The JR Chess Report (February 27): Elina D perfect in Doha after 5

Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-27-11 02:03 PM
Original message

The JR Chess Report (February 27): Elina D perfect in Doha after 5

Edited on Sun Feb-27-11 02:05 PM by Jack Rabbit

Games will be posted later.

Danielian perfect after five rounds in Doha

Elina Danielian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Armenian grandmaster Elina Danielian leads the sixth and final leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Doha, the capital of Qatar, after five rounds with a perfect score after taking down former world women's champion Xu Yuhua of China in 69 moves yesterday.

Three players are tied for second at three points, two points behind Ms. Danielian: Reigning European champion Pia Cramling of Sweden, French grandmaster Marie Sebag and international master Martha Fierro Baquero of Ecuador. La se�orita Fierro the lowest rated player in Doha.

The winner of the Grand Prix series will play a match against reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan sometime during the year. Ms. Hou, who is not competing in Doha, was leading the series by 90 points when she became the new world women's champion in December. The most likely Grand Prix winner, excluding Ms. Hou, is Nana Dzagnidze or Koneru Humpy. Ms. Dzagnidze started Doha with two victories but has since lost three games in a row. Ms. Koneru, the world's third ranking woman behind Judit Polgar and Ms. Hou, is tied for fifth place with an even score at 2� points. Ms. Danielian and the other tournament leaders are too far to seriously contend for the Grand Prix championship.

Ms. Xu is the second former world women's champion that Ms. Danielian has defeated. In Round 2 Ms. Danielian beat the legendary Maia Chibudanidze. Former champions Antoanetta Stefanova and Zhu Chen are also playing in Doha.

Today (Sunday) is a rest day in Doha. Play resumes tomorrow when Ms. Danielian will play Black against her compatriot, international master Lilit Mkrtchian. The event lasts through Saturday, March 5. Live broadcasts of the game may be seen on the official website beginning at 3 pm Doha time (6 am PST).

OTHER NEWS

27th Cappelle-la-Grande Open begins. The 27th International Open in Cappelle-la-Grande, France, began yesterday. This year's top seeded player is Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran, who was held to a draw in the opening round by French FM Tristan Calistri. The event runs through next Saturday.

Women's Champion celebrates birthday. World women's champion Hou Yifan turned 17 yesterday. Many happy returns, young lady.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Reykjavik Open 9-16 March.
European Championships, France & Turkey 21 March-3 April. General Group: Aix-les-Bains; Women's Group: Ginziantep.
Dubai Open 9-19 April.
Asian Championships, Mashad 1-11 May.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-27-11 08:21 PM
Response to Original message

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-27-11 08:31 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. FIDE Women's Grand Prix, Sixth and Final Leg, Doha

Doha, the capital city of Qatar
Photo by Kamgxi_emperor6868 in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-27-11 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Danielian - Chiburdanidze, Round 2

Elina Danielian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Elina Danielian - Maia Chiburdanidze
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 2
Doha, 23 February 2011

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.e3 b6 4.b3 Bb7 5.Bb2 d5 6.Nc3 a6 7.d4

The game has transposed into a Queen's Indian.

7...Nbd7 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0

9...dxc4 10.bxc4 0-0 11.Nd2 c5 12.Nde4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 15.Kxh2 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Qxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Biliskov-Kurajica, Croatian Cup, Sibenik, 2005).

10.Rc1

If 10.Qe2 Ne4 11.Rad1 Qe7 then:

If 12.Qc2 f5 13.Ne2 dxc4 then:

14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Ne5 cxd4 17.exd4 Rac8 18.Qb1 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bc5 give Black a comfortable advantage in space (Rodr�guez-Smyslov, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1967).
14.bxc4 Rad8 15.Ng3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Nf6 17.Qb3 Ba8 18.Ng5 Ng4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Pushkov-Savon, Op, Orel, 1992).

12.Nb1 f5 13.Ne5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nec5 15.Bc2 dxc4 16.bxc4 b5 17.Ba3 Nxe5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Donner-Timman, IBM, Amsterdam, 1971).

10...Qe7 11.cxd5

If 11.Na4 dxc4 12.bxc4 Ne4 then:

If 13.c5 bxc5 14.Ne5 Rfd8 15.Nxd7 Rxd7 then:

If 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 then:

20.Rxc5 Rd5 21.Rxd5 Bxd5 22.Qg4 f6 23.a3 Rb8 24.Qe2 c5 is equal (Z. Franco-Bruz�n, Ol, Torino, 2006).
20.Qxc5 Qxc5 21.Rxc5 f6 22.f3 Rb8 23.Bc3 Bd5 24.a4 Bb3 is equal (Portisch-Dautov, IT, Ter Appel, 1994).

16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc5 Qxc5 19.dxc5 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 f6 21.Bc3 Rb8 22.Ba5 Rb5 23.Bxc7 Rxc5 24.Rd8+ Kf7 25.Rd7+ Ke8 draw (Jussupow-Khalifman, Bundesliga 9394, Germany, 1994).

13.Qe2 f5 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rb1 b5 16.Ba1 is equal (Portisch-Nikolic, IT, Tunisien, 1985).

11...exd5 12.Qc2

If 12.Rc2 Ne4 13.Ne2 f5 then:

If 14.Ng3 Rf7 then:

15.Re1 g5 16.Nd2 Raf8 17.Qe2 g4 18.Bxe4 fxe4 19.Qxg4+ Kh8 20.f4 Bc8 21.Qg5 Qxg5 22.fxg5 Rg7 23.Rec1 Kg8 24.Nb1 b5 25.Nc3 Nb6 26.Nce2 Rxg5 draw (Bruz�n-Kramnik, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
15.Qe2 g6 16.Rfc1 c6 17.Ne1 a5 18.Nf1 Re8 19.f4 g5 20.g3 Rg7 gives Black the advantage in space (Z. Mamedyarova-Chiburdanidze, OlW, Calvia, 2004).

If 14.Qa1 Rae8 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nec5 then:

17.e6 Nxe6 18.Nd4 Ndc5 19.Ba3 Qf6 20.Nxe6 Qxa1 21.Rxa1 Rxe6 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Rxc5 gives White more space and a slight initiative (Arutinian-Olszewski, Voivoda Cup, Legnica, 2009).
17.Nf4 Nxe5 18.Be2 g5 19.Nh5 a5 20.Bd4 f4 21.Rfc1 Rf7 gives Black the advantage in space and an extra pawn (Volkov-Bocharov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

12...Ne4 13.Ne2 Rac8 14.Nf4 (N)

14.Ng3 f5 15.Qe2 Ra8 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Rcd1 Re8 18.Qe2 b5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Solozhenkin-Norri, Finnish ChT, Finland, 2005).

14...g5

Black has a small advantage in space.

15.Ne2 f5 16.Ng3

If 16.a3 g4 17.Nd2 Bxa3 18.Bxa3 Qxa3 then:

19.Ra1 Qb4 20.Nxe4 fxe4 21.Bxa6 Bxa6 22.Rxa6 is equal.
19.Nf4 c5 20.Ra1 Qb4 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.Bxa6 Bxa6 23.Rxa6 gives White a slim advantage in space.

16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 f4 18.exf4 gxf4 19.Nc3 f3 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16...g4 17.Nd2 Qh4 18.f4?!

This weakens White's grip on the e4 square and will give her problems for the next twenty moves or so.
Much better is 18.Rfd1 when:

18...c5 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Qb1 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 Rc8 22.Qb1 remains equal.
18...Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qh5 20.a4 Rce8 21.b4 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 18.f2f4

18...Nxg3!

To add insult to injury, Black opens the h-file, where the Black Queens stalks like a hungry lioness.

19.hxg3 Qf6

Also good 19...Qxg3 20.Rfe1 Rce8 21.Nf1 Qh4 22.Bxf5 Nf6.

20.Kf2 Rce8 21.Rh1 Qg6!?

The Queen should fall back to the second rank to better defend the h-pawn.
If 21...Bc8 22.Rce1 Qf7 23.Rh6 Nf6 24.Reh1 Qd7 doesn't stop Black from taking the h-file, but after moving a Rook to her second rank Black will have an easier time fighting back.

22.Rh4!

White claims the h-file for her own.

22...Bc8 23.Rch1 Nf6!

The Knight positions itself to move into e4.

24.Nf1!?

The Knight should remain at d2 in order to keep watch over the weak e4 square.
If 24.Rh6 Qg7 25.Qc5! (forcing the Knight from d2) 25...Qe7 26.Nf1 Rf7 27.Kg1 Ne4! gives Black a fair advantage in space.

24...h5!?

Black opens a door for Whit to equalize.
If 24...Qf7 25.Kg1 Qd7 26.Qc1 then:

26...b5 27.Ba3 b4 28.Bb2 Qe7 gives Black a small advantage in space.
26...Re7 27.Ba3 Ne4 28.Bxd6 Qxd6 29.Qb2 a5 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

25.Nd2!

White returns the Knight to where it belongs. The game is equal.

25...Re7 26.a3 Rfe8 27.Re1 Kg7

Black now has a slight edge in space.

28.b4 Qf7 29.Nb3?!

Whit should not remove the Knight from the protection of the weak e4 square.
If 29.Qc6 Kg8 then:

30.Qa4 b5 31.Qc2 Kg7 32.Bc1 Qg6 is equal and not very interesting.
30.Qc1 Qg7 31.Qc2 Qh7 32.Qc6 Qg6 leaves the position lifeless.

29...Kg6!?

Black seems to think there is something to be gained waiting to play ...Ne4+. With White's Knight out of position, this is the tim e to go gor it.
If 29...Ne4+! 30.Bxe4 fxe4 31.Reh1 Rh8 32.Kg1 Qf5 leaves White badly cramped in spite of command of two semi-open files.

30.Nc5!

The game remains equal.

30...Qf8

30...Ne4+ 31.Nxe4 fxe4 32.Be2 Rh8 33.Reh1 Kg7 remains equal with neither side able to whip up initiative.
30...bxc5?! 31.dxc5 Bxc5 32.Qxc5 Ne4+ 33.Bxe4 Rxe4 34.Bd4 ties the Black Queen to the defense of the d-pawn.

31.Bc3 Rg7 32.Nb3 Rh7 33.Bd2?!

White should overprotect the e4 square to better dissuade Black from playing ...Ne4+.
33.Nd2 Rhe7 34.a4 Rf7 35.Qb3 Bb7 36.b5 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 33.Bc3d2

33...Bd7!?

Once again, Black can play 33...Ne4+ immedioately to good effect.
If 33...Ne4+! 34.Bxe4 then:

34...fxe4! 35.Reh1 Bd7 36.Nc1 Qf5 37.Ne2 Rf8 leaves White unable to move forward; she is virtually out of reserve pawn tempi at this point.
34...Rxe4?! 35.Reh1! Qf7 36.Nc1 Bb7 37.Nd3 is again equal.

