The JR Chess Report (May 29): Sargissian & Ehlvest Take Chicago; Chinese Championships Begin

[Jack Rabbit]

Sargissian, Ehlvest Win Chicago Open



Grandmasters Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and Jaan Ehlvest of New York by way of Estonia won the 18th annual Chicago Open in Wheeling, Illinois with 5½ points each in seven rounds.

The tournament was won on Memorial Day morning in the first of two rounds scheduled for the day. With several players tied with 4 point out of five rounds, Sargissian defeated another co-leader, Foxwoods Open champion Darmen Sadvakasov, while Ehlvest won his game against former US champion Alex Shabalov, who was also tied for the lead. This put Ehlvest and Sargissian in a two-way tie.

All of the important seventh round games ended in draws, including a very short affair between the two leaders.

Finishing tied for third place with 5 point each were former Dutch national champion Loek van Wely, 2008 US champion Yury Shulman, 2007 US champion Alex Shabalov, and American GMs Var Akobian, Giorgi Kacheishvili and Ben Feingold.


Chinese National Championships Underway



The Chinese national championships began Tuesday in Xinghua Jiangsu.

The championship is split into events, one general and one for women. Both are 11-game single round robin tournaments among 12 players.

The reigning Chinese women's champion, 15-year-old Hou Yifan, is not defending her title this year. Instead, she is playing in the tougher general tournament, where the top seed is grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi and the defending champion is Ni Hua.

The top seed among the women is grandmaster Zhao Xue, who is competing against the strong WGM and former world girls' champion Shen Yang and the recently crowned reigning Asian women's champion, Zhang Xiaowen.

After four rounds, 19-year-old grandmaster Wang Hao, who recently finished tied for second in Sarajevo, leads the general competition with 3½ points, while Shen Yang and Tan Zhongyi are tied for first in the women's competition with 3½ points each.


Calendar

Sigeman Co Chess Tournament, Malmø 3-7 June.

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

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2-12 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants; US Champ Nakamura will also compete.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 19-30 July. This year's GM Tournament is a Category 19 that includes Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier Lagrave and Caruana.

Pan-American Continental Championship, São Paulo 25 July-2 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial, London 8-17 August. Played at historic Simpson's Divan.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. MTel Masters, Sofia

Sofia
Photo by Podoboq

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Shirov - Carlsen, Round 10

The game that decided Sofia.



Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alexei Shirov - Magnus Carlsen
5th MTel Masters, Round 10
Sofia, 23 May 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.c4 f5 14.0-0 0-0

• For a discussion of the moves up to here, see Anand-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2009.

15.Qh5

• If 15.Qf3 then:
• If 15...d5 16.cxd5 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Rb8 then:
• If 18.Rfd1 then:
• 18...f5 19.d6 Qf6 20.Bc6 Be6 21.Bd5 Rbd8 22.Qb3 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Nc2 Rxd6 24.Bxf7+ Rxf7 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Ne3 f4 27.Rd1 is equal (Anand-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 22...Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Kh8 24.Rad1 e4 25.Nc2 White still has an extra pawn, and it's moving up the d-file (Bach-T. Kosintseva, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• If 18...Qd7 19.d6 Rb6 20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Rac1 Bf8 then:
• 22.Rc7 Qxc7 23.Bxh7+ Kg7 24.dxc7 Rxd3 25.Bxd3 Rc6 26.Nc2 f5 27.Ne3 e4 28.Bb1 Rxc7 29.g4 fxg4 30.Bxe4 gives White an extra pawn.(Galkin-Khairullin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 22.Qg3+ Bg7 23.Qh4 Rxd6 24.Bxh7+ Kf8 25.Qb4 Bb7 26.Nc2 gives White an extra pawn (Vallejo-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2004).
• 18...Qh4 19.g3 Qg5 20.Qb3 Bg4 21.Bf3 f5 22.Bxg4 Qxg4 23.Rac1 f4 24.d6+ gives White an extra pawn and command of the open c-file, but Black has plenty of play (Topalov-Radjabov, IT, Linares, 2004).
• 18.Rad1 Rb6 19.Qd3 Qd7 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Qe3 Rh6 22.Bc2 Qd6 23.g3 Bh3 24.Rfe1 f5 25.f4 exf4 26.Qe7 Qb6+ White resigns (P. Smirnov-Radjabov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• 15...bxc4 16.Nxc4 d5 17.exd5 e4 18.Qe3 Bb7 19.d6 Qf6 20.Bc2 f4 21.Qh3 Rac8 22.b3 Qg5 23.d7 Rc6 24.Bxe4 gives White two extra pawns (Anand-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).

15...Rb8

• Black lets a pawn go hoping to gain initiative in the center.
• 15...bxc4 16.Nxc4 Rb8 17.exf5 e4 18.Bc2 Rb5 19.Rad1 is equal.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$ Tv+ Tl+%
$+ + WoVo%
$o+ O + +%
$+o+ Oo+q%
$ +p+p+ +%
$N +b+ + %
$pP + PpP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 15...Ra8b8

16.exf5!

• 16.cxb5!? fxe4 17.Bxe4 f5 18.Bd5+ then:
• 18...Kh8 19.Qe2 e4 20.Rfb1 Qe5 21.Qc4 is equal.
• 18...Be6?! 19.Rfd1 axb5 20.Qe2 b4 21.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space.

16...e4

• If 16...bxc4?? then 17.f6! wins the house.

17.Rae1 Bb7 18.Qg4 Rfe8!?

• Black sacrifices two more pawns in an attempt to roll in the center.
• Better is 18...Kh8 19.Bxe4 Rfe8 20.Re3 Bxe4 21.Rfe1 Qf6 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Qxe4 Qxb2 24.Nc2 bxc4 with equality (Shadrina-T. Kosintseva, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

19.cxb5 d5 20.bxa6 Bc6 21.b3

• 21.Be2 Rxb2 22.Rc1 h5 23.Qxh5 Ba4 24.f6 Bxf6 25.Qxd5 is equal (Najer-Yakovich, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

21...Kh8?

• Black introduces a new move and loses quickly.
• 21...Bd7 22.a7 Rb7 23.Nc4 Rd8 24.Ne3 exd3 25.Nxd5 Qd6 26.Qg5?! f6! gives Black counterplay (Hilario-Cordova, South American ChU20, Buenos Aires, 2007).
• 26.Qh4! Bxf5 27.Ne7+ Rxe7 28.Qxe7 Qd5 29.Re3 gives White pressure up the middle while the pawn at a7 ties down Black's defensive resources.

22.Nc2 Be5

• 22...Bc3 23.Re3 Qf6 24.Be2 d4 25.Rxc3 dxc3 26.Rc1 gives White the advantage in material and space.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$ T +t+ L%
$+ + Wp+p%
$p+v+ + +%
$+ +oVp+ %
$ + +o+q+%
$+p+b+ + %
$p+n+ PpP%
$+ + RrK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 22...Bg7e5

23.Be2!

• White extricates himself from White's last threat.

23...d4

• Black tries to generate counterplay with his center pawns.

24.Bc4 Rg8 25.Qh3 Rg7

• A more stubborn defense is 25...Rbd8 26.a3 Ba8 27.Rd1 Qf6 28.f3 e3 29.Ne1 but Black's central pawn are slowed.

26.g3 Rbg8

• 26...d3 27.Ne3 Rd8 28.Rc1 Bb2 29.Rb1 wins for White.

27.Qh6 Qc7 28.Nb4 Ba8 29.Nd5 Qd8 30.Rxe4 1-0

• If 30...f6 then after 31.Rxe5 fxe5 32.Nf6 Rf8 33.Nh5 Ra7 34.f6 Black is crushed.
• Magnus resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Ivanchuk - Topalov, Round 5

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Vassily Ivanchuk - Veselin Topalov
5th MTel Masters, Round 5
Sofia, 17 May 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Open Defense)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6

• For a survey of variations on this opening, see T. Kosintseva-Zdebskaja, Euro ChTW, St. Petersburg, 2009.

7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.Bd3

• If 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 then:
• If 13...Nc5 14.f6 gxf6 15.gxf6 Bf8 16.Rg1 h5 17.a3 then:
• 17...Bd7 18.Bh3 Rb8 19.Nd5 exd5 20.exd5 Bxh3 21.Qxh3 Nd7 22.Nc6 Rb6 23.Rg7 Rxc6 24.dxc6 Nxf6 gives Blaxk two minor pieces for a Rook (Anh Dung Nguyen-Gundavaa, Doha, 2006).
• 17...Rb8 18.e5 Bb7 19.Qg3 d5 20.Bh3 Bc8 21.Nf5 exf5 22.Nxd5 Qa7 23.Qg7 Rh6 24.Qg8 Be6 25.Ne7 White will soon recover his material deficet with interest (Bescos-Borowiec, Corres, 2004).
• If 13...Bxg5+ 14.Kb1 Ne5 15.Qh5 then:
• 15...Qd8 16.Rg1 Bf6 17.fxe6 0-0 18.Bh3 g6 19.Nd5 Kh8 20.Qe2 fxe6 21.Bxe6 Re8 22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.h4 Bxh4 draw (Matulovic-Gheorghiu, Zonal, Vraca, 1975).
• 15...Qe7 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.fxe6 g6 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Qe2 Kg7 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Qe1 Rf8 22.h4 Bh6 23.h5 Rc8 24.hxg6 hxg6 gives Black more space and White greater freedom (Berg-Ahlander, Swedish Ch, Umea, 2003).

