Th JR Chess Report (March 21): Nepo, Pia win Euro Championships; Chuckie leads Amber Rapid/Blind

[Jack Rabbit]

Nepo, Pia new European champions



Nineteen-year-old Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Pia Cramling of Sweden, who was a major force in women's chess before Nepomniachtchi was born, are the winners of the general and women's group respectively, both scoring 9 points out of a possible 11, in the 11th annual European Championships in the Croatian port city of Rijeka.

Ian Alexandrovich, or "Nepo," as his fans call him, defeated veteran Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian in Wednesday's 11th and final round to cinch the title. Nepo took the lead in the ninth round when he took down Georgian GM Baadur Jobava, who was in sole possession of first place at the time.

Ian Alexandrovich takes home his first European championship. Jobava finished second and Russian GM Artyom Timofeev took third.

Pia entered the day a half point behind Lithuanian IM Vikotrija Cmilyte, who had held the lead since the ninth round when she defeated Poland's Monika Socko, who had held the lead since the early rounds. Pia defeated Ms. Cmilyte today in 74 moves in a game puctuated with errors due to mutual time trouble, which was often quite severe for Ms. Cmilyte.

This is Pia's second European women's championship. She also won the 2003 title in Istanbul. For Ms. Cmilyte, it is the third time she has finished second. Mrs. Socko took third prize.


Chuckie leads Amber Rapid/Blind



Ukranian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk leads the 19th annual Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament in the city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France with 11 points after 8 rounds.

Each round consists of two games: on played "blindfold", in which the players only see a computer screen displaying only an empty chess board and the opponent's last move, and the other a rapid game at a rate of 25 minutes with increments of 10 seconds a move for the entire game.

"Chuckie," as his many fans affectionately refer to him, drew both his games against Cuban grandmaster Leinier Domínguez today. He got off to a good start on Wednesday by taking both games from the world's top-rated player, 19-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Ivanchuk also celbrated his 41st birthday Thursday by taking a point and a half from Dutch GM Jan Smeets in the fifth round.

Magnus bounced back from his opening round setback by winning seven games in a row. Although he has only scored one point in the last two round, he is holding on to second place with former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and Israeli GM Boris Gelfand tied for third.

Breaking down the two parts of the tournament, reining Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk leads the blindfold competition with 6 points (+4 -0 =4) while Ivanchuk leads in the rapid competition, also with 6 points (+4 -0 =4).

Tomorrow is a rest day for the players. The 11-round event, one of the most unique in chess, runs through Thursday.

19th Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament
Standings after 8 Rounds

. . . . . . . . . . . .---- Blindfold ---- ---- Rapid ----- .Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .+ . - . =. . . . .+ . - . = . . .Points
Vassily Ivanchuk. . . . . .2 . 0 . 6. . . . .4 . 0 . 4 . . . . 11.
Magnus Carlsen. . . . . . .5 . 3 . 0. . . . .4 . 2 . 2 . . . . 10.
Vladimir Kramnik. . . . . .4 . 3 . 1. . . . 4 . 2 . 1 . . . . .9½
Boris Gelfand . . . . . . .3 . 2 . 3. . . . .4 . 2 . 1 . . . . .9½
Sergey Karjakin . . . . . .4 . 3 . 1. . . . .3 . 2 . 3 . . . . .9.
Alexander Grischuk. . . . .4 . 0 . 4. . . . .1 . 3 . 4 . . . . .9.
Vugar Gashimov. . . . . . .2 . 2 . 4. . . . .3 . 2 . 3 . . . . .8½
Peter Svidler . . . . . . .3 . 3 . 2. . . . .3 . 2 . 3 . . . . .8½
Levon Aronian . . . . . . .2 . 4 . 2. . . . .3 . 3 . 1 . . . . .7.
Ruslan Ponomariov . . . . .1 . 3 . 4. . . . .2 . 3 . 3 . . . . .6½
Jan Smeets. . . . . . . . .1 . 3 . 4. . . . .0 . 6 . 2 . . . . .4.
Leinier Domínguez . . . . .0 . 5 . 3. . . . .0 . 4 . 4 . . . . .3½


Baden Baden holds narrow lead after 13 rounds in Bundesliga



The mighty team from Baden Baden continues to hold a narrow lead in the standings over Solingen by virtue of accumulating more individual points after a weekend of play in the Bundesliga, the German team chess league.

Both Baden Baden and Solingen have 24 match points, but Baden Baden has 76 individual points to Solingen's 66.

Baden Baden won both its matches in Emsdetten this weekend, defeating the home team in Round 12 on Saturday and taking down Wattenscheid in today's 13th round.

Solingen spent the weekend in Berlin at the König Tegel chess club and also went two-for-two, crushing the hapless König Tegel team yesterday and the team from the Berlin Chess Federation today.

Bremen began the weekend in a three-way tie for first place based only on match points, but fell out when the team could only draw a match against fourth-place Mülheim yesterday afternoon in Katernberg. In today's action, Bremen destroyed Katernberg, 7½-½.

Bundesliga 2009-10 Season
Standings after 13 Rounds

. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Match. . Ind
. . . . . . . . .+ . . . - . . . = . . .Pts . . Pts
Baden-Baden. . .12 . . . 1 . . . 0 . . .24. . . 76.
Solingen . . . .12 . . . 1 . . . 0 . . .24. . . 66.
Bremen . . . . .10 . . . 0 . . . 3 . . .23. . . 67½
Mülheim. . . . . 8 . . . 1 . . . 4 . . .20. . . 63½
Wattenscheid . . 7 . . . 4 . . . 2 . . .16. . . 55½
Hamburg. . . . . 7 . . . 5 . . . 1 . . .15. . . 57.
Remagen. . . . . 7 . . . 5 . . . 1 . . .15. . . 56½
Eppingen . . . . 6 . . . 5 . . . 2 . . .14. . . 55½
Emsdetten. . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 0 . . .12. . . 53½
Trier. . . . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 0 . . .12. . . 50½
Katernberg . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 0 . . .12. . . 45½
Berlin . . . . . 2 . . . 8 . . . 3 . . . 7. . . 46½
Munich . . . . . 1 . . . 9 . . . 3 . . . 5. . . 41.
Heidelberg . . . 0 . . . 8 . . . 5 . . . 5. . . 35.
König Tegel. . . 0 . . .11 . . . 2 . . . 2. . . 32½
Erfurt . . . . . 0 . . .11 . . . 2 . . . 2. . . 30.

The next and final rounds will be played April 10 and 11 when Baden Baden will host Mülheim and Katernberg, Bremen will host Solingen on Saturday, April 10 in what will be a do-or-die match for both teams and play against Ramagen on Sunday while Solingen's other match in Bremen will be against Hamburg.

Calendar

Philadelphia Open 31 March-4 April. This replaces the Foxwoods Open after the Foxwoods Resort announced expected room rate hikes.

Russian Team Championships, Dagomys 1-12 April.

Bundesliga 0910, Rounds 14-15 (season finale), Erfurt, Eppingen, Bremen, Baden Baden. 10-11 April.

Women's Grand Prix, Nalchik 23 April-6 May.

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

Bosna 2010, Sarajevo 5-14 May.

Grand Prix, Astrakhan (Russia) 9-25 May.

US Championship, St. Louis 13-25 May.

Chicago Open 27-31 May.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

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

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be 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. European Championships, Rijeka

Rijeka
Photo by László Szalai, Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Nepomniatchi - Jobava, Round 9

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Photo by Stefan64, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Ian Nepomniachtchi - Baadur Jobava
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 9
Rijeka, 15 March 2010

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Fantasy Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.a4!?

• This is a novelty.
• For 4.Nc3 and other notes, see Timofeev - Jobava, Euro Ch Rd 6, Rijeka, 2010.

4...e5

• A premature thrust on the flank should be met by a thrust in the center, if that is what GM Jobava has in mind here. However, with only one piece on the entire board developed, my staff and I have decided that this is not the time to make a judgment as to who stands better.

5.dxe5 dxe4 6.a5 Qc7 7.f4

• Petrosian is on steroids. White is yet to develop a piece, yet he can be said to have the advantage in space. He is preventing Black from doing what one is supposed to do at this stage of the game: develop his pieces to good squares.

7...Nh6

• This isn't a very good developing move. See previous remark.

8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bd2 e3!

• Black can play at this, too. He sacrifices a pawn in order to disrupt White's development.

10.Bxe3 0-0 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Bd3 Na6

• It would be fair to say that White has the advantage in space.
• 12...Bxa5 13.Bd2 Bf5 14.Ne4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxd2+ 16.Nxd2 is equal.
• If 12...Bxc3+!? 13.bxc3 then:
• If 13...Rd5 14.0-0 Ng4 15.Qe1 Rxa5 16.Rxa5 Qxa5 17.Bd4 gives White more space and more active pieces.
• 13...Nf5 14.Bf2 Rd5 15.Nd4 Nh6 16.Qf3 Rxa5 17.0-0 gives White better development and more space. Black should exchange on a1 and fight for space on the queenside.

13.Qe2 Bxa5 14.0-0 Nb4 15.Be4 Bf5 16.Kh1 Bb6

• If 16...Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Nd5 then:
• 18.c4! Ne7 19.Ra4 Nhf5 20.b4 White retains the advantage in space. Black's Bishop is nearly trapped.
• 18.Bc1 Nf5 19.c4 Nde7 20.e6 f6 21.b3 c5 is equal.

17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Ng5!?

• White should eliminate the Bishop to break dow Black's defnese before making this move.
• If 18.Bxf5! Nxf5 19.e6 then:
• 19...Nh6 20.Rae1 Qc5 21.e7 Re8 22.Ne4 Qxc2 23.Nd6 maintains White's advantage in space.
• If 19...Qe3!? 20.exf7+ Kxf7 21.Qc4+! Nd5 22.Rae1 then:
• If 22...Qb6 23.Ng5+ then:
• If 23...Kg8 24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Qxd5+ then:
• If 26...Re6 27.Qxf5 Rae8 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.f5 then:
• 29...Rh6 30.Ne6+ Rexe6 31.fxe6+ Ke8 32.Qg8+ Ke7 33.Qxg7+ wins a piece for White.
• 29...Qa6 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Qxg7+ Kd8 32.Nxe6+ leaves Whie a piece to the good.
• 26...Kh8 27.Nf7+ Kg8 28.Nh6+ Kh8 29.Qg8+ Rxg8 30.Nf7#.
• If 23...Kf8 then White wins after 24.Qe4 g6 25.Qe6 Qc7 26.Nxd5 cxd5 27.g4.
• 22...b5 23.Ng5+ Kg8 24.Nxd5 bxc4 25.Nxe3 Nxe3 26.Rxe3 gives White an extra piece.

18...c5!?

• Black fails to find the refutation.
• 18...Qc5 19.Rad1 Qe7 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 21.Qe4 g6 22.Rfe1 is equal.

19.Rae1!

• White sets up to attack on the kingside.
• If 19.Rfe1 then:
• 19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 g6 21.Qc4 Rd4 22.Qe2 Rxf4 remains equal.
• 19...a6? 20.Na4! Qg6 21.Nxc5 Bxe4 22.Ngxe4 b6 23.Nb7 gives White an extra pawn and a powerful initiative.

19...Qg6?!

• Black sacrifices a pawn in order to bring the Queen to aid the defense of the kingside.
• If 19...Rac8!? 20.Na4 then:
• If 20...Qa6 21.Qxa6 bxa6 22.Rf2 Rd4 23.Nc3 gives White a solid center and Black's queenside pawns as targets.
• If 20...Qa5? then:
• 21.Bxf5! Nxf5 22.Qe4 g6 23.e6 Rf8 24.exf7+ gives White a powerful initiative.
• White needn't protect the Knight and gets more out of just attacking; if21.b3 Rc7 22.e6 Bxe6 23.Bxh7+ then:
• 23...Kh8 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bg6 leaves Black's kingside in tatters, but Black has counterplay on the queenside.
• 23...Kf8!? 24.Nxe6+ fxe6 25.Qxe6 Nd5 26.Qe2 gives White an extra pawn.