34.Rc1

White tries to stir up counterplay on the c-file, but every square is too well covered by Black.
If 34.Kg1 (a simple prophylactic move) 34...Ne4 35.Bxa6 Qe7 then:

36.Bc1 Nxg3 37.Rh2 h4 38.Rd1 Ne4 39.Rh1 Ba4 leaves White tied in knots.
If 36.Bd3 Nxd2 37.Qxd2 Bxf4!! then:

If 38.Kf2 Bg5 then:

If 39.Rhh1 Qe6 40.Na1 h4 41.Nc2 hxg3+ then:

42.Ke2 Rh2 43.Kd1 Bxe3 44.Nxe3 Rxh1 45.Rxh1 Qxe3 leaves Black up by two pawns.
If 42.Kxg3 then after 42...Rxh1 43.Rxh1 Bxe3 White is toast.

If 39.Rh2 then after 39...h4 40.gxh4 g3+ 41.Kxg3 Bxe3! Black wins.

38.exf4 Qxe1+ 39.Qxe1 Rxe1+ wins for Black.
38.gxf4 Qxh4 39.Kf1 Rhe7 40.b5 Qh2 also wins.

34...Ra8 35.Qb1 Qc8

If 35...Ne4+ then:

36.Kg1 36...Qe7 37.Be1 Bb5 38.Kh1 Kg7 39.Bc2 Qd7 gives Black a fair advantage in space and a little more freedom.
36.Bxe4 fxe4 37.Qc2 Qf5 38.Rch1 Kf7 39.Bc3 Rf8 gives Black more space and freedom.

36.Rc3!?

This is the wrong place for the Rook.
If 36.Be1 Bb5 37.Nd2 Qd7 then:

38.Kg1 Re7 39.Nf1 Bxd3 40.Qxd3 Kf7 gives Black more space and freedom.
38.Nf1 Ne4+ 39.Kg1 Be7 40.Rh2 Rh6 leaves White with few good moves.

36...Bb5?!

36...Ne4+! 37.Bxe4 fxe4 38.Qc2 Ba4 39.Qb2 Qf5 leaves White with no pawn moves.

37.Bc2

White preserves her Bishop in case Black plays her Knight to e4.

37...Qd7

37...Ne4+ is till the best move.

38.Kg1

This move is prophylactic; White expects Black to play the Knight to e4, but now White won't lose time by having to move the King out of check.

38...Be7?!

Black's idea is to play 39..Ne4 whioch would simultaneously attack each of White's Rooks, thus winning the exchange.
Nevertheless, best is still 38...Ne4 39.Bxe4 fxe4 40.Kf2 Rah8 giving Black more space and much more freedom.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 38...Bd6e7

39.Rxc7!!

The sacrifice is a sham to deflect the Queen from the pawn at f5.

39...Qxc7 40.Bxf5+!

White wins the exchange and nets three pawns for the piece.

40...Kg7 41.Bxh7 Nxh7 42.Rxh5 Nf8

Black still has the advantage, but it is sinking into the mire.
If 42...Nf6 43.Rg5+ Kf8 44.Qg6 then:

44...Qd6 45.Qg7+ Ke8 46.Re5 Nd7 47.Qh8+ Nf8 gives Black only a small advantage in space.
44...Rd8!? 45.e4! dxe4 46.d5 Rd6 is equal.

43.Qd1 Qd7 44.f5 Kf7!?

If 44...Bc4! 45.Qxg4+ Kf7 46.e4 dxe4 47.Rh7+ then:

47...Ke8 48.Qxe4 Nxh7 49.Qxa8+ Kf7 50.Qf3 Nf6gives Black the initiative.
If 47...Nxh7?? 48.Qg6+! then 48...Kf8 49.Bh6#.

45.Qxg4

The game is equal.

45...Rc8

45...Bf6 46.Rh6 Bc4 47.Qh5+ Ke7 48.e4 dxe4 49.Bg5 is equal.
45...Bc4!? 46.Rh6! Bf6 47.Nc1 Qe7 48.Ne2 Ke8 49.Nf4 gives White a small advantage with an attack on the kingside.

46.e4 dxe4?!

This not only allows White to turn the game around, it puts her on the brink of winning.
Better is 46...Ke8 47.Rh8 then:

If 47...Bf6 48.Rh6 Bg7 49.Rxb6 Bc4 then:

50.e5 Bxb3 51.Rxa6 Bc2 52.Rd6 Qb7 53.f6 White wins by steamrolling her pawns over Black's kingside and center. In this analytical position, White has six pawns against two minor pieces.
50.Qh5+ Qf7 51.Qxf7+ Kxf7 52.e5 Bxb3 53.Rxa6 leaves White with four passed pawns.

47...dxe4 48.Bh6 Bc4 49.Qxe4 Kf7 50.Qg4 Ke8 51.Qh5+ puts the Black King in a mating attack.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 46...de4:p

47.Rh7+! Ke8

If 47...Nxh7?? then 48.Qg6+! Kf8 49.Bh6#.

48.Rg7 Qc6 49.d5!?

White makes an inaccurate move that allows Black to fight on longer.
If 49.Qh5+ Kd8 50.Bg5 Rc7 51.Qf7 then:

51...Bxg5 52.Qxf8+ Qe8 53.Qd6+ Bd7 54.Rxg5 leaves White three pawns to the good.
If 51...Kc8? then after 52.Bxe7! Rxe7 53.Qxe7 Black is toast.

49...Qf6!

Black gets herself a repieve.
If 49...Qxd5? 50.f6! Bxf6 51.Qxc8+ Qd8 52.Qxd8+ Kxd8 53.Bg5 gives White a material advantage equal to a minor piece.

50.d6 Be2 51.Qxe4

Taking the pawn is a stronger move in this case than taking the Bishop.
Nevertheless, White should still win after 51.Qxe2 Qxg7 52.Qxa6 Rb8 53.dxe7 Qxe7 54.Bf4.

51...Qxg7 52.Qxe2 Rc2 53.dxe7 Qxe7 54.Qd3!

This is White's only move to keep Black from winning a piece.

54...Ra2?!

What White would like to do more than anything else is reduce this to an ending of Knight against pawns with White having pawns on both sides of the board. That will require getting Black to give up the exchange. This is a terrible move by Black in that it makes her Rook immobile.
54...Rb2 55.g4 Nd7 56.g5 b5 57.Qc3 Rb1+ 58.Kf2 when Black fights on and the Rook at an oppotune moment can escape through the h-file.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 54...Rc2a2

55.Qxa6!

White has nothing but good moves.
55.Nc1! Ra1 56.Qc3 Rb1 57.Qc2 Ra1 58.Qb2 makes a desperado of the Rook.

55...Rxd2!?

Black is not forced into giving up her Rook yet and should resist giving up the exchange as long as possible.
If 55...Rb2 56.Qc8+ Qd8 57.Qxd8+ Kxd8 58.Bg5+ Kd7 59.Nd4 Ra2 is just good enough to keep Black in the game.

56.Nxd2 Qe3+

If 56...Qe1+? then White wins after 57.Nf1!.

57.Kh2 Qh6+ 58.Kg1 Qxd2 59.Qxb6

White has a clear advantage, not so so much because she has five pawns against a Knight, but because she has pawns on both wings against a Knight. It is therefore imparative for Black to keep he Queen on the board and wipe out all of White's pawns on one side or the other before exchanging Queens. With the Queens off the board, White has an easy win.

59...Qd1+ 60.Kf2 Qc2+ 61.Kg1 Qd1+ 62.Kf2 Qc2+ 63.Ke3 Qxf5 64.Qc6+ Kf7?

This allows White to force an exchange of Queens.
If 64...Kd8 65.Qd6+ Nd7 66.a4 Qg5+ 67.Ke2 Qg4+ 68.Kd2 Qe4 is good enough to keep Black in the game.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 64...Ke8f7

65.Qf3!

The rest needs no comment.

65...Ke6 66.Qxf5+ Kxf5 67.Kd4 Ke6 68.a4 Kd6 69.g4 Ne6+ 70.Ke4 Nc7 71.g5 Na6 72.Kf5 Nxb4 73.Kf6 Nd5+ 74.Kf7 1-0

Former world women's champion Chiburdanidze resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Tue Mar-01-11 01:35 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Zhu Chen - Sebag, Round 4

Marie Sebag
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Zhu Chen - Marie Sebag
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 4
Doha, 25 February 2011

Slav Queen's Gambit: Exchange Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3

The note in this place is to survey the main lines of Slav Exchange in its usual move order. Just a word: many master consider this to be the most lifeless opening in all chess.
If 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.e3 e6 then:

If 8.Bb5 Nd7 then:

If 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rc1 Rc8 then:

If 11.Na4 0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 then:

If 14...Qa5 15.Qb3 Bd3 16.Qxd3 Qxa4 then:

17.b3 Qb5 18.Rfd1 Ba3 19.Rc2 Rfd8 20.Qf1 Qa5 is equal (Beliavsky-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1st League, Baku, 1979).
17.Rc2!? Qxa2 18.Rfc1 Qa5 19.Rxc6 Rxc6 20.Rxc6 Qa1+ 21.Qf1 Qxb2 22.Rc7 actually gives White a fair advantage in space (Black won) (Farago-Beliavsky, IT, Novi Sad, 1979).

15.a3 Qb5 16.f3 f6 17.Bg3 Bd3 18.Rf2 Bc4 19.b4 a5 is equal (Trassl-Pitschka, TT, Passau, 1999).

11.Ne5 Ndxe5 12.Bxe5 0-0 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 draw (Averbakh-Shamkovich, IT, Moscow, 1962).

If 9.Qa4 Rc8 10.0-0 a6 11.Bxc6 Rxc6 12.Rfc1 Be7 then:

If 13.Nd1 b5 14.Qb3 Rc4 15.Nd2 then:

If 15...Qa5 16.Nc3 Rb4 17.Qd1!? Rxb2 18.e4 dxe4 19.a4 then:

19...Qb4?! then after 20.axb5! Qxd4 21.Ne2 Qd3 22.Rc8+ Bd8 23.bxa6 White goes on to win (Shirov-Guliev, Soviet Union, 1989).
19...Qd8 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ndxe4 0-0 gives Black a small strategic advantage with a Rook on the seventh rank.

15...Rxc1 16.Rxc1 0-0 17.Qc3 b4 18.Qc6 Bd3 19.Qb7 Nf6 20.Rc7 Bd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Kramnik-Rublevsky, Soviet ChU20, Sochi, 1990).

If 13.Ne2 Qb6 then:

If 14.Rxc6 bxc6 15.Rc1 Bd3 then:

16.Qd1 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 0-0 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.Bxe5 Rc8 20.h3 Qb5 21.Qxb5 axb5 is equal (Yuey-Kalton, Corres, 1996).
16.Rxc6 Qxb2 17.Rc8+ Bd8 18.Nc1 Bb5 19.Qb3 Qxb3 20.Nxb3 0-0 21.Bd6 Be7 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Bxe7+ Kxe7 24.Nfd2 Kd6 gives Black the small advantage of an active King (Plaskett-Jussupow, World ChTU26, Graz, 1981).

