The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (July 26/27): Magnus works his Magic in Biel

[Jack Rabbit]

Magnus works Magic in Biel



Grandmasters Tournament in Beil
(Left to Right) Lenier Domínguez, Rtienne Bacrot, Alex Onischuk, Yannick Pelletier, Evgeny Alekseev and Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Official website of the 41st annual Biel Chess Festival

The 41st annual Chess Festival in Biel, Berne Canton, Switzerland completed its sixth round today with seventeen-year-old Norwegian granmaster Magnus Carlsen taking sole possession of first place

Magnus has won three and drawn three without a loss for 4½ points in six rounds. Today, Magnus started off the second half of the double round robin event with his second victory over Swiss grandmaster and Biel native Yannick Pelletier, who is having a miserable time with only a single draw and five losses so far.

In second place with 4 points is grandmaster Lenier Domínguez, who is perhaps the finest player from Cuba since the legendary José Capablanca. In a game that sounded like residue from the Cold War, el señor Domínguez defeated Alex Onischuk of the United States in 91 moves.

Former Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev began the day tied for first with Magnus for first, but fell to third place after losing to Etienne Bacrot of France.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is a rest day. The tournament resumes Monday and finishes Thursday.


Politiken Cup and Canadian Open Conclude Tomorrow.

The weeks two major Swiss System events will both come to a conclusion tomorrow (Sunday).

In Helsingør (or, as it is known to literature buffs, Elsinore), Denmark, the annual Politiken Cup comes to a showdown among the tournament leaders, Ukrainian GM Yuriy Kuzubov and grandmaster Boris Savchenko or Russia, who each have 7½ points in nine rounds, and twelve (count 'em!) players tied for third place with 7 points each.

Kuzubov and Savchenko already played each other in the seventh round, so under Swiss System rules they cannot play each other again. Kuzubov will have Black tomorrow against Israeli GM Michael Roiz while Savchenko, also with Black, will play Emanuel Berg of Sweden.

Tomorrow's round will be broadcast on the official tounrament website beginning at 10 am in Denmark (1 am PDT).

The Canadian Open comes to an end in Montreal, Quebec, tomorrow.

Three players are currently tied for first: Grandmaster Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine and two international masters, Matthieu Cornette of France and M. R. Venkatesh of India.

Four other players are tied for fourth with 5½ points each including Israeli GM Victor Mikhalevski, who had shared first place with Moiseenko since the end of round 5 until losing today to M. Cornette.

Tomorrow's round will be broadcast on Monroi beginning at 11 am EDT.

Updates and games will be post at the completion of these events.


Calendar

Events starting 27 July thru August 2

North Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast (Russia) 27 July-3 August. Participants: Koneru Humpy (India), Anoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Pia Cramling (Sweden), Marie Sebag (France), Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia), Xu Yuhua (China), Anna Ushinina (Ukraine) and Natalia Pogonina (Russia).

British Championship, Liverpool 27 July-9 August.

Mainz Chess Festival 28 July-3 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi 30 July-15 August.

Arctic Chess Challenge, Tromsø (Norway) 2-10 August.

US Open, Dallas 2-10 August.

Other Events

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

Dato' Arthur Tan Open, Kuala Lampur 18-24 August.

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

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-13 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship 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. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from the Grandmasters Tournament at the Biel Chess Festival

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
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Carlsen - Pelletier, Round 1

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Yannick Pelletier
Grandmaster Tournament, Round 1
Biel, 20 July 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2

• For lines associated with the more common 5.b3, see Kramnik-Anand, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008.

5...Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6

• 10...Qc8 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 d6 14.Qxc8 Rxc8 15.Nb5 Bc6 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 17.Bxf6 Bf8 18.Bc3 b5 19.Rac1 Re8 20.e3 Be4 21.Nh4 Bxg2 22.Nxg2 Nc6 23.Nf4 draw (Sargissian-Leko, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).

11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 d6

• If 12...g6 13.Qf4 0-0 14.e5 Nh5 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 then:
• 16...Bxd6 17.Nc3 Qb8 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Qa4 a6 20.Nd5 b5 21.Qh4 Ne7 22.Ne3 Ra7 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has a small advantage in space (Wang Yue-Rowson, Team Match, Liverpool, 2007).
• 16...Bf6 17.Nc3 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Bxg2 19.Nf5 Bc6 20.d7 gives White the advantage in space (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2007).

13.e5 Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.exd6 Bf6 16.Re1+ Kf8 17.Nc3

• 17.Rd1 Re8 18.Ng5 Na5 19.Nc3 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Nc4 is equal.

17...Nb4 18.Bg5 Nc2!?

• This new move is good for equality.
• 18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rd8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Re7 is equal (Bareev-J. Polgar, Candidates' Match, Elista, 2007).

19.Re7!?

• White takes a chance that he can confuse his opponent.
• 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Re7 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Rd8 22.Rd1 Nd4 remains equal.

19...Bxf3?!

• Black fails to make the best response.
• 19...Bxe7! 20.Bxe7+ Ke8 21.Rc1 Nb4 22.Re1 Bc6 23.Bh4+ is equal.

20.Bxf3 Bxg5

• If 20...Rd8 21.Bd5 Bxg5 22.Rxf7+ Ke8 23.Nb5 then:
• If 23...Rb8 24.Nc7+ Kd8 25.Ne6+ then:
• 25...Kc8 26.Bc6 Rb7 27.Rd1 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 25...Ke8 26.Nxg5 Kd8 27.Bc6 Rb7 28.Bxb7 wins for White.
• After 23...Ra8 White wins with 24.Nc7+ Kd8 25.Ne6+ Kc8 26.Rd1 Bf6 27.Bxa8.

21.Rxd7 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Rd1 Nd4

• 23...a5 24.Nb5 Bf6 25.Rd2 Nd4 26.Nxd4 cxd4 27.Bc6 leaves White temporarily playing a piece up while Black labors to free his Rook.

24.Bg2 h5 25.a4?!

• White throws away most of his advantage.
• If 25.Bf1 Bf6 26.Nb5 a5 27.Nxd4 cxd4 28.h4 then:
• 28...g6 29.Re1 Kg7 30.d7 Rd8 31.Bb5 Kh6 32.Re8.
• If 28...Rg8 then:
• 29.Rc1 29...g6 30.Rc6 Kg7 31.Rxb6 gives White an extra apwn.
• 29.Bb5 g6 30.d7 Kg7 31.Re1 Rd8 32.Re8 gives White more activity and mobility.

BLACK: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
$ + V L T%
$O + +oO %
$ O P + +%
$+ O + +o%
$p+ M + +%
$+ N + P %
$ P + PbP%
$+ +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 25.a2a4

25...a6!

• Black finds the right path to equality.
• 25...Ke8 26.Nb5 Bf6 27.Nxd4 cxd4 28.Bh3 h4 29.Re1+ maintains a more active game for White.

26.Bb7 Rh6

• The game is equal in spite of White's advanced passer.

27.d7

• Advancing the pawn is the best try to maintain the advantage.
• 27.Bxa6 Rxd6 28.f4 h4 29.Kf2 hxg3+ 30.hxg3 g5 is equal and starting to look drawish.

27...Rd6 28.Bc8

• 28.Bxa6?! Rxd7 29.Kg2 f5 30.Bc4 Ke8 is equal without much of a fight.

28...Nf3+!?

• 28...Ke7 29.Kg2 f5 30.f4 b5 31.Re1+ Ne6 32.axb5 axb5 is equal.

29.Kg2 Rxd1

• 29...Rd3 30.Rxd3 Ne1+ 31.Kh3 Nxd3 32.Bxa6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

30.Nxd1 Ne1+ 31.Kf1 Nf3 32.h4

• The game is equal.
• 32.Ke2 Nd4+ 33.Ke3 Ke7 34.Ke4 Ke6 35.f4 f5+ is equal.

32...Ke7 33.Ne3 g6 34.Bxa6

• 34.Ke2 Ne5 35.Bxa6 Nxd7 36.Bc4 Ne5 37.Bd5 remains equal.

34...Kxd7 35.Ke2 Ne5

• 35...Nd4+ 36.Kd3 Ke7 37.b4 Ne6 38.Kc4 Kd6 39.Bb7 is equal.

36.f4 Ng4 37.Bb5+

• If 37.Nxg4 hxg4 38.Bb5+ then:
• 38...Ke6 39.Bc4+ Kf6 40.Ke3 Kg7 41.Ke4 f5+ 42.Kd5 stays level.
• 38...Kd6 39.Bc4 Ke7 40.Ke3 f5 41.b3 is also equal.

37...Ke7 38.Nd5+ Kd6 39.Bc4 Nh6

• 39...f5 40.Ba2 Kd7 41.Nc3 Ke8 42.Bd5 is headed for a draw.

40.Ne3 Bf6 41.Bd3 Bd8

• If 41...Bd4 42.Nc4+ Kc7 43.Be4 then:
• 43...f5 44.Bf3 Nf7 45.Bd5 Nh6 46.b3 is equal.
• 43...Ng4 44.Bd5 Nh6 45.Kf3 f5 is equal.

42.Kf3 Ng4?

• Black sacrifices a pawn to reach a Bishops of opposite color ending.
• 42...Bf6 43.b3 then:
• 43...Bd8 44.Bb5 is indicative of a draw.
• 43...Ke7? drops a pawn to 44.Nc4!.
• 42...Ke6 43.Nc4 Nf5 44.Ne5 Nd6 goes nowhere for either player.

43.Nxg4!

• 43.Nc4+ Ke6 44.Bc2 Bc7 45.Na3 Ke7 46.Nb5 Bd6 47.Bb3 remains drawish.

43...hxg4+ 44.Kxg4 Ke6

• Normally, BOOC endings are drawn, even if one side has an extra pawn.
• White's plan is to bring his King to b5 or c6, use his King to eliminte Black's queenside pawns and his Bishop to take the kingside pawns. Black's defense will then snap in two trying to stop pawns on both sides of the board.

BLACK: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
$ + V + +%
$+ + +o+ %
$ O +l+o+%
$+ O + + %
$p+ + PkP%
$+ +b+ P %
$ P + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 44...Kd6e6

45.Bc4+!

• By threatening the pawn at f7, White wins two tempi to move his King to the opposite side of the board.

45...Ke7 46.Kf3 f5

• 46...Kf8 47.Ke4 Bf6 48.Kd5 Bxb2 49.Kc6! Black's c-pawn falls and White's a-pawn advances.

