The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for September 10

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending September 10



Image from Chess Live Wire


Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending September 10

News for the Week ending September 10

Three-way tie for lead in EU Championship in Liverpool



Nigel Short, who once was ranked third in the world and played a match for the world title against Garry Kasparov, is tied for the lead of the European Union Championship in Liverpool with 3½ point after four rounds.

Tied with Short are English grandmasters Danny Gormally and Luke McShane.

The EU Championship is Short's first tournament in Britain since he participated in the Hastings Christmas Tournament in 1989. His match against Kasparov was held in London in 1993. Short has lived in Greece for several years.

Short was lone in first place with a perfect score after three rounds, but drew his fourth round game Saturday against Portuguese grandmaster Luis Galego. Gormally and McShane each entered the fourth round with 2½ points; Gormally defeated English IM Stephen Gordon in 23 moves while McShane battled grandmaster Nicholas Pert for 85 moves before Pert resigned. The final position in the Pert-McShane game is known as a Lucena position; it is literally the oldest known book win in chess, having been analyzed by an Spanish chess master named Lucena in 1497.

Black: Luke McShane
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White: Nicholas Pert
Position after Black's 85th move
(Lucena Position)
Can't see the diagram? Please click here.

Pert resigned rather than play any longer. A plausible continuation, based on Lucena's 500-year-old analysis, is 86. Rg8 Kf2 87. Rf8+ Kg3 88. Kg8+ Kf3 89. Rf8+ Kg4 90. Rg8+ Rg5 and there is no way to stop Black from promoting the pawn.

Eighty-five players from countries associated with the EU are participating in the event.


Russian National Championship preliminaries underway in Tomsk



The preliminary event to for the Russian national championship is underway in Tomsk in Siberia.

After seven rounds, there is a four-way tie for first place among Vladimir Malakhov, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Ernesto Inarkiev and Nikita Vitiugov with 5 points each; eight player are tied for fifth at 4½ points apiece, including Alexei Dreev, Alexander Khalifman and rising star Artyom Timofeev.

The top seven finishers will advance to the finals in the Russian championship with seven seeded players, including reigning champion Sergei Rublevsky. The finals will be held in December.

Fifty-eight players are competing in the nine-round event which concludes Monday.


China defeats France in team match

In two team matches held in Paris that ended Saturday, one of men and one of women, China defeated France by a combined score of 28½-25½.

Taking the events separately, a team of six French men defeated a team of six Chinese men by the score of 20-16. Three French players -- Christian Bauer, Laurent Fressinet and Igor Nataf -- scored 4 points each in six rounds. For the Chinese, Wang Yue scored 4 points and Zhou Jianchao scored 3½.



Pauline Guichard of France plays White against 12-year-old Chinese phenom Hou Yifan
The Chinese women badly outmatched the French team.
Photo: Ligue Ile-de-France des echecs (France)

The women's match was won easily by China, 12½-5½. This was a complete mismatch in the ratings, with 12-year-old prodigy Hou Yifan (2498), Zho Xue (2350) and Shen Yang (2282) for China pitted against French women Maria Leconte (2304), Mathilde Choisy (2194) and Pauline Guichard (2194). All three Chinese women had positive scores, with young Ms. Hou leading the field with 5 points out of six; of the French team, only Mme. Leconte scored about 50% with 3½ points, the same score as Shen Yang, who trailed the other two Chinese women. Mlle. Choisy and Mlle. Guichard each scored 1 out six.


Leko defeats Karpov in rapid match

Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko, who missed becoming the the classical world champion by a hair two years ago when he drew a match with titleholder Vladimir Kramnik in Bressago, Switzerland, defeated legendary former world champion Anatoly Karpov in an eight game rapid chess match in Miskolc, Hungary, last week, by the score of 4½-3½.



Anatoly Karpov and Peter Leko in Miskolc
Eight-year-old Hungarian chess talent Timea Hercsik makes the ceremonial opening move for Round 5
The young lady's coach, Hungarian WGM Zsuzsa Veroci, is the arbiter for the match
Photo: ChessBase.com

Leko won the only decisive game in the match in round 3. Many observers believe Leko had winning chances in other games, but Karpov pulled seemingly miraculous draws out of his bag of tricks.

Kaprov, who was world champion form 1975 to 1985, is now 55 years old. Most of his activity is in rapid chess nowadays, and he has proved quite adept at playing in the accelerated time control. In classical chess, Karpov is still ranked 40th in the world.

Leko, who was born when Karpov reigned as world champion, is the fifth-ranked player in the world and is probably the hardest player today from whom to score a full point. Leko, like Karpov, is primarily a defensive positional player who prefers not to take risks in the middle game in order to get to a favorable ending.


Other news form the Arctic Ocean and the Black Sea

A chess festival to celebrate the centennial of the mining community of Longyearben on Spitsbergen Island, Norway, was held last week and featured two mini-matches of rapid chess among four of the world's leading players from nations who figure in the island's history.

The event was held over two days, the first day in Longyearben and the second day in the Russian mining community of Barentsburg.



Barentsburg on Spitsbergen Island
There are no trees since Spitsbergen is located just a wee bit north of the Arctic tree line.
Photo: ChessBase.com

In the matches, Russian grandmaster Peter Svidler defeated 15-year-old Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen, 1½-½ and Norwegian grandmaster and former soccer star Simen Agdestein and American GM Nick de Firmian drew their match, each winning one of the two games.

Spitsbergen Island is located some ways north of the Norwegian mainland, about halfway between Lapland and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean.



The Yuzhnaya Palmyra
Photo: ChessBase.com

In another rapid chess event in an aquatic setting, this in a bit warmer climate, Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk won a tournament held aboard the cruse ship Yuzhnaya Palmyra as it sailed on the Black Sea from Odessa to Istanbul and back last week.

Ivanchuk scored 10 points in eleven rounds. Ivanchuk's compatriot, Viacheslav Eingorn, finis ed a distant second with 8 points. Ukrainian WGM Natalia Zhukova won an award for the best score by the women participating; Ms. Zhukova scored 5 points.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update and correction (re: EU Championship, Liverpool)

There was a four-way tie for first place in the European Union Championship yesterday, not a three-way tie as I reported; international master Simon Williams, also of England, also went into today's action with 3½ points. The other three tied for first with 3½ points were Nigel Short, Luke McShane and Danny Gormally, all of whom also represent the English Chess Federation.

In today's games, completed just moments ago, Short, playing White, defeated Danny Gormally in 65 moves and Williams, playing Black, defeated McShane in 51 moves.

After five rounds, Short and Williams are tied for the tournament lead with 4½ points. Under Swiss system rules, it is most likely that Williams and Short will face off tomorrow in round six and most likely that Williams will be playing White.

Tomorrow's pairings will be announced later.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. How to view diagrams on the JR Chess Report

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from Current and Recent Events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Vincent Colin - Fabien Libiszewski, French Championships, Besançon
Fontaine - Lautier, Youth - Veteran Team Match, Amsterdam
Ioulia Mekka - Elina Danielian, Acropolis Open, Athens
Michael Mchedishvili - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Open Rapid Tournament, Mainz
Alexei Aleksandrov - Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Open Rapid Tournament, Mainz
Wang Hao - John Nunn, Youth - Veteran Team Match, Amsterdam
Peter Leko - Anatoly Karpov, Rapid Match, Miskolc (Hungary)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Colin - Libiszewski, French Championships, Besançon

This game was played in the opening round of the French Championships' general event by the two players destined to finish at the foot of the standings.

