The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (September 6): Topalov Leads Bilbao; Nalchik Quart-Finals Set

[Jack Rabbit]

Topalov takes lead in Bibao



Former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria holds first place over 17-year-old Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen at the half way break in the final FIDE Grand Slam tournament for 2008 in Bilbao in northern Spain.

In the unique scoring system being used at Bilbao (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw), Topalov hav 9 points in five games (2 wins and 3 draws), while Magnus has 8 (2 wins, 2 draws and a loss to Topalov). In conventional scoring, Topalov would have 3½ point and Magnus 3. Levon Aronian of Armenia is in third place with 6 points, or 2½ for those who prefer the traditional scoring.

World Champion Vishy Anand of India, who lost to Topalov yesterday, has 4 draws and a loss thus far. As a result, Magnus has unofficially overtaken Anand for the top spot on the rankings list. FIDE will officially issue a new rankings list on October 1.

All games today (Saturday, September 6) were drawn. Tomorrow is a rest day with round 6 scheduled for Monday. The event concludes Saturday, September 13.


Quarter-Finals set for Women's Knock Out Championship in Nalchik



The Knock Out Tournament to name the Women's World Chess Champion enters the quarter-final round tomorrow in Nalchik in the north Caucasus Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia.

The quarter final matches pit Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Anna Ushenina of Ukraine; Koneru Humpy of India, the second ranking women's player in the world after Judit Polgar, against former world junior girls' champion Shen Yang of China; Armenia's Lilit Mkrtchian against the 14-year-old wunderkind for China, Hou Yifan; and former women's knock out champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria against Sweden's Pia Cramling, one of the first women ever to be awarded a full grandmaster title.

The quarter-final round will consist of two games to be played tomorrow and Monday, with any tiebreaks necessary to be played Tuesday.

The winners of the quarter-final advance to the semi-final round to begin Wednesday. The final round for the women's world title begins Sunday, September 14.


Calendar


Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

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

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

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Topalov - Anand, Round 4, Bilbao

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Vishy Anand
Grand Slam Chess Final, Round 4
Bilbao, 5 September 2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Bronstein Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7

• If 5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2 then:
• If 6...Be7 then:
• If 7.Bg2 c6 then:
• If 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 then:
• If 9...Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...f5 then:
• If 13.Rc1 Nf6 then:
• 14.Bb2 Bd6 15.Nf3 Qe7 16.Ne5 Rac8 17.Nd3 Rfd8 is equal (Kramnik-Anand, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• 14...Rc8 15.Rc2 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.cxd5 Rfd8 19.Nc4 Bb7 20.Rd2 Bb4 21.Rd3 b5 22.Ne3 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has more than enough of a space advantage to compensate for it.(Polaczek-Veenstra, cyberspace, 1999).
• 13...Rc8 14.Bb2 Bd6 15.a3 Qe7 16.Rc2 Nf6 17.Qc1 Kh8 18.e3 Ne4 19.Rd1 Bb7 20.b4 Bb8 21.Bf1 Qe8 22.a4 a6 gives Black a small edge in space (Karpov-Z. Almasi, IT, Biel, 1996).
• If 12...Rc8 13.e4 then:
• If 13...b5 14.Re1 dxe4 then:
• 15.Nxe4 bxc4 16.Qe2 Rb8 17.Bf1 Qc8 18.bxc4 Nb6 19.Nd2 Na4 20.Ba5 c5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Adams-Mamedyarov, IT, Sofia, 2007).
• 15.Bxe4 bxc4 16.bxc4 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Bf6 19.Rc1 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 Nf6 21.Bf3 Rc7 22.Nb3 Qxd1 23.Rxd1 Bc8 24.Kg2 h6 25.Rd6 Be6 26.Na5 Rb8 27.Rb3 draw (Timoshenko-V. Gurevich, Op. Mainz, 1995).
• 13...c5 14.exd5 exd5 15.dxc5 dxc4 16.c6 cxb3 17.Re1 b2 18.Bxb2 Nc5 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.Qg4 Bg5 21.Qxc4 Nd3 22.Be5 Nxe1 23.Rxe1 Bf6 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.c7 Qd6 gives Black the exchange, but White space advantage compensates for it.(Sasikiran-Shirov, IT, Foros, 2007).
• 12...Nf6 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 dxe4 15.Qc2 Rb8 16.Rad1 Qc8 17.Bf1 bxc4 18.bxc4 c5 19.Nxe4 cxd4 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxd4 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Qc5 is equal (Kallai-Adams, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).
• If 9.Nbd2 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 c5 12.e4 then:
• If 12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 then:
• 13...Bb7 14.Nfg5 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Qc7 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Ne4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Rad8 20.Rad1 Qa8 21.Qc3 Nb8 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Qxf6 Rxd1 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ draw (Schandorff-B. Socko, Ol. Bled, 2002).
• 13...Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bb7 15.Re3 Bf6 16.dxc5 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Nxc5 18.b4 Qf6 19.Qd4 Ne4 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Rd3 Rfc8 22.Nd2 f5 23.Re1 Rab8 24.Nxe4 draw (Cu. Hansen-Timman, IT, Malmö, 2001).
• 12...dxc4 13.Nxc4 Bb7 14.e5 Nd5 15.Bb2 b5 16.Ne3 N7b6 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Qe2 b4 20.Rac1 Qe7 21.Rc2 Rfc8 22.Rec1 Qf8 23.Qb5 is equal (Boychev-Córdoba, Belfort, 2005).
• 8.0-0 d5 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Rd1 0-0 11.Bf4 Rc8 12.Nc3 then:
• 12...Nh5 13.Bc1 then:
• 13...f5 14.e3 Qe8 15.Bb2 g5 16.Ne2 Ng7 17.Ne5 h5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Nc1 Ne4 20.Ncd3 Bb7 is equal (Sakaev-Grigoriants, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 13...Nhf6 14.Bf4 Nh5 15.Bc1 Nhf6 16.Bf4 Nh5 is a draw by repetition that has been played more than once.
• If 12...h6 then:
• 13.e4 dxc4 14.Nd2 b5 15.bxc4 bxc4 16.Na4 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5 Nh5 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Rab1 Bd4 21.Ne4 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Qe7 23.Nac3 Nhf6 24.Kh1 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 Nb6 26.a4 Rfd8 is equal (Yevseev-Lugovoi, Muni Ch, St. Petersburg, 2004).
• 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bc1 f5 15.a4 Bd6 16.a5 bxa5 17.Ba3 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 dxc4 19.Rda1 c5 20.Rxa5 cxd4 21.Nxd4 cxb3 22.Qxb3 Bc4 23.Qd1 gives White a modest advantage in space (Grischuk-Tomashevsky, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).
• If 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0 Bb7 then:
• 11.Qc2 Na6 12.Rfd1 Qc8 13.Bf4 Rd8 14.Ng5 Qd7 15.Be5 g6 16.Bh3 Qe8 17.Qc1 c5 18.a4 Nh5 19.Ne6 Bc8 20.Nxd8 Bxh3 21.Nb7 Qc6 22.e4 dxe4 23.d5 Qxb7 24.d6 Bf8 25.Nd5 Be6 gives Black a theoretical two pawn advantage in an asymmetrical material balace while White has almost enough space to compensate for it (Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).
• 11.Rc1 Na6 12.Ne5 Re8 13.Bf4 h6 14.Qd3 Ba3 15.Rcd1 Qc8 16.h3 Bf8 17.g4 c5 18.e3 Nb4 19.Qd2 Ne4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.a3 Nd5 22.Bg3 cxd4 23.exd4 Bxa3 24.Bxe4 Nf6 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 is equal (Kulikov-Lugovoi, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2000).
• If 6...Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 c6 8.Bg2 d5 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nc3 Nf6 then:
• 14.Rac1 Qd6 15.Rc2 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Rc7 17.Nb1 Rfc8 18.Rxc7 Rxc7 19.Rxc7 Qxc7 draw (Tal-Ivkov, Sarajevo, 1966).
• 14.Rfc1 Qd6 15.Rc2 Rac8 16.Rac1 Rc7 17.Bf1 Qe7 18.e3 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Qd7 20.a4 Rfc8 21.Nb5 Rxc2 22.Rxc2 Ne4 23.Qc1 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 g6 25.Ke2 Nd6 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.f4 draw (Bagirov-Razuvaev, Soviet Ch cycyle, Fruze, 1979).
• 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.Qb2 c5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Rd1 Bb7 15.e3 Qe7 16.Rac1 Nf8 17.Nh4 darkred8 is equal (Chernin-Raxuvaev, Rapid, Tilburg, 1994).

6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5

• 8...Bxd5 9.Nc3 Bc6 10.e4 d6 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Be3 Be7 13.Bf4 Nd7 14.e5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxg2 16.Qa4+ gives Black two extra pawns (Gormally-Devereaux, Euro Union Ch, Liverpool, 2007).

