The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for January 28: The wrap up on the wild, wild Wijk

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending January 28



Image: Hard carved chess men from VJornov (Russian)

Contents

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




My apologies for being late this week. Some of the reasons are good, others not.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending January 28

Photo finishes at Wijk aan Zee



Corus A finishes in three-way tie

The category 19 Group A event at the Corus Chess Tournament in the Dutch seaside village of Wijk aan Zee ended in a three-way tie for first place among Levon Aronian, Veselin Topalov and Teimour Radjabov.

Topalov and Radjabov entered the 13th and final round Sunday tied for first place with 8 points each and scheduled to play each other. That game ended in a draw. Aronian began the round a half point behind and won his game from reigning Dutch champion Sergey Tiviakov to claim his share of first place.

Aronian will take hope the trophy on superior tiebreak points.


Table: ChessBase.de (Germany)

World champion Vladimir Kramnik won his last round game from Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely and finished a half point behind the leaders in fourth place with 8 points.


Pavel Eljanov wins Corus B

Grandmaster Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine was the survivor of the B Tournament in Wijk aan Zee that saw seldom saw the same player or group of players in first place two days in a row.

Eljanov won his last round game from Russian master Tanya Kosintseva to take a clear first place with 9 points, one point ahead of a group of four competitors tied for second: Bu Xiangzhi of China, rising Russian star Dmitry Jakovenko, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and 16-year-old French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.


Table: ChessBase.de (Germany)

As a result of his first place finish, Eljanov will play in the A Group next year.


Corus C: Krasenkow overtakes Nepomniachtchi in last round

Polish grandmaster Michal Krasenkow won his last round game from Dutch women's champion Peng Zhaoqin and overtook sixteen-year-old Russian IM Ian Nepomniachtchi to win the C Group in Wijk aan Zee.

Kasenkow finished with 10½ points out of a possible 13. Nepomniatchi, who suffered his only loss of the event in the last round to fellow Russian IM Nadya Kosintseva, finished with 10 points.


Table: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Nepomniachtchi had a clear lead from the first round through the twelfth and at one point was ahead of his nearest rival by a point and a half. His score was more than good enough to earn a norm toward a grandmaster title.

Another important norm was won by Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan, currently a women's federation master (WFM). Her 7 points was good enough for an IM norm. Ms. Hou turns 13 next month.


Six-way lead in Gibralter



Six copetitors top the 173-player field with 5 points each after six rounds at the fifth annual Gibtelecom Masters Tournament in Gibralter.

They are Vadim Milov of Switzerland, reigning Ukrainian national champion Zahar Efimenko, Dutch grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, 16-year-old Ukrainian grandmaster Yury Kuzubov, Mikhail Gurevich of Turkey and Sulskis Sarunas of Lithuania.

Mickey Adams of Britain, the world's number 9, is one of several players with 4½ points. Others include American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, Zhu Chen of Qatar, the young Ukrainian Alexander Areshchenko and Emil Sutkovsky of Israel.

The nine round Swiss system tournament concludes Thursday.



FIDE rejects Topalov's bid for rematch



The Fédération international des échecs (FIDE), the world governing chess body, has rejected the bid of Bulgarian grandmaster and former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov for a rematch with world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

Topalov's business manager, Silvio Danailov, secured a US$2 million bank guarantee for a match to be held in Sofia in April, but FIDE rejected the match on the grounds that it could not be organized and completed within six months of the start of the world championship tournament in Mexico City this fall.

Topalov lost to Kramnik in a reunification match last October in Elista, Kalmykia (Russia).


Boris Spassky born January 30, 1937


Photo: .com

Happy 70th birthday to the tenth world champion.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features of 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.

Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Teimour Radjabov - Levon Aronian, Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 8, Wijk aan Zee
Veselin Topalov - Alexei Shirov, Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 4, Wijk aan Zee
Alexander Molytov - Teimour Radjabov, Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 12, Wijk aan Zee
Irina Krush - Vladimir Akopian, Gibtelecom Masters' Tournament, Round 1 Gibralter

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Radjabov - Aronian, Corus A, Round 8, Wijk aan Zee

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com

Teimour Radjabov vs. Levon Aronian
Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 8
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

Orthodox Exchange Queen's Gambit: Ragozin Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4

• I've always been tempted to call this the Queen's Gambit Dclined: Nimzo-Indian Defense.

5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8. Be2

• If 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Qc2 c4 10. Bf5 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Nd2 g6 then:
• 13. Bxd7 Nxd7
• 14. f3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nb6 16. Rfe1 Bd7 17. Bh6 Re6 18. e4
• 18. -- Rae8 19. Re3 f5 20. Rae1 Qa4 is balanced (Mamedyarov-Bagirov, President's Cup, Baku 2005).
• After 18. -- Ba4 19. Qb2 Bc6 20. Re3 dxe4 21. fxe4 Rae8 22. Rae1 the center pawn duo gives White a slight edge.
• 14. Rae1 14. -- Nb6 15. f3 Bd7
• 16. Bh4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na4 18. Nb1 f5 19. Qf2 Qb6 20. Re2 Qc6 21. Bg3 Re6 22. Be5 Nc5 23. Qg3 draw agreed (Graf-Godena, Eur Ind Ch, Warsaw 2005).
• 16. h4 Na4 17. Ndb1 Bf8 18. e4 Nb6 19. Qd2 Bg7 is very similar to the red variation (Zhu Chen-Dreev, Grand Prix, Dubai 2002).
• 13. Bh3 Bxc3 then:
• 14. Qxc3 Qxc3 15. bxc3 Ne4 16. Nxe4
• 16. -- dxe4 17. Rfb1 Nb6 18. Bxc8 Raxc8 19. a4 Nd5 20. Rxb7 Nxc3 21. Rxa7 Nd5 22. Rc1 gives White an extra pawn and superior piece activity (Dreev-González, Santa Barbara de Casa (Spain), 1992).
• After 16. -- Rxe4? 17. Rfb1 f5 18. g3 b6 19. Bg2 Bb7 20. Bxe4 fxe4 21. Rb2 White is an exchange up with better piece activity (Arduman-Milov, Eur TCh, León 2001).
• 14. bxc3 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4
• 16. Bxd7 Bxd7 17. Bf4 Bc6
• 18. Rfb1 Qd5 19. Qb2 Re6 20. Qb4 g5 21. Bc7 Rc8 22. Qa5 Qxa5 draw agreed (Kelly-Sosonko, Zonal Trmt, Linares 1995).
• After 18. d5!? Qxd5 19. Rfd1 Qa5 20. Rd4 Rad8 21. Rad1 Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Rd8 Black is a pawn up (Jussapow-Ivanchuk, Brussels 1991).
• 16. Bh6 16. -- Nb6 17. Bxc8 Raxc8 18. f3
• After 18. -- Qf5 19. Rab1 Rc6 20. fxe4 Qxe4 21. Qf2 f6 Black will begin plans to restrain the d-pawn (W. Schmidt-Rogers, Bohemians 1990).
• 18. -- Qh5 19. Bf4 f5 20. Rab1 Re6 21. fxe4 Rxe4 22. Rb5 Rce8 23. a4 White will begin plans to mobilize the d-pawn (W. Schmidt-Botsari, Op Trmt, Dortmund 1991).

8. -- Qa5 9. 0-0 0-0

• If 9. -- Bxc3 10. bxc3 c4 11. Qc2 Ne4 12. Rfc1 then:
• After 12. -- 0-0 13. Bxc4 Nxf2 14. Bb3 Ng4 15. c4 h6 16. Bf4 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Qh5 18. Qd3 Re8 19. Rc7 Black must retreat his advanced forces for defensive purposes (Vasilevich-Gu Xiaobing, World Jr Ch, Istanbul 2005).
• 12. -- Nxg5 13. Nxg5 Nf6 14. Nf3 0-0 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Re1 Be6 17. Bf3 Rfd8 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bd5 20. f3 offers equal chances (Asmat-Sonsonko, ol, Novi Sad 1990).

10. Qc2

• If 10. dxc5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 then:
• 11. -- Ne4 then:
• 12. Qxd5 Nxc3 13. Qc4 b5 14. Qd3 Nxc5 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Rfc1 b4 17. Be7 Rfe8 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Bf1 a5 is balanced (Koneru-Carlsen, Rapid Trmt, Cap d'Agde 2006).
• 12. c4 Nxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 14. Nf3 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Nxc5 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Qf3 Rac8 18. Rfd1 b5 19. Bd5 Na4 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Rc5 22. Rd4 Qc7 offers equal chances (Zubarev-Luther, Cappelle la Grande 2006).
• 11. -- Qxc5 12. Qd4 Ne4 13. Rfc1 b6 14. Bf4 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rfd8 16. Qa4 Qe7 17. Bf1 Ndc5 18. Qd1 Rac8 is equal (Guliev-Logothetis. Eur Ind Ch, Kusadasi 2006).

