The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for November 26: Blow the tuba in Cuba

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending November 26


Image: Capablanca vs. Euwe, Amsterdam 1931,
from Art Science Chess (Holland)

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: José Capablanca - Ossip Bernstein, St. Petersburg, 1914

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending November 26

Capablanca Memorial starts in Havana



The 41st annual Torneo Memorial Capablanca began Tuesday in Havana.

At the half-way point in the double-round robin elite event among six grandmasters, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine is currently leading Poland's Kamil Miton by a half-point after Miton defeated Ivanchuk in yesterday's (Saturday's) action.

Ivanchuk started the tournament ferociously by winning three of his first four games without a loss. He went into the fifth round leading his nearest rivals by a point and half.

Others in the elite event are Evgeny Bareev of Russia and Cuban grandmasters Lenier Domínguez, Lazaro Bruzón and Jesús Nogueiras. Nogueiras is a last-minute substitute for Argentine grandmaster Rubén Felgaer, who withdraw only days before the start of the tournament.

The elite event is rated as a Category 17.

Unofficial Cross Table
Torneo Memorial Capablanca
Havana

----------------------1---2---3---4---5---6--T--(w)
1 Vassily Ivanchuk . --- 0 . 1 . ½ . 1 . 1 . 3½ (3)
2 Kamil Miton. . . . 1 . --- ½ . ½ . ½ . ½ . 3. (1)
3 Jesús Nogueiras. . 0 . ½ . --- ½ . ½ . 1 . 2½ (1)
4 Lenier Domínguez . ½ . ½ . ½ . --- ½ . ½ . 2½ (0)
5 Lazaro Bruzón. . . 0 . ½ . ½ . ½ . --- ½ . 2. (0)
6 Evgeny Bareev. . . 0 . ½ . 0 . ½ . ½ . --- 1½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

In addition to the elite event, there is also a Swiss system open tournament among 50 participants. After five rounds, Cuban grandmaster Juan Borges and grandmaster Eduardo Iturrizaga of Venezuela are tied for the lead with 4½ points each.

The event is named for José Capablanca, Cuba's greatest chess player and one of the towering figures of 20th Century chess, who reigned as world champion in the 1920s.

The Capablanca Memorial concludes Thursday. Games begin at 4 pm in Havana, which is on Eastern Standard Time. There is no live coverage of the games, but results can be found sometime between 10:30 pm and midnight EST here.


Kramnik draws first game in match against Deep Fritz



The anticipated match between world champion Vladimir Kramnik and the computer program Deep Fritz, a distant and much stronger relative to my silicon sidekick, began yesterday (Saturday) in Bonn, Germany.

The first game ended in a draw.

Kramnik drew a match against a previous incarnation of the program in Bahrain in 1991. Fritz is the betting favorite in this match, which many believe will be the last meaningful man vs. machine encounter.

The match concludes December 5. Analysis of yesterday's game by Malcolm Pein of the London Chess Center may be found here.


Spanish Championship taking place in León



The Spanish national championship event is currently being held in León.

The event is divided into two groups of six players each who will play a preliminary single round robin event.

In the A Group after four rounds, grandmasters Paco Vallejo and Salvador Del Río lead with 3 points each. In the B group, international master Manuel Perez tops the standings with 3 points.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features of 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.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Jesús Nogueiras - Vassily Ivanchuk, Capablanca Memorial, Round 2, Havana
Peter Svidler - Alexander Grischuk, Tal Memorial, Round 6, Moscow
Pentala Harikrishna - Jean-Marc Degraeve, Bundesliga, Round 4, Hamburg
Regina Pokorna - Max Devereaux, Four Nations Chess League, Round 3, Coventry

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Nogueiras - Ivanchuk, Capablanca Memorial, Havana

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game with a PGN viewer, please click here (London Chess Center). In the blurb about the Capablanca Memorial, select Games in PGN. This is the 5th game listed.

Jesús Nogueiras vs. Vassily Ivanchuk
Torneo Memorial Capablanca, Round 2
Havana, November 2006

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

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

• The alternative 6. 0-0 b5 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. a4 c6 9. e4 Nf6 10. d5 Qc7 11. axb5 looks better for White (Ibrahimov-Novikov, Olympiad, Calvia 2004).

6. -- Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nd5 8. Bd2 b5 9. 0-0 Bxc3 10. bxc3 0-0 11. e4

• After 11. a4 c6 12. e4 Nb6 13. axb5 cxb5 14. f4 Bb7 15. f5 exf5 16. Rxf5 f6 Black's active Bishop and Queen give him a markedly superior game (Szymczak-Chekhov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj 1981).

11. -- Nb6!?

• Black introduces a novelty.
• After 11. -- Ne7 12. a4 c6 13. Bc1 Nd7 14. Nxd7 Bxd7 15. Ba3 White has the advantage with his pawn center and active Queen's Bishop (Razuvaev-Sveshnikov, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi 1978).

12. f4

• White has contructed an impressive pawn center; Black will try to blast it away.
• If 12. Bc1 f6 13. Nf3 Qe7 then:
• 14. Qc2 e5 15. Rb1 exd4 16. Nxd4 c5 17. Ba3 Re8 allows Black to commence blasting with -- c5 or -- b4.
• 14. Re1 e5 15. Rb1 Rd8 Bg4 =+

12. -- Bb7 13. f5 exf5 14. Rxf5 N8d7 15. Ng4

• After 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Qc2 Rfe8 17. Raf1 f6 18. Bf4 Na4 Black has been able to slow down White's pawn center enough to take some initiative.

