The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for April 1: Krmanik, Anand take Monaco

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending April 1



Image: Natalia Danko, Propaganda Chess Set, Soviet Union, c. 1922
from Gaver & Porselen.com (Norway)

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 April 1

Kramnik, Anand take Blinfold/Rapid in Monaco



The 16th annual Melody Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament concluded Thursday in Monaco with first place finishes for world champion Vladimir Kramnik and Indian grandmaster Vishy Anand.

Kramnik won the blindfold competition and the overall event while Anand took the rapid competition. Both Kramnik and Anand won the events by 2 points over their nearest rivals.

Kramnik scord 9 points out of 11 in blindfold play while Anand, long considered the world's best rapid player, scored 8½ points in the rapid competition.

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 ----(-W)
.1 Vladimir Kramnik. . .- 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 9. (7) Anand. . . .- 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 8½ (6) Kramnik . .15½ (10)
.2 Alexander Morozevich.0 - ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 7. (5) Ivanchuk . .0 - ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 6½ (4) Anand . . .13½ ( 9)
.3 Boris Gelfand . . . .0 ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 7. (4) Leko . . . .½ ½ - 0 ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 6½ (4) Ivanchuk. .13. ( 7)
.4 Peter Svidler . . . .½ 0 ½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 6½ (3) Kramnik. . .½ 0 1 - 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ (3) Aronian . .12. ( 9)
.5 Vassily Ivanchuk. . .½ ½ ½ ½ - 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 6½ (3) Carlsen. . .½ 1 ½ 0 - ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ (3) Svidler . .12. ( 6)
.6 Levon Aronian . . . .0 0 0 ½ 1 - 1 0 ½ 1 1 1 6. (5) Aronian. . .0 ½ 1 ½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½ 6. (4) Morozevich.11½ ( 7)
.7 Vishy Anand . . . . .0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 - 1 ½ ½ 1 1 5. (3) Svidler. . .0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ - 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 5½ (3) Gelfand . .11½ ( 4)
.8 Teimour Radjabov. . .0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 0 - ½ ½ 1 1 5. (3) Morozevich .½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 - ½ 0 1 1 4½ (2) Leko. . . .10½ ( 5)
.9 Peter Leko. . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 4. (1) Gelfand. . .½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ 0 ½ 4½ (0) Carlsen . .10½ ( 3)
10 Magnus Carlsen. . . .½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ - ½ 0 4. (0) Radjabov . .0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½ - ½ 0 4. (1) Radjabov. . 9. ( 4)
11 Loek van Wely . . . .0 1 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ - 1 3½ (2) Vallejo. . .0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½ - 1 4. (1) van Wely. . 6½ ( 4)
12 Paco Vallejo. . . . .½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 2½ (1) van Wely . .0 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 0 ½ 1 0 - 3. (2) Vallejo . . 6½ ( 2)

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

Kramnik also won the overall event by two points over Anand. Kramnik tied for second in Rapid play while Anand scored just under 50% in the blindfold event. Kramnik scored a total of 15½ points out of a possible 22.

Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine tied for second with Kramnik and Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko with 6½ points and finshed a repectable fourth. also with 6½ points, in blindfold for an overall third place finish. With the exception of Kramnik, no other player did as well as Ivanchuk in both divisions.


European Individual Championships begin tomorrow



The eighth annual European Individual Championships begin tomorrow (Monday) in Dresden.

The general division will feature two players from the world's top ten, fifth ranked Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and ninth ranked Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine. Dmitry Jakovenko, the newest member of the 2700 club, is also competing as is the defending champion from last year, Zdenko Kozul of Croatia.

The women's section is headed by former women's world champion Antoanetta Stefanova of Bulgaria and the Kosintseva sisters, Nadezhda and Tatiana, form Arkangelsk, Russia. Also competing are Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia and defending champion Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey.

Official website (English language version).


Sofia lineup set for May



The six participants in the third annual MTel Masters' Tournament in Sofia have been named.

The six are Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, winner of the first two Sofia tournaments, British grandmaster Mickey Adams, American GM Gata Kamsky, Shakhriyat Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, Romania's Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu and Krishnan Sasikiran of India.

The tournament begins in Sofia on May 9.


April ratings list released: Controversy ensues



The April ratings list has been released by FIDE.

India's VIshy Anand was expected to take the top spot on the basis of his first-place performance in Morelia-Linares, but the event was not included in the April ratings list as it usually is. Linares finished this year on March 10.

Under a strict application of the rules, no tournament completed after the last day of February should be included in the April ratings list; however, Linares results have always been applied to the April list in the past.

As a result, former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria remains number 1 with a rating of 2791, largely based on his performance in Wijk aan Zee in January and not counting a poor showing in Linares, where Topa was badly out of form. Anand remains number 2 with a rating of 2778. Were Linares included, the positions and ratings of the two top players would almost be reversed.

World champion Vladimir Kramnik is in third place with a rating of 2772.

Dmitry Jakovenko, the rising star from Russia, broke the 2700 barrier, appearing on the list at number 18 with a rating of 2708.

The list of grandmasters rated over 2700 as of now is:

.1 Veselin Topalov. . . . Bugaria. . . . . 2791
.2 Viswanathan Anand. . . India. . . . . . 2778
.3 Vladimir Kramnik . . . Russia . . . . . 2772
.4 Levon Aronian. . . . . Armenia. . . . . 2759
.5 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Azerbaijan . . . 2757
.6 Alexander Morozevich . Russia . . . . . 2756
.7 Peter Leko . . . . . . Hungary. . . . . 2749
.8 Teimour Radjabov . . . Azerbaijan . . . 2747
.9 Vassily Ivanchuk . . . Ukraine. . . . . 2735
10 Michael Adams. . . . . England. . . . . 2734
11 Boris Gelfand. . . . . Israel . . . . . 2733
12 Peter Svidler. . . . . Russia . . . . . 2731
13 Judit Polgar . . . . . Hungary. . . . . 2727
14 David Navara . . . . . Czech Republic . 2720
15 Ruslan Ponomariov. . . Ukraine. . . . . 2717
16 Alexander Grischuk . . Russia . . . . . 2717
17 Etienne Bacrot . . . . France . . . . . 2709
18 Dmitry Jakovenko . . . Russia . . . . . 2708
19 Gata Kamsky. . . . . . United States. . 2705

Many observers expect FIDE to issue a revised list, possibly later this week. However, Nigel Freeman, a member of FIDE's presidential board, issued the following statement:

Before the conspiracy theories get out of hand, perhaps I can explain what happened to the best of my knowledge.

