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February 29, 2004

Happy leap year! Happy to say that Topalov provided some need excitement at Linares with a crushing win over Shirov. I'll try to look at that game tomorrow. Here are this morning's games from Linares.

The focus today is upon another theme, in this case a nice attacking chance against a castled king. The attack comes against a nicked black pawn structure with pawns on g7 and h6. That happens often enough. In many of the games here, white will check with Bh7 (supported by a Qc2 or elsewhere along the diagonal. The check forces the black king to h8. In some positions, white then proceeds with Ng6+. In other positions, white first must remove the f-pawn with Nxf7 or even Rxf7. The resulting check from the Ng6 forces Kh8xBh7 and either a double check (Nf8) or a powerful discovered check winning back material. Note that in all of these examples, black was unsuccessful in using his light-squared bishop to counter white's influence upon the key b1-h7 diagonal.

Here are two fun examples, and about 50 games that use this nice manoeuver.

James,H - Miles,E [D02]
NZL-ch Napier (8), 1912

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 b6 5.c4 Bb7 6.Nc3 a6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rc1 Nh5 11.Ne2 Nxf4 12.Nxf4 Rc8 13.Qe2 a5 14.Rfd1 0-0 15.Qc2 h6 16.Bf5 c5 17.Ne5 cxd4 Diagram

18.Bh7+ Kh8 Coach's first law... when the King can't move, all you need is check! 19.Nxf7+ Stripping away the defender of the key g6 square 19...Rxf7 20.Ng6+ Forcing black's reply 20...Kxh7 21.Nf8+ Double check. The king must move! [21.Nf8+ Kg8 (21...Kh8 22.Qh7#) 22.Qh7+ Kxf8 23.Qh8#] 1-0

Simantsev,M (2403) - Svetushkin,D (2472) [D46]
Bucharest Autumn Cup GM Bucharest (10), 30.11.2000

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 e6 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 12.Bd2 Bb7 13.b4 a5 14.a3 axb4 15.axb4 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bd3 h6 18.h3 Nb6 19.e4 Qe7 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Re1 dxe4 22.Bxe4 Qf6 23.Ne5 Rc8 24.Re3 Rc7 25.Rf3 Qe6 Diagram

26.Bh7+ Kh8 [26...Kf8 27.Ng6+ Ke8 28.Re3] 27.Rxf7 A nice sac to open the g6-square 27...Rxf7 28.Ng6+ Kxh7 29.Nf8+ double check 29...Kg8 [29...Kh8 30.Qh7#] 30.Nxe6+- Rf6 31.Nd8 Ba8 32.Qa2+ Kh7 33.Qa7 Rg6 34.Nf7 c5 35.Nxd6 Bf3 36.Nf5 Nc4 37.Ng3 Nxd2 38.gxf3 cxb4 39.Qa2 Nxf3+ 40.Kg2 Nxd4 41.Qb2 Nc6 42.h4 Kh8 43.Qc2 Rf6 44.Nh5 b3 45.Qe4 Rd6 46.Qg4 g6 47.Qc8+ Nd8 48.Qc3+ 1-0

February 28, 2004

Here are today's pairings at Linares. Here are the games, again all draws... After a very tough battle, Kasparov had a win but played 555...Rf2 rather than 555...Rb1 in a rather routine endgame...

Radjabov - Kasparov
Shirov - Kramnik
Vallejo - Topalov
Day off: Leko

I probably ought to annotate Kasparov's game against Shirov, a complex affair that nearly and probably should have resulted in a Shirov win. But I continue to pine for victories, so let rain dance continue.

One of the coolest things about maintainiong this BLOG is that it improves MY chess too. On January 27 and 28, I devoted the BLOG to Rh7 sacrifices. Lo and behold, just yesterday, I got to do it too! Having reviewed these games, the sacrifice was really easy to find. Proof, I think, that this method of reviewing games works... at least for me. Here's the game.

Edwards [B76]
Yahoo game, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Be3 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.f3 Bg7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Re8 10.g4 a6 11.h4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.h5 Bb7 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 Diagram

17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Rh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh2+ Kg7 [19...Kg8 20.Rh1 f5 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qxg6 e5 23.Rh8+ Ke7 24.Qh7+ Ke6 25.exf5#] 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Rh1 f5 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Rh8# 1-0

So, let's try a different theme, here an opening trap by black in the Caro Kann. I think that you will be amazed by just how many people, including some really good players, fell for this one! Note that while most of the games in this collection began as Caro Kann's, there is one Sicilian!

Guerrero Alvarez,R (2240) - Garcia Luque,A (2324) [B17]
ESP-chT Div 2 Cala Galdana (6), 13.11.1999

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bd3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Ngf3 Qc7 13.Bd2 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Diagram

14...Bxf2+! Here's the Caro-Kann trap. Black wins a pawn! 15.Qxf2 [15.Kxf2 So why not just capture with the king? 15...Qxe5! Because black wins the white Ne5 16.Qxe5 Ng4+ Forking the king and queen, winning back the queen. When the dust settles after Nxe5, Black will be a clear pawn up.] 15...Qxe5+ And just like that, black is up a pawn. 16.Be2 Ne4 17.Qe3 Qxb2 18.0-0 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 0-0 20.Rab1 Qe5 21.Rb3 Qg5 22.Qd6 Rd8 23.Qc7 Rd7 24.Qc4 b6 25.Bf3 Bb7 26.Bxb7 Rxb7 27.Qe2 Rd8 28.Rg3 Qd2 29.Qf3 Rd5 30.c3 Rbd7 31.Qe4 Rg5 32.Qa8+ Kh7 33.Qe4+ g6 34.Rh3 Qd5 35.Qe2 Qb5 36.c4 Qc5+ 37.Kh1 Rf5 38.Rg1 Qf2 39.Qg4 Rf4 0-1

February 27, 2004

Three draws today ... Shirov achieved perhaps a winning position against Kasparov, but failed to convert despite Garry's horrible time pressure. Here are the games.

Today's pairings at Linares include a premier match between Kasparov and Shirov

Vladimir Kramnik - Paco Vallejo
Garry Kasparov - Alexei Shirov
Peter Leko - Teimour Radjabov
Rest Day: Topalov

Three conclusive results yesterday including this game of the day, Kasparov's first win at Linares, 2004. I was very surprised by Kasparov's 14th move. At first glance, it seems anti-positional, opening up the d5 square. But it sure worked out well! The game ended with quite a time scramble. Garry missed a great shot on move 34, but still an impressive achievement!

Kasparov,G (2831) - Vallejo Pons,F (2663) [D45]
XXI SuperGM Linares ESP (7), 26.02.2004

1.d4 Again, with the idea of c4, Nc3, and e4 1...d5 One of three ways (with Nf6 and f5) of stopping 2.e4 2.c4 The Queen's Gambit. White offers a pawn for quick development. If 2...dxc4, white has 3.Nc3 and 4.e4 2...c6 The Slav Defense. 2.e6 is the main line of the Queen's Gambit, but e6 blocks in the Bc8 [2...Nf6? 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4] 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 Solid chess, though the Bc8 gets locked in. Black will pursue a Catalan formation with Nbd7, Qc7, b6, Bb7, Rc8, Be7 and 0-0. 5.e3 To develop the Bf1-d3, preparing for a later e3-e4 5...Nbd7 6.Qc2 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 The Bb7 looks awful, but black will often be able to gain space later with c6-c5. 8.0-0 Be7 9.b3 Rc8 [9...Qc7 10.Bb2 Rd8 11.Rfe1 h6 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 0-0 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.c5 bxc5 16.dxc5 Qa5 17.b4 Qc7 18.Qe2 a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 Ra8 21.Ne5 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Ra8 23.Re1 Bc8 24.Qf3 Bd7 25.Nc4 Nd5 26.Qe4 f5 27.Qf3 Ra4 28.Bxf5 Qf4 29.Qxf4 Nxf4 30.g3 Rxb4 31.gxf4 Rxc4 32.Rxe6 Bf8 33.Re4 Rxe4 34.Bxe4 Bxc5 35.Kg2 Kf7 36.Kf3 Be7 37.Bc3 Bf6 38.Bxf6 Kxf6 39.Ke3 c5 40.Bd5 Kf5 41.f3 Kf6 42.Be4 Bb5 43.Bc2 Ke6 44.Be4 Kd6 45.Bg6 Bc6 46.h4 Bd7 47.Be4 Be8 48.Kd3 Bf7 49.Ke3 Kc7 50.Kd3 Kb6 51.Kc3 Kb5 52.Bd3+ Kc6 53.Be4+ Bd5 54.Kd3 Kd6 55.Ke3 Bc4 56.Kd2 Bf1 57.Ke3 Kc7 58.Kd2 Kb6 59.Kc3 Kb5 60.Bd5 Be2 61.Be4 c4 62.Bd5 Kc5 63.Be4 Bf1 64.Bg6 Kd6 65.Kd4 Ke6 66.Be4 Kf6 1/2-1/2 Grabarczyk,M-Najer,E/Polanica Zdroj 1999/EXT 2000 (66)] 10.Bb2 Qc7 The positions are similar, but white has more activity owing to the c4-pawn and the Nc3 11.Rad1 h6 12.e4 dxe4 Black cannot allow e4-e5 13.Nxe4 0-0 Encouraging Kasparov to attack. Better is Nxe4 Bxe4 Nf6 Bd3 and c6-c5. 14.c5 Garry thoought for a long time. He may have been aware of the above game; he surel;y wanted to take advantage of the fact that black has delayed the capture on e4 and ...c6-c5. 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe4 a5 Trying to prevent b3-b4, but black surely had to play Nf6 to drive back the Be4. [15...bxc5 Black can win a pawn, but the resulting pawn structure will favor white. 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 With good attacking chances. Black's extra pawn is the weak c5-pawn.] 16.Rfe1 Rfd8 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bd3 Kg8 No draw offer... just gaining time on the clock before the mad time-control scramble. 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Bd3 Kg8 21.Ba3 The threat is cxb6 and Bxe7 21...Qb8 22.Qc1 Demonstrating white's large advantage in time and space 22...bxc5 23.Bb1 Consolidating. cxd4 meets Bxe7 23...Qa7 24.Qc2 Garry doesn't really think that Vallejo will miss the mate on h7 and h8. But there's no good way to stop it! 24...Nf6 [24...Nf8!? 25.Ne5 With an obvious advantage and the possibility of Nxf7] 25.Ne5 Rd5 26.Ng4 The Nf6 must not move or white will win quickly with Qh7+ 26...Rf5 Blocking the queen's access to h7 27.Nxf6+ gxf6 [27...Bxf6 28.g4 Rd5 29.Bxc5+-; 27...Rxf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8#] 28.h4 Threatening rather than playing g4, with the idea of preventing ...Rf5-g5. But 28.g4 does win nicely too. [28.g4 Rg5 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Bxc5 Bxc5 31.dxc5 Rxg4+ 32.Kh1 Qxc5 33.Rd7+-] 28...Kh8 29.Qe2 Trying to force the Rf5 to move, [29.Bxc5 Bxc5 30.dxc5 Qb8 31.Qc3 Re5 32.Rxe5 Qxe5 33.Qxe5 fxe5 34.Rd7+-] 29...Ba6! 30.Qe3 Rh5 Hanging on by a thread! 31.Bxc5 Both sides are very short of time, but this is the right idea! 31...Bxc5 32.dxc5 Qxc5 [32...f5 33.Bxf5 Rxf5 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Re3+-] 33.Qf3! Too many threats! 33...Kg7 Diagram

[33...Rd5 34.Qxf6+ Kg8 35.Qxh6+-] 34.Qg4+ [34.Rxe6!! fxe6 35.Rd7+ Kg8 36.Bh7+ Kf8 (36...Kh8 37.Qxf6#) 37.Qxf6+ Ke8 38.Qf7#] 34...Kh8 [34...Kf8 35.Rc1 Qb5 36.a4 Qd5 37.Be4 f5 38.Qxh5+-] 35.Rd7 [35.Rc1!? Qd5 36.Be4 Rg8 37.Qf3 Qe5 38.Bg6 Rxg6 39.Rxe5+-] 35...Rg8 [35...Rf8 Best defense, though too passive to survive.] 36.Qf3 Re5 [36...f5 37.Qxh5] 37.Qxf6+ It's mate in three [37.Qxf6+ Rg7 38.Rd8+ Qf8 39.Rxf8#] 1-0

February 26, 2004

Today's pairings at Linares... Here are the results... THREE WINS! With his win over Shirov today, Leko remains in first place with 4.0 points just ahead of Kasparov and Kramnik (both at 3.5).

Leko - Shirov
Kasparov - Vallejo
Kramnik - Topalov
Free day: Radjabov

Shirov beat Radjabov yesterday at Linares in grand style to tie Leko for first place. I've briefly annotated the game below, but I am sure that it will be subjected to intense scrutiny in the days and years ahead. There is no doubt that it will figure priminently in Shirov's next volume of Fire on Board.

Here is the game and, here are about a dozen or more games in this line. It will be obvious that the line is a Radjabov favorite. There's no doubt that he had a sleepless night trying to resuscitate his main line defense!

