The JR Chess Report (May 14): Winner and still cham-peen, Vishy Anand

Anand Remains World Champion with Last Round Victory



Reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India saved his title when he defeated challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaia in the twelfth and final round of their title match with Black in 56 moves Tuesday in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Both players entered the final round with 5½ points apiece. A win by either man would have meant the right to wear the world chess crown. A draw would have sent the match to a rapid and blitz playoff scheduled for Thursday. Anand, who is considered by many to be the best speed chess player of all time, would have been the favorite to win such a playoff. Topalov was eager to avoid the situation.

Topalov, playing White, opened with his Queen's pawn, to which Anand replied by steering the game in the Lasker Defense of the Orthodox Queen's Gambit. This was taken as a sign that Anand, who was world rapid champion for nine straight years, had confidence in his abilitiy to retain his title in a series of games in which each player would have 25 minutes to make his moves.

Topalov was desperate to mix things up in an even position and played a risky pawn exchange in the center on his 31st move which opened the center to Black's better developed heavy pieces. Anand took advantage of the open center and played flawless chess thereafter, obtaining a winning position in a few short moves. Topalov fought on longer than usual, as is to be expected in a game with the world title on the line. Nevertheless, with his position in shambles, he resigned after Anand's 56th move.

The match was a true feast of fighting chess. Sespite some major errors by both players, it can be considered the best played world championship match since the series of matches between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov between 1984 and 1990.


Wang Hao Wins Sarajevo Open



The 40th International Tournament sponsored by the Bosna Chess Club in Sarajevo, an open tournament this year, was won yesterday by the top-seeded Wang Hao from China.

Wang began the tournament with a win and a draw, but lost his third round game to journeyman Russian grandmaster Dmitry Svetushkin, who was among the early leaders. He remained with a least a share of first place until round 6, when he lost German GM Jan Gustafsson, who found himself tied for the top spot with Russian GM Artyom Timofeev by the end of the day. Just half a point behind the new leaders was none other than Wang Hao, who brushed off his third-round set back and continued to play doggedly good chess.

Timofeev defeated Gustafsson in the seventh round while Wang drew his game with Indian GM Geetha Narayanan Gopal. Suddenly, Artyom Valeryevich was alone in first place a full point ahead of the pack.

Wang defeated Timofeev in Round 8 and then took out veteran Moldavan GM Viorel Bologan in Round 9. Wang concluded the event in the tenth round by drawing with Ukrainian GM Zahar Efimenko.

Unofficially, Wang, Bologan and Efimenko each finished with 8 points, but the tournament was officially using the 3-1-0 soccer style scoring system, which gave Wang 23 points (+7 -1 = 2) to 22 points each for Efimenko and Bologan (both +6 -0 =4).



Final Leg of FIDE Grand Prix begins in Astrakhan



The sixth and final leg of the 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix began Tuesday, 11 May 2010, in Astrakhan, a city in the Volga River Delta near where the river empties into the Caspian Sea.

The leader of the Grand Prix, Armenian GM Levon Aronian, has cinched first place in the GP and is not participating in Astrakhan. However, the second place finisher will be seeded into the next world championship cycle, so there is still much at stake in Astrakhan. Teimour Radjabov, who is participating in Astrakhan, is currently tied for second with reigning Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk, who is not.

After five rounds, Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov leads with 3½ points. Four players are tied for second with 3 points each: Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan), Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary) adn Boris Gelfand (Isreal).

Tomorrow is a rest day with action resuming Monday. The 13 round tournament finishes May 24.

Perhaps the fact that the 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix is finally finishing at the end of May 2010 tells us a great deal about FIDE President's Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's long, long reign of error.


US Championship Begins in St. Louis



The US Chess Championship began at 2 pm CDT (12 noon PDT) in St. Louis, Missouri, where the event was held last year to rave reviews.

Defending champion Hikaru Nakamura, now rated number 19 in the world, won his opening round game with Black over Alexander Stripunsky. The first round is still in progress as we go to press.

The US Championship is a nine round tournament scheduled to conclude Sunday, May 23.


Navara Win Big in Czech National Championship



Czech grandmaster David Navara won the Czech national championship in Ostrava on May 9 with 8½ points out of nine rounds and a performance rating just shy of 3000.

Navara finished a full two points ahead of his nearest competitor. A modest young man, he entered the final round with a perfect score and was content with a draw.

That Navara, who is rated 2718, over 70 points higher than the tournament's second seed, grandmaster Zbynek Hracek, was not surprising to any one. However, such a dominant performance is news worthy in any sport.


Breaking News: Russian Federation Nominates Karpov for FIDE president

From ChessBase.com
Dated Friday, May 14



Read more at the link.

This is very surprising and must be seen as a major blow to incumbant FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the George W. Bush of chess.


Calendar

Chicago Open 27-31 May.

Karpov International Tournament, Poikovsky 31 May-14 June. Bacrot, Bologan, Jakovenko, Motylev, Onischuk, Rianzantsev, Rublevsky, Shirov, Ivan Sokolov, Sutivsky, Svidler and Wang Hao.

45th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 9-22 June. Alekseev, Bruzón, Domínguez, Ivanchuk, Nepomniachtchi and Short.

Kings Tournament, Banza 14-24 June. Carlsen, Gelfand, Nisipeanu, Ponomariov, Radjabov and Wang Yue.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 15-25 July. Kramnik, Le Quang Liem, Leko, Mamedyarov, Naiditsch and Ponomariov.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 6-8 August. The world economic crisis reduces the festival to three days in 2010, with the rapid open and simultaneous exhibitions by Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk being the only featured events.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

Pan-American Women's Championship, São Paulo 10-21 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 December.

