The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (June 21): Magnus, Ivanchuk 1-2 in Foros

[Jack Rabbit]

Magnus wins the Aerosvit



Seventeen-year-old grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the third annual Aerosvit International Tournament Thursday in Foros, Crimea (Ukraine) with 8 points out of a possible eleven.

Magnus, who was leading by two points at the end of last weekend, finished one point ahead of Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, at 39 the oldest player in the field, who charged up the table in the final rounds, winning three of his last four games. Magnus defeated Ivanchuk in the first round in the game that proved to be the entire difference in the tournament.

Foros completes a productive spring for both Magnus and Ivanchuk. Magnus won the first leg of the FIDE Grand Prix in Baku in early May and later in the moth scored a victory in a rapid match against Hungarian GM Peter Leko. Ivanchuk won the MTel Masters' Tournament in Sofia in mid-May and then took the annual rapid tournament in León by defeating Vishy Anand in their final round mini-match.

It appears that if the Foros tournament is counted in the FIDE rankings due out at the first of July, Magnus will be ranked number two and Ivanchuk, with a forty point gain over the April list, will take over the third slot.


Levon Aronian takes first in Asrian Memorial



Levon Aronian, Armenia's strongest grandmaster, came from behind on the last day to win the Karen Asrian Memorial Rapid Tournament in Yerevan Tuesday.

The final day started with Hungarian GM Peter Leko leading Aronian by a half point after 12 rounds. However, in round 13, Aronian, playing White, defeated British grandmaster Mickey Adams in just 20 moves while Leko, also playing White, fell to Russia's Alexander Moroaevich. With the same opponents and the colors reversed, the fourteenth-round games ended in draws.

Morozevich and Israeli GM Boris Gelfand tied for third.

The tournament began June 9 with the name Yerevan Giants. However, Armenian national champion Karen Asrian, a resident of Yerevan, died suddenly of a heart attack while en route to watch the first round. The tournament was renamed in Asrian's honor.


Calendar

New York International Open at the Marshall Chess Club in New York City, 21-26 June.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund June 28-July 6. Competitors are former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Leko, Loek van Wely, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Arkadij Naiditsch and Jan Gustafsson.

World Open, Philadelphia June 30-July 6.

Biel Chess Festival 19 July-1 August. This year's GM tournament features Magnus Carlsen, Evgeny Alekseev, Lenier Domínguez, Etienne Bacrot, Alex Onischuk and Yannick Pelletier.

Canadian Open, Montreal 19-28 July.

Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 19-27 July.

British Championship, Liverpool 27 July-9 August.

Mainz Chess Festival 28 July-3 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi 30 July-15 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament, London at historic Simpson's Divan, 7-18 August. Competitors: Mickey Adams (defending champion), Nigel Short, Jon Speelman, Peter Wells, Bob Wade, Jan Timman, Loek van Wely, Jan Smeets, Erwin L'Ami, Jan Werle and Alexander Cherniaev

FIDE Women's Knock Out (World Women's Chess Championship), Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) 28 August-18 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Semifinal Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Twelve Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Recent Events

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Nisipeanu - Carlsen, Round 7, Foros

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu - Magnus Carlsen
Aerosvit International Tournament, Round 7
Foros, Crimea (Ukraine), 15 June 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Rat Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6

• Magnus may already be the greatest Dragon player from the Black side of the board ever.

6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nc6

• If 7...0-0 then:
• If 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Nb3 Be6 10.f4 Qc8 11.Kh1 Rd8 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 21.Qa4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Bf3 Rd2 24.Qc4 Qe8 25.Qb3 b5 26.Rfe1 Na5 27.Qb4 Nc6 28.Qb3 Na5 29.Qb4 draw (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
]
• 8.Re1 Nc6 9.Nb3 Nd7 10.Bg5 Nc5 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5 Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bg7 14.Bc4 a6 15.Rb6 is unclear: White has the advantage in space and Black has an extra pawn (Rublevsky-Zvjaginsev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

8.Nb3 0-0 9.Kh1 a6

• If 9...Be6 10.Bg5 Na5 11.f4 then:
• 11...Rc8 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bd3 b5 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nd1 Re8 16.Ne3 Bxd3 17.cxd3 Nc6 gives White the advantage in space (Fishbein-Aramal, Op, Chicago, 2002).
• 11...Nc4 12.f5 Nxb2 13.Qc1 Bc4 14.Qxb2 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nxe4 16.f6 Nxf6 17.Nbd4 Qd7 18.c4 Ne4 19.Be3 d5 20.cxd5 Qxd5 21.Rab1 is equal (Gipslis-Nadyrhanov, IT, Alushta, 1994).

10.f4 b5 11.Bf3 Bb7

• If 11...Bd7 12.Be3 then:
• If 12...Rc8 13.Rf2 b4 14.Na4 Rb8 15.a3 Na5 then:
• 16.axb4 Nxb3 17.cxb3 Rxb4 18.Nc3 is equal (Velimirovic-Jotic, Op, Subotica, 2002).
• 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.c3 Qb5 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 Qxe5 21.Bd4 Bxa4 22.Rxa4 is equal (Nunn-Kudrin, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1985).


• 12...b4 13.Na4 Rb8 14.a3 a5 15.Rf2 Qc7 16.Rd2 Nd8 17.axb4 Rxb4 is equal (Short-Chiburdanidze, Banja Luka, 1985).

12.a4!?

• White's novelty is very curious and probably dubious. Usually White counters any Black defense in the Open Sicilian by playing in the center and on the kingside, contenting to simply slow down Black's advance on the queenside.
• 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 14.Nd4 Qb6 15.c3 Rac8 is equal (Paschell-Rensch, Op, Philadelphia, 2001).

12...b4

• If 12...bxa4 13.Rxa4 Nd7 then:
• If 14.Nd5 Nb6 15.Nxb6 Qxb6 16.Re1 Rfc8 is equal.
• If 14.Qd2 Nb6 15.Ra1 a5 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 then:
• 17...Nd7 18.Bxc6 Bxc6 19.Rd1 e6 20.Qe1 Qc7 wins a pawn.
• 17...Bxe5 18.Nc5 Qb8 19.Nxb7 Qxb7 20.Qe1 Bg7 gives Black an extra pawn.

13.Nd5 Nxd5

• If 13...e6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.e5 then:
• 15...dxe5 16.Nc5 Qe7 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.fxe5 Bxe5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 15...Be7 16.Be3 Qc7 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.a5 gives White the advantage in space, but Black is solid.

14.exd5 Na5 15.c3?

• Again, White plays on the queenside where play in the center is indicated.
• 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Bg4 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 f5 18.Bf3 is equal.

15...bxc3 16.bxc3

• White pawns are scattered and weak. He's busted already.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 16.bc3:p

16...Rc8!

• With fat targets on White's queenside, Black seizes the open file. White's c-pawn is toast.
• Also good is 16...Bxc3! 17.Rb1 Rb8 when:
• If 18.Bd2 Bxd2 19.Qxd2 Nxb3 20.Rxb3 Ba8 then:
• 21.Rxb8 Qxb8 22.Qd3 Qb4 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 21.Re3 Qd7 22.Rfe1 Rfe8 23.Qa5 Qf5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 18.Qd3 Qc7 19.Nxa5 Qxa5 20.Be3 Ba8 enables Black to generate more threats.

17.Rb1 Ba8!

• 17...Nc4?! 18.Nd4 Qc7 19.Qe2 Bxd4 20.cxd4 gives White the advantage in space.

18.Nd2 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Bd2

• Black knows the pawn isn't going to run away. White has nothing better to do but invest time and material defending it.
• After 20.Be2 Rxc3 21.Bxa6 Rc5 22.Bb2 Rxd5 23.Qe2 Bxb2 24.Rxb2 e6 Black emerges with an extra pawn.

20...Qa5 21.Qe1

• 21.Re1 Re8 22.Be2 Qxd5 23.Rg1 Rc5 24.Bxa6 Bxc3 leaves Black a pawn up.

