The JR Chess Report (August 16): Jermuk, London, Zürich, St. Petersburg and Athens

Leko Leads Jermuk Grand Prix after 7 Rounds



Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko leads the latest installment of the FIDE Grand Prix with 5 points in seven rounds in the Armenian health resort Mecca of Jermuk.

Tied for second place with 4½ points each are Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk and Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan.

Leko took the lead earlier today when he defeated Bulgarin GM Ivan Cheparinov in 58 moves with Black while Ivanchuk and Kasimdzhanov played each other to a short draw. The three started the day tied for first.

Play resumes tomorrow with the eighth round at 15:00 local time (4 am PDT). Leko will have White against Russian GM Dmitry Jakovenko, Ivanchuk plays White against Israel's Boris Gelfand and Kasimdzhanov has Black against former Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev.

The tournament in a thirteen game single round robin among 14 players and runs through August 24.


Staunton Memorial Proves to Be a Place for Old Men



The seventh annual Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament at Simpson's Divan in London is proving to be a tournament for old men.

This year's edition of the Stuanton is divided into two groups: a Scheveningen team tournament between Britain and Holland and the traditional round robin among ten players.

In the Scheveningen Match, British grandmaster Nigel Short, 44, has scored 6 points while former multi-time Dutch national champion Loek van Wely has scored 5 points as the British and Dutch teams are deadlocked after eight rounds with 20 points each.

In the round robin, 57-year-old Jan Timman, once a serious world title contender, is tied for first place with 5 points after seven rounds with Russian GM Alexander Cherniaev. Timman held the lead in the rond robin group until Friday's seventh round, when he was beaten by Viktor Korchnoi, now 77 years young. Korchnoi, who came within a hair of winning the world championship from Anatoly Karpov in 1978, has 4 points.

Simpson's Divan in London was a Mecca for chess enthusiasts in the middle and late nineteenth century. In addition to Howard Staunton, who was recognized as the world's strongest player in the 1840s, Paul Morphy, Adolf Anderssen and Wilhelm Steinitz, the fist official world champion, played chess at Simpson's. The Immortal Game between Anderssen and Franco-Polish master Lionel Kieseritzky was player there in 1851.

The event ends tomorrow.


Avrukh, Areshchenko Share First in Zürich CC Jubilee



Boris Avrukh of Israel and Alexander Areschenko of Ukraine shared first place with 7½ points each ahead of heavily favored Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich in an open tournament celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the world's oldest chess club still in operation, the Schachgesellschaft Zürich in Switzerland.

In the final round, Avrukh defeated Morozevich and Areschenko bested fellow Ukrainian Yuriy Kuzubov.

Russian GM Alexey Dreev and Victor Mikhalevsky of Israel tied for third with 7 points. Morozevich finished in a 20-way tied for fifth with 6½ points along with the newly minted 17-year-old American grandmaster Robert Hess and 15-year-old Hou Yifan of China.

There were 272 participants in Zürich.


Baltic Queen Tournament Opens in St. Petersburg; Pia Cramling and Mrs. Atalik Lead



The Baltic Queen Tournament began Tuesday in St. Petersburg with ten of the top women players in world.

Today is a rest day for the lasdies. After five rounds, Swedish grandmastr Pia Cramling and Ekaterina Alalik of Turkey, the wife of Turkish GM Saut Alalik, lead with 4 points each.

Tied for third place at 2½ points each are Scottish GM Kevevan Arakhamia-Grant, Lithuanian IM Viktorija Cmilyte and IM Elisabeth Pähtz of Germany.

Round Six takes place tomorrow with Pia playing Black Russia's Anatasia Bodnaruk and Mrs. Atalik, also with Black, against Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine.

The event concludes Thursday.


Acropolis Open underway in Greece



The Acropolis Open began in Athens Monday in Chalkida, about 30 miles from Athens, with 100 participants.

After seven rounds, Bosnia GM Borki Predojevic and Ioannis Papaioannou of Greece are in firsst place with 5½ points each.

The tournament got off to a tragic start when Greek master Nikolaos Karapanos suffered a heart attack while planning his final moves against Dan Zoler of Israel in the first round. Zoler, a doctor, immediately jumped into action in an attempt to revive Karapanos, but to no avail. Karapanos was taken to a hospital where he was pronouced dead.

Dr. Zoler, who was in a completely lost position, resigned the game and, understandably shaken, withdrew from the tournament.

The evnets condludes Tuesday.




Calendar

International Festival d'échecs, Montreal 27 August-7 September. Grandmaster Tournament will include Bacrot, Onischuk, Shulman, Naiditsch and Maze; more to be added.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify. Topalov dropped and will be replaced by Aronian.

Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 27 September-9 October. Topalov, Anand, Carlsen, Radjabov, Jakovenko and Wang Yue.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

European Club Cup (Team Championship), Novi Sad (Serbia) 21-31 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Nakamura has been invited to play in group A.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Site TBA c. April 2010.

Jan Timman is perhaps the greatest Dutch chess master since the late former world champion, Dr. Max Euwe.

At 57. he isn't the oldest player in London this week. That distinction goes to Viktor Korchnoi, 77 years young, the grand old man of chess.



Jan Timman
Photo: Wikipedia


Jan Timman - Simon Williams
Staunton Memorial Tournament (Round Robin Group). Round 5
London, 12 August 2009

White Indian Game: Barcza Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.Bg2 b5!?

• If 5...d6 6.d4 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.c4 then:
• 9...dxe5 10.h3 Nh6 11.e4 f6 12.Nc3 Nf7 13.Qe2 c6 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.b4 Rd8 16.a3 Nf8 17.Rxd8 Nxd8 18.c5 gives White the advantage in space (Larsen-Biyiasas, Op, Lone Pine, 1980).
• 9...Ngxe5 10.Nc3 Nxf3+ 11.Bxf3 Re8 12.Qd2 Nc5 13.Rfd1 a5 14.Nd5 c6 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ f6 17.Nf4 gives White the advantage in space (Tempone-Fr. Lombardy, Op, Buenos Aires, 1979).

6.Ne5!?

