Arkadij Naiditsch - Chess Cafe - Chess Evolution - 1-39

ChessCafe.
com is pleased to present its newest column, "Chess Purchases from our
Evolution." Chess Evolution is a new periodical edited by Arkadij chess shop help keep
Naiditsch, wherein a multinational team of Super-GMs analyse the most ChessCafe.com freely
important recent games, using their world-class skill and powerful accessible:
computers.
Contributors to the September 4/2011 issue include Naiditsch, Maze,

Sedlak, I. Sokolov, Miton, Bacrot, Jobava, and Predojevic. The games
are selected mainly for their importance to chess theory and each issue
consists of approximately 400 hours of chess research!
Chess A "Do-Not-Play-Again" Move

Evolution By Etienne Bacrot and Arkadij Naiditsch
E. Bacrot (2710) R. Edouard (2587) Chess Informants 107-109

86th French Championship, Caen by Chess Informant
Round 9, 23.08.2011 [D27]
Annotated by Etienne Bacrot & Arkadij Naiditsch
Translate this page
Black's choice of 11...Bd7?! is not the best solution in the position. Black
should stick to the more common 11...Na5 with very unclear play. White
chose the wrong reply with 12.Rad1 instead 12.Rfe1! would have given him
a clear advantage. After a few mistakes on both sides, Black couldn't stand the
pressure and blundered with 23...Bc5??.
Overall, an interesting fighting game, but less interesting theoretically: 11...

Bd7?! is simply a "do-not-play-again" move.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.00 a6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Nc3 NIC Yearbook #99
cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Bg5 00 11.Qd2 Bd7?! by New In Chess
11...Na5 is the main move in the position.
Play through and download

the games from
ChessCafe.com in the
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Chess Informant 110

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p1n1pn2/6B1/
3P4/1BN2N2/PP1Q1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 12"]
12.Rad1?!
Not the best! The right move was:
12.Rfe1!
This is clearly the main move here.
12...Rc8
If Black wants to try the same idea as in the game, then now a surprise awaits
him: 12...Na5 13.Bc2 Nc4 14.Qe2 Nxb2?? Compared to the game, there is no
white rook on d1 under attack. 15.Bc1!+ Black's knight is trapped.
13.Rad1 Na5 14.d5 Nxb3 15.axb3 h6 16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.d6+/- Caruana

Istratescu, Switzerland 2010.
12...Na5 13.Bc2 Nc4 14.Qe2
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/2nP4/
2N2N2/PPB1QPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 14"]
A critical moment of the game.
14...Rc8?!
Black didn't use his chance and continued with schematic play.
14...Nxb2! was possible after which Black is at least equal.
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/3P4/
2N2N2/PnB1QPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
a) 15.Rc1 Bc6
15...b5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Be4 b4! 18.Bxa8 (18.Nb1 Na4 19.Bxa8 Qxa8 [19...
Bb5 20.Qd2 Qxa8 21.Qxb4 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Qe8 23.Nbd2 Qb5+ 24.Qxb5 axb5
25.Ne4+/=] 20.Qc2 a5 21.Rfe1 Qd5=/+; 18.Qxb2 bxc3 19.Rxc3 Rb8 20.Qc2
g6 21.Rc1 Qb6=/+) 18...bxc3 19.Be4 Bb5 20.Qe3 Bxf1 21.Kxf1 Na4 22.Qd3
g6 23.Qxa6 Nb2 24.Rxc3 Bxd4 25.Rc2 Bf6 26.g3=
15...Rc8 16.Ne5 Rxc3 17.Bxf6 Rxc2 (17...Bxf6 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rxc3 Kg8
20.Rh3 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Na4 22.Qh5 f5 23.exf6 Qxf6 24.Qh7+ Kf7 25.Rf3+)
18.Qxc2 Bxf6 19.Qxb2 Bb5 20.Rfe1 Qd6+/= The bishop pair promises Black
good compensation, but White is the only one who can play for the advantage.
16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Ne4 Na4
18...Bb5 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Qe4 f5 21.Qf4 Bxf1 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+ Kg8
24.Ng5 Qc7 25.Qh6 f6 26.Nxe6 Qe7 27.Nxf8 Bd3
[FEN "r4Nk1/1p2q2p/p4p1Q/5p2/3P4/
3b4/PnB2PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 28"]
28.Nxh7! A very beautiful tactic. 28...Bxc2 (28...Qxh7 29.Qd2 Bxc2 30.Qxc2

+) 29.Nxf6+ Kf7 30.Nd5 Qe4 31.Qf6+ Ke8 (31...Kg8 32.Ne7+ Qxe7 33.
Qxe7 Bxb1 34.d5+) 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Qh7+ Kf8 34.Nf6! Qxd4 (34...Qe6 35.
Nd7+ Ke8 36.Nc5 Qe7 37.Qg8+ Qf8 38.Re1+ Be4 39.Qb3+) 35.Qh8+ Kf7
36.Qxa8! Bxb1 37.Qe8+ Kg7 (37...Kxf6 38.Qh8++) 38.Qe7+ Kg6 39.Qh7+
Kg5 40.Qg7+ Kf4 41.Qg3#
19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Ne5
20.Qe3 Kg7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+=
20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kh7 24.Qh4+=
20...fxe5 21.Bxh7+
[FEN "r4rk1/1p3p1B/p1b1p3/q3p3/
n2P4/8/P3QPPP/1R3RK1 b - - 0 21"]
21...Kg7 22.Qg4+ Kxh7 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Qh5+=
b) 15.Rb1 Rc8 16.Rxb2 Rxc3 17.Rc1 Nd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rxb7 Rfc8-/+
c) 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qxb2 Bc6 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qg5 20.
f4 Qf5=/+
d) 15.Bxh7+
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppB/p3pn2/6B1/3P4/
2N2N2/Pn2QPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Nxh7!
15...Kxh7 16.Qxb2 Bc6 17.Ne5 Kg8 18.Rd3+/= White has good attacking
chances on the kingside.
16.Bxe7 Nxd1
16...Qxe7 17.Qxb2 Rac8 18.d5 (18.Ne5 Nf6 19.Rfe1 Bc6 20.Nxc6 bxc6=)
18...Qc5 19.Ne4 Qc2 20.Qe5 Qxa2 21.dxe6 Bxe6 (21...Qxe6 22.Nd6 Qxe5 23.
Nxe5 Rc7 24.Rc1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nf6 26.Nxd7 Nxd7 27.Rc7 Nf6 28.Nxb7=)
22.Nd6 Rcd8 23.Rd2 Qa3 24.Nh4! with compensation
17.Bxd8 Nxc3 18.Qd2
[FEN "r2B1rk1/1p1b1ppn/p3p3/8/3P4/
2n2N2/P2Q1PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Ne2+ 19.Qxe2 Bb5 20.Qe4 Bxf1 21.Kxf1 Rfxd8 22.Qxb7 Rdb8 23.Qc6
Rc8 24.Qa4 Rc1+ 25.Ke2=
[FEN "2rq1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/2nP4/
2N2N2/PPB1QPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Bb3!
The best decision. Black can't defend against the logical d4-d5! which is
usually crushing in such structures.
15.Bd3 Nb6 16.Ne5 Bc6 17.Rfe1 leads to a typically unclear IQP position.
15...b5
15...Na5 16.d5 exd5 17.Bxd5+/-.
15...Nb6 16.Ne5+/= Bc6 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 (17...bxc6 18.Qxa6+/-) 18.Bxf6 Bxf6

19.d5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Rd6 22.Bxb7 White is a clear pawn up
and has a big advantage, but Black still has some chances to fight for a draw
due to the opposite-coloured bishops.
15...Nd6 16.d5 exd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Bb5 20.Qd2
Bxf1 21.Rxd6 Qxd6 22.Qxd6 Rc1
[FEN "5rk1/1p3ppp/p2Q4/6N1/8/1B6/
PP3PPP/2r2bK1 w - - 0 23"]
23.Bxf7+!+ Rxf7 24.Qd8+ Rf8 25.Qd5+ Kh8 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nh6+ Kh8 28.
Qg8+ Rxg8 29.Nf7#
15...Bb5 16.a4 Na5 17.axb5 Nxb3 18.d5 exd5 19.bxa6 bxa6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Nxd5 a5 22.Rfe1+/-
16.Ne5 Nb6
16...Qc7 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.d5 exd5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Nxd5+/=
17.Rfe1 h6
It may look as though Black is creating a weakness, but it was not easy to find
a good move in this position.
17...b4
[FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbppp/pn2pn2/4N1B1/
1p1P4/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Bxf6
18.d5!? exd5 19.Nxd7 (19.Nxd5 Nbxd5 20.Bxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Bxg5 22.
Nxd7 h6 23.h4 Bxh4 24.g3 Bg5 25.f4 Bf6 26.Qxa6 Re8 27.Nxf6+ Qxf6 28.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Qxf6 gxf6 30.Kf2 Ra8 31.Rd4 Rxa2 32.Rxb4 h5 White has a
slightly better endgame, but Black can draw with correct play.) 19...Qxd7 20.
Qxe7 Qxe7 21.Rxe7 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rxc3 23.Ra7 Ra8 24.Rxa8+ Nxa8 25.Bxf6
gxf6 26.Rxd5 With a much better endgame.
18...Bxf6 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Ne4 Be7
20...Bxd4 21.Ng5 e5 22.Qe4 g6 23.Qh4 h5 24.Rxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.

g4+/-
21.Qxa6+/-
[FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbpp1/pn2pn1p/1p2N1B1/
3P4/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Bxh6?!
This looks very pretty but it gives Black chances. White had better
possibilities:
18.Bh4 b4 19.d5 exd5 (19...Nfxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd7 Bxh4 22.Nxf8

Qxf8 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Rxd5+) 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 Bxe5
23.Qxe5 Re8 24.Qf4 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qf8 26.h4+/=
18.Bxf6! Bxf6 19.Qe4
[FEN "2rq1rk1/3b1pp1/pn2pb1p/1p2N3/
3PQ3/1BN5/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 19"]
With the simple and almost deadly threat of Bc2.
19...Bxe5
19...b4 20.Bc2 g6 21.Nxg6 fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Bg7 23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.Bg6++
19...Qe7 20.Qb7 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qc5 22.Ne4 Qc7 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.Nd6+/=
20.dxe5 Nc4 21.Bc2 g6 22.Bb3+/-
22.Qf4 Qg5 (22...Kg7 23.Ne4 Nxb2 24.Rd2 Qa5 [24...Nc4 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.
Qxd8 Rfxd8 27.Nf6+ Kg7 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Nxd7 Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Rxc2 31.
Ra1 Kf6 32.Ng4+ Kg5 33.Ne3 Rb2 34.a3+/-] 25.Re3! Rxc2 If Black doesn't
sacrifice the exchange, then next will be g4 with Rh3 and Black cannot
defend. 26.Rxc2 Nc4 27.Rec3 Bc6 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.Nd6 Bd5 30.h4 Note that
22...Nxb2 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.Rd2 transposes to 22...Kg7.) 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.
Rxd7 Nxb2 25.Rb1 Nc4 26.Ne4 Na3 27.Rb3! Rxc2 (27...Nxc2 28.Rh3+) 28.
h4!+
The idea is that after:
22...Nxb2
[FEN "2rq1rk1/3b1p2/p3p1pp/1p2P3/4Q3/
1BN5/Pn3PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 23"]
23.Bxe6! Bxe6 24.Rxd8 Rfxd8 25.Qh4!+/-
18.Bf4!? is also interesting with the idea Rd3 followed by Bxh6 or a

breakthrough with d4-d5. Sometimes the threat is stronger than its
execution :) a famous chess rule! 18...b4 Not best, but what else can Black
do?! (18...Bb4 19.Rd3 with a strong attack)
[FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbpp1/pn2pn1p/4N3/
1p1P1B2/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 19"]
19.d5! A killing move. 19...exd5 20.Nxd5 Nbxd5 21.Bxd5+ Black is losing

material.
18...gxh6 19.Rd3
19.d5 exd5 unclear 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Qxe7 Qxe7 22.Rxe7 Rfd8 23.Ra7 Nc4
with serious counterplay for Black.
19...Kh8
19...Nc4 20.Bc2 Kh8 21.Rg3 with a strong attack.
20.Qd2
20.d5 exd5 (20...b4 21.dxe6+) 21.Nxd7 Nbxd7 22.Qxe7 Qxe7 23.Rxe7 Nc5
24.Rd1 Nxb3 25.axb3 b4 26.Ne2 Rc2 27.Nd4 Rxb2 28.f3 White has
compensation.
20...Ng8 21.d5
[FEN "2rq1rnk/3bbp2/pn2p2p/1p1PN3/8/
1BNR4/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 21"]
21...Nc4!?
The best defence!
21...b4?! 22.dxe6
22.Ne4 exd5 23.Bxd5 Bb5-/+
22...bxc3 23.bxc3 fxe6 24.Bxe6
After 24.Nxd7 Bg5! 25.Nxf8 Bxd2 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Ng6+ Kg7 28.Rxe6 Nf6
29.Ne5 Re8 the position is about equal.
24...Bxe6 25.Ng6+ Kg7 26.Rxe6 Bc5 27.Nxf8 Qxf8 unclear 28.Rf3 Qd8 29.
Rg3+ Kf7 30.Qe2
[FEN "2rq2n1/5k2/pn2R2p/2b5/8/
2P3R1/P3QPPP/6K1 b - - 0 30"]
A funny position. Black has three minor pieces for just one white rook, but
Black is probably lost! Don't ask me why, turn on your engines!
30...Be7 31.Rxg8 Kxg8 32.Rxe7+
This line would of course be very hard to calculate during the game.
22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Rd4
[FEN "2rq1rnk/3bbp2/p3p2p/3PN3/2pR4/
2N5/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 23"]
23...Bc5??
Black's first big mistake and also his last.
Black should have played:
23...Qe8! 24.Nxd7
24.Nxc4 with compensation Bb5 25.d6 Bg5 26.f4 Bh4 27.g3 Rxc4-/+
24...Qxd7 25.dxe6 Qc6 unclear 26.Nd5
[FEN "2r2rnk/4bp2/p1q1P2p/3N4/2pR4/
8/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 26"]
26...c3!
With the idea of preventing White from playing Qc3.
27.bxc3 Bg5 28.f4 Bh4 29.g3 fxe6! 30.Nb4 Qb7
Now, if White takes with 31.gxh4? then after 31...Nf6 it is very strange, but
now Black is simply mating White!
31.Rd7 unclear
24.dxe6! Bxd4 25.Qxd4
[FEN "2rq1rnk/3b1p2/p3P2p/4N3/2pQ4/
2N5/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 25"]
25...Qf6 26.exd7 Rcd8 27.Re3 Ne7 28.Rf3 Nc6
28...Nf5 29.Qe4 Qg5 30.h4!+
29.Nxf7+ Rxf7 30.Qxf6+ 10
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ChessCafe.com is pleased to present its newest column, "Chess Purchases from our
Evolution." Chess Evolution is a new periodical edited by Arkadij chess shop help keep
Naiditsch, wherein a multinational team of Super-GMs analyse the most ChessCafe.com freely
important recent games, using their world-class skill and powerful accessible:
computers.
Contributors to the September 4/2011 issue include Naiditsch, Maze,

Sedlak, I. Sokolov, Miton, Bacrot, Jobava, and Predojevic. The games
are selected mainly for their importance to chess theory and each issue
consists of approximately 400 hours of chess research!
Chess A Grnfeld Defence Queen Sacrifice

Evolution By Borki Predojevic
L. Aronian (2805) E. Sutovsky (2700) Fritz 13

8th World Team Championship, Ningbo by ChessBase
Round 1, 17.07.2011 [D85]
Annotated by Borki Predojevic
Translate this page
The first round of the World Team Championship offered us Armenia

Israel, with Aronian playing White against Sutovsky on top board. In the
Grnfeld Defence with an early 8.Be3 (a line which became extremely
popular after the 2000 Kasparov Kramnik match in London), Aronian chose
the very rare 9.Nd2!? and Black immediately went for the queen sacrifice
with 9...cxd4 and 10...dxe3.
But in my opinion, the best option for Black is the solid 9...Nd7 with the
threat of ...Qxc3. However, the game was very tricky for both players. After
Aronian found the strong idea of 14.Bb5!, Black had to find the right Chess Evolution 1:
continuation. Unfortunately for Black, at the critical moment he made the The Fundamentals
mistake 17...Bg4?. White grasped his opportunity and played extremely well by Artur Yusupov
right to the end; Black did not have any chances to avoid losing. Instead of
17...Bg4? the best option was 17...Rd7!, which leads to a very complicated
game, although the final evaluation is that even after 17...Rd7! White keeps
the better chances.
My overall view is that the line with 9.Nd2 is not dangerous for Black.
Play through and download However, players who would like to sacrifice their queen have a clear task
the games from facing them they need to improve on my analysis.
ChessBase Game Viewer. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5
Chess Informant 111

by Chess Informant
[FEN "rnb1k2r/pp2ppbp/6p1/q1p5/3PP3/
2P1BN2/P4PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 9"]
9.Nd2!?
A very rare move. The main line is 9.Qd2.
9...cxd4
In my opinion, the best reaction is 9...Nd7! when Black threatens to take the
c3-pawn; White wont have Rc1xc5 in reply, thanks to knight on d7. White
now has four options:
a) 10.Rc1 Qxa2 11.Bc4 (11.Be2 00 12.00 Qa5 13.d5 b5=/+) 11...Qa5 12.0
0 00 counterplay Black has avoided taking on d4, so it is hard for White to
develop an initiative.
b) 10.Be2 Qxc3 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.dxc5 00 13.Qb3 Ne5 14.00 Nc6= leads to a
pleasant game for Black.
c) 10.Nb3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+= and White cannot make more
than a draw.
d) White can defend his c3-pawn with:
10.Qb3 00 11.Rc1
11.Be2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc5! 13.Qb5 (13.Qc2 Ne6 14.e5 Rd8 15.00 Nxd4 [15...
Bd7!?] 16.Bxd4 Rxd4 17.Nb3 Qxe5 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Rad1 [19.Qc7 Be5 20.
Qxe7 Qe4 21.Qd8+ Kg7 with attack] 19...Qb6 20.Rb1 Qd6 21.Rfd1 Bd4 22.
Qa4 e5 with compensation) 13...Qxb5 14.Bxb5 a6 15.Be2 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5
17.00 Bd3 counterplay
11...a6
11...Rb8!? intending ...b5.
12.Be2
12.Nc4 Qc7 13.dxc5 Qc6 unclear
12...b5 counterplay, Black has good play.
Black may also try taking a pawn with:
9...00 10.Be2 Qxc3
On 10...Rd8 11.00 Qxc3 12.Rc1 Qa5 (12...Qa3 13.Nc4 Qa6 14.Ne5 Qa3 15.
Rxc5 Be6 16.Qb1 with attack) 13.Rxc5 (13.d5 with compensation) 13...Qxa2
14.d5 with compensation White has typical Grnfeld compensation for the
pawn.
11.Rc1 Qa3 12.Rxc5 Qxa2
[FEN "rnb2rk1/pp2ppbp/6p1/2R5/3PP3/
4B3/q2NBPPP/3QK2R w K - 0 13"]
White can develop some initiative with:
13.00 Nc6
13...Rd8 14.d5 with compensation
14.Rc4
14.d5 Nd4 with attack
14...Qa5 15.d5 Ne5 16.Ra4 Qc7
16...Qd8 17.Rxa7 Rxa7 18.Bxa7 Qa5 19.Be3+/=
17.f4 b5
[FEN "r1b2rk1/p1q1ppbp/6p1/1p1Pn3/
R3PP2/4B3/3NB1PP/3Q1RK1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Rb4!N
An improvement on 18.Ra3 Nc4 19.Qc2 e6! 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Qxc4 Qd8! and
White had no advantage. After 22.Bd4 exd5 23.exd5 Bb7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.
Qd4+ Qf6 26.Qxf6+ a draw was agreed in Kasimdzhanov Navara, Wijk aan
Zee 2009.
18...a5 19.Rxb5 Nd7 20.Rb1 with attack
White has good chances of achieving an advantage. For example:
20...Ba6 21.Bxa6 Rxa6 22.Qe2 Raa8
22...Rfa8 23.Rfc1 Qd8 24.Rb7+/-
23.Rfc1 Qd8 24.Rb7+/=
White maintains pressure on the black position.
10.Nc4
The only logical continuation. 10.cxd4 Nc6 11.d5 Nd4 12.Rb1 Bd7! is good
for Black.
[FEN "rnb1k2r/pp2ppbp/6p1/q7/2NpP3/
2P1B3/P4PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 10"]
10...dxe3!?N
An interesting, albeit very risky decision by Black. This position may well
have been analysed beforehand by both players, since Sutovsky and Aronian
are well-known as players who like dynamic and tactical positions.
Of course Black must avoid 10...Qxc3+?? 11.Bd2+.
Previously Black had played:
10...Qd8 11.cxd4 00
11...f5!? should be considered. By delaying castling Black may be able to

avoid the complications in the next sub-note.
12.Rb1
A possible improvement for White is 12.Rc1!? but it is very hard to give a

clear evaluation after the dynamic 12...f5 13.Qb3 (13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Qb3 Be6
15.Qxb7 Bd5 16.Qb2 Nc6 with compensation) and now:
a) 13...Kh8!? 14.Ne5! (14.exf5 Nc6 15.fxg6 Nxd4 16.Qd1 Bf5 17.Bd3 [17.
gxh7!? unclear] 17...hxg6 18.Bxd4 Qxd4 19.Bxf5 Qxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Rxf5
counterplay) 14...Bxe5 15.dxe5 f4 16.Bc5 Nc6 17.Qc3 Be6 18.Bb5 Rc8 19.0
0 White has the initiative.
b) 13...e6 14.exf5 gxf5 15.g3 (15.Bd3 f4 16.Bd2 Nc6 17.Be4 Nxd4 18.Qd3
f3! unclear; 15.f4!? Nc6 16.Rd1 also looks interesting) 15...Nc6 16.Bg2 Nxd4
17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.00 White has good compensation, but that is far from
saying that he has an advantage.
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp2ppbp/6p1/8/2NPP3/
4B3/P4PPP/1R1QKB1R b K - 0 12"]
12...f5! 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Rxb7 Nc6 15.d5
On 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Black can play: 16...Qc8! 17.Rxe7 (17.Qb3+ Be6
18.Qb2 Rb8 19.Rxb8 Qxb8 20.Qxb8 Rxb8 21.Bxa7 Rb1+ 22.Kd2 Bxe5 with
attack) 17...Rb8 18.Qd5+ Kh8 19.f4 Qc3+ 20.Kf2 Rb1 Blacks compensation
is enough for at least a draw.
15...Bc3+! 16.Bd2 Nd4 17.Ne3 (only move) Qa5 18.Bxc3 Qxc3+ 19.Qd2 Qa1
+ 20.Qd1 Qc3+ 21.Qd2 Qa1+ 22.Qd1 Avrukh Kovchan, France 2011.
11.Nxa5 Bxc3+ 12.Ke2 Bxa5 13.Kxe3 00

[FEN "rnb2rk1/pp2pp1p/6p1/b7/4P3/
4K3/P4PPP/R2Q1B1R w - - 0 14"]
14.Bb5!
The best move. White prevents the fast development with ...Nc6, ...Rd8 and ...
Bb6.
Worse is:
14.Bc4 Nc6 15.Ke2 Rd8 16.Qc1 Bg4+!
16...Ne5 leads to a better position for White: 17.Bb3 (17.Bd5 e6 18.Qg5 exd5
19.Qxe5 Bd7 20.Kf1 Rac8=/+) 17...b6 18.Kf1 Ba6+ 19.Kg1 Nd3 (19...e6 20.
h4 Nd3 21.Qg5 Bc3 22.Rd1 Bd4 23.h5!) 20.Qa3 e6 21.Rd1! Nc5 22.Rxd8+
Rxd8 23.h4 Rd4 24.h5 Rxe4 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.Bd1+/-
17.f3 Nd4+ 18.Kf1 Be6 19.Bxe6 Nxe6 20.Qa3 Bb6 21.Rb1 Nf4 22.g3 Rd3
Black has a strong attack.
14.Bd3 Nc6 15.Ke2 Rd8 with compensation gives Black reasonable

compensation.
14...a6
The only move. 14...Nc6? is just bad. After 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qa4 Bb6+ 17.
Ke2 it already looks winning for White.
15.Ba4 b5
15...Rd8 16.Qc1 b5 17.Rd1 Nd7 18.Bb3 Bb7 19.Ke2+/-
[FEN "rnb2rk1/4pp1p/p5p1/bp6/B3P3/
4K3/P4PPP/R2Q3R w - - 0 16"]
16.Qd5!
Again the best answer by White.
After 16.Bb3 Bb6+ 17.Ke2 Nc6 Black occupies the d4-square very quickly.
[FEN "r1b2rk1/4pp1p/pbn3p1/1p6/4P3/
1B6/P3KPPP/R2Q3R w - - 0 18"]
I analysed a couple of options for White:
a) 18.Re1
This looks logical, but Black has a nice counter:
18...Bg4+ 19.f3 Rfd8 20.Qc1
20.fxg4 Rxd1 21.Rexd1 Nd4+ 22.Kf1 Kg7 with compensation intending ...
Kf6-e5
20.Bd5 Be6 21.Rc1 Bxd5 22.exd5 Nb4 23.Kf1 Nxd5 with compensation also
looks okay for Black.
20...Nd4+ 21.Kf1 Bd7 with compensation
[FEN "r2r2k1/3bpp1p/pb4p1/1p6/3nP3/
1B3P2/P5PP/R1Q1RK2 w - - 0 22"]
The white rook has avoided being stuck on h1, but the white king on f1 is still
not safe.
22.Qf4
22.Qb2 b4! 23.Bc4 (23.Red1 Bb5+ 24.Ke1 e5 with compensation) 23...a5 24.
Rac1 Ba4 with compensation
22...Nxb3 23.axb3 Bd4 24.Ra2 a5 25.Rd1 e5 26.Qf6 Rdc8 27.h4!
White must play this in order to attack the black king and secure a draw by
perpetual check.
27.Rxd4 exd4 28.Qxd4 Be6-/+
27...a4 28.h5 gxh5 29.Qg5+ Kf8 30.bxa4 Be6 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Raa1 Rxa4
with compensation.
The game will finish in perpetual check.
b) 18.Rc1 Nd4+ 19.Kf1

The white rook on h1 is out of play. Black has several options here, but I
suggest:
[FEN "r1b2rk1/4pp1p/pb4p1/1p6/3nP3/
1B6/P4PPP/2RQ1K1R b - - 0 19"]
19...Rd8
19...Nxb3 20.axb3 (20.Qxb3 Be6 21.Qb2 Bc4+ 22.Rxc4 bxc4 23.g3 Rab8 24.
Kg2 Rfd8 25.Qe5 Rb7 with compensation) 20...Rd8 21.Qc2 Bg4 22.f3 (22.
Qa2 Rd3 with compensation) 22...Rac8 23.Qb2 Rxc1+ 24.Qxc1 Be6 with
compensation
20.Bd5
20.h4 Nxb3 21.Qxb3 Be6 22.Qb4 Rac8 with compensation looks good for
Black.
20.Qe1 Nxb3 21.axb3 Be6 with compensation
20...Ra7 21.h4
21.a4? bxa4 22.Qxa4 Bd7 23.Qd1 Bb5+ 24.Bc4 Ne6! 25.Qe1 (only move)
Bxc4+ 26.Rxc4 Rad7 27.Rc6 Bc5! 28.Rxe6 Rd1 29.Re5 Bb4 30.Ke2 Bxe1 31.
Rxe1 R1d2+ 32.Kf3 Ra2 33.Rxe7 Rd3+ 34.Re3 Rdd2+
21...h5
21...e6 22.Bb3 Rad7 23.h5! and the h1-rook is now well placed, as it supports
Whites attack on the h-file.
22.a4
[FEN "2br2k1/r3pp2/pb4p1/1p1B3p/
P2nP2P/8/5PP1/2RQ1K1R b - - 0 22"]
22...bxa4!
22...e6?? 23.a5+
22...a5 23.axb5
23.Qxa4 Bd7 24.Qa2

24.Qb4? Bb5+
24...Bb5+ 25.Bc4 Rc7 26.Kg1 e6
26...Rdc8 27.Bxf7+ Kg7 28.Rxc7 Rxc7 29.Bxg6!+
27.Kh2
27.Rh3 Rdc8 28.Rhc3 a5 29.g3 a4= (intending ...Ba5) 30.Bxb5 Rxc3 31.Rxc3
Rxc3 32.Bxa4 (32.Qxa4? Nf3+ 33.Kg2 Rc2!) 32...Nf3+ 33.Kg2 Ne1+ 34.Kf1
Nd3 35.Qd2 Ra3 36.Bd1 e5 37.Kg2 Bd4 38.f3 Nf2 39.Be2 Rb3!=
[FEN "3r2k1/2r2p2/pb2p1p1/1b5p/
2BnP2P/8/Q4PPK/2R4R b - - 0 27"]
27...Rdc8 28.Bxb5 Rxc1 29.Qxa6 Rxh1+ 30.Kxh1 Rc1+ 31.Kh2 Bc7+ 32.g3
Nxb5
32...Be5 33.Bf1 unclear
33.Qxb5 Bd6 34.f4 Rc5 35.Qd7 Bf8=
The endgame is drawish.
16...Ra7 17.Bb3
The manoeuvre begun with 14.Bb5! has enabled White to develop his bishop
and queen. On the other hand, Black has made some gains too; for example,
his rook from a8 has come into the game.
[FEN "1nb2rk1/r3pp1p/p5p1/bp1Q4/
4P3/1B2K3/P4PPP/R6R b - - 0 17"]
17...Bg4?
This is a crucial mistake. White is now able to keep his rooks connected, and
his king will be safe, even on f4.
17...Bb6+ 18.Ke2 Be6 19.Qg5 Nc6 looks interesting, but White should get
some advantage: 20.Rhb1 Bd4 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.f3 Rc7 23.Rc1 Bxa1 24.Rxa1
+/=
17...Rd7!
Black had to play this, although it still seems to turn out better for White at
the end of an extremely complicated line.
[FEN "1nb2rk1/3rpp1p/p5p1/bp1Q4/
4P3/1B2K3/P4PPP/R6R w - - 0 18"]
18.Qc5
This looks unnatural, but after 18.Qe5?! Bb6+ 19.Ke2 Nc6 20.Qf4 Nd4+ 21.
Kf1 (21.Ke1 Bb7 with compensation) 21...Nxb3 (21...a5!? with
compensation) 22.axb3 Rd3 with compensation Black has a very nice position.
18...Rd6 19.Ke2
19.Qa3 Bd2+ 20.Ke2 b4 21.Qa5 Nc6 with attack
Now Black has a couple of options, but neither of them will offer him a clear
path to equality.
19...Rd2+
19...Bb6 20.Qg5 Nc6 21.Rhd1! (21.Rad1 Nd4+ 22.Kf1 Rf6 with

compensation) 21...Rf6! (21...Nd4+ 22.Kf1+/-) 22.f3 (22.f4 Nd4+ 23.Rxd4
Bxd4 24.Rd1 Bb6 with compensation) 22...Nd4+ 23.Kf1 Rxf3+ (23...Bh3 24.
gxh3 Nxf3 25.Qg3!+; 23...a5 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.Rd1 Bc3 26.e5 Rf5 27.Qxe7
Rxe5 28.Qc7 b4 29.Bxf7++/-) 24.gxf3 Bh3+ 25.Kf2 Ne6+ 26.Qe3 Bxe3+ 27.
Kxe3 Nc5 28.Rdc1 Nxb3 29.axb3 Be6 30.b4 Bc4 31.Rd1!+/- White is much
better in this endgame.
20.Kf1 Nd7
[FEN "2b2rk1/3npp1p/p5p1/bpQ5/4P3/
1B6/P2r1PPP/R4K1R w - - 0 21"]
We shall now look at four different squares for the queen:
a) 21.Qg5 Nf6 22.f3
22.Re1 Ng4 23.Re2 Rfd8 24.Rxd2 (24.g3 is met by 24...Ne3+! 25.fxe3 Bh3+
26.Kf2 Rxe2+ 27.Kxe2 Rd2+ 28.Kf3 Bg2+ 29.Kg4 Bxh1 30.Qxe7 h5+ 31.
Kf4 [31.Kh4?? Bd8!] 31...Rf2+ 32.Ke5 Bg2 with attack and Black can play
for a win) 24...Rxd2 25.Qc5 Rxf2+ 26.Qxf2 Nxf2 27.Kxf2 e6=/=/+ Black has
no problems in the endgame.
22...Rfd8 with compensation 23.Rc1
After 23.h4 Black has the nice move 23...Nh5!? and now all the squares
around the white king are weak. This balances Whites material advantage,
and the game remains roughly equal:
[FEN "2br2k1/4pp1p/p5p1/bp4Qn/4P2P/
1B3P2/P2r2P1/R4K1R w - - 0 24"]
a) 24.Rc1 Bb6 (24...Be6!?) 25.Rc6 Ba7 26.Rxg6+!! (26.Rh2? Be6! 27.Rxe6

(only move) fxe6 28.Qe5 [28.Bxe6+ Kf8 29.Bd5 Rf2+ 30.Ke1 Rc8 31.Kd1
Rcc2-/+] 28...Bd4 29.Bxe6+ Kf8 30.Qc7 Be3! 31.Qe5 Nf6-/+) 26...hxg6 27.
Qxg6+ Ng7 28.Qxf7+ Kh7 29.h5! Be6!! (29...Rd1+ 30.Bxd1 Rxd1+ 31.Ke2
Rxh1 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.h6 Ne6 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qxe7+ Kxh6 36.Qxa7+/-) 30.
Qg6+ Kh8 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Bxe6+ Nxe6 33.Qxe6+ Kf8 and White has
nothing better than 34.Qf5+ Ke8 35.Qg6+= with perpetual check.
b) 24.Qxe7! Ng3+ 25.Kg1 Ne2+ 26.Kh2 R2d7! 27.Qf6 Bc7+ 28.e5! Re8 29.
f4 Nxf4 30.Rhe1 Nh5 31.Qf2 Bxe5+ 32.Kg1 Kg7 33.Rad1 Nf6 34.Rxd7 Bxd7
35.Rf1 Be6! 36.Qc5 Bxb3 37.axb3 Re6 with compensation and Black is able
to hold this position. The white king is weak and after the exchange of rooks,
Black will play ...h5 and either keep his b-pawn or exchange two pawns for
one on queenside. The resulting position with pawns on kingside will be a
simple draw with a black fortress.
23...Bb7 24.Qe3
24.e5 Nd5 is okay for Black.
24...e6
It is very hard for White to finish his development and secure his king. Here
are some complicated lines which the computer gives:
25.Qa7 R8d7 26.h4
26.Kg1 Nxe4! 27.Qb8+ Bd8 28.fxe4 Bxe4 29.h4 Rxg2+ 30.Kf1 Rdd2 31.Rh3
Rgf2+ 32.Kg1 Rg2+=
26...Kg7 27.Qc5
27.Kg1 Bc7!
[FEN "8/1b1r1pkp/p3pnp1/bpQ5/4P2P/
1B3P2/P2r2P1/2R2K1R b - - 0 27"]
27...h6!
27...Nh5? 28.Qe5+ f6 29.Qxe6 Ng3+ 30.Kg1+
28.Kg1 R2d4!
28...R2d3 29.Kh2 Bd2 30.Rhd1! Bf4+ 31.Kh1 Bxc1 32.Rxc1+/=
29.h5
29.Kh2 Bb4 30.Qc2 Rd2 31.Qb1 Bd6+-/+
29...Bd2 30.hxg6 Be3+ 31.Kh2 Rxe4 32.Qc3 b4 33.Qa1 Bd4 34.Qb1 Ng4+!?
35.fxg4 Be5+ 36.Kg1 Bd4+=
It finishes in a draw.
b) 21.Qa3? Bb6-/+
c) 21.Qe3?! Ne5 22.f3 (22.Rd1 Nc4! 23.Qf4 Rb2 24.Kg1 Be6 with
compensation) 22...Be6 with initiative
d) 21.Qxe7!
The strongest move.
21...Bb6
[FEN "2b2rk1/3nQp1p/pb4p1/1p6/4P3/
1B6/P2r1PPP/R4K1R w - - 0 22"]
22.Rc1!
Less precise is: 22.Qh4 Nc5 23.Qf4 Nxb3 24.axb3 Rfd8 (24...Rc2 25.h4) 25.
h4 (25.Rc1 Be6 26.Rc6 Bxb3-/+; 25.Re1? Be6 with initiative) 25...Be6 (25...
Bb7 26.h5 Rxf2+ 27.Qxf2 Bxf2 28.Kxf2 Rd2+ 29.Ke3 Rb2 30.h6!+/-) 26.b4
h5 27.g3 Rxf2+ 28.Qxf2 Bxf2 29.Kxf2 Rd4 30.Rhb1 Rxe4 31.Rxa6 Rd4 32.
Ra5 Bc4+/= Black has chances to hold the draw.
22...Rxf2+ 23.Ke1 Rb2
23...Rxg2 24.Bxf7+ Rxf7 25.Rxc8+ Kg7 26.Qe8 Nf6 27.Qe6+/-

