The JR Chess Report (Christmas Day): Hou Yifan wins Women's Championship

Santa Claus by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly, 1881 (Public Domain)

Hou is the Women's Chess Champion

Hou Yifan, a 16-year-old schooklgirl from Beijing, became the chess champion of the world's women yesterday when she defeated her compatriot, Ruan Lufei, in a four-game rapid playoff that concluded the knock out tournament to determine the title in Antakya, Turkey (the ancient Greek colony of Anitoch).

Ms. Hou won the second and fourth games, in both of which she played White, while the other two games ended in draws.

Ms. Hou has been in the spotlight of women's chess since she made her international debut in elite tournament by playing in Wijk aan Zee when she was just 12 years old. When she was 14, she earned the full grandmaster's title and reached the final round of the 2008 world women's championship, where she lost in a round of rapid games to Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.

Ms. Ruan, who is a PhD candidate at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, was given little chance of reaching the later rounds when the tornament began on December 4. However, she won the respect and admiration of the chess world by coolly winning each of her matches up to and including the semifinal round in a set of rapid playoff games. A writer on the website ChessBase.com dubbed her "Ms. Nerves of Steel."



Rabbit and Cats Will return the Weekend of January 7

Jack Rabbit and his impressive, loyal staff of chess-playing cats will return on January 7 with reports on the New Year's tournaments in Hastings, Stockholm and Reggio Emilia.

The annual Corus Tata Steel Tournament will begin in Wijk aan Zee January 14. The A group will be made up of world champion Vishy Anand (India), Levon Aronian (Armenia), world n umber one Magnus Carlsen (Norway), young Anish Giri (Holland), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Erwin L'Ami (Holland), Hikaru Nakamura (United States), newly-crown Russian national champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine), Alexei Shirov (span), Jan Smeets (Holland), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) and reigning Chinese national champion Wang Hao.

Ruan Lufei was given little chance of becoming the woemn's champion at the start of knock out tournament, but fought her way to the final round and there too her more highly regarded compatriot, Hou Yifan, to a round of rapid games before Ms. Hou could claim the title. On the way to the final, she won each of her matches in rapid playoffs. In discovering Ms. Ruan and of what she is capable, a writer for ChessBase dubbed her "Ms. Nerves of Steel."



There is no photo of Ruan Lufei available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Ruan Lufei - Hou Yifan
World Women's Chess Championship, Final Round/Game 4
Antakya, 23 December 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Keres Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6

• For alternatives to 6...h6, see Diamant-Robson, Pan Am Jr Ch, Montevideo, 2009.

7.h4

• If 7.h3 Nc6 8.Be3 then:
• If 8...Bd7 9.f4 then:
• If 9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 then:
• 10...Bc6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Be2 Qa5 13.g5 e5 14.Qc4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 d5 16.Qb3 dxe4 17.gxh6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Schöne-Babula, Bundesliga 0910, Munich, 2010).
• 10...Qa5 11.0-0-0 Bc6 12.Bg2 e5 13.Qd2 Be7 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.Bf3 b5 16.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Li Ruofan-Yan Zhong, Chinese ChTW, Suzhou, 2001).
• If 9...a6 10.Bg2 Qc7 11.Qe2 Be7 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.Qf2 b5 then:
• 14.Nb3 g5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxg5 hxg5 17.Rhf1 Nd8 18.Bb6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Cardelli-Glaser, Corres, 2001).
• 14.g5 hxg5 15.fxg5 Nh7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.h4 b4 18.Ne2 Ba4 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nb3 is equal (Rosen-Hort, Bundesliga 8081, Germany, 1981).
• If 8...a6 9.Bg2 Ne5 10.Qe2 g5 11.0-0-0 then:
If
• 11...Qc7 12.Nf3 Ng6 13.h4 Nxg4 14.hxg5 Bd7 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.Nd4 then:
• 16...Qc4 17.Qxg4 Qxd4 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space a strong initiative (T. Kosintseva-Vachier Lagrave, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 16...h5 17.f3 N4e5 18.f4 Nc4 19.f5 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 11...Bd7 12.f4 gxf4 13.Bxf4 Rc8 14.Rhf1 b5 15.Nf3 Nc4 16.e5 gives Black the advantage in space (Haznedaroglu-Navara, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 7.g5 hxg5 8.Bxg5 Nc6 9.Qd2 Qb6 10.Nb3 a6 11.0-0-0 Bd7 12.h4 then:
• 12...Qc7 13.Be2 Be7 14.f4 0-0-0 15.h5 Kb8 16.Bf3 Bc8 17.Kb1 Ng8 18.Rdg1 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Andersson, IT, Scara, 1980).
• 12...Be7 13.f4 0-0-0 14.Be2 d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Qc3+ Qc7 19.Qxc7+ Kxc7 is equal (Daniildis-Adorjan, Ol, Thessoloniki, 1988).

7...Nc6 8.Rg1 d5 9.exd5

• If 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Be3 Be7 then:
• 13.Qe2 Qa5+ 14.c3 0-0-0 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.0-0-0 Bxh4 17.Rxd5 Be6 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is equal (Pruijssers-Babula, Bundesliga 0809, Emsdetten, 2008).
• 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Qxd4 Bf6 16.Qb4 a5 17.Qa3 Qe7 18.Qxe7+ Bxe7 19.0-0-0 0-0-0 20.h5gives White the advantage in space (Hracek-Movsesian, Czech ChT, Czechia, 2005).

9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5

• If 10...exd5 11.Be3 then:
• If 11...Be7 12.Qd2 Bxh4 13.0-0-0 Bf6 then:
• 14.Bb5 0-0 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Rxg5 (Gashimov-Riff, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
• 14.f4 Bxd4 15.Bxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 0-0 17.g5 h5 18.Bd3 is equal (Ganguly-Satyapragyan, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).
• 11...Qxh4 12.Qe2 Be7 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.Nf3 Qf6 15.g5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Qf5 is equal (Timmerman-van Wely, Dutch CL, Holland, 1993).

11.Bg2 Qe5+ 12.Be3 Qh2

• If 12...Bd7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 then:
• 15.Qd4 Qxd4 16.Bxd4 c5 17.Bc3 Rd8 18.Ke2 is equal (Naiditsch-Movsesian, Rpd, Odessa, 2010).
• 15.Qf3 Qd5 16.Qe2 Be7 17.c4 Qe4 18.0-0-0 Rd8 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Emelianov, Op, Slaviansk na Kubani, 2002).

13.f4N

• 13.Kf1 Bd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.Rd1 Rd8 is equal (Aseev-Morawietz, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2003).

13...Bd7!?

• Taking risks as Black has served Ms. Hou well during the women's champiobnship match, so she continues.
• 13...Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxh4+ 15.Bf2 Qd8 16.Qc3 a5 is equal.

14.Qd2!

• White proffers a pawn and puts the Queen goes to where it will have more scope.
• 14.h5 Rd8 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Qe2 Qh4+ 17.Bf2 remains equal.
• If 14.Nb5!? Qxh4+ 15.Bf2 Qd8 then:
• 16.a4 g5 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Qe7 19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 bives Black an extra pawn.
• 16.Qd2 a6 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Qa5+ 19.c3 0-0-0 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

14...Nxd4?!

• When in doubt. take the pawn. --Steinitz.
• Black would do better to just accept the sacrifice.
• If 14...Qxh4+ 15.Bf2 Qf6 16.0-0-0 then:
• 16...Rd8 17.Nb5 Be7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Qxd6 g5 20.f5 clearly gives White enough activity to make up for her pawn minus and give her a small advantage.
• 16...0-0-0?! 17.Nb5! Be7 18.Qe3 e5 19.Bxc6 gives White a powerful attack

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Ruan Lufei
Position after 14...Nc6d4:N

15.0-0-0!

• White's King is safe, her Rook is overprotected and Black's centralized Knight is taking fire from two directions.

15...Bc5

• 15...Rd8 16.Bxd4 Qxh4 17.Bxb7 Qe7 18.Bxa7 gives White an extra pawn.

16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 0-0-0 18.Qc4+!?

• White passes on a chance to snap up a pawn.
• If 18.Qxa7! Qxf4+ 19.Kb1 Qb8 then:
• 20.Qa3! Bc6 21.Bxc6 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 bxc6 23.Qc3 White wins a pawn.
• 20.Qf2 f6 21.Qc5+ Qc7 22.Qe7 e5 23.Qxg7 gives White an extra pawn.

18...Kb8 19.Qe4 Bc8

• If 19...Bc6 20.Qe5+ Kc8 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qe4 gives White a good advantage with pressure on more vital points in Black's position.

20.h5 Ka8 21.a4 Rd5 22.Rdf1 Qh4 23.Qc4 Rd7 24.a5!?

• The pawn advance only gives Black time carry out equalizing maneuvers.
• If 24.Qc3 Rg8 then:
• 25.a5 Qe7 26.Rd1 Rc7 27.Qd4 Kb8 28.Rge1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 25.Kb1 Qf6 26.Qe5 Qe7 27.Rd1 then:
• 27...Rc7 28.c3 f6 29.Qd6 Qxd6 30.Rxd6 is equal.
• 27...f6 28.Qc3 Rgd8 29.Bf3 gives White a slight advantage in space.

24...Qd8!?

• Black should use this chance to increase pressure in the center.
• If 24...Rhd8! 25.Qc5 Rd6 26.Qc7 Qf6 27.Kb1gives White a small advantage in space.

25.a6?!

• Again, Black has the opportunity to equalize.
• If 25.Qc3 then:
• 25...Rc7 26.Qxg7 Qd3 27.c3 Qe3+ 28.Kb1 Qd3+ 29.Ka1 is equal.
• If 25...f6 26.Rd1 Re8 27.Be4 then:
• 27...Kb8 28.Rge1 Qc7 29.Qxc7+ Kxc7 30.Re3 Rxd1+ 31.Kxd1 gives White a clear advantage in space.
• 27...Ree7 28.Qc5 then:
• 28...Kb8! 29.Rge1 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Qc7 31.Qxc7+ Kxc7 32.c4 is equal.
• 28...Qe8?! 29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.a6! Kb8 31.axb7 Bxb7 32.Bxb7 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Ruan Lufei
Position after 25.a5a6

25...Qa5!

• The game is equal as Black threatens mate on a1.

26.Kb1 Kb8?!

• Black provides White an opportunity to gain the upper hand as she fails to increase the pressure in the center.
• 26...Rhd8 27.axb7+ Bxb7 28.Bxb7+ Kxb7 29.Qe4+ Qd5 remains equal.

27.axb7 Bxb7 28.Bxb7 Rxb7 29.Qd4!

• White has a small advantage in space.
• 29.Rd1 e5 30.fxe5 Qxe5 31.Qd4 Qxd4 32.Rxd4 gives White a slim advantage.

29...Ka8 30.Rf3

• If 30.b3!? then:
• 30...Rc8 31.Qxg7 Rxc2 32.Qf8+ Rb8 33.Qxb8+ Kxb8 34.Kxc2 is equal.
• If 30...Rhb8 31.Rf3 f6 32.Rd3 then:
• 32...e5 33.fxe5 Qxe5 34.Qxe5 fxe5 35.Re1 gives White the advantage as she attacks Black's weak d-pawn..
• 32...Qc7 33.Rgd1 f5 34.gxf5 exf5 35.Qe3 Qc4 36.Rd8 gives White a tremendous position with a Rook on the back rank..

30...Rhb8

• 30...f6 31.Rd1 Rhb8 32.b3 f5 33.g5 hxg5 34.fxg5 gives White a chance to create an advanced passer on the kingside.

31.b3 f6 32.Rd1 Qb4 33.Qe3!?

• White mobilizes for the last phase.
• Also good is 33.Re3! Qxd4 34.Rxd4 Re7 35.c4 Rbe8 36.Kc2.

33...Rb6?!

• Black fails to make the best use of her tacical resources and slides closer to a lost game.
• If 33...e5! (making use of a pawn sacrifice and the x-ray motif) 34.fxe5 then:
• 34...fxe5 35.Qxe5 Qxg4 gives Black a kingside pawn majority with which to play.
• 34...Qxg4 35.exf6 Qxh5 36.fxg7 Qg6 37.Rf8 Qxg7 38.Rfd8 gives White the better position, but she must still contend with Black's h-pawn.

34.Rd4 Qe7 35.Qd3!?