15. -- Qe7 16. Qc2 Rae8 17. Re1 f6 18. Rf4 Na4

• After 18. -- c5 19. Ne3 g6 20. Bc1 b4 21. Bb2 cxd4 22. cxd4 Rc8 Black's queenside pawn present White greater problems than White's center pawns present Black.

19. Ne3 Qa3 20. Rb1 Ndb6 21. Rh4

• Black's position is solid. White cannot make any aggressive moves with advantage.
• 21. Nf5 Rf7 22. Re1 Qb2 23. Qxb2 Nxb2 24. e5 Bc8 leaves White nothing to attack while Black has some latent threats.

21. -- Bc8 22. e5!?

• White fails to find the best line.
• After 22. h3! c5 23. d5 White gets the upper hand:
• 23. -- Na8 24. e5 g6 25. e6 M4b6 26. Nf5 Nxd5 27. Nh6+ gives White a strong initiative while Black's Queen is immobilized by its own pawns.
• 23. -- Nd7 24. e5 Nxe5 25. Qxh7+ Kf7 26, Rh6! Black will have to surrender material to avoid mate.

22. -- f5?!

• Black in turn does not take the best advantage of White's last inaccuracy.
• If 22. -- g6 23. Be4 Qe7 24. Bc6 Rd8 then:
• 25. Re4 Nc5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. e6 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 Qxc6 White's initiative will soon blow itself out and, enen though the e-pawn will be a small problem, Black will be well poised to hit White's unportected pieces.
• 25. Bg2 fxe5 26. Re4 c5 27. Rxe5 Qd6 28. Re4 Bb7 White's pieces will be driven from the center and Black's will move in.

23. Rf4

• Black's advantage has dissipated significantly.
• White's last move is aimed more at giving the Rook an escape route more than threatening Black's f-pawn, since it is easily defended.
• 23. Bc6 Re7 24. Rb4 Re6 25. Bd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 Nb6 27. Nxb6 cxb6 accents Balck's problem with his Queen position.

23. -- g6 24. h4?!

• Challenging Black's superiority on the kingside is an unsound plan.
• Better for White is to stike in the center: 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5+ Be6 26. Bc6 Rd8 27. Rf3 Bd5 28. Bxd5+ Rxd5 and, although he is down a pawn, White's central pawns are strong and will give him some initiative.

24. -- c5 25. h5?

• The sacrifice of the exchange proves unsound. The game now becomes extremely difficult for White.
• Correct is 25. Rbf1 cxd4 26. cxd4 Rd8 27. Bc6 Qe7 28. Ba5 Qe6 29. Bg2 Rf7 when White's central passed pawns compensate for his pawn deficit.

25. -- g5!

• Black accepts the "sacrifice".

26. Rxf5 Bxf5 27. Nxf5 Kh8 28. Nd6

• White is now completely lost.
• If 28. Bb7 b4 29. Nd6 cxd4 30. Nxe8 bxc3 then:
• 31. Bxg5 d3 32. Qc1 Qxc1+ 33. Rxc1 d2 White emerges at least a pawn with a menacing advancing pawn mass.
• 31. Nf6 d3 32. Qc1 Qxc1+ 33. Bxc1 d2 White must give up a piece to stop the pawns.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Jesús Nogueiras
Position after 29. Nf5d6

28. -- cxd4!!

• Black returns the exchange in order to strenghthen his pawns in anticipation of a queeside advance.
• An attempt to keep the material edge by 28. -- Re7? is refuted emphatically by 29. Bxg5! when:
• 29. -- Rd7 30. Bh6
• after 30. -- Qxc3 31. Qxc3 Nxc3 32. Bxf8 Nxb1 33. dxc5 White's passed pawns triumph.
• after 30. -- Nxc3 31. Bxf8 Nxb1 32. Qf5! Rxd6 33. Bxd6 White's pawns again become dangerous.
• after 29. -- Re6 30. Rf1 Rxf1+ 31. Bxf1 Rxd6 32. Qf5 Nd7 33. e6 Black must surrender his Rook or submit to mate.

29. Nxe8 d3 30. Qd1 Nxc3 31. Qg4

• If 31. Bxc3 Qxc3 32. Nc7 Qxe5 33. Nxa6 Qxg3 then:
• after 34. Qe1 Qxe1+ 35. Rxe1 c3 the pawns decide.
• after 34. Qd2 Nd5 35. Nc5 Nf4 36. Ne4 Qg4 Black is weaving a web around the White King.

31. -- Rxe8 32. Qxg5 Qe7!

• When ahead in material, exchange pieces. Exchanging Queens now magnifies the value of Black's extra pawns.
• If 32. -- Nd7 33. Rf1 Qe7 then:
• 34. e6 Qxg5 35. Bxg5
• 35. -- Rxe6 36. Bh3 Re5 37. Bh4 Rd5 White not not be able to protect all his pawns and stop the anticipated queenside advance.
• after 35. -- Ne2+ 36. Kh2 Rxe6 37. Bh3 Nd4 38. Bxe6 Nxe6 to loss of the exchange will make it more difficult for Black to win.
• after 34. Bc6 Ne2+ 35. Kg2 c3 36. Qxe7 Rxe7 37. Bh6 Re6 the e-pawn will present a problem for Black.

