The JR Chess Report (May 29): Gelfand to challenge Anand for World Title

Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 03:45 PM
Original message

The JR Chess Report (May 29): Gelfand to challenge Anand for World Title

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

Gelfand defeats Grischuk in Kazan, will challenge Anand for World Title

Luigi Versaggi, Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand won the sixth and final game of the final candidates' match against former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk on Wednesday in Kazan to earn the right to challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India to a match for the world title.

The sixth game was the only decisive game of the match. All other games were drawn, including games of only 14 and 18 moves.

Gelfand, playing White, opened the game with his Queen's pawn and Grischuk spun the opening to an Indian Queen's Gambt (Gr�nfeld Defense), an opening he seldom plays as Black, with Gelfand adopting a Catalan formation (White's King's Bishop developed on g2). Gelfand introduced a novelty on move 13 when Grischuk had both his Knights on the queenside. Gelfand played 13.b3, depriving one of Black's Knights of of any safe squares on White's side of the board. This move will probably become a standard part of opening theory in the near future. Grischuk exchanged a Bishop for a Knight on move 20 in an effort to weaken White's kingside, but the effort backfired and Gelfand soon had a small advantage which he nursed to a win.

Had the sixth game ended in draw, the two contestants would have settled matters in a rapid playoff the following day.

The title match between Anand and Gelfand is expected to take place some time next year.

Gelfand, who was born in Minsk, Soviet Belarus, becomes the first Israeli chess master to challenge for the world title. At the age of 43, he will be the oldest challenger since Viktor Korchnoi, then 50, played for the chess crown against then-champion Anatoly Karpov in a title match held in Merano, Italy, in 1981.

The candidates' matches in Kazan have drawn criticism from players and commentators all over the world for a format that seemingly encourages draws. Overall the candidates' matches, which began with the quarterfinal rounds on May 5, produced only three decisive games out of 30 games played under classical time control. Both semifinal matches had to be decided by a rapid playoff as each ended after four draws. Suggestions have largely focuses on eatblishing a minimum number of moves, usually 30, before one player can offer the other a draw to playing longer matches so that one early victory will not make one play feel he has the match in the bag and protect his advantage for the duration. In Kazan, the quarterfinal and semifinal matches were four games each and the final match was only six games. When Bobby Fischer won the right challenge for the world championship in 1971, he played quarterfinal and semifinal candidates' matches scheduled for ten games and a final match scheduled for twelve. Fischer then played the then-reigning champion, Boris Spassky, in a match scheduled for 24 games to win the title.

Eidtorial Note: It is the view of your humble hare and his staff of chess-playing house cats that FIDE could do worse than scrapping all of the changes made by the present FIDE president, Kirsan Ilyuumzhinov, and revert to the status quo ante using a system of zonal tournaments, an interzonal tournament and a series of candidates' matches of ten to twelve games to determine the official challenger, who would then play the reigning champion in a 24-game match with the title on the line. That system, we feel, was not broken until Kirsan tried to fix it.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 03:47 PM
Response to Original message

1. This weeks' 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 May-29-11 03:48 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Candidates' Final Match, Kazan

Kazan, Capital of the Russian Rupublic of Tartarstan
Luigi Versaggi, Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 03:49 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Gelfand - Grischuk, Round 6

Boris Gelfand
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Boris Gelfand - Alexander Grischuk
Candidates' Final Match, Round 6
Kazan, 25 May 2011

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Catalan Opening) (Gr�nfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Re1 a5 11.Qe2

For more about this opening, see Potkin-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0910, Katernberg, 2010.

11...Bg4

If 11...e5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.e4 then:

If 14...Bd7 15.f4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bc6 17.Bb2 then:

17...Qe7 18.Rad1 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Nc4 20.Rd4 b5 21.h4 Rad8 22.Red1 Qe7 is equal (Kazhgaleyev-Tomczak, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2010).
17...Qd6 18.c4!? Qc5+! 19.Kh1 Qxc4 gives Black an extra pawn (Potkin-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0910, Katernberg, 2010).

If 14...Be6 15.f4 Bg7 16.Be3 then:

16...Qe7 17.e5 Rab8 18.Ne4 Red8 19.Bc5 Qd7 20.Rad1 gives White the initiative (Rogozenco-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0910, Bremen, 2009).
16...Nc4 17.e5 c6 18.Ne4 a4 19.Rad1 Qa5 20.Bd4 gives White a more solid center.

If 11...Be6 12.Nd2 then:

If 12...a4 13.Rd1 f5 14.Rb1 Bf7 then:

15.b4 axb3 16.axb3 Nd5 17.Bb2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bd5 is equal (Michalik-Safarli, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
15.Nf3 Bc4 16.Qe1 Nb4 17.a3 Nd3 18.Qd2 Nxc1 19.Qxc1 Bb3 20.Re1 c6 gives Black a slightly more aggressive game (Zhao Jun-Mekhitarian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

12...Nb4 13.Rd1 c6 14.a3 N4d5 15.Nde4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bb3 is equal (Laznicka-A. Zhigalko, Euro Club Cip, Plovdiv, 2010).

12.h3 Be6 13.b3 (N)

13.Rd1 Bc4 14.Qc2 Nb4 15.Qb1 Qc8 16.a3 N4d5 is equal (Lait�o-Wang Yue, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

13...a4

The game is equal.

14.Rb1

14.Nxa4 Nxa4 15.bxa4 Rxa4 16.Rd1 Bb3 remains equal.

14...axb3 15.axb3 Qc8

15...Qd7 16.g4 Red8 17.Ng5 Bd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bb2 remains equal.

16.Kh2 Ra5

This is a very interesting way to activate the Rook.
16...Rd8 17.Rd1 h6 18.b4 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.b5 remains equal.

17.Rd1 Rh5!?

There is little good the Rook can do at this post.
If 17...Rd8 then:

18.b4 Rh5 19.Nh4 Bc4 20.Qc2 Qe6 remains equal.
18.Nh4 g5 19.Nf3 g4 20.hxg4 Bxg4 21.b4 Nd5 remains equal.

18.Nh4

The Knight shields the pawn from the Rook.

18...Bf6

If 18...Rd8!? then:

If 19.Na4! Nxa4 20.bxa4 Ra5 21.Rb5 then:

21...Rxb5 22.axb5 Na7 23.Ba3 Bf6 24.Rb1 gives White the advantage in space.
If 21...Rxa4?! 22.d5! then:

22...Na7 23.dxe6 Nxb5 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Qxb5 gives White two minor pieces and the initiative for a Rook and a pawn.
22...Bd7 23.dxc6 Bxc6 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Rb3 Rd5 26.Nf3 gives White a Knight for two pawns.

If 19.Ba3 Bf6 then:

20.Bc5 Bxh4 21.gxh4 Rxh4 gives Black an extra pawn and a little more space.
20.Bf3 Ra5 21.Bc5 Bxh3 22.b4! gives Black an extra pawn and White the initiative.

19.f4

19.d5 Bxc3 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.Bb2 Bxb2 22.Rxb2 remains equal.

19...Rd8

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 19...Re8d8

20.Qf2

White does what he can to discourage Black from taking on h4.

20...Bxh4?!

But Black takes there anyway.
20...Ra5 21.b4 Ra8 22.b5 Na5 23.Qc2 remains equal.

21.gxh4 Nd5 22.Nxd5!

White takes the advantage in the center.
Also good is 22.Bxd5 when:

22...Rhxd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Bd2 Qf5 25.b4 b5 26.Rbc1 gives White the exchange.
If 22...Bxd5 then:

23.e4! Bxe4 24.Nxe4 Rhd5 25.Be3 Qf5 26.Nc3 Ra5 27.b4 gives White the initiative and an extra piece.
If 23.Nxd5?! then after 23...Rhxd5! 24.Ra1 Qf5 25.Rg1 h6 26.Qg2 Qf6 Black has a significant advantage with a strong initiative.

If 22...Rxh4? then White wins after 23.Bxe6! Rxf4 24.Qxf4 fxe6.

22...Rhxd5 23.Bb2!?

White misses the win of the exchange.
If 23.Bxd5 then after 23...Bxd5 24.Bd2 Qf5 25.b4 b5 26.Qf1 Bc4 27.Qe1 White has a material advantage, but Black controls the light squares.

23...Rb5

If 23...Ra5 then after 24.Qc2 Rb5 25.Ba1 Nb4 26.Qd2 Qd7 27.e4 White threatens 28.e5! winning a piece.

24.Qe2! Rh5

If 24...Ra5?! 25.Qd3! then:

25...Rh5 26.Qc3 f6 27.e4 Nb8 28.Qg3 Kf7 29.d5 leaves Black badly cramped.
If 25...f6!? 26.e4! Nb4 27.Qg3 Kh8 28.Bc3 Rb5 29.d5 puts Black in a difficult jam from which he must extricate himself.

Even worse is 24...Rxb3? when 25.d5! Bf5 26.dxc6 Bxb1 27.cxb7 Qb8 28.Rxb1 gives White two Bishops for a Rook and a pawn on the seventh rank being blockaded by the Queen.

25.e4!!

White threatens the pawn fork at d5.

25...Bxb3 26.Rdc1 Na5

If 26...Ba4 27.d5 Nb8 28.Qe3 then:

28...b5!? drops a pawn to 29.Qc3! f6 30.Qxc7 Qxc7 31.Rxc7.
If 28...f6? 29.Qa7 Bb5 30.Bxf6!! then:

30...Qd7 31.Be5 Rxe5 32.fxe5 wins the exchange.
30...exf6 loses to 31.Rxb5 Na6 32.Rxb7 Qa8 33.Kg3.

27.d5 b6?

Black is in a tough spot to have to find a good move, but this isn't the move. In Grischuk's defense, this is the only move that allows his Knight to retreat.
27...Ba2 28.Ra1 Nb3 29.Rxa2 Nxc1 30.Bxc1 c6 31.Rc2 leaves Black staggering, but still on his feet.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 27...b7b6

28.Be5!

The c-pawn must fall.

28...c5

28...Rd7 29.Qb5 Qd8 30.Rxb3 Nxb3 31.Qxb3 Rxh4 32.f5 followed by 33.Qg3! wins the c-pawn.

29.dxc6

Also good is 29.Qb5 Rxe5 30.Qxb6! with a double attack on Black's Knight and Bishop.

29...f6

If 29...Qe6 30.Qg4 Rc8 31.Rc3 then:

31...Rxc6 32.Rcxb3 Nxb3 33.Qxe6 Rxe6 34.Rxb3 Rhxe5 35.fxe5 leaves White with an extra piece.
31...Rxe5 32.fxe5 Qxe5+ 33.Qg3 Qd4 34.Rbxb3 Nxb3 35.Rxb3 leaves White with an extra piece.

30.Ba1!?

White slips back where he must win the game again, but Black is still teetering.
If 30.c7! Rd7 31.Qb5!! fxe5 32.Qxb6 then:

If 32...exf4 33.Rxb3!! Nxb3 34.Qxb3+ then:

34...Kg7 35.Qb8 Rxc7 36.Qxc7 Qxc7 37.Rxc7 wins a piece.
34...Kf8 35.Qb8 Rxc7 36.Qxc7 Qxc7 37.Rxc7 leaves White with an extra piece.

32...Nc4 loses to 33.Qxb3! Rxc7 34.Rxc4 Rxc4 35.Rc1.

30...Rc5!

Black initiates some counterplay while he can.
If 30...Bf7 then 31.Rxb6 Qc7 32.Qf2 Nc4 33.Rb7 Qxc6 34.Rxe7 leaves White a crippled pawn to the good.

31.Rxc5 bxc5 32.Qb5 Qc7?

Black falls over the cliff for a second time.
If 32...Ba2 33.Rb2 Qc7 34.e5 then:

34...Be6 35.Qb6 Qxb6 36.Rxb6 Rc8 37.exf6 exf6 38.Bxf6 leaves White a pawn to the good, but Black has his own passer and opportunities for counterplay.
34...Bf7 35.Qb6 Qxb6 36.Rxb6 Rc8 37.exf6 Be8 38.fxe7 leaves Black hanging by his nails.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Boris Gelfand

Position after 32...Qc8c7

33.Rxb3!!

The exchange sacrifrifice is an obvious sham.

33...Nxc6

If 33...Nxb3 then White wins after 34.Qxb3+ Kf8 35.e5 Qa7 36.exf6!! Qxa1 37.fxe7+.

34.e5 Nd4 35.Qc4+ 1-0

If 35...Kf8 then things get really ugly after 36.Rb7 Qc8 37.exf6 Rd7 38.fxe7+.
Alexander Igorovich resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. 46th Capablanca Memorial, Havana

Havana
Photo by Gildemax in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 04:10 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Ivanchuk - Le Quang Liem, Round 10

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)]

Vassily Ivanchuk - Le Quang Liem
46th Capablanca Memorial. Round 10
Havana, 21 May 2011

French Exchange Game: Tarrasch Opening (Chistiakov Defense)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5

If 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 then:

If 5...Nc6 then:

If 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Nxc6 then:

If 7...Bxc6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.c4 then:

If 9...Bd6 then:

10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 exd5 12.0-0 Ne7 13.Nf3 0-0 14.Qd3 Qd7 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Be3 a5 is equal; Black can live with an isolated d-pawn for now (Topalov-Kamsky, CM Final, Sofia, 2009).
10.Qa4 Qd7 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Qxd7+ Kxd7 13.cxd5 exd5 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Nf3 Rab8 16.b3 a5 17.Bd2 Bb4 is equal (Majoob-Ghane Gardeh, Iranian Ch, Tehran, 2000).

If 9...Bc5 then:

10.Qa4 Ne7 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.c5 Bc7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bf4 Be5 17.Rae1 Qc7 18.Bc1 Bxh2+ 19.Kh1 Nf5 20.g4 Nh4 21.f4 Qd7 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative (Hanley-Luther, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).
If 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 then:

11...Qxd5 12.Qa4+ Qd7 13.Qxd7+ Kxd7 14.Ne4 Bb6 15.Bf4 Ne7 16.0-0-0+ Nd5 17.Nc3 Kc6 18.Nxd5 draw (Glek-Jussupow, Bundesliga 9192, Germany, 1992).
11...exd5 12.0-0 Ne7 13.Nb3 Bb6 14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3 gives White the advantage in development and in that Black is saddled with an isolated pawn (Ligterink-Donner, IT, Amsterdam, 1976).