• White is in a position to win quickly.
• If 35.Qe4+ Qb7 36.Kb2 then:
• 36...Rc8 37.Rc3 Kb8 38.Rxc8+ Kxc8 39.Qh7 allows Black to fight on.
• If 36...Rb5 37.Re3 then:
• 37...Rb6 38.Rd7 Qxe4 39.Rxe4 R8b7 40.Rd8+
• If 37...e5 38.Qxb7+ R8xb7 39.fxe5 Rxe5 then:
• 40.Rd8+ Rb8 41.Rxe5 fxe5 42.Rd5 White wil win a pawn owing to her active Rook and Black's multiple pawn weaknesses.
• 40.Rxe5 fxe5 41.Rd8+ Rb8 42.Rd5 will win a pawn for White.

35...R6b7?

• Black has her back up against the wall, but she can present White more difficulty winning after
• 35...Qc5 36.Qe4+ Rc6 37.Rf2 f5 38.gxf5 exf5 39.Qe5.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Ruan Lufei
Position after 35...Rb6b7

36.Re3!

• Also good is 36.Rd6! f5 37.gxf5 exf5 38.Re3 Qc7 39.Re5.

36...Re8 37.Rd6 e5

• 37...Rc7 38.Qe4+ Kb8 39.Rxe6 Qxe6 40.Qxe6 Rxe6 41.Rxe6 leaves Wite a pawn up with a win forthcoming.

38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Re4

• 39.Qd5 e4 40.Qc6 Kb8 41.Rd4 Rb6 42.Rdxe4! leaves White a pawn to the good after the coming exchanges..

39...Qc7 40.Rd5 Qb8 41.Rc4 Rf8

• No better is 41...Rf7 42.Kb2 Rc7 43.Qf3 when:
• If 43...Rf8 then White wins after 44.Qxf8!! Qxf8 45.Rxc7 Qf6 46.Rdd7 e4+ 47.c3.
• 43...Rb7 44.Rd7 e4 45.Rxe4 Rf8 46.Rxb7 Rxf3 47.Rxb8+ wins.

42.Kb2

• If 42.Rdc5 then White wins after 42...e4 43.Qxe4 Rd8 44.Rc7 g5 45.Re7.
• If 42...Rd8 then 43.Qe4 Rd1+ 44.Kb2! Rd4 45.Rxd4 exd4 46.Re5 wins.

42...Qe8 43.Rdc5 Qe6

• If 43...Qb8 then White wins after 44.Rc6 Qe8 45.Rc7 Rxc7 46.Rxc7 Kb8 47.Rxg7.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Ruan Lufei
Position after 43...Qe8e6

44.Qe4!

• The pin immobilizes Black decisively.

44...Kb8

• If 44...Rd8 then White wins after 45.Rxe5 Qf6 46.Rb4 Qxe5+ 47.Qxe5 Rxb4 48.Qxg7.


• If 44...Re8 then 45.Rc7 Reb8 46.Rb4 Qa6 47.Rxg7 wins.

45.Rxe5 Qf6 46.Rc6 Qf7 47.Rf5 1-0

• White must lose a piece.
• Ms. Hou resigns.

Koneru Humpy and Hou Yifan
Photo of Ms. Koneru by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Photo of Ms. Hou by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Koneru Humpy - Hou Yifan
World Women's Championship, Semifinal Round/Game 2
Antakya, 17 December 2010

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

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5

• White may have picked her opening for its surprise value, as there is no evidence that she has ever priviously employed this set up as White.

3...c5 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Qd2 a6

• Now the game has tranposed into an Open Sicilian Najdorf, but this should be of little comfort to Ms. Koneru, a dedicated devotee of 1.d4. Ms. Hou, on the other hand, is on familiar ground.

8.0-0-0 b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.Rhe1

• If 10.a3 Nbd7 11.f4 Qb6 12.Nf3 then:
• 12...b4 13.Na4 Qc6 14.Qxb4 d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Paoli-Valenti, IT 7475, Reggio Emilia, 1974).
• 12...Rd8 13.Qe2 h6 14.Bh4 b4 15.axb4 Qxb4 16.Be1 Nc5 gives Black a small advantage in space plus better activity and the initiative(Morozova-Litinskaya, ZTW, Frunze, 1978).

10...b4

• 10...Nbd7 11.f4 b4 12.Nb1 Qb6 is equal (Del Pozo-Ju. Bolbochán, ZT, São Paulo, 1960).

11.Nb1

• The game is equal.

11...Nbd7!?

• Black sacrifices a pawn in order to speed up her development.
• 11...Qb6 12.f3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Be3 Qa5 gives Black the advantage in space.

12.Qxb4 Nc5 13.Nb3

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 13.Nd4b3

13...Qc7!

• Black begins a combination aimed at restoring equality.
• 13...Nfd7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.Qd4 0-0 17.Nc3 leaves White with more space and an extra pawn.

14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Qd2

• 15.Qc4 Qxh2 16.Qa4+ Nd7 17.Be3 Qc7 18.f4 0-0 gives White more space and Black more freedom.

15...c4 16.Bxf6

• If 16.Bxc4?! Nxe4 17.Rxe4 Bxe4 18.Bxe7 then:
• 18...Kxe7 19.Qb4+ Ke8 20.Qc3 Kf8 21.Bxe6 Qf4+ 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Nxd2 Bxg2 24.Bc4 h5 gives Black a small advantage.
• 18...Qxe7 19.Qd4 Bg6 20.Qxg7 Qg5+ 21.Nd2 is equal.

16...Bxf6 17.Bxc4

• In spite of holding an extra pawn, White has only a small advantage.

17...0-0 18.Qe2 Rfc8

• If 18...Rac8!? 19.Nd2 Qxh2 20.e5 Bg5 21.Kb1 Bxd2 22.Rxd2 gives White an extra pawn.

19.Nd2 Be5?!

• If 19...Rab8 then:
• 20.c3 a5 21.Qe3 Rd8 22.Bb3 Qxh2 23.g3 gives White an extra pawn and more freedom, but Black has more space.
• If (20.Kb1!? then after 20...a5 21.e5 Be7 22.Bd3 Bxg2 23.Qe3 a4 Black's qeenside pressure more than compensates for the pawn minus.

20.g3 Rab8 21.Nb3!?

• If 21.f4! Bd4 22.Kb1 then:
• If 22...a5 23.c3 Ba7 then:
• 24.f5! Qb6 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.Bd3 Rxc3 27.Nc4 gives White an extra pawn and more activity.
• 24.Bd3 Rd8 25.Nc4 Bc6 26.h3 Ba4 27.Rd2 gives Black no targets in White's position.
• 22...Bf6 23.c3 Qc5 24.e5 Be7 25.Bb3 Rd8 26.g4 gives White two extra pawns she is threatening to break up Black's kingside.

21...Bf6!?

• If 21...a5 22.f4 Bf6 23.e5 Be7 24.Bb5 Bf3 25.Rd7 leaves White with a small advantage in space..

22.e5?!

• 22.Bd3 a5 23.e5 Be7 24.Nd4 Bd5 25.Nb5 gives White two extra pawns and a slight initiative.

22...Bxe5 23.Qxe5 Qxc4 24.Rd2!?

• The Rooks on the back gave each other mutual protection as well as protecting the King. White should find another way to respond to the attack on the c-pawn.
• 24.c3 Bd5 25.Rd4 Qc6 26.Rg4 g6 remains equal.
• 24.Qc3 Qg4 25.Qd4 Qg6 26.Rd2 Bd5 27.Nc5 a5 also remains equal.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 24.Rd1d2

24...Bd5!

• Black takes a small advantage in space.

25.Kb1 a5 26.Nc1

• If 26.Qe2 Qc6 27.Nc1 Qc5 28.Ka1 (prophylactic against 28...Qa3) 28...a4 29.Qe3 Qb4 30.c3 is equal.
• If 27.Nxa5? Black uncorks the pyrotechnical 27...Rxb2+!! 28.Kxb2 Qc3+ 29.Kb1 Bxa2+!! 30.Kxa2 Qxa5+ when the White King is soon mated.

26...Qb4

• Black will regain the pawn.
• 26...f6 27.Qd4 Qb5 28.c3 Rc4 29.Qd3 a4 30.Ka1 is equal.

27.c3 Qxc3 28.Qxc3 Rxc3

• Black regins the pawn and has a small advantage with more active Rooks.

29.Nb3 Rc4 30.Nxa5

• White regains the extra pawn, but . . .

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 30.Nb3a5:p

30...Ra4!

• Black puts a crimp on White's queenside mobility.

31.Nb3 Rba8 32.Nc1 Bxa2+ 33.Nxa2 Rxa2 34.Re3

• Black continues to enjoy a slight advantage.
• 34.Red1 g5 35.h3 Kg7 36.Rd8 h5 37.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal.

34...g5 35.Rd7 Ra1+ 36.Kc2 Rc8+ 37.Kd2 Rcc1!?

• 37...Rb8 38.Kc2 Rc8+ 39.Kb3 Rh1 40.Rf3 continues to give Black a slight advantage.

38.Rb7

• The game is equal.
• 38.Ra3 Rxa3 39.bxa3 Ra1 40.Rd3 g4 is equal.

38...Rd1+ 39.Kc2 Rac1+ 40.Kb3 Rd2
BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 40...Rd1d2

41.f4?!

• In terms of the position, this move is unnecessary risky. In terms of the semifinal match, there is no such thing as too risky for White.
• 41.Rf3 f5 42.h4 g4 43.Re3 Rc6 44.f4 gxf3 45.Rxf3 remains equal, and does White no good.

41...gxf4 42.gxf4?

• White's chances dwindle further.
• 42.Rf3 Rdc2 43.Ka3 Rxh2 44.Rxf4 f5 leaves Black up by a pawn, but White's b-pawn is a factor.

42...Rxh2!

• Black is not going to lose this game. It's time to turn out the lights.

43.f5 exf5 44.Ree7

• If 44.Re5 then:
• 44...Rcc2 45.Ka3 Rcf2 46.Ree7 Rhg2 47.b3 h5 leaves Black two pawns to the good and White no hope of winning.
• 44...Rf2 45.Ree7 Rg2 46.Rxf7 Rcc2 looks drawish, but White must prove it as Black maintains the extra pawn.

44...Rh6 45.Rxf7 ½-½

• 45...Rb6+ 46.Rxb6 Kxf7 leaves Black with a healthy advantage and she would have likely won after an arduous struggle.
• Ms. Koneru had no taste to engage in the battle for a draw which would have been pointless for her and offered a draw. Ms. Hou, a proper young Chinese lady, allowed her opponent to save face and accepted.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Ian Nepomniachtchi - Peter Svidler
63rd Russian National Championship, Round 9
Moscow, 20 December 2010

Open Royal Game: Mieses Opening (Scotch Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.Nd2

• For an overview of the Open Royal (Scotch) Game and the main alternative to the text, see Carlsen-Leko, IT, Nanjing, 2009.

9...g6 10.Nf3

• 10.Qe4 f5 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 Rae8 15.Bf3 Bb4 16.b3 d5 is equal (Shadrina-Pokorna, ITW, Szeged, 2006).

10...Qb4+ 11.Kd1 Nb6

• 11...Rb8 12.Qc2 Ne7 then:
• 13.b3 Bg7 14.Bd2 Qb6 15.c5 Qb7 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Qc4 Qa3 18.Bc1 Qa5 19.Bd2 Qa3 20.Bc1 Qa5 21.Bd2 draw (Yildiz-Caoili, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 13.Bd3 Bg7 14.a3 Qb7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Bg5 Rfe8 17.b4 d5 18.c5 Bxd3 draw (Radjabov-Aronian, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).

12.b3 Bg7 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Bb2

• 14.Kc2 Bb7 15.Bb2 0-0 16.h4 c5 is equal (Rybka-Pandix, Computer Trmt, Leiden, 2010).

14...0-0

• The game is equal, but not at all stable.
• If 14...Bb7 15.Be2 0-0 16.h4 c5 17.Re1 f6 is equal.

15.Kc2

• 15.Qa5 then:
• If 15...Bc8 16.c5 Nd5 17.Bc4 then:
• 17...Qd8 18.Kc2 d6 19.Rae1 Bf5+ is equal.
• 17...Nf4 18.Qxc7 Qxc5 19.Bd4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If 15...Bb7?! 16.c5 Nd5 17.Bc4 then:
• 17...Qd8 18.Kc1 d6 19.Re1 Re8 20.Qd2 Rb8 21.Bd4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 17...Nf4? 18.Qxc7 Rfb8 19.Qa5 gives White serious winning chances early.

