The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for December 3: Let the games begin

Ivanchuk wins Capablanca Memorial



Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk won the 41st annual Torneo Memorial Capablanca, which was completed Thursday evening in Havana.

Ivanchuk, who also won the event last year, won 4 games, lost 1 and drew 5 for a total of 6½ points in ten games. Ivanchuk started the tournament fast by winning three of his first four games to take a two-point lead even before the half-way point in the event. He was able to coast the rest of the way with a 50% socre in his remaing games. "Chukie" had at least a share of first prize sewed up before going into the final round.

Evgeny Bereev of Russia finished second with 6 points. Bareev, who is admired among grandmasters and chess enthusiasts for his wit and humor, started slowly in contrast to Ivanchuk by losing two of his first four games and failing to win a game in the entire first half of the tournament. At the half-way point, Bareev was at the foot of the table with only a point and a half. However, Bareev staged a remarkable comeback in the second half with 4½ points out of five game, with only draw against Ivanchuk beween and a perfect second-half score.

Unofficial Cross Table
Torneo Memorial Capablanca
Havana

----------------------1---2---3---4---5---6--T--(W) (-SB)
1 Vassily Ivanchuk . --- 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 6½ (4) . . .
3 Evgeny Bareev. . . 0 ½ --- ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1 ½ 1 6. (4) . . .
2 Kamil Miton. . . . 1 ½ ½ 0 --- ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5. (1) . . .
4 Lenier Domínguez . ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ --- ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ (0) . . .
5 Jesús Nogueiras. . 0 0 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ --- ½ ½ 4. (1) (19½)
6 Lazaro Bruzón. . . 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ --- 4. (0) (19¾)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

It was a disappointing event for the three Cuban grandmasters competing: Lenier Domínguez, Lazaro Bruzón and Jesús Nogueiras. Nogueiras' first-round win over Bareev was the only Cuban victory in the tournament, while together the three lost six games.

Along with the elite double-round robin event, the tournament also featured a ten-round a Swiss system competition among fifty players. That was won by Cuban grandmaster Walter Arenciba and Cuban international master Fidel Corrales with 7½ points each.

The event is named for Cuba's greatest chess player and one of the half-dozen greatest players of the twentieth century from anywhere, the former world champion José Capablanca.


Vallejo victorious in Spanish National Championship



Grandmaster Paco Vallejo was crowned the Spanish National Champion Thursday after winning a knockout event in León.

Vallejo's opponent in the last round was grandmaster Salvador Del Rio. The two played two games in as many days, with the first game ending in a draw and Vallejo. playing White, winning the second to finish the tournament.

The event began with 12 players in two groups of six each playing a preliminary event with the top two players in each group advanting to the knock out stage. In the semi-final games, Vallejo defeated international master Manuel Perez by winning the first game as Black and drawing the second.


Russian National Championships begin



The final leg of the Russian National Championships, known as the "Superfinal", are underway.

The general event begins today in Moscow while the ladies' championship bagan Friday afternoon in Gorodets, a medieval Russian town near Novogrod strongly associated with the thirteenth-century warrior-prince, Alexander Nevsky.

Both events consist of 12 players in a single round robin.

The Moscow competition will see Sergey Rublevsky attempt to defend his title against Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich, Dmitry Jakovenko, Evgeny Najer, Evgeny Alekseev, Ernesto Iarkiev, Nikita Vitiugov, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Denis Khismatullin, Sergey Grioriants and 16-year-old Ian Neponniachtchi. Several of these players are making a first appearance in the Superfinal.

Current ladies' champion Alexandra Kostiniuk, one of the world's most popular players, is unable to defend her title in Gorodets due to illness. Vying for her title are Nadezhda Kosintseva and her sister, Tatiana Kosintseva, two-time women's world title challenger Alisa Galliamova, Ekaterina Korbut, Ekaterina Kovalesvskaya, Elena Tairova, Svetlana Matveeva, Tatiana Shadrina, Elena Zaiatz, Vakentina Gunina, Marya Konaagina and 14-year-old Anastasia Bodnaruk.

After two round in the ladies' event, Ekaterina Korbut leads with a perfect score with four women tied for second with 1½ point each.


Ukrainian National Championships underway



The 75th Ukrainian National Championships began last week.

The General event, held in Poltava, is organized as a knockout tournament and will conclude today with Yuri Drozdovsky and Zahar Efimenko playing one final game for the title. The two men drew the fist game of the final round yesterday.

The ladies' tournament is a single-round robin staged in Odessa. It began last Sunday. The competitors are Natalia Zhukova, Inna Gaponenko, Anna Ushenina, Tatiana Vasilevich, Diana Arutyunova, Oksana Vozovic, Natalia Zdebskaya, Katerina Dolzhikova, Marya Muzychuk, Svetlana Ivanova, Olga Kalinina and Galina Breslavska.

After seven rounds, Anna Ushenina and Oksana Vozovic are fied for first with 5 points each with Natalia Zhukova, Natalia Zbebdkaya and Marya Muzychuk are a half-point behind.


Chess debuts as an Olympic sport at the Asian Games



Chess makes its debut as an Olympic sport this week at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

The first IOC-sanctioned chess game was played yesterday with the start of the men's and women's rapid tournament. The victories in the first round went such players as Petala Harikrishna of India, Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Chinese grandmaster Bu Siangshi among the men; and Indian grandmanst Koneru Humpy, Zhu Chen of Qatar and Zhao Xue of China for the women.

The rapid tournament continues today and will finish tomorrow. Three rounds are played on each day in the rapid event. On Wednesday, a nine-round Swiss system team tournament begins among 22 national squads. The team tournament will be played under normal time controls at the rate of one round a day through December 14.

