacrifice the Queen for the Bishop or submit to immediate mate.

22...Qxa1+ 23.Bf1 Qxf1+

• White is still threatening mate and consequently this and the moves for both side through 26.Ne3 are forced.

24.Kxf1 Ba6+ 25.Ke1 Rfe8+

• This forces White to remove her mating threat, but Black is completely lost.

BLACK: Marina Romanko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 25...Rf8e8+

26.Ne3

• Through it all, White has come out with a material advantage equivalent to one pawn,

26...Re6

• If 26...Rd6 then 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Rh4 Bb7 29.Rf4 f5 30.g4 wins.

27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Rf3

• With the Rooks on d8 and e6 (instead of d6 and e8, as in the previous note), the text move works as it threatens immediate mate.

28...Rd7

• If 28...f6 then after 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qg7+ Kd6 31.Rxf6 Bc4 32.Rxe6+ Black is toast.

29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qg7 1-0

• If 30...Kd6 31.Rxf7 Rxf7 32.Qxf7 then:
• if 32...Nc6 then after 33.Kd2 Bc8 34.h4 White will capture Black' last kingside pawn and win easily.
• 32...Nc4 33.Qxa7 Bb5 34.Kd1 gives White a material advantage equivalent to four pawns.
• Ms. Romanko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Jakovenko - Alekseev, Round 3

Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Dmitry Jakovenko - Evgeny Alekseev
Russian National Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 22 December 2009

Symmetrical English Game: Four Knights' Opening

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6

• A common alternative is to fianchetto the King's Bishop. See Koneru-Danielian. Grand PrixW, Istanbul, 2009.

3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.a3 Be7 7.e4

• With this move, the game takes on the look of a Maroczy Opening in the Open Sicilian.
• An althernative is to fianchetto the King' Bishop, for instance, 7.g3 Qb6 8.e3 d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Qb3 0-0 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Bg2 draw (Vallejo-Leko, IT, Linares, 2005).

7...0-0 8.Nf3 d6

• 8...Qc7 9.Bd3 Ng4 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.Bg5 d5 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.exd5 exd5 14.0-0 draw (Radjabov-Domínguez, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Bf4

• 11.h3 Rc8 12.Bf4 Ne5 13.Nd2 Qc7 14.Re1 Qb8 15.Rc1 Qa8 16.Bf1 Rfd8 17.Bg3 Ng6 18.f4 a6 19.Kh1 Bc6 20.Bd3 Nd7 21.Qf3 Bf6 22.b4 draw (Maghami-Tomashevsky, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).

11...a6 12.Rc1

• 12.Re1 Qc7 13.Rc1 Ne5 14.Nd2 Rac8 15.Bf1 Qb8 16.b4 Bd8 17.Qe2 Bc7 18.Bg3 Rfe8 is equal (Rodshtein-Borisek, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

12...Rc8 13.b4!?

• If 13.Qd3 then:
• 13...Ng4 14.Rfd1 Nge5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Qd7 Ba8 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 is equal (Korchnoi-Stohl, IT, Tilburg, 1993).
• 13...Na5 14.Nd2 Nc6 15.Rfd1 Ne5 16.Qg3 Qc7 17.b4 Rfd8 18.Be3 Ned7 19.f3 Qb8 20.Qf2 Ba8 21.Na4 Rc6 22.Nb3 Rdc8 23.Nd4 R6c7 24.Nb3 draw (Roussel Roozman-Bluvshtein, GMT, Toronto, 2006).

13...Ng4

• The game is equal.

14.Nd2 Nge5 15.Be3 Re8 16.Kh1 Bf8

• 16...Bf6 17.f4 Nd7 18.Nf3 Qe7 19.Qd3 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 remains equal.

17.f3

• 17.b5 Nb8 18.Na4 axb5 19.Bxb6 Qh4 20.cxb5 gives White an extra pawn.

