The JR Chess Report (November 28): Galliamova Repeats as Russian Women's Champion

[Jack Rabbit]

Alisa Galliamova Repeats as Russian Women's Champion

Alisa Galliamova defeated Natalia Pogonina in a rapid playoff yesterday in Moscow to win the Russian Women's Championship for the second year in a row.

Galliamova finaished tied with Pogonina and Tatiana Kosintseva with 7 points out of eleven rounds. Alisa Mikhailovna and Natalia Andreevna went to the playoffs based on tie-break scores while Tatiana Anatolyevna was awarded third place.

Georgian teenager Nazi Paikidze was just behind the leaders with 6½ points.


Snowdrops Best Old Hands in Marianske Lanze

The Snowdrops (Koneru Humpy, Viktorija Cmilyte, Tereza Olsarova and Arianne Caoili) defeated the Old Hands (Wolfgang Uhlmann, Vlastimil Hort, Lajos Portisch and Dragoljub Velimirovic) for the second year in a row in the team match in the Czech resort of Marianske Lanze (Marienbad).

This year's score was 18-14. Ms. Koneru, the world's second ranked woman behind Judit Polgar, outscored all participants with 6 points in eight rounds while Ms. Cmilyte added 5½ points. Mr. Hort was the only player for the Old Hands to score over 50% with 5 points, while Mr. Velimirovic scored 4 points.

The matched was sponsoed by the Czech Coal Group.


Chinese Teams Sweep Asian Games Guangzhou

Teams from China took first place in both the men's and women's team compitition at the Asian Games held November 18-27 in Guangzhou, China.

Individual rapid competition was won by Rustam Kazimdzhanov of Uzbekistand and Hou Yifan of China.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This weeks 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. 60th Russian Women's Championship, Moscow

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

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Galliamova - Nebolsina, Round 9

This is an extraordinary game in the boa constrictor style. Black never has a chance to develop her pieces.



Alisa Galliamova (1992)
Photo by Gerhard Hund from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License)

(NOTE: This is the only available photo of Alisa Galliamova with an internet-friendly copyright. It was taken when she was 19 years old. Here are photos from yesterday.)

Alisa Galliamova - Vera Nebolsina
60th Russian Women's Championship, Round 9
Moscow, 25 November 2010

Moorish Game: Dragon Defense (Pirc Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 c6 6.Be2 (N)

• The ladies waste no time in getting out of the book.
• If 6.Qd2 0-0 7.Bh6 b5 8.Bd3 Nbd7 then:
• If 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• If 10.0-0 e5 then:
• If 11.a4 b4 then:
• If 12.Ne2 c5 13.dxc5 then:
• If 13...dxc5!? 14.Ng3 (White has a slight advantage in space) 14...Bb7 15.c3 Qe7 16.Rfd1 Rad8 then:
• If 17.Qg5?! then:
• If 17...Kh8?! 18.Bb5! (White has a firm advantage in space) 18...Qe6 19.Qh6 then:
• 19...Nb8? 20.Ng5 Qe7 21.f4! Rc8 22.fxe5 Qxe5 23.Rf1 Black resigns (Konguvel-I. Salem, Banwell Masters, London, 2001).
• 19...Qe7 20.Qh4 Rfe8 21.cxb4 cxb4 22.Rac1 continues to give White has a firm advantage in space and activity, but he still must work for a win
• 17...Qe6 18.Qe3 c4 19.Be2 bxc3 20.Qxc3 Bxe4 21.Bxc4 Nd5 is equal.
• 17.cxb4 cxb4 18.Rac1 Rc8 19.Bc4 gives White a firm advantage in space.
• 13...Nxc5 14.Qxb4 Ncxe4 15.Bxe4 a5 remains equal.
• 12.Nd1 c5 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Qxb4 a5 15.Qe1 Rb8 16.Nd2 Rb4 is equal (Plannic-Botterill, EU ChT, Bath, 1973).
• 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.a4 b4 13.Ne2 a5 14.Ng3 h6 15.h3 Nh7 16.Rfd1 Ng5 17.Nxg5 Qxg5 18.Qxg5 hxg5 (Nadyrhanov-Tseshkovsky, IT, Krasnodar, 1999).
• If 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Qf4 then:
• 12...Ndxe5 13.Nxe5 Qd6 14.Nxg6 fxg6 15.Qxd6 exd6 16.0-0 Ne5 17.Be2 Bf5 18.f4 b4 19.Nd1 Nd7 gives Black the advantage of a queenside majority (Miles-Reilly, IT, Australia, 1991).
• 12...Nc5 13.h3 Nh6 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.h4 Bg4 16.h5 Ne6 is equal (Osuna-N. Andersen, Masters, Gibraltar, 2010).
• If 9.h3 Qc7 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rfe1 e5 then:
• If 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.a4 a6 then:
• 14.axb5 cxb5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rfd8 18.Bf1 f6 gives Black more freedlom (Kriventsov-A. Ivanov, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• 14.Qg5 Ne8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.Qh4 f6 18.Be3 Nd6 19.Nd2 Nf7 20.Nb3 Qd6 21.Rd1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Zelinka-Kljako, IT, Katsav, 2001).
• 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Ne2 Rae8 14.Ng3 Re7 15.Rad1 Rfe8 16.Qg5 gives White the advantage in space (Osuna-G. Szabo, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

6...0-0 7.0-0 d5?!

• Black would have done better to hold the pawn back to discourage White from advancing to e5.
• 7...Na6 8.Qd2 Nc7 9.h3 Ne6 10.Qe3 remains equal.

8.e5!

• White will be calling the tune for a while.

8...Ne8 9.Qd2 Bg4!?

• Black's position is becoming cramped and she desperately (and unwisely) attempts to exchange the only piece she can activate.
• 9...Nd7 10.a4 Nc7 11.Rfd1 Ne6 12.Bh6 White contues to enjoy the advantage in space.

BLACK: Vera Nebolsina



WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 9...Bc8g4

10.Ng5!

• Rybka and I are having a disagreement about the merits of this move. The machine reduces White's advantage from 0.5 to 0.35, which is fairly significant at this stage of the game. For me, it forces Black to exchange light-bound Bishops, which is Black's only piece with any activity and her other pieces will be difficult to develop.
• For Rybka, better is 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nd7 12.a4 when White begins cramping Black's position.

10...Bxe2 11.Nxe2 h6 12.Nf3

• Rybka now gives White a score of 0.6. That's more like it.

12...Kh7 13.h4 Nc7

• If 13...Qd7!? 14.h5 then:
• 14...Na6 15.Ng3 Rc8 16.Be3 Rd8 17.c3 leaves Black so cramped that there is no way for her to exchange her way to freedom.
• 14...g5?? 15.Bxg5!! hxg5 16.Nxg5+ Kg8 17.Qd3 leaves Black in deep trouble.
• 13...Qb6 14.c3 Nd7 15.Qc2 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Be3 black appears less cramped, but the pin at c5 more than makes up for that from White's point of view.

14.h5 Ne6 15.Be3

• Rybka "believes" White would win faster after 15.hxg6+ fxg6 16.Be3 Qc8 17.Nh4 Na6 18.Qd3, but Alisa Mikhailovna, employing a strategy of keeping Black's game cramped, did not want to give Black's Rook any freedom.

15...Nd7?

• Black's long odds just got longer.
• Better is 15...g5 16.Ng3 Na6 17.Nf5 Qd7 18.c3 Kh8 19.Qc2 when at least her game doesn't go from bad to worse.

BLACK: Vera Nebolsina



WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 15...Nb8c7

16.Nh2?!

• If White is regrouping, she doesn't need to.
• If 16.hxg6+ fxg6 17.Nh4 then:
• 17...Qe8 18.f4 c5 19.f5 gxf5 20.Nxf5 cxd4 21.Nexd4 gives White a tremendous advantage in space and far more activity.
• 17...Rc8 18.f4 Qe8 19.f5 gxf5 20.Nxf5 gives White opportunities to pick up material.

