The JR Chess Report (May 23): Is the G. W. Bush of chess stealing the FIDE election?

[Jack Rabbit]

Is Kirsan Stealing the FIDE Election?



Political intrigue now taking place in Russia would make it appear that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the incompetent and corrupt president of both the FIDE, the world chess federation, and the Russian Autonomous Republic of Kalmykia, is attempting to assure his re-election as FIDE president by coup d'etat.

Kirsan, known not necessarily affectionately in the world wide chess playing community by his first name, is often called in these reports the "George W. Bush of Chess" for his habit of coming up with big ideas than never seem to pan out or just weren't very good in the first place. To extend the Bush analogy, the part of Florida in recent events is being played by the Russian Chess Federation and the part of Katherine Harris by Arkady Dvorkovich, a top official of the RCF and a supporter of Ilyumzhinov's re-election bid. Al Gore is portrayed by an unlikely performer for the part, former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who is opposing Kirsan in his bid for re-election. There is a very real possibility that somebody in the Russian government is playing the part of Jeb Bush, acting behind the scenes to make sure things come out the way they're supposed to come out, regardless of the will of the voters.

One week after a quorum of RCF board members voted to endorse the candidacy of Anatoly Evgenyevich, members of a private security firm invaded the RCF's offices in Moscow, ejected board chairman Alexander Bakh, a Karpov supporter, from his office and seized the federation's bank accounts. The security firm was apparently acting on orders from a government official.

Dvorkovich had been claiming all week that the vote of the board members was invalid because he was not present. The fact is that on May 14, the day of the vote, Dvorkovich first tried to change the site of the meeting, then tried to cancel it and then told Kirsan's supporters on the board to not attend in the hopes that it would deny Karpov's supporters a quorum. All such actions failed. Seventeen of the 32-member board met and voted unanimously to endorse Karpov.

Prior to the vote, on May 3, Dvorkovich had issued a statement to the effect of the RCF had endorsed Kirsan's candidacy for re-election. Karpov immediately objected, pointing out that no vote had been taken at that time and that Dvorkovich had no authority to sign off on the endorsement in any event. Only the chairman of the RCF board, Bakh, could do that.

In order to be elected president of FIDE, a candidate needs to have the support of a delegation of which he is a member. For Karpov, this is not a serious problem, since in addition of being a member of the Russian Federation he is also a member of the German Federation due to the fact he competed in the Bundesliga many years ago. Kirsan, who was a talented youngster in Kalmykia (he was the Kalmykian champion at the age of 14), never became an international star in chess and is a member only of the Russian Federation. There was some talk that he could be nominated by the presidential board, but that appears to have about as much validity as the claims of such Bush Administration constitutional scholars as Dick Cheney and David Addington, who apparently could read invisible ink on the Constitution that nobody else could. The claim would certainly be challenged, and if Kirsan were overruled he would be ineligible for re-election.

Other resources:

Julia Ioffe in True/Slant
ChessBase
Mark Crowther (The Week in Chess)
Mig Greengard (Chess Ninja)


Big Four in Quad Final of US Championship



The "Big Four" of American chess -- Gata Kamsky, Hikaru Nakamura, Alex Onischuk and Yuri Shulman -- are currently taking part in the final phase of the 2010 US Championship in St. Louis, a three-round mini-tournament to determine the new champion.

The quadrangular touranament, or the "Quad" as it is called in St. Louis, began yesterday with Nakamura playing White against Kamsky and Onischuk playing White against Shulman. Both games ended in draws.

In the round starting as we go to press (2 pm CDT/12 noon PDT), Nakamura plays White against Shulman and Kamsky has White against Onischuk. There is a live broadcast featuring commentary by US grandmaster Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade on the http://saintlouischessclub.org/2010-us-championship">official website of the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center.

The battle for fifth place, called the "challenger tournament," continues today among the 20 other players in the tournament with grandmaster Alex Stripunsky currently a half point ahead of former US champion Alex Shabalov.

The challenger tournament concludes today while the Quad is scheduled to finish tomorrow, with speed chess play offs, if necessary, scheduled for Tuesday.



Eljanov leads Astrakhan Grand Prix



Ukrainian GM Pavel Eljanov leads the sixth and final leg of the 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix (being played in May 2010) with one round remaining in the Russian city of Astrakhan in the Volga Delta near the Caspian Sea.

Pavel Vladimirovich is assured of at least a share of first prize as he leads a half d0zen other players by a full point and need only avoid loss in the final round to take first place clear.

The final round will be played tomorrow.



Beginning this week

Chicago Open 27-31 May.


Calendar

Karpov International Tournament, Poikovsky 31 May-14 June. Bacrot, Bologan, Jakovenko, Motylev, Onischuk, Rianzantsev, Rublevsky, Shirov, Ivan Sokolov, Sutivsky, Svidler and Wang Hao.

45th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 9-22 June. Alekseev, Bruzón, Domínguez, Ivanchuk, Nepomniachtchi and Short.

Kings Tournament, Banza 14-24 June. Carlsen, Gelfand, Nisipeanu, Ponomariov, Radjabov and Wang Yue.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 15-25 July. Kramnik, Le Quang Liem, Leko, Mamedyarov, Naiditsch and Ponomariov.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 6-8 August. The world economic crisis reduces the festival to three days in 2010, with the rapid open and simultaneous exhibitions by Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk being the only featured events.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

Pan-American Women's Championship, São Paulo 10-21 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 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 downloaded free here.

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


I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. US Championship, St. Louis

St. Louis
Photo by Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike]

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Kamsky - Christiansen, Round 5

Gata Kamsky
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Gata Kamsky - Larry Christiansen
US Championship, Round 5
St Louis, 18 May 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Pogo Stick Defense (Bird's Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5

• This is the variation of the Ruy Lopez analyzed by Ruy Lopez in the 16th century. For three hundred years thereafter, the Spanish Game in general was considered pedestrian and most masters preferred to play the King's Gambit; the Italian was their idea of a "quiet game."

4.0-0 Nd4

• By transposition, we have the Pogo Stick Defense, aka Bird's Defense. See Vacier Lagrave-Andreikin, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009.[/li>

5.Ba4 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Ne7

• If 6...Qf6 7.Qg3 Ne7 8.d3 h6 9.Nc3 c6 then:
• If 10.Kh1 Ng6 then:
• 11.Ne2 Qh4 12.Qxh4 Nxh4 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 gives White better development and the advantage in space (Oral-Schutz, Op, Brataslava, 1990).
• 11.Be3 Bd6 12.Ne2 Nf4 13.Qf3 Nxe2 14.Qxe2 0-0 15.Rad1 Bc7 16.d4 d5 17.exd5 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Allander, SX, Eskiilstuna, 1913).
• 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 Ng6 12.Ne2 0-0 13.c3 Nf4 14.Nxf4 exf4 15.Qf3 d6 16.d4 gives White the advantage in space (Brodsky-V. Shulman, Op, Kstovo, 1994).

7.Qc3!?

• If 7.d3 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 then:
• 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Rad1 Bb6 11.Bb3 Qd7 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Qg4 Rf7 14.Be3 Nc6 is equal (Ivanesovic-Nikolic, Yugoslav Ch, Kladovo, 1991).
• 9.Be3 Bb6 10.Bb3 Be6 11.Qg3 Bxb3 12.axb3 f5 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.Qh4 Qd7 is equal (A. Sokolov-Gulko, City Ch, Moscow, 1981).

7...Bd4

• The game is equal.

8.Qg3 Ng6 9.c3 Bb6 10.d4 0-0

• 10...exd4 11.Rd1 dxc3 12.Nxc3 Qe7 13.Bg5 Qe5 remains equal.

11.f4!?

• This pawn advance loosens Black's kingside.
• 11.Be3 Qe7 12.Bc2 exd4 13.Bxd4 d6 14.Nd2 remains equal.

11...exf4!?

• Black takes the wrong way.
• If 11...exd4! then:
• 12.Kh1 dxc3 13.Nxc3 c6 14.Rd1 Bc7 15.e5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 12.cxd4? Bxd4+! 13.Kh1 Qf6 gives Black an extra pawn and he will certainly get another.

12.Bxf4 Nxf4

• 12...d5 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Bc2 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 c5 remains equal.

13.Qxf4

• White gets the advantage in space from his central pawn duo.

13...d6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Kh1 c6 16.Nf3 h6 17.Bc2 Qd7 18.e5 dxe5

• 18...d5 19.Qe3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Nh4 gives White a slight advantage in space.

