The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for March 25

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending March 25



Image: from Xakearen Historioa

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Special birthday greeting

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending March 25

Kramnik and Anand lead in Monaco



Russian grandmaster and World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and Vishy Anand of India lead the Melody Amber Blandfold and Rapid Tournament in Monaco after eight rounds.

Kramnik is in full command of the blindfold competition with 7½ points out of eight two points ahead of fellow grandmaster Peter Svidler. Anand, who has been condered the world's premier rapid player for many years, leads that competition with 6½ points out of eight, a full point ahead of Levon Aronian of Armenia.

In the overall competition, Kramnik leads Anand with a combined score of 12 out of 16, while Anand has a combined scored of 10½ points. Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine also figures in the overall scoring. Unlike many of the players this year, Ivanchuk has done equally well in the Blindfold and Rapid competitions, score 5 points in each for a total of 10 points overall. Ivanchuk is the only one to have played Kramnik in the blindfold competition without losing.

Unofficial Cross Table
Melody Amber Blindfold & Rapid Tournament
Monaco

------- Blindfold ----- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W) --- Rapid ---- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W) - Overall - T- (W)
.1 Vladimir Kramnik. . .- * 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 * * 1 7½ (7) Anand . . . . .- * 1 * ½ ½ 1 ½ * 1 1 1 6½ (5) Kramnik . .12. (9)
.2 Peter Svidler . . . .* - ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 * 5½ (3) Aronian . . . .* - * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * 1 ½ 5½ (3) Anand . . .10½ (8)
.3 Boris Gelfand . . . .0 ½ - * ½ * 1 * ½ ½ 1 1 5. (3) Ivanchuk. . . .0 * - * 1 * ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 5. (4) Ivanchuk. .10. (6)
.4 Vassily Ivanchuk. . .½ ½ * - ½ 1 * ½ * ½ ½ 1 5. (2) Leko. . . . . .* 0 * - 0 ½ 1 1 ½ * ½ 1 4½ (3) Aronian . . 9½ (6)
.5 Alexander Morozevich.0 * ½ ½ - 1 1 ½ 1 * * 0 4½ (3) Kramnik . . . .½ ½ 0 1 - * * ½ ½ ½ * 1 4½ (2) Svidler . . 9½ (5)
.6 Vishy Anand . . . . .0 ½ * 0 0 - * 1 * ½ 1 1 4. (3) Carlsen . . . .½ ½ 1 ½ * - ½ * ½ ½ ½ * 4½ (1) Morozevich. 8. (4)
.7 Levon Aronian . . . .0 ½ 0 * 0 * - * ½ 1 1 1 4. (3) Svidler . . . .0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ - * ½ 1 ½ * 4. (2) Gelfand . . 8. (3)
.8 Teimour Radjabov. . .0 0 * ½ ½ 0 * - * ½ 1 1 3½ (2) Morozevich. . .½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * * - ½ 0 * 1 3½ (1) Leko. . . . 7½ (4)
.9 Peter Leko. . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 0 * ½ * - ½ 1 ½ 3. (1) Gelfand . . . .* 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ - * 0 ½ 3. (0) Carlsen . . 7½ (1)
10 Magnus Carlsen. . . .* ½ ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ - 0 * 3. (0) Rajabov . . . .0 * ½ * ½ ½ 0 1 * - ½ 0 2½ (1) Radjabov. . 7. (3)
11 Paco Vallejo. . . . .* 0 0 ½ * 0 0 0 0 1 - * 1½ (1) Vallejo . . . .* 0 0 ½ * ½ 0 * 1 ½ - * 2½ (1) Vallejo . . 4. (2)
12 Loek van Wely . . . .0 * 0 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 * * - 1½ (1) van Wely. . . .0 ½ 0 0 0 * * 0 ½ 1 * - 2. (1) van Wely. . 3½ (2)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

The format of the tournament, perhaps the most prestigious non-rated event in chess today, is for each competitor to play another in a blindfold game in the afternoon and in the evening, against the same opponent with the colors reversed, to play a rapid game. Prizes are awarded for best score in each of the two competitions and for the best overall score.

Jakavenko wins Karpov Tournament



Rising Russian star Dmitry Jackavenko comfortably won the 8th Karpov Tournament in the Ural Mountain town of Poikovsky Friday.

Jakavenko entered the last round assured of a share of first place, leading his nearest rivals, reinging US champion Alex Onischuk and Modavian grandmaster Viorel Bologan, by a full point. In the last round, he drew with Zhang Piagxiang of China, Bologan drew with Alexey Dreev of Russia and Onishchuk also drew with reigning French champion Vlad Tkachiev Vlad Tkachiev, while reigning Russian champion Evgeny Alekseev won game againt former Russian champion Sergei Rublevsky to finsish in a three way tie for second.

Unofficial Cross Table
Karpov Tournament
Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Okrug (Russia)

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T- (W)
.1 Dmitry Jakovenko . . . .- 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 6. (3)
.2 Viorel Bologan.. . . . .0 - 0 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 1 1 5. (4)
.3 Evgeny Alekseev. . . . .0 1 - ½ 1 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 5. (3)
.4 Alex Onischuk. . . . . .½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 5. (1)
.5 sergei Rublevsky . . . .½ 0 0 ½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 1 4½ (2)
.6 Andrei Istratescu. . . .½ 0 1 ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ (1)
.7 Emil Sutkovsky . . . . .0 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ 4. (1)
.8 Alexey Dreev . . . . . .½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ 4. (0)
.9 Vlad Tkachiev. . . . . .½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ - ½ 3½ (0)
10 Zhang Pengxiang. . . . .½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ - 3½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

Jakovenko finshed with 6 points out of nine, winning three games without a loss. In the seventh round, Jakovenko won his individual game with Alekseev. Alekseev had beat out the higher-rated Jakovenko for the Russian Champion in Moscow in December and for first place in the Aeroflot Open, also in Moscow, in February.

Bologan finished second the hard way. He had a bare half-point after four rounds, but then won four games in a row before drawing in the final round to finish with 5 points.

Onischuk also fininshed second in a quiet, if somewhat daring way. He one one game and drew eight without a loss.


Sargissian runs away at Zafra



Armenian grandmaster Gabriel Sargissian won the Ruy López Memorial Tournament in Zafra, Extremadura (Spain) by crushing the field of seven other grandmasters and international masters.

Sargissian scored 6½ points in seven games. The only blemish on his score was a draw against Dutch Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov. Sargissian entered the final round of the tournament Thursday already assured of a clear first place finish, a point and a half ahead of his nearest rival, Peruvian grandmast Julio Granda. Sargissian defeated Grand to finsh 2½ points ahead of second place finishers Granda and Ukrainian grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov.