33. Qxe7 Ne2+ 34. Kh2 Rxe7 35. Bg5 Re8 36. Rf1 Nd7 37. Bc6

• If 37. Rf7 Rxe5 38. Bh4 Nc5 then:
• after 39. h6 Ne6 40. Rd7 Rh5 41. Ra7 Rxh6 42. Ra8+ Kg7 White will run out of checks on a7 and a8 and Black will commence the pawn advance.
• after 39. g4 Kg8 40. Rf1 Ne4 41. Kh3 N4c3 42. Be1 Nxa2 Black will advance his pawn mass.

37. -- Rxe5 38. Bh4 Rxh5 39. Bxd7 c3 40. Bg4

• After 40. Kg2 Rxh4 41. gxh4 c2 42. Bf5 c1Q 43. Rxc1 Nxc1 White will be unable simultaneously to defend his a-pawn and stop the advance of Black's d-pawn.

40. -- Rxh4+ 41. gxh4 c2 42. Bxe2 d2 43. 0-1

• If 42. -- d2 43. Rd1 then:
• after 43. -- c1Q! 44. Kg3 Qc3+ Black will begin marching his queenside pawns forward at an opportune moment.
• 43. -- cxd1Q?? would be a disastrous blunder: after 44. Bxd1 Kg7 45. Kg3 the White King takes the d-pane and wins.
• El señor Nogueiras resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Svidler - Grischuk, Tal Memorial, Moscow

Alexander Grischuk
Photo: ChessBase.com

Peter Svidler vs. Alexander Grischuk
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 6
Moscow, November 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4!?

• 6. -- e6 7. Qd2 b5 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 +=

7. Bc1

• A common variation is 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 with equality.

7. -- Nf6 8. f3 Qb6 9. g4 Nc6

• If 9. -- h6 then:
• 10. h4 Nd4 11. Qf2 Be6 12. Bd3 d5 13.Be3 dxe4 14. ½-½ (Pelletier-Kempinski, Olympiad, Calvia 2004).
• 10. a3 e5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. gxf5 Nc6 13. Bc4 Nd4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 with equality (Svidler-Ruck, Olympiad, Bled 2002).

10. Nb3 e6

• If 10. -- h6 11. Bg2 then:
• 11. -- g6 12. Qe2 Bg7 13. Be3 Qc7 with equal chances.
• 11. -- g5 12. Qe2 Bg7 13. Be3 Qc7 with equality.

11. Bf4 Qc7 12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Be2 Be7

• The game is equal. Black should make plans with the assumption that White will castle long.
• 13. -- b5?! is dubious because after 14. 0-0-0 Bb7 15. h4 Rc8 16. g5 Black's pieces must retreat while White gains space.

14. Bg3 b5 15. g5 Nfd7 16. h4

• White fortifies his advanced kingside pawn, securing space. Neverthelss, Black has conpensation in his centralized Knight and active Queen. The posistion is even.
• If White instead of his last move tickled the Knight with16. f4 Nc4 17. Qd4 0-0 18. 0-0-0 Bb7 19. h4 Rac8 the position would remain even.

16. -- Nb6 17. Qd4 0-0 18. 0-0-0 Rd8 19. a3

• As often happens when the opponents castle on opposite wings, the game becomes of question of who can get his attack in first. White very wisely slows Black's queenside advance. The game reamins even.
• 19. f4 Nc6 20. Qe3 b4 21. Nb1 a5 22. h5 a4 offers equal chances.

19. -- Nec4!?

• Black puts a Knight on the outpost.
• If 19. -- Nc6 20. Qd2 then:
• 20. -- Rb8 21. Na2 e5 22. Na5 Nxa5 23. Qxa5 is balanced.
• 20. -- b4 21. axb4 Nxb4 22. h5 e5 23. g6 fxg6 24. hxg6 h6 leaves both sides with solid positions that are hard to break.

20. Bxc4?

• White chooses the most direct way to eliminate the Knight.
• If 20. Nd2 then:
• 20. -- Nxd2 21. Qxd2 b4 22. axb4 Rb8 23. h5 Nc4 with equal chances.
• 20. -- Bb7 21. Nxc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 bxc4 23. Kb1 leaves White with a slight edge in space on the kingside; Black's local advantage on the queenside has dissipated.

Black: Alexander Grischuk
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White: Peter Svidler
Position after 20. Bc2xc4

20. -- bxc4!

• It would not work quite so well for Black to recapture with the Knight, as might seem natural in order to maintain a Knight at the outpost. It will only become apparent later that the pawn at c4 is to play a major part in Black's victory.
• If 20. -- Nxc4 then:
• 21. f4 d5 22. exd5 Bb7 23. h5 Bxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Qc3
• after 25. -- Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Nd2 the game is level.
• after 25. -- Rad8 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. h6 Bf8 with equality
• 21. Nd2 Rb8 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Rd2 Bd7 24. Bxd6 Bxd6 25. Qxd6 Qb7 26. Qb4 Qc7 27. Qe7 Qb7 the position is balanced.