9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Qc8

• 10...Nc6 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 g6 13.Qf4 0-0 14.e5 Nh5 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 Bf6 17.Nc3 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Bxg2 19.Nf5 Bc6 20.d7 Qc7 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Rfd8 23.Be3 Bxb2 24.Nh6+ Kf8 25.Rad1 Bg7 26.Rxh5 gxh5 27.Qf5 Black resigns (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2007).

11.a3

• 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 d6 14.Qxc8 Rxc8 15.Nb5 Bc6 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 17.Bxf6 Bf8 18.Bc3 b5 19.Rac1 Re8 20.e3 Be4 21.Nh4 Bxg2 22.Nxg2 Nc6 23.Nf4 draw (Sargissian-Leko, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).
• 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.e4 0-0 14.Nc3 Nbc6 15.Rd2 Ba6 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Bxd7 Qb7 18.Rad1 Nge5 is equal (Sakaev-Zakhartsov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).

11...Nf6 12.Bg5!?

• Black has an extra pawn, but the game will even out in time. The novelty is only good for equality.
• 12.Nc3 d5 13.Bg5 Nbd7 14.e4 d4 15.e5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxg2 17.Qa4+ Nd7 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.Re1 Nxe5 20.Rxe5+ Kf8 21.Kxg2 dxc3 22.bxc3 g6 23.Rae1 Kg7 24.Re7 Qf5 25.Qc4 Rhd8 26.R1e5 Qf6 27.R5e6 Qf5 28.Re5 Qf6 draw (Kramnik-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).

12...d5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bxc3

• If 14...d4 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Nxd4 then:
• 16...0-0 17.Nb5 Bc6 18.Qb3 gives White the active game.
• 16...cxd4? drops material to 17.Qxc8+ Bxc8 18.Nd2!.

15.bxc3

• The text is better than 15.Qxc3 0-0 16.b4 Na6 17.Qd3 Qg4 18.bxc5 Nxc5, which give Black an excellent game.

15...Na6 16.Nh4 g6 17.Bxd5!

• 17.Qa4+ Bc6 18.Qf4 Qe6 19.c4 d4 remains equal.

17...Bxd5 18.Rxd5 0-0

• After 18...Nc7?! White gets a strong game by 19.Qe4+ Kf8 20.Rd2 Qe6 21.Qb7.

19.Rad1!

• White goes for the most active line.19.Rd3 c4 20.Rd4 Re8 21.Ng2 b5 22.Rad1 Nc5 is equal.

19...Nc7

• 19...Re8 20.Ng2 b5 21.Nf4 Rb8 22.Qd2 Rb6 23.Rd7 puts a Rook on the seventh rank for White.

20.Rd7 Ne6 21.Qe4!?

• 21.Qa4 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Nxd8 23.Qe8+ Kg7 24.Rd7 gives White a position bordering on winning.

21...Qe8

• 21...Qa6 22.Rxf7 Rxf7 23.Qxa8+ Nf8 24.Rd3 Qxa3 remains equal.

22.Nf3 c4?

• 22...Nd4 23.Qxe8 Nxf3+ 24.exf3 Rfxe8 25.Kf1 remains equal.

23.Qh4!

• Also good is 23.Qxc4! Nc5 24.R7d2 when:
• 24...Ne4 25.Rd3 Rc8 26.Qb4 Qe6 27.Nd2 Nc5 28.Re3 gives White a strong game.
• If 24...Qe7 then White retains the upper hand by 25.Qf4 Rad8 26.Nd4 Qe8 27.Kg2 Rc8 28.Qf3.

23...Nc5 24.Re7 Rd8

• After 24...Qa4 White wins with 25.Rd6 Qb3 26.Ng5 h5 27.Qf4 Qb1+ 28.Kg2.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 24...Rd1f8

25.Rf1! 1-0

• 25...Qc6 26.Ng5 h5 27.Nxf7 Rxf7 28.Rxf7 and lights out.
• World champion Anand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Ivanchuk - Carlsen, Round 2, Bilbao

This game features the two hottest players in the world right now.



Start of the game Ivanchu-Carlsen
Photo: Final Chess Masters: Bilbao 2008


Vassily Ivanchuk - Magnus Carlsen
Grand Slam Chess Final, Round 2
Bilbao, 3 September 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Rat Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3

• If 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Nb3 0-0 9.Kh1 then:
• If 9...a6 10.f4 b5 11.Bf3 then:
• If 11...Bb7 then:
• 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Na5 gives White a small advantage in space (Nisipeanu-Carlsen, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 14.Nd4 Qb6 15.c3 Rac8 is equal (Paschell-Rensch, Op, Philadelphia, 2001).
• If 11...Bd7 12.Be3 then:
• If 12...Rc8 13.Rf2 b4 14.Na4 Rb8 15.a3 then:
• 15...Na5 16.axb4 Nxb3 17.cxb3 Rxb4 18.Nc3 is equal (Velimirovic-Jotic, Op, Subotica, 2002).
• 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.c3 Qb5 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 Qxe5 21.Bd4 Bxa4 22.Rxa4 is equal (Nunn-Kudrin, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1985).
• 12...b4 13.Na4 Rb8 14.a3 a5 15.Rf2 Qc7 16.Rd2 Nd8 17.axb4 Rxb4 is equal (Short-Chiburdanidze, Banja Luka, 1985).
• If 9...Be6 10.Bg5 Na5 then:
• 11.f4 Rc8 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bd3 b5 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nd1 Re8 16.Ne3 Bxd3 17.cxd3 Nc6 gives White the advantage in space (Fishbein-Aramal, Op, Chicago, 2002).
• 11...Nc4 12.f5 Nxb2 13.Qc1 Bc4 14.Qxb2 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nxe4 16.f6 Nxf6 17.Nbd4 Qd7 18.c4 Ne4 19.Be3 d5 20.cxd5 Qxd5 21.Rab1 is equal (Gipslis-Nadyrhanov, IT, Alushta, 1994).

6...Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4

• If 9.0-0-0 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• If 12.Bd4 e5 13.Bc5 Be6 14.Ne4 Re8 15.h4 then:
• 15...h6 16.g4 Qc7 17.g5 h5 18.Bc4 Red8 19.Qf2 Nf4 20.Bxe6 Nxe6 21.Bd6 then:
• 21...Qb6 22.Rd2 Rd7 23.Rhd1 Rad8 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.Be7 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Ra8 27.Rd6 Nd4 28.a4 f5 29.gxf6 Bh6+ 30.Kb1 Rxa4 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.b3 Ra7 33.Rh8 Nf5 34.Nd6+ Nxd6 35.Bxd6 Ke6 36.Rxh6 Kxd6 37.Rxg6 Rf7 draw (Psakhis-Komljenovic, Op, Andorra, 1994).
• 21...Qa5 22.Kb1 Rd7 23.Rd2 Nd4 24.Rhd1 Rad8 25.Bc5 Rd5 26.c3 Rxc5 27.Nxc5 Qxc5 28.Qe3 Qd6 29.cxd4 exd4 30.Qd3 c5 31.Re2 gives White a small material advantage (Maslak-Azarov, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 15...Nf4 16.Qe1 Bd5 17.c4 Qc7 18.Bd6 Qb6 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.g3 dxe4 21.gxf4 exf4 22.Rh2 Rad8 23.Qb4 Qe3+ 24.Rhd2 Qxf3 25.Be2 Qg3 26.Kb1 e3 27.Rc2 Qxh4 28.Qxf4 Qxf4 29.Bxf4 Rxd1+ 30.Bxd1 h5 31.Re2 Bd4 32.Kc2 draw (Boll-Lecroq, Corres, 2007).
• 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Qc5 Qb7 15.Qa3 Bf5 16.Bd3 Rab8 17.b3 Rfc8 18.Bxf5 gxf5 19.Rd3 Qc6 20.c4 Qg6 21.Rhd1 Qxg2 22.Kb1 Kh8 23.Bxa7 Ra8 24.R3d2 Qxf3 25.Qxe7 Re8 26.Qxf7 Qe4+ 27.Kc1 Qf4 28.Kb1 Qe4+ 29.Kc1 Qf4 30.Bc5 Red8 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Mamedov, World Youth, Heraklio, 2004).

9...Bd7 10.0-0-0

• If 10.Bb3 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.h4 a5 then:
• 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxa5 Bxb3 18.cxb3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 Rxb3 22.Bc5 Rd8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan, Match, Budapest-Moscow, 1971).
• 13.h5 a4 14.Bd5 e5 15.Be3 b4 16.Ne2 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rc8 18.Rc1 e4 19.Kf2 Re8 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.c4 exf3 22.gxf3 Qf6 23.b3 Bg4 24.Nf4 g5 25.fxg4 gxf4 26.Bxf4 Re4 27.Kg3 Rf8 28.Rcf1 Qg6 29.Rh3 Be5 gives Black a won game (Prasca-Sorensen, Ol, Torino, 2006).