Shirov,A (2736) - Radjabov,T (2656) [E97]
XXI SuperGM Linares ESP (6), 25.02.2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Preparing Nc3 and e4 2...g6 The King's Indian, a Radjabov favorite 3.Nc3 Threatening e4 3...Bg7 Black welcome the breoad white pawn center and will counter-attack with d6 and e5 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 One of Fischer's favorite opening lines. Inviting d4-d5 Nc6-e7 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 The battle lines are drawn. White will usually attack on the queenside... black on the kingside with ...f7-f5 9...Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 A frequent recent visitor and no surprise to Radjabov. The database shows that he has faced this several times before. 11...Nf6 12.Bf3 Overprotecting e4 12...c6 Unlike many King's Indian lines, the battle is joined in the center 13.Bb2 Countering black's strong dark-squared bishop 13...h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 All still book. The e-pawn will fall, but white expects counter-play in the center and on the kingside. 15...fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Rxe4 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Rxe5 Even this exchange sacrifice has been played before. 19...Bxe5 20.Bxe5 For the exchange, white expects compensation against the weakened Black kingside. 20...Qb6 21.Bb2 Here's Shirov's new move. Qd2 to protect the b4-pawn had been previously played. 21...Kh7 Seeking safety behind the pawns [21...Qxe6 22.Qd4; 21...Qxb4 22.Rb1] 22.Qe2 d4 Attempting to block the Bb2 on its very strong diagonal. 23.h4 Charge. The idea is to break apart the black kingside with h4-h5 23...Rf6 Aiming to capture the advanced e-pawn. 24.Re1 Defending e6 24...Qxb4 Black judges his position sound enough to grab a pawn. 25.a3 or Qe5... Shirov first forces the black queen to retreat 25...Qd6 26.h5 Blowing open the kingide. If gxh5?, white will gain anoher diagonal for the light-squared bishop. 26...Raf8 Bringing up the reinforcements. If necessary, black can return the exchange with Rxf3 27.Qe4 Pinning the g-pawn and adding to the pressure upon d4 27...Nc6 28.hxg6+ Kg7 Black can't take... Rxg6 Bh5 29.Bc1 Turning his attention now to the isolated h-pawn 29...Qe7 Diagram

30.Bxh6+! The Fire's Back on Board, a reference to Shirov's book. This guy is in his element! 30...Kxh6 31.Qh4+ Kxg6 Re4 and Be4+ are interesting alternatives... but if Re4, black will sacrifice the exchange with Bxf3... so white first exchanges the bishop. [31...Kg7 32.Qh7#] 32.Bxc6 bxc6 33.Re5 Qxe6 [33...Rxe6 34.Qh5+ Kf6 35.Rf5+ Kg7 36.Rg5+ Qxg5 (36...Kf6 37.Qg6#) 37.Qxg5+ With a similar endgame to the game] 34.Rxe6 Rxe6 35.Qg4+ Kf7 36.Qxd4 The smoke has cleared and white has a winning endgame. Shirov's technique is careful and instructive 36...a6 37.g4 NO rush to take the a-pawn with Qa7+... first, Shirov gets the kingside pawns rolling. The passers need to be pushed. 37...Rg8 38.f3 With a home on g3 for the king 38...Rf6 39.Kf2 Re8 40.Qc4+ Kg7 41.Qxa6 Ref8 42.Qd3 c5 [42...Rxf3+ 43.Qxf3 Rxf3+ 44.Kxf3 With an easy win thanks to the outside a-pawn] 43.a4 Ra8 44.Qc3 Kg6 45.Qxc5 Rfa6 46.Kg3 Rxa4 47.Qd6+ Kf7 48.g5 R8a6 49.Qd7+ Kg6 50.f4 Ra1 51.Qd3+ Kg7 52.Qd4+ Kg8 53.Kg4 R1a2 54.Qd8+ A pleasing bounce off the 8th rank 54...Kg7 55.Qc7+ Kg8 56.f5 Ra7 [56...Rg2+ 57.Kf3] 57.Qd8+ Kg7 58.f6+ Kh7 [58...Kg6 59.Qg8+] 59.Qd3+ Kh8 60.Kf5 Heading right into g6 60...Ra8 61.Qh3+ First force the king to g8, eliminating Rg8+ 61...Kg8 62.Kg6 R2a7 Stopping Qh7# 63.Qe6+ Kf8 64.Qd6+ Kg8 65.Qd5+ Kh8 66.Qh1+ [66.Qh1+ Kg8 67.f7++- Rxf7 68.Qxa8+] 1-0

February 25, 2004

Round 6 at Linares: Happy to report that the Fire is Back on Board! Shirov triumphed in grand fashion. Here are the round 6 games.

I invite you all to contribute your own games to this web site. One of our readers has begun a "Reader's Corner" on the Chess is Fun Message Board.. I promise to highlight at least one game from there every month... maybe more if the quality is as high as the first post... be sure to check it out!

A day off Linares, so here's one of my games in an interesting Sicilian line. Many players like to avoid the main lines and play openings like the c3 Sicilian. The lines are very different from the open Sicilian and, I suppose, there's less to learn. With black, most players try immediately to take advantage of the c2-c3 move. For example, 2...d5 2.cxd4 Qxd5 takes advantage of the fact that white cannot now post the Nb1-c3 to attack the Qd5. Or 2...Nf6, since after 3.e5 Nd5, white would not normally want to lose a tempo by playing c3-c4 to attack the Nd5.

But for about a decade, I've been experimenting with a third alternative that is barely mentioned in the literature. I present one of games, a sample line with a remarkable defense for black, and a collection of about 16 games in this new line. Enjoy.

Harabor,M (2215) - Edwards,J (2455) [B22]
APCT, 1993

1.e4 c5 2.c3 A very popular approach against the Sicilian. The usual responses are 2...d5 and 2...Nf6 2...e5 Here's a third idea that has not (yet) caught on. 3.Nf3 Nc6 Just like a typical 1.e4 e5 opening but with a funny c3, c5 move pair 4.Bc4 Nf6 Just like the two knights' defense, but again with that funny move pair 5.Ng5 Playing it the same way as the Two Knights. How will the pawns on c3 and c5 effect this variation? 5...d5 Defending the f7-pawn 6.exd5 Na5 As in the two knights' line, attacking the Bc4 prior to re-capturing. Black is playing a gambit 7.Bb5+ Bd7 In the normal line, black can play c7-c6 here. Bd7 is normally a less-favored alternative 8.Qe2 Bd6 Quick development is in order. Black is down a pawn, but will gain time by forcing the Ng5 to retreat. 9.d4 Ambitious... trying to develop the queenside pieces and attack in the center before Black can consolidate the hold in the center 9...cxd4 10.b4 Trapping the knight, but at the cost of permitting black to continue his rapid development. 10...h6 11.Nf3 0-0 12.Bxd7 Qxd7 13.bxa5 So, white is up a whole piece, but white still has five pieces "in the box" 13...d3 Time to play like Morphy. Qxd3 meets e5-e4 14.Qd1 e4 With a threatening pawn center. Nxd5 and f5 are coming 15.Nfd2 Nxd5 16.Nc4 [16.Nxe4 Rae8 wins back the piece] 16...Bc7 Three squares from the knight, a typical manoeuver. 17.Qb3 Kh7 Preparing f7-f5-f4 by taking the king off the a2-g8 diagonal 18.0-0 The white king couldn't safely stay in the center, and the queenside remains relatively undeveloped, but this is dangerous too. Three of black's pieces are aimed at white's kingside, and the Rf8 is about to join in too. 18...f5 19.Nba3 Understandable, but heading the wrong way. 19...Rae8 Otherwise the Nb5, Bb8 move pair seals in the Ra8 20.Nb5 Bb8 Again, three squares away from the knight 21.Rb1 Diagram

Relying upon quick counterplay on the queenside. Does black have compensation for the piece?21...f4 Charge! 22.Kh1 f3 With the simple ides of g3 Qh3-g2# 23.Rg1 Coach's first law, The white king cannot move. All we need is check! 23...Bxh2 Enticing the white king into the open. 24.Ne3 [24.Kxh2 Qg4 25.gxf3 Qh4+ 26.Kg2 exf3+ 27.Kf1 Qh3+ 28.Rg2 Qxg2#] 24...Nxe3 25.Bxe3 Qg4 Showing off. Bxg1 wins too. 26.gxf3 [26.Kxh2 Qh4#] 26...Qh3 [26...Qh3 27.Rg2 Bb8+ 28.Kg1 exf3 29.Kf1 fxg2+ 30.Ke1 g1Q+] 0-1

And here's a new idea that I've been toying with and about 16 games in this line.

sample game [B22]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Same as in the last game4...Qc7 Diagram

Here's a different idea, over-protecting the e5-pawn with the queen. Can't do that in the Two Knights' Defense!5.Ng5 Nd8 And here's the funny idea... a new way to defend the f7-pawn! 6.Qf3 Three attacks [6.Qb3 d6] 6...d6 And the third defense from the Qc7! ...h6 on the next move will prove that white has over-extended! *

February 24, 2004

The play at Linares was exciting yesterday, but the result was the same... Yet another three draws. A bit like the year that Mike Wilder won the US championship... after winning 2 or 3 games, he coasted to victory with many consecutive draws. Leko's one point lead looms larger and larger.

No games today at Linares... a day off. Guess all those draws have exhausted them!

Tomorrow's's pairings:

Topalov - Kasparov
Vallejo - Leko
Shirov - Radjabov
Free day: Kramnik

Here are my notes to the yesterday's game between Kasparov and Kramnik. Many on ICC thought that Garry had some winning chances but, in the end, he was fortunate to hold the draw. And here are some games in this interesting line of the Queen's Indian.

Kasparov,G (2831) - Kramnik,V (2777) [E12]
XXI Linares ESP (5), 23.02.2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 The usual idea is Nc3 preparing e2-e4. 2...e6 Now if Nc3, black can prevent e4 with Bb4 3.Nf3 b6 The Queen's Indian. Black can prevent e2-e4 with Bb7 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 Preventing Bb4 5...d5 Normally, in d4 d5 openings, Blacl's light squared bishop is a problem. Here, black is prepared to activate it with d5xc4 6.cxd5 An importany capture. If exd5, black's Bb7 will be a problem 6...Nxd5 So black tries a more modern course, but this permits white to capture the center with e2-e4 7.Qc2 First, preparing the advance. If e4 first, Black wins the pawn with Nxc3 and Bxe4 7...Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Bd3 c5 Seeking counter-play by attacking the established pawn center. 11.0-0 Qc7 Often with the idea of c4 with a 3 on 2 pawn majority on the queenside. 12.Qe2 Eyeing both e4 and c4 12...Nd7 13.Bb2 Rac8 And again with the idea of c5-c4 14.Nd2 Not only preventing c4, but also with the possible idea of f4 and a strong central attack 14...Rfd8 15.Rfd1 A new move, and a surprise. At best, we will see f3 to secure the center. Why not Rad1 and f4? 15...Nf6 Now, if e5, Black will play Nd5 16.a4 Tring to activate the Ra1 with a5 and to create a safe haven for the knight on c4 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 Bb4 Are white's d- and e-pawns strong or weak? The Bb4 aims to undermne white's support for the e-pawn. 18.Nf3 Qe7 19.h3 Preparing Qe3 19...h6 20.Qe3 a5 Securing the Bb4 and preventing the a5-advance 21.Rdc1 Ne8 22.Ne5 Nf6 In effect, offering a draw. Garry is well down on time and welcome a repetition 23.Nf3 Ne8 24.Ne5 Nf6 25.Nc4 Cheers on up on ICC. Garry is playing for a a win! The threat is Nxb6 25...Rc6 26.Qg3 With powerful threats... d4-d5 would activate the Bb2 and eye the f6 and g7 squares 26...Nh5 27.Qe3 Nf6 Again, another repetition to buy time until the time control on move 40. 28.Rc2 Rdc8 29.Rac1 Qd8 30.Qe2 Bf8 31.Qe3 R8c7 32.Qe2 Rc8 Trying to avoid action until the time control. 33.Ne5 R6c7 Diagram

34.f3 This small weakening costs white dearly. Every pawn move creates weaknesses, here on g3 and e3. 34...Nh5 Threatening Nf4 35.Rxc7 Rxc7 36.Rxc7 Qxc7 37.Qc2 Qd8! Suddenly, black is on the offensive with threats of Qg5 and Qh4 38.Bf1 Bd6 39.Qf2 Quickly covering up the squares on the kingside. 39...Qg5 40.h4 Qf4 41.g4 Ng3 A lkong think after having reached time control... Garry finds a forced draw. 42.Nd3 Nxe4 [42...Qf6? 43.e5 Qxh4 44.Kg2 Qh1+ 45.Kxg3+/-] 43.fxe4 [43.Nxf4 Nxf2 44.Kxf2 Bxf4-/+] 43...Qxe4 44.Qg2 [44.Qg2 Qe3+ 45.Qf2 Qe4=] 1/2-1/2

February 23, 2004

Today's 5th round results at Linares: Another three draws, but my rain dance nearly had some effect. These were hard fought and nearly produced some results!

At least one of the games at Linares was interesting yesterday. Topalov nearly won, but Radjabov held on thanks to the complications associated with a simple f3+Qg2 mate threat. The pairings today (the 23rd) have

Teimour Radjabov - Paco Vallejo
Peter Leko - Vesselin Topalov
Garry Kasparov - Vladimir Kramnik

Let's hope for a bit more action. Meanwhile, rather than annotating more draws, I register my personal protest by waiting to annotate some far more hard-fought struggles.

Here are all of the games in Bobby Fischer's 60 Memorable Games. If you have not played through this magnificant collection, you are in for the chess treat of a lifetime. My original edition is nearly in shambles. It makes just about every top player's top 5 list of great books.

And since that volume is rather hard to find, here are the games in Andy Soltis's Bobby Fischer rediscovered. Soltis takes a critical look at some of the games in Fischer's book, which ends in 1967, and then adds a good number from later events right right through Fischer's 1992 return match against Spassky. 100 games, all right here!

That's my rain dance for more action this morning. Let's see if it works! As usual, look for the Linares games at the Internet Chess Club and at www.chess.fm... and check back later for my usual coverage. Good chess!

February 22, 2004

Three more games today. Be sure to watch on ICC and listen to the broadcast on chess.fm. Here are the pairings:

Kramnik - Leko
Topalov - Radjabov
Vallejo - Shirov

Here are the games, another three draws!