One of the downsides of making chess an olympic sport is that chess players will now be subjected to drug testing. This has drawn hackles in the chess world, since there is no known drug that would enhance one's short-term ability to play chess. The most quotable quote on the subject came from the very quatable English grandmaster and world championship contender Nigel Short. "Doping in chess?" said Short. "Rubbish!"


Deep Fritz leads Kramnik after 4 rounds



The competer program Deep Fritz 10, which is manufactured by and is commercially available through ChessBase.com, leads world champion Vladimir Kramnik in a six-game exhibition match, 2½-1½, after four round in Bonn, Germany.

The score of the match could have easily been even at this point had Kramnik not made an incredible blunder during the second game.

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Deep Fritz 10
Position after 34. Ne6xf8

Can't see the diagram? Please click here.

Here Black played 34. -- Qd3??. Kramnik got up to take a break, but Fritz shot back with the reply 35. Qh7, checkmate, before Kramnik could turn around. Kramnik slapped his forehead with his hand. The world champion, who is one of the most cautious, conservative and technically skilled players of our time, had just allowed a mate in one.

Had Black instead played 34. -- Kg8, the game would have most likely ended in a draw.

The incident reminded me of why I'm in Kramnik's corner in this match: he's human.

All other games have ended in draws.

The fifth game is scheduled for today. This will be Kramnik's last game with White in the match.

The human race suffered a major humiliation today when Deep Fritz 10 defeated world champion Vladimir Kramnik in the sixth and final game of the Man vs. Machine match in Bonn, Germany.

Fritz won the match, 4-2. The machine won both decisive games.

Kramnik lost game two when he uncharacteristically blundered into a mate in one, for which he was swiftly punished. Today's game was simply a case where Kramnik was simply outplayed.

Kramnik's opponent had no reaction. The human race should be thankful that Fritz is incapable of gloating.

The consensus in the chess world is that the match completed today is the last meaningful man vs. machine competition. The program Fritz 10 has proved itself to be strong than the world champion. As computer programs become stronger, the day is near when no human being, not even the world chess champion, could contemplate holding his own against a chess playing computer.

The score of the game:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Bb3 Qc7 9.Re1 Nc6 10.Re3 O-O 11.Rg3 Kh8 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qe2 a5 14.Bg5 Ba6 15.Qf3 Rab8 16.Re1 c5 17.Bf4 Qb7 18.Bc1 Ng8 19.Nb1 Bf6 20.c3 g6 21.Na3 Qc6 22.Rh3 Bg7 23.Qg3 a4 24.Bc2 Rb6 25.e5 dxe5 26.Rxe5 Nf6 27.Qh4 Qb7 28.Re1 h5 29.Rf3 Nh7 30.Qxa4 Qc6 31.Qxc6 Rxc6 32.Ba4 Rb6 33.b3 Kg8 34.c4 Rd8 35.Nb5 Bb7 36.Rfe3 Bh6 37.Re5 Bxc1 38.Rxc1 Rc6 39.Nc3 Rc7 40.Bb5 Nf8 41.Na4 Rdc8 42.Rd1 Kg7 43.Rd6 f6 44.Re2 e5 45.Red2 g5 46.Nb6 Rb8 47.a4 1-0

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.

Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game with a PGN viewer, please click here (London Chess Center). In the blurb about the Capablanca Memorial, select Games in PGN. This is the 20th game listed.

Vassily Ivanchuk vs. Jesús Nogueiras
Torneo Memorial Capablanca, Round 7
Havana, November 2006

Queen's Gambit: Slav Defense (Geller Gambit)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4

• This is one of the few variations of the Queen's Gambit that really is a gambit.
• The more common opening from White's fifth move is 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 (Czech Opening).

5. -- b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 h6

• If 7. -- e6 8. axb5 Nxc3 9. bxc3 cxb5 10. Ng5 Bb7 11. Qh5 then:
• 11. -- Qd7 12. Be2 Bd5 13. Nxh7 Nc6 14. Nf6+ with a strong game for White (Flear-Delaney, Bath 1987).
• 11. -- g6 12. Qg4 Be7 13. Be2 Nd7 14. h4 h5 15. Qg3 Nb6 16. 0-0 a5 yields Black an extra pawn (Petrosian-Smyslov, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1951).

8. axb5 Nxc3 9. bxc3 cxb5 10. Ba3 e6!?

• As a result of the ensuing exchange at f8, Black will have a difficult time developing his King's Rook.
• 10. -- Be6 11. Be2 Bd5 12. 0-0 Nc6 13. Nd2 g6 14. Re1 e6 give White a tactical initiative for the pawn minus (Radjabov-Cramling, Malmø 2001).

11. Bxf8 Kxf8 12. Qb1 a6

• 12. -- Bd7 13. Be2 Bc6 14. 0-0 Nd7 15. Ra6 Nb6 16. Nd2 g6 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 gives White an edge with better piece activity (Z. Mamedyarova-Rzaev, Baku 2001).

13. Nd2!?

• After 13. Be2 Qe7 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. Qc2 Bd5 16. Nd2 Qb7 17. f3 Nd7 18. Rfb1 Qc7 19. Ne4 White is compensated for the pawn bith active Rooks (Luehrig-Kaupp, email 1999).

13. -- Nd7 14. Be2 Bb7 15. Nxc4 Bxg2 16. Rg1 bxc4

• Black decides to exchange minor pieces. The pawn at c4 will be weak and little more than token resistance will be made against returning it.
• After 16. -- Bc6 17. Nd6 Qc7 18. c4 Nb6 19. Qb4 Kg8 20. Bh5 Rf8 21. Rxa6 Black's b-pawn falls.