• The game is equal.
• If 6.Nd4 c6 7.Nxb5 d5 8.N5a3 then:
• If 8...Bf5 9.0-0 Qd7 10.Re1 Bh3 11.Bh1 then:
• If 11...Qf5 12.f3 Qh5 13.d4 then:
• If 13...e6 14.e4 c5 15.c4 dxc4 16.d5 cxb3 17.axb3 Rd8 is equal.
• 13...Nbd7!? 14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4 Bg4 16.Qd3 gives White the better center.
• 11...Rd8 12.d4 Qe6 13.c4 Nbd7 14.Nc3 gives White the better center and more freedom.
• If 8...Nbd7 9.0-0 Rb8 10.c4 then:
• 10...Ba6 11.Qc2 e5 12.Nc3 Qa5 13.Rfd1 Rfc8 14.d3 gives White more freedom.
• 10...Bb7 11.Re1 e5 12.d4 Re8 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Nc3 gives White more freedom.

6...c6 7.d4 Qc7 8.0-0 d6 9.Nd3 Bb7 10.Nd2 Nfd7!?

• Black seems to want to provoke White.
• 10...Nbd7 11.a4 Rfc8 12.Nf3 Ne4 remains equal.

11.c4 bxc4 12.bxc4 a5

• White now has the advantage in space.
• 12...Na6 13.Rb1 Rab8 14.Ne4 Rfe8 15.Qd2 f5 16.Ng5 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Simon Williams
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WHITE: Jan Timman
Position after 12...a7a5

13.Qc2!?

• White fails to capitalize on the advantage.
• 13.Rb1 Na6 14.Bc3 Rfb8 15.Qc2 e6 16.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space.

13...Na6

• The game is equal, but Black must play very carefully not to slip into a disadvantage.
• 13...c5!? 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.d5 Nf6 16.e4 Na6 17.a3 gives White the advantage in space the the possibility of attacking the a-pawn.

14.a3 Rab8

• 14...c5!? 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.d5 Nf6 17.e4 Rfb8 18.e5 gives White the initiative in the center.

15.Rac1 e5

• 15...c5!? 16.d5 Bxb2 17.Nxb2 e6 18.Rb1 Rfe8 19.e4 gives White more freedom.

16.e3 Rfe8

• 16...c5!? 17.d5 f5 18.Bc3 g5 19.Qa4 e4 20.Bxa5 wins a pawn for White.

17.Rfe1 exd4

• If 17...c5!? 18.d5 f5 19.Bc3 then:
• If 19...g5 20.Rb1 e4 21.Nb2 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Ne5 23.Nb3 wins the a-pawn for White.
• 19...e4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Nf4 Ne5 22.Rb1 White has the advantage in being able to attack Black's weak pawns.

18.Bxd4 Nac5

• 18...Ne5 19.Rb1 c5 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Rxb7 Qxb7 22.Bc3 gives White the initiative against the a-pawn.

19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 dxc5

• White has an advantage in pawn structure.

21.Rb1 Rbd8 22.Bh3

• Better for White is22.Nb3! Bc8 23.Nxc5 Qe7 24.Nd3 Qxa3 25.Bxc6, winning a pawn.

22...Ba6

• If 22...Bc8!? then after 23.Bxc8! Rxc8 24.Qa4 Bc3 25.Red1 Rcd8 26.Nb3! White is attacking two pawns simultaneously.

23.Red1 Qe5 24.Qa4 Qh5?

• Black drops a pawn.
• If 24...Bc8 25.Bxc8 Rxc8 26.Nb3 Qc3 27.Rbc1 then:
• 27...Qe5! 28.Rd3 Red8 29.Rcd1 Rxd3 30.Rxd3 Qf5 31.Rd1 is still a fight.
• 27...Qf6!? 28.Nxc5 Qf3 29.Nd3 Qf5 30.Rb1 Red8 31.Nf4 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Simon Williams
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WHITE: Jan Timman
Position after 24...Qe5h5

25.Bg2!

• White attacks the loose pawn.

25...Bc8

• Any attempt to save the pawn would only lose more material.
• If 25...Bc3 26.Bxc6 Rxe3 27.Ne4 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 then:
• 28...Qxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Re1+ 30.Qxe1 Bxe1 31.Bd5 wins a pawn for White.
• If 28...Rxe4 then after 29.Bxe4 Qe2 30.Bd3 Qa2 White has won the exchange.

26.Bxc6 Rf8 27.Bf3 Qe5

• 27...Bg4 28.Bxg4 Qxg4 29.f3 Qe6 30.e4 White remains a pawn to the good.

28.Qxa5 Bf5 29.Rb5 Bc2 30.Rc1 Qf5

• Black shortens his agony.
• He loses more slowly after 30...Ba4 31.Qxa4 Rxd2 32.Qa5 Ra2 33.Qa7 Qf5 34.Kg2.

BLACK: Simon Williams
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WHITE: Jan Timman
Position after 30...Qe5f5

31.e4!

• White finds the most aggressive retort and coasts from here out.

31...Qf6 32.Rxc2 Rxd2 33.Qxd2 Qxf3 34.Rxc5 1-0

• 34...Qxe4 35.Rd5 Re8 36.c5 Rc8 37.c6 wins for White.
• Mr. Williams resigns.

Boris Avrukh
Photo: Wikipedia


Boris Avrukh - Fred Berend
Zürich Chess Club Jubilee Open. Round 2
Zürich, 10 August 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 a6

• For comments on the opening, see Ding Liren-Wang Hao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009.

6.c5 Nbd7 7.b4 g6 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Na4 a5!?

• If 10...Re8 11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.e6 fxe6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.e4 Rf8 16.h3 Ngf6 17.Re1 Nh5 18.Bf1 gives White the advantage in space (Ding Liren-Wang Hao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009).

11.b5

• White has the advantage in space.

11...Ne4 12.Bb2 f5

• If 12...cxb5 then after 13.Bxb5 Rb8 14.Qd3 b6 15.c6 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

13.Qc2 g5 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 g4 16.f3 gxf3 17.gxf3 Ng5 18.Kh1

• 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.a4 f4 20.exf4 Rxf4 21.Qg2 gives White a tactical edge.

18...Kh8 19.Qg2 Rg8

• If 19...Nf7 20.Nb6 Rb8 21.Rg1 Rg8 22.f4 then:
• 22...cxb5 23.Bxb5 Qc7 24.Qc2 Nd8 25.Rg3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 22...Qe7 23.Qc2 Bd7 24.a4 Rbd8 25.Bd4 gives White the advantage in space.