47.Ke2 Kf8 48.Kd3 Bf6

• This attempt to block the King's path to b5 turns out to be futile.
• Also insufficient is 48...Bc7 49.Bd5 Bd6 50.Kc4 Ke7 51.Kb5 Bc7 52.Bc4! when:
• After 52...Ke8 53.Bd3 Kf7 54.Kc6 Bd8 55.Kd7 Bf6 56.Kc7! Black's queenside pawns fall.
• After 52...Kf8 53.Kc6 Bd8 54.Kd7 Bf6 55.Kc7! the pawns fall as in the main variation.

49.b3 Bb2 50.Bd5!

• The trail is blazed.

50...Ba3 51.Kc4 Bb4 52.Kb5!

• Le Roi!

52...Ba5 53.Bc4 Ke7 54.Kc6 Kf6 55.Bd3 Kf7

• Perunovic and Urosevic on Chessdom suggest that 55...Ke6 is safe, but after 56.Bf1! Kf6 57.Bh3 Ke6 58.g4! fxg4 59.Bxg4+ White has much the better of it.
• Just when it looks like White can make no further progress, he strikes on the opposite wing.

BLACK: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + +l+ %
$ Ok+ +o+%
$V O +o+ %
$p+ + P P%
$+p+b+ P %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 55...Kf6f7

56.h5!!

• This stroke clears away the kingside pawns (see note to Black's 44th move).

56...gxh5 57.Bxf5 Kf6 58.Be4 Kg7 59.Bf3 Kh6

• 59...Kg6 60.Be2 Kh6 61.Kb5 Kg6 62.Bf3 Kh6 63.Bc6 transposes into the text.

60.Kb5 Kg6 61.Bd1 Kh6 62.Be2 Kg6 63.Bf3 Kh6 64.Bc6 1-0

• If 64...Kg6 65.Be8+ Kh6 66.Kc6 puts Black in Zugzwang:
  • Any pawn move results in the loss of the pawn;
  • If the King moves, then 67.Bxh5;
  • If the Bishop moves, then 67.Kxb6.
• M. Pelletier resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Domínguez - Bacrot, Round 4

Lenier Domínguez of Cuba is the first Latin American grandmaster to see his Elo rating rise over the 2700 mark.



Lenier Domínguez
Photo: Website of the 2005 Bermuda Chess Festival


Lenier Domínguez - Etienne Bacrot
Grandmaster Tournament, Round 4
Biel, 24 July 2008

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

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0

• Black announces his intention to play the Marshall Gambit . . .

8.h3

• . . . which White immediately vetoes.

8...Bb7

• 8...d6 9.c3 transposes into the main line of the Spanish.

9.d3 d6 10.a3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nbd2

• If 12.Nc3 Nc6 then:
• If 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Qc7 15.c3 Nb8 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.d4 then:
• 17...Nd7 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Qe2 Rfd8 21.a4 Rab8 22.Nd2 Nf8 23.Nxc4 is equal (Nijboer-Sargissian, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 17...Nc6 18.Be3 Rfd8 19.Qe2 Na5 20.Nd2 cxd4 21.cxd4 Rac8 22.Rac1 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rc8 24.Qd1 Nc4 is equal (Iordachescu-Aronian, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.Nh2 Kh8 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bd5 Rae8 17.Rf1 Bd8 18.Qg4 Bc8 19.Qxd7 draw (Ivanchuk-Svidler, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).

12...Nc6 13.Nf1 Bc8 14.c3

• 14.Ne3 Be6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 then:
• 16...Nd4 17.Nd2 Nf5 18.Ne4 Nd7 19.b4 Rc8 20.Bd2 g6 21.c3 Ng7 22.c4 Nf5 23.a4 cxb4 24.cxb5 a5 is equal (Anand-Svidler, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2006).
• 16...Nb8 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 Nbd7 19.Be3 a5 20.Qd2 Nb6 21.bxa5 Nbxd5 22.Bg5 is equal (Kulaots-Kasimdzhanov, Op, Deizisau, 2004).

14...Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.b4

• 16.Ng3 Qe8 17.Be3 Nh5 18.Nxh5 Qxh5 19.Ng5 draw (Svidler-Anand, IT, Dortmund, 2004).

16...Qd7

• If 16...d5 then:
• 17.Ng3 dxe4 18.Nxe4 c4 19.dxc4 Qxd1 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Rxd1 e4 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Ng5 Nxb4 24.Nxe4 Nd5 25.Rb1 Ra5 26.Nxf6+ gxf6 27.Rb3 gives White an extra pawn (Shirov-Aronian, Candidates' Match, Elista, 2007).
• 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Qe2 Rfd8 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 Rxd3 22.Rxe6 Kf7 23.Re3 Rad8 24.a4 cxb4 25.cxb4 Bxb4 26.axb5 axb5 27.Rb1 Rd1 gives Black more activity (Karjakin-Grischuk, IT, Foros, 2006).

17.Ng3

• 17.Qb3 Rfb8 18.Bd2 a5 19.Ng5 axb4 20.axb4 cxb4 21.Nxe6 d5 22.Ng5 bxc3 23.Bxc3 b4 24.Bb2 is equal and was shortly drawn (Ponomariov-Aronian, Khanty Mansiysk. 2005).

24...Na5 ]
17...a5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Qb3!?

• 19.a4 b4 20.Be3 c4 21.dxc4 Qxd1 22.Rexd1 bxc3 23.c5 c2 24.Rdc1 Nb4 is equal (Svidler-Bacrot, IT, Sofia, 2006).

19...Rfb8

• The game is level.
• 19...Rab8 20.Rd1 a4 21.Qc2 Ra8 22.Bd2 Rfc8 is also equal.

20.a4 b4 21.Be3 c4

• Black's plan is to pass a pawn and tie down White defending against its advance.
• If 21...Bd6 22.Rab1 bxc3 23.Qxc3 Nd4 24.Rxb8+ then:
• 24...Bxb8 25.Qc4 Nxf3+ 26.gxf3 Ba7 27.Qa6 White is poised to win a pawn.
• 24...Rxb8 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.Qxa5 Bxg3 27.fxg3 gives White an extra pawn.

22.Qxc4 bxc3 23.Red1

• White's coud try for the advantage by playing on the queenside instead of the center.
• If 23.Rec1?! Bb4 24.Rab1 then:
• 24...Rd8 25.Ne2 Rac8 26.Qb3 Qxd3 27.Ng5 Re8 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 24...Rc8? 25.Qa2 Rab8 26.Ne2 Qxd3 27.Rd1 then:
• 27...Qa6 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Nxe5 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 27...Qxe4 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Ng5 Qg6 then:
• 30.Nf7+! Qxf7 31.Qxf7 c2 32.Rbc1 cxd1Q+ 33.Rxd1 White has the better of it.
• Not as strong is 30.Rxb4? c2 31.Rc1 axb4 32.Nf7+ Qxf7 33.Qxf7 b3 with equality.

23...Bb4

• Black guards his most vauable asset.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
!""""""""#
$tT + +l+%
$+ +w+ Oo%
$ +m+oM +%
$O + O + %
$pVq+p+ +%
$+ OpBnNp%
$ + + Pp+%
$R +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 23...Be7b4

24.Rac1!

• If 24.Ne2 Rc8 25.Qb3 Rab8 26.Nxc3 then:
• 26...Ne8! 27.Ne2 Bd6 28.Qa2 Nb4 29.Qd2 Rc2! 30.Qe1 Rcc8 31.Qf1 Nf6 32.d4 exd4 33.Rxd4 e5 34.Nxe5 is equal.
• 29...Nc2? 30.Ra2 Bb4 31.Nxe5 Qe7 32.Bg5 Qc7 33.Qc1 gives White two extra pawns.

26...Nd4? 27.Bxd4 Bxc3 28.Qxb8 Rxb8 29.Bxc3 Rb3 30.Bxa5 gives White a theoretical material advantage.

24...Rc8 25.Qa2 Qd6

• If 25...Rab8 then:
• 26.Ne2 Rb7 27.Rf1 Rcb8 28.Nxc3 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 26...Rd8 27.Qa1 Qe7 28.Nxc3 then:
• 28...Nd4 29.Bxd4 exd4 30.Nb5 e5 31.Qa2+ yields an extra pawn to White.
• 28...Ba3 29.Rc2 Bd6 30.Nb5 sets up an elaborate attack on Black's center.

26.Ne2 Nd8 27.d4!?

• Dicey. I like it.
• 27.Qc2 Nf7 28.d4 Qb8 29.dxe5 Nxe5 30.Ng5 Ra6 31.Qb3 Nc4 is equal.

27...Nxe4

• Black finds the best reply.
• 27...exd4 28.Rxd4 Qe7 29.Bg5 Qe8 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.e5 gives White a small advantage in space.

28.dxe5 Qa6 29.Nf4?!

• If 29.Nfd4 Rab8 30.Nb5 then:
• If 30...Rxb5?! 31.axb5 Qxb5 32.f3 Nd2 33.Nxc3 then:
• 33...Nxf3+ 34.gxf3 Bxc3 35.f4 Black has only a pawn for the exchange.
• 33...Bxc3 34.Bxd2 Bd4+ 35.Kh1 White is an exchange to the good.
• 30...Nf7 31.Rd4 Nd2 32.Nexc3 Bxc3 33.Rxc3 Rxc3 34.Nxc3 gives White an extra pawn.

29...Rc4 30.Nd4
BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
!""""""""#
$t+ M +l+%
$+ + + Oo%
$w+ +o+ +%
$O + + + %
$ VtNmN +%
$+ O B +p%
$q+ + Pp+%
$+ Rr+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 30.Nf3d4

30...Rac8!

• Black has equalized the game/
• If 30...Bc5 31.Nfe2 Nf7 32.Qc2 Qb7 33.f3 Nd2 34.Kh1 Nxe5 35.Bxd2 cxd2 36.Qxd2 is equal.
• 33.Rb1 Qd5 34.Nf3 Bxe3 35.Rxd5 Bxf2+ 36.Kh1 exd5 is also equal.

31.Nb5 Nf7 32.Qc2 Bc5 33.Nd4

• 33.Bd4 Qc6 34.Bxc5 Qxc5 35.Nd3 Qe7 36.f3 Nc5 37.Nxc5 Qxc5+ remains equal.

