The JR Chess Report (July 17): Tiviakov takes Leinden in dramatic last-round victory

[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).

Tiviakov wins Leiden Open with Last Roubnd Victory


Michiel Verbeek, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)

Former European champion and two-time Dutch national champion Sergei Tiviakov won the fifth annual Leiden Open today by defeating tournament leader Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia in the ninth and final round.

Mh. Tiviakov started the day a half-point behind Nikolic. The game began as a Spanish Opening and lasted 54 moves. At the end of the day, Tiviakov had 7½ points to Nikolic's 7. Nikolic finishes tied for second with young British GM David Howell, who led most of the way until he lost his eighth round game to Tiviakov.

Ju Wenjun Leads Ladies' IT in Hangzhou

WGM Ju Wenjun, China's second ranked woman chess player, leads her compatriot and reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan by a full point after four rounds of the first Hangzhou women's tournament in China.

Ms. Ju has won three of her first four games, while Ms. Hou has won one game and drawn three.

This is one for strongest women's tournaments ever, with seven of the ten participants holding the international grandmaster title. The event runs through Saturday.


US Off to Rough Start in World Team Championhip

The World Team Championship started today in Ningbo, China, with Russia defeating the United States by a score of 3-1.

Americans Gata Kamsky and Yuri Shulman, both palying White, held draws in their respective opponents, Sergey Karjakin and Peter Svidler, but former US champion Alex Onischuk lost to former Russian and European champion Ian Nepomiachtchi and Robert Hess lost to Nikita Vitiugov.

In other opening round matches, Armenia defeated Israeli, 3½-½, Ukraine took down Egypt, 2½-1½, host team China fought to a 2-2 with defending champion Azerbaijan and the match between Hungary and India also ended in a 2-2 draw.

THIS WEEK

World Team Championship, Ningbo, China 17-25 July. Teams representing Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Hungary, India, Israel, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Nine Rounds.
Biel Chess Festival, Switzerland 18-29 July. Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Alexander Morozevich, Yannick Pelletier, Alexei Shirov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Ten Rounds. A strong open tournament runs simultaneously.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July. Anish Giri, Vladimir Kramnik, Le Quang Liem, Georg Meier, Hikaru Nakamura and Ruslan Ponomariov. Ten rounds.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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

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

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. Fifth International Open, Leiden

Leiden
Photo by Michiel Verbeek in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Howell - Slingerland, Round 3

David Howell
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


David Howell - Fred Slingerland
5th International Open. Round 3
Leiden, 10 July 2011

Open Queen's Gambit: Saduleto Opening (McDonnell Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4



Open Queen's Gambit: Saduleto Openng

• The Saduleto Opening, named for Giovanni Saduleto of Rome (sixteenth century), is probably the oringinal idea behind the Queen's Gambit. White "sacrifices" (remember, the Queen's Gambit is not really a gambit) a pawn to set up a center pawn duo and opens a line for the Bishop recover the "sacrificed" pawn. It is the most popular alternative to the Main Line (see Carlsen-Nisipeanu, IT, Medias, 2011).

