The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for March 4 (a day late)

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending March 4



Image: Kurt Waite, 5th Dimension
from Chessville

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 March 4

Super GM Tournament reconvenes in Spain; Anand leads after 10 rounds



The annual Morelia-Linares Super GM Tournament has reconvened in Linares, Anadlusía (Spain) for the final leg of the double-round tournament.

After seven rounds in Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico), the players played round 8 on Friday, in which all games were drawn. On Saturday, the only decisive game saw Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich defeat Peter Leko of Hungary in fine fashion in a game that had no impact on the leaders.

Sunday's tenth round saw a battle of the two co-leaders, India's Vishy Anand and sixteen-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. Anand won the game to take sole possession of first place.

Monday is a rest day. On Tuesday, Levon Aronian wiil have White against Leko; Morozevich will have White against Anand; Magnus will have White against Vassily Ivanchukm with whom Magnus is now tied for second; and Russia's Peter Svidler will have White against former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.


Kirsan announces new World Championship Cycle



FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has announced a new two-year World Championship cycle.

This year, a World Championship Tournament will take place in Mexico City in September. The winner of the tournament will be the world champion, but will have to defend his title against either the current title holder, Vladimir Kramnik, or (should Kramnik win in Mexico City) against former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov.

Afterwards, in odd numbered years starting in 2007, the World Cup Tournament will serve as a candidates tournament. The winner of the World Cup will challenge the World Champion in a match for the world title to be held in even numbered years.

This comes close to restoring the old three-year cycle that served chess well from 1948 to 1996. It wasn't broke until Kirsan fixed it with a ridiculous knock-out tournamet that often produced improbable champions. That format was abandoned thanfully in 2005.

[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

Levon Aronian - Vishy Anand, Super GM Tournament, Round 5, Morelia
Alex Shabalov - Irina Krush, North American FIDE Open, Round 4, Stillwater, Oklahoma

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Aronian - Anand, Super GM Tournament, Round 5, Morelia

This game has been touted as the best game played so far in 2007.



Levon Aronian
Photo: 64 (Russia)

Levon Aronian vs. Vishy Anand
Morelia-Linares Super GM Tournament, Round 5
Morelia, Minoachán (Mexico), February 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Mannheim Opening (Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2

• White's 4th move is unorthodox. He could have opted for a standard slav or Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit.
• The main line of the Slav Queen's Gambit is 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 with equality.
• The best-known of the Semi-Slav lines, the Meran Defense, runs 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 with White getting a slight spatial edge to this point.

4. -- dxc4

• Black opts for an Open Queen's Gambit. In this position, he could have gone for a more standard Slav.
• 4. -- e6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Nbd2 Re8 9. b3 e5 is level.
• 4. -- g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Be2 0-0 7, 0-0 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bg4 is equal.

5. Qxc4

• Properly, the Mannheim Opening is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Qa4+ c6 4. Qxc4 and, in this case, 4. -- Nf6 5. Nf3. The move order chosen by White is treated here as a transposition.

5. -- Bf5 6. g3 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Re1

• White is clearly intending an advance of the e-pawn.
• 10. e3 Ne4 11. Qe2 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Be4 13. c4 c5 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Bb2 Nb6 16. Rac1 Bf6 is unclear (Akopian-Shirov, Op Trmt, Wijk aan Zee 1993).

10. -- Ne4 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Nh4

• This move is almost universally played here, although it commits White to an atrocious kingside pawn structure that plagues him the rest of the game.
• If 12. Qxb6 (the only move played here over the board) 12. -- axb6 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxe4 Nc4 16. Bd3 b5 =/+
• A Fritz-generated variation might be worth consideration: 12. Bf4 Qxb3 13. axb3 Rfd8 14. Rec1 a6 15. e3 Rac8 with equal chances (Portisch-Unzicker, Piatigorsky Cup, Santa Monica, California 1966).

12. -- Bxh4 13. gxh4 Nef6

• 13. -- Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Bg6 15. Bf4 Rfe8 16. Rad1 f6 17. e4 e5 18. Be3 Qc7 19. d5 Bf7 is equal (Ivanchuk-Bareev, Melody Amber Bx, Monaco 2002).

14. e4 Bg6 15. Qxb6

• 15. Be3 Ng4 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Bf4 Rad8 18. Rad1 Nf6 19. b3 Bh5 20. Rd2 Rd7 21. f3 Rfd8 gives Black the initiative (Khenkin-Naumann, Bad Wiessee 2003).

