The JR Chess Report (September 27): Kasparov and Karpov Celebrate Their Rivalry

Kasparov and Karpov Celebrate Rivalry in Rapid/Blitz Match



Garry Kasparov won three out of four rapid games and five out of eight blitz games to win his much anticipated exhibition match against his old rival, Anatoly Karpov, in Valencia, Spain last week by a 9-3 score.

The match began Tuesday with two rapid games on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the start of 1984 world championship match between the two legendary chess players. Between 1984 and 1990, the two would play five matches with the world chess championship at stake in each. The first match was abandoned after 48 games, Kasparov narrowly won the second and third, the fourth ended in a 12-12 tie with Kasparov retaining the title and Kasparov won the 1990 match 12½-11½.

There will be another rapid/blitz match between the two great rivals in Paris in December.

By winning the second match in 1985, Kasparov, then 22, became the youngest ever world chess champion.

Kasparov, now 46, is today a leader of the political opposition to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin and has only engaged in occasional chess exhibitions or rapid/blitz matches since announcing his retirement after the Linares Tournament of 2005, in which Kasparov shared first prize with Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov.

Karpov is reputed to be the wealtiest man in Russia with investments in petroleum production. He seldom plays in a standard time control chess tournament nowadays, reserving most of his energy to rapid tournaments and exhibitions.

The rivalry betweeen the two is rightly regarded one of the greatest in sports history.


Sutovsky Runs off with Antwerp Tournament

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Israeli grandmaster Emil Sutovsky, his country's second ranked player behind Boris Gelfand, won the nventi Chess Tournament in Antwerp with 7 points out of a possible 9.

GMs Etienne Bacrot of France and Krishnan Sasikiran of India tied for a distant second with 5½ points each.


SPICE Cup: Three Grandmasters Tied with Four Wins among Them

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In a tournament featuring a number of fighting draws but few decisive games, three grandmasters go into today's eighth round tied for first place in the SPICE Cup Tournament on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

They are Jon Ledvig Hammer of Norway, Ukrainian Yuriy Kuzubov and Russia's Dmitry Andreikin. Jon Ludvig is the only player in the tournament with two victories to his credit; Kuzubov and Andreikin each have one win and seven draws.

A B-Group tournament is taking place at the same time. In that tournament, American IM Ben Feingold clinched his final necessary grandmaster norm today. Feingold, with 6 points out of eight, leads the B-Group by one point over American GMs Vinay Bhat and Eugene Perelshteyn and 14-year-old IM Ray Robson. Young Robson needs a win tomorrow to secure his final GM norm. If he is successful, he will become the youngest American chess grandmaster ever, a distinction currently held by the late Bobby Fischer.

The B-Group tournament ends tomorrow while the A-Group will fight it out until Tuesday.

The event was organized by the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), which is affiliated with Texas Tech University.


Short Bests Efimenko in 6-Game Match



Resurgent British GM Nigel Short defeated Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine in a six-game match with two wins against one last week in the western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo.

Efimenko, 20 years younger than his opponent, struck in round one with a victory with Black, but Short came back in round 2 to score a Black win of his own. Rounds three and four were drawn, but Short scored in his final White game in round five before the sixth round was drawn yesterday, ending the match.

The match was organized by UEP, which also organized last year's Anand-Kramnik world championship match in Bonn, Germany.


Wang Yue and Hou Yifan Crowned in Jinzhou



Grandmasters Wang Yue and Hou Yifan are the King and Queen of Chinese Chess after winning their repective groups at the Maotai Prince Cup National Tournament in Jinzhou last week.

Each division (men's and women's) played seven rounds.

Wang took 5 points to beat out fellow grandmaster Wang Hao by a half point. Ms. Hou scored 5½ points and needed a final-round victory over reigning Chinese women's champion Shen Yang edge Ju Wengen by a half point.




Calendar


Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 28 September-9 October. 10 rounds. Carlsen, Jakovenko, Leko, Radjabov, Topalov, Wang Yue.

Women's FIDE Grand Prix, Nanjing 28 September-9 October. 11 Rounds. Zhao Xue, Ju Wengen, Dzagnidze, Sebag, Xu Yuhua, Zhu Chen, Mkrtchian, Shen Yang, Batkuyag, Kovanova, Fierro, Yildiz.

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

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

Tal Memorial Tournament, Moscow 5-14 November. Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Gelfand, Ivanchuk, Kramnik, Leko, Morozevich, Ponomariov and Svidler.

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.