3...e5

• The text is the McDonnell Defense.
• (Horseman Defense or Alekhine Defense) If 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 then:
• If 6.Bb3 Nc6 then:
• If 7.Ne2 Bf5 8.Nbc3 e6 9.0-0 Qd7 10.a3 then:
• If 10...0-0-0 11.Be3 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 then:
• If 13.Ng3 then:
• If 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qxd4 then:
• If 15.Nxf5 exf5 16.Nb5 Qxd1 17.Raxd1 then:
• If 17...Bc5 18.Nxa7+ Kb8 19.Nb5 c6 20.Nc3 then:
• 20...Bd4 21.Rfe1 Be5 22.g3 f4 23.Kg2 h5 24.Kf3 is equal (Litinskaya-Privalov, Chess Club, Lvov, 1997).
• 20...f4 21.Rfe1 Bd4 22.Kf1 Be5 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rd1 draw (Karpov-Onischuk, Rpd, Lindsborg, Kansas, 2003).
• 17...Bd6 18.Nxa7+ Kb8 19.Nb5 Be5 20.Nc3 continues to give White a small advantage.
• 15.Nb5 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Bc5 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.Rdc1 Bd6 is equal (Piket-Korchnoi, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If 13...Bg6 14.Qf3 Be7 15.Rad1 Na5 16.Ba2 then:
• If 16...Bc2 17.Rc1 Bb3 18.Bb1 f5 19.d5! then:
• If 19...Bxd5!? 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Qe2 gives White a small advantage with more freedom and stronger pawns in compensation for the sacrificed pawn (Shabalov-Kaidanov, US Ch, St. Louis, 2010).
• 19...Nxd5! 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Bf4 Nc6 gives Black an extra pawn and a stronger center.
• 16...Nd5 17.Rfe1 h5 18.Bf4 Nc6 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 13.Rc1 Kb8 14.Na4 Rg8 15.Ng3 then:
• If 15...Qg7 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Rxc6 bxc6 18.Qf3 then:
• If 18...Bg4?! 19.Qxc6 Rd6 then:
• 20.Qe8+?! Kb7 21.Rc1 c6 22.h3 Be7 23.Bh6 Rxe8 is equal (Miton-Rublevsky, Moscow Op, 2010).
• 20.Qb5! h5 21.f3 h4 22.fxg4 hxg3 23.h3 gives White more than enough compensation for the material deficit.
• 18...Bg6 19.Bxe6 Bf7 20.Bxf7 Qxf7 21.Qxc6 Qd5 22.Qc2 is equal.
• If 15...Bg6?! 16.Nxb6! axb6 17.Qf3 f5 18.Rfd1 then:
• If 18...Bg7?! 19.d5 Ne5 20.Qe2 then:
• If 20...exd5 21.Bxd5 then:
• If 21...Qxd5? 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Rd1 then:
• If 23...Rgd8 then after 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.Nh5 Bxh5 26.Qxh5 White wins (Zhao Xue-Danielian, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2010).
• If 23...Rxd1+ then White wins after 24.Qxd1! f4 25.Bxf4 .
• 21...Rh8 22.Bf4 Qe7 23.Nh5 Bxh5 24.Qxh5 Rd7 25.Qxf5 gives White the center, the Bishop pair and more space.
• 20...Qe7? 21.dxe6! Nc6 22.Bd5 Be5 23.f4 gives White a passed pawn at e6, better control of the center, the Bishop pair, the initiative and more space.
• 18...Bf7 19.Bf4 Bg7 20.Ne2 Qe7 21.Ba4 gives White a better center since Black cannot easily maneuver against the isolated pawn and more space.
• If 10...Be7 11.Be3 0-0 12.Ba2 then:
• If 12...Rfd8 13.h3 then:
• 13...h6 14.Qc1 Bf8 15.Rd1 Na5 16.d5 gives White a healthy advanced center duo (Epishin-Kharlov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 1992).
• 13...Bg6 14.Qe1 a5 15.Bb3 a4 16.Ba2 Na5 is equal (van Wely-Adianto, Donner Mem, Amsterdam, 1996).
• 12...Rad8 13.b4 a6 14.Qc1 Rfe8 15.Rd1 Bf8 16.Ng3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Romanishin-Hort, IT, Biel, 1988).
• 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Ng5 Bxd1 9.Bxf7+ Kd7 10.Be6+ Ke8 11.Bf7+ Kd7 12.Be6+ Ke8 draw (Dzindzichashvili-Gulko, US Ch, Durango, 1992).
• If 6.Bd3 Nc6 then:
• If 7.Ne2 Bg4 then:
• If 8.f3 Be6 9.Nbc3 then:
• If 9...Qd7 10.Ne4 Bd5 11.Nc5 Qc8 12.a3 e6 then:
• If 13.Qc2 Bxc5 14.Qxc5 Qd7 then:
• If 15.0-0 a6 16.Qc3 then:
• 16...f5 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bf4 0-0 19.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Gulko-Chandler, IT, Amsterdam, 1987).
• 16...Ne7 17.b3 Bc6 18.a4 Nbd5 19.Qd2 0-0 20.Ng3 is equal (Guramishvili-Matveeva, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• 15.b4 a6 16.Qc2 Ne7 17.Bg5 Bc6 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.0-0 Bb5 is equal (Arecibia-Yakovich, Op, Bayamo, 1990).
• 13.b4 a5 14.Rb1 axb4 15.axb4 Ba2 16.Rb2 Bc4 is equal (Miles-Seirawan, IT, Niksic, 1983).
• If 9...Bc4 10.Bxc4 Nxc4 then:
• If 11.Qb3 Nb6 12.e6 fxe6 then:
• If 13.Qxe6 then:
• 13...Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.Bf4 e6 16.0-0-0 Nb4 17.Rhe1 N4d5 18.Ne4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Munguntuul-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009).
• 13...Nxd4 14.Qe4 Nc6 15.Bg5 Qc8 16.0-0-0 e5 17.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (S. Volkov-Drozdovskij, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2000).
• If 13.Be3 Qd7 14.0-0 g6 then:
• If 15.Ne4 Qd5 16.Qd1 0-0-0 17.Nf4 Qf5 18.g4 Qf7 then:
• 19.Qb3 Bh6 20.g5 Bg7 21.Qxe6+ Qxe6 22.Nxe6 gives White more space and the initiative (Zhu Chen-Rasmussen, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 19.Ng5 Qf6 20.Ne4 Qf7 21.Ng5 is drawn by repetition (Khalifman-Karjakin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• 15.Rfd1 Na5 16.Qb4 Nc6 17.Qb5 a6 18.Qb3 Na5 19.Qb4 Nc6 20.Qb3 Na5 21.Qb4 Nc6 22.Qb3 Na5 23.Qb4 Nc6 24.Qb3 is drawn by repetition (Bacrot-Mamedyarov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee. 2006).
• 11.e6 fxe6 12.0-0 Nb6 13.Ne4 Qd5 14.Be3 0-0-0 15.Nf4 Qf5 16.g4 Qf7 is equal (Zhao Xue-Ushenina, ITW, Krasnoturinsk, 2007).
• If 8.Be3 then:
• If 8...Qd7 9.Nbc3 0-0-0 10.Be4 then:
• If 10...Bf5 11.0-0 Bxe4 12.Nxe4 e6 13.a3 Be7 then:
• 14.b4 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Kh1 e5 17.Nxf6 gxf6 18.dxe5 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Nxe5 is equal (van Wely-Rustemov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 14.Qc2 f5 15.exf6 gxf6 16.b4 Rhg8 17.b5 Na5 18.a4 gives White the advantage in space (S. Volkov-David, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 10...f5 11.Bc2 Nc4 12.0-0 e6 13.Bb3 N6a5 14.Bg5 gives White a stronger center and the initiative; Black has more space (S. Volkov-Groenn, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincenbt, 2005).
• 8...Bxe2 9.Bxe2 Qd7 10.Nc3 0-0-0 11.a4 a6 12.a5 Nd5 13.Bf3 Ndb4 14.e6 Qxe6 gives Black the advantage in space (Karpov-Timman, IT, Brussels, 1988).
• If 7.Be3 then:
• If 7...Nb4 8.Be4 f5 9.exf6 exf6 then:
• If 10.Nc3 f5 then:
• If 11.Bb1 N4d5 12.Nf3 Bd6 13.Bg5 then:
• If 13...Qd7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Re1 h6 16.Bd2 Qf7 then:
• 17.a4 Be6 18.Nb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Karjakin, Blind, Bilbao, 2007).
• 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bc2 is equal (Anastasian-van den Doel, Euro ChT, Goteborg, 2006).
• 13...Be7 14.Bd2 0-0 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Be6 17.Re1 Bd5 gives Black stonger pawns and more space; White has the initiative (Shirov-Ponomariov, IT, Linares, 2002).
• 11.Bf3 N4d5 12.Nh3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Qh4+ 14.Nf2 Bd6 is equal (Hübner-Koneru, TM, Marianske Lanze, 2009).
• If 10.a3 f5 11.axb4 then:
• If 11...fxe4 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Nh3 then:
• If 13...Bd6 14.Ng5 Bc4 then:
• 15.Qg4 Bxb4 16.Nxh7 Qd7 17.Qg6+ Kd8 18.Ng5gives White a huge advantage in space (Miton-Sadvakasov, Op, Los Angeles, 2000).
• 15.Ngxe4 0-0 16.b3 Bd5 17.b5 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Bb4+ gives Black better King safety and the initiative; White has more space (I. Ibragimov-Yakovich, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).
• 13...Qd7 14.Ng5 Bxb4 15.Nxe6 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qxe6 is equal (Ushenina-Lorbut, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
• 11...Bxb4+ 12.Nc3 fxe4 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Nge2 Qe8 15.Qh4 is equal (Greenfeld-Adams, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• 7...Be6 8.Nc3 Qd7 9.Nf3 0-0-0 10.h3 Nb4 11.Be2 f5 12.0-0 gives White a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1991).
• (Vorotnikov Defense) If 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 then:
• If 5.d5 Ne5 6.Bf4 Ng6 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Nc3 then:
• If 8...e5 9.Bxc4 a6 then:
• If 10.Be2 Bd6 then:
• If 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nd2 Bd7 13.a3 then:
• If 13...Qe7 14.Rc1 b5 15.Nb3 Nf4 16.Bf3 then:
• 16...g5 17.Na5 g4 18.Be2 Nxe2+ 19.Qxe2 Nh5 20.Nc6 gives White a significant advantage in space (Lugovoi-Kharlov, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).
• 16...Rfc8 17.Re1 Ng6 18.g3 a5 19.Qe2 a4 20.Nd2 Rab8 is equal (Antonsen-Donochenko, Op, Esbjerg, 2006).
• If 13...b5 14.b4 Nf4 then:
• 15.Bf3 g5 16.Nb3 Kh8 17.Nc5 Bc8 18.a4 gives White a safer King position, a small advantage in space and some initiative in the a-file (Golod-Sisatto, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
• 15.Nb3 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Ng4 17.Bc5 gives White a small advantage in space (Igla-Krivac, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• If 10.h3 Bd7 11.h4 then:
• 11...Bg4 12.Be2 Bd6 13.Nd2 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 0-0 15.0-0-0 Qd7 16.h5 Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Nc4 b5 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Qd3 h6 21.f3 draw (Bacrot-Kharlov, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
• 11...Bd6 12.h5 Ne7 13.h6 g6 14.Bg5 Nfg8 15.Rc1 gives White a healthy advantage in space (van Wely-Zaragatski, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 11.Nd2 Bd7 12.g3 b5 13.0-0 0-0 14.a4 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 16.f3 is equal (Gelfand-Tkachiev, World Blitz Ch, Almaty, 2008).
• If 8...e6!? 9.Qa4+! Qd7 then:
• If 10.Qxd7+ then:
• If 10...Kxd7 then:
• If 11.Ng5! exd5 12.Nxf7 Rg8 then:
• 13.f3?! Be6! 14.Ng5 c6 15.0-0-0 h6 16.Nxe6 Kxe6 wins the c-pawn for White (Karpov-Lautier, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1997).
• 13.exd5 Ke8 14.Ng5 Ne5 15.Bf4 Nd3+ 16.Bxd3 cxd3 17.f3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• 11.Bxc4?! exd5 12.exd5 Bxf3 13.gxf3 a6 14.Ne4 Re8 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.0-0-0 Bd6 gives White the Bishop pair and a small advantage in space (M. Gurevich-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1991).
• 10...Nxd7 11.Bxc4 exd5 12.Nxd5 Bd6 13.Nd4 c6 14.Nc3 Nde5 15.Bf1 Bd7 16.h3 gives White a small advantage in space (Smyslov-Fontaine, TM, Cannes, 1996).
• If 5.Bxc4 e6 then:
• If 6.Be3 Bxf3 7.gxf3 Qf6 then:
• If 8.Bb5?! Nge7! 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...0-0-0 10.Nb3 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 e5 (Black has a fair advantage in space) 12.Qa4 exd4 then:
• If 13.0-0-0?! a6! then:
• If 14.Kb1? dxe3! (Black is a piece to the good and wins quickly) 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Kc8 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Qd7+ Kb7 19.Rd3 Nc8 White resigns (van Wely-Magem Bedals, IT, Las Palmas, 1993).
• 14.Bf1 Nc6 15.Bd2 Ne5 16.f4 Nf3 17.e5 Qg6 leaves Black calling a fast tune, but White can still keep up with the dance.
• 13.Qxa7 Nc6 14.Bxc6 Qxc6 15.Rd1 Bc5 16.Qa5 b6 gives Black a clear advantage as White struggles to gain a temp to remove his Bishop from danger.
• 9...a6 10.Qa4 0-0-0 11.Bxa6 Nxd4 12.Rc1 e5 13.Bxd4 exd4 14.Qa5 is equal (Blees-van der Linden, Dutch ChT, Holland, 2001).
• 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Qa4 Qxf3 10.Rg1 Qh5 11.d5 is equal.
• If 6.d5 exd5 7.Bxd5 then:
• 7...Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Ne5 Bd6 12.Bf4 gives White stronger pawns and Black more space (Speelman-Sadler, IT, Hastings, 1993).
• 7...Qd7 8.Qb3 0-0-0 9.0-0 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nf6 11.Bxc6 Qxc6 12.Bg5 si equal (Ward-Sadler, British Ch, Swansea, 1995).
• (Gunsberg Defense) If 3...c5 4.d5 then:
• If 4...e6 5.Nc3 Nf6 then:
• If 6.Nf3 exd5 7.e5 (This is the Prianishenmo Gambit) then:
• 7...Nfd7 then:
• If 8.Bg5 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 Qd8 then:
• If 11.Bxc4 Nc6 then:
• If 12.0-0 0-0 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...Nb6 14.Nxb6 axb6 then:
• If 15.Qxd8 Nxd8 then:
• 16.a3 Nc6 17.Rad1 Bg4 18.e6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Rxe6 gives White a slight advantage owing to the active Rook (Karpov-Ehlvest, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1988).
• If 16.Rad1 Be6 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Rd6 Rxa2 19.Rxb6 Rb8 20.g3 Ra6 draw (Piket-Braga, IT, Amsterdam, 1986).
• If 15.h3 Be6 16.Qe2 draw (Rublevsky-Sherbakov, ZT, St. Petersburg, 1993).
• If 13...Re8 14.Nf4 Nb6 15.Bb5 Bg4 16.Bxc6 bxc6 is equal (Miralles-Marjanovic, Op, Marseille, 1986).
• If 12.Qc2 Qa5+ then:
• If 13.Kf1 Nf8 then:
• If 14.Nf4 Ne6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 is equal (Sosonko-Marjanovic, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1985).
• 14.Ng5 Be6 15.Ne4 0-0-0 16.Nd6+ Kb8 is equal (Razuvaev-García Polermo, IT, Dortmund, 1985).
• 13.Nc3 0-0 14.e6 fxe6 15.Bxe6+ Kh8 16.Ng5 Nf6 is equal (Khalifman-Gelfand, Soviet Jr Ch, Vilnius, 1985).
• If 11.Qc2 then:
• If 11...Nxe5 12.Qe4 Be6 13.Qxe5 Qxd5 14.Qxg7 then:
• If 14...Rf8 15.Rd1 Qe4+ 16.Be2 then:
• If 16...Nd7 17.Ng5 Qg6 then:
• If 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 then:
• If 19.Qg5 f6 20.Qh5+ Rf7 21.0-0 0-0-0 22.Rd6 Qxd6 23.Qxf7 Ne5 24.Qxh7 then:
• If 24...Qd2 25.Qf5+ Kc7 26.Bxc4 Rd6 27.Be6 Qe2 28.Qh7+ gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Piket-Riemersma, Dutch Ch, Amsterdam, 1995).
• 24...Qe6 25.Qe4 Rd4 26.Qe3 Qf5 27.h4 b6 leaves Black with the imposing center and more space, but White can initiatite beneficial exchanges with 28.f4! (Vladimirov-Piket, Op, Rotterdam, 1988).
• If 19.Qxh7 0-0-0 20.Qc2 Rfe8 21.h4 then:
• 21...Re7 22.Rh3 Rde8 23.Re3 Ne5 24.Kf1 Qf6 25.g3 Nd3 26.Bxd3 Rxe3 27.Bf5+ gives White a clear advantage (Vladimirov, Soviet Ch Qual, Barnaul, 1988).
• 21...Ne5 22.0-0 Rd4 23.Rxd4 cxd4 24.Rc1 b5 is equal (Brenninkmeijer-Su. Polgar, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).
• 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bxc4 Ke7 21.Bd3 Ne5 22.Be4 Rad8 23.Ke2 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 g5 is equal (Timman-Su. Polgar, IT, Cologne, 1987).
• 16...Qg6 17.Rd8+ Kxd8 18.Qxf8+ Kc7 19.0-0 Qf6 20.Rd1 gives White an active game that is more than enough compensation the pawn (Farago-Bjerring, IT, Gausdal, 1989).
• If 14...Qe4+? then after 15.Be2! Rf8 16.Ng5 Qg6 17.Nxe6 Qxe6 18.0-0-0 Nc6 Black resigns without waiting for White to reply (Zivanic-Lecic, Yugoslav Youth Ch, Obrenovac, 2002).
• If 11...Nb6 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...Nxd5 13.Bxc4 0-0 14.Bxd5 Qe7 15.h4 then:
• 15...Nc6 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Rd6 Rb8 18.Ng5 gives White a better center, the initiative and more space (Barsov-Kamber, Op, Bern, 1994).
• 15...h6 16.Rd2 Be6? 17.Ng5!! hxg5 18.hxg5 g6 19.Bxe6 Qxe6 20.Qe4 gives White adequate compensation for the piece with the threat of a deadly attack in the h-file (L. E. Johannessen-Mamedyarov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 12...N8d7 13.Nxb6 Qxb6 14.Bxc4 Qh6+ 15.Kb1 0-0 16.Rd6 gives White a better center, the initiative and more space (Lukacs-Su. Polgar, IT, Badapest, 1986).
• If 8...f6 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Bh4 then:
• 10...Qe7+ 11.Be2 Nb6 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Be6 15.Qe4 0-0-0 16.Bxc4 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 gives White stronger pawns and Black more space (Solak-Paunovic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
• 10...Nb6 11.Ne5 Qe7 12.Qh5+ Kd8 13.0-0-0 Be6 14.Bxc4 Nxc4 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Rxd5+ Kc7 17.Nxc4 Black resigns (Gleizerov-I. V. Ivanov, IT, Cheliabinsk, 1989).
• 8.Qxd5 Nb6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Be3 Be6 11.0-0-0+ Ke8 12.Ng5 Nc6 13.Nb5 gives White a slight advantage (Kasparov-Spangenberg, SX, Buenos Aires, 1992).
• If 7...Ne4 then:
• If 8.Qxd5 Nxc3 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.bxc3 then:
• If 10...Nc6 then:
• If 11.Bxc4 Be6 then:
• If 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Ng5 Kd7 14.Be3 Nxe5 15.0-0-0+ gives White the initiative and more space (Dreev-Azmaiparashvili, IT, Dos Hermans, 2001).
• 12.Bb3 Bxb3 13.axb3 Be7 14.Bf4 Kd7 15.0-0-0+ Ke6 is equal (Tukmakov-Gieretz, Op, Biel, 1998).
• 11.Ng5 Ke7 12.Be3 Nxe5 13.0-0-0 f6 14.f4 fxg5 15.fxe5 Be6 is equal (Nyback-Vallejo, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 10...Be6 11.Ng5 Nd7 12.Nxe6+ fxe6 13.f4 Nb6 14.a4 g5 15.a5 gives White, who is about to win back his pawn, the Bishop pair, a safer king, more space in the center (Black is actually cramped) and the initiative (Gligoric-Nikolic, IT, Niksic, 1983).
• If 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ng5 then:
• If 10...Be6 11.Nxe6+ fxe6 12.Bxc4 Nc6 13.Bf4 then:
• 13...Nd4 14.0-0-0 Kc7 15.Rhe1 b5 16.Bf1 Be7 17.Rxe4 Kc6 gives White a slight advantage with stronger pawns (Stefanova-Cramling, Euro ChW, Istanbul, 2003).
• 13...Kc7 14.0-0-0 Be7 15.Rhe1 g5 16.Bg3 h5 is equal (Kharlov-T. Kosintseva, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• 10...Ke8 11.Bxc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Kd7 14.Ng5 Nc6 15.Bf4 gives White a passed pawn and better King safety (Miles-Wright, Op, Adelaide, 1990).
• If 6.Bxc4 exd5 7.Nxd5 Nxd5 8.Bxd5 Be7 then:
• If 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Qb6 11.Ne5 then:
• 11...Be6!? 12.Bf4 Rd8 13.Qf3 Nd7 14.Rad1 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 gives White a slight advantage; Black is weak on the light squares.(Korchnoi-Su. Polgar, IT, Pamplona, 1990).
• If 11...Nd7 12.Nc4 Qg6 13.Qf3 Nb6 14.Nxb6 Qxb6 is equal.
• If 10...Na6 11.Qe2 Nc7 then:
• If 12.Bc4 then:
• 12...Be6 13.Be3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 b5 15.Qc2 Ne6 16.Rad1 gives White a small advantage in space and the initiative (Vyzmanavin-Nemeth, Op, Biel, 1990).
• 12...Qd6 13.Rd1 Qb6 14.Be3 Bg4 15.Rac1 Ne6 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 12.Bb3 Be6 13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Bf4 Bxb3 15.axb3 Ne6 is equal (van Beek-Afek, Op, Dieren, 2000).
• If 9.Ne2 0-0 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Nd7 11.Nc3 Nb6 12.Bf4 then:
• If 12...Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bd6 14.e5 then:
• 14...Bc7 15.e6 Bxf4 16.e7 Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Qd6 18.exf8Q+ Kxf8 19.Qh5 is equal (Pelletier-Krizsany, Op, Bad Wörishofen, 2001).
• If 14...Bb8 15.Qb3 Be6 16.Rad1 b6 17.Bg3 Bc7 18.f4 gives White a better center and more space (Greenfeld-Gyimesi, Op, Tel Aviv, 2001).
• 12...Bf6 13.e5 Be7 14.Be4 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 g5 16.Be3 gives White an impressive spatial advantage (Khalifman-Vulfson, Op, St. Petersburg, 1995).
• If 10...Qb6 11.Bd2 Nd7 12.Bc3 Nf6 13.Nf4 Qc7 14.e5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 gives White a better center, a slight initiative and more space (Hort-Afek, Op, Hoogeveen, 2001).
• If 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bf4 then:
• If 6...Ba6 then:
• If 7.e5 b4 then:
• If 8.exf6 bxc3 9.bxc3 gxf6 then:
• If 10.Rb1 then:
• 10...Bg7 11.Qg4 Qxd5 12.Be2 Qe4 13.Rxb8+ Rxb8 14.Bxb8 Qb1+ 15.Bd1 0-0 16.Bc7 gives White a piece for two pawns (Khalifman-Ponomariov, EU Cup, Neum, 2000).
• 10...Qa5 11.Rxb8+ Rxb8 12.Bxb8 Qxc3+ 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 gives White a piece for two pawns (Kopylov-Rausis, Op, Hamburg, 2001).
• 10.Ne2 Nd7 11.Qa4 Qb6 12.g3 Qb5 13.Qc2 Nb6 14.Bg2 Bb7 gives Black a small advantage with the initiative against the d-pawn (S. Volkov-Ponomariov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 8.Qa4+ Qd7 9.e6 Qxa4 10.Nxa4 Nxd5 11.exf7+ Kxf7 12.Nxc5 Bb5 gives Black greater activity, an extra pawn and the initiative (van Wely-Ponomariov, IT, Biel, 2000).
• If 7.Nf3 then:
• 7...b4 8.Bxb8 bxc3 9.Qa4+ Qd7 10.Qxa6 cxb2 11.Rb1 Rxb8 is equal (Shirov-Motylev, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• 7...Qa5?! 8.a4! b4 9.Nb5 b3+ 10.Nd2 Bxb5 11.axb5 gives White a strong initiative in return for the pawn (van Beek-Jonkman, Op, Amsterdam, 2005).
• If 6...Qa5 then:
• If 7.Bd2 b4 8.e5 then:
• 8...Ng4 9.e6 Nf6 10.Bxc4?! fxe6! 11.dxe6 Bb7?! 12.Nd5! gives White dominace of the center while Black's Rook is op0en to attack (van Wely-Azmaiparashvili, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 8...bxc3 9.Bxc3 Qa6 10.exf6 exf6 11.b3 Be7 12.Bxc4 Qd6 13.Ne2 0-0 14.0-0 gives White more freedom (Shirov-Kramnik, IT, Linares, 1993).
• If 7.a4 Nxe4 8.Nge2 Nd6 9.axb5 Qb6 then:
• If 10.Ng3 Nd7 11.Bxd6 then:
• 11...Qxd6 12.Nge4 Qe5 13.Be2 g6 14.0-0 Bg7 15.d6 is equal (Azmaiparashvili-Granda Zuñiga, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
• 11...exd6 12.Qe2+ Kd8 13.Qxc4 h5 14.Be2 h4 15.Nge4 Ne5 gives White more space; Black has the initiative (Morozevich-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• 10.Bxd6 exd6 11.Ng3 Be7 12.Bxc4 0-0 13.0-0 Bf6 14.Qc2 a6 is equal (Beliavsky-Kamsky, IT, Linares, 1993).