14.Qb3 0-0 15.Rxc6 bxc6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 17.Ne5 Rc8 18.g4 Bg6 19.Rc1 c5 is equal (Tatai-Morky, IT 8384, Reggio Emilia, 1983).

8.Bd3 is not the move any one who came to play chess would make, since the game might continue 8...Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfc1 Rfc8 13.h3 h6 14.Ne2 Ne7 15.Rxc8+ Rxc8 16.Rc1 Rxc1+ 17.Nxc1 Qb4 18.Qb3 Qxb3 19.Nxb3 when, on the 31st move, the players abandoned any pretense that they were doing anything worthwhile and agreed to a draw (Rashkovsky-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch 1st League, Tashkent, 1980).

3...Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3

6.Nf3 Bf5 7.e3 e6 transposes into the notes for White's third move.

6...a6 7.Rc1 Bg4

If 7...Bf5 8.Nf3 Rc8 then:

If 9.Be2 e6 10.0-0 then:

If 10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Na4 0-0 13.Nc5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qe7 then:

15.Rc3 Bg4 16.Rfc1 e5 is equal (Khenkin-Karjakin, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
15.h3 Rfc8 16.Rc3 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 is equal (Le Quang Liem-Ni Hua, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

10...Nd7 11.Nd2 Be7 12.Nb3 0-0 13.a3 Qb6 14.Na4 Qa7 15.Bg4 Bxg4 16.Qxg4 Nf6 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).

If 9.Ne5 then:

If 9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Rxc1 12.Qxc1 Bxe4 13.e6 then:

If 13...Qa5+ 14.Ke2 fxe6 15.f3 then:

15...Bf5 16.Be5 h5 17.Kf2 Kf7 18.Be2 Rg8 is equal (Gelfand-Bacrot, TM, Moscow, 2004).
15...Qb5+ 16.Kf2 Bd3 17.Bxd3 Qxd3 18.Rd1 gives White more freedom (Shen Yang-Ruan Lufei, Chinese ChW, Wuxi, 2006).

If 13...fxe6 14.f3 then:

14...Bf5 15.Qc3 h5 16.Be2 Rg8 17.0-0 g5 18.Be5 g4 gives Black more freedom on the kingside, but his center is immoble (Vitiugov-Ni Hua, TM Rpd, Sochi, 2009).
14...e5 15.Bxe5 Bg6 16.Qc3 Kf7 17.Be2 e6 18.0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Gustafsson-Kasimdzhanov, Rpd, Mainz, 2010).

If 9...e6 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Qd7 then:

If 12.Be2 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Na4 Rxc1 15.Rxc1 Rc8 then:

If 16.Rxc8+ Qxc8 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 then:

If 18...Nd7 19.Bd6 Qc6 20.Qc3 then:

20...f6 21.h3 e5 22.b4 Be6 23.Qb3 b5 24.e4 gives White a small advantage in space (Jakovenko-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 1009).
20...Qa4 21.f3 f6 22.a3 Bc2 23.Kf2 Kf7 24.Qd4 Qc6 25.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Predojevic-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2009).

18...Qxc5 19.Qxb7 Qc1+ 20.Bf1 h6 21.Qxa6 Ne4 22.Bc3 Kh7 23.Qb5 Nxc3 24.bxc3 Bb1 25.Qa6 e5 26.h3 e4 27.Qc8 Bd3 draw (Kazhgalaev-Laznicka, World Op, King of Prussia, 2010).

16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.dxc5 Ne4 18.Bd4 f6 19.f3 Nd6 20.Qd1 Nb5 (Akobian-Bacrot, Op, Canada de Calatrava, 2007).

If 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Be2 then:

13...Rc6 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Qa4 Kd8 16.Rcd1 b5 17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Rc4 19.Qa8+ Qc8 20.Qa5+ Ke8 gives Black a considerable advantage in space (al-Sayed-Laznicka, Aeroflot op, Moscow, 2008).
13...Bd6 14.0-0 0-0 15.Na4 Rxc1 16.Rxc1 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Qxc8 18.Qc3 Qxc3 19.Nxc3 is equal (Sachdev-Dolzhikova, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

8.f3

8.Be2 Bxe2 9.Ngxe2 e6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Na4 Nd7 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qc3 Nc6 14.Qb3 Na5 15.Qc3 Nc6 16.Qb3 draw (Bu Xiangzhi-Wang Hao, IT, Taiyuan, 2005).

8...Bd7 9.g4 e6 10.h4

10.Bd3 Bb4 11.Nge2 Qe7 12.Kf2 h6 13.Bb1 Rc8 14.h4 g6 15.Ng3 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Naiditsch-Pashikian, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).

10...Be7 11.h5

11.Bd3 0-0 12.Bb1 Qb6 13.Rh2 Rfc8 14.h5 Be8 15.Qd3 Nb4 16.Qd2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Morozevich-Sakaev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).

11...0-0

The game is equal.

12.Bd3 Ne8 13.Bb1

Ms. Zhu criticized this move after the game, saying that she intended to play 13.Bg3.
If 13.Bg3 h6 14.f4 Qb6 15.Qe2 f6 16.Nf3 is equal.

13...Bd6

13...Bh4+ 14.Kd2 Be7 15.Nge2 Nd6 16.Ke1 Rc8 17.g5 remains equal.

14.Nge2 Bxf4 15.Nxf4 Nd6 16.Rg1

16.Qd3 f5 17.a3 Rc8 18.Nce2 Qf6 remains equal.

16...Nc4!?

This sortie is too easily parried to be effective.
16...b5 17.g5 f5 18.gxf6 Qxf6 19.Nce2 Rac8 remains equal.

17.Ke2

This is one way for White to parry the threat to her e-pawn.
Another is 17.Qd3 f5 18.b3 Na3 19.g5 b5 20.Qd2 with equality.

17...Qg5!?

White takes a slight advantage in space from this inaccuracy.
17...Rc8 18.g5 f6 19.Qd3 (19.g6!? h6 20.b3 Na3) 19...f5 20.b3 Na3 is equal.

18.Ng2!?

Throughout the game, White has a devil of a time trying to figure out what to do with her Knights.
18.Qd3! g6 19.b3 Na3 20.Kd1 Rad8 21.Qd2 Nxb1 is equal.

18...b5!?

Black has a bad light-bound Bishop, but she can't seem to keep her pawns off the light squares.
18...f6! 19.b3 Na3 20.Na4 Nxb1 21.Rxb1 Rad8 gives Black the advantage in space.

19.b3!?

White opens a hole for a Black Knight to take refuge.
19.Qd3! f5 20.gxf5 Rxf5 21.b3 Na3 22.Nf4 Qf6 gives Black the advantage in space.

19...Na3!

Black has the advantage in space.

20.Bd3 Nb4 21.Kf2?!

This has the effect of a waiting move when there is wok to be done.
If 21.Nf4 Rfc8 22.Qd2 a5 23.Kd1 Nxd3 24.Nxd3 b4 gives Black the advantage in space.

21...Nxd3+!

Seeing that White intends 22.Bc2, Black takes off the Bishop while she has the chance.

22.Qxd3 f5 23.Ne2?!

White allows Black to win a pawn. Perhaps White thought that she could exploit Black's dark-square weakness in the center.
Better is 23.gxf5 Rxf5 24.Ne2 Qxh5 25.Nef4 Qe8 when White just has the advantage in space.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Zhu Chen
Position after 23.Nc3e2

23...fxg4!

White has an extra pawn

24.f4 Qf5 25.Qd2!?

White should take advantage of Black's weakness on the central dark squares.
25.Qxf5! exf5 26.Ne1 Rac8 27.Nd3 Be6 28.Nc5 Rc6 gives Black only a slight advantage in space.

25...Rac8!

Black challenges White's command of the c-file.
If 25...a5 26.h6 b4 27.hxg7 Rfc8 then:

28.Nh4 Qh5 29.Ng2 Kxg7 30.Ng3 Qf7 31.Qd1 Qg6 gives Black an extra pawn and more space.
28.Ng3 Qg6 29.e4 dxe4 30.Ne3 Rxc1 31.Rxc1 Qh6 gives Whit an extra pawn. more space and the initiative.

26.Ng3?!

White tries to gain time by hitting the Queen, but the idea recoils.
If 26.Qa5 then:

If 26...Nc2 then:

27.Ng3! Qf7 28.Qd2 Na3 29.Ne1 Rxc1 30.Qxc1 Qe7 gives White only a small advantage in space and the extra pawn she has held since the 23rd move.
27.Qd2!? Qe4 28.Nh4 e5 29.dxe5 Nb4 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 gives Black command of the c-file and a centralized Queen.

26...b4!? 27.Qxb4! Nc2 28.Qd2 Bb5 29.Ng3 is equal.

26...Rc2!

Black, holding an extra pawn, benefits most from a wholesale exchange.

27.Rxc2 Qxc2 28.Qxc2 Nxc2 29.Rc1!?

White is about to find out how difficult it will be to drive away the Knight.
29.Ne2 Be8 30.Rh1 b4 31.Rh4 Rf6 32.Ng3 Rh6 gives Black the advantage in space, but also a pronounced weakness on the dark squares.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Zhu Chen
Position after 29.Rg1c1

29...Rc8!

In order to expel the Black Knight from c2, White must first play his Knights to e2 and e1

30.Ne1

The ideal is to play e2 first, but reality can be a real bother sometimes.
30.Ne2!? Kf7 31.Kg3 Kf6! 32.Rd1 b4 33.Kxg4 e5+ gets the pawn back for White, but Black still has the advantage in space and Whit'e most active piece is the King.

30...Nxe1 31.Rxc8+ Bxc8 32.Kxe1 b4!

If Black is to win this game, she must activate her Bishop, which is a bad Bishop and has been since the opening moves. She needs clear her pawns from the light squares either on the queenside or in the center. It's much easier to do it on the queenside.
If 32...h6!? 33.Kf2 Bd7 34.e4 Kf7 35.Nf1 dxe4 36.Ne3 leaves Black's Bishop immobile.

33.Kf2 Kf7 34.Nh1?!

The only way to activate the King is for it to travel up the kingside, but he must travel through g3 to accomplish that. The Knight had to be moved, but not to the corner where it is useless.
If 34.Nf1 Kf6 35.Nh2 Kf5 36.Kg3 Ke4 37.Nxg4 h6 gives White the advantage owing to her more active King.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Zhu Chen
Position after 34.Ng3h1

34...a5!

Now the Bishop can be activated along the a6/f1 diagonal.

