The JR Chess Report (June 11): Tournament begin in Sweden and Transylvania

[Jack Rabbit]

The JR Chess Report and Gloat-Free Scores theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (From a broadcast of The Gillette Cavalcade of Spots).

Marseille takes French Team Championship

Jipéto, Wikipedia (Public Domain)

The team from the Marseille chess club defeated CLichy in the eleventh and last round Sunday to win the 2011 French Team Championship held in Mulhouse, Alsace.

Clichy went into the last round leading and Marseille needed a convincing victory to leapfrog over their rivals. At the end of the match, Marseille had scored three wins to Clichy's one on eight boards.

Like most team tournaments, Marseille won by virtue of its relative strength on the lowerbords. Marseille got wins from Andrei Istracescu, Didier Collas and Kamil Miton in the last round with contributions also by Laurie Delorme and Yannick Gozzoli.

Clichy's victory in the last round was scored by Alirma Skripchenko over Mlle. Delorme.

OTHER HEADLINES

Sigeman & Co. Tournament Begins in Malmø The annual Sigeman & Co. Tournament began Thursday in Malmø, Sweden. This is only a five-round event this year. Participants are Anish Giri, Nils Grandelius, Jonny Hector, Alexei Shirov, Wesley So and Hans Tikkanen.

Kings' Tournament Underway in Translyvania The 5th Kings Tournament began today in Medias, Romania, in the fabled moutainous region of Transylvania. Six players are playing a double round robin. Magnus Carlsen is the defending champion. Other players are Vassily Ivanchuk, Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura, Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu and Teimour Radjabov.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

The JR Chess Report and Gloat-Free Scores theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

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.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK



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


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. French Team Championship, Mulhouse

Temple Saint Etienne, Place Réunion, Mulhouse, Alsace, France
Photo by Jipéto in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Istracescu - Pelletier, Round 11

Andrei Istratescu
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Andrei Istratescu (Marseille) - Yannick Pelletier (Clichy)
French Team Championship, Round 11/Board 6
Mulhouse, 5 June 2011

Open French Game: Rubinstein Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 c5 8.Be3

• For a more thorough examination of this opening, see Domínguez-Meier, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2009.

8...Qc7

• If 8...cxd4 9.Bxd4 Qc7 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.Ne5 Qb5 13.a4 Qd5 14.Qe2 then:
• 14...Qe4 15.a5 a6 16.f3 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Rc8 18.Ra4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Anand-Pelletier, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, 2007).
• 14...a6 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rfd1 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Nc4 Rg8 19.Nb6 is equal (Mladic-Pellitier, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

9.Bd3

• If 9.Ne5 a6 10.Qa4+ Nd7 then:
• If 11.Bb5 cxd4 12.Bxd7+ Bxd7 13.Qxd4 then:
• 13...Bb5 14.a4 Bd6 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.axb5 axb5 17.Kd2 is equal (Domínguez-Meier, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2009.).
• 13...f6 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qxd7+ Kxd7 16.0-0-0+ Kc7 17.a4 a5 18.Rd4 Ra6 19.Rhd1 gives White solid command of the d-file (Z. Almasi-Meier, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2007).
• If 11.0-0-0 cxd4 12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Qxd4 then:
• 13...e5 14.Qb6 Qxb6 15.Bxb6 Rc8 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.Rhe1 Ke7 19.Bf3 b5 20.Bd5 Be6 21.Bxe6 Kxe6 22.f4 f6 23.Rd4 Rhc8 24.Kc2 a5 25.Kd3 Rd5 26.fxe5 fxe5 draw (Shen Yang-Drozdovskij, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 13...Bc6 14.Bc4 Rd8 15.Qg4 h5 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Qg3 Qd6 18.f4 h4 19.Qg4 Be4 20.Rd1 Qc6 21.Bb3 Bf5 22.Qf3 Be4 23.Qf2 Rh5 24.g4 hxg3 25.hxg3 draw (Anand-Bareev, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2004).

9...Bd6 10.0-0 0-0

• 10...Bd7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bxc5 Qxc5 13.Re1 0-0 14.Ne5 Bc6 15.Qc2 is equal: Black has more space, but the White Knight will remain in gthe center for a while (Delgado Ramírez-Bruzón, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2005).

11.Qe2 b6 12.Bg5 Bb7

• If 12...Nd5 13.Qe4 g6 then:
• If 14.Qh4 Bb7 15.dxc5 then:
• If 15...Bxc5 16.c4 Nb4 17.Bf6! then:
• 17...Rfe8 18.Ng5 h5 19.Be4 gives White a strong advantage in space.
• 17...Nxd3?? loses immediately to 18.Qh6!.
• 15...bxc5 16.Rfe1 Nf4 17.Be4 Rfb8 18.Rad1 Nd5 19.c4 gives White a strong advantage.
• 14.c4 f5 15.Qe2 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 is equal.

13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Be4

• 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Be4 Qh5 16.Rfe1 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 gives White a slight advantage in space.

14...Rfd8 15.Rad1 Bf8 16.Rd3!? (N)

• 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Rd3 Bg7 18.Rfd1 f5 19.d5 gives White a slight initiative and fewer pawn weaknesses (Tiviakov-de la Riva Aguado, IT, Pamplona, 2005).

16...Bxe4!?

• Black forces White to make a good move.
• Better is 16...c4! (attacking the Rook, shutting in the Queen and putting pawns on light squares in order to complement the King's Bishop) 17.Rdd1 when:
• 17...Bd5 18.Bxd5 Rxd5 19.Rfe1 b5 20.Qe4 gives White only a slight advantage.
• 17...Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Rd5 19.Rfe1 b5 20.Qh4 gives White a fair advantage.

17.Qxe4!

• White has a fair advantage in space.

17...f5 18.Qh4 Qe7

• 18...Bg7 19.Rfd1 c4 20.Re3 Rd5 21.Rde1 Rad8 22.Ng5 gives White a slight advantage in space.

19.Qg3+ Bg7 20.Rfd1 cxd4!?

• Black pulls the trigger to soon.
• Better is 20...Qd6! when after 21.Qg5 h6 22.Qe3 c4 23.R3d2 b5 24.Ne5 White's advantage based on a better center and stronger pawns.
• 20...Rac8 21.R3d2 c4 22.Ne5 Qd6 23.f4 b5 24.a3 gives White a better center and healthier pawns.

