The JR Chess Report (May 8): US Champ Kamsky advances in Candidates Matches

Kamsky, Gelfand advance to Candidates' Semifinals

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

Newly re-crowned US national champion Gata Kamsky drew the fourth and final game of the quarterfinal match against former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov while Israeli GM Boris Gelfand did likewise to grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan today to advance to the semifinal match in Kazan, Tartarstan (Russia).

Kamsky and Gelfand will play each other in a four-game semifinal match beginning Thursday. Tomorrow is set aside for the tiebreaks to determine both of the semifinalists in the second bracket.

Mr. Kamsky, who won the only decisive game of the match in Round 2 on Friday, played an up and down and up again game against Topalov today, finally drawing in 58 moves. Topalov, playing White, held a winning advantage as late as the 43rd move, and a superior game until completely throwing away his winning chances on move 48. Had Topalov won the game, he and Kamsky would have played a series of rapid games tomorrow to determine which of the two advances to the semifinals.

Mr. Gelfand, who qualified for the quarterfinals by winning the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2009, defeated Mamedyarov in yesterday's third round and wrapped up his semifinal berth today when a draw was agreed with Gelfand, playing White, in a superior position. For Gelfand, the draw was as good as an outright victory.

All of the games in both quarterfinal matches in the second bracket ended in draws. Tomorrow, Armenian GM Levon Aronian and former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk will play a set of rapid games to determine the winner of their match. The other playoff round pits former world champion Vladimir Kramnik against Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan. The winners of tomorrow's playoff wil also face each other in a semifinal match beginning Thursday.

The final match, which is six games long, are scheduled to begin May 19 and end May 26 with any necessary tiebreaks. Games are broadcast live on the FIDE website beginning at 3 pm local time (4 am PDT).


Yu Yangyi leads Asian Championship General Group; Women's Group in 4-way tie

Photo by Argooya in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Chinese grandmaster Yu Yangyi leads the general group of the Asian Championships in Mashhad, Iran, with 5½ points after seven rounds while the women's group after seven rounds is a logjam with four ladies at the top.

In the women's section, the leaders with 5 points each out of a possible seven are Eesha Karavade and Dronavalli Harika, both of India, and Tan Zhongyi and Huang Qian, both of China.

The ninth and final round in both groups will be played Tuesday. Live games are scheduled from the official website, but transmission problems have been persistent throughout the tournament.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

European Women's Championship, Tblisi 7-18 May.
Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

Gata Kamsky
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Veselin Topalov - Gata Kamsky
Candidates' Matches, Quarterfinal Match, Round 2
Kazan, 6 May 2011

West Indian Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Slav-Grünfeld Defense)

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

• 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.d4 transposes to the Russian Opening of the Indian Queen's Gambit (better known as the Grünfeld Defense). See Pashikian-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009.

4...Nxd5 5.Qb3

• 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:
• If 11...Qd7 12.Nd2 Ba6 13.e5 Rad8 14.h4 b6 gives White a small 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 gives White a small advantage in space (Ljubojevic-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1997).
• If 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 then:
• If 7...f6 8.Be3 e5 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...Nd7 10.Bc4 Bc5 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.b4 Ne6 13.Kc2 then:
• 13...a5 14.a3 Ke7 15.Nb3 a4 16.Nc1 Nf4 is equal (Bauer-Sutkovsky, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13...Ke7 14.a4 Rd8 15.Nb3 Nf4 16.g3 Be6 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Rhd1 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 draw (Shabalov-Kalinichev, Soviet Army ChT, 1990).
• If 9...Be6 10.Bc4 then:
• If 10...Kf7 11.Kc2 Nd7 12.Rad1 then:
• 12...Nb6 13.Bxe6+ Kxe6 14.f3 Be7 15.b3 Rhd8 16.a4 Rac8 draw (Szekely-Ftacnik, IT, Beijing, 1996).
• 12...a5 13.a4 Nc5 14.Bxc5 Bxc5 15.f3 c6 16.Bxe6+ Kxe6 is equal (Andersson-Atakisi, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 10...Bxc4 11.Nxc4 Nd7 12.Kc2 Bc5 13.Rhd1 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 0-0-0 15.f3 Nc5 16.h4 c6 17.g3 draw (Buhman-Berndt, Bundesliga 0001, Mainz, 2001).
• If 7...Nd7 then:
• If 8.Bf4 c6 9.Kc2 Bg7 10.Nd2 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.a4 Ne5 12.Nc4 Ng4 13.f3 then:
• 13...Nf6 14.Be2 b6 15.Rhd1 Be6 16.Rd2 Nh5 17.Be3 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Re1 gives White a comfortable game (Gheorghiu-Veroci Petronic, GMA Op, Moscow, 1989).
• 13...Nh6 14.Na5 e5 15.Be3 Re8 16.b4 Bf8 17.Bc4 a6 18.g4 Kg7 gives White more freedom (Book-H. Carlsson, IT, Helsinki, 1947).
• 10...Ne5 11.h3 Be6 12.Be3 h5 13.f4 Nd7 14.g3 gives White a small advantage with a central/kingside pawn duo (Dautov-Svidler, Rpd Op, Frankfurt, 2000).
• 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.Re1 Nc5 10.Bf4 c6 11.a4 f6 12.Nd2 e5 13.Be3 Ne6 14.a5 h5 15.Kc2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Tukmakov-Grigorian, IT, Yerevan, 1976).

5...Nb6 6.d4

• 6.Ng5 e6 7.d3 Nc6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Nf3 e5 10.g3 Be6 11.Qd1 Nd5 12.Bd2 g5 gives Black better development and a great advantage in space (Brranicky-Korchnoi, TT, Lodz, 1955).

6...Bg7 7.Bf4

• If 7.Bg5 Be6 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 then:
• If 9...h6 10.Bh4 Nb4 11.Qb1 0-0 12.e3 Bf5 13.e4 Bg4 14.d5 then:
• 14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qd7 16.a3 Na6 17.Bg3 c6 18.d6 gives White a small advantage in space (Pelletier-Sutovsky, IT, Pamplona, 2003).
• If 14...f5 15.a3 g5 16.Bg3 f4 17.axb4 fxg3 18.hxg3 Rxf3 then:
• 19.gxf3 Bxf3 20.Rh2 Bxd1 21.Qxd1 is equal (Sankidze-Gopal, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• If 19.Be2? drops a piece to 19...Rxc3!! when:
• 20.Bxg4 Rb3 21.Be6+ Kh8 gives Black an extra Knight (Bauer-Svidler, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).
• 20.bxc3 Bxe2 21.Kxe2 Na4 22.Rd3 Nxc3+ 23.Rxc3 Bxc3 gives Black an extra Bishop.
• If 9...Nb4 10.Qb1 0-0 then:
• 11.e3 a5 12.Be2 a4 13.0-0 h6 14.Bh4 c6 15.h3 N4d5 16.Rc1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Vagaian, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1970).
• 11.e4 Bg4 12.d5 f5 13.a3 Na6 14.Be2 h6 15.Be3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 gives White the advantage in space (Furman-Zilberstein, Soviet Ch, Baku, 1972).

7...Be6 8.Qa3

• If 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 then:
• If 10...Nb4 11.Qd1 c5 12.0-0 Rc8 then:
• 13.a3 N4d5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.dxc5 Rxc5 16.Rc1 Qc8 is equal (Gausel-Jansa, Op, Oslo, 1991).
• 13.Be5 Bxe5 14.Nxe5 cxd4 15.exd4 Nc6 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 is equal (Padevsky-Hort, IT, Monte Carlo, 1968).
• 11.Qc1 N4d5 12.Bg3 c5 13.Ne4 cxd4 14.exd4 Bg4 15.Qd1 gives White the advantage in space (Bogner-A. Wilson, IT 0708, Hastings, 2007).

