The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for June 17: Happy Father's Day

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending June 17

Happy Fathers' Day



Image: Randy Schweitzer, Chess Match (2001)
from the website of Seton Hall University


Contents

Post 1: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49837">News for the week
Post 2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49838">Diagrams and other features
Post 3: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49839">Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending June 17

Candidates Matches Conclude in Elista: Four bound for Mexico City



Alexander Grischuk defeated fellow Russian grandmaster Sergey Rublevsky in a playoff of three rapid games in Elista, the capital of the autonomous Russian republic of Kalmykia, to become the fourth qualifier for the World Championship Tournament in Mexico City in September.

Grischuk won the first and third games with Black while the second game was drawn to give Grischuk a 2½-½ victory and rendering a gourth scheduled rapid game moot.

Three other players qualified for the Mexico City event in their respective regulation six-game matches: Levon Aronian of Armenia, Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko and Israel's Boris Gelfand.



The Four Winners Flanking Kirsan
Alexander Grischuk, Boris Gelfand, Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Peter Leko and Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Candidates' Matches
Finals
Elista, Kalmykia (Russia)

Levon Aronian. . . .1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ -- - 3½ . . . . . . Peter Leko . . . . .1 ½ 1 ½ ½ - -- - 3½
Alexey Shirov. . . .0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ -- - 2½ . . . . . . Evgeny Bareev. . . .0 ½ 0 ½ ½ - -- - 1½

Alexander Grischuk .1 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 2½ - 5½ . . . . . . Gata Kamsky. . . . .½ ½ 0 ½ 0 - -- - 1½
Sergey Rublevsky . .0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ .½ - 3½ . . . . . . Boris Gelfand. . . .½ ½ 1 ½ 1 - -- - 3½

Each of the eight finalists qualified by winning semi-final matches held in Elista the week before.

The four qualifiers will be joined in Mexico City by four seeded players: reigning world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Russian grandmasters Alexander Morozevich and Peter Svidler and the world's current top-ranked grandmaster, Vishy Anand of India.

There is some talk of seeding former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria as a ninth player in Mexico City.


Second Aerosvit International Tournament begins Monday in the Crimea



The second annual Aerosvit International Tournament begins tomorrow in the Crimean resort of Foros, Ukraine.

This year's participants are: Ukrainian grandmasters Vassily Ivanchuk, Sergey Karjakin and Pavel Eljanov; Russians Peter Svidler, Dmitry Jakovenko and Sergey Rublevsky; Latvian native Alexey Shirov of Spain; Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania; India's Krishnan Sasikiran; Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely; Lenier Domínguez of Cuba; and former US national champion and Ukrainian native Alex Onischuk.

Last year's event was won by Rublevsky.

The 11-round tournament will conclude June 29.


Dutch National Championships start in Hilversum



The Dutch national championships, one of the strongest national championships outside the former Soviet Union, began yesterday in Hilversum, Holland, with the first round of the men's event.

The Women's championship begins tomorrow.

The men's competion will consist of defending champion Sergei Tiviakov, a native Russian, Ivan Sokolov, who was born in Bosnia, Erwin L'Ami, Friso Nijboer, Daniel Stellwagen, Jan Smeets, Ruud Janssen, John van der Wiel, Martijn Dambacher, Wouter Spoelman, Manuel Bosboom and Willy Hendriks. For the first time in many years, Loek van Wely, who won the event seven times, will not be participating. Mh. van Wely will be competing in the Areosvit International in Foros, Ukraine.

In first round action for the men yesterday, Sokolov defeated Bosboom, L'Ami won his game with Spoelman, Smeets vanquished Hendricks and Nijboer bested Janssen. Dambacher-van der Wiel and Stellwagen-Tiviakov both ended in draws.

The women's event will include Chinese-born Peng Zhoaqin, who has won the event seven years in a row, Bianca Muhren, Desiree Hamelink, Pauline van Nies, Arlette van Weersel, Colleen Otten, Martine Middelveld, the Bensdrop twins, Marlies and Laura, and Belgain player Donna Schut

Both competitions conclude June 28.


Sparkassen Chess Meeting opens Saturday in Dortmund



The annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting, one of the "big three" events in chess, begins this saturday in Dortmund, Germany.

This year's event is a category 20 among eight players: world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia; the world's top-ranked grandmaster, Vishy Anand of India; Peter Leko of Hungary and Boris Gelfand of Israel, fresh from their triumphs in the Elista candidates' matches; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan; 16-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen; the reigning Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev; and the reigning German champion, Arkadij Naiditsch.

The Sparkassen is a seven-round tournament that concludes July 1. Last year's event was won by Kramnik in a tie-break over fellow Russian grandmaster Peter Svidler.


Karpov taking part in Valjevo


Chessdom

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov, 56, is making his first appearence in a classical event in four years this week in the Gorenje Tournament in Valjevo, Serbia.

After four Rounds, Karpov is tied for first place with Turkish grandmaster Saut Atalik, Serbian Ivan Ivanisevic and Michael Roiz of Israel are leading with 2½ points each. Karpov moved into the tie yesterday when he defeated Kiril Georgiev for his first victory of the event against three draws.

The event is scheduled for 9 rounds.

Good luck, Tolya!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features on the JR Chess Report

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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 (4.01 and 6.0)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49840">Levon Aronian - Alexey Shirov, Candidtes' Final Match, Round 1, Elista
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49841">Peter Leko - Evgeny Bareev, Candidtes' Semi-Final Match, Round 3, Elista
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49842">Gata Kamsky - Boris Gelfand, Candidtes' Final Match, Round 3, Elista
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49843">Sergey Rublevsky - Alexander Grischuk, Candidtes' Final Match Rapid Playoff, Game 1, Elista
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49844">John Bryant - Hikaru Nakamura, National Open, Round 1, Las Vegas
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=49836&mesg_id=49845">Irina Krush - Alex Shabalov, National Open, Round 5, Las Vegas

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Aronian - Shirov, Fianls, Round 1, Elista

Levon Aronian
Photo: 64 (Russia)

Levon Aronian vs. Alexey Shirov
Candidates' Final Match, Round 1
Elista, June 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Saduleto Opening (MacDonnell Defense)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4

• Giovanni Saduleto was a 16th century master who did some of the first analyses of the Queen's Gambit. 3. e4 is the original idea of the gambit. Black accepts the poffered pawn (which can't be held) and White establishes broad pawn center.
• More common now is 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4, the first recorded use of which appears to be in Somarcarana-Cochrane, Calcutta 1858.

3. -- e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6

• 5. -- Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. e5 Nd5 9. Nb3 Nb6 10. Bb5 Qd5 11. Nbxd4 0-0 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qc2 c5 14. Ne2 c4 15. Nf4 Qc6 16. a3 Be7 17. Be3 Bb7 18. Nd4 Qe8 gives White more space and better pawn structure, but Balck has the Bishops in an open position, which have more potential than White's Knights (Kharlov-Yakovich, Russian Ch prelims, Elista 1997).

6. 0-0 Be6 7. Bxe6

• 7. Bb5 Bc5 8. Nbd2 Nge7 9. Ng5 Qd7 10. Nxe6 Qxe6 11. Nb3 Qd6 12. Bf4 Qxf4 13. Nxc5 0-0 14. Rc1 a6 15. g3 Qh6 16. Be2 Rfd8 17. f4 d3 18. Nxd3 Nd4 19. Qe1 Qb6 20. Rf2 Nf3+ 21. Bxf3 Rxd3 22. Kg2 Rad8 23. Rc3 gives Black a slight but unstable edge in space (Giorgadze-Sakalauskas, Ol, Istanbul 2000).

7. -- fxe6 8. Qb3 Qd7 9. Qxb7 Rb8 10. Qa6 Nf6 11. Nbd2 Bd6

• 11. -- Bb4 12. Qd3 Bxd2 13. Bxd2 Rxb2 14. Rac1 Qd6 15. Qc4 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxc7 Qxc7 18. Rxc7 0-0 19. Bc1 Rxa2 gives Black an extra pawn and a powerful initiative (van Wely-Anand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo 1999).

12. b3

• 12. Qd3 0-0 13. h3 e5 14. Nc4 Nb4 15. Qb3 Nbd5 16. Qd1 Nxe4 17. Nfxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qe6 19. Qxd4 Rb4 20. Nc4 Ng3 21. fxg3 Rxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Rxc4 23. Qd3 gives Black a lead in space and development, but White has an extra pawn (Cmilyte-Korbut, Eur Ind Ch, Chisinau (Moldova) 2005).

12. -- 0-0 13. Bb2 Bf4 14. g3!?

• White breaks out of the book in a fluid but approximately equal position.
• 14. Qd3 Rbd8 15. Nc4 Nb4 16. Qxd4 Qe7 17. Qxa7 Ra8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qd4 Nc2 20. Qc3 Nxa1 21. Rxa1 c5 yields an asymmetrical material balance of two Kignts and two pawns against a Bishop and a Rook (van Wely-Sasikiran, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2004).

14. -- Bh6

• Black decides to retain the Bishop.
• Since Black has a pawn at d4 and another pawn may be put on e5 at will, also good is exchanging the dark-bound Bishop for the Knight: if 14. -- Bxd2 15. Nxd2 then:
• 15. -- e5 16. f4 Ng4 17. Qc4+ is equal.
• 15. -- Rfd8 16. Rac1 17. Qc4 Ng4 18. Qe2 e5 affords neither side an advantage.

15. Ba3!?

• Black has a grip on the central dark squares. White seeks a way around it.
• White gets a whole lot of nothing from 15. Rac1 Rb6 16. Qd3 e5 17. Ba3 Rd8 18. Bc5 Rb7 19. Qc4+ Kh8.

15. -- Nxe4 16. Bxf8 Nxd2 17. Nxd2 Bxd2 18. Ba3

• White has a Rook and a pawn for two minor pieces.

18. -- Qd5?!

• Black reacts to White's queenside initiative.
• Black is better in the center and cpuld use that superiority on the kingside.
• Better is the pawn sacrifice 18. -- Ne5! 19. Qxa7 Qc8 when:
• 20. f4 Be3+ 21. Kg2 Nd7 threatens to win the Queen by 22. -- Ra8.
• 20. Bb2?! Nf3+ 21. Kh1 Rb5 is very strong for Black.

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 18. -- Qd7d5

19. Qc4!

• White offers an exchange of Queens at a time when Black has little better to do than accept.
After 19. Ne5 Bc3 20. Qe2 Rd8 21. f4 d3 22. Qf3 Ba5 Black's d-pawn palys the tune to which White must dance.

19. -- Qxc4 20. bxc4 Ne5

• Black is not using his central advantage as well as he could.
• After 20. -- e5! 21. Rab1 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 e4 23. Kf1 Ba5 24. Rb7 a6 25. Bb2 d3 gives Black the advantage of an advanced protected passed pawn.

21. Rab1 Rd8 22. c5 Nc4 23. Bc1 d3

• The position on the board is equal. Black has compensation with his central pressure for the slight theorectical material imbalance.

24. Rb7 c6 25. Bxd2 Nxd2 26. Rd1 Ne4?

• Black squanders his final opportunity.
• 26. -- Nc4 27. Rb3 d2 28. Rb4 Rd4 then:
• 29. Kf1 a5 30. Rb7 Rd5 31. Ke2 Rxc5 leaves Black with a clear passed pawn.
• After 29. Rxc4 Rxc4 30. Rxd2 Rc1+ 31. Kg2 a5 32. Rd6 Rxc5 White will have to go into a material deficeit to stop the pawn

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 26. -- Nd2e4

27. f3!

• Tickling the Knight is important, even if it means sacrificing a pawn.

27. -- Nc3

• The Knight simultaneously attacks the Rook and the a-pawn.
• If Black accepts the c-pawn with 27. -- Nxc5 then 28. Rxa7 h6 29. a4 Kh7 30. Kf2 Kg6 31. Ke3 Kf6 32. a5 gives White a passer on the march.

28. Rd2 Nxa2 29. Rb3 Nc1 30. Rb1 Ne2+ 31. Kf2 e5

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Levon Aronian
Position after 31. -- e6e5

32. Ra1

• 32. Ke3 Nc3 33. Ra1 Nd5+ 34. Kxd3 Rd7 35. Ke4 is faster.

32. -- Rd5 33. Rxa7 Rxc5 34. Rxd3

• With the fall of the d-pawn, Black is completely hopeless.

34. -- Nd4 35. Rd2

• 35. f4 Rc2+ 36. Kf1 c5 37 fxe5 Rxh2 38. Rc3 is getting close to the end for Black.

35. -- h6 36. f4 Nb5 37. Ra8+ Kh7 38. f5!

• White can create a pssed pawn with his kingside majority and win.

38. -- Nd4 39. g4 Rc3 40. Rb2 h5 41. Rbb8 1-0

• 41. -- Kh6 42. h4 Rf3+ 43. Ke1 g5 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45. hxg5 hxg4 46. Rhg8+ is lights out.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Leko - Bareev, Fianls, Round 3, Elista

For affectionados of the Mikhail Tal school of chess, the games of Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko are not a natural taste. He eschews flashy combinations in favor of the boa constrictor method of play, slowly squeezing the life out of his opponent by stopping any possibility of counterplay before it gets started, then slowly squeezing the life out of his opponent's position. Tal and his latter-day followers are like the swashbuckling hero played by Errol Flynn, setting up his opponent with swordplay and then dispatching his with a final flurry of sudden, swift strokes. Leko, in the mode of the late Tigran Petrosian, is more the sadistic villain played by Claude Rains,who enjoys sitting back and watching as his victim slowly suffers his doom.

Yet it is a pleasure, although for some of us a guilty one, to watch Leko's deft handling of pawns and minor pieces as he cuts the line from his opponent's pieces and the territory they once controlled or chase away intruding pieces with pawn moves in a way that resembles a horse waving off pesky flies. The game that follows is a fine example of Leko's best efforts.

One thing to add is that Leko's personal temperament bears little resemblance to that of a Hollywood villain played by Claude Rains or Sidney Greenstreet. He is one of the most decent men among grandmaters.



Peter Leko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Peter Leko vs. Evgeny Bareev
Candidates' Final Match, Round 3
Elista, June 2007

Open German Game: Karpov Defense

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3

• If 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 then:
• 8. Bb3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. Bf4 Nbd5 11. Be5 Qa5+ 12. Nd2 b5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Ngf3 0-0 15. 0-0 Ba6 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Nb3 Qb6 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. Bd4 draw agreed (Nunn-Speelman, Reykjavik 1988).
• 8. Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Rfe1 Nc5 16. Rad1 b6 17. c3 Bb7 18. Bc2 Rfd8 19. Rd4 a5 20. b4 Ba6 21. Qe3 gives White the advantage in space (Godena-Malakhov, Montecatini 1997).

6. -- e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7

• If 10. -- Nf6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Bd2 b6 13. 0-0-0 Bb7 14. Ne5 then:
• After 14. -- 0-0-0 15. f4 Kb8 16. Kb1 Rhe8 17. Rhf1 Nd5 White's spatial edge is largely dependent on the Kningt at e5, which may be driven off (Carlsen-Agdestein, Norwegian Ch Rapid Playoff, Oslo 2005).
• 14. -- c5 15. Bb5+ Ke7 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. a3 Qc7 18. Bf4 Nd5 19. Bg3 Rhd8 20. Rd4 Kf8 21. Kb1 a6 22. Rc4 Qe7 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. Bxc6 Ra7 25. Bxd5 exd5 26. Bxd6 Qxd6 27. Rd4 b5 28. Qd3 Kg8 29. g3 Qe6 30. Rd1 Rad7 then:
• 31. h4 Rd6 32. Rd2 Qe1+ 33. Ka2 Qe7 34. Qf3 Qe6 35. Re2 Qc8 36. Qd3 Rc6 is unclear (Kamsky-Karpov, FIDE World Ch, Elista 1996).
• After 31. f4! Rd6 32. f5 Qe5 33. h4 h5 34. Qf3! White puts Black's kingside through a shredder (Khruschiov-Escobedo, Ol. Calvia 2004).

11. 0-0

• If 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. 0-0 c5 then:
• 13. c3 b6 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Qh3 Ke7 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 Nf6 18. Re1 Rad8 19. dxc5 bxc5 White has a modest edge in space, a safer King and better pawn structure (Asrian-Sargissian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan 2000).
• 13. b3 e5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Bf5 Ne6 16. Bb2 h5 17. Qh4 f6 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19. c4 Bg4 is equal (Stellwagon-Nep, Corus, Wijk aan Zee 2002).

11. -- b6 12. Qg4 Kf8 13. Qh4!?

• One of the drawbacks of Black's last move is that it will now be difficult to bring the King's Rook into play.
• 13. b3 Bb7 14. Bb2 Nf6 15. Qh4 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Bd4 Qa5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Kg7 21. Rad1 Qc5 draw agreed (Wang Hao-Wojtaszek, World Jr Ch, Istanbul 2005).

13. -- Bb7

• Black must play the pawn advance -- c5 in order to make this move effective.
• If 13. -- Rg8 14. c4 Bb7 then:
• 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Qh3 Nf6 18. b3 c5 19. Bb2 Ne4 gives White the edge in space and the centralized Black Knight may be chased off.
• After 15. Re1 c5 16. Bh7 cxd4 17. Bxg8 Kxg8 18. Nxd4 Qxc4 19. Be3 e5 Black is compesated for the excahnge with additional space.

14. Re1 Kg8 15. Qh3!?

• Black's Bishops could become very strong.
• If 15. -- c5!? Be2 16. Be2 Rd8 then:
• After 17. Be3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 cxd4 Bxd4 Qxc2 20. Qh4 Qc7 is equal.
White has the edge in space and better development after
• 17. c3?! Nf6 18. Bd3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 cxd4 20. cxd4 Nd5 gives Black the better game.

15. -- Re8 16. c4 Nf6?!

• Now is an even better time for Black to bring his Bishops to life.
• 16. -- c5! 17. d5 Kf8 18. dxe6 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Ne5 20. Bf5 fxe6 weakens White's kingside.

17. Bd2 c5

• Balck makes the antiicipated move to free his Bishop.

Black: Evgeny Bareev
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 17. -- c6c5

18. d5!

• White invites an exchange of pawns in the center.
• 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Bc3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Bf4 is equal.

18. -- e5?

• Black would have done better to exchange. White has successfully closed the long diagonal. Black's mobility is suffering.
• 18. -- exd5 19. Rxe8+ Nxe8 20. Re1 Nf6 21. cxd5 !d8 22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Bxd5 gives Black an extra pawn, but White is still playing virtually a Rook to the good.

19. Bc3!

• White focuses his pieces on White's e-pawn.

19. -- g6

• Black cuts the b1/h7 diagonal in order to bring his Rook out of the dongeon.

Black: Evgeny Bareev
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 19. -- g7g6

20. Qh4!

• White simply uses the opportunity to create a new threat.

20. -- Kg7 21. Nd2 Qd8 22. Bc2 Bc8 23. Ba4 g5 24. Qg3 Nh5 25. Qf3 g4

• Black has some initiative, but he can do little to improve his position.

26. Qd1 Re7 27. h3?!

• This is an unnecessary bump on the road to victory.
• Better is 27. Ne4 Nf4 28. Qd2 f6 29. Rad1 a6 29.Qe3 Qc7 31. Bc2 b5 32. Ba5 leaves White with an imposing passed pawn at d5 after an exchange of minor pieces.

27. -- Nf6 28. hxg4 Bxg4

Black: Evgeny Bareev
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 29. -- Bc8g4:p

29. f3!

• White responds to the incursion of the Bishop by simply taking command of his light squares, chasing away the intruder and giving him nowhere to which to return.
• The text is stronger than29.Qc2 Qc8 30.Qd3 Qf5 31.Qxf5 Bxf5 32.Re2 Bd3 33.Re3 Bg6 34.f3

29. -- Bc8?!

• Black would have made more of a fight of it after 28. -- Bf5 30. Ne4 Nxe4 31. fxe4 Bg6 32. Qg4 Rc7 33. Rf1 but the result still favors White.

30. Re3 Nh5

• Black has simply run out of satisfactory moves.
• No better is 30. -- a6 31. Qe1 b5 32. Qg3+ Kf8 22. Bb3 bxc4 34. Nxc4 Nxd5 24. Rd3 Bc7 36. Nxe5 000

31. Qe1 f6 32. Qh4 Nf4 33. Ne4

• White focuses on squares near Black's King.

33. -- Rf7 34. g3 Ng6 35. Qh5 Bb8 36. Bc2 f5 37. f4!

• A neat finish.
• If now 37. -- fxe4 38. fxe5 then:
• 38. -- Nxe5 39. Bxe5+ BBxe5 40. Qxe5+ Qf6 41. Qxf6+ Rxf6 42. Rxe4 wins a pawn.
• 38. -- Kh7 39. e6! Rg7 40. Rxe3 Qg5 41. Qxg5 hxg5 42. Rg4 wins either the g-pawn or the exchange.

37. -- Re8 38. Nf2 Rf6 39. Rae1 e4 40. Bxe4 fxe4 41. Nxe4 1-0

• The Rook at f6 must fall.Bareev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Kamsky - Gelfand, Fianls, Round 3, Elista

Boris Gelfand
Photo ChessBase.com

Gata Kamsky vs. Boris Gelfand
Candidates' Final Match, Round 3
Elista, June 2007

Queen's Pawn Game: London Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Bb5!?

• If 5. c3 e6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 then:
• 7. Bg3 0-0 8. Bd3 Qe7 9. Ne5 Nd7 10. f4 f6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0 f5 13. Nf3 a5 14. Ne5 draw agreed (Iwu-Schact, Foxwoods Op, Connecticut 2007).
• 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. Ndf3 Nd7 9. Nxd7 Bxd7 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Bd3 e5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. 0-0 0-0 15. Qf3 f5 16. c4 Bc6 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Qe2 Rad8 gives Black more in space and better mobility (Brunoehler-Rellstab, German Ch, Bad Oeynhausen 1941).

5. -- cxd4

• 5. -- Bg4 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Qb6 8. c4 a6 9. Ba4 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 e6 11. 0-0 Be7 12. Qb3 Qa7 13. c5 0-0 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. h3 Nd7 16. Qa4 Rfc8 17. b4 Bd8 18. Rab1 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. Nf3 f6 21. Qc2 e5 22. a4 Rab8 has Black targeting a backward pawn on the open b-file (Nogueiras-Bruzón, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara 2005).

6. exd4 Qa5+ 7. Nc3 Bg4 8. 0-0 e6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Rc8 11. Rfd1 Be7 12. Bf1!?

• White gets out of the book. It doesn't have a happy ending, anyway.
• If 12. a3 0-0 then:
• 13. Bf1 Qd8 14. h4 a6 15. g4 Ne8 16. h5 h6 17. Na2 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Nxd6 19. Qe2 Qg5 gives Black the edge in space, mobility and King safety (Carleton-Gottardi, Cyberspace 1996).
• 13. Rab1 Qb6 14. Qd3 Ne4 15. Ne2 Rfd8 16. c3 Na5 gives Black better chances, but it's still better than the red line.

12. -- 0-0

• Black puts his King in a safe place and prepares for combat.

13. Ne2 b5 14. c3?!

• Black is taking aim at the queenside dark squares. White should do something about it.
• 14. a3! Qb6 15. Rab1 Na5 16. Nc3 a6 is equal.

14. -- b4 15. Qd3 Qb6 16. cxb4 Nxb4 17. Qb3 Ne4

• Black has a clear advantage in space.
• 17. -- Bd6 18. a3 Bxf4 19. Nxf4 Nc2 20. Qxb6 axb6 is equal.

18. a3 Nc6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. b4 g5 21. Be3

• White's queenside is weak. If a Black Knight lands on c4, it won't be dislodged easily.
• 21. Bh2 Bd6 22. Bxd6 Nxd6 33. Rac1 Nc4.

Black: Boris Gelfand
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White: Gata Kamsky
Position after 21. Bf4e3

21. -- Nd6!

• Well, what do you know? Like a fish to water, the Knight heads for c4.

22. Nc1 f5 23. Nb3 Nc4 24. b5 Nd8 25. a4

• White attempts to block the queenside.
• If 25. Bd2 Nb7 then:
• 26. a4 Nbd6 27. Bb4 Kf7 28. Bxd6 Bxd6 29. a5 bxa5 30. Nxa5 Rc7 gives Black more space, but White has the most deadly pawn on the board.
• After 26. Re1 Kf7 27. Bd3 Rc7 28. a4 Rfc8 29. Re2 h5 30. Rae1 Nd8 Black has an advantage in space.

25. -- Nb7 26. Bc1 f4

• Black's theme is to deprive White of the use of space in his own territory.
• If 26. -- h6 27. Be2 Rc7 28. g4 then:
• After 28. -- f4 29. Nd2 Bf6 20. Nf3 Rfc8 31. Bd2 Nxd2 32. Rxd2 Na5 Black continues to enjoy more space
• 28. -- Nbd6 29. Nd2 Ra8 30. Nxc4 Nxc4 31. gxf5 exf5 32. Bf3 Rd8 gives Black a wee bit more room, but White has the Bishops in a somewhat open position.

27. Be2 Bb4 28. Ra2?!

• This move is too passive.
• Better is the more active 28. Bg4! Rf6 when:
• 29. Bd2 Bxd2 30. Nxd2 Nxd2 31. Rxd2 Kf7 32. Raa2 Na5 33. Rdc2 Rxc2 34. Rxc2 gives White an edge in space.
• After 29. Ra2 Nbd6 30.Re2 Ne4 31.f3 h5 32.fxe4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Ra8 Black still has compensation for the pawn, but the position is level.

28. -- Nbd6 29. Bd3

• White's last move has really gotten him into a pickle, where he has little room for error.
• If 29. Bg4 Rfe8 30. h4 h6 31. Re2 Ne4 then:
• 32. Rd3 Ra8 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Rh3 is starting to look like a full court press in basketball.
• If my fellow aficionados of the Mikhail Tal school of chess (also known as the Errol Flynn school of chess) are wondering, the exchange sacrifice 32. Rxe4 dxe4 33. d5 fails to 33. -- Rcd8! 34. Bxe6+ Rxe6 35. Rd4 Bc5 36. Nxc5 bxc5 37. Rxc4 Rxd5 when all White has to show for his acrobatic display of reckless courage is being down a Rook to a Bishop in a lost position. Aw, shucks!

29. -- Ra8 30. Kf1?

• The situation was already ctirical, but now White has no fighting chance. He was condemned to lose one pawn, but now loses a second pawn as a result of this move.
• The pawn at a4 is overloaded. It is both shielding the Rook at a2 from the attack by the Black Rook at a8 and at the same time is guarding the pawn at b5. In chess, this is logically impossible.
• Most of the following are better than the text move, but even those that are still leave White struggling for a draw:
• After 30. Bd2 Bxd2 31. Nxd2 Nxb5 32. Nxc4 dxc4 33. Bxc4 Nc3 34. Bxe6+ Kg7 Black wins the exchange.
• After 30. Nd2 Bxd2 31. Bxd2 Nxb5 32.Rb1 Nxd4 33. Bxc4 dxc4 34. Rxb6 e5 Black has an extra pawn.
• After 30. Bb1 Ra7 31. g3 fxg3 32. fxg3 Rf3! 33. Rd3 Rxd3 34. Bxd3 Nxb5 35. Bxg5 Nc3 Black wins the a-pawn.
• After 30. Re2 Rfe8 31.h4 Rxa4 32. hxg5 Nxb5 33. Rc2 Bd6 34. Nd2 Rc8 Black has an extra pawn.

Black: Boris Gelfand
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White: Gata Kamsky
Position after 30. Kg1f1

30. -- Nxb5!

• Black gets the pawn without a fight.

31. Rc2

• As already noted, White must lose a second pawn.
• The pawn will not be recovered after either:

31. Bd2 Nxd2+ 32. Rdxd2 Nc3 33. Ra1 Rxa4; or

31. Ra1 Nc3 32. Re1 Rfe8 33. Bxc4 dxc4 Rxa4.

31. -- Nbd6 32. Bd2 Rxa4

• It's lost and gone forever.

33. Bxb4

• White is in danger of losing a third pawn.
• If 33. Bxc4 dxc4 34. Rxb4 35. Nc1 d5 Re8 37. dxe6 Rxe6 White saves the pawn, but he's still lost.
• After 33. Rdc1 Rc8 Ke2 h5 White is being crushed to death.

33. -- Rxb4 34. Nc1

• Even worse is 34. Nd2 then:
• 34. -- Nb2!
• White loses the exchange: 35. Rxb2 Rxb2 36. Nf3; or
• 35. Be2 Nxd1 36. Bxd1 Rxd4.
• 35. Bh7+ simply loses a piece to 35. -- Kxh7 36. Rb1 Nd3 37. Rxb4 Nxb4.
• 34. -- Nd2?! loses the material advantage (but not the game) to 35. Rcxd2 Rxd4 36. Bxh7+ Kxh7 37. Rxd4.

34. -- Nf5 35. Bxf5 Rxf5 36. Nd3 Rb3 37. Ra2

• After 37. Re2 Kf7 38. Rc2 Kf6 39. Ke2 Na3 40. Rc8 Nb5 41. Kf1 Nxd4 the third pawn is lost.

37. -- Rf7 38. Ke2 Nd6 39. Rda1

• 39. Ne5 Rc7 40. Ke1 Kg7 41. Rdd2 Nc4 42. Rdc2 b5 43. Rc1 h5 44. Ra6 Kf6 saves the pawn, but a clostrophobe cpuld not stay in the same room with White's position.

39. -- Nb5 40. Kd2

Black: Boris Gelfand
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White: Gata Kamsky
Position after 40. Ke2d2

40. -- Nxd4

• Black wins the third pawn. The rest could have been played in Guantánamo.

41. Rc1 Rb5 42. Rc8+ Rf8

• Being three pawns up, Black simply invites an exchange of Rooks, which would just magnify his advantage. White will have nothing to do with it.

43. Rc7 Ra5 44. Rb2 Rf7 45. Rc8+ Kg7 46. Ne5 Rb7

• Black puts a Rook behind his passed pawn.

47. h4 gxh4 48. Rb4 Ra2+ 49. Kd3

• If 49. Kc1 Ne2+ then:
• 50. Kb1 Rba7 51. Rxb6 Ra1+ 52. Kb2 R7a2+ 53. Kb3 Nd4+ 54. Kc3 Rc1+ 55. Kxd4 Rxc8 is lights out for White.
• After 50. Kd1 d4 51. Ke1 Kf6 52. Ng4+ Ke7 53. Ne5 b5 Black is four pawns to the good.()

49. -- Nf5 50. Rxf4 Rba7 51. Rc3 R7a3 52. Rxa3 Rxa3+ 53. Ke2 b5 54. Rg4+ Kf6 55. Nd3

• 55. Nf3 Ra2+ 56. Ke1 e5 57. Rb4 e4 58. Nd2 Ra1+ 59. Nb1 Nd4 60. Kd2 Ra2+ 61. Kd1 Ke5 is hopeless for White.

55. -- Ra8 56. Kd2 e5 57. Rb4 e4 58. Nc5 Rg8 59. 0-1

• White cannot save the g-pawn.
• Mr. Kamsky finally resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Rublevsky - Grischuk, Final Match Playoff, Game 1, Elista

It is a delight to an anti-establishment rebel to see Alexander Grischuk advance to the world championship tournament in Mexico City. He was the one qualifier to emerge in Elista to come to the closing banquet spouting a jacket and an open collar. It appears he last shaved about three days ago. Earlier this year, he referred to FIDE new world championship format as "hilarious" and "ridiculous."

Will, just as somebody has to tell Mr. Bush that his signature war is lost, somebody needs to tell FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov that the old world championship cycle wasn't broken until he tried to fix it. It won't do any good, though. Bush thinks he talks to God and Kirsan thinks he gets free rides from space aliens.



Alexander Grischuk
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sergey Rublevsky vs. Alexander Grischuk
Candidates' Final Match Playoff, Rapid Phase, Game 1
Elista, June 2007

Open Royal Game: Classical Defense (Scotch Opening)

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

• If 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 then:
• 7. -- Ne5 8. Be2
• 8. -- Qg6 9. 0-0 d6 10. f3 0-0 11. Nd2 d5 12. Kh1 dxe4 13. fxe4 Bg4 14. Bf4 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Bd6 16. Rad1 Rae8 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Qb5 Bxd4 19. cxd4 Qb6 20. Qd3 Qxb2 21. Rb1 Qxa2 22. Rxb7 f5 23. e5 Nd5 24. Nb3 Rf7 25. Ra1 Qf2 26. Qb5 Rd8 27. Rbxa7 g6 28. R7a2 Qe3 draw agreed (Rublevsky-K. Georgiev, Eur Club Cup, Saint Vincent (Italy) 2005).
• 8. -- 0-0 9. 0-0 d5 10. f4 Nc4 11. e5 Qg6 12. Bxc4 dxc4 13. f5 Qb6 14. Nd2 Bxf5 15. Nxc4 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Qg6 gives Black a bad Bishop that will hard to repair (Zukertort-Goering, Cologne 1877).
• 7. -- Bxd4 8. cxd4 Qg6 9. 0-0 Qxe4 10. Nc3 Qh4 11. Re1 0-0 12. g3 Qf6 13. Ne4 Qg6 14. Bd3 Nb4 15. Bb1 d5 16. Nc5 Bf5 is equal (Ettlinger-Dr. Lasker, Match, New York 1893).

5. -- Qf6 6. Qf3

• If 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. Na4 Rd8 9. Bd3 Bd4 10. 0-0 a6 11. Qa5 b6 12. Qxa6 Bc8 13. Qa7 b5 14. Nc5 Qe5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nf6 17. Be2 0-0 18. Nd3 Qxe4 19. Bf3 should allow White to pick up a loose pawn (Pavasovic-Flores, Cyberspace 2000).
• 7. -- Ne7 8. Qf4 Be6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Na4 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 0-0-0+ 13. Bd3 b6 14. Rad1 Rhg8 15. Rhg1 Ng6 16. Kc1 Nf4 17. Ba6+ Kb8 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 Black has a tiny bit more space, but White has better pawn structure and a safer King (Houska-Howell, Staunton Mem, London 2005).

6. -- bxc6

• If 6. -- Qxf3 7. gxf3 bxc6 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Ne7 10. Nc3 d6 then:
• 11. Rg1 0-0 12. f4 f5 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. e5 dxe5 15. 0-0-0 Ng6 16. Rd3 exf4 17. Rxg6 fxe3 18. Rxc6 f4 19. Rxc7 is a winning game for White (Valmana-Harikrishna, Spanish TCh, San Sebastian 2006).
• 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 Superfinal, Moscow 2006).

7. Qg3

• 7. Nd2 Qxf3 8. gxf3 d5 9. Nb3 Bd6 10. c4 Nf6 11. c5 Be7 12. Bd3 a5 13. Be3 0-0 14. Rc1 dxe4 15. fxe4 Ng4 gives Black the initiative (Pourkashian-Koneru, Asian Games, Doha 2006)

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 a5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe7 18. Rae1 Be6 19. c4 Rfb8 20. b3 a4 21. e5 axb3 22. axb3 dxe5 23. Qxe5 Qd6 24. Bc2 draw agreed (Grosar-Opl, Austrian TCh, Graz 2001)

8. h4 Nh6 9. f3 d5 10. Nc3 Bd4

• 10. -- Bb4 11. Bd2 dxe4 12. 0-0-0 e3 13. Bxe3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 0-0 gives White an advantage in space and the two Bishops in an open position (Rublevsky-Grischuk, Candidates' Final Match, R. 4, Elista 2007)

11. Bd2 Rb8 12. 0-0-0 Be5 13. f4!?

• White varies from the book, much of which has been written by Rublevsky in recent years and some even in this match.
• The prior day was played 13. Qg5 Qd6 14. exd5 0-0 15. Bc4 cxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxb2+ 18. Kb1 Bc3+ 19. Kc1 Bb2+ 20. Kb1 Bc3+ draw agreed (Rublevsky-Grischuk, Candidates' Final Match, R. 6, Elista 2007)

13. -- Bd4 14. Qd3!?

• This move neither helps nor hurts anything.
• 14. b3 Qd6 15. exd5 Qa3+ 16. Kb1 cxd5 17. Bc1 Qc5 18. Qe1+ Be6 19. Na4 gives White the initiative.

14. -- Bg4!?

• This may be what White wanted. While the move looks aggressive, White's counter gives him the initiative.
• If 14. -- 0-0 15. e5 Bxc3 then:
• 16. exf6 Bxb2 17. Kb1 Bc3+ Kc1 18. Bb2+ draws by perpetual check.
• 16. Qxc3 Qg6 17. Bd3 Bf5 18. Be3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Qg4 is even.

15. e5 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qe6 17. Re1 0-0 18. Be3

• White takes aim at a loose pawn
• Another way of attack the a-pawn is 18. Qa5 d4 19. Bb4 Rfd8 20. Bc5 Nf5 21. Bd3 Ne3 22. Rhg1 with equality.

18. -- Rfd8

• This is a prophylactic move to get the Rook off an open diagonal at White's disposal.
• Thie alternative is 18. -- Nf5 19. Bc5 Rfd8 20. Bd3 d4 21. Qa5 Ne3 22. Rhg1 with a level game.

19. Qc5

• 19. Bxa7? drops a piece to 19. -- Ra8! 20. Qa5 d4 21. Bc4 Qc8 22. e6 Bxe6 23. f5 Bxc4 24. Qxc4 Rxa7.

19. -- a5!?

• Objectively speaking, this is not a particularly dangerous move for either side. Nevertheless, Black is seek complications.
• 19. -- Nf5 20. Kb1 Nxe3 21. Rxe3 Rb6 22. Ra3 Rdb8 23. b3 Qh6 is equal.

20. Kb1 a4

• Again, Black is looking for adventure.
• 20. -- Rb7 21. Qxa5 Rdb8 22. Bc1 Nf5 23. Qa3 Nd4 24. Bd3 is equal. No buried treasure here.

21. Bd3 Bf5!

• Excellent! Black proposes that White trade his good Bishop.

22. Rc1

• White is having none of it. Instead, he discourages Black from taking the Bishop himself by putting a Rook on the c-file.

Black: Alexander Grischuk
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White: Sergey Rublevsky
Position after 22. Re1c1

22. -- Bxd3!

• And Black fearlessly takes the Bishop.

23. cxd3 Nf5 24. Bf2 Rb5 25. Qxc6?!

• It now seems as though Black's decision to allow White to take control of the c-file on his 22nd move is only allow the Queen to feast on pawns.
• 25. Qa3 Qg6 26. Rhg1 Rdb8 27. g3 Rb4 28. Rc2 Nd4 29. Bxd4 Rxd4 30. Qc3 Rdb4 gives Black the edge in space and mobility.

25. -- Rdb8!

• However, Black has an open file, too, and there's a King on it.
• After 25. -- Qxc6 26.Rxc6 Rb4 27. Rxc7 Rxf4 28. Rc2 Rg4 29. Rh2 Re8 30. Re2 White has an extra pawn, but Black's pieces are more active.

26. Qxe6 Rxb2+!

• A fine Zwischenzug.
• 26. -- fxe6 27. Rc2 d4 28. Rg1 c5 is favorable to White.

27. Ka1 fxe6 28. Rb1

• White seek relief by exchanging Rooks.

Black: Alexander Grischuk
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White: Sergey Rublevsky
Position after 28. Rc1b1

28. -- a3!!

• This modest-looking move puts the game away.
• 28. -- R2b4 29. Rhc1 a3 30. Rxb4 Rxb4 31. g3 Rb2 32. Bc5 Rd2 also gives Black a favorable outcome.
• 28. -- Rxb1+? snatches a half-point from the jaws of victory: 29. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 30. Kxb1 d4 is equal.

29. Bc5 Nxh4 30. Rxb2 axb2+ 31. Kb1 Nxg2

• The dust settles with Black two pawns up.

32. f5 Nf4 33. fxe6

• After 33. d4 exf5 34. Ba3 Kf7 35. Rd1 Ne2 36. Rd3 g5 37. Bxb2 f4 there is no stopping the three connected passers from making at least one Queen.

33. -- Nxd3 34. Ba3 Nxe5 35. Kc2 Nc4 36. Bc5 Nd2

• Mihail Marin writing for ChessBase attributes the remaining moves to "inertia". Rublevsky could have resigned here.

37. a4 b1Q+ 38. Rxb1 Nxb1 39. a5 Rb5 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Bryant - Nakamura, Round 1, National Open, Las Vegas

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: Official website of the Gibralter Chess Festival (2005)

To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Select the Las Vegas International from the events list;
• Agree to Monroi's terms;
• Select the first round (the first of the two June 8 rounds);
• Select Board 2 Bryant, John - Nakamura, Hikaru 0-1.

John Bryant vs. Hikaru Nakamura
National Open, Round 1
Las Vegas, June 2007

Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6

• If 7. -- e6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Qe2 0-0 10. Qe4 then:
• 10. -- Bd7 11. Bd3 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Qe2 Qa5 14. Bc4 d5 15. Bd3 Bd6 16. Nc3 Rae8 17. Qd1 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Qb3 Ng4 gives Black an edge in space (Struch-Chandler, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 2005).
• 10. -- Qc7 11. Re1 Bd7 12. Bg5 Ncb4 13. Nbd2 Bc6 14. a3 Nb6 15. Qh4 N4d5 16. Bd3 h6 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Ne4 dxe5 20. dxe5 Qd8 21. Bb1 Nf5 22. Qg4 Nd7 23. Nc3 Qb6 is equal (Pavasovic-Cvitan, Croatia Cup, Rabac 2004).

8. Bb5 d5

• If 8. -- dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Nc3 e6 12. 0-0 then:
• 12. -- Be7 13. Qg4 0-0 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Bh6 Bf6 16. Rfd1 Kh8 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 Qb4 is equal (Godena-van Wely, French TCh, Montpellier 2001).
• 12. -- Rd8 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Qf3 0-0 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qxc6 Rxd4 18. Rad1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Rc8 20. Qb5 h6 is drawish (S. Zhigalko-Karjakin, Eur Ind Ch, Dresden 2007).

9. h3

• 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 e6 12. 0-0 Rc8 13. Be3 a6 14. Be2 Be7 15. Qg4 g6 16. Bh6 Bf8 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Bh6 Nd7 19. Rad1 Na5 20. Rd3 Nc4 21. Rf3 Ndxe5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Qa4+ draw agreed (Parfenov-Kremenientsky, Muni Ch, Moscow 1999).

9. -- Bf5 10. Nc3

• 10. 0-0 e6 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Qc1 0-0 15. Nbd2 Rfc8 16. Nb3 Rab8 is equal (Nisipeanu-Eljanov, Op, Dubai 2004).

10. -- Rc8

• 10. -- e6 11. 0-0 Be7 12. Ne2 0-0 13. Ng3 Bg6 14. Bf4 a6 15. Be2 Nc4 leaves White's Knights on the wrong side of the board if they're looking for anywhere to go (Costa-Ikonnikov, Loures (Portugal) 2000).

11. 0-0

• This is a good time for White to tuck the King into safety.
• The text is better than 11. Nh4 Bd7 12. Bg5 a6 13. Be2 h6 14. Be3 Na5 15. Bd3 e6 with equality.

11. -- e6 12. Bg5 Be7!

• This seems an odd move since it gives White to opportunity to trade his bad Bishop for Black's good one.
• 12. -- f6 13. Bh4 Be7 14. exf6 then:
• 14. -- Bxf6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nh4 Bg6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Re1 gives White several weak pawns for targets.
• 14. -- gxf6 15. Re1 Qd6 16. Bg3 Qb4 17. Re2 Bf8 18. Nh4 Bg6 19. Rxe6 wins the King's pawn.

13. Bxe7?!

• The fact is that Black's "bad" Bishop is the most active one on the board, so he shouldn't be too eager to trade it. On the other hand, White has no good options with the Bishop.
• If 13. Qd2 then:
• After 12. -- Bxg5 14. Nxg5 0-0 15. Nf3 a6 16. Be2 f6 17. exf6 Qxf6 Black has greater oiece activity.
• 13. -- f6 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Bf4 a6 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal
• 13. Be3 a6 14. Be2 0-0 15. Rc1 f6 16. exf6 Bd6 gives Black two more active Bishops than White.

13. -- Qxe7 14. Nd2?!

• This initiates a faulty plan to bring Whites pieces to bear on the queenside.
14.Na4 Nc4 15. Rc1 0-0 16. b3 N4a5 17. Qd2 Be4 with equality.

14. -- 0-0 15. Nb3?