21. Nd2 e5

• After 21. -- Rb8 22. Qe3 Bd7 23. h5 Qb7 24. Rdg1 Na4 White's queenside is solid while his kingside pawns are ready to storm Black's castle.

22. Qe3 Be6 23. Kb1

• In this position, neither King is particularly safe anywhere. White is no worse off putting the King on a half open file that will soon be occupied by Black's heavy pieces than it is on c1, where it has no escape to the center.
• After 23. Rde1 Rab8 24. h5 Qb7 25. g6 h6 26. gxf7+ Bxf7 Black's plan is to unmask the attack on the b-pawn and kick down the castle walls with the Queen and Rook.

23. -- Rab8 24. Ka1 Qc6 25. Rb1?!

• White gives some protection to the castle keystone, but it pours molasses into his position. White is actually running out of good moves.
• The game is still balanced after 25. Rh2 Na4 26. Nxa4 Qxa4 27. Nb1 Rb7 28. Nc3 Qc6.

25. -- Na4 26. Rhd1 Rd7

• 26. -- Nxc3 27. Qxc3 Rb5 28. f4 exf4 29. Bxf4 d5 is balanced.

27. f4 exf4 28. Bxf4 Rdb7

• 28. -- Nxc3 29. Qxc3 Rb5 30. h5 Bxg5 31. Rg1 f6 is equal.

29. Nxa4 Qxa4 30. Qc3 g6

• If 30. -- Rd8 then:
• 31. Nf1 d5
• 32. Be5 Rdd7 33. exd5 Bxd5 34. Bxg7 with equality.
• 32. exd5 Bxd5 33. Ne3 Be6 is level.
• After 31. Nf3 d5 Nd4 Qf3 c3 Bc1 Rbd8 Black is crushing the White King position.

31. h5?

• After 31. Nf3 Rb3 32. cxb3 Rxb3 33. Qxb3 Qxb3 34. Nd4 Qh3 35. Nxe6 Qxe6 Black is a little better.

31. -- gxh5

• The text is better than 31. -- Bf8 32. h6 Rb6 33. Nf1 Rd8 34. Ne3 Qe8 when White has withstood the attack and has his own threats agiant Black's King.

32. Rh1

• If 32. Nf1 Rb5 then:
• 33. Ne3 R8b6 34. Rh1 Bf8 35. Nf5 Bxf5 36. exf5 Rxf5 37. Be3 Rf3 -+
• 33. Bxd6 Bxd6 34. Rxd6 Qa5 35. Nd2 Qxc3 36. bxc3 Rxb1+ 37. Nxb1 -/+

Black: Alexander Grischuk
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White: Peter Svidler
Position after 32. Rd1h1

32. -- Bf8!!

• 32. -- Bf8 This is a quiet move that puts an end to all resistance.

33. Rxh5

• 33. Rh2 Bg7 34. e5 Bf5 35. Nf3 Be4 36. Ne1 Rb5 Black wins material; for example: 37. Rxh5 Rxe5 38. Bxe5 Bxe5 39. Rh3 Bxc3. If White tries to avoid the loss of his Queen with 39. Qe3 then 39. -- Rb3! is followed by 40. -- Qxa3#

33. -- Bg7 34. e5 d5

• 34. -- Bf5 35. Nxc4 Rc7 36. Nb6 Rxc3 37. Nxa4 Rc4 wins a piece.

35. Be3

• If 35. Rh2 Bf8 36. g6 fxg6 37. Be3 Bb4 then:
after
• 38. Qxb4 Rxb4 39. Bc5 R4b5 40. Bd6 c3 Black wins a piece (41. b3 cxd2 42. bxa4 43. Rb1+ 44. Ka2 Rb2#).
• 38. Qd4 Bxa3 39. b3 Qa5 40. Rbh1 Bc5+ Black wins White's Queen.

35. -- Bf5 36. Bd4 Bxc2 37. e6

• After 37. Rc1 Rxb2 38. Qxb2 Rxb2 39. Kxb2 Bd3 40. Rh2 Qe8 Black's active pieces decide.

37. -- Bxb1 38. Nxb1 fxe6 39. 0-1

• 38. -- fxe6 39. Bxg7 Rxg7 40. Rh6 Qc6 41. Qf6 Rf8 42. Qxe6+ Qxe6 43. Rxe6 Rxg5 gives Black an easy win.
Svidler resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Harikrishna - Degraeve, Bundesliga, Hamburg

Pentala Harikrishna
Photo: SwissChess.com


To view this game: If you have a PGN viewer, please click here. Select the PGN file for Runde 3-4 19.11.2005 at the top of the page. This is game 116 on that file.

Pentala Harikrishna (OSC Baden-Baden) vs. Jean-Marc Degraeve (SC Remagen)
Bundesliga (2006-07 Season), Round 4/Board 4
Hamburg, November 2006

India Game: Torre Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. c3 b6 5. e4

• 5. e3 Be7 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. 0-0 0-0 = dates back to (Kan-Keres, SovietCh, Moscow 1952).

5. -- h6

• 5. -- Be7?! 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. d5 f5 9.d6 Qd8 gives White an edge in space.

