The JR Chess Report (May 22): Grischuk and Gelfand knotted in Kazan

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

Grischuk, Gelfand tied after three rounds in Candidates' Final Match

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

Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand and former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk are tied after three rounds of the Final Candidates' Match which began Thursday in Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tartarstan.

All three have games ended in draws.

The winner of the six-game Final Match will earn the right to challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India for the world title. That match is to be played later this year; given FIDE's track record of getting things organized, the title match will more likely take place about a year from now.

Today was an off day and the match resumes tomorrow. The final match can run through Thursday, May 26 with any necessary tiebreaks. Games are broadcast live on the FIDE website beginning at 3 pm local time (4 am PDT).


Cmilyte wins European Women's Championship in Tbilisi

Painting by Mikhail Lermontov (1837) from Wikipedia (Public Domain)

Lithuanian grandmaster Viktorija Cmilyte (SHMIL tah) won the European Women's Championship in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Wednesday with 9 points in 11 rounds.

Ms. Cmilyte won her first five games in a row before being defeated by former world women's champion Antoanetta Stefanova in Round 6. In Round 9, Ms. Cmilyte defeated the defending European champion, Swedish grandmaster Pia Cramling.

Ms. Stefanova finished second with 8½ points. International masters Elina Danielian of Armenia and Svatlana Matveeva of Russia tied for third with 8 points each.


Chuckie's charge gains tie for first in Capablanca Memorial in Havana

Gildemax, Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Crowd favorite Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine won his last three games in a row to tie two-time Aeroflot Open champion Le Quang Liem of Vietnam for first place in the 46th Capablanca Memorial Tournament which ended yesterday in Havana, Cuba.

The tournament concluded with a dramatic last round showdown between Le and Ivanchuk, or "Chuckie," as he is known to his many fans. Le needed only a draw to claim first place clear, but Chuckie, playing White, took 49 moves to get the best of Le's French Defense. Both players finished with 6½ points in 10 rounds.

Young Russian GM Dmitry Andreikin finished third with 5½ points.


Naka defeats Pono in St. Louis Match

Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura defeated Ruslan Ponomaiov of Ukraine in a six-game match concluded today in St, Louis, Missouri, with two victories to Ponomariov's one.

Nakamura won the match by winning today's game in 44 moves. Ponomariov won the opening ame of the match Monday and Nakamura also won game three.

In a second match played simulaneously with the Nakamura-Ponomariov match, young American GM Ray Robson, a last minute substitute for the legendary Viktor Korchnoi, defefeted fellow American GM Ben Finegold with two victories to none in six games. Korchnoi withdrew over unspecified health concerns.

Both matches will continue with a series of four rapid game beginning Tuesday.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

Alexander Grischuk and Vladimir Kramnik
Photo of Grischuk by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Photo of Kramnik by steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vladimir Kramnik - Alexander Grischuk
Candidates' Semifinal Match, Round 4
Kazan, 15 May 2011

Symmetrical English Game: Four Knights' Opening

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.e3 Nf6 5.Be2 d5 6.d4 exd4 7.exd4 Be6 8.Be3

• If 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be7 then:
• 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Be3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.Bxd4 0-0 15.Bf3 Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Bd5 17.Bxd5 Rxd5 18.Be3 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 a6 20.Kf1 Rd8 21.Rxd8+ draw (Tal-Dorfman, IT Marseille, 1989).
• 10.dxc5 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc5 12.Ng5 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 0-0 14.Bf4 Rfe8 15.Kf1 Rad8 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.Rxd8+ Nxd8 18.Rd1 gives Black some initiative (Meier-Domínguez, Capablanca Mem, 2009).

8...dxc4 9.0-0 cxd4

• 9...Be7 10.dxc5 0-0 11.Rc1 h6 12.Qa4 Ng4 13.Bf4 Nd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.Be3 Qd3 17.h3 Be6 18.Rfd1 Qf5 19.c6 bxc6 20.Qxc6 Rfc8 21.Qe4 draw (Roiz-Edouard, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

11.Bxd4 Qa5 (N)

• If 11...Qd7 then:
• If 12.Bxf6 Qxd1 13.Raxd1 gxf6 14.Nb5 Rc8 15.Bf3 Bc5 16.Bxb7 Rb8 then:
• 17.Nc7+?! Ke7 18.Bd5 Rxb2 gives Black an extra pawn and a Rook on the seventh (Beim-Ftacnik, Austrian ChT, Austria, 2003).
• 17.Ba6 Ke7 18.Nc3 is equal.
• 12.Be5 Be7 13.Qxd7+ Bxd7 14.Bxc4 0-0 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Rfd1 Bc6 17.Nb4 Be4 18.f3 Bf5 19.Nd5 Be6 20.Rac1 Rc8 draw (Rublevsky-Zvjaginsev, IT, Poikovsky, 2003).
• If 11...Be7 12.Qa4+ then:
• If 12...Qd7 13.Qxd7+ Nxd7 14.Bxg7 Rg8 then:
• 15.Bh6 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Rxg5 17.f4 Ra5 18.f5 Rxf5 19.Rxf5 Bxf5 20.Bxc4 is equal (Zvjaginsev-Luther, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 15.Bd4 0-0-0 16.Rac1 Bc5 17.Rfd1 draw (S. Zhigalko-Movsesian, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 12...Bd7 13.Qxc4 0-0 14.Rfd1 Qe8 15.Bf3 Bc6 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxc6 bxc6 18.Re1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Beim-Jurek, Op, Scharnstein, 1999).