[FEN "2b2rk1/3nQp1p/pb4p1/1p6/4P3/
1B6/Pr4PP/2R1K2R w - - 0 24"]
Here White has to play coldbloodedly:
24.h3!!
After this I cannot find equality for Black.
24.h4 Nc5! 25.Rxc5 Bxc5 26.Qxc5 Rb1+ 27.Bd1 Bg4 28.Kf2 Bxd1 29.Kg3
Bc2 30.Rxb1 Bxb1 31.Qa3 (31.Qd6 Bxa2 32.Qxa6 Bc4=) 31...Bxe4 32.Qxa6
Rb8 33.h5 gxh5 34.Kh4 b4! 35.Kxh5 Bb1 36.Qc4 Rb6= Black gets a draw.
After 24.Qa3 Bd4 25.Qd6 Bc5 26.Rxc5 Nxc5 27.Qxc5 Rb1+ 28.Bd1 Bg4 29.
Kf2 Bxd1 30.Qd4 Bc2 31.Rxb1 Bxb1= the position should be equal.
24...Ba5+ 25.Kf1 Bd8 26.Qa3 Bf6 27.Rd1
White has consolidated his pieces, and move by move White increases his
advantage.
27...Be5 28.Qe7 Kg7
[FEN "2b2r2/3nQpkp/p5p1/1p2b3/4P3/
1B5P/Pr4P1/3R1K1R w - - 0 29"]
29.Rxd7!
With this move White returns material, but in the ensuing endgame he is
clearly better.
29...Bf6 30.Qxf8+ Kxf8 31.Rxf7+ Ke8 32.Rxf6 Rb1+ 33.Kf2 Rxh1 34.Rf7+/-
Black is in trouble.
18.Qg5!+/-
[FEN "1n3rk1/r3pp1p/p5p1/bp4Q1/4P1b1/
1B2K3/P4PPP/R6R b - - 0 18"]
18...Bb6+ 19.Kf4 Be6
19...Bd7 20.Kg3 Nc6 21.Rhd1 Nd4 22.h3+/- leads to a better position for
White.
20.Bxe6 fxe6+
[FEN "1n3rk1/r3p2p/pb2p1p1/1p4Q1/
4PK2/8/P4PPP/R6R w - - 0 21"]
21.Kg3!
The white king is safe on g3. It is clear that Black doesnt have enough
compensation for the sacrificed material.
21...Nc6
21...Bxf2+ 22.Kh3 Bd4 23.Raf1+
22.Kh3 Nd4 23.Rhd1 Rc7 24.Rac1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Ne2
[FEN "5rk1/4p2p/pb2p1p1/1p4Q1/4P3/
7K/P3nPPP/2R5 w - - 0 26"]
26.Qe5!
An accurate and well calculated move by Aronian. He saw the following line
which wins in style.
26...Bd4
After 26...Nxc1 27.Qxe6+ Kg7 28.Qxb6+ Black does not have any real
survival chances.
27.Qxe6+ Rf7 28.Rc8+ Kg7 29.g3
The only move, but good enough.
[FEN "2R5/4prkp/p3Q1p1/1p6/3bP3/
6PK/P3nP1P/8 b - - 0 29"]
29...Ng1+ 30.Kg2 Rxf2+ 31.Kh1+ Nf3 32.Qxe7+ Kh6 33.Qf8+
The "cool" move, though 33.Rc2 Rxc2 34.Qf8+ Bg7 35.Qxf3 is winning too.
33...Kh5 34.Rc5+! Ng5 35.Rxg5+ Kxg5 36.Qd8+ Bf6 37.Qd3 Kg4
37...Rxa2 38.Qd5++
38.Qe3 10
Black resigned, since he is losing more material: 38...Rxa2 39.Qf4+ Kh3 40.
Qf1+ Kg4 41.Qxf6+


A Rare Line of the Spanish Exchange Variation Purchases from our
chess shop help keep
ChessCafe.com freely
By Ivan Sokolov accessible:
D. Andreikin (2705) A. Morozevich (2737)

Governor's Cup, Saratov
Round 8, 16.10.2011 [C69]
Annotated by Ivan Sokolov
In this game Morozevich opted for a rarely played line of the Spanish
Exchange variation with 7...cxd4 8.exd4 Qd7. In a sharp game Black seemed
Chess to obtain enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn. Also critical for the
evaluation of this line is the old Fischer move 9.h3, and it would be
Evolution interesting to know what Moro had in mind there.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.00 f6 6.d4 Bg4 7.c3 exd4 8. Ruy Lopez Exchange
cxd4 Qd7 by Krzystof Panczyk
& Jacek Ilczuk
Translate this page
[FEN "r3kbnr/1ppq2pp/p1p2p2/8/3PP1b1/ Spanish Exchange Variation

5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 9"]
by Stefan Kindermann
9.Be3
The other logical choice for White here is the old Fischer move 9.h3. Black
has many different options at his disposal, though the road to equality is not
easy to find:
a) 9...Bh5 10.Ne5 Bxd1
the games from
10...Qxh3 11.gxh3 Bxd1 12.Rxd1 fxe5 13.dxe5 Bc5 14.Kg2 Ne7 15.f4 Ng6
(15...00 16.f5 [16.e6 and 16.Nc3 Ng6 17.Kg3 are also possible] 16...Nxf5 17.
exf5 Rxf5 18.Rf1 Rxe5 19.Nc3 with a plus for White) 16.e6 00 17.f5 Ne5 18.
Nc3+/- g6 19.Bh6 Rf6 20.Bg5 Rff8 21.f6+ Mozes Krantz, Harrachov 1967. Strategy University, Vol 4
by Adrian Mikhalchishin
11.Nxd7 Kxd7 12.Rxd1 Re8
[FEN "4rbnr/1ppk2pp/p1p2p2/8/3PP3/
7P/PP3PP1/RNBR2K1 w - - 0 13"]
13.f3
White may be able to get some advantage with 13.Nc3, since ideas with ...f5
appear to work less well here: 13...Bb4 14.f3 f5 (14...Ne7 15.Na4 Kc8 16.a3
Bd6 17.b4+/=) 15.exf5 Ne7 16.g4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 g6 (17...Nd5 18.c4 Ne3 19.
Bxe3 Rxe3 20.Kf2+/-) 18.Bd2 (After 18.f6 Black has a promising exchange
sacrifice: 18...Nd5 19.Bh6 Nxc3 20.f7 Rb8! An important nuance. [The
"logical" 20...Ref8? fails to 21.Rd3 Nd5 22.Bg7!.] 21.Rd3 Nd5 22.Re1 Rhf8
23.Bxf8 Rxf8 compensation) 18...gxf5 19.Kf2+/=
[FEN "4rbnr/1ppk2pp/p1p2p2/8/3PP3/
5P1P/PP4P1/RNBR2K1 b - - 0 13"]
13...Ne7
Black's play can be improved here with 13...f5!=. Should White try to be
"clever", he can easily get into trouble, for example: 14.exf5?! Ne7 15.g4 g6
16.f6 (16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Kg2 Nd5=/+) 16...Nd5 17.g5 h6 18.h4 hxg5 19.Bxg5
Bb4 20.Nd2 Bxd2 21.Rxd2 Rhf8=/+
14.Nc3 Kc8 15.Be3 f5 16.Rac1 fxe4 17.fxe4 g6 18.Bf4 Bg7 19.d5 Rd8 20.
Na4 Rhf8 21.g3+/- Fischer Jimenez Zerquera, Havana (ol) 1966.
b) 9...Bxf3 10.Qxf3
[FEN "r3kbnr/1ppq2pp/p1p2p2/8/3PP3/
5Q1P/PP3PP1/RNB2RK1 b kq - 0 10"]
10...Qxd4?!
This early pawn collecting is not going to bring Black anything good.
Perhaps Moro investigated in the direction of: 10...000 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Bf4
Ng6 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Rfd1 Bxg3 15.fxg3 This move may have been inspired
by Fischer's decision in a similar position to recapture on g3 with his f-pawn
see his game against Gligoric below. (However, 15.Qxg3 looks more logical
for White here.) 15...Kb8 16.Rac1 Rhe8 17.Qh5 Nf8 18.Qa5 Qc8 19.b4 Rd6
with a sharp game in Tatai Donner, Palma de Mallorca 1967.
11.Rd1 Qc4 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.Rxd6
White has regained the pawn and still has a lead in development.
14...Nh6 15.Na3 Qb4 16.Rad1 00 17.R1d2 Nf7 18.R6d4 Qc5 19.Nc4 Rad8
20.Qd1 Rxd4 21.Rxd4 Qe7 22.Na5 Rd8 23.b4
The black queenside pawn majority cannot move and is actually a target here,
while White was able to advance his kingside pawn majority and went on to
win in Timman Beliavsky, Linares 1988.
c) 9...Be6 10.Nc3 000
[FEN "2kr1bnr/1ppq2pp/p1p1bp2/8/3PP3/
2N2N1P/PP3PP1/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 11"]
11.Bf4
White may also consider 11.Be3. The white bishop is perhaps not as actively
placed as on the h2-b8 diagonal, however the ...g5 pawn push now does not
come with tempo: 11...g5 12.Rc1 h5? 13.d5! cxd5 14.exd5 (14.Qd4! with Qa7
to follow looks extremely strong) 14...Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Qc2 Qf7 17.
Nd4 Bd6 18.b4 Ne7 19.b5 axb5 20.Nxb5 Nd5 21.Qa4+ Rozentalis
Sosnicki, Lubniewice 1998.
11...g5!
Immediate kingside play is probably Black's best here.
11...Ne7 was played in an old classic, but it looks too slow: 12.Rc1 Ng6 13.
Bg3 Bd6 14.Na4! Bxg3 15.fxg3 Kb8 16.Nc5 Qd6 17.Qa4 Ka7?? A terrible
blunder losing on the spot, though Black's situation is in any case far from
ideal. (After 17...Bc8 18.Rc3 White has a strong attack.) 18.Nxa6 Bxh3 19.e5
+ Fischer Gligoric, Havana (ol) 1966.
12.Bg3
[FEN "2kr1bnr/1ppq3p/p1p1bp2/6p1/3PP3/
2N2NBP/PP3PP1/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 12"]
12...g4
Perhaps Black should focus his research efforts along the lines of: 12...h5!? 13.
d5 h4 14.Bh2 (14.dxe6?! Qe8 15.Qb3 hxg3 16.fxg3 g4 with attack) 14...cxd5
15.Rc1 Bd6 unclear
13.d5! cxd5
13...gxf3 14.dxe6 Qxe6 15.Qxf3 gives White the advantage.
14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.hxg4 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Nh6
19.g5 Nf5 20.gxf6 Nxg3 21.fxg3 Bc5+ 22.Kh2 Rf8 23.Rd5 Bd6 24.Rf5 Kd7
25.Kh3?
After 25.Ng5! h6 26.Ne4+/- White remains a sound pawn up and should

likely win the ending.
25...Ke6 Petrushin Yudasin, Soviet Union 1981.
[FEN "r3kbnr/1ppq2pp/p1p2p2/8/3PP1b1/
4BN2/PP3PPP/RN1Q1RK1 b kq - 0 9"]
9...f5N
This is a positionally sound concept for Black in this pawn structure.

However, the black king is still in the centre and White can try to take
advantage of that. Previously Black has played:
9...000 10.Nbd2 Ne7
Black should also consider 10...f5!? here.
11.b4 Ng6 12.Qb3 Qe7 13.Qc2 Re8!
An interesting concept, the threat of ...Bxf3 is now unpleasant and White has
to act on the queenside.
14.a4?
White pushes the wrong pawn. He had to play 14.b5! cxb5 (14...axb5 15.a4
b4 16.a5 with attack) 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.a4 b4 17.Ne1! with Nd3 to follow, with
strong compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qe6 16.Kh1 Bxb4 17.Rg1 Nh4-/+ Magem Badals Lin
Weiguo, Beijing 1998.
10.Qb3 Bxf3 11.Qxb7 Rd8 12.gxf3 fxe4
[FEN "3rkbnr/1Qpq2pp/p1p5/8/3Pp3/
4BP2/PP3P1P/RN3RK1 w k - 0 13"]
13.Rc1!
Putting immediate pressure on the weakness on c6 is probably White's best

here.
13.Re1 should not worry Black: 13...Bd6! (13...exf3 leads to an advantage for
White after 14.Bf4+ Be7 15.Nd2 Nf6 [or 15...Nh6 16.Qxc7 Qxc7 17.Bxc7
Rd7 18.Be5 00 19.Nb3+/=] 16.Bg3+/= 00 17.Nxf3 Rb8 18.Ne5!) 14.fxe4
(14.Nc3? exf3 15.Bf4+ Ne7-/+) 14...Qg4+ 15.Kf1 Ne7 16.e5 Bxe5 17.dxe5
Qc4+ 18.Kg2 Qg4+= with perpetual check.
13...exf3
White is better in the event of 13...Ne7 14.Nd2! exf3 15.Kh1, as Black has
problems completing his development.
14.Qxc6 Bd6
It is essential for Black to first develop his bishop to d6 before placing his
knight on e7.
15.Nd2
White is now going to be a pawn up.
15...Qxc6 16.Rxc6 Ne7 17.Rxa6 00
[FEN "3r1rk1/2p1n1pp/R2b4/8/3P4/4Bp2/
PP1N1P1P/R5K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Ne4
More testing was:

18.Nc4! Nf5!
This seems to generate enough kingside counterplay for a draw.
Less convincing for Black is 18...Nd5, since after 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Nxd6 cxd6
21.Ra5! Nf4 22.Bxf4 Rxf4 23.Rc1! Black's situation is not easy: 23...Re7 (or
23...Rxd4 24.Rc8+ Kf7 25.Rf5+ Ke6 26.Rxf3+/-) 24.h3+/-
19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.b4
The white rooks are passive and Black appears to be just in time.
20...Rf6! 21.b5 Rg6+ 22.Kh1 Rg2 23.a4
Or 23.b6 Nxe3 24.fxe3 Rb2=.
23...Re8 24.Rg1 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Rb2
25...Ra2 is also possible.
26.Ra7 Rxe3 27.Raxg7+ Kf8 With a likely draw.
18...Bf4! 19.Re6 Nd5
Black has strong compensation and White must be careful.
20.Nc3 Rf5
Black had a winning attempt in: 20...Bxe3! 21.fxe3 (21.Nxd5?! Bxd4) 21...f2
+ 22.Kf1 Rd6 23.Rxd6 (23.Re4?? runs into mate after 23...Nxc3 24.bxc3 Rg6
25.Ke2 f1=Q+! 26.Rxf1 Rg2+ 27.Ke1 Rb8) 23...Nxe3+ 24.Ke2 cxd6 25.Kxe3
f1=Q 26.Rxf1 Rxf1 In this unusual position Black is favourite, but is it
enough to win? It is not easy to say.
21.Nxd5 Rdxd5
[FEN "6k1/2p3pp/4R3/3r1r2/3P1b2/4Bp2/
PP3P1P/R5K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.Bxf4
This forces a draw.
White's last winning attempt was 22.a4!. Then Black should avoid: 22...Bxe3
23.Re8+! It is important that the f3-pawn would hang with check. 23...Kf7 24.
Rxe3 Rxd4 25.a5 and Black is in bad shape.
Instead 22...Bd6! is probably the only move here, offering Black counterplay
on the kingside. Andreikin obviously did not like this and therefore settled for
a draw. However, the white a-pawn is very dangerous and White would retain
some winning chances.
22...Rxf4 23.Re3 Rg5+ 24.Kh1 Rh5!
A strong and precise move!

25.Rae1 Rfh4 26.Re8+ Kf7 27.R8e7+ Kf8 28.Re8+ Kf7 29.R8e7+


Puzzles Purchases from our
By Jacob Aagaard accessible:
In previous versions of Chess Evolution the puzzle section has been a
repetition of positions that could be found elsewhere in the book. When we
decided to make some small changes to the layout and structure of Chess
Evolution, it was natural to stop this practice and have a small section with
twelve combinations from the last two months.
Of the twelve positions I have selected, most of them could be said to be

Chess difficult. The first six positions are probably within reach of most readers
without too much effort, some more than others. But don't get too cocky;
Evolution some top class players managed to misplay a majority of these positions!
This month, here are those first six positions: Gambit Book of Instructive
Chess Puzzles
1. Bologan Ragger by Graham Burgess
Translate this page
The Quality Chess Puzzle Book

[FEN "8/5p2/8/8/3K1k1p/8/3R4/8 w - - 0 69"] by John Shaw
White to move
2. Romanov Dreev

the games from
Advanced Chess Tactics

by Lev Psakhis
[FEN "4rNk1/Rp4bp/3n2p1/1P6/3P4/
7P/4p1P1/4RBK1 w - - 0 31"]
White to move
3. Safarli Kovchan
[FEN "r4rk1/pp2b1p1/4p2p/q4p1P/3B2n1/
3Q1N2/PPP2P2/1K1R2R1 w - - 0 21"]
White to move
4. Vachier Lagrave Pelletier
[FEN "3q1rk1/5p2/2p1pp1p/p2rR3/P2P4/
2PQ2P1/5P1P/4R1K1 w - - 0 23"]
White to move
5. Areshchenko Shoker
[FEN "r3k2r/p4p1p/q2p1npQ/4P3/1pnR4/
1N3N1P/PpP2PP1/1K1R4 b kq - 0 23"]
Black to move
6. Naiditsch Laznicka
[FEN "8/1p5R/p3P3/2kp4/b1p5/
2P4p/P7/7K w - - 0 42"]
White to move
1. Bologan Ragger, Greece 05.07.2011
White wins by delaying the advance of the h-pawn, forcing Black to lose
enough time for the rook to make it to the 8th rank and decide the game from
behind. 69.Rd3!! The game ended with 69.Rf2+? Kg3 70.Ke3 h3 71.Rxf7
Kg2! [71...h2?? 72.Rg7+ Kh3 73.Kf2! was seen in the recent World Cup in
the game Bacrot-Robson (1.5), with the exception that the rook was on h6
instead of f7 to start with.] 72.Rg7+ Kf1 73.Rh7 Kg2 74.Ke2 h2 75.Rg7+ Kh1
76.Kf2 [and Black was stalemated. 69...f5 (69...Kg4 70.Ke3! Kg3 71.Rd8 also
wins easily.) 70.Ra3 Kg4 71.Ke3! Kg3 72.Ke2+ Kg2 73.Ra8 White wins.
Black can delay matters with 73...Kg3 according to the tablebases, but
obviously there is no hope there. 73...h3 74.Rg8+ Kh1 75.Kf2 f4 (75...h2 76.
Ra8 with mate on the next move.) 76.Rg7 f3 77.Rd7 Kh2 78.Rh7 Kh1 79.
Rxh3#.
2. Romanov Dreev, Baku 08.08.2011
31.Ne6!! A nice swischenzug, allowing White to remain an exchange up. 31.

Bxe2 Bxd4+ 32.Kh2 Bxa7=. 31...Rxe6 31...exf1Q+ 32.Kxf1+. 32.Ra8+ Kf7
33.Rxe2+ Bxd4+ 34.Kh2 Be5+ 35.Kh1 Nf5 36.Rf2 Kg7 37.g4 Ne3 38.Rd8
Re7 39.Rd3 Bc7 40.Re2 Bf4 41.Bg2 Rc7 42.Re1 Nc4 43.Red1 Nb6 44.h4
Rc5 45.Rf1 g5 46.hxg5 Bxg5 47.Rf5 Rc1+ 48.Kh2 h6 49.Bxb7 Rc2+ 50.
Kg3 Be7 51.Bc6 Nc4 52.Rd7 Re2 53.Bd5 Nd6 54.Kf3 10
3. Safarli Kovchan, Konya 10.07.2011
21.Bxg7! White initiates a typical attack. Black presumably hoped it was only
going to lead to a perpetual check. 21...Kxg7 21...Rfd8 22.Bd4 Kf8 23.Rxg4!
fxg4 24.Qh7! wins quickly. 22.Rxg4+ fxg4 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 25.
Qxe6+ Rf7!? The toughest defence was 25...Kh8 26.Ne5! Bf6 (26...Qb6 27.
Ng6+ Kg7 28.Qxg4+) 27.Ng6+ Kg7 28.Rd7+ Kh6 29.Nxf8 Rxf8 (29...Qe5
30.Qxe5 Bxe5 31.Rh7+ Kg5 32.Ne6+ Kf5 33.Nc5+) 30.Qe4!+ The double
threat of Qg6+ and Qh7+ forces Black to play 30...Kxh5 when the computer
recommends 31.c4 and 31.f3 as the best options, since Black cannot prevent
Rd5+ winning the queen anyway. 26.Ne5 Raf8 27.h6! 27.Rg1!?+. 27...Qa6
28.h7+ Kxh7 28...Kg7 29.Qxg4+. 29.Rh1+ Bh4 30.Rxh4+ Kg7 31.Rxg4+
Kh7 32.Qxa6 bxa6 33.Nxf7 Rxf7 34.f4 Kh6 35.b3 Kh5 36.Rg5+ Kh4 37.
Rg6 10
4. Vachier Lagrave Pelletier, Biel 27.07.2011
23.Rxe6! Not a difficult first move. But as we shall see, it is hard to find the
winning follow-up even if you are up close and personal. 23...fxe6 24.Qg6+
Kh8 25.Qxh6+ Kg8 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Re4! Forcing a clearance of the sixth
rank. 27...f5 28.Qh6+ Kg8 29.Rxe6 Rd7 The only defensive try. 30.Rg6+
Kf7 This position was already in Vachier-Lagrave's mind when he took on e6.
But he did not solve the last remaining problem then, nor did he do it once he
reached the position over the board. 31.Rxc6?? 31.Qh5! wins easily; Black's
best defence loses the queen for the rook, and if 31...Ke7 32.Qe2+! mate is
very near. Technically speaking 31.d5 also wins, but only because of 31...
cxd5 32.Qh5!, so the queen move is the crucial detail that White must find.]
31...Ke8 32.d5 Re7 33.c4 (with compensation) 33...f4 34.Qh5+ Rff7 35.Kg2
f3+ 36.Kh3 Qd7+ 37.g4 Kd8 38.Qg5 Rg7?! 38...Qe8!=. 39.Qf4+/- Ke8 40.
Kg3 Qb7? 40...Qd8+/-. 41.Qf5 Rc7? 42.Rh6 Rh7 43.Re6+ 10
5. Areshchenko Shoker, Ningbo 17.07.2011
23....Rc8!! 23...Na3+ 24.Kxb2 Rc8 is an inferior move order. After 25.Rc1

the position is quite unclear. 24.exf6 24.Rxc4 Qxc4 25.Nfd4 dxe5 26.Qg7
exd4 27.Nxd4 Ke7 28.Re1+ Kd7 29.Qxf6 Rhe8+ Black is in control. 24...
Na3+ 25.Kxb2 Rxc2+ 26.Ka1 Nc4 27.Re4+ 27.Nc1 Qa3+. 27...Kd8 28.
Nc1 Qa3 01
6. Naiditsch Laznicka, Valjevo 30.08.2011
White missed the winning move: 42.Rd7!! Preventing ...d5d4 and keeping
the king away from the e-pawn at the same time. The game went 42.Rxb7?
Black now gets sufficient counterplay with the passed c-pawn. 42...d4 43.cxd4
+ Kxd4 44.Kh2 Kd3 45.Rb4 Be8 46.Rb2 Ba4 47.Rb8 Ke3 48.Rc8 Kd3 49.Rd8
+ Ke3 50.Rc8 Kd3 51.Rd8+ . 42...Bc6 43.Kh2 b5 44.Rd8! An important
finesse. 44.a3? a5 45.Rd8 is the computers preference, but exchanging the a-
pawn leads to a draw: 45...b4 46.axb4+ axb4 47.cxb4+ Kxb4 48.e7 Kb3! It is
nice that there is no pawn on a2! (48...Kc5 49.Rc8!) 49.Rxd5 c3 50.Rc5 Bd7
51.Rc7 Be8 52.Rc8 Bd7=. 44...b4! The only try. 44...a5 45.e7 b4 46.Rc8!+.
45.cxb4+ Kd4 45...Kxb4 46.e7 White is threatening Rxd5. In this line Black
does not have ...Kb3 to support the pawn, and after 46...c3 White wins by 47.
Rb8+! followed by Rc8 winning. 46.e7 c3 47.Rc8 Bb5 48.e8Q 48.Rc5 also
wins, but the text is simple. 48...Bxe8 49.Rxe8 Kc4 50.Rc8+ Kxb4 51.Kxh3
d4 52.Kg3 d3 53.Kf3 d2 54.Ke2+


A Dangerous Side Line in the Ruy Lopez Purchases from our
By Borki Predojevic accessible:
F. Caruana (2712) D. Jakovenko (2716)

12th Karpov International, Poikovsky
04.10.2011 [C84]
The early 6.d3 is an interesting way to start a fight in the Ruy Lopez. In the
following game Black chose the line with 8...Bd7, which is a very solid
answer. White decided to play a typical plan with the manoeuvre Nb1-d2-f1-
Chess e3 to fight for the d5-square. Black's novelty was 16...b4N but I don't like it.
The simple 16...Be6 is the main line and should be okay for Black.
Evolution
Caruana found a very nice line for White and after 22.Bc4! he had the
advantage. In mutual time-trouble both players made inaccuracies, but the Chess Evolution
final mistake was 44...Rb3?. Just two moves later, Black resigned. September 4/2011
Edited by Arkadij Naiditsch
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7
Translate this page
NIC Yearbook #100

by New In Chess
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1pppbppp/p1n2n2/4p3/B3P3/
5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 6"]
6.d3!?
This is a very dangerous side line in the Ruy Lopez. All the main analysts of
Chess Evolution who play 1.e4, have successfully play this line with the white
pieces.
the games from
6...b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7
After 8...Bg4 9.c3 00 10.h3 Bd7 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Re1 Re8 14.Nf1
White would have a tempo more and the possibility of playing Nh2 faster than Chess Informant 112
in the game, so this line should be good for White. by Chess Informant
8...b4 is another possibility for Black which was recently played by Aronian.
[FEN "r2qk2r/2pbbppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/P3P3/
1B1P1N2/1PP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 9"]
9.c3
The main alternative is:
9.Bd2
This was a problem for Black a few years ago, but then a strong reply was
found:
9...b4!
[FEN "r2qk2r/2pbbppp/p1np1n2/4p3/Pp2P3/
1B1P1N2/1PPB1PPP/RN1Q1RK1 w kq - 0 10"]
Still, the position is complicated and here we will see some fresh examples:
10.a5
In my opinion, this move is obligatory.
If White tries to omit a4-a5 by playing 10.c3 00 11.Re1 Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8,
after 13.d4 Black has a strong answer: 13...Na5! 14.Bf1 c5! 15.cxb4 (15.dxe5
dxe5 16.Nxe5 Be6 compensation) 15...cxb4 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 exd4 18.Nbd2
g5 19.e5 gxh4 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Ne4 Bg7 22.Nxh4 Qd8-/+ Navara Aronian,
Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010.
10...00 11.c3 Rb8 12.h3
12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Qa4 Bxc4 15.dxc4 Qb7= Saltaev Michalczak,
Dortmund 2011.
12...Qc8 13.Re1
In the following game White gained an advantage, but Black could have
played better:
13...bxc3 14.bxc3 Be6 15.Bxe6 Qxe6 16.Qa4 d5 17.exd5

[FEN "1r3rk1/2p1bppp/p1n1qn2/P2Pp3/Q7/
2PP1N1P/3B1PP1/RN2R1K1 b - - 0 17"]
17...Qxd5
17...Nxd5 unclear
18.c4 Qd6 19.Nc3 Nb4
19...Rfe8!? counterplay
20.c5 Qxc5 21.Rxe5 Qd6 22.Rae1 Bd8 23.d4 Nd3 24.R1e3 Rb4 25.Qa1!
Nxe5 26.dxe5 Qc6 27.exf6 Bxf6 28.Qe1+/- Naiditsch Sanikidze, France
2011.
9...00
[FEN "r2q1rk1/2pbbppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/P3P3/
1BPP1N2/1P3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 10"]
10.Nbd2
In the recent European Club Cup White tried an idea with 10.Ba2, but after
10...h6 11.h3 Re8 12.Re1 Bf8 13.Nbd2 Ne7 14.Nf1 Ng6 15.N3h2 Be6! 16.
Bxe6 Rxe6 17.Ng4 d5 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6 19.exd5= Black was okay and a draw
was agreed in Svidler Adams, ECC 2011.
10...Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.Re1 Re8
On 12...Qc7 White can continue with the normal 13.Nf1 initiative with the
same plan as in the game. Usually Black plays ...Qc7 to support the e5-pawn
if it is under attack, but this move would not make so much sense now.
13.Nf1 h6
13...Bf8 would give White the chance for 14.Bg5+/= which is a typical idea in
the Ruy Lopez with d2-d3: the main idea is to fight for the d5-square.
14.Ne3 Bf8
[FEN "r2qrbk1/3b1pp1/p2p1n1p/npp1p3/P3P3/
2PPNN2/1PB2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 15"]
15.h3
Less strong is 15.Bd2. After 15...Qb6 (15...Nc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Qxa8
18.Nh4 Qd8 19.Qf3 Be6 20.Nd5 Nh7 21.Nf5 Ne7 22.Ra1 Nxd5 23.exd5 Bxf5
24.Qxf5+/= Arakhamia-Grant Qin Kanying, New Delhi 2000) 16.b4 cxb4
17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Bb3= a draw was agreed in Nunn Lein, Hastings 1979.
White can play Bd2 at any point if required, and the move played in the game
is more to the point; White prepares the typical manoeuvre Nf3-h2-g4.
15...Nc6
Black can immediately play 15...g6!? which is an important alternative. After

the normal 16.Nh2 Be6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nhg4 h5 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Bd2
Nc6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8= the position was equal in P. Jaracz Ibragimov, Biel
1997.
15...Bc6?! is certainly dubious. After 16.b4 Nb7 17.Bb3 Rc8 18.Bd2 g6 19.
axb5 axb5 20.Ra6+/- White was clearly better in Xu Tong Shen Yang,
Beijing 2008.
16.Nh2
[FEN "r2qrbk1/3b1pp1/p1np1n1p/1pp1p3/P3P3/
2PPN2P/1PB2PPN/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...b4N
This is a novelty, but I prefer the old move as 16...b4 is premature. It would
be very interesting to see what Caruana had prepared in the main line:
16...Be6
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p1npbn1p/1pp1p3/P3P3/
2PPN2P/1PB2PPN/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 17"]
Now White has two main options: A) 17.Nhg4 and B) 17.Qf3.
A) 17.Nhg4 Nxg4
On 17...Nd7 White can play: 18.Nd5!?N (18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 20.
Nd5 Qb7 [20...Bxd5? 21.exd5 Ne7 22.Nxh6+ gxh6 23.Qg4+ Ng6 24.Qxd7+
Dutreeuw P. Nikolic, Belgium 2009] 21.Nge3 Ra8 counterplay) With the
idea: 18...Nb6 19.Bxh6! Nxd5 (19...gxh6 20.Ngf6+ Kh8 21.Nxe8 Nxd5 22.
exd5 Bxd5 23.axb5+) 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.d4! initiative With the better
prospects for White.)
18.hxg4
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p1npb2p/1pp1p3/P3P1P1/
2PPN3/1PB2PP1/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Be7!
It is also very hard to claim any advantage after 18...b4. We shall see more of
this position below in the note to Black's 18th move of the game.
19.Nd5 b4 20.a5 bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxa5 22.Ba4 Rf8 23.c4 Bg5 24.Bd2 Bxd2 25.
Qxd2 Rc8 26.Reb1 Nc6 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Rb7= Zhao Jun Peng Xiaomin,
HeiBei 2001.
B) 17.Qf3
This looks more interesting than the 17.Nhg4 line above.
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p1npbn1p/1pp1p3/P3P3/
2PPNQ1P/1PB2PPN/R1B1R1K1 b - - 0 17"]
Now there are four moves to consider: B1) 17...Kh7, B2) 17...Qa5, B3) 17...
b4 and B4) 17...Ne7.
B1) 17...Kh7 is not a natural move. After 18.Nd5 Rc8 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.
Qxf6 gxf6 21.Ng4 Bg7 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ra6 f5 24.exf5 Bxf5 25.Ne3 Bg6 26.
Rb6 Nd4 27.Bd1 Rc6 28.Rb7 Ne6 29.Bf3 Rcc8 30.Be4+/= White was
dominating in Ryskin Aleksandrov, Minsk 1987.
B2) The computer moves 17...Qa5 18.Re2 b4 should lead to a slightly worse
position for Black after 19.Bd2+/=. The benefits of 17...Qa5 compared to 17...
b4 are invisible.
B3) 17...b4
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p1npbn1p/2p1p3/Pp2P3/
2PPNQ1P/1PB2PPN/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 18"]
White can now play the typical move:
18.Nd5!?N
18.g4?! looks suspicious: 18...d5 19.Nf5 And now in Wang Kashlinskaya,

Moscow 2010, Black missed a strong idea: 19...c4! 20.dxc4 dxe4 21.Bxe4
Nxe4 22.Rxe4 bxc3 23.Qxc3 (23.bxc3 Qc7-/+) 23...Qd1+ 24.Re1 Qd7
initiative
18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Be7= Of course Black plans ...Bg5.
18...Bxd5 19.exd5 Ne7
[FEN "r2qrbk1/4npp1/p2p1n1p/2pPp3/Pp6/
2PP1Q1P/1PB2PPN/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 20"]
20.Bxh6
The computer suggests 20.c4!? which is also very interesting. White has two
main threats: Bxh6 and a4-a5 with the idea Ba4. The best answer is 20...Nd7!
and after 21.a5 g6 22.Ba4 Nf5 counterplay Black's position is acceptable.
20...bxc3 21.bxc3 Rb8
21...gxh6 22.Qxf6 Nxd5 23.Qf3 Nf4 24.d4 cxd4 25.cxd4 initiative must be
worse for Black.
22.Bg5 Nexd5 23.Ng4 Be7
23...Rb2 24.Bb1 initiative
24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.Qxd5 Bxg5 26.Bb3 Re7 27.Re2 Reb7 28.Bc4+/=
B4) 17...Ne7
In my opinion this is Black's most logical answer.
[FEN "r2qrbk1/4npp1/p2pbn1p/1pp1p3/P3P3/
2PPNQ1P/1PB2PPN/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 18"]
In reply the natural move is:
18.Nhg4N
18.h4 has been tested: 18...Qd7 19.Bd2 d5 20.exd5 Nexd5 21.Nef1 Bd6 22.
axb5 axb5 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.c4 bxc4 25.dxc4 Nb6 26.b3 unclear Black was
okay in Ye Jiangchuan L.B. Hansen, Moscow (ol) 1994.
18.Bd2 Qd7 19.Ra3!? unclear looks interesting.
18...Nxg4
18...Nd7 19.Nf5 Ng6 20.Bd2+/= with possible ideas of g3 and h4.
19.hxg4 Qd7 20.Qg3 Ng6 unclear
The position is unclear.
My conclusion is that 16...Be6 at least gives Black an easier position to play

than in the main game.
17.Nhg4 Nxg4 18.hxg4
[FEN "r2qrbk1/3b1pp1/p1np3p/2p1p3/Pp2P1P1/
2PPN3/1PB2PP1/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Be7
Jakovenko is planning ...Bg5.