21...Bxd5 22.Be2

• Black reamins a pawn to the good after 22.Qxe7 Bxc3 23.Bxc3 Rxc3 24.Bxd5 Qxd5.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 22.Bf3e2

22...Qxa4!!

• The exchange sacrifice leaves White with little hope.
• Black has taken full advatage of White's weakened kingside. His pieces are all over it, yet he hasn't taken the c-pawn.

23.Bxc4 Bxc4 24.Rf2

• Better is 24.Rg1 Qc2 25.Rb7 e6 26.Qe3 Qd3 27.Qxd3 Bxd3 Black's position is safe and more active.

24...e6 25.Be3

• 25.Rb4 doesn't do anything for White: 25...Qc6 26.Be3 Qd5 27.Rb1 Qe4 28.Rfb2 Bd3 maintains Black's advantage.

25...Bd5 26.Rfb2

• Somewhat better is 26.Ra1 Qc6 27.Bd4 e5 28.fxe5 dxe5 29.Be3 f5, but White has no counterplay.

26...Qe4 27.Qd2 h5!

• If 27...Bc4? 28.Rb6 then:
• 28...Re8 29.R1b2 Bf8 30.Kg1 Ra8 31.Rb8 Rxb8 32.Rxb8 Qc6 is equal.
• If 28...Rc8 29.Rb8 Bf8 then:
• 30.f5! exf5 31.Rxc8 Qxb1+ 32.Bg1 Be6 is equal.
• After 30.R1b4 Rxb8 31.Rxb8 Qc6 32.Kg1 Black holds the advantage.

28.Bd4 Bh6 29.Be3

• White is reduced to passive moves.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 29.Bd4e3

29...a5!

• Black's pawn has been passed since the opening; now, as the ending nears, it advances.
• If 29...Rc8 30.Rb8 Kh7 31.R8b4 Rc4 then:
• 32.Rf1 Bg7 33.Rxc4 Bxc4 34.Re1 Qd5 gives White no good replies.
• If 32.Re1 Bg7 33.Rxc4 Qxc4 34.Rc1 Qe4 White must defend against mating threats while Black's a-pawn is a latent threat in itself.

30.Rb8

• This is Black's only chance at counterplay, but it doesn't generate any.

30...Kh7 31.h3 Rxb8

• Also good is 31...e5 32.R1b5 Rxb8 33.Rxb8 Bc4 34.Qf2 a4 when the a-pawn keeps on going and going.

32.Rxb8 Bg7!

• Since White's Queen is ties to the defense of g2, the text move threatens to win the pawn at c3.

33.Bd4 Bxd4 34.cxd4

• Thus the c-pawn finally exits -- by becoming the d-pawn.
• Black's task is simply to mop up.

34...a4

• Even though the pawn has just crossed the frontier line, White must surrender material in order to stop it.

35.Kh2 a3 36.Rb4 a2 37.Ra4 Qb1 0-1

• 38.Qc3 Qf1 39.Qb2 Qxf4+ 40.Kh1 Qf1+ 41.Kh2 h4 is lights out.
• D. Nisipeanu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Shirov - Ivanchuk, Round 8, Foros

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexei Shirov - Vassily Ivanchuk
Aerosvit International Tournament, Round 8
Foros, Crimea, (Ukraine), 16 June 2008

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Exchange Opening) Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2!?

• White chooses an unusual continuation. The main lines stem from 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 (see Cramling-Dronavalli. IT, Istanbul, 2008 for an overview).

5...Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 0-0 8.Bb5

• If 8.f4 Nc6 9.d5 then:
• If 9...Nb810.a4 then:
• If 10...e5 11.a5 then:
• 11...N6d7 12.Nf3 Qe7 13.Bd3 exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rc1 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Ne5 20.Be2 Qe3 is equal (C. Pilnik-Reshevsky, US Ch, New York, 1942).
• 11...exf4 12.axb6 fxe3 13.Rxa7 Qh4+ 14.g3 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxe4 16.Nf3 Bg4 17.Rxa8 Bxf3 18.Qd3 Qe5 19.bxc7 Qxc7 20.Rg1 Qb6 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Winz-Czeriak, Lasker CC Ch, Tel Aviv, 1939).
• 10...c6 11.a5 N6d7 12.e5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Nc6 14.Nf3 Ndb8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bc4 Na6 17.Ng5 Rf8 18.0-0 h6 19.Nge4 Rd8 20.h3 Bd7 21.Rfd1 Be8 22.Nd5 Nab4 23.Nxb4 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Nxb4 25.Bc5 gives White a clear advantage (Moskalenko-Tseshkovsky, Balassagyarmat, 1990).
• If 9...Na5 10.Bd4 then:
• If 10...e5 11.Bxe5 Bxe5 12.fxe5 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qe7 14.Qd4 then:
• If 14...Rd815.b4 Nac4 then:
• 16.Nf3Bg4 17.Bxc4 Bxf3 18.0-0 Qxb4 19.e6 fxe6 20.Rxf3 Qxc4 21.Qf6 exd5 22.Qf7+ draws by pertetual check (Gleizerov-Belov, Russian Ch Qual, St. Petersburg, 2004).
• 16.Bxc4 Qxb4 17.Nf3 Qxc4 18.Qe3 c6 is equal (Kaidanov-Peng Xiaomin, Team Match, Seattle, 2001).
• 14...c5 15.d6 cxd4 16.dxe7 Re8 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bf5 19.Kf2 Rxe7 20.Nf3 Be4 21.b4 Rc8 22.Be2 Bxf3 23.Kxf3 Rc3+ 24.Ke4 Re3+ 25.Kxd4 Rxe2 26.bxa5 R7xe5 is equal (Foord-Knott, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).
• 10...Bg4 11.Qd3 e5 12.fxe5 Nac4 13.Qg3 h5 14.Nf3 Qe7 15.0-0-0 Bxf3 16.gxf3 c5 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.f4 Qb4 19.Qf2 Bh6 20.Bc5 draw (Gheorghiu-Korchnoi, IT, Zurich, 1984).
• If 8.Be2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.d5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 then:
• If 11...Ne5 then:
• If 12.Qb3 c6 13.f4 Ned7 then:
• 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.h4 Nf6 16.h5 gxh5 17.Bxh5 cxd5 18.exd5 Qc4 19.Bf3 Rfd8 20.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Chabanon-Plachetka, Op, Cannes, 1999).
• 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.h4 Rb8 16.Qc2 e5 17.h5 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Bg3 Nbc4 20.Bxc4 Nxc4 21.Bxb8 Qxb8 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Qb3 Nxb2 24.Rh3 Rd8 25.Qxb8 Rxb8 26.Rc1 White is clearly better (Sergienko-Turov, Russian ChT, Nizhnij Novgorod, 1999).
• 12.Bd4 c6 13.f4 Ned7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.h4 f5 17.Qc2 Nf6 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Qxf5 Qd7 20.Qe5 Nbd5 21.0-0-0 Qc7 22.Rxd5 Black resigns (Movsziszian-Ramon, Op, Albacet, 2001).
• 11...Na5 12.Bd4 Qd6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Rc1 c6 15.Qd2 Qf6 16.Nd1 cxd5 17.Qxa5 Qg5 18.Ne3 Rfd8 19.Rd1 Qf6 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Rxd5 22.Qxd5 Qxb2 23.Qd2 Qb1+ 24.Bd1 leaves White with an extra piece (Galliamova-Lujan, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterinburg, 2006).

8...Qd6!?

