The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for November 5: A Tal order this week

[Jack Rabbit]

Note: The Chess Report is early this week because I will be out of town for the rest of the weekend.

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending November 5


Image: Mikhail Tal from Academic Chess

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Bonus Game: Mikhail Tal - Bobby Fischer, Candidates' Tournament, Belgrade, 1959

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending November 5

Radjabov wins at Cap d'Agde

Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan won the 2006 rapid tournament in Cap d'Agde, Languedoc Province in southern France by defeating 16-year-old Ukrainian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin in the final match by a score of 1½-½.



Final Match in Cap d'Agde: Sergey Karjakin and Teimour Radjabov
Photo: Official website of the 2006 Cap d'Agde Chess Tournament (France)


In the first game, Karjakin played White and the game ended in a draw. Radjabov had White in the second game and won.

Radjabov earned the right to play in the final match by defeating another young Ukrainian, 20-year-old Andrei Volokitin, by a score of 2-0 in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final match, Karjakin defeated Norway's Magnus Carlsen, who turns 16 at the end of November, 1½-½.

Rapid chess is distinct from traditional tournament chess in that the players have only 25 minutes each to complete 40 moves.

2006-07 Bundesliga season begins



The 2006-07 Bundesliga, the annual German team competition, began with two rounds in Hamburg on Saturday, October 28.

The players are grouped into teams representing German corporate sponsors. Each match consists of eight games.

While the league is German, most of the players are not. This week, the Jack Rabbit Chess Report features a Bundesliga game played by the world's second-ranked grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand of India, and Polish grandmaster Bartlomiej Macieja.

Standings are based on individual points scored. In the first weekend, TSV Bindlach-Aktionär and OSC Baden-Baden each scored 11½ points out of a possible 16 to take the early lead.

Sixteen teams compete in the Bundesliga. The next round is scheduled for November 18.


Tal Memorial Tournament starts Monday in Moscow



The annual chess tournament in the memory of the late former world champion Mikhail Tal begins in Moscow Monday.

The tournament this year is a category 20 single round robin event featuring Levon Aronian (Armenia), Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Shakhyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine), Alexei Shirov (Spain) and Peter Svidler (Russia).

Tal would have celebrated his 70th birthday this coming Thursday. He passed away in 1992 of the kidney disease that afflicted him from childhood.

Tal was born in Riga, Latvia, on November 9, 1936. At the time of his birth, Latvia was an independent nation, but was part of the Soviet Union for most of Tal's life.

His ill health made it clear to him and others that he was not destined to live long; thus, Tal lived well. He smoked excessively and drank voluminously, knowing that kidney failure would kill him before lung or liver disease had a chance. This attitude toward life also carried over to Tal's chess game. At a time when positional chess was all the rage, Tal refused to shy away from taking risks. He was ever the swashbuckler and gambler.

The height of Tal's career came in 1960 when, at the age of 23, he defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in a match for the world title. Botvinnik would regain the title a year later in a re-match. Tal remained a strong competitor in world championship cycles well into the seventies, with the exception of 1962. That year, Tal had to drop out of the candidates' tournament in Curaçao to be hospitalized when his kidneys acted up.

He is considered to many to be the greatest tactical genius of the twentieth century. His influence on chess remains great; perhaps more professional chess players name Tal as their idol more than any other. Although a vicious attacker on the board, he was congenial and well-liked by his peers.

Tal was an intuitive player. He sought complications on the board and didn't feel it necessary to calculate all variations a dozen moves deep. If he couldn't figure it out, he assumed his opponent couldn't, either, and thus he would often play such a move. His sacrifices were often shown to be unsound by extensive analysis, but Tal knew that if his opponent gave that kind of attention to each move, he'd run out of time. Tal dismissed criticism of his sacrifices with the quip, "Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine."

Whether his sacrifices were sound or not is beside the point. They worked. Computers may not be impressed, but that is of no matter. Those of us made of flesh and blood are thrilled.

By training, Tal was a journalist. His writings are spiced with delightful wit, impish humor and a candor missing in the work of many great masters.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features on the JR Chess Report

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.


Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Zhao Xue - Koneru Humpy, Masters' Group A, Round 4, Cap d'Agde
Vishy Anand - Bartlomiej Macieja, Bundesliga, Round 2, Hamburg
Zeinab Mamedyarova - Ivan Cheparinov, Essent Open Tournament, Round 1, Hoogeveen
Laurent Fressinet - Magnus Carlsen, Masters' Quarter-Finals, Cap d'Agde
Andrei Volokitin - Teimour Radjabov, Masters' Semi-Finals, Cap d'Agde

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Zhao - Koneru, Masters' Group A, Cap d'Agde

Zhao Xue
Photo: Website of the 2006Cap d'Agde Chess Destival

Zhao Xue vs. Koneru Humpy
Masters' Group A, Round 4
Cap d'Agde, Languedoc Province (France), October 2006

East India Game: Nimzo Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 0-0 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 Qb6

• Also playable is 7. -- Nc6 8. b4 Nd4 9. Qd3 Nxf3+ 10. gxf3 Be7 11. Rg1.