15. -- axb6 16. Bf4

• Draw agreed (Grabarczyk-Ivanchuk, Polish Supercup, Warsaw 2001).

16. -- Rfe8 17. Rad1 b5!?

• Black is looking for more than a draw and parts with known theory.
• 17. -- e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. f3 Bh5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. a4 is equal (Georgiev-Smeets, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee 2007).

18. Bd6 e5 19. d5 Nh5

• Black seeks to put his Knight on a fine outpost at f4, where he can lurk for a while without being harrassed thanks to White wretched kingside pawn structure.
• If 19. -- c5? 20. a3 Ra5 21. Bf1 then:
• 21. -- Rea8 22. f3 Ne8 23. Be7 f6 24. Nxb5 Bf7 25. Kf2 gives White an extra pawn and greater piece activity.
• 21. -- b4 22. axb4 cxb4 23. Bxb4 Ra7 24. f3 Rea8 25. Kf2 gives White an extra pawn and more mobility.

20. Bf1

• This is a prophylactic move in anticipation of -- Nf4.
• 20. Rd2 Nf4 21. Red1 Bh5 22. f3 cxd5 23. exd5 f5 is unclear.

20. -- f6

• Black reinforces his center pawn.
• 20. -- Nf4 21. f3 f5 22. Bc7 Re7 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. a3 Kf7 25. d6 gives White better activity, but there are still clouds in the sky.

21. b3

• White is apparently exprcting -- Nb6.
• White might do better to play 21. Bc7 Rec8 22. d6 Nf4 23. Ne2 Nxe2+ 24. Bxe2 Bxe4 25. Bg4 when the anchored Bishop at c7 is a bone in Black's throat.

21. -- Nf4 22. a4?!

• Given White's poor pawn structure on the kingside, it seems dubious to accept an isolated pawn on the Queen's wing.
• After22. Rd2 Kf7 23. f3 b4 24. Na4 cxd5 25. exd5 Red8 26. Bxb4 White is a pawn up with better mobility.

22. -- bxa4 23. bxa4 Bf7!?

• This throws the game into complications that are difficult to assess.
• If 23. -- Rec8 24. dxc6 Rxc6 then:
• 25. Bb4 Nf8 26. Bb5 Rc7 27. Nd5 Rc2 28. Nxf4 exf4 is balanced.
• 25. Bb5?! Rxc3 26. Bb4 Rc7 27. Bxd7 Rc4 28. Bd2 Rxe4 gives Black a good game.
• 23. -- Nb6 24. dxc6 bxc6 25. Ra1 Nc8 26. Bc5 Bf7 27. Red1 Ne7 28. a5 is unclear.
• After 23. -- cxd5 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 Nf8 26. f3 Bf7 27. Rb5 Rad8 28. Bxf8 White should emerge a pawn up with a passed a-pawn to compensate for his poor pawn structure.

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 23. -- Bg6f7

24. Rb1!?

• If 24. Bc7 cxd5 25. exd5 Rec8 26. d6 Kf8 then:
• 27. a5 Nc5 28. Ne4 Nxe4 29. Rxe4 Be6 =
• 27. Re3 Bh5 28. Rb1 Ra7 29. a5 Bg6 =/+

24. -- Ra7

• 24. -- cxd5 25. Rxb7 d4 26. Nd5 Nxd5 27. exd5 Nf8 -/+

25. Red1 Rc8 26. Ne2 Nxe2+ 27. Bxe2 cxd5 28. exd5 Nf8

• If 28. -- Bg6 29. Rb4 Bf5 then:
• 30. Rd2 Rc1+ 31. Kg2 Kf7 32. h5 b6 =/+
• 30. Kg2 Bc2 31. Ra1 f5 32. a5 Nf6 33. Rb5 Be4+ =/+

29. Bb5 Raa8 30. Be7

• 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. d6 Rd8 32. Rd2 Rac8 33. Be2 Rc6 34. d7 Rc7 35. Bg4 -/+

30. -- Ng6

• 30. -- Bh5 31. Rdc1 Bg6 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rd1 Bh5 34. Rb1 Kf7 35. d6 Bf3 =/+

31. d6 Nxe7

• 31. -- Rcb8 32. Rb4 Nf4 33. d7 Nd5 34. Bd6 Rd8 35. Rc4 +/=

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after Diagram 31. -- Ng3e7:B

32. Bd7!!

• White sacrifices the Bishop by not retaking. The zwischingzug gives White the needed time to make the d- and a-pawns dangerous.
• If 32. dxe7 Be8 33. Bxe8 Rxe8 34. Rxb7 Kf7 then:
• 35. Rd8 Rxa4 36. Rxe8 Kxe8 37. Rb8+ Kxe7 leaves Black with four healthy pawns as opposed to White's three weaklings.
• After 35. Rdd7 Rxa4 36. Kg2 Ra6 37. Kf3 Re6 White's e-pawn falls and his game with it.

