The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (February 1): Youth Triumph in Wijk aan Zee

[Jack Rabbit]

Hail to Youth: Three Teenagers Win in Wijk



Ukrainian grandmaster Sergei Karjakin, 19, Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana, 16, and Filipino GM Wesley So, 15, are the winners of their respective divisions in the annual Corus Chess Tournament in the Dutch seaside town of Wijk aan Zee completed just a few minutes ago.

Karjakin started the day's 13th and final round as one of six grandmasters tied for the top position in Group A with 7 points each. He won his game against one of the other six, Cuban grandmaster Lenier Domínguez. Norway's Magnus Carlsen, not exactly long in the tooth at 18, lost his bid to tie Karjakin when he fell to Chinese GM Wang Yue in a heartbreaking 67-move Rook-and-pawn ending. The other three -- Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Sergei Movsesian (Slovakia) and Levon Aronian (Armenia) -- all drew their respective game to finish in a second-place tie.

In Group B, Caruana leaped over British GM Nigel Short when he defeated the former world championship contender in 67 moves today. Caruana started the day with 7½ points, a half-point behind Short.

Caruana was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in New York, where at the age of seven he became a pupil of the American chess trainer Bruce Pandolfini. As the son of an Italian-American father and an Italian mother, he holds dual citizenship with the United States and Italy and represents Italy in international competitions.

Short lost a world championship match to then-champion Garry Kasparov in 1993, when Caruana was a year old.

Young Wesley So clinched at least a tie for first place in Group C yesterday when he defeated his nearest rival, Sweden's Tiger Hillarp Persson, to take a one-point lead over the field with 9 points. Needing only to avoid loss today to win the event outright, So played cautiously and drew with 17-year-old British GM David Howell in just 19 moves. Hillarp Persson finished in a second place tie with 14-year-old Anish Giri, a young man with a Russian mother and a Nepalese father who all reside in Holland. Young Anish, who carried the title federation master until now, earned his final require grandmaster norm in Wijk aan Zee and will be named a grandmaster later this year if he can get his Elo score over 2500.


Gibraltar Chess Festival Begins: Beliavsky Leads


Gibraltar monkey from The Independent (UK)

Alexander Beliavsky of Slovenia leads the 7th annual Gibtelecom Masters Tournament with 5½ points after six rounds at the Gibraltar Chess Festival after six rounds on the British-controlled situated in the straight between Spain and Morocco.

In contrast to the youth movement in Wijk aan Zee, Beliavsky is 55.

Beliavsky entered today's round tied with Vasilios Kotronias of Greece at 4½ points each. Beliavsky, playing White, won a Rook-and-pawn ending in 53 moves.

The ten-round event goes through Thursday.


Calendar


Gibraltar Chess Festival 27 January-5 February.

Moscow Open 30 January-9 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.

Cappelle la Grande Open 28 February-7 March.

Reykjavik Open 4-13 March.

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

Foxwoods Open, Mashantucket, Connecticut April 8-12.

MTel Masters, Sofia May 9-19.

Aerosvit International Tournament, Foros (Ukraine) June 9-20.


Games will be posted later.

[nickgutierrez]

1. Looking through the PGN database, I found one interesting tidbit.

Of the 11 games in the Najdorf, 4 of them were won by White, and the other 7 were draws.

This only jumped out to me because I've been studying that opening. It's incredibly complicated, and this makes me wonder whether White is gaining an advantage at least at the very highest levels, against it.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. The Najdorf is very "sharp"

For the benefit of the uninitiated who may be reading this, that means one had better possess a lot of theoretical knowledge before playing it.

Eleven games isn't a big sample, so I just tried this. On ChessGames.com, I took all available games with the Najdorf played by Walter Browne as Black, to use a known expert in the defense. There were 117 games. Browne won 45, lost 35 and drew 37. Most of these games would be against players of grandmaster strength.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. This week's games

The "big three" will be posted first, with six others to follow.

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]

4. Karjakin - Movsesian, Corus A, Round 9, Wijk aan Zee

Sergey Karjakin
Image: ChessBase.com


Sergey Karjakin - Sergei Movsesian
Corus Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 9
Wijk aan Zee, 27 January 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.f3

• For White's seventh move alternatives, see Ivanchuk-Movsesian from last week's games.

7...Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.g4 d5

• If 9...a6 10.0-0-0 then:
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 then:
• 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 Qc7 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 is equal (Leko-Svidler, IT, Linares, 2006).
• 13...b4 14.Na4 Bb7 15.Nb6 Nxb6 16.Qxb4 Rb8 17.Bxb6 d5 18.Bc5 Bxc5 19.Qxc5 Qd7 is equal (Najer-Ehlvest, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 13...Bb7 14.Kb1 Rc8 15.a3 Ne5 16.Qe3 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.Rhg1 b4 gives Black a slight initiative (Topalov-Kasparov, IT, Novgorod, 1995).
• 10...Nd7 11.h4 Nde5 12.Qg2 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc6 14.Be3 b5 15.g5 Qa5 16.Kb1 b4 17.Ne2 d5 18.exd5 b3 19.cxb3 Nb4 20.a3 Nxd5 21.Bd2 Qb6 22.Nc1 Bb7 23.Bd3 Rac8 gives Black a more active game (K. Szabo-Balog, Op, Balatonelle, Hungary, 2006).

10.g5 Nxd4

• 10...Nh5 11.Rg1 Bb4 12.exd5 exd5 13.a3 Ba5 14.Nb3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Bf5 16.0-0-0 Rc8 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Rxd3 is equal (Saravanan-Vera, Op, Ubeda, 1999).

11.Qxd4 Nh5 12.0-0-0

• 12.exd5!? Bxg5 13.0-0-0 exd5 14.Rg1 Bxe3+ 15.Qxe3 Nf6 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.fxe4 Qb6 18.Qg5 g6 19.exd5 Re8 20.d6 Be6 21.Rg3 Red8 22.Qf4 Rac8 23.Bh3 Rc4 24.Qd2 Rc6 25.Bxe6 Rcxd6 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 27.Qf4+ Kg7 28.Qe5+ draw (Motylev-Kharlov, Op, Dubai, 2002).

12...Bxg5 13.Kb1 Kh8

• 13...Bxe3 14.Qxe3 Qf6 15.exd5 Qf4 16.Qxf4 Nxf4 17.Bc4 Rd8 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6 Nxe6 is equal (Jens-Timofeev, Euro ChT, Killithea, 2008).

14.Bxg5 Qxg5 15.Rg1 Qf4!?

• Movsesian varies from an earlier round in a game that only netted him a half point.
• If 15...Qf6 16.Qb4 then:
• 16...Bd7 17.exd5 exd5 18.Nxd5 Qxf3 19.Bg2 Qf5 20.Qxb7 Ba4 21.b3 Rac8 is equal (Stellwagen-Movsesian, Corus A Rd 1, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• If 16...Rg8 17.exd5 exd5 18.Nxd5 Qxf3 19.Bg2 Qg4 20.Qe7 then:
• 20...Rb8? 21.Qe5 Be6 22.Rd4 gives White the initiative (Fedorchuk-A. Sokolov, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
• 20...Qe6 21.Rgf1 Qxe7 22.Nxe7 Bg4 gives White the advantage in space.

16.Qc5

• The game is equal.
• 16.exd5 exd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd4 18.Rxd4 Bf5 19.Bc4 gives White the better center.

16...Bd7 17.exd5 Nf6

• 17...exd5 18.Nxd5 Qxh2 19.Bd3 Bc6 20.Rh1 Qe5 remains equal.

18.Bh3

• 18.d6 Qxh2 19.Qg5 Rg8 20.Bd3 Qh6 21.Qe5 gives White more activity.

18...exd5!?

• 18...Qxf3 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Qe7 Rg8 22.Qxe6 gives White a Rook on an the open file, while Black's are passive.

19.Bxd7

• 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd7 Nf6 21.Qf2 Rad8 remains equal.

19...Nxd7 20.Qxd5 Nf6 21.Qxb7 Qxh2 22.Ne4

• 22.Rge1 Qf4 23.Rd3 a5 24.a3 Rab8 25.Qa7 Ra8 gives White a little more freedom.

22...Nxe4

• 22...Rac8 23.Qb3 Nxe4 24.fxe4 Rfd8 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 remains equal.

23.Qxe4 Rad8 24.a4

• 24.Qf5 Qc7 25.Rh1 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Re8 remains equal.
• 24.f4 Qh5 25.Rde1 Qc5 26.f5 f6 27.Rg2 remains equal.
• 24.c4 Qc7 25.Rd5 Rxd5 26.cxd5 Rc8 27.Rh1 h6 gives White a more advanced passed pawn. but for the moment the position is equal.

24...Qc7 25.Rxd8

• 25.Qf5 g6 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.f4 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rc8 remains equal.

25...Rxd8 26.Rg5 g6 27.Rb5

• 27.Qe5+ Qxe5 28.Rxe5 Kg7 29.c4 Rd4 remains equal.
• 27.Rd5?! Rxd5 28.Qxd5 h5 29.c4 Qf4! is greatly advantageous to Black, whose Queen now threatenes to drive the h-pawn home.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 27.Rg5b5

27...Rd1+!

• Black drives the King further from the center.

28.Ka2 Rd7 29.c4!

• White does well to expand his passed pawn.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 29.c2c4

29...Kg7

• 29...h5 is far from obvious, but it ought to be considered here. The game has come down to the heavy pieces with 3:1 pawn majorities on each side. Taking the opportunity to advance a passed pawn is critical in this position. The come could continue30.c5 Re7 31.Qd4+ Kh7 32.Rb4 Rd7 33.Qe3 Qc6 with equality.

30.c5 a6 31.c6!?

• Queen endings are drawn as a rule; Karjakin needs a win to overtake Movsesian in first place and would do well to avoid entropy.

31...axb5!

• On the other hand, a draw suits Movsesian just fine.

32.cxd7 Qxd7 33.Qe5+

• This gives White the advantage of having a further advanced passed pawn. It will therefore be to White's advantage to exchange Queens when the time is ripe, giving him a won King-and-pawn ending.

33...Kf8!

• This move rules out White pressing for a win now.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 33...Kg7f8

34.axb5!

• There is a time for every purpose under Heaven, and this is not the time to exchange Queens as the Black King is closer to the center.
• 34.Qxb5? loses to 34...Qxb5 35.axb5 Ke7 36.Kb3 h5!.
• The finer point of the text move is that it gives White what Reuben Fine (Basic Chess Endings) calls "the qualitatively superior passed pawn," (i.e., the more advanced passed pawn). According to Fine, the superior pawn position in a Queen ending where both sides have a passed pawn could tip the balance.