8. e3 Qc7 9. b4 Be7 10. Bb2 a6

• 10. -- d6 11. Nb5 Qc6 12. Bd3 e5 13. 0-0 Bg4 14. Ng5 gives White an edge in space on the queenside.

11. Ng5 Rd8 12. Rc1

• The moves does nothing for White's development.
• Better is 12. Bd3 when if 12. -- h6 13. Nge4 then:
• 13.-- Nxe4 14. Nxe4
• 14. -- Nc6 15. Qc3 e5 16. Qb3 d6 17. Nc3 Be6 is equal.
• 14. -- b5 15. Qc3 f6 16. cxb5 Qb6 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 axb5 gives WHite an edge in space and decelopment, but Black has some sompensation in pawn structure.
• 13. -- d6 14. Rd1 Nc6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Nd5 exd5 17. Bxf6 Nxb4 18. axb4 gxf6 and Black is temporarily a pawn up, but her pawn structure is atrocious and White will soon re-establish the material balance.

12. -- d6 13. Be2

• White develops her Bishop and prepares to castle.
• 13. Bd3 focuses on the h7 square and is to be preferred.

13. -- Nbd7 14. 0-0 h6 15. Nf3

• The game is even.
• If 15. Nge4 b6 16. f4 then:
• 16. -- Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bb7 18. f5 d5 19. f6 Bxf6 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 is level after 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Rxf6.
• 16. -- Bb7 17. f5 e5 18. Bf3 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 gives White a slight edge in space.

15. -- b6 16. Nd4 Bb7

• Black will take control of the long diagonal.
• If 16. -- Ne5 17. Qb3 Bb7 18. f4 then:
• 18. -- Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Nd5 exd5 21. Bxf6 dxc4 22. Qxc4 Bxf6 23. Qxc6 leaves White with a slight edge in piece activity.
• 18. -- Neg4 19. Nd1 h5 20. Qd3 Be4 21. Qd2 Qb7 offers equal chances.

17. f4 Rac8 18. Bd3

• White also takes command of an open diagonal.
• If 18. e4 Nb8 19. Qd3 Nc6 then:
• 20. Nb3 Nd7 21. Nd5 exd5 22. cxd5 leaves White with superior piece activity.
• 20. Nf3 Rd7 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qe3 gives White an active Queen and Bishop.

18. -- Qb8 19. Qe2 Qa8 20. e4

• White moves to lock up the center.
• After 20. Rfd1 Ne4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Qxe4 23. Nf3 Nf6 24. Rd4 White will use the time gained to reenforce her foothold in the center.

20. -- Bf8 21. e5 dxe5?

• Black incorrectly believes that she will be able to exploit the d-file once it is opened.
• 21. -- Ne8 22. Bc2 Nc7 23. Rcd1 d5 24. Rd2 g6 25. Bb3 a5 gives chances to both sides.

22. fxe5 Nxe5 23. Qxe5 Bxg2

• The d-file is not open and White is ready to exploit the f-file.
• 23. -- Bd6 24. Qe2 Bxh2+ 25. Kxh2 Rxd4 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Nd5 gives White the edge; all of her important points are covered and her Queen and Bishops are active.

Black: Koneru Humpy
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White: Zhao Xue
Position after 23. -- Bb7xg2

24. Rxf6!!

• The exchange sacrifice opens avenues to the Black King.
• 24. Rfd1?! would be wrong: 24. -- Bh1 25. Rc2 Bd6 26. Qe1 Bc7 27. Bf1 Bf3 28. Rd3 leaves White's advantage dissapated.

24. -- gxf6 25. Qg3+ Kh8 26. Nd5 Rxd5

• If 26. -- exd5 then:
• 27. Ne6 d4 28. Nxd8 Rxd8 29. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2 gives Black only two pawns for the piece, and weak pawns at that.
• after 27. Qxg2 Be7 28. Qh3 Rg8+ 29. Kf2 Bf8 30. Nf5 White is building an attack on the King.

27. Nxe6!!

• A second sacrifice leaves Black a Rook up and completely lost.
If Black now plays 27. -- fxg7 then White responds 28. Bxf6+ Bg7 29. Qxg7#.

27. -- Rxd3 28. Bxf6+ Kh7 29. Nxf8+ 1-0

• White mates on the next move. Ms. Koneru resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Anand - Macieja, Bundesliga, Hamburg

Vishy Anand
Photo: from the website of Viswanathan Anand

Vishy Anand (OSC Baden Baden) vs. Bartlomiej Macieja (SV Wattenscheid)
Bundesliga 2006-07, Round 2/Board 1
Hamburg, October 2006

Open German Game: Spassky Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4

• If 12. -- Qc7 13. 0-0-0 0-0-0 14. Qe2 then:
• after 14. -- Bd6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Rhe1 Ngf6 Black's pieces are better positions to spring to life.
• after 14. -- Ngf6 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd5 Black has a well-posted Knight, but White's position is solid.
• after 14. -- Be7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Black will have trouble developing his Knight.