20.Bxb7 Nxc2!?

• Black takes back the pawn and attacks a White Rook, but his own Rook remains en prise. In the long run, it would be simpler for to get his Rook out od danger first.
• 20...Rab8 21.Be4 Nc6 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.b3 Rd4 24.Ra1 White remains up by a pawn.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 20...Nb4c2:p

21.Nd5!

• White threatens 22.Ne7+!, forking Black's Queen.

21...Rxd5

• Black is forced to give up the exchange to save his Queen.

22.Bxd5 Bd3

• If 22...Rb8 23.Rd1 Bg4 24.Nf3 Nf5 25.e6 Nce3 then 26.exf7+! is a crushing blow.

23.Qf3 Re8

• 23...Rb8 24.e6!! Bxf1 25.exf7+ Kh8 26.Rxf1 Nb4 27.Bc4 leaves White up by a pawn with a strong kingside initiative.

24.e6!?

• White returns the exchange, but this is not necessary.
• 24.Rc1 Bxf1 25.Be4 Nd4 26.Bxg6 Nxf3 27.Bxh7+ Kh8 28.gxf3 leaves White up by a pawn.

24...Nxe1 25.Rxe1 fxe6?

• A better defnese is 25...Kh8 26.Bc6 Re7 27.Qd5 fxe6 28.Qxc5 Ng8 29.b4, but White still has a strong attack.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
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WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 25...fe6:p

26.Rxe6!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

26...Kh8

• If 26...Rxe6 27.Bxe6+ Kf8 then:
• 28.Qd5! Qf6 29.Qa8+ Ke7 30.Qxa7+ Kf8 31.Qb8+ wins as Black must either submit to mate or lose a great deal of material.
• Also good is 28.Qa8+! Qe8 29.Qxa7 Ng8 30.Qxc5+ Ne7 31.Qd6, winning.

27.h3 Rxe6 28.Bxe6 Bb5

• The text is made in order to meet 29.Qa8+ with 29...Be8, which merely postposes the inevitable.

29.f5 Qe8 30.f6 Qf8 31.f7 1-0

• There is no way out for Black. White is threatening 32.Qe4 g6 33.Qe5+ with mate to follow soon.
• Grandmaster Jobava resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Khurtsidze - Cramling, Round 9

Pia Cramling lost her fifth round game to Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant. In order to win the gold medal in Rijeka, she took 5½ points out of her next six games.



Pia Cramling
Photo: ChessBase.com


Nini Khurtsidze - Pia Cramling
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 9
Rijeka, 15 March 2010

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3

• If 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 then:
• 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Qb3 Qc7 8.Bd2 Nc6 transposes into the text.
• For 6.Nh4 and other common moves up to here, see Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

3...Bf5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 Qc7 6.Nc3

• 6.Bb5+ Nd7 7.Bd2 e6 8.Nf3 then:
• If 8...Ne7 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.Nc3 Be7 then:
• 12.Na4 0-0 13.a3 Qb8 14.Bxc6 Rxc6 is equal (Jussupow-Ivanchuk, IT, Dortmund, 1997).
• 12.Ne2 0-0 13.Bb4 Bxb4 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Qxb4 Qb6 16.Qa3 is equal (Summerscale-Gordon, British Ch, Torquay, 2009).
• 8...Ngf6 9.0-0 a6 10.Rc1 Qb6 11.Be2 Bd6 12.Nc3 h6 13.Na4 Qxb3 14.axb3 Ne4 is equal (Tkachiv-Wang Hao, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

6...e6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bd2 Nf6 9.Ne5

• If 9.Rc1 Be7 10.Bb5 0-0 11.0-0 Rfc8 then:
• 12.Ne5 Nd7 13.f4 Ndxe5 14.fxe5 Bg6 is equal (Kovacevic-Dizdarevic, IT, Salin (Croatia), 2005).
• 12.Ne2 Ne4 13.Ng3 Nxd2 14.Nxd2 Bg6 is equal (K. Grigorian-Beliavsky, IT, Baku, 1980).

9...Nd7

• 9...Be7 10.Nb5 Qb6 11.a4 0-0 12.a5 Qd8 13.a6 Qb6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 is equal (Kozul-M. Gurevich, ITZ, Biel, 1993).

10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Na4 Bd6!?

• 11...Qc7 12.Rc1 Bd6 13.Nc5 Bxc5 14.Rxc5 0-0 15.Be2 Rfc8 16.0-0 Qd7 gives White a small edge in space (Kempinski-Collins, Ol, Torino, 2006).

12.Rc1

• The game is equal.

12...Rb8 13.Nc5 Qe7 14.Bb5 0-0 15.0-0 Rfc8 16.Qa4 e5 17.Nxb7

• If 17.Rfd1 exd4 18.Nxb7 Rxb7 19.Bxc6 Rbc7 then:
• 20.Ba5 Bxh2+ 21.Kxh2 Qd6+ 22.Kg1 Rxc6 remains equal.
• If 20.exd4 Qe2 21.Bb5 Qh5 22.h3 then:
• 22...Bxh3 23.Rxc7 Rxc7 24.gxh3 Qxh3 25.f4 Qg3+ 26.Kf1 Qf3+ 27.Kg1 Qg3+ etc. draws.
• 22...Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 24.Bxc1 f6 25.Bf1 gives White an extra pawn.

17...Qxb7 18.Bxc6 Qxb2 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.f4 Qe4

• The game is perfectly level.

21.Qxa7 Rb2 22.Rf2 Qd3 23.Qd4?

• White plays to win the exchange.
• 23.Qa5 Be4 24.h3 Bf8 25.Kh2 Qa3 26.Kg3 Rxa2 gives Black the advantage in space.

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Nino Khurtsidze
Position after 23.Qa7d4

23...Qxd4!!

• Black says "Go ahead and take it."
• Also good is 23...Ba3 24.Qxd5 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Qxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxc1 when Black has a piece for two pawns.

24.exd4 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Bxf4!

• White has won the exchange, but Black skewers a Rook, assuring her that she will take back the exchange.

26.Rf2 Bxc1 27.Rxf5 Rxc6

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Nino Khurtsidze
Position after 27...Rc8c6:B

• The net result is that Black has won a piece. The rest requires no comment.

28.Rxd5 Kf8 29.Kf1 Rc2 30.Ra5 Be3 31.d5 Ke7 32.Ra4 Kd6 0-1

• White cannot recover her lost piece.
• Ms. Khurtsidze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Jobava - Almasi, Round 8

Baadur Jobava
Photo: ChessBase.com


Baadur Jobava - Zoltan Almasi
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 8
Rijeka, 13 March 2010

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bd2

• For moves up to here and the more common 7.Qc2 and 7.e3, see Chiburdanidze-Maric, OlW, Dresden, 2008.

7...Nd7 8.Qc2

• 8.Nxd5 exd5 9.g3 Bd6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Rc1 c5 13.Bh3 0-0 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.Rxc5 gives White the advantage in space (Akopian-J. Polgar, IT, Mérida (Mexico), 2000).

8...c5

• If 8...Be7 9.e4 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 0-0 then:
• 11.Rd1 Qc8 12.Bd3 Rd8 13.0-0 c5 14.d5 c4 15.Be2 exd5 16.exd5 Bf6 17.Nd4 Bxd5 18.Nf5 Be6 19.Bxf6 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Nxf6 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Bxc4 is equal (Miles-Polugaevsky, It, Biel, 1990).
• 11.0-0-0 Qc8 12.h4 Rd8 13.Rh3 Nf8 14.h5 c5 15.Rg3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Bf6 17.Nb5 Rxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Qc5 gives Black the initiative (Piket-Karpov, Match, Monte Carlo, 1999).

9.Nxd5

• 9.e4 N5f6 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Bd6 13.Bb5 0-0 14.0-0 is equal (Jobava-Z. Almasi, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

9...exd5

• If 9...Bxd5 10.e4 Bb7 then:
• If 11.Bc3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 a6 13.g3 then:
• 13...Rc8 14.Bg2 Bc5 15.Qe2 0-0 16.0-0 Qc7 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 is equal (Mikalchishin-Schandorff, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 13...Qc7 14.Bg2 Bc5 15.Rc1 0-0 16.0-0 Rac8 17.Nb3 Be7 is equal (Akopian-Ehlvest, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• 11.d5 exd5 12.exd5 Bd6 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.Bb5 h6 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Qe4 Bf4+ is equal (R. Pert-Kjartansson, Op 0506, Hastings, 2005).

10.dxc5 Bxc5!?

• If 10...bxc5 11.e3 Be7 12.Bd3 g6 13.h4 Qb6 14.h5 Bf6 then:
• 15.Kf1 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Qxa6+ 17.Kg1 0-0 18.Rd1 Rab8 is equal (Piket-Karpov, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Rxh8+ Bxh8 17.Bc3 Bf6 is equal (Bocharov-Sadvakasov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

11.e3

• The game is equal.

11...0-0 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.0-0 Ne4 14.Bb4

• 14.b4 Bd6 15.Qb2 Qe7 16.Rfd1 Rfc8 17.Rac1 a5 remains equal.

14...Qe7 15.Bxc5 bxc5 16.b4!?

• White opens the queenside, but really has no justificatin to do so.
• 16.b3 Rac8 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Rac1 f5 remains equal.

16...cxb4! 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.Rfb1 Qe7 19.Nd4 g6!?

• Black seems to be worried about the "threat" of 20.f3, when the Knight moves and unblocks diagonal to the h-pawn. As we see here, this is no threat at all.
• If 19...Rfd8 then:
• 20.Rb5 a6 21.Rb6 Rd7 22.Rc1 a5 the a-pawn, weak as it is, is still a passed pawn that tips the balance in Black's favor.
• 20.f3?! Ng5 21.h4 Qxe3+ 22.Qf2 Qxd3 23.Rxb7 Ne6 leaves Black up by two pawns.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Baadur Jobava
Position after 19...g7g6

20.Bxe4!?

• White fails to find the best move and Black remains better.
• 20.Rb2 Rfc8 21.Qb1 Nc5 22.Bc2 Ba6 23.Qd1 Bc4 is equal; Black has an extra pawn, but two of his pawns are weak.

20...dxe4 21.Qb3

• 21.Rb2 Rfd8 22.Rab1 Rd7 23.Qa4 a6 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

21...Rfc8 22.h4 Rc7 23.h5 Qg5 24.Qd1 a6 25.Rb6

• If 25.hxg6 then after 25...Qxg6 26.Rb2 Rd8 27.Rab1 Rdd7 Black retains the extra pawn.

25...Bc8!?

• The h-pawn isn't poisoned and should be taken; Black removes protection from his e-pawn.
• 25...Qxh5! 26.Qxh5 gxh5 27.Ra5 h4 28.Kh2 Rac8leaves Black temporarily up by two pawns, but the lead h-pawn is indefensible.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
$t+v+ +l+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Baadur Jobava
Position after 25...Bb7c8

26.Qb1!

• White is almost ready to recover his pawn.

26...Bf5!?

• If 26...Qe5! 27.hxg6 hxg6 then:
• 28.Qe1 Rc5 29.Rc1 a5 30.Rxc5 Qxc5 31.Qb1 Black retains the extra pawn.
• 28.Qa2 Qg5 29.Qb1 Qd5 30.Qd1 Bb7 31.Rab1 Rac8 leaves Black with the extra pawn.

27.h6 Rac8 28.Nxf5 gxf5 29.Qb2

• 29.Rbxa6 f4 30.Ra8 fxe3 31.Qxe4 exf2+ 32.Kxf2 Qf6+ is equal.

