Mida's chess corner

Chess, art and Duchamp

2007-11-30T23:18:00.000+01:00

Well, I know you are much more interested in the Fide World Cup, but I’m not going to write anything about that in today’s post. “Chess is art” is often said by many lovers of our sport/game/activity. Marcel Duchamp truly believed in that and when he was (almost) at the end of his life he presented himself as "a chess player within the realm of art".
Duchamp was a French artist, born in 1887, whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War II Western art. In 1918 Duchamp left his work on the Large Glass and the art scene, and went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for nine months, where he often played chess, and carved from wood the only chess set he himself made. He returned to Paris in 1919, where he lived until he returned to the United States in 1920. By the time he moved to Paris in 1923 he was no longer a practicing artist. Instead he played and studied chess, which he played for the rest of his life (he dead on October 2, 1968) to the near exclusion of all other activity. Duchamp's obsessive fascination with chess can be traced back much earlier to the themes of his major art pieces. The most immediately obvious of these is the chess position known as "trébuchet" (the trap), which gave its title to the Readymade of 1917: a coat rack with four hooks, which is nailed to the floor, hooks uppermost.
The screening of the film "Jeu d'echecs avec Marcel Duchamp" (“A game of chess with Marcel Duchamp”), a documentary by Jean-Marie Drot, was the main point of interest of an event – called “Scaccomatto” (“Checkmate”) - which took place right yesterday in Bergamo's Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (Bergamo is my home town). You can find the film on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SXyMAkZu1M (part 1 of 7) and it’s worth a look if you have some spare time in your week end. A double simul was given by two masters of Excelsior Chess Club, Paolo Mora and 15 y.o. Alessio Valsecchi, after the film: they played against (about) 30 opponents, but many more people watched the documentary (more than 150, I think). Does this mean that culture can help chess? I don’t know, but I hope events like that will be organized in Bergamo, in Italy and in the whole planet again :-)
And now here are some photos from the simul, a couple of famous photos with Duchamp playing chess (?!) and a couple of notable games played by the French artist.

Marcel Duchamp, a chess lover (photo by Max Ernst)

A... "naked" game: Eve Babitz
and Marcel Duchamp playing chess (Julian Wasser, 1963)

15 y.o. master Alessio Valsecchi in action

Excelsior club's [former?! :-)]
chess star: master Paolo Mora

Mora in action again

A panoramic view (more
or less...) of the simul

Koltanowski,Georges - Duchamp,Marcel [A50], Paris 1929
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 b6 5. f4 Bb7 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 e5 8. d5 g6 9. 0–0 exf4 10. Bxf4 Bg7 11. e5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 0–0 13. Qd2 Nxd5 14. Nxd7 Nxf4 15. Nxf8 Bd4+ 0–1

Marshall,Frank James - Duchamp,Marcel [D55], Hamburg (Olympiads) 1930
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Qc2 d5 7.e3 0–0 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.Bd3 h6 12.a3 c5 13.dxc5 Rc8 14.b4 bxc5 15.Rc1 Nd7 16.Ba6 Rc7 17.e4 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.bxc5 Qxc5 20.0–0 Qxc2 21.Rxc2 Kf8 22.Rfc1 Ke7 23.Nd4 Ke8 24.f4 Rab8 25.e5 Nf8 26.Rc5 Rb1 27.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28.Kf2 Rb7 29.Rc8+ Ke7 30.Ra8 Ng6 31.g3 Kd7 32.a4 Ne7 33.Nb5 Nc8 34.g4 Rxb5 35.axb5 Kc7 36.g5 hxg5 37.b6+ Kb7 38.Rxc8 Kxc8 0.5-0.5

World Cup: no surprises in round 1

2007-11-26T22:53:00.000+01:00

The World Chess Cup has started in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia) and the first round has come to an end right this afternoon. There were just a few unexpected winners in those matches where opponents had a difference of 100 or more rating points. Ivanchuk (winner of the Blitz World Cup some days earlier), Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Aronian, Ahirov, Svidler, Carlsen and Jakovenko won both games against their respective opponents, Adams, Grischuk, Kamksy, Wang Yue and Bacrot won 1.5-0.5, while Alekseev, Akopian, Ponomariov and Kasimdzhanov got the better hand on tie-breaks. Among the Elo-favorites, Russian GM Konstantin Landa (rated 2676) left the World Cup in favor of Romanian GM Vladislav Nevednichy, as well as his compatriot Pavel Eljanov (2691), who made a draw in the first game and lost the second one to IM Hossain Enamulu (2514) from Bangladesh.
The match between Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) and Fernando Peralta (ARG) was truly unique and dramatic. In the first game the South American had a completely won endgame (Knight and Bishop vs King), but overstepped the time limit and the game ended in a draw. The position of the second game looked quite unclear, when Peralta, again, ran out of time and lost.
Speaking about the second day of the first round, Chessdom.com site (www.chessdom.com - it worth a visit) writes that it was "marked by many interesting games... that the world could not see. Live games for the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk got stuck on the first moves and did not recover for hours". Really sad for such an important event, isn't it? Official site, by the way, is: http://www.ugra-chess.ru/eng/main_e.htm. You can also find results, games and news about the 2007 WCC on www.messaggeroscacchi.it, my Italian site (direct link: http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/coppa07.html).
Meanwhile, the 2007 Italian chess championship is taking place in Martina Franca (Taranto). 15 y.o. prodigy Fabiano Caruana leads with a perfect score after round 4; Im Sabino Brunello and GM Carlos Garcia Palermo follow a point behind. Official site (with a very good coverage): http://www.torneionline.com/cia2007. Results and games on my Italian site at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/italia/itach07.html.
And now here are some decisive moments and interesting games from Khanty-Mansiysk.

Ismagambetov,A. (2479) - Alekseev,E. (2716),
World Cup (1.1), 24.11.2007
The critical position. White wants to start an attack on the King side, Black on the Queen side. Who will arrive first?
19.g5 Ne8?
A serious mistake. After 19...Ng4 intending ...Nge5 Black has nothing to be afraid of.
20.Bf2
The immediate 20.Nd5 looks even stronger.
20...Qb8?
Second weak move in a row. 20...Qb7 was the correct defence.
21.Nd5 Bf8 22.Bb6 Bb7
After 22...Rd7 23.Bb5 Bb7 24.Nxa5 White has a decisive advantage.
23.Bxd8 Qxd8 24.Bb5 Nc7 25.Bxc6 Bxc6 26.Nd4 Bb7 27.Nf5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Kh8 29.Qf2 Rc8 30.h4
White is an exchange up and Black has no compensation, since his Bishops are all but active pieces.
30...Rc5 31.Ne3 Rc7 32.h5 Bc8 33.Rdf1 a4 34.Nf5 b3 35.cxb3 axb3 36.Nd4?!
Not the best move. 36.axb3 was absolutely possible.
36...bxa2+?
Black misses his last chance to continue fighting. After 36...Ba6 37.Re1 bxa2+ 38.Ka1 Bb7 White must win, but Black can play some more moves. Now it is all over.
37.Ka1 Kg8 38.g6 fxg6??
A really bad day for Alekseev. 38...f6 was a sad necessity.
39.hxg6 hxg6 40.Rh1 Qf6 41.Qh2 1–0
Black is going to lose his Queen, so he resigned.

El Gindy,E (2503) - Ponomariov,R (2705),
World Cup (1.1), 24.11.2007
Black is a pawn up, but his King is exposed and White can easily equalize...
56.d7+! Kxd7
A clever decision. 56...Kd8 is drawn as well: 57.Nd6 Qe6 58.Rd2 Kc7 59.Nb5+ Kd8 60.Nd6 etc.
57.Qd1+ Kc6 58.Qd6+ Kb5??
An incredible blunder for such an experienced player! After 58...Kb7 White has nothing more than a draw: 59.Qd7+ Kb8 (59...Ka6?? 60.Nd6 +-) 60.Qd5+ Kb7 etc. Now Black loses on the spot.
59.Qd7+ Ka5 60.Nd6 Qf1+
If 60...Qa6 then 61.Rc2 +-
61.Ka2 Ra8 62.Rc2 Qd3 63.Rc3
White misses a more brilliant way to finish the game: 63.Rxc5+! bxc5 64.Qc7+ Ka6 65.Qc6+ Ka5 66.Nb7#
63...Qe2 64.Rc4 1–0
Black can't avoid mate, so Pono resigned.

Rublevsky,S (2676) - Hera,I (2544) [B12], World Cup (1.1), 24.11.2007
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 Bg6 7.Be2 Be7
The game Rublevsky - Morozevich, Dagomys 2007, continued 7...Nh6 8.0–0 Nf5 9.Bd2 h5 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Be7 13.Ba5 Nb6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Nd7 17.Bf1 Ne7 with good prospects for Black.
8.0–0 h5 9.Bd2 Nh6
In Meszaros - A.Vajda, Balatonlelle 2004, White obtained a clear advantage after 9...a6 10.c4 dxc4 11.Na5 Qc7?! 12.Nxc4 Nh6 13.Bg5!
10.c4 dxc4 11.Na5!
Now it becomes clear why Morozevich was in no hurry with development of the dark-squared bishop.
11...Rb8 12.Nxc4 Nf5
12...Nb6 13.Ba5 Be4 deserves attention.
13.Ba5 Nb6
13...b6 was an alternative to be considered, e.g.: 14.Bc3 0–0 15.Ne3 b5 with an unclear position.
14.Rc1 Qd5?!
Black doesn't feel the danger... Better was 14...0–0, with the possible continuation 15.Qb3 (15.Rc3!? intending Rb3) 15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Rfd1 Qc5 18.Nxb6 Qxe5!? 19.Nd7 Qxa5 20.Nxf8 Bxf8 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 and Black has a good compensation for the exchange, although White has a slight advantage thanks to the possession of the d-file.
15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nxb6 Qxa2?
A bad move. It wasn't too late to admit the mistake by playing 16...Qd8 17.Nc4 0–0 and White has an extra pawn, but Black can hold on.
17.d5!
Simple and brilliant.
17...Qa5
After 17...exd5?? 18.Na4! there is no defence against Ra1. 17...Qa7 is probably the best defence, but White has a huge advantage after 18.Nd7! Ra8 (18...Kxd7 19.dxc6+ Ke8 20.Qd7+ Kf8 21.c7 +-; 18...Rd8 19.Ra1 +-) 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Qb3! Kxd7 21.Rfd1+ Kc7 22.Qxe6with a crushing attack.
18.dxc6 Rd8?
This move loses on the spot, but Black couldn't survive anyway, e.g.: 18...bxc6 19.Qd7+ Kf8 20.Nc8! Qd8 (20...Bb4 21.Ra1 Qd5 22.Qc7 +-) 21.Qxc6 +-; or 18...0–0 19.Nd7 bxc6 20.Nxf8 Bxf8 21.Rxc6 Rxb2 22.Bd3 and White must win.
19.Qd7+! Rxd7
If 19...Kf8 then 20.c7 Rxd7 21.Nxd7+ Kg8 22.c8Q+ Kh7 23.Qxb7 +-
20.cxd7+ Kf8 21.Rc8+ Bd8 22.Rxd8+ Ke7 23.Rxh8 Qxb6 24.Bb5! 1–0

Macieja,B (2606) - Laznicka,V (2610) [C10], World cup (1.1), 24.11.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qe2 cxd4 12.0–0–0 Bc5 13.Qe5 Be7 14.Nxd4 Qa4 15.Qc7 Rd8??
You can't say this is a novelty... this is just a blunder! In a previous game Black could easily equalize with 15...Qa6 16.Rhe1 Qb6 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.a3 0–0 19.f4 Nd5 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.f5 Nxf5 22.Nxf5 exf5 23.Re7 Rae8 24.Rxb7 Re2= (Paramonov-Kholmov, Minsk 2001).
16.Nf5! Rd7
After 16...exf5 17.Rxd8+ Bxd8 18.Re1+ (what else?) 18...Qe4 19.Rxe4+ fxe4 20.Qxb7 Black is hopeless.
17.Qc8+ Rd8
Alternatives were not better, e.g.: [17...Bd8 18.Nxg7+ Kf8 19.Bxf6 Qf4+ 20.Kb1 Qc7 (20...Qxf6 21.Nh5) 21.Qxc7 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxc7 23.Rd7 Bb6 24.Rxb7+-]
18.Nxg7+ 1–0
After 18...Kf8 19.Rxd8+ Black loses material, so Laznicka resigned.

Tkachiev,V (2661) - Balogh,C (2562) [D39], World Cup (1.2), 25.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bxd7+
This is a very popular variation. 12.Qb3 is probably more common at this point.
12...Nxd7 13.0–0 a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh4
After 17.Qxe5 fxe5 18.Nb3 Nxb3 19.axb3 0–0–0 20.f4 exf4 21.Rc4+ Kb8 22.Rxf4 Rd7 23.Rd4 Rc7 24.Rd3 Rg8 25.Kf2 a5 the endgame is about equal (Gulko-Salov, Linares 1990).
17...Rd8!?
This is a new move. The game Gelfand - Jakovenko, Moscow 2007, continued 17...Qg5 18.Qh3 Qe5 19.Qh4 Qg5 20.Qh3 Qe5 21.Re1 Rd8 22.Qe3 Rg8 23.Nf3 Qc7 24.Rd4 Nd7 25.Red1 Ke7 26.g3 Ne5 and Black has a good counterplay.
18.Nf3! Qxc3 19.e5 f5
After 19...fxe5 20.Rc4 Qa5 21.Nxe5 White has very strong attack.
20.Rc4 Qa5 21.Ng5 Ne4
A natural move. After 21...Nd7 22.f4 h5 23.Rfc1 Black almost has no good moves.
22.Rxe4! fxe4 23.Qf4 Rf8
More precise was 23...Qc7, although after 24.Nxe4 h6 25.Nd6+ Kf8 26.Rc1 Qe7 27.Rc3 White will improve his position, while Black can just defend.
24.Nxh7?!
Stronger was 24.Nxe4 f5 25.Nd6+ Rxd6 26.exd6 Qd5 27.Rc1 and White must win.
24...Rh8 25.Ng5 Rf8?
The decisive mistake. Black had to play 25...Qc7 and after 26.Nxe4 b5 27.Nd6+ Kf8 28.h3 f5 he could put a stubborn defence.
26.Nxe4 Kd7 27.Rc1! Rc8 28.Nf6+ Ke7
After 28...Kd8 29.Qd4+ Qd5 30.Qb6+ Ke7 31.Rc7+ Black can't avoid mate.
29.Ng8+!
Final blow.
29...Kd7
This move loses on the spot, but after 29...Rxg8 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Rxc8+ Kd7 32.Rc1 Ke8 33.h3 White wins as well.
30.Qd4+ 1–0

Fide GP, a serious affair?!

2007-11-21T23:59:00.000+01:00

The next Fide Grand Prix, to be held in 2008 and 2009, promises to be a serious affair. First of all because “players won’t be allowed to offer draws directly to their opponents” (Sofia rule will be applied), and, second, since time control won’t be Fide’s “beloved” 90 minutes etc., but “120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then each player will be allotted 15 minutes after the second time control and an increment of 30 seconds per move will be allowed from move 61 onwards”.
The GP will consist of six tourneys, to be played in April, August and December: “These months have been selected to ensure there is no conflict with any other major event”. Twenty-one top world players “will be selected to compete in these tournaments”: each of them “will have 14 players playing over a schedule of 17 days”.
“The bidding process for the final selection of cities will commence in the second part of November 2007 and be finalized by January 2008”. “One players may be nominated by each host city and must be rated not less than 2550 in the last rating list prior to the final nomination or selection of players. If the host city does not have a player rated at least 2550 then the highest rated player from the Federation of the host city will be invited to play, subject to his rating not being lower than 2500”.
I hope an Italian city will host a tourney in future editions, but I know that 212,000 euros for a chess event (the “recommended” prize money) are not easy to be found in our country... You can read full details and regulations of the Fide GP at http://fide.com/official/handbook/pdf/dd10.pdf.
A couple of interesting competitions are going to start in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia) and Martina Franca (Italy). The first of them is the 2007 World Chess Cup: round 1 will be played on November 24, Ivanchuk, Mamedyarov, Radjabov and Aronian are the leading players (official site: http://www.ugra-chess.ru/eng/main.html). The latter is the 2007 Italian championship, the strongest ever, with three GMs playing: Fabiano Caruana, Michele Godena and Carlos Garcia Palermo. Caruana is the Elo favorite, but defending champion Godena is a tough opponent for anyone. Round 1 on November 23 (official site: http://www.federscacchi.it/cia2007).
And now here are some interesting positions and games from the World blitz championship: the final stage of the event is a double round tourney with 20 players, which ends tomorrow in Moscow (Anand, Kramnik, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morozevich, Mamedyarov and many other superGMs are among the participants).

Korotylev,A (2600) - Mamedyarov,S (2752), Moscow (r. 8) 21.11.2007
White had a promising position one move earlier, but he made a big mistake and now he is lost. Mamedyarov wins by playing a brilliant combination.
27... Ng4!! 28.d8Q
Obviously not 28.Qxg4 exf2+ 29.Rxf2 Re1+ and mate on next move.
28... exf2+ 29.Rxf2 Rh1+! 30.Kxh1 Rxe2 0–1
White resigned in view of 31.Rxf4 (31.Rxe2 Qf1#) 31... Re1+ 32.Rf1 Rxf1#

Kramnik,V (2785) - Anand,V (2801) [D13], Moscow (r. 11) 21.11.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.d4 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.e3 Rc8 9.Be2 e6 10.0–0 Be7 11.Qb3 Na5? (11... Qd7) 12.Qa4+ Nc6 13.Bxa6! Ra8
If 13... bxa6 then 14.Ne5 Qb6 15.Ne2 and White is clearly better.
14.Bxb7 Rxa4 15.Bxc6+ Kf8 16.Nxa4 Ne4? (16... Qa5) 17.Bb7 Nd6??
After 17... g5 Black can fight some more moves.
18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rc6 Qd7 20.Rc8+ Bd8 21.Ne5 1–0
Black is defenceless, so Vishy resigned.

Ivanchuk,V (2787) - Carlsen,M (2714), Moscow (r. 13) 21.11.2007
37.Qxe8+!
A nice and decisive blow.
37... Kxe8 38.cxb6 f4 39.b7 fxg3+ 40.Kg2 1–0
Black can't prevent White from promoting his "b" pawn. Note that Chuky leads at the half way stage with 13.5/19, half a point clear of the defending champion Alexander Grischuk.

A new trophy for super-Vlad

2007-11-18T23:55:00.000+01:00

He lost his world champion title just a few weeks ago, but Vladimir Kramnik looks to be at his best now. The Russian superGM has secured victory in the 2007 Tal Memorial, which takes place in Moscow until tomorrow, with a round to go: he has 6 points out of 8 and Alexei Shirov follows on 4.5 (official site of the event: http://russiachess.org/eng/). This result is especially good for Vlad's moral in view of his match against Vishy Anand next year; speaking about that, according to a press release published on Fide website (www.fide.com), "whilst GM Vladimir Kramnik had accepted the conditions for the World Championship Match in 2008 and had signed the contract, GM Anand had raised several points". Kirsan Ilymuzhinov "asked Deputy President, Giorgios Makropoulos, to conduct negotiations with UEP, GM Anand and GM Kramnik to enable the contract to be signed". It looks like the Indian GM doesn't want to play the role of good and nice boy any longer: can you blame him?
And now here are some news from Italy. The 2007/2008 edition of the "Torneo di Capodanno" ("New year's day tourney" - December 29-January 6) in Reggio Emilia will be one of the strongest ever: a 16th category event with many well known GMs, all og them coming from different countries Zoltan Almasi (HUN - 2691), Konstantin Landa (RUS - 2669), Pentala Harikrishna (IND - 2668), Vugar Gashimov (AZE - 2663), David Navara (CZE - 2656), Sergey Tivjakov (NED - 2643), Ni Hua (CHN - 2641), Viktor Korchnoj (SUI - 2610), Mihail Marin (ROM - 2551), Michele Godena (ITA - 2535). Croatian GM Miso Cebalo will comment games live for the audience (not the web audience :-) ), Almasi will give a simul for local players at the end of the competition. Official site should be http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/.
And now here is a crushing victory by Kramnik in Moscow...

Kramnik,V. (2785) - Alekseev,E. (2716) [A60], Moscow, 16.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 b5
After 5...d6 6.Nc3 we would get a Modern-Benoni.
6.e4
This was Sosonko's favourite move in the '70s. Kramnik had previously played 6.Nd2 Nxd5 7.Bg2 Nc7 8.Bxa8 Nxa8 9.b4 c4 10.a4 Bxb4 11.Qc2 Bb7 12.Ngf3 a6 13.axb5 axb5 14.Qb2 Qf6 15.Qxb4 Qxa1 16.0–0 Qa6 and now the immediate 17.Ba3 would have been better than 17.Bb2 f6 18.Ba3 , played by Vlad (Kramnik-Aronian, Yerevan Rapid Match 2007). In both cases White has a strong initiative in return for the sacrificed material. Perhaps Alekseev found an improvement in the 6.Nd2 line, but Kramnik surprised him first.; White's most popular choice is 6.Bg2 and after 6...d6 White can choose between 7.e4 and 7.b4!? Nbd7 (7...Na6 8.bxc5 Nxc5 9.Nf3 g6 10.0–0 Bg7 11.Nd4 0–0 12.Nc3 a6 13.Nc6 Qc7 14.Be3 Bb7 15.Bd4 Rfe8 16.a4 bxa4 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Qxa4± Kasparov-Korchnoj, London 1983) 8.bxc5 dxc5 9.Nh3 Bd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Bf4 Nb6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Nf4 Re8 14.a3 Bd7 15.h4 h6 16.Nd2 g5 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Nh3 Bxh3 19.Bxh3 Nbxd5–+ Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, Batumi 2001.
6...Nxe4
The game Manor-Greenfeld, Rishon Le Zion 1996, continued 6...Bb7 7.Bg2 d6 8.a4 b4 9.Nd2 g6 10.Nc4 Ba6 11.Qc2 Bg7 12.Nf3 0–0 13.Nfd2 Nbd7 14.0–0 Nb6 15.Re1 Ng4 16.Ne3 Ne5 17.Bf1 c4 18.a5 Nbd7 19.Nexc4 Rc8 20.Qb3 Nc5 21.Qe3 Nxc4 22.Bxc4 Bxc4 23.Nxc4 Re8 24.Qf3 f5 25.Bf4 Nxe4=
7.Qe2 Qe7 8.Bg2 Nd6
Alekseev probably did not know (or remember) the old theory. Black should keep the knight on e4; the game Sosonko-Timman, Amsterdam 1980, continued 8...f5 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qxe2+ 11.Nxe2 Na6 12.0–0 Rb8 13.Bf4 d6 14.Bd2 Be7 15.Nf4 Kf7 and Black is better.
9.Be3 b4?!
9...Na6 10.Nh3 g6= looks more precise.
10.Bxc5 Qxe2+ 11.Nxe2 Na6 12.Bxd6!?
A new move. White helps Black to develop, but Kramnik probably felt that knights would be superior to bishops in a position where Black has a lot of weak squares. The game Sosonko-Olafsson, Wijk aan Zee 1977, continued 12.Bd4 Nf5 13.0–0 Bc5 14.Bxc5 Nxc5 15.Nd2 Ba6 16.Rfc1?! (16.Nb3!?; 16.Rfe1) 16...Nd3 17.Rc2 0–0 18.Bh3 Rfe8 19.Nb3 Re5 20.Ned4 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rd8 22.d6 g6 and now after 23.Bf1 White would have a slight edge.
12...Bxd6 13.Nd2 Rb8
After 13...Bb7 14.Nc4 Bc5 15.Nf4 White is slightly better anyway.
14.Nc4 Be7 15.d6 Bf6 16.Nf4 Nc5 17.0–0 Ba6 18.Nd5
18.Rfe1+ was an interesting alternative, e.g.: 18...Ne6 (18...Kd8 19.Ne5 Rf8 20.Rac1 Rb5 21.Nh5 is good only for White) 19.Ne5 Rb6 20.Rad1 Nxf4 21.gxf4 Bxe5 22.fxe5 and Black's position is difficult.
18...0–0
Obviously not 18...Bxc4?! 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Rfc1 0–0 21.Rxc4 Ne6 and White is clearly better.
19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Bd5
20.Rfd1!? is probably better, but after 20...Bxc4 21.Rdc1 Bxa2!? Black can hold on, e.g.: 22.Rxa2 (22.Rxc5 Be6 23.Rxa7 Rb6 24.Bd5 Rxd6 25.Bxe6 fxe6=) 22...Nd3 23.Rb1 (23.Rd1 b3 24.Rxa7 Nxb2 25.Rb1 Nc4 26.Bd5 Nxd6 27.Rxd7 Rbd8 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Rxb3 looks drawish.) 23...Rb6 24.Rxa7 Rxd6 25.Rd1 Rc8 26.Ra8 Rxa8 27.Bxa8 Ra6 28.Rxd3 Rxa8 29.Rxd7 and White can try to convert his slight edge into a full point, but it is not as easy as it looks.
20...Na4?
A serious mistake. This knight was very well-placed on c5. Black should have tried 20...Rfc8
21.Rfc1! Rfe8 22.Ne3! Rb6
After 22...Nxb2 23.Rc7 White is better as well.
23.Rc7 Rxd6?
23...Bb5 and 23...Rd8 were both better alternatives. Now Black is almost hopeless.
24.Rd1! Kh8 25.Nf5
White dominates.
25...Rb6 26.Bxf7 Nxb2?
The last mistake in a desperate position: after 26...Rd8 27.Rdxd7 Rxd7 28.Rxd7 Rb8 29.Rxa7 Bd3 30.Rxa4 Bxf5 White wins anyway, but not as fast as in the game.
27.Rdxd7
Now White wins easily.
27...Re1+ 28.Kg2 Bf1+ 29.Kf3 Be2+ 30.Kf4 Rb8
If 30...Nd3+ then 31.Rxd3+-
31.Bc4 1–0

Karpov on the way out?

2007-11-15T23:59:00.000+01:00

After a (quite) long absence from chess scene, Anatoly Karpov has recently made his come-back. His third place in Gorenje last June was not a bad result, if you consider that his previous tourney was Essent 2003. But his last place in the "Chess Champions League", which took place 1st-15th November 2007 in Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain, is a bit disappointing: and this is not because he scored 3 points out of 10, but because of his play. Wasting good positions and making some really big mistakes is not what you can expect from a chess legend like him, a superGM who has won 161 tournaments and has played in every Fide World Championship match from 1978 to 1998.
Since 2005 Karpov has been a member of the Public Chamber of Russia and he has lately been involved in several humanitarian causes: all those activities must have brought him miles far from chess and I wonder if he would be able to beat his old (and oldest) rival Viktor Korchnoj nowadays.
Speaking about the "Chess Champions League", Veselin Topalov won the tourney with a convincing 7/10; he lost only one game with Judit Polgar, after giving her a free piece as an early Christmas present (you are a real gentleman, Veselin!). Ruslan Ponomariov took second place on 5.5, losing his last two games against Topalov and Kasimdzhanov; Nisipeanu and Polgar shared third on 5, Kasimdzhanov was fifth on 4.5 and Karpov, as already written, sixth and last on 3. The aim behind the tournament was to get funds to build up and/or send equipment to a Hospital in Mbuji-Mayi, one of the poorest regions in the Congo. Side events which aimed to raise this money included an auction: some of the best Spanish sportsmen donated some items to be sold and Topalov did the same, by donating the medal he got when he became World Junior Champion in Puerto Rico 1989. Official site of the event: http://www.ajedrez-hotelakua.com/.

Kasimdzhanov,R (2690) - Karpov,Ana (2670) [E37], Vitoria Gasteiz 13.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e3
More common is 10.Nf3 Qa5+ (10...Bf5 11.b4 0–0 12.Bb2 b6 13.b5 bxc5 14.bxc6 Qa5+ 15.Nd2 Rab8 16.c7 Rb3 with complicated play, M. Gurevich-Franzoni, Luzern 1989) 11.Bd2 Qxc5 12.Qxc5 Nxc5 13.Be3 Nb3 14.Rd1 Be6 15.Rd3 Nba5 16.g3 0–0 17.Bg2 Rfd8 and the position looks about equal, S. Ivanov-Balashov, Elista 1995
10...Qa5+
Karpov either mixed up or didn't payheed to the minor alteration. 10...Bf5 is the strongest continuation: 11.Bd3 (11.Qd1 0–0 12.Nf3 Nxc5 13.b4 Qf6 14.Ra2 Ne4 15.Bb2 d4 16.exd4 Ng3 17.d5 Qe7+ 18.Be2 Nxh1 19.dxc6 Rfd8 20.Bd4 (Sula-Maksimovic, Kastoria 1996) and now after 20...bxc6 Black has a slight edge.) 11...Qg5 (11...Ne5 12.Nf3 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 Ng3 14.e4 Nxe4 15.0–0 0–0 16.Qd4= Kasimdzhanov - Asrian, Vandoeuvre 2007.) 12.f3!? (12.Kf1) 12...Qh4+ 13.Kf1 Ng3+ 14.hxg3 Bxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Qxh1 16.b4 (16.Qb5? 0–0–0 17.b4 d4 18.e4 f5 19.exf5? Rhe8 20.Bg5? d3–+ 21.Kf2 Re2+! 22.Nxe2 Qxa1 23.Bxd8? d2 0–1, Bromberger-Van den Doel, Bundesliga 2000) 16...0–0 17.Bb2 Rfe8 18.Kf2 Qh6 19.Ne2 with some compensation for the sacrificed exchange, Kasimdzhanov - Aronian, Mainz 2007.
11.b4!?
With his light-squared bishopdesigned to enter the game White isn'tobliged to play 11.Bd2 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 Qxc5=
11...Nxb4 12.axb4 Qxa1 13.Bb5+ Kf8 14.Ne2 a5
14...a6 (or 14... Bf6) also came into consideration, although after 15.Ba4 a5 16.b5 Bf5 17.c6 bxc6 18.b6! the position looks really complicated.
15.f3 Nf6 16.0–0
16.c6!? had to be considered.
16...Qe5?!
The first inaccuracy. Black had to play 16...axb4 and after 17.Bb2 Qa7 18.Ra1 Qb8 19.Ra4 White has some compensation, but he is not better.
17.e4! dxe4 18.Bf4
Now all White pieces are ready to attack the enemy King: Black's position is quite unpleasant.
18...Qf5 19.g4 Qg6 20.Qd2 Be6 21.Bb8!
A really elegant move!
21...Nd5??
A big mistake after which Karpov's position collapses soon. 21...Bd5 was the best alternative: after 22.Nf4 Qh6 23.Be5 (23.Bd6+ Kg8 24.Nxd5 Qxd2 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Ng6+=) 23...Bb3 24.Qd6+ Kg8 25.bxa5 Qg5 26.c6 bxc6 27.Bxc6 Ne8 28.Qc5 Rc8 29.a6 h5 White has the better chances, but Black can still fight; 21...Bd7 was weaker than ...Bd5, e.g.: 22.Nf4 Qh6 23.Bxd7 Nxd7 24.Bd6+ Kg8 25.Qd5 Nf6 26.Qxb7 Re8 27.bxa5 exf3 28.Qxf3 Qg5 29.a6 and passed pawns a and c are too strong.
22.Nf4
Simple and winning. Black can't take the knight because of Qd8#.
22...Qh6 23.Nxe6+ Qxe6
23...fxe6 was not better: 24.fxe4+ Nf6 25.g5 Qh5 (25...Qg6 26.Qd8+ Kf7 27.Qd7+ Kf8 28.Bd6+ Kg8 29.Qxe6+ Qf7 30.Bc4+-) 26.Be2!+-
24.Bd6+ Kg8 25.Bc4 exf3 26.Bxd5
Game over: in addition to his dangerous initiative White gains material.
26...Qxg4+ 27.Kh1 axb4 28.Bxf3 Qc4 29.Qg2 h5 30.Bd5 Qg4 31.Bxf7+ Kh7 32.Qc2+ g6 33.Bxg6+ 1–0
Black resigned in view of 33... Qxg6 34.Rf7+ Kh6 35.Bf4+.

An (almost) immortal blitz game

2007-11-12T23:56:00.000+01:00

Two really strong events are taking place in Moscow (Russia) and Vitoria Gasteiz (Spain). The Russian capital is the venue for the 2007 Tal Memorial (http://www.russiachess.org/), the Spanish town hosts the "Chess Champions League - Playing for a better world" (http://www.ajedrez-hotelakua.com/), a tournament that aims to get funds to build up or send equipment to a Hospital in Mbuji-Mayi, one of the poorest regions in Congo. Vladimir Kramnik plays the first, Veselin Topalov the latter: as usual, after their match in Elista last year and the so called "Toilet-gate", the two superGMs are happy if they do not have to play each other. Only one exception this year: the Wijk aan Zee supertourney last January. And next year? They are both awaited to play in Wijk aan Zee, again, but the first Fide Grand Prix will probably force them to meet more times. We'll see... Meanwhile, Kramnik shares the lead in Moscow with Mamedyarov and Carlsen after round 3 (they are all on 2 points); Topalov is placed second on 5/8 in Spain with two rounds to go: he will play Ponomariov, who leads the field on 5.5, right tomorrow.
And now let's come to the title of this post. In the past days I played some blitz (3 mins) games on Playchess server. On November 5, I found what I thought to be a really brilliant combination against a 14 years old boy from Uzbekistan. I hoped it could be remembered as "My immortal blitz game", but I was worng: I almost wasted a totally won position because of my craving for playing brilliant moves. So, here is the "pearl"...

Mione, D. (2254) - R. R. (2120) [C55], Playchess.com, 5.11.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.0–0 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.d4 exd4
6...Bb6 is more accurate.
7.cxd4 Bb6 8.h3 h6 9.Re1 0–0 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bf4
Now White has more space to manoeuvre his pieces.
11...Ne7?!
A new move, and definitely not a good one, if the idea is Ne7-g6. 11...Ba5 is the main line here.
12.Qd2 Ng6?
A losing move. 12...Be6 was the correct way to prepare Ne7-g6.
13.Bxh6!
That's obvious!
13...gxh6?
13...Be6 , again, had to be played.
14.Qxh6 Nh8
14...d5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Ng5! Qxg5 17.Qxg5 Ndf4 18.Rad1 was simply decisive in White's favor.
15.Re3!?
15.e5 was probably even stronger: after 15...Nh7 16.Nd5 (intending Nf6+ and Black is hopeless) 16...Ng6 17.Nxb6 cxb6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Bxf7+- White wins easily.
15...Be6
15...Nh7 was a bit better, although after 16.Nh4 Qg5 17.Rg3 Qxg3 18.fxg3 Bxd4+ 19.Kh2 Bg7 20.Qd2 White is winning anyway.
16.Ng5!?
Correct, but 16.Ne5!! was even more brilliant.
16...Bxc4 17.Rg3??
Awful! I thought the text move was brilliant, then I analyzed the position with a strong chess software... and I found that Black has an easy way to escape. 17.e5! was the best continuation: 17...dxe5 18.dxe5 Bd3 19.exf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 Bxe3 21.fxe3+- and White has a huge advantage.
17...Ng6 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Bxf2+?
The first mistake. After 19...Re8 has excellent winning (!) chances, e.g.: 20.Rd1 (20.Nxf7 Bxf7 (20...Bxf2+ is weaker: 21.Kh1 Bxf7 22.Rxg6+ Bxg6 23.Qxg6+ Kh8 24.exf6 Qd7 25.f7 Re6 26.Qh5+ Kg7 27.Qg4+ Kxf7 28.Rf1 is unclear) 21.Rxg6+ Bxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.exf6 Qd7–+) 20...Qe7 21.exf6 Qxf6 22.Nge4 Qg7 23.Qg5 Bd4 and White has not enough compensation for the piece.
20.Kh1!
And not 20.Kxf2 Qd4+ 21.Re3 Nxe5–+ followed by ...Neg4+.
20...Nxe5??
That is the exact continuation I calculated when I played 17.Rg3??. I was lucky, because my young opponent saw it too :-) White has no more than a draw after 20...Re8 (20...Bxg3?? 21.exf6 and then mate) 21.exf6 Qxf6 22.Rf3 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Rxf2=
21.Ne6+! Bxg3 22.Qg7# 1–0
The end. Nice mate, but unfortunately I can't consider this as "my immortal blitz game".

Chuky's drama in Heraklio

2007-11-06T21:08:00.000+01:00

No. I can't believe the player who played on top board for Ukraine in the 2007 European team championship, held in Heraklio (Crete - Greece) in October 28 to November 6, was the same Vassily Ivanchuk who convincingly won a huge number of games and strong tourneys in the first seven months of the present year. The same Ivanchuk who is (was?!) the second highest rated player of the world, with an impressive 2787 rating. He can't be our "Super-Chuky"! Why not? Well, just give a look to the games played by that (presumed) Ivanchuk in Greece: he was outplayed by Bacrot in only 24 moves with White pieces, he wasted a better position (being an exchange up!) against Mamedyarov, again on White side, he lost an equal endgame (until move 37, at least) with Michael Adams. So? Well, he finished with a poor 3/7 score and a 2623 performance, losing 16 points. In view of the 2007 Fide World Cup, this is not a good result for Chuky. Come on Vassily, you can do it!
About the European team championship, Russia won both the male and female sections, Armenia took silver and bronze respectively, Azerbaijan was third in the Men event and Poland second in the Women's. Italy was placed 28th, not a bad result if you consider that our guys were the 29th strongest team :-) Official site of the competition: http://www.greekchess.com/euro2007. My thanks to the www.chessdom.com staff (Goran Urosevic above all) for sending me a lot of photos from the event. You can find them on my Italian site, www.messaggeroscacchi.it, in the "Ultime notizie" ("Last news") section.
A couple of (quite) strong tourneys has just finished in Italy. Russian GM Oleg Korneev scored 7.5/9 and won the 8th Hotel Petra Festival, held in Rome in October 29 to November 4. His compatriot and Elo-favourite GM Vladimir Burmakin and Serbian GM Miroljub Lazic took second and third place respectively on 6.5. 140 players, official site: www.arrocco.net.
Ukrainian GM Georgy Timoshenko took clear first in the 2007 "Autunno veneziano" festival, held in Venice in November 1-4. He scored 5 points out of 6 and edged out by half a point Croatian IMs Marin Bosiocic and Milan Mrdja, GM Sergey Kasparov (BLR), FM Davor Ramesa (CRO) and young Italian master Alessandro Bonafede from Treviso, who will compete in the next Italian championship, to be held in Martina Franca (Taranto) in November 23 to December 4. That will be an 8 category event, with a 2435 rating average. Official site of "Autunno veneziano" festival: www.veneziascacchi.com.
And now here is a dramatic game played (and lost) by Chuky in Crete...

Ivanchuk,V (2787) - Mamedyarov,S (2752) [D97], Crete 4.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.e4 0–0 7.Be2 c6 8.Nf3 b5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 b4 11.Na4 Nxe4 12.Bxb4
A well known variation. Now both 12...Qc7 and 12...Qd8 are played.
12...Qc7 13.0–0 Be6 14.Qc2 Nd6 15.Rfd1 a5 16.Ba3 Bd5 17.Nc3 Na6 18.Rac1 Qb8?
Not a smart move indeed. 18...Be6 gives Black an (about) equal game.
19.Ne5 Nb4
If 19...Re8 then 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Nc6 and White is clearly better.
20.Bxb4 axb4 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Nd7 Qc8 23.Nxf8 Qxc2 24.Rxc2 Kxf8 25.b3 Ne4
The critical position: White is an exchange up and Black has a very little compensation. You shouldn't believe Chuky can lose this game, but he did!
26.Rd3 e6 27.Kf1 Bf6 28.g4 Ra3 29.f4 Nc3
Well, let's say White's task is not as easy as it looks after his last moves: Black's knight is really strong now.
30.Rdd2 Kg7 31.Kg2 Bh4
After 31...Nxe2 32.Rxe2 Bxd4 33.Rc7 White can be satisfied with his position.
32.Kf1 Bd8 33.Kg2 Bh4 34.Kf1
I guess Chuky was trying to reach the first time control, but he has wasted a lot of his positional advantage and now Black has good drawing (but not winning!) chances.
34...Kg8?!
A serious inaccuracy. 34...Be7 is much better.
35.Rb2 Ra8 36.Rbc2 Ra3 37.Rb2 Kf8 38.Rbc2 Be7 39.Kg2 Kg7 40.Rb2?
40.g5 intending h4 gives White some more chances to get an advantage.
40...h6 41.Rbc2?!
The immediate 41.Kf3 looks more precise.
41...Bd6 42.Kf3??
Not now! 42.f5 is probably the only way to save the day, e.g.: 42...exf5 43.gxf5 Bf4 44.Rd3 Nxa2 45.fxg6 fxg6 46.Bf3 Nc3 and Black has full compensation for the exchange, but White would be able to draw the game without too many troubles.
42...g5 43.fxg5 hxg5 44.Bd3 f6 45.Rf2 e5
Unbelievable. Now it is Black who is trying to get more than a draw!
46.dxe5
46.Bf5 e4+ 47.Kg2 Bf4 was unpleasant as well.
46...fxe5 47.Bf5 e4+ 48.Kg2 Bf4 49.h4 Kf6??
Both players are playing quite bad: 49...d4 looks much better, although after 50.Rxc3 bxc3 51.Bxe4 Be3 52.Re2 gxh4 53.Kh3 White can fight for a draw (but Black must be winning).
50.h5
Now White is back in the game.
50...Ke5
50...Kg7 51.Rxf4! gxf4 52.g5 was even worst for Black.
51.h6 d4 52.h7 Ra8 53.a3??
No, Chuky, no! What's wrong with you? 53.Rfe2!! was not easy to be found even for a strong GM, but you are the #2 player in the world! After 53.Rfe2 Black has not many alternatives: 53...e3! [a) 53...Be3 54.a3! Nxe2 55.Rxe2 bxa3 56.Ra2 Rh8 (56...Bc1?? 57.Rc2 Bb2?? 58.Bc8+-; 56...d3 57.Rxa3 Rh8 58.Ra5+ Kd4 59.Ra4+ Kc3 60.Rxe4 Bd4 61.Kf1±) 57.Rxa3 Bd2 58.Ra6 Kd5 59.Ra7 Bc3 60.Rd7+ Ke5 61.Re7+ Kf6 62.Rxe4±; b) 53...Nxe2 54.Bc8+-; c) 53...d3 54.Rxc3 bxc3 (54...dxe2 55.Bc8!+-) 55.Rxe4+ Kd5 56.Rc4 Rxa2+ 57.Kf3 Be5 58.Bxd3+-] 54.Re1 Kf6 55.Rh1 Kg7 56.Bd3 and White can hardly lose such an endgame. After the text move, on the contrary, Black wins on the spot. Poor Chuky!
53...d3 54.axb4 dxc2 55.Rxc2 Kd4 56.b5 e3 57.b6
57.Kf3 e2 58.Rxe2 Nxe2 59.Kxe2 Be5 was hopeless as well.
57...e2 58.b7 Rh8 0–1
And White resigns. You shouldn't say that two of the top super-GMs in the world has played this (end)game...

