The JR Chess Report (June 20): Magnus, Karjakin deadlocked in Transylvania; Showdown tomorrow

[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).

Magnus, Karjakin deadlocked in Transylvania; Showdown tomorrow

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

Twenty-year old grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Russian GM Sergey Karjakin, 21, share the lead with 6 each after nine rounds in the fifth annual Kings' Tournament Medias, a town in the fabled Romanian region of Transylvania.

Karjakin won his game today from Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk in just 22 moves after Vassily Mikahilovich missed seeing a tactical coup on his fourteenth move which Sergey Alexandrovich immediately executed. Magnus drew his game with Romanina GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu in 32 moves.

Magnus will have White tomorrow against Sergey Alexandrovich for all the marbles in the tenth and final round. The game will be broadcast live on the official tournament website beginning at 3:30 pm local time (5:30 am PDT).

OTHER HEADLINES

Ponomariov leads Ukrainian National Championship Grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov leads the Ukrainian National Championship in Kiev after 10 rounds with only one more game remaining. Pono has 7½ points; Alexander Moiseenko is second with 7 points and Pavel Eljanov follows with 6½ points. Pono and Moiseenko are scheduled to face off tomorrow, but Pono needs only avoid loss to take the title.

Sjugirov, Zaiatz lead Russian Higher League Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov leads the general group of the Russian Higher League in Taganrog with 5 points after 6 rounds of 11 scheduled, while Elena Zaiatz leads the women's group with 4½ points out of five rounds of a scheduled nine. The Higher League is a qualification tournament for the Russian National Championship in Moscow in December. The first three finishers in the general group will qualify and the top five in the women's group will go to Moscow in December.

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. 5th Kings Tournament, Medias (Romania)

Hunyad Castle, Transylvania,
prison fortress of which Vlad Tepes Dracula was once an honored guest
in the fifteenth century
Photo by Alex Bikfalvi in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Carlsen - Nakamura, Round 1

We can expect these players to give a slough of exciting games for the next thirty years or so.



Magnus Carlsen
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Magnus Carlsen - Hikaru Nakamura
5th Kings' Tournament, Round 1
Medias, 11 June 2011

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: London Exchange Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.Qc2 Bg4

• This is rarely played. More common is 6...Bd6.
• For a more thorough examination of this opening up to here and what follows 6...Bd6, see Kasparov-Karpov, Rapid Match, Valencia, 2009.

7.e3

• If 7.f3 Bh5 8.0-0-0 Nd7 9.e4 Bg6 10.Bd3 Ngf6 11.Nge2 Nf8 12.h3 Ne6 13.Be3 dxe4 14.fxe4 gives White a small advantage in space, but the hanging pawns in the center will be difficult to defend (E. Agrest-Portisch, IT, Malmø, 2008).
• 8...Nf6 9.e4 Bg6 10.Bd3 0-0 11.e5 Ne8 12.Be3 Na6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.f4 Nec7 is equal (Shirov-Spraggett, ITZ, Manila, 1990).

7...Bh5 8.Bd3

• 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.h3 Bg6 10.Qd2 Ngf6 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 a5 13.Rfc1 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Ne1 Bb4 16.Qd1 is equal (Salov-Portisch, IT, Linares, 1990).

8...Bg6 9.Bxg6

• If 9.Nge2 Nf6 10.f3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 0-0 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Ng3 Re8 14.Rad1 Nf8 is equal (Malaniuk-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1L, Sverdlovsk, 1987).
• 10.Ng3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 g6 12.0-0-0 Na6 13.Kb1 Nb4 14.Qd2 h5 is equal (Real de Azua-Villegas, Argentine ChT, Villa Martell, 2008).

9...hxg6 10.0-0-0 (N)

• 10.f3 Nd7 11.Nge2 Nb6 12.b3 Bd6 13.0-0-0 Ne7 14.g4 Qc7 15.Kb1 0-0-0 16.Rc1 is equal (M. Gurevich-Portisch, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).

10...Nf6 11.f3

• The game is equal.

11...Nbd7 12.Nge2 b5!?

• 12...Nh5 13.e4 Nxf4 14.Nxf4 Bg5 15.g3 Bxf4+ 16.gxf4 remains equal.

BLACK: Hikuru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 12...b7b5

13.e4!

• This thrust establishes White supremacy in the center. However, it will also weaken his pawns.

13...b4 14.Na4 dxe4 15.fxe4 Qa5?! <15...Ng4 16.Rhf1 g5 17.h3 gxf4 18.hxg4[/i> maintains a slight advantage in space for White.16.Kb1!?

• This is not the optimum move.
• Better is 16.e5! b3 17.Qxb3 Nd5 18.Nac3 Rb8 19.Qc2 giving White a significant advantage in space.

16...0-0!

• Black is not worried about the Queen taking the pawn (see the next note), so he brings his King to safety.
• If 16...Rc8!? 17.e5 Nd5 18.e6 fxe6 19.Qxg6+ Kd8 20.Nc5 gives White a very impressive advantage in space.

17.h4

• If 17.b3! Qb5 18.Nb2 Rfe8 19.Rhe1 then:
• 19...Rad8 20.Bc7 Rc8 21.Bg3 Nb6 22.Nc4 gives White a slight edge; for the time being, his center duo is a strategic strength more than his hanging pawns are a liability.
• 19...Nb6!? 20.Rc1! Rad8 21.e5 Nfd5 22.Bd2 a6 23.e6! gives White a small advantage in space; Black's kingside is weakened by White's thurst on e6.
• 17.Qxc6? Rac8! 18.Qb7 Qxa4 19.Rc1 Rcd8 20.b3 Qa3 leaves Black up by a piece.

17...Rfe8

• If 17...b3! 18.axb3 Rac8 19.e5 Ng4 20.Nec3 Rfe8 21.Qe2 wins a pawn.

18.e5

• This is an good, but it would have been even stronger with better preparation.
• If 18.b3! (freeing the Queen from the defense of the Knight at a4) 18...Qb5 19.e5 Nd5 20.h5 then:
• If 20...g5 21.h6 g6 22.Bc1 N7b6 23.Rde1 then:
• If 23...Nxa4 24.bxa4 Qa6 25.e6 Bf6 26.exf7+ Kxf7 27.Rhf1 gives White a strong attack against the Black King with excellent winning chances.
• If 23...Kh7 24.Nc5 then:
• If 24...Bxc5 25.dxc5 Nd7 26.Nd4 Qxc5 then:
• White gets a strong game after 27.Nf3 Qxc2+ 28.Kxc2 f6 29.exf6 N7xf6 30.Nxg5+.
• 27.Qxc5? Nxc5! 28.Ref1 Re7 29.Nf3 Ne4 30.Nxg5+ is equal.
• If 24...f5 25.Ne6 a5 26.Bxg5 a4 27.g4 then:
• 27...axb3 28.axb3 Qa6 29.Kc1 fxg4 30.Bxe7 Rxe7 31.Ng5+ the Black King must give way.
• If 27...Kh8 then Black is toast after 28.N6f4 Bxg5 29.Nxg6+ Kh7 30.Qxf5 Ra7 31.Ref1.
• 20...N7b6 21.hxg6 Nxa4 22.Rh8+ Kxh8 23.gxf7 leaves Black no way to keep White's heavy pieces out of the h-file for a decisive attack.

18...Nd5?!

• Black plays aggressively, but ignores the danger to his hisside.
• If 18...Ng4! 19.e6! then:
• 19...fxe6! 20.Qxc6 Qd5 21.Rc1! Nf2 22.Rh2 is equal.
• If 19...Nf2? 20.exd7! then:
• If 20...Red8 then White wins after 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Nxh1 23.Nc1 Qb5 24.Bc7!.
• 20...Nxh1?? 21.dxe8Q+ Rxe8 22.Rxh1 leaves White two pieces to t he good.

19.h5!

• Of course, White does not ignore that danger.
• If 19.Qxc6 Red8 20.Rc1 b3 21.a3 then:
• 21...Bxa3 22.bxa3 Nxf4 23.Nxf4 Qd2 24.Nb2 Qxf4 25.Qf3 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 21...N7b6 22.Nac3 Nxc3+ 23.Nxc3 Rxd4 24.Be3 Rdd8 25.Qb5 gives White a small advantage in space.

19...g5 20.h6

• 20.Bd2 Qa6 21.h6 Qxe2 22.hxg7 N7f6 23.exf6 Nxf6 24.Qc1 Ne4 25.Ka1 is equal.

20...g6?!

• Black allows White an advanced passed pawn.
• If 20...b3? 21.axb3 gxf4 22.hxg7 N5f6 then:
• 23.Nxf4 Nxe5 24.Qf5 Nc4 25.Nc5 Nd2+ 26.Kc2 Black is out of checks and cannot prevent White from attacking on the h-file.
• 23.exf6 Nxf6 24.Nc5 Qb5 25.Nc3 Qa5 26.Qf5 is crushing.
• Black's best bet appears to be 20...gxf4 21.hxg7 N5f6 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Nxf4 Qg5 24.Nd3 when Black eliminates the pawn at g7, but White picks up the pawn at c6 with a significant advantage in space.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 20...g7g6

21.Bc1!

• White withdraws the Bishop from danger and reinforces b2.

21...N7b6 22.Nc5 Bxc5 23.dxc5?!

• White gives up a large part of his advantage.
• If 23.Qxc5 Qxc5 24.dxc5 Na4 25.h7+ Kh8 then:
• 26.Rxd5!! cxd5 27.Bxg5 gives White the initiative.
30.Bd4 Rae8 31.Bxe5+ Rxe5.
• If 26.Bxg5 Nxc5 27.Nf4 then:
• If 27...Ne4 28.Nxd5 cxd5 29.Be3 then:
• 29...Rxe5 then White wins the exchange after 30.Bd4 Rae8 31.Bxe5+ Rxe5.
• 29...Rad8 30.Bxa7 Rxe5 31.Bd4 White wins the exchange.
• If 27...Ne6? 28.Nxd5!! then:
• 28...Nxg5 29.Nc7 Kg7 30.Rd7 a6 31.Nxa8 WHite wins the exchange.
• 28...cxd5 29.Bf6+ Ng7 30.Rxd5 Re6 31.Rd7 gives White an extra pawn, a passer on the seventh rank and the initiative.

23...b3!

• White had a huge advantage a moment ago, but now must play carefully to avoid not having any advantage at all.

24.Qxb3!

• This is how it is played carefully.
• If 24.axb3!? Nb4 25.Bxg5 then:
• If 25...N6d5 then:
• 26.Qc4 Qa2+ 27.Kc1 Qa1+ 28.Kd2 Qxb2+ 29.Ke1 Qxe5 is equal.
• 26.Qe4? Qa2+ 27.Kc1 Qa1+ 28.Kd2 Qxb2+ 29.Ke1 Rxe5 Black must win material.
• 26.h7+ Kh8 27.Qc4 Qa2+ 28.Kc1 Qa1+ 29.Kd2 Qxb2+ 30.Ke1 Qxe5 gives Black the better center and the initiative against the White King.
• If 25...Nxc2?? 26.h7+!! then:
• 26...Kg7 27.Bf6+ Kf8 28.h8Q#.
• 26...Kh8 27.Bf6#.

24...Qxc5 25.Nd4!?

