The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (October 4): The Russian Natl Champiohsip Begins in Moscow

[Jack Rabbit]

Russian National Championship Begins in Moscow



The annual "Superfinal" of the Russian National Championship cycle began Friday in Moscow.

Twelve players, led by defending champion Alexander Morozevich, will compete in a single round robin for what is probably the most prestigious of all national chess titles.

The other competitors are former champions Peter Svidler and Evgeny Alekseev, Dmitry Jakovenko, Ernesto Inarkiev, Artyom Timofeev, Nakita Vitiugov, Alexander Lastin, Alexander Rianzantsev, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Konstantin Sakaev and Konstantin Maslak.

After two rounds, Svidler and Lastin are on top with perfect scores, while Alekseev, Vitiugov and Rianzantsev are a half point back. Morozevich won his first round game against Sakaev but fell victim to Svidler's precise endgame play in an 87-move marathon today.

The third round will be played tomorrow beginning at 3 pm Moscow tiem (4 am PDT). The games will be broadcast on the official website of the Russian Chess Federation (look for the familiar word ONLINE in Roman characters amid all the Cyrilic).


Three tied in Commonwealth Championship



Defending champion Nigel Short of Britain, grandmaster Emanul Hossain of Bangladesh and Indian GM Surya Ganguly are tied for first place with 7½ points each after nine rounds of the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Nagpur, Maharashtra (India).

Mr. Short is on top in spite of his setback in the third round to Indian IM Rahul Sangma, whose Elo rating at 2339 is about 300 points less than Mr. Short's. It was one of the most stunning upsets this year. Short has won seven games, more than any other player in the tournament, to compensate for the defeat.

The tournament continues tomorrow with games beginning at 1 pm Nagpur time (12:30 am PDT). The 11-round event finishes Monday.


Anand and Kramnik prepare for battle in Bonn



Current world champion Vishy Anand of India and his predecessor, Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik, will square off in a 12-round match for the world championship in Bonn, the Cold War capital of West Germany, beginning Tuesday, October 14.

Kramnik will attempt to regain the title he loast in Mexico City last year when Anand won a championship tournament of eight of the strongest players in the world. Kramnik had held the title since the Autumn of 2000, when he defeated the great Garry Kasparov in a fourteen game match in London. Kramnik underscored his right to the title in 2006 when he narrowly defeated Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov, who held FIDE's version of the world championship after winning a strong tournament in San Luis, Argentina. That ended a long schism in chess in which two champions claimed the title simultaneously for 13 years.

Anand, one of the most popular players in the world, played Kasparov for the title in 1995 in New York, losing a scheduled 20-game match in 18 games, 10½-7½; Kasparov won four games to Anand's one. Since that time, Anand remained one of the two or three top ranked granmasters in the game. He is the first world champion of Asian heritage.

The winner of the match will play against the winner of a match between Topalov and US grandmaster Gata Kamsky to be held in Ukraine in December.



Calendar

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

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February 2009.

[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 to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Pentala - Kaidanov, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech, Round 9

India's Pentala Harikrishna was awarded the SPICE Cup this year by virtue having the best tie break score among the four players who finished tied for first with 5½ points each.

He had to win his last-round game against Greg Kaidanov to win the tournament.



Pentala Harikrishna
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Pentala Harikrishna - Greg Kaidanov
SPICE Cup, Round 9
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 28 September 2008

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Exchange Harrwitz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4

• If 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bg5 c6 7.Qc2 g6 then:
• If 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nbd7 then:
• 11.0-0 0-0 is equal.
• 11.Bh6 Ng4 12.Bf4 Ngf6 13.Bh6 invites an early draw.
• 8.e4 dxe4 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qxe4+ Qe7 11.Bc4 0-0 12.0-0 Qb4 13.Qf4 draw (Huzman-Kruppa, Ukrainian Ch, Kherson, 1989).

5...Nf6 6.e3 Bf5

• If 6...0-0 then:
• If 7.Bd3 c5 8.Nf3 Nc6 then:
• If 9.0-0 c4 10.Bc2 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne5 Bb4 14.Bg5 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Re8 is equal Vyzmanavin-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1L, Irkutsk, 1986).
• 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0 d4 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Be3 Qe5 14.Bxc5 Qxc5 15.Rc1 Qb6 16.Na4 Qa5 17.Rc5 Qd8 is equal Vyzmanavin-Kuzmin, Moscow, 1986).
• 7.Nf3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 c5 10.Ne5 Nc6 11.Qf3 cxd4 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.exd4 Qd7 14.Rfe1 Kh8 15.h3 gives White the advantage in space (Jobava-Zagorskis, Euro Cht, Kemer, 2007).

7.Qb3

• 7.Nge2 0-0 8.Ng3 Be6 9.Bd3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1 d4 13.Nce4 Be7 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf5 Qa5 is equal (Gulko-Shabalov, US Ch, Seattle, 2000).

7...Nc6 8.a3

• If 8.Qxb7 Nb4 9.Bb5+ Kf8 then:
• 10.Kd2 a6 11.Ba4 Nd3 12.Bxc7 Qc8 13.Qxc8+ Rxc8 14.Ba5 Nxf2 15.Rf1 N6e4+ 16.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 17.Ke2 Nd6 18.Nf3 g6 19.Ne5 gives White the more active game (Salov-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1L, Irkutsk, 1986).
• 10.Rc1 a6 11.Be2 Ne8 12.a3 Rb8 13.Qa7 Ra8 14.Qb7 Rb8 15.Qa7 Ra8 draw (Moiseenko-Shomoev, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

8...Na5 9.Qd1!?

• If 9.Qa2 0-0 10.Nf3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 then:
• 12.Rd1 Bc2 13.Rd2 Bb3 14.Qb1 Rc8 15.Be5 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Be2 Bc4 18.0-0 Nb3 19.Rdd1 Qa6 20.Rfe1 Nc5 21.Nd4 Rfe8 22.h3 Nce4 23.Nxe4 dxe4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 is equal (Sasikiran-Ponomariov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.Be2 a6 14.Nc3 d4 15.exd4 Nxd4 draw (Volkov-Khalifman, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

9...0-0

• The game is equal.

10.Nf3 Ne4?!

• This move is too aggressive. The Bishop at f5 is covering the light squares nicely, but the text move blocks it.
• 10...c6 11.Ne5 Nd7 12.b4 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Nc4 remains equal.

11.Rc1 c6 12.Nxe4

• White has a small advantage in space.
• 12.b4?! Nxc3 13.Rxc3 Nc4! 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Rxc4 a5 16.0-0 Qd5 gives Black sufficient activity for the pawn.

12...dxe4 13.Nd2 b6

• 13...b5 14.b4 Nb7 15.Rxc6 a5 16.Qh5 Bd7 17.Rc7 is clearly better for White.

14.b4 Nb7 15.Ba6 Qd7 16.0-0

• 16.Qc2 c5 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.Qb2 Na5 19.dxc5 gives White an extra pawn.

16...Nd8 17.Nc4

• 17.f3 exf3 18.Qxf3 Bg4 19.Qg3 f5 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Nf3 gives White the advantage in space.

17...f6 18.Nd2

• If 18.Bg3 Ne6 19.Nb2 then:
• If 19...Rad8 20.Qa4 then:
• 20...b5!? 21.Qb3 h5 22.Qc3 threatens to win a pawn.
• 20...Nc7?! 21.Bb7! wins the pawn.
• If 19...b5!? then 20.Qb3 Kh8 21.Qc3 threatens to win a pawn.

18...Ne6 19.Bg3 c5

• After 19...b5?! 20.f3 exf3 21.Qxf3 Bd3 22.Rf2 Qd5 23.Rc3 Black will successfully extricate himself only with the greatest care.

20.dxc5

• 20.bxc5 keeps the center closed: 20...bxc5 21.Qb3! Rad8 22.Bb7 Kh8 23.d5 augments White's spatial advantage.

20...bxc5 21.b5!?

• If 21.Qb3 then:
• 21...Kh8 22.Rfd1 Bg4 23.f3 exf3 24.Nxf3 gives White the active game.
• 21...Rad8 22.Rfd1 Kh8 23.Nc4 Qc6 24.b5 gives White more space and activity.

21...c4?!

• Black drops a pawn.
• If 21...Rad8 22.Nc4 Qxd1 23.Rfxd1 then:
• font color="red"]23...Rd3 24.Kf1 Rfd8 25.Ke1 is equal.
• 23...Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 g5 25.Kf1 Bg4 26.Rd7 is equal.
• 23...Bg4 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Bb7 Be2 26.f3 is equal.

BLACK: Greg Kaidanov
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WHITE: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 21...c5c4

22.Nxc4

• The win of the pawn is permanent.

22...Nc5

• 22...Rad8 23.Qxd7 Rxd7 24.b6 axb6 25.Nxb6 Rd2 26.a4 Rfd8 keeps White a pawn to the good.

23.Nd6!?

