The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (February 24): Nepo wins Areoflot; Vishy leads Morelia-Linares

[Jack Rabbit]

Nepomniachtchi wins Areoflot Open

Seventeen-year-old Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi (nay pohm NYACH chee) won the Areoflot Open in Moscow Friday with 7 points out of a possible nine.

Nepomniachtchi drew his final game with Ukrainian grandmaster Andrey Volokitin while his nearest rivals, Alexander Motylev and veteran grandmaster Alexey Dreev, both of Russia, drew their game with each other to finish tied for second at 6½ points apiece.

Nepomniachtchi won six games and drew three without a loss during the tournament.

By winning the Areoflot Open, Nepomniachtchi qualifies to compete in this summer’s Sparkassen Tournament in Dortmund, one of the three most prestigious events on the annual chess calendar.

Chinese WGM Hou Yifan, who turns 14 on Thursday this week, scored even at 4½ points to earn her first full grandmaster norm.

There were 66 participants in this year’s tournament.


Vishy leads Super GM meet coming out of Morelia

World champion Viswanathan Anand, known as Vishy to his friends and fans, leads the Morelia-Linares International Tournament at the half-way point as play ended in yesterday seventh round.

The first half of the event is played in Morelia, Michoacán, near the Pacific coast of Mexico. The players will break until Thursday when they reconvene for the eighth round in the tournament’s original home, the mining town of Linares in the Andalucía region of Spain. The tournament runs until March 7.

Anand, with 4½ points, leads his nearest rivals, former FIDE world champion Veselin Toplaov and Latvian-Spanish grandmaster Alexey Shirov, by half a point. It has been a rough-and-tumble event so far, with each of the eight competitors suffering at least one defeat. Anand’s loss came at the hands of Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian in the second round.

Anand has won three games, all with Black. He played White in his loss to Aronian.

The other participants are seventeen-year-old Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Peter Leko (Hungary) and Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan).


Seven tie for first in Capelle la Grande

The 24th annual open tournament in Capelle la Grande, near Dunkirque in France, ended Saturday in a seven way tie for first place.

Grandmaster Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan was declared the winning based on his superior tie break score.

The six others who, like Gashimov, scored 7 points in nine rounds, were David Arutinian (Georgia), Sergey Feorchuk and Yuriy Kryvoruchko (both Ukraine), Konstantin Chenyshov and Andrey Deviatkin (both Russia), Vasilios Kotonias (Greece) and Erwin L'Ami (Holland).

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from the Morelia half of Morelia-Linares

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Anand - Aronian, Round 2

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Levon Aronian
Morelia-Linares International Tournament, Round 2
Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico), 16 February 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

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

• If Black wants to play the Marshall, he must castle on the seventh move. The usual move is 7...d6.

8.c3

• There are several ways to avoid the Marshall:
• If 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 d6 then:
• 10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.c3 Nc5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Bxa8 14.Bc2 is equal (Kasparov-Short, World Ch, London, 1993).
• 10.Nc3 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 is equal.
• If 8.h3 Bb7 then:
• 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 is equal.
• 9.c3 d6 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 transposes into the Zaitsev Defense.

8.d4 d6 9.c3 Bg4 transposes to the Yates Opening.

8...d5
BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 8...d7d5

• Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Marshall Gambit. This is one of the most fearsome weapons at Black's disposal against 1.e4. Introduced by American grandmaster Frank Marshall in a match against future world champion José Capablanca of Cuba played in New York in 1918, Black surrenders a pawn and gets better development, more space and a vicious attack. Black's chances of avoiding loss are somewhat better in the Marshall than in Sardinian Games (1.e4 e5) overall.
• When playing White, Garry Kasparov always evaded the Marshall on move 8. Anand, the present world champion, is not adverse to facing it.

9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6

• After 11...Nf6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Ng4 14.h3 Qh4 15.Qf3 Nxf2 16.Re2 Bg4 17.hxg4 Bh2+ 18.Kf1 White will escape if he is careful (Capablanca-Marshall, match, New York, 1918).

12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3

• This move was introduced last year by Anand himself.
• 13.d4 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qf1 Bh3 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 23.Qe2 Bg4 draw agreed (J. Polgar-Nunn, Munich, 1991).

13...Re8!?

• Black varies from the aforementioned game that was won by White (Anand).
• 13...Bf5 14.d4 Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 is stereotypically unclear for the Marshall: White has the pawn and Black has better development, more space and the initiative (Anand-Svidler, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

14.d4

• 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.d4 Bb7 16.a4 Qe6 17.Nd2 Re8 18.Bc2 b4 19.Ne4 remains unclear, but White has improved on his development.

14...Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Ra7

• Black intends 16...Re7.

16.Be3 Re7 17.Nd2 Qe8

• Black prevents White from establishing the Knight at e4, as in the variation in the note to White's 14th move.

18.Nf1

• 18.Nf3 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Rxe3 20.Qf2 Re7 costs White his extra pawn and yields a clearly equal game.

18...h5!?

• One would expect Black to play on the other side, where he has some superiority in force.
• 18...a5 19.Qe2 a4 20.Bc2 a3 21.Qd3 g6 22.b4 Bh3 23.Bb3 continues to be unclear.

19.a4 Be6 20.Bd1 h4 21.axb5

• If 21.gxh4 Nxe3 22.fxe3 Bc4 then:
• 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bf3 Bxf1 25.Qxf1 Rxe3 26.h5 increases Black spatial plus.
• 23.Bf3 Bxf1 24.Qxf1 Rxe3 25.Qf2 Qe6 26.axb5 cxb5 27.h5 gives Black a considerable advantage in space in compensation for his pawn minus.

21...axb5 22.Bf3

• 22.gxh4 Nxe3 23.fxe3 Bc4 transposes into the note to White's 21st move.

22...Bh3 23.Bxd5

• If 23.gxh4 Bxf1 24.Bxd5 then:
• 24...cxd5 25.Qxf1 Qd7 26.h3 Re4 27.h5 remains unclear.
• After 24...Bh3 25.Bf3 Bf4 26.h5 Bh6 27.Kh1 Bxe3 28.fxe3 Rxe3 29.Qg3 White is still has his extra pawn and now has some extra space.

23...cxd5 24.Qd1 f5

• If 24...hxg3 25.hxg3 then:
• 25...Bf5 26.Qh5 g6 27.Qh6 Re6 28.Bg5 f6 29.Ra7 Re7 30.Rxe7 Bxe7 31.Bc1 remains unclear.
• After 25...b4 26.cxb4 Bxb4 27.Qb3 Rd7 28.Kh2 Bxf1 29.Qxb4 Bd3 30.Qc3 Bb5 31.Qc5 White retains his extra pawn and his pieces are active.

25.Bg5 Re4 26.Bxh4 Qg6

• If 26...b4 27.Bg5 bxc3 28.bxc3 then:
• 28...f4 29.gxf4 Bxf4 30.Bxf4 Rxf4 31.Ng3 is yet unclear.
• After 28...Qc6 29.Qd3 f4 30.Bxf4 Bxf4 31.gxf4 Bxf1 32.Kxf1 Rxf4 33.Ra7 White is winning.

27.Bd8 f4 28.Qd3 Qh5 29.Nd2?

• White attacks when he should defend.
• By attacking the Rook, he simply forces it to a better square.
• Correct is 29.Bb6 Qe2 30.Qxe2 Rxe2 31.Bc5 Bxc5 32.dxc5 Rxb2 33.Rc1, giving White a passed pawn and real winning chances.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 29.Nf1d2

29...Re2!!

• If 29...Qe2 30.Qxe2 Rxe2 then:
• 31.Nf3! Rxb2 32.Ng5 then:
• 32...fxg3 33.Nxh3 gxh2+ 34.Kg2
• 32...Bc8 33.Bc7 Be7 34.gxf4
• 31.Rd1? Bf5 32.Nf3 Rxb2

30.Nf3 Re3 31.fxe3

• 31.Qd1 Rxf3 32.Bh4 b4 33.cxb4 Bxb4 34.Bd8 fxg3 35.hxg3 Qg4

31...Qxf3 32.Qc2 fxg3 33.hxg3 Qxg3+ 34.Kh1 Bf5 0-1

• White is soon checkmated.
• Anand Ji resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Topalov - Ivanchuk, Round 3

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Vassily Ivanchuk
Morelia-Linares International Tournament, Round 3
Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico), 17 February 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

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

• If 6.Bg5 e6 is the Rauzer Opening.

