The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for April 8

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending April 8



Image: Cody Chancellor, Chess in Waiting
from Chancellor.net

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Bonus Game: Teimour Radjabov - Vishy Anand, FIDE Grand Prix, Round 4, Dubai 2002

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending April 8

European Individual Championships in Dresden



Five-Way tie for first in Open Division

Five players are tied for first place after six rounds in the Open Division of the European Individual Championships in Dresden.

Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine began the day in sole possession of first place, but drew his game with Hungary's Zoltan Almasi. Almasi and 20 other players began the day tied for second with 4 points each; the four of those who won their games today are now tied with Volokitin for first place.

In addition to Volokitin at 5 points, the top board winners today now also at 5 points are Vlad Tkachief of France, Vlad-Cristian Jianu of Romania, Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine and Sergey Volkov of Russia.

Russian grandmaster Dmitry Jakovenko, the top ranked player in the event, was an early leader, but is now among those tied for sixth with 4½ points.

There are 403 participants in the open competition.


Tatiana Kosintseva perfect after six rounds in ladies' competition

Tatiana Kosintseva, the younger half of the chess-playing Kosintseva sisters from the White Sea port of Arkhangelsk in Russia, is leading the ladies' completion in Dresden with a perfect score after six rounds.

Today, Ms. Kosintseva won her game from Poland's Iweta Rajlich, a member of the team that created the Rybka chess engine.

Yesterday, Ms. Kosintseva defeated Zeinab Mamedjarova of Azerbaijan, who was also perfect after four rounds, in a wild, anti-theoretical game marred by inaccurate play be both sides in mutual severe time trouble. Ms. Kosintseva delivered checkmate with less than a minute remaining on her clock and still five moves away from the time control.

Ms. Kosintseva's sister, Nadezhda, is also in Dresden. she is tied for second with 5 points with Eva Moser of Austria, Hoang Thanh Trang of Hungary and the defending tournament champion, Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey.

Ms. Mamedjarova is also a part of a chess playing siblings act; her younger sister, Turkan, is also competing in Dresden and her older brother is Shakhiyar Mamedyarov, the world sixth-ranked grandmaster.

One hundred forty-nine ladies are competing in Dresden.

Both the open and ladies' events are eleven rounds and will be completed Saturday.


Shabalov, Ehlvest lead Foxwoods Open



The Foxwoods Open, one of the great annual chess events in the United States, is underway in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

After seven rounds, grandmasters Alex Shabalov and Jaan Ehlvest lead with 6 points apiece. International master Jesse Kraai joins grandmasters Ildar Ibragimov. Yuri Shulman and the highest ranked US grandmaster, Gata Kamsky, in a tie for third with 5½ points each.

Shabalov and Ehlvest met in round 4 of the nine-round Swiss system event and played to a draw. Neither has lost a game thus far and both have won 5.

The Foxwoods has a punishing schedule of two games a day. The event concludes this evening.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update: Kamsky wins Foxwoods . . . Kosintseva still perfect after 7

Gata Kamsky wins Foxwoods Open

Gata Kamsky, America's leading grandmaster and the 19th ranked grandmaster in the world, came from behind in the final two rounds to win the Foxwoods Open in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Kamsky defeated Yuri Shulman in the eighth round Sunday morning and drew with Ildar Ibramigov in the final round to finish with 7 points. That tied him with Zviad Izoria. A single blitz game was played to determine the tournament champion. Kamsky, playing Black, defeated Izoria in 29 moves.

The leaders after Saturday's rounds, Alex Shabalov and Jaan Ehlvest, both faltered on Sunday. Ehlvest lost in round eight to Ibragimov and drew his final game to finish a half-point behind the leaders. Shabalov suffered two losses on Sunday to finish with 6 points out of nine.


Tanya Kosintseva still perfect in Dresden

Tatiana Kostintseva of Russia won her seventh game in as many rounds in the ladies' competition at the European Individual Championships in Dresden earlier today (Monday) to open up a point and a half lead over the rest of the field.

Ms. Kosintseva, playing Black, defeated Austria's Eva Moser today.

Among those tied for second with 5½ point is Tatiana's older sister, Nadezhda.



The Kosintseva sisters in Dresden
Tatiana (left) and Nadezhda
Photo: ChessBase.com

Tomorrow, Tatiana will play White against the reigning Russian ladies' champion, Ekaterina Korbut.

In the open competition, Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine, playing White, defeated Russia's Sergey Volkov in 28 moves today to regain sole possession of first place.

[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

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant - Elena Levushkina, European Individual Championships, Round 2, Dresden
Dmitry Jakovenko - Piotr Borbas, European Individual Championships, Round 2, Dresden
Daniel Rensch - Alex Shabalov, Foxwoods Open, Round 3, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Zeinab Mamedjarova - Anna Muzychuk, European Individual Championships, Round 4, Dresden
Zeinab Mamedjarova - Tatiana Kosintseva, European Individual Championships, Round 5, Dresden

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Arakhamia-Grant - Levushkina, Round 2, Dresden

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant still plays under the flag of her native Georgia, although she has been a resident of Edinbourgh for many years with her husband, former Scottish champion Jonathan Grant, and their children. Ms. Arakhamia-Grant is also a former Scottish champion (not the women's champion, the overall champion) and is the reigning vice champion of the British Isles (not the women's vice champion, the overall vice champion; she is also the reigning women's champion).



Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant vs. Elena Levushkina
European Individual Championships, Round 2
Dresden April 2007

Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense (Petroff Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3

• More common is 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 when:
• 6. -- Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c4 c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3
• 10. -- f5 11. Nc3 Nc7 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 dxc4 14. Bxc4+ Be6 15. Bxe6+ Nxe6 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Ra2 Rae8 18. Rae2 Nc7 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Re6 is satisfactory for both sides (J. Polgar-Lautier, Rapid Trmt, Cap d'Agde 2003).
• 10. -- Bg4 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nac5 13. f3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Nc5 15. Qd4 Nb3 16. Qxg4 Nxa1 17. Bh6 g6 18. Bxf8 Qxf8 Black's Queen has the most freedom of any piece on the board.
• 6. -- Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 0-0 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 is unclear.