17. Rxg2 Nb6 18. Qb4+ Kg8 19. Rg3 Nd5 20. Qb7

• White could simply take the gambit pawn straight away with 20. Qxc4.
• After 20. Qxc4 a5 21. Qb5 Rc8 22. Ra3 h5 23. Qxa5 Qxa5 24. Rxa5 Nxc3 25. Ba6 White continues to enjoy the initiative.

20. -- Rb8?

• Black should have protected his a-pawn before attacking the Queen.
• 20. -- a5! 21. Bxc4 Rb8 22. Qa6 Qh4 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. e6 Re8 gives Black a small edge by attacking two pawns at once.

Black: Jesús Nogueiras
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White: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 20. -- Ra8b8

21. Qxa6!

• The move not only recovers the gambit pawn, but wins a second pawn as well.

21. -- Nf4 22. Bxc4!

• If 22. Qxc4? then:
• 22. -- Qh4 23. h3 Nxh3 24. Qc7 Rf8 25. Qd6 Ng5 gives Black enough initiative to launch an attack on the White King.
• 22. -- Rc8? 23. Qa6 Nxe2 24. Qxe2 Qd5 25. Qg4 g6 26. Ra7 Qh1+ 27. Kd2 Qb1 28. Qd1 gives White a strong initiative; White's plan, regardless of whether Black retreats his Queen or exchanges on d1, will make use of Black's backward f-pawn.

22. -- g5 23. Qc6 Rc8 24. Qe4!?

• This isn't as strong as it looks. White's Queen has no place to go from its new post.
• A better idea would be to attack the f7 pawn, which remains a serious weakness in Black's position.
• After 24. Qb7! Rc7 25. Qb3 Qc8 26. Bf1 Kh7 27,Qb1+ Ng6 28. c4 Rd8 29. Qd3 White's pieces are more active.

24. -- Nh5

• Black attempts to seize the initiative by attacking the Rook.
• 24. -- Rxc4? would just about give the game back to White: 25. Ra8 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Qxf4 Qxc3+ 28. Rxc3 gxf4 29. Rc8+ White should win the King and pawn ending.

25. Rf3

• White keeps the initiative by attacking the f-pawn.

25. -- Nf4 26. Bf1 Kg7

• Black moves to activate his King's Rook. He has been palying virtually a piece down without it.
• 26. -- Qb6 27. Bh3 Kg7 28. Rg3 Nxh3 29. Rxh3 Qc6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Ra7 gives White an initiative to pound on the f-pawn like a boxer would hit on a cut above his opponent's eye.

27. h4 Ra8 28. Rc1 Ra3 29. Rg3 Ng6!?

• Black should still lose, but the move may have created enough confusion to work.
• 29. -- Kf8 30. Qb7 Ra4 31. Rg4 Ng6 32. Qb5 Ra5 33. Qb4+ gives White a strong attack.

30. hxg5?

• It was better to leave the h-file closed. Black will use it to activate his dormant Rook.
• Correct is 30. Bd3 Ra2 31. Rc2 Ra1+ 32. Ke2 f5 33. exf6+ Qxf6 34. Qb7+ when White can open the kingside to his advantage.

30. -- hxg5 31. Qg4 Rh1!

• At last! The Rook is active.

32. Qxg5 Qxg5 33. Rxg5 Ra2 34. Rg3

• The exchanges have taken a lot of the wind out of White's sails.
• 34. Rb1 Kh6 35. Rg4 Kh5 36. f3 Nh4 37. Rg3 Ng2+ 38. Rxg2 Rxg2 39. Rb8 +=

34. -- Kf8 35. Rb1 Ke8?

• Black misses a chance to salvage at least half a point.
• If 35. -- Nf4! 36. Rb8+ Ke7 then:
• after 37. Rb7+ Kf8 38. Rb8+ Ke7 39. Rb7+ White has nothing better than to force a draw by repetition
• The alternative to forcing the draw is not too pleasant: 37. Rb1 Re2+ 38. Kd1 Rxf1#.

Black: Jesús Nogueiras
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White: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 35. -- Kf8c8

36. Rh3!

• White will either take control of the h-file or exchange the Rook that Black worked so hard to activate.

36. -- Rg1 37. Rd3?

• However, White lets Black off the hook yet again. The move relinquishes control of the h-file.
• Correct is 37. Rh7 Kf8 38. c4 Rg4 39. Rb8+ Ke7 40. f3 Rxd4 41. Rb7+ Ke8 42. Rg7 forces Black to exchange Rooks with 42. -- Rd7 43. Rxd7 Kxd7 Rxf7+ when with reduced material White is two pawns to the good.

37. -- Nh4 38. Rg3

• White again invites an exchange of Rooks, but Black is by no means forced to accept.
• 38. Rb8+ Kd7 39. Rg3 Ra1+ 40. Ke2 Rgxf1 41. Rg7 is balanced.

38. -- Rh1 39. Rg8+

• White plans to harrass the Black King from the rear with his Rooks. This is somewhat risky since Black's own Rooks could deal a fatal blow if White makes a mistake.
• After 39. c4 f6 40. exf6 Kf7 41. d5 exd5 42. cxd5 Kxf6 43. d6 Ke6 White has nothing better than to force a draw by a series of checks from the Rooks: 44.d7 Kxd7 45. Rd1+ Ke6 46. Re3+ Kf5 47. Rd5+ Kf6 48. Rd6+ Kf5 49. Rf5+ etc.

39. -- Kd7 40. Rb7+!?