20.Rg1 h6 21.Bd4!?
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• White misses an opportunity to apply the squeeze on Black's queenside.
• 21.Qg3 cxb5 22.Nb6 Rb8 23.Bxb5 Qe7 24.Rac1 maintains the advantage in space for White.

BLACK: Fred Berend
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Position after 21.Bb2d4

21...Bd7 22.Nc3 Qe8

• The game is equal.

23.bxc6 Bxc6 24.Be2 Qe7 25.Qg3

• If 25.f4! Ne4 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Bc4 then:
• 27...Be8 28.Qb2 Bh5 29.Rg3 Bf3+ 30.Kg1 h5 31.Kf1 gives White the advantage in space.
• 27...Qd7 28.Qb2 a4 29.Rg6 Bd5 30.Bxd5 Qxd5 31.Rag1 gives White the advantage in space.

25...a4 26.Rg2 Nh7?

• Black wastes a tempo which could have saved the game.
• 26...Nf7 27.Rag1 Nd8 28.Nb5 Bxb5 29.Bxb5 Nc6 30.Qg6 gives White the advantage in space, but Black still has some fight left.

BLACK: Fred Berend
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Position after 26...Ng5h7

27.Rag1!

the fully loaded cannon on the g-file greatly restricts the movement of Black's pieces. Black must keep g7 occupied and covered three times.
27...Nf8 28.Bd3!

• White sees a spectaular tactical device to get to the Black King.

28...Nd7 29.Ne2 Nf8

• If 29...Nxc5 30.Nf4 Be8 31.Bxc5 Qxc5 32.Qh4 then:
• 32...Qxe3 33.Rxg7 Qxf3+ 34.R7g2 Bh5 35.Rf1 traps the Queen.
• 32...Qf8 33.Nxe6 Qf7 34.Nxg7 Rxg7 35.Qxh6+ puts the Black King in a mating net.

30.Nf4 Be8 31.Qh3!

• White ties the last knot in the mating net and casts it into the water.

31...Rd8

BLACK: Fred Berend
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WHITE: Boris Avrukh
Position after 31...Ra8d8

32.Bxf5!!

• Now White pulls in the net.
• The sacrifice of the Bishop clears e6 for the advance of White's pawn.

32...exf5 33.e6!!

• What can be cooler than sacrificing a Bishop? Why, sacrificing both Bishops, of course.
• The sacrifice of the second Bishop causes Black's Bishop to vacate g7 (see note to White's 27th move).

33...Bxd4 34.Qxh6+! 1-0

• White mates in two.
• Mh. Berend resigns.

Pia Cramling
Photo: By karpidis, Flickr by way of Wikipedia

To view this game:

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Peng Zhaoqin - Pia Cramling
Baltic Queen Tournament, Round 2
St. Petersburg, 12 August 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb4+

• See also Wang Hao-Zhou Jianchao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009.

5.Bd2 a5

• If 5...Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Ba6 7.b3 c6 8.Bg2 d5 then:
• If 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.Qb2 then:
• 11...Qe7 12.Nbd2 c5 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nf1 Nf6 17.Rc2 Rfc8 18.Rac1 Rc7 19.Ne3 g6 20.Bf3 h5 21.Ng2 a5 22.Nf4 Kh7 23.h4 Ne4 24.Nd3 Rac8 is equal (Chernin-Razuvaev, Blitz, Tilburg, 1994).
• 11...c5 12.Nbd2 Bb7 13.b4 cxb4 14.Qxb4 Rc8 15.a4 dxc4 16.Nxc4 Bd5 17.Ne3 Be4 18.Qa3 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1 draw (Smyslov-Polugaevsky, Soviet ChT, Leningrad, 1962).
• If 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nc3 then:
• If 13...Rc8 14.Rfc1 Qe7 15.Rc2 Nf6 16.Rac1 h6 then:
• 17.e3 Rc7 18.Na4 Rfc8 19.Rxc7 Rxc7 20.Rxc7 Qxc7 21.Qc3 draw (Leko-Karpov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 17.Bf3 Rc7 18.Na4 Rfc8 19.Rxc7 Rxc7 20.Rxc7 Qxc7 21.Qc3 Qd6 22.Kg2 g5 23.h3 Kg7 is equal (Su. Polgar-Christiansen, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 1993).
• 13...Nf6 14.Rac1 Qd6 15.Rc2 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Rc7 17.Nb1 Rfc8 18.Rxc7 Rxc7 19.Rxc7 Qxc7 draw (Ivkov-Tal, IT, Sarajevo, 1966).
• 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.0-0 dxc4 13.Bxc6 Rc8 14.Bg2 Qe7 15.d5 Nf6 16.d6 Qd7 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 is equal (Jahlifman-Nikolic, Op, New York, 1994).

6.Bg2 Bb7 7.Nc3

• White essays a line played infrequently.
• If 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Nc3 Ne4 then:
• If 10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 d6 12.Qd3 Nc6 13.e4 then:
• 13...d5 14.exd5 exd5 15.Ne5 dxc4 16.Qxc4 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bxg2 draw (Farago-Short, IT, Hastings, 1982).
• 13...Bf6 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Nb4 16.Qd2 Bc8 17.Be3 Bf5 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Nc2 20.Rac1 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Qd7 22.Rfe1 Rfe8 is equal (Andruet-King, Op, Dortmund, 1986).
• 10.Na4 d6 11.Qc2 Nd7 12.Rfd1 f5 13.Nd2 Ndf6 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.f3 Nf6 17.Nc3 Nh5 18.Be3 f4 19.Bf2 d5 20.cxd5 fxg3 21.hxg3 exd5 22.Kg2 c6 23.Rh1 is equal (Ftacnik-Karlsson, IT, Hastings, 1983).

7...0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.Qc2 Bxc3

• 9...Nbd7 10.Rfe1 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qa4 c6 13.Nd2 draw (Petkevich-Bocharov, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2007).

10.Bxc3 Be4 11.Qd2

• Draw (Sriram-Venkatesh, Indian Ch, Visakhapatnam, 2006).

11...Nbd7!?

• Unlike Venkatesh Sahib in the previous note, Pia decides to play on.

12.Rfd1

• The game is equal.
• 12.Rfc1 Bb7 13.Qe3 Qe7 14.b3 Rfe8 15.a3 e5 is also equal.

12...Qb8 13.Bh3 h6 14.d5 e5

• 14...exd5 15.cxd5 Re8 16.Bxd7 Nxd7 17.Qf4 Qd8 18.Rac1 remains equal.

