The Jack Rabbit Chess Report: (December 21): Topa runs away with Nanjing

[Jack Rabbit]

Topalov wins Pearl Spring in Nanjing by point and a half



Former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria won the inaugural Pearl Spring Chess Tournament today in the old "southern capital" of China, Nanjing with 7 points out of ten rounds, a point and a half over his nearest rival.

Topalov began the tournament slowly and uneventfully, drawing his first four games. Toplaov then won four of his next five games and was assured of first prize going into today's final round, which he drew against Slovakian GM Sergei Movsesian.

According to the unofficial ratings, Topalov also topped the 2800 Elo rating mark during the category 21 event.

Levon Aronian of Armenia finished a distant second with 5½ points, while local hero Bu Xiangzhi finshed third with an even score of 5-5.


Gashimov, Grischuk lead half-way in Elista



Azerbaijani GM Vugar Gashimov and Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk are tied for the lead in the third leg of the now-diminshed FIDE Grand Prix with 4½ points each after seven rounds of the 13-round event being held in Elista, the capital of the Russian autonomous region of Kalmykia.

Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan are tied for third with 4 points apiece.

Gashimov has won two games, including his individual encounter with Grischuk, and drawn five. Grischuk has won three, lost only his game with Gashimov and drawn three.

The tournament concludes a week from today.

The 2008-09 Grand Prix was originally conceived as a qualifying event for a 2011 world championship match, but it has now been replaced by highly-rated tournament yet to be organized. The move, made unilaterally by FIDE, outraged many players and caused grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Mickey Adams to withdraw from the cycle.


Calendar

Asian Club Cup, Al Ain (UAE) 24-31 December.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 27 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Hasting Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February.

Gibraltar Chess Festival 27 January-5 February.

FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 30 January-8 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 16-27 February.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Sofia 16-28 February. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand for the world championship.

Linares Grandmaaster Tournament 18 February-8 March.

European Individual Championships, Budva (Montenegro) 5-19 March.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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. Topalov - Svidler, Pearl Spring Tournament, Round 5, Nanjing

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Peter Svidler
Pearl Spring Tournament, Round 5
Nanjing, 15 December 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

• Peter Veniaminovich is considered the world's leading authority on the Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld).

4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4

• For variation following 7.Nf3 see Shulman-Kudrin, US Ch, Tulsa, 1008.

7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bd7

• If 10...Bg4 11.f3 Na5 then:
• If 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 then:
• If 14.d5!? Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 then:
• 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.e5 e6 19.Nf4 fxe5 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.dxe6 Re7 22.Bg5 Qxd3 23.Bxe7 Re8 24.Bg5 Qf5 25.Bh6 Qxe6 is equal (Polugaevsky-Chandler, IT, Amsterdam, 1986).
• If 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Nf4 Bd7 19.e5 Nc4 20.e6 Ba4 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Ne5 23.Be4 Bc2 24.Bxc2 Rxc2 25.Qd1 Rc5 26.f4 is equal (van Wely-Kovchan, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2003).
• If 14.Rc1 Bxa2 15.Qa4 Be6 16.d5 Bd7 17.Qb4 e6 18.Nc3 exd5 19.Nxd5 Be6 20.Rfd1 Bxd5 21.exd5 Re8 22.Bf2 Bf8 23.Qb2 Bg7 24.Qb4 draw (Jussupow-Leko, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.Kxf1 then:
• If 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 then:
• 16.Kg1 16...Rc8 17.d5 Nc4 18.Bf2 Nd6 19.Ng3 Bh6 20.h4 Bf4 21.g5 Rc4 22.Ne2 Rxe4 23.Qd3 Qc8 24.Bxa7 Qg4 25.Nxf4 Rxf4 26.Bf2 is unclear: White has the extra pawn but Black has more freedom (Tochacek-Knobel, Corres, 2002).
• If 16.d5 Nc4 17.Bf2 Qf6 18.Kg1 Rf8 19.Qe1 Bh6 20.Ng3 Qa6 21.Kh1 Qa4 then:
• 22.Bg1 b6 23.Qc3 Rf7 24.Rb1 Bd2 25.Qd3 Qxa2 26.d6 Nxd6 27.Qxd6 Qxb1 28.Qxd2 a5 29.Qd8+ Kg7 30.Qg5 h6 31.Qxe5+ Kh7 32.h3 Rd7 33.Nh5 Black resigns as he must loose the Rook or submit to mate (Seirawan-Popovich, Interzonal, Manila, 1990).
• If 22.Qe2 b6 23.h4 Bf4 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.Re1 Rc8 26.g3 Rc2 27.Qf3 Qxa2 28.Kg1 is equal (K. Georgiev-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1989).
• 14...Qd6 15.e5 Qd5 16.Bf2 Rd8 17.Qa4 b6 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qd1 Rd8 20.Qc2 draw (Onischuk-Svidler, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Rc1 Rd8 then:
• If 12.Bf4 Qd7 then:
• If 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 then:
• If 14...b5 15.Be3 c4 16.Bc2 then:
• If 16...Qe8 17.Qe1 e6 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.f4 Nc6 20.Ng3 Bb7 21.h4 a5 22.h5 b4 23.e5 bxc3 24.Ne4 Nb4 25.Nc5 Bd5 26.hxg6 hxg6 gives Black the advantage of an advanced passed pawn, although it will be difficult to make progress with it (Nielsen-Yim, Corres, 1973).
• 16...e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.Qe1 e5 19.a4 bxa4 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Bxa4 is equal (Carlsen-Svidler, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 14...e5 15.Bg5 Re8 16.c4 b6 17.Qd2 Nb7 18.Bh6 f6 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 20.f4 Nd6 21.Kh1 Bd7 is equal (Balashov-Ftacnik, IT, Trnava, 1988).
• 13.dxc5 Qe8 14.Bd5 Bd7 15.Qd3 e6 16.Bb3 Na5 17.Bd6 Rac8 18.Qe3 Ba4 19.Rb1 b6 20.e5 Nb7 21.cxb6 Nxd6 22.exd6 axb6 23.Rfd1 Bxb3 24.Rxb3 gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn and more activity (Knaak-W. Schmidt, East Gern-Poland TMatch, Zakopane. 1974).
• 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.Rfd1 Bd7 14.Bh6 cxd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf4 dxc3 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Rd5 Qb4 19.Nf4 Qxc4 20.Nxg6+ hxg6 21.Qxg6 e5 draw (Szymczak-W. Schmidt, Polish Ch, Poznan, 1984).