34...h5

• In order to maintain the balance, Black must keep the distance of his pass pawn to the promotion square equal or better to White's. It's a move behind, and that will play a part in the game. See also the note to Black's 29th move.

35.Kb3

• If 35.b6 then 35...Qa4+ 36.Kb1 Qd1+ draws by perpetual check.

35...Kg8

• If 35...Qd3+? 36.Kb4 Qxf3 37.b6 Qh1 38.Qc5+ then:
• If 38...Kg7 39.Qe5+ Kh7 40.Qe7 Qf3 41.b7 Qf4+ 42.Kc5 then:
• 42...Kg7 43.b4 Qb8 44.Kc6 Qf4 45.Qd6 wins for White.
• If 42...Qf2+ 43.Kc6 Qc2+ 44.Kd7 Qa4+ then:
• 45.Kd8 Qb3 46.Qc7 the pawn queens on the next move.
• 45.Kc8 Qa6 46.Qc5 h4 47.Kc7 the pawn queens.
• 38...Kg8 39.Qc8+ Kh7 40.b7 Qe4+ 41.Kc5 Qe3+ 42.Kd6 the pawn queens when Black runs out of checks.

36.b6!

• The pawn has reached the sixth rank where it can be particularly menacing. Worse is that Black's h-pawn is two moves behind and Black's King is on the back rank. See also the notes to Black's 29th and 34th moves.

36...h4

• Once again, the distance of the past pawns to their respective promotion squares must be kept in balance in order to avoid loss.

37.Qc7

• 37.Kb4 h3 38.Kc5 Qc8+ 39.Qc7 Qf5+ 40.Kb4 Qf6 is equal.

37...Qd1+ 38.Kb4 Qe1+

• 38...Qd5 cutting the King's approach to pawn, a common tactic in analogous Rook endings, does no good in Queen endings since, as is plainly seen here, the Queen simply takes the place of the King in escorting the passer; White siimply plays 39.b7 Qd4+ 40.Ka3 Qe3+ 41.Ka2 Qa7+ 42.Kb1 Qg1+ 43.Qc1 Qg3 44.Qc8+.
• 38...h3 won't cut the mustard; if 39.b7 Qd4+ 40.Ka3 Qa7+ 41.Kb3 Qe3+ 42.Ka4 Qe4+ 43.b4 Black is out of checks; if wouldn't matter if Black's pawn were on h2 right now because White queens with check. See again the note to White's 36th move.

39.Kb5 Qe2+ 40.Ka5 Qd2+ 41.b4

• The position remains equal.
• A good shot would be41.Ka6!? Qe2+ 42.Ka7 Qf2 43.Qc3 when:
• If 43...Kh7 44.Qf6 h3 45.Qxf7+ then:
• 45...Kh6 46.Qf8+ Kh7 47.Qe7+ Kh6 48.Qe5 h2 is equal.
• If 45...Kh8? 46.Qe8+ Kg7 47.Qd7+ Kf6 48.Qxh3 leaves White two pawns up and winning.
• If 43...f5 44.Ka6 Qf1+ 45.Ka5 then:
• 45...Qf2 46.Qc8+ Kh7 47.Qc7+ Kh6 48.b7 Qd2+ 49.b4 then:
• After 49...Qd5+ 50.Kb6 Qe6+ 51.Kc5 Qe3+ 52.Kd6 Qf4+ 53.Kd7 the pawn must queen.
• 49...Qa2+ 50.Kb6 Qe6+ 51.Kc5 Qe3+ transposes.
• If 45...Qg1? 46.Kb5 Qd1 47.b7 Qd5+ 48.Kb6 Qd6+ 49.Ka7 the pawn will queen.

41...Qa2+ 42.Kb5 Qe2+ 43.Qc4 Qe8+ 44.Qc6

• Obviously Black won't exchange Queens, since unlike earlier (see the note to White's 34th move) Black's King is too far away from the b-pawn.

44...Qe2+

• Black finds the best defense.
• If 44...Qe5+!? 45.Ka6 Qa1+ 46.Kb7 then:
  • If 46...Kg7 47.Kc7 then:
    • 47...h3 48.b7 h2 49.b8Q h1Q 50.f4 Qh2 51.Qd6 is equal.
    • 47...Qe5+ 48.Qd6 Qxd6+ 49.Kxd6 h3 50.b7 h2 51.b8Q also leaves White with one remaining passer.
  • If 46...Qe5? then:
    • 47.Kc8 Qf5+ 48.Kc7 Qf4+ 49.Qd6 Qxd6+ 50.Kxd6 maintains the advantage for White after the pawns queen because he has a remaining passer.
    • 47.Ka8 Kg7 48.b7 Qa1+ 49.Kb8 h3 50.Qd6 Qf6 51.Qxf6+ Kxf6 52.Kc8 also leaves White with a remaining passer after the pawns queen.

45.Kc5 Qf2+ 46.Kd6 Qg3+?

• Black misses the opportunity to balance White's advantage of the better pawn position with a superior Queen position. The missed opportunity proves fatal.
• If 46...Qd4+! 47.Kc7 Qxb4 48.b7 Qa5+ 49.Kc8 Qf5+ then:
• If 50.Qd7 50...Qc5+ 51.Qc7 Qf5+ then:
• 52.Kb8 Qf6 53.Qa5 Qf4+ 54.Qc7 remains equal and drawn.
• 52.Kd8 Qd5+ 53.Kc8 Qf5+ 54.Kd8 Qd5+ etc., draws.
• After 50.Kd8 Qg5+ 51.Kd7 Qf5+ 52.Kd6 Qf4+ 53.Kc5 Qe3+ the King never finds cover.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 46...Qf2g3+

47.Kd7!

• This move works like magic.

47...h3

• 47...Kg7 48.Qc3+ Kh7 49.Qf6 Qh3+ 50.Ke7! then:
If
• 50...Qh2 51.f4 then:
• 51...Qh1 52.Kxf7 Qd5+ 53.Qe6 Qb7+ 54.Qe7 Black must either exchange Queens (losing) or submit to mate.
• 51...Qc2 52.Qxh4+ Kg8 53.Qf6 Qe4+ 54.Kd8 Qxb4 55.Kc7 Qc4+ 56.Kb8 Black is out of checks, so White makes progress.
• 50...Qc8 51.Qxf7+ Kh6 52.Qf4+ Kh7 53.Qxh4+ White wins.

48.b7 h2 49.Qc8+ Kg7

• Now each side queens and Queens are exchanged, leaving White with the only passer on the board.

50.b8Q Qxb8

• 50...Qh3+ 51.Kd6 Qg3+ 52.Kc5 Qxb8 53.Qxb8 h1Q 54.Qe5+ gives White a position similar to the text.

51.Qxb8 h1Q 52.Qe5+ Kg8 53.Qd5 Qh3+ 54.Kc7 Qh2+ 55.Kb7
BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 55.Kc7b7

55...Qh5!?

• If Black is to exchange Queens, it must be thus. Black will obtain a passed pawn four moves away from promotion, while white must get his King out of the way first. Nevertheless, while Black would queen first, White would Queen with check. The game would probably end in a draw from there.

56.Kc6!

• White will have none of that.

56...Qh3 57.Kb7 Qh5 58.Qc6

• White declines the invitation to repeat moves.

58...Kg7 59.b5 Qe5 60.b6 g5 61.Kc8 Qf5+ 62.Kd8!

• 62.Qd7 Qxf3 63.b7 Qc3+ 64.Qc7 Qh3+ gives the White King difficulty in finding a place where he will be shielded from checks.

62...Qa5 63.Qd6 Qa8+ 64.Kc7 Qxf3 65.b7 Qc3+ 66.Kd7 Qh3+ 67.Kd8 Qh8+ 68.Kc7 1-0

• The pawn must promote.
• Grandmaster Movsesian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Caruana - l'Ami, Corus B, Round 9, Wijk aan Zee

Fabiano Caruana
Photo: ChessBase.com


Fabiano Caruana - Erwin l'Ami
Corus Chess Tournament (Group B), Round 9
Wijk aan Zee, 27 January 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Jussupow Defense)

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bg4

• 4...Bf5 is the more usual move.

5.h3 Bxf3

• If 5...Bh5 then:
• If 6.Nc3 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 then:
• 8...Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Bd6 11.Qf3 0-0 12.0-0-0 a6 13.h4 b5 14.c5 Bc7 15.Kb1 e5 draw (Gnusarev-Khusnutdinov, GMT, Chelyabinsk, 2008).
• If 8...Nfd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Be7 then:
• 11.Qf3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Bb3 a5 14.a3 N8d7 15.Rd1 draw (Bishoff-Gikas, German Ch, Osterburg, 2006).
• 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.0-0-0 Na6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.Nxe4 Nf6 16.Ng3 0-0-0 17.Be3 c5 18.Bg2 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Bc5 20.Ne2 gives White the better center (Serper-M. Gurevich, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2000).
• If 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 cxd5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Bd3 e6 10.Bd2 Bd6 then:
• 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfc1 Rc8 13.Bf1 draw (Volzhin-al-Rakib, Op, Dhaka, 2001).
• 11.Qe2 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Bb5+ Nc6 14.Qf3 a6 15.Ba4 b5 16.Bb3 Ne5 17.Qe2 Nc4 18.a4 0-0 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Qxa8 is equal (Zhu Chen-Cramling, IT, Istanbul, 2008).

6.Qxf3 e6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.Bd2

• If 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Rd1 then:
• If 10...Qe7 11.Bd2 Rfe8 12.Bf1 Rad8 13.Rac1 then:
• 13...h6 14.a3 a6 15.Re1 Bb8 16.g3 dxc4 17.Bxc4 e5 18.Ba2 Nc5 19.Qf5 Qd7 20.Qxd7 Rxd7 21.dxc5 Rxd2 22.Re2 Rxe2 23.Nxe2 Rd8 is equal (Jussupow-Dautov, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
• 13...a6 14.Be1 g6 15.a3 Bb8 16.g3 Nb6 17.b3 Kg7 18.a4 h5 19.h4 e5 20.cxd5 Nbxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.dxe5 Bxe5 is equal (Boensch-Jackelin, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
• If 10...Re8 11.Qe2 Qe7 then:
• 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qh4 h6 16.Bd2 Rad8 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qxh6 e5 19.Qg5+ draw (Vorobiov-Movsesian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 12.Bd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5 14.d5 e4 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Qe5 17.g3 Qf5 18.Qf1 Ne5 19.Be2 Nf3+ gives Black more activity (Hebden-Burgess, 4NCL, Telford, 2003).

