The JR Chess Report (April 10): Chinese Championships, Bundesliga final rounds

[Jack Rabbit]

Ding Liren, Zhang Xiaowen Win Chinese Championships

Nicolas Perrault, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren won his second Chinese Championship in three years earlier after scoring 9 points in eleven ounds, while women's grandmaster Zhang Xiaowen finished a clear first over grandmaster Zhao Xue in the the group with 8½ points.

Grandmaster Ding clinched the title yesterday with one round to go. Grandmasters Ni Hua, Zhao Jun and Zhou Jinchao tied for second with 7 points each. World women's champion Hou Yifan finished in fifth place with 6½ points.

Zhang Xiaowen wins her first national women's title by scoring a half point better than Zhao Xue. International master Wang Yu, women's grandmaster Tan Zhongy and the untitled Wang Jue with 6½ points apiece finshed tied for third.


Baden-Baden Takes Bundesliga Championship with Near-Perfect Season

Thomas Wolf, Wikipedia(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The Baden-Baden chess team completed the 2010/11 Bundesliga season today by winning its sixth consecutive Bundesliga championship with a season total of 29 match points out of a possible 30.

Baden-Baden's traditional rivals from Bremen and the team from Eppingen finished tied for second with 25 match points each.

Baden-Baden all but wrapped up the title on Saturday when, playing at home, the team defeated Bremen by a score of 5-3. This gave second place temporarily to Eppingen, but Bremen took their frustrations out on Eppingen in today's 15th and final round, 7-1.

Baden-Baden's leading scorer this season was the local national hero, Akrdadij Naiditch, who played in all 15 of Baden-Baden's matches and scored 13½ points.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Dubai Open 9-19 April.
Asian Championships, Mashad, Iran 1-11 May.
Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK



WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Chinese National Championships, Xinghua

The Great Wall
is the only man-made object on Earth
that can been seen from the Moon.
Photo by Nicolas Perrault in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Ding Liren - Ni Hua, General Group, Round 7

Ding Liren
Photo by Kgolp76 in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Ding Liren - Ni Hua
Chinese National Championship, General Group, Round 7
Xinghua, 6 April 2011

Slav Queen's Gambit: Karlsbad Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.e3 Nbd7

• For moves and variations up to here, see Carlsen-Nakamura, Classic, London, 2009.
• If 9...g6 10.Bd3 then:
• If 10...Bxd3 11.Nxd3 Bg7 then:
• If 12.Qb3 0-0 13.0-0 Nfd7 then:
• 14.f4 Qc7 15.Bd2 c5 16.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space (Cramling-Pähtz, ITW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• 14.Ne2 Qc7 15.e4 Nc8 16.f3 Rd8 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has no exploitable weaknesses (Jobava-Shirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qe2 Nfd5 14.Rd1 Nb4 15.b3 N6d5 16.Bb2 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Qd5 19.Qc4 Rfd8 20.Rac1 f5 is equal (Adianto-Bu Xiangzhi, Op, Doha, 2006).
• If 10...Be6 then:
• 11.Be2 Bg7 12.e4 Nfd7 13.Nf3 Bg4 14.0-0 0-0 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 is equal (Mchedlishvili-Shaw, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 11.Nf3 Bg7 12.h3 Nfd5 13.0-0 0-0 14.e4 Nb4 15.Be2 Qd7 16.Bf4 Rad8 17.Qc1 Bc4 18.Bh6 Bxe2 19.Nxe2 is equal (Grischuk-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).
• If 9...h6 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Nxd3 then:
• 11...e6 12.Qb3 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rd1 Nfd5 15.e4 Nb4 16.Be3 Nd7 17.d5 gives White the advantage in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Harikrishna, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 11...Nbd5 12.Qb3 Qb6 13.Qxb6 Nxb6 14.f3 Nfd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.b3 e6 17.Ke2 Bd6 18.Bd2 f5 19.Rac1 Ke7 is equal (Topalov-Gelfand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).

10.Nc4

• If 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 then:
• If 12.e4 Be6 13.Qxb7 Rb8 then:
• 14.Qa7 Nxe5 15.f4 Nd7 16.Be3 is equal (Ding Lien-Bu Xiangzhi, IT, Danzhou, 2010).
• 14.Qxc6? Rb6! 15.Bb5 Rxc6 16.Bxc6 Qc7 17.Bb5 gives Black a material advantage, but White has some initiative and more freedom (Haikrishna-Bu Xiangzhi, Blind World Cup, Bilbao, 2007).
• 12.Qxb7 Nxe5 13.Nb5 Rb8 14.Qc7 f6 15.Qxd8+ Rxd8 16.Nd4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Dubov-Biu Xiangzhi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

10...e6 11.f3

• 11.g3 Nb6 12.Ne5 Nfd7 13.Nf3 Bb4 14.Bg2 0-0 15.0-0 h6 16.Qe2 Qe7 is equal (Kazhgaleyev-Bu Xiangzhi, Asian Games Rpd, Guangzhou, 2010).

11...Bb4 12.e4 Bg6 13.Be2 Nb6 14.Ne5

• 14.Ne3 0-0 15.0-0 Nfd7 16.Qb3 Qe7 17.Kh1 Kh8 18.Rd1 f6 19.Na2 Bd6 20.Nc3 Bb4 21.Na2 Bd6 22.Nc3 draw (Grischuk-Wang Hao, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2010).

