The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for February 11: Two major events this week

Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:47 PM
Original message

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for February 11: Two major events this week

Edited on Sun Feb-11-07 03:56 PM by Jack Rabbit

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending February 11

Image: from Pleasant Times Industries

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:48 PM
Response to Original message

1. News for the week ending February 11

Calendar: Two big events begin this week

The Aeroflot Open, sponsored by the Russian airline, is scheduled for this Tuesday 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, Michoac�n (Mexico) on Friday. The players will break after the seventh round Febuary 25 and reassemble in Linares, Andaluc�a (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).

ACP to investigate cheating allegations against Topalov

The Association of Chess Professionals will investigate allegations that former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria received illegal communications from his manager, Silvio Danailov, during chess games in several events, including the World Championship Tournament in San Luis, Argentina, in 2005 and last month's Corus Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Holland.

The ACP is a organization which expresses the concerns of players to organizers and to FIDE. Most top-ranked players belong to the ACP.

A German magazine recently made claims against Topalov's activity at Wijk aan Zee, with one journalist saying that he observed peculiar behavior by Danailov and quoted British grandmaster Nigel Short as saying as much. Short denied that he said he saw anything peculiar, but added he believes an investigation will clear air. Short has also said that he does not believe Topalov has been cheating.

A video of Danailov in the playing hall at Wijk aan Zee has been released by the Russian online publication Kommersant. Not all observers see anything suspicious in it.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:49 PM
Response to Original message

2. Diagrams and other features of the JR Chess Report

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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.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:50 PM
Response to Original message

3. Games from current and recent events

Edited on Sun Feb-11-07 03:57 PM by Jack Rabbit

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand, Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 6, Wijk aan Zee
Vishy Anand - Loek van Wely, Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 9, Wijk aan Zee
Friso Nijboer - Viorel Bologan, Corus International Tournament, Group B, Round 10, Wijk aan Zee
Elli P�htz - Paul Saint Amand, Gibtelecom Masters' Tournament, Round 2, Gibralter

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Kramnik - Anand, Corus A, Round 6, Wijk aan Zee

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: From the website of Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik vs. Vishy Anand
Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 6
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7

If 10. -- Be4 11. Qc1 then:

11. -- Bb7 12. Qc2 Nc6

13. e3 Nb4 14. Bxb4 Bxb4 15. a3 Be7 16. Nbd2

16. -- Rc8 17. b4 a5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 axb4 20. axb4 Nd5 is equal (Speelman-Cox, British Ch, Southport 1983).
16. -- a5 17. Rac1 Rc8 18. Nb3 Bd5 19. Rfd1 a4 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 gives White an edge as he tinkers with Black's backward c-pawn (Harikrishna-Mahesh Chandran, BPCL Ch, Nagpur (India), 2002).

13. e4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qxc7 Qd7 16. Qxd7 Nxd7 17. Rd1 Rac8 gives Black the edge in development and command of the c-file.

11. -- Qc8 12. Bg5 c5 13. Nbd2 Bb7 14. dxc5 Qxc5 15. Nb3 Qc8 16. Rd1 Bd5 17. Qe3 Qb7 18. Rac1 Nc6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Nxg2 Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Qf3 Nd5 is level with a symmetrical pawn formation (Smejkal-Prandstetter, Czech Ch, Sumperk 1984).

11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3 Nc6

If 12. -- Nbd7 13. Ba5 Qb8 14. Qe3 then:

14. -- b4 15. Nbd2 Ba8 16. Nb3 Rc8 17. Rc2 Be4 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Kxg2 Qb5 is balanced (Gelfand-Harikrishna, IT, Berumuda 2005).
14. -- Ba8 15. Nbd2 Bd6 16. Nb3 Nb6 17. Nbd2 Nbd7 18. Nb3 Re8 19. Qd3 Be4 20. Qd1 e5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Bc3 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 is equal (Kunte-Iordachescu, Op Trmt, Dubai 2005).

13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1 Nb8 15. Ba5 Rc8 16. a3!?

White introduces a novelty and a good one. The move restricts the scope of the Bishops at e7.
16. Bb6 Rb7 17. Bc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 Ra7 19. Nbd2 Bd5 20. Qc2 a5 21. a3 a4 22. Qd3 draw agreed (Ponomariov-Anand, Corus A Rd 1, Wijk aan Zee 2007).
16. Nbd2 Bd5 17. Nb3 Nbd7 18. Rc2 Be4 19. Rc3 Nd5 20. Rcc1 N5f6 21. Rc3 Nd5 22. Rcc1 N5f6 draw agreed (Gelfand-Karjakin, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2006).