With regards to Morelia-Linares etc., in order to be completely fair, the Ratings Committee has decided that only tournaments that finished a month before the rating list comes into effect should be rated. Once one starts to make exceptions, where does one stop? Why Morelia-Linares and not a whole host of others?

This may explain why Morelia-Linares was excluded, but, as the ChessBase website points out, it does not explain why the Asian Cities Tournament in Tehran, which began March 1, was included, or why a number of other events which, like Morelia-Linares, began in February but were completed in March were included.

Anand has been ranked either second or third in each list relaeased since quarterly lists began in 2001. He has never been ranked first. Topalov has been ranked first ever since the retirement of former world champion Garry Kasparov two years ago.

It is not known whether the decision to exclude Morelia-Linares from the April rating calculations was made before or after the event started. It was not announced until this weekend.

The All India Chess Federation has issued a protest to FIDE on Anand's behalf.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update: FIDE will update April ratings list; Anand to be Number One

The ChessBase website is reporting that FIDE has relented to the protests of the All India Chess Federation and will update the April ratings list to include the Morelia-Linares Super GM Tournament as it has in past years.

Vishy Anand will be number one on the new ratings list.

The revised list is expected to be published in a day or two.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Monday Update: There's nothing fishy, it's Vishy -- FIDE releases revised ratings list

Anand Number One on revised ratings list



Vishy Anand
Photo: London Chess Center

Vishy Anand of India officially became the first Asian chessplayer in to achieve the top spot of FIDE's quarterly ratings list when a revised list for April was issued today.

The origianal April list releasd over the weekend had Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov in the number one position with 2791 ratings points and Anand at number 2 with 2778. The weekend list did not include the Morelia-Linares tournament, which Anand won while a badly out of form Topalov finished near the foot of the table.

The All India Chess Federation protested to FIDE on Anand's behalf almost immediately.

On the revised list, Anand has a rating of 2786 while Topalov falls to a tie for the second spot with world champion Vladimir Kramnik at 2772.

Grandmasters rated 2700 or better
April 2007

.1 Viswanathan Anand . . . . . . India . . . . . . . . . 2786
.2 Veselin Topalov . . . . . . . Bulgaia . . . . . . . . 2772
.3 Vladimir Kramnik. . . . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . 2772
.4 Alexander Morozevich. . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . 2762
.5 Levon Aronian . . . . . . . . Aremeia . . . . . . . . 2759
.6 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov . . . . Azerbaijan. . . . . . . 2757
.7 Teimour Radjabov. . . . . . . Azerbaijan. . . . . . . 2747
.8 Peter Leko. . . . . . . . . . Hungary . . . . . . . . 2738
.9 Peter Svidler . . . . . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . 2736
10 Michael Adams . . . . . . . . England . . . . . . . . 2734
11 Boris Gelfand . . . . . . . . Israel. . . . . . . . . 2733
12 Vassily Ivanchuk. . . . . . . Ukraine . . . . . . . . 2729
13 Judit Polgar. . . . . . . . . Hungary . . . . . . . . 2727
14 David Navara. . . . . . . . . Czech Republic. . . . . 2720
15 Ruslan Ponomariov . . . . . . Ukraine . . . . . . . . 2717
16 Alexander Grischuk. . . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . 2717
17 Etienne Bacrot. . . . . . . . France. . . . . . . . . 2709
18 Dmitry Jakovenko. . . . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . 2708
19 Geta Kamsky . . . . . . . . . United States . . . . . 2705

Other grandmasters benefitting on the April list from the inclusion of Morelia-Linares are the two second place finishers in the event, Russia's Alexander Morozevich and 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Morozevich is now fourth on the list with a rating of 2762. Carlsen would have fallen to 33rd without Morelia-Linares, but is in the 22nd spot on the revised list at 2693, a gain of three points over his January rating.

Anand has been a perennial bridesmaid on the ratings list for almost a decade. During that time, he was ranked either second or third on all lists issued, but never until today first.

[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.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Peter Leko - Vladimir Kramnik, Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold), Round 7, Monaco
Vishy Anand - Vassily Ivanchuk, Melody Amber Tournament (Rapid), Round 3, Monaco
Vladimir Kramnik - Vassily Ivanchuk, Melody Amber Tournament (Rapid), Round 5, Monaco
Dmitry Jakovenko - Evgeny Alekseev, Karpov Tournament, Round 1, Poikovsky
Viorel Bologan - Vlad Tkachiev, Karpov Tournament, Round 8, Poikovsky

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Leko - Kramnik, Amber Blindfold, Round 7, Monaco

World champion Vladimir Kramnik won the Amber Blindfold competition with a phenomonal 7 victories and 4 draws in eleven games.



Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: From the website of Vladimir Kramnik

Peter Leko vs. Vladimir Kramnik
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold), Round 7
Monaco, March 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3

• White says, "You want to play the Marshall Gambit? Bring it on!"

8. -- d5!

• "I'm only too happy to oblige, hombre," replies Black.

9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4

• If 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 then:
• 13. -- Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 Qf5 16. Nd2 Qg6 17. Re1 f5
• After 18. a4 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ne4 fxe4 21. dxe4 Bg4 22. Qd4 Bf3 23. exd5 c5 24. Qh4 Rbe8 25. Be3 Qf5 26. Rac1 Be4 27. Bd1 Bxd5 28. Bc2 White retains his estra pawn with an improving position (Anand-Adams, Sparkassen, Dortmund 2000).
• 18. Qf3 Kh8 19. Bd1 f4 20. g4 h5 21. h3 Nf6 22. Qg2 hxg4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24. Re6 Qh5 25. Bxg4 Nxg4 26. Rxd6 Rae8 White retains the extra pawn but Black's piece activity is still good compensation (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Dos Hermanas 1999).
• 13. -- Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Bxd3 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. Qf3 Bc4 20. Nd2 Be6 21. Bd4 Bb8 22. Ne4 Bd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Qf6+ Kg8 draw agreed (Bacrot-Aronian, FIDE World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005).