• There was time to correct the error.
• After 15. Nf3 Rfd8 16. Re1 a6 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc4 19. Re2 Nb4 Black has greater piece activity, but it's still better for White than how things stand now.

15. -- Nc4 16. Qe2

• This is a feeble attempt to eliminate the active Knight at c4 with 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Qxc4.

Black: Hukaru Nakamura
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White: John Bryant
Position after 16. Qd1e2

16. -- Nb4!

• Black brings the Rook at c1 into the equation. The c4 Knight may be eliminated, but no pawn will be won.

17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Nc5 Nc2 19. Rad1

• Obviously, taking the pawn now loses the exchange.

Black: Hikaru Nakamura
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White: John Bryant
Position after 19. Ra1d1

19. -- Nxd4!!

• In the end, Black wins a pawn.

20. Rxd4 Qxc5 21. Rfd1 b5 22. f4 b4 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Rfd8!

• This move couldn't have been timed better. Black is a pawn to the good, with his queenside advancing and White's position frozen.
• 24. -- c3? allows White to equalize with 25. Kh2 cxb2 26. Rb1 a6 27. Rxb4.

25. Kf1 Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Qxd4 27. Rxd4

Black: Hikaru Nakamura
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White: John Bryant
Position after 27. Rd1d4:Q

27. -- c3!

• Now is the time for this move. The saint goes marching in.

28. bxc3 bxc3 29. Rd1 g5

• Black weakens White's kingside pawns so that the King can lap them up.

30. fxg5 Kg7 31. Ke2 Kg6 32. Rc1 Kxg5 33. Kd3

• White is lost. Taking the c-pawn allows an exchange of Rooks, descending into a King and pawn ending easily won for Black.

33. -- c2 34. Kd2 Kh4 35. 0-1

• Black has an extra pawn and an active, hungry King ready to eat more pawns.
• Mr. Bryant resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Krush - Shabalov, Round 5, National Open, Las Vegas

Irina Krush, America's first lady of chess, won in fine effort against newly crowned US national champion Alex Shabalov.



Irina Krush
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Select the Las Vegas International from the events list;
• Agree to Monroi's terms;
• Select the fifth round (the first of the two June 10 rounds);
• Select Board 7 Krush, Irina -Shabalov, Alexander 1-0.

Irina Krush vs. Alex Shabalov
National Open, Round 5
Las Vegas, June 2007

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4

• 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb4 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Be2 c5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nxb5 cxd4 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qg4+ Kh7 17. Qh5 Nc6 is unclear (Geller-Koblents, Sverdlovsk 1947).

8. -- g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3

• If 11. exf6 then:
• 11. -- Qa5 12. Be2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 14. Qc1 c5 15. Rd1 cxd4? 16. Rxd4 Bc5 17. b4! gives White a winning game (Onischuk-Shabalov, US Ch, Stillwater 2007).
• 14. Bf4 Nxf6 15. Bf3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. Ne2 Qc7 18. h3 e5 White resigns (Zimmerman-Paoli, Venice 1949)
• If 11. -- Qb6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 then:
• 14. h4 Bh6 then:
• 15. a4? Bxg5 16. hxg5 b4 17. Ne4 c5 18. a5 Qc7 gives Black a tactical initiative (Ragozin-Botvinnik, Trng Match, Moscow 1941).
• White's game is difficult but playable after 15. Qd2 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Ne5 17. Rfd1 Rh4 18. Qe3 Rdh8 19. f3.

11. -- Qa5 12. exf6 b4 13. Ne4 Ba6 14. Qf3

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Irina Krush
Position after 14. Qd1f3

14. -- Rd8?!

• It would seem better to castle long here, as in customary. Then Black develops his King's Bishop and the Rooks are in communication.
• If 14. -- 0-0-0 then:
• 15. Bg2 c3 16. Nxc3 Nb8 17. Ne4 Rxd4 18. Be3 b3+ 19. Nc3 Ra4 Black has a healthy spatial edge and queenside threats (Berkes-D'Amore, Eur Team Ch, 2005).
• 15. Be3 Nb8 16. Bg2 Bb5 17. h4 Na6 18. Ng5 is equal.

15. Be2 Nb6?

• Black breaks away from known lines. In doing so, he protects a pawn that is already protected.
• 15. -- c5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. 0-0 Bb7 19. Qg4 Black has more space, but his King is not safe and the Rook at h8 is unguarded. (Zontakh-Robak, Op, Bydgoszcz (Poland) 2001).
• Another line that could be explored is 15. -- Qd5 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Qe3 c3 18. bxc3 bxc3 19. f3 c2 20. Rc1 which remains unclear.

16. Nc5

• White won a pawn in the opening; she still has it.
• If 16. Be3 then:
• 16. -- Nd5 17. h4 b3+ 18. Bd2 Nb4 19. Bxb4 20. Nc3 B7 21. Bxc4 White has two extra pawns.
• After 16. -- Rd5 Qf4 c3 18. bxc3 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 bxc3 20. Qc7 White has an extra pawn and more space, nwither side has a very safe King and both sides have unguarded pieces.

16. -- Rd5 17. Nxa6 Qxa6 18. Be3 b3

• Black has more space, but his mobility is hampered by White's threats and pins and neither King is safe.
• 18. -- Qa5 18,0-0 Kd7 20. Qg2 Rf5 21. Rfc1 Qd5 22. Bf4 Bf3 gives White a tacctical initiative.
• After 19. -- Qa4 19. Qf4 b3 20. Bf3 Rd7 21. Qd8+ Rd8 22. Qb7 Nd5 23. 0-0 White has tactical threats to limit Black's mobility.

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Irina Krush
Position after 18. -- b4b3

19. 0-0!

• One King is going to safe, any way. The position is clearly in White's favor.

19. -- bxa2

• After 19. -- Qb7 20. axb3 Rf5 21. Qh1 xxb3 22. Ra6 Nd5 23. Rfa1 Black will be buried in a landslide.

20. b3 Kd7 21. bxc4 Rf5 22. Qe4 Qa4

• ]22. Rxf6 23. Bf4 Rf5 24. d5 Bc5 25. dxe6+ fxe6 26. Rfd1+ Ke7 27. Bg4 is lights out.

23. Rfc1 Ra5 24. Bd1 Qa3 25. Bf3 1-0

• After 25. -- Kd8 26. Qxc6 Bh6 27. c5 Nc8 28. Qb7 Bxe3 29. c6 Black will not escape the mating net.
• 25. -- Qa4 26. Bf4 Nxc4 27. Rxa2 Qb4 28. Qxc6+ Kd8 29. Qc7+ Ke8 30. Bc6#.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.