6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Nbd2 cxd4

• If 7. -- Bb7 8. Bd3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nc6 then:
• If 10. 0-0 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Nf3 then:
• 12. -- Qd6?! 13. Qe2 Bc6 14. Rfd1 Qc7 gives Black's pieces more freedom (Pitaschka-Soos, First Saturday, Budapest September 2001).
• 12. -- Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qa3 14. Ne5 Qd6 15. Bb5 Rd8 gives Black an extra pawn at least temporarily.
• Else if 10. e5 10. -- Qd8 11. a3 d6 is equal (Lazic-Cebalo, Milan 2001).

8. cxd4!?

• This is apparently a novelty.
• 8. Nxd4 Qd8 9. Be2 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rad1 a6 13. a4 d6 is equal (Hutchinson-Radovanovic, BritishCh, Scarborough 2004).

8. -- Bb4

• White has a spatial edge, so Black seeks to exchange minor pieces.
• 8. -- Nc6 9. e5 Qf5 10. Rc1 Bb7 11. h3 Bb4 is equal.

9. Bd3 Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. 0-0

• 11. Qa4 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 Nb8 13. Rc1 0-0 14. 0-0 Nc6 is equal; this would be a moral victory for Black at the moment.

11. -- Bxd2 12. Qxd2 0-0 13. Ne5

• If 13. Rfc1 Rfc8 then:
• 14. Rxc8+ Rxc8 15. Rc1 Nc7 16. Ne5 Qh4 17. Qe3 is level.
• 14. e5 Qe7 15. d5 exd5 16. Qxd5 Nb4 17. Qb7 Rcb8 18. Qe4 is balanced.

13. -- Qe7 14. f4 d6

Black: Jean-Marc Degraeve
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White: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 14. -- d7d6

• Black has succeeded in exchanging pieces and equalizing. His plan should now be aimed at blasting away White's pawn center.
• If 14. -- d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. f5 Qb4 then:
• 17. Qd3 Rfc8 18. Rad1 give White an edge in the center.
• 17. Qxb4 Nxb4 18. f6 Rac8 19. Rf3 Nc2 is even.

15. Nd3 f5 16. Rae1

• After 16. e5 Rac8 17. Rac1 then possible outcomes of Black's plan are:
• 17. -- Rfd8 18. Nb4 Nxb4 19. Qxb4 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Qd7 allows Black neutralize White's advantage.
• after 17. -- Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Rd8 19. Rc4 dxe5 20. Nxe5 Black has broken up White's center, saddling White with a weak d-pawn.
• 17. -- d5 18. Rc3 b5 19. Ra3 Nb8 is balanced with the center locked.

16. -- Nc7

• 16. -- fxe4 17. Rxe4 Nc7 18. Rfe1 Rf6 19. Nf2 Qf7 20. g3 is equal.

17. Qe3 Qd7

• If 17. -- fxe4 18. Qxe4 then:
• 18. -- Qf6 19. Rc1 Nb5 20. Rc6
• 20. -- Rad8 21. d5 Qd4+ 22. Qxd4 Nxd4 is equal.
• 20. -- Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd6 Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Rad8 is even.
• 18. -- Qf7 19. Rc1 Nd5 20. Rfe1 Rae8 is level.

18. h3 Rae8 19. Re2

• If 19. e5 dxe5 then:
• 20. Nxe5 Qd6 21. Rc1 Nd5 22. Qd2 Rc8 23. g3 is balanced.
• 20. dxe5 Rc8 21. Rc1 Qa4 22. Qd2 Qd4+ with no decisive advantage for either party.

19. -- fxe4 20. Qxe4 Nd5 21. Rf3?!

• This cuts off route of retreat for the White Queen.
• Better is 21. Rfe1 when:
• 21. -- Rf6 22. g3 Ne7 23. Nf2 Qb5 24. Kh2 +/= d5 25. Qc2 giving White a slight edge with his pressure against the backward e-pawn.
• 21. -- Nf6 22. Qg6 a5 23. g3 b5 24. Ree Rf7 25. Nf2 Qa7 26. Qd3 gives White simultaneous attacks on the b-pawn and e-pawn.

21. -- Nf6 22. Qe3

• Black has the initiative; because of White's last move, the Queen cannot retreat to f3.
• White could break Black's serve with 22. Qg6 Nd5 23. f5 Rf6 24. Qh5 Nc7 25. Rc2 Nd5 but the resulting position is drawish.

22. -- Nd5

• Black contiues to harrass the Queen.
• The text is better than 22. -- Qa4 23. a3 a6 24. g3 then:
• 24. -- Nd5 25. Qe4 b5 26. Nf2 a5 with equality.
• 24. -- b5 25. Rf1 yielding a level position in which has no vulnerable points.

23. Qd2 Re7 24. Qe1 Rf6 25. Re4 Ref7 26. Kh2

• The King is safe her, but protecting the f-pawn may have been better.
• 26. g3 a6 27. Nf2 h5 28. Ra3 Qc8 29. Rf3 leaves Black no targets.

26. -- Ne7 27. Qd2 Nf5

• Black makes the best move to retain his initiative.
• The text is better than 27. -- Nd5 28. Rf1 Rf8 29. Rc1 a6 30. g3 Nc7 31. Qe2 Rc8 32. a3 with a level position.