Crete, Black to move and win

2007-11-03T20:14:00.000+01:00

Many interesting games have been played so far in Crete (Greece), where the 2007 European team championship is under way until November 6. I present here three of the most amazing ones of round 5: Black got the upper hand in all of them. In the first one, Bacrot surprised super-Chuky with a novelty on move 14; the Ukrainian GM was probably not in his best shape to fight a tough battle, so he offered a draw two moves later, but Etienne declined and won before move 30. You can find the game fully annotated on Bacrot's own web site, http://www.chess22.fr/, a must see for all chess enthusiasts. In the second, also played in the Ukraine-France match (2-2 the final result), young Sergey Karjakin easily got a strong initiative against European champion Vladislav Tkachiev and eventually outplayed him with a piece sacrifice. In the third and last game, Czech GM David Navara sacrificed his Queen for two minor pieces and developed a crushing attack against his opponent's king. You will find many brilliant moves as well as a lot of mistakes in all games...
Speaking about the event, Russia is the sole leader of the Men's event with a stunning 12/12 score, while Poland and Russia share the first place on 10/12 (both unbeaten) in the female section with 3 rounds to go. Official site: http://www.greekchess.com/euro2007/.
And now here are the annotated games...

Ivanchuk,V. (2787) - Bacrot,E. (2695) [D15], Crete 1.11.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Qc2 g6 9.g3
"A recent idea that has posed some theoretical problems for Black" (Bacrot). More common is 9.Bf4 Bg7 10.e3 or 10.h3
9...e5 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.e6
"The most critical. If I remember correctly, Miton played 11.Na4 against me in the Spanish Team Championship in June" (Bacrot).
11...Nxc5! 12.exf7+ Kxf7 13.e4 Bg7 14.Bg2?!
Better is 14.h3 Nf6 15.Ng5+ Kg8 16.Be3 Qa5=
14...Bxc3!
"This is one of the novelties that I had prepared for my match against Kamsky. Finally my homework came in useful. Instead 14...Re8 was played in Sargissian-Laznicka, 2007" (Bacrot).
15.Bxc3 dxe4!?
Now 15...Re8 may be even better.
16.Bxh8
"This move was accompanied by a draw offer. This showed that he didn't know my 14th move. I struggled to remember my preparation exactly, but I knew that I wasn't risking anything so I naturally decided to continue" (Bacrot).
16...Nd3+ 17.Kf1 exf3 18.Bxf3 Ngxf2 19.Qb3+ Ke7 20.Bg7
"A natural move but not the best. Finding the correct line at the board is far from easy: 20.Qa3+! c5 21.Re1+! Nxe1 22.Qxc5+ Qd6 23.Bf6+ Ke6 24.Qxd6+ Kxd6 25.Kxf2 Nxf3 26.Kxf3 Be6 27.Rd1+ Kc6 28.Rc1+ Kb5 29.Ke4 Bxa2 30.Rc7= " (Bacrot).
20...Bh3+ 21.Bg2?!
"The exchange of bishops helps my attack. Best is 21.Kg1 Qd7 22.Bh6 Re8 23.Bg5+ Kf8 24.Bh6+ drawing, just as I had prepared at home" (Bacrot).
21...Qd7 22.Bxh3 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qf5 24.Qxb7+??
This move loses immediately. White had to play 24.Re1+ with surviving chances, although after 24...Nxe1 25.Qxb7+ Kd6 (25...Ke6 26.Qxc6+ Kf7 27.Qb7+ Ke6 28.Qc6+=) 26.Qb4+ (26.Qxa8 Nh3#) 26...Kd5! (26...Kd7 27.Qb7+ Kd6 28.Qb4+=) 27.Qd4+ Ke6 28.Qc4+ Kd7 29.Qd4+ Kc7 30.Qxf2 Qe4 31.Qf4+ Qxf4 32.gxf4 Nd3 Black is better.
24...Kd6 25.Qb6?
Losing on the spot, but 25.h4 Qf3–+ was winning for Black anyway.
25...Qf3 26.Qd4+ Kc7 27.Be5+ Kc8 0–1
White can't avoid mate, so he resigned.

Tkachiev,V. (2661) - Karjakin,S. (2694) [D45] , Crete 1.11.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Bd2 e6 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.Nc3 c5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Be2
Probably not a new move, but 9.g3 b5 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0–0 Rc8= (M. Gurevich-Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2002) is more common.
9...Be7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Rfd1 b5 12.Ne5
Interesting (and probably more precise) is 12.e4!?
12...cxd4
12...Qc7!? has also to be taken into consideration.
13.Nc6?!
You could think this is a strong move, but it will turn out to be a loss of time. Better is 13.exd4 Bb7 14.Bf4=
13...Qe8 14.exd4 Bd6 15.a3
15.Re1 Nb6 16.Bxb5? is not as good as it looks; after 16...Be6 17.Na4 (17.Ba4 Rc8) 17...axb5 18.Nxb6 Ra6 19.Ba5 Bc7 White loses material.
15...Nb6 16.Nb4 Bb7 17.Nd3 Ne4 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Nxf4 Rc8 20.Bf3 Na4
Black is more than fine in this position.
21.Nfe2
21.Nfxd5? doesn't work: 21...Bxd5 22.Bxe4 Nxc3 23.Bxh7+ Kh8 24.bxc3 g6 25.Bxg6 fxg6 and White's three pawns are not enough compensation for the piece. 21.Rd3!? was an interesting alternative to the text move.
21...Qd7 22.Rab1 Ng5
22...f5 or 22... Rfe8 look stronger.
23.Qd3 Nb6 24.h4 Nxf3+ 25.Qxf3 Nc4 26.Nc1
Too slow. 26.h5 h6 27.Ng3 looks more precise.
26...Qe7 27.Qg3 Nd2 28.Ra1 Ne4 29.Nxe4 dxe4 30.Nb3 Bd5 31.Nc5 Rc6 32.Qe5 Qd8 33.Nb7?
A bad mistake. After 33.Re1 Rh6 34.g3 f5 Black is slightly better, but White can hold on.
33...Qxh4!
Easy! White can't take the piece or he will lose very soon...
34.Qxd5??
The losing move: I guess Tkachiev was in time trouble. After 34.Nd6 e3! 35.Rf1 (35.fxe3 Bxg2 36.Qxg7+ Kxg7 37.Nf5+ Kh8 38.Nxh4 Be4–+) 35...Rc2 36.Qxe3 Qg4 37.Qh3 Qxh3 38.gxh3 Rc6 39.Nf5 Rg6+ 40.Ng3 f5–+ Black has a crushing attack; but 34.g3 holds on, e.g.: 34...Qg4 35.Nd6 Rd8 36.Nf5 f6 37.Qe7 Rcc8 38.Ne3 Qd7 and Black has good winning chances, but White is still alive.
34...Rh6 35.Kf1 Rf6 36.f3
After 36.Rd2 e3 37.g3 Qxg3 38.Qg2 Qxg2+ 39.Kxg2 exd2–+ White is hopeless as well.
36...exf3 37.gxf3 Qh2! 38.Qe4 Rg6 39.Qe3 Rg2 0–1
White can't avoid ...Qh1+ and mate, so he resigned.

Cheparinov,I. (2670) - Navara,D. (2656) [C88], Crete 1.11.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Rfe8
It should sound strange, but this looks to be a new move. 11...Rae8 is the common line.
12.a4
After 12.Ng5 Black can play 12...Nd8 intending ...Ne6.
12...b4 13.Ne2 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Ng3 Bf8 16.Bd2 a5 17.Ba2 Nd4?
A bit too optimistic. After 17...Rad8 Black is fine.
18.Nxe5 Qd6 19.Nf3?
White gives back the favour. After 19.Qg4! Rxe5 (19...Nxc2 20.Nf5+-) 20.Qxd4 Rae8 21.Rxe5 Qxe5 22.Qxe5 Rxe5 23.Ne4 Black is a pawn down without any compensation.
19...Rxe1+ 20.Bxe1 Nf4
Now Black has a strong initiative in return for the sacrificed pawn.
21.Nxd4 Qxd4 22.Qg4 Re8
Taking back the pawn was just bad: 22...Bxg2? 23.Nf5 Nxh3+ 24.Qxh3! Qxf2+ 25.Bxf2 Bxh3 26.Ng3 and White can play for a win.; 22...Qxb2?? 23.Qxf4 Qxa1?? 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qg8#
23.Nf5 h5
Only move.
24.Nh6+?
Not the best choice. After 24.Nxd4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Nxg2 26.Bd2 Bc5 27.c3= Black is fine, but White is not losing.
24...Kh7 25.Qf5+ Kxh6 26.Bd2 Bd6
26...g5!? was an interesting alternative: after 27.h4 f6 28.Bg8 Re7 29.Be3 Qe5 30.hxg5+ fxg5 31.Qxf8+ Qg7 32.Qxg7+ Rxg7 33.Bc4 Nxg2 34.Bc5 Kg6 Black has some winning chances.
27.Bxf7 Qxf2+
A beautiful (and virtually forced) Queen sacrifice.
28.Kxf2 Re2+ 29.Kg1 Rxg2+?
Better was 29...Rxd2 30.Re1 g6 31.Re6 Rxg2+ 32.Kf1 Rg3 and White is in deep trouble. But this line was not easy to be calculated.
30.Kf1 Rxd2 31.Bg8??
Losing on the spot. 31.h4 is the only way to survive (and get a draw), e.g.: 31...Bg2+ (31...Rh2 32.Qg5+ Kh7 33.Qd8 Rh1+ 34.Kf2 Rh2+ (34...Bc5+ 35.d4+-) 35.Kf1 Rh1+=) 32.Ke1 Re2+ 33.Kd1 Bf3 34.Qg5+ Kh7 35.Qf5+ Kh8 36.Kc1 Re1+ (36...Bg4 37.Qxa5 Re1+ 38.Kd2 Re2+=) 37.Kd2 Re2+ (37...Rxa1?? 38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Qg8+ Kh6 40.Qh8#) 38.Kc1 Re1+=
31...Bg2+ 32.Ke1 Re2+ 33.Kd1 Bf3
Black pieces are all ready to assault White king.
34.Qh7+ Kg5 35.Ra2?
Now Black forces mate, but 35.Qxg7+ Kh4 36.Kc1 Re1+ 37.Kd2 Rxa1–+ is also hopeless for White.
35...Rh2+ 36.Ke1 Nxd3+ 0–1
Now Black mates in two moves: 37.Qxd3 Bg3+ 38.Kf1 Rh1#. So White resigned.

And now here is the solution to the test of my last post.
Rajlich (2411) - Bosboom-Lanchava (2379), Crete 30.10.2007
White to play and win
22.Rh7+ 1–0 (22... Kxh7 23. Qf7+ followed by Rh1)

Luck and missed opportunities in Greece

2007-10-31T17:02:00.000+01:00

A lot of interesting games were played in the first 3 rounds of the 2007 European team championship. I show here a couple of them: to be more precise, their crucial positions. In the first one, Azeri super GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov almost wasted a winning position after a brilliant Rook sacrifice, but his opponent, Danish GM Peter Heine Nielsen, couldn’t find the correct defence and lost anyway. In the second one, Azeri wIM Nargiz Umudova was not as lucky as her compatriot: her position was really good after move 24, but she made a couple of terrible mistakes on moves 25 and 27. Luck often favours the brave. But not always.

Mamedyarov, S (2752) - Nielsen, P.H. (2626), Crete 30.10.2007
Black has just played a weak move (28...Rd2?) a couple of moves before the position you can see in the diagram. Now White has an easy way to achieve a won position by playing the simple 30. Bxe6 (intending Nf5+): after 30... Qd8 (30... Rxf2 31. Kxf2 Qf4+ 32. Nf3 fxe6 33. Rg4 +-) 31. Nf5+ Kg8 32. Nh6+ Kg7 33. Nxf7 there is not much Black can do to avoid a loss. Mamedyarov probably felt he had more and played the brilliant 30. Rxe6!!, but after 30... fxe6 31.Nxe6+ Kf7 he lost the way and gave the wrong check: 32.Nf4+?? - the correct move was 32.Nc7+ Ke7 (32...Kg7 33.Qe5 Rd1+ 34.Kh2 Rd7 35.Ne6+ Kf7 36.Nc5++-) 33.Re3+ Ne4 (33...Kd7 34.Qxf6 Rd1+ 35.Bf1 Qf8 36.Qb6 Bc6 37.Ne6+-) 34.Qe5+ Kd8 35.Rf3 and White wins -. Nielsen immediately gave the favour back by playing 32...Bd5?? (after 32...Ke7 33.Re3+ Be4 34. Nd3 Qd6 35. Qe1 Ra2 36. f3 Qd4 - intending ... Ra1 - 37. Kh2 Qd6+ 38. Kh1 Qd4 White must take the draw by repetition and play 39. Kh2) and the Azeri player won on the spot: 33.Nxd5 Nxd5 34.Rf3+ Kg8 35.Qe1 Rd4 36.Bxd5+ 1–0 (36... Rxd5 37. Qe6+ is without hope for Black).

Papadopoulou, V. (2218) - Umudova, N. (2188), Crete 30.10.2007
Black has reached a promising position and now 25...Re8 would give her good winning chances, since White has to play the sad 26. Rxd4 and after 26.... Rxd4 27. Qxb7 a5 Black is an exchange up and her pieces are very well placed. Unfortunately Umudova played the weak 25... Qxg3?; the game continued 26. Rxd4 (simple and strong) 26... Nxf3+ 27. Rxf3 Rxf3?? (horrible: 27... Qxf3 28. gxf3 Rxd4 29. Qxb7 Re8 was the only way to keep on fighting) 28. fxg3 1-0. Black probably calculated only 28. Qxg3 Rxg3 29. fxg3 and White is a pawn up, but she has not won yet.

And now here are the solutions to yesterday's tests.

Beliavsky (2646) - Efimov (2446), Crete 28.10.2007
White to play and win
24.Nxg6! Kxg6 25.e5+ f5 26.e6 Rff8 27.Nxf5 1–0

Berend (2344) - Nevednichy (2531), Crete 29.10.2007
Black to play and win
28... Rxb2+! 29.Kxb2 Qc2+ 30.Ka1 Ra8 31.a4 b3 32.Rd2 b2+ 33.Ka2 b1Q+ 0–1

And here is a new test for you.

Rajlich (2411) - Bosboom-Lanchava (2379), Crete 30.10.2007
White to play and win

Crete: the battle has started

2007-10-30T15:40:00.000+01:00

The battle of Crete has started. 39 teams in the main section and 29 in the female group will fight until November 6 to take first place in the 2007 European team championship. Many top GMs (2700+) are playing: Ivanchuk, Topalov, Morozevich, Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Aronian, Shirov, Svidler, Adams, Alekseev, Grischuk, Carlsen, Akopian and Jakovenko. Daily reports on the official site (http://www.greekchess.com/euro2007/index.html) are wirtten by the Chessdom team (www.chessdom.com): thanks to Goran Urosevic & co. you can find some fresh photos of the Italian team in the "Last news" section of Messaggero Scacchi (http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/dblog/storico.asp?s=News). It's a bit early to say who can win the title, but I think Russia has the best chances after beating Armenia (Olympic champion) in round 2; defending champion is Holland, but they play without "king" Loek and it looks quite difficult they will win for the second time in a row.
Meanwhile some interesting tourneys has just finished around the world. Hikaru Nakamura from Usa won the Casino de Barcelona tournament with 7/9, a point clear of Cuban GM Lenier Dominguez (official site: http://www.escacs.cat/ciutat07/). British champion and Elo favorite GM Jacob Aagaard won the 29th Arco di Trento international festival (October 20-28): Aagaard took first place on tie break over Bulgarian master Tervel Serafimov, Australian IM Aleksandar Wohl and Russian GM Igor Naumkin, after they all scored 7 points out of 9. 150 players from 17 countries took part in the event (3 GMs, 4 IMs and 8 FMs among them). Official site: http://www.arcoworldchess.com/. Vladislav Tkachiev confirmed his supremacy in the Old Continent by winning the European blitz champ with 25.5/32 (consisting of 16 double rounds in effect), a point clear of Laurent Fressinet, who was in turn half a point further clear of Anatoly Karpov. If you don't remember, Tkachiev won the continental champ last April. Further details: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/.
And now here is a nice game from Crete and two tests to prove your chess skill...

Jobava,Ba. (2644) - Steingrimsson,H. (2533) [B43], Crete 28.10.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be2 b5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bb7 7.0–0 Qc7 8.Re1 Nf6?!
8...Nc6 is more common (and probably more precise).
9.Bf3 d6 10.a4 bxa4
10...b4 is not so good as it looks: 11.Na2 a5 (11...e5 12.Nf5 g6 13.Bg5 Nbd7 14.Nh6 a5 15.c3 Qb6 16.cxb4 axb4 17.Rc1 is just a bit better.) 12.Nb5 Qd7?? (12...Qc8 is the only way to survive: after 13.c3 Nc6 14.Qxd6 Bxd6 15.Nxd6+ Kd7 16.Nxc8 Rhxc8± White is a pawn up, but Black can hold on.) 13.e5 Nd5 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Bxd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 Qxd5 18.Nc7+ Kd7 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bf4+- Abraham-Renner, Koerbecke 2000.
11.Nd5 exd5
11...Nxd5 is probably even worse, as White doesn't lose material and has a strong initiative anyway; the game Dhar Barua-Sareen, Goodricke open 2000, continued 12.exd5 e5 13.Rxa4 Be7 14.Nf5 0–0 15.Be4 g6 16.Qf3 Bf6?? (16...f6 17.Re3 Bd8 gives Black a little chance to survive, although after 18.Qh3 White has probably a winning position anyway.) 17.Nh6+ Kg7 18.Ng4 Be7 19.Bh6+ Kh8 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Bxg6 hxg6? 22.Qh3+ Kg8 23.Nf6+ 1–0 (23... Kg7 24. Ne8+).
12.exd5+ Kd8 13.Rxa4 Nxd5?
A serious mistake. After 13...Nbd7 14.Nc6+ Bxc6 15.dxc6 Nc5 16.Rb4 Rb8 17.Bd2 Rxb4 18.Bxb4 White is better, but Black is still alive, although he must be very careful; the game Najdoski-Solak, Internet 2002, soon ended after 18...Kc8?! (18...Ne6) 19.Qa1 (19.Bc3!) 19...Qb6?? (19...d5) 20.Ba5 Qa7 21.Bg4+ Ne6 22.Rxe6 fxe6 23.Bxe6+ Kb8 24.c7++-
14.Bg5+
Now White wins easily.
14...Be7
14...Nf6 looks more stubborn, although after 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Rc4 Black is in deep trouble anyway.
15.Bxd5 Bxg5
15...Bxd5 16.Bxe7+ Kc8 17.Nf5+-
16.Rc4 Qb6?
After 16...Bxd5 17.Rxc7 Kxc7 18.Nb5+ axb5 19.Qxd5 Re8 20.Rb1 Nc6 21.Qxg5 Black is losing anyway, but he can hold on a few more moves.
17.Bxf7
17.Nf5 was even stronger, e.g.: 17...Ra7 (17...Bc8 18.Nxd6! Qxd6 19.Bb7 Qxd1 20.Rxc8+ Kd7 21.Rxd1++-) 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Nxd6 Rc7 20.Nxf7+ Kc8 21.Qg4+ Nd7 22.Nxh8+-
17...Bf6 18.Ne6+ Ke7 19.Nxg7+ Kf8
19...Be5 would only prolong the agony a few moves: 20.Nf5+ Kf8 21.Qg4!+- intending Rxe5 etc.
20.Re8+ Kxg7 21.Qg4+ 1–0
Black can't avoid mate: 21... Kxf7 22. Qh5+ Kg7 23. Rg4+ etc.

And now it is your turn! I will give solutions in my next post.

Beliavsky (2646) - Efimov (2446), Crete 28.10.2007
White to play and win

Berend (2344) - Nevednichy (2531), Crete 29.10.2007
Black to play and win

Waiting for European team champ

2007-10-24T23:25:00.000+01:00

What a great performance! Israeli GM Viktor Mikhalevski dominated the 4th Calvia International open, which ended yesterday in the Spanish city. He won his first seven games and made short draws in the last two, with a 2783 performance and a 8/9 final score. Not bad indeed... Canadian GM Kevin Spraggett finished in sole second place on 7, without any loss like the winner; Italian GM Michele Godena shared third place on 6.5 with a very good 2640 performance. Official site: http://www.calviafestival.com.
Godena will be a member of the Italian team which takes part to the European team chess championship, to be played in Crete (Greece) in October 27 to November 7. The remaining team members will be 15 y.o. GM Fabiano Caruana, IM Sabino Brunello, IM Carlo D'Amore and IM Federico Manca. The average rating of our top four boards is 2524, which means this is the strongest Italian team ever seen in an International competition. About 40 countries have confirmed their participation. The participants will include 7 of the World Top-10 GMs: Ivanchuk (UKR 2787, No. 2 in the world), Topalov (BUL 2769, No. 4), Morozevich (RUS 2755, No. 5-6), Mamedyarov (AZE 2752, No. 7), Radjabov (AZE 2742, No. 8), Aronian (ARM 2741, No. 9), Shirov (ESP 2739, No. 10). The Women's event will also feature world stars such as GMs Alexandra Kosteniuk, Maia Chiburdanidze, Tatiana Kosintseva, Antoaneta Stefanova, Elisabeth Paehtz and Almira Skripchenko. Official site of the event: http://www.euroteams2007.org.
Last but not least, a strong category 15 event is taking place in Barcelona, Spain. American GM Hikaru Nakamura leads on 5 points after 7 rounds, followed by Cuban GM Lenier Dominguez on 4.5, Spanish IM Josep Oms Pallise, Azeri GM Vugar Gashimov and Polish GM Michal Krasenkow on 4. Nakamura started with 3.5/4 and then 5/6, then he lost his only game so far against Oms Pallise in round 7. Official site: http://www.escacs.cat/ciutat07.
And now here is a brilliant win by Nakamura himself in Barcelona...

Krasenkow,M (2668) - Nakamura,H (2648) [A14], Barcelona 19.10.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 a5 7.Nc3 c6 8.d4 Nbd7
8...b6 is the main alternetive. The game Lautier-Kramnik, Cannes 1993, continued 9.Bb2 Ba6 10.Nd2 Ra7 11.Qc2 Rd7 12.e3 c5 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.exd4 Nc6 15.Nb5 Nb4 16.Qb1 Bb7 17.a3 Na6 18.Qd3 Qa8 19.Qe2 Nc7 20.a4 Rc8 21.Rac1 Nxb5 22.axb5 Rdc7 and Black got the initiative and eventually won.
9.Qc2
9.Bb2 is also playable; the game Dizdar-Drasko, Belgrade 1988, soon ended in a draw after 9...b6 10.Nd2 Ba6 11.e4 Rc8 12.Re1 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bxe5 dxc4 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.bxc4 Rxc4 18.Qe2 Qc8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.e5 Rc2 21.Qe4 1/2–1/2.
9...b6
9...Re8 10.Rd1 has also been played in a few games.
10.e4
The most active choice. After 10.Rd1 Ba6 11.Nd2 b5 12.e3 Qc7 Black can easily equalize (Donchenko-Paramonov, Chigorin Mem. 2000).
10...Ba6 11.Nd2
11.e5 is more common and probably more precise. After 11...Ne8 12.Ne2 b5 13.c5 b4 14.a4 bxa3?! 15.Rxa3 White got an edge in the game Timman-Karner, Tallinn 1973.
11...c5
This looks to be a new move. After 11...Rc8 12.Re1?! c5 13.dxc5 d4! 14.Na4 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.Qd3 e5 17.Bh3 Rb8 Black got a slight advantage in the game Renet-Bronstein, Oviedo 1992.
12.exd5 cxd4 13.Nb5 exd5
The best choice, but 13...Bxb5!? is an alternative to be considered. After 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Bxa8 Qxa8 16.cxb5 Ne5 Black has a good compensation in return for the sacrificed exchange.
14.Nxd4 Rc8 15.Re1?!
This looks to be an inaccuracy. 15.Nf5 had to be considered.
15...b5
Now Black puts a lot of pressure on the c4 pawn. White must be really very careful...
16.Bb2 Re8 17.Qd1
After 17.Rad1 Bc5 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.Bc3 Nb6 Black has a strong initiative anyway.
17...bxc4 18.bxc4 Qb6 19.Rb1 dxc4 20.Nc6?
Hard to believe it, this is the decisive mistake... White had to play 20.Bc3 and after 20...Qc5 21.Qa4 Nd5 22.Bxa5 N7f6 Black had the better chances, but the game is not finished yet.
20...Rxc6 21.Bxf6?
Weak, but after 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Rxb6 Rxb6 Black wins easily anyway.
21...Qxf2+!!
A brilliant and very nice blow!
22.Kxf2 Bc5+ 23.Kf3
23.Bd4 Bxd4+ 24.Kf3 Rf6+ 25.Kg4 Ne5+ 26.Kg5 Bc8 27.Be4 Rf2 is losing as well.
23...Rxf6+ 24.Kg4 Ne5+ 25.Kg5
25.Rxe5 Bc8+ 26.Rf5 Bxf5+ 27.Kh4 Rh6+ 28.Kg5 Bc8 is not better for White.
25...Rg6+ 26.Kh5 f6
White can't avoid mate or huge material losses.
27.Rxe5
The only way to avoid mate was 27.Bd5+ Kh8 28.Kh4 Rh6+ 29.Qh5 , but after 29...g5+ 30.Kh3 Rxh5+ 31.Kg2 Rd8 White can resign.
27...Rxe5+ 28.Kh4 Bc8 0–1
Now White is loss: 29.Bd5+ Rxd5 30.g4 Rd3! 31.Qf3 Rxf3 32.Nxf3 Rxg4+ 33.Kh3 Rg5+ 34.Kh4 Bf2#. A beautiful combination by Nakamura!

Veselin, Vishy, Fabiano and more

2007-10-21T10:59:00.001+01:00

Veselin Topalov couldn't recover from his bad start in Bilbao and was finally placed only fifth with 9 points out of 30 (players had 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw), with a poor 2585 performance. Well, you can say this was just a rapid blindfold tourney, but I think that if a top level GM can't prove his strengh in such a competition, it will be hard for him to prove it elsewhere. The event was astonishingly dominated by Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi: he scored 21 points with 6 wins, 3 draws and only 1 loss, with a 2903 performance! Sergey Karjakin from Ukraine was second on 17, Magnus Carlsen from Norway took third place on 16. Official site: http://www.ajedrezbilbao.com/.
Meanwhile, a strong "classical" event (a double round robin tourney) has just finished in Hoogeveen (Holland). Azeri GM and Elo favourite Shakhriyar Mamedyarov won with 4.5 points out of 6, Dutch idol Loek Van Wely took second place by beating former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov from Ukraine in the last and decisive round and finished on 4 (Pono was third on 3.5). Armenian young star Zaven Andriasian, 2006 Junior World Champion, lost all his games: a very bad result that can only be explained with an awful preparation or a really bad form or some kind of illness. We hope the first or second option. Official site: http://www.essentchess.nl/.
We receive (from Ian "globetrotter" Rogers) and publish a photo by R. Ramu of Vishy Anand on his return to his home city of Chennai after winning in Mexico. Vishy waves the Indian tricolour flag as photographers jump to their feet at the start of the 5 km chariot ride. Just click on it to enlarge. Thank you very much Ian and Mr. Ramu!

Least but not last, we are pleased to inform you that Italian 15 y.o. GM Fabiano Caruana will take part to the 2007 Italian championship (to be played in Martina Franca in November 23 to December 4) and the Wijk aan Zee C group (in January 2008) with the sponsorship of "Torre & Cavallo Scacco!", a very well known Italian monthly chess magazine edited by IM Roberto Messa. "This economic contribution (3,000 euros) wants to be a sign of gratitude to a young man who is doing something wonderful with complete dedication and passion", Roberto writes in a press release (I hope my translation is not too bad). "Above all, it wants to be an example for other agencies or private firms that will assist in collecting the baton and help Fabiano Caruana in a more significant and lasting way, in order to achieve the highest goals, for which the best coaches are needed and all conditions that his family has managed to ensure him so far". Furthermore: "Next year Fabiano will be registered for the new "Torre & Cavallo Scacco!" Chess School, which will be located at the Municipal Library of Sarezzo (Brescia), where the National Library of Chess is established since 1996". Well, this looks to be a new era for Italian chess... You can read the full press release (in Italian) at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/dblog/articolo.asp?articolo=107. If you want to enter the "Torre & Cavallo Scacco!" Chess School just write an e-mail to info@messaggeroscacchi.it.
And now here is a position from a bullet game (1') I played yesterday :-) With only a few seconds on his clock, White could find a nice way not to lose on time... Can you find it too?

White to move
Post your solution (do not use chess programs: it is easy!) and you'll receive my congratulations :-).

Topalov: blindfold or blind?

2007-10-17T23:58:00.000+01:00

Hi all! This is just a short post about Topalov's performance in Bilbao. Don't misunderstand me: I usually like Veselin's style and games, but sometimes he plays really awful moves... Take, for example, the above mentioned tourney. After four rounds he shares the fifth and last place with Judit Polgar and he has already lost two games, both of them due to unbelievable blunders. Yes, that's a blindfold tourney, but a superGM can't play like a weak blind player, anyway...
Here are the topic moments of Topalov's games...

Polgar J. (2708) - Topalov, V (2769), Bilbao 16.10.2007 (round 2)
Black to move. This is a "quiet" position after 14 moves of a Spanish opening; after 14...Bd7 Black is ok, e.g.: 15.Qd3 Re8 16.h3 exd4 17.cxd4 Qf6 etc. Black can even play 14...exd4 15.cxd4 Nb4, but the former world champion played the horrible...
14...Bg4???
...and resigned after the obvious
15.Nxg4 1-0 (15.Bxc6 is also winning). Astonishing...

The day after (today), again with Black pieces, Veselin had a good position against young Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna. Here it is...

Harikrishna, P. (2668) - Topalov, V. (2769), Bilbao 17.10.2007 (round 4)
Black to move. After 42...Qf7 White has nothing better than a draw (if he doesn't want to lose), e.g.: 43.Rxe5! fxe5 44.Bxe5 Kf8 45.Bxd4! Nb3 46.Qh8+ Ke7 47.Qe5+ Kd7 48.Qxb5+ R8c6 49.Qb7+ Rc7 50.Qb5+ Kc8 51.Bc3! with an equal position (!) according to Rybka. I wouldn't be surprised if White hadn't played 43.Rxe5! after 42...Qf7, getting a worst position after 43.Qg2 e4! 44.dxe4 d3 or 43.f3 Qb7 44.Rf2 Nb3. But Topalov made his first mistake by playing the immediate
42...Nb3?
and after
43.Rxc2 Rxc2 44.Qd5+ Qf7 45.Qxb5
is White who has winning chances, although after 45...Nc1 46.Kh2! Kf8! Black can hold on. The Bulgarian GM was probably a bit tired and played
45...Nc5???
Pentala was obviously happy to take the knight...
46.bxc5 1-0
...and Topalov resigned.
It is difficult to explain so many (big) mistakes by a top GM, even in blindfold games... What's wrong with you, Veselin? Wake up from your (chess) nightmare, please! Official site of the Bilbao tournament: http://www.ajedrezbilbao.com/.

Return to competition...

2007-10-16T16:25:00.000+01:00

Hi again! Yes, I'm still alive :-) (lucky me!). Three long weeks have passed since my last post and, well, I guess you know Vishy Anand is the new world champion and the top rated player of the planet; I think the Indian superGM deserves the title as well as the #1 place in the rating list, with 2801 points. You probably know that Linex Magic from Merida (Spain) won the European Club Championship, too, and that a strong blindfold tourney is underway in Bilbao, Spain, with Veselin Topalov, Magnus Carlsen, Bu Xiangzhi, Sergey Karjakin, Pentala Harikrishna and Judit Polgar. Speaking about the Hungarian superGM, she gave a simul ten days ago in Positano, Italy: she won 26 games, drew two and lost two. The Italian U14 female champion Roberta Messina was one of the winners: her game is really spectacular and deserves a look. You will find it with full annotations by IM Daniel Contin in the next issue of "Torre & Cavallo Scacco". Meanwhile you can watch it here...

Polgar,J. (2708) - Messina,R. (1840) [B81], Positano 6.10.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 d5 11.gxf6 d4 12.Bc4 Bxf5 13.Qf3 Qd7 14.0–0–0 Nc6 15.Nd5 Bg4 16.Qg3 Bxd1 17.Rxd1 Bc5 18.b4 Ba7 19.Bg5 0–0–0 20.Ne7+ Kb8 21.Bxf7 Nxb4 22.Qxe5+ Ka8 23.Bb3 d3 24.c3 Nxa2+ 25.Bxa2 Qa4 26.Rd2 Qa3+ 27.Kb1 Bb8 28.Qe3 Qxc3 29.Nd5 Rxd5 30.Bxd5 Be5 31.Qxd3 Qa1+ 32.Kc2 Rc8+ 33.Bc4 Qa4+ 34.Kc1 Rxc4+ 35.Rc2 Qa1+ 36.Kd2 Rd4 37.Rc8+ Bb8 38.Bf4 Rxd3+ 39.Kxd3 Qf1+ 40.Ke4 Qe2+ 41.Kf5 Qb5+ 42.Ke6 Qb3+ 43.Ke7 Qb4+ 44.Ke8 Qxf4 45.f7 Qe5+ 0–1

The main reason for which I haven't written for such a long period is that I had to prepare... for my first tourney after three years :-) If you also consider that September, October and November are the toughest months at my work place, a little newspaper in Bergamo (too many sport games of every kind, even along the week)... well, I'm not Superman :-) I need some rest, from time to time! Speaking about the tourney, it was an 8 player round robin event in Corsico, near Milan, with an average rating of 2247. I can be more than satisfied with my result, 4.5 points out of 7 with two wins and five draws (I was placed second), but I didn't play many interesting games and I was already tired after the first battle of the second and last week-end of the tourney (which took place on October 6, 7, 13 and 14). FM and Elo favorite Michelangelo Scalcione from Bologna took the first place with 5 points: I played against him the most interesting game of my tourney, although many mistakes have been made by both of us. Full results of the event can be found at http://www.corsicoscacchi.com/torgen_torneo.php. Now here is the above mentioned game...

Mione,Dario (2254) - Scalcione,Michelangelo (2357) [C41], Corsico 13.10.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d4 Nbd7 6.dxe5
6.0–0 is the main choice here. The text move prepares the following sacrifice.
6...dxe5 7.Bxf7+!?
This is obviously a psycological choice. Scalcione is a great expert of the Philidor defence and I wanted to surprise him from the very beginning. This is the only target I've reached in this game :-(
7...Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Kg6
Well, this can't be considered a bad move, but it is risky compared to the "positional" alternative, 8...Kg8. After 8...Kg8 9.Ne6 Qe8 10.Nxc7 Qg6 11.Nxa8 Qxg2 12.Rf1 Nc5 13.Qe2 Bh3 14.Be3 Qxf1+ 15.Qxf1 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Kf7 17.Nc7 Ncxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Nd5 Rc8 20.Nxe7 Kxe7 21.c3 b6 22.Ke2 the endgame is about equal. I was well prepared on the above mentioned variation, but I was ready to meet 8...Kg6 as well, which allowed me to play the opening very quickly (until move 18), while my opponent spent a lot oftime.
9.f4
White tries to mate his opponent's king with f4-f5 :-) Black is forced to take the pawn.
9...exf4 10.Ne6 Qg8
Now theory says 11.Nxc7, but I think the text move, a novelty I had prepared for this game, is stronger...
11.Nd5!?
Now Black has to be really precise... The main treat is 12.Nxe7+ and Black can't take on "e6" because of 12.Nxf4+ Kf7 13.Nxe6 Kxe6 14.Qd3 and White is simply better (Black king should be very bad placed).
11...Bd6
The most precise move, which my opponent found after a very long thought. Taking the knight on "d5" is possible, but not safe: after 11...Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Nf6 13.Nxf4+ Kh6 14.Ne6+ Kg6 White can choose between 15.Nf4+ with a draw by repetition or 15.Qg5+ Kf7 16.Nxc7 with huge complications (I think I would repeat moves :-) ).
12.Nexc7 Bxc7!
A brave (and good) choice. After 12...Nxd5 13.Qg4+ White has a very promising position.
Here is my full pregame analysis:
a) 13...Kh6 14.Ne6!! Bb4+ 15.c3 Qxe6 (15...Be7 16.h4 Qxe6 17.Qxe6+ N7f6 18.Qe5 Kg6 19.exd5 Re8 20.Qg5+ Kf7 21.0–0 Bc5+ 22.Kh2+-) 16.Qxe6+ N7f6 17.Qe5 Re8 18.Bxf4+ Kg6 19.Qg5+ Kf7 20.Be5 h6 21.Qg3 Bc5 22.0–0–0 Nh5 23.Qf3+ Ndf6 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Qf4 Rxe4 26.Qc7+ Be7 27.Rhe1 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Nd5 29.Rf1+ Nf6 30.a4+- and Black has no good moves;
b) 13...Kf7?? 14.Qe6+ Kf8 15.Qe8#;
c) 13...Kf6 14.Nxd5+ Kf7 15.Bxf4 Nf6 (15...Bxf4 16.Qxf4+ Nf6 17.Qc7+ Bd7 18.Nxf6+-) 16.Qh4 Qd8 (16...Bxf4 17.Qxf4 Qd8 18.0–0–0+-) 17.Rf1!
c1) 17...Be7 18.Bg5 Be6 (18...Kg6 19.g4 h5 20.gxh5+ Kh7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Rxf6+-; 18...Qd6 19.0–0–0 Qe5 20.Nxe7 Qxe7 21.e5 Qxe5 22.Rde1+-) 19.0–0–0 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Qc7 21.e5 Rac8 22.Qe4 Qc4 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.exf6+-;
c2) 17...Nxd5 18.Bxd6+ Ke6 19.Qg3!! Nf6 (19...Qxd6 20.Qg4+ Ke5 21.Qxg7+ Kxe4 22.0–0–0) 20.0–0–0+-;
c3) 17...Be6 18.Bxd6 Bxd5 (18...Qxd6 19.Rxf6++-) 19.e5 Qa5+ 20.Bb4 Qb6 21.0–0–0 Qe3+ 22.Rd2 Qxe5 23.Bc3 Qe6 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Rxd5! Qxd5 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Rf4 Qh5 28.Qe6+ Kg7 29.Rg4++-;
c4) 17...Bb4+ 18.c3 Be7 19.Bg5 Kg6 20.g4 h5 (20...h6 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.0–0–0 Qe8 23.e5 Bd8 24.exf6+-) 21.gxh5+ Kh7 22.h6! Nxd5 23.Rf7 Rg8 24.hxg7+ Kg6 25.Bxe7 Qb6 26.Rf3! Qg1+ 27.Kd2 Qg2+ 28.Rf2 Qg4 29.exd5 Qxh4 30.Bxh4+-;
12...Rb8 is just bad: 13.Bxf4 Bxf4 14.Ne7+ Kf7 15.Nxg8 Bxc7 16.Qd4! Ba5+ 17.b4 Bxb4+ 18.Qxb4 Rxg8 19.Qb3+ Kg6 20.0–0 and Black king is naked (and White treats 21.e5). You can check all these variations with your favorite chess program: it should be really instructive :-)
13.Ne7+ Kf7 14.Nxg8 Rxg8 15.Qd3 Ba5+?!
15...Nc5 is stronger. After 16.Qc4+ Ne6 17.0–0 (what else?) 17...g5 18.Bd2 Bd7 Black has full compensation for the sacrificed material and he can even start thinking how to win. To be honest, I would prefer to play on Black side in such a position :-)
16.Bd2 Bxd2+?
My opponent had spent a lot of time to calculate the previous 7 moves and now he makes a big positional mistake. After 16...Nc5! 17.Qc4+ Be6 18.Qe2 (18.Qxc5? Bxd2+ 19.Kxd2?? Nxe4+–+) 18...Bxd2+ (18...Bg4 19.Qc4+ Be6 is an easy way to get a draw, but Black can fight for the initiative) 19.Qxd2 g5 20.e5 Rgd8 21.Qb4 Nfe4 chances are about equal, although White can be more satisfied than the above mentioned variation on move 15.
17.Qxd2 Re8 18.0–0–0
18.0–0 had also to be taken into consideration.
18...Nb6
18...Rxe4 19.Rhe1 Rxe1 20.Rxe1 is good only for White.
19.Rde1 g5?
A losing move. 19...Nc4 20.Qxf4 Ne5 21.Rhf1 Kg8 looks more stubborn.
20.h4 Nxe4
After 20...h6 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.e5 White wins easily.
21.Qb4!?
As my opponent pointed out in the postgame analysis, 21.Qa5 was a good alternative, but I consider the text move to be more precise.
21...Bf5 22.hxg5?
White misses a much stronger move: 22.g4!! fxg3 23.Rhf1 Nf2 (23...Kg6 24.h5+ Kxh5 25.Rxf5 Kg6 26.Ra5+-) 24.Qb5 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Be4 26.Qb3+ Bd5 27.Qxg3 Ne4 28.Qe5 gxh4 29.Rf1++- This variation is easy to be seen with a strong program, but not on chessboard... :-)
22...Rac8
Now Black gets some counterplay in return for the material losses.
23.Qa5 Rc5
From now on my opponent could only count on time increment (+30 seconds per move)...
24.Qxa7 Nd7 25.Rd1!
My first good move! The treat is 26.Rxd7+ Bxd7 27.Rxh7+ Ke6 28.Qxb7. 25.Qxb7? is a mistake because of 25...Rxc2+ 26.Kb1 Rd2 27.Qb3+ Kg6 28.Ka1 Ndc5 and Black can be happy with his position.
25...Rec8
25...Re7 is probably more precise, but this move is also dangerous...
26.c3 Ne5?!
A dubious move, but Black can count on White's blindness :-) 26...R8c7 was more precise.
27.Rhf1?
It was time to take the "b7" pawn: 27.Qxb7+ R8c7 28.Qb4 f3 (28...Nf2 29.Rxh7+ Bxh7 30.Qxf4+ Ke8 31.Qxf2+-) 29.gxf3 Nf2 30.Qb3+ Kg7 31.Rd8 Nf7 32.Rh2 Nxd8 33.Rxf2 Ne6 34.Qd1 and White must win, although it is all but simple in a human game...
27...f3!?
27...Ng3 was objectively better, but my opponent played this and the following moves in severe time trouble, so he can be justified. But I can't: I had more than one hour and I didn't find a simple defence after his 29th move.. . After 27...Ng3 28.Qxb7+ R8c7 29.Qb3+ Kg6 30.Rf2 Kxg5 31.Qg8+ Kh5 32.Qe8+ Bg6 33.Qa4 Rc4 34.Qa5 R4c5 I think Black has excellent practical chances to get a draw.
28.gxf3 Nxc3!?
The only way to get some chances to survive. Brilliant, if you consider that Scalcione found it in less than one minute...
29.bxc3 Rb5
I understimated this move and I now played the horrible...
30.Qd4??
...almost automatically, because I thought it was forced. The correct defence was: 30.Kd2 Re8 31.c4 Nxc4+ 32.Kc3 Ne3 33.Rc1 and the position is still unclear, but White can keep on fighting for a win.
30...Rb1+??
Giving back the favor! After 30...Rc4 White has to pray for a draw: 31.Qa7 (only move) 31...Rxc3+ 32.Kd2 Ra3! 33.Qxa3 Nc4+ 34.Kc3 Nxa3 35.Rd6 and Rybka says this is a perfect draw, but I would prefer to play on Black side, anyway :-)
31.Kd2 Nc4+ 32.Qxc4+!?
32.Ke1 is stronger, but I didn't want to take any more risk.
32...Rxc4 33.Rxb1 Bxb1 34.Rxb1 Ra4
34...Kg6 35.Rxb7 Kxg5 36.Rxh7 Ra4 37.Ke3 Rxa2 38.c4 was also hopeless for Black.
35.Rxb7+ Kg6 36.Rb5 Rxa2+ 37.Ke3
Now it is all over.
37...Rc2 38.Rc5 Kh5 39.Kf4 Kh4 40.Rc6 Kh3 41.Rh6+ Kg2 42.Rxh7 Rxc3 43.Kg4 1–0
43...Rxf3 loses on the spot: 44.Rh2+ Kxh2 45.Kxf3 +-. This is why Black resigned. A thrilling and undeserved win by White, but don't tell me the opening preparation is useless: it can be very useful, if your opponent has to think hard to find the correct moves in a sharp position :-)

Vishy: three steps from the world title

2007-09-26T23:59:00.000+01:00

When V is for Victory. Vishy (Anand) is three steps (games) from the world chess title after winning against Alexander Morozevich in round 11. He is now on 7.5 and has a 1.5 points lead over Israeli GM Boris Gelfand, who scored only three draws in the last four rounds (with a loss against Grischuk). Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Leko and Levon Aronian follow on 5.5: Vlad won’t (probably) retain his title, but he will play a 12 games match against the new world champion – Vishy :-) - next year (and Topalov is supposed to play against the World Cup winner). The official site of the competition is http://www.chessmexico.com/; you can also find photos (by Cathy Rogers), results and download/reply games on my Italian site, www.messaggeroscacchi.it (link to the WCC page is http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/mondiale07.html).
Meanwhile, the Fide Presidential Board, held in Mexico City on September 13 and 14, confirmed Grandmaster, Woman Grandmaster, International Master, Woman International Master, International Arbiter and Fide Arbiter titles achieved last months (full story at http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=1466). This means that Fabiano Caruana is officially the youngest Italian GM ever: he will have 2594 rating points on October 1, but he has already gained 7 more points in Trieste, so that he could be over 2600 in January 2008.
Some more news about Italian young stars. The 17th European Youth Chess Championship took place in Šibenik, Croatia, 14th-23th September. There were five sections for Boys and five for Girls: U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18. Croatian IM Ivan Saric took the title in the main U18 section with 7 points out of 9; FM Denis Rombaldoni from Pesaro was placed 7th on 6.5, while FM Niccolò Ronchetti from Ravenna scored 5.5 points and achieved his last IM norm. In the U14 Female section, Marina Brunello from Bergamo was placed 11th on 6. Official site: http://www.euroyouth2007.com/.
And now here is the clash of the giants Elista: Kramnik pushed hard to get some advantage against Anand in round 10, but he couldn't get more than a draw, an almost decisive result in Vishy's favour.