Observant readers will note that Kasparov has the bye today. I will post notes to his interesting game against Leko, but I'm first off to get some sleep after a long trip to New York City this afternoon. I stopped at Fred Wilson's bookshop, a hard to find, small 3rd floor one-room office on 11th street just off Broadway. I bought R.N. Coles' Amos Burn: The Quiet Chessmaster. It's a limited edition, scarce biography with 62 games of this little known master from the turn of the century. One day soon, I hope to present some of Burn's games here.

OK... here's the Leko Kasparov game... and here are about 50 games in this interesting line. You'll notice that Leko has played this line before, so his choice would not have been been a surprise to Garry.

Leko,P (2722) - Kasparov,G (2831) [B90]
XXI Linares ESP (3), 21.02.2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 Once again, the Najdorf Sicilian 6.Be3 An invitation to ...e6 and the English attack 6...e5 Attacking the Nd4 once it no longer has b5 as a square 7.Nb3 The point is that, unlike in the Sveshnikov (with Nb5-a3-c2, it's hard to coordinate the knights upon the d5-square. The retreat of Nf3 would block the advance of the f-pawn 7...Be6 And black gets quick counter-play, here fighting for d5. 8.f3 The idea is as in the English attack, with f3, Qd2, 0-0-0, and g4-g5. If Qd2 first, Black can ttry Nc6 and d6-d5 8...Nbd7 All carefully prepared and often played before. The Nbd7 will head to b6 to fight for the d5-square and with Nb6-c4 as an option. 9.g4 Trying to play g4-g5 when the d7 square is already occupied. 9...Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 This is dangerous to black when black has castled and white can open the h-file with Ng3. But the white knights are on the queenside and black has time, if needed, to consolidate with g7-g6 and Ng7. Meanwhile, Kasparov gets ready to attack the g-pawn with Be7 and controls the f4-square. 11.Qd2 Be7 Two attacks upon the g5-pawn and getting ready foir a d5-pawn break. 12.Qf2 Two attacks on the Nb6 12...Nc4 White must take the Nc4 to preserve the Be3 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.h4 Defending the g-pawn 14...0-0 Garry decides that, especially with the Nh5 sealing the pawns, his king is safe on the kingside 15.Na4 In these lines, white has to play a4 against the advanced b5-pawn. Here, the Nc3 heads directly for the well controlled b6-square. 15...f5 16.Nb6 Diagram

Attacking both the Ra8 and the Bc4 [16.gxf6 Nxf6 17.Nb6 Nxe4-+] 16...Bxb3 17.axb3 fxe4 Defending well... giving up the exchange (NxRa8) but getting considerable counterplay in the center, relying upon the opening f-file. 18.Nxa8 Qxa8 No need to rush, and, after b7-b5, the Qa8 will be strongly posted 19.Qd2 Stepping out the pin on the f-file. 19...b5 20.fxe4 Ng3 hitting the Rh1 and the e4-pawn 21.Rg1 Nxe4 Forcing the Qd2 to move 22.Qd3 d5 White cannot permit black's strong center 23.Rxa6! Qxa6 [23...Bb4+ 24.Ke2 Ng3+ 25.Rxg3 Qxa6 26.Qxd5+ Kh8 27.c3+/-] 24.Qxd5+ Winning the Ne4 24...Kh8 25.Qxe4 Qa1+ 26.Ke2 Qxb2 The end of a forced sequence. Material is even. Black's advanced queen gives him enough to hold 27.Qc6 Actively defending the c-pawn. 27...Bb4 The idea is Bc3 and Qxc2 28.Rf1 [28.Qxb5? Qxc2+ 29.Bd2 Qxd2#] 28...Rg8 [28...Rxf1 29.Kxf1 Qb1+ 30.Kg2 Bf8 31.Qc8 Kg8 32.Qe6+ Kh8 33.Qf5+/-] 29.h5 Bc3 Just in time 30.Qe4 Qa2 With the idea of b4 and Qa6 31.h6 b4 32.Rf7 Qa1 Eyeing the e1 square 33.hxg7+ Rxg7 34.Rf8+ Rg8 35.Rxg8+ Kxg8 36.Qd5+ With a perpetual check. 36...Kg7 37.Qd7+ Kg8 38.Qe6+ Kg7 39.Qh6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kg7 41.Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

February 21, 2004

update: Three more draws today... again, Kasparov had the most interesting game. Here are today's games.

Three draws yesterday, but not for want of effort. As you will see, Kasparov had a nice advantage but could not defeat Radjabov. Garry certainly must have wanted to win in no small part to avenge his loss to Radjabov last year.

Today's pairing:

Shirov - Topalov
Radjabov - Kramnik
Leko - Kasparov
Free day: Vallejo

The Kasparov - Radjabov game was the one I watched. Here is the game and here are about 100 games in this interesting line. I feel confident that white had good winning chances. See if you can find what Garry missed.

Kasparov,G (2831) - Radjabov,T (2656) [B30]
XXI Linares ESP (2), 2004

1.e4 c5 The first surprise... not his usual French. Garry had to have been ready for that! 2.Nf3 Nc6 The second surprise... not the usual ...d6. Is this an invitation to the Sveshnikov? 3.Nc3 Avoiding the main line (d4), for a move at least. 3...e5 This gives the gave a non-Sicilian character, more akin now to the Italian game with a funny ...c5-pawn 4.Bc4 The most aggressive square in this pawn structure, aiming for control over the key d5-hole. 4...Be7 This dark-squared bishop is another key weakness in black's set-up because the central black pawns will be fixed on dark-squares. Very often, black will try later to trade it off with Be7-g5 5.d3 By contrast, white's "bad" bishop on c4 is outside the pawn structure with impressive control over d5. d2-d3 aims to complete white's development with Nd2-f1-e3. 5...Nf6 Preparing to 0-0. This line is remarably similar to those reached in the Bishop's Opening and Vienna Game save for the funny pawn on c5 (which for black usefully stops d3-d4). 6.Nd2 again, with the idea of Nf1-e3 with additional control over d5 6...d6 To develop the Bc8, usually to e6. The pawn of course is backward, but how to get at it? 7.Nf1 Nd7 With the idea of Nd7-b6 (hitting the Bc4 and defending the d5-square) and releasing Be7-g5 8.Ne3 Nb6 9.Ned5 0-0 Nxc4 is playable, but only barely. White's pawn structure is not that weak, and white would gain an easy attack straight down the d-file with Qd3 and the rooks to the d-file 10.0-0 Bringing the king to safety and the rook to f1 is preparation for f4 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Nimzovitsch: "Occupy the hole with a piece, not a pawn" 11...Rb8 With the idea of ...b5 12.a4 Be6 13.f4 The usual idea in these positions. The White threatens to push f4-f5 with a kingside attack. The exchange of pawns will open the f-file 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Bg5 To exchange black's bad-bishop for white's good bishop. If Bg3, black will pursue with Bh4. Since the bishops will be exchanged, will Garry play Qh5 15.b3 The fans on ICC expected Qh5 or Qd2 and seem disappointed. 15...Bxd5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.Bxd5 Nb4 Garry has a relatively good bishop against a pretty good knight. But there are no open files (yet) for the rooks. 18.Bc4 Holding on to the bishop, but black can now break with ...d6-d5 18...d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Qf3 Pressure building on the f7-pawn. 20...Qe3+ But black has this resource to exchange the queens and relieve the pressure. 21.Rf2 [ 21.Qxe3? Nxe3 attacking the Bc4, the Rf1 and the c2-pawn] 21...Qxf3 22.Rxf3 Dominating the Nd5, which must now be defended or retreat. Rae1 or Raf1 coming soon 22...Nb6 The most natural try. Double rook endgames are very drawish 23.Bb5 Preserving the bishop and inviting the ...a6 a5 move pair. Double rook endgames are drawish, but check ot the pawn weaknesses that black would have there! Meanwhile the Bb5 also cuts off black rooks from challenging on the e-file. A long think here by Radjabov. 23...a6 24.a5 axb5 25.axb6 Rfc8 [ 25...Rfe8 26.Rf5 Rbc8 27.Ra7 g6 28.Rd5 Re7 29.Kf2 Rc6 holds for Black, but a tough line to adopt] 26.Ra5 Attacking the loose pawns 26...c4 27.Rxb5 cxd3 [ 27...cxb3 28.c4+-] 28.c4 The black d-pawn will fall 28...Rd8 Forcing the excvhange of rooks and making sure that white does not have connected pawns 29.Rd5 Rxd5 30.cxd5 Rd8 Some ICC players favored ...d3-d2 Rd3 31.Rxd3 Rd6 Black must capture the b-pawn to restore material equality, but Kasparov can use the time required to bring up his king and to threaten d5-d6 32.Kf2 Kf8 33.Ke3 Rxb6 34.Kd4 Ke7 35.Kc5 An active posting for the king with the idea of d5-d6 35...Rh6 36.h3 Rg6 37.g4 The Rd3 has become the anchor for all of white's pawns. White can patiently prepare b4-b5 and Ra3-a7 or play more actively with Rd4-b4 37...Rg5 Diagram

Low on time, Radjabov pins the d-pawn and hopes to continue with h5. Rd4 (idea Rb4) or Kb6 seem likely... or Rf3 holding the Ke7 to defend the f7-pawn.38.b4 with less than 2 minutes left on his clock, but this move does not impress. 38...h5 Trying to eliminate the pawns and create a passed-pawn on the kingside 39.Rd4 Defending the g-pawn 39...hxg4 40.hxg4 f5 again, seeking simplification and a passed g-pawn. 41.gxf5 Rxf5 42.b5 Rf6 Returning the rook the 6th rank, kepping the white king at bay. 1/2-1/2

February 20, 2004

Three draws today at Linares. Garry nearly broke through against Radjabov. Here are the games.

Chess House is having a great sale on clocks and other chess goodies. One of my opponents had this Chronos II clock during the Amateur Team... nice touch movement, full-featured. Regular price is $125, but on sale now for $95!

Only one win, by Leko, in round one at Linares. I must admit that I was following primarily the game between Shirov and Kasparov... not only because Garry was playing but also because it was in a line that I play often with white.

The pairings today are:

Garry Kasparov - Teimour Radjabov
Vladimir Kramnik - Alexei Shirov
Vesselin Topalov - Paco Vallejo

I've already posted the three games from round 1 (see yesterday's BLOG). Here is the exciting game between Shirov and Kasparov, and here are several games in the line that they used. I quickly annotated 31...Qe3+ as equal, but there's some thought that Garry might have had winning chances with that move. By all means shre your thoughts about the game and others in the event on the Message Board!

Shirov,A (2736) - Kasparov,G (2831) [B90]
XXI Linares ESP (1), 19.02.2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 The Najdorf Sicilian, a familiar guest to modern tournaments 6.Be3 An invitation to an English attack 6...e5 More aggressive than ...e6 and the English attack (f3, Qd2, 0-0-0, and g4-g5), but opening up the d5-hole. 7.Nb3 Unlike the Sveshnikov, white has no easy way to maneouver the Nb3 to control the d5-hole. 7...Be6 8.f3 In many lines, with the same idea of Qd2, 0-0-0, g4-g5 8...Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 Inviting white to counter immediately on the queenside. 10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 All well known to theory. The capture on d5 will bring the e-pawn to fill the whole, but white will gain immediate pressure upon the b4-pawn. 11...Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6 Two attacks upon the d5-pawn forces white to exchange the dark-squared bishop 13.Bxb6 Qxb6 White will now be able to muster pressure on the b-pawn with a5, Bc4, Nc1-d3, b3, and Ra4, but the absense of the dark-squared bishop gives black much counter-play 14.a5 Preventing black from defending the b-pawn with a6-a5 14...Qb7 Two attacks on the d5-pawn 15.Bc4 The bishop defends the pawn, but in many lines remains awkwardly placed behind the fixed d5-pawn. 15...g6 To activate the powerful dark-squared bishop on g7 or h6 and 0-0. I have played this varaition three times... all of my opponents played ...Be7 here 16.Ra4 Two attacks on the b4-pawn. A third is available with Nc1, b2-b3, and Nd3 16...Rb8 Two defenses 17.Qd3 White can play Qd3 and Qd2 to force a draw... probably played here to gain time on the clock for the complex middlegame ahead. 17...Ra8 18.Qd2 Rb8 19.Nc1 Usually with the idea of b3 and Nd3 (or Na2) going after the b-pawn. 19...h5 Seeking counterplay for the future loss of the b-pawn. Bh6 is coming 20.Nd3 Bh6 21.Qe2 Here's the novelty. There have been two games with Qxb4, one played by Shirov with Black! Qe2 prevents Black's counterplay with e5-e4 and puts pressure on the a6-pawn. White can still threaten the b-pawn with b2-b3. [ 21.Qxb4 Qc7 22.Qa3 0-0 23.Nf2 Bc1 24.Nd3 ( 24.Bb3 Be3 25.0-0 e4 26.Kh1 exf3 27.gxf3 Rfe8 28.Rc4 Qd8 29.Ba4 Re5 30.Ne4 Nxe4 31.fxe4 Ba7 32.b4 Qe7 33.Qc3 Rg5 34.Qf3 Rf8 35.c3 f5 36.Bc2 Rf6 37.Rc8+ Kh7 38.h3 f4 39.Kh2 Rg3 40.Qe2 Qd7 41.Rc7 Rxh3+ 42.Kg2 Rg3+ 43.Kh2 Qxc7 44.Rxf4 Rxf4 45.Kxg3 Rg4+ 46.Kh2 Qxc3 47.Bd3 Qe5+ 0-1 Berg,E-Odeev,H/Bled 2002/EXT 2003 (45)) 24...Be3 25.Kd1 Rfc8 26.Re1 Bh6 27.c3 Rb5 28.Bxb5 axb5 29.Rb4 Nxd5 30.Rxb5 Qc4 31.Rxd5 Qxd5 32.Kc2 Ra8 33.a6 Qc6 34.Ra1 e4 35.Nb4 Qc4 36.Qa5 exf3 37.gxf3 Re8 38.Qd5 Re2+ 39.Kd1 Rd2+ 40.Qxd2 Bxd2 41.Kxd2 Qf4+ 42.Kc2 Qf5+ 43.Nd3 Qxf3 44.Ra5 Qa8 45.a7 d5 46.Nb4 d4 47.Nd5 dxc3 48.bxc3 Kg7 49.Kb3 1-0 Polgar,J-Shirov,A/Linares 2001/CBM 82 (47)] 21...0-0 22.Nxb4 [ 22.Rxb4 Qa8] 22...Qd7 23.Nc6 Is the Nc6 well posted or not? It has very little scope in most lines. 23...Rxb2 Since b3 is usually in by now, it is unusual for Black to have this resource. Kasparov restores material equality, and the rook may have a role along the second rank, but surely it is trapped after Bb3. 24.0-0 h4 Counterplay is required to counter Ba6 and the advance of the white a-pawn. 25.Bb3 White prefers to trap the Rb2, but how now to attack it? If white approaches the rook, Kasparov will undoubtedly sacrifice it for the Bb3... meanwhile, black begins his attack. 25...h3 Attacking the g2-f3 pawn chain at its base, loosening up the white kingside 26.g3 e4 Kasparov has played very quickly until here 27.fxe4 Diagram