16...Qe8 17.hxg6+ fxg6

• Black's resurgeance has reduced White to a small advantage in space.

18.f4 h5 19.Rf3 Rf5?

• The Rook can do nothing here.
• Better is 19...Rc8 20.Rg3 Bh6 21.Nf3 Ng7 22.Nh4 Nf5! when White has only a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Vera Nebolsina



WHITE: Alisa Galliamova
Position after 19...Rf8f5

20.Ng3

• This is good enough, but 20.Rg3! Ndf8 21.Nf3 Bh6 22.Nh4 Ng7 23.Qd3 is a quicker win.

20...Qf7

• The game is winding down.
• If 20...Rf8 then after 21.f5 Nc7 22.Raf1 c5 23.fxg6+ Qxg6 24.Nf5! White wins.

21.Nxf5 Qxf5 22.Nf1

• Also good is 22.Qb4 Nb6 23.Qxe7 Rf8 24.g4 when:
• 24...hxg4 25.Qh4+ Kg8 26.Qxg4 Nc4 27.Qxf5 Rxf5 28.Kf2 wins.
• 24...Qxc2 25.Qxe6 Nc4 26.gxh5 Nxe3 27.Rxe3 is an easy win for White.

22...Rf8 23.Ng3 Qg4 24.f5 h4 25.fxe6 hxg3

• No better is 25...Rxf3 26.gxf3 Qxf3 27.exd7 Qf8 28.Qh2.

26.exd7 Qh4 27.Rxf8 1-0

• Black cannot prevent the d-pawn from queening.
• Vera Valeryevna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Pogonina - Bodnaruk, Round 3

Natalia Pogonina
Photo by Otdanon in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Natalia Pogonina - Anastasia Bodnaruk
60th Russian Women's Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 18 November 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Opocensky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Nbd7

• The most common move here is 6...e5. See Rapina-Bodnaruk, Russian ChTW, Dagomys, 2010.

7.0-0 g6

• This position is not often seen in master play.

8.Re1 (N)

• The novelty is probably to avoid 8.f4 Bg7 9.a4 0-0 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Kh1 e5 12.Nb3 b6 13.f5 Bb7 14.Qd3 Nc5 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Qc4 Rad8 17.fxg6 draw (Dimitrov-Tringov, Prilep, 2010)

8...Bg7 9.a4

• White has a slight advantage in space and the lead in development.
• If 9.Bg5 0-0 then:
• 10.Qd2 Re8 11.f3 Nc5 12.Nb3 Be6 13.Nxc5 dxc5 gives White a small edge in space.
• 10.a3 Nb6 11.h3 d5 then:
• 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 12.exd5 Nfxd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 is equal.

9...0-0 10.Be3 e6 11.Nb3 Qc7 12.Qd2 b6 13.Rad1

• With her development complete, White has a greater asdvantage in space and more freedom.

13...Ne8 14.Bh6!?

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 14.Be3h6

• Exchanging Bishops at g7 makes little sense. Black will only use the time taken for the exchange to catch up on her development.
• White makes better use of her spatial advantage with 14.Bg5 Ne5 15.f4 Nc6 16.f5.

14...Bb7

• See previous note.

15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.h4

• 16.f4 Rd8 17.Bf1 e5 18.g3 exf4 19.Qxf4 gives White a small advantage in space.

16...Rd8

• If 16...h5 17.Qd4+ e5 then:
• 18.Qd2 Rc8 19.g3 Nc5 20.Qe3 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 18.Qe3 Nef6 19.Rd2 Rfd8 20.Red1 Nc5 is equal.

17.h5 Nc5?!

• 17...gxh5 18.Bxh5 Nef6 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Bf3 Rg8 21.Qf4 White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

18.Nxc5

• The exchange at c5 gives White a greater share of space.

18...Qxc5 19.Qd4+!?

• If 19.h6+! Kg8 20.Bf1 Rc8 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 gives White a respectable advantage in space.

19...f6!?

• 19...Qxd4 20.Rxd4 Rc8 21.e5 dxe5 22.Rb4 is equal

20.hxg6!?

• The game is equal.
• 20.Rd3! e5 21.Qxc5 bxc5 22.a5 Rb8 23.b3 gives White a larger advantage in space.

20...hxg6 21.Rd3 Rh8 22.Red1 Rh4

• 22...Rc8!? 23.Qxc5! Rxc5 24.Rd4 Kf7 25.f4 gives White a small advantage with a stronger grip on the center.

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 22...Rh8h4

23.Qxc5!?

• White misses a chance to create some tactical opportunities.
• If 23.f3 Rh7 24.Qxc5 bxc5 25.a5 Rd7 26.Na2 f5 27.e5 gives White more freedom.
• 24.Nb1 Qh5 25.Rb3 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 gives White more freedom.

23...bxc5

• The game is equal.

24.g3 Rh7 25.Bf3 Bc6

• 25...g5 26.Be2 Kf7 27.a5 Ke7 28.Bf3 Rb8 29.b3 remains equal.

26.b3 Kf7 27.Ne2 Ke7 28.Bg2

• 28.Nc3 Nc7 29.Kf1 e5 30.Bg4 Ne6 remains equal.

28...e5 29.f4!?

• This pawn advance weakens White's kingside.
• 29.Nc3 Nc7 30.Nb1 Ne6 31.Nd2 Rdh8 32.Nc4 Nd4 is equal.

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 29.f2f4

29...Nc7!

• Black has a small advantage in space.

30.R3d2

• If 30.Rf1 then Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 30...a5 31.Nc3 Ne6 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.Nd1 Bb7.

30...Ne6 31.a5 Rhh8!?

• Black makes a waiting move when there was something to do.
• 31...g5 32.f5 Nd4 33.Nxd4 exd4 34.Rc1 Rb8 is equal.

32.c3 Rd7 33.Kf2!

• The game is equal.

33...c4 34.b4 Rh2 35.Kg1 Rxg2+

• 35...Rh7 36.Kf2 g5 37.Ke3 g4 38.Rf1 remains equal.

36.Kxg2 Bxe4+ 37.Kf2 d5 38.Ke3 Kd6 39.fxe5+ fxe5 40.Rf1 Rh7!?

• Black misses 40...Bd3 41.Rxd3 cxd3 42.Kxd3 Rh7 with equality.

41.Rb2!?

• White is intending to advance on the queenside, but this move makes d3 available for Black.
• If 41.Rdd1 Rh5 42.Rf7 Rh2 43.b5 then:
• 43...Bd3 44.Rd2 Rh5 45.bxa6 d4+ 46.Kf2 Ng5 is equal.
• 43...axb5 44.a6 Bd3 45.Rd2 Bxe2 46.a7 d4+ is equal.

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 41.Rd2b2

41...Rb7!?

• The Rook was much better on the h-file than here.
• 41...Bd3! 42.Rf3 Rh2 43.Rf2 Rh5 44.b5 d4+ gives Black a good deal more freedom.

42.Rd2!

• The game is equal.
• 42.Rf6 Bd3 43.g4 Rh7 44.b5 axb5 45.Rxb5 is also equal.

42...Ke7!?

• If 42...Rh7 43.Rdd1 g5 44.Rf2 g4 45.Rf6 Ke7 remains equal.

43.Nc1 Rb8 44.Rh2 Bf5 45.Rh7+ Kd6 46.Ne2

• The game remains equal.
• 46.Ra7 d4+ 47.Kf2 Nc7 48.Ke1 dxc3 49.Na2 is also equal.

46...d4+ 47.cxd4 Rxb4 48.dxe5+ Kxe5 49.Rc1 Ra4!?