5. -- Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3

• If 7. Bf4 0-0 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 Nc5 then:
• 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14. Qd3 Qc6 15. Qf5 Nf8 16. Nd4 Qc4 17. Kb1 Bf6 gives White better development and Black better pawn structure (Naiditsch-Bacrot, French TCh, Montpellier 2006).
• 10. Nd4 Ne6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. cxd4 c6 13. Bd3 Be6 14. Kb1 Qd7 15. f3 gives White a slight initiative (Grekh-Ipatov, Ukrainian Ch U20, Lviv 2007).

7. -- Nc6 8. Qd2 0-0 9. 0-0-0 Ne5

• If 9. -- Be6 10. Kb1 Ne5 then:
• 11. Nxe5 dxe5
• 12. Bd3 12. -- c6 13. c4 Qc7 14. Rhe1 Rfd8 15. Qe2 Rd7 16. Bd2 Bf6 17. Bc3 yields White strength up the center (Chavez-Florentiades, Ol, Torino 2006).
• 12. Be2
• 12. -- Qe8 13. Bf3 Rd8 14. Qe2 e4 15. Rxd8 Bxd8 16. Bh5 Qa4 17. a3 is equal.
• 12. -- c6 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. c4 Qa4 15. Qd3 Rad8 16. Qe4 is balanced.
• 11. Nd4 Bd5 12. f4 Ng4 13. Nf5 Be6 14. Bd3 Nxe3 15. Nxe3 Re8 16. Rhe1 gives White more power up the middle.

10. Kb1

• 10. Ne5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Rxd8+ Bxd8 13. Be2 Be6 14. Bf3 c6 15. Bc5 Bb6 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Rd1 is balanced (Tarrio-Ippolito, World Op, Philadelphia 2004).

10. -- Be6 11. Nd4 Nc4

• 11. -- Bd5 12. Nf5 Be4 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. f3 gives White better piece activity.

12. Qd3

• 12. Bxc4?! Bxc4 13. h4 Qd7 14. b3 Ba6 15. g4 Rfe8 16. Nf5 is unclear (Tseshkovsky-Motylev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2005).

12. -- Nxe3?!

• Black steps into uncharted territory. The move forces some exchanges, which makes sense for the side with better pawn structure, albeit only slightly better.
• 12. -- Bd5 13. Bc1 Bf6 14. Qh3 Qc8 15. Qg3 Ne5 16. Be2 Re8 White has good piece placement, but Black is solid for now (Kobalia-Frolyanov, Eur Ind Ch, Warsaw 2005).
• Worth a try is 12. -- d5 13. Bc1 Bg4 14. f3 Bd7 15. f4 Re8 16. Be2 c6 with equality.

13. Nxe6

• White decides to go from some of the exchanges. Conserving material doesn't buy her a lot.
• After 13. Qxe3 Bg4 14. f3 Bc8 15. Bd3 d5 16. Rhe1 Bf6 17. Nf5 more exhanges must take place anyway.

13. -- fxe6

• Black now sees that exchanging Rooks is to White's advantage and cuts her losses.
• If 13. -- Nxd1? 14. Nxd8 Nxf2 15. Qf3 Nxh1 16. Nxb7 then:
• After 16. -- Bh4 17. Bb5 a6 18. Bc6 Rae8 19. Bxe8 Rxe8 20. a4 White's Queen trumps Black's uncoordinated pieces.
• Essentially the same as the red line is 16. -- Rae8 17. Bb5 Bg5 18. Bxe8 Rxe8 19. a4.

14. Qxe3 e5 15. Bd3 c6

• White has a clear advantage with heavy pieces pressing at the center. Black's best hope at salvaging the game lays in a fortified pawn center.
• After 15. -- Rf4? 16. g3 Rf8 17. Qe4 g6 18. h4 d5 19. Qxe5 White should win.

Black: Elena Levushkina
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White: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Position after 15. -- c7c6

16. h4!?

• White initiates a plan of a direct attack on the Black King, starting with restricting the movements of Black's pawns.
• White's plan is not without risks, but Black has many pitfalls along the way and not too many outlets to the right path.

16. -- Qe8

• Black hopes to bring the Queen into action along the c8/h3 diagonal.
• 16. -- Qb6? 17. Qe4 g6 plays into White's hands: 18. Qg4 Rf7 19. h5 g5 20. Qe6 Kf8 21. Rh3 and White wins.

17. h5 Rf6

• The Rook lift is for defensive purposes. Black will post the Rook on h6 in an attempt to slow White's coming attack.
• 17. -- Rf4 18. g3 Rf6 19. f4 exf4 20. Qe4 Kf8 21. Rdf1 White's position is strong, but not quite won.

18. Qe4 Rh6 19. f4 Bf6?!

• Black must maitain her center. If White plays fxe5, then the text allows the response -- Bxf5 keeping -- d6d5 as an option to block the a2/g7 diagonal if needed,
• Nevertheless, better is 19. -- Bf8 20. g4 when:
• Black finds the saving grace of 20. -- d5! 21. Qxe5 Qxe5 22. fxe5 Re6 with equality.
• White wins after 20. -- exf4? 21. Qxf4 Rf6 22. Bf5 d5 23. g5.

20. g4!

• White again advances a kingside pawn.
• If 20. Rhe1 then:
• 20. -- d5! 21. Qe3 e4 22. Be2 Qf7 23. g4 Bd8 24. g5 Rd6 is equal.
• After 20. -- Qxh5? 21. Qb4 Qf7 22. fxe5
• 22. -- Bxe5 23. Rxe5 dxe5 24. Bc4 White wins.
• After 22. -- c5 23. Qa4 b5 24. Bxb5 Rh4 25. g4 Kh8 26. exd6 White has an easy win.

20. -- exf4 21. Qxf4 Qe5?

• Black offers an exchange of Queens, but White is under no compulsion to consider.
• White is still better after 21. -- Be5 22. Qf3 Qe7 23. Rhf1 Rf6 24. Qe3 Rxf1 25. Rxf1 but the win is problematic.

