Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 04:06 PM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Khanty-Mansiysk[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Vow in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_the_resurrection_of_Christ_in_Khany-Mansiysk.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

[center][/center]

[center]Anna Ushenina[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Andreas Kontokanis in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anna_Ushenina_2011.jpg) croppoed from flickr
(Creative Commons License, attribution/share alike)
[/font]

Anna Ushenina - Nadezhda Kosintseva
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Quarter-Final Round/Game 2
Khanty-Mansiysk, 21 November 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6

• For moves and variations of the Rubinstein Opening up to here and what follows 7...dxc4, see Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.

• If [font color="red"]8...Ba5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc3 11.bxc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Bg4 12.c4 Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.cxd5 Bxf3 14.gxf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Qxd5 15.Be2 Qxc5 16.Bb2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Rad8 17.Bd4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17...Qc8 18.Qa4 Rd5 19.f4 b5 20.Qb3 Qh3 21.Bxe5[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Antoshin-Krogius, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1964).
• [font color="burgundy"]17...Qc6 18.f4 Ng6 19.Bf3 Qe6 20.Qc2 Nh4[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (A. G. Geller-Cherepkov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Leningrad, 1955).
• [font color="darkpink"]16...Rfd8 17.Bd4 Qe7 18.Qc1 Nc6 19.Bb2 Rac8[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and more space (Hammer-Hess, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).
• [font color="darkorchid"]14...Nxd5 15.f4 Nxf4 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.exf4 Nd3 18.Qf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage; if 18...Nxc5?? then 19.Qh5+! and White wins (Rui Wang-Yu Yangyi, Chinese League, Chengdu, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Bb2 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Bh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Kh1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17...Rfd8 18.Rg1+ Kh8 19.Be2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Qxc5 20.Qa4 Bf5 21.Qh4 Qe7 22.e4 Bg6 23.Bc4[/font] is equal (E. Agrest-Milov, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Qxd1 20.Raxd1 Rxd1 21.Bxd1 Rc8 22.Bb3 Rxc5 23.Bxf7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Portisch, IT, Bled, 1965).
• [font color="darkpink"]19.Be4 Bg2+ 20.Kxg2 Qg5+ 21.Kh1 Rxd1 22.Raxd1 Qxc5[/font] is equal (Beliavsky-Tal, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1975).
• [font color="darkorchid"]17...Kh8 18.Rg1 Rad8 19.Be2 Rg8 20.Qa4 Qe5 21.Rae1[/font] gives White a small advantage with an attack on Black's a-pawn (Zaiatz-Gaponenko, Russian ChTW, Olginka, 2011).
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Re1 Ne4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.Be5 Qg5+ 17.Bg3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Furman-Taimanov, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.f4?! Qh4 17.Qf3 Nd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]18.Qe2?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]18...dxc4! 19.Bc2 Rad8 20.f3 Qh5 21.Kh1 Nxf3[/font](Gligoric-Ivkov, IT, Zagreb, 1965).
• [font color="purple"]18.Qg3!! Qxg3+ 19.fxg3 Nf3+ 20.Kf2 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 dxc4[/font] leaves Black up by an exchange, but White's game is quite playable.
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Qc2 Qxc5 13.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Re8 14.Ba3 Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Rab1 Qc7 16.c4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rfd1[/font] gives White a clear advantage (Timman-Kaplan, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Rfb1 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Rxe5 17.Bd6 Re6 18.Rb5[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (J. Balogh-Cuadrado, Corres, 1950).
• [font color="magenta"]13...Qa5 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.c4 dxc4 16.Qxc4 Rd8 17.Bb2[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Shcherbakov-Petit, Op, Metz, 1994).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qe7 10.Qc2 dxc4 11.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...cxd4 12.exd4 Rd8 13.Rd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...h6 14.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Nd5?! 15.Bg3! Nxc3 16.bxc3 Re8 17.Bd3 Bc7 18.Bh7+[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Wells-S. Gordon, 4NCL, Reading, England, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Bb6 15.Be3 Bd7 16.Qe2 Rac8 17.d5[/font] leaves White with a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkpink"]13...Bb6 14.Be3 Nd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Ba2 g6 17.Re1[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Rd8 12.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12...a6 13.Bd3 cxd4 14.exd4 h6 15.Be3 Bd7 16.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black's game is cramped, but Black's pawns are better and Whitem has no weaknesses to exploit (Djuric-B. Ivanovic, Yugoslav Ch, 1989).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...h6 13.Ba2 b6 14.d5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14...Bxc3?! 15.dxc6! Rxd1+ 16.Qxd1[/font] forces Black's Bishop to retreat to a5 (Sedlak-Hölzl, Op, Zadar, Croatia, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]14...Nxd5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Qb7 17.e4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
• If [font color="magenta"]9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 h6 11.Qd3 cxd4 12.exd4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12...Bc7 13.Rd1 b6 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Be6 16.Nxc7 Bxc4 17.Qc2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Potkin-Quesada Pérez, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Ne7 13.Re1 Bc7 14.Bd2 b6 15.Rad1 Nfd5 16.Ba2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space(Del Rio Angelis-Predke, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009).

• If [font color="red"]11.Nh4 Ne7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.g3 Rxe4 Bh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Re1 Ng6 14.Ng2 Qd7 15.f3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Bf5 17.Bf1 Rfc8 18.Ra2 Qc6 19.Bd2[/font] is equal (Gligoric-Averbakh, TM, Rijeka, 1963).


• [font color="burgundy"]15...Bf5 16.Bf1 h5[/font] is equal (Nowak-Balashov, Op, Berlin, 1988).
• [font color="darkpink"]13.Ng2 Bf5 14.f3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Rac8 16.Bd2 Rfe8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Gligoric-Larsen, IT, Milan, 1975).
• If [font color="darkred"]12.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Re8 13.Ba3 c4 14.Bc2 Ng6 15.Nf5 Ne4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Bxe4 17.Ng3 Re8 18.Qh5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Portisch-R. Byrne, IT, Bogojno, 1978).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Qh5 Qc6 17.Ng3 Nxc3 18.Bb2 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4[/font] (Knaak-Zilberstein, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1979).
• If [font color="magenta"]12...c4 13.Bc2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Re8 14.Qe1 Kh8 15.Ba3 g6 16.g3 Bh3[/font] gives Black a small advantage with the attack on the Rook (Unzicker-R. Byrne, Ol, Haifa, 1976).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Ng6 14.Nf5 Ne4 15.Ng3 f5 16.Ne2 Be6 17.f3[/font] gives White the initiative (Donner-Pachman, Ol, Varna, 1962).
• If [font color="blue"]11.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11...c4 12.Bc2 Ne7[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]13.Nd2 Bf5 14.a4 Rfe8 15.Ba3 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 Nc6[/font] is equal (Azmapairashvili-Schneider, Soviet Jr Ch, Yurmala, Latvia, 1983).
• [font color="#4080FF"]13.a4 Bf5 14.Ba3 Ne4 15.Nh4 Be6 16.f4 f6[/font] is equal (Gligoric-Korchnoi, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1968).
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12.a4 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]15...Bf5 16.Nxc4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Qxc4 18.Ba3 Bd7[/font] Is equal (Gligoric-Stojanovic, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1996).
• [font color="#40C0C0"]15...Na5 16.Ba3 b6 17.Bb4 Nc6 18.Qc2 Bb7 19.Rfb1[/font] is equal (Forkin-A. Smirnov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2001).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12.Bb2 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Nh2 b5 15.f3 Ng3 16.Re1 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5[/font] is equal (Gligoric-Abramovic, Yugoslav Ch, Novi Sad, 1995).
• [font color="darkcyan"]14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qf3 Be6 17.Rfe1 f5[/font] is equal (Kuzubov-Sachdev, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

• If [font color="red"]13...Ne4 14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8 16.e4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Be6 17.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...dxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Nd6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...Re6 20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Rb1 b6 22.Qh5[/font] is equal (Ugge-García Corada, Corres, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Red8!? 20.Nf5! Be6 21.Ne3 f5 22.Qf3 Qa5 23.Rec1[/font] gives White a passed pawn and a slight advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Gligoric-Komarov, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).
• [font color="darkpink"]17...Na5 18.Rb1 Qd7 19.Rb5 b6 20.f3[/font] is equal (Micklethwaite-T. Schmidt, Corres, 2004).
• If [font color="darkred"]16...dxe4 17.Nxc4 Nb4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Ne3 Qxc3 19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Rfxc1 a5 21.Bxb4[/font] gives White a passed pawn and Black stronger pawns (Berkes-Hou Yifan, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]18.Nd6 Qxd6 19.Bxb4 Qd5 20.a5 Bd7 21.Qd2 Rac8 22.Rfe1 Bb5[/font] draw (Alexandrova-Millet, Euro ChTW, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).

[center]BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Ushenina[/center][center]Position after 14.Qd1e1[/center]

• [font color="red"]14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qd7 16.Kh1 Qh3 17.Qd1 Nh5 18.Rg1[/font] is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Ivanchuk, IT, Skanderborg, Denmark, 2003).

• If [font color="red"]18.Qe2 Qd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.h3 Nf6 20.Kh2 Re6 21.f3 Rae8 22.Bc1[/font] draw (Geller-Matanovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
• [font color="darkred"]19.Rfe1 f5 20.Rab1 b6 21.Rb5 Na5 22.Bb4 Nc6 23.Ba3 Na5 24.Bb4 Nc6 25.Ba3[/font] draw (Lund-Drozdovskij, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).

• If [font color="red"]18...Nf6 19.f3 Na5 20.Rab1 Re6 21.Rfe1 Rae8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.g4 Nb3 23.Bxb3 cxb3 24.Rxb3 Nh7 25.Bc1[/font] is equal (Ernazarov-Bokar, Corres, 2006).
• [font color="darkred"]22.Qf2 b6 23.Re2 Nb3 24.Rbe1 Qc6 25.Bb2 a5[/font] gives Black the initiative against White's a-pawn (Monacell-Rodríguez López, Corres, 2002).

• [font color="red"]20...Nb3 21.Qd1 Qa5 22.Bb4 Qxa4 23.e4 a5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Gelfand-Eljanov, Grand Prix, Astrakhan, 2010).

[center]BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Ushenina[/center][center]Position after 20...Qc6[/center]

• The game is equal.

• If [font color="red"]24.e5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...Nxd4! 25.Bb1 Nb3 26.exf6 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rd1[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]24...Nh7!? 25.Ba3 Qa4 26.Bd6 Qa5 27.Re3 Rad8 28.Rfe1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

• [font color="red"]24...Nd7 25.e5 Nb6 26.Qc2 Na4 27.Ba3 Na1 28.Qd2[/font] remains equal.

• White has a slight edge with a passed pawn and a better center at the moment. White's e-pawn is overprotected and cannot be assailed.

• [font color="red"]25...Qc6 26.g4 g5 27.h3 Re6 28.Qf2 Qc7 29.e5[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage.

• White takes a small advantage in space with a mobile pawn center.
• If [font color="red"]26.e5!? Ng4 27.Re2 Rd8 28.Qf3 Nh6 29.g4[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

• Black has a spatial defcit and doesn't need to worry about White's pawn advancing to d5. This indicates that Black should strive to exchange material.
• If [font color="red"]27...Qc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]28.Qh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]28...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]29.Ba3 a5 30.exf6 gxf6 31.Rxe6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]31...Rxe6 32.d5 Qxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]33.Qh6 b4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]34.Bxg6! fxg6 35.Qxg6+ Kh8 36.Qh6+ etc.[/font] draws by repetition.
• If [font color="burgundy"]34.Bb2??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]34...Re2! .[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Qh6 Nc5 35.Qxg6+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]35...Kh8 36.Qf7 Nd7 37.Bf8 Nxf8 38.Qxf8+ Kh7 39.Qf7+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Kh8 40.Qf8+ Kh7 etc.[/font] draws by repetition.
• If [font color="burgundy"]39...Kh6??[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]40.Rxf6+! Rxf6 41.Qxd5 b4 42.cxb4 axb4 43.Qxc4 .[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]35...Kf8 36.Qf5 Qxf5 37.Rxf5 b4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]38.cxb4 Nd3! 39.Rxa5 Kf7 40.b5 Re1+ 41.Kg2[/font] gives White a slight edge.
• [font color="darkorange"]38.Rxc5 bxa3 39.Rxa5 Re1+ 40.Kg2 Re2+ 41.Kf3 Rxh2 42.Rxa3[/font] is equal and lifeless.
• If [font color="burgundy"]31...Qxe6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]32.Qxe6! Rxe6 33.d5 Rb6 34.d6 b4 35.Rxf6[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]29.exf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]29...Rxe2 30.Bxg6 Qg2+ 31.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Re2+ 33.Rf2[/font] gives WHite a fair advantage. Each side has a passed pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]29...gxf6?! 30.Qg2 Qxg2+ 31.Rxg2 a5 32.Bc2 a4 33.Rgf2[/font] gives White a Bishop for two pawns.
• [font color="burgundy"]28...Nd5 29.Ref2 Nc5 30.g4 Nd3 31.Bxd3 cxd3 32.Qxd3[/font] gives White a slim advantage with better pawn; each side has a passed pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]28.Qf2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28...a5 29.g4 Qd7 30.g5 Nh7 31.h4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]28...Qd7 29.Qf3 Qc6 30.Qf4 R8e7 31.Qh4 Nd5 32.Ref2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Ushenina[/center][center]Position after 27...Nf6d5[/center]

• White has the better center, a passed pawn and an attack on f7 to which Black must give attention.

• Black yields a passer to White.
• If [font color="red"]28...Qd7 29.Be4 Nc7 30.g4 Rb6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31.Ref2 Ne6 32.h4 Re7 33.Qg2 Ra6 34.d5[/font] gives White the Bishop pair against two Knights, an advanced center duo and pressure on the kingside; Black has a extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]31.h4 Nxd4 32.cxd4 Rb3 33.Qf2 Qxg4+ 34.Bg2[/font] gives White a Bishop for three pawns and a terrible threat to f7; Black has three connected passers on the queenside.

• If [font color="red"]29...Ne7 30.Ba3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]30...Nc6 31.Qf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]31...Nxe5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]32.dxe5 Rxe5 33.Ref2 Re1 34.gxf5 g5 35.Qxg5.[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]31...Qb6 32.Kg2 Nbxd4 33.cxd4 Nxd4 34.Rd2 Nb3 35.Rd6[/font] gives White the Bishop pair for three pawns and a Knight. the initiative against Black's Queen and more space; Black's three passed pawns pale by comparison.
• If [font color="darkred"]30...Qc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]31.Qh3 f4 32.Be4 Nd5 33.Qf3 Rd8 34.Bd6[/font]

• If [font color="red"]30...Nc7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]31.Qxf4 Qd7 32.Ba3 Ra6 33.Bd6 Ne6 34.Qg3 .[/font]

• Black does not want White to invade on f7, but this move has the consequence of making White's pawn center mobile.
• If [font color="red"]32...Ree8? 33.Ba3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]33...Nxd4 34.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 35.cxd4 Rxd4 36.e6 Rd3 37.Ra1[/font] leaves White with an extra piece
• If [font color="darkred"]33...Kh7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]34.Re3 Nxd4 35.cxd4 Qxd4 36.e6 Qxf4 37.Rxf4 .[/font]

[center]BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Ushenina[/center][center]Position after 32...Qd5d7[/center]

• White prepares to advance her center. Her plan is to bring the Bishop to d6, shielding the d-file from the Queen-Rook battery, and then advancing to d5.

• Black will regroup her pieces to better fight the pawn advancce.
• If [font color="red"]33...Ree8[/font] then White wins more quickly after [font color="red"]34.Bd6 Qe6 35.Ref2 b5 36.g5 Qd5 37.Rf3.[/font]

• This is a momentary lapse that allows Black an extra tempo to prepare.
• Better is [font color="red"]34.Bd6![/font] (according to plan) [font color="red"]34...Qe6 35.Ref2[/font] when:
• If [font color="red"]35...Re8[/font] then after [font color="red"]36.Qg3 Ra1 37.Rxa1 Nxa1 38.Qf3 Nb3 39.Qe4[/font] White's center is ready to roll.
• If [font color="darkred"]35...Ra1[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]36.Rxa1 Nxa1 37.Qf3 Nb3 38.d5 Qd7 39.Qf4[/font] White's center is rolling.

• Black makes the best move she can, but all it will do is extend her agony.

• If [font color="red"]35.Qf3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]35...b6 36.Ref2 Ra1 37.Rxa1 Nxa1 38.Bd6 .[/font]

• The exchange of Rooks is shear disperation.
• If [font color="red"]36...Kh7 37.g5 Qh3 38.d5 Re8 39.e6 .[/font]

[center]BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Ushenina[/center][center]Position after 37...Nb3a1:R[/center]

• To save her Knight, Black must submit to the loss of a pawn and the presence of White's Rook on the seventh rank.

• If [font color="red"]39...Nd2 40.Qg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]40...Qb6 41.Re7 Rxd4 42.Re8+ Kf7 43.Rf8+ Ke6 44.cxd4[/font] puts Black in a mating net.
• If [font color="darkred"]40...Nb3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]41.Re7 Qa6 42.Qf3 Kh8 43.Qf7 Rg8 44.Ra7 .[/font]

• If [font color="red"]41...Kh7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]42.Qf7 Rg8 43.Re6 .[/font]

• If [font color="red"]43...Qb6 44.Bf8 Kh7 45.Re7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]45...Ne2+ 46.Kf1 Qc6 47.d5 Qa6 48.Bxg7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]448...Qa1+ 49.Kf2 Qg1+ 50.Kxe2 Qxg4+ 51.Qf3 [/font] leaves Black out of checks.
• If [font color="magenta"]48...Ng3+[/font] then White soon gives mate after [font color="magenta"]49.Kg2 Nh5 50.gxh5 .[/font]
• [font color="darkred"]45...Qd8 46.Bxg7 Qxe7 47.Qxe7 Rxg7 48.Qh4+ Kg8 49.Qd8+ Kh7 50.e6[/font] will cost Black the Rook to stop the pawn.

• White threatens mate starting with 47.Qh4.
• Nadezhda Anatolyevna resigns.

[center]


Antoaneta Stefanova
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Samson1964) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Antoaneta_Stefanova)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Antoaneta Stefanova - Dronavalli Harika
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Semifianl Round, Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 23 November 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: London Opening

1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 0-0 6.a3

• This is a very rare move. Most common is
• [font color="red"]6.Nf3.[/font] See Vitiugov-Nakamura, IT 1112, Reggio Emilia, 2011.

• [font color="red"]8...Ndf6 9.Rc1 Nh5 10.Bg3 g6 11.Be2 dxc4 12.Bxc4[/font] is equal (Fressinet-Aleksandrov, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

• If [font color="red"]9...Nef6 10.h3 b6 11.cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...exd5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.0-0 c5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14.Qb1 a6 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Be2 Qb6 17.Rd1[/font] gives White stronger pawns (Fedoseev-Klyuev, Polugaevsky Mem, Samsara, 2012).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Be2 Rac8[/font] is equal (Roos-Goloshchapov, Bundesliga 0809, Dresden, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Qc2 Nf6 15.Be5 h6 16.g4 Ne4[/font] is equal (Nielsen-Sethuraman, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Be2 Bb7 14.Qa4 c5 15.0-0 a6 16.dxc5 Nxc5[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-And. Volokitin, IT, Foros, Ukraine, 2008).

• The game transposes into the exchange opening. For the main lines of this opening, see Korchnoi-Karpov, World Ch Match, Baguio City, 1978.

• Up to here, the players were following a game played just the day before in the FIDE Grand Prix.
• [font color="red"]13...Be6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Ne2 a5 16.Qc2 a4 17.Bh2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Kasimdzhanov, Grand Prix 1213, Tashkent, 2012).

• [font color="red"]14.0-0 Nf7 15.Qc2 Bd6 16.Bh2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Nxe5!? 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.dxe5[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Aronioan, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2012).
• [font color="darkred"]16...Qe7 17.Nxf7 Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 Rxf7[/font] is equal.

• Black suggests an exchange of Knights.
• [font color="red"]14...Qa5+ 15.b4 Qb6 16.0-0 a5 17.b5 Nxb5 18.f3[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Dronavalli Harika[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center][center]Position after 14...Nd6f7[/center]

• White has a slight advantage in space
• [font color="red"]15.Nxf7! Rxf7 16.Qc2 Be6 17.0-0 Qb6 18.f3[/font] also gives White a slight advantage.

• White has a small advantage in space.

• The pawn becomes a target after Black withdraws the Knight.
• [font color="red"]18.Bg3 Bb8 19.h4 Ne6 20.f4 Nd6 21.Nc3[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

[center]BLACK: Dronavalli Harika[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center][center]Position after 18.h3h4[/center]

• The game is equal.

• If [font color="red"]19...Bxe5!? 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.dxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21...Nxe5 22.b3 Nxf4 23.exf4 Qxh4 24.fxe5 Qxh7 25.Qc3[/font] gives White a passed pawn that for now is going nowhere.
• If [font color="darkred"]21...Qxh4? 22.Bg6![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]22...Kg8 23.Bg3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23...Qh6[/font] then White wins easily after [font color="darkred"]24.Kf2 Qh8 25.Rh1 Nh6 26.Bh4 Bd7 27.Be7.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorange"]23...Qe7 24.f4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]24...Nc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]25.Nd4 Bg4 26.Nf5 Qd8 27.Bxf7+ Rxf7 28.Nd6.[/font]
• [font color="purple"]24...Nc5 25.Nd4 Nh6 26.Be1 a5 27.Rc1 Ne4 28.Bxe4[/font] nets another pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]22...Nxf4 23.exf4 Kg8 24.Rf2 Nh6 25.g3 Qd8 26.Rh2[/font] gives White an extra pawn, command of attacking lanes and a huge advantage in space.

• The King is far safer here that moving toward the center.
• [font color="red"]20...Kf7?! 21.Bxe5! Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.f4 Qxe3+ 24.Kh1[/font] gives White a safer King and the initiative

• The pawn is more useful at d5, where it discourages White to advance her e-pawn and could possible aide a queenside under favorable circumstances.
• If [font color="red"]23...c5 24.Bd3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...Bd7 25.Qd2 Rad8 26.Rae1 Qf6 27.h5 d4 28.Kg1[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.
• [font color="darkred"]24...c4?! 25.Bg6! Bd7 26.Rh1 Rf6 27.h5 Qg5 28.Qc3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and pressure on Black's King; Black holds more space.

• White is accumulating small advantages to the point of being quite comfortable. She has an extra pawn, solid command of of the b1/h7 diagonal and a 3:1 pawn majority on the kingside; After recapturing at d4, Black will have a 3:2 majority on the queenside and more space.

• If [font color="red"]25...Qxe4 26.Bxe4 Nxe2 27.Kxe2 Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28.g4 Bh7 29.Bxh7 Kxh7 30.Rad1 Rf7 31.Kf2 Raf8 32.Rd3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]28.Rad1 Rae8 29.Kd3 Kh7 30.g4 Bg6 31.Rde1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a centralized King.

• Black must resist the temptation to grab a pawn.
• [font color="red"]26...Qxb2? 27.Bg6! Qf6 28.Rad1 Bf5 29.Bxf5 Rae8 30.Qf4[/font] assures White of invading the seventh rank by way of the d-file.