15.Nh4 b5 16.cxb5 Qxb5 17.a4

• The alternative is 17.Bg2!? Nb6 when:
• If 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Qd3 Qxd3 20.Rxd3 Rfb8 21.Nf5 Nxc3 gives Black a slight tactical edge.
• 18.a4?! Qxd5 19.Qe1 Qb3 20.Ra3 Qe6 21.h3 Bxg2 gives Black an extra pawn.

17...Qb6 18.Nf5 Rfe8

• 18...Nxd5 19.Nxh6+ gxh6 20.Bxd7 Rfd8 remains equal.

19.Ne3 Qa6!?

• 19...Nc5 20.Bxa5 Qa6 21.Ra3 Qxa5 22.b4 Qa7 23.bxc5 remains equal.

20.Bxd7 Nxd7 21.b4 axb4 22.Bxb4 Reb8 23.Qc3??

• White is caught napping. The moral of the story is don't leave a man unguarded like this.
• 23.Rdc1 Qb7 24.Rc4 Nf6 25.Ba5 Rc8 26.Rac1 Bxd5 remains equal.

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 23.Qd2c3

23...Qxe2! 0-1

• If 24.Rdc1 Qf3 25.Kf1 Nf6 then:
• 26.h3 Bg6 27.Qc6 Bd3+ 28.Kg1 Be4 29.Kf1 Nxd5 wins easily for Black.
• 26.a5 Nxd5 27.Nxd5 Qg2+ 28.Ke1 Bxd5 29.a6 Qe4+ wins the White Bishop.
• Mw. Peng resigns.

Ekaterina Atalik
Photo: from the official website of the Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament (Turkey)

To view this game:

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Ekaterina Atalik - Viktorija Cmilyte
Baltic Queen Tournament, Round 1
St. Petersburg, 11 August 2009

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

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

• The usual move is 7.e4.

7...Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.a4 a6 11.Re1

• If 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 then:
• If 13...Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4 then:
• 15...Bd7 16.a5 Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bf3 h5 21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 25.Bxg4 hxg4 26.Rh1 Qf6 gives Black the initiative (Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdov, 2008).
• 15...Rf8 16.Kh2 f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Naxb5 fxe4 20.Na7 Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 exf3 22.Nxc8 Qxc8 23.Rxf3 Bd4 24.Qf1 gives White an extra pawn (Brunner-Marzolo, Op, Nancy, 2007).
• If 13...Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 15.e4 Qc7 then:
• 16.Be3 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Nc2 b5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Rxa6 b4 22.Bf4 Rb6 23.Rxb6 Qxb6 24.Bd2 Be5 25.Ne3 Bd4 26.Re1 gives White tha material advantage (Mikhalevski-Cebalo, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 16.Re1 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 b5 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Be3 Qc8 20.Rc1 Qb7 21.Bf4 Qb6 22.Be3 Qd8 23.Bf4 Bc8 24.Rc6 gives White the initiative (Olsson-Brynell, Nordic Ch, Bergen, 2001).

11...Nbd7 12.e4


• If 12.h3 Rb8 13.Bf4 Qc7 14.e4 Nh5 then:
• 15.Be3 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bf1 b4 18.Nb5 Qb6 19.Nd2 Ne5 20.Na7 Bd7 21.g4 Nf6 22.f4 Nexg4 23.hxg4 Nxe4 24.Nc6 Bxc6 25.Ra6 Qc7 26.Rxc6 gives White the initiative and a material edge (Razuvaev-Panchenko, Soviet Ch FL, Minsk, 1985).
• 15.Bd2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.g4 Nhf6 18.Bf1 c4 19.b4 cxb3 20.Qxb3 Nc5 21.Qb4 Na6 22.Nxb5 Nxb4 23.Nxc7 Rxe4 24.Rab1 gives White a tactical edge (Christiansen-Mestel, Ol, Lucerne, 1982).

12...Qc7

• 12...c4 13.Bf1 Nc5 14.Nd2 Nd3 15.Bxd3 cxd3 16.Nc4 Bh3 17.Qxd3gives White an extra pawn (Ligterink-Lobron, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1986).

13.Bf4!?

• 13.Bf1 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5 15.Bf4 Re8 16.e5 dxe5 17.d6 is equal (Sosonko-Rechlis, IT, Jerusalem, 1986).

13...Ng4

• The game is equal.
• 13...Nh5 14.Bd2 Nhf6 15.Rc1 b6 16.b4 Bb7 17.Bf4 is equal.

14.Rc1 c4

• Black lays a claim on d3.
• 14...Nde5 15.Qc2 b6 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Re2 is equal.

15.Nd2 Nde5 16.h3!?

• White will allow the Knight to come to d3, forking the Rooks.
• 16.Re2 Qc5 17.Qc2 h6 18.b4 Qd4 19.Nf3 Nxf3+ remains equal.

16...Nxf2!

• The immediate 16...Nd3 is premature.
• If 16...Nd3?! 17.hxg4 then:
• 17...Nxc1 18.Qxc1 Bxg4 19.Bf1 b5 20.axb5 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 axb5 22.b3 assures White of a material advantage.
• 17...Bd4!? 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Nxc1 20.Qxc1 Bxg4 21.Bf1 wins a pawn for White.

17.Kxf2 Nd3+ 18.Kg1!?

• White should overprotect his King's Rook.
• 18.Kf1 Bd7 19.Qc2 Nxe1 20.Rxe1 gives White the advantage in space.

18...Nxb2!

• The game is equal.
• If 18...Nxc1!? 19.Qxc1 Bd7 20.a5 then:
• 20...Rac8 21.Qa1 b5 22.axb6 Qxb6+ 23.Kh2 gives White the more active game.
• 20...Qxa5 21.Nxc4 Qc5+ 22.Ne3 h6 23.g4 Rac8 24.Qd2 leaves White with the advantage in space.

19.Qf3 Nd3 20.Kh2?

• White wastes a tempo on a move she perhaps thought was prophylactic.
• If 20.Red1 Nxc1 21.Rxc1 Qc5+ 22.Kh2 b6 23.Qf1 then:
• 23...b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Nxb5 Qxb5 26.Nxc4 gives White an acvtive game for the exchange.
• 23...Bxc3 24.Rxc3 b5 25.Qb1 Bd7 26.a5 Qc7 27.Qb4 assures White of winning the pawn at d6.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ekaterina Atalik
Position after 20.Kg1h2

20...Bxc3!