8...Nc6

• If 8...0-0 9.e3 N8d7 then:
• 10.Rd1 c6 11.Ng5 Bd5 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.h4?! is equal, while 15.f4! gives White an excellent game (Eljanov-Svidler, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 10.Be2 c5 11.0-0 Nc4 12.Qa4 Ndb6 13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bd7 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

9.0-0-0 (N)

• 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 a5 11.Qc5 a4 12.Nb5 Ra5 13.Qc1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Bg4 15.Qc4 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).

9...Nd5

• The game is equal.

10.Bg3 Bh6!?

• 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qd5 12.Nd2 Bh6 13.Kb2 remains equal.

11.e3!

• White blocks the check and at the same time fortifies the d-pawn and prepares to develop the King's Bishop. In addition, White assumes a huge advantage in space.

11...a5!?

• The maneuver on the queenside is a departure from Grünfeld SOP, when Black challenges White's pawn center.
• If 11...0-0 12.h4 Bg4 13.Bc4 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Bg7 15.Rd2 still gives White a healthy advantage in space, but Black has a safer King and is better prepared for standard Grünfeld operations than in the text..

12.h4!

• White assumes a small advantage with better development.
• 12.Bb5!? 0-0! 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Ne4! Nb4 15.b3 gives White only a slight advantage.

12...Ncb4 13.h5 c6

• 13...g5 14.Nd2 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Nd5 16.Bc4 Bg4 17.f3 gives White a fair advantage in space.

14.hxg6!

• White executes a plan similar to one often employed against the Sicilian Dragon.
• If 14.Rd2!? gxh5 15.Be5 f6 16.Bg3 then:
• If 16...Rg8! 17.Bh4 Rg4 18.Rh2 then:
• If 18...Qd6 19.Bg3 Nxa2+ 20.Nxa2 Qxa3 21.bxa3 then:
• 21...Nxe3 22.fxe3 Bxe3 23.Be1 Bxa2 24.Rxh5 Rg8 gives Black more freedom.
• 21...Bxe3 22.fxe3 Nxe3 23.Bd3 Rxg3 24.Rxh5 Nxg2 gives Black greater activity.
• 18...Nxe3 19.fxe3 Bxe3 20.Be1 Bxd2+ 21.Bxd2 Bf7 gives Black a material advantage.
• 16...Nxe3 17.fxe3 Bxe3 18.Rxh5 Bxd2+ 19.Kxd2 Bg4 20.Rh4 is equal.

14...hxg6 15.Rd2 f6 16.Ne4!?

• This is not a good square for the Knight.
• 16.Be2 Qd7 17.Kd1 Nb6 18.b3 N6d5 19.Na4 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

16...b6

• If 16...Bf5 17.Nc5 b6 then:
• If 18.Nd3 Rc8 19.Qb3 a4 then:
• 20.Qa3 c5 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Nf4 ensuing exchanges will leave Black with a centralized Knight that bears some resemblance to a tightrope walker without a net.
• 20.Qxa4?! Ra8! 21.Qb3 Rxa2 22.Kd1 Bxd3! 23.Rxd3 e5 gives Black a tremendous advantage.
• If 18.Na4 Qd7 19.Qb3 Qe6 then:
• 20.Be2 Bc2 21.Qa3 Bf5 22.Nc3 is equal.
• 20.Rh2?! Qe4! 21.Nc3 a4 gives Black a clear advantage in space.

17.Be2

• White is limited to a slight advantage. The Knight at e4 still looks insecure.

17...Qc8 18.Rh4?!

• The Rook is too tempting a target here.
• 18.Nc3 Bf5 19.Rh2 g5 20.Qb3 Qe6 21.Bc4 a4 is equal.

18...Kf7?!

• The Rook is a target, but Black fails to take aim.
• 18...g5 19.Rh1 Nxa2+ 20.Qxa2 Nc3 21.Nxc3 Bxa2 22.Nxa2 a4 gives Black a material advantage of one pawn as White has three minor pieces for the Queen.

19.Rd1!?

• There doesn't seem to be as much urgency to overprotect the d-pawn as there is to block Black's possible entrence to White's position on the c-file.
• If 19.Nc3 then:
• 19...Ke8 20.Rh1 Bg4 21.Qa4 b5 22.Qa3 Bf5 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 19...Qd7?! 20.Rh2 Rad8 21.Qa4 Nxc3 22.bxc3 Nd5 23.Qa3 continues to give White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 19.Rd2d1

19...g5!

• Black has equalized the space count and grabs the initiative by attacking White's Rook.

20.Rh2

• If 20.Rhh1 g4 21.Nfd2 then:
• If 21...c5 22.dxc5 f5 23.Be5 fxe4 then:
• 24.Nxe4 Bg7 25.Rxh8 Bxh8 26.Bxh8 Qxh8 27.Ng5+ gives White a heathy advantage after 27...Kf6 28.Nxe6 Kxe6 29.e4!
• 24.Bxh8!? Qxc5+ 25.Nc4 Rxh8 26.Kb1 Nxe3 27.fxe3 Bxc4 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to 2^189 pawns and greater puiece activity, especially in the neighborhood of the White King.
• 21...f5 22.Be5 fxe4 23.Bxh8 Qxh8 24.Nxe4 Qg7 gives Black a small material advantage, the initiative and more space.

20...g4!

• Black uses his initiative to further disrupt White's pieces. The Knight is forced back.
• If 20...Nxa2+ 21.Qxa2 Nc3 22.Nxc3 Bxa2 23.Nxa2 gives Black an extra pawn (otherwise, White has three minor pieces for the Queen); White has the advantage in space.

21.Nfd2

• 21.Nh4?! c5! 22.dxc5 f5! 23.Rxd5 Nxd5 24.Nd2 Nb4 gives White a powerful advantage with a material edge and an attack on a hanging pawn on an otherwise open file.

25.Nb3 Qc6] 21...c5!

• White intends to open the game for his pieces
• An interesting alternative is 21...Nxa2+ 22.Qxa2 Nxe3 23.Qa4 Nxd1 24.Kxd1 Qd7 when Black has a material advantage.

22.dxc5

• White assiststs Black in opening the c-file, and White is about to be punished for his failure to black it.
• If 22.Kb1 cxd4 23.Rc1 Qb7 then:
• If 24.exd4 Bf5 25.Rxh6 Rxh6 then:
• 26.Bc4 b5 27.Bb3 Ke8 28.Rd1 Qc6 29.Rg1 Rc8 leaves Black with numerous winning plans.
• 26.f3 Rc8 27.Bc4 b5 28.Bf1 Rh1! gives Black a winning attack.
• If 24.Rch1 then after 24...Kg7 25.Rxh6 Rxh6 26.Rxh6 Kxh6 27.exd4 Rc8 Black wins.

22...f5 23.Rxh6?