[center]BLACK: Dronavalli Harika[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center][center]Position after 26...Qe5h2+[/center]

• This may seem counterintuitive, but White is correct to bring the King to the center, where it protect more vital points, keeps the Rooks connected on the back rank and readies itself for the endgame.
• [font color="red"]27.Ke1?! Bh3 28.Bg6 Rf6 29.Rc1 Bxf1 30.Kxf1 Raf8[/font] is a level game.

• This move threatens nothing and protects nothing that isn't already protected.
• Better is [font color="red"]27...Be6 28.Bg6[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]28...Bd5 29.Qe7 Rf6 30.Be4 Re6 31.Qb4 Rae8 32.Nc3[/font] leaves Black unable to capture the h-pawn because of 33.Rh1! winning the Queen.
• [font color="darkred"]28...Rf6? 29.Nf4! Bd5 30.Nxd5 cxd5 31.Qg4 Kg8 32.Rac1[/font] gives White an extra piece.

• [font color="red"]28...Rae8 29.Rxd7!! Qxh4 30.Rxb7 Qh5 31.Kd2 Rxe4 32.Bxe4[/font] gives White a Rook and two minor pieces for the Queen.

• White understandingly doesn't want one of Black's Rooks moving to e8 while the Queen can be pinned, but exposing the King on e3 isn't the solution.
• If [font color="red"]29.Kd2![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]29...Rae8 30.Qc2 Qe5 31.Be4 Bh3[/font] then:
• White wins after [font color="red"]32.Rf2! Bf5 33.Rg2 Bxe4 34.fxe4 Qxe4 35.Qxe4 Rxe4 36.Kc2[/font] when she has an extra piece.
• If [font color="darkred"]32.Rg1? Rxf3!![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]33.Kc1 Qxe4 34.Nd4 Rf4 35.Qc3 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Rxe3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and excellent winning chances owing to her active Rooks.
• If [font color="magenta"]33.Bxf3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]33...Qe3+! 34.Ke1 Qxg1+ 35.Kd2 Qe3+ 36.Ke1 Qxf3.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Rad8[/font] then:
• White wins after [font color="darkred"]30.Kc1 Rfe8 31.Qc2 Bh3 32.Rxd8 Rxd8 33.Rg1.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]30.Ke1?[/font] then [font color="magenta"]30...Rfe8! 31.Qb1 Qg3+ 32.Rf2 Qg1+ 33.Rf1 Qg3+ etc.[/font] draws by repetition.

• Black wastes a critical tempo.
• Correct is the forcing variation [font color="red"]29...Qb6+ 30.Kd2 Be6 31.Bd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]31...Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.Qc3 Bh3 33.Kc2 Bxf1 34.Rxf1 Qe3 35.Rg1 Rf7 36.Rg5[/font] allows Black to continue, although her chances of survival are not good.
• [font color="magenta"]32.Nc1 Bh3 33.Qc3 Rfe8 34.Kc2 Bxf1 35.Rxf1[/font] doesn't leave Black any room for error, but his game is still playable.
• If [font color="darkred"]31...Bb3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]32.Qc3 Bxd1 33.Rg1! Rf7 34.Kxd1 Re8 35.Rg5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Dronavalli Harika[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center][center]Position after 29...Bd7h3[/center]

• White's winning plan is to build direct pressure on the Black King.

• White wins quicker after [font color="red"]33.Bc2 Rd8+ 34.Kc1 Rxd1+ 35.Rxd1.[/font]

• A more stubborn resistance is [font color="red"]34...Qb3 35.Qxb3 Bxb3 36.Rd7 Bc4 37.Nd4 c5 38.Rc7,[/font] but it no longer matters.

[center]BLACK: Dronavalli Harika[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center][center]Position after 34...Qb6f2[/center]

• White sacrifices a pawn.

• If [font color="red"]35...Qxh4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]36.Rh1 Bh3 37.Rd4 Qh6+ 38.Nf4.[/font]

• Also good is [font color="red"]37.Nf5 Bb1 38.Ne7+ Kf8 39.Bxb1 b6 40.Ng6+,[/font] leading to mate.

• Black cannot escape mate.
• If [font color="red"]39...Kxg7 40.Nf5+ Kg8 41.Rg1+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]41...Kh8[/font] then [font color="red"]42.Nxh4 Be4 43.Qxf6+ Kh7 44.Qg7#.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]41...Kf8[/font] then [font color="darkred"]42.Qe7#.[/font]
• If [font color="blue"]39...Kh8[/font] then [font color="blue"]40.Rh7+ Kg8 41.Rg1+ Kf8 42.Qe7#.[/font]
• Sushri Harika resigns.

Dronavalli Harika, who was awarded the full grandmaster title earlier this year, reached the semi-finals before being knowcked out.

[center]


Dronavalli Harika
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2737745833) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Harika_Dronavalli)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Dronavalli Harika - Elina Danielian
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 2/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 14 November 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bf4 Bg7 8.Qa4+

• The usual move here is 8.e4.
• For an overview of the Tal-Indian, or Modern Benoni, see Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

• White has a slight advantage in space.

• If [font color="red"]11.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Nh5 12.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...a6 13.a4 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15...Nd7 16.0-0 Nhf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.Bf4 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rab8 19.a5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...Ne5 20.Be2 Nfd7 21.Bf1 c4 22.Qc2 Rbc8[/font] is equal (Thorfinsson-Pantsulaia, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...b5 20.axb6 Rxb6 21.Qc2 a5 22.Ra2 Rb4 23.Rea1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Edouard-Bernard, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.a5 Rfb8 18.Ra2 b5 19.axb6 Rxb6 20.Qc2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black has pressure on White's weakened queenside (Salov-Psakhis, IT, Moscow, 1986).
• [font color="darkorchid"]15...Nf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.0-0 Nbd7 18.Rfd1 Qd6 19.Qxb7[/font] gives White a slim advantage; the White Queen cannot maintain itself at b7 (Saeed-Jussupow, Op, Amsterdam, 1982).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Bxh5 gxh5 16.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16...Rfe8 17.0-0 Ne5 18.Ne2 h4 19.Nd4 Bf6 20.Nf5[/font] gives White better pawns and more space; Black centralized Knight has nowhere to go (Gaprindashvili-Litinskaya, Soviet ChW, Vilnius, 1983).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...a6 17.0-0 b5 18.Ne2 Rae8 19.Ng3 Nf6 20.Bg5[/font] gives White better pawns (R. Pert-Pilgaard, 1st Saturday September, Budapest, 2003).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.0-0 Nhf6 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Bf4 Ne8 18.a4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (García Gonzales-Velimirovic, ITZ, Moscow, 1982).
• If [font color="magenta"]13.0-0 a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd7 16.Bxh5 gxh5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.Qd1 f5 18.f4 Rae8 19.e5 dxe5 20.d6 Qc6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Tatai-De Castro, IT, Manila, 1973).
• [font color="purple"]17.Ne2 Rae8 18.f3 Qb6 19.Qc2 f5 20.Nf4[/font] is equal (Tarjan-Fischdick, Op, London, 1983).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.a4 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd7 16.h3[/font] transposes into [font color="red"Thorfinsson-Pantsulaia[/font] and associated lines beyond move 16, above.
• If [font color="darkred"]11...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Nxb5 Bxb5 13.Bxb5 Nxe4 14.0-0 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Qa4 Nef6 16.Bxd7 Nxd7 17.Qc6 Qxc6 18.dxc6 Ne5[/font] is equal (Zaitshik-Panczyk, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1984).
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Qc2 Nef6 16.Rad1 Rab8 17.Bc6 Nh5 18.Bc1 Ne5[/font] is equal (Anikaev-García Martínez, IT, Sochi, 1974).
• [font color="magenta"]12.Bxb5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qxb5 15.Qxb5 Bxb5[/font] is equal (Goh-Hamdouchi, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004 and Abrashkin-Kostenko, Russia Cup, Samara, 2002).

• If [font color="red"]11...Re8 12.Be2 a6 13.a4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...Bg4 14.f3 Nh5 15.Be3 Bc8 16.Nc4 Nd7 17.g4[/font] gives White a healthy advantage in space (G. Flear-Rudd, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007 and Rychagov-Shkurikhin, Moscow Op, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Bc8 14.0-0 Nbd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Nc4 Bf8 16.Bf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16...h6 17.Rfe1 Ne5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Qb6 Qxb6 20.Nxb6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sosonko-Kuijf, IT, Amsterdam, 1982).
• [font color="darkorange"]16...b6 17.h3 Rb8 18.Rfc1 Rb7 19.Bh2 Rd8 20.Be2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]15.h3 Rb8 16.Bh2 b6 17.Rae1 Re7 18.f4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Steadman-Stojic, Op, Queenstown, 2006).

• This is not an uncommon move, but that does not make it a good one. Black will weakens the pawn structure in front of the King.
• Better is [font color="red"]13...Bxf5 14.Be2 Nf6 15.h3 Na6 16.a3 Rae8 17.0-0[/font] when White has a small advantage in space (Debashis-Yilmaz, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2012).

• White has a small advantage with stonger pawns and the initiative.

• If [font color="red"]14...Be8 15.Nf3 f4 16.Bd2 Qe7 17.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17...Nd7 18.Rfe1 Ne5 19.Qd1 Rf5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Bg4[/font] wins a piece for White (Silman-R. Anderson, US Ch, San Francisco, 1987).
• [font color="darkred"]17...Bxc3 18.Bxc3 Qxe2 19.Qxb7 Qa6 20.Qxa8 Bd7 21.Rfe1[/font] gives White the exchange and a pawn in material and command of the e-file; White cannot extricate the Queen from the corner, but he will get a Rook and a minor piece in return (Spraggett-Norwood, Op, Toronto, 1985).

• This is where matters start going badly for Black.
• If [font color="red"]15...f3?! 16.Bxf3! Rxf3?[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.gxf3![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Qxc5 18.Qxb7 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nf4 20.Rg1+ Kf7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]21.Ne4?! Qxd5 22.Qxd5+ Nxd5 23.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...Bc6 24.c4 Ne7 25.Nxd6+ Ke6 26.Ne4[/font] gives White three pawns for the exchange (Korchnoi-Dr. Nunn, IT, London, 1984).
• If [font color="burgundy"]23...Ne7?[/font] then after [font color="burgundy"]24.Rxd6! Ng6 25.h4 Ke7 26.h5[/font] Black must lose a piece and resigns (Naumkin-Savon, Soviet Ch Qual, Pinsk, 1986).
• White wins after [font color="darkpink"]21.Rg4 Nd3+ 22.Ke2 Qb5 23.Qxb5 Bxb5 24.c4.[/font]
• More stubborn resistance come from [font color="darkorchid"]17...Na6 18.Ba3 Nc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Nde4 Qc7 21.Rg1.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Bxd6? Qxd6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Nxf3 Na6 19.0-0 Nc5 20.Qc4 Nf4[/font] gives White the material advantage, but he is also addled with an isolated d-pawn; Black has the Bishop pair and overall more active pieces (Röttgen-Berelovich, IT, Bad Wiessee, 2003).
• [font color="magenta"]18.gxf3 Na6 19.Nce4 Qb4 20.Rg1 Kh8 21.0-0-0 Rc8+[/font] is equal.
• A more playable option for Black might be [font color="blue"]15...Qxc5 16.Bxh5 a5 17.a3[/font] when:
• [font color="blue"]17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bf5 19.0-0 Nd7 20.h3 Rac8 21.Bg4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Houdini 1.5a x64).
• If [font color="darkblue"]17...a4 18.Qd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]18...Qb6 19.Rb1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]19...Bf5 20.Nde4 Qb3 21.0-0 Bxc3 22.Nxc3 Bxb1 23.Qg4+[/font] an extra pawn against Black's queenside initiative (Houdini).
• [font color="#4080FF"]19...Qd4!? 20.Nde4 Bf5 21.Qe2 Nd7 22.0-0 Ne5 23.Rbd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns; Black has a small advantage in space (Houdini).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]18...Bxc3 19.bxc3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]19...Qxd5 20.0-0 Bc6 21.Bf3 Qd3 22.Re1 d5 23.Re7[/font] gives White better pawns and a Rook on the seventh; Black should get some counterplay from his active Queen and Bishop (Fritz).
• [font color="darkcyan"]19...Bf5 20.0-0 Nd7 21.Bg4 Qxd5 22.Bf3[/font] gives White better pawns and the initiative (Fritz).

• Black introduces a new move that we probably won't see too often after this.
• If [font color="red"]17...Nf6 18.Bxd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Qa5 19.Nc3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...Rxe2+? 20.Kxe2 Re8+ 21.Kf1 Bf5 22.Kg1[/font] gives White two pawns, stronger pawns and a passed pawn for the exchange (Schussler-Fedorowicz, Op, Reykjavik, 1986).
• If [font color="darkorange"]19...Ne4?[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]20.Ndxe4 Rxe4 21.0-0 Bxc3 22.Bxa6 Qxa6 23.Bxf8[/font] White has the exchange and two extra pawns (Malaniuk-Norwood, IT, Lvov, 1986).
• [font color="purple"]19...b5 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.0-0 b4 22.d6+ Kg7 23.Nc4[/font] gives White three pawns for the exchange and the initiative; Black is barely holding on.(Houdini)
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Qb6? 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Nc3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20...Qxb3 21.axb3 Nb4 22.0-0 Nfxd5 23.Nxd5 Rxe2 24.Nxb4.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]20...Nb4[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]21.0-0 Nbxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxe2 23.Nxb6 axb6 24.Nf3.[/font]

• White gains a second extra pawn.

• If [font color="red"]20.Nxe4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]20...Rxe4 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Rc1 Qa5+ 23.Kf1.[/font]

• White doesn't need to make the best moves. She'll still win, but now it will take a little bit longer.
• If [font color="red"]22.axb3[/font] then White wins quickly after [font color="red"]22...Bd3 23.d6 Rxe2+ 24.Kd1 f3 25.d7.[/font]

• White still has two pawns for the exchange.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dronavalli Harika[/center][center]Position after 24...Na1c2[/center]

• The passed pawn becomes dangerous, manifesting its lust to expand.

• If [font color="red"]26...b6[/font] (denying the Knight use of c5) then White wins after [font color="red"]27.g3 f3 28.Rd3 Bh8 29.Bg4 Be5 30.b4.[/font]

• If [font color="red"]28...b6 29.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29...f3 30.Rd3 h6 31.Bg4 Kf7 32.Bxf3 Nxf3 33.Rxf3+[/font] gives White three extra pawns.
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Nc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]30.Rd5 Rg8 31.b4 a6 32.a4 Ba1 33.d7.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dronavalli Harika[/center][center]Position after 28...Kg7h6[/center]

• After this, White can be quick and merciful.

• [font color="red"]29...Bxd6 30.Rxd4 Bc7 31.Rxd8 Bxd8 32.Nd6 Kg5 33.Nxb7[/font] leaves White with a prohibitive material advantage.

• The passer paralyzes Black's entire position.

• If [font color="red"]31...Nc6 32.Nc5 Rh8 33.Rd5 b6 34.Ne6 Bf6 35.Nxf4+.[/font]

• If [font color="red"]33...Rb8 34.Rxd4[/font] then:
• If[font color="red"]34...Bxd4[/font] then White wins a piece after [font color="red"]35.d8Q Rxd8 36.Nxd8+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]34...Rxb7[/font] then [font color="darkred"]35.d8Q Bxd8 36.Rxd8[/font] wins a piece.
• Oriord Danielian resigns.

The fourth semi-finalist was Ju Wenjun of China.

[center]


Ju Wenjun
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Goran Urosevic in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ju_Wenjun_2008.jpg)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Ju Wenjun - Natalia Zhukova
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 3/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 17 November 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Reti Variation) (Tarrasch Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Tarrasch Defense)[/center][center]Position after 3...c5[/center]

• This is the defense to the Queen's Gambit which has come to be called the Tarrasch Defense but which Dr. Tarrasch himself called the Normal Defense. Dr. Tarrasch used Normal to distinguish his defense from the Orthodox Defense. Dr. Tarrasch would find our labeling of the game as Orthodox/Normal a bit curious. To Dr. Tarrasch, the Orthodox Queen's Gambit is one that featured Black's set up ...d5, ...e6, ...Nf6, ...Be7; for us, it is Black's set up against the Queen's Gambit featuring ...d5 and ...e6 without an early ...c6. The sub-category Normal falls under the category Orthodox, which is opposed to the category Slav or Semi-Slav.
• Dr. Tarrasch's idea is to give Black a freer game for his pieces, but this comes at the cost of isolating Black's d-pawn. For this reason, the defense has never been very popular, but it's adherants include Marshall, the young Capablanca, Stoltz, the young Kasparov and Armenian-American GM Var Akobian.
• It should be noted that White usually play 3.Nc3 instead of 3.Nf3 as in this game. Other than that, while the first four moves are pretty standard, but after that the move order is not terribly important and many transpositions are possible.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening)[/center][center]Position after 6.Bg2[/center]

• The use of the King's fianchetto as a tool against the Normal Defense is an innovation of Akiba Rubinstein, whose most palmy days were about a hundred years ago. The idea is put pressure on Black's isolated d-pawn.

• [font color="red"](Swedish Variation)[/font] If [font color="red"]6...c4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Swedish Variation)[/center][center]Position after 6...c4[/center]

• (Black avoids the isolated pawn, but loosens his command of d4) [font color="red"]7.Nc3 Bb4 8.0-0 Nge7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.e4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 0-0 11.a3 Ba5 12.Qa4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Bb6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.Be3 Be6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Nd5 16.Bg5[/font] gives White the advantage in space and the initiative; Black has a greater presence in the center (Korchnoi-O. Rodríguez, IT, Salamanca, 1991).
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Qxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Nxd4!? 14.Nxd4 Qxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Qe2 Qd7 16.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16...Qe6!? 17.Rd6 Qf5 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qe5 20.Rd2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Gligoric-Kostic, Yugoslav Ch, Ljubljana, 1947).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Qg4 17.Bf3 Qg6 18.Be3 Nf5 19.Bc5 Bxc5 20.Nxc5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Houdini 1.5a x64).
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Qxd4!? Bxd4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.Nd6 Nc6 17.Rd1 Rd8 18.Bxc6 Rxd6 19.Bf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage due to the pin at d4 (Houdini 1.5a x64).
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Rd1 Nc6 17.Nd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17...Bg4 18.Rd3 Bf6 19.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Be6 20.Nxb7 Nd4 21.Nc5 Rab8 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Be3[/font] is equal.
• [font color="purple"]19...Be2 20.Rd5 Rfd8 21.Nxb7 Rxd5 22.Bxd5 Ne7 23.Be4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space.
• [font color="hotpink"]17...Rd8 18.Bxc6 Rxd6 19.Bf3[/font] transposes into the [font color="magenta"] rose line,[/font] above.
• [font color="magenta"]13...Be6 14.Qd3 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxd4 17.Nd6[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Qxc4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nxd4 15.Bg2 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Qa4 b5 17.Qd1 Bb6 18.b4 Nd5 19.Bb2[/font] gives White the initiative and White more space (Psakhis-Manor, IT, Tel Aviv, 1991).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.Qd3 Nc2 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Ra2 Ne1 19.Bg5 f6[/font] is equal (Gligoric-Stahlberg, Match, Belgrade, 1949).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Be3 Bb6 14.Rad1 Nf5 15.Bg5 Qc8 16.d5 Ncd4[/font] is equal (Ftacnik-Miralles, IT, Lyon, 1988).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...0-0 10.exd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.a3 Ba5 14.Ne5 Qb5 15.a4 Qa6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Rfc1 Rab8 19.Bf1[/font] gives White more activity (Timoshchenko-Tseitlin, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Ng4 Bd8 17.Bf4 Nb4 18.Bd2 Nc6 19.d5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Stocek-Bazant, Czech Championship, Olomouc, 1995).
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6 15.Nxc6 bxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.Be3 Be6 19.Bf1[/font] gives White pressure on Black's foremost c-pawn; Black is making no effort against White's own pawn weakness (Foldi-Mikenas, TT, Endrunde, 1978).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.d5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rb8 18.Rfc1 Be6[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Lputian, Rpd, Tilburg, 1994).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.a3 Ba5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Nxc6 bxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Bf4 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Be6 19.Bf1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Igla-Bertrand, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Qh5 Be6 17.Ra3 Rad8 18.g4 g6 19.Qe5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Gligoric-Furman, TM, Leningrad, 1957).
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.Be3 Be6 16.Qh5 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Bd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]18.Nd7 Rxd7 19.Bxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Rfd8 20.Be4 g6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Lautier-Conquest, IT, Clichy, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]19...g6 20.Qf3 Nb4 21.Be4 f5 22.Bb1 Re8[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="hotpink"]18.Bxd5 Rxd5 19.Qf3 Rd6 20.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Ng5 Qxd4 14.Qa4 Bd8 15.Rd1 Qe5 16.Bf4[/font] gives White only a slight advantage (Szabo-Bronstein, Candidates' Trmt, Amsterdam, 1956).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Ne5 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e4 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 Rb8 14.Re1 Bf7 15.a3 Ba5[/font] is equal (Grünfeld-Stahlberg, Ol, Folkstone, 1933).
• [font color="darkorange"]12.e5 Rb8 13.Ne2 Ba5 14.b3 Re8 15.Bd2 Bg4[/font] is equal (Van Scheltinga-Stahlberg, IT, Amsterdam, 1950).
• [font color="magenta"]10.e4 Bxc3 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.bxc3 dxe4 13.Be3 Re8[/font] is equal (Bonin-Caldwell, IT, New York, 1987).