• White brings his other Rook to assist in the rear guard action.
• 40. Rg3 Kc7 41. c4 Nf5 42. Rh3 Rxh3 43. Bxh3 Nxd4 44. Bg4 Rc2 45. Bh5 is to Black's liking since pawns are exchanged, making a draw more likely.

40. -- Kc6 41. Rxf7 Ra1+ 42. Ke2 Rhxf1 43. Kd3 Rfd1+ 44. Kc4 Ra4+ 45. Kb3 Rda1?

• White uses the wrong Rook. It would have been better to double the Rooks on the back rank in order to attack White's pawns from behind.
• Better is 45. -- Raa1! 46. Re8 Nf5 47. Rxe6+ Kd5 48. Rg6 Rab1+ 49. Kc2 Rdc1+ 50. Kd3 Rd1+ 51. Ke2 Re1+ 52. Kd3 Red1+ 53. Ke2 with a draw by repetition.

46. f3 Nf5 47. Rc8+ Kb6 48. Re8 R4a3+?

• Black misses his last chance and now loses for the third and last time.
• Correct is 48. -- Kc6 49. Rxe6+ Kd5 50. Ref6 R4a3+ 51. Kb4 Ra4+ 52. Kb5 Ra5+ 53. Kb6 Ra6+ 54. Kb5 R6a5+ with a draw by repetition.

Black: Jesús Nogueiras
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White: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 48. -- Ra4a3+

49. Kc4!

• White's King is headed for d3, but this route is preferable to going by c2. In the way chosen, White draws the Rook back to a4, where it has practically no lateral scope, as opposed to c2, where it has a whole rank.
• If 49. Kc2 R3a2+ 50. Kd3 Kc6 then:
• after 51. Rc8+ Kb6 52. Rb8+ Kc6 53. Rbb7 Rd1+ 54. Ke4 Ng3+ 55. Ke3 Re1+ 56. Kf4 Ne2+ 57. Kg5 Nxc3 58. Rbc7+ White wins the Knight.
• 51. Rxe6+? would throw it all away: after 51. -- Kd5 52. Rxf5 Rd1+ 53. Ke3 Kxe6 54. Rf6+ Ke7 White's four pawns are not far enough advanced to be equal to Black's extra Rook.

49. -- Ra4+ 50. Kd3 Kc6 51. Rxe6+ Kd5 52. Rb6 Rd1+

• Black still loses after 52. -- Nxd4 53. Rd6+ Kxe5 54. Rxd4 Rxd4+ 55. cxd4+ Kd6.

53. Ke2 1-0

• If 53. Ke2 Rdxd4 then:
• after 54. Rxf5 Rf4 55. Rd6+ Kc5 56. Rxf4 Rxf4 57. Ke3 Rh4 58. Rd4 Rh1 59. Re4 White's three extra pawns carry him home.
• 54. cxd4 Nxd4+ 55. Kf2 Kxe5 56. f4+ Ke4 57. Kbf6 it will cost Black a piece to stop the pawn.
• El señor Nogueiras resigns.

Paco Vallejo
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game with a PGN viewer, please click here. Select Group A Games in PGN. This is game 10.

Paco Vallejo vs. Pablo García
Spanish National Championship, Round 4
León, November 2006

West India Game: Indian Rat Defense (Old Indian Defense)

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 Nbd7 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 c6 8. Re1 a6 9. a3

• If 9. Bf1 b5 10. a3 Re8 11. h3 Bb7 12. Bg5 h6 then:
• 13. Bh4 Qb8 14. Bg3 Bf8 15. b4 Qa7 with equality. (Balashov-Tukmakov, Lvov 1984).
• 13. Be3 Bf8 14. Qc2 Rc8 15. Rad1 Qc7 is level (Gaprindashvili-Akhsharumova, Soviet ChW, Vilnius 1983).

9. -- Qc7 10. Bg5!?

• White intoroduces a novelty in hopes of gaining some advantage.
• 10. Bf1 Re8 11. h3 Nf8 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Be3 Be6 14. Qc2 Rad8is equal/(Blecken-Blatny, Internet 1992).

10. -- Re8 11. Bf1?!

• This move is designed to add protection to castled position, but it would make more sense if g2 were likely to come under attack in the intermediate future.
• Better is 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qc2 when:
• 12. -- Rd8 13. b4 b6 14. Red1 Bb7 15. Nh4 g6 is equal.
• 12. -- b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Bc1 Rad8 15. Rd2 gives White a small edge in that Black cannot use the d5 square; White will double his Rooks on the d-file.
• Black now gets a small advantage.

11. -- h6

• Putting the question to the Bishop is perhaps Black's best option here.
• If 11. -- exd4 12. Nxd4 then:
• 12. -- Ne5 13. b3 b6 14. f3 Nfd7 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 16. Nf5 Re6 is even.
• 12. -- b6 13. b4 Ne5 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 16. b5 Nf6 is an equal game.

12. Bh4

• This move, keeping the pressure on the Knight and Bishop, is White's best respnse.
• 12. Be3 Ng4 13. d5 Nxe3 14. Rxe3 Nb6 15. b4 gives Black more freedom to move his pieces.

12. -- Nh7 13. Bg3

• White declines the invitation to trade off Black's "bad" Bishop.
• Nevertheless, White could equalize with 13. Bxe7 Rxe7 14. d5 Nhf6 15. b4 a5 16. Qd2 Re8 17. Red1.

13. -- Ng5?!

• Black throws away his advantage with this gesture.
• Better is 13. -- Nhf6 14. b3 Nh5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 after which Balck will challenge White for command of the open d-file.