13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qc7

• Black's piece are more mobile.
• 14. -- Qa6?! 15. 0-0 0-0-0 16. b4 Qb6 17. a4 Bf6 18. a5 gives White an edge in space.

15. 0-0-0 Ngf6 16. Rde1 b5 17. c5

• White sets about restricting Black's movements.
• If 17. Qe2 0-0 18. c5 Nd5 19. Ne4 then:
• 19. -- Nf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 21. Qe3 Qxe3+ 22. fxe3 Nf6 gives Black potential to expand on the queenside.
• 19. -- Rfd8 20. g4 Nf4 21. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 22. Qe3 gives equal chances to both sides.

17. -- 0-0 18. Ne2 Rfe8 19. g4

• White's plan is to expand on the kingside and open avenues to the Black King.
• If 19. Nf4 Rad8 20. Qa3 then:
• 20. -- Nd5 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. Kb1 Rc8 23. Qd3 Nf6 24. Qxb5 Ne4 balances White's space on the wings against Black's in the center.
• 20. -- a5 21. Qxa5 Qxa5 22. Bxa5 Ra8 23. b4 Bd8 24. Bxd8 Rexd8 25. Kb2 gives both side reasonable piece activity.

19. -- e5?!

• This weakens the f5 point, which White immediately exploits.
• 19. -- Nxg4 20. Rhg1 Ndf6 21. Rg2 Qd7 22. Qb3 Qd5 23. Qxd5 exd5 is level.

20. Qf5!

• White sacrifices a pawn for initiative and piece activity.

20. -- exd4

• 20. -- Nd5 21. g5 e4 22. g6 f6 23. Nh2 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Nxc5 leaves White slightly more mobile.

21. g5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 Nh7

• White has now succeeded in opening lines to the Black King. Although a pawn down, he has conjured up serious threats.
• With 22. -- d3 23. Ned4 Bxc5 24. Bxf6 Qd6 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Reg1+ White is building a menacing kingside attack.

23. Bf4?!

• White simply drives the Black Queen to a better square, throwing away much of his edge.
• 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Nexd4 Rae8 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Rg1 Ndf6 27. h6 leaves White with slightly more piece activity; Black has comensation in pawn structure.

23. -- Qc8 24. Nexd4 Nxc5

• The text is better than 24. -- Bxc5 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. Rg1 Nhf8 27. Qg4 g6 28. Re1 when White has better mobility.

25. Qc2

• White threatens 26. Rxe7 Rxe7 27 Qxc5 winning two minor pieces for a Rook.
• 25. Rxe7 Qxf5 26. Nxf5 Nd3+ 27. Kd2 Nxf4 28. h6 g6 29. Rxe8+ Rxe8 leaving Black a pawn to the good with better King safety.

25. -- Bf8?

• Black invites an exchange of Rooks, preserving his minor pieces.
• After 25. -- Qg4 26. Bd2 Bf8 27. h6 g6 28. Rh4 Rxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Qg2 the active Queen give Black a slight edge.

26. Reg1!

• Having opened lines to the Black King, White now puts his Rooks on them.
• 26. Rxe8 Qxe8 27. h6 Qe4 28. Be3 g6 29. Qxe4 Nxe4 30.Ne5 is equal.

26. -- Re4

• Black threatens a loose Bishop.
• 26. -- Qd8 27. h6 g6 28. Ne5 Bg7 29. Qxc5 Qf6 30. Rg4 gives White a commanding spatial plus using pieces to delimit his territory.

27. Be5 f6

• Black attacks the Bishop yet again.
• If 27. -- Rg4 28. Nf5 Rc4 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Bc3 then:
• 31. -- Qe6 32. h6 Qe4 33. N7e5 leaves White's position adequately defended while his reseves are trained on Black's King.
• after 31. -- Kxf7 32. Qxh7 Ke8 33. Qg6+ Kd8 34. Qf7 White wins by bringing his Rooks to the center penetrating Balck's postition.

Black: Bartlomiej Macieja
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after 27. -- f7f6

28. h6!!

• This quiet move breaks Black's resistance. The pawn sacrfice must be accepted else the pawn will promote; however, taking the pawn gives White's Rook a direct avenue to the back rank.
• Any other move White plays would throw everything away; for example, if28. Bg3? Qa6 then:
• 29. h6 Qxa2 30. hxg7 Be7
• 31. Bc7 Rc8 32. Bf4 Rd8 33. Be3 Qa1+ is level.
• 31. Nd2 Rd8 32. Nxe4 Rxd4 gives Black an edge in piece activity.
• after 29. Kb1 Rae8 30. h6 g5 31. Rc1 Kh8 Black has better piece activity and command of the e-file.

28. -- fxe5 29. hxg7 Be7

• If 29. -- Bxg7 30. Qxc5 Qf8 then:
• 31. Qxf8+ Nxf8 32. Nf5 Ne6 33. Ng5 Rc4+ 34. Kb1 gives White a winning edge thanks to his active pieces.
• 31. Qc2 Qf4+ 32. Nd2 exd4 33. Qxe4 Qxe4 34. Nxe4 gives White a pair of active Rooks while an exchange up.