12.Bxf6 gxf6

• Black has an extra pawn; White has healthy pawns.

13.Re1 Rd8 14.Qc2 Be7!?

• Timid. Black should aim at a central square.
• If 14...Bd6 15.Ne4 Be5 16.Bxc4 then:
• 16...Rc8 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Qe2 Kg7 19.Rad1 Qxa2 gives Black an extra pawn; White has healthy pawns.
• 16...0-0 17.Bb3 Rfe8 18.Rac1 Rc8 19.Nc3 Qb6 gives White better pawns, but Black has more activity.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 14...Bf8e7

15.Qe4!

• The centralized Queen gives White a small advantage.

15...Qc5!?

• This sacrifice is highly speculative.
15...Qa6 16.Rad1 f5 17.Rxd8+ Bxd8 18.Qxc4 then:
• 18...Qxc4 19.Bxc4 Ke7 20.b4 Kf6 21.Nd5+ Kg7 22.f4 continues to give White a small advantage.
• 18...Bxc4?! 19.Bxc4+ Kd7 20.Bxa6 bxa6 21.Re5 White reaps the benefits of healthier pawns.

16.Qxb7! 0-0 17.Ne4

• 17.Rad1 Bd6 18.Ne4 Qa5 19.Nxf6+ Kg7 20.Nh5+ gives White greater activity, but Black has an acctack on an unprotected pawn and the two Bishops in the open center.

17...Qb4 18.Qxa7 Rd7

• If 18...Ra8 19.Qd4 Rxa2 then:
• 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Qxf6 Rxb2 22.Bg4 Bxg4 23.Qg5+ gives White a small advantage with more active pieces, but Black's holds a trump with his passed pawn.
• 20.Rxa2?! Qxe1+! 21.Bf1 Kg7 22.Ng5 Bf5 23.Nf3 Qb1 is equal.

19.Qe3 Qxb2 20.Rac1

• 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Qxc5 Rd2 22.Qe3 Ra8 gives White a slight advantage; both sides have passers, Black's passer is more advanced, but White has stronger pawns on the kingside.

20...Qd4 21.Qf3 Rc8 22.Ng3

• If 22.a4 f5 23.Nc3 then:
• 23...Qf6 24.Red1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Qe5 26.Bf1 Bb4 is equal.
• If 23...Qg4 24.a5 Bg5 then:
• 25.Rc2 Rd2 26.Qb7 Qd4 27.Rec1 Qc5 gives Black a Rook on the seventh, a passed pawn and two Bishops in an open center; White has an active Queen and the freer passed pawn.
• 25.Ra1?! Qxf3! 26.Bxf3 Bd2 27.Rec1 Rd3 gives Black more activity and some initiatives; White's last best hops is his a-pawn.

22...Rdc7?!

• Black allows White's Knight to advance to the fifth rank.
• Better is 22...Qe5! when:
• 23.Rb1 23...Qa5 24.Ne4 is equal.
• 23.Bf1 Qg5 24.Ne4 Qg6 25.a4 Bd5 is equal.

23.Nh5

• White assumes a small advantage with better pawns and more activity on the kingside where Black is weakest.

23...Kh8 24.Rcd1!?

• 24.Qg3 Bf8 25.Bf3 c3 26.Rcd1 Qc5 maintains a small advantage for White.

24...Qb2?!

• Black should keep his Queen on the kingsiude for defensive purposes.
• 24...Qh4 25.Nf4 c3 26.Rc1 Qg5 27.Rc2 Bf5 28.Bd3 continues to limit White to a small advantage.

25.Qg3!

• White posts his Queen more aggressively.

25...Bf8 26.Bg4

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 26.Be2g4

26...c3!

• Black finds a subtle but natural way to keep the advantage: push a passed pawn.
• If 26...Rc6 27.Re2 Qa3 28.Bf3 Rd6 29.Rde1 Qc3 30.Qh4 gives White a slight advantage with a kingside attack and a passed a-pawn; Black's c-pawn pawn offers good chances for counterplay.

27.Bxe6

• Exchanging is the best option in this position.
• 27.Nxf6?! leaves White with too many loose pieces and after 27...c2! (threatening 28...cxd1Q, winning) 28.Qh4! (threateing mate, but it only gains a little time) then:
• If 28...h6! (the only move) then 29.Rc1 then White is busted after 29...Rc4 30.h3 Bg7! 31.Nh5 Re4!.
• 29.Bxe6? loses immediately to 29...cxd1Q!! 30.Rxd1 fxe6 31.g3 Rc4 32.Ne4 Qe2.