But now he takes a very long time, perhaps 50 minutes! The threat is Rxf627...Qg4 A bigger threat (Qxe2) defends the Nf6. The exchange of queen's helps black to consolidate... Black gains access to both e5 and e3 for the attack and white's pawns would be fixed on light squares in the endgame. 28.Qd3 Heading to c3 or d4 to win the trapped Rb2 28...Qg5 Now on Qc3 or Qd4, Black has Qe3+ 29.e5 Aggessive play in the center. Is Kasparov lost? Many on the ICC thought so. 29...dxe5 Restoring material equality, but white has Rh4! 30.Rh4 With two threats, Rxh3 stopping the black attack and Rxh6 Qxh6 Rxf6 30...e4 Stopping both threats with a bigger threat, the attack on white's queen. 31.Qd4 Black's position is hanging by a thread. White now has THREE threats in the position (adding Qxb2) 31...Ng4 To play on, white would have to try Kh1 or Ne7+ [ 31...Qe3+= or does Black have winning chances here?] 32.Rxh6 [ 32.Rxg4? Qxg4 33.Qxb2 Be3+ 34.Kh1 Qe2-+; 32.Rxh3 Qe3+ 33.Qxe3 Bxe3+ 34.Kg2 with two trapped rooks on the board.] 32...Nxh6 33.Qxb2 [ 33.d6 Nf5 34.Qxb2 Qe3+=] 33...Qe3+ 34.Rf2 [ 34.Kh1?? Qe2-+] 34...Qe1+ 35.Rf1 Qe3+ perpetual check and a draw 1/2-1/2

February 19, 2004

The Linares tournament started today at 9:30 am. Pairings were: Shirov - Kasparov: Vallejo Pons - Kramnik: Radjabov - Leko: Topalov - bye. Here are the games from round 1. The match, like the Corus tournament at Wijk aan Zee, will be carried by both the Internet Chess Club and chess.fm.

Czech master Rudolf Charousek (1873-1900) produced magnificent chess but died at age 27 from Tubercolosis. Lasker had predicted that Charousek would one day obtain the world championship. Instead, we have only a a few hundred games at which to marvel. Amazon has a few copies left of Sargeant's biography of Charousek.

Here are the games of Charousek that I have found, and here is one of my favorites with a small collection of relevant games in the opening line used in this game.

Charousek,R - Gruenn [C25]
Miskolc Wijk aan Zee NED, 1890

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 King's Gambit 4.d4 In exchange for the pawn, white gains control over the center 4...Qh4+ 5.Ke2 One of Steinitz's pet variations. Any takers today? 5...d5 6.exd5 [6.Nxd5 Bg4+ 7.Nf3 0-0-0 8.Bxf4 Nf6 9.Nxc7? Nxd4+] 6...Bg4+ 7.Nf3 0-0-0 Offering the Nc6 in exchange for open lines against white's already exposed king 8.dxc6 Bc5 A lot of pinning here, with rapid developmernt possible via Nf6 and Rhe8+ 9.cxb7+ Kb8 The black king seems well protected behind the b7-pawn 10.Nb5 a6 11.c3 Returning the piece in order to safeguard the king 11...axb5 12.Qb3 Re8+ 13.Kd3 Bxf3 [13...Bf5+!? 14.Kd2 Qf2+ 15.Kd1 Bg4 16.Bd2 (16.Bxb5 Qxg2) 16...Bxf3+ 17.gxf3 Qxf3+ 18.Kc2 Qxh1 19.dxc5 Nf6 20.Qxb5 (20.Bxb5!?) ] 14.gxf3 [14.Qxb5 Be4+] 14...Qe1? [14...Qf2 15.Qxb5 Qxf3+ 16.Kc4 Nf6] 15.Kc2 Bb6 16.Qxb5 Nf6 aiming to complete his development. Meanwhile, the Qe1 is pinning both of white's bishops 17.Qa6 threatening mate in 1 with Qa8# [17.Bxf4 Qxa1 18.Qxb6+-] 17...Ba7 Diagram

18.Bxf4 Rook sac #1 18...Qxa1 19.Bxc7+! Kxc7 20.Qxa7 the threat is b8(Q)++ Amazingly, the black king is more exposed than white's! 20...Rb8 21.Bb5! Rook sac #2 [21.Qa5+ Kxb7 22.Ba6++-] 21...Qxh1 it's white to move and mate in three 22.Qc5+ Kxb7 [22...Kd8 23.Qd6+ Nd7 24.Qxd7#] 23.Qc6+ Ka7 24.Qa6# 1-0

February 18, 2004

IM Dean Ippolito was at the Amateur Team East showing off his new chess DVD. It introduces everything necessary to play a complete game, including all the critical rules, fun exercises to practice, and an introduction to strategy. It looked great, on sale right now from Chess House at $20 off retail. Chess House also has Dean's instructional VHS tapes.

Before the emergence of computers, DVDs, chess databases, and online chess archives, it was much more of a burden to locate and play through grandmaster games. Every game required that you set up the board anew, and playing through a variation meant that you risked losing track of the original position.

It's easier than ever today, but many young players still do not know the importance of playing through the games of Morphy and the old classics. Here's an obscure but wonderful old game that's worth a minute or two of your time. The opening begins as a Staunton Gambit, an opening straight from the romantic age of chess. This gambit is usually an effort by white to gain time for an attack by offering a pawn, but it's black who gains the initiative by offering more interesting material. Here is the game and here are a dozen or so games played in this interesting line.

Fox,A - Libaire [A83]
Brooklyn, 1906

1.d4 f5 The Dutch Defense 2.e4 The Staunton Gambit, giving up a center pawn in exchange for rapid development 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 or just f2-f3 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 c6 aiming for ...d5 5.f3 Continuing in gambit style [5.Bxf6 exf6 (5...gxf6?? 6.Qh5#) 6.Nxe4 d5=] 5...Qa5 6.Bxf6 [6.fxe4 Qxg5] 6...exf6 7.fxe4 Bb4 [7...Ba3!?] 8.Qf3 0-0 ...d5 is the more customary move 9.Bc4+ Developing with check. Surely black will reply Kh8 9...d5! 10.exd5 Bg4! 11.dxc6+ [11.Qxg4 Bxc3+ 12.Kf2 (12.bxc3 Qxc3+ 13.Kf2 Qxc4-/+) 12...Kh8 13.dxc6 transposes to the game] 11...Kh8 12.Qxg4 Bxc3+ 13.Kf2 Nxc6 14.Ne2 [14.bxc3 Qxc3 15.Rb1 Qxc2+ 16.Ne2 Qxc4 17.Rxb7 Rf7=] 14...Bxb2 15.Rab1 Diagram

15...Ne5!! WOW! The fork of the queen and Bc4 forces the capture of the knight 16.dxe5 [16.Qe6 Bxd4+ 17.Nxd4 Rfe8 18.Qd5 Qc3 threatening Rad8 and Ng4+] 16...Qc5+ 17.Kg3?! [17.Ke1 Qb4+ 18.c3 Bxc3+ 19.Nxc3 Qxc3+ 20.Ke2 Qxe5+ (20...Rad8 21.Rhd1 Qc2+ 22.Kf1 fxe5+ 23.Kg1+/-) 21.Kf1 Rad8 22.g3 Rd4 23.Qe6 Re4 24.Qd5 (24.Qxe5 fxe5+ 25.Kg2 Rxc4-+) 24...Rd4 25.Qe6 Re4 26.Qd5=; 17.Kf3 fxe5+ 18.Kg3 Rf6-+] 17...Bxe5+ [17...f5 18.Qg5 Bxe5+ 19.Kf3 Qxc4-+] 18.Kh3 f5 19.Qf3 g5! ...g5-g4 20.g4 h5! 21.Kg2 fxg4-+ 22.Qf7 Rxf7 23.Bxf7 Qc6+ 24.Kg1 Qxc2 25.Re1 Rf8 26.Bb3 Bd4+ 0-1

February 17, 2004

One of many books I purchased at the Amateur Team was Garry Kasparov's Kasparov against the World, a day to day account of his 1999 internet match against the world. One book, one game. Kasparov suggests that it may be the greatest game ever played. It's an exciting game and did much to promote chess world-wide. But I choose to think not that the game was spectacular but instead that Garry discovered the great joy of correspondence chess.

In many respects, this game was the ultimate correspondence game. More time to think about each move, and here, the ability to consult (in the case of the world, a huge world-wide following with assistance from a dedicated team of young IMs) and to use computers.

I offer not only the game itself with some of my comments, but also all of the games referenced in the book as well as a collection of the games that subsequently explored the novelty introduced by the world on move ten. I note by the way that the price at Amazon is quite high. I paid much less and it is possible that, what had been a collectors item is now available again at its original $25 price.

Kasparov,G (2851) - The World [B52]
Kasparov vs The World Internet MSN (1), 21.06.1999

1.e4 c5 An aggressive choice by the World, using Garry's own defense! 2.Nf3 d6 Inviting a Najdorf Sicilian 3.Bb5+ But Garry has other ideas. Bb5+ has a drawish reputation, but recent games had given new life to the variaition 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 The quick exchange of the the light-squared bishops takjes some life out of the position, but white can now set-up a "Maroczy-bind" structure with pawns on c4 and e4 5.c4 The idea of the structure is to prevent black from breaking in the center with ...d5 5...Nc6 Developing the knight to its natural square 6.Nc3 Nf6 [6...g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.d5 Bxc3+ ocurred in the game between A. Shirov and Kasparov in 1996] 7.0-0 g6 And the dark-squared bishop to the long diagonal from which it plays a key, lasting role in the game 8.d4 opening the center of the board. Its now or never, because this move cannot be safely played once Bg7 is played. 8...cxd4 preventing d4-d5 9.Nxd4 Bg7 The threat is ...Nxe4 10.Nde2 overprotecting the Nc3 and taking the Nd4out of the sights of the Bg7 10...Qe6! A new move that bewcame all the rage for a period of about 3 years. Bringing the queen towards the middle of the board to attack white's central pawns! 11.Nd5 The threat is Nc7 with a family fork 11...Qxe4 12.Nc7+ So Black sacrifices the Ra8 but mops up the central pawns 12...Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 The Na8 cannot escape 14.Nb6+ So the knight does the most damage it can 14...axb6 creating black's only pawn weaknesses 15.Nc3 Ra8 Solid, but what about ...b5! 16.a4 limits the power of the Ra8 and aims for Nb5 16...Ne4 Every exchange makes the black pawn mass more powerful 17.Nxe4 Qxe4 Now check out the powerful Bg7 and the weaker Bc1 18.Qb3 aiming at f7 and the b6-weakness and freeing up the Bc1 18...f5 Rolling forward the pawns 19.Bg5 Posting the Bc1 to its most aggressive square, targeting the e7-pawn (Rfe1) 19...Qb4 Taking the queen out of the line of fire on the e-file, aiming for an exchange of queens. Kasparaov had feared Qd4 20.Qf7 Avoiding the exchange of queens and aiming to capture black's kingside pawns 20...Be5 The Nc6 holds the e-pawn. If now Qxh7? Rh8 wins! 21.h3 initializing the threat t the h7-pawn 21...Rxa4 White will capture the kingside pawns... black will mop up white's queenside 22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Bxb2 24.Qxg6 The dust has cleared. White has a powerful h-pawn passer. Black will push the b-pawn. 24...Qe4 Defending the f5-pawn and centralizing the queen 25.Qf7 To inhibit the advance of the b-pawn 25...Bd4 with pressure on f2 and defending the b6 pawn 26.Qb3 Preventing the advance of the b-pawn 26...f4 In many lines f3 is strong. The f4-pawn blocks the Bg5 from returning to help stop the advance of the queenside pawns. 27.Qf7 To work with the bishop in putting pressure upon e7 and f4 27...Be5 Defending the f-pawn. The race now starts. 28.h4 b5 29.h5 Qc4 Blocking out the Qf7 to aid the advance of the b-pawn 30.Qf5+ Covering the b-pawn's queening square. 30...Qe6 31.Qxe6+ Kxe6 32.g3 to activate the rook 32...fxg3 33.fxg3 b4 [33...Bxg3 34.h6 Be5 35.h7 Bh8 36.Rf8 Ne5 37.Rxh8 Nf3+ 38.Kf2 Nxg5 And Kasparov's further analysis suggests excellent winning chances for white] 34.Bf4 Offering a trade since the Be5 controls the h8-queening square. 34...Bd4+ Diagram

[34...Bh8!] 35.Kh1!! WOW! In the endgame, the kings usually seek activity towards the center. IN this race, the king moves to avoid key checks. 35...b3 36.g4 Kd5 37.g5 e6 Kasparov had analyzed ...e7-e5 to a a win for white. Black must move the Nc6-e7 to hel defend against the advance of the kingside pawns. 38.h6 Ne7 And the Ne7-g6 erects a blockade of the pawns 39.Rd1 pinning the Bd4 and threatening Bxd6 39...e5 Defending against the Bxd6 threat and forcing the Bf4 to move 40.Be3 Working against the pinned Bd4 40...Kc4 Stepping out of the pin 41.Bxd4 exd4 Black's pawns are a mess, but tre sure are a lot of them! 42.Kg2 The rook is busy with the black pawns so the king rushes forward to assist the advance of the kingside pawns. Note that the king simultaneously approaches d4 and h6 42...b2 43.Kf3 Kc3 44.h7 Ng6 forced to prevent h7-h8(Q) 45.Ke4 stopping d4-d3 45...Kc2 46.Rh1 d3 [46...b1Q 47.Rxb1 Kxb1 48.Kxd4! first, taking the most advanced pawn and then heading towards the Nf6. White is winning here.] 47.Kf5 b1Q [47...Nh8 48.g6 d2 (48...b1Q 49.Rxb1 Kxb1 50.g7 d2 51.gxh8Q d1Q 52.Qg8+-) ] 48.Rxb1 Kxb1 49.Kxg6 d2 50.h8Q d1Q Black is a pawn up but white's advanced g-pawn gives white all the winning chances. 51.Qh7 b5 52.Kf6+ Kb2 53.Qh2+ Ka1 54.Qf4 Centralizing the queen, stoping checks 54...b4 55.Qxb4 Qf3+ 56.Kg7 d5 57.Qd4+ Kb1 58.g6 Qe4 59.Qg1+ Kb2 60.Qf2+ Kc1 61.Kf6 d4 62.g7 1-0

February 16, 2004

Very little sleep the past three days, and behind on the BLOG. Such is life at a large chess tourney. Three of my games went more than 5 hours, and it was impossible to walk the halls without running into many dear old friends.