19.Nxe5 Qd6

• If 19...Qd5!? then 20.Qd2! Qb5 21.a4 Qd5 22.Qd3 f5 23.Ng6 gives White the initiative.

20.Qg3 f5!?

• Black plays on the wrong wing. His pieces are queenside, so pawn advances should be made there to work hand-in-hand with the pieces.
• 20...c5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.b4 Bb6 23.Rad1 Qc7 restores equality.

21.Rae1 Bc7!?

• White makes another inaccuracy. Having advanced the f-pawn, he should bring his Rooks to the kingside.
• If 21...Rae8 22.Qg6 Bc7 23.Ng4 then:
• 23...Bc4 24.Nxh6+ Kh8 25.Qxd6 Bxd6 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 is equal.
• 23...Kh8 24.a4 Bg8 25.Qxd6 Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Bxd6 27.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space.

22.Qh3!

• The Queen has a paralyzing effect on Black's position.
• 22.a4 c5 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.b4 Qe7 25.Qe3 leaves White with a very slight edge in space.
• 22.Qg6!? Rf6! 23.Qh5 Bxa2 24.Rxf5 Raf8 25.Ref1 is equal.

22...f4?

• Black opens the h7/b1 diagonal for White's pieces to attack the Black King.
• 22...Bxa2 23.b3 c5 24.Ra1 cxd4 25.Nd3 dxc3 26.Rxa2 Black still has a defensible game.

BLACK: Larry Christiansen
""""""""#
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WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 22...f5f4

23.Qd3!

• White threatens mate.

23...Bf5 24.Bb3+ Kh7 25.Qd2!

• Black attacks the f-pawn, which is completely undefended.
• If 25.Qe2 g5 26.Bc2 then:
• 26...Bxc2 27.Qxc2+ Kg7 28.Rf2 Rae8 29.Rfe2 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 26...Qe6 27.Bxf5+ Rxf5 28.Qd3 Raf8 29.Nf3 gives White more space and the initiative.

25...g5

BLACK: Larry Christiansen
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WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 25...g7g5

26.g4!

• This move is decisive. Black is forced to retreat the Bishop.

26...Bc8

• If 26...fxg3 27.Rxf5 Rxf5 28.Bc2 then:
• 28...Raf8 29.Rf1 Qe6 30.Bxf5+ Rxf5 31.Qd3 Qd5+ 32.Rf3 White wins the Rook.
• 28...Qe6 29.Rf1 Raf8 wins the exchange for White.
• Black wins easily after 26...Bxg4 27.Nxg4 Rfe8 28.Qd3+ Kg7 29.Qh3 h5 30.Qxh5.

27.Qd3+ Kg7 28.Bc2 Rh8

• If 28...Bf5 29.gxf5 Qd5+ 30.Rf3 then:
• 30...Rf6 31.Ng4 Qxa2 32.Nxf6 Kxf6 33.Re6+ leaves White a Rook to the good.
• 30...g4 31.f6+ Rxf6 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Qh8+ Ke7 34.Ng6+ leads to mate.

29.Ng6 Bxg4 30.Re7+ Kf6 31.Rxc7 Rhg8 32.Ne5 1-0

• If 32...Qxc7 then White wins after 33.Nxg4+ Ke7 34.Qh7+ Kd6 35.Qxh6+.
• Mr. Christiansen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Nakamura - Kraai, Round 6

Hikaru Nakmura
Photo: from the Website of the Gibraltar Chess Festival (2009)


Hikaru Nakamura - Jesse Kraai
US Championship, Round 6
St Louis, 19 May 2010

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 a6 6.Ne5

• Now that Anand and Topalov have completed their match, one should expect pawn sacrifices in the Catalan to become fashionable for a while.

6...Bb4+

• The text sets up a situation similar to the fourth game of the Anand-Topalov match, except Black's fifth and White's sixth move had not been played.
• 6...c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 gives Black an extra pawn; see Anand-Topalov, World Ch Match Rd 2, Sofia, 2010.

7.Nc3

• 7.Bd2!? Qxd4 8.Bxb4 Qxe5 9.Na3 Nc6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Bc3 Qd5 12.f3 e5 gives Black two extra pawns and more space (Aronian-Mamedyarov, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).

7...Nd5 8.Bd2 Nb6

• 8...b5 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 0-0 11.a4 f6 12.Nf3 c6 13.Qc2 Bb7 14.h4 Qe8 15.Rfe1 Nd7 16.e4 Nc7 gives White more space and Black an extra pawn (D. Gurevich-Hess, World Op, Philadelphia, 2009).

9.e3 N8d7 10.Nxd7

• 10.Qg4 0-0 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.0-0 Rb8 13.Qe2 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bd7 leaves Black with an extra pawn (Sherevich-Kachiani, OlW, Torino, 2006).

10...Qxd7 11.Ne4 Qb5 12.0-0!?

• 12.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 13.Qd2 a5 14.0-0 Bd7 15.a3 Qxd2 16.Nxd2 0-0-0 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Vidit-Zhou Jinchao, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

12...0-0

• Black has an extra pawn; White has more space.

13.a4 Qa5 14.Qe1

• 14.Bxb4 Qxb4 15.Qd2 a5 16.Qxb4 axb4 17.Rfc1 remains equal.

14...Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qxd2!?

• Black does not have a serious space deficit and needn't exchange Queens.
• 15...Qh5 16.h4 a5 17.Qd1 Qg6 18.h5 Qh6 gives White more space and Black an extra pawn.

16.Nxd2 Bd7 17.a5!?

• White misses a shot to turn the game around.
• If 17.Rfc1 then 17...Bxa4 18.Nxc4 Bc6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Ne5 assures White of winning back the pawn with greater piece activity.

17...Nd5 18.Rfc1

• The c-pawn isn't poisoned. White should just take it.
• 18.Nxc4 Rad8 19.Rfd1 f6 20.Rac1 Bc6 21.e4 gives White the advantage in space.

18...Bb5 19.Bf1 c5 20.dxc5

• White has restored the material balance.

20...Rfc8

• If 20...Rac8 then 21.Nxc4 Rxc5 22.Nd6 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 wins Black's b-pawn.

&&
• 20...c3 21.bxc3 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Rfc8 23.Rab1 Rab8 24.Nb3 gives White an extra pawn.

21.Nxc4 Rxc5 22.Nb6!?

• This allows for an exchange of Knights with only diminishes White's attack.
• If 22.Nd6 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 then:
• 24...b5 25.e4 Nb4 26.Ke2 f6 27.Rc7 gives White greater piece activity.
• 24...f5? 25.Nxb7! Kf7 26.Rc6 Nb4 27.Rc7+ leaves White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Jesse Kraai
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 22.Nc4b6

22...Rxc1!

• Black goes for the exchanges and equalizes.

23.Rxc1 Nxb6 24.axb6 Bc6 25.Bg2 Kf8?

• Black drops a pawn at a crucial moment.
• 25...Bxg2! 26.Kxg2 Rb8 27.f4 h6 28.Rc7 g5 29.Kf3 gives White the clearly more active Rook, but Black has better queenside pawns and thus a defensible game.

BLACK: Jesse Kraai
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 25...Kg8f8

26.Bxc6!

• White wins the pawn.

26...bxc6 27.Rxc6 Rb8 28.f4!

• White moves to paralyze Black's kingside.

28...Ke7 29.e4 Kd7

• If 29...Rb7 then:
• 30.e5 Kd7 31.Rd6+ Kc8 32.b4 leaves Black in danger of running out of reserve pawn tempi.
• 30.Rc7+?! Rxc7! 31.bxc7 is equal.

30.Rc7+ Kd8

• 30...Ke8 loses to 31.b7 Kd8 32.Rxf7.

BLACK: Jesse Kraai
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 30...Kd7d8

31.Rxf7!

• The text is more direct and powerful than 31.Ra7 Rxb6 32.Rxf7 Rxb2 33.Rxg7 then:
• If 33...h5 34.Rh7 Rb1+ 35.Kg2 Rb5 36.e5 Rb2+ 37.Kh3 then:
• 37...a5 38.Rxh5 a4 39.Rh8+ Kd7 40.Ra8 Ra2 41.Kg4 wins for White.
• If 37...Ke8 then White wins after 38.Rxh5 a5 39.Rh8+ Kf7 40.Ra8 Ra2 41.Kg4.
• If 33...Re2 then 34.Rxh7 Rxe4 35.Ra7 Ra4 36.h4 Ke8 37.h5 wins.