If 9...Qa5 then:

If 10.Qb3 Rd8 11.0-0 then:

11...Nf6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Qg3 Rc8 15.Nb3 Qa6 16.Bg5 h6 17.Be3 g6 is equal (Abergel-Malakhatko, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).
11...Bd6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.exd5 exd5 14.Qb7 Ne7 15.Nb3 Qa4 16.Be3 0-0 17.Qxa7 Qh4 18.h3 gives White an extra pawn (I. Smirin-Dizdar, Croatian Cup, Sibenik, 2005).

10.Qc2 Qa6 11.Rb1 Bb4 12.exd5 cxd5 13.0-0 Nf6 14.b3 0-0 15.Qb2 Rac8 draw (Ehlvest-Chernin, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).

If 9...Nf6 10.Qa4 Qd7 11.e5 then:

11...Ng8 12.0-0 Ne7 13.Nf3 dxc4 14.Rd1 Nd5 15.Qxc4 Be7 16.Qg4 gives White the initiative (Diamant-Vescovi, Op, S�o Paulo, 2006).
If 11...Ng4 12.Nf3 then:

12...h5 13.0-0 Rb8 14.a3 Be7 15.b4 Rb7 16.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Tseitlin-Vaganian, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1971).
If 12...Bc5 13.0-0 Rb8 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Qc2 Bb6 16.Bf4 gives White more space and better pawn structure.

7...bxc6 8.Bd3 then:

If 8...Qc7 9.Qe2 Ne7 10.Nf3 Ng6 11.0-0 then:

11...Bd6 12.Re1 Nf4 13.Bxf4 Bxf4 14.c4 0-0 15.g3 Bh6 16.exd5 cxd5 17.Qc2 g6 18.cxd5 Qxc2 19.Bxc2 exd5 20.Bb3 Be6 21.Nd4 Rfe8 draw (Zakharov-Petrosian, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
11...Be7 12.c4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 f5 14.Bc2 e5 15.Ng5 h6 16.Qh5 Qd6 17.Ne4 Qe6 18.Rd1 Bc8 19.h3 Rf8 20.Ng3 Rf6 21.Re1 Kf8 22.Qe2 a5 23.Bd2 gives White more activity (Shamkovich-Vaganian, Trmt, Dubna, 1973).

If 8...Bd6 9.Qe2 then:

If 9...Qc7 10.Nf3 dxe4 11.Qxe4 Nf6 12.Qh4 then:

12...h6 13.0-0 Rb8 14.Bd2 Nd5 15.c4 Nf4 16.c5 Nxd3 17.cxd6 Qxd6 18.Rad1 Rb5 19.Bc3 0-0 20.Be5 gives White the initiative (Yakovich-Shulman, Trmt, Vladivostok, 1994).
If 12...Rb8 13.0-0 then:

If 13...Nd5 14.Re1 Be7 15.Qg4 then:

If 15...g6 16.c4 f5 17.Bxf5 then:

17...Nf6 18.Qf4 Qxf4 19.Bxf4 Rxb2 20.Bxe6 Bc5 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Ne5+ Kc8 23.Nd3 Rc2 24.Nxc5 Rxc4 25.Be3 Black resigns (Yudasin-Gulko, ITZ, Biel, 1994).
17...exf5 18.Qd4 0-0 19.cxd5 Rb4 20.Qc3 Re4 21.Rxe4 fxe4 22.Nd4 gives White an extra pawn.

15...Bf6 16.c4 Ne7 17.Re2 c5 18.Rb1 h5 19.Qe4 Bc6 20.Qe3 is equal.

13...c5 14.Bh6 Bf8 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.b3 is equal.

9...Ne7 transposes into Zakharov-Petrosian, above.

If 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 then:

If 9.Qe2 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.b3 a4 12.Bb2 Bb7 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nf3 Ba6 15.Qc2 h6 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Rab1 axb3 18.axb3 Rab8 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.Bc3 Bb4 21.Bd4 Bc5 22.Bc3 Bb4 23.Bd4 Bc5 draw (Lakos-Navara, Op, Oberwart, 2003).
If 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 a5 11.Qe2 a4 12.f4 Ba6 13.c4 Bb4 14.e5 Nd7 15.Nf3 Be7 16.f5 then:

If 16...Nc5? 17.f6 gxf6 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Ng5 Bxb2 20.Qh5 Qxg5 21.Qxh7# checkmate (Bergstrom-Reyner, Jr IT, Hallsberg, 1975).
16...Qb6+ 17.Kh1 axb3 18.axb3 exf5 19.cxd5 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Nc5 is equal

If 5...Nf6 6.exd5 Qxd5 then:

If 7.Nb5 Na6 8.c4 Qf5 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nd4 Qg6 12.N2f3 Rd8 13.Bd3 Qh5 14.Re1 Qa5 15.Qe2 Nb4 16.Bb1 Bd7 is equal (Hunt-Peng, Euro ChTW, Le�n, 2001).
7.N2f3 Bc5 8.Be2 Nc6 9.c4 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Qa5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.a3 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 c5 15.b4 Ke7 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.Ke3 Bxg2 18.Rhg1 Be4 19.Rxg7 Bg6 20.Rg1 gives White more activity and better pawn structure, but the awkward position of the Rook at g7 provides Black with opportunities for counterplay (Smagin-S. Ivanov, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).

4...Qxd5

This is the Chistiakov Defense.
If 4...exd5 then:

Shaposhnikov Gambit If 5.Ngf3 then:

If 5...a3 then:

If 6.Be2 c4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.b3 then:

If 8...cxb3 9.axb3 Ne7 10.Re1 0-0 11.Nf1 Nbc6 12.Ne3 h6 13.c3 Be6 14.Bd3 then:

If 14...Rc8 15.Ba3 Bxa3 16.Rxa3 Qd6 17.Ra2 Rfd8 18.Rae2 gives White a tactical edge (Kosteniuk-Kiriakov, Op, Isle of Man, 2000).
14...Qd7 15.Ba3 Rfd8 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Ra2 Qf4 18.Rae2 Qf6 19.Qa1 Ng6 20.Bxg6 Qxg6 21.g3 Qd3 is equal (Geller-Skalkotas, IT, Malta, 1980).

8...b5 9.a4 c3 10.axb5 cxd2 11.Bxd2 Nf6 12.c4 dxc4 13.bxc4 0-0 14.c5 Be7 15.Bc4 Bf5 16.Re1 Be4 17.Ba5 Qc8 18.Rxe4 Nxe4 19.Bd5 gives White the more active game (Mong Lin Wang-Broucke, Corres, 1997).

If 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Nb3 then:

If 7...Bb6 then:

If 8.Bd3 Qe7+ 9.Qe2 Nc6 10.c3 Bg4 11.0-0 Qxe2 12.Bxe2 Nf6 13.h3 Bh5 14.Bf4 h6 15.Rfe1 0-0-0 16.Ne5 Bxe2 17.Rxe2 Rhe8 18.Rae1 g5 19.Be3 Rxe5 20.Bxb6 Rde8 21.Be3 Nh5 is equal (Hjartarson-Nikolic, Op, Greenland, 2003).
If 8.Bg5 then:

8...Ne7 9.Qd2 Nbc6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 h6 12.Be3 Re8 13.Rad1 Bg4 14.Rfe1 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Ng6 16.Qd2 Qf6 17.Nfd4 Bxe2 18.Rxe2 Rxe2 19.Qxe2 is equal (Matulovic-Andersson, IT, Titovo Uzice, 1978).
8...Nf6 9.Qe2+ Be6 10.Nbd4 Qe7 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nd4 Bxd4 14.Rxd4 h6 15.Bh4 g5 16.Bg3 Ne4 17.f3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 is equal (B. Socko-Kiriakov, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

If 7...Ba7 then:

8.Bd3 Qe7+ 9.Be2 Nf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nfd4 Nc6 12.Re1 Ne4 13.Be3 Ne5 14.Nd2 f5 15.f4 Nc6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Bc4+ Kh8 18.Nxc6 Bxe3+ 19.Rxe3 bxc6 is equal (Ciric-Korchnoi, IT, Budva, 1967).
8.Bg5 Ne7 9.Qd2 Nbc6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 0-0 12.0-0-0 Bf5 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bg6 15.Bd3 Re8 16.Rhe1 Qd7 17.Bxg6 Nxg6 18.Qg5 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal (van der Wiel-Seirawan, ITZ, Biel, 1985).

If 5...Nf6 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Nb3 Nce4 11.Nfd4 Qd7 then:

If 12.f3 Nd6 13.Nc5 then:

If 13...Qc8 14.Nd3 0-0 then:

If 15.Be3 Re8 16.Bf2 Bd8 17.a4 then:

17...Nc4 18.Qc1 Bb6 19.b3 Na5 20.Qf4 Nc6 21.Nf5 Bxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Qd8 23.g4 d4 24.Qg5 g6 25.Nh6+ Kg7 26.Nf5+ Kg8 27.Nh6+ draw (Akopian-Dolmatov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
17...a6 18.b3 Ba5 19.Nf4 Nf5 20.Qd3 Re5 21.Rad1 Qd7 is equal (Rudolf-Tairova, World Jr Ch (Girls), Yerevan, 2006).

15.Re1 Bd8 16.c3 h6 17.a4 Nc4 18.Kh1 Bb6 19.b3 Na5 20.Ba3 Re8 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal (Timofeev-Potkin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).

13...Qc7 14.Nd3 0-0 15.b3 Rfe8 16.Be3 Nd7 17.Qd2 Bf6 18.Rfe1 Nb6 19.Bf2 h6 20.a4 Rad8 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Re1 Rxe1+ 23.Nxe1 Nbc8 is equal (Timofeev-Lastin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

If 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Nf5 Bd8 14.Be3 then:

If 14...Rc8 15.c3 Re8 16.Rfd1 a5 17.Nd2 Qe6 18.Nd4 Qe7 draw (Oral-Nogueiras, Capablanca Mem, Varadero, 2000).
14...g6 15.Ng3 Re8 16.Rfd1 Qc8 17.c3 a5 18.a4 Ra6 19.h3 Nd6 20.Nc5 Rc6 21.Nd3 Nc4 is equal (Rade-Dizdar, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).

If 5...Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.0-0 Nge7 9.Nb3 then:

If 9...Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 then:

If 11.Bg5 Bg4 12.Be2 h6 then:

If 13.Bxe7 Bxe7 14.h3 Bh5 15.c3 Bf6 16.Nh2 Bg6 17.Ng4 d4 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Nxd4 Rad8 20.Qb3 Nxd4 21.cxd4 then:

21...Be4 22.Rad1 Rxd4 23.Rxd4 Qxd4 24.Qc4 Qd5 25.Qxd5 Bxd5 26.Bf3 Be6 27.Rc1 Rc8 draw (Jansa-Prandstetter, IT, Prague, 1985).
21...Qxd4 22.Rad1 Qb6 23.Qxb6 axb6 24.Bf3 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Re8 26.Rd6 b5 27.Rb6 wins a pawn for White (Jansa-Farago, IT, Bagneux, 1983).

If 13.Bh4 Re8 14.c3 Qb6 15.Nfd4 Bxe2 16.Rxe2 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Nc6 18.Nf5 Bf8 then:

19.Nxh6+ gxh6 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Qg4+ Kh7 22.Qf5+ draws by perpetual check (Rodr�guez-Psakhis, IT, Cienfuegos, 1983).
19.Rd2 Re4 20.Bg3 Rae8 21.h3 d4 22.Qf3 dxc3 23.bxc3 Re1+ 24.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25.Kh2 Qb1 is equal (Suetin-Uhlmann, IT, Debrecen, 1987).

If 11.Bd3 h6 12.h3 Nf5 13.c3 Qf6 14.Bc2 Rd8 15.Qd3 g6 then:

16.Bd2 a5 17.a4 b6 18.Qe2 Ba6 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 d4 21.cxd4 Nfxd4 22.Nfxd4 Nxd4 23.Bc3 Nxb3 24.Bxf6 Bh2+ 25.Kxh2 Rxd3 is equal (Brodsky-Lputian, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
16.Qd2 Bf8 17.Qf4 Bg7 18.Bd2 g5 19.Qh2 Nd6 20.Nbd4 Nc4 21.Bc1 Bf8 22.g4 Bc5 23.b3 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 N4e5 is equal (Zubarev-Lysyj, Op, Nishnij Tagil, 2005).

If 9...Bb6 10.Re1 0-0 11.c3 then:

11...Nf5 12.Bd3 h6 13.Bc2 Qd6 14.Qd3 Rd8 15.Bd2 d4 16.c4 Bc7 17.Re4 Qg6 18.Rae1 f6 19.c5 White wins a pawn (Howell-Hall, British Ch, Great yarmouth, 2007).
If 11...Bg4 12.Be3 then:

12...Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Qd6 14.h3 Bh5 15.Be2 Rad8 16.Nfd4 Bg6 17.Bf3 Ne5 18.Qe2 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Nc8 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.Qxf5 Rfe8 22.Rae1 Rxe3 23.Rxe3 Ne7 24.Qg5 gives White a more active position and better pawn structure (Macieja-Movsesian, TT, Czechia, 2001).
12...Re8 13.h3 Bh5 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Be2 f6 16.Qd2 Bf7 17.Rad1 Ng6 18.Nbd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Re5 20.Bd3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ne5 gives White the advantage in space (Rublevsky-Meijers, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Qe2+ Be7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Ngf3 0-0 then:

If 9.Nb3 Re8 10.Be3 then:

10...a6 11.Bd3 Ba4 12.Nfd4 Nbd7 13.0-0-0 Bxb3 14.Nxb3 Nxc5 15.Qf3 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 Qa5 17.Kb1 Bc5 18.Rhe1 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Qb4 20.h3 Rxe3 21.Qxe3 Re8 22.Qf3 h5 gives Black the advantage in space (Muraiu-Vaganian, IT, Bnaza, 2008).
10...Bxc5 11.Bxd7 Nbxd7 12.Nxc5 Nxc5 13.Qb5 Rc8 14.0-0 a6 15.Qb4 Re4 16.Qd2 h6 17.Rad1 Re8 18.c3 Nce4 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.Rfe1 Qc4 21.a3 Qxd3 22.Rxd3 Nd6 23.Kf1 Nc4 24.Bc1 Rxe1+ 25.Nxe1 Rc6 26.Nc2 Rb6 draw (Browne-Larsen, IT, Hastings, 1972).