10. -- Bxc3 11. bxc3 Ne4!?

• Black breaks from known theory. This is a good move that gives Black a spatial plus.
• 11. -- b6 12. Nd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Ba6 14. Nb3 Qa4 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. f3 h6 17. Bh4 Rac8 18. Qf2 Rfe8 19. Rae1 Qd3 20. Qe2 Qxe2 21. Rxe2 Nh5 is even (Brenninkmeijer-Gulko, Groningen 1990).

12. c4

• White wastes no time in undermining Black centralized Knight.
• 12. Bd3 Re8 13. c4 cxd4 14. exd4 Nxg5 15. Nxg5 g6 is equal

12. -- cxd4?!

• Black releases the tension in the center.
• Better is 12. -- Re8 overprotecting the Knight 13. Bd3 cxd4 14. exd4 then:
• 14. -- Nxg5 15. Nxg5
• 15. -- g6 16. c5 is level.
• 15. -- dxc4? 16. Bxh7+ would be a terrible mistake.
• 14. -- Ndf6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Rfe1 Bg4 is equal

13. cxd5!?

• White tries for an advanced passed pawn early in the game.
• If 13. exd4 Nb6 then:
• 14. Bd3 14. -- Nxg5 15. Nxg5 h6 16. c5 =/+
• 14. Rae1 Bf5 15. Bd2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Nxc4 -/+

13. -- Re8 14. Rad1

• White, temporarily a pawn ahead, attacks the d-pawn.
• If 14. exd4 Nb6 15. Rab1 Bd7 then:
• 16. Rfe1 Rac8 17. Qb2 Qxd5 18. Bd2 Bg4 =/+
• 16. Bd3? Rac8 17. Qb2 Qxd5 18. Bxe4 Rxe4 19. Be3 Rg4 -/+

14. -- h6 15. Bh4

• Black has gained a tempo so as not to lose the pawn.
• 15. Bf4 dxe3 16. Bxe3 Nc3 17. Rc1 Nxd5 18. Bd2 Qa3 -/+

15. -- dxe3 16. fxe3 Nc3 17. Be1?

• The pawn sacrifice proves unsound. Although for quite some time White's d-pawn will be the best-looking thing on the board, Black will easily keep it under restraint. Nimzovich would be proud.
• A better alternative is 17. Rd3 Nxd5 when:
• 18. Be1
• 18. -- Nxe3 19. Bxa5 Nxc2 20. Bd1 Nc5 21. Bxc2 Nxd3 22. Bxd3 give White a slight edge in material.
• 18. -- Qb5 19. Qd2 N5f6 20. Qc2 Ng4 21. Rc3 Qb6 22. Ng5
  • 22. -- hxg5?! 23. Bxg4
  • 23. -- Qd8 24. Bg3 Nf6 25. Bf3 Ng4 offers equal chances.
  • After 23. -- Rxe3? 24. Rxc8+ Re8+ 25. Bf2 Raxc8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Bxb6 Nxb6 28. Bxc8 Nxc8 White is clearly better.
  • 22. -- Nf8 23. Bxg4 Bxg4 gives Black majorities on both wings, but it is still going to be work to exploit them.
• 18. Qb3? Nf4 19. exf4 Rxe2 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Be6 gives Black an extra pawn and superior mobility.

17. -- Rxe3 18. Bd3

• White cuts the line of communication between the Knight and the Rook and thereby threatens the Knight.
• After 18. Bxc3 Rxc3 19. Qd2 Nf6 20. d6 Qc5+ 21. Qd4 Bg4 the struggle begins for White to puch his d-panw and Black to restrain and blockade it.

18. -- Qc5 19. Qxc3

Black: Levon Aronian
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White: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 19. Qc2c3:N

19. -- Rxe1+!

• Black uses his initiative well. White is forced to exchange Queens, bringing about simplifications that are to Black's advantage.
• If 19. -- Rxd3+ 20. Qxc5 Nxc5 21. Bf2 then:
• After 21. -- Rxd1 22. Rxd1 b6 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. Rc1 Bb7 25. Rxc5 chances are even.
• 21. -- b6 22. Ne5 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Bb7 24. d6 Rd8 gives Black pawn majorities on both wings and keeps the d-pawn under surveillence.
• Black's strategy is to "restrain-blockade-destroy" the d-pawn and then to take advantage of pawn majorties on both wings. White hope are entirely staked in his d-pawn.

20. Qxc5 Rxf1+ 21. Bxf1 Nxc5 22. Ne5 Nd7 23. Nc4 Nf6 24. Be2 Bd7 25. Bf3

• This is the passive way to defend the pawn.
• Active and better is 25. Ne5 Ba4 26. Rd4 Re8 27. Rxa4 Rxe5 28. Bf3 b6 29. d6 Re6 30. Rd4 Re8 gives Black a lesser edge; the d-pawn should be blockaded.

25. -- Rd8 26. Ne5 Bf5 27. d6

• At last the pawn advances.
• 27. Rd4 Ne8 28. h4 f6 29. Nc4 g6 30. g4 Bc8 keeps the pawn under restraint while retaining majorities on both wings.

27. -- Nd7 28. Nc4

• Exchanging pieces gains White nothing: 28. Nxd7 Rxd7 29. Kf2 Kf8 30. h4 g6 31. g4 Be6 32. Ke3 Kg7 gives Black pawn majorities on both wings, although White still has the d-pawn.

28. -- b6 29. a3

• After 29. Kf2 Be6 30. Bd5 Bxd5 31. Rxd5 Nf6 32. Rd4 b5 33. Nd2 Rd7 Black will continue to manuever against the d-pawn with -- Ne8, -- f5 and -- Kf7-e6.

29. -- Kf8 30. Kf2

• If 30. Rd4 Be6 31. Nd2 Ne5 then:
• After 32. Kf2 b5 33. Be2 Nc4 34. Nxc4 bxc4 35. Ke3 c3 the c-pawn becomes dangerous.
• 32. Be2 Nc6 33. Rd3 Na5 34. Rd4 Nb7 35. Nc4 Bxc4 36. Rxc4 Nxd6 gives Black two extra pawns and eliminates White's best hope.

30. -- Rc8 31. Ne3 Be6 32. Nd5

• Perhaps White intends 33. Nc7.
• After 32. Bd5 Bxd5 33. Rxd5 Rd8 34. Ng4 f6 35. Ne3 Kf7 36. Rd4 Ke6 Black's position deterriorates further.

Black: Levon Aronian
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White: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 32. Ne3d5

32. -- Rc2+!

• This move is actually a maneuver against White's d-pawn. The Rook can no longer come to its aid. The move also gains a tempo, preventing White from player Nc7, which would make taking the pawn more difficult.
• After 32. -- Ne5 33. Nc7 Bf5 34. Rd5 f6 35. h4 Rd8 36. Be2 Bc8 the d-pawn can make no further progress, but neither can Black's King maneuver to take it.

33. Kg3 Ne5!

• The fate of the d-pawn is now sealed. The c6 square belongs entirely to Black and the path is clear for the Black king to advance and take the pawn.

34. Nc7 Bd7

• Black continues to blockade the pawn.

35. Na6

• After 35. Nd5 Nc6 36. Be4 Rc4 37. Bf3 Ne5 38. Be2 Ra4 the a-pawn falls.

35. -- Ke8 36. Re1 f6 37. Re3 Kd8 38. Bd5 Rd2 39. Nc7 Bf5 40. Kf4 g6 41. Rc3

• If 41. Rxe5 fxe5+ 42. Kxe5 Kd7 then:
• 43. Nb5 Re2+ 44. Kf6 Bd3 45. Nd4 Re3 46. Bf7 Re4 47. Nf3 Rf4+ 48. Kg7 Kxd6 49. Bxg6 Rg4 Black wins a pawn by 50. Nh4 Rxh4 51. Bxd3 Rxh2.
• 43. h4 Rd1 44. h5 Re1+ 45. Kd4 gxh5 46. Bb7 Kxd6 gives Black the material edge.

41. -- Kd7

• The d-pawn is now in the coils of the boa.