• If 8...a6 9.Be2 then:
• If 9...f5 10.exf5 Bxf5 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 then:
• 15.g4 Bd7 16.h4 e6 17.h5 g5 18.d6 Nd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.0-0-0?! cxd6 21.Kb1 Be6 gives Black an extra pawn (Fressinet-Negi, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
• 15.0-0-0 a5 16.h4 a4 17.Qb4 Qd6 18.Qxd6 exd6 19.Bd4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Bd7 21.f3 h6 22.Bd3 Kg7 23.Re1 Rae8 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 is equal (Shaidullina-Danelia, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Bd4 then:
• 11...c5 12.Bxc5 Nec4 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Bxb6 Nxb6 15.Nf3 Nd7 16.0-0 Nc5 17.Qa3 Bg4 18.Rfd1 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Qd6 20.Rac1 h5 21.g3 Rfc8 22.Bg2 g5 gives White an extra pawn and an advantage in space (Alaexandrov-van Wely, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 11...e6 12.f4 Ned7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qd4+ Kg8 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.e5 gives White an advantage in space.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 8...Qd8d6

9.Nge2

• The game is equal.
• When to top-ranked players of appoximately equal strengthShirov and Ivanchuk are tied in the Elo rankings at 2740) play, the probable result is a draw. For the next 16 moves, both players play an even game toe-to-toe.
• 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.d5 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Ne5 13.0-0 remains equal.

9...c6

• Part of Black's plan is to occupy e5 with a Knight. The pawn at c6 will keep Rooks out of d5.
• 9...a6 10.Bd3 then:
• 10...Nc6 11.f4 Rd8 12.d5 Nb4 13.a3 Nxd3+ 14.Qxd3 is equal.
• 10...e5?! 11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.f4 Bg7 13.e5 Qb4 14.a3 gives White the advantage in space.

10.Bd3 e5

• In order to occupy e5, the pawn at d4 must be eliminated.

11.dxe5

• 11.Bc2 Rd8 12.dxe5 Qe7 13.Qc1 Qxe5 14.Bg5 Re8 also remains equal.

11...Qxe5 12.Bd4 Qe7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Bc2 Rd8

• Much of the maneuvering in the middle game involves the fight for control of the open d-file.

15.Qc1 Na6 16.0-0 Be6 17.Nf4 Bc4 18.Re1 Nb4 19.a3

• If 19.Bb1 Qe5 20.a3 Nd3 21.Bxd3 Bxd3 22.Nxd3 Rxd3 then:
• 23.Qc2 Rd7 24.Red1 Rad8 remains equal.
• 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Re8 also remains equal.

19...Nxc2 20.Qxc2 Qf6

• 20...Qe5 21.Nce2 Re8 22.f3 Rad8 23.Rad1 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 remains equal.

21.Nce2 Rd7 22.b3!?

• White misses an opportunity to fight for control of the d-file.
• 22.Rad1 Bxe2 23.Nxe2 Rad8 24.Rxd7 Nxd7 25.Rd1 Ne5 is equal.

22...Ba6

• White elects to presere the Bishop, keeping pressure on the a6/f1 diagonal.
• 22...Bxe2 23.Nxe2 Rad8 24.Rad1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 remains equal.

23.Rad1 Rad8 24.g3?!

• SomebodyWhite) finally blinks.
• 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Qc1 Qe5 26.Nc3 Kg8 is equal.

24...Qe5

• If 24...Qe7 25.Qb2+ Kg8 26.Rxd7 Nxd7 then:
• If 27.Nd4 Qe5 28.Qd2 Qd6 29.Qe3 Ne5! gives Black a tactical initiative in the center.
• 27.f3 Ne5 28.Kg2 g5 29.Nh5 f6 gives Black the advantage in space.

25.f3 Kg8?!

• Black is so shocked that he blinks himself.
• Black misses 25...Rxd1! 26.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 g5 when he wins a pawn:
• 28.Ng2 f5 29.Nd4 fxe4 30.fxe4 Qxe4.
• 28.Nh3 Bxe2 29.Qxe2 Qa1+ 30.Kg2 Qxa3.

26.a4

• The game is again equal.

26...h5 27.Kf2 Rd6 28.Qc3?

• The is the small wrinkle on the baseball with which a clever pitcher can give the batter fits.
• Better is 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.Rd1 Rxd1 30.Qxd1 Qe7 with equality.

28...Nd7!

• The Knight is headed for e5.
• 28...Qg5? 29.Rxd6 Rxd6 30.e5 Rd8 31.e6 h4 32.Nd4 gives White an advantage in space.

29.Rxd6 Qxd6 30.Rc1

• Note how in some of the variations here how Black's pieces run past the Queen at c3 to land on squares that would still be protected by the Queen had it remained at c2.
• 30.Kg2 Ne5! 31.b4 h4 then:
• If 32.Rb1threatening 33.b5! Bxe2! 33.Nxe2 Qd2 34.Qxd2 Rxd2 35.Kf2 Rd3 Black is posed to exploit White's weak queenside pawns
• 32.gxh4 Qf6 33.Qe3 Qxh4 34.Qf2 Qe7 35.Rb1 Bxe2! 36.Nxe2 Rd2 leaves Black clearly better.
• If 30.Rb1 h4 then:
• If 31.Qe3 Ne5 32.gxh4 Qf6 then:
• 33.Kg3 Bxe2 34.Qxe2 g5 35.Nh3 gxh4+ gives Black the advantage in space.
• 33.Ng1 Rd3 34.Qc1 Qxh4+ 35.Kg2 Rxf3 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 31.Rg1 hxg3+ 32.hxg3 Ne5 33.Re1 g5 34.Nh5 Kf8 gives Black the advantage in space.

30...Ne5!

• The occupation of e5 is now decisive.
• By centralizing the Knight, Black connects his heavy pieces on the open d-file, attacks a weak pawn at f3 and blocks the long diagonal.
• The Bishop at a6, the heavy pieces on the d-file and the Knight at e5 all converge on d3. This becomes the pivot point of Black's final attack.

31.h4 Qf6 32.b4

• White intends to snare the Bishop, but it's too little and too late.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 32.b3b4

32...Rd3!!

• The exchange sacrifice at the pivot point d3 rounds out the attack.

33.Nxd3

• If 33.Qe1 Rxf3+ 34.Kg2 Re3 35.b5 cxb5 then:
• 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Qd2 Rxe4 38.Nc3 Rc4 39.Rxc4 bxc4 gives Black a three pawn advantage.
• 36.Qd2 Rxe4 37.Nc3 Rc4 38.axb5 Bxb5 leaves Black up by three pawns.

33...Qxf3+ 34.Kg1 Bxd3 35.Qxe5 Qe3+ 36.Kh2 Qxe2+ 0-1

• If 37.Kh3 then 37...Bxe4 38.Rg1 Bg2+ wins the Queen.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Onischuk - Eljanov, Round 7, Foros

Pavel Eljanov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alex Onischuk - Pavel Eljanov
Aerosvit International Tournament, Round 7
Foros, Crimea (Ukraine), 15.06.2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Bronstein Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qa4!?

• Nick deFirmian, in MCO-15, calls the text move "ineffective" and devotes only the minimum discussion of it.
• More common are lines stemming from 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6.

5...Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.dxc5

• If 7.0-0 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxg2 9.Kxg2 Qc8 then:
• If 10.Nc3 Qb7+ 11.f3 Be7 then:
• If 12.Rd1 a6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• If 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Qb3 Qc7 17.Rac1 0-0 18.f4 Nc6 19.Nf3 Rfd8 20.Qe3 Rac8 21.g4 d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Ng3 Bc5 24.Qd2 a5 is equal (Nikolic-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2000).
• 15.Rd3 0-0 16.Rad1 Rc8 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.Na4 Bd8 19.Rc3 Qa7 20.Qb4 Nc6 21.Nxc6 Rxc6 22.Rcd3 d6 23.Nc3 Be7 24.Ne4 Qb7 25.Qa4 b5 26.Qb3 Qb8 27.cxb5 axb5 28.a3 is equal (Sorin-Kamsky, Amer Cont Ch, Buenos Aires, 2005).
• 12.e4 0-0 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Ne5 16.Qb5 d6 is equal (Nyzhnyk-Grover, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• If 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 then:
• If 12.f3 a6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Rac1 Qb7 16.Qa3 Bg5 17.Rc2 Nc6 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Ne4 d5 20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Qc3 dxc4 22.Qxc4 Qxc4 23.Rxc4 is equal (Ilincic-Prohaszka, First Saturday, Budapest, 2006.03).
• 12.e4 Qb7 13.f3 a6 14.Be3 d6 15.Qc2 Nbd7 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.Qe2 Rfe8 18.b3 Bf8 19.Qd2 d5 20.exd5 exd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.cxd5 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 Qxd5 is equal (W. Schmidt-Adorjan, IT, Warsaw, 1979).