28. Nf2?

• White misses an opportunity to wrest the initiative from Black and gets into serious difficulties.
• 28. Rf1! Qb5 29. Rfe1 d5 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. Rxe6 gives White to right to call the tune.

29. -- Nh4 29. Rg3 Qb7 30. d5 Qxd5?

• Correct is 30. -- exd5 31. Re8+ Kh7 32. Rg4 Ng6 then:
• 33. Qd3 Qc6 34. Re3 Qc4! 35. Ne4 Rxf4 36. Qxc4 dxc4 37. Rxf4 Rxf4 38. Nxd6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• after 33. Nd3 d4 34. Qc2 Qc7 35. Qxc7 Rxc7 36. f5 Ne7 Black is a pawn up with control of the c-file

31. Rd4

• The text is better than 31. Rd3 Qb7 32. g3 Nf5 33. Re1 Rg6 34. Rg1 a6 when Black still holds the initiative; or
• after 31. Qxd5? Black's position remains strong: 31. -- exd5 32. Re8+ Kh7 33. Nd3 Ng6 34. Rd8 Nxf4 35. Nxf4 Rxf4 36. Rxd6 Rf2.

31. -- Qh5

• After 31. -- Qxg2+? 32. Rxg2 Nf3+ 33. Kh1 Nxd2 34. Rxd2 Rxf4 35. Ng4 White has a Knight against two pawns.

32. Rxd6 Rxf4 33. Ng4 Kh7 34. Rxe6 Qf5

• Black's initiative has blown itself out; the game is level.
• 34. -- Rf1 35. Qd3+ Qf5 36. Rge3 Rb1 37. Ne5 Qxd3 38. Nxd3 is balanced.

35. Re5 Qb1 36. Re1 Qf5 37. Ne3

• White harrasses the Queen to no immediate effect.
• 37. Rd3 Qh5 38. Rd5 R4f5 39. Rxf5 Rxf5 40. Re7 is even.

37. -- Qd7 38. Qc2+ Kh8

• 38. -- Nf5? fails against 39. Nxf5 R7xf5 40. Re5 g6 41. Rxf5 gxf5 42. Qb3 giving White an overwhelming position.

39. Ng4 Qf5?

• Correct is 39. -- Qd6 40. Ne5 then:
• 40. -- Rf8 41. Re2 R4f5 42. Qe4 Qc7 with a probable draw.
• after 40. -- Re7? 41. Rd3 Rc7 42. Qd1 White's pieces converge on the Black King.


Black: Jean-Marc Degraeve
!""""""""#
$ + + + L%
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$ O + + O%
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$ + + TnM%
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/(((((((()
White: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 45. -- Qd7f5

40. Qc6!


• White's focus is the pawn at h6.
40. -- Kh7 41. Re6 Qh5


• If 41. -- g6 42. Ne5 Rg7 then:
• after 43. Re8 g5 44. Qa8 Ng6 45. Nxg6 Kxg6 46. Qc6+ Kh7 47. Re6 White continues to build an attack on the Black King.
• 43. Qd6? Qf8 44. Qxf8 Rxf8 lets Black off the hook with a likely draw.
42. Ne5?


• White should have thrown the victory away with that move.
• Correct is 42. Nxh6 R7f6 43. Ng4 Rf8 44. Re7 R4f7 45. Rxf7 Rxf7 46. Qe4+ Ng6 47. Ne5 +/-
42. -- R7f5?!


• Black lets White back.
• Black could equalize by 42. -- Nf5 43. Nxf7 Qxf7 44. Rgg6 Nd4.
43. Ng6


• The text give White better chances than 43. Qd7 Rg5 44. Rxg5 Qxg5 45. Ng4 h5 46. Rh6+ Kg8 47. Qe8+ Rf8 48. Qe6+ Rf7 with nothing better than a draw by perpetual check.
43. -- Rf2?


• Black again loses.
• 43. -- Nxg6 44. Rgxg6 Rf7 maintains the equalibrium.
44. Nxh4!


• After 44. Re8? Nxg6 45. Rxg6 Qxg6 46. Rh8+ Kxh8 47. Qxg6 Rg5 Black is the one with all the winning chances; for example: 48. Qe8+ Kh7 49. Qe4+ Rg6 50. Kh1 Rfxg2 51. Qxg2 Rxg2 52. Kxg2 Kg6 leaves White a pawn down in a King and pawn ending (not good).
44. -- Qxh4 45. Rg4 Qd8


• Rather than prolong the agony, Black loses immediately.
• If 45. -- Qh5 46. Qe4 Qf7 47. Re7 Qf8 48. Rexg7+ then:
• after 49. -- Qxg7 49. Rxg7+ Kxg7 50. Kg3 all the chances are White's.
• after 48. -- Kh8 49. Rd7 h5 50. Rg6 Rf1 51. Qd4+ Rf6 52. Rd8 White wins.


Black: Jean-Marc Degraeve
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White: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 45. -- Qh4d8

46. Rxh6+!! 1-0


• White mates in two.
• M. Degraeve resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Pokorna - Devereaux, Four Nations Chess League, Coventry

Regina Pokorna
photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game, please click here and select the third game from the bottom.