10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5

• If 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 15.exd5 a5 16.a3 b4 17.axb4 axb4 18.Qxb4 Kg8 19.Rhe1 Re8 20.Rd4 Rc5 21.Kd1 Qa8 22.Qd2 Qa1+ 23.Qc1 Qa6 24.Qh6 Qa1+ 25.Qc1 Qa6 26.Qh6 Qa1+ draw (Zivkovic-T. L. Petrosian, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 15.Bxd5 Qb6 16.h4 h6 17.h5 g5 18.f4 f6 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, Op, Corsica, 2003).

12.Kb1

• 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 Re8 15.g4 hxg4 16.h5 Nxh5 gives Black two extra pawns (Radjabov-Carlsen, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

12...a6

• If 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 then:
• If 14...b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 then:
• If 18...Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 then:
• 23.Nb7 Bc8 24.Nc5 Rc6 25.h3 g5 26.Rhd1 Ng8 27.Rf2 Rh6 28.Rh1 Rhf6 29.Rhf1 Rh6 30.Rh1 Rhf6 31.Rhf1 draw (Topalov-Tiviakov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1995).
• 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 Rd8 27.Be7 Rb8 28.Rd1 Bxa4 29.Bd6 gives White three pawns for a Bishop and a more active position (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 18...Nxd5 19.Qxa5 Nxe3 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.Nd5 Nc4 22.Qc7 Na3+ 23.Ka2 Black resigns (Motylev-Solovjov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
• 14...Qb8 15.h4 b5 16.h5 Rfc8 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Qb7 20.Qh2 h6 21.Bxh6 Rxd4 22.Rde1 Bf5 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Qh7+ Kf6 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.Re6+ Black resigns as White mates on the next move (Al Sayed-Somev, Op, Dubai, 2001).

13.Rhe1!?

• With correct play from Black, this novelty should be good for equality. However the position is very sharp.
• 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Rdg1 Qa5 17.Bh6 then:
• 17...Bf6 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Qe3 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 e6 23.Bc4 Nxc4 24.Rxg4 Be5 25.Rg2 b5 gives Black more activity, but White has a theoretical material advantage (Karjakin-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 17...Rxc3? 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rxh5 Rxb3 20.Qxa5 Rxb2+ 21.Ka1 gxh5 22.f4 Be6 23.Nxe6+ fxe6 24.fxe5 is slightly better for White (Anand-Carlsen, World Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2008).

13...b5?!

• If 13...Re8 14.g4 Qa5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nd5 then:
• 16...Qd8 17.f4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.b3 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 16...Qxd2 17.Rxd2 b5 18.Nb6 Rc7 19.f4 gives White a slight initiative.
• 13...Nc4! 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.g4 b5 16.g5 Nh5 17.Rf1 f5 is equal.

14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Rxc3!

• The exchange sacrifice is best.
• 15...b4 16.Nd5 e6 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Qd2 a5 19.f4 gives White more activity.
• If 15...Qc7 then 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 b4 18.Re4 f6 19.Ne6 is very strong for White.

16.bxc3 a5

• 16...Qa5 17.Qd2 Rc8 18.g4 Qxc3 19.Qxc3 Rxc3 20.g5 Nh5 21.Kb2 is equal.

17.f4!

• White's plan is to push Black out of the center.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 17.f3f4

17...Neg4!

• Black gains the necessary time to win the Bishop at b3, which was the object of playing the exchange sacrifice.
• 17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Ka1 a4 20.Qg5 leaves White up by an exchange.
• 17...a4? 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.Qh4 axb3 20.e6 bxa2+ 21.Kxa2 gives Black nothing for the exchange.

18.Qh4 a4 19.Bxf7+

• White sells the desperado Bishop as dearly as possible.

19...Rxf7

• 19...Kxf7? drops a Knight to 20.e5 .

20.e5!?

• 20.h3 Nh5 21.hxg4 Nxf4 22.Qg5 Qa5 23.Re3 is equal.

20...Nd5 21.e6 Nxc3+ 22.Kc1 Bxe6 23.Nxe6

• If 23.Rxe6 Nxd1 24.Qxg4 Nc3 then:
• 25.Rxg6+ Kh8 26.Rg5 a3 27.Nc6 Qf8 28.g3 e5 is equal.
• 25...hxg6 26.Ne6 Ne2+ 27.Kb1 Qb6 28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Qh6+ draws.

23...Qa5 24.Qxg4

• 24.Rd3 Nf6 25.a3 b4 is equal.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 24.Qh4g3:N

24...Nxa2+!

• Down a Rook, Magnus has nothing better than to force perpetual check.
• 24...Nxd1 25.Kxd1 b4 26.Qf3 Rf5 27.Qc6 forces an exchange os Queens while White remains a piece up.

25.Kb2 Qc3+ 26.Kxa2 Qxc2+ 27.Ka1 Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qb3+ 29.Ka1 Qc3+ ½-½

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Mongontuul - Hou Yifan, Round 2, Nalchik

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Bathuyag Mongontuul - Hou Yifan
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Round 2/Game 1
Nalchik, 1 September 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening (Rauzer Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f3

• If 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Qe1 then:
• 13...Ra7 14.Bd3 h5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.f5 b4 17.Ne2 e5 18.Ng3 Qf2 19.Rhf1 Qc5 20.Nxh5 gives White an extra pawn (Tiviakov-Neelotpal, IT, Dhaka, 2003).
• If 13...Be7 14.Bd3 Qc5 15.f5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Ng3 a5 18.Qe2 Rc8 19.b3 0-0 20.Bc4 Kh8 is equal (Adams-Kozul, Euro Ch, Belgrade, 1999).
• 15...h5 16.Rf1 Kd7 17.Rf3 Rag8 18.fxe6+ fxe6 19.Nd5 Rxg2 20.b4 gives White an extra pawn (Short-Torre, IZonal, Manila, 1990).

9...Be7 10.g4

• If 10.h4 h6 11.Be3 h5 12.Bg5 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• 13...b5 14.Qe1 Qc7 15.Nce2 Rb8 16.Ng3 a5 17.f4 Neg4 18.Be2 a4 19.c3 b4 20.cxb4 Qb6 21.a3 Ne3 22.Rd3 Nxg2 23.Qc1 gives White the advantage in space (Krivic-Verleur, Cyberspace, 2003).
• 13...Qc7 14.Bd3 b5 15.Rhe1 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.Nf4 Qb6 18.Bf1 is equal (Predojevic-Kolesar, Op, Pula, 2005).

10...h6!?

• The text move is good for equality.
• 10...h5 11.gxh5 Nxh5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Rg1 0-0-0 14.Nb3 Kc7 15.Be2 Bc8 16.f4 g6 17.Rg5 Kb8 18.Bxh5 Rxh5 19.Rxh5 gxh5 20.Rg1 Qf6 21.Rg5 gives White more activity (Stephan-Fedorowicz, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).

11.Be3

• 11.Bh4 Rc8 12.Bg2 Ne5 13.Bg3 Nc4 14.Qd3 Qb6 remains equal.

11...b5 12.h4 Rc8 13.Bd3

• 13.Kb1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Be3 Qa5 remains equal.

13...Ne5

• 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 b4 15.Nb1 e5 16.Be3 remains equal.

14.g5 Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Nh5

• 15...Ng8 16.g6 b4 17.gxf7+ Kxf7 18.Nce2 Qc7 remains equal.

16.Rdg1

• 16.Qd2 b4 17.Nce2 e5 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qc7 remains equal.

16...g6 17.f4

• 17.a3 would slow down Black's Kingside advance: if 17...Bf8 18.Kb1 then:
• After 18...Qe7 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.gxh6 Bxh6 21.Bxh6 Rxh6 22.Nb3 White threatens the d-pawn.
• 18...Qc7 19.Rd1 Qc4 20.Nb3 Qxd3 21.Rxd3 f5 is equal.

17...b4

• 17...hxg5 18.hxg5 b4 19.Nce2 e5 20.Nb3 Bb5 is equal.

18.Nce2 e5 19.Nf3 Bb5

• Even better is to bore the castle wall before attacking the Queen.
• 19...Ba4 20.c4 bxc3 21.Nxc3 Bb5 22.Qd2 exf4 when:
• 23.Bf2 Bc6 24.Kd1 f5 25.Re1 Qa5 is slightly better for Black.
• Black is very strong after 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Qxf4 Qa5 25.Kd1 Rxc3 26.bxc3 Qxa2.

20.Qd2

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Bathuyag Mongontuul
Position after 20.Qd3d2

20...Bc6!?

• The position is equal.
• With this move, White sacrifices a pawn for initiative.
• Black is strong after 20...Qc7! 21.Kd1 Qc4 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Nxe5 Qxe4.