33...Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Qc6 35.Nxe6

• If 35.Rb1 Rxd4 36.Bxd4 Nd2 37.Rc1 then:
• 37...Ne4 38.f3 Nd2 39.Bxc3 Nc4 40.Ba1 Qc5+ 41.Kh2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 37...Qb7 38.Qd3 Rc4 39.Bxc3 Rxf4 40.Bxd2 Rxa4 41.Rc5 wins the pawn at a5.

35...Nxe5 36.Rcd1 Nd2?

• If 36...Rxd4 37.Bxd4 Nxf2 38.Qxf2 then:
• 38...Qxe6 39.Qe2 c2 40.Rc1 Rd8 41.Bxe5 Rd1+ 42.Rxd1 cxd1Q+ 43.Qxd1 Qxe5 is equal and lifeless.
• 39.Qe3 c2 40.Rc1 Rd8 41.Bxe5 Re8 42.Rxc2 Qxe5 43.Qxe5 Rxe5 is equally lifeless.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
!""""""""#
$ +t+ +l+%
$+ + + Oo%
$ +w+n+ +%
$O + M + %
$p+tR + +%
$+ O V +p%
$ +qM Pp+%
$+ +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 36...Ne4d2

37.Ng5!

• The pawn is on its way to f3 where it will aid in the demise of the menacing c-pawn.

37...Qg6

• If 37...Ng6 38.Qa2! h6 39.Bxd2 cxd2 40.Nf3 then:
• 40...Kh8 41.Rxc4 Qxc4 42.Rxd2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 40...Qc5 41.Qxd2 Rxd4 42.Qxd4 Qc2 43.Rd2 leaves White with an extra pawn.

38.Rxc4 Ndxc4 39.Qxc3

• The pawn is won.

39...h6 40.Bf4 Qf5 41.Bxe5 Nxe5

• If 41...Qxg5 42.Rd5 Rc6 43.f4 Qf5 44.Rd8+ then:
• 44...Kf7 45.Bxg7 Qc5+ 46.Kh2 Qe3 47.Rd7+ Ke8 48.Qd4 gives White to extra pawns.
• Even more devastating for Black is 44...Kh7 45.Bxg7 Rc8 46.Bxh6 Kxh6 47.Qh8+ Qh7 48.Qxh7+ Kxh7 49.Rxc8 giving White a prohibitive material advantage.

42.Qb3+ Kh8

• After 42...Nc4 43.Rd4 Qc5 44.Nf3 Qb6 45.Qd3 Qe6 46.Rd7 White continues to hold an extra pawn.

43.Ne6 Qe4 44.Qd5

• If 44.Qg3 g6 45.Rd4 Nf3+ 46.Qxf3 Qxe6 then:
• 47.Qd1 Qe5 48.Rd5 Qb2 49.Qf3 Qc1+ 50.Kh2 White continues to enjoy an extra pawn.
• 47.Qg4 Qxg4 48.Rxg4 Kg7 49.Rd4 White has an extra pawn in a Rook ending. It's an advantage, but not easy to convert.

44...Qxa4

• 44...Qe2 45.Rd4 Qe1+ 46.Kh2 Nf3+ 47.Qxf3 Qe5+ 48.Qf4 Qxe6 still requires White to work longer.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
!""""""""#
$ +t+ + L%
$+ + + O %
$ + +n+ O%
$O +qM + %
$w+ + + +%
$+ + + +p%
$ + + Pp+%
$+ +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 44...Qe4a4:p

45.Rd4!

• This nails down the victory, but Black still has a couple of traps to set before he resigns.

45...Qa1+

• If 45...Nc4 46.Qb7 Rg8 then:
• 47.Qe4 Nd2 48.Rxa4 Nxe4 49.Rxe4 Re8 50.f4 a4 51.f5 Ra8 52.Re2 leaves White a piece to the good.
• If 47.Rd8?? then 47...Qa1+ 48.Kh2 Qe5+ 49.f4 Qxe6 and now it is Black who wins.

46.Kh2 Ng6 47.Qf5

• If 47.Qb7 Rg8 then:
• 48.Qe4 Nf8 49.Nd8 g6 50.Qe3 Kh7 51.Nf7 Rg7 52.Qxh6+ Kg8 53.Qh8+ Kxf7 54.Rf4+ Ke6 55.Rxf8 White wins.
• 48.Rd8?? loses to 48...Qe5+ 49.g3 Qxe6 50.Qa8 Rxd8 51.Qxd8+ Kh7 when Black is a piece to the good.

47...Kh7 48.h4 Qe1 49.Re4 1-0

• 49...Qc3 50.h5 Qf6 51.hxg6+ White is a piece ahead.
• M. Bacrot resings.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Games from the Politiken Cup, Helsignør (with Sunday update)

Politiken Cup: Six tie for first with 8/10

Six players tied for first place after the tenth and final round of the Politiken Cup today in Helsingør, Denmark.

Ukrainian GM Yuriy Kuzubov and grandmaster Boris Savchenko of Russia entered today's action tied for first with 7½ points each. Kuzubov, with Black took his opponent, Israeli GM Michael Roiz, 43 moves to a draw. Savchenko, who also played Black today against Sweden's Emanuel Berg, went 34 moves before settling on the half-point. Kuzubov and Savchenko were thus assured of a share of first place with 8 points each.

A dozen players started the day with seven points and, with the draws on the top two boards, any of those players who won today would join Kuzabov and Savchenko in first place.

Of the six games played among players tied for third place, four ended decisively: Russia's Vladimir Malakhov defeated IM Thomas Engqvist of Sweden; Danish GM Peter Heine Nielsen won his game from Bartosz Socko of Poland; reigning European champion Sergey Tiviakov of Holland, with Black, took down Israel's Artur Kogan; and Swedish GM Jonny Hector defeated Russia's Alexander Evdokimov.

Congratulations to all six of the tournament co-champions.

To view these games: please click here; select Politiken Cup from the top horizontal bar; select Partier (java) from the menu in the upper left; select the appropriate round from the drop down box at the bottom of the page and the desired game within that round.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Engqvist - Nielsen, Round 3

Peter Heine Nielsen
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Thomas Engqvist - Peter Heine Nielsen
Politiken Cup, Round 3
Helsingør, 20 July 2008

Symmetrical English Game: Spielmann Defense

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4

• If 5...Nc6 then:
• If 6.g3 Qb6 7.Nb3 Ne5 8.e4 Bb4 9.Qe2 d6 then:
• If 10.f4 Nc6 11.Be3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qc7 13.Bg2 0-0 14.c5 then:
• 14...dxc5 15.Bxc5 Rd8 16.e5 Na5 17.Bb4 Nxb3 18.axb3 Nd5 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.bxc4 Ne3 is equal (P. Smirnov-Tomashevsky, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• 14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.c4 d4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Nxc5 19.Qe3 Na4 20.Rc1 Bd7 21.0-0 Rac8 22.g4 Bc6 23.Bh3 b6 24.f5 Kh8 25.g5 exf5 26.Bxf5 Bd7 is equal (Morovic-Timman, IT, Novi Sad, 1990).
• 10.Bd2 0-0 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4 Nc6 13.Be3 Qa6 14.Nb5 a4 15.Nd2 a3 16.b3 Qa5 17.Bg2 e5 18.f5 Bd7 19.g4 Rfc8 20.g5 gives White the advantage in space (Tukmakov-Berelovich, Zonal, Donetzk, 1998).
• 6.Ndb5 d5 7.Bf4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Rd1+ Bd7 12.Nd6 Bxd6 13.Rxd6 Rb8 14.Rd2 Re8 15.g3 f3 16.Kd1 fxe2+ 17.Bxe2 Kc7 18.Bc4 Re7 19.Kc1 Bf5 20.b3 Rbe8 is equal (Stohl-Xu Jun, Op, Beijing, 1998).

6.Bd2

• If 6.g3 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 then:
• If 9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.0-0 Qa5 12.Bd2 Bxc3 then:
• 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Bf4 c5 19.Qb2 Rad8 20.Re1 Rd7 21.h3 h6 22.a4 Ba6 23.Qa2 Rfd8 is equal (Jackovenko-Carlsen, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).
• 13.Bxc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Ba6 15.Qb4 Qxb4 16.cxb4 Rab8 17.a3 is equal (Ribli-Walls, Bundesliga, Germany, 1998).
• 9...Qb6 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Bh3 12.g4 Na6 13.a3 Qa5 14.Rc1 Bxc3+ 15.Rxc3 Nc5 16.Qb4 Qxb4 17.axb4 Na4 18.Ra3 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2006).

6...0-0

• 6...Nc6 7.Nc2 Bc5 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.Nxe3 0-0 10.g3 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nexd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qb6 14.Qb5 leaves White a pawn up (Blau-Tal, IT, Zurich, 1959).

7.a3

• If 7.e3 Nc6 8.Be2 d5 9.cxd5 then:
• 9...exd5 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Rc1 Ne5 12.Nf3 a6 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Bf3 Be6 is equal (Lilienthal-Smyslov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1949).
• 9...Nxd4 10.exd4 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Qxd5 13.Bf3 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6 15.Qe2 Rb8 16.b4 b5 17.Qe5 Bd7 18.a5 Bc6 19.Bxc6 Qxc6 20.0-0 Rbc8 21.h3 Rfd8 22.a6 Rd5 gives Black the advaantage in space after the Queen retreats (Pomar-Portisch, Madrid, 1973).

7...Bc5 8.Bg5!?

• 8.Nb3 Be7 9.g3 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Nc6 12.Bg2 Be6 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Nb5 Ne4 15.N3d4 Bd7 16.Rc1 Ne5 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.Nf5 is equal (Salov-Lautier, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1995).

8...h6

• 8...Nc6 9.Nf3 h6 10.Bh4 Be7 11.Qd3 d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 is equal.

9.Bh4 b6 10.Ndb5 Bb7

• 10...a6 11.Nd6 Qc7 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.e3 Be7 14.Bg3 is equal.

11.Nd6 Bxd6 12.Qxd6 Nc6 13.e3 Rc8 14.b4

• White has the advantage in space.
• 14.Rd1 Na5 15.Qd4 g5 16.Bg3 Nb3 17.Qe5 Rc5 18.Qd6 also gives White an advantage in space.

14...Ne4 15.Qf4 Ng5 16.Ne4 f5 17.Bxg5 hxg5 18.Nxg5

• White is a pawn to the good.