• It's more usual for White to develop her Queen's Knight beore castling.
• If [font color="red"]7.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...cxd4 10.Nxd4


[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Main Line)[/center][center]Position after 10.Nf3d4:p[/center]


• 10...h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Be3 Re8 12.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Bf8 13.Nxc6 bxc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Na4 Bd7 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.Re1 Rab8 20.a3 Qa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.h3 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]19.Qd4 (
  Qb5 21.b3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21...Ne4 22.b4 a5 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc5 Qb6 25.bxa5 Qa6 26.Qc3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Illescas Córdoba, IT, Linares, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]21...a5 22.e3 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc3 Bf5 25.Kg2 Be4+[/font] draw (Bonafont-James, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 19.Qa4 Qd2 20.Qf4 Qxf4 21.gxf4 Rab8 22.b3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22...Rb4 23.e3 g5 24.a3 Rb6 25.fxg5 hxg5 26.b4[/font] is equal (Tegshsuren-Akobian, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2004).
• If [font color="magenta"]22...g5 23.fxg5 hxg5 24.Rc3 Kg7 25.Kf1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]25...Rb4 26.Rec1 Rh4 27.Rg3 Kh6 28.Nb7 Bd7[/font] is equal (Gagunashvili-Akobian, World Youth BU20, Yerevan, 2000).
• [font color="darkorange"]25...Nh5 26.e4 Bg6 27.exd5 Rxe1+ 28.Kxe1 Nf4[/font] is equal (Filippov-Akobian, Op, Las Vegas, 2002).
• [font color="burgundy"]b) 19.Na4 Rac8 20.Qd4 Be4 21.f3 Bg6 22.Kf2 Nd7 23.b3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Sargissian-Akobian, Amenian Ch, Yerevan, 1999).
• [font color="#FF8000"]18.Qc2 Rab8 19.b3 Re7 20.h3 Bh5[/font] is equal (Ribli-Lobon, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1990).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.f3 Bf5 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.e3 Nd7 20.Qd4 Rab8[/font] is equal (Sosonko-Martens, Op, Eindhoven, 1993).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Bd4 Bg4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Re1 15...Nd7 16.Qa4 Re6 17.Bxg7 Bxg7 18.Qxg4 Qa5 19.e3 Rb8 20.Re2[/font] leaves White with better piece coordination (Bosiocic-Kuzubov, ZCC Bicentennial, Zürich, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]15.Qa4 Bd7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd7 Rad8[/font] is equal gives Black a slight initiative (Stein-Damjanovic, Vrnjachka Banja, 1971).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bg4 13.h3 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.f4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Qd7 16.Bf2 Rad8 17.Qa4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Bb4 18.e4 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rcd1 Qf7 22.Qxe4 Qf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23.Qg2 Qc2 24.Bd4 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2[/font] is equal (San Segundo-Lautier, IT, Madrid, 1993).
• [font color="burgundy"]23.Qc4 Qxh3 24.Rfe1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rc8 26.Rd6[/font] is equal (Remille-Velchev, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
• [font color="darkpink"]17...Bd6 18.Rfd1 Qf7 19.e4 d4 20.Nb5 e5[/font] is equal (Ilincic-Manca, 1st Saturday July, Budapest, 2005).
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Bb4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.a3 Ba5 17.Qb3 Qe7 18.Bf2 Kh8 19.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Papadakis-Todorovic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bf2 Rc8 17.a3 Bf8 18.Qa4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18...Nd7!? 19.b4 a5 20.b5 Nc5 21.Qd1 Ne7 22.e4[/font] gives White the initiative in the center (Xu Jun-Hadoko, ZT, Djarkarta, 1987).
• [font color="purple"]18...Qa5 19.Qxa5 Nxa5 20.e4 Nc4 21.exd5 Nxb2 22.Bd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space;,after the pawn exchange in the center, White's Bishop pair will be more significant.
• If [font color="magenta"]14.Kh2 Qd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Qa4 a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rfd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Reb8 18.Bd4 Rb4 19.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19...Qb7 20.b3 Rc8 21.e4 dxe4 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nxe4[/font] gives White much stronger pawns and command of the open file; White has the Bishop pair that may become more significant in the open center (Sundararajan-Dean, US Op, Orlando, Florida, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Rab8 20.b3 Bf5 21.e4 Bg6 22.Qe2 Bh5 23.g4[/font] gives White a significant initiative (Nickel-Kremer, Corres, 1995).
• [font color="darkpink"]17...Bf5 18.Bd4 Qb7 19.e3 Rac8 20.a3 Nh7 21.b4[/font] is equal (Maes-Poulson, Corres, 1996).
• [font color="darkorchid"]16.Rfd1 b5 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qb1 Bd6[/font] is equal (Timman-Bosch, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2006).
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Bf5 17.Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17...Bd8 18.Bd4 Ne4 19.e3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Qb7 22.Bd4 a5 23.Qa4[/font] gives White better pawn structure and Black more space (M. Gurevich-Ponomariov, IT, Belfort, 1998).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Bc7 20.Nc5 Nxc5 21.Bxc5 Be4 22.Qa4 h5 23.Bd4[/font] is equal (McPhillips-Manca, EU Ch, Cork, Ireland, 2005).
• If [font color="hotpink"]17...Rab8 18.b3 Bd6[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]19.e3 Be4 20.Bxd6 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qxd6 22.Qd4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative; Black has a small advantantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Berelovich, Bundesliga 1112, Mülheim, 2011).
• [font color="purple"]19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.e3 Nd7 21.Qd4 Rb7 22.Nc5 Nxc5 23.Qxc5 Qxc5 24.Rxc5[/font] gives White better pawns and Black more space (Greenfeld-Frois, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bf4 Bg4 12.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bh5 13.Nf5 Bg6 14.Nxe7+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Qxe7 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rad8 17.Qc4 Nd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18.e4 b5 19.Qd3 f5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]20.Rae1 Qf7 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Qc3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22...b4?! 23.Qc5 Ne6 24.Qxb4 Nxf4 25.gxf4[/font] gives White two extra pawns (Gelfand-Illescas Córdoba, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• [font color="burgundy"]22...Ne6! 23.Re5 Nxf4 24.gxf4 Bc8 25.Rc5[/font] gives White only a slight advantage; the pawn at b5 is proteced by 26.Rxb5?! Ba6! winning the exchange.
• If [font color="magenta"]20.Rfe1 Bh5 21.Kh1 Qf7 22.e5 g5 23.e6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]23...Qe7 24.Bc7 Qxc7 25.e7 Rfe8 26.exd8Q Rxd8 27.Rac1[/font] Black resigns in another dozen moves (Adly-Akintola, African Ch, Abuja, 2003).
• [font color="darkorange"]23...Nxe6 24.Bd6 Nc5 25.Qxb5 Rxd6 26.Qxc5[/font] also gives White a strong game.
• [font color="burgundy"]18.Kh2 b5 19.Qc3 Qxe2 20.Rad1 Qc4 21.Be5 Qxc3[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Neverov-Eljanov, Ukrainian Ch, Ordzhonikidze, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Nxe7?! 15.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15...b6 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Rd2 Qd7 18.Be5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18...Qe6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Arlandi-Illescas Córdoba, Spanish Ol, Los Yebenes, 1990).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...Qc6 19.Rad1 Ne4 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Qxd5 22.Rxd5[/font] wins the pawn.
• If [font color="darkorange"]15...Qd7 16.Rad1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16...Rac8 17.e4 Rxc3 18.Qxc3 Bxe4 19.Qc7 Qxc7 20.Bxc7[/font] leaves Black up by the exchange.
• [font color="purple"]16...Rad8 17.e4 d4 18.Be5 Nc6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nd5[/font] leaves Black with more pawn weaknesses and White with a threat to fork the King and Queen.
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Be6 13.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.e4 d4 16.e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16...dxc3 17.exf6 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 Bxf6 19.bxc3 Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]20.Be3 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bxc3 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Rc1 Ba5 24.Rxc6 Rb8 25.Bxa7 Rb2 26.Ra6 Rxa2 27.Kg2 Ra3 28.Bc5[/font] Black resigns as 28...Ra1 29.Bb4 wins the exchange (Cmilyte-Rohanyan, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
• [font color="hotpink"]20.Re1 g5 21.Be3 Ne5 22.Rc2 Nd3 23.Rb1 b6 24.Bf1 Ne5[/font] is equal (Sasikiran-Akobian, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2000).
• [font color="purple"]16...Ne8 17.Qd3 Nb4 18.Qg6 dxc3 19.Be4 Rxf4 20.gxf4 cxb2 21.Rcd1[/font] gives White a strong initiative (Tsiganova-Malysheva, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Re8 14.Ncb5 Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Nc7 Rf8 18.Nxe6 fxe6[/font] is equal (Benjamin-Cunningham, Op, New York, 1995).
• [font color="burgundy"]9...Be6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 [/font] transposes into the notes to White's ninth move.
• If [font color="darkred"]7...cxd4 8.Nxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Qb6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Na4 Qb5 12.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Rc1 Bg4 14.f3 Be6 15.Bc5 Rfe8 16.Rf2 Nd7[/font] is equal (Rubinstein-Salwe, Match, Lodz, 1908).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Qc2 Re8 14.Rac1 Bg4 15.Nc3 Qa6 16.Rfd1 Bb4[/font] is equal (Santasiere-Kashdan, AFC, Boston, 1938).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Bg4 13.Rc1 0-0 14.f3 Bf5 15.b3 Rad8 16.Bc5[/font] is equal (Edwards-Wade, British Ch, York, 1959).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.e4 dxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Nxe4 0-0 13.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Qxb2 14.Bd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qb5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.Rc1 Rb8 18.Qd4 Qb2 19.Qxa7 Be6 20.Rxc6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gligoric-Keres, IT, Moscow, 1967).
• [font color="burgundy"]17.Qd6 Be6 18.Bxc6 Qa6 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.a4 Bc4[/font] gives Black a small initiative (Salwe-Rubinstein, All-Russian Trmt, Vilnius, 1909).
• [font color="darkpink"]14...Qa3 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Qh5 Kg7 18.Rae1[/font] gives White fewer pawn weaknesses and more activity; Black has an extra pawn (Boleslavsky-Stoltz, IT, Bucharest, 1953).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Bg5 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Rfe1[/font] gives White a slight advantage with stronger pawns (Maksimenko-Slovineanu, IT, Nikoklaev, Ukraine, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]14.b4 Qxb4 15.Rb1 Qc4 16.Rc1 Qxa2 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxc6[/font] is equal; Black cannot hold the extra pawn (Marshall-Schlechter, IT, Budapest, 1912).
• [font color="#FF8000"]12.Be3 Qb4 13.a3 Qc4 14.Rc1 Qe6 15.Qa4[/font] gives White stronger pawns after the e-pawn falls (Ivakhinova-Kovalevskaya, Russian ChW HL, Tyumen, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]8...Bc5 9.Nb3 Bb4 10.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Bg5 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Rc1 h6 13.Be3 Re8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Nb5 Rc8 15.a3 Bf8 16.Bc5 Bg4 17.Re1 a6[/font] is equal (Darga-Eisinger, West German Ch, Bad Neuenahr, 1957).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Na4 Ne4 15.Bc5 Qf6 16.Bxb4 Nxb4 17.a3 Nc6[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (C. Hansen-Sosonko, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1988).
• [font color="darkpink"]12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxd5 Qxb2 15.Qb5[/font] gives White a small initiative (Uhlmann-Parma, IT, Vrsac, 1973).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Bg5 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Nc5 Qe7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.c4 dxc4 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qd4[/font] gives White more activity; the pawn at c4 is deadwood (Rubinstein-Marshall, IT, Breslau, 1912).
• [font color="purple"]13.Nd4 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Qb3 Nxd4 17.cxd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage with pressure on the isolated pawn (Schlechter-Teichmann, IT, Breslau, 1912).
• [font color="hotpink"]12.Nd4 Ne4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.c4 Qf6 15.Ba3[/font] is equal (Kostic-Marshall, IT, New York, 1918).

• This is the Reti Variation.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Reti Variation)[/center][center]Position after 8...Be7c5:p[/center]

• If [font color="red"]9.Bg5 0-0 10.Nc3 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Be7 12.Nd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15...Bd6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 exd5 18.Bxd7 Bxf4 19.gxf4[/font] is equal (Adamski-Dr. Nunn, IT, Lublin, 1978).
• If [font color="darkred"]15...g5 16.Bd2 d4!? 17.Na4 Ne4 18.Be1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Qd5?! 19.Bg2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Qe5? 20.Qd3! Nd6 21.Qg6+ Qg7 22.Qxe6+[/font] White soon wins (Capablanca-Olland, IT, Hastings, 1919).
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Qf5 20.Qb3 Rab8 21.f4 g4 22.Qd3 Nf6 23.Bf2[/font] continues the seige of the pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]18...Nf6 19.Qb3 g4 20.Bg2 Kg7 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Be3 Qd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Qa4 Bh3 15.Rfd1 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Rfd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.f3 a6 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.Qf5[/font] is equal (Avrukh-Barle, Op, London, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]17.h3 a6 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.Nf5 Bf8 20.Qb1 Qe6[/font] is equal (Schiller-Nykopp, Op, Lewisham, England, 1981).
• [font color="magenta"]14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Na4 Bh3 16.Bc5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rfe8 18.Bxe7 Rxe7[/font] is equal (Summerscale-R. Shaw, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).[/il]
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Bf4 Qa5 15.a3 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Qd3 Kh8 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.Nxb5 Bc5 19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Bxd6 Rfe8 21.Bc5 b6 22.Bd4 Ne4[/font] draw (Peinfalk-Vidmar, IT, Ljubljana, 1938).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 Ne4 18.f3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Bxc5+[/font] gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative (Lokvenc-Lundin, Op, Bad Gastein, 1948).
• If [font color="magenta"]14.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 b6 18.Nc3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18...Rac8 19.Nb5 Bc5 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Nd4 Rdc8 22.Rb1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a splendid Knight against Black's control of the c-file (Rodshtein-Lapshun, 1st Saturday August, Budapest, 2006).
• [font color="purple"]18...Bc5 19.Bd4 Rac8 20.e3 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rc4 22.Rcd1[/font] gives White a slight edge with stronger pawns (Spassky-H. Lehmann, Euro ChT, Bienna, 1957).
• [font color="darkorange"]14...Qd7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qd3 Qe8 17.Nb5 Rac8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nxa7[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Kestler-Stajcic, IT, Baden-Baden, 1981).
• If [font color="burgundy"]11...Bb6 12.b3 d4 13.Ne4 Re8 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Bh6 Bg4 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.b4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Browne-Strauss, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11...Qxf6 12.Nxd5 Qxb2 13.Nc7 Rad8 14.Qc1 Qxc1 15.Raxc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...b6 16.Nxe6 fxe6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17.e3 h6 18.Rfd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Nxd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21.Ne5 Bb4 22.Kf1 Bc3 23.Nc4 Kf8 24.Ke2 Nf7[/font] draw (Smyslov-Vaganian, IT, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Nd4 Kf7 22.Kf1 Ke7[/font] draw (A. Braun-Gasthofer, IT Willingen, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]18...Nb4 19.Rxd8 Rxd8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]20.a3 Nd3 21.Rd1 Rd6 22.Kf1 Nb2 23.Rxd6 Bxd6[/font] is equal (Umansky-Riediger, Landesliga Süden, Bavaria, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]20.a4 Kf7 21.Bf1 Kf6 22.Kg2 Nc6 23.Rc2 Ke7[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (Krush-D. Schneider, USCL, Cyberspace, 2008).
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Bh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Rf6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Kg2 h6 19.Rfd1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 e5 21.e3 Rd6[/font] draw (Meduna-Lechtynsky, Chechoslovakian Ch, Trnava, 1980).
• [font color="purple"]18.Ng5 Nd4 19.Kg2 Rg6 20.e3 Rxg5 21.exd4 Rxd4[/font] draw (Sosonko-Hort, IT, Waddinxveen, 1979 ).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Rfe8 18.Rfd1 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Rxd4 20.Rxd4 Bxd4 21.Rc8[/font] will win a pawn for White, but that may not be enough to win in a BOOC ending (Lechtynsky-Lukov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1983).
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Be7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rc4 Bf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]18.Rb1 Rd6 19.h4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]20.Re4 b6 21.Bh3 Kf7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]22.e3 Rc8 23.g4 g5 24.hxg5 hxg5 25.Bf1 Na5[/font] is equal (Beliavsky-Illescas Córdoba, IT, Linares, 1988).
• [font color="burgundy"]22.Rc1 Re8 23.e3 Re7 24.Bf1 Na5 25.Bb5 Nb7[/font] is equal (Ornstein-L. Schneider, Op, Eskjo, Sweden, 1981).
• [font color="darkpink"]20.Rc2 b6 21.e3 Rfd8 22.Bf1 Kf8 23.Kg2[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (Suba-Crawley, YM, Barnsdale, 1989).
• If [font color="darkorange"]18.e3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18...Rd6 19.h4 h6 20.Re4 Rfd8 21.Bh3 Kf7 22.Kg2[/font] remains equal (Jussupow-Spragget, Candidates' M, Quebec, 1989).
• If [font color="purple"]18...Rf7 19.Bh3 Re7 20.Rb1[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]20...Na5!? 21.Rc2! b6 22.Nd2 Kf7 23.Ne4 Red7 24.Bg4[/font] gives White a slight advantage with more active Rooks (Valdes-E. Córdoba, Op, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 2006).
• [font color="hotpink"]20...Kf7 21.Rc2 Red7 22.Bf1 g5 23.h3 Ne7 24.Bb5[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]11...gxf6!? 12.Rc1 Bb6 13.Na4 d4 14.a3 Re8 15.Nc5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Drkulec-Brammall, Ameteur Trmt, Kitchner, Ontario, 2011).

• If [font color="red"]10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 Bf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.Nd4 Qb6 13.e3 0-0 14.Nxc6 Qxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nd2 Bf5 17.Nb3 Nc3 18.Qd2 Rac8[/font] gives Black more space and White stronger pawns; the main source of Black's spatial advantage is the Knight at c3, which cannot be maintained (Houska-Jackson, British Ch, North Shields, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]15.Bd4 Bf5 16.f3 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Nf6 18.Nc3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black a small advantage in space; Black's obligation to defend the isolated d-pawn tilts the scales slightly toward White (Rusev-Kacakovski, Macedonian ChT, Struga, 2012).
• [font color="darkred"]12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Ra2 0-0 14.Rc2 Rd8 15.b5 Ne5[/font] is equal (Kruppa-Potkin, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2000).

• In compensaion for the isolated d-pawn, Black has more active pieces.

• The attack on the Bishop becomes significant later.

• [font color="red"]14...Bd5 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Nf3 Be6 17.Bf4 0-0[/font] gives Black more space on the one hand and more pawn weaknesses on the other (Hawkins-Holland, British Ch, North Shields, 2012).

• White has stronger pawns; Black has more space.

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 16...Be6d5[/center]

• White undermines the Queen, which is to be Black's designated piece to recature on b6 in the event of the excahnge of minor pieces.
• If [font color="red"]17.Bf4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qd5+ 19.Kg1 Bd8 20.Qd3 Be7[/font] is equal.

• Black gives White the opportunity to gain a valuable tempo.
• If [font color="red"]17...Qd7 18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Bxd5+ Qxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20.Bf4 Nd8 21.e3 Ne6 22.exd4 Nxf4 23.gxf4 Rf6[/font] is equal; White, too, now has weak pawns.
• [font color="darkred"]20.Qd3 h6 21.Be3 g5 22.f3 Rad8 23.Rcd1 Qa2[/font] is equal; Black's piece activity compensates for his pawn weaknesses.

• White wins the tempo and takes a small advantage in space.

• This is the time for White to exchange on b6, when Black must recapture with the pawn and weaken her queenside.
• [font color="red"]19.Nxb6 axb6 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Qd3 h6 22.h4[/font] gives White a slight but clear advantage in pawn structure.

• White should take the Bishop immediately.
• If [font color="red"]20.Nxb6 axb6[/font] tranposes into the note to White's 19th move.

• Now Black should pull the Bishop out of harm's way.
• [font color="red"]20...Bd8 21.Rc5 Qe6 22.Rfc1 g5 23.Bd2 h6 24.f4[/font] continues to give White only an isolated pawn to use as a target to draw Black's into defensive postures.

• Again, White should take the Bishop immediately.
• If [font color="red"]21.Nxb6 axb6 22.Rfd1 Re4 23.Rd2 Rfe8 24.b4[/font] gives White a slight edge as she saddles Black with more pawn weaknesses.

• Since White has failed to take the Bishop, Black should move it away.
• If [font color="red"]21...Bd8! 22.Nc3 Qd7 23.h4 h6 24.Nb5 a6 25.Nd6[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 21...Re8e6[/center]

• White can get more out of the position now by letting the Bishop go.
• If [font color="red"]22.Red1![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]22...h6 23.b4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...Rfe8 24.b5 Na5 25.Nxb6 axb6 26.Rc2 Qb3 27.Rc7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after the Queens are exchanged.
• [font color="burgundy"]23...g5 24.Nxb6 axb6 25.Bc7 b5 26.Rc5 Qd7 27.Bb6[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 22...Rd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23.b4 h6 24.Nxb6 axb6 25.Bc7 Rde8 26.b5[/font] gives White stronger pawns; Black has more space.
• If [font color="magenta"]23.Bg5!? Rde8 24.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]24...h6 25.h4 Bd8 26.h5 Bg5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]27.Bxg5 hxg5 28.Rc5 Qa2 29.Rxf5 Rxe2 30.Rxg5 R2e7[/font] gives White an extra pawn at least temporaily.
• [font color="purple"]27.Rc5 Qd8 28.Bxg5 Qxg5 29.Rxf5 Qg4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]24...Bd8 25.Rc2 Bf6 26.Nc5 R6e7 27.b4[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 22...Bd8[/font] (White is not concerned about the Bishop escaping) [font color="darkred"]23.Nc5 Re7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]24.b4 Bb6 25.Na4 h6 26.b5 Na5 27.Rc2[/font] gives White better pawns and a slight advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]24.Qf3 Qxf3 25.exf3 Rfe8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]26.Kf1 Rf7 27.b4 g5 28.Bd6 Bb6 29.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]26.b4 Bb6 27.Kg2 Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Rd7 29.Rxf5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space.

• White continues to enjoy a slight advantage with stronger pawns.

• If [font color="red"]25.e3!? g5 26.Bc7 R6e7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27.Bxb6 Ne5 28.Rec1 Nxc4 29.Rxc4 dxe3 30.Bxe3[/font] gives White only a pawn for the excahnge.
• [font color="darkred"]27.Bd6 Rd7 28.Bb4 Ne5 29.exd4 Nf3+[/font] wins the exchange.

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 25.Kg1f1[/center]

• Sensing further exchanges, each side begins moving her King toward the center.

• It makes no sense to sacrifice a pawn just to avoid the exchange of minor pieces.
• If [font color="red"]27...Na5!? 28.Rxd4! Nb3 29.Rd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29...h6 30.Bd6 Rc8 31.f4 Nc5 32.Rc1 g5 33.a4[/font] leaves Black with nothing for the pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Re4 30.Bc7 R8e6 31.e3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]31...Rc4 32.Bd8+ Kg6 33.Red1 Rc2 34.Kg1 Nc5 35.Rd6[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]31...Nc5 32.Red1 g6 33.Bd8+ Kf7 34.Bxb6 Rxb6 35.Rxc5[/font] leaves White with two extra pawns and activity for both Rooks.

• The game now slouches toward equality.
• [font color="red"]30.Rc1! Re7 31.Rd6+ Re6 32.Rxe6+ Kxe6 33.Rc7[/font] gives White a small advantage.
• [font color="blue"]30.Rd7!? Re7! 31.Red1 Rb3 32.R7d6+ Re6 33.Rd7 Re7[/font] invites a draw by repetition.

• The exchange of Rooks favors Black.
• [font color="red"]31.R4d3 Rxd3 32.Rxd3 b5 33.h4 Re6 34.Ke1[/font] leaves White slightly better with fewer pawn weaknesses.

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 31.Rd4b4[/center]

• The pawn is more difficult to defend at b4 than at a3.

• The game is equal.
• [font color="red"]32...Re4 33.Rd6+ Re6 34.Rd7 Re7 35.Rxe7 Kxe7 36.e3[/font] slightly favors White.

• [font color="red"]33.Rc1 Kd6 34.f3 Ra8 35.Rc4 g5 36.h4 h6[/font] remains equal.

• Black takes command of the c-file.

• [font color="red"]34...b5 35.Ra1 Kd5 36.h3 Rc4 37.Rd1+ Ke6 38.Rd4[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]35...Rc2+ 36.Kf3 Rb2 37.e4 fxe4+ 38.Rxe4+ Kd6 39.Rf4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="blue"]35...Rxd4 36.exd4 Kd5 37.Kd3 b5[/font] is a likely draw.

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 35.b6b5[/center]

• White centralizes her King and gains a slight advantage.