Kramnik,Vl. (2769) - Anand,Vi. (2792) [D43], Mexico City 24.9.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2
In his game against Aronian (round 2) Vishy faced 9.Ne5 h5 10.h4 g4 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0–0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 etc.
9...Bb7 10.0–0
The other main line is 10.h4
10...Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7
11...h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Qc1N was played in Kramnik-Gelfand (round 7).
12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6
13...Bf8 is the main alternative.
14.Bh5
The game Deep Junior-Deep Fritz, Elista 2007, continued 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 17.Bf3 Nxe5 18.Bxb7 Qxd6 19.Bxa8 0–0 with an unclear position.
14...Bf8
And not 14...e5?! 15.f4! , Agrest-Kulaots, Turin 2006.
15.Bxf8 Rxf8 16.e5 Qb6 17.b3!?
A new move, 17.Ne4 has been played so far: 17.Ne4 0–0–0 18.Nd6+ Kb8 19.b3 (19.Nxf7 Rxf7 20.Bxf7 Nxe5= Radjabov-Anand, Mainz m-7 2006) 19...f6 20.bxc4 fxe5 with an unclear position, S.Ernst-Van Wely, Dutch Cht 2006/7.
17...0–0–0
If 17...c5 then 18.d5!? looks interesting.
18.bxc4 Nxe5 19.c5
The only way to hold the center.
19...Qa5
19...Qc7 should be a valid alternative, e.g.: 20.Re1!? Nc4 21.Be2 Na3 22.Ne4 Kb8 23.Nd6 Rxd6 24.cxd6 Qxd6 with a good compensation in return for the exchange.
20.Ne4 Qb4 21.Nd6+ Rxd6 22.cxd6 Nd7
22...Nc4 was also to be considered. Now Black has two pawns and a solid position in return for the exchange.
23.a4 Qxd6 24.Bf3!? Nb6 25.axb5 cxb5 26.Bxb7+
After 26.Rc1+ Nc4 Black has nothing to be afraid of.
26...Kxb7 27.Qh5
A pawn exchange d4 for h6 will open the d-file for the white rooks, but this doesn't mean that Vlad can get any edge. 27.Qf3+!? Nd5 28.g3 was an interesting alternative.
27...Nd5
After 27...Qxd4 28.Qxh6 Qd8 Black is solid as well.
28.Qxh6 Nf4!
With the beautiful idea 29.Qxg5?? Ne2+ 30.Kh1 Qxh2+! 31.Kxh2 Rh8+ and then mate.
29.Kh1!
The most precise defence. If 29.g3?! Ne2+ intending Qd5 and Rd8 (Anand); while 29.Rfe1? Qd5 is winning for Black.
29...Qd5 30.f3 Rd8
Kramnik has achieved nothing so far.
31.Qg7 Rd7
31...Qf5!? intending Qg6 was good as well.
32.Qf8!? Ne2
In the post-game press conference Anand said that 32...Qd6! was even stronger, e.g.: 33.Qg7 Qd5=; 32...Qxd4?! was not good because of 33.Rfc1
33.Rfe1
After 33.Qa3 Rd6!? (33...Qd6 34.Qe3 Nxd4 35.Qxg5 b4!? with some counterplay) 34.Rad1 Nxd4 35.f4 g4= the position is dinamically equal.
33...Nxd4
The endgame looks not easy for White because Black has two connected pawns supported by the king.
34.Red1
Neither side can improve the position seriously, but 34.Rad1!? was probably more precise.
34...e5?!
The immediate 34...Qd6 was more precise.
35.Rac1?!
White misses his only chance to get some initiative: 35.Qh6! Qd6 36.Qxg5 f6 37.Qd2 and Black has to defend accurately.
35...Qd6 36.Qg8
36.Qc8+ looks better.
36...f6
Now Anand has an excellent solid position and can start thinking about pushing the a-pawn.
37.Rc8 a5 38.h3
Obviously not 38.Rdc1? Nc6! 39.h3 Ne7 and Black wins; but 38.Qh8 or 38.Ra8 were probably more accurate.
38...a4
The black king may go forward under the protection of the pawns if needed.
39.Qe8
If 39.Rdc1 then 39...Nb3! (Kramnik); 39.Qh8 and 39.Ra8 came (again) into consideration.
39...Kb6 40.Rb8+ Ka5
40...Rb7!?= leads to an equal position according to Anand.
41.Ra8+ ½–½
After 41.Ra8+ Kb4!? (41...Kb6=) 42.Qg8 (42.Rb8!?), intending Qa2, White should save the day. Apparently Anand didn't want to risk in such a good tournament situation, so a draw was agreed.

Mexico, Vishy on top at half way

2007-09-20T23:59:00.000+01:00

The world chess championship is half-way and there were many exciting battles in the last three rounds, 5, 6 and 7, with five decisive games, all in White’s favour. Vishy Anand is in sole lead on 5/7, but his closest opponent is not who you would expect to be: GM Boris Gelfand, the oldest player of the event (he is 39 y.o.), won two games in a row (against Aronian and Morozevich) and is now on 4.5, after a fighting draw against world champion Vladimir Kramnik in round 7. The Russian superGM is still unbeaten, but he is only third on 4 (six draws and only onw victory). Alexander Grischuk is half a point behind him, after losing the only decisive game of round 7 against Anand. Peter Leko and Levon Aronian follow on 3, Svidler and Alexander Morozevich are on 2.5. Anything can happen, but it looks like Vishy, Boris and Vlad have better chances to be crowned world champions than all other players.
The official site of the competition is http://www.chessmexico.com/; you can also find photos (by Cathy Rogers), results and download/reply games on my Italian site, www.messaggeroscacchi.it (link to the WCC page is http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/mondiale07.html).
And now here is a really spectacular draw from round 6...

Grischuk,Al. (2726) - Svidler,P. (2735) [D43], Mexico City 19.9.2007
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4
Svidler also faced 6.Bxf6 against Kramnik in round 1: the game continued 6...Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 g6 9.e4 dxc4 10.e5 Qe7 11.Bxc4 Bg7 12.0–0 0–0 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Qe2 b6 15.Rad1 a5 16.Bd3 Bb7 17.Be4 b5 18.h4 Nb6 19.Bb1 c5 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.h5 g5 22.Nh2 Rxd4 23.Rxd4 1/2–1/2
6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 h5 12.0–0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Bg3
15.Rad1 was Aronian's choice against Anand in round 2. After 15...0–0 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 c5!? 18.dxc5 Qe7 19.Kh1? a6 Black soon got the initiative.
15...Qxd4 16.Rfd1 Qc5!?
This looks to be a new move, which invites White to play 17.Bd6 with tempo: 16...Qb6 was seen in five earlier games.
17.Bd6
Grischuk takes the challenge. After 17.e5 Nd5 18.Ne4 Qb6 (18...Qe7!? 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.a4 a6 21.Qe4 c3!? is an alternative to be considered) 19.b3 cxb3 (19...c3 20.Nxc3 Qc5 21.Rac1 Nxc3 22.Qxc3 Qxc3 23.Rxc3 gives White good chances to equalize the position.) 20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.axb3 a5 Black is two pawns up with just a little compensation for White.
17...Qb6 18.a4 a6 19.e5 Nd7 20.a5 Qa7 21.Ne4 c5
Black can't obviously take the pawn: 21...Bxe5?? 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Qc3 Ng6 24.Qg7+-; 21...0–0–0 was an interesting alternative, e.g.: 22.Qc3 c5! 23.Ng5 Rhf8 and Black is slightly better.
22.Ng5!? Nxe5?!
This is not a smart choice: White takes a strong initiative in return for the sacrificed material. 22...Rh6 looks more accurate, e.g.: 23.Qd2 (intending 24.Bb8) 23...Bd5 24.Qf4 Nf8 25.Ne4 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 Rc8 with chances for both sides.
23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.Bxc4!
Brilliant and virtually only move.
24...bxc4
This is not forced and the "positional" alternative 24...Bc8 was probably more precise, although after 24...Bc8 25.Bd5! Rb8 (25...exd5 26.Rxd5 Bf6 27.Rxc5 Bd7 28.Rc7 Qd4 29.Rd1+-) 26.Bc6+ Ke7 27.Re1 Bd4 28.Qf5 White gets a strong attack, e.g.: 28...Rf8 29.Rxe6+!? Bxe6 30.Re1 Bxf2+ (30...c4 31.Rxe6+ fxe6 32.Qxe6+ Kd8 33.Qd6+ Kc8 34.Qe6+ Kd8 35.Qd6+=) 31.Qxf2 Rbd8 32.Ne4 f5 33.Nxc5 Rf6 34.b4 Rd6 35.Bb7 f4 36.Bc8 with good compensation.
25.Qa4+ Kf8 26.Rd7 Bd5
26...g3 27.Rxf7+ Kg8 28.fxg3 is even most favourable to White.
27.Rd1
Better than immediate Rxa7: Queen won't run away.
27...Bd4 28.Rxa7
The immediate 28.b3 was also playable.
28...Rxa7 29.b3 Kg7
29...cxb3!? is risky, but probably leads to a draw after the spectacular 30.Rxd4 cxd4 31.Qxd4 Rb7! 32.Qxh8+ Ke7 33.Qb2 (33.Qxh5 b2 34.Qxf7+ Kd6 35.Qf8+ Kd7 36.Qf7+ Kc8 37.Qe8+ Kc7 38.Qe7+ Kb8 39.Qf8+ Ka7 40.Qc5+ Ka8 41.Qc8+ Ka7=) 33...f6 34.Nh7 (34.Qa3+ Kd7 35.Qa4+ Rb5 36.Ne4 Bxe4 37.Qxe4 b2 38.Qb1 Kc6=) 34...e5 35.Qa3+ Ke6 36.Nf8+ Kf7 37.Qd6 Be4 38.Qe6+ Kxf8 39.Qxf6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kf8 41.Qf6+ Kg8=
30.bxc4 Ba8 31.Qc2 g3 32.Rxd4?!
32.Qb3 was the best chance to retain some winning chances, e.g.: 32...gxf2+ 33.Kf1 Rd7 34.Qg3 Kf8 35.Rb1 Ke7 36.Nf3 Bxf3 37.Qxf3 intending Rb6 - with some initiative.
32...cxd4 33.Qe2 gxf2+ 34.Qxf2
The game looks about equal now, but both players are in time trouble.
34...Rd8 35.Qg3 Kf8 36.Qe5 Ke8?
The game is immediately drawn after 36...Rad7! 37.Nh7+ Ke7 38.Qc5+ (38.Qf6+ Ke8 39.Qh8+ Ke7 40.Qf6+=) 38...Rd6 39.Qg5+ Kd7 40.Nf6+ Kc8 41.c5 Rc6 42.Ne4 d3 43.Nd6+ Kc7 44.Nxf7 Rd5 45.Qf4+ Kc8 46.Nd6+ Rcxd6 47.cxd6 Kd7 48.Qf7+ Kxd6 49.Qf8+ Kd7 50.Qxa8 d2 51.Qb7+ Ke8 52.Qc8+ Ke7 53.Qc7+=.
37.Nxe6?
Missing the lucky chance in time trouble. White could win by 37.Qh8+ Ke7 38.Qg7.
37...fxe6 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qg7+ Ke8 40.Qh8+ Ke7 41.Qg7+ ½–½
Time control has just passed and Grischuk decides he doesn't want to take any risk by playing 41.Qh7+ Ke8 42.Qxa7 , probably because he calculated that after 42...d3 White is almost forced to give perpetual, e.g.: 43.Qxa6 d2 44.Qxe6+ Kf8 45.Qf5+ Ke7 46.Qg5+ Ke8 47.Qxh5+ Ke7 48.Qd1 Be4! 49.a6 Bc2 50.Qe2+ Kf6 51.Qf2+ Bf5 52.Qb6+ Ke7 53.Qc7+ Rd7 54.Qe5+ Be6 55.Qg5+= A really amazing game!

Anand, Kramnik and missed opportunities

2007-09-17T23:58:00.000+01:00

After two more rounds (I wrote my last post after round 2), Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik still share the lead in Mexico City. But they both missed a good opportunity to strengthen their leadership in round 4. Anand won a pawn with Black against Morozevich. His position remained more or less winning for a long time, but he missed several favourable possibilities (the last one at move 56, when he played 56...Re8? instead of the natural 56...Rd2). Even in the moment when he forced a draw by repetition, White was still far from equality, but Vishy was probably a bit tired. Kramnik once again proved his excellent home preparation against Grischuk. Later, he converted his slight advantage into a decisive one, but during his opponent's time trouble transposed to an endgame (by playing 38.Rxa7? instead of 38.Qc2) which offered him only slim chances for success. Grischuk defended accurately and obtained a draw. In the meantime, Morozevich and Aronian has won their first game, against Peter Svidler (round 3) and Peter Leko respectively (round 4), and they now share the third place on 2/4 with Grischuk and Boris Gelfand, while the two Peters follow on 1.5. Anything can still happen.
The official site of the competition is http://www.chessmexico.com/; you can also find photos (by Cathy Rogers), results and download/reply games on my Italian site, www.messaggeroscacchi.it (link to the WCC page is http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/mondiale07.html).
And now here is an annotated game from round 2...

Aronian,L (2750) - Anand,V (2792) [D43], Mexico City 14.9.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4
In case of 6.Bxf6 (as played just one day earlier in Kramnik-Svidler), play takes a positional course.
6...dxc4 7.e4 g5
An extremely sharp line. 7...b5 8.e5 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 has been tried by all top players in past 10 years, with various success.
8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5 h5 10.h4 g4
Black is a pawn up, but White has a strong centre and better prospects of transferring his king to a safe location.
11.Be2 Bb7 12.0–0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0–0 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3
White finally establishes a centre of pawn tension and aims to open the f-file for his king's rook. But Vishy has an unpleasant surprise...
17...c5!?
After his win Anand said: "The game revolved around this move 17...c5. It's a very interesting idea. We found it just here - Nielsen suggested it about three days ago. Sometimes if you can surprise your opponent it is worth almost as much as making a lot of good moves, because he has to deal with a lot of problems over the board". Previously, 17...Qb6 was considered best.
18.dxc5
18.d5 can be strongly met by 18...Bd4+ 19.Kh2 (19.Kh1 Be5 20.f4 Bxc3 21.bxc3 exd5 22.exd5 Re8 -/+) 19...Be5 20.f4 Bxc3 21.bxc3 exd5 22.exd5 Qf6 with strong initiative.
18...Qe7
Key idea behind c5 novelty. White can not play 19.Nxb5?? because of 19...Qxc5+, so Aronian has to find something to keep pace with his opponent.
19.Kh1?
Not a brave move indeed. 19.Bd6?! was too risky, e.g.: 19...Qxh4 20.fxg4 Be5! 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.gxh5 b4 23.Nb5 Bxe4 24.Qc1 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Kh7 26.Rf4 Rg8+ 27.Kf1 Qh2 28.Ke1 Rg2 and Black wins; but 19.a4 was an alternative to be considered: after 19...b4 (19...a6!?) 20.Nb5 Qxc5+ 21.Bf2 Qe7 22.Qxc4 gxf3 23.gxf3 the position is unclear, but chances look about equal.
19...a6 20.a4 Bc6
Black has stabilized the position and threatens to win the c5-pawn with ... Nxc5. Since 21.Rd6 can be strongly met by 21...Be5!, White is forced to resort to radical measures.
21.Nd5
After the game Aronian was critical of this move, but it doesn't look he has better alternatives.
21...exd5 22.exd5
Normally, this kind of operation would yield White an advantage...
22...Be5!
...but White's king is unsafe and Vishy forces his opponent to release the kingside tension and consolidates his advantage.
23.f4
23.Bxe5? loses because of 23...Qxh4+! 24. Kg1 Nxe5 25.fxg4 Nxg4 26. Bxg4 hxg4 and Black has a winning position. Also 23.Be1? loses because of 23...g3!, so it seems that 23. f4 is forced.
23...Bg7
"He played 21.Nd5 fairly quickly", said Anand after the game, "and I think he missed this plan of 22...Be5 and 23...Bg7, or he underestimated it. As you can see, in the whole game I am playing against this bishop on e2 - my pawns on h5 and g4, and b5 and c4 control this bishop. This turned out to be the deciding factor in the game".
24.dxc6 Nxc5
Both White's bishops are very passive.
25.Rd5?!
But this is not the way to play for a counterplay! 25.Qf5!? comes into consideration, e.g.: 25...Nxa4 26.Rfe1 Qc5 27.Rd5 Qxc6 28.Qxh5 Qg6 29.Qxg6 fxg6 30.Bxg4 Nxb2 31.Re7 and Black has winning chances, but White gets some active play at least.
25...Ne4 26.Be1 Qe6
Very powerful choice by Anand.
27.Rxh5?!
White has temporarily won a pawn, but his rook is miserably placed. 27.Qd1 Qxc6 28.b3 Rfe8 29.Rxh5 is probably more precise, although Black is better anyway.
27...f5
27...Qg6 was a good move as well, e.g.: 28.f5 Qxh5 29.Qxe4 Rfe8 30.Qc2 Be5 31.g3 Bc7 32.Bf2 Qh6 33.Bxg4 Qxc6+ 34.Kh2 Rad8 35.axb5 axb5 and Black must win.
28.Kh2 Rac8 29.Bb4 Rfe8 30.axb5
White doesn't have a good defence. After 30.Bd1 Qf7 31.Rg5 Rxc6 32.g3 Rce6 33.axb5 axb5 Black is winning anyway.
30...axb5 31.Re1 Qf7 32.Rg5 Nxg5 33.fxg5 Rxc6 34.Bf1 Rxe1 35.Bxe1 Re6 36.Bc3 Qc7+ 37.g3 Re3
Black's position is now completely winning.
38.Qg2 Bxc3 39.bxc3 f4 40.Qa8+ Kg7 41.Qa6 fxg3+ 0–1

Mexico city: first blood in round 2

2007-09-14T23:59:00.000+01:00

Blood and excitement, at last! After four boring (in my opinion) draws in round 1, the World chess championship saw some really amazing games in round 2. Only Gelfand and Grischuk decided to share the point after 23 moves. In the remaining games, Vishy Anand outplayed Levon Aronian with Black pieces after a complicated and thrilling middlegame, where the Armenian #1 made the last mistake; Vladimir Kramnik, White, sacrificed a piece against his compatriot Alexander Morozevich and soon got some initiative, Black didn't find the better defence and made a terrible and decisive blunder in severe time pressure; Svidler pushed for a win after gaining a pawn on move 33, but he soon realised that he had nothing more than a draw, which was agreed ten moves later. I really appreciated the fight spirit of all participants in this round (all but Gelfand and Grischuk: their position was about equal, but still playable) and I hope we will see more interesting battles in round 3, where Anand and Kramnik, who share the lead on 1.5/2, will play each other. The official site of the competition is http://www.chessmexico.com/; you can also fine results and download/reply games on my Italian site, www.messaggeroscacchi.it (link to the WCC page is http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/mondiale07.html).
And now here are some annotations to the exciting Kramnik-Morozevich game...

Kramnik,V (2769) - Morozevich,A (2758) [E04], Mexico City 14.9.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4
Catalan system, one of Kramnik's favorites.
4...dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nd5 8.0–0!?
I could be wrong, but this sacrifice looks to be a new idea. 8.Bd2 is the most common reply, while 8.Qc2 has been played a few times.
8...0–0
After 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Rb1 Qxd4 11.Qxd4 Bxd4 12.Nxc4 White has full compensation for the sacrificed pawns. 8...Bxc3 9.e4! Bxb2 10.Bxb2 Nb6 11.Rc1 is ok for White as well.
9.Qc2 b5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.b3 c6 12.e4!
After logical and positional moves by both sides, Kramnik decides to sacrifice a piece (home preparation, I guess). 12.bxc4 bxc4 (12...dxc4 13.Rd1 gives White enough compensation) 13.e4 was less risky, e.g.: 13...a5 (13...f6? 14.Nxc4) 14.exd5 cxd5 15.a3 Be7 16.Rb1 Be6 17.Nxc4 Nc6 with an equal game.
12...f6 13.exd5
13.Nf3 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Re8 15.Qc2 Be6 looks good only for Black.
13...fxe5 14.bxc4 exd4 15.dxc6 Be6
Black must be careful. After 15...Ra7 16.Qb3 Bc3 (16...Bc5 17.cxb5+ Kh8 18.b6 Qxb6 19.Qxb6 Bxb6 20.Rb1 Bc7 21.Ba3 Rg8 22.Bc5 Ra8 23.Bxd4 and Black is paralysed) 17.cxb5+ Raf7 (17...Kh8 18.b6 wins) 18.b6 Nxc6 (18...Qf6 19.c7 Be6 20.Qa3! Bxa1 21.Bf4 Bc4 22.Rxa1 Qxb6 23.Rc1 with good winning chances) 19.Bxc6 Bxa1 20.Ba3 Qf6 21.Bd5 Bc3 22.b7 Bxb7 23.Qxb7 and White has some initiative.
16.cxb5
White tries to keep the position as much complicated as possible. 16.c7 Qxc7 17.Bxa8 Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Bxc4 19.Bf4 Nd7 is good for Black.
16...d3?
First inaccuracy. 16...Ra7 looks more precise, although after 17.Rb1 d3 (17...Ba5 18.Be4 Kh8 19.Ba3 Re8 20.Bc5 Rc7 21.Qa4 and White is at least slightly better) 18.Qb2 d2 19.Bxd2 Bxd2 (19...Qxd2 20.b6+-) 20.b6 Raf7 21.Rbd1 Nxc6 22.Rxd2 Rd7 23.Rfd1 Nb8 24.b7 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 White has more than enough compensation for the piece.
17.c7! Qd4
17...dxc2 was a practical alternative to be considered: after 18.cxd8Q Rxd8 19.Bxa8 axb5 20.Be4 Rc8 White has winning chances, but Black can fight.; 17...Qd6 was not much better than the text move: 18.Qb2 (18.Qa4 Nd7 19.Bxa8 Nb6 20.Qxa6 d2 21.Bxd2 Bxd2 22.Bg2 Qxc7 and Black has good drawing chances) 18...Nd7 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Bf4 Qf8 21.Rfd1 with excellent winning chances for White.
18.Qa4 Nd7 19.Be3 Qd6 20.Bxa8 Rxa8 21.Bf4?
A serious mistake. After 21.Qxa6! Qxa6 22.bxa6 Bd6 23.Rac1 White has an almost decisive advantage.
21...Qf8??
A blunder made in severe time trouble. 21...Qd5 was the only way to survive, although after 22.bxa6 (22.Rac1 also deserves attention) 22...Qf3 23.Qd1 Qe4 24.Rb1 Bh3 25.f3 Qd4+ 26.Kh1 Bxf1 27.Qxf1 White retains some winning chances.
22.b6 Ne5
Desperation. 22...Nxb6 23.Qc6 Bd5 24.Qxb6 a5 25.Qd4 wins anyway.
23.Bxe5
23.b7 Nf3+ 24.Kh1 Bd5 25.Qxb4! Nd2+ 26.f3 is even stronger.
23...Qf3 24.Qd1 Qe4 25.b7 Rf8
25...Qxb7 26.Qxd3 Bh3 27.f3 is hopeless anyway, but the text move loses on the spot.
26.c8Q Bd5
26...Rxc8 27.bxc8Q+ Bxc8 28.Qb3++-
27.f3 1–0

Mexico: are you ready for the show?

2007-09-11T23:59:00.000+01:00

On your marks. Get set. Go! The 2007 World chess championship will start tomorrow (with an inaugural ceremony) in Mexico City and the first round will be played on Friday afternoon (2pm local time, 9pm in Italy). "Following the historic reunification match between bulgarian champion Veselin Topalov and russian new weltmeister Vladimir Kramnik in late october 2006", you can read on the official site, "the Fide World Chess Championship will prove whether Kramnik is strong enough to defend again his title, this time facing 7 of the best players from around the globe".
The upcoming 8 players tourney is one of the strongest tournament ever in chess history, with an average rating of 2752 (XXII cat.). Vlad will face Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Peter Leko, Boris Gelfand and compatriots Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich and Alexander Grischuk. I can't see a clear favorite, but if I was forced to place a bet, well, I'd bet on Kramnik. My second choice would be Anand, then Aronian. I think the new world champion will be among one of these three players. Indian news portal DNA asked Garry Kasparov to predict a winner: "I'm in no way trying to please your readers by saying that Vishy Anand is the clear favourite", he replied. Well, Garry, we'll see... Anand is now the highest rated player in the world and he won Linares/Morelia six months ago, but Vlad looks in good shape as well: he took clear first in the "Melody Amber" rapid event and in Dortmund and he was placed fourth in Wijk aan Zee, last January, without any loss. Aronian has a good score against both of them in their most recent games; so, it will all depend on their preparation and their mood, as usual :-)
The last issue of the popular Daily chess web-zine "Chess Today" (www.chesstoday.net) also provides some opinions about the WCC. GM Alex Baburin writes: "Most of all I hope to see interesting chess – who will win in the end, is of less interest to me. I believe that every player has a chance to win that tournament, though with a different likelihood. A lot will depend on their general form, which should be evident after the first 3-4 rounds. In my opinion the most likely winners are: 1. Anand; 2. Leko; 3-4. Kramnik and Aronian".
Coming back to Garry's interview to the DNA portal, he also said that "my decision in 1993 to break away from the world chess federation, Fide, with Nigel Short was the worst mistake of my career. It was a serious miscalculation on my part. I thought we could start fresh with a professional organisation, but there was little support among the players. It led to short-term progress in commercial sponsorship for chess, but in the long run hurt the game. I tried many times to reunite the chess world, but as usual the strong personal interests on all sides prevented this. There is apparent unity now, but it is extremely superficial because Fide still puts its own petty interests ahead of those of the players and the players themselves will not sacrifice to fight for their rights against Fide". Will Kasparov the politician ever become Fide president? You can read the full interview to Garry at http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1120623.
And now let's speak about Italian tourneys. Czech GM Igor Rausis took first place in Cesenatico (178 players): he scored 7 points out of 9 and edged out on tie break German IM Mathias Roeder. Italian GM Lexy Ortega, Bulgarian GM Milko Popchev, German GM Arkadij Rotstein, Greek GM Spyridon Skembris, German GM Felix Levin, Bulgarian IM (and Elo-favorite) Nikolai Ninov and German FM Peter Dittmar shared third place on 6.5. Official site: http://www.antiquascom.it/risultati2007.htm.
Croatian GM Nenad Sulava won the 47th Imperia Chess Festival: he scored 7/9 and edged out by half a point Italian FM Raffaele Di Paolo and Czech GM Tomas Likavsky. 143 players took part in the event. Official site: http://imperiascacchi.altervista.org/.
Do you miss my annotated games? Well, just wait for Mexico City...

Chess in Trieste, Ankara and... Lugano

2007-09-08T23:57:00.000+01:00

Do you remember Boris Spassky? Obviously you do. The former world chess champion was in Mantova, Italy, yesterday and today: he spoke about chess and cold war (his match with Bobby Fischer - what else?) and gave a simul against 20 opponents. Unfortunately I wasn't there: I had a hard week at work (too many football matches - holidays are over :-( ) and, today, I went to Lugano... not for chess, but for family reasons :-) Walking along the centre of the little and beautiful Swiss town, I took this photo...

Yes, two giant chessboards in the middle of one of the main streets. I played a couple of games last year on one of them: anybody can have fun and challenge an opponent. So, if you go to Lugano during the Summer, don't forget it!
While I was in Lugano, the 2007 Trieste international open came to an end. Elo favorites Sergei Tiviakov (NED) and Vladimir Baklan (UKR), both rated 2648, shared first place on 7/9; Tiviakov won due to a better tie break. Italian GM Fabiano Caruana, 15 y.o., took clear third on 6.5: he only lost to Tiviakov in round 5 and gained 7 rating points at last. IM Willy Hendriks (NED), IM Jure Borisek (SLO) and GM Giorgi Bagaturov (GEO) were placed fourth on 6, while surprising Croatian wIM Lara Stock (left - photo from the official site) leads the group at 5.5 (she made a 2549 performance and gained 44 rating points). Final results at http://chess-results.com/tnr7621.aspx?lan=1. Games at http://www.sst1904.com/partite/partite.html.
FM Vytautas Vaznonis from Lithuania took clear first in the 2007 Nato chess championship, which ended yesterday in Ankara (Turkey): he scored 6 points out of 7 and edged out by half a point FM Mark Helbig and Philip Mai, both from Germany. Elo favorite wGM Elisabeth Paehtz and and IM Lorenz Drabke both finished on 5; Germany (Helbig, Mai, Drabke and Paehtz) won the team competition with 21 points out of 28 (the four highest-scoring players from each country counted towards the team score). Official site: http://natochess2007.tsf.org.tr/index.php.
And now here is a convincing win by Caruana in Trieste: he showed an impressive endgame technique... (no annotations: too many moves).

Borisek,J (2506) - Caruana,F (2549) [B41], Trieste 7.9.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nde2 Qc7 9.a3 Be7 10.Bf4 Ne5 11.Rc1 b6 12.0–0 Bb7 13.b4 d6 14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.Ng3 0–0 16.Qe2 a5 17.Rb1 Ba6 18.Rfc1 Rfd8 19.Qe3 h6 20.Bf1 Ne8 21.Qe1 Bg5 22.Rc2 axb4 23.axb4 Nd6 24.Na4 Bb7 25.Nc3 Ba6 26.Na4 b5 27.Nc5 Nxc4 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Nxa6 Rxa6 30.b5 Rad6 31.Nf1 Rd4 32.b6 Qb7 33.f3 Be7 34.Ne3 Bc5 35.Kh1 Bxb6 36.Nxc4 Qc7 37.Rbc1 Ba7 38.h3 f6 39.Kh2 Qd7 40.Na5 Rd1 41.Rxd1 Qxd1 42.Qxd1 Rxd1 43.g4 Be3 44.Nc6 Kf7 45.h4 Rd2+ 46.Rxd2 Bxd2 47.Kg2 Ke8 48.Nb8 Ke7 49.Kf1 Kd6 50.Ke2 Ba5 51.Kd3 Kc7 52.Na6+ Kb6 53.Nb8 Bb4 54.g5 Be7 55.gxh6 gxh6 56.Kc4 h5 57.Nd7+ Kc6 58.Nb8+ Kd6 59.Na6 f5 60.Kd3 Bxh4 61.Ke2 Bg3 62.Kf1 h4 63.Kg2 Be1 64.Kh3 Kc6 65.Nb8+ Kc7 66.Na6+ Kd6 67.Kg2 Ba5 68.Kh3 Bd8 69.Kg2 Kc6 70.Nb8+ Kc7 71.Na6+ Kb6 72.Nb8 Kc5 73.Nd7+ Kd4 74.Nf8 fxe4 75.fxe4 Kxe4 76.Nxe6 Be7 77.Ng7 Kf4 78.Ne6+ Kg4 79.Nc7 h3+ 80.Kh1 e4 81.Nd5 Bg5 82.Kg1 Kg3 83.Kh1 Bf4 84.Kg1 Kf3 85.Kh1 Be5 86.Kg1 h2+ 87.Kh1 Bd6 88.Nc3 e3 89.Nb5 Be5 0–1

Trieste, Nato champ and more

2007-09-05T23:35:00.000+01:00

Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov beat Italian prodigy Fabiano Caruana, 15 years old, for the second time in a row. It happened yesterday in Trieste, where the 9th edition of the Chess Festival is under way. Caruana had Black pieces and chose the French defence after Tiviakov’s 1.e4: he reached a lost endgame and couldn’t do anything but resign. The duel was not as thrilling as the one in Vlissingen, where Fabiano lost (resigning a drawn position in deep time trouble), but eventually won the tourney. After round 6 Tiviakov is in sole lead with 5.5 points, while Caruana share the second place on 4.5 (best Italian player by now). The tourney will end on Saturday. Results at http://chess-results.com/tnr7621.aspx?lan=1. Games at http://www.sst1904.com/partite/partite.html.
The 18th Nato championship takes place in the Gendarmerie Schools Command in Beytepe, Ankara (Turkey), until Saturday. The tournament follows the structure laid down by the Regulations of the International Military Chess Committee (IMCC) and is a seven-round individual Swiss tournament, with the four highest-scoring players from each country counting towards the team score. Italy doesn’t take part in the competition this year, but many Italian players know at least one participant: German IM Lorenz Drabke (photo), who played in Castione a few days ago, has been living in Northern Italy for many years. He is the second highest rated player of the competition, while his team mate wGM Elizabeth Paehtz is the Elo-favorite. Vytautas Vaznonis from Lithuania is the sole leader with 4.5 points after 5 rounds; Mark Helbig (GER), Drabke, Abel Carrascoso (ESP) and Guido Schott (GER) follow on 4. Official site: http://natochess2007.tsf.org.tr/index.php.
Tom Panelas from Chicago wrote a new post about Italian prodigy Marco Codenotti a few days ago: Marco took part in the Knights Quest tourney, finishing second in his division. Full story: http://raychess.blogspot.com/2007/08/reunited.html.
And now here is a brilliant win by Tiviakov in Trieste...

Tiviakov,S. (2648) - Borisek,J. (2506) [C77], Trieste 2.9.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2
Tiviakov chooses a secondary line he has already played several times. This was an usual continuation in the 18th century.
5...b5 6.Bb3 Be7
The main line, but 6...Bc5 is popular as well.
7.a4
Tiviakov is fond of this variation. 7.0–0 and 7.c3 are more common.
7...Bb7
7...Rb8 and 7...b4 has also been played.
8.c3 0–0 9.0–0 d5 10.d4
10.d3 is less risky; Tiviakov had already played the text move against Bareev in Madrid 13 years ago.
10...Nxe4
This looks to be a new move, The above mentioned game continued 10...dxe4 11.Nxe5 Bd6 12.Bf4 Qe8 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 and a draw was agreed.
11.dxe5 Nc5 12.Bc2 b4!? 13.Rd1 Ne6
13...f6 was an interesting alternative.
14.a5 bxc3 15.bxc3 Na7?!
Too slow. After 15...Rb8 16.Bb3 d4 Black can easily hold on and can fight to get some counterplay.
16.Na3 c5 17.Nc4!? Qc7?
Black had to be consistent and play 17...Nb5 ; after 18.Qd3 g6 19.Nb6 c4 20.Qd2 Rb8 Black has good defensive resources.
18.Nb6 Rad8 19.Nxd5!
A nice blow, although not difficult to be seen.
19...Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Rxd5 21.Qe4 g6 22.Qxd5
Now White is simply a pawn up.
22...Nc6 23.h4 Rd8 24.Qe4 Nxa5
Black takes the pawn back, but it is just an illusion...
25.h5 c4 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Be3 Nb3?
27...Nc5 28.Qg4 (intending Bxg6) 28...Nd3 29.e6 was much better for White anyway, but the text move loses on the spot.
28.Rxa6! Nbc5?!
28...Qc8 29.Ra7 Nbc5 30.Qxc4 Rd7 was at least more stubborn.
29.Bxc5 Nxc5
There were no better alternatives, e.g.: 29...Qxc5 30.Rxe6 fxe6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ Ke8 33.Ba4+ Kf7 34.Qh5+ Kg8 (34...Kf8 35.Nd4 Qd5 36.Bc6+-) 35.Ng5 Bxg5 36.Qxg5+ Kh7 37.Qxd8+-
30.Rxg6+!
The decisive blow. Black has no defence.
30...fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8
31...Kh8 32.Qh7#
32.Qh6+ Ke8 33.Bg6+ Kd7 34.Bf5+ Ke8 35.Qh5+ Kf8 36.Qh8+ 1–0
And Black resigned in view of 36...Kf7 37.Ng5+ Bxg5 38.Qh7+ Kf8 39.Qxc7 etc.

A sea of norms in Italy

2007-09-02T23:58:00.000+01:00

How many norms! Two in Porto San Giorgio, four in Castione della Presolana. But only for foreign (= not Italian) players. English GM Gawain Jones took clear first in PSG: he scored 7.5 points out of 9 and edged out by half a point Spanish IM Sergio Estremera Panos, Russian GM Oleg Koreev, German GM Arkadij Rotstein and Ukrainian GM Sergey Fedorchuk. Estremera Panos scored a GM norm, while German FM Thomas Michalczak gained an IM norm. Official site: www.torneoscacchi.it.
Russian GM Vladimir Burmakin was placed first (thanks to a better tie-break) in Castione on 7/9; Croatian GM Miso Cebalo took second place with the same score. Four players scored a GM norm: Filipino IM Rolly Martinez, German IM Sebastian Siebrecht, Scottish IM and British champion Jacob Aagaard (all with 6.5 points) and Turkish FM Yakup Erturan (6). Official site: www.scaccobratto.com.
Many more strong tourneys has started between yesterday and today in Italy: Trieste, Cesenatico (http://www.antiquascom.it/risultati2007.htm), Imperia (http://imperiascacchi.altervista.org/) and Siracusa (http://www.chessfestivalsiracusa.it/). The 2007 Trieste festival is probably the strongest of all: GMs Vladimir Baklan (UKR), Sergei Tiviakov (NED), Dusko Pavasovic (SLO), Philipp Schlosser (GER), Dimitri Komarov (UKR) and 15 y.o. Fabiano Caruana (ITA) are among the participants. Results at http://chess-results.com/tnr7621.aspx?lan=1.
It’s late now: I came back from Vienna just yesterday (wonderful town: it worth a visit) and I haven’t had any time to annotate a game, since I worked the whole day (football championships has already started and I'm a sport journalist...). So... wait for more exciting posts in the next few days :-)
Before going to bed, anyway, here are the games which won the beauty prizes in Porto San Giorgio and Castione.

Castaldo,F. (2345) - Bianchi,Al. (2019) [D37], Porto San Giorgio 24.8.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 0–0 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Rd1 Re8 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nd5 11.Bg3 Nb4 12.Qe2 b5 13.Bb3 a5 14.a3 a4 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.axb4 Bxb4 17.0–0 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qa5 19.Qc2 Nf6 20.Be5 Qd8 21.Ng5 Qe7 22.f4 h6 23.Qg6 Bd7 24.Rf3 Rec8 25.Nh7 Nxh7 26.Rg3 Ng5 27.fxg5 Be8 28.Qe4 hxg5 29.Rh3 Qf7 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Bd6+ Qe7 32.Rf1+ 1–0

Lanzani,M. (2336) - Pomaro,A. (2149) [E70], Castione 28.8.2007
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Nge2 0–0 6.Ng3 e5 7.d5 c6 8.Be2 cxd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Be3 h5 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Rc1 Nh7 14.Be3 Bf6 15.Qd2 Qd8 16.b4 h4 17.Nh1 Bg5 18.Bxg5 Nxg5 19.a4 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.f4 Qb6+ 22.Nf2 Ne4 23.Ncxe4 fxe4 24.Kh1 e3 25.Qd3 exf2 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qh6+ Kg8 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Qxh4+ Kg7 30.Qg5+ Kh8 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Rc3 Nf6 34.Rg3 Qc7 35.fxe5 Nh7 36.e6 b6 37.Qg4 Bb7 38.Qd4+ Rf6 39.Rxf2 Raf8 40.Rg6 Qe7 41.Bc4 b5 42.axb5 axb5 43.Bb3 Ba8 44.h3 Bb7 45.Kh2 Ba8 46.Rf5 Bb7 47.g4 1–0

P.S.: do you remember my game by postcards? After 1.e4 c5, my second move was 2.d4. This won't be a boring game...

A chess game... by postcards

2007-08-28T11:20:00.000+01:00

I started a correspondence chess game (by postcards) this August and I'm going to make my second move. The duel is supposed to last about 20-25 years: we can make moves only when we go on holiday... Yes, I'm leaving again (for Wien, Austria), but I will come back soon (even too much!): you will read my next post on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, the Castione and Porto San Giorgio festivals will be finished: You can follow them on their official sites: www.scaccobratto.com and www.torneoscacchi.it.
In both tourneys anything can still happen: Polish GM Pawel Jaracz leads the field in Castione with 4.5/5, but eleven players follow on 4: GMs Sergei Tiviakov, Vladimir Epishin, Vladimir Burmakin, Erald Dervishi (last year winner) and Italian IM Fabio Bruno are among them. The first of two collateral blitz tourneys took place on Sunday evening: IM Daniele Vocaturo from Rome scored 8/9 and edged out by a full point GMs Alberto David and Michele Godena; Hungarian GM and Elo favorite Csaba Horvath was placed only fifth on 6.5.
English GM Gawain Jones and Spanish IM Sergio Estremera Panos are the surprising leaders in Porto San Giorgio: they share the first place on 6/7 and they will play each other today. Estremera, in particular, beat three GMs in a row (Komarov, Hamdouchi and Korneev) and should perform a GM norm.
Well, goodbye now. It's time to prepare my luggage. Before leaving, I've annotated for you a nice win by Estremera in Porto San Giorgio.