Our humble team finished up at 4-2 thanks to the first game... an amazingly quick win in the final round that spelled the difference between a team win and a team draw. The second game is a neatr upset by a young player over a grandmaster. Well done young man!

Hill,J - Rosenhouse,J [A30]
US Amateur Team East, 2004

1.c4 c5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qb3 c4 Diagram

7.Qb5+?? [7.Qc2!] 7...Bd7 It's already over. The white queen is trapped! 8.Qxb7 Bc6 9.Qxa8 Bxa8 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.0-0 Be7 0-1

Weinstein,J - Rohde,M [B23]
US Amateur Team East Havana, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 Against a young opponent, the grandmaster takes the game out of book 3.f4 A fine reaction, aiming for a closed Sicilian in which a6 is not a useful tempo 3...b5 I would have a long talk with my students about such play. 4.d3 Again, the right reaction, often with g3 and Bg2 4...Bb7 5.Be2 e6 6.Nh3 Nothing wrong with Nf3. White likes the look of Nf2 and g4-g5 6...b4 7.Nb1 Heading to f3 7...Nf6 8.Nd2 Be7 9.0-0 Nc6 10.c4 Stopping ...d5, but Nf3 or Nf2 might have been more consistent 10...0-0 11.b3 This works well. The black king is suddenly in danger. Bb2 and g4 are looming 11...d6 12.Bb2 a5 13.Nf2 a4 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.g4 Bf6 To exchange off white's powerful bishop and with the idea of axb3 16.Qd2 well played. Replacing one dark-squared movers with another 16...Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Qf6 18.Qxf6 Nxf6 Black has succeeded in trading off some pieces, but white's attack continues. 19.Rfd1 g4-g5 19...Ra7 20.Rab1 Rfa8 21.d4 axb3 22.axb3 Ra2 23.Kf1 h5 24.h3 hxg4 25.hxg4 cxd4 26.Nxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 e5 28.Rxd6 Nxe4 29.Nxe4 Bxe4 30.Rc1 exf4 31.Rd4 Diagram

There's a story here... Rohde must have nervous about the passed c-pawn, but black has a win here [31.Rd4 Re8 32.c5 Bg2+! 33.Kxg2 Rexe2+ 34.Kf3 g5 35.Rd3 Rac2-/+] 1/2-1/2

February 15, 2004

Reporting "live" from the Amateur Team East thanks to Ned Walthall and his amazing portable computer. The largest Amateur Team event in history, with 276 teams and not one but TWO chess bookstores. Not much sleep thanks to a VERY long endgame... happy to report that I actually won an over-the-board game. Hard to do much from here, but here's the game.

Edwards,J - Ghararon,N [C18]
US Amateur Team East, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 The French Winawer 4.e5 c5 Attacking the white pawn chain at the c4-weakness 5.a3 Putting the question to the Bb4 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 trading off Black's good bishop but nicking the white pawn structure 6...Qc7 A very flexible move. Black can continue as normal with ...Ng37 or with ...f5 7.Qg4 Ne7 transposing back to the main line Winawer 8.Qxg7 Yes indeed, the French Defense really is a gambit! 8...Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 The threat is Qxc3 10.Ne2 Defending both the c3-pawn and providing a counter to ...Qxe5 10...Qxe5? 11.Bf4! Winning a pawn and forcing a queen trade. 11...Qf5 12.Qxf5 Nxf5 13.Nxd4 Best. Black must stop both Nxf5 and Nb5 13...Nxd4 14.cxd4 White is up a pawn... and the extra pawn is the h-passer! 14...Nc6 15.c3 Defending the d-pawn 15...a6 16.Bd3 Simple development. ...Rxg2 loses the rook after Bg3 16...Bd7 17.h4 Passed pawns are meant to be pushed... 17...Rc8 Seeking counterplay down the semi-open c-file. 18.g3 losing my nerve [ 18.h5 Na5 19.h6 Ke7 20.h7 Rh8 21.Bh6+-] 18...Na5 19.Bd2 Nb3 [ 19...Nc4!] 20.Rb1 Nxd2 Trading his effective knight for the wrong bishop 21.Kxd2 White now has bishops of the same color and black's pawns are fixed on the light squares 21...b5 22.h5 Without the dark squared bishops, it's hard to promote the h-pawn, but it will tie down black's forces and likely lead to a trade of rooks. The bishop ending is great for white. 22...Ke7 23.h6 Rh8 24.h7 f6 Wit the idea of ...e6-e5 25.f4 Rcf8 26.Rh6 Rf7 27.Ke3 To defend the f-pawn with Kf2 27...Rg7 28.Kf2 f5 Blocking the bishop's defense of the h7-pawn, but fixing more pawns on the light squares 29.Rbh1 Be8 Black can win the h-pawn, but the endgame is untenanble 30.R1h4 If he declines to capture the h-pawn, I can play Be2 and g4 30...Bg6 31.g4 Playing on the pin of the f5-pawn to advance the g-pawn 31...Rgxh7 [ 31...fxg4 32.Bxg6+-] 32.Rxh7+ Rxh7 33.Rxh7+ Bxh7 34.Ke3 Perhaps I can get him to move his king to the queenside and make it easy on me 34...Kd6 35.Kf2 Ke7 Oh well... 36.Kg3 heading toward h5 36...Kf6 37.Kh4 Bg6 He keeps me out and eliminates the pin on the f-pawn. 38.g5+ So.. in addition to all the black pawn weaknesses, white has an outside passed pawn. But how to infiltrate into the black camp? 38...Kg7 39.Be2 Be8 40.Bh5 Step two... I know that he won't trade the bishops, but this will keep his king on the kingside watching the g-pawn 40...Bd7 41.Kg3 Now step three... march the king to b3 41...Bc6 42.Kf2 Bd7 the best defense is a6-a5-a4, but I can sac a pawn with c4 and march in with my bishop watching the light squares on the queenside 43.Ke3 Bc6 44.Kd2 Bd7 45.Kc2 too late now for ...a5-a4 45...Bc6 46.Kb3 a5 Diagram

To prevent Kb4... that would be too easy47.a4! Busting up his defenses and forcing my king through 47...bxa4+ 48.Ka3 Kf8 To win the a-pawn, I have to swingthe Nh5 to d1, permitting him to bring his bishop to e8 and then his king to the queenside 49.Bd1 Be8 50.Bxa4 Bh5 51.Bc2 Ke7 [ 51...Be8 52.Bd3 Bc6 53.Kb3 Ke7 54.c4 Kf7 55.cxd5+-] 52.Ka4 Kd6 Trying to keep my king from the key c5 square. 53.Kxa5 So, how to get the king to c5 when all is easy 53...Kc7 54.Kb5 Kd6 55.Kb6 Be8 56.Bd1 Bg6 [ 56...Bd7 57.Be2 Be8 58.Bb5 Bh5 59.Kb7] 57.Ba4 So far so good... now to swing my king towards d8 57...Bf7 58.Kb7 Bg6 59.Kc8 If I get to d8, the I win easily with Be8 and the g-pawn flies. 59...Ke7 60.Kc7 He stops me from betting through the back door, but now I get to c5! 60...Bf7 61.Bd7 [ 61.Kc6?? Be8+-+] 61...Bg6 62.Kc6 Bf7 63.Bc8 Be8+ 64.Kc5 Bf7 Now get the bishop to b3 and push d5 65.Ba6 Be8 66.Bb5 Bf7 67.Ba4 Bg6 68.Bb3 Bf7 69.c4 dxc4 70.Bxc4 Bg6 71.Bd3 d5 wins too. 71...Bf7 72.Bc2 Bg6 73.d5 Bf7 74.d6+ Kd7 75.Ba4+ Kd8 76.Kd4 Bg6 77.Ke5 Bf7 78.Kf6 [ 78.Kf6 Bg8 79.Kg7 trapping the bishop] *

February 14, 2004

Happy Valentine's Day

A reminder. My next three BLOGs will be from the Amateur Team East, assuming that I can get the equipment to work remotely. If you are there, say hey! If you're playing, please slip me a copy of a the great game you just finished. You might wind up on the net by nightfall!

Gambit Publications has just published a fantastic book: "Understanding your Chess" by James Rizzitano. I know of Rizzitano well because I grew up in the Boston area. I don't believe that I ever played him, in part because he started his career just after I moved out of New England to go to college. From 1976 to 1989, he worked as a software engineer during the week and terrorized New England chess on the weekends, amassing an amazing record, winning 157 of the 336 events in which he played!

In this book, he has included many of these otherwise hard to find hard-fought games. My database includes just a few dozen of his efforts.

More important than just the games is his advice to chess-players. "Never go to sleep after a loss until you understand what went wrong." It's a conviction to subject his own games to deep scrutiny, to learn from his mistakes and as a reminder not to let it happen again!

There are tactical melees, opening wars, and endgame adventures. I can't put this one down, and I know that it's more than just the fact that I know most of the players!

Here's just one example in the book, a neat slugfest against John Curdo, one of the strongest New England players and another national treasure.

Curdo,J - Rizzitano,J [B28]
Boston, 1981

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 Curdo is known for playing 2...d6 3.Bb5.a6 stops that variation, but also has some sting after 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5. 3.c3 [3.c4] 3...b5 All the rage in the wake of Miles victory the year before with 1...a6 and 2...b5 4.d4 e6 5.a4 Bb7 6.d5 Aiming for central control after black's wing excursions. 6...Qb6 7.axb5 axb5 8.Rxa8 Bxa8 9.Na3 The Na3 is headed to c2 unless ...b4 Nc4 9...Nf6 10.Bxb5 [Rizzitano gives 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5 Ng4 12.Bf4+/-] 10...Nxe4 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Qa4 forcing play by white, here with the threat of Qxa8, but black's position is strong. 13...Bd5 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.Nce5 Nd6 Well placed! White no longer has central pawns to combat these outposts for Black's minor pieces. 16.Bd3 c4 17.Be2 0-0 18.Qd1 Perhaps Nd4 18...Rf5 19.Qd4? [19.Re1; 19.Re1] 19...Bf6-+ Diagram

20.g4 Rxe5 [20...Bxf3 21.Bxf3 (21.gxf5 Bxe2-+) 21...Rxf3] 21.Nxe5 Nc6 strong, but black has several paths to victory [21...Nb5 22.Qe3 Bxe5; 21...Ne4-+ 22.f4 d6] 22.Qd1 Nxe5 23.f4 Qb6+ 24.Rf2 Ne4 0-1

February 13, 2004

I'm spending time getting ready for the tourney this weekend, so just a couple of fun games for today's BLOG. The first is an endgame reached by Yuri Averbakh, whose name may be familiar to you as the author of many fine endgame books. As you will see, Averbakh knows these endgames in theory, and in practice! The second game is a delightful finish from a 1902 game in which a player resigned, assuming that all hope was gone. It does not happen often but, as you will see, he could instead have forced resignation immediately with one beautiful move!