10...h6 11.Qh3

• If 11.Bh4 g5 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4 14.Nf3 then:
• If 14...hxg5 15.Bg3 Bd7 16.h3 then:
• 16...Nxf3 17.hxg4 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Nh4 19.e5 Bc6 20.exd6 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.Ne4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 0-0-0 is equal (Kvon-Esen, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• 16...Nf6 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Bf2 Bc6 19.Rhf1 Nh5 20.g3 0-0-0 21.Kb1 Ng7 22.Be3 f5 23.Qf2 Rdf8 24.Bb6 is equal (Ivanchuk-Zhe Quan, Canadian Op, Edmonton, 2005).
• If 14...Nxf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.Bg3 Ne5 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Bd7 then:
• 19.Rdf1 Rh7 20.h4 0-0-0 21.h5 Rdh8 22.Kb1 Bf8 23.Nd1 Bh6 24.Bxh6 Rxh6 is equal (Zenklusen-Navara, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• 19.h4 Rxh4 20.Rxh4 Bxh4 21.Qh5 Bf6 22.Qh6 Ng4 23.Qh5 Ne5 24.Qh6 Ng4 25.Qh5 Ne5 draw (Estrin-Sanakoev, Corres, 1978).

11...Nc5

• If 11...Nb6 12.f5 e5 then:
• 13.Nb3 Bd7 14.Kb1 Bc6 15.Rhe1 Nbd7 16.g4 is equal (Naiditsch-Kempinski, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2007).
• If 13.Nde2 Bd7 14.Kb1 Bc6 15.Be3 then:
• 15...d5 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.exd5 Ba3 18.b3 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Be4 Nf6 21.Qf3 0-0 22.Bxb7 Ra7 Black is compensated for the pawn in space (Dr. Nunn-Sadler, IT, Hastings, 1998).
• 15...0-0-0 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Bc4 Kb8 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Bg5 21.Rhd1 Be3 22.Qg3 gives White more freedom (Roberts-Britton, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).

12.Rhe1 Rg8 13.Bh4!?

• 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 hxg5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space (Planinc-Najdorf, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).

13...g5

• Black has the initiative for now.

14.e5 dxe5 15.fxg5

• 15.fxe5? Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qg3 Qa5 gives Black a very strong game.

15...hxg5 16.Bg3 Ncd7 17.Nxe6?

• This would have worked if Black had to recapture the Knight. He doesn't.
• 17.Rf1 Qc5 18.Nb3 g4 19.Qh6 Qc7 is equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+t+%
$+oWmVo+ %
$o+ +nM +%
$+ + O O %
$ + + + +%
$+ Nb+ Bq%
$pPp+ +pP%
$+ KrR + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 17.Nd4e6:p

17...Qb6!

• Black threatens to win the Knight.
• The text is better than 17...fxe6 18.Qxe6 Qc6 when:
• 19.Qxc6 bxc6 20.Bf5 Kf7 21.Ne4 Ra7 Black is a piece to the good with all his pieces protecting one another.
• 19.Bf5 Qxe6 20.Bxe6 Rf8 21.Bxd7+ Nxd7 Black is a pieces to the good.

18.Bc4

• 18.Bh7 g4 19.Qh6 Qxe6 20.Bxg8 Nxg8 21.Qg7 Qh6+ 22.Qxh6 Nxh6 gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook.

18...g4 19.Qh6 fxe6

• Black is a piece to the good.

20.Bh4 Bf8 21.Qd2 Qc6 22.Bd3 b5 23.Ne4 Nd5 24.Rf1 Bb7 25.Rxf8+

• If 25.Qf2 then after 25...Nf4 26.g3 Nxd3+ 27.Rxd3 Bh6+ Black still has a strong game.

25...Nxf8 26.Qh6 Rg6 27.Nf6+ Rxf6 28.Bxf6!?

• White has nothing better than to try to swindle his opponent.
• 28.Qh8 Rf4 29.Bg5 e4 30.Bxf4 Nxf4 31.Bf1 Rc8 leaves White two pieces down in a hopeles position.

28...Nxf6?

• Black allows White to take the initiative on the kingside.
• If 28...Qc5 29.Qh5+ Kd7 30.Bxe5 Rc8 then:
• 31.Kb1 g3 32.h3 Rd8 33.Be2 b4 34.Bxg3 Rc8 gives Black the initiative.
• 31.Bd4 Qd6 32.g3 Kd8 33.Qxg4 Nd7 34.Be4 e5 gives Black a material advantage and the initiative.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$t+ +lM +%
$+v+ + + %
$o+w+oM Q%
$+o+ O + %
$ + + +o+%
$+ +b+ + %
$pPp+ +pP%
$+ Kr+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 28...Nd5f6:B

29.Bg6+!

• White fights back and quickly equalizes.

29...Nxg6 30.Qxg6+ Ke7 31.Qg7+ Ke8 32.Qxf6 Rc8

• The threat of mate is made idle by the counter threat of perpetual check.

33.c3

• 33.Qg6+ Ke7 34.Qg7+ Ke8 35.Qg6+ Ke7 36.Qg7+ draws.

33...b4 34.Qg6+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Ke8 36.Rf1!?

• Black decides to keep the game going, although he will be no better than equal for now. He could have just forced a draw by perpetual check.

36...Qc5!

• Any other move loses.

37.Qxb7?

• White is a little too hasty to recapture the piece.
• 37.Qf7+ Kd8 38.Rd1+ Bd5 39.Qxe6 Qe3+ 40.Kb1 Qe4+ 41.Kc1 Qf4+ leaves Black little more than a draw by repetition.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ +t+l+ +%
$+q+ + + %
$o+ +o+ +%
$+ W O + %
$ O + +o+%
$+ P + + %
$pP + +pP%
$+ K +r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 37.Qg7b7:B

37...Qe3+!

• Black finds the winning move.
• If 37...Rc7? 38.Qa8+ Rc8 39.Qxa6 Ke7 40.Qd3 then:
• 40...Rc7 41.Qh7+ Kd6 42.Rd1+ Kc6 43.Qe4+ wins for White.
• 40...Qc4 41.Qh7+ Kd6 42.Rd1+ Kc5 43.Qb7 wins for White.

38.Kc2 Qe2+ 39.Kb3 Qc4+ 40.Kc2 b3+ 41.Kd2

• If 41.axb3 then Black wins after after 41...Qe2+ 42.Kb1 Qxf1+ 43.Ka2 Rd8.

41...Rd8+ 42.Ke1 Rd1+!

• Black forces the exchange of Rooks before White's Rook finds counterplay.
• 42...Rd7?! 43.Qb8+ Rd8 44.Rf8+ Kxf8 45.Qxd8+ Kf7 46.axb3 gives Black serious chances of a draw.

43.Kxd1 Qxf1+ 44.Kd2 Qf4+ 45.Kd1

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ + +l+ +%
$+q+ + + %
$o+ +o+ +%
$+ + O + %
$ + + Wo+%
$+oP + + %
$pP + +pP%
$+ +k+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 45.Kd2d1

45...bxa2!

• It's time to blow the candle out.

46.Qc8+ Kf7 47.Qd7+ Kf6 48.Qd8+ Kf5 49.Qf8+ Ke4 50.Qa8+

• If 50.Qb4+ then after 50...Kd3 51.Qd6+ Qd4 52.Qxa6+ Qc4 53.Qa7 Qb3+ Black wins easily.

50...Kd3

• Black threatens mate on the next move.

51.Qxa6+

• White parries for now, but the game is Black's.

51...Qc4 52.Qa7 g3 53.h3

• White parries another mating threat.
• 53.hxg3 Qg4+ 54.Kc1 Qg5+ 55.Kd1 Qd2#.

53...Qb3+ 54.Ke1 Kc2 0-1

• There is no way to stop the a-pawn from queening.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Asian Continental Championships, Subic Bay

Subic Bay
Photo by Onat

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Zhang Xiaown - Zhu Chen, Round 4

A game from the women's competition, in which the eventual winner, a mere WIM, defeats the former women's world champion.



Zhang Xiaowen
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Zhang Xiaowen - Zhu Chen
8th Asian Continental Championships (Women's Competition), Round 4
Subic Bay, 16 May 2009

Vienna Game: Rat Defense

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5

• 4.Nf3 transposes into the Epine Dorsal line of the Rat Defense, commonly called the Philidor Defense.