Hamdouchi,H. (2576) - Estremera Panos,S. (2375) [B63], Porto San Giorgio 26.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7
The immediate 7...a6 is the most popular continuation.
8.0–0–0 a6
Estremera is mixing up different plans, but he is not the first one. 8...0–0 is the standard line after 7...Be7.
9.f3 0–0
And now 9...Bd7 is the main choice!
10.h4 Qc7
10...Nxd4 11.Qxd4 b5 12.Kb1 Qc7 has been played by Anand, Gulko and Kotronias among the others.
11.h5
11.g4 Rd8 etc. is a more common continuation.
11...h6 12.Bh4
This looks to be a new move: 12.Be3 was played in Peptan-Roos, Berlin 1997, which continued 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Rd8 14.g4 e5 15.Be3 d5 16.exd5 Be6 17.Bd3 Nxd5 and Black has a slight edge.
12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 b5 14.g4
14.Kb1 is probably more safe.
14...b4!?
Black starts fighting for the initiative! 14...e5 15.Qd3 b4 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Bg5+ 18.Kb1 Qb7 intending ...Be6 and ...Rfc8 was a good alternative.
15.Na4?!
A poor move. The "brave" 15.Qxb4 is absolutely playable and probably the best choice for White, e.g.: 15...d5 16.Qd4 e5 (16...Bb7!? 17.exd5 Bc5 18.Qd3 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Kb1 a5 and Black has some compensation) 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Be6 19.Qd2 Rfd8 20.Bd3 Bxh4 21.Rxh4 Bxa2 22.g5!? Bc4 23.Qc3 Qe7 24.Rg4 Bxd3 25.Rxd3 hxg5 26.Rd5 f6 and the position is about equal.
15...Rb8 16.b3 Bd7 17.Nb2 Rfc8
Now Black has a strong attack without any material loss.
18.Qd2?!
Another weak move, although after 18.Bc4 d5!? White faces some troubles anyway, e.g.: 19.exd5 exd5 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qxd5 and now both 21...Bb5 and Be6 give Black a strong initiative in return for the pawn.
18...d5!
A natural and strong move.
19.Bd3
19.Bxa6 Re8 20.Bd3 Ra8 is good for Black as well.
19...Bd6 20.Kb1 Bf4 21.Qe1
21.Qe2 looks more precise.
21...Be5! 22.Ka1
What does this move mean? 22.Rg1 makes more sense.
22...a5 23.exd5 exd5 24.Rg1
Too late.
24...Re8 25.Qd2?
25.Bg3! is the only way to put up some resistance: after 25...a4 (25...Bxb2+? 26.Kxb2 Rxe1? 27.Bxc7 Rxg1 28.Rxg1 Ra8 29.g5 and White is even better) 26.bxa4 Bxa4 27.Bxe5 Rxe5 28.Qd2 Bc6 29.g5 hxg5 30.Rxg5 Rxg5 31.Qxg5 Qh2 Black has some winning chances, but White holds on.
25...a4 26.bxa4 Ra8!
Now White is in deep trouble.
27.g5
27.Kb1 Qc3 28.Qc1 Rxa4! is not promising for White, e.g.: 29.Be1 Qc5 30.Nxa4 Qxg1 31.Bc3 Qa7 32.Bxe5 Rxe5 33.Nb2 Re8 intending ...Ra8 and Black wins.
27...Nxh5 28.gxh6
Losing on the spot, but there were not many alternatives. 28.Kb1 would prolong the agony some more moves, e.g.: 28...Bf4 29.Qxb4 Rxa4 30.Nxa4 Rb8 31.Qxb8+ Qxb8+ 32.Nb2 Be5 33.c3 Nf4–+
28...Rxa4 29.Kb1 Rxa2!
The decisive blow.
30.Kxa2 Qa5+ 31.Kb1 Ra8 0–1
White can't avoid mate or huge material losses, so he resigns. A very convincing win by Spanish IM Sergio Estremera.

Italy: chess at high... altitude

2007-08-26T23:14:00.000+01:00

264 players in the same hall are always a great show. That’s what I saw yesterday (Saturday 25) in Castione della Presolana, a nice mountain place not far from my home twon Bergamo (Italy), where the 2007 chess Festival is taking place in the local indoor stadium. There were not too many exciting games on top boards, to be honest: Siebrecht-Tiviakov (board 1), Godena-Borgo (3) and Schaefer-Hoffman (6) soon ended in draws; but there was some fire, anyway, in many other battles: British champion Jacob Aagaard beat Italian IM Fabrizio Bellia in a tough endgame after sacrificing an exchange in return for two pawns; IMs Roberto Mogranzini and Fabio Bruno, both with Black pieces, won the Italian derbies against 18 y.o. IM Sabino Brunello and FM Denis Rombaldoni. Only one unexpected result on the main boards in round 4, played today: Bulgarian GM Ljuben Spassov (ranked #35) won against German GM Igor Khenkin (ranked #2). Czech GM Pawel Jaracz, who beat Bruno, is in sole lead with a perfect score (4/4). You can see here some photos I took yesterday and some more taken by IM Roberto Messa today: he was a speaker in the press conference to present "La mia Siciliana" ("My Sicilian"), a book written by Italian champion GM Michele Godena (Roberto wrote the preface) and published by Caissa Italia.

Denis Rombaldoni and Jacob Aagaard
Roberto Mogranzini and Fabrizio Bellia
Tiviakov and Siebrecht (r. 3): a short draw
Master open: top boards from upper floor
Playing hall: a panoramic view
Young talent from Rome: Adriano Testa
Chess professional: Zdravko Muha and his stand
Fresh air: Dervishi and Isonzo analysing their game
Fabio Bruno and Vladimir Epishin
"Please do not disturb": Oleg Romanishin
GM Michele Godena presenting his book
Many more pictures can be found on the official site of the event, www.scaccobratto.com.
Meanwhile, Italy has been chosen as venue of the 2009 Youth European championship: the event will take place in the to be province of Fermo (this province doesn’t exist at the moment: it will born that same year), where the 2007 Porto San Giorgio festival is under way. English GM Gawain Jones is the sole leader after 6 rounds with 5.5 points; Elo favorite Sergey Fedorchuk (Ukr), Oleg Korneev (Rus), Ante Brkic (Cro), Normunds Miezis (Lat), Ivan Farago (Hun), Sergei Krivoshey (Ukr), Ivan Zaja (Cro) and Sergio Estremera Panos (Esp) follow half a point behind. Official site: www.torneoscacchi.it.
Two more tourneys ended in the last few days. 16 y.o. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won a blitz play-off against Elo-favorite GM Vladislav Tkachiev to become the second youngest French champion in history; GM Andrei Sokolov was place third. WGM Silvia Collas beat WGM and Elo-favorite Sophie Milliet and took the female title. Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/.
Israeli GM Ilia Smirin won the 22nd edition of the Acropolis international tournament, which took place in Athens (Greece) in August 14 to 22. Smirin scored 7 points out of 9 (with a 2748 performance) and edged out by half a point Kiril Georgiev of Bulgaria and Mircea Parligras of Greece. 82 players took part in the event, including 19 GMs. Official site: http://www.chessfed.gr/Acropolis2007/default.asp.
And now here is the interesting Brunello-Mogranzini game from Castione della Presolana.

Brunello,S. (2475) - Mogranzini,R. (2411) [B77], Castione 25.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6
Dragon is not dead!
6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Nd7
A rare but interesting variation against the Yugoslav attack.
10.0–0–0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Qe2 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 a5 14.Ndb5 a4!
This looks to be a new move (and a really strong one!). The immediate 14...Be6 and 14...Bd7 have been played before.
15.Bxb6
Probably not the best choice. Now Mogranzini gets the initiative. 15.Qf2 is an alternative to be considered: after 15...Ra6 16.Bxb6 Rxb6 17.bxa4 Bd7 Black has enough compensation, but his Rook is not on the "a" file and White has one extra time to defend his position.
15...Qxb6 16.bxa4
After 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Ndc7 Bd7!? 18.Nxa8 Qxa8 intending ...axb3, ...Qa5 (or ...Rc8) and ...Ra8 Black has the initiative anyway.
16...Be6 17.b3 Rfc8 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.c4 Bd7 20.Ndc3 Qa5 21.Kc2 Rc5
It looks like White can easily hold on the position, but he has to be very careful...
22.Rb1 Qb4
Probably not the most precise, but this is the only move which puts some pressure on White's position.
23.Qd3?
And White's nerves collapse! This looks to be the losing move: after 23.Qd2 White has nothing to be afraid of, e.g.: 23...Bxb5?! 24.Nxb5 Rxa4 25.Qxb4 Rxb4 26.Nc3 e6 27.Ra1 and Black has to defend to get an equal game.
23...Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Rxb5! 25.cxb5
25.axb5 Ra2+ 26.Kd1 Bh6 is hopeless for White.
25...Rc8+ 26.Kd1 Bh6 27.e5
White has nothing better.
27...Rc3 28.Qd5 Rc5 29.Qd3 Rc3 30.Qd5 Rc4!
The killer move. Black treats ...Rd4+ and White can't take the Rook with his Queen because of the mate on "d2".
31.bxc4
A sad necessity.
31...Qxb1+ 32.Ke2 Qxh1 33.Kf2 Qxh2
White is lost now.
34.e6 Qh4+ 35.Ke2 fxe6 36.Qxe6+ Kf8 37.a5 Qd4 38.f4
38.a6 can't be played: 38...Qd2+ 39.Kf1 Be3 and mate in a few moves.
38...Qxf4 39.a6 Qd2+ 40.Kf3 bxa6 41.bxa6 Qd3+ 0–1
The first time control has passed and White finally resigns. This game won the round 3 brilliancy prize.

Waiting for Mexico City

2007-08-24T23:46:00.000+01:00

The Mexico City tourney will start on September 13. Waiting for the world championship, some interesting events are taking place (or have just finished) all over the world. GM Vladislav Tkachiev, winner of the 2007 European championship, and 17 y.o. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will play tomorrow a rapid play-off: the winner will be crowned new French chess king. They both scored 7.5 points out of 11 in the National championship, which ended today in Aix-les-Bains, edging out by half a point GM Andrei Sokolov. Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr.
Another king was crowned yesterday afternoon: Czech master Jaroslav Olsar won the IBCA European championship, which took place in Durham (England), with 8 points out of 9. Russian IM and Elo favorite Yuri Meshkov was placed second on 7.5, Ukrainian master Sergey Grigorchuk came in third place on 7. The only player from Italy, Mauro Fratini, scored 4 points. Official site: http://www.braillechess.org.uk/.
The fourth China vs Russia chess match takes place until August 31 in Nizhniy Novgorog, Russia. After 5 rounds of 10 China leads by 5 (!) points, 27.5-22.5. Dmitry Jakovenko (2735) and Wang Yue (2696) are the top rated players of the two teams. Official site: http://russiachess.org/.
In the Dutch city of Arnhem, famous for the "Bridge Too Far", a ten-player round robin is under way, led by 25-year-old Zambian IM Amon Simutowe: he has 6.5 points after 7 rounds, a half more than Indian GM Dibyendu Barua. The event is being staged in the NH Rijnhotel, which is also hosting an interesting exhibition on Chess and Art. Official site: http://www.euwe-stimulans.nl/.
The 2007 Presolana chess festival started yesterday in Castione della Presolana, Italy. After a quiet first round, without astonishing results, some surprises happened in round 2: Italian 17 y.o. FM Denis Rombaldoni from Pesaro, for example, beat Hungarian GM Csaba Horvath (ranked #5) with Black pieces, while his brother Axel, a master himself, won against Philipino IM Roland Salvador. Congratulations! Denis is fighting for his third and last IM norm: this undoubtedly is a good base... Official site: http://www.scaccobratto.com/2007.shtml.
Three players have a perfect score in the 2007 Porto San Giorgio (Italy) festival after 4 rounds: they are GMs Ante Brkic (CRO), Gawain Jones (ENG) and Ivan Farago (HUN). Nine players are just half a point behind; Elo favorite GM Sergei Fedorchuk from Ukraine lost to Romanian IM Andrei Nestor Cioara in round 3 and follow on 3. Official site: http://www.torneoscacchi.it/.
And now here is a nice (annotated) game from Porto San Giorgio, followed by the win by D. Rombaldoni against Horvath in Castione (no annotations).

Bontempi,Pi. (2349) - Rotstein,Ar. (2515) [B22], Porto San Giorgio 23.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.Bd3
3.e5 is the most popular alternative, but Bontempi doesn't want to test his opponent's opening preparation.
3...Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e5 c4
The immediate 5...Ng4 and 5...Nd7 are more common.
6.Bc2 Ng4 7.Ba4 Qc7 8.Qe2 Bd7
8...Bf5 was played in Sebag-Toma, Oropesa del Mar 1999; the game continued 9.Nd4 Bxb1 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qxg4 Bd3 12.Qg3 Rc8 13.b3 Qa5 14.Ba3 h5 15.Bb4 Qa6 16.Qe3 e6 and a draw was agreed 30 moves later.; 8...g6 has also been seen in Mueller-Lampe, Oberliga Nord 1998; the game soon ended in a draw: 9.h3 Nh6 10.d4 Bf5 11.Bc2 Bxc2 12.Qxc2 Bg7 13.0–0 0–0 14.Bf4 e6 15.Qd2 Nf5 16.Na3 a6 1/2–1/2.
9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.h3 Nh6 11.b3
Finally a new move in a very rare variation! 11.g4 g6 12.d4 cxd3 13.Qxd3 Bg7 14.Bf4 e6 15.Qd2 Ng8 16.Na3 h5 17.Rg1 hxg4 18.hxg4 c5 19.0–0–0 Bc6= was played in Pickersgill-Avari, Hastings 2000.
11...cxb3 12.axb3 Rb8 13.b4 c5 14.bxc5 Qxc5
It looks like Black has a full equality, but he must pay attention anyway...
15.0–0 e6?!
Probably the first inaccuracy. 15...Nf5 16.Ba3 Qb6 17.Kh1 h5 looked more precise.
16.Ba3 Qa5
There are no better alternatives, e.g.: 16...Qb5 17.c4! Qxc4 18.Qxc4 dxc4 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rxa7 Ke7 21.Nc3 Rhd8 22.Rfa1 and White has a better endgame; 16...Qb6 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.Na3 intending Nd4 or Rab1 and White is good.; 16...Bb5 17.d3 Qc7 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.Na3! Nf5 20.Rfb1 with a strong initiative.
17.Bxf8!?
17.c4 Bxa3 18.Nxa3 0–0 19.Rfc1 was good as well, but Bontempi wants more.
17...Qxa1 18.Na3 Qa2
18...Qxf1+? 19.Qxf1 Rxf8 20.Qa6 was good... but only for White.
19.Bd6 Rb2?!
Another dubious move. After 19...Rb6 20.Bc5 Rc6 21.Qb5 Rc8 22.Qb4 White has more than enough compensation for the sacrificed exchange, but Black can survive.
20.Qa6
20.Nd4 was probably even stronger.
20...Qb3?
This should be the decisive mistake. After 20...Nf5 21.Bb4 Ne7 22.Nd4! (22.Qxa7 Nc6 23.Qa8+ Nd8) 22...Nc8 23.d3 White has a strong initiative, but Black hold on.
21.Bb4! Qa4 22.Qd6 Rxb4
Forced. 22...Kd8 23.Qb8+ Bc8 24.Nb5+-
23.cxb4 Qc6?
23...Rf8 was a sad necessity. Now White wins almost immediately.
24.Qb8+ Qc8 25.Qxa7 0–0 26.b5 Nf5
26...f6 was not much better, e.g.: 27.b6 Nf7 28.exf6 gxf6 29.Rb1 Nd6 30.b7 Qb8 31.Qb6+-
27.b6 h5 28.Rb1 h4 29.b7 Qb8 30.Qb6 g6
30...Ba4 31.Nb5 Bxb5 32.Rxb5 followed by Ra5 was winning for White anyway.
31.Nc2 1–0
Too many treats: Ra1–a8, Nb4-a6. Black resigns. A very convincing win by FM Piero Bontempi from Ancona.

Horvath,Cs. (2558) - Rombaldoni,De. (2383) [A13], Castione 24.8.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.0–0 a6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.d4 b5 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.dxc5 Bxf4 12.gxf4 Qxc5 13.Ne5 Rb8 14.Nd2 Nxe5 15.Rac1 Qd4 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Nf3 Qf4 18.e3 Qa4 19.Ne5 0–0 20.Rc7 Qh4 21.Qd1 Bb7 22.Rxb7 Rxb7 23.Bxb7 Qg5+ 24.Kh1 Qxe5 25.Qd4 Qc7 26.Bf3 Rd8 27.Qb4 g6 28.Kg2 e5 29.a4 Rb8 30.Qc3 Qxc3 31.bxc3 bxa4 32.Ra1 e4 33.Be2 Rb2 34.Kf1 Nd5 35.Bxa6 Nxc3 36.Bc4 Rb4 37.Ba2 a3 38.Ke1 Rb2 0–1

Fire on the board in Porto San Giorgio

2007-08-22T23:15:00.000+01:00

The battle has started. 16 GMs and 16 IMs are playing in Porto San Giorgio (315 participants), where the traditional chess festival began yesterday. Some surprising results occured in the first round: Ukrainian GM Dimitri Komarov and last year winner, English IM Lawrence Trent, drew against CMs Pietro Ruggeri and Giampaolo Manganelli respectively, while Bulgarian IM Nikolai Ninov and Croatian IM Milan Mrdja lost to CMs Matteo Rotoni and Sergio Faccia. The day before the event start a blitz tourney (10 minutes per player, 80 participants), the 3rd Lanfranco Bombelli Memorial, took place in Porto Sant’Elpidio: Italian master Ettore Stromboli scored 7/8 and edged out by half a point IM Trent, Russian GM Igor Naumkin (Elo-favorite) and Giulio Calavalle from Bologna. Official site: www.torneoscacchi.it.
IM Daniele Vocaturo gave a simul to inaugurate the 2007 festival in Castione della Presolana, not far from my home town Bergamo. The young talent from Rome won 13 games on 14, with only one draw against candidate master Gian Marco Marinelli from Modena; there were five more CMs among his opponents. The first round of the A group (Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov is the top seed) will be played tomorrow, the remaining groups will start on Friday. Official site: www.scaccobratto.com.

Daniele Vocaturo interviewed
by a journalist of a local Tv channel
(my thanks to Matteo Alborghetti for the photos)
The young IM from Rome in action!
Daniele Vocaturo in action - part 2
And now here is the surprising and brilliant win by candidate master Matteo Rotoni from Macerata (who also made a very good performance in Falconara last month) against Ninov in Porto San Giorgio.

Rotoni,Mat. (2074) - Ninov,Nik. (2536) [B21], Porto S. G. 21.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.d4
No fear of a stronger opponent: Rotoni wants to fight for the initiative since the very begin!
2...cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6
5...e6 is a popular alternative, but the text move is more frequent.
6.Bc4 a6
6...e6 is now the most common reply.
7.0–0 Nf6 8.Bg5
8.h3 and the immediate 8.Qe2 are well-known alternatives. The text move is less popular.
8...e6 9.Qe2 h6
9...Be7 is good as well (and probably less risky).
10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.Rad1
12.Rfd1 was played in Smith-Evans, San Antonio 1972; the game continued 12...Nxg3 13.hxg3 g4 14.Ne1? Ne5 15.Bb3 h5 16.Nd3 (16.f4 looks better) 16...Bg7 17.Nf4 h4 18.Qd2 hxg3 19.fxg3 Qb6+ 20.Kf1 Bd7! and Black won the game 20 moves later.
12...Nxg3 13.hxg3 Bd7
A new move. 13...Qf6 was played a couple of times before, with Black winning in both cases: 14.Nh2 (14.e5!? dxe5?! (14...Nxe5) 15.Ne4 Qg7 16.Qd2? (16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Rxd6 is unclear) 16...f5 17.Nc3?! Bc5 18.Rfe1?! e4 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Rxe4 0–0 21.Qc2 Be7 22.Bxe6+ Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Bf6–+ Costa-Gallagher, Lisbon 2000) 14...Be7 15.f4 gxf4 16.gxf4 Qg7 17.Kh1 Bd7 18.Qe3 Rc8 19.Be2 Rg8 20.g4 Nd8 21.Bf3 Bc6 22.Rfe1 e5 23.Nd5?! (23.f5) 23...Ne6 24.f5 Nd4 and White resigned on move 44, Lendwai-Lutz, Graz 1993.
14.Nd4
14.e5 looks interesting, e.g.: 14...g4 (14...d5? 15.Bxd5! exd5 16.Nxd5 Bg7 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6+ Kf8 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Qxe5 and White gains the piece back by Qd6+ or Qd4 (20...Qc8 21.Qe7+) with a huge advantage) 15.Nh2 Nxe5 16.Nxg4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Rg8 18.Rfe1 intending Nd5 and White has the control of the board.
14...h5
Why not the immediate 14...Rc8 ?
15.Rfe1
15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd5 Rc8 is not dangerous for Black.
15...Rc8 16.Bb3 Be7
16...Bg7 was also possible, but White can take a strong initiative by playing the immediate 17.Nf5 , e.g.: 17...exf5 18.exf5+ Kf8 19.Rxd6 Bxc3 (19...Be5 20.Rxc6 Bxc6 21.Qxe5 with a good compensation) 20.bxc3 Qc7 21.Qd2 Re8 (21...Bxf5? 22.Rf6 Bg6? 23.Qxg5 with a very strong attack) 22.Rxe8+ Bxe8 23.f6 Rg8 24.Qd5!? and Black doesn't have an active plan to play.; 16...Nxd4 17.Rxd4 h4 had to be considered.
17.Qd2 Qb6?
A serious mistake. 17...h4 was strong and natural. Now White takes the initiative by playing a brilliant (and virtually forced) move.
18.Nf5!
Excellent! White opens the "e" file and starts the attack.
18...exf5?
18...Qd8 19.Nxd6+ Bxd6 20.Qxd6 Qe7 was too sad to be taken into consideration, but it probably was the most stubborn continuation.
19.exf5 Bxf5
19...Kd8 was not better, e.g.: 20.Nd5 Qb5 (20...Qc5 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 22.Qxg5 Re8 23.Re1 with a decisive attack; 20...Qa5 21.Qxa5+ Nxa5 22.Rxe7 with excellent winning chances) 21.Nxe7 Nxe7 22.Qxg5 Re8 23.Rxd6 f6 24.Qf4 and White must win.
20.Qxd6 Qa5?
A losing move, but Black didn't have many drawing chances anyway, e.g.: 20...Be6 21.Rxe6 Qd8 22.Qc5 fxe6 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Qe3 e5 25.Nd5+-; 20...0–0 21.Rxe7 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Nxb4 23.Nd5! Bc2 24.Bxc2 Nxc2 25.Rxb7+-
21.Rd5?!
What a pity! This move is probably enough to take the full point, but 21.Nd5 wins on the spot, e.g.: 21...0–0 (21...Be6 22.Rxe6 fxe6? 23.Nf6+ Kf8 24.Qxe6+-) 22.Rxe7 Nxe7 23.Nxe7+ Kg7 24.Rd5 Qe1+ 25.Kh2+-
21...Rd8?
Black's last chance was 21...Be6 22.Rxe6 Qc7 23.Re3 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 Rd8 25.Rf6 and White is very close to victory, but Black can still fight.
22.Qf6!
Now it is all over.
22...0–0?
22...Rxd5 was more precise, although after 23.Bxd5 0–0 24.Qxf5 Kg7 25.Rxe7 Nxe7 26.Qe5+ (see game) Black is lost anyway.
23.Qxf5
23.Rxe7! Rxd5 24.Nxd5 is much stronger, but the text move wins anyway.
23...Rxd5 24.Bxd5 Kg7
Forced. 24...Qb4 25.Be4+-; 24...Kh8 25.b4 Bxb4 (25...Qxb4 26.Be4+-) 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qxh5+ Kg8 29.Qxg5+ Kh8 30.Re4+-
25.Rxe7! Nxe7 26.Qe5+ Kh6 27.Qxe7 Qd8 28.Qxd8
28.Qxb7 was faster.
28...Rxd8 29.Bxb7 Rb8 30.Bxa6 Rxb2 31.a4 Rc2 32.Nd5
Black is completely lost now.
32...f5 33.Bb5 h4 34.gxh4 gxh4 35.Ne3 Rc1+ 36.Kh2 f4 37.Ng4+ Kg5 38.f3 Ra1 39.Nf2 Ra2 40.Ne4+ Kf5 41.Kh3 Ke5 42.Nc5 Kd4 43.Nd3 Ke3 44.Ne5
Intending Ng6-Nxh4.
44...Ra1 45.Ng4+ Kd4 46.Kxh4 Rg1 47.Kg5 Rxg2 48.Kxf4 Rc2 49.Nf6 Rc5 50.Nd7 Rd5 51.Nb8 Kc5 52.Nc6 Rd7 53.Ke4 Rh7 54.f4 Rh8 55.f5 Kd6 56.Kf4 Rg8 57.f6 1–0
And finally Black resigned.

Tiviakov, Fedorchuk & co. in Italy

2007-08-20T23:45:00.000+01:00

We have to wait until Mexico City to see superGMs in action again, but a couple of strong opens are going to start in Italy in the next few days: the first in Porto San Giorgio (tomorrow) and the second in Castione della Presolana (on Thursday), not far from my home town, Bergamo. The Porto San Giorgio open will see more than 40 titled players in the main A group: among them you can find GMs Sergey Fedorchuk (UKR - 2618), Hichem Hamdouchi (MAR - 2576), Vladimir Georgiev (MKD - 2567), Oleg Korneev (RUS - 2565), Ante Brkic (CRO - 2558), Dmitri Komarov (UKR - 2550), Nenad Sulava (CRO - 2544), Gawain Jones (ENG - 2526), Normunds Miezis (LAT - 2524), Igors Rausis (CZE - 2524), Felix Levin (GER - 2521), Arkadij Rotstein (GER - 2515), Ivan Farago (HUN - 2501), Sergei Krivoshey (UKR - 2500) and the young English IM Lawrence Trent, who was the surprising winner of the 2006 edition. A blitz tourney will be played along the tourney. Official site: http://www.torneoscacchi.it/.
The Castione open will be even stronger, with more than 50 titled players (this is probably the strongest edition ever of this tourney) in the main A group. Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov (2648) is the top seed, but he will have to fight hard to take the first place: among his opponents there are GMs Igor Khenkin (GER - 2602), Vladimir Epishin (RUS - 2587), Vladimir Burmakin (RUS - 2581), Csaba Horvath (HUN - 2558), Erald Dervishi (ALB - 2553), Michele Godena (Italian champion - 2547), Oleg Romanishin (UKR - 2546), Miso Cebalo (CRO - 2533), Alberto David (LUX - 2529), Gyula Sax (HUN - 2522), wGM Marie Sebag (FRA - 2495) and IM and British champion Jacob Aagard (SCO - 2467). Italian 18 y.o. IM Daniele Vocaturo will give a simul on August 22 to inaugurate the event; two blitz tourneys will be played on August 26 and 29 (both starting at 9.45 pm) and two books will be presented on Sunday (at 10.30 a.m.): "La mia Siciliana" ("My Sicilian") by GM Michele Godena and "La regina degli scacchi" ("The chess queen") by Walter Tevis. Official site: http://www.scaccobratto.com/2007.shtml.
Before going to bed, I put to your attention an article about Italian young talent Marco Codenotti from Pisa, posted by Tom Panelas on "The Knights of Castle Kimbark" blog. He writes: "Marco Codenotti, the former Ray School chess star who returned to his native Italy two years ago, has been seen in Chicago, where he is spending the summer. He is of course active in chess, training with local GM Dmitry Gurevich and playing in the odd tournament, most recently the August 12 Third Coast Challenge by Renaissance Knights in Northbrook". You can read the full story at http://raychess.blogspot.com/2007/08/marco-sighted-in-chitown.html. A post-script for Tom: I will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible!
A final note for Italian readers mainly: the poll for "The 2007 Queen - July" is open, so you can watch and vote your favorite game at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/regina2007/index.html.

Mainz, Vishy takes revenge on Aronian

2007-08-19T23:59:00.000+01:00

The World chess championship in Mexico City is approaching very fast and two of the main favourite were the protagonists of the Mainz Chess Classic, which ended this evening. Immediately after the end of the Ordix Open (762 participants!), won by Czech GM David Navara with 9.5/11, the event finished with another highlight: the match for the Grenke Leasing Rapid Chess World Championship between Vishy Anand and Levon Aronian. Three days ago the same players had played the final of the FiNet Chess960 World Championship: the Armenian super GM had won 3.5-2.5 after a blitz-tiebreak. This time Anand took revenge: after three draws, he won the fourth and decisive game with Black pieces to take first place. Both players looked to have the coming World Championship in mind: the didn't reveal too much of their preparation for Mexico, but the match was tense and exciting anyway. You can find all informations, reports and games on the official site: http://www.chesstigers.de/ccm7.php?lang=1.
In the past week some interesting tournaments took place around the globe: one of them was in my beloved London. Here the 5th Staunton Memorial, held in a very central location at Simpsons in the Strand, saw six Dutch and six English players compete in a single round robin event, supported by the Dutch chess enthusiast Jan Mol. A local player won at last: Michael Adams scored 8.5 points out of 11 and took clear first place by a point from Ivan Sokolov and Loek van Wely. Official site: http://www.howardstaunton.com/hsmt2007/index.shtml. Another notable event, the 5th Gyorgy Marx Memorial, took place in Paks (Hungary): Peter Acs and Pentala Harikrishna finished on 6/10 with Acs taking first place as he scored the most wins. Viktor Korchnoj, who was in sole lead after the first part of the tourney, collapsed with only a half from 4 in the final rounds. Official site: http://www.ase.hu/marxgy/2007/index_eng.html.
And now here is a nice win by young English GM Gawain Jones over the most experienced Dutch GM Loek Van Wely in London.

Jones,G (2526) - Van Wely,L (2680) [B23], London 17.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
The closed Sicilian. This opening choice doesn't mean that Jones wants to play a closed and positional game...
2...Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0–0 a6
The main line is 6...Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 (7...d5!? 8.e5 a6 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.d4 cxd4 11.Qxd4 e6=) 8.d3 Nf6 9.Qe1 0–0 10.Qh4 Qd7 11.Nc3 Qg4= and Black has nothing to be afraid of.
7.Bd3 b5
A rare move and probably not the best. 7...d6 is a much more common alternative: even Anand and Bacrot has opted for it.
8.Nxd4
8.e5 looks interesting.
8...Bxd4+
8...cxd4 has also been played. After 9.Ne2 Ivan Ivanisevic tried 9...Bb7 and won a blitz game on ICC against Wippermann in 2003.
9.Kh1 Bb7
The game Rumens-Kennedy, Duesseldorf 1997, continued 9...c4 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Bf3 e5?! (11...Qc8) 12.d3 with a slight edge for White.
10.e5
This looks to be a novelty. 10.Ne2 was played in Wippermann-Bogorads, Duesseldorf 1997, with the continuation 10...Bg7 11.c3 d5 12.e5 e6 13.Qe1 h5 14.Qf2 Bf8 15.Bb1 Nh6 16.d4 Ng4 17.Qg3 Be7=
10...Ra7?!
10...Qc7 was a playable (and more precise) alternative: after 11.Be4 Bxc3 12.Bxb7 Qxb7 13.dxc3 Nh6 the position is completely equal.
11.Be4! Bxc3 12.Bxb7 Bxb2 13.Bxb2 Rxb7 14.f5!
White has lost a pawn, but he can now start a strong attack!
14...Nh6
There were not many alternatives...
15.Qf3 Qb6?
A bad inaccuracy. After 15...Qc7 16.e6 f6 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Bxf6 exf6 19.Qxf6 Qxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Ng4+ 21.Kg3 Nxf6 22.Rxf6 White has the iniatiative, but Black has good surviving chances.
16.e6 f6 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Bxf6!
Simple and (almost) decisive.
18...exf6
18...Rf8 is also hopeless, e.g.: 19.Qg3 Rxf6 (19...Qxe6 20.Qxg6+ Kd8 21.Bxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qxh6 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1+-) 20.Rxf6 exf6 21.Qxg6+ Ke7 22.Qg7+ Kxe6 23.Rf1 Nf5 24.Qg8+ and White must win.
19.Qxf6 Rg8 20.Rae1 d5
What else?
21.Qg5 Re7 22.Qxh6 Qa5?
The last mistake. 22...Qd6 was more stubborn. 22...Rxe6 loses immediately: 23.Qh7+-
23.Rf6 Qxa2
23...Qc7 was forced. Now White has a forced mate.
24.Rxg6 Rf8
If 24...Rxg6 then 25.Qh8+ Rg8 26.Qxg8#
25.Qxf8+! 1–0
The last blow: 25.Qxf8+ Kxf8 26.Rf1+ Rf7 27.Rxf7+ Ke8 28.Rg8#.

Chess greetings from holidays

2007-08-18T18:01:00.000+01:00

Yes, I'm back, but I haven't unpacked my luggage, since I will leave for Wien on August 28. I've spent a lot of holidays this year and I hope to play at least one chess tourney in 2008, if I will be so lucky again. I was in Dorf Tirol, a little and nice mountain place near Meran, where Karpov and Korchnoj played their world championship match in 1981. There was only one Internet point (and not a cheap one...) in the neighbourhood, so it was a bit difficult to have chess news. But echoes of Caruana's first place in Vlissingen arrived even in Dorf Tirol (the news were on the Italian Teletext). This has probably been his most prestigious victory up to now, with a 2715 performance and a final draw, with Black pieces, against former world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov. About his only loss in round 7, with Tiviakov, he didn't lost on time (as I previously reported), but resigned in a drawn position (he was in terrible time trouble). In Vlissingen Fabiano scored his fourth GM norm in six months, so nobody can say he doesn't deserve the GM title now :-) His rating is growing and growing (he is now between 2585 and 2590, I think) and he could soon break the 2600 wall - he would be the first Italian player in chess history, if I don't mind -. In the meantime, his participation to the C-group in Wijk aan Zee next January has been confirmed: this will be a IX or X category event with 14 players; GM Efstratios Grivas (GRC), GM Pascal Charbonneau (CAN), IM Pontus Carlsson (SWE) and IM Irina Krush (USA) will be some of his most dangerous opponents. Official site will be: http://www.coruschess.com/.
Coming back to holidays, I post here my "chess postcard" from Meran and I wait for photos and "chess postcards" of your holidays from all over the world: write your first and second name, country and the place where the photo has been taken and, if you want, a short message.

Dario Mione, Italy
Chess greetings from Meran!
I will create a special section on www.messaggeroscacchi.it ("Chess holidays" would be the title) or post them here. You can send your photos in .JPG format both to dario(at)strababos.it and redazione(at)messaggeroscacchi.it.
I will annotate a "serious" chess game tomorrow. Now I just report a blitz game I played in Meran against a friend (a 2100+ player: the final score of our "match" was 3-2 in my favor :-) ).

Mione,D - PA [C00], Meran (blitz game) 12.8.2007
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Ne2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.d4 Be7
7...cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 is the main alternative.
8.Nf4
Inspired by Caruana's victory over Barua in Vlissingen (round 8).
8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Nb6?!
9...Qb6 looks more precise.
10.Bd3 0–0 11.h4
White is now ready to demolish Black's castle.
11...f6?
The decisive mistake. Black could only survive by playing 11...f5 , although after 12.exf6 Bb4+ (12...gxf6 13.Rh3 Kh8 14.Ng5! with a crushing attack) 13.Kf1 Qxf6 14.Qc2 g6 15.h5 White is better.
12.Bxh7+!
Starting the fireworks...
12...Kxh7
Forced.
13.Ng5+! Kg8
13...fxg5 14.hxg5+ Kg8 15.Qh5+- is only a postposition.
14.Qh5!
14.Ngxe6? is bad: 14...Bxe6 15.Nxe6 Qd7 16.Nxf8 Rxf8 and Black is much better.
14...fxg5
What else? If 14...Bb4+ then 15.Kf1 fxg5 16.hxg5 Ne7 (16...Rf5 17.Qh8+ Kf7 18.g6+ Ke7 19.Qxg7+ Ke8 20.Rh8+ Bf8 21.Qh7+-) 17.g6 Nxg6 18.Qh7+ Kf7 19.Qxg6+ Ke7 (19...Kg8 20.Rh7 Rf7 21.Qh5 Kf8 22.Rh8+ Ke7 23.Rxd8 Kxd8 24.Qxf7+-) 20.Qxg7+ Ke8 (20...Rf7 21.Ng6+ Ke8 22.Rh8+ Bf8 23.Rxf8++-) 21.Qg6+ Kd7 22.Nxe6 Rg8 23.Rh7+ Be7 24.Qh6 Qe8 25.Bg5+-
15.hxg5 Bxg5
If 15...Nxe5 then 16.dxe5 Bxg5 17.Qh7+ Kf7 18.Qg6+ Kg8 19.Nh5 Qc7 20.Bxg5 Qxe5+ 21.Kf1 etc. - see notes on move 18.
16.Qh7+ Kf7 17.Qg6+ Kg8
17...Ke7 leads to an even spectacular ending: 18.Nxd5+! Kd7 19.Bxg5 Qe8 (19...Nxd5 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.Qxg7+ Nce7 22.Rh8+-) 20.Qxg7+ Qf7 (20...Ne7 21.Nf6+ Rxf6 22.exf6 Nbd5 23.f7+-) 21.Qxf8! Qxf8 22.Rh7+ Ne7 (22...Ke8 23.Nc7#) 23.Bxe7 Qf5 24.Bd6+ Qxh7 25.Nf6+ Kd8 26.Nxh7+-
18.Nh5 1–0
White is two pieces down, but has a crushing attack, so Black resigned. E.g.:18.Nh5 Qc7 (18...Rf7 19.Bxg5 Ne7 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Nf6+ Rxf6 22.exf6 Qxf6 23.Qe8+ Qf8 24.Rh8++-) 19.Bxg5 Nxe5 (19...Nxd4 20.Nf6+ Rxf6 21.exf6 Nc2+ 22.Kd2 Nc4+ 23.Kc1+-) 20.dxe5 Qxe5+ 21.Kf1 Nd7 (21...Qxb2 22.Bf6 Qxf6 23.Nxf6+ Rxf6 24.Qe8+ Rf8 25.Rh8++-) 22.Re1 Qxb2 23.Bf6 Qxf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Qe8+ Nf8 26.Rc1+-

Caruana superstar in Vlissingen

2007-08-10T22:57:00.000+01:00

Great Fabiano! Italian top rated player is the sole leader of the HZ open tournament, which takes place in Vlissingen (Holland): he has 7 points out of 8 with only one round to go. His last two games were very exciting. After saving a desperate position, Caruana lost on time to GM Sergei Tiviakov in round 7. He was two pawns down, but he continued fighting and got some initiative; the Dutch GM finally blundered a piece on move 53 and Fabiano got some winning chances, then they both made some mistakes in mutual time trouble. Tiviakov won on time on move 73, in a totally drawn position. Caruana took revenge in round 8 by beating Indian GM Dibyendu Barua: the latter played a French defence, which is probably Fabiano’s favorite opening... on White side :-) The Italian prodigy won an exchange after a tough middlegame tactical battle, then he outplayed his opponent in the endgame; his last round game will be very hard: he will face former world champion Rustam Kasimdhzanov with Black pieces. Good luck! As I’ve already written, Caruana will probably play the 2008 Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee (Holland) next January. An article about him was published four days ago on the official site of the event: http://www.coruschess.com. I suppose he would play for sure if invited to the “B” group (whose winner can play the main “A” supertourney the following year), while he would have to consider the strength of the competition (the average rating of his opponents) if invited to the “C” group. Let’s cross our fingers... Official site of the HZ open: http://www.hztoernooi.nl/index_en.html.
From one prodigy to another. Magnus Carlsen stroke back in the Arctic Chess challenge: the Norwegian wunderkind won against his father Henrik in round 6 and then beat Ukrainian GM Vladimir Burmakin in round 7: he now shares third place on 5.5/7 with many other GMs, while his compatriot GM Kjetil A. Lie is in sole lead with 6.5 points. Official site: http://www.arcticchess.org/engindex.htm.

Caruana vs Stellwagen in round 6
Before leaving for holidays (again :-) – I will be back to you on Sunday 19) I annotate here the victory by Caruana against young Dutch GM Daniel Stellwagen in Vlissingen.