6...e5

• If 6...e6 7.f3 then:
• If 7...b5 8.g4 h6 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Bb7 then:
• If 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 then:
• If 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4 d5 then:
• If 17.b5 dxe4 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Nb5 Qc8 21.Bf4 Nd5 22.fxe4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 gives White a great deal more space (Ivanchuk-van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).
• 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 gives White a substantial lead in space.
• 14...Rc8 15.Qxb4 Qc7 16.Kb1 d5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Bd3 dxe4 20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nd5 22.Nb5 gives White more space and the initiative (Lafarga-Schoonhoven, cyberspace, 2003).
• 11.Bd3 Ne5 12.Rhe1 Rc8 13.Kb1 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc4 15.Qe2 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b4 17.Nd5 g5 18.Nf5 Rg8 gives White the advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges (Morozevich-Topalov, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).
• 7...Nc6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 Qc7 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 is even (Leko-Svidler, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2006).
• If 6...Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 then:
• If 10.h3 Ne5 then:
• If 11.Nf5 Bxf5 12.exf5 then:
• If 12...Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Ne3 0-0 16.Be2 then:
• If 16...d5 17.0-0 Ng6 18.c4 d4 19.Ng4 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Bd3 Nb4 22.Re1 h5 23.Nh2 Nxd3 24.Qxd3 Qf6 gives Black a comfortable edge in space. (Carlsen-Adly, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
• 16...Qe7 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Bh5 Kh8 19.Re1 d5 20.a4 Nc4 21.Nxc4 dxc4 22.Qg4 Qb4 23.Qxe6 leaves the space count even (Kasimzhanov-Anand, World Ch, San Luis, 2005).
• 12...Nbd7 13.Nd5 Nb6 14.c3 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Qb6 16.0-0-0 Rc8 17.Qb3 Qc6 18.f3 b5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Bd3 0-0 21.h4 b4 22.Qxb4 Rb8 23.Qa3 Rfc8 gives Black a small edge in space and the initiative (T. Kosintseva-Korbut, Russian Ch, 2007).
• 11.f3 Nbc6 12.Bf2 Be6 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qa5 15.a3 Rg8 16.h4 Rc8 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.0-0-0 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Rxc4 21.Qa7 Qc7 22.Kb1 Rc5 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 Kf8 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.b4 b5 27.Qxa6 Rc3 draw agreed (Kasparov-J. Polgar, IT, Linares, 2001).
• 10.Be2 h5 11.Bxg4 Bxg4 12.f3 Bd7 13.Bf2 Nc6 14.Qd2 Ne5 15.b3 Qa5 16.Nd5 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rd8 18.c3 e6 19.Nb6 Kf8 gives Black a small edge in space (Abergel-Jobava, World Ch U18, Oropesa del Mar, 2000).

7.Nb3

• If 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• 9...Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 then:
• 11.Bg5 Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.c3 Na5 15.Re1 Rc8 16.h3 b5 17.Re2 Nc5 18.Nd2 Kh8 19.Bc2 Nd7 20.a4 Bxd5 21.exd5 f5 22.axb5 axb5 23.b4 Nc4 24.Nxc4 Rxc4 Black has the edge in space Asrian-Wang Hao, Taiyuan, 2007).
• 11.Qe2 Na5 12.Rfd1 Nxb3 13.axb3 Qc7 14.Bg5 Rac8 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rac1 Qb6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Rc6 19.Rcd1 Rfc8 is even (I. Smirnov-Zakhartsov, Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 9...Nc6 10.Re1 b5 11.Bf1 Rb8 12.Bg5 Ng4 13.Bc1 Qb6 14.Qd2 Nf6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Na5 17.a4 is equal (Timofeev-Efimenko, Op, Moscow, 2008).

7...Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4

• If 9.Qd2 Be7 10.g4 then:
• 10...h6 11.0-0-0 b5 12.h4 Nb6 13.Qf2 Nfd7 gives White the edge in space, but Black is in no immediate danger and can relieve himself with exchanges..
• 10...0-0 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4 gives a slight edge in space to Whitel.

9...b5

• If 9...Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Be7 12.0-0-0 then:
• 12...0-0 13.Rg1 Rc8 14.Kb1 g6 15.Qf2 Nc4 is equal.
• 12...Rc8 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Rg1 g6 15.h4 Qc7 16.Qf2 Nc4 offers equal chances.

10.g5 b4 11.Nd5

• If 11.Ne2 Nh5 12.Qd2 then:
• 12...a5 13.Ng3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 a4 15.Nc1 Qa5 is equal.
• If 12...Be7 13.Ng3 Nf4 14.h4 h6 then:
• 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Nh5 Bxb3 17.axb3 Kf8 18.Nxf4 hxg5 19.Nd5 g4 20.f4 Bxh4+ gives Black an extra pawn (Motylev-Bu Xiangzhi, Sanjin Hotel Cup, Taiyuan, 2005).
• 15.gxh6 Rxh6 16.0-0-0 Bxh4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qb6 gives Black the edge in space, but he cannot hold his extra pawn (Wang Hao-Bu Xiangzhi, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).

11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Be7

• 14...a5 15.0-0-0 Be7 16.Rhg1 0-0 17.Kb1 Qc7 18.Rg4 Rfc8 19.Nd2 Rab8 is equal (Lahno-Dzagnidze, EU Rapid Ch, Antalya, 2002).

15.h4 a5?!

• This novelty pretty much condemns Black to a cramped position.15...0-0 16.0-0-0 a5 17.Nd2 f5 18.gxf6 Nxf6 19.h5 Qc8 20.h6 g6 21.Rhg1 Kh8 22.f4 Ng4 23.fxe5 Nxe5 24.Bd4 Bf6 is equal (Shirov-Svidler, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).

16.a3!

• White finds the best response, the one that assures him a luxurious spatial advantage.
• If 16.a4 then:
• 16...0-0 17.0-0-0 f5 18.Qb5 f4 is equal.
• 16...bxa3 17.Rxa3 a4 18.Nd2 0-0 19.Nc4 f5 20.Ke2 is equal.
• 16.f4 a4 17.Nd2 a3 18.b3 0-0 19.0-0-0 Rc8 20.Nc4 then:
• 20...exf4 21.Bxf4 Nb6 22.Nxb6 Qxb6 is equal.
• 20...Qc7?! 21.Qd2 Qb8 22.h5 gives the advantage in space.
• 16.0-0-0 0-0 17.f4 a4 18.Nd2 then:
• 18...f5 21.Bxf4 Nb6 22.Nxb6 Qxb6 is equal.
• 18...a3 19.b3 tranposes into the blue variation.

16...a4

• 16...0-0 17.axb4 axb4 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.h5 White has a healthy in space, but Black's King is safe and Black can think about fighting back.

17.Nd2 Rb8?

• Black has not made any effort up to now to liberate his Bishop.
• The text move comdemns the prelate to permanent passivity.
• If 17...Qb8! 18.h5 0-0 19.Qf5 Nc5 20.Bxc5 dxc5 then:
• 21.Nc4 e4 22.fxe4 bxa3 23.bxa3 Qg3+ 24.Ke2 Bxg5 is equal.
• 21.Ne4 bxa3 22.bxa3 c4 23.Nf6+ then:
• 23...Bxf6 24.gxf6 Qb6 25.Qg5 Qxf6 is equal.
• 23...gxf6 24.gxf6 Bb4+ 25.axb4 Qxb4+ 26.Ke2 Kh8 is equal.
• 17...bxa3 18.Rxa3 0-0 then:
• 19.Nc4 f5 20.gxf6 Rxf6 21.Qe4 gives White a commanding lead in space.
• 19.Qf5?! Nb6 20.c4 then:
• 20...Qc7 21.Qe4 Rfc8 22.Rc3 Qb7 23.f4 Nd7 24.Rc2 a3 25.bxa3 Rxa3 is equal.
• 20...Rc8? 21.Rc3 Qd7 22.Qxd7 Nxd7 23.Ra3 Ra8 24.Ke2 Bd8 25.Rha1 fails to liberate Black's Bishop and leave White with a tremendous advantage in space.

18.axb4 Rxb4

• The space count is approximately even. Black has the initiative, but White has the resources to rebuff Black's attack.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Veselin Topolov
Position after 18...Rb8b4:p

19.Qa3!

• Also good is 19.Qc3! Qb8 20.Nc4 0-0 21.Na5 Rb5 22.Nc6 Qe8 giving White a huge edge in space.

23.Rxa4 ]
19...Qb8 20.c3 Rxb2 21.Qxa4 Rb7

• 21...Qd8 22.Qc6 0-0 23.Ra7 Nc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Ke2 maintains White's large advatage in space.

22.Ke2

• 22.Qa8 0-0 23.Qxb8 Rfxb8 24.Ke2 f5 25.Ra3 Nb6 26.c4 Kf7 27.Rb1 gives White more active Rooks.

22...Rc7

• 22...0-0 23.Rhb1 Nc5 24.Rxb7 Qxb7 25.Qa7 Qb5+ 26.c4 gives White a strong initiative to go with a great lead in space.

23.Rhb1 Qc8 24.Bb6 Rb7 25.Ba7

• 25.Qc6 0-0 26.Ra7 Rxb6 27.Rxb6 Nxb6 28.Qxb6 Re8 29.Qb7 gives White a tactical initiative; Black is fored to reply 29...Kf8 in order to prevent the loss of a piece.