• Black gets greedy and goes pawn hunting. With an extra pawn, she should have worried about advancing the passer.
• If 49...Rb3+ 50.Kf2 Rb2 51.Ke3 Rb3+ then:
• 52.Rc3 Nc5 53.Re7+ remains equal.
• 52.Nc3 Nc5 53.Re7+ Kf6 54.Rc7 Nd3 also remain equal.
• 52.Kf2 Rb2 53.Ke3 etc. draws.

50.Rc3!?

• The game remains equal as White fails to capitalize on her opponent's inaccuracy.
• 50.Re7! Bg4 51.Nf4 Kd6 52.Rb7 Ra3+ 53.Kd2 gives White only a small advantage as the c-pawn will be easily protected.

50...Nc5!?

• Black can't seem to find the right move to permanently equalize.
• 50...Kd5 51.Rh8 Nc7 52.Nf4+ Kc5 53.g4 Bxg4 54.Nd3+ remains equal.

51.Re7+

• 51.Rh8 g5 52.Re8+ Kd5 53.Rc1 Ra3+ 54.Nc3+ gives White the advantage with the more active Rook behind Black's position.

51...Kd6 52.Ra7 Ne4?!

• Black seems to think that if she playsw aggressive long enough, she will provoke White into making a mistake. Yet each one of this aggressive moves contain a certain degree of risk.
• 52...Kd5 53.Ra8 g5 54.Rd8+ Bd7 55.g4 remains equal.

53.Rc1!?

• Sooner or later, somebody's luck is going to run out.
• 53.Rc2! Ra3+ 54.Kd4 Nc5 55.Rb2 Rb3 56.Rxb3 cxb3 57.Kc3 gives White a good advantage as the passed pawn will fall.

53...Nc5 54.Rc3 Bd7 55.Ra8!

• The White Rook finds a more navigable rank.

55...g5?

• Black's only hope was in a more active defense.
• If 55...Ne4! 56.Kd4 then:
• 56...Rxa5 57.Rxc4 Nd2 58.Rc3 Nf1 59.Rc1 then:
• If 59...Ra4+ 60.Kc3 Nxg3 61.Nxg3 Ra3+ then:
• If 62.Kb4 Rxg3 63.Rd1+ Kc6 64.Rxa6+ Kb7 then:
• 65.Rf6 Bc6 66.Rc1 Bd7 67.Rd6 Be8 leaves White with good winning chances, but still fighting to win.
• 65.Rxg6 Rxg6 66.Rxd7+ is a book draw.
• If 62.Kd4 Rxg3 63.Rxa6+ Ke7 64.Re1+ Kd8 65.Ke4 leaves White still looking for a win.
• If 59...Rd5+!! 60.Kc3 Rc5+ 61.Kb2 Rxc1 62.Kxc1 gives White an advantage far roo slight to guarantee victory.
• If 56...Nxc3? then after 57.Rxa6+! Ke7 58.Nxc3 Ra3 59.Kxc4 White wins.

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 55...g6g5

56.Rg8!

• White wins by attacking Black's weakest pawn.

56...g4 57.Rg6+ Ke5 58.Rg5+ Kd6 59.Nf4!

• White nails down the game by bringing the Knight to pressure the center.
• If 59.Nd4!? Rxa5! 60.Nc2 Be6 61.Ra3 then:
• 61...Rxa3+ 62.Nxa3 Nb3 63.Nb1 a5 64.Nc3 gives White an advantage, but it's a long ways from a victory.
• If 61.Rg6 then:
• 61...Kd5 62.Nb4+ Kd6 63.Rxc4 still gives White the advantage, but she will have to work a lot harder to win than she does after the text.
• If 61...Ke5? then White wins after 62.Nd4! Bd5 63.Rg5+ Kd6 64.Nf5+ Ke6 65.Ng7+

59...Rb4

• Black cannot take too much more punishment after 59...Nb3 60.Rg6+ Ke5 61.Rxa6 Nxa5 62.Rh6 Bf5 63.Ng6+.

BLACK: Anastasia Bodnaruk



WHITE: Natalia Pogonina
Position after 59...Ra4b4

60.Rd5+!

• The text dooms Black.

60...Kc6 61.Kd4

• 61.Rd4 wins a pawn after 61...Be8 62.Rdxc4.

61...Nb3+ 62.Ke5 Bc8

• 62...Nc5 loses to 63.Rd4 Na4 64.Rcxc4+.

63.Nd3 Ra4 64.Nb2 Rb4

• 64...Rxa5 loses to 65.Rxa5 Nxa5 66.Nxc4.

65.Nxc4 Nc5 66.Rxc5+ Kxc5 67.Nd6+! 1-0

• White mates on the next move.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. T. Kosintseva - Kosteniuk, Round 8

Tatiana Anatolyevna got off to a horrorable start, bounced back and finished in the three way tie for first. Here she defeats the reigning world women's champion.



Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo by karpidis in flickr modified for Wikimedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Tatiana Kosintseva - Alexandra Kostiniuk
60th Russian Women's Championship, Round 8
Moscow, 24 November 2010

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Old Arkhangelsk Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5

• The main line is 5...Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3.

6.Bb3 Bb7

• For the Neo-Classical Defense, 6.Bc5, seeKamaky-Z. Almasi, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2010.[/li>

7.d3 Be7

• If 7...Bc5 then:
• If 8. Nc3 d6 9.a4 b4 10.Nd5 Na5 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Ba2 then:
• 12...Bc8 13.Bg5 Qg6 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 0-0 16.Qe1 Rb8 17.Nh4 Qh6 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Rxf5 is equal (Wohl-Nezad, Ol. Torino, 2006).
• If 12...h6 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 0-0 15.Be3 then:
• 15...Rad8 16.Rb1 Bc8 17.Qe2 Be6 18. h3 Bxa2 19.Qxa2 Bxe3 20.fxe3 is equal (Kasparov-Anand, World Ch Match, New York, 1995).
• 15...Ba7 16.Qc2 c5 17.Nd2 g5 18.Nc4 Qd8 19.Qe2 is equal (Madl-Nyamtuya, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• If 8.a4 0-0 9. Nc3 then:
• If 9...Na5 10.axb5 Nxb3 11.cxb3 axb5 12.Rxa8 Bxa8 13.Nxe5 d5 14.Bg5 then:
• If 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 Qxd116.Rxd1 b4 then:
• 17.Bxf6 bxc3 18.bxc3 gxf6 19.Nd7 Bd6 20.Nxf8 Kxf8 21.f3 h5 22.h4 Ke7 23.Kf2 Bb7 24.c4 Be5 gives White the material edge (Kasparov-Kramnik, World Ch Match, London, 2000).
• 17.Nd5 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 19.Kg1 Nxg5 20.Nd7 Rd8 21.Nxc7 Kh8 22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.Rd4 gives White the active Rook for the endgame (Topalov-Shirov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1997).
• 14...Be7 15.Nxb5 dxe4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17.Nc3 Bb7 18.Re1 gives White an extra pawn and a small edge in space (Kasparov-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1998).
• 9...b4 10.Nd5 h6 11.Be3 d6 12.Qd2 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Qf6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Qe3 Qd6 is equal (Bergsson-Houska, Op, Hastings, 2005-06).