21.Qxb4

• White accepts the pawn.

21...a5?!

• 21...d5 22.Qb3 exf4 23.Bxf4 hxg5 24.Nxg5 Bb5 remains equal.

22.Qc4!

• White seizes the upper hand; Black has not gotten her pawn's worth from the sacrifice.
• 22.Qb3 loses a pawn.

22...d5

• More active is 22...Qd7 23.Qd3 Qb7 24.Nc3 exf4 with equality.

23.Qb3 a4 24.Qd3

• If 24.Qb6 exf4 then:
• If 25.Qxd8+ Rxd8 then:
• 26.Bd4 dxe4 27.Bxh8 exf3 28.Nd4 Kd7 29.Re1 Bb7 30.Rxe7+ Kxe7 31.Re1+ Kd7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 26.Nxf4 Nxf4 27.exd5 Ne2+ wins the exchange.
• 25.exd5 Qxb6 26.Bxb6 Bxd5 27.Rh3 Bxa2 28.Nfd4 Bd5 gives Black an extra pawn.

24...exf4

• 24...Qc7? 25.Nxe5 dxe4 26.Qc4 Bd6 27.Nd4 Bxe5 28.fxe5gives White an extra pawn and a strong game.

25.Nxf4 Nxf4 26.Bxf4 a3!?

• The pawn has too little support here.
• Better is 26...dxe4 27.Qxd8+ Bxd8 28.Nd4 Bb6 29.Be5 Rh7 giving Black more activity and an advanced paased pawn.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Bathuyag Mongontuul
Position after 26...a4a3

27.b3

• White finds the most natural and best continuation.
• 27.Qd4 Rh7 28.Ne5 axb2+ 29.Kxb2 Qa5 30.Nxc6 Qb5+ 31.Ka1 still leaves White a pawn to the good.

27...dxe4 28.Qc3

• 28.Qxd8+ Bxd8 29.Nd4 Bb6 30.Be5 Rh7 is equal.

28...0-0?!

• 28...Rf8 29.Nd4 hxg5 30.hxg5 Bb7 31.Qe3 is equal.

29.gxh6 Bf6 30.Ne5 Bb7 31.Qe3

• 31.h7+ Kxh7 32.h5 g5 33.Qh3 Qd4 34.Qf5+ remains equal.

31...Qe7 32.Ng4?!

• 32.Nc4! Rfd8 33.Bg5 Ba6 34.Rf1 Bxg5 35.hxg5 Kh7 36.Qc3 gives White an extra pawn and threats against the enemy King.

32...Rc3 33.Qb6

• 33.Nxf6+?! Qxf6 34.Bg5 Qe5 35.Qf4 Qd4 36.Qf6 Rxc2+ gives Black a very strong position.

33...Rc6 34.Qe3 Rc3

• 34...Bb2+?! 35.Kb1 Rd8 36.Qf2 Kh8 37.Rd1 leaves White up by a pawn.

35.Qe1?

• Passive defense doesn't work here. White needs to find counterplay.
• 35.Qa7! Rfc8 36.Rh2 Rd3 37.Bg5 Bb2+ 38.Kb1 Qd7 is equal.

35...Rfc8!

• Black simply calls up the reserve and reinforces the attacked Rook.

36.Rh2

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Bathuyag Mongontuul
Position after 36.Rh1h2

36...Rxb3!!

• This sacrifice gets the a-pawn home, winning.

37.axb3 a2 38.Qa5

• This is the only way to hang on. White could have resigned here.

38...a1Q+ 39.Qxa1 Bxa1

• Black has a Queen for a Rook and a pawn.

40.h5 Kh7 41.hxg6+ fxg6 42.Rd2

• If 42.Be3 Bc3 43.Rh3 Rd8 then:
• 44.Nf6+ Qxf6 45.Bd2 Bxd2+ 46.Kb1 Ra8 47.c4 Qa1+ 48.Kc2 Ra2#.
• After 44.b4 Qxb4 White can only postpone mate.

42...e3

• Quicker is 42...Bc3 43.Kd1 e3 44.Nxe3 Bf3+ 45.Ke1 Qh4+, winning a piece.

43.Bxe3 Qa3+ 44.Kd1 Bf3+ 45.Ke1 Bxg4 46.Rxg4 Bc3 0-1

• Black is already up by two theoretical pawns and now wins at least the exchange.
• WGM Mongontuul resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shen Yang - Zhao Xue, Round 2, Nalchik

This is the second game between these two players featured in recent. The first, from the Chinese Championships in June, was also when by the lower-ranked Shen. Shen Yang has become a real bete noir to Zhao Xue.



Shen Yang
Photo: ChessBase.com


Shen Yang - Zhao Xue
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Round 2/Game 1
Nalchik, 1 September 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 c5

• If 7...Bb7 then:
• If 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 then:
• If 13.Bh4 Nd5 14.Bf2 c5 then:
• If 15.e4 Ne7 then:
• 16.Ne2 Rac8 17.Nc3 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Nc5 19.Rd1 Rfd8 20.Be3 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 e5 22.b4 Ne6 23.Kc2 Nc6 is equal (Kramnik-Leko, IT, Dortmund, 2006).
• 16.Bb5 Bc6 17.Bxc6 Nxc6 18.Ne2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Rac8 21.Kd2 Nc5 22.Bxc5 Rxc5 23.Rac1 Rd8+ 24.Ke3 Rdc8 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rd1 Kf8 draw (Topalov-Leko, IT, Cannes, 2002).
• 15.Bb5 Rfd8 16.e4 Nc7 17.Bxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 f5 19.e5 bxc5 20.Rc1 Nd5 21.Nh3 g5 22.Bxc5 g4 23.fxg4 fxg4 24.Nf2 gives White an extra pawn (Golod-Pilgaard, Op, Ubeda, 2001).
• 13.Be7 Rfe8 14.Bh4 Nd5 15.Bf2 c5 16.e4 Ne7 17.Bb5 Bc6 18.Bxc6 Nxc6 19.Ne2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Rac8 22.0-0 Nc5 draw (Pentala-Kasimdzhanov, IT, Pune, 2004).
• If 8.e3 d6 then:
• If 9.f3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 c5 11.Ne2 Rc8 then:
• 12.0-0 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5 15.Rac1 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 d5 17.cxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Kf2 e5 20.Bg3 f6 21.e4 Ne7 is equal (Bareev-Karpov, Rapid IT, Cap d'Agde, 2002).
• 12.Qd2 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.exd4 Ba6 15.Rc1 d5 16.cxd5 Bxd3 17.dxe6 Bxe2 18.Rxc8 Qxc8 19.exd7 Qxd7 20.Kxe2 g5 21.Bg3 Re8+ 22.Kd1 Qf5 23.Re1 Qb1+ 24.Qc1 Qd3+ 25.Qd2 Qb1+ draw (Lima-van der Wiel, Ol, Manila, 1992).
• 12.Qb3 h6 13.Bh4 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Qd1 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Ba6 Bc4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qe2 Qd7 20.Bxf6 draw (I. Sokolov-M. Gurevich, IT, Sarajevo, 2000).
• 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Ba6 11.Nc3 d5 12.Qc2 Bxc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4 14.Qa4 c5 15.Qxc4 cxd4 16.Qxd4 Nc5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Ke2 f5 20.h3 Rfc8 21.Rac1 h5 22.Rhd1 Nb3 23.Rb1 a6 24.Rd7 b5 25.Rbd1 Kg7 26.Kf3 is equal (Kuzubov-Mchedlishvili, Euro ChT, Gothenborg, 2005).

8.dxc5 bxc5 9.f3?!

• One could surmise from this new move that White could have in mind a set up like a pawn at e4, the King's Knight at g3 or f2, the Bishop at d3 and a kingside castle.
• 9.e3 Bb7 10.f3 then:
• If 10...Nc6 11.Nh3 h6 12.Bh4 Qa5 then:
• 13.Qxa5 Nxa5 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 Nc6 16.b5 Ne7 17.Bd3 Rfc8 18.e4 Ng6 19.Bg3 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.e5 gives White the initiative (M. Gurevich-Adams, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1990).
• 13.Rc1 Qxc3+ 14.Rxc3 Rfd8 15.Nf2 g5 16.Bg3 d6 17.Bd3 Nh5 18.Bc2 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Kg7 20.Ng4 Rh8 is equal (Oppenrieder-Sagstrom, Corres, 1992).
• 10...a5 11.Nh3 d6 12.Rd1 Ra6 13.Be2 Nbd7 14.0-0 h6 15.Bh4 a4 16.Bg3 e5 17.Rd2 Qe7 (Radziewicz-Javakhishvili, Euro Jr Ch (Girls), Patras, 2001).