Nevertheless, I agree with the poster at Chessgames.com (see link to the game) who said that if they hand out brilliancy prizes in the French Champiohsips, M. Colin should get one for this game.



Vincent Colin
Photo: Official website of the 81e Championnat de France (France)

Vincent Colin vs. Fabien Libiszewski
French Championships, Round 1
Besançon, August 2006

King's English Game: Catalan Opening

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 h6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 d6

Satisfactory develpment for each is acheved by:7. -- exd4 8. Nxd4 0-0 9. 0-0

• 9. -- Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Re8 11. Nc3
• 9. -- Qe7 10. Nc3 Re8 11. Rfd1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 d6

8. d5 Ne7 9. Nc3 0-0 10. 0-0 a5

If 10. -- Bf5 11. Rad1 a6 then the early equalibrium is maintained by:

• 12. Nh4
• 12. -- Bd7 13. Nf3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. b4 Bf5
• 12. -- Bh7 13. Rfe1 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. a3
• 12. a4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ne1 Bxg2 15. Kxg2

11. Ne1 Nd7 12. Nd3 f5

If 12. -- b6 13. b3 Ba6 then:

• 14. Rab1 14. -- f5 15. a3 Nf6 16. f4 e4 17. Nf2 b5 and White has an advantage in space.
• 14. e4
• 14. -- Re8
• 15. f4 15. -- exf4 16. Qxf4 Nf6 and Black's pieces are better placed, giving him a very small edge.
• 15. f3 a4 16. Nxa4 Bxc4 17. bxc4 Rxa4 18. Nb2 Ra3 and Rook commands open lines, giveing Black a slight advatage.
• 14. -- a4 15. Nb5 axb3 16. axb3 Nc5 17. Nxc5 bxc5 with an equal game.

13. f4 e4 14. Ne1 Nb6

If 14. -- Nc5 in order to occupy the hole, 15. b3 then:

• 15. -- c6 16. Nc2
• 16. -- b5 17. dxc6 bxc4 18. bxc4 Ra6 19. Nb5 gives White the initiatve.
• 16. -- cxd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5+ Be6 19. Qd4 put White's Queen in the center where she will be hard to dislodge.
• 15. -- g6 16. Rd1 the pawn chain will assure White a small spatial advatage in the following:
• 16. -- b6 17. Nc2
• 17. -- Bb7 18. Nd4 Qc8 19. Qe3
• 17. -- Ba6 18. Nd4 Qd7 19. Rfe1
• 16. -- Re8 17. Nc2 Qd7 18. Nd4 b6 19. Rfe1

15. b3 c6 16. Nc2 cxd5 17. cxd5 Bd7

If 17. -- a4 18. Ne3 g6 19. b4 then:

• 19. -- Bd7 20. Rac1 Rc8
• 21. Nb1
• 21. -- Bb5 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Qd4 and the centralized Queen will give White the initiative.
• 21. -- Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bb5 23. a3 and White commands more open lines.
• 21. Qd4 Na8 22. Rc2 Qb6 and White must decide whether to retreat his attacked Queen (23. Qd2, still covering the Knight at e3), cover the Queen (23. Rd1) or exchange the attacker (23. Qxb6 Nxb6).
• 19. -- Re8 20. Rfc1 Bd7 21. Qd4 Nbc8 22. Rc2 and White's centralized Quenn gives him a small plus.

18. Rac1 Kh7 19. Ne3 Ng8 20. g4 g6

If 20. -- fxg4 21. Nxe4 then White wins a pawn:

• 21. -- Qb8 22. Qc2 Kh8 23. Qc7 Qa7 24. Kh1 Nf6 25. Nxd6
• 21. -- Nc8 22. Qc2 Kh8 23. Qc7 Qe7 24. Nc4 b5 25. Ncxd6

21. gxf5 gxf5 22. Qd4 Ne7?

He moves the right piece, but to the wrong place.

Correct is 22 -- Nf6!, although the path to safety is full of dangers.

If 22. -- Nf6 23. Bh3 then:

• 23. -- Nh5 24. Kh1
• 24. -- Rf7! 25. a3 Qh4 26. Qxb6 Qxh3 with an equal game.
• 24. -- Ra6? 25. Nxe4! fxe4 26. Qxe4+ Kh8 27. Qg6 and White has a strong attack on the Black King.
• 23. -- Nc8 24. Bxf5+ Bxf5 25. Nxf5 and Black's best is to offer to exchange Queens with 25. -- Qb6, not a particularly palatable decision when one is a pawn down.

23. Kh1 Ng6 24. Rg1 Rf6

Black is doomed:

• 24. -- Nc8 25. Nxe4 fxe4 26. Bxe4 Nce7 27. Bxg6+ Nxg6 28. Rxg6 Kxg6 29. Rg1+ and Black can resign.
• 24. -- Re8 25. Bh3 Re7 26. Rxg6 Kxg6 27. Rg1+ Kh7 28. Nxf5 and White wins easily.
• 24. -- Rf7 25. Nxe4 fxe4 26. Bxe4 Rf6 27. Rxg6 and White will soon deliver mate.
• 24. -- Be8 25. Bh3 Ne7 26. Qg7# won't do for obvious reasons.

Black: Fabien Libiszewski
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White: Vincent Colin
Position after Black's 24th move

25. Nxe4!!

The sacrifice puts the game in the bag.

Other moves don't work: if 25. Rcf1 Rf7 26. a3 then:

• 26. -- Rc8 27. Bh3 Qc7 with equality.
• 26. -- a4 27. b4 Rc8 28. Nb1 and the game is level.

25. -- fxe4 26. Bxe4 Be8 27. Rc7+ Nd7

27. -- Qxc7 28. Qxf6 Qg7 29. Bxg6+ Bxg6 30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. f5 Re8 32. Rxg6+ and the Rook will go to e6, ending all resistance.

28. Ng4 Rf8 29. Rxd7+! Bxd7

If 29. -- Qxd7 30. Nf6+ Rxf6 31. Qxf6 then:

• 31. -- Qg7 32. Qe6 Bf7 33. Bxg6+ 34. Rxg6 Bxe6 35. Rxe6 and, three pawns up, White has an easily won Rook and pawn ending.
• 31. -- Qf7 32. Bxg6+ Qxg6 33. Rxg6 Bxg6 34. f5 Bh4 35. Qxd6 and White wins easily.

30. Bxg6+! Kxg6

30. -- Kg8 31. Nxh6#

31. Nxh6+ Kh5

31. -- Kxh6 32. Qg7+ Kh5 33. Qh7#

32. Qg7 Qf6

32. -- Rf6 33. Qg5#

33. Rg5+ Kh4 34. Qxd7 1-0

34.-- Qxh6 35. Qg4# M. Libiszewski resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Fontaine - Lautier, French Championships, Besançon

Robert Fontaine, up to now a minor French grandmaster, finished third in the French Championships.