42. Ke3 Rd3+ 43. Rxd3 Bxd3 44. Be4

• 44. Bb7 Kxd6 45. Ne8+ Kd7 46. Nxf6+ Ke6 47. Ne4 Bb5! renders the 48. c8 harmless.

Black: Levon Aronian
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White: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 44. Bd5e4

44. -- Bxe4

• Black plays for immediate simplifcation before taking the pawn.

45. Kxe4 Kxd6 46. Nb5+ Kc5 47. Nxa7 Nc4 48. a4 Nd6+ 49. Kd3

• After 49. Ke3 h5 50. Kd3 Nc4 51. Nc8 Nb2+ 52. Ke4 Nxa4 53. Ne7 b5 54. Nxg6 b4 55. Kd3 b3 the Black King move to a2 and the pawn promotes.

49. -- Kb4

• Black makes an unnecessary concession to Black by leaving his King on the offside to stop the a-pawn rather than using the Knight for this purpose and playing the King to the opposite wing to support the advance of the pawns.
• If 49. -- h5 50. Kc3 g5 51. Kb3 f5 then:
• 52. Kc3 h4 53. Kd3 f4 54. Kc3 g4 55. Kd3 g3 56. hxg3 f3 57. Ke3 fxg2 58. Kf2 h3 -+
• After 52. g3 f4 53. gxf4 gxf4 54. Kc2 Kd4 55. Kd2 f3 56. Nc6+ Ke4 57. Ke1 Nc4 White can do nothing.

50. Kd4 Nf5+ 51. Kd5 Ne3+ 52. Ke6 f5 53. Nc8

• If 53. Kf6 Kxa4 54. Kxg6 b5 55. Nc6 b4 then:
• After 56. Nxb4 Kxb4 Black's Knight clears the way for the f-pawn.
• 56. Ne5 b3 57. Nd3 f4 58. Kxh6 Kb5 59. Kg5 Nd1 60. h4 Kc4 61. h5 Kxd3 both sides will promote, but Black will have the extra piece.

53. -- Nxg2 54. Nxb6 f4 55. Nd5+ Kxa4 56. Kf6 f3 57. Nc3+ Kb4 58. Ne4 Nh4!

• Black protects everything.

59. Kg7 h5 60. Kh6 Kc4 61. Kg5 Kd3 62. Ng3 Nf5 63. Nh1 Ne7 64. Kf6

• If 64. Kf4 Ke2 65. Ng3+ Kf2! (the only move!<)[i> 66. Ne4+ Kg2 then:
• 67. Nd2 f2 68. Ke4 Kxh2 69. Kf3 Kg1 70. Kf4 Nf5 71. Kg5 h4 72. Kxg6 Nd6 73. Kg5
• After 73. -- h3 a pawn must queen.
• 73. -- Ne4+ 74. Nxe4 f1Q is lights out.
• After 67. h3 f2 68. Nxf2 Kxf2 69. Kg5 Kg3 70. h4 Kh3 both sides will queen but Black has an extra piece.

64. -- Ke2 65. h4 Kf1 66. 0-1

• After 66. Ng3+ Kg2 67. Ne4 f2 68. Nd2 Nf5 69. Kg5 Nd4 70. Kxg6 Nb3 the White Knight must give way.
• Radjabov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Topalov - Shirov, Corus A, Round 4, Wijk aan Zee

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Veselin Topalov vs. Alexei Shirov
Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 4
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Teplitz Opening) (Grünfeld Defense/Exchange Variation)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3

• Thus began the game Kostic-Grünfeld, IT, Teplitz-Schonau 1922 in which the Indian Queen's Gambit (or Grünfeld Defense) was first played. Herr Grünfeld won the game.

6. -- Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2

• If 8. Nf3 0-0
then:
• 9. Be3 Nc6 10. h3 b5 11. Be2 b4 12. Rc1 bxc3 13. d5 Qa5 14. 0-0 Rd8 Black's extra pawn at c3 will be a bone in White's throat (Prybil-Smejkal, Czech Ch, Brattislava 1967).
• 9. 0-0 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Rb1 Rc8 13. Be2 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 b6 15. d5 Na5 16. Bd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Rc4 18. Qd2 Qc7 Black's activity compensates for White's space in the center (Hanauer-Fine, US Ch, New York 1936).

8. -- Nc6 9. Be3 0-0 10. 0-0 Bg4

• If 10. -- Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8
then:
• 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. d5 Na5 14. Bd3 e5 15. Bg5 Re8 16. c4 b6 17. Qd2 Nb7 18. Bh6 f6 19. Bxg7 Qxg7 20. f4 Nd6 21. Kh1 Bd7 is balanced (Balashov-Ftacnik, Trnava 1988).
• 12. Qd2 Qa5 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14. Bh6 cxd4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qf4 dxc3 17. Qxf7+ Kh8 18. Rd5 Qb4 19. Nf4 Qxc4 20. Nxg6+ hxg6 21. Qxg6 e5 draw agreed (Szymczak-W. Schmidt, Poznan 1984).

11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3

• If 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1
then:
• 14. -- cxd4 15. cxd4 e5
• 16. Kg1
• 16. -- Rc8 17. d5 Nc4 18. Bf2 Qd7 19. Rc1 b5 20. g5 a5 21. Ng3 Nd6 22. h4 Bf8 White has more space, but Black is solid (van Wely-Leko, Amber Rapid, Monaco 2001).
• 16. -- exd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 19. Nxd4 Re8 20. Re1 Nc4 21. Kf2 h6 22. h4 Kf7 23. Kg3 gives White an extra pawn (Enricci-Hase, corr 1999).
• After 16. d5 Nc4 17. Bf2 Qf6 18. Kg1 Rf8 19. Qe1 Bh6 20. Ng3 Qa6 21. Kh1 Qa4 22. Qe2 b6 23. h4 Bf4 24. Qd1 Qxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Nb2 Black's piece activity makes up for his pawn minus (Riebel-Nickel, corr 1990).
• 14. -- Qd6 15. e5 Qd5 16. Bf2 Rd8 17. Qa4 b6 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Qd1 Rd8 20. Qc2 draw agreed (Onischuk-Svidler, Poikovsky 205).
• If 12. Bd5! Bc8 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. Qc2 e6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. Rad1 gives White move space. He may continue with moves like 17. f4 followed by Nd4.

12. -- cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5!?

• The opponents now enter murky waters.
• !4. Qa4 a6 15. Qb4 b5 16. Rfc1 Nc4 17. Bf2 is level.

14. -- Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4

• If 16. Rb1
then:
• 16. -- Bd7 17. Bh6 Rf7 18. e5
• After 18. -- fxe5 19. Qxe5 b5 20. Bd2
• 20. -- Rc8 21. Bc3 Rxc3 22. Nxc3 White's mobility and activity give him a small edge (Trajan-Frasco, Sx, USA 1978).
• After 20. -- Qb6+!? 21. Kh1 Rc8 22. Bc3 Rxc3 23. Nxc3 White is more active.
• 18. -- e6 19. Nf4 fxe5 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. dxe6 Re7 22. Bg5 Qxd3 23. Bxe7 Re8 24. Bg5 Qf5 25. Bh6 Qxe6 draw agreed (Polugaevsky-Chandler, IT, Amsterdam 1986).
• 16. -- b6 17. Bh6 Qd6 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Rc1 Bd7 20. Nd4 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Qc3 Bd7 23. Bb5 e5 is balanced (Blees-Kransenkow, Lillafured 1989).

16. -- Bf7 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bb5 e5 19. Qf2 Re7 20. f4 exf4

• 20. -- Rc8 21. fxe5 Rxe5 22. Ng3 Nc4 23. Qxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxf6 is balanced (van Wely-Sutkovsky, Sparkassen, Dortmund 2005).

21. Qxf4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 25. Qd4?

• There are more losing moves than benign ones in this position.
• Also ineffective is 25. Nf4? Rf7 26. Qc3 Qd8 27. Rc1 b5 28. Qg3 Rc8 when Black has some deadly threats (Najer-Krasenkow, Eur Club Cup, St. Vincent (Italy), 2005).
• Correct is 25. Bd2! Rc8 26. Bc3 Rxc3 27. Nxc3 Re1 28. d6 Nc6 with an equal game (Fritz).

25. -- Rd8?

• Black misses his opportunity.
• 25. -- Rf7! 26. Nf4 Qe7 27. Qf2 Nc4 28. Re1 Qd7 29. Rc1 b5 gives Black a strong position.

