The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for February 4: Akopian wins on the Rock

Akopian gets a piece of the rock



Armenian grandmaster Vladimir Akopian, the world's number 21, overcame a first-round loss to American IM Irina Krush to win the fifth annual Gibtelecom Masters' tournament in Gibraltar.

Akopian won seven of his remaining eight games, defeating 16-year-old Ukrainian GM Yury Kuzubov in the final round which the two entered tied for first.

In addition to Ms. Krush, the only other competitor to face Akopian and not lose was Chinese-born grandmaster Zhu Chen of Qatar, who drew with Akopian in the fifth round.

Finishing tied for second place with 7 points each were grandmasters Alexander Areshchenko of Ukraine, Hikaru Nakamura of the United States and Emil Sutovsky of Israel.


Najer and Yemelin Moscow Open

http://www.moscowopen2007.ru/ssi/logo!.jpg

Russian grandmaster Evgeny Najer won the Moscow open today in the Russian capital.

Najer enterd the final round with a half-point lead over Yemerlin and three other grandmasters. Yemelin defeated Russian grandmaster Denis Khismatullin while Najer drew with another Russian grandmaster, Dmitry Svetushkin.

Both Najer and Yemelin scored 7½ points in nine rounds.

Calendar



The Aeroflot Open, sponsored by the Russian airline, is scheduled for Tuesday February 13 thru Friday February 23 in Moscow. Among the confirmed participants in this year's event are rising Russian star Dmitry Jakovenko;, Spanish grandmaster Paco Vallejo; girls' junior world champion Shen Yang of China, the world's youngest grandmaster, 13-year-old Parimarjan Negi of India; Katya Lahno of Ukraine, who defeated Negi in a match in December; and Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan, who will turn 13 a few days after the completion of the event.

The annual Torneo Ciudad de Linares will again this year be held in two parts on two continents. The tournament begins in Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico) on Friday February 16. The players will break after the seventh round Febuary 25 and reassemble in Linares, Andalucía (Spain) on March 2 and complete the event on March 16. The grandmasters in this years event are: Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Vishy Anand (India), Peter Leko (Hungary), Peter Svidler (Russia), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Alexander Morozevich (Russia).

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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.

To have a chance at winning the C Group in Wijk aan Zee, Polish grandmaster Michal Krasenkow had to win his last-round game against Dutch ladies' champion Peng Zhaoquin.



Michal Krasenkow
Photo: ChessBase.com

Peng Zhaoqin vs. Michal Krasenkow
Corus International Tournament, Group C, Round 13
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

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

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5

• Another lines runs 4. -- Nbd7 5. e4 e5 6. Be2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Re1 a6 9. Bf1 b5 with equality.

5. Bg5

• Often played is 5. Nh4 Bd7 6. e4 e5 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Be2 Nbd7 9. Be3 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. d5 uields an equal game.

5. -- Nbd7

• After 5. -- Ne4 6. Nxe4 Bxe4 7. Qd2 Nd7 8. e3 Qb6 9. Be2 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bg7 Both sides have some activity and both have solid positions (Tuzan-Tseshkovsky, Sochi 1990).

6. e3 Ne4

• If 6. -- Qc7 7. Bd3 Bg6 8. 0-0 e5 then:
• 9. Bxg6 hxg6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. d5 Be7 12. Rc1 gives White a slight edge in space, but Black has the active Rook (K. Radziewicz-Fernandez, EU Ch U14, Urgup 2004).
• 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 Be7 11. Qe2 0-0 12. Rad1 Nc5 13. Bc2 Bh5 the Black Knight can more easily reach d4 than White can reach any comprable objective (Sainet-Fernandez, French TCh U20, Lyon 2004).

7. Nxe4 Bxe4 8. Nd2 Qa5 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Bg7 11. a3!?

• White introduces a new move since the old one has an unfortunate history.
• If 11. Qb3 c5</i></font> then:</li><ul><li><font color="red"><i>12. f3? Bc6 13. d5 Ba4 14. Qa3 Qb4</i></font> then:</li><ul><li><font color="red"><i>15. Qd3 Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qxa2 17. Be2 Bc2 White resigns (Lomakina-Young, Marshall CC, New York 1993); White is two pawns down and will Black's queen and Bishop are putting White's queenside to the torch.
• 15. Qxb4 cxb4 16. Rb1 Bx2 17. Rc1 Bg6 18. e4 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bc2 nets Black an extra pawn and puts a Bishop in the heart of White's defensive perameter.