He helped his cause in the fourth round by defeating top seeded Joel Lautier.



Robert Fontaine
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Robert Fontaine vs. Joel Lautier
French Championships, Round 4
Besançon, August 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Fianchetto Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Bg2 Nbd7 9. 0-0 Rc8 10. Bd2 Nb6 11. Nd5!?

This is interesting and perhaps dubious. White invites Black to take the Knight in such a way that White will have to recapture with his pawn. Normally, in a Boleslavsky-type Sicilian (one featuring the move -- e7e5), White will want to occupy d5 with a piece.

White would be satisified with positions resulting from the more conventional 11. f4, for example: if 11. f4 then:

• 11. -- Be7 12. f5 Bd7 13. Bc1 0-0 14. Qd3 Na4 15. Nxa4 Bxa4 16. c4 with equality.
• 11. -- Nc4 12. f5 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bc4 14. Rfe1 Qc7 15. Bf1 Bxb3 16. axb3 and White has an advatage in space.

On the other hand, it more than likely that what White wanted to do was throw Black off balance.

11. -- Bxd5 12. exd5 Nc4

If 12. -- Nbxd5?! 13. Bg5 then:

• 13. -- Nb4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Bxb7 Rc7 16. Be4 d5 17. Bf5 and White has a strong game owing to his superior pawn structure and King safety.
• 13. -- Be7 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Bxb7 Rb8 16. Bxa6 Qb6 17. Qe2 and White has an extra pawn and better-placed pieces; he also has a safer King, but Black can castle immediately, and should.

13. Bc3 Qb6?!

If 13. -- Be7 14. Qd3 0-0 15. Rae1 then:

• 15. -- b5
• 16. a3 Re8 17. Re2
• 17. -- Qc7 18. Rfe1 a5 19. Bh3 Rb8 20. Nd2 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 and White has a little better command of open lines than Black.
• 17. -- a5 18. Nd2 Nd7 19. Nxc4 Rxc4 20. b3 Rc8 21. Bh3 gives White a strong game in terms of command of open lines; the difference between this position and the one in the red line is that Black is far better off there than here.
• 16. Nd2 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Rc4 18. b3 and White's pieces have more mibility.
• 15. -- Re8 16. Re2 b6 17. Rfe1 Nd7 18. Nd2 Nxd2 19. Bxd2 Nc5 20. Qf5 and White's piece are more mobile.

14. a4!

14. Re1 Be7 15. Qf3 0-0 16. Re2 Qb5 17. Rae1 Rc7 18. Qd3 and White will withstand Black's queenside pressure.

14. -- Be7 15. a5 Qb5 16. Qd3

16. Re1 0-0 17. Qd3 Nd7 18. Be4 g6 offers equal chances. Black has pressure on the queenside; White has succeeded in prompting a weakness in Black's castle walls.

16. -- 0-0 17. Rfd1

If 17. f4?! Nd7 18. Rae1 Bf6 then:

• 19. Bh3 Nc5 20. Qe2 Rce8 21. Nd2 Nxd2 22. Qxb5 axb5 21. Bxd2 +=
• 19. Be4 g6 20. fxe5 Ndxe5 21. Qe2 Bg7 with eqaulity.

17. -- Rc7 18. Nc1 e4 19. Qd4 Ne5 20. Qa4 Rc5?

Removing the Rook from the protection of Black's second rank proves fatal.

If 20. -- Nf3+ then:

• 21. Kh1 Rc5
• 22. Nb3 Rxd5 23. Qxb5 Rxb5 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rxd6 Bxb2 and Black has an extra pawn, better pawn structure and more active pieces.
• 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qxe4 Nd2 24. Rxd2 Re8 25. Qxe8+ Qxe8 26. Re2 Qb5 and Black has more active pieces.
• 21. Bxf3 21. -- exf3 22. Qxb5 axb5
• 23. Na2 Re8 24. Rd3 Bd8 25. Nb4 with equal chances.
• 23. Ra3 Re8 24. b4 Rc4 25. Rd3 Bd8 and Black's pieces are more active.

21. Bxe4 Nc4

If 21. -- Nxe4 22. Qxe4 f5 23. Qg2 then:

• 23. -- f4 24. gxf4
• 24. -- Ng6 25. Nb3 Rxc3 26. bxc3 Nxf4 +/-
• 24. -- Rxf4 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Nd3 +/-
• 23. -- Rcc8 24. Nb3 Qe2 25. Nd4 Qh5 26. Ne6 Rf6 +-

22. Qxb5!

White neatly decoys the Rook into a closed file.

If now 22. -- axb5 23. Bf3 Rc7 24. Nd3 then:

• 24. -- Nd7 25. Re1 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Nxf6 27. Bg2 and White's pieces are active.
• 24. -- Re8 25. Re1 Kf8
• 26. Bb4 Rd8 27. Bg2 Ne5 28. a6 and White threatens to skewer a Rook with 29. Ba5.
• 26. Re2 Bd8 27. Rae1 White has firmer control of open lines.

22. -- Rxb5 23. Bf3 Nxb2

If 23. -- Rc5 24. Nd3 then:

• 24. -- Rcc8 25. Re1
• 25. -- Bd8 26. h4 +-
• 25. -- Rfe8 26. Ra2 Ne5 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. Rxe5 Nd7 29. Re3 +-
• 24. -- Rc7 25. Re1 Re8 26. Re2 Bf8 27. Rxe8 Nxe8 28. Re1 Be7 29. Bb4 +-

Black: Joel Lautier
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White: Robert Fontaine
Position after Black's 23rd move

24. Re1!

And now White expoits the fact that, as a result of Black's Rook sortie (move 20) and White's decoy of the wayward wagon (move 22), the Bishop is hanging.

24. -- Bd8 25. Be2

White would throw away his victory with 25. Nb3 Nd3 26. Re2 Nd7 27. Be4 N3e5 and now:

• 28. f4 Ng4
• 29. Bg2 Bf6 30. Bxf6 Ndxf6 and White's advantage is in a more active Rook commanding the e-file.
• 29. Rd1 Ngf6 30. Bh1 Bc7 31. Re7 and the Rook on the seventh has no scope.
• 28. Rae1 Nf6 29. Bg2 Nc4 30. Rd1 Nxa5 with equality.

25. -- Nxd5

Black must give up the exchange as 25. -- Rxd5 simply drops a piece: 26. Nb3 Ne4 27. Bxb2.

26. Bxb5 Nxc3 27. Bf1 Bf6 28. Ra3 Nba4

28. -- Nb1 29. Ra2 Nd2 30. Bg2 h5 31. Nb3 and White take aim at Black's queenside pawns.

29. Nd3 Rc8

29. -- Rb8 30. Bg2 Kf8 31. h4 g6 32. Kf1 h5 33. Rb3 and White threatens the b-pawn.

30. Bg2 d5

30. -- b5 31. axb6 Nxb6 32. Rxa6 Bd4 33. Ra7 g6 34. Rb7 Ncd5 35. Re4 and White can win by simply trading down.