Caruana,F. - Stellwagen,D. [B54], Vlissingen 8.8.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6
5...Qc7 is more common in top level games.
6.g4!?
An aggressive move. 6.Be3 leads to a well known variation: 6...Nf6 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.0–0–0 Qc7 10.Bb3 0–0 etc.
6...a6
6...Nf6 is the main alternative
7.Be3 Nge7 8.Nb3 b5 9.f4 Bb7 10.Qd2
Probably not the best. 10.Qf3 was Shirov's choice against Kasparov (in Novgorod) and J. Polgar (in Buenos Aires) in 1994.; 10.Qe2 has also been played.
10...Na5 11.Nxa5 Qxa5 12.Bg2 b4
A new (and accurate) move, according to my old database. 12...d5?! was played in the game Ponomariov-Bacrot, Enghien les Bains 1999, which continued 13.Qf2 dxe4 14.f5?! (14.0–0–0 Qc7 15.Bb6 Qc4 16.f5 and White is better) 14...Nd5 15.fxe6 0–0–0 16.0–0 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qb4 and a draw was agreed on move 39.
13.Ne2 h5 14.h3 Ng6
Black is playing the most accurate moves.
15.Bf2
15.0–0 hxg4 16.hxg4 Nh4 17.Bh1 Rc8 looks promising for Black.
15...Be7 16.g5
16.0–0–0 is an interesting alternative: 16...Qxa2 is not possible because of 17.Qxb4 followed by Nc3.
16...e5!?
Forcing the following exchanges.
17.f5 Nf4 18.Nxf4 Bxg5 19.Qxd6
19.a3 exf4 20.Qxb4 Qxb4+ 21.axb4 Bf6 22.c3 Kd7 looks good for Black.
19...exf4
And not 19...Bxf4?! 20.Bh4 f6 21.Bf2 with a slight edge for White.
20.0–0 Rd8 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.Bxc5 Rc8 23.Bxb4 Rxc2 24.Rf2 Rxf2
24...Rc4 25.Bd6 Bxe4 26.b3 (26.Re2 Kd7) 26...Rc6 27.Bxf4 (27.Rd1!? Bxg2 28.Kxg2 f6 29.Re2+ Kf7 30.Re7+ Kg8 31.Rc7 Rxc7 32.Bxc7 Kh7=) 27...Bxg2 28.Re1+ Kf8 29.Kxg2 Bxf4 30.Rxf4 Rhh6 was safer for Black and a draw looked unavoidable.
25.Kxf2 Rh6 26.Bc3 Rc6?!
First inaccuracy: 26...Rb6 was more precise, e.g.: 27.Rd1 (27.Bxg7? f6 and White's bishop is trapped) 27...g6 28.Bf3 Bh4+ 29.Kg2 Be7 intending ...g5 with chances for both sides.
27.Rd1!
The immediate 27.e5 was inaccurate: after 27...Bh4+ 28.Kg1 f3! 29.Bxf3 Rxc3! 30.Bxb7 Rxh3 31.Bxa6 Re3 Black would have excellent drawing chances.
27...g6?
Second inaccuracy, probably the decisive one. Now 28.e5 is very strong. A better choicewas 27...Rc5 and now after 28.a3 a5 Black can fight for a full equality, e.g.: 29.Bxg7?! (29.Bf3 Bh4+ 30.Ke2 Ba6+ 31.Kd2 g6 32.e5 a4 33.fxg6 fxg6 34.Be4 Kf7 35.Kc2 Bc8=) 29...f6 30.Bf3 Rc2+ 31.Kg1 Ke7 with a dangerous initiative.
28.e5 Bh4+ 29.Kf1!?
A smart move, although 29.Kg1 was strong as well, e.g.: 29...Rb6 (29...f3 30.Bxf3 Rxc3 31.Bxb7 Rc2 32.f6 Bf2+ 33.Kh1 Bb6 34.Bxa6 Rxb2 35.a4 and White is much better) 30.f6 f3 31.Ba5 f2+ 32.Kf1 Bxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Rb8 34.b3 with excellent winning chances.
29...Rxc3?!
Desperation. Now after 29...f3 30.Bxf3 Rxc3 31.Bxb7 Black has to play 31...Rc7 , but 32.fxg6! fxg6 33.Be4 is almost decisive in White's favor. 29...Rb6 looks to be Black's better chance, but after 30.Bxb7 Rxb7 31.fxg6 fxg6 32.Rd6 g5 (what else? 32...f3 33.Rxa6 Rd7 34.Rd6 Rxd6 35.exd6 Kd7 36.Be5 g5 37.a4 g4 38.hxg4 hxg4 39.a5+-) 33.Rxa6 f3 34.Re6+ Kd8 35.Rd6+ White should win, e.g.: 35...Ke8 (35...Rd7 36.a4 Rxd6 37.exd6 Kd7 38.Be5 g4 39.hxg4 hxg4 40.a5+-) 36.a4 g4 37.hxg4 hxg4 38.Rh6 Bg5 39.Rh8+ Kd7 40.Rg8 Bc1 41.a5 Ke6 42.a6 Rh7 43.Bd4+-
30.bxc3 f3 31.Bh1 gxf5?
Losing on the spot. 31...g5 was more stubborn, although after 32.c4! Be4 33.f6 Bg3 34.Rd4 Bc6 35.a3! a5 (35...Bxe5? 36.Rd3 Bb2 (36...g4? 37.Re3; 36...Bxf6? 37.Rd6) 37.Bxf3 Bd7 38.Bd5+-) 36.a4! White must win.
32.Rd4 f4
32...Bd8 was slightly better, but after 33.Kf2! Bb6 34.Bxf3 White wins anyway, e.g.: 34...f6!? (34...Bxd4+ 35.cxd4 Bc8 36.Bxh5+-) 35.Bxh5+ Ke7 36.Kg3 Bc7 (36...Bxd4 37.cxd4 Bd5 38.a3 Ke6 39.Kf4+-).
33.Bxf3!
Simple and brilliant.
33...Bxf3 34.Rxf4 Bg3 35.Rxf3 Bxe5 36.c4 h4 37.Ra3 1–0
Black is going to lose another pawn, so he resigned. A deserved and impressive win by Caruana against the young (20 y.o.) Dutch rising star.

Hard life for superGMs

2007-08-08T23:59:00.000+01:00

SuperGMs often have a really hard life in open tournaments. See, for example, the Norwegian “wunderkind” Magnus Carlsen: he has just won the Biel supertournament and he is the clear favorite of the 2007 Arctic Chess Challenge, which takes place in Tromsø (Norway) until Sunday 12, but he has only 3.5 points after 5 rounds, the same of his father Henrik, who is 621 rating points under him in the July Fide list. Magnus drew his first round game against an unknown compatriot, Brede Hagen (2034), against whom he was even slightly worse in the middlegame; then he shared the point with Danish FM Karsten Larsen (2325) in the third round and his position was almost lost at a certain point. In the fifth round he drew with his mentor Simen Agdestein, so that he is not even in the first ten positions at the moment. Official site of the tourney: http://www.arcticchess.org/engindex.htm.
And what’s about former world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov? The Uzbek player lost to French wGM Marie Sebag in the 4th round of the 11th Hogeschool Zeeland open, which takes place in Vlissingen (Holland) until Saturday 11; in the same tourney and round, German outsider and master Ilja Zaragatski beat Dutch GM Sergey Tiviakov. On the other hand, Italian fans can be proud of their #1 player: 15 y.o. GM Fabiano Caruana beat Zaragatski in the 5th round and Dutch GM Daniel Stellwagen in the 6th and is in sole lead with a perfect score: 6/6! Go Fabiano! Official site: http://www.hztoernooi.nl/index_en.html.
Do you remember the blitz tourney in Torre Boldone? Mida :-) won it with a 8.5/9 score (with one undeserved victory - on time - against a lower rated opponent in round 8); candidate masters Andrea Pirola and Stefano Ranfagni were placed second and third on 7.5 and 6.5 respectively. Thanks to “Heart feast” (“Festa del Cuore” in Italian) organizers for the beautiful prizes. Here are some photos from the tourney.

Ileana Meli (only female participant)
against Paolo Giardina from Pavia.
A decisive game: Ranfagni vs Mida
Andrea Pirola (left), 2nd placed
And the winner is... Mida :-)
At last I report the kilometrical (107 moves) and thrilling win by Caruana against Zaragatski in Vlissingen, with some annotations.

Caruana,F. (2549) - Zaragatski,I. (2480) [C04], Vlissingen 7.8.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
French defence is often a bad choice against Caruana... See, for example, his win against Neubauer in Szeged last May: http://midaschess.blogspot.com/2007/05/stubborn-resistance-and-awful-defence.html.
3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.Bd3
6.Nb3 and 6.Be2 are more popular variations.
6...f6
Probably not the best continuation: 6...Nb4 7.Be2 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.0–0 cxd4 10.cxd4 f6 is safer for Black.
7.Ng5!?
A sharp line in pure Caruana's style.
7...Ndxe5
Correct. After 7...fxg5 White got a huge advantage in Chiburdanidze-Zatulovskaya, Tbilisi 1976: 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Bxg6+ hxg6 10.Qxg6+ Ke7 11.Ne4! Bh6? (11...Ndxe5 is better, although after 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Qf6+ Kd7 14.Qxe5 Bb4+ 15.c3 Bd6 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.Qxg5 White is better anyway) 12.Bxg5+ Bxg5 13.Qg7+ Ke8 14.Qxh8+ Nf8 15.Qh5+ Kd7 16.Nc5+ Ke7 17.Qxg5+ Kf7 18.Qf4+ Ke8 19.h4 etc. (1–0 at move 40).
8.dxe5 fxg5 9.Qh5+ g6
The immediate 9...Kd7 has also been played (with awful results for Black).
10.Bxg6+ Kd7 11.f4
The best. White opens the "f" file and (after 11...gxf4) will protect his "e5" pawn with the Queen.
11...gxf4 12.Bd3 Qe8
12...Nb4 is more common. After 13.0–0 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Qe8 Black has an almost equal game: he has the bishops pair and his King is safe, after all.
13.Qe2
Probably a new move, although it is very natural. The game Ristic-Elbilia, France 1997, continued 13.Qg5 Be7 14.Qxf4 Rf8 15.Qa4 Qh5 16.Nf3 and now after 16...Kd8 Black would have a completely comfortable position.
13...Nb4 14.0–0 Nxd3 15.cxd3 b6 16.Rxf4 Ba6
The position now looks about equal, but Black must be careful, since White retains some attacking chances...
17.Rf6 Rg8
After 17...Bc5+ 18.Kh1 Be7 19.Nf3 c5! Black has nothing to be afraid of. The text move is not bad, anyway.
18.Nf3 Qh5 19.Bf4 Qg4 20.Bg3 Be7
20...Re8 intending ...Kc8 would probably be even better.
21.Qc2 Bb7
Obviously not 21...Bxf6?? , as 22.exf6 wins on the spot, due to the double treat Qxc7+ and Ne5+.
22.Rc1
22.Rf7 was an interesting alternative.
22...c6 23.d4 h5
23...Raf8 was probably even better, while 23...Bxf6? is still bad: after 24.exf6 Qe4 (what else?) 25.Ne5+ Kc8 26.f7 Rf8 27.Qc3! c5 (Nxc6 is too strong) 28.Re1 Qxd4+ 29.Qxd4 cxd4 30.Rc1+ White wins easily.
24.Rf4 Qg6 25.Bh4 Raf8 26.Bf6
The best.
26...Qxc2 27.Rxc2 c5 28.Rf2 cxd4 29.Nxd4 Bc5 30.h3??
A careless move that should cost the game. 30.b4 Bxb4 31.Nxe6 Kxe6 32.Rxb4= was an alternative to be considered.
30...Rg3??
Giving the favor back! 30...Rxf6 wins on the spot: 31.exf6 (31.Rxf6 Bxd4 32.Rf7+ Kc8 33.Kh2 Bxf2 34.Rxf2 Rg5–+) 31...e5 32.Nb3 exf4 33.Nxc5+ bxc5 34.Rxf4 Ke6 and Black wins easily.
31.b4
A nice counter-trick...
31...Bxb4??
...but Black doesn't feel the danger! 31...Bxd4 32.Rxd4 Rfg8 33.Kh2 Ba6 was drawish.
32.Ne2
That's obvious! Now White wins a piece and the game.
32...Ra3 33.Rxb4 Rxa2 34.Nd4
34.Rh4 was stronger.
34...Rxf2 35.Kxf2 Rc8 36.Rb3 Rc4 37.Ke3 Rc1 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 Re1+ 40.Kf3 Rd1 41.Ke3 Re1+ 42.Kf3 Rd1 43.Nb5 d4+ 44.Ke2 Rg1 45.Nxa7
Why not 45.g5 ?
45...Rg2+ 46.Ke1 Rg1+ 47.Kd2 Rg2+ 48.Ke1 Rg1+ 49.Kf2 Rg2+ 50.Kf1 Rxg4 51.Rxb6 Bd5 52.Rb4 Re4 53.Nb5 d3 54.Rxe4 Bxe4 55.Nd4 Bd5 56.Ke1 Kc7 57.Kd2 Bc4 58.Be7 Kb7 59.Bb4 Kb6 60.Kc3 Bd5 61.Kxd3
Black could resign, but he probably wants to see if his opponent can win an endgame with only one extra-piece :-)
61...Kc7 62.Ke3 Kd7 63.Kf4 Ke8 64.Kg5 Kf7 65.Kh6 Bc4 66.Nf3 Bb3 67.Ng5+ Ke8 68.Kg7 Kd7 69.Kf6 Ba2 70.Ba3 Bb3 71.Nh7 Kc6 72.Nf8
The winning manoeuvre is now completed.
72...Kd5 73.Nxe6 Bc4 74.Nf4+ Ke4 75.Nh3 Bb3 76.Ng5+ Kd4 77.e6 Bxe6 78.Nxe6+
Will White be able to win a K+B+N vs K endgame?
78...Ke4 79.Bf8 Kd5 80.Ng5 Kd4 81.Ke6 Ke3 82.Ke5 Kd3 83.Kd5 Ke3 84.Bd6 Kd3 85.Be5 Ke3 86.Kc4 Ke2 87.Kc3 Ke3 88.Bg3 Ke2 89.Kd4 Kd2 90.Nf3+ Ke2 91.Nh2 Kd2 92.Bf4+ Ke2 93.Be3 Kd1 94.Kd3 Ke1 95.Bd4 Kd1 96.Nf3 Kc1 97.Nd2 Kd1 98.Bf2 Kc1 99.Nc4 Kd1 100.Nb2+ Kc1 101.Kc3 Kb1 102.Kb3 Kc1 103.Be3+ Kb1 104.Na4
104.Nc4 was one move quicker: 104...Ka1 105.Bf4 Kb1 106.Na3+ Ka1 107.Be5#
104...Ka1 105.Bc1 Kb1 106.Ba3 Ka1 107.Bb2+ 1–0
And finally Black resigned!

Chuky, future new number 1?

2007-08-06T23:57:00.000+01:00

I'm back! But don't worry... I will stay at home just a few days :-) Yes, I'm going to leave for South Tyrol on Saturday, to spend eight more days of total relax. Sardinia was beautiful (with a wonderful sea), a part from the fact that the apartment where we (me and my fiancée) stayed was probably a meeting point for mosquitos of the whole planet. And they didn't let us sleep very much...
Well, now it's chess time. Many events finished during the past ten days and they are too many to tell about all of them here. So, let's see the most interesting. Vassily Ivanchuk won his third tourney in a row in Montreal, Canada: he scored 7 points out of 9 and edged out by a full point Dutch GM Sergey Tiviakov. Chuky looks still at his best and should reach the top of the Fide list by going on this way: he gained 13 points in Yalta, 14 points in Odessa and 10 points in Montreal. This means, if I don't mind, he is now at 2799: 9 points more than Anand (who lost a couple in Dortmund)! The Mexico City tournament will probably be decisive: if Anand won't win it in a very convincing way he should lose the #1 place of the Fide list... Go Chuky, go! Official site of the Montreal tourney: http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca/index.php?typ=actu&id=1760&categorie.
Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen won his first suprtournament ever in Biel, Switzerland. Magnus scored 5.5 points out of 9 and beat American GM Alexander Onischuk in a rapid-blitz playoff to take the first place. Local idol Yannick Pelletier, Hungarian GM Judit Polgar, Russian GM Alexander Grischuk and top rated Azeri GM Teimour Radjabov (who lost his last round game against the winner) were placed third on 5. Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch.
Ruslan Ponomariov, Alexey Dreev and Veselin Topalov shared first place in the strong Villarobledo Rapid tournament: they all scored 7.5 points out of 9 and edged out by half a point Ivan Sokolov, Predrag Nikolic, Vassily Ivanchuk, Vadim Milov and Zvulon Gofshtein. Alexei Shirov couldn't get more than a sad 14th place on 6.5. Official site: http://www.ajedrezenvillarrobledo.com/.
And now some good news for cheaters all over the world :-) The chess program Pocket Fritz 3 made a 2481 performance in the 11th "Copa Puma Mercosur" and was placed fourth on 5.5/10; GM Andres Rodrigues (URU) won the tourney with 7.5, edging out by half a point IM Pablo Lafuente and by one IM Damian Lemos, both from Argentina. So, if you love cheating, you now have one more weapon to use; better if you do in a toilette :-) Official site of the tourney: http://www.ajedrezmartelli.org.ar/.
Last but not least, Italian baby GM Fabiano Caruana is playing the 11th HZ open in Vlissingen (Holland). He has a perfect score after 4 of 9 rounds and shares the lead with GMs Michal Krasenkow (POL), Daniel Stellwagen (NED) and Fernando Peralta (ARG) among the others; Fabiano will play German master Ilja Zaragatski (2480) in the next round. Official site: http://www.hztoernooi.nl/index_en.html. Caruana will be one of the main guests of the 2007 Trieste chess festival (September 1-8 - http://www.sst1904.com/pagine/index.html), where GMs Sergey Tiviakov (NED), Vladimir Baklan (UKR) and Dusko Pavasovic (SLO) will be the top rated players, and of the 2007 Rocca di Papa rapid tournament (October 21 - http://asd.caissa.it/index.php?cont=TORNEO&id_torneo=6), where Gata Kamsky (USA) will play his first Italian rapid competition ever.
Well, it's time to say goodnight. See you tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at the blitz tourney in Torre Boldone, near Bergamo. Don't you remember? Read the last part of my previous post, immediately!
And now here is our game of the day: the decisive win by Carlsen against Radjabov in Biel.

Carlsen,M (2710) - Radjabov,T (2746) [B07], Biel 2.8.2007
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5
What a strange opening choice for such an important game!
4.Nge2
The two guys are just kidding... 4.Nf3 is much more popular.
4...Nbd7 5.g3 c6 6.Bg2 b5 7.a3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.h3 a5
9...Bb7 is the main alternative.
10.g4 Ba6 11.Ng3 b4 12.Nce2 bxa3
A new move according to my database. 12...d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Re1 bxa3 15.bxa3 Bf6 has been played a couple of times before: Black's position looks completely comfortable.
13.Rxa3!?
13.bxa3 would lead to the position seen in the previous note: 13...d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Re1 Bf6.
13...d5
A natural move.
14.Re3 dxe4 15.Re1! Qc7
The first inaccuracy. 15...Re8 16.Nxe4 Nd5 17.Rg3 Qc7 would be more precise.
16.Nf5 Bd8?
And this is a tempo loss. After 16...Rfe8 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.g5 Nd5 19.Rxe4 Rae8 Black has not much to be afraid of. Now White gets - instead - a strong initiative.
17.g5 Nd5 18.Rxe4 f6 19.Neg3 g6
19...Kh8 20.g6 hxg6 21.Nh4 is not better for Black.
20.Nh6+ Kg7?
20...Kh8 21.dxe5 fxe5 22.Ng4 Be7 would put up a more stubborn resistance, although after 23.c4 Nb4 24.Bf4 Bc5 25.Qxd7 Qxd7 26.Bxe5+ Qg7 27.Bxg7+ Kxg7 28.Bf1 White retains some winning chances anyway.
21.dxe5 fxg5?!
21...fxe5 is more precise, even if 22.c4 Nb4 23.f4 is good for White anyway.
22.e6! Kxh6?!
22...Qa7 is probably the better alternative: now after 23.e7 Qxf2+ 24.Kh2 Kxh6 25.exf8Q+ Nxf8 26.h4 White is winning, but Black can hold on some more moves.
23.e7 Qb6
Black has no defence, e.g.: 23...Nxe7 24.Rxe7 Bxe7 25.Rxe7 Rae8 26.Bxg5+ Kxg5 27.Qg4+ Kf6 28.Rxd7+-
24.exf8Q+ Nxf8 25.c4 Nf4 26.Qd6 Kg7 27.Bxf4 gxf4 28.Re7+ 1–0
Black can't avoid mate in a few moves, so he resigned. A really bad defeat for Radjabov.

Have a wonderful holiday!

2007-07-26T23:59:00.000+01:00

Yes, I'm leaving for holidays. I will be back on August 5, so this Blog and Italian web-zine Messaggero Scacchi (www.messaggeroscacchi.it) won't be updated again until that day. Before going to Sardinia, I have to report on Niccolò Ronchetti's and Fiammetta Panella's victories in the Italian U20 and Female championships respectively. Ronchetti, an 18 y.o. FM from Ravenna, conquered his third title in a row: he scored 7 points out of 9 and won on tie break over FM Denis Rombaldoni from Pesaro and Elo-favourite IM Sabino Brunello from Bergamo: they all remained unbeaten. FM Giuseppe Lettieri from Naples was placed fourth on 6, FM Danyll Dvirnyy from Treviso fifth on 5.5. Panella won her first title (but she was placed second in the previous two editions) by scoring 7 points out of 9, the same of wFM Maria De Rosa from Naples, who had a worst tie break. Marianna Chierici from Reggio Emilia took the third place on 6.5. Rombaldoni won the U18 title and got the qualification for the next Italian (absolute) championship. De Rosa and Chierici won the U20 and U18 Female titles respectively. Congratulations to all! Official site (very good job by arbiters Gerhard Bertagnolli and Giuseppe Scoleri Cardelli) with all games: http://www.fiuggiscacchi.eu/.
Meanwhile, two strong events are taking place in Montreal (Canada) and Biel (Switzerland). Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov won his seventh game against Polish GM Kamil Miton and keeps being in sole lead in Montreal on 5.5; Vassily Ivanchuk follow on 5, Gata Kamsky and Pentala Harikrishna on 4.5. Official site: http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca/. Norwegian "wunderkind" Magnus Carlsen, American GM Alexander Onischuk and Russian GM Alexander Motylev share the lead in Biel on 2/3. Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/.
Finally some sad news (cheating, again) reported on the daily chess web-zine "Chess Today" (www.chesstoday.net). «An incident of cheating occurred some days ago in the Polish town of Police, during the Tadeusz Gniot Memorial (11.07–19.07). One of the participants, Krzysztof Ejsmont from the host country, was expelled from the tournament after 7 rounds for the reason of "unsportive play". 20 year old non-titled Krzysztof Ejsmont was not considered a favorite of the tournament, with his Elo rating of only 2367. After a win in the first round against a much weaker player he continued his victorious series by 5 wins in a row against stronger opponents, among them were GMs M.Grabarczyk and V.Malaniuk. The games themselves were excellent and full of sensational ideas. Suddenly it was discovered (independently by different participants) that many of Ejsmont's moves coincided with suggestions made by the program "Rybka", version 2.3.2. The detailed check-up of these 5 games showed that the percent of the coincidences was... 98%! [...] A thorough deliberation was carried out by a rather large group of people. As a result, a delegation was sent to Ejsmont with the following "proposal": either he leaves the tournament of his own free will which would not have serious consequences for him, or the organizers will report on his behaviour to the national chess federation (which could be more serious). The most interesting thing is that Ejsmont chose the first option and confessed that he cheated! However, some time later, after some phone conversations, he publicly complained about the organizers, which "didn't give him a possibility to play the tournament of his life" and "accused him without proof».
Finally (I almost forgot about that) I have to promote an event :-). A blitz tourney (5 minutes, 9 rounds) will take place in Torre Boldone - at the sports ground in Viale Lombardia -, just outside Bergamo (3-4 kilometers from the town center), on August 7: start at 9 pm, entries (5 euros) by 8.30 pm. If you want to pre-register for the tournament just send an e-mail to me (dario@strababos.it - I will check your e-mails when I'll be back from holidays) or call Ileana (3477442476). Come and play: there is a feast just a few meters from the tourney venue, so you can also eat and... drink :-)

Tiviakov,S (2648) - Miton,K (2648) [C87], Montreal 26.7.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0–0 Bd7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Re1 Be7 8.d4 0–0 9.d5 Nb8 10.Bc2 c6 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.d6 Bg4 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Qd3 Nbd7 15.Nd2 Rfd8 16.Nf1 Be6 17.Ng3 Nf8 18.Qf3 Ne8 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Nf5 f6 21.h4 Nd6 22.b3 Kh8 23.c4 c5 24.Rad1 Bg8 25.h5 Ne6 26.h6 Nxf5 27.exf5 Nd4 28.Qe4 Rd6 29.Bb1?! Ne2+ 30.Rxe2 Rxd1+ 31.Kh2 Rad8 32.Bc2 R1d7 33.Qh4 Qd6 34.Be4 b6 35.hxg7+ Rxg7 36.Bh6 Rgd7 37.Re3 b5 38.cxb5 axb5 39.Rg3 b4 40.Rg4 Rc7 41.f4 Re7? (41...Ra7 =) 42.Rg3 Red7 43.Qg4 Qe7 44.fxe5 fxe5 45.Bc6 Qf6 46.Bg5 Qxc6 47.Bxd8 Qh6+ 48.Rh3 Qd6 49.Bg5 Rf7 50.Rh6 Qf8 51.Qh4 Kg7 52.Rg6+! 1–0

Caruana to play in Wijk aan Zee

2007-07-24T16:45:00.000+01:00

The next edition of the Corus Chess Tournament will be held from 11-27 January 2008 in Wijk aan Zee. You should say it is too early to speak about that: you're probably right, but there are really good news for Italy, so I can't refrain from sharing them with my two or three readers :-). Italian GM Fabiano Caruana, who will turn 15 years old in six days (on July 30), will probably play in the C (or even the B?) group of the event. I don't know if an Italian player has ever taken part in this prestigious tournament... Good luck, Fabiano! Caruana will play his next tournament in Trieste (Italy) in September 1 to 8; he will also give a simul on Saturday 8. Official site of the Corus event: http://www.coruschess.com/.
Some other news from Italy. Many more tourneys ended last Sunday in our country besides Bergamo chess open. In Falconara, near Ancona, 18 y.o. IM Daniele Vocaturo from Rome and IM Pierluigi Piscopo from Lecce shared first place with 7 points out of 9 (both remained unbeaten). Eugenio Capuano from Campobasso and Norwegian FM Krystian Trygstad took third-fourth place on 6.5: thanks to this result, Capuano should obtain the Fide master title. Serbian IM Nenad Aleksic, candidate master Matteo Rotoni from Macerata, Norwegian master Thomas Robertsen and IM Fabio Bruno, former Italian chess champion, were placed fifth on 6, while French IM and Elo-favourite Vladimir Okhotnik couldn't get more than 5.5 points. 111 players competed in the event. Official site: http://digilander.libero.it/dragonscacchicv/festival07.html.
FM Michelangelo Scalcione from Bologna won the 14th Campobasso chess festival. He scored 16/18 (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw) and edged out by two points Russian GM and Elo-favourite Vladimir Lazarev and Croatian IM Milan Mrdja; Filipino FM Virgilio Vuelban, Italian wGM Olga Zimina and candidate master Saverio Gerardi from Frosinone shared fourth place on 13. 97 players competed in the event. Official site: http://xoomer.alice.it/djhdam/tornei.htm.
The U20 and Female Italian championships are going on in Fiuggi, not far from Rome. FM Denis Rombaldoni (2383) from Pesaro leads the U20 group with 5 points out of 6; FM Niccolò Ronchetti (2410) from Ravenna, IM and Elo-favourite Sabino Brunello (2475) from Bergamo and FM Danyyl Dvirnyy (2365) from Treviso follow on 4.5. Round 7 top boards: D. Rombaldoni-Dvirnyy, Brunello-Navarro and Frilli-Ronchetti. Fiammetta Panella from Rome leads the Female event on 5/6, followed by wFMs Marianna Chierici from Reggio Emilia (4.5 points) and wFM Maria De Rosa from Napoli (4). Official site for both competitions: http://www.fiuggiscacchi.eu/.
And now here is another nice win by Alessio Valsecchi from Bergamo in the U20 Italian championship. Well, his opponent resigned a bit prematurely, but Alessio's position was better, anyway.

Sellitti,Fed. (2171) - Valsecchi,Al. (2175) [B21], Fiuggi 22.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5
The most common reply. 2...Nc6 is the main alternative.
3.exd5 Nf6
The best continuation. Black sacrifices a pawn and gets a good counterplay in return.
4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.Bxd7+ Qxd7 6.c4 e6 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.f5
8.d3 and 8.dxe6 are more common.
8...0–0 9.fxe6 fxe6 10.dxe6 Qe7
10...Qe8 is the main alternative, but the text move looks more accurate.
11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Nc3
This is probably a new move. 12.0–0 is the main line, but after 12...Ng4 followed by ...Nge5 Black is slightly better, so the text move is not worst, at least.
12...Nd4!?
12...Rae8 13.0–0 Ng4 14.Nd5 Qxe6 15.Qxe6+ Rxe6 is fine for Black as well.
13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Nb5
After 14.Nd5? Nxd5 15.cxd5 Qg5 Black is much better; 14.Nd1 Rae8 15.0–0 Qxe6 16.Qxe6+ Rxe6 followed by ...Ng4 is also good for Black.
14...Bc5 15.d3 a6 16.Na3 Bb4+ 17.Bd2?
17.Kd1 looks the only way to survive: after 17...b5!? 18.cxb5 Bxa3 19.bxa3 Nd5 20.Bd2 axb5 White's position looks really ugly, but your silicon friends can show you he can survive, e.g.: 21.Rc1 Qxa3 (21...Rxa3 22.Qe5 Nc3+ 23.Bxc3 dxc3 24.Rxc3 Rxc3 25.Qxc3 Qxe6 26.Qb3 Qxb3+ 27.axb3 Rf2 28.g4 Rb2 29.Re1=) 22.Rf1 Rfe8 23.Rf7 Qa4+ 24.Ke1 Ra6 25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qe5+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Qe5+ with a perpetual check.
17...Bxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Ng4!!
A nice blow!
19.Qxg4
19.Raf1 Qg5+ 20.Kc2 Ne3+ is not much better for White, e.g.: 21.Kb3 Rxf1 22.Rxf1 Nxf1 23.Qxf1 Rf8 24.Qe2 Qe3 25.Qxe3 dxe3 26.Nc2 e2 27.Kc3 Re8 28.Kd2 Rxe6 and Black must win.
19...Rf2+ 20.Kc1
20.Ke1 loses even faster: 20...Raf8 21.c5 R8f4–+
20...Qb4 21.Qxd4 Qd2+ 22.Kb1 Raf8 0–1
And White (surprisingly) resigns: his position is all but good, but after 22...Raf8 he can prolong the resistance by playing 23.Rc1 , e.g.: 23...Rf1 (23...Qxc1+!? 24.Kxc1 Rxg2 25.Qg4 Rxg4 26.Kd2 Rg2+ 27.Kc3 Re2 is good for Black as well) 24.Qc3 Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1 Qxd3+ 26.Nc2 Rf1 27.b3 Rxc1+ 28.Kxc1 Qf1+ 29.Kb2 Qf6+ 30.Ka3 Qxe6 31.Rd1 Qe2 32.Rd8+ Kf7 33.Nb4 Qxg2 and Black must win, but the battle is not over yet.

Vladimir Georgiev king of Bergamo

2007-07-22T23:57:00.000+01:00

Long life to the king of Bergamo! Makedonian GM and Elo favourite (with a 2567 rating) Vladimir Georgiev won the 6th International chess open, which ended this afternoon in my home town, after a really tough battle. He scored 5 points out of 6 (four wins and two draws, one of them against candidate master Luca Canova from... Bergamo) and edged out by half a point Filipino IM Roland Salvador (2452), Bulgarian GM Todor Todorov (2500), Ukrainian wGM Inna Gaponenko (2458) and her partner GM Viesturs Meijers (2483). Eight players follow on 4: Ukrainian GM Sergei Krivoshey (2500), Serbian GMs Sinisa Drazic (2480) and Miroljub Lazic (2465), Bulgarian GM Milko Popchev (2465), FM Maurizio Brancaleoni from Rimini (2256), best Italian player, Filipino IM Rolly Martinez (2430), Moldavian wGM Karolina Smokina (2205), Georgiev's partner, and Mauro Barletta from Turin (2257). Alberto Buzio from Verbania dominated the B-group with a final 5.5/6 score, while Lucas Luizaga from Bergamo won the U14 section on 6/7. Congratulations to all winners! This was probably the strongest edition ever (seven GMs, five IMs, one wGM, two FMs) and the one with the highest number of participants (125 from eleven countries). A tournament to remember. Only a "little" fault (big, in my opinion): no games available! Why? Why? Why? Well, I know the answer, but I'm not happy anyway... I hope I will be able to take part to the event sooner or later. And I also hope games will become available as soon as possible (by the next edition, at least!). You can read full results by clicking on the following links: A-group, B-group, U14-group. And here are some more pictures from the event...

The king: Makedonian GM Vladimir Georgiev
Luca Canova, who drew with Georgiev in round 1
Young star Marco Codenotti in action
GM Sinisa Drazic shows his book stand helped by Giru, my fiancée :-)
Stefano Ranfagni, best placed player of Bergamo,
with his coach and friend Marco Gazzetta :-)
Here is the astonishing draw that Luca Canova could get against Georgiev in round 1 (he was even sligthly better at the end of the game).

Georgiev,Vl. (2567) - Canova,L. (2082) [D53], Bergamo 20.7.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Ne4 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Nc3 Nd7 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Qxe4 Qb4+ 11.Nd2 Qxb2 12.Rb1 Qa3 13.c5 0–0 14.Qc2 Qa5 15.Bd3 h6 16.0–0 e5 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Nd6 exd4 19.exd4 b5 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Bf5 Nb6 22.Be4 Bd7 23.Rfe1 Rab8 24.Bf3 Nc8 25.Ne4 Be6 26.Re3 Rd8 27.Rbe1 Qd7 28.h3 Ne7 29.Nd6 Nf5 30.Nxf5 Bxf5 31.Be4 Be6 32.Ra3 Qxd4 33.Rxa7 Bc4 34.Bf3 Qxc5 35.Rxf7 Rd2 36.Qxd2 Bxf7 37.Be4 Qa3 38.Bb1 Bg8 39.Re3 Qf8 40.Rf3 Qe7 41.Re3 Qf6 42.Rg3 Bh7 43.Bxh7 Kxh7 44.Qc2+ Kh8 45.Rg6 Qa1+ 46.Kh2 Qe5+ 47.g3 c5 48.Rc6 c4 49.Qd2 Qe4 50.Qd6 Ra8 51.Rc7 Qf3 0.5-0.5

A chess tiger from Borneo

2007-07-21T22:28:00.000+01:00

The 6th International open will end tomorrow in Bergamo. Makedonian GM and Elo favourite Vladimir Georgiev is on 3.5/4, with a half a point lead over ten players: Ukrainian GM Sergei Krivoshey and wGM Inna Gaponenko, Serbian IM Slavisa Peric, Bulgarian GMs Todor Todorov and Milko Popchev, Gianluca Calvi from Milan, Latvian GM Viesturs Meijers, Philipino IM Roland Salvador, Serbian GM Miroljub Lazic and Croatian FM Miroslav Pukovski. A lot of players follow on 2.5: Serbian GM Sinisa Drazic, Philipino IM Rolly Martinez, Italian IM Daniel Contin, Moldavian wGM Karolina Smokina and Italian "wunderkind" Marco Codenotti from Pisa (10 years old) are among them. Anything can still happen and the last two games will be decisive. Top boards of the 5th round: Georgiev-Krivoshey, Todorov-Popchev, Pukovski-Meijers, Peric-Lazic, Gaponenko-Salvador, Drazic-Calvi. Alberto Buzio from Verbania leads the "B" group with a perfect score (4/4); in this group a chess lover from Borneo, Malaysia, is playing: his name is Richard Kimbin, he is 32 years old (he was born in 1975, like me :-) ) and he hasn't played chess for ten years. He told me he will be living in Bergamo until September 2008 (he works in Terno d'Isola, not far from the town) and we have played some friendly blitz games (we got in touch after he read this blog): he still has a very good chess vision, if you consider that he hasn't been playing for a long time, and I'm sure he will become a really strong player if he studies a bit of theory. So, be careful when you play with him! And... good luck, Richard! Remember I'm waiting for an article about chess in Malaysia (or whatever you want)!
The 4th Americas Continental Championship was held in Cali, Colombia, in July 10 to 20. Peruvian GM Julio Granda Zuniga scored 8/11 and won on tie break over GMs Varuzhan Akobian and Alexander Ivanov from United States, Brazilian GM Darcy Lima and Venezuelan IM Eduardo Iturrizaga; they all immediately qualified into the World Cup. Players who scored 7.5 points played tiebreaks for the two remaining spots: Argentinian GM Fernando Peralta and Brazilian IM Everaldo Matsuura won. Elo favourite GM Jaan Ehlvest from Usa was placed only 18th on 7 points, but there were many other strong GMs who didn't succeed in qualifying: Giovanni Vescovi from Brazil, Boris Gulko from Usa, Ruben Felgaer from Argetnina, Kevin Spraggett from Canada, etc. Official site: http://www.colombiadeportiva.com/continental.htm.
And now here is a short and brilliant win by Mexican IM Manuel Leon Hoyos in Cali.

Leon Hoyos,M. (2484) - Spraggett,K. (2585) [B42], Cali 20.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 d6
6...Qc7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 etc. is the main alternative.
7.c4 b6
7...Be7, 7...g6 and 7...Bd7 are more common.
8.Nc3 Bb7 9.f4
9.Qe2 is also popular.
9...g6
9...Be7 and 9...Nbd7 are the main continuations.
10.f5 gxf5 11.exf5 Rg8
Nothing new under the sun, but White has now a strong novelty to show...
12.Ne4!
A real shock for Spraggett, who soon loses his nerves. Before now 12. Nf3 and 12.g3 have been played.
12...e5
Forced! If 12...Bxe4 then 13.Bxe4 d5 (13...Nxe4 14.fxe6 Ra7 15.exf7+ Rxf7 16.Rxf7 Kxf7 17.Qh5+ Rg6 18.Qd5++-) 14.cxd5 e5 15.Nf3 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 Qd6 (16...Nxe4 17.Qa4+ Nd7 18.Qxe4) 17.Bg5 Nbd7 18.Qd3 and White is much better.; After 12...Nxe4 13.fxe6 Rg7 14.exf7+ Rxf7 15.Rxf7 Kxf7 16.Qh5+ Kg8 17.Qg4+ Bg7 18.Bxe4 White wins easily.
13.Ne6!?
13.Re1 is playable as well, but White wants to complicate the position.
13...fxe6 14.fxe6 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 Ra7 16.Qf3 Bg7?
A terrible mistake. 16...Rg4! 17.Bc2 Rag7 18.g3 Be7 19.Bh6 Qc8 (19...Rg8 20.Bxh7) 20.Bxg7 Rxg7 is unclear, but would probably lead to a draw. Now White wins easily.
17.Bg5 Rf8 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 19.Qh5+ Kf8 20.Rxf6+ Bxf6 21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Rf1 1–0
After 22.Rf1 Qf8 (22...Bg5 23.e7!+-) 23.Rxf6 Qxh6 24.Rxh6 Black is completely hopeless, so he resigned.

And finally here is a little present for Richard... His round 4 victory in Bergamo (I can't say if I report the correct move order: I just saw the position after what I think are moves 13 and 17 and, then, the final combination).

Kimbin,R. - Fiorelli,P. [B77], Bergamo 21.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.h4 a6 11.g4 Rc8 12.Bb3 h5 13.gxh5 Nxh5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.0–0–0 b5 16.Bh6 e6 17.Bxg7 Nxg7? 18.h5! Nxh5? 19.Rxh5! gxh5 20.Qh6 f6 21.Bxe6+ Rf7 22.Rg1# 1–0

Chess postcards from Bergamo

2007-07-20T23:59:00.000+01:00

The 6th Bergamo International open has finally started this morning with a record participation of 126 players. Some of the main favourites got a very hard life: Latvian GM Viesturs Meijers, Makedonian GM Vladimir Georgiev, Bulgarian GM Todor Todorov and Serbian GM Miroljub Lazic drew one of their first two games against FM Maurizio Brancaleoni from Rimini and candidate masters Luca Canova from Bergamo, Francesco Sgaravatti from Padova and Luciano Fattorelli from Novara respectively; Philippino IM Rolly Martinez recovered from a lost position (in round 1) against Giampietro Amato from Messina, who made a terrible blunder in time trouble, and then lost against Alessandro Brigati from Piacenza (in round 2). Many young players take part in the tournament: Italian star Marco Codenotti from Pisa, 10 years old, is among the participants of the “A” group, while Violeta, the 7 years old daughter of Ukrainian wGM Inna Gaponenko, is playing one of her first chess events in the “B” group. Top boards of the 3rd round: Gaponenko-Krivoshey, Drazic-Salvador, Brigati-Meijers. Full results (sooner or later) at http://www.chesslab.bergamo.it/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19. Here are some pictures taken by Daniele Gamba, a journalist and photographer of “Il Nuovo Giornale di Bergamo”, the newspaper I work for.

Inna Gaponenko with Violeta and Vijesturs Meijers
The playing hall: "Palestra Angelini"
Italian young star Marco Codenotti

GM Sinisa Drazic, winner in 2005
Concentrated players
WGM Karolina Smokina
Chessplayers at work
The strong 8th International tourney is underway in Montreal, Canada. Eljanov, Harikrishna and Miton won their first game against Charbonneau, Sutovsky and Short respectively; Bluvshtein-Kamsky and Tiviakov-Ivanchuk were drawn. Official site: http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca. An even stronger event will start on Monday in Biel, Switzerland: this will be a 10 player round robin with Radjabov, Grischuk, Carlsen and J. Polgar among the others. Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch.

Harikrishna,P (2664) - Sutovsky,E (2656) [D87], Montreal 19.7.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Rc1 e5
Not a common variation indeed. 12...cxd4 (12...Bb7!?) 13.cxd4 e6 14.Qd2 Bb7 is much more popular.
13.dxc5
This looks to be a new move. 13.d5 c4 14.Bc2 Bd7 15.Rb1 Nb7= was played in the game Seifert-Zezulkin, Postbauer Heng 1999.
13...Be6 14.c4
After 14.cxb6 axb6 15.c4 Qb8 Black has enough compensation in return for the sacrificed pawn and should soon take it back.
14...bxc5 15.Bxc5 Bh6 16.f4!?
16.Rc2 Re8 17.Nc3 Nxc4 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Nd6 20.Re1 is an alternative to be considered, but the text move looks more dangerous for Black.
16...Re8 17.f5 Qc7 18.Bf2 Bxc4
18...Bxc1 is risky, e.g.: 19.fxe6 Bg5 20.h4 Bh6 21.exf7+ Qxf7 22.Nc3 Nxc4 23.Qe2 Nd6 24.Nb5 Nxb5 25.Bc4 Re6 26.Bxb5 Qe7 27.Bc4 Rc8 28.Qd3 and White has the initiative.
19.Bxc4 Nxc4
19...Bxc1 20.Bd5 is good for White.
20.Nc3?!
20.Rc3 is better, but White tries to keep the initiative.
20...Nb2?
Now 20...Bxc1 looks possible: after 21.Nd5 Qd8 22.Qxc1 Nd6 23.Qe3!? White has to prove his sacrifice to be correct.
21.Nd5 Qxc1
21...Qd6 22.Qc2 Bxc1 23.Rxc1 Reb8 24.Qd2 Rb5 25.Bh4 gives White a strong attack.
22.Nf6+ Kg7
22...Kh8 looks a bit more precise.
23.Nxe8+ Rxe8 24.f6+ Kg8 25.Qxc1 Bxc1 26.Rxc1 Nd3 27.Rc3?!
27.Rc7 is even stronger.
27...Nxf2 28.Kxf2 h5 29.Rc6 Re6?
This natural move is a losing one! 29...g5 30.Ra6 Re6 31.Rxa7 Rxf6+ 32.Ke3 Rb6 would give Black excellent drawing chances (the position is about equal, after all).
30.Rxe6 fxe6 31.g4!
Simple and decisive!
31...hxg4
What else?
32.Kg3 Kf7 33.Kxg4 Kxf6 34.Kh4! a5 35.a4 Ke7
Black has no good defence, e.g.: 35...Kf7 36.Kg5 Kg7 37.h3 Kf7 38.Kh6 g5 (38...Kf6 39.h4 Kf7 40.Kh7 Kf6 41.Kg8 g5 42.h5 g4 43.h6+-) 39.Kxg5 Kg7 40.h4 Kf7 41.Kh6 Kf6 42.Kh7 Kf7 43.h5 Kf6 44.Kg8+-
36.Kg5 Kf7 37.Kh6 Kf6 38.h4 Kf7 39.Kh7 Kf6 40.Kg8 1–0
Zugzwang. Black loses with both 40...Ke7 41.Kg7 and 40...g5 41.h5, so he resigned.