Black: Elena Levushkina
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White: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Position after 21. -- Qe8e5

22. Qb4!

• White shifts the attack to a weak pawn (in fact, a double attack on two weak pawns).
• 22. Qf2 Qg5 23. Qe2 Qe5 24. Rde1 Qxe2 25. Rxe2 Rf8 is level.
• Not good for White's cause at all is to hand Black an equal game on a silver platter with 22. Qxe5 Bxe5 23. Bc4+ d5.

22. -- b5

• Preventing 23. Bc4+ is clearly Black's best reply.
• If 22. -- d5 23. Rhe1 Qc7 24. c4 then:
• After 24. -- a5 25. Qd2 Qb6 26. c3 Bh4 27. Rh1 Bf2 28. cxd5 cxd5 29. Bc2 White rolls over the center.
• After 24. -- Bh4 25. Rf1 d4 26. c5 Kh8 27. Qxd4 b6 28. Bc4 bxc5 29. Qxc5 White plays 30. Qe3 or 30. Rf7 with great effect.

23. Rhe1 Qc5 24. Qe4 Rf8

• 24. -- a5 25. Qe6+ Kf8 26. Bg6!! hxg6 27. hxg6 Rxg6 28. Rh1 is lights out.

25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Qf7 d5 27. Re8 1-0

• 27. -- Be7 28. g5 Rxe8 29. Qxe8+ Bf8 30. gxh6 leaves White ahead by a whole Rook,
Ms. Levushkina resigns,

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Jakovenko - Borbas, Round 2, Dresden

This game was played in the same round as the previous one and featured a similar kingside attack.



Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Dmitry Jakovenko vs. Piotr Bobras
European Individual Championships, Round 2
Dresden, April 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Worrell Opening (Gothic Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2

• The text is a good alternative to the more common 5. 0-0 followed by:
• 5. -- Be7 6. Re1 b5; or
• 5. -- Nxe4 6. d4 b5

5. -- b5 6. Bb3 Be7

• This, with the Knights at c6 and f6 and the King's Bishop staying close to home, is the Gothic Defense (my term).
• Another approach is the Neo-Classical Defense (again, my term), with the Knights at c6 and f6 and the Bishop at c5: 6. -- Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d3 0-0 9. 0-0 h6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Qxe3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nbd2 Re8 14. a3 Nc6 15. Rfe1 Be6 is satisfactory for both sides (Zoler-Golod, Israeli Open Ch, Tel Aviv 2001).

7. c3 0-0 8. d4

• This is the move for which White sttives to play with advantage after 1. e4.
• If 8. 0-0 d6 9. d4 Bg4 10. Rd1 then:
• 10. -- exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne4 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qd7 15. h3 Bh5 16. g4 Bg6 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Bc2 Qc6 19. Be3 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 Nc4 gives Black better chances due to his ability to hit on White's weak c-pawn (Spassky-Szabo, Gotegorg 1955).
• 10. -- Qe8 11. h3 Bh5 12. a4 Rb8 13. axb5 axb5 14. d5 Nd8 15. c4 Nb7 16. cxb5 Nc5 17. Bc2 Qxb5 18. Qe3 Ra8 19. Nc3 Qc4 with equality (Matikozian-Atalik, Western Pacific Op, Burbank, California 2005).

8. -- exd4

• This is still part of opening theory, but one may wonder why. ChessBase has eight games with the text position in its database, with White scoring 7½ points.
• 8. -- d6 transposes into the privious note after 9. 0-0 Bg4.

9. e5 Ne8!

• This is the correct move. An alternative, 9. -- Re8, lands Black in troubled waters.
• If 9. -- Re8?! 10. 0-0 Bf8 11. cxd4 d6
• 12. Bg5? 12. -- dxe5 13. dxe5 Bg4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 Bd6 16. h3 Bh5 17. e6 fxe6 18. Qe4 Qd7 19. Nc3 Na5 gives Black an extra pawn and more space; his prospect are much better (Tiviakov-Swinkels, Op Trmt, Dieren 2006)
• 12. Ng5! d5 13. Qd3 then:
• After 13. -- Nb4 14. Qf3 Bg4 15. Qg3 Be2 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Re1 Nd3 18. Qh4 White already has serious threats.
• After 13. -- Nxd4 14. exf6 Re4 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Nxe4 Bf5 White has an extra Rook.
• After 10. -- dxc3 11. Ng5 d5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Bxf7+ Kf8 14. Bxe8 Nd4 15. Qe1 c2 16. Bf7 cxb1Q 17. Rxb1 Bf5 18. Be3 h6 19. Bxd4 hxg5 20. Bb3 White is an exchange up with better piece activity (Tiviakov-Ziatdinov, Donner Mem, Amsterdam 1996).

10. cxd4 d5

• This is the move has the potential to rehabilitate Black's eighth move. Black stakes a claim in the center.
• If 10. -- d6 11. Bd5! Bb7 12. Qe4 dxe5 then:
• 13. dxe5?! 13. -- Bb4+ 14. Kf1 Na5 15. Bxb7 Qd1+ gives Black a significant edge in piece activity (Sikula-Adam, Summer Op, Szombathely 2003).
• 13. Bxc6! Nf6 14. Qc2 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 094

11. Nc3 Bg4!?

• Black varies from theory with this aggressive move.
• Better is the more modest 11. -- Be6 with a defensive mood: 12. 0-0 Na5 13. Bc2 g6 14. Bh6 Ng7 15. Ne1 Re8 16. f4 f5 17. Nd3 Nb7 is equal (Perpinya-Duran, Op Trmt, Terrassa 1996).

12. Be3

• White makes what is undoubtedly the best move.
• 12. Qd2 Bb4 13. 0-0 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ne7 15. a3 Ba5 16. Bc2 gives White freedom for his pieces and yokes him to a spoiled kingside pawn structure.
• If 12. Qe3 Bb4 then:
• After 13. 0-0 13. -- Bxc3 14. bxc3 Ne7 15. a4 c6 16. Ba3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 White dominates the queenside dark squares.
• After 13. Bd2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ne7 15. Nb1 c5 16. dxc5 d4 17. Qg5 Bxc5 Black has his weak points covered while White has the spoiled kingside pawn structure and the King caught in the center.

12. -- Bb4 13. 0-0 Ne7 14. h3 Bh5!?