• White leaves his e-pawn en prise.
• Better is 25.Qg3 when:
• 25...Nd7 26.h7+ Kh8 27.Bxg5 Rab8 28.Qf3 Qb6 29.b3 when White has an extra pawn, more space and the initiative.
• If 25...Nc4 26.h7+ then:
• If 26...Kg7 27.b3 Nce3 28.Rd2 then:
• If 28...Rh8 29.Qh3 Rhe8 30.Qh6+ Kh8 31.Qxg5 then:
• 31...Qe7 32.Qxe7 Rxe7 33.Ba3 Rxe5 34.Bb2 wins the exchange for White.
• 31...Nf5 32.Rxd5 cxd5 33.Qf6+ Ng7 34.Bh6 isn't quite mate, but Black's chances of surviving aren't good.
• If 28...Qe7? then White wins after 29.Nd4 Kh8 30.Bb2 Rac8 31.Rd3 c5 32.Nb5.
• If 26...Kh8?! 27.Bxg5! Qb6 28.b3 then:
• 28...Re6 29.Nd4 Rxe5 30.Ka1 Rxg5 31.Qxg5 leaves White up by the exchange,
• 28...Rxe5? 29.Qh4 Na3+ 30.Ka1 Re6 31.Nf4 Qb4 32.Rh3 gives White an easy win.

25...Rxe5 26.Nf3 Re2?!

• Black should play in a more defensive mood. An attack cannot succeed against White faster than a White attack on Black's King will bear fruit.
• If 26...Re7 27.Bxg5 Re2 28.h7+ Kh8 29.Ka1 Rae8 30.Rc1 still gives White the advantage, but not enought to win.

27.Nxg5!

• White has taken control of Black's kingside light squares.

27...Qe7 28.Qd3 Rf8?

• The f-pawn is safe enough for now. Black needs to send the White Knight packing.
• If 28...Re5 29.Nf3 Re4 30.Rdf1 then:
• If 30...f5 31.h7+ Kh8 32.b3 Na4! then:
• If 33.Nd2! Nac3+ 34.Ka1 then:
• 34...Re3 35.Qd4+ Qf6 36.Qxf6+ Nxf6 37.Nb1 Ncd5 38.Bxe3 wins the exchange; Black is teetering on the percipice, but he still has some play left.
• 34...Re2? loses to 35.Bb2! Qg7 36.Rc1 f4 37.Rxc3 Re3 38.Qxg6.
• 33.bxa4?! Rb8+! 34.Bb2+ Rxb2+ 35.Kxb2 is equal.
• If 30...f6 31.Re1 Rxe1 32.Qxg6+ then:
• 32...Kh8 33.Rxe1 Qh7 34.Qxh7+ Kxh7 35.g4 c5 36.Re6 leave Black teetering at best.
• If 32...Kf8? 33.Rxe1 Qf7 34.Qg4! then:
• 34...Ne7 35.Nd4 Qg6+ 36.Qxg6 Nxg6 37.Nxc6 gives White two extra pawns.
• If 34...Qh7+ then White wins after 35.Ka1 c5 36.Nh4 Rd8 37.Ng6+ Kf7 38.Nf4.

BLACK: Hikuru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 28...Ra8f8

29.Rdf1!

• Black will crumble under White's kingside pressure.

29...f5

• If 29...f6 then:
• If 30.Re1! Rxe1 31.Rxe1 then:
• 31...Qd7 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Re8 Rxe8 34.Nf7+ wins the Queen.
• If 31...Qxe1 then 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Qg7#.
• If 30.Qxg6+ Kh8 31.Re1 /i] then:
• 31...Nf4 32.Qg7+ Qxg7 33.hxg7+ Kxg7 34.Rxe2 Nxe2 35.Ne6+ wins the exchange.
• 31...Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Qd7 33.Re8 Rxe8 34.Nf7+ wins the Queen.

30.g4 Na4

• If 30...Qe5 31.h7+ Kh8 32.Rh6 Na4 33.Qa3 then:
• 33...c5 34.Rxg6 Nac3+ 35.Ka1 Nb4 36.Qxc3 Qxc3 37.Rg8+ leaves White a piece to the good after exchanges on g8 and c3.
• If 33...Qg7 34.Qxa4 Nc3+ 35.bxc3 Rb8+ 36.Qb4!! then:
• 36...Ree8 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.Rg1 Qxh6 39.Nf7+ wins the Queen.
• If 36...Rxb4+ then White wins after 37.cxb4 Qxh6 38.Nf7+ Kxh7 39.Nxh6 Re4 40.a3.
• 36.Ka1?? loses to 36...Qxc3+!.

31.Qd4 Qe5 32.Qxe5

• If 32.Qxa4? Nc3+ 33.bxc3 Rb8+ then:
• 34.Qb4 Rxb4+ 35.cxb4 Qd5!! 36.h7+! Kh8 37.Nf7+ Qxf7! (then only move) equalizes.
• 34.Qb3+ Rxb3+ 35.axb3 Qd5! is equal.

32...Rxe5 33.gxf5

• If 33.h7+ Kh8 34.Rh6 then:
• 34...f4 35.Rxg6 Ne7 36.Re6 Rxe6 37.Nxe6 Rf6 38.Nxf4 gives White two extra pawns.
• 34...Rf6? 35.gxf5 Rexf5 36.Rxg6!! Rxg6 37.Rxf5 Rxg5 38.Rxg5 leaves White up by an exchange.

33...gxf5

• If 33...Rexf5? 34.Rxf5 Rxf5 35.Re1 then:
• If 35...Rxg5 then White wins after 36.Re8+! Kh7 37.Bxg5.
• 35...Kf8?? loses immediately to 36.h7!.

34.Nf3 Re7 35.Rfg1+ Kh7 36.Rg7+ Kh8

• 36...Rxg7 37.hxg7+ Kxg7 38.Bh6+ wins the exchange.

37.Rhg1! Rfe8 38.Nh4 Rxg7 1-0

• 39.Rxg7 Re6 40.Nxf5 c5 41.Nh4 c4 42.Ng6+ wins the exchange.
• Mr. Nakamura resigns without waiting for Magnus to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Ivanchuk - Karjakin, Round 5

Sergey Karjakin
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vassily Ivanchuk - Sergey Karjakin
5th King's Tournament, Round 5
Medias, 15 June 2011

Italian Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense/Clam Opening (Giuoco Pianissimo)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

• This is the Classical Defense to the Italian Royal Game. It's main branches are the Evans Gambit, the Italo-Scotch Nexus (treated elsewhere), the Guiocco Piano and the the Italian Royal Clam Opening (aka the Guiocco Pianissimo). If you play this opening, you might want to bookmark this page.
• The alternative to the Classical Defense is the Gothic Defense, 3...Nf6, conventionally known as the Two Knights' Defense.