25...e4

• If 25...f5 26.Rxb7 Qxb7 27.Qc6 Qxc6 28.dxc6 then:
• 28...Bd8! 29.Nc4 Bc7 30.Bg1 Nb8 31.Ra8 0-0 32.Ra7 gives White more freedom.
• After 28...Kd8? 29.Nc4 Nf8 30.Bb6+ Ke8 31.Ra8+ Kf7 32.c7 the pawn will queen.

26.fxe4 Rxb1

• 26...0-0 27.Rxb7 Qxb7 28.Qc6 Qxc6 29.dxc6 Ne5 30.c7 Rc8 31.Bb8 ties the Rook down to blocking the pawn on the seventh rank.

27.Rxb1 0-0 28.Qc6 Ne5

• 28...Qe8 29.Rb7 Ne5 30.Qc7 Ng6 31.Be3 f5 32.h5 fxe4 33.Qd7 gives White the initiative and a huge advatage in space.

29.Qxc8 Rxc8 30.Rb8 Rxb8 31.Bxb8 Kf8 32.Nf3 Ng6

• 32...Nd7 33.Bc7 f6 34.c4 fxg5 35.hxg5 Ke8 36.Kd3 h5 37.gxh6 gxh6 38.e5 assures White of two connected passed pawns.

33.c4

• After 33.Ke3! Nxh4 34.Bxd6 Ng2+ 35.Kf2 Bxd6 36.Kxg2 Bc5 37.e5 Be3 38.c4 White has two connected passers.

33...Ke8 34.e5 Kd7 35.Kd3 h6

• If 35...Nxe5+ 36.Nxe5+ dxe5 37.Bxe5 then:
• After 37...f6 38.Bf4 Bc5 39.gxf6 gxf6 40.Ke4 h5 41.Be3 either the Bishop gives way and allows the the c-pawn to advance or Black exchanges the Bishop giving White an easily won King and pawn ending.
• After 37...Bf8 38.Kd4 Ba3 39.c5 f6 40.c6+ Kd8 41.gxf6 gxf6 42.Bxf6+ Kc8 43.Ke4 White wins easily.

36.exd6 Bxd6 37.Bxd6 Kxd6 38.gxh6

• 38.Kd4 f6 39.c5+ Kd7 40.Ke4 h5 41.c6+ Kc7 42.Nd4 Ne7 43.Nf5Black must retreat with the Knight, since exchanges can only help White.

38...gxh6 39.Kd4 f6 40.c5+ Kd7 41.Ke4

• If 41.c6+ Kd6 42.Nd2 Nxh4 43.Nc4+ Kc7 44.Kc5 then:
• After 44...Nf5 45.Nb6 Nd6 46.Na8+ Kb8 47.c7+ Kxa8 48.Kxd6 the pawn queens.
• 44...f5 45.d6+ Kd8 46.Ne5 then:
• After 46...Nf3 47.c7+ Kc8 48.Nc6 Nd4 49.Ne7+ the Black King is forced from the queening square.
• After 46...Ke8 47.c7 White soon delivers checkmate.

41...h5 42.d6 Ke6 43.Nd4+ Kd7 44.Nf5 Ne5

• If 44...Kc6 45.Ne7+ Nxe7 46.dxe7 Kd7 47.Kf5 Kxe7 then:
• After 48.Kg6 Ke6 49.c6 Kd6 50.Kxh5 Kxc6 51.Kg6 f5 52.Kxf5 Kd7 53.Kg6 the pawn cannot be stopped.
• If 48.c6? Kd6 49.Kxf6 Kxc6 50.Kg5 Kd6 51.Kxh5 then:
• If Black seizes the opposition with 51...Ke7! then 52.Kh6 Kf6 draws.
• After 51...Ke6? 52.Kg6! Ke7 53.Kg7 the King is positioned for escort duty.

45.Kd5 Nc6 46.Nd4 1-0

• If 46.Nd4 Nb4+ 47.Kc4 Na6 48.Kb5 then:
• 48...Nc7+ 49.dxc7 Kxc7 50.Ne6+ Kc8 51.Kb6 f5 52.c6 f4 53.Nxf4 Kb8 54.Nd5 Kc8 55.Ne7+ the Black King is forced away from the queening square.
• If 48...Nb8 49.Kb6 then:
• After 49...f5 50.Kb7 Na6 51.Kxa6 f4 52.Kb7 the c-pawn is escorted to Scone.
• After 49...Kc8 50.c6 if Black moves the Knight, then 51.d7+; if not, then 51.c7.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Leko - Anand, Round 5

Vishy Anand
Photo by Frederic Friedel from ChessBase.com


Peter Leko - Vishy Anand
Morelia-Linares International Tournament, Round 5
Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico), 20 February 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2

• 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4 b5 10.g5 b4 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Be7 15.h4 a5 16.a3 a4 17.Nd2 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-Ivanchuk, IT, Rd 3, Morelia-Linares, 2008).

8...Nbd7 9.f3 b5

• 9...Be7 10.g4 h6 11.0-0-0 b5 12.h4 Nb6 13.Qf2 Nfd7 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Bc1 a5 18.Nd2 a4 19.b3 axb3 20.cxb3 Na3+ 21.Bxa3 Rxa3 22.Bxb5 gives White an extra pawn (Sitnikov-Shavana, WYB16, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).

10.0-0-0

• If 10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6 13.Bxb6 Qxb6 14.a5 Qb7 15.Bc4 then:
• 15...Be7 16.Ra4 Rb8 17.Nc1 Bd8 18.b3 0-0 19.Na2 e4 20.Kd1 Re8 21.Rxb4 Qa7 22.Rxb8 Qxb8 23.Re1 Re5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Blehm-Sadvakasov, World ChU20, Calicut, 1998).
• 15...g6 16.Ra4 Rb8 17.Nc1 h5 18.Na2 Bh6 19.Qxb4 Qc7 20.Qc3 Nd7 21.Nb4 Nc5 22.Ra2 0-0 23.Nc6 Rbe8 24.b4 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Nagy-Galyas, First Saturday, 07.2006).

10...Be7 11.Nd5

• If 11.g4 0-0 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 then:
• 14.f4 exd4 then:
• 16. Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 b3 18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Nxc2 Bxa2+ 20.Kxa2 Ne5 21.Nb4 Qb8 22.Qc3 Nc7 23.Bf4 Rc8 24.Bxe5 Nb5 25.Qd3 dxe5 26.Qxb5 Bxb4 27.Qxb8 Raxb8 is equal (Motylev-Bu Xiangzhi, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 16.fxe6 axb3 17.exf7+ Rxf7 18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Qxc2 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.Ng3 Kh8 22.Bc4 Rf8 23.Nf5 Rc8 24.Qe2 Ndf6 25.Rhf1 draw agreed (Brunello-Zhao Jianchao, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• 14.Ng3 a5 15.Kb1 a4 16.Nc1 then:
• 16...b3 17.cxb3 axb3 18.a3 Qb8 19.h4 Bd8 20.h5 Ba5 21.Qd3 Nc5 22.Qb5 is equal (Z. Almasi-Agrest, Corsica Masters, Corse, 2005).
• 16...Qb8 17.Nf5 Bd8 18.Nxd6 b3 19.Nc4 Be7 20.cxb3 axb3 21.Nxb3 gives White the lead in space (Shirov-Sandeepan, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).

11...Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6 13.Bxb6 Qxb6 14.Na5 Rc8

• 14...0-0 15.Nc6 Bd8 16.Bd3 a5 17.Kb1 b4 18.Rhe1 draw agreed (Domínguez-Karjakin, IT, Foros, 2007).

15.Nc6 Nxd5 16.Nxe7 Nxe7 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nc6 19.c3

• 19.Rd2 Ke7 20.a3 Nd4 21.Kb1 Rhd8 22.Bd3 f5 23.Re1 Kf6 gives Black the advantage in space (Quezada-Colovic, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2005).

19...Ke7 20.Rd1 f5 21.Bd3

• 21.a4 Na7 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bd3 Kf6 24.g4 g6 gives Black a small advantage.

21...g6 22.Rhe1 Rhd8 23.Bf1 Rxd1+

• 23...Kf6 24.a4 bxa4 25.Bxa6 Rb8 26.Kc2 Rb6 27.Rxd8 Nxd8 28.Bc4 Nb7 gives Black a small advantage.

24.Rxd1 Na5 25.a4 Nc4

• 25...bxa4 26.Bxa6 Nb3+ 27.Kb1 Rc7 28.Bb5 Nc5 is equal.