• Black chooses to maintain the pin at f3 rather than redeploy the Bishop for defense.
• Best for Black is 14. -- Be6 (defending the d-pawn) 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxe7 Bxe7 17. Qd3 c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bc2 with an unclear position.
• After 14. -- Bf5 15. a4 c6 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Nh4 White assumes control of the f5 square and will use that as a foreard base for a kingside attack.

Black: Piotr Bobras
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White: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 14. -- Bf4h5

15. g4!

• This does more than gain time on the Bishop; this begins a kingside expansion that ends with Black's capitulation.
• 15. a4 c6 16. Rfc1 bxa4 17. Bxa4 f6 18. g4! may be even stronger.

15. -- Bg6 16. Nh4 c6 17. f4 f5

• Black attempts to use brute force to slow White's kingside expansion.
• The text is better than 17. -- Bxc3 18. Nxg6 Nxg6 19. bxc3 Qh4 20. Qf3 f5 21. a4 when White is poised to breakthrough on either wing.

18. exf6 Nxf6 19. f5!?

• White's kingside pawns just keep coming. This move has the drawback of weakening White's hold on g5, but Black has no way to take advantage of it too soon.
• Objectively better is 19. Nxg6 Nxg6 20. f5 Qd6 21. Qe1 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Nh8 23. Bf4 but this would leave Black with few problems he can't solve.

19. -- Bf7

• Black moves to give his King more cover and strengthen the pawn at d5. The position is about even, perhaps slightly in White's favor, but Black must be sharp to keep from falling into traps.
• After 19. -- Be8 20. Rae1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Ne4 22. Bf4 Bf7 23. Nf3 White has strength up the middle on the open e-file. White may look to set up an exchange sacrifice on e4 to open the position to his advantage.

20. g5 Ne4

• Black closes off the e-file.
• 20. -- Nd7 21. Qg4 Qe8 22. Rae1 Bh5 23. Qg3 Qb8 24. Bf4 gives White a target at e7.

21. g6 hxg6?

• After skating on thin ice for about a half-dozen moves, Black finally falls through the surface.
• Correct is 21. -- Ng3 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Qg4 Nxf1 24. Rxf1 when White is slightly better but Black's problems are managable.

22. Nxe4! dxe4 23. fxg6 Bxb3

• Other moves also lose quickly, for example: 23. -- Bd5 24. Qh5 Rf6 25. Bg5 Bxb3 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Bxf6

Black: Piotr Bobras
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White: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 23. -- Bf7b3:B

24. Qh5!! 1-0

• Black has the resources to hang on and die a slow and painful death by either 24. -- Rf6 25. axb3! Qd5 26. Bg5! Kf8 27. Qh8+ Qg8 28. Qh7 Qxh7 29. gxh7 Kf7 30. Bxf6 gxf6 31. Rxa6; or
• 24. -- Nxg6 25. Nxg6 Rf3 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Ne5+ Ke6 28. Qxd8 Rxf1+ 29. Rxf1 Rxd8 30. Nxc6
• Bobras resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Rensch - Shabalov, Foxwoods Open, Round 3, Mashantucket

Alex Shabalov is my favorite American chess master.

He was born in Soviet Latvia and was a protoge of the late, great former world champion, Mikhail Tal, whose style Mr. Shabalov honors with his play.



Alex Shabalov
Photo: Official website of the New York Masters

Daniel Rensch vs. Alex Shabalov
Foxwoods Open, Round 3
Mashantucket, Connecticut, April 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3

• If 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 then:
• 13. -- 0-0
• 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5
• 16. 0-0
• 16. -- e4 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19. Nh3 059 (de Firmian-Shabalov, Virginia Beach 2007).
• 16. -- Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 d5 21. Ra6 f4 22. Nc2 Bc8 23. Ra8 Qd6 24. Nb4 gives White an extra pawn and a Rook on the back rank
(Anand-Leko, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2005).
• 16. Qh5 e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Rd1 Ng6 19. f4 exf3 20. gxf3 Qd7 21. 0-0 Qf7 22. f4 Rac8 23. Rf3 Rc5 24. Rh3 084
(Ponomariov-Eljanov, Rector Cup, Kharjov (Russia) 2001)..
• 13. -- Be6 14. g3 0-0 15. Bg2 a5 16. 0-0 f5 17. Qh5 b4 18. Nce3 bxc3 19. bxc3 Kh8 20. Rad1 Rb8 21. Bh3 Qd7 22. f4 e4 23. Kh1 Rb2 009 (Topalov-Kransenkow, Rubinstein Mem., Polanica Zdroj 1995).

11. -- Be6 12. 0-0 Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7 15. Qh5 e4 16. Be2

• If 16. Bc2 Qc8 17. Rae1 0-0 18. Kh1 Ng6 19. Bb1 Re8 20. f3 then:
• 20. -- b4! 21. cxb4 Bxb2 22. Nc2 Bc3 23. Re2 Qc4 24. fxe4 Rxe4 25. Ref2 Re5 26. Qh3 f4 27. Na3 Qxb4 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Nc2 Qb2 30. Qd3 Rae8 31. Qxa6 Bd4 32. Nxd4 Qxd4 33. Rxf4 Qxd5 draw agreed (Bologan-Filippov, Russian TCh, Tomsk 2001)
• 20. -- exf3? 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Qxf3 f4 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. Qxf4 Be5 25. Qf2 Kg7 109 (Hosain-S. B. Hansen, Ol, Istanbul 2000)

16. -- 0-0 17. Nc2 Rc8?

• Black takes his Rook off the pawn at f7 while it is under attack.
• Correct is 17. -- f4 18. f3 f5 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Bg4 Qc7 21. Rae1 draw agreed (Grischuk-Illescas, Eur TCh, Plovdiv (Bulgaria) 2003)

18. f4?

• White introduces a novelty; it isn't likely to be seen again any time soon.
• White does much better after 18. f3! b4 19. Nxb4 a5 20. Nc6 Nxc6 21. dxc6 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Qxb2 23. fxe4! (opening a line to the f7 point, taking advantage of the inaccuracy on Black's 17th move) 23. -- fxe4 24. Bc4 when he has his sites locked on f7 (Areshchenko-Zinchenko, Ukrainian Ch, Rivne 2005).