4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6

• 5...Bb4+ then:
• If 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.O-O Nf6 8.e5 Nd5 9.Nb3 Nb6 then:
• If 10.Bb5 Qd5 then:
• If 11.Bxc6+ Qxc6 then:
• 12.Bg5 Bg4 13.Qxd4 Bxf3 14.Qxb4 leaves White is dominating the center. Black cannot castle out of there (Aronian-Stevic, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).
• 12.Bd2 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 Bg4 14.Nfxd4 Qd7 15.h3 Be6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg5 Nd5 18.Qg4 h5 19.Qe2 Qe7 20.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Radjabov-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 12.Nbxd4 Qd5 13.Qe2 Qc4 14.Qe4 Qd5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.Qg3 Be6 17.Qxg7 O-O-O 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Qh6 gives White an extra pawn (Bauer-Stevic, Euro Club Cup, Rd 2, Plovdiv, 2010).
• If 11.Nbxd4 O-O 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Qc2 c5 then:
• 14.Ne2 c4 15.Nf4 Qb5 16.a3 Be7 17.a4 Qc6 18.Be3 Bb7 19.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Dreev-Paragua, World Cup, KIhanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
• 14.Nf5 Qe6 15.Ng3 Qg6 16.Qxg6 hxg6 17.Bd2 Bxd2 18.Nxd2 Rd8 19.Nde4 c4 20.Rfd1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Leitão-Stevic, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 then:
• If 11...Qxe7 12.Bb5 Bd7 then:
• If 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Nfxd4 Bd5 15.Qg4 then:
• If 15...g6 then:
• 16.f4 c5 17.Nb5 O-O 18.Nd6 Nc4 19.Nf5 Qe6 is equal (Milanovic-Matulovic, TSGM, Belgrade, 2001).
• 16.Rfe1 O-O 17.Nf5 Qd7 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Qf4 f5 20.e6 Qg7 is equal (M. Petursson-Spangenberg, Op, Linares, 1995).
• 15...O-O 16.f4 g6 17.Nf5 Qd7 18.Ne3 Qxg4 19.Nxg4 Bxb3 20.Nf6+ Kg7 21.axb3 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has stronger pawns (Eljanov-Stevic, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 13.Re1 O-O-O 14.Rc1 d3 15.Qd2 Be8 16.Nc5 Rd5 is slightlty better for White (Onischuk-Rublevsky, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 11...Nxe7 12.Bd3 Bf5 13.Nfxd4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 O-O 15.Rad1 Qd5 16.Qe2 Nc6 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 is equal (Nikolic-Hübner, World Cup, Barcelona, 1989).
• If 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 then:
• If 7...Nc6 8.O-O Qf6 then:
• If 9.b4 a6 10.e5 Qg6 11.Nb3 Nge7 12.Nbxd4 Bh3 13.Nh4 Qg4 14.Qxg4 Bxg4 15.h3 Nxe5 16.hxg4 Nxc4 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has the advantage in space (Kasparov-Short, IT, Novgorod.1994).
• 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nh4 Qg4 11.Ndf3 Nge7 12.h3 Qh5 13.Re1 O-O 14.Qd2 Nf5 15.Nxf5 Bxf5 16.Qf4 Be6 is equal (Komljenovic-Hisler, Op, Metz, 2001).
• 7...Qf6 8.O-O Ne7 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nxd4 Nbc6 11.N2f3 O-O 12.e6 fxe6 13.Nb5 Nd5 14.Bxd5 exd5 15.Nxc7 Rb8 16.Qxd5+ gives White an extra pawn (Karpov-Spangenberg, Buenos Aires, 1994).

6.0-0 Be6 7.Bxe6

• If 7.Bb5 Bc5 then:
• If 8.b4 Bb6 9.a4 a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.a5 Ba7 12.Bb2 Nf6 then:
• 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxe4 15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Be5 Bh3 17.Bg3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Qxd1 19.Rxd1 Be6 is equal (Aronian-Shirov, Candidates' Finals, Elista, 2007).
• 13.Bxd4 Nxe4 14.Bxa7 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Rxa7 16.Re1 Nd6 17.Nc3 0-0 18.Ne5 Rb7 19.Nxc6 Re8 20.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-Solodovnichenko, Op, Banja Luka, 2007).
• If 8.Nbd2 Nge7 9.Ng5 Qd7 then:
• If 10.Nxe6 Qxe6 11.Nb3 Qd6 12.Bf4 Qxf4 13.Nxc5 0-0 then:
• If 14.Rc1 a6 15.g3 Qh6 16.Be2 Rfd8 then:
• If 17.Qb3 d3 18.Nxd3 Nd4 then:
• 19.Qd1 Nec6 20.Bg4 Re8 gives Black more space and the initiative (La Candia-Sakai, Corres, 2003).
• 19.Qxb7 19.Qxb7 then Black traps the Queen with 19...Rdb8 .
• 17.f4 d3 18.Nxd3 Nd4 19.Qe1 Qb6 20.Rf2 Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 Rxd3 gives Black a fragile advantage in space; White played 19.Kg2! and successfully activated his pieces, eventually drawing (Giorgadze-Sakalauskas, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 14.g3 Qh6 15.Rc1 Rfd8 16.Nxb7 Rdb8 17.Qa4 Ne5 18.Rxc7 Nf3+ is equal; Black was able to whip up a stunning kingside attack and win (Dreev-Svidler, Russian Ch, Elista, 1997).
• 10.Ndf3 f6 11.Nxe6 Qxe6 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 a6 14.Qc4 Qd6 15.Qa4 0-0-0 16.Bc4 Ne5 17.Bb3 b5 is equal (Gelfand-Nisipeanu, IT, Medias, 2010).