26.axb5 axb5 27.Rd5

• The text is White's best chance.
• 27.Bxc4 bxc4 28.Rd5 Ke6 then:
• 29.Rb5 Ra8 30.Kc2 Ra1 31.Rb6+ Kd5 32.Rb7 Re1 33.Rd7+ Ke6 34.Rd2 e4 35.fxe4 fxe4 gives Black a passed pawn.
• 29.Ra5 Rc6 30.Ra3 Rb6 31.Kc2 e4 32.fxe4 fxe4 gives Black a passed pawn.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Leko
Position after 27.Rd1d5

27...Kf6!

• Black sees that his chances are on the kingside, so he protects his pawns there at the expense of his last queenside pawn.
• 27...Ra8 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Rxe5+ gives White an extra pawn for the endgame.

28.Rxb5 Ne3 29.Rb6+ Kg5

• The ability to bring the King forward is a benefit of Black's 27th move.

30.Ba6 Rd8 31.b4 Kf4

• If 31...Rd1+ 32.Kb2 Rd2+ 33.Kb3 Kf4 34.Bb7 Nxg2 then:
• After 35.Rc6 Ne1 36.Rc4+ Ke3 37.Rh4 Rd7 38.Bc6 Rc7 39.b5 Nxf3 Black should be able to convert his extra pawn to victory.
• 35.b5 Nh4 36.Ra6 Nxf3 37.Bxf3 Kxf3 38.b6 Rd8 leaves Black a pawn up and poised to win.

32.Rc6 Nxg2 33.b5 Ra8 34.Bb7?

• Instead of harrassing Black's Rook, White should concentrate on stopping Black's pawns or pushing his own.
• After 34.Rc4+ Ke3 35.Rc5 e4 36.fxe4 fxe4 37.Rc4 Rb8 38.Rc7 White should hold.

34...Rb8?

• Black misses his chance in a complicated position.
• 34...Ra7! 35.Rc7 Ne1 36.Rxh7 Nd3+ 37.Kb1 Nc5 38.Rc7 Nxb7 39.b6 Ra6 40.Rxb7 Kxf3 then:
• 41.Kc2 e4 42.Rb8 e3 43.b7 Ra7 44.Rg8 Rxb7 45.Rxg6 Re7 Black wins.
• 41.c4 e4 42.c5 Ra5 43.c6 e3 44.c7 e2 45.c8Q e1Q+ 46.Kb2 Qb4+ 47.Kc1 Ra1+ 48.Kc2 Ra2+ 49.Kd3 Rd2# .
• 37.Kd1 Ra2 38.Bd5 Rg2 then:
• 39.Ra7 Rxh2 40.Ra2 Rxa2 41.Bxa2 Kxf3 42.b6 Nc5 43.Bd5+ Ke3 Black's three passers beat White's two.
• 39.Bc4 Nb2+ 40.Kc1 Nxc4 41.Rh4+ Kxf3 42.Rxc4 Rxh2 43.b6 Rh8 Black wins.

35.Rc7?

• White wins after 35.Ba6! Ne1 36.b6 Nxf3 37.b7 Nxh2 38.Rc8.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Leko
Position after 35.Rc6c7

35...Ne1!

• White's f-pawn is more important than Black's h-pawn.

36.Rxh7 Nxf3 37.c4 e4 38.Kc2 e3 39.Kd3

• After 39.Kd1 g5 40.b6 Ne5 41.Rc7 g4 42.Kc2 Rh8 43.h4 Rxh4 44.Re7 Rh2+ Black wins.

39...g5 40.Ke2 Nd4+ 41.Ke1

• After 41.Kd3 e2 42.Re7 Rxb7! Black wins.

41...Rd8 42.Re7

• After 42.Bd5 Nxb5 43.cxb5 Rxd5 Black wins.

42...Nc2+ 43.Kf1 Rd1+ 44.Ke2 Rd2+ 45.Kf1 Nd4 0-1

• If 46.Ke1 g4 then:
• 47.Kf1 Nf3 48.Bxf3 Kxf3 49.Ke1 Rxh2 50.Kd1 g3 51.Kc1 g2 52.Rg7 Rh1+ is lights out.
• 47.h3 Nf3+ 48.Kf1 Rf2#.
• Mr. Leko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from the Areoflot Open, Moscow

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Nepomniachtchi - Grachev, Round 5

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ian Nepomniachtchi - Boris Grachev
Aeroflot Open, Round 5
Moscow, 18 February 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Ndb5

• If 7.Bd3 a6 8.0-0 then:
• 8...Ne5 9.h3 Bc5 10.Kh1 d6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Qe1 then:
• 12...0-0 13.f5 Ne5 14.Qh4 then:
• 14...Bd7 15.Rf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Qd8 17.Rg1 Ne8 18.Rxg7+ then:
• 18...Nxg7 19.f6! Kh8 20.Bg5 Bxd4 21.fxg7+ Bxg7 22.e5! h6 23.Qe4 f5 24.exf6 Black resigns (Haznedaroglu-Iotov, Euro Ind Ch, Antalya (Turkey), 2004).
• After 18...Kxg7 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.e5 dxe5 21.f6 Nxf6 22.Bg5 e4 White has only a small advantage.
• 14...b5 15.Rf3 exf5 16.exf5 Nxf3 17.gxf3 Bb7 18.Rg1 Bxf3+ 19.Nxf3 Bxe3 20.Qxf6 Bxg1 21.Qg5 Qc6 22.Ne4 f6 23.Qxg1 White advantage in space compensated for his material deficit (Carlsen-Vachier Lagrave, Rapid Trmt, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
• 12...Bd7 13.f5 Ne5 14.Qh4 Qb6 15.Nce2 0-0-0 16.Bg1 exf5 17.b4 Qxb4 18.Rab1 Qa4 19.exf5 Rhe8 20.Nc3 Qa5 21.Ne4 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Nxe4 23.dxe4 Qa4 24.Rfc1 Kb8 is unclear: White has some space in compensation for a pawn minus.(Haznedaroglu-Ribli, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 8...b5 9.Nxc6 Qxc6 10.a3 Bb7 11.Qe2 Be7 12.f4 0-0 13.e5 Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.c4 bxc4 16.Bxc4 Qc6 17.Rac1 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 19.Qf2 Rfc8 20.Qxc5 Rxc5 21.b4 Rc7 22.Be2 Rac8 23.Rxc7 Rxc7(Colovic-Sjoberg, Euro Club Cup, Panormo (Greece), 2001).
• If 7.Be2 a6 8.0-0 Bb4 9.Na4 then:
• 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 then:
• 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 Rb6 then:
• 15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0-0 17.b3 d5 then:
• 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Be5 Rd8 20.Qg3 f6 21.Bb2 Bd6 then:
• 22.Qg4 Qc7 23.g3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bc4 f5 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Bxe2 Nc3 gives Black a commanding lead in space (Atoufi-Sarkar, Op, Foxwoods (Connecticut), 2007).
• 22.Qf3 Qc7 23.g3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bc4 Qc7 26.Rfe1 Qf7 27.Re2 Nc7 28.Rae1(Barua-Muhren, Euwe Stim, Arnhem (Holland), 2007).
• 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 c4 20.bxc4 Rc6 21.Qh3 Nb6 22.Bd3 g6 23.Rf3 Re8 24.cxd5 Rxc3 25.d6 Bxd6 26.exd6 is equal (Lobron-Stellwagen, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
• 15.b3 Nxe4 16.Bxg7 Rg8 17.Be5 Bd6 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.fxg3 Be5 20.Rb1 Ke7 21.Bd3 Rg5 22.Qf3 Qg8 23.Rbe1 Qg7 24.Kh1 Rd6 25.Re4 f5 26.Rh4 Rd4 27.Rxd4 cxd4 28.Re1 gives Black a small edge in space, but his pawns are loose (Azarov-Banikas, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bc1 Bc5 15.c4 Ne7 16.b3 Qc7 17.Bb2 d6 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.g3 Be5 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 then:
• 21.Re1 c5 22.Bd3 Qd6 23.Be4 Qc7 24.Qc2 f5 25.Bg2 Kf7 is equal (Ganguly-Mastrovasilis, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan, 2003).
• 21.Bf3 c5 22.Re1 Qc7 23.Be4 0-0 24.Qh5 h6 25.Rad1 Rfd8 26.Bc2 a5 27.h3 Rbc8 draw agreed (Grosar-Cosma, Euro Ind Ch, Warsaw, 2001).
• 9...0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rfxc8 13.Bxa6 Rf8 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.f4 e5 16.b3 exf4 17.Bd4 f3 18.e5 f2 19.Rxf2 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Kh1 Rbe8 22.Rf5 Qc3 23.Rf3 Qe5 24.Rf5 Qc3 25.Rf3 Qe5 draw agreed (Illescas-Pia Cramling, Terrassa, 1990).
• 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 then:
• 11.Kb1 Be7 12.Qf2 d6 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Bd4 0-0 15.g4 Bb7 16.g5 Nfd7 17.f4 b4 18.fxe5 bxc3 19.exd6 Qxd6 20.Be2 Qc7 21.Bxc3 Bxg5 22.Rhg1 gives White the advantage in space (T. Kosintseva-Javakhishvili, Euro Club Cup, Fügen, 2006).
• 11.Qe1 Be7 12.f4 Ng6 13.e5 Ng4 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Qe2 f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rhf1 0-0 19.g3 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 a5 22.Nd4 Bf6 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Be3 Ne7 25.Nb5 Nf5 26.Bf2 Rc6 is equal (Svidler-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2006).