Unofficial Cross Table
Ruy López Memorial Tournament
Zafra

------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 T- (W)
1 Gabriel Sargassian . . .- 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 6½ (6)
2 Ruslan Ponomariov. . . .0 - 0 1 1 ½ ½ 1 4. (3)
3 Julio Granda . . . . . .0 1 - 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 4. (2)
4 Ivan Sokolov . . . . . .½ 0 0 - 0 1 1 1 3½ (3)
5 Manuel Perez Candelario.0 0 ½ 1 - 1 ½ 0 3. (2)
6 Antoaneta Stefanova. . .0 ½ ½ 0 0 - ½ 1 2½ (1)
7 Krishnan Sasikarin . . .0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ 2½ (0)
8 Hou Yifan. . . . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 1 0 ½ - 2. (1)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

The Ruy López is named for a Spanish friar, Ruy López de Segura, who was born in Zafra about 1540. Fra López is credited with writing an early treatise on chess and with being one of the best players of his time. In his book, Fra López gave some scant analysis of the opening called on the JRCR the Spanish Royal Game but which in the English speaking world is more commonly called the Ruy López. However, there is no record of Fra López having played the opening, either as White or Black.

[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

Viorel Bologan - Dmitry Jakovenko, Karpov Tournament, Round 1, Poikovsky
Sergei Rublevsky - Vlad Tkachiev, Karpov Tournament, Round 4, Poikovsky
Krishnan Sasikiran - Dmitry Jakocenko, Ruy López Memorial Tournament, Round 4, Zafra
Hou Yifan - Manuel Pérez Candelario, Ruy López Memorial Tournament, Round 7, Zafra
Levon Aronian - Boris Gelfand, Amber Tournament (Rapid), Round 3, Monaco

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bologan - Jakovenko, Karpov Tournament, Round 1, Poikovsky

Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Viorel Bologan vs. Dmitry Jakovenko
Karpov Tournament, Round 1
Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Okrug (Russia), March 2007

East India Game: Bogo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2

• The other main line is 4. Bd2.
• If 4. Bd2 then both sides get a satisfactory game from:
• 4. -- Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 d6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. e4 e5 10. d5 Nb8.
• 4. -- Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 0-0 6. g3 d5 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8. 0-0 c6 9. Rc1 Qe7 10. Qe3.

4. -- 0-0

• 4. -- b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Bb7 7. e3 0-0 8. Be2 d6 9. 0-0 Nbd7 10. b4 Ne4 11. Qc2 f5 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Rad1 Rf6 14. d5 Rh6 15. g3 e5 16. Nh4 has Black in trouble early as he must lose the exchange (Alekseev-Kuzubov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2006).

5. a3 Be7

• If 5. -- Bxd2+ 6. Bxd2 Ne4 then:
• After 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2 Nd7 9. 0-0 f5 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Qc2 Ndf6 12. Ne1 h6 13. Nd3 Bd7 14. f3 Ng5 15. Bd2 a5 16. Bc3 b5 White is better prepared to open the position (Sokolov-Bologan, Tan Chin Nam Cip, Shanghai 2001).
• 7. Be3 d5 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Rxc4 b6 10. g3 Bb7 11. Bg2 Nd6 12. Rc3 Nf5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 Nc6 15. 0-0 Nce7 is equal (Pia Cramling-Taimanov, Hosdens, Cppenhagen 1997).

6. e4 d5 7. Qc2

• If 7. e5 Nfd7 then:
• 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. 0-0 Nc6 11. Re1 a5 12. Bc2 Re8
• 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. h3 a4 15. b4 axb3 16. Nxb3 Nxb3 17. Bxb3 Be6 18. Qd3 g6 is unclear (Granda-Rivas, Capablanca Mem, Havana 1988).
• 13. Nf1?! cxd4 14. Bf4 Nf8 15. Nxd4 Bc5 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bg3 Qb6 White will need to be wary of Black's c- and d-pawns (Jussupow-Ehlvest, Match, Saint John 1988).
• 8. b4 a5 9. b5 c5 10. Bb2 cxd4 11. Be2 Nc5 12. Bxd4 Nbd7 13. a4 Nb6 14. Qc2 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Nxc4 b6 17. Rd1 Qc7 18. Nd6 Bb7 19. Bxc5 Bd5 20. Nd4 bxc5 21. N4f5 Bg5 22. 0-0 is unclear (Bareev-Bocharov, Russian Ch SemiF, Kazan 2005).

7. -- dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nc6 9. Be3 Ng4!?

• Black intends to exchange minor pieces on e3.
• If 9. -- Nxe4 10. Qxe4 f5 11. Qd3 then:
• 11. -- f4? 12. Bd2 e5 13. dxe5
• 13. -- Qe8 14. Be2 Bf5 15. Qb3
• 15. -- Qg6 16. Bxf4 Qxg2 17. Rg1 Qh3 18. Rg3 Qh5 19. 0-0-0 Bg6 20. Be3 Rad8 21. Qxb7 gives White an extra pawn (Pia Cramling-Timman, IT, Malmø 1997).
• 15. -- Be4
• After 16. 0-0 16. -- Qg6 17. Bc3 Rad8 18. Rad1 White's pieces are better placed.
• 16. Qxb7 Rb8 17. Qxc7 Rxb2 18. Rg1 Bc5 19. Ng5 Qg6 20. h4 White is two pawns to the good.
• After 13. -- Bg4 14. Qe4 Bf6 15. 0-0-0 White threatens 16. Bb4!.
• 11. -- Qd6 12. Rd1 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bf6 14. Be2 f4 15. c3 is even.

10. Bd3!?

• White throws away the book. This novelty has the virtues of developin a piece and reinforcing White's Knigt at e4.
• After 10. g3 f5 11. Nc3 e5 12. 0-0-0 e4 13. Ne1 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bg5 15. Qf2 Ne7 16. Ng2 c5 17. Kb1 White has space in the center and Black on the kingside (Khurtsidze-Rogovski, Puchko mem, Alushta 2000).
• 10. Rd1 f5 11. Nc3 Bf6 12. Be2 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qe8 14. 0-0 b6 15. b4 Bb7 16. Rf2 Rd8 17. Qc1 is equal (Huzman-Maletin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2004).

10. -- f5 11. Nc3 Bf6 12. 0-0-0

• Black is grabbing space on the King's wing, so the long castle is less dangerous than it appears. By the same token, a short castle is probably castling into it.
• 12. h3 Nxe3 13. fxe3 e5 14. dxe5 Bh4+ 15. Ke2 Bg3 gives Black better pawn structure and King safety, but it is almost impossible to exploit those advantages now.