15...c5 16.h4

• If 16.Re1 Bb7 17.Qa5 then:
• 17...Rfd8 18.h4 h5 19.Ng5 d5 20.e6 remains equal.
• If 17...Bxf3 18.gxf3 then:
• If 18...Rae8 19.Bd3 Qh4 20.Qxc5 d6 then:
• 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxe5 23.Be3 remains equal.
• If 21.Qxc7?! then Black must win a pawn after 21...Qxf2+ 22.Kb1 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 dxe5.
18...d5!? 19.cxd5 Rfd8 20.Bc4 Nxd5 21.Re4 gives White the advantage in space.

16...d5?!

• Black breaks the game open way too soon.
• If 16...Bb7 then:
• 17.Bd3 a5 18.a4 h5 19.Rhe1 Rfd8 20.Qg5 remains equal.
• 17.h5?! a5 18.Qg5 Rae8 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Qxe7 Rxe7 gives Black advantages King safety and (after 21.Rh3 Bxf3 22.Rxf3 Rxf3 23.gxf3 Bxe5) in pawn structure, material and space.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 16...d7d5

17.exd6!

• White begins a set of exchanges that leaves him with an impressive advantage in space.

17...Qxd6 18.Bxg7 Qxd2+ 19.Nxd2 Kxg7 20.Ne4

• The Knight radiates power and for the moment can't be touched.

20...Nd7 21.Rd1 Bb7

• If 21...Rad8 then White maintains his advantage after 22.Rh3 Bb7 23.Re3 h6 24.g3 a6 25.Bg2.

22.Nc3!?

• White leaves a big vacuum in the center.
• If 22.Rxd7! Bxe4+ 23.Kc1 Rac8 24.f3 Bc6 25.Rd2 leaves White with a good advantage in space with command of the d-file.
• If 22.f3? Bxe4+ 23.fxe4 then:
• If 23...Nf6! 24.Bd3 Rfe8 then:
• 25.Rhf1 Re6 26.Rf4 Rae8 is equal.
• 25.Rhe1 Rad8 26.Kc1 Rd4 is equal.
• 23...Rad8!? 24.Be2 Rfe8 25.Bf3 c6 26.Kd3 h5 27.Ke3 leaves White with the advantage in space, but a relatively small one compared to what he had.

22...Nf6!?

• Black fails to fill the vacuum.
• If 22...Ne5! 23.Rh3 Rad8 24.Re1 then:
• 24...Nc6 25.Kc1 Rfe8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Re3 Rxe3 28.fxe3 leaves White with a little less impressive advantage.
• 24...f6?! 25.Na4! Rd4 26.Kc3 Bc8 27.Rh1 Rf4 28.f3 leaves Black's central pieces cramped.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 22...Nd7f6

23.f3!

• White denies any effective outpost to the Black Knight.

23...Rfe8 24.Bd3 a5?!

• Black leaves b5 available for White's Knight.
• Better is 24...Re5 25.Rhe1 Rae8 26.Rxe5 Rxe5 27.Kd2 Nh5 28.Be4 although this gives White the better center.

25.Rhe1 Bc6 26.Nb5 Rxe1

• The text is better than 26...Bxb5 27.cxb5 then:
• If 27...h6 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.Bc4 then:
• 29...g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Kb2 Re3 32.Ka3 followed by 33.Ka4 gives White a clear advantage.
• 29...Re7 30.Rd8 Re8 31.Rxe8 Nxe8 32.g4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 27...Nd5 28.Be4 Nb4+ 29.Kb1 Rab8 30.a3

27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rxe8 Nxe8 29.Kb2!?

• The King runs away from the battle when he should be joining it by moving to the center.
• 29.Kd2! f5 30.Ke3 Bxb5 31.cxb5 Kf6 32.g4 fxg4 33.fxg4 gives White better pawns anthe the King at e3 prevents Black's King from rushing through the center.

29...Kh6 30.Be2 Ng7

• The text is better than 30...f5!? 31.g3! Bxb5 32.cxb5 when:
• If 32...Nf6 33.Ka3 then:
• If 33...f4 34.g4 then:
• 34...Nd5 35.Bc4 Nc3 36.Kb2 Nd1+ 37.Kc2 Ne3+ 38.Kd3 gives White several small advantages:
  • A centralized King;
  • More space, especially in the center;
  • Given that there are pawns on both sides of the board, White's Bishop promises more than Black's Knight.
• 34...g5?! drops a pawn after 35.hxg5+ Kxg5 36.Ka4!.
• 33...Nd5 34.Bc4 Nc3 35.Kb2 Nd1+ 36.Kc2 Ne3+ 37.Kd3drives the Knight to an ineffective post at f1 or d1.
• 32...Ng7 33.Kc3 Nh5 34.g4 Nf4 35.Bd3 g5 36.h5 gives White a clearly better position.

31.Ka3 Nf5?

• This looks like a strong move in that it attacks the pawn at a4, the hole at g3 and the Knight can move to the outpost at at d4. For all those virtues, the move still drops a pawn.
• If 31...Ne6 32.Ka4 then:
• 32...Kh5! 33.g3 Nd4 34.Bd1 Bxf3 35.Bxf3+ Nxf3 36.Nxc7 Black's a-pawn falls.
• 32...f5? 33.Kxa5! Kh5 34.Nxc7 Nxc7 35.Kb6! Ba8 36.Kxc7 Black's c-pawn soon falls, giving White three connected passers.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 31...Ng7f5

32.Ka4!

• The a-pawn cannot be saved.

32...Nxh4 33.Bf1

• White misses a more economical win.
• If 33.Kxa5! then:
• If 33...Nxg2 34.Nxc7 Ne1 then:
• If 35.f4! Ng2 36.Nd5 then:
• 36...Bxd5 37.cxd5 Nxf4 38.d6!! wins for White.
• If 36...Kg7 then White wins after 37.Kb6 Ba8 38.a4 h5 39.Bf1!.
• 35.Nd5!? makes thingsat best more difficult for White after 35...Ba8! 36.Kb6 Kg5 37.Ka7 Bc6 when:
• 38.a4 h5 39.f4+ Kh4 40.Kb6 Ba8 then:
• If 41.a5! Kg3 42.a6 h4 then:
• After 43.Bf1! Ng2 44.Bxg2 Kxg2 45.a7 h3 46.Nc7 Be4 47.Nd5! both sides queen, but White should win.
• If 41.Nc7!? then both sides queen after 41...Bg2 42.a5 Kg3 43.Nd5 h4 44.a6 and the struggle continues.
• If 43.Ka7!? then White has a clear advantage after 43...h3 44.Kxa8 h2 45.a7 h1Q 46.Kb7 Qe4 47.a8Q Qxe2 48.Qf8, but Black can resist for some time in the hopes of catching a break.
• If 38.f4+? Kh4 39.Kb6 Ba8 40.Kxc5 Kg3 41.Nb6 h5!!.
• If 33...Bxb5? then White wins after 34.Kxb5! Kg5 35.a4 when there is nothing to stop the a-pawn.

33...Nf5 34.Kxa5 Ne3

• If 34...Bxb5 35.Kxb5 Kg5 36.Bd3 White will queen the a-pawn well before Black can clear a path and advance his h-pawn.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 34...Nf5e3

35.Nxc7!!

• This is more pleasing than 35.Be2 Bxb5 36.Kxb5 Nxg2 37.a4, but one works as well as the other.

35...Nxf1 36.Kb6 Bd7 37.Nd5

• White redeploys the Knight to go to e7 if it is needed there.

37...Kg7

• If 37...Nd2 then White wins after 38.Kxc5! Kg5 39.b4! Kh4 40.b5 Bc8 41.a4 Kg3 42.a5.

38.a4 Bc8 39.Ne7! 1-0

• The Bishop must give way after which the a-pawn must queen.
• Peter Veniaminovich resigns.

This is the final round game that knocked Karjakin back into a tie with Nepomniachtchi and forced a playoff, which Nepo won by drawing the defending side of a Rook vs. Bishop ending in the Armageddon game.



Vladimir Malakhov
Photo by Ines Goñi (Nike) as cropped from flickr for Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vladimir Malakhov - Sergey Karjakin
63rd Russian National Championship, Round 11
Moscow, 22 December 2010

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5

• For moves and other main variations of the Capablanca Opening up to here, see Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

7...c5

• If 7...dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Nf3 Ba6 then:
• If 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 Bxf1 12.Rxf1 then:
• 12...h6 13.Bh4 Qc8 14.Qc6 Rb8 15.Ne5 g5 16.Bg3 gives White a tremendous advantage ibn space (Nezad-Batchuluun, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If 12...Qc8 then after 13.0-0-0 Qb7 14.Rfe1 c5 15.d5 exd5 16.exd5 Rfe8 17.Rxe8+ Rxe8 the weakness of White's d-pawn gives Black a slight edge (Brunner-Wiring, Op, Nancy, 2010).
• If 10.Qa4 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 then:
• 12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rd2 Nc6 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.Qh4 Kg7 draw (Berkes-Z. Almasi, IT, Paks, 2009).
• 12.h4 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rb1 Rd8 15.Rh3 c4 16.Nd2 gives White more active pieces (I. Rajlich-T. Kosintseva, Euro Club Cup W, Ohrid, 2009).

8.dxc5 d4 9.Qc2

• If 9.Qg3 Nc6 10.0-0-0 e5 11.Nf3 then:
• If 11...Ne4 12.Bxd8 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Rxd8 then:
• 14.b4 Bg4!? 15.Ng5 Bf5 16.g4 gives White a slight advantage (Morozevich-Karpov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• 14.e3 Bg4 15.Be2 dxe3 16.fxe3 e4 gives White an extra pawn and an active position (Sayed-Minhazuddin, Asiabn Games (Men's TT), Guangzhou, 2010).
• If 11...Re8?! 12.e3 then:
• 12...b6? 13.exd4 exd4 14.Bd3 bxc5 15.Rhe1 Be6 16.Qh4 h6 then after 17.Bxh6!! gxh6 18.Qxh6 White won quicly (Morozevich-Grischuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• If 12...h6 then Black's chances still aren't very good after 13.Bxh6!! Nh5 14.Qg5 Qxg5 15.Bxg5 Bg4 16.exd4 Bxf3 17.gxf3 when White is three pawns to the good.

9...e5 10.e3

• 10.Nf3 Re8 11.e3 h6 then:
• 12.Bxf6!? Qxf6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.0-0 Nxc5 15.exd4 exd4 16.b4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rd8 is equal (Morozevich-Anand, Amber Rapid. Nice, 2009).
• 12.Bh4 Nc6 13.b4 Qe7 14.Nd2 Rd8 15.Bd3 dxe3 16.fxe3 still gives White an extra pawn and the d-file, although commanded by a Black Rook, is no place for Black's pieces.

10...h6

• White has an extra pawn, but his pawn weaknesses invite Black to strike back.

11.Bh4 Re8!?

• 11...Nc6 12.b4 Qe7 13.Rd1 Rd8 14.Nf3 Bg4 15.h3 continues to gives White the advantage in space

12.0-0-0!

• The King gets out of the center and the Rook joins the battle aganst Black's advancing center pawns.
• 12.Be2 Nc6 13.b4 Qe7 14.Rd1 dxe3 15.fxe3 gives White a very respectable advantage in space.

12...Nc6 13.Nf3!?

• This move, putting the Knight where it can be tickled by an advancing Black pawn, throws away much of White's advantage.
• If 13.Ne2! Bg4 14.f3 then:
• If 14...Bh5 15.exd4 exd4 16.Nf4 then:
• 16...g5 17.Nxh5 gxh4 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Bd3 gives WHite an extra pawn.
• 16...Qc7 17.Qd2 g5 18.Nxh5 Nxh5 19.Bf2
• 14...Be6 15.exd4 exd4 16.Qd3 g5 17.Bf2 gives White one extra pawn and he is about to win another.

13...b6?!

• Black is being overanxious. Better strategy calls for making White defend the weaks pawns before eating them.
• If 13...Bg4 14.Be2 then:
• 14...Rc8 15.exd4 exd4 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Ne5 18.Bxb7 Rxc5 White must drop whatever he's doing and deal with the threat of 19...Rxc4.
• If 14...Qe7 15.h3 then:
• 15...Bh5 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bxh5 g5 18.Bf3 gxh4 19.exd4 is equal.
• 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 e4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.exd4 exf3 19.gxf3 gives White a slight advantage with a mass of three pawn for a minor piece.