11.Rb1 Qc7 12.Bd3

• 12.Bf4 Qc8 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 e5 15.Bg3 c4 16.Bc2 b6 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Bg4 20.h3 Bxe2 21.Qxe2 Bxc3 22.Qf3 Bg7 is equal (Krush-Ushenina, IT, Istanbul, 2008).

12...Rfd8

• 12...a6 13.Qd2 b5 14.f4 Rad8 15.d5 Na5 16.f5 Bc8 17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qe5 19.Rf3 gives White the advantage in space (P. H. Nielsen-Ganguly, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

13.h3!?

• 13.Qc1 Rac8 14.Rd1 a6 15.Qa3 Qa5 16.Qxc5 Qxc5 17.dxc5 Be6 18.Rxb7 Bxa2 19.h3 Bc4 20.Nd4 gives White an extra pawn (Berkes-Sutovsky, IT, Paks, 2005).

13...Be8

• The game is equal.
• 13...b6 14.f4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Qd6 16.e5 Qd5 17.a3 reamins equal.

14.d5

• 14.Qc2 Rac8 15.Rfc1 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qd7 17.d5 Ne5 reamins equal.

14...Ne5 15.c4 e6

• 15...b6 16.Bc1 Ba4 17.Qd2 e6 reamins equal.

16.Nf4

• 16.Qb3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 b6 18.Bf4 Qe7 reamins equal.

16...Rab8!?

• 16...b6 17.Qc2 Qd6 18.Rfd1 exd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 reamins equal.

17.Be2!?

• 17.Qe2 Nxd3 18.Nxd3 b6 19.Rfd1 Ba4 20.Re1 reamins equal.

17...Rd6

• If 17...Nc6 18.Bg4 then:
• 18...h5 19.Be2 Nd4 20.Bd3 e5 21.Ne2 reamins equal.
• 18...e5 19.Nd3 Nd4 20.f4 f6 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.Qe1 gives White the advantage in space.

18.Qc2

• 18.Qc1 b6 19.Qc2 Bd7 20.Rfd1 Rf8 21.Bd2 reamins equal.

18...Ra6 19.Rb5!?

• White has had enough of rolling the ball back and forth and plays for complications.
• 19.Rb2 Ba4 20.Qc1 Rd8 21.Rd2 Rd7 22.Re1 Rdd6 23.a3 reamins equal.

19...Bf8?!

• Black stumbles and protects the pawn, giving White a valuable tempo.
• Better is to simply take the exchange by 19...Bxb5 20.cxb5 Rd6 21.Qxc5 Qd8 22.Qxa7 with equality.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 19...Bg7f8

20.a4!

• White uses the tempo handed to him to consolidate his advanced queenside at the cost of the exchange.

20...Bxb5 21.cxb5

• Black is turning Black's queenside to stone.

21...Rd6 22.Qc3 Bg7 23.Qxc5 Rc8?

• If 23...Qd8 then after 24.Qxa7 b6 25.Rc1 Rd7 26.Qa6 Rd6 27.Bd4 White is better, but he must still extricate his Queen from her jam.

24.Qxa7!

• Now this works nicely.

24...b6 25.Qxc7 Rxc7 26.Rd1 Bf6

• No better is 26...g5 27.Nh5 f6 28.dxe6 Rxe6 29.f4 Nf7 30.Bg4.

27.dxe6 Rxd1+ 28.Bxd1 fxe6 29.Bb3 1-0

• 29...Rc3 30.Bxe6+ Kg7 31.Bxb6 Nc4 32.Bxc4 Rxc4 33.a5 gives Black four pawns for the exchange.
• Peter Veniaminovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Kasimdzhanov - Alekseev, Grand Prix, Round 4, Elista

Evgeny Alekseev
Photo: ChessBase.com


Rustam Kasimdzhanov - Evgeny Alekseev
Grand Prix, Round 4
Elista, 17 December 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3

• This is the so-called "Normal" Nimzo-Indian.