30. Nxe5 Bd6

• If 30. -- Bf6 31. Rxh7 Kxh7 32. g8Q+ Qxg8 33. Rh1+ then:
• 33. -- Bh4 34. Rxh4+ Kg7 35. f4 Rxe5 36. Rg4+ Kf7 37. Rxg8 and White wins.
• 33. -- Kg7 34. Nf5+ Kf8 35. Qxc5+ Ke8 36. Qxc6+ Kf8 37. Qxa8+ Bd8 38. Qxd8#

31. f4 Bxe5 32. fxe5 1-0

• 32. fxe5 Qd7 33. Qh2 Re1+ 34. Rxe1 Qxg7 35. Reg1 leaves White an exchange up in an overwhelming position.
• Macieja resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Mamedyarova - Cheparinov, Essent Open Tournament, Hoogeveen

Ivan Cheparinov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Zeinab Mamedyarova vs. Ivan Cheparinov
Essent Open Tournament, Round 1
Hoogeveen, October 2006

Catalan Game: Chandler Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. 0-0 e5 7. Nb5

• Another line is 7. Nb3 Be7 8. c4 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Bxd8 10. N3d2 Bc7 11. Nc3 giving White an edge in piece activity.

7. -- a6 8. N5c3 d4 9. Ne4 Be7 10. e3 0-0

• White has an edge in piece activity and should be able to maintain the initiative.

11. exd4 exd4 12. c3 d3!?

• This looks like a peculative pawn sacrifice. It gives White a target for the time being.
• Better is 12. -- Nc6 13. Re1 d3 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Be4 Ne5 16. Re3 when White reatains a small edge in piece activity. but she will need the problem of developing her queenside pieces.

13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Be4 Re8

• Black seizes control of the e-file, getting some compensation for his pawn.
• 14. -- Nc6? 15. Bxd3 Re8 16. Bf4 h6 17. Qf3 Qb6 18. b3 gives White a strong position in addition to the sacrificed pawn.

15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Re1

• White, in turn, challenges Black for the e-file.
• Nevertheless, better is 16. Bf4 h6 17. Qf3 Bg4 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxg4 Qd3 20. Nd2 when White develops her queenside.

16. -- Bg4?

• This allows White to relieve the pressure in the e-file by liquidated the Rooks, giving her a strong game.
• Better is 16. -- Ne5 17. Be2 Qc7 18. Bf4 Bf5 19. Bf1 Qb6 20. Nd2 when White has only a small edge in piece activity

17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qxg4 Qe1+ 19. Kg2 Qxc1 20. Qe2?

• This is an inferior and passive move that throws away much of the edge White gained in the last four moves.
• Better is 20. Qe4 g6 21. Qe2 Rd8 22. Qc2 Qe1 23. Be2 Ne5 24. f4 giving White a strong initiative and greter mobility in spite of her problems developing the queenside.

20. -- Ne5 21. Be4 Rd8 22. Qc2?

Exchanging Queens whould be helpful to White, but Black need not oblige.
• Better is 22. Bxb7 Rd1 23. Kh3 Qh6+ 24. Kg2 Qc1 35. Kh3 with a draw by repetition.

Black: Ivan Cheparinov
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White: Zeinab Mamedyarova
Position after 22. Qe2c2

22. -- Qe1!

• Black maintains his Queen and threatens to draw a mating net around White's King.
• Inferior is 22. -- Qxc2 23. Bxc2 Nc4 24. b3 Nb6 25. a4 Nd5 26. Be4 and White has an active Bishop, but still hasn't developed her queenside.

23. Bxh7+

• 23. h4 Rd1 24. Kh3 h5 25. f3 Nc4 26. Qh2 Ne3 27. Nd2 Rxa1 leaves Black a Rook up.

23. -- Kh8 24. Qe4

• If 24. Be4 then Black wins immediately by 24. -- Rd1!:
• 25. Kh3 Rc1 leaves White paralyzed.
• 25. Bd3 Nxd3 give White the choice of losing material or submitting to mate starting with 26. Kh3 Qf1+ 27. Kg4 Ne5+ 28. Kf4 Qc4+/

24. -- Qd1 25. Bf5

• If 25. h4 g6 26. Bxg6 fxg6 then:
• after 27. b4 Qc1 28. Qf4 Qxf4 29. gxf4 Nd3 White is punished for her failure to develop her queenside by 30. Kg3 Nxb4.
• 27. a3 Nd3 28. Qe3 Bg7 29. Kh2 Ne1 30. Qe6 Nf3+ Black continues to spin a web around the White King.

25. -- g6!

• 25. -- Nd3? would throw away the victory: 26. h4 Ne1+ 27. Kh3 Nf3 28. Kg2 Ne1+ with nothing better than a draw by repetition.

26. Qf4 gxf5 27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Qxf6 Qd5+

• If 28. -- Qf3+ 29. Kh3 Rd5 then:
• after 30. Qg5+ Ng6 31. Nd2 Qg4+ 32. Qxg4 fxg4+ 33. Kxg4 Rxd2 White's pawns fall.
• after 30. Nd2 Qh5+ 31. Qh4 Qxh4+ 32. gxh4 Rxd2 White's pawns fall.