4...dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Be3

• If 6.Bc4 Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.f3 then:
• If 8...Bd6 9.Be3 a6 10.Nh3 Ke7 11.Nf2 Nc6 then:
• 12.0-0-0 h6 13.Ne2 b5 14.Kb1 Rhb8 15.Nd3 a5 16.Rc1 Nb4 17.Rhd1 Nd7 18.c4 bxc4 19.Rxc4 gives White the advantage in space and pawn structure (Maze-Eismont, TT, Belgium, 2005).
• 12.Nd3 Nd7 13.Nd1 h6 14.c3 Na5 15.Bf2 c5 16.Bh4+ g5 17.Bg3 c4 18.N3f2 Nf6 19.Ng4 Nxg4 20.fxg4 is equal (Rublevsky-Comas, Spanish ChT, Lugo, 2005).
• 8...Bc5 9.Nge2 a6 10.Na4 Ba7 11.b3 Nc6 12.Nb2 Nb4 13.Kd1 Ke7 14.Bd2 Rhd8 15.Kc1 Bc5 16.a3 Nc6 17.Nd3 Bd6 18.Kb2 Kf7 19.Rad1 h6 20.Ng3 b5 21.Be3 Nd7 22.Rd2 gives White a more active game (Ganguly-Al Sayed, TT, Macau, 2007).
• If 6.Bg5 Be6 7.0-0-0+ Nbd7 then:
• If 8.f4 exf4 9.Nf3 Kc8 10.Bxf4 then:
• 10...Bc5 11.h3 Nh5 12.Bh2 Be3+ 13.Kb1 Bf4 14.g4 Bxh2 15.Rxh2 Nf4 16.Rf2 Ng6 17.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (P. Smirnov-Bocharov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2005).
• 10...Nh5 11.Bd2 Nhf6 12.Ng5 Ng4 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Re1 draw (van der Wiel-Azmaiparashvili, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• 8.Nf3 Kc8 9.a3 a6 10.Bh4 h6 11.Be2 b5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nh4 Bc5 14.Rhf1 is equal (Castenada-C. Berczes, First Saturday, Budapest, 2001.06).

6...Bd6!?

• This move departs from the book; it's a little too soon to make a good evaluation of the position with so many pieces yet undeveloped, but White maintains the right to castle and can seize the d-file immediately.
• 6...Be6 7.Nf3 Ng4 8.Bg5+ f6 9.Bh4 Nd7 10.h3 Nh6 11.Nd2 Bb4 12.Nd1 c6 is equal (Vokroj-Moser, Austrian ChT, Graz, 2001).

7.0-0-0

• White castles and seizes the d-file.

7...Ke7!?

• If 7...Be6 8.Nf3 Ng4 9.Bc5 then:
• 9...Kc8 10.Bxd6 Nxf2 11.Bxe5 Nxh1 12.Bd4 Black is up by an excahange, but her Knight is imprisoned on h1.
• 9...Nd7 10.Bxd6 Nxf2 11.Bxe5 Nxh1 12.Bd4 presents Black with the same benefits and disadvantages as the main variation, but her King is somewhat more vulnerable as well.

8.h3 c6 9.g3 b5 10.Bg2 Nbd7

• 10...b4 11.Na4 Rd8 12.g4 h6 13.Ne2 Be6 14.Ng3 gives White better development and fewer pawn weaknesses.

11.f4 Ba6 12.Nf3

• White has a slight tactical edge.

12...b4?!

• Black drops a pawn.
• If 12...Nh5 13.Ne2 b4 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Rxd6!! then:
• 15...Kxd6 16.Rd1+ Kc7 17.Nxe5 Bxe2 18.Rd7+ Black is up by an exchange, but White has a powerful initiative.
• If 15...Nxf3 16.Bxf3 then:
• 16...Bxe2 17.Bxh5 Bxh5 18.Bc5 White must win a pawn.
• 16...Kxd6 17.Rd1+ Kc7 18.Bxh5 Rhe8 19.Bf4+ Kb6 20.e5 gives White two minor pieces for a Rook.

13.fxe5!

• 13.Nh4!? g6 14.Nb1 Nh5 15.fxe5 Bxe5 16.g4 Ng3 gives Black the advantage in space,

13...Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bc5+ Ke6 16.Bxb4

• White has won a pawn.

16...Rhb8 17.a3 Nh5?

• The intended minor piece attack can only net an unimportant pawn. Black should see to her queenside weaknesses.
• 17...Bxg3 18.h4 Rd8 19.Na4 Bf4+ 20.Kb1 Be3 21.Rhe1 gives White a slight initiative, but Black's game is most playable.

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$tT + + +%
$O + +oOo%
$v+o+l+ +%
$+ + V +m%
$ B +p+ +%
$P N + Pp%
$ Pp+ +b+%
$+ Kr+ +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhang Xiaowen
Position after 17...Nf6h5

18.Na4!

• White take the initiative by threatening a forking check on c5.
• If 18.g4 Ng3 19.Na4 Bf4+ 20.Kb1 then:
• 20...Rxb4 21.Nc5+ Ke5 22.axb4 Nxh1 23.Nxa6 gives White an extra pawn and exposes Black's King in the center.
• 20...Nxh1 21.Nc5+ Kf6 22.Nxa6 Rb6 23.Nc5 Nf2 24.Rf1 assures White of gaining the material advantage

18...Bc8 19.Nc5+ Kf6 20.Nd3 Nxg3 21.Nxe5 Rxb4

• If 21...Nxh1 then after 22.Nxc6 Ng3 23.Bd6 Rb6 24.Bxg3 Bxh3 25.Rf1+ White has the initiative and two minor pieces or a Rook.

22.axb4 Kxe5

• White is an exchange to the good.

23.Rhe1 Ba6 24.Rd7 Bc4 25.b3 Be6

• 25...Ne2+ 26.Rxe2 Bxe2 27.Rxf7 gives White an extra pawn.

26.Rd3 Nh5 27.Rc3 Nf4

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$t+ + + +%
$O + +oOo%
$ +o+v+ +%
$+ + L + %
$ P +pM +%
$+pR + +p%
$ +p+ +b+%
$+ K R + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhang Xiaowen
Position after 27...Nh5f4

28.Rc5+!

• White embarks on the kind of smart maneuver that nets another pawn.

28...Kd6

• If 28...Kf6 29.Rf1 g5 30.Rf2 then:
• 30...Rc8 31.h4 h6 32.e5+ Kf5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Bxc6 wins the pawn.
• 30...Rb8 31.h4 h6 32.Rxc6 Rxb4 33.Ra6 wins the a-pawn (33...Rb7?? 34.e5+!).

29.e5+ Ke7 30.Bxc6

• The pawn is taken.

30...Rb8 31.h4 h6 32.Re4 g5 33.hxg5

• 33.Ra5 f5 34.Rxa7+ Kf8 35.Rxf4 gxf4 36.Rh7 leaves White two pawns up.

33...hxg5 34.b5 Rc8 35.Ra4

• With her last two moves, White sets up a powerful combination.

35...Rc7 36.Kb2

• This prophylactic move is necessary to make the combination work.
• 36.Rxa7? proves premature after 36...Rxa7 37.b6 Ra1+!.

36...Ne2

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$O T Lo+ %
$ +b+v+ +%
$+pR P O %
$p+ + + +%
$+p+ + + %
$ Kp+m+ +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhang Xiaowen
Position after 36...Nf4e2

37.Rxa7!!

• A beautiful Rook sacrifice caps the struggle.

37...Rxa7 38.b6 Ra6 39.b7 Rb6 40.Rb5!

• White forces Black to return the Rook in order to stop the pawn.

40...Rxb7

• If 40...Rxb5 then after 41.Bxb5 Nd4 42.Ba4 Bd7 43.b8Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV5ynRFzrIM">the party's over . . .
• If 40...Rxc6 then after 41.b8Q Bc8 42.Rb7+ . . . it's time to call it a day . . .

41.Rxb7+ Kd8

• . . . they've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away.

42.Bf3 Nd4 43.Bh5 Ke8

• If 43...Kc8 then after 44.Rb4 Nc6 45.Re4 Kd7 46.c4 Bf5 47.Re3 White's queenside pawns and material advantage carry the day.

44.Rb8+ Ke7 45.Rg8 Bf5 46.Rxg5 Bxc2 47.Rg4!

• White guarantees furhter simplification, which will augment the value of her Rook over Black's minor piece.

47...Bd1 48.Rxd4 Bxh5 49.Rd6 1-0

• Grandmaster Zhu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Hou Yifan - Toufighi, Round 7

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hou Yifan - Tamijani Homayoon Toufighi
8th Asian Continental Championships, Round 7
Subic Bay, 19 May 2009

Closed French Game: Four Knights' Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Ne4 6.Bd3

• If 6.Ne2 f6 then:
• If 7.Ng3 fxe5 then:
• 8.Bb5 exd4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nxd4 Qd5 11.Nxc6 a6 12.Ba4 Bd7 13.c4 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Bxc6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Re1 Bc5 17.Rxe4 Bxf2 18.Rxe6+ gives White a more active game (Zdebskaja-Zhukova, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2009).
• 8.dxe5 Be7 9.c3 Nc5 10.Bb5 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 is equal (Yu Yangyi-Ngoc Tongsun Nguyen, Asian Ch Rd 1, Subic Bay, 2009).
• 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.Ng3 e5 9.Bb5 exd4 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Ba6 is equal (Biltoon-Sadorra, GMT, Manila, 2008).