18. -- b4!?

• Black sacrifices a pawn to open lines on the queenside.

19. Nxb4

• The alternative is 19. cxb4 Rc8 20. Bd1 Qd7 21. Qg5 Nxd5 22. Rf2 h6 23. Qg3 Qb5 when Black heavy pieces start eating White's queenside pawns.

19. -- Qb6+ 20. Kh1 a5 21. Nc6 Qxb2 22. Rab1!

• This is White's best bet to create complications.

22. -- Qxa2 23. Rb7

• White establishes a Rook on the seventh, but Black's passed a-pawn is more dangerous.

Black: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
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$ +nO + +%
$O +p+o+q%
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White: Daniel Rensch
Position after 23. Rb1b7

23. -- Kf8!

• Well palyed.
• Black would have fallen into a snare after 23. -- Bf6? 24. c4 when:
• 24. -- Qd2 25. Rd7 Rac8 26. Nxe7+ Bxe7 27. Bg4! fxg4 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Qxg4+ Kf8 30. Qxc8+ Re8 reestablishes an equalibrium.
• 24. -- a4?! 25. Rg1 Kh8 26. Qxf7 Rf8 27. Qh5 Rae8 28. Rd7 gives White better chances.

24. c4 a4 25. Ne5?

• After 25. Rd7 a3 26. Rxd6 Nxc6 27. Rxc6 Ra7 28. d6 Qd2 if White tries to defend with 29. Rd1 then White wins the Rook sacrificing his Queen and then promoting on a1.

25. -- dxe5 26. fxe5 Kg8

• 26. -- Rab8 27. e6 fxe6 28. dxe6 Kg8 29. Ra7 Kh8 leaves White no compensation for his Knight.

27. d6 Ng6 28. Qxf5 Nxe5 29. Qxe4 Qd2!

• Black sets up a stunning combination.

30. c5 a3!

• White has no time to mind the a-pawn. If that isn't symptomatic of a bad position, nothing is.

31. Re7 a2 32. d7

• If 32. Rxe8+ Rxe8 then:
• White would resign before the end of the line 33. Bh5 Rf8 34. Qa4 Nd3 35. d7 Ne1 36. Bxf7+ Kh8 37. Qc6 a1Q 38. d8Q Qxd8.
• 33. Bc4 Rf8 34. Bxa2 Qxa2 35. Rd1 f5 36. Qe1 f4 give Black two extra pieces.

Black: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
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White: Daniel Rensch
Position after 32. d6d7

32. -- Qxd7!!

• Black winds things up with a charming Queen sacrifice.
• Also good, but not as pretty, is 32. -- Rf8 33. Rxe5 a1Q 34. Rd5 Qdb2 35. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 36. Rd1 Rxd1+ 37. Bxd1 Qd2 when Black is piece up and threatening mate.

33. Rxd7 Nxd7!

• The only move! All others lose.
• 33. -- a1Q? is a terrible blunder: after 34. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 35. Rd1 Rxd1+ 36. Bxd1 White wins.

34. Qc4

• 34. Qxe8+ Rxe8 35. Bc4 a1Q 36. Bxf7+ Kf8 37. Rxa1 Kxf7 is lights out.

34. -- a1Q 35. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 36. Bf1 Rxf1+ 37. 0-1

• After 37. Qxf1 Nxc5 White's Queen is no match for Black assorted pieces.
• Mr. Rensch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Z. Mamedjarova - A. Muzychuk, Round 4, Dresden

Zeinab Mamedjarova
Photo: Official website of the 2005 Dubai Chess Festival

Zeinab Mamedjarova vs. Anna Muzychuk
European Individual Championships, Round 4
Dresden, April 2007

Indian Game: Benko-Volga Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 e6

• 5. -- d6 6. Nc3 Qxb6 7. e4 g6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Nd2 0-0 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. 0-0 Qc7 12. a4 Rb8 13. Nc4 Rb4 14. a5 Ne8 15. Bd2 Qa7 is unclear (Seirawan-Shirov, Donner Mem, Amsterdam 1995).
• 5. -- a5 6. Nc3 Ba6 7. f4 d6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. e4 Bxf1 10. Rxf1 Nxb6 11. Qe2 Rb8 12. Be3 g6 13. Rd1 Bg7 14. e5 is unclear; White's advanced pawn duo looks imposing, but his King safety may become an issue (Atalik-Knoppert, IT, Tilburg 1993).

6. Nc3 Nxd5 7. Nxd5 exd5 8. Qxd5 Nc6 9. e4

• 9. Nf3 Rb8 10. Bd2 Be7 11. Bc3 0-0 12. e4 Rxb6 13. Bc4 Nb4 14. Qd2 Bb7 15. a3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Be5 Rg6 18. 0-0-0 White's King safety may be a problem, but much else is going his way (Vladimirov-Mikhalevski, Goodricke Op, Calcutta 2001).

9. -- Be7 10. Bc4 0-0 11. Nf3 Rb8 12. 0-0 Rxb6 13. Bd2

• 13. Qh5 d6 14. b3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qg4 Qc8 17. Bb2 Bf6 18. Bxf6 Rxf6 19. Nd2 Qf8 20. Nc4 Rb4 21. f4 d5 22. exd5 exd5 23. Ne3 Rd4 24. Rad1 Nb4 is even (Ziberstein-Martinez, USCL Miami-San Francisco, 2005).

13. -- Rxb2

• 13. -- d6 14. Bc3 Be6 15. Qd3 Nb4 16. Qe2 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 d5 18. exd5 Qxd5 19. Ne5 Rd6 is balanced (Seifert-Hertneck, Bad Weissee 2004).

14. Bc3 Nb4!?

• 14. -- Rb6 15. Rad1 d6 16. Qh5 Bf6 17. e5 g6 18. Qh6 Bg7 19. Qe3 give White a slight edge in piece activity (Thorfinnsson-Zueger, IECC, Ohrid (Moldavia) 2001).