9.0-0 Re8 10.Nb3 Bxc5 11.Qd3 Bb6 12.Bg5 Bxb5 13.Qxb5 Nbd7 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Qd3 Re4 16.Nfd4 h6 17.Nb5 Qe5 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.N5d4 Ng4 20.Qg3 Qe7 21.Nf5 Qf6 22.Rxd5 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.h3 g6 25.hxg4 gxf5 26.gxf5+ Kh7 27.c3 Re2 28.f6 Black resigns two pawns down (Zimina-Kononenko, Bykova Mem, Vladimir, 2005).

5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6

If 10...Bd7 11.c3 Qc7 12.Qe2 then:

If 12...Bd6 13.Nb5 Bxb5 14.Bxb5+ Ke7 15.g3 a6 then:

16.Bd3 Qc6 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be4 Qc7 19.Bxf6+ gxf6 20.Qf3 Rab8 21.Rfe1 h5 22.Rad1 gives White the advantage with a better center, stronger pawns and more space (van Beers-Curi, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
16.Ba4 Rhd8 17.Qf3 h6 18.Bb3 Rab8 19.Rd1 gives White a slight overall advantage with more space, a queenside majority, a safer King and the Bishop pair in an open center (Ivanchuk-Ehlvest, Ol, Manila, 1992).

12...0-0-0 13.a4 h5 14.Nb5 Bxb5 15.axb5 Bc5 16.g3 Ng4 17.Kg2 Qe5 18.Bf4 Qf5 19.f3 gives White a fair advantage with more freedom, the initiative and more space (Leko-Naumann, U14, Duisburg, 1992).

11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qe2

If 12.Bb3 Bd6 then:

If 13.Nf5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 then:

If 14...0-0 15.Nxg7 Rd8 16.Qf3 Kxg7 17.Bh6+ Kg6 18.c3 Nh5 then:

If 19.Bc1 Bf4 20.g4 Ng3+ 21.fxg3 Bxc1 22.Raxc1 b6 then:

23.Qe3 Bb7+ 24.Kh2 Qc5 25.Qf4 Qg5 26.Bc2+ Kh6 27.Rcd1 Qxf4 28.gxf4 Bf3 is equal (Solovjov-S. Ivanov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2005).
If 23.Bc2+ Kg7 24.Be4 Ra7 25.Rc2 then:

25...Bb7 26.Rh2 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Qb7 28.Rxh7+ Kg8 29.Qxb7 Rxb7 30.Rh2 Rd3 31.Kg2 Rd2+ 32.Kh3 Rxh2+ is equal (Brodsky-Gleck, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
25...Qe5 26.Rh2 h6 27.Rh5 f5 28.Qf2 Rf7 29.Bg2 draw (Hermanson-Barsov, IT, Oxford, 1998).

If 19.Re4 Kxh6 20.Rh4 then:

If 20...Qe5! then:

21.Qxf7?! Rd7 22.Qf8+ Qg7 23.Qf3 Qf7 24.Qg4 Qg6 gives Black a tremendous game (Berelovich-Barsov, Op, Dieren, 1999).
If 21.Rxh2 Rg8 22.g4 Bd7 then:

23.Qe3+! Qxe3 24.Rxh5+ Kg7 25.fxe3 Bc6+ 26.Kg1 Kh8 gives Black a fair advantage.
If 23.Qxb7?! then:

23...Rac8! 24.Qg2 Rc5 25.Rxh5+ Qxh5+ 26.gxh5 Bc6 assures Black a material advantage.
If 23...Rab8 24.Qf3 Rg5 then:

25.Rh4 Rbg8 26.Rg1 Be8! 27.Rg3 f5 28.Qe3 Bc6+ wins more material for Black.
25.Rxh5+!? Rxh5+! 26.gxh5 Rg8 27.Qe3+ Qxe3 28.fxe3 Bc6+! assures Black a more active game after 29...Rg2+!.
If 25.gxh5?? Rbg8! 26.Rh3 Rf5! then:

27.Qb7 Rxh5! 28.Qg2 Bc6!! wins the Queen or results in an instant mate.
27.Bd5 exd5 28.Qe3+ Qxe3 29.fxe3 Bc6 leaves Black a piece to the good.

20...Kg7!? 21.Qxh5 Bf4 22.Qg4+ Kf8 23.Qxf4 Qxf4 24.Rxf4 Rd2 25.Rd1 Rxd1+ 26.Bxd1 is equal (Rodin-Belenov, Op, Voronezh, 2001).

If 14...Kf8 15.g3 then:

If 15...exf5 16.Bf4 Qc6+ 17.Kxh2 Be6 then:

18.Qd6+ Qxd6 19.Bxd6+ Ke8 20.Red1 Ne4 21.f3 Nxd6 22.Rxd6 Rc8 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Dr. H�bner-Nogueiras, IT, Barcelona, 1989).
18.Bd6+ Ke8 19.c4! h5 20.c5 h4 21.f3 Kd8 is equal (Adams-Pomes, Marcet, IT, Terrassa, 1991).

15...Bxg3 16.Nxg3 b5 17.Kg2 h5 18.Nf1 Bb7+ 19.f3 h4 Black's two pawns, backed by more active minor pieces, are better than White's extra piece (Psakhis-Speelman, IT, Moscow, 1990).

If 13.h3 0-0 then:

If 14.Bg5 Bh2+ 15.Kh1 Be5 16.c3 then:

16...h6 17.Be3 Bf4 18.Qf3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Bd7 is equal (Tiviakov-Barsov, Op, Calvia, 2004).
16...Bd7 17.Nf3 Bf4 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qd4 Kg7 is equal (Pavasovic-Farago, Op, Deizisau, 2004).

14.c3 e5 15.Nc2 h6 16.Ne3 Rd8 17.Nc4 Be6 18.Qe2 Rac8 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Rd1 Qc6 draw (Zapata-Nogueiras, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1987).

12...Bd7

If 12...Bd6 13.Bg5 0-0 then:

If 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bd3 then:

15...Qc5 16.Nb3 Qe5 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Qxe5 Bxe5 19.Be4 Bxb2 20.Rab1 gives White stronger pawns (Sprenger-Petrik, Op, Pardubice, 2005).
15...Bxh2+ 16.Kf1 Bf4 17.g3 Rd8 18.c3 Bh6 19.Qh5 Bg7 20.Bxh7+ gives White stronger pawns, but the White Queen cannot navigate the fifth rank (Giri-Wiendenkeller, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).

If 14.Bd3 then:

14...Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Bf4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qh5 f5 18.Nf3 f6 19.c3 is equal (Emms-S. Knott, British Ch, Isle of Man, 2005).

If 14...Nd5 then:

15.g3! b5 16.Rad1 Bb7 17.Be4 Rfe8 18.c3 Bf8 19.h4 Rac8 20.a3 h6 21.Bc1 Nf6 22.Bxb7 draw (Morovic-Carlos Matamoros, Ol, Bled, 2002).
If 15.Qe4!? g6 then:

If 16.h4 Nf4 17.Rad1 then:

If 17...e5 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.h5 Bg4 then:

20.Be2!? Rfe8 21.Qd3 Bxe2 22.Rxe2 Bf8 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.c3 leaves White a slight edge with better pawn structure (Adhiban-Malakhatko, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
If 17...Nxd3 18.Qxd3 f6 19.Nf3 then:

19...Be7 20.Bh6 Rd8 21.Qe4 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 is equal.
19...fxg5?! doesn't win a pawn and White brings his pieces to life after 20.Qxd6! Qxd6 21.Rxd6 gxh4 22.Nxh4.
20.hxg6! hxg6 21.Be2 Rfe8 22.Qd3 Bxe2 23.Rxe2 Rxe2 24.Qxe2 gives White a slight advantage with command of the e-file.

16.Qh4 b5 17.Be4 Bb7 18.Rad1 b4 19.Rd3 Rfe8 is equal.

If 12...Bc5 13.c3 then:

If 13...b5 14.Bb3 0-0 15.Bg5 Bb7 then:

16.Rad1 Ne4 17.Bh4 Qf4 18.g3 Qh6 19.Bc2 is equal (Berbatov-Petrik, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
16.Bc2 Bxd4 17.cxd4 Qc6 18.f3 Rac8 19.Rac1 Qd5 20.Qe3 Qxa2 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Qh6 f5 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ is drawn by repetition (P. Carlsson-Yemelin, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

If 13...h6 14.Bb3 then:

14...0-0 15.Qf3 e5 16.Nf5 e4 17.Qg3 Qxg3 18.Nxg3 Re8 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.Rxe3 Be6 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxb3 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.axb3 Re2 is equal (Calzetta Ruiz-Speelman, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).
14...Bd7 15.Be3 Bd6 16.h3 Bh2+ 17.Kh1 Bf4 18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Qxe6+ Kf8 gives Black the advantage with a piece for two pawns (Kotronias-Glek, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

13.Bg5 0-0-0 14.Rad1

14.a4 h6 15.Be3 Ng4 16.Qxg4 Qxc4 17.Qh5 Be8 18.b3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Sjugirov-Deviatkin, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).

14...Bc5 (N)

If 14...Bb4 15.c3 Bd6 16.h3 h6 17.Be3 then:

If 17...Kb8 18.Bb3 then:

If 18...g5 then:

19.Nc2 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Rhe8 21.Bd4 e5 22.Be3 gives White more freedom and a slight initiative (Andriasian-T. L. Petrosian, Arenian Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
19.Qf3 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Bf4 21.Bxf4 gxf4 22.Qe2 Rhg8 23.Qe5 draw (Timofeev-Akopian, Euro Club Cup, F�gen, 2006).

18...e5 19.Nc2 Rhf8 20.a3 Bc6 21.c4 Be4 22.Nb4 gives White a slight advantage in space.

17...e5 18.Nf3 Bc6 19.Nh4 g6 20.b4 Ne4 21.Qc2 Be7 22.Nf3 gives White a slight edge with an initiative against the f-pawn (Paulet-Rozic, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).

15.h3

White has a fair advantage in space and a somewhat better center.

15...Kb8 16.Bh4!?

White misses an opportunity to snchor his Knight to the center.
If 16.c3! Rhe8 17.b4 Bb6 18.Bh4 Ba4 19.Rc1 continues to give White a fair advantage.

16...Ba4!?

Black fails to take advantage of White's lapse.16...Bd6! 17.c3 h6 18.Bd3 Rhg8 19.Qf3 Bf4 20.Ne2 is equal.

17.Nf3

White has a small advantage in space.
Somewhat better is 17.Bg3 Bd6 18.Bxd6 Rxd6 19.b3 Bc6 20.Nxc6+ Qxc6.

17...Rxd1

Black doesn't win the exchange by 17...Bd6 18.a3 h6 19.Rxd6 Rxd6 as White wins it back after 20.Bg3 Rhd8 21.Bxd6 wins it back.

18.Rxd1 Rd8?!

Black allows his entire position to be disrupted by White's reply.
Better is 18...Rc8 19.b3 Bc6 20.Ne5 Bd5 21.Bg3 Bd6 22.Bd3 leaving White with a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Le Quang Liem

WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 18...Rh8d8

19.Rxd8+! Qxd8 20.b3

Even better is 20.Bg3+ Ka7 21.Bd3 Qd5 22.a3 Qh5 23.b4 when White has more space and the initiative.

20...Be8

This drops a pawn, but so does 20...Bc6 21.Ng5 Qd4 22.Nxf7.

21.Qe5+ Qd6 22.Qg5

22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qxf6 also wins a pawn.

22...Ne4 23.Qxg7

White is a pawn to the good.

23...Qd1+ 24.Kh2 Bd6+ 25.Bg3 Nxg3?!

Black needs to find a way to defend his pawns with White's Queen sitting among them. White is already a pawn up and the test gives him another..
If 25...Nxf2 26.Bxd6+ Qxd6+ 27.Kg1 Ne4 then:

If 28.Bd3 Qc5+ 29.Kh1 Nf2+ 30.Kh2 Nxd3 31.cxd3 gives White at most a slight advantage.
If 28.Qh8!? Qd1+! 29.Bf1 Qxc2 then:

If 30.Qxe8+! Ka7 31.Qxf7 Qc5+ 32.Kh2 Qd6+ then:

33.Kh1 Ng3+ 34.Kh2 Nxf1+ 35.Kg1 Ng3 is equal.
If 33.Kg1 Qc5+ then:

34.Kh2 Qd6+ 35.Kg1 etc. draws.
34.Kh1 Ng3+ 35.Kh2 Nxf1+ 36.Kh1 etc. draws.

30.Bxa6!? Qc5+! 31.Kh2 Qc7+ 32.Kg1 bxa6 33.Qxe8+ Kb7 leaves Black with a small advantage.

BLACK: Le Quang Liem

WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 25...Ne4g3:B

26.fxg3 Bc6

Black still loses a second pawn after 26...Bc5 27.Qg8 Qd8 28.Qxh7.

27.Qxf7!

White attacks a central pawn and goes two pawns up.
If 27.Qxh7? is a fatal mistake as Black wins after 27...Bxf3! 28.Qh8+ Ka7 29.Qc3 Be4 30.Bd3 Bd5.

27...Qxc2 28.Qxe6 Kc7

Black is in serious trouble and keeps matters from getting worse.
If 28...Ba3? 29.Bd5! Bxd5 30.Qxd5 then:

If 30...Ka7 31.Ng5 h6 32.Nf7 then:

32...Bf8 33.a4 Qc1 34.Nd8 Qc7 35.Ne6 Qd6 36.Qe4 gives White a centalized Queen to go with two extra pawns.
32...Qc1 33.Nd6! Qc6 34.Qxc6 bxc6 35.Nf7! gives White a clear advantage, but Black's Bishop is still worth more than White's Knight with pawns on both wings.