7...bxc5

• If 7...Bxc5 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 then:
• If 9...Na6 10.Bf4 0-0 11.Rfd1 Nc5 12.Qc2 Qc8 then:
• If 13.Rac1 13...Nce4 then:
• If 14.Nd4 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 a6 then:
• If 16.Qb3 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qb7+ 18.Qf3 Ra7 19.Qxb7 Rxb7 20.f3 Rc8 21.e4 then:
• 21...Ne8 22.h4 h5 23.a4 Bf6 24.Be3 Rbc7 25.b3 d5 26.Ne2 dxc4 27.Bxb6 Rc6 28.Rxc4 Rxc4 29.bxc4 Rxc4 30.a5 Nc7 31.Rc1 Rxc1 32.Nxc1 Nb5 33.Nd3 Bc3 34.Nc5 Nd6 35.Nxa6 Nc4 36.Nc5 draw (Piket-Karpov, Match, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 21...d6 22.Ne2 Rc6 23.b4 h6 24.b5 axb5 25.cxb5 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 d5 27.Rc8+ Kh7 28.Rc7 Rxc7 29.Bxc7 Bc5 30.Nc3 Bd4 31.Na4 Nd7 32.exd5 exd5 33.Kf1 Kg6 is equal (van Wely-Karpov, Op,. Corsica, 2003).
• 16.Bf3 Ra7 17.Nb3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qb7 19.Qxb7 Rxb7 20.f3 Rc8 21.e4 Ne8 22.e5 f6 23.Rc2 Kf7 24.g4 fxe5 25.Bxe5 Nf6 26.Rcc1 Rc6 27.Bg3 g6 28.Kg2 Bf8 29.h3 h5 30.Nd4 Rc8 31.a4 d6 32.Ne2 Rc6 33.Nd4 Rc8 34.Ne2 Rc6 35.Nd4 Rc8 36.Ne2 Rc6 draw (Hübner-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2000).
• 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Qd2 Qb7 16.Bd6 Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Rac8 18.b3 h6 19.Rd4 Rc6 20.Qf4 Rc5 21.Rd6 b5 22.Bf1 bxc4 23.bxc4 Rf5 24.Qd2 Bxf3 25.exf3 Qxf3 yields Black an extra pawn (Dautov-I. Smirin, Soviet Ch ½-final, Daugavpils, 1989).
• 13.Rd4 d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Nxg5 Nf6 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.b4 h6 19.Nf3 Ncd7 20.Nb5 Rfc8 21.Qd2 Rc6 22.Rd1 a6 23.Nd6 Qc7 24.e4 e5 is equal (Aronian-Leko, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 9...0-0 10.Rd1 d6 11.Bf4 a6 then:
• 12.Rd2 Qc7 13.Rad1 Rd8 14.Ng5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 h6 16.Nge4 Ne8 17.g4 Nc6 18.f3 Na5 19.b3 Nb7 20.Qa3 Qc6 21.Qa4 Qc7 22.Qa3 Qc6 23.Qa4 Qc7 draw (Fernandes-Spraggett, IT, Santo Antonio (Portugal), 2001).
• 12.Rac1 Qc7 13.Qc2 Rd8 14.Qd2 Nh5 15.Bg5 Nf6 16.Bf4 Nh5 17.Bg5 Nf6 draw (Leko-Kramnik, World Ch, Brassago, 2004).

8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Rd1

• 10.Bf4 Qb6 11.Rfd1 Rd8 12.Rd2 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Ne5 Na6 15.Rad1 Nc7 16.e4 Ne6 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 yields an extra pawn for White (Lautier-Macieja, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

10...d6 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Rd2

• 12.Rab1 Na6 13.a3 Bc6 14.Qc2 Rfd8 15.e4 Qb7 16.Ne1 Rab8 17.Qe2 e5 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nc2 Qb3 21.Ne3 gives White a small advantage in space (Nikolic-Anastasian, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

12...h6

• 12...Nc6 13.Bxd6 Bxd6 14.Rxd6 Qxb2 15.Rb1 Qxc3 16.Rxb7 Nd4 17.Qd1 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Qxc4 19.a4 a5 20.Rb5 Ra7 21.Rd8 g5 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Qd6+ Kg7 24.Rxc5 Rd7 25.Qe5 Qb4 26.Qxg5+ Kf8 27.Rc8+ Ke7 28.Kg2 Black resigns since after 28...Qb6 29.e430.e5 the Knight falls (Karpov-Polugaevsky, IT, Biel, 1990).

13.Rad1 e5 14.Be3 Nc6 15.Qb5 Qc7 16.Qb3

• 16.Qa4 Nd4 17.Ne1 Rfb8 18.b3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rb6 20.f3 Qb7 is equal (Borges-van Wely, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1995).

16...a6 17.Nh4 Rfb8!?

• Numerically speaking, White currently has an impressive advantage in space; dynamically speaking, he doesn't. Black can unmask an attack on the enemy Queen or on White's fianchettoed Bishop at will, altering the spatial balance dramitically.
17...Rab8 18.Nf5 Nd4 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.Qa3 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qe6 gives Black an advantage in space (Guerra-Pinheiro, YM, Loures (Portugal), 2001).

18.Bxc6?

• This move appears dubious in that White currently has the advantage in space, but White cannot avoid exchanges..
• 18.Qc2 Nd4 19.Qd3 Bxg2 20.Nxg2 Qc8 21.f3 Qe6 gives Black more space (see previous note), but White's position is solid.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 18.Bg2c6:N

18...Qxc6

• White takes command of the long diagonal.
• 18...Bxc6 19.Qc2 Rd8 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.f3 Rab8 is equal.

19.f3 e4

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space, but Black is still poised for counterplay,
• 19...Qc8 20.Qc2 Qh3 21.Qf5 Bc8 22.Qxh3 Bxh3 is equal.

20.Qc2 Re8 21.fxe4 Qc8!

• White is a pawn to the good, but Black has the advantage in space and open lines to exploit..
• If 21...Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Qxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxe4 then:
• 24.Nf3 g5 25.h4 g4 26.Nh2 h5 is equal.
• 24.Kf2 g5 25.Nf3 Rab8 26.h4 g4 27.Nh2 h5 is equal.

22.Nf3 Qh3

• Black takes advantage of his extra space.
• 22...Qe6 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.cxd5 Qxe4 25.Bf2 Qg4 26.Qd3 Ne4 gives Black a more active position.

23.Kh1 Bf8 24.Rd5

• Black's strategy has work perfectly.
• The text move, meekly surrendering the the exchange, underscores White's difficulties.
• If 24.Bf4? then 24...Bxe4 25.Qb3 Rab8 26.Qa3 Bb7 27.Kg1 Ng4 28.e4 g5 traps the Bishop like a rat.

24...Bxd5 25.cxd5 Ng4 26.Bg1

• If 26.Qd3 Re5 27.Rg1 f5 then:
• 28.Rg2 fxe4 29.Nxe4 c4 30.Qd4 Nxe3 31.Qxe3 Rxd5 Black is up by an exchange.
• 28.Bxc5 Rc8 29.Bd4 Rce8 30.Qd1 fxe4 31.Qf1 Qxf1 32.Rxf1 exf3 gives Black a Rook for two pawns.

26...g6 27.e5

• 27.Nb1 Bg7 28.Nbd2 Nf6 29.Qd3 g5 30.e5 dxe5 31.e4 Nd7 Black remains up by an exchange.

27...Nxe5 28.Ne4

• 28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.e4 f5 30.Re1 Bg7 31.Be3 g5 leaves Black up by an exchange with a small advantage in space.

28...Ng4 29.Nh4 Rab8 30.Ng2 Rxe4

• 30...Qh5 31.Nc3 Bg7 32.Nf4 Qg5 33.Rf1 Bxc3 34.bxc3 Qe7 Black is still up by an exchange and is putting pressure on White's weak pawns.