12. -- g6

• Black fortifies his headpawn. The pawn at e6 is backward and on an open file, so it should be advanced when possible.
• 12. -- Ne7 13. h3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 c6 15. g4 g6 16. g5 Bg7 17. h4 gives White a spatial edge in the center and the two armies are beginning to stake claims on the queenside.
• 12. -- Bxd4 13. Bxf5 exf5 14. Bxd4 Qd6 15. h3 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 Qh6+ 17. Qd2 gives White command of the d-file; Black needs to develop his Queen's Bishop and bring his Rooks into play as soon as possible.

13. h3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bg7 15. Kb1!?

• Perhaps White was anticipating -- Bh6 taking aim at White's weak e-pawn on the same diagonal as the King.
• A beeter try is 15. h4 h5 16. Rhf1 Ne7 17. Qf2 a6 18. Ne5 b5 when the game is even as White bids for a share of the queenside.

15. -- Rb8 16. h4 h5 17. c5

• White challenges Black on the queenside.
• If 17. Rhf1 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Be4 Qe8 20. Bd5+ Kh8 then:
• 21. Rfe1 c6 22. Nxe5 cxd5 23. Nf3 dxc4 Black has two Bishops against two Knights, but White has the only active Rook on the board.
• 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. g4 hxg4 23. h5 g5 Black's Queen look radiant in the center and his Kingside pawns could become menacing, but his queenside need to be developed.

17. -- b6 18. cxb6 cxb6 19. Ne2

• Having opened the c-file, White makes use of it.
• If 19. Ng5 then:
• 19. -- Bd7 20. Rhf1 Na5 21. b4 Nb7 22. Qb3 Qe8 23. Ba6 Nd6 24. Bd3 is equal; White is intending a timely e3e4.
• After 19. -- Ne7 20. Bc4 Nd5 21. Qb3 Nxc3+ 22. bxc3 Qe7 23. Rhe1 White's pieces are active and focued on e6.

19. -- Qe8 20. Nf4

• Now White switches to the kingside. He strike at Black's weak e6 pawn.
• Worth consideration is 20. Bb5 Bb7 21. Rc1 Rc8 22. Qb3 Rf6 23. Nf4.

20. -- Bd7 21. Ng5

• White puts more pressure on the e6 pawn.
• If 21. Qf2 b5 22. Qg3 then:
• 22. -- Ne7 23. Ne5 Kh7 24. Rc1 b4 25. a4 Rd8 26. b3 allows White to make better use of his space.
• 22. -- b4 23. a4 Rf6 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. dxe5 Rf7 26. Qxg6 has Black's kingside tangled in knots.

21. -- Na5?!

• This is a mistake. Black open the c-file for White's haevy peices.
• If 21. -- b5 22. d5 exd5 23. Qb3 Ne7 then:
• After 24. Bc2 Kh8 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Bc6 27. Rd6 b4 Black's pieces have more scope.
• 24. Rc1 b4 25. axb4 Ba4 26. Qa3 a5 has White tied up.

22. Qe2?!

• White commits the sin of pussyfooting when he has Black on the ropes.
• More aggressive is 22. Qc7 Rf6 23. Qxa7 Nc6 24. Qa6 Na5 25. Be2 Ra8 26. Qd3 giving White an impressive command of the light squates.

22. -- Rf6

• This is an awkward post for the Rook, but Black needs to give the pawn at e6 all the support he can.
• Advancing the pawn is unthinkable: after 22. -- e5? 23. dxe5 Rc8 24. Ba6 Rc7 25. Rd6 Balck loses more pawns.

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Viorel Bologan
Position after 22. -- Rf8f6

23. Nf3?!

• White had an opportunity to take command. He blew it.
• If 23. e4! then:
• 23. -- fxe4 24. Qxe4 Rc8 25. Rhf1 Bc6 26. Qe2 gives White superior piece activity.
• 23. -- b5 24. exf5 exf5 25. Qf3 Rd6 26. Rhe1 Qc8 27. Nxg6 Rxg6 28. Qxh5 give White a huge edge in piece activity and command of open lines.

23. -- b5 24. Ne5 b4 25. axb4 Nc6

• In spite of the inaccuracy on move 23, White still has the better game. Retreating the Knight is the smart thing for Black to do.
• Black is busted after 25. -- Rxb4? 26. Qe1 Bf8 27. Qg3 Kh7 28. Qg5.

26. Rh3

• The Rook is headed for g3 to pressure Black's backward pawn at g6.
• If 26. Nxd7 Qxd7 27. Bc4 then:
• 27. -- Nxb4
• After 28. e4 fxe4 the Knight tour 29. Nxe6! Nd5 30. Nc5 Qf7 31. Nxe4 leaves White up a pawn at least for the time being.
• 28. Rc1 Qb7 29. e4 Qxe4+ 30. Qxe4 fxe4 31. Nxe6 Kh8 32. Rcf1 is equal.
• 27. -- Kh8 28. b5 Na5 29. Ba2 Qe8 30. Rhf1 e5 31. dxe5 Qxe5 32. Rd5 Qe4+ is balanced.

26. -- Nxb4 27. Rg3 Nxd3

• Black has has worked his way back to a level game.
• If 27. -- Nd5 28. Rc1 Nxf4 29. exf4 Ba4 then:
• 30. Ba6 Qd8 31. Rxg6 Qxd4 32. Rxf6 Bxf6 is equal.
• 30. Rc5 Qd8 31. Qf3 Be8 32. Bc4 Bf8 33. Rc6 is even.

28. Qxd3 Bc8?!

• Black again falls back into difficulty with an inaccurate move.
• After 28. -- Bc6 29. Qa3 Be4+ Ka1 Rc8 31. Rxg6 a6 31. Rxf6 Bxf6 the game reamins level.

29. Qa3 Bb7 30. Nfxg6

• White is again building an advantage, but Black has potential counterplay on the queenside.
• The text is better than 30. Rxg6?! Rxg6 31. Nexg6 Kh7 32. Ne5 Be4+ 33. Ka1 Rb6 with equality.

30. -- Be4+ 31. Ka1 Kh7

• Black had more than one route to a draw. He chooses a move that loses.
• 31. -- Rb7 32. Rc1 Qb5 33. Rg5 Qe8 34. Qa5 gives Black little freedom to maneuver.