Vishy Anand and Veselin Topalov
standing during a minute of silence for the late Hungarian GM Andor Lilienthal
before the eleventh game
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Veselin Topalov
Match for the World Title, Round 11
Sofia, 9 May 2010

King's English Game: Catalan Four Knights' Opening

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7

• For moves and variations up to here, See link:www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=112078&mesg_id=112093|Tomashevsky-Wang Yue], TMatch, Sochi, 2009.

8.a3

• 8.d3 0-0 9.Be3 f5 then:
• If 10.b4 Bf6 then:
• 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 a6 13.bxa6 Rxa6 14.a4 c6 15.a5 Na8 gives Black the advantage in space (Zeynalov-Dzagnidze, Op, Tbilisi, 2009).
• 11.Nd2 Nd4 12.a4 a5 13.bxa5 Rxa5 14.Nb3 Ra8 15.a5 Nd7 16.Nd5 Ne6 gives White better development (Ivanchuk-Lautier, IT, Tilburg, 1992).
• If 10.Rc1 Be6 11.a3 then:
• 11...Bf6 12.b4 Nd4 13.Bxd4 exd4 14.Na4 Bd5 15.Nc5 Qe7 16.Qd2 Rae8 is equal (Ljubojevic-Hjartarson, Op, Reykjavik, 1991).
• 11...Kh8 12.b4 a5 13.b5 Nd4 14.Nxe5 Bxa3 15.Bxb7 Bxc1 16.Qxc1 Rb8 17.Bxd4 Qxd4 18.Nc6 gives White the initiative (Ivanchuk-Moroevich, Rpd, León, 2009).

8...0-0 9.b4 Be6

• 9...Re8 10.d3 Bf8 11.Bb2 then:
• 11...Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nd2 Rb8 14.Rc1 f5 15.Re1 Nd4 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.Qxb3+ Bf7 is equal (Cebalo-Lekic, Op, Bled, 1999).
• If 11...a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nd2 a4 then:
• 14.e3 Ne6 15.Qc2 Nc5 16.d4 exd4 17.exd4 Ne6 18.d5 Nd4 is equal (Dzindzichashvili-Wolff, Blitz, New York, 1993).
• 14.Rb1 Ra5 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.dxc4 Be6 17.e3 Bxc4 18.exd4 exd4 19.Ne4 Bxf1 20.Qxf1 gives Black the material advantage (Portisch-M. Petursson, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).

10.d3 f6

• 10...a5 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.bxc6 Nxc6 14.Rb1 a4 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qc2 Qc7 17.Bb2 Rfc8 18.Nde4 c5 gives Black the advantage in space (Navara-Timoshchenko, IT, Prague, 2004).

11.Ne4

• 11.Rb1 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 then:
• 13.Nde4 Rf7 14.e3 Nb5 15.Nxb5 cxb5 16.Bb2 Na4 17.Ba1 Rc8 18.d4 f5 is equal (Bareev-Ponomariov, TMatch, Moscow, 2002).
• 13.e3 Nb5 14.Nxb5 cxb5 15.Nb3 Na4 16.Bb2 Bd5 is equal (van Wely-Nyback, French ChT, Chalons en Champagne, 2009).

11...Qe8!?

• 11...a5 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Qc2 a4 15.Rb1 Ra7 16.Bb2 Nde7 17.e3 Ba2 gives Black the advantage in space (Miezis-Danin, IT, Utrecht, 2009).
• 11...Qd7 12.Bb2 Rfd8 13.Rc1 a6 14.Qc2 Bd5 15.Ba1 Bxe4 16.dxe4 Bd6 is equal (Romanov-Chuchelov, Bungesliga 0910, Mülheim, 2010).

12.Nc5

• The game is equal.

12...Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7

• 15...b5 16.Rfd1 Qg6 17.Rab1 a6 18.e4 remains equal.

16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7

• 18...Bd5 19.Rb1 b6 20.Rfc1 then:
• 20...Qh5 21.Rb5 Qg4 22.cxb6 cxb6 23.h3 Qd7 remains equal.
• 20...Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Nd4 22.Bxd4 Rxd4 23.Rb4 Rdd8 24.Qa4 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1

• 20.Rfe1 Be6 21.Qc2 b5 22.cxb6 cxb6 23.Qb1 Rc8 remains equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 20.Rf1d1

20...Be6!?

• Black needs to be more aggressive.
• 20...Bb3 21.Re1 b6 22.cxb6 Rxb6 23.Qd2 Qe6 remains equal.

21.Rd2!?

• White should move into the center without any further preparations.
• If 21.d4! Bb3 22.Rd2 exd4 23.Bxd4 then:
• 23...Rbd8 24.Bc3 b5 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.e4 Bc4 27.Nd2 is equal.
• 23...Ba4 24.e4 Nxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxd4 26.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space.

21...h6!?

• This waiting move aseems out of place.
• Better is 21...Nd5 22.d4 e4 23.Ne1 Qg6 24.Qc2 with equality.

22.Qb1

• Again, White misses a more aggressive move, but this one is good enough to give White some advantage.
• 22.Qb5 Qh5 23.Ba1 Qg4 24.h3 Qg6 25.Qa4 gives White some initiative on the queenside.

22...Nd5

• 22...b6 23.cxb6 Rxb6 24.Qa1 Nd5 25.a4 Nxc3 26.Qxc3 is equal.

23.Rb2

• If 23.Ba1!? b5 24.e4 Nde7 25.d4 then:
• 25...exd4! 26.Nxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Rxd4 28.Bxd4 is equal.
• 25...Nxd4!? 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.Nxd4 a5 28.Qc2 gives White the advantage in space.

23...b6 24.cxb6!?

• White releases the tension on the queenside too soon.
• 24.Bd2 Rc8 25.Rbc2 Nd4 26.Nxd4 exd4 27.Qb2 gives White the advantage in space and some initiative.