17...Nd7 18.Qe1 a5 19.b5

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 19.b4b5

19...Ncb8

• Like an Open Sicilian, the game has become sharp. Black must play carefully to keep White from getting a huge advantage.
• If 19...Na7 20.Qg3 Nc5 21.f4 then:
• 21...Be7 22.Bd4 Bf6 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.Rcd1 gives White the advantage in space.
• 21...Qc7 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 Qe7 24.Bd4 White has a better center and fewer pawn weaknesses; Black's pawn at d6 could become a target.

20.Na4

• So far, Black is up to the task. The game remains equal.

20...d5 21.cxd5 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 exd5 23.Bg1

• 23.Qc3 Bd6 24.exd5 Qh4 25.f4 remains equal.

23...Re6

• If 23...Bd6! 24.Rd1 Bf4 then:
• 25.Qc2 Qf6 26.Bd3 Rc8 27.Qb2 Qg6 28.Qd4 remains equal.
• 25.Bd3 Qh4 26.Nc3 Nf6 27.exd5 Nh5 remains equal.

24.Bd1 dxe4 25.Nxe4 Ne5!

• Black keeps the game equal.
• If 25...Be7? 26.Bb3 Re5 27.Rd1 then:
• If 27...Qf8 28.Qc7 Bxe4 29.fxe4 then:
• 29...Bd8 30.Qc4 Re8 31.Qd5 Re5 32.Qb7 Rxb5 33.Bd5 followed by 34.Bc6! gives White a won game.
• 29...Rxb5 30.Bc4 Bd8 31.Bxf7+ Kh8 32.Qc8 gives White a strong position in which he should win two Knights for a Rook.
• 27...Qc8 28.Qxc8+ Bxc8 29.Bd5 Bxa3 30.Nxb6 Nxb6 31.Bxb6 White commands the center.

26.Bb3 Rg6 27.Rd1 Nbd7

• 27...Qe8 28.Nac3 Bxe4 29.fxe4 Nbd7 30.Bf2 remains equal.

28.Nac3 Qh4

• 28...Qa8 29.Bd5 Be7 30.Be3 Bxd5 31.Nxd5 Bf8 32.f4 gives White dominance of the center.

29.Bd5 Bxd5 30.Nxd5 Rh6?

• Black can do nothing by attacking White's King position with his heavy pieces. It's just banging his head against the wall.
• 30...Nxf3 31.Qf4 Rg4 32.Qxf3 Rxe4 33.g3 Ne5 34.Qf5 leaves White better and Black must play very carefully, but as long as he does he hass the resources to put up a fight.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 30...Rg6h6

31.Rd4!?

• White could have put the game away here and now.
• 31.Qc8! f5 32.Nec3 Qh5 33.Ne7+ wins for White.

31...Qh5 32.Nf4 Qh4 33.Nd5!?

• White gets a little overanxious.
• 33.Ne2! Qd8 34.N2g3 Qe8 35.Qc7 Rh4 36.Nf5! gives White a won game.

33...Qh5

• If 33...Qd8 34.f4 Ng4 35.f5 Qb8 then:
• 36.h3 Ngf6 37.Qf4 Qxf4 38.Nexf6+ Nxf6 39.Nxf4 gives White better mobility.
• 36.Qc7 Qxc7 37.Nxc7 Ndf6 38.Nxf6+ Nxf6 39.Be3 gives White the initiative.

34.Qf4 Qg6

• 34...Kh8? 35.Rd1 Ng6 36.Qc7! Nge5 37.Ng3 wins for White.

35.a4 Qe6

• If 35...f6 36.Rd1 f5 37.Ng3 then:
• 37...Qf7 38.Qxf5 Qxf5 39.Nxf5 Re6 40.f4 Ng4 41.Nc7 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative.
• 37...Qe6 38.Nxf5 Rh5 39.Ng3 Rh6 40.Ne4 gives White dominance of the center.