18...Qf6 19.Rd1?

• This allows Black to equalize.
• 19.Ra2! Qc3+ 20.Rd2 Qc1+ 21.Ke2 Qxa3 22.Qh4 gives White the upper hand.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
!""""""""#
$ +t+ Tl+%
$Ov+o+ O %
$ Om+oW +%
$+ + +oN %
$ Pp+ Q +%
$P + P + %
$ + + PpP%
$+ +rKb+r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Thomas Engqvist
Position after 19.Ra1d1

19...Qc3+!

• Black takes the opportunity to work up some counterplay. The game is equal.

20.Rd2

• 20.Ke2 Nb8 21.Qh4 Qxc4+ 22.Qxc4 Rxc4 23.Kd2 Rg4 is equal.

20...Rf6 21.c5?

• White drops a pawn.
• 21.Qd6 Qc1+ 22.Rd1 Qxa3 23.b5 Nb4 remains equal.

21...Qxa3 22.Bb5

• White pressures Black's d-pawn, threatening to win back the extra pawn.
• If 22.b5 Qc1+ 23.Ke2 Ne7 24.Qd6 Nd5 then:
• 25.f4 Rxc5 26.Qxd7 Bc8 27.Qd8+ Rf8 28.Qd6 Re8 gives Black all the mobility on the board while White's pieces are tangled amonst themselves.
• 25.c6 dxc6 26.Qd7 Nc7 27.bxc6 Qxc6 28.Qxc6 Bxc6 leaves Black up by a pawn with two connected queenside passers.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
!""""""""#
$ +t+ +l+%
$Ov+o+ O %
$ Om+oT +%
$+bP +oN %
$ P + Q +%
$W + P + %
$ + R PpP%
$+ + K +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Thomas Engqvist
Position after 22.Bf1b5

22...Qc1+!

• This assures White of winning the pawn.

23.Rd1 Qc3+ 24.Ke2

• If 24.Kf1 bxc5 then:
• 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Ba4 Ne5 27.h4 Qa5 28.Bxd7 Nxd7 29.Kg1 e5 puts Black a piece up.
• 27.Kg1 Ng6 28.Qd4 Qxd4 29.exd4 Nf4 puts Black a pawn up.
• After 25.Bxc6 Bxc6 26.bxc5 Qxc5 27.Kg1 e5 Black is a pawn to the good.

24...Nxb4 25.Bxd7

• 25.cxb6 Nd5 26.Qh4 Qb2+ 27.Ke1 Rh6 28.Qd4 Qxb5 puts Black a piece ahead.

25...Qc2+ 26.Rd2 Ba6+ 27.Kf3 Qxd2 28.Qh4

• Instead of makingf this move, White could have resigned. For what good it would do, he won't be able to play 29.Qh7+.

28...Qd5+ 29.Kg3 Qe5+ 30.Kf3 Rh6 0-1

• If 30...Rh6 31.Qxb4 Qd5+ 32.Kg3 Qxd7 leaves Black up by a whole Rook.
• 31.Qd4 Bb7+ 32.Ke2 Rxc5 33.Bxe6+ Rxe6 34.Nxe6 Qxe6 Black is two pieces to the good.
• Thomas resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Savchenko - Kransenkow, Round 6

Boris Savchenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Boris Savchenko - Michal Krasenkow
Politiken Cup, Round 5
Helsingør, 22 July 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Norman Four Knights' Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6

• 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 a6 9.Na3 transposes to the Sveshnikov Defense.

6...bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7

• If 8...f5 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Qxd6 then:
• 11...Qb6 12.Bd3 c5 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.0-0 Rc8 15.c4 Rc6 16.Qe5 Bc8 17.Rae1 0-0 18.Qg5 gives White the advantage in space (Berescu-Meinhardt, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 11...Ba6 12.Bxa6 Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qxa6 14.Bb4 0-0-0 15.a3 e5 16.0-0-0 Rhe8 17.Rhe1 Re6 18.Qc5 is equal (Negi-Safarli, World Youth Stars, Kirishi, 2007).

9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 Ne3

• If 10...Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 then:
• If 12.Nf2 Ba6 13.Kf3 Ne7 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Bxc5 Qxc5 16.Qd6 then:
• If 16...Qb6 17.b3 c5 18.Rd1 then:
• 18...Bb7+ 19.Kg3 Kf7 20.Be2 Rhd8 21.Nd3 gives White the advantage in space (Negi-Pileckis, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• 18...Rd8 19.Nd3 Rc8 20.Nb2 Qb7+ 21.Kf2 Qe4 22.Be2 Nd5 23.Bh5+ g6 24.cxd5 gxh5 25.Qxa6 gives White a material advantage (Emms-Dr. Nunn, Walsal, 1992).
• 16...Qa5 17.h4 c5 18.Kg3 Rc8 19.Be2 Nc6 20.Bh5+ g6 21.Bf3 Nd4 22.b4 Qa3 23.bxc5 Nxf3 24.gxf3 Bxc4 25.Rhd1 Bb5 is equal (Pirisi-Krasenkow, IT, Balatonbereny, 1988).
• 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Kf2 0-0 16.Bd3 Rf7 17.a3 Bf8 18.Rf1 d5 19.Kg1 Bc5 20.Bf2 Qb6 21.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Kh1 a5 23.Rf3 Qe7 24.Qe2 gives White the advantage in space (Tshechovsky-Kouatly, Trnavia, 1986).

11.Qd3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 0-0

• After 12...Ba6 13.b3 0-0 14.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Kf2 Nd5 16.g3 f6 17.Qc2 White is slightly better (Fedorchuk-Sprenger, Bundesliga, Germany, 2000).

13.Rc1 a5 14.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Rc3!?

• This new move is good for an equal game.
• 15.Qc3 f5 16.Nd2 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 c5 18.Qxb4 axb4 19.Nb3 Rxa2 20.Rf2 Bb7 21.Nxc5 Bc6 22.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space (Kornev-Yudin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).

15...Nf5

• 15...Nxf1 16.Rxf1 Qxb2 17.Rf2 Qa1+ 18.Qd1 Qxd1+ 19.Kxd1 is equal.

16.g4 Nh4

• 16...Nh6 17.g5 Nf5 18.Qd2 c5 19.Rg1 Rd8 20.a3 Qb6 is equal.

17.Ng5

• 17.Qd2 c5 18.Rg1 Bb7 19.a3 Qb6 is equal.

17...Ng6 18.h4 Rd8

• If 18...h6 19.h5 hxg5 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Rh2 then:
• 21...Qc5 22.Qxg6 Rxf4 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ sets up White to dominate kingside space.
• 21...gxf4? 22.Qxg6 d5 23.Bd3 White soon delivers mate.

19.h5!

• White's plan is to use his kingside space advantage to disrupt Black's King position.

19...Nf8 20.h6 g6

• Black has been forced to weaken his dark squares around the King.

21.Ne4 Qxb2 22.Be2 Rb8 23.Kf2 d5

• 23...g5 24.Nxg5 Ba6 25.Rc2 Qb6+ 26.Kg2 Ng6 27.Rf1 gives White the advantage in space.

24.exd6 c5 25.Qg3

• 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Qe3 g5 27.fxg5 Qxa2 28.Ra3 Qb2 29.Qxc5 gives White an extra pawn.

25...f5?

• This weakens f6 and allows White to attack immediately.
• 25...Nd7 26.Rd1 Bb7 27.Rb3 Qh8 28.Nc3 Bc6 is equal.

BLACK: Michal Krasenkow
!""""""""#
$ TvT Ml+%
$+ + + +o%
$ + Po+oP%
$O O +o+ %
$ +p+nPp+%
$+ R + Q %
$pW +bK +%
$+ + + +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Boris Savchenko
Position after 25...f7f5

26.Nf6+!

• Stronger is 26.Nxc5! Rxd6 27.Rb3 Rxb3 28.Qxb3 Qh8 29.Rd1 a4 30.Qxa4 giving White an extra pawn.

26...Kf7 27.Rd1 Rb6

• 27...Qxa2 28.Qh4 Rb2 29.Re3 Qxc4 30.gxf5 Ba6 31.Nxh7 gives White an overwhelming position.


• 27...Kxf6 28.Qh4+ Kf7 29.Qe7+ Kg8 30.Qg7#.

28.gxf5!

• If 28.d7 Bxd7 29.g5 Qxa2 30.Qe3 Rb1 then:
• 31.Qxc5 Rxd1 32.Ng8 Rf1+ 33.Ke3 wins for White.
• 31.Ra3? Qb2 32.Rxb1 Qxb1 33.Rxa5 is equal.

28...exf5 29.Qe3 Be6

• 29...Ne6 30.d7 Bb7 31.Nxh7 Be4 32.Ng5+ Nxg5 33.fxg5 gives White an extra pawn.

30.Qe5 Rb7 31.d7 Nxd7

• 31...Rdxd7 32.Nxd7 Bxd7 33.Qg7+ Ke8 34.Re3+ wins for White.

32.Nxd7 Rbxd7 33.Qg7+ Ke8 34.Qh8+

• 34.Rxd7 Rxd7 35.Qh8+ Ke7 36.Qxh7+ Bf7 37.Qg7 transposes into the text.

34...Ke7 35.Qxh7+ Bf7 36.Rxd7+ Rxd7 37.Qg7 1-0

• After 37...Qb8 38.Re3+ Kd6 39.Qe5+ Kc6 40.Bf3+ White soon delivers mate.
• Grandmaster Krasenkow resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Kuzubov - Savchenko, Round 7

Yuriy Kuzubov won his individual game from Boris Savchenko. The two shared the lead for most of the latter stages of the tournament.



Yuriy Kuzubov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Yuriy Kuzubov - Boris Savchenko
Politiken Cup, Round 7
Helsingør, 24 July 2008

West India Game: King's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.Be3 c6

• If 7...Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 then:
• If 9.Bh4 then:
• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nd2 Nh6 12.f3 c5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 Be6 then:
• 15.Nb3 d5 16.Nc5 Bf7 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.0-0 is equal (Arlandi-van Wely, Team T, Bukfurdo, 1995).
• 15.Bf2 f5 16.0-0 g5 17.Nb3 Ng6 18.Na5 Qc7 19.c5 dxc5 20.Bxc5 gives White the adcantage in space (Huzman-Petrov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 9...g5 10.Bg3 Nh6 11.d5 Nd7 12.Nd2 f5 13.exf5 Nf6 14.Nde4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxf5 16.Bd3 g4 17.0-0 Kh8 18.Qe2 Bd7 19.f3 Qe7 20.fxg4 draw (Gelfand-Radjabov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 9.Bc1 Nc6 10.0-0 f5 11.Bg5 Bf6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.d5 Ne7 15.Ng5 Qc8 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qf5 18.Qd2 c6 19.f4 is equal (Movsesian-Kasimdzhanov, Dordrecht, 1999).

