The JR Chess Report (November 12): Three Tied at the Top of the Tal

[Jack Rabbit]

Three Tied at the Top of the Tal




Levon Aronian, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Wang Hao
Photo of Aronian by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)
Photo of Mamedyarov by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Photo of Wang by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)

A trio of international grandmasters top the fifth annual Tal Memorial Tournament after seven rounds in Moscow.

They are Levon Aronian (Armenia), the most recent member of the 2800 club; Shkhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), who was twice the world junior champion when he was in his teens; and Wang Hao, the rival of Wang Yue (no relation) for bragging rights as China's top player.

Each have 4½ points in seven rounds, each with 2 wins, no losses and five draws.

Three oother GMs are only a half-point behind the leaders: Sergey Karjakin (Russia), Hikaru Nakamura (United States) and reigning Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk.

The tournament concludes after the ninth round Sunday. On Wednesday, also part of the Tal Memorial, the World Blitz Championshjip begins as Magnus Carlsen comes to town to defend the title he won last years.


Grischuk Replaces Magnus in World Championship Cycle



Alexander Grischuk
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reigning Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk has been named by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to replace Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in next year's world championship candidates tournament.

Magnus annouced last week that he is dropping out of the tournament, citing disagreement with the format of the cycle.


Other News

Onischuk wins SPICE Cup Former US national champion Alex Onischuk won the annual SPICE Cup at the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock earlier this week. Onischuk scored 18 points in the soccer system (3 points for a win, one for a draw) with five wins, two losses and three draws to edge out German grandmaster Georg Meier, who scored 17 points (+4 -1 =5).

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

BLACK



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. Fifth Tal Memorial Tournament, Moscow

Red Square, Moscow
Photo by Adam Baker, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Aronian - Kramnik, Round 1

Levon Aronian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)


Levon Aronian - Vladimir Kramnik
Fifth Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 1
Moscow, 5 November 2010

Queen's Gambit: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5

• 7...c6 8.Rc1 Nbd7 9.e3 Qa5 10.Nd2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qxa2 12.Bd3 O-O 13.O-O Re8 14.c4 Qa3 15.Bb1 b6 16.Re1 Ba6 is equal (Lysyj-Shimanov, Rilton Cup 0910, Stockholm, 2010).

8.dxc5

• If 8.e3 Nc6 then:
• If 9.Be2 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Rc1 then:
• If 11...Qa5 12.O-O Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nxc3 14.Qe1 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 c4 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Rg8 18.f4 then:
• 18...Bf5 19.fxg5 Rxg5 20.h4 Bd3 21.Qb2 Rxe5 22.Qxb7 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Chekhov-Eingorn, Soviet ChU26, Riga, 1980).
• 18...gxf4 19.exf4 Bg4 20.Qe3 O-O-O gives Black more freedom (Chekhov-Inkiov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1981).
• If 11...h5 12.dxc5 then:
• 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc5 14.h4 g4 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Bd6 17.O-O Be6 18.c4 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Rxc4 Kf8 gives White more freedom (Labollita-Liascovich, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).
• 12...h4 13.Bd6 Qf6 14.O-O Bxc3 15.bxc3 g4 16.Nd4 Nxd6 17.cxd6 Qg5 18.Nb5 gives White a tremendous advantage (Vucic-Inkiov, IT, Rijeka, 2001).
• If 9.dxc5 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 then:
• 11.Bb5 Nxc3 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Nd2 O-O 15.Rxa2 a5 16.h4 f6 17.O-O Re8 draw (Smejkal-Tal, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1976).
• If 11.Rc1 Qf6?!12.Nd4! 12...O-O then:
• If 13.Be2 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc5 then:
• If 15.O-O Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Bd3 Ne5 18.Bb1 Ng4 then:
• 19.g3!? Nf6 20.f4 gives White a slight edge in space (Uhlmann-Sofrevski, IT, Skopje/Ohrid, 1968).
• 19.f4! 19...Qe7 20.Rf3 gxf4 21.exf4 Bd7 22.Qb3 gives White stronger pawns.
• 15.h4 gxh4 16.Bxh4 Qg6 17.Bg3 Re8 18.Bh5 gives White a huge advantage with far more active pieces.
• Also good for White is 13.Bb5 a6 14.Ba4 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bxc5 16.h4.
• 11...Qa5 12.Bd3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.Kf1 is equal.

8...Nbd7 9.Rc1 Qa5

• 9...O-O 10.Qb3 a5 11.a3 Nxc5 12.Qc2 Bxc3+ 13.Qxc3 Nce4 14.Qd4 Be6 15.e3 Rc8 16.Rd1 Rc6 17.Bb5 Rd6 18.O-O Qb6 19.Qxb6 Rxb6 is equal (Przepiorka-Marshall, IT, Marienbad, 1925).

10.a3

• 10.Qd4 O-O 11.a3 Bxc5 12.Qd2 Be7 13.e3 Qd8 14.Be2 Nb6 15.Nd4 Ne4 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qa5 Rd8 19.Qc5 Qxc5 20.Rxc5 Bd7 21.Kd2 gives White the advantage in space (Timoshchenko-Krivoshey, Slovakian ChT, Slovakia, 1998).

10...Bxc3+ 11.Rxc3

• 11.bxc3?! 11...Qxa3! 12.e3 O-O 13.Nd4 Qxc5 14.Be2 b6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

11...Ne4 12.b4 Nxc3 13.Qa1 Qa4

• 13...Qa6 14.Qxc3 Qg6 15.e3 Qb1+ 16.Kd2 O-O 17.Rg1 a5 18.Bc4 axb4 19.axb4 Qe4 is equal (Delchev-Palac, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

14.Qxc3

• The game is equal.

14...O-O 15.e3 a5 16.b5 Nxc5

• 16...Re8 17.Be2 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Qxh4 19.Nf3 Qe7 remains equal.

17.Qxc5 Bf5

• 17...Be6 18.Qd4 Qxa3 19.Be2 Qc1+ 20.Qd1 Qb2 21.O-O gives White better pawn structure and Black more space (Lahno-T.Kosintseva, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2010).

18.Qd4!?

• Black has a small edge in space.
• 18.Qc3 Rac8 19.Qa1 Bg4 20.Bg3 d4 is equal.

18...Qxa3 19.Be2 Qb4+ 20.Qxb4 axb4

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 20...ab4:Q

21.Nd4?

• White should realize that Black is about to play his Rook to a1 and that he should bolster his back rank defense.
• If 21.Bd1 Ra1 then:
• 22.Bg3Bc2 23.Ke2 Rc8 Black continues to enjoy a small edge in space.
• 22.Nd4 Be4 23.Nb3 Rb1 24.Nd2 Rb2 gives Black some annoying threats.
• 21.O-O does not work as well as one might think: if now 21...Rfc8 22.Nd4 Bc2 then:
• 23.Bd1 Bd3 24.Re1 Rc1 leaves Black battering White's back rank and queenside.
• 23.Nxc2 Rxc2 24.Bd3 Rc3 25.Bb1 b3

21...Ra1+!

• The text is clearly best.

22.Bd1 Bh7?!

• 22...Rfa8! 23.O-O Bd3 24.Re1 Rb1 25.f3 Raa1 wins for Black.

23.Nb3!

• Black's advantage is reduced to almost nothing.

23...Rb1

• Black now has nothing more than a slight edge in space.

24.Nd2 Rb2 25.Bg3 Rc8 26.Be5

• Black still has a small edge in space, but the initiative belongs to White.

26...Ra2 27.Nb3

• With the initiative, White cannot afford to make an idle move.
• If 27.b6? 27...Rc1! 28.Nb3 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 Bc2+ 30.Kc1 Bxb3 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 27.Nd4b3

27...Bc2!

• White's initiative is spent and Black takes over.