6...Bb4 7.Bd2 Nxd2 8.Qxd2 f6

• If 8...Bd7 9.a3 then:
• 9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ne2 f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Qe3 Qe7 14.Ne5 is equal (Nolte-Gonzales, GMT, Dapitan City, 2009).
• 9...Ba5 10.b4 Bb6 11.Ne2 f6 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Bb5 gives White a slight tactical edge owing to the pin a c6 (Gormally-Rendle, British Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

9.a3!

• Peace, brothers and sisters! The natural move is often the best move.
• 9.exf6 Qxf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Bd6 12.Rae1 Bf4 13.Qd1 Bd7 14.Ne2 Bd6 15.Ng3 Rae8 16.c3 h6 17.Nh5 Qf7 18.Ng3 Qf6 19.Nh5 draw (ZinchenkoDrozdovskij-, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2007).

9...Bxc3

• 9...Be7 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Bb5 0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 c6 15.Rfe1 leaves White with an extra pawn (Shirov-Rosentalis, IT, Tilburg, 1993).

10.Qxc3 fxe5 11.dxe5 0-0 12.h4!?

• 12.0-0-0 Bd7 13.h4 h6 14.Rh3 Ne7 15.g4 Rc8 16.h5 c5 17.g5 c4 18.Bg6 hxg5 19.Rg1 Nf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.Rhg3 Qf8 22.Kb1 gives Black an extra pawn, but in this position it is of little matter (de Bie-Kerkmeester, Dutch ChT, Holland, 2001).

12...Qe7

• Upon upon closing the great book of theory, White has the advantage in space.
• A better try is the exchange sacrifice12...Rxf3!? 13.gxf3 Qf8 14.Be2 Qf4 when:
• 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Nxe5 17.h5 c5 18.Rae1 gives White the exchange for a pawn.
• If 15.h5 Bd7 16.Qe3 Rf8 then:
• If 17.h6 g6 18.0-0-0 Nxe5 then:
• 19.Rd4 Qxe3+ 20.fxe3 Nxf3 21.Bxf3 Rxf3 is equal.
• 19.Rh3 c5 20.c3 Bc6 21.Rg3 a5 is equal.
• 17.Rg1 Nxe5 18.h6 g6 19.Rg3 d4 is equal.

BLACK: Tamijani Homayoon Toufighi
!""""""""#
$t+v+ Tl+%
$OoO W Oo%
$ +m+o+ +%
$+ +oP + %
$ + + + P%
$P Qb+n+ %
$ Pp+ Pp+%
$R + K +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 12...Qd8e7

13.Qd2!

• 13.0-0-0!? Bd7 14.h5 h6 15.Rd2 Be8 16.Qb3 Rb8 is equal.

13...Bd7 14.Qe3 b6

• 14...Be8 15.h5 h6 16.0-0-0 Rd8 17.g4 Qf7 18.Rh3 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

15.0-0-0 h6

• White is ahead in space, so Black should not worry about her wanting to exchange Queens. She does not want to exchange Queens.
• Things at least don't get worse for Black after 15...Be8 16.h5 h6 17.Kb1 Rd8 18.Rh3 Qf7 19.Bg6.

16.c4 Qf7 17.Bc2 Ne7

• 17...dxc4? 18.Qe4 Rfd8 19.Rxd7 Rxd7 20.Qxc6 Rad8 21.Qxc4 gives White two minor pieces for a Rook and more activity.

18.Qd3 g6

• 18...Rfd8 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Rd4 dxc4 21.Rhd1 Nd5 22.Rxc4 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Kb1 Rad8 20.h5 g5 21.Nh2 Qg7

• 21...dxc4 22.Qxc4 Bc6 23.Ng4 Kg7 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Bg6 gives White the initiative.

22.Ng4 Kh8 23.Nf6 Nc6

• 23...Ng8 24.Nxg8 Qxg8 25.cxd5 exd5 26.Qxd5 Qxd5 27.Rxd5 White protects her f-pawn tactically (27...Rxf2? 28.e7!! Bxe7 29.Rxd8+).

24.Nxd7?!

• Because White's pieces are more active, she would better benefit from opening the center.
• 24.cxd5 exd5 25.Qxd5 Nxe5 26.Qxe5 Qxf6 27.Qxc7 maintians White's advantage.

24...Rxd7 25.cxd5 Nxe5!?

• The text allows White to equalize.
• 25...Rxd5 26.Qc3 Rc5 27.Qg3 Nxe5 28.Bb3 Qf6 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

26.Qb3 exd5 27.Rxd5 Rxd5 28.Qxd5

• The game is equal.

28...c6

• 28...Rxf2 29.Re1 Nd7 30.Re6 Rf1+ 31.Ka2 remains equal.

29.Qe4 b5 30.Qe2 Rd8?!

• The Rook is more effective on the f-file than here.
• 30...Nc4 31.Bd3 Qf7 32.Bxc4 bxc4 33.Rc1 gives White a slight advantage after the Rook takes the two Black c-pawns and Black's Queen forces the exchange on f2, White's Rook can get behind Black's passer.

31.Re1 Nc4
BLACK: Tamijani Homayoon Toufighi
!""""""""#
$ + T + L%
$O + + W %
$ +o+ + O%
$+o+ + Op%
$ +m+ + +%
$P + + + %
$ Pb+qPp+%
$+k+ R + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 31...Ne5c4

32.Qe8+!!

• It's a sham sacrifice, but it works big time.

32...Rxe8

• 32...Qg8? loses quicker after 33.Qe7 Rf8 34.b3 when:
• 34...Nd2+ 35.Ka2 Nxb3 36.Qe5+ Qg7 37.Qxg7+ Kxg7 38.Kxb3 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• If 34...Rxf2 35.bxc4 bxc4 36.Qd6 then:
• If 36...Qf8 then after 37.Re8! Qxe8 38.Qxh6+ Kg8 39.Bh7+! Kh8 40.Bg6+ White wins the Queen.
• If 36...Rf7 ‚ then after 37.Qxh6+ Rh7 38.Qf6+ Rg7 39.Re7 White soon delivers mate.

33.Rxe8+ Qg8 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 35.Bb3!

• White's chances in a King and pawn ending are much better than Black's, especially if Black's queenside pawns are weakened.

35...Kf7 36.Kc2 Ke6 37.Kc3 Kd5

• This doesn't unpin the Knight, but after 37...Ke5 38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Kxc4 Ke4 40.b4 Black is lost any way.

38.Ba2 Kc5 39.b4+! Kd5

• From here the King cannot move without the Knight be exchanged and the pawns weakend.

40.a4 a6

• 40...bxa4 loses the Knight to 41.Bxc4+.

41.Bb3 g4

• That was the last pawn move Black could make without losing material.

BLACK: Tamijani Homayoon Toufighi
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$o+o+ + O%
$+o+l+ +p%
$pPm+ +o+%
$+bK + + %
$ + + Pp+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 41...g5g4

42.Ba2! 1-0

• Zugzwang! If 42...bxa4 then White wins after 43.Bxc4+! Kc6 44.Bxa6.
• Toufighi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Le Quang Liem - Z. Rahman, Round 6

Le Quang Liem
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Le Quang Liem - Ziaur Rahman
8th Asian Continental Championships, Round 6
Subic Bay, 18 May 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.c4 e6 4.Qc2 Bd6

• 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.e3 brings us to the familiar confines of the Stoltz Opening.

5.Bg5

• The text combines the Stoltz Opening with the Anti-Meran Gambit.
• A quieter approach is a Catalan Opening.
• If 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...0-0 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.b3 e5 then:
• If 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...Bg4 13.Bxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5 15.Nf3 then:
• 15...Re7 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.Qb2 Rec7 18.f3 Bd7 19.Rac1 h6 20.Rfd1 b6 21.Rxc7 draw (Tukmakov-Nogueiras, Op, Mesa, 1992).


• If 15...Bf5 16.Qb2 Re7 17.Nd4 then:
• 17...Be4 18.Bh3 a6 19.Rac1 Rc7 20.Qa3 Qe7 21.Qxe7 Rxe7 22.Rc5 gives White the advantage in space (Haba-Enigl, Op Wattens, 1996).
• 17...Qd7 18.Nxf5 Qxf5 19.e3 Rc8 20.Qa3 Rec7 21.Qxa7 leaves White a pawn to the good (Islam-S. M. Rahman, IT, Dhaka, 2007).
• 12...Nc6 13.e3 Bg4 14.a3 Rc8 15.Qd3 Bf8 16.b4 Ne4 17.Nb3 a6 18.Rac1 Qd7 19.Nbd4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Savon-Lunev, Op, Orel, 1997).
• If 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Nd4 Bb4 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.a3 Ba5 15.b4 Bb6 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 then:
• If 18.Bxe4? Bh3 then:
• If 19.Rfd1 Rac8 then:
• 20.Qb1 Qf6 21.f4 Nc4! White resigns as he must lose a piece (Timman-Cifuentes, Dutch Ch, Rotterdam, 1997).
• 20.Qb3 Nc4 21.Bh1 Nxb2 22.Qxb2 Qe5 wins the Knight.
• If 19.Rfc1 Rac8 20.Qb1 Rxc1+ 21.Qxc1 Nc4 then:
• If 22.Bg2 Nxb2 23.Qxb2 Qf6 24.Qd2 Bxd4 wins a piece.
• 22.f3 Nxb2 23.Rb1 Bxd4+ is kaput.
• 18.Qxe4 Nc4 19.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.Bc3 Bg4 21.Rfe1 Rae8 is equal.
• 7...Ne4 8.b3 0-0 9.Ba3 Bxa3 10.Nxa3 Qe7 11.Qb2 f5 12.Nc2 b6 13.Rac1 Bb7 14.Nce1 Ng5 15.Nxg5 Qxg5 16.Nd3 Qe7 17.b4 Rfc8 18.Rfd1 White has the advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Maciejewski, Polish Ch, Warsaw, 1987).