31. Bxd5 Nxd5

If 31. -- Nc5 32. Bg2 Nb5 33. Ra2 Bc3 then:

• 34. Rd1 Rd8 35. Kf1 Bb4 36. Raa1 Nc3 37. Re1 Nxd3 38. cxd3 and White remains an exchange up.
• 34. Rb1 Nxd3 35. cxd3 Rc7 36. h4 Kf8 37. Kf1 and White still has the exchange.

32. Rxa4 g6 33. c4 Nc3

33. -- Ne7 34. Rb1 Rc7 35. Rab4 Nc6 Rxb7 Rxb7 27. Rxb7 leaves White a pawn and an exchange to the good.

34. Rb4 Rd8 35. Nc5 Rd4

35. -- Bd4 36. Nb3 Bf6 37. Rxb7 Rc8 38. c5 Na4 39. Ra7 Bb2 40. Rxa6 Nxc5 and White's a-pawn begins to loom.

36. Rxb7 Rxc4

36. -- Rd2 37. Re8+ Kg7 38. Ne6+ Kh6 39. Rxf7 and Black's Bishop has no good flight squares.

37. Re8+ Kg7 38. Ne6+ Kh6 39. Rxf7 1-0

Black has only a minor piece for a Rook and a pawn. M. Lautier resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Mekka - Danielian, Acropolis Open, Athens

Elina Danielian, an aggressive master from Armenia, finished second in the women's event at the Acropolis Open in Athens last month.



Elina Danielian
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


To view this game:

• start by clicking here
• Click in the box to the lower right of the chess board on the selction that says "2. Women's Tournament" and wait for the list to load (I find this relatively slow)
• The very top of the game list that loads is "1. Mekka, Ioulia - Danielian, Elina: 0-1". That is this game; select that and enjoy.

Editorial comment: I really wish that ChessGames, ChessBase, TWIC, etc., would put the women's events on a more equal footing than they do.

Ioulia Mekka vs. Elina Danielian
Acropolis Open, Round 1
Athens, August 2006

Closed Sicilian Game: King's Indian Attack (Chigorin Variation)

1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5

In the late nineteenth cetury, Chigorin developed this eccentric counter to the French Defense; until recently, it was usually always classified as a French.

However, the most common reply to Chigorin's 2. Qe2 is 2. -- c5. In more recent times it has become customary to call this opening a Sicilian.

3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. d3 Nf6 6. g3 Be7 7. e5 Nd7 8. h4?!

The premature advance on the king's flank is not recommended. Operations on the wings should wait until the center is resolved.

8. Bg2 Qc7 9. Bf4 b6 10. 0-0 Ba6 is level.

8. -- b5

8. -- Qb6 9. Bg2 0-0 10. 0-0 Qa6 11. Re1 b5 is equal.

9. Bf4 a5

The position in the game shows that Black plans to take up space on the queen's wing.

Black could also gain an advantage in space with 9. -- d4 10. cxd4 Bb7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nc3 0-0.

10. Bg2 Ba6 11. Nbd2 a4 12. b3

Black now has that small advatage in space. White's last move is intended to challenge it.

If 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. hxg5 then:

• 13. -- Qc7 14. g6 fxg6 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. f4 Bb7 17. Rc1 a3 18. b3 b4 and Black has a spatial plus on the queenside; White might do well to play 19. c4 in an effort to keep the queenside closed.
• 13. -- b4 14. c4 Qe7 15. Rh4 Rd8 16. 0-0-0 Nd4 17. Nxd4 cxd4 with chances for both sides.

12. -- b4 13. c4 Nb6 14. Nf1?

This move removes the Knight from the center and takes it further away from the theater of action.

Better is 14. Bg5 0-0 15. 0-0 Qd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. bxa4 Nxa4. Black still has the advantage, but nothing like the strong position she enjoys by the 17th move of the text.

14. -- Bb7 15. Rd1 axb3 16. axb3 Ra3!

Black's spatial advantage has resulted in her command of the open a-file.

If now White plays 17. Qc2. then 18. -- Qa8 18. Rb1 Ra2 19. Qd1 dxc4 20. bxc4 Na4 has White threatening to win an exchange or advance the b-pawn with a timely -- Nc3.

17. N1d2 Qa8 18. 0-0 0-0 19. Qe1

If 19. Kh2 Ra2 then:

• 20. Rfe1 Qa3 21. Rc1 Ra8 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Nxg5 h6 24. Ngf3 Na5 gives White a strong edge with her pentration on the a-file.
• 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. Nxg5 Nd4 22. Qe3 h6 23. Ngf3 dxc4 and White opens the long diagonal for attack.

19. -- dxc4!

Black opens another line for attack.

20. dxc4 Nd4 21. Qe3

If 21. Nxd4 then 21. -- Bxg2 22. Ne2 Qc6 23. Be3 Bxf1 24. Qxf1 Nd7 and Black is fighting to nail down the loose boards in her position.

21. -- Nxc4 22. Nxc4

Black: Elina Danielian
!""""""""#
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White: Ioulia Mekka
Position after White's 22nd move

22. -- Bxf3!

23. Rxd4 Bxg2 24. Rdd1 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 Ra1 26. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 27. Kh2 Rd8 also wins, but the exchange sacrifice wins faster and with pizzazz.

23. Nxa3 Bxg2 24. Nc4

The net result of the sacrifice is that Black has won a piece.

If 24. f3 Bxf1 25. Nb1 Bb5 -+ 26. Nd2 Rd8 27. Kf2 Qa2 then Black remains a Bishop to the good.

24. -- Nf3+ 25. Kxg2

The alternative line, 25. Qxf3 Qxf3 26. Nd2 Qc6, speaks for itself. Ms. Mekka graciously allows Ms. Danielian a pretty finish.

25. -- Nxh4+ 26. Kh3 Qg2+ 27. Kg4 h5+ 28. Kxh5 Qh3 29. Rh1 g6+ 30. 0-1

30. Kh6 Nf5#

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Mchedishvili - Mamedyarov, Open Rapid Tournament, Mainz

Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan both finished with 7 out of nine in the rapid tournament at the Mainz Chess Festival. Kasidzhanov was awarded first prize on the basis of tie-break points and will play Vishy Anand in the annual rapid chess world championship at next year's festival.



Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Photo: Website of the 2005 Abu Dhabi Open

Mikhael Mchedlishvili vs. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Rapid Chess Tournament, Round 7
Mainz, August 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. a4

More usual is 9. Be3 0-0 10. f4 exf4 11. Rxf4 Nc6 12. Qd2.

9. -- Nbd7 10. Be3 0-0 11. Qd2

Also playable is 11. f3 Qc7 12. Re1 Rac8 13. Bd3 Qc6 14. Nc1 d5.