15. Qe5 Bf6 16. Qxc5 d6?

• Black breaks with the book. By itself, the most is not bad may bee seen again soon with some improvements in Black's susequent play.
• Black leaves the Rook hanging on b2 and the Knight is hanging if the Rook vacates. Since both are under attack, White wins material by force.
• Correct is 16. -- Bxc3! 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Qxc3 Rxa2 19. Qxb4 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 giving White better pawn structure but otherwise the position is unclear.

17. Qe3 Rc2

• Black choses to leave her Knight hanging rather than the Rook.
• 17. -- Nc2 18. Qd2 Na3 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. Qxb2 Bxc3 21. Qxc3 gives White the advantages of the exchange, the initiative and active pieces.

Black: Anna Muzychuk
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White: Zeinab Mamedjarova
Position after 17. -- Rb2c2

18. e5!

• White assures that she gains material by this move.
• White is still better after 18. Rac1?! Rxc3 19. Rxc3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Nc6 21. Rd1 but the win is problematic.

18. -- Qc7

• Black would have lasted longer after 18. -- dxe5 19. Bxb4 Rxc4 20. Bxf8 Qxf8 21. Nxe5 Ra4 22. Rae1 when all she loses is an exchange.

19. exf6 Qxc4 20. Qg5 Qg4

• White threatens mate on the move. Black must acquiesce to playing a piece down since 20. -- g6 21. Qh6 Qxc3 22. Qg7# is not an option.

21. Qxg4 Bxg4 22. Bxb4

• White at last permanently goes up a piece.

22. -- Rb8 23. Bxd6 Rb6 24. Rfe1 gxf6

• Forced.

25. Bf4 h5 26. Be3 Rbb2 27. Bd4 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 Rxa2 29. Bxf6 Kh7 30. h3 1-0

• After 30. -- Bxf3 31. gxf3 a5 32. Ra1 Black must exchange her last piece or lose the passed pawn.
• 30. -- Be6 31. Ne5 Ra5 32. Kf1 Rb5 33. Ra1 a5 34. Nc6 wins the passer.
• Ms. Muzychuk resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Z. Mamedjarova - T. Kosintseva, Round 5, Dresden

This was played in Round 5 in Dresden yesterday (Saturday). Both ladies went into the game with perfect scores through four rounds.

This isn't the best game presented this week, but it may be the most exciting.



Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Zeinab Mamedjarova vs. Tatiana Kosintseva
European Individual Championships, Round 5
Dresden, April 2007

Queen's Gambit: Ragozin Defense (Harrwitz Opening)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bf4!?

• This position has virtually no theory attached to it. There are 58 games on the ChessBase database where White plays 5. Bf4 in response to the Ragosin, none from master play. Black repies 5. -- 0-0 in 28 of those games and 6. Qb3 appears to be a move never before recorded.

5. -- 0-0 6. Qb3 c5

• Black decides to break up the pawn center.
• 6. -- Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. Qxc4 c6 9. Qd3 b6 10. e4 is satisfactory for both sides.

7. dxc5 Nc6

• Black does something about her lagging queenside development; White still needs to find a way to mobilize her King's Bishop.
• If 7. -- Qa5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 then:
• 9. -- Rd8 10. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 Rxd5 12. Rd1 RXc5 gives Black the edge with the pin on d2.
• 9. -- Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nd7 gives Black better pawn structure, but that is too insiginificant to be called an edge.

8. e3

• Now White prepares to complete her development.

8. -- Ne4 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rc1?!

• White passes on an opportunity to isolate Black's d-pawn.
• After 10. cxd5 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 exd5 12. Bd3 Nxc5 13. Qc2 Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Ne7 Black has more mobility.

Black: Tatiana Kosintseva
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White: Zeinab Mamedjarova
Position after 10. Ra1c1

10. -- Bxc3+!

• Black punishes White's passivity by disrupting her queenside pawns further.
• 10. -- Nxc5?! 11. Qc2 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Rxc3 gives White some piece activity, but kingside devlopment is still a problem.

11. bxc3 Nxc5

• Queens are powerful, but ticklish.
• The text is stronger than 11. -- dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nxc5 13. Qb2 Rd8 14. 0-0 Ne4 15. Bb5 gives White slightly better piece activity.

12. Qb2 b6?!

• Black apparently wats to develop the Bishop on the wing, but this move weakens c6 and blocks the retreat of the Queen should it be necessary.
• Black has a clear advantage after 12. -- Rd8 13. cxd5 Rxd5 14. Bc4 Nd3+ 15. Bxd3 Rxd3 when White's King must expeditiously quit the center and Black's e-pawn is poised to stake a claim on e5.

13. Nd4 Bd7?!

• A passive move.
• After 13. -- Nxd4 14. exd4! (opening an exit for the Queen) 14. -- Na5 15. Rb1 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Qf5 the Queen finds happiness and activity on the kingside.

14. cxd5 Nxd4 15. exd4 Na4 16. Qb3?!

• It is not necessary to attack the Knight. The Knight has no retreats but is twice protected. He's not goint anywhere, not even off the board.
• Better is 16. Qd2 exd5 17. c4 when:
• 17. -- Qxd2+! 18. Kxd2 Rac8 19. cxd5 Rxc1 20. Kxc1 is equal.
• After 17. -- Rae8+? 18. Be3 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Rc8 20. Be2 gives White a clear advantage in mobility and in the center.
• 17. -- Rfe8+? 18. Be3 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 dxc4 20. Bxc4 also gives white the edge with better mobility.

16. -- exd5!

• The opening of the file is beautifully timed. The White King is in the center on an open file waiting to be attacked by a Rook. Black now takes the initiative.
• If 16. -- Rac8 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. Qb4 then:
• 18. -- Rxc3 19. Qxa5 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 bxa5 21. Kd2 022
• 18. -- Qxb4 19. cxb4 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Rd8 21. Be3 075

17. Bd6 Rfe8+ 18. Kd2 b5 19. Qxd5 Rac8 20. Bb4

• White has a clear advantage on the board. She has defended beutifully since the last note and has already regained the initiative. Her last move attacks Black's Queen while discovering an attack on the Bishopt at d7.
• 20. Qf3 Re6 21. Bb4 Qd8 22. Qg3 Be8 23. Bd3 a5 leaves Black in command.

20. -- Qd8 21. Qh5?