• Being a pawn up, White should exchange down.
• Better is 23.Qxd7! Bxd7 24.Bd6 when:
• 24...Nxa6 25.Bxe7 Rf7 26.Bxf6 Bxb5 27.Be5 leaves White a pawn up with reduced material.
• 24...Bxd6 25.Nxd6 Nxa6 26.bxa6 magnifies White's material advantage and gives White the more active pieces.

23...Nxa6

• If 23...Nd3 24.Rc7 Qxc7 25.Qb3+ Kh8 26.Nf7+ then:
• 26...Rxf7 27.Bxc7 Raf8 28.Qd5 Bg6 29.a4 gives White a great deal more activity.
• 26...Kg8?? 27.Nh6+! Kh8 28.Qg8+! Rxg8 29.Nf7#.

24.Nxf5 Qxf5 25.Qb3+ Kh8 26.bxa6 Qa5

• After the exchanges White remains a pawn to the good, but it will be difficult to exploit the advantage because of the crippled majority on the queenside.
• 26...Rad8 27.Rc4 Qd5 28.Qa4 f5 29.Rc7 Bc5 30.Rb7 gives White the active game.

BLACK: Greg Kaidanov
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WHITE: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 26...Qf5a5

27.Qb7!

• White finds the best and most active move.

27...Bxa3 28.Rc7 Rab8

• Black drops a pawn by using the wrong Rook.
• If 28...Rfb8 then after 29.Rc4!! Rxb7 30.axb7 Rg8 31.Rc8 White wins.

29.Qxa7 Ra8 30.Qb7 Qxa6

• If 30...Rfb8 31.Qxe4 Rg8 32.Rd1 Rad8 33.Qf3 then:
• 33...Rxd1+ 34.Qxd1 Qxa6 35.h3 White has the active Rook.
• After 33...Qa4 34.Ra1 Qxa6 35.Rc3, although the pawn majority is worth little by itself, White has the active game.

31.Rxg7! Qxb7 32.Rxb7 Kg8

• The text is better than 32...Bc5 when after 33.Rc1 Ra7 34.Rxa7 Bxa7 35.Kf1 the worth of White's estra pawn is magnified.

33.h3 Rf7 34.Rb6 Rc8

• 34...Kg7 35.Rd1 Ra4 36.Bh4 Bb4 37.g4 Bc3 38.Kg2 White reamins up by a pawn.

35.Bf4 f5 36.Rd1 Bf8?!

• The more flexible 36...Be7 37.Rd5 Rc5 38.Rxc5 Bxc5 39.Rb5 keeps White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Greg Kaidanov
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WHITE: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 36...Ba3f8

37.Rd5!

• White takes advantage of Black's inaccuracy to threaten a pawn.

37...Kg7

• Black haas quite a bit of fight left, but his position is difficult.
• The text is better than 37...Bg7 38.Rbb5 Rcf8 39.Kh2 Bc3 40.f3.

38.Rbb5 Rc1+?

• This move is a waste of a crucial tempo.
• Correct is 38...Kg6 39.Be5 Rc6 40.Kh2 when:
• 40...h5! 41.Kg3 Bh6 42.Ra5 White still has a difficult time making progress with his extra pawn.
• 40...Be7 41.Rb8 h6 42.Rg8+ Kh7 43.Re8 Bg5 44.Kg3 White remains a pawn to the good, but with no clear way to exploit the advantage.

39.Kh2 Kg6 40.g4!

• Now White can make progress.

40...fxg4

• After 40...Rc2 41.gxf5+ Kh5 42.f6+ Kg6 43.Rg5+ Kxf6 44.Rb6+ White can have his way with the Black King.

BLACK: Greg Kaidanov
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WHITE: Pentala Harikrishna
Position after 40...fg4:p

41.Rg5+!

• White gives back the pawn and must win at least a piece.
• Also good is 41.hxg4 h6 42.Rb6+ Rf6 43.Rxf6+ Kxf6 44.Rd4 winning another pawn.

41...Kf6

• 41...Kh6 leads to a quick mate.

42.Rb6+ Ke7 43.Rb7+ Ke8

• If 43...Kf6 then 44.Rf5+ Kxf5 45.Rxf7+ wins the Bishop.

44.Re5+ Be7

• If 44...Re7 then 45.Rb8+ Kd7 46.Rxf8 wins the Bishop.

45.Bg5 Rxf2+

• If 45...g3+ then 46.Kg2 gxf2 47.Rexe7+ wins the Bishop.

46.Kg3 Rf3+

• If 46...Rf7 then 47.Bxe7 Rxe7 48.Rexe7+ wins a Rook.

47.Kxg4 Rg1+ 48.Kh4 1-0

• White wins the Bishop.
• Mr. Kaidanov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Mikhalevski - Kritz, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech, Round 7

German grandmaster Leonid Kritz was another member of the foursome tied for first in Lubbock.



Leonid Kritz
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany


Viktor Mikhalevski - Leonid Kritz
SPICE Cup, Round 7
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 26 September 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Bf5 6.Bf4

• If 6.Qb3 Qc8 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.h3 then:
• 8...e6 9.e3 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Rac1 Ne4 13.Rfd1 Bd8 14.Na4 Bc7 15.Ne5 Nef6 16.Nb6 Bxb6 17.cxb6 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Qd8 19.Bc7 gives White space and the initiative (Stocek-Keitlinghaus, Lazne Bohdanec, 1997).
• 8...h6 9.e3 e6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfc1 Bd8 13.Na4 Re8 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Bc7 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Nd7 18.Bxc7 Qxc7 19.b4 e5 is equal (I. Rogers-Barus, Op, Bali, 2000).

6...Nbd7 7.e3 g6

• If 7...e6 8.Be2 Be7 9.Nd2 then:
• 9...h6 10.b4 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Bg3 Qc8 13.Bf3 Bd8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.Ndxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 gives White the advantage in space (Piket-Zagrebelny, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 9...Ne4 10.Ncxe4 Bxe4 11.Nc4 0-0 12.Qb3 Ra7 13.Nd6 is equal (Williams-Collins, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).

8.Be2

• 8.h3 Bg7 9.Be2 Be4 10.Nh4 e5 11.dxe5 Nh5 12.Nf3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nxf4 14.exf4 Nxc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Re1 Kh8 17.g3 f6 18.Bg4 Qb6 19.Qd4 Rae8 20.Rad1 a5 is equal (Alekseev-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).

8...Nh5!?

• 8...Bg7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.g4 Be6 11.b4 Ne8 12.Nb3 f5 13.h3 is equal (Akobian-Roiz, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).

9.Be5

• White has more space and a slight initiative.

9...f6 10.Bg3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Bg7 12.Bd3

• 12.Qb3!? Rb8 13.Nh4 Be6 14.Qa4 Bf7 is equal.

12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0

• Black has equalized.
• 13...f5 14.g4 e5 15.gxf5 e4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4+ remains equal.

14.e4 e5 15.exd5 exd4 16.Qxd4

• 16.dxc6 dxc3 17.cxd7 cxb2 18.Qb3+ Rf7 19.Rd1 Qe7+ the advanced pawn tilts the position in Black's favor.

16...f5 17.Qb4 a5!?

• 17...Qe7+ 18.Kf1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxc5 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.Re1 remains equal.

18.Qc4 Qe7+ 19.Kf1 Qxc5 20.Qb3

• 20.Qh4 h6 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.Rd1 Rad8 23.Re1 Rfe8 remains equal.

20...Qb4 21.dxc6+?!

• 21.Ng5 Nf6 22.Ne6 Qxb3 23.axb3 Nxd5 24.Nxf8 Bxf8 remains equal.

21...Qxb3 22.axb3 bxc6 23.Rh4

• 23.Na4 Rab8 24.Ra3 Rfe8 25.Nc3 Ne5 26.Nxe5 Rxe5 when Black has a stronger center.

23...Nc5 24.Rc4 Nxb3 25.Ra3 Rab8!?

• Better is 25...Rfb8 26.Rxc6 Bf8 27.Ra4 Nc5 28.Ra2 Nd3 when Black wins material.

26.Rxc6 Rfd8 27.Ra4?

• This move costs White time.
• 27.Kg1 is a good prophylactic move, but Black is still much better after 27...Nd2 28.Nxd2 Rxd2 29.Rxa5 Bd4 30.Kh2 Bxf2.

BLACK: Leonid Kritz
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WHITE: Viktor Mikhalevski
Position after 27.Ra3a4

27...Nd2+!

• This move presents White with a number of unpleasant choices.

28.Nxd2

• White chooses to allow a Black Rook on the seventh.
• If 28.Kg1 then 28...Rxb2 29.Rxa5 Bxc3 30.Rxc3 Ne4 31.Rc1 Nxf2 wins a pawn.
• 28.Ke1 Rxb2 29.Nxd2 Rbxd2 then:
• 30.Rac4 Rc2 31.Ne2 Rb2 32.Nf4 Re8+ leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• If 30.Ra3 Rc2 31.Nd5 Re8+! then:
• 32.Re3 Rxe3+ 33.fxe3 Rxc6 34.Ne7+ Kf7 35.Nxc6 a4 the Knight will not be able to intercept the pawn before it queens.
• 32.Kd1 Rxc6 33.Rxa5 Black will remain a piece to the good.