9...Qc7

• If 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qc7 then:
• If 11.Bd3 e5 12.Qc2 Re8 then:
• 13.e4 c4 14.Bxc4 exd4 15.cxd4 Na5 16.Bd3 Qxc2 17.Bxc2 Nxe4 18.Re1 Bf5 19.Bf4 Nd6 20.Ba4 b5 21.Bxd6 bxa4 22.Re5 Rxe5 23.dxe5 Nb3 24.Re1 Rc8 gives Black the advantage in space (Donner-Larsen, Match, The Hague, 1958).
• If 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.f3 then:
• If 15...Bd7 16.a4 Bc6 17.Re1 Rad8 18.e4 Nd5 19.Bd2 Nf4 20.Bf1 then:
• 20...c4 21.Bxf4 Qxf4 22.Rad1 Qe5 23.Bxc4 Qc5+ 24.Rd4 Rxd4 25.cxd4 Qxd4+ 26.Kh1 Rd8 is equal (Bacrot-Sosonko, TMatch, Cannes, 1996).
• 20...g5 21.Be3 h5 22.a5 Re6 23.g3 Ng6 24.Bg2 h4 25.Qf2 hxg3 26.hxg3 Red6 gives Black the advantage in space (Jussupow-Beliavsky, IT, Munich, 1994).
• 15...Be6 16.Re1 Rad8 17.Rb1 Qd5 18.Bb5 Bf5 19.e4 Nxe4 20.Bxe8 Nd6 21.Qe2 Bxb1 22.Qe7 Ra8 23.Bxf7+ Qxf7 24.Qxd6 Re8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qd5+ Kf8 27.Qxc5+ Qe7 28.Qf2 Qd6 29.Qe3 Qb6 30.Kf2 Qxe3+ 31.Kxe3 Bf5 draw (Gligoric-Olafsson, West German Ch, Bad Lauterberg, 1977).
• 11.Bb2 e5 12.h3 Bf5 13.Qe2 transposes into the note to White's 13th move.

10.Bb2

• If 10.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 11.a4 Re8 12.Ba3 c4 13.Bc2 then:
• 13...Ne4 14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8 16.e4 Be6 17.Re1 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Nd6 Red8 20.Nf5 Be6 21.Ne3 f5 22.Qf3 Qa5 23.Rec1 Rac8 24.Qg3 Qc7 draw (Gligoric-Komarov, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).
• 13...Bg4 14.Qe1 Bh5 15.Nh4 Ng4 16.g3 Bg6 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.Qd2 then:
• 18...Nf6 19.f3 Na5 20.Rab1 Re6 is equal (Monacell-Rodríguez, Corres, 2002).
• 18...f5 19.Rae1 Nf6 20.f3 Qd7 21.g4 fxg4 22.Bxg6 Ne7 23.Bxe8 Rxe8 24.Bxe7 Rxe7 25.Qg2 leaves White up by an exchange (Jussupow-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1994).
• 11.Nh4 Ne7 12.g3 Bh3 13.Re1 Ng6 14.Ng2 Qd7 15.f3 Bf5 16.a4 draw (Lukacs-Filip, IT, Budapest, 1977).
• The untested 11.Ne5 c4 12.Bc2 Ne4 13.f3 Nd6 14.a4 f6 is equal.

10...dxc4

• 10...Na5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Ne5 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4 14.f3 Nd6 15.Qb1 g6 16.a4 f6 17.Ng4 Bxg4 18.fxg4 Kg7 19.Ba3 Rae8 20.Qb4 Rd8 21.Rf4 Rf7 22.Raf1 Nb3 is equal (Lautier-Grischuk, IT, Poikovsky, 2004).

11.Bxc4 e5 12.h3 Bf5

• 12...e4 13.Nd2 Na5 14.Ba2 c4 15.f3 Bxh3 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.fxe4 Qg3 18.Qf3 Qxf3 19.Rxf3 Bg4 20.Rf4 Be2 21.e5 b5 22.e4 gives White an impressive center pawn mass, but he will have trouble activating his Bishops (Cherepkov-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, Alma Ata, 1968).

13.Ba2

• If 13.Qe2 then:
• 13...a6 14.a4 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Rac8 16.Ba2 e4 then:
• 17.Nd2 Na5 18.c4 cxd4 19.exd4 Bd7 20.d5 Qf4 21.Bd4 Bxa4 22.Bb6 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 Nc6 24.dxc6 bxc6 is equal (Moran-Santoro, Corres, 1973).
• 17.Nh2 Na5 18.c4 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Nd7 20.Nf1 Ne5 21.Ng3 Bg6 22.h4 h5 23.c5 Nac6 24.Bd5 Ng4 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Nf1 is equal (Ragozin-Tolush, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1955).
• 13...Rad8 14.Ba2 Bg6 15.Rad1 transposes into Krush-Lie (see note to Black's 14th move).

13...Rad8 14.Qe2 Rfe8!?

• Black introduces the novelty, which is good for equality.14...Bg6 15.Rad1 Bh5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Rd1 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 Nxf3+ gives Black an active game and more space (Krush-Lie, IT, Gausdal, 2008).

15.d5

• White intends to fortify the pawn.

15...Rxd5!?

• Black takes a deep breath and play a speculative exchange sacrifice.
• 15...Ne7 16.c4 Ng6 17.Bb1 Be4 18.Rd1 Qd6 is equal.

16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Rfd1 Nb6

• If 17...Nf6 18.c4 b6 19.Rac1 then:
• If 19...a6 20.Rd2 Ne4 21.Rd5 Nf6 22.Rcd1 h6 23.R5d2 then:
• 23...Re7 24.Ba1 Be6 25.Rb2 Bf5 26.Nh4 gives White the active game.
• 23...Ne4 24.Rd3 Nf6 25.Rd5 Re7 26.Nh4 gives White the active game and a material advantage.
• If 19...Re7 20.Rd2 Ne4 21.Rd5 Nf6 22.Rcd1 then:
• 22...Re8 23.Ba1 Bg6 24.R5d2 Bf5 25.Ng5 White has a material advantage and Black's lead pawns cannot advance.
• 22...Nxd5 23.cxd5 Nd4 24.exd4 exd4 25.Qc4 gives White a piece for two pawns and more freedom.

18.a4 a6 19.c4

• If 19.a5 Nd7 20.e4 Be6 then:
• 21.c4 Nd4 22.Qd3 Nxf3+ 23.Qxf3 Bxc4 is equal.
• 21.Qd3 Nxa5 22.Ng5 Nf8 23.c4 Nc6 is equal.