8...Bd6

• If 8...Bb4 9.Bd3 0-0 10.a3 Ba5 then:
• If 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...e5 13.Qf5 Re8 then:
• 14.Bb5 g6 15.Qg5 Re6 16.Bxd7 Qxd7 17.dxe5 Bxc3 18.Bxc3 Ne4 19.Qf4 Nxc3 draw (Bacrot-Pentala, Corus B, Wijk aan Zeem 2008).
• 14.Rac1 a6 15.Bb1 g6 16.Qg5 Bb6 17.Ba2 exd4 18.exd4 Bxd4 19.Nxd5 Re5 20.Nxf6+ Nxf6 21.Qf4 Qb6 is equal (Pelletier-de la Riva, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 12...Re8 13.Rac1 then:
• 13...e5 14.Bc2 exd4 15.exd4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 is equal (Bacrot-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 13...Rc8 14.b4 Bb6 15.a4 e5 16.Bb1 exd4 17.exd4 Nf8 18.Ba2 Bxd4 19.Nxd5 Ne6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Be3 gives White a small advantage in pawn structure; the game was drawn in 87 moves (Bacrot-Shaw, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• If 11.b4 Bc7 12.cxd5 then:
• 12...cxd5 13.0-0 Nb6 14.Rac1 Qd7 15.g3 Rab8 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Nd5 is equal (Bindrich-Caruana, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...exd5 13.0-0 Re8 14.b5 Nf8 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.Rfc1 Ne6 17.h4 c5 18.dxc5 d4 19.Ne4 dxe3 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qxe3 Ng5 is equal (Iotov-San Segundo, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

9.cxd5

• 9.Bd3 0-0 then:
• If 10.0-0 Re8 11.Qd1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nb6 then:
• 13.Be2 e5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Qc2 Qe7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Bc1 g6 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Rd1 Rxd1+ 20.Qxd1 Qb4 is equal (Rodshtein-Stellwagen, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 13.Bb3 e5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Qe2 Qe7 16.Rfd1 h5 17.Qf3 g6 18.e4 Nfd7 19.Be3 Kg7 20.Rac1 Rad8 21.Qe2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kengis-Malakhatko, Op, Cairo, 2003).
• 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g4 Bb4 12.g5 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4 Qxg5 16.h4 Qd8 17.Rg1 g6 18.h5 Nf6 19.Qf5 Nd5 20.Bd2 Qh4 21.0-0-0 gives White a small advantage in space (Hillarp Persson-Stellwagen, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 9.g4 Bb4 10.Bd3 e5 11.cxd5 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Nxd5 13.Bc4 N7f6 14.Bxd5 Nxd5 15.Qe4 0-0 16.dxe5 Qh4 17.Bd4 gives White an extra pawn, although his central majority is crippled (Dreev-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2002).

9...exd5 10.Bd3 Nf8!?

• 10...Qe7 11.g4 Bb4 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 a5 14.Qf4 0-0 15.f3 Rfe8 16.Kf2 Nf8 17.Rhe1 Ne6 18.Qg3 b5 19.Bd2 Qa7 20.Rad1 Qb6 21.Kg2 c5 22.dxc5 Nxc5 23.Bc3 Nxd3 24.Rxd3 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.Bd4 Qa6 draw (Avrukh-van Wely, IT, Biel, 2007).

11.g4

• The game is level as the players go beyond the opening manuals.
• 11.0-0 Ne6 12.Rac1 0-0 13.Rc2 Re8 14.Rfc1 Bc7 remains equal.

11...Ne6 12.h4 Qe7 13.Qe2

• The game remains level.
• 13.0-0-0 Nd7 14.Kb1 h5 15.g5 g6 16.Rhe1 gives White the advantage in space.

13...0-0-0 14.0-0-0 Kb8 15.Kb1

• 15.Qf3 h6 16.Kb1 Rhe8 17.Rc1 Nc7 18.Ne2 remains equal.

15...Nd7
BLACK: Erwin l'Ami
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 15...Nf6d7

16.f4!?

• This is an obvious attempt to grab kingside space. As will be seen, Black has sufficient resources to slow White's pawn storm.
• 16.Rc1 Rhe8 17.Qf3 h6 18.Rc2 Qf6 19.Rh3 remains equal.

16...Ka8!?

• Black moves his King to a safer place, allowing White's pawn to continue to roll.
• 16...Bb4 17.a3 Bd6 18.f5 Nc7 19.e4 dxe4 20.Qxe4 remains equal.

17.Rc1

• 17.f5 Nc7 18.e4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Nb6 20.Qxe7 Bxe7 remains equal.

17...Nb6

• 17...g6 would do more to abate White's pawnstorm; if now 18.h5 Rhe8 then after 19.Be1 Nef8 20.Bh4 f6 21.Rhe1 White has an advantage in space.

18.Qf2 Rhe8 19.Rhe1 Qf8

• 19...g6 20.Re2 Nc7 21.e4 dxe4 22.Bxe4 Qd7 23.f5 gives White the advantage in space.

20.g5 f5 21.gxf6 Qxf6 22.h5 g6

• After 22...g5 23.f5 Be7 24.Qg3 Ng7 25.Qg4 h6 Black has stopped the march of White's kingside pawns.

23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Rg1 Nf8

• 24...g5 25.f5 Be7 26.Qg3 Ng7 27.Rcf1 is equal.

25.Rg5

• 25.Qg2 Re6 26.Qg5 Kb8 27.Qxf6 Rxf6 28.Rh1 Kc8 29.Rh6 gives White more freedom.

25...Qf7 26.Rcg1 Re6 27.Bc1 Nc8

• If 27...Be7 28.R5g2 Bd6 29.Qc2 then:
• 29...Qc7 30.Rg4 Rde8 31.Bxg6 Rxg6 32.Rxg6 Nxg6 33.Qxg6 leaves White a pawn up.
• 29...Rde8 30.Bxg6 Rxg6 31.Rxg6 Nxg6 32.Qxg6 Qe7 33.f5 leaves White a pawn up.

28.e4

• 28.Qg2 Ne7 29.Bc2 Re8 30.Bd2 Bb4 31.Qg4 is equal.

28...Be7?!

• 28...dxe4 29.Bc4 Ne7 30.Nxe4 Nd5 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Nc3 is equal.

29.exd5 Bxg5 30.dxe6 Nxe6 31.Be3 Bxf4?

• Black makes his final mistake. White has more force deployed on the kingside, and removing the final pawns in the area can only be to White's advantage.
• 31...Bf6 32.Bxg6 Qd7 33.f5 Nxd4 34.Ne4 is equal.

32.Rxg6!

• White clears away the last kingside pawn. He must down whittle down Black's preponderance of force on the kingside.

32...Rf8
BLACK: Erwin l'Ami
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 32...Rd8f8

33.Rxe6!!

• The exchange sacrifice nails down the game
• If 33.d5 cxd5 34.Rxe6 Qxe6 35.Bxf4 then:
• 35...Qg4 36.Ne2 Qh3 37.Qd4 gives White the stronger center.
• 35...Nb6 36.Qd4 Qf6 37.Be5 gives White the initiative.

33...Qxe6 34.Bxf4 Qf6 35.Ne2 Ne7

• If 35...Nb6 36.Qg2 Nd5 37.Bd2 then:
• 37...Re8 38.Be4 Qh4 39.Bg6 Rf8 40.Qe4 gives White more activity.
• 37...Qh4 38.Be4 Qf2 39.Qxf2 Rxf2 40.Bd3 gives White more freedom and a solid position.

36.Qg2 Nd5 37.Bd2 Qh8

• If 37...Qh4 then 38.Be4 Nb6 39.Bxc6!! bxc6 40.Qxc6+ wins the Rook.

38.a3 Rg8 39.Qf3

• 39.Qe4 Qh5 40.Nc3 Nxc3+ 41.Bxc3 Qf7 42.Qe3 gives White more freedom.

39...Rf8 40.Qg2

• 40.Qg3 Rg8 41.Qd6 Rd8 42.Qh6 Qg8 43.Qg5 Qf8 44.Nc3 gives White more freedom.

40...Rg8 41.Qe4 Re8 42.Qg6 Nc7

• After 42...Rf8 White maintains the pressure with 43.Bc4 Qh1+ 44.Ka2 Qd1 45.Bh6 Rd8 46.Qe6.

43.Bf4 Nd5 44.Be5 Qf8 45.Be4

• If 45.Nc3 Ne7 46.Qe6 then:
• 46...Ng8 47.Qc4 Nf6 48.Bg6 Rd8 49.Qf7 allows Black to keep the initiative after the exchange of Queens.
• 46...Nc8 47.Qf6 Nb6 48.Qxf8 Rxf8 49.b4 gives Black a slight material edge.

45...Rd8 46.Bxd5 Rxd5 47.Nf4 Rd7 48.Ne6 Qc8 49.Qf6 Rh7

• 49...a6 50.Ka1 Ka7 51.Qf2 Rd5 52.Nc7 Rd7 53.d5+ squeezes the life out of Black.

50.Nf8 Rh5 51.Qe7 Rh1+ 52.Ka2 a6 53.Ne6 Qg8

• 53...Rc1 54.Bf4 Rc2 55.Kb3 Rg2 56.d5 Rf2 57.Nc7+ puts Black in a mating attack.

54.d5 cxd5 55.Nc7+ Ka7 56.Bd4+ 1-0

• If 56...Kb8 57.Ne8 Rc1 58.Qd8+ Rc8 59.Qd6+ then:
• 59...Ka8 60.Qb6 Rc5 61.Nd6 Qb8 62.Bxc5 d4 63.Ne8 d3 64.Nc7+ Qxc7 65.Qa7#.
• 59...Rc7 60.Qxc7+ Ka8 61.Qc8#.
• 56...b6 57.Nb5+ Kb8 58.Qc7+ Ka8 59.Qa7#.
• Mh. l'Ami resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Pressijers - So, Corus C, Round 10, Wijk aan Zee

Wesley So
Photo: ChessBase.com


Roeland Pruijssers - Wesley So
Corus Chess Tournament (Group C), Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, 28 January 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 11.Qd4

• For opening theory up to here, see last week's game Karjakin-Stellwagen.

11...Be7

• 11...Nc6 12.Qb6 Qxb6 13.Bxb6 Bxc3 14.bxc3 d5 15.Na5 Nxa5 16.Bxa5 Bb7 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Kd2 0-0 is equal (Piorun-Dobrowolski, Op, Legnica, 2009).

12.Qb6

• If 12.Be2 Bb7 then:
• 13.g4 Rc8 14.g5 b4 15.gxf6 gxf6 16.Bd2 d5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxa6 Nxf3 19.Bb5+ Bc6 20.Nd5 exd5 21.Qxd5 0-0 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.Qxc6 Rxc6 24.Bh6 is equal (Saric-Rasulov, EU ChU18, Herceg Nov, 2008).
• 13.Qb6 Rc8 14.Na5 Qxb6 15.Bxb6 Ba8 16.Bd4 Nc6 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.a3 0-0 19.Kb1 is equal (Greet-Rayner, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).