Anish Giri
Photo: Dr.John Nunn in ChessBase.com


Anish Giri - Friso Nijboer
Dutch National Championship, Round 7
Haaksbergen, 18 September 2009

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7

• For a survey of this opening and moves up to here, see Ivanchuk-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

9.Ne1

• If 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...a5 10.a3 then:
• If 10...Nd7 11.Rb1 f5 12.b4 Kh8 13.f3 Ng8 14.Qc2 Ngf6 15.Bd3 f4 16.Nb5 b6 17.Bb2 then:
• 17...Ne8 18.Be2 h5 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 Nxc5 21.a4 Rf7 22.Rfc1 g5 23.Ba3 Bf8 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Nb3 g4 26.Nxc5 gives White the advantage in space (Gurevich-van Wely, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• If 17...g5 18.Be2 h5 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 Nxc5 21.Bxe5 then:
• 21...g4 22.fxg4 Nxg4 23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Nb3 Na6 25.Qc3+ gives Black a strong game on the queenside (Gurevich-Khalifman, IT, Munich, 1992).
• 21...dxe5 22.Qxc5 Ne8 23.Rfc1 Rf6 24.Qc3 White must win a pawn.
• If 10...Bd7 11.b3 c6 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...Bh6 13.c5 dxc5 14.Nc4 cxd5 15.exd5 Nf5 16.Nxe5 Nd4 17.Bc4 Bf5 is equal (Sherbakov-Korotylev, Op, Pardubice, 1996).
• 12...c5 13.Nb5 Ne8 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1 16.Qxa1 Bh6 17.Nxd6 Nxd6 18.bxc5 Bxd2 19.cxd6 Nc8 20.c5 f6 21.Rb1 b6 22.c6 Nxd6 23.cxd7 Qxd7 24.Bd3 Rc8 25.Rd1 gives White a more active game (Hefka-Kazoks, Corres, 1999).
• If 9...c5 10.Rb1 Ne8 11.b4 b6 12.bxc5 bxc5 13.Nb3 f5 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Na5 Nf6 17.Nc6 Qe8 18.Bd3 Rf7 19.Rb3 f4 20.Be2 Bf8 21.Qc2 Bd7 22.Rfb1 is equal (Gurevich-Hebden, IT, Clichy, 2001).

9...Nd7 10.Nd3

• If 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 Ng6 14.a5 then:
• 14...h5 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 Bd7 17.c5 g4 18.c6 g3 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 Rxa7 21.cxd7 h4 22.Bf2 Ra8 23.Nc2 Bh6 24.Ne3 Bf4 25.Nf5 Nh5 26.Bb5 gives White two extra pawns and more space (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, TMatch, Prague, 1995).
• 14...Rf7 15.c5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.a6 Rf6 19.axb7 Bxb7 20.Nd3 Bf8 21.Rf2 Bd6 22.Na4 Qe7 23.Rc2 Rg8 24.Nf2 h5 25.Be2 Bc8 26.h3 gives White more freedom (Vigorito-Fedorowicz, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).

10...f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.c5 g5 14.Rc1

• If 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nf2 then:
• If 15...h5 16.h3 Ng6 17.Qc2 Rf7 18.Rfc1 then:
• If 18...g4 19.fxg4 hxg4 20.hxg4 Ne8 21.a4 Bf6 then:
• 22.Ncd1 Bh4 23.Nh3 Rg7 24.Ndf2 Nf8 25.Ra3 Nh7 26.Rc3 Bd7 27.Bb5 gives White the advantage in space (Sosonko-Ye Jiangchuan, IT, Hong Kong, 1989).
• 22.Bf3 Bh4 23.Ncd1 Bg3 24.Nh3 Qh4 25.Ndf2 Nf6 26.Qd1 gives White an extra pawn (Valden-Tsanas, Op, Glyfada, 2001).
• 18...a6 19.a4 Bf8 20.a5 g4 21.fxg4 hxg4 22.hxg4 b5 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Na4 Qa7 25.Ba5 Rb8 26.Bc7 Rb7 27.Bxd6 Bxd6 28.Qxc8+ gives White two extra pawns (Sosonko-Rogic, Op, Bled, 1997).
• 15...Ng6 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Rfc1 Bf8 18.a4 h5 19.Nb5 Ne8 20.h3 Nh4 21.Ra3 a6 22.Rc3 Bd7 23.Na3 gives White more freedom (Kozul-Srebrnic, Op, Nova Gorica, 1999).

14...Ng6 15.Nb5

• 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Nb5 Rf7 17.Qc2 Ne8 18.a4 h5 19.Nf2 Bf8 20.h3 Rg7 21.Qb3 Nh4 22.Rc2 g4 23.fxg4 Nf6 24.Be1 hxg4 25.hxg4 gives White an extra pawn (Ivanchuk-Cheparinov, IT, Sofia, 2008).

15...a6

• If 15...Rf7 16.Ba5 then:
• If 16...b6!? 17.cxd6 then:
• If 17...cxd6 18.Be1 a6 19.Nc3 then:
• 19...h5!? 20.Nb4 g4 21.Na4 Rb7 22.Bxa6 Rxa6 23.Nxa6 b5 24.Ba5 Qxa5 25.Rxc8+ allows Black to keep his material advantage and wins shortly (Meier-Bromberger, Jubilee Op, Zúrich, 2009).
• 19...Bb7 20.Bf2 Rc8 21.Qd2 Nd7 22.Rc2 Qf6 23.Rfc1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 17...bxa5 18.dxc7 Qe7 19.Nc5 a6 20.d6 gives White much better prospects.
• 16...dxc5! 17.Nxc5 b6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Re7 is equal.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer
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WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 15...a7a6

16.cxd6!?