9...Nc6

• The game is equal.
• 9...d6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Rd1 Nc6 12.e4 f5 is equal.

10.e3

• 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Qxf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0 Rd8 13.e4 iremains equal.

10...Rb8 11.Nh3 h6

• 11...e5 12.Rd1 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 iremains equal.

12.Bf4 d6 13.Rd1 e5 14.Bg3 Qe7 15.Nf2 Be6

• If 15...Nd4 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 Nf5 then:
• 18.e4 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Be6 20.c5 dxc5 21.Qxc5 Qxc5 22.bxc5 Rfc8 gives Black more freedom.
• 18.c5 dxc5 19.Qxc5 Qxc5 20.bxc5 Nxe3gives Black more activity.

16.Bd3 Rb6 17.0-0

• If 17.Bc2 Rfb8 18.b3 Ra6 then:
• 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Qc7 21.Bc2 Rxa3 22.0-0 Na5 puts Black up by a pawn.
• 19.Ra1 Nh5 20.Qd3 f5 21.Rd1 Rd8 22.Qd2 Rxa3 gives Black a material advantage.

17...Nh5

• After 17...Rfb8 18.Rd2 Nh5 19.Nh1 Rb3 20.Qc1 Qg5 Black stands to win a pawn.

18.Bc2?!

• 18.b3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Rfb8 20.Bc2 a5 is equal.

18...f5!

• 18...Nxg3 19.hxg3 Rd8 20.b3 Ra6 with equality.

19.Nd3

• If 19.f4 Rfb8 then:
• 20.Ba4 exf4 21.Bxf4 Nxf4 22.exf4 Nd4 23.Rfe1 Rxb2 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 20.b3 Nxg3 21.hxg3 a5 22.Rd2 a4 23.bxa4 Ra8 is equal.

19...Qf7 20.b3 Rfb8?!

• 20...Nxg3 21.hxg3 Ra6 22.Nb2 Rb8 is equal.

21.Bf2 Nf6 22.Nb2

• 22.Bh4 Ra6 23.Ra1 Rab6 24.Nb2 f4 is equal.

22...Qc7 23.Qd2 Rd8 24.Na4 Rbb8 25.Nc3

• If 25.Bh4?! Qf7 26.Nc3 g5 27.Bg3 then:
• If 27...f4 28.exf4 gxf4 29.Bh4 Nd4 30.Ne4 Nxe4 31.fxe4 is strong for Black.
• If 27...d5?! 28.cxd5 Nxd5 29.Nxd5 Rxd5 then:
• 30.Qc3! f4 31.Rxd5 Bxd5 32.Bf2 gives White a tactical initiative.
• 30.Qe2?! Rxd1 31.Qxd1 f4 32.Qd6 Qd7 33.Qxd7 Bxd7 gives Black the advantage in the quality of his minor pieces,

25...a6 26.Nd5

• If 26.Qd3 Qa5 27.Bh4 then:
• 27...Ne7 (
  
• 27...Qxa3 28.Ra1 Qb4 29.Bxf6 gxf6 30.Nd5 Qb7 gives White a small advantage.

31.Nxf6+ ) 28.e4 f4 29.Ra1 Qc7 30.Rfd1 gives White more freedom and control of d5.
26...Qf7?

• 26...Bxd5 27.cxd5 Ne7 28.e4 Rb5 29.Rb1 Rdb8 30.Rfc1 is slightly better for White.

BLACK: Zhao Xue
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Shen Yang
Position after 26...Qc7f7

27.Be1!?

• If 27.Qd3 Bxd5 28.cxd5 Ne7 29.e4 Rb5 30.Qc4 then:
• 30...Ra8 31.exf5 Nexd5 32.Be4 Nxe4 33.Qxe4 gives White the more active game.
• 30...Nd7 31.Be1 Ra8 32.f4 exf4 33.Rxf4 gives White more pawn mobility in the center.

27...Rd7 28.Qd3 Ne7

• If 28...Bxd5 29.cxd5 Ne7 30.e4 then:
• If 30...Rb6 31.Ba5 Rb5 32.a4 then:
• If 32...Rxa5 33.Qd2 Rb5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Ra1 gives White command of the open a-file and a theoretical material advantage.
• 32...Rbb7 33.Rb1 Qh5 34.b4 cxb4 35.Rxb4 Rxb4 36.Bxb4 Black stands to win a pawn.
• 30...Ra7 31.Rc1 Qh5 32.b4 cxb4 33.axb4 Rc8 34.Bd2 gives White more activity and a better shot at retaining command of the c-file.

29.e4

• 29.Nxe7+ Qxe7 30.e4 fxe4 31.fxe4 Nh5 32.Bd2 gives White more activity.

29...fxe4?

• This only aides White in opening the center for her Bishops.
• After 29...Bxd5 30.exd5 Qg6 31.Bd2 Qh5 32.Rfe1 Qh4 33.Bc3 White is more active.

30.fxe4 Nexd5 31.exd5 Bg4

• Of course, this is the only move.

32.Rd2 Rf8

• 32...e4 33.Qe3 Re8 34.Bh4 Qg6 35.h3 Bh5 36.Rdf2 tgivews White a big advantage.

33.Rdf2 Re7

• If 33...Bh5 34.Qg3 Kh8 35.Bd2 Qg8 36.Qh4 then:
• 36...Rdf7 37.Rxf6 Rxf6 38.Rxf6 Rxf6 39.Qxh5 gives White two Bishops for a Rook.
• 36...g5 37.Qxh5 Nxh5 38.Rxf8 Nf4 39.Rxg8+ Kxg8 40.Rf2 leaves White a piece to the good.

34.Qg3 Qh5

BLACK: Zhao Xue
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WHITE: Shen Yang
Position after 34...Qf7h5

35.h3!

• White wins material.

35...Bd1

• This loses a piece, but 35...Rb8 36.Rxf6 gxf6 37.Rxf6 Rg7 38.hxg4 Rxg4 39.Qf3 gives White two Bishops for a Rook and ties Black in knots.

36.Bxd1 Qxd1 37.Rxf6 1-0

• White remains a piece up.
• IM Zhao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. T. Kosintseva - Zantonskih, Round 2, Nalchik

Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.com


Tatiana Kosintseva - Anna Zatonskih
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Round 2/Game 1
Nalchik, 1 September 2008

Epine Dorsal: Open Horseman Defense (Petroff Defense/Steinitz Variation)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxc3

• If 6...Nxe5 7.dxe5 then:
• If 7...Nxc3 8.bxc3 then:
• 8...Bc5 9.Qh5 Be6 10.Rb1 Bb6 11.0-0 Qd7 12.Bg5 h6 13.h3 Bf5 14.a4 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Qf5 16.a5 Bxa5 17.Qh4 Bxc3 Black is winning (Movsesian-Fridman, Cyberspace, 2005).
• 8...Be7 transposes into Sutkovsky-Roiz (See note to White's eleventh move).
• 7...Bb4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Be6 10.Qe1 Nc5 11.Bb5+ c6 12.Ba3 Nd7 13.Bd3 c5 14.f4 g6 15.c4 Qc7 (Reefat-Hossain, IT, Dhaka, 2003).

7.bxc3 Nxe5

• If 7...Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nxd7 Bxd7 10.Qh5 f5 then:
• 11.Re1 c6 12.Bg5 Qc7 13.c4 Be8 14.Qh3 dxc4 15.Bxc4+ Bf7 16.Be6 Bxe6 17.Rxe6 Rae8 18.Rae1 Rxe6 19.Rxe6 is equal (Hamdouchi-P. H. Nielsen, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).
• 11.Rb1 b6 12.Re1 Qf6 13.Qf3 c6 14.Bf4 b5 15.Qg3 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Rf7 17.Kf1 Raf8 18.Re2 Qd8 19.Rbe1 Qb8 20.Qh4 Qd8 21.Qf4 Qb8 22.Re5 Qd6 is equal (Shirov-Anand, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

8.dxe5 Be7

• If 8...Bc5 9.Qh5 Be6 10.0-0 Qd7 11.Qh4 Be7 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Qxg5 0-0 14.Rae1 f5 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Re5 Bf7 17.Rfe1 Qc6 18.Qg3 Re8 19.Rxe8+ Bxe8 is equal (Hracek-Su. Polgar, Op, Pardubice, 1994).

9.Qh5 Be6 10.Rb1 Qd7 11.Bg5

• If 11.h3 b6 12.0-0 g6 13.Qh6 Bf8 14.Qh4 Be7 then:
• 15.Qh6 Bf8 16.Qh4 Be7 draws.
• 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Qxg5 Qe7 17.Bb5+ Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Qxd7 is equal (Sutkovsky-Roiz, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

11...g6!?

• It's not a very ambitious position and the novelty introduced by Black isn't any more ambitious.
• 11...c6 12.0-0 Bxg5 13.Qxg5 0-0 14.f4 h6 15.Qg3 f5 16.h3 b6 17.Kh2 c5 18.Rfd1 Rad8 is equal (Gashimov-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).