• White has been walking on eggshells for several moves, but now hears a loud crack under his feet.
• If 23.Be5 fxe4 then:
• 24.Bxh8 Qxc5+ 25.Bc4 Rxh8 26.Kb1 g3 27.fxg3 Nxe3 leaves White in an uphill battle for survival.
• If 24.Nxe4?! then:
• 24...Qc6! 25.Bxh8 Rxh8 26.Rxh6 (forced: White loses the Rook if Black plays 26...Bxe3+!) 26...Rxh6 27.Ng5+ Ke8 leaves Black a piece for two pawns.
• If 24...Rh7! then:
• If 25.Rdh1 Kg6! 26.Bd4 Bf5 then:
• If 27.Ng3 e5 28.Bc3 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Qxc5 then:
• If 30.Qb3 Bxe3+ then:
• If 31.Kb2 Rxh2 32.Rxh2 then:
• 32...a4 33.Qxb4 a3+ 34.Kb3 Qd5+ 35.c4 Qd4 gives White slim chances of getting some counterplay.
• If 32...Bf4? 33.Nxf5! Nd5 34.g3 Kxf5 35.gxf4 Kxf4 36.Rg2 is equal.
• If 31.fxe3? Qxe3+ 32.Kb2 Rxh2 33.Rd1 Rxg2 is time to turn the lights out.
• If 30.Rxh6+? Rxh6 then:
• If 31.Rxh6+ Kxh6 32.Nxf5+ Kg5 then:
• 33.Kb2 Kxf5 34.cxb4 Qxb4+ 35.Qxb4 axb4 leaves Black an exchange to the good.
• If 33.Ng3 then 33...Nd3+! wins the Queen
• If 31.Qb3 Rxh1+ 32.Nxh1 Rd8 33.Bc4 Qd6 34.Bd5 Nd3+ leaves White up by a Rook.
• If 27.Nd2? e5 28.e4 exd4 then:
• If 29.Kd1 then Black wins after 29...Nf6 30.Bd3 Be6 31.cxb6 Bf4 32.Rxh7 Nxh7.
• If 29.exf5+ then Black wins after 29...Qxf5 30.Qa4 Bxd2+ 31.Kxd2 Rxh2 32.Rxh2 Qxf2.
• If 25.Bc4? Kg6! 26.Rdh1 b5 27.Bd3 Bf5 then:
• 28.Bb1 Qe6 29.f4 gxf3 30.g4 Qxe5 31.gxf5+ Kg7 gives White an extra piece.
• If 28.Kd2 Qe6 29.f4 then:
• If 29...gxf3 30.g4 Qxe5 31.gxf5+ Kg7 then:
• If 32.Ke1 then White wins easily after 32...Nf6 33.Bb1 Nxe4 34.Bxe4 Qxe4.
• If 32.Rxh6? then 32...Rxh6 33.Rg1+ Kf8 34.Kc1 Rh2 35.Bb1 Nf4 gives Black a prohibitive material advantage and an irresistible attack.
• If 29...Nxe3? 30.Kxe3 Rd8 31.Bb1 Nc6 32.Qb3 Qxb3+ 33.axb3 is equal.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 23.Rh2h6:B

23...Rxh6!

• There are those moments when finding the winning move is easy because it's the only plausible move on the board.

24.Ng5+ Kf8 25.Nxe6+

• 25.Nb3 Bg8 26.e4 f4! traps White's Bishop.

25...Qxe6 26.Bc4

• If 26.Bb5 Rc8! then:
• 27.Ba4 Rxc5+ 28.Kb1 f4 29.Bxf4 Nxf4 30.exf4 Qf5+ wins for White.
• 33.Qxd6 Rxd6 34.Rf1 Nc3+ 35.Kc2 Nxa2 36.Rxf2+ Ke8 wins.
• If 27.Kb1 f4 28.cxb6 fxg3 29.b7 Rb8 30.e4 gxf2 then:
• If 31.Bc4 Qd6 32.Bxd5 Nxd5 then:
• 33.exd5 Qxa3 34.bxa3 Rxb7+ wins.
• 31.Nb3 Rh1 32.Rxh1 Qxe4+ 33.Ka1 Nc2+ 34.Kb1 Nxa3+ 35.Ka1 Qb1+ 36.Rxb1 Nc2#.

26...Rc8 27.Bf4 Rf6 28.e4

• No better is 28.Kb1 Rxc5 29.Bb3 Qc8 30.Rh1 Qa6 31.Bxd5 Rxd5.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 28.e3e4

28...Rxc5!!

• This is the quickest road home.
• If 28...fxe4 29.Be3 Qf5 30.Rh1 Nxe3 31.Qxe3 Rxc5 also wins, but not as easily.

29.exd5 Qxd5 30.b3 Qd4 31.Be3 Qc3+ 0-1

• If 32.Kb1 then 32...Qc2+ 33.Ka1 Qxd1+ 34.Nb1 Nc2+ is quite convincing.
• Topalov resigns.

Yu Yangi
Photo by Kgolp76 in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Bu Xiangzhi - Yu Yangyi
Asian Championship (General Group), Round 5
Mashhad, 6 May 2011

West Indian Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Slav-Grünfeld Defense)

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Bd3

• If 6.Be2 0-0 then:
• If 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:
• If 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nbd7 11.Rd1 e5 12.d5 e4 13.Nxe4 then:
• If 13...Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nb6 then:
• If 15.Bb3 cxd5 16.Bxd5 then:
• 16...Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Qb6 18.Qd3 Rad8 19.e4 Bd4 20.Kh1 Bxf2 21.Bh6 Rxd5 22.exd5 Rd8 23.Rd1 is equal (Bareev-Kramnik, IT, Novgorod, 1994).
• 16...Re8 17.Qf3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Qe7 19.Rb1 Rac8 20.b3 Rc2 21.a4 gives White an extra pawn (Marin-G.Flear, ITZ, Szirak, 1987).
• If 15.Rb1 Re8 16.Qd3 Qh4 then:
• 17.b3 17...Rad8 18.e4 Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxe4 20.Bg5 gives White the initiative and the Bishop pair; Black has more space (Kozul-Nikolic, TT, Murska Sobota, 2007).
• 17.Bb3 Rad8 18.Bd2 Nxd5 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Rd7 is equal (Muresan-Semenova, Candidates' Quarterf MW, Bad Kissingen, 1983).
• If 13...Ne5 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Qe2 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 cxd5 17.Rxd5 then:
• If 17...Rc8 18.Qb3 then:
• 18...Qe7 19.Bd2 Qe4 20.Bb4 Rfd8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Rc1 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Grischuk-Kasimdzhanov, Rpd, Mainz, 2010).
• 18...Qc7 19.Bd2 Qc2 20.Qxb7 Bxb2 draw (J.Ivanov-Mrdja, IT, Montecatini Terme, 2002).
• 17...Qb6 18.Rb5 Qd6 19.Rd5 Qb6 20.Rb5 Qd6 21.Rd5 Qb6 draw (Siebrecht-Haba, IT, Hamburg, 2004).
• If 8...Nbd7 9.h3 Nb6 10.Bb3 then:
• 10...Nbd5 11.Qe2 Bf5 12.Bd2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Ne4 14.Rfd1 Qc7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Schlechter-Blackburne, IT, Ostende, 1905).
• 10...Nfd5 11.e4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qc7 13.Bg5 c5 14.Rc1 c4 15.Bc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Radomskyj-Gelman, TT, Parsippany, 2001).
• If 7.Qb3 e6 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Bd2 Ne4 10.Rfd1 then:
• 10...f5 11.Be1 Kh8 12.Qc2 b6 13.b4 Bb7 14.a4 g5 15.a5 bxa5 16.Rxa5 g4 17.Nd2 draw (Furman-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1959).
• 10...Nxd2 11.Rxd2 Qb6 12.Qc2 Nf6 13.Ne5 Rd8 14.Rb1 Bd7 15.b4 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Be8 17.b5 cxb5 18.Bxb5 Qc7 draw (Filip-Trifunovic, IT, Zagreb, 1955).