30...Qc7 31.Ng5 Qg7 32.Qf5 Bd6 33.Qd3 Qxg5 34.Qxd6+

29.Bd5

White still has two extra pawns, but little else.
If 29.Qg8 b5 30.Bd5 then:

30...Qd3 31.Qf7+ Kb6 32.Bxc6 Kxc6 33.Qe6 leaves White two pawns up with a little bit more active Queen.
If 30...Qg6? then White wins a third pawn after 31.Qxg6 hxg6 32.Bxc6 Kxc6 33.Nh4 g5 34.Nf3.

29...Bd7?

Black would like to preserve his two Bishops, but now White has time for winning maneuvers.
If 29...Qf2 30.Qf7+ Kb6 31.Ne5! Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Bxd5 33.Nxd6 gives White two extra pawns, but as long as there are pawns on both wings then Black's Bishop is better than White's Knight.

30.Qe3!

This is a flexible post for the Queen.
If 30.Qh6 b6 31.Qg7 Qf5 32.Qc3+ then:

If 32...Kd8 33.Bb7 a5 34.Qd4 then:

34...Bc5 35.Qh4+ Be7 36.Qf4 Qxf4 37.gxf4 Bf5 38.Nd4 keeps all of White pawns safe.
34...Qc5 35.Qh8+ Kc7 36.Qxh7 Qf2 37.Qg7 gives White three extra pawns.

32...Bc5 33.Bc4 a5 34.Bd3 Qe6 35.Bxh7 leaves White three pawns to the good.

30...Qxa2

The Queen's mobility is limited at a2.
Black still won't last much longer after 30...Qc5 when:

If 31.Qg5 h6 32.Qg8 Kb6 then:

33.Nd2 Bc7 34.Qf7 Bc6 35.Bxc6 Qxc6 36.Qf2+ gives White two extra pawns and the initiative.
33.a3 then:

33...Ka7 34.b4 Qc2 35.Qg7 Qc7 36.Qd4+ leaves White on a King hunt with two pawns in reserve.
33...Qxa3? 34.Qd8+ Kc5 35.Bxb7 Bb5 36.Nd2 Bd3 37.Qf6 leaves little Black can do to prevent White from winning another pawn.

31.Qd2 h5 32.Qg5 Bc6 then:

If 33.Bxc6 Kxc6 34.h4 b5 then:

35.Qxc5+ Bxc5 36.Kh3 Kd5 37.g4! leaves White with connected passers on the kingside.
35.Qf6 Qd5 36.Nd4+ Kb7 37.Qf3! White will gain connected passers on the kingside.

33.Qg7+!? Kb6 34.Bxc6 bxc6 35.Nd2 Bc7 36.Qf6 Qc2! still leaves Black with counterplay.

BLACK: Le Quang Liem

WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 30...Qc2a2:p

31.Qc3+!

White has the initiative and more freedom.

31...Kb6 32.Nd2 Bc5

No better for Black is 32...Bb5 33.Qd4+ Bc5 34.Qf6+ Kc7 35.Qg7+ Bd7 36.Ne4.

33.Ne4!

White threatens mate on c5.
If 33.Bg8 then:

33...Bc6 34.Bxh7 Bb5 35.Be4 Qa3 36.Nc4+ leaves White three pawns up with a trio of distant passsers.
If 33...h6?? then 34.b4! wins a piece.

33...Qa3

This is the best way to deal with the mating threat.
33...Be7 34.Qd4+ Kc7 35.Qe5+ wins a piece.

If 33...Ba3 then White wins easily after 34.Qd4+ Kc7 35.Bxb7 Kxb7 36.Qxd7+ Kb8 37.Nd2.

34.Bxb7

White wins back the pawn.

34...a5

Black has little choice but to acquiesce to the loss of the pawn.
34...Kxb7 drops a piece to 35.Nxc5+ Kc7 36.Qe5+ Kc6 37.Qf6+ Kc7 38.Qe7.

35.Bd5 a4 36.Qf6+ Kc7 37.bxa4

Also good is 37.Qe5+ Bd6 38.Qc3+ Kd8 39.Qa5+.

37...Ba7 38.Qe5+ Kd8 39.Nd6 Qe3

If 39...Qxa4 40.Nf7+ Kc8 41.Qf6 then:

If 41...Bg1+ 42.Kh1 then:

42...Bb6 then White wins after 43.Qxb6 Qd1+ 44.Kh2 Qxd5 45.Nd6+.
If 42...Kb8 then White wins after 43.Qd8+ Ka7 44.Nd6 Ka6 45.Bb7+.

If 41...Bc6 then White wins after 42.Qd8+ Kb7 43.Nd6+ Ka6 44.Bc4+.

40.Nb7+ Kc8 41.Qh8+ Be8 42.Qxe8+

42.Nd6+ Kd7 43.Qxe8+ Qxe8 transposes.

42...Qxe8 43.Nd6+ Kd8 44.Nxe8 Kxe8

BLACK: Le Quang Liem

WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 44.Kd8e8:N

45.a5

Not even opposite colored Bishops can stop White; he can win on either wing.
Also good is 45.g4 when if 45...Bb8+ 46.g3 h6 47.a5 Bc7 48.a6 then if Black goes one way White wins be going the other.

45...Ke7

If 45...h6 then after 46.g4! (depriving Black of his last reserve pawn tempo) 46...Kd7 47.Kg3 Kd6 48.Be4 Ke5 49.Kf3 leaves Black no useful moves.

46.h4 Kf6 47.Kh3 Kf5 48.Bb3 h6 49.a6 1-0

If 49...Bc5 50.g4+ Kg6 51.Bc2+ Kf6 then:

If 52.Bd3 Bb6 53.Kg3 Ba7 54.Kf3 Bb6 55.Ke4 then:

55...Ke6 56.Bc4+ Kf6 57.Kd5 Be3 58.Be2 Ba7 59.Kc6 Ke5 60.Kb7 gives Black the unpleasant choice of giving ip the Bishop and defending against three passers and a Bishop with a King and single pawn or simply allowing the Pawn to queen.
If 55...Bf2 then 56.Kd5! Kg7 57.g5 hxg5 58.hxg5 Kf7 59.g6+! wins easily.

Also good is 52.Kg3! when if52...Be3 then 53.Kf3 Bc5 54.Ke4 Ke6 55.Bb3+ wins as if Black moves queenside White palys 56.g5! and wins Black's last pawn or if Black moves kingside the White King makes his way to b7.

If 49...Bb8 then 50.g4+! Kf6 51.g5+ hxg5 52.h5 Kg7 53.Kg4<[/font> wins the last Black pawn, making Black's position indefensible.
Grandmaster Le resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #4

8. Le Quang Liem - Navara, Round 9

Le Quang Liem
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Le Quang Liem - David Navara
46th Capablanca Memorial
Round 9, Havana, 20 May 2011

English Game: Korchnoi Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qc2

If 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3 then:

If 7...Nc6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 then:

If 9...Be6 10.e4 Bc4 11.Re1 then:

11...Qd7 12.Nd2 Ba6 13.e5 Rad8 14.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Gelfand-Mamedyarov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2010).
11...Na5 12.Qa4 c5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Bf4 b5 15.Qa3 cxd4 16.cxd4 e5 17.dxe5 fxe5 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Qxf2+ 21.Kh1 gives White a small advantage in space (Portisch-DeBruycker, IT, Montana-Crans, 1976).

9...e5 10.Ba3 Re8 11.d5 Na5 12.Nd2 b6 13.e4 Ba6 14.Re1 c5 15.Bf1 Bxf1 16.Nxf1 is equal (Stoltz-De Groot, IT, Beverwijk, 1946).

If 7...c5 then:

If 8.Rb1 0-0 9.0-0 then:

If 9...Nd7 10.c4 Qc7 11.d3 Rb8 then:

12.Bf4 e5 13.Bd2 b6 14.Ng5 Bb7 15.Ne4 Qc6 16.f3 Nf6 17.Nc3 Qd7 18.Be3 Ne8 is equal (Portisch-Polugaevsky, IT, Magyarorszag, 1969).
12.Qa4 b6 13.Bf4 e5 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Ne1 Bxg2 16.Nxg2 f5 is equal (Nguyen Thanh Son-Laylo, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2010).

If 9...Nc6 10.Qa4 Qc7 11.d4 then:

11...Bf5 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Rbd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rfd8 15.d5 Ne5 16.Qxd7 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Rxd7 18.g4 gives White the advantage in space (Andersson-Lepelletier, French ChT, Monte Carllo, 2001).
11...Bd7 12.Bf4 Qc8 13.Qa3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Bf5 15.Rbd1 e6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 gives White a considerable advantage in space and freedom (Stein-Polugaevsky, IT, Leningrad, 1971).

If 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 Nc6 10.e3 Qa5 11.Qb3 then:

11...Rb8 12.Bd2 Bg4 13.Rad1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qh5 15.Nh4 Bxd1 16.Rxd1 Na5 leaves Black an exchange to the good (Bogolyubov-Euwe, Match, Amsterdam, 1928).
11...Qc7 12.Ba3 b6 13.dxc5 Rb8 14.Rfc1 Be6 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qb5 Bd7 17.Qc4 Rfc8 18.Qh4 Be8 gives White a small advantage in space (Ljubojevic-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1997).

If 5.Qa4+ (the most common move) 5...Bd7 6.Qh4 Nxc3 then:

If 7.dxc3 Nc6 8.e4 e5 then:

If 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bc4 then:

If 10...h6 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 then:

If 12.Qg3 0-0-0 13.0-0 g5 then:

14.Rfd1 f6 15.Nd2 Be6 16.b3 h5 17.Qe3 Bxc4 18.Nxc4 Qe6 is equal (Naroditsky-Bok, World Youth Boys U14, Vung Tau, 2008).
14.Bd5 f6 15.Rad1 Nb8 16.Nd2 Na6 17.Qd3 Kb8 18.Rfe1 h5 is equal (Kamble-Sivanandan, Indian Ch, Visakhapatnam, 2006).

12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.0-0-0 Bg4 14.Rd3 Rad8 15.Bd5 Rd6 16.Rhd1 Nd8 17.R1d2 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 Ne6 is equal (Vaganian-Jasnikowski, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1992).

If 10...h5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.0-0-0 then:

12...Qxh4 13.Nxh4 Rf8 14.Rd2 0-0-0 15.Rhd1 draw (Bacrot-Svidler, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
12...f6 13.Qg3 g5 14.h4 g4 15.Nd2 0-0-0 16.Qe3 Kb8 17.Bd5 Na5 18.Nb3 is equal (Saravanan-Mikhalevski, Op, Troms�, 2007).

If 9.Qxd8+ Rxd8 10.Bc4 then:

10...f6 11.Be3 Bd6 12.b4 Ke7 13.Ke2 b6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.a3 Nb8 16.a4 gives White more freedom and space (Gustafsson-Negi, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
11.b4 a5 12.a3 Ra8 13.Rb1 Bd6 14.Be3 Ke7 15.Nd2 axb4 16.axb4 Ra3 is equal (G�mez Estaban-Krasenkow, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).

7.bxc3 c5 8.Rb1 Qc7 9.Qg3 Qxg3 10.hxg3 b6 11.e4 Bg7 12.d4 Nc6 13.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Grigoryan-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

If 5...Nc6 then:

If 6.e4 Nb6 7.Qc2 Bg7 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.d4 0-0 11.Bg5 f6 12.Qb3+ is equal (Haukenfrers-Davies, Op, Richmond (BrCol), 2004).
If 6.Ne5 Ndb4 7.a3 Bg7 8.axb4 Bxe5 9.b5 Nb8 then:

If 10.e3 0-0 11.d4 Bg7 12.Be2 c6 13.0-0 then:

If 13...a6 14.bxc6 Nxc6 15.Rd1 Bd7 then:

16.Qb3 b5 17.d5 Ne5 18.e4 Qc7 draw (Stohl-Ilincic, IT, Prague, 1989).
16.Qa3 b5 17.Ne4 e6 18.Nc5 Qc7 19.Bd2 Rfc8 20.Qb3 Nb8 21.Rac1 Bc6 22.Bb4 draw (Franco Ocampos-Kudrin, Op, Marchena, 1900).

13...cxb5 14.Qxb5 Nc6 15.Bf3 a6 16.Qb3 gives White the advantage in space (Timman-Sax, ITZ, Rio de Janeiro, 1979).

If 10.g3 0-0 11.Bg2 c6 12.0-0 a6 13.bxc6 Nxc6 then:

14.d3 Rb8 15.Bf4 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Bf5 17.Ra4 a5 18.Rc4 (L�pez Mart�nez-Moor, IT, Zug, 2001).
14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.d3 Rb8 16.Re1 c5 17.Qa5 Bd4 draw (Sturua-M. Turov, Op, Dubai, 2002).

In a game similar to this one, White continues 5.e4 Nb4 6.d4 c5 7.dxc5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Bg7 9.a3 with an excellent game (Vismara-Gardon, Italian Ch Semif, Limone Piemonte, 2001).

5...Bg7 6.e4 Nb4! (N)

6...Nb6?! 7.d4! 0-0 8.Be3 Bg4!? 9.Ne5! Bxe5!? 10.dxe5 Nc6 11.h3 gives White a quick start (Topalov-Kamsky, CM Semifinal, Kazan, 2011).

7.Qa4+ N8c6 8.d4 Bd7 9.Qb3 Bxd4 10.Nd5 a5!?

10...Be6 11.Bc4 a5 12.Nxb4 axb4 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Bh6 gives White a clear advantage; Black has been prevented for castling short and has poor pawn structure.

11.a3 Na6 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qc3!

This is a fine move that announces White's plan to control the long diagonal.
If 13.Qd1 e5 14.Be3 c5 then:

15.Rc1 b6 16.f4 f6 17.Bc4 b5 18.Ba2 Be6 is equal.
If 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 Bc6 then:

17.bxc5 Bxd5 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Qxd4 0-0 20.exd5 Re8+ is equal.
If 17.Bxa6!? Rxa6! 18.Rxa6 bxa6 then:

19.bxc5 Qa5+ 20.Qd2 Qxc5 gives Black an extra pawn.
19.0-0 Bxd5 20.exd5 0-0 21.bxc5 Qxd5 gives Black an extra pawn.