Strange rules for Fide World Cup

2007-07-19T22:59:00.000+01:00

The regulations for the 2007-2009 World Chess Championship Cycle have been published in the Fide Handbook on Fide website. Here are some interesting points: “there are 128 qualifiers” for the 2007 World Cup, with “five Fide president nominees” and “four organiser nominees”. Nothing new under the sun, but I think this is just absurd: if you are friend with Ilyumzhinov or organisers you can compete in the World championship cycle, even if you are a very weak player (this already happened some years ago, if I don’t mind). I hope Italy will organise the Fide World Cup sooner or later... :-) There are good news for journalists as well: “The players are required to make themselves available for short interviews, of not more than 10 minutes duration, immediately after the game”. If they fail to do so, “then the following penalty may be imposed by the Press Officer: 5% of his prize money shall be forfeited to the Organisers and a further 5% to FIDE for each breach. In cases of serious misconduct the player may be disqualified from the tournament and the World Chess Championship cycle”. I just say: wow! This is a very smart move from Fide. Bobby Fischer would have never become one of the greatest World champion of all times with such rules... About stipends: “a) Chairman of the Appeals Committee USD 10,000; b) Three members of the Appeals Committee USD 21,000 (I think this means USD 7,000 each); c) Chief Arbiter USD 8,000; ... g) Press Officer USD 5,000; h) Representative of Fide Medical Commission USD 3,000”. Not bad indeed... You can read full regulations at http://www.fide.com/official/handbook.asp?level=DD106.
The strong 8th Montreal International has started today. Players: Vassily Ivanchuk, Gata Kamsky, Nigel Short, Pavel Eljanov, Sergei Tiviakov, Emil Sutovsky, Kamil Miton, Pentala Harikrishna, Mark Bluvshtein and Pascal Charbonneau. Chuky is the clear favorite: if he wins this tournament he should even arise to third or second place in the next Fide rating list. Official site: http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca.
The Chess Classic Mainz takes place August 13th-19th 2007 at the Rheingoldhalle. Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Etienne Bacrot and Rustam Kasimdzhanov will play a mixed rapid chess and Chess960 event. These will take place along with the usual mixture of other events. Official site: http://www.chesstigers.de.
And now here is a brilliant win by Alessio Valsecchi from Bergamo in Fiuggi, near Rome, where the U20 Italian championship takes place until July 26.

Valsecchi,Al. (2175) - Cantoro,Da. (1853) [B33], Fiuggi 18.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5
The Sveshnikov variation.
6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bxb5
An interesting sacrifice, played even by Sveshnikov himself. 11.Bd3 is a more positional approach to this variation.
11...axb5 12.Nxb5 Ra4
The most common alternative.
13.c4
13.Nbc7+ is much more popular; after 13...Kd7 14.0–0 Rxe4 15.Qh5 Ne7 16.Qxf7 Kc6 17.c4 Qd7 18.Na8 White has a good compensation.
13...Rxc4
13...Qa5+ is the main alternative.
14.0–0 Bg7
After 14...Rxe4 15.Nbc7+ Kd7 16.Qh5 White has a strong attack anyway.
15.Rc1
This looks to be a new move. After 15.Ne3 Rd4 16.Qc2 Ne7 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Nxf5 Nxf5 19.exf5 0–0 Black has better chances, but White could get a draw in the game I. Smirnov-Ustianovich, Alushta 2002.
15...Rxc1 16.Qxc1 Nd4?
A serious mistake. 16...Bb7 was almost forced; after 17.Ndc7+ Kf8 18.exf5 h5 19.Rd1 Rh6 20.Nd5 White has some compensation, but probably not enough.
17.Nxd6+
Simple and effective. Now White can even fight for the full point!
17...Qxd6 18.Qxc8+ Qd8 19.Qc5!?
19.Nc7+ Ke7 20.Nd5+ Qxd5!? (20...Ke8 21.Nc7+=) 21.Qxh8 Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Bxh8 23.exd5 Nf4 looks ok for Black, who can stop White's passed pawns without many problems.
19...Ne6
19...fxe4 20.b4 f5 21.b5 (intending b6 and Rb1) is a very sharp line.
20.Qa3 f6?
A questionable move. After 20...Bf6 21.Re1 fxe4 22.Qa4+ Kf8 23.Qxe4 White has the initiative, but Black can hold on.
21.Rc1
Now Black's position is not easy.
21...Kf7?!
The decisive mistake. 21...Bf8 is the only way to survive, although after 22.Qa6 Nc5 23.Qc6+ Kf7 24.exf5 Kg7 25.Rc4 White is much better.
22.Qa7+ Kg6 23.Ne7+ Kg5
This move loses by force, but after 23...Kh5 24.Nxf5 Kg6 25.h4 Qd2 26.h5+! Kg5 27.Rc3 White has a decisive advantage anyway.
24.Qe3+?!
A poor move. 24.h4+ Kh5 25.Nxf5 Qg8 26.Qd7 Bf8 27.f3 is much stronger.
24...f4 25.h4+! Kh5?
Losing immediately. 25...Kh6 would prolong the battle, although after 26.Nf5+ Kg6 27.h5+ Kxh5 28.Qb3 Ng5 29.Nxg7+ Kg6 30.Ne6 Qb8 31.Qxb8 Rxb8 32.Nxg5 fxg5 33.b3 White wins anyway.
26.Qf3+ Kxh4
If 26...Kh6 then 27.Nf5+ Kg6 28.Rc6+-
27.Qh3+ Kg5 28.Qf5+ Kh6 29.Qxe6 1–0
Black can't avoid mate, so he resigned. E.g.:29.Qxe6 Re8 30.Qh3+ Kg5 31.Nf5 h5 32.g4 hxg4 33.Qh4+ Kg6 34.Qxg4+ etc.

Bergamo head of the (chess) world

2007-07-18T23:59:00.000+01:00

Latin people would say: "Bergamo caput mundi". The 6th International chess open will start in my home town on Friday morning. As I wrote in a previous post, this should be the strongest edition ever; there will probably be more than 120 participants, with eight GMs and two wGMs among them.

A press conference with Fabio Rustico (city council member and former football player), Gianpietro Pagnoncelli (president of Italian chess federation), Gianvittorio Perico, Felice Scarpellini, Valdo Eynard, Ettore Maffi (organizers) and Pierluigi Pizzaballa (member of Antoniana sport association and former goalkeeper of Atalanta football club) was held in Bergamo’s town hall this morning: they showed all peculiarities of the tournament and they are sure the present edition will be a great success. If you want to read more about the tourney you can read my previous post at http://midaschess.blogspot.com/2007/06/bergamo-tourney-you-will-remember.html. A full list of pre-registered players can be read at http://www.chesslab.bergamo.it/PREISCRITTIA07.PDF.
An even stronger tournament will take place in Castione della Presolana, 40 chilometers from Bergamo, at the end of August (23-31), as usual. More than 40 titled players (GMs and IMs) will play and this means the present edition will be the strongest ever (as for Bergamo open). Here are some names (exclusive news for Mida’s Chess Corner readers :-) ): Konstantin Landa (RUS – 2669), Sergei Tiviakov (NED – 2648), Igor Khenkin (GER – 2602), Vladimir Epishin (RUS – 2587), Vladimir Burmakin (RUS – 2581), Csaba Horvath (HUN – 2558), Erald Dervishi (ALB – 2553), Michele Godena (ITA – 2547), Miso Cebalo (CRO – 2533), Alberto David (LUX – 2529), Gyula Sax (HUN – 2522), Pawel Jaracz (BUL – 2495), Marko Tratar (SLO – 2491), Michael Hoffman (GER – 2481), Sabino Brunello (ITA – 2475), Giorgi Bagaturov (GEO – 2474), Jacob Aagaard (SCO - 2467), etc. Many collateral events will take place along the tournament (even a magician exhibition!), so don't miss that! Castione is a mountain and tourist place: your family won't get bored. Official site: www.scaccobratto.com.
The U20 and Female Italian championship has started today in Fiuggi. Top rated players in the U20 event: IM Sabino Brunello (2475), FM Niccolò Ronchetti (2410), FM Denis Rombaldoni (2383), FM Danyyl Dvirnyy (2365), FM Giuseppe Lettieri (2293), Axel Rombaldoni (2269 - Italian U16 champion). Top rated players in the Female event: wFM Maria De Rosa (2085), Marianna Arnetta (2032), wFM Marianna Chierici (2004), Fiammetta Panella (1968), Roberta Brunello (1957 - last year winner). Official site: http://www.fiuggiscacchi.eu/.
Here are some news from Fide at last. The FIDE Ethics Commission is to hold a public hearing on July 28, 2007, in Athens, Greece, to rule on the accusations leveled by Veselin Topalov and his manager Silvio Danailov against Vladimir Kramnik during the 2006 World Championship match in Elista, Kalmykia, and against the organisers of the World Championship and the Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in an interview with the Spanish news service ABC. You can read the full statement made by Roberto Rivello, Italian master and chairman of the Fide Ethics Commission, at http://www.fide.com/news/download/Ethic-Topalov.pdf.

Ian retires from competitive chess :-(

2007-07-16T23:59:00.000+01:00

I'm very sad to write here, for those who doesn't already know, that Australian GM Ian Rogers, 47 years old, has announced his retirement from competitive chess. This happened a few days ago in Adelaide, in his home country, where Ian won the last tournament of his career with 6/7.
"Last Sunday, following the final round of the Checkmate Open in Adelaide, I announced my retirement from all forms of tournament chess", Rogers wrote in his column in yesterday's Sydney Sun-Herald. "The decision, made six days earlier, was not voluntary but was based on unanimous medical opinion that the stress of tournament chess had caused, and would continue to cause, serious health problems unless I stopped permanently". The Closet Grandmaster reports this statement at the following address, http://closetgrandmaster.blogspot.com/2007/07/for-rogers-rp-fans.html, but I haven't found it on Sun-Herald's site (http://sunherald.com.au/). May you help me?
Many Blogs and sites have also written about Ian's decision. Chessexpress says: "GM Ian Rogers, Australia's number 1 player for over 20 years, has won the Lidums Checkmate Open that has just been completed in Adelaide [...]. At the closing ceremony he then announced his retirement from competitive chess, due to health reasons. Unfortunately Ian has a medical condition that is exacerbated by the stress of tournament play and therefore cannot compete at the highest level. He played in the Adelaide tournament to fulfill a commitment he made to the organisers, knowing in advance that this would be his last tournament". Full story: http://chessexpress.blogspot.com/2007/07/gm-ian-rogers-retires-winner.html.
And the Australian Chess Federation site: "Grandmaster Ian Rogers stunned the audience at the prize-giving ceremony for the Lidums Checkmate Open by announcing his retirement from all tournament chess, effective immediately. His retirement was forced upon him by medical advice that was too positive to ignore. Ian had just won the event so at least he was able to retire on a winning note. Australian chess players will miss Ian on the tournament scene. Fortunately, he will still be able to write and coach, two activities that helped to create his reputation as arguably the most influential chess player Australia has produced". Etc. Full story: http://www.auschess.org.au/newsletter/issue/406.html.
You can read my previous post about Ian (a small tribute to him) at http://midaschess.blogspot.com/2007/05/ian-rogers-n-1-chess-globetrotter.html. Although he won't play competitive chess anymore, I'm sure Ian will remain a great chess journalist and trainer. And now I'm really waiting for his auto-biography (about his travels and games - possibly with a huge amount of anecdotes). Go Ian, go!

An unforgettable day (for many reasons)

2007-07-15T21:35:00.001+01:00

This was a hot Sunday in Hungary, Italy and Canada. No, I don't mean because of the weather (which was quite hot too, here in Bergamo). The First Saturday-GM group, the Italian championship semifinal and the strong Ottawa open finally came to an end...
The hottest news come from Budapest, Hungary. The Italian-American IM Fabiano Caruana won the tourney with 7 points out of 9 and scored his third and last GM norm: he is the youngest Italian... and American :-) GM ever (Bobby Fischer and Hikary Nakamura were both 15 years old when they obtained the title). Caruana is 14 years, 11 months and 15 days old: he is the 12th youngest GM of all times, too. Many congratulations to Fabiano, his family and his trainers: you all did a really great job! Official site of the tourney: www.firstsaturday.hu.
A tough battle took place in Cortina (Italy), where a lot of IMs and FMs fought hard to qualify for the Italian championship Final (only five places available), for which GM Michele Godena and IMs Fabiano Caruana and Federico Manca were already qualified (these three were placed first, second and third respectively in the last year champ); three more players (if I don't mind) will be chosen by Fide rating, the twelth participant of the Final will be the winner of the U20 Italian championship, to be held in Fiuggi in July 18 to 26. Coming back to Cortina, eighteen y.o. Daniele Vocaturo from Roma scored 7/9 and edged out six players by half a point, thanks to his win against Elo-favorite IM Sabino Brunello in the last round. Brunello, FM Daniele Genocchio, IM Fabio Bruno, IM Daniel Contin, Alessandro Bonafede (a young Italian master) and FM Francesco Bentivegna shared second place on 6.5; the first four of them are also qualified (thanks to a better tie-break) for the Italian championship Final. Full results: http://www.montebellunascacchi.it/download/CORTINA 2007.doc. No games available (and this is a real pity).
Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi took clear first in the strong 2007 Canadian open, held in Ottawa (capital city of Canada). Bu scored 8 points out of 10; English super-GM Nigel Short, Polish GM Kamil Miton, Indian GM Chanda Sandipan, Canadian IM Tomas Krnan and Russian GM Bator Sambuev shared second place on 7.5. More than 270 players competed in the event, 22 GMs and nine IMs among them. Official (blog) site: http://canchess.blogspot.com/.
And finally... many congrats and best wishes to Barbara and Andrea for their marriage! Andrea is a chess lover (a strong candidate master) and there were some other players at the bridesgroom's side in the church this morning: his father Roberto (who tought him to play chess), me and Devis, a candidate master himself (we were Andrea's best men). Congrats again and have a wonderful honeymoon (and life :-) )!!
And now here is a very nice game from Canadian open.

Kunte,Ab. (2519) - van Dijk,Ti. (2274) [D37], Ottawa 13.7.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.Nd2
10.0–0–0 is more common, but the text move is also quite popular.
10...Bb4
10...Be7 11.Rd1 e5 12.Bg5 d4 13.Nb3 Qd8 14.Be2 a5 15.Na4 g6 is a popular continuation, played several times at top level (even by Kasparov - with Black pieces).
11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bd3 d4 13.0–0 Bxc3 14.Nc4 Qh5 15.bxc3 dxe3
15...Nd5 is the main alternative. Some games - Korchnoj-Lutz (1999) and Topalov-Kramnik (2001) among the others - continued 16.Bg3 dxe3 17.Rae1 Be6 18.fxe3 Rad8 19.Nd6 Ne5 and White has a slight edge.
16.Rae1!?
Probably a new move. White sacrifices a pawn to open the "f" file and get some initiative and attacking chances. 16.Nxe3 Bd7 17.Rab1 is the main line at this point.
16...exf2+ 17.Rxf2 Be6 18.Ne5 Ng4
18...Rae8 looks more precise.
19.Nxg4 Bxg4 20.Rb1 Rad8?!
20...Bc8 (20...Na5?? 21.Rb5) is ugly, but it represents the only way to defend the "b7" pawn, althoughafter 21.Rb5 f5 22.Re2 White has a very good compensation anyway.
21.h3?!
Why not 21.Rxb7 ?
21...Be6?
Now 21...Bc8 was even better than on move 20. Black has already developed his "a8" Rook, so the "c8" square would be fine for his light square bishop. After 22.Rb5 f5 23.Bc7 Rde8 24.Bxf5 Rxf5 25.Rbxf5 Bxf5 26.Rxf5 Re1+ 27.Kh2 Qh6 the position is totally equal.
22.Rxb7
At least! White takes back the sacrificed pawn and keeps the better chances.
22...h6?!
A weak move. 22...f6 intending both ...Rf7 and ...Ne5 was better.
23.Rb5 Qh4 24.Rc5 Nb8?!
Another dubious move. 24...Ne7 was more active. Now the Knight is out of play.
25.Qe2 Qe7?!
25...Nd7!?
26.Rh5
White prepares his pieces for the final assault.
26...Qd7
26...Nd7 27.Bxh6 would lose on the spot, e.g.: 27...gxh6 28.Rxh6 Qd6 (28...Qg5 29.Rh5 Qg7 30.Qe3 Ne5 31.Bh7++-) 29.Qe4 Bf5 30.Rxd6 Bxe4 31.Bxe4+-
27.Bc2 Rfe8
27...f5 28.Bxh6! was not much better for Black.
28.Qf3 Nc6 29.Qg3 Kf8?
The final mistake, but 29...Ne7 30.Bxh6 Ng6 31.Bxg7! would be decisive anyway. Now White wins by playing a spectacular combination...
30.Qxg7+!!
The first (and decisive) blow!
30...Kxg7
30...Ke7 was the only way to avoid an immediate mate, but after 31.Rxh6 Black is completely hopeless anyway.
31.Bxh6+ Kg8 32.Rg5+ Kh8 33.Bg7+ Kg8 34.Bf6+ Kf8 35.Bh7!
The final blow.
35...Ne7
35...Qd1+ 36.Kh2 Qd6+ 37.g3 would only prolong the agony a few more moves.
36.Bg7# 1–0

Radjabov and Carlsen to play in Biel

2007-07-13T23:51:00.000+01:00

I wrote just yesterday I'm waiting for more excitement. And it will probably arrive by the end of the month, since a couple of strong tournaments will take place in Pardubice (Czech Republic) and, above all, in Biel (Switzerland).
The 18th Festival Czech Open will be held in Pardubice until July 29. World School Teams Championship and European Chess Solving Championship will take place during this year’s festival. For the fourth time the chosen tournaments have been granted the status Open European Amateurs Championship. The festival will be played at Cez Arena and at the exhibition and social centre Ideon starting on Thursday 19. Last year’s grand master tournament had an excellent level and there were record –breaking 29 international fulfilled norms, which were 8 GM, 19 IM and 2 WIM norms. This year organizers will try to continue in this high quality. Full details: http://www.czechopen.net/index.php.
The 40th Biel Chess Festival takes place 21st July-3rd August. The main GM is very strong in spite of defending champion Alexander Morozevich deciding not to play due to health reasons (some treatment he needs and from which he'll need to recuperate before the world championship in Mexico City). Players will be: Teimour Radjabov (AZE 2746), Alexander Grischuk (RUS 2726), Magnus Carlsen (NOR 2710), Judit Polgar (HUN 2707), Bu Xiangzhi (CHN 2685), Loek Van Wely (NED 2679), Alexander Onischuk (USA 2650), Alexander Motylev (RUS 2648), Boris Avrukh (ISR 2645) and local idol Yannick Pelletier (SUI 2591). Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch.
The 2007 Canadian Open Chess Championship takes place 7-15 July 2007 in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. After 7 rounds, GM Suat Atalik of Turkey is in clear first with 6 points, followed by GMs Bu Xiangzhi, Vadim Milov, Kamil Miton, Chanda Sandipan and Hoang Thong Tu. GMs Nigel Short, Sergei Tiviakov and a sleuth of other players are tied for 7-23 with 5 points. Event website: http://www.canchess.ca. Event blog: http://canchess.blogspot.com.
A reminder for Italian players: you can send your games for "The 2007 Queen - June" until July 20 (E-mail: redazione@messaggeroscacchi.it). Official page of the contest is: http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/regina2007/index.html. The winner of the most voted game sent by a reader will receive a book as prize.
Here is one of the games chosen for June contest by MS editorial staff (me :-) ).

Rombaldoni,D. (2368) - Bonugli,C. (2091) [B08], Arvier 16.6.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0–0 6.Be3 c6 7.Qd2
7.a4 is more popular.
7...b5 8.Bd3 Bb7
8...Nbd7 is the main alternative.
9.Bh6 e6?
A new (and too passive) move. 9...b4 10.Ne2 c5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Ng3 Nbd7= has been seen before.
10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.h4 Nxc3 13.bxc3
Now White has a dangerous initiative...
13...Re8?
13...Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.h5 g5 16.h6+ Kh8 is more stubborn, although after 17.Qe3 f6 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.0–0 Rg8 20.Rfe1 White is better anyway.
14.h5 Bh8 15.Bg5 Qa5
15...Qc7 would lose anyway, e.g.: 16.Bf6 Bxf6 17.exf6 Nd7 18.Qg5 and White has a decisive attack.
16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Bxg6!
First blow!
17...hxg6 18.Rxh8+!
Second blow!
18...Kxh8 19.Bf6+ Kg8 20.Qh6!
Third and last blow. White loses his "a1" Rook, but Black can't survive.
20...Qxc3+ 21.Kf1 Qxa1+ 22.Ke2 1–0
Black can't avoid mate, so he resigned.

Waiting for more excitement

2007-07-12T23:59:00.000+01:00

A lot of tournaments are taking place in this period, but no top GMs are playing. A couple of events ended in the last few days in Rome (Italy) and Andorra.
Romanian IM Ranko Szuhanek won the 12th European Maccabi Games, held in Rome in July 5 to 11. The Maccabi is the international Jewish Sports Organization, present on the 5 continents, in 50 countries and numbering more than 400 000 members. One GM, three IMs, one wGM and four FMs competed in the event. Szuhanek scored 6 points out of 7 and edged out by half a point Azeri master Samir Davidov, who beat Elo favorite GM Valery Beim in the last round. Georgian wGM Sopiko Khukhashvili (best placed woman), Russian IM Alexey Yuneev, Romanian IM Mihai-Lucian Grunberg and Slovakian master Martin Fraas shared the third place on 5 points. Full results: http://www.emg2007.roma.it/Results/wwwOpen/index.html.
Israeli IM Maxim Rodshtein, Serbian GM Branko Damljanovic and Spanish GM Salvador Del Rio shared first place in the 25th Andorra International open, held in June 30 to July 8. They all scored 7 points out of 9 and edged out by half a point five players: Artur Kogan (ISR), Kevin Spraggett (CAN), Oscar De La Riva (AND), Diego Flores (ARG) and Manuel Perez (SPA). Italian master Angelo Damia was placed 34th-46th on 5 points. 101 players took part in the event, 16 GMs and 12 IMs among them. Official site: http://www.escacsandorra.com/.
Waiting for more exciting action (and games) I finally wrote an article about Kasparov’s visit in Italy on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/articoli/kaspamil.html). Don’t try to translate it by using Google language tools... It would be horrible...
Some news from Italy at last: the Italian championship semifinal takes place in Cortina until July 15. Ten IMs and fifteen FMs compete in the event (58 participants). IMs Sabino Brunello and Fabio Bruno share first place on 5 points after 6 rounds; IMs Roberto Mogranzini and Daniele Contin, FM Daniele Genocchio and young masters Axel Rombaldoni and Alessandro Bonafede follow on 4.5. Results: http://www.montebellunascacchi.it/download/CORTINA%2007.doc.
And now here is a game from the Maccabi tournament.

Angel, H. B. - Gerasimenyk, M. [D00], Rome 11.7.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, a dangerous weapon if you don't know how to face it...
3...dxe4
Black takes up the challenge. 3...e6 would lead to a French defence.
4.f3 exf3
4...Bf5 and 4...e3 are the main alternatives.
5.Nxf3 g6
5...Bg4 and 5...e6 are more popular.
6.Bc4 Bg7 7.Bg5
The immediate 7.0–0 is more flexible.
7...0–0 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.Qd2
9.Qe1 is probably a bit more precise.
9...Nb6
This looks to be a novelty. 9...c5 was the only move played before.
10.Bb3 c6 11.h3 Nbd5 12.Rae1 Bf5 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Rxf5!?
This is probably not correct, but White has to complicate the position if he wants to get some compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
14...gxf5 15.Bh6 f4?
The first mistake. After 15...Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Kh8 White do not have enough compensation, e.g.: 17.Qg5 Qb6 18.Nf3 Rg8 19.Qxf5 e6 20.Qe5 Rg7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.c4 Ne7 23.Ng5 Rf8 and Black is simply an exchange up.
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nxd5 Nxd5
17...cxd5 was probably better: after 18.Qxf4 Qd6 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.c3 intending Bc2, White has the initiative, but Black can hold on.
18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Qxf4 Qxc2
19...Qd6 was safer, e.g.: 20.Re3 Qf6 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.Nd7 Qxd4 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.c3 Qf6 25.Qc7 Re8 26.Qxb7 Qb6 27.Qxb6 axb6 and White has only a slight edge in the endgame.
20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.Qxe7 Qd2??
A horrible mistake. After 21...f6 Black can easily fight for a draw, e.g.: 22.Re3 (22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Re3 Qg6 24.Nd6 Qg7 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.Qxd5 Rad8=) 22...Qc1+ 23.Kh2 Qxe3 24.Ng6+ hxg6 25.Qxe3 Kg7 26.Qe6 Rf7 27.Qxd5 Rc8=
22.Qf6+ Kg8 23.Rf1!
Well done!
23...Qxd4+ 24.Kh1 Rac8 25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Rxf7! Rc1+
The only way to avoid mate.
27.Qxc1 1–0
Black is a piece down, so he resigned. A nice win by Mr. Angel (reported as Italian on the official site), if you consider he is a not rated player, while his opponent was a 2150 master.

Young Italian guns in action

2007-07-11T12:10:00.000+01:00

A couple of months ago he was the youngest Italian player ever to beat a titled player (IM Ljubisavljevic) in an official tournament. Yesterday Marco Codenotti took a brilliant second place in the 6th Dubai Juniors chess open, held in July 2 to 10: he scored 7.5/9, half a point less than Indian FM and Elo-favorite Srinath Narayanan. Marco was ranked 8th in the competition and lost only one game, in the second round, against Azeri Khayala Abdulla (best placed among female players on 6.5). A really extraordinary result for him, if you consider that he was also placed first in the U10 section, with a 2.5 points margin over the second best placed player of his age. You can find full results at http://www.chess-results.com/tnr7062.aspx?lan=1 and some photos and comments on Marco's performance on his trainer's site, http://giovaniscacchistitoscani.blogspot.com/. Congratulations to Francesco Rinaldi for his excellent work with Marco and, obviously, many compliments to Marco, a really talented young player and hopefully a new Italian GM in the near future :-)
About talented young player, IM Fabiano Caruana, #1 Italian player in the July Fide list, is playing in Budapest. He lead on 3.5/4 in the GM group of the First Saturday tournament and he needs 7 points out of 9 to get his third and last GM norm: hopefully Italy will have a new grandmaster very soon... Official site of the tournament: http://www.firstsaturday.hu/.
Here is Caruana's crushing win against Hungarian GM Tibor Fogarasi in round 1.

Fogarasi,T. (2425) - Caruana,F. (2549) [B43], Budapest 7.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0–0 Bc5 8.Nb3 Ba7
8...Be7 9.f4 d6 is more common.
9.Kh1 Nc6 10.Bg5
This looks to be a novelty. 10.f4 d6 was played in some recent games.
10...h5!?
Caruana is not afraid of anything: his opponent't pieces are best developed, but his King is safe and an early attack against White castle looks an interesting idea.
11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.f4 d6 13.Be2 Bd7 14.Qd2 0–0–0
Black has completed his development too. Battle can start now.
15.Rad1 Be8
15...Bb8 was objectively better, but the dark square bishop will turn out to be well located on "a7" in a few moves.
16.Rf3
16.f5 looks stronger, although Black can still organize a good counterplay by 16... Bb8 or even 16...d5 , e.g.: 17.exd5 exd5 18.Nxd5?! (18.Qf4 Ne7 19.Qh4!? Qe5 with an unclear position) 18...Rxd5! 19.Qxd5 Bb8 20.g3 h4 with a strong attack in return for the sacrificed exchange.
16...h4 17.h3 Rg8 18.Qe1 Ne7! 19.f5
After 19.Qxh4 Black has a good compensation: 19...f5 20.Qh7 Kb8 (intending ...Bc6) with chances for both sides.
19...Bc6 20.Nd4
After 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Rxf6 Black can take the initiative by 21...Nf5 22.Bg4 Ng3+ 23.Kh2 Bd7!? etc.
20...Bxd4 21.Rxd4 d5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Rc4??
A terrible mistake. 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Qxh4!? was the correct way to continue the battle, e.g.: 24...e5 25.Rc4 Nf4 26.Rfxf4 exf4 27.Bf3 and White can fight for a draw.
23...Rxg2! 0–1
Simple and brilliant. After23...Rxg2 24.Kxg2 Ne3+ 25.Kf2 Nxc4 26.Bxc4 Qh2+ 27.Ke3 Bxf3 White is hopeless, e.g.: 28.Kxf3 Qxh3+ 29.Kf2 Qxf5+ 30.Ke2 Qg4+–+

Human crushed by a computer. Again

2007-07-09T23:48:00.000+01:00

Three months ago IM Larry Kaufman publicly made an offer to all top level players who think their brains were better than computer's microchips. "I will donate $ 1,000 of my own money", he wrote on http://rybkaforum.net, "to any grandmaster who can win a six game match from Rybka". The duel finally took place in Potomoc, United States, in July 5 to 8. Rybka's opponent was GM Jaan Ehlvest (Fide rating 2629), who had already lost a match at pawn odds against the same program last March. Terms of the challenge were as follows:
1. Prize Fund (from five Rybka fans): Match victory by Ehlvest - $11.000. Drawn Match - $3.100. Consolation prize for lost match - $1.500.
2. Opening book: Rybka is limited to a 3 move deep opening book.
3. Endgame Tablebases: None allowed.
4. Hardware limitation: Quadcore pc, limit of 512 MB for hash tables.
5. Color: Ehlvest gets White every game.
6. Time limit: Fide time control (90'+30" increment) for Ehlvest, 45'+15" for Rybka.
7. Breaks: five minute break twice each game on request by Ehlvest. Computer may reboot if frozen.
8. Schedule: First game, 5 p.m. July 5, next four games 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. July 6 and 7, final game 9 a.m. July 8. All times Eastern Daylight Time (Washington D.C./NY).
9. Playing location: Kaufman's home in Potomac, MD.
10. Expense money: $300 minimum guaranteed.
11. Match to be broadcast over the Internet, details TBA.
As you can see, Rybka had many handicaps; nonetheless, "he" totally dominated and won by 4.5-1.5, with three wins and three draws. A poor result for good Jaan, but I think that human players can only compete with other human players nowadays: chess programs are too strong for everyone! Just remember what happened to Kramnik last Winter...
Rybka's team is now waiting for an answer by Fide regarding their $100,000 challenge to Deep Junior, winner of the "Ultimate Computer Chess Challenge" which took place in Elista last June. But I think Ilyumzhinov will never give any answer...
And now here is a crushing win by Italian prodigy Marco Codenotti (10 y.o.) in the 6th Dubai Junior chess open: he shares second place on 6.5/8 with only one round to go and he will probably be the best U10 player whatever happens in the last game. You can find more details (in Italian) on Francesco Rinaldi's (his trainer) site, http://giovaniscacchistitoscani.blogspot.com/.

Codenotti,M. - Mehdi,Mam. [B23], Dubai 9.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 Nge7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 g6
6...Nxd4 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qf2 d5 looks better.
7.Ndb5 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Qxd5
White is a pawn up, but Black has some counterplay.
10...Qh4+ 11.g3 Qe7+ 12.Be2 Nb4
12...a6 13.Nc3 Bg7 would give Black good chances.
13.Qc4 Be6?
A bad mistake. 13...Bf5 14.Nc7+ Kd7 15.Nxa8 Nxc2+ 16.Kf2 Qc5+ 17.Kf3 Bg4+ 18.Kg2 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Qc6+ 20.Qf3 Nxa1 would lead to a drawish endgame. Now White takes the initiative.
14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Nxe6+ fxe6?
15...Qxe6 was better: after 16.Qxe6 fxe6 17.Kd1 White has excellent winning chances, but Black can hold on.
16.Qd4+ Ke8 17.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 18.Kf2 Qc5+ 19.Kg2 Nxa1 20.Qxh7 Qc2 21.Kf2 Bc5+ 22.Kf3
Black is now hopeless.
22...Qf5 23.Rd1! a6 24.Qg8+ Bf8 25.g4 Qf6?
25...Qf7 would prolong the resistance.
26.Bd3 Qg7 27.Qxe6+
27.Bxg6+ Ke7 28.f5!! was more brilliant.
27...Be7 28.Bxg6+ Kf8 29.Bd2
29.f5 intending Bh6 was even stronger, but White wins anyway.
29...Nc2 30.Bc3 1–0

Anand, Chuky and Maccabi Games

2007-07-08T23:20:00.000+01:00

Here I am! Yes, I'm back! No, I didn't write anything in the last few days: the article about Kasparov's visit in Milan has remained into my mind. I took a six days total rest and now I'm ready for... two more weeks of holidays! Yes, I will leave for Sardinia on July 27, but do not worry: now I'm in Bergamo and I'm ready for three hot weeks of chess.
I was in Rome until July 5; on that day the chess tournament of the 12th European Maccabi Games has started in Acqua Acetosa Sports Complex. One GM, three IMs, one wGM and four FMs compete in the event. The Maccabi is the international Jewish Sports Organization, present on the 5 continents, in 50 countries and numbering more than 400 000 members. The present edition has 16 sports (Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bridge, Chess, Fencing, Football, Futsal, Golf, Karate, Squash, "Stracittadina", Table Tennis, Tennis, Ten-Pin Bowling, Volleyball), in 8 world class venues, a Sports staff of over 200, and almost 2000 athletes from 38 countries, making it the largest European Maccabi Games ever. The event will end on July 12. Results: http://www.emg2007.roma.it/ResultIndex.aspx.
A couple of strong rapid events took place in the last few days. Vishy Anand won the XX Ciudad de León tournament by beating Veselin Topalov (3-1) in the final match, as happened in 2006: this is his 7th title in the Spanish competition and the third in a row. Official site: http://www.advancedchessleon.com. Vassily Ivanchuk took the first place in The Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup, held in Odessa (Ukraine): he scored 7 points out of 9 and edged out Alexander Grischuk by half a point. Teimour Radjabov and Alexei Shirov were placed third on 5.5, followed by Boris Gelfand on 5. Official site: http://www.worldcup.pivdenny.com.
My congratulations to 15 y.o. master Axel Rombaldoni from Pesaro: he was placed first in the Italian U16 championship and won his 6th National youth title in a row. He achieved an IM norm last April and he is now rated 2269; I'm sure he will become International Master by a couple of years. Go Axel! Official site of the Italian U16 champ: http://www.palermoscacchi.it/.
And now here is our game of the day, a brilliant win by Anand against Topalov in Leon.

Anand,V (2792) - Topalov,V (2769) [B84], Leon 8.7.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Nbd7
The immediate 7...Qc7 is more common.
8.0–0
8.f4 is the main alternative.
8...b5 9.a4 b4 10.Nc6 Qc7 11.Nxb4 d5 12.Nxa6!?
12.Nba2 is too passive, while 12.Qd4 was played in Beliavsky-Stean, Moscow 1975; the game continued 12...Bc5 13.Ncxd5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5?! (14...Qb8) 15.Qxg7 Nxe3 16.Qxh8+ Nf8 17.fxe3 and White won.
12...Bxa6 13.exd5 Bd6
This looks to be a novelty. The game Faibisovich-Liberzon, Grozny 1969, continued 13...Be7 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Qe2 Qc8 17.Nb5 0–0 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bh4 Rf7 and Black got slightly better chances and eventually won.
14.h3 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bb7 17.Qc4 Bc6
Black is a piece up, but White has three dangerous passed pawns on the Queen side. Chances are about equal at the moment, but Topalov is forced to win in order to level the match and soon loses his nerves...
18.b4 Qb7
18...Rc8 looks more precise, e.g.: 19.b5 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Bxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qb7+ 22.Qc6 Rxc6 23.bxc6 Qxc6+ 24.Kxh2 Qc7+ 25.Kg1 0–0 with an unclear endgame.
19.Rad1 Be7?
19...Bxb4 loses to 20.Rxd7 Bxd7 21.Bf3+-; but 19...Ne5 was better, e.g.: 20.Qd4 0–0–0 21.f4 Ng6 22.a5 Nh4 and Black has some counterplay. Now White takes the initiative.
20.b5 Bxg2
What else?
21.Rxd7! Kxd7
21...Qxd7 22.Kxg2 0–0 23.Bf3 is even worse.
22.Qg4+?!
22.Qd4+ Qd5 23.Rd1 Qxd4 24.Rxd4+ Ke6 25.Kxg2 was stronger.
22...Ke8?!
Topalov misses his last chance to put up a tough resistance: 22...f5! was a better alternative, e.g.: 23.Qd4+ (23.Qxf5+ Ke8 24.Bh5+ g6 25.Bxg6+ hxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 27.Bh6+ Rxh6 28.Qxh6+ Kf7 29.Qh5+ Kf8 30.Qh8+=; 23.Rd1+ Ke6 24.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Rxa4 26.b6 Rb8 and Black can hold on) 23...Bd5 24.c4 Rxa4 (24...Bf6!? 25.Qd1 Ke6 26.cxd5+ Qxd5 27.b6 Qxd1 28.Bxd1 is good for White as well) 25.Qd1 Rb4 26.Bf3 Rxb5 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.cxd5 Qa6 and White can still fight for the full point, but Black has some drawing chances.
23.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Rxa4 25.b6
This pawn is now unstoppable.
25...Ra5
25...Kd8 26.Rd1+ Kc8 27.Bg4+ Rxg4+ 28.hxg4 Rd8 29.Ra1 was also hopeless for Black.
26.Rd1 Bg5?
A big blunder in a lost position. 26...Bc5 would prolong the agony: 27.b7 Ke7 28.Rd5 Bxe3 29.Rxa5 Bf4 is a better attempt for Black, although 30.Bg4 intending Bc8 and Ra8 is decisive.
27.b7 Ke7 28.Bb6 Re5 29.Bd8+ 1–0
The text move is good enough, but 29.Rd8 Rxd8 30.Bxd8+ followed by b8Q was more spectacular. Topalov resigned anyway.

Caruana on top of the (U16) world

2007-07-01T23:10:00.000+01:00

I told that yesterday and I repeat: I will report on Kasparov's lecture in Milan as soon as possible. I will leave for Rome tomorrow morning and I won't be able to update this Blog (and my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it) for a few days, but I think I will have the possibility to write an article on my fiancée's lap-top along the week. Keep connected. I know you will miss my very interesting posts :-) (yeah, sure...): you can read some articles I wrote for www.chess.com if you miss me so much (http://www.chess.com/members/view/mida is the direct link to my profile: you can find there the list of my posts).
And now let's speak about ratings... Fide released the July list and Italy can say "hurrà": 14 years old IM Fabiano Caruana is the most rated U16 player of the world! Famous "wunderkinds" such as Indian GM Parimarjan Negi and Chinese wGM Hou Yifan are behind him: congratulations, Fabiano! Caruana, with his 2549 rating, is also the #1 Italian player of the list, although GM Michele Godena is very close at 2547. And what's about the top players? Vishy Anand consolidates his lead arising at 2792 (+6), Vladimir Kramnik is on second place at 2769 (-3), Veselin Topalov is third at 2768 (-4). Super-Chuky is just a few points behind the Bulgarian at 2762 (+33). Michael Adams seems to have a twin brother: for some reasons he is both 14th and 25th in the list (but his "weaker brother" has no Fide title :-) ). Hopefully Fide will correct this mistake soon. More details on www.fide.com.
Vladimir Kramnik has defended his last-year title and scored 8th victory in Dortmund over the last 15 years. Vlad's participation was confirmed only one day before the start as he was struggling with respiratory infection. The illness left no scars on his determination: the World champion played nice games and used all the opportunities to score full points. Tied on second place were Russian champion Evgeny Alekseev, Vishy Anand and Peter Leko, all with single win and six draws. Kramnik, Anand and Leko are probably happy with their performances before the Mexico World Championsip. Fourth Mexico participant, Boris Gelfand, arrived in Dortmund after two exhausting Candidate matches and was not at his best: he was placed only seventh on 2.5 (two losses and five draws). Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. Final report (in Italian) on my site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
Now I have to prepare my bag and I need to sleep at least six hours :-)... so, please forgive me: no annotated game, again.

Garry, a (happy) Russian in Milan...

2007-06-30T23:59:00.000+01:00

I'm exhausted. I can't say it wasn't a nice evening at Dal Verme theatre. Kasparov spoke for about 15 minutes to the audience (about chess and... politics): he was in a very good mood and he was as brilliant and polite as usual. His young wife Dasha was with him: they had a baby about 8 months ago. Unfortunately this was not that kind of event where journalists can make questions (and receive anwers :-) ). So... here are the questions I couldn't make to Garry (and some pictures I took).

Garry speaking to his interpreter (his wife on the right)
1) From chessboard to politics, from a virtual battlefield to a less defined one but definitely more real. Who is or has been you toughest opponent: Karpov, Kramnik, Putin or who-ever?
2) About your "war" against Putin, you told to "Spiegel": "We are not playing chess, we're playing roulette". Do you think, apart from the next elections results, that "battle for democracy in Russia", as you call it, would be less "bloody" without him? And, in case your coalition didn't win elections, are you ready to fight more and again?

A brilliant speaker
3) You were on top of the Fide list for two decades. Last April you were in the "top 100" list of the most influential people on "Time magazine". What's your next target?
4) You titled your last book "How life imitates chess". An ambitious title, since chess become a comparison for life and not the opposite, as one should expect. Is that title a tribute to chess or a way to impress readers? (Just a note here: this book will be published in Italy by Mondadori, probably in the next few months).

Garry signing books: he was in a very good mood
5) Russia is in a big chaos. Fide, headed by a Russian politician, a friend of Putin's, is in a big chaos too. Don't you think you may come back to chess, in 10 or even 20 years, and become the Fide president? (When I asked him this question three years ago in Turin he answered something like: "My attention is all for Russian people now").
6) What do you think about the present confusion in the world championship cycle? Rules are changing almost once a month...

Garry (second from right) with all other guests:
the evening is almost finished
7) And what do you think about the cooperation between Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Bessel Kok? Would you ever cooperate so promptly with Putin or his coalition if they will win next elections?
8) Kramnik, Anand, Aronian, Leko, etc. who do you think will be the winner in Mexico city? And who do you think is the best active player of the world nowadays?

Leaving the scene: bye bye Garry
9) When you won a memorable game against Topalov in Wijk aan Zee 1999 you told your best game hadn't been played yet. You gave up professional chess, now. Can you tell what is your best game ever? And your most memorable tournament?
That's all. You can obviously use these questions if you find Kasparov on your way in the next few months :-)
I will report on this evening as soon as possible. I will leave for Rome on Monday morning and I won't be able to update this Blog (and my Italian site) for a few days, but I think I will have the possibility to write an article on my fiancée's lap-top along the week (I will have a new lap-top in a few weeks: my old one is dead :-) ). So stay tuned.
Vladimir Kramnik almost secured first place in the Sparkassen chess meeting, which will end tomorrow in Dortmund (Germany). Vlad won against local idol Arkadij Naiditsch in round 6, while Anand and Alekseev drew their game; Leko beat Gelfand with Black pieces and now share second place with them on 3.5 (Kramnik is on 4.5). Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. You can also find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
Here is our game of the day: please forgive me, I'm too tired for commenting anything.