8.Re1

• If 8.a4 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.Re1 d6 10.Nbd2then:
• If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 then:
• If 12.Nf1 then:
• If 12...h6 13.Ne3 Re8 14.Bd2 Nc6 then:
• If 15.c3 Bf8 then:
• 16.axb5! axb5 17.Qba3! wins a pawn for White (Souma-Ozturk, World Jr Ch (Girls), Puerto Madryn, 2009).
• 16...Nc6 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Bf6 21. Kh1 Qd7 22.Bh2 Nd4 is equal (Kindermann-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga, Germany, 1989).
• 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19. Rb1 Nc7 20.Nh5 Bd4+ 21.Be3 Be5 is equal (A. Sokolov-Balashov, Televised Exhibition Game, Moscow, 1987).
• If 12... b4 13.Ng3 then:
• If 13...Rb8 14. Nd2 Bc8 then:
• If 15.h3 Be6 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.b3 Nc7 21.Be3 Ne6 gives White more space, but Black's position is solid (Kissinger-Andresen, Cyberspace, 1998).
• If 13...Bc8 14.h3 Rb8 then:
• If 15.Bd2 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Be3 then:
• 17...Nc6 18. c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.exd5 exd5 21.Nf5 Nd7 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 is equal (Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch Rd 1, Vilnius, 1980).
• 17...Nd7 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.exd5 exd5/i] is equal (Kupreichk-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch Rd 4, Vilnius, 1980).
• 15.Nd2 Be6 16.Nc4 transposes into the secondary line of this variation (Kissenger-Andresen).
• If 12.c3 then:
• If 12...Re8 13.Nf1 h6 14. Ne3 then:
• 14...Bf8 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nc6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Qd7 19.Qb3/i] is equal (Kinderman-Adams, IT, Garmisch Partenkirchen, 1994).
• 14...Qd7 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nc6 17.Bd2 Bf8 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Ne7 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.d4 bxa4 22.Qxa4 exd4 23.Nxd4 Ng6 24.Qc6 Qxc6 25. Nxc6 Ne5 26.Rec1 Rec8 27.Nxe5 dxe5/i] draw (Onischuk-Adams, Bundesliga 9697, Germany, 1997).
• 12...Qc7 13.Nf1 c4 14.Bg5 cxd3 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qxd3 is equal (Bronstein-Pachman, IT, Moscow, 1946).
• If 10...Nd7 11.c3 Nc5 then:
• 12.Bc2 Nxa4 13.Bxa4 bxa4 14.Qxa4 Rb8 15.Nc4 f5 16.exf5 Kh8 17.Ne3 d5 18.d4/i] gives White the advantage in space (Matulovic-Milic, Yugoslav Ch, Sarajevo, 1958).
• 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Bxa8 14.Bc2 Ne6 15.Nf1 Bf6 16.Ne3 g6 17.b4 Bg7 is equal (Handke-Ornstein, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2002-03).
• 10.Bd2 b4 11.c3 d5 12.cxb4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Bd6 14.Nc3 Nxb4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 gives White the advantage in space (Halsinger-Hebden, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).
• If 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bd2 d6 then:
• If 10.a4 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 then:
• If 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 then:
• 14...bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8 16. Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 B4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzman-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
• 14...b3? 15.Bxb3 Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Rab1 Qd7 18. Rfe1 gives White an extra pawn (A. Zhigalko-van der Wiel, IT, Gronigen, 2004).
• 12.Ne2 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ng3 Rfe8 16.Re1 Bf8 is equal (Tukmakov-Planinc, IT, Madrid, 1973).
• 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7 14.Bxb7 Rxb7 15.axb5 axb5 16.d4 gives White the advantage in space (Khairullin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

8...0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.Nc3 h6 11.Nd5

• If 11.a3 then:
• If 11...Bc5 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.c3 then:
• If 14...Bc5 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.Be3 d6 then:
• 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Re3 Re7 19.Qh5 Qg5 20.Qxg5 hxg5 gives White better pawn structure and better chances for attack (Anand-Leko, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008)
• If 17.Qh5 Re7 18.a4 Rd8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra5 c6 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Qe2 Qd6 (Karjakin-Matsuura, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007)
• If 14...Ba7 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.Be3 c5 17.Qg4 d6 18.a4 Bc8 19.Qg3 c4 20.Bxa7 cxb3 21.Be3 is equal (Karjakin-Harikrishna, Russian Ch, Sochi, 2007)
• If 11...Bf8 12.Nd5 d6 13.Bd2 then:
• If 13...Nb8 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Nh2 Nd7 then:
• 16.Ng4 Qg6 17.Re3 h5 18.Nh2 Nc5 19.Rg3 Qh7 20.Ba2 h4 21.Rf3 Ne6 22.Ng4 gives White an edge in space (Psakhis-Mitkov, Op, New York, 1997)
• 16.Re3 Qh4 17.Rf3 Re7 18.Rf5 Re6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Rf3 d5 21.exd5 exd5 22.Rg3 d4 leaves White up by an exchange (Calzetta-Jackova, Euro ChW, Gothenburg, 2005)
• 13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Rb8 draw (A. Sokolov-Z. Almasi, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001)

11...Na5

• If 11...Bc5 12.c3 d6 13.Nh2 Na5 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 is equal (Leko-Svidler, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).

12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Nh4 Nxb3 14.Nf5 Qf8?! (N)

• 14...Qe6 15.axb3 d5 16.Qf3 dxe4 17.dxe4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Anand-Leko, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2007).

15.axb3

• White has at least a fair advantage in space.

15...Re6

• If 15...d5?! 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Re3! Be6 18.Rxe5 gives White a greater advantage in space.

16.f4!?

• White has an opportunmity to activate her Rooks and shouldn't wast time with the f-pawn.
• 16.Re3! Ne8 17.Qh5 Rg6 18.Nh4 Re6 19.Rg3 gives White a considerable advantage in space, mostly concentrated on the King's wing.

16...exf4?!

• Black, in turn, misses the chance to limit White's spatial advantage.
• 16...d6! 17.Be3 Nd7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Rf1 gives White olnly a small advantage in space.

17.Bxf4 Rd8

• 17...d6 18.Re3 Nd7 19.h4 d5 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Rg3 gives White significant pressure on the kingside.

18.Re3 Ne8?!

• This gives White immediate use of the g4 square
• 18...Qc5 19.Kh1 Kh8 20.c4 b4 21.Rg3 doesn't get any worse for Black.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk



WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 18...Nf6e8

19.Qg4!

• White make use of the g4 square with great effect.

19...Kh7 20.Qh4 Ra8

• If 20...Rb8? 21.Rf1! d5 22.e5 then:
• 22...c5 23.d4 c4 24.Bg5 cxb3 25.Rxb3 Rc8 26.Be7 wins for White.
• If 22...Rc8 23.Bg5 Qc5 24.d4 then:
• If 24...Qb6 25.Ne7 then:
• 25...c5 26.Nxc8 Bxc8 27.Rc3 gives White the exchange and leaves Black tied in knots.
• If 25...Rd8 then:
• 26.Rxf7 Rd7 27.Rf8 Rdxe7 28.Bxe7 White wins.
• 26.Rg3 Rd7 27.Rxf7 White wins.
• 24...Qxc2 25.Rg3 Qc6 26.Bf6 is an easy win for White.

21.Rf1 c5 22.Rg3

• If 22.c4 Bc6 23.Ref3 then:
• 23...Kh8 24.Rg3 Kh7 25.Be3 Rb8 26.Qh5 leaves White close to winning.
• 23...f6 24.Rg3 g5 25.Qh5 d6 26.h4 is an easy win for White.

22...c4

• 22...d5 23.e5 Rc8 24.d4 Rc7 25.Kh2 gives White a huge advantage in space and considerable pressure on the kingside.

23.bxc4 bxc4 24.Bg5!?

• White misses a win by 24.Be3! cxd3 25.cxd3 Rg6 26.Rff3.

24...cxd3 25.cxd3 Nd6?

• This take some protection away from the pawn at g7 and allows White's next shot.
• Better is 25...Rg6 26.Rff3 d5 27.Ne7 then:
• 27...Rxg5 28.Rxg5 dxe4 29.dxe4 , but even then White is up by an exchange.
• If 27...Re6 then after 28.exd5 Re1+ 29.Kf2 Re5 30.d4 the Rook must still sell itself for a minor piece.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk



WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 26...Ne8d6

26.Nxg7!!

• Did anybody hear a loud explosion?