• This piece sacrifice is already part of opening theory, but it remains to be seen how sound it is.

16...axb5 17.dxc7 Qd7

• Black improves on a recent novelty and should get an equal game.
• If 17...Qe8!? 18.Qb3 g4 19.Nc5 then:
• 19...Nh4?! 20.fxg4! Kh8 21.Ne6 Nxe4 22.Be1 gives White excellent wining chances (Berkes-Pavlovic, Serbian ChT, 2009).
• 19...gxf3! 20.Bxf3 b6 21.Ne6 Bxe6 22.dxe6 is equal.

18.Bb4!?

• Black has a Knight for two pawns; White has more activity in compensation for the material deficit..
• If 18.Qb3 then:
• 18...Ne8 19.Nc5 Qd6 20.Ne6 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Bxe6 22.dxe6 Nxc7 23.e7+ Rf7 24.Bc4 Nh8 25.Rfd1 Re8 draw (Biriukov-Solovjov, Op, St. Petersburg, 1999).
• If 18...g4!? 19.Bb4! Rf7 20.d6 then:
• 20...g3? 21.Rfd1 gxh2+ 22.Kxh2 b6 23.Ba3 Qe8 24.Nb4 Be6 25.Bxb5 Bd7 26.Bc4 Nh8 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Bxd5 b5 29.Bxa8 Qxa8 30.c8Q+ Black resigns (hariyazdanov-Klimov, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 1997).
• If 20...Ne8 21.Rfd1 Nxd6 22.Nf2 Ra6 23.Nxg4 h5 24.Rc5 gives White the initiative that is well worth the material deficit.

18...g4!?

• Black proffers the exchange in an attempt to gain space on the kingside.
• Better is 18...Rf7 19.Qb3 Ne8 20.Nc5 Qxc7 21.Ne6 Qb6+ 22.Bc5 with equality.

19.Nc5

• 19.Bxf8 Bxf8 20.Qb3 gxf3 21.Bxf3 gives White more freedom for his pieces.

19...Qxc7 20.Ne6!

• White forks the Queen and Rook.

20...Qf7?

• Black never recovers from this inaccuracy.
• 20...Qb6+! 21.Bc5 Qa5 22.Nxg7 Kxg7 23.Bxf8+ Kxf8 is equal.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer
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WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 20...Qc7f7

21.Bxb5!

• White finds the strongest reply. The Rook at f8 has no safe haven.

21...gxf3

• 21...Bd7 22.Bxd7 Nxd7 23.Bxf8 Ngxf8 24.Nxg7 Qxg7 25.a3 leaves White with a material advantage equivalent to a pawn.

22.Ng5 fxg2 23.Rf2!

• 23.Kxg2?! is refuted by 23...Nh4+! 24.Kh1 Qg6 25.Bxf8 Qxg5 26.Rg1 Ng4 givign Black a strong game.

23...Bg4 24.Qb3 Rfc8 25.Rfc2

• If 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 26.Rc2 then:
• 26...Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Nxd5 28.Nxf7 Nxb4 29.Qc4 gives White the Queen for two minor pieces and a pawn.
• 26...Nxe4 27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Rxc8 Bxc8 givews White the material advantage.

25...Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Nh4

• If 26...Bd1 then after 27.Nxf7 Bxc2 28.Qxc2 Kxf7 29.Qc7+ Kg8 30.d6 White wins with the advanced d-pawn.

27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Rc7+ Kg6

• If 28...Kg8 then after 29.d6+ Kh8 30.Qf7 Rg8 31.d7 Black is toast.

29.h3 f3

• Black's advanced passers on the kingside are his only justification for continuing the game.

30.Be1

• Also good is 30.hxg4 Nxg4 31.Bc5 Bf8 32.d6 Bxd6 33.Qe6+ wins back the piece and wins the game.

30...Bh6

• If 30...Bxh3 31.Bxh4! then:
• If 31...Bg4 32.Be2 fxe2 33.Rxg7+ Kxg7 34.Qxb7+ then:
• If 34...Kh6 35.Qxa8 Kh5 36.Qh8 Kxh4 37.Qxf6+ then:
• If 37...Kh5 then 38.Qxe5+ Kg6 39.Qg3 is time to turn out the lights.
• 37...Kh3 38.Qf2 h6 39.d6 wins for White.
• 34...Bd7 35.Qxa8 Nxe4 36.Qb7 Nf6 37.Kxg2 wins for White.
• 31...Rc8 32.Rxc8 Bxc8 33.Qxf3 leaves White with an easy win.

