The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (October 31): VISHY!!

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand Defends World Title




Reigning champ Vishy Anand won his title match against former champion Vladimir Kramnik Wednesday by drawing the eleventh game in Bonn.

Anand won the scheduled 12 game match 6½-4½. Anand had three wins to Kramnink's one with seven drawn games.

Anand took charge of the match by winning games five and six last week to take a three-point advantage over Kramnik. Kramnik won the tenth game, but by then he had to win all of the remaining games to force a tiebreak.

Anand won the title in a tournament in Mexico City a year ago among eight of the strongest grandmasters in the world. Kramnik, who was the reigning world champion when the match began, finished second in the event as the title passed to Anand.

Kramnik held the world title from October 2000, when he defeated then-champion Garry Kasparov in a 14-game match in London. However, his claim on the title was tainted with the dispute between Kasparov and FIDE, the world chess governing body, which ceased to recognize Kasparov as the chapion in 1993, although he was clearly the strongest player in the world even after his loss to Kramnik. Kramnik defended his title twice, once against Peter Leko in Switzerland in 2004 and then in a reunification match against Topalov, who had come to be recognized as the world champion by FIDE, in 2006.

Anand's next defense of his title will be sometime in 2009 against the winner of a match between Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, the former FIDE champion, and Russo-American grandmaster Gata Kamsky. That match is scheduled to take place in Lvov, Ukraine, in November and December.



World Champion Vishy Anand presented with the Winner's Trophy in Bonn Wednesday
Photo: ChessBase.com


Svidler Takes Russian Championship in Rapid Playoff



Peter Svidler of St, Petersburg won his fifth Russian national championship Tuesday by surviving a three-way, six-round rapid playoff with Dmitry Jakovenko and former champion Evgeny Alekseev.

The trio of grandmasters were tied for first place after the regularly scheduled 11-round "Superfinal" held earlier this month in Moscow with 7 points each.

Svidler had to win the sixth and final game against Jakovenko to take the title. Jakovenko entered the round with a half-point lead over Svidler and only needed to avoid loss to take the title for himself.

Svidler, 32, previously won the Russian national championship in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2003. He follows cricket, is a fan of Bob Dylan and speaks excellent English.


Cap d'Agde Rapid Fianl pits Ivanchuk against Nakamura



The final match of the annual grandmasters' rapid tournament in the southern French resort of Cap d'Agde will take place tomorrow between Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk and the young American GM Hikaru Nakamura.

In semi-final matches played today, Ivanchuk defeated Magnus Carlsen while Nakamura advanced at the expense of former world champion Anatoly Karpov.


Calendar

Pan-American Championship, Boca Raton, Florida 1-7 November.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand or Kramnik in 2009.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Hasting Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

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

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Match for the World Title, Bonn

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. Kramnik 1-0 Anand, Game 10

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: ChessBase.com



Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 10
Bonn, 27 October 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5

• 4...d5 5.Bg5 Nbd7 is the Ragozin Defense to the Queen's Gambit.

5.g3

• 5.e3 is the more usual move.

5...cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0

• If 6...Ne4 7.Qd3 then:
• 7...Qa5 8.Nb3 Nxc3 9.Bd2 Ne4 10.Qxe4 Bxd2+ 11.Nxd2 0-0 12.Bg2 Nc6 13.Qe3 d5 14.0-0 d4 15.Qd3 e5 16.a3 g6 17.b4 Qc7 18.Rac1 Bf5 19.Qb3 Ne7 20.b5 Be6 21.Qf3 b6 22.Qf6 Rae8 23.Nf3 Bg4 is equal (Piket-Tiviakov, IT, Groningen, 1998).
• 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Ne5 12.Qf4 Bd7 13.Nb5 Bxb5 14.cxb5 0-0 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Qd4 Rfd8 18.h3 a6 19.f4 Ng6 20.Rab1 e5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.bxa6 bxa6 23.Bf2 Qc7 24.Bd5 draw (Barsov-Medvegy, Op, Cairo, 2001).

7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5

• If 8.Qb3 Bxc3+ then:
• If 9.Qxc3 e5 10.Nb3 then:
• 10...d4 11.Qa5 Qe8 12.Bg5 Nc6 13.Qc7 Qd7 14.Qxd7 Nxd7 15.Rc1 a5 16.0-0 a4 17.Na1 h6 18.Bd2 Nf6 19.Nc2 Bg4 20.Rfe1 e4 21.f3 Bf5 22.fxe4 Bxe4 23.Bh3 Rfe8 24.Nb4 Ne5 25.Bf4 a3 26.b3 Rad8 is equal (Kamsky-Christiansen, US Ch, Long Beach, 1993).
• 10...Nc6 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qc5 Be6 13.Bd2 Rc8 14.0-0 a6 15.Qa3 Nb6 16.Ba5 Nc4! 17.Bxd8 Nxa3 18.bxa3 Nxd8 19.Rfc1 b6 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.Rd1 Ne6 22.Rd6 b5 is equal (Gaprindashvili-Galliamova, Candidates' T, Borzhomi, 1990).
• If 9.bxc3 then:
• 9...e5 10.Nb5 dxc4 11.Qxc4 a6 12.Nc7 b5 13.Qc5 Nbd7 14.Qa3 Qxc7 15.Bxa8 Nb6 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.0-0 leaves White up by an exchange (Gaprindashvili-Sturua, IT, Ckhaltubo, 1981).
• 9...Nc6 10.cxd5 Na5 11.Qc2 Nxd5 12.Qd3 Qc7 13.0-0 Bd7 14.e4 Nb6 15.f4 e5 16.fxe5 Nac4 17.g4 Nxe5 18.Qg3 Nbc4 19.Bf4 Qc5 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.g5 Rfe8 gives Black the advantage in space (Kasparov-Suba, Ol, Dubai, 1986).

8...Nxd5 9.Qb3

• If 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 then:
• 10...Be7 11.Rb1 Qd7 12.Bf4 Bf6 13.Nb5 a6 14.Qxd7 Nxd7 15.Nd6 Bxc3+ 16.Kf1 Bf6 17.Nxb7 a5 18.Nd6 Rb8 19.Rxb8 Nxb8 20.Nc4 a4 21.Bf3 Ba6 22.Nb6 Bd4 23.Be3 Bxb6 24.Bxb6 Nd7 25.Bd4 Rc8 26.Kg2 Rc2 27.Rb1 a3 28.Rb4 Rc4 draw (Stohl-Aronian, Vidmar Mem, Portoroz, 1999).
• If 10...Bc5 11.Be3 Qe7 then:
• 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Rb1 Nb6 14.Rb5 Bd6 15.Qd3 Bc7 16.c4 e5 17.Nf5 Qf6 18.g4 Be6 19.c5 Bc4 20.Qb1 Bxb5 21.cxb6 Bxe2 22.bxc7 Bxg4 23.Ng3 Rac8 24.Qxb7 gives White the more active game (Barsov-Dharma Tjiam, Dutch Ch, Holland, 1996).
• 12.Qb3 e5 13.Nc2 Na6 14.0-0 Rb8 15.Bxc5 Nxc5 16.Qa3 b6 17.Nb4 Bb7 18.Qxa7 Qe6 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Qa3 Qc4 21.Qb2 Na4 22.Qb3 draw (Tal-Przewoznik, IT, Barcelona, 1988).
• 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.Nb3 Nc6 12.0-0 Nb6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qd3 Rd8 15.Qe4 Be6 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Bc5 Qf6 18.Rxd8+ Qxd8 19.Qc2 Nc4 20.Rd1 Qc7 is equal (Tal-Timman, IT Bugojno, 1980).