14. Nh4

• This is not a bad move, but neither is it White's best.
• If 14. d5 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Nf6 16. h3 Bd7 then:
• 17. b4 Rad8 18. Be2 Nh7 19. Rad1 is an equal game with the center about to be closed.
• after 17. Be2 Rac8 18. b4 cxd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bg5 White's backward c-pawn is a target for Black.

14. -- Ne6

• Black attempts to promt the d-pawn forward.
• 14. --exd4 15. Qxd4 Ne6 16. Qd1 Bxh4 17. Bxh4 Nd8 18. Bg3 is equal.

15. Nf5

• White has a better idea.
• After 15. d5 Nd4 Nf3 Qb6 17. b4 Nf6 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Qxd4 exd4 White's Knight is displaced to Black's advantage.

15. -- Bf6

• Black wants to keep his Bishop.
• 15. -- Nxd4 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Qxd4 b6 18. Be2 Ne5 is balanced.

16. Ne2

• White has fought back to an even position. He now wants to fortify his center.
• After 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qg4 Bg5 18. Rad1 Rd8 19. Qf3 b5 White should be able to make use of the d6 square.

16. -- a5 17. Qc2 a4 18. Rad1 Be7

• This leads to White getting a small edge.
• Better is 18. -- Rd8 19. d5 cxd5 20. exd5 Ng5 21. f4 when:
• 21. -- exf4 22. Bsf4 Ne5 Neg3 is equal.
• 21. -- Nh7 22. Nc3 the pawn phalanx at c4 and d5 gives White an edge.

19. c5 dxc5

• Aiding and abetting in the opening of the d-file is the lesser evil for Black.
• 19. -- b5 20. cxd6 Bxd6 21. d5 cxd5 22. Qxc7 Bxc7 23. exd5 makes White's d-pawn a going concern.

20. Nxe7+ Rxe7 21. dxe5!

• This fine move gives Black much fewer options than any alternative.
• If 21. d5 Nd4 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. Rxd4 Qd6 then:
• the game is level after 24. Rc1 Nb6 25. Bc4 Bg4 26. h3 Bh4
• 24. Red1 Nb6 25. Bc4 Bd7 26. dxc6 Qxc6 27. Rd6 is balnced.
• 21. dxc5? is bad: 21. -- Nexc5 22. Nd4 Re8 23. Nf5 b6 24. Nd6 Re6 25, Nf5 b5 puts Black back in the driver's seat with an extra pawn.

21. -- g5 22. Rd6 Qa5?

• It is too easy for White to counter this threat to make it worthwhile. The move simply removes a defender from the Knight at d7 and prmpts another attack to pile on.
• Correct is 22. -- b5 23. f4 when:
• 23. -- gxf4 24. Nxf4 Nxe5 25. Red1
• 25. -- c4 26. Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxh6 =
• 25. -- Nxf4 26. Bxf4 Bg4 27. R1d2 c4 28. h3 +=
• 23. -- c4? 24. Red1 Rb8 25. f5 Nec5 26. e6 Nf8 27. f6 +-

23. Red1

• White chooses the most direct and best way to pile on the Knight at d7.
• A more roundabout way is 23. Rc1 b5 24. Rxc6 Bb7 25. Rd6 Rae8 26. Red1 Rd8 27. Nc3.

23. -- c4

• Advancing the b-pawn in order to secure space on the queenside is now inadequate: after 23. -- b5 24. f4 Qb6 25. f5 Nef8 26. Rxh6 Nxe5 27. Qc3 f6 28. Rxf6 White has won a pawn.

24. Nd4 Nxd4 25. R1xd4 Nxe5 26. Rxh6 Kg7

• 26. -- Be6 looks like a better shot, but isn't any better: 27. Qc1 Ng6 28. Rh5 f6 29. Bxc4 Rae8 30. f3 White's position is solid while Black's is porous.

27. Rhd6 Be6 28. h4 f6 29. hxg5 fxg5

Black: Pablo García
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
White: Paco Vallejo
Position after 29. -- f6xg5

30. R4d5!

• White sacrifices the exchange in order to maneuver on the sixth rank.
• White can also win by 30. Bxe5+ Qxe5 31. Bxc4 Bd5 32. Qc3 Rh8 33. f3.

30. -- Bxd5

• After 30. -- Nf3+ 31. gxf3 cxd5 32. exd5 Bf7 33. Qf5 Ra6 34. Qxg+ White wins easily.
• after 30. -- cxd5 31. Bxe5+ Kf8 32. Bc3 Qc7 33. Bb4 Bg8 34. Qc3 Ra6 35. Qf6+ Ke8 White will win a pawn by either 36. Rxe6 or 36. exd5.

31. exd5

• Also winning is 31. Bxe5+ Rxe5 32. exd5 Kf8 33. Qh7.

31. -- Nf7 32. Qg6+ Kf8 33. dxc6

• 33. Rf6? greatly dissapates White's edge after 31. -- Qxd5 34. Qh7 Re1 35. Bd6+ Ke8 36. Qg7 Rxf1+.

33. -- bxc6

• After 33. -- Nxd6 34. Bxd6 Qe1 cxb7 Rd8 26. Qxg5 Kf7 37. Bxe7 Qxe7 38. Bxc4+ Ke8 39. Qb5+ the pawn coronates with desvastating effect.
• After 33. -- Qe1 34. Rf6 Rd8 35. Qh7 Qxf1+ 36. Kh2 White's King is safe and mate on the back rank is threatened.

34. Rf6 Rd8 35. Bxc4 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Qa7

• After 36. -- Rd5 37. Bd6 Rxd6 38. Rxf7+ Ke8 39. Rf6+ Kd8 40. Rxd6+ White wins another pawn and will have a mating attack on the King.