24...cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4!?

• White's advantage is still on the queenside and he has little chance of counter play on the opposite wing, so the text move is out of place.
• If 27.Qb5! a6 28.Qxa6 e4 then:
• If 29.Rxc6! Rxc6 30.Rxc6 then:
• 30...exf3 31.Rxe6 Qxe6 32.Bxf3 Rd8 33.Qc4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 30...exd3? 31.Nd4! Bf7 32.Qxd3 wins for White.
• 29.dxe4?! Nc7 30.Qd3 Rxd3 31.exd3 Na5 32.Rxc7 Qxd3 is equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 27.h2h4

27...Rd8

• The game is equal.

28.Qb5 Nde7

• 28...Nc7 29.Qb2 Nd5 30.Rc4 Bg4 31.Qb5 remains equal.

29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4

• 30.Bc3 e4 31.dxe4 Bxe4 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Qxd2 Qe6 remains equal.

30...Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6

• 33...Rc8 34.Rxc8+ Nxc8 35.e3 Ne7 36.Qa3 Kf8 37.e4 remains equal.

34.d4 e4 35.Nd2 Qxd4

• 35...f5 36.Nc4 Rc8 37.Ne3 Rxc2 38.Nxc2 remains equal.

36.Nxe4 Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7

• 37...Rd1+ 38.Kh2 f5 39.Nd2 Nd5 40.Nf3 Nf6 41.Ne5 remains equal.

38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4

• 40.Rc2 g4 41.Kf1 Bd7 42.Rb2 Rh8 43.Nc3 remains equal.

40...gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5!?

• 42...Bd5 43.Rd2 Rxd2+ 44.Nxd2 Bxg2 45.Kxg2 remains equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 42...Ne7f5

43.Bf3!?

• After 43.g4! Nd6 44.Nxd6+ Rxd6 45.Bf3 Bc4 46.Rb4 Black's queenside is stopped and the Bishop is attacked.

43...Bd5

• The game is equal.

44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4

• 46.Rd2 Ke7 47.Re2+ Kd6 48.Nd2 Kd5 49.Nb1 Rc4 remains equal.

46...Nd6! 47.Kg3 Ne4+

• If 47...Ke6 then:
• 48.Rb3 Kd5 49.g5 Ne4+ 50.Kh3 fxg5 51.fxg5 Kc4 remains equal.
• If 48.g5!? fxg5 49.fxg5 Kf5! 50.Kh2 then:
• 50...Rg4 51.Kh3 Ne4 52.Nd4+ Kxg5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 50...Ra3 51.Rf2 Kg6 52.Nd4 Kxg5 gives Black an extra pawn.

48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2?!

• White drops a pawn.
• 49.Kg3 Ke6 50.g5 Nf5+ then:
• 51.Kg4 Ne3+ 52.Kg3 Nf1+ 53.Kg2 Rxf4 54.Re2+ remains equal.
• 51.Kg2 Rxf4 52.gxf6 Kxf6 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 49.Rb2d2

49...Nxb5!

• Black capitalizes on White's inaccuracy, giving him two connected remote passers.
• 49...Rxf4 50.Kg3 Rxf3+ 51.Kxf3 Nxb5 then:
• If 52.Rd5 then:
• 52...Nc3 53.Rd3 Nb5 54.Rd5 Nc3 etc. draws.
• 52...a6!? 53.Rd7+! Kg6 54.Rb7 gives the advantage to White.
• 52.Kf4 Ke6 53.Rb2 Nc3 54.Rb3 Nd5+ 55.Ke4 a5 is equal.

50.f5 Re4 51.Kh5

• 51.Kg3 Nc3 52.Rd3 Ne2+ 53.Kf2 Nf4 54.Rd7+ Re7 Black still has the two passers and White's pawn majority is still immoble.

51...Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3

• If 52...a5!? 53.Rb2! then:
• 53...Re5 54.Ng6 Rc5 55.Re2 Nd6 56.Re7+ is equal.
• If 53...Nc3 54.Rxb6 Nd5 55.Rb7+ Ke8 56.Ra7 then:
• 56...Nf4+ 57.Kh6 Rh3 58.Kg7 Rxh4 59.Kxf6 is equal.
• 56...Ra3 57.Kg6 a4 58.Ra5 Ne3 59.g5 Nxf5 60.Nxf5 fxg5 61.Kxg5 is equal.

53.Rd7+! Re7 54.Rd3

• 54.Rd8 a5 55.Ng6 Re1 56.Nh8+ Ke7 57.Rb8 Nd5 maintains Black's remote passers.

54...Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5?!

• The sortie to c5 is premature.
• If 55...Rc7 56.Rd8 then:
• If 56...Kg7 57.Nf4! then:
• If 57...Nc5! 58.Ne6+ Nxe6 59.fxe6 Rc5+ 60.Kh4 Re5 Black should win.
• If 57...Rb7!? 58.Ne6+ then:
• 58...Kh7 59.Nf8+ Kg7 60.Ne6+ Kh7 is equal.
• 58...Kf7? 59.Rd4! (White threatens both 60.Rxe4 and 60.Nd8+) 59...Ng3+ 60.Kh4 Ne2 61.Re4 Nc3 62.Rc4! wins for White.
• 56...Nc5 57.g5 Kg7 58.Nf4 fxg5 59.Kxg5 a5 60.f6+ Black's twp connected passers give him the edge.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 55...Ne4c5

56.Ra3!

• The game descends into equality.
• 56.Nxe7! Nxd3 57.Nc8 b5 58.Nd6+ Ke7 59.Nxb5 is also equal.

56...Rd7 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5

• If 58.Nf4 a5 59.g5 fxg5 60.Kxg5 then:
• 60...a4 61.f6+ Kf7 62.Kf5 Nb3 63.Rg3 Nd4+ remains equal.
• 60...Kf7 61.Ng6 Rc7 62.Nh8+ Kg8 63.Re8+ Kh7 64.Ng6 remains equal.