14.exd4 exd4 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Bd3!?

• The Bishop has no good place to go on this diagonal.
• If 16.Qd2! then:
• 16...Bg4 17.Qf4 Bxf3 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.gxf3 leaves Black with more pawns and fewer weak pawns.
• 16...Re4 17.Bd3 Re6 18.Rde1 Ra5 19.Kd1 Rd6 20.Bg3 leaves White enjoying the initiative.

16...Qd6!?

• Black fails to punish White for his last move.
• If 16...Bg4! 17.Be2 then:
• If 17...Rc8! 18.Kb1 b5 19.c5 b4 20.a4 b3 leaves Black setting fire to the board:
• After 21.Qc4! Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Bf5+ 23.Kc1 Qd5 24.Kd2 Re8 Black wins.
• 21.Qd2 Qe7 22.Bd3 Ne5 23.Bb5 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nxf3 gives Black the advantage in space and active pieces.
• 17...Qd6?! 18.Kb1 Re4 19.Bg3! Qc5 20.Bd3 Bxf3 21.gxf3 leaves White with two Bishops and an extra pawn, but now it's his kingside pawns that leaves something to be desired.

17.Kb1!?

• 17.Bg3! Qc5 18.Nd2 Qh5 19.Rhe1 Bd7 20.Nb3 gives White a wonderful advantage with his Bishops aweeping the open board.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 17.Kc1b1

17...Bg4 18.h3!?

• White should tickle the hanging Queen.
• If 18.Bg3 Qf8 19.Rhe1 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Qc5 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.b4 leaves White a pawn to the good with a strong Bishop pair.

18...Bxf3 19.gxf3 Ne5 20.Bg3

• White still has a small advantage with Bishops sweeping the open field.

20...Qc6 21.Be4!?

• 21.Rhe1! Nxf3 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Be2 Ng5 24.Rxd4 continues to give White a small advantage.

21...Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Qxe4+?!

• The exchange of Queens, all else being equal, always benefits the side with the material advantage.
• 22...Qxc4 23.Rxd4 Nxf3 24.Qxe8+ Rxe8 25.Rxc4 Nd2+ 26.Kc2 continues to give White a small advantage.

23.fxe4 Nxc4 24.Rxd4 Rxe4

• Black sets a trap, but it's hardly subtle.
• If 24...b5?! 25.Rhd1! f6 26.h4 g5 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.b3 White remains a pawn to the good with a good advantage in space.

25.Rhd1

• 25.Rxe4!? Nd2+! 26.Kc2 Nxe4 27.Kd3 Re8 is equal.

25...Rxd4?!

• This exchange is not forced or even necessary.
• 25...Rae8 26.a4 f5 27.b3 Na5 28.Kb2 still leaves White with a healthy advantage in space.

26.Rxd4 Nxa3+?

• A story goes that a chess master looked at an off-hand game of one of his friends and noticed that his colleague was down a piece. "Sacrifice or blunder?" asked the chess master. "I'll know after the game," responded his colleague. "After the game?" inquired the bemused chess master. "Yes," said his friend. "If I win it was a sacrifice; if I lose, it was a blunder."
• Black inexplicably sacrifices (blunders?) a piece for two pawns.
• If 26...Rc8 27.Ka2 f5 28.b3 Na5 29.b4 Nc6 30.Rd6 isn't pretty for Black, but at least he isn't losing. Not quite, anyway.

27.bxa3 Rxa3

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 27...Ra8a3:p

28.h4

• Somewhat better is 28.Rb4! gets a pawn back after 28...Rf3 29.Rxb6 f5 when:
• 30.Be5! Rxh3 31.Rb8+ Kf7 32.Rb7+ Ke6 33.Bxg7 leaves Black with a termendous advantage.
• 30.Rb8+? Kh7 31.Rb4 g5! is equal.
• 30.Rb4 g5! 31.Be5 Rxf2 is equal.

28...Rf3 29.Kc2 Rf5 30.Kd3 b5

• 30...Kh7 31.Rd6 g5 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Rxb6 leaves White with a Bishop to a pawn.

31.Ke4 Rc5 32.Rd5 Rc4+ 33.Kd3 Rb4 34.Kc3!

• The text is better than 34.Rd4 Rxd4+ 35.Kxd4 Kh7 36.Kc5 Kg6 37.Kxb5 when Black has better chances of drawing.

34...Rb1 35.Kc2!?

• Of course, Black's Rook escapes easily from this spot.
• Better is 35.Rd4! Kh7 36.Rb4 Rxb4 37.Kxb4 Kg6 38.Kxb5 when White has a Bishop to a pawn and Black's King is left to defend itself

35...Rb4

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 35...Rb1b4

36.Rf5

• White prepares to dislodge the Rook and capture the b-pawn.
• If 36.h5 g6 37.Bd6 Re4 38.Kc3 then:
• If 38...Rc4+ 39.Kb3 Rc1 40.Bf4 Rh1! then:
• If 41.hxg6 fxg6 42.Rxb5 Rb1+ 43.Kc4 then:
• If 43...Rxb5 then White wins after 44.Kxb5 g5 45.Bc7 Kf8 46.Kc4.
• 43...Rf1 44.Be3 Kf7 45.Kd5 Rd1+ 46.Ke5 Rh1 47.Rb7+ wins.
• If 41.Rd8+ Kh7 42.hxg6+ Kxg6 43.Rd6+ then:
• If 43...f6 44.Be5 Rh3+ 45.Kb4 Rf3 46.Bg3 leaves White with a piece for two pawns and more freedom.
• 43...Kh7 44.Rf6 Kg7 45.Rb6 White has a piece for two pawns and the Black Rook is bound to the defense of the h-pawn.
• If 38...g5 39.Be5 b4+ 40.Kd3 then:
• If 40...f5 41.Bd4 Rh4 42.Rxf5 Rxh5 43.Rb5 Rh4 44.Rxb4 gives White an overwhelming advantage.
• 40...Rh4 loses lickity-split to 41.Rd8+ Kh7 42.Rh8#.

36...f6 37.Kc3

• An alternative is 37.Rd5 Kf7 38.Kc3 Rb1 39.h5 when:
• 39...b4+ 40.Kc2 Rh1 41.Rc5 the Rook goes to b5 and wins the passed pawn.
• 39...Ke6 40.Rd6+ Kf5 41.Rd7 Rh1 42.Rd5+! both protects White's h-pawn and wins the b-pawn.

37...Rb1 38.Rf4

• White wins faster after 38.h5! (prevents the Rook from being driven away by 38...g6) then:
• If 38...Kf7 39.Kc2 Rb4 40.Rc5 then:
• 40...Ke6 41.Kc3 Rb1 42.Rc6+ then:
• 42...Kf5 Kf5 43.Kc2 Rb4 44.Bd6 Rh4 Rc5+ gives White a comfortable game that he should win.
• 42...Kd5 43.Rd6+ Kc5 44.Rd7! puts White in place to feat on Black's kingside.
• If 40...Rg4 then White wins after 41.Rxb5 Rg5 42.Rxg5 fxg5 43.Kd3.
• 38...b4+ 39.Kc2 Rh1 40.Bd6! wins the pawn.

38...Kf7 39.Rb4 Rc1+ 40.Kd4 Rd1+ 41.Ke4 Ra1

• Black has no room to move the Rook to the fifth rank.

42.Rxb5

• As a consequence, White wins the pawn.

42...Ra4+

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 42... Ra1a4+

43.Kd5

• It's a trivial matter, but to make the point clear, if 43.Kf5?? then 43...g6#. Of course, both players are very much aware of this and we mention this for reference.

43...Ra6

• Just as playable and just as hopeless is 43...Ra7 44.Bd6 Ra2 45.Rb7+ Kg6 46.Bg3.

44.Rb7+ Kg8

• 44...Kg6 is more flexible. With the King on the back rank unable to come to f7, the mating threat (see note to White's 43rd move) is harmless.

45.Ke4 Ra5 46.Rd7 Kh7 47.Rd5

• White proposes an exchange of Rooks.

47...Ra4+

• Of course, exchanging Rooks is suicidal for Black.

48.Kf3 Kg6 49.h5+!

• The mating thrat is now kaput and the f5 square is permantly available to White's King.

49...Kf7 50.Rd7+ Kg8 51.Bf4 Kh7

• 51...Ra5 52.Kg4 Ra4 53.Kf5 (this square is available to White because there is no mating threat as there was before) 53...Kh7 54.Rd5 should soon win for White.

52.Rc7

• 52.Bd6 (threatening the devastating 53.Bbf8)52...Rd4 53.Kg3 Rd5 54.Kg4 Rg5+ 55.Kh4 leaves Black with few moves.

52...Ra5 53.Kg4 Ra2 54.Be3 Ra4+ 55.f4 Ra1 56.Bd4

• 56.Rb7 Re1 57.Bc5 Rc1 58.Be7 Kg8 59.Ra7 Rg1+ 60.Kf5 wins for White.

56...Ra6 57.Bc5 Kg8 58.Kf5!

• Good timing! Not only is the King at f5, but it is unassailable at f5.

58...Ra2 59.Rc8+ Kh7 60.Bf8 Kg8

• Otherwise, if White plays 61.Rc7 then Black cannot prevent 54.Bxg7 and the fall of his pawns.

61.Be7+ Kh7 62.Ke6 Ra4

• If 62...Re2+ 63.Kf7 Re1 64.Bf8 then it's time to say good night.

63.Kf7 Ra7 64.Rc2 Ra4

• If 64...f5 then 65.Rg2 Kh8 66.Rxg7 Rxe7+ 67.Kxe7 Kxg7 68.Ke6 wins.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 64...Ra7a4

65.Rg2!

• The pawn is unimportant.

65...Rxf4

• Black plays the harikari move.65...Ra6 66.Rxg7+ Kh8 67.Rg6 Kh7 68.f5 Ra8 69.Rg7+ traps the Black King in a mating net, but it takes longer for no good purpose.

66.Rxg7+ Kh8 67.Rg6! 1-0

• White mates in no more than two moves.
• Sergey Alexandrovich resigns.

Paramarjan Negi, once the youngest grandmaster in the world and now 17, won the Indian National Championship in New Delhi last week.

S. P. Sethuramen, also 17, is one of the rising young stars of India. He will officially become an international grandmaster early in 2011.



Parimarjan Negi
Photo by rorkhete from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


S. P. Sethuraman - Parimarjan Negi
48th Indian National Championship, Round 7
New Delhi, 15 December 2010

Slav Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6

• The Main Line is 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5. See Carlsen-Nakamura, IT, London, 2009.

4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Nbd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.e3

• If 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Re1 Ne4 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Nh4 Bxh4 13.gxh4 then:
• If 13...Nef6 then:
• 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.Bf4 b5 16.Bd6 Rfd8 17.e4 Bg6 18.f3 Ne8 gives White a small advantage (Landa-Najer, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
• 14.e4 Bg6 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Bf4 Rfe8 17.Rad1 e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 (V. Georgiev-Smeets, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 13...Ndf6 14.f3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.e4 Bg6 17.c4 Rfd8 18.Be3 Nh5 19.Rad1 b6 20.Qb2 h6 draw (V. Georgiev-Tkachiev, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

9...0-0 10.Rd1

• 10.Nc3 Ne4 11.Qe2 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be4 13.a4 c5 14.Bd2 Qc7 draw (Drasko-Matulovic, Yugoslav Ch, Novi Sad, 1995).

10...Qc7

• If 10...Ne4 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be4 then:
• 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 c5 is equal (Jeremic-Raicevic, TT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 13.Qe2 c5 14.Bb2 Qc7 15.Bf1 Rac8 16.Nd2 is equal (Kanep-Erenburg, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan, 2003).

11.Nc3 Bg6N

• If 11...e5 12.h3 then:
• 12...Rad8 13.g4 Be6 14.Qe2 h6 15.e4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Bd6 is equal (Wang Hao-Bruzón, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 12...Rfe8 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.e4 Be6 16.Qe2 Bb4 is equal (Aronian-Mamedyarov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2010).

12.h3 Rac8

• The game is equal.
• If 12...Ne4 13.Bd2 then:
• 13...Nb6 14.Qb3 Nxd2 15.Nxd2 is equal.
• 13...Qd6 14.Qe2 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Be4 is equal.