28...Rxd2 29.b3 Re8

• If 29...Rxb3 then White maintains the advantage with 30.Rc8+ Kf7 31.Rc7+ Ke6 32.Rxg7 Rxc3 33.Kg1 Rcc2.

30.f3

• A better defense is 30.Kg1 Rc2 31.Rac4 Re1+ 32.Kh2 Rxf2 33.Rc8+ Bf8 when White has some counterplay, but it still looks pretty grim.

BLACK: Leonid Kritz
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WHITE: Viktor Mikhalevski
Position after 30.f2f3

30...Bd4!

• Black threatens 31...Rf2+ 32.Kg1 Re1+ 33.Kh2 Rff1, winning.

31.Rxd4

• White prefers to give up the exchange now, but it is forced in any case.
• 31.g4 Rf2+ 32.Kg1 Re1+ 33.Kh2 Be5+ forces White to give up the exchange to avoid mate.

31...Rxd4 32.Rc5 Rd3 33.g4

• If 33.Nd5 Rd8 34.Ne7+ Kf8 then:
• 35.Nc6 Rc8 36.Rc4 Rxb3 37.Nxa5 Rb1+ 38.Kf2 Rc1 forces an exchange of Rooks.
• 35.Nxf5 gxf5 36.Rxf5+ Kg7 37.Rxa5 Rxb3 nets Black a Rook for two pawns.

33...fxg4

• If 33...f4 34.g5 Ra8 35.Kg1 Kf7 then:
• After 36.Kh2 Ke7 37.Kh3 Kd7 38.Kg4 Rd2 Black maintains advantages in material and initiative.
• If 36.Kf1 Ke6 37.Ne2 Kd6 38.Rb5 Kc6 then:
• After 39.Nxf4 Rxf3+ 40.gxf3 Kxb5 White is toast.
• 39.Re5 Rxb3 40.Nxf4 a4 41.Re6+ Kd7it will cost Black a Rook to stop the a-pawn.

34.fxg4 Rf8+ 35.Kg1 h6

• After 35...Ra8 36.g5 Kf7 37.Kf2 Ke6 38.g4 Rd4 39.Rc6+ Kd7 Black wins material.

36.Nd5

• After 36.Kh2 Ra8 37.g3 Kf7 38.g5 h5 39.Kh3 Ke7 40.Rc7+ Ke6 Black's active, centralized King is a major factor in the game.

36...Rg3 37.Rxa5

• No better is 37.Rb5 Kg7 38.g5 Rxg5 39.Rxa5 Rff5.

37...Rxg4 38.b4 Rd4 39.Rc5

• After 39.Kh2 Rf2 40.Kg3 Rb2 41.Kf3 Rb3+ 42.Ke2 Kf7 Black maintains a winning position.

39...Rd8 40.Ne7+ Kf7 41.Nc6

• After 41.Rc7 R8d7 42.Rxd7 Rxd7 43.Nc6 Kf6 White cannot stop Black from playing 44...Rb7, winning the pawn.

41...Rd1+ 42.Kh2 R8d5 43.Rc3

• After 43.Rxd5 Rxd5 44.Na7 Rd6 45.b5 Rb6 while the Rook keeps the pawn and Knight at bay on the queenside, Black exploits his pawn majority on the opposite wing.

43...R1d2 44.Rf3+ Kg7 45.Rg3

• If 45.Re3 Rc2 46.Ne5 Rb5 then:
• White puts up a more stubborn defense after 47.Nd3 Kf6 48.Rf3+ Ke6 49.Rg3 g5 50.Rh3 Kd5 51.Rxh6 Rc3 52.Rh3 Rc8.
• 47.Re4 Kf6 48.Nd3 Rh5+ 49.Kg1 Rd5 Black has an easy win.

45...Kf6 46.Rf3+ Rf5 47.Rg3 Rg5 48.Rxg5

• After 48.Rf3+ Ke6 49.Rg3 Rxg3 50.Kxg3 Kd6 Black wins.

48...Kxg5 49.b5 Rb2 50.Nd4 Kg4 0-1

• White is in a Zugzwang:
• If the b-pawn advances, then it is taken;
• If the Knight moves, then the b-pawn is taken;
• If any other move, then Black replies 51...Rc4, forcing the Knight to move and thus winning the pawn.
• Grandmaster Mikhalevski resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Short - Sangma, Commonwealth Open, Nagpur, Round 3

There is no photo of Rahul Sangma available online. He is a 19-year-old international master from India who scored one of the major upsets of the year in the third round at the Commonwealth Open in Nagpur by defeating former world championship contender Nigel Short.

Nigel Short - Rahul Sangma
Commonwealth Open, Round 3
Nagpur, 30 September 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.a4

• 9.h3 is the main line of the Spanish Grand Royal.
• In a slightly different move order (7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.c3), this was Kasparov's pet method of avoiding the Marshall Gambit. The present position in the text appears to have been first reached by Dr. Alekhine in two games during a simultaneous exhibition in 1932.

9...Bg4

• If 9...Nd7 10.d3 Bb7 11.Nbd2 Nc5 then:
• If 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Bxa8 14.Bc2 then:
• If 14...Bf6 15.b4 Ne6 16.Nf1 then:
• 16...Bb7 17.Ne3 g6 18.Bb3 Bg7 19.h4 Bc8 20.h5 Kh8 21.Nd5 is equal (Kasparov-Short, World Ch M, London, 1993).
• 16...Ng5 17.Ne3 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Bg5 19.Bb3 g6 20.g3 gives White a small advantage in space (Oim-Franzen, Corres, 1994).
• 14...Ne6 15.Nf1 Ng5 16.Ng3 g6 17.b4 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Bg5 19.Bb3 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Qg5 21.Ra1 Bb7 22.Nf1 give White a little more freedom (Kasimdzhanov-Khalifman, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).
• 12.Bc2 Nxa4 13.Bxa4 bxa4 14.Qxa4 Rb8 15.Nc4 f5 16.Be3 fxe4 17.dxe4 Qe8 is equal (Anand-Short, IT, Munich, 1994).

10.h3

• 10.d3 Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.h3 Bd7 14.Nf1 b4 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.d4 Rfc8 17.Ne3 Bc6 18.d5 gives White the initiative (Anand-Barua, It, Calcutta, 1986).

10...Bxf3

• 10...Bh5 11.d3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nbd2 b4 14.Qe2 Rb8 15.Nf1 bxc3 16.bxc3 Nb3 17.Rb1 Nxc1 18.Rexc1 Qa5 is equal (Keres-Furman, City Ch, Moscow, 1949).

11.Qxf3 Na5 12.Bd1

• 12.Bc2 b4 13.d4 c5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nd2 Nd7 16.Bd3 Nb6 17.Bf1 c4 18.Qg3 Qc7 19.Nf3 Rfe8 20.Bh6 Bf8 21.cxb4 Nb3 is equal (Kasparov-Ivanchuk, IT, Prague, 2002).

12...c5!?

• 12...b4 13.d4 Nd7 14.d5 c5 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Bb3 bxc3 17.bxc3 Na5 18.Bd5 Rb8 19.Ba3 Nb6 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Bb4 Nc6 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.a5 is equal (Kupreichik-Schandorff, IT, Alborg, 1992).

13.axb5

• The game is equal.
• 13.d3 Qd7 14.Qg3 Qe6 15.f4 Kh8 16.f5 Qd7 17.Nd2 is equal.

13...axb5 14.d3 Qc7

• 14...Qd7 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.Bg5 Nc6 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.Na3 Ra5 remains equal.

15.Qg3 Kh8 16.f4 c4

• 16...Nc6 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.Na3 Ra5 19.Bd2 remains equal.

17.Kh1

• 17.Bc2 Nc6 18.Rxa8 Rxa8 19.Na3 Nh5 20.Qf2 cxd3 21.Bxd3 remains equal.

17...Rfd8

• If 17...exf4 18.Bxf4 cxd3 19.Qxd3 Nc4 then:
• 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.b3 Nb2 22.Qxb5 Nxd1 23.Rxd1 gives White an extra pawn and a dominant position as 23...Nxe4? is refuted by 24.Qd5!.
20.Na3? drops a pawn to 20...Nxb2! 21.Qf3 Qc5 22.Nc2 Rxa1 23.Nxa1 Nxd1.

18.Na3 Rab8 19.Ra2!?

• White may be trying to provoke Black into an inaccuracy, but the game comes out equal.
• Safer is 19.Bc2 cxd3 20.Qxd3 Nc4 21.Qf3 exf4 22.Bxf4 with equality.

19...cxd3 20.Qxd3 d5

• The text is safe and equal.
• White may have been trying to provoke 20...b4 but after the flair up 21.Nb5 Qb6 22.Be2 Nb3 23.Be3 Nc5 the game remains equal.