The correct continuation is 12. 0-0-0! Bc6 13. d5 Ba4 14. Qa3 b5 15. cxb5 Rb8 16. Ne4 when Black is stuck in a mire on the queenside.

11. -- Bg6

• Black finds a good square for the Bishop.
• 11. -- Bf5 12. b4 Qc7 13. Qf3 Bg6 14. h4 gxh4 15. Rxh4 is also playable.

12. b4 Qd8 13. h4 gxh4 14. Bxh4?!

• White elects to pin the e-pawn.
• This is a slight inaccuaracy of which Black takes advantage.
• Better is 14. Rxh4 Rg8 15. Qf3 when:
• 15. -- Qc7 16. c5 0-0-0 17. cxd6 exd6 18. Rc1 +/=
• 15. -- Qb6 16. c5 dxc5 17. dxc5 Qd8 18. Rd1 +/=

14. -- c5!

• Black move to blast away White's pawn front.
• Were a Rook at h4 instead of a Bishop, the pawn front would be better defended.
• 14. -- Qb6 15. Qa4 c5 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. Rd1 Rd8 18. Be2 cxb4 begins to look uncomfortable for White.

15. Nb3

• The Knight fortifies the queenside pawns.
• 15. Nf3 Qb6 16. Qd2 Rg8 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Rd1 Rd8 19. Bg3 Qa6 gives Black slightly better command of open lines.

15. -- Qb6 16. bxc5

• White has nothing better to do than try to keep some semblance of her pawn front together.
• If 16. Qd2 Rg8 17. Bg3 Rd8 18. Rd1 then:
• 18. -- cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nc5
• 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Bc7 Qxc7 22. Nb5 Qb6 is level after exchanges on d8.
• After 20. Bh4 Ne4 21. Qc2 Rd7 22. Qb3 White retains her queenside spatial superiority.
• 18. -- cxb4 19. axb4 Nf6 20. f3 Rc8 21. Ra1 a6 is balanced.

16. -- dxc5 17. Be2

Black: Michal Krasenkow
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White: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 17. Bf1e2

17. -- a5!?

• That this puts a hole at b5 is not terribly important as it would take several move for White to position a piece to move into it.
• 17. -- Rd8 18. Ra2 Be4 19. Bf1 Rg8 20. Bg3 h6 21. Rd2 Qc6 22. d5 Qb6 gives Black better mobility, but White's position is solid.

18. a4

• This, however, invites Black to immediately take advatage of the hole just created on b4. On the other hand, White is running out of good moves under the weight of Black's initiative.
• If 18. Bg4 e6 19. Bf3 a4 then:
• After 20. Nxc5 Nxc5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Bxb7 Qxc4 Black threatens the devastating 23. -- Bc3+.
• After 20. Nd2!? cxd4 21. e4 Qc6 22. Rb1 Ne5 Black is a pawn to the good.

18. -- Qb4+ 19. Kf1 Ra6

• The Rook has more latitude on this rank.
• If 19. -- cxd4?! then:
• 20. exd4 Nb6
• 21. Rh3 Nxc4 22. Rc1 Nb2 23. Qd2 Qxd2 24. Nxd2 Bxd4 25. Rc7 is an equal game.
• After 21. Rc1 Nxa4 22. Rh3 Nb2 23. Qe1 Qxe1+ 24. Rxe1 a4 White will have to direct her energy to stopping the a-pawn.
• Black has the more active position after 20. Nxd4 Rc8 21. Rc1 Nc5 22. f4 Rd8.
20. Kg1 Rb6 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Nd4 Rd6


• If 22. -- Qb2 then:
• After 23. Bf1 Rd6 24. Qe1 b6 25. Bg3 Rd7 Black still has the advantage of the active position.
• 23. Bg3? Ne4 24. c5 Nc3 25. cxb6 Nxd1 26. Bb5+ Kf8 27. Rxd1 Bf6 gives Black more activity and better targets.
23. Bf1 Nb3?!