13...e5?!

This guards the Knight, but for how long?
13...c5 (preventing the Queen from undermining the Knight) 14.Be3 b5 15.Bxd4 cxd4 16.Qxd4 0-0 17.Rd1 gives White more space and a superior center.

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 13...e7e5

14.Bxa6!!

White softens Black's queenside for future undertakings.

14...c6

The Bishop is taboo.
If 14...bxa6? 15.Nxc7+! Kf8 16.Bh6+ Kg8 17.Nxa8 Qxa8 18.f3 leaves White almost two pieces to the good: he has won the exchange and Black's other Rook is out of play for an indefinite time.

15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Be3 Rxb7

16...cxd5 17.Bxd4 Rxb7 18.Bxe5 0-0 19.exd5 Bb5 20.0-0-0 gives White the better center and threats on the long diagonal.

17.Bxd4 cxd5 18.Bxe5 0-0 19.0-0

With development now completed for both sides, White has an extra pawn, more space and the initiative.
If 19.exd5 then:

19...Ba4! 20.d6 Rb3 21.Qd4 Bb5 22.0-0-0 Qd7 23.Bh8 f6! takes the wind out of White's attack and limits him to a small advantage.
If 19...Bb5?! 20.0-0-0 Ba4 21.Rd2 then:

21...f6 22.Bg3 Bb3 23.d6 gives White a protected passed pawn.
21...Qd7? 22.Qf3 f6 23.Bc3 Bb3 24.d6 Rb5 25.Re1 gives White two extra pawns, one of which is passed, and power in the center

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 19.0-0

19...dxe4 20.Rfd1 Qc8?!

Black offers an exchange of Queens.
Better is 20...Qg5 21.Bf6 then:

21...Qf5 22.Rd6 Be6 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 keeps White's advantage managable.
If 21...Qb5? 22.Bh8! f6 23.Bxf6 Qb6 then:

24.Bd4 Qb5 25.b4 axb4 26.Qb3+ Rf7 27.axb4 Rb8 28.Bc5 gives White a powerful advantage.
24.Bh8 Qxf2+! 25.Kh1 Qf7 is equal.

21.Qe3!

White plays for the central pawn.
Even better is 21.Qxa5! Rb5 22.Qc3 Bg4 23.Re1 Qf5 24.Bf6, giving White an extra pawn and complete command of the long diagonal.

21...Ba4

It would make more sense for Black to cut off the long diagonal.
21...f6 22.Rac1 Bc6 23.Bg3 Rd7 24.Qb3+ Kh8 25.Rd6 leaves teh King safer than the text.

22.Rd6 Rd7 23.Rb6?!

This is far from the most effective post for the Rook.
Much better 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Qxe4 when:

24...Bc6 25.Qf4 f6 26.Bc3 Qd5 27.f3 a4 28.Rc1 threatens Black's f-pawn, the keystone of his defense of King.
24...Re8 25.Qf4 Qd5 26.Bc3 Bc6 27.f3 Qd8 28.Bf6 leaves Black to prevent at all costs 29.Qh6 followed by mate.

23...Qd8!

Black cuts into White's advantage.

24.h3 Rd3 25.Qxe4!?

Taking the pawn isn't bad, but a more aggressive plan is at White's dispodal.
25.Qh6 f6 26.Rb7 Rd1+ 27.Kh2 Rd7 28.Rb8 maintains the initiative.

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 25.Qe3e4:p

25...Re8!

The Rook counterattacks in the center. This is Black's best resource.
If 25...Bc2?! 26.Qc6 Ba4 then:

If 27.Qc4! Re8 then:

28.Rb8 28...Rd1+ 29.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 30.Kh2 Rxb8 31.Bxb8 gives White an extra pawn; in order to win, White needs to keeps Queens on the board until he can advance his pawns.
28.Rb7 Bb3 29.Rxb3 Rxb3 30.Qxb3 Rxe5 31.Rd1 continues to give White a strong initiative.

27.Qxa4? Qxb6! 28.Bc3 Rd5 29.Re1 Qb5! is equal.

If 25...Qxb6?! 26.Qxd3 then:

26...Rc8 27.Bc3 Bb5 28.Qd2 a4 29.Rd1 gives White an extra pawn and strength in the center and on the long diagonal.
If 26...Re8 27.Qc3 Re7 then:

28.Rc1 Qb5 29.Bf6 Re6 30.Bh8 f6 31.Bxf6 gives White two extra pawns and command of attack lanes.
28.Bh8 f5 29.Be5 Be8 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 gives White command of powerful attacking lanes.

26.Ra6!?

White cannot maintain supremacy after this move..
Better is 26.Rb7 when:

26...Bc6! 27.Qxc6 Rxe5 28.Ra7 Kg7 29.Ra8 gives White strength in Black's camp, but Black has potential counterplay owing to strength in the center.

26...Bb3!? 27.Qf4! Qd5 28.Rb8 Rxb8 29.Bxb8 gives Black the advantage, but Black's activity makes his game playable.

26...Rd5 27.Qxa4 Rdxe5

Black's a-pawn is safe for now.

28.Qb3

If 28.Rd1?! Qb8! 29.Rf1 then:

If 29...Qxb2 30.Rxa5 Re1 then:

31.Rd5 R8e4 32.Qd7 Qxa3 is equal.
31.Rxe1?! Rxe1+ 32.Kh2 Qxf2 puts White's King in danger.

29...Re1 30.Qxa5 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Qxb2 is equal.

28...Qd4!

Black's new-found strength in the center provides for sufficient counterplay.
Black also get sufficient counterplay from 28...Qc7 29.Qc3 Rc5 30.Qd4 when:

30...Rce5 31.Rf1 Re4 32.Qd3 Qe5 33.Rb6 give White more mobility, but Black has power up the middle.
If 30...Rc4 31.Qf6! then:

31...a4 32.Rd1 Rf4 33.Qd6 Qxd6 34.Raxd6 Re2 35.f3 Black wins back the pawn, but can avoid White's Rooks raiding his camp.
If 31...Rf4 32.Qc3 Rc4 33.Qf3 then:

33...Rc1+! 34.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 35.Kh2 Qxb2 gives White a small advantage in having his Rook behind Black's remote pawn, although Black clearly has sufficient counterplay.
33...Rb8?! 34.Ra8! Rxa8 35.Qxa8+ gives White an extra pawn and more flexibility.

29.Qc3

For all intents and purposes, the game is now equal.
If 29.Rf1 Re1 30.g3 R8e2 31.Ra8+ then:

If 31...Kg7 32.Qc3 Rxf1+ 33.Kxf1 Rxf2+ 34.Kg1 Qxc3 35.bxc3 Rf5 is equal and a likely draw,
32.Qf3 Qd1 33.Qc3+ Kh6 34.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35.Kh2 Rh1+ gives Black the option to end the game with perpetual check.

29...Qxc3!

Black's game is difficult but playable. Other moves are worse.
If 29...Qd5?! 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 Re4 32.Rc6 then:

If 32...Rxb4 33.Rxg6+ fxg6 34.Qxb4 Qe5 35.Ra7 gives White the advantage, but Black is clearly not stripped of all potential counterplay.
32...Qb5 33.Rc8 Rxc8 34.Qxc8+ Re8 35.Qc5 gives White a remote passer; Black must to exchange Queens.

30.bxc3 Rc8

30...Rb8 31.c4 Rb3 32.Rc6 Rc3 33.Rc7 Kg7 34.Kf1 remains equal.

31.Rc1 Rc4 32.Kf1 Rec5

32...Ra4 33.c4 Rxa3 34.c5 Ra2 35.g4 Ree2 remains equal.

33.Ke2 Ra4 34.Kd3 Rxa3!?

The White King can't find a better post the d3. Black should force it away.
34...Rd5+ 35.Kc2 Rxa3 36.Kb2 Ra4 37.Rc2 Rg5 38.g3 remains equal.

35.Kd4!

White again has a slight edge.

35...Rc8 36.Rc2 Ra1

If 36...Rd8+ 37.Ke5 Kg7 then:

38.c4 Rad3 39.f3 Re8+ 40.Kf4 gives White a slight advatage.
38.Rd6!? Re8+! 39.Kd4 Ra1 40.Rd2 a4 gives Black a slight advatage.

37.c4

White, with his centralized King and a Rook behind the a-pawn, has an ever-so-slight advantage.

37...Rd1+ 38.Kc3

38.Ke3 Rc5 39.Rb6 Kg7 is equal.

38...Rd5 39.Ra2 Rd1 40.Rc2

If 40.Ra4!? Rc1+ 41.Kd3 then:

41...Rd8+ 42.Ke4 Re1+ 43.Kf4 Rd4+ 44.Kg3 Rc1 is equal.
If 41...Rd1+ 42.Ke2 Rd4 then:

43.R6xa5 Kg7 44.f3 Rdxc4 45.Rxc4 Rxc4 46.Kd2 is equal.
43.Ke3 Rdxc4 44.R6xa5 Rxa4 45.Rxa4 is equal.

40...Rd5 41.Rb6 h5 42.Kb3 Rd1!

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 42...Rd5d1

Black establishes a hammer-and-anvil formation, and while he has other ways of dealing with White's position, this one has worked well since before there was chess (if you don't believe me and you're in a hurry, skip to about halfway through the third segment.
If 42...Rg5 43.f4 Rgc5 44.g4 Kg7 45.Rb5 continues to give White nothing more than a slight advantage..

43.Kb2 Rc5 44.Kc3 Rdd5!?

This spoils Black's hammer-and-anvil setup.
If 44...Rg5! 45.f4 Rg3+ 46.Kb2 a4 47.c5 a3+ 48.Ka2 gives Black better chances.

45.Rcb2 Kf8?!

Black should put the anvil back in place.
If 45...Rd1 46.Rb1 Rxb1 47.Rxb1 Rg5 48.g3 limits White to a small advantage.

46.R6b5 Ke7 47.Re2+?!

White could have taken a stronger advantage by restraining Black's kingside.
If 47.g4! hxg4 48.hxg4 Ke6 when:

49.f4! g5 50.Rxc5 Rxc5 51.Kd4 gives Black an endgame in which he enjoys the active Rook.
If 49.Rb7 then:

49...f5 50.R2b6+ Ke5 51.Rxg6 Ke4 52.Re6+ Kf3 53.g5 gives White an extra pawn and more active Rooks, but will all Rooks still on the board Black defensive prospects are better than in the other variations.
49...Rd6!? 50.Re2+ Kf6 51.Rb5 Rdd5 52.Rxc5 Rxc5 53.f4 gives White the more active Rook.

47...Kd6!

White's advantage is insufficient to win.

48.Rb6+ Kc7 49.Reb2

49.Rf6 Rd7 50.Ra2 Kd8 51.Ra1 Ra7 remains equal.

49...Rd1 50.Rb7+ Kc8 51.Rb8+ Kd7 52.R2b7+ Rc7

52...Ke6 53.Rb6+ Ke5 54.Rb1 Rxb1 55.Rxb1 remains equal.

53.Rxc7+ Kxc7 54.Rf8 f5?!

One of the most difficult decisions a chessplayer makes is whether to keep a piece active or to bring it back for defense. Here Black keeps his Rook active, but cannot avoid weakening his pawns.
Better is 54...Rd7! 55.f4 Re7 56.Ra8 Kb6 57.f5 Re2 with equality.

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 54...f7f5

55.Rg8!

White has the initiative. The Rook is the hammer, the White pawns are the anvil, the Black pawns are caught in the middle and now Grandmaster Le is playing the part of Alexander.

55...Rd6 56.c5 Ra6 57.Rg7+ Kd8 58.Kb3 a4+ 59.Ka3 f4?!

This only makes the pawn more difficult to defend.
If 59...Ke8 then:

60.Rh7 Kd8 61.Rb7 Kc8 62.Rg7 Kd8 63.g3 Kc8 64.Rg8+ White still has a small advantage.
60.Rb7 Ra5 61.Rb6 Rxc5 62.Rxg6 Rc2 63.f3 continues to give White the advantage.

60.f3

White's plan is to preserve the c-pawn, eliminate the a-pawn, keep Black's King on the back rank and, when time permits, harrass Black's weak kingside from the rear.
Simpler is 60.Rf7! Rc6 61.Rxf4 Rxc5 62.Rxa4 Rc2 63.Ra6.

60...Ke8 61.h4 Rc6?

Black is apparently dissatified with his position and sets a trap of the kind that is usually reserve for even worse positions than he presently has.
61...Kd8 62.Rf7 Ra5 63.Rxf4 Rxc5 64.Kxa4 keeps Black in the game.

62.Kb4!

Black's a-pawn is poisoned.
If 62.Kxa4?? then 62...Kf8! 63.Rd7 Rxc5 64.Rd4 Rf5 is equal and a likely draw.

62...Ra6

Black might last a little longer after 62...a3 63.Ra7 Re6 64.Rxa3 Re2 but White still wins after 65.Kb5! when:

65...Rxg2 66.Ra4 Kd7 67.c6+ Kc7 68.Ra7+ Kc8 69.Rf7 wins easily for White.
If 65...Kd7 66.Ra7+ Kd8 67.Kc6 Rd2 68.Ra8+ Ke7
Analysis Diagram

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 68...Ke7 (analysis)

69.Kc7 reaches something like the Lucena position (the extra pawns don't complicate the winning procedure too much) so that now:

If 69...Rxg2 70.c6 Rf2 71.Ra3 Rc2 72.Kb7 then:

72...Kd6 73.Rd3+ Ke7 74.Rd4 Rb2+ 75.Kc8 Rb3 76.Rxf4 wins.
72...g5 73.hxg5 h4 74.Ra4 Rb2+ 75.Kc8 h3 76.Rxf4 Rf2 77.c7 h2 78.Rh4 wins.