4.c3

• (Evans Gambit) If 4.b4 then:
• If 4...Bxb4 5.c3 then:
• If 5...Ba5 Qh5 6.d4 exd4 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...dxc3 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nxc3 Nge7 then:
• If 11.Ba3 0-0 12.Rad1 then:
• 12...b5 13.Nxb5 Rb8 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qa3 Nc6 16.Nbd4 Bb4 with a very strong game for Black (W. Paulsen-Zukertort, Leipzig 1877).
• 12...a6 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 d6 15.exd6 cxd6 16.Bxd6 Rd8 is equal (Zukertort-Minchin, Match, London (?), 1879).
• 11.Ne2 b5 12.Bd3 Qe6 13.Qb2 Ng6 14.Nf4 Nxf4 15.Bxf4 gives Black two extra pawns (Fritz-Schallop, IT, Coburg, 1904).
• If 7...d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 then:
• If 9.Nc3 then:
• If 9...Na5 10.Bd3 Ne7 11.e5 d5 12.Ba3 then:
• 12...Nac6 13.Ng5 Bf5 14.e6 Bxe6 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Nxd5 Qf7 18.Nxb6 axb6 19.d5 exd5 20.Re1+ Ne7 gives Black two extra pawns (Bergell-Cordel, Berlin 1866).
• 12...Be6 13.Na4 0-0 14.Ng5 h6 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Qg4 Qd7 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Qg6 Black resigns (Neumann-Anderssen, Match, Breslau, 1864).
• 9...Bg4 10.Bb5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Kf8 12.Be3 Nce7 13.Kh1 c6 14.Ba4 d5 15.Rb1 Rb8 16.Qd3 Bc7 gives Black an extra pawn and healthier pawns; White has a center duo and more activity (Morphy-Schulten, Match, New York, 1857).
• If 9.d5 Na5 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Ne7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nc3 Ng6 13.Ne2 c5 14.Qd2 f6 then:
• If 15.Kh1 Bc7 16.Rac1 Rb8 then:
• If 17.Ng3 b5 18.Nf5 c4 then:
• If 19.Be2 b4 20.Bd4 c3 then:
• If 21.Qe3 Bb6 22.g4 Ne5 23.Rg1 Nxf3 24.Bxf3 Nc4 is very strong for Black (Anderssen-Zukertort, Barmen, 1869).
• 21.Qd1 Bb6 22.g4 Ne5 23.Bxb6 Qxb6 Black still has the extra pawn (Zukertort-Dufresne, Berlin, 1870).
• 19.Bb1 b4 20.Bd4 Ba6 21.Rg1 c3 gives Black a clear advantage (Steinitz-Maas, IT, London, 1873).
• 17.Nfg1 b5 18.f4 c4 19.Bb1 b4 20.Bd4 c3 21.Qd1 Bb6 22.Nf3 Ba6 gives Black an extra pawn and an advanced protected passer (Zukertort-Anderssen, Match, Breslau, 1866).
• 15.Rac1 Bd7 16.Ng3 a6 17.Kh1 Bc7 18.Nf5 b5 19.g4 b4 20.Rg1 b3 gives Black a fair advantage with the advanced pawn on b3 and the passed c-pawn (Zukertort-Knorre, IT, Breslau, 1866).
• 10...Nf6 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nc3 Bg4 13.Na4 Qe7 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Qd2 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5?! 17.Kh1 Qh4 is equal (W. Paulsen-Schwengers, Düsseldorf, 1863).
• (MacDonnell Variation) If 5...Bc5 then:
• If 6.0-0 then:
• The inaugural game of the Evans gambit continued 6...Nf6 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.e5 d5 10.exf6 dxc4 11.Re1+ Kf8 12.Ba3+ Kg8 13.d5 Na5 14.Be7 Qd7 15.fxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd2 Qg4 17.Qc3+ Kg8 18.Qxh8+ Kxh8 19.Bf6+ Qg7 20.Re8# and that's all, folks (Evans-MacDonnell, London 1829).
• 6...Bb6 7.d4 Qe7 8.Ba3 Qf6 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Qb3 Nh6 12.Nd2 Bc5 13.Nf3 Qe7 14.Bc1 0-0 15.e5 Re8 16.Bg5 Qf8 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Rae1 c6 19.a4 Rb8 20.Nd4 d5 21.Bd3 Qg7 gives Black an extra pawn and some threats against White's King (Ragozin-Levenfish, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1949).
• 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Kf1 Qe7 9.e5 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Bg5 b6 12.a3 Bd6 13.Ra2 Qf8 14.Re2+ Be7 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.Ne5 0-0-0 17.Nf7 d5 18.Nxd8 Qxd8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Bxd5 Bxd4 21.Rd2 Bxc3 22.Be6+ Kb8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Qa4 Rd4 25.Qc2 Ba6+ punishes White for doing nothing to liberate his Rook (Minchin-Steinitz, London 1866).
• (La Bourdonnais Variation) If 5...Be7 6.d4 then:
• If 6...Na5 then:
• If 7.Nxe5 Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5 10.Ne3 then:
• If 10...Qd8 11.0-0 Nf6 12.c4 0-0 13.Nc3 c6 14.Bb2 Qa5 then:
• 15.Qf3 Qh5 16.Qxh5 Nxh5 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Ned5 cxd5 19.Nxd5 Be6 20.Nxe7+ Rxe7 21.d5 is equal (Hoiberg-Kimova Richtrova, ITW, Farum, 1993).
• 15.Qb3 Qg5 16.Rfe1 Re8 17.Nf1 Be6 18.Re5 Qg6 19.Rae1 Bd6 gives Black a slight initiative and the advantage in space (Ribeiro-Rizouk, Op, Algarve, 1995).
• If 10...Qa5 11.0-0 Nf6 12.c4 then:
• If 12...0-0 13.Bb2 Qg5 14.Qf3 Re8 15.Nc3 c6 16.h3 Be6 is equal (León Hoyos-Gustafsson, IT 0809, Reggio Emilia, 2008).
• 12...c6 13.Nd2 0-0 14.Nb3 Qh5 15.Qxh5 Nxh5 16.Bb2 Nf6 17.Rfd1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Helmut-Hirsch, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1990).
• If 7.Be2 exd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Qxg7 Bf6 10.Qg3 Ne7 then:
• 11.0-0 Ng6 12.Nd4 Qe7 13.Nd2 Bd7 14.N2b3 Nxb3 15.axb3 gives White the advantages in space, pawn structure and King safety (Short-I. Sokolov, IT, Sarajevo, 2007).
• 11.Bg5 Ng6 12.h4 h6 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Nbd2 Bd7 15.h5 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxe5+ Bxe5 18.Rc1 is equal (Abergal-Parmentier, French ChT, Clichy 2006).
• If 6...d6 7.Qb3 Na5 then:
• If 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 Kxf7 10.Qxa5 exd4 11.cxd4 then:
• 11...Nf6 12.Nc3 c6 13.Qa4 Rf8 14.Qb3+ d5 15.0-0 gives White a slight edge (Bademian-Kraidman, IT, Haifa, 1976).
• 11...c5!? 12.Qd2 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nf6 14.Nc3 Re8 15.0-0 Kg8 16.f4 a6 is equal (Cochrane-Mohishunder, Match, Calcutta, 1852).
• 8.Qa4+?! c6! 9.Bd3 b5 10.Qc2 Bf6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.0-0 Ne7 13.Ba3 0-0 14.Nbd2 Be6 gives Black the extra pawn and more space (McDonnell-La Bourdonnais, Match, London, 1834).
• (Evans Gambit Declined) If 4...Bb6 then:
• If 5.a4 a6 then:
• If 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Nd5 then:
• If 7...Nxd5 8.exd5 Nd4 then:
• If 9.a5 Ba7 then:
• If 10.0-0 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 d6 then:
• If 12.d3 0-0 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 then:
• 14...f5 15.f4 exf4 16.Qxf4 Bd7 17.d4 Qf6 18.h4 Qf7 is equal (Miranovic-Leko, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 1995).
• 14...Bd7 15.d4 Qh4 16.c3 Rae8 17.Rfe1 f5 18.Qg3 Qh5 is equal (T. L. Petrosian-Tkachiev, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 12.Bb2 0-0 13.d4 Qh4 14.g3 Qf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.Rfd1 Bg4 17.Rd2 Rfe8 18.Bf1 gives White more space, but also more pawn weaknesses (Stevic-Rogic, IT, Vinkovici, 1995).
• 10.d6 cxd6 11.c3 Ne6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d4 Qc7 14.Bd5 Rb8 15.Qd3 gives Black an extra pawn and White stronger pawns and more space (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 9.0-0 d6 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.c3 Ba7 12.d4 Qh4 13.Bd3 0-0 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Qe2 gives White a slight edge (Dr. Alekhine-Fuentes, Melilla, 1945).
• If 7...d6 8.Nxb6 cxb6 then:
• If 9.d3 then:
• 9...Bg4 then:
• 10.c3 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 Kg7 14.h4 Nh5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Qd2 gives White more space and stronger pawns (Alexander-Broadbent, British Ch, Nottingham, 1946).
• If 9...Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.c3 0-0 12.0-0 Qe8 13.Be3 Nd7 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space and fewer pawn weaknesses (Golubev-Korchnoi, Geller Mem Rpd, Odessa, 2008).
• If 9.Qe2 0-0 then:
• 10.0-0 Bg4 11.c3 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qd3 Nf4 15.Qe3 Nd5 is equal (Negi-Milov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
• 10.c3 d5 11.exd5 e4 12.dxc6 exf3 13.Qxf3 Bg4 14.Qg3 b5 is equal (A. Muzychuk-Zaiatz, Euro ChW, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 6.c3 Nf6 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.Bb3 Ng6 11.Nc4 then:
• If 11...Ba7 12.Be3 Be6 13.a5 Bxe3 then:
• 14.fxe3 h6 15.Qe1 Qe7 16.Nh4 Nxh4 17.Qxh4 Rad8 18.Ba2 c6 is equal (Dembo-I. Turova, Euro CHW, Kusadai, 2006).
• 14.Nxe3 Nf4 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Qc2 gives White a slight advantage.
• 11...c6 12.Nxb6 Qxb6 13.Bg5 Qd8 14.Nh4!? Nxh4 15.Bxh4 h6 16.Bg3 gives White a small advantage in space (Neumann-Rosenthal, Match, Paris, 1869).
• If 8...h6 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Bb3 then:
• 10...Kh8 draw (Ganguly-Sandipan, Indian Ch, Visakhapatnam, 2006).
• 10...Ne7 11.Nc4 Ba7 12.Be3 Be6 13.Bxa7 Rxa7 14.Re1 gives White a touch more space, but the game is going nowhere (Glek-Yermolinsky, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1997).
• If 5.0-0 d6 6.a4 a6 7.a5 Ba7 then:
• If 8.b5 axb5 9.Bxb5 Nge7 10.d4 then:
• If 10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 then:
• If 13.Bb2 0-0 then:
• 14.Ra3 Bc5 15.Rg3 f6 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Schottländer, IT, Breslau, 1879).
• 14.Kh1 Qg5 15.e5?! Nxe5 16.f4 Qd8 17.fxe5 Bxb5 gives Black an extra pawn, two Bishops actively make good use of themselves and the initiative (Schallop-Minckwitz, IT, Barman, 1869).
• If 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Bb2 0-0 15.Qg4 f6 then:
• 16.Ra3 Qe7 17.Nd2 Bc5 18.Raa1 Rfe8 19.Bc3 Bxe4 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Nxe4 Qe5 22.Ng3 Bxf2+ White resigns (Winawer-Steinitz, IT, Baden-Baden, 1870).
• 16.Nd2 Qe7 17.Rfe1 Qf7 18.Nf1 Qg6 19.Qe6+ Kh8 20.Ng3 Rae8 21.Qc4 Qg5 is equal (Anderssen-L. Paulsen, IT, Baden-Baden, 1870).
• If 10...0-0 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Ba3 then:
• 13...Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bg4 15.Rd3 c5 16.h3 gives White the initiative and command of the d-file ()Anderssen-Suhle, Berlin, 1864.
• 13...c5 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Nc3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Ng6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 gives White a the advantage in space and powerful Bishops (Anderssen-Max Lange, IT, Aachen, 1868).
• If 8.c3 Qf6 9.d3 then:
• 9...Nge7 10.Be3 Bg4 11.Nbd2 Ng6 12.Bg5 Qxg5 13.Nxg5 Bxd1 14.Bxf7+ gives White a slight advantage with his active pieces (von Freymann-Teichmann, IT, St. Petersburg, 1909).
• 9...h6 10.Be3 g5 11.Ne1 Nge7 12.Na3 Qg6 13.b5 axb5 14.Nxb5 Bb8 15.f3 0-0 is equal (W. Cohn-Winawer, IT, Berlin, 1897).

4...Nf6

• The Italian Royal Clam Opening (aka the Giuocco Pianissimo), initiated by Black's next move, is the currently most popular way to meet the Classical Defense to the Italian Royal Game. In earlier times White played for a full pawn center.
• (Guiocco Piano/Lewis Variation or Center-Holding Variation) If 4...Bb6 5.d4 then:
• If 5...Qe7 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Re1 d6 then:
• If 8.a4 a6 9.h3?! then:
• If 9...0-0 then:
• If 10.Bg5 then:
• If 10...h6 11.Be3 Qd8 12.Bd3 Re8 13.Nbd2 Ba7 14.Qc2 exd4 15.Nxd4 Ne5 16.Bf1 d5 17.Rad1 c5 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Dr. Alekhine, IT, Baden-Baden, 1925).
• 10...Nd8 11.Bh4 c6 12.Nbd2 Bc7 13.d5 h6 14.g4 c5 15.Nf1 g6 16.Qd2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Leonhardt-Spielmann, IT, Ostend, 1907).
• 10.b4 then:
• 10...exd4 11.cxd4 Nxb4 12.a5 Ba7 13.Ba3 c5 14.Bxb4 cxb4 15.Qb3 d5 16.Bxd5 gives White a slight edge (Grabczewski-Makarczyk, Polish Ch, Krakow, 1953).
• If 10...Kh8!? then:
• If 11.Ba3!? then:
• If 11...Ng8 12.b5 Na5 13.Nxe5 f6 14.Bxg8 fxe5 15.Ba2 exd4 16.Nd2?! Bxh3! gives Black an extra pawn, a slight edge in space and gathering threats againts White's King; White cannot play 17.gxh3?? because of 17...Qg5+! 18.Qgf4 Qxd2 19.Re2 Qxc3 when Black has an easy win (Van Sheltinga-Dr. Euwe, IT, Maastricht, 1946).
• If 11.d5! Nd8 12.a5 Ba7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If 9...h6 10.Na3 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.Bd5 then:
• 11...Ba7 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nc4 Nd7 15.Qe2 Rb8 16.b4 gives White a significant advantage in space (Paoli-Kovacs, Asztalos Mem, Baja, 1971).
• 11...Nb8 12.Nc4 Nbd7 13.Ne3 Kh7 14.Nf5 gives White a significant advantage in space (S. Szabo-Kholmov, IT, Bucharest, 1954).
• 10...g5! 11.Nxg5 hxg5 12.Bxg5 Rg8 transposes into Reggio-Dr. Tarrasch, below.
• If 8.h3?! then:
• 8...h6! 9.a4 a6 10.Na3 g5! 11.Nxg5 hxg5 12.Bxg5 Rg8 13.h4 exd4 14.Bd5 Bg4 15.Qd2 d3 gives Black an extra piece (Reggio-Dr. Tarrasch, IT, Monte Carlo, 1903).
• 8...0-0 9.Na3 Kh8 10.Nc2 Nd8 11.b3 Be6 12.Bd3 Ng8 13.Ne3 f6 14.Nd5 gives White a significant advantage in space (Rossolimo-Dr. Euwe, IT, Gijon, 1951).
• (Lewis Neo-Classical Variation) If 5...Nf6 6.0-0 then:
• If 6...d6 7.dxe5 then:
• If 7...Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 then:
• If 10.Nd2 Ke7 then:
• 11.b3 Bc5 12.Nf3 Nxe4 13.Nxe5 Be6 is equal(Thorhallsson-Gustafsson, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).
• 11.h3 Rd8 12.Re1 Be6 13.Bxe6 Kxe6 14.Nc4 Bc5 gives Black a small advantage in space (E. Torre-S. R. Burns-Mannion, Ol, Khanty Mansiysk, 2010).
• 10.Bg5 Ke7 11.Nd2 c6 12.Nf3 Bc7 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.f4 Bc7 is equal (Albin-Gossip, IT, New York, 1893).
• If 7...dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 then:
• 9.Bg5 Nc6 10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.b4 f6 12.Be3 Nf8 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.Nb3 Ne7 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Bxc5 gives White a small advantage in space (Tartakover-Maroczy, IT, Vienna, 1907).
• 9.Nxe5 Nxe4 10.Nd2 Nd6 11.a4 Nxc4 12.Ndxc4 gives White a slight advantage (Mijovic-Bhatia, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 6...Qe7transposes to the main line of this set of notes.