26...Qxg7 27.Bf6 Qf8 28.Qh5

• If 28.Qg4! then:
• If 28...Bc6 then White wins after 29.Kh2 Qg8 30.Qh5 Qxg3+ 31.Kxg3 when White's kingside dominance assures her victory.
• If 28...Rc8 then after 29.Kh2 Rc1 30.Rf4 Rc8 31.e5 White wins easily.

28...Rc8 29.e5!?

• White misses an almost certain win.
• 29.Qg4 Qg8 30.Qg7+! Qxg7 31.Rxg7+ Kh8 32.Rxf7+ sets up a devastating series of windmill checks.

29...Rc5 30.d4 Rb5 31.Qg4

• 31.h4 Be4 32.Qg4 Bc2 33.Rf2 Bb1 34.exd6 leaves White a pawn to the good and still threatening the windmill checks.

31...Be4 32.Qg7+?

• White sets up the windmill checks in a way that she won't get very much out of it.
• Better is 32.h4! then:
• 32...Bc2 33.Rf2 Bb1 34.exd6 Bg6 35.Be5 gives White an extra pawn and dominace of the kingside.
• If 32...a5 then after 33.exd6 Bg6 34.Be5 h5 35.Qe2 White wins easily.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk



WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 32.Qg4g7+

32...Qxg7!

• White's once winning advantage is reduced to almost nothing.

33.Rxg7+ Kh8 34.Rg4+

• Since the Black Bishop is covered by the Knight, 34.Rg3 would be better.
• 34.Rg3+ Kh7 35.exd6 Rf5 36.Rxf5 Bxf5 37.Be7 gives the Rook a more navigable rank.

34...Kh7 35.Rg7+ Kh8 36.Rxf7+ Kg8 37.Rg7+

• If 37.Rxd7 Ne8 38.Be7 then:
• 38...Bc6! 39.Ra7 Rxb2 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Ba3+ is equal.
• 38...Kg7 39.Ba3+ Kg6 40.Rf4 gives White a small advantage ibn space.

37...Kf8 38.Rxd7 Rxb2 39.Rf4 Bxg2?

• The way to preserve equality is to take the g-pawn with the Rook.
• If 39...Rxg2+ 40.Kf1 Ra2 then:
• 41.Bg7+ Ke8 42.Rxd6 Rxd6 43.exd6 Bg2+ 44.Ke1 gives White only a slight edge in space.
• 41.Rxd6 Bd3+ 42.Kg1 Rxd6 43.exd6 Ke8 44.Rg4 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk



WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 39...Be4g2:p

40.Bh4+!

• White recovers her sacrificed piece.

40...Nf5

• If 40...Kg8 then White wins after 41.Rg4+ Kf8 42.Rxg2 Rb1+ 43.Kh2.

41.Rxf5+ Kg8 42.d5

• If 42.Rd8+ Kh7 43.d5 probably wraps up the game faster.

42...Re8 43.Bf6 Be4 44.Rf2 Rb1+

• If 44...Rxf2 then White wins after 45.Kxf2 Bf5 46.Rc7 Bxh3 47.d6.

45.Kh2 Rh1+ 46.Kg3 a5

• The text is no better than 46...Rg1+ 47.Kf4 Bb1 48.Ra7 Rc8 49.e6.

47.Rg7+ Kf8 48.e6 Rg1+ 49.Kf4 Rxg7

• If 49...Bxd5 then White wins after 50.e7+ Rxe7 51.Rxe7.

50.Bxg7+ Kxg7 51.Kxe4

• Black could have resigned here.

51...Ra8 52.d6 a4 53.d7 1-0

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk



WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Final position after 53.d6d7

• One of White's pawns will safely queen.
• Alexandra Konstantinovna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Paikidze - Shadrina, Round 6

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


Nazi Paikidze - Tatiana Shadrina
60th Russian Women's Championship, Round 6
Moscow, 21 November 2010

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7

• The Zaitsev Defense is one of a half-dozen good defenses to the Grand Spanish Main Line. See Nisipeanu-Ivanchuk, IT, Banza, 2009.

10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.d5

• If 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 then:
• If 17...f5 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 22...Ra7 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Re7 is equal (Haba-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, 2003).
• 17...c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 is equal (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

13...Ne7

• If 13...Nb8 14.c4 c6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 then:
• 17.cxb5 cxd5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Ne4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Re3 e4 22.Bd2 d5 23.Bc3 Qd8 24.Ne5 gives White better development and more activity (Svidler-Janssen, Bundesliga 0809, Eppingen, 2009)
• 17.dxc6 b4 18.Ba4 Nxc6 19.Nf1 Bb7 20.g4 g6 21.Ng3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Vasiukov-Razuvaev, IT, Frunze, 1979).

14.Nh2

• If 14.c4 Qd7 15.Bc2 c6 16.b3 g6 then:
• 17.Bd3 b4 18.Nf1 Bg7 19.N3h2 cxd5 20.cxd5 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 is equal (Sandipan-Ibragimov, Sportland Cup, Senden, 2001).
• 17.Bb2 Bg7 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.c5 Nh5 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.b4 dxc5 23.bxc5 f6 is equal (Shirov-Zhong Zhang, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).

14...Qd7 15.Ndf1 c6 16.Ng4 Nxg4 17.hxg4 cxd5 18.exd5 Ng6 (N)

• 18...g6 19.Ng3 Bg7 20.Be3 f5 21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Nh5 (Jansa-Ilincic, IT, Prague, 1989).

19.Ne3

• White has a slight edge in space and more ability to make useful moves, called in these threasds "freedom".

19...e4?!

• 19...Nf4 20.Nf5 g6 21.Ng3 Bg7 22.Qf3 Rad8 23.Ne4 gives White more freedom.

20.Bc2

• 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Bc2 Re8 23.b3 gives White more freedom.

20...Re5?

• 20...Nf4 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8 Bxa8 23.c4 gives White more freedom.

21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8 Bxa8

BLACK: Tatiana Shadrina



WHITE: Nazi Paikidze
Position after 22...Bb7xa8

23.b3!

• White prepares to push the c-pawn forward. Although the pawn at b3 is unprotected, it is not readily assailable.
• If 23.Qd4 Be7 24.Bxe4 Bf6 25.g3 Re8 gives White an extra pawn.

23...Bb7 24.c4 Re8 25.Bb2

• Better is 25.Qd4! Be7 26.Nf5 Bf6 27.Qb6 Nh4 28.Qxd6 when the Black Queen must fall back for to play 28...Qxd6 drops a piece.

25...Nh4

• The game is spinning out of Black's control.
• Better is 25...Nf4 26.Qd4 bxc4 27.bxc4 Nd3 28.Bxd3 exd3 29.Qxd3.

26.Qd4 h5 27.Nf5 Nxf5 28.gxf5 Qxf5

• 28...bxc4 29.bxc4 Ba6 30.Rxe4! Rxe4 31.Qxe4 gives White an extra pawn, a lot more space and (least we forget) more freedom.

29.Bxe4!

• White is collecting dividends for her advantage in freedom,
• The text is better than 29.Rxe4 Rxe4 30.Bxe4 Qd7 31.Qd1.

29...Qd7 30.Re3 bxc4 31.bxc4 Qd8

• 31...Bc8 32.Qd1 Re7 33.Qxh5 f5 34.Bd3 Rxe3 35.fxe3 leaves White a pawn to the good.

32.Qd1 f5 33.Bxf5 Rxe3

BLACK: Tatiana Shadrina



WHITE: Nazi Paikidze
Position after 33...Re8xe3

34.Qxh5!!

• White, by omitting to retake at d3, sacrifices a Rook.
• The text wins faster than 34.fxe3 Qe8 35.Be6+ Kh7 36.Qc2+ Kh6 37.Qf5.

34...Re1+ 35.Kh2 Be7

• No better is 35...Qg5 36.Qxg5 Bc8 37.Bg6 Bg4 38.Qh4.