32. -- Nc6!?

• A more active defense would have been to play the Knight to the other side in order to attack White's seak pawns.
• If 32. -- Ng6 33. Bxc8 Rxc8 34. Rxb7 then:
• 34. -- Kf8 35. Rdb1 Be6 36. h5 Nf4 is unclear.
• 34. -- Rd8 35. h5 Nh4 36. Rdb1 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Nh4+ 28. Kh3 g5 39. hxg6 Nxg6 is unclear.
• 34. a5 Nxh4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Rxb7 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Nd4 38. Rc7 Bd5+ 39. Kg3 Kf7 gives Black the resources to stop White's queenside pawns without having to do more than exchange Rooks.

33. Rxb7 Nd4

• Black shields the file so the pawn will not have the benefit of the protecting Rook at d1.
• If 33. -- Nd8 34. Bxc8 Rxc8 35. d7 then:
• 35. -- Ra8 36. Rc7 Bh5
• 37. Rd3 Bg6 38. Rc8 is an easy win for White.
• After 37. Rc8? Bf3 38. Re1 Kf7 39. Re3 Bb7 40. Rxa8 Bxa8 41. a5 Ke7 Black stops the queenside pawns.
After
• 35. -- Rc4? 36. Rb8 Be6 37. Rxd8+ Kf7 38. Rf8+ Kxf8 39. d8Q+ Black can resign.

34. Bxc8 Rxc8 35. Rdb1!

• This is an excellent move. White doubles the Rooks, threatening to win material by 36. Rb8!.
• 35. d7 Rd8 36. Rdb1 Kf8 37. Rb8 Ke7 38. Rxd8 Kxd8 39. Rb7 Nf3+ gives Black time to stop the pawns.

35. -- Rf8?

• This was a way out of losing material, but not the right one.
• Correct is 35. -- Nf3+ 36. Kg2 Nxh4+ 37. Kf1 Bc4+ 38. Ke1 Nf3+ 39. Kd1 when:
• 39. -- Be6 40. Rb8 Kf7 41. R1b7+ Ke8 42. Re7+ is balanced.
• After 39. -- Rf8 40. Rc7 Bd5 41. Rb5 Be4 42. d7 Bf5 43. Rd5 Rd8 44. Rc8 White's passed a-pawn gives him the upper hand.]

36. Rb8 Be8 37. a5 Nf3+

• After 37. -- Bc6 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Rb8+ Kf7 40. a6 Ke6 the a-pawn remains dangerous. One possible plan for White is to advance the h-pawn to weaken Black's kingside and then attack there with Rook while Black is preoccupied with the advanced pawns.

38. Kf1 Nd2+ 39. Ke1 Nxb1

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after Diagram 39. -- Nd2b1:R

40. a6!!

• White must push the pawns at all costs. This is the only way to win this position.
• White is two pieces down and has an opportunity to take one back. However, that would give Black the time he needs to stop White's pawns and win the game himself.
• Black should win after 40. Rxb1? Kf7 41. a6 Bd7 42. h5 Ra8.

40. -- Bc6 41. a7 Kf7 42. d7 Ke7 43. Rxf8 Kxd7 44. a8Q

• If 44. Rf7+ Kc8 45. h5 h6 46. Rxg7 then:
After
• 46. -- Ba8 47. Rh7 Na3 48. h4 Nc2+ 49. Kd2 Nd4 50. Rxh6 More Black pawns fall and White's kingside pawns advance forward.
• After 46. -- Na3 47. Rh7 Be4 48. Rh8+ Kc7 49. a8Q Bxa8 50. Rxa8 Black is kaput.

44. -- Bxa8 45. Rxa8 h5

• 45. -- Ke7 46. Ra7+ Kf8 47. f3 e4 48. Rb7 Nc3 49. Kd2 Na4 50. Rb4 is lights out for Black.

46. Ra7+ Ke6 47. Rxg7 Kf5 48. Rg3 1-0

• After 48. Rg3 Kf4 49. h3 f5 50. Rb3 the Knight is toast.
• Anand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shabalov - Krush, North American FIDE Open, Round 4, Stillwater

Alex Shabalov was born in Soviet Latvia. He was a protoge of the great former world champion, Mikhail Tal. He is an American citizen living in Philadelphia and a four-time US champion.