31.Bxh4

• Black could have resigned here.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer
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WHITE: Anish Giri
Position after 30...Bg7h6

31...Rxa2 32.Qxa2 Be3+ 33.Bf2 Bxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 35.Kg1 Ng5

• 35...Bxh3 36.Be8+ Kh6 37.Rf7 Ng3 38.Bb5 wins for White.

36.Bd3+ Kf6 37.Rxh7 1-0

• 37...Nxh7 38.Bxh7 laves White up by a Queen.
• Mh. Nijboer resigns.

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Xhao Xue - Hou Yifan
Maotai Prince Cup (Women's Group), Round 3
Jinzhou, 19 September 2009

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Bb4 5.Qa4+

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

5...Nc6 6.e3 0-0 7.a3

• If 7.Bd2 then:
• 7...a6 8.a3 Be7 9.Qc2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Bd6 11.0-0 e5 12.d5 Ne7 13.h3 Bf5 is equal (Karpov-Vescovi, Rpd, Guarulhos, 2006).
• 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Nb5 Be7 10.0-0 a6 11.Nc3 Bd6 12.Qc2 b5 13.Be2 Bb7 14.a3 e5 15.d5 Ne7 16.e4 is equal (Taniz-Zdebskaja, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne4

• 8...Bd7 9.Qc2 Na5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a4 Re8 12.Bd3 is equal (Koneru-Chiburdanidze, Grand Prix W, Istanbul, 2009).

9.Qc2 b6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Re8

• 11...Na5 12.0-0 Bb7 13.a4 c5 14.Ba3 Rc8 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rab1 Re8 17.Rfd1 Qc7 18.Nd2 Re6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Be2 gives White a slight edge with control of more space (Zhao Xue- T. Kosintseva, TMatch, Sochi, 2009).

12.0-0 Na5!?

• 12...Bb7 13.Nd2 Na5 14.f3 Nxd2 15.Bxd2 Nc4 16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.e4 is equal (Szabo-Taimanov, IT, Buenos Aires, 1960).

13.a4

• The game is equal.13.Ne5 f6 14.f3 Ng5 15.Ng4 Bxg4 16.fxg4 Qd7 gives Black a more aggressive game.

13...c5 14.Nd2!?

• White surrenders her stake in the center in order to allow Black to take the initiative and make a mistake.
• 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Rd1 Qf6 16.Bb2 remains equal.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 14.Ne4d2

14...Bf5!

• Black simply strengthens her grip on the center, which is not a mistake.

15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.dxc5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Nb3!

• Black takes a spatial advantage.

18.Ra3 Nxc5 19.Qe2

• 19.Qf5 leds to nothing after 19...Ne4 20.Bb2 Rc8 21.Rd1 Rc5 22.c4 g6.

19...Rc8 20.Rd1 Ne4 21.Bb2 h6!?

• Black is satisfied with her position and waits for White to take some action.
• Black can maintain a spatial edge after 21...Rc4 22.Rd4 Qg5 23.a5 b5 24.Ra1 a6.

22.a5

• 22.Rd4 Rc5 23.Rb3 Qg5 24.Qd3 Re6 offers little to either side.

22...bxa5 23.Ra4 Qb6

• 23...Nxc3 24.Bxc3 Rxc3 25.Qb5 Re7 26.Qxa5 Qxa5 27.Rxa5 equalizes.

24.Rxd5 Rb8 25.Ba1 Qc6!?

• White sacrifices a pawn, although it is doubtful she would get enough compensation with correct play.
• Safer is 25...Red8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Rd4 a4 28.Qd1 with equality.

26.Raxa5 Re5 27.c4?

• This only allows Black to uncork a brilliant combination.
• 27.Rxe5 Rb1+ 28.Qf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Qc4+ leaves White with an extra pawn.

27...Rb1+!

• Move order is very important here.
• 27...Qxc4? loses to 28.Qxc4 Rb1+ 29.Qf1 Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Nd2+ 31.Ke1.

28.Rd1

• Any other move loses immediately.

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BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 28.Rd4d1

28...Qxc4!!

• Black proffers the Queen and wins.

29.Rxb1

• Accepting the Queen loses quickly: if29.Qxc4 then 29...Rxd1+ 30.Qf1 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Rxa5 gives Black an extra Rook.
• White's best shot is 29.Bxe5 Qxe2 30.Rxb1 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qxe3 32.Bg3 Nxg3+ when Black has a material edge.
• If 29.Rxe5 then after 29...Qxe2 30.Rxb1 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qxe3 32.Rf5 Nf2+ wins the exchange (33.Kg1 Nd1+ 34.Kf1 (Black mates in two after 34.Kh1) 34...Qd3+).

29...Qxe2 30.Bxe5 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qxe3 32.h3

• White would get stiiffer resistance from 32.Bg3 Nxg3+ 33.hxg3 Qxg3 34.Rba1 Kh7 35.Rxa7.