14...Nfd7

• White has a slight advantage in space owing mostly to his center pawn duo.
• 14...Nbd7?! 15.Nd3 0-0 16.0-0 Qb6 17.Nxb4 axb4 18.Nb1 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

15.Nd3

• If 15.Nxg6!? hxg6! then:
• 16.0-0 Qh4! 17.h3 Qg3 18.Qe1 Qxe1 19.Rxe1 is equal.
• If 16.Be3 then:
• 16...e5! 17.g3 exd4 18.Bxd4 0-0 is equal
• 16...Qc7 17.f4 f5 18.Qc2 Nf6 19.e5 Nfd5 20.Bd2 is equal

15...0-0 16.0-0 Qe7

• White continues to enjoy a slight advantage in space.

17.Qb3

• If 17.Qc2!? e5! then:
• 18.Be3 exd4 19.Bxd4 Bd6 20.Rad1 Rad8 is equal.
• 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Be3 Nxd3 20.Bxd3 Nd5 21.Bf2 is equal.

17...e5 18.dxe5!?

• White gives away some of his advantage by allowing Black to use the c5 square.
• 18.Na2 exd4 19.Naxb4 axb4 20.Bd2 Nd5 21.a5 gives White a fair advantage in space.

18...Nxe5!

• White still has a slight advantage in space.

19.Nxb4 Qxb4 20.Qxb4

• 20.Qa2!? Rfe8 21.Kh1 h6 22.Bf4 Kh8! 23.Bd2 f5 is equal.

20...axb4

• The game is again equal.

21.Nd1 f5!

• 21...Nxa4!? 22.Bd2! c5 23.Be3 f5 24.f4 Ng4 25.Bc1 again gives White a slight advantage in space.

22.Be3 Ned7 23.exf5 Rxf5

• The game remains equal.

24.Bd2 Re5 25.Re1 Rae8!?

• Black pressures White on the e-file.
• 25...Nd5 26.Bc4 b5 27.Rxe5 Nxe5 28.Bxd5+ remains equal.

BLACK: Ni Hua



WHITE: Ding Liren
Position after 25...Ra8e8

26.Kf2!

• The King is a strong piece. Use it! -- Steinitz
• It even makes a strong defensive piece.

26...Nc5!?

• Black drops a pawn.
• If 26...Nd5 27.Rc1 Kf8 28.b3 then:
• 28...R5e7 29.Nb2 Ne5 30.g3 b6 31.h4 h6 32.Bc4 gives Black more space and Black stronger pawns.
• 28...b6 29.Nb2 R5e6 30.g3 h6 31.h3 Rf6 32.Bc4 gives White a small advatage in space.

27.Bxb4!

• White wins a pawn and assumes a small advantage in space.

27...Rxe2+

• If 27...Nbxa4!? 28.Bc4+ Bf7 29.Rxe5 Rxe5 30.Bf1 gives White the initiative.

28.Rxe2 Nd3+ 29.Kf1 Rxe2 30.Kxe2 Nxb4

• Material is theoretically equal, counting Fred Reinfeld's way, or Black has about a half pawn advantage, counting Larry Kaufmann's way. Dynamic analysis gives White a small advantage.

31.Ne3!

• White has more freedom.

31...Kf7 32.a5

• White drives away the Knight.

32...Nd7?!

• Black retreats, but better might have been to trade.
• If 32...N6d5 33.Nxd5 Nxd5 34.Kd2 Ke6 35.a6 maintains White's small adavantage; Black must take the pawn and allow White to activate his Rook at a6.

33.Kd2 Ke6 34.Kc3 c5 35.Nc4 Nd5+!?

• 35...Kd5 36.Re1 Kc6 37.Kd2 Bf7 38.Na3 continues to give White a small initiative. Black must prevent 39.Re7!.

36.Kd2 N5f6?!

• It was imparitive for Black to prepare for Black's next move.
• If 36...Ke7 (prophylactic) then after 37.Re1+ Kd8 38.Nd6 Kc7 39.Ne8+ Bxe8 40.Rxe8 Black is definitely on defense, but has no great problems to overcome and his King is safe.
• 36...Nb8 (clearing a path for the King's retreat) 37.Re1+ Kd7 38.Re5 Kc6 39.b3 Nd7 40.Re6+ White still maintains a clear advantage, but he has yet to pass a pawn and has no winning opportunities.

BLACK: Ni Hua



WHITE: Ding Liren
Position after 36...Nd5f6

37.Re1+!

• Black's reply is forced.

37...Kd5

• The text is better than 37...Kf7?? when 38.Nd6+! Kf8 39.Nxb7 wins a pawn and passes White's a-pawn; it will take Black three tempi to bring his Rook to occupy the promotion point a8.

38.b3 Ng8 39.g4!

• Whit begins bringing his kingside majority forward.

39...h6

• White hasn't yet won, but his position is strong.
• 39...Bf7 40.f4 Kc6 41.g5 h6 42.h4 g6 43.Kd3 gives White more active pieces and a kingside pawn majority that cramps Black's defense.

40.h4 Kd4?

• 40...h5 41.Kc3 Bf7 42.b4 cxb4+ 43.Kxb4 Kc6 44.Rc1 is good enough to allow Black to fight on for a draw.