Regina Pokorna (Wood Green) vs. Max Devereaux (Barbaican)
Four Nations Chess League, Round 3/Board 6
Coventry, November 2006

Open Royal Game (Scotch Opening)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5

• If 5. Nc3 Bb4 6.Be2 then:
• 6. -- Nf6 7. 0-0 Bxc3 8, Nf5 Qxe4 9. Bd3 Qg4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 6. -- Qxe4 7. Ndb5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Kd8 9, 0-0 Nf6 give Black an extra pawn and superior pawn structure. but White's King is safe while Black' King is at risk.

5. -- Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Bb4+ 7. Nd2 Kd8

• This is the only way for Black to protect the c-pawn. Black must stive to develop his Queen's Bishop bring the King to safety.
• 7. -- Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Kd8 9. 0-0 Nf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf3 Qc4 Black's Queen is active, but White is in no danger.

8. 0-0 Qe7

• If 8. -- Bxd2 9. Bxd2 then:
• after 9. -- Nf6 10. Bf3 Qc4 11. Nc3 Qh4 Black's Queen remains the most active piece on the board.
• 9. -- a6 10. Bf3 Qg6 11. Bh5 Qf5 12. Na3 d6 solves some of Black's problems.

9. Re1!

• White will not give her opponent any time to improve his position. She is constantly harrassing him as every opportunity.
• 9. c3 Bc5 10. b4 Bb6 11. Nc4 Nf6 12. a4 Ne4 is balanced.

9. -- Nf6?!

• This move does not even address White's immediate threat, minor though it is.
• Black could have given White no time to make anything of her threat on the e-file by 9. -- d6 10. c3 Bc5 11. b4 Bb6 when:
• 12. Nc4 Qf6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bb2 gives Black an extra pawn and control of the a-file, but he needs to do something about his King.
• after 12. Nf3 Nf6 13. Bd3 Be6 14. Ng5 Ne5 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn and his position for the time being is solid.
• 9. -- a6 10. Na3 Nh6 11. Nac4 Re8 12. c3 Bc5 =+

10. Bf1 Qf8

• White has succeeded in equalizing the game. In fact, her prospects are somewhat better in light of Black's problem with development and the safety of his King.
• If 10. -- Ne5 11. c3 Bc5 12. Nd4 then:
• after 12. -- Qd6 13. Nc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxd4 15. cxd4 the game is level.
• after 12. -- Re8 13. f4 Qd6 14. fxe5 Bxd4+ 15. cxd4 Qxd4+ 16. Kh1 in spite of being two pawns down, White is more than compensated in her greater mobility.

11. c3 Ba5?

• Retreating the Bishop to this square only compunds Black's problems and accentuates White's potential.
• Corect is 11. -- Be7! limiting White's access to the back rank on the e-file: 12. Nf3 d6 13. Bc4 Bg4 14. Be3 Kc8 and the Black King moves toward a safe haven.

12. Nc4!

• White immediately takes advantage of Black's mistake. She intends to exchange a Knight for the Bishop before Black can reactivate it.
• 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 a6 gives White the opportunity to regroup.

12. -- a6

• After 12. -- Bb6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bg5 Qc5 15. Qh5 White is threatening to exchange minor pieces and undermine Black's defense. For example, 15. -- Rg8 16. Qh4 Ne7 17. Bxf6 gsf6 18. Qxf6 wins a pawn.

13. Nd4 Bb6

• 13. -- Nxd4 14. Qxd4 c5 15. Qh4 b6 16. Bg5 leaves White with a death grip over the dark squares; if Black continues 16. -- Kc7 them 17. Bf4+ Kb7 18. Bd6.

14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Be3

• After 15. Bg5 d5 16. Qh5 Ne7 17. Qh4 Neg8 18. Re5 White is threatening to win the d-pawn.

15. -- Kc7

• If 15. -- Ne7 16. Nf5 then:
• 16. -- Ned5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Qxd5 White's Queen dominates the center and her Rook controls the e-file; Black's King is not protectectd and he can't develop his Queen's Bishop.
• 16. -- Nxf5 17. Bxb6#

Black: Max Devereaux
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White: Regina Pokorna
Position after 15. -- Kd8c7

16. Qb3!

• White's pieces spring to life; Black King is more exposed that ever and his Bishop is still entombed.

15. Ng4

• 16. -- Ne7 17. Bc4 d5 18. Bf4+ Kd7 19. Qxb6 Ke8 20. Bd6 keaves Black hopeless.

17. Bf4+!

• White's grip on the dark squares is now realized.

17. -- d6 18. Rad1 Nge5

• After 18. -- g5 19. Nb5+ axb5 20. Bxd6+ Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Kxd6 22. Qxf7 it's lights.

19. Nxc6 Be6

• If 19. -- bxc6 20. Rxd6 then:
• after 20. -- f6 21. Rd3 b5 22. Rde3 Qg8 23. Bxe5+ White soon goes a pawn up with her pieces sweeping the board.
• 20. -- Qxd6 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxe5 gives White a winning edge with her superior piece mobility.

20. Qb4 bxc6 21. Rxd6 a5 22. Qd4 1-0

• Black has the following unpalatable continuations:
  • 22. -- Kb7 23. Rxe5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Rad8 25. Qa3;
  • 22. -- Qxd6 23. Bxe5 Rhd8 24. Bxd6+ Rxd6 25. Qxg7; and
  • 22. Qd4 Rd8 23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Qxe5+
• Mr. Devereaux resigns.