27...fxe6 28.Nxf6 Bg7?!

• This looks strong, but is not the most forcing move.
• If 28...Rg7! 29.Qe5 Qb7! 30.g3 c2 31.Rc1 Ba3 gives Bloack a clear advantage.

29.Nh5!

• White maintains the initiative.
• If 29.Nxh7!? then:
• 29...c2! 30.Qh4 Be5 31.Nf6+ Kg7 32.Nh5+ Kf7! 33.Rc1 is equal.
• 29...Qxa2?! allows White to maintain a stron initiative after 30.Ng5! c2 31.Rd8+ Rxd8 32.Qxc7 Ra8 33.Qf4.

29...Qb7 30.Qh4 Rg8 31.Rd8

• If 31.Nf4! then:
• 31...h6! (Black gives his King room to maneuver) 32.Rb1 Qc6 33.Rxe6 c2 34.Rc1 Rd7 35.Qh5 is equal.
• If 31...Bf8? 32.Qf6+ then:
• 32...Bg7 33.Ng6+ hxg6 34.Qh4+ Bh6 35.Qxh6+ Rh7 36.Qg5 gives White two extra pawns and the c-pawn gives Black too faint hopes of counterplay
• 32...Rcg7? 33.Ng6+!! hxg6 34.Rd3 Qb5 35.Rh3+ leads to mate.

31...Rc8!?

• Blackl shows an itchy trigger finger.
• Better is 31...c2! 32.Nf4 h6 33.Ne2 when:
• 33...Rd7! 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 35.Qa4 Qc7 36.Qb3 is equal.
• 33...Rxd8! 34.Qxd8+ Kh7 35.Qd3+! Kh8 36.Nc1 Qd5 is equal.

32.Rxg8+ Rxg8 33.Nxg7 Qxg7

• If 33...c2 34.g3 Qb1 35.Qe4 Rb8 then:
• 36.Kg2! c1Q 37.Qxb1 Rxb1 38.Rxc1 Rxc1 39.Nxe6 gives White a material advantage.
• 36.Rxb1?? cxb1Q+ 37.Qxb1 Rxb1+ wins for Black.

34.Qe4!

• This is White's last best chance for a clear advantage.
• If 34.g3!? c2 35.Qc4 Qb2 36.a4 Rf8 then:
• 37.Qc5 Rf5 38.Qc8+ Kg7 39.Qc7+ Rf7 40.Qc4 Rxf2 41.Qc7+ Rf7 42.Qc4 etc. draws by repetition.
• 37.Rf1 Rxf2! 38.Qc8+! Kg7 39.Qd7+ Kh8 40.Qd8+ Kg7 41.Qg5+ Kh8 etc. draws.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34.Qh4e4

34...c2!

• Black saves the day. White must diverrt resources to stop the pawn.
• 34...Qg6?! 35.Qxg6 hxg6 36.Rc1 Rc8 37.Kf1 e5 38.f3 gives White a clear advantage.

35.Rc1 Rc8

• If 35...Qg4? then White wins after 36.Qxg4 Rxg4 37.Rxc2 Ra4 38.f3.

36.Qxe6 Rd8

• If 36...Qc3! 37.Qf5 h6 38.Qe6 then:
• If 38...Kg7! 39.Qd7+ Kh8 40.a4 Rb8 then:
• 41.Qd6 Rb1 42.Qf8+ Kh7 43.Qf7+ Kh8 etc. draws by repetition.
• If 41.h3 Qb2 42.Kh2 Qxc1 43.Qd4+! then:
• 43...Kg8 44.Qd5+ Kh7 45.Qf5+ Kg8 46.Qe6+ Black's King cannot escape perpetual check.
• 43...Kh7 44.Qa7+ Kg6 45.Qxb8 Qb1 46.Qe8+! Kf5 47.Qc8+ Black's King cannot escape perpetual check.
• If 38...Rc6? then:
• 39.Qe8+ 39...Kg7 40.Qe7+ Kg6 41.Qd7 Kf6 42.Qd8+ Kg7 43.h3 gives White two extra pawns, both passed, while his King is now safe from a snap mate on the backrank.
• 39.Qe3 Qc4 40.h3 Kg7 41.a3 Kg6 42.Kh1 Kh7 43.f4 gives White a clear advantage.

37.Qb3 Rd2 38.Qb8+

• If 38.Rf1 Qc7 39.Qb4 Qd6 then:
• If 40.Qc3+ Qd4 41.Qc8+ Qd8 then:
• 42.Qc3+ Qd4 43.Qc8+ Qd8 etc. draws.
• 42.Qc6 Qd6 43.Qa8+ Qd8 etc. draws.
• 40.Qxd6?? Rxd6 41.Re1 Rd1 etc. wins for Black.

38...Qg8 39.Qb2+ Qg7 40.Qb8+ Qg8 41.Qe5+ Qg7 42.Qe8+ Qg8 43.Qe5+ Qg7 44.Qe8+ ½-½

• White must repeat moves in order to avoid loss.
• The game is drawn.