BLACK: Ni Hua



WHITE: Ding Liren
Position after 40... Kd5d4

41.Re6! 1-0

• After the Bishop retreats, White wins a piece with 42.Rd6+.
• Grandmaster Ni resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Zhao Xue - Zhang Xiaowen, Women's Group, Round 7

There is no photo of http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp%3Fnewsid%3D5473&h=388&w=300&sz=38&tbnid=m97ydSZAdG46hM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=95&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dzhang%2Bxiaowen%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=zhang+xiaowen&hl=en&usg=__RM7R-RSkpGsuLFXEnAVv8AX90Kg=&sa=X&ei=YzyjTY6MGouWsgPC4eX5DA&sqi=2&ved=0CE0Q9QEwBg">Zhang Xiaowen available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Zhao Xue - Zhang Xiaowen
Chinese National Championship, Women's Group, Round 7
Xinghua, 6 April 2011

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2

• For moves up to here and alternatives, see Menchik-Thomas, IT, London, 1932.

8...Nbd7 9.d5

• 9.0-0-0 then:
• If 9...a6 10.Kb1 b5 11.Nc1 exd4 12.Bxd4 Re8 13.Nb3 Bf8 then:
• 14.c5 dxc5 15.Bxc5 Bg7 16.Bd6 Nb6 17.Qf4 Nh5 18.Qc1 gives White more space and a better center (Rhode-Kurtz, Corres, 1999).
• 14.h4 h5 15.Qf4 b4 16.Na4 c5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 Nxf6 19.Nb6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Alterman-Cvitan, ZT, Zagreb, 1993).
• If 9...Qa5 10.Kb1 then:
• 10...a6 11.Nc1 Re8 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nb3 Qc7 14.c5 Bf8 15.Na4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Savon-Brond, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).
• 10...b5 11.cxb5 cxb5 12.Nd5 Qxd2 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Rxd2 Be6 15.d5 Bd7 16.g4 gives White a small advantage in space (L. B. Hansen-Barbaro, Op, Aalberg, 1991).

9...cxd5 10.cxd5 a6 11.g3

• 11.g4 h5 then:
• If 12.g5 Nh7 13.Rg1 then:
• 13...f6 14.gxf6 Rxf6 15.0-0-0 b5 16.b3 Nb6 is equal (Karpov-Topalov, Rpd M, Vana, 1995).
• 13...b5 14.Nc1 Nb6 15.b3 Bd7 16.Nd3 a5 gives White the advantage in space (Stefansson-Kotronias, Op, Agios Nikolaos, 1995).
• If 12.h3 then:
• 12...Nh7 13.0-0-0 h4 14.Kb1 Bf6 15.Bf2 Bg5 16.Qe1 b5 is equal (Sherwin-Gligoric, ITZ, Potoroz, 1958).
• 12...b5 13.Bg5 Qa5 14.Ng3 Nh7 15.gxh5 Nxg5 16.Qxg5 Bf6 17.Qh6 Bg7 18.Qg5 Bf6 19.Qh6 Bg7 draw (Kramnik-Nijboer, Op, Gronigen, 1992).

11...Ne8 (N)

• 11...b5 12.Bg2 Nb6 13.b3 Ne8 14.0-0 f5 15.Rac1 Bd7 16.Nd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Sajtar-Pavlov, IT, Buchaest, 1962).

12.Bg2

• White has a slight advantage in space.

12...f5

• 12...b6 13.0-0 a5 14.Nb5 Ba6 15.a4 Nc5 16.Nec3 is equal.
• 12...b5?! 13.0-0! Nef6 14.Nc1 then:
• 14...Nb6 15.b3 Bd7 16.Nd3 a5 17.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 14...b4?! drops two pawns to 15.Nd1 Nc5 16.Qxb4 Bd7 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Qxc5.

13.0-0 Nef6 14.Rac1

• 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Qc2 Nb6 16.Qb3 Nfd7 17.a4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

14...b5 15.h3 Bb7 16.Nd1 a5 17.Nf2 b4

• 17...Nb6 18.b3 b4 19.Rfd1 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Nxc8 21.Nd3 continues to give White a slight edge in space.

18.Nd3!?

• 18.Kh2 Rc8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Rc1 Qb8 21.a3 is equal.

18...Ba6!

• The game is equal.
• 18...Nb6 19.Kh2 Rc8 20.b3 Ba6 21.Rfd1 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 is equal.

19.Rc6 Qb8!?

• 19...Bb5 20.Rc2 Rc8 21.Rfc1 Rxc2 22.Rxc2 remains equal.

20.a3!?

• The game remains equal
• If 20.Rfc1! Bb5 21.Qc2 Bxc6 22.dxc6 Nb6 23.a3 gives White a small advantage with the exchange, more space and a passed pawn

20...Bb5!?

• 20...bxa3 21.bxa3 fxe4 22.fxe4 Qb3 23.Rc3 Qa4 remains equal.

BLACK: Zhang Xiaowen



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 20... Ba6b5

21.axb4!

• White assumes a slight advantage in space.
• If 21.Rfc1 Bxc6 22.dxc6 fxe4 23.fxe4 then:
• 23...Nc5 24.Nxc5 dxc5 25.Rxc5 Rf7 26.axb4 axb4 is equal.
• 23...Nb6?! 24.axb4! axb4 25.Qxb4 Na4 26.Qc4+ Kh8 27.b4 gives White a dangerous mobile passer duo.

21...axb4 22.Rc2!?

• This would have been more effective before the a-file was opened.
• If 22.Rfc1 Bxc6 23.Rxc6 Ra1+ 24.Kh2 b3 gives Black a small advantage with more space and the exchange.

22...Nh5!

• The game is equal.

23.exf5 gxf5 24.Bf2 Qb7 25.f4?

• This allows Black to obtain a strong passer.
• 25.Qxb4! Qxd5 then:
• 26.Ndc1 Rfb8 27.Rd2 Qf7 28.Qxd6 f4 29.g4 Nhf6 remains equal.
• 26.Nxe5 dxe5 27.Nc3 Qd3 28.Rcc1 Nxg3 29.Bxg3 gives White a small advantage with more active pieces.