7...fxe6 8.Qb3 Qd7 9.Qxb7 Rb8 10.Qa6 Nf6 11.Nbd2 Bd6

• 11...Bb4 12.Nc4 0-0 13.a3 Bc5 14.b4 Nxe4 15.Re1 Qd5 16.Rxe4 Qxe4 17.Ncd2 Qd5 18.bxc5 e5 19.Qd3 e4 gives Black more space and freedom for the exchange (Grabuzova-Korbut, Team M, St.Petersburg, 2003).

12.b3

• If 12.Qd3 0-0 then:
• 13.h3 e5 14.Nc4 Nb4 15.Qb3 Nbd5 16.Qd1 Nxe4 17.Nfxe5 Bxe5 18.Nxe5 Qe6 19.Qxd4 gives White an extra pawn (Cmilyte-Korbut, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
• If 13.a3 Ng4 14.h3 then:
• If 14...Nge5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Qxd4 Qb5 then:
• 17.a4 Qe2 18.Qe3 Qxe3 draw (Gagunashvili-Doric, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• 17.b4 Nc6 18.Qc4 Qe5 19.g3 Qxa1 20.Qxc6 Qd4 21.Kg2 Qf6 draw (Nikolic-Anand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 14...Rxf3 15.Nxf3 Nge5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Qa6 c5 18.f4 Rb6 19.Qe2 Nc6 gives Black more space and freedom for the exchange (Grabuzova-Korbut, Team M, St. Petersburg, 2003).

12...0-0 13.Bb2 e5

• If 13...Bf4 then:
• 14.g3 Bh6 15.Ba3 Nxe4 16.Bxf8 Nxd2 17.Nxd2 Bxd2 18.Ba3 gives White a slight material edge while Black has a tiny bit more space (Aronian-Shirov, Candidates' Final Match, Elista, 2007).
• 14.Qd3 e5 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.Rac1 Bxd2 17.Nxd2 Nd8 18.Qc4 gives White the advantage in space (Werle-Brandenberg, Bundesliga 0910, Solingen, 2010).

14.Rfc1 Rb6

• 14...Ne7 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.e5 Bxe5 17.Nxe5 Qf5 18.Ndf3 gives White more activity, command of the c-file and a significant advantage in space (Werle-Edouard, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

15.Qe2 Kh8 16.Ne1 Ne7 (N)

• 16...Bb4 17.Nc4 Bxe1 18.Nxb6 Bxf2+ 19.Qxf2 cxb6 20.Qf5 gives White a small material advantage; after the exchange of Queens, Black will have connected passed pawns in the center (Dreev-Edouard, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).

17.Nd3

• The game is equal.

17...Ng6 18.Rc4

• If 18.f4 Rb5 19.Rc2 then:
• 19...Nxf4 20.Nxf4 exf4 21.Bxd4 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Rxc5 23.Nf3 remains equal.
• 19...exf4!? 20.Bxd4 Be5 21.Bb2 Bxb2 22.Nxb2 c6 23.Rd1 the threat of 24.Nf3 gives White the edge.

18...Qb5 19.Bc1 Rc6 20.f3

• If 20.Rxc6!? Qxc6 then:
• 21.f3 Qc2! 22.a3 Rd8 23.Rb1 Nf4 gives Black the initiative and more space.
• If 21.Rb1 Qc2 22.Rb2 then:
• 22...Nf4! 23.Rxc2 Nxe2+ 24.Kf1 Nc3 25.Bb2 Nfxe4 26.Nxe4 Nxe4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 22...Qc6!? 23.Rb1 a5 24.a4 Kg8 25.f3 Qc2 26.Rb2 remains equal.

20...Nh5!?

• Black takes a chance on an excusion into White's territory via f4.
• 20...Ra6 21.Rc2 Nd7 22.Nc4 Be7 23.Bd2 remains equal.

BLACK: Fred Slingerland



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 20...Nf6h5

21.Rxc6!

• White sees that a Knight will land on f4 and forces Black's Queen fromb5, where it pins the Knight at d3 to a hanging Queen.
• If 21.Ra4 then:
• If 21...Ra6 22.Rxa6 Qxa6 23.Nc4! Nhf4 then:
• If 24.Bxf4 (taking with the Bishop on the first exchange is preferable so that if Black replies 24...exf4 White will still have a blockade at d3) then:
• If 24...Nxf4 25.Nxf4 Rxf4 26.Qc2 Rf8 27.a3 Qb5 28.b4 remains equal.
• 24...exf4?! 25.Qd2! c5 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Rc4 gives White more freedom.
• 24.Nxf4 Nxf4 25.Qf2 Ne6 26.Qf1 Rd8 27.Bd2 Kg8 remains equal.
• 21...Nhf4? drops a piece to 22.Nxf4!! Qxe2 23.Nxe2 d3 24.Ng3.

21...Qxc6 22.Nc4 a5!?

• Better is to play ...Nhf4 immediately.
• 22...Nhf4! 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Nxf4 Rxf4 25.a3 remains equal.

23.a4!?

• White believes the best thing to do is to stop the a-pawn, but he does it in a way to give himself a backward pawn.
• If 23.Rb1 a4 then:
• If 24.Qc2 then:
• 24...Rb8 25.b4 Nhf4 26.Bxf4 Nxf4 27.Nxf4 exf4 28.a3 remains equal.
• 24...axb3?! 25.Qxb3! Nf6 26.a4 Ra8 27.a5 gives White a strong passer.
• 24.Nxd6!? then:
• If 24...cxd6! 25.bxa4 Qxa4 26.Rb6 Qc4 27.Rxd6 then:
• 27...Ra8 28.Bg5 Kg8 29.Rd8+ Rxd8 30.Bxd8 gives White an extra pawn.
• 27...Nhf4 28.Bxf4 Nxf4 29.Nxf4 Qc1+ 30.Qf1 Qxf4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 24...Qxd6 25.bxa4 Nhf4 26.Nxf4 Nxf4 27.Qc4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 23.Nxa5? drops a piece to 23...Qc3!.

23...Rb8?!

• Black takes aim at the backward pawn, but it might have been better to play the Knights into White's Kingside.
• If 23...Nhf4 24.Nxf4 Nxf4 25.Qd1 then:
• If 25...Qc5 then:
• 26.Qd2 Qc6 27.Nxa5 Qb6 28.Nc4 Qxb3 29.Nxd6 cxd6 remains equal
• 26.Bd2 Rf6 27.g3 Rg6 28.Ra2 Qa7 29.Kh1 wins the pawn.
• 25...Ra8 26.Bd2 Qc5 27.Nxa5 d3+ 28.Kh1 Rxa5 29.b4 forces Black to return the piece with interest.

BLACK: Fred Slingerland



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 23...Ra8b8

24.g3!

• White decides it's best to keep Black's Knights out of his position altogether, but there no harm thay can really do.
• If 24.Qd1! Nhf4 25.Nxf4 Nxf4 26.Bd2! then:
• 26...Qc5 27.Nxa5 d3+ 28.Kh1 Ne2 29.Nc4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 26...Qa6 27.Bxa5 Ng6 28.Be1 gives White an extra pawn.

24...Nf6 25.Bd2 Bb4?

• Black allows White to gain a powerful passed pawn.
• 25...Nd7 26.Nxa5 Qa6 27.Nf4 Qxe2 28.Nxe2 gives White an extra pawn and two connected remote passers, but Black can still make things difficult with his d-pawn.

26.Bxb4!

• Exchanging with the Bishop keeps the blockade in tact at d3.
• If 26.Nxb4?! axb4! 27.Rc1 then:
• 27...Qa6 28.Qd3 Qc8 29.Nb2 c5! 30.Qc4 Nd7 31.Nd3 gives White a passed pawn, but Black's wall of pawns from b4 to e5 allows no White piece to penetrate.
• If 27...Qc5 28.Nb2 then:
• 28...Qe7 29.Nd3 Qf7 30.Qd1 Rb7 31.Bxb4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 28...Qd6 29.Qc4 Ne8 30.Qf7 gives White the active Queen, a passed pawn and commond of the c-file; Black's potential to make mischief with his d-pawn is somewhat reduced.

26...axb4

• Black can do nothing better. 26...Rxb4 27.Nxb4 axb4 losing the exchange and doesn't prevent White from passing the pawn.

27.a5!

• The key to White's winning chances is obviously the a-pawn.
• If 27.Ncxe5 Nxe5 28.Nxe5 Qc3 29.Qd1 d3 30.Nc4 gives White an extra pawn; Black can build counterplay around his passed d-pawn.

27...Nd7

• If 27...Qa6 then White wins after 28.Qa2 Nd7 29.Qa4 Qe6 30.a6 Ra8 31.a7 .

BLACK: Fred Slingerland



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 27...Nf6b7

28.a6!

• The passed pawn has a lust to expand (Nimzovich).
• Whenever this pawn can safely advance, it should.

28...Ra8 29.Ra5

• See the note to White's 28th move. This time White neglects the pawn.
• White wins quicker after 29.a7! Qb7 30.Qa2 c5 31.Qa6 Qc7 32.Qd6 all but forces the exchange of Queens, which will make it easier for White to drive the Black Rook from a8.

29...Qe6

• If 29...Ra7 30.Nxb4 when:
• If 30...Qe6 31.Qa2 Ne7 32.Qa4 h6 33.Nd3 keeps Black's d-pawn bottled up and and protects all of White's important points. Black has few moves that do not weaken his postion.
• If 30...Qa8 31.Qa2 then:
• 31...c5 32.Nd3 Qf8 33.Kg2 h6 34.Qa3 Kh7 35.Nxc5 gives White two extra pawns.
• If 31...Kg8 32.Qa4 then:
• 32...c5 33.Nd3 Qf8 34.Kg2 h6 35.Qb5 Kh7 36.h4 gives Black no good moves and he only has one reserve pawn tempo.
• 32...Qe8 33.Qb5 Qf7 34.Qd5 Qxd5 35.exd5 gives White an extra pawn and White few playable move.

30.a7 Ne7 31.Qa2 Nc8

• 31...Nc6 32.Ra6 Nb6 33.Nxb6 cxb6 34.Rxb6 Qe8 35.Rb7 Black is unable to play his Queen from the back rank or his Rook for a8.

32.Ncxe5 Ncb6

• White has an extra pawn. It's sitting on a7, waiting for the call.
• If 32...Nxe5 33.Rxe5 Qf7 then:
• 34.Rf5 Qe8 35.Ra5 Qf8 36.Kg2 h6 37.Qa4 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 34.Nxb4 Nxa7 35.Qa4 then:
• 35...c6 36.Kg2 Rc8 37.Ra5 Nb5 38.Nxc6 Qe8 39.Qxb5 leaves White with a huge material advantage.
• 35...Qxf3 loses immediately to 36.Re8+!.

33.Kg2 h6 34.Qc2 c5 35.Nf4 Qe8 36.Nxd7 Nxd7 37.Qc4 Qd8

• If 37...g5 then White wins after 38.Qe6 Qxe6 39.Nxe6 d3 40.Kf2 .