16. -- Bd6

If 16. -- Nbd7 17. Nc3 Bb7 18. b4 then:

18. --Ne4 19. Ra2 Nd6 20. Rac2 Nc4 offers no advantage for the battle shaping up on the queenside.
18. -- e5 19. Nxe5 Bxg2 20. Nxd7 Nxd7 21. d5 Bh3 22. Qh5 gives White an extra pawn.

17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Qf1

If 18. Bc3 a5 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 then:

21. -- Na6? 22. Qb1 Qb7 23. h3 Ra8 is level.
21. -- Qc6?! 22. Ra3 Ne4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 will give White the tactical edge after 24. Bxg2 Ng5 25. Qh5!.

18. -- Nbd7 19. b4 e5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 21. -- Nd7e5:N

22. f3!

White protects his position by advancing a pawn to where it is protected by three pieces.
22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23. Bb6 Rb7 24. Bd4 Nfd7 25. Qg2 Qxg2+ 26. Kxg2 gives White better activity.

22. -- Nc4?

If 22. -- Bc4 23. Qd1 Rd8 24. f4 Nc6 25. Qc2 Bd5 26. e4 then:

After 26. -- Nxa5 27. exd5 Nb7 28. Qd3 White has more freedom
26. -- Nd4 27. Qd3 Bc6 28. Re1 Ne6 29. Qc3 gives White an edge in space.

23. Nxc4 Bxc4 24. Qf2 Re8

If 24. -- Nd7 25. Rd1 c5 26. Rd6 Be6 27. Rad1 cxb4 then:

28. axb4 28. -- Rc6 29. e4 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 Qb8 31. Qd4 gives White a significant edge in space and piece activity.
28. Bxb4

28. -- Rcc7 29. Qb2 Rc4 30. Bc3 Qf8 31. R6d2 gives White a lesser advantage in mobility.
28. -- a5 29. f4 Qb8 30. Be1 Bg4 31. R1d4 Nf6 32. Qd2 gives White command of the d-file, but it will bd difficult to make anything of it too soon.

25. e4

Also good is 25. a4 Bb3 26. axb5 axb5 27. Qb2 Bc4 28. Bxc7 Nd5 29. f4 White threans to dominate the kingside.

25. -- c6 26. Rd1 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Rd1 Qb7 29. Rd6 f6

White has schieved advantages in space, activity and mobility.
After 29. -- Re6 30. Rd1 Re8 31. f4 Nf6 32. Qb6 Qxb6+ 33. Bxb6 White has command of the d-file and Black's Rook is tied to the defense of the back rank.

30. f4 Re6 31. Rd2 Re7 32. Qd4?!

After 32. Rd6 Re6 33. e5 Rxd6 34. exd6 Nf8 35. Qc5 Nd7 36. Qxc6 White will threaten to advance the d-pawn.

32. -- Nf8 33. Qd8 Rd7 34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Qxd7 Nxd7 36. e5?!

Stronger is 36. Bh3! Nf8 37. Bc8 Ne6 38. Kf2 Kf7 39. Bxa6 Nd4 40. a4 Nc2 41. Kf3 when White's pieces have more freedom and the d-pawn is menacing.

36. -- fxe5

If 36. -- c5 37. Bh3 cxb4 38. axb4 then:

38. -- Nb8

39. exf6 39. -- Nc6 40. fxg7 Nxa5 41. bxa5

41. -- b4 42. Bf5 gives Black pause about advancing the b-pawn.
After 41. -- Kg7 42. Bf1 an exchange of Bishops would be to White's advantage.

39. Bg2 fxe5 40. Bc7 Nd7 41. fxe5 Kf7 42. h4 gives White more options.

After 38. -- Nf8 39. Bc8 fxe5 40. fxe5 Kf7 41. Kf2 Ng6 42. Bc7 White will take the a-pawn.

37. Bxc6 Nf6 38. Bb7

If 38. fxe5? Bd5 39. Bxd5+ Nxd5 then:

40. Kf2 Kf7 41. Kf3 Ke6 42. Ke4 offers neither side significant winning chances.
40. e6 Kf8 41. Kf2 Ke7 42. Kf3 Kxe6 43. h4 g6 is headed for a draw.