• [font color="red"]36...Rc7 37.f3 g6 38.e4 fxe4+ 39.Rxe4+ Kd5 40.Rd4+[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• If [font color="blue"]36...Rxd4+?[/font] then:
• White wins after [font color="blue"]37.Kxd4! Kd6 38.f3 h6 39.e4 fxe4 40.fxe4.[/font]
• [font color="darkblue"]37.exd4? Kd5! 38.h3 g6 39.f3 h6[/font] draws.

• White gains a passed pawn.

• [font color="red"]37...Rd1+ 38.Kc3 Rf1 39.gxf5+ Kxf5 40.f4 Ke6 41.Re4+[/font] gives White a small advantage.

• White should protect her kingside majority, which is her best asset for now.
• [font color="red"]39...Kg6 40.Rd4 Rb1 41.f4 Kf7 42.Ke4 Ke6 43.f5+[/font] gives White a small advantage with moble pawns.

• White gains a small advantage by attacking Black's abandoned kingside.

• Black's chances grow dimmer by the move, but the pawn cannot be effective at this square.
• [font color="red"]42...g6 43.Rh4 Ra1 44.Kf3 Rh1 45.Kg2 Rb1 46.h3[/font] continues to gives White a small advantage with an extra pawn, but the weakling at b4 must be defended.
• [font color="blue"]42...Rxb4?! 43.Rxg7! Kd6 44.Rxb7 Kc6 45.Rb8 Rh4 46.f4[/font] gives White three passers.
• [font color="#008000"]42...Rg1?! 43.Rh5! g5[/font] then:
• [font color="#008000"]44.h4 gxh4 45.Rh6+ Kf7 46.Rxh4 Rb1 47.Re4[/font] gives White a two passers.
• [font color="#4CC417"]44.f4 gxf4 45.exf4 Rg2+ 46.Kf3 Rb2 47.Rxb5[/font] gives White two extra pawns,

[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 42...g7g5[/center]

• The g-pawn's effectiveness is thus diminished. White gains a passed pawn.

• If [font color="red"]43...gxh4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]44.Rxh4 Rb2+ 45.Kf3 Rb1 46.Re4+ Kf7 47.Kg4[/font] when she has two connected passers on the kingside.

• There is no other move.

• The advance is beautifully timed.
• Also good is [font color="red"]49.Rxb5+[/font] when White wins after [font color="red"]49...Kg4 50.Rb6 Kxg3 51.Rf6 Kg4 52.Kg1.[/font]
[/ul
49...Kg4 50.Kg1


• [font color="red"]50.e4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]50...Kg5 51.Kg1 Rh6 52.Rxb5+ Kg4 53.Rb7.[/font]

50...Rh3 51.Rg7+ Kf3


• If [font color="red"]51...Kf5 52.Kg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]52...Rh6 53.e4+ Kf6 54.Rb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]54...Kg6 55.e5 Rxh7 56.Rxh7 Kxh7 57.Kf3 Kg7 58.Ke4[/font] leaves Black not enough time to stop both of White's pawns while advancing his own.
• If [font color="darkred"]54...Ke5 55.Rxb5+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]55...Kxe4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]56.Rb4+ Kd3 57.Rh4.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]55...Kd4[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]56.Rb4+ Kc5 57.Rb7 Kd4 58.e5 Kd5 59.e6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorchid"]52...Rh5 53.e4+ Kf6 54.Rb7 Kg6 55.e5.[/font]


[center]BLACK: Natalia Zhukova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ju Wenjun[/center][center]Position after 51...Kg4f3[/center]

52.g4


• If Black tries to stop the g-pawn, she just loses quicker.

52...b4 53.g5 b3


• [font color="red"]53...Ke4 54.Rf7 Ke5 55.g6 Ke6 56.Rf4[/font] leaves Black no way to stop White's Kingside pawns.

54.g6 b2 55.Rb7 Rh6 56.Rxb2 Rxg6+ 57.Kh1! 1-0


• If [font color="red"]57...Rh6+[/font] then [font color="red"]58.Rh2!![/font] wins immediately as Black must either exchange Rooks and allow the pawn to promote, move the Rook off the file and allow the pawn to promote, viz. [font color="red"]58...Rd6 59.Rh3+!![/font] (White cannot simply queen: If (59.h8Q?? then 59...Rd1#!) [font color="red"]59...Ke2 60.h8Q Rd1+ 61.Kh2[/font] or capture the pawn and lose the Rook [font color="darkred"](58..Rxh7 59.Rxh7).[/font]
• Natalia Alexandrovna resigns.

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2013, 01:05 PM - Edit history (2)

The opening notes in this game are to compare and contrast the English Game in which Black adopts a defense similar to those found in Queen's Gambit with the King's Indian Attck, or, as we prefer to call it, the Kia Game.

The reason for this exercise on my part is that I have began playing a series of games with another gentleman on Monday afternoons. In our first game, in which he had White, he opened with a Kia Game. Not really familiar with the Kia, I got a bad position and lost.
[center]


Marie Sebag
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Marie_Sebag)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alisa Galliamova - Marie Sebag
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 3/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 17 November 2012

English Game: Caro-Slav Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3

• [font color="red"]2.c4[/font] has been called the Reti Opening for decades, but it is our contention that there is no such thing as a Reti Opening. The famous game Reti-Bogoljubow, It, New York, 1924, which continued 2...e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bd6 5.0-0, is classified on ChessGames.com as an English Game: Agincourt Defense. We contend that 1.Nf3 ... 2.c4 is simply an English Game by tansposition.

• If [font color="red"]3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]5.d3 0-0 6.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6...c5[/font][font color="red"] (Kia Game)[/font] If [font color="red"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.Re1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"](Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense)[/font] If [font color="red"]8...e6 9.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.e5 Nd7 11.d4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...f6!? 12.exf6! Qxf6 13.Nb3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...Bb7 14.Be3 c4 15.Nbd2 Nd8 16.h4 Nf7 17.Ng5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Dünhaupt-Snajdr, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Ba6 14.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Bc4?! 15.dxc5![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Bxb3? 16.axb3![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16...Nxc5 17.Ng5 Rfe8 18.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Nb7[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]19.Bxd5 Rad8 20.Bxc6 Rxd1 21.Rexd1 Rb8 22.Rxa7[/font] White coasts to a win (Stein-Sokolsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Odessa, 1960).
• [font color="hotpink"]18...h6[/font] then White wins after [font color="hotpink"]19.bxc5 hxg5 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.c4.[/font]
• If [font color="purple"]16...bxc5[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]17.Ra6 Rac8 18.Bh3 Rfe8 19.Ng5 Nf8.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Qe7 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Bf4 Qf6 18.Nbd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a better center and more space; Black's pieces are not well-cordinated.
• [font color="magenta"]14...c4 15.Nbd2 h6 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.h4 Qf5 18.Nf1[/font] gives White a small advatage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]11...Qc7 12.Nf1 Ba6 13.Bf4 Rac8 14.Ne3 Qb7 15.Qd2[/font] gives White the edge in space (Stein-Zhukhovitsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1969).
• [font color="darkpink"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.a4 Rd8 13.Qc2 f6[/font] is equal (Paci-Barsov, French ChT, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...a5 10.a4 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb1 Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Na3 Qd7 14.Nb5 Nh5 15.d4 Rae8 16.dxc5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Bojkov-Li Chao, Op, Queensland, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.h3 Re8 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.Na3 Na7 16.Bg5 h6[/font] is equal (D. Popovic-A. Rombaldoni, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Bf1 Qd7 13.Nb1 Ng4 14.Bf4 e5[/font] is equal (McKerracher-Hawkins, Scottish Ch, Glasgow, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...e5 9.c3 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Nf3 Qc7 15.a5 f5 16.Qa4 Bf7 17.Qb5 a6[/font] is equal (Sergeev-Timoshenko, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 1995).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.a5 Qc7 15.Qb3 Rad8 16.Qb5 Bf8 17.Qa4 Kh7[/font] is equal (Dünhaupt-Arnlind, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="magenta"]12...b6 13.Nfd2 Be6 14.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Qb5? Ncb4![/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16.cxb4 Nxb4 17.Nxe5 a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]18.Nc6 axb5 19.Nxd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]19...Rexd8?![/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]20.Ne4?[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]Nxd3! 21.Bf4 Nxf4 22.g4 bxa4[/font] Black wins (Lomakina-Melamed, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
• [font color="#FF8080"]20.axb5 Nxd3 21.Rxe6 fxe6 22.Nc4 Rd4[/font] leaves Black the exchange to the good with greater activity.
• Black wins after [font color="darkpink"]19...Rbxd8! 20.Rf1 Nxd3 21.Bc6 Bd7.[/font]
• If [font color="burgundy"]18.Qc6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]18...Bg4 19.Qe4 Rxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Be6.[/font]
• [font color="hotpink"]16.Bxd5 a6 17.Qxe8+ Qxe8 18.Nd6 Qe7 19.Bxe6 Qxe6[/font] gives White a Queen and more space for a Rook and a Knight.
• [font color="purple"]15.Ne4 Re7 16.Qc2 Rd7 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bf1 Nde7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]14...Nde7 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.a5 b5 17.Ne3 Rad8 18.Ne4[/font] is equal (Sergeev-Pavlov, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 2007).
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Qc2 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.a4 Rab8 14.Nfd2 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Borloy-Portisch, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1962).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Nf1 Qc7 12.Nh4 Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.f4?! c4! 14.f5 cxd3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Beckett-Jirovsky, Euro Club Cup, Panormo, Greece, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nf3 Nde7 15.Ne3 Qd7 16.Bf1 f5[/font] gives Black a small but clear advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]8.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...dxe4 9.dxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qc7 10.Re1 Rd8 11.Qc2 Ng4 12.Nc4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Nce5 13.Nfxe5 Nxe5 14.Bf4 b6 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.f4[/font] is equal (Quinteros-M. Petursson, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1980).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Be6 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Bf1 b5 15.Ne3 c4 16.Bg2[/font] is equal (Tringov-M. Petursson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...h6 10.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Ne1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Qd7 12.Nd3 b6 13.Nf4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Rad8 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.f4 Rd7 16.e5 Nd5 17.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Belezky-Jiménez, Op, Madrid, 2001).
• [font color="hotpink"]13...Bg4 14.f3 e5 15.fxg4 exf4 16.e5 f3 17.Bxf3[/font] (Böök-Czerniak, Ol, Helsinki, 1952).
• [font color=purple"]11...Qb6 12.h3 Nh7 13.f4 Na5 14.Nef3 Bd7 15.Re1[/font] is equal (Petrosian-Reshevsky, Candidates' Trmt, Zürich. 1953).
• [font color="darkorange"]10...Qc7 11.Nc4 e5 12.a4 b6 13.Ne3 Be6[/font] is equal (Reichenbacher-Jeric, Op, Feffernitz, Austria, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Nxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]9...Nxe4 10.dxe4 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Na5 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Bf1 Bg4 14.Kg2 h6 15.Be3 Rec8[/font] draw (Ufimtsev-Lilienthal, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1947).
• [font color="darkorange"]9...b6 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.d4 Ba6 12.Re1 cxd4 13.Qa4[/font] gives White a slight advantage for the moment (Brondum-Arvola, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7.e4 e5 8.c3 a5 9.a4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Re1 Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Qc2 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nc4 f6 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Rad1 g5[/font] is equal (Akopian-Lutz, World Youth BU16, Rio Gallegos, 1986).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.b3 Qd7 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Qc1 Qd7[/font] is equal (B. Socko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Nh4 Re8 14.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Bf5 Be6 15.Nh4 Be6 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Nh4 Be6[/font] draws by repetition (Navrotescu-Fogarasi, IT, Budapest, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]14...f6 15.Nfd2 Qd7 16.Ne4 b6 17.Ne3 f5[/font] gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space (Haub-Werle, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.h3 Nb6 14.Nxb6 cxb6 15.Be3 Bxd3 16.Qb3[/font] is equal (Polugaevsky-Thorsteins, IT, Akureyri, Norway, 1988).
• [font color="burgundy"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Nh4 Be6[/font] transposes into [font color=darkred"]Navrotescu-Fogarasi,[/font] above.
• If [font color="magenta"]7.c4 e5 8.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Nc4 h6 10.Bd2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.b3 Qd7 13.Re1 Rfe8 14.Bc3[/font] is equal (Kirillov-Rozhdestvensky, ZT, Minsk, 1957).
• [font color="purple"]10...Bg4 11.Re1 Qd7 12.Rc1 Rad8 13.Na5 Nxa5 14.Bxa5 b6[/font] leaves Black slightly better ().
• [font color="darkorange"]9.Ne4 b6 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Rc1 Qd7[/font] is equal (Vepkhvishvili-Sanikidze, Op, Maisoba, 2004).
• If [font color="darkred"]5.d4 0-0 6.c4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]6...dxc4 7.Na3 Nc6 8.Nxc4 Bf5[/font] is the Slav-Grünfeld.
• [font color="magenta"]6...c6 7.cxd5 cxd5[/font] is the Slav Exchange.


• If [font color="blue"]3...e6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]6.Nbd2 c5[/font]
• [font color="blue"](Kia Game: Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense)[/font] If [font color="blue"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...Nc6 8.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8...Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 b5 11.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11...a5 12.h4 Ba6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]13.Bf4 b4 14.Ne3 c4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]15.Nxd5 exd5 16.e6 Qd8 17.exd7 cxd3 18.cxd3 Qxd7[/font] is equal (Bezgodova-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Gaziantep, 2012).
• [font color="#4080FF"]15.Rad1!? cxd3 16.cxd3 Qb6 17.h5 b3 18.a3 Rfe8[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (Arkhipov-Oral, Atom Cup, Paks, Hungary, 1997).
• [font color="#8040FF"]13.N1h2!? b4 14.h5 Rfc8 15.h6 g6 16.Bf4 Qd8[/font] is equal (Bronstein-O'Kelly, IT, Beverwijk, 1963).
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...Bb7 12.h4 Rfc8 13.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...c4 14.d4 c3 15.b3 a5 16.a3 Ba6 17.Qe3[/font] is equal (Staniszewski-Maslowski, Op, Maslowski, 2001).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Nb6 14.N1h2 d4 15.Ng4 Qd8 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Qf8[/font] gives Black an impressive moble pawn mass (Hetzer-Zmarzly, Op, Wroclaw, 2010).
• If [font color="darkblue"]9.c3 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Qe2 Bb7 11.e5 Nd7 12.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12...Rae8 13.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...Qd8 14.h4 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.N1h2 e5[/font] is equal (Davies-Paunovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1988).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Bd8 14.h4 Qb8 15.N1h2 Bc7[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Bh3 f6 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 fxe5 19.dxe5 Nc5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Davies-Cvetkovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1991).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 f6 18.Ng4 h5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...b5 13.Bf4 a5 14.h4 a4 15.N1h2 c4[/font] (Gopal-Hughes, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.e5 Nd7 11.Qe2 Ba6 12.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Rac8 13.Bf4 b5 14.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14...b4 15.N1h2 Rb8 16.h5 h6 17.g4 Rb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Rybenko-Zaksaite, Euro Ch GU12, Rimavska Sobota, 1996).
• [font color="slateblue"]14...c4 15.d4 b4 16.h5 Rb8 17.N1h2 Qa5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Pachman-Sterner, IT, Dresden, 1956).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...b5 13.a3 Rad8 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.h4 Ndb8 16.N1h2[/font] is equal (Ketho-Irwanto, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8...b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12...Ba6 13.N1h2 a4 14.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]14...bxa3 15.bxa3 Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]16.h5 Rb2 17.Qc1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]17...Qb6 18.Ng4 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Qxg5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Nikolaidis-Muir, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]17...Rb7 18.h6 g6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]19.Qe3!? Rb2 20.Qc1 Qb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Sevian-Puranik, World Youth BU10, Porto Carras, 2010).
• [font color="darkcyan"]19.Ng4 c4 20.d4 c3 21.Qe3 Qa5[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Bh3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16...Rb2 17.Bc1 Rb6 18.Bf4 Qb8 19.Ng4 Qa7[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (Teterev-Bhat, World Youth BU18, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16...Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Nf3 Rb2 20.Nxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but Black has 20...Bc5 with the initiative (Nun-Uhlmann, IT, Hradec, 1979).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bb5 15.Ng5 Qe8[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3 Na5 18.c4 dxc4 19.dxc4 Bc6[/font] is equal (Koskela-Macsik, Atom Cup IM, Paks, Hungary, 2001).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.Qh5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Kh8 18.Rad1 c4 19.dxc4 Bxc4[/font] is equal (Prescha-Sieglen, BL West, Germany, 1996).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Ba6 15.Ne3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Rb8 16.c4 dxc4 17.Nxc4 Nb6 18.Nxb6 Rxb6[/font] is equal (Amin-Sadek, Egyptian Ch, Cairo, 2009).
• If [font color="slateblue"]15...Nd4 16.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]16...Nb3 17.cxd5 Nxa1 18.Qxa1 exd5 19.Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]19...Nb6 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]21.e6 f6[/font] then:
• [font color="slateblue"]22.d4!? Bb7 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.e7 Rfe8 25.Be3[/font] forces Black to defend against a passed pawn on the seventh rank, which while not difficult in this position may still be a nuisance (Aleshnya-Ernazarov, Corres, 2006).
• [font color="#4080FF"]22.Qb2! Nd5 23.Nd4 Nxf4 24.Nf5 Qc7 25.gxf4[/font] gives White an advanced passer and a small advantage in space.
• [font color="#3090C0"]21.d4 Nd5 22.Bd2 Bb7 23.Ng5 h6 24.Ne4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="#4080FF"]19...Bxd3? 20.e6! Nf6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Ne5 Bg6 23.Nc6[/font] gives White the initiative and the advatage in space; he soon forced Black's capitulation (Gheorghiu-Uhlmann, IT, Sofia, 1967).
• [font color="steelblue"]16...Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Nb6 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after the exchange of Queens (Vogt-Teschke, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).
• [font color="darkcyan"]14...Na5 15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Bh3 d4 17.Nf1 Nb6 18.Ng5[/font] is equal (Fischer-Myagmarsuren, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
• [font color="darkblue"](English Game: Agincourt Defense)[/font] If [font color="darkblue"]6.c4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]English Game: Agincourt Defense[/center][center]Position after 6.c4[/center]

• 6...c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]7.Nc3 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]9...b6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.Qa4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...Bf6 12.Ne4 Be7 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.a3 h6 15.Nc3[/font] is equal (Kolbus-Izsak, IT, Budapest, 1993).
• [font color="#4080FF"]11...Rc8 12.a3 a6 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Bc3 Qh5 15.h4[/font] is equal (Durarbayli-Abhiban, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
• [font color="#8040FF"]9...Nc7 10.a3 b6 11.Rc1 Bd7 12.Na4 Rc8 13.Rb1[/font] is equal (Szily-Barcza, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1954).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]7.b3 Nc6 8.Bb2 d4[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.e4 e5 10.Nbd2[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Bg4 11.h3 Bd7 12.Kh2 Bd6 13.Qe2 a5[/font] gives Black a small but clear advantage in space (Sliwa-Czerniakow, Polish Ch, Sopot, 1946).
• If [font color="#8040FF"]13.h3 Nd7 14.Nfe1 Nb6 15.f4 Re8 16.a4 Bd6[/font] gives Black the edge with active Bishops and command of the e-file (Chiburdanidze-Gaprindashvili, Candidates' TrmtW, Shanghai, 1992).
• [font color="steelblue"]10...Ne8 11.a3 a5 12.Ne1 Rb8 13.Qe2 Bd6[/font] gives Black a slight edge (Zhong Zhang-Qin Kanying, Sufe Cup, Shanghai, 2000).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]9.e3 e5 10.exd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]10...exd4 11.Na3 Bf5 12.Nc2 a5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]13.Re1 Bd6 14.Nh4 Bg4 15.Qd2 h6 16.Na3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Grigorian-Alburt, ZT, Vilnius, 1975).
• If [font color="slateblue"]10...cxd4 11.Re1 Bd6 12.a3 a5 13.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]13...Bf5 14.Qe2 h6 15.c5 Bc7 16.Nc4 Re8[/font] is equal (Kopacz-Sroczynski, Polish Ch BU18, Zakopane, 2001).
• If [font color="steelblue"]13...Bg4 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Qc2 f5 16.h3 Bh5[/font] gives Black more pawns in the center (Gomes-Khalid, World Jr ChG, Yerevan, 2006).