5...f6 6.Bh4 Ne7 7.e3 Nf5!?

• So, who needs theory?
• If 7...f5 8.Bd3 Na6 9.a3 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 Nb4 11.Qd1 Nxd3+ 12.Qxd3 dxc4 then:
• 13.Qe2!? 13...b5 14.0-0 Ng6 15.Bg3 Bxg3 16.fxg3 0-0 gives Black an extra pawn with White having little to show for it (Marzolo-Apicella, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2001).
• 13.Qxc4 Nd5 14.0-0 Nxc3 15.b4 Qb5 16.Qxc3 a5 is equal.

8.Bg3

• The game is equal.

8...Nxg3 9.hxg3 f5 10.Nc3 a6

• White takes the advantage in space.
• 10...Qa5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Be2 Bd7 14.Ng5 also gives White the advantage in space.

11.0-0-0 Nd7 12.Kb1!?

• White allows Black to equalize.
• Better is 12.g4 Nf6 13.gxf5 exf5 14.Nh4 Bb4 15.Nxf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 giving White the advantage in space.

12...Qf6 13.Nd2 b6!

• The game is equal.

14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nb5 axb5?!

• Although he doesn't actually lose the game for another twenty or more moves, Black digs himself into a ditch from which he never emerges.
• 15...Bxg3 16.fxg3 axb5 17.Qc6 Rb8 18.Bxb5 0-0 remains equal.

BLACK: Ziaur Rahman
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
$+ +m+ Oo%
$ O VoW +%
$+o+o+o+ %
$ + P + +%
$+ + O p %
$pPqN Pp+%
$+k+r+b+r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 15...ab5:N

16.Qc6! Rb8 17.Qxd6 Qe7

• Black drops a pawn.
• 17...Ba6 18.Rc1 Qe7 19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 20.Be2 gives White more activity.

18.Qc7 0-0

• If 18...Ba6 19.Qa7 Bb7 20.Rc1 Qd6 21.Bxb5 0-0 22.Bxd7 wins a second pawn for White.

19.Bxb5

• White has an extra pawn.

19...Rb7 20.Qc6 Nb8 21.Qc3 Bd7 22.Qb3

• 22.Be2 Ra7 23.Rc1 Nc6 24.Qb3 b5 25.Bxb5 gives White two extra pawns.

22...Qe8 23.Bxd7 Nxd7 24.Rc1 b5

• 24...Nf6 25.Rc2 Ne4 26.Nf3 Qa8 27.Ne5 White still has an extra pawn.

25.Qb4 Qg6

• 25...Nf6 26.Rc2 Ne4 27.Nb3 Ra7 28.Nc5 Rc7 29.Rhc1 White still has an extra pawn.

26.Rc2 f4 27.gxf4

• 27.exf4!? Rc8 28.Rhc1 Rbc7 29.Qb3 gives White two extra pawn but Black is compensated for them in the way the pin at c2 restrains White's mobility.

27...Qxg2 28.Rhc1 Qxf2

• Black has recovered the material losses, but now White uses a tactical esge to seize the initiative.

BLACK: Ziaur Rahman
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
$+t+m+ Oo%
$ + +o+ +%
$+o+o+ + %
$ Q P P +%
$+ + P + %
$oOrN W +%
$+kR + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 28...Qg2f2:p

29.Nc4!

• The Knight discovers an attack on the Queen and on its next move gains time on the Rook.

29...Qg3 30.Na5 Rbb8 31.f5

• TWhite breaks up Black's central pawns.

31...exf5

• 31...e5 32.Nc6 Rbe8 33.Ne7+ Kh8 34.Qd6 gives White a stronger initiative than he has now.

32.Nc6 Rbe8 33.Ne7+ Kh8 34.Nxd5!

• 34.Rc7!? Nb6 35.Qxb5 Qxe3 36.Nxf5 Rxf5 37.Qxb6 gives Black counterplay in the center.

34...Nf6 35.Nxf6 Rxf6 36.Qxb5!

• 36.Rc8? turns up empty after 36...Qxe3 37.Qxb5 Qe4+.

36...Qxe3?

• Black loses immediately.
• 36...Ref8 37.Qe5 Qxe5 38.dxe5 Re6 39.Rc5 gives White an extra pawn, but Black is in no immediate danger.

BLACK: Ziaur Rahman
!""""""""#
$ + +t+ K%
$+ + + Oo%
$ + + T +%
$+q+ +o+ %
$ + P + +%
$+ + W + %
$pPr+ + +%
$+kR + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 36...Qg3e3:p

37.Re2!! 1-0

• If Black accepts the poffered Rook 37...Qxe2 38.Qxe2 then:
• 38...Rg8 39.Rc7 f4 40.Qf3 h6 41.a4 leaves Black's pawns frozen in the face of mating threats while White's pawns are free to advance.
• If 38...Rxe2 then White mates in two after 39.Rc8+.
• Grandmaster Rahman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Chicago Open

Chicago
Photo: Chicago Information Center

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Sadvakasov - Sargissian, Round 6

Gabriel Sargissian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Darmen Sadvakasov - Gabriel Sargissian
18th Open, Round 6
Chicago, 25 May 2009

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

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4

• For a survey of this opening up to here, see Hou Yifan-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Istanbul, 2009).

8...b4

• If 8...Bb7 9.d3 d6 then:
• 10.Nc3 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 Bc8 14.h3 Rb8 15.Nd2 Be6 16.Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.b3 Nc7 21.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Kissinger-Andresen, Cyberspace, 1998).
• If 10.c3 Na5 then:
• 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Nf1 h6 14.Ne3 Bf8 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nc6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Qd7 19.Qb3 bxa4 20.Qxa4 Red8 21.Bd2 Ne7 22.Qxd7 Rxd7 23.Bxb7 Rxb7 24.Ra4 gives White the advantage in space (Kinderman-Adams, IT, Garmisch Partenkirchen,1994).
• 11.Bc2 c5 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Nf1 Nc6 14.h3 h6 15.Ne3 Bf8 16.Nh2 d5 17.Qf3 d4 18.Nf5 c4 19.Rd1 Rb8 20.Nf1 Re6 21.axb5 axb5 22.dxc4 bxc4 23.Ra4 White will win a pawn (I. Smirin-Rogic, ZT, Zagreb, 1993).

9.d3 d6 10.a5

• If 10.Nbd2 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 then:
• 12.Nc4 Nc6 13.h3 Rb8 14.Be3 Be6 15.Ng5 d5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Nf3 Nd7 18.Bd2 Bf6 19.Nh2 Nb6 20.Nxb6 Bxa2 21.Rxa2 Rxb6 22.Ng4 Bh4 23.b3 f5 24.Ne3 is equal (S. Zhigalko-Cheparinov, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 12.c3 Rb8 13.d4 Qc7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Rd8 16.Qe2 b3 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bb1 c4 19.Qxc4 Bc5 20.h3 Qb6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 Rd1+ 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Cheparinov-Aronian, IT, Sofia, 2008).

10...Be6 11.Nbd2 Rb8 12.h3

• If 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Nf1 then:
• 13...Bxc4 14.dxc4 Qe6 15.Ne3 Bd8 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Qd3 h6 20.Nh4 Kh7 21.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Fuchs-Spassky, SX Sochi, 1966).
• 13...h6 14.Ne3 Re8 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Bd2 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 19.d4 Nxd5 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Nxe5 Bf6 22.Nc6 Ra8 23.Nxb4 Nxb4 24.Bxb4 Bxb2 25.Rb1 draw (Leko-Svidler, TT, Moscow, 2002).

12...h6

• 12...Nd7 13.Ba4 Nd4 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.f4 Nc5 16.f5 Bd7 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Nf3 c5 19.Bf4 Rb5 20.Nd2 Nb8 21.Nc4 gives White the advantage in space (Einarsson-Sigfusson, Op, Reykjavik, 1993).

13.Qe2 Qc8 14.Nc4 Rd8 15.Be3 Qb7

• 15...Bf8 16.Nfd2 Ne7 17.d4 Ng6 18.d5 Bd7 19.Rec1 gives White the advantage in sapce (Karjakin-Aronian, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

16.Qf1!?

• 16.Ncd2 Bxb3 17.Nxb3 Bf8 18.Nh2 Re8 19.Qf3 Re6 20.Nf1 Qb5 21.Ng3 g6 22.Bd2 Bg7 is equal (Caruana-Werle, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

16...Bf8

• The game is equal.
• 16...Qb5 17.Kh2 Nd7 18.Ba4 Qb7 is also equal.

17.g3 Re8 18.Kh2

• If 18.Bd2 Rbd8 19.Ba4 Re7 then:
• 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxb4 White wins a pawn, but after 21...Bxc4 22.dxc4 Nxe4 he gives it right back with equaltiy.
• 20.Bb3 g6 21.Ba2 Bg7 22.Bb3 Nd4 23.Nxd4 exd4 gives Black more freedom.

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ T +tVl+%
$+wO +oO %
$o+mOvM O%
$P + O + %
$ On+p+ +%
$+b+pBnPp%
$ Pp+ P K%
$R + Rq+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 18.Kg1h2

18...g6

• Another idea is to resolve the tension in the center.
• 18...d5 19.exd5 Bxd5 20.Nfd2 Rbd8 21.f4 e4 22.d4 is equal.

19.Qg2

• 19.Ncd2 Bg7 20.Qe2 d5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Nxd5 gives Black the advantage in space.

19...Bg7 20.Ba4 Bxc4 21.dxc4 Rf8

• 21...Re6 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.Nd2 Nd7 24.Qf1 Nc5 is level.

22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.Nd2 Nd7 24.g4

• If 24.Rad1 Nc5 25.b3 Rbe8 then:
• 26.Ra1 f5 27.exf5 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2 gxf5 is equal.
• If 26.Rc1?! then after 26...Nb7 27.c3 bxc3 28.Rxc3 f5 Black wins a pawn.

24...Nc5 25.b3 Ne6 26.Rg1 Kh7 27.h4!?

• 27.Ra4 Bf6 28.Qf3 Bg5 29.Rd1 Bxe3 30.Qxe3 f5 gives Black the initiative.

27...Nf4 28.Qf3 Qe8 29.Rae1

• 29.h5 Qe7 30.Bxf4 exf4 31.Rad1 Qg5 gives Black more freedom.

29...Qe7 30.Qg3 Rg8 31.Nf3 Ne6 32.Qh3

• An alternate plan allows White to open the kingside with an equal game.
• If 32.g5 Rh8 33.Kg2 Kg8 then:
• If 34.Rh1 Rf8 35.h5 hxg5 then:
• 36.hxg6 fxg6 37.Nxg5 Nf4+ 38.Bxf4 Rxf4 is equal.
• 36.Nxg5 Rxh5 37.Rxh5 gxh5 38.Rh1 Nxg5 39.Bxg5 Qe6 is equal.
• 34.h5 hxg5 35.hxg6 fxg6 36.Nxg5 Nxg5 37.Bxg5 Qe6 is equal.

32...Nd4 33.Bxd4 exd4
BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ T + +t+%
$+ O WoVl%
$o+ O +oO%
$P + + + %
$ OpOp+pP%
$+p+ +n+q%
$ +p+ P K%
$+ + R R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 33...ed4:B

34.Ng5+!

• White makes a bid for equality.
• The text is better than 34.h5 Rh8 35.Qh4 Bf6 when:
• If 36.hxg6+ fxg6 37.g5 Be5+ then:
• 38.Kg2 38...h5 39.Nxe5 dxe5 40.Rgf1 Rbf8 gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• 38.Nxe5 dxe5 39.Rg4 Kg7 40.Qg3 hxg5+ gives Black the initiative.
• 36.Qh3 Kg7 37.Re2 c5 gives Black more freedom.

34...Kh8 35.f4!

• White has equalized the game.
• If 35.Nf3 Rbe8 36.h5 Be5+ then:
• 37.Kg2 Kg7 38.Rh1 Rh8 39.Rd1 Bf6 40.Rhe1 c5 gives Black more freedom.
• 37.Kh1 Kg7 38.Kg2 c5 39.Rh1 Bf4 gives Black more freedom.

35...Rge8

• 35...c5 36.Nf3 Qf6 37.Qg3 Qe6 38.f5 gxf5 39.exf5 also remains equal.

36.Nf3 Qf6 37.f5?!

• White underestimates the power of Black's next move and invites the breakup of his kingside pawns.
• If 37.Qg3! Qe6 38.f5 Qe7 39.g5 then:
• If 39...Be5 40.Nxe5 then:
• 40...Qxe5 41.gxh6 Kh7 42.fxg6+ fxg6 43.Kh3 Qxg3+ 44.Rxg3 is equal.
• 40...dxe5?! 41.gxh6 Rg8 42.Qg5 f6 43.Qg4 gxf5 44.Qxf5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 39...hxg5?! 40.Qxg5 Qxg5 41.hxg5 Be5+ 42.Kg2 gxf5 43.exf5 White's kingside majority proveds a lasting initiative.

37...d3!

• With this pawn sacrifice, Black opens the long diagonal for his Queen and Bishop/.
• If 37...gxf5 38.g5 Qe7 39.exf5 Be5+ 40.Kh1 then:
• 40...c5 41.Qg4 Qf8 42.Rg2 Re7 43.f6 sees White mounting pressure on the kingside.
• 40...Qd7 41.Qg4 c5 42.Rg2 Re7 43.Nxe5 gives White a powerful initiative.

38.cxd3 Qb2+ 39.Kh1 Qxb3 40.f6?

• White fails to see yet another sacrificial combination.
• 40.Rd1 gxf5 41.gxf5 Qc3 42.Qg4 c5 43.Qh5 Qf6 is equal.

40...Bxf6 41.g5

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ T +t+ K%
$+ O +o+ %
$o+ O VoO%
$P + + P %
$ Op+p+ P%
$+w+p+n+q%
$ + + + +%
$+ + R Rk%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 41.g4g5

41...Qxd3!!

• The sacrifice of the Bishop allows Black the time to demolish White's center;
• The text is better than the pedestrian 41...Bb2 42.Rb1 Qc2 43.h5 Rg8 44.hxg6 Rxg6 with equality.

42.gxf6 Rxe4

• Black has three pawns against a Knight. This imbalance, if that is the correct word, colors the rest of the game.

43.Rxe4 Qxe4 44.Qg4 Re8

• Black's will exchange down so that he has as many healthy passed paws as possible. The rest of his winning plan is to capture the f- and c-pawns, leaving White's Knight to defend against pawns on both sides of the board, something for which a Knight is ill suited.
• The text is better than 44...Qxg4 45.Rxg4 Re8 46.Kg2 Re6.

45.Qxe4 Rxe4 46.Rc1

• 46.Re1 Rxc4 47.Re8+ Kh7 48.Rf8 b3 49.Rb8 g5.

46...Rf4 47.Kg2 Rxf6 48.c5

• After 48.Rb1 c5 49.Kf2 Re6 50.Re1 Rxe1 51.Kxe1 Kg7! White has no remaining pawn tempi.

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ + + + l%
$+ O +o+ %
$o+ O RoO%
$P P + + %
$ O + + P%
$+ + +n+ %
$ + + +k+%
$+ R + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 48.c4c5

48...Rf5!

• The following exchange of pawns is almost forced, leaving Black with three passers.

49.cxd6

• 49.Rc4 Rxc5 50.Rxc5 dxc5 also gives Black three passers.

49...cxd6

• Black's objectives in the notes following his 44th move have been carried out.

50.Rc4

• White's best shot tis the indirect exchange of the a-pawn for Black's b-pawn, when Black's queenside passers are weak.

50...b3 51.Rb4 Rxa5 52.Rxb3

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ + + + L%
$+ + +o+ %
$o+ O +oO%
$T + + + %
$ + + + P%
$+r+ +n+ %
$ + + +k+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 52.Rb4b3:p

52...Rd5!

• From here, the Rook can protect both queenside pawns (after the move ...a6a5) while the King will guard the kingsdie (after ...Kg7).

53.Kg3 Kg7 54.Kf4 a5 55.Ke4 a4 56.Ra3 Ra5 57.Nd4

• If 57.Rd3 loses quickly to 57...f5+ 58.Kd4 a3 59.Rd1 a2 60.Ra1 Kf6.

57...f5+ 58.Kd3 Kf6 59.Kc4 g5 60.hxg5+ hxg5 61.Kb4 Ra8 62.Kc4

• 62.Nb5 g4 63.Nxd6 f4 64.Nc4 g3 65.Nd2 Kg5 66.Nf3+ Kg4 wins for Black.

62...g4 63.Kd3 Ke5 64.Ra1 a3 65.Rf1

• 65.Nc2 a2 66.Nb4 f4 67.Nxa2 Ra3+ 68.Kd2 Kf5 wins for Black.

65...Rf8 66.Re1+ Kf6 67.Nxf5 a2!

• Black threatens to advance the g-pawn, stretching White's defense until it snaps.

68.Ne3 Ra8 69.Nc2 Kg5 70.Kc3

• If 70.Ra1 g3 71.Ke2 Kg4 then:
• If 72.Ne3+ Kh4 73.Rh1+ Kg5 then:
• 74.Ra1 Rf8 75.Nd1 g2 76.Ne3 Rf1! Black wins.
• 74.Nc2 Kf4 75.Ra1 Ra4 76.Kf1 Kf3 Black wins.
• 72.Nb4 Kh3 73.Nd5 g2 74.Nf4+ Kh2 75.Nxg2 Kxg2 Black wins.

70...g3 71.Kb2 Kf4 72.Ka1 Rg8 73.Nd4

• If 73.Rf1+ then after 73...Ke4 74.Ne1 Ke3 75.Kxa2 Ke2 76.Rg1 d5 White's pieces have no freedom.

73...g2 74.Kxa2 Kg3 75.Rd1 Kf2 76.Nf5

• After 76.Kb3 d5 77.Kc2 g1Q Black wins.

76...d5 77.Ne7 Rg5 78.Kb3

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + N + %
$ + + + +%
$+ +o+ T %
$ + + + +%
$+k+ + + %
$ + + Lo+%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 78.Ka2b3

78...Re5!!

• The general liquidation of the center wins instantly for Black.

79.Nxd5 Rxd5 80.Rxd5 g1Q 0-1

• Sadvakasov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Ehlvest - Shabalov, Round 6

Jaan Ehlvest
Photo: Unites States Chess League


Jaan Ehlvest - Alex Shabalov
18th Open, Round 6
Chicago, 25 May 2009

English Game

1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 Bb7 3.e4 e6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Qg4 Qf6 6.Nge2!?

• Theory on this opening doesn't go any further than this.
• 6.Bd2 Nc6 7.0-0-0 Qg6 8.Qh4 Nf6 9.Nh3 Qg4 10.Qxg4 Nxg4 11.f3 Nf6 12.Nb5 Bxd2+ 13.Rxd2 0-0-0 14.d4 a6 15.Nc3 is equal (Razuvaev-Barle, Pirc Mem, Maribor, 1996).

6...Qg6

• 6...e5 7.a3 Bc5 8.f4 h5 9.Qf3 Nc6 is equal.

7.Qh3 Ne7 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 f5

• 9...Nbc6 10.Be3 e5 11.Be2 0-0-0 12.Bh5 Qf6 is equal.

10.Qg3

• If 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...Na6 11.Be2 h5 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.Qh4 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 10...Kd8 11.Nb5 Na6 12.e5 Kc8 13.d4 solves White's development problems with the King's Bishop and gives Black some over the Queen's Rook.

10...Qxg3 11.hxg3 Nbc6 12.Be3 0-0-0

• 12...0-0 13.b4 e5 14.b5 Nd4 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Ne2 is equal.

13.0-0-0 h6

• The game is equal.

14.f3

• 14.g4 fxg4 15.d4! Rde8 16.Be2 g3 17.f4 gives White the advantage in space.

14...d5 15.cxd5

• White will be plagued through much of the game by his inability to develop his King's Bisahop/
• Better is 15.exd5 exd5 16.d4! Ba6 17.Nb5 dxc4 18.Bxc4 with equality./li]

15...exd5 16.Bf2 Rhf8 17.exf5!?

• 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.d4 Nce7
• White plays to the Wrong side, winning a pawn but . . .

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
$ +lT T +%
$OvO M O %
$ O + + O%
$+ +o+p+ %
$ + + + +%
$P Np+pP %
$ P + Bp+%
$+ Kr+b+r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 17.ef5:p

17...d4!

• . . . making a lasting problem of his inability to complete his development.

18.Ne4 Nxf5

• The game remains equal.
• 18...Rxf5 19.g4 Rff8 20.Re1 Kd7 21.g5 hxg5 22.Nxg5 is also equal.

19.Re1 Na5 20.g4!?

• White wins a pawn after after 20.b4 Nb3+ 21.Kc2 Bd5 22.g4 Ne3+ 23.Bxe3.

20...Nd6 21.Nd2

• White would like to lift the blackade against his d-pawn, but if there is a way to do it, this isn't it.
• Better is 21.Nxd6+ Rxd6 22.b4 Nb3+ 23.Kc2 Bd5 24.Re7 gives White more activity in spite of playing virtually a piece down.

21...c5 22.Rh5 Rf7 23.Bg3

• 23.b4 cxb4 24.axb4 Rc7+ 25.Kb2 Nc6 26.Nb3 remains equal.

23...Kd7 24.b3 Re8

• 24...Rc8 25.Kc2 Nb5 26.Nc4 Nxc4 27.dxc4 remains equal.

25.Rxe8 Nxe8 26.b4 Nf6!?

• The Black Knight is hampered on the queenside among so many White pawns.
• The solution to such a problem is to exchange pawns: 26...cxb4 27.axb4 Nc6 28.b5 Nb4 29.Nc4 Re7 30.g5 remains equal.

27.Rh1!?

• White in turn misses the best continuation in a complex situation.
• 27.bxa5! Nxh5 28.gxh5 Rf5 29.Bb8 Rxh5 30.Bxa7 gives White more activity, but he is yet to liberate his King's Bishop.

27...cxb4 28.axb4 Nc6

• The game is equal.

29.b5 Nd8 30.Nc4 Re7 31.Nd6 Ke6

• There is a latent threat to Black's d-pawn; this gives Black the flexibility to meet it.
• 31...Nd5?! fails against 32.Nf5 Rf7 33.Nxd4, giving White an extra pawn.

32.Nf5 Rd7 33.Bf2 Ke5 34.Be2 g6

• 34...Ne6 35.Bd1 Nd5 36.Re1+ Kf6 37.Bb3 gives White more activity.

35.Bg3+ Kd5 36.Nxh6!?

• White takes an extra pawn, but the Knight has no good escape route.
• Better is 36.Rxh6 gxf5 37.Rxf6 fxg4 38.fxg4 Kc5 39.Rf5+ when White has more activity.

36...Kc5

• Black can take this pawn at his leisure. White can do nothing about it.

37.Kd2

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
$ + M + +%
$Ob+t+ + %
$ O + MoN%
$+pL + + %
$ + O +p+%
$+ +p+pB %
$ + Kb+p+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 37.Kc1d2

37...Ne6

• The intent of this move is to restrain White's kingside pawns.

38.Be5

• On the other hand, White would like to move those pawns.

38...Nd5 39.Ng8 Nef4

• The Knight reports for Blockade duty.

40.Nf6

• White destroys the Blackade with an indirect exchange.

40...Nxf6 41.Bxf4 Nd5 42.Be5 Nc3

• 42...Re7 43.f4 Nc3 44.Rc1 Kxb5 45.Bf1 is equal.
• If 42...Rf7 43.Rc1+ Kxb5 44.Bxd4 a5 then:
• 45.Be5 a4 46.d4+ Ka5 47.g5 Nf4 48.Bc4 gives White more activity.
• 45.Bb2 a4 46.d4+ Ka5 47.Bd3 g5 gives White an extra pawn, but Black's pawns have more freedom.

43.Rh6 Kxb5!?

• Black sacrifices a pawn in hopes of reaching a Bishops of opposite color ending.
• 43...Re7 44.f4 Re6 45.g5 Nxe2 46.Kxe2 Kxb5 47.Rh7 gives White more freedom.

44.Rxg6 Nxe2

• The Knight was almost a desperado who had little better to do than exchange itself for a Bishop of which White could make no use.

45.Kxe2 a5

• 45...Kc5 46.g5 b5 47.Re6 Bd5 48.Re8 Bf7 49.Ra8 gives White more activity.

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+v+t+ + %
$ O + +r+%
$Ol+ B + %
$ + O +p+%
$+ +p+p+ %
$ + +k+p+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 45...a7a5

46.Rg7!?

• White's chances are probalby better with Rooks on the board.
• 46.g5 Kc5 47.Re6 Bd5 48.Re8 Bf7 49.Rc8+.

46...Rxg7 47.Bxg7 Kc5 48.g5

• Black cannot prevent this pawn from advancing all the way to the seventh rank.

48...Kd5 49.g6 b5 50.Bf6 Bc8 51.Bd8 a4

• If 51...b4? then 52.Bxa5 b3 53.Kd2! Be6 54.g4 Ke5 55.Bc7+ wins for White.

52.g7!

• White forces Black to move his Bishop to e6, and to confine its move to the b2/g8 diagonal thereafter.

52...Be6

• White must contend with the mobility of Black's queenside pawns.
• If 53.g4?? then 53...a3! wins immediately.

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
!""""""""#
$ + B + +%
$+ + + P %
$ + +v+ +%
$+o+k+ + %
$o+ O + +%
$+ +p+p+ %
$ + +k+p+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 52...Be6

53.Be7!

• Suddenly, Black's queenside pawns have much less freedom.

53...Bg8 54.g4

• Now there is time to advance the pawns.

54...Ke5 55.Kf2!

• The White Bishop stops the queenside pawns in their tracks; the White King moves to assist with the pawn advance on the kingside.
• 55.Kd2?! Kf4 56.Bd6+ Kxf3 57.Bc5 Kxg4 58.Bxd4 is a likely draw.