19...a5

• If 19...Be6 20.Rdc1 f6 21.a5 Nc8 22.Bc3 Nd6 23.Nd2 is equal.

20.Bc3 f6!?

• 20...Be6 21.Nd2 Nb4 22.Rdb1 Qc6 23.e4 is equal.

21.Nd2?!

• The text allows Black to equalize.
• If 21.e4 Be6 22.Nd2 Rd8 23.Nb3 Bxc4 then:
• 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Qc2 Bd3 26.Qd2 Nc4 27.Qa2 White should win a pawn.
• 24.Qc2 Rxd1+ 25.Qxd1 Bxb3 26.Qxb3+ Kf8 27.Qb5 gives White serious chances at one of Black' queenside pawns.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
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WHITE: Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Position after 21.Nf3d2

21...Nb4!?

• Black equalizes, but not with the objectively best move. He seems to want to stick a bone in the throat of White's queenside.21...Bc2 22.Rdc1 Bxa4 23.Rcb1 Nb4 is equal.

22.Bxb4 cxb4 23.Rdc1 Rd8

• The game remains equal.
• 23...Qc6 24.c5 Nd5 25.Nb3 Nc3 26.Qb2 b6 gives Black more freedom.

24.c5 Bd3 25.Qe1

• 25.Qd1 Nd5 26.Qb3 e4 27.Nc4 Kf8 remains equal.

25...Nd5 26.Nb3 h6

• 26...f5 27.Ra2 Nc3 28.Rxc3 bxc3 29.Qxc3 remains equal.

27.Ra2

• If 27.Qd2 Nc3 28.Rxc3 Be4 29.Qb2 bxc3 30.Qxc3 then:
• 30...Qf7 31.Nd2 Bc6 32.Qxa5 Rd3 33.Qb4 Qd5 34.Nf3 remains equal.
• 30...Rc8 31.Qc4+ Qf7 32.Qxe4 Qxb3 33.Rb1 Qc3 34.Qxb7 gives white an extra pawn and greater activity.

27...e4 28.Raa1

• 28.Nd4 Nc3 29.Rxc3 bxc3 30.Ne6 Qf7 remains equal.

28...Ra8

• 28...b6!? 29.c6 Nc3 30.Nd4 Rd5 31.Rxc3 bxc3 32.Qxc3 remains equal.

29.Nd4 Rc8 30.Qd2?

• White must continue to play actively or his passivity will not be a matter of choice.
• If 30.Nb5! Bxb5 31.axb5 Nc3 then:
• 32.Rxc3! bxc3 33.Qxc3 Qxc5 34.Qxa5 remains equal.
• 32.Kh1?! Nxb5 33.Rc4 b6 34.Rxe4 bxc5 Black's three connected passed pawns are a big advantage..

30...Kh7 31.f4
BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
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WHITE: Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Position after 31.f2f4

31...Nc3!

• White's heavy pieces are completely prevented from moving forward.

32.Nb3

• After 32.Qf2 Qf7 33.f5 Rxc5 34.Qb2 b6 35.Re1 Ba6 Black is dominating the board.

32...Ne2+ 33.Kf2

• 33.Kh2 Nxc1 34.Rxc1 Rd8 35.Qf2 Rd5 36.Qb2 f5 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.

33...Nxc1 34.Rxc1 Qd7 0-1

• Resignation may appear premature, but Black has the game firmly nailed down.
• If 35.Nxa5 Qxa4 36.Nxb7 b3 then:
• If 37.Rc3 Ra8 38.Qb2 Bc2 39.Nd6 Qa2 40.Nc4 Ra4 41.c6 Rxc4 then:
• 42.Qxa2 bxa2 43.Rxc4 a1Qgives Black the material advantage.
• 42.Rxc4 Qxb2 43.c7 Bd3+ 44.Kg1 Bxc4 45.c8Q Qc1+ 46.Kh2 b2 Black is a Queen to the good after the next move.
• If 37.Nd6 then after 37...Rc6 38.Qb2 Qa2 39.Qxa2 bxa2 40.Ra1 Bb1 Black wins.
• Grandmaster Kasimdzhanov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. N. Kosintseva - Ovod, Russian Women's Championshi[, Round 9, Moscow

This brisk minature gave the Russian Women's Championship to Nadya Kosintseva.



Nadezhda Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.com


Nadezhda Kosintseva - Evgenia Ovod
Russian Women's Championship, Round 9
Moscow, 14 December 2008

Closed Sicilian Game: Horseman Defense (Nimzovich Defense)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.c3

• If 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 then:
• If 6...Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 Qb6 9.Bc4 Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 0-0 11.Rf1 Bc5 12.Ng5 Nd4+ 13.Kd1 Ne6 then:
• 14.Ne4 d6 15.exd6 Rd8 16.Bd3 Bxd6 17.Qh5 f5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Qxf5 Qxh2 20.Qf7+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Rg8 22.Be3 Qxg2 23.Kc1 Qd5 24.Rf5 Qh1+ 25.Kd2 Qh2+ 26.Rf2 Qh5 27.Rg1 g6 28.Rh1 Black resigns on account of 28...Qa5+ 29.Kc1 h5 30.Bxg6 Ng7 31.Qf4 Nf5 32.Rxh5+ leading to mate(Haba-Kummer, National Ch, Austria, 1997).
• 14.c3 d6 15.b4 Bxb4 16.Rb1 Nxg5 17.Bxg5 Be6 18.Qd3 d5 19.Bb3 Bg4+ 20.Kd2 Rac8 21.Bc2 Bxc3+ 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Rxb6 Rfc8 25.Rxb7 Rc2+ Black wnet on to win shortly (Kuijpers-Gerusel, TMatch, Krefeld, 1969).
• 6...d6 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.c4 Be6 10.Be3 Qb6 11.a4 0-0-0 12.a5 Qc7 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.dxc5 Be5 15.a6 Bxb2 16.axb7+ Kb8 17.Ra2 dxc4 18.Qa4 c3 19.Bf4 Bxa2 20.Bxc7+ Kxc7 21.Bxc6 Black resigns (Boumeester-Pomar, IT, Bern, 1962).