28.Bxc2 Rcxc2 29.O-O f6 30.Bd4 Ra3 31.Na1 Rd2!?

• Black allows White to fully equalize, but Black's advantage was far too thin to be called anything close to winning.
31...b3 32.h3 Rc4 33.Rb1 Ra5 34.b6 b2 maintains a very slight advantage for Black.

32.h3!?

• White commits a slight inaccuracy and fails to equalize.
• 32.g3 (to keep the Rook at f1 covered when the King flees to g2 instead of h2) 32...Rad3 33.Kg2 b3 34.Rb1 is flat level.

32...Rad3 33.Kh2 Ra3!?

• Black commits an inaccuracy equally as slight as White's, allowing White to equalize.
• If 33...Ra2 34.Kg3 then:
• 34...b3 35.Rb1 Ra4 36.Kg4 Rb4 37.Rb2 Kf7 continue to give Black a slight edge.
• If 34...g5!? then:
• If 35.Rc1 then:
• 35...Rdd2 36.Rf1 Ra3 37.Kg4 b3 38.Rb1 is equal.
• 35...f5 36.Nc2 f4+ 37.Kf3 Rd2 38.Nxb4 Rxf2+ 39.Kg4 gives White a slight advantage in space
• If 35.Kg4 Kg7 36.Kh5 then:
• 36...b6 37.f4 Rxd4 38.exd4 Rxg2 39.fxg5 fxg5 is equal.
• If 36...Kf7? 37.b6! then:
• 37...Re2 38.Rb1!! Rxf2 39.Nb3 Rxg2 40.Nc5 at the very least wins Black's critical b-pawn, clearing the path for White's b-pawn, which will be difficult to stop.
• 37...b3 38.Rb1 Ra4 39.Nxb3 Rb4 40.Rc1!! Rdxb3 41.Rc7+ is very strong for White, who will soon have two pawns for the the exchange sacrifice.

34.b6!

• White has equalized. Black must take care that the White Knight not go to c5.

If 34.Kg1 Re2 35.Bc5 Ra4 36.Bd4 Kf7 is also equal.

34...h5

• The game is balanced and should be headed for a draw.
• 34...Kf7 35.Bc5 Rda2 36.Bd4 h5 37.f4 Re2 38.Rb1 is equal.

35.Rb1 Rxf2 36.Nb3 Raa2 37.Rg1 Kh7 38.Nc5 Rfd2?

• 38...Rad2 39.Kh1 Rfe2 40.Nxb7 b3 41.Nc5 b2 42.b7 remains perfectly balanced.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 38...Rf2d2

39.Nxb7!

• The winning procedure is simple: White clears a path for his b-pawn and queens long before Black does.

39...b3 40.Nc5 b2 41.Rb1 1-0

• 41...Ra1 42.Rxb2 Rxb2 43.Bxb2 Ra5 44.b7 Black will not be able to stop the pawn.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Shirov - Mamedyarov, Round 3

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Alexei Shirov - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Fifth Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 3
Moscow, 7 November 2010

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Breyer Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Nb8

• This opening is called the Breyer Defense after Gyulia Breyer (1894-1921), a promising master from Hungary whose life and career were cut short by heart disease.No one knows why it is named for him; Breyer never played this opening nor is he known to have written about it.
• For a survey of this opening, see Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4 Bg7

• If 15...c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 then:
• If 19...h5 then:
• If 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Rea1 then:
• 21...Rb8 22.axb5 axb5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009)
• If 21...Qc7 then:
• 22.Bh6 Be7 23.Rf1 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal (Kosteniuk-T. Kosintseva, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchick, 2008).
• 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bh6 Be7 24.Bg5 Nf6 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Ra3 Rb8 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Be3 Bf6 24.Rea1 Bg7 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Nf1 gives White a fine game (Inarkiev-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 19...Bc8 20.b3 Re7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Qe3 Qf8 23.Qd3 Nh7 24.bxc4 Rb7 draw (Balashov-Smejkal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).

16.Bd3

• If 16.d5 Qb8 17.b3 c6 18.c4 then:
• If 18...bxc4 19.bxc4 a5 20.Be3 Qc7 21.Qd2 Ba6 then:
• If 22.Rec1 then:
• 22...Reb8 23.Bh6 c5 24.Bd3 Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Rb3 is equal (Pourkashiyan-E. Pähtz, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 22...Nc5 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.d6 Qd8 25.Rab1 Nd7 is equal (Modiakhi-Kunte, Op, Dubai, 2001).
• 22.Rac1 Nc5 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.Red1 Rab8 25.Qe3 is equal (Leitão-Kunte, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 18...Qc7 19.Be3 bxc4 20.bxc4 cxd5 21.cxd5 Rec8 22.Rc1 Nc5 23.Nd2 Nfd7 24.Nc4 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Galkin-Mancini, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 1999).

16...d5

• If 16...c6 17.Bg5 Nf8 18.Qd2 then:
• If 18...Ne6 19.Be3 Nd7 20.Bf1 Qc7 then:
• If 21.Red1 then:
• 21...Nb6 22.a5 exd4 23.cxd4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Rac1 d5 is equal (Sutovsky-Sasikiran, G. Marx Masters, Paks, 2005).
• 21...Rad8 22.Qc2 Nb6 23.a5 Nd7 24.b4 Rc8 gives White a slight edge in space (Charbonneau-Sasikiran, Trophee Universitaire, La Roche-sur-Yon, 2006).
• 21.b4 Nb6 22.a5 Nd7 23.Rac1 d5 24.exd5 cxd5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal (And. Volokitin-Sasikiran, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 18...Qc7 then:
• If 19.b4 19...Ne6 20.Be3 Nd7 then:
• If 21.Bf1 Nb6 22.a5 Nd7 23.Rac1 d5 24.exd5 cxd5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Bxe5 27.Ne2 then:
• 27...Re7 28.g3 Rae8 is equal (Shomoev-Harikrishna, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 27...Rac8 28.Nd4 Bh2+ is equal (Iordachescu-Bindrich, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Red1 Nb6 23.a5 Na4 24.Ng5 Nf4 25.Bc2 Rad8 26.Qe1 Qe7 27.Bxa4 Qxg5 28.Bb3 is equal (Venkatesh-Sasikiran, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, 2005).
• 19.Bh6 Ne6 20.b4 Nd7 21.Bf1 Nb6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.a5 Nd7 24.c4 Rad8 25.Rac1 Qb8 26.Red1 gives White an impressive advantage with a long phylanx harmoniously supported by pieces (Carlsen-Weeks, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).

17.Bg5 b4 (N)

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 17...b5b4

• 17...dxe4?! 18.Bxe4! 18...Bxe4 19.Nxe4 exd4 20.Nxd4 c5 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nxc5 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 gives White a significant advantage in space (Karpov-O'Kelly, IT, Caracas, 1970).

18.cxb4

• White has a small advantage in space.
• 18.exd5 bxc3 19.bxc3 exd4 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.c4 gives Whit a slight edge in space.

18...h6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Rc1

• White has an opportunity to get a firm grip on space, but misses it.
• 20.exd5! 20...Qd6 then:
• 21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Rxe5 Bxe5 24.Qg4 gives White a slight edge in space.
• 21.b5 exd4 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Ne4 Qxd5 24.bxa6 assures White of having a protected passed pawn in the a-file.

20...Qd6 21.b5!?

• White provokes Black to open the a-file.
• 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Be4 is equal.

21...axb5 22.Bxb5 c6!

• The game is equal.

23.Bf1 exd4 24.Nxd4

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 24.Nf3d4:p

24...Rab8

• Black prepares an attack on White's backward b-pawn.
• If 24...Nf6?! 25.Nf3 then:
• 25...Qb4 26.exd5 Nxd5 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.b3 c5 29.Bc4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 25...Qf4 26.exd5 Rxe1 27.Qxe1 Nxd5 28.b3 gives White an extra pawn.