6...0-0 7.0-0 e6

• If 7...Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e6 10.Rd1 Nbd7 then:
• 11.b3 Re8 12.Bb2 Qe7 13.Bf1 a6 14.Rac1 Rad8 15.Qe2 h5 16.Qc2 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-Petrosian, Candidates' Quarterf M, Velden, 1980).
• 11.Qe2 Re8 12.Qc2 a6 13.b3 Rc8 14.Bb2 h5 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Qb1 gives Black the advantage in space (Sasikiran-Bu Xiangzhi, Asian Games, Rpd, Guangzhou, 2010).

8.Qe2

• 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Nd7 11.Bg5 Qc7 12.c5 Re8 13.Rc1 f5 14.Bc2 gives White a small advantage; Black lags in development (Mitkov-Kenopka, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

8...Nbd7 9.Rd1 b6 (N)

• 9...Qc7 10.h3 e5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bc4 N5b6 13.Bb3 exd4 14.exd4 Nf6 15.Qe5 is equal (Guimard-Najdorf, Circulo, Buenos Aires, 1939).

10.e4

• White has a fair advantage in space.

10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Bb7?!

• White misses an opportunity to exchange his way into cutting into White's spatial plus.
• 11...Nxe4! 12.Qxe4 Bb7 13.Be2 Re8 14.Bf4 limits White to a slight advantage.

12.Bf4

• If 12.Nd6! Qe7 13.Nxb7!! Rab8 14.Na5 bxa5 15.Bf4 gives White the initiative and stronger pawns.

12...c5 13.dxc5 bxc5!?

• Black weakens his queenside.
• If 13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Nxc5 16.Qe3 Qc8 17.Bh6 continues to give White more space and command of the d-file.

14.Rd2!?

• White misses an opportunity to drive a bone down Black's throat.
• 14.Bd6! (the bone) 14...Re8 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 Qc7 17.Ba3 gives White an extra pawn.

14...Qb6 15.Rad1 Nh5!?

• White should not leave the Knight unprotected at d7.
• 15...Rad8! 16.Bg5 Rfe8 17.Bb1 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 h6 19.Bh4 limits White to a slight advantage.

16.Bd6!

• Black's last move gives White a second chance to drive that bone down Black's throat, and he takes it.

16...Rfe8 17.b4?!

• This gives White a target for counterplay on the queenside.
• If 17.Bc2! f5 18.Ng3 then:
• 18...Bh6 19.Bc7! Nxg3 20.hxg3 Qxc7 21.Rxd7 gives White a fierce initiative.
• 18...Nhf6 19.Ne5 Nd5 20.Nxd7 Qxd6 21.Ba4 gives White more space, the initiative and greater mobility; Black has the Bishop pair.

17...e5!?

• Black grabs space in the center, but misses an opportunity to all but eliminate White's advantage.
• 17...cxb4! 18.c5 Qc6 19.Nfg5 a6 20.Rb1 h6 21.Nf3 e5 is equal.

18.Bc2!?

• White misses an opportunity to augment his advantage.
• If 18.Nxc5 Nf4 then:
• If 19.Qe3! Nxd3 then:
• 20.Qxd3 e4 21.Nxd7 exd3 22.Nxb6 axb6 23.Rxd3 Rxa2 gives White an extra pawn and power in the center.
• 20.Rxd3 e4 21.Nxd7 Qd8 22.R3d2 exf3 23.Be5 gives White command of open lines, a better center and more space.
• 19.Qf1?! Bxf3! 20.gxf3 Qxd6 21.Be4 Qf6 22.Nxd7 Qg5+ limits White to a slight advantage.

18...cxb4 19.Bc7?!

• Perhaps White thinks he is driving the Queen to a less attractive post, but Black has other resources.
• If 19.Ba4! Rad8 20.Nfg5 Nf4 21.Qe1 then:
• 21...Bxe4 22.Nxe4 continues to give White a better center, more space and a passed pawn.
• 21...h6 22.Nxf7 Kxf7 23.Bc7 Qxc7 24.Rxd7+ Rxd7 25.Rxd7+ gives White a Queen for a Rook and minor piece.

19...Nf4!

• The game is equal.

20.Qe3?!

• White's serious troubles begin here.
• If 20.Bxb6! Nxe2+ 21.Rxe2 Nxb6 then:
• If 22.c5 Nd5 then:
• 23.Bb3! Nc3 24.Nxc3 Bxf3 25.gxf3 bxc3 26.Rc2 is equal.
• 23.Nfg5 h6 24.Nxf7 Nf4 25.Red2 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 Kxf7 gives Black a small advantage when he gets two minor piece for a Rook.
• 22.Nd6 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Red8 24.c5 Nc8 25.Nc4 Rxd1+ gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 20.Qf1 Qxc7 21.Rxd7 then:
• If 21...Qc8! 22.Nfg5 Rf8 23.g3 then:
• 23...Bc6 24.R7d6 f6 25.gxf4 fxg5 26.fxg5 Rf4 27.f3 remains equal.
• 23...h6 24.gxf4 Bc6 25.R7d6 hxg5 26.f5 Rb8 27.Nxg5 gives White a clear advantage.
• If 21...Qc6!? 22.Nfg5! then:
• If 22...Rf8 23.g3 Bc8 24.R7d6 then:
• If 24...Qc7 25.gxf4 Bg4 then:
• 26.f5 then:
• 26...Bxf5 27.c5 Bg4 28.Bb3 Rac8 29.f3 gives White a clear advantage.
• If 26...h6 27.Rd7 then:
• 27...Qa5 28.Nxf7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7 Kxf7 30.Rd7+ gives White an extra pawn.
• 27...Qb8 28.Nxf7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7 Kxf7 30.fxg6+ gives White an extra pawn.
• 26.f3 Bf5 27.Nxh7 Kxh7 28.Ng5+ Kg8 29.Bxf5 gives White a strong advantage with Rooks coomanding the open file and a huge lead in space.
• 24...Qe8? 25.gxf4! Qe7 26.Ba4 b3 27.Bxb3 Bf5 28.c5 gives White a tremendous game.
• If 22...Ne6?! 23.Rxf7 Nd4 24.Rxb7 Qxb7 then:
• 25.c5! Qe7 26.Bb3+ Nxb3 27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Qxb3 gives White better command of open lines.
• If 25.Nd6?! Qc7!! then:
• 26.Nxe8 Rxe8 27.Be4 Rf8 28.Bd5+ Kh8 29.Ne4 leaves White only slightly better with somewhat healthier pawns.
• 26.Bb3!? Nxb3 27.axb3 Re7 28.Nge4 Kh8 remains equal.

20...Qxc7! 21.Rxd7 Qxc4 22.Bb3

• If 22.Rxb7? Ne2+! 23.Kh1 Qxc2 then:
• 24.Re1 Nf4 25.Rxa7 Rxa7 26.Qxa7 Rf8 gives Black an extra pawn and more active pieces.
• 24.Qb3 Qxb3 25.axb3 Nc3 26.Re1 Nxe4 27.Rxe4 a5 gives Black two extra pawns.

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 22.Bc2b3

22...Qxe4!!

• Black sacrifices the exchange and leaves White paralyzed.

23.Bxf7+ Kh8 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Qxa7 Ne2+

• White emerges from the skirmish with a small material advantage.

26.Kh1

• 26.Kf1! Nd4 27.Kg1 Qe2 28.Ra1 Qb2 29.Rd1 Qc2 limits Black to a slight advantage.