Averbakh,Y - Bebchuk,E [A29]
Moscow-ch Moscow, 1964

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.d3 0-0 9.a4 a5 10.Be3 Be6 11.Nd2 Nd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Rc1 Bd6 15.Qb3 Qxb3 16.Nxb3 Rfe8 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc5 Re7 19.Rfc1 f6 20.R1c4 Kf7 21.f3 Re6 22.Kf2 Ke8 23.f4 Kd7 24.f5 Rd6 25.Rh4 Rh8 26.Rcc4 Kc8 27.Bc5 Rd7 28.Rh5 Nd4 29.e3 Nb3 30.Bb6 Kb8 31.Rc3 cxb6 32.Rxb3 Ka7 33.Rh4 h6 34.Rc4 Rhd8 35.Ke2 Rd5 36.Rc7 R8d7 37.Rxd7 Rxd7 38.Rc3 Kb8 39.Rc4 Rd5 40.Rg4 Rd7 41.d4 exd4 42.Rxd4 Re7 43.b4 axb4 44.Rxb4 Kc7 45.g4 Kc6 46.h4 Re5 47.Kd3 b5 48.Rxb5 Rxb5 49.axb5+ Kxb5 50.e4 Kc6 Diagram

51.e5! Otherwise Black simply plays Kd6 on the next move. 51...fxe5 [51...b5 52.e6 And the black king will have to stay near the white e-pawn while white strolls over to capture the b-pawn; 51...Kd7 52.e6+ with a protected passer. White will win the b-pawn and the game] 52.g5! There's no good way to stop the threat of f5-f6 52...hxg5 [52...Kd7 53.f6 Ke6 (53...gxf6 54.gxh6+-) 54.fxg7 Kf7 55.gxh6 Kg8 (55...b5 56.Ke4 b4 57.Kd3 Kg8 (57...b3 58.Kc3 e4 59.Kxb3 e3 60.Kc3 e2 61.Kd2 e1Q+ 62.Kxe1) 58.Kc4 e4 59.Kxb4 e3 60.Kc3 e2 61.Kd2 e1Q+ 62.Kxe1+-) 56.Ke4 b5 57.Kxe5+-; 52...h5 53.f6 g6 (53...gxf6 54.g6) 54.f7] 53.f6! [53.f6 gxf6 (53...g6 54.f7) 54.h5+-] 1-0

Von Popiel,I - Marco,G [C41]
Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (1), 1902

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 c6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.d4 Nd7 6.Be3 Ngf6 7.Qe2 Qc7 8.Ng5 0-0 9.f4 b5 10.Bd3 a6 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Rae1 h6 13.Nf3 Ng4 14.Nd1 c5 15.c3 exd4 16.cxd4 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Nc5 19.Nef5 Bf6 20.Bb1 Rfe8 21.Qf3 Ne6 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Qb3 Kh8 24.Ng3 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Qc4 26.Qd1 Bxb2 27.Qxd6 Rad8 28.Qb6 Rd7 29.Qf2 Bd4 30.Qf3 Rf8 31.Rc1 Qb4 32.Qd3 e5 33.fxe5 Rxf1+ 34.Rxf1 Qe7 35.Nf5 Qxe5 36.Rd1 Diagram

And black resigned, assuming that white, with three attacks upon the Bd4, would now win a piece. But black has a winning shot. Give it a try! [36.Rd1 Bg1! Threatening both Qxh2 checkmate and Rxd3. White can resign! 37.Kxg1 Rxd3 38.Bxd3 Bxe4 39.Bxe4 Qxe4 40.Nd4 Qe3+ 41.Kf1 Qa3 42.Rd2 Qc1+ 43.Ke2 Qg1-+] 1-0

February 12, 2004

The Linares super tournament begins on February 19th. I intend to cover it every day, so be sure to check back in!

With the black pieces, one bad move can lead to defeat. Such is the case in today's featured game.

The line is a common one in the Giuoco Piano. Both sides get decent play as this small collection of games illustrates.

But watch what happens when Black removes his queen's bishop from the key diagonal. Apart from the fact that the bishop gets buried at a8, white gains open lines against the black king. A nice finish by Rossolimo!

Rossolimo,N - Riceman [C54]
Puerto Rico, 1967

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 c6 12.Rfe1 0-0 13.a4 b6 14.Ne5 Bb7 Removing the Bishop from the c8-h3 diagonal permits white's queen to join the fight on the kingside 15.a5 Rc8 16.Ne4 Setting up Bxd5 and Nf6 16...Qc7 17.a6 Ba8 18.Qh3 Nf4 [18...c5 19.Rac1+/=] 19.Qg4 Ned5 20.Ra3 All of white's pieces are now part of the attack. Where are the defenders? 20...Ne6 Diagram

21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qg6 [23.Qxe6! fxe6 24.Ng6+ hxg6 25.Rh3#] 23...Qc2 [23...fxg6 24.Nxg6+ hxg6 25.Rh3#; 23...hxg6 24.Rh3#; 23...Ng5 24.Qxg5 Qd6 White is winning, but black will be able to play on for a while] 24.Rh3 [24.Rh3 Ng5 (24...Qxg6 25.Nxg6+ fxg6 26.Rxh7#) 25.Nxf7+ Rxf7 26.Qxc2 Nxh3+ (26...Rxc2 27.Re8+ Rf8 28.Rxf8#) 27.gxh3 Rxc2 28.Re8+ Rf8 29.Rxf8#] 1-0

February 11, 2004

A Bust to the King's Gambit?

In their first issue (Summer, 1961), the American Chess Quarterly published perhaps the best known chess article of all time: Bobby Fischer's "A Bust to the King's Gambit."

Just a year earlier, Fischer had lost in another line of the King's Gambit to Boris Spassky, the man Fischer later defeated in 1972 to gain the World Championship crown.

His article took the chess world by storm and many players took up the challenge to play or to beat Fischer's new line.

It's many years later, but I decided to take up the challenge myself. I'm certainly not in Fischer's class, but it helped to have the experience of many games played in this line.

Here's Fischer's article. I have included some of his fabulous notes with full attribution. And I have added some extra analysis. My conclusion? Fischer's final position is NOT a win for black, but but there is a win for Black a few moves earlier! Enjoy! I sure hope that this generates some discussion in the Chess is Fun message board!

Fischer analysis [C38]
American Chess Quarterly 1,1, 1961 Ljubljana

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 Fischer: "A high-class waiting move" Fischer played 3...g4 against Spassky at Mar del Plata, 1059. His loss in that game probably motivated his article 4.Bc4 [On 4.d4 Fischer gives 4...g5 5.h4 g4 6.Ng5 f6 7.Nh3 gxh3 8.Qh5+ Kd7 9.Bxf4 Qe8 10.Qf3 Kd8-+] 4...h6 Fischer calls this the Berlin Defense deferred. With all due respect, it has since been named the Fischer defense 5.d4 g5 6.0-0 Bg7 7.c3 to protect the d4-pawn 7...Nc6 And Fischer notes that Ne7 is better with the possibility of ...0-0. 8.Qb3 [8.g3 g4 9.Nh4 f3 10.Nd2 Qe7! Fischer... ] 8...Qe7 9.h4 Nf6 [9...g4 is also good, says Bobby] 10.hxg5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 Diagram

11...Nxe4 Fischer: "A wild position, but Black is still master." [11...Nxd4!! Edwards: But it's here that Fischer may have missed the win 12.cxd4 (12.Bxf7+ Kd8 13.cxd4 Nxe4 14.Nh3 (14.Nxe4 Qxe4-+) 14...Bxd4+-+) 12...Nxe4 13.Nh3 (13.Nf3 Bxd4+ 14.Nxd4 Qh4-+) 13...Bxd4+ 14.Kh2 (14.Kh1 Ng3+) 14...Ng5-+] 12.Bxf7+ [On 12.Nxe4 Fischer gives 12...Qxe4 13.Rxf4 Qe1+ (13...Qh7 Edwards: perhaps this is best 14.Bxf7+ Kd8) 14.Rf1 Qh4 15.Bxf7+ Kd8 16.Qd5 Ne5 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.Rd1 Qg3 winning! ] 12...Kd8 13.Nxe4 [13.Ne6+? Bxe6 14.Qxe6 Qxe6 15.Bxe6 Nxd4!] 13...Qxe4 14.Bxf4 [14.Rxf4 Qe1+ 15.Rf1 Rh1+ 16.Kxh1 Qxf1+ 17.Kh2 Qxc1-+] 14...Nxd4 Diagram

With Fischer's famous conclusion: "Of course white can always play differently, in which case he merely loses differently. (Thank you Weaver Adams)." [14...Nxd4 Edwards: But where's the win?? 15.Bg5+ Kd7 16.Qd5 Ne2+ 17.Kf2 Qxd5 18.Bxd5 Rh5 19.Kxe2 Rxg5 20.Rf7+ Kd8 21.Na3 Bg4+ 22.Bf3 when it's hard to claim a win for black. What have I missed??] *

February 10, 2004

Symmetry. Why not just copy your opponent's moves? Surely it must lead to a draw? Here's one attempt at symmetry that's easily stopped. After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nc3 Nc6, we reach a position in which white has an interesting try in 4.Qg4. I know. Don't bring your queen out early. But the threat on g7 is real, and black's candidates moves Qf6, g6, and Kf8 all make concessions. As it turns out, Qf6 is probably the weakest of the three.

Here are 50 or so games in this line, and here's a five minute game that I played in this line about a week ago. It's not great chess, but it sure was fun to play.

sample game

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nc3 Nc6 Symmetry, which is easily broken with 4.Qg4 A fun move to play. The threat, of course, is Qg7 4...Qf6 ...g6 is better, though white still retains good play after Qg3 with the idea of d3 and and f4-break 5.Nd5 Forcing the action. 5...Qxf2+ 6.Kd1 Diagram

And black is already in some difficulty. The immediate threats are Qxg7 and Nxc7+... to Black's chagrin, the Bc4 covers the f1 mating square.6...Bb6 ?? Covering the c7 square, but... 7.Qxg7 d6 Seeking quick development as compensation for the Rh8 8.Nf3 ! Development trumps 8...Nd4 9.Nf6+ Nxf6 [ 9...Ke7 10.Qxf7+ Kd8 11.Qe8#] 10.Qxf7+ Kd8 11.Qxf6+ Kd7 12.Nxe5+ dxe5 13.Qxf2 1-0

February 9, 2004

I'm still reading volume 1 of Kasparov's My Great Predecessors. I'd better speed up because My Great Predecessors, volume two is now out!

Taking up where the last volume left off, this wonderful new volume's focus is on World champions 5-8, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, and Tal.

Here are all of the games in volume 2, and here is but one of the great games. My notes do not do it justice... for that you'll need the book. My only regret is that I missed on Kasparov's book signing last week in New York City. Just don't miss out on this book!

Geller,E - Karpov,A [C16]
Moscow (3), 1976

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 The French Winawer 4.e5 Qd7 More customary is ...c5 5.Nf3 b6 to exchange the light-squared bishops on a6 6.Bd2 Ba6 7.Bxa6 Nxa6 8.0-0 Nb8 The knight has no future on a6 and is simply subject to attack with Qd3 or Qe2 9.Ne2 Be7 Holding onto the bishop, but Bxd2 and Ne7 was preferable 10.Rc1 idea c4 10...b5 11.Nf4 h5 preparing Nh6-f5 12.b3 Ba3 13.Rb1 a5 14.c4 c6 15.c5 Bb4 16.Bc1 threatening to trap the bishop. 16...a4 17.Nd3 Ba5 giving up a pawn to save the bishop 18.bxa4 bxa4 19.Qxa4 Qa7 20.Bg5 Bc7 21.Rxb8+! playing to the crowd. Qxb8 or Qb3 were good enough 21...Qxb8 [21...Bxb8 22.Qxc6+ Kf8 (22...Qd7 23.Qxa8) 23.Qc8#] 22.Qxc6+ Kf8 23.Nf4 setting up the sac 23...Ra7 [23...Bd8 recommended by Kasparov 24.Bxd8 Qxd8 25.Ng5 Rh6 26.Nfxe6+ fxe6 27.Nxe6+ Rxe6 28.Qxe6 Ne7 29.Qh3 Qe8 30.Qb3 Qa4 31.Qf3+ Kg8 white has a great advantage, but there would be a grind ahead.] 24.Nh4 Qe8 Diagram

[24...Ne7 25.Nxe6+ Kg8 (25...fxe6 26.Qxe6 (26.Qxe6 Bd8 27.Bxe7+ Rxe7 28.Ng6+ Ke8 29.Qc6+ Kf7 30.Nxh8++-) 26...Bd8 27.Bxe7+ Bxe7 28.Ng6+ Ke8 29.Nxh8+-) ] 25.Qxe6! fxe6 [25...Qxe6 26.Nxe6+ fxe6 27.Ng6+] 26.Nfg6+ Qxg6 [26...Kf7 27.Nxh8+ Kf8 28.N4g6+ Qxg6 29.Nxg6+ Kf7 30.Nf4 Rxa2 31.Nxh5+- Kg6 32.Nf4+ Kxg5 33.Nxe6+] 27.Nxg6+ Ke8 [27...Kf7 28.Nxh8+] 28.Nxh8 Ra4 29.Rd1 Ne7 30.Bxe7 Kxe7 31.Ng6+ Kf7 32.Nf4+- Bxe5 33.dxe5 Rxf4 34.Rc1 Ke8 35.c6 Kd8 36.c7+ Kc8 37.g3 Ra4 38.Rc6 Rxa2 39.Rxe6 g5 40.Rd6 Rd2 41.e6 Kxc7 42.e7 1-0

February 8, 2004

I have spent very little time talking about the Hedgehog here... a bit odd since it has become one of the main lines of my own defensive strategy. It works well against e4 (The Sicilian), against 1.c4, and even against 1.Nf3 and sometimes even 1.d4.

But there are openings in which you'd assume that no Hedgehog is possible. In the Smith-Morra Gambit, for example, white pries open the c-file as early as move 3 making the hedgehog (with a queen on c7) an untenable response. Or is it. As the following game demonstrates, the Hedgehog is still possible, if black is very careful early on. The game is also a good illustration of the ebb and flow of many games. Black gets a great game, then loses his way, only to recover and win.