32...Nd2 33.Rb8+

• If 33.Rd1 then Black wins material after 33...Qe2 34.Rc1 Nc4.

33...Kh7 34.Bc7 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 Nf1+ 0-1

• If 36.Kg1 then White must give up material or submit to mate after 36...Ne3+ 37.Kh2 Qf2
• Ms. Zhao resigns.

Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in Valencia
Photo: ChessBase.com


Anatoly Karpov - Garry Kasparov
Cuna del Ajedrez Moderno Rapid Match, Round 3
Valencia, 23 September 2009

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4

• If 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 Nb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 then:
• If 9.e3 Re8 then:
• 10.Ne1 e5 11.d5 Na5 12.e4 c6 13.Nc2 cxd5 14.exd5 Nac4 15.b3 Nd6 16.Bb2 e4 17.Rb1 Nd7 18.Ne3 f5 19.Ne2 Bxb2 20.Rxb2 Ne5 21.Rc2 Bd7 22.Nf4 Qf6 23.Qd2 draw (Vukic-Jansa, Op, Zenica, 1986).
• If 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 13.Re1 cxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 then:
• 15.Bf4 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Qd2 Nf5 18.Nde2 Na8 19.Rac1 Qa5 20.Ne4 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Bb2 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Bc3 Bxc3 24.N4xc3 Nc7 25.Rc1 doesn't offer either side a lot (Maric-Lahno, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 15.Rb1 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Bb2 Na8 18.Nce2 Qa5 19.a4 Nc7 20.Bc3 Qb6 is equal (Aronian-Miroshnichenko, Euro Ch, Antalya. 2004).
• If 9.d5 Na5 10.e4 c6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bf4 cxd5 then:
• 13.exd5 Nac4 14.Qe2 g5 15.Bc1 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bg6 18.h4 Qd7 19.hxg5 Qxg4 20.gxh6 Bf6 21.Re1 Rac8 22.Ne4 Qxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Nxd5 25.Nd2 draw (Krogius-Hort, IT, Varna, 1969).
• If 13.Nxd5 Nac4 then:
• 14.Nc7 Rb8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Rad1 Bg4 17.b3 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Ne5 is equal (Romanishin-Ftacnik, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 14.Qe2 g5 15.Nc7 Rb8 16.Rad1 Bd7 17.Ne6 fxe6 18.Bxb8 Qxb8 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Qxc4 Qd6 21.Qa4 gives White the initiative (Romanishin-van Mil, IT, Gyor, 1990).

6...Nb6 7.Ne2 c5


• If 7...0-0 8.0-0 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.d5 Na5 10.Nbc3 c6 then:
• 11.b3 cxd5 12.exd5 Bg4 13.f3 Bd7 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Rc1 e6 16.d6 Bc6 17.Nd4 is equal (Obukhov-Kostur, Op, Kurgan, 1994).
• 11.Re1 cxd5 12.exd5 Nac4 13.b3 Nd6 14.h3 Bd7 15.Bb2 Qc8 16.Rc1 Bxh3 17.Ne4 Qf5 18.Nxd6 exd6 19.Bxh3 Qxh3 is equal (Akopian-Vachier Lagrave, TMatch, Paris, 2009).
• If 8...e5 9.d5 c6 10.Nbc3 cxd5 11.exd5 then:
• 11...Bf5 12.b3 Qd7 13.Ba3 Rd8 14.Re1 Na6 15.Qd2 Rac8 16.Rad1 is equal (Morovic-Miles, IT, Linares, 1994).
• 11...Na6 12.b3 f5 13.Ba3 Rf7 14.Qd3 Bd7 15.d6 Be6 16.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Tregubov-Brendel, Op, Deizisau, 2001).

8.d5 e6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nec3


• If 10.Nbc3 Na6 then:
• 11.Nf4 exd5 12.Nfxd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.g4 Bd7 15.d6 Nb4 16.Bxb7 Qh4 17.Bf4 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Melkumyan-Khrismatullin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 11.h3 exd5 12.exd5 Nc4 13.b3 Nd6 14.Bf4 b6 15.Qd2 then:
• 15...Re8 16.Rad1 Bb7 17.g4 Nc7 18.a4 Qd7 19.Rfe1 Rad8 20.Bg5 Rc8 is equal (Kempinski- is equal ().
, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

15...Bb7 16.Rad1 Nc7 is equal (Karpov-Kasparov, Rpd Match Rd 1, Valencia, 2009).

10...Na6 11.a4

• 11.Na3 exd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Qd2 Nb4 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Nd3 18.Rxe8+ Rxe8 gives Black the advantage in space (Hulak-Brkic, Croatian Ch, Split, 2008).

11...exd5 12.exd5 Nb4!?