26. h3

• White resorts to a waiting move.
• After 26. Rf8+ Qxf8 27. Bxf8 Rxf8 28. Ng1 Re1 29. Qxa7 Nc4 Black's Rooks prove equal to White's Queen.

26. -- Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Qc3 b6 29. Ng3 Nb7?

• Black plays to restrian the d-pawn, but a more active defense is in order.
• Correct is 29. -- Re8 30. Qd4 Qc7 31. d6 Qf7 32. d7 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Nb7 34. Bg5 with a battle for the promotion point; Black barely holds for the moment.

30. Ne4 Qe7

Black: Alexei Shirov
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White: Veselin Topalov
Position after 30. -- Qf7e7

31. Nf6+!

• Black's King now becomes hopelessly exposed to swirling White pieces.
• 31. d6? is insufficient: if 31. -- Rxd6 32. Qc8+
then:
• 32. -- Nd8 33. Nxd6 Qe1+!! 34. Kh2 Qe5+ 35. g3 Qe2+ 36. Kg1 Qd1+ 37. Kh2 Qe2+ draws by repetition.
• 32. -- Rd8? 33. Qc4+ Kh8 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qb3+ Kh8 36. Bg5 Qg7 37. Bf6 wins the Queen.

31. -- Kf7

• This is better than 31. -- Kh8 32. d6 Rxd6 33. Nd5+ winning the Queen.

32. Nxh7 Kg8

• If 32. -- Ke8 33. Qc6+ Rd7 34. Nf6+ Kd8 35. Nxd7
then:
• 35. -- Nc5 36. Qa8+ Kxd7 37. Qxa7+ Ke8 38. Qa8+ Qd8 39. Qc6+ Kf7 40. d6 descends into a minor piece ending with White winning easily.
• 35. -- Qxd7 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37. Qxg6+ leaves Black three pawns down.

33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Ng4

• 34. Bg5 Rd6 35. Nh7 Qd7 36. Nf8 Qa4 37. Ne6 Rxe6 38. Qf3+ wins the Rook.

34. -- Kg8 35. Qd2 Re8

• 35. -- Rc8 36. Bg5 Qd6 37. Nf6+ Kf7 38. Qf2 Qc5 39. Qh4 Rg8 40. Qe4 Qd6 41. Nxg8 descends to a minor piece ending easily won for White.

36. Qf4 Qd6 37. Qf2!

• If 37. Nf6+ Kf7 38. Nxe8+ Qxf4 39. Bxf4 Kxe8 40. g4
then:
• After 40. -- Nc5 41. Kg2 Nd3 42. Bd2 Kd7 43. Kf3 a5 44. Ke3 White continues to enjoy an extra pawn.
• 40. -- Kd7 41. Kg2 b5 42. Kf3 a5 43. Ke4 b4 44. Kd4 a4 45. h4 b3 46. axb3 axb3 47. Bc1 Black will not be able to push his pawn over, while White can use his d-pawn to delay Black transferring his forces to the kingside allowing White to win.

37. -- Qc5 38. Qg3 Qd4 39. Kh2 Nd8

• If 39. -- Nc5 40. Qd6 Kh8 41. Qxg6
then:
• After 41. -- Re1 42. Be3 Rxe3 43. Qh6+ Kg8 44. Qg5+ Kf7 45. Nxe3 White's two extra pawns decide.
• 41. -- Re2 42. Qf5 Ne4 43. Ne5 Qxd5 44. Ng6+ Kh7 45. Nf8+ Kxh6 46. Qg6#

40. Qd6 Ne6 41. Be3 1-0

• 41. Be3 Qc4 42. Nf6+ Kf7 43. Nxe8 Qc8 44. dxe6+ +-
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Molytov - Radjabov, Round 12, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee

Teimour Radjabov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alexander Molytov vs. Teimour Radjabov
Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 12
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

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

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 g5

• A common line runs 9. -- Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 Nh6 12. f3 c5 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. b4 Be6 15. Nb3 d5 yielding an even game.

10. Bg3 Nh6 11. dxe5

• If 11. d5 Nd7 12. Nd2 f5 then:
• 13. exf5 13. -- Nf6 14. Nde4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxf5 16. Bd3 g4
• 17. 0-0
• 17. -- Kh8 18. Re1 Ng8 19. f3 gxf3 20. Qxf3 Nh6 21. Qe2 Bg6 22. Bf2 Nf5 23. Rf1 draw agreed (Onischuk-Radjobov, ol, Calvia 2004).
• 17. -- Qe8 18. c5 Qg6 19. Re1 Nf7 20. Bh4 Rae8 21. Rc1 dxc5 22. Rxc5 Nd6 23. Qa4 gives White a well-fortified center (Aronian-Radjabov, Morelia-Linares 2006).
• 17. Qe2 17. -- Kh8 18. 0-0 Bd7 19. f3 Qe7 20. fxg4 draw agreed (Gelfand-Radjobov, Russian Club Cup, Sochi 2006).
• 13. f3 Nf6 14. h3 fxe4 15. Ndxe4 Nf5 16. Bf2
• 16. -- h6 17. g3 c5 18. h4 gxh4 19. g4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Ng3 21. Nxg3 hxg3 22. Bxg3 b5 23. cxb5 a6 24. bxa6 Bxa6 25. Bxa6 Rxa6 is equal with both sides under restraint (Nyback-Inarkiev, Eur Ind Ch, Kusadasi (Turkey), 2006).
• 16. -- Nxe4 17. Nxe4 c5 18. Qd2 h6 19. 0-0-0 a6 20. g4 Nh4 21. Bxh4 gxh4 has White more active, but Black is solid as granite (Huzman-Bologan, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2006).

11. -- dxe5 12. Qd5+

• 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nd5 Na6 14. Ne7+ Kf7 15. Nxc8 Raxc8 16. Rc1 Nc5 17. Nd2 a5 18. f3 gives White a little more of what little piece mobility there is (Roiz-Smirin, Israeli Ch, Tel Aviv 2002).

12. -- Kh8

• If 12. -- Nf7 13. h4 then:
• 13. -- Qe7 14. hxg5 fxg5 then:
• 15. 0-0-0 15. -- c6 16. Qa5
• 16. -- Na6 17. Ne1
• 17. -- Nc5?! 18. Qa3! Re8 19. f3 Ne6 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 21. Bf2 Nf4
• 22. g4?! Re8 23. Nc2 Bf8 24. c5 Be6 gives Black more space thanks to his Knight on the outpost at f4 (Brennikmeijer-van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1993).
• 22. Bf1 Ne6 23. g3 Rd7 24. Nd3 Rd8 25. Bh3 gives White superior piece activity
• 17. -- b6 18. Qa4 Bb7 19. Nd3 Qe6 20. f3 Nd6 21. b3 Rad8 22. Bf2 gives White a slight edge in space.
• 16. -- b6 17. Qa4 a6 18. Nd2 Ra7 19. f3 Rd7 20. Bf2 b5 21. Qc2 gives White more mobility.
• 15. Qd2 c6 then:
• 16. Rd1 Rd8 17. Qe3 Nd7 18. Nd2 b6 is level.
• 16. 0-0-0 Rd8 17. Qe3 Nd7 18. Nd2 Nb6 19. Qf3 gives White greater activity.
• 13. -- c6 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Rd1 Rxd1+ 16. Kxd1 is equal; Black must not dealy any further in developing his queenside pieces.

13. 0-0-0!?

• White ventures into uncharted lands. The move gets the King out of the center and reinforces the centralized Queen.
• 13. c5 c6 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Nd2 Bf8 16. Na4 Be6 17. b3 Nd7 18. Rc1 Rac8 19. f3 b6 gives Black a slight edge in space (Korchnoi-Fedorowicz, World TCh, Lucerne, 1989).

13. -- Qe7

• White has some latent threats against holes in Black's position; this move helps defend against them.
• If 13. -- Nf7? 14. h4 then:
• 14. -- g4 15. Nh2 h5 16. f3 Qxd5 17. Nxd5 gxf3 18. Bxf3 Na6 19. Bxh5 Nd6 20. Nxc7 gives White a strong position.
• 14. -- Nc6 15. hxg5 fxg5 16. Kb1 Qd6 17. Qxf7 Rxf7 18. Rxd6 cxd6 19. Nxg5 Rf6 20. Rxh7+ also gives White a superior position.

14. Qa5 c6 15. Nd2 b6 16. Qa4 Bd7!?

• Black's position is solid enough to keep White from getting too close, but it also makes it difficult to complete his development.
• 16. -- f5 17. h4 g4 18. f3 Rd8 19. h5 f4 20. Bh4 Bf6 21. Bf2 Qc7 retains the solidity of the position, but still doesn't develop the queenside.