BLACK: Zhang Xiaowen



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 25.f3f4

25...b3!

• Black takes the initiative against White's Rook.

26.Rcc1

• 26.Rc6 e4 27.Ndc1 Bxc6 28.dxc6 Qxc6 29.Nxb3 Qc4 leaves White floundering just to survive.

26...e4!

• Black has a strong passed e-pawn that can become very dangerous.

27.Ne1 Nhf6 28.Bd4

• If 28.Nc3 Ba6 then:
• 29.Kh2 Nb6 30.Bxb6 Qxb6 gives White no good moves.
• 29.Bd4 Bxf1 30.Bxf1 Rfc8 31.Rb1 Nb6 32.Ng2 Nbxd5 leaves Black an exchange to the good.

28...Ra4 29.Nc3

• White digs her grave and jumps in.
• 29.Rf2 Bxe2 30.Rxe2 Nxd5 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.Qd1 Qb6+ just prolongs the agony.

BLACK: Zhang Xiaowen



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 29.Ne2c3

29...Rxd4!!

• Black gives up the exchange and in return gets open attacking lanes.

30.Qxd4 Ng4!

• Black forces the White Queen to abandon the long diagonal to Black's Bishop.

31.Qd2

• If 31.Qb4 then Black wins after 31...Qb6+ 32.Kh1 Bxf1 33.Qxb6 Bxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Nxb6 35.hxg4 Rc8 then:
• 36.Ne2 Rxc1 37.Nxc1 Bxb2 38.Nxb3 fxg4 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 36.gxf5 Bxc3 37.bxc3 Nxd5 38.Rb1 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn and an easy win.
• 33.Bxf1 drops the Queen to 33...Nf2+ 34.Kg2 Qxb4.

31...Qb6+ 32.Kh1 e3 33.Qd1 Bxc3 34.Rxc3

• 34.hxg4 Bxb2 35.Rb1 e2 36.Qxb3 exf1Q+ is crushing.

34...e2!

• This is also crushing.

35.Qc1 exf1Q+ 36.Bxf1 Nf2+ 37.Kg2 Ne4

• 37...Bxf1+ 38.Kxf1 Ne4 leaves Black up a piece.

38.Bxb5 Nxc3 39.Bxd7 Ne2! 0-1

• 40.Be6+ Kh8 41.Qc4 Qg1+ 42.Kf3 Nd4+ wins the Queen.
• Grandmaster Zhao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Wang Yu - Zhao Xue, Women's Group, Round 8

Zhao Xue
Photo by Leigh Atkins in Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Wang Yu - Zhao Xue
Chinese National Championship, Women's Group, Round 8
Xinghua, 7 April 2011

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Black Lion Variation) (Philidor Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.dxe5

• If 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 7.a4 a5 8.h3 c6 then:
• 9.b3 Nb6 10.Bd3 exd4 11.Nxd4 d5 12.e5 Nfd7 13.Re1 Nc5 14.Nf5 Nxd3 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.cxd3 Re8 is equal (Lahno-Siebrecht, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
• If 9.Re1 then:
• 9...Nb6 10.Bd3 Nfd7 11.Ne2 exd4 12.Nexd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Nf3 Bf6 15.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Jelecevic-Buti, Op, Pula, 2010).
• 9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.b3 Re8 13.Qf3 Ncd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rd2 Rd8 is equal (Hracek-Piket, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• If 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 b6 then:
• If 9.Bg5 a6 10.Qe2 then:
• 10...Qc7 11.d5 c5 12.Rab1 Qd8 13.Nd2 Ne8 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.b4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Hoang-Mkrtchian, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• 10...h6 11.Bh4 Nh5 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Qc7 14.Rad1 exd4 15.Nxd4 Ne5 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.exf5 Nxc4 18.Qxe7 Qxe7 19.Rxe7 d5 20.b3 Nd6 21.g4 Rfe8 22.Rd7 Red8 is equal (Roberts-Ellenbrook, Op, Hoogeveen, 2001).
• 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2 Nc5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Ba3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Ne6 18.Qb5 Nf4 is equal (Naiditsch-Eljanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• If 5.Be2 Be7 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1 then:
• 7...0-0 8.a4 Qc7 9.Bf1 Re8 10.Bg5 Nf8 11.h3 h6 12.Be3 a5 13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Rad1 Bf8 15.Qc1 Bd7 16.g3 is equal (Shrentzel-Adams, London, 1989).
• 7...h6 8.h3 0-0 9.Bf1 Re8 10.a4 a5 11.Be3 Qc7 is equal (Mohota-Panjwani, Op, Montreal, 2008).

5...dxe5 6.Bc4 Bb4

• If 6...Be7 then:
• If 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Kg8 9.Ne6 Qe8 10.Nxc7 Qg6 11.Nxa8 Qxg2 12.Rf1 Nc5 then:
• 13.Qe2 Bh3 14.Be3 Qxf1+ 15.Qxf1 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Kf7 17.Nc7 Rc8 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.N7d5 Bd4 20.Nxf6 gxf6 21.Rd1 Rc4 22.Rd3 Kg6 23.Rg3+ Kh6 24.Rh3+ Kg6 25.Rg3+ Kh6 26.Rh3+ Kg6 27.Rg3+ draw by repetition (Kan-Riumin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1931).
• 13.f3 Ng4 14.Qe2 Bh4+ 15.Kd2 Nf2 16.Nc7 Bh3 17.Rxf2 Bxf2 18.Nd1 Be1+ draw (Konovalov-Modkovitch, Kazakhstan Ch, 1957).
• 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 c6 9.a4 a5 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.h3 Nc5 12.Bg5 Ne6 13.Bxe6 Bxe6 14.b3 h6 is equal (Slamar-Runic, Op, Bizovac, 2007).