29. Kh3 Rd6 30. Qg5+

• 30. c4 Qc6 31. Qg5+ Kh8 32. Nc3 Rh6+ Black wins the Queen and soon delivers mate.

30. -- Rg6 31. Qf4 Ng4 32. 0-1

• Black has an active queen against an impisoned Rook. White never moved her Queen's Knight or Rook. Ms. Mamedyarova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Fressinet - Carlsen, Masters' Quarter-Finals, Cap d'Agde

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Website of the 2006 Cap d'Agde Chess Tournament

Laurent Fressinet vs. Magnus Carlsen
Quarter Final Match, Round 2
Cap d'Agde, October 2006

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2

• Also playable is 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. d3

4. -- g6 5. 0-0

• 5. e5 dxe5 6. Nxe5 Nbd7 7. Nxd7 Bxd7 8. 0-0 Bg7 is level.

5. -- Bg7 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nfxd7

• After 7. -- Nbxd7 8. Re1 0-0 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Qxb6 Nxb6 11. d3 the position is balanced.

8. d4 0-0 9. Re1

• White moves to fortify his central pawn duo.
• 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. Be3 Nc6 11. Nbd2 e5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Rad1 Rad8 is an equal game.

9. -- Nc6 10. d5 Nce5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. f4 Nd7 13. Nd2

• White startes to develop his queenside pieces. The most important points for him to protect are e4 and d5.
• If 13. Qb3 b6 then:
• 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. Nf3 Re8 16. Bd2 e6 17. dxe6 fxe6 is level.
• after 14. Be3 f5 15. Nd2 b5 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 c4 White central space is balanced by Black's queenside space and his active Bishop at g7.

13. -- b5 14. Nf3 Qb6 15. Qe2

• White fortifies his center while Black begins expanding on the queenside.
• 15. Ng5 a5 16. Be3 Rfe8 17. Qd3 Nf6 18. Rad1 Ng4 shows the develpment of the center/queenside space with an unclear position on the kingside.

15. -- Qb7

• Slightly better for Black is 15. -- e6 16. a4 a6 17. Rd1 exd5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 when Black's queenside dominance begins to make itself felt.

16. Rd1 Rae8

Black prepares to challenge White in the center.
• If 16. -- a5 17. Rb1 a4 then:
• 18. Be3 f5 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Bxc5 Qc7 is balanced.
• 18. Ng5 Nf6 19. c4 h6 20. Nf3 b4 21. e5 Nd7 continues that theme of White expanding in the center and Black on the queenside.

17. f5 c4

• Black continues his queenside campaign.
• 17. -- gxf5 18. exf5 Nf6 19. Qd3 c4 20. Qd4 Rc8 21. Ng5 a5 remains level with Whites changes in the center and Black's on the queenside.

18. a4 b4 19. Nd4 Nc5 20. Bf4

• White tries to discourage Balack from playing --e7e6.
• 20. a5 Rc8 21. Bg5 Bxd4+ 22. cxd4 Nb3 23. Ra2 Qd7 24. Qf2 would make White's position in the center a little more significant than Black's on the queenside.

20. -- Nd3 21. Be3 e6

• Thus does Black play 21. -- e6 in an effort to break up White's center.
• 21. -- bxc3 22. bxc3 Qd7 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. a5 Rb8 25. Rab1 neutralizes Black's queenside and leaves White slightly better.

22. Nb5 exd5!

• Black opens the e-file to his advantage, even at the cost of the exchange.
• 22. -- Be5 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Bh6 exd5 25. Qe3 a6 26. Nd4 Bg7 is even.

23. Nxd6 Qc7 24. Nxe8 Rxe8 25. cxb4

• In an interesting twist, White now dominates the queenside whit Black has taken command of the center.
• 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. cxb4 Rxe4 27. Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qxd3 Bxb2 gives Black a small edge with the active Bishop.

25. -- Rxe4 26. Rxd3 cxd3 27. Qxd3 Bxb2 28. Rd1 Be5 29. h3 gxf5

• The position slightly favors Black as it will be difficult to dislodge the Rook from its outpost.
• After 29. -- Rxb4 30. Qxd5 gxf5 31. Qa8+ Rb8 32. Qxa7 Qxa7 33. Bxa7 Ra8 White's passed pawn falls.

30. Bc5 Qd7 31. a5 d4 32. a6

• White has almost run out of good moves; Black's advantage is distinct.
• 32. Qa6 Bb8 33. Qh6 Qd8 34. Bf8 Be5 35. Bc5 Bf4 36. Qa6 Qe8 is level.

32. -- Bb8 33. Qf3?

• White needed a win in order to stay in the tournament, so a risky move was in order.
• White might have saved a half-point with33. Bxd4 Qc7 34. Be3 Rxb4 35. Bh6 Qb6+ 36. Be3 Qa5 37. Qc3 Bc7

Black: Magnus Carlsen
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White: Laurent Fressinet
Position after 33. Qd3f3

33. -- Qe6!