31...Rxb6 32.Rxg7 Rxb2 33.Rxh7 a5

• If 33...Re2 then 34.e5 a5 35.Ra7 Ra2 36.h4! wins.

34.Ra7 Ra2 35.h4 Ke8 36.h5 Kf8 37.h6 Kg8 38.g4 1-0

• Mr. Kraai resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Onischuk - Akobian, Round 5

Alex Onischuk
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alex Onischuk - Var Akobian
US Championship, Round 5
St.Louis, 18 May 2010

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Slav Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3

• If 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nbd7 11.Rd1 e5 12.d5 e4 then:
• If 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nb6 15.Bb3 cxd5 16.Bxd5 then:
• If 16...Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Qb6 18.Qd3 Rad8 19.e4 Bd4 then:
• 20.Kh1 Bxf2 21.Bh6 Rxd5 22.exd5 is equal (Bareev-Kramnik, IT, Novgorod, 1994).
• 20.Bh6 Qxb2 21.Rd1 Rxd5 22.exd5 Qxf2+ 23.Kh1 is equal (Shirov-Bareev, IT, León, 1995).
• 16...Re8 17.Qf3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Qc7 19.e4 Qc4 20.Rd7 gives White the advantage in space (Kaufman-Filipovich, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2008).
• 13.Qf4 Qe7 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Bd2 Nb6 16.Bb3 c5 17.Be1 Rab8 18.Rab1 Rfe8 19.Qd6 Nfd7 20.Qxe7 Rxe7 is equal (Portisch-Drasko, IT, Sarajevo, 1986).
• If 7...Bg4 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Qb3 b6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 e6 12.Bd2 Nc6 then:
• 13.Be2 a6 14.Rfc1 Na5 15.Qb4 Nd7 16.b3 Re8 17.Na4 Nb7 is equal (Stohl-Haba, Zonal, Budapest, 1993).
• 13.Qa4 Na5 14.b3 a6 15.Ne2 Nb7 16.Qc6 Ra7 17.Rfc1 Re8 18.Qc7 Bf8 19.Rc6 Qxc7 20.Rxc7 leaves White with the advantage in space (Karpov-Jussupow, Alekhine Mem, Moscow, 1992).

6...0-0 7.0-0 Bg4

• If 7...Nbd7 8.cxd5 then:
• 8...Nxd5 9.e4 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.Be3 b6 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.cxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Browne-Ardiansyah, IT, Surakarta, 1982).
• 8...cxd5 9.Qb3 e6 10.Bd2 a6 11.Rfc1 b6 12.a4 Re8 13.Na2 Ne4 14.Be1 Bb7 15.Nb4 e5 16.Nc6 Bxc6 17.Rxc6 gives White the advantage in space (Torre-Escobar, Ol, Torino, 2006).

8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e6 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.b3 Re8 12.Bb2 Qe7 13.Qe2

• 13.Bf1 a6 14.Qe2 Rac8 15.Rac1 Nh5 16.g4 gives White an insignificant advantage in space (Bauer-Kallai, French ChT, Metz, 2009).

13...a6

• 13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nd5 15.Rac1 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Nb6 17.Bd3 Nd5 18.Be1 e5 19.dxe5 Qxe5 is equal (Serper-Bertholee, IT, Amsterdam, 1980).

14.Rac1

• 14.Qc2 Rac8 15.Rac1 Rc7 16.Bf1 draw (Ftacnik-Petrosian, IT, Vrsac, 1981).

14...Rad8 15.Qc2 h5 16.Bf1 Nh7!?

• 16...Nb6 17.Bd3 Nc8 18.Nb1 Nh7 19.Ba3 Qc7 20.Nd2 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-Petrosian, Candidates' Match ¼-final, Velden, 1980).

17.e4

• White has the advantage in space.

17...dxe4

• 17...e5 18.cxd5 exd4 19.Ne2 c5 20.f3 f5 21.exf5 gives White an extra pawn.

18.Qxe4 Nhf6 19.Qe3 e5

• 19...b6 20.Be2 c5 21.Bf3 cxd4 22.Rxd4 e5 23.Rdd1 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

20.d5 cxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 e4 23.Bxg7 Kxg7

BLACK: Var Akobian
""""""""#
$ + Tt+ +%
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WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 23...Kg8g7:B

24.c5

• White's plan is to create a passed pawn on the queenside.
• If 24.Re1 f5 25.Red1 then:
• 25...Nf6 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Qc5 gives White a slight edge in space.
• 25...Ne5 26.c5 Rxd5 27.Rxd5 Rd8 28.Rxd8 Qxd8 29.Qc3 gives White the initiative.

24...Nf6 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.c6

• The exchange on c6 is the best plan.
• If 26.a4 (with the idea of advancing the queenside pawns and creating a passer) 26...Nd5 27.Qd4+ Nf6 28.Qc3 then:
• 28...Qc7 29.Be2 Qf4 30.Rd1 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 the pawns have gone no further.
• 28...Kh7 29.b4 Nd5 30.Qb3 Nf4 31.Re1 f5 32.Rb1 h4 is equal.

26...bxc6 27.Rxc6 Qe5

• If 27...a5 then after 28.Qc3 Rd1 29.Ra6 Qd8 30.g3 h4 31.g4 White can win a pawn at will.

BLACK: Var Akobian
""""""""#
$ + T + +%
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WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 27...Qe7e5

28.Qc1!?

• The Queen would be more flexible at e1, where it would attack the next stopping point for the a-pawn.
• If 28.Qe1 a5 29.Ra6 Qd4 30.Rxa5 then:
• 30...Qd1 31.Qxd1 Rxd1 32.Re5 h4 33.a4 gives White two connected passes while Black's position is almost paralyzed; Black is able to fight on because he has his Rook behind White's pawns.
• 30...Qb2?! 31.Bc4! Qc2 32.Qe3 h4 33.Ra7 leaves White poised for a direct attack on the Black Queen.

It is not possible for White to simply take the a-pawn yet. If 28.Rxa6? then after 28...Rd1! 29.Rc6 Qa1 30.Qe2 Nd5 it is White who is fighting for a draw.

28...a5 29.Rc5!?

• Again, White commits an inaccurate move. He has the opportunity to tie Black's forces down to the a-pawn.
• 29.Ra6 Rd5 30.Bc4 Rd6 31.Ra8 gives White the advantage in space.

29...Rd5!

• Black has equalized.

30.Rxd5 Nxd5 31.Qc5 h4?

• The iron rule for advancing pawns is candidate first. The h-pawn is not the candidate.
• Correct is 31...e3! when 32.fxe3 Qxe3+ 33.Qxe3 Nxe3 34.Kf2 Nc2 remains equal.

BLACK: Var Akobian
""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alex Onischuk
Position after 31...h5h4

32.Qxa5!

• White now has two connected passers and wins quickly.

32...e3 33.Qe1

• If 33.Qc5 exf2+ 34.Qxf2 g5 35.Bc4 then:
• 35...Nf4 36.Qd2 Qa1+ 37.Bf1 Kf6 38.a4 White's queenside pawn are off and running.
• 35...Qa1+ 36.Qf1 Qd4+ 37.Kh1 White is up by a pawn and has connected remote passers.

33...Qd4 34.Bc4 Qd2 35.Kf1 Nc3

• 35...Nf4 36.Qxe3 Qd1+ 37.Qe1 Qxe1+ 38.Kxe1 Nxg2+ 39.Kf1 is an easy win for White.

36.Qxe3 Qd1+

• If 36...Qxe3 then after 37.fxe3 Nxa2 38.e4 Nb4 39.Ke2 Kf6 40.Kd2 White will have to fight harder to win.

37.Qe1 Qd4

• 37...Qxe1+ 38.Kxe1 Nxa2 39.Kd2 f5 40.Kd3 Kf6 41.Kd4 the remote passer carries the day.

38.Qa1! f6 39.a4 Qd2 40.Qe1 Qd4 41.Qe7+ 1-0

• If 41...Kh6 then after 42.Qe3+ Qxe3 43.fxe3 Ne4 44.a5 the pawn cannot be stopped.
• Mr. Akobian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Stripunsky - Shulman, Round 6

Yuri Shulman
Photo: New York Masters


Alex Stripunsky - Yuri Shulman
US Championship, Round 6
St Louis, 19 May 2010

Open French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nge2

• This sham pawn sacrifice is a rare continuation. For the usual 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3, see Pähtz-Cioara, Bundesliga 0910, Eppingen, 2009.