If 69...Rd7+ 70.Kb6 Rd2 71.c6 Rxg2 72.c7 then:

If 72...Rb2+ 73.Kc6 Rc2+ 74.Kb7 Rb2+ 75.Kc8 then:

75...Rb3 76.Ra4 Rxf3 77.Re4+ Kd6 78.Kd8! the pawn queens.
If 75...Rc2 76.Ra7 Kf6 77.Ra6+ Ke7 78.Rxg6 then:

If 78...Rb2 79.Rg7+ Ke8 80.Rg5 then:

If 80...Ke7 81.Re5+ then:

If 81...Kf6 82.Rxh5 Ke7 83.Re5+ Kf6 then:

84.Rc5 Ke7 85.Rc4 Rb5 86.Re4+ Kf7 87.Kd7 Rb7 88.Rxf4+ Kg7 89.Kd8 wins easily.
84.Re4 Rb3 85.Kd7 Rd3+ 86.Kc6 Ra3 87.c8Q! wins.

80...Rc2 81.Rxh5 Ke7 82.Kb7 wins.

If 78...Rc1 79.Kb7 Kd7 80.Rg7+! wins.

72...Rc2 loses as Black must surrender his Rook when the pawn queens.

BLACK: David Navara

WHITE: Le Quang Liem
Position after 62...Rc6a6

63.Kb5!!

Very cool! The a-pawn can advance, but it will still be stopped.

63...a3 64.c6! Ra5+

Black sets a little trap.

65.Kb4!

White doesn't fall in.
If 65.Kxa5?? then after 65...a2! the a-pawn will Queen.

65...Ra4+ 66.Kb3 Kf8

If 66...a2 then after 67.c7! Ra3+ 68.Kc2 Rc3+ 69.Kb2 a1Q+ 70.Kxa1 Black is immobilized: the Rook canot leave the c-file without allowing the pawn to queen on c8 with mate; and if the Black King approaches the White Rook, the Rook plays to d7 and then checks on d8, allowing the pawn to queen. White will run his King up the b-file to b7, driving the Rook out of the way as it goes.

67.c7 Ra8 68.Rh7 1-0

If 68...Kg8 then 69.Rd7! Re8 70.Rd8! assures that the pawn will queen.
Grandmaster Navara resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 04:24 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Grandmaster Matches, St. Louis

St. Louis
Photo by Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun May-29-11 04:25 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. Nakamura - Ponomariov, Round 6

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo by James F. Perry in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Hikaru Nakamura - Ruslan Ponomariov
Match, Round 6
St. Louis, 22 May 2011

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Exchange Opening (London Variation)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.e3

For moves up to here, see Korchnoi-Karpov, World Ch Match, Baguio City, 1978. In that game, Ng1f3 was not played until White's ninth move, but that will make little difference for most of the variations presented in that game.

8...Qg6

If 8...Ne7 9.Bd3 then:

If 9...b6 10.Nf3 Ba6 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 then:

12...Nd7 13.e4 0-0 14.e5 Qe6 15.Rae1 Rfe8 16.Nh4 is equal (Carlsen-Jakovenko, Grand Prix, Nanjing, 2009).
12...0-0 13.Rac1 Nd7 14.Rc2 Qg6 15.Qxg6 hxg6 16.Ne2 f6 17.h4 Kf7 18.Nf4 Rfd8 19.Rfc1 Nf8 20.Ne1 draw (Harikrishna-Kasimdzhanov, Commonwealth Ch, Mumbai, 2003).

9...Nd7 10.Nge2 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 a5 13.Rad1 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, Rpd Match, Valencia, 2009).
If 9...g6 10.Nge2 Bf5 11.0-0 0-0 then:

12.f3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nd7 14.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Timoshchenko-Fokin, TT, Novosibirsk, 1986).
12.Nf4 Nd7 13.Rfd1 a5 14.Rac1 Qf6 15.Na4 Qg5 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Qxc5 Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Nf5 19.Rb3 gives Black a more active game (Tandivar-Kayumov, Op, Dubai, 2004).

9.Qxg6 (N)

If 9.Qd2 then:

9...Nd7 10.Nge2 Nb6 11.Nf4 Qd6 12.0-0-0 Ne7 is equal (Rustemov-Vaganian, Bundesliga 0607, Remagen, 2007).
9...Ne7 10.Nge2 0-0 11.Nf4 Qd6 12.Bd3 Bf5 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Rfc1 a5 is equal (Krush-Melia, Moscow Op, 2008).

9...hxg6 10.b4

White has a small advantage in space.
If 10.Be2 Nf6 11.Rc1 Bf5 12.Nf3 Nbd7 13.h3 gives White a small advantage mostly concentrated on the queenside.

10...a6 11.f3

11.Nf3 Nf6 12.a4 Bg4 13.Be2 Nbd7 14.Rc1 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

11...Nd7!?

If 11...Be6 12.Bd3 Nf6 then:

13.e4 Nbd7 14.e5 Ng8 15.Nge2 Ne7 16.Kd2 gives White a tiny advantage in space,
13.Nge2 g5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Nd7 is equal.

12.Bd3!

White has a small advantage in space.

12...Ne7 13.Nge2 g5 14.Kf2

If 14.e4 Nf6 15.Na4 dxe4 16.fxe4 Bg4 17.Nc5 continues to give White a small advantage in space, but Black has a target in White's central hanging pawns.

14...Nf6 15.g4 Kd8 16.Kg3 Bd7

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov

WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 16...Bc8d7

Both sides have completed development with White continuing to enjoy a small small advantage in space mostly concentrated on the Queen's wing.

17.a4 Nc8!?

Better for Black is to establish communications between his Rooks.
If 17...Kc7! 18.h4 gxh4+ 19.Rxh4 Rxh4 20.Kxh4 Rh8+ 21.Kg3 gives White the advantage in space; Black has command of the h-file.

18.h3!?

White fails to take advantage of Black's miscalculation.
18.h4! gxh4+ 19.Rxh4 Rxh4 20.Kxh4 takes away Black's capabilities on the kingside.

18...Re8!?

Black shifts to the center and hits at an unprotected pawn.
18...a5 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.h4 gxh4+ 21.Rxh4 Rxh4 22.Kxh4 gives White a small advantage concentrated on the kingside.

19.Kf2!?

White will settle for a small advantage, but he could have gotten more.
If 19.e4! dxe4 20.fxe4 a5 then:

21.bxa5 c5 22.a6 bxa6 23.dxc5 Re5 24.Bc4 Rxc5 25.Bxf7 gives White a fair advantage in space.
If 21.b5 then:

21...cxb5 22.axb5 Be6 23.e5 Nd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Rhf1 gives White a significant advantage in space.
If 21...Nb6 22.bxc6 Bxc6 23.Rhb1! then:

23...Bxe4 24.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 25.Bxe4 Rxe4 26.Rxb6 Rxe2 27.Rxb7 leaves White with a Rook on the seventh rank.
23...Nxa4 24.Nxa4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Nxe4+ 26.Kg2 Nd2 27.Re1 gives White a Knight against two pawns.

19.Nd1!? a5 20.bxa5 Rxa5 21.h4 gxh4+ 22.Rxh4 remains equal.

19...Nd6?!

Black still can't find the best move.
19...Rh8 20.a5 Be6 21.e4 dxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 23.fxe4 leaves White with a small advantage; he has more space, but Black can make targets of White's hanging pawns in the center and his backward pawn at h3.

20.a5!

White restrains Black's queenside.

20...Re7

Black is badly cramped and can't readily exchange pieces.
20...Nc4 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.e4 Be6 23.h4! gives White a strong advantage: Black can do nothing on the queenside and needs to get his Rooks into action.

21.Rac1

21.h4 gxh4 22.g5 Nfe8 23.Rxh4 f6 24.Rg1 continues to give White a strong advantage with threats of raiding the back rank.

21...Nfe8?!

Black opens light squares for White's use.
If 21...Rc8 22.h4 gxh4 23.Rxh4 g5 24.Rh6 Re6 25.Rh8+

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov

WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 21...Nf6e8

22.Ng3!

The Knight threatens to swing into action via f5.
Also good is 22.e4! dxe4 23.fxe4 Be6 24.Ng3 when:

If 24...Nc7 25.Nf5 then:

25...Bxf5 26.gxf5 Ndb5 27.Bxb5 Nxb5 28.Nxb5 axb5 29.e5 gives White a clear advantage in space.
25...Rd7 26.Nxg7 Nde8 27.Nxe8 Kxe8 28.Ke3 Rad8 29.Ne2 maintains White's hanging duo in the center.
25...Nxf5? 26.gxf5 Bd7 27.Rcg1 f6 28.h4 gxh4 29.Rxh4 gives the h-file to White.

24...f6 25.Rhe1 Nc7 26.e5 Nf7 27.Bg6 fxe5 28.dxe5 gives White a clear advantage.
24...g6 25.e5 Nb5 26.Bxb5 axb5 27.Nge4! wins a pawn.

22...g6

Black meets the threat, but weakens his kingside to do so.

23.h4!

White opens the h-file to be used as an avenue of attack.

23...gxh4 24.Rxh4 f5

No better is 24...Nc7 25.Na4 Ne6 26.Nb6 Rb8 27.Rh7.

25.gxf5 Nxf5 26.Nxf5 gxf5 27.Rh8!

White raids the back rank and could bring more pieces following the Rook.
27.e4?! dxe4 28.fxe4 fxe4 29.Nxe4 Kc7! 30.d5 gives Black much better chances of surviving.

27...Rb8

27...Rf7 28.Na4 Ke7 29.Nc5 Bc8 30.Kg3 Rf8 31.Rh7+ gives White a strong advantage.

28.Na4 Kc7?

Black is in a jam and will lose material.
After 28...Rf7 29.Nb6 Be6 30.Kg3 Ke7 31.Kf4 Rd8 32.Na4 Black is at least still fogging a mirror.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov

WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 28...Kd8c7

29.Nb6!

White must win a pawn.

29...Be6

29...Kd8 30.Nxd7 Kxd7 31.Bxf5+ wins a pawn.

30.Rf8

Also good is the immediate 30.Bxf5 when:

30...Nf6 31.Rh6 Bxf5 32.Rxf6 Be6 gives White an extra pawn.
30...Bxf5 31.Nxd5+ Kd6 32.Nxe7 Kxe7 33.e4 gives White a material advantage.

30...Rf7 31.Rxf7+ Bxf7 32.Bxf5

White has won a pawn.

32...Nd6 33.Bd3 Rh8 34.Rg1

If 34.Na4! Kd8 35.e4 dxe4 36.fxe4 Rh3 37.Nc5! then:

37...Rxd3 38.Nxd3 Nxe4+ 39.Ke3 Nd6 40.Nc5 leaves White up by an exchange.
37...Kc7 38.e5 Ne8 39.Be4 Rh6 40.Kg3 Ba2 41.Rc2 continues to give White an extra pawn.

34...Kd8

If 34...Rh2+ 35.Rg2 Rh3 36.Rg7 Kd8 37.Na4 then:

37...Bh5 38.Kg2 Rxf3 39.Bg6 Bg4 40.Bb1 wins a piece.
If 37...Ke7 38.Nc5 Kf8 39.Rh7 Rxh7 40.Bxh7 then:

40...Bg8 41.Bd3 Bf7 42.e4 Bg6 43.Ke3 dxe4 44.fxe4 leaves White up by a pawn and threatening to win at least another pawn by 45.e5!.
If 40...Kg7 41.Bd3 Bg6 42.e4 dxe4 43.fxe4 Kf8 44.Ke3 transposes.

35.Na4 Nc4

If 35...Rh2+ 36.Rg2 then:

36...Rxg2+ 37.Kxg2 Be6 38.Nc5 Bf7 39.e4 dxe4 40.fxe4 leaves White with an extra pawn, a passed pawn and Black is out of reserve pawn tempi.
If 36...Rh1 37.Nc5 Rd1 38.e4 dxe4 39.fxe4 Rd2+ 40.Kf3 it behooves Black to exchange Rooks.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov

WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 35...Nd6c4

36.Nc5!

Black has no reserve pawn tempi, and now his pawns come under attack.

36...Rh2+

If 36...Nd6 37.e4 dxe4 38.fxe4 then:

38...Rh2+ 39.Ke3 Ke7 40.e5 Rh3+ 41.Kd2 Rh2+ 42.Kc3 wins for White.
38...Ke7 39.e5 Nb5 40.Bxb5 cxb5 41.Nxb7 Kf8 42.Nc5 leaves White up by two pawns and poised to take a third.

37.Rg2!?

White wins faster after 37.Kg3! when:

If 37...Rb2 38.Nxb7+ Ke7 39.Nc5 Rxb4 40.Ra1 then:

40...Rb5 41.Bxc4 dxc4 42.Nxa6 c3 43.Nc5 c2 44.Rc1 Rxa5 45.Rxc2 White two connected passers triumph.
40...Rb8 41.Nxa6 Ra8 42.Bxc4 dxc4 43.Nc5 c3 44.e4 c2 45.Nd3 White's connected paseers win; Black's foremost c-pawn is dead wood.

If 37...Rh8 38.Nxb7+ Ke7 39.Nc5 then:

39...Rg8+ 40.Kf2 Rxg1 41.Kxg1 Nxe3 42.Nxa6 Kd7 43.Nc5+ White's a-pawn will either queen or tie up Black's resources trying to stop it.
39...Rb8 40.Nxa6 Rg8+ 41.Kf2 Rxg1 42.Kxg1 White has passers on both wings and wins.

37...Rxg2+ 38.Kxg2 Kc7 39.Bxc4

If 39.Kf2 Nb2 40.Be2 Bh5 41.Ke1 then:

If 41...Nc4 then after 42.Bxc4 dxc4 43.f4 c3 44.f5 b6 45.Na4 Black's c-pawn is doomed.
41...b6 42.axb6+ Kxb6 43.Kd2 a5 44.Kc3 Nc4 45.Bxc4 leaves White up by a pawn.

39...dxc4 40.Na4 Be8

Black is completely lost, but plays on under the circumstances.
40...Kd6 41.e4 Bh5 42.f4 Bd1 43.Nc3 Bc2 44.Kf3 leaves Black absolutely nothing.

41.Nc3!

The blockade deprives Black of his remaining reserve pawn tempi. White still has reserve tempi stored in his connected passers.