13.Nh4 Bh5 14.g4 Nd5 15.Nf5

• The game remains equal.
• If 15.e4!? then:
• 15...Bxg4 16.hxg4 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Bxh4 18.g5 Qd8 19.f4 gives Black more space and White an extra pawn.
• If 15...Nf4 16.Nb5 then:
• 16...Qb8 17.Nxa7 Qxa7 18.Bxf4 Bxg4 19.hxg4 Bxh4 20.e5 is equal.
• If 16...cxb5 17.Qxc7 Rxc7 18.Bxf4 Rc2 then:
• 19.Rd2 Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Bxg4 21.hxg4 Bxh4 22.Rc1 Rd8 23.Be3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 19.Bg3 g5 20.Nf5 exf5 21.exf5 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Nf6 23.Bf3 is equal.

15...exf5 16.Nxd5!?

• Black exchanges White's centralized Knight.
• 16.gxh5 N7f6 17.h6 g6 18.Bd2 Qd7 remains equal.

16...cxd5 17.Qxc7 Rxc7 18.gxh5 Nf6 19.Bd2 Ne4

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: S. P. Sethuramen
Position after 10...Nf6e4

20.Bxe4?!

• White should preserve this Bishop and trade the other one. He is left with a very bad Bishop against Black's good one.
• 20.f3 Nxd2 21.Rxd2 f4 22.e4 Rd8 gives Black the advantage in space and White ends up with a bad Bishop after all.

20...fxe4 21.Rac1

• White may have better chances (although hardly good chances) if he preserves his Rooks.
• 21.Bc3 f5 22.f3 b5 23.a3 Rc6! certainly gives Black more freedom, but if White now plays 24.Bb4! he would at least succeed in trading his bad Bishop for White good one.

21...Rfc8!

• Black will maintain command of the c-file.

22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Rc1

• Blocking the c-file no longer works.
• 23.Bc3 b5 24.Rc1 b4 25.Bd2 Rxc1+ 26.Bxc1 f5 leaves White in terrible shape.

23...Rc6 24.Rxc6 bxc6

• White must suffer the consequences of his artless exchanges. One does not have to be Kasparov to tell at a glance that Black is better.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: S. P. Sethuramen
Position after 24...bc6:R

25.f3 f5 26.Be1 Bg5!

• Black forces White to seal himself into his tomb.

27.f4

• Any other move drops a pawn.

27...Be7 28.h4!?

• White assumes another weakness.
• If 28.b4 a6 29.a3 Kf7 30.Kf1 Bf6 31.Ke2 Ke7 Black is still better, but the Black's Bishop is hemmed in by White's pawn.

28...g6!?

• This move is a waste of time. The tempo is better spent clearing White's center pawns.
• 28...c5! 29.dxc5 Bxc5 30.Bf2 Kf7 gives Black the active Bishop.

29.hxg6 hxg6 30.b4!

• White keeps the pawn out of c5.
• If 30.a3!? then after 30...c5! 31.dxc5 Bxc5 32.Bf2 a5 33.a4 Kf7 Black's King will migrate to the queenside and penetrate White's position.

30...Kf7 31.Kg2

• White's Bishop is overloaded and the King will com forward to protect the h-pawn.

31...Ke6 32.Kf1

• Seeing that the Black King is headed o the queenside, White hesitates and brings his king back.
• If 32.Kh3 Kd7 33.a3 Kc7 34.Kg3 Kb6 35.a4 a6 leaves Black with a markedly better game, but he has much work to do before he can concert it to a win.

32...Kd7 33.Ke2 Kc7 34.Kd1 Kb6 35.Kc2!?

• White does no better to play 35.a4 in order to keep Black's king out.35.a4 then:
• 35...a5! 36.bxa5+ Ka6 37.Kc2 c5 38.dxc5 Bxc5 39.Bf2 Kxa5 leaves Black's a-pawn in danger of falling.
• If 35...a6 36.Kc2 then:
• There is still time for 36...a5 37.bxa5+ Ka6 38.Kb3 c5 39.dxc5 Bxc5 40.Bf2 Kxa5 when Black has a much better game.
• 36...Bf8 37.Kc3 Kc7 leaves Black with nothing more than a small advantage.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: S. P. Sethuramen
Position after 35.Kd1c2

35...Kb5!?

• Perhaps Black is thinking of 36...Bxb4.
• Better is 35...a5! 36.bxa5+ Ka6 37.Kd1 c5 38.dxc5 Bxc5 when White regains the pawn with a superior game.

36.Kb3

• That puts a stop to that idea.

36...Bd8

• Again, Black should play 36...a5 37.bxa5 c5 38.dxc5 Bxc5 39.Bf2 Kxa5.

37.a3 Be7

• Black again positions the Bishop to fire an b4.
• Not as good is 37...Bf6 38.a4+ Kb6 39.Kb2 Kc7 40.Kc1 Be7 when Black flounders along with a small advantage.

38.Bg3

• Best is the check at a4.
• 38.a4+ Kb6 39.Kc2 Bd6 40.Bc3 a6 leaves Black with a non-lethal advantage in space.

38...Bf6 39.Be1 Bd8 40.Bg3 a5 41.Bf2

• Again, White's best try is to push the King back wioth the check on a4.
• If 41.a4+ Ka6 then:
• 42.Bf2 axb4 43.Kxb4 Be7+ 44.Kb3 Kb6 is followed by 45...c5!.
• If 42.Be1? then Black wins after 42...axb4 43.Bxb4 Bxh4 44.Bd2 g5!.

41...Be7 42.Be1 a4+!?

• This move will Blackl a more difficult time winning. As for White, not only are his pawns on the wrong color squares, he's out of pawn tempi.
• Black wins faster after 42...axb4! 43.axb4 Bf8 44.Bd2 Bd6! 45.Be1 Be7!.

43.Kc3! Bf8 44.Bd2 Bd6 45.Be1 Be7

• If Black had played the pawn exchange on his 42nd move, he'd be home by now.

46.Kb2?

• White loses a valuable tempo.
• If 46.Bf2 Bf6 47.Be1 Kb6 48.Bg3 Kc7 49.Kd2 Black can try bringing his King top the queenside 49...Kd7 but he gets nothing after 50.Ke2 Ke6 51.Ke1 when:
• 51...Be7 52.Ke2 Bf8 53.Kd2 Bg7 54.Ke2 Kd7 55.Kd2 with equality.
• 51...Kf7 52.Ke2 Kg7 53.Kf2 Kh6 54.Kg2 Kh5 55.Kh3 Be7 56.Be1 is equal.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: S. P. Sethuramen
Position after 46.Kc3b2

46...Kc4!

• The Black King moves to the square that makes the coming Bishop sacrifice possible. Black advantage is that White has weak pawns at h4, d4, and b4. The Black Bishop can move to a flexible square and attack two of those pawns (f6 or e7), and if the White Bishop is in the wrong place, Black can win by sacrficing his his Bishop. Moreover, the Bishop can sacrifice at f4 as long as the White Bishop is not at g3 or h2.

47.Kc2

• With Black Bishop on e7, attacking the pawns at b4 and h4, the White Bishop needs to be at e1, where it is defending both pawns.
• If 47.Bf2 then White wins after 47...Bxb4!! 48.axb4 Kd3 49.Bg1 Ke2 50.Ka3 Kf1 51.Kxa4 Kxg1.

47...Bf8

• Until he's ready to bite, Black must be careful to play only the most flexible move.
• If 47...Bf6?! 48.Bf2! Bd8 49.Bg3 Bc7 50.Bh2 Bb6 51.Bg1 Bd8 52.Bf2 takes the life out of the party.
• If 50.Bf2! then:
• If 50...Bd6 51.Bg3 then:
• 51...Bxb4?! 52.axb4 Kxb4 53.Be1+! Kb5 54.Bd2 Kc4 55.Bc1 Black can make no progress.
• If 51...Kb5 then after 52.Kc3 Kb6 53.Be1 the Black King cannot return to c4.
• 50...Bb8 51.Bg3 Ba7 52.Bf2 gets Black nowhere.

If 48...Bg7 then Black holds after 49.Bg1! Kb5 50.Bf2 Bf6 51.Kc3.

48.Bf2 Bh6!

• Black must keep threatening something.

49.Bg3

• If 49.Be1 then White wins after 49...Bxf4!! 50.exf4 Kxd4 51.Bc3+ Ke3 52.Be5 d4.

49...Bg7 50.Bf2

• If 50.Be1 then 50...Bxd4!! transposes into the text.

50...Bf6 51.Be1

• White plays the move that frees the Bishop, but it's too late.
• If 51.Kd2 then after 51...Kb3! 52.Be1 Be7 53.Kc1 Kxa3! Black wins with the a- and b-pawns.
• If 51.Bg3 Bxd4!! 52.exd4 Kxd4 wins like the text.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: S. P. Sethuramen
Position after 51.Bf2e1

51...Bxd4!!

• Black clears a coronation path for a pawn duo.

52.exd4 Kxd4

• Black has only two pawns for a Bishop, but watch out, here they come!

53.Bc3+ Ke3 54.Be5 d4 55.Kc1

• If 55.Bxd4+ then Black wins after 55...Kxd4 56.Kd2 e3+ 57.Kc2 Kc4! 58.Kd1 Kd3.

55...Kd3 56.Kd1 e3 57.Bd6 Ke4 58.Ke1 d3! 0-1

• A Black pawn must queen.
• Grandmaster-elect Sethuraman resigns.

Avetik Grigoryan, the reigning Armenian national champion, won the Bansko Grand Open with 8 points out of a possible nine. This game virtually locked up the title for him. Hang to to your hats, chess fans. It's a wild one.



There is no photo of Avetik Grigoryan available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Avetik Grigoryan - Boris Savchenko
Grand Chess Open, Round 8
Bansko, 18 December 2010

Hollander Game: Dutch Queen's Gambit (Stonewall Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4.e3 f5 5.Bd3

• 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Bd6 7.b3 0-0 8.0-0 Qe7 would be categorized under the JR Chess Opening Catalog as Hollander Game: Dutch Queen's Gambit (Catalan Opening). This is the standard Stonewall of which Tartakover and Botvinnik were experts in days of yesteryear.

5...Nf6 6.b3 Bd6 7.0-0 Qe7

• 7...0-0 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Nd7 10.Ne2 Qf6 11.Rc1 g5 12.Rc2 g4 13.Nd2 Qh6 14.g3 is equal (Cvitan-Erenburg, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

8.Nc3

• If 8.a4 a5 9.Ba3 Bxa3 10.Nxa3 0-0 then:
• 11.Nc2 Ne4 12.Qe1 Nd7 13.b4 axb4 14.Nxb4 is equal (Baumbach-Reichenbach, TT, Germany, 1998).
• 11.Qb1 Ne4 12.Nc2 Na6 13.c5 e5 14.Qb2 exd4 15.exd4 f4 16.Rae1 (Dokutchaev-Tregubov, TT, Novgorod, 1997).

8...Ne4

• If 8...0-0 9.Bb2 Ne4 10.Ne2 Nd7 then:
• 11.Rc1 a5 12.a4 g5 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bb4 15.f3 is equal (Meier-Krasenkow, Spanish ChT, Sestao, 2010).
• 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Bc5 13.Bd4 Ba3 14.Rb1 b6 15.Bb2 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Bb7 (Olszewski-S. Zhigalko, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009).

9.Ne2 Nd7 10.Bb2 Qf6 11.Rc1N

• 11.Nf4 Bxf4 12.exf4 Qh6 13.g3 0-0 14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Qg6 is equal (Bue-E. Lie, Troll Masters, Guasdal, 2002).

11...0-0 12.Rc2

• White has the advantage in space.

12...Kh8 13.Qa1

• 13.Nf4 g5 14.Nh5 Qh6 15.Ne5 Kg8 16.a3 gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Qh6 14.c5!?

• White releases the tension and allows Black to equalize.
• 14.Qc1 Ng5 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nc5 17.Qd1 give White a good advantage in space.

14...Bc7

• The game is equal.

15.b4 g5!?

• Black opens the door for White gain a foothold on the queenside.
• If 15...Ndf6 16.Qd1 then:
• 16...a5 17.b5 cxb5 18.Bxb5 Bd7 19.Bxd7 Nxd7 20.Qd3 is equal.
• 16...Ng4!? 17.h3 Ngf6 18.a4 Nd7 19.Qc1 Kg8 20.Rd1 is equal.

16.Ne5!?