• This should cost Black his advantage.
• If 23. -- Rd7 24. Qe1 Rg8 then:
• 25. Rd1 Qxe1 26. Rxe1 b6 27. g3 e6 28. Bg5 Bd3 gives Black more activity; he should win a pawn from this position.
(25. Qxb4 axb4 26. Ra2 b3 27. Rb2 Rxd4 28. exd4 Bxd4 gives Black more activity and an extra pawn.
24. c5?


• White misses her chance.
• 24. Bg3 Nxa1 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Qxa1 Qb4 is level.


Black: Michal Kransenkow
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White: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 24. c4c5

24. -- Rxd4!!


• The exchange sacrifice set the cosmos in order for Black.
25. exd4 Nxa1 26. Bb5+


• 26. Qxa1 Bxd4 27. Bb5+ Kf8 28. Qc1 Qxc5 29. Qxc5 Bxc5 gives Black two extra pawns.
26. -- Kf8 27. Qe2


• 27. Qxa1 Bxd4 28. Qc1 Qxc5 29. Qxc5 Bxc5 also yields two extra pawns for Black.
27. -- Bf6 28. Bxf6 exf6 29. Qe3 Nc2 30. Qh6+ Ke7 31. Rh4


• If 31. Qf4 Qxd4 32. Qc7+ Kf8 33. Qxa5 Qxc5 then:
• 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Qd7 b6 36. Rh4 Qe5 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative.
• 34. Qa8+ Kg7 35. Qxb7 Nd4 36. Bf1 Re8 37. Qb2 Re1 threatens the deadly 38. -- Ne2+.
• The rest is silence.
31. -- Rd8 32. Qf4 Rxd4 33. Qc7+ Kf8 34. Rxd4 Nxd4 35. Qxb7 Qxc5 36. Qa8+ Kg7 37. Qxa5 Nxb5 0-1


• Mw. Peng resigns.

Both Vladimir Akopian and 16-year-old Yury Kuzubov entered the final round at Gibralter tied for first with 6½ points each. The played each other. Only the winner would be the tournament champion.



Vladimir Akopian
Photo: ChessBase.com

Vladimir Akopian vs. Yury Kuzubov
Gibtelecom Masters' Tournament, Round 9
Gibralter, February 2007

Spanish Sicilian Game: Royal Defense (Rossolimo Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6

• If 6. -- Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 then:
• 9. -- h6 10. 0-0 Qe7 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Ne6 14. Rf2 Nd4 15. Raf1 Be6 16. Ng4 0-0-0 17. Nxh6 f6 18. Nd1 Rh7 19. c3 Nb5
• 20. Rf3? c4 21. Ng4 Rxd3 22. Qe2 Bxg4 23. hxg4 Qe5 24. Bf4 Qc5+ -/+ (Svidler-Leko, Sparkassen, Dortmund 2005).
• 20. e5 Rf8 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. a4 Nc7 23. b4 +/-
• 9. -- Qe7
• 10. Bh6 f6 11. Bxg7 Qxg7 12. Qe3 b6 13. Nd2 Nf8 14. f4 exf4 15. Qxf4 Ne6 16. Qf2 Nd4 17. 0-0-0 Be6 18. Nf3 0-0-0 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 = (Dworakowska-Soraas, Gibtele Masters', Rd 7, Gibralter 2007).
• 10. 0-0 h6 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Be6 14. Rf2 Nd7 15. Raf1 0-0-0 16. Ne2 f6 17. Qa5 Kb8 18. b4 f5 = (Svidler-Grischuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2005).

7. Nc3 Nh6 8. Be3 f6 9. Qd2 Nf7 10. 0-0-0

• This is a fine move that sets up a thrust with the d-pawn and removes the King to a safer place.
• 10. Ne2 e5 11. Nh2 f5 12. exf5 gxf5 13. f4 exf4 14. Nxf4 Bxb2 15. Rb1 Qf6 16. 0-0 Bd7 17. Nh5 Qc3 = (Kosteniuk-Sitnikov, Russian Ch sf, Tomsk 2006).
• 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Nh2 e5 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Rae1 Qd4+ 16. Kh1 Qb4 = (Slugin-Maletin, Zudov Mem, Nizhnij Tagil 2006).