• Perhaps due to the lack of theory in the opening and the consequent uselessness of any opening preparation, the ladies had already expended most of their time after 20 moves. Black had 15 minutes reamining to reach the time control at move 40; White 10 minutes. That's serious mutual time trouble. For that reason, quality of play suffers from here forward.
• Before her last move, White was modestly better. She is now staring defeat in the face.
• If 21. Bd3 Qf6 22. Qf3 then:
• 22. -- Qg5+ 23. Kc2 Qd8 24. Rhe1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 a5 26. Bc5 Nxc5 27. dxc5 Rxc5 is unclear.
• 22. -- Qxf3? 23. gxf3 Nb2 24. Be2 a6 25. Rb1 Nc4+ 26. Bxc4 Rxc4 27. Rhe1 gives White an extra pawn and active pieces.

21. -- Qf6!

• Black finds the strongest continuation. finds
• Almost as good is 21. -- Bc6 22. Bd3 g6 23. Qg4 a5 when:
• After 24. Rhe1 axb4 25. Rxe8+ Bxe8 26. axb4 White has only two pawns for the piece and Black's pieces are mobile.
• After 24. Bc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Be4 White is toast.

22. Qf3 Qg5+ 23. Kc2 Bc6?

• Black throws the win away.
• Correct is 23. -- Bg4 24. h4 Qxc1+ 25. Kxc1 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Nxc3 27. Kd2 Nb1+ when White game is in its last throes.

Black: Tatiana Kosintseva
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White: Zeinab Mamedjarova
Position after 23. -- Bc6

24. Qg3!

• Black is still better, but only slightly.
• Wrong is 24. Qd1? Be4+ 25. Kb3 Bd5+ 26. c4 bxc4+ 27. Ka2 c3+ 28. Ka1 Qd2 and White can resign.]

24. -- Qd5 25. Kd2 Qa2+ 26. Rc2 Qb1 27. Rc1?

• Now White drops the ball.
• If 27. f3! Nxc3 28. Bxc3 then:
• 28. -- b4 29. axb4 Ba4
• 30. Bd3!! Qxh1 31. Rc1 Qxc1+ 32. Kxc1 gives White the better game.
• 30. Rc1? Qa2+ 31. Kd3 Bb5#.
• After 28. -- Bd5 29. Bc4 Qxh1 30. Bxd5 Qb1 31. Be4 a6 32. d5 White has threats on threats; first, she threatens mate and then her d-pawn will expand.

27. -- Qb2+ 28. Rc2 Qa1 29. f3 a5

• The text is better than 29. -- Nb2 30. Bxb5 Qa2 31. Ba6 Ba4 32. Rhc1 -019

30. Bd6 Bd5?

• Black lays an egg.
• Correct is 30. -- Nxc3! 31. Rxc3 b4 32. Rc4 Qb2+ 33. Rc2 Qxd4+ 34. Kc1 Ba4 allows mate as follows: 35. Rxc8 Rxc8+ 36. Bc5 Rxc5+ 37. Kb1 Qd1+ 38. Kb2 Rc2#
• Each lady had less than four minutes remaining for ten moves.

31. Bxb5?

• White stumbles, throwing away the win.
• 31. Be5 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 Nxc3 33. Be2 Qxh1 34. Rxc3 wins material.

31. -- Qxh1 32. Rc1?

• White falters again. This time, it's fatal.
• 32. Bxa4 Bc6 33. Be5 Rxe5 34. Bxc6 Rh5 35. Bd7 Rf8 would hold a draw, unless somebody's clock runs out.

Black: Tatiana Kosintseva
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White: Zeinab Mamedjarova
Position after 32. Rc2c1

32. -- Qxc1+!!

• Even when the move is forced, as here, a Queen sacrifice is a thing of beauty.
• If White replies 33. Kd3 then 33. -- Re3#.

33. Kxc1 Nxc3 34. Kd2

• Ms. Mamdejarova could have resigned here. She had three minutes left on her clock and had one last hope.
34. Be5 Nxb5+ 35. Kd2 g6 36. a4 Na3 37. Kd3 Bc4+ 38. Kd2 f6 is hopeless for White.

34. -- Nb1+ 35. Kd1 Bb3# 1-0

• Ms. Kosintseva had less than a minute remaining to reach the 40th move when she delivered mate.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Game: Radjabov-Anand, Dubai 2002

This week, the JRCR celebrates the new number one ranked grandmaster in the world, Vishy Anand, with one of his finest games.



Vishy Anand
Photo: London Chess Center

Teimour Radjabov vs. Vishy Anand
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 4
Dubai, April 2002

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Petrosian Opening)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3

• Credit for this move is given to the late former world champion Tigran Petrosian, the master of prophylactic defense. He won many fine victories with his line starting in the late fifties. Garry Kasparov was also a devotee of this method of meeting the Queen's Indian.

4. -- Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5

• If 6. -- exd5 7. g3 Be7 8. Bg2 0-0 9. 0-0 then:
• 9. -- c5 10. Ne5 Na6 11. Bf4 Nc7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Rfd8 17. e4 Nxe4 18. Qe2 Rxd5 19. Qxe4 Qd7 20. Rfe1 Bf6 is perfectly balanced (Browne-Ljubojevic, Brasilien 1981).
• 9. -- Nbd7 10. Bf4 c5 11. Ne5 Re8 12. Rc1 Nf8 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nd3 Ne6 15. e3 gives White's pieces more scope (Zhao Xue-Li Shilong, Torch Real Estate Cup, Xiapu (China) 2005).

7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Nd7 9. e4 Be7 10. Bd3 c5 11. 0-0

• If 11. Bf4 Qc8 12. Qa4 0-0 13. 0-0 Nf6 14. Rfe1 then:
• 14. -- Rd8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Rd7 balances White's central space with Black's queenside piece activity (Shipiro-Ashley, IT, New York 1993).
• 14. -- cxd4 15. cxd4 Qc3 16. Qb5 Rac8 17. Qb1 Nh5 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Ne5 give Black control of the c-file and the long diagonal from b7, but White has a solid center (Miles-Langeweg, Lugano 1989).

11. -- 0-0 12. Bb2?!