• White misses an opportunity to show some muscle on the queenside.
• If 16.Qc1! (threatening 17.b5) 16...g4 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 then:
• If 18...Qg7 19.Qa1 a5 then:
• 20.b5! cxb5 21.Bxb5 Bd7 22.c6 bxc6 23.Bxc6 gives White more freedom.
• 20.bxa5 Rxa5 21.Bd4 Qe7 22.Rfc1 Bd7 23.Nf4 gives White better chances on the queenside than Black has on the opposite wing.
• If 18...a5 then:
• 19.b5! cxb5 20.c6 b6 21.Bxb5 gives White a well-fortified passer on the sixth rank.
• 19.bxa5 Qg7 20.Qa1 Rxa5 21.Bd4 locks the center for now; each side will seek its fortune on the opposite wing.

16...a5!

• The game is equal.

17.f3?!

• White weakens the base of his pawn chain while attempting to drive the Black Knight from the center.
• 17.Ba3! Nxe5 18.dxe5 axb4 19.Bxb4 g4 remains equal.

17...g4!

• The double attack on e3 and f3 gives Black a clear advantage.

18.f4

• If 18.Bxe4 then Black maintains the advantage after 18...fxe4 19.fxg4 Rxf1+ 20.Qxf1 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qxe3+.

18...axb4 19.Bxe4

• White is struggling to keep up, but Black's center pawns are further advanced and thus Black has the spatial advantage.
• 19.Nxd7 Bxd7 20.Bc1 b6 21.Qb2 then:
• If 21...bxc5 22.dxc5+ e5 23.Qxb4 Rfb8 24.Qe1 then:
• 24...Rb1 25.Bxe4 fxe4 26.Qg3 Qg7 gives Black a solid center.
• 24...Kg8 25.Bxe4 fxe4 26.Qg3 Qg7 gives Black a solid center.
• If 21...Ra4 22.cxb6 Bxb6 23.a3 then:
• 23...Bc7 24.Bxe4 fxe4 25.axb4 Bd6 gives Black the better center and stronger pawns overall.
• 23...bxa3? then White wins after 24.Qxb6 a2 25.Bb2.

19...fxe4 20.Nxg4 Qg7

• 20...Qh5?! 21.Ne5! b3 22.Ng3 Qh6 23.Rc3 is equal.

21.Ne5 b3 22.Rc3 bxa2!?

• 22...Nxe5 23.dxe5 Rg8 24.Rf2 bxa2 25.Nd4 is equal.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Avetik Grigoryan
Position after 22...ba2:p

23.Ra3!

• The Black pawn at a2 is deadwood. The game is equal.

23...Nxe5 24.dxe5 Rxa3 25.Bxa3 b6!?

• Black weakns and exposes c6.
• Better is 25...b5 26.Nd4 Qg4 27.Rf2 Bb7 28.Bb4 with equality.

26.Qxa2!?

• Since the pawn cannot run away, White should wait before taking the pawn until either he has nothing better to do or the maintainance of the blockade becomes too burdensome.
• 26.Nd4! Qg4 27.Qxa2 Rg8 28.Nxc6 Ba6 29.Re1 gives White an extra pawn.

26...Ba6 27.Rc1

• 27.Ra1 Bc4 28.Qd2 Bxe2 29.Qxe2 Ra8 30.Qb2 remains equal.

27...Bxe2 28.Qxe2 Ra8

• 28...b5 29.Ra1 Ra8 30.Ra2 Qd7 31.Bb4 Rxa2 32.Qxa2 remains equal.

29.cxb6 Bxb6?

• Black drops a pawn.
• 29...Rxa3 30.bxc7 Qxc7 31.Qh5 Qa7 32.Kf1 remains equal.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Avetik Grigoryan
Position after 29...Bc7b6:p

30.Bb2?!

• But White fails to pick it up.
• If 30.Rxc6! Qa7 31.Bc1 Re8 then:
• 32.Kf1 Qb7 33.Qb5 Rc8 34.Rxb6 Rxc1+ 35.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative.
• 32.Rc2 Rb8 33.Kh1 Bc5 34.Qe1 Bb4 35.Qf2 Qa6 36.h3 gives White an extra pawn.

30...Qa7!

• Black now has a small advantage in space.

31.Re1 Qf7 32.Rf1 Ra2!?

• Black's small advantage melts away.
• If 32...Qb7! 33.Bd4 c5 34.Ba1 Qa7 35.Rd1 d4 maintains Black's spacial advantage.

33.f5!

• The wheel turns again. The game is equal.

33...d4?

• White badly weakens his center.
• 33...Qg7 34.fxe6 Bxe3+ 35.Qxe3 remains equal.

34.f6?!

• White misses a winning line.
• If 34.fxe6! Qxe6 35.Rf8+ Kg7 36.Rf6 then:
• If 36...Qe8 37.Qg4+ Kh8 38.Qf5 Kg8 39.e6 Ra7 40.Ba3 wins for White as:
• 40...Rxa3 41.Rf7 Ra1+ 42.Kf2 dxe3+ 43.Kg3!! White threatens mate with the Queen on h7 for which Black has no effective reply.
• 40...c5 41.e7 Qxe7 42.Qd5+ Kh8 43.Rxb6 Rxa3 44.Rb8+ Kg7 45.Rb7 wins the Queen.
• 36...Qxe5 37.Rxc6 Rxb2 38.Qxb2 Bc5 39.g3 White is an exchange up and Black's center is pinned.

34...d3!

• Black has the advantage with more active pieces and an effective blockade of White's f-pawn.

35.Qd2 Qa7 36.Kh1 Bxe3 37.Qb4 c5?

• Black cuts the line of communication between his Queen and Bishop, leaving the Bishop hanging.
• If 37...Bc5 38.Qb3 Bf8 39.f7 then:
• If 39...Rxb2!! 40.Qxb2 then Black wins after 40...e3 41.Rg1 e2 42.Qd2 Qf2.
• 39...Qa8!? 40.Bd4 c5 41.Bg1 Qd5 42.Qb8 Ra8 43.Qb5 Kg7. frees the Bishop to cpver the c-pawn.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Avetik Grigoryan
Position after 37...c6c5

38.Qxe4!

• White attacks the hanging Bishop and chips away at Black's connected passers.

38...Rxb2 39.Qxe3 Qb7 40.Qg5!?

• White misses a winning line.
• If 40.Qg1! Qf7 41.Qxc5 Qg8 42.Qc6 Rb8 43.Qd7 wins for White.

40...c4!

• Black will stay alive longer.

41.h4

• Advancing the passer would be a terrible mistake.
• If 41.f7? then 41...Qxf7!! 42.Qd8+ Qg8 43.Qf6+ Qg7 44.Qd8+ Qg8 etc. draws.
• If 41.h3! Qf7 42.Qg4 c3 43.Qf3 then:
• If 43...Rb8! 44.Qxd3 Qc7 45.Qe4 c2 46.Rc1! then:
• 46...Rc8! 47.Kh2 Qc4 48.Qf3 Qd4 49.Qg3! Qd7 50.Qg4 leaves White holding all the cards.
• 46...Rb1? then White wins after 47.Qa8+! Qb8 48.Qxb8+ Rxb8 49.Rxc2.
• 43...c2? drops a pawn and loses to 44.Qxd3 h6 45.Kh2 Qg8 46.Qe4 Qf7 47.Rc1.

41...Qf7 42.Qg4 c3 43.Qd4!?

• White opens the door wide for Black by leaving the pawn at g2 inadequately protected.
• If 43.Qg3 Rb8 44.Qxd3 Qc7 then:
• After 45.Qg3 c2 46.Kh2 Rc8 47.Rc1 White has stopped Black's passer and begun preparations to advance the f-pawn.
• If 45.Qe4 then after 45...Rc8 46.Rc1 c2 47.Kh2 h5 48.Qf4 Black must contend against White's passed f-pawn.

43...Qg8!?

• Black misses his best chance to get back in the game.
• 43...Qg6! 44.Rg1 Rb8 45.Qxc3 Qe4 46.Rf1 Rg8 47.Rf2 Rd8 leaves White with only a small advantage.

44.Qe4 Re2?

• Black considerably shortens his agony, even though it appears at first glance to present White with a number of deadly threats (a threat to the Queen at e4, advancing connected passers and mate at g2).
• If 44...d2 45.f7 Qf8 46.Qf3 then:
• 46...Rb8 47.Qxc3 d1Q 48.Rxd1 Qxf7 49.Qe3 Black can keep fighting, although the battle is up a steep mountain.
• 46...h6?! 47.Qxc3! d1Q 48.Rxd1 Rb7 49.Qc4 it will take only a little more to bush Black over the edge.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Avetik Grigoryan
Position after 44...Rb2e2

45.Qf3!

• This beauty of a move solves all of White's problems.

45...Qf8

• Suddenly, Black is hopeless.
• If 45...h6 46.f7 Qf8 47.Qxd3 Rd2 48.Qxc3 leaves White two pawns up.
• If 45...c2 46.f7 Qxf7 47.Qxf7 Rxg2 then:
• 48.Qf6+ Rg7 49.Rg1 c1Q 50.Qxg7#.
• 48.Kxg2 h6 49.Qg6 c1Q 50.Rf8#.

46.f7 h6 47.Qxd3

• This crushes Black, who could have resigned here.

47...Rd2 48.Qxc3 Rd5 49.Qf3

• 49.Rf6 Rd1+ 50.Kh2 Rd8 51.Qc4 Kh7 52.Qxe6 puts Black in a mating net.

49...Kh7 50.Qe4+ Kh8 51.Kh2 Rb5

• 51...Rd7 52.Qf3 Kg7 53.Qg4+ Kh8 54.Qxe6 Re7 55.Qxe7 leaves White a Rook to the good after 55...Qxe7 56.f8Q+ Qxf8 57.Rxf8+.

52.Qg6 Rb4 53.Kh3 Rb3+ 54.g3 Re3 55.Qxe6 1-0

• 55...Rc3 56.Rf6 Kh7 57.Qf5+ Kh8 58.Qg4 leaves Black in a mating net.
• Grandmaster Savchenko resigns.

Nils Grandelius, 17, is Sweden's leading junior master. He was awarded the title of international grandmaster in 2010.

He scored a major upset last week when he defeated the veteran grandmaster, noted author and the tournament's second seed, Ivan Sokolov, in the third round of the Rilton Cup in Stockholm.



Nils Grandelius
Photo by Pawel Grochowalski in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Nils Grandelius - Ivan Sokolov
40th Rilton Cup, Round 3
Stockholm, 29 December 2010

Hollander Game: Dutch Queen's Gambit (Stonewall Defense)

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Be6

• 3...Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.d4

4.Ng5

• 4.Na3 Nf6 5.Nxc4 g6 6.b3 Bg7 7.Bb2 0-0 8.Be2 c5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Geller-Keres, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1963).

4...Bd5 5.e4 Bc6

• 5...e6 6.exd5 Qxg5 7.dxe6 Qe5+ 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.exf7+ Kxf7 10.Kd1 Qxe2+ 11.Bxe2 Ne5 is equal (Panchenko-Rozentalis, Soviet Ch 1stL, Lvov, 1987).

6.Bxc4 e6 7.d3

• 7.d4 h6 8.Nxe6 Bb4+ 9.Nc3 fxe6 10.0-0 Qh4 11.Bxe6 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nd7 is equal (Vouldis-Tzermiadianos, Greek Ch, Athens, 2001).

7...Be7

• 7...Nf6 8.0-0 h6 9.Nf3 Be7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Qe2 a6 12.a4 a5 13.d4 Na6 14.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space (van der Sterren-G. Flear, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1987).

8.Qg4 (N)

• 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Nc3 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 draw (Szekely-Kishnev, Op, Zwolle, 1993).

8...Nf6

• The game is equal.

9.Qh3 Qd7!?

• 9...Bd7 10.e5 Nd5 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 Nc6 gives Black the initiative against White's e-pawn, but White has compensation in not allowing Black to castle short.

10.0-0 Na6 11.a3!?

• 11.Bxa6 bxa6 12.Nd2 h5 13.Nc4 Ng4 14.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space.

11...b5 12.Ba2 Nc5 13.Nc3!?

• If 13.e5! then:
• 13...Nd5 14.Nxh7 0-0-0 15.d4 Ne4 16.Qh5 remains equal.
• 13...Ng8!? 14.Rd1! Qd4 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 gives White the initiative.