32. Rc1 Rc8 33. b3 a5 34. Rc4?

• White would do better to either take the Rook at c8 or tie up Black's forces on the kingside.
• If 34. Rg5 a4 35. Rxh5+ Bh6 36. g4 then:
• 36. -- Rxc1+ 37. Qxc1 Rxg6 38. g5 axb3
• 39. Kb2 Rg7/li]
  • 40. Qd1 40. -- Qa4 41. Rxh6+ Kg8 42. Qa1 Qb5 43. Rg6 Qe2+ 44. Kxb3 Bd5+ 45. Kb4 Rxg6 46. Nxg6 Qc4+ 47. Ka5 Qc7+ 48. Kb5 Qc4+ 49. Ka5 Qc7+ 50. Kb5 draws by repetition.
  • 40. Rxh6+ Kg8 41. Qc5
  • After 41. -- Qa8 42. Nc4 Qa2+ 43. Kc3 Qc2+ 44. Kb4 Rb7+ 45. Ka4 b2+ the pawn must promote.
  • 41. -- Bd5? 42. g6 Qa8 43. Nf7 Qa2+ 44. Kc3 Qc2+ 45. Kb4 Qd2+ 46. Kb5 Qd3+ 47. Kb6 Rxf7 48. Qc8+ Kg7 49. Qh8#
• 39. Qa3 39. -- Rxg5 40. Rxh6+ Kxh6 41. hxg5+ Kxg5 42. Qxb3 is balanced.
• 36. -- Rxg6? 37. g5 axb3 38. Rxc8 Qxc8 39. Qe7+ Rg7 40. Rxh6+ Kg8 41. Qxe6+ Qxe6 42. Rxe6 Ra7+ 43. Kb2 gives White three extra pawns.
• If 34. Rxc8 Qxc8 35. Nf4 Qc2 36. Rxg7+ then:
• 36. -- Kxg7 37. Qe7+ Kg8 38. Qe8+ Kh7 39. Qxh5+ Kg7 40. Nxe6+ Rxe6 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42. Qh5+ Kg7 43. Qf7+ 44. Kh8 Qh5+ is a draw.
• 36. -- Kh8 37. Qb2 Qd1+ 38. Ka2 Kxg7 39. g4 may be slightly favorable to White, but not enough to matter.
• Black now wins quickly.

34. -- Rxc4!

• Black duly chastises his opponent for his error.
• 34. -- Bd5? lets White off the hook: 35. Rxc8 Qxc8 36. Qb2 Qa6 37. Nf4 White is even or perhaps a little better.

35. bxc4

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Viorel Bologan
Position after 35. b3c4:R

35. -- Rxg6!!

• The exchange sacrifice ends the struggle.

36. Nxg6 Qb8! 37. 0-1

• White must either allow mate on the next move or loose the Rook at g3.
• Bologan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Rublevsky - Tkachiev, Kaprov Tournament, Round 4, Poikovsky

Sergei Rublevsky
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sergei Rublevsky vs. Vlad Tkachiev
Karpov Tournament, Roundd 4
Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Okrug (Russia), March 2007

Open Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Scotch Opening)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6

• The Queen sortie is best way of keeping the game from falling into a lifeless position.
• 5. -- bxc6 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Nc3 d6 9. Kh1 Bb6 10. f4 f5 11. Bd2 d5 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Qf3 Bb7 14. Rae1 Qd7 15. Na4 is balanced (Fontaine-Smyslov, Generations, Cannes 1996).

6. Qf3

• Black's threat of mate on f2 is only idle as long as White deals with it.
• 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. Na4 Rd8 9. Bd3 Bd4 10. 0-0 a6 11. Qa5 Qe7 12. Bg5 Nf6 13. Rae1 h6 14. Be3 give White an edge based on his center pawn, but Black's position is in no immediate danger. (Leko-Lukacs, Hungary 1994).

6. -- bxc6

• The players show a desire to maintain tension.
• If 6. -- Qxf3 7. gxf3 bxc6 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Ne7 10. Nc3 d6 then:
• 11. f4 0-0 12. 0-0-0 Kh8 13. Bc4 Bb7 14. Bb3 Rae8 15. e5 Nc8 16. exd6 cxd6 17. e4 f5 18. Rhe1 fxe4 19. Rxe4 g6 20. Rde1 draw agreed (Rublevsky-Inarkiev, Russian Ch, Moscow 2006).
• 11. 0-0-0 0-0 12. f4 f5 13. Bc4+ draw agreed (Radjabov-Harikrishna, IT, Dos Hermanas 2005).

7. Qg3

• White keeps the Queen in contact with f2 while taking aim at c7.
• 7. Nd2 Qxf3 8. gxf3 Ne7 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. a4 a5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 d6 13. 0-0-0 Be6 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. Rg1 g6 16. Rd2 c5 17. Nb5 0-0-0 18. Nc3 draw agreed (Vallejo-Kramnik, Linares 2004).

7. -- h5!?

• 7. -- Ne7 8. Bd3 Ng6 9. 0-0 d6 10. Nd2 Ne5 11. Nc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 0-0 13. c3 Be6 14. Ba6 Bc8 15. Bd3 = (Grosar-Opl, Austrian TCh, Graz 2001).

8. h4 Nh6

• 8. -- Ne7 9. Nc3 d6 10. Na4 Bb4+ 11. c3 Ba5 12. Be3 Be6 13. f4 +/=
• 8. -- d6 9. f4 Rb8 10. Bd3 Ne7 11. Nc3 Bd4 12. Nd1 Qg6 13. Qxg6 Nxg6 =

9. f3 d5!?

• 9. -- d6 10. c3 Be6 then:
• 11. Bd3 Rb8 12. Bc2 0-0 13. Qg5 Qg6 14. g3 Rfe8 15. Nd2 +/=
• 11. Bf4 Rb8 12. b3 g6 13. Bd3 Qg7 14. Bc2 Bd4 =

10. Nc3

• If 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Qg5 Be5 12. c3 then:
• 12. -- Qe6 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. 0-0 Bf6 =
• 12. -- Qxg5 13. hxg5 Bg3+ 14. Ke2 Ng8 15. exd5 cxd5 16. Be3 +/=

10. -- Bb4 11. Bd2

• 11. e5 Nf5 12. Qf4 Qe7 13. Bd3 g6 14. Kf1 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rb8 =/+

11. -- dxe4 12. 0-0-0 e3

Black: Vlad Tkachiev
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White: Sergei Rublevsky
Position after 12. -- e4e3

13. Bxe3!!

• White sacrifices a Knight for complications. Objectively speaking, White has better moves, but they don't give him any practical winning chances.
• If 13. Qe1 then:
• 13. -- 0-0 14. Qxe3 Nf5 15. Qf4 Bd6 16. Ne4 Qe6 17. Qg5 is level.
• 13. -- Bxc3? 14. Bxc3 Qe6 15. Bxg7 +-

13. -- Bxc3 14. Bg5!?

• One could argue that White actually sacrifices the Knight here, by declining to recapture on c3. However, that would give him nothing of consequence.
• 14. bxc3 Nf5 15. Qe1 Nxe3 16. Qxe3+ Be6 17. Bc4 0-0 18. Bxe6 Rae8 19. Rd3 =

14. -- Bxb2+ 15. Kb1 Be6?