• 12...Bf5 13.Na3 Nb4 14.Be3 Rc8 15.Qd2 a5 16.Bh6 Bd3 17.Rfe1 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 N4xd5 is equal (Hellers-Ftacnik, ITZ, Biel, 1993).

13.Be3

• The game is equal.

13...Bd4!?

• After two victories the day before, Garry Kimovich is feeling frisky.
• 13...Nd7 14.Na3 b6 15.Qb3 Ne5 16.a5 Re8 17.h3 remains equal.

14.a5!

• Also good is
• 16.Rxa7? Rb8! 17.Na4 Nxd5 18.Nxc5 Ne3 19.fxe3 Bxe3+ gives Black two Bishops in an open center and an extra pawn after 20...Qxb6.

16...Bf5 17.Na3 Rxa7!?

• The pawn was not going to run away. Black should have been in more of a hurry to attack vulnerable pieces in White's camp.17...Bd3 18.Nab5 Bxc3 19.Nxc3 Bxf1 20.Bxf1 Qb6 gives Black a slight material edge..

18.Ncb5! Rxa3?!

• If 18...Bd3 19.Nxa7 Bxf1 then:
• If 20.Kxf1! Qf6 21.Qf3 Qa6+ 22.Qe2 then:
• 22...Bxb2! 23.Qxa6 bxa6 24.Nc2 Nxc2 25.Rxa6 is equal.
• 22...Qxe2+? 23.Kxe2 Bxb2 24.Rb1 Bxa3 25.Nb5 Ra8 26.d6 gives White an extra pawn and an advanced passer that Black can't watch too carefully.
• 20.Qxf1? Bxb2 21.Nc2 Bxa1 22.Nxb4 cxb4 23.Qxa1 Qb6 gives Black the advantage with the pawns on the roll.

19.Rxa3 Bxb2 20.Re3 Qb6?!

• Black abandons the d-file, making it easier for White to advance his passer.
• 20...c4 21.d6 Bd3 22.Qd2 then:
• 22...c3 23.Nxc3 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Bxf1 25.Qxb4 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 gives White the more active game, but Black has some potential counterplay with his b-pawn.
• 22...Bxf1 23.Bxf1 c3 24.Nxc3 Bxc3 25.Rxc3 Nc6 26.d7 gives White the more active game.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 20...Qd8b6

21.Qe2!

• White has a powerful position. Everything is defended, on undefended Black piece is under attack and the d-pawn is ready to roll.

21...Bg7 22.Rd1 Bd7 23.Na3 Bd4 24.Re7!

• Black forces away an obstacle to the pawn's advance.

24...Ba4 25.Rc1

• If 25.Rb1 Rd8 26.Nc4 then:
• 26...Qf6 27.Rxb7 Nxd5 28.Bxd5 Rxd5 29.R7b6 gives White the initiative.
• 26...Qa6 27.Rc7 Re8 28.Qf3 f5 29.Qf4 gives White excellent winning chances.

25...Qf6 26.Rxb7 Bb2 27.Rxc5 Bxa3 28.h4 Nd3 29.Ra5!

• Also good is 29.Rcc7 Qa1+ 30.Kh2 Ne1 31.Ra7.

29...Nc5 30.Rba7 Qd4 31.Qe3 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Bc1 33.Kf2 Nd3+?

• 33...Re8 34.Rxc5 Bxe3+ 35.Kf1 Bxc5 36.Rxa4 White still has the advantage of the outside passer.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 33...Nc5d3

34.Ke2!

• White demonstrates the futility and folly of Black's last move. After Black replies 34...Bc2, the presence of the White King amid Black pieces effectively freezes them as they are; if any one of them moves, another will fall.

34...Bc2

• If 34...Nb2 35.Rxa4 Nxa4 36.Rxa4 then:
• 36...Rb8 37.d6 Kf8 38.Ra8 Rxa8 39.Bxa8 Ke8 40.Bc6+ gives White a winning advantage.
• 36...f5 37.Kd3 Bb2 38.g4 fxg4 39.Rxg4 gives White two connected passed pawns.
• 34...Ne5 35.Rxa4 Rb8 36.Ra8 wins for White.

35.d6!

• Passed pawns lust to expand.

35...Re8 36.Ra8 1-0

• 36...Kg7 37.Rxe8 Bb2 38.Kd2 Ne1 39.d7 is hipeless for Black.
• Garry Kimovich resigns.

Please click the picture . . .



Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov
palyed five matches for the world title from 1984 through 1990
Photo: ChessBase.com


Garry Kasparov - Anatoly Karpov
5th Match for the World Title, Round 20
Lyon, 15 December 1990

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7

• This is the starting point of the Zaitsev Defense.

10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6

• For a more thorough examination of this opening, see Karjakin-Grischuk, Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2009.