13...a5! 14.Be3

• 14.e5 Ng8 15.Be3 b4 16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.dxe4 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...h5

• If 14...b4 15.Bxc5 Bxc5 then:
• 16.Ne2 bxa3 17.bxa3 Bb5 18.Nf4 Bd4 19.Rab1 c6 is equal.
• 16.axb4 axb4 17.Ne2 Bd6 18.Bc4 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 gives White a slim edge in space.

15.Rfd1 b4 16.Ne2!?

• If 16.d4! then:
• 16...Ncxe4 17.Ncxe4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.axb4 Bxb4 20.Qf3 gives White enough initiative to compensate for the pawn minus.
• 16...bxc3!? 17.dxc5 cxb2 18.Rab1 Qc8 19.f3 Ba4 20.Rd2 gives White more than enough space and activity to compensate for the pawn.

16...Ng4!

• The game is equal.

17.Bxc5!

• White has many ways to go wrong here, but the game remains equal.
• If 17.Bf4?! then:
• If 17...bxa3! 18.bxa3 Rd8 19.Bc4 f6 then:
• If 20.Nxe6 Nxe6 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Bxc7 Rd7 23.Bxa5 f5 then:
• If 24.Rab1 0-0 25.Bb6 Qa2 then:
• 26.Re1 fxe4 27.dxe4 Nxf2 28.Bxf2 Rxf2 wins for Black.
• 26.Nc3 Qxa3 27.Nd5 Bc5 28.Rf1 Bxd5 wins for Black.
• If 24.Bb4 fxe4 25.Bxe7 then:
• Black wins after 25...Qxe7! 26.dxe4 0-0 27.Rxd7 Qxd7 28.Qb3+ Kh7 29.Rf1 Bb5
• 25...Rxe7 26.Rab1 0-0 27.Nd4 Qf6 also wins.
• 20.Nf3 e5 21.Ng3 exf4 22.Nxh5 Rh6 23.Nd4 g6 White will have to play carefully to get out of the annoying pin h5.
• 17...Rd8 18.axb4 axb4 19.Bc4 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Nxe4 wins a pawn for Black as 21.dxe4?? allows mate in two starting with 21...Qxd1+!!.
• 17.Bc4! Rd8 18.axb4 axb4 19.Bxc5 Bxc5 20.d4 is also equal.

17...Bxc5 18.d4 Bb6!?

• Black allows this Bishop to be kept at bay.
• If 18...Rd8! 19.axb4 axb4 then:
• If 20.Qd3 then:
• 20...Bb6! 21.Bc4 h4 22.f4 Rh5 23.h3 Nf6 gives White a slight edge in space.
• If 20...Bd6?! 21.h3! Ba4 then:
• 22.Rf1 Bh2+ 23.Kh1 Bb5 24.Bc4 Bxc4 25.Qxc4 gives White a clear advantage.
• 22.Re1 Bb5 23.Bc4 Bxc4 24.Qxc4 Nh6 25.Ra7 threatens 26.Rea1 with penetration on the a-file.
• 20.Bc4 Be7 21.Ra5 Ra8 is equal.

19.Qd3!

• White takes the advantage in space.
• Also good is 19.Bc4 Qe7 20.f4 a4 21.Qd3 Bd7 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.h3.

19...Qe7

• This is the best move to cope with White's advantage.
• If 19...Ba4!? 20.Rd2 bxa3 then:
• 21.Bc4! Rb8 22.Rxa3 Bc6 23.h3 gives White the advantage in space and a strong initiative.
• 21.bxa3? drops a piece to 21...Qb5! 22.Bc4 Qxg5

20.Nf3

• Also good is 20.f4 a4 21.Bc4 Bd7 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.h3.

20...Rd8 21.Bc4 Bb7!?

• Black has had his King in the center long enough.
• Better is 21...0-0 22.axb4 axb4 23.Rdc1 Ba8 24.Bb5 c5 25.Ra6

BLACK: Ivan Sokolov



WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 21...Bc6b7

22.axb4!?

• Somewhat better is 22.Bb5+ Kf8 23.Rac1 c5 24.Ba6 Ba8 when White commands the queenside light squares.

22...Qxb4 23.Rac1 0-0 24.h3 Nf6 25.e5 Ne4

• 25...Nd5? 26.Ng5 g6 27.Nxe6!! fxe6 28.Qxg6+ leads to a White win.
• 25...Nh7 26.Rc3 then:
• 26...Rfe8 27.Qc2 Nf8 28.Rb3 Qe7 29.Bb5 Nd7 30.Rc3 gives White a good advantage in space.
• If 26...Bxf3 27.Qxf3 Qxb2 28.Bb3 then:
• 28...Qa3 29.Bxe6 Qb4 30.Bc4 Ng5 31.Qc6 gives White an impressive advantage in space, especially on the light squares.
• 28...a4 29.Bxa4 Qb4 30.Bc6 Ng5 31.Qd3 gives White a clear advantage.

26.Nf4!?

• White goes for a speculative sacrifice.
• 26.Qc2 Qe7 27.h4! then:
• If 27...Kh8 28.Bd3 Nxf2 29.Kxf2 Bxf3 then:
• 30.Kxf3! f6 31.g3 fxe5+ 32.Kg2 Qd6 33.dxe5 leaves White clearly better.
• 30.gxf3?! Qxh4+ 31.Kg2 Bxd4 32.Nxd4 Rxd4 33.Qd2 is equal.
• If 27...Ba8? 28.Nf4 g5 29.Nxh5 then:
• 29...Kh8 30.Bd3 f5 31.exf6 Nxf6 32.Ne5!! threatens to winh the Queen with 33.Ng7+!.
• If 29...gxh4? 30.Re1 f5 31.exf6 then:
• 31...Qh7 then White wins after 32.Nf4 Rxf6 33.Nxe6 Rxe6 34.Bxe6+.
• If 31...Rxf6 then 32.Rxe4!! Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Rh6 34.Qf4 Rxh5 35.Qg4+ wins.

26...Qxb2!

• The game is equal.

27.Qe3 g6?!

• 27...Qb4 28.Nxh5 Rd7 29.Nf4 Qe7 30.Bb5 Rdd8 31.Bc6 gives White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Ivan Sokolov



WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 27...g7g6

28.Nd3!?

• 28.Ne2! (overprotecting the pawn at d4) 28...Bd5 29.Bd3 Nxf2 30.Kxf2 then:
• 30...Bxf3 31.Kxf3 Bxd4 32.Nxd4 Qxd4 33.Rxc7 gives White grater activity and a material advantage.
• If 30...Qb4? then White wins after 31.Be4 Bxe4 32.Qxe4 a4 33.Qf4.

28...Qa3!

• The game is equal.

29.Qh6 Rfe8 30.Bb5 Qf8?!

• 30...c6 31.Bc4 Rxd4 32.Nxd4 Bxd4 33.Rc2 remains equal.

31.Qf4 Bxd4 32.Bxe8 Qxe8 33.Rxc7 Nc3

• The game is still equal.
• 33...Ba8 34.Nxd4 Rxd4 35.Kh2 Rd7 36.Rc4! wins the Knight.

34.Re1!?

• Behind the mask of the Bishop at d4, Black's Rook is attacking White's hanging Knight as a result of this move.
• Better is 34.Rd2 Nd5 35.Qxf7+ Qxf7 36.Rxf7 Kxf7 37.Nxd4 with equality.

BLACK: Ivan Sokolov



WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 34.Rd1e1

34...Bxf3!?

• Black doesn't find the continuaton that would give him the advantage.
• If 34...Nd5! then:
• 35.Qxf7+ Qxf7 36.Rxf7 Kxf7 37.Nxd4 Nf4 38.Nxf4 Rxd4 gives Black the outside passer.
• 35.Qe4 Nxc7 36.Qxb7 Qb5 37.Qxc7 Bb6 38.Qc2 Qxd3 also gives Black the outside passer.

35.Qxf3!

• White will be no worse than equal following this move.

35...Nd5?!

• Black isn't lost yet, but he's in a tough fight for a draw now.
• 35...a4 36.Rc1 a3 37.R7xc3 Bxc3 38.Rxc3 then:
• 38...a2 39.Ra3 Qb5 40.Nc1 Qb1 41.Ra7 Qxc1+ 42.Kh2 White wins the a-pawn.
• 38...Ra8 39.Rc1 a2 40.Ra1 Ra3 41.Qd1 Qb5 42.Ne1 leaves the a-pawn blocked while White has a piece for two pawns.
• The move that can save Black is 35...Rc8 then:
• 36.Rb7! Rb8 37.Rxb8 Qxb8 38.Qf6 Qa8 39.Qh4 gives White a small material advantage.
• 36.Rxc8? Qxc8 37.Rc1 Qb8 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 a4 is equal.

36.Rb7!

• As is often the case, the most aggressive move against an enemy weakness (the pawn at f7) wins
• 36.Rc4 Nb6 37.Rc6 a4 38.Qe4 a3 39.Nb4 continues to give Black the advantage in space

36...a4

• Black's best chance now is the judicious advance of the pawn.

37.Re4 a3?

• The pawn moves beyond it realm of protection and will fall.
• If 37...Nc3 38.Rf4 Rd7 then:
• 39.Kh2 Rxb7 40.Qxb7 Nb5 41.Re4 gives White a material advantage, but he will have to work fast against Black's passer.
with equality.
• If 39.Qc6!? Ne2+ then:
• 40.Kf1 Nxf4 41.Qxd7 Qxd7 42.Rxd7 Nd5 43.Rd8+ clearly leaves White better, but Black has enough to play on.
• 40.Kh2 Nxf4 41.Qxd7 Qxd7 42.Rxd7 Nd5 43.Rd8+ leaves White clearly better as he will bring his Rook behind White's passer.

BLACK: Ivan Sokolov



WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 37...a4a3

38.Rxd4!

• White not only wins a piece, but is assured of stopping Black's passed pawn.

38...a2

• If 38...Ra8 then White wins after 39.Rb1 a2 40.Ra1 Qb8 41.Rc4!.

39.Ra4 Rb8

• If 39...Qxa4?? then it's all over after 40.Qxf7+! Kh8 41.Qg7#.

40.Rba7 Nc3 41.Rxa2 1-0

• If 41...Nxa2 then 42.Nc5 Rc8 43.Ne4 Qf8 44.Nd6 wins easily.
• Grandmaster Sokolov resigns.

Indian IM Rao Prasanna. 16, served notice in this game that he came to Hastings to play chess.

His victim, Vasilios Kotronias, is the reigning Greek national champion, a title he has held eight times.



There is no photo of Rao Prasanna available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Rao Prasanna - Vasilios Kotronias
International Chess Congress, Round 2
Hastings, 29 December 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3

• For other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Qc7 6.Be2 b5

• If 6...Nc6 (the game is now a Taimanov Defense) 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...Nf6 then:
• If 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Na4 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 then:
• If 14...Rb6 then:
• 15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0-0 17.b3 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Be5 Rd8 20.Qg3 f6 21.Bb2 Bd6 22.Qg4 Qc7 23.g3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bc4 f5 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Bxe2 Nc3 gives Black the advantage in space (Atoufi-Sarkar, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2007).
• 15.b3 Nxe4 16.Bxg7 Rg8 17.Be5 Bd6 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.fxg3 Be5 20.Rb1 Ke7 21.Bd3 Rg5 22.Qf3 gives White a small advantage in space (Azarov-Banikas, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 9...0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rfxc8 13.Bxa6 Rf8 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.f4 e5 16.f5 Rxb2 17.g4 Qa5 18.g5 Ne8 19.Bc1 Rxa2 20.Bb2 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Bb4 22.c3 Qxa1 23.Rxa1 Bd6 24.Ra6 h6 25.Bc1 hxg5 26.Bxg5 Nf6 27.Bxf6 draw (Ehlvest-Illescas, French League, France, 1989).
• If 8.Kh1 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Qd3 b5 11.f4 Bb7 12.Bf3 then:
• If 12...h5 13.e5 Ng4 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Ne4 Rc8 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Rae1 then:
• if 17...Nh6 18.Qf3 Kf8 19.Qxh5 Rxc2 20.f5 exf5 21.Rxf5 Rxd2 22.Nxd2 g6 23.Qxg6 Qd5 24.Nf3 Nxf5 25.Qxf5 then:
• 25...Rh6 26.a3 Rc6 27.h3 a5 28.Qb1 Rc4 29.Rd1 gives White the active game(Nataf-Wallace, Icelandic ChT, Reykjavik, 2004).
• 25...Qxa2 26.Qxd7 Qxb2 27.Qc8+ Kg7 28.Qxa6 Rh6 29.Qc8 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 17...Qc6 18.Bc3 b4 19.Bd2 Nh6 20.c3 bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nf5 22.Qf3 h4 23.Rd1 Qb6 24.Rfe1 Rc4 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Movsesian-Lutz, Bundesliga, Germany, 2001).
• 12...0-0 13.e5 Ne8 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.f5 f6 16.Bf4 Be7 17.Rae1 b4 18.Nd1 exf5 19.Qxf5 fxe5 20.Qxe5 Bd6 21.Qd4 Bxf4 22.Rxf4 Rxf4 23.Qxf4 Nf6 24.Ne3 Re8 is equal (Lin Yi-Liang Jirong, China ChT, Suzhou, 2001).
• 7...b5 8.Re1 Bb7 9.Nxc6 transposes into the text.