• In the complications, Black blunders away a Queen for a Bishop.
• Correct is 15. -- Rb8 16. Bxf6 when:
• 16. -- gxf6 17. Qe1+ Be6 18. Qe4 Ba3+ 19. Ka1 Bb2+ 20. Kb1 Ba3+ 21. Ka1 Bb2+ 22. Kb1 draws by peretual check.
• 16. -- Bxf6+? 17. Kc1 0-0 18. Qxc7 Bb2+ 19. Kd2 Bf5 20. Bd3 leaves Black with only two minor pieces for the Queen.

16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Re1 Rb8+ 18. Kc1 Nf5

• Aggression fails, but so does tending to King safety.
• After 18. -- 0-0 19. Qxc7 Bxa2 20. Qa5 Rb1+ 21. Kd2 Rxe1 22. Kxe1 White reatains his material superiority.

19. Qxc7 0-0

Black: Vlad Tkachiev
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White: Sergei Rublevsky
Position after 19. -- 0-0

20. Rxe6!

• White returns material in order expedite the final assault.
• 20. Bd3 Bc3 21. Rxe6 Bb2+ 22. Kd2 fxe6 23. Qxc6 also wins.

20. -- fxe6 21. Bc4 Bb2+ 22. Kd2 Rbd8+ 23. Bd3 Bf6

• After 23. -- Bd4 24. Qxc6 Be3+ 25. Kd1 Rd6 26. Qa4 Bd4 27. Kd2 Rc8 28. Rh3 White will activate the Rook by way of h1 and e1 or b1 and use the Queen in conjuction with the Rook to defeat Black's uncoordinated pieces.

24. Qxc6 Rd6 25. Qe4 Rc8 26. g4 Nd4 27. g5 Be5 28. f4 1-0

• If 28. f4 Bxf4+ 29. Qxf4 then:
• 29. -- e5 30. Qe4
• 30. -- g6 31. Rf1 Nf5 32. Qxe5 Rcd8 33. Kc1 Rd5 34. Bc4 Kf8 White forces mate by 35. Bxd5 Rxd5 36. Qxd5 a5 37. Re1 Ng7 38. Qd8+ 39. Re7#.
• After 30. -- Ne6 31. Rf1 Nf8 32. Qxe5 Rcd8 33. Kc1 Rd5 34. Bc4 the Black King is in a mating net.
• Black is hopeless after 29. -- Nf5 30. Rb1 Rcd8 31. Rb7 R8d7 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. g6.
• M. Tkachiev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Sasikarin - Sargissian, Ruy López Memorial, Round 4, Zfara

Gabriel Sargissian
Photo: Moldesjakk

Krishnan Sasikiran vs. Gabriel Sargissian
Ruy Lopez Festival, Round 4
Zafra, Extremadura (Spain), March 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Sofia Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. h3

• The continuation 8. c3 d5! is the Marshall Gambit. This is one of several ways to avoid it.
• Kasparov favcored the move8. a4 to avoid the Marshall, for example: 8. -- Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. c3 h6 12. Ba2 d6 13. Nh4 Qd7 14. Ng6 Ne7 15. Nxf8 Kxf8 16. f3 giving White better command of open lines (Kasparov-Short, World Ch Match, London 1993).

8. -- Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3

• This Spanish set up was favored by Steinitz. White will quoetly develop his pieces and postpone the theatrics for later.
• If 10. Nc3 h6 11. a3 then:
• 11. -- Bc5 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Ba2 d6 14. b4 Bb6 15. Bxd4 exd4 16. Ne2 c5 17. Nf4 Qc7 is equal (Bologan-Onischuk, Rapid Trmt, Cap dAgde 2002).
• 11. -- Bf8 12. Nd5 d6 13. Bd2 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Rb8 draw agreed (A. Sokolov-Z. Almasi, Ohrid 2001).

10. -- h6

• If 10. -- d6 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 then:
• 13. -- Rc8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 Nd7 16. Bd2 Nb6 17. Nh2 Rc7 18. f4 Bh4 19. Qg4 c4 is balanced (Anand-Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Monaco 2007).
• 13. -- h6 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. Nh2 d5 16. Ng4 Re6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qe2 g6 19. Be3 Qh4 is equal (A. Sololov-Howell, French TCh, Paris 2006).

11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 Na5 13. Bc2

• 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nb3 Nxb3 15. Bxb3 Qc7 16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxc4 d5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Bd2 Rad8 21. Qc2 Qd6 draw agreed (Akopian-Tkachiev, IT, Enghien-les-Bains 2001).

13. -- c5 14. d4 d6!?

• Black breaks form the book. The move reinforces the e-pawn.
• 14. -- cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd4 Nb4 18. axb5 Nxc2 19. Qxc2 axb5 20. Nxb5 Qb6 21. Nc3 Qc6 22. Nf3 gives White some initiative (Anand-Svidler, Morelia-Linares 2007).

15. b3?!

• White weakens the c3 point in order to reinforce the pawn at a4.
• A better appoach would have been to simply exchange the a-pawn: 15. axb5 axb5 16. d5 c4 17. Nf1 Qc7 18. Ne3 Ra6 is unclear.

15. -- exd4

• Black decides the time is ripe to open the center.
• Black might have done a little better with 15. -- cxd4 16. cxd4 bxa4 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. bxa4 Bc5 19. Rb1 Qc7 gives Black a few more options.

16. cxd4

Black: Gabriel Sargissian
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White: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 16. cd4:p

16. -- d5!?

• This move is risky.
• After 16. -- bxa4 17. Rxa4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nc6 19. N2f3 Qc7 20. Rc4 White is putting pressue on the Knight at c6.

17. e5

• White seeks a pawn majority on the kingside as a long term advantage.
• The alternative is to exchange in the center: 17. exd5 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Qxd5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bb2 b4 Fritz says the position is equal, but Black's c-pawn looks more menacing that White's e-pawn.

17. -- Ne4!

• Black continues to play aggressively. He sees that his position is perfectly satifactory after the ensuing exchanges.
• 17. -- Nd7 is objectively better, but after 18. Qe2 c4 19. axb5 axb5 20. bxc4 bxc4 the position is lifeless.

18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Qd5

• This is the position Black was aiming for on his 17th move. Black now has the initiative.
• 20. -- bxa4 21. Rxa4 Qd5 22. Re3 Nc6 23. Bb2 cxd4 24. Nxd4 is even.

21. Re3 Nc6 22. Rd3

• Black protects his base pawn/
• After 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Bb2 Rd8 Black is calling the tune and making White dance around the d-pawn.

22. -- Rad8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Be3?!