38. -- exf4?

This cedes to White the advantage of more remote passed pawn. It is enough to win.
After 38. -- e4 39. Bb6 Nd5 40. Bc5 e3 41. Bxd5+ Bxd5 42. Bxe3 Kf7 43. Kf2 White has the extra pawn, but with Bishops of opposite color it makes little matter.

39. gxf4 Nd5 40. Kf2

If 40. Bxa6 Nxf4 41. a4 Ne2+ 42. Kf2 Nc3 43. axb5 then:

43. -- Kf7 44. Ke3 Bxb5 45. Bc8 Ke7 46. Kd4 warfare can break out on either side of the board, but White still has the remote passsed pawn.
After 43. -- Nxb5 44. Ke3 Kf7 45. Bxb5 Bxb5 46. Kd4 g5 47. Kc5 Bd3 48. b5 Black must either surrentder his Bishop or allow the pawn to advance.

40. -- Nxf4 41. Ke3 g5 42. Bxa6 Kf7

Black might have lasted longer after 42. -- Ne2 43. Bd8 h6 44. Kd2 Nd4 45. a4! Kf7 46. Kc3.

Black: Vishy Anand
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 42. -- Kg8f7

43. a4!

The advance is beautifully timed. The a-pawn cannot be taken.
If 43. Kd2 Ke6 then:

After 44. a4! Kd5 45. Bxb5 Bxb5 46. axb5 White retians enough flexibility to win on either side of the board.
44. Bd8? throws away the victory: after 44. -- h6 45. a4 Kd7 46. Bf6 Black is able to fight for a draw.

43. -- Ke7 44. Bxb5 Bxb5 45. axb5 Kd7 46. Ke4 Ne2

After 46. -- Kc8 47. Kf5 h6 48. Bb6 Kb7 49. Bc5 Kc7 50. Kf6 Kd7 51. Kg7 Black's pawns fall.

47. Bb6 g4

47. -- Nc3+ 48. Kf5 Nxb5 49. Kxg5 Nc3 50. Bc5 Ne4+ 51. Kh6 Black's last pawn falls; Black will be able to stop one pawn from promoting, but not both.

48. Bf2 Nc3+ 49. Kf5 Nxb5 50. Kxg4 Ke6

50. -- Nc3 51. Bd4 Nb5 52. Bc5 Nc3 53. Kg5 Ne4+ 54. Kh6 is the same position as the previous note.

51. Kg5 Kf7 52. Kf5 Ke7 53. Bc5+ 1-0

The White King will move to the queenside to break the blockade while the Bishop will take up blockade duty on the kingside.
Anand resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Anand - van Wely, Corus A, Round 9, Wijk aan Zee

Vishy Anand
Photo: website of the 2006 Tal Memorial Tournament

Vishy Anand vs. Loek van Wely
Corus International Tournament, Group A, Round 9
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Poisoned Pawn Varaition)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 h6 11. Bh4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nfd7 13. Ne4 Qxa2 14. Rd1 Qd5 15. Qe3 Qxe5 16. Be2 Bc5 17. Bg3 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Qa5+ 19. Rd2 0-0 20. Bd6 Nc6?!

Anand is playing against himself in this game. He had the same position through White's 20th move from the opposite side of the board earlier in the tournament.
After 20. -- Rd8 21. Qg3 Qf5 22. Be5 Qg6 23. Qh4 Nc6 Black is three pawns up; White's better development is not adequate compensation for such a material deficit (Molytov-Anand, Corus A Rd 2, Wijk aan Zee 2007)
It will be noted that in the opinion of this mediocre club player, Black has a winning position. Apparently, the world's number 2 ranked player doesn't agree.
The move chosen by Black is inferior to that chosen by Anand in his second round game against Molytov. This allows White to win the exchange, theoretically getting back two of the three material units to which he is in debt. Giving Black's underdelopmed queenside, that is significant.

21. Bxf8 Nxf8 22. 0-0 Bd7

If 22. -- Nd7 23. Nd6 Nce5 24. Rd4 Nf6 then:

After 25. c3 Nc6 26. Rdd1 Qe5 27. Qf2 Qxc3 it's all over for White.
25. Rdd1 Ng6 26. Bf3 Rb8 27. c4 Ne5 28. c5 Nxf3+ 29. Rxf3 Qa4 30. Re1 Nd5 White's extra pawns rule.