8.0-0

• If 8.d5 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 then:
• 10...h5 11.Nd2 Nh6 12.f3 c5 13.0-0 Nf7 14.Bd3 Bh6 15.Qe2 Na6 16.a3 Bg5 17.Bxg5 fxg5 18.Qe3 Bd7 19.Rab1is equal (Ioselani-Xie Jun, World ChW, Monte Carlo, 1993).
• 10...c5 11.0-0 Nh6 12.Ne1 Nd7 13.f3 Nf7 14.Rb1 Bh6 15.Bf2 f5 16.b4 b6 17.a4 a5 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Qc2 Nb8 21.Bd3 is equal (Volkov-Shulman, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 1998).

8...exd4 9.Bxd4

• 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qb3 Nc6 14.Rad1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 16.Rxd4 Qf6 17.Rd2 Qf4 18.Qxd5 Qe3+ 19.Rf2 Be6 20.Qd3 Qb6 21.Qb5 Qe3 22.Rd3 Qc1+ 23.Rf1 Qc4 24.a4 Qxb5 25.axb5 Bc4 26.Rd2 Bxe2 27.Rxe2 Re5 draw (Gustafsson-Kotronias, Euro ChT, Kemeri, 2007).

9...Re8 10.Qc2 Qe7 11.Rfe1 Nbd7

• 11...c5 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.exd5 Qf6 15.Bd3 Bd7 16.Nd2 Na6 17.a3 Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Re8 19.Rxe8 Bxe8 20.Ne4 Qe7 21.Qc3+ gives White the advantage in space (Hertneck-Kraschi, Werfen, 1995).

12.Rad1

• 12.h3 a6 13.Rad1 b5 14.b4 c5 15.bxc5 dxc5 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.cxb5 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Black resigns as he will lose a piece (Shulman-Relange, Aribal Op, Linares, 1997).

12...Nc5 13.h3 a5!?

• 13...Bh6 14.Bf1 Nfd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxe5 Ne6 18.Bc5 Qf6 19.Ree1 Bg7 20.Bd4 gives White the advantage in space (Frey-Kotronias, Ol, Dubai, 1986).
• 13...Ne6 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Nd4 Ndc5 16.Bf1 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Be5 18.b4 Ne6 is equal (Chiburdanidze-Matveeva, OlW, Manila, 1992).

14.Bf1

• White has a small advantage in space.
• If 14.Bd3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 a4 then:
• 16.Re3 Be6 17.Nd5 cxd5 18.exd5 Rac8 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.b3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 16.Be3 Nd7 17.a3 Nc5 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Qc2 gives White advantages in space and pawn structure, while Black's Bishops have more potential than White's Knights.

14...Be6 15.Qc1

• 15.Ng5 Nfd7 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Be2 Rad8 is equal.

15...Rad8 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.exd5

• If 17.cxd5 Bc8 18.Bb5 Nfd7 then:
• 19.e5! Rf8 20.Be3 f6 21.e6 Ne5 22.Nd4 gives White an advantage in space. In spite of having a Knight to a pawn, Black is severely cramped.
• 19.Bxc5?! dxc5 20.e5 Rf8 21.d6 Qe8 22.Bxd7 Bxd7 Black is up by a Bishop to a pawn, but White has some extra space.

17...Nfe4

• 17...Qc7 18.dxe6 Rxe6 19.b3 Rde8 20.Qc2 Nfe4 is equal.

18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Qc2 Bxd4

• If 19...Ng5 20.Be2 then:
• 20...Rf8 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Nxg5 Qxg5 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Bg4 Rd2 25.Bxe6+ Kh8 is equal.
• If 24.Qe4 Qe5 25.Qxe5 Bxe5 26.Bf3 Bxb2 27.Rxe6 Rd2 is equal.
• If 20...Nge4 21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.Bd3 d5 23.Bxe4 then:
• 23...Nxe4 24.Qb3 a4 25.Qb6 Qe7 26.Rd4 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 23...dxe4 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Ng5 Qd4 26.Nxe4 Nxe4 27.Rxe4 gives White an extra pawn.

20.Nxd4 e5

• If 20...Nf6 21.g3 e5 22.Nb5 then:
• 22...Kh8 23.Bg2 b6 24.Rd2 e4 25.Red1 e3 26.Re2 gives White better pawn structure.
• 22...Rf8 23.Bg2 e4 24.Nc3 Rde8 25.Qd2 Nd3 26.Re3 gives White a dynamic advantage and better pawn structure.

21.Nb5 Ng5 22.h4 Nge6 23.g3 Nc7 24.Nc3 N7e6 25.Bg2 Kh8

• 25...Qf6 26.Nd5 Qf7 27.Rf1 Rf8 28.f4 Qg7 29.Qc3 gives White a narrow edge in space.

26.Nb5 Nc7 27.Nxc7 Qxc7 28.Rd5

• 28.Bd5 Rb8 29.Qe2 Rf8 30.h5 gxh5 31.Qxh5 is equal.

28...Re6 29.Qd2 b6?

• If 29...Rf8 30.Rd1 Rff6 then:
• 31.Bh3 Ne4 32.Qxa5 Qxa5 33.Rxa5 Nxf2 34.Bxe6 Nxd1 is equal.
• If 31.b3 Kg7 then:
• 32.h5 gxh5 33.Qg5+ Rg6 34.Qxh5 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 32.a4? Nxb3 33.Qc2 Nd4 gives Black an extra pawn.

30.Bh3 Ree8

• If 30...Re7 31.h5 gxh5 32.Qh6 Rf7 then:
• 33.Re2 Na6 34.Be6 Rg7 35.Qxh5 is equal.
• 33.Re3 h4 34.Qxh4 Rdf8 35.Re2 is equal.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko
!""""""""#
$ + Tt+ L%
$+ W + +o%
$ O O +o+%
$O MrO + %
$ +p+ + P%
$+ + + Pb%
$pP Q P +%
$+ + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Yuriy Kuzubov
Position after 30...Re6e8

31.Rd1!

• White finds the quickest and surest way to a decisive advantage.
• If 31.Re3 Rf8 32.b3 Kg8 33.Re2 then:
• If 33...Rf6 34.h5 Rdf8 35.hxg6 Rxg6 36.Bg2 White has a small advantage in space.
• If 33...a4 34.b4 Nb7 35.Re4 then:
• 35...Rf6 36.f4 exf4 37.Rxf4 Rdf8 38.Rxf6 Rxf6 39.Qd4 White must win material.
• 35...Rf3 36.Bg2 Rf6 37.h5 Rdf8 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.f4 gives White a solid advantage in space.

31...Qe7

• Black drops a pawn; other alternatives give White a spatial edge.
• If 31...Nb7 32.b3 Rf8 33.h5 gxh5 34.Qh6 then:
• 34...Qf7 35.R1d2 Qg7 36.Qxg7+ Kxg7 37.Rb5 Nc5 38.Rxb6 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 34...a4 35.Bg2 axb3 36.axb3 then:
• 36...Qf7 37.R1d2 h4 38.Qxh4 Nc5 39.b4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 36...Rf5 37.Be4 Rf7 38.R1d2 Ra8 39.Qxh5 gives White the advantage in space.

32.Bg2 Ne6

• 32...Nb7 33.Rb5 Qc7 34.Bxb7 Qxb7 35.Qxa5 wins a pawn.

33.Rxd6

• White has won the pawn.

33...Nd4 34.Rxd8

• 34.Rd5 Rxd5 35.cxd5 Qd7 36.Re1 Qg4 37.Qg5 Qxg5 38.hxg5 yields an extra pawn for White.

34...Rxd8 35.Qe3 Qc5 36.Bd5 Rxd5

• White definitely has the better of it, but Black's situation is not so deperate that an exchange sacrifice is necessary.
• Correct is 36...Re8 37.h5 gxh5 38.Qh6 Rf8 39.Qxh5 when White reamins a pawn to the good.

37.cxd5 Qxd5 38.Rd3 Kg8

• 38...Qxa2 loses immediately to 39.Qxe5+ Kg8 40.Rxd4.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
$+ + + +o%
$ O + +o+%
$O +wO + %
$ + M + P%
$+ +rQ P %
$pP + P +%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Yuriy Kuzubov
Position after 38...Kh8g8

39.b3!

• White opts for the simplest way to prevent an attack on his queenside.
• 39.a4 Qa2 40.f4 Qb1+ 41.Kf2 Qxb2+ 42.Qd2 Qa1 43.fxe5! keeps White a full exchange to the good.

39...Qc5 40.Qe4 Kg7 41.Kg2 h5

• If 41...Kf6 42.f4 Nf5 43.g4 Nxh4+ 44.Kh3 exf4 45.Qxf4+ then:
• 45...Nf5 46.gxf5 Qxf5+ 47.Qxf5+ gxf5 48.Rd6+ is lights out.
• After 45...Ke7 46.Re3+ Kd7 47.Qf7+ Kc6 48.Rd3 b5 White forces mate: 49.Qe6+ Kb7 50.Rd7+ Kb8 51.Qe8+ Qc8 52.Qe5+ Ka8 53.Qd5+ Kb8 54.Qxb5+ Ka8 55.Qxa5+ Kb8 56.Qa7#.

42.Re3 Kf6 43.Qa8 Nf5 44.Qh8+ Ke6 45.Qe8+

• 45.Re4 Nd6 46.Re1 Nf5 47.a3 Qc6+ 48.Kh2 doesn't change much.

45...Kf6 46.Rd3 Nd4 47.Qd7 b5

• If 47...Qe7 48.Qc8 b5 49.f4 Qd6 50.Qe8 Kf5 51.Qf7+ then:
• 51...Kg4 52.fxe5 Qc6+ 53.Kg1 Qe4 54.Qf4+ wins a pawn for White.
• 51...Ke4 52.fxe5 Qc6 53.Rf3 also wins a pawn for White.