25.b3 Ba8

• 25...h5!? 26.Nf3! 26...d4 27.Bd3 Ba8 28.Rb1 Qb4 29.Qc1 gives White the advantage in space.

26.Nf3!?

• White misses an opportunity to take a greater advantage in space.
• 26.Re2! 26...Bxd4 27.Qxd4 c5 28.Qd2 d4 29.Ree1 gives White the advantage in space.

26...Nc5!

• The game is unclear: White has an extra pawn and Black has more space.

27.Rb1

• If 27.exd5 Rxe1 28.Nxe1 Nxb3 then:
• 29.Rb1 Qxd5 30.Qxd5 cxd5 31.a5! 31...Bd4! gives White a pesky passer, but Black has more space.
• 29.dxc6!? 29...Qxd1! 30.Rxd1 Bxc6 31.Bb5 Bxb5 32.axb5 Kf8 threatens to level the material balance.

27...Ne6 28.Qd2 Rb4 29.exd5 cxd5 30.Bb5 Rd8

• The game remains equal.

31.Red1 Rf4 32.Ne1!?

• The annotator for ChessBase.com marks this move with a full querry. While it isn't the best move, it doesn't lose, so I am assigning the querry to another move.
• 32.Rbc1 Bb7 33.Ne1 Bd4 34.Nh1 Bf6 remains equal.

32...Bd4!

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 32.Nf3e1

32...d4!

• Black has a small advantage in space.

33.Nh1 Ba7 34.Nd3

• If 34.b4 Ng5 35.Nd3 Rh4 36.Qe2 Bd4 then:
• 37.Rbc1 Ne4 38.Re1 Nc3 39.Qe7 Qxe7 40.Rxe7 Bf6 gives Black only a small advantage in space.
• 37.Qf1!? 37...Ne4 38.Rbc1 Nc3 39.Re1 Kg7 gives Black a solid advantage in space.

34...Rh4 35.Re1?!

• White has an extra pawn, but Black has quite a bit more space.
• If 35.b4 Ng5 36.Re1 Bb8 37.Ng3 Rxh3 then:
• If 38.Re5 then after 38...Rh4 39.Rxg5 hxg5 40.Qxg5 Rh8 Black continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.
• If 38.gxh3?? then 38...Nf3+! wins the Queen.

35...Ng5!?

• If 35...Nd4! 36.Ne5 Re4 then:
• 37.Nd3 Rc8 38.Rbc1 Rxc1 39.Nxc1 Nxb5 40.axb5 Qb8 gives Black an extra pawn and more space.
• 37.Ng4?! h5! 38.Ne3 Nxb5 39.axb5 d4 gives Black an extra pawn and a significant advantage in space.

36.Qe2

• If 36.b4? then:
• If 36...Ne4! 37.Qc1 Bb8! 38.f4 then:
• 38...Qb6+ 39.Nhf2 Bxf4 40.Qb2 Bd2 41.Re2 Be3 forces White to give up at least the exchange.
• If 38...g5 39.Rf1 gxf4 40.Rf3 Ng5 then:
• 41.Ne1 d4 42.Qd1 Ne4 43.Nf2 Nc3 wins at least the exchange.
• 41.Kh2 loses to 41...d4! 42.Ne1 Bxf3 43.Nxf3 when Black is an exchange to the good.
• If 36...Rxh3?! then:
• 37.Qf4! Qxf4 38.Nxf4 Ra3 39.Ra1 Rb3 leaves Black with only a small advantage in space.
• 37.gxh3?? then Black wins the Queen after 37...Nf3+.

36...Ne4 37.Rbc1?

• Play gets sloppy as the contestants approach time control.
• 37.Rb2 Bb8 38.Ng3 Nxg3 39.fxg3 Qxg3 40.Kf1 Re4 gives Black a significant advantage in space, but he is not yet winning.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 37.Rb1c1

37...Bb8!

• Black threatens mate.

38.f4

• Little better is 38.Ng3 Nxg3 39.fxg3 Qxg3 40.Qe7 Rf8 41.Qe3 Qh2+.

38...g5?

• The exchange sacrifice should put the game away.
• If 38...Rxf4!! then White wins easily after 39.Nxf4 Qxf4 40.g3 Nxg3 41.Qg2 Ba7+.

39.g3 Rxh3 40.Qg4 Qe6

• Time check has been reached, but now the game is equal.

41.Qxe6 fxe6 42.Bd7?

• White make an aggressive move before his own position is secure.
• Correct is 42.Kg2 Rh5 43.Nhf2 Rf8 44.Bd7 Kg7 with equality.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 42.Bb5d7

42...Kf7!

• Black covers his most critical pawn.

43.Kg2 Rh5 44.f5 exf5 45.Bxf5

• If 45.Bc6 then after 45...Bxc6 46.Rxc6 f4 47.Rf1 Ke7 48.Nc5 Rf8 Black has an extra pawn and wins.

45...Nf6 46.Nhf2 d4+ 47.Kg1 Bxg3

• Black has won a pawn.

48.Ne5+

• If 48.Be6+ Kg7 49.Rc8 then:
• Black wins after 49...Rxc8 50.Bxc8 Nd5 51.Bg4 Rh4 52.Bf3 g4.
• Black also wins by 49...Bxf2+ 50.Nxf2 Rxc8 51.Bxc8 g4 52.Rd1 g3.

48...Bxe5 49.Rxe5 g4 50.Be6+ Kg6 51.Rcc5

• If 51.Rxh5 then Black wins after 51...Kxh5 52.Bc4 g3 53.Be2+ Kg5 54.Nd3 h5.

51...g3 52.Nh3 Rxe5 53.Rxe5 Ne4 54.Bg4

• If 54.Nf4+ Kf6 55.Rf5+ Ke7 56.Bc4 then:
• After 56...Ng557.Re5+ Kd6 Black wins easily.
• Also satisfactory is 56...Nd6 57.Ng6+ Kd7 58.Ne5+ Kc7 59.Rf6 Re8.

54...Rf8 55.Re6+ Kg7 56.Re7+ Kh8

• If 56...Rf7 then Black wins the minor pirce ending after 57.Rxf7+ Kxf7 58.Nf4 Nf2 59.Be2 h5.

57.Be2 Nd2 58.Nf4

• If 58.a5 Rc8 then:
• 59.Bd1 Be4 60.Rxe4 Nxe4 Black wins the exchange.
• If 59.a6 then after 59...Rc1+ Black mates in two.

58...Rxf4 59.Re8+ Kg7 60.Rxa8 Rf2

• 60...Re4 61.Bc4 Re3 62.Kg2 Nxc4 63.bxc4 h5 Black is able to protect his passed pawns and will soon convert at least one of them.

61.Bh5 Rh2 62.Bd1 Ne4 63.Bf3

• 63.Ra7+ Kf6 64.Bf3 Ng5 65.Ra6+ Ke5 66.Bg2 d3 is an easy win for Black.

63...Ng5 64.Bg2 h5 65.Rd8 Ne6 66.Rd7+ Kf6 67.a5

• 67.b4 proves to make little difference after67...Nf4! 68.Bf1 d3 etc.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 67.a4a5

67...Nf4!

• The endgame has been ruled by Black's active pieces.

68.Bf1 d3 69.Rd6+

• 69.Rd8 Ne2+ 70.Bxe2 dxe2 71.Re8 Rf2! is an easy win for Black.