12.Qh4

• The game is equal.
• Another reasonable response is 12.Qh6 0-0-0 13.0-0 Rde8 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qf4 Kb8 with equality.

12...Bxg5 13.Qxg5 b6 14.0-0 0-0 15.f4

• If 15.a3 Rae8 16.Qf6 c6 then:
• 17.f4 Qe7 18.Qxe7 Rxe7 19.Rfe1 Kg7 gives Black the advantage in pawn structure, but there is no way to expoit it yet.
• 17.Rb4?! Qe7 18.Ra4 Qxf6 19.exf6 a5 gives Black a small advantage; it will take White two moves to make use of the Rook now at a4.

15...Qd8 16.Qg3

• After 16.Qh6 Black retains a slight advantage with 16...f5 17.Rfe1 Qe7 18.h4 Qc5+ 19.Kf1 Rf7.

16...Kh8 17.f5 gxf5

• If 17...Bd7? then White wins after 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.e6 Bc6 20.Qe5+ Kg8 21.Rxf8+ Qxf8 22.e7.

18.Bxf5 Rg8 19.Qh3 Bxf5 20.Rxf5 Rg7

• The game is still even.
• 20...Qe7 21.Qf3 Rad8 22.Re1 Rg7 remains equal.

21.Rbf1

• 21.Rd1 Qd7 22.Qd3 Rd8 23.c4 d4 24.c3 gives White a slight advantage.

21...Qe7 22.Qf3 Rd8 23.Kh1

• 23.Qd3 Kg8 24.Kh1 c5 25.c4 dxc4 26.Qxc4 Qe6 remains equal.

23...Kg8 24.Qh5 Re8 25.R1f3

• 25.a3 c6 26.Qf3 Qd7 27.c4 dxc4 28.Rd1 Qc7 29.Qf4 remains equal.

25...a5

• Black will advance his pawns and then attack White's weakened queenside.
• 25...c6 26.Rf2 Qe6 27.Re2 Rg6 28.Qf3 remains equal.

26.R3f4 b5 27.Qf3 Qe6
BLACK: Anna zatonskih
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 27...Qe7e6

28.h4!?

• White's plan is to advance the pawn and displace the Rook.
• 28.Qf1 c6 29.a4 Rb8 30.axb5 cxb5 31.Qd3 remains equal.

28...c5 29.h5

• Continuing the same plan as before.
• 29.a4 bxa4 30.Rxa4 Ra8 31.c4 Qe8 32.Ra3 remains equal.

29...b4?!

• This weakens Black's pawns.
• Better is 29...a4 30.Qf2 Rc8 31.Qe2 Rb8 32.Rf6 with equality.

30.cxb4 axb4

• 30...cxb4?! 31.a3 bxa3 32.Qxa3 Ra8 33.Qd6 gives White the advantage.

31.Rg4!?

• 31.c3 bxc3 32.Qxc3 c4 33.a4 h6 34.a5 remains equal.

31...Rxg4

• 31...d4 32.Rxg7+ Kxg7 33.Rg5+ Kh8 remains equal.

32.Qxg4+ Kh8?!

• Better is 32...Kf8 33.Qf4 Re7 34.Rf6 Qxe5 35.Rxf7+ Ke8 with equality.

33.Qf4 Re7?

• If 33...Kg8 34.h6 c4 35.Qg3+ Kf8 36.Qg7+ Ke7 37.Qxh7 then:
• 37...Rh8! 38.Qxh8 Qxf5 39.h7 Qf1+ 40.Kh2 Qf4+ draws.
• 37...d4? 38.Rf6 Qxe5 39.Qxf7+ Kd8 40.Rf1 c3 41.h7 wins for White.

BLACK: Anna zatonskih
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 33...Re8e7

34.h6!

• White takes advantage of the inaccuracy of Black's last two moves and traps the King in the corner.

34...Qg6

• If 34...Kg8 35.Qg4+ Kf8 36.Qg7+ Ke8 37.Qxh7 then:
• 37...Kd7 then after 38.Rh5 Qg4 39.Qf5+ Qxf5 40.Rxf5 Ke6 41.Rh5 White wins.
• If 37...Qg6 then after 38.Qxg6! fxg6 39.Rf6 g5 40.Rd6 d4 41.Rc6 White wins.

35.Kg1 d4 36.Rf6 Qxc2 37.Qg5 1-0

• Black must surrender the Queen to stop 38.Qg7#.
• Ms. Zatonskih resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Gaponenko - Stefanova, Round 3, Nalchik

Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Inna Gaponenko - Antoaneta Stefanova
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Round 3/Game 1
Nalchik, 4 September 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Schallop Opening (Gligoric Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0

• A hundred years ago, Dr, Lasker was apt to play 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4.