The new champion defeats the defending champion . . .



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


Viktorija Cmilyte - Pia Cramling
European Women Championship, Round 9
Tbilisi, 16 May 2011

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening/Hübner Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5

• This is much more common than the 4...e5 than Nadya Kosintseva played against Ms. Cmilyte in Round 4. For other common variations, see Malakhov-Ponomariov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009.

5.dxc5 0-0

• If 5...Bxc5 6.Nf3 then:
• If 6...Qb6 7.e3 Qc7 then:
• If 8.b3 a6 9.Bb2 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 h6 then:
• 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Nd4 Bb7 13.Rg1 bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.Qe2 d5 18.Bd3 Bb4 19.Na4 Qd6 20.h4 Kf8 21.g5 gives White a slight initiative (Akobian-Kuzubov, SPICE Cup A, Texas Tech U, 2009).
• If 11.Rg1 Nc6 12.h4 h5 13.gxh5 Nxh5 then:
• 14.Be2 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 gives White the initiative (Nogueiras-Korchnoi, ITZ, Zagreb, 1987).
• 14.0-0-0 Nb4 15.Qd2 b5 16.a3 remains equal.
• If 9...b6 then:
• 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.0-0 d6 13.Nxf6+ gxf6 14.Be4 Nd7 15.Rac1 h5 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Nd2 gives White the advantage in space (Gupta-Kotsur, Op, Dubai, 2005).
• 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rad1 d6 13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.Qe2 0-0 15.e4 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Bf8 17.Bb1 gives White a small advantage in space (Gunawan-Razuvaev, Op, Biel, 1994).
• 8.Be2 a6 9.0-0 Be7 10.e4 d6 11.Rd1 0-0 12.Nd4 b6 is equal (Berry-Waters, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).
• If 6...Nc6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 then:
• 8...Be7 9.Rd1 0-0 10.e4 Nh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Be2 d6 13.0-0 Rd8 14.Rd2 Nf4 15.Rfd1 e5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.cxd5 Nb8 18.Rc1 gives White better development and the advantage in space; on the bight side for Black, he has a good Bishop (Gagunashvili-Ibragimov, Op, Las Vegas, 2006).
• 8...Qa5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.e3 Bb4 11.Be2 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 b6 13.0-0 Bb7 14.Nd4 Qg5 15.g3 Qc5 16.Nb3 Qe5 is equal (Stahlberg-Grünfeld, IT, Ujpest, 1934).
]/ul]
6.a3 Bxc5 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bg5 Nd4


• 8...b6 9.e3 Be7 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Rfd1 h6 13.Bh4 Na5 14.b3 d5 15.Qb2 Qe8 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Bb5 Qd8 18.Nxd5 Bxh4 19.Nxh4 Bxd5 20.e4 Qxh4 21.exd5 is equal (M. Gurevich-Sulskis, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).

9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.e3 Qa5 11.exd4 Qxg5 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 b6 14.f3


• 14.b4 d6 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.f3 h5 17.h4 Kf8 18.Rhe1 Bd7 19.Rab1 Rac8 20.Rec1 e5 is equal (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Tilburg, 1997).

14...Ba6


• If 14...Bb7 15.b4 d6 16.Bd3 Rfc8 then:
• If 17.Nb5 then:
• 17...Ne8 18.Rhc1 Kf8 19.Nc3 Ke7 20.a4 a5 21.Rab1 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Unzicker, Unzicker's 80th Birthday, Mainz, 2005).
• 17...Rd8 18.a4 a5 19.Rhb1 Bc6 20.Nc3 d5 is equal.
• 17.Rhc1 Kf8 18.Ne4 Nxe4+ 19.Bxe4 d5 20.cxd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 draw (Cramling-Akesson, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 1999).


BLACK: Pia Cramling



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 14...Bc8a6

15.a4! (N)


• If 15.b4 Rac8 then:
• 16.c5!? Bxf1 17.Rhxf1 bxc5 18.dxc5 d6 19.cxd6 Rfd8 20.Rfd1 Kf8 21.Rac1 Rxd6+ is equal (Seirawan-Kudrin, US Ch, Estes Park, 1986).
• 16.b5 Bb7 17.Na4 d6 18.Bd3 Nh5 19.Rhg1 gives White a slight advantage in space.

15...d5


• 15...Rac8 16.b3 d5 17.a5 Ra8 18.axb6 axb6 19.c5 gives White connected passed pawns.

16.cxd5 Bxf1 17.Rhxf1 exd5 18.Rfe1


• White has the advantage in space.

18...Rfe8 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.a5 Kf8 21.Nb5 bxa5?!


• Black should drop a pawn as a result of this move.
• If 21...Re7 then:
• If 22.a6 Rd7 23.b4 then:
• 23...Ke7 24.Re1+ Kd8 25.Re5 Ne8 26.Nc3 Nc7 27.b5 gives White the more active game, but Black for now won't lose a pawn.
• If 23...Ne8 24.Kd3 h5 25.Rc1 then:
• If 25...Ke7 26.Re1+ Kf8 27.Re5 g6 28.h4 f6 29.Re6 maintains material equality, but White is clearly better overall.
• 25...h4 26.Rc8 Ke7 27.f4 Nd6 28.Nxd6 Kxd6 29.b5 allows Black material equality, but White's Rook is running circles around Black's position.
• 22.axb6 axb6 23.Nd6 Re6 24.Ra8+ Ne8 25.Nc8 gives White a clear advantage.