69...Ke5 70.Rd8 g2 71.Re8+ Kd6 0-1

• After 72.Bxg2 Rxg2+ 73.Kh1 d2, White must lose the Rook in order to prevent the pawn from queening.
• If 72.a6 then after 72...Rh1+ 73.Kf2 gxf1=Q+ Black soon delivers mate.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Nakamura - Eljanov, Round 2

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo by James F.Perry in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)



Fifth Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 2
Moscow, 6 November 2010

East India Game: Bogo-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Nd2

• For variations following 4.Bd2, see Topalov-Carlsen, Pearl Spring Trmt, Nanjing, 2010.

4...c5 5.dxc5

• If 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 cxd4 7.Nf3 then:
• If 7...b6 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qc3 Rc8 then:
• If 11.b4 11...Ne7 then:
• 12.Bg5 12...Nf5 13.Rc1 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.O-O Qxc3 16.Rxc3 is a hair better for White, who has a queenside majority and fewer pawn weaknesses (Hort-Ivkov, IT, Bogojno, 1978).
• 12.Bb2 Bd5 13.c5 d6 14.O-O dxc5 15.bxc5 Rxc5 16.Qb4 Nc6 17.Qa4 O-O 18.Rfd1 b5 gives Black a signioficant advantage in space (Bhat-Kovalyov, IT, Montreal, 2009).
• 11.O-O Na5 12.b3 O-O 13.Rd1 d5 14.Qb2 Ne4 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Nd2 Nf6 17.Bd4 is equal (Granda-Nikolic, IT, Buenos Aires, 1992).
• If 7...Nc6 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.Nb5 then:
• If 9...O-O 10.Qe3 d5 11.Qxb6 axb6 12.cxd5 then:
• 12...Nb4 13.Rb1 Nc2+ 14.Kd1 exd5 15.Bg5 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses, but Black has more space and tactiocal opportunities (D.Gurevich-Christiansen, US Ch, Long Beach, 1993).
• If 12...Nxd5 then:
• 13.Bg2 Ra5 14.Nc3 Nd4 15.Rb1 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nc2+ 17.Kf1 Rd8 18.e3 Nxa3 19.Bxa3 draw (Minh-Lokander, Rilton Cup 0910, Stockholm, 2009).
• 13.Bd2 e5 14.e4 Nf6 15.f3 Rd8 16.Bg5 gives White more freedom.

9...d5 10.Nd6+ Ke7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxc8+ Rhxc8 remains equal.

5...Bxc5 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Ngf3 Nc6 8.O-O d5 9.e3

• If 9.a3 a5 10.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Nbd4 Re8 13.b3 then:
• 13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Ne4 15.Bb2 Bd7 16.Rc1 a4 is equal (D.Gurevich-Sturua, Op, Geneva, 2001).
• 13...Bg4 14.Bb2 Ne4 15.Rc1 Qd6 16.Qd3 Rad8 is equal (M.Petursson-Jelen, IT, Ljubljana, 1987).
• 11.Qc2!? 11...Bb6! 12.b3 Re8 13.Qd3 Bg4 14.Bb2 Ne4 gives Black the advantage in space and aggressivel posted minor pieces (M. Petursson-Pachman, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).

9...Qe7 10.cxd5 (N)

• 10.a3 a5 11.b3 Rd8 12.Qc2 b6 13.Bb2 Bb7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Rfe1 Rac8 is equal (Tukmakov-Kharitonov, IT, Sochi, 1987).

10...exd5

• Black has more space, but neither side is fully developed.

11.Nb3 Bb6 12.a4 a6 13.Nbd4 Bg4

• If 13...Re8 14.Qb3 then:
• 14...Bc5 15.Rd1 Qd6 16.Ne2 Na5 17.Qc3 Be6 18.Nfd4 is equal.
• 14...Ba7 15.Bd2 Be6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 is equal.

14.Qb3 Ba7 15.Bd2 Ne4

• With development completed, the game is equal.

16.Bc3 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Rfd8 18.Nd2!?

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 18.Nf3d2

• White takes some pressre off Black's central dark squares in order to liberate the Bishop, but the Knight has no good square on d2 other than the one from which it just moved an the Bishop is biting a granite pawn on e5. The advance e3e4 seems to be White's plan.
18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qb4 Qxb4 20.cxb4 f6 is equal.

18...Na5

• Black takes the initiative.

19.Qa2!

• White will not be able to advance the e-pawn with any effect, but he still finds the move that keeps the game level.
• If 19.Qc2 Rac8 20.Rfe1 Qd7 then:
• 21.Bf3 Bxf3 22.N4xf3 Rc7 23.Rac1 Rdc8 24.Qd3 g6 gives Black a small advatage in space.
• If 21.Qd3 Bh5 22.Qc2 Bg6 then:
• 23.Qb2 Bb8 24.Qb4 Nc6 25.Nxc6 bxc6 26.e4 c5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 23.Qc1!? 23...Nc6 24.N2f3 Re8! 25.Qb2 Na5 26.Nd2 Bd3 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 21.e4? then:
• 21...Bxd4! 22.exd5 Bxc3 23.Ra2 Bf5 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• 21...dxe4 22.Qxe4 Rxc3 23.N2f3 Rc4 wins a pawn and is very strong for Black.
• White's best try is 19.Qb2 when after 19...Rac8 20.Rab1 h6 21.Rfc1 Qc7 22.Qc2 Rd6 Black is content with a small advantage in space.

19...Qd7

• The game remains equal.
• If 19...Rac8 20.h3 Be6 21.Rac1 then:
• 21...g6 22.Rfe1 Rc7 23.Red1 Qf8 24.N2b3 is equal.
• If 21...Rc7 then:
• 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.e4 Qg5 24.Kh2 is equal.
• If 22.Rfe1!? Qd6 then:
• If 23.Red1 h6 24.N2b3 then:
• 24...Nc4 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Nd4 is equal.
• 24...Nxb3 25.Qxb3 Qe5 26.Rd3 Qh5 27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Rd2 is equal.
• If 23.Nxe6!? fxe6 24.c4 Rdc8 25.Bf1 Qe5 gives Black more scope for his pieces.
• If 22.Rfd1 then:
• 22...Qd6 23.Qb1 Qb6 24.Qxb6 Bxb6 25.Rb1 Bc5 is equal.
• If 22...Qf6 23.Qb1 then:
• 23...Bc5 24.N2b3 Nxb3 25.Qxb3 Rd6 is equal.
• If 23...Nc6 24.N2f3 then:
• 24...Bc5 25.Qd3 Qh6 26.Nxe6 fxe6 is equal.
• 24...Bd7 25.Nxc6 Bxc6 26.Qb4 Be8 is equal.

20.N2f3!

• The game equal.
• 20.N2b3!? 20...Nc4! 21.Nc1 Ne5 22.Nce2 Rac8 23.Qc2 Rc4 leaves Black with a small advantage in space.

20...Qe7!?

• 20...Nc4 21.Ne2 Rac8 22.Nf4Bb8 23.Nd4 remains equal.

21.Ne2!

• White assumes a small advantage in space.

Bf5

• If 21...g5 22.h4 h6 23.hxg5 hxg5 then:
• If 24.Nfd4 then:
• 24...Nc4 25.e4 Rac8 26.exd5 Re8 27.Rac1 Bxe2 28.Rfe1 is equal.
• If 24...Qd7 then:
• 25.Rad1 Rac8 26.Nf3 Nc4 27.e4 Qe7 is equal.
• If 25.Rfe1?! Rac8 26.Rab1 Rc4! 27.Qd2 Rxa4 28.e4 Qe7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 24.Ned4?! 24...Rac8 25.Rac1 Nc4 26.Nd2 gives Black the advantage in space.

22.Nf4 Be4

• If 22...Qc5 23.Rfd1 Qxc3 24.Rac1 Qb3 25.Qa1 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has more space.

23.Rfd1 Qc5?!