36.Qh7+ Kf7 37.Qxg7+ Ke8 38.Qg8+ 1-0

• Bf8 38.Qg6+ Ke7 Bf6#.
• Ms. Shadrina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Tal Memorkial Blitz Championship, Moscow

Photo by unlikelylads in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Aronian-Nakamura, Round 33

You can get the full flavor of the intensity of blitz chess by watching this 10-minute video of this game.



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


Levon Aronian - Hikaru Nakamura
Tal Memorial Blitz Championship, Round 33
Moscow, 18 November 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3

• For 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 see Maiorov-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

3...Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3

• If 8.d5 Na5 then:
• If 9.Nd2 c5 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 then:
• If 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...Bh6 then:
• If 13.f4 bxc4 14.bxc4 then:
• If 14...e5 then:
• If 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Bg7 18.Qc1 Bxd5 then:
• 19.cxd5 Ng4 20.Rb1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Ne3 22.Qa3 Re8 23.Qd3 Qa8 24.Bf3 Nxf1 25.Nxf1 is equal (Jussupow-Kindermann, IT, Baden-Baden, 1992).
• 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 Bd4+ 21.Kg2 Qe8 22.e4 Bxa1 23.Qxa1 Nc4 24.Qc3 Nxd2 25.Qxd2 Qxe4+ gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom (Stohl-Babula, IT, Ziln, 1995)
• If 15.Rae1 exf4 16.gxf4 Nh5 17.e3 then:
• If 17...Bg7 18.Nd1 Bf5 19.Be4 then:
• 19...Bxb2 20.Nxb2 Qf6 21.Nd3 Rfe8 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.e4 Qg4+ 24.Kh1 Ng3+ 25.hxg3 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Qxg3+ 27.Kh1 draw (Osnos-Suetin, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1967).
• 19...Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxb2 21.Nxb2 Re8 22.Nf2 f5 23.Nbd3 Nf6 24.Re2 Rb7 25.Qa4 Rbe7 26.Rfe1 Ne4 27.Nd1 Rb7 28.Kh1 Rb1 gives Black more space and a maurading with which White must deal immediately (Ree-Sax, IT, Amsterdam, 1976).
• 17...Re8 18.Nce4 Bf5 19.Bc3 Nb7 20.Qa4 a5 21.Rb1 Qe7 22.Rfe1 Bd7 23.Qc2 Bf5 24.Qa4 gives White a healthy advantage in space (Portisch-Petrosian, IT, Santa Monica, 1966).
• If 14...Ng4 15.Nd1 Rxb2 16.Qxb2 Bg7 17.Qc1 then:
• 17...Bd4+ 18.Kh1 Bxa1 19.Qxa1 Qb6 20.Qc3 Nb7 21.h3 Nf6 22.Nf2 Qa5 23.Qc2 Qa3 24.Nd3 Bd7 25.Rb1 Ba4 26.Qb2 Qxb2 27.Rxb2 Na5 28.Bf3 draw (N. Ivanov-Shamkovich, IT, Timisoara, 1972).
• 17...e5 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Rb1 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 Re8 21.h3 Ne3 22.Nxe3 Bxe3 23.Qc3 Bf5 24.Rbd1 Bd4 25.Qf3 Re3 26.Qa8 Qxa8 27.Bxa8 Bxh3 gives Black enough extra space to compensate for his material deficit (Khalifman-Radjabov, Team Match, Moscow, 2002).
• If 12...e5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nce4 then:
• If 15...Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Bb7 then:
• 18.Rad1 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bg2 Nc6 21.Rfe1 Rc8 22.e4 d4 23.e5 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.b4 Rfd8 27.Red1 Qxe5 draw (W. Schmidt-Sax, Tyngsram, Budapest, 1977).
• 18.b4 Nc4 19.Qc3 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 d5 21.Bg2 cxb4 22.Qxb4 Qd6 23.Rab1 Qxb4 24.Rxb4 Nd6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Taimanov-Furman, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1957).
• If 15...Bb7 16.Rad1 then:
• If 16...Qe7 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 then:
• 19.Bxb7?! 19...Nxb7! 20.Qd3 b4 21.Ne4 Qe7 gives Black the advantage in space (Petrosian-Veingold, IT, Tallinn, 1979).
• 19...Rxb7? 20.Ne4! Qf5 21.Rxd6 Rc7 22.f3 b4 23.Rb6 gives White an extra pawn.
• 19.e4 b4 20.f4 Qe7 21.Nf3 Rbc8 is equal.
• 16...Nd5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.h4 Nc6 19.Nf3 Qe7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Jobava-Milton, Petroff Mem, St. Petersburg, 1998).
• If 12.Rb1 e5 13.Bb2 then:
• If 13...Bf5 14.e4 Bd7 then:
• If 15.Ne2 h5 16.Bc3 h4 17.Qd3 then:
• 17...Nb7 18.f4 is equal (Nielsen-Bologan, Samba Cup, Skanderborg, 2003).
• 17...b4 18.Bb2 Nb7 19.f4 hxg3 20.hxg3 Ng4 is equal (Akopian-Prusikhin, IT, Bad Wiessee, 2001).
• 15.Nd1 Nh5 16.Ne3 Bh6 17.Rbe1 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 Nxf4 21.Kh1 Ng6 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Podgaets-A. Zaitsev, Soviet Ch, Alma Ata, 1968).
• 13...Nh5 14.e3 f5 15.f4 exf4 16.exf4 bxc4 17.bxc4 Bd7 18.Bf3 Bd4+ gives Black the advatage in space (Lengyel- Su. Polgar, IT, Budapest, 1986).
• 9.b3 c5 10.dxc6 Nxc6 11.Bb2 Bd7 then:
• 12.Qc1 Qa5 13.Rd1 Rac8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Rxd5 gives White the advantage in space (L. B. Hansen-G. Lane, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 12.Qd2 Rc8 13.Ne1 Qa5 14.Nd3 Rfd8 15.Rfd1 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 is equal (Jowarski-B. Socko, TT, Ostrava-Opava, 2004).

8...Rb8 9.Bb2

• If 9.Nd5 Nh5 10.Bb2 e6 then:
• If 11.Nc3 b5 then:
• If 12.d5 Ne7 13.dxe6 then:
• If 13...fxe6 14.c5 then:
• If 14...dxc5 15.Qc2 Nc6 16.Rad1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 then:
• 18.Ne4 e5 19.e3 Bf5 20.Qc5 Rf7 21.exd4 exd4 22.Rxd4 Qe7 is equal (Sargissian-Nijboer, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 18.e3 e5 19.exd4 exd4 20.Nd5 Bg4 21.Rd2 d3 22.Qxd3 Bxb2 23.Rxb2 c6 is equal (K. Georgiev-Antic, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
• 14...Bb7 15.Qc2 Qd7 16.Rac1 Ba8 17.Rfd1 Rbd8 18.b4 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.Nd2 Qf6 23.Bf3 Ng7 24.Qc3 Qf7 25.Qc7 Qf6 26.Qc3 Qf7 draw (Houska-Dembo, Euro ChW, Plodiv, 2008).
• 13...Bxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Qd2 b4 16.Ne4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Bd5 18.Ned2 f5 19.Rfd1 Nf6 20.Rac1 Qd7 21.Nc4 Ne4 22.Ne3 Ba8 is equal (K. Georgiev-Radjabov, IT, Sarajevo, 2002).
• 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Rc1 b4 14.Na4 Na5 15.Qc2 Ba6 16.Rfe1 c6 17.e4 Bb5 18.e5 Bxa4 19.bxa4 d5 20.a3 gives White a small advantage in space (Romanishin-Nijboer, Op, Essen, 2001).
• 11.Ne3 Ne7 12.Qd2 b6 13.Ne1 f5 14.f4 h6 15.Nd1 Nf6 16.Nf2 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Qd3 b5 19.e4 bxc4 20.Qxc4 gives White the advantage in space (Grachev-Krylov, City Op, Moscow, 2007).