BLACK:Yannick Pelletier



WHITE: Andrei Istratescu
Position after 20...cd4:p

21.Nxd4!

• White assumes a strong game based on a radiant Knight and command of the d-file; Black can defend the back rank.

21...Qe8 22.Qh4

• If 22.R3d2!? Rac8 23.Kh1 then:
• 23...a6 24.h3 h6 25.Qf3 Rd5 26.Qe2 is equal.
• If 23...Rd5!? 24.a3 then:
• If 24...Rcd8 25.h3 Qa4 26.b3 then:
• If 26...Qa5 27.c4 f4 28.Qxf4 then:
• 28...e5 29.cxd5 exf4 30.Nc6 Qxa3 31.Nxd8 Qc5 32.Nc6 gives White a passed pawn supported by doubled Rooks and stronger pawn; Black has more space.
• 28...R5d6?! 29.Qg3! Qe5 30.Qxe5 Bxe5 31.Nf3 gives White stronger pawns; Black's best bet is to exchange Rooks when the Bishop is better than the Knight with pawns on both wings.
• 26...Qxa3?! 27.Nxf5 Qf8 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.Rxd5 exd5 30.h4 gives White a clear advantage.
• 24...Kh8 25.Nf3 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 gives White a small advantage in space.

22...Kh8?!

• Black tries to free his Bishop, but the King is in more danger her than at g8. More aggressive play is needed.
• 22...Qa4! 23.Qg5 h6 24.Qg3 Kh7 25.h3 is equal.

23.Nb5! Rxd3 24.Rxd3 Be5?!

• White has a huge advantage in space.
• If 24...Qxb5?? then 25.Rd8+! Rxd8 26.Qxd8+ Bf8 27.Qxf8#.
• Better is 24...Qb8 25.Qe7 Kg8 26.Nc7 Qf8 27.Qh4 Rc8 28.Nb5 but this still gives White a significant advantage.

25.a4!?

• A more aggressive mood is indicated by the position.
• If 25.f4! Qxb5 then:
• If 26.Rh3! Kg8 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.fxe5 continues to geive White a huge advantage.
• 26.Rd8+? Rxd8! 27.Qxd8+ Kg7 28.Qg5+ Kf8! 29.fxe5 Ke8 is equal.

25...f6?

• Black blocks the Bishop's retreat to g7.
• If 25...Qb8 26.Rh3 Qg8 27.f4 then:
• If 27...a6 28.fxe5 axb5 then:
• 29.axb5! Qg7 30.Kf2 h6 31.Rg3 leaves White better with an extra pawn and the initiative, but it's too early to stick a fork in Black, who has command of a-file.
• 29.Qf6+? Qg7 (forced) 30.Qxg7+ Kxg7 31.axb5 Ra1+! 32.Kf2 Ra2 is equal.
• If 27...Bg7 28.Nd6 Rf8 29.Qe7 then:
• If 29...a6! 30.Qa7 then:
• If 30...h6 then:
• If 31.Qxb6 Kh7 32.b4 Ra8 33.Rd3 Qf8 34.Qc6 gives White and extra pawn and a tremendous advantage in freedom, but Black is still alive.
• If 31.Qxa6 then:
• 31...Kh7 32.Qb7 Bf6 33.Rg3 Bg7 34.Rd3 will win a second pawn for White, giving him three connected passers on the queenside; this could be enough to win.
• 31...Rd8? then White wins easily after 32.Qxb6! Rd7 33.Qc6 Qd8 34.Rd3.
• 30...b5? 31.a5 h6 32.Qxa6 Kh7 33.Qb7 leaves White a pawn to the good with more active pieces.
• 29...a5 30.Qc7 h6 31.Qxb6 Kh7 32.Qxa5 gives White three connected passers, but Black's heavy pieces could spring to life.

BLACK:Yannick Pelletier



WHITE: Andrei Istratescu
Position after 25...f7f6

26.f4!

• White must win material.

26...Rd8 27.Re3! Rd1+

• 27...Bb8 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.Rg3+ wins the Queen.

28.Kf2 Rd2+ 29.Ke1

• White has a double attack on the Bishop and Rook and must win one or the other.

29...Bxf4 30.Qxf6+ Kg8 31.Kxd2

• Stating the obvious, Black is up by a Rook.

31...Qc6

• 31...Bxe3+ 32.Kxe3 Qc6 33.Kf2 is an easy win for White.

32.Nd4 Qxg2+ 33.Kd3 Qf1+

• If 33...Bxe3 34.Qxe6+ Kf8 then:
• If 35.Qxf5+ Kg8 36.Qc8+ Kf7 37.Qe6+ then:
• If 37...Kf8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Nf5 then:
• 39...Qg6 40.Qxg6+ hxg6 41.Nxe3 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 39...h6 40.Ne7+ Kh7 41.Qf7+ Qg7 42.Qxg7+ Kxg7 43.Kxe3 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 37...Kg7 38.Nf5+ Kf8 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.Ne7#.
• 35.Qxe3 Qxh2 36.Nxf5 is a clear win for White.

BLACK:Yannick Pelletier



WHITE: Andrei Istratescu
Position after 33...Qg2f1+

34.Kc2!! 1-0

• White returns the Rook, but soon gains the Bishop and wins.
• If 34...Bxe3 35.Qxe6+ Kf8 36.Qc8+ then:
• If 36...Kf7 37.Qd7+ Kg6 38.Qe8+ then:
• If 38...Kg7 39.Qxe3 then:
• 39...Qg2+ 40.Kb3 Qd5+ 41.c4 Qe4 42.Qg5+ Kf7 43.Qxf5+ leaves White a piece to the good.
• 39...f4 40.Qe5+ Kf7 41.Qf5+ Kg8 42.Qg4+ Kf7 43.Kb3 leaves White a piece to the good with his King safe from checks.
• 38...Kf6 39.Qe6+ Kg5 40.Qxe3+ Kg4 41.Ne2 leaves White a piece to good.
• 36...Kg7 37.Nxf5+ Kf6 38.Qf8+ Ke5 39.Qd6+ Kxf5 40.Qf8+ wins the Queen.
• M. Pelletier resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Bricard - D. Collas, Round 8