• If [font color="red"]4...Bf5 5.d3 Nbd7[/font]
• [font color="red"](English Game: Slav Set up)[/font] If [font color="red"]6.c4 e6 7.b3 Bd6 8.Bb2 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...e5 10.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Rxc8 Qxc8[/font] is equal (S. N. Bernstein-Fazekas, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Rc2 a5 13.a4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Qa1!? Rfe8! 15.Rfc1 Bh7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Nf1!? Nc5 17.Rxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxe5 Rac8 19.Ne3 Qe6[/font] gives Black the exchange and a small advantage in space for a pawn (Reti-Dr. Lasker, IT, New York, 1924).
• [font color="darkrorange"]16.Bh3 e4 17.Nd4 exd3 18.exd3 Bxd3 19.Nf5 Bxf5[/font] gives Black a weak extra pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]14.Nh4 Bg4 15.h3 Be6 16.e4 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]9...Qe7 10.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...e5 11.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Be6 14.Qe2 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Nf1 Ba3 16.Nxe5 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Nxe5 18.Qxe5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a centralized Queen (Kevitz-Capablanca, IT, New York, 1931).
• [font color="purple"]15.Rac1 Ba3 16.Nf1 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Nxe4 18.Rc7 Bxb2 19.Qxe4[/font] is equal (Ragozin-Romanovsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1944).
• [font color="darkrorange"]12.Rc1 Rfd8 13.Rc2 h6 14.Nf1 Bb4 15.Bc3 Rac8[/font] give Black a full pawn center and more space (Capablanca-Horowitz, IT, New York 1931).
• [font color="magenta"]10...Ba3 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2 e5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4[/font] gives White a slight edge (Bajarani-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Nc3 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Nh4 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.d4 Rac8 13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nb5 a6[/font] is equal (Lokvenc-Feigin, Ol, Hamburg, 1930).
• [font color="darkrorange"]12.Qc2 Rad8 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Ne5 15.f4 Bc5+[/font] gives Black a slight edge[/font] (Trian Iliesco-Pizzi, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).
• [font color="magenta"]10.Re1 e5 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Nh4 Ba3[/font] is equal[/font] (Reti-Tarrasch, IT, Breslau, 1925).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]English Game: Caro-Slav Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• OK, it's an English Game.
• If [font color="red"]5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 e5[/font]

• [font color="red"](Kia Game)[/font] If [font color="red"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game: Caro-Slav Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Qe1 0-0 10.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Qc7 13.Nh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Na5 Bb6 15.Nb3 a6 16.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...c5 17.a5 Ba7 18.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Rab8 19.Nd2 h6 20.Be3 Nf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 Qd8 23.Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Aronian-Kramnik, IT, Shanghai, 2010).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.g4 Bg6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Qd7[/font] is equal (Aronian-Korobov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]18...h6 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Nd2 Nf8[/font] transposes.
• [font color="darkorchid"]16...h6 17.Bd2 c5 18.c4 bxc4 19.Na5 c3 20.Bxc3 c4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black a small advantage in space (Aronian-Bu Xiangzhi, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Ne3 a6 15.Nef5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15...Bf8 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.b3 bxa4 19.Ba5[/font] (Kozul-Pavosavic, Croatia Cup, Sibenik, 2007).
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Bg6 16.Bg5 Re6 17.Bf3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...Bf8!? 18.Qe2! Nc5 19.axb5 cxb5 20.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Markus-Prohaszka, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkrorange"]17...h6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Qc3 Bb6 21.Nh4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Bf8 14.Bg5 Re6 15.b3 b6 16.Kh1 h6 17.Bd2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (R. Ibrahimov-K. Georgiev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Nb6 13.Na5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qc7 14.Nh4 Nfd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.b4 Bf8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.c4 c5 17.b5 a6 18.Bb2 axb5 19.axb5[/font] remains equal (Movsesian-Gyimisi, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Nf5 f6 17.Ne3 Bf7 18.c3 Nc8 19.Qe2 Nd6[/font] remains equal (Werle-Gyimisi, Bundesliga 1011, Baden-Baden, 2010).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Nb3 Bf8 16.Qc3 a5 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] remains equal (Laznicka-Ter Sahakyan, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]If 13...Rb8 14.Nh4 Nc8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15.b4 Bb6 16.Nb3 Nd6 17.a5 Bc7 18.Nc5 Nd7[/font] remains equal (Akopian-Beliavsky, IT, Ubeda, 1997).
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 Nd6 17.Nb3 Bb6 18.Bb4[/font] gives Black more space, but White has the threat of 19.a5 (Movsesian-Mkrtchian, Op, Solin, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nb3 Bb6 12.a4 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qc7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Smejkal-Kuczynski, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1991).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Nbd2 Re8 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Nh4 Nc5 16.Be3 Ne6[/font] is equal (L. Szabo-A. Kovacs Corres, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe2 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Rd1 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.a4 a5 13.b3 Rfe8 14.Bb2 Nf8 15.Nc4[/font] is equal (H. Danielsen-de Cresce El Debs, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4 Rfe8 14.Nf1 Nf8 15.Nf5 Ne6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Danielian, FIDE Knock-OutW, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]a) 11.a4 a5 12.Rd1 Qe7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13.Nc4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rfe8 15.Ne3 g6 16.Ng4[/font] is equal (I. Marin-Zimina, Euro Club CupW, Belgrade, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Nf1 Rfd8 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ng3 Nf8 16.Rxd8 Rxd8[/font] is equal (Venkatesh-Markos, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• [font color="magenta"]b) 11.Re1 Re8 12.Qf1 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.Nc4 b5[/font] is equal (Langeweg-Trifunovic, IT, Beverwijk, 1962).
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Bd6 8.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Qe1 0-0 10.Nh4 Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bg5 dxe4 15.dxe4 Re6 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qc7[/font] is equal (B. Damjlanovic-Khalifman, IT, Belgrade, 1993).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Qb6 16.Kg2 Rad8 17.b3 Bb4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Galliamova, OlW, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Nf5 Bf8 12.Nb3 a5 13.a4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Bg5 Bg6 16.Ne3 dxe4 17.dxe4[/font] is equal (Anic-Marciano, French ChT, Monaco, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qc7 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Rfe1[/font] is equal (Omearat-Ni Hua, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...N5f6 13.Nc4 Nc5 14.Qa3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Be7 16.Nxe5 Ncd7 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Qe1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18...Re8 19.d4 Bc5 20.Bxb7 Bxd4 21.Bxc8 Nxe5[/font] gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook and the threat of 22...Nf3+, winning the White Queen (Minasian-Tomashevsky, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...Bc5 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Kg2 b6 21.Bg5 Qf5 22.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage (Vaganian-Kaidanov, TM, Glendale, California, 1994).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Rc8 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16...b6?! 17.Nxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Nd5? 18.d4![/font] gives White an extra piece (Vaganian-Epishin, IT, Moscow, 1996).
• [font color="purple"]17...Qxe5 18.d4 Qf5 19.g4 Qd3 20.dxc5 Qxa3 21.bxa3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="hotpink"]16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 b6 18.Rfd1 Qe6 19.Qxa7 Ncd7 20.Rac1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...N5b6 13.Ne4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Bg2 Bd4 18.Rb1 Qd7 19.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Na4 20.Qc2 Rfc8 21.Qd2 Bxb2 22.Qa5 Nc3 23.Rbe1 Nb5 24.Rb1 Nc3 25.Rbe1 Nb5[/font] draw (Maiwald-Chiburdanidze, Op, Lippstadt, 2003).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Rfd8 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.Rfe1 Na4 22.Qc4 Rxb2 23.Qxd4 exd4 24.Rxb2 Nxb2 25.Bf1[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (C.-A. Foisor-K. Szabo, Op, Gibraltar, 2008)
• [font color="darkpink"]16.Kg2 Bd4 17.Re1 Nd7 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qa3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Azaladze-Sjugirov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="purple"]13...Be7 14.a4 Kh8 15.a5 f5 16.Neg5 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]17.Qc3 Nd5 18.Qc4 e4 19.dxe4 fxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]20.Ne5!? Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qxd5 Rf5 23.Qxc5[/font] gives White slightly stronger pawns (I. Ivanisevic-Kacheishvili, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• If [font color="hotpink"]a) 20.Nd4!? Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]21.h4 h6 22.Bh3 Rc7 23.Nb5 hxg5!! 24.Nxc7 Nxc7[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and a small advantage in space(Vaganian-Khalifman, Rpd IT, Eupen, Belgium, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Nb5?! a6! 22.Na7 Rc7 23.b4 Bxg5 24.bxc5 Bf6[/font] gives Black a significant advantage.
• [font color="hotpink"]b) 20.Nxe4! b5 21.axb6 Nxb6 22.Qc2 Rc8 23.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="burgundy"]17.Qc2 Nbd7 18.b4 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Na6 20.b5[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• [font color="blue"]5.d4 Nbd7 6.c4[/font] is the Slav Catalan.

• Black's best asset is that he is keeping up with Black's development; taking the c-pawn would expend a valuable tempo.
• If [font color="red"] dxc4 6.Na3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]6...Qd5 7.Qc2 Be6 8.h4 Bf5 9.Qxc4 e6 10.Qa4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Burmakin-Belov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
• [font color="darkred"]6...Nbd7!? 7.Nxc4! Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e5 9.d4 e4 10.Bg2[/font] gives White the advantage in development (Davies-L. B. Hansen, Op, Copenhagen, 1988).

• If [font color="red"]6.d3 Nbd7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Qb3 Bb6 10.Na4 0-0 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Re8 13.b3 Qe7 14.Re1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...Qb4 15.Bd2 Qc5 16.Qb2 Qa3 17.Bc1 Qxb2 18.Bxb2[/font] is equal(Markowski-Piket, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Ne5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bb2 Qh5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.e3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black a battery on g4 and h5 with mischief-making potential (Dizdar-P. Lukacs, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Qe7 13.b3 b5 14.Bb2 b4 15.Nd4 c5 16.h3[/font] is equal (Piket-Kramnik, Korchnoi 70th Bd Bash, Zürich, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Qc2 0-0 10.e4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...dxe4 11.dxe4 Re8 12.Bf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qe7 14.Bg2 Ne5 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.h3 Ng6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Bc1 Ne5[/font] is equal (Miroshnichenko-Khenkin, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).
• [font color="purple"]17.Bc1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8[/font] is equal (Schebler-Jahnz, Bundesliga 0910, Berlin, 2009).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Ne5 14.Bg2 Qe7 15.Rad1 Rad8[/font] transposes.
• [font color="magenta"]10...Re8 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Qb3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne5 14.Qd1 Nxf3+[/font] gives Black a slight edge (Telljohan-Tukmakov, Op, Biel, 1995).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Be7 9.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Bh5 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Qe2 Qd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Re1 0-0-0 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ne5 Qxe2 16.Rxe2 Nfd7[/font] is equal (Sargissian-Smeets, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Qxd3 Nxd3 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rab1 f6 16.Nd4 N7e5[/font] is equal (Saleh Jasim-Malakhatko, Op, Cairo, 2003).
• [font color="darkpink"]12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Nfxe4 15.Re1 Nxc3 16.bxc3[/font] leaves White slightly better with the centralized Knight; Black has stronger pawns (Efimenko-Inarkiev, Rapid Op, St Petersburg, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 d4 11.Ne4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...0-0 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.b4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...a5 14.Qb3 axb4 15.Qxb4 Ra7 16.a4 Ne5 17.Bg2[/font] is equal (Shirov-Vyzmanavin, IT, Lvov, 1990).
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Re8 14.Rb1 a6 15.a4 Nb6 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5[/font] gives White a tiny bit more freedom (Voiska-Mkrtchian, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 a5 13.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Rb1 Re8 15.Bf3 Bb4 16.a3[/font] is equal (Ragger-Gonda, Bundesliga 1011, Remagen, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]14.Qc2 Qb6 15.Bg2 Rfe8 16.e4 dxe3 17.Bxe3 Bc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Aluwar-Afshari, Op, Dubai, 2010).
• If [font color="blue"]6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]7...Bd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8.d3 0-0 9.Qc2 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]11...e5 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.a3 Rfd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Franciskovic-Svaljek, ITW, Rijeka, 2001).
• [font color="#4080FF"]11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 e5 13.Rd1 Rfd8 14.a3 a5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Radulov-Hennings, Ol, Lugano, 1968).
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...e5 11.h3 Bh5 12.e4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Ba3 15.Bxa3 Qxa3[/font] is equal (Bashkite-Rozic, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...d4 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Rae1 Ba3 15.Ba1 c5[/font] is equal (Andreasen-Roder, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...a5 11.a3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Rfe8 12.Rfe1 e5 13.e4 d4 14.Nh4 g6[/font] gives Black a clear advantage in space; White could get some queenside play (Blatny-Lechtynsky, IT, Trnava, 1989).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11...e5 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Ne8[/font] draw (W. Schmidt-Taimanov, IT, Brno, 1975).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]9...Qe7 10.Ne5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]10...Bf5 11.a3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...a5 12.h3 Ne4 13.g4 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Be4[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Bagirov-Polak, Op, Bern, 1995).
• [font color="#8040FF"]11...Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color=""#8040FF"]12.h3[/font] draw (Bilek-Savon, IT, Venice, 1974).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Bh5 11.Re1 Rfd8[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.Qc2 [/font] then:
If
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Ba3 13.Ndf3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Ne4 15.Qc1 Bb4 16.Rd1[/font] gives White a better center and Black more space (Ricardi-Barbero, IT, Buenos Aires, 1991).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...Rac8 13.Rac1 c5 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] gives Black a slight a slight advantage in space owing to his active Bishops (Obers-Thomasson, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...Qb8 10.Re1 a5 11.a3 b5[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.c5 Bc7 13.b4 Re8 14.Qc1 h6 15.Bc3[/font] is equal (Karlsson-Stefansson, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12.Qc1 Bf5 13.Nh4 Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4[/font] is equal (Frias Pablaza-Shabalov, TT, New York, 1993).
• [font color="darkblue"]7...Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.d3 0-0 9.Nbd2 a5 10.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Re8 11.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...h6 12.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12...Bd6 13.b4 e5 14.c5 Bf8 15.Nb3 axb4 16.axb4[/font] is equal (Szabo-Taulbut, IT, Hastings, 1981).
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...Bf8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Rxa1 e5 16.e3 Bf5[/font] is equal (Westphal-Gisbrecht, BL Nord, Germany, 2001).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Bd6 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 e5[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Nh4 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nf5 Bc5[/font] is equal (Rozenberg-Darruda, Corres, 1999).
• [font color="darkcyan"]14.Rfe1 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nh4 Nc5 17.Bc3 Bf8[/font] is equal (W. Schmidt-Timoshchenko, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1976).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Rc1 Qb6 12.Rc2 Rfc8 13.Qa1[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...a4 14.b4 c5 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Bd4[/font] is equal (Jacobsen-Vang Glud, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2007).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]13...h6 14.Rfc1 Qb7 15.Nd4 Nc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.Nxc6?! Qxc6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d4 Nxb3[/font] gives Black a imperial-sized advantage in space after exchanging the Queen for two Rooks (Beliavsky-Rublevsky, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).
• [font color="slateblue"]16.cxd5 cxd5 17.h3 Bh5 18.g4 Bg6 19.a4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Qc2 Qb6 12.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4 Rab8 15.Rab1 b4 16.a4[/font] leaves White slightly better (Gelfand-Seirawan, IT, Tilburg, 1990).
• [font color="slateblue"]12...Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Rab8 14.Rab1 bxc4 15.bxc4 Qa6 16.Nd2[/font] is equal (Miles-Neckar, World ChT, Teesdie, 1974).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2[/font] then:
If
• [font color="dodgerblue"]9...a5 10.a3 b5 11.c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Qc7 12.b4 a4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Qe1 Bf5 14.Ne5 Ne4 15.f3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2[/font] is equal (Smyslov-Geller, IT, Moscow, 1967).
• [font color="#8040FF"]13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bh3 Bf5[/font] is equal (Karlsson-Wang Hao, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• [font color="#38ACEC"]11...Qb8 12.b4 a4 13.Bc3 Bf5 14.Ne5 Qc7[/font] is equal (Ruck-Wang Hao, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]9...h6 10.Re1 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nc5 16.Qe2[/font] is equal (Bagirov-Onischuk, BL Nord 9495, Germany, 1994).
• [font color="steelblue"]13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nc5 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Ba3 Nd3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Marek-Nei, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1994).
• [font color="slateblue"]11.Rc1 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 f5[/font] is equal (Stein-Pietzsch, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).

• If [font color="red"]7...Bh5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]8.d3 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.b3 a5 11.Bb2 Nbd7[/font] is equal (Minasian=Buss, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkred"]8.Qb3 Qb6 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.d3 Bd6 11.Nc3 0-0[/font] is equal (Anatasian-R. Pert, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

• [font color="red"]8...Bd6 9.d3 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 Na6 12.Rc1 Qd7 13.Kg2 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Sundararajan-Rozman, IT, Rockville, Washington, 2012).
• [font color="darkred"]10.Bg2 Re8 11.Nc3 Nbd7 12.a3 a5 13.Qc2 Qb6[/font] is equal (Larsen-M. Damjanovic, IT, Zagreb, 1965).

• The game is equal.

• This slight inaccuracy may be a deliberate provocation. Black will gain control of the e-file.
• If [font color="red"]11.d4 Be7 12.Qd3 Re8 13.a3 Nf8 14.e3 a5[/font] remains equal.

• Black has a slight advantage in space thanks to better development.

• White can equalize by simply developing her pieces.

• [font color="red"]15.Kh2 Bd4 16.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Nf8 17.Bd2 h5 18.f4 h4 19.g4 Qc5[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 16...Ne5!? 17.Rad1 h5 18.Bc1 h4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.g4 Nfxg4+ 20.hxg4 Nxg4+ 21.Kh1 Qc5 22.Rxd4 Qxd4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]19.gxh4 Nfg4+ 20.hxg4 Qxh4+ 21.Bh3 Nxg4+ 22.Kg2 Rd6[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 16...Nc5 17.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Ncxe4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Rfe1[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Ne6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Bd2 h5 19.f4 h4 20.g4 Qc7 21.Kh1 Qb6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Nxd4!? Nxd4 19.Qa4 Nxe4 20.Rfe1 f5 21.Rad1 b5[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]16...Nd3!? 17.Re2 h5 18.e5 Nxe5 19.Bg5 Bd4[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]17.Bf4 Bd4 18.Rd1 Qc5 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]18...Rxd3 19.Kh2 Bd4 20.Nd1 c5 21.f3 Rd8 22.Bc1[/font] remains equal.

• If [font color="red"]19.Bg5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...h6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Na4 Bd6 22.f4 Bc7 23.a3[/font] is equal; the octopus cannot retreat.
• [font color="darkred"]19...Be7 20.Rd1 Ne5 21.Red2 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 Nc4 23.Rc2[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 19.b2b3[/center]

• Black takes a slight advantage with active minor pieces.
• [font color="red"]19...h6!? 20.Be3! Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Nb4 22.Re2 a5[/font] remains equal.

• This may be with the idea of winning two minor pieces for a Rook.
• If [font color="red"]21...h5 22.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Nd3 23.Rd1 Ne5 24.Be1 Kh7 25.Kh3 g6[/font] leaves Black with a slightly better center.
• [font color="darkred"]22...a5!? 23.Na4 Nxa4 24.bxa4 Nd5 25.Rb1 b6[/font] is equal.

• White dodges a bullet (well, more like a BB). The game remains equal.
• [font color="red"]22.f4? Rxd2! 23.Rxd2 Bxc3 24.Rc2 Nfxe4 25.a3 f5[/font] gives Black two pieces and a pawn for a Rook. Black's active minor piece keep the Rook passive.

• The Knight interrupts communication between the Rook and White's leading pawn.
• If [font color="red"]23.Nf2 Ne6 24.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...a5 25.Rd1 Nh5 26.e5 Rxd1 27.Nxd1 f5 28.f4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]24...Bb6 25.f4 h5 26.e5 Nd4 27.Bxd4 Rxd4 28.Bf3[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 23.Nd1e3[/center]

• Black attacks a vulnerable pawn.

• The is White's best way to protect the pawn.
• If [font color="red"]24.f4?! Nxe4! 25.Bxe4 Rxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]26.Rfe1 Bxf4 27.gxf4 Nxf4 28.Rf2 Nd3 29.Ree2 Nxf2 30.Rxf2 Rde8[/font] gives Black the material advantage, more activity and the initiative; White is reduced to passivity.
• If [font color="darkred"]26.Bc1 Rde8 27.Rf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27...Bb6 28.Re1 Nf6 29.Bd2 h5 30.Kg2 R4e6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
• [font color="magenta"]27...f5 28.Rb2 Bb6 29.Ng2 Nf6 30.Rd3 Nd5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, the initiative and a substantial advantage in space.

• If [font color="red"]26.Rfxe1 g5 27.Bf3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Nxg3!! 28.Kxg3 gxf4+ 29.Kg2 fxe3 30.Rxe3 Bf4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]27...gxf4 28.Bxh5 fxe3 29.Rxe3 Re5 30.Bf3 Rg5[/font] gives Black a small advantage.

• If [font color="red"]27.e5 gxf4 28.gxf4 Kf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29.Nc4 b5 30.Nd6 Bxd6 31.exd6 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Rxd6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
• [font color="darkred"]29.Ng4!? Rd2! 30.a4 Red8 31.Nf6 Nxf6 32.exf6 Rb2[/font] gives Black more activity and he is now attack two different loose pawns.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 27.Bg2f3[/center]

• The sham sacrifice is the best approach.

• This is the only reply.
• Black throws her hard work away with [font color="red"]28...Bxf4+?![/font] when after [font color="red"]29.Kg4![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29...Kg7 30.Kh5 Bxe3 31.Rxe3 Re5 32.Ree1 Rd6 33.Rd1[/font] gives White command of the d-file.
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Bxe3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]30.Rxe3 f6 31.Kf5! Rd6 32.e5 fxe5 33.Kxg5.[/font]

• The pawn is sufficiently covered. White should try to disrupt Black's aggression in the center.
• [font color="red"]31.Rd1 c5 32.Rxd4 cxd4 33.Rd3 Be5[/font] gives White an extra pawn; each side has a blockaded passer, but Black's is more advanced.

• This move completely fails to shut down White's potential counterplay.
• [font color="red"]31...Ba5! 32.Rf1 f5 33.Bh5 Re5 34.Rd1 f4[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn, but now she has with a good chance to win another.

• Black needs an active defense. This move is not only passive, but it makes generating any activity difficult if not impossible.
• Much better is [font color="red"]32.Rd1! Rxd1 33.Bxd1 Bb6[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]34.Rg3+ Kh8 35.Rd3 fxe4 36.Rd7 e3 37.Be2 Rg8[/font] gives Black a small advantage with the potential to play 38...Rg2!
• If [font color="darkred"]34.Rd3?![/font] then after [font color="darkred"]34...fxe4! 35.Rd7 Rf8 36.Bg4 Rf2 37.Rxb7 e3[/font] White has a big advantage with a dangerous passer.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 32.Re3e2[/center]

• A simple waiting move is the most approprite.

• White now loses quickly.
• [font color="red"]33.Kh5 Re5 34.Rg1+ Kh8 35.Rg5 Bd8[/font] is a more stubborn defense.

• [font color="red"]34.Re3[/font] drops the Bishop to [font color="red"]34...Re6 35.Bg4 Bd8+ 36.Kg3 fxg4.[/font]

• White cannot prevent Black from giving mate on d8.
• Alisa Mikhailovna resigns.

[center][/center]

[center]Maribor, Slovenia[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Andrej Jakobcic (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Andrejj) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maribor_Lent.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

[center][/center]

[center]Dariusz Swiercz[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Witold Chylewski in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ariusz_Swiercz_May_2011.jpg)
(link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Dariusz Swiercz - Gabor Nagy
World Youth Championships, Boys Under 18, Round 10
Maribor, 17 November 2012

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.c4 Nc6 6.Qe3

• For what follows 6.Qd2, see the [font color="red"]notes to White's fifth move[/font] in Zhao Jun-Bu Xiangzhi, Masters' Trmt, Danzhou, 2012.

• [font color="red"]8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]notes to Black's ninth move.[/font]

• If [font color="red"]9...0-0 10.Nc3 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Rd1 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.Rb1 a5 13.b3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...f5 14.Ba3 Nb4 15.e5 f4 16.Qc1 Bf5 17.Rb2[/font] is equal (Leve-D. Ludwig, Op, Philadelphia, 2012).
10.Nc3
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Bd7 14.Bb2 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bg7 17.e5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tomofeev, TM, Sochi, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]12.Bd2 a5 13.Rac1 a4 14.Be1 Bd7 15.Rd2 b6[/font] is equal (Maiwald-Bogner, Bundesliga 1112, Mülheim, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Rb1 b6 12.Rd1 Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.b3 a5 14.Bb2 Nc5 15.Nb5 Bxb2 16.Rxb2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space[/font] (Maceija-Z. Kozul, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Bd2 Rc8 14.Be1 a5 15.Nd5 Nc5 16.Bc3 e5[/font] is equal (Motylev-Wei Yi, Chinese ChT, Guangzhou, 2010).

• The game is equal.

• [font color="red"]11.Rb1 0-0 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.b4 Bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nce5[/font] is equal.

• [font color="red"]12.a3 Rc8 13.Rb1 Nde5 14.Ng5 Bd7 15.Nb6 Rb8[/font] remains equal.

• The pawn should just be a target for White's pieces.
• If [font color="red"]13...Nc5 14.Bd2 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.b4 Bxb1 17.Rxb1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Sceircz[/center][center]Position after 13...a6a5[/center]

• White takes a small advantage in space.

• If [font color="red"]14...Nde5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Bg7 17.Nb6 Bd4 18.Rxd4 Qxb6 19.Rd1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]16...Bh8 17.Bb2 Bxd5 18.exd5 Bxb2 19.Rxb2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

• [font color="red"]16.Ba3 Re8 17.Rb2 b6 18.Rbd2 Nc5 19.Bf1 h5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

• The Bishop is less flexible at a1 than b2. If nothing else, White could have found a more aggressive move.
• [font color="red"]18.Bg4 Rb8 19.Qe3 h5 20.Bf3 b6 21.Qf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

• The Queen would have gone to e3 in any case; the pawn should have been held back in order to retain the option of driving the Knight from d5.
• [font color="red"]18...Bh6 19.Bg4 Rb8 20.Bf3 b6 21.Qb2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Sceircz[/center][center]Position after 18...e7e5[/center]

• White again has a small advantage in space.