22.Rxa5!


• It will be difficult for Black to protect his a-pawn and impossible not to lose either that or the d-pawn.

22...Rb8 23.Kc2 Re8


• If 23...Nh5 then 24.g3 Nf6 25.Nc3 Rb7 26.Nxd5 Nxd5 27.Rxd5 wins a pawn.

24.Kd2 Rb8 25.Kc3!?


• This moves jeopardizes the win or a pawn. 25.Kc1! guarantees that White will win a pawn.

25...a6?


• This inaccuracy seals the fate of the a-pawn. In Pia's defense, then accurate path to equality is complicated.
• If 25...Re8! gives Black's Rook enough activity to maintain material equality after 26.h4 Re2 27.Rxa7 Rxg2 28.Nd6 when:
• If 28...Rf2! 29.Rxf7+ Kg8 30.Ra7 then:
• If 30...h6 31.Ra8+ Kh7 32.Ne8 Rxf3+ 33.Kb4 then:
• 33...Ne4 34.Ra5 Rf8 35.Nc7 Rf2 36.b3 Rh2 37.Rxd5 Rxh4 38.Rd7 is equal.
• 33...Nh5 34.Ra7 Kg6 35.Kc5 Rb3 36.Ra6+ Kh7 37.Ra2 gives Black only a slight advantage.
• If 30...Rxf3+ 31.Kb4 then:
• If 31...h6 32.Kc5 then:
• If 32...Rf2 33.b4 g5 34.Ra8+ then:
• If 34...Kh7 35.Ne8 Rc2+ 36.Kd6 Nxe8+ 37.Rxe8 gxh4 38.Kxd5 gives Black counterplay after 38...Rb2!.
• If 34...Kg7 35.Ne8+ Nxe8 36.Rxe8 then:
• If 36...g4! 37.b5 g3 then:
• 38.Re3 g2 39.Rg3+ Kf6 40.Kxd5 gives White an extra pawn and excellent prospects for victory.
• 38.b6? g2 39.b7 g1Q 40.b8Q Qc1+ 41.Kxd5 Qh1+ is equal.
• 36...gxh4 37.Re3 Rc2+ 38.Kxd5 Rb2 39.Kc4 gives Black some chances at counterplay and keeps the material balanced.
• If 32...Kh7? then:
• If 33.b4! Rc3+ 34.Kb6 then:
• 34...Rd3 35.b5 Rxd4 36.Rxg7+!! Kxg7 37.Nf5+ wins for White.
• 34...Rh3 35.b5 Rxh4 36.Rxg7+ Kxg7 37.Nf5+ wins.
• 34...Rb3 35.b5 Kg6 36.Re7 Kh5 37.Rxg7 Kxh4 38.Rg6 wins.
• 33.Re7!? Rb3 34.Nf5 Nh5! 35.Re2 Nf4 36.Rd2 gives White nothing more than a small advantage.
• If 31...g6 32.Ra8+ Kg7 33.Ne8+ then:
• 33...Nxe8 34.Rxe8 Kf7 35.Re5 Rf5 36.Rxf5+ gxf5 37.Kc3 White wins easily.
• 33...Kh6 34.Nxf6 Rxf6 35.Kc5 Rf7 36.b4 wins for White.
• 28...Rh2? 29.Ra8+! Ke7 30.Nf5+ Kd7 31.Ra7+ Kd8 32.Rxf7 gives White one extra pawn and she will probably take a second.


BLACK: Pia Cramling



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 25...a7a6

26.Nc7!


• White will win a pawn.

26...Rb7


• 26...Rc8 27.Rc5 Ke7 28.Nxa6 Ra8 29.Nc7 Rc8 30.b4 wins a pawn.

27.Nxa6


• The a-pawn falls.

27...Re7 28.Kd2 h5


• No better is 28...Ra7 29.b4 Ke7 30.Nc5 Rc7 31.Kd3 Nd7 32.g4 when White maintains her pawn plus and has the more active Rook.

29.Nc5!


• The text is good enough, but even better is mobilizing the b-pawn with 29.b4! Rb7 30.b5 Ke8 31.Nc5 Rb8 32.Kc3 when Black will have to invest everything she has in stopping it.

29...g5 30.b4 Ne8 31.Nd3


• If 31.Kd3 Nd6 32.Na4 Rb7 then:
• 33.Nc3! Rxb4 34.Rxd5 Ne8 35.Rxg5 leaves White two pawns up.
• 33.Kc3? Nb5+ 34.Kd2 Nc7 35.Nc3 Rxb4 36.Kd3 is equal.

31...Nc7 32.b5 Ne6

BLACK: Pia Cramling



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 32...Nc7e6

33.Ra4?!