12...Qxb6 13.Bxb6 d6 14.a3!?

• 14.Bc7 Kd7 15.Bb6 Rb8 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bf2 is equal (A. Ivanov-W. Harper, Op, Philadelphia, 2008).

14...0-0 15.Na5 Bd7 16.f4 Nc6 17.Be2

• If 17.e5 dxe5 18.Rxd7 Nxd7 19.Nxc6 Bf6 then:
• 20.Ba5 exf4 21.Ne4 Ne5 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 remains equal.
• 20.Bf2 exf4 21.Ne4 Ne5 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 remains equal.

17...Rfc8 18.Bf3 Rab8 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Ba5

• 20.Bd4 Nd7 21.Rhf1 Rc7 22.e5 dxe5 23.fxe5 Rd8 remains equal.

20...Nd7 21.Bb4 Nc5 22.Rd2

• If 22.Rhf1 Rd8 23.Rd2 Rbc8 24.Rfd1 f5 then:
• 25.exf5 Bxf3 26.gxf3 exf5 27.Rg2 remains equal.
• 25.Re2 Bf6 26.exf5 Bxf3 27.gxf3 exf5 28.Nd5 remains equal.

22...Kf8

• 22...Bb7 23.Rhd1 Kf8 24.g4 remains equal.

23.Rf1 Nb7

• 23...Bb7 24.Kd1 Kg8 25.f5 e5 26.Ke2 remains equal.

24.e5 dxe5 25.fxe5 Bxf3

• 25...Nc5 26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Rf3 Be7 remains equal.

26.Rxf3 Bxb4 27.axb4 Rc4

• The game is equal.
• If 27...Rc7 28.Ne4 Rd8 then:
• 29.Ng5 Rxd2 30.Kxd2 Rd7+ 31.Kc1 remains equal.
• 29.Nd6 Nxd6 30.Rxd6 Rcd7 31.Rfd3 remains equal.

28.Rd7 Nd8 29.Rd6 Rxb4

• 29...Ra8 30.Rfd3 Rcc8 31.R6d4 remains equal.

30.Rfd3 Ke8 31.Rxa6 Rg4 32.Rad6

• If 32.g3 Rc4 33.h3 Nc6 then:
• 34.b3 Rc5 35.Ne4 Rxc2+! 36.Kxc2 Nb4+ remains equal.
• 34.Re3 Kd7 35.Ne4 Rxc2+! 36.Kxc2 Nb4+ remains equal.

32...Rxg2 33.Nxb5
BLACK: Wesley So
!""""""""#
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Roeland Pruijssers
Position after 33.Nc3b5:p

33...Rc8!

• Black treats the audience to a fine example of active defense.

34.Rd2

• White has nothing better than to exchange Rooks, taking the wind out of his threats on the d-file.
• 34.c3 Rxh2 35.R6d4 Nb7 36.b4 Rd8 leaves Black a pawn up and still ready to exchange Rooks; however, White has connected passers.

34...Rg1+

• 34...Rxd2 35.Rxd2 Rc5 36.Nd6+ Ke7 37.b4 Rxe5 gives Black an extra pawn to compensate for White's connected passers.

35.Rd1 Rxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Ke7

• 36...Rc5 37.Na7 f5 38.exf6 gxf6 39.b4 Rg5 remains equal.

37.Nd6 Rc7 38.b3 f5 39.Nc4?!

• White blocks the advance of his c-pawn and allows Black to establish a passed pawn at the frontier line.
• 39.exf6+ gxf6 40.c4 f5 41.Nb5 Rd7 42.c5 f4 remains equal.

39...Rc5 40.Rg1!

• At least White is going down with an active defense.

BLACK: Wesley So
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Roeland Pruijssers
Position after 40.Rd1g1

40...g6!

• Just as Wall Street bankers and crooked mortgage lenders discovered last year, greed can backfire.
• If Black plays immediately to win a pawn with 40...Nf7? then after 41.Rxg7 Kf8 42.Rxh7 Nxe5 43.Nd2 it's White who is a pawn to the good.

41.h4 Nf7!

• Now is the time.

42.Re1 h6 43.Kd2 g5 44.hxg5 hxg5 45.Kc3?

• White now loses quickly.
• A more stubborn defense is 45.Re3 g4 46.Ke2 Ng5 47.Rd3 Nh3 , leaving White's position difficult but playable.

BLACK: Wesley So
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Roeland Pruijssers
Position after 45.Kd2c3

45...g4!

• The passed pawn decides.

46.Re2 Rd5 47.b4 g3! 0-1

• 48.Nd2 Nxe5 49.Nf1 f4 50.Rg2 Nf3 Black sqeezeas White in a vise.
• If 48.Rg2 then after 48...f4 49.Rg1 Nxe5 50.Nxe5 Rxe5 51.Kd2 Rf5 Black's pawn advance is crushing.
• Mh. Pruijssers resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. van Wely - Movsesian, Corus A, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Sergei Movsesian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Loek van Wely - Sergei Movsesian
Corus Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, 30 January 2009

King's English Game: Three Knights' Opening

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 d6 6.d3 f5

• If 6...Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Rb1 a5 9.a3 then:
• If 9...h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 Be6 12.b5 Ne7 then:
• If 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.Re1 Bh3 15.Bh1 Ng4 then:
• 16.Qb3 Kh8 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 is equal (Vaganian-Wahls, Op, Bielefeld, 1992).
• 16.d4 Qe6 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Nd5 Rfd8 is equal (ilschut-Hoeksema, Op, Dierren, 2000).
• If 13.Qb3 then:
• 13...Nd7 14.Ba3 f5 15.Nd2 Rb8 16.Nd5 b6 17.Ra1 Rf7 18.Nb4 Nc5 19.Qc2 gives White the advantage in space (Hertneck-Y. Gruenfeld, ZT, Munich, 1987).
• 13...Qd7 14.Ba3 Bh3 15.c5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Rfd8 17.b6 cxb6 18.cxb6 Nc6 19.e4 Bf8 20.Nb5 Ra5 is equal (Giardelli-Rosito, Op, Mar del Plata, 1998).
• 9...Nd4 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 c6 12.b5 Bg4 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Qd7 17.Rb6 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Bf3 Bxf3 draw (Knott-Ledger, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).

7.0-0 Nf6 8.Rb1 a5

• If 8...0-0 9.b4 h6 10.b5 Ne7 then:
• 11.a4 g5 12.c5 Be6 13.Ba3 Rc8 14.Rc1 f4 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Ne4 Rxc1 17.Qxc1 Nf5 18.Qb2 fxg3 19.hxg3 is equal (Watson-Hartvig, New Zealand Ch, Aukland, 2008).
• 11.Qb3 Be6 12.Nd2 Rb8 13.Qa4 f4 14.Qxa7 Qd7 15.Bxb7 Bh3 16.Bg2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 gives White two extra pawns (Le Dinh Tuan-Lim Yee Weng, TT, Kuala Lampur, 2001).

9.a3 0-0 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 h6 12.b5 Ne7 13.Bb2

• 13.Nd2 c6 14.Qb3 Be6 15.Ba3 Re8 16.Ra1 is equal (Miles-Mack, Manila, 1974).

13...g5

• If 13...Be6 14.c5 Nd7 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Nd2 d5 17.e4 d4 18.Nd5 Nc5 gives Black the advantage in space (Aguirre-Berg, Op, Bajada de la Virgen, 2005).
• 14.Ra1 Rc8 15.Ra7 b6 16.Ne1 g5 17.Nc2 f4 18.Nb4 Qe8 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 gives White advantages in space and activity (Mirumian-Oral, IT, Olomouc, 1998).

14.Ra1!?

• 14.Nd2 c6 15.Ra1 Rb8 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Ba3 Qc7 18.Rfb1 Rfd8 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Qc2 is equal (Kolvick-Kamsky, Op, Philadelphia, 1989).

14...Rxa1

• The game is even.
The text is better than 14...Be6!? 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Qc2 g4 17.Ra1 Qb8 18.Nd2 with more space for White, owing to the command of the a-file.

15.Qxa1 Be6?!

• The Bishop has little to do here. It would be better to develop it on the flank.
15...g4 16.Nd2 Qd7 17.Qa5 b6 18.Qa4 f4 19.gxf4 reamins equal.

16.Qa7!

• White takes advantage of his command of the a-file to threaten Black's pawns.

16...b6 17.Rc1!?

• The c-file isn't going to open too soon, so the Rook should be posted on the open file.
17.Ra1 g4 18.Nd2 f4 19.gxf4 exf4 20.Qb7 White continue to enjoy more freedom and activity.

17...Rf7!?

• Black's position is cramped and he is having a hard time finding good posts for his pieces.
Getting some space would solve some of his problems: if17...g4! 18.Nd2 f4! 19.gxf4 exf4 then:
• 20.d4 Nf5 21.d5 Bc8 is equal.
• 20.Ra1 Nf5 21.Nb3 is equal.

18.Nd2 Kh7 19.Qb7

• White assumes command of the long diagonal.

19...g4 20.Ra1!

• Finally, the Rook moves to a1. White has command of many of the game's vital routes.

20...h5 21.Ra8!

• And now White controls Black's back rank.

21...Qd7 22.e3 h4 23.Ne2 h3 24.Bf1

• If 24.Bh1!? d5 25.Bxe5 dxc4 26.Nf4 then:
• 26...cxd3! 27.Ra3 Ng6 28.Nxg6 Kxg6 is equal.
• White remains better after 26...Bd5 27.Nxd5 Nexd5 28.Nxc4 Qxb5 29.Ra1.

24...Ng6 25.d4 f4 26.exf4

• 26.gxf4? exf4 27.d5 Bf5 28.Bxf6 fxe3 29.fxe3 Bxf6 is equal.

26...exf4 27.gxf4?

• White throws away his advantage.
Correct is 27.d5 Bf5 28.Nxf4 Nxf4 29.gxf4 Bg6 30.Bd4!.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
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WHITE: Loek van Wely
Position after 27.gf4:p

27...d5!

• Black equalizes.

28.Qc6

• 28.c5 Qxb5 29.Bc1 Ng8 30.Rb8 N8e7 31.cxb6 cxb6 remains equal.

28...dxc4 29.f5 Bxf5 30.Ng3 Be6 31.Bxc4

• 31.Qxd7 Rxd7 32.Nxc4 Bd5 33.Ra3 Bf8 34.Rc3 Bb4 remains equal.

31...Bxc4 32.Nxc4 Nd5

• 32...Qxc6 33.bxc6 Nd5 34.Rd8 Nge7 remains equal.

33.Qxd7 Rxd7 34.Nf5 Bf6

• 34...Ngf4 35.Ra3 Kg6 36.Nxg7 Rxg7 37.Ne5+ Kf5 38.Kf1 remains equal.