17. f3 c5 18. Qa3?!

• This move puts the Queen offside for a while. Since White has no immediate hope of playing a liberating move like b2b4 very soon, he should probably have played 18. Qb3.
• If 18. Qb3 f5 19. h4 f4 20. hxg5 then:
• 20. -- fxg3 21. gxh6 Bf6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. f4 exf4 24. Nf3 gives White an edge in space
• After 20. -- Qxg5 21. Bh4 Qg6 22. Rdg1 Nc6 23. g3 Nd4 24. Qd1 White is offering a pawn for initiative (for example, 24. -- fxg3 25. Nd5 followed by 26. Rxg3.

18. -- Nc6 19. Nd5 Qf7 20. Bd3

• White might have gotten a stronger position from 20. h4 g4 21. fxg4 Nxg4 22. h5 Rg8 23. Bxg4 Bxg4 24. Rdf1 when his Queen has some latitude along the third rank and his Rook is looking down an open file at a backward Black pawn.

20. -- Be6 21. h3 f5

• Black believes he would benefit from the opening of the center.
• Nevertheless, preference should go to 21. -- Nd4 22. h4 g4 23. fxg4 Nxg4 24. h5 Rad8 25. Bh4 h6 giving Black more freedom.

22. Nb1 Nd4 23. Nbc3 Rfd8?!

• Right square, wrong Rook.
• After 23. -- Rad8 24. Be1 f4 25. h4 g4 26. fxg4 Nxg4 Black's f-pawn is actually protected by the Rook at f8, while the Queen is guarding the pawn at a7 and all point in between.

24. Be1 f4 25. Kb1

• 25. Rf1 Rd6 26. g4 fxg3 27. Rg1 Nxf3 28. Rxg3 Rad8 29. Bf2 g4 gives White the edge with a forward Knight.

25. -- Ng8 26. Ne2

• After 26. h4 g4 27. fxg4 Bxg4 28. Rd2 Nf6 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 the game is even.

Black: Teimour Radjabov
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White: Alexander Molytov
Position after 26. Nc3e2

26. -- Ne7?

• The move unnecessarily cuts communication from the second rank to the Queen on f7.
• Correct is 26. -- Nf6 27. Bc3 b5 28. cxb5 Nxd5 29. exd5 Bxd5 30. Nxd4 cxd4 with Black retaining a better center.

27. Nxd4

• 27. h4 b5 28. Nxd4 exd4 29. Nc7 Rac8 30. Nxb5 a6 31. Na7 Ra8 32. Qa5 leaves White a pawn to the good, but with less to show for it otherwise.
• If 27. Nc7 Rac8 28. Nxe6 Qxe6 then:
• 29. Nc3 Rc7 30. h4 g4 31. fxg4 Qxg4 =
• 29. Qxa7? b5 30. Rc1 Qd6 31. cxb5 Ne6 -/+

27. -- exd4 28. h4 g4 29. Nc7

• Had Black played 26. -- Nf6 instead of 26. Ne7, this move would not have been possible.
• Apparently Black didn't like 29. h5 Bxd5 30. cxd5 g3 31. Bd2 h6 32. Ba6 Nc8 33. Rh4 Be5 which is level due to Black's inability to advanse his c- and d-pawns or drive the Bishop from a6.

29. -- Rac8 30. Nxe6 Qxe6 31. Bd2 gxf3!?

• The exchange on f3 appears to be to White's benefit in that his Rooks are more likely to command the open g-file. On the other hand, it weakens f3, something Black will use to his advantage later.
• If 31. -- b5 32. Qb3 bxc4 then:
• 33. Qxc4 33. -- Qxc4 34. Bxc4 gxf3 35. gxf3 Bh6 36. Rhg1 gives White better mobility.
• 33. Bxc4 Qe5 34. fxg4 Qxe4+ 35. Bd3 Qd5 36. Qc4 is balanced.

32. gxf3 Nc6!

• The Kinght is headed for b4 where Black's heavy pieces will join it for an attack.
• If 32. -- b5 33. cxb5 c4 34. Bc2 Rb8 35. Bxf4 Rxb5 then:
• After 36. Bc7 36. -- Rf8 37. Ba4 Rb7 Black has no clear win, but his advancing pawn duo is promising.
• After 36. Rh2 d3 37. Ba4 Rb7 Black has a slight initiative and no clear win.

33. Bxf4?

• This is not the way to grab pawns. White simply sets up the skewer executed on the next move, which allows Black to break through quickly and win.
• The observant reader will note that if White still had a pawn at g2, this would have been a perfectly sound move. See the note to Black's 31st move.
• After 33. h5 Rf8 34. Bf1 Rcd8 35. Rh4 Bh6 36. b3 Ne5 37. Bg2 Qg8 Black has the initiative and active pieces, but will have to work hard to convert the whole point.

33. -- Rf8 34. Bc1

• After 34. Bg5 Rxf3 35. Rhf1 Rcf8 36. Qa4 Rxf1 37. Bxf1 Nb4 Black's Queen comes in to attack the King in the final phase.

34. -- Rxf3 35. Rhg1

• After 35. h5 Nb4 36. Rhe1 h6 37. Rf1 Rxd3 38. Rxd3 Qxc4 there is no plausible continuation for White that does not lose material.

Black: Teimour Radjabov
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White: Alexander Molytov
Position after 35. Rh1g1

35. -- Nb4!

• The text is stronger than 35. -- a5 36. h5 Ne5 37. Rgf1 Rxf1 38. Rxf1 Rf8 39. Rxf8+ Bxf8.

36. Qxa7 Rg8 37. Qa3 b5 38. e5

• After 38. cxb5 Nxd3 39. Qa7 Qxe4 40. Ka1 Nb4 41. a3 Nc2+ White is soon mated.

38. -- Rxd3 39. Rxd3 Qf5 40. Rg5 0-1

• 40. -- Qe4 41. cxb5 Nxd3 wins a Rook.
• Molytov resigns without waiting for Radjobov's reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Krush - Akopian, Round 1, Gibralter

In a Swiss system tournament, the first round is usually called "the slaughter". It is the one time in the event the weaker players are paired against the stronger ones. The results are usually predictable, but every so often a major upset occurs.

In the first round at Gibralter, American IM Irina Krush was paired against the 21st-ranked grandmaster in the world, Vladimir Akopian of Armenia. Ms. Krush is perhaps the strongest active US woman player, but she would still be expected to be badly overmatched in this game.

Crystal balls were shattered.



Irina Krush
Photo: FIDE Women's World Championship (Russia)

Irina Krush vs. Vladimir Akopian
Gibtelecom Masters' Tournament, Round 1
Gibralter, January 2007

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Bronstein Opening)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Ba6 6. a3 Bxc3+

• There is quite a bit of theory attached to the move 6. -- Be7 To give a brief sketch:

6. -- Be7 7. Nf4 d5 then:

• 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Kxf1
• 9. -- Nxd5
• 10. Ncxd5 exd5 11. Qh5
• 11. -- c6 12. Ne6 g6 13. Qe5 Bf6 14. Nxd8+ Bxe5
• 15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Bd2 Ke7 18. Bc3 f6 19. Ke2 the activity of White's Bishop more than compensates for Black's space (Richlis-Adams, Interzonal, Manila 1990).
• 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. f4 Nc5 18. b4 Ne4 19. Bb2 Ke6 givew White better mobility (Timman-Hübner, IT, Montreal 1979).
• 11. -- Bg5 12. e4 Bxf4 13. Bxf4 Nc6 14. Rc1 Ne7 15. Bxc7 Qd7 16. exd5 0-0 17. d6 Nf5 18. Qf3 Rac8 19. Qc6 Rfd8 20. Qxd7 Rxd7 21. Rd1 Nxd6 22. Bxd6 Rxd6 23. Ke2 Rc2+ 24. Rd2 Rxd2+ 25. Kxd2 Rxd4+ draw agreed (Saeed-Timman, Interzonal, Taxco 1985).
• 10. Qf3 c6 11. g3 Nd7 12. e4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Rc8 14. Kg2 0-0 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Be3 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Qb7 18. f3 give White more space, but Black has a solid position (D. Gurevich-Bonin, USA 1985).
• 9. -- exd5 10. g4 g5 11. Nd3 h5 12. gxh5 Rxh5 13. Ne5 c6 14. Qf3 Qc8 15. h3 Nbd7 16. e4 Nxe5 17. dxe5 g4 18. Qf4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qe6 21. Bf4 gxh3 22. Rc1 Qd5 23. Qxd5 cxd5 24. Rc3 Kd7 draw agreed (Filip-Pachman, Zonal Trmt, Prague 1954).
• After 8. b3 0-0 9. Be2 c6 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. Bb2 dxc4 12. bxc4 e5 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. Nd3 Bd6 15. Bf3 e4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 Qxe4 Black's centralized Queen gives him the edge (Filip-Casabella, Santa Fe 1961).