[Lithos]

9. Very good game

Ms. Pokorna played well consistently and took repeated advantage of her opponents mistakes.

L-

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Game: Capablanca - Bernstein, St. Petersburg, 1914

José Capablanca
Photo: CapaKaspa (France)


Reference: Sir Harry Golombek, Capablanca's Hundred Best Games of Chess (New York: David McKay, 1947, paperback edition 1978), Game 16.

José Capablanca vs. Ossip Bernstein
Grandmasters Tournament, Round 7
St. Petersburg, April 1914

Queen's Gambit: Orthodox Defense

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6

• The main line of the Orthodox Defense is6. -- 0-0 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. 0-0 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5

7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3

• The alternative 9. Bb3 0-0 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. 0-0 Bb7 12. Rc1 is satisfactory for both sides.

9. -- a6 10. e4 e5?

• The pawn sacrifice is unwise. As Golombek points out, Black must invest more moves than it is worth to recapture the pawn.
• Correct is 10. -- c5 (as recommended by Golombek): 11. e5 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. 0-0 giving Black some compesation in queenside space for White's central space and the activity of his minor pieces.
• Capablanca needed only a slight error by his opponent to punish him.

11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4!

• White is going to make Black work to get his pawn back.
• 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. e6 Qxe6 14. Nd4 Qf6 15. Qxg4 Qxd4 16. Rd1 is equal/

12. -- Bc5 13. 0-0 Qc7 14. Rc1 f6 15. Bg3

• This move is passive, but White can afford an inaccuracy at the moment.
• Stronger is 15. b4! when:
• 15. -- fxe5 16. Bg3 Bxb4 17. Nd5 Qd6 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. Rxc6 gives White a strong initiative.
• after 15. -- Bxb4 16. Nd5 Qa5 17. Rxc6 Bb7 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. Rc7 White's superior mobility bears fruit.

15. -- fxe5

• 15. -- Ndxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxb5 cxb5 18. b4 Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 leaves White a pawn to the good.

16. b4 Ba7

• 16. -- Bxb4 17. Nd5 Qd6 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. Rxc6 0-0 20. Bc2 give White a strong game ands an isolated pawn on which to focus. (Golombek).

Black: Ossip Bernsein
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White: José Capablanca
Position after 16. -- Bc5a7

17. Bxb5!!

• This sacrifice leaves Black's position in a state of chaos while White's heavey pieces are ready to invade Black's camp.
• 17. Qb3 Ndf6 18. Nd5 Qb7 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Rfd1 +/-

17. -- axb5 18. Nxb5!

• 18. Ng5? would undo White's hard work: 18. -- Ndf6 19. Nxb5 Qb8 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Ngf7 with equality.

18. -- Qd8 19. Nd6+ Kf8 20. Rxc6 Nb6

• After 20. -- Ba6 21. b5 Nb8 22. Qd5 Nh6 23. Bh4 Nxc6 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Qxc6 Black is toast.

21. Bh4 Qd7 22. Nxc8!

• White sacrifices the exchange to force White's King to take a long walk.
• 22. b5 g5 23. Nxg5 h6 24. Qf3+ Kg8 25. Ne6 is also sufficient.
• The next few moves are forced.

22. -- Qxc6 23. Qd8+ Qe8 24. Be7+ Kf7 25. Nd6+ Kg6 26. Nh4+ Kh5 27. Nxe8 Rxd8 28. Nxg7+ Kh6 29. Ngf5+ Kh5 30. h3 Nc8

• No better is 30. -- Rdg8 31. Ng3+ Kh6 32. hxg4 Rxg4 33. Kh2 Nc8 34. Bf6 Rf8 35. Nhf5+ Kg6 36. Bxe5.

31. hxg4+ Kxg4 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 33. g3 Rd2

• After 33. -- Nd6 34. Rd1 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 36. Kg2 Rxd1 37. Ne3+ White wins the Rook.

34. Kg2 Re2 35. a4 Nb6 36. Ne3+ Kh5 37. a5 Nd7 38. Nhf5 Nf6

• If 38. -- Bxe3 39. Nxe3 Kg5 40. Ra1 then:
• 40. -- h5 41. Nd5 Rxe4 42. a6 Rc4 43. a7
• after 43. -- Rc8 44. a8Q White wins.
• after 43. -- Nb6 44. Nxb6 Rxb4 45. a8Q White is a piece up.
• after 40. -- Rb2 41. Nd5 Nb8 42. a6 Nc6 43. a7 the pawn promotes.

39. b5 Bd4 40. Kf3 Ra2 41. a6 Ba7 42. Rc1 Rb2

• After 42. -- Bxe3 43. Nxe3 Ra4 44. Nd5 Nxe4 45. b6 Rxa6 46. b7 White wins the Knight.

43. g4+ Kg5 44. Rc7 Rxf2+

• After 44. -- Nxe4 45. Rg7+ Kf6 46. Nd5+ Ke6 47. Re7+ Kxd5 48. Rxa7 White's advanced pawns decide.

45. Kxf2 Nxg4+ 46. Kf3 1-0

• Now a whole Rook down, Dr. Bernstein resigns.