35.Kf1

• 35.Ra3 Ngf4 36.f3 gxf3 37.Rxf3 Kg6 38.Ng3 remains equal.

35...Rf7 36.Ra7?

• This move hands Black the game on a silver platter. The Rook is far less mobile at a7 than at a8. There is one square on which the Rook is just as mobile and closer to the center of the action.
If 36.Re8! Bh8 then:
• If 37.Ng3 Nh4 38.Ne5 Bxe5 then:
• If 39.dxe5 Nf3 40.e6 Nxh2+ then:
• 41.Ke2 Re7 42.Rh8+ Kg6 43.Rg8+ Kh7 draws.
• If 41.Kg1 Nf3+ then:
• 42.Kh1 Re7 43.Rh8+ etc.
• 42.Kf1 Nh2+ 43.Kg1 Nf3+ draws.
• If 39.Rxe5? Nf4! 40.Bc1 Nf3 then:
• 41.Bxf4 Rxf4 42.Re7+ Kg8 43.Rxc7 Rxd4 Black has a winning position.
• 41.Re4 Nd5 42.Bb2 Nd2+! wins the exchange.
• 37.Nfe3 Nxe3+ 38.Rxe3 Nh4 39.Ne5 Bxe5 40.dxe5 Nf3 gives Black more activity, but the game is far from won.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Loek van Wely
Position after 36.Ra8a7

36...Bg5

• This is sufficient, but not the best.
• If 36...Nh4! then:
• If 37.Ncd6 then after 37...Rf8 38.Ke2 Kg6 White has no good moves.
• If 37.Nxh4?? then after 37...Bxh4! White's f-pawn falls.

37.Nfd6 Rf8?!

• A prettier finish would be 37...g3! 38.hxg3 h2 39.Kg2 Rxf2+!!.

38.Ne4 Bf4 39.Ne5

• Black has made some inaccurate moves in time trouble.
White could makes things more difficult for White after 39.Ba3! Rf7 40.Bd6 Nh4 41.Bxf4 Rxf4 42.Ncd2.

39...Nxe5! 40.dxe5 Bxh2 41.Ra4

• No better is 41.Nf6+ Nxf6 42.exf6 Kg6.

41...Kg6 42.Rd4 Ne3+ 43.Ke2

• White decides to let his opponent win in style.

BLACK: Sergei Movsesian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Loek van Wely
Position after 43.Kf1e2

43...Bxe5

• A piece sacrifice! Cool!

44.fxe3 h2 0-1

• 45.Rd1 Bxb2 46.Rh1 Be5 is lights out.
Mh. van Wely resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Navara - Short, Corus B, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Nigel Short
Photo: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2164">ChessBase.com


David Navara - Nigel Short
Corus Chess Tournament (Group B), Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, 30 January 2009

Moorish Game: Hoseman Defense (Alekhine's Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3

• This is White's more positional approach to this defense.
• My personal perference is for the straightforward, aggressive Exchange Opening: 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
• 5...cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3.
• 5...exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Be3.

4...dxe5

• If 4...Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c4 Nb6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...d5 10.c5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nc8 12.f4 Nc6 then:
• 13.f5 exf5 14.Bf3 Bg5 15.Nxd5 f4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 17.Nxf4 Nxd4 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Qg4 gives White a healthy initiative and an extra pawn (Sypnicki-Krainski, Op, Bydgoszcz, 2001).
• 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 f6 15.Bd3 Qe8 16.Qg4 f5 17.Qh3 a5 18.b5 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Short-Alburt, Match, Foxboro, 1985).
• If 9...Nc6 10.exd6 cxd6 then:
• If 11.b3 d5 12.c5 then:
• If 12...Nc8 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 Bf6 15.a4 N8e7 16.b5 then:
• 16...Na5 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nc4 19.bxa6 Nxe3 20.fxe3 bxa6 21.Qd3 Qc7 22.Rb6 Nc6 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Nxd5 Black resigns (Rodríguez-Sawyer, Corres, 1995).
• 16...axb5 17.axb5 Bxf3 18.bxc6 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 bxc6 gives Black more activity (Hoellrigl-Baburin, Op, Oberwart, 1991).
• 12...Nd7 13.b4 f5 14.b5 Na5 15.Qa4 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.Be2 b6 18.c6 Qc7 19.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Bouwmeester-Sefc, TMatch, Rotterdam, 1955).
• If 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bf6 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qb3 is equal (Gufeld-Grigorian, Soviet Ch, Baku, 1972).
• 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Rd2 Qa5 16.Qxa5 Nxa5 17.Rc1 Be6 18.b3 d5 is equal (Asomaeki-de Carlos, Cyberspace, 2002).

5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2

• If 6.Bc4 g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Bb3 Be6 then:
• If 10.Nd2 Nd7 then:
• 11.Nef3 Nc7 12.Ne4 Bxb3 13.axb3 Ne6 14.c3 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.b4 Ng7 17.h4 h5 18.g3 Nf5 19.Qe2 a5 20.bxa5 draw (Andreev-Sikula, IT, Alushta, 2001).
• 11.Ndf3 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 a5 13.c3 Qc7 14.Nd3 Bf5 15.Bg5 Rfe8 16.Qd2 a4 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Nb4 Rad8 19.Bf4 Qc4 is equal (Adams-Agdestein, Match, Oslo, 1994).
• 10.h3 Nd7 11.Nf3 Nc7 12.c4 Nb6 13.Qe2 a5 14.a4 Ne8 15.Rd1 Nc8 16.Ba2 Ned6 17.Nc3 Nf5 18.Ne4 b6 19.Neg5 Bd7 20.g4 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (S. B. Hansen-Soppe, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

6...Bf5

• 6...Nd7 7.Nf3 g6 8.c4 Nc7 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.Qd2 c5 14.d5 gives White an advantage in space (Weatherly-Benjamin, New York StCh, Colonie, 2006).

7.g4

• If 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 then:
• 9.a3 Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 11.c4 N5f6 12.Nh4 Qc7 13.g3 Bh3 14.Nc3 Rfe8 15.Be3 e5 is equal (Wang Hao-Gonzales, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 Nc2 11.Bg5 f6 12.Rc1 fxg5 13.Rxc2 Bxc2 14.Qxc2 wins the exchange for Black (Zelcic-Rozentalis, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

7...Be6 8.f4

• 8.c4 Nb6 9.b3 f6 10.Nd3 Qxd4 11.Bb2 Qd8 12.Nc3 Na6 13.f4 Bf7 14.Bf3 e6 15.Qe2 Nd7 16.0-0-0 Qa5 gives Black a little more freedom (Brenjo-Bogdanovski, IT, Belgrade, 2008).

8...f6 9.Nd3 Bf7 10.0-0 Na6 11.Nc3 e6!?

• 11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 g6 13.Qe1 Bg7 14.f5 Qd7 15.Qf2 gxf5 16.Qxf5 Qxf5 17.gxf5 Rg8 18.Kf2 0-0-0 19.Be3 Bf8 20.Bf3 Nc7 21.a4 Nd5 draw (J. Polgar-Short, Ol. Bled, 2002).

12.Nxd5

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 12.Qd2 h5 13.g5 Qd7 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Nf2 Nc7 is also equal.

12...Qxd5 13.Be3 Be7

• 13...h5 14.Bf3 Qd6 15.g5 0-0-0 16.Be4 remains equal.

14.Bf3 Qd7 15.c3 Rd8 16.Qe2 0-0 17.Kh1

• 17.Rad1 Nc7 18.Bf2 Nd5 19.c4 Nb4 20.Be4 is equal.

17...Nc7 18.Rae1 Bg6 19.Bf2

• 19.Nf2 b6 20.Bg2 a5 21.Bc1 Rfe8 remains equal.

19...Rfe8 20.Rg1

• 20.g5 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 fxg5 22.fxg5 Bxg5 remains equal.

20...Bd6 21.Bg3

• 21.g5 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 f5 23.g6 Bxf4 24.gxh7+ Kxh7 remains equal.

21...Nd5 22.Nc5

• 22.Be4 Bxe4+ 23.Qxe4 b6 24.g5 a6 25.gxf6 Nxf6 remains equal.

22...Qc8 23.g5 b6!?

• 23...fxg5 24.fxg5 e5 25.Bg4 Qa8 remains equal.

24.Nxe6?

• If 24.Nd3 Qa6 25.Nf2 then:
• If 25...Qxe2 26.Rxe2 fxg5 27.fxg5 Bxg3 28.Rxg3 c5 then:
• 29.dxc5 Nf4 30.Re5 Rd2 31.Nh3 Nd3 32.Re2 Rxb2 gives White problems with his pawn structure, but a much more playable game than the text.
• 29.Rd2 cxd4 30.cxd4 Rf8 31.Ng4 Rf4 gives Black the more active game.
• 25...Qxa2?! 26.gxf6 Nxf6 27.Bh4 Rf8 28.Ng4 gives White some promising activity on the queenside for the sacrificed pawn.

BLACK: Nigel Short
!""""""""#
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WHITE: David Navara
Position after 24.Nc5e6:p

24...Bf5!

• Black finds the boldest move to sweep aside White's flimsy center.
• The text wins faster than the more cautious 24...Nc7 25.Bxc6 Rxe6 26.Bd5 Bf7 27.Bxe6 Bxe6.

25.Bg4

• Black wins after 25.Nxd8 Rxe2 26.Rxe2 Qxd8 27.Bh4 fxg5 28.Rge1 Bg6!.

25...Rxe6 26.Qxe6+

• 26.Bxf5 Rxe2 27.Bxc8 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Rxc8 leaves Black a piece to the good.