• White adds to the support of his d-pawn, but the d-pawn didn't need any more support. If Black executes a series of exchanges on d4, it is the e-pawn that will be vulnerable.
• The best way to protect both the d- and e-pawns at once is 24. Bb2 cxd4 25. e6 Qxe6 26. Nxd4 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Qf5 28. Qf1 giving White an equal game.
• also good is 24. Bf4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Qd2 b4 27. Rd1 Rc8 28. Qb2 which is equal and has White fighting to take over the initiative.

24. -- cxd4 25. Nxd4?

• 25. e6 Bc5 26. exf7+ Qxf7 27. Bd2 Qf5 28. Be1 b4 29. Qc2 Rd6 maintains tension, but the tension should resolve to equality.

Black: Gabriel Sargissian
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White: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 25. Nfed4:p

25. -- Nxe5!

• Black finds the winning continuation. With this move and the next he harrasses the Rook away from the defense of the Knight and then strikes the decisive blow.
• If 25. -- Nxd4 26. Rxd4 Qxe5 then:
• 27. Qd3 Rxd4 28. Bxd4 Qd5 29. Qc3 b4 30. Qb2 Qe4 31. Be3 is drawish.
• 27. b4 Rxd4 28. Bxd4 Qg5 29. Be3 Qf5 30. Qb3 Bd6 31. Ra7 Re4 is balanced.

26. Rd2 Bb4 27. Rc2 f5!

• The pawn advance is decisive. White could resign here.

28. Rc7

• No matter how White plays, he quickly gets a hopeless position.
• After 28. Ra7 f4 29. Rcc7 Bf8 30. Bxf4 Qxd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 Black is a piece up.
• 28. Rac1 Qe4 29. Qh5 f4 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. Ne2 Qf8 also give Black an extra piece.
• After 28. Qc1 f4 29. Bxf4 Nd3 30. Qf1 Qxd4 Black has won a Knight.
• If 28. f4 Ng4!! then:
• After 29. hxg4 29. -- Rxe3 30. Rc7 Bc5 Black wins at least the exchange.
• 29. Bf2 Nxf2 30. Rxf2 Re1+ Black wins the Queen.

28. -- f4!

• White cannot avoid the loss of a piece.

29. Qh5

• 29. Raa7 Bf8 transposes into the first variation of the note to White's 28th move.

29. -- fxe3 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nf5+ Kf6

• If 31. -- Kg8 32. Nxh6+ Kf8 then:
• 33. fxe3 33. -- Nf7 34. Qg6 Qxb3 35. Qg8+ Ke7 36. Ra7+ Rd7 White is two pieces down.
• 33. Qf5+ Nf7 34. Qxf7+ Qxf7 35. Nxf7 Kxf7 is curatins for White.
• The requires no comment.

32. Ra6+ Re6 33. Qxh6+ Kxf5 34. g4+ Nxg4 35. hxg4+ Kxg4 36. Qg7+ Qg5 37. Qxg5+ Kxg5 38. Rxe6 exf2+ 39. Kxf2 Rd5 40. 0-1

• Black is a whole piece to the good.
• Sasikiran resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Hou Yifan- Pérez Candelario, Ruy López Memorial, Round 7, Zfara

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Hou Yifan vs. Manuel Pérez Candelario
Ruy Lopez Memorial Tournament, Round 7
Zafra, Extremadura (Spain), March 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Chigorin Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7

• This is the main line of the Chigorin defense.
• If 13. -- Nc6 then:
• 14. d5 14. -- Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 16. Nf1 Bd7
• After 17. a3 Na6 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bg5 Kg7 20. Qd2 Rfc8 21. Nh4 Ng8 the game is equal (Paridar-Ursic, World Jr Ch (Girls), Istanbul 2005).
• 17. Bd2 Rfc8 18. Ne3 Na6 19. Nh2 Nc5 20. Qf3 Qd8 21. h4 g6 22. g4 h6 is equal and tense (Admas-Ivanchuk, Luzern 1989).
• 14. Nb3 a5 15. Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 Qb7
• 18. Qe2 Rfe8 19. Bd3 Rab8 maintains a balanced tension in the center.
• 18. Nf1 Rfe8 19. Ng3 Bd8 20. d5 Ne7 is level.

14. d5

• If 14. Nf1 Rac8 15. Bb1 then:
• 15. -- Rfe8 16. Ng3 g6
• 17. d5 Nd7 18. Bd3 Nc4 19. Nh2 Qd8 is an equal game (Gunnarsson-Bronstein, Op Trmt, Reykjavik 1994).
• 17. Bd3 Bf8 18. a4 b4 19. Bd2 exd4 20. Bxb4 Nc6 21. Bd2 Nd7 gives White better pawn strucure, but Black's pieces appear ready to spring to life more easily (Zurakhov-Nezhmetdinov, Russian SFSR Ch, Rostov-on-Don 1954).
• If 15. -- d5!? (an innovation of Keres') then:
• 16. exd5 exd4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 Nxd5 19. Qd3 g6 20. Bg3 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Geller-Keres, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1951).
For many years, Keres said his 15. -- d5 was refuted by 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Bf4 Bb4 18. Re2 f5 19. Bd3 Nc4 20. Rc1 Qe7 21. Rec2 Bc5 but this, too, appears to be playable for both sides (Klovans-Tal, Riga 1952).

14. -- Rac8 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Nf1 f5 17. Ng3

• This move, typical in Spanish positions, is often the prelude to a kingside attack.
• 17. exf5 Bxd5 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Bc6 20. Ne3 d5 21. Rc1 Qb7 gives Black a pawn center, but the duo is weak (Fressinet-Postny, Eur Ind Ch, Warsaw 2005).

17. -- f4 18. Nf5

Black: Manuel Pérez Candelario
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White: Hou Yifan
Position after 18. Ng3f5

18. --Rxf5?!

• The simple retreat of the Bishop is probably better and safer than the exchange sacrifice. In the present game, Black is never compensated for the material deficit.
• 18. -- Bd8 19. b3 Nc5 20. Bb2 Rxf5 21. exf5 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qc2 23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Ba3 Bb6 is level (Solovjov-Kuzmin, Russian Ch Qual, St. Petersburg 2004).

19. exf5 Nf6

• Black restrains the pawn. He cannot capture it immediately, so he makes good use of it by letting it shelter his Knight.
• After 19. -- Nc5 20. b3 Bf6 21. Rb1 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qc2 23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Rb2 Rc8 25. Rd2 White can claim to have successfully stopped Black's pawn center (Leko-Gómez Ésteban, Pamplona 1993).