36.Qd2 Qf5

• If 36...f5 37.Ng5 Qg6 38.Nc7 then:
• 38...Nf6 39.Rd8 Nf7 40.Nxf7 Qxf7 41.Bxb6 gives White an extra pawn and a mating attack.
• 38...Nc5 39.Qa2+ Nf7 40.Be3 Rh5 41.Nxf7 Qxf7 42.Qxf7+ White wins.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 36...Qe6f5

37.Ne3!

• White nails it down for good.

37...Qf4

• No better is 37...Qe6 38.f4 Bc5 39.Nxc5 bxc5 40.Rd5.

38.Rxd7 Nxd7 39.Qxd7 Re6 40.Qd1

• If 40.Qd4 h6 41.Nd5 then:
• 41...Qc1 42.Nxb6 Bb4 43.Nd5 Ba3 44.b6 stopping the pawn will be expensive for Black.
• 41...Qb8 42.Nxb6 Bd6 43.Nc4 Bb4 44.Be3 White dominates the center.

40...Qc7 41.Nd5 Qb7 42.Qd4 f5

• If 42...Qb8 then White wins after 43.Nxb6 Bb4 44.Nd5 Bd6 45.b6

43.Qc4 Kh8

• If Black accepts the sacrifice, 43...fxe4, then after 44.Nc7 Kh8 45.Qxe6 Qxc7 46.fxe4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

44.Nf4 Re8 45.Ng5 1-0

• 45...Bc5 46.Ng6+ hxg6 47.Qh4+ Kg8 48.Qh7+ Kf8 49.Qh8+ Ke7 50.Qxg7+ wins Black's Queen.
• Evgeny Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Khismatullin - Riazantsev, Round 1

Denis Khismatullin
Photo: ChessBase.com


Denis Khismatullin - Alexander Riazantsev
Russian National Championship, Round 1
Moscow, 20 December 2009

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Three Knights' Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4

• If 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Rc1 Bb7 then:
• If 8.e3 0-0 9.Be2 then:
• If 9...d6 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Rxc3 Nd7 12.Nd2 then:
• 12...e5 13.Bf3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 a5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 draw (Stahlberg-Pirc, Ol, Amsterdam, 1954).
• 12...c5 13.Bf3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Qe7 15.Qe2 draw (Suba-Khalifman, IT, Banza, 2007).
• 9...c5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nc6 12.Bf3 Rfd8 13.Ne4 Qe5 14.Ng3 Rac8 15.Qa4 Be7 16.Rfd1 Qb8 draw (Suba-Rodríguez, Op, New York, 1988).
• 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Rxc3 0-0 10.e3 d6 11.Be2 Nd7 12.0-0 Qe7 13.Nd2 e5 is equal (Ragozin-Simagin, City Ch, Moscow, 1955).

6...g5

• If 6...Bb7 7.e3 then:
• If 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.f3 Qe7 then:
• If 11.Bd3 e5 12.e4 Nf8 13.Nf1 Ng6 14.Bf2 Nf4 15.Ne3 Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 Nh5 17.g3 0-0 18.0-0 Rae8 19.a4 Qg5 20.h4 Qg6 is equal (Zhao Jun-Nisipeanu, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• If 11.e4 then:
• 11...g5 12.Bf2 Nh5 13.Qa4 c5 14.h4 0-0-0 15.Qxa7 Kc7 16.Qa4 is equal (Parker-Rowson, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).
• 11...e5 12.Bd3 Nf8 13.Nf1 Ng6 transposes into (Zhao Jun-Nisipeanu, above.
• If 7...g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nxg3 then:
• 11.hxg3 d6 12.Bd3 Nd7 13.Be4 Bxe4 transposes into the text.
• 11.fxg3 transposes into the notes to White's 12th move.