There is no photo of &imgrefurl=http://fr-fr.facebook.com/people/Didier-Collas/559937853&usg=__fp2QwnmkCqHus4yqDWD22jmpxWw=&h=301&w=200&sz=13&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Q2iasmdfrAEThM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=94&ei=jK7zTdrRGI3QiAL9qtWVBw&prev=/search%3Fq%3DDidier%2BCollas%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1B3GGLL_enUS399US399%26biw%3D1582%26bih%3D683%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnso&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=547&vpy=64&dur=7058&hovh=240&hovw=160&tx=98&ty=121&page=1&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1582&bih=683">Didier Collas available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Emmanuel Bricard (Mulhouse) - Didier Collas (Marseille)
French Team Championship, Round 8/Board 7
Mulhouse, 2 June 2011

Zukertort Game: Nimzo-Larsen Opening

1.Nf3 c5 2.b3

• The Nimzo-Larsen Opening is named for two famous grandmasters of wildly different styles. Nimzovich would play the move order given here with the intention of playing a Queen's Indian in reverse, while Larsen, who was born about the same time Nimzovich passed away, would play 1.b3, allowing for the possibility that Black would reply 1...e5.
• A major drawback of this opening for White is the pawnless advance; Nizomvich himself had something to say a pawnless advance, but he still broke his own rules.
• 2.c4 is a Symmetrical English; 3.d4 transposes into a Queen's Pawn Game of some sort.

2...d5

• 2...Nf6 3.Bb2 e6 4.c4 Be7 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 d5 is equal (Larsen-Polugaevsky, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1967).

3.e3 Nf6 4.Bb2

• 4.c4 e6 5.Bb2 b6 6.g3 Be7 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.0-0 0-0 is equal (Larsen-Matulovic, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).

4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7

• If 5...Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 then:
• 8.d3 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Nd7 10.Qd2 a6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Nh4 e5 13.f4 Be7 14.Nxg6 hxg6 is equal (Gelashvili-Davidov, Op, Baku, 2007).
• 8.Ne5 Rc8 9.h4 d4 10.0-0 e6 11.f4 Nd5 12.h5 Be4 is equal (Kaenel-Voicu, Swiss Ch, Scuol, 2001).

6.0-0

• 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Ne5 Rc8 8.d3 e6 9.Nd2 Bd6 10.Ndf3 0-0 11.Nxc6 Rxc6 12.Be5 Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Rc8 14.0-0 Nd7 draw (Yermolinsky-Zaitshik, Agzamov Mem, 1986).

6...a6

• If 6...e6 7.d3 then:
• If 7...Be7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.Ne5 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.f4 then:
• If 11...Nd7 12.Qg4 Nxe5 then:
• 13.fxe5 Bg5 14.Rae1 d4 15.Nc4 b5 16.Nd6 Bxe3+ is equal (Belotti-Holmsten, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13.Bxe5 Bf6 14.Rf3 Bxe5 15.fxe5 Qc7 16.Qh5 is equal (Nimzovich-Spielmann, IT, New York, 1927).
• 11...Ne8 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nf6 14.Qe2 Qc7 15.Rae1 Rfd8 is equal (Nimzovich-Roselli del Turco, IT, Semmering, 1926).
• 10...Nd7 11.f4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 a5 13.a4 b5 14.axb5 Bxb5 is equal (Morozevich-Rashkovsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 1992).
• 7...Qc7 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.Ne5 0-0 11.f4 Be8 12.Rf3 Nd7 13.Rg3 g6 14.Qg4 is equal (Nimozvich-Sämisch, IT, Karlsbad, 1929).

7.Bxc6

• 7.Be2 Qc7 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 e5 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.c4 Rd8 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Qc2 Bd6 14.Nd2 Nb4 is equal (Rubzova-Litinskaya, Soviet Sparkadiad W, Azov, 1991).

7...Bxc6 8.d3

• 8.Ne5 e6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• 10.f4 Be7 11.d3 0-0 12.Nd2 Qb8 13.c4 Nd7 14.Nf3 gives White a slight advantage in space .
• If 10.d3 Rb8 11.c4 then:
• 11...Be7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Rc1 Qc7 14.Na4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Calugar-S. Liu, PanAm Winter, Geulph, Ontario, 2010).
• 11...Bd6 12.f4 0-0 13.Nd2 Qe7 14.e4 also gives White a slight advantage in space.

8...e6 9.Ne5 Rc8 10.Nd2 Be7 11.Qe2 (N)

• If 11.f4 0-0 12.a4 Be8 13.a5 Kh8 14.Qe2 Nd7 15.c4 Nb8 16.cxd5 exd5 is equal or even gives Black a slight advantage (Samagin-Taimanov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1952).

11...0-0

• The game is equal.

12.e4 Be8 13.Rae1!?

• White plays the wrong Rook.
• 13.Rfe1 d4 14.c3 dxc3 15.Bxc3 Nd7 16.Nec4 Qc7 remains equal.

If 13.exd5 exd5 14.Rfe1 d4 15.a4 Nd5 16.a5 Bd6 remains equal.

BLACK: Didier Collas



WHITE: Emmanuel Bricard
Position after 13.Ra1e1

13...d4!

• White takes a slight edge in space.

14.f4 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Bxd7

• 15...Qxd7 16.c3 dxc3 17.Bxc3 b5 gives Black a local advantage in space on the queenside; White has a local advantage on the kingside of center.

16.e5!?

• This may keep Black's Bishop pair from becoming too effective.
• 16.Nc4 b5 17.Ne5 Be8 18.Qg4 Qd6 continues to give Black only a slight advantage.

16...Bc6

• Black has a small advantage in space.

17.Ne4

• 17.Qg4 b5 18.Ne4 Bd5 19.f5 exf5 20.Qxf5 Rc6 leaves White with the advantage in space; Black has counterplay on the queenside.

17...Qd5!?

• The Queen should let the shock troops lead. Better is 17...Bd5.
• If 17...Bd5 18.Qh5 b5 19.f5 exf5 20.Qxf5 Be6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• 17...b5 18.Rd1 Qa5 19.Ra1 Qb6 20.Qf3 Rcd8 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

18.c4!?

• Black still hold a slight advantage.
• 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Rf3 b5 20.c3 dxc3 21.Bxc3 b4 is equal.