41...b6

41...Kd6 42.e4 Kc7 43.f4 b5 44.Kg3! wins for White.

42.e4

If 42.axb6+ Kxb6 43.Kf2 a5 44.bxa5+ Kxa5 then:

45.Ke1! Kb4 46.Kd2 Bd7 47.e4 White's connected passers triumph.
45.Ke2?! Bh5! 46.d5 cxd5 47.Nxd5 White should still win, but with some unnecessary difficulty.

42...Kb7

42...Bd7 43.f4 b5 44.f5 Bc8 45.Kg3 Kd8 46.Kf4 Black protected passer is blocked and White's connected passers are ready to roll.

43.Kf2 c5 44.bxc5 1-0

If 44...bxc5 then White wins in a cake walk after 45.d5 Kc7 46.Ke3 Bg6 47.f4.
Ruslan Olegovich resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Mon May-30-11 03:04 AM
Response to Reply #6

9. Feingold - Robson, Round 1

Ray Robson
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Ben Finegold - Ray Robson
Match, Round 1
St Louis, 17 May 2011

Sicilian Horseman Game: Saragossa Opening

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4

If 6.cxd4 then:

If 6...d6 7.Bc4 then:

If 7...Nb6 8.Bb5 ] (8.Bb3 transposes into the notes to Black's 7th move) then:

If 8...dxe5 9.Nxe5 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.0-0 e6 12.Nc3 then:

If 12...Be7 13.Qg4 0-0 then:

If 14.Rd1 then:

If 14...f5 15.Qe2 then:

15...Kh8 16.Bf4 Rad8 17.Be5 a6 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.Rac1 Nd5 20.Ne4! gives White the initiative (N. Kosintseva-Bodnaruk, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2009).
15...Rad8 16.Bf4 Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Rac1 gives White a slight edge in space (Paridar-Cmilyte, OlW, Calvia, 2004).

14...Rfd8 15.Bh6 g6 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.h4 a6 18.Bxc6 Rxc6 19.Bg5 Rc4 is equal (Emms-Macieja, EU ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Bh6 Bf6 16.Rfd1 then:

If 16...Kh8 17.Ne4 then:

If 17...Qe7 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 then:

19...Qxg5 20.Nxg5 then:

20...Kg8 21.Rac1 Rac8 22.Nf3 f6 23.Rc5 Rfd8 24.Rdc1 Rd6 25.h4 Kf7 26.g3 Rc7 27.Kf1 gives White a small advantage in space (Moser-Kotronias, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
If 20...Nd5 21.Rac1 Ne7 then:

22.Rc5 a5 23.Kf1 Kg8 24.Ke2 Rab8 25.Rd2 Rb6 26.Kd1 h6 27.Nf3 gives White the advantage in space (Howell-Radovanovic, British Ch, Scarborough, 2004).
22.Rc4 Kg8 23.Nf3 Rfb8 24.Rd2 a5 25.Ne5 Ra6 26.Rdc2 gives White the advantage in space (Potkin-Timoshenko, IT, Kiev, 2001).

19...Nd5 20.Rac1 Rab8 21.Qxe7 Nxe7 22.b3 gives White a slight edge with a more tangible threat to blockade Black's isolated c-pawn than Black has to blockade White's isolated d-pawn (N. Kosintseva-Prudnikova, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).

17...Qd8 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 h6 20.Nf3 Nd7 21.Rd2 Qa5 22.Qf4 gives White the advantage in space (Kristjansson-Stefansson, GMT, Reykjavik, 2003).

If 16...Rfd8 17.Ne4 Qe7 18.Rac1 Rac8 19.h4 Rd5 20.Rc3 then:

If 20...Nd7 21.Rg3 g6 22.Bg5 Kg7 23.Ra3 h6 draw (Kroeze-van der Wiel, Dutch ChT, Enschede, 2004).
If 20...Kh8 21.Rf3 then:

21...Rg8?! 22.Nxf6! gxf6 23.Qxg8+ Kxg8 24.Rg3+ Rg5 25.hxg5 f5 26.Rc1 then:

26...f4? 27.Rgc3! White soon won (Godena-Antunes, EU ChT, Pula, 1997).
26...Qb4 27.Rb3 Qd2 is good enough to keep Black fighting.

21...Rxd4 22.Rxf6 Rxd1+ 23.Kh2 Qc7+ 24.g3 Rg8 25.Bxg7+ Rxg7 26.Qxd1 is equal.

12...Rd8 then:

If 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qf3 0-0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qxc6 Rxd4 18.Rad1 Rc4 19.Qd6 Qb7 then:

20.Rd4 h6 21.Rfd1 Rfc8 22.h3 Rxd4 23.Qxd4 Qc6 24.Rd3 Qc4 25.Qd6 Qc7 26.Qxc7 Rxc7 27.Rd8+ Kh7 is equal (Maksimenko-Damljanovic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
20.h3 Na4 21.Nxa4 Rxa4 22.Qd7 Qxd7 23.Rxd7 Rxa2 24.Rb7 g5 gives Black an extra pawn (D. Smerdon-Dom�nguez, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2009).

13.Be3 Be7 14.Qg4 0-0 15.Rad1 g6 16.d5 Nxd5 17.Bxa7 Qc7 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Be3 Bf6 20.b3 d4 21.Bh6 Rfe8 is equal (Godena-Ris, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If 8...Bd7 9.exd6 e6 10.Bg5 then:

If 10...Qb8 then:

11.Nc3 Bxd6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Re1 a6 14.Bd3 Nd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Rac1 Bf4 18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Rcd1 Rab8 20.h3 Rfe8 21.Bb1 Re7 22.Qd3 g6 23.Qe3

(Karlovich-Zdebskaja, ITW, Djarkarta, 2007).

11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Be7 Bxe7 13.dxe7 Qd6 14.0-0 Qxe7 15.Ne5 0-0 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Rac8 is equal (M. Brunello-Cherenkova, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).

10...f6 11.Bd2 Bxd6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nc3 Nb4 14.Qe2 Re8 15.Ne4 Bxb5 16.Qxb5 a6 is equal (Jenni-Grischuk, Euro Club Cup, F�gen, 2006).

If 7...e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 then:

If 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qa5 then:

If 13.Qe4 Qa4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Rab1 then:

If 16...Rb8 17.Rb4 Qc6 then:

18.Bd3 Qxe4 19.Bxe4 b6 20.Rd1 gives White stronger pawns and more space (D. Smerdon-McShane, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).
18.Qe2 b6 19.Nd4 Qc5 20.Re1 Bb7 21.Bb3 Qxc3 22.Rc4 Qa5 23.Ra4 Qc5 24.Rc4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qc5 26.Rc4 Qa5 draw (Causo-Jia, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2008).

16...Bd7 17.Bd3 Qxe4 18.Bxe4 Bc6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.c4 Rab8 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.h4 is equal (Mamedyarov-Ram�rez, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).

If 13.Rb1 Rd8 14.Rb5 Qc7 15.Bd3 b6 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Ba6 18.Bxd8 Rxd8 is equal (Sveshnikov-Aagaard, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If 10...Bd7 then:

11.Re1 Rc8 12.a3 Na5 13.Ba2 Ba4 14.Qg4 Bc2 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nc3 dxe5 17.Rxe5 f5 18.Qh5 Nb3 19.Nxd5 Bf6 20.Bg5 Nxa1 21.Bxf6 Be4 22.Qg5 Rc1+ 23.Qxc1 gxf6 24.Ne7+ leaves White a pawn to the good (Kristiansson-Yankovic, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
11.Bd3 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Qe2 Qa5 14.Bc4 d5 15.Bd3 Bd6 16.Nc3 Rae8 17.Bg5 e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 gives Black the advantage in space (Pavasovic-Kozul, Op, Ljubljana, 1993).

If 10.Qe4 then:

10...Qc7 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Bg5 Ncb4 13.Nbd2 Bc6 14.a3 Nb6 is equal (Pavasovic-Cvitan, Coratian Cup, Rabac, 2004).
If 11.Bd3 g6 12.Bh6 Rd8 13.Nbd2 then:

13...dxe5 14.dxe5 Nb6 15.Rac1 Nd7 16.Bb5 Ndxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Bxc6 Qh5 19.Bxb7 Bxb7 20.Qxb7 Qxh6 21.Ne4 Qf8 is equal (Sermek-Kozul, Pirc Mem, Miribor, 1993).
13...b6 14.Rfe1 Ndb4 15.Bf1 dxe5 16.dxe5 Bb7 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Lupulescu, Euro Youth, Halkidiki, 2001).

If 6...e6 7.Nc3 d6 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.Bd3 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 then:

If 11.Re1 then:

If 11...Bf6 12.Be4 Nce7 13.Ne5 then:

If 13...Bd7 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Bg7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:

If 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bf3 Be6 19.Qb3 then:

19...Qd6 20.Rac1 b6 21.Be2 a5 22.a3 Rfc8 23.h3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Rc8 25.Re1 Nf5 26.Qd1 f6 is equal (Smejkal-Kupka, IT, Luhacovice, 1969).
19...Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.a3 Rfc8 22.Re2 Nf5 23.Rd2 Ra4 24.Rad1 is equal (Kharlov-Janjgava, PCA Qual, Moscow, 1995).

If 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Re2 f6 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Rae1 Nc6 then:

21.g3 Rf7 22.Na4 b6 23.Nc3 Rd8 24.Kg2 Qf5 25.Rd2 Qd7 26.h3 Re7 27.Rxe7+ Nxe7 draw (Topalov-Vyzmanavin, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
21.h3 Rae8 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Rxe8 Qxe8 24.Nxd5 Qe1+ 25.Qf1 Qxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Nxd4 draw (Efimenko-Lahno, IT, Montreal, 2004).

If 13...g6 14.Bh6 Bg7 then:

If 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf3 b6 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Rac1 Be6 21.Rc7 Rfc8 22.Rec1 Rxc7 23.Rxc7 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Bxc8 then:

25.Kf1 f6 26.Nf3 Kf7 27.Ke1 Ke7 28.Kd2 Bg4 is equal (Belkhodja-L. B. Hansen, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
25.Nc6 a6 26.Nb4 Bb7 27.f3 Kf6 28.Kf2 Ke6 is equal (Brinck-Clausen- Rasmussen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2000).

15.Qd2 Nf6 16.Rad1 Nxe4 17.Rxe4 Nf5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.d5 exd5 20.Nxd5 gives White a tremendous center (Smyslov-Padevsky, GMT, Moscow, 1963).

If 11...Nf6 12.a3 b6 then:

If 13.Bg5 Bb7 14.Bc2 then:

If 14...Nd5 15.Qd3 g6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Rad1 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Qd5 19.c4 Qh5 20.Bc1 Bf6 then:

21.h3 Rad8 22.d5 exd5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.cxd5 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.d6 gives White the small edge of a passed pawn (Larsen-Najdorf, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1969).
21.Qe3 Kg7 22.Be4 Rab8 23.Bb2 Na5 24.Qc1 Qh6 25.Qc2 Bxe4 26.Rxe4 is equal (Yemelin-Galkin, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).

14...Rc8 15.Qd3 g6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Rad1 Nd5 18.Ba4 a6 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Qe3 Bf6 21.Bb3 Qd7 22.d5 exd5 23.Qxb6 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Bxb2 is equal (Beliavsky-Karpov, GMT, Trud, 1986).

13.Bc2 Ba6 14.Bg5 Rc8 15.Qd2 Nd5 16.h4 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Qc7 18.Qe3 Bc4 is equal (Sulskis-Wu Shaobin, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

If 11.a3 Bf6 12.Be4 Nce7 13.Qd3 then:

13...g6 14.Bh6 Bg7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qc4 Qd6 17.Rfe1 Bd7 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Qc5 is equal (Vogt-Madl, Austrian ChT, Moerbisch, 2001).
13...h6 14.Ne5 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Nf5 16.Be3 Nd6 17.Bf3 Bd7 18.Qb4 Bb5 19.Rfe1 a5 20.Qb3 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Timman, IT, Moscow, 1981).

6...Nb6 7.Bb3 d5

If 7...d6 8.cxd4 then:

If 8...dxe5 9.d5 Na5 10.Nc3 Nxb3 11.Qxb3 e6 12.Nxe5 exd5 13.Be3 Bd6 14.Qb5+ Kf8 15.Nf3 Bd7 16.Qb3 then:

16...Bc6 17.0-0 h5 18.Nd4 Kg8 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has compensation in greater freedom (Arndt-Bach, Cyberspace, 2001).
If 16...Be6 17.Nd4 Kg8 18.0-0 Rc8 19.Rfe1 then:

19...Qd7 20.Ncb5 Bb8 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Bxb6 Qxb6 23.Qxd5 Qc6 24.Qxc6 bxc6 25.Rac1 gives White stronger pawns (Pavasovic-S. Halkias, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
font color="magenta"]19...Nc4! 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bxa7 b6 22.Rad1 Kf7 is equal.

If 8...d5 9.Nh4 e6 10.Nf3 Be7 11.0-0 then:

11...Bd7 12.Nc3 Rc8 13.Re1 0-0 14.Bc2 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Qd3 g6 is equal (Spence-Wang Yue, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
If 11...0-0 12.Nc3 f6 13.exf6 Bxf6 then:

14.h3 Bd7 15.Be3 Be8 16.Qd2 Bh5 gives Black a small tactical edge (Gaponenko-Ju Wenjun, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
font color="darkorange"]14.Re1 Nc4 15.Qd3 Qb6 16.Ne2 Nd6 17.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space.

8.exd6 Qxd6 9.0-0 Be6 10.Bxe6

If 10.Na3 then:

If 10...dxc3 11.Qe2 Bxb3 12.Nb5 Qb8 13.axb3 e5 then:

If 14.Nbd4 f6 15.bxc3 then:

15...Be7 16.Nf5 0-0 17.N3h4 Rf7 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Qh5 Kg8 is equal (Howell-Wells, 4NCL, Birmingham, 2005).
If 14.bxc3 Be7 15.Bg5 f6 16.Be3 then:

16...Nc8 17.Nh4 0-0 18.Qg4 a6 19.Nf5 g6 20.Na3 Bxa3 21.Rxa3 N8e7 22.Qc4+ gives Black an extra pawn and White more space and the initiative (Degreave-Stohl, EU ChT, Pula, 1997).
16...Nd5 17.Bd2 0-0 18.c4 Nc7 19.Be3 Rd8 20.Rfd1 a6 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative and White more space (M. Turov-Nevostrujev, Op, St. Petersburg, 1994).