37. Qh6+ Ke8 38. Bxf7+ Rxf7 39. Qh8+ 1-0

• The unpleasant choices for Black are:
• Black loses his Queen after 39. -- Ke7 40. Rxf7+ Kxf7 41. Qh7+.
• 39. -- Rf8 40. Rxf8+ Kd7 41. Qg7+ Ke6 42. Qe5+ Kd7 43. Qe8#.
• El señor García resigns.

Almira Skripchenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game: If you have a PGN viewer, please click here (Bundesliga website). Select the PGN file at the top of the page for Rende 3-4 19.11.2006. This is game 32 in that file.

Almira Skripchenko (Werder Breman) vs. Olaf Wegener (SV Mülheim Nord)
Bundesliga (2006-07 Season), Round 3/Board 8
Hamburg, November 2006

Spanish Sicilian Game: Canal Opening

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. e5

• Also playable is the more common 6. Re1 Nc6 7. c3 e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 giving White a small spatial edge in the center.

6. -- dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc8

• If 7. -- Qc7 8. d4 cxd4 then:
• 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bg5 e6 12. Bxf6 Bc5 13. Qc3 gxf6 14. Qxf6 is equal (Uliban-Tukmakov Mesa 1992).
• 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Nd2 Nc6 11. Ndc4 Qc5 12. Qf3 e6 13. Rfe1 Rc8 gives Black a slight spatial plus (Marciano-Bergez, L'Etang Sale 2000).

8. Qf3 e6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. d3 0-0

• 10. -- Nbd7 11. Nc4 Nb6 12. Bf4 Nbd5 13. Bd6 draw agreed (Fressinet - Vacier-Lagrave, French Ch, Besançon 2006).

11. Bg5

• 11. Bf4 Nfd7 12. Qg3 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 f6 14. Bxb8 Rxb8 is level (Smeets-Karjakin, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee 2005).

11. -- Nd5 12. Bxe7

• Teterev-Zhigalko (Belarus Ch, Minsk 2006) was agreed drawn here.

12. -- Nxe7 13. Ne4 Nbc6 14. Nc4?!

• This move lets Black have some initiative. That may have been the idea.
• Objectively better is 14. Qh5 Nxe5 15. Qxe5 Nf5 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Rfe1 Rd5 18. Qf4 with a level game.

14. -- Nd4 15. Qh5 Nd5?!

• Black misses an opportunity to snap up a pawn.
• If 15. -- Nxc2 16. Rac1 Nb4 then:
• 17. Nxc5 Nf5 18. Ne3 Nxa2 19. Rc4 b5 20. Nxf5 exf5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 17. Ncd6 Qb8 18. Rxc5 f5 19. Rb5 fxe4 20. Qe5 Rf6 gives Black a number of tactical threats; for example: 21. Nc4 Qxe5 22. Nxe5 Nxd3.

16. c3 Nf5

• Black shortens the latitude of White's Queen on the fifth rank.
• Black could also invite an exchange of Queens: 16. -- Nf4 17. Qxc5 Nde2+ 18. Kh1 Nxd3 19. Qxc8 Raxc8 20. Ned6 Rc6 is balanced.

17. f4 Qc7 18. Qf3

• The Knight at e4 is the linchpin of White's position. White therefore overprotects her pawn.
• 18. g3 b5 19. Na3 a6 20. Rae1 Rad8 21. Rf2 Nd6 22. Rfe2 is even.

18. -- b5 19. Ncd2 Rad8

• White's d-pawn is weak. Black thinks it will be a target.
• 19. -- Nfe3 20. Rf2 Rad8 21. Re1 Nf5 22. Nb3 c4 23. Nbc5 yields equality.

20. Rae1 Nb6 21. g4 Nd6

• The Knight must vacate f5, but on d6 the horseman again mask the attack on d3.
• 21. -- Nh6 22. h3 Nd5 23. Nb3 c4 24. dxc4 bxc4 25. Nd4 presents neither side winning chances.

22. f5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Nd7?

• The text move masks once again the attack on White's d-pawn, this time for no reason at all. Black never succeeds in attacking the d-pawn.
• Black needed to stop the further advance of White's kingside pawns. He now loses.
• 23. -- exf5 24. Qxf5 Rd5 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 a5 is level.

24. f6 Qe5 25. Qh3 Kh8

• All other moves lose as well.
• If 25. -- Qd5 26. fxg7 then:
• 26. -- Kxg7 27. Qh4 f6 28. g5 Rg8 29. gxf6+ Kh8+ 30. Kh1 gives White a strong advantage; she will plan to lift a Rook to the third rank and transfer it to the h-file.
• 26. -- Rfe8 27. Re3 Re7 28. Qh4 f6 29. Rxf6 Rxg7 30. Rg6 Rxg6 31. Qxd8+ and White's Queen bring havoc to Black's position.
• 25. -- h6 26. Qh4 Qd5 27. g5 h5 28. fxg7 Kxg7 29. Qxh5 f5 30. Qh6+ then:
• 30. -- Kf7 31. Rxf5+ Qxf5 32. Nd6+ wins the Queen.
• after 30. -- Kg8 31. Qg6+ Kh8 32. Re3 Qxe4 33. Rh3+ White mates on the next move.