5...Qf6

• If 5...f6 6.d4 then:
• If 6...exd4 7.Nxd4 then:
• If 7...c5 8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bg4 10.f3 Be6 11.Be3 b6 12.a4 then:
• If 12...Kf7 13.Nc3 Bd6 14.a5 c4 15.Nd4 b5 16.Nxe6 Kxe6 17.Ne2 Ne7 18.Bf4 Be5 then:
• 19.Nd4+ Kf7 20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.exf5 Rad8 23.Kf2 Kf6 24.g4 h5 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Ke3 Rd4 27.Rg1 c3 draw (Malisauskas-Psakhis, Op, Moscow, 1989).
• 19.Bxe5 fxe5 20.Kf2 Rhd8 21.Ke3 Nc6 22.f4 Nb4 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Rc1 Na2 25.Ra1 Nb4 26.Rc1 Na2 draw (Schmittdiel-Psakhis, Op, Groningen, 1990).
• 12...Ne7 13.Bf4 c4 14.Nd4 0-0-0 15.Nc3 Rxd4 16.Rxd4 Ng6 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Rad1 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.f4 gives White a small advantage in space (Aleshnia-Mackie, Vyberspace, 1998).
• If 8.Ne2 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd7 10.Nbc3 0-0-0 then:
• If 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rd2 Bc6 13.Rad1 b6 then:
• If 14.f3 then:
• If 14...Ne7 15.Nf4 Ng6 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Bf4 Be7 18.Nd5 Bd8 19.Bg3 g5 20.Ne3 g6 21.Bf2 Rh7 22.g4 c4 23.Kg2 b5 24.c3 Bd7 25.Bg3 is equal (Lanzicka-V. Georgiev, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 14...Bd6 15.Bf4 Bxf4 16.Nxf4 Nh6 17.Kf2 f5 18.exf5 Nxf5 19.Re1 Rxe1 20.Kxe1 g5 draw (Svidler-Aronian, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 14.Nf4 Nh6 15.Nfd5 Ng4 16.Bf4 Ne5 17.b3 Kb7 18.Ne3 g6 19.Ncd5 Bg7 20.Bg3 Rhf8 21.Bh4 Rf7 22.Bg3 Bh6 23.Re2 Bf8 24.f3 b5 25.Kf2 gives White a slight advantage (Dutta-Sandipan, Delhi, 2006).
• 11.Bf4 Ne7 12.Bg3 Ng6 13.Nd5 Ne5 14.f4 Nc4 15.b3 Bg4 16.Re1 Na3 17.Rac1 c4 18.Bf2 Bd6 19.Nec3 c6 20.Nb6+ Kb8 21.e5 fxe5 22.fxe5 Bb4 gives Black more freedom (Asmundsson-Nyysti, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 6...Bg4 7.c3 then:
• If 7...exd4 8.cxd4 then:
• 8...Qd7 9.h3 Be6 10.Nc3 0-0-0 11.Bf4 Ne7 12.Rc1 Ng6 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Na4 Bxg3 15.fxg3 Kb8 16.Nc5 Qd6 17.Qa4 Ka7 18.Nxa6 Bxh3 19.e5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.Nc5+ Kb8 22.gxh3 e4 23.Nxe4 Qe7 24.Rc3 b5 25.Qc2 Black resigns (Fischer-Gligoric, Ol, Havana, 1966).
• 8...Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Qxd4 10.Rd1 Qc4 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 cxd6 13.Qg3 Qf7 14.Rxd6 Nh6 15.Nc3 0-0 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Rxf6 Qxg3 18.Rxf8+ Kxf8 19.hxg3 gives White an extra pawn (O'Donnell-Day, Canadian Ch, Kingston, 1992).
• If 7...Bd6 8.Be3 then:
• 8...Ne7 9.Nbd2 Qd7 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.h3 Be6 12.Ng5 Bg8 13.Qh5+ Ng6 14.Rfd1 0-0-0 15.Nf1 Qe8 16.Ng3 h6 17.Nf3 Be6 18.Nf5 Qf7 19.Rxd6 cxd6 20.Qxg6 Qxg6 21.Ne7+ gives White two minor pieces for a Rook (Benjamin-I. Sokolov, Donner Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).
• 8...Qe7 9.Nbd2 0-0-0 10.Qc2 exd4 11.Nxd4 Qf7 12.f4 Nh6 13.b4 Bd7 14.h3 Rhe8 15.a4 Qg6 16.Rf3 Qh5 17.f5 Nf7 18.b5 cxb5 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.Nxb5 axb5 21.Qb3 Ne5 22.Qxb5 c6 23.Qb3 Bb8 24.Nc4 Nxc4 25.Qxc4 Qh4 26.g4 h5 27.Bf2 Qg5 28.Be3 Qh4 29.Bf2 Qg5 30.Be3 draw (Fressinet-Grischuk, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 5...Qd6 then:
• If 6.Na3 Be6 7.Qe2 f6 8.Rd1 then:
• If 8...Bg4 9.c3 then:
• If 9...c5 then:
• If 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ne7 12.d4 cxd4 13.cxd4 then:
• 13...exd4 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.Rac1 Nc6 16.Nc2 Rd8 17.Qg3 Qf7 18.Bxc7 Rd7 19.e5 Be7 20.exf6 Qxf6 21.Ne1 0-0 22.Nd3 is equal (Solozhenkin-Ibragimov, Russian Ch, St Petersburg, 1998).
• 13...Ng6 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Nc4 Qb5 16.Ne3 Bc5 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.a4 Qd7 19.Qb3 Qf7 20.Qxb7 0-0 21.f4 gives White an extra pawn (Balogh-Portisch, Kazincbarcika, 2005).
• 10.Nc2 0-0-0 11.d4 Qc6 12.d5 Qe8 13.Ne3 Bh5 14.b4 Nh6 15.Nc4 g5 16.bxc5 g4 17.Nh4 g3 18.f3 Bxc5+ 19.Kh1 Qf8 20.Rb1 Be8 21.Na5 Bb6 22.Nc4 is equal (Timman-Xie Jianjun, Donner Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).
• 9...Qe6 10.Nc2 Bd6 11.Ne3 Ne7 12.d4 Ng6 13.Nxg4 Qxg4 14.h3 Qe6 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.Nxe5 fxe5 17.Be3 0-0 18.b3 Rad8 19.Qg4 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxg4 21.hxg4 exf4 22.Kf1 gives White a small advantage with the passed pawn (Balogh-Olszewski, Najdorf Mem, Warsaw, 2008).
• 8...0-0-0 9.d4 Bg4 10.Be3 Qe6 11.dxe5 Rxd1+ 12.Qxd1 Bxa3 13.bxa3 Ne7 14.Nd4 Bxd1 15.Nxe6 Bxc2 16.f3 b6 17.Nxg7 fxe5 18.Bg5 Ng6 19.h4 Rg8 is equal (Sigalas-Haznedaroglu, Op, Athens, 2006).
• If 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Be3 0-0-0 then:
• 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Qe2 Nf6 11.f3 Bd6 12.Rad1 Rhe8 13.Qf2 Kb8 14.Nde2 h5 15.Nf4 Qh7 16.Nd3 h4 17.Bg5 Qg6 18.Bxh4 Qh6 19.e5 Bxe5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5 21.Rd3 Rh8 22.Bg3 Re7 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Re8 is equal (Rolletschek-Frosch, Austrian ChT, Graz, 2002).
• 9.Nd2 Nh6 10.f3 f5 11.Qe2 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Qe5 13.Bf2 Be7 14.c3 Rhe8 15.Rfe1 Qh5 16.b4 Ng8 17.a4 Nf6 18.b5 cxb5 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.c4 Nxe4 21.cxb5 Bd6 gives Black an extra pawn (Meijers-Mikhalevski, Op, Dieren, 1997).
• If 5...Bg4 6.h3 h5 7.d3 Qf6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 then:
• If 9.Re1 Ng6 10.d4 Nf4 then:
• 11.dxe5 Qg6 12.Nh4 Bxd1 13.Nxg6 Nxg6 14.Rxd1 0-0-0 15.Re1 Nxe5 16.Nf3 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Bb4 18.c3 Bc5 19.Kf1 Rd3 20.Ke2 Rhd8 21.Rg1 g6 22.Bf4 b5 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, IT (rapid playoff), Madrid, 1997).
• 11.hxg4 hxg4 12.g3 gxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne6 14.dxe5 Qh6 15.Nb3 g5 16.Be3 Bg7 17.Kf1 Bxe5 18.c3 0-0-0 19.Ke2 Qg6 20.Qf5 Qg7 21.Nc5 g4 22.Rad1 Rd6 23.Rh1 Rhd8 24.Rxd6 Bxd6 25.Rh7 Qe5 26.Qxe5 Bxe5 27.Rxf7 Nxc5 28.Bxc5 Rg8 29.Ke3 Black resigns (B. Socko-Olszewski, Najdorf Mem, Warsaw, 2008).
• If 9.Nc4 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Ng6 then:
• 12.Be3 0-0-0 13.Rfd1 Bd6 14.Kf1 Rd7 15.Ke2 f6 16.c3 Nf8 17.b4 Ne6 18.a4 Rdd8 19.b5 cxb5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nxd6+ cxd6 22.Rdb1 Nc7 23.Bb6 Kd7 is equal (Ribli-School, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 1972).
• 12.Rd1 c5 13.Kf1 Bd6 14.Ke2 f6 15.c3 Kf7 16.Be3 Rhd8 17.a3 a5 18.a4 b6 19.Rdc1 Rd7 20.b4 cxb4 21.Nxd6+ cxd6 22.cxb4 axb4 23.Rcb1 d5 24.Rxb4 d4 is equal (Kamsky-Anand, IT, Sofia, 2006).

6.h3

• If 6.d4 exd4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.Bxe7 Nxe7 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Nb3 then:
• If 11...0-0-0 then:
• 12.Qh5 Ng6 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.f4 Kb8 15.Qc5 f5 16.Rd4 Qxc5 17.Nxc5 Bc8 18.Rfd1 Rxd4 19.Rxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Tkachiev, French Ch playoffs, Aix-les-Bains, 2007).
• 12.Qe2 g5 13.Qe3 b6 14.Qxg5 Rhg8 15.Qe3 Qg6 16.g3 h5 17.f3 f5 18.exf5 Nxf5 19.Qd3 Kb8 gives Whiute a small advantage in space (Magem-Morozevich, IT, Pamplona, 1995).
• 11...Qxd1 12.Raxd1 b6 13.Rd2 0-0-0 14.Rfd1 c5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 f5 17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.c3 Be6 is equal (Leko-Carlsen, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).

6...Ne7 7.c3 Ng6 8.d4 Bd6!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 8...h6 9.Kh1 Bd7 10.Be3 0-0-0 11.Nbd2 Qe6 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qxe5 14.f4 Qe8 15.Qc2 is equal (Vallejo-A. Ivanov, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

9.Bg5 Qe6

BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Inna Gaponenko
Position after 9...Qf6e6

10.dxe5

• This opening has drawish tendancies. The ensuing struggle for the center in positions like this one usually resolve into a lifeless equality.
• 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Qb3 Qxb3 12.Nxb3 f6 remains equal.

10...Nxe5 11.Nd4

• 11.Bf4 Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 0-0 13.Nd2 Bd7 remains equal.

11...Qg6 12.f4 Bc5 13.Kh1

• 13.Kh2 f6 14.Bh4 Nf7 15.Nd2 0-0 16.Qf3 Rd8 remains equal.

13...f6

• 13...0-0 14.Nd2 Re8 15.Qb3 Nd7 16.Rad1 remains equal.

14.Bh4 Qh6

• 14...Nf7 15.f5 Qh6 16.Bg3 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Nxd6 18.Re1 remains equal.

15.Bg3

• White can affords the pawn as she is compensated in activity.
• 15.fxe5 Qxh4 16.exf6 gxf6 17.Qf3 Be7 18.Rd1 remains equal.

15...Bxh3 16.Kg1 Bg4

• 16...Qg6 17.Qe1 Nd3 18.Qe3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Nxb2 20.Qe2 gives White the advantage in space.

17.Qb3

• White finds the only satisfactory move. The game remains equal.
• 17.Qa4 Be2 18.Re1 Bb5 19.Qb3 Nd3 Black, already up by a pawn, has gained a fine position by shell shocking White's pieces.
• After 17.Qc2 Nc4 18.Rf2 0-0-0 19.Qd3 Nd6 20.Nd2 Nb5 Black is winning.

17...0-0-0

• 17...Nd3 18.Qxb7 0-0 19.Qb3+ Rf7 20.Qc2 Nb4 remains equal.

18.Na3?