4...dxe4 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Nxc3 Nc6 7.Bb5 Nge7 8.Be3

• 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 f5 transposes into the text.

8...0-0 9.Qd2 f5 10.0-0-0 a6 11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.f3 e5

• 12...exf3 13.gxf3 e5 14.d5 Na5 15.Qe2 b5 16.Rhg1 Qd6 leaves Black with an extra pawn (Ciocaltea-Ornstein, IT, Smederevska Palanka, 1981).

13.d5 Na5 14.Qe2 b6!?

• 14...b5 15.Bc5 Rf7 16.fxe4 f4 gives White the advantage in space (So. Polgar-Pierre, Op, Val Maubuee, 1988).

15.fxe4

• The game is equal as White takes back the gambit pawn.

15...f4

• Black would only weaken his own pawns by taking on e4.
• If 15...fxe4 then:
• 16.Nxe4 Qh4 17.Bg5 Qg4 18.Qxg4 Bxg4 19.Rde1 Rae8 remains equal.
• 16.Rhf1 Rxf1 17.Rxf1 Qd6 18.Kb1 Qg6 19.Bg1 remains equal.

16.Bd2 Nb7 17.Rdf1 Nd6 18.g3

• 18.Kb1 Qf6 19.Rf2 Qg6 20.h4 Qg3 remains equal.

18...Bh3 19.Rf2 Bg2 20.Re1 f3 21.Qe3

• If 21.Qd3 then after 21...Qf6 22.Be3 Qg6 23.Kb1 Qh5 24.h4 Qg6 Black targets a backward pawn.

21...h6 22.Ne2 Qe8 23.Ng1

• White attacks the pawn at f3 and the Bishop's escape hatch at h3.

23...Qh5

• White parries both attacks.

24.h3 Bxh3 25.Rxf3!?

• Black has the advantage in space; White should exchange pieces.
• 25.Nxh3 Qxh3 26.Rxf3 Qg2 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Qd3 b5 remains equal.

BLACK: Yuri Shulman
""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Stripunsky
Position after 25.Rf1f3:p

25...Bg2!

• By coming at the Rook from behind, the Bishop also attack the e-pawn.
• 25...Bg4!? 26.Rxf8+ Rxf8 27.Bb4 Qg6 remains equal.

26.Rxf8+ Rxf8 27.Bb4 Qg4!

• This muscular move seizes the initiative by demanding that White protect his e-pawn.
• If 27...Qg6 28.Bxd6 cxd6 then:
• 29.Qd3 b5 30.Kb1 Rc8 31.b3 a5 32.Re3 b4 gives Black a very slight initiative.
• 29.Kd2 b5 30.Re2 Bh1 31.Re1 Qg4 32.b3 Qg6 gives Black more piece activity.

28.Bxd6 cxd6 29.Kb1?

• 29.Qxb6 Qxg3 30.Kd2 Qf2+ 31.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 32.Kd3 g5 gives Black more piece activity and connected passers on the kingside, but White's e-pawn is adequately defended.

BLACK: Yuri Shulman
""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Stripunsky
Position after 29.Kc1b1

29...Qxe4!!

• The sacrifice of the Bishop is a sham.

30.Qxe4 Bxe4 31.Rxe4 Rf1+!

• White gets back the sacrificed piece with an extra pawn.

32.Ka2 Rxg1 33.Rb4

• If 33.Rc4 Rd1 34.Rc6 Rxd5 then:
• 35.c4 Rd4 36.Rxb6 a5 37.Ra6 Rxc4 38.Rxa5 Rg4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 35.Rxb6 e4 36.Rb3 Rd4 37.Re3 d5 38.b4 Kf7 gives Black an extra pawn.

33...b5 34.a4 Rxg3 35.axb5 axb5 36.Rxb5

BLACK: Yuri Shulman
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WHITE: Alex Stripunsky
Position after 36.Rb3b4:p

36...h5!

• Black plays his most remote passer.

37.Rb8+ Kh7 38.b4 h4 39.Rf8

• 39.b5 h3 40.b6 h2 41.b7 h1Q 42.Rh8+ Kxh8 Black remains up by a Rook and wins.

39...h3 40.Rf1 e4 41.b5

• 41.c4 e3 42.Rh1 e2 43.b5 Rd3 44.b6 Rd1 wins for Black.

41...Rf3 42.Rg1

• 42.Rb1 e3 43.b6 e2 44.Re1 transposes to the text.

42...e3 43.b6 e2 44.Re1 h2 45.Rh1 Kg6 0-1

• 46.b7 Rf8 47.Kb3 Re8 48.Kc3 e1Q+ 49.Rxe1 Rxe1 gives Black an extra Rook.
• Mr. Stripunsky resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Shabalov - Christiansen, Round 4

This game is a real slugfest between two veteran heavy hitters. One learned the finer points of chess from Tal himself; the other has just spent forty years playing like he did.



Larry Christiansen
Photo: from the Website of the United States Chess League


Alex Shabalov - Larry Christiansen
US Championship, Round 4
St Louis, 17 May 2010

East India Game: Bogo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2

• For the more usual 4.Bd2, see Araz-Ghaderpour, TT, Beirut, 2009).[/li>

4...d5

• If 4...0-0 5.a3 then:
• If 5...Be7 6.e4 d5 then:
• If 7.Qc2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nc6 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...Ng4 then:
• 10.Bd3 f5 11.Nc3 Bf6 12.0-0-0 is equal (Bologan-Jakovenko, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).
• 10.Rd1 f5 11.Nc3 Bf6 12.Be2 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Qe8 14.0-0 b6 15.b4 Bb7 16.Rf2 Rd8 17.Qc1 is equal (Huzman-Maletin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow 2004).
• 10.g3 f5 11.Nc3 e5 12.0-0-0 e4 13.Ne1 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Bg5 15.Qf2 Ne7 16.Ng2 c5 17.Kb1 White has space in the center and Black on the kingside (Khurtsidze-Rogovski, Puchko mem, Alushta 2000).
• If 9...Nxe4 10.Qxe4 f5 11.Qd3 f4 12.Bd2 e5 13.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Cramling-Timman, IT, Malmø 1997).
• If 7.e5 Nfd7 then:
• If 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 c5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Re1 a5 12.Bc2 Re8 then:
• 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.h3 a4 15.b4 axb3 16.Nxb3 Nxb3 17.Bxb3 Be6 18.Qd3 g6 is equal (Granda-Rivas, Capablanca Mem, Havana 1988).
• 13.Nf1 cxd4 14.Bf4 Nf8 15.Nxd4 Bc5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bg3 Qb6 White will need to be wary of Black's c- and d-pawns (Jussupow-Ehlvest, Match, Saint John 1988).
• 8.b4 a5 9.b5 c5 10.Bb2 cxd4 11.Be2 Nc5 12.Bxd4 Nbd7 13.a4 Nb6 14.Qc2 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Nxc4 b6 17.Rd1 Qc7 18.Nd6 Bb7 19.Bxc5 Bd5 20.Nd4 bxc5 21.N4f5 Bg5 22.0-0 gives White the advantaage in space (Bareev-Bocharov, Russian Ch SemiF, Kazan 2005).
• If 5...Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 Ne4 then:
• 7.g3 d6 8.Bg2 Nd7 9.0-0 f5 10.Be3 Qe7 11.Qc2 Ndf6 12.Ne1 h6 13.Nd3 Bd7 14.f3 Ng5 15.Bd2 a5 16.Bc3 b5 White is better prepared to open the position (Sokolov-Bologan, Tan Chin Nam Cup, Shanghai 2001).
• 7.Be3 d5 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Rxc4 b6 10.g3 Bb7 11.Bg2 Nd6 12.Rc3 Nf5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.0-0 Nce7 is equal (Cramling-Taimanov, Hosdens, Cppenhagen 1997).

5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxd2+

• If 6...Be7 7.e3 0-0 8.Qc2 a5 9.b3 Re8 10.Bb2 Bf8 11.Bd3 g6 12.0-0 Bd7 then:
• 13.Rfe1 Nh5 14.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Kiselev-Gipslis, IT, Podolsk, 1992).
• 13.Rad1 Bg7 14.Rfe1 Ne7 15.Ne5 Nc6 16.Ndf3 gives White the advantage in space (M. Gurevich-Gipslis, Alekhine Mem Op, Moscow, 1992).

7.Bxd2 Ne4 8.Be3!?