29...Rd8 30.Rbxa6 Rcd7 31.g3 Qg4 32.Qf6 Rd1+ 33.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 34.Kh2 Qh5+ 35.Qh4

• If 35.Kg2 then after 35...Qf3+ 36.Kh2 Qh5+ White either intervenes the Queen as in the text or submits to a draw by repetition.
• 35.Kg1?? loses immediately 35...Rd1+! 36.Kg2 Qh1#.

35...Qxh4+

• 36.Qg5+ Kf8 37.Ra7! wisn immediately for White.

36.gxh4 f4?!

• Black sacrifices a pawn hoping to weaken White reamining pawn (which it does) and strengthen his own (which it does not).
• If 36...Kf8 37.Kg3 then:
• 37...Re8 38.Kf4 Re6 39.Ra8+ Ke7 40.Ra5 Rxh6 41.Kg5 White will recover the pawn and have more freedom for his Rook.
• 37...Ke7 38.Ra5 Rd6 39.Rxf5 Kf8 40.Rf4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Baadur Jobava
Position after 36...f5f4

37.exf4!

• Although it weakens his pawns, White has nothing better than to accept the gambit.

37...Kf8

• In spite of his pawn weaknesses, White is stronger. Black's Rook cannot immediately exploit White's weaknesses, so White ha simply gained a pawn.
• 37...f5 38.h5 Rd3 39.Ra8+ Kf7 40.Ra7+ Kf6 41.Rxh7 gives White two extra pawns.

38.Kg3 Ke7

• 38...Rd5 39.Kg4 Ke7 40.Ra4 Kd6 41.f5 Ke5 42.Ra7 gives White the extra pawn and the more active Rook.

39.f5 Rd3+?

• Black needs to find a way to keep the White King out of the action. This move only allows him in.
• Better is 39...Rd6 40.Ra4 Rxh6 41.Rxe4+ Kf6 42.Kg4 Kg7 43.Rd4 when Black still has chances to blockade all of White's pawns.

40.Kf4!

• The King moves into combat.

40...Rf3+ 41.Ke5 Rxf2

• 41...Rb3 42.Ra7+ Kf8 43.Ra8+ Ke7 44.f6+ Kd7 45.Rf8 wins a second pawn for White.

42.Ra7+ Ke8 43.Kf6 Kd8

• 43...Rf4 44.h5 Kd8 45.Ke5 Rf1 46.Kxe4 Ke8 47.Ke5 wins for White.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Baadur Jobava
Position after 43...Ke8d8

44.Ra4!

• White would only waste time taking the f-pawn; the e-pawn is the source of any potential counterplay Black has.

44...e3 45.Re4 e2 46.Kg7 Rxf5

• White's advantage is now clear. His pawns are more advanced and his King is prepared to knock out the impediments to their further progress.46...Kd7 47.f6 Kd6 48.Kxf7 Rg2 49.Re7 Kd5 50.Kf8 wins for White.

47.Rxe2 Rf4 48.Kxh7 Rg4 49.Re5 f6 50.Re6 Kd7

• 50...Rg1 51.Rxf6 Ke7 52.Rg6 Rf1 53.Kg7 Rf7+ 54.Kh8 is a win for White.

51.Rxf6 Ke7 52.Rf5 Rxh4 53.Kg6 1-0

• 53...Rh1 54.h7 Ke6 55.Rh5 leaves Black no way to stop the pawn.
• If 53...Rg4+ 54.Kh5 Rg8 55.h7 then:
• 55...Rh8 56.Kg6 Ke6 57.Rh5 Ke7 58.Kg7 Black must either allow the pawn to queen or lose the Rook.
• If 55...Rd8 then after 56.Kg6 Ke6 57.Rh5 Rh8 58.Kg7 the Rook must give way and the pawn queens.
• Grandmaster Almasi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Socko - Cmilyte, Round 9

Viktorija Cmilyte took over sole posession of first place from Monika Socko, who had held it from the early rounds, with this victory. She held it until defeated by Pia Cramling in the final round.

It is the third time that Ms. Cmilyte has finished in second place in the European women's championship.



Viktorija Cmilyte
Photo: ChessBase.com


Monika Socko - Viktorija Cmilyte
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 9
Rijeka, 15 March 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Calabrian Defense (Schliemann Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5

• This is the Schliemann Defense, known in our catalog of openings as the Calabrian Defense. Calabria is the name for the toe of the boot of Italy, the home of the seventeenth century master Gioachino Greco, for whom the Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5) was originally named.
• This opening isn't seen too often, but Black will reach a playable game from it, although probably at a disadvantage.

4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Bxc6

• If 7.Qd3 d6 8.Qc4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Nd4 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 then:
• If 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.a4 a6 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 0-0-0 17.Rf2 Rdf8 18.Raf1 then:
• If 18...Qe7 19.Qe4 g6 is equal (Carlsen-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2008).
• If 18...Rxf2 19.Rxf2 Kb8 20.b3 is equal (Topalov-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2008).
• If 13.Nxe5 Qf5 14.Nd3 0-0-0 15.a4 Rhe8 16.Kh1 g5 17.Be3 Nf3 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Rfd1 gives Whiute an extra pawn (Mamedyarov-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

7...bxc6 8.Nxe5 0-0 9.Bg5

• 9.Nd3 Nxe4 10.Nxc5 Nxc5 11.Be3 Ne6 12.Nd2 c5 13.Nb3 Bb7 14.Na5 Be4 remains equal (Saltaev-Breder, Bundesliga 0506, Köln, 2006).

9...Qe8 10.Bxf6 Rxf6 11.Nd3 Bd4 12.c3

• If 12.Nd2 then:
• 12...Ba6 13.Rb1 d6 14.c4 c5 15.b4 Qf7 16.Kh1 is equal (Anand-Radjabov, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008).
• 12...d6 13.Qe2 Qg6 14.Kh1 Ba6 15.Rab1 Raf8 16.f3 Qg5 17.Rfd1 draw (Spassky-Antunes, Ol, Thessoloniki, 1988).

12...Bb6 13.Nd2 d5!?

• 13...d6 14.c4 Qg6 15.Kh1 Bg4 16.f3 gives White an extra pawn (Macieja-Radjabov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).

14.e5 Rf8 15.Kh1 Qg6 16.Nb3 Ba6 17.Nbc1 Rf5 18.Qd2

• 18.f4! Qh6 19.Qf3 Raf8 20.Re1 Qe6 21.a4 leaves Black nothing for the pawn.

18...Raf8 19.a4?

• The danger to White is on the kingside.
• Correct is 19.f4 Qh6 20.Re1 Rh5 21.g4 Rh3 22.e6 gives Black the advantage in space, but White has time to seek counterplay.

19...Rh5!

• Black increases the pressure on White's King.

20.Re1

• Again, White neglects the building attack on the kingside, but it already may be too late to do anything about it.
• If 20.Rg1 Qe4 21.f4 Rh3 22.Re1 Be3 23.e6 Rxf4 gives Black an overwhelming attack.

20...Rff5 21.h3

• If 21.g3 then after 21...Bxf2 22.Nxf2 Qxg3 23.Nfd3 Rfg5 24.Rf1 Qg4! Black threatens mate in two starting with 25...Qe4+.

21...Rf3!

• Black makes White an offer he cannot accept.
• If 21...Qg4 22.Re3 Bxe3 23.Qxe3 Qd1+ then:
• 24.Kh2 Bxd3 25.Qxd3 Qe1 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Nxe2 Rxf2 leaves Black a full exchange to the good.
• 24.Qe1 Qxe1+ 25.Nxe1 Rxf2 26.Kh2 Rxb2 leaves Black with a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.

22.Nf4

• If 22.Qf4 Rhxh3+! 23.gxh3 Rxh3+! wins the White Queen.
• If 22.gxf3?? then 22...Rxh3#.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 22.Nd3f4

22...Qh6!!

• The sham sacrifice of the Rook percipitates a series of exchanges that leaves Black with a won game and sole possession of first place.
• Also good is 22...Qg5 23.gxf3 Rxh3+ 24.Nxh3 Qxd2 25.Nb3 Qxb2 when Black has a clear win.

23.gxf3 Rxh3+ 24.Nxh3 Qxh3+ 25.Kg1 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Bxf2!

• Black is threatening mate with the Queen on h3.

27.Qxf2 Qxf2 28.Nb3 Qxf3+ 29.Kg1

• No better is 29.Kh2 Qf2+ 30.Kh1 Bd3 31.e6 Be4+ 32.Rxe4 dxe4.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 29.Kh1g1

29...Be2!

• There is no way for White to prevent th coming crushing maneuvers.

30.Nd4 Qg3+ 31.Kh1 Bd3 32.e6 Be4+!

• Black wins the exchange.

33.Rxe4

• Forced.

33...dxe4 34.Rf1 Qh4+

• If 34...c5 35.Nf5 Qh3+ 36.Kg1 Qg4+ then:
• 37.Kh2 Qh5+ 38.Kg2 Qg6+ 39.Ng3 Qxe6 40.Re1 e3 gives Black a material edge equivalent to four pawns.
• 37.Kf2 Qxf5+ 38.Ke2 Qxe6 leaves Black with a prohibitive material advantage.

35.Kg2 Qg5+ 36.Kh3 e3

• 36...c5 37.Nb5 Qh6+ 38.Kg2 Qxe6 gives Black a material edge equivalent to four pawns.

37.b4

• White attempts to press her better pawns on the queenside, but to no avail.
• font color="red"]37.e7 fails to 37...Qxe7 38.a5 Qe4.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 37...b2b4

37...c5!

38.bxc5

• 38.Ne2 cxb4 39.cxb4 Qh5+ 40.Kg3 Qe5+ 41.Kf3 Qf6+ wins the e-pawn.

If 38.e7 then after 38...Qxe7 39.bxc5 Qxc5 White's best option is resignation.

38...Qxc5 39.Kg2

• 39.Rc1 Qh5+ 40.Kg3 c5 41.Nf3 Qg6+ 42.Kf4 Qxe6 gives Black a material edge equivalent to four pawns.

39...g6 40.Rf3 Qe5 41.Nc2

• If 41.Kf1 then Black wins after 41...c5 42.Nc2 e2+ 43.Ke1 Qxe6.

41...e2 42.Kf2 Qxe6

• Black has a material advantage equivalent to four pawns.

43.Ke1 Qe4 0-1

• No matter how she plays, White must lose a piece.
• 44.Nd4 drops a piece to 44...c5!.
• Mrs. Socko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. I. Sokolov - Z. Almasi, Round 11

Hungarian GM Zoltan Almasi came to Rijeka as the top seed. He had some rough going early on and then surged. By winning his last round game against Ivan Sokolov, he finished tied for fourth.



Zoltan Almasi
Photo: Ygrek, Wikipedia (Creative Commons, Attribution/Share Alike)


Zoltan Almasi - Ivan Sokolov
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 11
Rijeka, 17 March 2010

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3

• For 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 see Mamedyarov-Carlsen, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008

4...Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7

• The loss of the tempo is unimportant in this position.

6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Nb3 Nc6 10.Bf4

• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Nd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 then:
• If 13.Bd3 Qb8 then:
• If 14.Bg3 Be5 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.Kb1 then:
• 16...d6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qe2 Rd8 19.Qe3 Rd4 is equal (Khenkin-Adams, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
• 16...Rc8 17.Rhe1 d6 18.f4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 b5 20.e5 Nd5 21.Qd4 bxc4 22.Bxc4 Nc3+ 23.Qxc3 d5 24.f5 Ba6 25.Qe3 draw (Zhu Chen-Xu Yuhua, FIDE Knock Out W, Shenyang, 2000).
• 14.0-0 Be5 15.Bg3 Bxg3 16.hxg3 Qe5 17.Rad1 h5 18.f4 Qc5+ 19.Qf2 Ng4 20.Qxc5 bxc5 21.Rd2 h4 22.gxh4 draw (Ghaem Maghami-Yu Shaoteng, Asian Ch, Cebu, 2007).
• 13.0-0-0!? Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Bxe4 15.Qd4 Bc6 16.f4 Rc8 17.Kb1 0-0 gives Black an extra pawn (Pallister-Rowson, 4NCL, Birmingham, 2002).