11. -- Qc7 12. Rfd1

If 12. f4 Rac8 then a satisfactory game results from:

• 13. Rac1 Qc6
• 14. Bd3 14. -- Bd8 15. Kh1 Bb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Nd5
• 14. Bf3 exf4 15. Bxf4 Bxb3 16. cxb3 Qb6+
• 13. Rad1 13. -- Bxb3 14. cxb3 Nc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 16. Kh1

12. -- Rac8 13. a5 Rfd8

If 13. -- Bxb3 14. cxb3 Nc5 then:

• 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Nd5 Nxd5
• 17. exd5 17. -- Bd6 is adventageous for Black in terms of pawn structure; White has some compensation in space.
• 17. Qxd5 Rfd8 18. Qc4 Rd4 and Black, with superior pawn structure and for the moment a centralized Rook, is better.
• 15. Bc4 Ncxe4 16. Qe2 Nc5 17. Qf3 Qc6 =+

The position on the board is even.

14. Bf3 h6 15. Nc1 b6

If 15. -- Re8 16. N1e2 Qc6 17. Ng3 Ng4 then:

• 18. Nf5 18. -- Nxe3 19. Nxe3 Bg5 20. Qxd6 and White has an extra pawn.
• 18. Bxg4 Bxg4 19. f3 Be6 with chances for both sides.

16. axb6 Nxb6 17. N1e2

If 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 then:

• 18. Nd3 Bc4
• 19. Na4 Qb7 20. Nc3 Rc7 21. Ra4 with equal chances.
• 19. Ne1 Be6 20. b3 Rc7 21. Qd3 Bc8 and both sides have their vital points covered.
• 18. b3 Nd7 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Bf6 and voth sides have their positions defended.

17. -- Nc4 18. Qc1 g5

• If 18. -- Qb7 then:
• 19. Rb1 Rc6
• 20. Ng3 Ng4 21. Bxg4 Bxg4 22. f3 Be6 23. Nf1 Rb8 with even chances.
• 20. Bd2 Rdc8 21. Be1 Nh7 22. b3 Nb6 23. Ra1 Nd7 and Black has command of the c-file and the d8h4 diagonal.
• 19. b3 19. -- Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Rc6
• 21. Rd3 Nd7 22. Bh5 Bg5 23. Qg3 Nf6 24. Bf3 Rdc8 and Black commands the c-file and the c1f6 diagonal.
• 21. Ng3 Rdc8 22. Rd3 Ng4 23. Qe1 Nf6 and Black commands the b- and c-files.
• else if 18. -- Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Qb7 20. Rab1
• 20. -- Nd7 21. Ng3 Nb6 22. Qe2 Nc4 23. Rd3 Rc5 with equal chances.
• 20. -- Rc6 21. Ng3 Rdc8 22. Nf5 Bf8 23. Ng3 with equal chances.

19. g3?!

White should take the pawn at a6.

If 19. Rxa6 then:

• 19. -- Ra8 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ng3
• 21. -- Rb8 22. b3 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Rc8 24. Rd3 Ra8 25. Be2 and White remains a pawn up.
• 21. -- Rc8 22. Bd2 Qc6 23. Nd5 Qb7 24. Nxe7+ and White keeps his extra pawn.
• 19. -- Qb7? 20. Ra7 Qxb2 21. Rxe7 g4 22. Bxg4 Nxg4 23. Bxh6 Nxh6 24. Qxh6 and White has two extra pawns plus an irresistable attack.

Black: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
!""""""""#
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White: Mikhael Mchedlishvili
Position after White's 19th move

19. -- Ng4!

This threatens to exchange one of White's most active pieces.

20. Rxa6?

Now there is no time for this. White should preserve his Bishop with 20. Bxg4! Bxg4 21. Rxa6 Bxe2 22. Nxe2 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxc2 and a level game with chances for both.

20. -- Ngxe3 21. fxe3 Qb7! 22. Ra1

If 22. Ra2 g4 23. Bg2 Bg5 then:

• 24. Nf4 Nxe3 25. Nxe6 fxe6 wins at least the exchange.
• 24. Rd3 Nxe3 25. h4 gxh3 26. Bxh3 Qb6 and the threatened discovered check is deadly.

22. -- g4 23. Bg2 Bg5 24. Rd3 Nxb2 25. Qb1 Rb8 26. 0-1

If 26. Nd1 then:
• 26. -- Bc4
• 27. Nc1 Bxd3 28. Nxd3 Nc4 29. Qxb7 Rxb7 30. Kf2 h5 and Black will double his Rooks on the b-file and penetrate White's position.
• 27. Rb3 Bxb3 28. Qxb2 Bd5 29. Qxb7 Bxb7 30. Kf2 Ra8 31. Rb1 Rdb8 and Black threatens to win a second exchange.
• 26. -- Nxd3 27. Qxb7 Rxb7 28. cxd3 Rdb8 29. Kf2 Rb1 30. Rxb1 Rxb1 and Black is an exchange up with greater piece activity.
• else if 26. Qc1 Nxd3 27. cxd3 Qb2 and Black will be an exchange up after the exchange of Queens.

Mchedlishvili resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Aleksandrov - Kasimdzhanov, Open Rapid Tournament, Mainz

Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan both finished with 7 out of nine in the rapid tournament at the Mainz Chess Festival. Kasidzhanov was awarded first prize on the basis of tie-break points and will play Vishy Anand in the annual rapid chess world championship at next year's festival.




Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Photo: Official website of the Frankfurt West (Germany)

Aleksei Aleksandrov vs. Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Rapid Chess Tournament, Round 9
Mainz, August 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. 0-0 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Qe7

If 8. -- cxd4 9. Nxd4 then and satisfactory game for both players is reached by:

• 9. -- e5 10. Ndb5 Qe7 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Rd8 13. Qf3
• 9. -- Qe7 10. Qb3 Rd8
• 11. Rd1 Bc5 12. Qc2
• 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Rd8 13. Qc2

9. a3 Ba5 10. Qe2 Rd8

10. -- cxd4 11. Nxd4 e5 12. Nc2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Bb2 and Black has a good command of diagonals leading to White's queenside.

11. Rd1 Nc6 12. h3

12. dxc5 Bxc3 13. Rxd8+ Nxd8 14. bxc3 Qxc5 15. Rb1 is balanced.

12. -- a6 13. d5 Bxc3 14. dxc6 Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Ba5 16. Qa4 Bc7 17. Bd2

If 17. b3 Rb8

• 18. Bd3 b5 19. Qh4
• 19. -- Qd6 20. Bc2 c4 21. Bb2 cxb3 22. Bxb3 and White has a clear advatage in that his Bishops and Queen pressure Black's kingside.
• 19. -- Qd8 20. Bc2 Qe8 21. Bb2 e5 22. Rd1 and White has command of the d-file and ath a1h8 and b1a7 diagonals.
• 18. cxb7 Bxb7 19. Bb2 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qd6 21. f4 and the position is even.

17. -- Nd5 18. cxb7 Bxb7 19. Be2

If 19. Ba5 Nb6

• 20. Bxb6 20. -- Bxb6 21. Be2 Qf6 22. Rb1 Bd5 and the position is level.
• 20. Qc2? Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nxc4 22. Bxc7 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Qxc7 and Black's more active Queen give him the advantage in the endgame.