• This should have won the game for Black.

21.Nxc4!?

• When asked why he made a particularly risky move on one occasion, Dr. Lasker replaied that he had examined all the other moves and, in his judgment, they were all bad; in other words, because he had a lost position and had nothing to lose (indeed, he won the game).
• If 21.Bxd6 then:
• 21...Qd7!! 22.Bf4 Nxe1 23.Rxe1 Ba5 24.Qf1 b5 wins for Black.
• Black aslo has a better game, but not one that's outright won, after 21...Qxd6 22.Rf1 Ne5 23.Qxc3 b5 24.Rb1 Bd7.
• 21.Rxc3 Nxe1 22.Qf2 Nxg2 23.Rxc4 Qe7 24.Qxg2 g5 gives Black the exchange and a won position.

21...Nxf4?!

• White is seeking complications, and Black did not find the best reply.21...Qxc4! 22.Red1 Nxc1 23.Rxc1 f5 24.Qxc3 Qxc3 25.Rxc3 wins for Black.

22.Qxf4

• 22.Rxc3 Nxd5 23.Rcc1 Nb6 24.Ne3 Qd8 25.Rf1 Be6 also cuts into Black's positional advantage.

22...Qxc4 23.Re3 Bd7?!

• Simpler and better is to just take the pawn.
• 23...Qxa4 24.Rexc3 Rd8 25.Qf6 Qe8 26.Kg1 a5 gets Black on the road to again making something of a superior position.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ekaterina Atalik
Position after 23...Bc8d7

24.Rexc3!

• White has a clear initiative.

24...Qxa4 25.Qxd6 Rad8 26.Qf6 Qb4

• If 26...b5 27.Rc7 Qa3 28.Ra1 then:
• 28...Qe7 29.Rxa6 Qxf6 30.Rxf6 Kf8 31.Rd6 Re7 32.Bf1 b4 33.Bb5 gives White a much superior position.
• 28...Qf8? 29.Rxa6 Re7 30.e5 b4 31.Rb6 leaves White with an easy win.

27.Rc7 a5

• If 27...b5 then White should win after 28.Ra7 Qe7 29.Qxe7 Rxe7 30.Rcc7.

28.Rf1 Rf8?

• This is the point of no return.
• 28...Qe7 29.Rxb7 Qxf6 30.Rxf6 Kf8 31.Ra7 a4 leaves Black with some fight, but her prospects are grim.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ekaterina Atalik
Position after 28...Re8f8

29.h4!

• Also good is 29.Rf4 h5 30.e5 Qb2 31.Rf2 Qb3 32.e6 Bxe6 33.dxe6.

29...Qd2

• If 29...Qb5 30.e5 Qa6 31.e6 then:
• 31...Bxe6 32.dxe6 Qxe6 33.Rxb7 Rd2 34.Qf3 gives White an overwhelming position.
• If 31...fxe6 then after 32.Qe7 Rxf1 33.Qxd8+ Black is soon mated.

30.Qe7 Rc8

• Like the text, 30...Qb2 drops a piece to 31.Rxd7 Rxd7 32.Qxd7.

31.Qxd7 Rxc7 32.Qxc7 b5

• The queenside pose a false hope for White.

33.e5 a4 34.e6 1-0

• If 34.e6 then after 34...f5 35.e7 Re8 36.d6 Kg7 37.d7 White queens on the next move.
• If 34...Qe3 then after 35.Rxf7 Qh6 36.d6 b4 37.d7 a3 38.d8Q Black is soon mated.
• Ms. Cmilyte resigns.

Monika Socko
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Monika Socko - Sarunas Sulskis
Arctic Chess Challenge, Round 6
Tromsø, 6 August 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Anderssen Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e5

• If 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Be3 d5 then:
• If 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 d4 10.exf6 dxc3 11.b3 Qxf6 12.0-0 e5 then:
• 13.a3 Bd6 14.Be4 Bb7 15.Qd3 Rd8 16.Qxc3 0-0 17.Bxa7 gives White an extra pawn (Olape- Z. Mohammed, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Qh5 h6 14.f4 e4 15.Bxe4 0-0 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Qe5 Qxe5 18.fxe5 Bg4 19.Rd4 c5 20.Rd6 Rae8 21.Rd5 Rc8 22.Rf4 Be6 23.Rd6 c4 is equal (Hector-Krasenkow, Op, Geneva, 1994).
• 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bd2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bd6 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qf3 transposes into Camino-Larsen, below.

6...Nd5 7.Bd2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Qg4 0-0

• If 9...g6 10.h4 h5 11.Qg3 Nc6 then:
• 12.Nb5 a6 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 Qf6 15.Bg5 Qf5 16.Bd3 Qe5+ 17.Qxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf6 Nxd3+ 19.cxd3 0-0 20.g4 hxg4 21.h5 gives White good prospects for a kingside attack (Rabar-Fuster, IT, Munich, 1941).
• If 12.Bd3 d6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Qf3 Bd7 then:
• 16.Be4 Rc8 17.Qd3 Bc5 18.Bg5 Be7 19.Bxg6 Bxg5 20.hxg5 Qxg5 21.Bxf7+ gives White an extra pawn (Erdelyi-Chereches, Spring Festival, Budapest, 2001).
• 16.Rb1 f5 17.Bc4 Kf7 18.Qd3 Qc7 19.0-0 Rae8 20.Bg5 Bc8 21.Rfe1 Kg7 22.Rbd1 Bc5 23.Be3 Bxe3 24.Qxe3 e5 25.Qc5 Qe7 26.Qxc6 Qxh4 27.Rd6 gives White the advantage in space (Camino-Larsen, Op, Las Palmas, 1999).

10.Bd3!?

• If 10.Bh6! g6 11.Bxf8 Bxf8 then:
• 12.Qg3 Qa5 13.Bc4 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 Bg7 16.Rae1 White goes forward an exchange to the good (Z. Almasi-Fedorov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2000).
• 12.Bd3!? d6 13.Qg3 Qa5 14.0-0 dxe5 15.Nf3 Nd7 16.Rad1 Qxc3 17.Ng5 Qc7 18.Qh4 Nf6 is equal (Ftacnik-Helmers, Op, Gjovik, 1983).

10...d6 11.f4!?