21.Nxb5

• 21.exd5 e4 22.Rxe4 Bxa3 23.Rxa3 Rxd5 24.Rd4 remains equal.

21...Qc4 22.Qxc4 Nxc4 23.Na7

• If 23.b3 Rxb5 24.bxc4 dxc4 25.Be2 Rb1 26.Bxc4 exf4 27.e5 Ne4 remains equal.
• 25...Rdb8? 26.Bxc4 Rb1 27.fxe5 gives White two extra pawns.

23...Nxe4 24.Nc6?

• White masculculates Black's tactical possibilties and presents his opponent with a valuable tempo to exploit the unguarded d3 square.
• 24.Bc2 exf4 25.Nc6 Bh4 26.Nxb8 Bxe1 27.Bxf4 Re8 remains equal.

BLACK: Rahul Sangma
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WHITE: Nigel Short
Position after 24.Na7c6

24...Nf2+!

• The Knight is headed for d3.

25.Kh2

• If 25.Kg1 Nd3 then:
• If 26.Nxe7 then:
• 26...Nxe1 27.b3 Nd3 28.bxc4 Rb1 29.Nc6 Rc8 30.Bg4 Rxc1+ Black remains up by the exchange.
• 28.Bd2 Nxd2 29.Rxd2 Nxf4 30.Nc6 e4 31.Nxb8 Rxb8 gives Black an extra pawn, which is advancing on the e-file.
• If 26...Nxc1 27.Ra7 Nd3 28.Rf1 Rxb2 29.Nc6 Re8 Black is a pawn to the good.

If 26.Nxb8 Rxb8 27.b3 Bc5+ then:

• 28.Kh2 Nxc1 29.Ra1 Nd3 30.Rh1 Nd2 White has active minor pieces and a small material advantage.
• 28.Kh1 Nxc1 29.Ra1 Nd3 30.Re2 Ncb2 gives Black two active Knights for a Rook.

25...Nd3 26.Be2

• White gives up the exchange.
• If 26.Nxb8 Rxb8 27.b3 Nxc1 28.Ra7 Bc5 then:
• 29.Rc7 Nd3 30.bxc4 Bb6 31.Re7 Nxe1 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• 29.Rxf7 Nd3 30.bxc4 Nxe1 31.cxd5 exf4 gives Black an extra Knight.

26...Nxe1 27.Nxe7 e4 28.Nc6 Ra8 29.Rxa8

• If 29.Nxd8 Rxa2 30.Nxf7+ Kg8 then:
• After 31.Bxc4 dxc4 32.Nd6 e3 33.Nxc4 e2 34.Bd2 Nc2 Black has an easy win.
• After 31.Ng5? Black wins by 31...Nxb2 32.Bxb2 Rxb2 33.Bg4 Rxg2+.

29...Rxa8 30.b3

• If 30.Nb4 then after 30...Ra1 31.Nxd5 Rxc1 32.Bxc4 Rc2 33.Ne3 Rxb2 Black is up by a clear exchange.

30...Nd3?!

• Black invites an exchange that weakens his own pawns.
• Better is 30...Ra2! 31.Bf1 Nf3+ 32.Kg3 Ncd2, winning.

31.Bxd3!

• The game is now equal.
• If 31.bxc4? then Black wins with 31...Nxc1 32.Bf1 dxc4 33.Bxc4 f6 34.f5 e3.

31...exd3 32.bxc4 Ra1!

• 32...dxc4 33.Ne5 Kg8 34.Nxc4 Rc8 35.Ne3 Rxc3 36.Bd2 is equal.

33.Bd2 Ra2 34.cxd5

• White sets thing right again for Black.
• After 34.Be3 dxc4 35.Ne5 d2 36.Bxd2 Rxd2 Black remains up by an exchange.

BLACK: Rahul Sangma
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WHITE: Nigel Short
Position after 34.cd5:p

34...Rxd2!

• The text wins; anything else loses.

35.d6 Ra2 0-1

• After 36.d7 Ra8 37.d8Q+ Rxd8 38.Nxd8 d2 39.Nxf7+ Kg8 40.Ne5 d1Q Black wins easily.
• Mr. Short resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Sakaev - Morozevich, Russian National Championship, Moscow, Round 1

Defending Russian national champion Alexander Morozevich started this year's championship with a victory over Konstantin Sakaev.



Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Konstantin Sakaev - Alexander Morozevich
Russian National Championship, Round 1
Moscow, 3 October 2008

West Inida Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Exchange Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3

• If 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 then:
• If 10...Na5 then:
• If 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bd3 b6 13.Rb1 e5 14.dxc5 Ba4 15.Qd2 Qd7 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nc1 Rfc8 18.Rxb6 gives White two extra pawns (Ivanchuk-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• If 11.Bd3 b6 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.cxd4 e6 14.Qd2 Bb7 then:
• If 15.Bh6 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 17.Rc3 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.f3 Rxc3 20.Qxc3 Rc8 21.Qb2 f6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Kf2 Kf7 is equal (Saric-Sebenik, IT, Brno, 2006).
• 17.Rc2 Qd7 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.f3 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Qxa6 22.Kf2 Qd3 23.Qc3 Qxc3 draw (Minescu-Giemsa, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.h4 Qd7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Nc6 18.Bb5 a6 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Cramling-Andersson, IT Heninge, 1989).
• If 10...Bg4 11.f3 Na5 then:
• 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 then:
• 16.Qd4 Bf7 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 Re7 20.Bd3 Rc8 21.f4 Nc4 is equal (Topalov-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 16.Bh6 then:
• 16...Qb6+ 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Rc1 Qb6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.h4 4 gives the advantage in space to White (Bronstein-Boleslavsky, Candidates' Trmt, Budapest, 1950).
• 16...Re8 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Nf4 Bd7 19.e5 Nc4 20.e6 Ba4 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Ne5 23.Be4 Bc2 24.Bxc2 Rxc2 25.Qd1 Kh7 26.f4 Kxh6 27.fxe5 Qc8 28.exf6 Rg8 29.f7 is balanced and, after some more moves, the players agreed to a draw (Korotylev-Timofeev, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.e5 fxe5 19.Qxe5 b5 20.Be3 Qb8 21.Qc3 Qd8 22.Qe5 Qb8 23.Qc3 Qd8 draws by repetition (Kavalek-Timman, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1978).
• If 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.Kxf1 cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 then:
• 16.Kg1 Rc8 17.d5 Nc4 18.Bf2 Nd6 19.Ng3 Bh6 20.h4 Bf4 21.g5 Qd7 22.Qf3 White still has the extra pawn.(Jussupow-Sutovsky, IT, Essen, 2001).
• 16.d5 Nc4 17.Bf2 Qf6 18.Kg1 Rf8 19.Qe1 Bh6 20.Ng3 Qa6 21.Kh1 Qa4 22.Qe2 b6 23.h4 Bf4 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.Re1 Rc8 26.g3 Rc2 27.Qf3 Qxa2 gives Black a huge advatage in space (K.Georgiev-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1989).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Rc1 Rd8 then:
• 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...e5 then:
• 15.Bg5 Re8 16.c4 b6 17.Qd2 Nb7 18.Bh6 f6 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 20.f4 Nd6 21.Kh1 Bd7 22.Ng1 Qh6 23.Rce1 f5 24.Qc3 fxe4 25.fxe5 exd3 26.exd6 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 d2 28.Rd1 Qf4 29.Rxd2 draw (Balashov-Ftacnik, Trnava, 1988).
• If 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Qd2 b6 17.f4 c4 18.Bc2 exf4 19.Bxf4 Nc6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ba6 22.Rf3 gives White the advantage in space (Jussupow-Kamsky, Tilburg, 1992).
• If 13...Bd7 14.Bh6 cxd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf4 Be8 17.cxd4 e5 18.dxe5 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Qxe5 20.Qxe5+ draw (Polugaevsky-Vaganian, IT, Linares, 1985).
• If 13...Bg4 14.f3 Ne5 15.Bd5 Rxd5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Qd3 Nb2 18.Qb1 Nxd1 19.Qxb7 Rd8 20.Rxd1 Bc8 21.Qxe7 Bf8 22.Qf6 gives White the advantage in space (Ftacnik-Stohl, IT, Trnava, 1984).
• If 7.Nf3 c5 then:
• If 8.Be3 Qa5 then:
• If 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Be2 then:
• If 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qd8 12.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (Cramling-Dronavalli, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• 10...Bg4 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Ng5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Qa6 14.Qxa6 Nxa6 15.d5 c4 16.Be3 Rac8 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-I. Smirin, IT, Biel, 2002).
• If 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rc1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 0-0 then:
• 13.d5 Rd8 14.Ke1 then:
• If 14...Na5 15.Bg5 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rdc8 17.Ke2 e6 18.Be3 exd5 19.exd5 b5 20.Nd2 a6 21.Ne4 Bf5 22.f3 Be5 23.g4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 Nc4 26.h4 a5 27.Bg5 Re8 28.Kd3 Nb2+ draw (van Wely-Ftacnik, Bundesliga, Bonn, 2001).
• 14...Nb4 15.Bd2 Na6 then:
• 16.Bg5 Kf8 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ke2 h6 19.Bf4 f5 20.exf5 g5 21.Be3 Rxd5 22.g4 e6 23.f6 Bxf6 24.h4 Bd7 25.Kf1 Kg7 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rc7 Rc8 28.Rxa7 Kg6 29.Rh5 Rh8 draw (Nielsen-Hracek. Euro ChT, Panormo (Greece), 2001).
• 16.Bb5 e6 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ba5 Rd6 19.Bc7 Rd7 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Bf4 a5 22.Ne5 Rd4 give White the advantage in space (Keene-Jansa, Esbjerb, 1981).
• 13.Bb5 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6 Rab8 17.Kc3 Be4 18.Rc7 Rf6 19.Ra1 Ra6 20.a4 Bf6 21.Ne5 Rab6 22.Nd7 Rb3+ 23.Kd2 Rb2+ 24.Ke1 Rb1+ 25.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 26.Kd2 Rb2+ 27.Kc1 Rb1+ 28.Kd2 draw (Browne-Vaganian, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).
• If 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 then:
• 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.d5 then:
• 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 17.Bd3 Qa3 18.f4 Qd6 19.Rxb7 Rfb8 20.Qb1 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Nh4+ 22.Kh1 g5 23.Rg1 gxf4 24.Bc5 Qe5 25.Bd4 Rxb7 26.Qxb7 Qxd4 27.Qxa8+ Kh7 28.Bb1 is equal (Krasenkow-Svidler, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2000).
• 15...Na5 16.Bc5 Bf6 17.e5 Bxe5 18.Rb4 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rae8 20.Be3 Nc4 21.Bxh6 Nd6 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.h4 Rc8 24.Be4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qb5 26.Bb1 Rc5 is unclear: White has the equivalent of an extra pawn, but Black has more than enough space to compensate (Kramnik-Anand, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).
• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 then:
• 12.Qd2 e6 13.f4 Bc7 14.0-0 exd5 then:
• 15.exd5 Ba5 16.d6 b6 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Bb4 Bf5 20.Rbc1 c4 21.Bxa5 bxa5 gives Black the advantage in space (Marzolo-Brkic, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.Bxe6 Qf6 19.Bb3 g5 20.Qe2 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Qxc3 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bc2 Rae8 24.Rbd1 Qb2 gives Black a spatial edge and an attack on a loose pawn (Vokac-Stohl, Zlin, 1995).
• If 12...b6 13.f4 Bg7 14.0-0 e6 15.d6 Bb7 16.Bf3 e5 17.c4 Qe8 18.Bb2 Rd8 19.Rbd1 Bc6 20.Qc1 exf4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qxf4 gives White a comfortable lead in space (Kamsky-Razuvaev. Op. Paris, 1990).
• 9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qd3 Ba6 12.Qe3 Qd7 then:
• 13.dxc5 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 bxc5 15.Qc4 Qc6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Re1 e6 18.Bg5 Rfb8 19.Rbd1 Nb6 20.Qe2 Qa4 21.Rd6 Nd5 22.c4 Nc3 23.Qd3 Nxa2 24.Rd1 Nb4 25.Qe4 Nd5 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has a narrow lead in the space count (Markos-Greenfeld, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Qe2 Nc7 15.Rd1 Qa4 16.Rb3 cxd4 17.cxd4 Ne6 18.e5 gives White a small advantage in space (Zaja-I. Smirin, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
• 8.Bb5+ then:
• 8...Nc6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Rc1 Qa5 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qxd2 15.Nxd2 Rfd8 16.Nb3 a5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxc6 Rd2 22.Rf2 Rd1+ 23.Rf1 Rd2 24.Rf2 draw (Ftacnik-Krasenkow, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• 14.Rxc6 Qxa2 15.Rc7 Qe6 16.h3 Qd6 17.Rc5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 e6 19.e5 Qd7 20.Ra1 Rfb8 21.g4 Bf8 22.Rca5 Qb7 23.Kg2 Be7 24.d5 gives White the advatage in space (Anand-Shirov, Amber, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 8...Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.Qb3 b5 17.f4 Bg7 18.e5 a5 19.Bc5 b4 20.Rfd1 Rc7 21.Be3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 give White a subtantial advantage in space (Kholmov-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch cycle, Rostov-on-Don, 1976).