More natural was:
18...Be6
This transposes to a sub-line of line A of the 16...Be6 variation.
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p1npb2p/2p1p3/Pp2P1P1/
2PPN3/1PB2PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 19"]
We can study this position more:
19.Bb3
19.Qf3 Rb8 20.Bd2 Be7 The bishop comes to g5 with good counterplay for
Black. For example: 21.g3 Bg5 22.Qe2 bxc3 23.bxc3 Na5 24.Reb1 Bb3 25.
Qd1 Bxe3 26.Bxe3 Bxc2 27.Qxc2 Qd7 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Rb1 Rxb1+ 30.
Qxb1 Qb7 31.Qxb7 Nxb7= The endgame was equal in N. Kosintseva Shen
Yang, Nalchik 2008.
19...Na5
19...bxc3 20.bxc3 Na5 21.Bd5 Rb8 22.Bd2 Qd7 23.Qc2 Be7 24.Rab1 g6 25.
c4 Qc7 26.g3 Nc6 27.Bxc6 Qxc6 28.Kg2 Qd7 29.f3 Bg5 counterplay Emms
L.B. Hansen, Copenhagen 1995.
Another alternative for Black is 19...Rb8 20.Bd5 Qd7, when White has the
interesting idea 21.Bxc6!? Qxc6 22.c4 unclear and next Nf5. The final
position should not be better for White, but in practice Black will have more
problems finding a good plan.
[FEN "r2qrbk1/5pp1/p2pb2p/n1p1p3/Pp2P1P1/
1BPPN3/1P3PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 20"]
20.Bxe6!N fxe6 21.cxb4 cxb4 22.Nc4 Nc6
22...Nxc4 23.dxc4+/=
23.a5 Rb8
And now the best chance of fighting for an advantage is:
24.g5!
24.Be3 Rb5 25.Qa4 d5 26.Rec1 Bc5 27.Bxc5 dxc4 28.Rxc4 Rxa5 29.Qd1
Rxa1 30.Qxa1 Qxd3 31.Qxa6=
[FEN "1r1qrbk1/6p1/p1npp2p/P3p1P1/1pN1P3/
3P4/1P3PP1/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 24"]
Now there is a forced line:
24...d5!
24...hxg5 25.Qg4 Nd4 26.Bxg5 Qc7 27.Rad1 Nb3 28.Re3 with attack
25.exd5 exd5 26.Nb6 Nxa5 27.Rxa5 Rxb6 28.gxh6 Rxh6 29.Bxh6 Qxa5 30.
Bf4 Qb6 31.Bxe5+/= initiative
White retains the better chances since he is dominating the centre, while
Black has problems with his king.
19.Bb3 Be6 20.Bd5 Rc8
If 20...Bxd5 then White can play directly: 21.exd5! Na5 22.cxb4 cxb4 23.Nf5
+/= initiative With very good chances of building a serious advantage.
Possible plans include attacking the b4-pawn with Bd2 or breaking in the
centre with d3-d4.
21.Nf5 Bg5
[FEN "2rqr1k1/5pp1/p1npb2p/2pBpNb1/
Pp2P1P1/2PP4/1P3PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.Bc4!+/=
A very deep idea by Caruana. He doesn't want to exchange bishops on e6 or

g5. Black is more or less obliged to take on c4, but then White has pressure on
d6. Instead after 22.Bxg5 hxg5 counterplay Black could use the h-file for his
heavy pieces.
22...Bxc4 23.dxc4 Re6 24.Bxg5 Qxg5 25.Re3!
A useful move; by putting the rook on the third rank White prepares to
increase the pressure with Rd3 or possibly create an attack with Rh3.
25...Rd8 26.Rd3 Kh7?!
An imprecise move. 26...Rg6 was stronger, but of course Black is still

struggling. White replies 27.Qd2! and the endgame after 27...Qxd2 28.Rxd2
bxc3 29.bxc3 Rxg4 (29...Na5 30.Ne7++/-) 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Nxd6 Na5 32.
Rb1 initiative is better for White.
[FEN "3r4/5ppk/p1npr2p/2p1pNq1/PpP1P1P1/
2PR4/1P3PP1/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 27"]
27.Rh3?!
Too positional. I do not understand why Caruana didn't take pawn with 27.
Nxd6!. After 27...Rf6 28.f3 h5 29.gxh5 Qxh5 30.Nf5+/- White is clearly on
top.
27...Rb8 28.Qe2 Rg6 29.Ne3 Ne7 30.Rd1+/=
Even without taking the d6-pawn, White is still better. Black has to be very
careful and patient in order to hold this position.
30...a5 31.Rh5 Qf6 32.Nf5! bxc3 33.bxc3 Rb6 34.g3 Kg8
34...Rg5 35.Rh1 initiative.
35.Kg2
Suddenly, Black has problems with his pieces on the kingside. His g6-rook is
out of play, while White's rook on h5 can always go back to h1 and prepare to
attack on the queenside. Positionally, this is an unpleasant situation for Black.
35...Qe6
Again 35...Rg5 is met by 36.Rhh1 initiative and Black's problems are similar
to the game.
[FEN "6k1/4npp1/1r1pq1rp/p1p1pN1R/
P1P1P1P1/2P3P1/4QPK1/3R4 w - - 0 36"]
36.Rdh1?
Better was 36.Rhh1! and then Rb1 will gain a big advantage. For example,
36...Qd7 37.Rb1 Rxb1 38.Rxb1 Kh7 39.Rb5 Nc6 40.f3+/- looks very nice for
White.
36...Rb3
Now Black could try 36...Qd7 with the idea of bringing the g6-rook back into
the game. Breaking with 37.g5? does not work, as Black has 37...Nxf5 38.
exf5 Rxg5 39.Rxg5 hxg5 40.Qh5 Qc6+!-/+.
37.Qf3 Rg5 38.R5h2
38.Rxg5 hxg5 39.Qd3 Nxf5 40.gxf5 Qe7 41.Rb1 Rxb1 42.Qxb1 Kh7 43.Qb6
is not dangerous for Black. He can play 43...g4! when White cannot improve
his position since 44.Qxa5 is met by 44...Qb7!=.
[FEN "6k1/4npp1/3pq2p/p1p1pNr1/
P1P1P1P1/1rP2QP1/5PKR/7R b - - 0 38"]
38...Nxf5?!
This was certainly not forced and was not Black's best choice. After 38...Rb2
counterplay it would be very hard to improve White's position.
39.exf5 e4
39...Qc8 40.Rd1 Qb8 41.Rhh1 initiative would give White decent chances
since the rook on g5 is still out of the game.
40.Qf4 Qe7 41.Re1 Rxc3
41...Kh7 42.Rxe4 Qb7 43.Kh3 Rxc3 44.Re3 Rc2 counterplay was another
option for Black.
42.Rxe4 Qb7 43.Kh3 f6 44.Re3
[FEN "6k1/1q4p1/3p1p1p/p1p2Pr1/P1P2QP1/
2r1R1PK/5P1R/8 b - - 0 44"]
44...Rb3??
The final mistake. After Black had survived all the unpleasant pressure, he
made a huge blunder. The only move was 44...h5! when after 45.f3 Rxe3 46.
Qxe3 hxg4+ 47.fxg4 g6! White cannot improve his position. After 48.Qe6+
Kg7 49.Rb2 Qxb2 50.Qe7+= the game would end in a draw.
45.Rxb3 Qxb3 46.Qe4! 10
Black resigned since he cannot avoid f2-f4. For example: 46...h5 47.Qe8+
Kh7 48.f4+.


An Important Game in the Bogo-Indian Purchases from our
by Arkadij Naiditsch accessible:
This month we feature a very important game in the "Bogolubov" with 4...
Bxd2, and it seems that White is doing better. Kramnik was leading the game
very nicely till move thirteen where, instead of 13.Rfd1! with a slightly better
position for White, he chose the wrong plan by playing 13.Rac1?!. After that,
Black was perfectly all right and with 19...Rad8!, instead of 19...Nbd5?!, the
game would most likely end in a draw. In the ensuing complications, Kramnik
managed to trick his opponent and gain the full point.
Chess
V. Kramnik (2800) M. Adams (2734)
Evolution 3rd London Chess Classic
London, England
Round 5, 08.12.2011 [E11] Chess Evolution
Annotated by Arkadij Naiditsch September 4/2011
Edited by Arkadij Naiditsch
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Nf3 Nbd7
Translate this page 8.0-0
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pppn1ppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/
5NP1/PP1QPPBP/RN3RK1 b - - 0 8"]
8...dxc4
Sometimes Black doesn't hurry with this move and first plays c6 or Re8 with
the idea to take on c4 and to push e5 at the right moment.
the games from
8...c6!? 9.Rc1 (9.Qc2 b6 (9...Re8 10.Nbd2 e5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.
Nxe5 Rxe5 14.Nf3 Re8 15.Rfd1+/=) 10.Nbd2 Bb7 11.e4 c5!=) 9...Qe7 10.Qf4
dxc4 11.Rxc4 Re8 (11...Nd5 12.Qg5! Qxg5 13.Nxg5+/= Rd8 14.Nd2 Ne7 15.
Ndf3 b6 16.Ne4 Ba6 17.Rc2 Rab8 18.b4 Nf6 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.a3 Kg7 21.e3
Chess Informant 112
+/= 10 Caruana,F. - Bruzon Batista, L. / Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2009) 12. by Chess Informant
Nbd2 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5=.
9.Na3
The most logical continuation - White develops the knight with the tempo on
c4 and wants to block Black's freedom push e5 at the same time.
9.Rd1 Qe7 (9...c6 10.Ne5 Qc7 11.Nxc4 e5 12.Nc3 exd4 13.Qxd4 Nb6 14.Qd6
Qb8 15.Na5 Be6 16.e4 Qc8 17.Rac1 Bh3 18.e5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 with initiative
Tikkanen,H. - Turov,M. / Wijk aan Zee NED 2012 (29) ; 9...Rb8!?) 10.
Na3 e5 11.Nxe5 (11.Nxc4 e4 12.Nfe5 Nb6) 11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Qxe5 13.Nxc4
Qe7 14.Rac1 c6 15.e4 with a minimally better position for White.
9...e5!
Black needs to act quickly, since waiting for Nxc4 is not an option. Pushing
c6-c5 would be a clear admission of the worse position.
9...b6 10.Ne5 with initiative; 9...Nb6 10.Ne5 c5 11.Rfd1 cxd4 12.Naxc4 Nxc4
13.Nxc4+/=.
10.Nxc4
10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qxd8 Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 Rxd8 13.Nxc4 Be6 14.Na5 Bd5 15.
Nxb7 Rdb8 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Rfd1 Rxb7 18.Rxd5 Rxb2 19.Rc1 L'Ami,
E. - Turov, M. / Dieren NED 2011.
10...e4
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pppn1ppp/5n2/8/2NPp3/
5NP1/PP1QPPBP/R4RK1 w - - 0 11"]
10...exd4 leads to a slightly worse position. 11.Nxd4 Nb6 12.Na5 White is

better developed and exerts pressure on the queenside, which gives him a
solid advantages 12...c6 13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.Rac1+/=.
11.Nfe5
11.Ng5 The try to capture the pawn doesn't work well here. 11...Re8 12.Qf4
a) 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.f3 exf3 14.exf3 h6 15.Ne4 Nb6=;
b) 12.Qe3 Nb6 (12...Nd5 13.Qc1 f5 14.f3! exf3 15.Rxf3 with initiative) 13.
Nxb6 axb6 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bh3! (15...Bf5?! 16.f3 Qe7 17.Qb3+/=)
16.Rfd1 Bf5 17.f3 Qe7+/=; 12...Nf8 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Ne6 15.Qd2
Qxd4=.
11...Nb6
It seems that after 11...Nxe5 Black will still be having a hard time in front of
him in the worse endgame that appears after 12.dxe5.
11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 (12.Nxe5 c5 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Qe7=) 12...Qxd2 13.

Nxd2 e3 14.fxe3 (14.exf6 exd2 15.Rfd1 Rd8 16.Be4 gxf6 17.Bd3 Be6 18.
Rxd2 Kg7=) 14...Ng4 15.Nc4 Be6 (15...Re8!?) 16.Rf4
[FEN "r4rk1/ppp2ppp/4b3/4P3/2N2Rn1/
4P1P1/PP2P1BP/R5K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...Rae8 17.Bf3 (17.Bxb7 g5 18.Re4 f5 unclear; 17.Rc1 c6 18.Nd6 Re7 19.

Rb4 Nxe5 20.Nxb7 Rb8 21.Rd1 g6 22.Rd8+ Rxd8 23.Nxd8 Bxa2 24.Nxc6
Nxc6 25.Bxc6 Rxe3=; 17.h3 b5 unclear) 17...b5 (17...h5 18.Rc1 (18.h3 g5
(18...Bxc4 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Bxb7 Bxe2 21.Rc1 Rxe5 22.Kf2 Bd3 23.Rxc7+/
=) 19.Re4 Bxc4 20.Rxc4 Nxe5 21.Rxc7 Nxf3+ 22.exf3 Rxe3 23.Rf1 Rd8 24.
Rxb7 Rd2 25.Rf2 Re1+ 26.Kg2 Rdd1=) 18...c6 19.Nd6 Re7 20.Ra4 Nxe5 21.
Rxa7 Rd7 22.Ne4 Bg4 23.Bxg4 Nxg4 24.h3 Nxe3 25.Kf2 Nd1+ 26.Ke1 Nxb2
27.Nc5 Rd4 28.Rxb7 Na4 29.Nb3+/=) 18.Bxg4 Bxc4 19.Rc1 c6 (19...Bxa2 20.
Rxc7 Rxe5 21.Rxa7 Bc4 22.Kf2+/=) 20.b3 Bd5 21.e4 Be6 22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.
Kf2+/=.
12.Ne3 a5
Not the most critical move in the position, but probably the best! Black
possibly decided not to go into complications and wanted to create a block on
d5 by playing c6, Be6, Nbd5, where the move a5 will prevent White from
playing b4-b5.
12...c5 A critical choice. 13.Rfd1 cxd4 (13...Qe7 14.Qa5 cxd4 15.Rxd4 Re8
16.N5c4 Nxc4 17.Nxc4 Bg4 18.Nd6 with initiative) 14.Qxd4 Qe7 Let's take a
look whether the critical position of the whole line can bring White any
advantage: 15.b3!
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp2qppp/1n3n2/4N3/3Qp3/
1P2N1P1/P3PPBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 15"]
(15.Qd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Be6 17.b3 Rac8=; 15.Rac1 Be6 16.b3 Rfd8 17.Qb2
h6=; 15.g4 Re8 16.g5 Nh5 17.Qxe4 g6 18.f4 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 Qxe5 20.Nd5
Nxd5 21.Qxe5 Rxe5 22.Rxd5 Re8 23.Rc1 Be6=; 15.a4 Be6 16.a5 Rfd8 17.
Qc3 Nbd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5=) 15...Re8 (15...Be6 16.N5c4 The position is much
more dangerous for Black than it seems. 16...Bxc4 17.bxc4 (17.Nf5? Qe6 18.
Bh3 Bxe2! 19.Nh6+ gxh6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 and Black should be fine.) 17...Rfd8
18.Nf5 Qc7 19.Qe3 (19.Nd6 Na4 20.Rd2 Nc5 21.Rad1 Ne8 22.Nxe8 Rxe8=)
19...h6 20.Bxe4! Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Re8 22.Rd4 Nxc4 23.Qc3+/-) 16.N5c4
Nxc4 17.bxc4 Bg4 18.Rd2 Rad8 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 e3 21.fxe3 Qxe3+ 22.
Qxe3 Rxe3 23.Kf2 Rc3 24.Rb1 b6 25.Rb3+/=.
13.Rac1
It is probably better for White to keep the rook on a1.
13.Rfd1!? Re8 14.b3 c6 15.N3c4 a4 16.e3+/=.
13...c6 14.b3 Re8 15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Rc5 a4 17.b4 a3
Black managed to develop well and created a potential weakness - the pawn
a2. We are facing a very unclear position.
18.Ra5
18.b5? Na4-/+; 18.Rdc1 Qd6 19.b5 cxb5 20.Rxb5 Ra4 with counterplay.
18...Qd6 19.Rc1
[FEN "r3r1k1/1p3ppp/1npqbn2/R3N3/
1P1Pp3/p3N1P1/P2QPPBP/2R3K1 b - - 0 19"]
19...Nbd5?!
This is a little mistake. Black chooses the wrong plan: there is no need for
Black to exchange the knight on e3. Much better was the logical continuation
of the attack on the white pawn d4.
19...Rad8 20.Rxa3 Qxd4 21.Qxd4 Rxd4 22.Ra7 Rb8 and only Black can be
better in this endgame.
20.Nxd5 Bxd5
20...Nxd5 would have been another option. Usually it is better to make a

blockade with a knight, if possible.
21.Rb1
a) 21.Bxe4 Qxb4 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Qd3 Nf6-/+
b) 21.Rac5 Nc7 22.Bxe4 (22.Nxc6 Na6 23.Ne5 Red8-/+) 22...Na6 23.Bd3

Nxc5 24.bxc5 Qe7 25.Rb1 with compensation; 21...f5 22.Nc4 Qe7 23.Rxa3
Rxa3 24.Nxa3 Nc7 with compensation. Probably Black got enough
compensation for the pawn. The white bishop on g2 is out of play and Black
is going to play Ra8, targeting the a2 pawn.
21.Nc4+/= Qe7
21...Qe6 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Nb6 Ra7 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.b5+/=
22.e3
White finally managed to make a pawn chain and a free window for the
bishop on f1.
22...h5
An important move, that can help Black to create a counter play on the
kingside in the future.
23.Rxa8
23.Nb6 Rxa5 24.bxa5+/= was another way of getting a better position.
23...Rxa8 24.Nb6
[FEN "r5k1/1p2qpp1/1Np2n2/3b3p/1P1Pp3/
p3P1P1/P2Q1PBP/2R3K1 b - - 0 24"]
24...Rd8
24...Ra6 25.Nxd5 Nxd5 26.b5 typical (26.Bf1 b5 27.Rc5 Qe6 28.Be2 Ra4 29.
Bd1 Rxb4 30.Rxd5 Qxd5 31.Qxb4 Qxa2 32.Qb3 Qd2 33.Bxh5 g6 34.Bxg6
Qc1+ 35.Kg2 Qc4 36.Qxa3 fxg6 and probably Black should be able to hold
due to the free b-pawn) 26...cxb5 27.Rc8+ Kh7 28.Rc5 Nf6 29.Rxb5 (29.Qb4
Qe6 30.Qb1 Rb6 31.Re5 Qg4 32.Re7 (32.h3 Qe2) 32...b4 33.h3 Qf5 34.Re5
Qd7 35.Bxe4+ Nxe4 36.Qxe4+ g6 37.Rxh5+ Kg7 38.Ra5 Qxh3=) 29...Rc6 30.
Bf1 b6 31.h3+/=.
25.Nxd5
25.Qc3 Bxa2 26.Qxa3 Be6 27.Qa5 h4 28.b5+/=.
25...Nxd5 26.Rc5 h4 27.Bf1
27.b5 Would be too early, because cause of 27...Nf4! 28.bxc6 (28.Qc2 Nd3
29.Rc3 cxb5 30.Bxe4 Nb4=/+) 28...bxc6 29.Rxc6 Nxg2 30.Kxg2 h3+ 31.Kf1
Rb8 with initiative
27...g6
27...b5 28.Rxc6 Qxb4 29.Qe2 Nc3 (29...hxg3 30.hxg3 Qb2 31.Qxb5 Qxa2 32.
Qa5+/-) 30.Qc2 Nxa2 31.Qxa2 Qb2 32.Rc2 Qxa2 33.Rxa2 b4 34.Bc4 Kf8 35.
Kf1+/-.
28.b5 cxb5?
A terrible mistake.
28...Nc7!
[FEN "3r2k1/1pn1qp2/2p3p1/1PR5/3Pp2p/
p3P1P1/P2Q1P1P/5BK1 w - - 0 29"]
Black uses the fact that the rook on c5 is hanging and plans to take with the
knight on b5. This will allow him the exchange of the white bishop, aft er
which the white king be weakened, giving Black good chances to save the
game. 29.Qc2 (29.Qa5 Ra8 30.Qb4 hxg3 31.hxg3 Ne6 32.Rc4 Qxb4 33.Rxb4
c5 34.dxc5 Nxc5 35.b6 Kf8=; 29.Qc3 Nxb5 30.Bxb5 cxb5 31.Qxa3?? b6+)
29...Nxb5 30.Bxb5 cxb5 31.Rxb5 (31.Re5 Qd7 32.Qxe4 h3-/+) 31...Qe6 32.
Rxb7 Rc8 33.Qd2 Qf5 with counterplay.
29.Rxb5+/-
As long as the bishop on f1 is alive, Black has no big chances to create

anything serious on the kingside.
[FEN "3r2k1/1p2qp2/6p1/1R1n4/3Pp2p/
p3P1P1/P2Q1P1P/5BK1 b - - 0 29"]
29...Qc7 30.Qa5! b6
30...Qd6 31.Rb3 (31.Bc4 b6 32.Qa7 Qc6 33.Bxd5 Rxd5 34.Rxd5 Qxd5 35.
Qxa3 h3; 31.Rxb7 hxg3 32.hxg3 Nxe3 33.fxe3 Qxg3+ 34.Kh1 Rc8) 31...Rc8
32.Qxa3 Qxa3 33.Rxa3 hxg3 34.hxg3+/-.
31.Qxa3 Rd6 32.Qb3 Nf6 33.Rb4
Black's position is hopeless.
33...Kg7 34.Rc4 Rc6 35.Rxc6 Qxc6 36.gxh4 Ng4 37.h3 Nh6 38.Qb5 Qf6 39.
Qe5+
With the exchange of the queens, Black loses even a theoretical chance to
make a draw. Black's position is hopeless.
39...Nf5 40.Bg2 Nd6 41.a4
[FEN "8/5pk1/1p1n1qp1/4Q3/P2Pp2P/
4P2P/5PB1/6K1 b - - 0 41"]
41...Qxe5 42.dxe5 Nc4 43.Bxe4 Nxe5 44.Kg2 Kh6 45.Kg3 f6 46.Bc2 Nc4 47.
Bd3 Nd6 48.Kg4 Nf7 49.Be2 Nd6 50.Kf4 Nb7 51.h5 gxh5 52.Kf5 Nc5 53.
Kxf6 Ne4+ 54.Kf5 Nxf2 55.h4 1-0

This month we present an excerpt from The Chess Evolution Weekly Purchases from our
Newsletter #05. CEWN is released every Friday of the week, the chess shop help keep
newsletter contains twenty-plus pages of great chess material written by ChessCafe.com freely
top grandmasters Arkadij Naiditsch and Csaba Balogh. accessible:
The Spanish Main Line with 6.d3

by Arkadij Naiditsch
We are both playing on the European Individual Championship in Plovdiv.

The tournament is very strong again, with 100 players above 2600 rating.
Chess There are twenty-three qualification places for the World Cup. The finish will
be very exciting, we both try to do our best to have a nice result.
Evolution
As we have promised, we present you some of our games, so we can share
Arkadij Naiditsch with you not only analysis, but our feelings and calculations during the game CEWN 05
as well. by Arkadij Naiditsch
Naiditsch, Arkadij (2702) Sokolov, I (2653)

ECC 2012 Plovdiv (6), 25.03.2012
Ruy Lopez [C84]
Translate this page
We are in the sixth round of the European Championship. Ivan and I have a
good 4/5 points in the standings. I was preparing myself for a very fighting
game like every game of Ivan Sokolov, who is playing very exciting chess
and is trying to "push" in almost any kind position.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Ivan wrote a great book on Spanish Gambits, The Ruy Lopez Revisited, in 1000TN!!
which he introduced moves like 3...f5, 3...Bc5. His latest invention against by Chess Informant
Caruana was 3...Nge7 4.c3 d5!?. From the practical point of view all these
lines are playable of course if we look objectively, White is doing better.
Against me Ivan is going for the main Spanish, it was a small surprise for me.
3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.d3
Of course, the main line here is 6.Re1, but lately 6.d3 got very popular,
especially often played by Magnus Carlsen and Anand. Personally, I like 6.d3
already for many years.
the games from 6...d6
Chess Informant 112
ChessBase Game Viewer. The main line starts with 6...b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7 (8...b4).
by Chess Informant
7.c4!?
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1pp1bppp/p1np1n2/4p3/
B1P1P3/3P1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7"]
A rare move, but interesting one. I already had some practice with this line in
a few rapid games and was very happy about the outcome of it, so during the
game I thought "Why not to try it in a normal game as well"!?
7.c3 00!? 8.Re1 b5 9.Bc2 d5 would lead us to one of the main positions. For
those who want to check it, see games of Carlsen and Aronian.
7...00
7...Bg4 is the other possibility for Black here 8.h3 (8.Nbd2?! The White
knight on d2 will be very badly placed. 8...00 9.h3 Be6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.d4
exd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 With a very comfortable play for Black. (In case the White
knight would be on c3, White would be a little better)) 8...Bxf3 9.Qxf3 00 10.
Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nc3 Nd7 12.Be3 Re8 followed by Nf8e6. Maybe White is
doing a bit better due to a better pawn structure, but Black is very solid.
8.h3 Be6
It seems that White has better play after 8...Rb8 9.Nc3 Nd4 the point of 8...
Rb8, now Black is having the b5 move a tempo 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Ne2 b5
[FEN "1rbq1rk1/2p1bppp/p2p1n2/1p6/
B1PpP3/3P3P/PP2NPP1/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 12"]
12.Nxd4! a nice tactic 12...bxa4 13.Nc6 Qe8 14.Nxb8 Bb7 15.Nxa6 Bxa6 16.
b4! and it seems that White is having a better play even if the position is very
complicated.
9.Nc3 Nd7
The first moment in the game, where I took some time for a thinking.
Basically I have two opportunities. 10.Re1 or the move from the game 10.Be3.
10.Be3
10.Re1 Nc5 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7 I thought for a while
about this position. Not easy to evaluate who is actually doing better. White
has a better structure, but the bishop pair of Black could become very strong
in the future. Also Black could try to play next moves Bf6 and Ne6 trying to
take a control over the d4 square. All this was too unclear for me and I
decided for the move in the game.
10...f5
In case Ivan can push something forward you don't need to ask him twice.
11.exf5
The most logical move in the position.
11.d4 I spent quite some time calculating this move. Finally, I didn't want to
make it from practical reasons. Black has too many different options and all
of them are very complex and lead to positions which are very hard to
evaluate 11...f4! (11...Bxc4 12.Bb3! Na5 13.Bxc4+ Nxc4 14.dxe5 Ndxe5 15.
Qd5+ Kh8 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4 Nd7 18.exf5 unclear) 12.d5 fxe3 13.fxe3 (13.
dxe6 exf2+ 14.Rxf2 Nc5-+) 13...Nc5 14.dxe6 Bg5 and we have again a
position that might be better for White, but could be the opposite as well.
11...Bxf5
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1ppnb1pp/p1np4/4pb2/
B1P5/2NPBN1P/PP3PP1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 12"]
12.d4!
Of course I should not lose time and need to fight for the center. During the
game I was very happy with my position and was sure, that I should do a bit
better here. 12.Nd5 would be the other option for White, but I wanted to
search my chances in a more direct play.
12...Bf6?
This is probably a mistake. 12...exd4! would be the right reaction 13.Nxd4 (13.
Bxc6 dxc3!) 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 With a slight advantage for White.
13.d5 Na5!
A great move by Black to stay in the game. Black is trying to make the things
tacticaly work which is definitely their only chance now. In this position
White is doing much better, in case White will manage to put a "blocker" on
e4 square, Black's position will get worse.
13...Ne7 14.Bc2 with a clearly better position for White (14.g4? a try to win
the Black bishop would give White only troubles 14...Bg6 15.g5 Bh5!
creating a deadly pin 16.Ne4 Ng6! 17.gxf6 Nh4 and Black is doing better).
14.Nd2!
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1ppn2pp/p2p1b2/n2Ppb2/
B1P5/2N1B2P/PP1N1PP1/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 14"]
It is very important to cover the square e4 at any costs. With a knight on e4

White would block many of the Black's attempts and the dark squared bishop
of Black would get very passive, Black's knight position on a5 could also get
at some moment very dangerous, White's move b4 could be a serious threat in
the future.
14...Bd3 15.Qg4
15.Re1!? would be another possible move 15...Nxc4 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.Qg4

(17.Bxd7 a try to catch the bishop on c4 doesn't work 17...Qxd7 18.b3 e4!
Black is doing great) 17...b5 here I stoped my calculation too early 18.Bc2!
a difficult move to find during the game. White is a clear pawn down, but the
Black bishop is having a very dangerous position on c4 and could be
potentially caught. In addition, White is having control over the e4 square and
the knight will have just a great position on e4. All this is giving White clearly
a better play; 15.Bc2!? a very interesting positional exchange sacrifice 15...
Bxf1 16.Qxf1 b6 it is clear that White has enough compensation for the
exchange, but wether White is doing better here is under big question mark.
15...Nb6 16.Bxb6 cxb6
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p4pp/pp1p1b2/n2Pp3/
B1P3Q1/2Nb3P/PP1N1PP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 17"]
17.Rfd1
17.Rfc1 would lead to unnecessary complications after 17...b5! (too early

would be 17...Bg5? 18.Bc2! Bxd2 19.Bxd3 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 and White is
almost winning!) 18.cxb5 Bg5 19.Bc2 Bxb5 with an unclear position.
17...Kh8
It is hard for Black to find a better move. The check on e6 is really unpleasant
in many lines, so my opponents decides for a prophylactic decision.
18.Nde4!
Finally, I reached the first step of my plan. The square e4 is blocked. But an
exact calculation was needed. White is just in time to protect the pawn c4.
18...Bxe4 19.Qxe4 g6
19...Rc8 20.Bc2! The key move. White is using the tempo (the h7 pawn is
hanging) to bring the bishop from a4 to d3 after which the knight on a5 will
be in big danger. 20...g6 21.Bd3 would lead to about the same 21...Qc7 22.
Rac1! The only way for White to protect the pawn on c4, but everything
seems to work 22...Nxc4 23.Ne2 b5 24.b3+.
20.Bc2!
I continue sticking to my plan. Next White's moves are Bd3, Qe2 and finally
fulfilling my plan with Ne4.
20...Bg7 21.Bd3 Rf4 22.Qe2 Rd4 23.Ne4

[FEN "r2q3k/1p4bp/pp1p2p1/n2Pp3/2PrN3/
3B3P/PP2QPP1/R2R2K1 b - - 0 23"]
Finally, I am done with my plan. All my pieces are standing at good places,
Black is having a bad bishop on g7 and a knight on a5 which is very close to
being caught by the b4 move.
23...b5
Suddenly Black's position is very bad. Ivan is short on time, decides to give a
pawn in hopes for any kind of play. 23...Rc8 24.Rac1 Bh6 25.Rc3 would not
change much as well.
24.cxb5 Qb6 25.Rab1?!
In a winning position and having twenty-five minutes against my opponent's

one, I decided to make a small trap. But there was no need for that. 25.bxa6
bxa6 26.Ng5 would simply lead to a winning position.
25...axb5 26.Ng5!
This was my idea. Now I want to play Bxb5 and have the b4 move "in my
pocket."
26...Rxd5
Ivan in falling in my trap. 26...e4 27.Bxb5 Rb4 28.a4 and White's position is
of course winning as well.
27.Bxg6!
[FEN "r6k/1p4bp/1q1p2B1/np1rp1N1/
8/7P/PP2QPP1/1R1R2K1 b - - 0 27"]
Easy but pretty.
27...Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 hxg6 29.Rxd6! Qc7 30.Rxg6 Ra6
The last trick of my opponent.
31.Rxa6
31.Qh5+?? Kg8 32.Rxa6 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Qf4+ with a perpetual check.

31...bxa6 32.Qh5+ Kg8 33.Qh7+ 10
Black resigned because of the 33...Kf8 34.Ne6. A nice positional win and a
super-important one because of the situation in the tournament.

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A Typical Game in the Caro-Kann, Panov

Attack
Chess Here we face a typical game in the Caro-Kann Panov variation. My opponent
was a young German talent. The first surprise of the game he made when he
Evolution arrived to the board in just a T-Shirt, when I was freezing even with warm
clothes on. The second one, when he started to bang from time to time on the
clock to be honest not very impressive. The third surprise was a nice one
Arkadij Naiditsch though, he gave me an extra tempo in the opening. CEWN Subscription
Naiditsch, A (2702) Bluebaum, M (2407)

16th Neckar Open Deizisau GER (7.9), 08.04.2012
Caro-Kann [B13]
Translate this page
1.c4 c6 2.e4
My opponent plays the Slav on 1.d4 and the French on 1.e4. So I made a little
trick in the opening by playing 1.c4.
2...d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4
And we are in the Caro-Kann, Panov line which was obviously not very ECE: Pawn Endings
known to my opponent. by Chess Informant
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 dxc4

the games from
Chess Informant 113
ChessBase Game Viewer. by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/pp2pppp/2n2n2/6B1/2pP4/
2N5/PP3PPP/R2QKBNR w KQkq - 0 7"]
The main move. Just two weeks ago, D.Solak tried against me quite a dubious
plan 6...Ne4?! 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.d5 f6?! what a crazy idea. When I was learning
chess, I think my trainer would have advised me to change the sport after
intentionally playing f6!? in my preparation. 9.Bd2 Ne5 10.f4 Ng6 11.Qc2
and White is doing clearly better. 6...e6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.c5 0-0 9.Bb5 Ne4 10.
Bxe7 Nxe7 11.Rc1 is the other main line
7.Bxc4 e6?!
Now White got a very good version of Panov or some others would say
Queen's Gambit. Big specialists in this positions are, for example, Rublevsky
and Dreev, who have been playing it almost through their whole chess career.
7...Qxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.0-0-0 e5 10.f4 Bg4 11.Nf3 This is the main position
of a very forced and sharp line started with 6....dxc4. For long time it seemed
like Black is OK, but lately probably White is doing better.
8.Nf3
The early wish to win the game would not bring anything 8.d5 exd5 9.Nxd5
Be7! Black is doing perfectly fine.
8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/2n1pn2/6B1/2BP4/
2N2N2/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 10"]
So we are in a very often appearing position with an isolated pawn on d4. A

few basic ideas: Black will try to make a blockade on the d5 square, by
bringing their knight from c6 in best case over b4 to d5, or over e7 to d5. Also
b6-Bb7 would be a normal development. An exchange of any piece is very
positive for Black. White should try to create pressure on the center and
combine it with the attacking ideas on the black king. In the best case Qe2-
Rad1, Bb1, Ne5 would be perfect places for the pieces. Another White's idea
is to break through with the d5, but this is very hard to manage.
10.Re1
A standard move. White is putting more pressure on the center and letting
Black decide if they go for Nb4 or play b6.
10...b6
10...Nb4?! would let White put the pieces to perfect positions 11.Ne5 Nbd5
12.Rc1. Next White's moves could be Bd3-b1, Qd3 with a very dangerous
pressure on the Black's king.
11.a3
Again too early would be 11.d5?! Nxd5! The only move, but more than
enough. 12.Bxd5 exd5 13.Qxd5 (13.Nd4 Bxg5 14.Nxc6 Qd6 15.Qxd5 Qxd5
16.Nxd5 Bb7 and the bishop-pair gives Black at least equal chances in this
endgame) 13...Qxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxg5 15.Nxg5 Bb7 also here White has no
objective chances to hope for an advantage.
11...Bb7
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pb2bppp/1pn1pn2/6B1/2BP4/
P1N2N2/1P3PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 12"]
Here was the first moment, when I thought for a while. I had a choice of two
moves that seemed to be very logical to me, 12.Qd3 and 12.Ba2. Both moves
follow the same idea, but still there is a little difference between them.
12.Ba2
12.Qd3! in my opinion the better move 12...Rc8:
A) Logical 13.Ba2 is not the best because of the 13...h6! in general this move
is very dangerous for Black because it weakens the pawn structure, but here
everything seems to be working for Black. Chess is a forced game. 14.Bh4
(14.Be3 Bd6 15.Rad1 Ne7 16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qxd3 usually an exchange
of queens is always good for Black here as well 18.Rxd3 Nfd5 with at least
an equal position) 14...Nh5! the key idea of Black's play 15.Bxe7 (15.Bb1 g6
16.Rxe6 Nf4! a very cool defence) 15...Nxe7 and Black reached what they
wanted. The black knight from c6 is going to d5, plus one piece has been
exchanged. This means good position for Black.
B) 13.Rad1 h6 14.Bf4! By this exact move order, 12.Qd3, 13.Rad1, 14.Bf4

White seems to reach a very pleasant position. During the game, not easy
moves to play!
12...Nd5?!
This is generally not a good move. 12...Rc8 13.Rc1 would lead us to a

complicated position which I personally prefer to play with White.
13.Bxd5!
This is the right way to act at moves like 12...Nd5.
13...Bxg5
13...exd5 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qd3 We have another typical position here. White
is doing clearly better and even if the position is looking like "should be
somehow OK for Black" it is by far not. The bishop on b7 is very bad and the
clear advantage in the development is giving White very good chances to
bring the full point home.
14.Be4
Another typical type of position. Black has the bishop-pair but White is better
developed and it is not going to be easy for Black to manage the coordination
of the pieces. Now it is all about the time. In case Black manages to
consolidate their position is fine.
14...Bf6 15.Qa4!
Very logical. White is putting pressure and at same time developing their
pieces very naturally. Next White moves are easy, Rad1, Ne5 and hope to
make d5 working.
15...Na5 16.Ne5 Qe7

16...Bxe5 17.dxe5 Bxe4 18.Nxe4+/-. Would lead to a position with "good
white knight" against the "bad black knight". Also the square d6 secures
White a solid advantage
17.Rad1
[FEN "r4rk1/pb2qppp/1p2pb2/n3N3/Q2PB3/
P1N5/1P3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 17"]
Probably here was the critical moment of the game. Can Black somehow hold
their position?!
A mistake would be 17.b4? Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Nc4 and Black's
knight finally gets into the game.
17...Rfc8
17...Rfd8 seems not to solve all problems 18.Ng4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Bg5 20.d5!
and Black's position is quite dangerous.
18.Nd7!
Before playing 18.Nd7, I took a lot of time for thinking. Many options to
continue the game and I needed to make quite an exact calculation.
18...Bc6
Very quickly played by my opponent, and exactly the move I was hoping for.
18...Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Bh4! only move! Very inhuman 20.Ne5 Would lead to a
better position for White, but maybe still Black would be a bit in the game.
19.Bxc6 Nxc6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6
[FEN "r1r3k1/p4ppp/1pn1pq2/8/Q2P4/
P1N5/1P3PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.d5!
This is the decisive move! White is using the temporarily unlucky position of
the black pieces.
21...exd5
The game would last longer after 21...Ne5 22.Qe4 Ng6 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6
+ Qxe6 25.Rxe6 and White is just a pawn up in the endgame.
22.Nxd5 Qg5
22...Qxb2 23.Rc1+- This had been my calculation starting with 18.Nd7! It

was very important to see 23. Rc1 move because it is the only winning move
and fundamental for White's advantage.
23.Re3!
A precise move. White wants to play Rc3 or just h4 making a "hole" for the
King and after taking some more forced action. Black cannot avoid loss of
material.
23...h6?
This makes the win easy. 23...Kf8 would have been one of the computer's
suggestions here, but also after 24.b4 Black's position is probably lost.
24.Rc3 1-0
[FEN "r1r3k1/p4pp1/1pn4p/3N2q1/Q7/
P1R5/1P3PPP/3R2K1 b - - 0 24"]
Quite a nice example of play of position with isolated pawn and what can
happen to Black in case of inaccurate play.
24.Rc3 Ne7 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 26.h4 Qe5 27.Qd7+-.