• 11.Bh6 g6 12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Bxf8 Bxf8 14.Qg3 gives White the exchange (Dückstein-Klinger, Austrian Ch, Vienna, 1985).

11...Nd7!?

• Black concedes the advantage in space to White.
• 11...f5 12.exf6 Rxf6 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Rae1 Qb6 is equal.

12.exd6 Bh4+ 13.g3 Bf6 14.Nf3!?

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 14.Nb5 e5 15.Qf3! Nc5 16.Nc7 Nxd3+ 17.Qxd3.

14...g6!

• 14...h6 15.Qh3 Nc5 16.g4 Nxd3+ 17.cxd3 Re8 18.Qg2 is equal.

15.0-0?!

• If 15.Rd1 Nc5 16.Ng5 Qxd6 then:
• If 17.Qh4! h5 18.g4 Nxd3+ 19.cxd3 Qxd3 then:
• 20.gxh5 Qe4+ 21.Kf2 Rd8 22.hxg6 Qxg6 is equal.
• 20.Qg3? Qd5 21.Rg1 hxg4 22.Qxg4 Kg7 23.Qg3 Qc4 leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• 17.Qf3? is an attempt to counterattack in the center, but after 17...h6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bg7 20.c4 then:
• 20...Qc7 Black is exploiting White's weak pawns.

15...Qb6+ 16.Rf2 Qxd6 17.Re1

• The text is better than 17.Ng5 Bg7 18.Ne4 Qc7 when:
• 19.Qh4 Qd8 20.Qxd8 Rxd8 21.Be3 f5 gives Black the initiative.
• 19.Qf3 Rd8 20.Rd1 Qa5 21.Bc4 Nc5 22.Nxc5 Qxc5 gives Black the initiative.

17...b6 18.h4?

• White needs something more energetic.
• If 18.Ng5! Bg7 19.Qh3 Nf6 then:
• 20.Be3 h6 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Rb8 leaves Black better, but White can still take a stand in the center.
• 20.Ne4? Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Rb8 22.g4 Qa3 gives Black excellent winning prospects.

18...h5 19.Qh3 e5!?

• Black lets the victory slip away.19...Bb7 20.g4 hxg4 21.Qxg4 Bg7 22.Qg5 Nf6 wins for Black.

20.Qf1 exf4?

• If 20...Bb7 when:
• 21.Ng5 exf4 22.Bxf4 Qc5 23.Ne4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Rae8 Black wins a pawn.
• 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.Bf4 Bxf4 24.Rxf4 Rae8 gives Black more freedom and a small tactical edge.

21.Bxf4 Qa3

BLACK: Sarunas Sulskis
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 21...Qd6a3

22.Nd4!

• White shields the pawn.

22...Bxd4 23.cxd4 Bb7 24.Bh6 Qd6

• If 24...Rfe8 25.Rxf7 Qd6 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Kh2 then:
• 27...Qd5 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Rxd7 Qxd7 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qxg6+ wins easily for White.
• 27...Bd5 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Rxd7 Re2+ 30.Qxe2 Qxd7 31.Bxg6 is an easy win for White.

25.Kh2 Qxd4 26.Bxf8 Rxf8

BLACK: Sarunas Sulskis
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 26...Ra8f8:B

27.Re7!

• Black is toast.

27...Ne5 28.Rxb7 Ng4+ 29.Kg1 f5

• If 29...Nxf2 30.Qxf2 then:
• If 30...Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 leaves White a piece up.
• 30...Qa1+ 31.Kg2 Qxa2 32.Qd4 wins for White.

30.Re7 Kh8 31.Kg2 Rf7 32.Rfe2 Rxe7

• Black has nothing better.

33.Rxe7 Ne3+ 34.Rxe3 Qxe3

• White is a piece to the good. The rest requires no comment.

35.Qf4 Qe6 36.Qb8+ Kg7 37.Qxa7+ Kf6 38.Qa8 Qd6 39.Qh8+ Ke7 40.Qg7+ Kd8 41.Qg8+ Kc7 42.Qc4+ 1-0

• A piece down, Sauranas resigns.
• This game features a nice recovery by Mrs. Socko, who went on to boast the superior tie break score among the four first place finishers in Tromsø.

Fourteen-year-old US IM Ray Robson won his first grandmaster norm in Tromsø.



Ray Robson
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Ray Robson - Vadim Malakhatko
Arctic Chess Challenge, Round 5
Tromsø, 5 August 2009

Open German Game: Seirawan Defense (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5

• If 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 then:
• If 9...Qc7 10.Bd2 Ngf6 11.0-0-0 e6 then:
• If 12.Ne4 0-0-0 then:
• If 13.g3 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 then:
• If 14...Nf6 15.Qe2 Bd6 then:
• If 16.c4 then:
• 16...c5 17.Bc3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Kb1 Rd7 20.Nb3 is equal (Pogonina-Solovjova, City OpW, Moscow, 2009).
• 16...Qe7 17.Kb1 Bc7 18.Bc3 draw (Palac-Zelcic, Premier League, Neum, 2005).
• 16.Ne5 c5 17.Nc4 cxd4 18.Nxd6+ Qxd6 19.Bf4 Qd5 20.Rhe1 Rd7 21.Rd3 b5 is equal (Calzetta-Benaddi, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• 14...Bd6 15.Rhe1 Nf6 16.Qe2 c5 17.c4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Nb3 Qc6 is equal (Skripchenko-Solovjova, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2005).
• 13.Kb1 Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Rhe1 Rhe8 16.c4 Kb8 17.Bc3 Bd6 18.Qe2 is equal (Spoelman-Doettling, GM Trmt, Hockenheim/Willingen, 2006).
• If 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.c4 c5 then:
• If 14.Bc3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 a6 16.Nf3 then:
• 16...Be7 17.Qe2 Rhe8 18.Rhe1 Qb6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 draw (Kavalek-Filip, IT, Marianske Lazne, 1965).
• If 16...Bc5 17.Qe2 Bd6 18.Ne4 Be7 then:
• If 19.Rhe1 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bf6 21.Qe3 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Nf6 is equal (Spassky-Matulovic, IT, Belgrade, 1964).
• 19.Nxf6 Bxf6 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ne5 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Qd3+ Ke7 is equal (Spassky-Petrosian, World Ch, Moscow, 1966).
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qe2 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Bc3 Rd7 20.Rc1 Qc5 21.Nb3 Qf5+ 22.Rc2 Bc7 is equal (Smyslov-Botvinnik, World Ch, Moscow, 1958).
• If 9...Ngf6 10.Bf4 e6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Kb1 0-0 13.Ng5 then:
• 13...Re8 14.Nh5 Nf8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Ne4 Ng6 17.Bg3 Bxh4 18.Bxh4 Nxh4 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.g4 Qd5 is equal (Matu-Bets. Local Trmt, Kishnev (Macedonia), 2001).
• With 13...hxg5?? Black falls into a well-known opening trap; White wins after 14.hxg5 g6 (14...Ne8 15.Qh7#) 15.gxf6.
• If 13...Qa5 then:
• 14.Bd2 Qd5 15.c4 Ne5 16.Qc2 Nxc4 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative (J. Polgar-Vallejo, IT, Benidorm, 2003),
• 14.N5e4 Rad8 15.Qf3 Nd5 is equal.