7...c5 8.Qd2 Qa5 9.Nf3 0-0 10.Rc1 Nd7

• 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ then:
• If 12.Kxd2 Nc6 then:
• If 13.d5 Rd8 14.Ke1 Na5 15.Bg5 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rdc8 17.Ke2 e6 18.Be3 exd5 19.exd5 then:
• 19...b5 20.Nd2 a6 21.Ne4 Nc4 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Nc5 Rd8 24.Nxd7 Rxd7 25.Rxc4 Rxd5 26.Rhc1 h5 27.Ra4 Rd6 28.Rc7 draw (Lautier-Svidler, IT, Poikovsky, 2003).
• 19...b6 20.Ba6 Rd8 21.Rhd1 Bc8 22.Bxc8 Raxc8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd4 ties Black down to a defense against a passed pawn (Kramnik-van Wely, Corus A, 2001).
• 13.Bb5 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6 Rab8 17.Kc3 Be4 18.Rc7 Rf6 19.Ra1 Ra6 20.a4 Bf6 21.Ne5 Rab6 22.Nd7 Rb3+ 23.Kd2 Rb2+ 24.Ke1 Rb1+ 25.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 26.Kd2 Rb2+ 27.Kc1 Rb1+ 28.Kd2 draw (Browne-Vaganian, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).
• 12.Nxd2 e6 13.Nb3 Rd8 14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3 Bf8 16.Bc4 Nc6 17.Ke2 Kg7 18.f4 Bd7 19.h3 Nb4 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 Bc6 22.Bd2 Na6 23.Bxa6 bxa6 24.Ke3 Bb5 25.Rc3 Rd7 26.c6 draw (Kempinski-Ruck, IT, Griesheim, 2002).

11.d5

• 11.Bd3 e5 12.h4 h5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 exd4 17.Nxd4 gives White more activity (Slugin-Nepomniachtchi, City Op, Moscow, 2006).

11...Nf6 12.Bd3!?

• The novelty yields a small advantage in space to White.
• 12.c4 Qc7 13.Bd3 e5 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Ng4 16.Qd2 f5 17.0-0 Nf6 18.Qc2 f4 19.Qb2 Re8 20.Rb1 Rb8 21.Bc2 Bd7 22.Rfe1 h6 23.Qa3 a6 24.Red1 Qd6 25.Qa5 b5 26.Nd2 Rec8 draw (Kachiani-Baramidze, German Ch, Koenigshofen, 2007).

12...c4

• 12...Bg4 13.c4 Qa3 14.Rc3 Qa5 15.Rb3 Qc7 16.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space.

13.Bb1 Ng4 14.Bd4 e5

• 14...Bh6 15.Be3 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Qc5 17.Kf2 Bg7 18.Rhf1 gives Black a small advantage in space and stronger pawns.

15.dxe6 f6 16.e7 Re8 17.Qe2

• 17.0-0 Rxe7 18.Rcd1 Be6 19.Qb2 Ne5 20.Nxe5 fxe5 remains equal.

17...Be6 18.Nd2 b5

• 18...Rac8 19.f3 Ne5 20.0-0 Rxe7 remains equal.

19.f4 Rxe7 20.0-0

• 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.0-0 Bc8 22.Qf3 f5 23.e5 Bb7 24.Qg3 remains equal.

20...Qc7

• If 20...Rd8 then:
• 21.Rcd1 Nh6 22.Qf2 Bg4 23.Nf3 Red7 remains equal.
• 21.Rfd1?! a6 22.Qe1 f5 23.e5 Qa3 24.Nf3 Red7 remains equal.

21.h3

• 21.a4 a6 22.Bc2 f5 23.e5 Rd8 24.Rb1 Rd5 remains equal.

21...Nh6 22.Qf2 f5

• 22...Rd8 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 Bd5 25.Rce1 Rde8 26.Bc2 a6 remains equal.

23.Bxg7

• 23.Rfd1 Bxd4 24.cxd4 fxe4 25.Nxe4 Rf8 26.Qb2 remains equal.

23...Kxg7 24.Rfe1 Rae8!?

• Black deliberately plays an inferior move in the hopes of provoking White into an attack.
• 24...fxe4 25.Nxe4 Rd8 26.Nc5 Bc8 27.Rxe7+ Qxe7 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Konstantin Sakaev
Position after 24...Ra8e8

25.e5!

• White finds the move that will cause Black the most diifculty, but Black feels he can weather the coming storm.

25...Bd5

• 25...Rd7 26.Nf3 Qa5 27.Nd4 a6 28.Qh4 gives White the advantage in space.