38.Ra6 Ne5 39.Qxc5 d3 40.Qxe5 d2

• Too late.
• If 40...Kh7 41.Ne6 Qe7 42.Qb8 then:
• If 42...d2 43.Qxa8 d1Q 44.Nf8+ Kg8 45.Ng6+ then:
• 45...Qed8 46.Qxd8+ Qxd8 47.a8Q Qxa8 48.Rxa8+ leaves White with a phobitive material advantage.
• If 45...Qdd8 then after 46.Nxe7+ Kf7 47.Qxd8 g6 48.a8Q White delivers mate on the next move.
• If 42...Rxb8 then White wins after 43.axb8Q Qf6 44.Nf8+ etc..

BLACK: Fred Slingerland



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 40...d3d2

41.Rxh6+ Kg8 42.Qe6+ Kf8 43.Ng6# 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Dutch National Championships, Boxtel

Dutch Windmill
Massimo Catarinella from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Giri - Spoelman, Round 9

Anish Giri
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Anish Giri - Wouter Spoelman
Dutch Championships (General Group), Round 9
Boxtel, 5 July 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

• The text is the Stoltz Opening.

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

• 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 is the Meran Defense, the touchstone of the Semi-Slav family. See Dzagnidze-Zhu Chen, Grand Prix W Rd 3, Nanjing, 2009.

6...Bd6 7.Bd3

• (Shabalov Variation) If 7.g4 then:
• If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:
• If 8...e5 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd2 exd4 then:
• If 11.Nxd4 11...0-0 then:
• 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 g6 14.h4 Nc5 15.f4 Bg4 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Kf2 Qd7 18.h5 Nxd3+ 19.Qxd3 Re4 20.hxg6 fxg6 is equal (Radjobov-Shirov, Rapid m, León, 2004).
• If 12.0-0-0 Ne5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Ne2 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Qe7 19.Qe4 Rad8 20.h4 Ng6 21.Qa4 gives White a huge advantage in space, but Black has a Rook for a pawn and a minor piece (Adly-Pantela, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
• If 11.Qe4+ Qe7 12.Qxd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Qxd5 Bxb2 then:
• 17.Qb3 Ba3 18.Bc4Bc5 19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Rc1 b6 22.Rg1 Rd8 23.Rg4 Qd6 24.Bc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Perelshteyn-Lugo, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• If 17.Rb1 Be6 18.Qe4 Ba3 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 b6 21.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Vallejo-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).
• If 8...b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 c5 11.exf6 Bxf3 12.fxg7 Rg8 13.Qxh7 Nf6 14.Bb5+ Ke7 15.Bg5 Bf4 16.Qh3 Bxh1 17.Bxf4 Qxd4 18.Qg3 Ne4 19.Qh4+ Qf6 20.g5 Qxg7 21.0-0-0 Rad8 22.g6+ f6 23.Rxh1 Rh8 24.Qg4 Nxf2 25.Qf3 Nxh1 26.Bd6+ Kxd6 27.Qc6+ Ke5 28.Qe4+ draws by perpetual check (Onischuk-Becerra, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• If 8...b5 then:
• 9.Be2 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxg5 15.0-0-0 Bh6 16.Ne5 Qe7 17.Ng4 Bg5 18.f4 Bh4 19.e4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Ba5 gives White a huge lead in space (Nestorovic-Milenkovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1993).
• 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.Rc1 Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 15.Ke2 c5 16.a3 c4 17.axb4 Bd5 18.Nfd2 0-0 19.Rhg1 e5 20.dxe5 Rad8 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bf5 Nh5 is equal (Shirov-Akopian, IT, Biel, 1993).
• If 8...Nd5 then:
• 9.Ne4 Be7 10.Bd2 b6 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5 a5 13.h4 f6 14.Nd3 b5 15.Bb3 a4 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nec5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5 d4 20.e4 draw (Sargissian-Korneev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9.Bd2 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Nc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.a4 0-0 15.h4 a5 16.Rc1 bxa4 17.Bd3 h6 18.Qxa4 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Nakamura-Beliavsky, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• If 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 then:
• If 9.Rg1 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Ne4 11.0-0-0 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 0-0 then:
• 13.Bd3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 c5 15.Kb1 a6 16.Bd3 b5 17.Qc2 g6 18.Be4 Ra7 19.g5 Rc7 20.h4 Nb6 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd3 Bb7 23.Nh2 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rc4 25.Rd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Milanovic-Lazic, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2001).
• 13.g5 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Qc2 g6 17.Be4 Rab8 18.Kb1 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.h4 Rfc8 23.Ng4 Na4 24.Qe4 Rc2 25.Qe5 Qc7 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke7 28.Qf6+ Ke8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ draws by repetition (Sargissian-Sveshnikov, Petrosian Mem, Stepanakert, 2004).
• If 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...e5 10.cxd5 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e4 12.dxc6 exd3 13.cxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qb3 Qxg4 15.Qd1 0-0 16.Rg1 Qe4 17.Nd2 Qd5 18.Qf3 Bf5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.Nc4 Rfd8 is equal (Vorobiov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch semif, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 f5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Rg1 Bxf3 17.dxc5 fxg4 is equal (Moranda-Vitiugov, Belfort, 2005).
• If 7...h6 then:
• If 8.Rg1 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.Bd2 e4 11.Nb5 Bb8 then:
• 12.Nh4 a6 13.Nf5 0-0 14.Nbd6 Bxd6 15.Nxd6 Nb8 is equal (Aronian-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• If 12.Rc1 0-0 13.g5 exf3 14.gxf6 Nxf6 15.Bb4 Re8 16.Nc7 Bxc7 17.Qxc7 Ne4 Black has an extra pawn, but White has more than enough space in compensation (Janssen-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
• If 10.g5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 e4 12.Nb5 Nb6 13.Bd2 Bf5 14.h3 Bh2 15.Rg2 Rc8 16.Qb3 Bb8 17.Bb4 Nh7 18.Nxh7 Rxh7 19.Rg1 Rc6 gives Black a subtansial advantage in space (Zappa-Junior, World Computer Ch, Reykjavik, 2005).
• If 8.Bd2 then:
• If 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 then:
• If 11.e4 Be7 then:
• 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Rc8 14.Rg1 Nf8 15.e5 b4 16.Na4 N6d7 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nexc5 Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.dxc5 Qd4 21.Be3 Qxe5 22.Bb5+ Ke7 23.0-0-0 Bd5 24.Qe2 Ng6 25.Rg5 Qe4 26.f3 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Dronavalli-van der Bersselaar, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 12.e5 b4 13.exf6 bxc3 14.fxe7 cxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Qxe7 16.Bf3 Rb8 17.Nb3 0-0 18.0-0-0 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Rc7 21.Kb1 Nxc5 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Qd2 Qf6 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rg1 Rd5 27.Qe2 Qf4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Dronavalli-Nakamura, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 11.g5 hxg5 12.Nxg5 Qe7 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 0-0 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf3 Rab8 17.0-0-0 Rfc8 18.Rhg1 gives White the advantage in space (Sargissian-Hillarp Person, Op. Reykjavik, 2006).
• 11.Rg1 Rc8 12.g5 hxg5 13.Rxg5 Kf8 14.Ne5 Qe7 15.Bf3 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Rh5 Rxh5 18.Bxh5 Kg8 19.0-0-0 Qh4 20.Be2 Qxf2 21.Rf1 Qg2 22.Qe4 Qxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe5 24.Nc5 leaves Black up by two pawns (Radjobov-Anand, Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2006).
• 8...Qe7 9.Rg1 e5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Bb4 12.0-0-0 exd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd2+ 14.Rxd2 g6 15.Bc4 Nb4 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Nf5 gxf5 18.gxf5+ Kh7 19.Nd6 Nd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qxd5 Nf6 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns (Kasimdzhanov-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).


• If 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Rc8 then:
• If 11.Rac1 then:
• If 11...c5 then:
• 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.g3 Rfd8 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nh4 Bb8 is so equal that it demonstrates the second law of thermodynamics (Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qb1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Nc5 19.Qc2 a5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 11...Qe7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Qb1 h6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4 Bb8 16.Rd2 a5 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bd4 draw (Riazantsev-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rfd8 16.Bd3 h6 17.Rfe1 Nd7 18.Qh3 a5 19.Nh4 is equal (Suvrajit-Arun Prasad, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).
• If 10...Qe7 then:
• If 11.Rad1 Rfe8 then:
• 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• If 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5 is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 24.dxc5 Rc8 25.Ne5 Bb8 is equal (M. Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).

7...0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6

• If 9...b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 then:
• If 11...Qc7 then:
• If 12.Bd2 e5 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 Rfe8 then:
• If 15.Bd3 Bxb4 16.Ng5 then:
• 16...Nf8 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 exd4 19.exd4 Qf4 20.Nf3 Ne6 is equal (Soltau-van Kempen, Corres, 2003).
• Black tried 16...h6? in an important game not long ago and quickly obtasined a bad position after White replied 17.Nxb5!! axb5 18.Bh7! giving White a significant advantage in space after the forced exchange of Queens (Gelfand-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
• 15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
• 15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).
• If 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 11...Qb8 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 then:
• 14...Neg4 15.g3 g6 16.Bf3 is equal (Koneru-Pérez Candelario, IT Merida, 2008).
• If 14...Ng6 15.g3 Re8 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Bf8 17.Bf3 b4 18.Nb1 c5 favors Black since White's queenside is cramped (Evdokimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16...Bc5 17.a3 a5 18.Bg5 Qe5 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Na4 Bf8 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 is equal (Alverez-Scheffner, cyberspace, 2000).
• 13.g3 Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

10.Rd1 b5 11.Bd3

• If 11.Be2 Qc7 then:
• If 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.a3 then:
• If 14...exd4 15.Nxd4 Be5 16.Bf3 c5 then:
• If 17.Nf5 Nb6 then:
• If 18.Bg5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Rac8 then:
• 20.Re1 b4 21.Ne2 a5 22.axb4 axb4 23.Ra6 c4 24.Rea1 b3 gives Black the intiative (Kursova-Zhukova, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 20.Rac1 Nc4 21.Bd5 Nb6 22.Bg2 Nc4 23.Bd5 Nb6 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 gives Black the advantage in space; White's center is better (K. Georgiev-Galkin, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 18.a4 b4 19.a5 bxc3 20.axb6 Qxb6 21.bxc3 Rb8 then:
• 22.Be3 Qb3 23.Qxb3 Rxb3 24.Ra5 g6 25.Nd6 Bxd6 26.Rxd6 Bh3 27.Ra1 Ng4 draw (Markos-Ragger, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2007).
• 22.Bd2 Qb3 23.Qc1 Bb7 24.Rb1 Qa4 25.Ra1 Qb3 26.Rb1 Qa4 27.Ra1 Qb3 28.Rb1 draw (Danielian-Stefanova, Grand Prix W, Doha, 2011).
• 17.Nde2 c4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bf4 Ne5 is equal (Bologan-Karjakin, IT, Dortmund, 2004).
• If 14...Bb7 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Bg5 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 then:
• If 17...Be5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Bg4 Rad8 20.Rac1 then:
• 20...Bc8 21.Bxc8 Qxc8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Nd5 Qe6 24.Ne3 gives White stronger pawns and the initiative; Black has the advantage in space (Piket-Kramnik, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 20...Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Bf5 h6 23.Kg2 Kg7 24.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Sasikiran-van Wely, French ChT, Cannes, 2009).
• 17...Nd7 18.Rac1 Nb6 19.Be2 h6 20.Be3 Rad8 21.b4 gives White the advantage in space (J. van Oosterom-Jens, Corres, 1998).
• If 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 then:
• 13...e5 14.Qh4 Re8 15.Bd3 h6 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Qh4 Be7 draw (Burmakin-Dreev, Op, Novgorod, 1999; several games since have ended here or after one or two more moves in an agreed draw).
• If 13...Bb7 then:
• If 14.Bd3 then:
14...g6 15.Qh4 c5 16.Ng5 h5 then:
• If 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Rae8 then:
• 19.Bd2 Be7 20.Qg3 Qxg3 21.hxg3 cxd4 ia equal (Gelfand-Najer, Rpd, Odessa, 2009).
• 19.Bf3 Be7 20.Qe4 Nf6 21.Qc2 Rc8 22.dxc5 Bxc5 gives White a slim advantage in space (Onischuk-Shulman, IT, Montreal, 2009).
• If 17.g4 Nf6 18.gxh5 Nxh5 19.Be2 Kg7 20.dxc5 Be5 21.f4 Bf6 22.Bd2 then:
• 22...Qxc5 23.Rac1 Qd5 24.Qh3 Rh8 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Cheparinov, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).
• 22...Rad8 23.Rac1 Bxb2 24.Rc2 Bf6 is equal (Rianzantsev-Grigoryan, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 14...Nf6 15.Qh4 c5 16.e4 cxd4 17.Bg5 then:
• If 17...e5?! 18.Bxf6! gxf6 19.Nxd4 then:
• 19...Bc8 20.Rac1 Qb6 21.Nc6 Re8 22.Bxb5 Bf8 23.Rc3 should win for White (Volzhin-Malakhatko, Rpd Op, Swidnica, 1998 ).
• 19...exd4? 20.e5! f5 21.Bxf5 f6 22.exd6 Qg7 23.Qh3gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn and more space.
• 17...Rfd8 18.Rac1 Qb8 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qxf6 gives White a sustantial advantage in space.
• 14.b3 c5 15.Qh4 Rfe8 16.Bb2 Be7 17.Qg3 draw (Nisipeanu-Potkin, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).