19. -- Nf6 20. Ba5 Bd6 21. Nd2 Rf8 22. Rc1 h6

If 22. -- Rc8 23. b3

• 23. -- Bc6 24. Qh4 Rb8 25. Rd1 Nd5 26. Qxe7 Bxe7 27. e4 and White has a small advatage in pawn structure and space.
• 23. -- c4 24. Rxc4 Bxa3 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. b4 Qd7 27. Qxd7 Bxd7 28. Bxa6 Nd5 29. b5 and White has a powerful passed pawn.

23. Qh4 Bb8 24. Nc4 Qd7

24. -- Bd5 25. Bc3 e5 26. Nd2 Qb7 27. Bf1 Rc8 and the chances are about even.

25. Bc3 Ne4 26. Rd1

If 26. b3 Nxc3 27. Rxc3 Qc7 28. g3

• 28. -- Qc6 29. e4 Qxe4 30. Qxe4 Bxe4 and Black's pieces have more scope, but perhaps only momentarily.
• 28. -- Rd8 29. e4 Rd4 30. Bd3 with equal chances.

26. -- Qa4 27. Nd2?

This allows a pretty tactical stroke.

Correct is 27. Qg4 (threatening mate at g7) followed by:

• 27. -- Nxc3 28. bxc3 Bc7 29. e4 =
• 27. -- g6 28. Rc1 Nxc3 29. Rxc3 Qd7 =

Black: Rustam Kasimdzhanov
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White: Alexei Aleksandrov
Position after White's 27th move

27. -- Nxc3!

Taking advantage of White's miscalculation in the most elegant way.

28. Qxa4 Nxa4 29. Nc4 Bd5 30. 0-1

Black has won a piece. Aleksandrov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Wang - Nunn, Youth-Veterans Team Match, Amsterdam

This is a wild game from the Youth-Veterans team match.




Wang Hao
Photo: ChessBase.com

John Nunn vs. Wang Hao
Youth-Veterans Team Match, Round 6
Amsterdam, August 2006

Advance French Game: Winawer Defense

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Bd2

Also satisfactory at this stage is 9. Qd2 Bd7 and now:

• 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 0-0 12. 0-0 f6
• 10. Be2 Rc8 11. dxc5 Ng6
• 10. Ba3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Nf5

9. -- Bd7 10. Bb5

If 10. Be2 then:

• 10. -- f6 11. exf6 gxf6 12. 0-0 0-0-0
• 13. c4 Qc7 14. dxc5 Rhg8 15. Re1 and White has a small spatial plus.
• 13. Qc1 c4 14. Re1 e5 and Black has a small spatial plus.
• 10. -- c4 11. Qc1 0-0 12. 0-0 b6 13. Qa3 Nf5 and the position is even.

10. -- f6 11. c4 Qc7?!

This loses a pawn; however, 11. -- Qb6 12. Be3 Qb4+ 13. Bd2 Qc5 14. Be3 draws by repetition.

12. exf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. dxc5

White has won a pawn.

If 14. c4 Nf4 15. d5 exd5 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 then:

• 17. cxd5 Ne5 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Nxe5+ Qxe5+ and Black will work for a while to tie White down to the d-pawn.
• 17. Qxd5?! 0-0-0 18. Qd2 Qxd2+ 19. Nxd2 a6 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 and Black will win the g-pawn.

14. -- 0-0-0 15. 0-0 Rhg8 16. a5

16. Qe2 e5 17. c4 Nde7 18. Rfd1 Bh3 19. g3 Bg4 give Black a small advatage in piece mobility and pawn structure.

16. -- e5?

If 16. -- a6 17. Bd3 then:

• 17. -- Be8 18. Qe2 Qg7 19. g3
• 19. -- Qe7 20. Bxa6
• 20. -- bxa6 21. Qxa6+ Qb7 22. Qxb7+ Kxb7 23. Rfb1+ Kc7 with chances for both sides; Whate has three pawns for a Bishop.
• 20. -- Bh5 21. Qb5 and has two extra pawns.
• 19. -- Nce7? 20. Bxa6 Qg4 21. Bc4 and White has two extra pawns and superior piece mobility.
• 17. -- a6 17. Bd3 Nf4
• 18. Ne1 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Nd4
• 20. Rb1 Bc6 21. f4 h6 with equal chances.
• 20. Be3 Bb5 21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. Qf3 Rh4 and Black haas the initiative.
• 18. Bxf4 Qxf4 19. Qe2 Qg4 20. Ne1 Qxe2 21. Bxe2 Rg5 and Black calls the tune for the moment.
• 17. -- h5 18. Qe2
• 18. -- Rg7 19. Rfb1 Rdg8 20. g3 Nf4 21. Bxf4 and White remains a pawn up.
• 18. -- e5 19. Bxa6 Bh3 20. Nh4 Nd4 21. Qd3 bxa6 22. Qxa6 and a level position; White has three pawns for a Bishop.

17. a6!

The pawn could be a thorn in Black's side. It is best to advance it while the opportunity presents itself.

Inferior is 17. Kh1 e4 18. Ng1 and now:

• 18. -- a6 19. Bc4 Be6
• 20.Qc1 f5 21. f3 Qg7 22. Rf2 and White has a small advatage based on the pin at d5 giving him more mobility.
• 20. Qe2 f5 21. Ne5 22. Bxa6 Ng4 23. g3 bxz6 24. Qxa6+ and White has three pawns for the Bishop and a level position.
• 28. -- Bg4 19. Be2 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 f5 21. a6 b6 22. Qh5 and White has some initiiative.

Black: Wang Hao
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White: John Nunn
Position after Black's 17th move

17. -- Nc3!

This sacrifice opens the d-file favorably to Black and initiates his counterplay.

18. Bxc3 Bh3 19. axb7+ Kb8 20. g3?

White had a superior position, boarding on won, but this throws it away.

Correct is to avoid weaking his castle wall with 20. Nh4! Rxd1 21. Rfxd1 then:

• 21. -- Kxb7 22. Rd6 Ne7 Bd3 Qxc5 24. Rb1+ Kc7 25. Bb4 ands Black is forced to return the Queen for a Rook and Bishop.
• 21. -- Bg4 22. Rdb1 Nd8 23. Bc4 Be6 24. Ba5

and White remains dominant.

20. -- Rxd1 21. Rfxd1 Bg4

Black has now equalized.

22. Rd3 Rd8 23. Nd2 Kxb7

If 23. -- Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Kxb7 25. Ne4 then:

• 25. -- Qe7 26. Nd6+
• 26. -- Kc7 27. Ra6 Bf3 28. Bb5 and White has pressure on Black's position.
• 26. -- Kb8 27. Rb1+ Ka8 28. Rb7 Qxb7 29. Nxb7 Kxb7 30. Bxh7 White is two pawns up with the Bishops sweeping the board.
• 25. -- Bf3 26. Rb1+ Ka8 27. Nxf6 Qc8 with equal chances.

24. Ne4 Rxd3 25. cxd3

If 25. Bxd3 Bf3 26. Rb1+ Ka8 then:

• 27. Ra1 Nb8 28. Ba5 Qe7 29. Bb6 Nc6
• 30. Nd2 Kb8 31. Nxf3 axb6 32. cxb6 e4 with equality.
• 30. Nd6 Kb8 31. Rb1 Ka8 and a level game.
• 27. Nxf6 27. -- Qc8 28. Be4 Bxe4 29. Nxe4 and White has five pawns against Black's three.