10...0-0

• If 10...e5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.f3 then:
• 13...Rc8 14.0-0-0 a6 15.Kb1 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Bf2 Bxf2 18.Qxf2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Nxb5 gives White an extra pawn, passers on the queenside more space (Kamsky-Freidel, World Op, Philadelphia, 2009).
• 13...Be7 14.Rd1 Nh5 15.Bf2 Nf4 16.Qd2 d6 17.g3 Ne6 18.Bh3 gives White the advantage in space (Agdestein-Polugaevsky, Op, Reykjavik, 1987).

11.Bd3!?

• 11.Nxc5 bxc5 12.Bd6 Nd4 13.Qd3 Re8 14.b4 e5 15.Rb1 cxb4 16.axb4 Re6 17.c5 is equal (M. Bosboom-Alekseev, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 11.0-0-0 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bd3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 h6 16.Bh4 Qe7 17.Kb2 Rac8 gives Black the more active game (Pliasunov-Ionov, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2001).

11...e5

• The game is equal.

12.Bg5 h6!?

• The text allows White to get his Bishop to g3, which is a pretty good square overall.
• Better is the immediate 12...Be7! when 13.Rd1 a5 14.Na4 d6 15.0-0 Nd7 remains equal.

13.Bh4 Be7 14.0-0 d6

• 14...Rc8 15.Rad1 Ne8 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space.
• 14...a5 15.Rac1 a4 16.Nd2 Nd4 17.Qd1 Bc6 18.Bg3 gives White the initiative.

15.Rad1 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7

• White has the advantage in space.

17.Nc1!?

• In order to maintain the spatial edge, White must find a way to move his pieces forward.
• Better is 17.Nd5 Qg5 18.Qd2 when:
• 18...Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Nc5 20.Nxc5 bxc5 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 18...Nc5 19.Qxg5 hxg5 20.Nxc5 bxc5 21.Rfe1 Nd4 is equal.

17...Nd4!

• The game is equal.

18.Qb1

• If 18.Qd2 Nc5 19.b4 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 then:
• 20...f5 21.N1e2 fxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe2+ 23.Qxe2 Rad8 remains equal.
• 20...Rac8 21.N1e2 Nxe2+ 22.Qxe2 f5 23.exf5 Rxf5 remains equal.

18...Nc5 19.N1e2 Nce6 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Ne2 Ne6

• 21...Nxe2+ 22.Bxe2 Qh4 23.g3 Qxe4 24.Qxe4 Bxe4 25.Rxd6 reamins equal.

22.Qc1 Rac8 23.Qe3 Qg5

• If 23...Qh4 24.Rd2 Rc7 25.b4 then:
• 25...Ba6 26.f4 Rfc8 27.f5 Ng5 28.b5 Bb7 29.Nc3 remains equal.
• If 25...Rfc8 26.f4 Ba6 27.g3 Qg4 28.b5 Bb7 29.Rdd1 remains equal.

24.b4 g6!?

• Black is losing ground in space. Exchanging Queens is the right antidote.
• 24...Qxe3 25.fxe3 Ba6 26.b5 Bb7 remains equal.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 24...g7g6

25.f4!

• White assumes the advantage in space.
• 25.Qxg5 hxg5 26.Rd2 Kg7 27.Rfd1 Rh8 28.h3 is equal.

25...exf4 26.Nxf4 Rfe8 27.Rf3!?

• White should regroup his pieces around the e-pawn, being that it is the keystone of his position.
• If 27.Qd2 Kg7 28.Nxe6+ Rxe6 29.Rf4 Rce8 30.Rdf1 remains equal.
• 27.g3 Nxf4 28.Rxf4 Rc7 29.Rdf1 Ree7 remains equal.

27...Nxf4!

• The game is once again equal.
• 27...f5 28.Nd5 Bxd5 29.cxd5 Qxe3+ 30.Rxe3 Nf4 31.Bb1 is also equal.

28.Rxf4 Rc7 29.Rdf1 Bc8 30.R1f3 Kg7

• 30...Be6 31.Rg3 Qe5 32.Rf2 h5 33.Rg5 Qa1+ 34.Rf1 remains equal.

31.Qf2 Be6 32.h3 Ree7 33.Bf1?

• White removes protection from the e-pawn.
• 33.Kh2 Qe5 34.g3 Kg8 35.Rf6 Rc8 remains equal.

33...Qe5!

• Black strikes at the weakend sentry.

34.Be2

• A better idea is to strengthen the f4 square, where the Rook has its finger in the dyke.
• That being said, Black is still better after 34.g3 g5 35.Rf6 Qxe4 36.Bd3 Qe5 .

34...Qb2 35.Kh1

• Better, but still not very promising, is 35.Qe1 g5 36.Rf6 then:
• If 36...Qd4+ then:
• 37.Qf2 Qxf2+ 38.Kxf2 Bxc4 39.Rxd6 Bxe2 40.Kxe2 Rxe4+ followed by 41...Rec4 and the Black Rook penetrates White's camp on the c-file.
• If 37.Rf2 then the e-pawn falls after 37...Bxc4 38.Bxc4 Rxc4 39.Qf1 Rcc7 40.b5 Re6 .
• 36...d5 37.exd5 Bxd5 38.cxd5 Rc1 39.Qxc1 Qxc1+ allows Black to begin advacing his pawns.

BLACK: Zoltan Almasi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 35.Kg1h1

35...Bxc4!

• The walls come tumbling down.
• If 35...Qa1+?! 36.Kh2 Kg8 then:
• 37.b5! Qe5 38.g3 Rc5 39.Kg1 Rec7 40.Kh2 is equal.
• 37.Bf1 Qg7 38.Rf6 Bxc4 39.Qd4 Re6

36.e5

• 36.Bxc4 Qxf2 37.Rxf2 Rxc4 38.Rd2 Rcxe4 39.Rxe4 Rxe4 leaves White up by a pawn.

36...Qxe2 0-1

• If 37.Qxe2 then Black wins after 37...Bxe2 38.exd6 Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Rd7 as White cannot recover the piece.
• Grandmaster Sokolov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. I. Sokolov - Caruana, Round 7

Ivan Sokolov has had a good run as of late. He took home the trophy in the Reykjavik Open in early March and made a serious go at the European Championships last week.



Ivan Sokolov
ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Ivan Sokolov - Fabiano Caruana
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 7
Rijeka, 12 March 2010

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.g3 Nbd7 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.a4

• If 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...b5 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 then:
• If 10...Be7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 then:
• 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Be7 15.Ne4 then:
• If 15...Qb6 16.a4 a5 17.Bg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 c5 19.d5 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has more space and better pawn structure in compensation (Prohaszka-Mazur, ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).
• 15...0-0 16.a4 a6 17.Qh6 Re8 18.Bg5 Bf8 19.Bxd8 Bxh6 20.Nd6 Rexd8 21.Nxb7 Rdc8 22.Nd6 give Black an extra pawn and Black nore space and the initiative (Moiseenko-Borovikov, Op, Kramatorsk, 2001).
• 13...h6 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qxg6 fxg6 draw (Tregubov-Fressinet, Op, Paris, 2006).
• If 10...h6 11.Nge4 Qb6 12.a4 a6 13.Qg4 0-0-0 14.Rd1 then:
• 14...g5!? 15.Qh5 c5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Dumant-Matsuura, Brazilian Ch, Americana, 2009).
• 14...b4 15.Nb1 a5 16.Be3 Nxe3 17.fxe3 h5 18.Qf4 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.
• If 7...Be7?! 8.e4! 0-0 then:
• 9.Bf4! b5 10.d5 cxd5 11.exd5 Qb6 12.d6 Bd8 13.Be3 Qa6 14.Nxb5 Nd5 is equal (Korchnoi-Kramnik, IT, Geneva, 1996).
• If 9.a4 e5 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Bf4 Qa5 then:
• 12.e6!? fxe6 13.Qe2 Nge5 14.Nd4 Nd3 15.Nxe6 Rf6 16.Bc7 Qb4 17.Nd4 Bc5 gives Black the advantage in space (Topalov-Kramnik, IT, Linares, 1997).
• 12.Qd4 Rd8 13.Qxc4 Ndxe5 14.Qe2 Be6 is equal.

7...Bb4 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 Qe7 10.Bf4

• If 10.Na2 Bd6 11.Qxc4 then:
• If 11...e5 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Nc3 then:
• If 13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Rd1 Be5 16.Rb1 a5 is equal (Ulibin-Sakaev, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).
• 13...a5 14.e4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Nc5 16.f3 Na6 17.Na2 Bc5 18.Be3 Nd5 19.Bf2 Ndb4 is equal (Gleizerov-Laketic, Op, Cutro, 2000).
• 11...a5 12.Qc2 e5 13.Rd1 Re8 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.e4 h6 16.h3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nc5 is equal (Gleizerov-Chepukaitis, Op, St. Petersburg, 1995).

10...a5

• If 10...Nd5 11.Bd2 a5 12.e4 N5b6 then:
• 13.Be3 h6 14.Rad1 e5 15.dxe5 Bc5 16.Bf4 Re8 is equal (Gelfand-Anand, Alekhine Mem, Moscow, 1992).
• 13.e5 Nd5 14.Rfe1 N7b6 15.Re4 f5 16.exf6 gxf6 17.Bh3 Rf7 18.Rae1 f5 is equal (Vinchev-Azevedo, Corres, 2007).

11.e4 b6 12.Rfe1 h6 13.d5

• 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Nd2 e5 15.dxe5 Ng4 16.e6 Nde5 is equal (Peto-Hmelevsky, Corres, 2007).

13...cxd5!?

• 13...e5 14.dxc6 exf4 15.cxd7 Bb7 16.gxf4 Nxd7 is equal (Tregubov-Sakaev. IT, Alushta, 1994).

14.exd5

• The game is equal.

14...Bxc3 15.d6 Qd8 16.Qxc3 Bb7

• If 16...Ba6!? then after 17.Ne5! Nd5 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc6 Qf6 20.Ne7+ White regains the pawn with the advantage in space.

17.Qxc4 Rc8 18.Qe2

• If 18.Qb5 g5 then:
• If 19.Bxg5 hxg5 20.Qxg5+ then:
• 20...Kh8 21.Qh4+ Nh7 22.Qd4+ Qf6 23.Qxf6+ Nhxf6 is equal.
• 20...Kh7 21.Qh4+ Kg7 22.Qg5+ Kh7 23.Qh4+ etc. draws.
• 19.Be3!? Nc5 20.Bd4 Nd5 21.Qe2 Ba6 gives Black the edge in space.
• If 18.Qd4?! then 18...Rc5 19.Rad1 Qa8! 20.Rd3 Rfc8 gives Black a more focused game, specifically on the central light squares.

18...Nd5 19.Rad1

• 19.Qd2!? Nc5! 20.Ra3 g5 21.Be5 f6 22.Bd4 e5 gives Black the advantage in space.

19...Nxf4 20.gxf4 Nf6

• If 20...Bxf3 then:
• If 21.Qxf3 Qf6 22.f5 e5 23.Qg4 Rfd8 then:
• 24.Bd5 Kh8 25.Qh5 Rf8 26.b3 Rc2 27.Bc4 Kg8 remains equal.
• 24.f4!? drops a pawn to 24...exf4! 25.Qxf4 Qxb2.
• If 21.Bxf3 Qf6 then:
• 22.Qb5 Rfd8 23.Bc6 Qxf4 24.Bxd7 Rc2 25.Qxb6 Rxd7 26.Qd4 Qf5 gives Black the advantage in space and more weak pawns to target.
• 22.Be4 then:
• 22...Qxf4 23.Qf3 Qg5+ gives Black an extra pawn.
• 22...exf5 23.Re7 Rfd8 24.Qb7 Nc5 25.Qxb6 Nxa4 gives Black an extra pawn.