35.Kg3 Ba6 36.Nf2

If 36.Kxg4 Be2+ 37.Kg5 Bd3 then:

38.Ng3 Bb1 39.Nf1 Bxa2 40.Nd2 h6+ 41.Kg4 g6 leaves White still a pawn to the good, but White's Knight is better than Black's Bishop for the moment.
38.Nf2? Bb1! 39.Ng4 Bxa2 40.Ne5+ Kg8 41.f5 exf5 wins for Black.

36...Be2 37.Kh4?

Black has been teetering for a few maves and now falls over the edge.
If 37.e4 h6 38.e5 g6 then:

39.Nxg4 gxh5 40.Nf6 Bd3 41.Nd7 Bb1 42.Nc5 Bxa2 gives Black a strong position that should soon become a winning one.
39.hxg6+? Kxg6 40.Nxg4 Black's passed pawn triumphs.

37...Kf6

If 37...h6! 38.Nxg4 Bxg4 39.Kxg4 g6 then:

40.Kh4 Kf6 41.Kg4 gxh5+ 42.Kxh5 Kf5 gives Black an easy win.
40.Kg3 then Black wins after 40...gxh5 41.Kf3 h4 42.Kg4 h5+ 43.Kxh4 Kg6.

If 37...Bf3! 38.Nd3 Kf6 39.Nc5 Kf5 then:

If 40.Kg3 Be4 41.Nb7 Bb1 then:

If 42.Nxa5 then after 42...Bxa2 43.Nc6 Bxb3 44.Nxb4 Ba4 Black wins with 45...Be8!
If 42.Nd6+ then after 42...Kf6 43.Nb7 Bxa2 44.Nxa5 Kf5 45.Nc6 Bxb3 Black wins by playing 46...Ba4 and 47...Be8 then taking on h5, giving her two connected passers.

40.Nb7 then White's pawns fall like ripe apples after 40...Ke4 41.Nc5+ Kxe3.

38.Nxg4+

38.e4 g3 39.Kxg3 Bxh5 40.Kg2 dxe4 41.Nxe4+ Kf5 wins a pawn, giving Black two connected passers.

38...Bxg4 39.Kxg4 h6 40.Kg3

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Zhu Chen
Position after 40.Kg4g3

40...g6!

Black forces the creation of a passwed pawn./li]
If 40...g5? lets the game slip away after 41.Kg4! gxf4 42.exf4 Kf7 43.Kf3 Ke7 44.Kg3 when the game is equal.

41.Kg4

No better is 41.hxg6 Kxg6 42.Kg4 h5+ 43.Kh4 Kf5.

41...gxh5+ 42.Kxh5 Kf5 43.Kxh6 Ke4 44.Kg6 Kxe3 45.Kg5 Ke4 46.Kf6 Kxf4 0-1

If 47.Kxe6 then after 47...Ke4 Black captures White's d-pawn and brings his own d-pawn to be queened.
47.Kf7 e5 48.Ke6 exd4 puts the pawn just beyond White's reach.
Former world women's champion Zhu Chen resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-01-11 01:40 PM
Response to Reply #2

7. Fierro Baquero - Dzagnidze, Round 3

Ecuador's Martha Fierro is the tournament's bottom-rated seed. She took down the second seed in Round 3

Martha Fierro Baquero
Photo by G. M. Bartek in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Martha Fierro Baquero - Nana Dzagnidze
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 3
Doha, 24 February 2011

King's English Game: Botvinnik Opening

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4

The Main Line of the King's English is the Catalan Four Knights' Opening. See Zhao Xue-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009.

4...Bg7 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nge2 Nh6

If 6...Nge7 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 Be6 9.Nd5 Qd7 10.Be3 f5 11.Qd2 Rf7 then:

If 12.Rae1 Raf8 13.f3 then:

If 13...Nc8 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.d4 Bh3 16.b3 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qf5 18.Ndc3 then:

18...exd4 19.Nxd4 Qa5 20.Nxc6 Qxc3 21.Qxc3 Bxc3 22.Rc1 is equal (Obers-Zozulia, Masters, Gibraltar, 2008).
18...Re8!? 19.d5! Nd8 20.Ne4 b6 21.N2c3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Fairbairn-Yeo, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).

13...Kh8 14.b3 Ng8 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.d4 gives White a small advantage in space (Smejkal-Jussupow, Bundesliga 9192, Germany, 1991).

If 12.Rac1 Raf8 13.b4 Nc8 then:

If 14.b5 Nd8 15.d4 c6 16.dxe5 then:

16...dxe5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.f4 e4 19.Rfd1 gives White an advantage in space, but the tension in the center is strong and can work against either player (Uhlmann-Timman, IT, Niksic, 1979).
16...cxd5?! 17.exd5! dxe5 18.Rfd1 Qe7 19.dxe6 Nxe6 20.Bd5 gives White a significant in space.

14.c5 dxc5 15.Rxc5 b6 16.exf5 bxc5 17.fxe6 Qxe6 18.Bxc5 Rd8 19.Ndc3 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Ne4 is equal (Serper-Balashov, Op, Miedzybrodzie, 1991).

If 6...Nf6 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 Be6 then:

If 9.f4 Qd7 10.Nd5 then:

If 10...Ne8 11.Be3 f5 then:

12.Qd2 Nd4 13.fxe5 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 dxe5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Rac1 c6 17.Nc3 gives White a small advantage in space(Cvek-Aubel, Op, Pardubice, 2000).
If 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.d4 then:

13...exf4 14.Nexf4 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qd2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gretarsdottir-Hamrakulova, OlW, Torino, 2006).
13...Bg4 14.fxe5 Rxf1+ 15.Qxf1 dxe5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.h3 Be6 18.Rd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Szabo-Yanofsky, IT, Dallas, 1957).

10...Bg4 11.Ne3 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Nd4 13.Qf2 Ng4 14.Nxg4 Qxg4 15.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Petrosian-Krogius, Soviet ChU18, Leningrad, 1946).

If 9.h3 Qd7 10.Kh2 then:

10...Ne8 11.Nd5 f5 12.f4 Nf6 13.Qb3 Rab8 14.Bd2 Ne7 15.Qa3 Nc8 16.Bc3 gives White a small advantage in space (Miezis-Rautanen, Op, Jyvaskyla, 2007).
10...Nh5 11.g4 Nf6 12.Ng3 Nd4 13.Be3 c6 14.Qd2 Ne8 15.f4 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g5 Nc7 is equal (Samaganova-Burijovich, OlW, Torino, 2006).

7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 f5 9.Nd5 Be6

9...g5 10.exf5 Bxf5 11.h3 g4 12.h4 Be6 13.b4 Nf5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Smejkal-Kindermann, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).

10.Rb1 Qd7 11.b4 (N)

11.b3 Rf7 12.f3 Raf8 13.Be3 Kh8 14.Qd2 Ng8 is equal (Bischoff-Blatny, Op, Bad Woerishofen, 1989).
11.f3 Nf7 12.b4 Ne7 13.b5 draw (Semcesen-Gleizerov, Rilton Cup 0910, Stockholm, 2009).

11...Nd8

The game is equal.

12.b5 Kh8 13.a4 Ng8!?

13...c6 14.Ndc3 a6 15.f4 axb5 16.axb5 remains equal.

14.exf5!

White has a small advantage in space.

14...Bxf5 15.Ne3!?

White should do what she can to keep the Knight at d5.
15.f4 Nf7 16.a5 Rae8 17.Qc2 exf4 18.Ndxf4 maintains a slight advantage in space for white.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Martha Fierro Baquero
Position after 15.Nd5e3

15...Bh3!

The game is equal.

16.d4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 e4

17...exd4 18.Nxd4 Nf6 19.Bb2 remains equal.

18.Nc3 Nf6 19.Ned5

19.f3 exf3+ 20.Qxf3 Ng8 21.Qe4 Rxf1 22.Nxf1 c5 remains equal.

19...Nxd5 20.cxd5 Qf5 21.Be3 c6!?

Black is playing for a win. This move isn't objectively the best and is simply an effort to stir things up and see who gets caught in the mix.
If 21...a6 22.f3 axb5 23.Rxb5 then:

23...exf3+ 24.Rxf3 Qd7 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Bg5 b6 27.Rb2 remains equal.
23...Qd7?! 24.fxe4! Rxf1 25.Qxf1 c6 26.Rb6! Qc7 27.Qb1 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Martha Fierro Baquero
Position after 22...bc6:p

23.f3!

White assumes a slight advantage in space.
23.bxc6!? Nxc6 24.d5 Ne5 25.Rb4 Qf3+ 26.Qxf3 exf3+! remains equal.

23...exf3+

23...d5?! 24.fxe4! Qxf1+ 25.Qxf1 Rxf1 26.Rxf1 dxe4 27.Nxe4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

24.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 25.Qxf3 Rxf3 26.Kxf3 c5

Black makes a bid for a pased pawn. This is her best try.

27.Ne2 Ne6 28.dxc5 dxc5?!

This direct approach proves somewhat insufficient.
If 28...Rf8+ 29.Kg2 Nxc5 30.a5 Re8 then:

31.Kf3! Rf8+ 32.Kg4 Re8 33.Bxc5 dxc5 34.Kf3 the weakness of Black's passer and its distance from White's back rank, along with White's strong queenside duo, tilt the game in White's favor.
If 31.Bxc5!? then:

If 31...dxc5 32.Kf2 then:

If 32...Kg8 33.b6 axb6 34.axb6 Kf7 35.b7 Rb8 36.Nf4 is equal.
32...c4!? 33.Rb4 Rc8 34.b6 axb6 35.axb6 Rb8 36.b7 gives White the advantage, but it's far from winning.

31...Rxe2+? 32.Kf1! Re7 33.Bxd6 Rd7 34.b6!! gives White a winning position.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Martha Fierro Baquero
Position after 28...bc5:p

29.a5!

White will create a queenside passer of her own that will be born already dangerously advanced.

29...Rf8+

White might last a little longer after 29...Kg8 30.b6 axb6 31.axb6 Kf7 32.Ke4 Re8 33.Kd3, but the outcome is in little doubt.

30.Ke4 Re8 31.Kd3 Be5

Black still has some potential counterplay, but her chances are fading fast.
If 31...g5 32.b6 axb6 33.axb6 then:

33...h6 34.h4 Be5 35.Kc4 Bb8 36.Rb2 Kg7 37.Bxc5 leaves White with all the winning chances, but Black is not helpless yet.
33...Kg8 34.Rb5 Rd8+ 35.Kc4 Re8 36.Nc1 Nd8 37.Bxc5 wins for White.

32.Nf4 Bxf4?

Black's final mistake is more of a whimper than a bang. After this, her game cannot be redeemed.
If 32...Nxf4+ then:

33.gxf4 Bd6 34.b6 axb6 35.axb6 gives White just enough to keep fighting.
33.Bxf4? Bxf4 34.gxf4 Kg8 35.b6! leaves White with an easy win.