26...Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Bxg4 0-1

• After 28.f5 Bf3+Black must win the exchange, going up by a piece.
• Grandmaster Navara resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Carlsen - Smeets, Corus A, Round 12, Wijk aan Zee

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Jan Smeets
Corus Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 12
Wijk aan Zee, 31 January 2009

German Exchange Game: Accelerated Panov Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5

• The Accelerated Panov Opening has become in recent years recognized as a debut independent of and distinct from the Panov Opening (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4). White gets rapid development and more space; the bad news is that he is saddled with an isolated d-pawn.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nc6

• If 6...e6 7.d4 Bb4 then:
• If 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Be7 then:
• If 11.a3 Bf6 12.Qc2 then:
• 12...g6 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Rad1 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bd7 16.Qd2 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxd7 Qxd7 21.Rxd7 b5 22.Be3 a6 23.Bd4 Rac8 24.g3 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxc3 26.a4 Rc4 27.Rxc4 bxc4 28.Rc1 Rc8 29.Kf1 c3 30.Ke2 Rc4 31.Kd3 Rxa4 32.Rxc3 Ra2 33.Ke3 Rb2 draw (Riazantsev-Bologan, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 12...h6 13.Be3 then:
• 13...Nce7 14.Ne4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qd2 Nf5 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Rc8 19.Bf4 Nxf4 draw (Cobb-Wells, IT, Hereford, 2006).
• 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 e5 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 exd4 17.cxd4 Bg4 18.Bxc6 Rc8 19.Qe4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 bxc6 21.Rac1 Bxd4 draw (Diani-Linna, Corres, 1999).
• 11.Qe2 Nf6 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.a3 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Rad8 15.b4 a6 16.Rac1 Bc8 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Baron-Svetushkin, Op, La Roda, 2005).
• If 8.Qc2 Nc6 then:
• If 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 then:
• 10...Be7 11.Rd1 Bf6 12.Ne4 Nce7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Bg5 Ned5 15.Ne5 b6 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.Qa4 Qe8 18.Qa3 Qb5 19.Rac1 a5 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ng4 Kg7 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Qh3 gives White the better game for now (Christiansen-Sadykov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 10...Re8 11.Rd1 Bf8 12.Qe4 Bd7 13.Bd3 f5 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Na5 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.Rb1 Qc7 19.c4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Nc6 21.Be3 is equal (Adams-Asrian, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• If 9.Bd3 Ba5 10.a3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.0-0 Qd5 15.c4 Qf5 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.Qb3 b6 18.Rd1+ Ke7 19.a4 Rhd8 20.Ba3+ Kf6 21.Bd6 g5 22.Qb2+ Kg6 23.Ra3 e5 24.Qe2 f6 25.h4 g4 26.Rg3 h5 27.f3 Qf4 28.Kh2 Rac8 29.fxg4 Rxc4 30.Bxe5!! Qxe5 31.gxh5+ Black resigns (Nepomniachtchi-Sulashvili, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 10...h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rd1 Nce7 13.Ne5 Bd7 14.Ne4 Bc7 15.Qe2 Nf5 16.Nc5 Bc6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ with an excellent game for White (Nepomniachtchi-Kharitonov, Euro Ch, Plotdiv, 2008).

7.Bb5 e6

• 7...Nxc3 is a drawish continuation: 8.bxc3 Qd5 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.Bc4 Bxf3 11.Bxd5 Bxe2 12.Kxe2 Rc8 13.Rb1 draw (Gashimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).

8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.Re1 Bd7

• 10...Qd6 11.Bc4 a6 12.Bb3 Nf6 13.Bg5 Rd8 14.Rc1 Na5 15.Bc2 b5 16.Qd3 g6 17.d5 then:
• 17...Bb7?! 18.Qd4 Nxd5 19.Qh4 Bxg5 20.Nxg5 gives White an excellent game (Kiik-Frenklakh, IM Trmt, Helsinki, 2001).
• 17...Nxd5 18.Ne4 Qc7 19.Bb3 Qb6 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 is equal.

11.Bd3 Rc8

• 11...Nf6 12.a3 Rc8 13.Bb1 Re8 14.Qd3 g6 15.Ba2 a6 16.Bh6 gives White more freedom (Gligoric-Pomar, Ol, Nice, 1974).

12.Nxd5

• 12.a3 a6 13.Bb1 Re8 14.h4 Na5 15.Ne5 g6 16.h5 Nc4! 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Qg4 Bf6 20.Bh6 Re7 21.Qxg6+ gives White a tremendous game (Izoria-Dive, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

12...exd5 13.Ne5 Bf6!?

• If 13...Nxe5 14.Rxe5 then:
• 14...Be6? 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 Bg4 17.h3 f6 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kh8 20.Re3 Black resigns (Vaganian-Serper, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
• White stands better after 14...Bc6 15.Qg4 Bf6 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Rxg5 Qf6 18.Re5, but no disaster follows for Black.

14.Bf4 g6 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qb4 Be6 17.Bh6

• White uses the holes in Black's position to disrupt Black's setup and gain time.
• Too risky is 17.Re2!? when:
• 17...Be7 18.Qa4 Qb6 19.Bh6 Rfd8 20.Rae1 Bb4 21.Bd2 is equal.
• 17...Nc6?! 18.Nxc6! Rxc6 19.Qxb7 Qb6 20.Qxb6 Rxb6 21.Be3 is strong for White.

17...Bg7?!

• This is a bad mistake. Without the dark-bound Bishop, the weakness of Black dark-square complex around his King is accentuated.
• 17...Re8 18.b3 Nc6 19.Qa4 Bxe5 20.dxe5 f6 is equal.

18.Bxg7 Kxg7
BLACK: Jan Smeets
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 18...Kg8g7:B

19.h4?

• White immediately begins maneuvers against the weakened Black King position, but this is not the right way to do it.
• White should bring his pieces around to the kingside and secure his queenside from counterplay. Better is 19.Re2 Re8 20.Rae1 Re7 21.b3 when:
• After 21...Nc6 22.Nxc6 Rxc6 23.Qd2 Rec7 24.a3 Qh4 25.f4 White begins to paralyse Black's kingside.
• 21...Kg8?! 22.a3 a6 23.f4 b5 24.g4 White's attack begins to look promising.

19...Re8 20.h5

• White continues with his faulty plan. The game is equal.

20...f6

• 20...gxh5 21.Rac1 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 h4 23.Bb5 Re7 is equal.

21.Nf3 b6?!

• It's just a small wrinkle, but enough to let White back in.
• 21...Qc7 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Re2 Nc6 remains equal.

22.Bb5!

• White kicks Black's heavy pieces.

22...Re7 23.Re2 Rcc7?

• This move proves to be inadequate defensively.
• After the more active 23...Nc6! 24.Bxc6 Rxc6 25.Rae1 White is still a long ways from winning./li]

24.Rae1!

• Black's Bishop is now in mortal danger.

24...Kf7 25.Qd2 Qf8

• Again, Black's passive defense fails. He was expecting 26.Qh6/
• If 25...Bf5 26.Qh6! g5 27.g4 then:
• 27...Rxe2 28.Rxe2 Be4 29.Rxe4 dxe4 30.Qxh7+ Kf8 31.Qxe4 gives White a strong position.
• 27...Be4 28.Rxe4 Rxe4 29.Rxe4 transposes.

BLACK: Jan Smeets
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 25...Qd8f8

26.Qf4!

• Black still offers resistance after 26.hxg6+ hxg6 27.Bd3 Bg4 28.Qf4 Bxf3 29.Qxf3.

26...Bf5 27.g4 Bc8 28.b4

• 28.g5! wins faster after 28...Kg8 29.gxf6 Rxe2 30.Rxe2 or
• 28...f5 29.Qd6 Rxe2 30.Qxc7+ Qe7 31.Rc1.

28...Nb7 29.Bc6 1-0

• If 29...Rxc6 30.Ng5+ Ke8 31.Nxh7 g5 32.Qb8 Black begins losing material.
• 29...gxh5 30.Bxd5+ Kg7 31.gxh5 Kh8 32.Ne5 Black is finished.
• Mh. Smeets resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Domínguez - Aronian, Corus A, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Lenier Domínguez
Photo: Website of the 2005 Bermuda Chess Festival


Lenier Domínguez - Levon Aronian
Corus Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, 30 January 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Anti-Marshall Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d4

• 8.c3 then:
• 8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 is the Marshall Gambit, which White usually tries to avoid.
• 8...d6 9.h3 returns to the Main Line; Black has a half-dozen good 9th moves.

8...Nxd4

• 8...d6 9.c3 Bg4 transposes into the Yates Opening.

9.Nxd4

• 9.Bxf7+ Rxf7 10.Nxe5 Rf8 11.Qxd4 c5 12.Qd1 Qc7 13.Nf3 Bb7 14.Nc3 Bd6 15.Bg5 Ng4 16.g3 Rae8 17.Nd5 Qb8 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.gxf4 Kh8 gives White an extra pawn that he probably won't keep very long (Vepkhvishvili-Chakvetadze, Op, Munster, 1995).

9...exd4 10.e5 Ne8 11.c3

• If 11.Qxd4 then:
• If 11...Bb7 12.c4 bxc4 13.Qxc4 d5 14.exd6 Nxd6 15.Qg4 Nb5 16.Nc3 then:
• If 16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bd6 18.Bf4 Qf6 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.Rad1 Rad8 then:
• 21.Re3 Rfe8 22.Rde1 Rxe3 23.Rxe3 g6 24.h4 h5 25.Qb4 Rd7 26.Rd3 Re7 27.Qd4 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Qe7 29.Re3 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Dortmund, 2007).
• 21.Qb4 Ba8 22.Re3 g6 23.Qb6 Qg5 24.Rg3 Qb5 25.Rxd6 Rxd6 26.Qxd6 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008).
• 16...Bf6 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Bd4 19.Qf4 c5 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Qe7 is equal (C. Balogh-Jenni, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 11...c5 12.Qe4 Rb8 13.c4 Bb7 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nd2 Nc7 16.Ne4 Ne6 17.Qd3 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 is equal (Kholmov-Smyslov, Sochi, 1974).

11...dxc3 12.Nxc3 d6 13.Bd5!?

• If 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Nd5 Rc8 15.Bf4 Bg5 16.Rad1 Kh8 17.Bc2 then:
• 17...f5? 18.Qh5 h6 19.Bxg5 Qxg5 20.Qxg5 hxg5 21.Ne7 and Black resigned on the 30th move (I. Gurevich-Dr. Nunn, IT, Hastings, 1992).
• 17...Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 c6 20.Rd2 is equal.

13...Rb8

• The game is equal.

14.Be3 Be6 15.Ba7

• 15.exd6 Qxd6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Ba7 remains equal.

15...Bxd5

• The Rook cannot be saved.
• 15...Rc8 16.Bb7 c5 17.Bxc8 Qxc8 is equal.

16.Bxb8 Bb7

• Black has a small initiative for his theoretical pawn minus.
• If 16...Bc6 17.Ba7 Qa8 18.Bd4 b4 then:
• 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Na4 Bxg2 21.Rxe8 Qxe8 22.Kxg2 is equal.
• 19.Ne2 Bxg2 20.Nf4 Bh1 21.exd6 Bxd6 22.Be5 Be4 gives Black a slight tactical edge.

17.Ba7 Qa8?!

• If 17...c5! 18.Rc1 Qc7 19.b4 then:
• If 19...c4! 20.Bd4 then:
• 20...Qc6 21.f3 dxe5 22.Rxe5 Bxb4 23.Nd5 Bd6 White's center will not hold.
• 20...dxe5 21.Rxe5 Bd6 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Bxh2+ keeps the initiative in Black's hands.
• If 19...dxe5?! then after 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Qxc5 22.Qd7 Ba8 23.Nb1 WQite has the initiative.