BLACK: Didier Collas



WHITE: Emmanuel Bricard
Position after 18.c2c4

18...dxc3 19.Bxc3 Rfd8!?

• The game is equal.
• 19...Bb5 20.Rf3 Rfd8 21.Nd6 Bxd6 22.exd6 Qxd6 continues to give Black a slight advantage.

20.Rf3 b5 21.Rg3 g6

• If 21...b4 22.Bb2 g6 then:
• If 23.Qg4 then:
• If 23...Bb5 then:
• 24.Ree3 c4 25.bxc4 Bxc4 26.dxc4 Qxc4 27.Nd6 Qxa2 is equal.
• If 24.Nd6 Rc7 25.Qh3 then:
• 25...f5 26.exf6 Bxd6 27.f7+! Rxf7 28.Rxg6+!! Kf8 29.Qh6+ gives White a significant advantage in space and a fierce attack against the King in compensation for a Bishop.
• 25...Rxd6? 26.exd6 Bxd6 27.Re5! Bxe5 28.Bxe5 Rb7 29.Qxh7+!! puts White on a winning track.
• 23...Rd7?! 24.Qh3! c4 25.Qh6 f5 26.bxc4 Qa5 27.Nd6 gives White an extra pawn, more space and more freedom.
• 23.Qh5 Qxd3 24.Rxd3 gxh5 25.Nd6 Rc7 is equal.

22.Qg4 c4 23.bxc4

• 23.dxc4 bxc4 24.b4 Qb5 25.Nf6+ Bxf6 26.exf6 Rd3 gives Black only a slight advantage.

23...bxc4 24.d4

BLACK: Didier Collas



WHITE: Emmanuel Bricard
Position after 24.d3d4

24...Qxe4!!

• 24...Qd7 25.Nf6+ Bxf6 26.exf6 Qd6 27.Qh4 Rb8 28.f5!! followed by 29.Rh3 gives White a strong game.

25.Rxe4 Bxe4 26.Re3 Bd3

• If 26...Bd5 27.Re1 Rb8 28.Qd1 Rd7 29.Qa4 then:
• If 29...Ra7 30.Rc1 Rb6 31.Rf1 Rab7 32.Re1 is equal.
• 29...Rdb7?! drops a pawn to 30.Qxa6! Bb4 31.Bxb4 Rxb4 32.Re2.

27.Qd1 Rd5 28.Qa4 a5 29.Re1 Rb8!?

• 29...Bf8! 30.Qd1 Rb8 31.Qd2 a4 32.h3 Rdb5 continues to give White the material advantage and Black the advantage in space.

30.Rc1

• 30.a3 Bf8 31.Ra1 Bh6 32.Bd2 Kg7 33.g3 Rb2 gives White the material advantage and Black has more space.

30...Bb4 31.g3

• 31.Kf2 Bxc3 32.Rxc3 Rxd4 33.Qxa5 Rxf4+ remains equal.

31...Bxc3 32.Rxc3 Rb2!

• Black finds the most efficient plan: keep the White King on the back rank.
• If 32...Rb1+ 33.Kg2 Rb2+ then:
• If 34.Kh3! h5 35.Qa3 g5 then:
• 36.Rxd3 g4+ 37.Kh4 Rxh2+ 38.Kg5 wins for White.
• 36.Qxb2? Bf1+ 37.Qg2 g4+ 38.Kh4 Bxg2 39.Rxc4 Bf1 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• If 34.Kf3?! Rxh2 then:
• 35.Qa3 h5 36.Ke3 h4 37.gxh4 Rxh4 gives White a slight material advantage, but Black's Rooks could destroy White's center.
• 35.Rxc4 Bxc4 36.Qxc4 Kg7 37.a3 h5 38.Ke3 h4 gives Black two Rooks over a Queen.

33.f5?

• This allows Black's Rook to break through.
• If 33.Rc1 Kg7 then:
• If 34.h3 h5 then:
• 35.h4! Rdb5 36.f5 gxf5 37.Qa3 Be4 gives Black a fair advantage in space.
• If 35.Qa3? then:
• 35...Re2! then Black wins after 36.Qa4 Rxd4 37.Qxa5 Be4 38.Re1 Rb2.
• 35...Rd2! 36.Qa4 Rxd4 37.Qxa5 Be4 38.Re1 Rb2 is an easy win for Black.
• 34.Qa3 Re2 35.Rf1 h6 36.Rf2 Re1+ 37.Kg2 Be4+ gives Black a small advantage with a Queen against a Rook and a minor piece.

BLACK: Didier Collas



WHITE: Emmanuel Bricard
Position after 33.f4f5

33...gxf5!

• The White King has only two squares in which to maneuver and Black is about to win the d-pawn.

34.Qe8+

• If 34.h3 Rb1+ 35.Kf2 Rxd4 then:
• If 36.Rb3 then Black wins in a cake walk after (36...Rf1+ 37.Ke3 Re4+ 38.Kd2 Rf2+ 39.Kd1 Bc2+.
• If 36.Qa3 then Black wins after 36...Rf1+ 37.Kg2 Re1 38.Qxa5 Re2+ 39.Kf3 Rh2.

34...Kg7 35.Qe7 Rxd4 36.Qg5+

• If 36.Qf6+ then Black wins after 36...Kg8 37.Qg5+ Kf8 38.Qh6+ Ke8 39.Qxh7 Be4.

36...Kf8 37.Rc1 Be4 38.Qh5 Rdd2 39.Rd1 Rxd1+ 0-1

• Black wins the Queen.
• M. Bricard resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. L. Delorme - Skripchenko, Round 11

Almira Skripchenko
Photo by Velho in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Laurie Delorme (Marseille) - Almara Skripchenko (Clichy)
French Team Championship, Round 11/Board 8
Mulhouse, 5 June 2011

Hollander Game: Rat Defense (Catalan Opening) (Dutch Defense/Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation)