26. Qh4 h6 27. Rf3 Qd5

• Black has no better move.
• If 27. -- a6 28. g5 Rg8 29. Rh3 Qf5 30. Qh5 then:
• 30. -- Qg6 31. Qxg6 fxg6 32. fxg7+ Rxg7 33. gxh6 Re7 34. Ng5 White will bring pressure on Black's e-pawn while he h3-Rook goes takes command of the f-file.
• 30. -- Rdf8 31. Nd6 Nxf6 32. gxf6 Qxh5 33. Rxh5 gxf6+ 34. Kf2 White tightens the noose around Black's King.

28. Rh3 Qe5 29. Rf1 Rfe8 30. fxg7+ Qxg7

Black: Olaf Wegener
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White: Almira Skripchenko
Position after 30. -- Qe5xg7

31. Rxf7! 1-0

• Mlle. Skripchenko closes the game out with a beautiful Rook sacrifice.
• If 31. -- Qxf7 then 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Qh8#
• Herr Wegener resigns.

Magnus Carlsen celebrated his 16th birthday last Thursday.

Here's looking at you, kid.



Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Schaakvereniging Heerjigpwaard (Holland)

Magnus Carlsen vs. Erwin L'Ami
Corus B, Round 1
Wijk aan Zee, January 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Yates Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. d4

• The most common move is 9. h3, to which Black has a half-dozen adequate and well-known replies.

9. -- Bg4 10. Be3

• White has established a pawn center. Now he must fortify it.
• If 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 c6 12. h3 Bc8 13. dxc6 Qc7 14. Nbd2 Qxc6 15. Nf1 Nc4 16. a4 Re8 17. Ng3 g6 18. b3 (this creates a backward c-pawn that colors this group of variations) 18. -- Nb6 19. a5 Nbd7 20. Bd2
• 20. -- Bf8 21. Rc1 Bb7 22. b4 is equal (Khalifman-Kozlov, Riga 1988). Black should continue with either 22. -- Rac8 to put pressure on White's backward c-pawn or 22. -- d5 in order to liquidate White's center.
• 20. -- Nf8 21. Bd3 Be6 22. Ng5 d5 is balanced (Ulibin-Chiburdanidze, Sochi 1989). White's best continuation here is either 23. b4, securing his queenside pawns, or 23. Rc1, protecting his backward pawn.
• 20. -- Bb7 21. b4 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 the position is equal, with White's c-pawn being a weak point.(King-Van der Wiel, Palma de Mallorca 1989).

10. -- exd4 11. cxd4 Na5

• The move 11. -- Na5 serves the same purpose here as does 9. -- Na5 (after 9. h3) in the Chigorin Defense of the mainline Spanish. It chases the Bishop off the diagonal, but from c3 the Bishop serves as a guardian for the e-pawn.
• If 11. -- d5 then:
• 12. e5 Ne4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 (as in the previous group of vairiations, these feature a backward c-pawn) Qd7 16. Bc2 Nd8 17. a4 then:
• 17. -- Ne6 18. Bf5 Qc6 19. g4 Bg6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Qb3 Rfb8 is balanced (Lehner-Haznedaroglu. European TCh 2005).
• 17. -- Rb8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra7 Ne6 is level (Charbonneau-Costigan, US Chess League, Inet 2006).
• 12. exd5 12. -- Ne4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Na5 16. Bc2 Nc4 17. g4 Bg6 18. Bf5 a5 19. Bf4 b4 20. h4 Bxf5 21. gxf5 bxc3 is equal (Smirnov-Sorokin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk 2004).

12. Bc2 c5 13. h3

• White puts the question to the Bishop.
• If 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nbd2 then:
• after 14. -- Nd7 15. Qb1 Re8 16. e5 Nf8 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Qd5 19. h4 Nc4 20. Nxc4 Qxc4 21. h5 h6 22. b3 Qe6 23. Qf4 Rad8 24. Rad1 a draw is agreed (Marjanovic- B. Lalic, Yugoslav TCh, Yugoslavia 1989).
• 14. -- Nc6 15. Rc1 c4 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 Black's space on the queenside is balanced by White's on the other wing; Black has somewhat better better piece activity (Morovic-Spassky, Vina del Mar 1989).

13. -- Bxf3 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Rc8 16. Qd1

• 16. Bb3 Nc6 17. Qd1 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Nh5 19. Nc3 Bf6 20. Qd2 Bg5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Romanishin, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkiv 2004).

16. -- Nc6 17. Nc3 b4!?

• Black's other option is to take the Bishop at d4. The text move disrupts White's piece coordination.
• 17. -- Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Nh5 19. Bb3 Bf6 20. Qd2 Be5 21. Nd5 Rc5 22. g3 gives White more room (Yemelin-Kharlov, European Club Cup, Saint Vincent 2005).

18. Ne2

• White decides he wants to maintain a minor piece in the center.
• 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Na4 Nd4 20. Bb3 Re8 21. Qd3 a5 is even according to Fritz; JR says it's slightly favorable to Black in that White must exert some energy to free his offsided Knight.

18. -- Nxd4 19. Nxd4 g6 20. Qd2

• White is going to put his Queen's Rook on d1 and move his awkward Bishop to a better place.
• 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Qd2 Nd7 22. Bb3 Bf6 23. Nf3 Nc5 24. Bd5 gives White an edge in space and a more solid center. With the exception of the White Rook being at c1 in this position at at d1 after White's 24th move in the actual game, the positions are identical.

20. -- Qb6 21. Rad1

• The Knight at d4 is hold down the center. Therefore, White "overprotects" it.

21. -- Nd7 22. Bb3

• This puts the Bishop on a more open diagonal. The prelate is ready for action.

22. -- Nc5 23. Bd5 Bf6

• Black attacks the centralized Knight and wins a small concession in that the horseman must retreat.