9...Qa5

• 9...Qb6 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Bh3 12.g4 Na6 13.a3 Qa5 14.Rc1 Bxc3+ 15.Rxc3 Nc5 16.Qb4 Qxb4 17.axb4 Na4 18.Ra3 Nxb2 19.Bc1 Bg2 20.Rg1 Nc4 21.Rxg2 Nxa3 22.Bxa3 Rfc8 (Aronian-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2006).

10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3

• If 13.Bxc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Ba6 15.Qb4 then:
• 15...Qxb4 16.cxb4 Rab8 17.a3 Bxe2 18.Rfc1 Bb5 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.Rxc6 Rfc8 21.Rac1 Rxc6 22.Rxc6 gives White the advantage of the distant pawn majority in the ending (RibliWahls, Bundesliga 9899, Porz, 1998).
• 15...Qe5 16.Rfe1 Rab8 17.Qa3 Rb6 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Bf3 draw (Ward-Kosten, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

13...Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4

• 15...Nb6 16.Be3 Qh5 17.Bxb6 Rfb8 18.Rd6 Rxb6 19.Qd1 Qxd1+ 20.Raxd1 g5 21.a4 Rab8 22.h4 gxh4 23.gxh4 e5 24.a5 Rb1 25.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 26.Kh2 Bb5 27.h5 is equal (Onischuk-Zatonskih, Op, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 2005).

16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1!?

• White introduces a new move that leads to equality.
• If 18.Be3 Be2 19.Rd2 Rab8 20.Bxb6 axb6 21.Qd6 then:
• 21...Rfc8 22.Rb1 h6 23.e5 Bf3 24.a4 Ra8 25.Qd4 b5 26.Bxf3 Qxf3 27.Rd3 draw (Bacrot-Leko, Team M, Moscow, 2004).
• 21...Bf3 22.Qxc6 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qe5 24.Qc4 Rfc8 25.Qd4 Qa5 26.Rb1gives White an extra pawn (Kasparov-Anand, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).

18...c5

• The text is equal.
• 18...Be2 19.Be3 Nc4 20.Qc5 Rfd8 21.e5 is also equal.

19.Qa5 Rfc8 20.Be3

• The text move maintains equality.
• 20.Bf4 e5 21.g4 Qxg4 22.Bxe5 Be2 23.Bg3 Bf3 gives Black a slightly more activity.

20...Be2 21.Bf4

• The game remains equal.
• 21.Bxc5? Rxc5 22.Qb4 Rac8 23.Rac1 Rc4! wins back the pawn with a strong initiative.

21...e5 22.Be3!?

• Kramnik needs a win and has to takes risks.
• 22.Bxe5 Nc4 23.Qa6 Qxe5 24.Rxe2 Qxc3 25.Ree1 offers equal chances.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 22.Bf4e3

22...Bg4?

• Anand needs only a draw to win the match; he misses a golden opportunity here.
• 22...Nc4! would destroy White's good Bishop after 23.Qa6 Nxe3! 24.Qxe2 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 Nc4 is equal.

23.Qa6!

• Black no longer has any useful aggressive moves.

23...f6

• If 23...Be6 then 24.Bf1 c4 25.Bxb6 axb6 26.Qxb6 wins a pawn.
• If 23...Bh3 then 24.a4 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Rc7 26.a5 Nd7 27.Reb1 gives White the active game.

24.a4 Qf7

• 24...Rc7 25.a5 Nd7 26.Rab1 Kh8 27.Rb7 Rxb7 28.Qxb7 forces Black to retreat.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 24...Qh5f7

25.Bf1!

• The Bishop moves to a diagonal where he can breathe.

25...Be6

• If 25...Rc7 then 26.a5 Bc8 27.Qd3 Nd7 28.Qd6 wins material.

26.Rab1 c4

• 26...Rab8 27.Rb5 Rc6 28.Rxc5 wins a pawn.

27.a5!

• The Knight must give way, opening a path to Black's camp on the b-file.

27...Na4 28.Rb7 Qe8 29.Qd6 1-0

• After 29...Bf7 30.Qb4 Rcb8 31.a6 Nb6 32.Bxb6 axb6 33.Qxb6 Black's position is hopeless.
• World Champion Anand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Anand ½-½ Kramnik, Game 11

The final game of the match.



Vladimir Kramnik and Vishy Anand with their trophies after the game
Photo: Official website of the 2008 World Chess Championship


Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
Match for the World Title, Round 11
Bonn, 29 October 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Bxf6

• If 8.Qf3 Be7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 then:
• If 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 Nc5 then:
• If 14.f6 gxf6 15.gxf6 Bf8 16.Rg1 h5 17.a3 then:
• 17...Bd7 18.Kb1 Qb6 19.b4 Na4 20.Nxa4 bxa4 21.Bh3 Rc8 22.Rg5 Rc5 23.Rg2 Re5 24.Qd3 a5 25.c3 is equal (Brodsky-Isupov, Russian ChT, Orel, 1997).
• 17...Rb8 18.e5 Bb7 19.Qg3 d5 20.Kb1 Bc8 21.b4 Na4 22.Nxa4 bxa4 23.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Gauche-T. Schmidt, Corres, 2000).
• 14.h4 b4 15.Nce2 e5 16.Nb3 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bb7 18.Rd5 Rc8 19.c3 Qc4 20.Qxc4 Rxc4 21.Bg2 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Rxh4 23.Rxh4 Bxg5+ 24.Nd2 Bxh4 25.cxb4 Ke7 gives Black a material advantage (Morky-Ftacnik, IT, Brattislava, 1983).
• If 10.Bd3 then:
• If 10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4 14.Nf3 then:
• 14...Nxf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.Bg3 Ne5 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Bd7 19.h4 Rxh4 20.Rxh4 Bxh4 21.Qh5 Bf6 22.Qh6 Ng4 23.Qh5 Ne5 24.Qh6 Ng4 25.Qh5 Ne5 draw (Estrin-Sanakoev, Corres, 1978).
• 14...hxg5 15.Bg3 Bd7 16.h3 Nxf3 17.hxg4 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Nh4 19.e5 Bc6 20.exd6 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Kvon-Esen, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• If 10...b5 11.Rhe1 Bb7 12.Qg3 b4 13.Nd5 exd5 then:
• 14.exd5 Kd8 15.Nc6+ Bxc6 16.dxc6 Nc5 17.Bh4 Rg8 18.Bxh7 Rh8 19.Qxg7 Rxh7 20.Qxf6 Rxh4 21.Qxf7 Rh8 22.Re5 White is more active in spite of White's material advantage (Kotronias-Shneider, Op, Korinthos, 2004).
• 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 16.Qh4 Bxg5+ 17.Qxg5 g6 18.e6 Nc5 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Kg8 21.Nf5 Ne6 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Nh6+ Kg7 25.Nf5+ Kg8 draw (Luther-Nielsen, IT, Malmø, 2002).