26.Nf1 Rd8

• If 26...a6 27.Ne3 Rd7 28.Rcd1 Bc6 29.a4 then:
• After 29...Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Qf7 31.axb5 axb5 32.Nc2 White's protected passed pawn is an advantage.
• If 29...Bb7 then 30.Qg3 Bd5 31.Rxd5 Rxd5 32.Nxd5 wins a piece.

27.Ne3 Qb6!?

• If 27...Be6 28.Qh4 Rde8 29.Bc2 then:
• If 29...a5 30.Rcd1 Qc5 then:
• 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Qg5 Nf7 33.Qg3 b4 34.Kh2 White has more freedom.
• 31.Rb1?! b4 32.Qf2 Rc7 33.Red1 Rb8 34.Rd6 is equal.
• 29...Qa5 30.Rb1 a6 31.a4 Qxc3 32.axb5 axb5 33.Rxb5 gives White a spatial advantage, mostly due to Black's misplaced Rooks.
• If 27...Red7 28.Qh4 Qb6 29.a4 then:
• If 29...bxa4 30.Bc2 Be4 then:
• 31.Rb1 Qc6 32.Rb4 Bxc2 33.Nxc2 Nf7 34.Ne3 Rd2 35.Rxc4 gives White a significant advantage in space and the initiative.
• 31.Bxa4?! Rd2 32.Kh1 Nf7 33.Rcd1 is equal.
• 29...a6 30.axb5 axb5 31.Rcd1 Be4 32.Rxd7+ Rxd7 33.Qf2 gives White more activity.

28.Rcd1!?

White can better maintain his advantage by 28.Nxd5 Qxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Rxd5 30.Rcd1 Red7 31.Bc2 .

28...Red7!

• Black now has his Rooks on an open file.

29.Nxd5 Rxd5 30.Qxb6?!

• After this, Black's advantage starts to slip away.
• If 30.Rxd5 Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Rxd5 then:
• 32.a4 Ng8 33.axb5 Rxb5 34.Ba2 Ne7 35.g3 White wins a pawn.
• After 32...bxa4 33.Ba2 Nf7 34.Ra1 Rc5 35.Rd1 Rc7 36.e6 White's passed pawn looms large.

30...axb6 31.Rxd5 Rxd5 32.Kf2

• If 32.Kh2 Rd2 33.Kg3 Ng8 34.Kf3 then:
• 34...Kf7! 35.g4 Ne7 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.Rg1 Rb2 is equal.
• 34...Ne7 35.g4 Nd5 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.Bxf5 leaves White a pawn to the good.

32...Ng8 33.g4 Ne7 34.gxf5

• If 34.Kf3 then:
• 34...Rd2 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.h4 Kf8 is equal.
• 35.Rg1 Kf7 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.Rh1 Ke6 is equal.

34...gxf5 35.Rg1+ Kf7 36.Ke2 Rd8

• Black has equalized.

37.Bc2?

• White takes his eye off the a-pawn.
• 37.h4 Ra8 38.h5 Ke6 39.Rd1 Nd5 40.Bxf5+ Kxf5 41.Rxd5 Kxf4 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Konstantin Sakaev
Position after 37.Bb1c2

37...Ra8!

• Black immediately goes on the attack.

38.Rb1

• White must defend actively to have any chance.
• If 38.Bb1 Ra3 39.Kd2 Nd5 40.Rg5 then:
• 40...b4 41.Rh5 bxc3+ 42.Kc1 h6 gives Black an important extra pawn.
• 40...Nxc3? 41.Bxf5 Nd5 42.e6+ Kf6 is equal.
• 38.Ra1 Ra3 39.Kd2 Ke6 then:
• If 40.Rb1 Nd5 41.Rxb5 Rxa2 then:
• If 42.h4 then Black wins a pawn after 42...Ra5 43.Rb1 b5 44.Rf1 Ra3.
• 42.Rb1 Nxf4 43.Rxb6+ Kxe5 44.Rc6 Nd5 45.Rh6 f4 gives Black more freedom.
• 40.Kc1 Nd5 41.Kb2 Rxc3 42.h4 Rf3 gives Black two extra pawns.

38...Nd5 39.Kd2

39.Kf3 Nxc3 40.Rg1 Ne4 41.Re1 Rxa2 wins two pawns.

39...b4 40.Bxf5

No better is 40.a4 bxa3 41.Bxf5 Nxf4 42.Ke3 a2 43.Ra1 Ne6 44.Bxh7 Ra5 .

40...Rxa2+ 41.Ke1

• If 41.Kc1 then 41...Rf2 42.Bxh7 bxc3 43.Kd1 Rh2 44.Rc1 b5 wins.

41...b3 42.Rd1 Ne3! 0-1

• Black wins the exchange.
• Grandmaster Sakaev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Anand-Kramnik preview

This week we present one game each by the tow men who will engage in combat for the world champion in Bonn in less than two weeks.

Next week, we will examine two games Anand and Kramnik played against each other over the years.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Karjakin - Anand, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Sergey Karjakin - Vishy Anand
Corus International Tournament (Group A), Round 1
Wijk aan Zee, 14 January 2006

Open Sicilain Game: Najdorf-Boleslavky 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 (Kasimdzhanov-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

• If 7...Be6 8.f3 then:
• If 8...Nbd7 9.g4 then:
• If 9...b5 10.g5 b4 then:
• If 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Be7 then:
• If 15.h4 then:
• 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).
• 15...a5 16.a3 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-Ivanchuk, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 15.Rg1 0-0 16.0-0-0 a5 then:
• If 17.Kb1 f5 18.gxf6 Nxf6 19.f4 e4 20.Qe2 Qc8 21.Rg5 h6 22.Rg6 Rf7 then:
• 23.Nd4?! Nxd5 24.Ne6 Bf6 25.Nxg7 Ne7 26.Nf5+ Nxg6 27.Nxh6+ Kf8 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 gives Black an extra piece (Ivanchuk-Bu Xiangzhi, IT, Stepanakert (Armenia), 2005).
• 23.Qg2 Bf8 24.Nd4 a4 25.Ne6 is much better for White.
• 17.Nd2 f5 18.gxf6 Nxf6 19.f4 Nd7 20.Rg4 Rf7 21.Rdg1 exf4 22.Bxf4 Nc5 23.Qg3 Bf8 24.Be3 Rc8 is equal (Adams-Svidler, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• If 11.Ne2 Nh5 12.Qd2 then:
• If 12...a5 13.Ng3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 a4 15.Nc1 Qa5 then:
• If 16.f4 g6 17.Nd3 Bg7 then:
• 18.a3 bxa3 19.Qxa5 Rxa5 20.Rxa3 0-0 21.b4 Raa8 22.Bg2 Rab8 23.Rxa4 Rfc8 24.Kd2 exf4 25.gxf4 Nb6 26.Bxb6 Rxb6 27.Bh3 Bxh3 28.Rxh3 Rbc6 29.Kd1 Rc4 30.Re3 Rxc2 is equal (Bacrot-Gelfand, Match, Albert (France), 2002).
• 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Nxb4 a3 21.b3 Nc5 22.0-0-0 Rc8 23.Bc4 Ne4 24.Qe1 is equal (Karjakin-Efimenko, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 16.Nd3 d5 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Bg2 Qb5 19.Bh3 Bxh3 20.Rxh3 Be7 is equal (Anand-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 2002).
• 12...Be7 13.Ng3 Nf4 14.h4 h6 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Nh5 Bxb3 17.axb3 Kf8 18.Nxf4 hxg5 19.Nd5 g4 20.f4 Bxh4+ 21.Kd1 Nf6 22.Qxb4 Nxd5 23.exd5 a5 24.Qd4 Rh6 25.c3 Bf6 is equal (Motylev-Bu Xiangzhi, IT, Taiyuan, 2005).
• If 9...Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Be7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.Rg1 Rc8 14.Kb1 then:
• 14...g6 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Bxc4 Bxc4 17.Na4 Be6 18.Nb6 Rc7 19.Qd2 Rc6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5 Qc8 22.Rd2 Bd8 23.Nc1 draw (Adams-Grischuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 14...Qc7 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 a5 20.Rd4 Qc6 21.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Bologan-deFermian, IT, Selfoss (Israel), 2003).
• 8...Be7 9.Qd2 transposes into the text.