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.b3

• If 7.Nc3 then:
• If 7...Qe8 then:
• If 8.b3 Qe8 9.Bb2 Na6 transposes into the notes for White's ninth move.
• a) 8.Qc2 Qh5 9.b3 Nc6 10.Ba3 Bd7 11.d5 Nd8 12.Rad1 Rf7 13.dxe6 Nxe6 14.Nd5 gives White a slight advantage in the center.
• If b) 8.Re1 Qg6 9.e4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Rxe4 Nc6 then:
• If 12.Qe2 Bf6 13.Bd2 e5 14.dxe5 then:
• If 14...Nxe5 8.b3 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 then:
• 16.Bc3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 c6 18.Rd4 Rf6 19.c5 dxc5 20.Rd8+ Rf8 21.Rxf8+ Kxf8 22.Re1 gives White a slight initiative with the threat of 23.Qe7+ Kf8 24.Qd8+ that must be answered before it is executed (P. H. Nielsen-Boe, Danish Ch, Nyborg, 2001).
• 16.Bb4 Bf6 17.Bc3 Bf5 18.Re3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 c6 is equal (Lautier-Maury, Op, Paris, 1988).
• If 14...dxe5 15.Bc3 Bf5 16.Nh4 Bxh4 17.Rxh4 Rae8 then:
• 18.Qe3 h6 19.b4 Qf6 20.b5 Nd8 21.c5 c6 22.Ra4 cxb5 23.Rxa7 gives White a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Yakovich-Dyachkov, Russian Club Cup, Maikop, 1998).
• 18.Bd5+ Kh8 19.Qe3 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Qxd4 gives White a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Suba-García López, Op, Seville, 1994).
• 12.Re1 Nb4 13.Re2 e5 14.dxe5 Bg4 15.Qb3 Qd3 16.Qxd3 Nxd3 17.Re3 Nxc1 18.Rxc1 gives White an extra pawn (Neikirch-Minev, Bulgarian Ch, Bulgaria, 1954).
• If 7...a5 then:
• If 8.Re1 Ne4 9.Qc2 then:
• If 9...Nxc3 then:
• 10.bxc3 Nc6 11.e4 e5 12.exf5 Rxf5 13.Be3 Qe8 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nd2 is equal (Markus-S. Williams, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 10.Qxc3 Bf6 11.Qc2 Nc6 12.Rd1 g5 13.d5 Nb4 14.Qd2 g4 15.Ne1 is equal (Vayser-Gilmshin, Corres, 2002).
• If 9...Nc6 10.Nxe4 Nb4 11.Qb1 fxe4 12.Qxe4 e5 then:
• If 13.dxe5 Bf5 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qa7 then:
• If 15...c5 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Bg5 Qc8 18.Nh4 Bh3 19.Rad1 Nc6 then:
• 20.Bxh3 Qxh3 21.Qa6 leaves Black a Rook to the good (N. Pedersen-S. Williams, IT, Aarhus, 1998).
• 20.Bd5+ Kh8 21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Be7 Bxe7 23.Qxe7 Rfe8 24.Qg5 leaves White up by three pawns (H. J. Plaskett-S. Williams, British Ch, Hove, 1997).
• 15...Nc2 16.Bd2 dxe5 17.Bc3 e4 18.Rad1 Qc8 19.Nd4 gives White two extra pawns (van Wely-Comas Fabrego, IT, Pamplona, 1998).
• 13.g4 exd4 14.a3 Na6 15.Qxd4 Nc5 16.h3 Be6 17.Qc3 Bf6 18.Qc2 gives White an extra pawn and Black a slight edge in space (Kavalek-Jamieson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).

7...a5 8.Bb2 Qe8 9.Qc2

• If 9.Nc3 Na6 then:
• If 10.a3 Bd7 11.Ne1 c6 12.Nd3 then:
• 12...Nc7 13.e4 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 gives White a small advantage with a great deal more space; Black has the "little center," a Rook on the open f-file and the Queen ready to spring into action (Sosonko-Dückstein, IT, Zürich, 1984).
• 12...Bd8 13.e4 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Larsen-F. Olafsson, Match, Reykjavik, 1956).
• 10.Re1 Qg6 11.e3 Rb8 12.a3 Bd7 13.Qc2 Kh8 14.Rad1 c6 15.Ne2 b5 16.c5 d5 17.Ne5 Qe8 gives White a little more space and a better center (N. Pert-Rubingh, Op, Hoogeveen, 2003).

9...Nc6 10.a3 (N)

• 10.Nbd2 Qg6 11.Rae1 Bd7 12.a3 Rae8 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Qxe4 Qxe4 16.Rxe4 gives White a slight advantage in space ( Miedema-Whitehead, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

10...Bd8 11.Nbd2

• White has a slight advantage in space.

11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4!?

• This move is too aggressive. It allows Black to open the center to her advantage.13.Rad1 e4 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Be7 16.c5 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Almira Skripchenko



WHITE: Laurie Delrome
Position after 13.e2e4

13...f4!

• But Black doesn't open the center. This move doesn't look like much now, but it palys a major part in the drama later. The game is equal with a slight tilt to Black.
• 13...fxe4 14.Nxe4 Qh5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Rfe1 remains equal.

14.Qc3!?

• White will later regret not having exchanged on f4.
• If 14.gxf4! exf4 15.e5 Ng4 16.Qe4 Be6 17.Nd4 remains equal.

14...Nh5!?

• When playing the Dutch, Black almost always keeps h5 available for the Queen.
• 14...fxg3! 15.hxg3 Ng4 16.c5 Be6 17.Qd3 Qh5 gives Black a fair advantage in space concentrated on the kingside.

15.b4!

• White seizes her opportunity.

15...Bf6!

• Black does well to eschew the pawn exchange.
• If 15...axb4!? 16.axb4 then:
• If 16...Rxa1 17.Rxa1 then:
• 17...Bf6 18.b5 Ne7 19.Ra7 Ng6 20.Qb3 gives White more space.


• 17...b5 18.cxb5 Nd4 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Qc5 leaves White a pawn up with far greater activity.


• If 16...Rb8?! 17.b5 then:
• 17...Nd4 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Qxd4 gives White a better center and command of the dark long diagonal; White is pressuring the g7 pawn with a latent threat of mate and also threatening to win the Rook with 20.Qa7!.


• 17...Ne7? 18.Qxe5 Bg4 19.h3 Bd7 20.g4 gives White an extra pawn more freedom.

16.b5

• The game remains equal.
• If 16.bxa5!? Rxa5 17.Nb3 Ra7 then:
• 18.Nc5 Bg4 19.Qd2 b6 20.Nd3 Qe6 21.Qc2 Rd8gives Black a slight edge with more activity and healthier pawns.
• 18.Rab1?! Bg4! 19.h3 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 fxg3 21.fxg3 Be7! wins the a-pawn.