10. -- e5 11. Nh2

• White intends to gain space be advancing ther f-pawn.
• 11. h4 h5 12. Nh2 Be6 13. f4 Qd7 14. Nf3 0-0-0 15. a3 Qd6 16. Kb1 Nh6 17. fxe5 fxe5 18. Bf2 gives Black a little more space, but White is solid (Hou Yifan-Kovalevskaya, China-Russia Team M, Ergun 2006).

11. -- Be6 12. f4 exf4!?

• Black breaks with the past.
• 12. -- Qe7 13. Nf3 0-0-0 14. fxe5 fxe5 15. Ng5 c4 16. Rhf1 Rd7 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qe2 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Rxd3 20. Qxd3 is equal (Riemersma-Ree, Dutch Ch, Eindhoven 1993).

13. Bxf4 Qd7 14. Nf3 0-0-0 15. d4!?

• Black has gained equality.
• White either believes mistakenly that his development is good enough to open the center or he is being willfully provocative.
• 15. Qf2 f5 16. e5 Bd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. c4 Qe6 19. Qc2 is even.

15. -- cxd4 16. Nxd4?!

Again, White is being provocative.
• Better is 16. Qxd4 Rhe8 17. Qa4 Qb7 18. Nd4 when:
• 18. -- Bd7 19. Qb3 Ne5 20. Nf3 Nxf3 21. gxf3 is balanced.
• 18. -- g5 19. Nxe6 Rxe6 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. Bg3 White has better placed pieces, but Black has superior pawn structure.

16. -- Kb7

• The King drops back in the pocket.
• If 16. -- Bc4 then:
• 17. Qe3 Qe8 18. Qg3 Ng5 19. b3 Bf7 20. Rhe1 h6 offers little to either side.
• 17. Qf2 Qe8 18. Nf3 Qe7 19. Rd4 Qe6 20. Rhd1 c5 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 gives Black more activity.

17. Qe2 Qe7?

• This move takes the focus off the pawn at c6 making it vulnerable.
• If 17. -- Qe8 18. Rd2 then:
• 18, -- h6 19. Rhd1 Bc8 20. Qc4 Ne5 21. Qa4 a6 leaves Black's position solid.
• 18. -- b5 19. Rhd1 Bc4 20. Qf3 Rf8 21. Kb1 Ng5 22. Qf2 Qe7 offers equal chances.

18. Nxc6?

• Black misses a chance for a greatly superior game.
• If 18. Nd5! then:
• 18. -- cxd5 19. exd5 Rxd5 20. Qxe6 Qd7 21. Qe4 Re8 22. Ne6 Qxe6 23. Qxd5+ sends White to an endgame an exchange up.
• 18. Bxd5 19. exd5 Qxe2 20. dxd6+ Kc8 21. Nxe2 g5 22. Bh2 f5 23. c3 Rhe8 24. Nd4 leave White with an advanced pawn, a centralized Knight and the initiative.

18. -- Kxc6 19. Nd5 Qe8?

• Black misses a chance for a draw and now loses quickly.
• 19. -- Qc5 20. b4 Qf8 21. Qc4+ Kb7 22. Qc7+ Ka6 23. Qc4+ Kb7 draws by repetition.

20. Qa6 Bf8

• If 20. -- Bxd5 21. exd5+ then:
• 21. -- Rxd5 22. Qc4+ Rc5 23. Qa4+ Rb5 24. c4 Kb7 25. cxb5 White is an exchange up and in hot pursuit of the Black King.
• After 21. -- Kc5 White forces mate with 22. b4+ Kxb4 23. Rd4+ Kc3 24. Rc4#.

Black: Yury Kuzubov
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White: Vladimir Akopian
Position after 20. -- Bg7f8

21. Qxa7!

• White's position is so strong that he has several winning moves.
• If 21. b4! Bxd5 22. exd5+ Rxd5 23. Rxd5 then:
• After 23. -- Kxd5 White forces mate with 24. Rd1+ Kc6 25. b5+ Kc5 26. Qa3+ Kxb5 27. c4+ Kc6 28. Qf3+ Kc5 29. Rd5+ Kb4 30. Qb3#
• 23. -- bd6 24. Qc4+ Kb7 25. bxd6 Qe3+ 26. Rd2 Nxd6 27. Qd5+ Ka6 29. Qxd6 leaves White a Rook to the good.