• If [font color="red"]19...h5 20.a3 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Kh7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Bd3 Bh6 23.Qf3 Rc6 24.Bc3 Kg7 25.Bc2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]22.b4 Bh6 23.Qc3 axb4 24.axb4 Nxe4 25.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

• If [font color="red"]21.Bf3 f4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Qe2 Bg6 23.Rbc1 e4 24.Bg4[/font] gives White the initiative and a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]22.Qc3 Bg6 23.Rbc1 Rc6 24.Be2 Rf7[/font] is equal.

• White has the advantage in space, and the rule of thumb is to avoid exchange when one has the advantage in space. The Bishop attacks the pawn, but isn't doing anything else except waiting to be exchanged.
• [font color="red"]23.f3 Nc5 24.f4 Re8 25.Bc3 Rc6 26.Bf3[/font] continues to gives White a small advantege in space.

• White still has a slight advantage.

• White should reapture with the Knight; Black's d-pawn would still be backward without being blockaded.
• [font color="red"]24.Nxc3 Be8 25.Qd2 e4 26.Nb5 Bxb5 27.cxb5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Sceircz[/center][center]Position after 24.Qe1c3:N[/center]

• The game is equal.
• [font color="red"]24...f4! 25.Qd2 Bxb1 26.Rxb1 Kh8 27.Bg4 Rb8 28.Qe2[/font] is equal.

• [font color="red"]25...Be5 26.g3 Bf7 27.f4 exf3 28.Bxf3 Re8 29.Bg2[/font] remains equal.

• Black threatens White's foremost f-pawn, but leaves his a-pawn vulnerable.
• If [font color="red"]28...Rc5 29.Qd4 e3 30.Ra1 Qh4 31.Qxe3 Re8 32.Qf3[/font] remains equal.

• White has no way to defend the c-pawn, so he attacks the a-pawn in order to maintain his extra pawn.

• White shoul just take the a-pawn. Now Black can defend.
• If [font color="red"]30.Rxa5! Qxe3 (30...Qf6 31.Rd1 Rc7 32.Rg5 Rg7 33.a4) 31.fxe3 Ra8 32.Rxa8 Rxa8 33.a4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Sciercz[/center][center]Position after 30.Rb1d1[/center]

• White still has a small advantage in space.
• [font color="red"]30...Qxe3!? 31.fxe3! Rc5 32.Kg2 a4 33.b4 Rxd5 34.Rxd5[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

• [font color="red"]31.Rxd6!? Rg5+ 32.Kh1 Qxe3 33.fxe3 Rg3[/font] is equal.

• The pawn is easily defended.
• [font color="red"]33.Kg2 Rf7 34.Kg3 Kf8 35.Bg4 h5 36.Rd8+[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

• White has only a slight advange. The most he can do is compel the Black Rook to defend a weak pawn.

• The Rook defends a weak pawn (see previous note).

• [font color="red"]35.Kh2 Kf8 36.Rd5 Bf7 37.Rd7 Ke8 38.Bg4[/font] is equal.

• Black wants to drive away the Rook, but White's queenside pawns have more potential energy they should by restrained.
• If [font color="red"]35...a4 36.Kf2 Bf7 37.Be2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]37...Kf8 38.h4 Ke7 39.Rh6 Bg8 40.Ke1 Kd8 41.Kd2[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage.
• If [font color="darkred"]37...axb3 38.axb3 Kf8 39.Kg3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]39...Bg6 40.Bg4 Bf7 41.Kf4 b5 42.Rc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]42...bxc4 43.bxc4 Rb4 44.Rxc5 Rxc4 45.Rxc4 Bxc4 46.Bf5[/font] gives White a small advantage with an extra pawn and because his immoble pawn is on a dark square and can't be attack by Black's Bishop.
• If [font color="magenta"]42...h5?! 43.Be2![/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]43...bxc4 44.Bxc4 Bxc4 45.bxc4 h4 46.Rxc5 Rb1 47.Re5[/font] assures Whitof winning another pawn.
• [font color="darkorange"]43...b4 44.h4 Rd8 45.Rxc5 Rd2 46.Bxh5 Bxh5 47.Rxh5[/font] gives White two extra pawns, both passed.
• If [font color="magenta"]39...Ke7 40.Rc6 Kd7 41.Rh6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]41...Bg8 42.h4 Kc7 43.Kf4 Ra8 44.Kxe4 Ra3 45.Bd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkorange"]41...Bg6 42.h4 Rg8 43.Kg4 Kc8 44.Kg5 Kd8 45.h5[/font] will net White a pawn.

• White, taking advantage of the weakness of Black's last move that makes the Bishop less mobile, grabs more space and threatens to dislodge the Bishop.

• Black is concerned about White's pawn making further progress. A better idea is to give the Bishop an escape route.
• If [font color="red"]36...Ke7 37.Re6+ Kf7 38.Rc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]38...h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]39.Be6+ Kf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]40.Bd5+ Kf5 41.Kf2 Be8 42.Rc7 Kg4 43.Rh7[/font] continues to give White a small advantage with greater activity for his pieces.
• [font color="burgundy"]40.Bc8+ Ke5 41.Rxg6 Rxc8 42.Rg5+ Kf6 43.Rxh5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but it is doubtful he can keep it.
• [font color="darkpink"]39.Bc8 a4 40.Be6+ Kg7 41.Bd5 axb3 42.axb3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage with greater activity for his pieces.
• If [font color="darkred"]38...Kg7!? 39.h5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Be8 40.h6+ Kf8 41.Rc7 Bg6 42.Kf2 a4 43.Kg3[/font] gives White a significant advantage in space; he would win any King and pawn ending.
• [font color="magenta"]39...Bf7?! 40.h6+ Kf8 41.Bf5 Bg6 42.Bxg6 hxg6 43.Rxg6[/font] gives White a dangerous passer.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Sweircz[/center][center]Position after 36...h7h5[/center]

• The more aggressive move is to attack the weak h-pawn.
• If [font color="red"]37.Be2! Kg7 38.Kh2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38...Be8 39.Kg3 Bg6 40.a4[/font] gives White an active Rook and a Bishop capable of menacing Black's critical pawns; Black has no counterplay on the queenside.
• If [font color="darkred"]38...a4 39.Kg3 axb3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]40.axb3 Rb7 41.Re6 Rb8 42.Rc6 Be8 43.Rd6[/font] gives White a small advantage; Black will have to fight for his weak pawns, especially at e4.
• If [font color="magenta"]40.Rd7+!? Kf6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]41.axb3 Ke6! 42.Rc7 Ke5 43.Re7+ Kf5 44.Rd7[/font] gives White a slight advantage overall thanks to his more active Rook and the right colored Bishop given the pawn structure; Black has the most advanced pawn on the board, but to take advantage of it he will have to attack White's pawn at e3, something that would be difficult to accomplish.
• [font color="darkorange"]41.Rd2!? bxa2 42.Rxa2 Ke5 43.Ra7 Rg8 44.Rb7 Bf5+[/font] is equal; Black still has the sam disadvantages as in the [font color="magenta"]pink[/font] variation, but is compensated with an active Rook and a queenside majority.

• White has a slight advantage in space.

• White weakens his queenside.
• [font color="red"]39.Rc6 Bf7 40.Kf1 Rd8 41.Ke2 axb3 42.axb3[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

• Black attacks the freshly weakend c-pawn.

• White ignore the attack on the c-pawn.
• If [font color="red"]40.Bf1[/font] (covering the c-pawn) [font color="red"]40...Kf8 41.Rc6 Ke8 42.Be2 Ke7 43.Rc7+[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Swiercz[/center][center]Position after 40.Bg2e4:p[/center]

• The game is equal as White's Bishop is tied to the defense of a weak pawn.

• [font color="red"]42.Rxb6 Rxa4 43.Rg6+ Kf8 44.Rc6 Rb4 45.Bg6 Bxa2[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]43.axb5 Rxa2 44.Bd3 Bxd3 45.Rxd3 Rb2 46.Rd5 c4[/font] remains equal.

• If [font color="red"]45.Rc7+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]45...Ke6 46.a3 Kd6 47.Rh7 Be2 48.Kf2 Bg4 49.Bg6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]45...Kf6 46.a3 Rg8+ 47.Kh2 Bb3 48.Rc6+ Ke7 49.Rxc5[/font] remains equal.

• Black wilfully drops a tempo by leaving two pawns undefended. He'll have to bring the the Rook back to protect the one of the pawns.
• Correct is [font color="red"]45...Ra5[/font] (protecting the a and c-pawns simultaneously) [font color="red"]46.Bd1[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]46...Ke7 47.Bxh5 Bd5 48.Rb6 Ra8 49.Bg6 Rh8 50.e4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]46...Rb5!? 47.Bxa4! Ra5 48.Bd1 Bd5 49.Rc7+ Ke6 50.a4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a threat to one of Black's remaining pawns.

• White protects his pawns closer to the center.
• [font color="red"]46.Kh2!? Bb3![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]47.Bf5 Rg2+ 48.Kxg2 Bd5+[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]47.Be4 Rd8 48.Rc7+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]48...Kf6[/font] (keeping the back rank open for the Rook) [font color="darkred"]49.Rxc5 Re8 50.Rc6+ Kg7 51.Bf3 Rxe3 52.Bxh5 Be6 53.Ra6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]48...Kf8!?[/font] (obstructing the Rook on the back rank) [font color="magenta"]49.Kg3! Rd2 50.Rxc5 Ra2 51.Rxh5 Rxa3 52.Ra5 Bf7 53.Kf4[/font] gives White a small advantage with his Rook behind Black's passed pawn.

• Black misses White's deadly reply and leaves the sixth rank navigable for White's Rook.
• [font color="red"]47...Be6[/font] (obstructing the rank) [font color="red"]48.Rxc5 Rg4 49.Bf3 Rxh4 50.Bxh5+ Kf6 51.Kg2[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black the initiative.

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Swiercz[/center][center]Position after 47...Rg8g4[/center]

• White skewers the Rook and pawn.

• If [font color="red"]48...Rxh4??[/font] then [font color="red"]49.Kg3! Rc4 50.Bd5+[/font] wins the exchange and all else.

• White is now a pawn to the good, but he misses a win.
• Even better is [font color="red"]49.Bxh5+![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]49...Ke7 50.Rxc5 Kd6 51.Ra5 Bc2 52.Bf3 Rf8 53.Rd5+[/font] gives White two extra pawns, both passed.
• If [font color="darkred"]49...Kg7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]50.Rg6+! Kh8 51.Rxg8+ Kxg8 52.e4 Kg7 53.e5[/font]

• Even with White's inaccuracy, Black is still taking a beating.
• [font color="red"]49...Ke6 50.e4 Rd8 51.Ke3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]51...Rg8 52.Rxh5 Rg3 53.Rh6+ Ke5 54.Kf2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]54...Rg8 55.Ra6 Kf4 56.Rf6+ Ke5 57.Rb6 Kf4 58.h5[/font] gives White two extra pawn, both passed.
• [font color="magenta"]54...Rg7 55.h5 Rg8 56.Rc6 Kf4 57.Rf6+ Ke5 58.Rf5+[/font] gives White two extra pawns, both passed, and cuts the Black King off from one of them.
• [font color="darkred"]51...Rf8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]52.Bxh5 Kd6 53.Ra5 Rf1 54.Bg4 Ke7 55.h5.[/font]

• [font color="red"]50.Rxh5 Rd2+ 51.Kg3 Ra2 52.Ra5 Rxa3 53.Ra7+[/font] still gives White two passed pawns, but now Black has one and with it hopes of counterplay.

• If [font color="red"]50...Kf6?[/font] then after [font color="red"]51.Kg3 Bd1 52.Rc6+ Kg7 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Rc4[/font] Black cannot prevent losing his last pawn.
• If [font color="blue"]50...Kg8 51.Kg3[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]51...Rd3! 52.Rc8+ Kg7 53.Kf4 Be6 54.Rc7+ Kh8 55.Bg6[/font] allows Black to take the a-pawn, giving him chances for counterplay.
• If [font color="darkblue"]51...Rd6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkblue"]52.Kf4 Bd1 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Ra5 Rh1 55.Kg3[/font] when White will take Black's last pawn.

• Attacking the Bishop at this moment is futile.
• If [font color="red"]51.Rc7+! Kf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]52.Bf3![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]52...Rd2+ 53.Kg3 Rd3 54.Kf4 Bd1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]55.Rc6+ 55...Ke7 56.Bxd1 Rxd1 57.Ra6 Rh1 58.Kg4[/font] assures White of capturing Black's last pawn.
• [font color="burgundy"]55.Bxd1 Rxd1 56.Rc4 Rf1+ 57.Kg3 Re1 58.Kf2[/font] assures that White will take Black's last pawn.
• [font color="darkpink"]52...Bd1 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Ra7 Rd2+ 55.Kf3 Rh2 56.Rxa4[/font] leaves White with the only three pawn on the board.
• [font color="darkred"]52.Ra7!? Rd2+ 53.Kg3 Ra2 54.Bf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]54...Ke5 55.h5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]55...Rxa3 56.Ra5+ Kf6 57.Be4 Ra1 58.h6 Bg8 59.h7[/font] leaves Black to decide if he should lose a piece or allow the h-pawn to queen.
• [font color="darkorange"]55...Bc2[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]56.Rc7 Bb1 57.Rc3 Rb2 58.Rc5+ Kd6 59.Rc1.[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]54...Rxa3[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]55.h5 Kg5 56.Ra5+ Kf6 57.Be4 Ra1 58.h6.[/font]

• [font color="red"]51...Rd2+ 52.Kg3 Ra2 53.Kf4 Rxa3 54.Bd1 Ra2 55.Bxb3 axb3 56.Rxb3[/font] gives White two extra pawns, the only pawns on the board.

• If [font color="red"]52.Rc7+! Kf6 53.Rc6+ Kg7 54.Rg6+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]54...Kf8 55.Rg5 Ke7 56.e4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]56...Be6 57.Re5 Kd7 58.Ra5 Kd6 59.Kg3 Rg8+ 60.Kf4[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]56...Rd8 57.Ke3 Bd1 58.Bg6 Bb3 59.h5 Kf6 60.Kf4[/font]
• [font color="darkred"]54...Kh7 55.Ra6 Bc2 56.Ra7+ Kh6 57.Bg4 Rf8+ 58.Kg3[/font]

• If [font color="red"]52...Rf8+! 53.Kg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]53...Rd8 54.Rc7+ Kf6 55.Kg3 Bd1 56.Bxd1 Rxd1 57.Rc4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and put him on the brink of winning.
• If [font color="darkred"]53...Rf6 54.Bf3 Rd6 55.Rc7+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]55...Kg8 56.h5 Rd3 57.Rc8+ Kg7 58.Kf2 Rd2+ 59.Kg3 gives White two extra pawns, both passed.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]55...Kh8 56.h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]56...Kg857.Kg3 Bd1 58.Rc8+ Kf7 59.h6 Kg6 60.Rc6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorange"]56...Rd3? 57.Kf2![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]57...Rd6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]58.Rc6 Rd7 59.e4 Rd3 60.Ra6 Rd8 61.Bg4.[/font]
• If [font color="purple"]57...Rd2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]58.Kg3 Bd1 59.Be4.[/font]

• Better is [font color="red"]53.Rc7+! Kf6 54.Bg4 Re8 55.Bf3 Rd8 56.h5[/font] leaving White with two extra pawns, both passed.
,

• This hastens the end.
• If [font color="red"]54...Ra2 55.Rc7+ Kh8 56.Rc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]56...Kg7 57.Be4 Rxa3 58.Bd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]58...Ra1 59.Bxb3 axb3 60.Rxb3 Ra5 61.Rb7+ Kf6 62.e4[/font] gives White the advantage of two pawn is a Rook ending, but there is some fight left in Black's game.
• If [font color="darkred"]58...Kf6 59.Kf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]59...Ra1 60.Bxb3 axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Kg3 Rg1+ 63.Kf2[/font] gives White a strong advantage with two extra pawns, buut those pawns have a long way to go.
• If [font color="magenta"]59...Kg7? 60.e4 Kf6 61.h5 Kg7 62.e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]62...Ra1[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]63.Bxb3 axb3 64.Rxb3 Rh1 65.Rg3+ Kf7 66.Kg4.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]62...Bxd5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]63.Rxa3 Kh6 64.Kf5 Bc4 65.e6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]56...Rxa3 57.Bd5! Kg7 58.Kf4 Kf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]59.e4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]59...Kg7 60.Rg3+! Kf6 61.e5+ Ke7 62.h5[/font] continues to give White two passed pawns; it is now too late to play ...Ra1 because White pawns are too far advanced.
• [font color="burgundy"]59...Ra1 60.Bxb3 axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Rf3[/font] continues to give White two passed pawns.
• If [font color="magenta"]59.h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]59...Ke7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]60.h6 Ra2 61.h7 Rh2 62.Be4.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]59...Ra1 60.Bxb3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]60...axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Ke4 Kg5 63.Rb5+ Kh6 64.Rf5[/font] gives White a strong advantage, but the game still is not a book win.
• If [font color="purple"]60...Rh1?[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]61.Rc6+! Ke7 62.Ba2 Rxh5 63.Ra6.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Gabor Nagy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dariusz Swiercz[/center][center]Position after 54...Rd2d3[/center]

• Everthing is safe. There is nothing more Black can do.
• Also winning easily is [font color="red"]55.Rc7+ Kf8 56.Kf4 Bd1 57.Bxd1 Rxd1 58.Ra7.[/font]

• This may be the harikari move.
• One more stubborn defense is [font color="red"]55...Rd7[/font] but White still wins after [font color="red"]56.Rh5 Rd2 57.Ra5 Rf2 58.Ra7+.[/font]
• Another is [font color="blue"]55...Rd2[/font] when White wins after [font color="blue"]56.Be4 Rd1 57.Rc7+ Kf6 58.Rc6+.[/font]

• White also wins after [font color="red"]59.Be4 Rd1 60.Rc7+ Kh8 61.h6 Rf1+ 62.Kg5.[/font]

• Nagy resigns.

Remember the name Aleksandra Goryachkina. She is a 14-year-old Russian who entered the World Youth Championships as the second seed among all the young ladies competing. So, even though the World Youth Championships is divided into age categories, this young lady competed not against 14-year-olds, but against 18-year-olds and took first place with 9½ points out of a possible 11.

In this game she takes down Lisa Schut of Holland, the runner-up in the 18-year-old category.

You go, girl!

[center][/center]

[center]Aleksandra Goryachkina[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Andreas Kontokanis in flickr
(Creative Commons License, attribution/share alike)
[/font]

Lisa Schut - Aleksandra Goryachkina
World Youth Championship Girls Under 18, Round 6
Maribor, 12 November 2012

Open Rat 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 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.g4 b5 11.a3 Rb8 12.Bxf6 (N)

• If [font color="red"]12.Bg2 h6 13.Bh4 b4 14.axb4 Rxb4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15.Bf2 g5 16.fxg5 Nxg4 17.Qxg4 Bxg5+ 18.Kb1[/font] is equal (Yu Yangyi-Nagi, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012
• [font color="darkred"]15.Rhe1 g5 16.e5 gxh4 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5[/font] is equal (Pavlidis-Galopoulos, Greek ChT, Eritrea, 2011).[/lil]

• The game is equal.

• If [font color="red"]14.h4 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15.Qe1 0-0 16.f5 Qb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.fxe6 fxe6 18.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Kh8![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]19...e5 20.Nf5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20...Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxf5 23.Bxf5 Rxf5 24.Nxd6 Rf3[/font] is equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]20...Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Na4 22.Nd5 Nb6 23.Be6[/font] is clearly better for White.
• [font color="darkpink"]19.bxc5 dxc5 20.Nb3 c4 21.Nd2 Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 Qc7[/font] gives Black only two pawns for the pieces, but for that he plays the tune for now.
• [font color="darkorchid"]18...Nd7?! 19.Nxe6! Rf7 20.Bh3 Kh8 21.Rf1 Rxf1 22.Qxf1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and an open file.
• If [font color="darkred"]17.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17...exf5 18.exf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Qxh1 19.Qxe7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Bb7 20.g6 Qh2 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.Qxc5 Qxh4 23.gxf7+[/font]
gives White two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn.
• [font color="purple"]19...Nd7!? 20.f6! gxf6 21.Bxb5 Qh3 22.Bd3 Qxh4 23.Ne4[/font] gives White a considerable advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]18...Bxg5+!? 19.hxg5! Qxh1 20.bxc5 dxc5 21.Qg3 cxd4 22.Bg2[/font] gives White a Queen for a Rook, minor piece and pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]17...e5!? 18.Nde2! Nd7 19.Nd5 Nb6 20.Nec3 Bd8 21.Qd2[/font]
gives White an impressive advantage in space, especially on the kingside; Black can only partially exchange his way out.
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Bg2 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.f5 Na4 18.Nxa4 Rxa4[/font] gives White more space on the kingside and Black open lines for attack on the queenside.
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Nf5!?[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...Qa5 18.e5 d5 19.Nxe7 Kxe7 20.Qe3 Qb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage with command of the queenside against White's kingside space.
• [font color="darkorange"]17...exf5 18.exf5 0-0 19.Nd5 Qa5 20.Nxb4 Qxb4 21.Qxe7[/font] is equal.

• Black removes pressure from the c-file, giving White more flexibility.
• If [font color="red"]15...0-0 [/font] then:
• [font color="red"] 16.f5 Re8 17.b4 Bf8 18.Rh3 Nd7 19.Qg3 Nb6 [/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]16.b4!? Bb7! [/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"] 17.f5 Rfc8 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Nde2 c4 20.fxe6 Bxa3+ [/font] gives Black a small advantage with active pieces, the Bishop pair and three pawns for a piece.
• If [font color="magenta"]17.bxc5?! dxc5! [/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"] 18.Nf3 Qxf4+ 19.Nd2 c4 [/font] gives Black the Bishop pair and greater activity in compensation for having two pawns for a piece
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Nde2 b4 19.Bg2 bxc3 20.Qxc3 Bd6 [/font] exposes Black's King to danger.

[center]BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 15...Qc7b7[/center]

• The text move would have been a little dicier with the Queen still at c7, as pointed out in the subvariations to the previous note.
• White has more space, especially on the kingside; Black's activity on the queenside keep's White's overall edge minimal.

• White anticipates 17...Nxc3 and moves to keep her e-pawn proteced.
• If [font color="red"]17.Nxa4 bxa4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.Rh3 0-0 19.Rc3 Bd7 20.f5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]20...a5 21.b5 Rfc8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Bh3 Qb6 25.Qe2[/font] gives White a slight initiative on the e-pawn.
• [font color="burgundy"]22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Bh3 Kh8 24.Qe3 Rxc3 25.Qxc3[/font] gives White a slight initiative.
• [font color="darkpink"]20...Rfe8 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Bh3 Bf8 23.Qf2[/font] gives White stronger, although not necessarily strong, pawns and more space. White's e-pawn is loose, but Black cannot be safely take it.
• If [font color="darkred"]18.Bc4!? a5 19.b5 Bd7 20.Rh3 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21.Qe2 Rc5 22.f5 e5 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.bxc6 Qxc6[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]21.Rc3 0-0 22.f5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]22...d5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.exd5 Rxc4 25.Rxc4 Bxa3+ 26.Kb1[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]22...Rxc4!? 23.Rxc4 Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Qxb5 25.Rc3 Rb8 26.Qe3[/font] gives White the excahnge and the advantage in space for a pawn.