Kramnik,V (2772) - Naiditsch,A (2654) [E04], Dortmund 30.6.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 Nd7 7.Qxc4 Nb6 8.Qb5 a6 9.Qd3 e5 10.Nxe5 Nb4 11.Qd1 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxd4 14.Be3 Nf5 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nc3 Bc5 17.e3 0–0 18.Ke2 Re8 19.Nd3 Rb8 20.Rhc1 Be6 21.Bd5 Bd7 22.Ne4 Bf8 23.Rc7 Rbd8 24.Nc3 Nd4+ 25.Kd2 Be6 26.exd4 Bxd5 27.Nxd5 Rxd5 28.Rxb7 b5 29.a4 Rxd4 30.axb5 Red8 31.bxa6 Rxd3+ 32.Ke1 Re8+ 33.Kf1 Rdd8 34.a7 Ra8 35.b4 Re7 36.Rxe7 Bxe7 37.b5 Bc5 38.Rc1 Bd4 39.Rc4 Bxa7 40.Ra4 Rb8 41.Rxa7 Kf8 42.Ra5 Ke7 43.Ke2 Rb6 44.Kd3 Rd6+ 45.Kc4 Rd2 46.b6 Kd6 47.Rb5 Rc2+ 1–0

Great battle for young fighters in Sicily

2007-06-29T23:59:00.000+01:00

More than 660 "wunderkinds" will compete in the 2007 Italian U16 championship, to be held in Palermo (Sicily) from tomorrow to July 7. Master Axel Rombaldoni from Pesaro (one IM norm) and Italian female champion Roberta Brunello from Bergamo are clear favorite in the main U16 event (in male and female groups respectively). Sicily will be (that's obvious) the more represented region with 111 players; Emilia Romagna follows on 69, Marche on 63, Lazio on 48 and Piemonte on 47; only 33 participants from Lombardia, 16 of them coming from Bergamo (where I live) and only 13 from Milan (the second most populated Italian city after Rome). Official site: http://www.palermoscacchi.it/.
As expected, Ukrainian superGM Vassily Ivanchuk won the 2007 Aerosvit tournament, which ended today in Yalta (Ukraine). Chuky drew his last game against Svidler and scored 7.5 points out 11, a half more than his young compatriot Sergej Karjakin. Alexander Onischuk (USA), Peter Svidler (RUS), Loek Van Wely (NED) and Alexei Shirov (ESP) shared third place on 6, Cuban top GM Lenier Dominguez was placed fifth on 5.5. After three great months of chess, Chuky will be fourth in the July Fide list on 2762, just a few points behind Topalov and Kramnik (both on 2769, if I don't mind). Vishy Anand will arise to 2792 and consolidate his first place thanks to his good performance in the German Bundesliga. Official site of the Aerosvit tourney: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
The day has come: Garry Kasparov will be in Milan tomorrow (June 30). I know he's not very approachable in this period (he is a politician, don't you remember?) and he will not give any press conference, but I'll try to ask him a few questions, if possible (I'm an accredited journalist, after all :-) ). If not, he will give a lecture about "Competions", anyway, and you will read my report here by tomorrow or Sunday evening. Official site of the cultural event Kasparov will take part in: www.lamilanesiana.it.
And now here is our game of the day...

Sasikiran,K (2690) - Van Wely,L (2674) [D44], Yalta, 29.6.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 Qb6 13.exf6 0–0–0
The extra-sharp Botvinnik System of the Slav Defence was much popular only a few year ago at top level, but is considered too risky for Black nowadays. Van Wely shows he is not afraid...
14.0–0 Bh6
14...c5 15.d5 b4 16.Na4 Qb5 17.a3 etc. is a more common variation.
15.Bxh6 Rxh6 16.b3
A rare move. 16.Qd2 and 16.Ne4 have been played more often.
16...cxb3 17.Ne4
17.axb3 Nxf6 18.Ne2 e5 19.Qc1 Rdh8 20.h4 exd4 21.Rd1 c5 22.Nxd4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Rh5 24.Nf3 was played in Del Rio Angelis-Dominguez, Ubeda 2001: White has better chances, but Black managed to get a draw. The game Hofmann-Bohne, Bad Bergzabern 1997, went 17.Qxb3 Nxf6 18.a4 b4 19.Ne2 a5=
17...Nxf6 18.Nc5 b2!
A strong novelty. Czerwonski- Kaszowski, Poland 2000, continued 18...bxa2 19.Rxa2 Nd7? 20.Qc1 and White soon got a huge advantage.
19.Rb1 e5 20.Qd2
20.Qf3 is interesting, e.g.: 20...exd4 21.Qf4 Rdh8 22.Qf5+ Kb8 23.Rxb2 Bc8 24.Qe5+ Qc7 25.Qxd4 and White is even slightly better.
20...Rh5 21.Qxb2
21.Rxb2 Rxd4 22.Qc3 b4 23.Qf3 Qxc5 24.Qxf6 was more complicated.
21...exd4 22.Nxb7 Kxb7 23.a4 a6 24.Rfc1 Nd5 25.a5
25.Qe2 Rh6 26.axb5 axb5 27.Rb3 is an interesting alternative for White.
25...Qxa5 26.Qxd4 Qb6
26...Qc7 looks even stronger.
27.Qg7 Rf5 28.Rb2 Qc7 29.Re2
29.Rbc2 is probably better.
29...Qd6 30.h4?
30.Qa1, followed by h4 on the next move, was much more precise.
30...Qf6! 31.Qg4
White's Queen is now unable to cooperate with her Rooks.
31...Re5 32.Rd2?!
32.Rxe5 Qxe5 33.h5 would give White more drawing chances.
32...Qe6 33.Qd4 Re1+ 34.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 35.Kh2 a5
Sasikiran's position is now almost desperate.
36.Rc2 a4 37.Be4 Qb4! 38.Qd3 Rd6 39.Bf3 Kb6 40.Qf5 Qb3 41.Bd1?
The last mistake in a very bad situation: 41.Rc1 is probably the best way to prolong the resistance.
41...Nc3 42.Rd2
42.Bf3 a3 43.Rc1 Qb2 wouldn't help.
42...Qe6 43.Qf4 Rxd2 44.Qxd2 Nxd1 45.Qxd1 a3
White should resign.
46.Qd4+ Kb7 47.h5 Qd5 48.Qh8 a2 49.h6 Qd1 50.Qf6 a1Q 51.Qxf7+ Kb6 0–1
And Sasikiran finally shook hands.

Chuky on the crest of a wave

2007-06-28T23:10:00.000+01:00

The Dortmund supertournament took a rest day, but this doesn’t mean there was no excitement today in the chess world. In Yalta, Ukraine, Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk beat Spanish GM Alexei Shirov with Black pieces and took sole lead in the Aerosvit supertournament: he is now on 7/10 with only one round to go. His young compatriot Sergey Karjakin follows on 6.5, Russian superGM Peter Svidler (unbeaten) and Shirov share the third place on 5.5. It's just a pity that Chuky won't play the next World championship tournament in Mexico City. He is playing at his best in this period and he should be a very tough opponent for everyone (and even a serious candidate to win the title). Top games of the 11th and final round will be Ivanchuk-Svidler and Jakovenko-Karjakin. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Sergei Tiviakov won the 2007 Dutch championship: he took the title by beating Daniel Stellwagen on a rapid tie-break (1.5-0.5), after both finished on 7.5/11. Ivan Sokolov and Friso Nijboer shared third place on 6.5, Jan Smeets and Erwin L’Ami were fifth on 6. GM Peng Zhaoqin dominated the Women’s event by scoring 8 points ou of 9 (unbeaten). Indian GM Humpy Konery took clear first in the main open with 7.5/9; Georgian GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili was placed second on 7. Official site: http://www.schaakbond.nl/nk2007/.
And now here is the brilliant win scored by Chuky today.

Shirov,A (2699) - Ivanchuk,V (2729) [C91], Yalta 28.6.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.d4
Not the favorite move at top level. The immediate 7.Re1 is much more popular.
7...d6
7...Nxe4 8.dxe5 Nc5 9.Bd5 Bb7 10.Nc3 0–0 is the main continuation. With the text move Black tries to re-enter the main line.
8.c3 0–0 9.Re1
Shirov definitively deviates from the super-theoretical line 9.h3 Re8 10.Re1.
9...Bg4 10.Be3
10.d5 is more common; 10...Na5 11.Bc2 c6 12.h3 Bc8 13.dxc6 Qc7 14.Nbd2 Qxc6 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.Ng3 Re8 is quite a popular continuation.
10...exd4 11.cxd4 d5!?
11...Na5 12.Bc2 c5 is good as well.
12.e5 Ne4 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qd7 15.h3 Bh5 16.g4
An ambitious move. 16.Bc2 is the main alternative.
16...Bg6 17.Nd2 a5
This looks to be a new (and interesting) move. 17...f5, 17...Na5 and even 17...Bh4 have been played before.
18.f4 a4 19.Bc2 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 f5!?
The position is quite complicated now, but it looks like Black has completely equal chances.
21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Nf3 Rae8 23.Bf2
23.Ne5 was probably a better alternative.
23...h5
A strong and ambitious move. Black now has a dangerous initiative.
24.Qg6
Shirov spent a lot of time for this move, but 24.f5 hxg4 25.hxg4 g6 26.Bg3 gxf5 27.gxf5 looks more cautious.
24...Re4 25.Rxe4 dxe4 26.Nh2?
26.Ng5 Bxg5 27.Qxg5 hxg4 28.hxg4 leads to a complicated (but probably drawish) position. The text move is a serious mistake, after which Chuky wins almost by force.
26...Nxd4!
A nice end effective blow.
27.cxd4 Bxd4 28.Rb1 e3 29.Bg3
29.Be1 Rxf4 30.Kg2 h4! was not better.
29...h4!
The decisive blow. Now White is completely hopeless.
30.Bxh4 Rxf4 31.Qd3 Qd5 32.Nf1
32.Rb4 c5 33.Rxd4 cxd4 34.Bg3 Rf6 would only prolong White's agony some more moves.; while 32.Rxb5 e2+ loses on the spot.
32...Rf2! 33.Nxe3
33.Bxf2 exf2+ 34.Kh2 Be5+ 35.Qg3 Bxg3+ 36.Nxg3 Qxa2 would lose anyway.
33...Rg2+ 34.Kh1
If 34.Kf1 then 34...Qf3+ 35.Ke1 Bc3+ 36.Qxc3 Qe2#
34...Qf3 0–1
White's only chance to avoid mate is 35. Nxg2, but 35... Qxd3 36. Kh2 (36. Re1 Qxh3#) 36... Qxb1 is not very promising :-), so Shirov resigned. An impressive win by Chuky and one of the best games of the whole tourney!

Vlad, an ill killer in Dortmund

2007-06-27T23:58:00.000+01:00

His participation was in question only a few days before the tournament, because of a strong respiratory infection. But antibiotics enabled him to play. And now Vladimir Kramnik leads alone on 3/4 the 2007 Sparkassen Chess Meeting, held in Dortmund (Germany). The world champion defeated young Norvegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen in convincing style in round 4, while Russian champion Evgeny Alekseev couldn't get more than a draw against Hungarian top-GM Peter Leko; Israeli Boris Gelfand also shared the point with Azeri "Shakh" Mamedyarov; Vishy Anand outplayed Arkadij Naiditsch in the endgame and this means that he joined Alekseev on second place at 2.5. Tomorrow (my birthday :-) ) there will be the second and last rest day; round 5 games: Leko-Kramnik, Mamedyarov-Anand, Naiditsch-Alekseev and Carlsen-Gelfand. Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. You can also find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
Ukrainian prodigy Sergey Karjakin still lead jointely with his compatriot Vassily Ivanchuk on 6/9 the 2007 Aerosvit supertournament, but Spanish GM Alexei Shirov, who beat Russian GM Dmitry Jakovenko with Black pieces in round 9, is now just half a point behind them. Alexander Onischuk, Lenier Dominguez, Loek Van Wely and Peter Svidler follow on 4.5. Shirov-Ivanchuk will be the main duel of round 10. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Fide finally made a statement on his own site about the resignation of the first appeal committee of the 2006 match between Kramnik and Topalov. "There have been continuing accusations in interviews, articles and letters that the original members of the Appeals Committee of the World Championship Match between Topalov and Kramnik in Elista in 2006 abused the match regulations as well as the contract with players", you can read on www.fide.com. "The Presidential Board and the Fide President want to stress once again that the decisions of the Appeals Committee in the match were in accordance with the match regulations as well as the contracts and were meant to ensure equal playing conditions for both players. The resignation of the members of the Appeals Committee that time was made to ease the atmosphere and ensure that the match continued". Yes, well, but why has Fide published this statement only now?
Our game of the day is the easy win by Vlad against Carlsen in Dortmund.

Kramnik,V (2772) - Carlsen,M (2693) [E05], Dortmund 27.6.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4
8.a4 is the main alternative.
8...b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2
The continuation 10.Bf4 Nc6 11.Rd1 Nb4 12.Qc1 Rc8 13.Nc3 Nbd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 gives Black full equality.
10...Nc6 11.e3 Nb4 12.Bxb4 Bxb4 13.a3 Be7 14.Nbd2 Rc8 15.b4
15.Nb3 has also been played, but the text move looks more effective.
15...a5 16.Ne5 Nd5?
After 16...Bxg2 17.Kxg2 c6 18.Rab1 (18.Nd3!? axb4 19.axb4 Nd5 was played in Marin-Marciano, Bucharest 1993) 18...axb4 19.axb4 Nd5 20.Nd3 Qb6 21.Rfc1 White got a slight advantage in Zueger-Moor, Switzerland 2001. The text move is not a new idea, but I can't find it on my database. That doesn't look good on move 16, anyway.
17.Nb3! axb4
Almost forced. 17...a4 18.Na5 followed by Nac6 is better for White anyway.
18.Na5!
A strong intermidiate move.
18...Ba8 19.Nac6 Bxc6?!
19...Qe8 (or 19...Qd6) was slightly better, although White keeps a better position after 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Nxe7+! Qxe7 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Rfb1 Qd6 24.Rxb5.
20.Nxc6 Qd7 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.axb4
White hasn't done anything special, but he has a big advantage now.
22...Rfe8
22...Ra8 23.Ra5 Rxa5 24.bxa5 Ra8 25.a6! was hopeless for Black.
23.Ra5 Bf8
Black can't do anything to protect the "b5" pawn. His position is almost lost!
24.Ne5
The immediate 24.Rxb5 was also possible.
24...Qe6 25.Rxb5 Rb8
After 25...Bxb4 26.Rxb4 c5 27.dxc5 Qxe5 28.Rd1 White wins easily.
26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.Qxc7 Bd6
27...Rxb4 28.Ra1 f6 29.Nd7 was also hopeless for Black.
28.Qa5! Bxb4?
28...Bxe5 29.dxe5 Qxe5 30.Rd1 wouldn't be much better, but the text move loses immediately.
29.Rb1
Simple and decisive.
29...Qd6
Forced. 29...Bxa5 30.Rxb8++-; 29...Bd6 30.Rxb8+ Bxb8 31.Qd8+ +-.
30.Qa4 1–0
Now after 30... Bd2 31. Rxb8+ Qxb8 32. Qd7 Qf8 33. Qxd5 Black is two pawns down without any compensation. So Carlsen resigned.

Old kings have lost their fighting spirit

2007-06-26T23:49:00.000+01:00

Alexander Khalifman is the king of all (old) kings. The Russian GM and former world champion took clear first place in Bazna (Romania), where the "Kings tournament" ended today. Khalifman scored 7 points out of 10 by beating Rafael Vaganian in the last and decisive game: they were tied going into the final round. The Armenian GM was placed second on 6, Slovenian GM Alexander Beliavsky follows on 5.5. Unfortunately it was not a really exciting event: 43 games out of 55 ended in draws, 21 of them in 22 moves or less. Hungarian GM Zoltan Ribli (average moves per game: 23) and Swedish GM Ulf Andersson (a.m.p.g.: 21) both drew all their "battles". Beliavsky won only one game (against the winner) and share all other points, but he was much more fighting, with an average of 43 moves per game. This was a category 13 tournament. Official site: http://www.clubulregilor.ro/.
Vassily Ivanchuk beat Sergei Rublevsky in round 8 of the Aerosvit supertournament and joined compatriot Sergey Karjakin on 5.5/8, a point clear of Spanish GM Alexei Shirov. Five players follow on 4: Onischuk, Van Wely (who won against Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran), Dominguez, Svidler and Jakovenko. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Gianpietro Pagnoncelli, president of FSI (Italian Chess Federation), was awarded with the "Silver Star for sports merits" by Coni (Italian National Olympic Committee). Pagnoncelli was born on February, 1950, near Bergamo (my hometown :-) ). He is a Fide International arbiter since 1998 and he is a great tournaments organizer, too (the Presolana Chess Festival is his best known creature). I know him since I was 15 or 16 (I will be 32 on June 28 :-) ) and I've sometimes played against his son Marco, a master class player. Congratulations, Gianpietro!
And now here is our game of the day, the decisive battle of the Kings tournament...

Khalifman,A (2624) - Vaganian,R (2590) [C09], Bazna 26.6.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5
3...Nf6 is a totally different continuation.
4.Ngf3 Nc6
4...cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 is more popular, but this "old" line is perfectly playable. The main continuation is 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 etc.
5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.0–0 Nge7 9.Nb3 Bd6
9...Bb6 is an interesting alternative.
10.Re1 0–0 11.Bd3
11.Bg5 Bg4 leads to an approximately equal middlegame.
11...h6 12.h3 Nf5 13.c3 Qf6
13...Bc7 has also been played.
14.Bc2 Rd8 15.Qd3 g6 16.Nh2
Probably a new move. 16.Qd2 Bf8 17.Nh2 Qg7 and 16.Bd2 a5 17.a4 b6 are more common continuations.
16...Bxh2+
16...h5 (to prevent Ng4) 17.Nf3 Nh4 18.Nbd4 was slightly better for White.
17.Kxh2 Nh4?
Such a blunder is rare for an experienced (and French expert) player like Vaganian...
18.Bxh6 Ne5??
When he played 17...Nh4, Vaganian probably intended to reply with 18...Qxf2 to 18.Bxh6, but he must have seen that White gets a huge advantage after this move, e.g.: 19.Re2 Qf6 20.Qd2 Nf5 21.Bg5 Qd6+ 22.Bf4 Qf8 23.Rae1 and Black is almost paralyzed. But the text move is even worse and loses immediately.
19.Qg3 Nef3+
19...Ng4+ 20.hxg4 g5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Re5 Qf6 23.Rae1 was not better.
20.gxf3 Nxf3+ 21.Kg2 1–0
After 21.Kg2 Nxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Bd7 (22...Qd6 23.Re8+; 22...Qb6 23.Qe5) 23.Bg5 Qh8 24.Bxd8 Rxd8 25.h4 White is simply a piece up, so Black resigned. Thanks to this miniature Khalifman took clear first place in the tournament.

Dear players, be kind please!

2007-06-25T23:58:00.000+01:00

Chess players, be kind or... you'll lose the game! The Fide Presidential Board, held in Tallinn, decided on setting up behavioural norms in chess events. No, this is not a joke. The PB discussed "several recent cases in different chess tournaments where the attitude of players toward their opponent or officials, journalists etc. was not acceptable under conventional social behaviour". This is why Fide decided, at last, that "any player who does not shake hands with the opponent (or greets the opponent in a normal social manner in accordance with the conventional rules of their society) before the game starts in a Fide tournament or during a Fide match (and does not do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game". You can say this is ridiculous, I think it is a sad necessity. I'm personally aware of some episodes where players even insulted their opponents... Perhaps they just got nervous for some reasons and reacted in a wrong way (perhaps their opponent were a bit guilty themselves, too), I don't know: this doesn't justify them anyway. Remember you are playing chess, not football :-) You have to be sporty, whatever happens. If you can't stand a loss (because this is the main reason why a player gets nervous), just give up chess and try another sport. More details on www.fide.com.
The Sparkassen Chess Meeting had a rest day. Tomorrow's games will be Mamedyarov-Kramnik, Carlsen-Alekseev, Gelfand-Anand and Leko-Naiditsch. Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. You can also find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
Round 7 of the Aerosvit supertournament was played in Yalta,Ukraine. Sergey Karjakin strengthened his lead by beating Loek Van Wely; Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexei Shirov also won against Pavel Eljanov and Krishnan Sasikiran respectively. Standings: Karjakin 5/7; Ivanchuk 4.5; Shirov 4; etc. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
And now here is Karjakin victory's...

Karjakin,S (2686) - Van Wely,L (2674) [B90], Yalta 25.6.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3
Karjakin usually plays 7.Nb3 at this point. The text move is a solid alternative.
7...Be7 8.Bc4 0–0 9.0–0 Nc6 10.Re1 b5 11.Bf1 Rb8 12.Bg5 Ng4 13.Bc1
Probably a new move. White deviates from the game Anand-Topalov, Morelia-Linares 2007, which continued 13.Bd2 Be6 14.Nd5 h6 15.h3 Nf6 16.c4 Qd7 17.b3 Bd8 18.Rc1 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Ne7 20.Bd3 Bb6 21.Nh4 g5 22.Nf3 Rfc8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Nh2 Ng6 25.Ng4 1/2–1/2.
13...Qb6 14.Qd2 Nf6 15.h3 Re8 16.Qd1
It looks like White is a bit confused...
16...h6 17.b3 Bf8 18.a4 b4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Na5?!
The first inaccuracy. After 20...Ne7 Black has completely equal chances.
21.Be3 Qc7 22.Nd2 f5 23.Nc4 Be7?!
Probably not the best choice: 23...Nxc4 24.Bxc4 Qf7 looks safer.
24.Qh5!
Now Black is in deep trouble.
24...Rf8
This allows White to finish the game with a brilliant combination. 24...Rd8 and 24...Bd7 had to be considered.
25.Nxa5 Qxa5 26.Bxh6!
First blow!
26...gxh6?
Now Black loses by force. 26...Bd7 was the only way to survive, although White has a huge advantage after 27.Bg5.
27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qxh6+ Kg8 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Re3!
Now Black has to prevent Rg3.
30...f4
Almost forced, but...
31.Rxe5!
Second and decisive blow!
31...dxe5 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.d6
Wonderful! White is one Rook and one Bishop down, but Black doesn' have a good defence!
33...Rf7
This loses immediately, but after 33...Qd8 34.Bc4+ Rf7 35.dxe7 Qxe7 36.Qg6+ Kf8 37.Bxf7 Qxf7 38.Qd6+ Kg7 39.Qxb8 Black is hopeless anyway.; 33...Bxd6 loses even sooner: 34.Bc4+ Rf7 35.Qg6++-
34.Bc4 Bf5 35.dxe7 1–0
After 35...Qc5 36.Qg5+ White takes the Rook back with a totally winning position, so Black resigned. "I was lucky today!", commented Karjakin after the game.

An Italian king for European Union

2007-06-24T23:57:00.000+01:00

Long life the king! Italian GM Michele Godena won the European Union title by scoring 8 points out of 10 in the Eu championship, which ended today in Arvier. Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak took first place on tie break, but Serbia didn't run for medals, since it is not part of Eu yet. So, after some disappointing results in the last two months, Italian champion finally played at his best and could achieve a well-deserved gold medal in this strong competition. Congratulations, Michele!
German GM and Elo-favourite Thoms Luther was placed third (which means silver medal) on 7.5 along with young Italian IM Fabiano Caruana (bronze), Irish GM Alexander Baburin and Croatian GM Miso Cebalo. Lithuanian GM Sarunas Sulskis, Croatian GM Nenad Sulava and Spanish MF Marcos Llanez Vega. Italian IM Sabino Brunello, who scored a GM norm after round 9, lost his last game against Sulskis and was placed 10th on 6.5; his sister Marina, 13 years old, scored only half a point less than him. Very well indeed! Official site: www.scacchivda.com. Final report (in Italian) on my Italian site at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/dblog/articolo.asp?articolo=76.
Russian champion Evgeny Alekseev beat Azeri #1 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to take over the lead in the Sparkassen chess Meeting. Alekseev is on 1.5/2 along with World champion Vladimir Kramnik, who won a nice ending against Boris Gelfand. The other games, Anand-Leko and Naiditsch-Carlsen, were both drawn. Next round will be on Tuesday. Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. You can also find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
At the Presidential Board meeting, which is currently being held in Tallinn, Estonia, Fide has introduced a new Grand Prix series and a new world championship cycle. Fide made some special rules to govern the 2007-2009 stage, in order to give Topalov the chance to enter it. You can download the "New World Chess Championship Cycle rules" on the www.fide.com site. Some explanations are given on the www.chessbase.com site. Here is an excerpt: "Former Fide world champion Veselin Topalov gets to play an eight-game Challenger's Match against the winner of the 2007 World Cup. If Kramnik does not win the Mexico City world championship tournament he gets to play a match against the winner of Mexico, as a one-time right to challenge the new world champion. The winner of this match will play against the winner of the Challenger's Match. If Kramnik wins the World Championship tournament in Mexico City then he has to play Topalov directly for the world championship in 2008. In this case there will be no Challenger's Match. Instead the winner of the 2007 World Cup in Khanty-Mansyisk gets to play a world championship match against the winner of the Kramnik-Topalov match in 2009". In any case, there's a high possibility to see a Kramnik-Topalov re-match by the end of 2008...

Alekseev,E (2679) - Mamedyarov,S (2757) [B85], Dortmund 24.6.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 d6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bd7 9.a4 Be7 10.f4 0–0 11.Nb3 Rc8 12.a5 Nb4 13.Bf3 e5 14.Rf2 Qc7 15.Rd2 Be6 16.Bb6
This should be a new move according to my (old) database. 16.Ra4 is the main line here, e.g.: 16...Bxb3 17.Rxb4 (17.cxb3 d5? (17...Nc6=) 18.exd5 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Kh1 Rfe8?! 21.d6 Rcd8 22.Qg1 Qxg1+ 23.Kxg1 and White won, Mokry-Cebalo, Reggio Emilia 1991) 17...Bc4 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 exf4 20.Bb6 Qb8 21.Re2 Rce8 22.Rxf4 Nd7 with chances for both sides, Nunn-Dzindzichashvili, Thessaloniki 1984.
16...Qb8 17.f5 Bxb3
17...Bd7 had to be considered.
18.cxb3 Nd7 19.Be3 b5?!
19...Nc5 looks better.
20.axb6 Nxb6 21.Kh1
21.f6!? was an interesting alternative, e.g.: 21...Bxf6 (21...gxf6? 22.Bg4 with the idea Bf5, Qh5) 22.Rxd6 Na8 (22...Rc6 23.Rxc6 Nxc6 24.Rxa6) 23.Rxf6 gxf6 24.Bg4 Rfd8 25.Qe2 Rc6 26.Bd7 Rd6 27.Bf5 Nc7 28.Qh5 Kf8 29.Qxh7!? and White has a dangerous attack.
21...Rc6 22.Be2 Qb7 23.Bf1! Rfc8 24.Qg4 Nd7 25.Bc4 Nf6 26.Qf3 h6 27.Bf2 Rxc4?!
Black loses his nerves. A quiet defence like 27...Bd8 with the idea ...a5 or ...Bb6 was preferable.
28.bxc4 Rxc4 29.Bh4!
White has some initiative anyway and he is also an exchange up now.
29...Rd4 30.Rad1 Nc6 31.Bxf6 Bxf6 32.Nd5 Bg5 33.Rxd4 Nxd4 34.Qa3 Qc6 35.Qc3 Qb5 36.b4
Black can just wait for the end: he has no serious counterplay in this position.
36...Qe2 37.Qd3 Qa2 38.Rf1 h5 39.g3 f6 40.Kg1 h4
Repeating the position by 40...Ne2+ 41.Kh1 Nd4 was probably better, although after 42.Re1 White has a hugh advantage anyway.
41.Rf2 Qa1+
41...Qa4 42.Kg2 hxg3 43.hxg3 would only prolong the agony some more moves.
42.Kg2 Kh7 43.gxh4 Bf4 44.Kh3! Kh8 45.Ne7 1–0
A very convincing win by the young Russian champion!

Sabino, a young future GM for Italy

2007-06-23T23:57:00.000+01:00

I probably made a wrong calculation, or I just ignore some rules... Whatever happened, it seems that half a point was enough for Italian IM Sabino Brunello to score his first GM norm in the European Union championship... and he drew against Croatian GM Nenad Sulava! This means, according to official site, that he did it! Many congratulations, Sabino! And happy birthday in advance: he will be 18 years old on June 27. Another Italian idol, GM Michele Godena, beat Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest with Black pieces and now share first place with Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak (having a better tie-break) with only one round to go: they're both on 7.5/9. Croatian GM Miso Cebalo follows on 7, eight players are on 6.5: Brunello, German GM Thomas Luther, Slovakian GM Tomas Likavsky, Irish GM Alexander Baburin, French IM Vladimir Okhotnik and GM Erik Prie, Italian IM Fabiano Caruana and Sulava. Top boards of 10th and last round: Sedlak-Cebalo, Godena-Sulava, Prie-Luther, Baburin-Likavsky, Okhotnik-Caruana, Sulskis-Brunello. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
Veselin Topalov will not play in Mexico City, as Bulgarian Federation asked to Fide. But, according to a press release from Peter Rajcsanyi (Fide Pr and Marketing Director), "Topalov will have an eight-game Challenger Match against the winner of the 2007 World Cup in the year 2008 as part of the new WCCh cycle". According to the regulations, if "Kramnik wins the WCCh tournament in Mexico City 2007, a match between Kramnik and Topalov, the current and the previous world champions, will take place in 2008. In that case, the winner of the Kramnik-Topalov match will play against the winner of the 2007 World Cup". More details at: http://www.chessdom.com/news/topalov-wcc.
Azeri GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, number six in the world, beat German GM Arkadij Naiditsch in a tense 44-move battle and took sole lead in the 2007 Sparkassen Chess Meeting, which started today in Dortmund. Alla other games were drawn: Kramnik-Anand was a Slav which Anand held comfortably in 35 moves; Gelfand-Alekseev, a Symmetrical English, looked fine for Black, but was drawn in 23; Carlsen-Leko was an Anti-Marshall that ended in a 29-move draw. Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/. You can also find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/dortmund07.html).
And now here is our game of the day...

Agrest,E (2561) - Godena,M (2558) [D43], Arvier 23.6.2007
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 h5!?
Probably a new move. 11...Bg7 is the main line here.
12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.Qc1 Rg6 15.Rd1 Ng4 16.Bg3 f5
Godena is usually not an attacker, but in this game he shows he can be...
17.f3 Nh6 18.b3 cxb3 19.axb3 Kf7 20.Bf2 a6 21.Ra2 Be7 22.Bd3 g4 23.Be3 Rh8 24.f4 Rf8 25.Re2 Kg8 26.Bb1 Qc7?!
26...h4, keeping the initiative, was much stronger.
27.d5! fxe4?
27...Qb8 was more precise.
28.Bxe4 Nf5 29.dxc6?
After 29.dxe6 White has excellent winning chances, e.g.: 29...Nxe3 (29...Rxe6 30.Nd5! Qc8 31.Nxe7+ Nxe7 32.Bc5+-; 29...Qc8 30.Bxf5 Rxf5 31.Qc2 Rff6 32.f5+-) 30.Bxg6 Nxd1 31.Nd5+-
29...Bxc6 30.Na2?!
A weak move. 30.Nxb5 was the only way to fight for the initiative, e.g.: 30...axb5 31.Bf2 h4 32.g3 e5!? 33.Rc2 hxg3 34.hxg3 Bxe4!? 35.Rxc7 Rh6 36.Kf1 Rh1+ 37.Bg1 Nxg3+ 38.Kf2 Rxf4+ 39.Qxf4 exf4 40.Rxe7 Kf8 and the position is all but easy to understand. After 30.Na2, instead, Black can start a strong attack.
30...e5
30...Nxe3 31.Qxe3 Bxe4 32.Qxe4 Qc5+ 33.Kh1 Qf5 would also give Black good winning chances.
31.fxe5 Qb7 32.Bxf5 Rxf5 33.Bc5?!
33.Qc2 Be4 34.Qd2 Rxe5 35.Bd4 Bg5 36.Qb2 would give White better chances to fight for a draw.
33...Bf3 34.Rf2
34.gxf3?? gxf3+–+
34...Rxe5 35.Bd4 Bxd1 36.Bxe5 Bxb3 37.Kh1 Qc6 38.Nc3 b4 39.Qb1 Bf7 40.Ne2 Qc5
Time control: Black has a totally won position.
41.Qf5 Qd5 42.Qxh5 Rg7 43.Rxf7
43.Qf5 Be6 44.Qh5 Bd7 was not better for White.
43...Qxf7 44.Qh6 Rh7 45.Qc6 Bf8 46.Kg1 Rh5 47.Bd4 Rf5 48.Ng3 Rd5 49.Ne2 b3 50.Qc8 Qf5 51.Qc4 Kh7?!
51...b2 52.Bxb2 Bc5+ 53.Bd4 Qe6 would win immediately.
52.Qxb3 Rb5 53.Qc3 Rb1+ 54.Nc1 Bh6 0–1
An important win for Godena, who now has excellent chances to be the 2007 EU champion.

Just another step, please!

2007-06-22T23:55:00.000+01:00

He can do it! Sabino Brunello drew with Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest in round 8 of the European Union championship and he now needs a victory against Croatian GM Nenad Sulava (he will have Black pieces) in round 9 to score his first GM norm. In case of a draw, he will have another chance in round 10, where a victory should become the only possible result to reach the target. I'm sorry, anyway, because I think Sabino missed a very good opportunity against Agrest: he played Qc4?! on move 30 when he was short of time, but Rd1 was much stronger. What a pity! Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak beat Irish GM Alexander Baburin (who really did his worst to lose a completely won position :-( ) with Black and still leads alone on 7/8; Italian champion Michele Godena is the only player remaining only half a point behind him, while Brunello, Italian IM Carlo D'Amore, Agrest, German GM Thomas Luther, Croatian GM Miso Cebalo, Lithuanian GM Sarunas Sulskis and Sulava follow on 6. Ten players are on 5.5: among them FM Folco Castaldo from Ivrea and brothers Axel and Denis Rombaldoni from Pesaro. They can all score an IM norm (if I don't mind, it should be the third and last for Denis). Good fight and good luch to all of you! Official site of the tournament: www.scacchivda.com.
The Sparkassen Chess Meeting will start tomorrow in Dortmund, Germany. There were some rumours about a possible withdrawal by Vladimir Kramnik, because of a severe respiratory infection, but it seems that the world champion has recovered sufficiently to play the tourney. As I've already written, this is a category 20 event which includes the world's top ranked player: Viswanathan Anand, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Leko, Boris Gelfand and 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen - besides Kramnik, Arkadij Naiditsch and Evgeny Alekseev. You will find a Dortmund section on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (by tomorrow afternoon). Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/english/english.html.
Sergey Karjakin became the sole leader of the Aerosvit super-tournament after his victory over Alexey Shirov in round 5. The young Ukrainian GM is on 3.5/5, while his compatriot Vassily Ivanchuk follows on 3. The only other decisive game of the round was Rublevsky's victory over Sasikiran. Remaining four games were drawn; Svidler played with Van Wely and made his 5th draw in a row, while it was only the first for his opponent. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
And now just look at the following position: 13 years old Marina Brunello (sister of Sabino) showed her great talent by winning this endgame, where she forced her opponent to play defensive moves, so that he found himself in a zugzwang position.

Brunello,M (1924) - Maahs,E (2193), Arvier 22.6.2007
Black is an exchange down but has a pawn more. It looks like he can hold on and obtain an easy draw, but unfortunately for him this is not true... The game continued:
62.Rb7 h5 63.Rh7 h4 64.Ra7 Kd5 65.Ra4 Ke5 66.Re4+ Kf6 67.Kd3 Kf5 68.Re7 Kf6 69.Re8 Kf5 70.Kd4 Kf6 71.Kd5 Kf7 72.Re6 Kg7 73.Ke4
White's plan is now clear: Marina wants to reach a position where her opponent's king would be in a mating net, so that he would have to move his Bishop or pawns, losing on the spot.
73...Kg8 74.Kf5 Kf7 75.Re4 Kg7 76.Re7+ Kf8 77.Kf6 Kg8 78.Kg6 Kf8 79.Re4
The position has been reached and this means... zugzwang! Now Black can't play 79...Kg8 because of 80.Re8#.
79...e2 80.Rxe2 Bc1 81.Re5 Bf4 82.Rxg5 Bd2 83.Re5 Bc3 84.Re4 Bd2 85.Rxh4 Ke7 86.Re4+ 1–0
Black finally resigned. Great endgame by Marina!

Arvier: Brunello fights for GM norm

2007-06-21T23:58:00.000+01:00

Go Sabino, go! The young IM Sabino Brunello, who lives in the surroundings of Bergamo (my town :-) ), share second place in the European Union championship in Arvier (Italy), after beating French GM Erik Prie in round 7. Brunello is on the way to his first GM norm: he will face Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest in tomorrow's round and, in case of a victory (but a draw should be good, too), he would be very close to this target. Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak still leads alone on 6 points, after a draw against Italian champion Michele Godena, but five players are just half a point behind him now: Godena and Brunello themselves, Irish GM Alexander Baburin, Agrest and Slovakian GM Tomas Likavsky. Top boards of round 8: Baburin-Sedlak; Brunello-Agrest; Godena-Likavsky; Borgo-Luther; Vocaturo-Sulava. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
Israeli GM Michael Roiz took first in the "Gorenje 2007" tournament, held in Valjevo (Serbia) in June 13 to today. Roiz scored 6.5 points out of 9, winning on tie break over Turkish GM Suat Atalik, both remaining unbeaten. Anatolij Karpov was placed third on 5.5: not a bad performance by the Russian GM and former world champion, who lost only to Roiz in round 7, but this way he will never come back in the top 20 list (you have to be on 2700 in this moment to own to the "tops" club), as he is on 2668 and he gained only 1 point from this tourney. Probably he is not even interested in that, anyway, since he drew his last round game against Slovenian GM Dusko Pavasovic (who was placed 9th-10th) after only 10 moves. Official site: www.chessdom.com.
Sergej Karjakin, Alexei Shirov and Vassily Ivanchuk share the lead on 2.5/4 in the Aerosvit supertournament in Yalta (Ukraine). Van Wely, after losing his first two games, was the only winner in round 4 (against Ukrainian Dmitry Jakovenko) and is now on 2 with six (!!) more players: Alexander Onischuk, Lenier Dominguez, Krishnan Sasikiran, Peter Svidler, Jakovenko and Pavel Eljanov. This means that anything can still happen. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Poll for "The 2007 Queen - May" is now open: you can vote the best game of the last month at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/public/sondaggio/vota5.php, you can watch games at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/chessviewer/maggio07.html or download them at http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/zip/maggio07.zip. Italian players can also start sending their June games.
And now here is today's brilliant win by Van Wely in the Aerosvit super-tournament.

Van Wely,L (2674) - Jakovenko,D (2708) [E15], Yalta 21.6.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 c6 8.e4 d5 9.Qe2!?
This move was first played by Belarussian player Viacheslav Dydyshko 25 years ago. 9.e5 is the main line here.
9...dxe4
The game Dydyshko-Salov, URS ch 1982, continued 9...0–0 10.e5 Nfd7 11.Qe3 Re8 12.Bd3 c5 13.cxd5 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Bc5 15.Qe4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 exd5 17.0–0–0 Nc6 18.Ng5 Nf8 19.f4 h6 20.Nf3 with chances for both sides.
10.Nxe4 Bb7 11.Neg5!
A (strong) new move. Both Dydyshko-Kruszynski, Rubinstein Mem 1993, and Sinkovics-Farago, Hungary 1986, continued 11.Bg2 c5 12.Nfg5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Nc6 14.dxc5 and now 14...bxc5 and 14...Nd4!? look the best alternatives.
11...0–0
11...h6 12.Nxf7! Kxf7 13.Ne5+ Kg8 14.Bh3 Bc8 15.Ng6 White would have a very promising attack anyway.
12.Bh3 h6?!
Probably not a smart choice. White wants to sacrifice his piece anyway, why Black loses a tempo to force him to do that? 12...Nbd7 looks better, e.g.: 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Bxe6 Nf8 15.Bxf7+ Kxf7 16.0–0 Kg8 17.Rfe1 Bd6 and Black holds on.
13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Bxe6+ Kh8 15.Ne5
Now White has a powerful attack.
15...Qxd4
If 15...g5 then 16.Ng6+ Kg7 17.Nxf8 Bxf8 18.Qe3 with the idea h2-h4 and Black's defence is very hard.
16.0–0 Bd6 17.Ng6+ Kh7 18.Bf5!
18.Nxf8+ Bxf8 19.Rad1 was a clear way to get a permanent advantage, but Van Wely wants even more!
18...Re8
Forced.
19.Be3 Qc3
Forced again.
20.Rad1 Ba3
20...Qb4 would give Van Wely a strong attack anyway: 21.Qd3! Bc7 22.Be6! Rxe6 23.Nf8+ Kh8 (23...Kg8 24.Nxe6 Qe7 25.Nxc7 Qxc7 26.Bf4 Qc8 27.Rfe1) 24.Nxe6 Qe7 25.Nxc7 Qxc7 26.Bf4 Qc8 27.Rfe1 and White is much better.
21.Qf3?
What a pity! Van Wely misses a win by force: 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Bd4! Qa5 (22...Qxd4 23.Ng6+ Kh7 24.Ne5+ Kg8 25.Rxd4+-; 22...Rxe7 23.Bxf6!+-) 23.c5! Nbd7 (23...bxc5 24.Bxf6+-; 23...Bxc5 24.Bxf6+-) 24.Bxd7+-
21...Bc8??
A horrible blunder: after 21...Na6 22.g4 Kg8 23.h4 Nb4! 24.g5 Nc2 25.gxf6 Qxf6 Black can continue fighting.
22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.Qf5 Re8 24.Bd4 Qa5 25.c5!
Now Black's position is simply hopless.
25...Kg8
The computer move 25...Bb2 was the only chance to prolong the resistance, although after 26.Bxb2 Qxc5 27.Be5 Kg8 28.b4! White wins anyway.
26.Ne7+ Rxe7 27.Bxf6 Rd7
Last mistake, but Black's position was lost.
28.Qg6 1–0
Now Jakovenko can't avoid mate, so he resigned.