21. -- Bc5 22. b4 Qd7

• If 22. -- Bxd5 23. bxc5 then:
• 23. -- Qxe4 24. Qxb6+ Kd7 25. c6+ Ke6 26. c7+ Kf5 27. Rhf1 Black must lose material.
• 23. -- Bd6 24. Be3+ Kd6 25. Qxb6+ Ke7 26. Bc5+ Rd6 27. e5 fxe5 28. Rxd5 Black loses the exchange at d6.

23. Qa6 1-0

• 23. Qa6 Qc8 24. b5+ Kd7 25. Nxb6+ White wins the Queen.
• Kuzubov resigns.

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: Official website of the Gibralter Chess Festival (2005)

Hikaru Nakamura vs. Vladimir Epishin
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 7
Gibralter, January 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Be3

• More common is 7. 0-0 d6 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 with an equal game.

7. -- d5

• If color="red"]7. -- Nc6 8. f4 d6 9. N1d2 Nf6 10. c3 Qc7 11. Qf3 then:
• 11. -- b6? doesn't cut the mustard: 12. 0-0-0 Bb7 13. Kb1 Nd7 14. g4 Nc5 15. Bc2 b5 gives White a huge edge in space (Karjakin-Hellsten, Ol, Torino 2006).
• 11. -- d5 is much better: after 12. e5 Nd7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Rad1 b5 White has nothing more than his usual customary opening advantage.

8. exd5 Qxd5 9. Nc3!?

• White elects not to defend his pawn.
• 9. 0-0 Nf6 10. c4 Qc6 11. Nc3 Nbd7 12. Be2 0-0 13. Rc1 Rd8 14. Qe1 Qc7 15. c5 Nd5 gives White an extra pawn, but it is weak and he is spending a lot of energy defending it (Barrientos-Epishin, Op Trmt, Solsona 2005).

9. -- Qxg2 10. Be4 Qh3 11. Qd4!?
make threats.

11. Qf3 Qxf3 12. Bxf3 Nc6 13. Rg1 Bf6 14. 0-0-0 Bxc3 15. bxc3 g6 is level.

11. -- Nf6 12. 0-0-0 Nbd7!?

• Black misses an opportunity to improve his position.
• If color="red"]12. -- 0-0 then:
• 13. Rhg1 Nc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Ne4 Qf5 16. Nec5 is balanced.
• 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Qf4 e5 15. Qg3 Bg4 16. Be2 Rad8 17. Bxg4 Qxg3 18. hxg3 Nxg4 gives Black an edge in space to go with his extra pawn.

13. Rhg1 g6 14. Rg3 Qh5?

• Black is hoping that putting the Queen on the open fifth rank it will be able to maneuver freely. It's a huge mistake. The is no place for the Queen to go along the rank.
• If color="red"]14. -- Qh4 15. Bg2 Qxd4 16. Bxd4 then:
• 16. -- Bd6 17. Bxf6 Bf4+ 18. Kb1 Nxf6 gives Black the edge with his active Bishop.
• 16. -- e5 17. Be3 Rb8 18. f4 Nh5 19. Rf3 is level.

Black:
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White:
Position after 14. -- Qh3h5

15. Bg5!

• White shut the Black Queen out the the game for a time.
• 15. Bg2 h6 16. h3 Rh7 17. Bf3 Qe5 18. Qa4 Bf8 19. Nd2 gives White a slight edge in mobility and allows for the possibility of counterplay by Black.

15. -- h6

• Even driving the Bishop away will not liberate the Queen. White commands every point along the fifth rank except the one where the Queen has found refuge.
• If color="red"]15. -- e5 16. Qd2 then:
• 16. -- h6 17. Be3 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Qxh2 19. Nbc5 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Qh4 21. Qd5 +/-
• 16. -- Nxe4 17. Nxe4 f6 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Qxd6 fxg5 20. Qe6+ +/-

16. Bf3 Qxh2

• Taking an insignigicant pawn is about all the Queen can do.
• 16. -- Qxg5+? 17. Rxg5 hxg5 18. Rh1 Rh4 19. Qd2 Nd5 20. Bxd5 leaves White considerably more nimble.