13.Bc2

• If 13.d5 Nb8 14.c4 c6 then:
• If 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 then:
• If 17.cxb5 cxd5 18.exd5 then:
• If 18...Nxd5 19.Ne4 then:
• If 19...Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 then:
• 21.Re3 e4 22.Bd2 d5 23.Bc3 Qd8 24.Nd4 Bc5 25.Rg3 is equal (Svidler-Janssen, Bundesliga 0809, Eppingen, 2009).
• 21.Nh2 Nd7 22.Ng4 Qh4 23.Bd5 Bxd5 24.Qxd5 h5 is equal (Haznedaroglu-Dervishi, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 19...Nb4 20.Bg5 Qd7 21.Bxh6 d5 22.Bd2 Nd3 gives Black a full pawn center and a Knight on the sixth rank (Svidler-Grischuk, Euro ChT, Panormo, 2001).
• If 18...Nbd7 19.Nb1 Nc5 then:
• 20.Nc3 Nxb3 21.Qxb3 is equal (Svidler-Z, Almasi, IT, Dortmund, 1998).
• 20.Bc4 Qc7 21.Nc3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 17.dxc6 b4 18.Ba4 Nxc6 19.Nf1 Bb7 20.g4 is equal (Vasiukov-Razuvaev, Frunze, 1979).
• If 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 then:
• 17...Qxa8 18.cxb5 Nb4 19.Bc4 Nxe4 is equal (Mestal-Short, Esbjerg, 1984).
• 17...Bxa8 18.cxb5 Nb4 19.Qe2 gives White an extra pawn.

13...exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 f5

• 17...c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 is equal (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

18.Rae3

• If 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 22...Ra7 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Re7 is equal (Haba-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, 2003).

18...Nf6 19.Nh2 Kh8

• If 19...Qd7 20.exf5 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Bxd5 22.Ng4 Be7 then:
• 23.e4 Bf7 24.Nf3 Rd8 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, IT, Amsterdam, 1991).
• 23.b3 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 Bf6 is equal (Kotronias-Dervishi, Op, Ikaria, 1997).

20.b3!?

• If 20.exf5 Rxe3 21.Rxe3 Nbxd5 22.Re1 Qd7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Fedorowicz-Lobo, Op, San Francisco, 1995).

20...bxa4

• Black has a small advantage in space.

21.bxa4 c4!?

• Black losens his grip on the central dark squares.
• If 21...fxe4 22.Bxe4 Rb8 then:
• 23.Ng4 Nbxd5 24.Bxd5 Rxe3 25.Nxe3 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Bxd5 gives Black more space.
• 23.Nhf1 Nbxd5 24.Bxd5 Rxe3 25.Nxe3 transposes.

22.Bb2 fxe4 23.Nxe4 Nfxd5?!

• Black takes with the wrong Knight, abandoning the defense of the King.
• 23...Nbxd5 24.Rg3 Rc8 25.Nxf6 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Nxf6 gives Black an extra pawn.

24.Rg3!?

• While attacking Black's King, White weakens the defense of his back rank.
• 24.Qh5 Kg8 25.Ng4 Re6 then:
• 26.Ng5 Rg6 28.Qxf4 Rxg4 29.Qxg4 Qg5 30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Nxb7 wins for White.
• If 26.Nc5 Nf4 then:
• 27.Qf5! Qxg5 27.Qxg5 hxg5 28.Rxe6 c3 gives Black a small material advantage and the initiative.
• 27.Nxe6 Nxh5 28.Nxd8 Rxd8 29.Re8 Rxe8 30.Rxe8 gives White the active game.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 24.Re3g3

24...Re6!

• Black finds an ideal defensive outpost for the Rook.
• 24...Rc8!? 25.Qd2 Re6 26.Nf3 then:
• If 26...Qc7 27.Nd4 Re5 28.Nf5 c3 29.Nxc3 Rxe1+ 30.Qxe1 gives White more space and freedom.
• 26...Kg8? 27.Nd4 Re5 28.f4 Re7 29.Nf5 Rd7 30.Nxh6+!! gives White a winning attack.

25.Ng4?

• The Knight blocks the entry of White's Queen into the attack.
• Better is 25.Qg4 Qe7 26.Nf3 c3 when:
• If 27.Nxc3 then after 27...Rxe1+ 28.Nxe1 Qxe1+ 29.Kh2 Nf6 30.Qxb4 Rb8 the Queen in the enemy camp gives Black the advantage.
• 27.Nd4? Re5 28.Bxc3 Nxc3 29.Rxc3 d5 wins for Black.

25...Qe8 26.Nxh6

• 26.Qd4 c3! 27.Bxc3 Nxc3 28.Qxc3 d5 29.Nxh6 Rc8 gives Black the initiative with excellent winning chances.

26...c3 27.Nf5 cxb2 28.Qg4 Bc8

• 28...Qf7? 29.Ng5! Rxe1+ 30.Kh2 wins for White.

29.Qh4+?