8...gxf6 9.f5

• If 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 Bd7 11.Kb1 0-0-0 12.Be2 h5 13.Rhf1 Kb8 14.Rf3 then:
• 14...Be7 15.Nb3 Na5 16.Rh3 h4 17.Qe1 Nxb3 18.axb3 f5 19.exf5 d5 20.Bd3 Bf6 21.fxe6 fxe6 is equal (A. Ivanov-Waitzkin, Op, New York, 1993).
• 14...Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Be7 16.Rfd3 Rc8 17.Bf3 Qc5 18.a3 gives White a small advantage in space. (Ziska-Berg, Politiken Cup, Helsignor, 2007).

9...Qc5

• 9...Nc6 10.fxe6 fxe6 11.Bc4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Rg8 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.Bb3 0-0-0 15.g3 Be7 16.Na4 Rg5 17.Rd3 Re5 18.Rc3 gives White more activity (Radjobov-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).

10.Qd3 Nc6 11.Nb3 Qe5 12.0-0-0!?

• The game is equal.
• 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.0-0-0 b5 14.Kb1 Bb7 15.Qe3 Be7 16.Be2 0-0 17.Qh3 Kh8 is equal (Kavalek-Chandler, Bundesliga 8283, Germany, 1982).

12...exf5

• The game is still equal.
• 12...Rg8 13.Kb1 b5 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Ng3 remains equal.

13.Qe3 Bg7!?

• If 13...Be6 then after 14.g3 d5 15.Qb6 dxe4 16.Qxb7 Rc8 17.Bxa6 White has the more active game.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 13...Bf8g7

14.Rd5

• If 14.Nd2 Qc5 15.Nd5 then:
• If 15...Qxe3 16.Nxe3 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Bh6 18.Nxd6+ then:
• 18...Ke7 19.Nxc8+ Raxc8 20.Re1 is equal.
• 18...Kf8 19.Re1 Ne5 20.Kb1 gives White more freedom
• 15...0-0 16.Qg3 Nb4 17.Nxb4 Qxb4 18.a3 Qd4 19.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space.

14...Qe7 15.Qg3

• 15.Nd4 fxe4 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 0-0-0 18.Bc4 Rhe8?! 19.Nd5! Qf8 20.Qb6 gives White the makings of a attack.
• 16.Nxe4?! 0-0! 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 Qe6 19.Qf4 d5 gives Black a strong initiative.

15...Rg8

• 15...Bh6+?! 16.Kb1 fxe4 17.Rh5 Bf8 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Nd2 wins back a pawn; Black has too many weak pawns.

16.Qf4 fxe4

• 16...Be6 17.Rd1 Bxb3 18.axb3 Qe5 19.Qxf5 Nd4 20.Qf2 is equal.

17.Nxe4 f5

• If 17...Bh6 18.Qxh6 Qxe4 19.Rd2 then:
• If 19...Qe1+ 20.Rd1 Qf2 21.Nd2 then:
• 21...d5 22.Qxh7 Ne7 23.Qd3 Bf5 24.Qb3 is equal.
• 21...Ke7 22.Ne4 Qf5 23.Nxd6 gives White more activity.
• 19...Qg6 20.Qe3+ Ne5 21.Kb1 Qg5 22.Qb6 Bd7 23.Qxb7 gives White multiple threats.

18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Nxc8

• 19.c3 Qc7 20.Rd2 Be6 21.Nc5 Bxa2 22.Qxf5 Nd4 is equal.

19...Rxc8 20.Kb1 Qe1+ 21.Nc1 Ne7

• 21...Qb4 22.Nd3 Qxf4 23.Nxf4 Re8 24.c3 Be5 25.Nd3 gives White a slight advantage.

22.Qd2 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Bh6 24.Rf2

• The game is equal.
• 24.Rd7 Rb8 25.Nb3 Ke8 26.Rd3 Rg6 27.c3 Rd8 maintains a small advantage for White.

24...Be3 ½-½

• 25.Rf3 f4 26.Nd3 Re8 27.g3 Ng6 is even.
• Black cannot win the game and White doesn't need to win. Kramnik offered the draw, thus resigning the match to Anand.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Final Position after 24...Bh6e3

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Other Games

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Zelcic - Malakhov, European Club Cup, General Competition, Round 5, Kallithea

Vladimir Malakhov scored a perfect 7/7 to lead Sverdlovsk to the European Club Cup.



Vladimir Malakhov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Robert Zelcic (Zagreb) - Vladimir Malakhov (Sverdlovsk)
European Team Championship (General Competition), Round 5
Kallithea, 21 October 2008

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7

• If 7...a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 then:
• If 9.f3 Be7 then:
• If 10.g4 then:
• 10...h6 11.Be3 b5 12.h4 Rc8 13.Bd3 Ne5 is equal (Mongontuul-Hou Yifan, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 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).
• If 10.h4 h6 11.Be3 h5 12.Bg5 Ne5 13.Kb1 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).
• 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).
• If 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).

8.0-0-0 a6 9.f4 Nxd4

• If 9...Bd7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 then:
• If 11...gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 0-0-0 14.g3 Kb8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh3 Bc8 17.Qe1 Rhe8 18.Ne2 Bf8 19.Nf4 Bg7 20.Rf1 then:
• 20...Qc5 21.c3 f5 22.exf5 exf5 23.Qf2 b4 24.cxb4 Nxb4 25.a3 Nc6 26.Rc1 Qxf2 27.Rxf2 is equal (Kolev-Damljanovic, Op, Skopje, 2002).
• 20...Bh8 21.c3 Re7 22.Rf2 Na5 23.Nd4 Rde8 24.Bg4 Nc4 25.Bh5 gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Timman, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
• If 11...Bxf6 12.Qxd6 Be7 13.Qd2 b4 then:
• 14.Ne2 Ra7 15.Kb1 Qb6 16.e5 0-0 17.Nc1 a5 18.Bd3 a4 19.b3 Rc7 20.g4 Na7 21.f5 Bb5 22.f6 gxf6 23.Qh6 Bxd3 24.Rxd3 fxe5 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.Qxg5+ is equal (Chiburdanidze-Kozlovskaya, Soviet ChW, Tbilisi, 1974).
• 14.Na4 Ra7 15.Qe3 Qa5 16.b3 R7 17.Nd2 Na7 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.e5 Bxa4 20.bxa4 0-0 21.Bd3 Rfb8 22.Qe4 g6 23.h4 Rd8 24.h5 gives the overall advantage to White in spite of his pawn minus as he will break through on the kingside to great effect (Ziatdinov-Tseshkovsky, Hodzhaev Mem, Tashkent, 1987).

10.Qxd4 b5 11.Bxf6

• If 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bf3 Rc8 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.f5 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bg4 Kf7 17.Bh5+ Kg7 18.e5 Rhd8 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.exd6 Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Bxd6 22.Qxe6 Be5 23.Rd1 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Qf5 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Rd8+ 27.Ke1 Qc3+ 28.Kf1 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Qd4 30.Be2 draw (Hoffman-Likavsky, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
• 14...Qa5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Kb1 Rc4 17.Qe3 Qc7 18.Rhe1 Qc5 19.Qh6 b4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 e5 gives White more activity, but Black is capable of making threats also (Motylev-Wojtaszek, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

11...gxf6 12.e5

• 12.f5 Qc7 13.Be2 Qc5 14.Qxc5 dxc5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh5+ Kf8 17.e5 f5 18.g4 Ra7 19.gxf5 exf5 20.Rhf1 Kg7 21.Rg1+ Kh6 22.Be2 draw (Domínguez-Vera, Cuban Ch, Las Tunas, 2001).