Here are a few dozen games in this interesting line, and here's the game of the day:

Krnjovsek,A (2075) - Justin,M (2385) [B21]
Ljubljana op Ljubljana, 1993

1.e4 c5 2.d4 The Smith Morra Gambit 2...cxd4 3.c3 Offering the pawn here. White gets some (enough?) compensation with very rapid development after 3...cxd4 4.Nc3 with Bc4, Bf4 or g5, and 0-0, Rac1, Rfd1 to follow 3...d3 A rare but interesting idea. Black pushes through to keep the c-file closed and to set-up a Hedgehog formation! 4.Bxd3 d6 First task is to guard the e5 square carefully. 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 e6 7.c4 Black lost time with d4-d3. White loses time with this. 7...Qc7 Safe because the Nb1 is not yet on c3 8.Nc3 a6 Completing the queen's house. Development will proceed withe Nbd7, b6 and Bb7 putting more pressure upon the white e-pawn 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.Rc1 b6 Diagram

Very similar to positions in the Kan Sicilian.11.Qe2 Bb7 12.Rfd1 Rc8 13.b3 or perhaps Ng4-e5 13...Be7 14.Bb1 0-0 15.Bg3 Rfd8 16.Nd4 Qb8 In a similar position, I tried ...g5 to inhibit f2-f4 and to follow with Ne5 17.f4 g6 18.f5 e5 The natural response since the Nd4 cannot now go to f5 19.Nf3 Qa8 Three attacks on the e4-weakness 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Ceding a protected e5-passer. 21...Re8 idea Bf8-g7 and placing the Rook behind the passer. 22.Qd2 b5 23.Ng5 [23.cxb5 axb5 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Bf2 Ng4=/+] 23...bxc4 24.bxc4 or just h6 or Nc5. Black has the advantage 24...Bd8 25.Rf1 Bb6+ reposting the dark-squared bishop on its most active diagonal 26.Kh1 Qa7 27.Bf2 A concession. This is white's "good" bishop and the Bb6, despite its activity, is black's "bad" bishop 27...Bxf2 28.Rxf2 Kg7 29.Rf3 Qd4 [29...Qc5 safre, with the idea of ...Nb6] 30.Qe2 [30.Qxd4 exd4 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.Rcf1] 30...e4 With a piece soon to e5 31.Rf4 Re5 32.Qf1 h6? [32...Rxf5 33.Rxf5 gxf5 34.Qxf5 Rxc4-/+] 33.Nf3 Qb2 34.Nxe5 Qxe5 35.fxg6 fxg6 36.Re1 Nc5 seeking activity after his blunder 37.Rh4 g5 38.Rh3 Rb8 39.Re2 Ng4 40.Qe1 Qa1 41.Bxe4? [41.Rb3 Nxb3 42.axb3 Rxb3 43.Bxe4 Qxe1+ 44.Rxe1 a5-/+] 41...Qxe1+ 42.Rxe1 Nf2+ 43.Kg1 Nxh3+ 44.gxh3 Re8 winning the Be4 0-1

February 7, 2004

One more time on the Benko. One of the most interesting variations becomes quite complex. The b7-b5 pawn push tries to undermine white's strong center, especially the d5-pawn. White usually tries to reinforce the center with e2-e4.

As we have seen, the problem is that e2-e4 usually results in Ba6xf1 causing white to spend a great deal of time untangling the kingside. Here is a different plan for white with an early e2-e3. It also involves a waste of some time, since white will usually follow up in a few moves with e3-e4. But white avoids the capture on f1 and achieves a game with avery different character. As you will see in this line, white often sacrifices the exchange with very complex play.

Here are a number of games in the line, and here are two of the more interesting games.

Kouatly,B (2455) - Ermenkov,E (2500) [A57]
Albena Albena, 1985

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 The Benko Gambit 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 An interesting approach. Rather than take again on a6 and permit Ba6xf1 when white moves the e-pawn, white insists on exchanging the light squared bishops without giving up the right to castle. But there is a price. e3-e4 costs a tempo (rather than e2-e4 in one move). 5...axb5 Enticing the Bf1-b5 and then counter-attacking the white center. 6.Bxb5 Bb7 Two attacks on the d5-pawn, and e3-e4 cannot be played. 7.Nc3 Two defences. 7...Qa5 Pinning the defender. It's once again 2 on 1 8.Bd2 Defending the d-pawn in a somewhat complex manner. Nc3xd5 would also attack the Qa5 8...Qb6 And, thanks to the Bd2 blocking the white Qd1, it's once again 2 on 1 9.Qb3 Again,a second defender 9...e6 Just like Nimzovitch. And only then attack it with a pawn. dxe6 meets Bxg2 (thanks to the light squared B on b5) 10.e4 Diagram

Three attacks, three defenses10...Nxe4 Taking advantage of the g2-weakness. 11.Nxe4 Bxd5 The Bb5, Ne4 and the Qb3 are all under attack! 12.Qd3 Moving the queen and still defending the Bb5 and Ne4 12...f5 Forcing the Ne4 to move 13.Ng3 Bxg2 The logical follow-up. Black will win the exchange of h1. Does white have enough compensation? 14.a4 Freeing the Qd3 from its defense of the Bb5 14...Qb7 There's no rush to capture on h1. Be7 is another good move, developing the kingside. [14...Bxh1 15.Nxh1] 15.f3 Be7 16.N1e2 Bxh1 last chance to take 17.Nxh1 0-0 18.0-0-0 Seeking activity against the black d-pawn 18...Nc6 To an active square, watching b4, d4, and e5, and preventing a4-a5 19.Kb1 perhaps Bc3 first to stop Ne5-f3 19...Ne5 20.Qe3 Nxf3 breaking through. The threat is Bg5 21.Bc3 Bg5 22.Qxc5 very dangerous, opening lines against the white queenside 22...Qe4+ taking the beautiful entry square 23.Rd3 Rfc8 [23...Qxe2 24.Ng3 Qg2 25.Bxd7~~] 24.Qf2 Ne5 25.Qd4 Qxe2 seeking simplification 26.Qxe5? [26.Ng3! Qxh2 27.Qxe5 Bf6 28.Qd6~~] 26...Qf1+ [26...Qxe5 27.Bxe5 Rc1+ 28.Ka2 Rc5 winning a piece] 27.Ka2 Bf6 28.Qxf6! Rxa4+ [28...gxf6 29.Rg3+ Kf7 30.Bxf1] 29.Kb3 [29.Bxa4 gxf6] 29...Ra3+! 30.Kxa3? [30.Kb4 Raxc3 31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Rxd7+ Kh6 33.Bxf1 Rc1 34.Ng3 f4 35.Ba6 fxg3-+] 30...Qa1+ 31.Kb4 gxf6 32.Ng3 black has a huge advantage 32...Qg1 33.Bd4 Qe1+ 34.Bc3 Qg1 35.Bd4 Qf1 36.Bc3 Qf2 37.Bd4 Qf4 38.Nh5 Qd6+ 39.Kb3 Rb8 40.Ka4 Ra8+ 41.Kb3 Ra5 42.Bc4 Qc6 43.Nxf6+ Kf7 44.Rh3 Ra1 45.Rxh7+ Kg6 46.Be2 Qa4+ 47.Kc3 Rc1+ 48.Kd3 Qc2+ 49.Ke3 Re1 50.Rg7+ Kxg7 0-1

Berkovich,D - Khmelnitsky,S [A57]
UKR-ch sf UKR, 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 Bb7 6.Nc3 Qa5 7.Bd2 Qb6 8.Qb3 axb5 9.Bxb5 e6 10.e4 Nxe4 Same as last game 11.Nxe4 Bxd5 12.Qd3 f5 An alternative is Qb7 13.Ng3 Bxg2 14.N1e2 Bxh1 15.Nxh1 Be7 16.a4 There are many alternatives (Nhg3, Bc3). Again, anchoring the Bb5 with thoughts of 0-0-0 16...0-0 17.Nhg3 Nc6 18.Bc3 d5 Different play, with expansion of the central pawns. The threat is d4 19.Nf4 Putting pressure on the weak e6-pawn 19...d4 20.Bd2 Bd6 Perhaps ...Bg5 21.Nxe6 Rae8 Black can capture on e6, but white would then play Bc4 22.0-0-0 Rxe6 23.Bc4 Nd8 24.Nxf5 Kh8 Getting out of the pin, forcing white to release the pressure. 25.Bxe6 Nxe6 26.Re1 Bf4 [26...Nf4!] 27.Ng3 Diagram

[27.Qb5] 27...c4 28.Qe2 [28.Qxc4 Bxd2+ 29.Kxd2 Qxb2+ 30.Kd1 Ng5-+] 28...Bxd2+ or just ...d3 29.Qxd2 Nc5 30.Kb1 [30.Qxd4 Nb3+] 30...c3 [30...Qg6+! 31.Qc2 d3-+] 31.Qc2 Nxa4 The weakness on b2 has been identified, fixed, attacked, defended, and attacked with a pawn! Game over 32.b3 d3 [32...d3 33.Qxd3 Qxb3+ 34.Kc1 Qb2+ 35.Kd1 c2+ 36.Qxc2 Nc3+] 0-1

February 6, 2004

Today, another challenging variation of the Benko Gambit. This is the Zaitsev system. White turns down the extra pawn and quickly achieves an unbalanced position with an aggressively posted Nb5 and the possibility of a quick attack with e4-e5.

Here are several dozen games in one line of the opening, and here are a couple of recent games that illustrate the possibilities for both sides.

Labarthe,A (2082) - Moingt,J (2300) [A57]
St Chely d'Aubrac op 2nd St Chely d'Aubrac (5), 01.07.2002

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5 6.e4 b4 7.Nb5 d6 8.Bc4 Nbd7 9.Nf3 Nb6 10.Bd3 better than Qe2 in the previous game 10...g6 again with the idea of Bg7 and 0-0 11.b3 Bg7 12.Bb2 white guards against c5-c4 and counters on the long diagonal 12...0-0 13.0-0 Ba6 14.a4 Here's white counter to pressure on the Nb5 14...bxa3 15.Nxa3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qd7 But white is left with an isolated b-pawn 17.Nd2 heading to c4 17...Rfb8 18.Ndc4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 [19.bxc4?? Rxb2] 19...Qb5 applying pressure to the b-pawn 20.f3 h5 [20...Qxb3?? 21.Qxb3+-] 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Ra1 Rb8 23.Ra3 h4 24.Qd1 Idea Qa1 would be fine for white 24...Qb4 25.Qd2?? Diagram

A nervous reaction to the black queen on the b4-entry square. Qa1 would leave the Qb4 with no further entry squares25...Qxd2 26.Nxd2 Nxe4! 27.Bxg7 [27.fxe4 Bxb2-+; 27.Nxe4 Bxb2-+] 27...Nxd2 With threats against the Bg7 and the b-pawn 28.Bh6 Nxb3 [28...Rxb3? 29.Ra8+ Kh7 30.Bxd2] 29.Bg5 c4 passed pawns are meant to be pushed 30.Bxe7 c3 31.Ra2 Rc8 or Nd4 32.Bxd6 c2-+ 33.Bf4 c1Q+ 34.Bxc1 Rxc1+ 35.Kf2 Rd1 36.Ra8+ Kg7 37.Rd8 Nd4 38.Ke3 Nf5+ white can resign. The d-pawn cannot advance and the Nf5 is safe from attack 39.Ke4 Kf6 40.f4 Rd4+ 41.Kf3 Ke7 The d-pawn falls 0-1

Jones,B (2196) - Ker,A (2336) [A57]
Auckland op Auckland (6), 29.01.2003

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 The Zaitsev Variation of the Benko Gambit. White aims for an early e4 5...axb5 6.e4 b4 7.Nb5 And here's the point. The Nb5 has an advanced outpost that whiote can hold, and the e-pawn is immune 7...d6 Materials is even, but both players can lay claim to active ideas. Black will develop the dark-squared bishop on the long diagonal and the Ra8 has its open file. But white has the makings of a strong attack with a quick e4-e5. [7...Nxe4 8.Qe2 f5 (8...Nf6 9.Nd6#) 9.f3+-] 8.Bc4 Bf4 and Nf3 are more common. Bc4 overprotects d5 and carries the idea of e4-e5-e6 8...Nbd7 ...g6 is also playable, but this seems to be the critical idea, challenging e4-e5. 9.Nf3 To support e5 9...Nb6! 10.Qe2 Perhaps already the decisive mistake 10...Bg4 The white queen is burdened 11.h3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Not Qxf3 Nxc4 12...g6 13.Bf4 Nh5 opening the long diagonal and of course threatening Nxf5 14.Bh2 Bg7 With coverage of the key e5-square 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.Qxe5 Threat Qxh8 17...0-0 The black kingside is perfectly safe. Black is threatening Nxc4 and Qa5 18.Rc1 [18.b3 better] 18...Nxc4 19.Rxc4 Qa5 threatening Qxa2 and b3 with a powerful discovered check 20.Rxc5 b3+ This way, the pawn captures on a2... and the white king is stuck in the center for the rest of the game [20...Rfc8 also very strong 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.0-0 Qxb5] 21.Ke2 Kd1?? bxa2 21...bxa2 22.Ra1 The Ra1 remains out of play 22...Rab8 [22...Rfb8!] 23.d6 desparately seeking counterplay, but this opens the e-file for black's rooks 23...exd6 24.Nxd6 Qa6+ preventing the king from running to safety with f1-g2 [24...Rxb2+! 25.Qxb2 Qxc5 26.Ne4 Qc4+ 27.Ke1 Re8 28.Qxa2 Qxa2 29.Rxa2 f5-+] 25.Ke1 Qd3 into the entry square 26.Rd5 Diagram

26...Nf4! 27.Qxf4 [27.Rxd3 Nxd3+-+] 27...Qxd5 28.Ne4 Qd3 29.Nf6+ Kg7 30.Qe5 With has set up a nice discovered check and possible mate, but it is black to move! 30...Qb1+! 31.Kd2 Qxb2+ 32.Qxb2 Rxb2+ [32...Rxb2+ 33.Kc3 Rb1 34.Rxa2 Kxf6] 0-1

February 5, 2004

As a young player, I embraced the Benko Gambit as my cure to 1.d4. But after mountains of GM analysis, the gambit became more of a chore. Simple advantages gave way to mysterious complexities.

I'm happy to say that some of the modern Benko lines have a genuine appeal once again. I offer 40 games in an interesting line for Black and a recent game in which Black wins almost effortlessly. Give it a look. In the olden times, Black counted on the fact that the Ra8 was well placed with out even moving, and that Black could whip up quick pressure with moves like Qd8-a5 and Rfb8. This game has a different approach. Give it a look.