• White misses an easy win.
• If 33.b6! Nxd4 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.Nc5 then:
• If 35...Re2+ 36.Kd3 Rb2 37.b7 then:
• 37...Nb3 38.Ne6+ fxe6 39.Kc3 Nc5 40.Kxb2 Nxb7 41.Ra7 wins for White.
• 37...Nc6 38.Rc8 Ne5+ 39.Kc3 Rb6 40.b8Q wins a piece.
• 35...Kf6 36.b7 Rxb7 37.Nxb7 leaves White up by a Rook.

33...Rb7!

• Black has an uphill climb for a draw, but White has to win the game over again.

34.Rb4 Ke7 35.Nc5 Rb6 36.Na4 Rb8

• 36...Rb7 37.b6 Kd6 38.Ke3 Kc6 39.Nc3 Nf4 40.g3! allows Black to stop tyhe b-pawn, but now the d-pawn in in jeopardy.

37.Nc3 Kd6 38.g3

• 38.Ke3 Rc8 39.Ne2 Re8 40.Kd3 gives White the clear advantage.

38...h4

• 38...f5 39.h4 g4 40.f4 Rb6 41.Na4 Rb8 42.Kc3 gives White the clear advantage.

39.gxh4 gxh4 40.Ra4 Nc7 41.Rb4

• If 41.Ra5 Rb7 42.f4 Ke6 43.Ke2 then:
• 43...Kf5 44.Kf3 Rb6 45.Ra4 Rb7 46.Rb4 gives White an extra pawn, which is passed; Black's chances for counterplay are slim.
• If 43...f5 44.Kd3 h3 45.Ke2 Kd6 46.Kf3 then:
• 46...Rb8 47.Kg3 Re8 48.Ra3 Rb8 49.Rb3 Ne6 50.Ne2 leaves Black teetering on loose rocks over a precipice.
• If 46...Ne6? then 47.Ra6+! Kd7 48.Ke3 Rb8 49.b6 Kc6 50.b7+! wins a piece.

41...Na8?!

• Black intends to blockade the b-pawn. It's a rather poor plan.
• Better is 41...Ne6 (attacking a blockading pawn.) 42.Ke3 f5 then White must slow down the b-pawns's forward progress to take care of other business:
• If 43.b6 then after 43...f4+ 44.Kd3 Kc6 45.Rb2 Ra8 46.Rg2 if White takes the b-pawn then White takes the d-pawn.
• 43.f4 Rc8 44.Rb3 Re8 45.Ra3 Kd7 46.Ra7+ gives White clear superiority, but the passer isn't home yet.

42.Na4!

• White is set on attacking the blockader before it arrives at its post.

42...Nb6?

• Exchanging is not advisable for Black as long as White has a pawn plus.
• If 42...Kc7 43.Kd3 then:
• If 43...Nb6 44.Nc3 Ra8 45.Rb2 Ra1 46.Ra2 then:
• 46...Rxa2 47.Nxa2 Nc4 48.f4 then:
• 48...Nb2+ 49.Kd2 Nc4+ 50.Ke2 Nd6 51.Nc3 Nf5 52.Kd3 is good enough to allow Black to fight on.
• If 48...Kb6 49.Nc3 then:
• If 49...Nb2+ 50.Ke2 Nc4 51.Nxd5+ Kxb5 52.Kd3 then:
• 52...Nb2+ 53.Ke4 Nc4 54.Ne3 Nd2+ 55.Kd5 Nf3 56.h3 leaves Black very little hope.
• 49...Nd6? 50.h3! then:
• If 50...Nf5 51.Nxd5+ Kxb5 52.Nc3+ then:
• If 52...Kb4 53.Nd1 Kb5 54.Ke4 wins for White.
• 52...Nd6? 53.h3! Kc6 54.Nf6 Nf5 55.Ke4 Nd6+ 56.Kf3! puts Black's h-pawn in peril and stretches Black's defense to its snapping point.
• 52...Kc6 53.Ke4 Ng3+ 54.Ke5 Nh1 55.d5+ Kd7 56.Ne4 wins.
• 50...f6 51.Nxd5+ Kb7 52.Nxf6 gives White two passed pawns and an easy win.
• If 46...Rh1 47.Ra7+ Kb8 48.Rxf7 Rxh2 then:
• 49.Rh7 Rf2 50.Rxh4 Rxf3+ 51.Kc2 Nc4 52.Rh8+ continues to give White the advantage with what will soon be two extra extra pawns, but they are seperated by only one file and White must still demonstrate that she can push one over the line.
• 49.Rf6 Kc7 50.Rc6+ Kb7 51.Rh6 Rf2 52.Rh7+ Kb8 53.Rxh4 Rxf3+ 54.Kc2 gives White the advantage with two extra pawns.
• 43...h3 44.Rb2 Kd6 45.Ke3 Nc7 46.b6 Ne6 47.f4 gives White a huge advnatage with the advanced passer.

BLACK: Pia Cramling



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 42...Na8b6

43.Nxb6!

• The b-pawn is safe since the Black King cannot approach it, leaving the more mobile White King to rule the day.

43...Rxb6 44.Rb2

• If 44.Ke3 Kc7 45.Kf4 Rg6 46.b6+ then:
• If 46...Kb7! then:
• 47.Rb5! Rg2 48.h3 Rg3 49.Rxd5 Kxb6 50.Rf5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 47.Ke5?! Rg2! 48.h3 Rg3 49.Rb3 Rxh3 50.Kxd5 gives White only a small advantage.
• If 46...Rxb6? 47.Rxb6 Kxb6 then:
• 48.Ke5! Kc6 49.h3 wins for White.
• 48.Kg4? Kb5 49.Kxh4 Kc4 50.Kg3 Kxd4 is equal.

44...Kc7 45.Rc2+ Kb7

• If 45...Kd6? 46.Rc5 Rb8 47.Kc3 then:
• If 47...h3 48.Rc6+ Kd7 49.Kb4 then:
• 49...Re8 50.Rh6 Rc8 51.Ka5 Rc3 52.Rxh3 gives White an extra pawn.
• 49...Rg8 50.Rh6 Rc8 transposes.
• 47...Re8 48.Rc6+ Kd7 49.Rf6 Re3+ 50.Kb4 Ke7 51.Rf5 gives White an extra pawn.

46.Rc5 Rg6 47.Rxd5 Rg2+ 48.Ke3 Kb6 49.Kf4

• Also good is 49.h3 Rg3 50.Rf5 Rxh3 51.Ke4 Rh1 52.Rxf7 , leaving White two pawns up.

49...Rxh2

• 49...Ka5 50.Rf5 Rxh2 51.Kg4 Rh1 52.Rxf7 Kxb5 53.Rc7 cuts off the King and gives White a winning position.

50.Kg4 h3

• 50...Rf2 51.Rf5 Rh2 52.Rxf7 Kxb5 53.Rc7 cuts off the King and gives White a winning position.

51.Kg3

• If 51.Rf5! Re2 52.Kxh3 Re6 53.Kg4 then:
• 53...Rd6 54.Rxf7 Kxb5 55.Rf5+ Kc4 56.d5 wins for White.
• 53...Re7 then White wins after 54.Rd5 Re6 55.Kf5 Rh6 56.f4 Kc7 57.Ke4.

51...Rh1 52.Rf5 Rd1 53.Kxh3 Rxd4 54.Kg3

• Also good is 54.Rxf7 Kxb5 55.Rc7 Rf4 56.Kg3 Rf8 57.f4.

54...Rb4 55.Rxf7 Rxb5

BLACK: Pia Cramling



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 55...Rb4b5:p

• White's one pawn is enough.

56.Rd7 Kc6 57.Rd8 Kc7 58.Rd4 Rb8

• 58...Kc6 then White wins after 59.f4 Rb7 60.Kg4 Rg7+ 61.Kh5 Kc5 62.Rd2.

59.f4 Rg8+ 60.Kh4 Kc6 61.f5 Kc5 62.Rd1 1-0

• It's a book win for White.
• Pia resigns.

Dmitry Andeikin, a rising star in Russia, was among the early leaders in Havana. He finished third.



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Leinier Domínguez - Dmitry Andreikin
46th Capablanca Memorial, Round 4
Havana, 14 May 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Maroczy Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4

• This is the Maroczy Opening. For this and other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd2

• If 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.0-0 e5 then:
• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 then:
• 11...Be6 12.Qe2 Be7 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Bg3 0-0 15.f3 Re8 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.Bf2 Rec8 18.Rac1 Nc5 is equal (Blodig-Kustar, TT, Baviera, 2000).
• If 11...Bc5 12.Kh1 Qe7 13.f4 g5 then:
• If 14.fxe5 Ng4 15.Bg3 Ne3 16.Qa4 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 then:
• If 17...Be6 18.Nd5 b5 then:
• If 19.Qc2 cxd5 20.exd5 then:
• 20...0-0 21.Rf6 Bd7 22.Qe2 Kg7 23.Qe4 Rh8 24.e6 Be8 25.Be5 Qxf6 26.Bxf6+ Kxf6 27.d6 Rd8 28.Qf5+ Kg7 29.Qxc5 fxe6 30.Qe5+ Kg8 31.Qxe6+ Bf7 32.Qf6 Black resigns (Marshall-Pollard, Marshall CC Ch, New York, 1937).
• 20...Bc8 21.cxb5 Kd8 22.bxa6 Bxa6 23.d6 is equal.
• 19.Nxe7 bxa4 20.Nf5 Rb8 21.Bf2 Be7 gives Black the upper hand.
• 17...Bd7 18.Qb3 0-0-0 19.Rf6 Be6 gives Black the upper hand.
• If 14.fxg5 then after 14...Ng4 15.Qa4 hxg5 16.Bg3 Qd6 Black wins.
• 10.Qc2 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.Be2 Be6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bxg4 Bxg4 15.Na4 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Qe3+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Bxc4 22.Nd7 Bb3 23.Rd3 Bc2 24.Rd2 Rfe8 25.Ke3 Bb3 26.Rc1 f6 is equal (Sterner-Gligoric, Op, Hastings, 1957).