7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.Bd3 Nxg3

• If 11...f5 12.d5 then:
• If 12...Nd7 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Qf6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.Qxe6 Qxe6 17.dxe6 Nc5 18.Nd4 Rde8 19.f3 Ba6 20.Nb5 Rxe6 21.e4 Kb8 then:
• 22.Rfd1 g4 23.Nd4 Rg6 24.e5 gxf3 25.exd6 cxd6 26.gxf3 Rf8 is equal (Razuvaev-Salov, IT, Moscow, 1986).
• 22.Rab1 g4 23.Rfe1 gxf3 24.gxf3 h5 25.h4 Rf8 White has sufficient piece activity for an equal game (Hort-Bellin, IT, Hastings, 1975).
• If 12...Nc5 then:
• If 13.h4 g4 14.Nd4 Qf6 15.0-0 then:
• If 15...Nba6 16.Nxe6 Nxe6 17.Bxf5 Ng7 18.Bg6+ Kd7 19.f3 Raf8 20.fxg4 Qe7 21.e4 Kc8 22.Qd2 Kb8 then:
• 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.Qxh6 Bc8 25.Re1 Bxg4 26.c5 Qf6 27.cxd6 Bh5 28.e5 gives White the edge in space and material in a sharp game (Kasparov-Timman, IT, Hilversum, 1985).
• 23.Qd4 Ne8 24.Rf7 Rxf7 25.Qxh8 Rf8 26.Qxh6 Nc5 27.h5 gives White a theoretical extra pawn (Salov-Timman, Candidates' Match, Saint John, 1988).
• 15...Nxd3 16.Qxd3 e5 17.Nxf5 Bc8 18.f4! Qxf5 19.e4 Qh5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.c5 Kd8 22.d6 Qe8 23.dxc7+ Kxc7 24.Qd5 gives White enough play to compensate for the piece (Miles-Beliavsky, IT, Tilburg, 1986).
• 13.Nd4 Qf6 14.0-0 Nba6 15.dxe6 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Be4 17.Qe2 Nc5 18.Qh5+ Kd8 is equal (Wang Yue-Adianto, Mindsports Rpd, Bewijing, 2008).

12.hxg3

• If 12.fxg3 Nd7 13.0-0 Qe7 14.Rf2 0-0-0 15.Be4 then:
• 15...f5 16.Bxb7+ Kxb7 17.e4 Rdf8 18.a4 a5 is equal (Timman-Miles, IT, Tilburg, 1985).
• 15...Rhf8 16.Re1 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Kb8 18.Qh7 Rh8 19.Qc2 gives White adequate piece activity in compensation for his poor pawn structure (Zvjaginsev-Timman, IT, Biel, 1995).

12...Nd7 13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3

• 15.Qc2 Ke7 16.e4 Qg8 17.e5 Nd7 18.exd6+ cxd6 White's piece activity is sufficient compention for his ugly pawn structure (Butnorius-Jenni, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

15...Nd7 16.a4 a5 17.Qe4 Nf6!?

• 17...Ke7 18.Rb1 Qg8 19.Qc6 Ra7 20.0-0 h5 21.e4 is equal (Bacrot-Berkes, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

18.Qb1

• The game is equal.
• 18.Qc6+ Ke7 19.Nd2 Qd7 20.Qb5 c6 21.Qb3 Rab8 remains equal.

18...g4 19.Nd2 Qe7 20.Ke2 Kf8 21.Rh4

• If 21.Qd3 Rd8 then:
• 22.Rh4 Qd7 23.e4 Ke8 24.Qc2 Qe7 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 22.e4 e5 23.Rh4 Kg7 24.Rah1 is equal.

21...Kg7 22.e4 h5!?

• The h-pawn is in no need of immediate attention. Black should be wary of allowing White too free a hand in the center.
• Better is 22...e5 23.Qd3 Rae8 24.d5 Qd7 25.Nf1 Rh7 26.Ne3 when White has a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Alexander Riazantsev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 22...h6h5

23.Qb5!

• This robust move has the effect of freezing Black's queenside.

23...e5 24.f3 Rag8

• 24...Rad8!? 25.Nf1! Qd7 26.Ne3 Rhe8 27.Qb3 Kg8 28.Rah1 gives White a strong center and greater mobility.