12...d5 13.Bd3?!

• If 13.Kb1 then:
• If 13...Bb7 14.f5 fxe5 15.Qxe5 Bf6 16.Qg3 Qe7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Be2 h5 19.a4 h4 20.Qg6+ Qf7 21.Qd3 0-0 22.Bg4 b4 23.Qe2 e5 24.Ne4 Be7 25.Nd2 e4 26.Nb3 Kh8 27.Rhf1 Qg6 28.Na5 Bc6 29.Bh5 Qe6 30.Nxc6 Qxc6 31.Bf7 Qh6 32.Rxd5 Bg5 33.Qxe4 Qg7 34.Qg4 Bh6 35.Qxh4 Ra7 36.Rd6 Kh7 37.Rxh6+ Black resigns (Kovalev-Supatashvili, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 21.Qxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rhf1 bxa4 23.Ne4 dxe4 24.Rd7+ Kg6 25.Rxb7 Rhb8 26.Bxa6 a3 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.b4 Rxb4+ 29.Ka2 Be7 30.Rb1 Rxb1 31.Kxb1 Kf5 32.Bc4 Bd6 33.Ka2 e3 34.Bd3+ Kg5 35.c4 Bxh2 36.Kxa3 Kf4 White resigns as Black's extra pawn decides (Zhu Chen--Gelashvili, Op, Athens, 2006).
• 13...Rg8 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Ng3 fxe5 16.fxe5 Qc7 17.Bd3 h5 18.Nxh5 Rxg2 19.h4 0-0-0 20.Qf4 gives White the advantage in space (Jakovenko-Wojtaszek, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).

13...f5 14.g4 b4!?

• Up to here, the players have been following a game played in the first round of the present tournament which ended in a draw.
• 14...Qc7 15.Qf2 fxg4 16.h3 gxh3 17.Rxh3 Bb7 18.Ne2 Bc5 19.Qh4 Qe7 is equal (Sutovsky-Maki, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).

15.Na4

• If 15.Ne2?! Qa5 16.c3 fxg4 then:
• 17.Kb1 bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.Nxc3 Bb7 20.Rhg1 h5 gives Black more space and an extra pawn.
• 17.h3 Qxa2 18.hxg4 Qa1+ 19.Bb1 Rb8 gives Black a tacitical edge.

15...Qa5 16.b3 fxg4 17.f5

• 17.Rhg1 h5 18.Qb6 Qxb6 19.Nxb6 Rb8 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.

17...Bd7?!

• Black attack a protected piece and loses his extra pawn.
• 17...h5! 18.Qb6 Qxb6 19.Nxb6 Rb8 20.Nxc8 Rxc8 21.Bxa6 Ra8 wins a pawn.

18.Qxg4 0-0-0?!

• If 18...Bxa4 19.bxa4 then:19...h5 20.Qg7 Rf8 21.Qh6 Qc7 22.Rhe1 b3 23.fxe6 bxa2 wins for Black.
• 21...Qxa4 22.fxe6 Qxa2 23.exf7+ White wins the h-pawn.

19...Qb6 20.fxe6 Qxe6 21.Qg7 Rf8 22.Bxh7 Rb8 23.Rhf1 gives White an extra pawn.

19.fxe6?!

• This cedes the advantage in space to Black, although Black must play carfully to maintain it.
• If 19.Qg7! Rdf8 20.fxe6 then:
• If 20...Bxe6 then White wins after 21.Bxh7 Kd8 22.Rhe1 f5 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Qb7.
• 20...Bxa4 21.bxa4 Rhg8 22.Qxh7 gives White two extra pawns.

BLACK: Vladimir Malakhov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Robert Zelcic
Position after 19.fe6:p

19...fxe6 20.Kb1

• 20.Rdf1 Rdg8 21.Qh3 Kd8 22.Rf7 h6 23.Bh7 Bg5+ also gives Black the advantage in space,

20...Rdg8 21.Qh3

• If 21.Qh5 then:
• 21...Bxa4 22.Qf7 Re8 23.bxa4 Bc5 24.Qg7 h5 is equal.
• 21...Rg5 22.Qh6 Re8 23.Rde1 Bxa4 24.bxa4 Kd7 is equal.

21...Rg5 22.Qe3

• If 22.Qh6 Kd8 23.h4 Rg2 then:
• 24.Rdg1 Rxg1+ 25.Rxg1 Bxa4 26.bxa4 Qb6 27.Rg7 is equal.
• 24...Rhg8 25.Rxg2 Rxg2 26.Qxh7 Bxa4 27.bxa4 Qb6 is equal.

22...Kb8 23.h4 Rg4

• 23...Rh5 24.Qg3 Re8 25.Be2 Rf5 26.Bd3 Rf7 is equal.

24.Rhf1 Bxa4!

• 24...h5 25.Rf7 Re8 26.Nb2 Bc6 27.Qh6 Qc7 is equal.

25.bxa4 Rxh4 26.Qg3

• If 26.Rf7 then 26...Qc5 27.Qg3 Rc8 28.Rf6 Rc4 29.Rxe6 Rxc2 is clearly better for Black.

26...Rc8 27.Rf6?

• If 27.Qg7 Qc5 28.Qf7 Rh6 29.Rh1 then:
• 29...Rxh1 30.Rxh1 h6 31.Rxh6 Qc3 32.Qxe7 Qe1+ draws by perpetual check.
• 29...Rf8 30.Qg7 Rxh1 31.Rxh1 Rf2 32.Rxh7 gives White the initiative.

BLACK: Vladimir Malakhov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Robert Zelcic
Position after 27.Rf1f6

27...b3!!

• This Rook sacrifice does more than take advantage of White's lapse in judgment. It shuts down White's chances at counterplay.
• If 27...Rh5 then after 28.Rxe6 Qc5 29.Rxa6 h6 30.Re6 Rg5 31.Qf3 White has chances of whipping up counterplay.

28.Qxh4 Qc3 29.Qf2 Bc5 30.axb3

• After 30.Qd2 bxa2+ 31.Kxa2 Qa3+ 32.Kb1 Bd4 White must give up the Queen or be mated.

30...Bxf2 31.Rxf2 Qxe5 32.Bxa6 Rc7

• Even better is 32...Rh8 33.Bb5 h5 34.Rdf1 Qc3 35.Re2 e5.

33.Re2

• If 33.Bd3 then after 33...Qg3 34.Rf8+ Kb7 35.Rh1 e5 36.Bxh7 Qg2 Black has mobile pawns and active pieces.

33...Qf6 34.Bb5 Re7 35.Rg2

• White gets more stubborn resistance from 35.Red2 Qf3 36.Rd3 Qe4 37.Kb2 h5.

35...Qc3 36.Re2

• If 36.Rh2 Qc7 37.Rh6 Qa7 then:
• If 38.Bd3 e5 39.Bf5 Rb7 40.Be6 Qxa4 then:
• 41.Bxd5 Qf4 42.Ra6 Rd7 43.Ra8+ Kc7 44.Ra7+ Kd8 Black has defended successfully and is ready to take over the initiiative.
• If 41.Rxh7? then after 41...Rxb3+ 42.cxb3 Qe4+! Black wins.
• 38.Kb2 d4 39.b4 Qb6 40.Kb3 Qd8 41.c3 e5 gives Black mobile pawns and a material advantage.