4...e6 5.Bc4 d6

• If 5...Nb6 6.Bb3 d6 then:
• 7.exd6 Bxd6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nc6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nc3 Be7 12.a3 Bf6 13.Be3 Ne7 14.Qd3 Bd7 15.Rad1 Bc6 16.Ng5 g6 17.Nge4 Ned5 18.Bh6 Bg7 19.Bg5 Qd7 20.Rfe1 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 gives White the advantage in space (Sulava-Fargere, Op, Cannes, 2007).
• 7.0-0 Nc6 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.d4 0-0 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Qe4 Nd5 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Qxd5 b6 15.Nbd2 Bb7 16.Qh5 Rfe8 17.b4 Bf8 18.Bb2 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.Qg4 Rae8 21.Qg3 Qc8 22.c4 R5e6 23.Qc3 Re2 gives Black the advantage in space (Estrada-Pierrot, Continental Americano, Buenos Aires, 2003).

6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6

• If 7...Nb6 8.Bd3 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.0-0 then:
• 9...Nb4 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Nc3 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0 14.Ne4 dxe5 15.dxe5 Bd7 16.Nd4 Rfd8 17.Rad1 Bc6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qc2 Rd5 20.f4 Rad8 21.Nd6 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Nd5 23.Qf2 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses (Howell-Poluljahov, Op. Gibraltar, 2004).
• 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 Nb4 11.Be4 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bd7 13.Bxb7 Nc2 14.Bxa8 Nxa8 15.Nc3!? Nxa1 16.Ne1 Nb6 17.Be3 Nc4 18.Bd4 Nxb2 19.Rxa1 Nc4 20.Rb1 Bc8 21.Nd3 a5 22.Nb5 gives White a lead in development and more freedom (Sveshnikov-Filippov, Op, Bled, 2001).
• 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 Na6 10.Qe2 Nc5 11.Bc2 Nd5 12.0-0 Bd7 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Be7 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Bg5 Bc6 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Nd4 Rc8 19.Rab1 g6 20.Qe3 0-0 21.Rb4 give White the advantage in space (Can-Smeets, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Re1

• If 10.Qe4 then:
• If 10...Bd7 then:
• 11.Bd3 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Qe2 Qa5 14.Bc4 d5 15.Bd3 Bd6 16.Nc3 Rae8 17.Bg5 e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Qc2 Bc6 21.Rae1 Bxc3 22.Rxe8 Bxe8 23.bxc3 Ne4 is equal (Pavasovic-Kozul, Op, Ljubljana, 1996).
• 11.Re1 Rc8 12.a3 Na5 13.Ba2 Ba4 14.Qg4 Bc2 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nc3 dxe5 17.Rxe5 f5 18.Qh4 Nb3 19.Nxd5 Bf6 20.Bg5 Nxa1 21.Bxf6 Be4 22.Qg5 Rc1+ 23.Qxc1 gxf6 24.Ne7+ Kh8 25.Qh6 should give white an easy win (Kristjansson-Jankovic, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Bg5 Ncb4 13.Nbd2 Bc6 14.a3 Nb6 15.Qh4 N4d5 16.Bd3 h6 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Rac1 Rac8 19.Ne4 dxe5 20.dxe5 Qd8 21.Bb1 Nf5 22.Qg4 Nd7 23.Nc3 Qb6 draw (Pavasovic-Cvitan, Croatia Cup, Rabac, 2004).
• If 10.Nc3 then:
• If 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 then:
• If 12...Qa5 then:
• Qa4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Rab1 Rb8 17.Rb4 Qc6 18.Qe2 b6 19.Nd4 Qc5 20.Re1 Bb7 21.Bb3 Qxc3 22.Rc4 Qa5 23.Ra4 Qc5 24.Rc4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qc5 26.Rc4 Qa5 draw (Causo-Jia, Op, Kuala Lumpur, 2008).
• If 13.Bd2 Rd8 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.Qe4 g6 16.Rab1 Rab8 17.h4 Be8 18.c4 Nb4 19.h5 Bc6 20.Qe3 Qc5 21.Qxc5 Bxc5 22.Bxb4 Bxb4 23.hxg6 Rxd3 24.gxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxb4 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Rg8+ gives Black the active game that will soon result in retaking the sacrificed pawn (D. Smerdon-Jakovenko, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).
• If 12...b6 13.Qe4 then:
• 13...Qc7 13.Qe4 14.Bg5 Bb7 15.Bd3 g6 16.Qh4 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h5 18.f4 Ne7 19.Rae1 Rad8 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Nf5 22.Qg5 Kg7 23.Rf3 gives White the advantage in space (Ristic-Mauro, Op, Estensi, 2001).
• If 13...Bb7 14.Bd3 g6 15.Bh6 Na5 16.Qe3 Re8 then:
• 17.Bb5 Bc6 18.Bxc6 Nxc6 19.Rad1 Qc7 20.Qf4 Rad8 21.h4 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.h5 Qd7 is equal (Kharlov-Gallego, Op, Canete, 1994).
• If 17.Ng5 Qd5 18.Qg3 Nc6 19.Be4 Qc4 20.Rfe1 Rac8 21.Rad1 Rcd8 22.Qf4 Bxg5 23.Bxg5 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 gives White the advantage in space and a focus on the dark squares (Bojkovic-I Litinskaya, Yugoslav ChTW, Cetinje, 1992).
• If 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qa5 transposes into the main line of this variation.