12. -- Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2

• If 17. Qf1 Qh5 18. Nd2 then:
• 18. -- f5? 19. f4 g5 20. Bxd5+ cxd5 21. Qg2 Re4 22. Nxe4 fxe4 White is up by a pawn and an exchange (Finn Nohr-A. Tate, Op Trmt,Norresundby 1993).
18. -- Bh3 19. Qd3 Bf5 20. Qe2 Bg4 21. Qf1 Bh3 draws.

17. -- Re6 18. a4 Qh5

• If font color="red"]18. -- f5 19. Qf1 Qh5 20. f4 bxa4 then:
• font color="red"]21. Rxa4! 21. -- Rb8 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Qg2 Qe8 24. Qxd5 Kh8 25. Nc4 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rg6 is unclear (Kamsky-J. Polgar, Linares 1994).
• After 21. Bxd5? cxd5 22. Rxa4 Qe8 White resigns as either 23. Bf2 Rxe1 24. Qxe1 Qxa4 or 23. Rxa6 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 Qxe3+ loses a piece (Renet-Nunn, Haifa 1989).
/

19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3!?

• White introduces a novelty. It looks like a good one, if only because it gains time on the Queen.
• 20. -- Rfe8 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. h3 Bh5 23. Qg2 Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 White has an extra pawn (J. Polgar-Adams, FIDE World Ch, San Luis 2005).

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 20. -- Bg4h3

21. Bd1

• White replies by attacking Black's Queen.
• If font color="red"]21. Qd3 Bf5 22. Qf1 b4 then:
• 23. Ra7 Rfe8 24. Qg2 Bh3 25. Qf3 Bg4 26. Qh1 Be2 27. Bxd5 cxd5 is unclear.
• After 23. Ra5 Bc7 24. Ra7 Bb6 25. Rb7 bxc3 26. bxc3 Ba5 27. Bxd5 cxd5 the position remains unclear with White retaining the extra pawn and Black getting more piece activity.

21. -- Qf5 22. Qe2 c5!?

• Black assumes some risk with this move, which weakens the b-pawn.
• 22. -- Rfe8 23. Qf3 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Qd3 25. Ra7 Rf6 26. Qe2 Qxe2 27. Rxe2 is level.

23. Nf3 Bf4

• Black attacks a pinned piece, but White has no trouble escaping.
• font color="red"]23. -- Nf4 then:
• 24. Qxb5 Ng2 25. Qc4
• 25. -- Rfe8 26. b3 Nxe1 27. Nxe1 cxd4 28. Bc2 Qf6 29. cxd4 is equal.
• 25. -- Nxe1 26. Nxe1 cxd4 27. Bc2 Qf6 28. Qd3 White retains a material edge while Black's piece activity is less of a problem.
• 24. gxf4?? Qg4+ 25. Kh1 Qg2#.

24. Qd2 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Bh6 26. Qf2 Rfe8

• Black applies pressure to White's weak e-pawn.
• After 26. -- Bg4 27. dxc5 Qxc5 28. Nd4 Bxd1 29. Raxd1 Rf6 30. Qc2 White retains the extra pawn, but Black's piewces are well positioned.

27. Ne5?!

• White shields the weak pawn, but allows Black counterplay.
• 27. Bc2 Qh5 28. e4 Rf6 29. Bd1 Bg4 30. Rf1 Bh3 31. Re1 Bg4 draws.

27. -- Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 f6 29. Bg4?

• White threatens to win the exchange, but the move is a fatal mistake.
• Correct is 29. Ng4 Bxg4 30. Bxg4 f5 31. Bf3 when:
• White wins a pawn after 31. -- Kf8 32. dxc5 Bxe3+ 33. Kg2 Bxc5 34. Rxe6 Rxe6 35. Ra5 Rb6 36. Be2.
• White also wins a pawn after 31. -- Bxe3+ 32. Kg2 R6e7 33. Bc6 Rc8 34. d5 Bg5 35. Rxe7 Bxe7 36. Bxb5.

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 29. Bd1g4

29. -- Rxe5!

• The exchange sacrifice gives Black a comfortable game.
• If 29. -- fxe5? 30. Bxh3 Rf6+ 31. Kg2 exd4 32. exd4 Rxe1 33. Rxe1 cxd4 34. cxd4 White retains the pawn and it is looking menacing.

30. Bxh3

• White declines the poffered exchange.
• 30. dxe5? Bxg4 31. exf6 Rf8 32. Ra3 Rxf6+ 33. Kg1 Rd6 yields Black two active Bishops for a Rook and a pawn.

30. -- Bxe3+ 31. Kf3

• White now has only bad moves and worse ones.
• 31. Rxe3 Rxe3 32. Bf1 cxd4 33. Bxb5 Rb8 34. Bc4+
• After 34. -- Kh8 35. cxd4 Re4 36. b3 Rxd4 37. Kf3 Rd7 38. Ra6 h6 Black is a whole exchange up and his Rooks free to leave the back rank.
• After 34. -- Kf8 35. cxd4 Re4 36. b3 Rxd4 37. Ra7 Rhd8 38. Ke3 R4d7 Black's material edge is being felt.

31. -- cxd4 32. Rad1 dxc3 33. bxc3 Bb6 34. Rxe5 Rxe5 35. Rd5 Re3+!

• 35. -- Rxd5?! 36. Be6+ Kf8 37. Bxd5 Ke7 38. Bc6 Ba5 looks drawish.

36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc2+ 38. Kh1 Bc7 39. Be6+ Kf8 40. Bb3 Rc3

• After 40. -- Rb2? 41. Bc4 Rc2 42. Bd3 Rd2 43. Bxh7 the game can be abandoned as drawn.

41. Kg2 g6 42. Bd1 Ke7 43. Rb2 Rd3 44. Be2 Re3 45. Bf3 Ra3 46. Re2+ Be5 47. g4 Ke6 48. Be4

• Black would probably hold out longer after 48. h4 f5 49. gxf5+ gxf5 50. Rd2 f4 51. Bg4+.

48. -- h5 49. gxh5 gxh5

• With each pawn exchange, Black's extra pawn looms larger and larger.