7. Nxc3 d5 8. Be2

• If 8. b3 0-0 9. Be2 Nc6 10. a4 then:
• 10. -- dxc4 11. bxc4
• 11. -- Qd7 12. Nb5 Na5 13. Qc2 c6 14. Na3 Qe7 15. 0-0 c5 16. Nb5 Bb7 17. Ba3 Nc6 White's queenside space is balanced by Black's solid position (Botvinnik-Smyslov, World Ch, Moscow 1957).
• 11. -- Na5 12. Ba3 Re8 13. Nb5 c6 14. Nd6 Re7 15. 0-0 Ne8 16. Nxe8 Rxe8 17. Qc2 Qc7 18. Rfd1 Rad8 19. Qc3 gives White a very slight advantage with his greater space (Donner-Kupper, IT, Venice 1967).
• 10. -- Qd7 11. 0-0 Rfd8 12. Nb5 Na5 13. Bb2 dxc4 14. bxc4 c6 15. Na3 c5 16. dxc5 Qe7 17. Qc2 Qxc5 18. Rfd1 Bb7 is balanced (Aleksandrov-Akopian, FIDE World Ch, New Delhi 2000).

8. -- dxc4!?

• Black tries something new. This may be a move to explore in games beyond this one. White gets a better center in return for her pawn, but Black will call the tune for a while.
• 8. -- 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. b4 Bxc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Qe2 c5 13. Rd1 cxb4 14. axb4 Nd5 15. Qxc4 Nc6 16. e4 Na5 is equal (Lein-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, Alma-Ata 1968).

9. e4

• White wastes no time in establishing a pawn duo in the center.
• If 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qc2 c6 11. Rd1 Nd5 then:
• 12. e4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qh4 14. e5 Rd8 allows White to maintain equal chances in spite of her pawn minus.
• After 12. Bf3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qh4 14. Rb1 Rd8 White' space and mobility compensate for her pawn.
• if
• 9. Qc2 c6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Rd1 Nd5 12. Bd2 then:
• After 12. -- Qd7 13. e4 Ne7 14. Bf4 f5 15. Be5 Ng6 White's activity compensates for her pawn.
• After ]12. -- Nd7 12. e4 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Qh4 15. Bf3 White's space compensates for her pawn.
• After 9. Bf3 Nd5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 e5 13. Be3 Black would gain some activity if White accepts the pawn at e5.

9. -- Nc6?!

• Black strikes at White's center, but not in the best way.
• Black could have gotten a strom game from 9. -- c5! 10. e5 Nd5 11. dxc5 0-0 then:
• 12. Bf3 Bb7 13. Ne4 Nd7 14. Nd6 Nxc5 15. Nxc4 Ba6 taking advantage of a hanging Knight to gain tim to attack the e-pawn (for example, 16. Be2 Qc7).
• After 12. 0-0 bxc5 13. Bf3 Bb7 14. Ne4 Nd7 Black retains his pawn plus with the more solid center.

10. Be3 Na5

• The Knight threatens to set up shop on b3.
• After 10. -- Qd7 11. 0-0 Rd8 12. e5 Nd5 13. Bg5 Nce7 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Bg4 White's active Bishops give her the edge, in spite of her continued pawn minus.

11. Qc2 0-0 12. Rd1 Nd7 13. h4

• Black still enjoys the edge, most of which is simply due to his extra pawn. White looks for space on the kingside.

13. -- Bb7 14. h5 h6 15. Rh3 f5

Black: Vladimir Akopian
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White: Irina KruSh
Position after 15. -- f7f5

16. d5!

• White decides it's time for some action in the center.
• After 16. exf5 exf5 17. Bf4 a6 18. Rg3 Kh8 19. d5 b5 20. Re3 Nb3 Black owns White's queenside.

16. -- f4 17. Bxf4 exd5 18. Be3 c6?

• If 18. -- Nf6 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 then:
• After 21. -- Qe7 22. Bd4 Rad8 23. Bc3 Rfe8 24. Rg6 gives White better chances of launching an attack.
• After 21. -- Qd7 22. Rg6 Rae8 23. g4 Rf7 24. g5 White is well on her way to launcing an attack.

19. exd5

• White got all she could have hoped for from 16. -- d5. She has material equality and mobile pieces.
• The text move is stronger than 19. Rg3 Qf6 20. exd5 cxd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Ne5 23. Bd4 +/=

19. -- Qe8

• No better is 19. -- cxd5 20. Bxh6 Nf6 21. Be3 Qe8 22. h6 g6 23. Nb5 Qe4 24. Qxe4 dxe4 +-

20. Rg3 Kh8 21. Ne4!

• If 21. Bd4 Nf6 22. d6 c5 23. Bxf6 Rxf6 24. d7 then:
• After 24. -- Qd8 25. Re3 Rf8 26. Qg6 Qh4 27. Rg3 Qe7 28. Nd5 Qf7 Black has equalized.
• 24. -- Qf8 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Qxe4 Rd8 27. Rf3 Rxf3 28. Bxf3 gives White a comfortable edge with the pawn on the seventh rank and some pressure against Black's King, but she's still a ways from decisively exploiting it.
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21. -- cxd5 22. Qc3?!


• White now misses an opportunity to nail the game down early.
• If 22. Bd4! then:
• 22. -- Ne5 23. Nd6 Qe6 24. Nxb7 Nxb7 25. Qc3 White has a strong game focusing on weak squares near the Black King.
• 22. -- dxe4 23. Bxg7+
• After Kh7 24. Rd6 Nf6 25. Qc1 e3 26. Rxf6 Rxf6 27. Bxf6 White will be ready to culminate the mating attack.
• 23. -- Kg8 24. Bc3+ Kh7 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rdxd7 Rf7 27. Qd2 e3 28. Rgxf7+ Kg8 29. Rg7+ Kh8 30. Rh7+ Kg8 31. Rh8#.
22. -- Ne5 23. Nd6 Qe7 24. Nxb7 Nxb7 25. Rxd5?


• Again, White misses a winning line.
• After 25. Bd4 Rae8 26. Re3 Qf7 27. Bxe5 Qxf2+ 28. Kd2 Qf7 29. Rg3 White's pressure on g7 is crushing.
25. -- Rae8!


• Black is out of woods for now.
• 25. -- Nc6? 26. Bxh6 Rfe8 27. Bxg7+ wins for White.
26. f4 Qh4


• If 26. -- Nd3+ 27. Bxd3 cxd3 28. Kf1 Nc5&29. Rf3 Qh4 30. Rh3 Rxf4+ 31. Kg1 Qxh3 32. gxh3 Rxe3 gives Black the edge with three active pieces to White's two.
• 29. Bxc5 Rxf4+ 30. Kg1 bxc5 31. Rgxd3 c4 32. R3d4 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 gives Black a little more initiative, but not to do with it.

27. Kf2 Rf5

• 27. -- Rxf4+ 28. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 29. Kg1 Nc5 30. Qe3 Qf5 31. Rg4 gives White better focus on the weak points around the enemy King.
• 27. -- Rf7? 28. Rxe5 Rfe7 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Bxc4 Nc5 31. Bxc5 bxc5 32. f5 White's focus on g7 is decisive.
• If 27. -- Kh7? 28. Rxe5 Rxf4+ then:
• After 29. Kg1 29. -- Rxe5 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qxe5+ White wins the Rook.
• After 29. Bxf4? Black equalizes by 29. -- Qxf4+ 30. Kg1 Qxe5.
• After 27. -- Nd3+? 28. Rxd3!! Re7 (White cannot retake because of the threat of mate at g7) 29. Rd5 White has won a piece.

28. b4 cxb3 29. Bf3

• 29. Qxb3 Ng4+ 30. Bxg4 Rxd5 31. Qxd5 Rxe3 32. Bf3 Re7 =

29. -- Nc5

• The pyrotechnic display 29. -- Ng4+! 30. Bxg4 Rxd5 31. Be6 Qxg3+ 32. Kxg3 Rxe6 33. Qxb3 Red6 yields an equal game.