25.Nf1 Kf8 26.Ne3 Rg5 27.Qc6

• If 27.Qa6 then:
• If 27...Ke8 28.Nf5 Qd8 29.Qb5+ Nd7 then:
• 30.dxe5! dxe5 31.Rd1 Rhg8 32.f4 gives White a strong initiative.
• 30.Rah1 Qa8 31.Ke3 Kd8 32.Qd5 Qxd5 33.cxd5 leaves Black's position under restraint.
• 27...Qe8!? 28.Qb7 Qd8 29.fxg4 Rhg8 30.gxh5 gives White two extra pawns.

27...gxf3+

• If 27...exd4 then after 28.cxd4 Qd8 29.Kf2 Rh6 30.f4 Rgg6 31.Kg1 Black has no pawn moves.

28.gxf3 Rhg8 29.Rg1!?

• This is playable, but not quite right.
• White maintains his space advantage after 29.Rh3 Qe6 30.Rah1 Qd7 31.Qxd7 Nxd7 32.Nf5 .

BLACK: Alexander Riazantsev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 29.Ra1g1

29...Qd7!?

• Black misses the chance to capitalize.
• 29...Qd8! 30.Nf5 R8g6 31.Qb5 d5 32.cxd5 Nxd5 33.Qc4 equalizes for Black.
• 31.dxe5?! dxe5 32.Rd1 Qc8! 33.Rd6 Rxf5 34.exf5 Qxf5 gives Black the initiative on the kingside.

30.Qxd7 Nxd7 31.Nf5 Nf6

• 31...Ke8 32.Rgh1 Nf6 33.R4h3 Kd7 34.Kd3 Ke6 35.Ke3 gives White the advantage in space.

32.dxe5

• If 32.c5 bxc5 33.dxc5 d5 34.Rb1 Ke8 then:
• 35.c6 Rxf5 36.Rb8+ Ke7 37.Rxg8 Nxg8 38.exf5+ gives White the exchange.
• If 35.Rb5 dxe4 36.fxe4 then:
• 36...Kd7 37.Rxa5 Nxe4 38.c6+ Kxc6 39.Ne7+ is equal.
• 36...Rxg3? 37.c6! Rg2+ 38.Kd3 Kf8 39.Rxa5 R2g5 40.Rxe5 wins for White.

32...dxe5 33.Rd1!?

• White takes command of the open file, but this opens an opportunity for Black.
• If 33.c5 Ke8 34.cxb6 cxb6 35.Rd1! then:
• If 35...Nd7 36.Rd5 f6 37.Rd6 Kd8 38.g4 Black must direct his labors to keeping the h-file closed.
• If 35.Rb1!? then after 35...Nd7! 36.c4 Kd8 37.Rb5 R8g6 38.Rd5 Kc7 White still stands better, but Black's chances of holding are considerably improved.

33...Rxf5?

• Black not on fails to stay in the game, he misses the opportunity to get the better of it.
• 33...Ke8! 34.c5 Nd7 35.Rd5 c6!! then:
• 36.Rd6 Nxc5 37.Rxc6 Nxa4 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 36.Rxd7 Kxd7 37.cxb6 Rb8 leaves Black up by an exchange.

BLACK: Alexander Riazantsev
!""""""""#
$ + + Lt+%
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WHITE: Denis Khismatullin
Position after 33...Rg5f5:N

34.Rd8+!

• White now wins quickly.

34...Ne8

• 34...Ke7 35.Rxg8 Nxg8 36.exf5 Nf6 37.c5 bxc5 38.g4 give White, in addition to the material edge, either a passed pawn or an open file for his Rook.

35.exf5 Ke7 36.Rd5 Nd6

• If 36...Nf6 37.Rxe5+ then:
• 37...Kd6 38.Rb5 Rxg3 39.c5+ Kc6 40.cxb6 cxb6 41.Rc4+ leaves White a whole exchange to the good with a fierce attack on the Black King.
• 37...Kf8 38.Kf2 c5 39.Rh1 White shifts the attackl to the queenside.