9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.Rc1

• 11.d5 Na5 12.Nd4 b4 13.Na4 e5 14.Nc2 Bd7 15.Rb1 c5 16.dxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Romanishin-Vaganian, Euro Ch, Plodiv, 2008).

11...b4 12.Na4

• If 12.Nb1 Na7 13.Ne1 then:
• If 13...c6 14.Nd3 Ba6 15.Qc2 Nd7 then:
• 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Nf4 Rfc8 18.Bh3 Qd8 19.a4 bxa3 20.Nxa3 Rb7 21.Nc4 c5 22.dxc5 Bxc4 23.Bxg7 Bxb3 is equal Romanishin-Tukmakov, Zonal, Yerevan, 1982).
• 16.Bxc6 Nxc6 17.Qxc6 Bxd3 18.exd3 Ra8 19.Nd2 Rxa2 20.Rc2 Nf6 21.Re1 Re8 22.Nc4 draw (Portisch-Sax, IT, Ungarn, 1981).
• 13...Bb7 14.Bxb7 Rxb7 15.Nd3 Qd7 16.e3 Qf5 17.Qe2 Ra8 18.Rc4 Qa5 19.Nd2 Nd5 20.Qf3 e6 21.e4 is equal (Romanishin-Vaganian, Zonal, Yerevan, 1982)

12...Na7

• 12...Na5 13.Qc2 c6 14.Ne1 Ba6 15.Nd3 Qd7 16.Qd2 is equal (Papin-Inarkiev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).

13.d5 (N)

• 13.Qc2 c6 14.e4 Qa5 15.Rfe1 Qh5 16.e5 Nd5 17.Nd2 Bh3 is equal (Guliev-Bologan, IT, Ostrava, 1993).

13...e5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Qc2

• The game is equal.

15...c5?!

• 15...Nb5 16.Qc4 c5 17.e4 Qe7 18.e5 Nd7 remains equal.

16.Rfd1!

• White hits at the backward pawn, which is covered only by the Black Queen.

16...Qe7?

• Black is apparently afraid of some maneuver that will expose the Queen to attack by the Rook,but there is not to fear at the moment.
• If 16...Nb5 17.Nxc5 Nd5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qb2+ Ndc3 20.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 16...Qd8e7

17.Rxd6!!

• White uncorks a combination that nets a pawn.

17...Bb7

• 17...Qxd6 18.Be5 Qd8 19.Bxb8 Nc6 20.Bf4 leaves White up by a pawn.

18.Rdd1

• White is a pawn to the good.

18...Rbc8 19.Ne5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Nb5 21.Kg1!?

• White misses a chance to win early.
• If 21.Qd3 Qb7+ 22.f3 Nd5 23.e4 then:
• 23...Ndc3 24.Nxc3 bxc3 25.Bxc3 Nxc3 26.Qxc3 Qa6 27.Rc2 leaves White with two extra pawns.
• 23...c4 24.Rxc4 Ndc3 25.Nxc3 bxc3 26.Bxc3 Nxc3 27.Qxc3 wins for White.

21...Nd5 22.e4!?

• Again, White squanders away a good chunk of his advantage.
• 22.Qd3! Ndc3 23.Nxc3 bxc3 24.Bxc3 c4 25.bxc4 gives White three extra pawns.

22...Ndc3!

• Black has yet a long way to go before he's all the way back, but he is headed in the right direction.

23.Rd7 Qf6 24.f4 Nd4?!

• The move itself isn't bad, but Black had a better opportunity by playing on the kingside where his heavy pieces massed.
• If 24...g5 25.Rf1 gxf4 then:
• 26.gxf4 Nd4 27.Qg2 succeeds in weakening White's kingside.
• 26.Rxf4?? drops a piece to 26...Qxe5 27.Rg4 Rf7.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 24...Nb5d4

25.Qg2?!

• White preserves his Queen, but he might have gained more from exchanging.
• If 25.Ng4! traps the Black Queen, leaving Black no alternative but to play 25...Nxc2 26.Nxf6+ Bxf6 27.Rxc2 Nxa4 28.bxa4 Bxb2 29.Rxb2 when White emerges with an extra pawn and a Rook on the seventh rank.

25...Nce2+?

• Black plays the wrong Knight.
• If 25...Nde2+! 26.Kh1 Nxc1 27.Ng4 Qd8! (The Queen is trapped, but Black can choose where to give her up)
• 28.Rxd8 Rfxd8 then:
• 29.Ne3 N1xa2 30.Nb6 Rc7 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 29.Bxc1?? then Black wins after 29...Rd1+!.

26.Kh1 Nxc1 27.Ng4 Qd8 28.Rxd8 Rfxd8

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 28...Rf8d8:R

29.Bxc1

This move was a loser in the variation above is playable now because Black's own Knight jams the d-file for his Rook.

29...Nxb3 30.axb3?

• White will lose his Queen as he did in the subvariation after Black's 25th move.
• Correct is
• 30.Be3!30...Rd1+ 31.Bg1 Bd4 32.Nf2! and White should win.

30...Rd1+!

• This is clearly the obvious move.

31.Qg1 Rxg1+ 32.Kxg1

• White has two Knights against a Rook, but now it is he who is fighting for a draw.

32...c4 33.e5 cxb3?!

• Black gets a little bit too greedy.
• If 33...Ra8! then after 34.Nb2 Ra1 35.Kf2 Rxc1 36.Nd3 Rc3 Black wins.

34.Bb2 Ra8!?

• Both players are no doubt scrabling to beat the clock with each and every move. Errors are expected in bunches. Here Black misses a chance to put it away.
• If 34...Bf8 35.Nf6+ Kg7 36.Kf1 Rc2 37.Ne4 h6 38.h4 Be7 gives Black more activity.

35.Nc5!?

• 35.Nb6 Ra7 36.Kf1 Rc7 37.Ne3 Bh6 38.Nec4 g5 leaves Black only somewhat better and definitely not winning.

35...Bf8?

• If 35...Rd8! 36.Ne3 Rd2 37.Na4 Bh6 38.h4 Bf8 clearly gives Black the initiative.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 35...Bg7f8

36.Nxb3!

• The game is equal.

36...Ra2 37.Bd4 Ra3

• If 37...Kg7 then 38.Nf2 g5 39.fxg5 Kg6 40.Ne4 Kf5 41.Nf6 wins the h-pawn.

38.Nd2??

• This should be an obvious blunder.
• 38.Nf6+ Kf7 39.Nc1 Be7 40.Ne4 gives White's pieces a splendid central location.

38...b3?

• The obvious rejoinder to the obvious blunder is
• 38...Rd3! , winning a piece.

39.Nf2

• The game is again equal.

39...Bb4 40.Nc4 Ra4 41.Nb2 Ra1+ 42.Kg2 Rc1 43.Nbd3?!

• Now, it's White'ss turn to play the wrong Knight.
• 43.Nfd3! Rc2+ 44.Kf3 Bc3 45.Bxc3 Rxc3 46.g4 Rc2 remains equal.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 43.Nb2d3

43...Rc4!

• Black is again in the driver's seat with the initiative.

44.Bb2 Ba5?!

• Those who are watching a video of the game being play have perhaps noticed that the players are both scrambling not to run out of time.
• 44...Bc3 45.Nd1 Bxb2 46.N1xb2 Rc2+ leaves Black's Rook more active than White's Knioghts put together.

45.Kf3!

• Once again the game is level.

45...Rc2 46.Bd4?

• If the reader thinks the play is a wee bit sloppy, he should bear in mind that the time control was three minutes plus a two second per move increment for the entire game.
• 46.Ne4 Bb6 47.h4 h6 48.Bc3 remains equal.