11...Qc7 12.Bd2 c5 13.Ne4

• 13.dxc5 Qxc5 14.a4 bxa4 15.Rxa4 Bb7 16.Rc4 Qa7 17.Ne4 gives White a little better center (Ivankchuk-Leko, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

13...c4

• 13...cxd4 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Be1 Qe5 17.Be2 remanins equal (S. B. Hansen-Stefansson, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).

14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Be2 Bb7 16.b3 Rfc8

• If 16...Bd5 17.Qb2 Ne4 18.Ba5 then:
• If 18...Rac8 19.Ne1 c3 20.Qc1 c2 21.Rd3 then:
• 21...Nxf2 22.Kxf2 Qxh2 23.Nf3 Qd6 24.Kg1 gives White a Bishop for two pawns and a better center; Black has a passer at the gate that cannot advance and more space (Rodshtein-Pakidze, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
• 21...e5 22.f3 Nef6 23.e4 Nxe4 24.fxe4 Bxe4 25.dxe5 gives White a clear advantage.
• If 18...Rfc8 19.Ne1 c3 20.Qc1 then:
• 20...Bb7!? 21.f3! Nef6 22.e4 e5 23.Nc2 gives White a center pawn duo that hampers Black's extra space (Hammer-Spoelman, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
• 20...Nd2 21.Qc2 b4 22.Nd3 Bxg2 23.Bxb4 Qc6 remains equal.

17.bxc4

• 17.Qb2 Rab8 18.Rac1 Ne4 19.Be1 Nb6 20.Ba5 cxb3 21.axb3 is equal (Wojtaszek-Smeets, Bundesliga 1011, So;ingen, 2011).

17...Be4 18.Qc3 bxc4 19.Qa5 Rab8 20.Ne5 (N)

• 20.Rac1?! Bd5! 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (E. L'Ami-Smeets, Dutch Ch Rd 1, Boxtel, 2011).

20...Bd5

• The gasme is equal.

BLACK: Wouter Spoelman



WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 20...Be5d5

21.Nxd7 Nxd7 22.f3 Rb5

• 22...f5 23.Qc3 Rb5 24.Rac1 Rc6 25.Rf1 reamins equal

23.Qc3 f5 24.Rdc1

• 24.Rac1 Rc6 25.Be1 Nb6 26.Rc2 Na4 27.Qa1 Qb8 reamins equal

24...Nb6

• 24...e5 25.dxe5 Qxe5 26.Qxe5 Nxe5 27.Bc3 Nd3 28.Rd1 reamins equal

25.a4 Rb3 26.Qa5 Nd7 27.Bd1 Rb7

• 27...Rb2 28.Bc2 Rcb8 29.Bd1 Qb6 30.Bc2 Qxa5 31.Bxa5 remains equal.

28.Be1 e5 29.Bg3

• The game remains equal.

BLACK: Wouter Spoelman



WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 29.Be1g3

29...Qe6?!

• Black may have misjudged the outcome of the exchange on e5
• Better is 29...Be6 30.Bc2 Qb6 when:
• 31.Qc3 exd4 32.exd4 Qc6 33.Re1 Nf6 34.Qe3 gives White a sliught initiative.
• 31.Qxb6 Rxb6 32.dxe5 Nc5 33.Rab1 Rcb8 remains equal.

30.dxe5!

• White wins a pawn.

30...Nc5!?

• Black cuts the line of commincation betwwn his passed pawn and the Rook that covers it.
• If 30...Rbb8 31.Qc3 Nc5 32.Rcb1 Nb3 33.Ra3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space; Black should play on the queenside.
• 30...Nxe5?! proves disastrous after 31.e4! when:
• 31...Nxf3+ 32.Bxf3 Bxe4 33.Rc3 gives White a Bishop for two pawns.
• 31...Nd3 32.Qxd5 Qxd5 33.exd5 Nxc1 34.Rxc1 gives White two Bishops for a Rook.

31.Rab1! Rxb1 32.Rxb1 Nb3

• 32...Qe8?! 33.Bc2 Be6 34.Rd1 Kf7 35.Be1 Qe7 36.Bc3 gives White an extra pawn and a little more space.,

BLACK: Wouter Spoelman



WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 32...Nc5b3

33.Qc3!!

• Mh. Giri demonstrates how to apply Muhammad Ali's rope-a-dope principle in chess.

33...Bc6?

• This loses quiuckly.
• 33...Qd7 34.a5 Be6 35.Bc2 Rd8 36.Rd1 Qe8 37.Rd6 gives White an extra pawn, but Black still has a passer on c4 and may obtain command of the d-file.
• 33...Qe8 34.a5 Be6 35.Bh4 Qa4 36.Be1 Qa3 37.f4 also gives White an extra pawn, but he must still shut down Black's potential counterplay.

34.Rxb3!

• Ali just knocked his opponent off the ropes.

34...cxb3 35.Bxb3

• Black pins and wins the Queen.

35...Bd5 36.Bxd5 Rxc3 37.Bxe6+ Kf8 38.Bxf5 1-0

• White has a insurmontable material advantage.
• Mh. Spoelman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Peng - Haast, Round 4

Peng Zhaoqin won the women's championship of her adopted country for the twelfth straight year and the thirteenth time since coming to Holland.

Here, Mw. Peng takes down Anne Haast, who finshed a distant second.



Peng Zhaoqin
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Peng Zhaoqin - Anne Haast
Dutch Championship (Women's Group), Round 4
Boxtel, 29 June 2011

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Benko Gambit)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Qc2

• The gambit is usually accepted, but Mw. Peng seems to be in an odds-giving mood.
• For the usual 4.cxb5, see Dautov-Schebler, Bundesliga 0910, Baden-Baden, 2010.

4...e6 5.e4 bxc4

• If 5...exd5 6.cxd5 c4 7.Nc3/i] then:
• 7...Bb4 8.Be2 0-0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 gives White a center duo and a file available to his Rook open to a backward Black pawn (Nisipeanu-A. Tate, Masters, Gibraltar, 2011).
• 7.a4 Bc5 8.axb5 Qb6 9.Nc3 Ng4 10.Nh3 Ne5 11.Na4 Bb4+ gives White an extra pawn and a center duo; Black has the initiative for the moment (Moskalenko-Randazzo, Op, Barbera del Valles, 2005).

6.Bxc4 exd5

• If 6...Bb7 7.Nc3 exd5 8.exd5 d6 then:
• If 9.Nge2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ng3 then:
• 11...Nbd7 12.b3 Nb6 13.Rd1 Ne8 14.Bb2 gives White the advantage in space (Malakhatko-Simonet, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 11...g6 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Rae1 Re8 14.f4 h6 15.Bxh6 gives White the advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Galstian, Euro ChU18, Peniscola, 2002).
• If 9.Bf4 Be7 10.0-0-0 0-0 then:
• 11.Kb1?! 11...Nbd7 12.Qf5 Nb6 13.Be2 g6 gives Black the initiative and he will soon have an extra pawn (Antonsen-M. Nielsen, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
• 11.Qb3 Bc8 12.Nf3 Nbd7 13.Rhe1 Rb8 14.Qc2 Nb6 gives Black a slight initiative.

7.exd5 Bd6!? (N)

• If 7...d6 8.Nc3 Be7 then:
• If 9.h3 0-0 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.0-0 Nb6 12.b3 Nxc4 13.bxc4 Rb8 14.Bf4 Ba6 is equal (Kempinski-Miton, Poish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).
• If 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Nb6 then:
• If 12.Be2!? Bb7 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Qa3 Nfxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 Black retains the gambit pawns, although she has more pawn weaknesses (Schuurman-Sebag, Euro ChW, Varna, 2002).
• 12.Bd3! c4 13.Bf5 Re8 14.Bxc8 Qxc8 15.Be3 returns the pawn to White with equality.

8.Nc3

• White is slightly better because the placement of Black's Bishop at d6 will present Black developing her queenside pieces.

8...0-0 9.Nge2 Ba6 10.b3

• White sees that she will have a permanent advantage in space if the Bishops are exchanged and a pawn recaptures on c4.
• If 10.Qa4 Bxc4 11.Qxc4 Qb6 12.Bg5 then:
• 12...Be5 13.0-0 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Rab1 Na6 16.Ng3 gives White a small advantage in space; Black's queenside is developed.
• 12...Ne8?! 13.0-0!! Qxb2 14.Rab1 Qc2 15.Be3 Qg6 16.Ne4 gives White command of the center in return for the pawn.
• If 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.Qf5 Rb8 then:
• If 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Bg5 then:
• 13...Be5 14.f4 Bxc3+ 15.Nxc3 Rfe8+ 16.Kf2 gives White a better center and Black more space.
• 13...Ne8 14.h3 f6 15.Be3 Nb4 16.0-0 Bh2+ 17.Kh1 gives White a little more space, but Black has developed her queenside.
• 12.b3 Re8 13.Bg5 Be5 14.0-0 Qe7 15.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space, but the isolated pawn must be defended.

10...h6

• 10...Re8 11.Qd3 Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Be5 13.0-0 d6 14.Bg5 is equal and White can complete normal development of her queenside.

11.h3 Re8 12.0-0 Be5 13.Bd2

• If 13.Bf4 Bxc4 14.bxc4 Qa5 15.Rab1 then:
• If 15...Na6 16.Rb5 Qc7 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 then:
• 18.Qa4 Nb4 19.a3 Na2 20.Qa6 d6 21.Rb7 gives White a significant advantage in space and activity on Black's queenside.
• If 18.a3 Rae8 19.Rfb1 then:
• 19...Qc8 20.Ra5 d6 21.Re1 gives White the advantage in space.
• 19...R5e7 20.Rb7 Qa5 21.Rxa7 gives White an extra pawn.
• 15...Bxf4 16.Nxf4 Na6 17.Rb5 Qc7 18.Nd3 gives White the advantage in space.