7.0-0 0-0

• If 7...c6 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Bd2 then:
• 9...Qc7 10.a3 Be7 11.Nh4 Nc5 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.exf5 b5 is equal (Velikhanli-Gelashvili, Op, Dubai, 2006).
• If 9...Qe7 10.a3 Bc5 11.Be3 then:
• 11...h6!? 12.Nh4! Rd8 13.Nf5 Qf8 14.Rad1 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Tontari-Gamback, Op, Jyvaskyla, 2001).
• 11...Nb6 12.Bb3 Bg4 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.Bxc5 Qxc5 is equal.

8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 c6 10.Bb3 Qc7 11.c3 Be7 12.Bg5

• 12.h3 Nc5 13.Bc2 Be6 14.Qe2 h6 15.Be3 Nd7 16.Nh2 is equal (Alhouseyni- Steil-Antoni, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12...Nc5

• Black has a slight advantage in space.

13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qe2

• If 14.h3 b6 then:
• 15.Bc4 b5 16.Bb3 a5 continues to give Black a slight advantage.
• 15.Qe2 Ba6 16.Bc4 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 b5 is equal.

14...a5!?

• Black intends aggression on the queenside, but there's little for her to accomplish there.
• Better is 14...Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.Bc2 a5 , which continues to give Black a slight advantage.

15.Bc2!?

• The theat of ...a5a4 is hollow; White could have waited until it was excuted instead of making this prophylactic move.
• If 15.Rfd1! Bg4 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 b5 18.Qe3 Rfd8 is equal.

15...Bg4 16.Qe3 b6!?

• This move is unnecessary. Black will merely have to proct the pawn from attack later should it come uner attack.
• If 16...Rfd8! 17.Rfd1 then:
• 17...g6 18.a4 f6 19.h3 Be6 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 17...b5 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 g6 20.Qe3 a4 is equal.

17.h3!

• The game is equal.

17...Bh5 18.Nd2!?

• White take some of the pressure off the center, allowing Black to fill the void.

18...f6!

• White fortifies her e-pawn and assumes a slight advantage.
• If 18...b5!? 19.Bd1 Bg6 20.Bf3! Rfd8 21.Nb3 remains equal.

19.a4!?

• Since White has invested so much energy in the queenside, so might try to stir the pot a bit.
• If 19.b4! axb4 20.cxb4 Ne6 21.Bb3 remains equal.

19...Rfd8!?

• The game remains equal.
• 19...Bf7! 20.Rfb1 b5 21.Bd1 Rfb8 22.axb5 cxb5 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

20.Rfb1!?

• White brings her Rook to the queenside, expecting to make something out of her her pawns. However, she has nothing to justify aggressive maneuvers there.
• If 20.Nc4! Ra6 21.Rfb1 Kh8 22.f3 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Qe2 Qc7 24.Nxa5 bxa5 25.b4 Qb6 is equal.
• 22...Rda8 23.Rd1 Qc7 24.Rac1 Rb8 25.Rd2 Bf7 26.Nd6 is equal.

BLACK: Wang Yu



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 20.Rf1b1

20...Bf7!

• Black continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

21.b4 axb4 22.cxb4 Ne6 23.Bb3 Nd4

• If 23...Nf4 24.Nc4!? then:
• If 24...f5! then:
• 25.Nxb6 Rd3 26.Bxf7+ Qxf7 27.Qxd3 Nxd3 28.Nxa8 fxe4 gives Black more activity in what is more than enough compsation for a slight material deficit.
• 25.Qxb6?! Qg5! 26.Ne3 Bxb3 27.Rxb3 Nxh3+ gives White a direct attack on White's King.
• If 24...b5!? 25.Nb6 Rab8 26.axb5 cxb5 27.Bxf7+ then:
• 27...Qxf7! 28.Rd1 h6 29.Kh2 f5 is equal.
• 27...Kxf7?! 28.Qb3+! Kf8 29.Nd5 Nxd5 30.exd5 Qb7 31.Qd3 is equal.

24.Bxf7+ Qxf7 25.Qd3 Qh5 26.Qc4+!?

• White hands Black an opportunity to take a lasting advantage.
• Better is 26.Re1 Ne6 27.Qc2 Nf4 28.Nc4 Qg6 29.g3 Nxh3+ with equality.

BLACK: Wang Yu



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 26.Qd3c4

26...Kf8!?

• The game remains equal.
• 26...Kh8! 27.Nb3 Ne2+ 28.Kh2 Nf4 gives Black a small advantage in space and more active pieces.

27.Nb3!?

• White weakens her center and allows Black into her camp.
• Correct is 27.Re1 Qf7 28.Qc3 c5 29.Nc4 Qe7 30.b5 Rdb8 with equality.

27...Qe2!

• Black now has a slight advantage.

28.Qxe2 Nxe2+ 29.Kf1

• 29.Kh2 Ke7 30.a5 bxa5 31.Rxa5 Rdb8 32.Rxa8 Rxa8 continues to give White a slight advantage.

29...Nc3 30.Rc1 Nxe4 31.Rxc6 Rd3 32.Nc1 Rd2 33.f3?