23. Nd6 Ne5?

This mistake is bad enough to allow Black to equalize.
Correct is 23. -- Nd8! 24. Bf3 Qc7 25. Bh5 f6 when:

26. Ne4 Qe5 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 28. Qxe5 fxe5 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rxd7 a5 White is a clear two pawns ahead.
26. Bf3 Bc6 27. Rb1 Bxf3 28. Qxf3 Rb8 29. Ne8 Qc5+ and Black, having solved his development woes, is winning effortlessly.

Black: Loek van Wely
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after 23. -- Nc6e5

24. Nxb7!

This gains time on the Queen and threatens the centralized Knight. The game is equal.

24. -- Qc7 25. Nd6 f6 26. c4

The text is stronger than 26. Qg3 Nfg6 27. Bh5 Kh7 28. Re1 a5 29. c4 a4 giving Black a slight edge with his advanced passed a-pawn.

26. -- Bc6 27. Ra1 Nfd7

If 27. -- a5 28. Nb5 Qb7 then:

29. Bf1 29. -- a4 30. Rda2 Qb8 31. Qd4 remains equal.
29. Nd6?! throws away White's hard work: 29. -- Qb4 30. Raa2 a4 31. Rab2 Qa5 32. Ra2 Rb8 gives Black superior activity and some tangible threats.

28. Qd4

If 28. Bg4 Nf8 29. Bd1 a5 30. Bc2 a4 then:

31. Rd4 Ra6 32. c5 Ra5 33. Bxa4 Nfd7 gives neither side much of an edge.
31. Rdd1 Nfd7 32. Ra3 Rd8 33. Rd2 Nb6 34. c5 Nc8 gives Black some initiative, but there is no decisive stroke in sight.

28. -- a5 29. Nb5 Qb6?

Black opens the door wide enough for White to enter.
Black's best bet was exploiint command of the long diagonal: if 29. -- Qb7 30. Nd6 Qb4 then:

After 31. Rdd1 Rb8 32. Nb5 a4 33. Qd6 Qxd6 34. Rxd6 Nc5 35. Nd4 Bd7 Black's command of the open b-file gives him the edge.
31. Rad1 Rd8 32. Nb5 Rb8 33. Qd6 Qxd6 34. Rxd6 Nc5 35. Rd8+ Rxd8 36. Rxd8+ Kf7 the moble Rook gives Black an edge.

30. Qxb6 Nxb6

Black: Loek van Wely
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White: Vishy Anand
Position after 30. -- Nd7g6:Q

31. Rd6!

The Rook fork is more effective than the Knight fork: if 31. Nc7 Rc8 32. Nxe6 Nbxc4 33. Bxc4 Nxc4 34. Rd4 then:

34. -- Be8 35. Rc1 Kf7 36. Nxg7 Kxg7 37. Rdxc4 Rxc4 38. Rxc4 the remote passed pawn gives Black some fighting power.
34. -- Bb5 35. Rb1 Be8 36. Rc1 Kf7 37. Nxg7 Kxg7 38. Rdxc4 Rxc4 39. Rxc4 arrives at the same position as the red variation in a more roundabout way.

31. -- Nbd7

31. -- Bxb5 32. cxb5 Nbc4 33. Rxe6 Kf7 34. Ra6 gives White a strong initiative.

32. Nd4 Be4 33. Nxe6 a4 34. Nc7

34. c5? lets Black off the hook: after 34. -- a3 35. Ba6 Nf7 36. Rxd7 Rxa6 37. Re7 White still has the edge, but Black's a-pawn diminishes it.

34. -- Ra5 35. Ra6 Rxa6 36. Nxa6 Bc6 37. c5 Bb7

If 37. -- Kf7 38. Bd1 Nd3 39. Bxa4 Bxa4 40. Rxa4 then:

40. -- N7xc5 41. Nxc5 Nxc5 42. Ra7+ leaves White much stronger.
40. -- N3e5 41. Rd4 Ke7 42. Rd5 Nc6 43. Kf1 White's c-pawn is the determining factor in his favor.