13...d6 14.Rae1

• If 14.f4 Bxc3 15.Nxc3 Bxc4 16.bxc4 Qd7 then:
• 17.Rab1 Na6 18.a3 Rab8 19.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 17.a3 Na6 18.Be1 Rab8 19.Bh4 Nh7 20.Rae1 gives White greater activity and more space; Black has solved her problem of lagging development on the queenside.

14...Nfd7?!

• Although White has only a slight advantage in space, Black is nevertheless having trouble finding room to develop her pieces. This move leave the KInight at b8 nowhere to go, and thus leaving the Queen's Rook undeveloped at a8.
• Better is to initiate a series of exchanges by 14...Bxc4! 15.bxc4 Nbd7 16.f4 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Rxe1 18.Rxe1 Rb8 19.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 16.Qd3 Rb8 17.f4 Bxc3 18.Nxc3 a6 19.g4 gives White a clear advantage in space; it remains to be seen whether she can steamroll Black with pawns on the kingside or whether those pawns render the White King unsafe.

15.Ne4!?

• White gambles that she can gain more by postponing the advance of the f-pawn.
• 15.f4! Bf6 16.Ne4 Bh4 17.N2g3 Bxc4 18.bxc4 gives White a fine game with a grip on the center and more space.

15...Nb6?

• Better is to first exchange Bishops, when the Knight can come to g6 attacking a pawn.
• If 15...Bxc4! 16.bxc4 then:
• 16...Na6 17.N4g3 Rb8 18.f4 Bf6 19.a3 is equal.
• 16...Nb6?! 17.f4! Bf6 18.N2g3 Bd4+ 19.Be3 Bxe3+ 20.Rxe3 gives White a significant advantage in space.
• If 15...Nf6?! then:
• If 16.N4g3! Nfd7 17.Nf5 then:
• 17...Bxc4 18.bxc4 Nb6 19.f4 Bf6 20.Neg3 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 gives White a commanding advantage in space and Black still hasn't developed her queenside.
• 17...Nb6 18.f4 Bf6 19.Neg3 Nxc4 20.bxc4 Bd4+ 21.Kh2 gives White a significant advantage in space.
• 16.N2g3?! Nxe4 17.Rxe4 Bxc4 18.bxc4 Bxg3 19.fxg3 gives White more piece activity and a huge advantage in space.

BLACK: Anne Haast



WHITE: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 15...Nd7b6

16.f4!

• The delay in advancing the pawn has paid off nicely.

16...Bf6

• Black's only other worthwhile move won't save her, either.
• If 16...Bb2 17.N2g3 Bd4+ 18.Kh2 then:
• 18...g6 19.Bc3 Bxc4 20.bxc4 N8d7 21.f5 breaks up Black's kingside.
• 18...Bxc4 19.bxc4 g6 20.Bc3 Na6 21.f5 g5 22.f6 leaves Black's King position fatally weak.

17.Nxf6+ Qxf6

• 17...gxf6 then White wins easily after 18.Ng3 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Bxc4 20.bxc4 Qf8 21.Nf5.

18.Ng3 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Qd8

• If 19...Qg6 20.Nf5 Kh7 21.Re3 Nxc4 then:
• 22.Rg3! Nxd2 23.Rxg6 fxg6 24.Nxd6 leaves Black no activity other than the Bishop at a6.
• 22.bxc4? Bc8 23.g4 Bxf5 24.Qxf5 Qxf5 25.gxf5 Nd7 gives White greater activity, but Black has stronger pawns and, most importantly, her queenside is coming to life and that gives her bona fide drawing chances.

20.Nf5 Nxc4 21.bxc4 Nd7 22.Bc3 Nf6

• This shortens's Black's agony.
• If 22...Bxc4 then White wins after 23.Nxg7 Bxd5 24.Qd3 Nf6 25.Nf5 Kf8 26.Qg3.

23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Qf5 Kg7

• If 25...Qc8 then 26.Qxf6+ Kh7 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Ng6#.

26.Re3 Qh8 27.Rg3+ Kf8 28.Qd7 1-0

• If 28...f5 29.Qxd6 Qd4+ 30.Kh2 Qxf4 31.Ng6+ wins the Queen and mate is stil inevitable.
• Mw. Haast resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. AAI Tournament, New Delhi

Akshardham Temple
Photo by Swaminarayan Sanstha from Akshardham.com in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Negi - Carauana, Round 1

Fabiano Caruana
Photo by Ted Cross from flickr (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)


Parimarjan Negi - Fabiano Caruana
AAI Tounament, Round 1
New Delhi, 22 June 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Anti-Marshall Line (Kasparov Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.d4

• For moves and variations up to here, see Howell-Hracek, Masters 0910, Hastings, 2010.

9...d6 10.dxe5

• If 10.c3 bxc3 11.bxc3 Bg4 then:
• If 12.Be3 exd4 13.cxd4 then:
• 13...d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nbd2 Bb4 17.Qc2 Na5 18.Rec1 Nc3 is equal (Tolush-Furman, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1958).
• 13...Rb8 14.Bc4 d5 15.exd5 Nb4 16.Nc3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 is equal (Matulovic-Kraidman, IT, Natanya, 1961).
• If 12.d5 Na5 13.Bc2 c6 then:
• 14.h3 Bh5 15.g4 Bg6 16.dxc6 Qc7 17.Nh4 Qxc6 is equal (Najdorf-Pilnik, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).
• 14.dxc6 Qc7 15.Qd3 Qxc6 16.Na3 Rfc8 17.Bd2 Nd7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Roose-Kmoch, Trmt, Groningen, 1941).

10...dxe5

• If 10...Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 then:
• If 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Nd2 then:
• 13...Kh8 14.Qf5 Bc5 15.h3 Qd4 16.Ba2 Bb6 is equal (Akopian-Pashikian, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 13...c5 14.h3 Qc7 15.Nc4 Rad8 16.Bg5 Rd4 is equal (Kupreichik-Dobrovolsky, IT, Rimavska Sobota, 1990).
• If 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Nd2 then:
• 13...Nd7 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Qh5 Bxe3 16.Rxe3 Nf6 is equal (Kupreichik-Yu. Razuvaev, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1979).
• 13...h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nc4 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 Rfd8 is equal (Kupreichik-Malich, Telechess Ol, via telex, 1983).

11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Bg5

• 12.Nbd2 h6 13.a5 Bd6 14.Bc4 Bb7 15.b3 Re8 remains equal (Zhang Xiaowen-Wang Yu, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009).

12...h6

• If 12...Rb8 13.Nbd2 h6 then:
• 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Bd5 Na5 16.Rad1 Rb6 17.Nb3 draw (Svidler-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2006).
• If 14.Be3 Bb7 then:
• 15.a5 Ng4 16.Nc4 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Nd4 18.Nxe5 Nxb3 19.cxb3 Bxe4 gives Black two Bishops against two Knights in a open center (Sebag-Negi, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
• 15.h3 Bd6 16.a5 Ne7 17.Nc4 Ng6 18.Nfd2 Be7 19.f3 Nd7 20.Nf1 Nc5 draw (Kovalov-Timman, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bd5 Rd6 (N)

• 14...Bd7 15.Nbd2 Rab8 16.Nb3 Bd6 17.Nh4 Na7 18.Bc4 gives White stronger pawns and a slight advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair (Vasiukov-Smagin, Moscow Ch, 1982).

15.Nbd2

• White has a better center and stronger pawns. Black has a more active Rook and the Bishop pair.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 15.Nb1d2

15...Be6!?

• Black acts on an interesting idea. He proposes to trade his good Bishop in order to give his Rook more scope on the d-file.

16.Nc4

• 16.Bxe6!? fxe6 17.Nc4 Rd7 18.Rad1 Rad8 is equal.

16...Rxd5

• 16...Bxd5?! 17.Nxd6! Be6 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 leaves White an exchange to the good.

17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Ne3!

• 18.Ncd2 Rd8 19.Rad1 Kg7 20.h3 h5 21.c4 Be6 gives Black the advantage in space owing to the scope of the Rook at d8 (see note to Black's 15th move).

18...Be6!?

• Black allows White a kingside initiative.
• 18...Bxf3! 19.gxf3 Nd4 20.Red1 then:
• 20...c6 21.f4 Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Nxf4 23.Nf5 Bc5 24.Nxh6+ remains equal.
• If 20...Rd8?! 21.c3! bxc3 22.bxc3 then:
• 22...Ne2+ 23.Kf1 Nxc3 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.Ra3 gives White a clear initiative.
• 22...Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Nd2 24.Nf5 Kf8 25.Nxh6 gives White a clear advantage from then pin on the d-file.

19.Nh4!

• White assumes a small advantage in space.
• Also good is 19.c4 bxc3 20.bxc3 f5 21.Rab1 Kg7 22.Nc2.

19...Bc5 20.Nhf5 Kh7 21.c3 bxc3

• White mainstains a slight advantage in space.
• 21...Rb8 22.Rab1 Kg6 23.g4 Bxe3 24.Nxe3 e4 25.Ng2 is equal.

22.bxc3 Rg8 23.Kh1

• 23.Rab1 Kg6 24.Nh4+ Kg5 25.Nf3+ Kg6 26.Red1 continues to give White a small advantage.

23...h5 24.Rad1!?

• White's advantage has evaporated.
• If 24.Kg1 Rg5 25.Nh4 then:
• 25...f5!? 26.Rad1 Kh6 27.Nf3 Rg7 28.Kf1 f6 29.Nd5 gives White more good options.
• 25...e4 26.Kh1 Re5 27.g3 Bd6 28.Neg2 f5 is equal.

24...Kg6

• The game is equal.
• If 24...Rg5 25.Ng3 f5 26.f3 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Bb3 28.Ra1 is also equal.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 24...Kh7g6

25.Nh4+

• If 25.Ng3!? f5 26.Kg1 h4 then:
• 27.Ngf1 Rb8 28.Rb1 Rxb1 29.Rxb1 e4 is equal.
• 27.Ne2!? f4 28.Nd5 Kh6 then:
• If 29.Nxc7 Bh3 30.Nxa6 Rxg2+ then:
• If 31.Kh1 Bxf2 32.Ng1 then:
• 32...Bxg1!! 33.Rxg1 Rb2 34.Rd6+ Kh5 35.Rxc6 f3! gives Black a small advantage.
• 32...Bxe1 33.Rxe1 Rc2 34.Nxh3 Rxc3 35.Nf2 f5 36.Nc7 Ra3 is equal.
• 31.Kf1?? then 31...Rg8#.
• 29.Nf6?! Rg6! 30.Ne4 Bb6 31.Rd3 h3 32.g3 Bc4 gives black a kingside majority against which White is hampered in attack by the pin in the g-file, as will as the initiative in the center.

25...Kh6 26.g3 Ne7

• The game remains equal.
• If 26...Rb8!? 27.Rb1 Bb3 then:
• If 28.Nhf5+! Kg6 29.Rg1 a5 30.g4 then:
• 30...Bxe3 31.Nxe3 Bxa4 32.gxh5+ Kxh5 33.Ra1 Bb3 34.c4 gives White more freedom.
• 30...Kh7 31.gxh5 Bxe3 32.Nxe3 Bxa4 33.Nd5 Bb3 34.Nxf6+ leaves White up by a clear exchange.
• If 28.Kg2?! Kg7 29.h3 Rb6 then:
• If 30.Ra1! Be6 then:
• 31.Nef5+ Kf8 32.Reb1 Ne7 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 gives White healthier pawns and a slight material advantage.
• 31.Nhf5+ Kg6 32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Kg5 34.Kf3 gives White a slight material advantage and Black more space.
• If 30.Kf3!? (this is Fritz' recommendation; it's rather interesting) then:
• If 30...Na5 31.Ra1 Be6 32.g4 (this move is only possible because the King is on f3) 32...hxg4+ 33.hxg4 is equal.
• 30...Bxa4!? 31.Nd5 Rxb1 32.Rxb1 Bc2 33.Rb7 Nd8 34.Rxc7 maintains a slight material advantage for White and posits a Rook on the seventh rank.