21.f5 Re8 22.Ne5 Bxg2

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 22...Bb7g2:B

23.Nxf7!?

• The sacrifice is unsound. The objectively best move here is to accommodate the passed pawn's lust to expand.
• If 23.d7! Bd5 24.dxc8Q Qxc8 then:
• If 25.Qb5 Qb7 26.fxe6 Rxe6 27.Re2 Bh1 28.f4 Bf3 then:
• 29.Rd8+! Kh7 30.Nd7 Nxd7 31.Rxe6 fxe6 32.Rxd7 when White holds a material advantage.
• If 29.Nxf3!? Qxf3 30.Rd8+ Kh7 then:
• If 31.Rxe6 Qg4+ then:
• 32.Kf1 Qxf4+ 33.Ke1 Qh4+ 34.Kd1 fxe6 35.Qd3+ g6 is equal.
• 32.Kh1 Qf3+ 33.Kg1 Qg4+ etc. draws.
• If 31.Rf2?! Re1+ 32.Rf1 Qe3+ 33.Kh1 then:
• 33...Qe4+ 34.Kg1 Qg6+ 35.Kf2 Re4 36.Kf3 Qg4+ gives Black a powerful initiative.
• 33...Rxf1+ 34.Qxf1 Qe4+ 35.Kg1 Qxa4 36.Qd3+ g6 leaves Black's pawns stronger than White's exchange.
• Also good is 25.Rc1 when Black has only a pawn for the exchange after25...Qb7 26.fxe6 fxe6 27.Rc3 Rf8 28.Ng6.

23...Kxf7?!

• Black fails to take advantage of White's inaccuracy.
• If 23...exf5! 24.Nxd8 Rxe2 25.Rxe2 Bf3 then:
• 26.Ne6 Bxe2 27.d7 Rd8 28.Re1 Rxd7 29.Rxe2 g5leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• 26.d7 Rxd8! 27.Rc1 Rxd7 28.Re3 Bd1 29.b3 f4 leaves Black with a material advantage equaivalent to two pawns.

24.fxe6+ Kg8 25.Kxg2 Rc5 26.Qf3 Kh8?!

• Black should press on the queenside.
• If 26...b5! 27.axb5 Rxb5 then:
• 28.Re2 a4 29.Kg1 Rb6 equalizes.
• If 28.d7 Re7 29.Qc6 Rb8 30.Qd6 then:
• If 30...Ra8 31.Rc1 Kf8 32.Rc7 Kg8 33.Rc8!! wins for White.
• If 31.Qxe7!! Qxe7 32.d8Q+ Qe8 33.Qxe8+ Nxe8 34.Rd8.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 26...Kg8h8

27.d7!

• This is the most efficient move. Black is in danger of losing a piece if he takes either pawn.

27...Re7

• Black is now in a world of hurt.
• If 27...Rg5+ 28.Kf1 Re7 29.Rd6 then:
• If 29...Ng4 30.Qf4 Nf6 31.Red1 then:
• If 31...Kh7 32.Rxb6 Nxd7 33.Rc6 Qe8 34.Qe4+ White has a piece for two pawns.
• If 31...Rg6 then after 32.Rc6 Nxd7 33.Qc4 Rgxe6 34.Rxe6 wins the exchange.
• If Black attempts to block the c-file with 29...Rc5 then 30.Qb7 Rc2 31.Rc6 Rxc6 32.Qxc6 Nxd7 33.Rd1 wins the Knight/

28.Rd6!

• White plays another efficient move. The Rook guards both pawns, but is not overloaded because the Rook at e1 shares the responsibility for guarding the e-pawn (which also protects the d-pawn) and the Queen can play to b7, where it would overprotect the d-pawn.

28...Nxd7

• If 28...b5 29.axb5 Rg5+ then:
• 30.Kf1! Rxb5 31.Qc6 Rb8 32.Rc1 then:
• If 32...Ne8 then:
• White wins after 33.Rd3! Kh7 34.Qe4+ g6 35.Qe5.
• 33.Rcd1?! Nxd6! 34.Qxd6 Ra8 leaves Black with a Tooks for two pawns, but the extra material is tied to the defnese against White's central passers ramming the gate.
• If 32...Qf8 33.Qc8! then:
• 33...Rxd7 34.Qxf8+ Rxf8 35.exd7 Nxd7 36.Rxd7 gives White an extra Rook
• 33...Nxd7 34.exd7 Rf7 35.Qxb8 Rxf2+ 36.Kg1 Qxb8 37.d8Q+ gives White an extra Rook
• If 30.Kh1? Rxb5 31.Qc6 Rb8! 32.Rc1 then:
• 32...Qf8! 33.Qc8 Nxd7 34.exd7 Re1+ 35.Rxe1 Rxc8 36.dxc8Q Qxc8 is equal.
• If 32...Ne8? 33.Rd4 Kh7 34.Qc8 then:
• 34...Rxe6 35.Qxd8 Rxd8 36.Rc8 Rxd7 37.Rxd7 leaves White up by the exchange.
• If 34...Rxc8 then White wins after 35.Rxc8.

29.Red1 Rg5+

• If 29...Rc7 then White wins after 30.Qd5 Rc5 31.Rxd7 Rxd7 32.Qxd7 Qg5+ 33.Kf1.

30.Kf1!

• Only thus.
• 30.Kh1? Qf8! 31.Qc6 Qxf2 32.R6d2 Rxe6 33.Rxf2 Rxc6 gives Black an extra piece as the mating threat defends the Knight at d7.

30...Qf8 31.exd7 Qxf3 32.d8Q+ Kh7 33.Qxe7

• White has an extra Rook; it would have been quite reasonable for Black to have resigned here.

33...Rf5 34.Qh4 Re5

• If 34...Qh1+ then White remains a Rook to the good after 35.Ke2 Qf3+ 36.Kd2 Qxf2+ 37.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 38.Kc3.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 34...Rf5e5

35.Rxh6+!!

• Black returns the Rook and brings about an easily won ending.

35...gxh6 36.Rd7+ Kg6 37.Rd6+ Kf7 38.Qc4+!

• The text is stronger than 38.Rd7+ Kg6 39.Qg3+ Qxg3 40.hxg3 b5 when Black equalizes on the queenside and makes White's vcicotry a little more remote than before.

38...Ke8

• 38...Kf8 39.Rd8+ Re8 40.Rxe8+ Kxe8 41.Qe2+! forces the exchange of Queens, giving White an esily won King-and-pawn ending.

39.Re6+ Rxe6 40.Qxe6+ Kd8 41.Qxb6+

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 41.Qe6b6:p

• White has two extra pawns for which Black has no compensation.

41...Kc8 42.Qc5+ Kb7 43.Qb5+ Kc8 44.Qc4+ Kb7 45.h4 h5

• Also good is 45...Qf5 46.Ke2 Qe5+ 47.Kd3 when:
• If 47...Qxb2 then White wins a pawn after 48.Qe4+ Kb8 49.Qe8+ Kc7 50.Qb5.
• If 47...Qf5+ then White wins in a cakewalk after 48.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 49.Kxe4.

46.Qd4 Kb8 47.Kg1 Kb7 48.Kh2 Ka8
BLACK: Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 48...Kb7a8

49.Qh8+

• Also good is 49.Qd8+ Kb7 50.Qd7+ Ka8 51.Qe8+ when:
• If 51...Kb7 52.Qb5+ Kc8 53.Qc4+ Kb7 54.Kg1 gives Black two pawns and makorities on both wings.
• If 51...Ka7 then 52.Qe3+! forces the exchanges of Queens and a resulting King-and-pawn that a beginner could win from a grandmaster.

49...Kb7 50.Qg7+ Kb6 51.Qh6+ Kb7 52.Qe3 Qg4

• Of course, Black would no chance at all in a King-and-pawn ending.

53.Qe7+ Kb6 54.Qf6+ Kb7 55.b3 Qd1 56.Qf7+ Kc6

• 56...Kb8 57.Qe8+ Ka7 58.Qe5 wins for White.

57.Qc4+ Kd7 58.Kg2 Kd8

• 58...Ke7 59.Qe4+ Kd6 60.Qf3 Qd4 61.Qxh5.

59.Qg8+ Ke7 60.Qg5+ Kf7 61.Qf5+ Kg8

• It makes no difference if Black plays 61...Ke7 ; White in the pawn by 62.Qf3 Qc2 63.Qxh5.

62.Qf3 Qc2 63.Qxh5 Qxb3 64.Qxa5 Qb7+ 65.f3 Qb2+ 66.Kh3 1-0

• If then White has an easy win after 66...Kg7 67.Qg5+ Kf7 68.a5 Ke6 69.a6 Qf2 70.Kg4
• Il signore Caurana resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Inarkiev - Lysyj, Round 10

Igor Lysyj is a fine Russian grandmaster who, like many fine Russian grandmasters, is overshadowed by other Russian grandmasters.

He finished tied for fourth, equal with defending champion Tomashevsky.



Igor Lysyj
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Ernesto Inarkiev - Igor Lysyj
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 10
Rijeka, 16 March 2010

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 8.Qd2 b5 9.dxc5

• For moves up to here, see Paulet-D. Cori Tello, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009.

9...Bxc5 10.Ne2

• If 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).

10...Qb6

• 10...0-0 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Ned4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.0-0 is equal (Melia-Danielian, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).

11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Ned4 Bd7!?

• 12...Ne4 13.Qe3 b4 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rae1 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 18.Nxd4 is equal (Leko-M. Gurevich, Candidates' Matches, Elista, 2007).

13.Nxc6 Bxc6

• The game is equal.

14.Nd4 0-0 15.Bd3 f6 16.exf6 Rxf6

• 16...Nxd3+ 17.Qxd3 Rxf6 18.Qe3 b4 19.0-0 remains equal.

BLACK: Igor Lysyj
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 16...Rf8f6:p

17.0-0-0!?

• White's King may be safer on the kingside, but White is planning to push his pawns on that wing.
• If 17.0-0 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Be8 19.Qe3 b4 then:
• 20.a3 bxa3 21.bxa3 Rb8 22.Rfe1 Bd7 remains equal.
• 20.Rf2 Bg6 21.c3 bxc3 22.Qxc3 Raf8 23.Raf1 remains equal.

17...Be8

• The game remains equal.
• If Black moves on the queenside, 17...b4 , then 18.Rhf1 Nxd3+ 19.Qxd3 Raf8 20.Qe3 Qc5 21.Qe5 also remains equal.

18.Rhf1 Rc8 19.g4!?

• This is too aggressive, leaving weak points for Black to exploit.
• 19.h3 Nxd3+ 20.Qxd3 Bg6 21.f5 exf5 22.Nxf5 remains equal.

19...Qd6!

• White attacks the f-pawn.
• 19...Nxd3+ 20.Qxd3 Qd6 21.Qe2 Rxf4 22.Nxe6 Rxf1 23.Rxf1 remains equal.

20.Kb1

• This looks like a fine example of a prophylactic move, but White has a better way of protecting his center.
• If 20.Qe3 Nxd3+ 21.Rxd3 Bg6 then:
• If 22.Rc3! Rxc3 23.Qxc3 Rxf4 24.Qc8+ then:
• 24...Qf8 25.Qxf8+ Rxf8 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Nxe6+ Ke7 28.Nc7! forks a pawn.
• 24...Rf8 25.Rxf8+ Qxf8 26.Qxf8+ Kxf8 transposes.
• If 22.Rdd1!? then 22...Rcf8! wins the f-pawn.