38. Rc1

If 38. Rxa4 Bxa6 39. Rxa6 Nxc5 40. Ra7 then:

40. -- Ncd3 41. Bd1 g6 42. Bc2 Kf8 43. Bxd3 Nxd3 44. Kf1 Black's King is shut out of the struggle; White will bring his King and pawns forward.
After 40. -- Ne6 41. Kf2 Kh7 42. Ke3 Kg6 43. h4 f5 44. Ra6 White still has considerably more freedom.

38. -- Nc6 39. Nc7 Nd4

If 39. -- Nce5 40. Bb5 Bc6 41. Bxc6 Nxc6 42. Ra1 then:

After 42. -- Nce5 43. Na6 Kf7 44. Rxa4 it is likely to cost Black a Knight to stop the pawn.
After 42. -- Nxc5 43. Rc1 White wins one of the Knights.

If 39. -- Kf8 40. Ne6+ Ke7 41. Nxg7 then:

41. -- Nd4 42. Bg4 a3 43. Rd1 a2 44. Bxd7 Ne2+ 45. Kf2 Nc3 46. Nf5+ White is a Rook up and will methodically go about caputing the a-pawn, after which Black may resign.
After 41. -- Kd8 42. Nf5 Kc7 43. Bd1 a3 44. Ra1 Nxc5 45. Rxa3 Black's kingside pawns will soon fall.

40. Bc4+ Kf8 41. Rd1 1-0

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:53 PM
Response to Reply #3

6. Nijboer - Bologan, Corus B, Round 10, Wijk aan Zee

Edited on Sun Feb-11-07 04:35 PM by Jack Rabbit

Viorel Bologan
Photo: ChessBase.com

Friso Nijboer vs. Viorel Bologan
Corus International Tournament, Group B, Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, January 2007

Advance German Game: Short Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bb4+

If 5. -- c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 then:

8. c4 Nbc6 9. Qa4 a6

10. Nc3 dxc4

11. 0-0-0 Bd3 12. Bxd3 cxd3 13. Rxd3 Qa5 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. f4 Rd8 16. Rhd1 h5 17. h4 Nec6 18. Nxc6 Rxd3 19. Rxd3 Nxc6 20. a3 Rh6 draw agreed (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Eur Ind Ch, Kusasdasi (Turkey), 2006).
11. Rd1 Bd3 12. Bxd3 cxd3 13. Rxd3 b5 14. Qb3 Nxe5 15. Rd1 Qc8 16. 0-0 N7c6 17. Rc1 Na5 18. Qd1 Nac4 19. Bf4 Ng6 20. Bg3 Qb7 21. a4 Be7 22. axb5 0-0 23. Qe2 draw agreed (Svidler-Leko, Tilburg 1998).

10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3 Qa5 12. Nxf5 Nxf5 13. Qxa5 Nxa5 14. Bb6 Nc6 15. f4 Be7 16. 0-0-0 g5 17. g3 gxf4 18. gxf4 +/= (Svidler-Anand, Team M, Moscow 2002).

8. Bg5 Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Bg6 10. Nb3 Qb6 11. Nb5 Nec6 12. Be3 Qd8 13. f4 a6 14. Nc3 Bb4 15. Qd2 0-0 16. a3 Be7 17. 0-0 Nd7 18. Rad1 h6 = (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corr 1999).

If 5. -- Nd7 6. 0-0 Ne7 then:

7. Nh4 7. -- Bg6 8. Nd2 c5 9. c3

9. -- Nc6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Be3 a6 13. g3 g5 14. Kg2 cxd4 15. cxd4 Nf8 16. Rc1 f6 17. h3 Qd7 18. Rc3 +/= (Khalifman-Lobron, IT, Munich 1992).
12. -- Qc7 13. Bd3 c4 14. Bc2 b5 15. g3 Nb6 16. Ng5 b4 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qg4 Ke8 19. Qxe6 Qd7 20. Qxg6+ Kd8 21. f4 +/= (Anand-Ravi, Op Trmt, Calcutta 1992).

9. -- cxd4 10. cxd4 Nf5 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Nf3 Be7 13. Bd3 Nb8 14. Bd2 Nc6 15. Bc3 a6 16. b3 Nh4 17. Nxh4 Bxh4 18. g3 Be7 19. a3 +/= (Anand-Karpov, Brussels 1991).

7. Be3 c5 8. c4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Nc3 b5 11. Bd3 c4 12. Bc2 Rc8 13. Re1 b4 14. Ne4 Nd5 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Nh4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 g6 18. Qg4 Bg7 19. f4 Qb6 = (Kamsky-Karpov, Dos Hermanas 1995).