5.d3

• (Giuocco Piano/Center Variation) If 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 then:
• If 6...Bb4+ then:
• If 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 then:
• If 8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 then:
• If 10.Qb3 then:
• If 10...Nce7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 c6 then:
• If 13.a4 Qb6 14.Qa3 then:
• If 14...Be6 then:
• If 15.a5 Qc7 then:
• If 16.Rac1 Rad8 17.Ne4 then:
• 17...Ng6 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.b4 gives White the advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Olland-Leussen, Haarlem, 1901).
• 17...Nf5 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.Qb3 Qxa5 20.Nxb7 Bxb7 21.Qxb7 Qb6 22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Bf1 draw (Maciejewski-Filip, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1976).
• 16.Ne4 Rad8 17.Nc5 Bc8 18.g3 Nf5 19.Rad1 Nd6 20.Bxd5 Nb5 21.Qb4 Rxd5 22.Nd3 Bg4 gives Black healthier pawns, a blockade on White's isolated pawn, the initiative and more freedom; White has command of the e-file and more space (Dr. Tarrasch-Capablanca, IT, San Sebastián, 1911).
• 15.Ne4 Ng6 16.Nc5 Bf5 17.Ne5 Rad8 18.a5 Qc7 19.Qg3 Nxe5 20.Rxe5 gives White more space, but also an isolated d-pawn (Chigorin-Schlechter, IT, Vienna, 1898).
• If 14...Qc7 then:
• 15.Rac1 h6 16.Re5 Be6 17.b4 Ng6 18.Ree1 Qd6 gives Black healtier pawns, but White can apply pressure to the blockade square (Sybin-Behting, Corres, 1900).
• 15.Ne5 Bf5 16.Ne4 Rad8 17.Ng3 Be6 18.Nf3 Nf4 is equal (Prokes-Sery, IT, Brno, 1921).
• If 13.Ne4 Qb6 14.Nc3 then:
• 14...Qxb3 15.Bxb3 Be6 16.Ng5 Bd7 17.Re5 h6 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space (Bogoljubow-Dr. Euwe, IT, Karlsbad, 1941).
• 14...Be6 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Ng5 b5 17.Bb3 Nc7 18.Nxe6 Nxe6 19.Rad1 b4 20.d5 cxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 gives White a clear advantage in space (Hmadi-Acs, 1st Saturday December, Budapest, 1995).
• If 10...Na5 11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Qb3 then:
• 12...Nce7 13.0-0 0-0 transposes into the text.
• 12...Na5 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Qb3 invites a draw by repetition.
• If 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 then:
• 11...Nce7 12.Qb3 transposes into the text.
• If 11...Nf4 12.Ne4 then:
• 12...Ne7 13.Qd2 Neg6 14.h3 Nd5 15.Rac1 c6 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 is equal (Janowski-Götz, Cafe de la Regence, Paris, 1891).
• 12...Bg4 13.Qd2 Nh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxf3 15.d5 Ne5 16.Qf4 f6 gives Black a slight advantage with stronger pawns (Dubois-Steinitz, Match, London, 1862).
• 11...Bf5 12.Ne4 Bxe4 13.Rxe4 Qd6 14.Qd2 Rad8 15.Rae1 Nf6 16.Re6 Qb4 17.Qxb4 Nxb4 18.Re7 Nbd5 19.R7e2 c6 draw (Tartakover-Grünfeld, IT, Baden-Baden, 1925).
• If 8...Nxe4 9.Nxe4 d5 10.Bd3 dxe4 11.Bxe4 then:
• 11...Ne7 12.Qc2 c6 13.0-0 h6 14.Ne5 0-0 is equal (Kotrc-Charousek, IT, Prague, 1897).
• 11...0-0 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Rc1 Qd5 15.b3gives White a slight advantage in space (Leonhardt-Rotlewi, Match, Hamburg, 1911).
• If 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 then:
• If 9...Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 then:
• If 13...h6 14.Qe2 hxg5 15.Re1 Be6 16.dxe6 f6 17.Re3 then:
• If 17...c6 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 20.Qf3 Qa5 then:
• 21.Re2 Qf5 22.Qc3 0-0-0 23.b4 d5 24.Bb3 d4 gives Black an extra pawn, healthier pawns and a slight initiative; Black's passed pawn at e6 is her only faint hope (Guo-Toth, World Jr Ch (Girls), Chotowa, 2010).
• 21.Qxf6 Qxe1+ 22.Bf1 0-0-0 23.Qxe7 Qe4 24.b4 Qf4 leaves Black up by the exchange (Hardarson-Livshits, Op, Olomouc, 2001).
• 17...d5 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 20.Qf3 Qd6 21.Qxf6 Qf4 22.Qh8+ Qf8 23.Qd4 draw (Talbi-Goutali, Olympic Tryouts, Algeirs, 2000).
• If 13...0-0 then:
• If 14.Nxh7?! then:
• If 14...Kxh7! 15.Qh5+ Kg8 16.Rh4 f5 then:
• 17.Re1 Ng6 18.Rh3 Rf6 19.Qh7+ Kf7 20.Bd3 Bd7 leaves Black with an extra piece (Keres-Sachsenmaier, Corres, 1934).
• If 17.Rh3 then:
• If 17...Bd7 18.Re1! Rf6 19.Qh7+ Kf7 20.Rg3 Ng6 21.Re6!! then:
• 21...Bxe6? 22.dxe6+ Kf8 23.e7+ Kxe7 24.Qxg7+ Ke8 25.Rxg6 Black resigns (Keres-Kunerth, Corres, 1935).
• 21...a6! 22.a3 b5 23.Ba2 a5 24.Rxg6 Rxg6 25.Qxg6+ continues to give White a strong advantage.
• If 17...f4 18.Qh7+ Kf7 19.Qh5+ g6! 20.Qh7+ then:
• 20...Kf6 21.Qh4+ g5 22.Qh6+ Ng6 White continues to enjoy a strong advantage.
• If 20...Ke8?! 21.Bb5+! c6 22.dxc6 bxc6 23.Bxc6+ Nxc6 24.Qxg6+! gives White only a slight advantage.
• If 14...Bf5!? 15.Rh4 then:
• If 15...Re8 16.Qh5 Ng6 17.Rd4 Re5 18.f4 then:
• 18...Nxf4 19.Rxf4 Bg6 20.Qf3 Kxh7 21.Bd3 Kg8 22.Rf1 Qe7 23.Bxg6 fxg6 24.Rf7 gives White a slight initiative by which he should win back the pawn (Pirrot-Chiburdanidze, Op, Baden-Baden, 1987).
• 18...Re4 19.Rxe4 Bxe4 20.Ng5 Qf6 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Nxe4 Qd4+ 23.Nf2 Qxc4 24.f5 Ne7 is equal (Andersson-M. Johansson, IT, Sverigne, 1969).
• 15...Ng6 16.Rh5 Re8 17.Rxf5 Kxh7 18.Rxf7 Kg8 19.Rf5 gives White an extra pawn (Toma-Zawadzka, Polish ChWU20, Brzeg Dolny, 2001).
• 14.Qb3 Ng6 15.Nf3 Qf6 16.Rae1 c6 17.a4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 9...Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 then:
• If 11...0-0 12.Qxe4 Nd6 13.Qd3 b6 14.Ng5 f5 15.Re1 h6 gives White a slight advantage with better pawn structure (Levin-Evans, US Op, Pittsburgh, 1946).
• If 11...f5 then:
• If 12.Qxc4 d6 13.Nd4 0-0 then:
• If 14.f3 Nc5 15.Re1 b6 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.dxe6 d5 18.Qd4 gives White a small advantage in space (C. S. Howell-Torre Repetto, IT, New York, 1925).
• 14.Rb1 Kh8 15.Re1 Nc5 16.Ba3 b6 is equal (Znosko Barowski-Salwe, IT, Ostend, 1907).
• 12.Bg5? Nxg5! 13.Qxg7 Rf8 14.Nxg5 Qf6 15.Rfe1+ Kd8 16.Qxf6+ Rxf6 when Black is a piece to the good and White soon resigned (Dr. Lasker-Schlechter, IT, London, 1899).
• If 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 then:
• If 8...Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 then:
• If 10...Bg4 11.Qc2 Bf5 12.Qb3 then:
• 12...Be6 13.0-0 f5 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Ne5 Nd6 17.Nxc6 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Alekseev-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...Ne7 13.Be2 c6 14.0-0 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Ne5 gives White more space and weaker pawns (Ni Hua-Navara, IT 0708, Reggio Emilia, 2007).
• If 10...f5 11.exf6 Nxf6 then:
• 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ne5 Qd6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Na4 Rae8 is equal (Alekseev-Eljanov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.Rc1 Qd6 13.0-0 Bg4 14.Be2 Rae8 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Ne7 is equal (Steinitz-Lasker, World Ch Match, New York, 1894).
• If 8...Bb4+ 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Nxd2 10.Nbxd2 0-0 then:
• 11.0-0 Bd7 12.Bd3 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nb3 a5 15.a4 Qe7 gives White a little more freedom and Black the Bishop pair (Brandenburg-Hanley, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).
• 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 c5 13.a3 Bxd2 14.Qxd2 Bg4 15.dxc5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Qe7 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qe4 Qxc5 19.Rac1 leaves White with an extra pawn (Zawadzka-Harika, Euro Club Cup W, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 9...Bxd2+ 10.Nbxd2 0-0 then:
• 11.0-0 f5 12.Rc1 Bd7 13.Nb3 Be8 14.Nc5 Qc8 15.Qb3 Ne7 16.Bd3 Nxc5 17.Rxc5 gives White a significant advantage in space (Zukertort-Anderssen, Match, Breslau, 1865).
• 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 f5 13.Rc1 Qe8 14.Qc2 gives White a fine game (Anderssen-Harrwitz, Match, Breslau, 1848).

5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.h3

• If 7.Bb3 a6 8.Nbd2 Ba7 transposes into the next note.

7...Ne7

• If 7...a6 8.Bb3 Ba7 9.Nbd2 then:
• If 9...h6 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Nh5 11.Nf1 Qf6 12.Be3 Nf4 then:
• If 13.Ng3 g6 14.Nh2 h5 then:
• If 15.Qd2 then:
• 15...Bxe3 16.fxe3 Ne6 17.Rf1 Qh4 18.Qf2 Ng5 19.Nf3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Be6 21.d4 is equal (Klinova-Mulyar, Op, Hoogeveen, 2001).
• 15...Nd8 16.Ne2 g5 17.Nxf4 gxf4 18.Bxa7 Rxa7 19.Qe2 gives White stronger pawns and a safer King (Getz-Meszaros, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• 15.Ne2 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Kg7 18.Rf1 Qe7 19.d4 gives White the advantage in space (Bojkov-Borisek, Euro ChT, Goteborg, 2005).
• If 13.Bxa7 Rxa7 14.Ne3 Ne7 15.Kh2 Ra8 then:
• 16.Ng1 16...Be6 17.g3 Bxb3 18.axb3 Ne6 19.Kg2 g6 20.Nf3 Qg7 21.d4 is equal (Godena-Warakamski, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 16.a4 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Ng1 Rad8 is equal (Karpov-Yusupov, IT, Bugojno, 1986).
• If 10...Be6 11.Nf1 then:
• If 11...Re8 then:
• If 12.Bc2 d5 13.Bd2 Qd7 14.N3h2 Rad8 15.Qf3 Qe7 16.Rad1 then:
• 16...Rd7 17.Ng3 dxe4 18.dxe4 Red8 19.Nhf1 Nh7 20.Nf5 Qf6 is equal (Movsesian-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 16...Rd6 17.Ng3 dxe4 18.dxe4 Red8 19.Bc1 Rxd1 20.Bxd1 Nb8 21.Bc2 Nbd7 is equal (Movsesian-Stocek, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 12.Ng3 d5 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.Bc2 Rad8 15.Kh2 Kh8 16.Nh4 Ng8 17.Qf3 Bc5 18.Ngf5 Bf8 is equal (Areshchenko-Alexandrov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 11...Bxb3 12.Qxb3 Rb8 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Re8 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Ne7 is equal (Zhang Pengxiang-Karpov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• If 9...Ne7 10.Re1 Ng6 11.Nf1 then:
• If 11...h6 12.Ng3 Re8 13.d4 Be6 14.Bc2 c6 15.Be3 Qc7 then:
• If 16.Qd2 Rad8 17.Nf5 d5 then:
• 18.Nxg7 Kxg7 19.Bxh6+ Kg8 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Nxe5 Bb8 22.Qg5 gives White a significant advantage in space (Areshchenko-Sutovsky, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
• 18.Bxh6! Nxe4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Nxg7 exf3 gives Black a small advantage (Kudrin-Goldin, IT, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 16.Qc1 Kh7 17.Nf5 exd4 18.N5xd4 Kg8 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Bxa7 Rxa7 21.Nd4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Mammadov-Gasanov, Op, Baku, 2008).
• 11...Nh5!? 12.d4 Nhf4!? 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.N1d2 Kh8 15.e5 gives White a better center and slight advantage in space; Black's Bishop pair may becolme a factor later (Al-Sayad-Hussain, Op, Dubai, 2000).