• Black wastes no time in finding the most flexible square for his Queen.
• If White now play 34. Qd3 then after 24. -- Qe5 35. Kf3 h6 36. Rf1 Re3 37. Qxd4 Qg3+ 38. Kg1 Re2 39. Rf2 Re1+ 40. Rf1 Black wins the Rook by 40. -- Bg3+ 41. Kf3 Rxf1+
• M. Fressinet could have resigned here.

34. Rf1 Qe5 35. g3 Re3 36. 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Volokitin -Radjabov Masters' Semi-Finals, Cap d'Agde

Teimour Radjabov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Andrei Volokitin vs. Teimour Radjabov
Semi-Final Match, Round 1
Cap d'Agde, Languedoc Province (France), Novemver 2006

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. Nd5

• Also often played is 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6

9. -- Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 0-0 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Bd7

• Black has a small edge based on the disruptive effect the Bishop at g5 has on White's position.
• 15. -- Rb8 16. b3 Bb7 17. 0-0 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Bxe7 19. Qd3 gives White better mobility, but Black is well defended.

16. Nce3 Kh8

• This is a prophylactic move to keep the King out of the fire of the Bishop at c4.
• 16. -- Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nd5 Qe6 19. Ra2 Qg6 20. Qd3 Bc6 offers equal chances.

17. h4 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. Ra2 Bc6 20. Qg4

• White seeks an open diagonal for the Queen.
• A better idea would be to leave the Queen trained on the pawn at d6 by 20. Qd3 a4 21. 0-0 f5 22. exf5 e4 23. Qe2 Nxf5 24. Nxf5 Rxf5 with equality.

20. -- d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. 0-0

• White brings his King to safety; he must make plans to strike at Black's center.
• The text is better than 22. Nf5?! g6 23. Nh6 f5 24. Qg5 Kg7 25. 0-0 Nf4 leaving Black with quite a bit more mobility.

22. -- Nxe3 23. fxe3 f6

• Black protects his important e-pawn.
• 23. -- f5 24. Qg3 a4 25. b4 Qd6 26. Be2 Rab8 is balanced.

24. h5 Qb6 25. Qe2 a4 26. Kh2?!

• White may think his King safer here, but it does nothing to stop the coming pawn advance.
• 26. Bd3 Rac8 27. Qf2 Rfd8 28. Bc2 Bb5 29. Rd1 Rxd1+ 30. Bxd1 Rc4 leaves neither side with any great opportunities.

26. -- f5!

• Black establishes a small edge in space.

27. Raa1 Qd8 28. Rad1 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Rab8?!

• Black activates the Rook.
• However, better is 29. -- Be8 30. h6 Qxh6 31. Rd5 Qf6 32. Qd3 Rb8 33. Rd6 Qg5 giving Black an extra pawn and serious threats.

30. Rd6 Be4

• Black moves to stop White from challenging his center.
• 30. -- Be8 31. h6 Bh5 32. Qd3 Rxb2 33. Rxf5 Rxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Qg4+ is level.

31. Rfd1

• White rejects 31. Bb5 Bxg2 32. Kxg2 Qg5+ 33. Kh2 Qh4+ 34. Kg2 Qg5+ with a draw by repetition.

31. -- Qg5 32. Bd5 Bxd5 33. R1xd5 f4?!

• This move is an inaccuracy that allows White to take the initiative.
• Better is 33. -- a3 34. bxa3 Rb1+ 35. Rd1 Rb3 36. e4 Rxc3 37. exf5 Qxf5 when the position is balanced.

34. exf4 Qxf4 35. Rxe5?!

• White commits an inaccuracy that throws away his samll advantage.
• After 35. Rd1 Rbc8 36. R6d3 Qg5 37. Ra1 Rb8 38. Rd5 White continues to enjoy a small edge with better piece activity.

35. -- Rxb2 36. Qxb2 Qxe5 37. Rd1?

• White could have re-eatablished the equalibrium by 37. Qb4 Qxh5 38. Qxa4 Qe2 39. Qd4 Rf1+ 40. Kh2 Qh5+ 41. Kg3 Rf8

37. -- Qc5+?

• Black, in turn, misses a win.
• If 37. -- Qxh5 38. Rd4 Re8 then:
• 39. Qd2 Qc5
• after 40. Kh1 a3 41. Rd8 Qf8 42. Rxe8 Qxe8 43. Qf2 h6 Balck's a-pawn is huge.
• 40. Kh2 a3 41. Ra4 Qh5+ is likely to continue in a vain similar to the game.
• after 40. Qb2 a3 41. Qb4 Qa7 42. Qa4 Qa8 White's best is to exchange Queens, resulting in positions like those of the actual game.
• 39. Rf4 Re1+ 40. Kf2 Qe8 41. Qd2 Re7 gives Black better coordinated pieces and a more advanced passed pawn.

38. Rd4!

• White's best chance is an active defense.
• 38. Kh2? Qxh5+! 39. Kg3 Qxd1 is an easy win for White.