16...Nd8 17.a4

• White takes a local advantage in space on the queenside.

17...g5!

• Black, of course, is staking her chances on the othe flank, where she already has active pieces.

18.Ne1

• This is obviously prophylactic.
• If 18.c5 Nf7 19.Nc4 g4 then:
• 20.Nfd2 Qe7 21.Nxa5 f3 22.Bh1 Ng5 gives Black the advantage, but White has counterplay on the queenside. White has an extra pawn, but the material advantage is only on paper as White's Bishop at h1 is entombed.
• 20.Nfxe5?! f3 21.Bh1 Qe6 22.Rfd1 Ng7 23.b6 Re8 is equal.

18...g4!

• Black prepares to entomb the Bishop. There is little White can do about it.
• If 18...Ne6 19.Nd3 Nd4 20.Rfe1 then:
• 20...fxg3 21.fxg3 Bg4 22.Nf2 Be6 23.Nb3 gives White a small advantage by driving Black's Knight out of the center.
• If 20...g4? then White wins after 21.gxf4 exf4 22.e5 Bg7 23.Qxd4.

19.Nd3

• If 19.Nc2 then:
• 19...Ne6! 20.Ba3 Rf7 21.Rfe1 is equal.
• If 19...f3!? proves premature after 20.Bh1 Ne6 21.Ba3 Rf7 when:
• If 22.h3! Nd4 23.Nxd4 exd4 24.Qd3 then:
• 24...Qe5 25.hxg4 Nxg3 26.Nxf3 Qxe4 27.Qxe4 Nxe4 28.Rae1 liberates the Bishop.
• 24...Rg7 25.Rfd1 Qe5 26.hxg4 Bxg4 27.Nf1 Be6 28.Bxf3 gives White an extra pawn and Black a little more space; White's Bishop is out of prison.
• If 22.Rfe1 Rd7 23.Nb3 then:
• 23...Ng5 24.Ne3 Qg6 25.Nd5 Nxe4 26.Qc2 is equal.
• 23...Qg6 24.c5 Ng5 25.Bc1 Nh3+ 26.Kf1 is equal.

BLACK: Almira Skripchenko



WHITE: Laurie Delrome
Position after 19.Ne1d3

19...f3!

• Cue the sound effect.

20.Bh1

• The Bishop is entombed and remains so until it is exchanged ten moves hence.
• 20.Bxf3 gxf3 21.Nxf3 Bg4 22.Nd2 doesn't give Black enough compensation for the material sacrifice to make it worthwhile.

20...Ng7

• 20...Ne6 21.Qc2 Nhg7 22.c5 Nd4 23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Rad1 is even in space, but White is still a virtual piece down.

21.c5 Nf7

• 21...Nge6 22.Qc4 Nf7 23.h3 h5! keeps the Bishop entombed.

22.Rfe1 Be6 23.h3 h5!

• Black keeps the Bishop locked up.

24.Nf4 Ng5 25.Nxe6?

• White is desperate for some freedom for her pieces, but if she is going to sacrifice one, she should sacrifice that Bishop.
• 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 e4 27.Qc2 Bxb2 28.Qxb2 Nxh3+ gives Black a strong advantage concentrated on the kingside; White is very much alive, but the door is shut tighter on the Bishop than ever.
• If 25.Nd3? Nxh3+ 26.Kf1 h4 then:
• 27.gxh4 then Black wins easily after 27...Qh5 28.c6 bxc6 29.Ba3 Rfd8 30.Qxc6 Rac8.
• If 27.Bxf3 then Black wins after 27...gxf3 28.gxh4 Qh5 29.Re3

BLACK: Almira Skripchenko



WHITE: Laurie Delrome
Position after 25.Nf4e6:B

25...Nxh3+!!

• The sacrifice -- if it can even be called that -- is a sham. Black wins a pawn.
• If 25...Qxe6!? then:
• 26.h4! Nh3+ 27.Kf1 Rad8 28.Nc4 Be7 gives Black only a slight advantage in space.
• 26.hxg4 hxg4 27.Rad1 Kf7 28.c6 bxc6 29.Qxc6 Qxc6 30.bxc6 Rh8 leaves the Bishop entobed while Black uses the h-file to build an attack on the White King.

26.Kh2 Qxe6

• White has been been playing vitually a piece down since Black's 19th move. Now Black has, in addition, an extra pawn and more space.

27.Rf1

• 27.Ba3 Be7 28.c6 Bxa3 29.Rxa3 bxc6 30.bxc6 Nxf2 leaves White two pawns to the good.

27...Ng5 28.Rfe1 Rfe8 29.Nxf3

• 29.Rac1 Nh3 30.Rf1 h4 31.c6 b6 32.Qc4 hxg3+ leaves White two pawns to the good.

29...gxf3!

• Black is a whole piece to the good and White's Bishop at h1 still isn't going anywhere . . .

30.Bxf3

• . . . except back in the box.

30...Nxf3+ 31.Qxf3

• That takes care of White's entombed Bishop, but Black still has a piece to a pawn.

31...Rad8 32.Rh1 Rf8 33.Qe3 Qc4 34.Ra3 Qc2

• If 34...Bg5 then:
• 35.Qb3 Rxf2+ 36.Kh3 Qe6+ 37.Qxe6+ Nxe6 magnifies Black's material advantage.
• If 35.Qxg5 then Black wins easily after 35...Rxf2+! 36.Kh3 Qe6+ 37.g4 Qxg4+ 38.Qxg4 hxg4+.

35.Rb3 Be7

• If 35...Bg5 then after 36.Qe1! Rxf2+ 37.Kh3 Rdd2 White must lose her Queen or submit to mate in two.

36.Bxe5 Qxf2+

• A quicker win is 36...Rxf2+ 37.Kh3 Rd1 38.Qxf2 Qxf2 39.Rxd1 Qf7.

37.Kh3 Qxe3 38.Rxe3 Bxc5

• Black is still a piece to the good.
• Ordinarily, White would have resigned by now. At the time this move was made, Clichy still had a chance to draw Marseille and take the title. Mlle. Delrome therefore took one for the team kept playing until Marseille was safely ahead.

BLACK: Almira Skripchenko



WHITE: Laurie Delrome
Position after 38...Be7c5:p

• The rest requires no comment.