58...b5

• 58...a5 59.Nf4 fxg5 60.Kxg5 a4 61.f6+ Kf7 62.Kf5 Nb3 remains equal.

59.Nf4 b4

• 59...fxg5 60.Kxg5 b4 61.Re5 Nb3 62.Rb5 a5 63.f6+ remains equal.

60.g6 b3

• 60...a5 61.Re8 Rd4 62.Rc8 Rxf4 63.Rxc5 a4 64.Rc7+ remains equal.

61.Rc3 Rd4 62.Rxc5 Rxf4

• With the Knights off the board, the game is a dead draw.

63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7

• 64.Rc8+ Kg7 65.Rc7+ Kg8 etc. draws.

64...Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 ½-½

• 66.Kg4 Rd3 67.Rb7+ Kg8 68.Rxa7 Rd4+ 69.Kf3 Rb4 70.Ra1 isn't quite down to the Kings, but it's still all played out.

Dmitry Svetushkin was the mid-round leader in Sarajevo after defeating eventual tournament champion Wang Hao in the third round.



Dmitry Svetuskin
Photo by karpidis, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Dmitry Svetushkin - Wang Hao
SK Bosna International Open Tounament, Round 3
Sarajevo, 7 May 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0

• For moves and variation us to here, see Dzhumaev-Ghaem Maghami, Op, New Delhi, 2010.

10...b4

• If 10...Bb7 then:
• If 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 then:
• If 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4 d5 then:
• If 17.b5 dxe4 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Nb5 Qc8 21.Bf4 Nd5 22.fxe4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 gives White a great deal more space (Ivanchuk-van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).
• 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 gives White a substantial lead in space.
• 14...Rc8 15.Qxb4 Qc7 16.Kb1 d5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Bd3 dxe4 20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nd5 22.Nb5 gives White more space and the initiative (Lafarga-Schoonhoven, cyberspace, 2003).
• 11.Bd3 Ne5 12.Rhe1 Rc8 13.Kb1 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc4 15.Qe2 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b4 17.Nd5 g5 18.Nf5 Rg8 gives White the advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges (Morozevich-Topalov, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).

11.Nce2

• If 11.Na4 Ne5 then:
• If 12.b3 Bd7 13.Nb2 d5 14.Bf4 Qc7 then:
• 15.Nd3 Nxd3+ 16.Bxd3 Qb6 17.Ne2 dxe4 18.Bxe4 Rd8 19.Be3 Bc5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Qd4 Rc8 gives Black the advantage in space (Leko-Ivanchuk, Rpd Match, Mukachewo, 2007).
• 15.Bg3 dxe4 16.Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Qa5 18.Kb1 Be7 19.h4 Rd8 20.Qe3 e5 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.gxf5 0-0 23.fxe4 Bc5 gives Black a clear initiative (Z. Almasi-Cheparinov, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 12.Qxb4 Bd7 13.Nc3 Qc7 14.Nb1 d5 15.Qc3 Qxc3 16.Nxc3 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Nxg4 is equal (Cote-Avotins, Cyberspace, 2004).

11...Qc7 12.Bg2

• 12.h4 d5 13.Bh3 dxe4 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 exf3 16.Ng3 Nd5 gives Black two extra pawns (Karjakin-Ivanchuk, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

12...Ne5 13.b3!?

• 13.Qxb4 Nc4 14.Qc3 d5 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.f4 Qc7 18.exd5 Rb8 White has three pawns for a piece and a little more space (Komodo-Sjeng, Computer Game, Cyberspace, 2010).

13...d5

• The game is equal.

14.exd5!?

• This pawn sacrifice is speculative.
• If 14.Bf4 dxe4 15.Nc6 Nd3+ then:
• If 16.Qxd3 exd3 17.Bxc7 Bb7 18.Rxd3 Bxc6 then:
• If 19.Rhd1! Nxg4 then:
• 20.Rd8+ Ke7 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Rd8 is equal.
• 20.fxg4 Bxg2 21.Rd8+ Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Ke7 23.Ba5 g5 is equal as White will win back the pawn.
• 19.h3!? h5 20.Nd4 Bb7 21.g5 Rc8 22.Bh2 Nd5 gives Black a small advantage as he is targeting the backward c-pawn.
• 16.Kb1?! drops a pawn to 16...Qxc6! 17.fxe4 Qd7 18.cxd3 Nxg4.

BLACK: Wang Hao
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WHITE: Dmitry Svetushkin
Position after 14.ed5:p

14...Nxd5!

• Black assures himself of a material advantage.
• 14...exd5!? 15.h4 Bb7 16.g5 Nfd7 17.gxh6 gxh6 "merely" gives Black a healthy spatial edge.

15.f4 Nxg4 16.Bxd5 exd5

• Black has an extra pawn.

17.f5

• White has more going for himself after 17.Ng3 Nf6 18.Rhg1 Bb7 19.Ndf5 0-0-0 20.Bd4 Qc6, but Black still has an extra pawn.

17...Bb7 18.Bf4 Qa5

• If 18...Qc5 19.Ng3 0-0-0 20.Nh5 then:
• 20...Qa5 21.a4 g6 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.Ne6 gxh5 24.Nxd8 Qxd8 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to two pawns.
• 20...Qc3 21.Qxc3+ bxc3 22.Rd3 Ba3+ 23.Kb1 Bb2 24.Rg3 gives White the initiative.