8.Re1 (N)

• 8.d4 Bb6 9.dxe5 Nxe4 10.Nbd2 Ng3 11.Re1 Ng6 12.Nf1 Nxf1 13.Bg5 gives White a slight advantage at the moment (Pandavos-Petran, Euro Club Cup, Balatonbereny, 1994).

8...Ng6 9.Nbd2

• The game is equal.

9...c6 10.Nf1

• If 10.d4!? Bb6! 11.Bd3 then:
• If 11...Be6 12.Nc4 Bxc4 13.Bxc4 exd4 then:
• 14.Nxd4 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 d5 remains equal.
• 14.cxd4?! Nxe4 15.Bxf7+ Rxf7 16.Rxe4 d5 17.Re1 Qd6 gives White more space and healthier pawns.
• 11...exd4!? 12.cxd4 Be6 13.Nb3 a5 14.Be3 a4 15.Nbd2 gives White a center pawn duo command of the light squares in the center.

10...d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Ng3 h6

• 12...Re8 13.a4 Bb6 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Bg5 f6 16.Be3 remains equal.

13.Bb3

• If 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nb6 15.Bb3 then:
• 15...Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.cxd4 Rd8 18.a4 a5 remains equal.
• 15...a5!? 16.Qh5 Bxd4 17.Qxg6! Nd5 18.Qh5 gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Re8 14.Bd2 Bb6 15.Qc2!?

• White needs to get a foothold in the center.
• If 15.d4 exd4 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 then:
• 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.cxd4 remains equal.
• 17.Nxd4 Qe5 18.Qe2 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Qxe2 20.Nxe2 Be6 gives Black more space and healthier pawns.

15...Be6!?

• Black strengthens his center, but the moment is ripe for more aggressive play.
• Better is 15...Bxh3! 16.gxh3 Qf6 17.Qd1 Nh4 18.Nxh4 when:
• 18...Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Qxg3 20.Qg4 Qxg4 21.hxg4 Bf2! gives Black a slight initiative.
• 18...Bxf2+ 19.Kh2 Bxe1 20.Qxe1 Qxh4 21.Qe4 Nf4 22.Qf5 gives White a fair advantage in space; Black has a safer King.

16.Rad1?!

• White moves to bolster his center without looking at the danger to his queenside.
• If 16.a4! Ndf4 17.Bxe6 Rxe6 18.Bxf4 then:
• If 18...Nxf4 19.Nxe5 Qd5 20.Re4 Nxh3+ 21.gxh3 Rxe5 then:
• 22.d4 Rxe4 23.Qxe4 Qb3 24.Nf5 remains equal.
• 22.Rxe5 Qxe5 23.d4 Qe6 24.Kg2 Re8 remains equal.
• 18...exf4 19.Rxe6 fxe6 20.Ne4 Qd5 21.d4 Qf5 22.b4 gives White a small advantage in space and healthier pawns; Black will need to regroup his pieces.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after

16...Bxh3!!

• White did not see this gem coming.

17.c4

• 17.gxh3 Qf6 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.d4 Qxf3 20.Re3 Qf6 gives Black an extra pawn, a center pawn duo, healthier pawns and more space.
• 17.d4 Bg4 18.c4 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Ndf4 20.Bxf4 exf4 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has plenty of counterplay.

17...Ndf4 18.c5

• The Bishop cannot be taken.
• If 18.gxh3? Qd7 then:
• 19.Bxf4 Nxf4 20.c5 Qxh3 21.Nh4 Qxh4 22.d4 Qh3 leaves Black up by two pawns and threatening mate on the next move.
• If 19.c5 Qxh3 then:
• 20.Bxf4 Nxf4 21.Nh4 Qxh4 22.d4 Qh3 23.Qe4 Bc7 gives Black two extra pawns and a net cast about the White King.
• 20.Bxf7+ Kh8! 21.Bxf4 Nxf4 22.Nh4 Qxh4 23.d4 Rf8 gives Black an extra pawn and a winning position.

18...Nxg2

• Black ignores the threat to his Bishop and takes a second pawn.
• If 18...Bxg2 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 then:
• 20.Bxf4 Nf3+ 21.Kxg2 Nxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Rxe1 23.cxb6 Qf6 gives Black a material advantage and more activity.
• If 20.Rxe5? Rxe5 21.cxb6 Bf3!! 22.Bxf4 Qh4! then:
• 23.Bxe5 Qh3 24.Bxf7+ Kh8 25.Bxg7+ Kxg7 26.Nh5+ Kxf7 leaves Black threatening mate in one.
• 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Bxe5 Qh3 25.Qc4+ Kg6 wins the Queen as 26.Qe4+ Bxe4 27.dxe4 is the only way for White to meet the threat of immediate mate on g2.

19.cxb6

• There is nothing else.
• 19.Re4 Qf6 20.Nh2 Bc7 21.Rb4 Rab8 22.Ne4 Qe7 leaves Black two pawns to the good.

19...Qf6 20.Nh2 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 axb6 22.Bc3

• The game is spinning out of White's control.
• If 22.Ne4 Qe7 23.Be3 b5 then:
• 24.a3 Be6 25.Nf3 b4 26.axb4 Qxb4 27.Bxe6 Rxe6 leaves Black with the material advantage and activity on the queenside. White is running low on opportunities for effective counterplay.
• If 24.Bc5 Qh4 then:
• 25.Re3 Be6 26.Rg3 Nf4 27.Nf3 Bxb3 28.Qxb3 Ne2+ Black, who already has a material advantage, wins the exchange.
• 25.Kh1 Nf4 26.Rg1 Rad8 27.Nd6 Re6 28.Bxe6 Bxe6 gives Black greater activity aimed at the White King.

22...Be6 23.Re3 Nf4 24.Rf3?

• White may have in mind an exchange sacrifice in order to meet Black's gathering kingside threats.
• If 24.Rxe5 Bxb3 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Qxb3 Qg6 then:
• 27.Qd1 Ne2+ leaves White barely kicking.
• 27.Bd2? Ne2+ 28.Kh1 Nxg3+ 29.fxg3 Re2 30.Qd1 Qxd3.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 24.Re3f3

24...Qh4!?

• Black misses the winning line, but White's chances are still dim.
• If 24...Bxb3! 25.Qxb3 Qg6 then:
• 26.Re3 Nxd3 27.Nf3 e4 28.Nh4 Qg4 29.Nhf5 Nf4 gives White a fierce kingside attack.
• 26.Qxb6 then after 26...Nxd3 27.Qxb7 e4 28.Rf5 e3 29.Qd7 Rad8 Black wins more material.

25.Bd2 Bg4 26.Qc4

• 26.Nxg4 Qxg4 27.Rxf4 exf4 28.Qc4 Re7 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.

26...Be6 27.Qc2

• If 27.Qe4 then Black continues to enjoy the material advantage after 27...Bxb3 28.axb3 Ra1+ 29.Nhf1 Ng6 30.Qf5 Qe7.

27...Bxb3 28.Qxb3 Re6 29.a3

• White is running out of options.
• If 29.d4 Rd8 30.Be3 Nh3+ then:
• 31.Kh1 exd4 32.Bd2 c5 leaves White without counterplay.
• If 31.Kf1 exd4 32.Nf5 Qe4 then:
• 33.Bd2 Qe2+ 34.Kg2 Qxd2 35.Rxh3 Qg5+ 36.Ng3 Qd5+ leaves White nothing better than to exchange Queens and allow the advance of the d-pawn.
• 33.Nxd4 Rxd4 34.Bxd4 Nf4 35.Qd1 Rd6 is a clear win for Black.

29...Rae8!?

• Black again misses a stronger line that is the difference between winning now or later.
• If 29...b5! then:
• If 30.Kh1 Ra4 31.Qd1 b6 then:
• 32.Qg1 Qd8 33.Nf5 Rg6 34.Qf1 Rf6 35.Ng3 Qd5 gives Black material and spatial advantages.
• 32.Bxf4 exf4 33.Ne4 Rd4 34.Qc1 f5 35.Rxf4 Qd8 gives Black more material, more space and the initiative.
• If 30.Kf1? then Black wins easily after 30...Qxh2 31.Qd1 Qh3+ 32.Ke1 Ng2+ 33.Ke2 Qg4.

30.Qb4 Rf6 31.Qe4 Ree6 32.Ne2?

• Black just needs to pull the loose end of the knot.
• If 32.Qe1 b5 33.Ne4 Rg6+ 34.Kh1 Nh3 then:
• 35.Ng3 Qd8 36.Qf1 Ng5 37.Bxg5 Qxg5 leaves Black with the material advantage, but White's defense of the King is just good enough to preventy an immediate mate.
• 35.Rg3? f5! 36.Nc5 f4 37.Rxh3 Qxh3 leaves Black with a significant material advantage.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 32.Ng3e2

32...Nxe2+!!

• The defense of the White King is stripped away.

33.Qxe2 Rxf3 34.Qxf3 Rg6+ 35.Kh1 Rf6 36.Qg3 Qxg3

• Also good is 36...Qa4 37.Qxe5 Rxf2 38.Be1 Qd1.

37.fxg3 Rd6 0-1

• White must lose another pawn.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. 19th Sigeman & Co. Tournament, Malmø (Sweden)

Malmø Water Tower
font size="1"]Photo by Jorchr in wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Hector - So, Round 5

Filipino grandmaster Wesley So had to win this game for any hopes of finishing in a three-way tie for first.



Wesley So
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Jonny Hector - Wesley So
19th Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament, Round 5
Malmø, 13 June 2011

Closed French Game: Richter Opening (Spielmann's Bayonet Variation)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5

• This is the Richter Opening in the French Game. As with the game Ivanchuk-Karjakin, above, if you play this opening from either side ofg the board, you might want to bookmark this page.
• This is usually called the Classical Variation, but (as far as we are concerned) the Classical Defense is, in response to 1.e4 e5 the move ...Bc5, for example, in the King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5) or the Italian Royal Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5). We will therefore adopt the seldom used alternate name, the Richter Opening, which is also an alternate name for the Rauzer Opening to the Open Sicilian.
• Most common nowadays is the Steinitz Opening, 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4. See Karjakin-Carlsen, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2010.