• Black doesn't have any good targets in White's position, and the pawn at c3 can be covered easily by White. He should improve his own position to make things more difficult for his opponent.
• If 23...Nc4 24.Nd2 Bxg2 then:
• 25.Kxg2 Bxe3 26.Re1 Nxd2 27.Rxe3 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 25.Nxg2 Rac8 26.Rac1 then:
• 26...Ne5 27.Nf4 Qd7 28.Nb3 Qc6 29.Na5 is equal.
• If 26...Bc5 27.Nxc4 dxc4 28.Rxd8+ then:
• 28...Qxd8 29.Qc2 Rc6 30.Nf4 g5 31.Ne2is equal.
• If 28...Rxd8 29.Qxc4 g6 30.Re1 Rd2 31.Nf4 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 23...Qe7c5

24.Ng5!

• White begins a process that will net a pawn.
• If 24.Ne5! Bxg2 25.Kxg2 then:
• 25...Nc4 26.Nxc4 dxc4 27.Qe2 g5 28.Nh5 Qc6+ 29.Qf3 gives White a small-to-medium advantage in space.
• If 25...Qxc3? then after 26.Rxd5! 26...Rxd5 27.Qxd5 Rc8 28.Qxf7+ Kh8 29.Qe6 White wins easily.

24...Bxg2 25.Kxg2 h6

• 25...Qc6 26.Nxd5 Nc4 27.e4 Re8 28.Qe2 gives White theadvantage in space and an extra pawn.

26.Rxd5 Rxd5 27.Ne4 Qc4

• 27...Qe7 28.Qxd5 Rd8 29.Qf5 Nc4 30.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space and an extra pawn.

28.Qxc4 Nxc4 29.Nxd5

• White has an extra pawn.

29...Re8?

• As a formal matter, this is the losing move. As a practical matter, Black lost about a half dozen moves back.
• If 29...Rd8 30.Ne7+ Kf8 31.Nf5 g6 32.Nd4 Rd7 33.Rb1 gives White nothing more than a significant advantage in space and an extra pawn.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 29...Ra8e8

30.Nef6+!!

• The sham sacrifice puts the game on ice for White.

30...gxf6 31.Nxf6+ Kf8 32.Nxe8 Kxe8 33.Rb1 Nd6 34.e4 b6 35.e5 Nb7

• If 35...Nf5 then 36.f4 Ne7 37.Kf3 Nc6 38.Rd1 Bb8 39.Kg4 compels the Black Knight to move to g8 in order to cover the h-pawn.

36.Rb4 Nc5 37.Rh4 Kf8

• If 37...Bb8 then White wins after 38.Rxh6 Bxe5 39.Rxb6 Bxc3 40.h4.

38.Rxh6 Kg7 39.Rc6 Nxa4 40.e6 1-0

• 40...fxe6 drops a piece to 41.Rc7+.
• Pavel Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Nakamura - Kramnik, Round 4

Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik
Photo of Nakamura by James F.Perry in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Photo of Kramnik by steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Hikaru Nakamura - Vladimir Kramnik
Fifth Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 4
Moscow 8 November 2010

Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense (Jaenisch Opening) (Petroff Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3

• For moves and alternate lines up to here, see Motylev-Gashimov, IT, Poikovsky, 2009.

7...0-0

• If 7...Nc6 8.Qd2 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• If 10.h4 Bg4 11.Be2 Qc8 then:
• If 12.h5 Re8 13.Kb1 then:
• If 13...h6 14.Rde1 then:
• 14...a6 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.f3 Be6 17.Bd3 Bf5 18.g4 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Qe6 20.Bc1 Bf6 21.Re4 Rad8 22.Qe2 Qd7 is equal (Jakovenko-Wang Hao, Team M, Nizhniy Novgorod, 2007).
• 14...Bf6 15.Nh2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 d5 17.Bc1 Qd7 18.f4 Nc4 19.Qd3 Qb5 is equal (Jaklovenko-And. Volokitin. Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• 13...a6 14.Rde1 Bf8 15.Rh4 Be7 16.Rhh1 Bf8 17.Rh4 draw (Inarkiev-Motylev, Russian Ch HL, 2005).
• 12.b3 Re8 13.Kb1 Bf8 14.h5 a6 15.Rde1 b5 16.Bf4 Nd7 is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, IT, Sofia, 2005).
• After 10.Kb1 Be6 11.Nd4 Nc4 12.Qd3 Nxe3 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Qxe3 e5 15.Bd3 c6 16.h4 Qe8 17.h5 Rf6 18.Qe4 Rh6 19.f4 Bf6 20.g4 exf4 21.Qxf4 Qe5 22.Qb4 b5 23.Rhe1 Qc5 24.Qe4 Rf8 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.Qf7 d5 27.Re8 since 28.Qxf8!! Qxf8 29.Rxf8# is unaswerable (27...Be7 28.g5! Rxe8 29.Qxe8+ Bf8 30.Rf1! wins for White), Black resigns (Arakhamia-Levushkina, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).
• 8...Be6 9.0-0-0 Qd7 10.Kb1 a6 11.h3 h6 12.g4 0-0-0 13.Bg2 g5 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qd2 Bf6 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Qa4 19.b3 Qa5 20.c4 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Bg5 22.Rf1 Bxf4 23.Rxf4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Bologan-Belov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Re8 10.h4 c6

• 10...Nc5 11.Ng5 Bxg5 12.Bxg5 f6 13.Be3 Be6 14.a3 Qe7 15.Bb5 Nd7 16.h5 gives White the edge in space (Kupreichik-Szymczak, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1981).

11.Bd3

• 11.h5 h6 12.Kb1 Nf6 13.Bd3 Bf8 14.Rdg1 Ng4 15.Bf4 Qf6 16.Nh2 Nxh2 17.Rxh2 Bf5!? 18.Bxf5 Qxf5 19.g4 gives White a small advantage in space (Topalov-Gelfand, IT, Linares, 2010).

11...Nf6 (N)

• 11...Qa5 12.Kb1 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qe2 Be6 15.Bc4 Bxc4 16.Qxc4 Rad8 17.h5 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Rd8 is equal (Caruana-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).

12.Rde1

• The game is equal.
• 12.Kb1 d5 13.h5 h6 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6 Bf8 is also equal.

12...d5 13.Bd4 c5 14.Bxf6

• If 14.Be5?! c4 15.Be2 Bc5 then:
• 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bxc4 Bh3 18.Rxh3 dxc4 19.Rhh1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 16.Rd1?! 16...Ne4 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.Rxd5 then:
• 18...Be6 19.Bxc4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Nxf2 gives Black a material edge.
• 18...Bxf2 19.Bf4 Bg4 20.Bd1 Be6 21.Rb5 b6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

14...Bxf6 15.Qf4

• If 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Qf4 c4 17.Re1 then:
• 17...Qf8 18.Bf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qd6 remains equal.
• 17...Qd8 18.Bf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qd6 transposes.

15...Be6!?

• 15...Rxe1+ 16.Rxe1 c4 17.Bf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qd6 19.Qh3 remains equal.

16.Ng5!

• White has the advantage in space.

16...g6

• If 16...h6 17.Bh7+ Kf8 18.Nxe6+ Rxe6 19.Rxe6 fxe6 20.g4 gives White a small edge and a lead in development.

17.Bb5 Rf8 18.Nxe6

• 18.Kb1?! a6! 19.Be2 Bf5 20.Bg4 Qb6 is equal/

18...fxe6

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 18...fe6:N

19.Rxe6!

• White wins a pawn.
• 19.Qg4 a6 20.Bf1 e5 21.h5 Qc8 22.Qg3 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

19...Bxc3 20.Qg4 Bg7!?

• Black gives away some space he doesn't need to give.
• 20...Bd4 allows White less space than the text after 21.Be2 Kh8 22.h5 g5 23.Bf3.

21.h5 c4?