38. -- a3

• Passed pawns must be pushed.
• 38. -- Qxh5 39. Qb4 Re8 40. Rh4 Qd1+ 41. Kh2 Qe2 42. Qxa4 Qe5+ gives Black a slight edge with the more active Queen.

39. Qb4 Qxb4 40. Rxb4?

• As distant pawns are an advantage in the endgame, 40. cxb4 is the correct way to recapture.
• After 40. cxb4 a2 41. Rd1 Ra8 42. Ra1 Kg8 43. b5 Kf7 44. b6 Kf6 the game is even and most likely drawn.


Black: Teimour Radjabov
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White: Andrei Volokitin
Position after 40. Rd4Xb4

40. -- Ra8!

• Dr. Tarrasch said over a hundre years ago that Rooks belong behind passed pawns in the endgame. Black's next move is forced.
• White would have a slight edge with a passed pawn after 40. -- g6? 41. Ra4 gxh5 42. Rxa3 Kg7 43. Ra7+ Kg6 44. c4 Rc8, but it is unlikely to be converted to victory.

41. Rb1 Kg8 42. Kf2 Kf7 43. Ke3

• White's best chance is to escort the c-pawn home.
• If 43. Ra1 Kf6 44. Ke3 Kg5 45. Kd3 Kxh5 46. c4 then:
• 46. -- Kg4 47. Kc3 Kg3 48. Ra2 gives Black a strong edge with majorities on both wings.
• 46. -- a2? 47. Kc3 Kg4 48. Kb3 Kg3 gives White a significantly better game, since Black cannot save his a-pawn and an exchange of Rooks would hand the victory to White.

43. -- Ke6 44. c4 a2 45. Ra1 Ke5

The relative King positions make any advance of the c-pawn difficult. The advantage is clearly Black's.

45. -- Kd6 46. Kd4 Ra3 47. c5+ Kc6 48. Kc4 Ra5 49. Kb3 Rxc5 is an even game and a likely draw.

46. Kd3

• If 46. Kd2 Kd4 47. Kc2 Kxc4 then:
• after 48. Kb2 Kd3 49. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 50. Kxa2 g5 the relative King positions determine the game in Black's favor.
• 48. g4 Kd4 49. g5 Ke4 50. g6 h6 is also an easy win for Black.

46. -- Ra3+ 47. Kc2 Kd4 48. Kb2 Rg3 49. Kxa2 Kxc4 50. Rc1+ Kd3 51. h6 gxh6

• If 51. -- Rxg2+ 52. Kb3 gxh6 then:
• after 53. Rc7 h5 54. Rd7+ Ke3 55. Re7+ Kf4 56. Rxh7 Rh2 the distance of the White King gives Black the win.
• 53. Rc3+ Kd4 54. Rc4+ Kd5 55. Rc7 h5 56. Rd7+ Ke6 57. Rxh7 Rh2 will allow Blak to bring his King in to escort the pawn, winning.

52. Rc7 h5 53. Rxh7

• White may last longer after 53. Rd7+ Kc4 54. Rc7+ Kb5 55. Rb7+ Kc5 56. Rc7+ Kd6 57. Rc2 h4

53. -- Rxg2+ 54. Kb3 Rg5

• After 54. -- Rh2 55. Rd7+ Ke4 56. Kc4 h4 57. Rd4+ Ke5 58. Rd5+ Ke6 Black wins by moving the Rook to h1, bringing the pawn forward to h2, then vacating the queening square with check.

55. Rd7+ Ke2 56. Kc3 Rg3+ 57. Kc2

• The White King is now shut out of the action.
• 57. Kc4 h4 58. Rh7 h3 59. Kd5 Kf3 60. Kd4 Kg2 61. Re7 h2 and the pawn must coronate.

57. -- h4 58. Rd2+ Kf1 59. Rd1+ Kg2 60. Rd2+ Kh1 61. Rd1+ Rg1 62. Rd3 Rg3 63. Rd1+ Kh2 64. Kd2

• 64. Re1 h3 65. Kd2 Rf3 66. Re8 Kg2 67. Rg8+ Rg3 68. Rh8 h2 -+

64. -- h3 65. Ke2

• After 65. Kc2 Rf3 66. Rd6 Kg2 67. Rg6+ Rg3 68. Rh6 h2 White must give up the Rook to stop the pawn.

65. -- Kg2 66. 0-1

• There is no way to stop the pawn. Volokitin resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Game: Tal - Fischer, Belgrade, 1959

This game was played in the candidates' tournament of 1959. Tal won the tournament and the right to challenge then-world champion Mikhail Botvinnik for the title the following year.

Bobby Fischer was competing in his first world championship cycle. He was only 16 years old.

The tourament was a quadruple round robin among eight players. Tal won all four of his games with Fischer.



Mikhail Tal
Photo: ChessGraphics

Mikhail Tal vs. Bobby Fischer
Candidates' Tournament, Round 20
Belgrade, October 1959

West India Game: King's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Bg5

• the stereotypical plans in the King's Indian are for Black to expand on the kingside and White on the queenside.
• 8. 0-0 Nh5 9. Re1 Nf4 10. b3 f5 11. exf5 Rxf5 12. Ne4 is equal.