6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. 0-0 Ba5 8. c4!?

White challenges Black's center.
8. a3 Bc7 9. c4 f6 10. Nh4 Ne7 11. f4 0-0 12. b4 a5 13. Bb2 fxe5 14. fxe5 axb4 15. Qb3 bxa3 16. Bxa3 Bb6 17. c5 Ba5 18. Ndf3 Bg4 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Nxf3 Nf5 21. Bd3 Nh4 22. Bc2 Nf5 23. Bd3 draw agreed (Turov-Nikolaidis, Ikaros Chess Fest, Kirykos (Greece), 2005).

8. -- Bc7

The Bishop retreats to a less active post.
If 8. -- Ne7 9. Qb3 then:

9. -- Qb8 10. Rd1 Bc7 11. Qc3 dxc4 12. Nxc4 f6 13. Qb3 Nd5 is unclear.
9. -- Qb6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qa4 Rc8 12. Nb3 Nc6 13. Nxa5 Nxa5 14. b3 gives White more freedom; he should be able to challenge Black's control of the c-file.

9. b3 Nh6 10. Ba3!

White prevents Black from short castling in an economical manner.
If 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Re1 0-0 then:

After 12. Nb1 f6 13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. e6 Bxe6 both sides have weak pawns, Black is better developed by White's King is safer.
12. Nf1 f6 13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. e6 Bxe6 15. Qd2 f5 both sides have weak pawns, Black has more space and White's King is safer.

10. -- f6 11. Re1 Kf7

Black will not be able to castle with the Bishop at a3, so he finds alternate safety for his King.
If 11. -- fxe5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. dxe5 then:

After 13. -- Nf7 14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Nd4 White's pieces are well placed.
13. -- Rc8 14. Rc1 Nf7 15. Nd4 Bxe5 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. N2f3 White's superior development gives him a huge advantage.

12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3

The Knight puts a question to the Bishop.
After 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Bc1 Kg8 15. Bg5 Qg6 16. Be3 Nf7 17. Rc1 White is ready to pry open the center.

13. -- Bg6

Black decides to retreat his Bishop rather than wait for it to be exhanged on f5.
After 13. -- fxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Nxe5+ Nxe5 16. Bb2 Ng6 17. Nh5 the Knight will be both safe and intrusive for a while at h5.

14. Bf1 Kg8 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Qd2

This is a flexible move airmed which connects the Rooks on the back rank and gives the Queen more scope on the dark diagonals than it had on the light diagonals at d1.
If 16. exf6 then:

16. -- gxf6 17. Qd2 Nf7 18. Rac1 Rc8

19. Be2 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 gives White the c-file.
19. Nh4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 +/=

16. -- Qxf6? in order to allow the Rooks to freely navigate the back rank would normally be the better idea, but not here: 17. Bb5! Rad8 18. Rc1 leaves Black's Bishop at c7 hanging.

16. -- Nf7 17. Rac1?!

There is no guarantee that White can hold the c-file. It would have been better to open the e-file to a backward pawn.
If 17. exf6 then:

17. -- Qxf6 18. Bb5 Rad8 19. Rad1 a6 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 is equal with a Black pawn thrust to e5 indicated.
17. -- gxf6 18. Rac1 Rc8 19. Be2 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 allows White to keep the c-file as his very own.

17. -- fxe5 18. dxe5

White resists the temptation of getting into complications with and wisely just retakes the pawn.
If 18. Bb5?! exd4 19. Nxd4 e5 then:

20. Ndf5 a6 21. Be2 Nf6 22. Red1 Ba5 23. b4 Bb6 gives Black an active Bishop pair.
20. Nc2 a6 21. Be2 Nf6 22. Red1 Bd6 and White must either exchange his active dark-bound Bishop or retreat it to a less active post.

18. -- Nfxe5 19. Nxe5

By trading on e5 now, White avoids a series of exchanges that would leave the game level.
19. Nd4 Rc8 20. Bb2 Qf6 21. Bb5 Qf7 is even after exchanges on c7, e5 and d8.

19. -- Bxe5 20. Qb4 Qf6?!