15...Qc8 16.Rd1 Be7 17.Nb5 0-0 18.Be3 Rd8 19.Nxa7 Rxa7 20.Rxa7 Nxa7 21.Bxb6 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Nc6 23.Qd5+ gives White a small advantage (Millet-Tregubov, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2009).

If 10...Bxb3 11.Qxb3 then:

If 11...Qd5 12.Nb5 Rc8 13.Nfxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 then:

If 14...e6 15.Rd1 Bc5 16.Qb5+ Qd7 17.Qe2 Qe7 then:

18.Nb3 0-0 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Bf4 Nd5 21.Be5 Qc6 22.Rd4 f6 is equal (Erenburg-Harzvi, Israeli League, Tel Aviv, 1999).
18.Nb5 a6 19.b4 axb5 20.Qxb5+ Rc6 21.bxc5 Nd5 22.Rb1 gives White an extra pawn (Sveshnikov-Rashkovsky, 1985).

14...Qxb3 15.axb3 a6 16.b4 e6 17.b5 axb5 18.Ra7 b4 19.Rxb7 Nd5 20.cxb4 Bxb4 is equal (Calzelais-MacPhail, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).

If 11...e6 12.Nb5 Qd7 then:

If 13.Nbxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Be7 15.Rd1 0-0 16.Be3 Qc8 17.Nb5 Bc5 then:

18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Nd6 Qc7 20.a4 Rad8 21.Nb5 Qc4 22.Qxc4 Nxc4 23.b3 Nd2 draw (Tkachiev-Nataf, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
18.Bd4 a6 19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Bxb6 Qc6 21.Rd4 is equal (Sermek-Ragger, IT, Steinbrunn, 2005).

13.Nfxd4 Na5 14.Qd1 a6 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qe5 axb5 18.Qxh8 Qg7 19.Qxg7 Bxg7 gives Black the advantage (S. Smagin-Rytshagov, Op, Copenhagen, 1993).

10...Qxe6 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4

If 12.Qxd4 Rd8 13.Qh4 Qe2 then:

If 14.Be3 Qxb2 15.Nd2 Rxd2 then:

If 16.Bxd2 Qxd2 17.Rfd1 Qh6 18.Qg3 Qc6 19.Rab1 Nc8 20.Qd3 Nd6 21.c4 f6 gives Black the material advantage (Paridar-Kovalevskaya, FIDE Knock Out W, Moscow, 2001).
16.Rab1 Qxc3 17.Bxd2 Qxd2 18.Rfd1 Qa5 19.Qe4 f6 20.Qxb7 gives Black a material advantage (Sebag-N. Kosintseva, Euro ChT, Gothenburg, 2005).

If 14.Bd2 h5 15.h3 Nc4 16.Re1 Qd3 17.Bc1 then:

17...e6 18.b3 Ne5 19.Be3 Be7 20.Qg3 Bf6 is equal (Sebag-Cmilyte, Euro ChW, Istanbul, 2003).
17...a6 18.b3 Nd6 19.Qa4+ Qb5 20.Qxb5+ Nxb5 is equal (Sveshnikov-Salov, GMT, Leningrad, 1986).

12...Qd7 13.Bf4 (N)

13.Nc3 e6 14.Qg4 Nd5 15.Bg5 Bb4 16.Rac1 Bxc3 17.bxc3 b5 18.a4 a6 is equal (Kharlov-Kovalev, Soviet Army ChT, Leningrad, 1989).

BLACK: Ray Robson

WHITE: Ben Feingold
Position after 13.Bc1f4

13...e6

The game is equal and shows few signs of life.

14.Be5 Qc6 15.Qg4

15.Nc3! Bd6 16.Qe2 Bxe5 17.dxe5 0-0 18.Ne4 remains equal.

15...h5 16.Qe2 Nd5 17.Nc3 f6 18.Nxd5 Qxd5

18...fxe5 19.Nc3 exd4 20.Nb5 Rd8 21.Rac1 Qb6 remains equal.

19.Bf4 Be7 20.Rad1

20.Rfe1 g5 21.Be3 Kd7 22.Rac1 h4 23.f3 remains equal.

20...Kf7 21.a3 Rac8 22.Rfe1 Rc4 23.Be3

23.Rc1 Rxc1 24.Bxc1 Bd6 25.Qd3 Bc5 26.Rd1 Rd8 remains equal.

23...Rhc8 24.h3 g6 25.Qd3 Rc2 26.Rd2

If 26.Rc1!? Rxc1! 27.Bxc1 Bc5 then:

If 28.Qc2 Qxd4 29.b4 Bxb4 30.Qxc8 Bxe1 31.Qxb7+ then:

31...Ke8 32.Be3 Qd1 33.Qb8+ gives White a slight advantage as he will soon have a remote passer.
31...Kg8 32.Be3 Qd1 33.Qb8+ Kf7 34.Qxa7+ gives White a slight advantage as he will soon have a remote passer.

28.Be3 e5 29.Qc2 exd4 30.Qd3 Re8 31.Rd1 b6 gives Black a slight edge by tying up White resources attacking the d-pawn.

BLACK: Ray Robson

WHITE: Ben Feingold
Position after 26.Rd1d2

26...Rc1

Black apparently sees no winning prospects and initiatites a wholesale exchange of heavy peices giving rise to a very drawish-looking game.

27.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 28.Rd1 Rc4

28...Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 b5 30.b4 Qa2 31.Qc1 Bd6 32.Bd2 remains equal.

29.Qb1 a6 30.Rc1

The text is better than 30.Qd3!? when:

If 30...a5! then:

31.Re1 Bd6 32.Qd2 a4! 33.Rc1 Rxc1+ 34.Qxc1 e5 gives Black slightly more freedom.
31.Qd2 a4 32.Rc1 b5 33.Rxc4 Qxc4 gives Black the advantage on the queenside, but White commands dark squares that would make Black's advantage more significant.

30...e5!? 31.dxe5 Qxd3 32.Rxd3 Ke6 33.exf6 Bxf6 34.b3 gives White a significant advantage in space.

30...Qc6 31.Rxc4 Qxc4 32.Qd1 Qc6 33.Qd3 b5 34.Bd2

The game is hopelessly equal at the moment.
If 34.Qe2 Qe4 35.Qd1 then:

If 35...Bd8 then:

36.Qc1 Qd3 37.b4 Qc4 38.Qe1 Bb6 remains equal
If 36.b4!? Bb6 37.a4 Bc7 38.a5 Bd6 gives Black a slight initiative on the b-pawn..

If 35...Bd6 36.b4 Bf4 37.Qc1 Bxe3 38.fxe3! then:

38...g5 39.Qc7+ Kg6 40.Kf2 remains equal.
If 38.Qxe3!? then:

38...Qxe3! 39.fxe3 h4 40.Kf2 Ke7 gives Black healtier pawns, but that probably isn't enough to win.
If 38...Qb1+ 39.Kh2 Qb2 40.g4 remains equal

If 34.Qd1 Qe4 then:

If 35.Qc1 Qd3 then:

36.b4 Bd6 37.f3 Qe2 38.Bf4 Bxf4 39.Qxf4 Qe1+ remains equal.
36.Qe1!? Bd6! 37.Qc1 a5 38.g3 Qc4 39.Qb1 a4 gives Black more freedom.

35.b4 Bd6 36.Kf1 Qc6 37.Qd3 Qc7 Black's command of the open file gives him a slight edge.

BLACK: Ray Robson

WHITE: Ben Feingold
Position after 34.Be3d2

34...Qc4 35.Qe3 Qc2 36.Bc3!?

The text move does not do enough to restrain White's kingside.
If 36.b4 Qd1+ 37.Be1 a5 38.bxa5 then:

If 38...Bxa3! then:

39.Qd2 Qa4 40.d5 Bd6 41.dxe6+ Kxe6 remains equal.
39.Qxa3 Qxe1+ 40.Kh2 Qxf2 41.Qd6 e5 remains equal.

If 38...b4?! then:

If 39.Qd2! then:

If 39...Qxd2 40.Bxd2 b3 41.Bc3 then:

41...Bd8 42.a6 Bb6 43.Kf1 Ke7 44.Ke2 gives White a significant advantage.
If 41...Bd6 then after 42.Kf1! Ke7 43.a6 Bb8 44.Ke2 the King will get inside "the square" of the Black pawn and stop it, thus freeing the Bishop for more active duty.

39...Qa4?? 40.axb4! Bd6 41.d5 e5 42.Qc1 Qa2 43.Qc8 leaves White two connected passed pawns to the good.

If 39.axb4?! Bxb4 40.Kf1 Bxa5 then:

If 41.d5 Qxe1+ 42.Qxe1 Bxe1 then:

43.dxe6+! Kxe6 44.Kxe1 Ke5 45.Ke2 Ke4 looks like a cat's game.
43.Kxe1? exd5! 44.Kd2 Ke6 45.Ke3 g5 46.Kd4 f5 is a won King-and-pawn ending for Black.

41.g4?! drops a pawn to 41...Bxe1! 42.Qxe1 Qd3+ 43.Kg2 Qxd4.

36...Qb1+!

Black has more freedom and the initiative.

37.Kh2 Bd6+ 38.g3

This is the only practical move.
If 38.f4?! g5! 39.g3 h4 40.Kg2 Qc2+ gives Black a strong advantage.

38...h4 39.Qf3 hxg3+!?

If 39...Qf1 40.Qe3 f5 41.Bd2 then:

41...hxg3+! 42.fxg3 f4 43.gxf4 g5 44.Qg1 Qd3 gives Black a significant advantage.
If 41...g5!? 42.Qe1 Qxe1 43.Bxe1 then:

43...e5 44.dxe5 Bxe5 45.b3 g4 gives Black the initiative.
43...hxg3+ 44.fxg3 e5 45.dxe5 Bxe5 46.b3 Kg6 gives White excellent drawing chances.

40.fxg3 Qc2+ 41.Kh1

41.Kg1 Kg7 42.Qb7+ Kh6 43.Qf3 Qc1+ 44.Kf2 f5 45.h4 Qc2+ 46.Kg1 remains equal.

41...g5

41...Qb3 42.Qb7+ Ke8 43.Qc6+ Ke7 44.Qb7+ Kf8 45.Qc8+ etc. draws.

42.d5

42.Kg1 Qf5 43.Qxf5 exf5 44.Kg2 f4 45.gxf4 Bxf4 remains equal.

42...e5

If 42...Qg6 43.h4 gxh4 then:

44.dxe6+! Kxe6 45.gxh4 Qf5 46.Qxf5+ Kxf5 47.Kg2 Kg6 is equal and will probably end drawn.
If 44.gxh4 e5! 45.h5 Qg5 then:

If 46.Qh3 Bc5 47.Qd7+ Be7 then:

48.Bb4 48...Qxh5+ 49.Kg1 Qg5+ 50.Kf2 f5 51.Qe6+ Ke8 remains equal.
48.Qh3?! Kg7! 49.Qh2 Qf5 50.Qe2 e4 51.Kg2 Kf7 gives Black excellent winning chances.

46.b4?! Bc7! 47.Be1 Bb6! 48.Bg3 f5 49.Bh2 Bd4 gives Black excellent winning chances.

43.Qg4?

White is obviously threatening 44.Qe6+, winning the Bishop. But White can meet the threat with an aggressive move of his own with more teeth.
If 43.h4 gxh4 44.gxh4 Qg6 then:

45.b4 Bb8 46.h5 Qg5 47.Be1 Ba7 White's pawns are ready to roll and his Queen threatens mate on g1.
45.h5 Qg5 46.b4 Bc7 gives Black a strong advantage with pawn duo ready to advance.

If 43.g4 Kg7 then:

If 44.Kg1 a5 then:

If 45.Kf1 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.Be1 Qxb2 48.Qf5! then:

48...Bc5 49.Qd7+! Kg6 50.Qe8+ etc. draws by perpetual check.
48...Bf8 49.Qd7+ Kh8 50.Qe8 Kg8 51.Qe6+ Kg7 52.Qd7+ Kg6 53.Qe8+ draws by perpetual check.

45.b4? Qc1+! 46.Kf2 Qxa3 47.bxa5 b4 48.Bd2 Qxa5 gives Black an extra pawn, which is moving toward its promotion square.

44.b4? Qc1+ 45.Kg2 Qxa3 46.Qf5 Qa2+ 47.Kg1 Qxd5 gives Black two extra pawns and a won position.

BLACK: Ray Robson

WHITE: Ben Feingold
Position after 43.Qf3g4

43...Bc5!

Black threatens mate in two starting with 44...Qc1+!.

44.Be1 Qd3 45.Kg2

If 45.Qh5+ Ke7 46.Kg2 Qe4+ then:

If 47.Kf1 Qh1+ 48.Ke2 Qg2+ then:

49.Kd1 Qxd5+ 50.Kc1 Qd3 51.Bd2 Be3 52.Bxe3 Qxe3+ White is toast.
49.Kd3 Qxb2 50.Qh7+ Kd6 51.Qb7 Qd4+ 52.Kc2 Qe4+ wins for Black as he will either will take the d-pawn with check and force an exchange of Queens or bring his Bishop into the frey to cover the dark squares in a mating net.

47.Qf3 Qxe1 48.h4 e4 49.Qf1 Qd2+ wins easily.

45...Qxd5+ 46.Qf3 e4 47.Qe2 Qd4 48.h4

Black can now force mate.
48.Bf2 Qxf2+ 49.Qxf2 Bxf2 50.Kxf2 Ke6 gives Black a won King and pawn ending.

48...Qg1+!

White cannot escape.

49.Kh3 Qh1+ 50.Kg4

If 50.Qh2 then 50...g4+! 51.Kxg4 Qxh2 52.Kf4 Qe2 53.Bf2 Qf3#.

50...Kg6 51.h5+ Qxh5# 0-1

That's as final as it gets.

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