• If 8.Rd1 0-0 9.e3 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.Qc2 Be8 11.b4 a6 12.Bc1 f5 13.Be2 Bh5 then:
• 14.0-0 Rf6 15.g3 Bg4 16.Kg2 draw (Lputian-Rhode, Op, St. John, 1988).
• 14.Bb2 f4 15.exf4 Rxf4 16.0-0 Qf6 is equal (Nyback-Nisipeanu, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).
• 9...Ne7 10.Bd3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Qc2 Ng6 13.Be1 a5 14.Ne5 Qe7 15.f3 gives White the advantage in space (Khalifman-Knaak, Bundesliga 9899, Porz, 1998).

8...0-0

• The game is equal.

9.g3 Nd6 10.c5 Nc4 11.Bc1 Qf6 12.Qd1

• 12.Qc2?! Nxd4! 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.c6 Qb6 15.b3 Qa5+ gives Black an extra pawn.

12...e5 13.b3 e4 14.Bg5

• If 14.bxc4 exf3 then:
• 15.e3 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Bh3 17.Bb2 Bg2 18.Rg1 remains equal.
• 15.exf3? Nxd4! 16.Bg2 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Qxa1 leaves Black an exchange to the good with the more aggressive position.

14...Qf5 15.bxc4 exf3 16.Be3 dxc4 17.exf3 Be6

• If 17...Rd8 18.Bxc4 Qf6 then:
• 19.0-0 Bh3 20.Re1 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Rxd4 22.Qe2 Bd7 leaves Black with the more active game.
• 19.Qa4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.0-0 Qxc5 gives Black an extra pawn and greater activity.

18.Bg2

• If 18.g4? Qf6 19.f4 Rad8 20.g5 Qf5 then:
• 21.Bg2 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Qxf4 23.Qd2 Qxd2+ 24.Kxd2 Rxd4+ gives Black two extra pawns.
• 21.Qb1 Nxd4 22.Qxf5 Bxf5 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 leaves Black a pawn to the good; White has no active piece.

18...Rfd8 19.0-0 Bd5!?

• Black gives White the opportunity to fight back against his spatial advantage.
• If 19...Qf6 20.f4 Bd5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rc1 then:
• If 22...b5 23.cxb6 cxb6 24.Rxc4 Rad8 25.Qe2 then:
• 25...Nxd4 26.Bxd4 Rxd4 27.Rc7 Ra4 is equal.
• 25...Qe6 26.Qb2 b5 27.Rc5 Rxc5 28.dxc5 a6 gives Black the more active game.
• 22...Rad8 23.Rxc4 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Rxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxd4 26.Qb3 gives Black the active Rook.

20.h4?

• This move is wasted. White has a spatial deficit and should seek exchanges.
• If 20.Qb1! then:
• 20...Qh5 21.g4 Qh4 22.Re1 Rab8 23.Qf5 is equal.
• 20...Qxb1 21.Raxb1 Rab8 22.Rfe1 c3 23.Rbc1 is equal.

BLACK: Larry Christiansen
""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 20.h2h4

20...b5!

• Black takes steps to fortify his queenside.

21.cxb6

• 21.Qb1 Qxb1 22.Raxb1 a6 23.Rfe1 Rd7 24.h5 Re8 gives Black more space and fewer pawn weaknesses.

21...cxb6 22.a4

• 22.Rc1 b5 23.Rb1 a6 24.Re1 Rac8 25.Kh2 Be6 Black's queenside is dangerous.

22...Nb4 23.Rb1

• 23.a5 Nd3 24.axb6 axb6 25.Rb1 Rdb8 26.Rb5 Qd7 gives Black a significant advantage in space.

23...Nd3 24.Rb5

• If 24.Qc2 then after 24...Rab8 25.Qc3 Rdc8 26.g4 Qf6 27.Rb5 Qc6 Black threatens to win the pawn on f3.

24...Qe6 25.Qc2 Rac8 26.Rfb1 Qc6

• 26...Bc6 27.Rg5 f6 28.Rg4 f5 29.d5 Bxd5 30.Rd4 Ba8 forces the exchange of Rooks, putting an end to White's counterplay.

27.Qe2

• White moves to save his f-pawn.
• If 27.Bh3 then Black wins a pawn with 27...Be6 28.Bf1 Qxf3 29.Bg2 Qf6.

27...Re8 28.a5

• If 28.Qd1 (avoidung Black's reply to the text) 28...Qd6 29.Qc2 Rb8 then:
• 30.a5 Qe6 31.Qc3 Bc6 32.d5 Bxd5 33.axb6 Bc6 34.Rg5 f6 gives White very few good moves.
• 30.Rd1? Qc6 31.Qe2 a6 32.Rbb1 b5 33.axb5 axb5 gives Black two connected remote passers.

BLACK: Larry Christiansen
""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 28.a4a5

28...Nc1!!

• The Knight attacks the White Queen. The Knight is disruptive if he remains where is, yet White has no good way to rid himself of it.

29.Qc2

• 29.Qb2 Nb3 30.Rxb3 cxb3 31.Rc1 Qb7 32.axb6 Rxc1+ leaves Black up by an exchange.

29...Nb3 30.Rxd5 Qxd5 31.axb6 axb6 32.f4 Qd6 33.d5

• White tries to liberate his dark-bound Bishop,
• 33.Be4 g6 34.Rd1 f5 35.Bg2 b5 36.Bf1 Re4 leave Black in such command of the light squares that White's light-bound Bishop is shut out of the game while the dark-bound Bishop is permanently bad.

33...b5 34.f5 Rcd8 35.Bf4

• 35.f6 gxf6 36.Rd1 Rxe3 37.fxe3 Qxg3 38.Qf2 Qg4 leaves Black two pawns up.

BLACK: Larry Christiansen
""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 35.Be3f4

35...Qb6

• Good enough, but better is 35...Nd4! 36.Qd1 Qc5 37.Qg4 Ne2+ 38.Kh2 Qxf2 when Black has a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.

36.Kh2 Nd4 37.Qxc4 bxc4 38.Rxb6 c3 39.d6

• If 39.Rb1 then Black wins after 39...c2 40.Rc1 Re2 41.g4 h5 42.Kg3 Nb3.

39...c2 40.Rb7 Rxd6 41.Rc7 Rdd8 42.Rc4

• 42.Bb7 Re2 43.Kg2 Kf8 44.Bc1 Re5 45.Bb2 Rb5 leaves Black up by an exchange.

42...Re2 43.g4 h5 0-1

• White is taking further material loss.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. FIDE Grand Prix, Astrakhan

Astrakhan in the 17th century
Image: From by Alfred Rambaud (1898)
in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Inarkiev - Eljanov, Round 7

Pavel Eljanov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ernesto Inarkiev - Pavel Eljanov
FIDE Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 7
Astrakhan, 17 May 2010

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Houska Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6

• For moves up to here, see T. Kosintseva-Dzagnidze, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2010.
• If 6...Nd7 then:
• If 7.0-0 Ne7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 then:
• If 9...c3 10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 then:
• 12...Be7 13.Qb3 0-0!? 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4 16.exd4 Ra8 gives Black counterplay (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Be7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Qa2 is equal (Knebel-Johansson, Corres, 1994).
• 9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 b5 11.Bg5 Qb8 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bh4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 a6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd2 g5 17.Bg3 Qa7 18.Nc4 gives White a tactical edge in the center (Halsinger-Stratling, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• If 7.Nbd2 then:
• If 7...c4 then:
• 8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Rc8 11.Ra2 Qc7 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Rb1 b6 16.Qf1 Nc6 is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2008).
• 8.c3 b5 9.0-0 Nh6 10.Ne1 Bg6 11.g4 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.b3 Nf7 15.a4 Nd6 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Qc1 Qc7 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qb2 makes Black's King safety a major concern (Alekseev-David, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 8.0-0 b5 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.g4 Bb4 11.c3 Ba5 12.Ng2 Ne7 13.Nf4 b4 14.Rc1 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.h4 h5 17.Nxg6 Nxg6 18.gxh5 Nxh4 19.Bg4 Qe7 also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 7...Ne7 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bg4 10.Nfd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ndxe5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 is equal (Short-Adianto, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• If 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 then:
• 8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1 h6 19.Rfe1 Nb6 is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
• 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5 17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6 draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

7.Nc3 Qxb2

• If 7...Nc6 8.0-0 then:
• 8...c4 9.b3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Bb4 11.Qe1 b5 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Qb6 14.Qd2 Nge7 15.Rfb1 Qd8 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.Nh4 0-0 18.Nxf5 Nxf5 19.Bb4 is equal (Ansell-Pafura, Op, Hastings, 2005).
• If 8...Qxb2 9.Qe1 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bb4 12.Rb1 then:
• If 12...Bxc3 13.Rxb2 Bxe1 14.Rxe1 b6 leaves Black with an extra pawn (Motylev-Belov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
• 12...Qxc3 13.Rxb4 Qxe1 14.Rxe1 b6 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Nxf5 exf5 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has sufficient compensation in space and activity (Svidler-Stellwagen, TMatch, Amsterdam, 2009).