Alex Shabalov
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game:

• Please click here (MonRoi.com)
• Select OCF North American FIDE Open 2007 (third choice from the top)
• On the next page, accept the license terms
• On the following page select Round 4 (February 18)
• On the page after that, select Board 1 (Shabalov vs. Krush)
• Congratulations, you're there.

Alex Shabalov vs. Irina Krush
North American FIDE Open, Round 4
Stillwater, Oklahoma, February 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening (Rauzer Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6

• More common is 7. -- a6 8. 0-0-0 Bd7 when:
• 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6
• 13. Qe1
• 13. -- Be7 14. Bd3 Qc5 15. f5 then:
• 15. -- h5 16. Rf1 b4 17. Ne2 e5 18. Nc1 a5 19. Nb3 Qb6 20. Bc4 gives White solid command of the center (Deep Fritz-Deep Junior, BGN Computer Qual, Cadaques (Spain), 2001).
• After 15. -- b4 16. Ne2 e5 17. Ng3 Black's King is stuck in the center while White's pieces are poised for attack (Adams-Kozul, Belgrade 1999).
• 13. f5 Qc5 14. Bd3 0-0-0 15. a4 bxa4 16. Bxa6+ Kc7 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Rg8 19. g3 Rb8 is unclear with neither side acting too concerned about King safety (Vachier-Lagrave - Timofeev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2006).
• 9. f3 Be7 10. h4 h6 11. Be3 h5 12. Bg5 Ne5 13. Kb1 b5 14. Qe1 Qc7 15. Nce2 Rb8 16. Ng3 b4 17. Bd3 a5 18. f4 Neg4 19. Be2 gives White more central space (Dworakowska-Gluszko, Eur Ind Ch, Warsaw 2005).
• 13. -- Ra7 14. Bd3 h5 15. Qh4 Be7 16. f5 b4 17. Ne2 e5 18. Ng3 Qf2 19. Rhf1 Qc5 20. Nxh5 White is a pawn up with a strong position (Tiviakov-Neelotpal, Op Trmt, Dhaka (Banglaesh), 2003).

8. Nb3 Be7

• An alternative is 8. -- a6 9. 0-0-0 Be7 10. f3 0-0 11. g4 when:
• 11. -- Rd8 12. Be3 Qc7 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 b5 15. g6 is unclear.
• 11. -- Qc7 12. Be3 b5 13. g5 Nd7 14. f4 Nb6 15. f5 gives White the edge in space on the kingside, but Black has some compensation on the queenside.

9. Bd3!?

• White departs from known texts and tries to create complications.9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. f3 Rd8 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Qf2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Rxd5 15. Rxd5 exd5 is too tame for Shabalov's tastes.

9. -- 0-0 10. 0-0 Rd8 11. Rae1

• White overprotects his e-pawn.
• If 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Rad1 Ng4 13. Nb5 Qd7 14. Bf4 Nge5 15. Be2 a6 16. N5d4 is unclear.
• 12. -- a6 13. Na4 Nd7 14. f4 b6 15. f5 is also unclear.

11. -- a6

• Black wants to keep the Bishop out of b5.
• 11. -- d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Rxd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Qf4 is balanced.

12. Re3

• The lift brings the Rook to where it can be deployed for an attack on Black's King.
• If 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Rfe1 b6 14. Ne2 Bb7 then:
• 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. a3
• 16. -- Ng4 17. Nc3 Bh4 18. Rf1 Nge5 19. Be2 b5 is still murkey.
• 16. -- Nd7 17. Nc3 Nde5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. Be3 b5 gives White a slight initiative, but Black is solid.
• 15. Ned4 Ne5 16. Qe2 d5 17. exd5 Nxd3 18. Rxd3 Bxd5 is unclear.

12. -- h6

• The position is unclear, but Black doesn't want White's Bishop hanging around.
• If 12. -- Qc7 13. Rh3 b5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• 15. e5 Nxe5 16. Bxh7+ Kf8 17. Bd3 awaits developments in the center.
• 15. f4 h6 16. f5 Nb4 17. a3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxd3 19. cxd3 remains unclear.

13. Bxf6

• Retreating the Bishop is inconsistent with the Rook lift, since White intends to put the Rook at g3.

13. -- Bxf6 14. Rg3

Black: Irina Krush
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White: Alex Shabalov
Position after 14. Re3g3

14. -- Kf8?!