8. -- h6 9. Bh4 a6 10. 0-0 Qe8

• 10. -- g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Nel f5 13. Bxh5 f5 14. Qd3 leaves White an edge in central space; Black's position is slightly cramped.

11. Nd2 Nh7 12. b4 Bf6

• Black chooses to delay his kingside advance to drive away the Bishop.
• After 12. -- c5 13. Qa4 g5 14. Bg3 cxb4 15. Qxb4 Qe7 16. Rab1 b6 both sides have chances.
• 12. -- Nhf6 13. Qa4 Nb8 14. Qxe8 Rxe8 15. c5 dxc5 16. bxc5 Nbd7 is equal.
• 12. -- f5!? 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. Bd3 Rh5 15. Qc2 Ndf8 16. Bg3 gives White greater piece activity.

13. Bxf6 Nhxf6

• The game is level. Black will have to regroup and play -- f7f5; White sill seek to expand on the queenside.
• 13. -- Ndxf6 14. Qc2 Nd7 15. Rae1 Ng5 16. a3 f6 17. f4 gives White slightly more space.

14. Nb3 Qe7 15. Qd2 Kh7 16. Qe3

• The Queen looks misplaced here; although occupying an open diagonal, she has nowhere to go.
• 16. a4 Ne8 17. f4 exf4 18. Rxf4 Ne5 19. Raf1 Ng7 20. Nd4 leaves White with more space on the queenside and command of the f-file.

16. -- Ng8 17. c5 f5!?

• Black might have done better to play this advance after developing his queenside pieces.

18. exf5 gxf5

• White may have succeeded in opening lines to the Black King.
• After 18. -- Rxf5 19. a3 Rf4 20. Rfe1 b6 21. c6 Ndf6 22. Bf3 it will be difficult for either side to make much progress.

19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4

• The game is even.
• 20. Qxe7+ Nxe7 21. Rxf4 Nf6 22. Rd4 Bd7 23. Re1 Rfe8 24. a4 Ng6 is level.

20. -- dxc5 21. Bd3 cxb4?!

• Black makes an inferior move that allows White to set up a vicious attack.
• 21. -- c4! 22. d6 Qxd6 23. Bxf5+ Kh8 24. Qxc4 Ne5 25. Qe4 Bxf5 leave Black with greater mobility.

22. Rae1 Qf6?

• This error is almost imperceptable. Most masters would not have exploited it as Tal does.
• 22. -- Qg5 23. Qxb4 b6 24. Qc4 Ra7 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 give White more piece activity, but the game is far from won.


Black: Bobby Fischer
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White: Mikhail Tal
Position after 22. Qe7f6

23. Re6!!

• White sacrifices a piece for an attack on the Black King.
• 23. Qxb4? Ne5 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qxf8 Bxd7 26. Bxf5+ Bxf5 27. Qxa8 is equal.

23. -- Qxc3 24. Bxf5+ Rxf5

• 24. -- Kg7 25. Rg6+ Kf7 26. Bxd7+ Kxg6 27. Qxf8 Bxd7 28. Qxa8 leaves White an exchange up with Black's King exposed.

25. Qxf5+ Kh8

• After 25. -- Kg7 26. Qf7+ Kh8 27. Rg6 Qe3+ 28. Kh1 Balck cannot long prevent mate on g7.

26. Rf3 Qb2

• After 26. -- Qg7 27. Rg3 Qxg3 28. hxg3 Ndf6 29. Qe5 Bxe6 30. dxe6 Rd8 31. Qxc7 Black's queenside pawns fall.

27. Re8 Ndf6

• 27. -- Nb6 28. Rxg8+ Kxg8 29. Qf8+ Kh7 30. Qe7+ Qg7 31. Rf7 White wins the Queen.

28. Qxf6+ Qxf6 29. Rxf6 Kg7 30. Rff8 Ne7

• 30. -- Nf6 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Rxc8 Nxd5 33. Nc5 leaves White a Rook up.

31. Na5 h5

• 31. -- Nxd5 32. Rg8+ Kf6 33. Rgf8+ Kg5 34. Rxc8 Rxc8 35. Rxc8 also gives White a prohibitive material advantage.

32. h4 Rb8

• 32. -- Nxd5 33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Rxc8 b6 35. Nc6 is hopeless for Black.

33. Nc4 b5 34. Ne5 1-0

• White has a winning line for any move Black makes:
• 34. -- Ng8 35. Rxg8+ Kh6 36. Re7 Bf5 37. Rxb8 Bh7 38. Rh8 b3 39. Rhxh7#
• 34. -- Be6 35. Rxb8 Bxd5 36. Rf4 Ng6 37. Nxg6 Kxg6 38. Rbf8
• 34. -- Ng6 35. Rg8+ Kh7 36. Nxg6 Bf5 37. Rxb8 Bxg6 38. Rgc8
• 34. -- Bf5 35. Rf7+ Kh6 36. Rxb8 Ng6 37. Rxf5
• Young Mr. Fischer resigns.