39.Rc3 Bd6 40.Bxd6 cxd6 41.Rc7 Rf7 42.Rhc1 Re8 43.Rc8 Rfe7 44.R1c7 Rxc7 45.Rxc7 Rxe4 46.Rxb7 Rxa4 47.Ra7 Rb4 48.Rxa5 Kf7 49.Ra7+ Kf6 50.Rb7 Nf5 51.b6 Rb3 52.Rb8 Rxg3+ 53.Kh2 Rg7 54.Rf8+ Kg5 55.Rb8 d5 56.b7 d4 57.Kh3 Kf4 58.Kh2 h4 0-1

• Mlle. Delorme resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Anand-Shirov Rapid Match, León, Spain

City Hall, León
Photo by Komencanto in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Anand - Shirov, Round 2

Vishy Anand
Photo by Ygrek in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vishy Anand - Alexei Shirov
Rapid Match, Round 2
León, 3 June 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Grand Anti-Meran Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7

• For a more thorough examination of this opening up to here, see Anand-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

10.Qc2

• If 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 then:
• If 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• If 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 Qb6 18.Kh1 then:
• If 18...c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 then:
• 21...Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 gives Black the initiative; space is almost equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 21...exd5 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rae8 24.Rf5 f6 25.Qd1 gives White a significant advantage in space (Avbrukh-Novikov, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 18...e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Qc1 Rae8 21.fxg4 hxg4 22.Rd6 Qc5 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Filippov-Borovikov, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
• 16.f3 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Qxh4 19.gxh5 Ng5 20.Qd2 Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Qh3+ draw (van Wely-Dreev, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 15.b3 cxb3 16.axb3 0-0 then:
• If 17.Bg3 c5 18.e5 then:
• If 18...Nd5 19.Nxb5 cxd4 20.Nd6 Rb8 then:
• 21.Qd2 Nc3 22.Bd3 a5 23.Ra3 Bd5 24.Bc2 Rb6 gives White more space and Black an extra pawn (Grischuk-Karjakin, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 21.Nxb7 Rxb7 22.Bc4 Ne7 23.Qe4 Rc7 24.Bd3 Nf5 gives Black an extra pawn (Krush-Sebag, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 18...Nd7 19.Ne4 cxd4 20.Ng5 f5 21.Nxe6 Qb6 22.Nxg7 Kxg7 is equal (Sasikiran-Nyback, French ChT, Chalons, 2009).
• 17.Rad1 Nd7 18.Bd6 Qxh4 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.b4 is equal (Sakaev-Magem Badals, French ChT, Noyon, 2005).
• If 11...Rg8 12.Nxg4 then:
• If 12...Nxg4 13.Bxg4 Nd7 14.0-0 Qb6 15.a4 a5 then:
• 16.d5 cxd5 17.Nxb5 Rc8 (Mamedyarov-Kosteniuk, YM, Lausanne, 2003).
• 16.e5 b4 17.Ne4 c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Qe2 0-0-0 is equal (Bosiocic-Todorovic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 12...Nbd7 13.0-0 b4 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bxc4 Qa5 then:
• 16.Rc1 0-0-0 17.Bh2 Bd6 18.Bd3 Bxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Ndf6 is equal (Nakamura-Dreev, IT, Stepanakert, 2003).
• 16.Bh2 0-0-0 17.Rc1 Bd6 18.Bd3 Bxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Qd5 is equal (Brynell-Dreev, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).

10...Nbd7 11.Rd1

• If 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Rd1 Qb6 then:
• 13.h4 g4 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Bf4 c5 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.Nxg4 Nxg4 18.Bxg4 b4 gives Black a slight advantage (Chuchelov-Grischuk, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 13.0-0 Rd8 14.Kh1 c5 15.Bxc4 a6 16.Nxd7 Rxd7 17.e5 Nh5 18.Be2 draw (Pigusov-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

11...Nh5 (N)

• If 11...Bb4 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...Nh5 then:
• If 13.d5 Nxg3 then:
• If 14.hxg3 Qb6 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Nd4 then:
• 16...0-0-0?! 17.Nxe6 gives White a strong initiative (B. Lalic-Prakash, Op, Calcutta, 2000).
• 16...e5 17.Bh5+ Kf8 18.Nf3 Qc7 19.Rxd7 Qxd7 20.Nxe5 is equal.
• 14.fxg3 cxd5 15.exd5 e5 16.a3 Qb6+ gives Black a fair advantage in space and some initiative.
• 13.a3 Nxg3 14.fxg3 Be7 15.g4 a6 16.h3 Qb6 puts White's center under restraint.
• 13.Be5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qc7 15.Qd2 Nf4 16.a3 Bc5 gives Black an extra pawn and stronger pawns.
• If 12...Bxc3 then:
• 13.bxc3!? c5! 14.Nd2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Rc8 16.Rb1 a6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 13.Qxc3 Nxe4 14.Qe3 Nxg3 15.fxg3 Rf8 gives Black two extra pawns and more freedom.

12.d5

• Black has a fair advantage in space.
• 12.0-0 Nxg3 13.fxg3 Qb6 14.g4 Rd8 gives Black an extra pawn; White has more space.

12...Nxg3 13.hxg3 Qb6?!

• The Queen at d8 is protecting Black's kingside and should not be moved. The pawn at h6 is protecting nothing because it is pinned to the Rook at h8.
• 13...cxd5 14.exd5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Bg7 16.Qe4+ Kf8 continues to give Black an extra pawn and White more space.

14.dxe6 fxe6

BLACK: Alexei Shirov



WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 14...fe6:p

15.Nxg5!

• See the note to Black's 13th move. White evens the pawn count and threatens to take on e6.

15...Bc5 16.Bh5+ Ke7

• Black's King is now exposed in the center.

17.Nxe6 Ne5

• 17...Rag8?! 18.Nxc5! Nxc5 19.Be2 Ne6 20.e5 gives White an extra pawn and more space.
• 17...Kxe6? 18.Bg4+! Kf6 19.e5+ Kg7 20.Rxd7+! leads to mate.

18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Be2 Raf8 20.0-0

• The King may be safer in the center.
• If 20.Rf1 Bc8 21.a3 Rd8 22.Qc1 Rxd1+ 23.Nxd1 gives Black more space and piece activity, but White has an extra pawn Black's crippled queenside pawns along with White's 4:1 kingside majority make it very difficult for Black to exploit his strategic strengths.