48.a3 b4 49.a4 Qb6

• If 49...Qe7 50.Qd5 Qc7 51.Re3 then:
• After 51...Nc2 52.Re2 Nd4 53.Re4 Ne6 54.f4 the e-pawn falls.
• After 51...Nf5 52.Re4 Nd4 53.Kf1 Qc1+ 54.Re1 Qc7 55.f4 the e-pawn falls.

50.Qd5 Qe6 51.Qd8+ Kf7

• If 51...Qe7 then:
• After 52.Qxa5 Qe6 53.Qxb4 Qa6 54.Qf8+ White has an easy win.
• White has more difficulty winning after 52.Qxe7+!? Kxe7 53.f4 Kf6 54.Kf2 Kf5 55.Rd1 Nxb3 56.Rd5.

52.Qc7+ Kf6 53.Qc5 Qf5

• 53...Qa6 54.Qf8+ Ke6 55.Re3 Qd6 56.Qg8+ Kf6 57.f3 Nf5 58.Qh8+.

54.Re3 Qe6 55.Qf8+ Qf7 56.Qh8+ Qg7

• If 56...Ke7 then 57.Qxe5+ Ne6 58.Qc5+ Kf6 59.Rf3+ wins a piece.

57.Qd8+ Kf5 58.Qd5

• 58.Qc8+ Kf6 59.f4 Qe7 60.fxe5+ Kg7 61.e6 White is up by yet another pawn.

58...Qc7 59.Re4 Kf6 60.Re3 Nf5

• 60...Kf5 61.f4 Qc6 62.Rxe5+ Kf6 63.Qxc6+ Nxc6 64.Rc5.

61.Re1 Qc3

• If 61...Ne7 62.Qd2 Nf5 63.Rc1 then:
• After 63...Qb7+ 64.f3 Nd4 65.Qe3 Ne6 66.Qd3 Nd4 67.Rc5 White wins.
• After 63...Qd6 64.Qxd6+ Nxd6 65.Rc6 Ke6 66.Ra6 Black queenside pawns fall.

62.Re4 Qb2 63.Qxa5 Qxb3 64.Qxe5+ Kf7 65.Qc7+

• 65.Qe8+ Kg7 66.Re6 Qd5+ 67.f3 Qa2+ 68.Kh3 leaves Black with little better than submitting to mate.

65...Kf6 66.Qb6+ Kg7 67.Qxb4 Qd5 68.Qc3+ Kh7 69.Qf3 Qc6 70.Rf4 1-0

• If 70...Qa6 White finshes the game with 71.Qd5 Qe2 72.Re4 Qb2 73.Qf7+.
• Grandmaster Savchenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Games from the Canadian Open, Montresl (with Sunday update)

Canadian Open: Four tie for First at 6½/9

Four players -- grandmasters Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine, Eduardas Rozentalis of Latvia and Victor Mikhalevski of Israel and French international master Matthieu Cornette -- tied for first place in Canadian Open in Montreal in action concluded today.

Not all games are complete, but those remaining will have no effect on first prize.

The last game effecting first prize finished just a few minutes ago and saw Rozentalis defeat Inaian IM M. R. Venkatesh. Venkatesh-ji entered today's round tied for first Moiseenko and Cornette, who played each other to a draw in 10 moves. Venkatesh-ji, playing White against Rozentalis, boldly and recklessly tried every way to win the game and take the top spot alone, even though a draw would have assured him of a share of first prize. In the end, his risk-taking, admirable though it was, brought him defeat. Rozentalis, by virtue of the win, took a share of first prize.

Mr. Mikhalevski who had a share of first place for much of the latter stages of the tournament until yesterday when he lost to M. Conette, defeated his compatriot Alexander Huzman today to claim a share of first prize after all. Mikhalevski is a regular on the international Swiss System circuit and always seem to almost make it until he made it today. Had Huzman won, Huzman would have gotten a share of first prize instead of Mikhalevski.

The only other player today with a chance for a share of first prize was Indian grandamaster Abhijit Kunte, who also needed a win to tie the others. Kunte fell short of his goal when he settled for a draw with Romanian grandmaster Andrei Istratescu.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Moiseenko - Huzman, Round 5

Alexander Moiseenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Moiseenko - Alexander Huzman
Canadian Open, Round 5
Montreal, 23 July 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Wade Variation)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3

• If 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 c4 then:
• If 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 then:
• If 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5 0-0 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6!? 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Qe2 Qe6 then:
• 22.h3! Bd4 23.Rab1 Qf7 24.Kh2 Nh5 25.Nd5 g6 26.Ne3 Nf4 draw (Korotylev-Dreev, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 22.Nd5?! Nxd5 23.exd5 Qxd5 gives Black the opportunity to win a pawn with advantage (Jakovljevic-Vitiugov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 16.Nf5 Ncxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Re1 g6 19.Nh6 Nf6 20.Bf4 Bd6 21.Bxe5 0-0-0 22.Bxd6 Rxd6 is equal (Klimov-Yevseev, City Ch, St. Petersburg, 2005).
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ng5 Nc5 16.f4 h6 17.Nf3 Nd3 18.Bxd3 cxd3 19.Qxd3 Rd8 20.Qe2 Bxf4 is equal (Hahn-Adamson, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• 14.Ng5 Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Nxe6 Rfc8 22.h3 Rab8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd6 b4 25.Na4 Rd5 26.Rb6 Rb5 27.Rxb5 draw (Gelfand-Shirov, IT, Biel, 1995).

9...b4 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 bxa3 12.0-0

• 12.bxa3 Bd6 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qc2 h6 16.Bb2 Rfc8 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.h3 c5 is equal (Ribli-Agdestein, Bundesliga, Germany, 1999).

12...Nf6

• 12...Bd6 13.b4 Nf6 14.Bd3 then:
• If 14...Nd5 15.Bxa3 Nxb4 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Ba6 then:
• 17...Rb8 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Qa4 0-0 20.Qxc6 is equal (Mamedyarov-Modiaki, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 17...Qb6 18.Qd3 0-0 19.Rfb1 c5 20.Ng5 g6 21.dxc5 Bxa6 22.Rxa6 Qxc5 23.Ne4 Qe7 gives White more than enough space to compensate for the pawn (Hillarp Persson-Nielsen, IT, Malmø, 2004).
• 14...a5 15.b5 c5 16.Bxa3 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 0-0 19.Qa1 Qd5 20.f3 is equal (Aldy-Gaponenko, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).

13.Bd3 axb2

• If 13...Be7 14.bxa3 0-0 15.Rb1 then:
• After 15...Qc7 16.e4 c5 17.Bf4 Qc8 18.Bg5 cxd4 19.Qb3 Bc6 20.Rfc1 White is not missing the pawn in the least (Calleri-Nemec, Corres, 1999).
• 15...Qc8 16.e4 c5 17.e5 Nd5 18.Qc2 h6 19.dxc5 Rb8 20.Qc4 Rd8 21.Bd2 Bxc5 is equal (Peralta-Real, Argentine Ch, Mendoza, 2008).

14.Bxb2 Bb4 15.Qb3!?

• 15.Ba3 Bxa3 16.Rxa3 0-0 17.Qc2 Qc7 18.Ne5 gives White more than enough space to make up for the pawn minus (Fressinet-Palac, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2006).

15...a5

• The game is equal.
• For both sides, the focus will be on the queenside. The Knights will remain in the center watching for pawn advances, while Bishops and Rooks will find the open Queen's wing to be a tropical paradise.
• 15...Qe7 16.Ba3 a5 17.Bxb4 Qxb4 18.Rfb1 gives White more mobility.

16.Ba3 Qb6?!

• This is a small misstep that allows White to tak a small advantage.
• Better is 16...Qd6 17.Rab1 Nd5 18.e4 Nf4 when:
• 19.Bxb4 axb4 20.e5 Qd7 21.Qxb4 Nxd3 22.Qxb7 Qxb7 23.Rxb7 0-0 24.Rb3 gives White the more active game, but Black still has considerable defensive resources..
• 19.e5 Qd7 20.Bxb4 Nxd3 21.Bxa5 Ba6 22.Rfd1 is equal.

17.Ne5 0-0

• If 17...c5 18.Qa4+ Ke7 19.dxc5 Qxc5 then:
• If 20.Rac1 Qxe5 21.Bxb4+ axb4 22.Qxb4+ Ke8 23.Qxb7 gives White a fierce initiative.
• If 21...Kd8 then 22.Bc3 Qg5 23.e4 Nd7 24.Bb5 wins a piece.
• 20.Rfc1 Qd6 21.Rc6 Bxa3 22.Rxd6 Bxd6 23.Nc4 gives White more mobility.

18.Nc4

• Less effective is 18.Bxb4?! axb4 19.Nc4 Qb5 20.Nd6 Qb6 21.Rab1 Nd5 with equality.

18...Qc7 19.Bxb4

• 19.Rfb1?! Ng4 20.f4 c5 21.Be2 Nf6 22.dxc5 Rab8 is equal.

19...axb4 20.Qxb4 Rfd8?

• Black needs to neutralize White's queenside activity. White's center is too solid to take on with a frontal attack.
• 20...c5 21.dxc5 Nd7 22.Rac1 Nxc5 23.Nd2 Rfc8 24.Qb1 is equal.

BLACK: Alexander Huzman
!""""""""#
$t+ T +l+%
$+v+ +oOo%
$ +o+oM +%
$+ + + + %
$ QnP + +%
$+ +bP + %
$ + + PpP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Moiseenko
Position after 20...Rf8d8

21.Ne5!

• Also good is 21.Rxa8! Rxa8 22.Qd6! Nd5 23.Rc1 Qxd6 24.Nxd6.

21...g6

• If 21...Nd5 22.Qc5 then:
• 22...f6 23.Nf3 Qd7 24.Rfb1 Qe7 25.Rxa8 Bxa8 26.Qc2 forces Black to weaken his kingside pawns.
• 22...Rdb8 23.Qc2 h6 24.Qc5 f6 25.Ng6 gives White weak pawns to attack on Black's kingside.

22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Rc1 Nd5 24.Qb2 Ra4

• 24...f6 25.Nf3 Ba6 26.Qa3 Bb7 27.Qb3 Ra7 28.e4 gives White an impressive advantage in space.