31.Qxe4

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 31.Qc2e4:R

31...Qxh2+!!

• A pretty sham sacrifice of the Queen ends all resistance.

32.Bxh2 Nf2+ 33.Kg1 Nxe4 34.b3 h5

• Also good is 34...Nc3 35.Rd2 c4 when:
• 36.Ne3 cxb3 37.axb3 Rxb3 38.g4 a5 gives the a-pawn a clear path to the Emerald City.
• 36.bxc4 Rb1+ 37.Ne1 Ne4 38.Rc2 Rxe1+ wins the Knight.

35.Rc1 Bg7 36.Rc2 g5 37.Ne1 Re8 38.Kf1

• 38.Nd3 allows 38...Bd4+! 39.Kh1 Be5 when:
• If 40.Kg2 Nf6 41.Nxe5 Rxe5 wins another pawn.
• 40.Nxe5 Rxe5 41.g4 Rxd5 also wins the d-pawn for Black.

38...Nc3 39.Rd2 g4 40.Ng2 Bh6 0-1

• 41.Rc2 Nxd5 42.Rc4 Kg7 43.Ra4 Nc3 44.Rxa6 Rxe2 puts Black two pawns up.
• Mr. Onischuk resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shirov-Karjakin, Round 7, Foros

Alexei Shirov and Sergey Karjakin
Photo: Official Website of the 2008 Aerosvit International Tournament (Ukraine)


Alexey Shirov - Sergey Karjakin
Aerosvit International Tournament, Round 6
Foros, Crimea (Ukraine), 13 June 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Moscow Defense

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

• 5...dxc4 is the Botvinnik Defense.

6.Bh4

• Also playable is 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3.

6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0

• If 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 Qb6 18.Kh1 c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 is equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 16.f3 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Qxh4 19.gxh5 Ng5 20.Qd2 Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Qh3+ draw (van Wely-Dreev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 11...Rg8 12.Nxg4 then:
• 12...Nxg4 13.Bxg4 Nd7 14.0-0 Qb6 15.a4 a5 16.d5 Nf6 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.axb5 Rxg4 19.Be5 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Rxe4 21.Bxf6 Rf4 22.Be5 Rf5 23.Qe2 Qxb5 gives Black an extra pawn (Sarkar-Fridman, Op, Philadelphia, 2004).
• 12...Nbd7 13.0-0 b4 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bxc4 Qa5 16.Rc1 0-0-0 17.Bh2 Bd6 18.Bd3 Bxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Ndf6 20.Bxe4 Nxe4 21.Nc5 Nxc5 22.Rxc5 Qxa2 gives Black an extra pawn (Nakamura-Dreev, IT, Stepanakert (Armenia), 2005).

10...Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxf7!?

• This sacrifice is better than looks at first glace.
• More usual and less risky is 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 then:
• If 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 17.Bf3 then:
• 17...Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxe5 19.Qd5 dxc3 20.Rfe1 cxb2 21.Rad1 b1Q 22.Rxb1 Rc8 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rbd1 Qd7 25.Rxe5+ Bxe5 26.Qxe5+ Qe6 27.Qxh8+ Kd7 28.Bxc5+ Kc6 29.Qd4 Re8 30.Bb4 Qe4 Black resigns (Kuljasevic-Zhao Jun, IT, Richardson, Texas, 2007).
• 17...Ra7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Ne4 Nxe5 20.axb5 axb5 21.f4 gxf4 22.Qh5 Rb6 23.Bxe5 Qd5 24.Rxf4 Rg6 25.Nd6+ Rxd6 26.Rxf7 Bxe5 27.Rb7+ Kf8 28.Ra8+ Black resigns (Iljin-Nepomniachtchi, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.d5 c5 16.b4 Qb6 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Qa1 0-0 22.Qa5 Rb8 23.Rb1 Bf8 24.Nxb5 f5 25.Qa6 Kh8 26.Nc3 Rxb1+ 27.Nxb1 Qb4 28.Qxa8 Qxb1+ 29.Bf1 Qb4 30.exf5 c3 31.Qc8 gives White an extra pawn (Kramnik-Karjakin, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008).

12...Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4 Qb6!?

• Another move order is to Black's advantage.
• If 14...Ke7 15.Nd6 Rb8 16.Bg4 c5 then:
• 17.Qc2 Qg8 18.dxc5 then:
• If 18...h5?! 19.Bxh5 Nxe5 20.Be2 Nf4 then:
• If 21.Nxb7 Rxb7 Black maintains the material advantage.
• If 21.Rae1 Qb8 22.Qe2 h5 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Rxe5 hxg4 25.Rfe1 gives White some counterplay.
• 21.Qe2 Bg7 22.a4 a6 23.axb5 axb5 24.Ra6 gives White some counterplay for the piece.
• If 17.f4? Ne3! 18.fxg5 Nxf1 gives Black a Rook for a pawn (Beckhuis-Steingrimsson, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Bg4 h5!?

• Black has an extra Knight, but the space count is almost even..
• 16...Raf8 17.Qc2 Qxd4 18.Qg6 Qxg4 19.Qxg7+ Kd8 20.Nxb7+ Kc8 21.a4 b4 22.Rac1 c3 23.bxc3 b3 24.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 16...h6h5

17.Bxh5!

• White begins his counterattack.17.Qc1 then:
• 17...Rag8 18.Qxg5+ Bf6 19.exf6+ N5xf6 20.Nf5+ exf5 21.Qe3+ Kd8 leaves Black up a piece.
• 17...hxg4 18.Qxg5+ Kf8 19.Qg6 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Qc7 takes the wind out of White's attack.

17...Raf8 18.Qg4 Bh6 19.h4 Rhg8

• 19...Nb8 20.hxg5 Bg7 21.Qe4 Kd7 22.Bf7 Ne7 23.g6 gives White the advantage in space while reducing Black's material edge to a theoretical pawn.

20.hxg5 Bxg5 21.Ne4 Ne3

• 21...Qxd4 22.Rad1 Qxb2 23.Nxg5 Nc5 24.Qh4 Kd7 gives Black an extra pawn.

22.Qxg5+ Rxg5 23.Bh4 Kd8 24.fxe3

• If 24.Bxg5+ Kc7 25.Bxe3 Rh8 then:
• 26.Bf3 c5 27.dxc5 Qa5 28.Ng5 Bxf3 29.Nxf3 gives White a theoretical material edge.
• 26.Be2 Kb8 27.Nd6 Rg8 28.Rfd1 c5 29.f3 is even.

24...Rh8 25.Bxg5+ Kc7 26.Bg4

• White has the advantage in space and the material count is even.
• If 26.Rf7 Rxh5 27.Nf6 Rxg5 then:
• 28.Nxd7 Rf5 29.Rh7 Rh5 30.Rxh5 Kxd7 31.Rh7+ Ke8 32.Rf1 then:
• 32...c5 33.Rf4 Bc6 34.Rg4 Kd8 35.Rh8+ wins for White.
• After 32...Qa5 White wins by 33.Rxb7 c5 34.Rb8+ Kd7 35.Rf7+ Kc6 36.Rc8+.
• 28.Rxd7+? loses to 28...Kb8 29.Ne4 Rg8.

26...c5

• White has a huge advantage in space.

27.dxc5 Nxc5 28.Rf7+
BLACK: Sergey Karjakin
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 28.Rf1f7+

28...Kb8!

• Black compels the exchanges that save his game.
• If 28...Kc8? 29.Nd6+ Kb8 30.Raf1 then:
• If 30...Qa6 31.Rf8+ Rxf8 32.Rxf8+ Bc8 then:
• White wins with 33.Rxc8+! Qxc8 34.Nxc8 Kxc8 35.Be7; or
• 33.g3 Kc7 34.Rxc8+ Qxc8 35.Nxc8 Kxc8 36.Be7.
• If 30...a6 31.Rf8+ Rxf8 32.Rxf8+ Ka7 33.Rf7 then:
• White is clearly winning after 33...Qa5 34.Bf3 Kb8 35.Bxb7 Nxb7 36.Rxb7+..
• 33...Kb8 34.Bf3 c3 35.Rf8+ Ka7 36.Bxb7 Qxb7 37.Nxb7 cxb2 38.Rf1 Kxb7 39.Rb1 gives White an extra Rook.