20...Rhg8

• 20...Bc8 21.Qd2 Be6 22.Nb1 Rd8 23.Qa5 Rhf8 24.Qc7+ gives White an extra pawn.

21.b4?!

• White sacrifices a pawn and gets nothing.
• 21.Qc1 Rg6 22.Qd2 Bc8 23.Qd4 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.

BLACK: Alexei Shirov



WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 21.b2b4

21...Qxb4!

• The material balance is restored.

22.Qd2 Qc5 23.Qxh6 Bc8

• 23...Rg6 then White continues to enjoy an extra pawn after 24.Qh7+ Rf7 25.Qh8 Rf8 26.Nd5+ cxd5 27.Qxe5+.

24.Qh4+ Ke6 25.Qh6+!?

• White misses a better move and allows Black to level the game.
• Better is 25.Qh3+! Kf6 26.Qh7 when:
• 26...a6 27.Qh4+ Ke6 28.Qh6+ Ke7 29.Rd2 gives White a fair advantage: the Black King can be chased for some time by the White Queen, but Black can defend his turf and prevent the situation from becoming any worse.
• If 26...Nf7? then 27.e5+! Qxe5 28.Ne4+ Ke6 29.Qh4 wins for White.

25...Ke7!

• The game is equal.

26.Qh5 Kf6 27.Qh4+ Ke6 28.Nd5

• If 28.Qh3+ Kf6 29.Qh7 then:
• 29...a6 30.Qh4+ Ke6 31.Qh6+ Ke7 32.Qh5 Ke6 33.Qh3+ is equal.
• If 29...Nf7? then White wins after 30.e5+! Qxe5 31.Ne4+ Ke6 32.Qh4 Kf5 33.Qh5+.

28...cxd5

• The game remains equal.

29.Rxd5 Qb6!?

• Check on Rybka
• If 29...Qc7 30.Rfd1 then:
• If 30...Ng6 31.Qg5 then:
• 31...Ne7 32.Bg4+ Kf7 33.Bh5+ Rg6 34.Rd6 Be6 35.e5 is an easy win for White.
• 31...Kf7 32.Rd6 Qe7 33.Qxb5 Rd8 34.Bxc4+ gives White four pawns for a Bishop.
• 30...Rg7 31.Rd6+ Kf7 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Qxe5 leaves White two pawns up.

30.Qh5!?

• Check on Rybka
• If 30.Qh3+! Kf7 31.Qh5+ Ng6 32.Rxb5 then:
• 32...Qd4 33.Rc5 Qxe4 34.Bf3 Qe7 35.Bd5+ wins the exchange.
• 32...Rh8?! 33.Bxc4+! Kg7 34.Qc5 Qxc5 35.Rxc5 Re8 36.Bd5 gives White four pawns to a piece and a better center; Black has slim chances of counterplay on open files after 36...Ba6.

30...Qb8?

• Black had hopes of counterplay with the Queen at b6. If the Rook moves from f1, then Black could play ...Qb6xf2+!.
• 30...Nd7! 31.Rxb5 Qd4 32.Qh3+ Ke7 33.Qh4+ Qf6 34.Bxc4 gives White nothing more than a slight advantage with four pawns against a minor piece.

BLACK: Alexei Shirov



WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 30...Qb6b8

31.Rfd1!

• The consequence of Black's last move was to free the Rook at f1 to move to d1. The doubled Rooks are sure to triumph over the exposed King in the center.
• If 31.f4 Qb6+ 32.Rf2 then:
• If 32...Nd7 33.Qh7 Rd8 34.Bh5 Rgf8 35.Qg6+ then:
• 35...Nf6 36.f5+ Ke7 37.Qg7+ Rf7 38.Qxf7#.
• 35...Ke7 36.Qg7+ Ke6 37.Bg4+ White mates on the next move.
• If 32...Nf7 then White wins after 33.Qh4 Ng5 34.Bg4+ Ke7 35.Bxc8 Qf6 36.Bf5.

31...Rf6 32.Rxe5+ Qxe5 33.Bg4+ Rxg4

• The text is possibly a harikari move.
• There's no point in 33...Rf5 34.Bxf5+ Ke7 35.Qh7+ Qg7 36.Qxg7+ Rxg7 37.Bxc8 when Black could be playing a hopeless position for some time.

34.Qe8# 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Updates (Monday): Malmø ends in 3-way tie; Magnus leads Kings' Tourney

Malmø ends in 3-way tie

The 19th Sigeman & Co. International Tournament ended today in a five-way tie in Malmø, Sweden.

Teenage Filipino grandmaster Wesley So, who lost his game yesterday local hero Nils Grandelius, won his game today over Swedish GM Jonny Hector. Newly-minted Swedish GM Hans Tikkanen and Dutch teenager Anish Giri entered the day tied for first place and drew to bring them even with So at 3 points each.

In the only other game today, grandmaster Alexei Shirov missed an opportunity to make it a four-way tie for first place when he had to settle for a draw against Grandelius.

Magnus leads in Medias after three rounds

Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen leads the fifth annual Kings' Tournament in Medias in the fabled Transylvania region of Romania after three rounds with 2 points.

Magnus entered the day tied for first with Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who lost his game today to local favorite Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu to fall into a four-way tie for second with 1½ points. Others at 1½ points are Nisipeanu, Sergey Karjakin and American GM Hikaru Nakamura, who lost to Magnus in the opening round Saturday but bounced back to defeat Dm. Nisipeanu yesterday.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Wednesday): Magnus leads in Transylvania at half time

Alex Bikfalvi, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Twenty-year-old grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway leads the Kings' Tournament in Medias, in the fabled Transylvania region of Romania, half way through the scheduled ten-round event.

Magnus has 3½ points out of a possible five, followed by Russian GM Sergey Karjakin with 3 points.

Magnus won his second game of the event today when he downed loal favorite Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu in 31 moves. Sergey Alexandrovich scored his first win today over Ukraine's Vassily Ivanchuk. Neither Magnus not Sergey Alexandrovich has lost a game thus far.

Tomorrow is a rest day. Play will resume Friday with games broadcast live on the official tournament website beginning at 3:30 pm local time (5:30 am PDT).