33.Bxf4 g5

If 33...Rd8+ then White wins after 34.Kc3 Nxf4 35.gxf4 Kg7 36.b6 Kf6 37.b7

34.Be5+

Also good is 34.Be3 Kg7 35.b6 axb6 36.axb6 Rc8 37.Kc4 Kf7 38.b7 when White wins.

34...Kg8

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Martha Fierro Baquero
Position after 34...Kh8g8

35.b6!

It's time to turn out the lights.

35...axb6 36.axb6 Nd8 37.Bc7 Kf7 38.Bxd8 Rxd8+ 39.Kc4 Ke7 40.b7 Rb8 1-0

White now simply brings her King forward and drives the Rook from the queening square.
If 41.Kxc5 then:

If 41...Kd7 42.Kb6 then:

After 42...Ke6 White plays 43.Kc7 and the Rook must give way.
42...g4 43.Ka7 wins.

41...Ke6 42.Kc6 g4 43.Kc7 wins.

Ms. Dzagnidze resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-01-11 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #2

8. Koneru - Dazgnidze, Round 1

Many thought the tournament was decided when the first and second seeds clashed in the opening round. Elina Danielian has had much to say about that since. That's why the other ten rounds are played.

Nana Dzagnidze
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)

Koneru Humpy - Nana Dzagnidze
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 1
Doha, 22 February 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

For an overview of the Stoltz Opening, see Gelfand-Karjakin, World Cup. Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009.

6...b6 7.Bd3

Another plan protects the pawn at c4 before further development.
If 7.b3 Bb7 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.0-0 then:

If 10...h6 then:

11.Rfd1 Qe7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nb5 Rfc8 14.Qe2 Bb8 15.Rdc1 Rxc1+ 16.Rxc1 Qd8 17.Ba3 Ne8 18.Qb2 gives White a small advantage in space (van Wely-M. Gurevich, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
11.Rad1 Qc7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Rad8 15.c5 Be7 16.b4 Ba6 is equal (Gelfand-Lautier, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).

10...Qc7 11.Rac1 Rac8 12.Rfd1 h6 13.Ne2 dxc4 14.Bxc4 c5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Ned4gives White a slighy advantage in space (Kempinski=Dziuba, Polish Ch, Krakov, 2006).

7...Bb7

7...dxc4 has not been played often, but it is perfectly playable.
If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:

If 8...c5 then:

9.d5 exd5 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bd2 is equal (Leit�o-Maia, Op, S�o Paulo, 2005).
9.0-0 Bb7 10.Ne5 cxd4 11.exd4 Be7 12.Bf4 0-0 gives White more space, but the isolated d-pawn will be troublesome.

8...b5 9.Be2 a6 10.a3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5

8.0-0 Be7 9.b3 0-0

9...Qc7 10.Bb2 Rd8 11.Rac1 Qb8 12.Rfe1 0-0 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nf6 16.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Nielsen-Trajkovic, Op, Kalamaria, 2006).

10.Bb2 h6

If 10...Rc8 11.Rad1 then:

11...Qc7 12.Ne5 g6 13.Qe2 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 is equal (Gelfand-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
11...c5 12.Ne5 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb8 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Qh3 is equal (Beckhuis-Sorokin, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

11.Rad1

If 11.Rfd1 Qc7 12.Rac1 then:

12...Rac8 13.Qe2 Qb8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 c5 16.dxc5 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxc5 is equal. (Nyback-Porper, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
12...Qb8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ng4 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Qe2 f5 gives Black the advantage as White cannot defend the pawn at e5 (Gelfand-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out Rd 5.3, Groningen, 1997).

11...Qc7 12.Qe2 Rad8 13.Ne5

13.Bb1 c5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.e4 gives White a slight advantage in space owing to his central pawn duo (Gelfand-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out Rd 5.1, Groningen, 1997).

13...dxc4 14.bxc4 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nd7 16.f4 Nc5

16...Ba6 17.Bb1 Nc5 18.Ba3 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 gives White the advantage in space.

17.Bb1 Rxd1 18.Nxd1 Rd8

18...b5 19.Nf2 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Ba6 21.Qc2 g6 22.Rc1 Rb8 23.Bd4 Qa5 24.Qd1 Qa3 draw (E. Agrest-Nogueiras, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

19.Nf2 (N)

19.Qc2 g6 20.Nf2 h5 21.g4 hxg4 22.Nxg4 Nd3 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.Nxf7 Kxf7 25.Bd4 c5 26.Qxd3 gives White an extra pawn (Zvjaginsev-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

19...Nd7

The game is equal.

20.Ne4 c5 21.Ng3 Nf8

21...a6 22.Qg4 Bf8 23.Ne4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 b5 25.Qe2 remains equal.

22.Bc3 a6 23.Nh5 g6!?

This won't rid Black of White's presence on her doorstep and she should have used her time more constructively.
If 23...Qc6 (tying White's Queen to the defense of g2) 24.Qg4 g6 25.Bc2 then:

25...b5 26.Nf6+ Bxf6 27.exf6 b4 remains equal.
25...Qxg2+!? 26.Qxg2! Bxg2 27.Kxg2 gxh5 28.Rb1 gives Black a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 23...g7g6

24.Nf6+ Bxf6

If 24...Kh8 then after 25.e4 Qc6 26.f5! Bxf6 27.exf6 exf5 28.exf5 White is threatening to open up the kingside for her heavy pieces.

25.exf6

White's pawn at g6 is a stretegic plus.

25...Qc6

If 25...Kh7 26.e4 Qc6 27.Bc2 then:

27...b5 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Nd7 30.Qd3 gives White the advantage in space.
27...Nd7 28.e5 b5 29.Rd1 b4 30.Rd6 Qc7 31.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space and more freedom.

26.e4 b5 27.Rf3 bxc4

This is the best move Black has available.
If 27...Nd7?! 28.Rg3! e5 29.fxe5 then:

29...b4 30.Bb2 Re8 31.Qe3! Nxe5 32.Qf4 then:

if 32...Qd6 33.Bc2 gives White deadly threats on the kingside.
If 32...Nd3?? then White mates in two starting with 33.Qxh6!.

If 29...Re8 30.Qe3 then:

If 30...Nxe5 31.Qf4 Qd6 32.Rd3 then:

32...Qe6 33.Bxe5 g5 34.Qf5 Qxf5 35.exf5 Rxe5 36.Rd8+ gives White a small advantage
If 32...Qc6? then 33.Rd5! g5 34.Qe3 Ng6 35.Qh3 puts White on the brink of winning.

30...Kh7?? allows White to give mate after 31.Rh3! h5 32.Rxh5+!! gxh5 33.Qg5.

28.Bc2 Rd4 29.Qe3!?

White throws away almost all of her advantage.
29.Rh3! Nd7 30.e5 Qd5 31.Rxh6 gives White a tremendous advantage.

29...Qd6!?

Black misses a chance to make it easier to fight for a draw, if nota win.
If 29...Rxe4! 30.Bxe4 Qxe4 31.Qxe4 Bxe4 32.Rf2 gives Black excellent chances to salvage a half point.

30.f5!?

Better is to keep Black's position bottled up.
30.e5! Qd5 31.Rf2 Kh7 32.h4 h5 33.Qg3 sets up a possible sacrifice at g6, which Black seems to have no parry but to sacrifice the exchange at d3.

30...g5 31.h4!?

White weakens her hold over g4.
31.Rh3! exf5 32.Rxh6 Qf4 33.Qxf4 gxf4 34.exf5 traps the King in the OK Corral.

31...exf5!

White is reduced to a small advantage in space as Black hits on g4.

32.hxg5??

What a shame! Even great players are not immune from blunders.
If 32.Rxf5 Bc8 33.Rxc5 Qxc5 34.Bxd4 Qa5 then:

35.hxg5 Qxg5 36.Qxg5+ hxg5 37.Kf2 Ne6 38.Bc3 gives White the advantage with the Bishop pair, a strong blockade against Black's passed pawn and the more active King.
35.e5 Qxa2 36.Qf2 Qa3 37.Bb2 Qb4 38.hxg5 hxg5 is equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 32.hg5:p

32...Bxe4!!

Black turns the tables and is now winning.

33.gxh6

If 33.Bxe4 then Black wins a piece after 33...fxe4 34.Rf1 Rd3.

33...Bxc2 34.Qg5+ Ng6 35.h7+ Kh8!

Always watch what you're doing and think ahead.
If 35...Kxh7?? then Black gets caught napping after 36.Rh3+! Kg8 37.Rh8+!! Kxh8 38.Qh6+ when White mates on the next move.

36.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 37.Rf2

It's time to turn out the lights.
If 37.Kh2 Qe5+ 38.Kg1 Be4 39.Rf1 Kxh7 then:

If 40.Re1 Qf4!! then:

41.Qh5+ Qh6 42.Qxh6+ Kxh6 43.Rc1 Ne5 is an easy win for Black.
41.Qxf4 Nxf4 42.g3 Nd3 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece; she wins easily.

If 40.Rd1 Qf4 41.Qh5+ Qh6 then:

If 42.Qxh6+ then after 42...Kxh6 43.Rf1 c3 44.g3 c2 Black wins by bringing the Knight forward to cover c1 for the pawn.
42.Qh3 Qxh3 43.gxh3 Nf4 44.Kf2 c3 45.Ra1 c2 wins easily.

37...Be4 38.Qh6 Qxf6 39.Qe3 Qa1+ 40.Kh2

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze

WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 40.Kg1h2

40...Qd4!!

Proffering the Queen is the quickest route to victory.

41.Qxd4+ 0-1

If instead 41.Qe1 Qe5+ 42.Kg1 Qg3 43.Qc1 c3! it will cost White the exchange to stop the c-pawn.
If after the text 41...cxd4 42.Kg1 c3! it will cost White the Rook to stop the pawn.
Ms. Koneru resigns without waiting for Ms. Dzagnidze to reply.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Feb-27-11 08:35 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. Tenth Aeroflot Open, Moscow

Red Square, Moscow
Photo by Adam Baker, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-27-11 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Vachier Lagrave - Salgado L�pez, Round 9

Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Photo by Brittle Heaven in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Maxime Vachier Lagrave - Iv�n Salgado L�pez
Tenth Aeroflot Open, Round 9
Moscow, 16 February 2011

Symmetrical English Game: Catalan Opening (Queen's Indian Defense)

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.Nf3 b6

If 4...d5 5.cxd5 then:

If 5...Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.d4 0-0 then:

If 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bg5 then:

If 11...Qb6 12.Rc1 d4 then:

If 13.Qc2 Bd6 14.Nd2 Be6 then:

If 15.Nc4 Bxc4 16.Qxc4 h6 17.Bd2 Qxb2 18.Rfd1 Qb6 then:

19.Qa4 Rac8 20.Bxc6 Rxc6 21.Ba5 Qa6 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Rxd4 Bc5 24.Rc4 draw (Korchnoi-Lautier, IT, Barcelona, 1992).
19.Be1 Rfd8 20.Bd5 Kf8 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rxd4 c5 23.Rd3 Be7 is equal (K. Georgiev-Tukmakov, IT, Elinite, 1993).