27.Rd2?!

• White appears to be thinking of doubling the Rooks on the g-file.
• Faster is to use the file that's already open and more navigable than the d-file 27.Rb1 Rd8 28.Red1 Rxd1+ 29.Nxd1 a5 30.Ne3 Bd7 is equal.

27...c6!

• Black restrains the Rooks on the d-file.
• If 27...Rb8! 28.Nd1 Rb3 then:
• 29.f4 exf4 30.gxf4 Ra3! 31.a5 Rxa5 gives Black a slight material edge and a passed pawn.
• If 29.Kg2?! Ra3 then:
• 30.f3 30...Nd5 31.Nf5+ Kg6 32.Nh4+ Kh7 33.Re4 Nb6! wins a pawn for Black.
• 30.f4 exf4 31.gxf4 Rxa4 32.Kg3 Nd5 33.Rf1 c6 gives Black a remote passed pawn.

28.Nhg2

• White is not yet in a big hole, but he is having trouble finding his way back to equality.
• If 28.Rb2 Nd5 then:
• 29.Nhf5+ Kg6 30.Nh4+ Kh7 31.Rc2 Rb8 32.Nxd5 Bxd5+ gives White the better center and two Bishops making good use of it.
• If 29.Rc2 Nxe3 30.fxe3 f5 31.Nf3 f6 then:
• 32.c4 Rb8 33.a5 Rb4 34.Kg2 Ra4! wins at least a pawn.
• If 32.Nd2 f4 33.gxf4 exf4 then:
• 34.e4 f5 35.Nf3 fxe4 36.Rxe4 Bg4 37.Nh4 f3!! Black wins.
• 34.Rf1 Bxe3 35.Nf3 Bc4 36.Rg2 Rb8 37.Rd1 Bd5 wins material.

28...Rb8 29.Red1?!

• 29.f4 Rb3 30.Nd1 Ng6 31.Nde3 exf4 32.gxf4 f5 gives Black an active Rook and the Bishop pair.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 29.Re1d1

29...Rb3!

• Black wins material.

30.Rd8 Rxc3

• Also good is 30...Ra3 31.Rh8+ Kg5 when:
• If 32.Ne1 Rxa4 33.Nf3+ Kg6 34.Nh4+ Kg7 then:
• 35.Rdd8 Bxe3 36.fxe3 Re4 37.Rxh5 Rxe3 38.Rdh8 f5 gives Black a clear advantage.
• If 35.Rxh5?? Bxe3! then:
• 36.f3 Ra3 37.Ng2 Bd5 38.Rf1 Bc5 leaves Black to win the c-pawn, giving him two passers.
• 36.fxe3 then 36...Bg4 wins a Rook of Black's choice.
• If 32.Kg1 Rxa4 33.Rb1 a5 then:
• 34.Nh4 Ra3 35.Nf3+ Kg6 36.Nh4+ Kg7 37.Rbb8 Bxe3 leaves Black to win the c-pawn, giving him two passers.
• If 34.Re8 Ra3 35.h4+ Kg6 then:
• 36.Rb7 Nf5 37.Rg8+ Kh7 38.Rbb8 Nh6 39.Rh8+ Kg7 leaves Black defense so strong that White cannot force mate against an apparetly boxed-in King with two Rooks on the back rank; meanwhile, Black wins another pawn.
• If 36.c4 a4 37.Rb7 Nf5 then:
• 38.Rg8+ Kh7 39.Rbb8 Nxe3 40.fxe3 Bxe3+ 41.Nxe3 Rxe3 wins for Black.
• 38.Rbb8 Nxe3 39.fxe3 Bxe3+ 40.Nxe3 Rxe3 41.Rg8+ Kf5 gives Black a clear winning advantage.

31.Ra8 Bb3 32.Ra1

• 32.Rxa6?? loses lickity-split to 32...Bxd1! 33.Nxd1 Rc1.

32...Bd4 33.Re1 Bxa4 34.Rxa6 Bb3 35.Ra8!

• This is fundamentally a good idea in the spirit of active defense.
• A similar line in the same vein is 35.Nh4 Be6 36.Kg1 Rb3 37.Ra8! Kg7 38.Re8 Rb7 when Black has a passer and complete dominace of the queenside, but White's Rook in the back rank will not allow Black to attempt any decisive attack at this stage.

35...Be6 36.h4

• This isn't bad as it prevents the Black King from coming forward and joining an attack on his counterpart.
• If 36.Rh8+ Kg5 37.Rd8 then:
• If 37...c5 38.Re8 Nd5 then:
• If 39.Rd8 Bxe3 then:
• If 40.fxe3 f5 41.Rg8+ Kf6 then:
• 42.Rh8! c4 43.Rxh5 Rd3 44.Rc1 c3 45.Kg1 e4 gives Black far more compensation for his slight material deficit than he needs.
• If 42.Kg1? then Black wins after 42...Rc2! 43.Ra1 c4 44.Rh8 c3 45.Ne1 Re2.
• If 40.Nxe3 Nxe3 41.Rxe3 Rxe3 42.fxe3 then:
• If 42...c4! then:
• If 43.Kg2 c3 44.Rd3 c2 then:
• 45.Rc3 Bd5+ 46.Kf2 Be4 47.h3 f5 48.Rc7 h4 puts Black on the brink of victory since White cannot take on f7.
• 45.h4+? wastes a valuable tempo and after 45...Kg4 46.Rc3 Bd5+ 47.Kf2 Be4 48.Rc7 f5 Black wins.
• If 43.Rd1 then:
• If 43...Kf5! 44.Ra1 Ke4 45.Ra3 Kf3! then:
• 46.Kg1 Ke2 47.e4 Kd2 48.Ra2+ Kc1! 49.Rf2 c3 wins for Black.
• If 46...Kxe4 47.Kg2 f5 48.Kf2 f4 49.gxf4 Kxf4
• 43...Bg4? 44.Rc1! Be2 45.Kg2 Bd3 46.Kf3 f5 leaves Black better, but White has very realistic chances of salvation.
• 42...Kf5!? 43.Rd3! c4 44.Rc3 Ke4 45.Kg2 f5 gives White hopes of a draw, but Black is still better with the extra pawns.
• If 39.Nxd5? then Black gets a powerful attack after 39...Bxd5! 40.Kg1 Rc2 41.Ne3 Bxe3 42.fxe3 Rg2+.
• If 37...Nd5 then:
• 38.Kg1 Kg6 39.Nh4+ Kh7 40.Nhf5 Bb6 41.Rb8 Rb3 gives Black a clear advantage with a minor piece and two pawns (one passed) against a Rook; White's active Rook in Black's back rank prevents the position from being an outright win for Black.
• 38.Rg8+ Kh6 39.Kg1 Rb3 40.Rh8+ Kg6 41.Kf1 Bh3 gives Black a Bishop and two pawns against a Rook and a pseed pawn; White has an active Rook.

36...Ng6 37.Rb1?

• White should remain in a defensive mood. Taking the Rook from the defense of the White King to go on the offensive is a fatal mistake.
• If 37.Rd8 c5 then:
• If 38.Re2 Rc1+ 39.Kh2 e4 then:
• 40.Ne1 f5 41.f4 Bxe3 42.Rxe3 Ne7 43.Ng2 c4 is clearly better for Black, but White can still make threats and get a Rook behind Black's c-pawn.
• 40.Rc2 Rb1 41.Nf4 Nxf4 42.gxf4 f5 43.Rg8 Rb5 leaves Black much better, but White can still fight the passed pawn with his Rooks.
• 38.Kg1? f5 39.Rg8 f4! 40.gxf4 exf4 41.Rxg6+ fxg6 gives Black an extra pawn.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 37.Re1b1

37...f5!

• White's kingside is restrained and the Rook on the back rank can do nothing effective.
• Also good is 37...c5 38.Rd8 f5 39.Nd1 Rc2 40.Ne1 Re2 when White's f-pawn must fall.

38.Nd1

• If 38.Rd1 c5 39.Rg8 Rb3 40.Kg1 Rb2 41.Rc1 Ra2 leaves White nothing useful:
• If 42.Re8 f4 43.gxf4 exf4 44.Nc2 Bb2 then:
• If 45.Rd1 Bc3 46.Nce1 Bd4 then:
• If 47.Rxd4 cxd4 48.Nf3 d3 49.Rd8 Ra1+ 50.Kh2 Bc4 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• If 47.Nd3 f3 48.Nge1 Nxh4 then:
• 49.Rd8 Re2 50.Kf1 Bb3 51.Nxf3 Bxd1 52.Nxh4 Rd2 leaves White two pawns to the good with the Bishop pair.
• 49.Rc1 Rd2 50.Rc2 Rd1 51.Rc1 Rxc1 52.Nxc1 c4 gives White an unobstructed passed pawn and the Bishop pair.
• 45.Rf1 Bf6 46.Nce1 Bc4 wins the exchange.
• 42.f3 f4 wins a Knight.
• 42.Nc2 Bb2 43.Rd1 f4 44.gxf4 exf4 45.Re1 Bb3 wins a Knight.

38...Rc2!

• Black's threat to win a pawn can only be met with moves that weaken White's position.
• Also good is 38...Rd3! 39.Rd8 Rd2 when:
• If 40.Ne1 Bb3! 41.Nf3 Rxd1+! 42.Rxd1 Bxd1 then:
• 43.Nxd4 exd4 44.Rxd4 Bf3+ 45.Kh2 f4 dissolves White's pawns.
• 43.Nxe5 Bxe5 44.Rxd1 f4 45.gxf4 Bxf4 is an easy win for Black.
• If 40.Rd6 Bd5! 41.Nde3 Bxe3 then:
• 42.Rxd5 cxd5 43.fxe3 Nf8 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• 42.fxe3 Bxg2+ 43.Kh2 Bd5+ 44.Kh3 Rf2 gives Black a prohibitive material advantage.

39.Kg1 Rd2 40.Ra3

• 40.Ra6 c5 41.Ne1 f4 42.Nf3 Rd3 43.Nxd4 exd4 when Black has two connected passers.

40...c5 41.Ne1 e4

• 41...f4! 42.gxf4 Bg4 43.Nf3 Bxf3 44.Rxf3 e4 gives Black a strong initiative that more than compensates for a slight material deficit.

42.Ng2 c4 43.Nde3 Ne5 44.Ra6 Nf3+ 45.Kf1

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 45.Kg1f1

45...c3!

• The pawn cannot be stopped without fatally weakening White's position.

46.Rc6

• If 46.Rc1 Kg7 then:
• If 47.Rxe6 then after 47...fxe6 48.Nd1 e5 49.Nge3 Nh2+ 50.Ke1 f4 White's pawns crumble.
• If 47.Rc6 then after 47...Bd7 48.R6xc3 Bb5+ Black wins the exchange.

46...Kh7 47.Rc7 Bxe3 48.Nxe3 f4 49.gxf4 c2 0-1

• 50.Rxc2 Rxc2 51.Nxc2 Nd2+ leaves Black a Bishop to the good.
• If 50.Rxf7+ then after 50...Kg8 51.Rfb7 Bh3+ 52.Ng2 cxb1Q+ 53.Rxb1 e3 Black soon delivers mate.
• 50.Rc1 Bh3+ 51.Ng2 Rd1+ 52.Ke2 Rxc1 leaves Black up a piece.
• Sri Negi resigns.