Foerster,A (2215) - Petrosian,S (2424) [A59]
Bargteheider Cup 6th Hamburg (3), 30.05.2003

1.d4 The threat is 2.e4 1...Nf6 d5 also stops the threat but gives the game a very different character in which, after 2.c4 e6, leaves Black with a "bad" Bc8 2.c4 c5 The Benoni. 3.d5 Consistent and aggressive [3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 and Black has many options, including ...e6 and a hedgehog!] 3...b5 Attacking the c4/d5 pawn chain at the base, with counterplay at the expense of a pawn 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 Black is no rush to recapture, and speeds the development of the Bf8-g7 6.Nc3 Bxa6 To countere2-e4 with Bxf1 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 Part of Black's compensation is that white will have to spend much time untangling on the kingside 8...d6 9.g3 fianchettoing the king! h3 and Kg1-h2 is another option 9...Bg7 10.Kg2 Nbd7 11.h3 To prevent the idea of Ng4-e5 11...0-0 12.Nf3 Ra7 The usual plan is Qa5 or Qb6. In this line, Black will play Qa8 and Rb8 13.Re1 Qa8 14.Re2 Rb8 Black has an obvious initiative on the queenside. Is it worth the pawn? 15.Bf4 Diagram

wit the idea of e5, but Qc2 is more prudent15...Nb6 heading towards a4 or c4 16.Rc1 Na4 17.Rec2 White is already in trouble [17.Nxa4 Rxa4 18.Rxc5 Rxe4=/+ (18...dxc5 19.Bxb8) ] 17...Rxb2 [17...Nxc3 18.bxc3 Nxe4-/+] 18.Nxa4 [18.Rxb2 Nxb2 19.Qe2 Na4-/+] 18...Rxc2 19.Rxc2 Rxa4 With threats on a2 and e4 20.e5 Nxd5 21.exd6 Nxf4+ 22.gxf4 Rd4 23.Rd2 exd6 The Nf3 is pinned! 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.Kg3 Qxa2-+ 26.Nxd4 Qd5 0-1

February 4, 2004

Grandmasters should be required to write game collections. And none are better than John Nunn's contributions. His Secrets of Grandmaster Play followed his career through round 2 of Wijk aan Zee in 1985. John Nunn's Best Games of Chess took up right where the first book left off, covering Nunn-Lobron from round 11 of that event. The difference: these are just Nunn's games.

Here are 40 games annotated with the care that we would expect from a player of his calabre, but more. There are anecdotes, portrayals of the setting behind each encounter, and Nunn's take on the world of chess.

Here are all the games in the book, and here is one of my favorites, his game against Mikhail Tal in 1988. Imagine entering a slugfest against the great Tal!

Nunn,J - Tal,M [B17]
Brussels (11), 1988

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 Perhaps the most solid variation of the Carto-Kann. Black prepares Ngf6 5.Ng5 Ndf6 Ngf6 is the standard continuation, but Karpov has played this move. [5...h6 6.Ne6] 6.N1f3 [6.Bc4 e6 7.N1f3 h6 8.Nh3 Bd6 9.Qe2~~] 6...e6 7.Ne5 Two attacks upon f7 7...Nh6 8.Bd3 Bd6? The immediate threat is Bxe5 and Qa5+ [8...Qxd4 9.Ngxf7 Nxf7 10.Nxf7 Bb4+ (10...Kxf7 11.Bg6++-) 11.c3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qxc3+ 13.Bd2 Qxd3 14.Nxh8 Qe4+ 15.Kf1!+/=] 9.c3 Stopping the threat and preparing Qc2 9...Qc7 [9...0-0 10.Qc2 Nf5 11.g4 Bxe5 12.gxf5 Qd5 13.f3 h6 14.Be4! (14.fxe6 hxg5 15.exf7+ Rxf7 16.dxe5 Qxe5+ 17.Qe2=) ] 10.Qe2 Typical in the Caro. White has tremendous pressure against f7 and e6 10...c5 [10...0-0 11.Ngf3 and white has a huge kingside attack with g4 and h4] 11.Bb5+ Ke7 [11...Bd7? 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.Nexf7! 0-0 14.Nxe6+-] 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nf5 14.Be3 Nxe3 [14...Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.Bxa7 Qxe2 17.Bc5+ Nd6 18.Bxe2 Rfd1 +-] 15.fxe3 [15.Qxe3! Rf8 (15...Nd5 16.Qg3+/-) 16.Rfc1+/-] 15...Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Qd3 idea Qa3+ 17...Qxg5? Diagram

[17...a6 18.Qa3+ Qd6 19.Qxd6+ Kxd6 20.Nxf7+ Ke7 21.Nxh8 axb5 22.g4+/-] 18.Qa3+ Kd8 19.Rad1+ [19.Rxf6! Qxb5 (19...gxf6 20.Qd6+ Bd7 21.Qxd7#) 20.Rxf7+-] 19...Bd7 20.Bxd7 White resigned in lieu of the threat of 21.Ba4+ Nd5 22.Qd6+ Kc8 23.Rc1 [20.Bxd7 Qe5 but the win is still tough here 21.Bxe6+ Ke8 22.Rxf6 fxe6 (22...gxf6 23.Bd7+ Kd8 24.Qb3+-) 23.Rf3 Rc8 24.Qxa7+-; 20.Rxf6! Qxb5 (20...Qxf6 21.Rxd7+ Kc8 22.Qc5++-) 21.Rxf7] 1-0

February 3, 2004

"In order to improve your game," said the great Capablanca, "you must study the endgame before anything else; for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middlegame and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame."

There is no doubt that Capa was right, and how better to study the endgame than to study his. Originally printed in 1978, Dover has re-printed Irving Chernev's Capablanca's Best Chess Endings.

Here are the 60 complete games in Chernev's book as well as my notes to game #60. Keep in mind as you play through these games that Capablanca was often more concerned about where his pieces belonged than what move to play next. 'tis useful advice!

Capablanca - Reshevsky [E03]
Nottingham Nottingham, 1936

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Qa4+ Nbd7 5.Qxc4 e6 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 b5 8.Qc6 Ra7 9.Bf4 Bb7 10.Qc1 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nbd2 Qe7 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Qd2 Ne4 17.Qd3 Ndc5 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Qd1 Ba8 20.Rc1 Rac7 21.b3 Nd7 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Bxb6 Nxb6 24.Qd4 Nd5 25.Rd1 f6 26.Ne1 Bb7 27.Bxd5 exd5 28.e3 Qe4 29.h4 a5 30.f3 Qxd4 31.Rxd4 Rc1 32.Kf2 Ra1 33.Rd2 a4 Diagram

Step number one, exchange rooks34.Nd3 Rb1 35.Rb2 Rxb2+ 36.Nxb2 White's advantage is clear. Black has three pawn islands, and the Bb7 is stuck defending the fixed d5-pawn. 36...Bc6 37.Nd3 Having identified the d5-weakness, play Nb4 and attack it. 37...g5 38.hxg5 fxg5 39.Nb4 axb3 40.axb3 Bb7 Three squares away from the Nb4. Black appears lost, but Reshevsjy finds counterplay with an outside passed pawn. 41.g4 Kg7 42.Ke2 Headed to d4 to provide the second attack upon the d5-pawn. 42...Kg6 43.Kd3 h5 44.gxh5+ forced, to prevent h4 44...Kxh5 The rest is all an intricate calculation. 45.Kd4 White will win the d5-pawn, but Black's king will capture the white f3-pawn and the g-pawn will rush forward 45...Kh4 46.Nxd5 Kg3 47.f4 g4 Black's only hope [47...gxf4 48.exf4 Bxd5 49.Kxd5 Kxf4 50.Kc5 Ke5 51.Kxb5 Kd6 52.Kb6+-] 48.f5 the race is on 48...Bc8 49.Ke5 [49.f6 Be6 stopping the f-pawn 50.Ke5 Bf7] 49...Bd7 50.e4 [50.Nf6 Kh3 51.Nxd7 g3 52.f6 g2 53.f7 g1Q 54.f8Q Qxe3+ 55.Kf6 Qxb3=] 50...Be8 51.Kd4 Permitting the e-pawn to join uin 51...Kf3 52.e5 g3 53.Ne3 Just in time 53...Kf4 [53...Bd7 54.e6 Bc8 55.e7 Bd7 56.f6 Be8 57.Nf5! g2 58.Nh4+ Kf4 59.Nxg2+ Kf5 60.Ne3+ Kxf6 61.Nd5+ Kf7 62.Nc7 Bd7 (62...Kxe7 63.Nxe8 Kxe8 64.Kc5+-) 63.e8Q+ Bxe8 64.Nxe8 Kxe8 65.Kc5+-] 54.e6 g2 55.Nxg2+ Kxf5 56.Kd5 Kg4 57.Ne3+ Kf4 58.Kd4 1-0

February 2, 2004

In 1930, Alexandre Alekhine dominated the strong international tournament in San Remo, Italy. Capablanca declined his invitation (he was completing a book), but here were Nimzovitsch, Rubenstein, Bogolubov, Yates, Tartakower, Colle, and Kmoch.

Be sure to check out this crosstable and here are all of the games from the event.

Of Special interest, beyond Alekhine's amazing result, was his win against Nimzovitsch, the second place finisher. It is rare to see one player so thoroughly dominate another player let alone an entire tournament.

Alekhine,A - Nimzowitsch,A [C17]
San Remo San Remo, 1930

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2 Ne7 6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.c3 b6 A weak move. Black needed to counter Nd6 by playing 8...f6 9.f4 Ba6 [9...f6 too late 10.Nf3 holding e5] 10.Nf3 Qd7? Bxb5 was needed, exchanging the "bad" light-squared bishop for the powerful knight. 11.a4 Nbc6 12.b4! cxb4 13.cxb4 Bb7 [13...Bxb5 14.axb5 Nd8 15.Bd3 With a kingside attack and black has no counterplay] 14.Nd6 f5 15.a5 Nc8 To exchange off the powerful Nd6 16.Nxb7 robbing the Nc6 of a defender 16...Qxb7 17.a6 Qf7 18.Bb5 N8e7 19.0-0 h6 Diagram

to prevent Ng520.Rfc1 two attacks upon the Nc6 20...Rfc8 21.Rc2 preparing a third attacker 21...Qe8 [21...Nd8 22.Rac1 Rxc2 23.Rxc2 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Nxc8 25.Qc3 Ne7 26.Qc7 Qf8 27.Qxa7+-] 22.Rac1 Rab8 23.Qe3 Rc7 24.Rc3 preparing Rc2 and Qc1 24...Qd7 25.R1c2 Kf8 26.Qc1 The Black Nc6 makes for an interesting weakness. It cannot move because it is pinned by the Bb5. It is therefore fixed, and white is attacking it four times (Bb5, Rc3, Rc2, and the Qc1). Black therefore moves to provide a fourth defense. 26...Rbc8 Otherwise, white will simply win the Nc6. The problem for black, of course, is that all of white's pieces (except perhaps the Nf3) are very active. By contrast, all of Black's pieces have taken up passive positions. 27.Ba4 With the simply idea of b4-b5 forcing the Nc6 to move. White would then follow up with Rxc7 (three attacks on c7 but only two defenses). 27...b5 Only delaying the inevitable. 28.Bxb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Renewing the threat. 29...Kd8 Using the time gained through b5-b5 to bring a third defender of the Rc7 30.h4 Zugzwang is coming. Black is nearly out of playable moves. 30...h5 31.Kh2 g6 Black has nothing left to move without permitting a quick collapse. 32.g3 The Ne7 must stay to defend the Nc6. The Nc6 is pinned to the Qe7 If Qe8, white plays b5 (the Q is needed on d7 to support the Rc7. The c8 is needed to defend the Rc7. The Kd8 is also needed right there to defend c7 And the Black pawns are out of safe moves. 1-0

February 1, 2004

Most opening traps catch only the occasional beginner. Here's one that's caught more than its share of experts and masters. In the main line of the Sicilian Dragon, white has an interesting choice on move 9. Most GMs including Kasparov and Anand favor 9.Bc4. Karpov often played 9.g4. I prefer 9.0-0-0. I know... who am I compared with that crowd, but the fact is, 0-0-0 has a nice sting.

In the 9. Bc4 line, white will often have to retreat the Bc4 to b3 and the capture a Black knight on c4. By contrast, in the 9.0-0-0 line, the bishop can stay home on f1 ready to capture a Nc4 in asingle move. That would represent two useful tempi for the g4/h4 led attack.

More important perhaps, 0-0-0 and Kb1 halt black's natural counter-play with ...Qa5. How? Here's the nice trap and about 30 games in which masters fell into it!

Dragon trap [B76]

1.e4 c5 The Sicilian 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 The Dragon variation 6.Be3 With the idea of f3, Qd2, 0-0-0, and attacking the Black 0-0 king with h4-h5 and Be3-h6 6...Bg7 [6...Ng4?? 7.Bb5++- Bd7 (7...Nd7 8.Qxg4; 7...Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6++-) 8.Qxg4] 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bc4 and g4 are playable, but in this varaition, white prefers first to safeguard the king and to respond to Nc6-e5-c4 with a single move Bf1xc4 (rather than three moves: Bc4-b3xc4) 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1! Setting a trap into which black now falls with 11...Qa5? Diagram

[11...Qc7 Idea Rfc8 and only then Qa5] 12.Nd5! The most powerful threat, of course, is Qxa5, but white also threatens Nxe7+ winning a pawn 12...Qxd2 Thanks to Kb1, this is NOT check, permitting white to play an intermezzo (an in-between move) [12...Qd8 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 (13...exf6 14.Bc3+/-) 14.Bxf6 exf6+/-] 13.Nxe7+ Kh8 14.Rxd2 Rfe8 Trying to trap the Ne7 15.Bxf6! [15.Nd5!? Nxd5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Bb5+/-] 15...Bxf6 16.Nd5+- And white emerges a clear pawn ahead and with a target on d6 1-0


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