50. Rf2 Bd4 51. Rf3

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 51. Rf2f3

51. -- Ra2+!!

• font color="red"]51. -- Rxf3 52. Kxf3 f5 53. Bc2 Ke5 54. h4 then:
• 54. -- Bc3 55. Ke2 Bb4 56. Ke3 Be7 57. Bd1 f4+ 58. Kd3 Bxh4 59. Bxh5 draws.
• 54. -- Bc5 55. Bd1 f4 56. Kg2 Kd4 57. Bxh5 Be7 58. Kh3 Ke3 59. Bd1 Bxh4 60. Kxh4 f3 61. Bxf3 is a draw by insufficient force.

52. Kh3 Bg1 53. Bf5+ Ke5 54. Kh4 Rf2! 55. 0-1

• After 54. -- Rf2 55. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 56. Kxh5 Kxf5 Black will sacrifice the Bishop for the h-pawn while the King escorts the f-pawn to Scone.
• Leko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Anand - Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Round 3, Monaco

Vishy Anand, for many years regarded as the world's premier rapid player, won the rapid competition in Monaco by a comfortable two-point edge.



Vishy Anand
Photo: website of the 2006 Tal Memorial Tournament

Vishy Anand vs. Vassily Ivanchuk
Melody Amber Tournament (Rapid), Round 3
Monaco, March 2007

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

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 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3 d6

• For 10. -- h6 see the game Sasikiran-Sargissian, Zafra 2007.

11. Nbd2 Na5

• 11. -- h6 12. Nf1 Bf8 13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 transposes into the next note.

12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 Rc8

• 13. -- h6 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. Nh2 d5 16. Ng4 Re6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qe2 g6 19. Be3 is equal (A. Sokolov-Howell, French TCh, Paris 2006).

14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5!?

• White introduces a new move.
• If 15. Bh6 Bf8 16. Qd2 then:
• 16. -- Bg7 17. Nf5 Nxe4 18. dxe4
• 18. -- gxf5 19. b3 b4 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rad1 bxc3
After
• 22. Qxc3 f4 Black's center pawns, each supported by a heavy piece, effectively block the center (Kozlov-Ehlvest, Soviet Ch, Pinsk 1986).
• 22. Qxd6? fxe4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Black sends White to an early shower after 24. -- c2! 25. Qxd8 (forced) Rcxd8 26. Rc1 Rd1+/
• After 18. -- Nc4 19. Qg5 Qxg5 20. Nxg5 gxf5 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 Black is a pawn up and his minor pieces are more active.
• 16. -- Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Nc6 18. Ng5 Qe7 19. Re3 Qf8 20. Nf5 gives White a strong initiative.

15. -- Nd7

• This and other moves equalize:
• 15. -- Bf8 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. Rad1 Nc6 18. Bb3 a5.
• 15. -- c4 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 Nc6 18. Rc1 Nb4.
• 15. -- Qc7 16. Bd2 Nc6 17. Bg5 Rcd8 18. Bb3 Na5.

16. Bd2

• 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. Bb3 a5 19. Qh6 Nf6 20. Ng5 Rf8 is equal.

16. -- Nb6 17. Nh2 Rc7!?

• Could this be an attempt at being provocative? The Knight at a5 is left hanging and has no good escape route except through c6.
• 17. -- c4 18. d4 exd4 19. csd4 Nc6 20. Nf3 is safe and unambitious.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after 17. -- Rc8c7

18. f4!?

• This is a more guiunely provacative move.
• Had White taken advatage of the hanging Knight, he would have gotten nothing more that an even game.
• 18. c4 Nc6 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nf3 Rc8 21. Bb3 Ra8.

18. -- Bh4

• Black takes advantage of a hanging Knight.
• After 18. -- exf4?! 19. Bxf4 Bf6 20. Ng4 Bg7 21. Rf1 Nc6 22. Qd2 White's pieces look very lively.

19. Qg4 c4 20. Nf3

• White threatens the Bishop.
• If 20. Be3 Nd7 21. d4 h5 then:
• 22. Nxh5 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 exd4 24. Bxd4 Nc6 is unclear.
• 22. Qf3 Qf6 23. Red1 exd4 24. Bxd4 Qe6 25. Nxh5 gxh5 26. Qxh5 is a powerful position for White in spite of having only two pawns for a minor piece.

20. -- cxd3 21. Nxh4?!

• The move is very risky. The Knight has no forward point to which to move and White allows a Black pawn to the gates of Scone.
• If 21. Bxd3 Bxg3 22. Qxg3 Nac4 23. Rab1 then:
• 23. -- d5 24. Be3 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 exf4 26. Qxf4 Rce7 gives Black a good position by putting pressue on White weak e-pawn.
• 23. -- Nxd2 24. Nxd2 exf4 25. Qxf4 Rce7 26. Bc2 Qc7 is level.

21. -- dxc2 22. f5 Nac4 23. Bh6!

• As a result of the risk White took on his 21st move, Black has a strong position. White seeks to counter Black's initiative with a kingside attack.
• If White tickles the Queen with23. Bg5? he'll find it insufficient after 23. -- Qd7 24. Qe2 Nxb2 25. Qxc2 N2a4 and now:
• After 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Qf2 Rxc3 28. Nf3 Nc4 29. Ne2 Rc2 Black is up by two pawns with an active position.
• 26. Bd2 b4 27. fxg6 hxg6 28. Rab1 a5 29. Rb3 Rec8 Black is a pawn up and White's pieces are tied down to keep it from getting worse.

23. -- Bc8 24. Nh5 Nxb2 25. Bg5!

• White offers a Knight.
• If 25. Qg3? Rxc3 26. Qxc3 Qxh4 27. Qxc2 Qxh5 then:
• After 28. Qc6 Nd7 29. Bc1 Nd3 Black's active Queen carries the day.
• 28. fxg6 Qxh6 29. gxf7+ Kxf7 30. Qxb2 Nc4 31. Qf2+ Kg8 Black has two minor piecs and a pawn for a Rook.

25. -- gxh5?

• Black takes the Knight. It was poisoned.
• Correct is 25. -- Ree7 26. Qg3 when:
• 26. -- Nd1 27. Bxe7 Rxe7 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Qg5 Qc7 31. Re2 wins the advanced pawn, but Black's game is playable.
• 26. -- N2a4? 27. fxg6 fxg6 28. Bxe7 Rxe7 29. Nf6+ Kg7 30. Nxh7 Kxh7 31. Qxg6+ Kh8
• 32. Qg5! Rd7 33. Ng6+ Kh7 34. Qh5+ Kg7 35. Rf1
• After 35. -- Rc7 36. Nf8 Kg8 37. Qh6 Bf5 38. Rxf5 Qe7 39. Ne6 White soon gives mate.
• 35. -- Qe8 36. Rf8 Qe6 37. Raf1 c1Q 38. Qh8+ Kxg6 39. R8f6+ Qxf6 40. Qxf6+ wins the Queen for three minor pieces.
• 32. Qf6+ 32. -- Kh7 33. Qg6+ Kh8 34. Qf6+ draws.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after 25. -- gh5:N

26. Qg3!!

• White is on a very narrow path to a win. Having just sacrificed a Knight, it would be unwise to exchange Queens.
• If 26. Bxd8+? hxg4 27. Bxc7 N6c4 then White's fortunes are reversed:
• 28. Re2 Bb7 29. Rxc2 Na4 30. Rd1 Bxe4 31. Rcc1 d5 gives Black a Knight and three pawns for a Rook; Black's center is solid.
• 28. Rec1 Bb7 29. Rxc2 Na4 30. Rd1 Bxe4 31. Rdc1 Bxc2 32. Rxc2 gxh3 gives Black three extra pawns.

26. -- Rxc3 27. Nf3

• White is still walking on eggshells.
• 27. Qxc3? Qxg5 28. Nf3 N6a4 29. Qxc2 Qf6 30. Rac1 Nc4 31. Nd2 d5 is a probable win for Black.

27. -- Kf8

• After 27. -- h4 28. Bxh4+ Kf8 29. Bxd8 Rxd8 30. Qh4 White's active Queen carries the day.]

28. Bxd8 Rxd8

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after Diagram 28. -- Re8d8:B

29. Qg5!

• White is home free.
• Also winning is 29. Rac1! Bd7 30. Qg5 Rdc8 31. Qxh5 f6 32. Qxh7 Be8 33. Qh8+.

29. -- Ke8 30. Qg8+ Kd7 31. Qxf7+ Kc6 32. Qe7 Rd7 33. Qe8 Kb7

• 33. -- Nd3 34. Rec1 Kb7 35. f6 Nxc1 36. Rxc1 stops the c-pawn and makes the f-pawn a real menace.

34. f6

• If 34. Rec1 Nd3 35. f6 Nxc1 36. Rxc1 then:
• 36. -- Rdc7 37. f7 Nd7 38. Kf2 Kb6 39. f8Q Nxf8 40. Qxf8 is an easy win for White.
• 36. -- Rcc7 37. Ng5 transposes into the actual text after 37. -- d5 38. f7 dxe4 39. f8Q.

34. -- Rcc7

• Black would have held out longer after 34. -- Nd3 35. Rec1 Rdc7 36. f7 Nd7 37. f8Q Nxf8 38. Qxf8 Nxc1 39. Rxc1 Rd3

35. Ng5 Nd3 36. Rec1 Nxc1 37. Rxc1 d5 38. f7 dxe4

• Instead of this move, Ivanchuk could have resugned here. The rest requires no comment.

39. f8Q Rd1+ 40. Qf1 Rxf1+ 41. Kxf1 Nc4 42. Ke2 Rg7 43. Rxc2 h6 44. Rxc4 bxc4 45. Nxe4 Rxg2+ 46. Ke3 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Kramnik - Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Round 5, Monaco

The only defeat of world champion Vladimir Kramnik in Monaco in either a blindfold or rapid game came at the hands of Vassily Ivanchuk in Round 5 of the Rapid competition.

Ivanchuck scored well in both competitions and finished third overall.



Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: Chess Theory

Vladimir Kramnik vs. Vassily Ivanchuk
Medoly Amber Rapid, Round 5
Monaco, March 2007

Anglo-Indian Game: Nimzo-English Defense

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 d6

• For 6. -- b6 7. e3 Bb7 8. Be2 d6 9. 0-0 a5 see van Wely-Ivanchuk, Amber Blifdfold 2007.

7. b4 a5 8. Bb2 e5 9. g3!?

• Unlike the Nimzo-Indian, there's not a lot of theory attached to the Nimzo-English, so novelties are being introduced all the time in the first dozen moves or so. White intends to develop the Bishop at g2 and take advantage of Black lagging queenside development.
• 9. e3 Nbd7 10. Be2 Nb6 11. Qc2 Bg4 12. 0-0 Re8 13. d3 Qd7 14. Rfd1 Qa4 15. Qc3 Qc6 16. b5 Qd7 17. a4 is equal (Furman-Kholov, Soviet Ch, Baku 1972).
• 9. d3 axb4 10. axb4 Rxa1+ 11. Bxa1 Bg4 12. Nd2 b5 13. h3 Be6 14. e3 bxc4 15. dxc4 Na6 16. Be2 Qb8 17. b5 Nc5 18. 0-0 Qb6 19. Qc2 Ra8 20. Bc3 Nfd7 21. Kh2 f6 22. Rc1 draw agreed (Popov-Tunik, Capplle la Grande 2006).

If the Fritz-recommended 9. b5 then:

• 9. -- e4 10. Nd4 c5 11. bxc6 bxc6 12. Rb1 c5 13. Nb5 balanced Balck's central space against White's queenside space.
• 9. -- Re8 10. e3 e4 11. Nd4 c5 12. Nc2 Nbd7 13. Be2 b6 14. 0-0 Ne5 gives Black more central space.

9. -- axb4

• This is the best way for Black to maintain the equalibrium.
• 9. -- c6 10. Bg2 e4 11. Nd4 Nbd7 12. b5 c5 13. Nc2 Nb6 is level.

10. axb4 Rxa1+ 11. Bxa1

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 11. Bb2a1:R

11. -- b5!

• This pawn sacrifice is praised by no less an authority than Garry Kasparov.
• If 11. -- c6 12. Bg2 b5 13. cxb5 cxb5 then:
• 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. d4 e4 16. Ne1 Qd7 =
• 14. d4 Nd5 15. Qb2 e4 16. Nd2 f5 =/+

12. cxb5 Bd7 13. e3 Qc8 14. Be2?

• White errs by electing not to return the pawn and failing to follow through with his original plan indicated by his ninth move.
• Correct is 14. Bg2 Bxb5 then:
• 15. d4 Qf5 16. Nd2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Nc6 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. 0-0 with equality.
• After 15. d3?! c6 16.0-0 17. Nd5 17. Qd2 Na6 18. Rb1 f5 Black has a spatial edge.

14. -- Qb7!

• White applies pressure to the empty nest.
• If 14. -- Re8 15. d4 Qb7 16. d4 Qb7 then:
• 16. -- dxe5 17. Rg1 Bxb5 18. Nxe5 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 Qb5+ 20. Nd3 gives White more freedom.
• 16. -- Bxe5 17. 0-0 Rxb5 18. Bsb5 Bxb5 19. Rc1 gives White a powerful initiative to make threats to Black's queenside and back rank.

15. d3 Bxb5 16. 0-0 Nc6 17. Rb1 Qa6 18. Qb3

• White no longer has a good move.
• After 18. Qd2 Nd5 19. Ne1 Ndxb4 20. Bc3 Nd5 21. Bf3 Nf6 22. d4 e4 reduces White's chances of counterplay.

18. -- Ra8 19. Nd2

• White is hoping he can activate his pieces on the queenside if he can get them there.
• 19. Bc3 Qa4 20. Ne1 Qxb3 21. Rxb3 Ra2 22. Bf3 Kf8 23. Bg2 Ke7 immobilizes White's position.

19. -- Qa2!

• Black skewers the minor pieces on the second rank, threatening to win a piece clean.
• If 19. -- Qa3 20. Bc3 Qxb3 21. Rxb3 Ra2 then:
• After 22. Bf3 d5 23. h3 Bxd3 Black is still a pawn up with active pieces.
• 22. Rb2 Rxb2 23. Bxb2 Nxb4 White is a pawn up and threatening to win another.

20. Bc3 Qxb3 21. Rxb3 Ra2 22. Bf1

• White's best hope is 22. Bf3! when:
• After 22. -- Ne7! (dashing the hopes) 23. Nf1 Ba4 24. Rb2 Ra3 25. Be1 Bb5 26. Be2 c6 White wins the d-pawn.
• If 22. -- d5? (giving White real hope) 23. Nb1 Bxd3 24. b5 then:
• Black is still strong after 24. -- Bc4! 25. Ra3 Na7 26. Rxa2 Bxa2 27. Na3 e4 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Be2 Nc8.
• 24. -- Bc2? 25. Ra3 Nb4 26. Bxb4 Bxb1 27. Ra6 e4 28. Bd1 equalizes; Black loses after 28. -- Rxa6 29. bxa6.
• White's b-pawn is a real threat after 24. -- Na5? 25. Bxa5 Bxb1 26. Bxc7 Bc2 27. Rb4.
• After 24. -- Na7? 25. b6 cxb6 26. Bxe5 Nd7 27. Rxd3 Nxe5 28. Bxd5 the game should end in a draw.
• Black should win after 22. Rb2 Rxb2 23. Bxb2 Nxb4 24. Nc4 e4 25. dxe4 Nxe4 when Whites pieces are immobilized by the pin at c4.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 22. Be2f1

22. -- Nd5!!

• 22. -- Kf8 23. Bg2 Ne7 24. Nc4 Ned5 25. Bb2 Ke7is also good for Black, but the text wins material by force.

23. Bg2

• 23. Bb2 Ba4 24. Ra3 Rxb2 25. Rxa4 Nb6 26. Bg2 Nxb4 27. Rxb4 Rxb4 Black is an exchange up.

23. -- Nce7 24. Bb2

• If 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 then:
• Black wins the Knight by 25. Bb2 Ba4 26. Ra3 Rxb2 27. Rxa4 Nb6 28. Ra7 Rxd2 29. Rxc7 Kf8.
• Black is also a piece to the good after 25. e4 Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Rxd2 27. Rxc7 Kf8.

24. -- Ba4 25. Ra3 Rxb2 26. Rxa4 Nb6!

• White cannot meet the threats to his Rook and Knight at the same time. Kramnik could have resigned here.

27. Ra7 Rxd2 28. Rxc7 Kf8

• Black is a piece up. The rest requires no comment.

29. Rb7 Rd1+ 30. Bf1 Nec8 31. b5 Ra1 32. Rc7 g6 33. h4 Rb1 34. d4 exd4 35. exd4 Ne7 36. Kg2 h5 37. Rb7 Nbd5 38. Rb8+ Kg7 39. Rd8 Rb2 40. Kg1 Nf5 41. Bc4 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Nf6 43. f3 Rb2+ 44. Kh3 Nxd4 45. 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Jakovenko - Alekseev, Karpov Tournament, Round 7, Poikovsky

In recent months, Dmitry Jakovenko was edged out twice for first prize in major events by another rising Russian star, Evgeny Alekseev.

Jakovenko finally got his revenge in Poikovsky, finishing first and defeating Alekseev along the way.



Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Dmitry Jakovenko vs. Evgeny Alekseev
Karpov Tournament, Round 7
Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Okrug (Russia), March 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Opocensky Opening)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3

• Also playable is 7. Nf3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. a4 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Nc5 with equality (Dvoirys-Aseev, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk 2003).

7. -- Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Kh1

• White makes a prophylactic move in anticipation of advancing his f-pawn.
• If 9. Be3 Be6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Qc7 then:
• 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 14. Qe1 Qc6 15. Bf3 h6 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. Nd3 d5 18. exd5 Bf5 19. Bb6 Nxb6 20. axb6 Qxb6 21. Qxe5 Bxd3 22. Na4 Qb4 gives Black far more piece activity (Zin Way Law-J. Polgar, Japfa Classic, Bali 2000).
• 13. Rfc1 Nc5 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. f3 Rcd8 16. Qe1 Rd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Nb1 Nh5 19. g3 Bg5 20. Rd1 White is slightly better (Cernousek-Jakubiec, Ostrava (Czech Rep) 2005).