55...Ke6 56.Bf8

• Also good is 56.Bc5 Kd5 57.Ba3 Ke5 58.Kg3 Bb3 59.Bb2, giving White time to advance his kingside.

56...Kf6 57.f4 Bd5?

• A more stubborn defense might come from 57...Bb3 then:
• 58.Ke2 Bf7 59.f5 Ke5 60.Kd2 Bg8 61.Bc5, but White remains a pawn to the good.
• If 58.f5 Ke5 59.Ke2 Kf4 60.f6 Kxg4 then White recovers the extra pawn after 61.Bc5!.

58.Bc5!

• Black's pawns still cannot move.

58...Kxg7 59.Bxd4+ Kg6

• No better is 59...Kf7 60.Bc5 Kf6 61.f5 Ke5 62.Ke3.

60.Bc5 Bb3 61.d4 Bd1 62.Kg3 1-0

• Black's pawns are stopped and White's cannot be. This is an unusual sitiuation in a Bishops of opposite color ending that the win is so clear with the pawns no further advanced than they are.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Gareev - Shulman, Round 5

Yury Shulman
Photo: New York Masters


Timur Gareev - Yury Shulman
18th Open Round 5
Chicago, 24 May 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3

• For a survey of the Stoltz Opening, see Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009.

7...0-0 8.Be2 b6

• If 8...e5 9.cxd5 then:
• 9...cxd5 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 a6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bg4 15.Bxg4 Nfxg4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qf4 Qe7 19.N2f3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Nf6 21.Rac1 Ne4 22.Qe2 Qa3 23.Rc2 Nd6 24.f3 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 is equal (Gelfand-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Bb4+ 13.Kf1 Nxf3 14.Bxf3 Be6 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Ke2 Qa5 17.Rhc1 Rac8 18.a3 h6 19.Kf1 Qb6 20.Kg1 Qd6 21.Bd1 Rc6 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Bc2 f5 24.b4 c5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Bxd4 Kf7 is equal (Portisch-Hübner, Brussels, 1986).

9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 Qe7

• If 10...Rc8 then:
• If 11.Rac1 then:
• If c5 then:
• 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.g3 Rfd8 15.cxd5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qb1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Nc5 19.Qc2 a5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 11...Qe7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Qb1 h6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4 Bb8 16.Rd2 a5 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bd4 draw (Riazantsev-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rfd8 16.Bd3 h6 17.Rfe1 Nd7 18.Qh3 a5 19.Nh4 is equal (Suvrajit-Arun Prasad, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).
• 10...c5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qf5 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Rfd8 16.Bf1 Ne5 17.Nb5 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bb8 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Bh3 Rc6 is equal (Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).

11.Rad1

• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 is equal (Karpov-Bareev, Rapid, Paris, 1992).

11...Rad8

• 11...Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).

12.Rfe1 Rfe8 13.Bf1

• If 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).

13...h6!?

• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.g3 h6 16.Bg2 Qe6 is equal (Kraemer-Sargissian, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).

14.e4

• The game is equal.
• 14.Bd3 e5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Rc8 is also equal.

14...dxe4

• 14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qh4 Nd7 remains equal./li]

15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Nf6 17.Re3

• 17.Ree1 Bb4 18.Re3 Ng4 19.Re4 Nf6 20.Re3 invites a draw by repetition.

17...Ba3 18.Ba1

• 18.Bxa3 Qxa3 19.Be2 c5 20.dxc5 Qxc5 21.Ne5 is equal.
• The position White has as a result of this variation is more promising than any he gets in the text from this point forward.

18...Qc7 19.g3 Be7 20.Rde1!?

• White takes a chance that he can gain command of the e-file. The plan is very risky.
• 20...Ng4 21.Red3 a6 22.Bg2 Rd6 23.b4 gives White the advantage in space with no risk whatsoever.

20...Ng4

• Black seizes the initiative and exposes the faulty nature of White's plan.

21.R3e2 Bb4 22.Rd1 Be7 23.Bg2 c5 24.d5?!

• The pawn sacrifice is unsound.
• 24.Red2! a6 25.h3 Nf6 26.dxc5 Rxd2 27.Rxd2 Qxc5 remains equal.

BLACK: Yury Shulman
!""""""""#
$ + Tt+l+%
$OvW VoO %
$ O + + O%
$+ Oo+ + %
$ +p+ +m+%
$+p+ +nP %
$p+q+rPbP%
$B +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Timour Gareev
Position after 24.d4d5

24...exd5

• Black accepts the pawn, giving him a queenside majority.
• White could give Black more trouble over the pawn than actually occurs in the game, but the best he can hope for is equality.

25.cxd5 Bxd5

• Black has an extra pawn.

26.Rde1?!

• Having sacrificed a pawn, White should be more forceful in pushing back.
• If 26.h3 Bxf3 27.Bxf3 Nf6 then White equalizes after 28.Rde1 Qd6 29.Be5.

26...Qd7!

• 26...Qb7? 27.Qf5 Qd7 28.Nh4 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 f6 30.f4! puts Black's Knight in a tight spot.

27.h3 Nf6 28.Ne5 Qc8

• If 28...Qd6?! 29.Nc4 Qc6 then:
• 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Bxd5 Rxd5 32.Ne3 Rd7 gives White a solid defense.
• If 30.Ne5!? Qc8 transposes to the text.

29.Bxd5?

• Being a pawn down, it is not a good idea to exchange pieces.
• If 29.Nf3 Be6 30.Ne5 Nd5 31.Ng6 then:
• If 31...a6 32.Bxd5 Rxd5 then:
• 33.Nf4 Rd6 34.Nxe6 Rxe6 35.Rxe6 fxe6 levels the game; the value of Black's extra pawn is diminished by his extra pawn weaknesses..
• 33.h4? Bd6 34.Qc3 Rd4 35.Nf4 Bf8 36.Nxe6 Rxe6 Black continues to enjoy better command of open lines.
• If 31...Bg5 32.h4 Nb4 33.Qb1 then:
• 33...Bf5 34.Rxe8+ Rxe8 35.Rxe8+ Qxe8 36.Qxf5 fxg6 White has succeeded in weaking Black's kingside.
• 33...Be7 34.Bh3 Rd6 35.Be5 Rc6 36.Bxe6 Qxe6 is equal.

BLACK: Yury Shulman
!""""""""#
$ +wTt+l+%
$O + VoO %
$ O + M O%
$+ ObN + %
$ + + + +%
$+p+ + Pp%
$p+q+rP +%
$B + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Timour Gareev
Position after 29.Bg2d5:B

29...Nxd5!

• 29...Rxd5?! 30.Ng4 Nxg4 31.Rxe7 Rxe7 32.Rxe7 Nf6 is again equal.

30.Qc4 Bf6 31.h4

• If 31.Kh2 then after 31...Bxe5 32.Bxe5 Nb4 33.Bc3 Rxe2 34.Rxe2 Nd3 Black maintains his extra pawn and enjoys greater activity.

31...Bxe5 32.Bxe5 Qd7 33.Bb2 Rxe2 34.Qxe2

• White could generate some counterplay with 34.Rxe2 Nb4 35.Qc3 Qg4 36.Re4 Rd1+ 37.Kh2 Qg6, but it will be insufficient.

34...Nc7 35.Qe5 Ne6 36.Qf5

• 36.Qc3 Qb7 37.Qe3 a6 38.a3 Qd5 39.b4 Qd2 gives Black a strong initiative.

36...Qd5 37.Qg4

• White could put up a better defense after 37.Qxd5 Rxd5 38.Kf1 b5 39.Ke2 Kh7 40.Rd1 when his King is more active than Black's.

37...h5 38.Qe2 Qd2 39.Qe5 Rd5 40.Qe4 Qd3 41.Be5

• This shortens White's agony.
• 41.Qxd3 Rxd3 42.Kf1 a6 43.Ke2 Rd7 would just drag the game on longer, but it wouldn't change the end result.

41...Qxe4 42.Rxe4

BLACK: Yury Shulman
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
$O + +oO %
$ O +m+ +%
$+ OtB +o%
$ + +r+ P%
$+p+ + P %
$p+ + P +%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Timour Gareev
Position after 42.Re1e4:Q

42...Rd2!

• Black's Rook couldn't be more active.

43.a4

• 43.Ra4 a5 44.Kf1 f6 45.Ke1 Rc2 46.Bb8 Nd4 gives Black a winning position.

43...Rd3 44.b4 Rb3 45.Bd6 Rxb4

• 45...Rb1+ 46.Kg2 Rxb4 47.Rxb4 cxb4 48.Bxb4 a5 is not appeciably dofferent from the text.

46.Rxb4 cxb4 47.Bxb4 a5 48.Bd6 Nc5 49.Kf1 Nxa4 50.Ke2 0-1

• If 50...Nb2 51.Bc7 Nc4 then:
• 52.Kd3 b5 53.Kd4 f6 54.Bf4 a4 Black wins.
• 52.Bf4 b5 53.Bc1 a4 54.Kd3 f6 55.Kc3 Ne5 wins for Black.
• Gareev resigns without waiting for Mr. Shulman to reply.