A Terrible Miscalculation by Anand

Anand, V (2791) Gelfand, B (2727)

WCC 2012 Moscow, 14.05.2012
Chess Grnfeld Defence [D70]
Evolution We are in the 3rd game of the WCC match and, just like in the first round,
Anand opens with 1.d4.
Arkadij Naiditsch CEWN Subscription
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 by Arkadij Naiditsch
And here comes the change in comparison to game 1, where White played 3.
Nc3.
Translate this page
Vishy Anand:
World Chess Champion
by Viswanathan Anand
& John Nunn
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/2PP4/
5P2/PP2P1PP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3"]
3...d5
Maybe in the next games Black could try the 3...Bg7 4.e4 d6 line going into
the King's Indian, where Anand usually chooses the lines with Nf3 and not f3!
Play through and download 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2
the games from
ChessCafe.com in the This is the very main position of the Grnfeld with 3.f3.
My Most Memorable Games
8...e5!?
by Boris Gelfand
This move is not the main option.
8...Nc6 is the usual choice with long and sharp lines.
8...Qd6!? 9.f4 Rd8 10.Nf3 Qb4 happened in the recent game between Jobava-
Caruana from 2012.
9.d5 c6!
Black needs to start his play in the center immediately. In case White
manages to castle long and play h4-h5, Black's position will be very bad.
10.h4
Let the actions begin!
10.d6? doesn't work now because of 10...Re8 11.0-0-0 Re6 12.Bg5 Black
wanted to play Bf8 and the pawn on d6 would be lost 12...f6 13.Be3
[FEN "rnbq2k1/pp4bp/1npPrpp1/4p3/4P3/
2N1BP2/PP1Q2PP/2KR1BNR b - - 0 13"]
13...Bf8! a great sacrifice! 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Bc4 b5! 16.Bxe6+ Bxe6 White is
an exchange up, but he's doing clearly worse! There is no decent defence
against Black's b4 move. Besides, all of Black pieces are perfectly in the
game and the knight from b8 will take a very good square on d7.
10...cxd5 11.exd5 N8d7
11...f5 Of course it would be very nice for Black to get the pawn to f5, but it
seems like White is just too fast 12.h5 N8d7 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Bh6 White's
threats over the Black King are very dangerous already.
11...h5 This move is quite interesting and deserves attention, Black blocks his
opponent's play on the file, and wants to continue his development in a
normal way by playing N8d7-Nf6. White has quite a big range of moves here,
for example: 12.Nh3 then Ng5, or maybe the direct 12.0-0-0 followed by g4 is
possible as well. We can be sure of one thing: this position has been very well
analyzed by Gelfand's team as well as, of course, by Anand's team, so we
should just simply believe them that 11...Nbd7 is the best move here.
12.h5 Nf6 13.hxg6 fxg6
Both players have played their moves very fast until this point. It's a bit
strange that almost all the engines give White quite a big advantage which is
not obvious at all with "human eyes"! This makes the position very tricky and
hard to analyze.
13...hxg6 14.Bh6 with a mating attack.
14.0-0-0 Bd7
After this move Anand had his first thought. Let us take a look at the position
from the logical point of view:
1) It is clear that positionally White is doing better. A strong pawn on d5

gives White a clear advantage in the center. Also, in case White manages to
develop his pieces by playing, for example, Nh3-g5, he will be better as well.
2) It is clear that Black's chances lie in creating dynamic play.
15.Kb1
A standard prophylactic move. The White king will have to move away from
the c-file eventually.
15...Rc8
I think we are at the first critical position. White has a huge range of moves
that need to be considered, Anand took around 25 minutes of thinking before
playing his next move.
16.Ka1
One of the options should definitely be 16.d6 Be6 This is why d6 might not
be the best, the bishop on e6 is standing perfectly, even if it looks like a lost
tempo, just 2 moves ago Bc8-d7 was played. 17.Bg5 Black wanted to play
Nfd5. 17...Qd7 The black queen is going to f7 and, at the same time, Black
keeps his desire to play Nfd5. Once again, White had a lot moves to consider.
As we can see, the position is super complicated and it is really hard to say
who is doing better.
Another interesting move is 16.Nh3 e4 (A typical sacrifice doesn't work now

16...Rxc3?! 17.Qxc3 Nfxd5 18.Bc4! and some of Black's pieces will be lost
on the d-file.) 17.Nf4 and we are again in a totally messy position, but I feel
that White might be better here. The knight on f4 is in a very powerful
position.
[FEN "2rq1rk1/pp1b2bp/1n3np1/3Pp3/8/
2N1BP2/PP1Q2P1/K2R1BNR b - - 0 16"]
16...e4!
An excellent move by Black! And it was very quickly played by Gelfand.

Great preparation by the Gelfand team.
17.Bd4!
After another long thought, Anand finds what is probably the best reaction!
A mistake would be 17.fxe4? Rxc3! this time works: 18.Qxc3 Nxe4 19.Qe1
Na4 and the Black pieces are going for the White king 20.Bd4 Nxb2! and this
is the finishing move. The White King is going to be mated soon.
Would also be a mistake 17.Nxe4? Nxe4 18.fxe4 Rxf1! a pretty move that
Anand can see immediately 19.Rxf1 Nc4 and again the b2-pawn is the
troublemaker, Black is winning.
17...Na4
This move was also quickly played by Black, and it seems like it leads to a
forced draw amazing preparation!
17...Nc4 This move gives White the chance to develop completely 18.Bxc4
Rxc4 19.Nge2 and White should be doing a bit better, he managed to keep his
strong d pawn, and will have dangerous attacking chances in the future with
his king in a very safe position.
17...Re8!? Personally, I like this move a lot, now Black wants to play e3 18.
fxe4 and the sacrifice on c3 is a constant threat 18...Rxc3! 19.Qxc3 Nxe4 We
are in a totally unclear position. A very deep analysis would be necessary to
know who is doing better here. Computers probably don't give a correct
evaluation in many lines, which makes it even harder to find the truth, but
again, we should just believe in Gelfand's team and conclude that 17...Na4 is
the better choice.
18.Nge2
An interesting move would be 18.Nxe4!? Nxe4 starting a long forced line, it's
possible that instead of 18... Nxe4 Gelfand planned to do something else!? but
it's not easy to understand what's the plan actually... 19.fxe4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4
Qg5 Of course Black's chance lies in his the development! 21.Kb1 The white
King plays a role in the game, protecting c1! 21...Rxf1 What else?! 22.Rxf1
Qxg2 23.Ne2! Maybe Anand blundered this nice protective move?! 23...Qxe2
24.Ka1 We are in a very crazy position. From the material point of view,
Black is doing better, but probably in a practical game, Black's position can
be very dangerous. White has good attacking chances plus 2 central pawns
that can start advancing very soon. I think White's position is even objectively
better.
18...Qa5!
A very good move by Black, practically forcing White to go into a drawn

endgame.
19.Nxe4
It is difficult to find something better for White.
19.fxe4? doesn't work again 19...Nxc3 20.Bxc3 (20.Nxc3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4

Qxd2 22.Nxd2 Bxd4) 20...Qa4 and White can not protect the pawn on e4 - so
Black should be doing great.
19...Qxd2 20.Nxf6+
[FEN "2r2rk1/pp1b2bp/5Np1/3P4/n2B4/
5P2/PP1qN1P1/K2R1B1R b - - 0 20"]
20...Rxf6!
A very precise move by Gelfand.
In case of 20...Bxf6 21.Rxd2 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Rc2 23.b3 Black would still have
to fight for a draw.
21.Rxd2 Rf5!
Black's target is the lonely d5-pawn, and it is very difficult for White to find
anything to protect it.
22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.d6
Black simply wanted to win the pawn back by playing Nb6 and, if Nc3 Nxd5
comes.
23...Rfc5?!
The first inaccuracy by Gelfand after a great sequence of moves.
The not very difficult 23...Nb6 24.Nc3 Rd5!= leads immediately to a draw 25.
Rxd5 Nxd5 and White has nothing better than allowing Black to take twice on
c3.
24.Rd1+=
The beginning of what looks like the end for Black.
24...a5
Still 24...Nb6 25.Nc3 Nd5 probably would have been the best option for
Black.
25.Rh4!
Finally, the white rook from h1 joins the game. White wants to play Re4-Re7.
25...Rc2
Probably the last chance for Black to start some action.
26.b3 Nb2!?
A very risky move by Black, but probably the best chance to fight.
In case of the silent 26...Nb6 27.Re4 a4 28.Re7+ Kf6 29.Ng3! White seem s
to be close to winning. The knight on e4 is going to become a beast!
[FEN "2r5/1p1b2kp/3P2p1/p7/7R/1P3P2/
Pnr1N1P1/K2R1B2 w - - 0 27"]
27.Rb1!
The tempting 27.Rdd4 leaves the black knight without moves, but 27...a4 28.
bxa4 Black wanted to play a3 28...b5! leads to quite a complicated position.
Especially in a practical game, it is very hard to evaluate!
27...Nd3 28.Nd4 Rd2 29.Bxd3 Rxd3 30.Re1!
So, White is a pawn up, and Re7 is a very dangerous threat. Black's only hope
seems to be the white King.
30...Rd2!
Black tries to use all the tricks in the fight for survival. To have both rooks on
the 2nd rank is the best chance.
31.Kb1 Bf5+
The only move.
32.Nxf5+ gxf5 33.Re7+ Kg6
And we are in a position where Anand made a terrible miscalculation. Having

only 5 minutes for 6 moves, Anand makes a very strange decision
practically agrees to a draw.
[FEN "2r5/1p2R2p/3P2k1/p4p2/7R/
1P3P2/P2r2P1/1K6 w - - 0 34"]
34.Rc7?
34.d7 Rcc2 35.Rc4! It is clear that Anand saw this move 35...Rxa2 (35...Rxc4
is not saving the game either 36.bxc4 h5 37.Kc1 Rd4 38.Kc2 Kf6 39.Rh7 Ke6
40.Kb3! Rxd7 If Black doesnt take on d7, the white king will anyway go to
b5. 41.Rxd7 Kxd7 42.Ka4 b6 43.Kb5 followed by c5 with a totally winning
pawn endgame.) 36.Rc8 Rdb2+ 37.Kc1 Rf2 38.Re6+ Kh5
[FEN "2R5/1p1P3p/4R3/p4p1k/8/
1P3P2/r4rP1/2K5 w - - 0 39"]
39.g4+! and this is the key move! Not an easy move to foresee, especially
with so little time on the clock. White promotes the queen with check 39...
fxg4 40.Rc5+ Kh4 41.d8Q+.
34...Re8 35.Rh1?
It was not too late to play 35.Re7, and probably Black has nothing better than
to come back with 35...Rc8 and pray for a repetition.
35...Ree2!
Now the game is just a draw!
36.d7 Rb2+ 37.Kc1 Rxa2 -
A very interesting game. Black was clearly better prepared, but strangely
enough, missed a very easy draw and found himself in a very difficult
endgame. It still looks like Anand is not in his top shape.
1) Today, he got into a little bit of time trouble.
2) He missed quite an easy win with 34.d7. Usually, the World Champion
does not miss such opportunities!


How to Play Structural Positions

The last round of maybe the most prestigious event of 2012, the Tal
Memorial. Magnus Carlsen is on +1, and needs badly a full point to get at
Chess least the shared lead in the tournament. His opponent McShane had won two
games in a roll, against Morozevich and Kramnik! In this game the World's
Evolution number one gives us a great example of how to play structural positions!
Arkadij Naiditsch McShane, Luke J (2706) Carlsen, Magnus (2835) CEWN Subscription
7th Mikhail Tal Memorial Moscow RUS (9), 18.06.2012 by Arkadij Naiditsch
Closed Ruy Lopez [C85]
1.e4 e5
Translate this page It's a bit funny that Carlsen chooses 1...e5 to play for a win. All his wins in the
Tal Memorial were with Black, and with 1.e4 e5.
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6
McShane likes to play "slow" positions and this is exactly what he is getting
after 6.Bxc6, but of course, probably White accepts not getting any opening
advantage.
Fighting Chess with
6...dxc6 7.d3 Magnus Carlsen
by Adrian Mikhalchishin
& Oleg Stetsko

the games from
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1pp1bppp/p1p2n2/4p3/
4P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7"] Winning with the
Ruy Lopez, Vol. 1
by Victor Bologan
7...Nd7
We are in an often played position, and 7...Nd7 is probably the best way for
Black to continue. The Black knight is going to d4!
8.b3
The usual setup for White as well. White develops the bishop on b2 to
provoke Black's f6 move in order to play Nh4 later.
8...0-0 9.Bb2 f6 10.Nc3

This is something new. Usually, White was trying to continue with 10.Nbd2.
Then, he would have two different plans, to play for f4 or to play with Nc4-a4-
a5 trying to fix Black on the queenside. On the other hand, Black usually
chooses to play Re8-Nf8-Ne6 or c5-Nb8-Nd4, in any case. The key in this
line is to bring the knight to d4!
10.d4 exd4 This kind of moves bring nothing at all for White.
10...Re8
This move is hard for me to understand. Why does Black want to play Nf8-
Ne6 and not the immediate 10...Nc5 followed byNe6?
10...Nc5 In my opinion, the most logical move. 11.Nh4 In case of any other
move, Black just plays Ne6 11...g6! A very typical reaction. Black blocks the
White knight on h4 and threatens to play f6-f5 at some moment 12.f4 exf4 13.
Rxf4 f5 and Black is doing very good.
11.Kh1
This is a useful prophylactic move, but why not to go immediately for Ne2-
Nh4 and f4.
11...Nf8 12.Ne2 c5
Probably 12... Ne6 was also possible, because 13.d4 can never bring White
any advantage, but why to make an extra calculation? 12...c5 is definitely a
good move and will be needed in the future.
13.Nh4 Ne6
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/1pp1b1pp/p3np2/2p1p3/
4P2N/1P1P4/PBP1NPPP/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 14"]
13...g6? would be to passive now 14.f4 exf4 15.Nxf4 and the White knights
are getting very dangerous!
14.Nf5?!
I don't like this move at all, McShane brings the knight to e3, but what for?
14.f4!? If You say A, sometimes it's good to say B as well 14...Nd4 (Of
course doesn't work: 14...exf4? 15.Nxf4 Nxf4 16.Rxf4 g5 17.Nf5! and White
is almost winning.) 15.fxe5 (15.f5 This move looks quite interesting as well.
The idea of White could be just to play Nxd4 next, then, Rf3-Rh3-Qh5 and try
to give mate...) 15...fxe5 16.Nf5 with maybe a slight advantage for White.
Now we can see very well that the Black rook has nothing to do on e8. It
would be better placed on f8!
14...Bf8
Of course Black doesn't give White the chance to play Nxe7 followed by f4,
with a slightly better position for White.
15.Ne3 Nd4
The black knight reached his final destination!
16.f4
[FEN "r1bqrbk1/1pp3pp/p4p2/2p1p3/3nPP2/
1P1PN3/PBP1N1PP/R2Q1R1K b - - 0 16"]
16...Be6!
An easy-looking move that is very important. From this moment on, Black
completely takes over the game.
17.fxe5
17.f5 Bf7! This is the key idea. It's very important for Black to have the
bishop on f7 after White's f5. The bishop will protect the Black king and
support Black's play on the queenside. 18.g4 b5 with good play for Black.
17...fxe5 18.Ng1
Still, the position remains about equal, although White is in big positional
danger. It's funny to see how many moves McShane made with his knights!
The knight from b1: Nc3-e2-g1. The knight from g1: Nf3-Nh4-Nf5-Ne3. A
total of seven out of eighteen moves!
18...g6!
A great move by the World's number one! It's not easy at all to understand
why the Black bishop's best square is on g7! I think the idea is quite simple, it
is clear that Black will start playing on the queenside very soon, so White's
only chance is going to be to play on the kingside. As we know from the
King's Indian structures, the king on g8 is very safe if the bishop is on g7!
19.c3?!
I think this is a serious positional mistake. Now Black is getting a clear target
in White's pawn structure.
19.Nf3 would have been a better move. The next Whites moves could be Bc1-
Bd2. Of course White has no advantage, but it's time to think "how to make a
draw."
19...Nc6 20.Nf3 Bg7

[FEN "r2qr1k1/1pp3bp/p1n1b1p1/2p1p3/
4P3/1PPPNN2/PB4PP/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 21"]
Black is not in a hurry and starts by putting his pieces in good squares.
21.Qe1
McShane had less than fifteen minutes for the last twenty moves! And the
position is already very hard to play for White, Black has the very unpleasant
threat of playing a5-a4. Usually, White can block the a-pawn by playing a4,
which doesn't work now because the pawn on b3 is hanging. This is why 19.
c3?! was a very risky decision. Black has a clear target now!
21...a5!
Don't ask Carlsen twice!
22.Rd1
It's already hard to give an advice for White. The position is quite unpleasant.
22...a4 23.bxa4 Rxa4 24.a3 Rf8!
Another very good move by Black. His best scenario is to exchange one pair
of rooks and the queens, to get a clearly better endgame. The rook on f8
supports that idea and protects Black from any attacking ideas of his opponent.
25.Bc1 Ra8!
Another easy-looking and very strong move. Carlsen doesn't give McShane
even a slight hope for a successful attack.
26.Qg3
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1pp3bp/2n1b1p1/2p1p3/4P3/
P1PPNNQ1/6PP/2BR1R1K b - - 0 26"]
It's hard to blame White for doing this move with only ten minutes left on the
clock and in a position that is very hard to play.
26...Bb3!
And probably this is already a winning move. It's really amazing to see that
until now Carlsen hasn't done any "difficult" moves, and seems to be winning!
This is real high class chess!
27.Rde1
White panics and starts a last attack.
27.Rd2 Bh6! 28.Qe1 would still be playable for White, but of course, Black is
doing much better.
27...Qxd3
And Black is just a pawn up.

28.Ng4 Be6
A very solid move. Black's position looks a bit dangerous, but again, the
structure with the pawns on h7-g6 and the bishop on g7 is almost
indestructible!
29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Qh4 Bf6
Maybe this move is not the most effective one, but it's very logical from a
human point of view. Black exchanges one piece and takes away the g5-
square for the white knight.
31.Bg5 Bxg5 32.Qxg5 Kg7 33.Qc1
[FEN "r4r2/1pp3kp/2n1b1pN/2p1p3/4P3/
P1Pq1N2/6PP/2Q1RR1K b - - 0 33"]
33...Rf4?!
In a winning position and with his opponent having no time on the clock,
Black takes a very risky decision.
33...Qd6! By bringing back the queen, Black gives White no chances for any
tricks, the game is basically over.
34.Rd1
34.Ng5! The first and only chance of White in this game. Suddenly the game
would become quite complicated 34...Bc4 (34...Rxf1+ 35.Rxf1 Bc4 36.Rd1
and the White rook enters on d7.) 35.Rxf4 exf4 36.Ng4 Black's prob ably still
doing better, but the position is very sharp! This is definitely a very
unnecessary risk!
34...Qc4 35.Rfe1 Raf8
And the game is totally over. Black is not only a pawn up, but now he
controls the f-file as well.
36.Ng5
36.Nf5+ doesn't work for White 36...gxf5 37.Nxe5 Nxe5 38.Qxf4 Ng6 39.
Qxc7+ Rf7 and Black is winning.
36...Bc8
The knight on h6 is going to drop.
37.g3 Rf2
[FEN "2b2r2/1pp3kp/2n3pN/2p1p1N1/2q1P3/
P1P3P1/5r1P/2QRR2K w - - 0 38"]
I guess this was the right moment to resign, but McShane decided to make
three more moves.
38.Nf5+ gxf5 39.Nh3 Re2 40.Qg5+ Kh8 0-1
Magnus Carlsen managed to win this game almost without calculating

anything. A really great positional game of the World's Nr.1! This game
brought him a clear first place, after Caruana lost his last game against
Aronian. This is the game we are going to analyze next.


This month we present an excerpt from Chess Evolution #07, May 2012. Purchases from our
The book includes deeply annotated games from major tounaments like chess shop help keep
Wijk aan Zee, Gibraltar, Aeroflot Open, and the European Individual ChessCafe.com freely
Championship. Plus, the World Chess Championship match between accessible:
Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand!
A Fierce Struggle Between Giants!

by Borki Predojevic
Aronian, Levon (2805) Nakamura, Hikaru (2759)

Chess 74th Tata Steel GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 15.01.2012
Dutch Defence [A88]
Evolution
The Dutch Defence is one of the interesting weapons that Nakamura has been
using to get complicated and untested positions. In this game, Aronian
Arkadij Naiditsch answered with the sub-variation 8.Qb3!? (after 7...c6). This move has the idea
CEWN Subscription
of organizing pressure on the queenside and to avoid playing with e5 (which
isn't so good for Black). However, it wasn't a surprise for Nakamura since he
successfully played against this line in the past.
Translate this page After the opening, especially after White's dubious 12.b4?!, Black had a
promising position and for sure he was satisfied with his play. The
complicated position caused Black to make a mistake, and after 16...Qb6?!
and 18.a4! the game became a real fight. From here on we enjoyed a fierce
struggle between two giants! In the middlegame, both players showed
beautiful chess, but near the time control, Nakamura made the mistake 36...
f4?. Aronian got pressure and 44...Nf6? was the final mistake that gave White
a huge advantage and a technically winning position. Aronian converted it
into a win. Purdys Look at Greatest
Games, Vol. 1
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.00 00 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 c6 by CJS Purdy
Last year in Wijk aan Zee, Nakamura successfully played 7...Nc6 against
Aronian, but chose not to repeat it since it's almost sure that Aronian prepared
an improvement.
8.Qb3!?
Interesting choice by Aronian. This move is the favorite line of GM Korchnoi,

but also other strong GMs have played it: Anand, Berkes, Pantsulaia, etc.
the games from
The main move is 8.d5, Gelfand played it against Nakamura in the 6th round.
After 8...e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Re8 11.Bb2 Na6 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.Nxe6 Qxe6
ChessBase Game Viewer. Chess Informant 114
14.Qc2 Nc5 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.e3 Nce4 the position was unclear. Gelfand-
Nakamura, Wijk aan Zee 2012. Of course, White has other options such as 8. by Branko Tadic (ed)
Rb1, 8.b3, 8.Re1 etc.
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp2p1bp/2pp1np1/5p2/2PP4/
1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 8"]
8...Kh8
A prophylactic move by Nakamura. Before taking any action on the

queenside, he wants to stop any annoying checks over the a2g8 diagonal.
Besides, with this move he prepares the maneuver Be6g8 which can be very
useful in the future.
8...Na6 leads to a similar position as in the game after 9.Rd1 (9.Bg5 Ne4 10.
Nxe4 fxe4 11.Nd2 Bxd4 12.Nxe4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Be3 Qb6 15.Bxc5
Qxc5 16.e3 a5= Gofshtein-Barbat, Paris (op) 2000.)
A) After 9...Qe8 White has a few options
[FEN "r1b1qrk1/pp2p1bp/n1pp1np1/5p2/
2PP4/1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 10"]
But seems to be the best 10.c5+ (10.Qa3 with the idea of b4, is also a
tempting option.; 10.Rb1 is too slow. After 10...h6 11.Qa3 g5 12.b4 Nc7 13.
b5 Ne4 14.bxc6 bxc6 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Nd2 Bg4! 17.Nxe4 Bxe2 18.Re1 Bxc4
19.Nxd6 Qg6 Black was OK in the game Panelo Munoz-Rodriguez Vila,
Barcelona (op) 2006.) 10...Kh8 11.cxd6 exd6 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.d5 c5 14.Re1+=
and White will play e4 next, winning the initiative.;
B) 9...Kh8 transposes to the main game.;
C) 9...Nc7 10.Rb1 (10.d5 is met with 10...c5 and Black prepares b5 by

playing Bd7, Rb8, a6.) 10...Rb8 11.a4 Kh8 12.d5 (On 12.a5
[FEN "1rbq1r1k/ppn1p1bp/2pp1np1/P4p2/
2PP4/1QN2NP1/1P2PPBP/1RBR2K1 b - - 0 12"]
Black has a nice plan with 12...Be6! 13.d5 Bg8 and now the pressure over d5
is guaranteed.) 12...Bd7 13.Qa3 c5 14.Bd2 Na6 (14...e5?! 15.dxe6 Nxe6 16.
Be3 Bc6 17.Nb5+=) 15.b3 h6 16.Qc1 Kh7 17.Ne1 Qe8 18.Nd3 g5 19.f4 Qh5
20.Nf2 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Nb4 22.Qd2 Qg6 23.e3 unclear, and the position was
unclear in the game Berkes-Renner, Bundesliga 2010. 8...Na6 is the only
egalitarian alternative to 8...Kh8.;
The normal answer for Black is 8...Qb6.
[FEN "rnb2rk1/pp2p1bp/1qpp1np1/5p2/
2PP4/1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 9"]
A) 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.b3 Ne4 11.Bb2 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Nd7 13.a4 Nf6 looks OK
for Black.;
B) After 9.Rd1 Qxb3 10.axb3 Na6 Black has enough counterplay: 11.Ra4 (11.
Ne1 Nb4 12.Bd2 Bd7) 11...Nc7 (Worse is 11...Bd7 12.b4 Nc7 13.Ra5 Rfb8
14.Bf4+= Komarov-Murgia, Montecatini Terme (op) 2000.) 12.Ne1 (12.b4?!
Be6 13.Nd2 Nd7) 12...Bd7 13.Nc2 a5! with a complicated and unclear
position.;
C) After the correct 9.Qc2! the best reply is 9...Qc7, but then comes (9...Na6
10.a3 Be6 11.d5 Bd7 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b4+= is also better for White.) 10.e4
(10.b4 Kh8 unclear, Be6) 10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Bf5 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Qe2+=
with a slight and long-term advantage for White.;
One of the possible plans for Black is to play 8...h6.
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp2p1b1/2pp1npp/5p2/
2PP4/1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 9"]
Now, a possible answer is 9.Rd1 (A serious alternative is 9.d5 c5 10.Ne1!?

with e4 next.; Worse is 9.Re1 g5 and since e4 can be met by both fxe4 or f4 in
the future, White chose another approach with 10.c5+ Kh8 11.cxd6 exd6 12.
h4, but after 12...g4 13.Nh2 Nh5 14.e3 Nd7 unclear, Black had a good
position. Manaj-Gelashvili, Athens (op) 1999.) 9...Kh7 10.d5 c5 (10...Na6 11.
Nd4 Nc5 12.Qc2 e5 13.dxe6 Nxe6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Bf4 Ne8 16.b3 Qe7 17.
Rd2 Be5 18.Rad1+= Strikovic-Santos Izquierdo, La Laguna (op) 2009.) 11.
Qc2! and White prepares the e4 break. The Black king is badly placed on the
b1h7 diagonal.;
8...Qc7?! looks bad since after 9.c5+ Kh8 (9...d5 10.Bf4+/- is clearly better
for White.) 10.Qa3 dxc5 (10...Be6 11.Bf4 Rd8 12.e4!+/- gives White a strong
initiative.) 11.Qxc5 Qd6 12.Qc4 Be6 13.Qa4!+= White has a stable advantage.
9.Rd1
9.d5 is premature. After 9...Na6, White can try the concrete (Worse is 9...e5
10.dxe6 Na6 11.Ng5 Nc5 12.Qa3 Nxe6 13.Rd1 and White has pressure.;
Another option is 9...cxd5 10.cxd5 Na6 11.Be3 Ng4 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Nxd4
Nc5 14.Qd1 Qb6 15.a3 Nf6 with a solid position for Black.) 10.dxc6 (10.Be3
is met with 10...e5 11.dxe6 Qe7 12.Rad1 Bxe6 13.Bf4 Rfd8 and Black will
get a tempo with Nc5.) 10...bxc6 11.Nd4.
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/p3p1bp/n1pp1np1/5p2/
2PN4/1QN3P1/PP2PPBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 11"]
A) The forced line 11...Nc5 12.Qc2 Nce4 13.Nxe4 (13.Nxc6 Qc7 14.Nxe4
Nxe4 15.Nb4 Be6 unclear,=) 13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4! fxe4 15.Qxe4 d5 16.Qh4
Qb6 17.Nf3+= offers better chances for White.;
B) Now Black has to find the correct 11...Rb8!
B1) After 12.Qd1 Bd7 13.Nxc6 (13.Bxc6? e5!) 13...Bxc6 14.Bxc6 Qc8 White
is not able to save his extra pawn.;
B2) 12.Qa3 Nb4 13.Nxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxc6 Qc7 15.Qa4 Bb7 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.
Rb1 Rfc8 18.Bg5 (18.b3 Rc6 unclear,=) 18...Rc6= and in the final position
Black has good compensation. It slightly reminds of the sacrifice in the
English opening: 1.c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.00 00
7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8.
9...Na6
Previously, Nakamura had played 9...Ne4
[FEN "rnbq1r1k/pp2p1bp/2pp2p1/5p2/2PPn3/
1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 10"]
A) An interesting alternative is 10.Rb1!? with the idea that after 10...Nxc3?!

White recaptures with (10...Nd7 However, 11.Ng5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nf6 13.c5!
d5 14.c4+= looks better for White.) 11.bxc3. In the only game I found, Black
had played 11...Nd7 and after 12.c5! d5 13.Bf4 b6 14.c4 e6 15.Bd6 Re8 16.
Qa4+/- White had a clear advantage. Stocek-Szabolcsi, Budapest 1996.;
B) 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ne1 d5 12.Nc2 Qb6 13.Qc3 Nd7+= /= looks better for
White, but Black has chances for equality.;
C) 10.Ng5 is also possible. After 10...Nxc3 (10...Nxg5 11.Bxg5 Nd7 12.e4

fxe4 13.Nxe4 h6 14.Be3+= offers White a pleasant advantage.) 11.bxc3 h6 12.
Nh3 Qe8! and the next maneuver will be Nd7f6. The position looks OK for
Black.;
D) 10.Be3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 Nd7 12.Qa3 h6 13.c5 d5 14.Nh4 Kh7 15.f4 Nf6 16.
Nf3 Bd7 17.Ne5 Be8= Black equalized in Nielsen-Nakamura, Amsterdam
2009.9...Ne4 is worse than the move in the game, and in my opinion 10.Rb1!?
seems to be the best answer.
10.Qa3!?
Main and concrete. Aronian prepares b4.
10.Rb1
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/pp2p1bp/n1pp1np1/5p2/
2PP4/1QN2NP1/PP2PPBP/1RBR2K1 b - - 0 10"]
Here Black should continue with 10...Rb8!. Now looking for direct action
with (10...Qa5?! doesn't make sense. After 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.Qa3 Ne4 13.Be1
Nxc3 14.Bxc3 d5? 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Rbc1 Qd8 17.Bd2 Be6 18.Bf4 Bf6 19.e3
Qb6 20.Be5 Kg8 21.Bxf6 exf6 22.Ne1+/- White was positionally winning in
the game D. Paunovic-Drazic, Kragujevac 2009; After 10...Qe8 White
follows his main plan with 11.Qa3 Ne4 12.b4 Nxc3 13.Qxc3. The game
continued with 13...Nc7 14.Bb2 f4 15.Qd2 fxg3 16.hxg3 d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.
Ne5 Be6 19.Qe3 Nb5 20.Qb3 Rd8 21.Rbc1 g5 22.e4+/- with a clear edge for
White. Pantsulaia-S.Guliev, Abu Dhabi (op) 2007.) 11.c5 is met with 11...Nc7
12.Ng5 d5! and Black is OK since White has lost a lot of moves in order to
provoke d5.;
10.d5 is still premature. After 10...Nc5 11.Qc2 cxd5 White tried the unusual
idea 12.Be3. Black reacted well by playing (12.cxd5 Bd7 offers Black a good
game.) 12...Nce4 13.Nxd5
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/pp2p1bp/3p1np1/3N1p2/
2P1n3/4BNP1/PPQ1PPBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 13"]
13...Ng4! and after 14.Nd2 Nxe3 15.Nxe3 Nf6 16.Nb3 (16.c5 d5) 16...f4!
Black had the initiative in Marovic-Lombardy, Banja Luka 1976.;
10.a4!? Again, Black plays with the same plan:
A) 10...Qc7?! has the idea of preparing e5, but this is to slow. After 11.Qa3 e5
12.dxe5 dxe5 13.b4 Re8 14.c5
[FEN "r1b1r2k/ppq3bp/n1p2np1/2P1pp2/
PP6/Q1N2NP1/4PPBP/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 14"]
Black went astray with 14...Be6?. White answered 15.Nxe5! Nd5 (15...Qxe5
16.Bf4+) 16.Nxd5 Qxe5 17.Bf4!
A1) Better was 17...Qxe2 18.Rd2 Qh5 (18...Qc4 19.Bf1 Qe4 20.f3+) 19.Bf3
Qh3 20.Nc3+/-, but here White has a huge advantage as well.;
A2) 17...Qb2?! 18.Qxb2 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Bg7 20.b5+ White soon won the
game. Li Shilong-Reinderman, Groningen (op) 2007;
B) 10...Rb8. After 11.Qa3 Black has a nice maneuver which was already
mentioned before 11...Be6! 12.d5 (12.b3 Bg8) 12...Bg8 and he has a good
position. The game continued with 13.b4 cxd5 (13...c5!? was a serious
alternative.) 14.cxd5 Ne4 (Maybe better was 14...Rc8 15.Bb2 Qb6 16.b5 Nc5
with a nice position for Black.) 15.Bb2 Qb6 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Bxg7+ Kxg7 18.
Qc3+ Rf6 19.Ng5 Qxb4 20.Qe3 Nc5 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Qc5 23.Rd4 Rc8
24.Bf3 Rc7= and soon a draw was agreed in the game Peng-Nijboer, Wijk aan
Zee 2008.
10...Nc7
The best move for sure.
10...Qe8 is not so good in combination with Kh8 and Na6. In the variation
with 8.Qb3 Black doesn't play for the e5 break since White has a strong
pressure on the d-file. Now the main move is 11.b4 Nc7 12.Bb2, and here
Black made a mistake with (White can also claim an edge after 12.Rb1 Bd7
13.d5 h6 14.Nd4 e5 15.dxe6 Nxe6 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Bf4 Qxc4 18.Rxd6 a6 19.
Na4!+= Gazarian-N.Kosintseva, Essentuki 2003.) 12...e5?. After 13.dxe5
dxe5 14.Qa5! Na6 15.b5 b6 16.Qa3 Nc5 17.bxc6 e4 18.Nd4+ White had a
winning position. Korchnoi-Dolmatov, Las Vegas 1999.;
10...h6 was also played, but now I don't see the real point behind Kh8 and
Na6. Moves like Rd1 and Qa3b3 have the purpose of organizing an attack on
the queenside. The natural reaction is 11.b4 Nc7 12.Bb2 Qe8 13.d5! and
White was better after 13...Bd7 14.Nd4 Ng4 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.b5 c5 17.Bxa8
(17.Nc2!?) 17...cxd4 18.Nd5 Nxa8 19.Bxd4 g5 20.f3 Ne5 21.Qxa7+/-
Gozzoli-Bauer, Nancy 2008.;
10...Be6?! is premature. After 11.d5 cxd5 12.cxd5 Bd7
[FEN "r2q1r1k/pp1bp1bp/n2p1np1/3P1p2/8/
Q1N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Be3+= Black lost a tempo with Be6d7 and White has time to regroup his
pieces with Rac1, Bd4, Ne1d3 etc.
11.d5
Aronian takes action in the center. I am not sure if this move is the best option
for White, but other moves are not giving any advantage either.
The alternative is 11.Ne1!?
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/ppn1p1bp/2pp1np1/5p2/
2PP4/Q1N3P1/PP2PPBP/R1BRN1K1 b - - 0 11"]
preparing the e4 break and to react with d5. Here the best move for Black is
11...a5! N. The natural (After 11...Be6 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 Bg8 14.Be3 a5 15.
Bd4 Qd7 16.Nc2 Rfc8 17.Rac1 Rcb8 18.b4 axb4 19.Qxb4 Na6 20.Qb2 Nc5
21.e4 fxe4 22.Nxe4+= White stabilized the position and had better chances in
the game Markus-Klip, Aghios Kirykos (op) 2009.)
A) On 12.Nd3 follows 12...Be6 13.b3 b5! 14.cxb5 Ne4! 15.Qb2 (15.Nxe4?