10...Nb6!?

• The novelty gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 10...Bd7 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 dxe5 13.dxe5 Qc7 14.Bd3 Rfd8 15.Bg5 Be8 16.h4 g6 17.Bc2 Rd5 18.Qe3 Bf8 19.h5 Rc5 20.Bf6 Ne7 21.hxg6 hxg6 is equal (Sermak-Fercec, Op, Nova Gorica, 1999).

11.Bb3 dxe5!?

• 11...Bd7 12.Qe4 d5 13.Qg4 f5 14.Qg3 Be8 15.Nc3 is equal.

12.dxe5 Nd4?!

• 12...Nd5 13.Rd1 f6 14.Qe4 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 fxe5 is equal.

13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Rd1 Qh4

• 14...Qc5 15.Nc3 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Bxd8 17.Qe4 Nd7 18.Bf4 gives White more freedom and space.

15.Nc3 Bd7?

This natural-looking move drops a piece.
• 15...Nd7 16.Nb5 Bc5 17.Nd6 Bxd6 18.exd6 gives White a palpable advantage, but Black still has a lot of fight left.

BLACK: Evgenia Ovod
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WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva
Position after 15...Bc8d7

16.Be3!

• It's all over now.
• White completely dominates the board. In addition to threatening the unprotected Bishop at d7, she threatens 17.Rd4! winning the Queen.

16...f5

• After 16...Bb4 17.Bxb6 Bc6 18.Be3 Rfd8 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 White remains a piece up.
• 16...Bc6 drops the Queen to 17.Rd4.

17.Bxb6 Bc6

• Black concedes the piece.
• After 17...axb6 18.Rxd7 White is still a piece to the good.

18.Bc7 Bc5 19.Bd6 f4

• No better is 19...Bxd6 20.exd6 Kh8 21.Bxe6 Rad8 22.Qe5 f4 23.Rd4.

20.Bxc5 Bxg2 21.Bxe6+ Rf7 22.Bxf7+ 1-0

• Mlle. Ovod resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. T. Kosintseva - Romanko, Russian Women's Championship, Round 6, Moscow

Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Tatiana Kosintseva - Marina Romanko
Russian Women's Championship, Round 6
Moscow, 11 December 2008

Spanish Sicilian Game: Imperial Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nd4

• If 4...Qc7 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 then 7...e5 8.Bc4 d6 9.h3 Be6 10.d3 b5 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.Ne2 Be7 14.c3 dxc3 15.Nxc3 0-0 16.Qb3 Qd7 17.Be3 Rab8 18.Rac1 Kh8 19.a3 Bd8 20.d4 exd4 21.Bxd4 e5 22.Be3 Ba5 23.Red1 Rfc8 is equal (Naiditsch-Banikas, Mindsports, Beijing, 2008).
• 7...Ng4 8.g3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Ne5 10.Qe2 e6 11.d3 d6 12.Bg2 Be7 13.f4 Nc6 14.Be3 0-0 15.Nd1 Bd7 16.c3 Rfc8 17.Nf2 b5 18.Kh1 Bf8 19.g4 Rab8 20.g5 Ne7 21.Rg1 d5 22.Ng4 c4 is equal (Kanerek-Lyaskovsky, Euro ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).

5.e5 Nxb5 6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.Ng5 f5 8.0-0

• 8.exf6 Nxf6 9.0-0 e6 10.d4 a6 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Be7 13.Be3 0-0 14.Rad1 b5 15.Nge4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 d5 17.Nc5 Bf6 18.Qb4 Qe8 19.f4 a5 20.Qb3 Qc6 21.c3 Bd7 (Geanta-Eljanov, Euro ChTU18, Balatonlelle, 2000).

8...a6

• 8...e6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.c4 Nb4 12.Qh4 a6 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 Qf6 15.Bd2 Nc6 16.Bc3 Qg6 17.f4 b5 18.b4 h6 19.a4 Bb7 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8+ Bxa8 22.cxb5 0-0 (Yee-Peters, Southern California Ch, Los Angeles, 2001).

9.Nc3!?

• 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 e6 11.d3 Be7 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.Re1 d6 14.Bf4 0-0 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Qe2 Re8 18.Ne5 Bd7 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Qe5 Kf8 is equal (Djerkovic- Tessier-Desrosiers, Canadian Ch, Toronot, 2004).

9...Nxc3 10.bxc3

• 10.dxc3 Qc7 11.Re1 g6 12.Bf4 Bg7 is equal.

10...e6 11.d4 g6 12.Nf3 h6!?

• 12...b5 13.a4 Bb7 14.Bg5 Qa5 15.axb5 Qxb5 16.Bf6 will condemn the Black King to sitting in the open.

13.Be3 b5 14.dxc5

• White pawn plus is rendered worthless by her inferior pawn structure.

14...Bb7 15.a4 bxa4 16.Nd2

• Neither side is going to win any prizes for her queenside pawns. Unfortunately, they will be very hard to exchange off and even harder to defend.
• 16.Rxa4 Qc7 17.Qd2 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qxe5 saddles White with too many weak pawns.

16...Qc7 17.Nc4 Qc6 18.f3 Bxc5 19.Nd6+

• With a Knight on d6, White can live a while a pawn sown.
• 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Qd4 Qxd4+ 21.cxd4 remains equal.

19...Ke7

• 19...Bxd6 20.exd6 e5 21.Qd3 Qd5 22.Rxa4 remains equal.