26...Qxf3!

• Black assures himself a material advantage.

27.Qxb7

• Forced; if 27.gxf3?? then 27...Bxf3#.

27...Qxb7 28.Rxb7 Bf8!

• Black covers his b-pawn and comes out of the skirmish with two minor pieces for a Rook.

29.Rdd7 h6 30.Ra7 Nc3

• If 30...e4! then:
• 31.g3 Nc1 32.Kg2 Nd3 33.Rf7 g5 34.Rf5 g4 gives Black a material advantage and more freedom.
• If 31.h4?! then:
• 31...Re6! 32.Rd2 Nc1 33.Rd8 Kg8 34.Kg1 h5 gives Black a material advantage.
• 31...Rc8?! 32.Rf7! g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.g3 e3 limits Black to a small advantage with a weak passed pawn.

31.g3 e4 32.Kg2 Kg8 33.Ra6

• If 33.h4 g5 then:
• 34.h5 e3 35.fxe3 Rxe3 then:
• If 36.Ra6 Ne4 37.Rg6+ Kh8 then:
• 38.Kf1 Rf3+ 39.Ke2 then:
• 39...Rf6 40.Rxf6 Nxf6 41.Rf7 Nh7 42.Rb7 Kg8 gives Black only a small advantage.
• 39...Rf5 40.g4 Nc3+ 41.Kd3 Rf3+ 42.Kc2 Nxa2 gives Black only a small advantage.
• If 38.Rd8 Rxg3+ then:
• 39.Kf1 Rf3+ 40.Ke2 Rf5 41.Ra8 Rf7 42.Rxh6+ Kg8 gives Black the material advantage, but he'll need more.
• 39.Kh2 Rf3 40.Re6 Rf4 41.Rxf8+ Rxf8 42.Rxe4 Rf4 gives Black only a reletively small advantage after the exchange of Rooks, but Black should win the King-and-pawn ending.
• 36.g4? Re2+! 37.Kf3 Rxa2 38.Rxa2 Nxa2 39.Rb7 Nc3 gives Black a material advantage and a protected passed pawn.
• 34.hxg5?! hxg5 35.g4 Re6! 36.Rd8 Rf6 leaves White with no pawn moves.

33...g5! 34.Kh3?

• The White King tries to sneak out the back door, but that will just leave his pawn vulnerable.
• White lasts longer after 34.Rg6+! Kh8 35.Ra6 Ne2 36.h3 Nc1 37.Kf1 Nd3.

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 34. Kg3h3

34...Re7!

• Black breaks the pressure from White's Rooks and wins.

35.Rd2

• If 35.Rxe7? loses to 35...Bxe7! 36.Rxh6 Nxa2 37.Rb6 Nc3 when:
• 38.Rb7 Kf7 39.Kg2 Ke6 40.h3 Bc5 gives Black a material advantage.
• If 38.Kg2 then Black wins after 38...g4 39.Rg6+ Kf7 40.Rxg4?? b3! when the pawn cannot be stopped without giving up the Rook.

35...Rf7 36.Kg2 Kg7 37.Rc2

• 37.g4 Kh7 38.Ra8 Rf6 39.h3 Kg7 40.Rd4 Kg6 continues to give Black a material advantage and more freedom.

37...Rb7 38.Rd2 Be7 39.Rc2 h5 40.Rd2 Rc7 41.Ra5

• 41.Rd4 h4 42.Kh3 Kf8 43.gxh4 gxh4 44.Kg4 Kf7 continues to give Black the material advantage, but now therre is not a strong pawn on the board for either side.

41...Kf6 42.Ra6+ Kf7 43.Rd4 Rb7 44.Kf1

• If 44.Rd2 Rb5 45.Rd7 Nd5 then:
• 46.Rad6 Nf6 47.Ra7 Re5 48.Rc6 Nd5 49.Rb7 Rf5 leaves Black threatening 50.e3, exchanging Black's less important isolated pawn for a more useful White pawn.
• If 46.h3 Rc5 then:
• 47.a3 b3 48.Rb7 Rc2 49.Rxb3 e3 wins a pawn.
• If 47.a4 bxa3 48.Rxa3 Ke6 49.Rda7 Rc2 then:
• 50.Ra2 Ne3+ 51.Kg1 Rxa2 52.Rxa2 Nf5 53.Ra4 Kd5 continues to give Black more material and more space.
• 50.R7a6+ Bd6 51.Ra2 Ne3+ 52.Kg1 Rxa2 53.Rxa2 Nf5 continues to give Black more material and more space.

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 44.Kg2f1

44...Bf6!?

• Black misses a quick win.
• 44...Nxa2! wins almost immediately after 45.Rxa2 b3 46.Rb2 Bf6 47.Rxb3 Rxb3 when Black is a piece to the good.

45.Rc4

• The text is much better than 45.Rdd6 Be5 46.Re6 Bg7 47.Reb6 Rxb6 48.Rxb6 Nxa2 when Black has won a pawn.

45...Nxa2 46.Rxa2

• If 46.Rc5 then:
• 46...Bd4 47.Rf5+ Ke7 48.Rxa2 b3 49.Re2 Ke6 White must give up a Rook to stop the b-pawn.
• 46...Bg7?! 47.Rf5+! Kg8 48.Rxa2 b3 49.Rd2 b2 White must give up a Rook to stop the b-pawn.

46...b3 47.Re2 b2!

• White must give up a Rook to stop the b-pawn.

48.Rxb2 Rxb2 49.Rxe4 Kg6

• Black has a clear material advantage.
• If 49...g4 50.Re2 Rb1+ then:
• If 51.Kg2 Rb3 52.h3 Kg6 53.Re4 Kg5 54.hxg4 hxg4 gives Black an extra piece and more mobility.
• 51.Re1 Rb5 52.Re3 Kg6 53.f3 Kf5 54.fxg4+ hxg4 gives Black an extra piece and more mobility.

50.Re3 Rc2

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 50...Rb2c2

51.Rf3!?

• White would have better chances to draw with Rooks off the board. He should at least invite an exchange.
• White can draw with Rooks off the board and if Black's last pawn is passed in the h-file, as long as he keeps his King in or near the queening square. Since play can only occur on one side of a Rook's pawn and the dark-bound Bishop cannot cover the queening square h1, if White's King legally move it will be becuase it is stalemated, not checkmated.
• If 51.Re2 then:
• If 51...Rc4! 52.Kg2 Kf5 53.Rd2 Ra4 54.Rc2 Be5 still gives Black the upper hand.
• If 51...Rxe2? 52.Kxe2! then:
• If 52...Be5 then:
• If 53.f4 Bxf4 54.h4 then:
• If 54...g4 55.gxf4 Kf5 56.Ke3 Kf6 57.Ke4 Kf7 58.Ke3 Kf6 draws.
• If 54...Bxg3 55.hxg5 Bc7 56.Kf3 Kxg5 57.Kg2 Kg4 58.Kf2 then:
• 58...Bh2 59.Kg2 h4 60.Kxh2 Kh5 61.Kh3 Kg5 62.Kh2 etc. draws.
• If 58...Bb8 59.Kg2 Bd6 60.Kg1 then:
• 60...Kg3 61.Kh1 h4 62.Kg1 Bc7 63.Kh1 h3 64.Kg1 then:
• 64...Bb8 65.Kh1 Kf3 66.Kg1 etc. either ends in stalemate or an agreed draw as Black cannot force White to keep away from the queening square.
• 64...h2+ 65.Kh1 Bb8 draws by stalemate.
• 60...Kh3 61.Kh1 Bc7 62.Kg1 h4 63.Kh1 Bd6 64.Kg1 then:
• If 64...Kg3 65.Kh1 h3 66.Kg1 Bc7 67.Kh1 then:
• 67...Kf3 68.Kg1 Kg3 69.Kh1 Kf2 draws by stalemate.
• 67...h2 draws by stalemate.
• 64...Bc7 65.Kh1 Bg3 66.Kg1 Bh2+ 67.Kh1 Kg3 draws by stalemate.
• 53.f3 Kf5 54.Kf2 g4 55.fxg4+ hxg4 56.h3 Kg5 57.hxg4 Kxg4 58.Kg2 Bxg3 draws.
• If 52...Be7 53.f3 Kf5 54.h3 then:
• If 54...Bc5 55.Kf1 Ke5 56.f4+ gxf4 57.gxf4+ Kxf4 58.Kg2 Bb6 59.h4 draws.
• If 54...Bd6 55.Kf2 Bb8 56.Kg2 then:
• 56...g4 57.hxg4+ hxg4 58.fxg4+ Kxg4 59.Kh2 Bxg3+ draws.
• 56...h4 57.gxh4 gxh4 58.Kf2 Kf6 59.Kg2 Bg3 draws.