37.Kf2 Kf6

• If 37...Nxf5 then 38.Rxh5 Nxg3 39.Rhxe5+ wins.

38.Rxh5 Nxc4 39.Rh6+ Kxf5

• If 39...Kg7 then 40.Rh4 Nd6 41.Rg4+ Kf8 42.Rxg8+ Kxg8 43.Rxe5 magnifies and increases White's material advantage.

40.g4+ Kg5 41.Rc6 1-0

• White wins a pawn.
• Grandmaster Riazantsev resigns.

[Captain Hilts]

15. LOVE that photograph of Red Square. It's at its best in the snow...

at night is best.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Bonus Game and Piano Duet: Unzicker - Taimanov, Stockholm, 1952 (Bruk & Taimanov play Rachmaninoff)

Mark Taimanov is one of the one hundred greatest chess masters of the twentieth century. He will perhaps be known to posterity as the last great opening theorist. Several variations bear his name, most notably his contributions to the Open Sicilian.

Mark Taimanov is also one of the one hundred greatest concert pianists of the twentieth century. In this respect, his name is associated with that of his late first wife, Lyubov Bruk. The couple formed a piano duet that specialized in Mozart, Chopin and Rachminoff, among other great piano composers. Known for their contrasting styles that melded togetherin an artistic whole, they spent a great deal of time touring eastern Europe during the Cold War era.

Taimanov is now 84 years old. He remarried late in life to a younger woman and by her fathered twins at the age of 75.



Mark Taimanov
Photo by stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons Copyright, Attribution/Share Alike)


Wolfgang Unzicker - Mark Taimanov
Interzonal Tournament, Round 8
Stockholm, September 1952

Open Sicilian Game: Boleslavsky Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 e5

• This is the Boleslavsky Defense, an ancestor of the Sveshnikov Defense.

7.Nf3

• If 7.Nb3 Be7 then:
• If 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.0-0 Be6 11.Nd5 Bg5 then:
• 12.Qd3 Ne7 13.c4 Rc8 14.Nd2 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bd7 16.Nc4 Qc7 is equal (Taimanov-Boleslavsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1949).
• If 12.Bg4 Qd7 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qg4 Bh6 15.Rad1 Qf7 16.Nc3 Rad8 is equal (Tabor-Minev, Asztalos Mem, Baja, 1971).
• If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 a5 then:
• 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Nc4 b5 12.Nxb5 Nxe4 13.f3 Rb8 14.fxe4 Rxb5 15.b3 Rb8 16.Qd2 d5 is equal (C. Berczes-C. Balogh, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2001.03).
• If 10.a4 Nb4 11.f4 Be6 then:
• 12.Bf3 exf4 13.Bxf4 Nxc2 14.Qxc2 Qb6+ 15.Qf2 Qxb3 16.Nb5 d5 gives Black the active game (A. Gara-Sandu, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 12.Nd2 exf4 13.Rxf4 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Nf3 Qc8 is equal (Grynfeld-Boleslavsky, IT, Warsaw, 1947).

7...h6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 0-0 10.h3 a6

• If 10...Be6 11.Bf1 Nb8 then:
• If 12.a4 Nbd7 13.a5 a6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bf5 16.c4 then:
• 16...Bg6 17.b4 Rc8 18.Bb2 e4 19.Nd2 f5 20.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space (Asrian-Yegiazarian, Op, Yerevan, 1996).
• 16...Re8 17.b4 e4 18.Nd4 Bg6 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Ra3 gives White the advantage in space (Beshukov-Aseev, Op, Helsinki, 1992).
• If 12.b3 a6 13.a4 Nbd7 14.Bb2 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.Nd2 Qc6 16.Nc4 Nc5 17.Qf3 b5 18.Na5 Qb6 19.axb5 axb5 20.b4 Na6 is equal (I. Smirin-Korotylev, Aeroflot Op, 2007).
• 14...Rc8 15.a5 Qc7 16.Nd2 Nc5 17.Nc4 Ncxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 d5 20.Bxe5 gives White the initiative (Kramnik-Grosar, IT, Sochi, 1989).