19.Kb1

• If 19.Rhe1 then:
• If 19...0-0-0 20.Kb1 Nf2 21.Rc1 Bc5 then:
• 22.Ng3 Nh3 23.Be3 Ng5 gives Black an extra pawn an more space.
• 22.Be5 Ne4 23.Qd3 Rhg8 24.Rg1 f6 25.Bg3 Rde8 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 19...Nf6?! 20.Ng3+ Kd8 21.Kb1 then:
• If 21...Rc8 22.Qe2 Bc5 23.Be5 Qb6 24.Nh5 Kd7 is equal.
• 21...Be7 22.Ne4 Nxe4 23.Rxe4 Qc5 24.Rde1 Bh4 gives Black an extra pawn.

19...Nf2!?

• The Knight sortie seems a waste of time.
• 19...Nf6 20.Ng3 0-0-0 21.Rc1 Rd7 22.Rhd1 Be7 maintains Black's pawn, but White is cutting into his spatial advantage with some judicious regrouping.
• 19...Be7! 20.Qe1 Nf6 21.Rg1 Rg8 then:
• If 22.Rg2 Rc8 23.Qg1 Kf8 24.Rd3 Ba8 is equal.
• If 22.Rd3 then after 22...0-0-0 23.Be5 Rde8 24.c3 Qb6 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

20.Qe3+!

• White foils any ideas Black had about winning the exchange.

20...Ne4 21.Ng3 Be7

• One of the problems with having an advantage out of the opening is that if one cannot develop a piece with a gain of time than the other side may catch up.
• 21...Rc8 22.Rhg1 Rc3 23.Rd3 Rc5 24.Nh5 Be7 is equal; White cannot play 25.Nxg7!? because of 25...Rg8!.

22.Nxe4!

• White strikes at the center,
• 22.Nge2? Bf6! 23.Rhg1 Rc8 24.h4 Qc5 25.Kc1 Kd7 gives Black an extra pawn and White no good moves.

22...dxe4 23.Qg3 Bd5?!

• The Bishop is better where it was, protecting the a-pawn.
• If 23...Rg8! 24.Bxh6 Bf6 25.Bg5 then:
• If 25...Be5 26.Bf4 Bxf4 27.Qxf4 0-0-0 28.Rhg1 Qc5 gives Black more tactical possiblities.
• 25...0-0-0 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Qe3 Qc5 28.a3 a5 leaves Black with the advantage in space.

BLACK: Wang Hao
""""""""#
$t+ +l+ T%
$+ + VoO %
$o+ + + O%
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WHITE: Dmitry Svetushkin
Position after 23...Bb7d5

24.Ne6!!

• This piece sacrifice turns the game around.
• If 24.Qxg7 0-0-0 25.Ne2 Rhe8 26.Qxh6 Kb7 27.f6 Bc5 when White has an extra pawn, but Black has the center blocked.

24...Bxe6

• Black must now play carefully.
• If 24...fxe6? 25.Qg6+! Kf8 26.fxe6 then:
• 26...Kg8 27.Qf7+ Kh7 28.Qf5+ Kg8 29.Rxd5 Rf8 30.Qxf8+! wins a Rook.
• 26...Bxe6 27.Qxe6 Qa4 28.Rhf1 leads to mate.

25.Qxg7 Rf8 26.fxe6 Qf5

• 26...Qh5 27.Rhf1 Qf5 28.exf7+ Rxf7 29.Qxh6 Rf6 30.Qg7 gives White an extra pawn and more space; Black's King cannot move.

27.exf7+ Rxf7 28.Qxh6 Rc8?

• This move is better played when Black is facing no threats to his King.
• If 28...Rf6 29.Qh8+ Rf8 30.Qg7 then:
• If 30...Rc8! 31.Qg2 Qe6 32.Rhf133.Re1 Kf7 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8 35.Bxf8 Kxf8 36.Rxe4 leaves White two pawns to the good.
then:
• 32...Rd8 33.Rde1 Rd4 34.Be3 Rxf1 35.Qxf1 Rd5 36.Qc4 gives White an extra pawn, but Black is still fighting.
• If 32...Rg8 33.Qe2 Rd8 34.Qh5+ Rg6 35.Rxd8+ Kxd8 36.Rd1+ then:
• 36...Kc8 37.Qa5 Qb6 38.Qd5 Qc6 39.Qe5 Rd6 40.Rxd6 leaves White with an extra piece.
• If 36...Ke8 37.Rg1 Kf7 38.Qh7+ Ke8 39.Rxg6 Qd5 40.Rg7 is an easy win.
• If 30...Qf6? 31.Qg2 Qc6 32.Be5 then:
• If 32...Rd8 33.Rxd8+ Kxd8 34.Rd1+ Ke8 35.Rd4 Rf5 36.Rxe4 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• If 32...Rf3 33.Rd4 Bc5 34.Rc4 then:
• If 34...Rd8 35.Re1 Rf2 36.Qg4 e3 37.Bf4!! then:
• 37...Rxf4 38.Qh5+ Kd7 39.Rxc5 Rf2 40.Rxe3 Rf1+ 41.Kb2 leaves White two pawns up.
• 37...Rg2 38.Qh5+ Qg6 39.Qxc5 e2 40.Qe5+ wins.
• 34...0-0-0 35.c3 bxc3 36.b4 Rd5 37.Bxc3 Kd8 38.Bb2 Rfd3 39.Qxe4 wins for White.

29.Be3

• The text is good, but better is 29.Qxa6! Qc5 30.Rd2 then:
• If 30...Qc6 31.Qxc6+ Rxc6 32.Be3 then:
• 32...Rf3 33.Re2 Kf7 34.Bd2 Re6 35.Rhe1 Bh4 36.Rc1 leaves White with two extra pawns, with which he should win.
• 32...Rcf6 33.Rc1 Rf3 34.Re2 Kd7 35.c4 Kc6 36.Rg1 gives White two extra pawns.
• 30...Rf6 31.Qa4+ Rcc6 32.Qa8+ Kf7 33.Bg3 e3 34.Re2 gives White two extra pawns.