46...Rd2!?

• Once again, the attack fails to press his advantage.
• If 46...Bc3! 47.Ba7 b2 then White must give up a Knight to stop the pawn.

47.Ke3!

• White again has a heavy advantage. Black's passer is frozen for the moment.

47...Rc2 48.Ne4 Kf7?

• After 48...Rxh2 49.Nec5 Rg2 50.Nxb3 Rxg3+ 51.Ke4 Black is still fighting for a draw against long odds. With the text move the fight is over unless White blows another opportunity.

49.Nec5 b2 50.Nxb2 Rxh2

• Black would put up more stubborn resistance after 50...Bb6 51.Nba4 Bxc5 52.Nxc5 Rxh2 53.Ne4.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 50...Rc2h2:p

51.Nc4!

• The death watch begins.

51...Be1 52.Nd6+ Ke7 53.Nce4 h5

• 53...Bb4 54.Nb5 Rh1 55.Ba7 Re1+ 56.Kd3 keeps White's weak points covered.

54.Bc5 Kd7 55.Nf7 Kc6

• No better is 55...h4 56.gxh4 Rh3+ 57.Ke2 Bxh4 58.Nf6+ Kc6 59.Be7.

56.Be7 Kd5 57.Bh4 Ba5

• If 57...Rb2 then White wins after 58.Nfg5 Ba5 59.Kf3 Rb6 60.Nf6+.

58.Nf6+ Kc4 59.Nd6+ Kb4 60.Nfe4

• If 60.Nd7 then White wins after 60...Kc3 61.Ne4+ Kc4 62.Ng5 Bd2+ 63.Kf3.

60...Bb6+ 61.Kd3 Rh1 62.Ng5 Kc5

• 62...Bd8 then White wins after 63.Ndf7 Bb6 64.Nxe6 Re1 65.Nf8.

63.Nxe6+! Kd5 64.Nf8 g5

• If 64...Bc5 then White wins after 65.Nxg6 Bxd6 66.exd6 Kxd6 67.f5.

65.Bxg5 Bf2

• 65...Bc5 66.Nd7 Bxd6 67.exd6 Kxd6 68.Nf6 Ke6 69.Ke4 White still enjoys a winning advantage.

66.Ne4 Bxg3

• 66...h4 67.e6! Re1 68.Nc3+ Kc6 69.Bxh4 is an easy win for White.

67.Nxg3 Rh3

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 67...Rh1h3

68.e6!!

• The piece sacrifice seals the deal.
• 68.Bh4 Rxh4 69.e6!! Rxf4 70.e7 also wins.

68...Rxg3+ 69.Ke2 Kd4

• 69...Rg2+ 70.Kf3 Rc2 71.e7 Rc3+ 72.Kg2 Rc8 73.f5 wins.

70.e7 Re3+ 71.Kf2 Re4 72.f5 Kd5

• 72...Re5 73.Bf6 Ke4 74.Bxe5 wins.

73.Ne6! 1-0

• The pawn must queen.
• Mr. Nakamura resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Andreikin - Radjabov, Round 4

Teimour Radjabov
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)


Dmitry Andreikin - Teimour Radjabov
Tal Memorial Blitz Championship, Round 4
Moscow, 16 November 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Nf6

• Although only 23 years old, Radjobov has been considered for several years the world's leading expert on the King's Indian.

3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3

• The main line is 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0. See Ivanchuk-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Nalchuk, 2009.

6...e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Nh2 Qe8

• 8...Na6 9.Be3 Qe8 10.Be2 Nf4 11.Bf3 f5 12.0-0 Nc5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.Re1 Qd8 16.Rc1 a5 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses (Sanikidze-Perdomo, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005)

9.Be2 Nf4 10.Bf3 f5 11.g3 Nxh3 12.Bg2 fxe4

• If 12...f4 13.Nf3 g5 then:
• 14.Rxh3 g4 15.Rh1 gxf3 16.Qxf3 Qg6 17.Bh3 fxg3 18.Qxg3 Qxg3 19.fxg3 Na6 20.Ke2 Nb4 21.Be3 Nc2 22.Bxc8 Raxc8 23.Raf1 gives White the advantage in space (Yermolinsky-Saltaev, Agzamov Mem, Tashkent, 1986).
• 14.Bxh3 g4 15.Bg2 gxf3 16.Qxf3 Na6 17.Bh3 Nb4 18.Kd1 fxg3 19.Qxg3 Qh5+ 20.Ne2 Qg6 21.Qxg6 hxg6 22.Bxc8 Raxc8 gives White a small advantage in space (Kadziolka-Aghabekian, World Jr Ch (Girls), Yerevan, 2006)

13.Nxe4 (N)

• 13.Be3 Bf5 14.Ng4 Nf4 15.gxf4 h5 16.Nh2 Nd7 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf1 Nd3+ 19.Bxd3 exd3 20.Qd2 a6 21.0-0-0 b5 gives Black a small edge in space (Bagirov-Vukic, Op, Banja Luka, 1976).

13...Bf5

• The game is equal.

14.Be3?

• 14.Ng4 h5 15.Nef6+ Bxf6 16.Nh6+ Kg7 17.Nxf5+ gxf5 18.Bxh3 is equal as White's superior development should net another pawn.

14...Na6!?

• This gives Black a small advantage in space, but he had the opportunity to put the game away immediately.
• 14...Nf4! 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Qe2 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 fxg3 gives Black two extra pawns and much greater activity.

15.Qd2?!

• White slips back into the pits.
• 15.f3 h5 16.Qd2 Rb8 17.b3 is equal.

15...Nf4!

• White has the advantage in space.

16.Bf3

• Black must play very accurately (remember, this is a blitz game).
• 16.Bxf4? brings on disaster after 16...exf4! 17.0-0 Qe5! 18.Rae1 Qxb2 19.Qxb2 Bxb2.

16...Nb4!?

• Black squanders a good part of his advantage trying to protect the unimportant a-pawn.
• Correct is 16...Qa4! 17.gxf4 exf4 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Rae8 gives Black enough potential pressure to breaks White's center.

17.0-0 Nbd3?

• Black cannot maintain the Knight at d6.
• If 17...Nh3+ 18.Kh1 a5 then:
• 19.c5 dxc5 20.a3 Na6 21.Qxa5 Nf4 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 19.a3 Na6 20.b4 b6 21.Bg2 Qa4 gives Black only a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov



WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin
Position after 17...Nb4d3

18.gxf4!

• White suddenly has a significant advantage in space.

18...exf4 19.Qxd3 fxe3 20.Qxe3 Bxb2 21.Rab1

• 21.Rae1 Qe5 22.Ng5 Qc3 23.Re2 Qxe3 24.Rxe3 gives White advantages in material and space.

21...Be5!

• White should win from here
• 21...Qe5!? 22.Rfe1 Bd4 23.Qg5 Bb6 24.Ng4 Qg7 25.Qh4 gives White a weaker advantage.

22.Rxb7 Bxe4 23.Bxe4

• White is a piece to the good.

23...Rf4 24.f3 Qc8 25.Rfb1 Qh3

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov



WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin
Position after 25...Qc8h3

26.Rxc7? 0-1

• It's all shot in an instant.
• Correct is 26.Rb8+ Rxb8 27.Rxb8+ Kg7 28.Nf1 Qh4 29.Qd2 gives White a strong position from which he should win.
• After the text, if 26...Qq3! 27.Kf1 Qxh2 then:
• 28.Qg1 Qh5 29.Qe3 Raf8 30.Ke2 Qh2+ 31.Kd3 Qxa2 is an easy win for Black.
• 28.Qf2 Qh3+ 29.Qg2 Qh6 30.Qf2 Rh4 31.Rbb7 Bc3 is crushing.
• Grandmaster Andreikin resigns without waiting for Grandmaster Radjabov to reply.