51...Rc3!?

• Black would do better to keep the Rooks on the board. The exchange of Rooks results in a drawish ending.
• If 51...g4! 52.Re3 h4 53.gxh4 Bxh4 54.Re2 Rc1+ 55.Kg2 Rc3 continues to keep Black on a winning track.

52.Rxc3!

• With Rooks off the board, White's drawing chances have improved. WHile Black's game is still won, it is not easy to win and very easy to make a mistake that will cost him a half-point.

52...Bxc3 53.f3 Kf5 54.Kg2 Bd4

• With Rooks off the board, Black will want to retain his g-pawn. The game would probably end in a draw if Black must use his h-pawn to win and White can keep his King close by.
• If Black's last pawn is passed in the g-file, Black wins by using the Bishop to keep White's King out of the queening square.
• If 54...Be5 55.h3 Ke6 56.Kf2 Bd4+ 57.Kg2 Kf6 then:
• If 58.h4 then after 58...g4! 59.fxg4 hxg4 60.Kh2 Ke5 61.Kg2 Ke4 62.h5 Be3 63.h6 Bxh6 64.Kf1 Kf3 Black wins.
• 58...gxh4? 59.gxh4 Kf5 60.f4 Be3 61.Kg3 Bd2 62.Kf3 leads to a draw.

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 54...Bc3d4

55.Kh3

• If 55.h3 Ke6 56.f4 then:
• If 56...g4! 57.hxg4 hxg4 58.Kh1 Kf5 59.Kh2 Bc5 then:
• If 60.Kh1 Bd6 61.Kg2 Ke4 62.Kf2 Kd3 then:
• If 63.Kg2 Ke3 64.f5 Ke2 65.f6 Ke1 66.f7 Bc5 then:
• If 67.f8Q then after 67...Bxf8 68.Kg1 Ke2 69.Kg2 Bd6 70.Kh2 Kf2 Black wins.
• If 67.Kh1 Kf2 68.Kh2 Be7 69.Kh1 Kxg3 wins.
• If 63.Kf1 Ke3 64.Kg2 Ke2 65.f5 Be7 66.Kh2 Kf3 wins.
• If 60.Kg2 Ke4 61.f5 Bd4 62.f6 Bxf6 63.Kf2 Ba1 64.Ke2 Be5 65.Kf2 Kd3 66.Ke1 Bxg3+ wins.
• If 56...gxf4? 57.gxf4 Kf5 then:
• If 58.Kg3 Bf6 59.h4 Bc3 60.Kf2 then:
• If 60...Bb4 61.Kf3 Be7 62.Ke3 Bd8 63.Kf2 then:
• 63...Bb6+ 64.Kg3 Be3 65.Kg2 Bc5 66.Kg3 Bg1 67.Kf3 Bd4 68.Kg3 draws.
• 63...Bxh4+ 64.Kf3 Bd8 65.Kg3 h4+ 66.Kh3 draws.
• 60...Kxf4? 61.Kg2! Bd4 62.Kh2 Kf3 63.Kh3 Bf2 64.Kh2 Bg3+ 65.Kh3 Be1 66.Kh2 draws.
• 58.Kf3 h4 59.Kg2 Kxf4 60.Kh1 Kf3 61.Kh2 Be5+ 62.Kg1 Bg3 63.Kh1 draws.

55...Be3 56.Kg2 Bb6 57.Kh3 Bd8 58.Kg2 Ke6!?

• If 58...Ba5! 59.h4 g4 60.fxg4+ hxg4 then:
• If 61.Kg1 Bc7 62.Kg2 then:
• If 62...Bb8 63.h5 Kg5 64.h6 Kxh6 65.Kh2 Kg5 then:
• 66.Kg2 Kf5 67.Kf2 Ke4 68.Kg2 Ke3 69.Kh2 Kf3 wins the pawn.
• 66.Kg1 Bxg3 67.Kf1 Kf4 68.Kg2 Bh4 wins for Black.
• 62...Ke4 63.Kf2 Bb6+ 64.Kg2 Be3 65.h5 Kd3 66.Kf1 Kd2 67.h6 Bxh6 68.Kg2 Ke2 is followed by 69...Kf3 and Black wins.
• If 61.Kf2 Ke4 62.h5 Bd2 63.Kg2 then:
• If 63...Bh6 64.Kf2 Bg5 65.Ke2 Be3 then:
• 66.h6 Bxh6 67.Kf2 Bg5 68.Ke2 Be3 69.Ke1 Kf3 wins.
• 66.Ke1 Kf3 67.h6 Bxh6 68.Kf1 Be3 wins.
• If 63...Kd4 64.Kf2 Kd3 then:
• 65.Kf1 Bg5 66.Ke1 Ke3 67.Kd1 Kf2 wins.
• If 65.Kg2 then Black wins after 65...Ke2 66.h6 Bxh6.

59.Kf2 Kd5 60.Ke3 Bb6+ 61.Ke2 Kd4 62.Kd2

• If 62.Kf1 Ke3 63.Kg2 then:
• 63...Ke2 64.h4 gxh4 65.gxh4 leads to a draw.
• 63...g4? 64.fxg4 hxg4 65.h3 gxh3+ draw.

62...Kd5!

• Black wins. The White King is now so far away from his pawns that Black can still win by passing his h-pawn rather than his g-pawn.
• If 62...h4! 63.gxh4 gxh4 64.f4 Ke4 65.f5 Kxf5 then:
• 66.h3 Kf4 67.Ke2 Kg3 68.Kf1 Kxh3 69.Ke2 Kg2 the pawn queens even without the Bishop.
• If 66.Ke2 Kg4 67.Kf1 h3 68.Ke2 then:
• 68...Bg1 69.Kf1 Bxh2 70.Kf2 Kf4 71.Kf1 Kg3 72.Ke1 Kg2 White's King cannot get to the g-file, and thus the pawn queens.
• 68...Bc7 69.Kf2 Bxh2 70.Kf1 Kg3 71.Ke2 Bg1 the pawn queens.

63.Ke2

BLACK: Yu Yangyi



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 63.Kd2e2

63...Bg1!