9. -- b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. f3 b5 12. a4

• White encrouches on the queenside, usually Black's domain in an Open Sicilian.
• If 12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. Rfd1 b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nf6 16. Bc4 a5 then:
• 17. a3 Qc7 18. Qd3 a4 19. Nd2 bxa3 20. Rxa3 Ra5 21. Ne4 is equal (Ganguly-Gallagher, Ol., Bled 2002).
• 17. a4 bxa3 18. Rxa3 a4 19. Nc1 Qc7 20. Ba2 Qd7 21. c4 Rfc8 22. Ne2 is unclear (Ganguly-Ravi, Indian Ch, Mumbai 2003).

12. -- b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nd7 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Bg5 17. Bf2 f5!?

• Black introduces a novelty and vies for space on the kingside.
• 17. -- Rb8 18. a5 Ba8 19. Bd3 draw agreed (Taher-Ghaem Maghami, Op Trmt, Dubai 2006).

18. Rb1

• The position is equal. White sets up a discovered attack on the Bishop.
• If 18. c4 Bh4 19. c5 Bxf2 20. c6 then:
• 20. -- Qh4 21. cxb7 Ra7 22. Na5 Bg3 23. h3 is level.
• 20. -- Bh4 21. cxb7 Ra7 22. Rb1 Bg5 23. f4 aims at undermining Black's center.

Black: Evgeny Alekseev
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White: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 18. Ra1b1

18. -- Rf7!

• Black has time to defend the Bishop this way because the attack on it is masked. White must rule out 19. Nc5.
• If 18. -- Rb8 19. c4 then:
• 19. -- Bf4 20. g3 Bg5 21. c5 dxc5 22. Nxc5 Nxc5 23. Bxc5 Rf7 24. d6 +/=
• 19. -- Qf6 20. c5 dxc5 21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. Bxc5 Rf7 23. Rb6 +/-

19. c4 Nf6?!

• This move is dubious for two reasons. First, it removes the Knight from protecting Black's headpawn (the e-pawn); second, it allows for the advance c4c5, which White evetually plays, with also undermines the headpawn.
• Better is 19. -- Rc8 20. Bd3 Qc7 21. Rb2 g6 22. Re1 Bh6 23. Qe2 Bg7 with equality.

20. Qc2 g6 21. Rfd1

• White overprotects his headpawn.
• If 21. a5 Rc8 22. Qb2 Re7 23. Rfd1 Rb8 Bb6 Qd7 is equal.
22. Qd1?! Qf8! 23. Re1 e4 24. Nd4 Qh6 gives Black solid command of the h6/c1 diagonal.

21. -- Rc8 22. c5 Kg7?

• Black should have taken the pawn instead.
• Correct is 22. -- Bxd5 23. Bxa6 Bb7 24. Bxb7 Rxb7 when:
• 25. Qe2 Rd7 26. a5 e4 27. Bd4 d5 is balanced.
• 25. Qb2 Rd7 then:
• 26. Re1 e4 27. Nd4 Kf7 is equal.
• 26. Bg3? dxc5 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Bxe5 c4 gives Black the initiative.

Black: Evgeny Alekseev
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White: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 22. -- Kg8g7

23. Bc4!

• This move reinforces the e-pawn and shields the attack on the Queen, thus threatening the pawn exchange on d6.
• Also good is 23. c6! when:
• 23. -- Nxd5 24. Nc5 dxc5 25. Rxb7 Re7 26. Qb3 Rxc6 27. Rxd5 Rxb7 28. Qxb7+ leaves Black with only two pawns for a Bishop and White has superior piece activity.
• 23. -- a5 24. Bc4 Ba8 25. Nxa5 e4 26. Ba6 Rb8 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Rb1 gives White an extra pawn, active pieces and an advanceds passed pawn.

23. -- Rcc7

• Black will take a stand stopping the advanced pawn.23. -- Ra8 24. c6 Bc8 25. a5 Rc7 26. Bb6 wins at least the exchange.

24. Na5 Bc8 25. cxd6 Rcd7 26. Nc6 Qe8 27. Rb8 Rb7

• 27. -- Rxd6 loses to 28. Bc5 Rxc6 29. dxc6 Rc7 30. Rd6 e4 31. Re6.

28. Ra8 e4 29. Ne7 Rfxe7 30. dxe7 e3

• If 30. -- Rc7 31. d6 Rc6 32. Qc3 then:
• 32. -- Qd7 33. fxe4 fxe4 34. h4 Rxc4 35. Qxc4 Bf4 36. Qxc8 is clearly won for White.
• 32. -- e3 33. d7 Bxd7 34. Rxe8 Bxe8 35. Be1 is lights out.

31. Bf1 exf2 32. d6 1-0

• If 32. -- Bf4 33. Rxc8 Qd7 34. Rf8 then:
• 34. -- Qe6 35. Qc4 Qxc4 36. Bxc4 Bxd6 37. Rf7+ is lights out.
• After 34. -- Bg5 35. Qc4 f4 36. Rd8 Qf5 37. d7 it will cost Black material to stop the advanced pawns.
• Alekseev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Bologan - Tkachiev, Kaprov Tournament, Round 8, Poikovsky

Viorel Bologan of Moldavia began the Karpov Tournament poorly, with one draw and 3 losses in the first four rounds.

He won the next four games in a row and drew in the final round to finish tied for second with Russian champion Alekseev and US champion Onischuk behind Jakovenko.



Viorel Bologan
Photo: ChessBase.com

Viorel Bologan vs. Vlad Tkachiev
Karpov Tournament, Round 8
Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Okrug (Russia), March 2007

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Quiet Variation)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 a6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. Qc2 dxc4

• If 7. -- e6 8. b3 Bh5 9. 0-0 Bg6 then:
• 10. Bxg6 hxg6 11. Bb2 Be7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Qa5 14. Rfe1 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe5 0-0 18. Bc3 a5 19. a4 Rfd8 doesn't promise much to either side (Serper-Cusi, Chicago Open 2003).
• 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bd6 13. Bb2 Bxe4 14. Qxe4 0-0 15. Rad1 a5 16. Rfe1 +/= (Krush-Gustafsson, New York 2004).