Nxb5!) 15...Nxb5 16.Nxb5 cxb5 and Black has at least an equal position.;
B) 12.Nc2 is met with 12...Be6 13.d5 Bd7! and now White has problems with
b5. The knight is not on his best square on c2. That's why the best option for
White is 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Nd4, but after 15...Qe8 Black has nothing to worry
about.; After 11.b4 Black has a very nice plan with 11...Be6 12.Nd2 Nd7! 13.
e3 Nb6. After 14.Bf1 (14.Qb3 Nxc4 15.Nxc4 b5 16.Bxc6 Bxc4=+ looks
better for Black.) 14...Qe8 with the idea of Qf7. 15.c5 Nbd5 16.Nc4 Qd7 17.
Bd2 Nxc3 18.Qxc3 Bd5 19.a4 g5!=+ Black was dominating in the game Bets-
Malaniuk, Tula 2001.
11...c5
Nakamura decides to blockade the position. This makes sense since White is
not able to create a fast attack on the queenside. Still, he has to play on that
side because of his maneuver Qb3a3.
11...Bd7!? After 12.dxc6 (12.Be3 c5 13.b4?! is met with 13...Ng4! 14.bxc5

Nxe3 15.fxe3 dxc5=+ and Black is already better.) 12...bxc6 (12...Bxc6 13.b4
a6 14.Bb2+= is positionally better for White.) 13.Nd4 Qe8 unclear, Black has
no weaknesses.
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/ppn1p1bp/3p1np1/2pP1p2/
2P5/Q1N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 12"]
12.b4?!N
Novelty, but not the best one. Aronian understands that this is his last chance
to create play on the queenside, but as we will see, Black is not worse here.
12.Rb1 Black has different plans now, but the most interesting is 12...a5!? 13.
Qb3 Bd7. Black prepared the b5 break, which will offer him action on the
queenside. If White blockades the position with 14.a4, Black can play (After
14.Bf4 a4 15.Qc2 b5 16.cxb5 Nxb5 17.Nxb5 Bxb5 18.Ng5 Bd7 Black should
be OK.) 14...Na6 15.Ng5 Nb4 unclear, and the position is very complicated.
12...cxb4 13.Qxb4
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/ppn1p1bp/3p1np1/3P1p2/1QP5/
2N2NP1/P3PPBP/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 13"]
13...Na6! 14.Qb1 Bd7
Thanks to 12.b4?! Black will be able to put pressure on c4. At this point, we
can give the opening conclusion: Black has more than a good position.
15.Nb5
The calmer 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Qb3 Rfc8 17.Rac1 Qxc4 18.Qxb7 Nc5 19.Qb2
Rab8 20.Qd2 Na4 also gives Black some initiative. Still, this looks like a
better option than the move in the game.
15...Rc8 16.Nd2
[FEN "2rq1r1k/pp1bp1bp/n2p1np1/1N1P1p2/
2P5/6P1/P2NPPBP/RQBR2K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...Qb6?!
The first imprecise move by Nakamura. During the game it is easy to get
seduced by an idea like Qb6 and Ng4. We will see that after this move, White
will get some counterplay.
The correct move was 16...Nc5!. The normal reaction 17.Bb2 (After 17.Nxa7
Ra8 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.Qxb5 Black has the strong 19...Na4! and White is in
trouble.) 17...a6 18.Nd4 (18.Na3 b5=+) 18...Na4 19.e3 (19.Qc2 b5 20.Rac1
Qb6=+) 19...b5!=+ leads to a strong pressure for Black.
17.e3 Nc5
[FEN "2r2r1k/pp1bp1bp/1q1p1np1/1NnP1p2/
2P5/4P1P1/P2N1PBP/RQBR2K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.a4!
The best option for White. It is very instructive to see how Aronian creates
play in this position, which still looks worse for White.
18.Bb2 would lead to a better position for Black after 18...Bxb5 19.cxb5 Na4
20.Bd4 Qa5 21.Qd3 Nc3 22.Nb3 Qb4 23.Bxc3 Rxc3 24.Qe2 Rfc8=+.
18...Qa5!?
Interesting choice. Nakamura wants to stop a5 or, at least, to force White to

play Ba3b4.
The alternative was 18...Nce4, but after 19.a5 (19.Nxe4?! fxe4)
A) 19...Qd8 is met with 20.Bxe4! Nxe4 (20...fxe4 21.Bb2+=) 21.Nxe4 fxe4

22.Bb2 Rxc4 23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Nd4 Qc7 25.Qxe4 Bf5 26.Qh4+= and White
is better.;
B) 19...Qa6 20.Bf1! unclear, the Black queen is badly placed. The position
starts to look better for White.
19.Ba3 a6
Both players are fans of complicated positions, so this move isn't a surprise.
Black could have simplified the position with 19...Nfe4 20.Ra2 Bxb5 (20...
Nxd2 21.Rdxd2) 21.Bb4! Nc3 22.Bxa5 Nxb1 23.axb5 Nxd2 24.Bxd2= and
the position is about equal.
20.Bb4 Qd8 21.Nd4 Nxa4?!
Risky decision by Nakamura, but he was probably under the influence of the
missed opportunity he let go a few moves ago. After this move things are
forced.
21...Qc7 unclear, would lead to an approximately equal position.
22.Ne6 Bxe6 23.dxe6 Qe8
There's an interesting idea after 23...b5 24.Bb7 Rb8 25.Bxa6 is answered with
the beautiful 25...Nd5!?. Still, after 26.cxd5 Qb6 27.Ra2 Qxa6 28.Nb3! White
has the maneuver Na5c6 that gives him better chances.
[FEN "2r1qr1k/1p2p1bp/p2pPnp1/5p2/nBP5/
4P1P1/3N1PBP/RQ1R2K1 w - - 0 24"]
24.Bxb7!
Brave decision by Aronian. This is the introduction of the queen sacrifice.
Another option was 24.Qa2 Nc5 25.Bxc5 Rxc5 26.Bxb7 a5 27.Rab1 with
some pressure for White.
24...Rb8 25.Bxa6 Nc3 26.Bxc3 Rxb1 27.Rdxb1 unclear/=
The position has changed its character once again. White has decent
compensation for the queen and Black has to activate his pieces. This is
exactly what Nakamura is doing with his next move.
27...g5! 28.Rb7 Ng8 29.Bxg7+ Kxg7 30.Rb5 Qg6 31.c5 dxc5 32.Rxc5 Qxe6
33.Nf3
Black has won the e6 pawn, but since all the pawns are on the same side,
Black should take care of possible weaknesses on f5 and g5.
33...Qd6 34.Nd4 Kh8 35.Rc6!
Activity first!
White could take the pawn with 35.Rxf5 Rxf5 36.Nxf5 Qf6 37.Nd4=, but this
would solve Black's main problems.
35...Qd7 36.Rac1
[FEN "5rnk/3qp2p/B1R5/5pp1/3N4/4P1P1/
5P1P/2R3K1 b - - 0 36"]
36...f4?
Here Nakamura loses control over the game.
Correct was 36...e5!. The forced 37.Rc7 (37.Nf3 Qg7 38.Rc7 Rf7 39.Rxf7
Qxf7 40.Bc4 Qe7 41.Rb1 Qc7 42.Bxg8 Kxg8 43.Nxg5=) 37...Qd5 38.Bb7
Qd6 39.R1c6 leads to a drawish position after 39...Qd8! 40.Ne6 (40.Nf3? g4)
40...Qd1+ 41.Kg2 Qd5+ 42.Kh3 (42.Kg1 Qd1+=) 42...Qd1!=.
37.Bc8!
This move was missed by Nakamura. Now Black loses the pawn on f4 which
leads to a slight advantage for White.
37...Qa7 38.Ne6 Rf6 39.exf4 gxf4 40.Rc7 Qa4
40...Qa3 41.Nxf4 e5 42.Nd5 Rf8 43.Ne3+/- would lead to similar problems as

in the game.
41.Nxf4+=
Here Black has problems since his knight is badly placed and both pawns are
weak. Of course, Black has chances to get the draw thanks to his queen.
41...Rd6
Nakamura wants to simplify the position, but even then, he will be in trouble.
41...e5 42.Nd5 Rf8 43.Ne3+/- wouldn't help Black.
42.Be6 Rd1+ 43.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 44.Kg2
[FEN "6nk/2R1p2p/4B3/8/5N2/6P1/
5PKP/3q4 b - - 0 44"]
44...Nf6?
The final mistake. Nakamura probably thought that activating the knight
would be enough for a draw, but it seems like this move is simply a mistake.
Much better was 44...Kg7 when White has interesting options, such as 45.
Bd5!? with the idea of creating a threat with Ne6 in the future. (45.Bxg8
Kxg8 46.Rxe7 Qd6+= /= is also better for White, but Black has chances to
survive.)
45.Rxe7+/-
45...Qe1 46.Rf7! Qe4+ 46...Qe5 47.Bb3 Qe4+ 48.f3 Qb4 49.Be6 Qc3 50.Kh3
+.
47.f3 Qd4
[FEN "7k/5R1p/4Bn2/8/3q1N2/
5PP1/6KP/8 w - - 0 48"]
48.Kh3!+
Black has activated his knight, but his king remains in a mating net. That's
why he can't move any other piece except the queen, while White will bring
his king to the attack. The computer still gives+/= here, but objectively, Black
has no moves and the position is lost.
48...Qe5 49.Kh4 Qd4
Otherwise comes Kg5.
50.Bg4!
The last precise move. Black can't stop Ne6 which will paralyze all of Black's
pieces.
After 50.Kg5? Ng8! Black would have had another chance to save the game,
with the Ne7 motif (after 51.Kh4).
50...Qe5 51.Ne6 h6
What else?
52.Rf8+ Ng8 53.f4 Qb2 54.Kh3 Qa1
After 54...Qb5 55.f5+ Black can't stop f6 and f7.
55.Bh5
The new threat is Bf7. Already here, Black could have resigned the game, but
he kept fighting for a few more moves.
55...Kh7
55...Qf1+ 56.Kh4 Qf2 57.h3 Qb2 58.Bg6 Qc3 59.f5+.
56.Rf7+ Kh8 57.Bg6 Nf6 58.Rf8+ Ng8 59.Bf7 10


This month we present an excerpt from Chess Evolution #07, May 2012. Purchases from our
The book includes deeply annotated games from major tounaments like chess shop help keep
Wijk aan Zee, Gibraltar, Aeroflot Open, and the European Individual ChessCafe.com freely
Championship. Plus, the World Chess Championship match between accessible:
Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand!
Gelfand's Fantastic Preparation

by The Chess Evolution Team
Anand, V (2791) Gelfand, B (2727)

Chess WCC Moscow 2012 (5), 17.05.2012
Sicilian Defense [B33]
Evolution
First we have to say: It seems like Gelfand made zero moves himself today,
and Anand maybe few maybe zero as well. Another thing, Gelfand is
Arkadij Naiditsch showing a fantastic preparation in every game with Black, practically not
CEWN Subscription
giving Anand any chance even to get into the game. Let's see move by move.
1.e4
Translate this page Seems like Anand and his team didn't manage to find anything "interesting on
Grnfeld" or maybe just giving more time to the seconds to find something.
1...c5!
I am sure that the Anand team 98% expected the "Petroff" from Gelfand, and
maybe 2% the usual Najdorf. But Gelfand had other plans.
2.Nf3 Nc6! Greatest 365 Chess Puzzles

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
This has been clearly a big surprise. Gelfand played lately two games against
Kamsky during his match in Khanty-Mansiysk, but these were rapid games
and he needed to score being one point behind!
3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3

the games from
ChessBase Game Viewer. B33 Sicilian Defence
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/pp1ppppp/2n2n2/8/3NP3/
2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 5"]
5...e5
I am sure that Anand was very disappointed after seeing the Sveshnikov on
board. Around three months of preparation could be totally wasted! Gelfand
has completely changed his Black repertoire!
6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5

We are in the main line of the "Sveshnikov". An opening that is very difficult
to crack. Many players like Carlsen, Leko, and Anand himself tried it over
several years without much success. In a WCC game, being totally surprised
by Black's opening choice, it would be a very risky decision to go for the very
main and sharp lines.
9.Nd5
Anand chooses the safe continuation.
9.Bxf6 is another main move here, which leads to more sharp positions with
long theoretical lines 9...gxf6 10.Nd5 f5.
9...Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c4
A favorite line of Ian Nepomniachtchi, who managed to have great results

here with White. But of course not against Gelfand, who seems to have
worked very seriously on this opening for a long time.
11...b4 12.Nc2 0-0
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/5ppp/p1np1b2/3Np3/
1pP1P3/8/PPN2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.g3
13.h4 is the other main line here, with the idea to prevent Bg5 and prepare for
g3, Bh3. Of course, the pawn would be untouchable, due to Qh5. 13...Rb8 14.
b3 a5 15.g3 Be7 16.Bh3 Be6 17.Kf1 Qd7 18.Kg2:
A) 18...Bxh3+ 19.Rxh3 f5 20.exf5 (20.Qe2 f4 21.gxf4 exf4 22.f3 Bf6 23.Rg1

unclear) 20...Rxf5 21.Qe2 (21.Nce3? Rxf2+) 21...Rbf8 22.Rf1 Bd8 23.f3 Bc7
unclear idea Bb8-Ba7.
B) 18...Bd8 19.Qd3 Qa7 20.Rad1 Bb6 21.Nxb6 Qxb6 22.Rd2 (22.Bxe6 fxe6
23.Rd2
[FEN "1r3rk1/6pp/1qnpp3/p3p3/1pP1P2P/
1P1Q2P1/P1NR1PK1/7R b - - 0 23"]
23...Nd8!=) 22...Rbd8 (22...Bxh3+ 23.Kxh3 Rfd8 24.Rhd1+/= Xd6) 23.Rhd1

Qc7 24.Qe3 h6 25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.c5+/- 1-0, Nepomniachtchi,I-Van Wely,L/
Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2010 (59); 13.Be2 Bg5 14.0-0 (14.Ncxb4 Nxb4 15.
Nxb4 Qb6=) 14...a5 15.Qd3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Ra7!? 17.Bf3 Rd7 18.Qe2 g6 19.
Rd3 Kh8 20.b3 Nb8 21.a3 bxa3 22.Nxa3 Na6 23.Rad1 Nc5 24.Rc3 f5 unclear
0-1, Magem Badals,J-Moiseenko,A/Sestao ESP 2010 (56).
13...a5 14.Bg2
Seems like both players know that the position after 14.h4 is good for Black.
So Anand decided to employ the classical positional plan by developing the
bishop to g2.
14...Bg5
The bishop stands very well on g5. It is quite instructive as to what happens if
Black plays the same way as in the game, but keeping the bishop on f6.
14...Be6 15.0-0 Bxd5 16.cxd5 Nb8 the knight is heading again to c5. 17.Ne3
A) 17...Bg5 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Qe2 Nd7 20.f4 (20.h4 Bh6 21.Bh3 Nb6=) 20...
exf4 21.gxf4 Bf6 22.Rac1+/=.
B) 17...Nd7 18.h4 g6
[FEN "r2q1rk1/3n1p1p/3p1bp1/p2Pp3/
1p2P2P/4N1P1/PP3PB1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 19"]
19.Rc1! This is the point. White prepares for the invasion to c6; and on 19...
Nc5 he has the powerful exchange sacrifice with 20.Rxc5! dxc5 21.Nc4 the
rooks have no opened lines, while the d6-pawn, the c4-knight and the bishop
on h3 give more than enough compensation for the material deficit. 21...Qc7
22.d6 Qc6 23.Qd3 Rfd8 24.f4 White launched direct attack! 24...Re8 25.d7
Red8 26.fxe5 Rxd7 27.Rxf6! Rxd3 28.Rxc6 with a clear advantage for White
in Predojevic-Roiz, Moscow 2006 game.
15.0-0 Be6
There was another high-level game recently, where both sides played
logically and at the end Black managed to equalize as well 15...Ne7 16.h4
Bh6 17.Nde3 Qb6 18.Qd3 Rd8 19.Rad1 g6 20.b3 Be6 21.Kh2 a4 22.Bh3
axb3 23.axb3 Ra2 24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.Kg2 Nc6= with an even position in
Jakovenko (2729)-Tregubov (2599) Sochi 2012.
16.Qd3
This is like a "half-novelty" by White, which seems to lead to a forced draw.

However it was the most logical way of developing and also the standard one.
White generally wants to play Qd3, Rfd1, and later he can choose between
different plans, like Nde3 or h4-Kh2-Bh3, or a3.
16.Qe2!?; 16.h4!? Bh6 17.Qd3 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd4 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Qxd4 g6
with compensation.
[FEN "r2q1rk1/5ppp/2npb3/p2Np1b1/1pP1P3/
3Q2P1/PPN2PBP/R4RK1 b - - 0 16"]
16...Bxd5!
Played immediately by Gelfand. This move looks a bit strange at first, but
seems to give Black a direct draw.
16...Ne7 17.Nde3 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Qc7 19.Rad1 Rfd8 20.b3 Nc6 21.Nc2 a4 22.
Rd2 axb3 23.axb3 Qb6 24.h4 Ra2 25.Rb1 h6 26.Kh2 Qc5 27.Bh3 unclear 1-0,
Nepomniachtchi,I-Timofeev,A/Irkutsk RUS 2010 (54).
17.cxd5
On 17.Qxd5, Black was planning 17...Qb6! with Rfd8 in the next move,
Black is fine. Of course the d6-pawn is poisoned.
17.exd5
A) 17...Nd4!? 18.Nxd4 exd4
A1) 19.Rfe1 g6 unclear.
A2) 19.Qxd4?! Bf6 20.Qd2 a4!? 21.Rac1 (21.Qxb4 a3 22.b3 Bxa1 23.Rxa1
Qf6 24.Rb1 Rfe8 unclear) 21...Qa5 22.c5 dxc5 23.d6 b3 with counterplay 24.
Qd5 bxa2 25.Rxc5 Qa6 26.Qxa2 Qxd6 27.Bxa8 Qxc5 28.Qxa4 Bxb2=.
A3) 19.h4 Bf6 20.h5 Qc7 (20...h6 21.Bf3 with attack idea Bd1-Bc2) 21.Be4
g6 22.Kg2 Rfe8 23.Rae1 unclear.
B) 17...Nb8 18.c5 (18.h4!? Bh6 19.c5 with initiative) 18...dxc5 (18...Nd7 19.
c6 Nc5 20.Qc4+/-) 19.d6 (19.Rfe1!? with initiative)
[FEN "rn1q1rk1/5ppp/3P4/p1p1p1b1/1p6/
3Q2P1/PPN2PBP/R4RK1 b - - 0 19"]
19...Ra6 20.Rad1 c4 21.Qd5 c3 22.bxc3 bxc3 23.Ne3 Rc6 (23...Nc6 24.d7

Nd4 25.Qxe5 Bf6 26.Qd5 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 c2 28.Nxc2 Nc3 29.Qd3 Nxd1 30.
Rxd1+/=) 24.Qxe5 c2 (24...Bxe3 25.Qxe3 c2 26.Rc1 Rxd6 27.Rxc2+/=) 25.
Rc1 Re8 (25...Rxd6 26.Nf5+/-) 26.Qb5 Rc3 (26...Rxd6 27.Nc4 Bxc1 28.Nxd6
Ba3 29.Nxe8 c1Q 30.Rxc1 Bxc1 31.Qe5 Bb2 32.Qxb2 Qxe8 33.Bd5+/=) 27.
Bd5 Rexe3 28.fxe3 Bxe3+ 29.Kg2 Bxc1 30.Qb7 Kh8 31.Qxf7 Bf4 32.Qxf4
Nd7 unclear.
17...Nb8!
Excellent retreat. The knight is heading to c5 through a6 or c5. The exchange

sacrifice, what we checked in the 14...Be6 line does not work anymore due to
the great placement of the bishop on g5.
Of course 17...Ne7 18.h4 Bh6 19.Bh3 with a clearly better position for White,
White would play next a3, or Ne3 and double on the c-line. The e7-knight has
no future.
[FEN "rn1q1rk1/5ppp/3p4/p2Pp1b1/1p2P3/
3Q2P1/PPN2PBP/R4RK1 w - - 0 18"]
18.a3
Otherwise Black would play Na6 and Nc5.
18...Na6 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Nxb4 axb4 21.h4 Bh6
We have reached a position with opposite-colored bishops, where Black has

no problem at all.
22.Bh3
22.Qc4
A) 22...Rc8 23.Qxb4 Rb8 24.Qc3 Qb6 25.Rfb1 (25.Ra2 g6 26.Bh3 Qb4 27.
Qd3 Qb3 28.Qxb3 Rxb3 29.Rb1 Rfb8=) 25...f5 Xf2 26.Qc6 fxe4 27.Qxb6
Rxb6 28.Bxe4 Bd2 29.Kg2 Bb4 30.f3 Bc5 with compensation.
B) 22...b3!? 23.Qxb3
[FEN "r2q1rk1/5ppp/3p3b/3Pp3/4P2P/
1Q4P1/1P3PB1/R4RK1 b - - 0 23"]
23...Bd2 with compensation.
C) 22...Qb6 23.Qc6 Rab8
C1) 24.Ra6 Qd4 25.b3 Rbd8 (25...Rfd8 26.Qc7 Qc3 27.Rc6 Qxb3 28.Rxd6
Rf8 29.Rc6 Qa2 30.Qxe5 b3 31.Qa1 Qd2 with counterplay) 26.Qc7 Qc3 27.
Rc6 Qxb3 28.Rxd6 rook on b8 is not hanging, Black can simply play: 28...
Rxd6 29.Qxd6 Qc3=.
C2) 24.Rfd1 Rfc8 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Bh3 Rcb8 27.b3+/=.
22...Qb6!
At first sight a dubious decision to let the bishop to c6 through d7, but
Gelfand calculated (or maybe just prepared) precisely and finds a way to
make a forced draw.
23.Bd7
23.Qc4 meets by 23...Qc5! and the black bishop on h6 is just standing

perfectly covering the c1-square! 24.Qxc5 dxc5= White cannot stop Black
from playing c4-c3 with a draw.
23...b3!
If Black manages to swap away the pawns on the queenside, White will have
no hope for an advantage.
24.Bc6
[FEN "r4rk1/5ppp/1qBp3b/3Pp3/4P2P/
1p1Q2P1/1P3P2/R4RK1 b - - 0 24"]
24...Ra2!
This was the whole point behind 22...Qb6!.
25.Rxa2 bxa2 26.Qa3
26.b3 looks very dangerous, but probably leads to draw as well:
A) 26...f5 is also interesting 27.exf5 e4 28.Qc2 Rxf5 29.Kg2 (29.Qxa2 Rf3 30.
Kg2 Qxb3 31.Qe2 Qd3 32.Re1 Qd4=) 29...Qd4 30.Qxa2 Qd3 31.Bd7 Rf8 32.
Be6+ Kh8 33.Qb1 Qf3+ 34.Kh3 e3 35.Bg4 Qxd5 36.f4 with initiative.
B) 26...Rb8 27.Ba4 (27.Ra1 Qxb3 28.Qxb3 Rxb3 29.Rxa2 Rb8 30.Ra7 Bd2=)
27...Rc8 28.Ra1 Rc1+ 29.Rxc1 Bxc1 30.Qc2
[FEN "6k1/5ppp/1q1p4/3Pp3/B3P2P/
1P4P1/p1Q2P2/2b3K1 b - - 0 30"]
30...g5! 31.Qxa2 (31.Qxc1 Qd4 32.Qxg5+=) 31...gxh4 32.gxh4 Qd8=.

26...Rb8 27.Qxa2 -
With a draw offer, since there is nothing left to play after 27...Qxb2.


This month we present a lightly edited excerpt from Chess Evolution Purchases from our
Welcome to Modern Chess

Avrukh, B (2596) Naiditsch, A (2712)

Croatian Team Ch (1), 23.09.2012
Chess Open Catalan [E04]
Evolution We are in the first round of the Croatian league, and my opponent is the
Israeli player Boris Avrukh. During the last few years, Boris dedicated to be a
trainer and a book author... this is clearly visible in his ELO. Just three years
Arkadij Naiditsch ago he was over 2650. It's been a very long time since I made a "Jackpot"
CEWN Subscription
opening, so here comes one finally. I knew everything until the twenty-fifth
move! Welcome to modern chess.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6

Translate this page
In my preparation I guessed we would play a Nimzo, but this is another game
in the Catalan. Luckily, just before the game, I had reviewed my lines.
3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 a6
Greatest 365 Chess Puzzles

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/1pp2ppp/p3pn2/8/2pP4/
5NP1/PP2PPBP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 6"]
the games from This is my third game in a row with 5...a6. Actually, I tried almost all the lines
ChessCafe.com in the for Black suffering a bit in the worse positions I was getting, so maybe
ChessBase Game Viewer. Boris expected some other line. How I Beat Fischer's Record
by Judit Polgar
6.Ne5
And this is the third time that I get the answer 6.Ne5, which is strange to me.
Clearly the main move is 6.0-0 Nc6 7.e3 with thousands of games played.
6...Bb4+
6...c5 is another option for Black, but according to the current evaluation of
this line, White is doing slightly better.
7.Nc3
Aronian once tried 7.Bd2 Qxd4 8.Bxb4 Qxe5, but two pawns were too much
and Mamedyarov managed to win this game.
7...Nd5 8.0-0
The beginning of a very sharp and forced line. Over the board, I was a bit
scared that Avrukh had a big novelty in his pocket. Just a few months ago, I
had already played this position against Fridman.
8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Rb1 Qxd4
I have to take what I can.
11.Qa4+
The exchange of queens brings doesn't give White any advantage. 11.Qxd4
Bxd4 12.Nxc4 Nd7 Black is ready to give away some of his pawns to fulfill
his development. 13.Na5 Bb6 14.Nc4 Bc5 15.Na5 with a draw.
11...b5 12.Qa3
[FEN "rnb1k2r/2p2ppp/p3p3/1p2N3/2pq4/
Q1b3P1/P3PPBP/1RB2RK1 b kq - 0 12"]
This looks crazy, but it's all well analyzed with the help of our silicon friends.
12...Qxe5 13.Bf4 Qf6 14.Bxc7 b4
Both of us played quickly until here. We are at the first critical moment.
White has two moves: 15.Qa5 and 15.Rxb4.
15.Qa5N
This move lead to a forced draw in my game with Fridman: 15.Rxb4 Bxb4 16.
Qxb4 a5! An important move to remember. 17.Qb5+ Bd7 18.Qxc4 Na6 19.
Bxa8 Nxc7 20.Qxc7 Qd8! and Black is just in time to be fine. 21.Qa7 0-0 22.
Bf3 Ba4 not giving White the chance to play Rd1 and Qd2. The position is
very close to a draw.
15...0-0
Of course I knew the 15.Qa5 line. That's the first suggestion of the computer
and I've been preparing this line of the Catalan for a while.
16.Bxa8
[FEN "Bnb2rk1/2B2ppp/p3pq2/Q7/1pp5/
2b3P1/P3PP1P/1R3RK1 b - - 0 16"]
16...e5!
Black has quite a few moves here, but 16...e5 is the best. It's very important to
get the bishop from c8 into the game. For the fans of "long lines", please push
the middle button on your keyboard.
17.Qd5!
White's best chance to play for an advantage, which was quickly played by
my opponent. I started to really hope that my lines were fine... The position is
extremely forced and Black is "just" holding.
17...Be6
Please don't ask me why 17...Be6 is the best move after my considerations.
We are living in the computer era, so we follow its suggestions.
18.Qd6
Before playing the absolutely correct 18.Qd6, my opponent started to think a

bit. I was very surprised and started to have some hopes that he didn't know
the 17...Be6 line. This is a little strange to me because it's clearly the main
move, but sometimes wonderful things happen!
18...Bf5
[FEN "Bn3rk1/2B2ppp/p2Q1q2/4pb2/
1pp5/2b3P1/P3PP1P/1R3RK1 w - - 0 19"]
Another move that I just had to remember.
19.Rbc1?!
After a quite long thought, Boris plays "not the best move".
19.e4 This was the main move on which I focused my attention during my
analysis. 19...Bh3 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Rfc1 The position remains very forced,
but it's clear that Black is fighting for a draw. (21.Rfd1 Nd7 22.Bd5 Nc5 and
Black is perfectly fine.) 21...Nd7 22.Bd5 Nc5 23.Ba5 Nd3 24.Rc2 Rc8 25.a3
Bd4! Everything seems to work for Black. 26.Bxb4 c3 with the threat of Bxf2
next. Black is holding the position.
19...Bg4
I could remember this move only because I had repeated my lines just before
the game it seems like this was my lucky day.
20.Rc2
20.f3 Bh3 21.Rfd1 Qg5 looks dangerous for White.
20...Qf5
And this is the key move! Black's play looks so strange: the last four moves
were Be6, Bf5, Bg4 and Qf5, but probably they are the best! Does it have any
logic? No!
21.Rfc1
My opponent already spent around forty-five minutes of his time here. I didn't
spend anything until this moment.
21...Bd4
I played 21...Bd4 quickly because I remembered it was the right move.
Another option was to play 21...Nd7 22.Bb7! Very strong! (The logical 22.
Bc6 Nf6 23.Rxc3 White tries to give back the exchange hoping to return to a
more normal position. 23...bxc3 24.f3 Bh3 25.Qxe5 Qc8! Thanks to the crazy
move 25...Qc8, Black might still have some hopes of being better. Of course,
the position remains very forced.)
22.e3
[FEN "Bn3rk1/2B2ppp/p2Q4/4pq2/1ppb2b1/
4P1P1/P1R2P1P/2R3K1 b - - 0 22"]
Of course 22.Bxb8? Qxf2+ 23.Kh1 b3 and Black is just winning.
22...b3
White can't hold the b-pawn and Black is getting the exchange back.
23.axb3 cxb3 24.exd4 bxc2 25.dxe5
The position seems to be close to equality. If White manages to get the c2-
pawn, maybe the bishop-pair could even give him some advantage, but Black
has the folowing very strong move.
25...Be2!
This was the last move I remembered with the evaluation of an equal position.
During the game I started to think about why the position was actually equal...
I'm a pawn up, want to play Qd3, and always have the option of playing Bd3,
protecting the c2-pawn. My opponent had only thirty minutes left, and he
spent twenty on his next move.
26.Qc5?
This is already a mistake.
26.Kg2! This computer move would crush most of Black's hopes to win the
game. 26...Qd3!? The best chance for Black to achieve something in a very
slightly better endgame. 27.Qxd3 Bxd3 28.Bd6 Rc8 29.Kf3 (29.Bd5 Bf5 not
allowing White to play e6.) 29...Nd7 30.Ke3 Bf5 31.Bb7 How to play like this
during a practical game?! Impossible! 31...Rc3+ 32.Kd2 Rd3+ 33.Ke1 Rd4!
and Black is still a little better, even tough the position is close to a draw.
26.Bxb8 loses to 26...Qd3! and White can't stop Black from playing Qd1. In
case of 27.Qxd3 Bxd3, one of the white bishops on the eighth rank is going to
fall, leaving Black in a winning situation.
26...Bd3
Of course I have to keep my c2-pawn.
26...Nd7? would have been clearly the wrong choice. 27.Qxc2 Qxc2 28.Rxc2
Rxa8 29.Rxe2 would lead us to a typical equal endgame. The passed Black a-
pawn is compensated with a strong bishop on d6. Black still keeps some
practical chances, but of course, the position is a draw.
27.Bd5
White is trying to play for the e6 push. This is the right plan if it works.
27...Nd7
[FEN "5rk1/2Bn1ppp/p7/2QBPq2/8/
3b2P1/2p2P1P/2R3K1 w - - 0 28"]
28.Qe7?
With less than ten minutes on his clock, my opponent makes the decisive
mistake.
28.Qd6 This was the only move. 28...Qh5 Black wants to give mate by
playing Qd1-Kg2-Bf1-Kg1-Bh3. 29.f3 Bf5! stopping the e6 push.
Objectively, the position is still quite unclear, but it's very hard to play with
White. The black pawn on c2 is very annoying. (It doesn't help to play the
logical 29...Qg5 30.f4 Qg4 31.Bxf7+! Rxf7 32.Qxd3 and White is close to
winning.) 30.e6? An immediate attempt to force a draw leads nowhere. 30...
Bxe6 31.Bxe6 Qxf3! Nice tactic. Black is winning
28...Qg4!
No more f3 for White because of Qd4 check. The position is lost.
29.Bb3
Defending from Qd1.
29...Qf3
With the deadly threat of Be4.
30.Bxc2
Nothing helps anymore. 30.e6 Be4 31.exf7+ Kh8 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 Qxc1
30...Bxc2 31.Rxc2 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qxc2 33.Qxd7
[FEN "5rk1/2BQ1ppp/p7/4P3/8/6P1/
2q2PKP/8 b - - 0 33"]
Black's exchange advantage and the passed a-pawn absolutely secure a win.
33...Qe4+ 34.Kh3
34.Kg1 Qb1+ 35.Kg2 Qb7+ 36.Kg1 Rc8 and the bishop on c7 is falling.
34...Qf3
Fixing the black king on h3. Now Black's plan is easy: to start pushing the a-
pawn. White is completely hopeless. Against e6, Black always plays Qf5+,
followed by Qxe6.
35.Qd4 h5 36.Qb6 Ra8 37.Bd6 a5 0-1
After the game I could not say I "won" the game, because I just had to make
five moves and my position was already winning. However, it was a good
feeling that the work that mostly stays "undiscovered", sometimes gets
rewarded.


A Really Spectacular Game

by Csaba Balogh
Volokitin, A (2724) Mamedyarov, S (2748)

European Club Cup Eilat ISR, 11.10.2012
Chess Sicilian Najdorf [B94]
Evolution A really spectacular game, even though a closer look shows mistakes by both
sides.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 by Arkadij Naiditsch
At the moment, this 6...Ng4 line against the Be3 system is doing very well.
Volokitin, as a huge theoretician, decides to play another system.
Translate this page 7.Bc1
Black has nothing better than retreating the knight.
7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 is the starting position if White decides to

challange the 6...Ng4 variation.
7...Nf6
Part One
White now goes for the sharpest system of the Najdorf.
by Csaba Balogh
8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Qe2 e6
9...b5 is a good alternative for Black if he wants to avoid the long theoretical
battles with e6. We have analyzed the Motylev-Wang Hao game in Chess
Evolution Newsletter #19.
10.0-0-0 Qc7 11.f4 b5

the games from
ChessBase Game Viewer. Amateur to IM
by Jonathan Kawkins
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2qn1ppp/p2ppn2/1p4B1/
3NPP2/2N5/PPP1Q1PP/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 12"]
We are still just at the beginning of theory, and White chooses a sideline.
12.f5
This is the principled idea to weaken the d5-square by putting pressure on the
e6-pawn. However, the main and probably better move is the prophylactic 12.
a3 before pushing f5.
12...b4!
12...e5 meets with a nice and typical response: 13.Nd5! Nxd5 14.exd5 The
knight is ready to occupy the c6-square.
13.fxe6 bxc3 14.exd7+ Nxd7!
This is the stronger recapture.
White gets a better endgame after 14...Bxd7 15.Qc4! cxb2+ 16.Kb1 Qxc4 17.
Bxc4 Be7 18.Rhe1 White wants to play Nf5. Despite the fact that the queens
have left the board, White has serious threats. Black needs to transfer his
knight to e5 to reduce the pressure, but it doesn't solve all the problems either.
18...Ng4 19.Bf4! Ne5 20.Bb3 White wants to play Nf5 again, with the idea of
gaining the bishop-pair and improving his pawn structure (after Bxf5 exf5).
Black has to parry it with 20...g6 21.Nf3! += and White has better prospects!
15.Qc4 cxb2+ 16.Kb1
The b2-pawn gives a nice shelter for the king. This is a known motif in the
Sicilian. The same happens often on the other side as well, when Black is
castled kingside and White's attack arrives with g6. He takes with gxh7 and
Black hides his king with Kh8.
16...Nc5!
16...Qxc4 leads to a similar position to the 14...Bxd7 line. White will be better
here as well. 17.Bxc4 Ne5 18.Bb3 Be7 19.Bf4! +=.
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2ppp/p2p4/2n3B1/2QNP3/
8/PpP3PP/1K1R1B1R w kq - 0 17"]
17.e5!
White urgently opens the lines against the black king, which still needs a few
moves to get into safety. Both players have definitely studied this position,
since it has already been played before.
17...Rb8!
A strong novelty, recommended by the computer.
17...dxe5?! happened before, but White refuted it elegantly by 18.Nb5!!

[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2ppp/p7/1Nn1p1B1/
2Q5/8/PpP3PP/1K1R1B1R b kq - 0 18"]
18...axb5 19.Qd5! with a triple attack: Qd8, Qxa8 and Bxb5.
A) 19...f6 offers more resistance, but the attack breaks through after 20.Bxb5+
Ke7 21.Be3! Black has only one ugly move to protect the c5-knight and the
a8-rook. 21...Nb7 22.Bc4! Nd6 (On 22...Ke8 23.Bb6! wins. 23...Qxb6 24.
Qf7#) 23.Bc5 with a huge attack.
B) 19...Be7 This loses immediately. 20.Bxb5+ Kf8 21.Bxe7+ Kxe7 22.Qxa8

+/- Guseinov-Benitah, Marrakesh 2010.
18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Re1+!
Depriving Black of the right to castle!
19...Kf8!
Both kings are quite exposed, but they are still safe against direct threats.
19...Ne6? loses against the little combination 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Rxe6+! fxe6
22.Qxe6+ Be7 23.Bc4 +- Black can't hold the threats after the h1-rook joins
the attack.
20.Bd3!
With the idea of freeing the f1-square for the rook.
20...h6?
This loses. Mamedyarov's idea was to open the back-rank in order to be able
to take the d3-bishop, but he missed a fantastic tactical blow!
20...Nxd3? is refuted by 21.Be7+!!
[FEN "1rb2k1r/2q1Bppp/p2b4/8/2QN4/
3n4/PpP3PP/1K2R2R b - - 0 21"]
Black either loses his queen or after 21...Kg8 22.Bxd6!+- wins because of the
back-rank. This was the idea behind 20...h6, when after 21.Bh4, this line
works perfectly for Black! However, the great 20...Rb4!! seems to solve all
the problems. 21.Qxb4 Nxd3 22.Qa4 Nxe1 23.Rxe1 Qd7 Black parries the
concrete threats and wants to coordinate his pieces with h6, Kg8-h7.
[FEN "1rb2k1r/2q2pp1/p2b3p/2n3B1/2QN4/
3B4/PpP3PP/1K2R2R w - - 0 21"]
21.Bd8!!
Beautiful! White sacrifices a bishop in order to win some tempi for the attack.
21.Bh4? Nxd3 22.Be7+ Kg8 The king has "luft" on h7.
21...Qxd8 22.Rhf1!
The f7-square is the critical target! White has an extra option to increase the
pressure.
22...Rb7
22...f6 loses as well to 23.Nc6 Qc7 24.Bg6+-; 22...Qc7 23.Bg6!+-.
23.Bg6!
Forcing a fatal weakness with f6.
23...f6
White is winning because of the strong g6-bishop, which creates threats on f7

and e8. But how to breakthrough?
[FEN "2bq1k1r/1r4p1/p2b1pBp/2n5/2QN4/
8/PpP3PP/1K2RR2 w - - 0 24"]
24.Qd5?
With the idea of Qxd6, deflecting the queen, followed by Re8 mate. However,
this allows Black back in the game.
The easiest is probably 24.Re3!+- doubling the rooks on the e-file. Black has
no acceptable answer against it. The nicest is 24.Nc6! Qd7 and now 25.Re3!
again, with the idea of doubling the rooks, and on 25...Qxc6, White wins by
deflecting the queen from the e8-square. 26.Qd5!! Qd7 27.Qxd6+! Qxd6 28.
Re8#.
24...Re7!
The game is unclear, thanks to the following tactical resource.