20...Nxd3 21.cxd3

• Of course, this would not be possible if the King were still at c1.
• 21.Qxd3 Rxf4 22.Rxf4 Qxf4 23.Nxe6 Qxh2 gives Black an extra pawn.

21...Bd7!

• Rather than get overaggressive, Black modestly protects his d-pawn.
• 21...Bg6!? 22.g5! Rff8 23.Rde1 Rce8 remains equal.

22.Ne2!?

• White overportects his f-pawn, but this was a better time to get aggressive.
• If 22.g5 Rf7 then:
• 23.Rf2 Rcf8 24.Rdf1 e5 25.fxe5 Rxf2 remains equal.
• If 23.Rde1!? then 23...Rcf8! 24.Ne2 Rf5 25.g6 h6 26.Rf3 R8f6 wins a pawn.

22...Rcf8

• If 22...e5 23.g5 Rf5 24.fxe5 Qxe5 then:
• 25.Ng3 Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Bh3 27.Re1 Qd6gives Black a small advantage in space.
• If 25.h4 Rcf8 26.Rxf5 Bxf5 27.Nf4 d4 then:
• 28.Ka1 Qe3 29.Qxe3 dxe3 30.Re1 Bg4 31.Ng2 e2 the advanced passer tilts the scales heavily in Black's favor.
• 28.b4 Qxf4 29.Qxf4 Bxd3+ 30.Rxd3 Rxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.

23.Rg1 d4 24.h4 Bc6 25.Rdf1

• 25.Rgf1 Bg2 26.Rf2 Bb7 27.Rc1 Qb6 28.h5 e5 gives Black more freedom.

25...b4

• If 25...e5!? then White grabs space on the kingside after 26.f5 b4 27.Ng3! R6f7 28.g5 with equality.

26.h5 a5 27.Rf2 a4 28.Rgf1

• The text is better than 28.Rc1 Bb5 29.Rcf1 Qa6 30.Rf3 e5 31.Re1 Rc8 when Black has a very comfortable advatage in space.

28...a3!?

• Black allows White to lock up the queenside.
• Better is 28...R6f7 29.Rc1 Bd5 when:
• If 30.h6 g6 31.Ka1 then:
• 31...Qb6 32.Ng3 Rc7 33.f5 Rxc1+ 34.Qxc1 Qd6 Black has the initiative.
• 31...e5?! drops a pawn to 32.fxe5! Qxe5 33.Rxf7 Bxf7 34.Qxb4.
• If 30.Nxd4 then Black wins a pawn after 30...Rxf4 31.Rxf4 Qxf4 32.Qxf4 Rxf4 33.Nc6 Rxg4.

BLACK: Igor Lysyj
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 29.a2a3

29.b3!

• White has equalized.

29...R6f7 30.Ng3

• 30.h6 g6 31.Rc1 Bb5 32.Rf3 Ba6 33.Rcf1 Bb7 gives Black a slight initiative in an otherwise equal game.

30...Bd5

• Black plays to dominate the center.
• Black has time tp slow down White's kingside with 30...h6 31.Qe2 and then 31...Bd5 32.Ne4 Qb6 33.f5 Qc6 still gives him a slight edge in space.

31.h6

• White presses his seeming advantage on the kingside, but the game remains equal.
• 31.Ne2 (hitting a weak spot in Black's center) 31...e5 32.g5 Qb6 33.f5 remains equal.

31...g6 32.Ne2 Bb7 33.f5!?

• White really doesn't have that great of an advantage on the kingside and, because Black has a better center, he really isn't justified in opening the kingside at this time.
• If 33.Rg1 Ba6 34.Ka1 Kh8 then:
• 35.Rgf1 Rc8 36.f5 gxf5 37.gxf5 e5 38.Rg1 Rfc7 remains equal.
• If 35.Rc1!? g5 then:
• If 36.f5 exf5 then:
• 37.Qxg5 Bxd3 38.gxf5 Bxe2 39.Rxe2 d3 40.Rd2 Qd4+ gives Black all the winning advantages.
• 37.gxf5 Rxf5 38.Rg2 Qf6 39.Ng3 Rf3 40.Qxb4 Bxd3 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 36.Rcf1 gxf4 37.Nxf4 e5 38.Nh3 Rxf2 39.Rxf2 Qc5 gives Black the advantage in space on the queenside.

33...exf5!

• The exchange weakens White's pawns, making them look like the remnants of the Spanish Armada blowing toward the west.
• 33...e5!? 34.Ng3 Qe7 35.Re2 Qh4 36.Rg1 Qxg4 37.Rxe5 is equal.

34.gxf5

BLACK: Igor Lysyj
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 34...gf5:p

34...Bc8!

• White's f-pawn must fall.
• 34...gxf5!? 35.Qg5+! Qg6 36.Qf4 Qf6 is equal.

35.f6 Bf5 36.Rf3 Rxf6

White's f-pawn has fallen.

37.Nc1 Qc5 38.Qe2 Rc8 39.Qd2

• White is threatening to triple his heavy pieces in the c-file and reck havoc.

39...Qc3 40.Qxc3 Rxc3 41.Rf4 Rd6

• Also good is 41...Rf8 42.Rd1 Rd8 43.Rf2 Rdc8 44.Rfd2 R8c7 when Black wins.

42.Re1 Kf7!?

• 42...Rd8 43.Rd1 Rd5 44.Re1 g5 45.Rg1 Bxd3+ leaves Black two pawns to the good.

43.Ree4

• 43.Re5 loses to 43...Kf6 44.Ree4 g5 45.Rxd4 gxf4.

43...Kf6

• Black gets a quicker win from 43...Rdc6 44.Re1 Kf6 45.Rxd4 Kg5 46.Rh1 Rc2.

44.Rxd4 Rxd4 45.Rxd4

BLACK: Igor Lysyj
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 45.Rf4d4:R

45...g5!

• Having made a couple of inaccurate moves, Black must now play carefully to maintain his advantage.
• If 45...Rc6?! then after 46.Rxb4! g5 47.Rc4 Rxc4 48.bxc4 White has equalized.

46.Rxb4 g4!

• Black accommodates the passed pawn's lust to expand.

47.Rf4 Kg5 48.Rf2 Bg6 49.b4

• On the other hand, this passed pawn is fleeing his inevitable doom.
• If 49.Rg2 Bxd3+ 50.Nxd3 Rxd3 then:
• If 51.Kc2 Rh3 52.b4 then:
• 52...g3 53.Rg1 Kf4 54.b5 Rxh6 wins.
• The pawn advance is stronger than 52...Rxh6 53.Rd2 Rf6 54.Kb3 Rf3+, but Black should still win.
• 51.b4?! drops a pawn to 51...Rd4! 52.Kc2 Rxb4.

49...Kxh6

• 49...Rc4 50.b5 Rb4+ wins the pawn.

50.b5 Rc5 51.Rh2+ Kg5 52.b6 Rb5+ 53.Kc2 Rxb6 54.Kc3

• If 54.Nb3 then 54...h5 55.Kc3 h4 56.Nd2 Rb2 wins.

54...h5 55.Ne2 Rb2 56.d4 Rxa2 57.Kb3 Rd2 58.Kxa3 Bd3! 0-1

• Black wins a piece.
• Ernesto Kazbekovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Stefanova - Zhukova, Round 9

Former world women's champion Eti Stefanova of Bulgaria came to Rijeka as the the top seed in the women's group. She finished tied for fourth



Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Antoaneta Stefanova - Natalia Zhukova
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 9
Rijeka, 15 March 2010

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.0-0 cxd4

• For what follows the more common 6...Nc6 see Laznicka-Werle, EU Op, Liverpool, 2008.

7.Qxd4

• If 7.Nxd4 a6 8.Qa4+ Qd7 9.Qxc4 b5 10.Qb3 Bb7 11.Bxb7 Qxb7 12.a4 b4 13.Nd2 Bc5 14.Qf3 Qxf3 15.N4xf3 Nc6 gives Black the advantage in space (Scheeren-van der Wiel, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 1984).
• If 8...Nbd7 9.Qxc4 Nb6 10.Qb3 then:
• 10...e5 11.Nf3 Be6 12.Qc2 is equal (Nokolic-Movsesian, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1996).
• 10...Qxd4 11.Be3 Qc4 12.Bxb6 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nd7 14.Bc7 is equal.

7...Qxd4 8.Nxd4 a6 9.Nd2 Bc5 10.Nc2 Nd5!?

• 10...c3 11.bxc3 Nbd7 12.Nb3 Be7 13.Rb1 Nd5 14.Bb2 is equal (Balashov-A. Petrosian, GMT, Yerevan, 1986).

11.Nxc4

• White has more pieces developed; Black has a nice command of the dark squares in White's center.

11...Bd7

• If 11...Nc6 12.Rd1 then:
• 12...Nb6! 13.Nd2 e5 14.Ne4 Be7 15.b3 Bg4 is equal.
• If 12...b5!? 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Rxd5 then:
• 14...Ba7 15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Bf4 Be6 17.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space.
• 14...Bxf2+ 15.Kxf2 bxc4 16.Rc5 wins a pawn for White.

12.b4 Ba7 13.e4 Nb6?!

• The retreat gives White way too much leeway.
• Better is 13...Nc3! 14.Bb2 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 0-0 when:
• If 16.Rad1 Ba4 17.N4a3 e5 18.Rd2 then:
• 18...Nd4 19.Nxd4 Bxd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Rxd4 Nc6 22.Rd2 allows White to regain the pawn, but Black commands more space.
• 18...Bd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Rb1 Rc8 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Rxd4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space.
• 16.Rae1 Rc8 17.Rxe2 Rxc4 18.Rd2 gives White more freedom.

14.Nd6+! Ke7 15.Nxb7!

• Taking the pawn is better than anchoring the Knight to d6.
• 15.e5 then:
• 15...Bc6 16.Re1 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 N8d7 18.f4 Nd5 19.Bb2 gives White a healthy advantage in space,
• 15...Ba4!? 16.Nd4! N6d7 17.Bb2 Nxe5 18.Bxb7 wins the exchange.

15...Rc8 16.Ne3 Na4 17.Rd1

• 17.e5 then:
• 17...Bc6 18.Bxc6 Nxc6 19.Ba3 Nxe5 20.b5+ Kf6 gives Black the most active Rook on the board.
• 17...Nc6!? 18.Nd6! Rcb8 19.Ba3 Nxe5 20.Rac1 Black must give up the exchange.

17...Nc3 18.Rd2 Bd4?

• Black is now completely lost.
• If 18...Rc7 19.Nc5 then:
• 19...a5 20.Nc2 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Na6 22.Bb2 Rxc5 23.Ba3 gives White much more freedom.
• 19...Bc6!? 20.Nd5+ exd5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after 18...Ba7d4

19.Bb2!

• White plays a move with a tactical twist to but the game away. The Knight is pinned to the unprotected Bishop, making it difficult for Black to move either.

19...Nc6

• 19...e5 20.Nd5+ Kf8 21.Nc5 Nxd5 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.exd5 leaves White with an extra pawn.

20.Re1 Rc7 21.Nd5+ exd5

• No better is 21...Nxd5 22.exd5 Bxb2 23.d6+.