• This curious move should have cost Black the game.
• Even Black's best mobves aren't very good, for example 21...Bh6+ 22.Kb1 Qg5 23.Qd1 Bg7 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.Qe1 gives White complete command of several attacking lanes.

22.hxg6!

• White wins a pawn.

22...h6

• Black cannot recapture the pawn.
• 22...hxg6?? 23.Rxg6 (with the threat of 24.Qe6+ followed soon by mate) 23...Rf7 24.Rgh6 Rf6 25.Rh8+ wins the Queen.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 22...h7h6

23.Rd1?!

• White misses a win.
• If 23.Rhe1 then:
• If 23...Kh8 24.Re7 Qd6 25.f3 a6 then:
• If 26.Be8 then after 26...c3 27.Kb1 cxb2 28.Qh4 Rf4 29.Qg3 White wins.
• If 26.Bd7 then after 26...c3 27.Kb1 cxb2 28.Qe6 Qxe6 29.Bxe6 White wins a pawn or two.
• If 23...Qa5? 24.Re7! 24...Kh8 25.R1e2 then:
• If 25...Qd8 then White wins after 26.Bd7 d4 27.Qh4 d3 28.R2e4.
• If 25...Rg8 then 26.Be8 Qb6 27.Rxg7 Rxg7 28.Qh5 wins.

23...Qa5

• White now has a fairly good-sized advantage with more space and an extra pawn.

24.Rxd5!

• White covers the Bishop en prise and grabs as much real estate as he can.
• 24.a4 Rxf2 25.Re2 Rxe2 26.Qxe2 a6 27.Bd7 gives White only a slight edge in space.

24...Qxa2 25.Bxc4 Qxb2+ 26.Kd1 Kh8 27.f3!

• White has fought back and his position is clearly better.
• If 27.Rd2?! Rae8 28.f4 Qa1+ 29.Ke2 Qa4 30.Bb3 is equal.

27...a5?!

• Black is allowing White to become too dominant in the center.
• If 27...Qb1+ then:
• If 28.Ke2 Qxc2+ then:
• 29.Rd2 Qc1 30.Qe4 Rac8 31.Bb3 gives White only a slight edge in space.
• 29.Kf1 Rad8 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Re2 Qc1+ 32.Re1 gives White only a small advantage in space.
• 28.Kd2 Qb4+ 29.Kd1 Qb1+ brings up a situation similar to the one at the end of the actual game.

28.Rd7!?

• Again, White fails to bring it home.
• 28.Qe4! Rac8 29.Rd7 Rcd8 30.Rxd8 Rxd8+ 31.Bd3 gives White an extra pawn and command of the board.

28...a4?

• White's dominance is already powerful. Black's text move should lose.
• If 28...Qb1+ then White continues to dominate after 29.Kd2 Rad8 30.Rxd8 Rxd8+ 31.Bd3.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 28...a5a4

29.Qh4!

• White is threatening 30.Qxh6+!! Bxh6 31.Rxh7+ Kg8 32.Re8#.

29...Qb1+ 30.Kd2

• It is Mr. Nakamura's choice to play for the draw instead of playing for a win, although his position is much superior. "Let's face it," writes the annotator for ChessBase.com, "this position can easily go sour."
• As noted, 30.Ke2 Qxc2+ 31.Kf1 Rac8 32.Bd5 Qd2 33.Kg1 heavily favors White (both Fritz and Rybka give it as winning), but the position is very sharp.

30...Qb4+ 31.Kd1 Qb1+ 32.Kd2 Qb4+ 33.Kd1 Qb1+ ½-½

• The game is drawn by repetition.

From the website of the Russian Chess Federtion: Nakamura and Kramnik analyze the game for the press (approx 23 min).

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Other games

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Onischuk - So, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech U, Round 6

Alex Onischuk
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Alex Onischuk - Wesley So
SPICE Cup, Round 6
Texas Tech University, 3 November 2010

East India Game: Nimzo Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3

• For other moves and an overall survey of this opening, see Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5

• If 9...d6 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Bd3 c5 12.Ne2 Rc8 13.0-0 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5 15.b4 is equal (Krush-Chandran, USCL, Cyberspace, 2005).

10.e3 Nbd7 11.cxd5

• If 11.Nh3 c5 12.cxd5 then:
• If 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 then:
• If 15.Bh4 Nd5 16.Bb5 g5 17.Bf2 Red8 18.e4 N5f6 then:
• If 19.Be3 cxd4 20.Bxd4 then:
• 20...Rac8 21.Nf2 a6 22.Be2 e5 23.Bc3 Re8 24.0-0-0 gives White the two Bishops, a factor which plays a major part in White's victoey in the present game (Braun-So, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• 20...Ne8 21.Nf2 Nd6 22.Bxd7 Rxd7 23.Ng4 Ne8 24.Bc3 h5 25.Ne3 gives White a slight edge in space (Gagunashvili-Beliavsky, Euro Ch, 2005).
• 19.0-0-0 Rac8 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bxc5 Rc8 23.b4 bxc5 24.Kb2 cxb4 draw (Hracek-van der Wiel. IT, Debrecen, 1992).
• 15.Bd6 Nd5 16.Kd2 cxd4 17.exd4 Red8 18.Bc4 Nb8 19.Bxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxb8 Raxb8 21.Ke3 Rd7 gives Black stronger pawns and a small edge in space (Topalov-Sakaev, Kotov Mem, Singapore, 1990).
• 12...cxd4 13.Qxd4 e5 14.Qd1 Bxd5 15.Nf2 Be6 16.Be2 Nc5 17.b4 Qxd1+ 18.Bxd1 Ncd7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Gagunashvili-Lutz, Ol, Torino, 2006).

11...Nxd5 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 13.Bh4 Nd5 14.Bf2 c5

• If 14...f5 15.Bb5 c6 then:
• If 16.Bd3 e5 17.Ne2 Rae8 18.0-0 exd4 19.exd4 then:
• 19...Re6 20.Nc3 f4 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Rfc1 gives White the advantage in space (Markus-Polak, IT, Paks, 2001).
• 19...Nb8 20.Nc3 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Nxa6 22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.Rfe1 Nc7 is equal (Diaz-Menghi, Corres, 2000).
• 16.Ba4 e5 17.Ne2 Rae8 18.0-0-0 e4 19.Nc3 N7f6 20.Rhe1 Rc8 21.Nxd5 cxd5+ 22.Kd2 Bc6 is equal (Lautier-Timman, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).

15.e4

• If 15.Bb5 Rfd8 16.e4 then:
• If 16...Nc7 17.Bxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 f5 then:
• 19.e5 bxc5 20.Rc1 Nd5 21.Nh3 g5 22.Bxc5 gives White an extra pawn (Golod-Pilgaard, Op, Ubeda, 2001).
• 19.cxb6 axb6 20.Ne2 fxe4 21.fxe4 Bxe4 22.0-0 Rd2 is equal (Kramnik-Kasparov, World Ch Match, London, 2000).
• 16...Ne7 17.Ne2 Bc6 18.Ba6 b5 19.a4 bxa4 20.dxc5 Ne5 21.Nd4 gives White more freedom (Kasparov-Kramnik, Blitz, Moscow, 1998).