17. Be3 e5 18. Qa4 e4 19. Nxe4

• 19. Rh1 Qxg3 20. fxg3 exf3 21. Qf4 g5 22. Qxf3 Ne5 23. Qd1 White threatens 24. Bxg5 as the Bishop cannot be recatured without losing the Rook at h8.

19. -- Nxe4 20. Bxe4

• 20. Qxe4 Qh4 21. Rg4 f5 22. Qd4 fxg4 23. Qxh8+ Nf8 24. Be4 is lights out.

20. -- Qh4 21. Nc5 b5 22. Qd4 Bf6

• 22. -- 0-0 23. Nxd7! wins a piece: 23. -- Bxd7 24. Bxa8 Bf5 25. Bb7 Rd8 26. Qxh4 Bxh4 27. Rxd8+ or
• 24. -- Qxd4 25. Rxd4 or
• 24. -- Rxa8 25. Qd5
.

23. Qd5 Nxc5 24. Bxc5 1-0

• Mate follows soon after 24. -- Ra7 25. Re3
• Epishin resigns.

Evgeny Najer
Images: ChessBase.de (Germany)


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Evgeny Najer vs. Jaroslav Ulko
Open Tournament, Round 6
Moscow, February 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Byrne Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6

• If 6. -- Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. g4 Nc6 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Be3 b5 11. 0-0-0 Nd7 12. Qf2 b4 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Ned4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Kb1 Bc5 18. h4 0-0 19. Be2 Rfc8 offers even chances (Anand-J. Polgar, Rapid Trmt, Cap d'Agde 2003).
• 6. -- e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5 a4 16. fxe6 axb3 promises a wild game with chances for both sides.

7. Be3 Nc6

• If 7. -- b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Bb7 then:
• 11. h4 11. -- b4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15. axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. f4 gives White the edge in kingside space.
• 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 Rc8 13. Kb1 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qb6 17. Nd5 Qc5 18. b4 Qa7 19. h4 e5 gives White a centralized Knight, a small plus in the position (Fedorov-van Wely, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj 2000).

8. Qd2 Be7 9. g4 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Nd7

• If 10. -- Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. g5 Nd7 13. h4 then:
• After 13. -- Qc7 14. Kb1 b4 15. Na4 Bb7 16. b3 d5 17. g6 fxg6 18. Bh3 e5 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Bc5 d4 21. Nb6 Qc7 22. Bxe7 Qxb6 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Qg5 Qe6 25. Rd3 Black can make no further progress with his center pawns and White has no good targets (Bologan-Volokitin, IECC, Istanbul 2003).
• 13. -- b4 14. Na4 Bb7 15. Nb6 Nxb6 16. Qxb4 Rb8 17. Bxb6 d5 18. Bc5 give White better piece activity (Najer-Ehlvest, Global Chess Chlng, Minneapolis 2005).

11. Kb1

• If 11. h4 Nde5 12. Qg2 then:
• 12. -- Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc6 14. Be3 b5 15. g5 Qa5 16. Kb1 b4 17. Ne2 d5 18. exd5 b3 19. cxb3 Nb4 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Bd2 Qb6 22. Nc1 Bb7 23. Bd3 fives White more freedom with his pieces (K. Szabo-Balog, Balaza-Diak Cup, Balatonlelle (Hungary), 2006).
• 12. -- Qc7 13. g5 b5 14. f4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Nc6 16. Bf6 Bb7 17. Kb1 Kh8 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Bd3 f5 20. gxf6 Rxf6 as is common in the Open Sicilian, White kingside space is balnaced by Black's space on the other wing (Ni Hua-Wang Pin, Zhong Hong Cup, Beijing 2001).

11. -- Nde5?!

• Black plays a novelty. It does little to shake White's position.
• Better is 11. -- Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. h4 then:
• 13. -- Qc7 14. g5 b4 15. Na4 Bb7 16. b3 Bc6 17. Nb2 a5 18. h5 Ne5 19. Be2 f5 20. gxf6 Bxf6 with a dynamic balance (Svidler-Leko, Linares 2006).
• After 13. -- Bb7 14. g5 Rc8 15. a3 Ne5 16. Qe3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Rhg1 b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 20. Rg2 Ba8 balances White's active pieces against Black's solid defense (Topalov-Kasparov, IT, Novgorod 1995).