If 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Ng5 Bf5 18.Qc5 Rfe8 then:

19.Qxb6 axb6 20.a3 h6 21.Ne4 Rad8 22.Rfe1 Nc6 23.Nd2 Re6 24.f4 draw (Pelletier-Greenfeld, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
19.b4!? Rad8 20.Rfd1 Qf6 21.Nf3 b6 22.Qe5 Qxe5 23.Nxe5 Nd5 24.Rxd4 is equal (Illescas-Lautier, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1994).

13.Nd2 Re8 14.Nb3 Bf8 15.Re1 h6 16.Bf4 Bg4 gives Black the advantage in space (Su. Polgar-Lautier, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1991).

If 11...f6 12.Bd2 then:

12...Be6 13.e3 Qd7 14.Bc3 Rad8 15.Bd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bh3 17.Rc1 gives White a slight initiative (Larsen-Jacobs, Op, Lugano, 1989).
If 12...Re8 then:

13.e3 Bf5 14.Bc3 Be4 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qe7 18.Qf3 draw (Uhlmann-Tukmakov, IT, Leipzig, 1975).
13.Rc1 Bb6 14.e3 Bf5 15.Bc3 Be4 16.Qb3 Kh8 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Bd4 is equal (Larsen-Agdestein, ZT, Gausdal, 1985).

If 9.e4 then:

If 9...Ndb4 10.a3 cxd4 11.axb4 dxc3 12.bxc3 then:

If 12...b6 13.Bf4 Bb7 then:

If 14.Qb3 Qc8 15.Rfd1 Rd8 then:

16.Nd4 a6 17.Rac1 Bf6 18.Bh3 Kh8 19.Bg2 draw (Beliavsky-Mikhalchishin, Vidmar Mem, Portoroz, 2005).
If 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Rd1 Qe8 18.Nd2 Rd8 19.Nc4 g5 20.Be3 gives White a small advantage in space (Tomashevsky-Volzhin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).

If 14.Qe2 Qc8 15.Rfd1 Rd8 16.Bh3 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Qe8 is equal (Nippula-Lehtioksa, Finnish Cht Qual, Finland, 2001).

If 12...Qc7 13.Be3 b6 14.Bf4 Qd8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bc7 Rd3 17.Bxb6 Rxc3 18.b5 Rb8 19.bxc6 Rxb6 20.Rxa7 Bf8 21.Ne5 draw (Ribli-Tal, ITZ, Riga, 1979).

If 9...Nb6 then:

If 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Ne1 then:

If 12...Bf6 13.Be3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 N4xd5 15.Bxc5 Re8 then:

16.Bd4 16...Be6 17.Nd3 Rc8 18.Rc1 Qd6 is equal (Ftacnik-A. Rodr�guez, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).
16.Qd4 Qf6 17.Bxb6 Nxb6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Nd3 Na4 20.c4 Be6 21.Rfc1 gives White a small advantage in space and a slight initiative (Ftacnik-Dlugy, Op, Lugano, 1987).

12...Nc4 13.a3 Na6 14.Ne4 Bf5 15.Nc2 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nd6 is equal (Leotard-Eiben, Corres, 1997).
12.Ne5 Bd6 13.Nd3 Bg4 14.Qxg4 Nxd3 15.Bg5 f5 16.Qh5 Qd7 17.Qe2 c4 18.Qe6+ Rf7 gives Black a small advantage with the threat of 19...Be5 and 20...Re8 (Dorfman-Tukmakov, Soviet Ch, Lvov, 1984).

10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.e5 Nd5 12.Bd2 Nxc3 draw (Smejkal-Vaganian, Soviet Trmt, Moscow, 1977).

If 5...exd5 6.d4 this is a transposition into the Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Tarrasch Defense): If 6...Nc6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 then:

(the good news about the Normal Defense is that it gives Black freedom for his pieces, which is why Dr. Tarrasch insisted it was the best way to fight the Queen's Gambit; the bad news is that it saddles Black with an isolated d-pawn, which is why it has never been popular) If 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 then:

If 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rc1 then:

If 12...Bf8 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

If 14.Na4 Bd7 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bg4 then:

If 17.Re1 Qa5 then:

If 18.h3 Bf5 then:

If 19.Qd4 Rab8 20.a3 Qb5 21.b3 then:

21...Ne4 22.b4 a5 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc5 Qb6 25.bxa5 Qa6 26.Qc3 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Illescas, IT, Linares, 1994).
21...a5 22.e3 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc3 Bf5 25.Kg2 Be4+ draw (Bonafont-James, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

19.Na4 Rac8 20.Qd4 Be4 21.f3 Bg6 22.Kf2 Nd7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Sargissian-Akobian, Amenian Ch, Yerevan, 1999).

18.Qc2 Rab8 19.b3 Re7 20.h3 Bh5 is equal (Ribli-Lobon, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1990).

If 17.f3 Bf5 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.e3 Nd7 20.Qd4 Rab8 is equal (Sosonko-Martens, Op, Eindhoven, 1993).

If 14.Bd4 Bg4 then:

15.Re1 Nd7 16.Qa4 Re6 17.Bxg7 Bxg7 18.Qxg4 Qa5 19.e3 Rb8 20.Re2 leaves White with better piece coordination (Bosiocic-Kuzubov, ZCC Bicentennial, Z�rich, 2009).
15.Qa4 Bd7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd7 Rad8 19.Qa4 d4 gives Black a slight initiative (Stein-Damjanovic, Vrnjachka Banja, 1971).

If 12...Bg4 13.h3 Be6 then:

If 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.f4 Qd7 16.Bf2 Rad8 17.Qa4 then:

17...Bb4 18.e4 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rcd1 Qf7 22.Qxe4 Qf5 23.Qg2 Qc2 is equal (San Segundo-Lautier, IT, Madrid, 1993).
17...Bd6?! 18.Rfd1 Qf7 19.e4 d4 20.Nb5 e5 21.Nxd6 Rxd6 22.fxe5 Rxe5 23.Bxd4 Rxe4 24.Bxe4 Nxe4 25.Be3 gives White a strong initiative (Ilincic-Manca, 1st Saturday July, Budapest, 2005).

If 14.Kh2 Qd7 then:

If 15.Qa4 a6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rfd1 then:

17...Reb8!? 18.Bd4 Rb4 19.Qc2 Rab8 20.b3 Bf5 21.e4 Bg6 22.Qe2 Bh5 23.g4. White soon wins (Nickel-Kremer, Corres, 1995).
17...Bf5 18.Bd4 Qb7 19.a3 a5 20.e4 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 is equal.

15.Qc2 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Bc5 17.Qa4 b6 18.Nc2 Red8 19.Nd4 draw (Komarov-Ponomariov, ZT, Donetzk, 1998).

If 11.Bf4 Bg4 12.h3 then:

If 12...Bh5 13.Nf5 Bg6 14.Nxe7+ then:

If 14...Qxe7 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rad8 17.Qc4 Nd4 then:

If 18.e4 b5 19.Qd3 f5 then:

20.Rae1 Qf7 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Qc3 b4 23.Qc5 Ne6 24.Qxb4 Nxf4 25.gxf4 gives White an extra pawn (Gelfand-Illescas, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
If 20.Rfe1 Bh5!? 21.Kh1 Qf7 22.e5 g5?! 23.e6!! then:

If 23...Qe7? then after 24.Bc7!! Qxc7 25.e7! Rfe8 26.exd8Q Rxd8 27.Rac1 Black resigns in another dozen moves (Adly-Akintola, African Ch, Abuja, 2003).
23...Nxe6 24.Bd6 Nc5 25.Qxb5 Rxd6 26.Qxc5 also gives White a strong game.

18.Kh2 b5 19.Qc3 Qxe2 20.Rad1 Qc4 21.Be5 Qxc3 22.bxc3 Ne2 23.Bf3 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 f6 25.Bxe2 fxe5 26.Kg1 Rc8 27.Bxb5 draw (Neverov-Eljanov, Ukrainian Ch, Ordzhonikidze, 2001).

14...Nxe7 15.Qb3 b6 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Rd2 Qd7 18.Be5 Qe6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 gives White an extra pawn (Arlandi-Illescas, Spanish Ol, Los Yebenes, 1990).

If 12...Be6 13.Rc1 then:

If 13...Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.e4 d4 16.e5 then:

If 16...dxc3 17.exf6 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 Bxf6 19.bxc3 Rad8 then:

20.Be3 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bxc3 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Rc1 Ba5 24.Rxc6 Rb8 25.Bxa7 Rb2 26.Ra6 Rxa2 27.Kg2 Ra3 28.Bc5 Black resigns as 28...Ra1 29.Bb4 wins the exchange (Cmilyte-Rohanyan, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
20.Re1 g5 21.Be3 Ne5 22.Rc2 Nd3 23.Rb1 b6 24.Bf1 Ne5 is equal (Sasikiran-Akobian, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2000).

16...Ne8 17.Qd3 Nb4 18.Qg6 dxc3 19.Be4 Rxf4 20.gxf4 cxb2 21.Rcd1 gives White a strong initiative (Tsiganova-Malysheva, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).

13...Re8 14.Ncb5 Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Nc7 Rf8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 is equal (Benjamin-Cunningham, Op, New York, 1995).

If 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5 then:

If 10...d4 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Nd2 then:

If 13...Re8 14.Rc1 Bb6 15.Re1 Bg4 16.Nc4 Ba5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.b4 Nxb4 then:

If 19.Qxd4 Nxd5 20.Qxg4 then:

If 20...Rad8 then:

21.Qc4 b6 22.Bf3 Nf6 23.Red1 g6 24.Kg2 Kg7 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Qb3 Qd2 27.Qa3 Rd7 28.Rc6 gives White a small advantage owing to somewhat more active pieces (Inarkiev-Potkin, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
If 21.Red1 Nf6 22.Qc4 b5 23.Qc2 h6 24.Bf3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 then:

25...Rd8 26.Rc1 b4 27.Qc7 Qxc7 28.Rxc7 Rd7 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Bosch, Op, Hoogeveen, 1999).
25...b4 26.Rd6 Rd8 27.Rc6 Qe5 28.Kg2 gives White the advantage with command of the c-file which can be used as an avenue of attack (Halikas-Akobian, World Jr Ch, Yerevan. 2000).