• Some say that a chess board is two-dimentional. They are wong. It is a three-dimentional space-time continuum. That fact, or way of looking at it, helps to explain why this move is bad for White and should not have even been considered. Obviously, Black is threatening to take the pawn at f2 with check. There are two things White can do about this. One is to play a prophylactic move (move the King to g1 or e1). The other is to create or execute a threat to one of Black's pieces or pawns. Since the threat of 33...Rxf2+ is immediate, we can eliminte creating a threat; there is no time for that. For example, if 33.Rc4 then 33...Rxf2+ 34.Ke1 Nd2 35.Kxf2 Nxc4 leaves Black with the only active piece on the board. Note that the text also attempts to create a threat and fails for the smae reason: there is no time to create a threat; Black can win a pawn faster than White can create and execute a threat. Next, let us consider a prophylactic move.
• If 33.Ke1 Rxf2 then:
• 34.Rc4 Rf1+ 35.Kxf1 Nd2+ 36.Ke2 Nxc4 again leaves Black with the only active piece on the board.
• 34.Rxb6? fails against 34...Rc8! 35.Nd3 Rxg2 36.Rc1 Rxc1+ 37.Nxc1 Rg1+! when Black wins a piece.
• Another prophylcati try is 33.Kg1 Rd1+ 34.Kh2 Nxf2 when:
• 35.a5! bxa5 36.Rxa5 Rb8! 37.Ra7 Rh1+ 38.Kg3 Ne4+ leaves White with the better game, but Black is far from beaten.
• If 35.Rxb6? Nd3 36.Rc6 Nxb4 37.Rc3 e4 then:
• If 38.Raa3 then after 38...Nd5 39.Rc4 f5 Black wins with his extra pawn.
• If 38.Re3?? then 38...Nc2!.
• Which brings us back to the threat. Since there is no time to create one, White must execute one that already exists: If 33.Rxb6! then:
• If 33...Rd1+ 34.Ke2 Nc3+ 35.Kf3 then:
• If 35...e4+ 36.Kg4 Rg1 then:
• If 37.g3 Nd1 38.Nb3 Nxf2+ 39.Kf4 then:
• 39...Rxa1 40.Nxa1 Rxa4 41.Nc2 Ra2 gives Black only a slight advantage.
• 39...Nxh3+ 40.Kxe4 Nf2+ 41.Kf3 Rxa1 42.Nxa1 Rxa4 43.Nc2 is equal.
• 37.Kg3?! Rxc1!! 38.Rxc1 Ne2+ 39.Kg4 Nxc1 40.a5 Nd3 gives Black a much better endgame, but White's queenside pawns still give him opportunities for counterplay.
• 35...Rxa4 36.Rb8+ Ke7 37.Rxa4 Nxa4 38.Ne2 f5 is equal.
• 33...Rxf2+ 34.Kg1 Rd8 35.Nb3 Rb2 36.Nc5 Nxc5 37.bxc5 is equal.

BLACK: Wang Yu



WHITE: Xhao Xue
Position after 33.f2f3

33...Ng3+!

• Black has a direct attack on White's King an more activity.

34.Ke1?!

• White drops a critical pawn when she can least afford it.
• If 34.Kg1 then:
• 34...Nh5! 35.Rxb6 Nf4 36.Kh1 Rad8 37.Nb3 Rxg2 wins for Black, who is threatening 38...Rg3, winning two pawns.
• 34...Rd1+ 35.Kf2 Nf5 36.Ra2 Ne7 37.Rc3 Rd4 gives Black more activity and more space.

34...Rxg2 35.a5

• If 35.b5 Rh2 then:
• 36.Ra2 Rxa2 37.Nxa2 Rxa4 38.Nc3 Rf4 39.Rxb6 Rxf3 gives Black two extra passed pawns and healthier pawns.
• If 36.a5? Black eliminates the queenside pawns with 36...bxa5!! 37.b6 Rb8 38.Rxa5 Rb2! when White must either abandon the pawn or commit both of her Rooks to its preservation.

35...e4?

• Black jeopardizes her victory.
• Black wins easily after 35...bxa5! 36.bxa5 e4 37.fxe4 Re8 38.Ra4 Nxe4.

36.fxe4?

• White fails to take advantage of the opportunity.
• If 36.axb6! Re8 then:
• If 37.Ra8! Rxa8 38.b7 Rb8 39.Rc8+ Kf7 40.Rxb8 then:
• 40...e3! 41.Rf8+ Kg6 42.Kd1 Rd2+ 43.Ke1 Rg2 44.Kd1 etc. draws.
• 40...Kg6?? 41.Re8! exf3 42.Nd3! f2+ 43.Nxf2 is a clear win for White.
• If 37.b7?? then Black delivers mate in all variations after 37...exf3+ 38.Kd1 f2 when:
• If 39.Kc2 f1Q+ 40.Kb3 Nf5 then:
• If 41.Ra8 Nd4+ then:
• If 42.Ka4 Qb5+ 43.Ka3 Nxc6 44.b8Q Rxb8 then:
• 45.Rxb8+ Qxb8 46.Nd3 Qa8+ 47.Kb3 Qa2+ 48.Kc3 Rc2#.
• 45.Ra4 Nxb4 46.Kb3 Qd5+ 47.Ka3 Nc2#.
• 42.Kc3 Qxc1+ 43.Kxd4 Rd2#.
• 41.Rc8 Nd4+ 42.Kc3 Rc2+ 43.Kxd4 Qf4+ 44.Kd3 Qe4#.
• If 39.Ne2 f1Q+ 40.Kc2 Qxe2+ 41.Kb3 Nf5 then:
• 42.Rc4 Nd4+ 43.Ka4 Qa2+ 44.Rxa2 Rxa2#.
• 42.Ka4 Nd4 43.b8Q Qa2+ 44.Rxa2 Rxa2#.