36...Qf6

• The text is sufficient, but stronger is 36...Qf3 37.Rde1 e5 38.Rxe5 Rxe5 39.Rxe5 Qd1+.

37.Rg2 Ka7 38.Rg3

• If 38.Rgd2 then after 38...Qf5 39.Ka2 h5 40.c4 Rc7 41.a5 h4 Black is winning.

38...h5 39.b4 Qf4 40.Rb3

• Also hopeless is 40.Rh3 Qxb4+ 41.Kc1 Qf4+ 42.Kb2 h4 43.Rdh1 Rh7.

40...Rb7 41.Ka2

• No better is 41.Rf1 Qg4 42.Rf8 Qd1+ 43.Kb2 Qd4+.

41...h4 42.Rdb1 Rg7 43.a5 Qd2 44.Bd3

• If 44.R1b2 then 44...Qd4 45.Rf3 Qe4 46.Rfb3 e5 47.Bd3 Qe1 wins.

44...Rg3 45.Ka3 h3 46.Rf1 h2 47.Rf7+ Kb8 0-1

• After 48.Rh7 Rg1 49.Rh8+ Kc7 50.Rh7+ Kd6 the pawn queens.
• Grandmaster Zelcic resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Dzagnidze - Gaponenko, European Club Cup, Women's Competition, Round 7, Kallithea

Nana Dzagnidze scored 6 out of 7 to lead her Monte Carlo team to the Women's European Club Cup. This game was from the final round.



Nana Dzagnidze
Photo: ChessBase.com


Nana Dzagnidze (Monte Carlo) - Inna Gaponenko (Podgorica)
European Team Championship (Women's Competition), Round 7
Kallithea, 23 October 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Anti-Meran Gambit (Moscow Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0

• If 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• If 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 then:
• 17...c5 18.dxc5 Qe7 19.Kh1 a6 20.a4 Bc6 21.Nd5 exd5 22.exd5 Be5 23.f4 Bg7 24.dxc6 Nxc5 25.Rd5 Ne4 gives Black more activity (Aronian-Anand, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• If 17...Qb6 18.Kh1 c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 then:
• 21...Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 26.Rd2 Bh6 27.Bf4 is equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 21...exd5 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rae8 24.Rf5 f6 25.Qd1 Nf7 26.e5 Nh6 27.Rh5 Qe6 28.Rd6 is equal (Avrukh-Novikov, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 16.f3 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Qxh4 19.gxh5 Ng5 20.Qd2 Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ draws by pertetual check (Estremera-Sayed, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• If 11...Rg8 12.Nxg4 then:
• 12...Nxg4 13.Bxg4 Nd7 14.0-0 Qb6 15.a4 a5 16.d5 Nf6 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.axb5 Rxg4 19.Be5 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Rxe4 21.Bxf6 Rf4 gives Black more activity (Sarker-Fridman, Op, Philadelphia, 2004).
• 12...Nbd7 13.0-0 b4 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bxc4 h5 16.Ne3 Qf6 17.Be2 0-0-0 18.Bh2 Qxh4 19.Rc1 Bd6 20.Bxd6 Nxd6 gives Black an extra pawn (Avrukh-Akopian, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

10...Nbd7 11.d5

• If 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 then:
• 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxe5 19.Qd5 dxc3 20.Rfe1 cxb2 21.Rad1 b1Q 22.Rxb1 is equal (Kuljasevic-Zhao Jun, IT, Richardson, Texas, 2007).
• 14.Re1 c5 15.dxc5 Rc8 16.a4 b4 17.c6 Bxc6 18.Bxb4 Qb6 19.Ba3 Bd4 20.Bxc4 Ne5 21.Bxa6 Bxf2+ 22.Kh1 Rd8 23.Qe2 Bxe1 24.Rxe1 f6 25.Qh5+ Kd7 26.Qe2 Ke8 27.Qh5+ draw (Mamedyarov-Gustafsson, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
• 11...h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.Qc1 Rg6 15.Rd1 Ng4 16.Bxg4 hxg4 17.b3 cxb3 18.axb3 f6 19.Bg3 Kf7 20.Qe3 a6 21.Rac1 is equal (Gajewski-Predojevic, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

11...cxd5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxb5 Qb6

• 13...a6 14.Nbd4 Bg7 15.Bxc4 0-0 16.Re1 Rc8 17.Rc1 Qb6 18.Qd2 Rfe8 19.Nf5 exf5 20.Bxd5 Nf6 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Be5 Ne4 is equal (Shirov-Kramnik, Rapid T, Frankfurt, 1996).

14.Bxc4 Nf4!?

• This move is an improvement over a previous game.
• 14...Rc8 15.Qe2 a6 16.Nbd4 Bc5 17.Nf5 Kf8 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.Bxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxe5 Rh7 21.Rac1 gives White more freedom (Stocek-Werner, Budesliga 9798, Germany, 1997).

15.Re1

• 15.Rc1 a6 16.Nc3 Qxb2 17.Bxf4 gxf4 18.Qd4 remains equal.

15...Rc8 16.Bf1

• If 16.Qb3 Nc5 17.Qc3 Rg8 18.Bxf4 gxf4 19.Rad1 a6 20.Nbd4 Bg7 21.Be2 Rd8 22.Qc4 Bd5 gives Black a fierce initiative.
• If 19.Nbd4 Bg7 20.Rad1 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Na4 22.Qb3 Bxf3 wins a piece.

16...Be7 17.a4

• 17.Rc1 Rxc1 18.Qxc1 a6 19.Na3 Bxf3 20.Qc8+ Bd8 remains equal.

17...a5 18.Rc1 Rxc1

• 18...Rd8 19.Bxf4 gxf4 20.Nd2 Nc5 21.Qc2 remains equal.

19.Qxc1 Bc5?!

• 19...Bb4 20.Re3 Nd5 21.Re2 0-0 remains equal.

20.Nd2 Bb4?
BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Nana Dzagnidze
Position after 20...Bc5b4

• Too slow. With White's heavy pieces ready to occupy open line in the center, the King should be brought to safety.
• 20...0-0 21.Qd1 Nf6 22.Nc4 Qa6 23.Ne5 Bb4 24.Nc3 remains equal.

21.Bxf4!

• White weakens Black's kingside pawns.
• If 21.Nc4 Qc6 22.Bxf4 gxf4 23.Rd1 e5 24.Nbd6+ gives White a more active position.
• 22...Bxe1? 23.Qxe1 gxf4 24.Nxa5 Qc2 25.Nxb7 White has a material advantage.

21...gxf4 22.Nc4 Qc6

• If 22...Qc5 23.Ncd6+ Kf8 then:
• 24.Qxf4 Qh5 25.Rxe6 Bxd6 26.Nxd6 Bxg2 27.Re8+ wins for White.
• 24.Nxb7!? Qb6 25.N7d6 Bxe1 26.Qxe1 gives White a small material edge and a fierce initiative.