8...Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2

• If 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Qa5+ 12.Bd2 then:
• If 12...Qc7 13.0-0-0 then:
• If 13...Ngf6 14.Ne4 0-0-0 15.g3 then:
• If 15...Be7 16.Kb1 then:
• If 16...c5 17.Bf4 Qc6 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 then:
• If 19.d5 exd5 20.Qxd5 then:
• If 21...Ne5 21.Qxc6+ Nxc6 22.c3 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 then:
• If 23...Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Kc2 Kd7 26.Kd3 b5 then:
• 27.Be3 Kd6 28.b3 a6 29.Nd2 Ne5+ 30.Ke2 Kd5 31.f4 Ng4 32.c4+ is equal (Corrales-Milos, Pan-American Ch, São Paulo, 2009).
• 27.Ke4 Ke6 28.g4 b4 29.g5 hxg5 30.Bxg5 Be5 is equal (Rojas-Leitão, IT, Santiago, 2004).
• 23...Re8 24.Kc2 Re2+ 25.Rd2 Rxd2+ draw (Karjakin-Anastasian, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
• 19.Rhe1 c4 20.Qa3 a6 21.Qa5 Nb6 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Qxe5 Rhg8 24.g4 Nd5 25.Bg3 Qc7 26.Qe2 Qc6 27.Qe5 Qc7 28.Qe2 Qc6 29.Qe5 Qc7 draw (C. Balogh-Ruck, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).
20...Qxd5 21.Rxd5 Rhe8 22.Rhd1 b6 23.c3 Nf8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is equal (Areshchenko-B. Itkis, IT, Nikolaev, 2001).
• 16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Rhe8 18.Qe2 Bf8 19.Bc1 Bd6 20.Rhe1 Qa5 21.Nd2 Nf6 22.g4 Bc7 is equal (Timman-Portisch, IT, Antwerpen, 1989).
• If 15...Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.c4 c5 then:
• If 18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Qe2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 a6 21.Kb1 Rd7 then:
• If 22.Nb3 Qc6 23.Rh4 Rhd8 24.Rc1 Kb8 25.a3 Bc7 26.Ka2 Ka8 27.Rc2 Qd6 28.Nd4 Qb6 29.b4 Qa7 30.c5 Rd5 31.Bb2 is equal (Kotronias-Nanu, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• If 22.Rc1 Kb8 then:
• 23.Rh4 Rhd8 24.Qe1 Rc8 25.Nb3 Qc6 26.c5 Bc7 27.Rc4 b5 28.cxb6 Qxc4 29.bxc7+ Rdxc7 30.Be5 Qe4+ 31.Qxe4 Nxe4 32.Rc6 is equal (Negi-Postny, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
• 23.f4 Rhd8 24.Nf3 Qc5 25.Ne5 Bxe5 26.fxe5 Nh7 27.b3 Ng5 28.Kb2 Qc6 29.Rhd1 Ne4 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.Qf3 Nc5 32.Qxc6 bxc6 is equal (Berescu-Pantsulaia, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 18.d5 Nf6 19.Qc2 exd5 20.cxd5 Rhe8 21.Bc3 then:
• 21...Qd7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh4 Re5 24.f4 Rxh5 25.Qe2 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxf4+ 27.gxf4 Qxd5 28.Rd1 Qxa2 29.Rxd8+ Kxd8 30.Nf5 Qe6 31.Qd3+ White's Knight should be able to clean up Black's kingside pawns, bit that might not be enough to win (Hammer-Simutowe, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 21...Ng4 22.Nh4 Be5 23.Nf5 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qe5 25.Qc2 Kb8 26.f4 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Rxe4 28.Rhe1 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Rxd5 30.Nxg7 Kc7 31.Re7+ Rd7 32.Rxd7+ Kxd7 33.Kd2 draw (Kritz-Perelshteyn, IT, Lubbock, 2008).
• 13...0-0-0 14.Ne5 Nb6 15.Ba5 Rd5 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.c4 Ra5 18.Kb1 Bd6 19.f4 Kb8 20.Ne4 b5 21.c5 Bxe5 22.g3 Ra7 23.a3 Ra6 24.Rhe1 gives White the advantage in space (Spassky-Pomar, IT, Maliorka, 1968).
• 12...Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 then:
• If 14...Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rhe1 then:
• 17...a5 18.Bc1 Rfd8 19.Qc2 a4 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxd1 22.Qxd1 Nd7 23.f4 Nc5 24.Ne4 Rd8 is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 17...Rfd8 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3 gives White the advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Iordachescu, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 14...Bb4 then:
• 15.Ne4 Bxd2+ 16.Nfxd2 Ngf6 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb7 Qb4 19.Qa3 Qxa3 20.bxa3 c5 21.dxc5 Rhc8 22.Rb1 Nxc5 23.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn (Brandenburg-Pantsulaia, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Ngf6 18.Kc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rhe1 0-0 21.Ne5 Rfc8 22.b4 Ncd7 23.Nxd7 Nxd7 24.Ne4 gives White more space, but with so few pieces on the board the queenside majority may be more important (Mulyar-Figler, Op, Foxwoods, 2007).
• If 11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4 a5 21.c3 Rfc8 22.f3 b5 23.Nd3 Nd5 24.Bg3 a4 25.a3 c5 gives White the advantage in space (Ganguly-Le Quang Liem, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7

• 12...Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 transposes into Corrales-Milos, above.