• White should be concerned about the pawn at b2.
• If 29.Re2! then:
• 29...Kg8 30.Nxg7 Rg6 then:
• 31.Nxe8 Bxg4 32.N4f6+ Nxf6 33.Nxf6+ Rxf6 34.Rxg4+ Bg7 35.Rxb4 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 31.Qh4 Qf7 32.Ne6 Rxg3 33.Qxg3+ Bg7 34.N4g5 gives White a huge advantage in space and a strong initiative in compensation for the piece.
• 29...Qxa4? 30.Ng5 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Qxb1 32.Qh5+ White soon delivers mate.

29...Rh6?

• Black tries to avoid a draw and gets a loss.
• 29...Kg8 30.Nf6+ Nxf6 31.Nh6+ Kh8 32.Nf7+ Kg8 33.Nh6+ draws by repetition.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 29...Re6h6

30.Nxh6!

• White opens avenues of attack to Black's King.

30...gxh6 31.Kh2

• Even better is 31.Re2! Qe5 32.Ng5 Qf6 33.Re8 Ra7 34.Nh7, winning for White.

31...Qe5 32.Ng5 Qf6 33.Re8 Bf5

• If 33...Be6 34.Rxe6 then:
• If 34...Ra7 then White delivers mate soon after 35.Re8 Re7 36.Nh7.
• If 34...Bg7 then 35.Rxf6 Nxf6 36.Nf7+ Kg8 37.Qxf6 Kf8 38.Rxg7 Nd5 39.Rg8+ Kxg8 40.Nxh6#.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
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WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 33...Bc8f5

34.Qxh6+!

• Also continuing the mating attack is 34.Nf7+ Qxf7 35.Qxh6+ Bh7 36.Rxa8.

34...Qxh6 35.Nf7+ Kh7 36.Bxf5+ Qg6 37.Bxg6+

• If 37.Rxg6 Nf4 38.Rg5+ Ng6 39.Rxg6 then:
• 39...b1Q 40.Ng5+ Kh8 41.Bxb1 Rxe8 42.Nf7+ Kh7 43.Rg5+ forces mate.
• If 39...Rxe8 then 40.Rg5#.

37...Kg7 38.Rxa8 Be7

• 38...Nf4 39.Bh5+ Kf6 40.Rb3 Nxh5 41.Rxf8 gives White an easy win.

39.Rb8 a5 40.Be4+ Kxf7 41.Bxd5+ 1-0

• 41...Nxd5 42.Rxb2 gives White a prohibitive material advantage.
• Anatoly Evgenyevich resigns.

Chess Doubleheader Begins in Nanjing



The second annual Pearl Spring Chess Tounament and the second leg of of the 2009-10 FIDE Women's Grand Prix began yesterday (Monday) afternoon at the Pearl Spring Holiday Resort Hotel in the former Chinese capital of Nanjing.

The Pearl Spring Tournament is a double round robin among six players: Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Wang Yue (China). As was the case last year, the Pearl Spring is a grand slam tournament. The winner will play in Bilbao, Biscay Province (Spain) next August against the winners of the Corus A in Wijk aan Zee, the international tournament in Linares and the MTel Masters in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

So far, Magnus Carlsen has won both of his first two games, yesterday against Leko and today against Topalov. No other play has won a game.

The grand prix is being played among 12 women: nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Martha Fierro (Ecuador), Ju Wengen (China), Bara Kovanova (Russia), Lilit Mkrtchian (Armenia), Batkuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia), Marie Sebag (France), Shen Yang (China), Xu Yuhua (China), Yildiz (Turkey), Zhao Xue (China) and Zhu Chen (Qatar).

After two rounds, Ms. Dzagnidze is the only player with a perfect score. She is followed the two former world women's champions, Zhu Chen and Zu Yuhua, with a point and a half each.

The first leg of the Women's Grand Prix was play earlier this year in Istanbul and was won by Indian GM Koneru Humpy. The four remaining tournaments in the series will be played in Nalchik in the Russian Caucaus in April; Jermuk, Armenia in June and July; the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator in July and August; and Santiago, Chile, in Octobe and November, 2010.

The action in both tournaments begins at 3 pm Nanjing time (Midnight PDT) and may be followed on the official website of the both tournaments.


SPICE Cup Group A Ends in 3-Way Tie

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q0lTtPVTG40/Sqlz4zfpsTI/AAAAAAAA7_o/FabWgEut9uc/S217/2009+SPICE+Cup+TTU+Cover+2.tif.jpg

Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan defeated Norway's Jon Ludvig Hammer to join Ukrainian GM Yuriy Kuzubov and Dmitry Andeikin of Russia as co-champions of the 2009 SPICE Cup at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Jon Ludvig had been leading the tournament with Kuzubov and Andeikin most of the way. but dropped each of his last two games to fall back.

The event saw a number of fighting draws but few decisive game. Mamedov, Kuzubov and Andeikin each won only one game while drawing nine to share first place.

Good work. The staff rocks!