25. -- Bf3 26. Bc4 Qd7 27. Nd2 Bd5 28. Ba6+?

Now. a few moves after he threw away a possible win, White loses.

Correct is 28. Ne4! Bxe4 29. Rb1+ Kc7 30. dxe4

• 30. -- Qg4 31. Bd5 and a probable draw.
30. -- Qe7 31. Bd5 h5 32. Kg2 and White pieces have slightly more activity.

28. -- Kc7 29. Ne4

If 29. Bc4 Bxc4 then:

• 30. dxc4 Qd3 31. Ra3 Qc2 and Black will soon be cramping White.
• 30. Nxc4 Qd5 31. Nd6 Qxc5 32. Ne4 Qf8 and Black pieces have more freedom.

29. -- Qh3 30. f3 f5 31. Nd2

If 31. Nf2 Qh5 32. g4 Qh4

• 33. Bb5 Bxf3 34. Bxc6 Kxc6 35. Bxe5 fxg4 36. d4 Qg5 37. Re1 Qd2 and, with White's pieces tied down to the King, Black will begin advancing the a-pawn.
• 33. Re1 Qe7 34. d4 Bxf3 35. Nd3 Qg5 36. dxe5 Qxg4+ 37. Kf2 Qg2+ and Black has a fine mating attack.

31. -- f4 32. gxf4 exf4 33. Rf1

If 33. Bb5 Bxf3 34. Nxf3 Qxf3

• 35. Re1 Qd5 36. d4 Qg5+ 37. Kf2 Qf5 38. Bd2 a6 and Black will win material.
• 35. Ra6 Qe3+ 36. Kf1 f3 37. Rxc6+ Kb7 38. d4 Qc1+ and White will win material.

33. -- Qf5?!

If 33. -- Qh5 34. Rf2 Ne5 then:

• 35. Kf1 Kc6
• 36. Ke2 Qe8 37. Nc4 Bxc4 38. dxc4 Nxc4+ and after the King moves, 39. -- Qe3 wins a piece.
• 36. Bc4 Bxc4 37. dxc4 Kxc5 38. Bxe5 Qxe5 and Black's centralized Queen will respond to any contingency.
• 35. Ba5+ Kd7 36. Bb5+ Bc6 37. Bxc6+ Kxc6 38. d4 Nd3 and Black will begin to pick up pawns.

34. Kg2 h5 35. Rb1

If 35. Rg1 then:

• 35. -- Qe6 36. Kf1 Qe3 37. Rg7+ Ne7 38. Rh7 Bxf3 39. Rxe7+ Qxe7 40. Nxf3 Qxc5 and Black's Queen is stronger than White's three uncoordinated minor pieces.
• 35. -- Qg4+ 36. Kf1 Qh3+ 37. Kf2 Qxh2+ 38. Rg2 Qh4+ 39. Ke2 Qh3 -/+

35. -- Ne5 36. Ne4 Qg6+

36. -- Bxe4 37. dxe4 Qg5+ 38. Kf2 Nd3+ 39. Bxd3 Qxc5+ 40. Kf1 Qxc3 and Black will begin advancing the a-pawn.

37. Kf2 Ng4+ 38. fxg4 Qxa6 39. Nf6

39. Rd1 Qa4 40. Be5+ Kc6 41. Rd2 Bxe4 42. dxe4 hxg4 43. Bxf4 Qxe4 and Black will pick off more material.

39. -- Qxd3 40. Be5+ Kc6 41. 0-1

• If 41. Nxd5 Qc2+ 42. Kf3 Kxd5 43. Re1 hxg4+ 44. Kxg4 Qd2wins a piece.
• 41. Bxf4 Qf3+ 42. Ke1 Bc4 43. Kd2 Qxf4+ winning the Knight.

Dr. Nunn resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Leko - Karpov, Rapid Match, Miskolc (Hungary)

Peter Leko and Anatoly Karpov in Miskolc
Photo: ChessBase.com

Peter Leko vs. Anatoly Karpov
Rapid Chess Match, Round 5
Miskolc, Hungary, September 2006

Open Queen's Gambit: Hastings Four Knights' Opening (Traditional Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. 0-0 a6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 0-0 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Nd5 13. Qf3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qc7 15. Bf4!?

15. c4 Bd6 16. c5 Be7 17. Bf4 Qd7 and White has more space (Kasparov-Spangenberg, simulx, Buenos Aires, 1997).

If 15. c4 then:

• 15. -- Bd7 16. Bf4 Qc6
• 17. d5 exd5 18. cxd5 Qg6
• 19. Qg3 Qxg3 20. Bxg3 and White's d-pawn gives him more space; Black needs to activate his Rooks.
• 19. Rdc1 Rac8 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. d6 Bf6 22. Re1 and the game is equal as Black's pieces are more active than in the red line.
• 17. Qg3 17. -- Rac8 18. Be5 f6 19. d5 Qc5 20. Bf4 and White has a strong game owing to his control of open lines and his space advantage.
• 15. -- Bf6?!
• 16. Rb1
• 16. -- Rd8 17. Bf4 Qc6
• 18. Qxc6 bxc6 and White has a strong game with his spatial plus and command opf open lines.
• 18. d5 exd5 19. cxd5 Qd7 20. d6 and White has a clear advantage in space.
• 16. -- e5 17. d5 Rd8 18. Bb2 b6 19. d6 Qb7 20. Qh5 gives White a small plus in space and open lines; Black must be careful.
• 16. Bf4 Qc6 17. d5 exd5 18. cxd5 Qd7 19. Rac1 and White has a small plus in space.

15. -- Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. c4 Rb8 18. Rac1 Bd7

18. -- b6 19. c5 bxc5 20. dxc5 Qc7 and White has a small advatage from his command of open lines.

19. c5 Qc7 20. d5

The position is balanced.

20. Bc2 Bc6 21. Qd3 g6 22. Rb1 b5 23. cxb6 Rxb6 gives Black firmer control of the diagonals leading the to White King than White has of any open lines.


20. -- exd5 21. Bxd5 h6 22. g3

22. Rd3 Bc6 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Qxc6 bxc6 and the position is drawish.

22. -- a5 23. h4

If 23. Rc4 Be6 then:

• 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qe3 e5
• 26. Re4 Rf5 27. Rd5
• 27. -- Rbf8 28. Rexe5 Rxf2 29. Qxf2 Rxf2 30. Kxf2 and White has a very slight advantage with the centralized Rooks.
• 27. -- Re8 28. f4 Rd8 29. Rexe5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ and, after taking the Rook, White will have an extra pawn and the more active Queen.
• 26. Rd6 Rf5 27. Rg4 Rbf8 28. Qxh6 Rxf2 29. Qe6+ and White has slightly better placed pieces; Black will have to be careful.
• 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Rbc8 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28. Rd7 Rxc5 and Black's extra pawn gives him and endgame edge.