8.Qb1

• If 8.Nb5 then:
• 8...c4?? 9.Nc7+! Kd8 10.Nxa8 Bxc2 11.Qc1 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Qxd4 14.0-0 Qxe5 15.Bxc4 Bg6 16.Nf3 Qd6 17.Rd1 Nf6 18.Qb2 Nc6 19.Rac1 Qb8 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Rxc6 Qxa8 22.Rxf6 Black resigns (Wang Hao-Rouhani, IT, Täby, 2007).
• 8...Kd8! 9.dxc5 Nc6 10.Nbd4 remains equal.

8...Qxb1+ 9.Rxb1 c4

• 9...b6 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Rb7 d4 12.Bxd4!? cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nd7 14.Bb5 0-0-0 is equal ()Baklan-Rasmussen, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008.

10.Rxb7 Nc6 11.Kd2!?

• 11.Nb5 Rb8 12.Rxb8+ Nxb8 13.Kd2 a6 14.Na7 Kd7 15.Rb1 Kc7 16.Ng5 gives White a significant advantage which he soon drove home for a win (Bologan-Palo, Samba Cup, Skanderborg, 2003).

11...Bb4

• The game is equal.

12.Rb1 Ba5 13.g4

• 13.Nh4 Be4 14.f3 Bg6 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.h3 Nge7 remains equal.

13...Bxg4 14.Rxf7 Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Nge7 16.Rg1

• If 16.Rf4 Nf5 17.Rb7 0-0 18.Bg4 g5 then:
• 19.Rf3 Ncxd4 20.Rh3 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Rf2+ 22.Kd1 Nf5 gives Black the advantage in space to go and an extra pawn.
• 19.Rxf5 exf5 20.Bf3 f4 21.Bxd5+ Kh8 22.Bxc6 fxe3+ wins the Knight at c3.

16...Rg8 17.Rh3 Nf5 18.Bg4?

• White drops a pawn.
• 18.Rxh7 Ncxd4 19.Bh5+ Kf8 20.Rb1 g6 remains equal.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
""""""""#
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 18.Be2g4

18...Ncxd4!

• Black picks it up. White never recovers from the pawn loss.

19.Bxd4 Nxd4 20.Kc1

• If 20.Rxh7 Rb8 21.Rg3 Rb2 22.Bh5+ Ke7 then:
• 23.Kd1 Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Rxa2 25.Rb3 cxb3 26.cxb3 Rxf2 leaves Black more than a Rook to the good.
• 23.Bd1 Nf5 24.Kc1 Rgb8 25.a4 Nxg3 26.Rxg7+ Kf8 27.Rxg3 gives Black the exchange.

20...Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Ke7 22.f4

• 22.Rh3 Raf8 23.Ra3 Nc6 24.Ra6 Rc8 25.f4 Rgf8 leaves Black's pawn and pieces defending each other while White has a serious weakness in the backward pawn at f4.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 22.f2f4

22...g6!

• Black fixes the backward f-pawn.

23.Rh3 Rg7 24.Kd2 Rf7 25.Rb1 Rd8!

• The text is a simple but most excellent defensive move. Black will answer Rb7+ with ...Rd7! proecting everything.

26.c3

• If 26.Kc3 h5 27.Rb7+ Rd7 then:
• 28.Rxd7+ Kxd7 29.Kxd4 Rxf4+ 30.Kc5 Rxg4 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• 28.Rb8 Rxf4 29.Bd1 Nc6 30.Rb5 Rf2 leaves Black two pawns to the good and set to take a third.

26...Nc6 27.Ke3

• If 27.Bd1 Rb8 28.Rxb8 Nxb8 then:
• 29.Bc2 a6 30.Ke3 Nc6 31.Rh6 Kf8 32.Ba4 Ne7 leaves Black's pieces in better position ot exploit White's weaknesses.
• 29.Ke3 Nc6 30.Ba4 Kd7 31.Rh6 Kc7 32.Bc2 Ne7 Black's pieces are coordinated on f5, although Black's Rook must hang back to protect the h-pawn.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
""""""""#
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 27.Kd2e3

27...h5!?

• This puts an end to White's threat to put the Rook on h6, but a better idea for Black would be to protect his pawn rank.
• 27...Rd7 28.Rh6 d4+ 29.cxd4 Rxd4 30.Rb7+ Rd7 leaves Black perfectly protected.

28.Be2 Kf8 29.Rg3

• 29.a4 Ne7 30.Kf3 Kg7 31.Rb7 Nf5 32.Rxf7+ Kxf7 puts White in a state of paralysis.

29...Ne7 30.Rgg1

• 30.Rg5 d4+ 31.cxd4 Nd5+ 32.Kd2 Rxf4 33.Rxg6 Rxd4+ leaves Black clearly more active.

30...d4+ 31.cxd4 Nd5+ 32.Kd2

• 32.Kf2 Nxf4 33.Rbd1 Nh3+ 34.Ke3 Nxg1 35.Rxg1 Rc8 Black's c-pawn is ready to roll and will be hard to stop.

32...Nxf4 33.Bxc4 Rxd4+ 34.Kc3 Rd8

• 34...Re4 35.Rge1 Rxe1 36.Rxe1 g5 37.Rg1 Rf5 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

35.Kb4

• 35.h4 Rc7 36.Rgf1 Rd3+ 37.Kb4 Rd4 Black's more active pieces rule the day.

35...Kg7 36.Rgd1 Rc8 37.Bb3

• No better is 37.Rbc1 Rcc7 38.Ka4 Rc5 39.Bb5 Rxe5 40.Be8 Re4+ when Black wins easily.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 37.Bc4b3

37...Rb7+!

• Black keeps White's Rooks off the second rank.
• 37...g5 38.Kb5 Rfc7 39.Ka6 Kg6 then:
• 40.a3 Kf5 41.Re1 Rd7 42.Re3 Rc6+ drives the White King away from the Black a-pawn.
• 40.Rd6 Kf5 41.Re1 Rc1 42.Rdd1 Rxd1 43.Bxd1 Rc7 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

38.Ka5

• 38.Ka3 Rc5 39.Ba4 Rxb1 40.Rxb1 Rxe5 41.Bb5 g5 leaves Black with two extra pawns.

38...Rc5+ 39.Ka6 Rf7 40.Rd6 Rxe5 41.Rbd1

• If 41.Rd2 Rc5 42.Rd6 Rfc7 then:
• 43.Ba4 g5 44.Rb7 Rxb7 45.Kxb7 Re5 46.Rd2 Kf6 leaves Black's a-pawn untouchable (if 47.Kxa7 then 47...Ra5+ wins the Bishop) and Black's kingside pawn are ready to roll over White's h-pawn.
• 43.Rbd1 Kf6 44.Rd8 g5 45.Ra8 R5c6+ 46.Kb5 Rb6+ confines the White King to the a-file.

41...Re2 42.Rd7

• 42.h4 Rh2 43.Bxe6 Nxe6 44.Rxe6 Rxh4 leaves Black two pawns to the good.

42...Rxh2 43.Kxa7 Rb2 44.Rxf7+

• 44.Bc4 h4 45.a4 Rxd7+ 46.Rxd7+ Kf6 47.a5 h3 is an easy win for Black.

44...Kxf7 45.Kb6 g5 46.Kc5

• If 46.Rh1 then Black wins easily after 46...Kf6 47.Kc5 h4 48.Kc4 h3 49.Rf1 e5.

46...h4 47.Kb4 Nd5+ 48.Kc5 h3 49.Bxd5

• If 49.Ra1 Rd2 50.a4 h2 51.a5 g4 then:
• 52.Rf1+ Ke7 53.Rh1 g3 54.Kc6 Nf6 55.Kb5 Rd6 Black will queen a pawn.
• 52.Rh1 g3 53.Kb5 Rd4 54.Ka6 g2 assures Black a new Queen.