12. Qg2 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qc7 14. g5

• White initiatates a plan to squeeze Black's defense off the kingside.
• If 14. h4 Nc6 15. Be3 Bf6 16. Qd2 then:
• 16. -- Qa5 17. Ne2 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 d5 19. g5 White has a distinct edge in space on the king's wing.
• After 16. -- Ne5 17. Be2 Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Bd4 Be5 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Qd6 White's kingside space and aggressive Queen give him a solid advantage.

14. -- b5 15. h4 Bd7?!

• The Bishop has little future on this diagonal, but White's command of the dark squares give it little scope anwhere.
• If 15. -- b4 16. Na4 then:
• 16. -- Nd7 17. b3 Bb7 18. h5 Rac8 19. Bd3 Qa5 20. Be3 leaves White in command of the kingside.
• 16. -- Rb8 17. h5 Qa5 18. b3 Nc6 19. Bf6 Rd8 20. Qg3 has White threatening to win a pawn by 21. Bxe7 Nxe7 22. Rxd6.

16. f4 b4?

• After this Black's position deterriorates.
• Better was to retreat the Kninght immediately: if 16. -- Nc6 17. h5 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 then:
• After 18. -- Rac8 19. Qd2 Bc6 20. h6 g6 21. Bg2 a5 22. Rd3 Qb7 White's kingside initiative is stalled and Black is ready for counterplay on the queenside.
• If 18. -- f5 19. h6 g6 20. exf5 Bc6 then:
• After 21. Nd5 exd5 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Bd3 Qa7 Black has regained equality.
• 21. Qh3 Rxf5 22. Bd3 Bxh1 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24/ Qxh1 Rc8 also restores the equalibrium.
• White will take his time winning the game. His advantage is in space and he will make Black stragle on it.

17. Ne2 Rfc8 18. Ng3 Nc6

• If 18. -- Ng6 19. Be3 then:
• After 19. -- Ba4 20. Bd3 e5 21. f5 Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. f6 is only very slightly in White's favor; Black can build counter play on the queenside.
• On the other hand, after 19. -- e5?! 20. f5 Ba4 21. Rd2 Nf4 22. Qf2 f6 23. b3 Bb5 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Qxf4 White's kingside spatial advantage remains the dominant factor in the position.

19. Be3 d5

• Black thrusts the pawn forward in a desperate bid for freedom.
• If 19. -- a5 20. h5 then:
• 20. -- a4 21. g6 a3 22. gxf7+ Kxf7 23. b3 Kg8 24. Rg1 Bf8 25. h6 Black's King is being pushed off the board.
• 20. -- b3 21. cxb3 a4 22. bxa4 Rxa4 23. g6 h6 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. Rc1 White will have open lines to the King and outposts to support the attack.

Black: Jaroslav Ulko
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White: Evgeny Najer
Position after 19. -- d6d5

20. g6!

• This pawn sacrifice pries open Black's castle walls.
• Also good is 20. exd5 exd5 21. Qxd5 b3 22. cxb3 Nb4 23. Qxd7 when:
• After 23. -- Qc2+ 24. Ka1 Rd8 25. Be2 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 Rb8 27. Rxe7 gives White more than equivalent material for the Queen.
• After 23. -- Qa5 24. Qa4 Qxa4 25. bxa4 Rd8 26. Bg2 Black is toast.

20. -- hxg6 21. h5 b3

• After 21. -- d4 22. Bc1 b3 23. cxb3 g5 24. fxg5 Bd6 25. Ne2 e5 26. Ng3 White is ready to make deeper inroads on the kingside.

22. axb3 g5 23. fxg5 Bd6 24. Ne2 Be5

• If 24. -- Ne7 25. Nc3 a5 26. g6 then:
• 26. -- a4 27. gxf7+ Kxf7 28. bxa4 Bxa4 29. Bb5 cuts off the Black King's escape route to the queenside.
• After 26. -- fxg6 27. exd5 a4 28. bxa4 Bxa4 29. Qh3 White plays 30. hxg6 and invades Black's camp by way of the h-file.

25. g6!