15...Ne7 16.Ne2 Rfc8

• This seems to be a case of the wrong Rook, but the "correct" move is drawish.
• If 16...Rac8 17.Nc3 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Nc5 then:
• If 19.Rd1 Rfd8 20.Be3 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 e5 then:
• 22.Kc2 Na4 23.Bb5 Nxc3 24.bxc3 Bc6 25.a4 f5 is equal (Gymesi-Z. Almasi, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).
• 22.b4 Ne6 23.Kc2 Nc6 24.Kb2 gives White a small advantage in space (Leko-Kramnik, IT, Dortmund, 2006).
• 19.0-0-0 Nb3+ 20.Kc2 Nxd4+ 21.Rxd4 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Bb5 Nc6 24.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (S. Atalik-G. Meier, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

17.Nc3 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Nc6 19.Bf2 Na5 (N)

• 19...Nce5 20.0-0-0 Nc5 21.Bg3 Ng6 22.Kb1 a5 23.Bb5 Bc6 24.Rd6 Ne7 25.Rhd1 Bxb5 26.Nxb5 Nc6 27.Rc1 a4 28.Bf2 Na5 29.Rc3 Ncb3 30.Rd7 Rd8 draw (Timoshchenko-Farago, Op, Seefeld, 2003).

20.0-0-0

• White has a clear advantage in space.

20...Ne5

• White does best to secure a place in the center.
• 20...Rd8!? 21.b4 Rac8 22.Kb2 Nc6 23.Be2 a6 24.Rd6 gives Whitwe a powerful position. Note how his Bishops command key diagonals on the queenside.

21.Kb1 Nec4 22.Ka2 Rc6?!

• This move makes it impossible for the Knight to retreat in case White advances his b-pawn and leaves d7 available for White's Rook. The former problem is much more serious.
• 22...Rd8 23.Be2 Nd2 24.Be1 Ndb3 25.Nb5 Rxd1 26.Bxd1 continues to give White the edge thanks to his Bishop pair, but White still has much work to do before calling it a win.

BLACK: Wesley So



WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 22.Rc8c6

23.b4!

• White immediately takes advantage of Black's inaccuracy.

23...Nxa3 24.bxa5 Rxc3 25.a6!

• Having won a pawn, White goes after Black's loose pieces.
• If 25.Be1!? Re3! then:
• If 26.a6 26...Bxe4! 27.fxe4 Rc8 then:
• If 28.Bd3 then:
• 28...Rd8 29.Kxa3 Rexd3+ 30.Rxd3 Rxd3+ 31.Kb2 Rd1 32.e5 gives White a material edge, but Black's active Rook is sufficient compensation.
• 28...Nc2 29.Kb3 Nxe1 30.Rhxe1 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 White has all of his vital points covered and he should go on to win.
• 28.Bb4!? Rc2+ 29.Ka1 Rb3 30.Be7 Rf2 31.Rd8+ Kh7 is equal.
• 26.Bd2 Rd8 27.Kb2 bxa5 28.Rg1 Bxe4 29.Bxe3 Rxd1 30.fxe4 Rxf1 then:
• If 31.Kxa3 Rf6 32.Bxa7 e5 33.Be3 Rc6 34.Rc1 gives White a material edge and a positional plus; Black's passed a-pawn is too weak to be of any significance.
• 31.Rxf1? Nc4+! 32.Kc3 Nxe3 33.Ra1 Nxg2 is equal.
• 29.fxe4? Rxe4! is equal.

25...Bc6?

• There are no good moves left fopr Black.
• 25...Bxa6 26.Bxa6 Nc4 27.Bxc4 Rc2+ 28.Kb3 Rxf2 29.Rhg1 gives White a Bishop and pawn plus greater activity.

26.Bd4 Rd8 27.Bxc3 Rxd1 28.Kxa3 Bb5

• If 28...f6 then 29.g3 Bb5 30.Bg2 Rd7 31.e5 f5 32.Rc1 should win easily for White.

BLACK: Wesley So



WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 28...Bc6b5

29.Bxb5!!

• The exchange sacrifice is the trumpet that brings the walls tumbling down.

29...Rxh1 30.Be5!

• With the Rook (Black's last piece) diverted to the corner of the board where it will at least two moves to reach an effective post, White covers the queenside with his Bishops.

30...Rb1 31.Bd7 b5 32.Bc8! 1-0

• White's Bishops triumph over the Rook.
• If 32...b4+ 33.Ka2 Rc1 34.Bb7 Rc2+ 35.Kb3 Rxg2 36.Bb8! Black's a-pawn falls and there is nothing Black can to stop White's pawn from except give up his Rook.
• Young Mr. So resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Paikidze - Neverov, 17th Cigorin Memorial, St. Petersburg, Round 7

Nazi Paikidze, 17, is an up-and-coming young lady from Georgia who won the women's group at the 2010 Moscow Open in February. She was the top woman scrorer in the 2010 Chigorin Memorial Open.
Valery Neverov, 46, is a four-time Ukrainian champion going back to 1983.



Nazi Paikidze
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Nazi Paikidze - Valery Neverov
17th Chigorin Memorial Open, Round 7
St. Petersburg, 3 November 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3

• For this and other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4

• If 8.Be3 Nc6 then:
• If 9.O-O Nf6 10.c4 O-O 11.Nc3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 then:
• If 12...e5 13.Rfd1 Be6 14.Be2 then:
• If 14...Rc8 15.Rd2 Qe7 16.Rad1 Rfd8 then:
• 17.Na4 b5 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 bxc4 21.Bxc4 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Matulovic-Damjanovic, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1964).


• 17.h3 g6 18.Kh1 Kg7 19.Qg3 Na7 20.Qe3 Nc6 21.Na4 gives White the advantage in space (Kuprejanov-L. Day, Closed Trmt, Toronto, 1972).


• 14...Qb8 15.Rd2 b5 16.Nd5 bxc4 17.Bxc4 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Nb4 20.Rd2 Rd8 21.a3 Nc6 22.Rad1 gives White the advantge in space (J.Polgar-Nisipeanu, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).


• 12...Ne5 13.Be2 Qc7 14.Qd4 Nc6 15.Qd2 Ne5 draw (Sinowjew-Razuvaev, Op, Dortmund, 1992).


• 9.N1d2 Nf6 10.O-O O-O 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 draw (Stojanovic-Predojevic, Op, Bar, 2005).

8...e5 9.Be3

• White has a small advantage in space.

9...Ne7 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 b6 13.Nd5!?

• White should try to firm up her spacial edge before pushing forward in the center.
• Better is 13.O-O Nbc6 14.Rad1 Rb7 15.Be2 Be6 16.Nd5 when White maintains the advantage in space with a firmer grip on the center than she gets from the text.

13...Nd7

• The game is again equal.
• 13...Nxd5 14.cxd5 a5 15.O-O Nd7 16.Bb5 Nc5 is also equal.

14.O-O a5!?

• 14...Nxd5 15.cxd5 a5 16.Rac1 Nc5 remains equal.

15.Nd2!?

• The Knight has no good squares to which to move from here.
• 15.Nc3 Ra8 16.Rad1 a4 17.Nc1 Nc5 18.Nb5gives White a small advantage in space.

15...Nc5

• The game is equal.

16.b3

• 16.Nc3 Nc6 17.Nb5 Re7 18.Rad1 Nb4 19.Bb1 Be6 remains equal.

16...Nxd5 17.exd5 f5 18.f3!?

• This weakening of the kingside is unnecessary.
• 18.Bc2 Qf6 19.Qc3 Nd7 20.a3 e4 21.Qxf6 Nxf6 remains equal.

BLACK: Valery Neverov



WHITE: Nazi Paikidze
Position after 18.f2f3

18...g5!

• Black's idea is to bring his kingside pawns forward and crushes White like a boa constrictor.
• If 18...Ba6 19.Rab1 Ra8 20.Rfe1 Rc8 21.Be2 f4 22.Qf2 is equal.

19.a3 f4 20.Qe2 g4 21.fxg4

• Black has a small advantage in space.
• If 21.Bc2 gxf3 22.Nxf3 Rg7 23.Kh1 e4 gives Black a greater advantage in space.

21...Nxd3 22.Qxd3 Bxg4 23.b4!?

• The pawn advance will prove more trouble than it is worth. Apart from that, since Black has played on a wing, White should strike back in the center on principle.
• If 23.Ne4 Rg7 24.b4 Bf5 then:
• If 25.Rae1 then after Qd7 26.Rf2 axb4 27.axb4 Qa4 White is no worse off than before.
• 25.Rf2 Qh4 26.Re1 axb4 27.axb4 Rc8 28.Qa3 Rg6 gives Black a clear advantage on the kingside.

23...Bf5!

• Black disrupts White's pieces and strengthens his grip on the center.
• 23...Rg7!? 24.Rf2 Bf5 25.Ne4 axb4 26.axb4 Qh4 maintains only a small advantage in space for Black.

24.Qf3 Qa8 25.Qc3?!

• Black's doubled heavy pieces in the a-file along with the pawn lever ab4 are making White nervous. The text move is an attempt to keep the a-file closed.
• If 25.bxa5 Rxa5 26.Qb3 then:
• If 26...Ra6 27.g3 fxg3 28.Qxg3+ Kh8 29.Qb3 b5 and now:
• If 30.Rf3 bxc4 31.Qxc4 Rg8+ then:
• 32.Kh1 Ra4 33.Qc6 Qxc6 34.dxc6 Be6 35.Rg3 Bd5+ wins the passed pawn and the game.
• 32.Rg3 Rxa3 33.Raxa3 Qxa3 leaves White a pawn to the good with active pieces.
• 30.cxb5 Rg8+ 31.Kf2 Ra4 32.Ke1 Qa5 33.Rxf5 Rg1+ wins a Rook, giving Black a material advantage and active pieces.
• 30.Kh1 bxc4 31.Qxc4 Rf7 32.Rfd1 Rg7 33.Rf1 Be6 wins for Black.
• If 26...Qb7!? 27.Kh1 Qc7 28.g3 then:
• 28...b5 29.gxf4 bxc4 30.Qxc4 Qxc4 31.Nxc4 Be4+ gives Black nothing more than a small advantage in space.
• 28...fxg3 29.Qxg3+ Kh8 30.Rf3 Rg8 31.Qf2 is equal.

25...Rg7

• If 25...b5 26.cxb5 Rc8 then:
• 27.Qb3 Rb7 28.g3 Qa7+ 29.Kh1 Qd4 30.Qd1 Rc3 wins for Black.
• 27.Qf3 axb4 28.Ne4 Rd8 29.Nf6+ Kh8 30.Qh5 Bg6 gives Black more freedom.

26.Rf2 Rc8 27.Qb2 b5?!

• Black's queenside pawns were getting the job done as they were. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
• Better is the flexible 27...Qa7! then:
• 28.Kh1 a4 29.b5 Qc7 30.Qb4 Qc5 31.Qxc5 Rxc5 gives Black a clear advantage.
• 28.Qc3?! 28...Qf7! 29.bxa5 bxa5 30.Qxa5 Qg6 31.Nf3 Qg4 gives Black moble pawns on the - and f-files.

28.cxb5?

• White opens the c-file for Black's Rook and should have paid a higher price.
• If 28.c5! 28...Qxd5 29.Re1 then:
• 29...axb4 30.axb4 Bd3 31.cxd6 Qxd6 is equal.
• 29...dxc5? 30.Rxe5! 30...Qd3 31.bxc5 Bh3 32.Nf3 thwarts all of Black's threats and gives White a poweful initiative.

BLACK: Valery Neverov



WHITE: Nazi Paikidze
Position after 28.cb5:p

28...Rc2!

• Black is now stronger than ever.

29.Qb3

• 29.Qb1 Qxd5 30.Qd1 axb4 31.axb4 Bh3 32.Qxc2 Rxg2+ wins for Black.

29...a4 30.Qf3 Qa7 31.Qh5 Bg6

• If 31...Bd7 then:
• 32.Qd1 (
• If 32.Qe2 Qd4 33.Raf1 then:
• 33...Bg4!(
• If 33...Bh3 34.Kh1 Qxd5 35.b6 Kh8 36.Qf3 then:
• 36...Be6 37.Qxd5 Bxd5 38.Kg1 Ra2 should win for Black.
**34.Nf3 Rxe2 35.Nxd4 Rxf2 36.Rxf2 exd4 wins for Black.**32...Bh3 33.Kf1 Qxf2+!! 34.Kxf2 Rxg2+ 35.Ke1 Rg1+ assures Black of winning back the Queen with a powerful advantage.
• 36...1`Qxf3?! 37.Nxf3 Bxg2+ 38.Rxg2 Rgxg2 39.Ne1! 39...Rxh2+ 40.Kg1 is equal.

32.Qh4 Qb6 33.Kh1

• color="red"]33.Rd1 loses to 33...e4 34.Nf1 e3 35.Rxc2 e2+.

33...h6

• 33...Bd3 34.Rd1 h6 35.Rf3 Qd4 wins quicker.

34.Raf1 Bd3!?

• If 34...Qe3! 35.Nf3 Rxf2 then:
• 36.Rxf2 e4 37.Ng1 f3 38.h3 Qe1.
• 36.Qxf2 Qxa3 37.Qh4 e4 38.Qe1 exf3 leaves Black up a piece.
• 34...Kh7 35.Nf3 Rxf2 36.Qxf2 then:
• If 36...Qxb5 37.Nh4 Be4 38.Rd1 Rc7 then:
• 39.Nf3 Qc4 40.Qb6 Rg7 41.Qf2 Qb3 42.Qe2 Bg6 wins for Black.
• If 39.Qe1 then Black wins after 39...Qc4 40.Nf3 Bd3 41.Qd2 e4 42.Nh4 e3.
• Less effective is 36...Qxf2!? 37.Rxf2 Rb7 38.Rd2 Rxb5.

35.Re1 Kh7 36.Rf3

• If 36.h3 then Black wins after 36...Qd4 37.Kh2 Qb2 38.Rd1 Qxa3.

36...Rxd2 37.Rh3 Qf2??

• Thinking he now has a mate in on the next move, Black blunders and the game turns around.
• If 37...Bf5! then White is toast after 38.Qxh6+ Kg8 39.Rh5 Bg6 40.Rg5 Qe3.

BLACK: Valery Neverov



WHITE: Nazi Paikidze
Position after 37...Qh4f2

38.Qxh6+!

• White executes a forced mate.

38...Kg8 39.Qe6+ Rf7

• If 39...Kf8 40.Rh8+ Rg8 41.Rxg8#.

40.Qg4+ Bg6 1-0

• Black realizes he is mated no matter how he plays.
40...Rg7 41.Qc8+ Kf7 42.Qe6+ Kf8 43.Rh8+ Rg8 44.Rxg8#.
• After the text, White plays 41.Qxg6+ Kf8 42.Rh8+ Ke7 43.Qe6#.
• Neverov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Monday): Aronian, Karjakin and Medyariov score 5½/9 to top Tal

The Tal Memorial Tournament finished yesterday with Levon Aronian, Sergey Karjakin and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov finishing atop the tables with 5½ points out of nine rounds.

Mamedyarov, the leading grandmaster from the tiny chess powerhouse Azerbaijan, defeated co-leader Wang Hao of China in round 8 to take sole possession of first place Saturday. Meanwhile, Karjakin moved within a half point of the lead by defeating former world champion Vladimir Kramnik in 32 moves. Mamedyarov was still alone on top by a half-point going into the final round when he lost to Israeli GM Boris Gelfand, who had a tournament he would otherwise like to forget. Karjakin and Aronian, who lead the tounament most of the way after winning two of his first three games and drawing out the rest, drew their respective final games to finish even with Mamedyarov.

The World Blitz Championship, often cited as the Tal Memorial Blitz Tournament, begins tomorrow with Magnus Carlsen arriving in Moscow as the defending blitz champion.