8.f3

• This move, which both prepares for an eventual g2g4 and prevents 8...Ng4, is considered White's best in this position.
If
• 8.Be2 Be6 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 then:
• If 11...Rc8 12.a5 Qc7 13.Rfd1 then:
• If 13...Rfd8 14.Qe1 Qc6 15.Bf3 then:
• 15...Bc4 16.Nc1 h6 17.N1a2 Nc5 18.Nb4 Qe8 19.g3 Rc7 20.Bg2 Rdc8 21.b3 Be6 22.Ncd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Nunn, IT, Amsterdam, 1985).
• 15...h6 16.Nc1 Qc7 17.Nd3 d5 18.exd5 Bf5 19.Bb6 Nxb6 20.axb6 Qxb6 21.Qxe5 Bxd3 22.Na4 Qb4 23.cxd3 Re8 24.Qe2 Bd6 gives Black the advantage in space (Zaw Win Lay-J. Polgar, IT, Bali, 2000).
• 13...Rfe8 14.Qe1 Qc6 15.Bf3 h6 16.Nc1 Qc7 17.Nd3 d5 18.exd5 Bf5 19.Be2 e4 20.Nc1 Ng4 21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.N1e2 Bd6 23.h3 Bh5 24.Rd2 f5 25.Nd4 f4 26.Ne6 fxe3 27.Nxc7 exd2 28.Qxd2 Rxc7 gives Black more mobility (Asrian-Kostur, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• If 11...Nb6 12.a5 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.Rfd1 then:
• 14...h6 15.Nc1 Rc8 16.Nd3 Be6 17.Bb6 Qe8 18.f3 Nd7 19.Be3 f5 20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Nb4 Nf6 22.Nbd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Bf8 24.b3 Qf7 25.Nb6 Rc6 26.c4 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Quinteros, Ol, Lucerne, 1982).
• 14...Rc8 15.Nc1 Qc7 16.N1e2 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qc4 18.Qf3 h6 19.Ra4 Qe6 20.Rb4 Rc7 21.Qe2 Rfc8 22.Qd3 Rd7 23.Nd5 Bd8 24.Qb3 Bxa5 25.Rxb7 Rxb7 26.Qxb7 Rxc2 27.Nxf6+ gxf6 28.b4 gives White a huge advantage in space, far outstripping Black's material edge (Tal-Rodríguez, Interz, Moscow, 1982).
• If 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 Nc6 12.Kh1 then:
• 12...d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Bd3 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nc5 exd3 18.Nxe6 dxc2 19.Qxc2 Nd4 20.Nxd4 Qxd4 21.Qb3+ Kh8 22.Qxb7 Qxb2 23.Qxb2 Bxb2 24.Rab1 Rad8 25.Rxb2 Rxf4 26.Kg1 draw (Tseshkovsky-Tukmakov, Soviet Ch, Frunze, 1981).
• If 12...Rc8 13.Qe1 Nd7 14.Rd1 Nde5 then:
• 15.Nd5 15...Bg5 16.Bg3 Kh8 17.c3 b5 18.h3 Rb8 19.Nb4 Nxb4 20.Bxe5 Nc2 21.Qg3 Ne3 22.Rxd6 Nxf1 23.Bxf1 Qe7 24.Nd4 f6 25.Rxe6 fxe5 26.Be2 Qd8 27.Qxe5 Bf4 28.Qd5 Qh4 29.Nf3 Qf2 gives Black the better game due to the focus on key squares around the White King (Zaitshik-Psakhis, Soviet Union, 1980).
• 15.Qg3 Bh4 16.Qe3 Bf6 17.a3 Re8 18.Qf2 Qc7 19.Qg3 Kh8 20.Rd2 Rcd8 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Qb6 23.Na4 gives White the advantage in space (H. Olafsson-Quinteros, IT, Buenos Aires, 1980).

8...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 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).

11.g4 b5 12.g5

• 12.Rg1 Nb6 13.Na5 Nc4 14.Nxc4 bxc4 15.g5 gives White a huge advantage in space (Mkrtchian-Dronavalli, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

12...b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4

• 14.Ng3 a5 15.Kb1 a4 16.Nc1 b3 17.cxb3 axb3 18.a3 Qb8 19.h4 Bd8 20.h5 Ba5 21.Qd3 Nc5 22.Qb5 Qc7 23.Bxc5 Rb8 24.Qa4 Qxc5 25.Rh2 Nc7 26.Nf5 is equal (Z. Almasi-Agrest, IT, Corsica, 2005).

14...a5 15.f5 a4 16.Nbd4!?

• If 16.fxe6 axb3 17.exf7+ Rxf7 18.Kb1 bxc2+ then:
• If 19.Kxc2 Nb6 20.Nc1 d5 21.exd5 Nd6 22.Kb1 then:
• 22...Nbc4 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Qe2 Nxe3 25.g6 hxg6 26.Qxe3 Bd6 27.Rhg1 Qf6 28.Qe4 Qf5 29.Rde1 Ra5 30.Rxg6 Qxe4+ 31.Rxe4 Rxd5 32.Kc2 Rc7+ White resigns (Wang Hao-Zhou Jianchou, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).
• 22...Rf3 23.h4 Na4 24.Qe2 Rg3 25.Bf2 Rc3 26.Qxe5 Nxb2 27.Bd4 Bf8 28.Kxb2 Rf3 29.Bd3 Kh8 30.Qe2 Rf4 31.Qh5 Nf5 32.g6 Black resigns (Topalov-Vallejo, IT, Linares, 2005).
• 19.Qxc2 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.Ng3 Kh8 22.Bc4 Rf8 23.Nf5 Rc8 24.Qe2 Ndf6 25.Rhf1 draw (Brunello-Zhou Jianchao. World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).

16...exd4 17.Nxd4
BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 17.Ne2d4:p

17...b3!

• 17...a3 18.b3 Nc5 19.fxe6 Nxe4 20.Qg2 d5 is equal.

18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Nxc2 Bb3!

• If 19...Ne5 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Nd4 then:
• 21...Qc8 22.Bh3 Nc7 23.Nxe6 Nc4 24.Qd3 Nxe6 25.Rc1 gives White an extra pawn after he recovers the Knight at c4.
• 21...Qd7 22.Bh3 Nc7 23.Nxe6 gives White a tactical initiative.

20.axb3 axb3 21.Na3

• This is White's only move. Not only must he save the Knight, but also block the a-file.

21...Ne5

• 21...d5 22.Qxd5 Bxa3 23.Qxd7 Qa5 24.Qb5 Qc7 25.Qc4 Qa5 26.Qb5 Qc7 27.Qc4 Qa5 28.Qb5 draw (Pantela-Karjakin, IT, Foros, 2006).

22.h4

• 22.Qg2 Kh8 23.Rg1 Nc7 24.Bd4 Qb8 25.h4 Qb4 26.h5 Rfc8 is equal (Ganguly-Le Quang Liem, TTm Macau, 2007).

22...Ra5 23.Qc3?

• This novelty doesn't look that bad. It allows Black time to set up a spectacular combination that only a grandmaster like Anand can find.
• 23.Qe2 d5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.exd5 Bxa3 26.bxa3 Nd6 is equal (Leko-Vallejo, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).

23...Qa8 24.Bg2

• The text is better than 24.Rd4?! when 24...d5 25.Bd2 Nc6 26.Rxd5 Bxa3 27.bxa3 Rxa3 ties up White's pieces to defend against mating threats.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 24.Bf1g2

24...Nc7!!

• Black prepares a double sacrifice.
• 24...Ra6 25.Rc1 Bd8 26.Qxb3 Bb6 27.Bf4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

25.Qxc7 Rc8!

• This second sacrifice is made necessary by the first. Black is winning in a sharp position; one misstep and he can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
• If 25...Re8? 26.Rh3 Ra6 27.Rd5 then:
• 27...Ra4 28.f6 gxf6 29.gxf6 Bxf6 30.Rg3+ White has a Bishop for a pawn.
• 27...Bf8 28.Rb5 d5 29.Qb7 Bxa3 30.Qxa8 Rexa8 31.bxa3 gives White an extra piece.

26.Qxe7 Nc4 27.g6

• 27.Nxc4?? Ra1#.

27...hxg6

• If 27...Rxa3? then White wins easily after 28.gxf7+ Kh8 29.f8Q+ Rxf8 30.bxa3.

28.fxg6 Nxa3+ 29.bxa3 Rxa3
BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 29...Ra5a3:p

• White remains two pieces ahead, but he's been on the run since Black's 24th move.

30.gxf7+

• Black is threatening mate in the a-file.
• 30.Bd4 fails to 30...Ra1+ 31.Bxa1 Qa2#.

30...Kh7 31.f8N+

• If 31.Ba7 then 31...Rxa7 32.f8N+ Rxf8 33.Qxf8 Qxf8 wins the Queen.

31...Rxf8 32.Qxf8

• After 32.Qxd6 Ra1+ 33.Kb2 Ra2+ 34.Kc3 Qa5+ 35.Kd4 Black forces mate as follows: 35...Ra4+ 36.Kd3 Qb5+ 37.Kd2 Ra2+ 38.Kc3 Rc2+ 39.Kd4 Rc4+ 40.Kd3 Rc5+ 41.Kd2 Rc2+ 42.Ke1 Qe2#.

32...Ra1+ 33.Kb2 Ra2+

• If 33...Qa3+? then after 34.Kc3 Qa5+ 35.Kd3 Qb5+ 36.Kc3 Qa5+ Black must stettle for a draw.

34.Kc3

• If 34.Kb1 Qxf8 35.Bh3 Qa8 36.Bf5+ Kh8 then:
• If 37.Rc1 Ra1+ 38.Kb2 Qa3+ 39.Kc3 b2+ then:
• 40.Kd4 Rxc1 41.Rxc1 bxc1Q 42.Bxc1 Qxc1 leaves Black with an easy win.