49...exd5 50.Kxd5 Re2 0-1

• If 51.Rf1+ then Black wins after 51...Kg6 52.Ra1 g4 53.Kd4 h2 54.Rh1 g3.
• Ernesto Kazbekovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Eljanov - Ponomariov, Round 8

Ruslan Ponomariov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Pavel Eljanov - Ruslan Ponomariov
FIDE Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 8
Astrakhan, 18 May 2010

East India Game: Bogo-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6

• Black chooses a very unusual line. For more common moves, see Araz-Ghaderpour, TT, Beirut, 2009).[/li>

6.Nf3 c6 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Bg5

• 9.Bf4 Bxf4 10.gxf4 Ne4 11.Nc3 f5 12.e3 Ndf6 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.Ne2 Rf6 15.f3 Nd6 16.b3 Rh6 is equal (Wojkiewicz-Mnatsakanian, Op, Katowice, 1992).

9...h6 10.Bxf6 Nxf6

• 10...Qxf6 11.Nc3 Qe7 12.c5 Bc7 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 e5 15.Rfe1 f5 16.Nd6 e4 gives White the advantage in spacel (Baumegger-Fressinet, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

11.Nbd2 b6 12.e4 Be7

• 12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bb7 15.Ne5 Rc8 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.f4 Ba6 18.Rfe1 c5 19.d5 exd5 20.cxd5 Rce8 21.Qf5 Bc8 22.Qh5 b5 draw (Wojtkiewicz-Machulsky, Op, New York, 1990).

13.e5!?

• 13.Rfd1 Bb7 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Rac1 dxc4 16.Ndxc4 b5 is equal (Gelfand-Ponomariov, Rpd, Odessa, 2008).

13...Nd7

• The game is equal.

14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rfc1 Bb7 16.Qc7 Ba6 17.a4

• 17.Qxd8 Bxd8 18.b4 g5 19.h3 f6 20.exf6 Rxf6 remains equal.

17...Bb4

• 17...Qe8 18.Qc3 Rc8 19.Qe3 Bb4 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Qb3 remains equal.

18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Rc7 Kf8

• 19...f6 20.Bh3 Nf8 21.Bf1 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 fxe5 23.dxe5 remains equal.

20.Bf1 Bxf1 21.Nxf1 Ke8 22.Rac1 Rdb8

• 22...a6 23.Ne3 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Kg2 Ke7 26.h3 remains equal.

23.Ne1!?

• White removes the guard from the key d-pawn.
• 23.R7c2 a6 24.b3 b5 25.axb5 Rxb5 26.Ra2 a5 remains equal.
• 23.Kg2 b5 24.axb5 Rxb5 25.Ne3 Ba5 26.R7c2 Rb4 followed by 27...Bb6 gives Black the initiative against White's d-pawn.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
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WHITE: Pavel Eljanov
Position after 23.Nf3e1

23...b5!

• This neat pawn sacrifice makes it possible for Black to drive White's Rook from his camp.

24.axb5 Ba5 25.R7c2 Rxb5

• Black regains the pawn.

26.Nd2

• Better is 26.Nf3 Rb4 27.Ne3 Rab8 28.Nd1, which covers White's weak points and the fight continues.

26...Nb6

• Black now has a clear advantage with the initiative against White's weak b-pawn.
• Also good for Black is 26...Bxd2 27.Rxd2 Nb6 28.Nd3 Nc4 29.Rdc2 a5.

27.Nd3?!

• White neglects protecting the d-pawn, but he would lose the b-pawn otherwise.
• If 27.Nef3 then Black wins the b-pawn after 27...Bxd2 28.Rxd2 Nc4 29.Rdc2 Rxb2 30.Rxb2 Nxb2.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
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WHITE: Pavel Eljanov
Position after 27.Ne1d3

27...Bxd2!

• Black removes a potential defender of the queenside.
• Also good is 27...Rb8 28.Nb1 Nc4 29.Na3 Nxa3 30.bxa3 Rb3.

28.Rxd2 Nc4 29.Rdc2 a5

• 29...Rb3 30.Rc3 Rab8 31.Rxb3 Rxb3 32.Rc3 Nd2.

30.Kf1 Rab8 31.Ra1

• 31.Rxc4 dxc4 32.Rxc4 Kd8 33.Ke2 Rc8 34.Ra4 Rc2+ gives Black the material advantage.

31...f6 32.Re2 Kf7 33.exf6 gxf6 34.Rae1

• Black cannot save the b-pawn, so he looks for compensation elsewhere.
• 34.Kg2 R8b6 35.Ree1 Nxb2 36.Nxb2 Rxb2 37.Rxa5 Rd2 leaves the Black Rooks lunching on White's pawns.
• 34.Rb1? Rb3! 35.Nf4 R8b6 36.Kg2 a4 37.Rbe1 Nxb2 gives Black an advanced passer.

34...R8b6 35.Nf4?

• Although with White committed to abandoning the b-pawn the Knight is of little use at d3, this move is premature. White could use the tempo to his kingside pawns into a safer formation.
• If 35.h3 then after 35...Nxb2 36.Nf4 a4 37.Rxe6 Rxe6 38.Nxe6 Nc4 Black wins the b-pawn giving Black an advanced passer, but White still has the resources to make its promotion less than inevitable and can whip up counterplay with his stronger kingside pawns.
• Fixing the e-pawn with 35.f4? proves futile 35...Rb3 36.Nc5 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 Rxb2 38.Kg1 Rb6 when Black has won the b-pawn and his e-pawn remains perfectly safe.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
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WHITE: Pavel Eljanov
Position after 35.Nd3f4

35...e5!

• White sweeps away what's left of Black's center.

36.dxe5

• No better for Black is 36.b3 exf4 37.bxc4 dxc4 38.Re7+ Kg6 39.Rc7 Rh5.

36...fxe5 37.b3 exf4 38.bxc4 dxc4

• Black has two passed pawns.

39.Re7+ Kg6 40.Rc7 Rb4 41.Kg2

• If 41.gxf4 a4 42.Re4 a3 then:
• 43.Ra7 c3 44.Rxb4 Rxb4 45.Ke2 Rb2+ 46.Ke3 c2 assures Black of getting a new Queen.
• If 43.f5+ then after 43...Kxf5 44.Re1 a2 45.Rf7+ Kg6 46.Ra7 Rb2 Black wins material that will need to be sacrificed to stop the queenside pawns.

41...a4 42.Ree7

• White could put up stiffer resistance after 42.Re4 fxg3 43.hxg3 Ra6 44.Rg4+ Kf6 45.Rh4 Ra8.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
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WHITE: Pavel Eljanov
Position after 42.Re1e7

42...Ra6

• Also good is 42...a3 43.Rg7+! Kf5 44.Rcf7+ Ke5 45.Rxf4 Ra4.

43.g4

• If 43.Rg7+ Kf5 44.Rgf7+ Ke4 45.Rxf4+ Kd3 then:
• 46.Rf3+ Kc2 47.Rf4 a3 48.Rcxc4+ Rxc4 49.Rxc4+ Kb2 wins for Black, although he now has a pawn deficit.
• If 46.Rd7+ then 46...Kc3 47.Rd1 a3 48.Re4 a2 49.Ree1 Kc2 wins.

43...a3 44.Rg7+ Kf6 45.Rce7 a2 46.Rgf7+ Kg5 47.Rf5+ Kxg4 48.Ree5 Rb3 0-1

• Incredibly, he position is a forced mate for Black.
• If 49.f3+ Rxf3 then:
• 50.Rh5 a1Q 51.h3+ Rxh3 52.Rhg5+ hxg5 53.Rxg5+ Kxg5 54.Kxh3 Qh1#.
• 50.Ra5 a1Q 51.Rxa1 Rxa1 52.Re5 Re3 53.Re4 Ra2+ etc. mates in three.
• Pavel Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Gelfand - Inarkiev, Round 6

Ernesto Inarkiev
Photo by karpidis on flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Boris Gelfand - Ernesto Inarkiev
FIDE Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 6
Astrakhan, 16 May 2010

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7

• For moves and variations up to here, see Gelfand-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2009.

12.e4

• If 12.Bd2 e5 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 Rfe8 then:
• If 15.Bd3 Bxb4 16.Ng5 then:
• 16...Nf8 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 exd4 19.exd4 Qf4 20.Nf3 Ne6 is equal (Soltau-van Kempen, Corres, 2003).
• 16...h6? 17.Nxb5!! axb5 18.Bh7+ Kf8 19.Bxb4+ White went to win (Gelfand-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2009).
• 15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
• 15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).