25.h3 Rb4

• 25...f6 26.Ng4 Ra7 27.e4 Nf4 28.Bf1 Nh5 29.Bc4 gives White a more active position.

26.Qa3 Qb6 27.Be4 Rb3

• 27...Kg7 28.Nd7 Qb5 29.Qa7 Nf6 30.Nxf6 Kxf6 31.Qb8 gives White more activity.

28.Qd6 Qc7

• After 28...Qb4 29.Qd8+ Qf8 30.Qxf8+ Kxf8 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Rc7 White wins a pawn.

29.Qc5 Ne7

• 29...Qb6 30.Nxc6 Qxc5 31.Rxc5 Bxc6 32.Rxc6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

30.Ng4

• White chooses to shift his attack to Black's complex of weak dark squares on the kingside.
• White could also expoit Black's weak complex of dark squares on the queenside: 30.Nc4 Rb5 31.Qd6 Qxd6 32.Nxd6 Rb6 33.Rc5.

30...Kg7

• Black keeps the Knight out of f6.

BLACK: Alexander Huzman
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+vW MoLo%
$ +o+o+o+%
$+ Q + + %
$ + Pb+m+%
$+t+ P +p%
$ + + Pp+%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Moiseenko
Position after 30...Kg8g7

31.d5!

• White plays a pawn sacrifice that weakens Black's kingside.

31...Nxd5

• If 31...exd5 then 32.Qd4+ Kf8 33.Qh8+ Ng8 34.Bxd5 Rd3 35.Bc4 sets up White to win material.

32.Bxd5 exd5 33.Qd4+ Kf8 34.Nf6 c5

• If 34...Qd6 then:
• 35.Ne4! Qa3 36.Qh8+ Ke7 37.Rd1 Qb4 38.Qf6+ puts White on the fast track to victory.
• 35.Nxh7+?! Ke7 36.Qg7 Qe6 37.Qf8+ Kd7 38.Qh8 Ke7 puts some hard work before White can win.

35.Nxh7+ Kg8 36.Nf6+ Kf8 37.Qa4 Rb2 38.Qe8+ Kg7 39.Qg8+ 1-0

• 39...Kxf6 40.Qh8+ Ke6 41.Qxb2 Qc6 42.Rb1 and it's all over now, Baby Blue.
• Grandmaster Huzman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Prasad - Mikhalevski, Round 5

Victor Mikhalevshi
Photo: Arctic Chess Challenge


Arun Prasad - Victor Mikhalevski
Canadian Open, Round 5
Montreal, 23 July 2008

Queen's Gambit Exchange: Orthodox Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Rc1 Ne4

• 10...c5 11.Qe2 c4 12.Bb1 a6 13.Ne5 b5 14.f4 then:
• 14...Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.f5 is equal (Vidmar-Yates, IT, London, 1922).
• 14...h6 15.Bh4 Re8 16.Rf3 Ne4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Rg3 Nf6 20.a4 b4 21.Nd1 c3 22.bxc3 bxc3 23.Rxc3 gives White an extra pawn (Pillsbury-Janowski, IT, Vienna, 1898).

11.Bf4 c5 12.Qe2 Nxc3 13.bxc3

• 13.Rxc3 c4 14.Bb1 Re8 15.Ne5 Nf8 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qf3 f6 18.Ng4 b5 19.h4 a5 20.h5 g5 21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.Nf5+ Kh8 23.Nh6 Kg7 24.Nf5+ Kh8 draw (Teichmann-Maroczy, IT, Ostend, 1905).

13...c4 14.Bc2!?

• If 14.Bb1 then:
• 14...b5 15.Ne5 a5 16.Qf3 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Ra6 18.Qh3 gives White the advantage in space (Dr. Euwe-Menchik, IT, Karlsbad, 1929).
• 14...Re8 15.g4 Nf8 16.Kh1 g5 17.Bg3 Kg7 18.Ne1 Bd6 19.f4 Qc7 20.Qf3 gxf4 21.exf4 f6 is equal (Maroczy-Leonhardt, IT, Ostend, 1905).

14...b5

• The game is equal.
• 14...Re8 15.Rb1 Ba3 16.Nd2 Qh4 17.Qf3 Rac8 18.Bf5 is equal.

15.Rb1 a6 16.Ne5 Nxe5

• If 16...Nf6 17.a4 Qa5 18.axb5 axb5 then:
• If 19.Bg5 then:
• Ra6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd7 Rd8 22.Nxf6+ Rxf6 23.Rb4 gives White more mobility.19...Qxc3 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd7 Rfe8 22.Rxb5 Bc6 23.Nxf6+ breaks up Black's castle wall.
• 19.Bf5 Ra7 20.Bg5 Rfa8 21.Qb2 remains equal.

17.Bxe5 Re8

• 17...f6 18.Bg3 Qa5 19.Qg4 Ba3 20.Qe6+ Kh8 21.Qh3 weakens Black's kingside.

18.Qg4 Bf8

• After 18...Bg5 19.a4 Bc6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra1 Qe7 22.Qh3 White continues to enjoy an advantage in space.

19.h4 Bc8 20.Qf3

• 20.Qh5 h6 21.Qf3 Be6 22.a4 Qxh4 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxb5 remains equal.

20...Be6

• 20...Qxh4 21.Qxd5 Bg4 22.a4 Rad8 23.Qb7 Bc8 remains equal.

21.e4!?

• 21.a4 Qxh4 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rxb5 Ra2 24.Bg3 remains equal.

21...Qd7

• After 21...Qxh4 22.exd5 Bg4 23.Qf4 f6 24.Bc7 Qh5 25.d6 White threatens 26.Be4.

22.Rfe1 Rad8

• If 22...Bg4 23.Qg3 then:
• 23...dxe4! 24.Bxe4 Rad8 25.f3 Bh5 remains equal.
• 23...f6!? 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.f3 dxe4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Rxe4 gives White a strong initiative.

23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Qh5 g6 25.Qg5 Bg7

• If 25...Be7 26.Qh6 then:
• 26...Bf8 27.Qg5 Bg7 28.h5 is equal.
• If 26...f6?? then White uncorks some winning pyrotechnics with 27.Bxg6!! Bf8 28.Bxe8 Bxh6 29.Bxd7.

26.h5 h6 27.Qg3 g5 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.f4?!

• This inaccuracy costs White a pawn.
• 29.Rbd1 Bc6 30.Re5 f6 31.Bf5 Qb7 32.Ree1 is equal.

BLACK: Victor Mikhalevski
!""""""""#
$ + Tt+ +%
$+ +w+oL %
$o+ + + O%
$+o+v+ Op%
$ +oP P +%
$+ P + Q %
$p+b+ +p+%
$+r+ R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Arun Prasad
Position after 29.f2f4

29...Qc7!

• Black could manuever another way to win the pawn, but this is best.29...Qd6 30.a4 bxa4 31.Bxa4 Rxe1+ 32.Rxe1 Qxf4 33.Qxf4 gxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.

30.a4 Qxf4!?

• It is strongest to take the pawn now.
• 30...bxa4! 31.Bxa4 Qxf4 32.Qxf4 Rxe1+ 33.Rxe1 gxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.

31.Qxf4 gxf4 32.axb5 Rxe1+!

• Black diverts the remaining Rook away from the defense of the b-pawn.

33.Rxe1 axb5

• Black has won the pawn.

34.Re5 Kf8?!

• If 34...b4 35.cxb4 then:
• 35...Be6! 36.b5 Rxd4 37.b6 Bd5 38.Re1 f3 39.g3 Rd2 Black should win.
• If 35...Bb7? 36.Re7! Bc8 37.Rc7 then:
• 37...Be6 38.b5 Rxd4 39.b6 Rd8 40.b7 Rb8 41.Be4! is equal.
• 37...Bg4 38.Rxc4 Be2 39.Rc7 Rxd4 40.Bg6 Rxb4 is equal.

35.Rf5!

• White has equalized.

35...Ke7 36.Rxf4

• 36.Kf2 Ke6 37.Rxf4 b4 38.cxb4 Rb8 is equal.

36...Ra8 37.Be4 Ke6

• 37...Bxe4 38.Rxe4+ Kd6 39.Kf2 Ra3 40.Re3 Rb3 41.Rf3 Kd5 is equal.

38.Bxd5+ Kxd5 39.Rf5+ Ke4 40.Rxb5 Kd3 41.Rb6?

• Black now has the time to queen his pawn first.
• Correct is41.d5 Kxc3 42.d6 Kd4 43.d7 Rd8 44.Rb7 c3 with equality.

41...Kxc3 42.Rxh6 Kd2

• Black will use White's d-pawn to shelter the King from checks.
• If 42...Kxd4 then 43.Rd6+ Ke5 44.Rc6 Kd5 45.Rc7 f5 46.h6 Rh8 is a likely draw.

43.Rc6

• After 43.Rf6 Ra1+ 44.Kh2 c3 45.Rf2+ Ke3 46.Rf3+ Kxd4 Black has all the winning chances.

43...c3 44.Kf2

• After 44.d5 c2 45.d6 c1Q+ 46.Rxc1 Kxc1 Black wins.

44...c2 45.g4 Ra3 46.h6
BLACK: Victor Mikhalevski
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + +o+ %
$ +r+ + P%
$+ + + + %
$ + P +p+%
$T + + + %
$ +oL K +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Arun Prasad
Position after 46.h5h6

46...c1Q!!

• Also good is 46...Ra6! when:
• The h-pawn is doomed after 47.Rxc2+ Kxc2 48.g5 Ra5 49.h7 Ra8.
• Black wins easily after 47.Rxa6 c1Q 48.Rf6 Qe1+ 49.Kg2 Qh4.

47.Rxc1 Kxc1 48.d5 Rd3 49.Kg2 Rxd5 50.Kf3 Rd6 51.g5 Rd4 0-1

• If 52.h7 then 52...Rd8 is lights out.
• Prasad-ji resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Mohota - Panjwani, Round 2

This game was voted best of the round by those following the broadcast on Monroi.



Nisha Mohota
Photo: Chess-Mate.com


Nisha Mohota - Raja Panjwani
Canadian Open, Round 2
Montreal, 20 July 2008

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Hanham Variation) (Philidor Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Be2

• If 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 b6 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2 Nc5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Ba3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Ne6 18.Qb5 Nf4 is equal (Naiditsch-Eljanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 8...a5 9.h3 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.b3 Re8 13.Qf3 Ncd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rd2 Rd8 is equal (Hracek-Piket, Ol, Moscow, 1994).