23. -- Qc8 24. Rd4

If 24. Re1 Be6 25. Bxe6 fxe6 then:

• 26. Qc3 Ra8 27. c6 Ra6 28. c7 Rc6 and Black has an equal game.
• 26. Qe4 Rf6 27. c6 Qc7 28. Rb1 bxc6 29. Rxb8+ Qxb8 and Black has an extra pawn.

24. -- Be6 25. a3 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Rd8

If 26. -- Qc6 27. Qd3 Rfe8 28. Rd6 Qc8 then:

• 29. Qb5 Qf5 30. Rcd1 Re5 with a balanced position.
• 29. c6 bxc6 30. Rdxc6 Re1+ 31. Rxe1 Qxc6 and a level game.

27. Rxd8+ Qxd8 28. Rb1 Qc7

28. -- b5 29. cxb6 Rxb6 30. Rxb6 Qxb6 yields a level game.

29. Rb5 a4 30. Qe4 Kh8?

If 30. -- Rc8 31. Qxa4 Qc6 32. Qa5 Qd5 33. Qb4 Qd1+ then:

• 34. Kg2 Qd5+ 35. Kg1 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 znd White is better because of his extra pawn and his attack on b7.
• 34. Kh2?! Qf1 35. Qb2 Re8 36. Rxb7 Re1 37. Rb8+ Kh7 and Black has the initiative.

31. Qxa4 31. -- Qc6

31. -- Rd8 32. Rb1 Rd7 33. Re1 Re7 34. Rxe7 Qxe7 35. Qd4 give White an extra pawn and a radiant, centralized Queen.

32. Ra5

32. Rb4 Qxc5 33. Rxb7 Rxb7 34. Qa8+ Kh7 35. Qxb7 Qxa3 36. Qxf7 give White an extra pawn and a menacing Queen; he has a winning edge.

32. -- Qd5 33. Ra8 Rxa8 34. Qxa8+ Kh7 35. Qa5?

If 35. Qe8 Qxc5 36. Qxf7 Qxa3 37. Qxb7 then:

• 37. -- Kg6 38. Qe4+ Kf7 White's extra pawn assures him of the advantage.
• 37. -- Kg8 38. Qd5+ Kf8 39. Kg2 Qe7 40. h5 and White has an extra pawn and a spatial plus.
• 37. -- h5 38. Kg2 Qd6 39. Qe4+ g6 40. f4 Qd1 41. Kf2 Kg7 42. Qe7+ Kg8 43. Qe8+ Kg7 44. Qe2 Qd4+ 45. Qe3 Qc4 46. Qe7+ White has an extra pawn and the initiative.

Black: Anatoly Karpov
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White: Peter Leko
Position after White's 35th move

35. -- Qd1+!

The draw is assured.

36. Kg2 Qd5+ 37. Kf1

If 37. f3 Qa2+ 38. Kf1 then:

• 38. -- Qb1+ 39. Ke2 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qc1+ 41. Kf2 Qc2+
• 42. Kf1 Qd3+
• 43. Kf2 Qc2+ and a probable draw.
• 43. Kg2? Qe2+ 44. Kh3 Qxf3 and Black wins a pawn; he has a strong ending with White's Queen caught away from the action.
• 42. Ke3 Qb3+ 43. Kf4 Qc4+ 44. Ke3 Qb3+ 45. Ke2 and a probable draw.
• 38. -- f5? 39. Qc3 g6 40. Qd3 and White is now in a position to use his extra pawn to advantage.

37. -- Qd3+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Qd4!

Black centralizes his Queen to prepare for all contingencies.

If 39. -- Qf1 40. Qd2 then:

• 40. -- g5 41. h5 g4 42. Qc2+ Kg8 43. Qf5 Qc4 44. Kg1 Qc1+ 45. Kg2 Qc4 46. a4
• 46. -- Qxa4 47. Qc8+ Kg7 48. Qxb7 Qd4 49. c6 Qe4+ and a likely draw.
• 46. -- Kg7 is not as good as the red line: 47. a5 Qb4 48. a6 bxa6 49. c6 Qc4 50. Qe5+ Kh7 51. c7 and White has chances, but it isn't a done deal yet.
• 40. -- Qc4? 41. Qe3 Qd5 42. f3 Kg6
• 43. Kg2 43. -- Kf6 44. Qc3+ Qe5 45. Qc4 g6 46. a4 h5 47. c6 bxc6 48. Qxc6+ and with his passed pawn, White has a likely win.


• 43. a4 f5
• 44. Kg2 Kf6 45. h5 Qa2+ 46. Qf2
• 46. -- Qd5 47. Qb2+ Kf7 and White should win.
• 46. -- Qxf2+ 47. Kxf2 Ke6 48. Ke3 Ke5 49. c6 bxc6 50. a5 f4+ 51. gxf4+ Kd6 52. Kd4 and White has an easily won King and pawn ending.


• 44. g4?! fxg4
• 45. fxg4 Kf6 46. Kh3 g5 47. Kg3 Qe5+ and the grame is a very likely draw.
• 45. Qe8+ Kf6 46. Qf8+
  • 46. -- Kg6!
  • 47. fxg4 Qd2+ 48. Kg3 Qe3+ 49. Qf3 Qxc5 40. h5+ Kh7 51. Qxb7 Qa3+ 52. Qf3 Qxa4 and a theoretical draw.
  • 47. Qe8+ Kf6 48. fxg4 Qxc5 49. Qd8+ Ke6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 and a likely draw.
  • 46. -- Qf7? 47. Qxf7+ Kxf7 48. c6!! and White will queen either his c- or a-pawn depending on how Black plays.

40. Kg2 Qd5+ 41. f3 Qa2+ 42. Kh3 Qe6+ 43. g4!

43. Kg2? Qe2+ 44. Kh3 Qxf3 and Black wins a pawn; he has a strong ending with White's Queen caught away from the action.

43. -- Qe3 44. Kg3 Qg1+ 45. Kf4 Qd4+ 46. Kg3

46. Kf5?? g6#

46. -- Qg1+ 47. ½-½

Leko and Karpov agree to a draw because:

• 47. Kf4 Qd4+ 48. Kg3 Qg1+ is draw by repetition.
• 47. Kh3 Qh1+ 48. Kg3 Qg1+ is the same position as the other, also repeted for the third time.

[TroubleMan]

11. Makes me want to start playing again.

I won a couple of tournaments as a Sophomore in high school, but then quit playing pretty much after that. Sports took up most of my time, and I started partying a lot in my offtime. The only time I ever played a lot since then was in jail. I'd love to take it back up though. I was once ranked up to 1900 in the mid 80's. That was pretty good back then, but I'm not sure were I'd stand now. At my current level, I'm probably only a 1300 or 1400 (if that).

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Join a chess club

I'm sure there's one in your area.

Chess is all over the Inet. It's easy to keep up on the latest international news and follow the elite grandmasters. Even better, one can watch games live. I just finished watching the Short-Gormally game from Liverpool here.

The Internet really is the medium for chess. Nothing could be more boring than watching a couple of guys play chess on television, but when you're a move come over the Net and displayed on your monitor, now that's exciting. Also, chess is a game that involves the spectator. One has to be brain dead to not think along with the players between moves or try to evaluate the position; that involves the spectator far more than a football game on the tube.