18.exd6

• If 18.Bd4 b4 19.exd6 Bxd6 then:
• 20.Na4! Bxg2 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Qg4 gives White a double attack on the Bishop and the mating square g7.
• 20.Nb1 Bxg2 21.Qg4 Bf3 gives Black the initiative.

18...Bxd6 19.Bd4 b4 20.Na4 Bxg2 21.Rxe8

• 21.Qg4 Bf3 22.Qg5 f6 23.Qf5 Bh1 24.Qh3 Bd5 is equal.

21...Qxe8

• White has a piece for two pawns.
• If 21...Rxe8 22.Qg4 g6 23.Qxg2 then:
• 23...Qe4 24.Qxe4 Rxe4 25.Bc5 White still has a piece for two pawns.
• 23...Qc8 24.Qf3 Qe6 25.Rc1 White has a strong advantage with more freedom; White is threatening mate in two and as long as that is the case Black's Queen must defend f6.

22.Kxg2 c5?!

• This weakens Black's grip on d6 and allows White launch an invasion.
• Better is 22...Qe4+ 23.f3 Qf4 24.Bg1 Re8 25.Qd3 Re5 26.Rd1 with equality.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 22...c7c5

23.Be3!

• White finds the best move.
• 23.Bxg7 Qc6+ 24.Qf3 Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Kxg7 26.Rd1 Bxh2 leaves Black two extra pawns.

23...Qc6+ 24.f3

• 24.Kg1 Rd8 25.Qc2 c4 26.Rc1 Re8 27.b3 c3 remains equal.

24...Re8 25.Bf2 c4 26.Nb6

• 26.Qc2! Qb5 27.Rd1 Bxh2 28.Nb6 Bc7 29.Rd5 gives White more activity.

26...c3

• 26...Be5 27.Qa4 Qxa4 28.Nxa4 c3 29.bxc3 bxc3 30.Re1! pins the Bishop so that the pawn falls.

27.bxc3 bxc3 28.Qd5

• 28.Rc1 Bf4 29.Rc2 Bd2 30.Na4 Qxa4 31.Rxd2 Qxd1 32.Rxd1 gives White a piece for two pawns.

28...Qc7 29.Nc4 Bb4

• 29...Bxh2 30.Qd3 Bf4 31.Re1 Rb8 32.Re4 gives White a piece for three pawns and domination of the center.

30.Rc1 Re2?

• This loses outright.
• After 30...Qf4 31.Rc2 Qf6 32.Qh5 Qd8 33.Qf5 White continues to enjoy a material advantage with the active game.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 31.Re8e2

31.Rxc3!!

• The proffered Rook cannot be accepted for Black then mates starting with 32...Qa8+.

31...h6 32.Re3 Rxa2 33.Re8+ Kh7

• White wins after 33...Bf8 34.Ne5 Ra5 35.Qe4 Qd6 36.Qf4.

34.Ne3 Rxf2+

• The Rook is almost a desperado.
• After 34...Rb2 35.Nd1 the Rook is a desperado, practically forcing the exchange on f2.

35.Kxf2 Bc3 36.Kg2 1-0

• White has a Rook for only two pawns.
• Grandmaster Aronian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Svidler - van Eijk, Round 1, Gibraltar

Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.com


Peter Svidler - Sander van Eijk
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 1
Gibraltar, 27 January 2009

Open Sicilian Game: O'Kelly Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nf5 d6 7.Nc3 g6 8.Ne3 Nge7!?

• The O'Kelly Defense is not terribly theoretical.
• 8...Bg7 9.g3 Nge7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 Rb8 12.f4 exf4 is equal (Chandler-Johansen, IT, Melbourne, 1983).

9.h4!?

• If 9.Ned5! Nxd5 10.Nxd5 then:
• 10...Nd4 11.Bd3 Bg7 12.Be3 0-0 13.0-0 gives White the advantage in space.
• 10...Be6 11.Be3 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qd8 13.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space.

9...h5

• 9...Nd4 10.Ned5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bg7 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 gives White greater activity.

10.Nc2 Bg7 11.Be3 0-0

• 11...f5 12.Bd3 0-0 13.Bg5 fxe4 14.Bxe4 gives White more space.

12.Qd2 Be6

• 12...f5 13.Bg5 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Bd3 Qc7 16.0-0 is equal.

13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.Kb1!?

• This is purely prophylactic. Although White's King is safer as a result of this move, taking the pawn at d6 wins faster.
• 14.Qxd6 Rfd8 15.Qc5 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Qd8+ 17.Nd5 gives White more activity with a focus on e7.

14...b5?

• This allows White to take advantage of an imbalance in the center.
• 14...Rad8 15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 f5 17.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space.

BLACK:Sander van Eijk
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after (move)
14...b7b5
15.Nd5!

• White finds the only winning line.
• 15.cxb5? axb5 16.a3 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4 ties both of White's Knights to the defense of the King.

15...Qxd2

• 15...Qd8 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxd6 Nd4 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Nd5 closes off Black's counterplay.

16.Rxd2 bxc4 17.Bxc4 Nxd5

• If 17...Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Rfc8 19.Rhd1 then:
• If 19...Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Bf8 then:
• 21.f3 Rab8 22.a3 Rb3 23.R1d3 Rxd3 24.Rxd3 gives Whate more activity.
• 21.b4? f5 22.f3 then:
• 22...Nb8 23.b5 axb5 24.exf5 gxf5 is equal.
• 22...Nd8 23.Bd2 Ne6 24.Ne3 fxe4 25.fxe4 is equal.
• 19...Bf8 20.Bb3 Na5 21.Rxd6 Nxb3 22.axb3 Nc6 23.Rd7 gives White an extra pawn.

18.Bxd5 Bd7 19.Bb3 Rfd8

• No better is 19...Na5 20.Rxd6 Bc6 21.Bd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Nc4 23.b3.

20.Rxd6 Be8 21.Rxg6! Kh8
BLACK:Sander van Eijk
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 21...Kg8h8

22.Bxf7!!

• Also good is 22.Rg5 f6 23.Rg3 Rab8 24.Rc1 Kh7 25.Bd5, but the text wins faster by removing the defender of the Knight, thus winning a pawn.

22...Bxf7 23.Rxc6 Rdc8

• If 23...Be8 then after 24.Rc5 Rac8 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Rd1 Bb5 27.Bg5 and 27...-- 28.Rd8+ White wins.

24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Rd1 1-0

• Black's best option is hopeless: 25...Bxa2+ 26.Kxa2 Rxc2 27.Kb3 Rc8 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• Mh. Van Eijk resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Vachier Lagrave - Dzagnidze, Round 3, Gibraltar

Newly minted grandmaster (not WGM, but full grandmaster) Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia, who won an individual gold medal at the chess Olympics in Dresden last autumn, won her first three games in Gibraltar, earning the right to play on the top board in the fourth round.

You go, girl.



Nana Dzagnidze
Photo: ChessBase.com


Maxime Vachier Lagrave - Nana Dzagnidze
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 3
Gibraltar, 29 January 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Royal Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Nb3

• If 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 then:
• If 8...d6 then:
• If 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 then:
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.h4 a5 then:
• If 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 then:
• 14...e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxa5 Bxb3 18.cxb3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 Rxb3 22.Bc5 Rc8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan, TMatch, Moscow, 1971).
• 14...Be6 15.Nb6 Ra6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Qc7 18.Ra4 Rb8 19.Kf2 h5 20.Re1 Ne8 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.g4 Qd8 23.Kg2 Ra7 24.Qe3 Rab7 25.Re4 Rb4 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• 13.h5 a4 14.Bd5 e5 15.Be3 b4 16.Ne2 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rc8 18.c3 bxc3 19.Nxc3 a3 20.bxa3 e4 is equal (Gresser-Rubtsova, Interzonal W, Ohrid, 1971).
• If 10...Rc8 11.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 b5 15.g4 a5 16.gxh5 a4 17.h6 Bh8 18.h7+ Nxh7 19.Bd5 b4 20.Nce2 Nxg5 21.hxg5 e6 22.Nf4 Bg7 23.Ndxe6 Bxe6 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bxe6+ Nf7 26.Qh2 Re8 is equal (Amonotov-Le Quang Liem, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 gives White four pawns for a minor piece (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 9.h3 Bd7 10.0-0 Qa5 11.f4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Qd3 Rad8 14.Rad1 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Nf6 17.Kh2 e5 18.fxe5 Qxe5+ 19.Kg1 a6 20.Rd3 Rd7 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.a3 h5 23.R3d2 h4 24.Rd3 Re8 25.Bd5 Qxd4+ 26.Rxd4 Bxd5 27.exd5 g5 is equal (I. Smirin-Lutz, Zonal, Dresden, 1998).
• If 8...a5 9.f3 d5 then:
• If 10.Bxd5 Nxd5 then:
• 11.Nxd5 f5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 fxe4 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.b3 exf3 19.gxf3 a4 20.Ke2 Ra8 is equal (Landa-Kuzubov, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Nde2 Bf5 13.Rc1 b5 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nxc2 17.Rxc2 Bxc2 18.Bh6 e5 19.Qxe5 f6 20.Qe6+ Rf7 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Qd7 23.Qxd7 Rxd7 24.Rxf6 Re8 25.Kf2 draw (DeFirmian-Pigusov, World Cup, Moscow, 1989).
• 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Nde2 a4 12.Nxa4 Nfxd5 13.Bf2 Bf5 14.0-0 b5 15.Nac3 Nxc3 16.Nxc3 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Bxc2 18.Bxc2 Nxc2 19.Rac1 Bxc3 20.Rxc2 Bf6 draw (Shirov-Lautier,IT, Tilburg, 1997).

6...d6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 Be6

• If 9...a6 10.Bf1 b5 then:
• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 then:
• 12...Nd7 13.Rb1 Nb6 14.Nd5 g5 15.Bg3 Nc4 16.c3 e6 17.Ne3 N4e5 18.f3 Bb7 19.Qd2 Qc7 20.Rbd1 Rad8 is equal (Schmaltz-Kotronias, Op, Athens, 2003).
• 12...Bb7 13.a4 b4 14.Nd5 Nd7 15.Rb1 Nb6 16.Qd2 Nxa4 17.Nxb4 Nxb4 18.Qxb4 Bc6 19.e5 Qb8 20.Qa3 g5 21.Bg3 dxe5 22.Nd4 give White more space and freedom (Gelfand-Kramnik, IT, Novgorod, 1996).
• 11.Nd5 Nd7 12.c3 e6 13.Ne3 Nb6 14.g3 Bb7 15.f4 Qc7 16.Bg2 Rad8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.h4 e5 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nc4 gives Black the best minor piece on the board in the Knight (Lenic-Kovacevic, Op, Bled, 2002).

10.Bg5

• If 10.Bf1 then:
• 10...d5 11.Nc5 Bg4 12.f3 d4 13.Ne2 Bc8 14.Nb3 Qb6 15.Nf4 e5 16.Nd3 Ne8 17.c3 Nd6 18.cxd4 Nb5 19.Be3 Nbxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 Qd6 is equal (Lekic-Kovacevic, Yugoslav Ch ½-final, Kladovo, 1994).
• 10...Re8 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb4 13.c4 Qd7 14.a3 Na6 15.Be3 Nc7 16.Rc1 e6 17.dxe6 Nxe6 18.Qf3 Qa4 19.Nd4 gives White more space and activity (Linares-Partac, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

10...a5

• 10...Rc8 11.Bf1 Ne5 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bg4 14.Qd2 Re8 15.c3 Bd7 16.Re4 Bf5 17.Rb4 Qc7 18.Re1 gives White more freedom (Yakovich-Leko, Op, Munich, 1991).
• 10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 d5 13.Nc5 d4 14.Nb5 Bc8 15.e5 Nd7 16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.Bc4 Qb6 is equal (Aronian-Milu, Ciocaltea Mem, Bucharest, 1998).

11.a3!?

• 11.Bb5 Ne5 12.h3 Rc8 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 a4 15.Bxa4 Nc4 16.Rb1 Qb6 17.Nd2 Nxb2 18.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space and greater activity (Geller-Knoppert, IT, Berlin, 1991).

11...a4

• The players have thrown out the book with an equal position.
• If 11...Nd7 12.Be3 then:
• 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qc7 14.Nd4 remains equal.
• 12...Bxb3 13.cxb3 Nc5 14.Rc1 Rc8 remains equal.

12.Nd2 Ra5

• Black signals that she is in an aggressive mood.
• 12...Qb6 13.Rb1 Nd4 14.Nf3 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 remains equal.

13.Be3 d5 14.exd5

• 14.b4 axb3 15.Nxb3 Ra8 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 remains equal.

14...Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Rxd5 16.c3

• 16.Qc1 Nd4 17.Bd3 Qc7 18.Ne4 Bd7 19.Bf4 e5 remains equal.

16...Ne5 17.Bd4

• If 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.Ne4 b5 19.Rad1 Qa8 then:
• 20.Rxd5 Qxd5 21.f3 Nc4 22.Bxc4 Qxc4 gives Black more activity.
• 20.f3 Rfd8 21.Rxd5 Rxd5 22.Bd4 Qa5 23.Qc1 is equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 17.Be3d4

17...Rxd4!?

• Black decides to muddy the waters.
• 17...Qa5 18.b4 axb3 19.Nxb3 Qc7 20.Qc1 remains equal.

18.cxd4 Qxd4

• The game is now unclear. Black has only a pawn for the exchange, but her pieces are more active.

19.Nf1

• If 19.Nf3 Qxd1 20.Raxd1 Nxf3+ 21.Bxf3 Bxb2 22.Rb1 theoretically evens the material, but White has some counterplay.

19...Nc6 20.Qxd4?!

• This inaccuracy begins White's downfall. Black is behind in space and the b-pawn is under attack, but this is not the best way to relieve the pressure.
• If 20.Ne3! then:
• if 20...Rd8 21.Qxd4 Bxd4 22.Rab1 then:
• if 22...Bf6 23.Bd1 b5 24.Rc1 then:
• 24...Na5 25.Rc2 Nc4 26.Bf3 Nxb2 27.Be2 b4 28.axb4 is equal.
• 24...Nd4 25.Bg4 Bb3 26.Rc7 Kg7 27.Rb7 is equal.
• If 22...Ba2? 23.Rbd1 then:
• 23...e5 24.Rd2 f5 25.Bd1 b5 26.Be2 f4 27.Nf1 is equal.
• 23...Bb3?! 24.Rd2 Bg7 25.Rxd8+ Nxd8 26.Bd1 gives White the initiative.
• 20...Qxb2 21.Qxa4 Bb3 22.Qg4 Ra8 23.Nc4 is equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 20.Qd1d4:Q

20...Bxd4!

• Black takes back with the Bishop, which continues to target the b-pawn.
• Less aggressive is recaptturing with the Knight: 20...Nxd4 21.Ne3 Rc8 22.Bd3 Nb3 23.Rab1 Rd8 24.Bc2 is equal.

21.Bb5 Bxb2

• Black has restored a theoretical material balance with the active game.

22.Rab1 Bc3

• Also good is 23.Bxa4 Ra8 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Ra1 Ra7 26.Ne3.

23.Rec1 Bf5 24.Bxc6

• If 24.Bxa4 Nd4 then:
• 25.Bd1 Bxb1 26.Rxc3 Rd8 27.Ne3 Be4 28.a4 e5 gives Black an extra pawn and a solid center.
• 25.Rb3 Nxb3 26.Rxc3 Nd4 27.Bd1 Rc8 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8 gives Black an extra pawn.

24...bxc6 25.Rb7 Bd4

• 25...Bf6 26.Rb4 e5 27.Ne3 Be6 28.Rxc6 Be7 29.Rxa4 leaves White up by an exchange.

26.Rxe7 Rb8

• If 26...Bb2 27.Rxc6 Bxa3 then:
• 28.Ra7 Bb2 29.Ne3 Be6 30.Rxa4 Bd7 wins back the exchange with equality.
• 28.Rec7 Rd8 29.Ne3 Bd7 is equal.

27.Ree1!?

• White falls back without reason, letting Black take the initiative.
• If 27.Rc4 c5 28.Rxa4 then:
• 28...Rb1 29.Ra8+ Kg7 30.Rae8 Bd3 31.Re1 leaves White an exchange to the good.
• 28...Rb2 29.h3 Bxf2+ 30.Kh2 Be6 31.Raa7 c4 gives Black the initiative.

27...c5 28.Ng3

• If 28.Rc4 Ra8 then:
• 29.Nd2 Bd3 30.Rcc1 Rd8 31.Ne4 c4 is equal.
• If 29.Ng3 Bd3 30.Rxd4 cxd4 31.Rd1 then:
• 31...Bc2 32.Rxd4 Rb8 33.Nf1 Rb1 is clearly better for Black.
• Also good is 31...Bb5 32.Rxd4 Rc8 33.Rd1 f5 34.h3 Rc3.

28...Bd3!?

• 28...Rb3 29.Nxf5 gxf5 30.Kf1 Kg7 31.Re2 Rxa3 gives Black the more active game.

29.Ne2 Bb2 30.Rxc5 Bxa3 31.Re5

• If 31.Rc3?? then after 31...Bb4! 32.Rxd3 Bxe1 33.Rd1 Bb4 Black should win.

31...Bb2 32.Re3 Bc2 33.Nc3

• If 33.Re7 a3 34.Rc7 Bb3 then:
• If 35.Nc1 Be6 36.Rc2 Ra8 37.h3 a2 38.Nxa2 Rxa2 then:
• 39.g3 Ra1 40.Rxa1 Bxa1 gives Black more activity.
• After 39.Rb1 Bh8 40.Rxa2 Bxa2 41.Rb8+ Kg7 42.f4 h5 Black's Bishops are stronger than White's Rook.
• After 35.Nc3 Kg7 36.g4 Ra8 37.Rb1 Be6 38.g5 Bh3 White will have to give up the Knight to stap the a-pawn.

33...Kf8

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 33...Kg8f8

34.Nxa4?

• White did not need to give up his Knight to stop the pawn.
• 34.g4 a3 35.g5 Bf5 36.Kg2 Ra8 37.Na2 Be6 will give White some tough going, but for the moment his game is playable.

34...Bxa4 35.h4

• 35.R3e2 Bg7 36.g4 g5 37.h3 Bd4 38.Rc1 Kg7 gives Black more activity.

35...h5 36.Re4

• 36.Kh2 Bc6 37.Kg3 Rb4 38.f3 Bd4 gives Black a strong initiative.

36...Bc2 37.Rc4 Bf5 38.g3 Bf6 39.Ra4

• 39.Rc6 Be6 40.Rc2 Ke7 41.f3 Rb3 42.Kg2 Rd3 43.Ree2 Kd6 gives Black more freedom.

39...Rb2 40.Ra8+ Kg7 41.Rae8 Be6

• If 41...Bg4 42.R8e4 Bd8 then:
• 43.Kf1 Ba5 44.Ra1 Bh3+ 45.Kg1 Bb6 46.Rf4 f6 gices White a mating attack.
• 43.Rf4 Bc7 44.Rc4 Bb6 45.Rf4 Kf8 46.Ra1 Bd7 gives Black more freedom.

42.Rd1 Bc3 43.Red8 Ba5

• 43...Bg4 44.Rc1 Ba5 45.Rd4 Bb6 46.Rf4 f6 Black should have no trouble winning.

44.R8d4 Bg4 45.Rc1

• If 45.Ra1 Bb6 46.Rf4 f6 47.Ra8 g5 48.hxg5 fxg5 then:
• 49.Rff8 Bc5 50.Rfb8 Bxf2+ 51.Kg2 Bb6+ Black wins.
• 49.Rxg4 Bxf2+ 50.Kf1 hxg4 leaves Black a piece to the good.

45...Bd2 46.Ra1 Bc3 47.Rc4

• If 47.Rda4 Be6 48.Rc1 Bd5! then:
• 49.Kf1 Bb3 50.Re4 Bc2 51.Re8 Bd4 52.Kg2 Bf5 Black has the White King boxed in.
• 49.g4 Bd2 50.Rca1 Rb3 51.R4a3 hxg4 wins a pawn.

47...Be5 48.Rac1 Bf5 49.Re1

• 49.Rd1 Be6 50.Rcc1 Bg4 51.Rd5 Bb8 then:
• 52.Ra5 Bf3 53.Rca1 Kf6 54.R5a2 Rxa2 55.Rxa2 Bd6 gives White's coordinated Bishops the upper hand on White's Rook.
• 52.Rdc5 Bf5 53.Ra5 Bd6 54.Rca1 Bb1 gives Black a won position.

49...Bd3 50.Ra4 Bb5 51.Rae4 Bc7 52.Rc1 Bb6 53.Rf4 f5

• If 53...Ba6 54.Re1 f5 55.Re6 Bd3 then:
• 56.Re7+ Kh6 57.Re8 Be4 both of White's Rooks are cut off; Black wins easily.
• 56.Rd6 Be4 57.Kf1 Kh6 58.Re6 Rb4 59.f3 Bd3+ puts White in a mating net.

54.Rd1 Bc6 55.Rc1 Be4 56.Re1 Rb4 57.Rc1 Bd4 0-1

• 58.Kf1 Be5 59.Rxe4 fxe4 gives Black an extra piece.
• M. Vachier Lagrave resigns.