• This move is dubious unless White has some plan to advance his queenside pawns.
• 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Bb2 Rac8 14. Rad1 Rfd8 15. Rfe1 Nf6 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. f4 cxd4 18. cxd4 still gives White a double-edged central space that both protects his position from Black's active pieces and limits the scope of his Bishops (Gupta-Gopal, Asian Ch, Hyderabad (India) 2005).
• 12. Be3 cxd4 Rc8 14. Qb3 Nf6 15. Qb1 is unclear.

12. -- Rc8!?

• Black intoduces a new move aimed at seizing control of the c-file after an exchange of pawns.
• After 12. -- Re8 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. e5 Kh8 then:
• 15. h4!? f5 16. Ng5 Qc6 17. f3 c4! 18. Bc2 h6 19. Nh3 Bxh4 gives Black an extra pawn.(Galyas-Somogyi, First Saturday, Budapest 10. 2001).
• 15. Rfe1 Rac8 16. Rab1 Red8 17. Nd2 is unclear.

13. Qe2

• White reinforces his center.
• After 13. Rad1 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. f4 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Qc7 Black's pieces are more active; White's Queen's Bishop is particularly passive.

13. -- c4!

• Black fixes the position of White's c-pawn, accentuating the problem of the Queen's Bishop.

14. Bxc4!?

• A bold move by Radjabov, who was 15 years old at the time. He's looking for complications.
• Better is 14. Bc2 a6 15. Rfb1 Qc7 16. Bc1 (executing the badly needed redeloyment of the Bishop) 16. -- e5 17. dxe5 Qc5 18. Bf4 Qa5 is unclear.

14. -- Bxe4 15. Ba6

• White is looking for activity, but moves like this are little more than an annoyance to Black.
• 15. Bb3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bd6 17. Rfe1 Qc7 18. Qh3 doesn't offer much to either side.

15. -- Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Rc7 17. Rad1 Bd6 18. Bd3

• The position is drifting into nothingness.
• 18. Bb5 Qh4 19. h3 Qf6 20. Qxf6 Nxf6 21. c4 Ra8 is level.

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 18. Ba6d3

18. -- b5?!

• Black plays a risky pawn sacrifice to see if White will lose his balance.
• After 18. -- Qh4 19. h3 Rd8 20. Rfe1 Nf6 21. c4 Qh5 22. Qe3 Black will have a hard time breaking through as White's c- and d-pawns are well fortified.

19. Rfe1!

• White declines the poffered pawn. Unfortunately for Black, that is where the risk laid.
• If 19. Bxb5 Qb8 then:
• 20. Qe2 Rb7 21. a4 a6 22. Bxd7 Rxb2 23. Qxa6 Rb7 24. Bb5 is equal.
• 20. c4 a6 21. Rxd7 Bxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Rxd7+ 23. Kg1 Qxb2 gives Black better chances, but White should hold.
• If 19. Qh5 Nf6 20. Qxb5 then:
• 20. -- Qb8 21. Qxb8 Rxb8 22. Rb1 Rcb7 23. Ba1 Black will get the pawn back in a dry minor-piece ending.
• 20. -- Qe7? 21. Qa5 Rcc8 22. c4 Rc6 23. Rb1 White remains a pawn up with his off-center pawn duo solid.

19. -- a6 20. a4 bxa4 21. c4 Qb8?

• This move buys Black a peck of trouble.
• White is still better after 21. -- a3 22. Qh3 h6 23. Be3 Rc6 24. Qc5 Nf6 25. Ra1 Nd5 26. Be4 but Black's problems are managable.

22. Ba1 Rd8

• Indicative of Black's problems at the moment is the variation 22. -- Bb4 23. Re3 Qb6 24. Qh3 h6 24. Rg3 Kh8 26. Qg4 Rg8 27. d5 when White liberates his Bishop with great effect.

23. Re4?!

• White plays for an attack on the King, but this allows Black counterplay.
• After 23. c5 Be7 24. Bc3 Re8 25. c6 Nf6 26. d5 Nxd5 27. Be5 Bb4 28. Re4 White's active pieces and the pin at c7 give him an imposing position.

23. -- Nf6 24. Rh4 Be7 25. Rh3?

• White has set his heavy pieces on the kingside, but Black simply defends and takes the initiative away.
• If 25. d5!! (finally liberating the Queen's Bishop) then:
• Black's best bet is 25. -- Rcd7! 26. Bxf6 Bxf6 27. Bxh7+ Kf8 28. Rh3 Qb4 29. Bc2 Ke7 30. Qe2 When the a-pawns creep forward.
• If 25. -- exd5 26. Be5 then:
• 26. -- Rdd7 27. cxd5 Rxd5 28. Bxc7 Qxc7 29. Rxa4 a5 30. Rc4 drives Black into passivity.
• After 26. -- Qb6 27. Bxc7 Qxc7 28. cxd5 a3 29. Ra4 Rxd5 20. Rxa6 Black, an exchange down, must take a move to defend his back rank, after which the a-pawn is doomed.

25. -- h6 26. Rb1

Black: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ W T +l+%
$+ T VoO %
$o+ +oM O%
$+ + + + %
$o+pP + +%
$+ +b+q+r%
$ + + PpP%
$Br+ + K %
/(((((((()
White: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 26. Rd1b1

26. -- Rxc4!!

• The Queen sacrifice announces the final phase of the attack.
• After 26. -- Qa8 27. Qxa8 Rxa8 28. c5 Rd8 29. Bxa6 Ra8 30. Bc4 a3 it is problematic whether Black could convert the full point.

27. Rxb8 Rc1+ 28. Bf1 Rxb8 29. Bc3 Rbb1 30. Qd3

• After 30. Qa8+ Bf8 31. Qxa6 Ne4 the Bishop has nowhere to go.

30. -- a3 31. Qxa6 a2 32. g4

• After 32. Qa8+ Kh7 33. g4 Rxf1+ 34. Kg2 Rg1+ 35. Kf3 Rb3 White threatens to win the house with 36. Rcx3+.

32. -- Rxf1+ 33. Qxf1 Ne4 34. Ba1 Nd2 35. 0-1

• Black wins the Queen.
• Radjabov resigns.