23.Rd1 Rg8

• If 23...e5 24.Nbd6+ Ke7 25.Qc2 then:
• If 25...Bxd6 26.Rxd6 Qc7 27.Qc3 then:
• 27...f6 28.Qh3 Nc5 29.Rd1 Bc8 30.Qc3 ties Black down to defense of weak pawns at a5 and f6
• 27...f3 28.g3 f6 29.Rd1 Ra8 30.Qa3+! leaves Black with no good moves.
• 25...Rg8 26.Nxb7 Qxb7 27.Qh7 Rg6 28.Rxd7+! Qxd7 29.Nxe5 nets White a pawn.

24.Ncd6+ Bxd6

• If 24...Kf8 25.Nxb7 Qxb7 26.Qxf4 then:
• 26...Rg6 27.g3 Nf6 28.Bd3 Nd5 29.Qd4 Rf6 30.Be4 wins material.
• After 26...Rg5 27.g3 Ne5 28.Bg2 Qe7 29.Qe4 White is clearly better.

25.Nxd6+ Ke7 26.Nxb7

• White wins a pawn.
• 26.Qxc6? Bxc6 27.Bb5 Bxg2 28.Nf5+ exf5 29.Rxd7+ Ke6 puts Black up by a pawn.

26...Qxb7 27.Qxf4 Nb6

• Black drops another pawn.
• Better is 27...Rg5 28.Rd2 Qb4 29.Rd4 Qb7 30.Qd6+ , but even here White has the active game.

BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Nana Dzagnidze
Position after 27,,,Nd7b6

28.Qh4+!

• The text is stronger than 28.Qxh6 Nd5 29.Qh4+ Nf6 30.Qd4 Qc7 31.Qe3 , but White is winning either way.

28...f6 29.Qxh6 Rf8 30.Qg7+ Rf7 31.Qg3 Nd5

• 31...Rf8 32.Qa3+ Kf7 33.Rd6 Qc7 34.Rxe6 puts White three pawns to the good.

32.Bc4 Qxb2 33.Bxd5 exd5 34.Qc7+

• Also good is 34.h4 Qb7 35.Qe3+ Kf8 36.Qc5+ Kg7 37.Qxa5.

34...Kf8 35.Qc5+ Kg7 36.Qxa5 Rd7 37.Qb5 1-0

• After the exchange of Queens, White is two pawns up in the Rook ending.
• Mme. Gaponenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Svidler - Jakovenko, Russian National Championship Playoff, Round 6, Moscow

After 5 rounds in the three-way playoff for the Russian national championship in Moscow, Jakovenko led with 3 points to Svidler's 2½. Svidler, a skillful drawing master, had to play for a win.



Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.com


Peter Svidler - Dmitry Jakovenko
Russian National Championship Playoff (Rapid), Round 6
Moscow, 28 October 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3!?

• 6.d4 is the usual move and much better, but a draw does Svidler no good and he plays to catch his opponent unprepared.

6...b5 7.Bb3 d6

• If 7...Bb7 8.Nc3 0-0 then:
• 9.Bd2 d6 10.a4 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8 16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5 21.Qg3 g6 22.Ne4 gives White more activity (Kuzmin-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkiv, 2004).
• 9.Re1 d6 10.a4 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nd2 Bc8 15.h3 Be6 16.Nc4 Nc6 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Bf6 is equal (Kinderman-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

8.a4 Bd7

• If 8...b4 9.a5 0-0 10.Re1 Be6 11.Nbd2 then:
• 11...Qc8 12.Nc4 Rb8 13.h3 h6 14.Be3 Rd8 15.Qe2 Bf8 16.Nfd2 Ne7 17.d4 Ng6 18.d5 Bd7 19.Rec1 Re8 20.c3 Nf4 21.Qd1 Qd8 22.Ba4 Qe7 23.b3 g6 24.Nb2 Rec8 25.Bxd7 Qxd7 26.c4 Qe8 27.Qf1 draw (Karjakin-Aronian, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 11...Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Nf1 then:
• 13...Bxc4 14.dxc4 Qe6 15.Ne3 Bd8 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Nxe7+ Bxe7 is equal (Fuchs-Spassky, IT, Sochi, 1966).
• 13...h6 14.Ne3 Re8 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Bd2 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 19.d4 Nxd5 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Nxe5 Bf6 22.Nc6 Ra8 23.Nxb4 Nxb4 24.Bxb4 Bxb2 25.Rb1 draw (Leko-Svidler, Team M, Moscow, 2002).
• 8...Bb7 9.Nc3 b4 10.Nd5 Na5 11.Ba2 Nxd5 12.exd5 b3 13.cxb3 Bxd5 14.b4 Bxa2 15.Rxa2 Nc6 16.Bd2 Qd7 17.Qc2 Nd8 18.d4 exd4 19.Nxd4 0-0 20.Ra3 Bf6 21.Rh3 g6 22.Bc3 Re8 23.Nf5 Bxc3 24.Nh6+ Kg7 25.Qxc3+ f6 is equal (Pilnik-Filip, Candidates' T, Amsterdam, 1956).

9.c3

• If 9.Bd2 0-0 10.axb5 axb5 11.Nc3 Rxa1 12.Qxa1 Qb8 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Nd8 15.Be3 c6 16.Bb3 Ne6 17.Qa2 Nc5 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.h3 g6 20.Ra1 Kg7 21.Qa7 Qd6 22.Qb6 draw (Jakovenko-Aronian, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11...Rb8 12.h3 Qc8 13.Bg5 Nb4 14.Qe2 h6 15.Bd2 Be6 16.d4 Bxb3 17.cxb3 Qe8 18.Rac1 Bd8 19.d5 Na6 20.Be3 Rb7 21.Ra1 Nb4 22.Rfc1 c5 23.dxc6 Nxc6 24.Ra6 gives White a little bit more activity (N.Kosintseva-Shen Yang, Team M, Moscow, 2007).

9...0-0 10.Nbd2 Na5 11.Ba2!?

• The game is equal.
• If 11.Bc2 c5 12.Re1 then:
• If 12...Re8 13.Nf1 h6 14.Ne3 Bf8 then:
• 15.h3 Nc6 16.Nh2 Be6 17.Nhg4 Nxg4 18.hxg4 b4 19.Qf3 Rb8 20.Bd2 Be7 21.g3 Bg5 22.Qe2 bxc3 23.bxc3 Na5 24.Reb1 Bb3 25.Qd1 Bxe3 26.Bxe3 Bxc2 27.Qxc2 Qd7 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Rb1 Rxb1+ 30.Qxb1 Qb7 31.Qxb7 Nxb7 is equal (N. Kosintseva-Shen Yang, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 15.Bd2 Qb6 16.b4 cxb4 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Bb3 draw (Dr. Nunn-Lein, Op, Hastings, 1979).
• 12...Qc7 13.Nf1 b4 14.cxb4 cxb4 15.Ne3 Be6 16.d4 Rfc8 17.h3 Nc4 18.Bd3 Nxe3 19.Bxe3 Qb7 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Nxe5 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Qxe4 23.Bg5 Qb7 24.Nxf7 Kxf7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Rxe6 Rc5 27.h4 h6 28.Rxh6 gxh6 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Qxh6+ Kg8 31.Qe6+ Black resigns (Dr. Nunn-Xie Jun, IT, San Francisco, 1995).
• 14.Bg5 Rfb8 15.N3d2 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne3 Be6 18.c4 Bg5 19.Nb3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 draw (Pilnik-Gligoric, IT, Buenos Aires, 1955).