5...Be7 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1 h6!?

• 7...0-0 8.a4 Qc7 9.Bf1 Re8 10.Bg5 Nf8 11.h3 h6 12.Be3 a5 13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Rad1 Bf8 15.Qc1 Bd7 16.g3 is equal (Shrentzel-Adams, London, 1989).

8.h3

• This is about as equal as an opening gets.
• 8.a3 0-0 9.Qd3 a5 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.Ne1 exd4 12.Qxd4 is equal.

8...0-0 9.Bf1

• If 9.Be3 d5 10.Nxe5 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bf4 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bf6 is equal.

9...Re8

• 9...Qc7 10.d5 Re8 11.Be3 Nc5 12.Bd3 Bd7 is equal.

10.a4!?

• 10.Be3 b5 11.a3 Bb7 12.Bd3 a6 13.dxe5 dxe5 remains equal.

10...a5 11.Be3 Qc7 12.d5 cxd5

• 12...Nc5 13.Nd2 cxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.Bb5 remains equal.

13.exd5 Nh7?

• Black lets the equalibrium slip.
• Better is 13...b6 14.Nb5 Qd8 15.c4 Nc5 16.Qc2 with equality.

BLACK: Raja Panjwani
!""""""""#
$t+v+t+l+%
$+oWmVoOm%
$ + O + O%
$O +pO + %
$p+ + + +%
$+ N Bn+p%
$ Pp+ Pp+%
$R +qRbK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Nisha Mohota
Position after 13...Nf6h7

14.Nb5!

• White takes advantage of Black's inaccuracy to make some aggressive moves.

14...Qd8 15.Ra3

• The Rook lift announces a plan to command the c-file.
• A stronger plan might be to reinforce d5 in order to restrict Black's counterplay.
• If 15.c4 then:
• 15...Nhf6 16.c5 Nf8 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.d6 Ne6 19.dxe7 Qxe7 gives White greater activity.
• 15...b6 16.Bd3 Nc5 17.Bc2 Nf6 18.Nd2 Bb7 19.Qf3 gives White much more freedom.

15...b6

• The text move is no longer useful.
• 15...Nhf6 (discouraging 16.Rc3 with the threat of 16...Ne4) 16.Nc3 b6 17.Bb5 Rb8 18.Bc6 Rf8 19.Nb5 leaves Black's queenside tied in knots.

16.Rc3 Nc5 17.Bxc5

• 17.Rc4 Nf6 18.Be2 Bb7 19.Nc3 Ba6 20.Nb5 Qd7 gives Black more activity.

17...bxc5 18.Nxe5 Bf6

• 18...dxe5 19.d6 Bf6 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.Nxe8 Qxe8 22.Bb5 White is more active.

19.Nc6 Rxe1

• If 19...Bxc3 20.Nxd8 Rxe1 21.Qh5 then:
• If 21...Bxb2 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.Nc7 Ba6 24.Nxa8 Rxf1+ 25.Kh2 gives White a material advantage..
• 21...g6 22.Qxh6 Bxb2 23.Nxf7 Nf8 24.Nfxd6 leaves White with a material advantage.

20.Qxe1 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Qd7

• 21...Qf8 22.Nc7 Bb7 23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Nxa8 Qxa8 25.Qb1 leaves White up by a pawn.

BLACK: Raja Panjwani
!""""""""#
$t+v+ +l+%
$+ +w+oOm%
$ +nO + O%
$OnOp+ + %
$p+ + + +%
$+ P + +p%
$ +p+ Pp+%
$+ + QbK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Nisha Mohota
Position after 21...Qd8d7

22.Nc7!

• If 22.Qe7? then after 22...Qxe7 23.Nxe7+ Kf8 24.Nc6 Bd7 25.Nxd6 Nf6 Black has equalized.

22...Bb7

• If 22...Qxc7 23.Qe8+! Nf8 24.Ne7+ seals Black's fate, for now:
• After 24...Qxe7 25.Qxe7 White wins easily.
• 24...Kh7 25.Qxf8 Bf5 26.Qxa8 leaves White more than a piece to the good.

23.Nxa8 Bxa8 24.Bb5 Bxc6 25.dxc6 Qd8 26.Bd3

• White is a pawn to the good.
• If 26.Bc4 Nf6 27.Qd2 Qb8 28.Bd5 Qb6 29.Qe3 then:
• If 29...Nxd5 30.Qe8+ Kh7 31.Qe4+ Kg8 32.Qxd5 White is up by a pawn.
• If 29...Kh8 30.Qe7 Qb1+ 31.Kh2 then:
• 31...Nxd5 32.Qe8+ Kh7 33.Qe4+ White is up by a pawn with the c-pawn on an open road.
• If 31...Qxc2 then after 32.c7 Qf5 33.Qd8+ the c-pawn queens.

26...Nf6 27.Qb1 Qc7

• 27...Kf8 28.c4 Ne8 29.Qb7 Qc7 30.c3 Qd8 31.g3 White is a passed pawn to the good.

28.Qb7 Qxb7 29.cxb7 Nd7 30.Bc4 Kf8 31.Kf1

• If 31.Bd5 Ke7 32.f4 Kd8 33.Bxf7 then:
• 33...Kc7 34.Bd5 c4 35.Bxc4 Kxb7 36.Kf2 White is two pawns to the good.
• 33...c4 34.Be6 Nb8 35.Bxc4 Kc7 36.Bd5 gives White three extra pawns.

31...Ke7

• Black will move his King to c7 in order to free the Knight from sentry duty.
• If 31...g5 32.Ke2 Ke7 33.Bd5 then:
• 33...f5 34.f4 Nb8 35.Kf3 Kf6 36.g3 White is a pawn up.
• 33...Kd8 34.Bxf7 Kc7 35.Bd5 c4 36.Ke3 Nc5 37.Bc6 White is two pawns up.

32.Ke2

• Meanwhile, White activates her King by moving him to the center where it can pivot to either wing as needed.

32...f6

• This move is weakening, but Black is already lost.
• If 32...Nb8 33.Bd5 Kd7 34.Kd3 then:
• 34...Kc7 35.Kc4 Kb6 36.Bxf7 Nc6 37.Bd5 Ne5+ 38.Kb3 c4+ White wins.
• 34...Na6 35.Kc4 Nb8 36.Kb5 Kc7 37.Kxa5 White is up by two pawns.

33.Kd3 Kd8 34.Bb5 Ne5+ 35.Ke4!

• The White King has reached the center.

35...Kc7
BLACK: Raja Panjwani
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+pL + O %
$ + O O O%
$ObO M + %
$p+ +k+ +%
$+ P + +p%
$ +p+ Pp+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Nisha Mohota
Position after 35...Kd8c7

36.Kf5!!

• The King moves toward White's weak kingside pawns. The Black King must stand sentry against the pawn at b7 and the Knight cannot move else the White King goes to g6.
• After 36.Ba6?! Ng6 37.c4 Ne7 38.c3 f5+ 39.Kf3 Ng6 White is a pawn up, but her Bishop is tied to the defense of the pawn at b7.

36...d5

• 36...Kxb7 37.f4 Nf7 38.Kg6 Nd8 39.f5 Black's kingside falls.

37.f4!

• She forces the Knight to abandon the defense of the Kingside.

37...Nf7 38.b8Q+

• 38.Kg6 Nd8 39.Kxg7 Nxb7 40.Kxf6 White is two pawns up.

38...Kxb8 39.Ke6

• 39.Kg6 Nd6 40.Bc6 Nc4 41.Bxd5 Nb6 42.Bf7 Black's kingside falls.

39...Nd8+ 40.Kxd5 Kc7 41.f5 Nb7

• If 41...Kb6 42.Be8 Nb7 43.Bh5 Nd8 44.g3 then:
• 44...Nb7 45.Ke6 Kc7 46.Kf7 Black's kingside pawns fall.
• 44...c4 45.Kxc4 Nb7 46.Kd5 wins for White.

42.Ke6

• Also good is 42.Ba6 Nd6 43.g4 when Balck's c-pawn falls.

42...Nd6 43.Bd3 c4 44.Be2 Kc6

• If 44...Ne4 45.Bxc4 Kd8 then:
• If 46.Bb3! Ke8 47.c4 then:
• 47...h5 48.c5 Nxc5+ 49.Kd5 Nd7 50.Kc6 Ke7 51.c4 White has an extra pawn.
• 47...Ng3 48.c5 Kd8 49.Bc4 Ne4 50.Kf7 leaves White up by two pawns.
• After 46.Kf7 Nxc3 47.Kxg7 Nxa4 48.Kxf6 Nc5 49.Kg7 a4 50.f6 the f-pawn will queen.

45.g4 Kc5 46.Bf3 Nc8

• If 46...h5 the White wins after 47.gxh5 Nc8 48.Kf7 Nd6+ 49.Kxg7 Nxf5+ 50.Kxf6.

47.Kf7 Nb6

• 47...Kd6 48.Kxg7 Ke5 49.Kxh6 Nb6 50.Bc6 Nc8 51.Bd7 leaves White three pawns up with an unopposed h-pawn.

48.Kxg7 Nxa4 49.Kxf6 Nxc3 50.Kg6 Nb5

• If 50...a4 51.f6 a3 52.f7 a2 53.f8Q+ then:
• If 53...Kb5 54.Qb8+ then:
• 54...Kc5 55.Qe5+ Kb4 56.Qd6+ Ka5 57.Qc5+ Ka6 58.Qxc4+ White wins.
• After 54...Ka4 55.Qb2 h5 56.gxh5 a1Q 57.Qxa1+ Kb4 58.Qb2+ White wins quickly.
• After 53...Kd4 54.Qf6+ Ke3 55.Qxc3+ White wins.

51.f6

• After 51.c3 White wins the pawn race.

51...Nd6 52.c3 a4 53.Be4!

• White also wins after 53.f7 Nxf7 54.Be4! Nd6 55.Bb1 Nb5 56.Kxh6.

53...a3 54.Bb1 Kb5

• If 54...Kc6 then 55.h4 Kd5 56.f7 Nxf7 57.Kxf7 Ke5 58.g5 hxg5 59.hxg5 is curtains.

55.f7 Nxf7 56.Kxf7 Ka4 57.Ba2! 1-0

• Lights out!
• Mr. Panjwani resigns.