7...Qb8 8.f4 a6 9.e5 axb5 10.exf6 b4 11.Nb5 b6 12.fxg7!?

• 12.Qd2 gxf6 13.Qf2 Na7 14.Nxa7 Qxa7 15.Bxb6 Qa4 16.Bd3 Bb7 17.Bd4 Rg8 is even (Lutz-Jovanic, Euro Ind Ch, Kasadasi (Turkey), 2006).
• 12.Bd3 gxf6 13.f5 Ra5 14.fxe6 dxe6 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Qf3 Be7 17.Bf4 Ne5 18.Qe2 Rg8 is equal (Melnikova-Skripchenko, Euro Ind Ch, Chisinau (Moldova), 2005).

12...Bxg7 13.Bd3 Na7

• The next day, Boris Grachev played 13...0-0!? and the game continued 14.0-0 Ba6 15.Rf3 f5 16.Rg3 Kh8 17.Bf1 Bxb5 18.Bxb5 Ra7 19.Qd2 Bxb2 20.Bxc6 dxc6 21.Bd4+ Bxd4+ 22.Qxd4+ e5 23.Qxb4 c5 24.Qb2 Ra4 25.Rf1 Rd4 26.fxe5 f4 27.Rgf3 draw agreed (Motylev-Grachev, Areoflot Op, Rd 6, Moscow, 2008).

14.Qg4!?

• 14.Nd4 Nc6 15.Bb5 Bb7 16.0-0 Rg8 17.g3 Qc7 is equal.

14...Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bf6 16.Rxb4 Ba6

• 16...Nxb5 17.Rxb5 Rxa2 18.0-0 Qc7 19.Rxb6 gives White the advantage in space.

17.0-0 h5 18.Qe2 Nxb5 19.Bxb5 Qd6

• If 19...Bxb5 20.Rxb5 then:
• If 20...Rxa2 21.f5 then:
• 21...Bg7 22.fxe6 dxe6 23.Rxb6 Qe5 24.Rb5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 21...Be5? 22.Rxb6! Qc7 23.fxe6 fxe6 gives White a huge advantage in space.
• 20...Ra4 21.Rxb6 Qc7 22.Ra6 Qc4 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.Rf2 gives White an extra pawn.

20.Rfb1 Bxb5

• 20...Bb7 21.Bd3 Bc6 22.Rxb6 Rxa2 23.Rb8+ Bd8 24.f5 Rg8 is equal.

21.Rxb5 Bd4?

• Among the consequences of allowing one's opponent to have too large an advantage in space is loss of a pawn. This move drops a pawn.
• Among the way to fight the space superiority on one's opponent is to exchange pieces. That is what Black should seek.
• If 21...Rxa2 22.Qc4 Ra1 23.Rxa1 Bxa1 24.Rxb6 Qd1+ then:
• 25.Qf1 Qxf1+ 26.Kxf1 d5 27.Ra6 Bc3 leaves White with a spatial advantage, but it no longer counts for anything. The game is most likely to end in a draw.
• 25.Kf2 0-0 26.Ra6 Bg7 27.Qd3 Qxd3 28.cxd3 is lifeless.

BLACK: Boris Grachev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ian Napomniachtchi
Position after 21...Bf6d4

22.Qd3!

<[li>If 22.Kh1 Bc5 23.Bxc5 bxc5 24.f5 then:
• 24...Qf4 25.Rxc5 Qg5 26.Rcb5 Qf4 27.a4 White has a small advantage.
• After 24...Qd4 25.Qf3 Rd8 26.fxe6 dxe6 27.Rb7 Rh7 28.Rf1 Black has a little more space, but White has the overall advantage owing to his deadly focus on f7.

22...Bxe3+

• 22...Bc5 23.Bxc5 Qxd3 24.Rxb6! d6 (forced) 25.cxd3 dxc5 26.R1b2 gives White an extra pawn.

23.Qxe3 Rg8

• An attempt to save the pawn by 23...Qe7? results in disaster after 24.Rxb6 Rxa2 25.Rb8+, forcing Black to surrender the Queen.

24.Rxb6 Qd5 25.Qf2 f5

• Black can regain the pawn with 25...Qxa2, but after 26.Qc5 f5 27.Rb8+ Kf7 28.R8b7 Rad8 29.Rd1 Qa4 30.g3 White restores his spatial supremacy with multiple attacking opportunities.

26.h3 Kf7
BLACK: Boris Grachev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ian Napomniachtchi
Position after 26...Ke8f7

27.c4!

• White sacrifices his extra pawn for an attack.

27...Qxc4 28.Rd6 Rxa2 29.Rxd7+ Ke8

• After 29...Kg6 Black must either give up the Rook or submit to checkmate by 30.Qg3+ Kf6 31.Qh4+ Kg6 32.Qg5#.

30.Rd2 Rxd2 31.Qxd2 Kf7 32.Rb7+ Kg6 33.Qe3 Kh6

• After 33...h4 White tightens his grip with 34.Re7 Qd5 35.Qxe6+ Qxe6 36.Rxe6+.

34.Rb6 Rg6 35.Qe5 Qc1+ 36.Kh2 Rxg2+

• Black could have resigned here.
• The alternative is 36...Qc8 37.Rb8 Qd7 38.Rh8+, when White wins the Queen.

37.Kxg2 Qd2+ 38.Kf1 Qd3+ 39.Kf2 Qd2+ 40.Qe2 Qxf4+ 41.Kg2 Kg5 42.Rxe6 h4 43.Qe3 Kh5 44.Qf3+ 1-0

• White forces the exchange of Queens, leaving him a Rook to the good
• Grachev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Dreev - Grigoriants, Round 5

Alexey Dreev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alexey Dreev - Sergey Grigoriants
Aeroflot Open, Round 5
Moscow, 18 February 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Noteboom Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4

• If 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 then:
• 8...0-0 9.Qe2 then:
• 9...Nbd7 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 gives White the advatage in space.
• 9...Bg6 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Rd1 Qa5 gives White a a skight lead in space.
• 8...Nbd7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 gives White an edge in space.
• If 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 then:
• 7...Qc7 then:
• 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 then:
• 11...g5 then:
• 12.Ne3 gxf4 13.Nxf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2 Nc5 15.0-0 Ne6 16.Qe4 fxg3 17.hxg3 is equal.
• 12.Bxe5 Nxe5 13.Qd4 f6 14.0-0-0 Be7 15.Ne3 Be6 16.Qe4 Bb3 17.Rd2 0-0 is equal.
• 11...f6 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Ne3 Bg6 14.b4 Ne6 15.b5 Rd8 is equal.
• 8.Bg5 e5 9.e3 Nd5 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Bb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.Bf4 Qxb2 17.Qxd5 b6 is equal (Nguyen Ngoc Truongson-Sundararajan, Asian ChT, Esfahan (Iran), 2005).
• 7...Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.g3 e6 10.Bg2 Bb4 11.0-0 0-0 12.e3 h6 is equal.

6...Bc8

• If 6...e6 7.Nxf5 exf5 8.e3 Bb4 9.Bxc4 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 then:
• 11.Qc2 then:
• 11...g6 12.f3 Rc8 13.Kh1 c5 14.Ba2 Qb6 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.e4 then:
• 16...Ne6 17.Bh6 fxe4 18.Bxf8 Bxf8 19.fxe4 Bg7 gives White the exchange and an advatage in space(Peralta-Bu Xiangzhi, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 16...fxe4 then:
• 17.Bg5 exf3 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Rxf3 Qe5 20.Raf1 Ne6 gives Black the advantage in space (Bocharov-Rublevsky, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• 17.fxe4? Ncxe4 18.Rf3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qc6 20.Bb2 Rcd8 21.Rd1 Qc5 gives Black a huge advatage in space.
• 11...Nb6 12.Bb3 Qd7 13.a5 Nbd5 14.f3 Rfe8 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.e4 Nf6 17.Be3 gives White a slight edge in space (Onischuk-Rublevsky, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2007).
• 11.Bd2 Qa5 12.Qc2 Rac8 13.Rad1 c5 14.Bb5 cxd4 15.exd4 a6 16.Bxd7 Nxd7 17.d5 g6 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.d6 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Qxc3 21.Qb1 b6 22.Rfe1 Qf6 23.Qc2 g5 24.Re7 Qxe7 25.Qxc8 Qxd6 26.Qc1 Nc5 draw agreed (Zaja-Haba, Austrian ChT, 2003).

7.e3 e6

• 7...e5 8.Bxc4 exd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 Na6 12.Nf3 Nc7 13.Qb3 Nfd5 14.Ne5 a5 15.Bd2 Bb4 16.Rad1 Be6 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxb4 axb4 is equal (Bocharov-Yevseev, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).

8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Bf4!?

• The novelty gives White the advantage in space.
• 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rd1 Nb4 14.Ne5 Bd7 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bc6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Ra3 gives White a significant advatage in space (Jobava-Iskusnyh, Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Qe2 h6 15.Bf4 Nb4 16.Ne5 Bc6 17.Rad1 Nbd5 18.Bc1 Bb4 19.Rd3 gives White a clear edge in space (Navara-Svidler, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 12.Be3 0-0 13.Ne5 Nd5 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qe2 Rb8 16.Rfc1 Nxe3 17.fxe3 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.Nxd5 gives White a small advatage in space (Ubilava-Matulovic, Op, Belgrade, 1988).

12...0-0

• After 12...Qa5 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Re1 Rd8 15.Nb5 White retains the advatantage.

13.Re1 Bd7 14.d5!

• It is to White's further advantage to open up the center.

14...exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bb4

• If 16...Rc8 17.Qb3 Na5 18.Qa2 Bc5 19.Rad1 then:
• After 19...Qb6 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Rc2 22.Rde1 White maintains the advantage.
• After 19...Qf6 20.Bg5 Qb6 21.Bh4 Bg4 22.Qb1 White continues to enjoy the advatange in space.

17.Re4 a5

• 17...Be7 18.Ne5 Bf6 19.Qh5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 increases White advantage.

18.Bg5 Qc7

• If 18...Qb6 19.Rc1 h6 20.Be3 then:
• After 20...Qd8 21.Nd4 Rc8 22.Nc2 Bf5 23.Rc4 Be7 24.Bf4 Bf6 25.Ne3 White retains the edge, but it is markedly reduced.
• 20...Qc7 21.Ne5 Rae8 22.Bb6 Qc8 23.Re3 Re7 24.Nxc6 Bxc6 25.Bxa5 yields an extra pawn for White.

19.Qb3 Bf5 20.Rf4!?

• 20.Bf4 Qb6 21.Re3 Rad8 22.Bg5 Rd7 23.Rc1 Nd4 24.Nxd4 Qxd4 is equal.

20...Ne7?!

• After the text move White wins a pawn by force.
• 20...Bg6 21.Rc4 Rac8 22.Rac1 Rfe8 is equal.

BLACK: Sergey Grigorants
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexey Dreev
Position after 20...Nc6e7

21.Bxe7!

• The sacrifice of the exchange is an obvious sham.

21...Qxf4 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Bxb7 Qc7

• White has completed the winning of the pawn, but Black has enough extra space to compensate.
• If 23...Rb8 24.g3 Qc7 25.Bd5 then:
• 25...Bc5 26.Bxf7+ Kf8 27.Qd5 Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Rxb2+ 29.Kg1 Qxf7 fails to win back the pawn because of
• 30.Qxa5. but the position remains unclear because of Black's spatial advantage.
• After 25...Bg6 26.Qc4 Qxc4 27.Bxc4 Rd8 28.Rc1 Kf8 29.Ba2 the two sides are even in space, but White still has that pawn.
• After 26...Qd6? 27.Rd1 Qf6 28.Qc7 Re8 29.Bc6 Rf8 30.Ne5
White maintains his extra pawn and has gained the advantage in space.

24.Bd5 Bg6

• If 24...Bc2 25.Qc4 Qxc4 26.Bxc4 then:
• 26...Rc8 27.b3 Kf8 28.Nd4 Be4 29.Rd1 Ke7 30.f3 Rd8 31.Kf1 Bc3 32.fxe4 Rxd4 then:
• 33.Rc1! Bb4 34.Bd5 keeps the space count even.
• 33.Rxd4? Bxd4 is a drawish Bishops-of-opposite-color ending, where White's extra pawn doesn't count for much.
• After 26...Re8 27.Bb5 Rd8 28.Kf1 Kf8 29.Rc1 Be4 30.Ke2 the space count is approximately even and White still has an extra pawn.

25.Qc4!

• 25.Nd4 Bd6 26.g3 Rb8 27.Nb5 Qe7 28.Rc1 Qg5 29.Rc6 Be7 30.Qc4 Qd2 White continues to enjoy an extra pawn, but there no space advantage for either side.

25...Qxc4

• 25...Qe7 26.Nh4 Bh5 27.Bf3 Bxf3 28.Nxf3 also levels the space count.

26.Bxc4 Rc8 27.b3

• 27.Ne5 Bh5 28.Rc1 Re8 29.Nc6 Bd2 30.Rb1 g5 31.Kf1 White's extra pawn, although backward, is still the difference in his favor.

27...Bh5?

• When the space count is even, regardless of any material imbalance, it is usually not worth sacrificing space in order to gain an advantage in pawn structure unless the superiority in pawn structure can be converted into some other advantage.
• 27...Rd8 28.Rf1 Kf8 29.Ne5 Rd2 30.g4 Bc3 31.Re1 f6 32.Nxg6+ hxg6 matains the spatial balance.

BLACK: Sergey Grigorants
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WHITE: Alexey Dreev
Position after 27...Bg6h5

28.Rd1!

• White immediately takes advantage of Black's lapse in judgment and seizes the open d-file. Black will not obtain a material balance again in this game.

28...Bxf3 29.gxf3 g5

• If 29...g6 30.Rd7 Rf8 31.f4 Kg7 32.f5 then:
• 32...g5 33.Kg2 Kf6 34.Kf3 h5 35.h3 Kxf5 36.Bxf7 Kf6 37.Bc4 Kg6+ Black has leveled the game.
• After 32...gxf5 33.Kg2 Kf6 34.Kf3 h5 35.h4 then:
• 35...Re8 36.Rxf7+ Kg6 37.Rc7 Re4 38.Rc6+ Kg7 39.Be6 White maintains his extra pawn.
• White maintains his pawn after 35...Kg6 36.Rc7 Kg7 37.Bd3 Rd8 38.Bxf5 Kf6 39.Be4.

30.Rd7 Rf8

• 30...h6 31.Bxf7+ Kg7 32.Bh5+ Kg8 33.Kg2 gives White another pawn.

31.Kg2

• White doesn't get a lot by giving back the pawn: 31.f4 gxf4 32.Kg2 Kg7 33.Kf3 Bc5 34.h4 h6 35.Rb7 Bb4.

31...Kg7 32.Kg3 Kg6 33.f4

• 33.Bd3+ f5 34.f4 g4 35.f3 h5 36.Rd5 Be1+ 37.Kg2 Rf7 makes no progress.

33...gxf4+

• Better for Black is to perserve the strength of his pawn structure.
• 33...h6 34.fxg5 hxg5 35.Bd3+ Kf6 36.Rd5 Rg8 37.h3 Ke7 38.Bc4 Rg6 leaves Black no worse off than before.
• 33...f6? loses to 34.Bd3+ f5 35.fxg5 Kxg5 36.Rxh7.

34.Kxf4 Ba3

• 34...Be1 35.f3 Kf6 36.Rd6+ Kg7 37.Kf5 tightens the space around the Black King.

35.h3 h6 36.Rb7!?

• 36.Kg3 Bb4 37.f4 Be1+ 38.Kg4 f5+ 39.Kf3 Bb4 40.Rd5 Rc8 doesn't make a lot of progress for White.

36...Bd6+

• After 36...Bb4 White increases the presuure with 37.h4 Bd2+ 38.Kf3 f5 39.Rb5 Bb4 40.Be6 Rf6 41.Bd7.
• After 36...Bc5 37.Kg3 Bd6+ 38.f4 Bb4 39.h4 Be1+ 40.Kg4 White has a huge edge in space.

37.Ke4 Bb4

• If 37...f5+ then:
• 38.Kd5! Bb4 then:
After
• 39.Rxb4!! Rd8+ 40.Kc5 axb4 41.a5 Rd2 42.f4 Kh5 43.a6 Ra2 White wins.
• After 39.Rd7? Kg5 40.Ke5 Bc3+ 41.Ke6 Rf6+ 42.Kd5 Be1 Black has drawing chances.
• After 38.Kf3 Rb8 39.Rd7 Rb6 40.Rd8 Bb4 41.Rg8+ Kf6 42.h4 White is still better, but Black's chances of salvaging a half point are improving.

38.Rb6+ Kg7

• 38...Kg5 39.f4+ Kh5 then:
• 40.Rf6! Rh8 41.Bxf7+ Kh4 42.Be6 gives White two extra pawns.
• 40.Rxb4? axb4 41.a5 Ra8 42.a6 Kh4 gives Black chances to hold.