25.Nc6 Bb7!
Many pieces are hanging. Where to take? 25...Rxe1+? 26.Rxe1 Qd7 would
have lost again to 27.Qxd6+! Qxd6 28.Re8#.
26.Qxc5!
After losing almost all the advantage, Volokitin starts to play extremely
precisely again! On 26.Rxe7 Qxe7! keeps Black alive.
26...Bxc5 27.Nxd8
Black must move with his b7-bishop and also has to cover the e6-square
against the threatened check.
27...Bd5
27...Bxg2? loses to 28.Ne6+! Kg8 29.Nxc5 +-; 27...Bc8 is met with the same
move as in the game.
28.Rd1!
Very well played! White creates different kind of threats around the d8
square. At the same time, he keeps the rooks on the board in order not to help
Black to solve the problem of the h8 rook.
28...Be4
28...Re5 was an alternative. Probably the strongest for White is 29.Rf5 Rxf5
30.Bxf5 Bc4 31.Rd7 Black hasn't yet managed to solve the problem with his
h8-rook. 28...Bc4? loses to the nice 29.Nc6! and wins.
[FEN "3N1k1r/4r1p1/p4pBp/2b5/4b3/8/
PpP3PP/1K1R1R2 w - - 0 29"]
29.Nf7!
Another fantastic shot! Volokitin shows his best again! 29.Bxe4 Rxe4 and the
rook escapes soon, Black is fine.
29...Rxf7?
The decisive mistake. Black missed the upcoming blow!
Critical is 29...Bxg6 30.Nxh8 Be8 White is an exchange up, but suddenly,

instead of the rook, another piece is trapped on h8. 31.Rd8 with the idea of
Ng6. 31...Re4 32.Ng6+ Kf7 33.Nf4 White should be slightly better, although
Black has strong counterplay with the bishop pair after 33...Bb5 34.Nd3 Ba3.
30.Rfe1!!
An unpleasant surprise! The back-rank decides the game.
Black expected 30.Bxe4 and he probably wanted to save the opposite-colored

bishop endgame after 30...g5 31.Bd5 Ra7 32.Rxf6+ Kg7 33.Rc6 Be7 White
will end up with an extra pawn, but Black has real chances to get a draw.
30...Bxc2+
30...Bxg6 31.Rd8#; 30...f5 31.Rd8+ Ke7 32.Rxh8 Rf6 doesn't save Black
because of 33.Bxf5!+-.
31.Kxc2 Kg8
The cruelest part of the game is just ahead of us!
32.Rd8+!
White is not greedy by taking the rook. He rather enjoys the situation with the
imprisoned h8-rook.
32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 is also a decent chance to win for White, but the text is much
better.
32...Rf8
32...Bf8 33.Bxf7+ Kxf7 34.Rd7+ Kg6 35.Re8 +- Black can't leave the pin.
33.Rxf8+ Bxf8
[FEN "5bkr/6p1/p4pBp/8/8/8/
PpK3PP/4R3 w - - 0 34"]
34.g4!! 1-0
A picturesque final position! Black is two pawns up, but he is just completely
lost, since he has zero chances to rescue his pieces from the f8-, g8-, and h8-
squares. The white king collects the b2- and a6-pawns, followed by promoting
his own a-pawn.
34.g4 f5 (34...h5 35.gxh5 f5 doesn't help. The easiest is 36.Rf1 Be7 37.Rxf5
Bf6 Black can't get out with his pieces because of 38.Rc5! +-) 35.gxf5 h5
White blocks with 36.h4+-.

Take My Rooks
Bodnaruk, Anastasia (2415) Javakhishvili, Lela (2455)
FIDE WCh Women World Cup
Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (1.28), 11.11.2012
Chess
Maybe some CEWN readers will remember the great Bodnaruk-Almasi game.
Evolution Once again the young U-20 Russian Champion strikes in her very aggressive
style, with a lot of nice sacrifices. We'll see a really great game!
Arkadij Naiditsch 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
CEWN Subscription
The Paulsen with 4...a6 has been a popular opening for at least 60 years!
5.Bd3
Translate this page
5.Nc3 is the other main line.
5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4
Probably the most critical line. White is trying to provoke 7...g6 and only then
to go back with 8.Qe2. Black's pawn structure would be much worse.
7...Bf6 Greatest 365 Chess Puzzles

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
This is quite a rare move and I think not the best one. Black is trying to
develop the knight with Nge7, and then to play 0-0 followed by d5. But of
course, White is taking actions against this plan.
8.Qg3
We are following the game Karjakin-Flores 2012.
8...Nc6 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.Bf4

the games from
ChessBase Game Viewer. ECO B
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1p1pnppp/p1n1pb2/8/4PB2/
1NNB2Q1/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 10"]
10...Ng6?! N
It's hard to say if Black has prepared this move. To me, it looks very risky.
10...e5 11.Bd2 d6 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.h4 with better play for White,
Karjakin-Flores, Olympiad 2012.
11.Bd6!
Of course. White should not allow Black to castle and, at the same time, the
d5 move is blocked.
11...Bh4
Black is trying an active plan.
In case of 11...Be5 12.Bxe5 Ncxe5 13.0-0 followed by f4-f5, with a clear

advantage for White.
12.Qe3
A logical reply. White is preparing to castle long and against Bg5, to have f4
available.
Another logical move would have been 12.Qh3 Be7!? Black is using the
slightly unlucky position of the white Queen on h3, in comparison to g3. 13.
Bxe7 Qxe7 14.0-0 0-0 15.f4 d6 and White is still a bit better, but nothing too
big has happened.
12...Qg5?
[FEN "r1b1k2r/1p1p1ppp/p1nBp1n1/6q1/
4P2b/1NNBQ3/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 13"]
In general it's the right idea for Black to exchange the queens, but here it's just
too risky. Black's bishop on h4 is almost trapped and the black king on e8
could quickly get in trouble.
12...Be7 would still give Black a worse position, but a fighting one.
13.Qh3!
Brave and strong. In a K.O. tournament it's never easy to take the decision of
sacrificing when you can choose a safer way.
13.Qxg5 Bxg5 14.0-0 just leads to a better endgame for White.
13...Nf4
And we are entering a forced line.
14.Bxf4 Qxf4 15.g3!

[FEN "r1b1k2r/1p1p1ppp/p1n1p3/8/4Pq1b/
1NNB2PQ/PPP2P1P/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 15"]
This double exchange sacrifice was the point of playing 13.Qh3!. The action
starts!
15...Qf3 16.Qxh4
No way back.
16...Qxh1+ 17.Ke2!
Not giving the f3-square for the black queen.
17...Nd4+
In case of 17...Qg2 18.e5! is very strong. White wants to play Ne4-Nd6, or

simply Be4 to catch the black queen.
18.Nxd4 Qxa1
[FEN "r1b1k2r/1p1p1ppp/p3p3/8/3NP2Q/
2NB2P1/PPP1KP1P/q7 w kq - 0 19"]
19.e5!
A multi-functional move. It stops Black from castling short and prepares the
move Ne4.
It's too early for 19.Nf5? exf5 20.Nd5 0-0! an easy move to blunder...
19...d5
This move loses, but it seems like nothing helps.
19...Qxb2 20.Ne4 White is going against his target the black king. 20...
Qxd4 21.Nd6+ Qxd6 22.exd6 From the material point of view, Black is doing
fine, but he has one problem, all his pieces are undeveloped and White is
starting a fast mating attack. 22...f6 23.Qh5+ Kf8 24.Bg6! with the double
idea of playing Be8 and Qa5. White's position is winning.
20.exd6 f6
Nothing else left.

21.Bxh7
This move is winning as well, but leading to a fast win is 21.Qh5+! with the
already known idea of taking the queen over the fifth rank to c7 or e7. 21...
Kf8 22.Qc5 d7 is a deadly threat now. 22...Bd7 23.Qc7 Ke8 24.Nxe6 and
Black is completely lost.
21...Kf8 22.Ne4!
[FEN "r1b2k1r/1p4pB/p2Ppp2/8/3NN2Q/
6P1/PPP1KP1P/q7 b - - 0 22"]
Bringing the last piece into the attack. White wants to play Nxf6 next and
there is no escape for Black. We can clearly see how important it is to keep
the queen in the game; Black's one on a1 is nothing more than a kibitzer.
22...e5?
Black is resigning without a fight.
22...Rxh7! was the only way to continue. 23.Qxh7 Qxb2 Finally, the queen is
back in the game. 24.Kd3! Very strong. Black is completely paralyzed and
can only hope for a perpetual check, which is almost impossible to give
because of the strong knights on d4 and e4. White's position is close to
winning.
23.Nxf6!
What a total crush!
23...Rxh7 24.Nxh7+ Kg8 25.Ng5
White wants to mate Black from all sides!
25...Qxa2
Avoiding the mate threat Qh7-Qh8 because of Qg8.
26.Qh7+ Kf8
[FEN "r1b2k2/1p4pQ/p2P4/4p1N1/
3N4/6P1/qPP1KP1P/8 w - - 0 27"]
27.b3!
Cool and strong, keeping the black queen out of the game.
27...Bg4+ 28.f3 Ke8
Any move is winning, but White chooses a very beautiful mate.
29.Qg8+ Kd7 30.Qf7+ Kxd6 31.Ne4# 1-0
Wow, what a mate! Another great game by Bodnaruk. However, she received
bad news already the next day; she lost her second game and later on the very
dramatic tie-break.


Pure Chess
Jobava, Baadur (2711) Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764)
SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 Beijing CHN (2), 14.12.2012
Nimzowitsh-Larsen Opening [A01]
Chess The highly talented Georgian Super GM Baadur Jobava has been using a new
weapon recently.
Evolution
1.b3
Arkadij Naiditsch He wants to avoid the long theoretical lines and to play pure chess, where, as
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& Csaba Balogh we'll see, he is very strong.
1...Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.Bxf6!?
White creates doubled pawns, but on the other hand, gives up the bishop-pair.
Translate this page
3...exf6

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/pppp1p1p/5pp1/8/8/1P6/
P1PPPPPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 4"]
4.c4!
Play through and download It's time to fight for the important central squares, before Black occupies them
the games from with d5 and takes over the initiative.
ChessCafe.com in the Nimzo Larsen Attack
ChessBase Game Viewer. 4...Bg7 by Byron Jacobs
& Jonathan Tait
It would have made sense to open the position with 4...d5!? in order to make
the two bishops more effective. 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nc3 Qd8 followed by f5 and
Bg7.
5.Nc3 f5 6.Rc1
White wants to keep his structure and prevent Bxc3.
6...0-0 7.g3 Re8
The most logical development of Black's pieces would have been 7...d6 8.Bg2
c6 9.e3 The g1-knight should go to f4. 9...Nd7 10.Nge2 White probably has
some edge. A possible plan could be b4-b5 to strengthen the power of the g2-
bishop.
8.Bg2 f4?!
Mamedyarov wants to open the position. Black wins back the pawn based on
tactical ideas, but it has a huge drawback.
9.gxf4 Qh4
[FEN "rnb1r1k1/pppp1pbp/6p1/8/2P2P1q/
1PN5/P2PPPBP/2RQK1NR w K - 0 10"]
10.Kf1!!
A great move, which forces Black to give up his strong g7-bishop, as

otherwise, White protects his pawn with e3. The immediate e3 doesn't do the
job because of the pin along the e-file.
10.f5 Qg5 Black wins back the pawn and keeps his healthy pawn structure. 10.
Nd5 Na6 11.Nf3 Qg4 and c6 next. Black wins back the pawn.
10...Bxc3
10...Qxf4 loses a huge amount of material. 11.Nd5! Qd6 12.c5! c7 and one of
the rooks fall because after 12...Qc6 13.Ne7++- wins.
11.Rxc3 Qxf4
[FEN "rnb1r1k1/pppp1p1p/6p1/8/2P2q2/
1PR5/P2PPPBP/3Q1KNR w - - 0 12"]
12.h4!
Without the dark-squared bishop, the black king becomes vulnerable. The c1-
rook has a perfect place as it could be immediately switched to the attack
along the third rank.
12...d6
12...h5 is met with 13.Nh3! Qxh4 14.Rg3 and Ng5 next, with a huge attack.
13.h5
Without touching the h1-rook, it's already perfectly placed and cooperates in
the attack.
13...Nc6 14.Nh3
14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Rg3 also made sense, followed by bringing the knight to the
attack.
14...Qd4 15.e3
[FEN "r1b1r1k1/ppp2p1p/2np2p1/7P/2Pq4/
1PR1P2N/P2P1PB1/3Q1K1R b - - 0 15"]
I am not sure if this was the strongest continuation as it closes the c3-rook, but
in the game it worked out well. Jobava estimated that to bring the knight to f4
is more important and the rook could be activated again later.
15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Ng5 looked pretty dangerous as well. Black's kingside is too
shaky. Bd5 and Rf3 could be unpleasant, but the simple Rg3 is also quite nice.
15...Qf6 16.Nf4 Ne7 17.Qf3
White threatens to win a pawn with Nxg6, as after Qxf3, Black has an
important intermediate check with Nxe7.
17...Qg5?
17...g5 Black should have lived with the chance of trading the queens, as the
attack was growing with a lot of speed. 18.Nd5 Qxf3 19.Bxf3 Nxd5 20.cxd5
Obviously, White is doing better here as well, but it's still preferable than
getting mated. The c7-pawn becomes really weak. 20...Re7 21.Kg2 Bf5 22.
Rhc1 Rc8 23.d3! to prevent g4 and Be4 check, followed by b4-b5. a7 could
be a potential target as well. However, Black can hope for survival after
playing h6 and driving his king to d8.
18.Bh3
The c8-bishop had to be exchanged in order to occupy the h-file.
18...c6 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Bxc8 Raxc8
[FEN "2r1r1k1/pp2np2/2pp2p1/6q1/2P2N2/
1PR1PQ2/P2P1P2/5K1R w - - 0 21"]
It's time to launch the decisive attack.
21.Nh5!
Provoking another huge weakness with the threat of Nf6.
21...f5
21...gxh5 drops the queen. 22.Rg1+-.
22.Rd3!
Another great move. The rook joins the battle again!
22...Kf7
Black is ready to take on h5 now. 22...Rcd8 is refuted by 23.Rg1 Qh4 24.Rd4!

This is the main point of 22.Rd3. The queen must allow the Nf6 winning
move.
23.Nf4
With the double threat of Rh7 and Rxd6. Black is lost.
23...Rcd8 24.Rh7+ Kf6
[FEN "3rr3/pp2n2R/2pp1kp1/5pq1/2P2N2/
1P1RPQ2/P2P1P2/5K2 w - - 0 25"]
25.Qd1!! 1-0
A beautiful finish in a great game. Black has no good defense against the
threatened Qa1 mate!
The game could have been slightly prolonged with 25.Qd1 Ng8 26.Qa1+ Re5
White has several wins here 27.Qd4 and Qxd6 cannot be parried, because
even after (27.Nh3 and f4 is the easiest.) 27...Qg4 28.Qxd6+! works. 28...
Rxd6 29.Rxd6+ Kg5 30.Rxg6#.

The Move of the Year

Aronian, Levon (2802) Anand, Viswanathan (2772)

75th Tata Steel GpA Wijk aan Zee NED (4.5), 15.01.2013
Chess Semi-Slav Defense [D46]
Evolution How many times have we seen Aronian losing with White in less than twenty-
five moves? I can't remember any. We'll now see one of the most spectacular
chess games. How much was Anand's analysis? This is hard to say, but
Arkadij Naiditsch probably almost until the end of the game. After the game, he admitted this
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& Csaba Balogh was his preparation against Gelfand. All in all: super strong novelty, great
play, ans very beautiful finish. A fantastic game.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
Lately, the Slav has become Anand's favorite opening.

Translate this page
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0
10.Qc2 Bb7 11.a3 Rc8

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
[FEN "2rq1rk1/pb1n1ppp/2pbpn2/1p6/
3P4/P1NBPN2/1PQ2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 12"]
Everything is theory until here and this is one of the most popular lines of the
Meran.
Complete Slav I
12.Ng5 by Konstantin Sakaev
A fresh idea, which was introduced by Wojtaczek. The main idea of Black's
move 11...Rc8 becomes clear after 12.b4 c5! This amazing move was played
by Anand's second Kasimdzhanov in his game against Topalov. 13.bxc5 Bxf3
14.gxf3 Nxc5 15.dxc5 Rxc5 16.f4 Nd5 17.Bb2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Qc7 19.Rfc1
Rc8 Black is winning back the piece, the position is a draw.
12...c5!
[FEN "2rq1rk1/pb1n1ppp/3bpn2/1pp3N1/
3P4/P1NBP3/1PQ2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 13"]
A very strong novelty! Now the game is very tricky and pretty forced. To win
a pawn by playing 12...Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Ng4+ 14.Kg1 Qxg5 and it seems like
Black is just a pawn up, but White is getting great play for it. 15.f3 Ngf6 16.
b4! White's bishop-pair, plus his strong center and the very bad black bishop
on b7 is gives White better play.
13.Nxh7
A very logical move. White needs to take the pawn on h7 nothing else to
do! Another way to get the h7-pawn was to play 13.Bxh7+ Kh8 14.Be4, but
now Black can equalize very easily by playing 14...Nxe4 15.Ngxe4 Bb8 and
Black is even more than fine. He has the bishop-pair, an open position, and an
eventual attack on the white king. This is great compensation for just a pawn.
13...Ng4
The beginning of a great mating idea!
14.f4
Aronian runs head first into Anand's preparation. 14.g3? would be a bad way
to defend. 14...cxd4 (14...Qh4) 15.exd4 Nxh2 and Black is easily winning.
White can't take on h2 because of Qh4. 14.h3 would have been a very
possible reply, but here Black has excellent play as well. 14...Qh4 with a
dangerous attack.
14...cxd4 15.exd4
It seems like White is pretty solid and the black rook on f8 is under attack.
How to proceed? Anand has an amazing move in his pocket. What a level of
preparation!
[FEN "2rq1rk1/pb1n1ppN/3bp3/1p6/3P1Pn1/
P1NB4/1PQ3PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Bc5!!
A really amazing move, and a winning one. I guess it might become the move
of the year for 2013!
16.Be2
If White takes the bishop, it wouldn't help much. 16.dxc5 Nxc5 Black wants
to take on d3 and, at the same time, to give a check on d4. White has no
decent defense against this. 17.Be2 Qd4+ 18.Kh1 Nf2+ and Black is giving
mate. 16.Nxf8 leads to a beautiful mate: 16...Bxd4+ 17.Kh1 Qh4 18.h3
Qxh3#.
16...Nde5!!
[FEN "2rq1rk1/pb3ppN/4p3/1pb1n3/
3P1Pn1/P1N5/1PQ1B1PP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 17"]
Another wonderful move! Black creates multiple threats and keeps the knight
on g4 alive. A really beautiful position.
17.Bxg4
17.fxe5 and Black is mating after 17...Qxd4+ 18.Kh1 Qg1+ 19.Rxg1 Nf2#.
17...Bxd4+ 18.Kh1 Nxg4
As we can see, things turned out terrible for White. At the moment, we have
equal material and Black is attacking the white king with all his pieces.
19.Nxf8
If it's impossible not to die, at least let's get some material.
[FEN "2rq1Nk1/pb3pp1/4p3/1p6/3b1Pn1/
P1N5/1PQ3PP/R1B2R1K b - - 0 19"]
19...f5!
Another very good move! Black wants to mate after Qh4. Of course not 19...
Qh4? 20.Qh7+!
20.Ng6
White has protected from Qh4 for a moment.
20...Qf6
And the game is basically over. Black wants to play Qxg6 and Qh5 next.
White has no defense against this.
21.h3 Qxg6 22.Qe2
Nothing helps White anymore.
22...Qh5 23.Qd3 Be3 0-1
What a great finish to a really amazing crush by Black. Anyway, it would be

very interesting to know if Anand made any of the moves himself or if it was
his preparation until the very end!
Comment on this month's column via our official Chess Blog!!
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Impressive Preparation
by Csaba Balogh
Anand, Viswanathan (2780) Fridman, Daniel (2667)

1st GRENKE Chess Classic Baden-Baden GER (9.1), 16.02.2013
Chess Petroff Defence [C42]
Evolution A few weeks ago, we analyzed the fantastic crush achieved in the opening by
the World Champion against Aronian. Here is another game where Anand
does not need to produce a single move over-the-board, and only needs to
Arkadij Naiditsch demonstrate his amazing home preparation to score a full point.
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& Csaba Balogh
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
Fridman has already played the Petroff twice in this tournament, so Anand
could easily prepare for it, although it is a very hard nut to crack!
Translate this page
3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4
White goes back to the main line. Recently, 5.Nc3 has become much more
popular.
5...d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7

Part One
by Csaba Balogh
[FEN "r1bqk2r/ppp1bppp/2n5/3p4/3Pn3/
3B1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 8"]
Complete Slav I
Black has various setups as well, but since Kramnik started to play this by Konstantin Sakaev
frequently in 2004, it has many strong followers. Anand himself tried it many
times as black, and Fridman also has dozens of games here.
8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.
cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8
[FEN "2r1r1k1/ppp1bppp/2n5/3q1b2/3P1B2/
P1P2N2/4BPPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 16"]
Both sides had deviations, but this is considered to be the initial position of
the line. Hundreds of games have been played and many of them at the
highest level, but current theory proved that Black is fine. Anand went for the
most frequently seen move.
16.h3 h6 17.Nd2 Na5 18.Bf3
Shirov has tried this move twice, but he was unable to get an advantage.
18...Qd7 19.Ne4
[FEN "2r1r1k1/pppqbpp1/7p/n4b2/3PNB2/
P1P2B1P/5PP1/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 19"]
19.Nb3 was less dangerous. 19...Nxb3 20.Qxb3 b6 Black equalized in a

Shirov-So game from 2000.
19...Rcd8
So far, we are following an Akopian-Kasimdzhanov game from 2009. This is

a funny story because Kasimdzhanov is one of the main seconds of Anand,
but he was also the second of the German National Team in 2011, when they
won the European Team Championship. Obviously, Fridman got many good
ideas from him.
20.Ra2!
This is the novelty. It would be interesting to know who discovered it, but it
will remain as a secret of Anand's team.
Akopian played 20.Ng3 Bg6 21.Bh5, but Black easily equalized after 21...
Bd6 22.Bxd6 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 cxd6 24.Bxg6 fxg6=.
20...b6
This is a standard move in this line. Black has a very stable queenside
structure, which holds the central pawns excellently, while the one on a3
might be a target in the long-term.
21.Rae2! Bxa3
[FEN "3rr1k1/p1pq1pp1/1p5p/n4b2/3PNB2/
b1P2B1P/4RPP1/3QR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
Fridman captures the poisoned pawn. He should have suspected that the
World Champion had something venomous cooked up.
21...Bf8 seems to be a solid alternative. It is not clear how White wanted to

fight for the advantage, but Anand definitely had some ideas. 22.Ng3 (22.
Bxh6 is met by 22...Bxe4) 22...Bg6 23.Bg4 Qc6 Black seems to be safe.
22.Bg4!!
A move that is very easy to overlook in the calculations. Suddenly, many

tactical tricks threaten Black. The main one is connected to Nf6 and the
problems with the e8-rook.
22...Rf8?
Fridman moves away from the pin, but this leads to a bad position.
The point is that after 22...Bxg4 23.Nf6+!! wins material by force. 23...gxf6
24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Qxg4+! This intermediate check wins the rook. 25...Qxg4
26.Rxe8++-; However, after the cold-blooded computer move 22...Be6!!,
Black seems to keep his position together. Anyway, it would be very difficult
to find all the following only moves over-the-board. 23.Bxh6 The critical test.
23...Bxg4! (23...f5 leads to a bad position. 24.Bg5 fxg4 25.Bxd8 Qxd8 26.
hxg4 The material is more or less balanced, but the black king is too exposed
and the white pieces are looking very dangerously against it.)
A) The big difference compared to 22...Bxg4 is the bishop on h6, which is

hanging after 24.Nf6+ gxf6 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Qxg4+ (White has to play 26.
Rxe8+! Kh7 and the game is unclear.) 26...Qxg4 27.Rxe8+ Kh7 28.hxg4
Kxh6.
B) 24.hxg4 Rxe4 25.Rxe4 gxh6 White needs to do something quickly;

otherwise, Black consolidates his position with Bf8. White has a way to make
a forced draw here, which is possibly the best solution in the position. 26.g5
(26.Qd2 Bf8 27.g5 Nc4 28.Qf4 Nd6) 26...hxg5 27.Re5 f6
[FEN "3r2k1/p1pq4/1p3p2/n3R1p1/3P4/
b1P5/5PP1/3QR1K1 w - - 0 28"]
After the small combo 28.Rxa5! bxa5 29.Qb3+ Kg7 30.Qxa3 Re8= the game
is very drawish.
23.Bxf5 Qxf5 24.Bxc7
White restored the material balance, but it is more important that his pieces
continue to dominate.
24...Rd7
24...Rc8 loses an exchange after 25.Bd6!+-.
25.Be5 f6
Black had to block this bishop, but White can make use of the unfortunate
placement of the a3-bishop and the d7-rook.
26.Ng3! Qe6
26...Qg6 is met with the 27.Qa4! double attack.
27.Qa4!
Black loses material now!
27...Nc4?
[FEN "5rk1/p2r2p1/1p2qp1p/4B3/Q1nP4/
b1P3NP/4RPP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 28"]
This helps a bit, but the position was already critical.
27...fxe5 28.Rxe5 Qd6 (28...Qf7 29.Rf5! was the point! Black cannot protect
the pieces on d7 and a3. He ends up at least a pawn down.) 29.Ne4+- taking a
piece on the next move.
28.Bd6!!
A very nice move, although it was not the only way to win.
28...b5
The point is that after 28...Qxd6 29.Qxc4+ Kh8, White has many different
ways to win the a3-bishop. For instance, 30.Qb3 and Re6 or Ra1 on the next
move. The bishop falls.
29.Rxe6 bxa4 30.Bxf8
White is an exchange up and has a winning position. The rest is a matter of

technique.
30...Kxf8
30...Bxf8 31.Rc6! is the last key move to kick out the strong c4-knight from
its outpost.
31.Ra1 Bb2 32.Rxa4 Nb6

[FEN "5k2/p2r2p1/1n2Rp1p/8/R2P4/
2P3NP/1b3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 33"]
33.Ra6
The stylish finish of the game would have been 33.Rxb6! axb6 34.Ne2! and
the bishop on b2 is trapped. 34...Re7 35.Kf1+- Ra2 is coming next.
33...Bxc3 34.Nf5 Bb4
34...Bxd4 35.Nxd4 Rxd4 36.Rxa7+- Black has zero chances in this endgame.
35.Re2
The rest is easy. Anand only concentrates on improving his pieces a bit and
his position is winning automatically.
35...Kf7 36.Rea2 Nc8 37.g4!
[FEN "2n5/p2r1kp1/R4p1p/5N2/
1b1P2P1/7P/R4P2/6K1 b - - 0 37"]
A strong positional move to fix the kingside pawns. The next step would be to
activate the king. Black decides to initiate some simplifications, but it does
not change the outcome.
37...g6 38.Nxh6+ Kg7 39.g5 fxg5 40.Ng4 Rxd4 41.Rc2 Ne7 42.Rxa7 Bd6
43.Kg2 Kf7 44.Re2 Bb4 45.Re5 Bd6 46.Rxg5 Ke6 47.Ra6 1-0
Impressive preparation and very good technique to convert the winning

position.
Comment on this month's column via our official Chess Blog!


Ivanchuk's Candidates Strategy

by Csaba Balogh
Radjabov, Teimour (2793) Ivanchuk, Vassily (2757)

London ENG, 16.03.2013
Chess Dutch Defence [A88]
Evolution After the first three rounds, it looks like Ivanchuk's strategy is to surprise his
opponents by playing openings with a bad reputation. He ends up in bad
positions, but an even a bigger problem is that he spends all his time in the
Arkadij Naiditsch middlegame. He lost on time in the second and third rounds, and both on
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& Csaba Balogh move thirty-four! His position was already lost in both cases anyway. It might
also be disturbing for him that, recently, almost all tournaments are played
with a thirty second increment after each move, but here the players do not
have this extra time, which makes time trouble much more dangerous. But, of
course, all these considerations do not detract from Radjabov's great play!
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1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 f5
Black chose the Dutch defense, which is quite rare on the highest level. We
can see it only played by Nakamura from time to time.
4.Nc3 Nf6 5.g3

The g3-system is considered to be the most dangerous setup. Part One
by Csaba Balogh
5...Bg7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0
Complete Slav I
by Konstantin Sakaev
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1p1bp/3p1np1/5p2/2PP4/
2N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 7"]
This is the starting position of the Dutch Leningrad variation. The main lines
are 7...Qe8, 7...Nc6, and the text move, but Black has many side possibilities
as well.
7...c6
Radjabov's reaction which is not a novelty seems to cause real problems

against this 7...c6 system.
8.Rb1!
This is an absolutely standard plan. White intends to push b4-b5.
8...Ne4 9.Qc2!
This move, followed by the next recapture, seems to be really strong, but it is
already well-known, since Kramnik defeated Nakamura in 2010. White does
not threaten to take on e4 twice, because Bf5 is coming at the end, however,
he simply wants to continue his plan with b4-b5 after protecting the c3-knight.
9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.Ne1 d5 would be Black's idea.
9...Nxc3
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp2p1bp/2pp2p1/5p2/2PP4/
2n2NP1/PPQ1PPBP/1RB2RK1 w - - 0 10"]
9...Na6 could be met with 10.b4.
10.bxc3!
A great idea! The point is that Black's only plan in such positions is to push e5
to jump out from his cramped position, but then the bishop is going to be
extremely unpleasant on a3.
After the "normal" 10.Qxc3, Black gets a fine position with 10...e5! White
cannot capture the pawn twice because then he even gets into an inferior
position. 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nd7 13.f4 Qe7=/+ wins back the pawn!
10...e5
Black has to play this even if it is bad. Otherwise, he must suffer during the
whole game with a lack of space.
11.dxe5!
A logical novelty to open the position. Both the bishop on a3 and the rook on
d1 develop with tempo.
11.Rd1 happened in the aforementioned Kramnik game. That continued with

11...e4 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nh3 g5 14.f3 d5 15.Nf2 Kh8 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.c4 and
White succeeded to undermine the strong center and got an advantage, but the
text move seems to be even stronger.
11...dxe5 12.Ba3 Rf7 13.Rfd1
Everything is nice, but the key is the next move that fights against Black's
center. All the Black moves are met with the same reaction!
13...Qe8
[FEN "rnb1q1k1/pp3rbp/2p3p1/4pp2/2P5/
B1P2NP1/P1Q1PPBP/1R1R2K1 w - - 0 14"]
13...Rd7 14.e4!; 13...Nd7 14.e4! f4 15.Bh3! Black has no adequate defense

against Be6. 15...fxg3 16.Be6
14.e4!
Fighting against Black's center and preventing the e4 idea, which could be
followed by Nd7-e5.
14...f4!
This is always the critical reaction in such situations. Black must try to keep
the position locked.
14...fxe4? weakens all the squares after 15.Ng5 and Nxe4.
15.Rd3
White escapes from the Bg4 pin and doubles his rooks to penetrate on d8.
15.Ng5 might have been even stronger. 15...Rd7 (15...Rf6 16.Rd3 is similar to
the game.) 16.Rxd7 Nxd7 17.c5! and the threat of Qb3, followed by Nf7 or
Ne6, is crucial.
15...fxg3?!
[FEN "rnb1q1k1/pp3rbp/2p3p1/4p3/2P1P3/
B1PR1Np1/P1Q2PBP/1R4K1 w - - 0 16"]
This is a sad decision. I am sure that Ivanchuk was quite unhappy to take on
g3. Black should have kept the tension somehow to have potential threats in
the future with a f4-f3 push. This could have been achieved by Bg4 or h6-g5-
g4, but both seem to be too slow now.
15...Bg4 leaves the b7-pawn alone. It is refuted by 16.Qd2! Na6 17.Ng5 with
serious problems for Black.; 15...Na6 is refuted by 16.Ng5 Rd7 17.Rxd7
Sadly, the bishop cannot take because of the b7-pawn. 17...Qxd7 18.Qb3 with
the double threat of c5 and Bh3, followed by Bxc8 and Qxb7.; 15...h6 was
probably the only move, but White is better anyway.
16.hxg3 Na6 17.Ng5!

The rook has no good square to go.
17.Rbd1 is a mistake now because of 17...Bg4.
17...Rc7
17...Rf6 18.Qd2! is similar to the 15...Na6 line. Black has problems as he

cannot cover the back-rank by developing the c8-bishop, because of the b7-
pawn.; 17...Rd7 18.Rxd7 Qxd7 19.Qb3 again with the double threat of c5 and
Bh3-c8 with Qxb7.
18.Bd6! Bf6
Black sacrifices an exchange, but, of course, he does not have enough

compensation for that. Radjabov finds an even stronger plan than taking it.
18...Rd7 loses to 19.Bh3 Rd8 20.c5 and Qb3 is a decisive and unavoidable
threat.
19.Qd2
19.Bxc7 Nxc7 20.Nf3 Na6 was, of course, also fine for White, but Black
might hope for compensation on the dark squares.
19...Rd7
19...Rg7 is refuted by the same brilliant that we will see on the twnety-first
move of the game!
20.Bh3 Rg7
[FEN "r1b1q1k1/pp4rp/n1pB1bp1/4p1N1/
2P1P3/2PR2PB/P2Q1P2/1R4K1 w - - 0 21"]
20...Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Bxh3 23.Rxb7 Black gets mated. He

cannot parry the threats of the heavy pieces.
21.Bxe5!!
This brilliant motif was the point of why Radjabov did not take the exchange
on c7. White wins a decisive amount of material using the weakness of
Black's back-rank. Ivanchuk finds the best chance to stay in the game by
sacrificing his queen.
21...Bxe5
21...Qxe5 22.Rd8+! Bxd8 23.Qxd8++-; 21...Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Bxh3 23.Bxg7

Kxg7 24.Rxb7++-.
22.Rd8 Bxh3 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Nxh3
Black's bishop and rook are clearly not enough for the queen and pawn. White
is winning. The game goes to the technical phase.
24...Nc5 25.Qe3 Bd6!

[FEN "4r1k1/pp4rp/2pb2p1/2n5/2P1P3/
2P1Q1PN/P4P2/1R4K1 w - - 0 26"]
Otherwise, White will squeeze with f4-e5!
25...b6 26.f4+-.
26.f3 Ne6 27.Kg2
After avoiding Bc5, White is ready to push f4-e5, so Black has to play his
next move.
27...g5 28.Nf2 h5
A desperate attempt to create counterplay. In this position, Ivanchuk had

around ten seconds left for the remaining twelve moves (there is no thirty
second increment), so it was hard to take it seriously anymore from White's
point of view.
28...Nf4+ is just a check. White is not forced to take. 29.Kf1 Nh5 30.Qxa7
Nxg3+ 31.Kg2+-.
29.Qxa7 Bc5 30.Qa4 Rf8
To generate counterplay with 30...g4 fails to 31.f4! Bxf2 (31...h4 32.Nd3+-)

32.Kxf2 Nc5 33.Qa5 Nxe4+ 34.Kg2+- The queen is too strong.
31.Nd3 h4
White has many different ways to win.
32.Qa5
The computer suggests 32.Nxc5 as the best. 32...Nxc5 33.Qa7 and it is not
afraid of 33...g4 34.Qxc5 gxf3+ 35.Kf1 hxg3 36.Qd6+- and the pawns only
look dangerous, but the king and rook stop them. White soon will start to
advance his e-pawn.; 32.e5+-.
32...b6 33.Rxb6??
[FEN "5rk1/6r1/1Rp1n3/Q1b3p1/2P1P2p/
2PN1PP1/P5K1/8 b - - 0 33"]
A huge blunder, which could have allowed a miraculous defense for

Ivanchuk, although it was very hard to find even with thirty minutes on the
clock with only two seconds for eight moves, it is impossible. Radjabov
cannot be criticized for this mistake because even though he starts to give up
his pieces one by one, he is winning on time.
33.Qa4! was winning.
33...Bxb6
33...g4!! could have saved Black.
A) 34.fxg4 Rxg4 35.Rxc6 (35.Nxc5 leads to a perpetual check. 35...Rxg3+ 36.

Kh2 Rf2+ 37.Kh1 Rf1+) 35...Rxg3+ 36.Kh2 Bg1+ 37.Kh1 Be3 and White
cannot prevent Rf1, which is followed by, at least, a perpetual check. 38.Qh5
Rf1+ 39.Kh2 Bg1+ 40.Kh1 Be3+=;
B) 34.f4 h3+ 35.Kh2
[FEN "5rk1/6r1/1Rp1n3/Q1b5/2P1PPp1/
2PN2Pp/P6K/8 b - - 0 35"]
(35.Kf1 Rh7 and the h-pawn is running.) 35...Rd8! (35...Rd7! leads to the
same!) 36.Nxc5 Rd2+ 37.Kh1 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd2+ 39.Kg1 Otherwise, the
king goes to f2 and Black has only a few more checks, but he survives here as
well. 39...h2+! 40.Kh1 Rd1+ 41.Kxh2 Rh7+ The other rook joins the attack
and Black reaches a perpetual check by force. 42.Kg2 Rd2+ 43.Kg1 Rd1+ 44.
Kf2 Rh2+ 45.Ke3 Re1+ 46.Kd3 Rd1+= That could have been amazing and
shocking from Radjabov's point of view, but time was a decisive factor.
34.Qxb6 hxg3 1-0
[FEN "5rk1/6r1/1Qp1n3/6p1/2P1P3/
2PN1Pp1/P5K1/8 w - - 0 35"]
Black lost on time, but the position is also winning for White. For instance,
after 35.Qxc6 Nf4 36.Kxg3 Nxd3 and 37.Qd5 wins the knight. A nice win by
Radjabov and, it is hoped, Ivanchuk will regenerate after the free day.


Yemelin's Furious Attack

Yemelin, V (2588) Hasangatin, R (2496)

20th TCh-RUS 2013 Loo RUS (7), 13.04.2013
Chess Sicilian Defence [B29]
Evolution What can be stronger than a direct attack?! We will see this once again in the
furious attack put forth by Yemelin in a game from the recent Russian Team
Championship.
& Csaba Balogh 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6
This tricky move was quite popular a couple of years ago. I played it myself
against Leko, but lately White has found quite an easy and solid refutation.
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Chess Evolution #08

by Chess Evolution
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/pp1ppppp/5n2/2p5/4P3/
5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 3"]
3.e5!
The best. 3.Nc3 d5 leads to quite an unclear position.
3...Nd5 4.Nc3
Forcing Black to take a hard decision. Chess Evolution #09

by Chess Evolution
4...Nxc3
The other main line for Black is 4...e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4, but White has better
play here as well.
5.dxc3
White's idea is simple: to use his big development advantage.
5...Nc6 6.Bf4
Defending the e5-pawn and planning to castle queenside.
6...Qc7 7.Qe2 e6 8.0-0-0 Rb8?!