29...Rf6

• If 29...Qf6 30.Rhg1 Qxh6 31.Bxh6 then:
• If 31...Bf8 32.Rg8 then:
• 32...Rf2 33.Re1 Kf7 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8 35.Bxf8 Kxf8 36.Rxe4 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• If 32...Rc6 33.Bxf8 Rxf8 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Rd4 then:
• 35...Re6 36.Rxb4 e3 37.Rf4+ Ke7 38.Rf1 leaves White two pawns up.
• If 35...e3 then:
• 36.Re4 Rh6 37.h4 Kf7 38.Kb2 Kf6 39.a3 then:
• 39...Kf5 40.Rxe3 Rxh4 41.axb4 Rxb4 42.c4 leaves White a pawn to the good and winning.
36.Rxb4 e3 37.Rf4+ Ke7 38.Rf1 leaves White two pawns up.

• 39...e2 40.axb4 Rxh4 41.Rxe2 Rxb4 42.c4 leaves White a pawn to the good and winning.
• 36.Rxb4! Re6 37.Rf4+ transposes into the main line of this variation.
• 31...Rf6 32.Rg8+ Bf8 33.Bxf8 Rxf8 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Rd4 wins a second pawn.

BLACK: Wang Hao
""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Svetushkin
Position after 29...Rf7f6

30.Qg7!

• White weaves a mating net.

30...Qg6 31.Qh8+ Rf8

• 31...Bf8 32.Rhg1 Qf7 33.Rd4 Re6 34.Rxb4 leaves White two pawns to the good.

32.Qe5 Qg2 33.Bd2 Rc5

• If 33...Qf2 34.Bxb4 Qxc2+ 35.Ka1 then:
• If 35...Qc7 36.Qxe4 Rb8 37.Bxe7 Qc3+ 38.Kb1 then:
• 38...Rxb3+ 39.axb3 Qxb3+ 40.Kc1 Qc3+ 41.Qc2 gives White at least an extra Rook.
• If 38...Qf3 39.Qxf3 Rxf3 40.Rhe1 Ra8 41.h4 Kf7 42.Rd7 wins easily.
• 35...Rc5 36.Rd5 Qf2 37.Bxc5 Qf6 38.Bxe7 Qxe5+ 39.Rxe5 gives White two extra pieces.

34.Qb8+ Kf7 35.Qxb4 Rxc2

• If 35...Rc6 36.Qb7 Rfc8 37.Rhg1 Qh3 38.Rdf1+ then:
• 38...Ke6 39.Rg6+ Kd5 40.Rd1 R8c7 41.Ba5+ Ke5 42.Bxc7+ gives White an extra Rook.
• 38...Qxf1+ 39.Rxf1+ Ke8 40.Bg5 R8c7 41.Qb8+ wins easily.

36.Rhf1+ Kg8 37.Rg1 1-0

• 37...Bxb4 38.Rxg2+ Kf7 39.Kxc2 leaves White a Rook to the good.
• Grandmaster Wang resigns.

David Navara won the 2010 Czech National Championship in Ostrava with 8½ points in nine rounds.



David Navara
Photo by Stefan 64 in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


David Navara - Vitezslav Rasik
Chech Championship, Round 7
Ostrava, 7 May 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nc6

• 6...a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 is equal.