4...Be7

• (MacCutcheon Defense) If 4...Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Be3 Ne4 7.Qg4 then:
• If 7...g6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 then:
• If 9...Nxc3 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.h4 then:
• If 11...Ne7 12.h5 g5 then:
• 13.Ne2 Nxe2 14.Qxe2 Nf5 15.g4 Nxe3 16.fxe3 c5 17.c3 gives Black an extra pawn, but White is better developed and holds more space (Vuckovic-Nepomniachtchi, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 13.f3 c5 14.dxc5 Nc6 15.f4 d4 16.Bd2 Qd5(Amonatov-Nepomniachtchi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 11...Qe7 12.Nh3 Bd7 13.h5 g5 14.f4 gxf4 15.Bf2 Qf8 16.Qxf4 0-0-0 17.0-0 Ne4 18.Bh4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space and the initiative, which makes it very easy to live a pawn down (Fressinet-Vysochin, Op, Brussels, 2000).
• If 9...c5 10.Bd3 then:
• If 10...h5 11.Qf4 g5 12.Qf3 Nxc3 13.dxc5 d4 14.Bd2 Nc6 then:
• If 15.Qf6 Qxf6 16.exf6 then:
• If 16...Na4 17.Bxg5 Nxc5 18.Nf3 Nxd3+ 19.cxd3 b6 20.Rc1 Bb7 then:
• 21.Kd2 Rd8 22.Rc2 Rd5 23.Rhc1 Kd7 is equal (Areshchenko-Smerdon, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
• 21.h4 Rd8 22.Ke2 Rd5 23.Rc4 Kd7 24.Rhc1 Rc8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Erdogdu-Kindermann, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 16...g4 17.Bxc3 dxc3 18.Ne2 Ne5 19.Be4 Rb8 20.h3 Kd8 21.Nxc3 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).
• 15.Qg3 Qd5 16.f4 gxf4 17.Bxf4 Bd7 18.Nf3 draw (Felgaer-Cubas, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 10...Nxc3 11.dxc5 Nc6 12.Nf3 Qa5 13.0-0 Qa4 14.Qxa4 Nxa4 15.Bb5 Nc3 16.a4 Bd7 gives White a small advantage in space (Hracek-Vaisser, EU ChT, Pula, 1997).
• If 7...Kf8 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nxc3 10.Bd3 then:
• If 10...Nc6 then:
• If 11.Nf3 then:
• If 11...Na4 12.0-0 Nb2 13.Be2 Nc4 14.Nd2 Nxd2 15.Bxd2 f5 is equal (Naiditsch-S. Volkov, Op 1011, Stockholm, 2011).
• 11...Ne7 12.0-0 Bd7 13.Bd2 Na4 14.Rab1 Nb6 15.h4 gives White a slight advantage in space (T. L. Petrosian-Vallejo, Euro Club Cup, Crete, 2008).
• 11.h4 f5 12.Qf4 Ne7 13.h5 Qe8 14.g4 Qf7 15.g5 hxg5 16.Qxg5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Zhukova-Groffen, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
• If 10...c5 11.dxc5 Nc6 12.Nf3 then:
• 12...f5 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Qh5 e5 15.Bg6 Kg8 16.0-0 Be6 17.Rae1 Bf7 gives Black the advantage in space (Klovans-Ashby, Op, Bad Zweishenahn, 2008).
• 12...Qa5 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Rfe1 Qa4 15.Qh3 Kg8 16.Bd2 gives White the edge in space (Fressinet-Vallin, French ChT, Port Bacares, 2005).

5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4

• This move gets the windy name Albin-Chatard-Alekhine Variation. Don't you like the Bayonet Variation better?
• The alternative is the Main Line: If 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 then:
• (Semi-Steinitz Variation) If 7.f4 a6 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.dxc5 then:
• If 10...Qxc5 11.Bd3 b5 then:
• If 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qf2 b4 14.Ne2 then:
• 14...bxa3 15.Qxc5 Nxc5 16.Rxa3 Nb4 17.Ned4 Ke7 18.Kd2 gives White a better center and more space (Anand-Morozevich, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• 14...Qxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Ke7 16.Ned4 a5 17.Ke3 Nc5 18.Nb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Steil Antoni-Sigurjonsson, Op, Reyjavik, 2008).
• If 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...0-0? then:
• If 13.Bxh7+!! Kxh7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 15.Qd3 Re8 16.Qh7+ Kf8 17.Qh5 then:
• 17...Nd8 18.Nh7+! Kg8? 19.Rd3 Qe7 20.Rh3 f6 21.Nxf6+ Nxf6 22.exf6 Black resigns (Chandler-Agnos, Op, London, 1989).
• If 18.Qh8+!? Ke7! 19.Qxg7 then:
• If 19...Bb7 then:
• 20.Nh7 Qe3+ 21.Kb1 Qxf4 gives Black an extra piece, but White gets compensation in her attack; Black should continue with 22...Nc6!, attacking the e-pawn and connecting the Rooks (Ramírez-Nur Shazwani, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• If 19...b4 then 20.Nxd5+! exd5 21.e6 Qe3+ 22.Kb1 Kd6 23.exf7 Bxd7 is equal.
• If 20.Ne2? then Black wins after 20...Qe3+! 21.Kb1 Qxe2
• If 17...g6 18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Qh4 Kf8 20.Nce4! then:
• If 20...Qe3+ then Black is toast after21.Kb1 Qe2 22.g4 Nb4 23.Nd6 Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Bb7 25.Qh7.
• If 20...dxe4 then 21.Rxd7 Qe3+ 22.Kb1 Bxd7 23.Qh8+ Ke7 24.Qf6+ Kf8 25.Qxf7#.
• 13.g4? Re8 14.Ng5 Nf8 15.Kb1 Bd7 16.Rc1 Rec8 is equal (Mecking-Debarnot, IT, Las Palmas, 1975).
• 12...Nb6 13.Rhf1 Bd7 14.Qf2 Qxf2 15.Rxf2 Rc8 is equal.
• If 10...Nxc5 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Ne2 then:
• If 13...b4 then:
• If 14.Qe3 Nxd3+ 15.cxd3 a5 16.Kb1 Ba6 17.Rc1 Rfc8 18.Rhd1 then:
• 18...Qa7 19.Qxa7 Nxa7 20.Nfd4 is equal (J. Polgar-Seirawan, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1992).
• 18...a4 19.Qb6 Bb7 20.Ned4 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 is equal.
• 14.Kb1 a5 15.Ned4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Rxa6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Khachiyan-Akobian, Op, Philadelphia, 2008).
• 13...Bb7 14.Ned4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 b4 16.Rhe1 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 is equal (Chudinovskikh-Nikolenko, Moscow Op, 2007).
• (Alapin Variation) If 7.Nb5 Nb6 8.c3 a6 9.Na3 c5 then:
• If 10.Nc2 Nc6 11.f4 then:
• If 11...Na4 12.Rb1 b5 13.Nf3 Bd7 then:
• If 14.Qd2 Rc8 then:
• 15.Bd3 Nb6 16.0-0 Nc4 17.Qe1 Nb6 18.Qg3 dives White more space and the better Bishop (Dr. Lasker-Lilienthal, IT, Moscow, 1936).
• If 15.Be2 Nb6 16.0-01 then:
• 16...g6?! 17.Kh1 Rc7 18.Ne3! gives White a better center, more space and the good Bishop; Black has queenside strength (te Kolste-van Hartingsvelt, Dutch Ch, Nijmegen, 1921).
• 16...0-0 17.Qd3 c4 18.Qe3 Rb8 19.b3 a5 is equal.
• If 14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne3 Nb6 16.0-0 then:
• 16...0-0? 17.Bxh7+!! Kxh7 18.Ng5+ White soon won (Guimard-Grau, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 1939).
• 16...c4 17.Be2 bxc3 18.bxc3 Rb8 gives White a slight advantage.
• If 11...0-0 12.Nf3 then:
• 12...f5 13.Be2 Na4 14.Rb1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Bd7 16.Qd2 b5 17.0-0 gives White a small advantage with the good Bishop (Thomas-Spielmann, IT, Margate, 1938).
• 12...f6 13.Bd3 c4 14.Be2 fxe5 15.fxe5 Na4 16.Rb1 b5 17.Qd2 Bd7 is equal (Ah Hamid-Chahrani, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 10.f4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qb4+ 12.Qd2 Nc6 13.Nf3 then:
• 14...Bd7 14.Bd3 Rc8 15.Nc2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 gives White space in the center and the good Bishop (A. Muzychuk-Daniellian, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 13...Na4 14.Qxb4 Nxb4 15.Kd2 Bd7 16.b3 Nb6 17.Nb1 Rc8 still gives White the better Bishop, although Black's Bishop has better potential for activity in this line than some others (Marco-von Bardeleben, IT, Munich, 1900).
• (Pollock Variation) If 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3 c5 9.Nf3 then:
• If 9...f5 10.exf6 Rxf6 11.Qh4 then:
• 11...Nf8 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Rae1 gives White more space and a better Bishop; Black's hanging pawns are both a liability (they cannot easily advance) and a strength (Black has the better center while he can preserve the pawns (O. Bernstein-Dr. Lasker, IT, Zürich, 1934).
• 11...Nc6 12.dxc5 g6 13.0-0-0 Qxc5 14.Rhe1 gives White greater activity, the good Bishop and no pawn weaknesses (Henneberger-H. Johner, IT, Zürich, 1934).
• 9...cxd4 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Qxg5 12.Qxg5 dxc3 13.bxc3 Nc6 14.f4 Rh8 15.0-0 Nc5 is equal (Michel-Rellstab, IT, Bad Elster, 1937).
• (Nuremberg Variation) If 7.Bd3 a6 8.Nce2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Qd2 then:
• 10...b5 11.f4 Nb6 12.Nf3 c4 13.Bc2 b4 14.0-0 a5 15.Ng3 gives White more space and the good Bishop (Burn-Salwe, IT, Karlsbad, 1911).
• 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Nb6 12.b3 Bd7 13.Rc1 0-0 14.f4 gives White more space and the good Bishop (Leonhardt-Spielmann, IT, Hamburg, 1910).