• For the second time in a half-dozen moves, White plas g5g6 to effect. This sets up Greco's mate.
• If 25. h6 gxh6 26. gxh6+ then:
• 26. -- Kh8 27. Bf4 Rg8 28. Qh2 then:
• 28. -- Rg4 29. Bxe5+ Qxe5 30. exd5 exd5 31. Qxe5+ Nxe5 32. Rh5 f6 33. Bh3 leaves White a pawn up and Black's pawns are scattered.
• 28. -- f6 29. Qh4 Rg6 30. Bxe5 fxe5 31. h7 Nb4 32. c3 Nc6 33. Nc1 Rg7 34. Bd3 gives White an extra pawn and pressure against Black's King.
• After 26. -- Kh7 27. exd5 Nb4 28. Nc3 Bxc3 29. bxc3 Qxc3 30. Bd3+ Nxd3 31. Rxd3 no matter how Black plays, White wins more material.

25. -- Be8

• If 25. -- f5 26. exf5 Ne7 27. Nd4 Bxd4 28. Bxd4 Nxf5 29. h6 Nxh6 30. Re1 leaves Black with no adequate defense to White's coming kingside attack.
After 25. -- fxg6 26. hxg6 Ne7 27. Nd4 Qd6 28. Bd3 Bf6 29. Qh3 Kf8 30. Qh8+ Black's defense is in its last throes (for real this time).

26. gxf7+ Bxf7 27. h6 g6

• After 27. -- dxe4 28. Nc3 Rd8 29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Nxe4 Be8 31. Bc4 g6 32. Qg4 the Black King looks desperately for shelter.

28. h7+ Kh8 29. Qf2 Bg7

• After29. -- dxe4 30. Nc3 Bg7 31. Nxe4 Qe5 32. Nc3 Qf5 33. Bg2 the Rook will use the d-file to join the assault.

30. Bh6 Qe5

• If 30. -- Bxh6 31. Rxh6 Kg7 32. Rh1 then:
• 32. -- dxe4 33. Nc3 Qe5 34. Qh4 Nd4 35. Bg2 threatens another pawn.
• After 32. -- Ne5 33. Nc3 dxe4 34. Qf4 g5 35. Qxg5+ Bg6 36. Bg2 Nf7 Qg4 another Black pawn falls.

31. Bxg7+ Qxg7 32. Bh3 Rc7

• If 32. -- dxe4 33. Nc3 Rc7 34. Nxe4 Nb4 35. Ng5 then:
• 35. -- e5 36. Bg2 Rac8 37. Rdf1 Bd5 38. Bxd5 Nxd5 39. Ne6 wins at least the exchange.
• 35. -- Rf8 36. Rhf1 Nxc2 37. Nxe6 Bxe6 38. Qxf8+ Kxh7 39. Bxe6 Qxf8 40. Rxf8 leave White a Rook to the good.

33. Nf4 Qf6

• 33. -- dxe4 34. Bxe6 Bxe6 35. Nxe6 Qf7 26. Qg3 wins at least the exchange.

Black: Jaroslav Ulko
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White: Evgeny Najer
Position after 33. -- Qg7f6

34. Nxg6+!!

• White wraps the game up in a sacrificial orgy. The Knight is the first of two minor pieces to go.
• 34. Qg3 Ne5 35. Rdf1 Qg7 36. Rhg1 g5 37. Qxg5 Qxg5 38. Rxg5 would win, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

34. -- Qxg6 35. Rdg1 Qh6

• 35. -- dxe4 36. Rxg6 Bxg6 37. Bxe6 is an easy win for White.

36. Bxe6!

• The second minor piece is sacrificed.

36. -- Qxe6 37. Qg3 Bg6

• The threat of 38. Qg7# nets White a Rook for the two sacrificed minor pieces.

38. Qxc7 Ne5 39. exd5 Qxd5 40. Qc3 Re8

• After 40. -- a5 41. Rh6 Bf5 42. Rh5 Qe4 43. Rf1 more Black pieces fall.

41. Rh6 Bf5 42. Rh5 Qf7

Black: Jaroslav Ulko
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White: Evgeny Najer
Position after 42. -- Qd5f7

43. Rg8+!!

• White uncorks one last sacrifice to force capitulation.
• 43. -- Qxg8 44. hxg8Q+ Kxg8 45. Rxf5 is lights out.

43. -- Rxg8 44. Qxe5+ 1-0

• After 44. -- Rg7 45. Qb8+ Black is mated in at most three moves.
• Ulko resigns.