29.Nd6 Rg8 30.Raf1!

• White avoids a pitfall.
• If 30.Nxb7? Rxg5 31.Bf3 Rf5 32.Rg7 Rxf3 then:
• 33.Nxc5 Qxc5 34.gxf3 Qxe3+ 35.Kg2 Qe2+ 36.Kg1 Qxe5 37.Rg2 b4 38.Rb1 Qe3+ Black has all the winning chances.
• After 33.gxf3 Nd3 34.Kg2 Qxe3 35.Nd6 Qe2+ 36.Kg1 Qf2+ Black wins.
• If 30...Nxb7 31.Rd1 Rxg5 32.Rf8+ Kc7 33.Rf7+ Kc8 34.Rf8+ then:
• Black wins after 34...Nd8 35.Rfxd8+ Qxd8 36.Bxe6+ Kc7 37.Rxd8 Kxd8.
• 34...Kc7 35.Rf7+ draws by repetition.

30...Rxg5 31.Rf8+ Kc7 32.R1f7+ Nd7 33.Rxd7+

• 33.Ne8+? backfires to 33...Kc6 34.Bf3+ Kc5 35.Rxd7 Bxf3 36.Rxf3 Rxe5 when Black has a Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.

33...Kxd7 34.Rf7+ Kd8

• If 34...Kc6? White gains a decisive material advantage by 35.Bf3+ Kc5 36.Rxb7 Qa5 37.Ne4+ Kb4 38.Nxg5.

35.Rf8+ Kd7 36.Rf7+ ½-½

• The game is drawn by repetition.
• It have been "just a draw," but the spectators got their money's worth.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Aronian - Adams, Asrian Memorial, Round 13, Yerevan

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Mickey Adams
Karen Asrian Memorial Tournament, Round 13
Yerevan, 15 June 2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Old Main Line)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7

• If 4...Be7 5.Nc3 then:
• If 5...d5 6.Nd2 0-0 7.e4 dxc4 8.Nxc4 Ba6 9.b3 b5 10.Ne3 b4 11.Ne2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Qxd4 13.Bb2 Qb6 14.Nc4 Qb5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e5 Be7 17.Rd1 a5 18.h4 Nd7 19.h5 Nxe5 20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Qa7 Qxh5 22.Qxa5 Qh2 23.Rd8 Qxg3 24.Ke2 Bc5 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Qa7 Qh2 27.Kd1 f6 28.Ke1 Kh8 29.Ne5 h6 30.Nd7 Black resigns (Aronian-Tiviakov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 5...0-0 6.Qc2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.Nh4 b5 9.b3 Nc6 10.Nxb5 d4 11.Qb1 d5 12.Qf5 dxc4 13.bxc4 a6 14.Na3 Re8 15.Qf3 Bd6 16.e4 Re5 17.Bf4 Ng4 18.Qxg4 g6 19.Nb1 Qf6 20.Nd2 Qg5 White resigns (Kamsky-Adams, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1

• If 7.Nc3 Ne4 then:
• If 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Nh4 Bxg2 10.Nxg2 d5 11.Qa4 dxc4 12.Qxc4 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Bxc5 draw (Portisch-Karpov, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1991).
• 8.Bd2 then:
• If 8...Bf6 9.Qc2 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 d6 then:
• If 11.Rfd1 Nd7 then:
• If 12.b4 then:
• 12...g6 13.a4 a5 14.b5 Bg7 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Qg5 Nf6 17.Ne1 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Rac8 19.Ne4 Rfd8 20.Ne3 h6 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.Qxf6 Bxf6 23.c5 dxc5 24.dxc5 Bg5 25.c6 Kf8 26.Rd7 Bxe3 27.fxe3 Rxd7 28.cxd7 Rd8 29.Rxc7 Ke7 30.Rb7 Rxd7 is equal (Vallejo-Ponomariov, IT, Linares, 2003).
• 12...c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 Nb6 15.Qd3 d5 16.Nd2 dxc4 17.Qc2 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qd7 19.Rab1 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qd5+ gives Black the advantage in space (Eljanov-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 12.Rac1 g6 13.b4 a5 14.b5 Bg7 15.Na4 Qe7 16.c5 dxc5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.Qd7 Qxd7 20.Rxd7 Rab8 21.Rxc5 gives White the advantage in space (L'Ami-Janssen, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2007).
• 12.d5 e5 13.e4 g6 14.Qc2 Bg7 15.Bh3 h5 16.b4 Qe7 17.Qe2 Rfd8 18.a3 Bh6 19.Ra2 Nf6 20.Rc2 a5 21.Ra2 Rdb8 22.Rda1 Nh7 23.Bg2 Bc8 24.Nb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Ehlvest, Haninge, 1990).
• 11.e4 Nd7 12.Rad1 g6 13.Rfe1 Bg7 14.h4 Qe7 15.h5 Rad8 16.Bh3 a6 17.d5 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Ne2 Bc8 gives White an advantage in space, but Black's position gives him nothing to attack (Christiansen-Khalifman, Bundesliga, Germany, 1991).
• 8...f5 9.d5 Bf6 10.Rc1 Na6 11.a3 Nac5 12.b4 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Ne4 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qd4 Ng5 16.Qxf6 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Rxf6 18.Rfd1 e5 19.e4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 gives White the advantage in space (Chibudanidze-Akhmilovskaya, World ChW, Sofia, 1986).
• 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Qxc3 then:
• If 9...c5 10.Rd1 d6 then:
• If 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Qc7 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Qd3 Rd8 then:
• 14.Ng5 Bxg5 15.Bxg5 f6 16.Bf4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qb7+ 18.Qf3 Qxf3+ 19.Kxf3 Nc6 20.Bxd6 Nd4+ 21.Rxd4 cxd4 22.c5 a5 23.Ke4 Kf7 24.Kxd4 the material is theoretically equal and White's centralized King is an advantage (Zubarev-Stefansson, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1999).
• 14.b4 e5 15.Ng5 g6 16.Bd5 Rf8 17.bxc5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 exf4 19.cxd6 Bxd6 20.Qxd6 Qxd6 21.Rxd6 fxg3 22.hxg3 leaves White a pawn to the good (Christiansen-Reshevsky, Match, Hollywood, 1984).
• 11...Nd7 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Rac1 Rc8 14.b4 Ne4 15.Qa3 Qc7 16.Nd4 a6 17.Qe3 g5 18.Bxe4 gxf4 19.Qxf4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 gives White an extra pawn (Berclaz-Quaresma, Cyberspace, 1999).
• If 11.b3 Bf6 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...Qe7 13.Qc2 Nc6 14.e4 then:
• 14...e5 15.d5 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Rab1 Rae8 18.Ne1 g6 19.Nd3 Bc8 20.f4 Bg7 21.Re1 Qc7 22.Bf3 draw (Dorfman-Sosonko, São Paulo, 1978).
• 14...g6 15.d5 Nb4 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qd2 e5 18.a3 Na6 19.Ng5 Rae8 20.f4 Bc8 draw (Timman-Anderssen, IT, Bugojno, 1980).
• 12...Qc7 13.Qd2 Rd8 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Qf4 Na6 16.Qxc7 Nxc7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Kf8 20.Kf3 Ke7 21.e3 Ne8 22.Ke2 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Nd6 24.Nd3 Ne4 25.Rc1 Rd8 draw (Petrosian-Balashov, IT, Moscow, 1981).
• 9...f5 10.b3 Bf6 11.Bb2 d6 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Nd7 15.Qc2 Rae8 16.e4 fxe4 17.Qxe4 c5 is equal (Smyslov-Spassky, Leningrad, 1963).