22.exd5+ Be6 23.d6+ 1-0

• 23...Kd7 24.dxc7 Kxc7 25.Bxc6 Kxc6 26.Rxd4 Kxb7 27.Bxc3 leaves White up by a Rook.
• Ms. Zhukova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament, Nice

Nice: Night View with Blurred Cars
Photo by W.M.Connally in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Ivanchuk - Carlsen, Rapid Competition, Round 1

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vassily Ivanchuk - Magnus Carlsen
Melody Amber Tournament (Rapid Competition), Round 1
Nice, 13 March 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveninger Defense (Rauzer Opening/Poisoned Pawn Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.f4 Qb6 10.Qd2 Qxb2 11.Rb1 Qa3

• For moves up to here, see Gashimov-Grischuk, World ChT, Bursa, 2010

12.f5

• If 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nfd7 then:
• If 14.Ne4 h6 then:
• If 15.Bb5 then:
• If 15...axb5 16.Nxb5 hxg5 17.Nxa3 Rxa3 18.0-0 Nc6 19.Rb5 then:
• 19...Ra4 20.Nxg5 Ndxe5 21.Rxe5 Nxe5 22.Qc3 Nc6 23.Rxf7 Ra5 24.Rxg7 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Rf8 26.Qd3 Rxa2 leaves Black a theoretical pawn to the good with the active game (Stellwagen-Anand, Bundesliga 0809, Baden Baden, 2009).
• 19...Be7 20.Nd6+ Bxd6 21.exd6 f6 22.Re1 Nce5 23.Qb4 Ra6 draw (Platonov-Minic, IT, Sochi, 1968).
• 15...hxg5 16.Rb3 axb5 17.Rxa3 Bxa3 18.Qxg5 Ra4 19.Qxg7 Rf8 is unclear (Quintaros-Browne, IT, London, 1981).
• 15.Bh4 Qxa2 16.Rd1 Qd5 17.Qe3 Qxe5 18.Be2 Bc5 19.Bg3 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qa5+ 21.Rd2 0-0 22.Bd6 Nc6 23.0-0 Re8 24.Qg3 Qd8 25.c4 Ne7 26.Bc7 Nf5 27.Rxf5 Qe7 28.Bd6 Qd8 29.Bc7 Qe7 30.Bd6 draw (Shabalov-Ehlvest, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).
• If 14.Bc4 Bb4 15.Rb3 Qa5 16.0-0 0-0 17.Bf6 then:
• 17...Nxf6 18.exf6 Rd8 19.Rxb4 Qxb4 20.Qg5 g6 21.Rf4 b6 22.Rh4 Qf8 23.Qe3 Ra7 24.Ne4 Rad7 25.Rxh7 Black resigns (Tringov-Palmason, Ol, Havana, 1966).
• 17...gxf6 18.Qh6 Qxe5 19.Nf5 exf5 20.Ne4 Bd2 21.Nxd2 Qd4+ 22.Kh1 Ne5 23.Rg3+ Ng4 24.h3 gives White more activity (R. Byrne-Evans, US Ch, New York, 1965).
• If 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Be2 then:
• If 13...Bg7 14.0-0 f5 15.Rfd1 then:
• 15...0-0 16.exf5 exf5 17.Nd5 Nc6 18.c3 Qa5 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.Bf3 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Qxd2 22.Rxd2 Rd8 23.d5 Bc3 24.Rd3 Ba5 25.Ra3 Bd2 26.g3 draw (Ljubojevic-Ribli, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 15...Nc6 16.Nxc6 Bxc3 17.Qe3 bxc6 18.Rb3 Qc5 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rxc3 fxe4 21.Rxc5 Bd7 22.Re5 f5 23.g4 Rg8 24.Kf2 fxg4 25.Rxe4 h5 26.Kg3 Ke7 27.Re5 h4+ 28.Kxh4 Rh8+ 29.Rh5 Rxh5+ 30.Kxh5 Rh8+ 31.Kxg4 Rxh2 32.Rd2 a5 33.Kg3 Rh1 34.Bc4 Re1 35.Re2 Rxe2 36.Bxe2 draw (Parma-Fischer, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1965).
• If 13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 Qa5 16.Kh1 Be7 then:
• 17.Qe3 h5 18.Rb3 Kf8 19.Rfb1 h4 20.Bf3 d5 21.h3 Bc5 22.Qd3 Kg7 23.f5 d4 24.Ne2 e5 25.g3 hxg3 gives Black a two-pawn advantage (Brodsky-Biriukov, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 1996).
• 17.f5 h5 18.Bf3 Qc7 19.Qd3 a5 20.Qe3 h4 21.Bg4 Qa7 22.Qh3 e5 23.Rb3 Ba6 24.Rfb1 Qf2 25.Qf3 Qc5 gives Black an extra pawn (Michalek-Nickel, Corres, 1999).

12...Nc6 13.fxe6 fxe6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Be2

• If 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Ne4 then:
• If 17...Be7 18.Be2 h5 19.Rb3 Qa4 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.c4 Ra7 22.0-0 Rf7 23.Qd6 Be7 24.Qxe5 Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 0-0+ 26.Kg1 h4 27.Qh5 Qxa2 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.Qh6+ draw (Libiszewski-Hauchard, French ChT, La Port Marly, 2009).
• 17...Qxa2 18.Rd1 Be7 19.Be2 0-0 20.0-0 Ra7 21.Rf3 Rd7 22.Bd3 f5 23.Qh6 Kh8 24.Ng5 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Qa5 26.Rh3 Qc7 is equal (Grischuk-Anand, IT. Linares, 2009).

15...Be7 16.0-0 0-0 17.Kh1

• If 17.Rb3 Qc5+ 18.Be3 Qe5 19.Bf4 Qc5+ 20.Be3 Qe5 21.Bd4 Qa5 22.Bb6 Qe5 23.Bd4 Qa5 etc. draws by repetition (Vorobiov-Najer, Russian Ch HL, Ulan Ude, 2009).

17...Ra7 18.Qe3 Rd7 19.Rb8!?

• 19.e5 dxe5 20.Bd3 Qxc3 21.Bxh7+ Nxh7 22.Qxc3 Bxg5 23.Qxe5 is equal; Black has three minor pieces for the Queen (Oll-Ubilava, TT, Moscow, 1983).

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 19.Rb1b8

19...Kh8

• The book is closed with Black holding an extra pawn, but his position is pockmarked with more pawn weaknesses.

20.e5 dxe5

• Black is up by two pawns.

21.Ne4 Qxe3

• If 21...Qxa2 22.Bd3 Qa5 then:
• 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Qh6 Rxd3 25.cxd3 Qd8 26.Rf3 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to a pawn and a remote passer.
• 23.Ra8? Rdd8 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Ra7 Rf7 26.Qh6 Bf8 leaves Black three pawns to the good.

22.Bxe3 Rdd8 23.Bc5 Bxc5 24.Nxc5 Kg8 25.Bc4 Kf7

• If 25...a5 26.Nb3 a4 27.Nc5 a3 28.Ra8 then:
• 28...e4 29.Rxa3 Rd2 30.Ra8 Bd7 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 gives Black the initiative.
• If 28...g5 29.Rxa3 Nd5 30.Kg1 then:
• 30...Rf4 31.Bd3 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 h5 33.Ra7 gives White the advantage on the kingside and Black an extra pawn and more space on the queenside.
• 30...Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 h5 32.Bd3 Ne3+ 33.Kg1 g4 is equal.

26.Rb6 Rd4!?

• Black attacks when he should defend.
• 26...Rd6 27.Bxa6 Ke7 28.Kg1 Rd5 29.Nb3 Kd6 maintains Black's extra pawn.

27.Bxe6+ Ke7

• If 27...Bxe6 then White regains the pawn after 28.Rb7+ Bd7 29.Nxd7 Rd2.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 27...Kf7e7

28.Rxc6!

• This is clearly White's best defense.
• If 28.Bxc8? Nd7 29.Rbb1 then:
• 29...Rxf1+! 30.Rxf1 Nxc5 31.Kg1 e4 32.Re1 Ra4 gives Black an extra pawn and a shot at obtaining a remote passer.
• 29...Rxc8 30.Nxa6 Rd2 31.c4 Rxa2 gives Black an extra pawn.

28...Nd7

• 28...Bd7 29.Nxd7 Nxd7 30.Kg1 a5 31.Bf5 g6 32.Bh3 is equal.

29.Re1

• The game is equal.
• 29.Kg1 Nxc5 30.Bxc8 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Rc4 32.Bxa6 Rxc2 gives Black a slight initiaitive.

29...Nxc5 30.Bxc8 Re4

• 30...Nd7?! 31.Bxa6! Rf2 32.Bd3 Rg4 33.g3 Ra4 34.Rc7 gives White an extra pawn.

31.Rc1 Rc4 32.Bxa6 Rc3!

• If 32...Nd3?? then 33.Re6+! Kxe6 34.Bxc4+ wins a piece.

33.Bb5

• 33.Re1 e4 34.Kg1 Rb8 35.Bc8 Rb2 36.Bf5 Rbxc2 remains equal.

33...Ne4 34.a4 Rxc6?!

• Black hands White the initiative on a silver platter.
• 34...Rf6 35.Rxc3 Nxc3 36.Re1 Kd6 37.Kg1 remains equal.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 34...Rc3c6:R

35.Bxc6!

• In racapturing the Rook, White attacks the loose Knight.

35...Nc3 36.a5!

• This is something about which White should really worry.

36...Kd6 37.Bb7 Kc7 38.a6 e4 39.Re1 Kb6?

• This does nothing to improve Black's defense. White Black cannot advance the pawn as longs as the Black King is in contact with the Bishop.
• 39...Re8 (overprotecting the e-pawn) 40.g4 e3 41.h4 e2 42.Kg2 Kb6 43.Kf2 gives White the advanced passer, but Black still has the resources to fight.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 39...Kc7b6

40.Kg1!

• This quiet defensive move improves White's position tremendously.

40...Rf5

• From here Black's position deterriorates.
• If 40...Rf7 41.Re3 Rc7 42.Kf1 then:
• 42...g5 43.g4 Ka7 44.Ke1 Rc4 45.Kd2 Nb1+ 46.Kd1 maintains White's extra pawn.
• 42...h5 43.h4 Ka7 44.Ke1 Rc5 45.g3 Rc4 46.Kd2 White still has an extra pawn.
• If 40...Re8 then 41.Re3 Nd1 42.Rxe4 Rxe4 43.Bxe4 Kxa6 44.Bxh7 leaves White two pawn up.

41.Bxe4 Nxe4 42.Rxe4 Kxa6

• Beginning the final phase of the game, White has a clear advantage as Black's King is offside.

43.Re7 Rg5 44.Kf2 Kb6

• If 44...h5 then White wins after 45.c4 Kb6 46.Kf3 Kc5 47.h4 Rg4 48.Re5+.

45.Kf3 h5 46.h4 Rf5+ 47.Ke4 Rc5

• White intends to pick off the c-pawn.
• If 47...Rf2 then White wins after 48.Rxg7 Rxc2 49.g3 Rc8 50.g4 Rc4+ 51.Kd3.

48.g3 Rc4+ 49.Kf5 g6+ 1-0

• The situation is hopeless.
• Magnus resigns without waiting for Vassily Mikhailovich to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Aronian - Carlsen, Blindfold Competition, Round 2

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Magnus Carlsen
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 2
Nice, 14 March 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1

• For 9.Nd2 and 9.b4, see Gelfand-Nakamura, World ChT, Bursa, 2010

9...Nd7

• If 9...Ne8 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 h5 13.c5 g5 14.a4 then:
• If 14...Rf6 15.cxd6 then:
• If 15...Nxd6 then:
• If 16.Nb5 a6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Nd3 Rg6 19.Qb3 g4 20.Qb6 Qf8 21.Rfc1 Qf6 22.Be1 then:
• 22...h4 23.Nf2 gxf3 24.Bxf3 h3 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 is equal (P. H. Nielsen-Kantsler, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• If 22...Kh7 23.Rc7 gxf3 24.Bxf3 Bg4 25.Kf1 Bxf3 26.gxf3 gives White a handsome advantage in space (Shaked-Babula, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
• 16.Nd3 Rg6 17.Nc5 b6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Qc8 20.Nd5 Rxe6 21.Rc1 gives White space in compensation for the pawn (Wells-Jackson, British Ch, Scarboroigh, 1999).
• 14...Ng6 15.a5 Nf6 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Nb5 g4 18.Bxa7 g3 19.Bb6 Qe7 20.Kh1 Kh8 21.Nc7 gives White a won position (W. Schmidt-Galonska, IT, Recklinghausen, 1995).