Black: Vladimir Akopian
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White: Irina KruSh
Position after 30. -- Nb7c5

30. Bxc5!

• White plays it correctly.
• If 30. Rxe5? then:
• 30. -- Rfxe5! 31. fxe5 b2 32. Qc2 Qh1 33. Bxc5 b1Q 34. Qxb1 Qxb1 gives Black a Queen against two Bishops.
• 30. -- Rexe5? 31. Bxc5 bxc5 32. fxe5 Rg5 33. Bd1 Rxg3 34. Qxg3 Qd4+ 35. Ke1 gives White an extra piece.

30. -- bxc5 31. Rxe5 Rexe5 32. fxe5 Rg5

• Black also plays it well.
• If 32. -- Qd4+? 33. Qxd4 cxd4 34. Rh3 b2 35. Rh1 then:
• After 35. -- Rxe5 36. Rb1 Rb5 37. Ke2 Rb6 38. Kd3 White wins easily.
• After 35. -- d3 36. Rb1 d2 37. Ke2 White wins with an extra piece.

33. Bd1 Rxg3 34. Qxg3 Qd4+

• Again, Black finds the only move to stay alive.
• If 34. -- Qxg3+? 35. Kxg3 b2 36. Bc2 then:
• After 36. -- Kg8 37. Kf4 Kf7 38. Ke4 Ke6 39. a4 a5 40. g4 Ke7 41. Kd5 Black's pawns fall like Autumn leaves.
• After 36. -- c4 37. Kf4 Kg8 38. Ke4 Kf7 39. Kd4 Ke6 40. g4 Kd7 41. Bf5+ Kc6 42. Kxc4 Black's pawn is stopped and White's material advantantage shows.

35. Ke1 Qe4+ 36. Kd2 b2 37. Bc2

• 37. Bf3? loses to Qb1 38. Qe1 Qxe1+ 39. Kxe1 b1Q+.

37. -- b1Q 38. Bxb1 Qxb1 39. Qf4 Qa2+!?

• Black will not be satisfied with a draw.
• 39. -- Qb2+ 40. Ke1 Qc2 41. e6 Qb1+ 42. Kf2 Qc2+ 43. Kg1 Qd1+ 44. Kf2 Qc2+ 45. Kg1 draws by repetition.

40. Ke1 Kg8 41. Qe4 Qxa3 42. Qd5+!?

• White is also in to win.
• 42. Qa8+ Kf7 43. Qd5+ Ke7 44. Qd6+ Ke8 45. Qc6+ Kf8 46. Qd6+ draws by repetition.

42. -- Kh8?

• The King is a strong piece; use it! (Steinitz)
• This was a time for King activity, not King safety. Ironically, this timid move with the King costs Black the game.
• Correct is 42. -- Kf8 then:
• 43. Qd8+ Kf7 44. Qd7+ Kf8
• 45. e6
• 45. -- Qb4+ 46. Kf1 Qc4+ 47. Ke1 Qe4+ is balanced.
• 45. -- Qe3+ 46. Kf1 Qf4+ 47. Ke2 Qe4+ 48. Kf1 Qc4+ 49. Ke1 draws.
• 45. Qd8+ Kf7 46. Qd7+ Kg8 47. Qc8+ Kh7 48. Qf5+ draws by perpetual check.
• After 43. Qd6+? Ke8 44. e6 Qe3+ 45. Kf1 Qd4 46. Qc7 Qf6+ White's precious e-pawn falls and Black wins.

Black: Vladimir Akopian
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White: Irina KruSh
Position after 42. -- Kg8h8

43. e6!!

• 43. Qa8+ Kh7 44. Qe4+ Kg8 45. Qd5+ Kh8 46. Qa8+ Kh7 47. Qe4+ draws.
• White's plan is to advance the pawn to e7 and force Black to run out of checks.
  Black's proper plan should be to keep the White King in check, which he can do by keeping the Queen on the queenside and forcing the King into the open.

43. -- Qe3+ 44. Kd1 c4

• There is no way out for Black that he can find without some inadvertant help.
• 44. -- a5 45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. e7 Qb3+ 47. Ke2 Qe6+ 48. Kd2 Qa2+ 49. Kc3 Qa3+ 50. Kc4 Qb4+ 51. Kd5 Qb7+ 52. Kd6 Qa6+ 53. Kc7 Qa7+ 54. Kc6 Qa6+ 55. Qb6 Qc8+ 56. Kd6 Qe8 57. Qd8 is lights out.
• Black's best chance is 44. -- Qg1+! when:
• 45. Ke2! Qa1 46. Qd8+ Kh7 47. e7 Qe5+ 48. Kd3 c4+! (again, the best chance of slavaging something)
• 49. Kc2! (dashing Black's hopes) 49. -- Qe2+ 50. Kc3 Qe3+ 51. Kb4 gives White a position much as she obtains in the actual game.
• After 49. Kxc4? Qe4+ 50. Kc5 Qc2+ 51. Kd6 Qd3+ 52. Kc7 Qc4+ 53. Kb8 Qb5+ 54. Ka8 Qc6+ 55. Kb8 Qb5+ the White King has no shelter from the Black Queen's checks.
• 45. Kd2? gives Black one way out:
• 45. -- Qf2+! 46. Kc3 Qe1+ 47. Kc2 Qf2+ 48. Kc3 Qe1+ 49. Kd3 Qb1+ 50. Kc3 Qb4+ 51. Kd3 Qb5+ 52. Kc3 Qb4+ 53. Kd3 Qa3+ 54. Kc4 Qb4+ 55. Kd3 draws.
• 45. -- Qa1? loses in all variations: 46. Qa8+ Kh7
• 47. Qe4+ Kg8 48. e7 Qa5+ 49. Kd1 Qa1+ 50. Ke2 Qb2+ 51. Ke1 Qc3+ 52. Kf2 Qd2+ 53. Kf3 Qd1+ 54. Kg3 Qd6+ 55. Kh4 Qf6+ 56. Kh3
• 56. -- Qf7 White wins.
• 56. -- Kf7 57. e8Q#
• 47. Qd5 47. -- Qb2+ 48. Ke3 Qc1+ 49. Qd2! Qg1+ 50. Kf3 Qf1+ 51. Ke4 Qc4+ 52. Ke5
• 52. -- Qa6
• 53. Qd7 Qa1+ 54. Kd6 Qa6+ 55. Qc6 Qd3+ 56. Qd5 Qa6+ 57. Kxc5
• 57. -- Qb6+ 58. Kc4 Qc7+ 59. Kd3 a5 60. Qe4+ Kg8 61. e7 Qd7+ 62. Kc3 Qc8+ 63. Kb3 Kf7 64. Qg6+ Kxe7 65. Qxg7+ Kd8 66. Qf8+ Kc7 67. Qxc8+ Kxc8 68. g4 White wins.
• 57. -- Qa3+ 58. Kc6 Qa6+ 59. Kd7 Qa4+ 60. Kd8 Qh4+ 61. e7 White wins.
• 53. Qd6 Qe2+ 54. Kd5 Qxh5+ 55. Kc6 Qe8+ 56. Qd7 Qg6 57. Kc7 Qg3+ 58. Kc8 Qxg2 59. e7 White wins.
• 52. -- Qh4 53. Qd3+ Kg8 54. Qd7
• 54. -- Qxh5+ 55. Kd6 Qh2+ 56. Kc6 Qb8 57. e7 Qb6+ 58. Kd5 Qb3+ 59. Kd6 Qb8+ 60. Qc7 Qe8 61. Qc6 Kf7 62. Qf3+ Kg8 63. Qd5+ Kh7 64. Qc6 Qg6+ 65. Kd7 Qg4+ 66. Kc7 Qf4+ 67. Kc8 Qf5+ 68. Qd7 Qf7 69. e8Q Qxe8+ 70. Qxe8 White wins.
• 54. -- Qh2+ 55. Kd5 Qxg2+ 56. Kd6 Qg3+ 57. Kc6 Qf3+ 58. Kc7 Qf4+ 59. Kc8 White wins.

I thank ChessGamer tumar for encouraging me to look more closely at possibilities where White plays Qa8+ as opposed to Qd8+ in the above variations.

45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. e7 Qg1+ 47. Kc2 Qxg2+ 48. Kc3 Qf3+ 49. Kb4!

• Rather than take the c-pawn, White uses it as shelter.