7...Na6

• If 7...d5 then:
• If 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nc3 then:
• If 9...Na6 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...Ne4 11.Ne5 f6 12.Nd3 Qd7 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.Be3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 c6 16.c4 Nc7 17.c5 Ba6 18.cxb6 Bc4 19.Qb1 axb6 20.a4 b5 21.a5 b4 22.Nc5 Bxc5 23.dxc5 b3 24.Bf4 Rfe8 is equal (Azmaiparashvili-Gulko, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• 10...c5 11.Rc1 Ne4 12.a3 Bf6 13.Be5 Re8 14.e3 cxd4 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.exd4 Rac8 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Ne5 Qf5 20.Qb1 wins a pawn for White (Speelman-King, Simpson's 175th, London, 2003).
• 9...Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ne4 11.Rc1 c5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Rf1 Nxc3 14.Rxc3 Nf6 15.Rc2 Ne4 16.Ne1 Qf6 17.Nd3 Bd6 18.Bxd6 is equal (K. Georgiev-van Wely, FIDE Knock Out, Gronigen, 1997).
• 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Ne5 Ne4 10.cxd5 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe5 12.d6 Bxg2 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Kxg2 Nc6 15.Qa4 Qd7 16.e4 Rfd8 17.Rb1 Rac8 18.Be3 Na5 19.Qxd7 Rxd7 20.Rb4 f6 21.Ra4 Rcd8 22.Rc1 Kf7 23.Rd1 Nc6 24.Rb1 Na5 25.Rd1 Nc6 26.Rb1 Na5 draw (Keres-Botvinnik, AVRO, Holland, 1938).
• 7...c5 8.d5 exd5 9.Nh4 Ne4 10.cxd5 Bxh4 11.Bxe4 Bg5 12.Bxg5 Qxg5 13.Nc3 d6 14.Bg2 Na6 15.e4 Rfe8 16.f4 Qf6 17.Nb5 Re7 18.Qd2 Rd8 19.Rad1 Bc8 20.e5 dxe5 21.d6 Ree8 22.fxe5 Rxe5 23.Rxe5 Qxe5 24.Re1 Qf5 25.Nxa7 Bd7 26.Nc6 Bxc6 27.Bxc6 Nb8 28.d7 Black resigns (Bologan-Paragua, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• 7...d6 8.Nc3 c5 9.d5 e5 10.e4 Ne8 11.Rf1 Nd7 12.Ne1 Nc7 13.a4 Na6 14.Be3 Nb4 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Na2 a5 17.Bh3 Ba6 18.b3 Nxa2 19.Rxa2 Bc8 20.f3 is equal (Tkachiev-Nguyen Anh Dung, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

8.Ne5

• If 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Nxe4 then:
• If 9...Bxe4 10.Ne5 Bxg2 then:
• 11.Kxg2 c5 12.d5 Qc7 13.Nf3 d6 14.e4 Rab8 15.a4 Bf6 16.Rb1 Nb4 17.Bd2 Nd3 18.Re3 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.dxe6 Bd4 21.e7 Qxe7 22.Re2 is equal (Saldano-Tiviakov, Op, Linares, 1999).
• 11...Qc8 12.e4 Qb7 13.Nxd7 Rfd8 14.Ne5 Bf6 15.f4 Bxe5 16.fxe5 b5 17.Bg5 Rd7 18.Qb3 Rb8 19.Rad1 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qxb2+ 21.Rd2 Qb7 draw (Jeremic-Tadic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
• 10.Qa4 Qc8 11.Ne5 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 c5 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 Nb4 15.Rd1 d6 16.Nf3 Qb7 17.a3 b5 18.Qb3 Na6 19.Qc2 Rfe8 20.Bf4 c4 21.a4 Nb4 22.Qd2 a5 23.axb5 Qxb5 24.Ra3 Bf6 25.Be3 Re4 gives Black the advantage in space (Poluljahov-Tiviakov, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).

8...d5

• If 8...Bxg2 9.Kxg2 then:
• 9...c6 10.e4 Qc7 11.Nc3 Qb7 12.Nd3 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.h4 Nb4 16.Bg5 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 gives White the advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Carlsen, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 9...Qb8 10.e4 c5 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Nc3 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Bc5 14.Qd1 Qb7 15.Bg5 Be7 16.Ng4 Nd5 17.cxd5 Bxg5 18.f4 Bd8 19.Nb5 exd5 20.Nd6 Qc6 21.e5 d4+ 22.Kg1 b5 23.Rc1 Qd5 is equal (Akopian-Tiviakov, Ol, Torino, 2006).

9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nc3 c5 11.dxc5

• 11.Bf4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Qc2 Qc8 15.Red1 g5 16.Be3 Qe6 17.Nc4 Rac8 18.b3 h6 is equal (van Wely-Korchnoi, IT, Hoogeveen, 2001).

11...Nxc5 12.Be3 Re8 13.Nd3 Ne6

• 13...Qd7 14.Nf4 Rad8 15.Bd4 Nfe4 16.Qc2 Bg5 17.Bxc5 Nxc3 18.Qxc3 bxc5 19.Nh5 f5 20.h4 Bh6 21.Qxc5 Qf7 22.Qxa7 Re7 23.Qa3 d4 24.Rad1 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 is unclear: White has two extra pawn, but Black has enough extra space to compensate (Bologan-Yemelin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).

14.Rc1 Ne4

• If 14...Qd7 15.Bf4 Ne4 16.Ne5 Qd8 then:
• If 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qa4 Nc5 19.Qc2 Qd5 20.b4 Ne6 21.Rcd1 Qb5 is equal.
• If 17.Bd2?! then:
• 17...Bf6 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Rxc6 Bxb2 21.Rc2 Qd4 22.e3 Qe5 gives Black a fins position.
• 17...Qd6 18.Nc4 dxc4 19.Nxe4 Qc7 20.Qa4 f5 21.Nc3 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rad8 gives Black the advantage in space.

15.Qa4 Bf6

• 15...N6c5?! 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.Bxc5 Bxc5 18.Qb3 Re5 19.Red1 gives White pressure on White's isolated d-pawn.

16.Nxe4!?

• 16.Red1 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Qc8 18.Qb3 Nc7 19.Nb4 Qe6 is equal.

16...dxe4 17.Red1 exd3??

• Black drops material with this unfortunate blunder.
• 17...Qb8 18.Nb4 Bxb2 19.Rc2 Qe5 20.Rd7 is equal.

BLACK: Mickey Adams
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 17...ed3:N

18.Bxb7!

• Once again, don't stare a gift horse in the mouth; ride it!

18...Nd4

• 18...Bxb2 19.Rb1 Bd4 20.Bxa8 Qxa8 21.Rxd3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 leaves White up by the exchange.

19.Bxd4 dxe2 20.Re1 1-0

• 20...Qxd4 21.Qxd4 Bxd4 22.Bxa8 Rxa8 23.Rxe2 leaves White up by an exchange.
• Mr. Adams resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. In Memoriam Karen Asrian: Asrian - Pashikian, Armenian Championships, Yerevan, 2006

Karen Asian was the reigning Armenian national champion when he died suddenly on June 9 of a heart attack in Yerevan. He was only 28 years old.

This may have been his best game.



Karen Asrian
ChessBase.com


Karen Asrian - Arman Pashikian
Armenian National Championship, Round 4
Yerevan, 19 March 2006

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3

• This is a kind of hypermodern strategy (although Steinitz often employed it before the hypermoderns) in which White postpones building a strong pawn center in order to make it more permanent once it is in place.
• More common and more aggressive is 4.0-0 Bc5 when:
• 5.c3 0-0 6.d4.
• If 5.Nxe5 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.Qxe4 Qe7 then:
• 8.Nc3 Ng6 9.Qxe7+ Nxe7 10.Ne4 Bb6 11.Re1 0-0.
• 8.d4 Nc6 9.Qxe7+ Bxe7 10.c3.