If 20...Nf6 21.Qc4 then:

21...Rab8 22.Bf3 b5 23.Qb3 h6 24.Kg2 Rbc8 25.Red1 Qb6 draw (Ghaem Maghami-Mamedyarov, Match, Baku, 2003).
If 21...b5?! 22.Qc7! Qxc7 23.Rxc7 then:

23...Ne4? 24.Rd1! Rab8 25.Rdd7 Nf6 26.Rxf7 Rxe2 27.Rxg7+ (Malaniuk-Zolnierowicz, Op, Chojnice, 2005).
23...Rec8 is good enough to keep Black in the game, but after 24.Rec1 Rxc7 25.Rxc7 Rd8 26.Bc6 White still has a huge advantage.

19.Qd2 Nc6 20.Qxa5 Nxa5 21.f3 d3 22.Red1 dxe2 23.Re1 Rac8 24.Rc7 Be6 25.Ne7+ Rxe7 26.Rxe7 Kf8 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Rxe2 Kf7 gives Black an extra pawn(Dreev-B. Ivanovic, ITZ, Manila, 1990).

13...Bg4 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Re1 Re8 16.Rc1 Re5 17.Nf4 Qe8 is equal (Ftacnik-Lein, Masters, Hastings, 1982).

If 10...Be6 11.Rc1 then:

If 11...Be7 12.Nd4 then:

12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 h6 14.Bf4 Qa5 15.a3 Rac8 then:

16.Qd3 Kh8 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.Nxb5 Bc5 19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Bxd6 Rfe8 21.Bc5 b6 22.Bd4 Ne4 (Peinfalk-Vidmar, IT, Ljubljana, 1938).
16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 Ne4 18.f3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Bxc5+ 20.Kh1 Bd4 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative (Lokvenc-Lundin, Op, Bad Gastein, 1948).

If 12...h6 then:

13.Be3 Qd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Na4 Bh3 16.Bc5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rfe8 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 is equal (Summerscale-R. Shaw, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).
13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3 Bd6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 exd5 18.Bxd7 Bxf4 19.gxf4 Nd4 20.Rfe1 is equal (Adamski-Dr. Nunn, IT, Lublin, 1978).

11...Bb6 12.b3 d4 13.Ne4 Re8 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Bh6 Bg4 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Browne-Strauss, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).

5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0-0 Be7 7.b3

If 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 then:

If 8...a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.Rc1 0-0 13.f4 then:

If 13...Rfe8 then:

If 14.g4 Nc5 15.Bf2 then:

If 15...g6 16.b4 then:

If 16...Rad8 then:

If 17.Qe2 Ncd7 then:

18.Bg3 Bf8 19.e5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qb7+ 21.Qf3 Qxf3+ 22.Kxf3 dxe5 23.fxe5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Siebrecht-Spoelman, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).
18.Nd5! exd5 19.cxd5 Qb8 20.Nc6 Qa8 21.Qf3 Bf8 22.Nxd8 Qxd8 23.g5 gives White a small advantage in space (Tolstikh-Gipslis, Op, Katowice, 1993).

17.f5 Bf8 18.Bh4 Bg7 19.g5 Nh5 20.f6 Bf8 21.Qd2 Nd7 22.Nd5 Qb8 23.Ne3 is equal (Knott-Anderton, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

If 16...Ncd7 17.Nd5 exd5 18.cxd5 Qd8 19.Nc6 Bxc6 20.dxc6 then:

20...Nf8 21.Qf3 d5 22.exd5 Bxb4 23.Re5 Bd6 24.Bh4 Bxe5 25.fxe5 Qxd5 26.Bxf6 Qxf3 27.Bxf3 is equal (Lobron-Greenfeld, Widmar Mem, Ljubljana/Pororoz, 1989).
20...Rc8 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Qxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Nxg4 25.Rxe7 Rxe7 26.Bxb6 Ne5!? 27.Rd8+! Re8?? 28.c7!! Nc4 29.Bb7! Black resigns as he must lose a Rook (Greenfeld-Cyborowski, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

15...e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Nf5 Bf8 18.b4 Ncd7 19.g5 gives White a tremendous advantage in space and the initiative (Wojtaszek-Grant, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

If 14.Bf2 Bf8 then:

If 15.Qe2 then:

If 15...g6 16.e5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 dxe5 18.fxe5 Nh5 19.Nf3 Rac8 20.b3 Red8 21.Bd4 Bc5 22.Red1 then:

22...Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Nb8 24.Rcd1 Rxd4 25.Rxd4 gives White a very impressive advantage in space(Wojtkiewicz-Suba, Op, Budapest, 1993).
22...Ng7 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.b4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Nd7 26.Ne4 gives White a big advantage in space (Wojtkiewicz-Felsberger, Op, Vienna, 1990).

15...Kh8 16.e5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 dxe5 18.fxe5 Ng8 19.Nf3 Nh6 20.h3 Rac8 is equal (Trator-Kalod, TT, Charleville, 2000).

15.Nb3 Rac8 16.Nd2 Qb8 17.Qe2 g6 18.g4 gives White the advantage in space (Sloth-Jussupow, Op, Esbjerg, 1980).

13...Rac8 14.f5 e5 15.Nb3 Qb8 16.Qe2 Qa8 17.Nd2 Nc5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Rfe8 20.b4 gives White the advantage in space and a slight initiative (Lalith-Macias, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009).

If 8...0-0 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc8 11.Be3 a6 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.f4 then:

13...Re8 14.g4 g6 15.g5 Nh5 16.f5 Bf8 17.b3 gives White a great deal more space (Ruxton-Kristensson, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
13...Qc7 14.g4 Nc5 15.Bf2 g6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.f5 Ne5 18.fxe6 Nfxg4 19.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space (Shomoev-Sargissian, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

7...0-0 8.Bb2 d6

Black will keep the center available to his pieces pressuring the light squares for now. 8...d5 leads to a quicker opening of the center.
If 8...d5 9.e3 then:

If 9...Nc6 10.cxd5 then:

If 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.d4 Rad8 13.Ne5 Qd6 then:

If 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Qe2 Nxe5 16.Bxb7 Qc7 then:

17.Be4 f5 18.Bg2 Bf6 19.Ba3 Rfe8 20.Rac1 gives White a small initiative (Markus-Paikidze, Op, Wroclaw, 2010).
14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qg4 cxd4 16.Bxd4 g6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Rac1 Qd6 19.Rfd1 draw (Toran-O'Kelly, IT, Olot, 1969).

17.Bg2 Bc5 18.Rfd1 a5 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Qd7 22.Qxd7 Nxd7 23.Bc6 gives White the initiative (Kasparov-Gypser, SX, Frankfurt, 2000).

10...exd5 11.d4 Re8 12.Rc1 Bf8 13.Re1 Rc8 14.Bh3 Rb8 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.Nf4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 gives White a slight edge in space(Ivanchuk-Ljubojevich, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).

If 9...Nbd7 10.Qe2 then:

If 10...Ne4 11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Bxd5 then:

If 13.Rfd1 Qc7 then:

14.e4 Bb7 15.d4 cxd4 16.Bxd4 is equal (Flores-Nezad, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
14.Rac1 Qb7 15.d3 Rac8 16.e4 Bc6 is equal (Tal-Naumkin, GMA, Moscow, 1990).

If 13.e4 Bb7 14.Rfd1 Nf6 15.Ne5 Qc7 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.Bb2 then:

17...Nd7 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.d4 cxd4 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Bxd4 is equal (Jussupow-Makarichev, Soviet Ch 1st League, Ashkhabad, 1978).
17...Qb8 18.d3 Rcd8 19.h4 Nd7 20.Ng4 f6 is equal (Olafsson-Larsen, Rpd M, Reykjavik, 2003).

10...Rc8 11.d3 Qc7 12.Rad1 a6 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.e4?! d4! 15.Nb1 e5 gives Black the advantage in space (Barbero-Browne, Palma de Majorca, 1989).

9.e3

If 9.d4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 a6 11.Rfd1 Nbd7 12.e4 then:

If 12...Qc8 13.Qe3 Re8 14.Nd4 then:

If 14...Qc7 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.h3 Bf8 17.Re1 then:

17...g6 18.Rcd1 Qb8 19.Qd2 draw (Bischoff-Lutz, German Ch, Altenkirchen, 2001).
17...Qb8 18.Qd2 Nc5 19.Re2 Qa8 20.Rce1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Xu Jun-Suba, Op, Timisoara, 1987).

14...Bf8 15.h3 Qc7 16.Re1 Rad8 17.Re2 Qb8 18.Rae1 g6 19.Qd2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Uhlmann-Adorjan, Eliskases Mem, Budapest, 1982).

12...Qc7 13.Qe3 Rfe8 14.Nd4 Bf8 15.Rac1 Rad8 16.h3 Qb8 17.Re1 g6 18.Rcd1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Polugaevsky-Williams, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).

9...a6 10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Rfd1

If 11.d4 then:

11...Ne4 12.Rfd1 Qb8 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Nxd7 Qb7 16.Nxf8 Bf3 17.Qd3 Rxf8 18.Rd2 draw (W. Schmidt-Siekanski, Rubinstein Mem, Polanca Zdroj, 1989).
If 11...Qc7 12.e4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Rfe8 then:

14.Rfe1 Bf8 15.Rad1 Rac8 16.Qd2 Rcd8 draw (Smejkal-Chernin, Czechoslovakian Ch, Prague, 1989).
14.Rac1 Rad8 15.Rfd1 Qb8 16.Re1 Bf8 17.f3 g6 18.Rcd1 gives WHite a small advantage in space (Cafferty-Ciuksyte, Masters 0607, Hastings, 2006).

11...Ra7

If 11...Re8 12.d4 then:

If 12...Qc7 13.Rac1 Rac8 then:

14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 Qd8 17.Nd2 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 is equal (Andersson-Browne, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1981).
14.a4 cxd4 15.exd4 Qb8 16.Re1 a5 17.Qd1 Qa8 18.Ba3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Mattson-Thavandiran, Op, Ottawa, 2007).

12...cxd4 13.exd4 Bf8 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Qf1 d5 16.Ne5 Rc7 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Re1 Bd6 is equal (Istratescu-Sargissian, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).

12.d4 Re8

12...Qa8 13.Ne1 cxd4 14.exd4 d5 15.Rac1 Re8 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Andersson-Hjartarson, World Cup, Belfort, 1988).
12...cxd4 13.exd4 d5 14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Bxb7 Rxb7 16.Nc6 Qe8 17.d5 Nc5 18.Nxe7+ Rxe7 19.d6 is equal (Grebionkin-Fominyh, Russia Cup, Samara, 2002).

13.e4

The game is equal.

13...cxd4!?

Black felt his position was cramped (and with good reason) This is an attempt to fins a square on which he can land a minor piece.
13...Qc7 14.Qe3 Raa8 15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 b5 remains equal.

14.Nxd4!

The game now resembles an Open Sicilian where White adopts the Maroczy bind. White has more freedom, especially with his pawns.

14...Qb8

White has a slight advantage in space/
If 14...Qc7 15.f4 Bf8 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.a3 gives White a small advantage in space.