49. -- a5+

• 49. -- Qb3+ 50. Kc5 Qa3+ 51. Kb5 Qb3+ 52. Kc6 Qa4+ 53. Kb7 Qb5+ 54. Kxa7 Qc5+ 55. Ka6 Qa3+ 56. Kb5 Qb3+ 57. Kc6 Qa4+ 58. Kc5 Qa3+ +/-

50. Kc5 Qxh5+ 51. Kc6 Qg6+ 52. Kc7 Qg3+ 53. Kc8 1=0

• After 53. -- Qg4+ 54. Qd7 Black is out of checks and the pawn must promote.
• Akopian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Additional Game: Vachier-Lagrave - Eljanov, Corus B, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Pavel Eljanov
Images: ChessBase.com

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Pavel Eljanov
Corus International Tournament Group B, Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

Italian Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Guicco Piano)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4

• Along with the King's Gambit, this was one of the favored debuts of the Age of Morphy and Anderssen that fell into disuse with Steinitz and the advent of positional chess.

5. -- exd4 6. e5

• If 6. cxd4 Bb4+ then:
• 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nfxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Na5 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Bb5 Bd7
• 13. 0-0 is level
• 13. Qb3 Qe7+ 14. Kf1 Be6 balances White's activity against Black's solid position. (Sveshnikov-Mortensen, Leningrad 1984).
• After 7. Kf1 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Be6 10. Qe2 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxc3 12. Qe1 Nd5 13. Ba3 a6 14. Rc1 Qd7 Black has an extra pawn (Bartmansky-Butim, corr 1910).

6. -- d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6

• If 8. -- Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 then:
• 10. Nbxd2
• After 10. -- Bd7 11. Bd3 Bg4 12. Bb5 0-0 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. 0-0 Bxd2 15. Qxd2 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qd7 White has the better center (Kogan-Miles, Op Trmt, Biel 1994).
• 10. -- 0-0 11. 0-0 Ne7 12. Bd3 Nf5 13. h3 Re8 14. a3 Bf8 15. Rc1 g6 16. Re1 a5 is balanced (Bayrami-Hisler, Eur Club Cup, Fügen (Austria) 2006).
• 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Nbxd2 0-0 12. 0-0 c5 13. a3 Bxd2 14. Qxd2 Bg4 15. dxc5 Bxf3 16. gxf3 c6 yields an extra pawn for White (Sveshnikov-Aleksandrov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

9. h3

• If 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Be3 then:
• 10. -- Bg4 11. Bxc6 bxc6
• 12. h3 Bh5 13. 0-0 f5 14. Qc1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 f4 17. Bd2 Qd7 18. Kh2 gives White a strong game with a fortified center (Sveshnikov-Jedryczka, IT, Warsaw 2005).
• 12. Qa4 Qd7 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 Qd5 15. Rc1 Bd7 16. Qc4 Rae8 17. 0-0 Kh8 18. Nb3 f6 is unclear (Jaenisch-Staunton, IT, London 1851).
• 10. -- Ne7 11. Bd3 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Ne5 Nf5 14. Bxf5 Bxf5 15. g4 Be4 16. 0-0 Nd7 17. Nxe4 Nxe5 18. Ng5 h6 19. Ne6 Nf3+ 20. Qxf3 Rxf3 21. Nxd8 Rxd8 gives Black better pawn structure and piece activity (Steinitz-Pillsbury, IT, Vienna 1898).

9. -- Bd7!?

• This novelty isn't going to revolutionize opening theory, but it's not bad.
• If 9. -- 0-0 10. Nc3 then:
• 9. -- Ba5 11. Bd2 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 f6 13. 0-0 fxe5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nxe5 Qd6 16. Qc2 Bb6 is balanced (M. Muzychuk-Mkrtchian, Eur Ind Ch, Kusadasi 2006).
• 10. -- f6 11. Qb3 Nxc3 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. bxc3 fxe5 14. Nxe5 Qh4 15. Be3 Ba6 16. Nxc6 Bc4 17. Qc2 Rae8 gives Black more piece activity (NN-Staunton, London 1840).

10. Bd3?!

• This is a slight inaccuracy that will allow Black to gain the upper hand for a while.
• A better try is 10. Be2 when:
• 10. -- Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxf2 12. Kxf2 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Kg2 gives Black a lead in development in spite of a material deficit ov two pawns against a Knight.
• 10. -- Qe7 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 f6 14. Qb3 Qe6 is equal.

10. -- Nb4!?

• This isn't the objectively best move, but Black may be playing his own mind games. Besides, if both players just make the objectively best move after the objectively best move with each just pateintly waiting for the other to slip, the game will end in a dull, gray draw. As Tal said: If one just waits for Lady Luck to show up, life becomes very boring.
• If 10. -- 0-0 11. 0-0 Bf5 12. Be2 f6 then:
• 13. Bb5 Ne7 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. Nc3 is flat level.
• Lady Luck could show up for Black in the form of 13. Nc3? fxe5 14. dxe5 Ng3 15. Bg5 Qd7 with a strong position, and then again maybe not.

11. Be2 c5 12. Be3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc6

• Black seeks to destroy the blockade on his isolated pawn.
• 13. -- Qc7 14. 0-0 Qxe5 15. Nc3 Bc7 16. Nf3 Qd6 is level for the moment; Black will have a long term problem with his isolated pawn.

14. 0-0!?

• White sacrifices a pawn and continues with his development. Black's extra pawn will be isolated and White hope to take advantage of it.
• 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 then:
• 15. -- 0-0 16, 0-0 Re8 17. Nc3 Qc7 18. f4 Ng3 19. Rf2 leaves neither side with good target for attack.
• 15. -- Ba5+ 16. Nc3 17. bxc3 Qe7 18. 0-0 0-0 is balanced.

14. -- Nxe5 15. Qb3

• White puts pressure on the isolated pawn.
• 15. Nd2 Qf6 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Nb5 0-0 18. Qd6 Qxd6 19. Nxd6 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Bc6 gives Black a slight tactical edge based on the Knight hanging at d6.

Black: Pavel Eljanov
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White: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Position after 15. Qd1b3

15. -- Nc4!!

• With this, Black returns the sacrificed pawn and opens up the position to his advantage.

16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. Qxc4 0-0 18. Rd1

• Black scrambles to set up counterplay in the center.
• If 18. Qd3 Re8 then:
• Black continues to enjoy a comfortable advantage after 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. Nc3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Qc7 22. Rac1 Bc6 23. c4 Be4 24. Qe2 Qe5 threatening a timely -- Bc7.
• After 19. Re1? Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Qf6+ 21. Nf3 Bxe3+ 22. Rxe3 Qxb2+ Black wins

18. -- Rc8 19. Qd3 Re8 20. Nd2 Bf5 21. Qb5?!

• This is way too feeble. The Bishop is too easily defended and the Queen too easily driven away.
• White would have done better with 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Qb5 Qf6 then:
• 23. Rd2 Re5 24. Qf1 Qg6
• Black is not appreciably better after 25. a3 Rh5 26. g3 Re5 27. Rad1 Rce8.
• After 25. Rad1? Ba5 26. Bf4 Rd5 27. Re2 Rf8 28. Be3 Rfd8 Black will win the exchange.
• 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24. Bxg5 Kf8 25. Be3 Red8 gives Black a slight edge in piece activity.

21. -- Nd6 22. Qd5 Bg6 23. Rac1

• More aggressive is 23. Bg5 Qc7 when:
• After 24. Bf4 Red8 25. Re1 Qc5 26. Qxc5 Bxc5 27. N4f3 the two sides are about equal in terms of piece activity.
• After 24. Re1 Qc5 25. Qxc5 Bxc5 26. N2b3 Bb6 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Rc1 Nf5 Black has pressure on White's centralized Knight.

23. -- Rxc1 24. Rxc1 h6

• White equalizes after 24. -- Ne4 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Nb3.

25. Nc2 Qc7 26. Bxb6?

• White now loses quickly.
• It's still a struggle after 26. Nf1 Be4 27. Qb3 Bxe3 28. Nfxe3 b5 29. Re1 Bb7 30. Rd1 a6.

Black: Pavel Eljanov
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White: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Position after 26. Be3b6:B

26. -- Qxb6!

• Black wins a piece by force.

27. b3 Rc8 28. Nc4 Nxc4 29. Ne3

• If 29. bxc4 Bxc2 then:
• 30. Qd7 Rc6 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qe2 Bg6 gives Black an extra Bishop.
• 30. Rxc2 Qb1+ wins the Rook.

29. -- Nd6 30. 0-1

• M. Vachier-Lagrave resigns.