Black ignores the the threat of 21. Qxb7. He does so at his peril.
If 20. -- Rb8! 21. Red1 Bxg3 22. hxg3

22. -- b5 23. Bb2 a6 24. a4 Be4 25. axb5 axb5 26. Bxb5 e5 is balanced.
22. -- a6 23. Bb2 Be4 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25. Rxd3 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 gives Black a solid position to withstnad White's initiative beginning with 27. Rc3.

21. Re3?

Apart from losing the exchange, this move seems terribly out of place. The only thing remotely resembling a rationale for it is to retake on g3 without spoiling White's pawn structure.
White now loses quickly.
Correct is 21. Qxb7! (see the last note) 21. -- Nb6 22. Bb5 Reb8 23. Qa6 when:

23. -- Bf4 24. Rc6 Re8 25. Bb4 White has the advantage in piece activity.
23. -- Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Qxa7 give White a strong initiative.

Black: Viorel Bologan
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White: Friso Nijboer
Position after 21. Rele3

21. -- Bf4!

Of course. What else?
21. -- Nb6 22. Qg4 Bf4 23. Rf3 e5 24. Rc7 Rab8 25. Bb2 Qd8 leaves Black with some resources to resist.

22. Bb5 Red8 23. Ne2

After 23. Rf3 d4 24. Ne2 Bxc1 25. Rxf6 Bxa3 26. Qxa3 Nxf6 27. Qe7 d3 it will cost Black too dearly to stop the d-pawn.

23. -- Bxe3 24. fxe3 Qe5 25. Qf4

25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Nxd4 a6 27. Be2 Rdc8 leaves Black an exchange to the good.

25. -- Qxf4 26. Nxf4 a6 27. Be2 Rdc8 28. Rd1 Bf7 29. 0-1

After 29. Bg4 Re8 30. Nxd5 exd5 31. Bxd7 Rxe3 32. Kf2 Rc3 Black is up by an excahnge and a passed pawn.
Mh. Nijboer resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Sun Feb-11-07 03:54 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. P�htz - Saint Amand, Round 2, Gibralter

Elli P�htz
Photo: Rochade Kuppenheim (Germany)

Elli P�htz vs. Paul Saint Amand
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 2
Gibralter, January 2007

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

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 10. g4 0-0

If 10. -- b5 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. f5 then:

13. -- Nc5

14. f6 gxf6 15. gxf6 Bf8

16. Rg1 h5 17. a3 Rb8 is even, but complex.
16. Qh5 Bd7 17. Bh3 b4 18. Nce2 is unclear; it is hard to tell whether the White pawn at f6 is an asset or a liability.

14. h4 b4 15. Nce2 e5 16. Nb3 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Bb7 18. Rd5 gives White an advantage in space and pawn mobility.

13. -- Bxg5+ 14. Kb1 Ne5 15. Qh5 Qd8 16. Rg1 Bf6 17. fxe6 0-0 18. Bh3 g6 promises equal chances.

11. Bh4 b5 12. g5 Ne8 13. a3!?

White adventurously leaves the the well-trodden path. The moves brings the game to an equal position.
After 13. f5 Nc5 14. Bg2 b4 15. Nce2 Bb7 16. Qg4 Rc8 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Kb1 White's pressure on Black's e-pawn yields the initiative (Fluvia-Poyatos-Rosell, Op Trmt, Banyoles, Catalonia (Spain) 2005).

13. -- Rb8

If 13. -- b4 14. axb4 Rb8 15. Qh3 then:

15. -- Bd8 16. g6 Bxh4 17. gxh7+ Kh8 18. Qxh4 +/=
15. -- Qb7 16. g6 Bxh4 17. gxh7+ Kh8 18. Qxh4 Qxb4 19. Nb3 +/-

14. Bh3 b4?

Black apparently believes he can open up the queenside to his advantage, but White's Knights in the ceter are ready to counterattack.
14. -- Nc5 15. b4 Na4 16. Rd3 Bd7 17. Nxa4 bxa4 18. Be1 gives White more space and a superior pawn structure, but Black's game is playable.
14. -- g6 15. Be1 Nb6 16. Bg2 e5 17. Nde2 exf4 18. h4 also give White more kingside space, but Black has the defensive resources to deal with it.

15. axb4 Rxb4

15. -- Qc4 16. g6 Ndf6 17. e5 Qxb4 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. gxh7+ yields an extra piece for White.
Black has heavy pieces pieces bearing down on White's King position. Is there anything White can do about it?