12...e5 13.dxe5

• If 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).

13...Nxe5 14.Nd4 Neg4!?

• 14...Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

15.g3!?

• The game is equal.
• 15.h3! b4 16.Na4 Bh2+ 17.Kf1 Ne5 18.g3! makes a desperado of the Bishop.

15...Bc5 16.Bxg4 Nxg4 17.Bf4 Qb6 18.Nce2 Rfe8 19.a4!?

• This move is premature at best.
• If 19.Rac1!? Bf8! then:
• 20.f3 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Kg2 c5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 20.h3 c5 21.Nxb5 Nxf2 22.Kxf2 Qxb5 23.Nc3 Qc6 gives Black a small edge in space.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 19.a2a4

19...a6

• Black simply reinforces the b-pawn.

20.a5 Qa7 21.f3

• 21.Rac1!? then 21...Bb4! 22.Bd2 Bf8 23.b4 Rac8 24.h3 c5! gives Black the advantage in space.

21...Ne5!?

• The game is again equal.
• 21...Rad8 22.fxg4 Bxd4+ 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Qf2 Rexe4 gives Black the advantage in space.

22.Kg2 Bf8 23.Nf5

• If 23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Qc3 b4 25.Qc4 then:
• 25...Qc5 26.Qxc5 Rxc5 27.h3 Rd8 28.f4 Re8 remains equal.
• 25...c5 26.Nf5 Rae8 27.Nd6 Bxd6 28.Rxd6 remains equal.

If 23.b3!? c5 then:

• If 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Nf5 Rae8 then:
• 26.Nc3 b4! 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.exd5 g6 forces the Knight to retreat to h4, a bad square.
• 26.Nd6 Bxd6 27.Rxd6 f5 28.Rad1 Qa8 gives Black the tactical edge with the threat of 29...fxe4.
• 24.Nf5? Nxf3! 25.Kxf3 Bxe4+! 26.Qxe4 Rxe4 27.Kxe4 Qb7+ puts White's King in a open center and gives Black pawn majorities on both wings.

23...c5 24.Nc3 c4! 25.Bxe5!?

• By now, White sees the danger in in allowing Black to play his Knight to d3. Nevertheless, there are other ways of dealing with the situation than exchanging his good Bishop.
• Inadequate is 25.Be3!? Qb8 26.Bf4 Qc8 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.Rxd5 Nd3! when White must contemplate sacrificing the exchange to prevent the octopus at d3 from being a bone in his throat for too long.
• Best is 25.b3! (undermining the outpost) then:
• 25...Rac8 26.Bxe5 Rxe5 27.bxc4 Rxc4 28.Nd6! leads to an equal game.
• 25...cxb3 26.Qxb3 Nc4 27.Rd7 Rad8 28.Rad1 Qa8 is equal.

25...Rxe5 26.Qc1!?

• White misses an oppotunity to harrass Black's most effective piece.
• 26.Qf2 Bc5 27.Qd2 Bc6 28.Qg5 f6 29.Qg4 Rae8 remains equal.

26...b4 27.Qf4

• 27.Ne2 Qc5 28.Qg5 Kh8 29.Qf4 Rae8 30.Ned4 g6 gives Black a powerful position with White's pieces uncoordinated and an advanced pawn majority ready to create a passer on the queenside.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 27.Qc1f4

27...Rxf5!!

• The exchange sacrifice is a sham; Black will soon have a second Knight for the Rook.

28.Qxf5 Bc8 29.Qe5 bxc3

• Black has the second Knight; the material will be theoretically balanced when White recaptures on c3.

30.bxc3 Qb8 31.Qxb8 Rxb8

• Black's Bishops are more active than White's Queen's Rook.

32.Rd4?

• White's chances are fading away.
• 32.Ra2 Be6 33.h4 h5 34.Rd4 Bc5 gives Black the initiative.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 32.Rd1d4

32...Rb2+!

• Black brings his Rook behind White's pawn with a gain of time.

33.Kh1 Bh3 34.Rg1

• 34.Rxc4 Bg2+ 35.Kg1 Bxf3 improves Black's position by weakening White's kingside.

34...Be6 35.Rd8 g6

• Slightly better is 35...Rc2 36.Rb1 Bh3! 37.Kg1 Rg2+ 38.Kh1 Rf2.

36.Ra8 Kg7 37.g4 Rf2 38.Rxa6 Rxf3 39.Rc6

• 39.Rg3 loses to 39...Rf4 40.Kg2 Rxe4 41.h3 Bd5 42.Kf1 Rf4+.

39...Rxc3 40.Rg3 Rc1+ 41.Rg1

• 41.Kg2 loses quickly to 41...Kf6 42.Re3 Ke5 43.h3 Rc2+ 44.Kf3 Rh2.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 41.Rg3g1

41...Rc3!

• This key move preserves the c-pawn and Black's win.
• If 41...Rxg1+!? 42.Kxg1 Be7 43.a6! Bf6 44.Rc7 then:
• 44...Bd4+ 45.Kg2 Kf6 46.a7 Bxa7 47.Rxa7 Bxg4 Black is fighting for a draw.
• 44...c3? 45.a7! Bd4+ 46.Kf1 Bxa7 47.Rxa7 c2 48.Rc7 when White is up by an exchange and, if not winning, at least no longer in danger of losing.

42.Rg3 Rd3 43.Rxd3

• White would last longer after 43.a6 Rd1+ 44.Rg1 Rd7 45.Ra1 Ra7 46.g5 Be7.

43...cxd3 44.Rc3 d2 45.Rd3 Bb4 46.a6 Bc8!

• Black's victory is secure.

47.a7

• 47.g5 Bxa6 48.Rd8 Be2 wins for Black.

47...Bb7 48.Kg1 Bc5+ 49.Kf1 Ba6 0-1

• 50.Ke2 Bxd3+ 51.Kxd2 Bxe4 leaves Black with two extra Bishops and White's pawn is dead wood.
• Grandmaster Gelfand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Updates (Tuesday): Gata Kamsky new US National Champion

Gata Kamsky, a Soviet-born American of Tatar descent, won his first US national championship since the early 1990s minutes ago when he defeated his friend and training partner Yuri Shulman in a rapid Armageddon game in St. Louis.

Shulman, who was also born in the old Soviet Union, drew Kamsky yesterday in the final round of the quadrangular championship to tie Kamsky for first place.

In today's game, the players started with a base time of 60 minutes, but put in bids of time for the right play Black with the odds of draw (meaning that for Black a draw would be as good as an outright victory). Shulman, not noted for his speed chess skills, all but conceded Black to Kamsky by bidding 40 minutes while Kamsky bid 25, which some commentators thought very low. Shulman played a solid Queen's pawn opening which morphed into a Slav-Grünfeld Defense and appeared to have the upper hand by about the thirtieth move. However, an inaccuracy allowed Kamsky to equalize if not get the better game. On the 66th move Shulman, seeing he could not win the game, agreed to a draw.

Kamsky last won the US Championship in 1991.

Eljanov wins Astrakahn Grand Prix



Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov took first place in the sixth and final leg of 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix (yes, we know it's the end of May 2010) yesterday with 8 points out of 13 rounds in the city of Astrakhan in the Volga Delta.

Pavel Vladimirovich finished a full point ahead of fellow Ukrainian GM Ruslan Ponomariov, Russians Dmitry Jakovenko and Evgeny Alekseev, former two-time junior world champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and Teimour Rajabov, also from Azerbaijan.

The Grand Prix series was won by Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian, who did not participate in Astrakhan having already cinched the title. While FIDE has not yet posted the final results, it appears that second place will go to Rajabov.


Chinese Championships begin in Xinghua



The annual Chinese National Chess Championships began yesterday in Xinghua in Jiangsu province.

The defending champion in the general group is Ding Liren, who last year was untitled but this year competes as a grandmaster. Ding is off to a poor start, losing in the first round to last year's runner up, Wang Hao, and in today's second round to Ni Hua.

The leaders after two rounds are Bu Xiangzhi and Li Shilong with perfect scores.

As last year, it is indeed improper to refer to the general group as the "men's group," as Hou Yifan is again playing with the guys.

Shen Yang is the defending women's champion. The leaders after two rounds are Gu Xiaobing, Huang Qian, Ju Wenjun and Wang Doudou with a point and a half each.