• This is the easiest route to victory.
• Also winning is 63...Ke6 then:
• If 64.h3 Bd4! 65.Ke1 Ke5 66.Kf1 Kf5 67.Kg2 then:
• If 67...Kf6 68.Kf1 Bb6 69.Kg2 then:
• If 69...Ke6! 70.Kf1 Bc7 71.Kg2 Kd5 then:
• If 72.Kf2 Kd4 73.Kg2 Ke3 74.h4 g4 75.fxg4 hxg4 76.h5 then:
• 76...Be5 77.h6 Ke2 78.h7 Bg7 79.Kg1 Kf3 wins for Black.
• 76...Ba5 77.h6 Bc3 78.Kf1 Kf3 79.h7 Kxg3 wins.
• If 72.h4 g4! then:
If
• 73.Kf2 Bb6+ 74.Ke2 Ke5 75.fxg4 hxg4 76.Kf1 Ke4 77.Kg2 then:
• 77...Bd4 78.h5 Ke3 79.h6 Be5 80.h7 Bd4 81.Kf1 Kf3 82.Ke1 Kxg3 wins for Black.
• 77...Ke3 78.h5 Bd4 79.h6 Ke2 80.h7 Be5 81.Kg1 Kf3 wins.
• 79.Kf1 Kf3 80.Ke1 Kxg3 wins.
Bxh8 80.Kf2 Bd4+ 81.Ke2 Be3 wins.
• 73.fxg4 hxg4 74.Kf2 Ke4 then:
• If 75.h5 Be5 76.h6 Bd4+ 77.Ke2 Bf6 78.h7 Bd4 then:
• 79.h8Q Bxh8 80.Kf2 Bd4+ 81.Ke2 Be3 wins.
• 75.Kg2 Be5 76.Kf2 Bd4+ 77.Ke2 Be3 78.h5 Bg5 79.Kf2 Kd3 80.Kg2 Ke3 81.Kg1 Kf3 wins.
• 69...Ke5 70.f4+ gxf4 71.gxf4+ Kxf4 72.Kh2 leads to a draw.
• 67...Ba7 68.g4+ hxg4 69.fxg4+ Ke4 70.Kg3 draws.
• If 64...h4? 65.gxh4 gxh4 66.f4 then:
• If 66...Kf5! 67.Kf3 then:
• If 67...Bc5! 68.Kg2 then:
• If 68...Bd4 69.Kf3 Bg1 70.Kg2 Be3 71.Kf3 then:
• If 71...Bd2 72.Ke2 Bxf4 73.Kf3 Bh2 74.Kg2 Be5 then:
• 75.Kg1 Kf4 76.Kh2 Kf3+ 77.Kg1 Kg3 78.Kh1 Kxh3 79.Kg1 Kg3 80.Kh1 Bh8 81.Kg1 h3 82.Kh1 draws.
• 75.Kh1 Kf4 76.Kg2 Ke3 77.Kh1 Kf3 78.Kg1 Kg3 79.Kh1 Kxh3 80.Kg1 Kg3 81.Kh1 h3 82.Kg1 draws.
• 71...Bxf4 72.Kg2 Ke4 73.Kh1 Kf3 74.Kg1 Kg3 75.Kh1 Kxh3 76.Kg1 Kg3 77.Kh1 h3 78.Kg1 Be5 79.Kh1 draws.
• 68...Kxf4 69.Kh1 Kf3 70.Kh2 Bd6+ 71.Kg1 draws.
• If 67...Ba7! 68.Kg2 then:
• 68...Be3 69.Kf3 Bxf4 70.Kf2 Ke4 draws.
• 68...Kxf4 69.Kh1 Kf3 70.Kh2 Bb8+ 71.Kh1 Kg3 72.Kg1! draws.
• If 66...Bc7? 67.f5+ then:
• 67...Kf6 68.Kf3 Bb6 69.Kg4! Bf2 70.Kf3 Bg3 71.Kg4 draws.
• 67...Kxf5? 68.Kf3 Be5 69.Kf2 Bd6 70.Kf3 draws.

64.h3

• If 64.h4 then:
• If 64...g4! 65.fxg4 hxg4 66.h5 Ke6 67.Kf1 Be3 68.Ke2 Bc5 then:
• If 69.h6 Kf7 70.Ke1 Kg6 71.Ke2 Kxh6 72.Kf1 Kg5 73.Ke2 Kf5 then:
• 74.Kf1 Ke4 75.Kg2 Be3 76.Kf1 Kf3 wins for Black.
• 74.Kd3 Bd6 75.Ke3 Bxg3 76.Kd3 Bh4 77.Ke3 Bg5+ 78.Kf2 Kf4 Wins.
• 69.Kd3 Kf5 70.Ke2 Kg5 71.h6 Kxh6 72.Kf1 Kg6 73.Ke2 Kf5 74.Kd3 Bf2 wins
• 64...gxh4? 65.gxh4! Ke5 66.f4+ Kf5 67.Kf3 draws.

64...Bc5 65.Kf1 Kd4 66.Ke2 Bd6 67.Kf2 0-1

• 67...Be5 68.Kg2 Ke3 69.h4 g4 70.fxg4 hxg4 71.h5 Bg7 72.Kg1 Kf3 73.Kf1 Kxg3 the White pawn can go no further and, if Black needs to "lose" a move, he can move the Bishop and easily take the opposition.
• 67...Bb4 68.Kg2 Be1 69.f4 g4 70.Kh2 Kd5 71.Kg2 Ke4 72.hxg4 hxg4 73.Kf1 Bxg3 Black takes the pawn and, since the White King will be unable to approach the Black pawn, Black regains the opposition, keeps the White King out of g1 and wins.
• Grandmaster Bu resigns without waiting for grandmaster Yu to reply.

When Mongolian IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul won this game in the fourth round from Women's group top seed Dronavalli Harika, it appeared that Ms. Munguntuul was on her way to the tournament championship. However, she faltered in the later round while Harika charged forward and won the title.



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Batkhuyag Munguntuul - Dronavalli Harika
Asian Championship (Women's Group), Round 4
Mashhad, 5 May 2011

Closed French Game: Steinitz Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.0-0-0 Qa5 12.h4

• For a more thorough examination of this Opening, see Karjakin-Carlsen, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).

12...Rb8!?

• If 12...Bd7 13.h5 then:
• 13...b5 14.Kb1 b4 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.Qe1 Rab8 17.Nd2 Nxd2+ 18.Qxd2 is equal (Kurnosov-Najer, Russian ChT, Olginka, 2011).
• 13...h6 14.Rh3 Rab8 15.Rg3 Kh8 16.Qe3 Na4 17.Nxa4 Qxa4 18.Kb1 Rfc8 19.Rd2 b5 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 b4 draw (Potkin-Lysyj, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• 13...Rac8 14.a3 h6 15.Rh3 Rfd8 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Be8 18.Be2 Ne4 19.g4 draw (Bobras-Bartel, Polish Ch, Lublin, 2008).
• 13...Rab8 14.h6 g6 15.Qe3 Na4 16.Nxa4 Qxa4 17.Kb1 Rfc8 18.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Riazantsev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2008).

13.Rh3!?

• Developing the Rook this way is somehat awkward.
• If 13.Qe3 Bd7 14.h5 Rfc8 15.h6 then:
• If 15...g6!? 16.Kb1 then:
• 16...Nb4 17.a3 Nxc2 18.Kxc2 b5 19.Rd4 gives White a fair advantage in space and greater piece acticvity (Kurnosov-Kostur, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
• 16...a6 17.g4 Rc7 18.Rh2 Na4 19.Nxa4 Qxa4 20.Nd4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 15...Nb4! 16.a3 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Nxc2 is equal.