20.Bd4 Rab8

• 20...Rhb8 21.Qd2 g5 22.Rfb1 Bxd6 23.exd6+ Kf7 24.Qf2 remains equal.

21.Qe1 g5?!

• Black should concern herself with eliminating the Knight at d6
• If 21...Rh7 22.Qe3 Bxd6 23.exd6+ then:
• 23...Ke8 24.Rfb1 g5 25.Qe2 Ra8 26.Rb6 Qd5 27.Rxa4 remains equal.
• 23...Kf7? 24.Rfb1 Ke8 25.Qe5 g5 26.Rb6 Qc8 27.Rxa4 gives White the active game and a considerable advantage in space.

BLACK: Marina Romanko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 21...g6g5

22.Qf2

• Slightly better is 22.Qe3 f4 23.Qf2 giving the Knight at d6 an escape through e4.

22...Bxd4

• 22...Bxd6?! would be wrong because of 23.exd6+! Kf7 24.Bxh8 Rxh8 25.Rfb1.

23.Qxd4 Ba8

• 23...Bc8 24.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 25.Rxb1 Rg8 26.Rb8 give White compenation for the pawn in space and freedom.

24.Rxa4 Qb6 25.Rfa1

• Leaving the Queens on the board is best for White.
• 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Rfa1 Rhb8 27.Rxa6 Rxa6 28.Rxa6 Bc6 gives Black opportunities for counterplay.

25...g4

• 25...Qxd4+ 26.cxd4 Bb7 27.c3 h5 28.Rb4 wins the a-pawn.

26.Rxa6 Qxd4+

• 26...Qd8? allows White to uncork the following winning combination: 27.Nxf5+!! exf5 28.Qd6+ then:
• Ke8 29.Qg6+ Kf8 30.Rf6+ Qxf6 (White mates following 30...Ke7) 31.exf6 Rg8 32.Qh7 Rg5 33.Qe7+ Kg8 34.f7+ wins a Rook.
• 28...Kf7 29.Qg6+ Kf8 transposes.

27.cxd4 gxf3 28.gxf3 Bxf3 29.Kf2!

• Whit simultaneously gets her King off the open file and gains time by attacking the Bishop.
• 29.c4?! Rhg8+ 30.Kf2 Be4 31.Nxe4 Rb2+ 32.Kf3 Rb3+ gives Black the active game.

29...Ba8 30.Rg1 Rhg8

• If 30...Kf8 then 31.Ra7 Bc6 32.d5 exd5 33.Nxf5 destroys Black's central pawns.

31.Rxg8

• If 31.Rb6 then:
• 31...Rbf8 32.Rxg8 Rxg8 33.Ke3 gives White the active King.
• 31...Rxb6? 32.Rxg8 Rxd6 (otherwise white forces mate) 33.exd6+ wins the exchange.

31...Rxg8 32.Ra3 Rg2+ 33.Kf1 Bc6?!

• After 33...Rg8! 34.Rg3 Rg5 35.Rb3 Rg8 36.c4 f4 Black's f-pawn gives her some counterplay.

34.Rg3!

• 34.Rb3? Kf8 35.Rh3 Kg7 36.Rg3+ Rxg3 37.hxg3 is equal.

34...Rxg3 35.hxg3 Kf8

• The text is better than 35...h5 36.Kf2 Kd8 37.c4 Ke7 38.Ke3 Kd8 39.Kf4 when Black's pawns no longer have any mobility.

36.Kf2 Kg7

• Better than the text is 36...Bh1 37.c4 Bc6 38.Ke3 when:
• After 38...Bg2 39.d5 exd5 40.cxd5 Bxd5 41.Nxf5 White's pawns are no stronger than Black's.
• After 38...h5 39.Kf4 Ba8 40.Kg5 Bf3 41.Kf6 White should still win easily.

37.Ke3 Kg6?

• If 37...Kh7 38.c4 Kg6 39.Kf4 then:
• 39...h5! 40.c5 Bd5 41.Ne8 Bg2 42.Nf6 Bc6 is equal.
• 39...Bg2? 40.d5 h5 41.Nc8 Bh1 42.Nb6 Be4 43.Nxd7 gives White an extra pawn and a winning position

BLACK: Marina Romanko
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 37...Kg7g6

38.Kf4!

• White blockades Black's pawns, shutting down all chances of counterplay for the time being.

38...Ba8

• The Bishop cannot move off the long diagonal as otherwise White destroys Black's pawn chain.

39.Nc8 Kf7 40.Nb6 Bc6 41.c4 Ke7

• 41...Ke8 42.d5 Bb7 43.dxe6 dxe6 44.g4 fxg4 45.Kxg4 spells doom for the h-pawn.

42.d5 Bb7 43.Ke3

• Winning faster is 43.g4 fxg4 44.d6+ Ke8 45.Kxg4 when White's extra pawn in the center decides.

43...Kd8 44.d6

• 44.Kd4 Ke8 45.Na4 Ke7 46.Nc3 Ba6 47.Kc5 leaves White very strong in the center, however she must transfer the Knight to the kingside to guard againt the pincer advance of the f- and h-pawns.

44...Bc6 45.Kf4 Ke8

• 45...Bg2 46.c5 Bf1 47.Na4 Bb5 48.Nc3 Bd3 49.Na2 followed by 50.Nb4! gives White an overwhelming endgame.

46.Nc8 Kf7 47.Ne7 Ba4

• If 47...Be4 48.g4 Bg2 then:
• 49.c5 fxg4 50.Kxg4 Be4 51.Kh5 wins for White.
• Also good is 49.gxf5 exf5 50.Nxf5 h5 51.c5 Bd5 52.Nd4 Kg6 53.e6! creates connected passed pawns.