[FEN "1rb1kb1r/ppqp1ppp/2n1p3/2p1P3/
5B2/2P2N2/PPP1QPPP/2KR1B1R w k - 0 9"]
This looks like a bad move to me. Black should be very careful here in order
not to get immediately in trouble. 8...b6, followed by a quick Bb7 and
queenside castling, gives Black a more or less normal position. Anyhow, I
would not advise anyone to go for this position.
9.Ng5!?
A very interesting move! White is provoking weaknesses in the black pawn

structure.
9...f6
The main point of the move 9.Ng5 can be seen after 9...h6 10.Ne4! using the
moment when Black cannot take on Nxe5?; i.e. 10...Nxe5? 11.Nd6+! finishes
the game. 11...Bxd6 12.Rxd6 Qxd6 13.Bxe5 and White will take the rook on
b8 next.
10.Nf3
White has done his job, created a weakness in Black's pawn structure.
10...Be7 11.Qe3
Forcing Black to play f5.
11...f5
[FEN "1rb1k2r/ppqpb1pp/2n1p3/2p1Pp2/
5B2/2P1QN2/PPP2PPP/2KR1B1R w k - 0 12"]
12.Rg1!
Yemelin plays very strongly again, by not losing any time and preparing the
direct attack with g4.
12...h6
Black is trying to stop White from playing g4 because of the g5 threat.
13.g4!
Exactly! White sacrifices a piece for the attack, which is very logical if we
look at the clearly undeveloped black pieces, and especially the bishop on c8.
13...g5 14.gxf5 exf5
It does not help to play 14...gxf4, because White plays the precise 15.Qe4!
exf5 16.Qxf5 with a mating attack.
15.Rd6
Yemelin continues in attacking mode, but maybe it was time to make a calm
"killing" move. 15.Qd3! would finish the game on the spot. In case of 15...
gxf4, 16.Qxf5 and Black cannot defend such a position. On 15...Rf8 16. Bd2,
White would not have any sacrificed material for the great attack which
would mean "the end" for Black.
15...Qa5
After this, White is crushing! 15...gxf4 16.Qxf4 Rf8 would give more
chances, even though White's attack is very strong, Black still has some
chances to fight back in the game.
[FEN "1rb1k2r/pp1pb3/2nR3p/q1p1Ppp1/
5B2/2P1QN2/PPP2P1P/2K2BR1 w k - 0 16"]
16.Nxg5!!
Just a great move! White is walking over the black defensive lines.
16...hxg5 17.Bxg5 Qxa2
It seems like Black got some counterplay, but it comes too late.
18.Bxe7 Nxe7
[FEN "1rb1k2r/pp1pn3/3R4/2p1Pp2/8/
2P1Q3/qPP2P1P/2K2BR1 w k - 0 19"]
How to continue the attack?!
19.e6!!
A fantastic move! Before going for Rg7, White is opening one more line and
closing the queen from a2, because it could go to f7 in some cases.
19...dxe6 20.Rg7!
The last exact calculation by Yemelin, who is sacrificing the bishop on f1 to

mate the black king.
20...Qa1+ 21.Kd2 Qxf1 22.Qg5!
All moves are forced.
22...Qxf2+ 23.Kc1
Black has no other defense than to give his queen away.
23...Qe1+ 24.Rd1 Qxd1+ 25.Kxd1
[FEN "1rb1k2r/pp2n1R1/4p3/2p2pQ1/
8/2P5/1PP4P/3K4 b k - 0 25"]
White has a queen for a rook and two pieces, which would mean a material
advantage for Black, but White's attack is still not over and the black pieces
are still badly coordinated.
25...Nc6 26.Qg6+
With checks, White brings his queen to a perfect position on f7.
26...Kd8 27.Qf6+ Ke8 28.Qf7+ Kd8 29.Qc7+ Ke8 30.Qf7+ Kd8 31.h4! 1-0
A great finishing move. Black cannot do anything against White's h5-h6-h7-

Rg8. A really fantastic game by Yemelin!


An Impressive Positional Performance

by Csaba Balogh
Karjakin, Sergey (2767) Radjabov, Teimour (2745)

Supreme Masters 2013 Sandnes NOR (1.5), 08.05.2013
Chess Sicilian Defense [B31]
Evolution An impressive positional performance by Karjakin.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3

& Csaba Balogh White tries to avoid the Sveshnikov Defense. Usually, he does this by playing
3.Bb5, but the text move is also possible.
3...g6 4.Bb5
White succeeded to avoid Radjabov's pet line with 3.Bb5 e6, but of course,
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this g6-system is the other huge main line.
4...Bg7 5.0-0
Black has to decide how to finish the development. Radjabov chooses one of
the most popular ways with e5-Nge7, but it has a drawback that it weakens
the d5-square. Chess Evolution #08
by Chess Evolution
5...e5 6.d3 Nge7
Chess Evolution #09

by Chess Evolution
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pp1pnpbp/2n3p1/1Bp1p3/
4P3/2NP1N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 7"]
7.Bc4
White immediately focuses his pieces on the d5-square. Usually, the

Sveshnikov players are not impressed by this, since they are used to facing
this in many lines.
7...h6
Black prevents the potential plan of Bg5, trading one of the defenders of the
d5-square.
8.a3!
This is a known plan in this kind of closed position. White initiates by

grabbing space on the queenside with b4. Black should not prevent it with a5
because the b5-square gets crucially weakened.
8...0-0 9.b4!
White could save a tempo by not playing Rb1, since accepting the pawn
sacrifice would lead to more than enough compensation.
9...d6
9...cxb4? 10.axb4 Nxb4 11.Ba3! Nbc6 12.Bd6+/- Black is completely tied up!
10.bxc5
White has achieved some positional trumps by taking once towards to the
center, forcing Black to take outwards. Also, the b-file will be an important
factor in the game later on.
10...dxc5
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2npb1/2n3pp/2p1p3/
2B1P3/P1NP1N2/2P2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 11"]
11.Re1!
At first sight, a mysterious move, but actually it is a very deep positional idea.
Karjakin would like to settle his knight on d5 and he gets ready to take back
with exd5, after which the e5-pawn is hanging, thanks to Re1. Black can
hardly carry the d5-knight if he does not take it.
11...Kh7
Black would like to get counterplay by playing f5, so he left the pin.
11...Bg4 just gives temporary activity. 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nd4 14.Qd1
White has the bishop-pair and the d4-knight will be kicked out soon after Nd5
and c3.
12.Nd5 Be6
Black succeeded to get rid of the d5-knight, but another piece is replacing it
there, which will also be very annoying.
12...Nxd5 13.exd5 and e5 is hanging.; 12...f5 is premature at the moment. 13.

Nxe7 Qxe7 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Bb2 White quickly puts very strong pressure on
the e5-pawn. There is a direct threat with Bd5, winning the e5-pawn.
13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.Bd5!
Whenever Black takes on d5, he will create a very strong protected passed
pawn (after c4) for White.
14...Nd4
[FEN "r4r2/pp2qpbk/4b1pp/2pBp3/3nP3/
P2P1N2/2P2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 15"]
14...Bxd5 15.exd5 Nd4 16.c4+/- White takes on d4 next (or plays Nd2, Bb2-
d4 as in the game) and the structure is seemingly similar, but actually White
has a large advantage because the d4-pawn is not a passed pawn.
15.Nd2!
Another strong positional move to save the knight for the future. White sees
the following position: he will play c4, Bb2, and Bxd4, when the knight
dominates the g7-bishop. The game demonstrates this well.
15...Bxd5
15...Rad8 would be met by 16.c3 Nc6 17.c4 Nd4 18.Bb2+/- and Bxd4 next,
followed by queenside play. White forces Black to play b6, which is going to
be countered by a minority attack with a4-a5.
16.exd5 Rad8 17.c3 Nb5 18.c4 Nd4
[FEN "3r1r2/pp2qpbk/6pp/2pPp3/2Pn4/
P2P4/3N1PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 19"]
19.a4!
Another great move! Prophylaxis against Black's idea to push b5 and bxc4,
when he will also obtain a protected passed pawn on d4.
19.Bb2 b5 20.Bxd4 cxd4 is what White cleverly prevented.
19...Qd7 20.Rb1
Provoking the b6 move to make a5 more effective.
20...b6 21.Bb2
White has a very easy game from now on. All the moves on the queenside
suggest themselves.
21...Rfe8 22.a5 Qc7
22...bxa5 would just help White, since it weakens the c5-pawn. 23.Ne4 Rc8
24.Ba3+/-.
23.Qa4
Focusing all the pieces on the queenside. Black cannot create any serious
counterplay.
23...f5 24.axb6 axb6 25.Bxd4 cxd4
[FEN "3rr3/2q3bk/1p4pp/3Ppp2/Q1Pp4/
3P4/3N1PPP/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 26"]
White got what he wanted with the passed pawn on d5, the b6 weakness, and
the superior knight. He has various ways to increase the advantage. He could
double his rooks on the b-file or prepare for an invasion on the a-file. Karjakin
chooses the most direct way.
26.Qc6 Qxc6 27.dxc6 Rc8
27...Rb8 was clearly a better defense for Black. White plays here again 28.f4!
Rec8 (28...exf4 29.Rxe8 Rxe8 30.Rxb6+/- c6 is too strong. The knight is
coming too support it with b3.) 29.fxe5 Rxc6 30.Nf3 Bf8 31.Ra1+/- with a
huge advantage for White.
28.Rxb6 Re6 29.f4!
White wins the e5-pawn.
29...e4
The best chance to get rid of some material, as White has enough left to win
the game.
29...Rcxc6 30.Rxc6 Rxc6 31.fxe5+- followed by Nf3 and d4 will also fall
soon.
30.dxe4 fxe4 31.Rxe4 Rexc6 32.Rxc6 Rxc6 33.Re7
[FEN "8/4R1bk/2r3pp/8/2Pp1P2/8/
3N2PP/6K1 b - - 0 33"]
Driving the rook to its most active place on d7, where it disturbs the king and
prevents all the Black ideas connected with the d-pawn as well.
33...Kg8 34.Rd7 Bf8 35.Ne4
Provoking the advance of the d-pawn, when it becomes more vulnerable.

White threatens to take on d4 at the moment, because he prevented Bc5; and
Rxc4 does not work, because of the mate after Nf6 and Rh7.
35...d3 36.Kf2 Ba3
Black already wants to take on c4, because Nf6 is not mate anymore after
Kf8. White simply protects his pawn and is going to take it with the king.
37.Rd4 Kf7
37...Bb2 would be met by 38.Rd8+ Kg7 39.c5! Ba3 40.Rd5+- and Ke3 next.
38.Ke3 Bc1+ 39.Nd2
And the second pawn is lost, which is already too much for Black.
39...Bxd2+ 40.Kxd2 Ra6 41.c5 1-0
[FEN "8/5k2/r5pp/2P5/3R1P2/3p4/
3K2PP/8 b - - 0 41"]
Black resigned in view of 41...Ra2+ 42.Kxd3 Rxg2 43.c6 The black king is
cut off from the c-pawn. A great game by Karjakin! It is very hard to win such
a clear-cut game on the highest level.


Purchases from our
accessible:
This month we present a lightly edited excerpt from Chess Evolution

Newsletter #68. CEWN is released every Friday of the week, the
newsletter contains twenty-plus pages of great chess material written by
top grandmasters Arkadij Naiditsch and Csaba Balogh.
Chess An Impressive Technical Victory

Evolution by The Chess Evolution Team
CEWN Subscription
Arkadij Nepomniachtchi, I (2717) Mamedyarov, S (2753) by Arkadij Naiditsch
World rapid Championship, 07.06.2013
Naiditsch
& Csaba Balogh
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Chess Evolution #08

by Chess Evolution
[FEN "6k1/1p1r1p1p/2n3p1/P5R1/8/
2B4P/4KPP1/8 w - - 0 31"]
White has a small advantage in this endgame. First of all, the bishop is
stronger than the knight when there are pawns on both sides. Black cannot
activate his rook because it must always guard the b7-pawn. Black's pawn
structure on the kingside is also not the most fortunate one with the hole on
f6. It would have been much better to keep the h7-g7-f6 formation and bring
the king to f7-e6. But it is, of course, going to be very difficult for White to
convert the advantage with such limited material.
31.Rc5
Chess Evolution #09
White creates the threat of a6 and activates his rook, which had nothing to do
by Chess Evolution
on g5.
31...Rd6 32.g4!
A strong positional move with the idea of gaining space on the kingside and
restricting the mobility of the black pawns.
32...f6
Black would like to bring his king closer to the center, but on the other hand
the f6-pawn becomes slightly vulnerable.
33.Rb5 Nd8
[FEN "3n2k1/1p5p/3r1pp1/PR6/6P1/
2B4P/4KP2/8 w - - 0 34"]
The only way to protect the b7-pawn, since Rd7 would drop the f6-pawn.
34.Bb4
Trying to confuse the coordination between the black pieces.
34...Rd7
If the rook leaves the d-file, White can play 34...Rc6? 35.Rd5! followed by
Rd7.
35.Rb6 Kf7 36.Bc3
Further activating of the pieces forces Black to allow the white king to go to
the kingside.
36...Re7+
[FEN "3n4/1p2rk1p/1R3pp1/P7/6P1/2B4P/
4KP2/8 w - - 0 37"]
36...Nc6? runs into 37.a6!.
37.Kd3!
This is another huge achievement by White. The king might very quickly get
to the b7-pawn.
37...Re6 38.Rb5!
White needs his active rook on the board in order to increase his advantage.
38...Rd6+ 39.Kc4 Ke6

[FEN "3n4/1p5p/3rkpp1/PR6/2K3P1/
2B4P/5P2/8 w - - 0 40"]
40.f4!
White is ready to push f5. If Black takes it, after Rxf5 he will already have
three weak pawns and if he doesn't, he will be pushed back into even greater
passivity.
40...Rc6+ 41.Kd3 Rd6+ 42.Ke4
And f5 now becomes inevitable.
42...Rc6 43.Bd4 Kd7 44.f5!
If it was White's move, he would play h5, creating the threat of a

breakthrough with fxg6-hxg6 and h5. Black's position is getting more and
more unpleasant.
44...g5
Not an easy decision. Black fixes his own pawns on the color of the bishop.
This is against the principles, but the h4 idea was too threatening.
45.Bc5
White would like to get his king to d5 and he therefore prevents Rd6.
45...Ke8 46.Kd5 Kd7
[FEN "3n4/1p1k3p/2r2pp1/PR6/3BKPP1/
7P/8/8 w - - 0 44"]
47.Rb3
Nepomniachtchi finds the right plan to transfer the rook to the e-file, but he
makes an inaccuracy in the execution.
47.Kc4! was the way to win:
A) On 47...Ra6 48.Bb6! Nc6 49.Rd5+ Ke7 50.Kb5 Ra8 51.Rd3! Black is in

zugzwang. Let's check his options: 51...Ke8 (51...Ra6 is refuted by 52.Rc3!
with the threat of Rxc6 and on 52...Ra8 53.a6! Rxa6 54.Rxc6 wins.) 52.Rd6
Ke7 53.Rxc6! bxc6+ 54.Kxc6 And the a-pawn automatically promotes after
Kb7.
B) 47...Rc7 48.Rb3 Nc6 49.Kb5 White wins. The next step could, for
instance, be Rd3-d6. 49...Nxa5 (49...Ne5 50.Bd4+-) 50.Rd3+ Ke8 51.Bb6+-.
47...Ra6!
Black quickly finds counterplay against the a5-pawn. White has to look for
another plan.
48.Rb5 Rc6
Instead of Kc4, White now tries a triangulation.
49.Ke4 Ke8 50.Kd4 Kd7 51.Kd5 Rc8?
[FEN "2rn4/1p1k3p/5p2/PRBK1Pp1/
6P1/7P/8/8 w - - 0 52"]
51...Ra6 was the only chance, White can switch to the right plan with Kc4
anytime.
52.Bb6!
The game is over now. After trading the minor pieces, the rook endgame is
winning.
52...Ke7
52...Nc6 loses to the double attack after 53.Bd4! Nxd4 54.Rxb7++-; 52...Nf7
53.Bd4+- also wins material.
53.Bxd8+ Rxd8+ 54.Kc5 Rd7
With pawns as weak as the ones on f6 and b7 and without a chance to find
some active counterplay or creating a passed pawn, Black is forced to stay
passive, but then his loss is just a matter of time.
55.Rb6 Rc7+ 56.Kb5
The plan is to play Re6 followed by Kb6.
56...Kf7 57.Rd6 Ke7 58.Re6+ Kf7 59.Kb6 Rd7
[FEN "8/1p1r1k1p/1K2Rp2/P4Pp1/
6P1/7P/8/8 w - - 0 60"]
60.Re3!
White finishes the game by transferring his rook to c7!
60...h5 61.Rc3 hxg4 62.hxg4 1-0

Black resigned! An impressive technical victory of Nepomniachtchi, which is
reminiscent of the best days of Anatoly Karpov.
Order Chess Evolution #01-09 (Bundle)

by Arkadij Naiditsch (ed.)


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Chess Punishing a Dubious Opening

Evolution by Csaba Balogh
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Arkadij Wang Hao (2752) Giri, A (2734) by Arkadij Naiditsch
Beijing CHN (7), 11.07.2013
Naiditsch Philidor Defence [C41]
& Csaba Balogh An elegant miniature by Wang Hao, who punished Giri for his dubious
opening.
1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7
Translate this page
Chess Evolution #08

by Chess Evolution
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/pppn1ppp/3p1n2/4p3/
3PP3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5"]
The Philidor Defence is considered to be a solid system, but it is rarely seen

at the highest level because White can claim a small, stable advantage in
many lines.
5.Bc4 exd4?! Chess Evolution #09

by Chess Evolution
It is, however, a dubious decision by Black to give up the tension in the
center at such an early stage of the game. 5...Be7 is definitely the right move
and also the main line.
6.Qxd4 Be7
This line was recently played by the Serbian GM Ivanisevic, but the following
terrific sacrifice seems to cause serious problems for Black.
7.Bxf7+!! Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Ke8
The only move to stay in the game. 8...Kg8 immediately loses to 9.Qc4+! d5
10.Nxd5+- White wins because of the Qf7 threat. 8...Kg6 9.f4+- also wins for
White as Black is helpless against f5.
9.Ne6
It seems to be over, but Black is able to save his queen.
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pppnb1pp/3pNn2/8/3QP3/
2N5/PPP2PPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 9"]
9...c5!
This might be Giri's opening trick, but he probably underestimated that after
White simply removes the queen and takes on g7, he gets more than enough
compensation for the sacrificed bishop and also a position that is basically
impossible to play in a practical game as black.
10.Qd1 Qb6 11.Nxg7+
We can find similar sacrifices in the Sicilian Defence, when White plays a
system with Bc4. If Black is careless there, White sometimes sacrifices with
Bxe6 fxe6, Nxe6 attacking the d8-queen, followed by Nxg7 and Nf5 with an
enormous attack. Our game is very similar to those examples.
11...Kf7
Black cannot seek shelter with 11...Kd8? 12.Nd5! Nxd5
[FEN "r1bk3r/pp1nb1Np/1q1p4/2pn4/4P3/
8/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.Ne6+! Ke8 14.Qh5#! This would have been an even shorter game.
12.Nf5 Bf8?!
Wasting another tempo.
12...Ne5 was the last chance, although White also gets a strong attack here
after correct play:
A) 13.Nd5 is very tempting at first sight, but Black holds after 13...Nxd5
14.Qxd5+ Be6 15.Nh6+! Kf6 16.Bg5+! Kxg5 17.Qxe6
[FEN "r6r/pp2b2p/1q1pQ2N/2p1n1k1/4P3/
8/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17"]
It seems to be over now, but Black survives upon 17...Qb4+! 18.Kd1 (18.Kf1
Qc4+ Exchanging the queens solves the biggest problems.; 18.Ke2 Qxe4+)
18...Qd4+ 19.Kc1 Bf6! After this only move, surprisingly Black is alive!
B) 13.Nxe7! Kxe7 14.Bg5! is the right move and was probably also what Giri
was afraid of. White threatens to play Nd5 and after 14...Be6 15.f4 Nf7
16.Bxf6+ Kxf6
[FEN "r6r/pp3n1p/1q1pbk2/2p5/4PP2/2N5/
PPP3PP/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 17"]
17.Qd2! White simply wants to castle kingside and he has numerous decisive
threats, such as e5 followed by Ne4, f5 or just to bring another attacker with
g4-g5. Objectively, White is clearly better, but in a practical game Black's
position is just hopeless in such situations. We are unable to defend like
computers. 17...Qxb2 is simply met by 18.0-0 Grabbing the poisoned pawn on
b2 just creates further problems for Black.
13.0-0
[FEN "r1b2b1r/pp1n1k1p/1q1p1n2/2p2N2/
4P3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 13"]
White finishes development and intends to lead the attack with Bf5 and f4-e5.
13...d5
A desperate attempt by Black to free the position. 13...Ne5 runs into 14.Bg5!
Bxf5 15.Bxf6+- and Black cannot take back on f6 because of Nd5, otherwise
White either takes on h8 or on f5 and obtains a decisive material advantage.
14.Nxd5
14.exd5 was also good enough, but Wang Hao preferred to keep the fortress
of his strong f5-knight.
14...Nxd5 15.Qxd5+
White is already materially fine with three pawns for the piece, but his attack
continues rolling.
15...Ke8?
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/pp1n3p/1q6/2pQ1N2/
4P3/8/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 16"]
15...Qe6 was the better chance again. 16.Qd3! White obviously wants to keep
the queens on the board against such a weak king. 16...Nf6 17.Re1+/-
followed by Bd2-c3 with a large advantage. (17.f3!? is also good with the
same idea to transfer the bishop to the b2-h8 diagonal.)
16.Bg5!
Black's position is just hopeless now. White simply wants to bring his a1-
rook and wipe Black off the board with e5-e6.
16...Qg6
16...h6 17.Bh4 does not change anything. 16...Qc6 17.Qd2 does not help
Black either.
17.Rad1!
The g5-bishop is indirectly protected so White can activate his rook.
17...Rg8
The last step for White is to finish the game with e5-e6. Black cannot parry
this threat. He cannot move the d7-knight because of Qd8 and if he doesn't,
most of his pieces will remain undeveloped.
17...Qxg5 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Qxg5+-; 17...Qg8 18.Qd2+-.
18.f4! a5
[FEN "r1b1kbr1/1p1n3p/6q1/p1pQ1NB1/
4PP2/8/PPP3PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19"]
Black tries to bring his rook into defence through the sixth rank, but, of
course, this is just too slow.
18...h6 is refuted by 19.e5! hxg5 (19...Qxf5 20.Qxg8 hxg5 21.fxg5+-) 20.e6+-
and exd7 wins or if the knight moves Qd8 mates.
19.e5! Qxf5
On 19...Ra6, White can choose between various wins; one of them is 20.e6
Rxe6 21.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1+ and mate is coming soon.
20.Qxg8 Ra6
Black could finally have traded the queens, but he is already materially down
and the central pawns are just rolling further. 20...Qf7 21.Qxf7+ Kxf7
22.Rde1! Protecting the e5-pawn in order to threaten playing e6 and f5.
22...Ra6 23.f5+- White is winning.
21.Rfe1
Refreshing the e6 threat.
21...Rg6
[FEN "2b1kbQ1/1p1n3p/6r1/p1p1PqB1/
5P2/8/PPP3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.e6! 1-0
A last nice move! Black resigned in view of 22.e6 Rxg8 (22...Nf6 23.Qf7#)
23.exd7+ Kf7 24.d8Q+- A great attacking game by Wang Hao. I doubt that
anyone will repeat this line with the early ...exd4.



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Chess A Fantastic Game by Kamsky!

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Arkadij We are in the first game of the fourth round of the World Cup. Only sixteen by Arkadij Naiditsch
players are left and the matches are getting tenser; every game is worth more
Naiditsch and more, and from time to time players tend to take more "safe" decisions.
This does not count for Kamsky. In a great attacking game he managed to
& Csaba Balogh mate Mamedyarov, who has been playing just great chess in the last few
months, winning almost everything he could.
Kamsky, Gata (2741) Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2775)

FIDE World Cup 2013 Tromso NOR (4.1), 20.08.2013
Sicilian Sheveningen [B82]
Translate this page
1.e4
Kamsky also plays 1.d4, which makes the preparation harder. Chess Evolution #08
by Chess Evolution
1...c5
Mamedyarov also plays 1...e5, but it seems that he is ready for a heavy fight.
2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
The Paulsen with 4...Nc6 is not a rare opening at all. Lately Black has been
achieving quite solid results with it.
5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4
Chess Evolution #09

by Chess Evolution
[FEN "r1b1kbnr/ppqp1ppp/2n1p3/8/3NPP2/
2N5/PPP3PP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 6"]
I like to play this move myself as white. The main line is 6.Be3.
6...d6
I don't think 6...d6 should be counted as a main danger for White, as he is
now getting a nice version of a Sheveningen. 6...Nxd4 and 6...a6 are the two
critical continuations.
7.Be3
Leaving White with both castle options open.
7...Nf6 8.Qf3
8.Be2 followed by Qd2, 0-0-0 and g4 can also be unpleasant for Black.
8...a6 9.Bd3!
With this move Kamsky makes it clear that he is going for a short castle and
wants to achieve some sort of Sheveningen position with a tempo up.
9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Kh1
Now we are totally in the Sheveningen, but with a very nice version for
White. Usually White has to play Be2 first and then Bd3 loses a tempo. I
think that by now it is clear that something went very wrong for Black in the
opening.
11...Bd7
Black is preparing the b5 move.
12.Rae1 b5 13.a3!
A very good positional move. Before taking action in the center, White needs
to secure the position of the knight on c3.
13...Rab8?!
[FEN "1r3rk1/2qbbppp/p1nppn2/1p6/
3NPP2/P1NBBQ2/1PP3PP/4RR1K w - - 0 14"]
Very risky play by Black. Already being in a bad version of the opening,
Black should clearly have paid more attention to White's attacking ideas and a
move like Rab8 does not help in the defence. 13...Rfe8 would have been a
more solid choice.
14.Nxc6!
Another very strong move. Now Black is almost forced to play Bxc6 and the
white queen on h3 is going to take a perfect place.
14...Bxc6 15.Qh3
White wants to push e5 as well as f5. Things are getting very dangerous
around the black king.
15...Rfd8
A logical move with the idea of pushing d5, but maybe again a move like
Rfe8 would have been more careful.
16.Bd2!
Another very strong positional move, based on precise calculation. Immediate

pushes would not bring White much, so Kamsky is preparing the deadly e5.
16...d5
Black already did not have much of a choice. 16...g6 17.f5 And White's
attack seems to be very strong as well.
17.e5 Ne4
[FEN "1r1r2k1/2q1bppp/p1b1p3/1p1pP3/
4nP2/P1NB3Q/1PPB2PP/4RR1K w - - 0 18"]
It seems like Black is fine, but of course with the move 16.Bd2! White was
preparing an atomic bomb on Black's kingside.
18.f5!!
That was the point behind all of White's play. Of course 18.Bxe4 could only
be good for Black.
18...Nxd2
Mamedyarov accepts the challenge and actually Black did not have anything
better. The greedy 18...Qxe5 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bc3 leads to an almost lost
position on the spot. 18...exf5 was not much better either: 19.Qxf5 Rf8 20.e6
And White has a huge advantage.
19.fxe6
White wants to mate by playing Qxh7.
19...Ne4
At first sight it looks like Black is doing more or less solid.
20.exf7+ Kh8
How to open the black position now?!
21.Nxd5!
Another very nice move. I am sure that Kamsky saw it all before playing
16.Bd2. The U.S. grandmaster really seems to be in top shape.
21...Bxd5 22.Rxe4
This is why 21.Nxd5 was so important. The white bishop on d3 is alive and
helps in the continuation of the attack against the black king.
22...g6
[FEN "1r1r3k/2q1bP1p/p5p1/1p1bP3/4R3/
P2B3Q/1PP3PP/5R1K w - - 0 23"]
Clearly the best defence. Black is making space for his king on g7 and tries to
create a blockade on the dark squares.
23.Ref4?!
A very logical move, but quite a serious mistake. White should have been
more careful to guarantee himself the e6 move: 23.Re3 Followed by e6, with
a big advantage.
23...Kg7?
And Black also misses his chance with a very human move. 23...Qc6! would
have turned the game completely. The position would be very unclear now.
White has no e6 which means that the f7-pawn could eventually get lost in
the future if Black managed to consolidate with Kg7-Rf8. The position
remains very sharp now.
24.e6
White has connected his pawns, so the game is now almost over.
24...Rf8
[FEN "1r3r2/2q1bPkp/p3P1p1/1p1b4/5R2/
P2B3Q/1PP3PP/5R1K w - - 0 25"]
White wanted to play f8Q and Rf7 with mate.
25.Qe3!
A very strong move! Black cannot control the d4- and e5-squares at the same
time, which means his position is just lost!
25...Bc5 26.Qe1
Now the weak spot is the c3-square.
26...Bd6?!
Black is making it a bit too easy for White.
After 26...Be7!, White would have to bite a much harder nut to win the game.
27.c4! looks like White is going to mate, but it is not so. 27...bxc4 28.Qc3+
Kh6 The black king is one step away from mate, but this step is hard to make.
At least there is no easy way of finishing the game. 29.Bxc4 With "just" a big
advantage for White.
27.Rh4
Now the game is over. White wants to mate by playing Rxh7-Qh4 and Qf6.
27...Be7
[FEN "1r3r2/2q1bPkp/p3P1p1/1p1b4/7R/
P2B4/1PP3PP/4QR1K w - - 0 28"]
28.Qe3!
With the double threat of playing Qh6 and Qd4.
28...h5
28...Bxh4 also leads to mate after 29.Qd4+ Kh6 30.Qxh4+ Kg7 31.Qf6+ Kh6
32.Rf4+-.
29.Qd4+ Kh6 30.Rxh5+ 1-0
Now after 30...Kxh5 31.Qxd5 Kh6, White has a wide choice of winning
moves, one of them is 32.Qe4 and the pawn on g6 is going to fall. A really
fantastic game by Kamsky!



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Chess A Fighting Draw at the Sinquefield Cup

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Arkadij Kamsky, Gata (2741) Nakamura, Hikaru (2772) by Arkadij Naiditsch

Sinquefield Cup 2013 Saint Louis USA (6.2), 15.09.2013
Naiditsch
Sicilian Najdorf [B90]
& Csaba Balogh Before the game, Nakamura had the theoretical chance to catch Carlsen. It was
clear that he would try his best to beat the out-of-form Kamsky with the black
pieces, but it almost backfired.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
Translate this page The Sicilian Najdorf is a very good opening to fight for a win with both colors.
6.Be3

Chess Evolution #08
by Chess Evolution

[FEN "rnbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p2p1n2/8/3NP3/

2N1B3/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 6"]

Chess Evolution #09
6...Ng4 by Chess Evolution
Kasparov's favorite move. 6...e6 and 6...e5 are the other main lines.
7.Bg5
Players who want to destroy chess are going for the quick repetition with
7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Be3, but, of course, Kamsky does not belong to this group, even
in a bad form.
7...h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7

[FEN "rnbqk2r/1p2ppb1/p2p3p/6p1/3NP1n1/

2N3B1/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 10"]
We have reached the starting position of the 6.Be3 Ng4 line. White has several
options here and Kamsky goes for one of the main ones.
10.h3
10.Be2 is the main alternative for White.
10...Nf6
This is the new development of the theory. The main line used to continue with
10...Ne5, but it seems like White might hope for an advantage after 11.f3
Nbc6 12.Bf2 followed by Qd2 and 0-0-0.
11.Bc4 Qb6
A standard move in this line. Black prepares Nc6, which would have been
premature if played immediately. Black should refrain from winning a pawn
with 11...b5 12.Bb3 b4 White gets more than enough compensation after
13.Na4 Nxe4 14.Qf3! d5 15.0-0-0+/- With a strong attack, Black is totally
undeveloped. 11...Nc6 is strongly met by 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5!.
12.Bb3 Nc6
The tactical trick 12...Nxe4 would have been a mistake again: 13.Nxe4 Qxd4
14.Qe2 threatening Nxd6. 14...0-0 15.c3 Qb6 16.h4 g4 17.Bf4 With very good
attacking potential for White. He might unpleasantly attack the h6-pawn by
playing Qd2 or transfer the knight to h5 via g3.
13.Nxc6 Qxc6

[FEN "r1b1k2r/1p2ppb1/p1qp1n1p/6p1/4P3/

1BN3BP/PPP2PP1/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 14"]
14.0-0!
This is the novelty, a strong and probably a prepared one. 14.Qe2 happened
before, but after the strong 14...Nd7! 15.Qf3 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Nf6 Black was
alright.
14...g4
14...Nd7 is now met by 15.Qh5 0-0 16.Nd5+- Black cannot protect the e7-
pawn, since Re8 would leave f7 unprotected. 14...Nxe4?? drops a piece
because of 15.Bd5+- and after 15...Nxc3 the queen is hanging with check.
15.hxg4
On 15.h4 Nh5 was probably Nakamura's plan. 16.Bh2 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rg8 with
a double edged position. Black wants to play Qc5 and g3 is always hanging in
the air.
15...Bxg4
15...Nxg4 is similarly met as in the game: 16.Nd5! Bxb2? loses huge material:
17.Rb1 Bg7

[FEN "r1b1k2r/1p2ppb1/p1qp3p/3N4/4P1n1/

1B4B1/P1P2PP1/1R1Q1RK1 w kq - 0 18"]
18.Nb6!+- This pretty move creates fatal threats with Nxa8 and Ba4, and the
knight cannot be taken because of the discovery check with the bishop.
16.Qd2 Nd7

[FEN "r3k2r/1p1nppb1/p1qp3p/8/4P1b1/

1BN3B1/PPPQ1PP1/R4RK1 w kq - 0 17"]
As usual the e4-pawn is poisoned: 16...Nxe4? 17.Nxe4 Qxe4 18.Rae1 White

takes on d6 next, while 18...Qd4 loses a bishop after 19.Qxd4 Bxd4
20.Re4!+-.
17.Nd5!
Very strong intuitions by Kamsky. White activates all his pieces at the cost of
a pawn.
17...Bxb2 18.Rab1 Be5!
The only move.
18...Bg7

[FEN "r3k2r/1p1nppb1/p1qp3p/3N4/4P1b1/

1B4B1/P1PQ1PP1/1R3RK1 w kq - 0 19"]
would have been refuted by 19.e5!! Bxe5 (19...Nxe5 20.Nb6!+-; 19...dxe5

20.Qb4+- wins because of the double attack on g4 and e7.) 20.Bxe5 dxe5
(20...Nxe5 21.Nb6!+- with Ba4 and Nxa8 ideas.) 21.Qb4+-
19.f4!?
Here and on the next move Kamsky plays the most tempting human moves. He
tries to open the center against the e8-king, which is stuck there for a while,
since either side of castling would run into Nxe7, checking the queen.
Objectively it seems to be better to play 19.Bxe5! dxe5 (19...Nxe5? loses to the

usual motif: 20.Nb6!) 20.Qb4 Nc5! The only move in order to protect e7 and
now White has a great queen transfer: 21.Qc3! f6 22.Qg3! h5 23.f3+/-
invading the g-file with the queen on the g-file. Black is in trouble.
19...Bg7

[FEN "r3k2r/1p1nppb1/p1qp3p/3N4/4PPb1/

1B4B1/P1PQ2P1/1R3RK1 w kq - 0 20"]
20.e5!
There was no way back after playing f4, White does not need to calculate in
such moments, just play the attacking moves by feeling.
20...Nc5
Nakamura stands calm and defends well! His plan is to trade one of the
attacking bishops by playing Nxb3 or Ne4-g3. Opening the position with
20...dxe5 cannot lead to anything good for Black. 21.fxe5 White has serious
threats on the f7-square. 21...Be6 is the only move, but White has a strong
attack after 22.Rbd1 (22.Bh4 is also good. 22...Nc5 transposes to the game.)
21.Bh4!
Black's position is getting more and more suspicious. Most of the players
would collapse in a few moves, but Nakamura is a very resourceful player,
who likes such complicated positions.
21...dxe5
21...e6 was objectively the right move! 22.Ne3! A strange position where the
computer believes that both players are forced to repeat the moves with
22...Ne4 23.Qd3 Nc5 24.Qd2= (22.Nf6+? runs into 22...Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Ne4!
Getting rid of the bishop.) Of course in a human game, we could not be
surprised if one of the players avoided the repetition and then all three results
would have been possible.
22.fxe5
Kamsky plays again the most human move. The machine thinks differently
again: 22.Nxe7! was objectively better. 22...Nxb3 23.Rxb3 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Rd8
25.Rd3 Rxd3 26.Qxd3

[FEN "4k2r/1p2Npb1/p6p/2q1p3/5PbB/

3Q4/P1P3P1/5R1K b k - 0 26"]
Black does not manage to solve the problems with his king. The attack will
become decisive soon. For instance, after 26...Qd4 27.Qg3! h5 28.Nf5! Bxf5
29.Qxg7 Rf8 30.Qf6+- finishes the game.
22...Be6!
Black covers the f7-square and stays ready to trade some attacking pieces. He
still owns his extra pawn, which was taken on b2.
23.Nxe7 Nxb3

[FEN "r3k2r/1p2Npb1/p1q1b2p/4P3/7B/

1n6/P1PQ2P1/1R3RK1 w kq - 0 24"]
24.cxb3!
The move is against the principles, since we should take towards the center,
however in such cases we must think about the position directly and then we
realize that White has a lot of attacking potential with his rook on the c-file
later on.
24...Qb6+
The most obvious move, but a mistake.
24...Qc5+ was the right move, but who would put the queen into the Rc1
tempo. 25.Kh1 Rd8! It looks like Black survives here. Let's check some lines:
A) 26.Qxd8+ Kxd8 27.Nf5+ Kd7 (27...Kc8 28.Rbc1) 28.Rbd1+ Kc6 29.Nd4+
leads to a forced repetition: 29...Kd7 (29...Kb6? If Black tries to win, he loses

after 30.Bf2+-) 30.Nf5+=.
B) 26.Qe1 Rd4! This the key resource of the defence. Black threatens to take
on h4 and then on e7. 27.Bf6 Bxf6 28.exf6 And here comes the difference
between 24...Qb6 and Qc5. Black now gets counterplay with 28...Qh5+!
29.Kg1 Rh4! and the white king is now as equally weak as the black one. The
game should end in draw here as well. 30.Qg3 Rh1+ 31.Kf2 Qc5+ 32.Qe3=.
25.Kh1 Rd8

[FEN "3rk2r/1p2Npb1/pq2b2p/4P3/7B/

1P6/P2Q2P1/1R3R1K w k - 0 26"]
26.Qe1!
It is very important to control and protect the h4-square. 26.Qe2 is met by

26...Rd4! and Black is fine!
26...Rd4
Black would like to trade queens by playing Qb4, which would solve his
problems.
27.Bf6! Bxf6 28.exf6

[FEN "4k2r/1p2Np2/pq2bP1p/8/3r4/

1P6/P5P1/1R2QR1K b k - 0 28"]
28...Kd7!
Great defence by Nakamura! He tries to find shelter for his king in the middle
of the board. The main idea of the move is to bring the h8-rook to the battle.
28...Qb4 nicely loses to 29.Qxb4 Rxb4

[FEN "4k2r/1p2Np2/p3bP1p/8/1r6/1P6/

P5P1/1R3R1K w k - 0 30"]
30.Rbd1!+- Black is helpless against the simple threat of Rd6, Rfd1 and Rd8
mate. If Black avoids it by playing Rb6, then White doubles his rooks with
Rd4. The knight on e7 simply traps the king.
29.Rd1?
A very logical move to trade the defender of the d-file, but somehow it spoils
the advantage. Only computers can play perfectly in such positions.
29.Rc1! was the right decision.
A) 29...Rd8 now loses to 30.Nf5!! Rd5 (30...Bxf5 31.Qe7#) 31.Qe4! And
Black has no good defence against Rfd1. All his pieces are paralyzed.
31...Qb5 32.Rfd1+-.
B) 29...Qd6! 30.Qf2 Rd8 is the most tenacious for Black, although White
continues pressing after 31.Nf5 Bxf5 32.Qxf5+ Qe6 33.Qh5+/-. The game is
very far from over, but it is definitely much easier to play as White, since a
single mistake of Black might lead to quick mate with a king on d7.
29...Rd8 30.Qg3
30.Qe5 Ke8 Black holds.
30...Ke8

[FEN "3rk3/1p2Np2/pq2bP1p/8/3r4/

1P4Q1/P5P1/3R1R1K w - - 0 31"]
At this moment, Kamsky decided to finish the game by repetition. It is difficult

to suggest something better.
31.Qg8+
It might have been a clever idea to try 31.Nf5 Bxf5! (31...Rxd1?? 32.Qg8+
Kd7 33.Rxd1+ Kc8 34.Ne7++-) 32.Rxd4 Qxd4! The only move! (32...Rxd4
loses to 33.Qg8+ Kd7 34.Qxf7+ Kc8 35.Qe8+ Rd8 36.Rc1+ Kb8 37.Qe5+
Ka7 38.Qxf5+-) 33.Rxf5 Kd7! Another only move for Black against the
threatened Qg8-Qf7, but now Black holds the draw. White does not have
enough pieces to punish the walking king.
31...Kd7 32.Qg3 Ke8 33.Qg8+ Kd7 34.Qg3 -
A nice fighting draw!
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Chess Caruana Closing in on 2800

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Arkadij (2410) Caruana, F (2779) Wang Hao (2733) by Arkadij Naiditsch

7th Kings Tournament Bucharest ROU (9), 15.10.2013
Naiditsch
Petroff Defence [C42]
& Csaba Balogh Caruana is playing really great chess lately and it was no different in the Bazna
Kings tournament. We are in the ninth round and Caruana was already leading
the event with a 1.5 point advantage. In today's game there was more pressure
for Caruana than just the tournament victory as in case of a win he would
cross the 2800 mark for the first time on the live rating list. He was so close
before making a mistake and letting Wang Hao take control of the game.
Translate this page
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
Somehow, in recent games the Petroff is back. For many years it was played
by Gelfand and Kramnik and was solid as a rock. Then both Gelfand and Chess Evolution #08
Kramnik switched to the Sicilian and Berlin and the Petroff was left alone. by Chess Evolution
3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3
One of the most popular lines, which was played a lot by Karjakin for

example.
5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7
Chess Evolution #09

by Chess Evolution

[FEN "rnbqk2r/ppp1bppp/3p4/8/8/2P2N2/

PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7"]
7.Be3
White's idea in this line is to castle queenside and launch quick play on the
kingside against the black king. On the other hand, Black's position is very
solid.
7...0-0 8.Qd2 b6
A rare move. Usually Black plays 8...Nc6, which also looks like the most
logical move to me.
9.0-0-0 Bb7 10.Nd4!
A very nice move. White quickly realized that by developing the bishop to b7,
Black weakened the f5-square, which is a very nice one for the white knight.
10...Nc6!
A nice reply by Black. Wang Hao is planning to get the rid of the white knight
on f5 by playing Ne7 in the future.
11.Nf5 Bf6 12.Ng3
12.h4 also looks like a possible way to play for White.
12...Ne7 13.Nh5 Nf5 14.Bf4
The most fighting move for White. White could also just have played the
simple 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Bf4 and thanks to the bishop-pair White's position
should be slightly better.
14...Be5
White has to give up the bishop-pair.