11.Bf1

• If 11.a4 Be6 then:
• 12.b3 Rc8 13.Ba3 Qa5 14.Qd2 Nd4 15.Bb2 Nxe2+ 16.Rxe2 Qc5 17.a5 Bd8 is equal (Broadbent-Unzicker, Staunton Mem, Birmingham, 1951).
• 12.Bf1 Qc7 13.b3 Nb4 14.Bb2 Rfd8 15.Qe2 Rac8 16.Rac1 Qc5 is equal (Jessel-Glek, Euro Club Dup, Kallithea, 2008).

11...b5

• If 11...Qc7 12.Be3 Na5 13.Qd2 Be6 14.b3 then:
• 14...b5 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne4 is equal (Narcisco-Dreev, IT, Barcelona, 2008).
• 14...Rac8 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Ne4 17.Qb4 Nc3 18.Bd2 is equal (Vasiukov-Kotronias, Op, Athens, 1989).

12.a3

• 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Na5 15.Bd2 Rb8 16.c3 b3 17.c4 gives White a slight edge in space (Taimanov-Ilivitsky, IT, Leningrad, 1948).

12...Bb7 13.b3 Rc8

• 13...Qc7 14.Bb2 Nb8 15.Nh4 g6 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.Bc1 Ng8 18.Nf3 Nd7 19.a4 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Popovic, ITZ, Subotica, 1987).

14.Bb2 Rc7!?

• 14...Nb8 15.Bd3 Nbd7 16.Nh2 Qc7 is equal (Jessel-Greenfeld, Irish Ch, Dublin, 2008).

15.Nb1

• The game is equal.

15...Qa8

• Black's plan is to use minor pieces in concert with the Queen to demolish White's center.

16.Nbd2

• White's idea is to reinforce his d-pawn and keep it in place as long as possible.

16...Nd8 17.Bd3 Ne6 18.Rc1

• If 18.c3 Rfc8 19.Bc2 a5 20.Qe2 then:
• 20...Qa6 21.a4 b4 22.Qxa6 Bxa6 23.c4 remains equal.
• 20...a4 21.bxa4 bxa4 22.Rab1 Ba6 remains equal.

18...Rfc8 19.Nh2?

• White embarks on a time-consuming redelpoyment of the King's Knight.
• If 19.c4 Nc5 20.Qe2 bxc4 then:
• 21.bxc4 Bc6 22.Bc2 Rb7 23.Bc3 Be8 remains equal.
• 21.Rxc4 Nxd3 22.Qxd3 Rxc4 23.bxc4 Nd7 24.Nb3 a5 ties White down to the defense of the weak c-pawn.

BLACK: Mark Taimanov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wolfgang Unzicker
Position after 19.Nf2h2

19...Nd7!

• Black stakes his game on the queenside.

20.Nhf1 Ndc5 21.Ng3

• The keystone of White's position is his e-pawn. As long as he can maintain it, he is in little danger of losing the the game. His last move is disigned to overprotect the pawn.
• 21.b4?! Na4 22.Ba1 Nf4! 23.Qf3 Bg5 then:
• If 24.Rcd1 then:
• 24...Nc3 25.Bxc3 Rxc3 26.Nb1 R3c7 leaves Black targeting Black's backward c-pawn.
• 24...Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Be7 26.Rc1 Nc3 Black threatens 27...d5!, crushing White's center.
• 24.c4? Nb6 25.c5 Nd7 26.Bb1 dxc5 27.bxc5 Qa7 gangs up on White's weak c-pawn.

21...g6

• Black now threatens White's center with ...f4, although he may need to make some prophylactic moves to defend his King first.