6...0-0

• The text is the Spielmann Variation.
• (Breyer Variation) If 6...c5 7.Bxe7 then:
• If 7...Kxe7 then:
• If 8.Qg4 then:
• If 8...Nc6 then:
• If 9.dxc5 Kf8 10.Nf3 then:
• If 10...Ndxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qg3 then:
• If 12...Nd7 13.Qd6+ Qe7 14.Qxe7+ Kxe7 gives Black a slight initiative (H. Steiner-Kashdan, New York, 1931).
• 12...f6 13.h5 Nf7 14.0-0-0 Bd7 15.Bb5 Rc8 16.Rhe1 gives White a small advantage (Bellon-Gleizerov, Op 0203, Stockholm, 2002).
• 10...Nxc5 11.0-0-0 a6 12.Rh3 h6 13.Rg3 Rg8 14.Bd3 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3 gives White more active pieces, more space and better minor pieces (Black has a bad Bishop) (Alekhine-Bogoljubow, IT, Krakow, 1942).
• If 9.Qg5+ Kf8 10.Qxd8+ Nxd8 11.f4 Nc6 12.Nf3 then:
• 12...a6 13.0-0-0 b5 14.g3 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Rxd4 is equal (Lilienthal-Menchik, IT, Moscow, 1935).
• 12...cxd4 13.Nb5 Nc5 14.Nbxd4 Bd7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.h5 gives White a small advantage with more space and a better Bishop (L. Bronstein-Debarnot, Argintine Ch, Buenos Aires, 1989).
• If 8...Kf8 9.Nf3 then:
• If 9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qb6 11.Qd2 then:
• 11...Qxb2 12.Rb1 Qa3 13.Nb5 Qxa2 14.Qb4+ Kg8 gives Black a slight advantage (Spielmann-Opocensky, IT, Vienna, 1923).
• 11...Nc6 12.0-0-0 a6 13.Rh3 Qc7 14.h5 h6 15.Kb1 b5 is equal (Spielmann-Oskam, IT, Scheveningen, 1923).
• 9...Qb6 10.0-0-0 Nc6 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Qf4 a6 13.h5 h6 14.g4 gives White the advantage in space and the good Bishop (Zhukova-Walton, Masters, Gibraltar, 2006).
• If 8.f4 then:
• If 8...Qb6 9.Na4 Qa5+ 10.c3 b6 then:
• 11.a3 c4 12.b4 cxb3 13.Qxb3 Nc6 14.Qb5 Bb7 is equal (Balzer-Schaeffer, Bundesliga 0001, Baiertal, 2001).
• 11.Kf2 Ba6 12.Nf3 Bxf1 13.Rxf1 Nc6 14.Kg1 g6 is equal (Nataf-Ulibin, Op 9899, Stockholm, 1999).
• 8...cxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qd2 Qa5 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Rh3 Kf8 13.Bd3 Nb6 14.Nb5 gives White a little more space and the good Bishop (Levenfisch-Menchik, IT, Moscow, 1935).
• 7...Qxe7 8.Nb5 0-0 9.Nc7 then:
• If 9...cxd4 10.Nxa8 f6 11.Qxd4 then:
• 11...Nc6 12.Qd2 fxe5 13.0-0-0 Nf6 14.f3 Qd6 15.Ne2 Bd7 16.Nc3 Rxa8 17.Ne4 gives White a strong game with a material advantage (Bronstein-Stahlberg, Candidates' Trmt, Budapest, 1950).
• 11...fxe5 12.Qxa7 Qb4+ 13.Kd1 Qxb2 14.Rc1 Nc6 15.Qe3 Nf6 16.f3 gives White the material advantage(Planinc-Raicevic. Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1978).
• 9...Nxe5 10.Nxa8 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nbc6 12.Qd2 Qd6 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.f4 gives White a material advantage (Golyak-Sarker, Op, Saratoga Springs, 1997).
• (Albin Variation) If 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 then:
• If 9.Nf4 Nc6 10.Qg4 then:
• If 10...g6 11.0-0-0 then:
• If 11...h5 12.Qg3 Nb6 13.Bd3 Bd7 14.Nxg6 fxg6 15.Bxg6+ Kd8 then:
• 16.Rxh5 Rxh5 17.Bxh5 gives White more than enough compensation for the material deficit (Keetbaas-O. Vovk, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).
• 16.Bxh5 Na5 17.Be2 Rf8 18.Rh4 Nac4 gives Black a minor piece against two pawns, but White actually has a slight advantage in space (Werner -Zeilinska, Bundesliga W 0102, Germany, 2001).
• 11...Nb6 then:
• If 12.Bd3 Bd7 13.Nxg6 fxg6 14.Bxg6+ Kd8 15.Bxh7 Nxd4 16.Rxd4 c5 17.Rd3 gives White an extra pawn and a significant advantage in space (Euwe-van Hartingsvelt, Amsterdam, 1922).
• 12.Rh6 Bd7 13.Bb5 0-0-0 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.Rdh1 Nc4 16.a3 b6 17.Rxh7 Rxh7 18.Rxh7 gives White more space and freedom (Sax-Kovacevic, IT, Vinkovci., 1993).
• 10...Nxd4 11.0-0-0 Nf5 12.Nfxd5 exd5 13.Nxd5 then:
• If 13...Qxe5 14.Bb5 0-0 then:
• 15.Bxd7 Bxd7 16.Qh5 then:
• 16...h6?! 17.Rhe1! Qd6 18.Ne7+ Nxe7 19.Rxd6 cxd6 20.Rxe7 gives White a clear advantage (Aronian-Luther, Bundesliga 0102, Castrop Rauxel, 2001).
• If 16...f6! 17.Qxh7+ Kf7 then:
• If 18.Rhe1 Rh8 19.Rxe5 Rxh7 20.Nxc7 Bc8 then:
• If 21.Rb5! a6 22.Rxf5 Bxf5 23.Nxa8 Rh2 24.Rg1 gives White a slight advantage with an extra pawn.
• 21.Re8 Rb8 22.Rdd8 Rh1+ 23.Kd2 Rf1 24.g4 Ne7 is equal; no piece on Black's back rank may be taken.
• 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Qh7+ Ng7! 20.Nb6 Qf4+ 21.Kb1 Bf5 gives Black a material advantage.
• 15.Qh5 h6 16.Rhe1 Qxd5 17.Rxd5 Nf6 18.Qf3 Nxd5 gives Black a small advantage; White would little profit from 19.Qxd5!? because 19...c6! wins back the piece (Kachiyan-Akobian, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).
• 13...Nxe5 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.f4 Ng3 16.Qe3 Nxh1 17.fxe5 Qd8 gives Black a material advantage and White more space and a better center (Timmerman-Carleton, Corres, 1991).
• 9.Qg4 g6 10.0-0-0 Nc6 11.Ng5 Nf8 12.Rh3 h5 13.Qf4 Nh7 14.Nxh7 Rxh7 is equal (Aijala-Penttila, Op, Lahti, 2002).
• (Maroczy Variation) If 6...a6 7.Qg4 then:
• If 7...Bxg5 8.hxg5 c5 9.g6 f5 10.Qf4 h6 11.dxc5 Nc6 12.Nf3 then:
• If 12...Ne7 13.0-0-0 Nf8 14.Qg3 Qa5 15.Nd4 Qxc5 16.Be2 draw (Pikula-Kalezic, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
• If 12...0-0 13.0-0-0 then:
• 13...Nxc5 14.Bc4 Qe8 15.Rxd5 Ne4 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Rxd4 is equal (Kovacevic-Stamenkovic, Yugoslav Ch, Niksic, 1997).
• If 13...Qe8 14.Rxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6 Qe7 16.g7 then:
• If 16...Re8? 17.Qh8+ Kf7 18.Nxd5 then:
• If 18...exd5! 19.e6+ Kxe6 20.Re1+ Nde5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Rxe5+ Black resigns in the face of losing his Queen (Letzelter-Asmudson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• 18...Rxh8? 19.gxh8Q! exd5 20.e6+ Kxe6 21.Re1+ wins for White.
• 16...Qxg7! 17.Qxe6+ Kh7 18.Bc4 Qh6+ 19.Qxh6+ Kxh6 gives Black a Rook against three pawns.
• If 7...f5 then:
• If 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qh6 Bxg5 10.hxg5 Qe7 11.Nge2 then:
• 11...Nf8 12.Nf4 c6 13.Bd3 Rg8 14.a3 gives White a huge advantage in space (Aronian-Kacirek, Op, Pardubice, 1996).
• If 11...Nc6 12.Nf4 Nf8 13.0-0-0 Nd8 14.Nfxd5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Black is toast (Lawerence-Jones, IT, London, 1899).
• If 8.Qf4 c5 9.dxc5 Nc6 10.Nf3 Nxc5 11.g4 0-0 12.gxf5 Rxf5 13.Qg3 Qf8 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 is equal (Demidov-Suslov, Op, Novosibirsk, 2001).
• (Teichmann Variation) If 6...f6?! 7.Qh5+! then:
• If 7...Kf8 8.exf6 Nxf6 then:
• If 9.Qe2 c5 10.dxc5 Na6 then:
• If 11.Nf3 Nxc5 12.0-0-0 b5 then:
• 13.Qe3 b4 14.Nb5 Bd7 15.Ne5 Be8 16.Nd4 gives White a strong game (Vitomskis-Carleton, Corres, 1996).
• 13.Nxb5 Rb8 14.Nbd4 Qa5 15.Nc6 Qxa2 16.Nxb8 Nce4 17.c4 Nc3 18.Qd3 Qa1+ 19.Kc2 Qa4+ 20.b3 Qa2+ 21.Kxc3 Ne4+ 22.Qxe4 Qa5+ 23.Kb2 Qa3+ 24.Kc2 Qa2+ 25.Kc3 Qa5+ 26.Kc2 Qa2+ 27.Kc3 Qa5+ draws by repetition (Spassky-Guimard, Match, Goteborg, 1955).
• 11.0-0-0 Nxc5 12.Qe3 Qb6 13.Nh3 Bd7 14.h5 Nce4 15.Nxe4 Qxe3+ 16.Bxe3 Nxe4 is equal (Penrose-Heidenfeld, ZT, Enschede, 1963).
• If 9.Qf3 c5 10.dxc5 b6 11.h5 bxc5 12.h6 g6 13.0-0-0 then:
• If 13...Nbd7? 14.Re1 then:
• 14...Qb6 15.Bb5! Kf7 16.Nh3 a6 17.Bxd7 Bxd7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Ng5+ Black resigns as 19...Ke8 loses the Bishop at f6 and 19...Ke7 20.Nd6+!! loses the Queen (Unzicker-Stahlberg, TT, Stockholm, 1960).
• If 14...Kf7 15.Bb5 a6 16.Bc6 Rb8 17.Rxe6 then:
• If 17...Kxe6 18.Bxd5+ then:
• 18...Kd6 19.Bf4+ Ne5 20.Bxe5+ Kxe5 21.Qg3+ Kf5 22.Nf3.
• 18...Ke5 loses immediately to 19.Qf4#.
• 17...Nb6 18.Re1 Be6 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nh3 Bxh3 21.Rxh3 gives Black no counterplay.
• 13...Nc6 14.Qf4 Kf7 15.Bb5 Nd4 16.Nf3 gives White the advantage, but Black's game is more playable.
• If 7...g6 8.exf6 Nxf6 9.Qe2 c5 10.dxc5 then:
• 10...Na6 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.Bh6 Re8 13.h5 gxh5 14.Rxh5!! Nxh5 15.Qxh5 White soon won (Valeev-Stefanov, Soviet ChT semif, Molotov, 1956).
• 10...h6 11.Bf4 Bxc5 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Nf3 a6 14.Qd3 highlights the weaknesses in Black's kingside.

7.Qg4 f6 8.Nf3 (N)

• 8.Bd3 Rf7 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Be3 Nb4 11.0-0-0 Nxd3+ 12.Rxd3 fxe5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 c5 is equal (Zelcic-Gleizerov, Op, Zagreb, 2011).

8...Rf7

• White has a slight advantage pending the resolution of the situation centered around f6.

9.exf6

• 9.Be3 c5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.e6 is equal.

9...Nxf6

• That was quick. White still has a slight advantage as he will target Black's backward e-pawn.

10.Qg3 Nc6

• If 10...c5 11.Ne5 Rf8 12.h5 cxd4 13.Bh6 Ne8 then:
• 14.Bxg7 Nxg7 15.h6 Bg5 16.hxg7 Rf5 is equal. Black has a better center and the Bishop pair, but the Bishop may not make any differnce; Black also lags in development and has more pawn weaknesses.; neither side has any right to brag about King safety.
• If 14.Nb5?! Qa5+! then:
• 15.Bd2 Bb4 16.c3 dxc3 17.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 18.Nxc3 Nd7 gives Black an extra pawn, but he also has hanging pawns in the center.
• 15.Kd1 Bf6 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.Ng4 Be7 18.h6 g6 gives Black an extra pawn, but Black also has more pawn weaknesses.

11.0-0-0

• If 11.Ne5 Nxe5 then:
• 12.dxe5 Nh5 13.Qg4 g6 14.g3 Qf8 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 is equal.
• 12.Bxf6?! Nf3+! 13.Qxf3 Bxf6 14.Qd3 c5 15.dxc5 Qa5 Black will win back the pawn with a surplus in space.
• 11.Bd3 Qf8 12.0-0-0 Bd6 13.Ne5 Nh5 14.Qg4 Nf6 15.Bxf6 is equal.