• This maintains the murkey nature of the game.
• Black does better with 14. -- Be5 15. Rg4 a5 when:
• 16. Nd1 16. -- a4 17. Nc1 Kh8 18. c3 Bf6 19. Rg3 Ne5 20. Rh3 Kg8 21. Rg3 Bh4 22. Rh3 Bg5 Keeps Black's defenses in tact.
• 16. Ne2 a4 17. Nbc1 Qxh6 dxe4 19. Bxc4 f5 20. Nd3 fxg4 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22.Nxe5 Nxe5 provides White with a narrow but sure path to equality.
• 14. -- Bg5 then:
• 15. Rxg5 hxg5 16. Qxg5 Ne5 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. f3 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Rac8 20. d4 Bb5 yields to Black better command of the open lines.
• 15. Na4 Qa7 16. Rxg5 hxg5 17. Qxg5 b5 18. Nc3 Bb7 19. Rd1 Rac8 20. Ne2 Net 21. Nf4 Ba8 gives Black command of lines leading the White's King position.

15. Kh1

• White signals his intent to advance the f-pawn.
• 15. Rd1 Bg5 16. Na4 Qc7 17. f4 Bf6 18. Nc3 Nd4 19. Be2 remains unclear.

15. -- Qc7!?

• Black might have done better to leave her Queen where she was, although the position is unclear either way.
• 15. -- a5 16. a4 Nd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. f4 Bd7 19. Rgf3 Bc6 20. f5 e5 creates a lot of tension, but no resolution.

16. f4 b5 17. Nd1 Bb7 18. Ne3

• White might have done better to try his luck opening the center.
• If 18. f5 then:
• 18. -- e5 19. Ne3 Bg5 20. Qc3 Rac8 21. f6 g6 22. Nd5 gives White the edge with his pawn at f6 and his Knight standing tall at a fine outpost on d5.
• 18. -- Ne5? 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Rxf6+
• 20. -- Nf7 21. Nd4 Bc8 22. Nxe6+ Bxe6 23. Rxe6 Ng5 24. Rg6 gives White an extra pawn and an active position.
• After 20. -- gxf6 21. Qxh6+ Ke8 22. Rg8+ Kd7 23. Rg7+ it's lights out.

18. -- Ne7

• Better for Black is 18. -- Bxb2 19. c4 Bf6 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Bxb5 d5 22. e5 Bh4 23. Rh3 Be7 gives her better pawn structure, but neither side has anything else.

19. Ng4 Ng8

• After 19. -- Bxb2 20. c4 bxc4 21. Qxb2 cxd3 22. Nf2 Ng6 23. f5 exf5 24. exf5 Ne5 Black's forward d-pawn gives her a slight edge.

20. Qe3?

• White sacrifices a pawn in order to isolate the Bishop from the rest of Black forces. However, with proper play, White should not get sufficient compensation.

20. -- Bxb2 21. e5 dxe5?!

• This doesn't sove the problem of the wayward Bishop.
• Better is ]21. -- Ne7 22. Qf2 Bc3 when:
• After 23. f5 exf5 24. Bxf5 Bxe5 25. Be6 f5 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Bxf5 Nxf5 28. Qxf5 Kg8 Black's extra pawn calls the tune.
• 23. Re3 Nd5 24. Re2 Nb4 25. f5 Nxd3 26. cxd3 Bd5 27. f6 g6 gives Black an extra pawn.

22. fxe5 Rxd3?

• Black is a pawn up and believes that sacrificing the exchange will disperse White's pawns and give her a lasting advantage.
• Correct is 22. -- Rac8 23. Qf4 Rd7 24. Qb4+ Ne7 25. Nxh6 when:
• 25. -- Bxe5 26. Rxf7+ Ke8 gives Black and extra pawn in an active position.
• 25. -- gxh6? 26. Qf4 Nf5 27. Bxf5 exf5 sets up a repetion of moves with White checking on h6 and f6.

23. cxd3 h5

• Black continues to attempt to scatter White's pieces to the wind. The move turns out to be ineffective.
• No better is 23. -- Ba3 24. d4 Bd5 25. Qf4 Bc4 26. Rf2 Rd8 27. Ne3 +/-

24. Qf2 Bc3

• White is able to ignore the attack on his Knight and harrass Black's Bishop.
• If 24. -- Ba3? 25. Ne3 then:
• After 25. -- f6 26. Rg5 Qf7 27. Qh4 Rd8 28. d4 Black is in a vise.
• 25. -- Rd8 26. Nc2 Bb2 27. d4 Rc8 28, Nb4 h4 29. Rg6 wins for Black,

Black: Irina Krush
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White: Alex Shabalov
Position after 24. -- Bb2c3

25. d4!