A chess study from Turin

2007-06-20T23:59:00.000+01:00

Two boys from Turin, Italy, sent to "Messaggero Scacchi" an instructive chess study: a 2R+3P vs 2R+3P endgame where White, with two pawns on the 7th rank, can't avoid a forced loss. I report here their creation... Oh, I almost forgot: authors of this studio are Joshua Cova (14 years old) and Manuel Miglietta (15): they both don't have a Fide rating, but if they keep so much enthusiasm for chess I'm sure they will become strong players very soon. Forgive possible mistakes in their analysis: only Rybka or Fritz can "think" better than human players :-)

Black to play and win
Here is the solution Joshua and Manuel give:
1...Ra2 2.Kd1 Rd2+ 3.Kc1
3.Ke1 b2 4.f8Q+ Rxf8 5.Rc7+ (5.Rb7 Re8+ 6.Kf1 c2 7.Rc7+ Kd6–+) 5...Kb6 6.Rxc3 b1Q+ 7.Kxd2 Qxh1–+
3...Kb4 4.f8Q+
4.Rg8 b2+ 5.Kb1 Kb3 6.Rg3 d4–+
4...Rxf8 5.Rb7+
5.h8Q b2+ 6.Kb1 Rxh8 7.Rxh8 Rd1+ 8.Kc2 b1Q#; 5.Rg4+ Ka3–+
5...Ka3 6.Rxb3+
6.h8Q b2+ 7.Rxb2 (7.Kb1 c2#) 7...cxb2+ 8.Kxd2 (8.Kb1 Rxh8 9.Rxh8 Rd1+ 10.Kc2 b1Q+ 11.Kc3 Rd3#) 8...Rxh8 9.Rxh8 b1Q–+
6...Kxb3 7.h8Q Ra2 8.Kd1
8.Qh7 Ra1+ 9.Qb1+ Rxb1+ 10.Kxb1 d4–+
8...Rxh8 9.Rxh8 Ra1+ 10.Ke2 Rxa4–+

In the 2007 European championship, Italian IM Giulio Borgo missed his great chance by losing a probably won game against Nikola Sedlak. This allowed the Serbian GM to take the solitary lead with 5.5/6; tomorrow he will face Italian champion GM Michele Godena, the only player who follows him half a point behind, thanks to his brilliant win against IM Carlo D’Amore. Anything can still happen, anyway, because fifteen players are on 4.5: among them you can find German GM Thomas Luther, Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest, Croatian GM Nenad Sulava, Lithuanian GM Sarunas Sulskis and some Italian players, IMs Fabiano Caruana, Sabino Brunello, Giulio Borgo, Pierluigi Piscopo and Daniele Vocaturo. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
I remember you that many other strong tournaments are in progress: see yesterday's post for links to official sites.
And now here is a short and nice win by Anatolij Karpov in round 8 of the Gorenje tournament in Valjevo, Serbia.

Karpov,A (2668) - Stojanovic,M (2588) [C10], Valjevo 20.6.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.0–0 Ngf6 8.Ng3 Be7 9.Re1 0–0 10.Qe2 b6?!
A poor move. After 10...Re8 11.Bd2 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 c5 13.Qxb7 cxd4 (Hellers-Hodgson, Reykjavik 1990) the position is about equal.
11.Ba6!? Rb8 12.c4 Bb7?!
A serious mistake. The ugly 12...Ba8 looks safer.
13.Bxb7 Rxb7 14.Ne5
Karpov misses the chance to play 14.d5! and after 14...Bb4 15.dxe6 Re8 16.Ng5! fxe6 17.Nxe6 Qe7 18.Bd2 Qxe6 19.Qxe6+ Rxe6 20.Bxb4 White has a permanent advantage.
14...Qc8
14...Nb8 15.Qf3 c6 16.Ne2! was better for White anyway. Now Karpov estabilishes a very strong knight on c6...
15.Nc6 Re8 16.Bg5 Bf8
It's not simple for Black to find a good defence, but 16...Bd6 was probably more precise.
17.Bxf6!
A smart move: now the Nc6 becomes even stronger, and the Rb7 weaker.
17...Nxf6 18.Nh5 Nd7
18...Nxh5 19.Qxh5 Bd6 20.Rad1 was very strong for White anyway.
19.Qg4 Kh8 20.Re3 Nb8?!
20...g6 is more stubborn, but after 21.Rh3 f5 22.Qg5 Bd6 23.Nf4 Bxf4 24.Qxf4 Nf6 25.Qg5 Kg7 26.b4 White would keep a huge advantage.
21.Rg3 f5?
Another mistake: 21...e5 22.Nxe5 Qxg4 23.Rxg4 c5 was the only chance to put up a resistance.
22.Qh4! Nxc6??
A blunder in a lost position: 22...h6 is forced, although 23.Nf6! Be7 24.Nxe7 Rxe7 25.Rxg7! Kxg7 26.Nh5+ Kf8 27.Qf6+ Kg8 (27...Rf7 28.Qh8++-; 27...Ke8 28.Qh8+ Kd7 29.Nf6++-) 28.Qxe7 c5 29.Qf6 is hopeless for Black.
23.Nf6
Now White mates by force.
23...h6
23...gxf6 24.Qxf6+ Bg7 25.Qxg7#
24.Qxh6+!
The decisive blow.
24...gxh6 25.Rg8# 1–0

Bergamo, a tourney you will remember

2007-06-19T23:59:00.000+01:00

Summer is usually very hot in Italy. I'm not speaking of weather, but about chess events. There are several tournaments along this season in our country and the list is growing and growing every year. Many events take place in tourist locations, where sea or mountains can be a good alternative to chess for your wives and sons; some others are held in beautiful cities, such as the Bergamo International Open :-), which - this year - takes place in July 20 to 22. Bergamo is the town where I live and I've been starting playing chess. So - obviously - my advice is: come and play, you won't regret it. Organizers (Gianvittorio Perico, Felice Scarpellini and Valdo Eynard above all) are trying their best to put up a memorable tournament (this is the 6th edition): many titled players will take part in the main 1800+ group, such as GMs Vladimir Georgiev (MKD), Erald Dervishi (ALB), Todor Todorov (BUL), Sergey Krivoshey (UKR), Viesturs Meijers (LAT), Sinisa Drazic (SRB), Mihail Ivanov (RUS) and wGM Inna Gaponenko (UKR). There are many more, but there's not enough space to name all of them :-). You can download the tournament brochure from here: http://www.chesslab.bergamo.it/open2007bilingue.pdf (both in Italian and English). For entries and more informations you can write to gianvper@tin.it (Perico) or felice.scarpellini@libero.it (Scarpellini). Winners of the previous editions are IM and three times Italian champion Bruno Belotti (2002), GM Erald Dervishi (2003), GM Vadim Malakhatko (2004), GM Sinisa Drazic (2005) and GM Milan Drasko (2006). I remember to all of you that Bergamo has a very well connected International airport (some destinations are London, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Oslo, Stokholm, Rome, Eindhoven, etc.). So, wherever you live, you will find a flight to come here. Hurry up!
Well, now let's come back to present events. After the first half of the tournament nobody is left with full score in the European Union championship, held in Arvier (Italy). Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak and Italian IM Giulio Borgo lead on 4.5/5 and will play each other in round 6. Twelve players are half a point behind them: GMs Thomas Luther, Evgenij Agrest, Michele Godena, Nenad Sulava, Alexander Baburin and young IMs Fabiano Caruana and Sabino Brunello are among the others. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
The Aerosvit super-tournament in Yalta, Ukraine, saw only one draw (Rublevsky-Svidler) in round 2: Alexei Shirov won his second game in a row and now leads alone on 2/2, half a point clear of Vassily Ivanchuk, Dmitry Jakovenko and Sergey Karjakin. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Israeli GM Michael Roiz beat former world champions Anatolij Karpov in the "Gorenje 2007" tournament, held in Valjevo (Serbia), and share the lead on 5/7 with Turkish GM Suat Atalik, who won against Moldavian GM Viorel Iordachescu. Serbian GM Ivan Ivanisevic follows on 4.5, Karpov and Serbian GM Branko Damljanovic on 4. Official site: http://www.chessdom.com/.
Two more strong events are in progress: the "Kings Tournament" in Bazna (Romania), official site http://www.clubulregilor.ro/, and the Dutch championship in Hilversum, official site http://www.schaakbond.nl/nk2007. I also remember to all of you that the Sparkassen Chess Meeting starts in Dortmund next Saturday (June 23): Anand, Kramnik, Leko, Gelfand, Mamedyarov, Carlsen, Naiditsch and Alekseev will compete in this category 20 super-tournament; official site http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/english/english.html, you will also find a daily coverage on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it.
And now here is a crushing win by Karjakin in the Aerosvit super-tournament.

Eljanov,P. (2686) - Karjakin,S. (2686) [D15], Yalta 19.6.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5
This is absolutely not the best way to fight for the initiative. 6.b3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 and; 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Ne5 e6 are much more common.
6...Nbd7 7.a3
I don't know if this is a new move (it looks to be): for sure, it loses a tempo. 7.Bd3 and 7.Be2 make more sense.
7...a5 8.Bd3
Probably another inaccuracy. 8.Bd2 or; 8.Qc2 were more precise. 8...e5! Black starts fighting for the initiative!
9.dxe5 Ng4 10.e6 fxe6 11.Nd4 Nxc5 12.Be2
It looks that White has solved all his problems, but...
12...Nxf2!?
An intuitive and dangerous sacrifice, although probably not correct. 12...Ne5 13.f4 Nc4 14.Nxc6 Qb6 15.Nd4 Be7!? was a less risky way to fight for the initiative.
13.Kxf2 Bd6
13...Qf6+ had also to be considered.
14.g3
Probably the best. After 14.Nxc6 Black can prove his sacrifice is good, e.g.: 14...0–0+ 15.Kg1 Qh4 and now 16.Bf3 (16.g3 Qf6! 17.Qf1 (17.Qe1 Nb3 18.Rb1 b4 19.Nb5 Bc5 and Black is much better) 17...Qg5 18.Qe1 Nb3 19.Rb1 Nxc1 20.Rxc1 Qxe3+ 21.Kg2 b4 gives Black excellent chances) should lead to a draw: 16...Ne4 17.Qe2 Ba6 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.g3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Qxg3+ 21.Qg2 Qe1+ 22.Kh2 Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Qe1+ 24.Kh2 Qh4+ =
14...0–0+ 15.Kg2 Bd7 16.Bd2?
A bad inaccuracy. Now Black can start a powerful attack. 16.Nb3 was more precise, e.g.: 16...Qb6 (16...Nxb3?! 17.Qxb3 b4 18.axb4 axb4 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 20.Nd1 c5 21.e4! and White has a slight edge) 17.Rf1 (17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Rf1 Rxf1 19.Qxf1 Rf8 20.Qe1 e5 with counterplay) 17...e5 (17...Na4!? 18.Bg4 Rxf1 19.Kxf1 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Rf8+ 21.Kg2 +/-; 17...Rxf1 18.Bxf1 Nxb3 19.Qxb3 Bc5 20.Bd3! +/-) 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Re1! and White retains some winning chances.
16...e5 17.Nb3 Ne6
Now Black has full compensation.
18.Bg4
18.Rf1 Rxf1 19.Kxf1 a4 20.Nc1 Qf6+ 21.Kg2 e4 would give Black a strong attack anyway.
18...a4 19.Nc1 Qg5! 20.h4 Qg6 21.h5?!
Another bad move. After 21.Bh5 Qf5 22.Qf3 Black can decide to draw immediately by 22...Qc2 23.Qd1 Qf5 24.Qf3 Qc2 or to fight for the full point by 22...Nc5, after which White can trade Queens with good drawing chances.
21...Qg5 22.Rh4?!
22.h6 would give Eljanov more chances of surviving, e.g.: 22...e4 23.Rh5 Qg6 24.Rh4 Be7 25.Bh5 Qg5 26.Bg4 and White holds on.
22...e4 23.Qe1?!
23.Be1 had to be considered: after 23...Qxe3 24.Qd2 Qxd2+ 25.Bxd2 Be7 26.Rh2 Bc5 Black retains some advantage, but White can hold on by 27.N1e2.
23...Nc5! 24.Bxd7 Nxd7 25.N1e2 Ne5 26.Qh1?!
The last inaccuracy in a horrible position: 26.Qd1 would prolong the resistance, although after 26...Rf3 27.Qh1 Nc4 28.Qh3 Raf8 White would lose anyway.
26...Nf3 27.Qh3
27.Be1 Nxh4+ 28.Qxh4 Qxe3 and White is paralysed.
27...Qf6! 28.Nf4 Nxd2 0–1
A very convincing win by the young Ukrainian prodigy.

Old glories playing in Romania

2007-06-18T23:59:00.000+01:00

Many of you have probably never seen any of their games. But Ulf Andersson, Zoltan Ribli, Andrei Sokolov, Henrique Costa Mecking, Lajos Portisch and Mihai Suba were part of the chess world elite in the '70s and '80s. Now they are all playing the "Kings tournament" in Bazna, Romania; five more players complete the list of participants: former world champion Alexander Khalifman, former female world champion Maia Chiburdanidze, Slovenian GM Alexander Beliavsky, Dutch GM Jan Timman and Armenian GM Rafael Vaganian (still strong players, even if they lived better times). This is a category 13 event: not bad if you consider that average age of participants is between 50 and 60. Official site: http://www.clubulregilor.ro/.
The strong (category 18) Aerosvit tournament started today in Yalta, Ukraine. After losing their matches in the WCM last week, Alexei Shirov and Sergei Rublevsky played each other in the first round: the Spanish GM won on time on move 47 in a drawish position. Cuban GM Lenier Dominguez completely outplayed Dutch GM Loek Van Wely (the latter would probably better play in Hilversum, where the Ducth championship is underway) and Indian GM Krishnan Saikiran did the same with American GM Alexander Onischuk. All other games were drawn: Karjakin-Ivanchuk, Nisipeanu-Jakovenko and Svidler-Eljanov. Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
Two Italian IMs share the lead in the European Union championship, which takes place in Arvier (Italy) until June 24. Carlo D'Amore and Giulio Borgo won against FM Denis Rombaldoni and GM Tomas Likavsky in round 4 and still have a perfect score. Four players are half a point behind: Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak, Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest and Italian GM Michele Godena and IM Sabino Brunello. Curious news from the tournament bulletin: "Have you noticed that several “families” are playing this tournament? There are the Agrest’s (no less than three generations: the well known GM, his daughter, his son and… his father!), the Brunello brothers (Sabino, Roberta and Marina), the Foisor’s (mother Cristina and her two daughters), the Rombaldoni brothers (Denis and Axel), the Dritsakos’ (brother and sister) and, last but not least… the Astengo’s (Marcello and Corrado, who are cousins!)". Round 5 top boards: Sedlak-D'Amore, Agrest-Borgo (D'Amore and Borgo have both played with White pieces three times up to now: that's why they don't play each other), Brunello-Godena, Luther-Foisor S.F., Sulava-Vezzosi, Rombaldoni D.-Baburin, Castaldo-Sulskis, Cocchi-Prie. Official site: http://www.scacchivda.com/.
Last but not least, we can't forget the "Gorenje 2007" tournament in Valjevo, Serbia. Round 6 saw three draws and two decisive results: Ivanisevic-Iordachescu 1-0 and Nikolic-Stojanovic 1-0. Four players now share the lead on 4/6: Anatolij Karpov, Suat Atalik, Michael Roiz and Ivanisevic; Damljanovic follows on 3.5. Official site: www.chessdom.com. On this site you can also read an interview with Jan Werle, the young Ducth GM who won the Lodi Festival eight days ago (and he speaks about that tournament, among other things).

Dominguez,L (2678) - Van Wely,L (2674) [B90], Yalta 18.6.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 0–0 10.0–0–0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.Rg1
This is not a new plan, but 12.g5 Nh5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 is much more common.
12...b4 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 a5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Kb1 a4 17.Nc1 Qa5 18.Nd3
White has also played 18.Rg4 at this point. The game Sisniega-Sunye Neto, Linares 1992, continued 18...Rfb8 19.Rc4 Nf4 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.h4 Ne5 22.Rxf4 g6 and Black managed to get a draw.
18...Rfb8 19.Rg4
This is probably a new move in the text position, but not a new idea, as we saw in the previous note. 19.Nf2?! is too slow; the game Altrock-Elfert, Dresden 2002, continued 19...Nb6 20.Ne4 Kh8 21.Ng3 Nf4 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Nf5 (23.Nh5!?) 23...Bf8 24.h4 Re8 and Black has a slight edge.
19...Nf4 20.Nxf4 exf4 21.Bxf4
A counterplay is not simple to be find for Black now...
21...g6?!
21...Ne5 was the best way to fight for a draw.
22.Bg3 Bf8 23.Rc4 Nc5 24.Bf2 Bg7
It looks that Van Wely has some chances now, but Sasikiran is not of same idea.
25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.d6 a3 27.b3 Bd4 28.d7
"Passed pawns must be pushed"!
28...Rd8 29.Bh3 Ra6?
29...Qb6 was much more precise, although White retains some good winning chances anyway.
30.Re1 f5?
The decisive mistake. Black had to admit his previous inaccuracy and play 30...Raa8.
31.Rxd4
31.gxf6 was even stronger, but the text move is more than enough.
31...cxd4 32.Qxd4 1–0
Again, White had a better move, 32.Qe2, but Van Wely resigned, as he had no chances of surviving anyway.

Tough battles in Arvier and Valjevo

2007-06-17T23:58:00.000+01:00

How many surprises and tough battles! Round 3 of the European Union championship in Arvier saw a lot of unexpected results on top boards. Some of the main favourites of the competition drew their games against lower rated opponents: Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest, home players GM Michele Godena, IM Fabiano Caruana and IM Daniele Vocaturo, Croatian GM Miso Cebalo and French IM Vladimir Okhotnik shared the point against Cristina Foisor from Romania, Pierluigi Piscopo and Andrea Cocchi from Italy, Spanish wGM Monica Calzetta, Italian FM Folco Castaldo and Belgian FM Friedrich Norbert respectively. And French GM Eric Prie even lost to young Italian FM Denis Rombaldoni, who now share the lead on 3/3 with Serbian GM Nikola Sedlak, Slovakian GM Thomas Likavsky and Italian IMs Carlo D’Amore, Sabino Brunello and Giulio Borgo. What a fight! Top boards of round 4: Sedlak-Brunello; Borgo-Likavsky; D’Amore-Rombaldoni. Official site with live games: www.scacchivda.com.
And what’s about the “Gorenje” tournament in Valjevo? Players and organizers probably red or heard of my complaints about early draws :-)... So we have four decisive games in round 5: Suat Atalik scored his first win ever against Predrag Nikolic; Michael Roiz tactically outplayed Mihajlo Stojanovic and Anatolij Karpov forced Viorel Iordachescu to give up after the threats on the back-rank. These three players extended their lead on 3.5 points; Ivan Ivanisevic (draw after 62 moves with Kiril Georgiev) and Branko Damljanovic (who played a perfect rook endgame to beat Pavasovic) are half a point behind. Official site: www.chessdom.com.
And now here is a nice win by Italian IM Carlo D'Amore in Arvier.

D'Amore,C. (2476) - Daulyte,D. (2224) [C55], Arvier 17.6.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.c3 d6 6.Bb3 g6 7.Nbd2 Bg7 8.Nf1 0–0
A rare move. Black usually starts a central counter-attack by 8...d5 ; a common continuation is 9.Qe2 Be6 10.Ng3 and Black has completely equal chances after both 10...Qe7 (Gipslis-Eingorn, Tallinn 1980) and 10...0–0 (Ara. Minasian-Sorokoin, Ubeda 1999).
9.Ne3
This way White prevents ...d5.
9...Qe7
This should be a new move at this point, but not in such a variation. The game Saren-Tyni, Finland 1994, continued 9...Re8 10.0–0 Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.c4 Nb8 13.b4 a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Bd2 Ra8 16.a4 Nbd7 17.Qc2 Nc5 18.Rfb1 Nfd7 and a draw was agreed here (1/2–1/2).
10.h4!?
White doesn't hesitate and starts the attack on the "h" file...
10...Bd7
Why not 10...Be6 ? 10...h5, to prevent 11.h5, was also to be considered.
11.h5
In accordance to the previous move.
11...Nxh5
11...g5 was probably more cautious.
12.Nh4 Be6
Black had no better defensive chances. If 12...Nf4 then 13.g3 Ne6 (13...Nh3 14.Ng4 h5 15.Nxg6 Qd8 16.Nxf8 Bxg4 17.f3 Qf6 18.Qe2 Qxf3 19.Qxf3 Bxf3 20.Rf1 Bg2 21.Rxf7+-) 14.Nhf5 Qd8 (14...gxf5 15.Nxf5 Qf6 16.Bxh6 Bxh6 17.Rxh6 Qg5 18.Rh4 Qg6 19.Rg4 Ng5 20.f4+-) 15.Nxh6+ Bxh6 16.Rxh6 Kg7 17.Nf5+ Kg8 (17...gxf5 18.Qh5 Rh8 19.exf5+-) 18.Rh1 and White has a decisive attack.
13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.Nhf5 Ne7 15.Rxh5!?
An interesting attempt to prove Black's defensive skill. White has not many pieces to attack his opponent's king at the moment, but they will soon come into action... Daulyte has to be very careful!
15...gxh5 16.Qxh5 Kh7
After 16...Rfe8?! 17.Ng4! Qg6 18.Nxg7 Kxg7 19.Bxh6+ Kg8 20.Qxg6+ fxg6 21.Nf6+ Kf7 22.Nxe8 Rxe8 23.Ke2 White is a pawn up in a better endgame, but Black should probably have some chances to get a draw.
17.Nxe7 Qxe7 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Ke2 Qc8?
A bad inaccuracy. Black misses his only chance to fight for a draw: 19...f5! 20.exf5 (20.Bxh6 Bxh6 21.Rh1 Rf6 22.Qh4 Re6 23.Qh5 Rf6 24.Qh4=) 20...Qe8 21.Qg4 (21.Qxe8 Raxe8 22.Nxc7 Rc8 23.Nb5 d5=) 21...Qf7 22.f6 Bxf6 23.Bxh6 Bg7 24.Qxg7+ Qxg7 25.Bxg7 Rf7! (25...Kxg7 26.Nxc7 Rac8 27.Ne6++-) 26.Bf6 c6 27.Rh1+ Kg6 28.Bxe5 Re8 29.Ne3 Rxe5 with a drawish endgame.
20.Bg5!
A strong move!
20...f5 21.Rh1 fxe4??
Losing on the spot. 21...Qe6 was forced, even if after 22.Nxc7 Qg6 23.Qxg6+ Kxg6 24.Nxa8 Rxa8 (or 24...hxg5 25.Nc7 a6 26.Nd5 Rf7 27.a4) 25.Be7 fxe4 26.dxe4 Bf8 27.Bh4 White would have excellent winning chances anyway.
22.Bxh6 exd3+ 23.Ke1 Qf5
The last mistake in a desperate position.
24.Bg5+ 1–0
White mates by force in a few moves, so Black resigned.

Anatolij the great fights again

2007-06-16T23:01:00.000+01:00

Former world champion Anatolij Karpov is still able to win. After drawing his first three games, the Russian GM achieved his first victory in the 2007 Gorenje tournament against Bulgarian Kiril Georgiev, to share the lead with Ivanisevic, Roiz and Atalik on 2.5 after round 4. Karpov won in deep bishop vs knight ending after creating three passed pawns: he demonstrated to be still a great positional player, although he hasn't been playing classical tournaments for a long time. Viorel Iordachescu won with Black pieces against Dusko Pavasovic (second loss in a row for the Slovenian GM), while Roiz missed good chances in the endgame against Predrag Nikolic and a draw was agreed on move 86 (this was the longest game of the day); Ivanisevic-Atalik ended in a draw too, after Atalik found the way to activate his Rook. Mihajlo Stojanovic and Branko Damljanovic also share the point after a very tough battle, lasted... 9 moves :-( They were probably tired of yesterday's fights, where they drew after 23 and 21 moves respectively... As I've already written, I'm not a fan of Sofia rules, but sometimes they should be really useful. Official site of the event: www.chessdom.com.
A strong tournament will start in Yalta (Ukraina) on Monday: the "Aerosvit 2007". Quite a few Candidates and their seconds play: Peter Svidler (RUS), Vasily Ivanchuk (UKR), Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS), Alexei Shirov (ESP), Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (ROM), Krishnan Sasikiran (IND), Pavel Eljanov (UKR), Sergey Karjakin (UKR), Sergei Rublevsky (RUS), Lenier Dominguez (CUB), Loek Van Wel (NED) and Alexander Onischuk (USA). Average rating 2694... Not bad indeed! Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2007/index_e.htm.
The European Union championship saw some surprising results in round 2: Italian FM Maurizio Brancaleoni and Slovakian wFM Zuzana Borosova drew against top seed GM Thomas Luther (Germany) and Irish GM Alexander Baburin respectively; Lithuanian wIM Deimante Daulyte beat her compatriot GM Sarunas Sulskis, while Enrico Pepino and Francesco Sorcinelli won Italian derbies against IM Fabio Bruno and wGM Olga Zimina respectively. Many players lead with a perfect score after round 2: Serbian GM Nikolas Sedlak, Swedish GM Evgenij Agrest, Italian GM Michele Godena, French GM Erik Prie, Croatian GM Miso Cebalo and Italian prodigy IM Fabiano Caruana are among them. Top round 2 duels: IM Moser vs GM Sedlak; GM Agrest vs IM C. Foisor; IM Piscopo vs GM Godena; FM D. Rombaldoni vs GM Prie. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
And now here is Karpov's win in Valjevo (Serbia). You may not like his style, but there's no doubt Anatolij is still a good fighter.

Karpov,An (2668) - Georgiev,Ki (2660) [E37], Valjevo 16.6.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nf3 Qf6 11.e3 Bg4 12.Be2 0–0 13.Bd2
This appears to be a novelty. The game Bareev-Ivanchuk, Havana 2006, continued 13.0–0 Rfe8 14.Bd2 and Black got the initiative after 14...d4 15.Rad1 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Rad8 17.Qc1 d3 18.Rxd3 Rxd3 19.Bxd3 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Ne5 21.Be4 Nxf3+ 22.Bxf3 Qxf3 with a dangerous attack in return for the pawn.
13...Rfe8 14.Bc3
This move looks ugly, since it allows Black to ruin White's pawn structure, but it was almost necessary. Strong threat of 14...d4 (as in Bareev-Ivanchuk), ripping apart White's position, was hanging over Karpov's head. After the exchange on c3, Black has to lose some moves to regain the pawn and White can use this time to build some pressure against b7.
14...Nxc3
14...Qe7!? was an alternative to be considered: if 15.b4 then 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 (16.gxf3 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 d4 is even stronger for Black) 16...Nxc3 17.Qxc3 d4 18.Qb2 dxe3 19.0–0 Rad8 and Black is ok, so White would probably have to play the immediate O-O on move 15.
15.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rac8 17.Rb1 Nd8
As expected, Karpov is eying b7 pawn. Georgiev will re-route his Knight Nc6-d8-e6 and insert Re8-e7 (protecting b7) to capture on c5.
18.Kd2 Re7 19.Rb4 Be6 20.Nd4 Rxc5 21.a4 Bd7 22.Ra1 g6 23.a5 a6
23...Bc8 had to be considered, but White would have kept a small advantage by 24.Bf3 anyway.
24.Bf3 Re5?!
This looks to be a real inaccuracy. 24...Be6 would have been more precise.
25.Rb6
Karpov is on his field now: permanent small advantage thanks to limited Black bishop.
25...Kf8 26.g4 Ke8 27.h4 Rc7 28.Be2 Re7?!
After 28...Nc6 29.f4 Re7 30.Bf3 Kd8! Black holds on. Now his position becomes really unpleasant.
29.Rd6 Re5?!
29...Bc6 was passive, but the text move loses a pawn and a compensation is very hard to be found.
30.Rb6?!
Karpov just wants to gain some time on his clock, but 30.f4 was clearly stronger.
30...Re7
30...Nc6 was a good alternative.
31.Rd6 Ne6?!
Georgiev refuses moves repetition and sacrifices a pawn for complications. Karpov wouldn't probably repeat, anyway: after 31...Re5 White can play 32.f4 Re7 33.Rxd5 Ne6 34.Bf3 Nc5 35.g5 with good winning chances.; 31...Bc6 was a good alternative again.
32.Rxd5 Nc5 33.f3 Be6 34.Re5
34.Rd6? would be met by 34...Bxg4 and now if 35.fxg4?? then 35...Ne4+ –+
34...f6 35.Nxe6 Nb3+
35...Rcd7+ would probably be a better attempt to fight for a draw, e.g.: 36.Kc2 Nxe6 37.Re4 f5 38.gxf5 gxf5 39.Re5 Nc7 40.Rxe7+ Rxe7 41.Bc4 (41.Kd2 is passive) 41...Rxe3 42.Rb1 Rxf3 43.Rxb7 Kd8 44.Rb8+ Kd7 45.Rh8 Rh3 46.Rxh7+ Kd6 and Black has some chances thanks to his "f" pawn.
36.Ke1 fxe5 37.Nxc7+ Rxc7 38.Ra3 Nc5 39.g5 h6 40.gxh6 Rh7 41.Kf2 Rxh6 42.Kg3
Now Karpov has achieved what he wanted: extra pawn and Bishop vs Knight in the endgame.
42...Rh7 43.Ra1 Nb3 44.Ra3 Nc5 45.Ra2 Rc7 46.Kg4 Ke7 47.c4 Kf6?!
The immediate 47...Rd7 was clearly better.
48.Rd2 Rd7 49.Rxd7 Nxd7 50.Bd3 b6
This move loses by force: 50...Nc5 51.Bc2 Kg7 would put up more resistance (but White has a decisive advantage anyway).
51.axb6 Nxb6 52.c5 Nd5 53.e4 Nc7 54.Bc4 a5
54...Ne6 55.Bxe6 Kxe6 56.f4 exf4 57.Kxf4 a5 58.Ke3 a4 59.Kd4 and 54...Nb5 55.f4 Nd4 56.fxe5+ Kxe5 57.Bxa6 Kxe4 58.Kg5 Ne6+ 59.Kxg6 would be hopeless anyway.
55.f4 a4 56.f5 gxf5+
If 56...a3 then 57.fxg6 Kxg6 58.c6 Ne8 59.h5+ Kf6 60.Ba2 Nc7 61.h6 Kg6 62.h7 Kxh7 63.Kf5 +-
57.exf5 e4 58.h5 e3 59.h6
Black's position is totally lost now.
59...Na6 60.c6 a3 61.Kf3 Nc7 62.Kxe3 1–0
And Georgiev finally resigned.

When Sofia rules should be useful...

2007-06-15T23:58:00.000+01:00

I'm not a fan of the Sofia rules, but I think sometimes they should be useful. Take, for example, round 3 of the Gorenje tournament in Valjevo, Serbia: all games were drawn and two of them finished after only 21 and 23 moves. In the latter, Iordachescu-Stojanovic, the position was still full of chances for White, who had some pressure on his opponent king-side. I sometimes do not understand professional players... Standings are obviously unchanged: Atalik, Ivanisevic and Roiz share the lead on 2/3, half a point over the field. Official site: www.chessdom.com.
Much more fight took place in Arvier, Aosta Valley, where the European Union championship started today. All the top seeds players won their battles excepting for Nenad Sulava, who drew against French Gerard Gorse (but I guess he wasn't even present at the playing venue, since his game is not available). The main surprises of round 1 came from two young Italian players: WFM Marianna Chierici (rating: 1996) and National female champion Roberta Brunello (1953, sister of Marina and IM Sabino) beat Spanish FM Marcos Llaneza Vega (2455) and Romanian WIM Sabina Francesca Foisor (2333) respectively. Congratulations! 112 players with 10 GMs, 11 IMs and 2 wGMs compete in the event. Official site: www.scacchivda.com.
Some news from Italy: the 2008 Master division of the National team championship will see 14 teams (instead of 10) competing in a 7 rounds (instead of 5) event. Many discussions were made about the old format on the competition: we'll see if the new one will be best. I think (and hope) the answer is yes. More details on www.federscacchi.it.

Brunello,R (1953) - Foisor,S (2333) [A42], Arvier 15.6.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.c4 d6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.dxc5 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Bxf3
A new move in a very rare position. The game Yakovlev-Biriukov, Petrov memorial 2002, continued 7...dxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Ke8 10.h3 Bd7 11.Be3 b6 12.f4 f6 13.Nf3 Nh6 14.Bd3 Nf7 with chances for both sides.
8.Qxf3 dxc5 9.e5
White pawns are weak, but the bishops pair and the space advantage in the center of the board are a very good compensation for that.
9...Nc6 10.Bf4 Qc8?!
10...Qa5 was better
11.Bd3 Qe6?!
The second weak move in a row. The ugly 11...f6 was more precise.
12.0–0! Nxe5?
A bad mistake (probably the losing one). Now White takes a strong initiative. 12...Rd8 would put up more resistence.
13.Qxb7 Rd8 14.Rfe1
14.Bc2 (with the idea Ba4+) was even stronger.
14...Qd7 15.Qxd7+ Nxd7 16.Be4
White dominates and Black can't avoid losing material (sooner or later...).
16...Ngf6
16...Nb6 was better, although 17.Rab1 (intending Rb5) 17...Kf8 18.Rb5 Nxc4 (18...Kg7 19.Rxc5 Nf6 20.Bf3 Rc8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Rxe7 Rxc4 23.Be5 would be even worse) 19.Rxc5 Nd6 20.Bf3 Rd7 21.Rd1 would give White excellent winning chances anyway.
17.Bc6 Rc8
Losing an exchange. 17...0–0 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.Rad1 was not much better anyway.
18.Bb7 Rd8 19.Bc7 e6 20.Rab1!
No hurry!
20...Nb6
20...0–0 21.Bxd8 Rxd8 22.Red1 Rb8 23.Ba6 Nb6 24.a4 would have lost anyway.
21.Bxd8 Kxd8 22.Rb5 Kc7 23.Bf3 Nfd7 24.a4 a6 25.Ra5 Nb8 26.Rxc5+ Kd6 27.Ra5 Nxc4 28.Rd1+ Ke7 29.Rc5 Nb6 30.a5 N6d7 31.Rc7 Kd8 32.Ra7
This is almost zugzwang. Black has no good moves now.
32...Kc8 33.Bb7+ Kc7 34.Bxa6+ Kc6 35.c4 Ne5 36.Bb5+ Kc5 37.Rc7+ Nec6 38.a6 Kb6 39.Rb7+ Kc5 40.a7 Nxa7 41.Rxa7 f5 42.Rc7+ Kb6 43.Re7 1–0
And Black finally resigned. A very convincing victory by Roberta Brunello, one of the youngest female Italian champions ever (she is 16 years old).

Garry Kasparov: two days in Milan

2007-06-14T23:59:00.000+01:00

We've got it! I mean the full program of Kasparov's visit in Milan, on June 30 and July 1. Here it is... As I've already written, Garry will be a special guest of "La Milanesiana", an important cultural event to take place in the main city of Northern Italy. He will speak about "Competitions" at "Dal Verme theater" (Via San Giovanni sul Muro 2) on June 30, starting at 9 p.m., and take part in an "Aperitif with the author" at Sala Buzzati (via Balzan 3) on July 1, starting at 12 a.m. After the "Aperitif", he will be at Romagnoli bookshop, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., to sign copies of his bestseller, "My great predecessors" (Italian edition of the first five volumes). I hope I will be in Milan on Saturday evening, at least, and have the chance to ask some questions to Garry. What would you ask? I'm waiting for your advices: write me at dario@strababos.it (I have some ideas, anyway...).
Turkish GM Suat Atalik, Serbian GM Ivan Ivanisevic and Israeli GM Michael Roiz lead by half a point (on 1.5/2) over the field in the "Gorenje 2007" tournament, held in Valjevo (Serbia). Atalik drew with Dusko Pavasovic in round 2, while Ivanisevic easily reached a level position with Black pieces against Karpov and Roiz crushed Viorel Iordachescu. Predrag Nikolic and Branko Damljanovic also made a draw, while Stojanovic stroke back after round 1 loss and won against Kiril Georgiev. Official site: www.chessdom.com.

Roiz,M (2605) - Iordachescu,V (2587) [A17], Valjevo 14.6.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 d6 7.e3 e5 8.d4
It should sound strange, but this is a rare move. 8.b4 and 8.d3 are more common.
8...Re8 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b4 Bg4
A good alternative is 10...Nbd7; the game Liberzon-Taimanov, Yalta 1962, continued 11.Bb2 e4 (11...b6 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Be2 Bb7 14.0–0 Rad8 15.Rfe1 c5 16.b5 a5 17.Nd2 Qe6 18.f3 Nf8 19.Nf1 Ng6= Forintos-Kupreichik, Kirovakan 1978) 12.Nd4 Ne5 13.h3 Bd7 14.Be2 Qc8 15.g4 c5 16.Nb3 cxb4 17.axb4 h6 18.Rg1 Nh7 19.h4 f6 with equal chances.
11.Bb2 Nc6
Iordachescu said after the game this is a very bad move that destroyed his game. He should be right, but this is not the losing move at all :-)
12.Nd2
This looks to be a new move. The game Steiner-Rothamn, New York 1946, soon ended after 12.b5 Bxf3 (12...e4 13.bxc6 exf3 Baburin-Graf, Novosibirsk 1989, 14.Rg1 Re6 15.cxb7 Rb8 16.h3 Bf5 17.gxf3 and White has better chances) 13.gxf3 Nd4?? (13...Nb8 followed by ...Nbd7=) 14.0–0–0 1–0
12...Qe7 13.f3 Bh5 14.Be2 a5
14...Rad8 was probably a bit more more precise.
15.b5 Nb8 16.a4 Nbd7 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nb3
White has no hurry to start an attack by h2-h4, g4-g5 and so on.
18...b6 19.e4 h5 20.Ba3 Qe6 21.c5
White is gaining more and more space after each move.
21...Nh7?!
This leaves White all the initiative. 21...Rad8 22.c6 (22.g5 Qh3! 23.gxf6 Nxf6 24.Bb2 Qg2 25.Rf1 Qxh2 with a drawish position) 22...Nxe4!? 23.fxe4 Nf6 was a good attempt to find some counterplay, although Roiz would have the better chances anyway.
22.h4 Ndf8 23.g5 Rad8 24.Bc4
24.Rc1 was even stronger.
24...Qc8 25.Bd5 Ne6
25...Bf5 was an alternative to be considered.
26.cxb6 Rxd5??
26...cxb6 27.Qxc8 Rxc8 28.Nd2 was obviously better for White, but the text move loses on the spot.
27.exd5 Nf4 28.Qc6?!
Why not 28.bxc7 ?
28...f6?
28...cxb6 was the only good move again.
29.d6 Nf8 30.dxc7 Nd3+ 31.Kd2 Qf5
Black's position is hopeless: he should resign immediately.
32.Qc4+ Kh7 33.b7 Qxf3 34.c8Q Qf2+ 35.Kc3 Nb2 36.Rac1 Ne6 37.Qxe8 Nxc4 38.Qxg6+
White can even sacrifice two Queens!
38...Kxg6 39.b8Q Ne3 40.Qe8+ Kf5 41.Qd7 Qf3 42.Kb2 1–0
And Black finally resigned.

Call me a chess profet :-)

2007-06-13T23:56:00.000+01:00

It’s official now. I predicted all right winners for the WCM finals: Armenian Levon Aronian, Hungarian Peter Leko, Israeli Boris Gelfand and Russian Alexander Grischuk, who beat 2.5-0.5 his compatrioti Sergey Rublevsky in today’s tie break. And I did even more: I also predicted the right results for Aronian-Shirov (“Aronian wins 3.5-2.5 or 3.5-1.5”) and Grischuk-Rublevsky (“Grischuk wins 3.5-2.5 or on tie break”). And what’s about what I wrote on April 23? “It looks really hard to predict who will succeed in qualifying for the Mexico city competition. I would say Aronian, Leko, Grischuk (or Ponomariov) and Kamsky (or Gelfand)”. Well, I was not far from the truth :-). Final reports on the official site http://globalchess.eu/main.php and on my Italian site www.messaggeroscacchi.it (direct link: www.messaggeroscacchi.it/mondo/candidati07.html).
The "Gorenje 2007" tournament started today in Valjevo, Serbia. Turkish GM Suat Atalik won convincingly his game against the only IM participant, Serbian Mihajlo Stojanovic; another Serbian player, GM Ivan Ivanisevic, scored the only other victory of the day against Slovenian GM Dusko Pavasovic. K. Georgiev-Roiz, Iordachescu-Damljanovic and Karpov-P. Nikolic all ended in a draw. Official site: http://www.chessdom.com/.
An interesting interview with Vladimir Kramnik (conducted during the Miskolc rapid chess match against Peter Leko in April ) was published on www.chessbase.com. Today the fourth and final part appeared on the site. Vlad speaks about his decision not to play game 5 of the world championship match against Topalov last year: the decision "was very emotional", he says. "Actually it was wrong, because finally they got what they wanted. You could see - many people told me that they saw the manager of Topalov, Danailov, after this, and they never saw him so happy as on this day. So finally I made this mistake and they achieved what they wanted to achieve: to make a scandal, and in the best case to stop the match. To stop the match and keep his title which he begs for. Unfortunately this provocation proved to be successful. Because of this I believe it was probably a mistake". You can read the full interview on the above mentioned site.

Atalik,S (2584) - Stojanovic,Mih (2588) [D35], Valjevo 13.6.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.h3 Ne4 8.Qc2
A new move according to my old database. The game Atalik-A. Mastrovasilis, Athens 2003, continued 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.e3 Be6 (the immediate 10...Nd5 is a good alternative: 11.Be5 Bf5 12.a3 h5 13.Qc2 Qg5 14.0–0–0 Qg6 15.Rg1 f6?! 16.Bh2 Rd8 17.Be2 h4 18.g4 hxg3 19.Bxg3 Qh6 Seirawan-Speelman, Reykijavik 1991; after 20.Kb1 White would have a slight edge) 11.g3 Nd5 12.h4 f5 13.Be5 Qd7 14.a3 Nb6 15.Rc1 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nc4 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 0–0–0=.
8...Bb4 9.a3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nxd2 11.Nxd2 Be7
11...Nf6 12.e3 Bd6 comes into consideration as well.
12.e3 0–0 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.0–0 Re8 15.f4!?
White tries to scare his opponent. And he succeeds in doing that!
15...Bf8
Black's aims to put his bishop on the a1–h8 diagonal by ...g6 and ...Bg7.
16.Rae1 Qd8 17.Nf3 c5?!
The first inaccuracy. 17...Bd6 was a bit more precise.
18.Ng5 g6 19.f5 Bg7?
The second bad inaccuracy. After 19...Bh6!? (probably the only good move) 20.fxg6!? (20.h4 Bxg5 21.hxg5 Ng4 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.Bxg6 leads to a draw after 23...Qd6 24.Bxf7+ Kg7 25.Rf4 Qxf4 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qh5+ Kg7 28.Qg6+ Kh8=) 20...Bxg5 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 22.Bxh7 Kg7 White has to prove his sacrifice is good: 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Qxg5 Nxh7 25.Qh5 Re7 26.Nxd5 Rg7 27.Rf7 (27.Nf6 Qe7 28.dxc5 Rg5 29.Qh6 Qg7 30.Qxg7+ Kxg7 is drawish) 27...Qe8 28.Ref1 Be6 29.Rf8+ Qxf8 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.Nf4 Bf5 32.dxc5 Kg8 would give Atalik some winning chances, but Black can probably hold on.
20.fxg6 fxg6
20...hxg6 was more accurate.
21.dxc5 Re5 22.Nf3 Re7 23.e4 dxe4 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4
White is simply a pawn up and Black has no real compensation.
25...Be6 26.Ng5 Qd4+
If 26...Kh8 then 27.Bxb7 Qd4+ 28.Kh1 Rxb7 29.Nxe6+-
27.Kh1 Rae8
This is a losing move, but 27...Rf8 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Bxg6 hxg6 30.Nxe6+ Rxe6 31.Rxe6 Qxb2 32.Qxg6 would have lost as well.
28.Rd1 Qxb2 29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Qxb2 Bxb2 31.Bd5 Kg7 32.Bxe6 Rxe6 33.Rd7+ Kh6 34.a4 b6 35.Rd6 1–0
Black has no chances of getting a draw, so he resigned.