8. Nxc4

• 8. Bxc4 e6 9. 0-0 Be7 10. b3 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb2 Bf5 13. Qc3 b5 14. Be2 Rc8 15. Rac1 0-0 16. Rfd1 with equality (Danner-Arias, Ol, Torino 2006).

8. -- Bxf3 9. gxf3 c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be2 b5

• 11. -- Rc8 12. b4 Ncd7 13. Qb3 e6 14. Bb2 Be7 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Rfd1 Qc7 is balanced (Malaniuk-Drozdovskij, Rapid Trmt, Ajaccio 2006).

12. b4!?

• White introduces a novelty.
• 12. Ne5 Rc8 draw agreed (Schlosser-Bahmann, Austrian TCh, Austra 2005).

12. -- Na4?!

• Although the Knight is offsided here, it makes c3 unavailable to White. Nevertheless, the move give Black problems developing his Bishop.
• Better is 12. -- Ncd7 13. Nd2 e6 14. Qb3 Nd5 15. a3 Rc8 16. Bb2 when Black is defended against White's threats and the Bishop has the e7 and d6 available for development.

Black: Vlad Tkachiev
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White: Viorel Bologan
Position after 12. -- Nc5a4

13. Nb2?!

• This risky move allows Black a brief initiative.
• 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Qb3 e6 15. Rc1 Qd7 16. Bd1 Rd8 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. a3] is equal.

13. -- Rc8 14. Qb3 Nc3

• This won't hold any advantage for White, but other moves are dubious.
• 14. -- Rc3? 15. Qd1 Qxd1+ 16. Kxd1 Ra3 17. Nxa4 Rxa4 18. a3 entombs Black's Rook.
• After 14.-- e6? 15. Nxa4 bxa4 16. Qxa4+ Qd7 17. Qxd7+ Nxd7 18. Bd2 White has won a pawn.
• After 14. -- Nxb2 15.Bxb2 Qd5 16.Rg1 Qh5 17.Rg2 Qh3 18.Kf1 the threat to the pawn at g7 will force Black to weaken his pawns.
• 14. -- Nb6 15. a4 bxa4 16. Nxa4 Qd5 17. Qxd5 Nfxd5 18. Nxb6 Nxb6 19. Bxa6 wins a pawn for White.

15.Bd2

• If 15. Bd3 e6 16. a3 Nd7 then:
• 17. f4 a5 18. Rg1 Qh4 19. bxa5 Qxh2 20. Rf1 gives White an extra pawn.
• 17. Bd2 Ne5 18. Bxc3 Nxd3+ 19. Ke2 Nxb2 20. Qxb2 f6 leaves Black with better pawn structure and heavy pieces on open files.

15. -- Nxe2 16. Kxe2 e6 17. Rhg1 Nd5

• Once again, Black makes the c3 square unavailable to White.
• 17. -- g6 18. Bc3 Bg7
• 19. Rgd1 Qb6 20. Nd3 0-0 21. Nc5 Rfd8 22. Qb2 is level.
• 19. Rac1 0-0 20. Nd3 Bh6 21. Nc5 Nd5 gives Black an edge in piece activity.

18. Rad1 Qb6 19. e4 Nxb4?

• Perhaps Black overlooked White's 23rd move. As a result, his move is a blunder that just loses a piece.
• 19. -- Ne7 20. Be3 Qc7 21. Qa3 Qb7 22. Nd3 Ng6 is equal.

20. Bxb4 Bxb4 21. Qxb4 Rc2+ 22. Rd2 a5

• Black attacks the Queen, expecting White to retreat or attack Black's Queen.
• If 22. -- Rxd2+ 23. Qxd2 then White retain the extra piece with either:
• 23. -- 0-0 24. Qc3 f6 25. Rd1 Rf7 26. Qc8+ Rf8 27. Qd7 or
• 23. -- g6 24. Rd1 0-0 25. Kf1 Rc8 26. Kg2 Qc7.

Black: Vlad Tkachiev
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White: Viorel Bologan
Position after 22. -- a6a5

23. Rxc2!!

• This is an amazing concept. In order to leave Black without any compensation for his Knight, White sacrifices his Queen.
• After 23. Na4?! Rxd2+ 24. Qxd2 bxa4 25. Rxg7 Qb5+ White has returned the Knight and stands only slightly better.

23. -- axb4 24. Rc8+ Ke7 25. Rxh8 Qa6

• If 25. -- Qc7 26. Nd1 g6 27. Rxh7 Qc4+ 28. Ke1 then:
• 28. -- Qxa2 29. Rxg6 b3 30. Rgg7 b2 31. Rxf7+ Kd6 32. Rd7+ Kc5 33. Nc3 is clearly won for WHite.
• 28. -- Kf8 29. Rh8+ Ke7 30. Rb8 Qxa2 31. Rg5 Qb3 32. Rgxb5 White wins another pawn and still retains his extra Knight.

26. Rd1 Qxa2 27. Rd2 Kf6 28. Rxh7 Qa8

• If 28. -- b3 29. Nd3 Qa4 then:
• 30. Rh4 Ke7 31. Rg4 Qa5 32. Rb2 is hopeless for Black
• White wins after 30. Rh8 Qc4 31. Rb2 Ke7 32. Ra8.

29. Rh5 g5

• If 29. -- b3 30. Nd3 Qa4 31. Rc5 then:
• After 31. -- Kg6 32. Rb2 f5 33. exf5+ exf5 34. Rc3 the b-pawns are doomed.
• 31. -- g5 32. Rb2 g4 33. Rc3 is almost the same thing.

30. h4 g4 31. Nd3

• White uses his time wisely to set up attacks on Black's queenside pawns rather than dally with 31. fxg4

31. -- gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 Qa4 33. Rg5 b3 34. e5+ Ke7 35. Rg4 Qa8+ 36. Ke2 1-0

• If 36. Ke2 Qc6 37. Rb4 then:
• 37. -- f6 38. Rb2 Qd5 39. exf6+ Kxf6 40. R2xb3 e5 41. f3 Qg8 42. Rxb5 has White winning in every respect.
• 37. -- Qd5 38. Rb2 Qh1 39. R2xb3 f6 40. exf6+ Kxf6 41. Rf4+ Ke7 42. Rxb5 is no better for Black.
• M. Tkachiev resigns.