• This move completely consolidates White's position. From here on, White is in the driver's seat.
• If 25. Nc5 Qe7 26. Nxb7 then:
• After 26. -- hxg4 27. d4 b4 28. Nc5 Rd8 29. Rxg4 White has more active pieces, but there is no clear win.
• After 26. -- Qxb7 27. Rf3 f5 28. Rxf5+ exf5 29. Qxf5+ Nf6 30. exf6 White wins material.

25. -- b4 26. Ne3 Nh6 27. Qf4

• White still tends to basics by overprotecting is base pawn.
• The text is stronger than 27. Rg5 Rd8 28. Qg3 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Rxd4 30. Rxg7 Ng4 31. Rh7 Bd5 32. Rh8+ Kg7 33. Rxh5 when White is an exchange up and on the virge of winning more material.

27. -- Qe7 28. Nc5

• After 28. Na5 Rb8 29. Nxb7 Rxb7 30. d5 Rd7 31. d6 Qd8 32. Nd1 Ba1 33. Nf2 White has an exchange to the good and superior piece activity.

28. -- Bc6 29. Ne4

• 29. Qg5 Qxg5 30. Nxe6+ Kg8 31. Nxg5 h4 32. Rh3 Bxd4 33. e6 fxe6 34. Nxe6 Bxe3 35. Rxe3 gives White better piece activity.

29. -- h4

• If 29. -- Bxd4 30. Nd6 then:
• 30. -- h4 31. Rh3 Bc3 32. Nd1 Ba1 33. Rxh4 White is more active.
• After 30. -- Bc3 31. Nd1 h4 32. Rd3 g5 33. Qc1 White remains an exchange up.

30. Rh3 Bxe4

• After 30. -- Bxd4 31. Nc2 Rd8 32. Rxh4 Bxe5 33. Rxh6 Kg8 34. Qxe5 White is left a piece up.

31. Qxe4 Rd8 32. d5 Kg8

• If 32. -- Qd7 33. d6 then:
• 33. -- f5 34. Qxh4 Bxe5 35. Ng4 Bc3 36. Nxh6 gxh6 37. Rg3
• 37. -- Re8 38. Rd1 Bg7 39. Qxb4 White remains an exchange up with active pieces.
• 37. -- h5 38. Qg5 Bg7 39. Qe7+ Qxe7 40. dxe7+ Kxe7 41. Rxg7+ White is a Rook to the good.
• 33. -- f6 34. Rxh4 Nf7 35. Nc4 Qb5 36. Qg6
• After 36. -- Bxe5 37. Rh7 f5 38. Qxe6 White has a clear advantage in the ensuing struggle for the e7 suqare.
• After 36. -- Qxc4 37. Rxf6 gxf6 38. Rxc4 Black is soon mated.

Black: Irina Krush
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White: Alex Shabalov
Position after 32. -- Kf8g8

33. Rxh4!

• This move shoots the lights. Black no longer has the hint of a chance.
• After 33. Rd1 Nf5 34. Nxf5 exf5 35. Qxh4 Qxh4 36. Rxh4 a5 37. d6 White should still win, but he will have to work a little harder for it.

33. -- Nf5

• After 33. -- f5 34. exf6 Bxf6 35. Rxh6 gxh6 36. dxe6 Bg7 37. Qg6 Rf8 38. Rxf8+ Qxf8 39. Nf5 it will cost Black material to keep the e-pawn from coronating.
• After 33. -- Ng4 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh8# the rest is silence.

34. Rh3 Qg5

• After 34. -- Nh6 35. d6 Qg5 36. Nc4 Qg4 37. Qxg4 Nxg4 38. Rh5 Rc8 39. d7 White's advanced passer decides.

35. dxe6 fxe6 36. Nxf5 Qxf5 37. Rh8+ 1-0

• If 37. Rh8+ Kxh8 38. Qh4+ then:
• 38. -- Kg8 39. Qxd8+ wins the Rook.
• 38. -- Qh5 39. Qxh5+ Kg8 40. Qf7+ Kh7 41. Qxe6 is easily won for White.
• 37. Rh8+ Kf7 38. Rxf5+ exf5 39. Qxf5+ Ke7 40. Qg5+ is crushing.
• Ms. Krush resigns.