15.Re1 Ba8

15...Qc7 16.f4 Rc8 17.Rad1 Nc5 18.Qe3 gives White a small advantage in space.

16.Rad1

White has a small advantage in space
If 16.f4 then after 16...Rc8 17.Rad1 Nc5 18.h3 Rac7 19.Qe3 White has only a slight advantage in space.

16...g6?!

This does nothing to help with Black's spatial problem.
16...Rc8 17.f4 Nc5 18.g4 Ne8 19.Qe3 gives White a small advantage in space that Black can't seem to crack.

17.g4!?

White's kingside pawns face few obstacles to advancement. Nevertheless, White's last move is inferior.
17.f4! e5 18.Nc2 b5 19.cxb5 exf4 20.gxf4 axb5 21.a3 gives White more freedom thanks mainly to his kingside pawn duo.

BLACK: Iv�n Salgado L�pez

WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 17.g2g4

17...e5!

This is about all Black can do to gain more badly needed space.

18.Nc2 Nc5

Black has considerably closed the space gap.

19.Nd5?!

This move invites an exchange of minor pieces, whichn is just what the doctor ordered for Black.
19.b4! Ne6 20.Bc1 Rc7 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

19...Bd8!?

Black inexplicably misses his chance.
19...Nxd5 20.exd5 b5 21.Nb4 Rc7 22.cxb5 axb5 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

20.f4 Ne6?!

This is a strategic blunder. White has an opportunity to open the game to his advantage.
Better is 20...Nxd5! 21.exd5 Bh4 22.Rf1 exf4 23.Qd2 with equality.

21.fxe5!

White, having more pieces putting pressure up the middle, opens the center.

21...dxe5

No better is 21...Nxd5 22.exd5 Nf4 23.Qe3 Nxg2 24.Kxg2 when White has a clear advantage in space.

22.Rf1 Nd7 23.Qf2 f6!?

Black will now be wanting for space for some time.
Better is to shield the f-pawn with 23...Nf4! 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Qxf4 Qxf4 26.Rxf4 , although White still has a clear advantage.

24.Kh1 b5

Black is cramped and is looking for breathing room for his pieces.
The usual method of exchanging pieces in order to alleviate a spatial deficit doesn't seem to work here: 24...Bxd5 25.cxd5 Nf4 26.Nb4 Qd6 27.Nc6 Rb7 28.Bc1 still leaves White with a comfortable advantage in space.

25.Ba3

If 25.Bc1 bxc4 26.bxc4 then:

26...Rb7!? 27.g5! Rf8 28.gxf6 Nxf6 29.Ba3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space and the initiative.
26...Bb6 27.Qf3 Rf8 28.Bh6 Rf7 29.Qb3 gives White a significant advantage in space and a better center.

25...Bxd5 26.exd5 Bb6

BLACK: Iv�n Salgado L�pez

WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 26...Bd8b6

27.dxe6!!

White allows his Queen to be taken.
If 27.Qe1 Nf4 28.Nb4 Nxg2 29.Kxg2 Qd6 30.Nc2 gives White a slight advantage in space.

27...Bxf2 28.exd7 Rd8 29.Bd5+ Kg7 30.Rxf2

White has three minor pieces for the Queen. Usually, a consortium of material is no match for the Queen unless the assorted pieces are well coordinated.

30...Raxd7 31.Ne3

If 31.Rdf1 Qb6 32.h4 bxc4 33.bxc4 then:

33...Qa5 34.Rxf6 Rxd5 35.cxd5 Qxd5+ 36.R6f3 gives White a slight material advantage; Black has more space, but not enough to compensate.
33...Rxd5 34.cxd5 Rxd5 35.Be7 f5 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.Rxf5 leaves White's pieces ready to crush Black's King.

31...bxc4 32.bxc4 Qb6 33.Bc1

33.Rf3 a5 34.Rdf1 Qd4 35.Bc1 Rf8 36.h3 is equal.

33...Rb8 34.h4 Qb1?

This move is a critical waste of time. The Queen has no exit strategy except to go back the way it came.
If 34...Qc5 35.h5 Rd6 then:

If 36.Re2 then:

36...Re8 37.Rh2 Rc8 38.Rf1 Rxd5 39.cxd5 Qd4 40.Bd2 gives White a material advantage and more freedom.
If 36...Qc8?! 37.Rg1! then:

If 37...Qc5 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Rh2 then:

39...Rxd5 40.cxd5 Qb4 41.Rf1 Qe4+ 42.Kg1 gives White the material advantage.
39...f5 40.gxf5 Rf8 41.Rg3 Qa5 42.Bd2 Qb6 43.Bc3 gives White three minor pieces and a powerful initiative.

If 37...Rd7 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Rh2 Rxd5 40.cxd5 then:

40...Rb7 41.Kg2 Rb4 42.Kg3 gives White a material advantage and the most dangerous passer on the board.
40...Qc5 41.Rc2 Qa7 42.Kg2 Rb5 43.Rd1 give White the material advantaage and a dangerous passed pawn.

36.hxg6?! hxg6 37.Kg2 Rdd8! 38.Kf3 Rh8 39.Ke2 is equal.

BLACK: Iv�n Salgado L�pez

WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 34...Qb6b1

35.Rdf1!

White attacks Black's f-pawn, the fall of which exposes the King.

35...Rxd5 36.cxd5 Qe4+

36...Rc8 37.Bd2 Qxa2 38.Nf5+ Kh8 39.Ne7 Re8 40.Bg5 threatens 41.Bxf6# to which Black's only replies led to a heavy loss of material.

37.Kh2!

White won't have to worry about Black giving check for a while.

37...f5

If 37...Rb6 38.Rc2 h5 39.Rc4 then:

39...Qd3 40.Rc7+ Kg8 41.Rf2 Rb1 42.Rfc2 Rb8 43.gxh5 wins for White.
39...Qb1 40.Rc2 hxg4 41.Rc7+ Kh8 42.Rc8+ Kh7 43.Nxg4 wins.

38.gxf5 Qxh4+

38...Rc8 39.fxg6 Qxh4+ 40.Kg1 hxg6 41.Bb2 Qe4 42.Re1 gives Black no way to beak through White's solid position.

39.Kg1 Rc8

If 39...Qe4 40.fxg6 hxg6 41.Rf7+ then:

41...Kg8 42.R7f6 a5 43.d6 then:

43...Rd8 44.Re6 g5 45.Rf2 Qb1 46.Rc2 a4 47.Rxe5 wins for White in a way that shows a Queen is no match for a coordinated consortium of pieces.
If 43...Qd3 then White wins after 44.Kh2 Kg7 45.Rf7+!.

If 41...Kh6? then 42.Nf5+ Kh5 43.Rh7+ Kg4 44.Rh4#.

If 39...Rb6 then 40.f6+ Kf7 41.Rh2 Qg3+ 42.Rg2 Qh3 43.Ng4! wins.

40.Bd2 Rd8 41.Rh2 Qd4 42.f6+ Kg8 43.f7+ Kg7

BLACK: Iv�n Salgado L�pez

WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Position after 43...Kg8g7

44.Rhf2!

White prepares to queen the pawn. He cannot be stopped.

44...h5 45.Nc2!

45.f8Q+? Rxf8 46.Rxf8 Qxd2! 47.R8f7+ Kh6 48.R7f3 still gives White the advantage, but Black has faint chances for counterplay.

45...Qxd5 46.Bb4!

46.f8Q+? Rxf8 47.Rxf8 Qxd2 48.R1f7+ Kh6 49.Rf2 Qd1+ is equal.

46...Qxa2 47.f8Q+!

Now is the time to queen. Black's resistance is broken.

47...Rxf8 48.Bxf8+

White is the equivalent of a minor piece to the good.

48...Kg8 49.Bh6!

It's time to turn out the lights.

49...Qb3

49...Qe6 then White wins after 50.Rf8+ Kh7 51.Bg5 Kg7 52.Ne3.

50.Ne3 g5 51.Bxg5 a5 52.Rg2 Kh7 53.Rf6 a4 54.Bh6 Qb4 55.Rf7+ 1-0

Black cannot avoid mate, e.g., 55...Kh8 56.Nf5 Qb1+ 57.Kh2 Qa2 58.Rf8+ Kh7 59.Rxa2 a3 60.Rg2 a2 61.Rg7#.
El se�or Salgado resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-01-11 06:28 PM
Response to Original message

9. Update (Tuesday): Elina at 6�/7; Jankovic leads Cappelle-la-Grande

Edited on Tue Mar-01-11 06:35 PM by Jack Rabbit

Latest from the Qatar Grand Prix

Armenian grandmaster Elina Danielian was held to draw by yesterday her compatriot, Lilit Mkrtchian, but today defeated former world women's champion Zhu Chen to hold a 1� point lead over the field with 6� points out of a possible 7 in the sixth and final leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar.

Marie Sebag is in second place with 5 points, followed by top seed Koneru Humpy, who worked her way up after a slow start and now sits on 4� points.

Jankovic leads in Cappelle-la-Grand after 5

Croatian grandmaster Alojzije Jankovic is atop the table by himself with a perfect score after five rounds of the 27th International Open in Cappelle-la-Grand on the English Channel coast near Dunkirque.

Jankovic entered today's round tied with Bulgarian GM Marijan Petrov with 4 points apiece and, playing White, defeated Petrov in 49 moves. Yesterday, Jankovic won two games when he beat Ukrainian GM Evgeny Sharapov in the third round, played in the morning, and then in the afternoon took down GM Andrey Vovk of Ukraine in Round 4.

Tomorrow, Jankovic will play Black against Mexican GM Manuel Le�n Hoyos who, with 4� points, is the only player in the over 500-player field who can overtake Jankovic in a single round.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Mar-02-11 06:55 PM
Response to Original message

10. Update (Wednesday): Jack Rabbit is a Jinx

Both of yesterday's featured players lost today.

In the sixth and final leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix, leader Elina Danielian lost to the surging Koneru Humpy in 41 moves while second-place Marie Sebag drew against former world women's champion Antoaneta Stefanova and Nana Dzagnidze took down Lilit Mkrtchian. After eight rounds in Doha, Ms. Danielian still leads with 6� points, Mlle. Sebag and Ms. Koneru are tied for second at 5� and Ms. Dzagnide is in fourth place with 5 points. Ms. Koneru and Ms. Dzagnidze are vying for second place overall in the Grand Prix Series in order to challenge reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan in a title match later this year.

In today's sixth round of the 27th Cappelle-la-Grande International Open, Mexican grandmaster Manuel Le�n Hoyos spoiled Croatian GM's Alojzije Jankovic's perfect score when he sent the leader to a 41-move defeat and took over first place for himself with 5� points, while Jankovic drops to a tie for second place with international master Alexander Ipatov of Spain. El se�or Le�n will have Black against Ipatov while Jankovic will have White against Ukrainian grandmaster Yuriy Kryvoruchko.

Both tournaments end Saturday.

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