BLACK: Sergey Grigorants
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexey Dreev
Position after 38...Kg6g7

39.Rxb4!!

• White sacrifices the exchange to clear the way for the a-pawn. The game is now decided.

39...axb4 40.a5 Rd8 41.a6 1-0

• The pawn cannot be stopped.
• The most valient tries are:
  • 41...Rd7 42.Bb5 Rc7 43.Kd5 Kf6 44.Kd6 Re7 45.Bd7.
  • 41...Rd1 42.Bb5 Ra1 43.Kd5.
  • 41...Ra8 42.Kd4 Kf6 43.Kc5 Ke5 44.Kb6 f5 45.a7 Rh8 46.Ba6.
• Grigoriants resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Motylev - Rodshtein, Round 8

Alexander Motylev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alexander Motylev - Maxim Rodshtein
Aeroflot Open, Round 8
Moscow, 21 February 2008

Closed German Game: Short Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7

• In an earlier round Motylev, as Black, got a good game from 5...c5 when:
• If 6.Be3 then:
• If 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 then:
• 8.c3!? Nbc6 9.f4 g5 10.fxg5 Bg7 11.Nd2 Nxe5 12.Bb5+ N5c6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nxf5 Nxf5 15.Bc5 Qxg5 16.Nf3 Qh6 gives Black the advantage in space and an extra pawn (Caruana-Motylev, Aeroflot Op, Rd 3, 2008).
• 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Na3 Qa5+ 11.Qxa5 Nxa5 12.0-0 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Be4 15.Rac1 Bd5 16.Be2 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Nxc8 draw agreed (Svidler-Anand, IT, Tilburg, 1998).
• 6...Nd7 7.0-0 Ne7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 Nd5 10.Nxc4 is equal.
• 6.0-0 Nc6 7.c3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nge7 9.a3 is equal.

6.0-0 Ne7 7.Nbd2

• 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 a6 13.g3 g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 Ng6 is equal (Smirin-Li Wenliang, Lee Cup, Beijing, 1996).

7...h6 8.Nb3 Nc8!?

• 8...Bh7 9.c3 Ng6 10.Ne1 c5 11.Be3 c4 12.Nd2 b5 13.a3 Nb6 14.f4 Ne7 15.Ndf3 Nc6 16.g4 h5 17.Ng5 hxg4 18.Bxg4 Bf5 19.Bxf5 exf5 is equal (Lastin-Jobava, Op, Moscow, 2008).

9.a4 Be7 10.a5
BLACK: Naxim Rodshtein
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WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 10.a4a5

10...a6?!

• Black is conceding too much space to White. He should aim for the pawn break ...c5.
If
• 10...0-0 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Be3 then:
• 12...c5! 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Qxc5 Black's pieces have come to life and he now has the advantage in space.
• 12...Bb4?! 13.c3 Be7 14.Qd2 Rd8 15.Ra4 White sontinues to enjoying a satifying advantage in space.

11.Be3 Qc7?

• The window to play ...c5 with anything resembling a purpose is closing quickly.
• If 11...0-0 12.Re1 Na7 13.Qd2 Qc7 14.Rad1 then:
• 14...c5! 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd4 Nc6 is equal.
• 14...Rad8 15.Bf4 c5! 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 is equal.

12.Nfd2 Na7

• After this Black will be slowly strangled..
• If 12...c5!? 13.c4 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxe5 15.cxd5 exd5 then:
• 16.f4! Ng6 17.Rc1 Qb8 18.Bxg7 Rg8 19.Bxh6 gives White an extra pawn.
• 16.Rc1? Nc6 17.Bxg7 Rg8 18.Bc3 Qf4 gives Black a huge advantage in space.

13.f4 0-0

• After 13...c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Nd4 Bg6 16.c4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Nc6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 White is still better.

14.c4 Bh7

• White still has a respectable advantage in space after 14...dxc4 15.Nxc4 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Rc1 Nxb3 18.Qxb3 Nc6 19.Bb6.

BLACK: Naxim Rodshtein
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WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 14...Bf5h7

15.c5!

• Well, it doesn't look like Black wanted to play ...c5 anyway.

15...Nb5 16.g4 f6 17.Nf3 fxe5 18.fxe5 Rf7

• After 18...Be4 19.g5 hxg5 20.Nxg5 Rxf1+ 21.Bxf1 Bf5 22.Qh5 White has a huge advantage in space.

19.Bd3 Raf8 20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Qd3+ g6 22.Kg2 Qd8

• After 22...Bd8 23.g5 h5 24.Nh4 Rg7 25.Bd2 Be7 26.Rxf8 Nxf8 27.Rf1 Black is gasping for breath.

23.Nbd2 Kg7 24.b4 Rh8

• So dominant is White on the dark squares that the Bishop has no place to move.

25.Rf2 Rhf8 26.Raf1 Nc7 27.Kg3 Qe8 28.h4

• White can no longer make a pawn move without an exchange resulting.

28...h5 29.gxh5 gxh5 30.Bg5 Rf5

• If 30...Bxg5 31.Nxg5 then:
• After 31...Rf5 32.Nxe6+ Nxe6 33.Rxf5 Rxf5 34.Rxf5 the end is near.
• 31...Rxf2 32.Qh7#.

31.Bxe7 Qxe7 32.Ng5 Rxg5+

• The loss of the exchange is not exactly forced, but Black's other moves are even worse.
• If 32...Kg6 33.Kh2 Kg7 34.Nxe6+ Nxe6 35.Rxf5 Qxh4+ 36.Qh3 then:
• 36...Qxh3+ 37.Kxh3 Rxf5 38.Rxf5 gives White the exchange.
• After 36...Qxd4 37.Rg1+ Black must exchange the Queen for the Rook at g1 or submit to checkmate.

33.hxg5 Qxg5+ 34.Kh2 Qh4+ 35.Kg1 Rxf2 36.Rxf2 Nb5 37.Nf3

• Also good is 37.Rg2+ Kf8 38.Qh7 Qxd4+ 39.Kf1 Qf4+ 40.Rf2.

37...Qf4 38.Ng5 Qc1+ 39.Kh2 Nf8 40.Rf7+ 1-0

• White forces checkmate: 40...Kh6 41.Rh7+ Kxg5 42.Qg3+ Kf5 43.Rxh5+ Ke4 44.Rh4+ Kf5 45.Qg4#.
• Mr. Rodshtein resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Hou Yifan - Iordachescu, Round 6

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Hou Yifan won her first full grandmaster norm at the Areoflot Open.

The young lady will turn 14 on Thursday.

We congratulate her on both occaisions.

Hou Yifan - Viorel Iordachescu
Aeroflot Open, Round 6
Moscow, 19 February 2008

Open German Game: Seirawan 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

• If 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Qc7 10.Bd2 Ngf6 11.0-0-0 e6 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.c4 c5 then:
If
• 14.Bc3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 a6 16.Nf3 then:
If
• 16...Be7 17.Qe2 Rhe8 18.Rhe1 Qb6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 draw agreed (Kavelek-Filip, Marianske Lazne, 1965).
• 16...Bc5 17.Qe2 Bd6 18.Ne4 Be7 19.Nxf6 Bxf6 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ne5 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Qd3+ Ke7 White's spatial plus is of little value (Spassky-Petrosian, World Ch, Moscow, 1966).
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qe2 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Bc3 Rd7 20.Rc1 Qc5 is equal (Smyslov-Botvinnik, World Ch, Moscow, 1958).

8...Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+

• 11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4 a5 21.c3 Rfc8 22.f3 b5 23.Nd3 Nd5 24.Bg3 a4 25.a3 c5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Bologan-Dreev, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2005).

12.Bd2 Bb4

• More common is 12...Qc7, gor example, 13.0-0-0 Ngf6 14.Ne4 0-0-0 15.g3 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.c4 c5 18.Bc3 giving White the advantage in space.

13.c3 Be7 14.c4 Qc7

• If 14...Bb4 then:
• 15.Ne4 Bxd2+ 16.Nfxd2 Ngf6 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb7 Qb4 19.Qa3 Qxa3 20.bxa3 c5 21.dxc5 Rhc8 22.Rb1 Nxc5 23.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn (Brandenburg-Pantsulaia, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Ngf6 18.Kc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rhe1 0-0 21.Ne5 Rfc8 22.b4 Ncd7 23.Nxd7 Nxd7 24.Ne4 gives White more space, but with so few pieces on the board the queenside majority may be more important (Mulyar-Figler, Op, Foxwoods, 2007).

15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Kb1

• 16.Ne4 b5 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6 18.Kb1 0-0 19.Ne5 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qb6 21.Rh3 c5 gives White a small edge in space (Bok-Schuurman, Essent Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).

16...0-0 17.Rhe1 Rfd8!?