13.Qe2

• If 13.Ne4 then:
• 13...0-0 14.Kb1 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Be3 Na4 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.c3 is equal (Kholmov-Nielsen, Op, Azov, 1993).
• If 13...Nxe4 14.Qxe4 then:
• If 14...Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 then:
• 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 0-0 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.g4 then:
• 20...c5 21.Kc2 cxd4 22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Bxd4 a6 24.Re1 Nf6 25.f3 gives White the advantage in space (Zhang Xiaowen-Hoang Thi Bao Tram, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• 20...Rac8 21.f3 Nd6 22.a4 f6 23.Ng6 Kf7 24.b3 b5 25.c5 Ne8 26.axb5 cxb5 27.Kc2 a6 28.Ra1 White has the initiative (So-Susanto, Op, Singapore, 2006).
• 17.Rde1 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 0-0 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.Bc3 c5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.g4 Rac8 23.b3 a6 is equal (Torma-Eperjesi, First Saturday, Budapest, 2005.06).
• 14...Qb6 15.Kb1 0-0-0 16.c4 c5 draw (Tal-Kengis, IT, Riga, 1981).

13...0-0 14.Nf1

• If 14.Kb1 then:
• 14...Qb6 15.c4 Rfd8 16.Ne5 c5 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Bc3 Bd4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 21.Rxd4 Qxd4 22.Rd1 Qc5 23.Ne4 Qf5 24.f3 Nxh5 gives Black an extra pawn. (Hou Yifan-Riazantsev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 14...c5 15.d5 Nxd5 16.Ne4 Qb6 17.c4 N5f6 18.Nc3 Rad8 19.Rdg1 Ng4 20.Bc1 Ndf6 gives Black the advantage in space (Glek-Willemze, Op, Hoogeveen, 2003).

14...c5

• If 14...Nb6 15.Kb1 Na4 16.Qd3 c5 17.Qb5 Qe8 18.Qxe8 Rfxe8 19.Ng3 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Red8 is equal (Csonka-Houska, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

15.g4 cxd4 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Nd5!?

• Black intoroduces a new move that is insufficient for equality.
• If 17...Qa5 18.Kb1 then:
• 18...Nc5? 19.Rxd4 Rfd8 20.Rdh4!? Qa6 21.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Meurs-Grooten, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• 18...e5 19.h6 g6 20.N1d2 Rac8 21.h7+ Kh8 22.Nb3 is equal.

18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rxd4

• White has the advantage in space.

19...Qf6 20.Kb1!?

• White could break open the kingside with advantage.
• 20.h6! Rfd8 21.hxg7 Kxg7 22.Ng3 Kf8 23.Ne4 gives White the initiative and open lanes to Black's back rank.

20...Qh6!

• Black stops the advance of the pawn.

21.c4 Rac8 22.Qd1 N5f6

• The game is equal.

23.Ne3 Nc5!?

• Since a pawn advance is all that it will take to drive away the blockader, Black should find another way to restrain White's queenside.
• 23...Rc7 24.Qa4 a6 25.Qa5 Rfc8 26.b4 b5 27.c5 remains equal.

BLACK: Vadim Malakhatko
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WHITE: Ray Robson
Position after 23...Nd7c5

24.Ne5!

• White again has the advantage in space.

24...Nce4 25.Qf3

• 25.N3g4 Qh7 26.Qc2 Rfd8 27.Nxf6+ gxf6 28.Nd7 gives White a tactical edge with the threat of 30.Nxf6+!.

25...Qh7 26.Ka1 Rcd8

• If 26...Rc5 then:
• 27.N3g4 Nxg4 28.Nxg4 f5 29.Ne3 Rc7 30.Rhd1 gives White the advantage in space.
• 27.Nd7!? Nxd7 28.Rxd7 b5 29.b4 Rg5 30.Rhd1 is equal.

27.Rxd8!?

• If 27.Rhd1! Rxd4 28.Rxd4 b6 29.N5g4 then:
• 29...a6 30.b4 b5 31.c5 a5 32.bxa5 Rc8 33.a6 leaves White a dangerous pawn to the good.
• 29...Qxh5 30.Rxe4! Nxe4 31.Qxe4 b5 32.Ne5 bxc4 33.Nc6 is equal.

27...Rxd8 28.h6 Rd2?

• Black ignores the festering danger to his King.
• 28...gxh6! 29.Qf4 Qg7 30.N3g4 Nxg4 31.Nxg4 f5 32.Nxh6+ is equal.

BLACK: Vadim Malakhatko
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WHITE: Ray Robson
Position after 28...Rd8d2

29.N3g4!

• White continues to build pressure against Black's kingside.
• 29.hxg7!? Qxg7 30.Nf1 Rd4 31.Ng3 Nxg3 32.fxg3 Ne4 is equal.

29...Qf5

• No better is 29...Kf8 30.hxg7+ Qxg7 31.Nxf6 Nxf6 32.Qxb7 a5 33.Qa8+.

30.Nxf6+ Nxf6 31.Qxb7 Qh5

• If 31...Nh5 then after 32.Qb8+ Kh7 33.hxg7! Kxg7 34.Rg1+ Kf6 35.Qh8+ White wins easily.

32.a3 Rd1+

• Black takes his last gasp of initiative, but it's futile.

BLACK: Vadim Malakhatko
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WHITE: Ray Robson
Position after 32...Rd2d1+

33.Rxd1

• It's not a proble,.

33...Qxd1+ 34.Ka2 Qh5 35.Qa8+

• Also good is 35.Qg2 Qxh6 36.Qa8+ Kh7 37.Qxa7 when:
• If 37...Qf4 38.Qe3 Qxe3 39.fxe3 g5 40.Nxf7 Kg6 41.Nd8 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• 37...Qg5 38.Nxf7 Qf4 39.Qc5 Ne4 40.Qh5+ Kg8 41.Ne5 leaves White two pawns to the good.

35...Kh7 36.hxg7 Kxg7 37.f4 Qf5 38.Qxa7 Nh5

• If 38...Ne4 then after 39.Nd3 Kf6 40.Qd4+ Ke7 41.b4 nothing will stop White's queenside pawns.
• 38...Qxf4 39.Qxf7+ Kh6 40.Qg6#.

39.Qd4 Qxf4 40.Qxf4 Nxf4 41.a4 1-0

• Black cannot stop all of White's pawns.
• Mh. Malakhatko resigns.