48.c5

• Also good is 48.Ke3 Bc2 49.c5 Ba4 50.Kd4.

48...Bb5

• 48...Kf8 49.g4 fxg4 50.Kxg4 Bd1+ 51.Kh4 stops the h-pawn from coming forward; White's center majority will eventually decide the game in her favor.

49.Kf3 Ba4

• If 49...Ba6 50.Ke3 Bb7 51.Kd4 Ke8 52.Ng8 Kf8 then:
• After 53.Nf6 Bc6 54.Ke3 Kf7 55.Kf4 Kg7 56.g4 White restain a strong advantage.
• 53.Nxh6?! throws away much of White's advantage to 53...Bc6 54.g4 f4 55.g5 Kg7 56.Kd3 Bd5 57.Ke2.

50.Kg2 Bc2 51.Kh3 Be4 52.Kh2

• Stronger is 52.g4 Bd3 53.Kg3 when:
• 53...fxg4 54.c6 dxc6 55.Nxc6 Ke8 56.Kxg4 leaves Black clearly on the defensive.
• 53...Be4 54.Kf4 Bg2 55.gxf5 exf5 56.Nxf5 gives White a winning position.

52...Bb7 53.Kg1 Be4

• If 53...Kf8 54.Kf2 Ke8 55.Ng8 Kf7 then:
• 56.Nf6 Bc6 57.Ke3 Kg6 58.Ng8 Kf7 59.Ne7 White still have a very strong position; the game is almost won.
• 56.Nxh6+?! Kg7 57.g4 Kxh6 58.gxf5 Bd5 59.f6 Kg6 leaves White with no certain win.

54.Kf2 Bb7 55.Ke3 Bg2

• If 55...Bh1 56.Kd3 Bg2 57.Kc4 Ke8 58.Kb5 then:
• If 58...Bf1+ 59.Kb6 Kd8 60.c6 dxc6 61.Nxc6+ then:
• 61...Kc8 62.Nd4 Bc4 63.Kc5 Ba2 64.Nc6 the passer will decide.
• 61...Kd7 62.Ne7 Be2 63.Ng8 h5 64.Nf6+ Black can no longer stop the advance of the d-pawn.
• 58...h5 59.Ng8 Bc6+ 60.Kb6 Kd8 61.Ne7 Bf3 62.Ng6White wins for if now: 62...Kc8 63.c6 dxc6 64.Nf4! sets up connect passed pawns; 62...Ke8 loses to 63.Kc7!; and if 62...Bc6 then 63.Nf4!.

56.Kd4

• If 56.c6 then:
• If 56...Bxc6 57.Nxc6! dxc6 58.Kd4 then:
• 58...Ke8 59.Kc5 Kd7 60.Kc4 h5 61.Kd4 f4 62.gxf4 gives White enough time to capture both advancing pawns.
• If 58...h5 59.Kc5 Ke8 60.Kxc6 f4 61.d7+ then:
• 61...Kd8 62.gxf4 h4 63.Kd6 h3 64.f5 exf5 65.e6 h2 66.e7#.
• 61...Kf8 62.d8Q+ Kg7 63.Qg5+ wins for White.
• 56...dxc6 57.Ng8 Ke8 58.Nxh6 c5 59.g4 fxg4 60.Nxg4 gives White time enough to stop the c-pawn.

56...Bf3 57.Ke3 Bg2 58.Kf4 Bf1

• Black is lost, but this move shortens the agony.
• After 58...Ba8 59.g4 fxg4 60.Kxg4 Kf8 61.Kh5 Bb7 62.Kxh6 White need only engineer a pawn advance.

BLACK: Marina Romanko
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 58...Bg2f1

59.c6!!

• This move is even stronger now than before.
• 59.g4 fxg4 60.c6 dxc6 61.Nxc6 Ke8 62.Nd4 Kd7 63.Kxg4.

59...dxc6 60.Nxc6 Ke8 61.Ne7 Kf7

• 61...Kd7 62.Ng8 Bh3 63.Nxh6 Bg2 64.Nf7 Bb7 65.Kg5 wins for White.

62.Ng8 Bb5

• After 62...Kxg8?? then after 63.d7! White wins.

63.Nf6 Ba4 64.Ke3 Bd1 65.Kd4 f4

• If 65...h5 then:
• If 66.Kc4 f4 67.gxf4 h4 68.Nh7 Ba4 69.Kb4 Bd7 70.Kc5 then:
• If 70...Ke8 71.Ng5 Kd8 72.f5 exf5 73.e6 then:
• 73...Be8 74.Kd5 Ba4 75.Ke5 Ke8 76.Kxf5 Kd8 77.Kf6 gives White an easy win.
• After 73...Bxe6 74.Nxe6+ Ke8 75.Kc6 h3 76.d7+ Ke7 77.d8Q+ the end is near.
• After 70...Ba4 71.f5 exf5 72.Ng5+ Ke8 73.e6 f4 74.Kd5 White wins.
• 66.Ke3 f4+ 67.gxf4 h4 transposes into the text.

66.gxf4 h5 67.Ke3 h4 68.Kf2 Bc2 69.Kf3 Bf5

• If 69...h3 then 70.Kg3 Bf5 71.Nh5 Kf8 72.Ng7! wins at least a pawn (72...Kxg7 73. d7! and then pawn queens on the next move).

70.Ng4 Ke8 71.Ne3 Kd7 72.Nxf5 1-0

• White's winning path is clear and simple.
• 72...exf5 73.Kg2.
• 72...h3 73.Kg3.
• 72...Ke8 73.Nxh4.
• Mlle. Romako resigns.