11...Qf8

• Black intends to use his heavy piece in the f-file.
• If 11...Nh5 12.Qh2 Nf6 then:
• If 13.Bb5 Rf8 14.Bxc6 bxc6 then:
• 15.Ne5 c5 16.Nc6 Qd7 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Rhe1 give White the advantage in space and an attack on Black's backward e-pawn; Black has a pawn duo, but more pawn weaknesses.
• 15.Rhe1 Bb4 16.Rd3 c5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Ne4 gives White a considerable advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair.
• 13.Re1 a6 14.h5 h6 15.Bh4 Bd6 16.Qg1 gives White a little more space and the Bishops; White has command of the e-file and healthier pawns.

12.h5

• 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nh5 14.Qh2 Bc5 15.f3 gives White a slight advantage with more active pieces and stronger pawns; Black actually has a slight edge in space.

12...Bb4 13.Bxf6

• The game is now equal.
• 13.Bd3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Ne5 Rxf2 is equal.

13...Rxf6 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.Ne5 Rxf2 16.Rdf1

• The game is equal.

16...Bxe5

• If 16...Rf6 17.Nb5 Nb4 18.Be2 Qe7 then:
• If 19.c3! 20.Qxe5 then:
• 20...Na6 21.h6! c5 22.Nc6 cxd4 23.Bxa6 bxa6 24.hxg7 gives Black an extra pawn, but White is winning.
• If 20...Nc6?! then White wins a pawn with 21.Qxc7 Qxc7 22.Nxc7.
• 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Ng4 Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Qg5+ 22.Kb1 gives Black an extra pawn that he probably cannot hold due to his pawn weakness in the center; White has more space.

17.dxe5

• The game remains equal.

17...Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Qe7 19.Bg6??

• This can only be called a blunder.
• 19.h6! Bd7 20.Rf3 Nb4 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.hxg7 Qxg7 remains equal.

BLACK: Wesley So



WHITE: Jonny Hector
Position after 19.Bd3g6

19...hxg6 20.hxg6 Nd4!

• Although Black is a piece to the good, he cannot waste time.
• If 20...Bd7?? then after 21.Rh1 Qe8 22.Qh3 Qxg6 23.Qh8+ White's "sacrifice" is redeemed.

21.Rf7

• If 21.Qh3 then after 21...Qg5+ 22.Kb1 Qxg6 23.Rc1 c5 White is toast.

21...Qd8 22.Qf4 Nf5 23.g4 Nh4 24.Rxg7+

• White is going two pieces down, but he is banking that he can bring the pawn home.

BLACK: Wesley So



WHITE: Jonny Hector
Position after 24.Rf7g7:p

24...Kxg7

• The Black King blocks the pawn and the move ...Bd7 puts an end to any hopes White has of promoting the pawn.

25.Qf7+ Kh6!

• To state the obvious, the text is the only move.

26.Qh7+

• 26.g7 still loses to 26...Bd7 27.g8Q Qxg8 28.Qh5+ Kg7 29.Qxh4.

26...Kg5 27.Qh5+ Kf4 28.Ne2+ Ke3!

• White has driven the King forward, only to have the King become a part of the coming attack.

29.g5

• No better is 29.Nc3 Nf3! 30.g7 Bd7.

29...Nf3!

• White threatens to go three pieces up.

30.Kd1

• 30.Ng3 Bd7 31.Nf1+ Kf4 32.Nh2 Nxe5 opens the possibility that White will get one piece back, but not two.

30...Qxg5! 31.Qh7

• 31.Qxg5+ Nxg5 32.g7 Bd7 leaves White a piece to the good.

BLACK: Wesley So



WHITE: Jonny Hector
Position after 31.Qh5h7

31...Kf2!! 0-1

• White must either lose the Queen or submit to mate.
• Jonny resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. So - Grandelius, Round 4

In forcing grandmaster So into his last-round-must-win situation, Swedish GM Nils Grandelius turned in one of the tournment's best games.



Nils Grandelius
Photo by Pawel Grochowalski in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Wesley So - Nils Grandelius
19th Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament, Round 4
Malmø, 12 June 2011

EaSt India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening/Noa Variation)

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c5 7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3 Qa5 11.Nge2 Bf5 12.Be5 0-0 13.Nd4 Re8 14.Bxb8 Nxc3 15.Nxf5 Ne4+ 16.Kd1 Raxb8

• For a more thorough examination of this opening up to here, see Malakhov-Ponomariov, World Cup, 1/2-final Rd Playoff (Rpd), Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009.

17.Nxh6+! (N)

• 17.f3 Nf6 then:
• 18.Bd3?! Bxc5! draw (Sundararajan-Villavicencio, Op, Andorra, 2006).
• If 18.h4! g4 19.Rc1 Qxa2 20.Bb5 Re6 21.Nxh6+ gives White a tremendous advantage.

17...Kf8!?

• White has a slight advantage.
• 17...Kh7 18.Nxf7 Rbc8 19.Bd3 Kg7 20.Nxg5 is equal.

18.Bd3?!

• 18.f3 Rbc8 19.fxe4 dxe4 20.a3 Rxc5 21.Bc4 Rec8 remains equal.

BLACK: Nils Grandelius



WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 18.Bc1d3

18...Rbc8!

• The text assures Black a significant advantage.
• If 18...Bxc5?! 19.Nf5 Rbc8 20.Qe2 Qa4+ 21.Bc2 Qc6 22.g4 d4 is equal.
• If 19.h4 Rbc8 20.Qe2 gxh4 21.Nf5 Be7 then:
• 22.Rh3 Qa4+ 23.Ke1 Qb4+ 24.Kf1 Nd2+ 25.Kg1 Qxb2 gives White only a slight advantage.
• If a) 22.a3 Bf6 then:
• 23.Rh3! Qb6 24.Rb1 Qb3+ 25.Ke1 Rc7 26.Qd1 Qxd1+ is equal.
• If 23.Rb1 Rc5 then:
• 24.b4 Nc3+ 25.Ke1 Nxe2 26.bxa5 Nf4 gives Black a strong initiative.
• 24.f3 Re5 25.fxe4 dxe4 26.Nd4 exd3 27.Qxd3 Rcd5 gives Black excellent winning chances.
• If b) 22.Nxe7? Rxe7! then:
• If 23.Rxh4 Qa4+ 24.Ke1 Qb4+ then:
• 25.Kf1 Nd2+ 26.Kg1 Qxh4 27.Qxd2 a6 gives Black the material advantage, but White has chances to make something of his kingside majority.
• 25.Kd1 Nc3+ 26.bxc3 Qxh4 27.Rc1 Qh1+ gives Black the material advantage.
• If 23.Qe1 Qa4+ 24.Ke2 Nc5 25.Bf5 Qa6+ then:
• 26.Kd1 Ne4 27.Bxe4 dxe4 28.Qd2 Ke8 29.Ke1 Rd7 wins material for Black.
• If 26.Kf3 puts the King in the open with active enemy pieces lurking about like sharks smelling blood; now: 26...Qf6 27.Kg4 Re5 then:
• 28.Bxc8 Nd3 29.Rf1 h3 30.Kxh3 Rh5+ 31.Kg3 Qh4+! Black wins the Queen.
• If 28.Rxh4 then Black wins after 28...Qxf5+ 29.Kg3 Ne4+ 30.Kh2 Rc2 31.Qb4+ Kg7 when he has an extra piece.

19.Qe2 Rxc5?!

• The game is equal.
• If 19...Bxc5?! 20.h4 gxh4 then:
• 21.Nf5 Be7 22.a3 Bf6 23.f3 Ng3 24.Nxg3 hxg3 gives Black a significant advantage in space.
• If 21.Bb5? then 21...d4!! 22.Bxe8 d3! 23.Qxd3 Nxf2+ wins the Queen.

20.Qh5 Qa4+ 21.b3

• 21.Ke2 Rc2+ 22.Kf1 Rxf2+ 23.Kg1 Bc5 24.Ng4 Rf5 is equal.

21...Qd7 22.Ke2 Qe6 23.Rac1

• If 23.a3?! Bc3! then:
• 24.b4 Rc7 25.Ng4 Ke7 26.Bxe4 dxe4 gives Black a stong advantage with command of the center and an attck on the White King.
• 24.Raf1? Bg7 25.Nxf7 Qxf7 26.Qxf7+ Kxf7 27.Rc1 Bb2 gives Black a minor piece against two pawns and a tremdous advantage in space.

23...Qf6!

• Black maintains a strong advantage.
• If 23...Ra5?! 24.a4! Kg7 25.Rc7 then:
• 25...Be7 26.Bb5 Rxb5 27.axb5 Qxh6 28.Qxh6+ Kxh6 is equal.
• 25...Re7 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.Rc4 Ba3 28.Ra1 Qd6 29.Rd4 is equal.

24.Ng4

• White has a serious material deficit and his best course of action is to exchange Queens and activate his reserve Rook.
• If 24.Qxf7+ Qxf7 25.Nxf7 Kxf7 then:
• If 26.Rxc5 Nxc5 27.h4 d4 28.Bb5 Rd8 then:
• 29.Bc4+ Kf6 30.Rd1 Bc3 31.hxg5+ Kxg5 gives Black a minor piece against two pawns, but White's kingside passer presents opportunities for counterplay.
• 29.Rd1 gxh4 30.Rxd4 Rxd4 31.exd4 Ne6 32.Ke3 Bc3 gives Black excellent winning chances, but White's kingside is still a problem and the presence of opposite-colored Bishop favors the defender.
• 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.Rxc5 Bxc5 28.h4 gxh4 29.Rxh4 Kg6 give Black a material advantage and an active Bishop, but White has a more active Rook and strong pawns on the kingside.
• If 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Qxf7+ Qxf7 26.Nxf7 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Kxf7 gives Black a piece against two pawns, but White's kingside still gives him some slight hopes.

BLACK: Nils Grandelius



WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 24.Nh6g4

24...Qb2+!

• Black forces the White King into the open.

25.Kf3

• If the King retreats to the back rank, he is immediately mated.

25...Re6 26.Rxc5

• If 26.Rcf1 then:
• If 26...Rf6+ 27.Nxf6 Qxf6+ then:
• If 28.Kg4 Qe6+ 29.Kf3 Qf5+ 30.Ke2 Nc3+ 31.Kd2 then:
• 31...Nxa2+ 32.Ke2 Nc3+ (all of White's remaining moves are forced) 33.Kd2 Nb5+ 34.Ke2 Rc2+! 35.Bxc2 Qxc2+ 36.Kf3 Qf5+ 37.Kg3 Bd6+ 38.f4 gxf4+ wins the Queen.
• It makes no practical difference whether Black takes the a-pawn or not: If 31...Nb5+ 32.Ke2 Rc2+! 33.Bxc2 Qxc2+ 34.Kf3 Qf5+ then Black wins the same way.
• If 28.Ke2 Nc3+ 29.Ke1 Nxa2+ 30.Ke2 Nc3+ 31.Kd2 Ra5 then:
• If 32.Bc2 Ne4+ 33.Ke2 Ra2 34.f4 g4 then:
• 35.Qxg4 Qc6 leads to mate.
• 35.Qxd5 Rxc2+ 36.Kd3 Rd2+ Black soon delivers mate.
• If 32.f4 then White is mated after 32...Ra2+ 33.Bc2 Ne4+ 34.Ke2 g4 35.Qxg4 Qc3.

26...Rf6+!

• Black forces mate.

27.Nxf6 Qxf6+ 28.Kg4 Qe6+ 29.Kf3 Qf5+ 30.Ke2 Qxf2+ 31.Kd1 Qd2# 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

8. This weekend's chess report will be up tomorrow (Monday June 26) . . .

. . . because the Russian Higher League ends tomorrow . . .

Otherwise, be it known that . . .

• Magnus and Karjakin tied for first in Transylvania
• Ruslan Ponomariov won the Ukrainian National Championship