7.f3

• If 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.g4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 then:
• If 14.f4 Nc5 15.f5 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 exf5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Rg1 Re8 19.Qf2 then:
• 19...fxe4 20.Rxe4 Bb7 21.Bb6 Bxd5 22.Bxd8 Bxe4 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 draw (Dr. Nunn-van der Wiel, IT, Brussels, 1985).
• 19...g6 20.Qh4 Bb7 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Bf8 23.Bd4 is equal (Frolov-Zakharstov, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
• 14.Rg1 Nc5 15.e5 d5 16.Rh4 Qxe5 17.Rg3 Nxb3+ 18.axb3 Qf5 19.f4 b4 20.Nd1 e5 21.Bd2 a5 22.Ne3 Qe4 23.Qg2 Qxg2 24.Rxg2 Bc5 25.fxe5 Re8 26.Ng4 Bf5 27.Ne3 Be4 28.Rg3 Rxe5 29.Kb1 Re6 White resigns (Smith-Kogler, Corres, 2000).
• If 10...Na5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 Nd7 then:
• 14.h4 b4 15.Na4 Nc5 16.h5 Bd7 17.Kb1 Bxa4 18.bxa4 Rc8 19.f3 Nxa4 20.Qxa6 Nc5 21.Qb5+ Nd7 22.Rd2 0-0 23.g6 Nc5 24.h6 draw (Azarov-Wells, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 14.Nf5 exf5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.exf5 Bb7 17.f6 gxf6 18.Rhe1 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Rg8 20.gxf6 Nxf6 21.Rf5 Rg6 22.Bb6 Qd7 23.Qf3 Rc8 24.Rxf6 d5 25.Rxg6 hxg6 26.Qf6 Qb7 27.b4 Rc4 28.f3 Black resingns (Azarov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kemer, 2007).
• If 7.f4 then:
• If 7...Bd7 then:
• If 8.Be2 Be7 then:
• If 9.Ndb5 Qb8 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 then:
• If 12.Kh1 then:
• 12...Nb4 13.Bf3 e5 14.Qe2 Bc6 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.a5 b6 is equal (Ivanchuk-Movsesian, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 12...Be8 13.Qe1 Nb4 14.Rc1 a6 15.Nd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Tosic, Serbia-Montenegro ChT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 12.Bf3 Be8 13.Qe2 a6 14.Nd4 Qc7 15.f5 d5 16.exd5 exd5 17.Kh1 Bd6 18.g4 Be5 gives Black the advantage in the center (Podgaets-Polugaevsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).
• If 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Nb3 a6 11.a4 b6 12.Bf3 Qc7 13.Kh1 then:
• 13...Rfe8 14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Qh5 Nb4 18.Rf2 Bf8 19.Raf1 Re7 20.Qh3 Rae8 21.Bc1 g6 22.Nd1 Na2 23.Be3 Qc4 24.Nd4 Nb4 25.b3 Qc8 is equal (Bromberger-Jakovenko, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).
• 13...Rab8 14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Re8 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh4 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rf3 b4 21.Ne2 Bf8 22.Rh3 gives White activity in the h-file (Salov-Gelfand, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1998).
• If 10.Kh1 a6 11.Qe1 Qc7 12.Qg3 then:
• If 12...b5 13.a3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.Rae1 Qb7 16.Bd3 b4 17.Nd1 bxa3 18.bxa3 then:
• 18...Rad8 19.c3 g6 20.Nf2 Qd7 21.f5 e5 22.Be3 Kh8 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Bh6 gives White a small advantage in space (Areshchenko-Movsesian, Euro ChT, Halkidiki, 2002).
• 18...Rac8 19.Nc3 g6 20.f5 e5 21.Be3 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Qxe4 24.Bg5 Qb7 25.Rb1 Qd7 26.Bxe7 Qxe7 27.f6 Qc7 28.Qg5 Kh8 29.Rb4 e4 30.Rxe4 Black resigns (Szelag-Jaracz, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).
• If 12...Kh8 then:
• 13.Rad1 b5 14.a3 Rac8 15.Bd3 Ng8 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bd4 Bf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bxe5 Qb7 20.Rde1 g6 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Qb6 23.Rd1 Rfd8 draw (M. Johansson-Ivkov, IT, Halle, 1963).
• 13.Rae1 b5 14.a3 Rab8 15.Bd3 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Bc1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rb4 is equal (Ivanovic-Gasic, IT, Sarajevo, 1972).
• If 8.Qf3 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.0-0-0 0-0 then:
• 10.Rg1 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.g4 Qa5 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 b5 15.f5 Ne5 16.Qf4 b4 17.f6 Bd8 18.fxg7 Re8 19.Nb1 Qxa2 is equal (Kupreichik-Korobov, Governor's Cup, Kramatorsk (Ukraine), 2001).
• 10.Nb3 a5 11.Bb5 Qc7 12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.Rd2 Be8 14.a3 Nd7 15.Be2 a4 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Brodsky-Korobov, Ukrainian Ch, Ordzhonikidze, 2001).
• If 8...Nxd4 9.Bxd4 Bc6 10.0-0-0 Qa5 then:
• If 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.f5 0-0-0 13.Bc4 Qe5 14.a4 a6 15.Rhe1 Kb8 16.Qf2 Rc8 17.Qb6 exf5 18.Bd5 Qxh2 19.Na2 Bxd5 20.exd5 Qf4+ 21.Kb1 Qxa4 gives Black three extra pawns in his favor handicapped by an atrocious pawn structure (Fuchs-Stein, IT, Kislovodsk, 1966).
• 11.Kb1 Be7 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 Nd7 14.Bh3 Rad8 15.f5 exf5 16.Bxf5 Ne5 gives Black the advantage in space (Barle-Larsen, IT, Ljubljana, 1977).
• If 7...Be7 8.Qf3 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 then:
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Qg3 Nxg4 14.Nd5 Qd8 then:
• 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Bc3 Qc5 17.Rg1 Qe3+ 18.Kb1 Be6 is equal (Sax-Kasparov, IT, Niksic, 1983).
• 15.Bc3 Bh4 16.Qg2 Nf2 17.Rg1 g6 18.Rd2 Nh3 19.Bxe5 Nxg1 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.Rxd8 Bxd8 22.Qxg1 Re8 is equal (Rogers-Cooper, English Ch, Blackpool, 1988).
• 10...a6 11.g5 b5 12.Qh5 b4 gives Black the initiative (Spraggett-Arakhamia, Op, Bern, 1995).
• 8...e5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.f5 Qa5 11.0-0-0 Rb8 12.Bc4 0-0 13.Bb3 Nd7 14.g4 Nc5 15.g5 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 d5 17.f6 Bb4 18.fxg7 Rd8 is equal (Tairova-Volodin. Young Stars, Kirishi, 2006).
• 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 a6 10.a4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bg2 Na5 18.Qf2 Nc4 19.Bc1 Bf8 20.Nd4 Bb7 21.b3 Na5 22.Bb2 Nc6 23.Nf3 g6 24.Rad1 Bg7 is equal (Timoshenko-Lesiege, Op, Koszalin, 1999).

7...Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 d5 10.Be2

• If 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 then:
• 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bd3 Qc7 14.Bd4 b6 15.Qe1 Bb7 16.Be5 Qc5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Navara, IT, Prague, 2009).
• 12.c4 Qd6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Bd3 e5 15.Qc2 f5 16.Rhe1 Be6 17.Bf2 Bd6 is equal (B. Socko-Movsesian, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

10...Nxd4!?

• 10...dxe4 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Rxd8+ Bxd8 14.Rd1 Be7 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.fxe4 e5 is equal (Navara-Movsesian, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

11.Bxd4

• The game is equal.

11...dxe4 12.fxe4 Qa5!?

• The Queen attacks the pawn at a2 and puts the Black Queen on a navicable rank.
• 12...Qc7 13.Qe3 Bd7 14.Rhf1 Bc6 15.h4 Rfd8 16.e5 remains equal.

13.Kb1

• White has the advantage in space.