• This novelty commits Black to playing on the queenside, whereas the usual move facilitates play in the center.
• 17...Rfe8 18.Ne5 Bd6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Qf3 c5 21.Nxd7 Rxd7 22.d5 exd5 23.Rxe8+ Nxe8 24.cxd5 gives White more space in an otherwise passive position (Karjakin-Mchedlishvili, Beer Sheva, 2005).

18.Qc2!?

• Black responds b also playing to the opposite side of the board than what would be expected.
• If 18.Qe2 Bd6 19.Ne5 a5 20.Bf4 then:
• 20...Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Qe7 22.Qf3 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nd7 is equal.
• 20...Bb4 21.Nxf7 Qxf4 22.Nxd8 Rxd8 23.Qxe6+ Kh8 24.Rf1 is unclear with an a symmetrical material balance (if White were to allow 24...Bxe1 25.Rxe1, she would be down by a piece to two pawns).

18...a5 19.a3 a4

• If 19...c5 20.d5 Nf8 21.Bc3 then:
• 21...b5 22.dxe6 Nxe6 23.cxb5 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Qb7 25.Nf5 Rd8 26.Qa4 gives White the advantage in space.
• After 21...Ng4? White traps the Knight with 22.Qe2! b5 23.cxb5 Qb6 24.Nd2.

BLACK: Viorel Iorachescu
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 19...a5a4

20.Ne2!?

• White has a comfortable space advantage and invites Black to treat himself to the h-pawn.
• 20.Qc1 Ng4 21.Bf4 Qb6 22.c5 Qb3 23.Ne4 is equal.

20...Ng4

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 20...Nxh5 21.g4 Nhf6 22.g5 hxg5 23.Bxg5.

21.Nf4

• If 21.Bf4 Qa5 22.Ng3 Ndf6 23.Qd2 Qb6 24.Ka1 Rd7 25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.Bxe5 Rad8 White continues to enjoy more space.
• 24.Qe2 Bxa3 25.c5 Bxc5 26.dxc5 Qxc5 27.Be3 Qb4 is clearly favorable to Black, who has three pawns for a Bishop.

21...Ndf6

• If 21...Nxf2! 22.Rc1 Bd6 then:
• 23.Ne2 Nf6 24.c5 Bg3 25.Nxg3 Qxg3 26.Re2 N2g4 27.Be1 Qc7 28.Bh4 Rd5 gives Black one extra pawn and he threatens to take another.
• 23...b6 24.Nc3 Nf6 then:
25.Re2 N2g4 26.Rh1 Bg3 27.Nxa4 Bf2 Black threatens to win the d-pawn.
• 25.Be3 N2g4 26.Rcd1 Nxh5 27.Nxa4 Bg3 gives Black more space and an extra pawn.

22.Bc1 Ra5 23.Qe2 Bf8?!

• By now the venom has worn off the pawn at h5. White should take it.
• If 23...Nxh5! 24.Nxh5 Rxh5 25.Ne5 then:
• 25...Nxe5! 26.dxe5 Rxd1 27.Qxd1 Rxe5 28.Rxe5 Qxe5 29.Qxa4 Qe4+ yields an extra pawn to Black.
• If 25...Nf6!? 26.g4 Rh4 27.f4 then:
• If 27...Bd6 28.Qg2 Bxe5 29.fxe5 Nh7 then:
• 30.Qg3 30...g5 31.Be3 f5 32.gxf5 exf5 Black has an extra pawn, but White's pieces are more active.
• 30.g5 Nxg5 31.Bxg5 hxg5 32.Qxg5 Rhxd4 gives Black two extra pawn, but White has a potential attack on the enemy King.
• 27...c5?! 28.d5 exd5 29.cxd5 Nxd5 30.Nxf7 Kxf7 31.Qe6+ Kf8 gives White the advantage with more piece activity.

24.Nh4

• With the Bishop absent from e7, the Knight safely moves to h4. Otherwise, Black could have won the pawn by 24...Nxh5 25.Nxh5 Bxh4.

24...e5 25.dxe5

• If 25.f3?! Nf2 then:
• 26.Ne6 fxe6 27.Qxf2 exd4 28.Ng6 Qb6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 26.dxe5? Nxd1 27.exf6 then:
• 27...Qd6 28.Nhg6 fxg6 29.hxg6 gxf6 Black has a Rook for a pawn.
• 27...Nc3+? 28.bxc3 Bxa3 29.Bxa3 Qxf4 30.g4 is more than favorable to White.

25...Rxe5 26.Qc2 Rxe1?!

• Black misses 26...Rxd1! 27.Rxd1 when:
• If 27...Qb6 28.f3 Ne3 29.Bxe3 Qxe3 30.g3 b5 then:
• After 31.cxb5 31...cxb5 32.Qc1 Qb6 33.g4 b4 the Bishop will soon join in the attack on the White King.
• 31.Qc1 Qxc1+ 32.Kxc1 Nxh5 33.Nxh5 Rxh5 wins the pawn.
• 27...b5 28.cxb5 Rc5 29.Qe2 Rxb5 30.Ka1 Re5 31.Qf3 Bc5 32.Nd3 Rxh5 finally wins that saucy pawn.

27.Rxe1 Qa5 28.Re2 Nxh5

• Black finally takes that pesky pawn.

29.Nd3!?

• 29.Nxh5 Qxh5 30.Nf5 Nf6 31.f3 Rd7 32.Re5 Qh1 33.Ra5 is even.

29...Rd4 30.Nf3 Rd8

• After 30...Rd6 31.Nfe5 Nhf6 32.Bd2 Qa7 33.Nxg4 Nxg4 34.Re8 White has enough activity to compensate for the pawn.

31.Nfe1 b5 32.c5 Ngf6?!

• Better is 32...Rd4 when:
• 33.f3 Ngf6 34.g4 Rc4 35.Qd1 Ng3 36.Rg2 Qc7 Black has more activity.
• After 33.Nb4 Qc7 34.Ned3 Rc4 35.Qd2 Ngf6 36.Qe3 Nd7 Black threatens the c-pawn.

33.Ne5 Rd5?

• Black lets his last chance slip
• If 33...Qc7 34.g4 Rd5 35.N1d3 Nd7 36.Nxc6 then:
• 36...Nhf6 37.Ne7+ Bxe7 38.Rxe7 Qd8 39.Re2 Rd4 gives Black greater activity.
• After 36...Qxc6 37.Nb4 Qxc5 38.Nxd5 Qxd5 39.Rd2 Qb7 40.gxh5 White stands slightly better.

34.N1d3

• If 34.g4 Qc7 35.N1d3 Nd7 then:
• 36.Nxc6 Nhf6 37.Ncb4 Rd4 38.c6 Rc4 39.Qd1 Nb8 40.Bf4 gives White the initiative and a passed pawn.
• 36.Nxf7 Kxf7 37.gxh5 Nxc5 38.Nf4 Re5 39.Qg6+ Kg8 40.Rxe5 Qxe5 is equal.

34...Nd7

• 34...Qc7 was absolutely necessary, but Black would still be in great difficulties: if 35.g4 then:
If
• 35...Nd7 36.Nxc6 Nhf6 then:
• After 37.Ncb4 Rd4 transposes into the main line in the note to White's 34th move.
• 37.Ne7+?! Bxe7 38.Rxe7 Qd8 39.Re1 Nxg4
• 35...Nxg4 36.Nxg4 Qc8 37.Nge5 Qf5 38.Re3 Bxc5 39.Nxc6 Qd7 40.Re5 Rxe5 41.Ncxe5 gives White a piece for two pawns.

BLACK: Viorel Iorachescu
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$+kB + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 34...Nf6d7

35.Nxc6!

• White snaps up the loose pawn, restoring material equality.

35...Qc7 36.Ne7+

• Also good is 36.Ncb4 Rd4 37.c6 Rc4 38.Qd1 Ndf6 39.Rc2.

36...Bxe7 37.Rxe7 Qd8 38.Re1

• 38.Qe2 Kf8 39.Re3 Nhf6 40.c6 Nb6 41.Nb4 Rh5 42.g4 Rh1 43.Qxb5 also wins.

38...Nhf6 39.c6 Nb6 40.Nb4 Rd4

• After 40...Rd6 41.Bf4 Re6 42.Rxe6 fxe6 43.Qe2 Kf7 44.Qxb5 wins for White.

41.Be3 Rc4 42.Rd1 Qb8 43.Qf5 Na8 44.Bxh6 1-0

• After 44...Nh7 45.Be3 Nf8 46.g3 Qe8 47.Qxb5 Qe4+ 48.Ka1 Nc7 49.Qxa4 White has three extra pawns.
• 44...Ng4 45.Bxg7 Qf4 46.Qxf4 Rxf4 47.Bc3 Kh7 48.Rd8 leaves White up by two pawns.
• 44...gxh6 45.Qxf6 theatens 46.Rd8+, winning.
• Mr. Iordachescu resigns.