• The game is equal.

• The game remains equal.
• If [font color="red"]19.h6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...g6 20.bxa5 d5 21.exd5 Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 Bb4 23.Qe5 Nxc3+[/font] gives White more space, but Black has a small attack on the White King.
• If [font color="darkred"]19...gxh6!? 20.Rxh6! axb4 21.axb4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21...Rc8 22.Ncxb5 Qb8 23.Qe2 Qa8 24.Kb1 Qb7 25.Kc1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and active pieces; Black has the Bishop pair and no glaring weaknesses.
• If [font color="magenta"]21...Qa6 22.Nxa4 Qxa4 23.Qc3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]23...e5 24.Nf5 Ra8 25.Be2 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Qxc3+ 27.Kxc3[/font] gives White the initiative against Black's d-pawn.
• [font color="darkorange"]23...Rf8?! 24.Qb2! Qa6 25.Rxh7 Rb7 26.Nb3 Ra7 27.Na5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more active pieces.

• Black should not fear the opening of the h-file.
• [font color="red"]20...hxg6 21.hxg6 Rxh1 22.Qxh1 Nxc3 23.Qh8+[/font] remains equal.

• White has a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 21.hg6:p[/center]

• White makes the advantce ...e5 possible for Black and also makes the g5 square available for Black's Bishop.
• If [font color="red"]22.Bxb5 Nxc3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23.Bxd7+ Qxd7 24.Qxc3 0-0 25.Nc6[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage.
• [font color="darkred"]23.Qxc3 Bxb5 24.Nxe6 Rg8 25.Nxg7+ Kd8 26.Ne6+ Ke8[/font] is equal.

• Black equalizes.
• Also good is [font color="red"]22...e5 23.Nf3 Nxc3 24.Qxc3 Bc6 25.Nxe5 dxe5 26.Qxe5[/font] with equality.

• Black must decide whether her King is safer on the flank of if she should use the move to get a toehold in the center.
• [font color="red"]23...e5 24.Nb3 Qc8 25.Nd5 Bc6 26.Nc3 Nxc3+ 27.Qxc3[/font] is equal.

• White has an extra pawn and an advanced passer; Black's pieces are somewhat more active.

• If [font color="red"]24...Be8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25.Nd5 Ra8 26.Nb3 Rf6 27.e7 Re6 28.Na5 Qa7[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]25.Ncxb5 Rf4 26.Rf1 Rxf1 27.Bxf1 Bf6 28.c3 Bxg6[/font] remains equal.

• If [font color="red"]26...Be8 27.Rdg1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Bf4 28.e7 Rf6 29.Ne2 Rc8 30.Qd4 Bd2 31.Rf1[/font] gives White a slights edge.
• If [font color="darkred"]27...Ra8!? 28.Qb2 Bf4 29.c3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]29...Qa7 30.Bc2 Kh8 31.Rg2 Qb7 32.Re1 Be3 33.Bd1[/font] gives White a slight edge.
• [font color="magenta"]29...Kh8 30.e7 Rf6 31.Rg2 Rc8 32.Qa2 Rxg6 33.Bxb5[/font] gives White a huge advantage in space; Black is forced to exchange Queens.

• This move is of no particular value.
• Better is [font color="red"]28.Nf5 Rf6 29.Be2 Bxg6 30.Rhf1 Bxf5 31.exf5 ,[/font] giving White a small advantage with the advanced passer.

[center]BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 28.Rh1g1[/center]

• The game is equal.

• If [font color="red"]29...Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Rxf1+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31.Rxf1 Bxg6 32.Rf4 Qa2+ 33.Kc1 Qxe6 34.Bxb5 Qe5[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]31.Bxf1?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]31...Qa3! 32.Bxb5 Bxb5 33.Qb2 Qe3 34.Rd1 Ra4 .[/font]

• If [font color="red"]30.e7 Rf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]31.Rxf6 Bxf6 32.Rf1 Bxe7 33.Ne6 Bf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]34.Rxf6 gxf6 35.Nc7 Kg7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]36.Qd4 Qa2+ 37.Kc1 Bxg6 38.Nxa8 Qxa8 39.Qxd6 Qa1+[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]36.Nxa8!? Qxa8 37.Qd4 Qb8! 38.Kc1 h5 39.Qg1 Qc7[/font] give Black a slightly more active Queen.
• [font color="magenta"]34.e5?! dxe5! 35.Be4 Ra7 36.Bd5 Kh8 37.Qc3 Qa3[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]31.c3 Kh8 32.Rxf6 Bxf6 33.Nf5 Qa7 34.Rg2 Qc7[/font] remains equal.

• [font color="red"]33.Qxa3 Rxa3 34.Kb2 Bxd4 35.cxd4 Re3 36.e5 Kxe6[/font] remains equal.

• White loses a pawn and her Bishop goes from bad to worse.
• If [font color="red"]35.Bd5 Ra4 36.Rd1 Qa5 37.Bb3 Bxg6 38.Bxa4 Qxa4[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 35.d4d5[/center]

• Black is a pawn to the good; White's pawns are blockaded on light squares, making her Bishop bad for the forseeable future.

• White is looking for a way make her pawns mobile, but this helps Black more.
• [font color="red"]37.Rf1 Qxb2+ 38.Kxb2 Ra5 39.Rc1 b4 40.Be4 Rc5[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

• Black has three passed pawns.

• [font color="red"]38.Re1 Kd6 39.Kb2 h5 40.Rh1 Kxd5 41.Bb3+ Kd6[/font] gives White Two extra pawns; White is in danger of losing her remaining pawns.

• Approaching the time check, White leaves her d-pawn en pris.
• If [font color="red"]39.Rd1 h5 40.Rh1 Kxd5 41.Bb3+ Kd6 42.Rxh5 Ra7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.

• Approaching the time check, White fails to punish Black.
• If [font color="red"]39...e4 40.Bb3 h5 41.Rxe4 Bxg6 42.Rh4 Rh8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn; all pawns on the board are passed, so Black's King at d6 is of particular importance.

• White limits Black to a small advantage and an extra pawn.

• White allows a stunning sacrifice.
• [font color="red"]41.Rh4 Rc8 42.Rh1 Ra8 43.Rh4 Ra7 44.Rg4 Ra5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

[center]BLACK: Lisa Shut[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 41.Rg4g1[/center]

• The exchange sacrifice sweeps two passed pawns off the board.

• If [font color="red"]43.Kb3!? Kxe6![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]44.Kb4 Kf6 45.Rf1+ Kg5 46.Rg1+ Kf5 47.Rf1+ Kxg6[/font] leaves Black with four pawns for the exchange.
• [font color="darkred"]44.Kc3!? Kf5 45.Rf1+ Kg5 46.Rg1+ Kf5 47.Rf1+ Kxg6[/font] leaves Black with four pawns for the exchange.

• The Rook should get in front of the e-pawn.
• If [font color="red"]44.Re1 Kf6 45.Kb3 Bxg6 46.Kb4 Be8 47.Kc5 Ke6[/font] gives Black hopes of hanging on owing to the more active King.
• The next best line, also leaving fair drawing chances, is [font color="blue"]44.Kb3 Kxe7 45.Kb4 Kf6 46.Rf1+ Kg5 47.Rg1+ Kf6 .[/font]

[center]BLACK: Lisa Shut[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Lisa Schut[/center][center]Position after 44.Rg1a1[/center]

• White's e-pawn falls. Winning for Black is now a piece of cake.

• If [font color="red"]45.Kb3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]45...Bxg6 46.Kb4 Bd3 47.Rg1 Kf7 48.Re1 e4 .[/font]

• The h-pawn, which queens on a square that can be covered by Black's Bishop, advances.

• Black has three pawns for the exchange.
• Mw. Schut resigns.

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 01:39 AM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Plaza of the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Walter Smith (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmith/with/1475976/) in flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/61563509@N00/1475976)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

For all intents and purposes, this is the deciding game of the 2012 Chigorin Memorial.
[center]


Alexander Areshchenko
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in [link:commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chess_players_from_Ukraine|Wikimedia Commons] ([link:creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alexander Areshchenko - Bartosz Socko
Chigorin Memorial Open, Round 6
St Petersburg, 1 November 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3 Be7

• For what follows [font color="red"]7...Bc5[/font] see the [font color="darkred"]maroon notes to Black's fifth move[/font] in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=187636&mesg_id=187644 Van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

• If [font color="red"]9...d6 10.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10...Na5 11.Ba2 b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzmin-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.b4 cxb4 17.Bxb4 Bg4 18.h3 Bh5 19.Re1 Rb8[/font] is equal (Watson-Chiburdanidze, IT, Frunze, 1985).
• [font color="darkpink"]14...b3 15.Bxb3 Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Rab1 Qd7 18.Rfe1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more space (A. Zhigalko-van der Wiel, Op, Groningen, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ng3 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Planinc, IT, Madrif, 1973).
• [font color="magenta"]12...c5 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nf5 Bc8 15.N3h4 Be6[/font] is equal (Topalov-Beliavsky, EU ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 d5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.e5 Nd7 15.Re1 Re8 16.Qf3 Nf8 17.Nf5 Ne6 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 Bf8 20.Qg4[/font] gives White some initiative (Gallagher-Lenic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.e5[/font] gives White the initiative and more space (Matulovic-Malich, IT, Sarajevo, 1965).
• [font color="magenta"]12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Qd7 15.Re1 Bf6[/font] is equal (Navara-Mikhalchishin, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• [font color="darkorchid"]10.Nd5! Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7[/font] continues to give White the advantage in space (Khairullin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

• If [font color="red"]10.Ne2 d6 11.Re1 Na5 12.Ba2 c5 13.Ng3 /i][/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Nd2 Bc8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15.h3 Be6 16.Nc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.Qg4 Kh8 20.b3 Nc7 21.Be3 Ne6 22.Rad1 Nd4 23.Nf5 Bf6 24.Bxd4 cxd4[/font] is equal (Kissinger-Andresen, Corres, 1998).
• If [font color="darkred"]16...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne8 19.Nf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Bxf5 Bf6 20.Rf1 Bxf5 21.exf5 d5 22.Bxb8 dxc4 23.Bg3[/font] gives White the exchange, stronger pawns and the Bishop pair; Black is bidding for control of queenside dark squares (Chandler-Herbrechtsmeier, Bundesliga, Germany, 1985).
20.exf5 Bf6 21.Kh1 Qd7 22.Bh2 Nd4[/font] gives Black the better center and a slight advantage in space; White has the Bishop pair (Kindermann-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.Nf5 Bf6 20.Be3 g6 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.b3 Nc7 23.Qd2 Ne6[/font] is equal (Thipsay-Tseshkovsky, Op, Calcutta, 1986).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...a5 18.Bd2 Ne8 19.Nf1 Nc7 20.Ne3 Bg5[/font] is equal (Adams-Xie Jun, Op, Sydney, 1988).
• [font color="magenta"]17.Bd2 Ne8 18.Ne3 Bxa2 19.Rxa2 g6 20.c3 Bg5[/font] is equal (Jansa-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).
• [font color="darkred"]15.Nc4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15...Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19.Nf1[/font] draw (Tal-Kuzmin, IT, Tallinn, 1985).
• [font color="magenta"]15...Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bc4 Rbd8 19.Bd2 Qb6[/font] is equal (Shevelevich-Tseshkovsky, Op, Rostov-on-Don, 1993).
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bd2 Bc8 15.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Nd7 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.exd5 exd5[/font] is equal (Kupreichik-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, 1980).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Qe8 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Nh5 20.Nxh5 Qxh5 21.Rb1[/font] is equal (Kavalek-Balashov, IT, Buenos Aires, 1980).
• [font color="magenta"]15...Ne8 16.Nh2 Bg5 17.Nf3 Bf6 18.Nh2 g6 19.Ng4[/font] is equal (Carauana-Adams, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]13.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...bxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...cxd3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...cxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Bg5 Nb7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Nd2 Nc5 19.Qc2 Bd7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bd5[/font] is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, London, 1982).
• [font color="burgundy"]18.Be3 Qa5 19.Qc4 Ng4[/font] draw (Dr. Nunn-van der Wiel, IT, Amsterdam, 1990).
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Ba3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...Qc7 18.Red1 Nb7 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Re8 21.Rab1[/font] gives White a clearly more active game (Svidler-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 2006).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rad1 Ne8 20.Bb4 Rf7 21.Bxa5 Qxa5 22.Qc4[/font] gives White more activity and more weaknesses to target, for example, Black's hindmost e-pawn (Adams-Kamsky, IT, Sofia, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Rc8 14.c3 Qd7 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.Nf5[/font] is equal (Fritz).
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Nd7 16.Ba3 g6 17.d4 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Rb1 Rab8 19.Qe2 Rfc8 20.d5[/font] is equal (Pasierb-Weissleder, Corres, 1997).
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Rc1 Rfe8 19.Bb4 Rac8 20.Nd2 d5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.dxe5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but each side has weaknesses the other can exploit (Kupreichik-Rodríguez Cepedes, IT, Minsk, 1982).
• If [font color="magenta"]13...c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14.cxb4 cxd3 15.Nc3 Nc6 16.Bd5 Rb8 17.b5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...axb5 18.axb5 Nb4 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Ra4[/font] Black's passer is dead wood (Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).
18.axb5 Nb4 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Ra4[/font] Black's passer is dead wood (Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).
• After [font color="purple"]17...Nb4 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.bxa6 Ra7 20.Bg5[/font] White stands slighty better (Nijboer-Dr. Nunn, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Ng3 cxd3 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Re3 bxc3 18.bxc3[/font] leaves White slightly better (Karpov-Geller, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).

• [font color="red"]12...c5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 d6 15.Qe2 Rab8 16.Nd2[/font] is equal (Tvarijones-Potapov, Czech Op, Pardubice, 2009).

• [font color="red"]14...Nc6 15.Bg5 Bxa2 16.Rxa2 Qe6 17.Ra1 Nd5 18.Bd2[/font] is equal (Peng Xiaomin-Mari Arul, Asian Cities TT, Genting Highlands, 1998).
• If [font color="blue"]14...b3 15.Bd2[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]15...Nc6!? 16.Bxb3! Bxb3 17.cxb3 Nd5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.d4[/font] allows White to recover the piece (Olsarova-Pirklova, Czech ChW playoff, Pardubive, 2011).{/i]
• [font color="darkblue"]15...bxa2 16.Bxa5 Qc5 17.b4 Qc6 18.Nxe5 Qc3 19.Re2[/font] gives White an extra pawn against Black's impressive advantage in space.

• White has a small advantage in space. Black's e-pawn is currently his best asset.
• If [font color="red"]16...Nc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17.Bxf6 Nd4 18.Qe4 Qxf6 19.Rac1 Rfe8 20.c3 b3 21.Bb1[/font] gives White the intiative and the better position for attack
• If [font color="darkred"]17.c3!? Rab8! 18.Bxf6 Qxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.Bd5 Na5 20.Qe3[/font] gives White more activity and a slim advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.Bc4 bxc3 21.bxc3 Na5 22.Re4[/font] gives White a slight advantage with a safer King and slightly better pawns.
• If [font color="blue"]16...Rab8[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qd5 Nc6 19.Re4 Qd6 20.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkblue"]17.Rac1!? Rfe8! 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]20.Re3 b3 21.cxb3 Nxb3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]22.Rc3 Nd4 23.Rxc7 Rxb2 24.Bxf7+ Kf8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]25.g4 Re7 26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Bc4 a5 28.g5 Ne2+[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]20.f4 exf4 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rf1 Re2 23.Rxf4 Rxc2 24.Rxb4[/font]
• If [font color="darkcyan"]22.Rxc7 Rec8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Re1 Rb8 25.f4[/font]
• [font color="slateblue"]25.Re1 Re7 26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Bg8 h5 28.a5 Nc2[/font] is equal.


[center]BLACK: Bartosz Socko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Areshchenko[/center][center]Position after 16...Ra8e8[/center]

17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Bd5!?


• The Bishop cannot remain here long; Black simply takes command of the d-file.
• [font color="red"]19.Re4! Rb8 20.Bd5 b3 21.c3 Rfd8 22.Rg4+[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="blue"]19.Rac1 Nc6 20.Re4 Nd4 21.Kf1 Rb8 22.c3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

19...f5!?


• Black weakens his control over e5.
• [font color="red"]19...Rd8! 20.Be4 Rd6 21.Re3 Nc6 22.Rg3+ Kh8[/font] is equal.

20.Re3 Kg7!?


• This doesn't make White's King any safer.
• If [font color="red"]20...Re7 21.Rae1 Rfe8 22.d4 e4 23.Rg3+ Kf8 24.Rg5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

21.Rae1!


• White has a fair advantage.

21...f6 22.f4 Rd8!?


• Black attacks the loose Bishop. A plan of attacking on the queenside is no better.
• If [font color="red"]22...b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]23.Bxb3 Nxb3 24.cxb3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...Rb8 25.Rg3+ Kh6 26.fxe5 Rxb3 27.Rh3+ Kg6 28.e6 [/font] continues to give White a fair advantage with an extra pawn and an advanced passer.
• [font color="burgundy"]24...Kg6 25.a5 Re6 26.Rc1 c6 27.d4 e4 28.Rec3[/font] gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]23.cxb3 Rd8 24.Rg3+ Kh6 25.Rh3+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]25...Kg6 26.Bf3 Nxb3 27.Bh5+ Kg7 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.Rxe5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• If [font color="magenta"]25...Kg7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]26.Be6! Kg6 27.Rg3+ Kh6 28.Rc1 c6 29.b4.[/font]


[center]BLACK: Bartosz Socko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Areshchenko[/center][center]Position after 22...Re8d8[/center]

23.Bf3!


• White has a comfortable game If Black takes on f4, he takes on the burden of a tripled pawn while opening the e-file for White's Rooks; advancing to e4 looses a pawn.

23...e4


• [font color="red"]23...exf4?! 24.Re7+ Rf7 25.b3 Rd6 26.R1e6 Rb6 27.d4[/font] gives White a moble center; Black's pawns are atrocious.

24.dxe4 Nc4 25.Rb3 c5?!


• Face with the unpleasant choice of how to lose a second pawn, Black chooses the greater of two evils.
• Not as bad is [font color="red"]25...fxe4 26.Rxe4 Nd2 27.Re7+ Kh6 28.Rxb4 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3[/font] gives White has two extra pawns and an active Rook; Black has limited chances for counterplay.

26.exf5!


• White has two extra pawns.

26...Rd2 27.Re2?!


• This doesn't get rid of the Rook.
• [font color="red"]27.Bh5! Rxc2 28.Re7+ Kg8 29.Rg3+ Kh8 30.Reg7[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn with an attack on the Black King in progress.

27...Rfd8!


• See the previous note.

28.Re7+!?


• Realizing that his Rook is useless for defense at e2, White activates the piece.
• Better is [font color="red"]28.h4 R8d4 29.Re7+[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]29...Kf8 30.Rxh7 Rxf4 31.Rc7 Rxh4 32.a5 Ne5 33.Rxc5[/font] continues to give White two extra pawns.
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Kh6 30.Be2 Rxf4 31.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]31...Rfd4 32.g4 Rxe2 33.g5+ fxg5 34.hxg5+ Kxg5 35.Rxe2[/font] leaves White the exchange to the good.
• If [font color="magenta"]31...Rxf5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]32.Bxc4! Rff2 33.Bxa6 Rg2+ 34.Kf1 Rxc2 35.Rf3.[/font]


[center]BLACK: Bartosz Socko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Areshchenko[/center][center]Position after 28.Re2e7[/center]

28...Kf8!?


• Black drops a pawn.
• If [font color="red"]28...Kg8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29.Rc7 Rxc2 30.Rxc5 Rxb2 31.Rxb2 Nxb2 32.Ra5[/font] gives Black counter play with his passed b-pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]29.Be2 Kf8 30.Re6 Rxc2 31.Bxc4 Rxc4 32.Rxf6+ Ke7 33.Rxa6[/font] gives White two extra pawns and passers on both wings; White wins easily if the Rooks are removed.

29.Rc7!


• Well, of course.

29...Rxc2 30.Rxc5 Rdd2


• If [font color="red"]30...a5 31.h4 Rdd2 32.Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32...Rd1+ 33.Kh2 Rcc1 34.Bf3 Nd2 35.Bxd1 Rxc5 36.Rd3[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]32...Rxb2?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]33.Rc8+! Kf7 34.Rg3 Nd6 35.Rcg8 Rd1+ 36.Kh2.[/font]

31.h4 a5 32.Rc8+ Ke7 33.Rc7+ Kd6?


• The King will have no chance of reaching a safe harbor in the center of the board.
• If [font color="red"]33...Kf8 34.Rc6 Rd6 35.Rc8+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35...Ke7 36.Rh8 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 Nxb2 38.Rxh7+ Kf8 39.Ra7[/font] gives White two extra pawns and better active Rook. White has some serious pawn weaknesses; Black has a passed pawn on the b-file; White has a passed pawn on the h-file.
• [font color="darkred"]35...Kg7 36.Rc7+ Kh8 37.Bb7 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd8 39.Rg3[/font] gives White better Rooks and two extra pawns.


[center]BLACK: Bartosz Socko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Areshchenko[/center][center]Position after 33...Ke7d6[/center]

34.Rc6+!


• White will force the Black King where he pleases and then feast on pawns.

34...Ke7 35.Re6+ Kd7


• If [font color="red"]35...Kf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]36.Bh5+ Kf8 37.Re8+ Kg7 38.Rg3+ Kh6 39.Bf3.[/font]

36.Rxf6 Rxb2


• If [font color="red"]36...Rd4 37.Rc6 Rcd2 38.Rh6 Rxf4 39.Rxh7+[/font] gives White two extra pawns and an active Rook in pursuit of Black's King in the open.

37.Rxb2 Rxb2


• If [font color="red"]37...Nxb2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]38.Rh6 Kc8 39.f6 Rd8 40.Rxh7.[/font]

38.Rf7+ Kd6 39.Rxh7 b3


• [font color="red"]39...Rb1+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]40.Kh2 Nd2 41.h5 Nxf3+ 42.gxf3 Rb2+ 43.Kh3.[/font]

40.Rb7 Nd2 41.f6


• White has a quicker win after [font color="red"]41.Kf2 Ra2 42.f6 Ne4+ 43.Ke3 Nxf6 44.Rb6+.[/font]

41...Rc2


• Black has no patience for a longer struggle that ends in defeat anyway.
• A more stubborn defense is [font color="red"]41...Nxf3+ 42.gxf3 Rc2 43.Rxb3 Ke6 44.Rb5,[/font] but Black is just as lost.

42.f7

A quicker win is [font color="red"[42.Rb6+ Kd7 43.Bd5 Kc7 44.f7.[/font]

42...Rc8


• Again, Black would last longer after [font color="red"]42...Nxf3+ 43.gxf3 Rc8 44.h5 Ke6 45.Kf2.[/font]


[center]BLACK: Bartosz Socko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Areshchenko[/center][center]Position after 42...Rc2c8[/center]

43.Bg4!