• It is absolutely necessary to prevent Black's next move.
• If 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.Bxe5 Qe3+ 20.Kh1 Qh6+ then:
• 21.Kg1! Qe3+ 22.Kh1 Qh6+ 23.Kg1 Qe3+ draws.
• 21.Bh2 Bd6 22.g3 Qe3 gives Black a small advantage.

BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova
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WHITE: Inna Gaponenko
Position after 18.Nb1a3

18...Nd3!

• The Knight is safe and strong at this post.

19.Nac2 Be2 20.Qc4

• 20.Qe6+ Kb8 21.Rfb1 Nxf4 22.Qf5 Nd3 23.b4 Bb6 White will not be able to withstand too much more battering.

20...Qg6 21.Kh2 Qh5+ 22.Kg1 Nxf4 23.Qb3

• Black wins easily after 23.Rxf4 Bxc4 24.Bf2 Qg6 25.Ne3 Bxd4 26.cxd4 Rxd4.

23...Bxf1 24.Bxf4 Bd3 25.Be3 Rhe8 26.Ne6 Bxc2 0-1

• White is pummeled.
• IM Gaponenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Mkrtchian - Dronavalli, Round 3, Nalchik

Lilit Mkrtchian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Lilit Mkrtchian - Dronavalli Harika
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Round 3/Game 2
Nalchik, 4 September 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

• 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 Be7

• If 8...Nbd7 9.g4 then:
• If 9...b5 then:
• If 10.g5 b4 11.Nd5 then:
• If 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Be7 then:
• If 15.h4 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• If 8...h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 then:
• If 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.Kb1 Rc8 then:
• If 12.Nd5 then:
• 12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Bg5 16.Bf2 b5 17.h4 Bh6 18.Be1 Qc7 is equal (Leko-Sadler, IT, Tilburg, 1998).
• 12...Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb6 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.g3 0-0 16.Bh3 Ra8 17.Rhe1 a5 18.a4 Qc7 19.Bf1 Rfc8 20.Bb5 Bf8 21.f4 exf4 22.gxf4 Qb6 23.Re2 Ne8 24.f5 Nc7 25.f6 g6 26.Bd7 Rd8 27.Be6 Re8 28.Qg5 Black resigns (Shirov-Svidler, IT, Linares, 1998).
• 12.h3 h4 13.Bd3 b5 14.f4 Qc7 15.Rhe1 Bc4 16.Qf2 b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 0-0 20.Rc1 a5 21.c4 a4 22.Nd2 f5 23.g4 hxg3 24.Qxg3 e4 25.Rd4 Nc5 26.Rg1 Bd8 27.Nf1 Nd3 gives Black the advantage in space (Mastrovasilis-Effimenko, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 10.a4 Be7 11.Be2 Rc8 12.a5 Qc7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Kh1 Rfd8 15.Nc1 h4 16.Rd1 Nc5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bf5 is equal (Tiemann-Hefka, Corres, 2003).

9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7

• If 10...a5 11.a4 Na6 12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 Qc7 14.g5 Nd7 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 is equal (Domínguez-Wojtaszek, Capablanca Mem, Havana, May 2008).

11.g4 b5 12.Rg1 Nb6 13.Na5 Nc4?

• It is unlikely we'll see this new move again. It gives White too free a hand with the d5 square, a vital part of White's strategy in most open Sicilians..
• 13...Rc8 14.g5 Ne8 15.a3 Qc7 16.Kb1 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bh3 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Qd7 Qxd7 22.Rxd7 Rc7 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Bc5 Ref7 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Nc6 Rxf3 27.Nxe5 Rf5 28.Nd3 a5 29.h4 draw (Leko-Svidler, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

14.Nxc4!

• The text is slightly better than 14.Bxc4 Qxa5 15.Nd5 Qxd2+ 16.Rxd2 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Rab8 18.Rgd1.

14...bxc4

• 14...Bxc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.g5 Nd7 17.Nd5 gives White a choke hold on the center.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
$ +tW T L%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Lilit Mkrtchian
Position after 14...bc4:N

15.g5!

• Although this is a stereotypical Sicilian move, it is more powerful than usual here.
• White's winning plan is:
• Retrain Black's counteryplay on the kingside;
• Occupy d5 with a piece;
• Have Black's queenside pawns for lunch.

15...Nd7

• 15...Ne8 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5 then:
• 17...c3 18.b3 a5 19.a4 leaves Black's queenside pawns vulnerable.
• 17...Nc7 18.Qxc4 Rb8 19.Qc6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5!

• The Queen's influence over d5 is a dominant theme until the Queen exchange on move 28.

17...c3 18.b3 Nc5

• 18...a5 19.a4 Qc7 20.Bb5 Nc5 21.g6! cleverly exploits the pin at f7, thus restrain Black' kingside.

19.Bc4 Kh8 20.Kb1 Rc8 21.h4!

• White moves to restrain Black's kingside. This not only has the effect of shutting down counterplay, but fixing points of attack before the final assault.

21...Ne6 22.Rd3 Nd4

• 22...Nc7 23.Qa5 Qe8 24.h5 f5 25.g6! finishes tha paralyzation of Black's kingside (see previous note).

23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Qxd4 d5

• This is far from Black's most stubborn defense.
• If 24...Rc5 then 25.f4 Qa5 26.h5 f6 27.gxf6 Bxf6 28.Qxd6 crushes Black.
• If 24...Qa5 25.Qxc3 Qc5 26.Qd4 then:
• If 26...Qa5 then after 27.f4 Rcd8 28.h5 d5 29.h6 Rg8 30.Qe5 White wins more material.
• 26...d5 27.exd5 Qxd4 28.Rxd4 Bc5 29.Rgd1 Bxd4 30.Rxd4 leaves White with three pawns for the exchange.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
$ +tW T L%
$+ + VoOo%
$o+ + + +%
$+ +o+ P %
$ +bQp+ P%
$+pOr+p+ %
$p+p+ + +%
$+k+ + R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Lilit Mkrtchian
Position after 24...d6d5

25.Qxd5!

• The Queen is again at d5.

25...Qb6

• 25...Qxd5 26.exd5 Bc5 27.Rgd1 a5 28.Rxc3 leaves White with three extra pawns.

26.Rgd1 Qb4

• Black could have at least made things interesting here.
• 26...Rcd8!? is the move the presents White with the most problems:27.Qf5 then:
• If 27...Rxd3 28.Bxd3 Qb4 29.Ka1 a5 then
• After 30.f4 a4 31.e5 g6 32.Qe4 Qa3 33.Rb1 White still wins.
• After 30.h5?! a4 31.Rb1 axb3 32.Rxb3 Qd4 33.Rb5 White's path to vicotry becomes more difficult.
• If 27...Qf2 then White remains strong after 28.Qe5 Qxf3 29.Bd5 Bd6 30.Qxg7+ Kxg7 31.Rxf3.

27.Qd4 Rcd8 28.Bd5

• If 28.Qxd8 Bxd8 29.Rxd8 h6 then:
• 30.Bxf7 g6 31.Bc4 Rxd8 32.Rxd8+ gives White more than enough compensation in material for the Queen.
• 30.Rxf8+ Qxf8 31.Rd3 a5 32.Rxc3 gives White more than enough compensation in material for the Queen.

28...Qxd4 29.Rxd4 f6 30.g6 f5

• 30...hxg6 31.Ra4 Rd6 32.Rc4 f5 33.e5 Rd7 34.e6 wins another pawn for White.

31.h5 fxe4

• No better is 31...Bf6 32.R4d3 fxe4 33.fxe4 Rfe8 34.a3 Re5 35.Rh1.

32.Bxe4 Rxd4 33.Rxd4 Bf6

• If 33...hxg6 White gets a winning game after 34.hxg6 Rd8 35.Rxd8+ Bxd8 36.b4.

34.Rd6 hxg6 35.hxg6 a5 36.Rd5 Rd8

• If 36...Kg8 White wins with 37.Rxa5 Re8 38.a4.

37.Rxd8+ Bxd8
BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
$ + V + L%
$+ + + O %
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WHITE: Lilit Mkrtchian
Position after 37.Be7d8:R

38.Bd5!

• The King is stalemated and is thus prevented from taking any part in the defense. White now concludes the attack.

38...Bg5 39.a3 Be7 40.Ka2 Bd6 41.b4 axb4 42.a4 1-0

• After 42...Bc7 43.Kb3 Ba5 44.Bf7 Black's queenside pawns fall.
• Harika resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Monday): Women's Semi-Finals Set

All four of the quarter-final matches at the FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship in Nalchik completed today without the need for a tiebreak round in any of them.

Advancing to the semi-final round on Wednesday are Koneru Humpay (India), Hou Yifan (China), Pia Cramling (Sweden) and Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia).

The semi-final matches begin Wednesday with Koneru paired against Hou and Pia against Kosteniuk.