36...bxa5!?

• Black misses the chance to ice the game here and now.
• font color="red"]36...Re8!! 37.Ra2 Rxe4+ 38.Kd1 Rd4+ wins for Black after the exchange of Rooks at a2.

37.bxa5?

• White won't another chance.
• 37.Rxa5 Re8 38.e5 Nf5 39.Nd3 Rh2 40.Nf2 fxe5 gives Black a comfortable advantage, but White is well within reason to play on fighting off loss.

37...Re8!

• Black wins.

38.a6

• forces the exchange of Rooks and Black wins something important by 42...Ra4!.

38...Rxe4+ 39.Kd1 Rd4+ 40.Ke1 Rf4 0-1

• White cannot prevent mate on f1.
• Wang Yu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Ni Hua - Zhao Jun, General Group, Round 6

Ni Hua
Photo by Lightex in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Ni Hua - Zhao Jun
Chinese National Championship, General Group, Round 6
Xinghua, 4 April 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4

• For notes on the Minerva Opening, see Xu Yuhua-Dzagnidze, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009.

4...Nf6 5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Bb5 Qa5+

• If 6...Bd7 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.Nc3 e6 then:
• If 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0 then:
• If 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Nd4 Rfd8 13.Kb1 then:
• If 13...a6 14.f3 b5 15.g4 Rac8 16.Nce2 then:
• 16...Ba8 17.Ng3 b4 18.Rg1 h6 19.Be3 e5 20.Ndf5 gives White a small advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Durarbeyli, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16...Bd7 17.Ng3 g6 18.Rg1 e5 19.Ndf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 d5 21.h4 is equal (E. Vasiukov-Browne, Op, Reykjavik, 1980).
• 13...Rab8 14.f3 b5 15.g4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.h4 a4 18.Rc1 Be8 19.Ng3 Qa7 is equal (Haznedarolu-O'Connell, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If 11.Kb1 Qa5 12.Qd2 then:
• 12...Qa6 13.Nd4 Rfc8 14.f3 Be8 15.g4 Rc4 16.Be3 Rac8 17.h4 is equal (Tereladze-Gaponenko, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
• If 12...Kh8 13.Nd4 Rfd8 14.f4 Rac8 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Qf2 b5 then:
• If 17.Rd3 then Black soon wins after 17...b4 18.Rh3 bxc3 19.Qh4 cxb2(Chuprov -Jakovenko, Russian Ch, Kazan, 2005).
• 17.e5 Ng4 18.Qe2 Bxg5 19.Qxg4 Be7 gives Black Bishops over Knights.
• If 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rad1 0-0 11.Rfe1 then:
• 11...Qa5 12.Bh4 Rfd8 13.Qd3 Qh5 14.Bg3 Qc5 15.Bh4 b6 16.Nd4 Bb7 is equal (Toufighi-Paragua, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• If 11...Qc7 then:
• 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qe3 Rfe8 14.Qh6 Kh8 15.Qh5 Bf8 16.Nd4 Qe7 17.Re3 White builds a kingside attack (Rogers-T. Ernst, IT, Berlin, 1986).
• 12.h3 Rfd8 13.Nh2 b5 14.Rd3 a5 15.Rf3 b4 16.Rxf6 bxc3 17.Ng4 h5 18.Bh6 e5 19.Qe3 hxg4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Qh6+ gives Black two extra pieces and White a fierce intiative (Geller-Kogan, Trmt, Odessa, 1946).

7.Nc3 Qxb5!?

• If 7...h6 then White piles on to c6: 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qc4 Bd7 10.Nd4 Rc8 11.0-0 gives White a slight advantage,
• 7...e6?! 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qxf6 Rg8 10.Ng5 Rg7 11.f4 gives White a strong advantage.

8.Nxb5!

• White has the upper hand threatening the fork at c7 while Black is occupied with keeping materially even.

8...Nxd4 9.Nfxd4 Nxe4?!

• White will win the exchange.
• 9...Rb8 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nxa7 Bd7 12.c4 Rg8 13.g3 f5 14.Nxf5 d5 15.Nb5 gives White an extra pawn; Black has the Bishop pair in compensation (S. Zhigalko-Negi, World Youth Stars, Kirishi, 2007).

BLACK: Zhao Jun



WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 9...Nd6e4:p

10.Nc7+ Kd8 11.Nxa8 Nxg5 12.Nb5 (N)

• 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...b6? 13.Nc6+! then:
• 13...Kd7 14.Nxa7 Ba6 15.f4 Ne4 16.Rhe1 White is up by an exchange and Black is busted (Solovjov-Sadvakasov, EU Ch Qual, Cyberspace, 2003).
• 13...Ke8 14.Nxa7 Bb7 15.Nxb6 g6 already gives White a significant advantage in space.
• 12...Bd7 13.f4 Ne6 14.Nxe6+ Bxe6 15.Rd3 g5 is equal.

12...a6

• White has a small advantage in space.
• 12...e6?! 13.Nxa7! Bd7 14.f3 d5 15.Nb6 Be8 16.a4 gives White the material advantage clearly more freedom.

13.Nc3

• White has a slight advantage with the exchange, but he needs to find a way to extricate his Knight from a8; also, Black has the Bishop pair.

13...b5?!