24. Nf3 Kg7

• If 24. -- b3 25. e5 dxe5 26. Nxe5 bxa2 then:
• 27. b4 Bxe5 28. Rxe5 Qf6 29. Ree1 Na4 30. Bxa2 is balanced.
• 27. Bxa2 Qc7 28. Ng4 Bg7 29. Bd5 Kh8 gives neither side good targets.
• After 24. -- Rfe8 25. Qf4 Kg7 26. Ng5 Bxg5 27. Qxg5 h6 28. Qg3 f6 both sides look solid.

25. Nh2?!

• White could have opened up the center to greater advatage with 25. e5 dxe5 26. Nxe5 Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Rfd8 28. Qe3 Qf6 Re1 giving White solid command of the center.

25. -- h5 26. g4 Rh8!?

• If it were certain that h-file were going to open, this would be a very good move.
• If 26. -- Be5 then:
• 27. a3 27. -- a5 28. Nf3 hxg4 29. hxg4 Rh8 30. Kg2 bxa3 31. bxa3 Nb3 is balanced.
• 27. gxh5? Rh8 28. hxg6 Rxh3 29. Ng4 then:
• 29. -- Rch8! 30. gxf7 Ne6 31. Rc1 gives Black a strong attack.
• after 29. -- fxg6? 30. Kg2 Rch8 31. f4 the position is level.

27. Kg2 hxg4

• Black now tries to open the file, but White will keep it blocked.
• Correct is 27. -- Na4 28. g5 Bxb2 29. Bb3 Qa5 30. Nf3 then:
• 30. -- Rhd8 31. Qf4 Rd7 32. Rd5 Nc5 33. e5 +=
• 30. -- Rhe8 31. Qf4 Rc7 32. e5 +-

28. Nxg4 Nd7?

• This inaccuracy opens the door wide enough to allow White to come storming in.
• If 28. -- Bd8 then:
• after Black has two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn.
• after 29. e5 dxe5 30. Nxe5 Rc7 31. Qf4 Ne6 32. Qg3 Bh4 White has nothing left to attack; Black takes the initiative with advantage.
• If 28. -- Bh4 then:
  • 29. Bxf7? Kxf7 30. Qf4+ Ke6 31. e5 Qb7+ with Black escaping into equality.
  • 29. e5 dxe5 30. Nxe5 Rc7 31. Ng4 Nd7 32. Rc1 also melts into an equal position.

Black: Erwin L'Ami
!""""""""#
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White: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 28. -- Nc5d7

29. Bxf7!!

• The sacrifice is simply splendid.
• The alternative 29. Bb3 Be7 30. Ne3 Nf6 31. Nd5 Nxd5 32. Qxd5 Rcf8 is only good for equality.

29. -- Kxf7 30. Qf4 Ke6

• The reason the sacrifice works now but did not in the notes to Black's 28th move is that the Bishop remained at f6 whereas in the variations it had moved. Instead of protecting the point, it was attacked on it. The point f6 now becomes the focus of forced exchanges depleted Black's defensive capabilities that proved in those variations to be most formidable.
• If 30. -- g5 31. Qxd6 Rcd8 32. e5 Be7 33. e6+ then:
• 33. -- Kf8 34. Qd3 then:
• 34. -- Nf6 35. Qg6 Qc6+ 36. f3 Qe8 37. Rxd8 Bxd8 38. Qf5 Kg7 39. Qxg5+ leaves White at least two and temporarily three pawns up withe Black's King exposed to attack.
• after 34. -- Qc6+ 35. f3 Nf6 36. Qg6 White is ahead in material and continues a vicious mating attack.
• after 33. -- Ke8 34. exd7+ Rxd7 35. Qxd7+ Kf7 36. Rxe7+ Kg6 37. Qd3+ Kh5 38. Rh7+ White mates in two.

31. Nxf6!

• White could throw the game away with 31. Ne3? when:
• after 31. -- Qc6 32. Nd5 a5 33. Rc1 Qb7 34. Qd2 Kf7 35. f4 Bg7 36. b3 Nc5 White has only a pawn for the sacrificed Bishop and his attack is stalled.
• White is fighting for a draw after 31. -- Rh4? 32. Qg3 Qb8 33. Nd5 g5 34. Qb3 Nc5 35. Nf4+ Kd7.

31. -- Nxf6

• If 31. -- Rhf8 32. Qg4+ Kxf6 33. Qxd7 then:
• After 33. -- Rfd8 34. Rxd6+ Qxd6 35. Qxd6+ Rxd6 36. e5+ White goes to a Rook and pawn endgame a pawn up.
• after 33. -- Kg5 34. Re3 Kh6 35. Rxd6 Qc7 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Rg3+ Black must either lose material or submit to mate.

32. e5 Qb7+ 33. Kg1 dxe5 34. Rxe5+ Kf7 35. Rd6 Rxh3

• So near yet so far: Black is only one move away from checkmating White.
• After 35. -- Kg8 36. Rxf6 Qg7 37. Rc6 Rxc6 38. Re8+ Kh7 39. Qh4+ Qh6 40. Rxh8+ White wins.

36. Qxf6+ Kg8 37. Rd8+ 1-0

• After 37. Rd8+ Rxd8 38. Qxd8+ Kf7 39. Qe8+ Kg7 40. Re7+ White wins the Queen or forces mate.
• Mh. L'Ami resigns.

Even so, your reports seem increasingly well written, using more and more new computer language skills (charts, etc.). If you are not careful, someone will pay you to do this. How about reporting on, and photographing, the Tuesday evening games/players/coaches? Preview it here then sell to local paper.
Or to the Sacramento Bee or LA Times. B-)

:toast:
:beer: