The JR Chess Report (May 9): Koneru Humpy, 3 Others Share First in Mumbai

Koneru and Three Others Share Top Honors in Mumbai



Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, 22, the second highest rated chess playing woman in the world, completed the Mayor's Cup International Open Tournament in Mumbai today with 9 points out of 11 to share first prize with Ukrainian GMs Alexander Areshchenko and Evgenij Miroshnichenko and her compatriot, Magesh Chandran Panchanathan.

Areshchenko will take home the trophy owing to his superior Buchholtz score, used as a tie break in Mumbai. All four player with the top scores will take home the same amount of money.

Ms. Koneru had the second best Buchholtz score.

Ms. Koneru thus becomes the first woman in quite some time to win or share first prize in a major event against mixed competition in quite some time. In 2006, Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar, the highest rated woman ever, shared first place in the Essent Tournament in Hoogeveen, Holland, with grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan. Although she defeated former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov twice in that event, some would not consider it "major" because it was only six rounds among four palyers. In April 2000, Ms. Polgar won the Japta Classic in Bali over nine other players, including former world champion Anatoly Karpov. Finally, in 1998, Ms. Polgar won the US Open, an event similar to the one completed today in Mumbai.

Three Share First in Dubai Open



Russian grandmaster Dmitry Bocharov and Armenians Tigran Kotanjian and Ashot Anastasian finished the 11th annual Dubai Open ahead of all others with 7 points out of nine rounds after the final round was played Monday.

Kotanjian took home the trophy based on his superior tie-break score.

Among women competing in the event, the best scores were turned in by WGM Zeinab Mamedyarova of Azerbaijan, the older sister of grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, WGM Atousa Pourkashyian, who recently won her third Iranian women's championship at the age of 20, and international master Nino Gurieli of Georgia. The trio scored 5½ points each to edge out Russian Irina Turova, who scored 5 points.



US Champioship Begins in St. Louis



The annual US Championship opened yesterday with the strongest field in many, many years in St. Louis at the Chess and Scholastic Center.

Twenty-four players are competing for the title, including

• Yuri Shulman, the defending champion;
• Gata Kamsky, currently the highest rated US player;
• Hikaru Nakamura, America's best hope for the immediate future;
• Past champion Alex Onischuk, who won the Moscow Open in February;
• past four-time US champion Alex Shabalov;
• Boris Gulko, the only man to hold both the Soviet and US championships in a single lifetime;
• reigning US women's champion Anna Zatonskih;
• reigning US junior champion, Tyler Hughes;
• former US women's champion Irina Krush; and
• the newest US grandmaster, GM-elect Robert Hess.

After today's second round, three players -- Kamsky, Shulman and Hess -- have perfect scores.

The third round begins tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 pm CDT (noon PDT) and will be broadcast live on the website of the St. Louis Chess Club with commentary courtesy of Chess-FM by US international master Jennifer Shahade and Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky.


Calendar

US Chess Championship, St. Louis 7-17 May.

Bosna 2009, Sarajevo 8-18 May

MTel Masters, Sofia 12-23 May.

Asian Championships, Subic Freeport (The Philippines) 12-23 May.

Chicago Open 22-25 May.

Sigeman Co Chess Tournament, Malmø 3-7 June.

Aerosvit International Tournament, Foros (Ukraine) 9-20 June.

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2-12 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 19-30 July. This year's GM Tournament is a Category 19 that includes Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier Lagrave and Caruana.

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial, London 8-17 August. Played at historic Simpson's Divan.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December

Ashot Anastasian
Photo: 11th Dubai Open


Ashot Anastasian - Aleksej Aleksandrov
11th Open, Round 7
Dubai, 2 May 2009

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 d6 9.Ne2

• For notes on this opening, see , Op, Gibraltar, 2009.

9...Nbd7 10.Qc2 c5 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.Nc3 a6

• 12...cxd4 13.Rxd4 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 is equal (Beliavsky-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

13.Bh4!?

• 13.Qd2 h6 14.Bh4 d5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Be2 Rad8 17.0-0 Qc6 18.f3 Ne5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.cxd5 exd5 21.e4 gives White more activity (Dreev-Z. Almasi, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2008-09).
• 13.Be2 cxd4 14.Rxd4 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd3 N5f6 17.0-0 h6 18.Bh4 Rad8 19.Rd1 Ne5 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Be4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 gives White a formidable center and better kingside pawns (L'Ami-Short, Staunton Mem, London, 2008).

13...Rfe8

• After the novelty, the game is equal.
• 13...Rac8 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.e4 Rcd8 16.Bd3 Ne5 is also equal.

14.f3

• 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Bg3 e5 16.e4 Rad8 remains equal.

14...Rac8 15.Qd2 d5

• Blacks wants to put an end to the threat of 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.e4 Rcd8 18.Qf4 when White's game is free.

16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Be2

• The game remains equal.
• 17.e4 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Nxc3 19.Qxc3 b5 20.Qxc7 Rxc7 is also equal.

17...cxd4 18.Nxd5 exd5

BLACK: Aleksej Aleksandrov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ashot Anastasian
Position after 18...ed5:N

19.exd4!?

• Is this an attempt to throw Black off balance or just an inaccuracy? Only Anastasian knows for sure.
• 19.Qxd4 Qe5 20.Kf2 Rc7 21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.Rc1 Rec8 remains equal.

19...Qc2

• 19...Qc4 20.Kf2 Qa4 21.Rc1 Nc5 22.Bd1 Nb3 remains equal with best play, but White has plenty of opportunities to falter..

20.Kf2

• 20.Qxc2 Rxc2 21.Rd2 Rc1+ 22.Rd1 Rc4 remains equal.

20...Nf8 21.Bd3 Qa4 22.Bb1

• 22.Bf5!? Rc6 23.Rc1 Ne6! 24.Rxc6 Bxc6 25.Rd1 gives Black more activity.

22...a5 23.Qd3 Bc6 24.Rd2 Bb5 25.Bc2

• If 25.Qf5!? Qb3 then:
• 26.Qf4 a4 27.Bf5 Bd7 28.Bd3 Ng6 29.Bxg6 fxg6 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 26.Kg3? h6 27.Bc2 Qe3 28.Qf4 Qxf4+! 29.Kxf4 g5+ wins for Black.

25...Bxd3

• If 25...Qc4 26.Qxc4 then:
• 26...Bxc4! 27.b3 Ba6 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Kxe1 Re8+ 30.Kd1 is equal.
• 26...dxc4?! 27.d5 Ng6 28.Bxg6 hxg6 29.Re1 White's passed d-pawn trumps Black's queenside majority.

26.Bxa4 b5 27.Bd1 Bf5 28.g4 Be6

• The immediate 28...Bd7 saves a tempo.

29.Be2 Bd7 30.Re1 Re6

• 30...h6 31.Bg3 a4 32.h4 g5 33.h5 f6 34.Bd3 gives White a little bit more activity.

31.h3 Ng6 32.Bg3 Ne7 33.Bd3 Rxe1

• Black feels he has less to fear from the disappearance of Rooks from the board.

34.Kxe1 Rc1+

• Black takes off the other Rook least White's should become active.
• If 34...b4 then after 35.axb4 axb4 36.Rc2 Nc6 37.Bf2 g5 38.Rc5 White's Rook is active and making threats.

BLACK: Aleksej Aleksandrov
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WHITE: Ashot Anastasian
Position after 34...Rc8c1+

35.Rd1

• If 35.Kf2 f5 36.Re2 Kf7 37.Bd6 then:
• 37...Nc8 38.Bc5 Rd1 39.Bc2 Rh1 40.Kg2 imprisons Black's Rook on White's back rank.
• 37...Nc6 38.Bxb5 Rh1 39.Bxc6 Bxc6 40.Re7+ Kf6 41.Rc7 wins material for White.

35...Rxd1+ 36.Kxd1 h5 37.Bc7 a4

• 37...b4 38.Bxa5 Nc6 39.Bb6 hxg4 40.hxg4 bxa3 41.bxa3 gives White a remote passer.

38.Kd2 hxg4

• If 38...g6 39.Kc3 then:
• 39...hxg4 40.hxg4 f5 41.Kb4! fxg4 42.fxg4 Bxg4 43.Bxb5 gives White two passers on the queenside against one from Black on the opposite wing.
• 39...Kf8?! 40.Kb4! Ke8 41.Bxb5 Nc6+ 42.Kc5 Nxd4 43.Bxd7+ brings about a won King and pawn ending for White.

39.hxg4 g5 40.Kc3 f5 41.Bd8 Kf7?

• By now, the game is won for White.
• If 41...Nc8 42.Bxb5 Bxb5 43.gxf5 then:
• 43...Nd6 44.Bxg5 Nxf5 45.Kb4 Be2 46.f4 gives White three pawns for the piece.
• 43...Bc4 44.Kb4 Bb3 45.Kc5 Kf7 46.Bxg5 gives White three pawns for the piece

42.Bxe7 Kxe7 43.gxf5 Kf6

• Black has little choice but to take White's kingside pawns.

44.Kb4

• Likewise, White attacks Black's queenside pawns.

44...Be8

• Black needs the kingside pawns in order to draw.
• If 44...Bxf5 45.Bxb5 Ke6 then:
• 46.Bxa4! Kd6 47.Bd1 Kc6 48.a4 Bh3 49.Be2 wins for White.
• 46.Kc5?! Bc2 47.Bc6 Bb3 48.Bb7 Bc4 49.Bc8+ continues to give White the advantage, but the winning process will take longer.

45.Kc5! Bh5 46.Be2

• This move is very flexible. Depending on Black's next two or three moves, the Bishop van either defend the pawn at f3 or take on b5.

46...Kxf5 47.Kxd5 Kf4

• Black clearly intends to win the pawn at f3.

BLACK: Aleksej Aleksandrov
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WHITE: Ashot Anastasian
Position after 47...Kf5f4

48.Kc5!

• Black's queenside pawns cannot be saved. Thus White allows the exchange of Bishops, leaving nothing in the way of his own queenside pawns.
• Both players have calculated the next seven or eight moves. It's not very difficult.
• Also good is 48.Bxb5! Kxf3 49.Bxa4 g4 50.Bd1+ Kf4 51.Bxg4 Bxg4 52.b4 when White's pawns trump the Bishop.

48...Bxf3 49.Bxf3 Kxf3 50.d5 g4 51.d6 g3 52.d7 g2 53.d8Q g1Q+

BLACK: Aleksej Aleksandrov
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WHITE: Ashot Anastasian
Position after 53...g2g1Q

54.Qd4!

• Black's pawns are doomed. He must therefore keep the Queens on the board in order to have any chance of saving the game.

54...Qg6 55.Qd5+ Ke2 56.Kxb5 Qe8+

• The Black pawn is a goner no matter how Black plays.
• If 56...Qc2 then after 57.Qg2+ Kd3 58.Qxc2+ Kxc2 59.Kxa4 Kxb2 60.Kb4 White's pawn has nothing but daylight and promotion square in front of it.
• If 56...Ke3 then after 57.Qc5+ Kd3 58.Qc3+ Ke2 59.Kxa4 it's a done deal.

BLACK: Aleksej Aleksandrov
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WHITE: Ashot Anastasian
Position after 56...Qg6e8+

57.Qc6!

• The a-pawn must fall. Any square to which the Black Queen can move to cover the pawn is attacked by the White Queen.

57...Qb8+

• 57...Qxc6+ 58.Kxc6 Kd2 59.Kb5 Kc2 60.Kxa4 Kxb2 61.Kb4 wins for White.

58.Kxa4 Kd1

• 58...Qxb2 59.Qb5+ Qxb5+ 60.Kxb5 wins for White.

59.Qb5 Qd8 60.Kb3 Kd2 61.Qb4+ Ke3 62.Qc4

• If 62.a4 Qd1+ 63.Ka2 Qd8 64.a5 then:
• If 64...Qd7 then after 65.a6 Qa7 66.Qc4 Qd7 67.b4 Qd2+ 68.Ka3 the pawn cannot be stopped.
• If 64...Qa8 then after 65.Qd6 Ke4 66.b4 Qg8+ 67.Ka3 Qc4 68.a6 the pawn keeps on going.

62...Qb6+ 63.Ka2 Qa7 64.a4 Qa8 65.Ka3 Qf8+ 66.b4 Qf6

• 66...Qd8 then 67.a5 Qd2 68.a6 Qd8 69.b5 wins for White.

67.Kb3 Qd8 68.Qc3+ Kf4 69.a5 Qd1+ 70.Kc4 Qe2+ 71.Qd3 Qe6+ 72.Qd5 Qa6+ 73.Kc3 Ke3 1-0

• 74.Qd4+ then:
• 74...Kf3 75.Qd3+ focrces the exchange of Queens, winning for White.
• 74...Ke2 75.Qc4+ is equaivalent.
• Aleksandrov resigns.

Atousa Pourkahiyan turns 21 this week. She won her third Iranian women's title last month. She, Zeinab Mamedyarova and Nino Gurieli tied for the best score by a woman in Dubai.



Atousa Pourkashyian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Atousa Pourkashiyan - Orkhan Abdulov
11th Open, Round 8
Dubai, 3 May 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nxc6

• For a discussion of opening theory around the Taimanov Defense, see Smith-Stellwagen, IT, Malmø, 2008.

6...bxc6 7.Bd3

• If 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 then:
• If 8...Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 then:
• If 10...Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 then:
• If 12.Nf2 Ba6 13.Kf3 Ne7 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Bxc5 Qxc5 16.Qd6 then:
• If 16...Qb6 17.b3 c5 18.Rd1 Bb7+ 19.Kg3 Kf7 20.Be2 Rhd8 then:
• 21.Nd3 Rac8 22.Qxb6 axb6 23.Nb2 Bc6 24.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space (Negi-Pileckis, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• 21.Bh5+ g6 22.Bf3 Bxf3 23.gxf3 is equal (Adams-Dr. Nunn, Op, Kilkenny, 1996).
• 16...Qa5 17.h4 c5 18.Kg3 Rc8 19.Be2 Nc6 20.Bh5+ g6 21.Bf3 Nd4 22.b4 Qa3 23.bxc5 Nxf3 24.gxf3 Bxc4 25.Rhd1 is equal (Pirisi-Krasenkow, IT, Balatonbereny, 1988).
• 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Kf2 0-0 16.Bd3 Rf7 17.a3 Bf8 18.Rf1 d5 19.Kg1 Bc5 20.Bf2 Bd6 21.Kh1 Qc7 22.Bg3 a5 23.Rc1 Qb8 24.Rc2 gives White the advantage in space (Antonov-Hamarat, Corres, 1984).
• 10...Ne3 11.Qd3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Ba6 13.b3 0-0 14.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Kf2 Nd5 16.g3 f6 17.Qc2 Nxf4 18.gxf4 fxe5 19.Kg2 Rxf4 20.Bd3 d5 21.Ng3 e4 22.Be2 Qc5 is equal (Fedorchuk-Sprenger, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
• If 8...f5 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Qxd6 then:
• 11...Ba6 12.Bxa6 Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qxa6 14.Bb4 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 Qxa2 16.Rhe1 Nd5 17.Rd3 Qc4 18.Bd2 Rhf8 is equal (Khalifman-Yakovich, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• 11...Qb6 12.Bd3 c5 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.0-0 Rc8 15.c4 Rc6 16.Qe5 Bc8 17.Rae1 0-0 18.Qg5 d6 19.Bc1 is equal (Berrscu-Meinhardt, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

7...e5

• If 7...d5 8.0-0 Be7 then:
• If 9.Qe2 0-0 10.b3 Nd7 11.Bb2 Nc5 12.Rfd1 then:
• 12...a5 13.Ba3 Re8 14.Bxc5 Bxc5 15.Na4 Ba7 16.c4 Bd4 17.Rac1 e5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Bb5 Bd7 20.exd5 Bxb5 21.Qxb5 gives White an extra pawn (Kholmov-Dolmatov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Daugavpils, 1978).
• 12...Nxd3 13.cxd3 d4 14.Nb1 e5 15.Nd2 Bd6 16.Rac1 Bb7 17.f4 f5 18.Nc4 exf4 19.Bxd4 f3 20.gxf3 Bxh2+ 21.Qxh2 Qxd4+ 22.Qf2 Qd7 23.e5 gives White a passer in the center, which he shoul fortify (Rosselli-Mieses, IT, Baden-Baden, 1925).
• 9.Re1 0-0 10.Bf4 Nd7 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Nb5 Nc5 13.Nc7 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Bg5 15.Be5 Rb8 16.Nxd5 Rb7 17.Nc3 Qxd3 draw (Kruppa-Chekhov, Soviet Army Ch, Frunze, 1988).

8.0-0 Be7 9.Kh1 d6!?

• 9...0-0 10.f4 d6 then:
• 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Be3 Be6 13.Na4!? Qa5 14.b3 c5 is equal (Gaprindashvili-Mosionzhik, Soviet ChTW, Riga, 1968).
• 11.Qf3 Nd7 12.Ne2 Bf6 draw (Padevsky-Vukcevich, Sofia, 1958).

10.f4

• The game is equal. White signals her intention to develop the Queen's Bishop by recaturing on f4.

10...h5!?

• Black decides to see what would happen if he doesn't play along with White's plan.
• 10...Rb8 11.Rb1 Qc7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.a3 exf4 14.Bxf4 is equal.

11.Bc4 Qb6 12.fxe5

• White can also continue with her plan to protect the b-pawn and develop the Queen's Bishop.
• If 12.Rb1 Rb8 13.Qe1 then:
• 13...Ng4 14.b3 Bf6 15.Ba3 Be7 16.Rd1 gives White pressure on Black's backward d-pawn.
• 13...h4 14.Be3 Qc7 15.fxe5 dxe5 gives White a small advantage in space and a little bit more activity.

12...dxe5 13.Bg5 Bg4 14.Qe1 Rd8 15.Qg3

• 15.Bb3 Qc7 16.Qg3 a5 17.h3 Be6 18.Bxe6 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses.

15...Qc5

• Taking the poisoned pawn gets Black nowhere.
• If 15...Qxb2 16.Rab1 then:
• 16...Qa3 17.Qxe5 0-0 18.Rb3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 16...Qxc2? 17.Qxe5 Rg8 18.Rb7! wins for White.

16.Bb3 Rd6 17.h3 h4 18.Qe3 Qxe3 19.Bxe3 Be6 20.Bxe6

• The game is equal.
• 20.Bxa7 Bxb3 21.axb3 Rd2 22.Rf2 Rxf2 23.Bxf2 gives White more freedom.

20...Rxe6 21.Bxa7

• White's a-pawn is now unopposed.

21...c5?!

• This does little about the threat to advance a-pawn. 24...Bb4 is the way to put pressure on White's center and obtain counterplay.
• If 21...Bb4! then:
• If 22.Rfe1 Kd7 then:
• 23.a4 Rd6 24.Re2 Ra8 25.Bf2 g5 remains equal.
• 23.a3!? Bxc3 24.bxc3 Ra8! 25.Rad1+ Kc7 gives Black the initiatives; he will win back the pawn.
• 22.a4? Bxc3! 23.bxc3 Nxe4 24.Rfb1 0-0 gives Black a clear advantage.

BLACK: Orkhan Abdulov
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WHITE: Atousa Pourkashyian
Position after 21...c6c5

22.a4!

• Once again, the passed pawn shows a lust to expand.

22...Kd7 23.a5 Kc6

• 23...Ra8 24.Rfd1+ Kc6 25.Bb6 retains the extra pawn for White, although the advance of the a-pawn is slowed for now.

24.Bb6 Ra8 25.Rad1 Rd6

BLACK: Orkhan Abdulov
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WHITE: Atousa Pourkashyian
Position after 25...Re6d6

26.Nd5!!

• A timely pawn sacrifice solves White's problems.
• If 26.Kh2?! Rd4 27.g4 hxg3+ 28.Kxg3 Rh8 then:
• 29.Rd3 Bd8 30.Bxd8 Rxd3+ 31.cxd3 Rxd8 32.Rf3 puts the future of the a-pawn in doubt.
• 29.Kg2?! Bd8 30.Bxd8 Rhxd8 31.Rde1 Rd2+ is equal.

26...Nxd5 27.exd5+ Rxd5 28.Rxd5 Kxd5 29.Rxf7 Bd6?

• Black's position just went from difficult to hopeless.
• If 29...Bf8 30.Kg1 g6 31.Kf2 then:
• 31...c4 32.Rd7+ Kc6 33.Rd8 Rxd8 34.Bxd8 White starts picking off weak pawns.
• 31...Ke6? 32.Rc7 Bd6 33.Rg7 Kf5 34.Ke3 c4 35.Ra7 wins for White.

30.Kg1 e4 31.Kf2 Be5 32.Ke2

• 32.Rd7+ Ke6 33.Rd8 is a quicker win.

32...Ke6 33.Ra7 Rc8

• No better is 33...Rxa7 34.Bxa7 Kd5 35.a6 c4 36.Bf2.

34.c3 Kd5

• Black shortens his agony.
• 34...c4 35.Ke3 Kf5 36.Rf7+ Bf6 37.Rc7 , but the outcome is no longer in doubt.

35.Rd7+ Kc6 36.Rd8 Rxd8 37.Bxd8 Bf4 38.Bxh4 1-0

• White has pawn majorities on both wings.
• Abdulov resigns.

Evgenij Miroshnichenko
Photo: Kreuzberg Chess Club (Germany)


Alexander Fominyh - Evgenij Miroshnichenko
2nd Mayor's Cup Open, Round 8
Mumbai, 6 May 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5!?

• This pawn sacrifice (which we last saw about two months ago in a game won by White will color the rest of the game.
• 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nc3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 d6 11.b3 a6 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.Qe2 Nc6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rd2 Rab8 16.Rc1 Ba8 17.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space (Dubini-Belavenets, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).
• In spite of the outcome of the present game, it would be way too harsh to judge this pawn sacrifice unsound. Nevertheless, it is speculative.

BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko
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WHITE: Alexander Fominyh
Position after 7.d4d5

7...exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5

• 8...Bxd5 9.Nc3 Bc6 10.e4 d6 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Be3 Be7 13.0-0-0 Nd7 14.e5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxg2 gives Black two extra pawns (Gormally-Devereaux, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).

9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6

• If 10...Qc8 then:
• If 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.Nc3 then:
• 12...0-0 13.Bg5 d6 14.Qxc8 Rxc8 15.Nb5 Nbd7 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 17.Rxd6 h6 18.Be3 Nf8 is equal (Khalifman-H. Olafsson, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...Nc6 13.Bg5 d5 14.Qf4 d4 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.e3 Ne7 18.Nxe7 Bxe7 19.exd4 0-0 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Rac1 a5 22.b3 Ra6 23.Re1 Bf6 is equal (Cheparinov-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.e4 0-0 14.Nc3 Nbc6 15.Rd2 then:
• 15...Ba6 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Bxd7 Qb7 18.Rad1 Nge5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 is equal (Sakaev-Zakhartsov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 15...Rd8 16.Bh3 Qb8 17.Rad1 Ng6 18.Nb5 Nge5 draw (Ushenina-Javakhishvili, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).

11.a3!?

• If 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 g6 13.Qf4 0-0 14.e5 Nh5 then:
• If 15.Qh6 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 cxd4 18.g4 Rc8 19.Rxd4 Ng7 20.Nc3 f5 21.Qd2 Bc5 22.Rxd7 Qh4 23.Nd5 Qxg4+ 24.Kf1 Qh3+ 25.Kg1 Qg4+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Kg1 Qg4+ draw (Aronian-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Nc3 Qb8 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Qa4 a6 20.Nd5 b5 21.Qh4 Ne7 22.Ne3 Ra7 23.Rd2 Nc6 24.Nf5 Nd4 25.N3xd4 cxd4 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd4 Qe6 28.Bxb7 Rxb7 29.Rad1 is equal (Wang Yue-Rowson, TMatch, Liverpool, 2007).
• 11.Qa4 Nf6 12.Nh4 g6 13.Bh6 Bf8 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Nc3 Kg7 16.Rd6 Na5 17.Qf4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 h6 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Re8 21.Rxg6+ fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxh6+ Ke7 24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nd6+ Ke7 26.Rd1 Rf8 27.Rd5 Rf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rg5 Black resigns (Aronian-Leko, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

11...Nc7

• White is still looking for compensation for the pawn.
• 11...Nf6 12.e4 0-0 13.Nc3 d6 14.e5 Ne8 15.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space, but Black still has an extra pawn.

12.Nc3 0-0 13.Qf5 Ne6

• If 13...d6 14.e4 Ne6 15.Be3 then:
• If 15...g6 then after 16.Qh3 Bf6 17.Nb5 Qe7 18.Nxd6 Bxb2 Black maintains his extra pawn.
• If 15...Bf6 then 16.Rd2 Ne7 17.Qg4 Qc7 18.Nb5 White at long last wins back the pawn sacrificed on the seventh move.

14.Nd5

• If 14.Qd3 Qb8 then:
• 15.Nd5 then:
• 15...Re8 16.b3 Bd6 17.Bb2 Bc7 18.Nxc7 Qxc7 19.e4 Rad8 Black maintains the pawn plus.
• If 16...Qd8 then:
• 17.Bb2 a5 18.Rac1 a4 19.bxa4 Rxa4 20.Qb3 Ra6 Black still has the pawn.
• 17.Ra2 Rc8 18.Rad2 Na5 19.Rc2 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Rc6 Black keeps the extra pawn.
• 15...Bd8!? 16.e4 f5 17.exf5 Ned4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 is equal.

14...d6 15.Be3

• If 15.e4?! Ned4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 then:
• If 17.Qg4 Bxd5 18.Bh6 Bf6 19.exd5 Qc8 20.Qxc8 Raxc8 Black is better is just about every respect.
• If 17.Qh5 f5 18.Be3 Nc2 19.Rac1 Nxe3 20.fxe3 Bg5 Black maintains his pawn plus, is threatening yet another pawn and has better pawn structure.

15...g6!?

• Weakening the dark squares in fornt of the King wasn't really necessary, but under the circumstances it isn't really harmful.
• If 15...Qe8 16.Qc2 Rd8 then:
• If 17.Qe4 Rd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Qd3 Ne7 forces White to either exchange or retreat his Knight.
• 17.h3 Ne5 18.Rac1 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Nd7 Black has an extra pawn and White no good way to get it back.

16.Qb1

• Black's Queen is forced back.
• If 16.Qc2 then after 16...Re8 17.Rd2 Bf8 18.Rad1 Rc8 19.Qd3 Ne5 Black enjoys an extra pawn (still), the advantage in space and more freedom.

16...Re8 17.b4 Bf8 18.Ra2 Bg7 19.Rad2

BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Fominyh
Position after 19.Ra2d2

19...Ncd4!

• White has more space and freedom, so he finds this a good time to open the center.

20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Ne1 Qd7

• If 21...Rc8 22.Qa2 Ng5 23.Nc2 d3 then:
• If 24.Nce3 dxe2 25.Rxe2 Ne6 then:
• 26.Nf6+ Bxf6 27.Bxb7 Rc7 28.Bg2 Be5 29.Nc4 Nd4 gives White no good way to break Black's grip on the center.
• If 26.Nc4 Bxd5 27.Rxd5 Nd4 28.Rxe8+ Qxe8 then:
• 29.Bf1 Qe7 30.Qb1 b5 31.Ne3 Rc3 maintains the extra pawn.
• 29.Rxd6 Qe7 30.Rxd4 Bxd4 gives Black the exchange.
• 24.Rxd3 Rxe2 25.R3d2 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Qd7 27.Re2 Ne6 Black has more freedom and yet an extra pawn.

22.Rc2

• 22.Nd3 Rac8 23.Rc2 Bxd5 24.Bxd5 Rc3 25.Bb3 Rec8 Black puts more pressure on Black's queenside.

22...Rac8 23.Rdc1 Bxd5

• If 23...Rxc2 24.Qxc2 Rc8 25.Qd2 then:
• 25...Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Rc3 27.Nc2 Qb5 28.Be4 gives Black more freedom and space -- and that extra pawn.
• If 25...Rxc1?! 26.Qxc1 Bxd5 27.Bxd5 Nc7 then:
• 28.Bc6 Qe6 29.Bf3 Nb5 30.Qc6 Nxa3 31.Qa8+ is equal.
• 28.Bg2?! Nb5 29.Bc6 Qc7 puts a very uncomfortable pin on White.

24.Bxd5 Rc3 25.b5 Rec8 26.Nd3

BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko
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WHITE: Alexander Fominyh
Position after 26.Ne1d3

26...h5!

• Black has an extra pawn, more space and freedom, and a firm grip on the center and queenside. There is nothing more to do than attack the kingside.

27.a4 h4 28.Nb4 R8c5

• Another plan is 28...hxg3 29.hxg3 R8c5 30.Bc6 Qd8 31.Nd3 Rh5 when the attack shifts to the King's wing.

29.Bc6 Qd8 30.Nd5 Rxc2!?

• Better is 30...Ra3 31.Qb4 Rxc2 32.Rxc2 Ra1+ 33.Kg2 h3+ when Black has White caught in a mating net.

31.Rxc2 Qg5 32.Qb3 h3

• If 32...Kf8 33.Nb4 Rc3 34.Rxc3 dxc3 then:
• 35.e3 Qg4 36.h3 Qe2 37.gxh4 Nc5 38.Qd5 c2 is time to turn out the lights.
• If 35.Kg2 then after 35...hxg3 36.hxg3 Qd2 37.e3 Bh6 Black batters away at White's King position.

33.f4 Qd8 34.Kf1

• 34.Nb4 Rc3 35.Qa2 Nc7 36.Bf3 Qe7 37.Qb1 Qe6 gives Black more freedom and he still has an extra pawn.

34...Kf8

• If 34...Nc7 35.Nxc7 Qxc7 then:
• 36.Be4 Qe7 37.Bxg6 Qb7 38.Ke1 Qh1+ 39.Kd2 d5 is equal.
• 36.Qd3 Qe7 37.Qe4 Qe6 38.Qxe6 fxe6 39.Be4 Kf7 Black retains the pawn; White should not exchange Rooks because that would give Black a mobile pawn mass that would become dangerous quickly.

35.Ke1 Qc8 36.Nb4 g5 37.Nd3 Rc3

• If 37...Rxc2 38.Qxc2 gxf4 39.gxf4 Kg8 then:
• If 40.f5 then after 40...Nc5 41.Nxc5 dxc5 42.Qd3 Qc7 43.Qxh3 c4 White gets the pawn back but Black is mobilizing his advanced pawns.
• If 40.Kf1?! then after 40...Bh6 41.Qd2 Nc5 42.Nf2 Qf5 Black still has an extra pawn.

38.Rxc3 dxc3 39.Qd5 gxf4 40.gxf4

• If 40.Nxf4 Be5 41.Nd3 Nc7 42.Qf3 then:
• If 42...Bg7 43.g4 Qe6 44.Qg3 Ke7 45.Qh4+ Qf6 46.Qxh3 Qd4! White wins a pawn.
• If 42...Qe6 43.Qe4 Bg7 44.Nf4 Qxe4 45.Bxe4 then:
• 45...Ke7 46.Kd1 Bh6 47.Nxh3 d5 48.Bc2 Be3 leeps Black's postion strong; the Knight is retrained by the Bishop, the King must make four moves to reach f3 and the d-pawn is free to advance one square.
• 45...Bh6 46.e3 Bxf4 47.gxf4 is equal.

40...Qd8 41.Kd1

• By putting the King closer to the advancing pawn, White improves his chances.
• If 41.e3 then after 41...Qh4+ 42.Nf2 Ke7 43.Qe4 Kd8 44.Qf3 Qe7 the pawn remains a serious threat and nothing is moving against it.

41...Kg8!

• 41...Qe7?! 42.Qf5 Qf6 43.Qxf6 Bxf6 44.e3 Bg7 45.Be4 is equal; the c-pawn can make no further progress for now.

42.Qh5?

• White loses quickly after this.
• 42.e3 Qh4 43.Qf5 Kf8 44.Bf3 Qf6 45.Qxf6 Bxf6 remains equal.

42...Qf6!

• The quickest route to a win for Black is to return the pawn.
• If 42...Nc5 then after 43.Qxh3 Nxa4 44.e4 Nc5 45.Nc1 a6 46.Ne2 White can fight on.

43.Qxh3

• At long last, White has the pawn back. Big deal.

BLACK: Evgenij Miroshnichenko
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WHITE: Alexander Fominyh
Position after 43.Qh5h3:p

43...Qd4!!

• The Queen sets fire to White's position around her.
• If 43...Nxf4 44.Qc8+ Kh7 45.Be4+ Kh6 then:
• 46.Qg4! Ng6 47.Bxg6 Qxg6 48.Qh4+ equalizes; Black's pawn is stopped.
• If 46.e3? Ne6 47.Ke2 Qg5 48.Nf2 d5 49.h4 Qe7 strengthens Black position.

44.Ke1 Qg1+ 45.Qf1 Qxf1+ 46.Kxf1 0-1

• After 46...c2 47.f5 Nc5 48.Nc1 Bh6 the Knight gives way.
• Fominyh resigns.

Akobian, Shulman lead US Championship; Illness Forces Out Zatonskih



Defending champion Yury Shulman, who is originally from Belarus, and grandmaster Var Akobian, who is originally from Armenia, are tied for first place with 4½ points each after six rounds of the 2009 US Championship in St. Louis.

Akobian and Shulman faced off on the top board today and drew each other in 33 moves.

Six players are tied for third place with 4 points: Gata Kamsky, the highest rated player in the US; Hikaru Nakamura; Josh Friedel; former two-time champion Alex Onischuk; veteran Joel Benjamin; and 17-year-old high school football player Robert Hess.

Reigning US women's champion Anna Zatonskih had to withdraw from the tounament after two rounds when she became ill Saturday night and was hospitalized. She is in good health and has been released from the hospital. The USCF got FM Doug Eckhardt to replace her by Monday.


Annual IT in Sarajevo Begins; Eljanov Leads at half-way point



Sarajevo
Photo: MARRI-rc.org

The 39th annual international tournament in Sarajevo, a double round robin among six players sponsored by the Bosna Chess Club, began Friday and has now completed five of the scheduled ten rounds with Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov holding a one-point lead over Bosian GM Borki Predojevic.

Eljanov has won three of his five games and drawn the other two for a total of four points.

Sergei Movsesian of Slovenia is in third place with 2½ points.


MTel Masters Underway in Sofia



The fourth annual MTel Masters Tournament, a double round robin among six elite players, began today in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, with defending champion Vassily Ivanchuk and local favorite Veselin Topalov getting off to a bad start.

Ivanchuk, playing White, dropped his game against Spanish/Latvian grandmaster Alexei Shirov in just 24 moves while 18-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway neatly defeated Topalov in 36 moves. Today's only other game, between China's Wang Yue and Leinier Domínguez of Cuba, ended in a draw.


Asian Continental Championships Begin in the Philippines



The Eighth annual Asian Continental Championships began today in Subic Freeport in the Philippines.

The tournament consists of two competitions. The general competion is an open Swiss system tournament featuring 85 men and boys and 15-year-old grandmaster Hou Yifan of China, the world's third ranked woman player. Forty-five other women are competing in the women's competition, also a Swiss system event.