• Black goes after the Knight. The plan is pedestrian.
• If 13...Bf5 then:
• 14.f3 h5 15.0-0-0 h4 16.h3 b5 17.Rhe1 continues to give White a slight advantage.
• If 14.Nb6 Ne4 15.Nca4 Nf6 16.c4 g5 then:
• 17.f3 h5 18.Ke2 g4 is equal.
• 17.Nd5!? Nxd5! 18.cxd5 b5 19.Nc3 Kd7 is equal.

BLACK: Zhao Jun



WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 13...b6b5

14.Nb6!

• The Knight escapes while he has time.

14...Bb7 15.f3

• White has more activity resulting from superior development.

15...Ne6

• Black's pawns are weak and this is making it difficult for him to complete his development.
• If 15...e6 16.h4 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Kc7 18.Nbd5+!! exd5 19.0-0-0 White stands to win a pawn,

16.a4 b4

• 16...bxa4 17.Rxa4 g6 18.Rb4 Bg7 19.Kd2 gives White the advantage in space and more freedom.

17.Ncd5 a5 18.0-0-0 Ba6

• 18...Nc5 19.Nc4 e6 20.Nf4 d5 21.Nxa5 wins a pawn for White, but Black finally liberates his Bishop.

19.Ne3 Nc5 20.Nbc4 Nb7?

• If 20...Bxc4 21.Nxc4 Kc7 22.Nxa5 e6 23.Kd2 Be7 24.Ra1 gives Black few opportunities for counterplay.

BLACK: Zhao Jun



WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 20...Nc5b7

21.Ne5!

• White wins more material.

21...Ke8 22.Nd5 e6 23.Nc7+ Ke7 24.Nxa6 dxe5 25.Rd3

• 25.Nb8 Kf6 26.Rd7 Nc5 27.Rc7 e4 28.fxe4 leaves White up by the exchange with more activity and a variety of active threats.

25...Kf6

• White's opening and early middlegame strategy strategy has been so effective that only now, after his 25th move, can Black develop the King's Bishop beyond the second rank.

BLACK: Zhao Jun



WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 25...Ke7f6

26.Rhd1 h5 27.Rd7 Nc5 28.Ra7

• 28.Nxc5 Bxc5 29.Rd8 Rh6 30.Ra8 h4 31.Rxa5 leaves White an exchange to the good while Black's units are poorly coordinated.

28...Nxa4 29.Rdd7 g5 30.Rxf7+ Kg6 31.Rfc7

• 31.Kb1 g4 32.Rfb7 e4 33.fxe4 Bd6 34.h4 White is still an exchange to the good with Rooks patroling behind enemy lines.

31...g4 32.Kb1 Bh6

• 32...gxf3 33.gxf3 Bh6 34.Nxb4 Be3 35.Ra6 axb4 36.Rxa4 White remains on the offensive an exchange to the good.

33.Rc6 gxf3 34.gxf3 Be3 35.Re7 Bd4

• If 35...Kf5 then White wins after 36.Ka2 Bd4 37.Nc7 Nc5 38.Nxe6 b3+ 39.cxb3 .

36.Nc7 Rc8

• If 36...Nc5 then White regains the pawn after 37.Nxe6 Nxe6 38.Rexe6+ Kf5 39.Ka2 Kf4 40.Rf6+ .

37.Rexe6+ Kg5 38.Nb5

• White wins quicker after 38.Rg6+ Kh4 39.Rg3 e4 40.Nb5 Rxc6 41.Nxd4.

38...Rxc6 39.Rxc6 Bxb2 40.Ra6 Bd4

• If 40...e4 then White wins after 41.fxe4 Kf4 42.Rxa5.

41.Nxd4 Nc3+ 42.Kb2 exd4 43.Rxa5+ Kh4

• 43...Kg6 44.Kb3 Nb1 45.Kxb4 h4 46.Rd5 wins another pawn for White.

44.Kb3

• White wins after 44.Re5 Nd1+ 45.Kb3 Ne3 46.Kxb4 Nxc2+ 47.Kc4.

44...Nb1 45.Kxb4 Nd2 46.f4

• 46.Rf5 Nf1 47.Rf4+ Kg5 48.Rxd4 Kf5 49.Rd3 is a quicker win.

46...Nf3 47.f5 Kg5 48.f6+ Kxf6 49.Rxh5 Ne1 50.Kb3 d3

• 50...Ke6 then White wins after 51.h4 d3 52.c4 Nf3 53.c5 d2 54.Kc2.

51.c4!

• White only makes things unnecessarily more difficult for himself after 51.cxd3 Nxd3 52.Rh3 Nf4 53.Re3 Kf5 54.Rg3.

51...d2 52.Rd5 Nf3 53.h3 1-0

• If 53...Ng5 then after 54.c5 Nxh3 55.Rd6+ Ke7 56.Kb4 Black can no longer protect his last pawn ( for which he needs the Knight in contact with d2), the queening square (for which he needs the same Knight in contacts with d1) and White's queening square (for which he needs the Knight in contact with c8).
• As the Knight cannot be in more than one place at once, Zhao Jun resigns.

[El Supremo]

6. Is there an equivalent of the DH in chess?

Gotta be.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. No, there is not

In my opinion (obviously not yours), it has been bad for baseball to take so much strategy out of the game by removing the problem of the pitcher's spot in the batting order.

If a similar thing were done to chess, let's say a rule that allows pawns to move backward or some other rule change that removes a great deal of strategy from the game, there would be nothing left to chess at all. It would reduce chess to tic-tac-toe. That would be even worse than introducing the designated hitter into baseball.