• This time White finds the move that wins quickly.

43...Rc1+


• This looks like a harikari move.
• [font color="red"]43...Rf8 44.Rd7+ Kc5 45.Rxd2[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.

44.Kf2 Rf1+ 45.Ke2 1-0


• [font color="red"]45...Rxf4 46.Kxd2[/font] wins a piece.
• Socko resigns.

[center][/center]

[center]Bartosz Socko[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartosz_Socko.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Bartosz Socko - Evgeny Levin
Chigorin Memorial Open, Round 1
St Petersburg, 27 October 2012

East India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line/Gligoric Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Na6

• For [font color="red"]7...Nbd7 8.0-0 c6[/font] and other variations of the Gligoric Opening, see Wang Yue-A. Vovk, Op 1112, Hastings, 2012.

• If [font color="red"]8...c6 9.d5 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Bh4 c5 12.Ne1 h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.a3 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Nd3 Bd7 15.b4 b6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16.Rb1 g5 17.Bg3 f5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Bxh5 Nxh5 20.Qxh5[/font] is equal (Mista-Pavlidis, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.h3 Nh6 17.f4 g5 18.fxg5 fxg5 19.Be1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Wang Yue-Zhao Jun, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Nc2 Nh6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.f3 Nf7 16.b4 Bh6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.Rb1 b6 18.Kh1 Bd7 19.Bf2 f5 20.a4[/font] is equal (Fressinet-Kotronias, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Kh1 Bd7 19.Nb4 Be3 20.Nc2 Bh6 21.Nb4 Be3 22.Nc2[/font] draw (S. Pedersen-S. B. Jensen, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]15.h3 b6 16.Ne3 Bd7 17.Rb1 Nf7 18.Bd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Wang Doudou, Chinese League, Chengdu, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]13.h3 Nh6 14.Nd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Nf7 15.a3 Bh6 16.b4 b6 17.Re1 Bd7 18.Bf1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sharavdorj-Ehlvest, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]14...Nb4 15.Nxb4 cxb4 16.Na4 g5 17.Bg3 h4 18.Bh2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Lenic-Seeman, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bd2 f5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Ng5 Nf6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 e4 15.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15...c5 16.Nh3 Ng4 17.Bxg4 fxg4 18.Nf2 Bxc3 19.bxc3[/font] gives White a small initiative against Black's g-pawn (Gelfand-Topalov, IT, Novgorod, 1996).
• [font color="burgundy"]15...h6 16.Nh3 c5 17.Nf2 Nc7 18.Kh1[/font] is equal (Murshed-Xu Jun, Asian ChT, Penang, Malasia, 1991).
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Ne1 Nf6 13.f3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...fxe4 14.fxe4 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Qd4!? 16.Nc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16...Nxe4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]17.Nxd4 Rxf1+ 18.Qxf1 Nxd2 19.Qe1[/font](S. Pedersen-Bekker Jensen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2001).
• [font color="hotpink"]15...cxd5 16.cxd5 Nc5 17.Qb1 Bd7 18.Be3 Ng4 19.Bg1[/font] is equal.
• [font color="purple"]16...Qb6 17.b4 Qd8 18.Bg5 c5 19.a3 h6 20.Bh4[/font] gives White a better center and more space.
• [font color="darkorange"]13...f4 14.Nd3 c5 15.a3 g5 16.b4 Nd7 17.Rb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black may develop counterplay on the kingside (Gligoric-Dimitrov, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1997).

• [font color="red"]10.dxe5 dxe5 11.h3 f6 12.Bc1 Nh6 13.c5[/font] transposes into the text.

• The idea of this move appears to be to re-enforce the e-pawn, but it weaken the h2/g8 diagonal for Black.
• If [font color="red"]10...h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Bc1 Nf6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Be3 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Nd5 Qd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.c5 Nb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.b4 Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.b5 Rd8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.Qc1 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with a passed pawn (Gustafsson-Polzen, Austrian ChT 0102, Graz, 2002).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.Bd2 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bd3 a6 22.a4[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]18.a3 Rd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.Qc2 a5 20.b5 Nd4 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Rad1 a4 23.Rfe1 Qe7 24.Bc4[/font] draw (Golod-I. Smirin, Op 9798, Rishon Le Ziyyon, 1998).
• [font color="magenta"]19.Qc1 Kh7 20.Bc4 Qe7 21.Rd1 Be6 22.Bd5 Qe8[/font] is equal (Taboada-Sirota, Corres, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Qc1 Kh7 18.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...a6 19.Rd1 Nc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20.Rb1 Qe7 21.a4 f5 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Burmakin-Tkachiev, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• [font color="darkorange"]20.Qb2 Qe7 21.a4 a5 22.b5 Nb4 23.Bd2 f5[/font] is equal and shortly agreed drawn (Palo-Shchekachev, Op, Schwarzach, Austria, 2002).
• [font color="magenta"]18...Nc6 19.Qb2 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.e5 Qf4 22.Rad1[/font] is equal (Lomineishvili-Hayrapetian, Aleksandria Cup, Poti, Georgia, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Qc2 c6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17.c5 Nc7 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.Rd6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Rfd8 20.Rad1 Ne8 21.R6d2 Qe7 22.Qa4 Rxd2 23.Nxd2 [/font] gives White a small advantage in space (J. Gonzales-Perelshteyn, Trmt, Cyberspace, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Rfe8 20.Qd2 Kh7 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Qb4 Rab8 23.Bc4[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Mohota-Hickman, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]17.Rfd117.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Qd2 Kh7 19.c5 Nxc5 20.Qb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tikkanen-Bekker Jensen, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.a3 c6 15.b4 Nh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.Re1 Nf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Bf1 Qf6 18.Ra2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Rd8 19.Rd2 Rxd2 20.Qxd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20...g5 21.Rd1 Be6 22.Nh2 Nc7 23.Na4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sharavdorj-Matamoros Franco, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]20...Be6 21.b5 Nc7 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qd6[/font] assures White of winning the pawn at c6 (Volzhin-Kempinski, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).
• [font color="darkpink"]18...Re8 19.Rd2 Nc7 20.Kh2 g5 21.g3 Ng6 22.c5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Topalov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2000).
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19.c5 Nc7 20.Bc4 Rad8 21.Qc1 Ne6[/font] is equal (Van Wely-Gallagher, IT, Biel, 2000).
• [font color="darkorange"]19.Qc1 g5 20.c5 Qe6 21.Ra2 Rad8 22.Rd2[/font] is equal (Lehner-Hossain, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• If [font color="magenta"]16.c5 Rd8 17.Qc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Nf4 18.Bxa6 bxa6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19.Bxf4!? exf4 20.e5 Rd3[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Pogorelov-Tisser, Anibal Op, Linares, 2003).
• [font color="purple"]19.Rd1 Be6 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.Rab1[/font] gives White a slight edge.
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Kh7 18.Rd1 Be6 19.Qc2 Nc7[/font] draw (Svidler-Shipov, Russian Ch, St Petersburg, 1998).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Nf6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.c5 exd4 14.Nd5 Bd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.cxd6 c6 17.Nc7 Bxc7 18.dxc7[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative (Shulman-Perelshteyn, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2003).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Bxa6 bxa6 17.Qxd4 Bb7 18.Rad1[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Greenfeld-Najer, IT, Jerusalem, 2005).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Bf3 Nh7 14.g4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Ng5 15.Bg2 Nc5 16.f4 Ngxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Nd5 g5 18.Be1 gxf4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19.Rb1 Ng5 20.Rxf4 c6 21.Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Rxf6[/font] is equal (S. Ernst-Naroditsky, Op, Groningen, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.Nxc7!? Qe5! 20.Ne2 Rb8 21.Rb1 f5[/font] gives Black the advantage in space (S. Ernst-Brandenburg, Dutch Ch, Bextel, 2011).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Re1 f5 19.Qd3 Qf7 20.Bxe4 fxe4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorchid"]14...h5 15.Qd2 c6 16.Rae1 Nc5 17.Bd1 a6 18.Nf5[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Ju Wenjun, Grand Prix W, Ankara, 2012).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13.Bd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Nd7 14.Ndb5 g5 15.Bg3 Be5 16.f4[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Kovalyov-Geneen, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
• If [font color="purple"]13...c6 14.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14...Nh5!? 15.Nf5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]15...Qe5? 16.Be7 gxf5 17.exf5[/font] (Zilberstein-Bojkov, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011).
• [font color="darkpink"]15...Qe6 16.Re3 Nc5 17.Nxg7 Kxg7 18.Be2 Nf4 19.Bg3[/font] Black must accept structural damage or lose a piece.
• [font color="hotpink"]14...Qd7 15.Qf3 Ng4 16.hxg4 Bxd4 17.Be2[/font] gives White with an impressive advantage in space; Black has better pawns.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 10...f7f6[/center]

• White has a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="red"]11.Bc1 Nh6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12.Rb1 Nf7 13.b4 exd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.Ba3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ding Liren-Zhao Jun, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Be3 Nf7 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.c5 c6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Qa4 Rb8[/font] transposes into [font color="red"]the main line of the notes to White's 14th move[/font] and associated variations beyond move 16, below.
• [font color="magenta"]15.Bc4 Nc7 16.Qb3[/font] transposes into [font color="darkred"]Karpov-Radjabov[/font] in the notes to White's 14th move, below.

• If [font color="red"]13...Nxc5 14.Qc1 Nf7 15.Nd5 Ne6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16.Nxc7 Nxc7 17.Qxc7 Nd8 18.Rfc1 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]19.b4 Rf7 20.Qc3 Bf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Be3 Qa4 22.a3 Rc8 23.Qb2 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1[/font] is equal (Rapport-Miton, IT, Hevitz, Hungary, 2010).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.b5 b6 22.Qb2 Nb7 23.Bb4 Rd8 24.Rc2 Rfd7[/font] gives Black a small asdvantage in space (Biriukov-Mihajlovskij, Rektor Cup, St Petersburg, 2006).
• [font color="darkpink"]19.Be3 Rf7 20.Qc3 Nc6 21.b4 Rd7 22.b5 Nd8[/font] is equal (S. Volkov-Nakamura, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, Libya, 2004).
• If [font color="darkred"]16.Bb4 c6 17.Bxf8 Qxf8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Ne3 Nd6 19.Qc2 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Bc4[/font] give White a slight edge in space (Shabalov-Movsesian, IT, Bermuda, 2004).
• [font color="magenta"]18.Nc3 Nf4 19.Bc4 b5 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qc2 Qc5[/font] is equal (Umansky-Utesch, Corres, 2004).

• If [font color="red"]14.Be3 Nf7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Qa4 Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.b3 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Rb7 20.Rad1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]20...Re7 21.Qh4 Re6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]22.Ng5 Nxg5 23.Bxg5 h6 24.Bc1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...Kh7 25.Rd6[/font] draw (Savchenko-B. Damljanovic, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
• [font color="burgundy"]24...Qg6 25.Ba3 e4 26.Ne2 Bf6 27.Qg3 Be5 28.Nf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Medvegy-Brandenburg, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]22.Qb4 Re7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23.Qc4 Rd7 24.Ng5 h6 25.Rxd7 Bxd7 26.Nxf7 Qxf7 27.Qxa6[/font] gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more space; Black has a moble off-center duo.
• [font color="magenta"]23.Re2 Rd7 24.Ree1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe7 26.Bc1 Rd8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]20...Rd7 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Rd1 Qe8 23.Qc4 Kh8 24.Ng5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Paschall-Wittman, 1st Saturday November, Budapest, 2004).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.Nd2 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Be6 20.f4 Rxb2[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (S. Volkov-And. Volokitin, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Bc4 Nc7 16.Qb3 Ne6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.Bxe6!? Qxe6 18.Qxe6 Bxe6 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.b3 Bf8[/font] gives Black a slight edge with a better center (Karpov-Radjabov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
• [font color="magenta"]17.Ne2 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Nxc5 19.Qa3 b6 20.Nc3[/font] gives White more space and Black an extra pawn.

• If [font color="red"]15.Bxh6 Bxh6 16.Qa4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Rb8 17.b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Rf7 18.Rfd1 Bf8 19.Qa5 Be6 20.Rd3 Rd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Qxa6 Bxc5 23.Rd1 Qc8 24.Qxc8+ Rxc8[/font] is equal (Harikrishna-Moradiabadi, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• [font color="darkorange"]21.Rad1 Rxd3 22.Rxd3 Qc8 23.Na4 Be7 24.Nd2 Qb7[/font] is equal (Gleizerov-Hakki, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• [font color="magenta"]17...f5?! 18.Rad1 Bf4 19.Rd6 Kh8 20.Re1 g5 21.exf5[/font] give White a winning advantage (Shulman-Battsetseg, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• [font color="darkred"]16...Rf7 17.Rfd1 Bf8 18.b4 Rb8 19.a3 Rbb7[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space (David-B. Damljanovic, Euro ChT, Plovidv, 2003).

• [font color="red"]17.Bc1 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Rb7 20.Nd4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space (Evdokimov-Areshchenko, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

• [font color="red"]17...Rb7 18.Nb1 f5 19.Na3 f4 20.Nc4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a fair advantage in space (Dizdarevic-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2003).

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 17...Kg8h8[/center]

• White has stronger pawns and more space.

• If [font color="red"]19.Bc1 f4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20.Nb1 g5 21.Ne1 Rg8 22.Bb2[/font] continuses to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]20.Bb2!?[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20...g5! 21.Ne1 h5 22.Ne2 Rb7 23.Nc1 Qe6 24.Rd2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]20...Rg8?! 21.Nd2 Ng5 22.f3 Qe7 23.Qxc6 Rd8 24.Nc4[/font] gives White a considerable advantage in space.

• [font color="red"]20...Rg8 21.Bd4 e4 22.Bxg7+ Rxg7 23.Qa5 Qe7 24.Kh1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

• [font color="red"]21.Ng5! e4 22.Nxf7+ Rbxf7 23.Bd4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...Qe6 24.Bxg7+ Rxg7 25.Rd6 Qe5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Rxd4[/font] gives White stronger pawn and better piece coordination.
• [font color="darkred"]23...Rd7 24.Bxg7+ Rxg7 25.g3 Qe5[/font] transposes.

• Black ignores the danger to his kingside.
• If [font color="red"]21...Qe7 22.Qxe7 Rxe7 23.Ne2 Rg8 24.Ng3 Rge8 25.Nh5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.

• White threatens mate and now has a comfortable game.

• If [font color="red"]23...Qf7 24.Rd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]24...Rb4 25.Qg3 Rd4 26.Rxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]26...f4 27.Qh4 Bb7 28.Rh6!! Bxh6 29.Qxh6 Qg7 30.Nb5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]26...Qb7 27.Rd6 f4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28.Qf3 Qxf3 29.gxf3 Bxh3 30.Nd5 Kg8 31.c6[/font] gives White better pawns and a dangerous passer; the activity of Black's centralized Rook and light bound Bishop give him chances for counterplay.
• If [font color="magenta"]28.Qh4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]28...Rxd6 29.cxd6 Qb4 30.Rd1 Qxc3 31.d7 Bxd7 32.Rxd7[/font] gives White stonger pawns and more activity; Black's active Queen and off-center pawn duo could provide counterplay if he weathers the present storm.
• If [font color="darkorange"]28...Qb4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]29.Rxd4 Qxd4 30.Ne4 Bf5 31.Be7 Rg8 32.Nf6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]24...e4 25.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]25...Rd7 26.Red1 Re8 27.Nf4 Be5 28.Rxd7 Bxd7 29.Nh5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more activity.
• If [font color="magenta"]25...a4? 26.Nf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]26...Re8 27.Nh5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]27...Be5 28.Bf6+ Bxf6 29.Nxf6 Rf8 30.Nxh7 Qxh7 31.Rh6[/font] wins the Queen.
• If [font color="purple"]27...axb3[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]28.Nxg7 Rf8 29.Nh5 b2 30.Bf6+.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]26...Be5 27.Ng6+ Kg8 28.Nxe5[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 23...Rb7b4[/center]

• This weak reply gives Black the opportunity to come roaring back.
• If [font color="red"]24.Qg3 Bd7 25.Rd6 Rg8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]26.Na4 e4 27.Red1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Rb7 28.Nc3 Be5 29.Qxe5+ Qxe5 30.Bf6+ Qxf6 31.Rxf6[/font gives White greater activity and a substantial advantage in space.
• If [font color="burgundy"]27...e3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]28.Qxe3 Re4 29.Qd3! Qh5 30.Be3 Be5 31.Bd4.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]26.f3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]26...Rb8 27.Kh1 Rb7 28.Na4 e4 29.fxe4[/font] gives White more activity and stronger pawns; Black has a passed pawn after recapturing on e4.
• If [font color="magenta"]26...Rb7?[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]27.Kh1 Rb8 28.Na4 Rb7 29.Nb2 e4 30.Nc4[/font] gives White much greater activity and healthier pawns.
• [font color="darkorange"]27.Qf2?! e4! 28.Ne2 a4 29.fxe4 fxe4 30.Ng3[/font] gives White more activity and stronger pawn; Black has a chance for counterplay on the Queenside.

• Black simply removes his Queen from harm's way. White has only a small advantage in space.

• Neither side will want to exchange Rooks as it it would yield a passed pawn for the opponent.
• [font color="red"]25...e4 26.Red1 Rb7 27.Qe1 Bd7 28.Qd2 Be8 29.Kh2[/font] gives White as much command of the d-file as he could ask.

• White misses an elegant way out of the complications Black created on his last move.
[font color="red"]26.Rxc6! e4 27.Bh6 Rg8 28.Bxg7+ Qxg7 29.Qg5[/font] gives White more activity.

• [font color="red"]26...Rxd6 27.cxd6 e4 28.Rd1 Bd7 29.Be7 Rg8 30.Ng3[/font] gives each side a passed pawn; White's is more advanced.

• Black is not forced to exchange on e1.
• [font color="red"]27.Nc3 Rxe1+ 28.Qxe1 Re8 29.Qd2 e4 30.Rxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn; each side has a passed pawn.

• White still has a small advantage in space, but taking on e4 would give Black a dangerous passer.

• Black misses an opportunity to exchange away a weak pawn.
• If [font color="red"]28...a4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29.Nd3 axb3 30.axb3 Qe8 31.Qg3 Rxe1+ 32.Nxe1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a more active Rook; Black has an active Queen.
• If [font color="darkred"]29.b4!? Qc4! 30.Rxe4 Qxe4 31.Rd8 Rg8 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 28...Bg7c3[/center]

• White does not want to concede a passed pawn to Black, but doing so wins quickly.
• If [font color="red"]29.Rxe4! fxe4 30.Ne2 Bf6 31.Qg3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]31...Rg8 32.Qe3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32...Bd7 33.Qxe4 Re8 34.Qd3 Re7 35.Ng3 Bg7 36.Be3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.
• If [font color="darkred"]32...Qg7 33.Qxe4 Bf5 34.Qxc6 Be5 35.Qd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]35...Bxf4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]36.Nxf4 Qc3 37.Qd4+.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]35...Bxd6[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]36.cxd6 Be6 37.Qd4.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorchid"]31...Bg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorchid"]32.Rxc6! Rg8 33.Rc7 Qd5 34.Kh2 Bf6 35.Qe3.[/font]

• White still has a comfortable game.

• White should look after the Rook at e3; this gives Black a way out of his difficulty.
• IBetter is [font color="red"]31.Qf2 Qe7 32.Qd2 Be6 33.Ne5 Rxf4 34.Nxc6,[/font] giving White the initiative and command of the d-file.

• The Rook should be taken immediately.
• If [font color="red"]31...Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Qf8![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]33.Qh4 Bf6 34.Qg3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]34...Be6 35.Kh2 Qg7 36.Rxe4 fxe4 37.Nf2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]34...Bd4 35.Kh2 Qg7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]36.Rxe4 Qxg3+ 37.Kxg3 fxe4 38.Nf2 Bxf2+ 39.Kxf2 Be6[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]36.Re1 Qxg3+ 37.Bxg3 Kg7 38.Bd6 Kf6 39.Rc1[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorchid"]33.Qxf8+ Bxf8 34.Be5+ Kg8 35.Kf2 Be6 36.Bd6[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="blue"]31...Qf8?! 32.Rxe4 Rxd8 33.Re7 Qf6 34.Qe1[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]34...Kg8 35.Rc7 Qa1 36.Qxa1 Bxa1 37.Ne5 Bxe5 38.Bxe5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a more active Rook.
• If [font color="darkblue"]34...Qa1 35.Qxa1 Bxa1 36.Kh2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]36...Kg8 37.Ne5 Bxe5 38.Bxe5 Rd5 39.Bf4 Ba6 40.Bh6[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more activity.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]36...Rxd3 37.Re8+ Kg7 38.Rxc8[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]38...Rd5 39.Rxc6 Be5 40.Bxe5+ Rxe5 41.Kg3 Re2 42.a4[/font] gives White a passed pawn that must be watched while all of Black's pawns are weak.
• [font color="darkcyan"]38...Bd4 39.Rc7+ Kg8 40.Rxc6 Rd1 41.Rc8+ Kf7 42.c6[/font] leaves White with a passed pawn than cannot be stopped.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 31...Qf7g8[/center]

• White threatens the crushing [i[33.Ng6+.

• If [font color="red"]32...Rxd8[/font] then [font color="red"]33.Ng6#.[/font]

• White has a quicker win after [font color="red"]33.Rxe4 fxe4 34.Rd6 Bxe5 35.Rxe6[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]35...Bd4+ 36.Kh2 Bxe6 37.Qh5 Re7 38.Be5+ Bxe5+ 39.Qxe5+[/font] wins the passed pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]35...Rxe6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]36.Bxe5+ Rxe5 37.Qf6+.[/font]

• Stronger is [font color="red"]35.Ng6+ Kg8 36.Ne7+ Kf8 37.Bd6 Bf7 38.Nxf5+.[/font]

• [font color="red"]36...Bg7 37.Bxg7+ Kxg7 38.Qg5+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38...Kh8[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.Qe3 Kg7 40.Qe5+ Kg8 41.Kf2 a6 42.Qg3+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]38...Kf8 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]40...Bd5 41.Qg5+ Kf8 42.Qxf5+ Kg8 43.Qd7 Re4 44.h5[/font] threatens mate in two.
• If [font color="magenta"]40...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]41.Qg6+ Kf8 42.Qxh5 Ke7 43.Qg5+ Kf7 44.h5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Levin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bartosz Socko[/center][center]Position after 36...Be5d4+:B[/center]

• [font color="red"]38...a6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.Kf2 a4 40.bxa4 Bf7 41.Qxf5 Bd5 42.Qd3.[/font]

• Better is [font color="red"]40...Kh8 41.Qd2 Rg8 42.Qd4+ Rg7 43.g4 h6 44.Kh2,[/font] but it really doesn't matter.

• [font color="red"]42...Re2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]43.Qd8+ Kg7 44.Qxa5 Re3 45.Qxa7+ Kg6 46.Qc7.[/font]

• If [font color="red"]43...Re1+ 44.Kf2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]44...Re4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]45.a5 Re6 46.Qd8+ Kf7 47.g5 Re8 48.Qd6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]44...Re8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]45.Kg3 Re3+ 46.Kh4 Re6 47.Qg5+ Kf7 48.Qf4+.[/font]