13...b5

• Black has a slight advantage in space.

14.f5

• If 14.Rg3 Ne7 then:
• 15.f5?! Nxf5! 16.Rxg7+ Nxg7 17.Qh6 f6 18.exf6 Nf5 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.g4 Qd8 21.gxf5 Qxf6 leaves Black an exhange to the good (Swathi-Zhang Xiaowen, Asian ChW, Subic Bay, 2009).
• If 15.Ne4! Qxa2 16.Nf6+ Kh8 17.Qb4 Nf5 then:
• If 18.Qxc5 Bb7 19.Nh5 then:
• 19...Qa1+ 20.Kd2 Qxb2 21.Bd3 Nxg3 22.Nxg3 a6 23.Qe7 gives White a small advantage with a slight material edge and somewhat better activity.
• 19...Rfc8 20.Qa3 Qxa3 21.bxa3 g6 22.Bd3 Nxg3 23.Nxg3 gives White more space and activity.
• 18.Rxg7 Kxg7 19.Qxc5 Bb7 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 gives White more activity in compenation for the exchange.

14...Ne4?

• This allows White to open the d-file to her advantage.
• If 14...exf5 15.Rg3 then:
• If 15...Ne7 16.Nd4 Qc7 17.Qg5 then:
• If 17...Qxe5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxf5 then:
• 19...Qf4+ 20.Qxf4 Nxf4 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.Nxf7+ Kg8 etc. draws.
• 19...Bxf5 20.Rxd5 Qe1+ 21.Rd1 Qe5 22.Rd5 Qe1+ etc. draws.
• 17...g6 18.Qf6 Rb6 19.Ndxb5 Qd8 20.Nd6 Be6 is equal.
• 15...Ne6?! 16.Qh6! Rd8 17.Rxg7+ Nxg7 18.Ng5 Qb6 gives White an excellent game with good winning chances.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika



WHITE: Batkhuyag Munguntuul
Position after 14...Nc5e4

15.Nxe4!

• White pries open the d-file.

15...dxe4 16.Qxa5

• If 16.f6!! Qxd2+ 17.Nxd2 then:
• 17...Nxe5 18.Rg3 g6 19.Rg5 Nd7 20.Nxe4 a6 21.Rg3 gives White a small advantage with command of the open d-file and more piece activity generally.
• 17...Rd8!? 18.Rg3! g6 19.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Nxe5 21.Rg5 gives White a fierce attack on White's King position.

16...Nxa5 17.Nd4 exf5 18.Bxb5!

• White plays actively and takes command of a critical diagonal.
• 18.Ra3!? Nc4! 19.Rxa7 Nxe5 20.Bxb5 f4 21.Re7 is equal.

18...a6

• Black's game is lost; most of her alternatives only lose faster.
• If 18...Ra8 19.Ra3 Nb7 20.Bc6 then:
• If 20...g6 21.Rb3 Rb8 22.Kd2 then:
• 22...h5 23.Ke3 Rd8 24.c4 Kh7 25.Rb5 completely restrains Black's kingside and gives White more space and activity.
• 22...h6 23.Ke3 g5 24.hxg5 hxg5 25.g3 restrains Black's kingside and gives White more activity and space.
• 20...Rb8 21.Rxa7 Nd8 22.a4 e3 23.Bb5 f4 24.Rf1! gives White an extra pawn, much more activity for her pieces and restrains Black's kingside pawns.

19.Be2 Rb6

• If 19...Bd7 20.Rc3 then:
• 20...g6 21.Rc7 Ba4 22.Bxa6 Ra8 23.Bb5 gives White an extra pawn and greagter activity; Black's kingside pawns are easily restrained.
• 20...Bb5 21.Bxb5 axb5 22.Nxf5 Rfe8 23.Nd6 gives White an extra pawn and greater activity for her pieces.

20.Rc3 h6

• Black has no viable moves.
• 20...f4 21.Rc5 Nb7 22.Rc7 Na5 23.Rf1 f3 24.gxf3 gives White an extra pawn and her pieces will be completely free after the pawn skirmish in the e- and f-files is resolved.
• If 20...Be6 then after 21.a3 Nb7 22.Rc7 Nd8 23.b4 h6 24.c4 White's queenside is on the march.
• 20...Rd8 21.a3 Nb7 22.Rc7 Bd7 23.b4 f4 24.Rf1 leaves Black with no targets while Black's f-pawn is doomed.

21.a3!

• Black's Rook has no squares on White's side of the b-file.
• If 21.Rc5?! then after 21...Nb7 22.Rc6 Rxc6 23.Nxc6 Nc5! 24.b4 White will have to win the game all over again.

21...Be6

• If 21...f4 22.b4 Nb7 23.Nc6 Re8 24.a4 then:
• 24...a5 25.bxa5 Nxa5 26.Nxa5 Ba6 27.Rd6 forces an exchange of Rooks and both advances the passed pawn and makes it easier to protect.
• If 24...Re6 then White wins after 25.Nd8 Nxd8 26.Rxd8+ Kh7 27.Rcxc8.
• If 21...Nb7 then White wins a piece after 22.Rc7 f4 23.h5 g5 24.c4 a5 25.c5.

22.Rc7 Bc8 23.b4 Nb7 24.Nc6 Be6 25.a4 1-0

• 25...a5 26.bxa5 Rxc6 27.Rxc6 Nxa5 28.Rc7 leaves White up by an exchange with two passed pawns.
• Harika resigns.

Girschuk, Kramnik advance in Kazan

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

Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk won playoff matches Monday to advance to the semifinal round of the 2011 Candidates Matches being held this month in Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tartarstan.

Grischuk eliminated the top seeded player in the Matches, Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian. Kramnik took down Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan.

The semifinal matches will begin tomorrow (Thursday) with Kramnik playing against Grischuk and reigning US national champion Gata Kamsky taking on Boris Gelfand of Israel. All four players in the semifinals were born in what was then the Soviet Union.


Harikrishna and Harika win Asian Championships

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Indian grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna and international master Dronavalli Harika won the general and women's group, respectively, in the tenth annual Asian Continental Championships which concluded yesterday in the holy city of Mashhad, Iran.

Yu Yangyi of China took the lead in the fifth round when he defeated his compatriot, Bu Zhangzhi, in a 67-move game that featured a hard-to-win endgame. Yu held first from that point and went into the ninth and final round with a full point lead over his nearest rivals and needing only a draw to finish in a clear first. However, Yu lost to Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Troungson in 34 moves while Harikrishna, playing Black against Chinese GM Zhao Jun, won in 40 moves. All three thus finished with 6½ points. When tie break scores were tabulated, Harikrishna was declared the 2011 Asian Champion.

Harika, also playing Black in the final round in the women's group, defeated Tan Zhongyi of China to take the Asian women's title. Harika, Tan and four other women -- Huang Qian of China, Eesha Karavade of India, Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia and Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam -- were tied for first going into the ninth and final round. However, Harika was the winner of the only decisive game on the top three boards to take a clear first.

Euro Women's Championship (Tbilisi): Cmilyte perfect after five rounds



Viktorija Cmilyte
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Lithuanian grandmaster Viktorija Cmilyte (SHMIL tah) leads the European Women's Championship in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi with 5 wins in five rounds.

The tournament, which was postponed due to chess politics as FIDE and the European Chess Union squabbled about whether to hold the event in Istanbul, as originally planned, or elsewhere, began Saturday and will run eleven rounds through next Wednesday, May 18. Game may be followed live on the official website.