10.Nd3

• If 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 then:
• If 13...a5 14.Nd3 b6 15.b4 axb4 16.Nxb4 Nf6 17.Nd3 h5 18.Nb5 g4 19.Bh4 Qd7 is equal (Noomen-Hotting, Corres, 2004).
• If 13...Ng6 14.a5 then:
• 14...h5 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 Bd7 17.c5 g4 18.c6 g3 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 Rxa7 21.cxd7 h4 22. Bf2 Ra8 23. Nc2 Bh6 24. Ne3 gives White a tremendous advantage in space and two extra pawns (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, Match, Prague, 1995).
• 14...Rf7 15.b4 Nf6 16.c5 Bf8 17.c6 h5 18.Kh1 Rh7 19.cxb7 Bxb7 20.a6 gives White the initiative and the advantage in space (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, Match, Wentzoum, 1995).

10...f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8

• If 12...f4 13.c5 g5 then:
• If 14.Rc1 Ng6 then:
• If 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Nb5 Rf7 17.Qc2 Ne8 18.a4 h5 19.Nf2 Bf8 20.h3 Rg7 21.Qb3 Nh4 22.Rc2 then:
• If 22...a6 23.Na3 Nf6 24.Be1 g4 25.hxg4 hxg4 26.Nxg4 Nh5 then:
• 27.Nc4 Ng3 28.Bxg3 fxg3 29.Qb6 Qe7 gives White a huge advantave in space and an extra pawn (Kramer-Lecroq, Corres, 2000).
• 27.a5 Ng3 28.Bxg3 fxg3 29.Qb6 Qe7 30.Rfc1 gives White a tremendous advantave in space and an extra pawn (Ftacnik-Su. Polgar, IT, Trencianske Teplice, 1985).
• 22...g4 23.fxg4 Nf6 24.Be1 hxg4 25.hxg4 Nh5 26.Nh1 f3 27.Bxf3 Nf4 28.Ng3 leaves White two pawns to the good (Ivanchuk-Cheparinov, IT, Sofia, 2008).
• 15.Nb5 a6 16.cxd6 axb5 17.dxc7 Qe8 18.Qb3 g4 19.Nc5 gives White more space and Black a piece for two pawns (Novik-Ezat, IT, Cyberspace, 2003).
• If 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nf2 Ng6 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Rfc1 then:
• If 17...h5 18.h3 g4 19.fxg4 hxg4 20.hxg4 Ne8 then:
• 21.Ncd1 Bf6 22.Qb3 Bh4 23.Rc3 a6 24.Rac1 Nf6 25.Qa3 Ne7 26.Rf3 Qf8 27.Rh3 Ne8 28.Nh1 gives White a healthy advantage in space and an extra pawn (Kozul-Nataf, Ruro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 21.a4 Bf6 22.Bf3 Bh4 23.Ncd1 Bg3 24.Nh3 Qh4 25.Ndf2 Nf6 26.Qd1 gives Black more space and White an extra pawn (Valden-Tsanas, Op, Glyfada, 2001).
• If 17...a6 18.a4 h5 19.h3 Bf8 20.a5 then:
• 20...g4 21.fxg4 hxg4 22.hxg4 b5 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Na4 Qa7 25.Ba5 Rb8 26.g5 Ng4 27.Bxg4 Bxg4 28.Ra3 gives White an extra pawn (Azmaiparashvili-Cvitan, IT, Tilburg, 1983).
• 20...Bd7 21.Na4 Rc8 22.Qb3 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 g4 24.fxg4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Bxa4 26.Qxa4 Nh7 27.Bf3 Ng5 28.Qb3 (Kozul-Gislason, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

13.g4

• 13.Rc1 c5 14.g4 a6 15.Nf2 h6 16.h4 fxg4 17.fxg4 Neg8 18.Kg2 Nh7 19.Rh1 Bf6 is equal (Gelfand-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 1990).

13...c6 14.Kg2

• If 14.Rc1 b5 then:
• 15.b3 cxd5 16.cxd5 Qb6+ 17.Kg2 fxe4 18.fxe4 Qd4 19.Nf2 a6 20.Bf3 Bb7 21.Ne2 Qb6 22.Ng3 Rf7 is equal (Hauchard-van Wely, ZT, Brussels, 1993).
• 15.dxc6 bxc4 16.Nb4 Nxc6 17.Nxc6 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Qxc6 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (van Hoolandt-Schnoor, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

14...b5!?

• 14...Bd7 15.h3 Rc8 16.Qb3 b5 17.cxb5 cxd5 18.exd5 Qb6 19.g5 is equal (Tatai-E. Torre, IT, Bauang, 1973).

15.b3

• White solidifies his queenside.
• 15.g5 Ne8 16.cxb5 cxd5 17.exd5 f4 is equal.

15...a5

• The game is equal.
• 15...bxc4 16.bxc4 Qc7 17.g5 Nd7 18.dxc6 Qxc6 is also equal.

16.Nf2

• White misses the opportunity to take charge of the game.
• 16.g5 Ne8 17.cxb5 cxd5 18.exd5 Nc7 19.b4 a4 gives White an extra pawn.

16...b4!

• Black has the initiative which can be used to build an advantage in space.

17.Na4 Bb7!?

• This is not a good position for Bishops. Black especially is having a difficult time finding good posts for either of them.
• 17...cxd5 18.exd5 Bb7 19.a3 bxa3 20.Rxa3 Qc7 21.Qe1 gives White the advantage in space.

18.Rc1

• White plays to discourage 18...cxd5 which would now be met with 19.cxd5, giving White command of the c-file.
• 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.exd5 Re8 20.a3 bxa3 21.Rxa3 gives White the advantage in space.

18...fxe4 19.fxe4 cxd5 20.exd5

• The game is now equal.
• If 20.cxd5 Rc8 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 then:
• 22.g5 Nd7 23.Bc1 Qc7 24.a3 Nb6 25.Nxb6 Qxb6 remains equal.
• If 22.Nb2? Nexd5! 23.exd5 Nxd5 then:
• 24.Kg3 Nc3 25.Bxc3 Qc6 26.Rg1 Qxc3+ 27.Nfd3 e4 wins for Black.
• 24.Kh3 Nc3 25.Bxc3 Qc6 26.Rg1 bxc3 27.Nbd3 e4 wins for Black.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 20...ed5:p

20...Nexd5!?

• The sacrifice is premature.
• 20...Rc8 21.g5 Nd7 22.a3 bxa3 23.Ra1 Nf5 remains equal.

21.cxd5 Nxd5

• Black is threatening 22...Ne3+, winning the Queen.

22.Kg1!

• White parries the threat; he now has a material advantage and better pawn structure.

22...e4

• 22...Qh4 23.Ne4 Ne3 24.Bxe3 Bxe4 25.Bb6 Rxf1+ 26.Qxf1 leaves White with a piece for two panws.

23.Nxe4 Bd4+ 24.Rf2

• 24.Kg2 Rxf1 25.Qxf1 Ne3+ 26.Bxe3 Bxe4+ 27.Bf3 leaves White with better pawns.

24...Rxf2 25.Nxf2?

• The text invites Black in for a raid. It is doubtful that Aronian would have made this move with sight of the board.
• 25.Bg5 Bf6 26.Nxf6 Nxf6 27.Qd4 h6 28.Qxf2 hxg5 leaves Black a pawn to the good, but after 29.Rf1 White has the initiative.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$t+ W + L%
$+v+ + +o%
$ + O +o+%
$O +m+ + %
$nO V +p+%
$+p+ + + %
$p+ BbN P%
$+ Rq+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 24.Ne4f2:R

25...Qh4!

• The lights go out.

26.Qe1

• If 26.Be1 then 26...Be5 27.Bc4 Bxh2+ 28.Kf1 Ne3+ 29.Ke2 Nxd1 and that's all, folks!

26...Rf8 27.Bf3 Rxf3 28.Qe4 Qxf2+ 0-1

• If 29.Kh1 then after 29...Ne3 30.Rc8+ Rf8 31.Rxf8+ Qxf8 32.h4 Qf1+ White is soon mated.
• Grandmaster Aronian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Updates (Wednesday)

Magnus takes lead in Nice



Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, the world's top rated chess player, took the lead today in the 19th annual Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament in the city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France when defeated Ukrainian GM Ruslan Panomariov in two game, one blindfold and the other rapid, while Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia battled to a pair of draws.

Ivanchuk entered the day in first place, a position he has held since taking two game from Magnus in the tournament's opening round. After today's action, Magnus was a half-point ahead of Ivanchuk.

The final round takes place tomorrow at 12:30 pm in Nice (4:30 am PDT) on the official tournament website. Magnus will play first a blindfold and then a rapid game against Kramnik, who is in third place one point behind Magnus. Ivanchuk will play against Israeli GM and World Cup champion Boris Gelfand.

Russian IM Elena Tairova, 18, dies

From ChessBase.com
Posted online Wednesday, March 24

IM/WGM Elena Tairova passes at eighteen


Photo: ChessBase.com

Very sad news from Russia: the talented young player Elena Tairova, born on August 28 1991, has died at the age of just 18. Elena became a WGM at just 14 years of age, and a full IM the following year. She won a succession of European and World girls’ junior titles, and in 2006 was the Russian women’s under-20 champion. We offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Read more at the link.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Correction on tomorrow's games in Nice

Magnus Carlsen will play against Alexander Grischuk tomorrow.
Vladimir Kramnik will be opposed by Sergey Karjakin.
As stated, Vassily Ivanchuk will meet Boris Gelfand.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Update (Thusday): Chuckie, Magnus tied at top as Amber Rapid/Blind concludes

Vassily Ivanchuk takes tournament championship on tiebreaks.

19th Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament
Final Standings

. . . . . . . . . . . .---- Blindfold ---- ---- Rapid ----- .Total --------
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .+ . - . =. . . . .+ . - . = . . .Points -----SB-
Vassily Ivanchuk. . . . . .2 . 0 . 9. . . . .5 . 0 . 6 . . . . 14½ . . 158½
Magnus Carlsen. . . . . . .6 . 4 . 1. . . . .7 . 2 . 2 . . . . 14½ . . 142¼
Vladimir Kramnik. . . . . .5 . 3 . 3. . . . 5 . 3 . 3 . . . . 13. . . 137¾
Alexander Grischuk. . . . .6 . 1 . 4. . . . .2 . 4 . 5 . . . . 12½ . . 123¾
Sergey Karjakin . . . . . .4 . 4 . 3. . . . .4 . 2 . 5 . . . . 12. . . 120½
Vugar Gashimov. . . . . . .2 . 2 . 7. . . . .3 . 2 . 5 . . . . 11½ . . 120½
Boris Gelfand . . . . . . .3 . 2 . 6. . . . .4 . 4 . 3 . . . . 11½ . . 116½
Peter Svidler . . . . . . .3 . 3 . 5. . . . .4 . 3 . 4 . . . . 11½ . . 115½
Levon Aronian . . . . . . .4 . 5 . 2. . . . .4 . 3 . 4 . . . . 11. . . 108¼
Ruslan Ponomariov . . . . .2 . 4 . 5. . . . .3 . 5 . 3 . . . . .9. . . .92¼
Jan Smeets. . . . . . . . .1 . 4 . 6. . . . .1 . 8 . 2 . . . . .6. . . .61½
Leinier Domínguez . . . . .0 . 6 . 5. . . . .0 . 6 . 5 . . . . .4½ . . .57¼

[madinmaryland]

17. Kicking for Jack Rabbit!