11...c5

• 11...bxa4 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Rb8 14.e5 remains equal.

12.Re1 h6

• 12...Nc6 13.Nf1 Qc7 14.Ne3 b4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 remains equal.

13.Nh4!?

• White needs to win in order to claim the title. He could play safe and maintain equality, but that's no way to win.
• 13.d4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.axb5 axb5 remains equal.

13...Kh7!

• However, there are several ways to maintain equality.
• 13...bxa4! 14.Ng6 Re8 15.f4 exf4 16.Nxf4 Rb8 17.Rf1 also remains equal.

14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.exf5 Nc6

• If 15...Qd7 16.Qf3 Kg8 17.Ne4 bxa4 18.Qg3 Qxf5 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Bd5 Rab8 21.Rxa4 Nb3 22.Be3 gives White more activity.
• 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Bd5 Rab8 20.Ra2 Nb3 21.Be3 gives White the active game.

16.g4!?

• This is the riskiest move Whate has made yet. His plan is to storm the kingside.
• 16.Ne4 d5 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qf3 Ne7 19.Be3 d4 remains equal.

16...Kg8

• 16...d5 17.h4 Qd6 18.g5 Ng8 19.Nf3 b4 also remains equal.

17.h4

• White continues with the pawn storm.

17...Nh7

• If 17...d5 18.Qf3 Qd6 19.g5 then:
• 19...hxg5 20.hxg5 Nh7 21.Qxd5 Nxg5 22.Qxd6 Bxd6 23.Bd5 wins a piece after 23...Rac8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Ra6.
• 19...Rfd8 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Qg4 Kh7 22.Nf3 Ra7 23.Qg3 gives White an extra piece.

18.Bd5 Rc8 19.axb5!

• Now that Black's Rook has moved off the a-file, White opens it giving him command.
• 19.Qf3 Qd7 20.Qg3 Nf6 21.Bf3 is equal.

19...axb5 20.Qf3 Nb8

• 20...Qd7 21.Ne4 Bxh4 22.Ra6 Nb8 23.Rxd6 is equal.

21.g5!?

• 21.h5 Nf6 22.Bb7 Rc7 23.Ne4 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 is equal.

21...hxg5 22.Ne4 Nd7?

• If 22...gxh4 23.Qg2 Nf6 24.Bh6 Ne8 then:
• 25.Kh2 Kh7 26.Ng5+ Bxg5 27.Bxg5 Qd7 remains equal.
• 25.Ra7 Nd7 26.Rea1 Ndf6 27.Nxf6+ Bxf6 leave Black two pawns up.

BLACK: Dmitry Jakovenko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 22...Nb8d7

23.hxg5!

• If 23.Qg2?! g4 then:
• 24.Bb7 Rb8 25.Bc6 Rb6 26.Ba8 Ndf6 27.Nxf6+ Nxf6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 24.Qxg4 Nhf6 25.Nxf6+ Nxf6 26.Qf3 Nxd5 27.Qxd5 Bxh4 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

23...Nxg5 24.Bxg5 Bxg5 25.Ra6

• 25.Nxd6 e4 26.Qg3 Bh4 27.Qh2 Qg5+ 28.Kh1 leaves White clearly better.

25...Qe7?

• If 25...Be7 26.Qh1 Nf6 27.Re3 then:
• If 27...Nxe4 28.Rh3 Bh4 29.dxe4 Qg5+ then:
• 30.Kf1! Qc1+ 31.Kg2 Qxh1+ 32.Rxh1 gives White more than enough activity to compensate for the pawn.
• 30.Qg2!? Qc1+ 31.Qf1 Qf4 32.Rh2 is equal.
• After 27...Ng4? 28.Rh3 Nh6 29.f6 White wins.

26.Ra7!

• Also good is 26.Rxd6 Nf6 27.Bxf7+ Rxf7 28.Re6 Qd8 29.Nxg5 leaving White a pawn to the good.

26...Rfd8

• 26...Rcd8 27.Qg2 Bh4 28.Bc6 g6 29.Qg4 d5 30.Bxd5 gives White more freedom and activity.

27.Qh5 Bh6 28.Kh1

• This move is prophylactic. With the King on g1, ...Qg5+ forces an exchange of Queens.

28...Kh8 29.Rg1!

• White take advantage of open lines leading to the King.

29...Nf6

BLACK: Dmitry Jakovenko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 29...Nd7f6

30.Nxf6!!

• The exchange sacrifice gives White an easy win by opening the kingside and stripping away Black's defenders.
• White is better after 30.Rxe7 Nxh5 31.Bxf7! Nf4 32.f6 g5 33.Nxg5 Rf8, but the win is a ways off.

30...Qxa7

• If 30...Qxf6 then 31.Rxf7 Qxf7 32.Qxf7 Rf8 33.Qe6 wins easily.
• After the text move, White forces mate.

31.Ng4 Kh7

• 31...f6 32.Nxh6 gxh6 33.Bf7 Qb7+ 34.Kh2 Kh7 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.Qxh6#.
• If 31...Kg8 32.Nxh6+ Kf8 33.Rxg7!! Kxg7 34.f6+ then:
• 34...Kf8 35.Nf5 Qa1+ 36.Kh2 Kg8 37.Qxf7+.
• 34...Kxf6 35.Ng4+ Kg7 36.Qh6+ Kg8 37.Nf6#.

32.Nxh6 gxh6

• If 32...g6 33.fxg6+ fxg6 34.Qxg6+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ then:
• 35...Kh7 36.Be4#.
• 35...Qg7 36.Qxg7#.

33.f6 Rg8

• 33...Ra8 34.Rg7+ Kh8 35.Qxh6#.

34.Be4+ Rg6 35.Rxg6 1-0

• 35...fxg6 36.Qxg6+ Kh8 37.Qxh6+ Kg8 38.Bd5+ Qf7 39.Qg7#.
• Dmitry Olegovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Terekhov - Pentala, Bundesliga, Round 3, Munich

Pentala Harikrishna
Photo: ChessBase.com


Andrey Terekhov (Munich) - Pentala Harikrishna (Baden-Baden)
Bundesliga 0809, Round 3
Munich, 25 October 2008

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening) (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 g6 6.Nc3 d6 7.g3

• The most common move is 7.e4.

7...Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 a6

• If 9...Re8 then:
• 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 transposes into the text.
• 10.Bf4 a6 11.a4 transposes into the note after White's 11th move.
• If 9...Na6 10.Nd2 Nc7 then:
• If 11.Nc4 Nfe8 12.a4 b6 13.Qc2 then:
• 13...f5 14.b3 Qd7 15.Bf4 h6 16.h4 Ba6 17.Rad1 b5 18.axb5 Nxb5 19.Nxb5 Bxb5 20.e4 Bxc4 21.Qxc4 Rb8 is equal (Gleizerov-Smith, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2001).
• 13...Ba6 14.b3 f5 15.Bb2 Nf6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.e4 fxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Rae8 is equal (Galliamova-Psakhis, IT, Groningen, 1993).
• 11.a4 b6 12.Rb1 Re8 13.Re1 Ba6 14.b3 b5 15.axb5 Nxb5 16.Bb2 Ng4 17.Nxb5 Bxb2 18.Rxb2 Qf6 19.Bf3 Bxb5 20.Ra2 h5 21.Qa1 Qxa1 22.Raxa1 Nf6 is equal Gruen-D. Gurevich, Op, Belgrade, 1988).