4...Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.Bg5 Re8

• 6...h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 d6 9.Nbd2 a6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.0-0 Ba7 12.d4 g4 13.Bh4 gxf3 14.Qxf3 Kg7 15.Qg3+ Kh7 16.Qf3 Kg7 17.Qg3+ draw (Anand-Topalov, World Ch Trmt, San Luis, 2005).

7.Nbd2 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.0-0!?

• If 9.Nc4 then:
• If 9...d5!? 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Ncxe5 Bd6 12.Nxc6 Qd7 13.Nfd4 dxe4 14.0-0 Ng4 15.h3 then:
• If 15...Nh2 16.Re1 Nf3+ 17.Nxf3 then:
• 17...exf3! 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal (Inarkiev-Stocek, Op, Pardubice, 2004).
• 17...Qxc6 18.Nd4 Qd5 19.dxe4 Rxe4 20.Qf3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Qxf3 22.Nxf3 gives White command of an open file.
• 15...Ne5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.dxe4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.cxd4 Rxe4 20.Bg3 Rxd4 21.Rfc1 gives White better pawn structure.
• 9...d6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Na5 is equal.

9...d6 10.a4

• 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Rb1 Qd7 12.Nc4 c5 is equal.

10...a6 11.Bc4 Nh5

• The game is approximately equal.
• 11...Na5 12.Ba2 Bg4 13.b4 Nc6 14.Qc2 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 is equal.

12.Bg3

• 12.Qb3 Rf8 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.d4 exd4 15.cxd4 Nf4 16.Qe3 gives White a small advantage in space.

12...g6

• 12...Nxg3 13.fxg3 Bf6 14.a5 Qe7 15.Nh4 Be6 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 gives White an advantage in space.

13.h3 Rf8

• 13...Nxg3 14.fxg3 Bf6 15.a5 Qd7 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Rxf6 Ne6 18.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space.

14.Bh2 Bg5

• White advantage in space is manifested by Black's inability to develop his good Bishop.
• After 14...Qe8 15.Qe2 Be6 16.Qe3 then:
• White builds a solid center by16...Kg7 17.d4 exd4 18.cxd4 Bxc4 19.Nxc4 Qd7 20.Qc3.or
• 16...g5 17.d4 exd4 18.cxd4 Bxc4 19.Nxc4.
• After 14...Bf6 White builds a formidable center with 15.Bd5 Bd7 16.Nc4 Rb8 17.d4 exd4 18.cxd4 Nb4 19.Ne3.

15.Nxg5 hxg5?!

• Black would do better to recapture with the Queen, thereby devekoping a piece. But if 15...Qxg5 White still holds the advantage in space after 16.Nf3 Qf6 17.d4 Nf4 18.a5 Re8 19.d5.

16.Re1 Kg7 17.Nf1

• 17.b4 Nf4 18.Nb3 Qf6 19.b5 Ne7 20.d4 gives White a small advantage in space.

17...Nf4 18.Ne3 Rh8 19.d4 Bxh3?!

• Black sacrifices a Bishop for two pawns, gaining nothing.
• If 19...exd4 20.cxd4 Qf6 21.Nc2 g4 22.Qd2 then:
• 22...g5 23.Bxf4 gxf4 24.hxg4 Bxg4 25.f3 Bd7 26.b4 is equal.
• After 22...Nxg2? 23.Kxg2 gxh3+ 24.Kg1 Qf3 25.Bf1 Qg4+ 26.Bg3 Black's kingside attack flounders leaving White with a Bishop for two pawns.

20.gxh3 Nxh3+ 21.Kf1 Nf4

• Black simply settles for two pawns for the piece when he had the opportunity to go for more.
• 21...Nxf2!? gives Black a fighting chance after 22.Kxf2 Rxh2+ when:
• 23.Kg1! Qh8 24.Qf3 Rf8 25.Ng4 Rxb2 26.Qf6+ gives White a strong attack.
• 23.Ng2? Qf6+! 24.Qf3 Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 exd4 26.cxd4 Nxd4+ gives Black more activity four pawns for the piece.

22.Bxf4 gxf4

BLACK: Arman Pashikian
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WHITE: Karen Asrian
Position after 22.gf4:B

23.Qf3!?

• If 23.Nc2 Rh2 then:
• If 24.Ke2 Qh4 25.Rf1 exd4 26.cxd4 Re8 27.Bd5 is unclear: White has a material advantage and Black has the spatial edge.
• 24.Qf3? Qh4 25.Ke2 Rh8 gives Black the foundations of an attack.
• 23.Nd5 exd4 24.cxd4 Qh4 25.Ke2 Rae8 26.Qd3 f5 is equal.

23...Qd7

• 23...fxe3 loses immediately to a forced mate: 24.Qxf7+ Kh6 25.Ke2 exf2 26.Rh1+ Kg5 27.Rhg1+ fxg1Q 28.Rxg1+ Kh4 29.Qxg6 Qd7 30.Qg5+ Kh3 31.Qg3#.

24.dxe5 Rh4 25.e6!

• The pawn sacrifice forces forces Black to close the c8/a3 diagonal to the Queen.

25...fxe6 26.Ng4 e5 27.Be2 Nd8?!

• 27...Rah8 28.Kg2 Nd8 29.Rh1 Nf7 30.Rxh4 Rxh4 31.Rh1 Rxh1 32.Kxh1 Qxa4 is equal.

28.Kg2 Nf7 29.Rh1 Rah8

• 29...Rxh1 30.Kxh1 Rh8+ 31.Kg2 Rh4 32.Rh1 transposes to the next note.

30.Rxh4 Rxh4 31.Rh1 Ng5?

• If 31...Rxh1!? 32.Kxh1 Qxa4 33.b4 then:
• 33...Qc2 34.Qd3 Qxd3 35.Bxd3 is equal: Black has three pawns for a Bishop.
• If 33...a5 34.bxa5 Ng5 35.Qd3 then:
• 35...Nxe4 36.Kg2 Nf6 37.Nxf6 Kxf6 38.Bf3 Qxa5 39.Bxb7 is equal.
• 35...Qxe4+ 36.Qxe4 Nxe4 37.Bf3 Nxc3 38.Bxb7 gives White an advanced passed pawn.

BLACK: Arman Pashikian
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WHITE: Karen Asrian
Position after 31...Nf7g5

32.Rxh4!!

• If 32.Qd3 f3+ 33.Bxf3 Nxf3 then:
• 34.Nf6 Kxf6 35.Qxf3+ Rf4 36.Qh3 Qxh3+ 37.Rxh3 Rxe4 leaves Black two pawn to the good.
• No better is 34.Qxf3 Rxg4+ 35.Kf1 Rf4 36.Qe2 Qxa4.

32...Nxf3 33.Rh7+!

• The sham sacrifice of the Rook wins back the Queen.

33...Kxh7 34.Nf6+ Kg7 35.Nxd7

• The smoke clears and White emerges with a piece for two pawns.

35...Ng5 36.c4 Kf7 37.c5 Ke7 38.c6 b6

• The text move hastens Black's demise.
• Better is 38...bxc6 39.Nb8 Nxe4 40.Nxc6+ Kd7 41.Nb8+ Kc8 42.Nxa6, but White still has the winning game.

39.Bxa6 f3+ 40.Kg3 Nxe4+ 41.Kxf3 d5 42.Nxe5 1-0

• White remains a piece to the good.
• Master Pashikian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Anand essay appears in Time Magazine

From Time Magazine
Dated June 30, 2008

The Indian Defense
By Viswanathan Anand

Where did chess begin? For many who play the sport at its highest, most obsessive levels, that's not just a question of history — it's a matter of ownership, of dominion. We're so completely lost in our universe of 64 black and white squares that we like to think every move we make changes the way the world exists. So it's easy for Russians to imagine that chess began when they started to play it. In 1991, at my first international tournament, in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, a Russian grandmaster condescendingly told me I could at best be a coffee-house player because I had not been tutored in the Soviet school of chess, which then dominated the sport. With the arrogance of youth — I was 21 — I thought to myself, "But didn't we Indians invent chess? Why shouldn't I have my own route to the top of the sport?"

Read more at the link.