Black: Paul Saint Amand
!""""""""#
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White: Elli P�htz
Position after 15. -- Rb8b4:p

16. Nxe6!!

Among the best ways to meet a wing attack is a counterstrike in the center.
White offers her Knight, seeing that she gains a superior game whether the sacrifice is accepted or declined.
If 16. Rhe1 Qb7 then:

17. b3 Nc5 18. Na2 Rb6 is equal.
17. Nb3 Nc5 18. Nxc5 dxc5 gives Black control of the b-file.

16. -- Ne5

Black declines the sacrifice and offers to exchange Queens.
If 16. -- fxe6 17. Bxe6+ Kh8 18. Nd5 then:

18. -- Qc4 19. Bxd7 Bxd7 20. Rhe1 Bd8 21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Kb1 gives Black the initiative, but White has the defensive resources to handle it and will be ready to launch a kingside attack when ready.
After 18. -- Qb7 19. Nxb4 Qxb4 20. Rhf1 Nc7 21. Qh3 Qa4 22. Kb1 White will use e6 to as a base of operations on Black's turf

If 16. -- Qb7? 17. Nxf8 Bxf8 18. b3 then:

After 18. -- Nc5 19. Bxc8 Qxc8 20. Bf2 Nc7 21. Rd4 Rb8 22. h4 Black has some small initiative on the kingside, but one played out White will commence with a strong kingside attack.
18. -- Qc6 19. Bf2 Rb8 20. Bg2 Bb7 21. h4 Rc8 22. Rh3 d5 23. exd5 White is poised to launch a devastating kingside attack.

17. Nxc7 Nxf3 18. N7d5 Bxh3

Black is forced to give up the exchange.
18. -- Rb8 drops a piece to 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 Nxc8.
18. -- Bb7 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Bg3 Bxe4 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. Nf5 Ra4 23. Kb1 White is a piece ahead.

19. Nxb4 Nxh4

Black: Paul Saint Amand
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White: Elli P�htz
Position after 19. -- Nf3h4:p

20. Nc6!

White wins the Bishop.

20. -- Bxg5 21. fxg5 Nf3 22. Rd3 Bg2 23. Rhd1

As it transpires, White is a whole exchange up with active Rooks.
Stronger than the text is 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Rhd1 Ne5 25. Rg3 Bf3 26. Rd5 Bh5 27. Nf5 when White wins the pawn at d6.

23. -- Nc7 24. h4 Ne6

Black can resign after 24. -- Rd8 25. Nxd8 Nb5 26. Nxb5 axb5 27. Rxd6 Nxh4 28. Rd7.

25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nf5 g6

The d-pawn was doomed; this is less an attempt to chase the Knight away than to slow White's pawn advance.
If 26. -- Ra8 27. Rxd6 then:

After 17. -- g6 28. Ne3 Nxh4 29. Rg1 Bf3 30. Nc4 Kg7 31. Rg3 White cxontinue to enjoy the full advantage of the exchange.

After 27. -- a5 28. R1d5 Kg8 29. Rd7 a4 30. Nb5 Bh3 31. Re7@31. -- Rf8 32. Nbd6 Nf4 33. Ra5 Black's a-pawn falls.
31. -- Bg4 32. Nbd6 Bh5 33. Ra5! Rd8 34. Re8+ the a-pawn falls after Rooks are exchanged.

27. Nxd6 Nxh4

After 27. -- Kg7 28. e5 Nxe5 29. Re3 Nf3 30. Re4 Rd8 31. Rg4 Bh3 32. Rg3 White wins a piece.

28. Rg3 Bf3 29. Rd3 Bh5 30. Nd5 Kg7

After 30. -- a5 31. Rh3 Be2 32. Rd2 White wins a piece.

31. Nf6 Nf4 32. Rd2 Ne2+

If 32. -- Be2 33. Nd5 then:

33. -- Nxd5 34. exd5 Rd8 35. Nxf7 Kxf7 36. Rxe2 Rxd5 37. Rh3 with each trade, White's material edge looms larger.
After 33. -- Nh5 34. Rh3 Nf3 35. Rxe2 White is a piece to the good.

33. Rxe2 Bxe2 34. Nde8+ 1-0

After 34. Nde8+ Rxe8 35. Nxe8+ Kf8 36. Nf6 Nf3 37. Nxh7+ further resistance is futile.
M. Saint Amand resigns.

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