20. Ng5

• From here, the Knight has much potential for mischief. The paladin can support an attack on h7 or establish himself on the outpost at d6.
• 20. Bd2 Bxd5 21. Bxa5 Qxa5 22. Bc2 Qb4 23. Bb3 Bxb3 24. Qxb3+ Qxb3 25. axb3 Ra8 26. Rec1 Nd5 27. Rc6 Nb4 28. Rc7 Bf6 29. Nd2 d5 30. f3 draw agreed (Korneev-Marin, Spanish Ch, Sanxenxo 2004).

20. -- Bxd5 21. Be4 Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4

• White stands slightly better. She smartly uses Black's pawns as stop points for her pieces.
• If 23. Qd5+ Kf8 24. Qxe4 Qc2 25. Qd5 Qxf5 26. Bd2 Nc4 27. Bc3 Rc5 28. Qa8+ Qc8 29. Qe4 g6 then:
• 30. b3 Nb6 31. Bd4 Rc6 32. Bxb6 Rxb6 33. Rac1 Qb7 34. Qxb7 Rxb7 is headed for a draw (Svartbo-Richard, Internet 2004).
• 30. Rac1 a5 31. Bd4 Rc7 32. b3 Nb6 33. Rxc7 Qxc7 34. Bxb6 Qxb6 is unclear (Sakai-Schneider, Internet 2004).

23. -- Qb7!?

• Black closes the book and introduces an original move. Rather than exchange Queens, he chooses to get his Queen out of an open file with tempo.
• 23. -- Qc2 24. Qd5+ Kf8 25. Bd2 Qxb2 26. f6 gxf6 27. Rae1 Nc6 is unclear (Hermansson-Ong, Swedish Ch, Gothenburg 2004).

24.Re1 Rf8?

• White's pawn is doomed and there is no rush to get if off the board. The move that does the most for Black here is 24. -- Nc4 closing Whites's avenues of penetration on the queenside.
• If 24. -- Nc4 then:
• 25. b3 Nb6 26. Ba3 Qd7 27. Qd3 Re8 28. Qc3 Nd5 29. Qa5 Qb7 30. Qd2 gives White more piece activity.
• After 27. -- d5 28. Rxe7 Qxe7 29. Qd4 exd4 30. Rxe7 White is up by an exchange with a Rook on the seventh rank.
• 25. Qb3!? d5 26. Rd1 Bc5 27. Qf3 Nb6 28. Qe2 Qc7 is unclear.

25. Qd3

• A pawn is a pawn. White is going to make Black earn it.
• White remains better after 25. a4 bxa4 26. Rxa4 Nb3 27. Bd2 Nxd2 28. Qxd2 Rxf5 29. Rb4 but her chances of converting the full point are better with the text move.

25. -- Rf6

• Black has no satisfactory move.
• If 25. -- f3 26. g3 Rd8 27. b3 then:
• 27. -- Bf6 28. Qd2 Qc7 29. Qd5+ gives White an tremendous initiative.
• 27. -- Rc8 loses quicly to 28. Bd2 b4 29. Rac1 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 leaving White an exchange up.

Black: Manuel Pérez Candelario
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White: Hou Yifan
Position after 25. -- Rf8f6

26. b3!!

• This keps the Knight out of c3 for good, ending Black's hopes of obtaining any counterplay on the Queen's wing.
• White is still better after 26. Bd2 Nc4 27. Bc3 Nb6 28. Rac1 Qd7 29. Ba5 Nc4 30. Bb4 but now she's a long ways for winning.
• As things stand on the bpard, the game is won for White.

26. -- g6 27. Bd2 Nc6

• 27. -- b4 28. fxg6 Rxg6 29. Re4 Kg7 30. Qf3 Bd8 31. Rae1 then:
• 31. -- Rf6 32. Bxb4 d5 Rxe5 theatens to win by 34. Bxa5 Bxa5 35 Re7+ thus forcing the continuation 33. Qxb4 34. Qg4+ Rg6 35. Qd7+ Kh6 Qxd8 leaving Black's King badly exposed while White's heavy pieces roam freely and fire at will.
• 31. -- Bf6 32. a3 Qd5 33. axb4 leaves White in full command as the Knight is en prise and if 33. -- Nxb3 34. Bxf3 Black cannot play 34. -- exf4 because 35. Re7+! wins the Queen.

28. fxg6 Rxg6 29. Qd5+ Kf8

• After 29. -- Kh8 30. Rac1 f3 31. g3 Nd8 32. Qxb7 Nxb7 33. Rc7 White wins a piece.

30. Bxf4!

• Black gains nothing by taking the poffered Bishop: after 30. -- exf4 31. Rac1 Nd8 32. Qxb7 Nxb7 33. Rc7 White gets the piece back with intesrest.

30. -- Nd8 31. Qxb7 Nxb7 32. Be3 d5 33. Rac1 d4 34. Rc8+ Nd8

• White starts harvesting pawns after 34. -- Bd8 35. Bd2 Ke7 36. Rxe5+ Kd7 37. Ra8 d3 38. Rh5

35. Bd2 Re6 36. f4 e4 37. f5 1-0

• If 37. -- 37. -- Re5 38. Bf4 Rxf5 39. Rxe4 then:
• 39. -- Bf6 40. Bc7 Rd5 41. Rf4 Kg7 42. Rxf6 Kxf6 43. Bxd8+ leaves White a piece ahead.
• After 39. -- Kf7 40. g4 Rd5 41. Bd2 Bf6 42. Rc7+ Kg6 43. Re8 White's Rooks will undermine Black's position from behind.
• El señor Pérez Candelario resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Aronian - Gelfand, Amber Rapid, Round 3, Monaco

Levon Aronian
Photo: 64 (Russia)

Levon Aronian vs. Boris Gelfand
Amber Tournament (Rapid), Round 3
Monaco, March 2007

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Hastings Opening (Anti-Meran Gambit)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6

• If 5. -- dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 then:
• After 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 0-0-0 15. 0-0 b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 exd5 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Be3 Nc5 20. Qg4+ Rd7 21. Qg7 Bxg7 22. fxg7 Rg8 23. Nxc5 Rxg7 24. Nxd7 Qxd7 Black has the edge with his oncoming pawns (Ponomariov-Shirov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2003).
• After 12. Be2 Qb6 13. 0-0 0-0-0 14. a4 b4 15. Ne4 c5 16. Qb1 Qc7 Black's queenside pawns and his focus on h2 give his a distinct advantage (Denker-Botvinnik, US-Soviet TMatch, via radio 1945).

6. Bh4

• If 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. 0-0 Bg7 11. Rc1 0-0 then:
• 12. Re1 Qe7 13. e4 Rd8 14. e5 a6 15. Qe2 b5 16. Bd3 c5 17. d5 Rb8 18. d6 Qe8 19. b3 g5 20. h3 Bb7 21. Be4 f5 22. exf6 draw agreed (Marzolo-Lautier, French Ch, Chartres 2005).
• 12. b4 Qe7 13. Qb3 Rd8 14. Rfd1 Nb6 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Ne4 Be8 is equal (Aseev-Korotylev, Petrov Mem Op, St. Petersburg 2000).

6. -- dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. 0-0

• If 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. 0-0 Nbd7 then:
• 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bg7 15. Rad1 0-0 16. Bg3 Nd7 17. f3 Qb6 18. Kh1 c5 19. d5 Ne5 20. fxg4 hxg4 21. Qc1 Nd3 22. Bxd3 cxd3 23. Rxd3 b4 is unclear (van Wely-Kobalia, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2006).
• 13. a3 Be7 14. Bf4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Rg8 16. g3 Nd7 17. Bf4 a6 18. Qc2 c5 19. Rad1 Qb6 Black advanced wing pawns are paralyzing White's central pieces (Huang Qian-Ruan Lufei, Chinese Ch, Wuxi 2006).

10. -- Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5

• 11. -- Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. Bh5 Bf8 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16. e5 Qb6 17. Ne4 +/= Radjabov-Anand, Rapid World Ch, Mainz 2006

12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Rh6 14. Qc1 c5!?

• Black introduces a new move. It looks good enough to maintain tension in a sharp position.
• 14. -- Rg6 15. Rd1 Ng4 16. a4 a6 17. Bxg4 hxg4 18. Qe3 f6 19. Bg3 Kf7 20. d5 is unclear (L'Ami-Erenburg, ACT, Amsterdam 2006).

15. dxc5!?

• White opens the d-file expecting to be able to gain time with Rd1 at the right moment.
• 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. dxc5 b4 17. Nb1 Rf4 18. Nd2 Bxc5 19. Qxc4 Rc8 is balanced; Black's kingside spacew counts for little since most of his pieces are on the opposite wing.

15. -- b4

• Black times the attack on the Knight well. There is no place for the Knight to move that will not disrupt lines of communication.
• If 15. -- Nxe4 16. Rd1 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 then:
• 17. -- Qc6 18. Bf3 then:
• 18. -- Qc8 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Bg7 b4 21. Qe5 gives White a fierce initiative.
• 18. -- Qa6? 19. Bg7 Bxg7 20. Qxg7 Rg6 21. Qh8+ Ke7 22. Qh5 gives White an outpost on d6 that can be exploited quickly.
• 17. -- Bd5 18. Bg7 Rh7 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. a4 bxa4 21. Bxc4 gives White more freedom and an active focal point on d5.

16. Qxg5

• White brings the Queen into the frey, balance the attack of the Knight at c3 with an attack on the Knight at f6.
• If 16. Bxf6 Rxf6 17. Nb1 then:
• 17. -- Rf4 18. Rd1 Qc6 19. Nd2 Bxc5 20. Bf3 Rd8 21. Nxc4 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 Qxc4 gives Black an extra pawn and powerful piece activity.
• After 17. -- Bxc5 18. Qxg5 Qd4 19. Bxc4 Rxf2 20. Bb5+ Kf8 21. Qh6+ Ke7 22. Qg5+ Kd6 Black has significantly better piece activity.

16. -- Rg6 17. Qf4

• White continues to attack the Knight at f6.
• If 17. Qh4 Be7 18. Rad1 Qc8 19. Bxh5 Nxe4
• 20. Bxg6 Bxh4 21. Nxe4 Be7 22. Bh7 Qc6 23. Rd4 is level.
• 20. Qxe4? Bxe4 21. Nxe4 Rh6 leaves White with insufficient compensation for the Queen.

17. -- Ng4 18. Rad1 Qc6

Black: Boris Gelfand
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 18. -- Qd7c6

19. Nd5!!

• This sacrifice is speculative, aimed at creating complications. White will play down a piece for some time.
• 19. Bd6? Bh6 20. Qf3 Rf6 21. Qg3 bxc3 22. Qxc3 Qxe4 23. Bf3 (forced) 23. -- Rxf3 24. gxf3 Qxf3 25. Qxf3 Bxf3 gives Black two active minor pieces for a Rook and pawn.

19. -- exd5 20. exd5 Qxc5 21. Rfe1

• White is a piece down, but his pieces are active and posed to strike a Black's King, which is caught in an open center.

21. -- Bh6 22. Qf5 Bc8 23. Bd4

• White has no margin of error. His every move must be precise.
• 23. Bxg4? Bxf5 24. Bd6+ Kd8 25. Bxc5 Bxg4 26. Rd4 Bf3 gives Black a very strong position.

23. -- Bxf5 24. Bxc5 Kd8 25. Bxc4 Bd7?

• The escape routes for Black's Knight are limited.
• Correct is 25. -- Bf4 (to open h6 for the Knight) 26. Be7+ Kc7 27. g3 Bd6 28. Rc1
• 28. -- Bxe7 29. Rxe7+ Kd6 30. Rxf7 Rf6 Black's minor pieces are the most active things on the board.
• After 28. -- Kb6 29. Bd3 Bxd3 30. Rc6+ Ka5 31. Bxd6 Ka4 Black's King is safe for the time being and his pieces are still active.
• 26. -- Kc8 27. h4 a5 28. d6 Bh2+ 29. Kf1 Ne5 30. Be2 Rh6 is equal.

Black: Boris Gelfand
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 25. -- Bf5d7

26. h3!

• The gentle attack is well timed. The Knight must retreat to f6.
• A more alborate versio is 26. Be7+ Kc7 27. d6+ Kb6 28. Bxf7 Rg7 29. Bd5 Rc8 30. h3! gives the Knight nowhere to go.

26. -- Nf6 27. Bd3 Ng8{/b]

• If the Rook retreats 27. -- Rg8 then White wins the Knight 28. Be7+!.

28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Bxb4

• For the time being, White has a Rook and three pawns for two minor pieces.

29. -- 30. Bc3 Ra6 31. d6 Bf8 32. Re5 a4

• 32. -- Bxd6 33. Bxa5+ Bc7 34. b4 Nf6 35. a3 Bxa5 36. Rxa5 Black pieces are tied up, allowing White to advance the queenside pawns.

33. Ra5 Rxd6 34. Ra8+ Bc8

• 34. -- Kc7 35. Be5 Kb7 36. Bxd6 Kxa8 37. Bxf8 gives White a prohibitive material edge.

35. Rc1 Ne7 36. Bb4 1-0

• 36. -- Rd7 37. Bxe7+ Kxe7 38. Rcxc8 is completely hopeless for Black.
• Mr. Gelfand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Viktor Korchnoi, the grand old man of chess, turned 76 last week

Happy birthday to a legend and still the 85th ranked player in the world
Photo: http://www.chessbase.com/newsroom2.asp?id=2118">:ChessBase.com