13...b6

• Black has weaknesses at c6 and d6.
• 13...Rd8 14.e5 Nd5 15.Nxd5 then:
• 15...Qxd5 16.Bf3 Qb5 17.Qf2 a6 18.Rhf1 leaves Black with a weakness at b6.
• 15...Rxd5!? 16.Qxa5 Rxa5 17.c4 f5 18.Rhf1 g5 19.Rd2 gives White a better center.

14.e5!

• White cuts off the Queen from the kingside.

14...Nd7 15.Qf4 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Ne4!

• The Knight appears to be headed for d6.

17...Rad8!?

• Black's Rook would be more active on the c-file.
• 17...Rac8 18.Rhf1 Qe2 19.Rd2 Qb5 remains equal.

18.Rd3!

• The Rook is lifted to a navicable rank.
• 18.Nd6 Qa4 19.Rhf1 Bxd6 20.exd6 Rc8 21.Bc3 Qb5 remains equal.

18...Nc5!?

• 18...Qa4 19.Rhd1 Rc8 20.R3d2 Rfd8 21.Rf1 Rf8 remains equal.

BLACK: Vitezslav Rasik
""""""""#
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$+k+ + +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: David Navara
Position after 18...Nd7c5

19.Nf6+!!

• Instead of coming in on d6, the Knight proffers itself on f6.

19...Bxf6

• If 19...gxf6? 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.exf6 then:
• 21...Rg8 22.fxe7+ Rxd4 23.Qxd4+ e5 24.Qxe5+ f6 25.Qxf6+ Rg7 26.e8Q#.
• If 21...Nxd3 then 22.Qg7#.

20.exf6 e5 21.Qxe5 g6?

• Black unnecessarily weakens his dark square complex around his King.
• A better defense is 21...Rfe8 22.Qg5 Ne6 23.Qg3 g6 24.Re1 Qb7 25.Bf2 when Black is fighting on.

22.Qg5!

• The attck on the kingside dark square is right out of classic chess manuels.

22...Ne6 23.Qh6 Rd5 24.g4

• Also winning is 24.Rh3 Rh5 25.Rxh5 gxh5 26.Qxh5 when:
• 26...Qc4 27.Be3 Qe4 28.Re1 Rc8 29.Qe2 leaves White up by two pawns.
• If 26...Qa4 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.c3 then:
• 28...Qb5 29.Re1 Qd3+ 30.Kc1 Qg6 31.Qxe6 fxe6 32.f7+ leaves White up by two pawns.
• 28...Qa5 29.Re1 h5 30.Qh4 Qf5+ 31.Ka1 Rd8 32.a3 leaves White up by two pawns.

24...Qb7 25.Re1 Rfd8

• 25...Rc8 26.Rh3 Rh5 27.gxh5 g5 28.Rg3 leaves White with an extra Rook.

26.Rh3 Rh5 27.gxh5 Rxd4 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.Rhe3 1-0

• 29...Rd6 30.b4 Qd7 31.Rxe6 Rxe6 32.Rxe6 leaves White with an extra Rook.
• Rasik resigns.

Naka, 6 others tied at top in US Championship



Defending US national champion Hikaru Nakamura and six other players are tied for first place with 3 points after four rounds of the US Championship in St. Louis.

In addition to Mr. Nakamura, the six others are Var Akobian, Gata Kamsky, Alex Strupinsky, former US champions Alex Onischuk and Yuri Shulman, and reigning US senior champion Larry Christiansen, who was a multiple winner of the US Championship in the seventies.

Round 5 begins at 2 pm CDT (12 noon PDT), which is to say about 10 minutes from now. The live broadcast takes place on the official website of the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center. Audio commentary is available featuring WGM Jennifer Shahade and Maurice Ashley, the first Afro-American to gain the international grandmaster title.

This year, after the seventh round on Thursday, the top four players will be split off for a four players will go to a 3-round event to determine the champion which begins Saturday and finishes Monday. The twenty remaining players will continue to play two more rounds for fifth place.

The prize fund for this year's US championship is extremely rich as US chess tournaments go.


Four tied for first in FIDE Grand Prix after 8 rounds



Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov, who entered today's action alone in first place, lost to fellow Ukrainian Ruslan Ponomariov and fell into a first place tie with GMs Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan), Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) and Peter Leko (Hungary) in the eighth round of the sixth and final leg of the 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix in Astrakhan, Russia, in the Volga Delta near where the river flows into the Caspian Sea.

The leaders have 4½ points each after eight rounds.

Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev had an opportunity to take over first place, but an endgame plunder cost him his game against Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian. In the end, Akopian won the Queen vs. Rook ending which will be appended to this thread later as it is very instructive.

In other games today, former two-time world junior champion Shakhriyar Mamdedyarov of Azerbaijan defeated former Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev. All other games today ended in draws.

Gata Kamsky, Hikaru Nakamura, Alex Onischuk and Yuri Shulman have qualified for the quadragular three-round mini-tournament for the US Championship with 5 points each in the preliminary seven rounds in St. Louis.

Onischuk and Shulman drew a game with each other today to easily go through to the finals. Kamsky held on for a draw after finding himself in trouble against former four-time US champion Alex Shabalov, who calculated a long variation with great precision and almost won the game. Nakamura, the defending champion, also had a scare from three-time US Champion and reigning US senior champion Larry Christiansen, but also held on for a draw. Both Shabalov and Christiansen needed wins today to force a rapid and blitiz playoff tomorrow for the final places in the "quad."

The four finalists are the four top rated American grandmasters, with Nakamura, Kamsky and Onischuk all rated over 2700.

The remaining 20 players in the event will play two more rounds in the Swiss System main tournament for fifth place, which carries a prize of $10,000. That's a lot of money by American chess standards.

Tomorrow is a rest day and tournaments will resume on Saturday. The Swiss tournament concludes Sunday and the quad finishes Monday.