7.0-0 Bb7 8.Re1

• If 8.Bf3 Nc6 9.Nxc6 dxc6 then:
• If 10.a4 Nf6 11.Qe2 e5 then:
• 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8+ Bxa8 14.Be3 Be7 15.Nb1 0-0 is equal (Brunner-Lau, IT, Budapest, 1992).
• 12.Bg5 Be7 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8+ Bxa8 15.Ra1 0-0 is equal (Sion-Urday, Op, Pamplona, 1991).
• 10.e5 Qxe5 11.Re1 Qd6 12.Qe2 Nf6 13.Bg5 Be7 14.a4 b4 is equal (Riemersma-Cramling, Spijkenisse, 1987).

8...Nc6

• The game has transposed into a Taimanov Defense.

9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.e5 Rd8

• If 10...Bb4 11.Bd3 Ne7 then:
• 12.Qh5 Bxc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.c4 bxc4 15.Bxc4 Qc6 16.Qh3 gives White the advantage in space (Bellia-Landa, Op, Bratto, 2010).
• 12.Qg4 c5 13.Bg5 Ng6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Re3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bd5 is equal (Polzen-Landa, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2004).

11.Bd3 c5 12.Qe2

• If 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh3 Bg7 14.Bg5 Ne7 then:
• If 15.Be4 Rd4 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.f3 h6 18.Be3 Rc4 19.Ne4 Bxe5 20.c3 then:
• 20...Nd5 21.b3 Rxc3 22.Nxc3 Bxc3 23.Bxc5 Bxa1 24.Rxa1 Qc7 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Rosito-Hellsten, Puebla Mem, Mendoz, 2005).
• If 20...Qc7 21.Rad1 Nd5 22.Bc1 Nf6 23.Ng5 then:
• 23...Bxh2+?! 24.Kh1! Qg3 25.Qxe6+!! fxe6 26.Rxe6+ Kf8 27.Rxf6+ Ke8 28.Re6+ Kf8 29.Rd8+ Kg7 30.Rd7+ Black resigns as mate cannot be avoided (Babaev-Rasulov, Azerbaijani Ch, Baku, 2009).
• 23...Kf8 24.g3 Kg7 25.Nxf7 Kxf7 is equal.
• 15.Bf6 0-0 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Rd4 18.Rxd4 cxd4 19.Qh4 gives White a small edge in space (C. Balogh-Flumbort, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2001).
• If 12.Qg4 Ne7 13.Bg5 Rd4 14.Qg3 then:
• If 14...Ng6 15.Rad1 Be7 16.Ne2 then:
• 16...Rd7 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Bxe7 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Qxe7 20.Rd6 is equal (Nijboer-Bosch, Dutch Ch semif, Leeuwarden, 2002).
• 16...Rd5 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Nf4 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 Qe7 is equal (Zelcic-V. Schneider, Op, Pula, 2007).
• 14...Nc6 15.a4 b4 16.Ne4 c4 17.Bf1 Nxe5 18.Nf6+ gxf6 19.Bxf6 Rg4 gives Blackm the initiative (Kovacevic-Pavlovic, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).

12...Ne7 13.Bg5

• 13.a4 b4 14.Ne4 Qc6 15.Qh5 Nf5 16.Bg5 Rd4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Polzen-Korneev, Austrian ChT 0809, Ansfelden, 2009).

13...h6 14.Bh4 (N)

• 14.Qh5 Rd4 15.Be3 Rd7 is equal (Dimitrov-Vyzmanavin, IT, Burgos, 1993).

14...g5 15.Bg3 h5

• 15...Nf5 16.Ne4 Bg7 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxf5 Be7 19.Be4 is equal.

16.h3

• 16.h4 gxh4 17.Bxh4 Bg7 18.Rad1 Rd4 remains equal.
• 16.f3?! c4 17.Be4 b4! 18.Nd1 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Ng6 gives Black a small spatial advantage.

16...c4

• 16...g4 17.hxg4 h4 18.Bh2 h3 19.Ne4 Nd5 20.c4 gives White the advantage in space.

17.Be4

BLACK: Vasilios Kotronias



WHITE: Rao Prasanna
Position after 17.Bd3e4

17...Nc6!?

• Black seems to lose the threat of the game here. His biggest problem is the mobility of the kingside, where the Rook is tied to the defense of the h-pawn.
• If 17...g4 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Ne4 then:
• 19...Nf5 20.Red1 Be7 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.hxg4 Nxg3 23.Nxg3 gives White the advantage in space after 23...hxg4 24.Ne4.
• 19...Nd5 20.h4 Qc6 21.Rad1 Bb4 22.Nd6+ Bxd6 23.exd6 gives White the advantage in space and bone in Black's throat at e6.
• If 17...Nf5 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Rad1 then:
• 20...Qc6 21.Qf3 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Kf8 23.Qe2 gives White more active pieces.
• 20...Rd5 21.Rxd5 Qxd5 22.c3 Nxg3 23.Nxg3 g4 24.Rd1 gives White a strong initiative.
• 20...Nxg3 21.Rxd8+ Kxd8 22.Nxg3 g4 23.hxg4 hxg4 24.Rd1+ gives White more active pieces in the center.

18.Rad1!

• If 18.Qe3 b4 19.Ne2 Rg8 20.Rad1 h4 21.Bh2 gives White only a small advantage in space.

18...Bc5?!

• If 18...Bb4 19.Qe3 then:
• 19...Rg8 20.a3 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 19...h4 20.Bh2 Rg8 21.a3 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Qf3!

• White nets more space.
• Also good is 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Qf3 b4 22.Ne2.

19...Rh6?!

• This is the kind of situation my staff and I really hate. Black isn't quite lost, but he's not likely to recover from this pickle, either.
• 19...Rd4 20.a3 g4 21.hxg4 hxg4 22.Qxg4 Ne7 23.Qf3 gives Black a much better chance at coming back.

20.h4 g4 21.Qf4!

• White takes even more space.
• Also good is 21.Rxd8+! Nxd8 22.Qf4 Rh8 23.Rd1 Nc6 24.a3.

21...Rh8 22.Rd6

• Somewhat stronger is 22.Rxd8+! Nxd8 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Ne4.

22...Rf8?

• Black's King no longer has room to maneuver out of trouble.
• Little better is 22...Rd7 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.a3, which is identicle to the note after White's 21st move.

23.Qh6!

• The pincer attack on e6 is very powerful.
• Also good is 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Qg5+ Kc8.

23...b4 24.Rxe6+ Ne7

BLACK: Vasilios Kotronias



WHITE: Rao Prasanna
Position after 24...Nc6e7

25.Rxe7+!!

• White nails down the game with an exchange sacrifice.
• Also good is 25.Rd6 Rb8 26.Nd5 Bxd5 27.Bxd5.

25...Qxe7 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.Ne4

• 27.e6 Be7 28.Nd5 Qxd5 29.exf7+ Rxf7 30.Re5 also wins.

27...Qb6 28.e6 Bd4

• 28...Qxe6 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Rxe6+ fxe6 31.Qg5 Rxf6 32.Qxc5+ is time to turn out the lights.

29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.exf7+ Kxf7 31.Qxh5+!! 1-0

• White mates in two.
• Vasilios resigns.

Other Tournament Results

Indian National Championship, New Delhi. The Indian national champion for 2011 is 17-year-old Parimarjan Negi. He scored 9½ points in 13 rounds in the event completed December 22.

Grand Chess Open, Bansko, Bulgaria. Reigning Armenian National Champion Avetik Grigoryan won the Bansko Grand Chess Open with 8 points in nine games. The event finished December 19.

Opening this week

Rilton Cup, Stockholm. The 40th Rilton Cup began today in Stokholm, Sweden with 70 competitors. The top seeds are German grandmaster Arkadij Naiditsch and GM Ivan Sokolov of Bosnia.

International Chess Congress, Hastings. Hastings, the scene of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, once again hosts the International Chess Congress beginning tomorrow. The first meeting of the International Chess Congress in Hastings came in 1895 for a tournament that was won by American master Harry Nelson Pillsbury of Boston. There are 105 players competing in the Masters' Open, led by grandmasters Romain Edouard (France), Andrei Istratescu (Romania), David Howell (England) and reigning Greek national champion Vasilios Kontronias.

Toreno di Capodanno, Reggio Emilia, Italy. The 53rd Torneo di Capodanno begins tomorrow in Reggio Emilia in north central Italy. The tournament is a single round robin among ten players. This year competitors are Fabiano Caruana (Italy), Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan), Michele Godena (Italy), top seed Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Alexander Morzevich (Russia), Sergei Movsesian (Slovakia), David Navara (Czechia), Alex Onischuk (United States), Nigel Short (England) and Paco Vallejo (Spain).

Today was a scheduled day off in all three New Year's tournaments. One game was played, however, made necessary when Russian GM Alexander Morozevich was snowed in at Russian airports and unable to reach Reggio Emilia, Italy, for the first round of the Torneo di Capodanno, a round robin among ten players. Morozevich's first round opponent, Czech GM David Navarra, agreed to postpone the game rather than back into a win by forfeit (chess players are very good sports as a group and want to win games over the board, not as a result of some misfortune that has nothing to do with chess).

That game was played today with Moro playing white and winning in 38 moves. That moved him into a second place tie with six other players with two points after four rounds. Grandmaster Paco Vallejo of Spain leads the pack with 3½ points.

Other standings:

Rilton Cup, Stockholm: After five rounds, tied for first at 4½ points each: Arkadij Naiditch, Nils Grandelius, Alexander Shimanov and Sergey Volkov; 4 point: David Berczes, Johan Furhof and Bartlomiej Maceija.

International Chess Congress, Hastings: After four rounds, David Howell is alone in first with 4 points, followed by English IM Thomas Rendle at 3½ and 18 competitors tied for third at 3 points each.

Other News:

Official January Ratings List released by FIDE: Nagnus Carlson is again officially the world's number one at 2814, followed by reigning world champion Vishy Anand (2810), Armenian GM Levon Aronian (2805), former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (2784) and newly minted Russian Sergey Karjakin (2776). Newly crowned world women's champion Hou Yifan remains third on the women's list, but becomes the third woman (if it is correct to call a 16-year-old schoolgirl a woman) to break the 2600 barrier in Elo points.

Ilya Nyzhnyk gains GM title: Fourteen-year-old Ilya Nyzhnyk of Ukraine scored 6½ points in nine rounds in the recent Gronigen Chess to finish an equal first and gain his third grandmaster norm and thus claims the title. Ilya becomes the youngest grandmaster currently and the 11th youngest of all time.

Details will be presented this weekend:

Gashimov and Vallejo tie for first in Reggio Emilia Azerbaijani GM Vugar Gashimov and former two-time Spanish national champion Paco Vallejo finished in a tie for first place with six points each in nine rounds in the 53rd annual Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy that was completed today. Gashimov will receive thwe honors as tournament champion based on a superior tie-break score, largely due to winning his individual encounter with Vallejo in the seventh round Tuesday.

Indians conquer at Hastings Indian Grandmaster Deep Sengupta and international master Arghyadip Das shared first place at the International Chess Congress at Hastings, Sussex (England) with seven points each in nine rounds in the event that finished yesterday. Other Indian masters who fared well were IMs Rao Prasanna, who eared a grandmaster norm, and Sundar Shyam, who fell just short of one when he lost to Das in the final round. Hastings is the site of the Norman invasion of England of William, Duke of Normandy, in 1066.

Volkov takes home Rilton Cup Russian grandmaster Sergey Volkov took a clear first place at the 40th Rilton Cup with eight points out of a possible nine in the annual tournament competed yesterday in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. His compatriot, grandmaster Aleksandr Shimanov, finished a clear second with 7½ points.