7...Qc7 8.a3 (N)

• 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Nc2 Bd6 10.h3 Ne5 11.Qe2 b6 12.Rd1 Bb7 13.Be3 Rc8 14.0-0 offers equal chances (Nyman-Dubinin, Corres, 1962).

8...Be7!?

• Black does better to trade on c3.
• 8...Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Nxe4 10.Qg4 Nxc3 11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.bxc3 is equal/

9.Be3

• White has a slight advantage in space.
• If 9.f4! d6 10.Bd3 e5 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.h3 give Black a fair advantage in space.

9...d6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 b6

• 11...Nc6 12.f4 Rd8 13.Qd3 continues to give White a small advantage.

12.Qd2!?

• The Queen has little chance her of obtaining a good poost.
• 12.f4 (a stereotypical Sicilian move to grab kingside space) 12...Bb7 13.f5 e5 14.Nc2 a5 15.Nd5 when White maintains a small advantage in space; Black's Bishops are ineffective.

12...Bb7 13.f3 Nbd7 14.Rfc1 Rac8 15.a4!?

• Better is to hold back the a-pawn and deploy in the center.
• 15.b3 Rfd8 16.Rd1! Nc5 17.Qe1 Ne8 18.Rab1 gives White a slight advantage in space, but he is having problems making any further progress.

15...a5?!

• The text creates a hole at b5 with the White Knight ready to occupy it.
• Better is 15...Rfd8! 16.b3 Nc5 17.Qb2 a5 18.Ncb5 Qb8 19.Rd1 with equality.

16.Ndb5!

• White assumes a fair advantage in space by attacking the Queen and blockading the b-pawn.

16...Qb8 17.Bf4!?

• It isn't necessary to pin Black's d-pawn in an effective Maroczy bind.
• 17.Rd1 Rc6 18.Rac1 Rd8 19.Qe1 Ne5 20.Qg3 gives White more space and more freedom.

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin



WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 17.Be3f4

17...Ne5!

• Black's minor pieces show signs of life.

18.b3 Rfd8 19.Kh1 h5 20.Bf1 h4 21.Qf2!?

• The b-pawn is eaily protected.
• White's time is better spent 21.Rd1 when after 21...h3 22.Be3 hxg2+ 23.Qxg2 Nfd7 24.Rab1 Nc5 the game remains equal.

21...Rc5?!

• This, however, is easuily countered.
• 21...Nfd7 22.Rd1 Nc5 23.Ra3 Bf6 24.Be2 Bc6 remains equal.

22.Be3!

• White threatens to win the exchange.

22...d5?!

• Black advances his d-pawn into the Maroczy bind. Don't try this at home.
• If 22...h3 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.gxh3 then:
• 24...Ne8 25.Rd1 Nd6 26.Nxd6 Bxd6 27.Nb5 leaves White with the exchange and an extra pawn in the bargain.
• 24...Nh5 25.Rd1 Bg5 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.Rd1 gives White a very strong game.

23.exd5 exd5 24.cxd5

• Of course, White has won the d-pawn.

24...h3 25.Rd1?!

• White covers his pawn at the expense of his Knight.
• Of course, it is better to let the pawn go; 25.Qg3 hxg2+ 26.Bxg2 Nxd5 27.Bxc5 Bxc5 28.Nxd5 leaves White up by an exchange.

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin



WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 25.Rc1d1

25...Nxd5!!

• Black would have lost the exchange in any event, but now it seems more like just a sham sacrifice.

26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Qg3 Nxc3!

• Instead of losing the exchange, Black has two minor pieces for a Rook.

28.Rxd8+?

• This in effect wins back a piece, leving White and exchange up, but Black's pieces are left poise to overrun an open center straight to White's King.
• If 28.Nxc3! Bd4 then:
• 29.f4 hxg2+ 30.Bxg2 Bxg2+ 31.Qxg2 Bxc3 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.Rc1 is equal.
• 29.Rxd4?! hxg2+! 30.Bxg2 Rxd4 31.Re1 f6 32.Qh3 Qd6 gives Black a better center and a huge advantage in space.

28...Qxd8! 29.Qxe5

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin



WHITE: Leinier Domínguez
Position after 29.Qg3e5:N

29...Nd1!

• White cuts the line of communication from the White Rook to the King.
• If 29...hxg2+ then if 30.Bxg2 Nd1 31.h3 Qd2 32.Kh2 then Black plays the crushing 32...Be3! and takes firm control of the dark squares.

30.Ra2

• 30.Rxd1 Qxd1 31.Qe8+ Bf8 32.Qe2 Qxb3 leaves Black a pawn up.

30...Ne3 31.Nc3 Nxf1 32.Re2 Nd2 33.Qg3 hxg2+ 34.Rxg2 g6 0-1

• White must lose more material.
• El señor Domínguez resigns.