• If 40.Kd2 bxc1Q+ 41.Rxc1 Qxc1+ then:
• 42.Ke2 Qf1+ 43.Kd2 Rd1+ 44.Kc3 Qd3+ 45.Kb4 Rb1+ 46.Ka5 Qb5#.
• 42.Kd3 Ra3+ 43.Ke2 Rxe3+ 44.Kf2 Qd2+ 45.Kf1 Re1#.
• 37.Rxd6 Ra1+ 38.Kb2 Qa3+ 39.Kc3 b2+ 40.Kc4 Qxd6 wins for Black.

34...Qa5+ 35.Kd3 Qb5+ 36.Kd4 Ra4+ 37.Kc3 Qc4+ 0-1

• Black mates in two moves at most.
• Grandmaster Karjakin resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kramnik - Leko, Match for the World Title, Brissago, 2004

This was the final game of the 2004 world championship match. Leko led by a point; Kramnik needed a win to tie the match and keep his title.



Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Peter Leko
Match for the World Title, Round 14
Brissago, 18 October 2004

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

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Bd7 6.Nd2

• This move is rarely played. Kramnik, needing a win, did not want a theoretical discussion with such a skilled technician as Kramnik.
• More usual is 6.h5 e6 7.f4 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.Nf3 Qb6 then:
• If 10.Kf2 Rc8 11.Kg3 then:
• If 11...f5 12.gxf5 Nge7 13.Bh3 Nxf5+ 14.Bxf5 exf5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.b4 Be7 17.Qxd5 Nd8 18.Qd3 g5 19.Qd4 gxf4+ is equal (Mariano-Adianto, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 Rxc1 14.Qxc1 Qxd4 15.Qd2 Qb6 16.Nc3 Bc5 17.Bd3 a6 18.a3 Ne7 19.Rae1 Qa7 20.Bb1 b5 21.b4 Bd4 22.Re2 Nc6 23.Rd1 gives White the advantage in space (Jirovsky-Lechtynsky, Czech ChT, Czechia, 1996).
• 10.Rh2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 12.Be3 Nge7 13.b3 a5 14.Rc2 Rg8 15.Nc3 Nb4 16.Rcc1 g6 17.hxg6 Rxg6 18.Nh4 Rg8 19.a3 Na6 20.Na4 Qd8 21.Rxc8 Nxc8 22.Ng2 is equal (Magem-Megaranto, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 10.Na3 cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0-0 12.Nc2 Kb8 13.Bd3 Nge7 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.b4 Nc4 17.b5 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 g6 19.Nb3 Bxb5 20.Nc5 Rxc5 21.dxc5 Qa5+ 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Kxd2 Bxd3 24.Kxd3 gives White a material and spatial advantage (Tal-Pachman, IT, Bled, 1961).

6...c5

• 6...e6 7.Nb3 a5 8.a4 Na6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Nf3 h5 11.gxh5 Rxh5 12.c3 Ne7 13.Bd3 Nf5 14.Qe2 Qb6 15.Nbd2 c5 16.Ng5 Rh8 17.Ndf3 g6 18.Kf1 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nc5 20.Bb5 Qc7 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Bf4 Rc8 23.Rd1 Bxb5 24.axb5 Ne4 is equal (Kurnosov-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

7.dxc5 e6

• 7...Qa5 8.c3 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qc7 10.Bf4 e6 11.Bd3 Na6 12.Nf3 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Qe2 Ne7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.h5 Nc6 18.Rhg1 d4 19.c4 Nb4 is equal (P. Smirnov-Panarin, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).

8.Nb3 Bxc5 9.Nxc5 Qa5+ 10.c3 Qxc5 11.Nf3!?

• Even today, the book stops here.
• White has a small advantage in space; his lack of development is not a real problem.
• 11.h5 Ne7 12.Nf3 Nbc6 13.Bf4 g5 14.Bg3 0-0-0 15.Bd3 d4 16.c4 Nf5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.Bh2 f4 19.Qb3 Bg4 20.Be4 Rhe8 21.0-0 Bxh5 22.Ne1 Qxe5 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Qh3+ g4 gives Black three pawns for a Knight and a huge advantage in space (Shomoev-Bareev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

11...Ne7

• Black sets up to defend the d-pawn.
• 11...Nc6 12.Bg2 Nge7 13.Be3 Qc4 14.Bd4 is equal.

12.Bd3

• 12.Bg2 Qc7 13.Bf4 Bc6 14.Qe2 Nd7 15.0-0-0 White maintains the advantage in space.

12...Nbc6

• 12...Qc7 13.Qe2 Ba4 14.Rg1 Nd7 15.g5 h5 16.g6 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

13.Be3 Qa5 14.Qd2

• If 14.Qb3?! Rc8 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Qa3 then:
• 16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxa7 Qd6 19.Qb6 Bc6 is equal.
• 16...f6?! 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Rg1 e5 19.Be2 a6 20.Bc5 White retains the advantage in space.

14...Ng6 15.Bd4 Nxd4

• If 15...Qc7 16.Bxg6 fxg6 then:
• 17.Qe3 b6 18.0-0-0 0-0 19.Kb1 Rac8 is equal.
• 17.Qe2 Qa5 18.g5 h5 is equal.

16.cxd4 Qxd2+?!

• Exchanging Queens is not the way to secure a draw.
• If 16...Qb6 17.a4 Rc8 18.g5 a5 then:
• 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Rg1 Rg8 is equal.
• If 19.Ke2 Ne7 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Rhc1 Rxc1 then:
• 22.Rxc1 Bxa4 23.Ra1 Bb5 24.Rxa5 Bxd3+ 25.Kxd3 is equal.
• 22.Qxc1 Rg8 23.Ke1 Nc6 24.Qc3 Rg4 25.Bb5 is equal.

17.Kxd2 Nf4 18.Rac1

• 18.Bf1 h5 19.g5 Rc8 20.Ke3 Ng6 21.Bd3 Rf8 22.Rhc1 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

18...h5

BLACK: Peter Leko
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 18...h6h5

19.Rhg1!

• This move indicates a plan to open the g-file and play on the kingside.
• The variation 19.gxh5 Bc6 20.Rhg1 Kf8 21.Bf1 Nxh5 22.Ke3 is also consistant with such a plan.

19...Bc6 20.gxh5 Nxh5 21.b4

• White threatens to exploit the unguarded b5 square.

21...a6 22.a4 Kd8

• The center is locked and White is stronger on the wings.
• 22...Bxa4 23.Rc7 Bc6 24.Ng5 0-0 25.Ke3 Bb5 26.Bh7+ is strong for White.

23.Ng5 Be8 24.b5

• 24.Ke3 Rh6 25.f4 g6 26.a5 Ng7 27.Nf3 prepares for action on the c-file.

24...Nf4 25.b6 Nxd3

• 25...Rxh4!? 26.Rc7 Nxd3 27.Kxd3 Rc8 28.Rgc1 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 gives White a strong position for his pawn.

26.Kxd3 Rc8

• 26...Rxh4 transposes into the previous note.

27.Rxc8+ Kxc8 28.Rc1+ Bc6

• If 28...Kb8 then 29.Rc7 Rf8 30.Ke3 a5 31.Nh7 Rh8 32.Re7 ties up Black's back rank.

29.Nxf7 Rxh4 30.Nd6+ Kd8

• If 30...Kb8 31.Rg1 Rh7 32.a5 then:
• 32...Rh3+ 33.Ke2 Rh7 34.Rg3 Ka8 35.Rf3 Rh8 36.Rf7 puts White on a clear path to victory after he brings his King into the fray.
• 32...Ka8 33.Rg3 Kb8 34.Rf3 transposes.

31.Rg1 Rh3+ 32.Ke2 Ra3

• If 32...Rh7 33.a5 Kd7 34.Rg3 Ke7 35.Rc3 Kd8 36.Rf3 and 37.Rf8+.

33.Rxg7 Rxa4 34.f4?!

• Better is 34.Ke3! Ra3+ 35.Kf4 Rd3 36.Kg5 when White successfully brings his King into the attack.

34...Ra2+?

• Black commits the final mistake and it costs him the world championship.34...Rxd4! 35.Rg8+ Kd7 36.Ke3 Rb4 37.Rg7+ is a likely draw.

BLACK: Peter Leko
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34...Ra4a2+

35.Kf3!

• Black cannot stop the march of the White King.

35...Ra3+ 36.Kg4 Rd3 37.f5 Rxd4+ 38.Kg5 exf5

• After 38...Rd1 39.Kf6 Rh1 40.Rg8+ Be8 41.Kxe6 Rh6+ 42.f6 White delivers mate in two moves at most.

39.Kf6 Rg4 40.Rc7 Rh4 41.Nf7+ 1-0

• All that remains is 41...Ke8 42.Rc8+ Kd7 43.Rd8#.
• Grandmaster Leko resigns.