22.Ne2 Bg5 23.Nc3

• If 23.f3 Nxd3 24.cxd3 then 24...Qa7+! gives Black use of the a7/g1 diagonal for attack, for example, 25.Kh1 Rxc1 26.Bxc1 Qf2.

23...Nd4 24.Ncb1

• White removes a guard from the e-pawn, making Black's task of demolishing White's center easy.
• If 24.b4 Nxd3 25.cxd3 a5 26.Rf1 then:
• 26...Kh7 27.Ne2 Nxe2+ 28.Qxe2 Rc2! assures Black of getting play on White's pawn rank.
• If 26...d5 27.Re1 then:
• 27...dxe4! 28.dxe4 Rd8 29.Nd5 Rxc1 30.Bxc1 axb4 31.axb4 Qa4 gives White a winning position.
• 27...Bxd2!? 28.Qxd2 Nb3 29.Qxh6! d4 gives White counterplay.

BLACK: Mark Taimanov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wolfgang Unzicker
Position after 24.Nc3b1

24...d5!

• There goes White's center. His whole position crumbles around it.

25.exd5

• 25.b4 dxe4 26.bxc5 exd3 27.Bxd4 dxc2 28.Rxc2 exd4 wins a pawn for Black and gives him open lines to g2 and c5 so that he is bound to win another.

25...Nxd3 26.cxd3 Rxc1 27.Bxc1 Bxd5 28.f3

• 28.h4 Bxd2 29.Nxd2 Bxg2 30.Bb2 Bf3 wins for Black. If the Queen moves to safety then 31...Bh1 threatens mate; if 31.Nxf3 then 31...Nxf3+ wins the exchange and, after 32.Kf1 Nxe1 33.Kxe1 Qh1+, another pawn.

28...Rc2 29.a4 b4 30.Kh1 Qc6 0-1

• Black's threats include 31...Bf4, 31...Nf5 and, if White moves the Knight from d2, 31...Rxc1.
• Herr Unzicker resigns.

Click on the album cover to hear Bruk and Taimanov perform
the Suite for Two Pianos by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Album cover from Amazon.com

[madinmaryland]

11. Merry Christmas, Jack!

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Magnus Carlsen Interview in Time Magazine

From Time Magazine
Issue of December 28, 2009
Posted Online Friday, December 25

Magnus Carlsen: The 19-Year-Old King of Chess
By Eban Harrell



At age 13, he was the third youngest grandmaster in history. A few years later, he was already beating the world’s top players. And on Jan. 1, 19-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway will officially become the youngest person in history to earn chess's No. 1 ranking. TIME caught up with the grandmaster at a tournament in London to probe the mind of a chess genius.

Read more at the link.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Tuesday morning): Grischuk and Galliamova win Russian Championships

Alexander Grischuk and Alisa Galliamova are the new Russian national and women's champions as a result of the tournament completed earlier today in Moscow.

Alexander Igorovich took the national title with 6½ points in nine rounds (four victories and five draws). Peter Svidler, last year's champion, finished second a half-point behind.

Alisa Mikhailovna won six and drew three in nine rounds for a total of 7½ points to win the women's title. Nadezhda Kosintseva, who won the event last year, finished with 7 points and Nadezhda Alexeyevna's sister, Tatiana Kostintseva, the reigning European women's champion and a newly installed grandmaster, finished a distant third with 5½ points.

On a more somber note, Natalia Pogonina, who gave birth to a baby boy last month, had to forfeit her last two games after being hospitalized with a fever Sunday night. There is no further word on her condition, but let's hope all is well.

Websites for New Year's Tournaments

Rilton Cup, Stockholm. After three rounds, Lithuanian GM Eduardas Rozenthalis leads with a perfect score.

Hastings Chess Congress. Second round in progress at this moment.

Reggio Emilia. Second round in progress.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Update 2 (Tuesday)

With no less a source than Natalia Pogonina's Twitter account bearing the news, my staff and I are pleased to note that Natalia Andreevna is home resting today.


Photo by Otdanon in Wikipedia (Public Domain)