10.a4 Nbd7 11.Nd2

• If 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Qc7 12.Rc1 Re8 13.h3 then:
• 13...Nh5 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bd2 Rb8 16.b4 Qb6 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rb1 Qa7 is equal (Chiburdanidze-I. Radziewicz Rajlich, Euro ChTW, Gothenburg, 2005).
• 13...Rb8 14.Kh2 h6 15.b4 g5 16.Bd2 Qd8 17.Rb1 cxb4 18.Rxb4 Nc5 19.Qb1 Bd7 20.h4 Nh7 21.hxg5 hxg5 is equal (Sherbakov-Kovacevic, IT, Belgrade, 2000).
• 11...Qe7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Rb1 Nh5 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bd2 f5 16.b4 cxb4 17.Rxb4 Nc5 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Qb1 a5 20.Rc4 Nxa4 21.Ncb5 Bxb5 22.Qxb5 Nc5 is equal (Tukmakov-Ulibin, Soviet Ch FL, Simferopol, 1988).

11...Re8 12.h3 Qc7

• 12...Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4 Bd7 16.a5 Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bf3 h5 21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 25.Bxg4 hxg4 26.Rh1 Qf6 27.Nxg4 Bxg4 28.Qxg4 Rxe4 gives Black three pawns for a piece with the advantage as White's pawns are weak (T. Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).

13.Nc4 Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7!?

• The new move is good for equality.
• 14...Rb8 15.e4 Nfd7 16.Bd2 Ne5 17.b3 f5 is equal (Kock-Polansek, Op, Feffernitz, 2001).

15.e4

• This establishes the center that characterizes Benoni systems.

15...Rab8 16.Re1

• 16.g4 h6 17.Bf4 c4 18.Re1 Nc8 19.Nc2 gives White the advantage in space.

16...Nc8 17.Qd3!

• If 17.Qf3 Qd8 then:
• 18.Nc2 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nb1 Qe7 21.Nd2 is equal.
• If 18.Bg5?! h6 then:
• 19.Bd2 b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nc2 b4 gives Black more activity and apace on the queenside.
• 19.Bf4 b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nc2 b4 gives Black more activity on the queenside.

17...Re7 18.Bf1 Be8 19.Bd2

• 19.Bg5 h6 20.Bf4 Nd7 21.Nc4 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Nd2 is equal.

19...Nd7!?

• If 19...Nb6 20.a5 Nbd7 21.Nc4 then:
• 21...b5 22.axb6 Nxb6 23.Nxb6 Rxb6 24.Rxa6 Rxb2 25.Bf4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• After 21...Rd8 22.f4 Qb8 23.Bg2 h6 24.Be3 White has a huge advantage in space.

20.f4 c4 21.Qxc4?!

• 21.Nxc4 b5 22.axb5 Nc5 23.Qc2 axb5 24.Na5 b4 25.Nd1 White has an advantage in space, but Black could strike with counterplay on the queenside.

21...Qb6+!

• Black gains time to whip up counterplay on the queenside.

22.Kh1

• 22.Kg2 Qxb2 23.Ra2 Qb6 24.Rc2 Qd8 is equal.

22...Qxb2 23.Ra2 Qb6 24.Rb1

• After 24.Bg2?! Nc5 25.Nab1 Qc7 26.Rc1 b5 27.axb5 axb5 Black is more active.

24...Qd8 25.Rc2

• 25.Bg2 Nc5 26.Nc2 b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nxb5 Nxe4 remains equal.

25...Nc5 26.e5?

• White overestimates his chances. Opening the center is clearly to Black's advantage, as his heavy pieces wound find themselves commanding open files.
• 26.Bg2 Nb6 27.Qb4 Na8 28.a5 Nd3 29.Qc4 Nc5 is equal and drawish.

BLACK: Pentala Harikrishna
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrey Terekhov
Position after 26.e4e5

26...Rc7!

• However, an alternative to leaving his heavy pieces in the center waiting for White to open up is to take command of the c-file, where the White Queen is out front and vulnerable.
• If 26...Nb6? 27.Qb4 Nbxa4 28.exd6 then:
• If 28...Bxc3 29.dxe7 Qxd5+ 30.Bg2 then:
• 30...Bxb4 31.Bxd5 Bxa3 32.Ra2 Bb2 33.Raxb2 Nxb2 34.Rxb2 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 30...Qxg2+? 31.Kxg2 Bxb4 32.Bxb4 then:
• 32...Bc6+ 33.Kf1 Ne6 34.Re1 Re8 35.Rd2 gives White the material advantage.
• 32...Ne6 33.Rd1 Bc6+ 34.Kf2 gives White the material advantage.
• 28...Rd7 29.Nxa4 Nxa4 30.Qxa4 Rxd6 31.Qb3 leaves White a piece to the good.

27.exd6

• If 27.Qd4 Ne7 28.Re1 Nf5 29.Qf2 Nxa4 then:
• 30.g4 Nxc3 31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.Bxc3 Ne7 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 30.Bg2 Nc5 31.Bf1 b5 32.g4 Ne7 33.Be3 Rbc8 leaves Black a pawn up.

27...Nxd6 28.Qb4

• 28.Qa2 Nxa4 29.Nxa4 Bxa4 30.Rxc7 Qxc7 31.Rc1 Qd7 gives Black an extra pawn and more activity.

28...Nf5 29.Ne2

• If 29.g4 Ng3+ 30.Kg1 Nxf1 31.Rxf1 a5 then:
• 32.Qb6 Nxa4 33.Nxa4 Rxc2 34.Nxc2 Bxa4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 32.Qb1 Nxa4 33.Nxa4 Bxa4 34.Rxc7 Qxc7 gives Black an extra pawn and a fierce initiative.

BLACK: Pentala Harikrishna
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrey Terekhov
Position after 29.Nc3e2

29...Qxd5+!

• From this point on, Black is winning.

30.Bg2 Qe6 31.Rxc5 Bf8!

• Black completely dominates the open lines on the board.

32.Re5 Bxb4

• If 32...Qe7? White wins after 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Nc3! Rd7 35.Qb2.

33.Rxe6 Bxd2 34.Rxa6 Re7!

• Black is winning, but before the final assault he moves to shut down any chance White has to strike back.
• 34...bxa6?! 35.Rxb8 Re7 36.Bf3 raises possibilities of counterplay for White.

35.g4

• 35.Nc4 drops a piece to 35...Rxe2 36.Nxd2 Rxd2.

35...Rxe2 36.gxf5 bxa6 37.Rxb8

• 37.Rf1 Bxa4 38.Nc4 Rb3 39.Nxd2 Rxd2 leaves Black a Rook and more to the good.

BLACK: Pentala Harikrishna
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrey Terekhov
Position after 37.Rb1b8:R

37...Re1+!

• Black wins a piece.
• The text is better than 37...Bxf4 38.Rb1 Bxa4 39.fxg6 hxg6 which wins more slowly.

38.Bf1

• White must lose a piece or submit to 38.Kh2 Bxf4#.

38...Rxf1+ 39.Kg2 Re1 0-1

• There is no way for White to recover the lost piece.
• FM Terekhov resigns.