[FEN "r2q1rk1/pbp2ppp/1p1p4/4bn1N/

5B2/2P5/PPPQ1PPP/2KR1B1R w - - 0 15"]
15.h4!
A very typical move. White's idea could also be to play Rh3 next.
15...g6
15...f6 16.Bd3 with a nice position for White.
16.Bd3!
White is going for the complications and this is absolutely the right decision.
16...gxh5 17.Bxf5 Qf6 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Bd3
So some exchanges have been made and we have to take a fresh look at the
position. Things are pretty complicated, but the position of the white king is
much safer than Black's, and in the future White could maybe combine the
play on the queenside with the attacking chances. All in all, White should be
better here.
19...Kg7
A solid move as the king will be better placed on g7 than on g8 anyway.
20.Qe2
White is attacking the h5-pawn and thereby forcing the black queen to take a
bad position on h6.
20...e4 21.Bc4 Qh6+ 22.Kb1 Rad8

[FEN "3r1r2/pbp2pkp/1p5q/7p/2B1p2P/

2P5/PPP1QPP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 23"]
Now White has a wide range of nice moves.
23.a3
Caruana does not hurry to launch the final action. 23.g4!? also looks
interesting.
23...f5
Black has consolidated his position a little bit.
24.Bb3
White wants to keep another attacking option, to play Qc4 at some point.
24...Kg6?
A very strange move. Black kills his own queen on h6. 24...c5 looks much
more solid, with pretty unclear play.
25.Rh3!
A very nice move. White is provoking Black to play f4, which will weaken the
structure.
25...f4 26.Rxd8
26.g4 immediately also looks interesting.
26...Rxd8 27.g4
The black king is in big danger!
27...c5
This move is needed to protect against White's Qc4.

28.Rh1

[FEN "3r4/pb5p/1p4kq/2p4p/4ppPP/

PBP5/1PP1QP2/1K5R b - - 0 28"]
A very natural move. White brings his rook back into play.
28...f3
White was threatening to play gxh5 and Rg1.
29.Qc4 Bd5
Black is just about holding things together with only moves!
30.Qa4 Bxb3 31.cxb3
White is threatening to play Qxe4 or Qc6.
31...Qf4
Once again Black finds one of the only moves!
32.Re1?!
This move looks strong, but it gives Black enough time to escape. 32.Qc6+!
would give Black big problems: 32...Kf7 33.Qb7+ Kf8 34.gxh5 White should
be much better here.
32...hxg4!
Wang Hao doesn't miss his chance.
33.Rxe4 Qf5
Winning a tempo by pinning the white rook.
34.Ka2
And here comes the fantastic

[FEN "3r4/p6p/1p4k1/2p2q2/Q3R1pP/

PPP2p2/KP3P2/8 b - - 0 34"]
34...Kh5!!
The black king is not only defending the g4-pawn, but it will soon become the
main piece of Black's play.
35.Re1 h6
Not the best move, but both players were probably already in time trouble.
36.Qxa7 g3!
This was Black's key idea! His king is going to h3 and g2 via g4!
37.fxg3?!
White missed his chance to make a draw by playing 37.Qg7 gxf2 38.Re5 Qxe5
39.Qxe5+ Kg4 White's position looks lost, but in fact it is a draw: 40.Qe4+
Kg3 41.Qg6+ Kh2 42.Qc2 Kg2 43.Qg6+ Kh1

[FEN "3r4/8/1p4Qp/2p5/7P/PPP2p2/

KP3p2/7k w - - 0 44"]
44.Qb1+ Black doesn't have anything better than a draw.
37...f2 38.Rf1 Kg4
Now it is clear that Black took over the game and the position is probably
close to winning for Black.
39.Qg7+ Kf3 40.g4
White is trying to somehow find some counter chances, but there are none.
40...Qf4
Black stays solid.
41.Qb7+ Ke2
The black king has reached his final destination!
42.Rb1 Rd3
This move wins, but Black missed the following pretty win: 42...f1Q 43.Qe7+
Kd2 44.Qxd8+ Kc2! What a position! 45.Rxf1

[FEN "3Q4/8/1p5p/2p5/5qPP/PPP5/

KPk5/5R2 b - - 0 45"]
45...Qxf1 And White is hopeless against the mate on b1.
43.Qg2
White is hoping for his g-pawn to save him. 43.Qxb6 f1Q would lead just to a
winning position for Black, as a rook up is too much.
43...Rd1
Wang Hao chooses the simplest win.
44.Rxd1 Kxd1 45.Qf1+ Kd2
White cannot do anything against Qg3-Qg1.
46.g5 hxg5 47.hxg5

[FEN "8/8/1p6/2p3P1/5q2/PPP5/KP1k1p2/

5Q2 b - - 0 47"]
47...Qg3 48.Qb5 Qd3 0-1
This game was clearly a big disappointment for Caruana who had his opponent
on the ropes, but the creative play of Wang Hao and a bit of luck brought him
back into the game. What is sure is that we will very soon see Caruana over
the 2800 ELO line.

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Chess Computer-like Precision by Carlsen

CEWN Subscription
Arkadij (2525) Anand, Viswanathan (2775) Carlsen, Magnus (2870) by Arkadij Naiditsch

WCh 2013 Chennai IND (9), 21.11.2013
Naiditsch
Nimzo-Indian [E25]
& Csaba Balogh At this moment of the match Carlsen was leading with +2 wins and in the last
games Anand rather made the impression of not wanting to lose any other
games than of a fighter who wants to come back into the match. With only
four games to go, Anand was forced to search for action on the board and that
is exactly what he did this game. In a very sharp position, where any human
player would choose White, Carlsen defended with amazing precision in the
Translate this page style of a computer, which clearly made Anand very nervous. In what was still
an unclear position, Anand shocked everybody and just blundered in one
move.
1.d4
Chess Evolution #05
by Chess Evolution
Anand finally switches to 1.d4, as in the previous games after 1.e4 Anand
couldn't do anything against the Berlin.
1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
I guess it was a little surprise for Anand that Carlsen chose to play the
Nimzowitsch, but of course not a big one.
4.f3!
A very fighting move! Anand finally shows that he is ready to go for a real
battle.

Chess Evolution #06
4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 by Chess Evolution
One of the main lines. Anand has played quite a couple of games in this line
before.
7.cxd5 exd5
7...Nxd5 8.dxc5 is the very main line.
8.e3

[FEN "rnbqk2r/pp3ppp/5n2/2pp4/3P4/

P1P1PP2/6PP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 0 8"]
8...c4!?
An interesting move, clearly prepared by Carlsen. Usually Black doesn't hurry

with it and plays 0-0 first. The idea of the immediate c4 is not to let White
play Bd3-Bc2. On the other hand, now the queenside is totally closed and it is
more easy for White to start a direct attack on the kingside.
9.Ne2
A very logical move. White is preparing to play g4-Bg2-Ng3, which is quite a

standard plan.
9...Nc6
The black knight is going to b3. Maybe a move like 9...h5 would also make
sense. Black stops g4 for a while and we know similar ideas with h5 from the
Najdorf.
10.g4 0-0
It is very usual for Black to castle kingside. The position looks dangerous, but
with his opening, there is already no choice.
11.Bg2 Na5 12.0-0 Nb3

[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp3ppp/5n2/3p4/2pP2P1/

PnP1PP2/4N1BP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Ra2!
Another usual but nice move. The white rook is going to nice square like g2 or
maybe even f2 over the second rank.
13...b5
Black quickly starts his play on the queenside. An attempt to stop White's
attack for a while would not bring anything: 13...Re8 14.g5 Nh5 15.e4 White
is faster.
14.Ng3 a5 15.g5
White starts his crush on the kingside!
15...Ne8
An important move as it is always better to keep the knight on e8 in such a
structure.
16.e4
White wants to play Bf4 next.
16...Nxc1
Black needs to take on c1, as letting White play Bf4 is not an option.
17.Qxc1

[FEN "r1bqnrk1/5ppp/8/pp1p2P1/2pPP3/

P1P2PN1/R5BP/2Q2RK1 b - - 0 17"]
17...Ra6!
A nice move. Black is at the same time defending against the white attack and
preparing the b4 push.
18.e5
A logical move but maybe not the best one. Anand could have been more
tricky by starting with 18.f4!? Nc7 (It seems like the position after 18...dxe4
19.Nxe4 b4 20.cxb4 Qxd4+ 21.Kh1 axb4

[FEN "2b1nrk1/5ppp/r7/6P1/1ppqNP2/

P7/R5BP/2Q2R1K w - - 0 22"]
22.Rd2 is better for White.) 19.f5 White is sort of trying to win a tempo.
18...Nc7!
A very difficult move to play for a human, but computers are very happy with
Carlsen's decision. Black doesn't care about White's attack which looks very
dangerous and just plays for the b4 push. The peculiar thing is that Black's
only survival idea will soon be to play Ne8 back, but whether Magnus has
calculated everything until the end or just trusted his feeling, we will never
know. In any case amazing play!
19.f4
What can be more logical for White than to try and bring his pawn to f6!
19...b4 20.axb4 axb4 21.Rxa6 Nxa6
White forces the black knight to go even more far away from his king.
22.f5 b3
From a human point of view, Black's position just looks lost. White's attack
must just be crushing and the b3-pawn is very strong, but only in the
endgame. After this move Anand thought for more than forty minutes!
23.Qf4

[FEN "2bq1rk1/5ppp/n7/3pPPP1/2pP1Q2/

1pP3N1/6BP/5RK1 b - - 0 23"]
Another attacking idea could maybe have been to play 23.Nh5 Nc7 24.Qe3
with a lot of different threats. The position is very complicated.
23...Nc7!
The black knight is going back to e8 to defend the g7-square. Really amazing,
cool play by Carlsen. If we didn't know that a human is playing Black, we
might think that Anand is trying to mate an engine!
24.f6
Anand panicked a bit too early, or maybe miscalculated the line in the game.
24.Nh5 and the position is still very unclear here.
24...g6
Now the structure is fixed and White must got for the mate at all costs.
25.Qh4 Ne8
To put the knight on e6 is, of course, bad because of Bh3.
26.Qh6

[FEN "2bqnrk1/5p1p/5PpQ/3pP1P1/

2pP4/1pP3N1/6BP/5RK1 b - - 0 26"]
26...b2!
A very unusual position. All the black pieces are on the eighth rank and the
rook from f8 is just dead, but it seems like Black is not risking to lose this
game! The idea of playing Qa5 or Qb6 next is just too strong.
27.Rf4
Probably the best move.

27...b1Q+ 28.Nf1??

[FEN "2bqnrk1/5p1p/5PpQ/3pP1P1/

2pP1R2/2P5/6BP/1q3NK1 b - - 0 28"]
What a shocking blunder. 28.Bf1 is the only move to go on. 28...Qd1 Black
needs to give back his extra queen to prevent White from mating on the h-file.
29.Rh4 Qh5 30.Nxh5 gxh5 31.Rxh5 Bf5 It looks like Black is winning
because of Bg6 at the next move, but 32.g6!! is very strong! 32...Bxg6 33.Rg5
With the idea of playing h4-h5 next. Maybe Black's best option is to play
33...Nxf6 and the game would probably end in a draw.
28...Qe1 0-1
Black just stops White from playing Rh4 next and is a full rook up. What a
game! Anand was clearly very disappointed that he was not able to mate
Carlsen and this might be the only explanation behind his blunder on move
twenty-eight. Now Carlsen is leading with +3 and there are only three games
left, which basically makes him the new world champion. Congratulations!

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Chess Clash of the Titans

Evolution by Kamil Miton
CEWN Subscription
Arkadij Botvinnik, Mikhail Smyslov, Vassily by Arkadij Naiditsch

World Championship 20th Moscow (12), 10.04.1954
Naiditsch
Slav Defence [D18]
& Csaba Balogh 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 (5...e6) 6.e3
The alternative is 6.Ne5, which leads to more complex variations, but

nowadays it is hard to say which line is better.
6...e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7

Translate this page

Chess Evolution #05
by Chess Evolution

[FEN "r2qk2r/pp1n1ppp/2p1pn2/5b2/PbBP4/

2N1PN2/1P3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 9"]
9.Nh4
The idea of this move is just to get a position with the bishop-pair.
Chess Evolution #06
by Chess Evolution
9.Qe2 is the main move, preparing e4, after which White gets the advantage in
the center. 9...Bg6 10.e4 0-0 (10...Bxc3 is risky for Black, since after 11.bxc3
Nxe4 12.Ba3 White gets a strong initiative because the black king is weak,
even if he escapes to the queenside after 0-0-0.) 11.Bd3 Supporting the e4-
pawn. 11...Bh5 Preparing e5. 12.e5 (12.Bf4 is possible too, then Black will
play Re8-Rc8 and wait a little bit, with a solid position for him.) 12...Nd5
13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Be7 (14...Bg6) 15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Qxg5 Bg6 17.Be2 Of

course White keeps both bishops. 17...Qxg5 18.Bxg5 Nb8 A typical maneuver
with the idea to improve the knight. This endgame is more or less equal.
9...0-0
9...Bg4 10.Qb3+/=.
10.f3
10.Nxf5 exf5 11.Qc2 With the idea to play f3-e4, but Black has a few options
to get counterplay over the dark squares or after Rc8-c5. This line is fine for
Black. 11...g6.
10...Bg6 11.e4 e5
11...Nxe4? does not work because of 12.Nxg6 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3 14.Nxf8
Bxa1 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Be3.
12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Qe2 exd4 15.Bxd4

[FEN "r4rk1/pp1nqpp1/2p2np1/8/PbBBP3/

2N2P2/1P2Q1PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Bc5!
A logical move. Black exchanges the bishops to get control over the dark
squares.
16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 g5
The idea behind this move is to get control of the dark squares and not allow
White to easily play the thematic f4-e5 plan.
18.g3 Rad8 19.Ba2
The position is more or less equal. White is trying to get an advantage thanks
to his strong bishop, but on the other hand Black has good counterplay over
the dark squares since the d4-, e5- and especially the b4-squares are weak.
19...Rfe8 20.Rad1
20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4

[FEN "3rr1k1/pp1n1pp1/2p2n2/2q5/

P3PP2/2N5/BP2Q2P/R4R1K b - - 0 21"]
21...Qh5! To avoid pressure Black should exchange queens. (21...Nxe4?

22.Nxe4 Qe7 23.Rae1 Nc5 24.Bb1+-) 22.Qg2 Qg4 23.e5 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2
Ng4 25.Rae1 Nc5 26.Re2 Rd3 and Black is on time with counterplay.
20...Nf8
Black is going to reduce the material over the d-file, but after this move White
will be able to push the pawns on the kingside.
20...Qb4 A good square for the queen to put pressure on the many weaknesses:
b2, a4 and, after g4, even e4. 21.Qe3 g4 (21...Qxb2 22.Rb1 Qa3 23.Rxb7 a5
unclear) 22.fxg4 Ne5 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Qe2 Nfxg4 25.Bxf7+ Nxf7 26.Qxg4
Qxb2 27.Qe6 Rf8 unclear.
21.Rxd8 Rxd8

[FEN "3r1nk1/pp3pp1/2p2n2/2q3p1/P3P3/

2N2PP1/BP2Q2P/5R1K w - - 0 22"]
22.e5!
The only way to improve the position.
22...Nd5 23.Nxd5
23.Ne4 Qe7 24.f4 gxf4 25.gxf4 Ne6 with counterplay 26.f5 Nef4 -/+.
23...cxd5

[FEN "3r1nk1/pp3pp1/8/2qpP1p1/P7/

5PP1/BP2Q2P/5R1K w - - 0 24"]
24.Qd2!
A good square for the queen to put pressure on both d5 and g5 and to support
the f4 move. White also keeps the possibility of playing Rc1.
24...Ne6 25.f4 gxf4 26.gxf4 Qc6
A slightly passive move.
26...Kf8!? is always a prophylactic move. 27.f5 Qd4 with counterplay.
26...Qd4 27.Qxd4 Nxd4 28.Rd1 Ne6 29.f5 (29.Rxd5 Rxd5 30.Bxd5 Nxf4
31.Bxb7 Nd3=) 29...Nf4 30.Rd4 (30.Kg1 and the knight on f4 can be under
pressure.) 30...g5 31.fxg6 (31.h4 Rc8 with counterplay, because after 32.hxg5
Black will give perpetual check.) 31...Nxg6 32.Rxd5 Rc8 33.Rd7 Nxe5
34.Rxb7 Rc2 35.Kg1+/= There is not much material left on the board, but of
course White has chances of winning this position.
27.f5 Nc5

[FEN "3r2k1/pp3pp1/2q5/2npPP2/P7/

8/BP1Q3P/5R1K w - - 0 28"]
27...Nc7 Protecting the d5-pawn, but after 28.Qg5 (28.Rc1 Qxa4) 28...f6
29.Qh4 with attack and White has the initiative.
28.Qg5!

[FEN "3r2k1/pp3pp1/2q5/2npPPQ1/

P7/8/BP5P/5R1K b - - 0 28"]
A logical and strong move. Now the white queen is very active.
28.f6 was less accurate. 28...g6 (28...d4+ 29.Kg1 Qe4 30.Qg5 Qe3+=) 29.Rc1
Qxa4 30.Bxd5 (30.Rxc5 Qxa2 31.Qh6 Qb1+ with perpetual check: 32.Rc1
Qe4+ 33.Kg1 Qg4+) 30...Ne6 31.Qh6 Qf4 32.Qxf4 Nxf4 33.Bxb7 Nd3=.
28...Rd7?
The decisive mistake.
Black could still continue the fight after 28...f6 29.Qg2 Nd3 (29...fxe5

[FEN "3r2k1/pp4p1/2q5/2nppP2/P7/

8/BP4QP/5R1K w - - 0 30"]
30.b4! Nd3 31.f6 Qd7 32.Qe4 But not 32.Bxd5?? as the queen will be pinned.
32...Nf4 33.Qxe5 With decisive pressure.; 29...Kf8 30.Rc1+/-) 30.exf6 Qxf6
31.Bxd5+ Kf8 32.b3 White is a pawn up, but a long fight is still ahead.
29.Rg1 f6 30.exf6 Ne4

[FEN "6k1/pp1r2p1/2q2P2/3p1PQ1/

P3n3/8/BP5P/6RK w - - 0 31"]
31.f7+!
I suppose that Black missed this move when he played 28...Rd7?. White is
simply winning now.
31...Rxf7 32.Qd8+ Kh7 33.Bxd5
Black lost material.
33...Nf2+ 34.Kg2 Qf6
34...Rf8 35.Qh4++-.
35.Qxf6 Rxf6 36.Kxf2 Rxf5+ 37.Bf3 Rf4 38.Rg4 1-0

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This month we present a lightly edited excerpt from

Chess Evolution
Chess An Important Victory for Aronian


CEWN Subscription
Arkadij Aronian, Levon (2812) Caruana, Fabiano (2782) by Arkadij Naiditsch

Wijk aan Zee NED (2.4), 12.01.2014
Naiditsch
Symmetrical English [A34]
& Csaba Balogh A very important game from the second round between two big favorites of the
tournament. There were mutual inaccuracies, but all in all it was a nice win by
Aronian.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4
Translate this page A clear sign that with this move order Aronian wants to avoid the Grnfeld
Defence or at least that he wants to play an Anti-Grnfeld line.
2...c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.d4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6

Chess Evolution #05
by Chess Evolution

[FEN "rnbqkb1r/pp2pp1p/6p1/2p5/3P4/

2P2N2/P3PPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7"]
Chess Evolution #06
by Chess Evolution
Indeed, Caruana was ready to employ the Grnfeld today. If White plays 7.e4,
they would have immediately transposed to the main lines, but here White has
alternatives.
7.Bf4!? Bg7 8.e3
I like this kind of development a lot. First White has developed his bishop to a
healthy square and he followed it by strengthening d4. The main idea of the
Grnfeld is to allow White to occupy the center and then launch active piece
play against it. For instance, when the pawn is on e4, Black plays Bg4, Nc6
and Qa5, pressing the d4- and c3-pawns, but now all these are not dangerous
at all.
8...0-0 9.Bd3
The novelty of the game. We were already in somewhat unexplored territory,
but White has played 9.Be2 several times. In case of the knight's development
to c6, White has the annoying Be4 idea, pressing the long diagonal. Therefore,
Caruana prefers to put the knight to d7 in order to have Nf6 on Be4.
9...Nd7 10.0-0
White is ready to put pressure on the b7-pawn with Rab1 and Be4. As usual
Black needs to look for active counterplay.
10...Qa5 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.cxd4 e5!

[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp1n1pbp/6p1/q3p3/3P1B2/

3BPN2/P1Q2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 13"]
A very logical central break by Caruana in order to simplify and equalize the
position. Unfortunately for him, White is able to keep an edge.
13.Bg3!
White needs to keep some pieces in order to fight for an advantage. Taking
everything on e5 would have allowed Black to achieve what he wanted.
13...exd4 14.Nxd4
The situation in the center is slightly clarified, but White is better developed.
Black needs to solve the problem of the c8-bishop, but that turns out to be
harder than expected.
14...Nb6!
14...Nc5? drops material after 15.Bd6!+-.
14...Ne5 15.Be4! and Black has serious difficulties with the b7-pawn.
The most illustrative line is 14...Nf6 15.Rab1! Black is facing the same
problem, he cannot deal with the b7-pawn. 15...b6 is nicely refuted by 16.Bd6
Re8

[FEN "r1b1r1k1/p4pbp/1p1B1np1/q7/3N4/

3BP3/P1Q2PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 17"]
(16...Rd8 17.Nc6+- is over.) 17.Bb5! Bd7 18.Bb4!+- trapping the queen!
15.Qc7!
White needs to keep the pressure on the b7-pawn, otherwise Black plays Bd7
and he quickly equalizes.

[FEN "r1b2rk1/ppQ2pbp/1n4p1/q7/3N4/

3BP1B1/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 15"]
Caruana finds a clever idea to deal with the b7-pawn. I believe he makes a
smart decision.
15.Be4 was not working here because of the direct tactical idea of 15...f5!
16.Bf3 f4! using the strength of the g7-bishop.
15...Bxd4! 16.exd4 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Qxf5 18.Qxb7
Caruana has sacrificed his weakness, but simplified the position. He got rid of
the bishop-pair and without the light-squared bishop he is going to create an
excellent blockade on d5. White does not have enough pieces to make use of
the weak dark squares around the black king. White obviously has a healthy
extra pawn, but to convert this advantage requires extremely precise technique
in the long term, while on the other hand Black has very easy moves. In my
opinion it is much better and easier to play this position than the one with the
c8-bishop and the b7-pawn.
18...Rfd8
Black doubles his rooks on d-file.
19.Rfd1 Rd7 20.Qa6 Qe4
20...Rad8 was possible, but Black is not threatening to take on d4 anyway. To

keep the a7-pawn is more important.
21.Be5

[FEN "r5k1/p2r1p1p/Qn4p1/4B3/3Pq3/

8/P4PPP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 21"]
21...Rf8!
Black needs to put his pawn on f6 in order to neutralize the dark holes around
the king. He is going to create a blockade on the seventh rank with Kg7 and
Rff7. This also protects the a7-pawn and then Black will be ready to take on
d4.
22.h3
Opening the back rank is a very useful idea.
22...f6 23.Bg3 Rff7
It is very difficult to assess if Black's drawing chances or White's winning ones

are better. Black is threatening to take on d4, so White is forced to make a
small weakening.
24.f3 Qf5 25.Rac1
White also activates all of his pieces, but the converting part is just about to
come.
25...Kg7 26.Kh2
Both sides are avoiding potential checks. Such moves are played without
thinking on the highest level.
26...Rfe7 27.Rc5!
White must try to somehow advance his d-pawn, but it requires serious efforts.
27...Nd5!
27...Rd5 was much worse because of 28.a4! kicking out the blockader of the
d5-square. Taking twice on c5 loses to Bd6.
28.Qa5
Increasing the pressure on the d5-square. The entire fight is around that now.
28...Qe6
A small inaccuracy which helps White to activate his e1-rook more easily, but
of course it is understandable that Black wanted to leave the pin on the fifth
rank.
It was probably better to try 28...Re2, White is forced to trade rooks because of
the Qxf3 threat. 29.Re1! Rxe1 30.Qxe1 Kf7 followed by Qe6, holding the
blockading position.
29.Re1 Qf7

[FEN "8/p2rrqkp/5pp1/Q1Rn4/3P4/

5PBP/P5PK/4R3 w - - 0 30"]
30.Re4!
A great place for the rook. Black must forget about taking it (unless there is
something concrete) because then he loses the d5-square and otherwise the e4-
rook is pretty annoying. Caruana tries to get counterplay.
30...Ne3!?
Creating the hidden threat of Nf1!
31.Bf2?!
31.Qe1! would have been strong and White manages to mobilize his d-pawn.
31...Nf5 (31...Nd5 loses to 32.Rxd5!+-) 32.d5! and White made serious
progress.
31...Nf5 32.Qd2?!
A tactical oversight, which Black fails to exploit.

[FEN "8/p2rrqkp/5pp1/2R2n2/3PR3/

5P1P/P2Q1BPK/8 b - - 0 32"]
On 32.d5, Caruana had in mind to create a different blockade after 32...Rxe4!

33.fxe4 Nd6 and Qe7 next, pressing the e4-pawn.
32...Re6
Missing the tactical opportunity of playing 32...Rxe4! 33.fxe4 Qe7!!= with a

double attack on c5 and e4! All of Black's problems would have been
immediately solved.
33.Rxe6 Qxe6 34.d5
White succeeded to advance his d-pawn. This is obviously an achievement, but

to he still needs to work very hard to make it real.
34...Qd6+ 35.Kg1 Rb7
35...Ne7 would have been met by 36.Ra5! White is always ready to trade the
d-pawn for the one on a7.
36.Qe1
Aronian decides to control the back rank with the queen.
Maybe it was more useful to advance the a-pawn as far as possible, as it is

going to have a key factor in the game later on. White does not really need to
worry about the checks since he always has Rc1. 36.a4+/-.
36...Ne7!
Black can finally overpress the d-pawn so White is forced to counterattack the
a7-pawn. The next moves are more or less forced.
37.Ra5! Nxd5

[FEN "8/pr4kp/3q1pp1/R2n4/8/5P1P/

P4BP1/4Q1K1 w - - 0 38"]
38.Qd1!
Improving the circumstances before collecting the a7-pawn.
38...Rd7 39.Rxa7 Rxa7 40.Bxa7

[FEN "8/B5kp/3q1pp1/3n4/8/5P1P/

P5P1/3Q2K1 b - - 0 40"]
We are at the last move before the time control and Caruana fails to go for the
best practical chance.
40...g5?
Positionally a good move, but from now on Aronian plays perfectly and this
turns out to be the decisive mistake.
Black could have transposed to a queen endgame with 40...Qa3! 41.Qxd5

Qxa7+ 42.Kh1 g5

[FEN "8/q5kp/5p2/3Q2p1/8/5P1P/

P5P1/7K w - - 0 43"]
Black has excellent drawing chances. White still needs a lot of time and effort
to advance the a-pawn and Black will be always be able to create perpetual
check threats. I believe Caruana would have saved the game here.
41.a4!
Advancing the passed pawn to a protected square.
41...Qa6 42.Bd4 Qc4

[FEN "8/6kp/5p2/3n2p1/P1qB4/5P1P/

6P1/3Q2K1 w - - 0 43"]
43.Qa1!
Preparing to support the pawn. Black's only chance is to create something

against the king with the queen and the knight, but with precise play White
always has his resources to parry all the ideas.
43...Qc2 44.a5 Nf4 45.Bf2
White basically does not even need his queen, the bishop and king protect
everything together.
45...Ne2+ 46.Kh2 Nf4 47.Qf1!
Protecting the bishop, so now the pawn is ready to be advanced until a7.
47...Nd3 48.Bd4
48.Bg3! Qc4 49.Qe2 was even stronger. Black is hopeless.
48...Qd2!
Caruana fights very tenaciously, but it does not help this time.

[FEN "8/6kp/5p2/P5p1/3B4/3n1P1P/

3q2PK/5Q2 w - - 0 49"]
48...Qc4 49.Qa1+- was over.
49.Bg1!
Avoiding the Qf4 threat and keeping control over all the squares.
49...Qf4+ 50.Kh1 Qc4 51.Qa1 Qc2
A last brilliant trick, but it does not help.

[FEN "8/6kp/5p2/P5p1/8/3n1P1P/

2q3P1/Q5BK w - - 0 52"]
The passive 51...Qa6 is hopeless after 52.Be3 Threatening Bxg5. 52...h6

53.Qb1+- followed by Qb6 and White wins automatically.
52.Be3!
A necessary intermediate move before pushing the pawn! White attacks the
g5-pawn! Black had to lose this important tempo, but now the pawn runs.
52.a6 could have been met by the hidden 52...Qe2!! and White has no good
way to prevent Nf4! One must focus until the last moment!
52...h6
52...Qe2 53.Bxg5+-.
53.a6 Qe2

[FEN "8/6k1/P4p1p/6p1/8/3nBP1P/

4q1P1/Q6K w - - 0 54"]
54.Qg1!
Aronian uses his queen very effectively on the first rank. It was still not too
late to go wrong with 54.a7?? Ne1!!-+ and Black wins!
54...Qa2 55.a7
The rest is easy, Black is forced to passivity.
55...Nb4 56.Qd1 Nd5 57.Qd2 Qa1+ 58.Bg1 1-0
A tough game and an important victory for Aronian!
A PDF file of this month's

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Chess Evolution
Chess Hou Yifan Commands Respect


CEWN #01-13
Arkadij Hou, Yifan (2629) Giri, Anish (2750) by Chess Evolution

Hans Suri Mem 2014 Biel SUI (1.3), 14.07.2014
Naiditsch
& Csaba Balogh In the history of chess, only one woman has played on the highest level and
this is Judit Polgar. At her best she even managed to enter the Top Ten. Hou
Yifan, the current Women's World Champion and clearly the strongest female
player after Polgar seems to do fine against men as well. Yifan is very close to
entering the Top 100 and already proves this in the first round of Biel.
Translate this page 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+
This is a very popular move at the moment. There have always been a few Top
GMs who liked 3.Bb5, but especially after the games of Carlsen this move
came into fashion.
CEWN #14-26
by Chess Evolution
3...Nd7
And this is the most fighting reply for Black. The main line is clearly 3...Bd7
and now in the latest games White seems to push a bit after 4.c4!?, and
strangely Black did not show a clear way to equalize so far.
4.d4
The most principled. White also has moves like 4.0-0 or 4.c3.
4...cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6

CEWN #17-39
by Chess Evolution

[FEN "r1bqkbnr/1p1npppp/p2p4/1B6/3QP3/

5N2/PPP2PPP/RNB1K2R w KQkq - 0 6"]
6.Be2!?
Quite an interesting and rare move. We would be in the main lines after
6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.0-0 and now White's idea is usually connected with the c4
move.
6...Ngf6 7.0-0 e5
Giri is already planning a pawn sacrifice, which just looks too dangerous. The
simple 7...e6 8.c4 b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 would lead us to hedgehog structures where
the white queen is not so perfectly placed on d4. Anyhow, he might be in time
to regroup and get some small plus.
8.Qe3 d5
It is clear that Black had planned the d5 move before playing e5.
9.exd5
Of course!
9...Bc5?

[FEN r1bqk2r/1p1n1ppp/p4n2/2bPp3/8/

4QN2/PPP1BPPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 10]
It seems as if Giri does not take his opponent too seriously. There was no
reason for Black to take such rushed actions. After 9...Nxd5 10.Qd3 N5f6,
Black's position is maybe a bit worse, but White has nothing too spectacular.
10.Qd2!
The queen takes a perfect position on d2, not only to protect the d5-pawn, but
as well to prepare the c4-b4 pawn pushes.
10...0-0 11.c4
So Black is a full pawn down and in case White will be in time to play
something like b4-Nc3-Bb2 the game could already simply be over. Black
needs to react very quickly here.
11...e4
This is probably the best try for Black, as at least the knight is going to take a
great position on e5.
12.Nd4 Ne5
White's position is clearly better, but Black has many tricks; for example,
connected with Nfg4-Qh4 or Qc7 with the idea of playing Ng4 next. White
needs to be careful.

[FEN "r1bq1rk1/1p3ppp/p4n2/2bPn3/2PNp3/

8/PP1QBPPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 13"]
13.b4!
Another strong decision by Hou Yifan, the move in the game is much stronger
than something like 13.Nc3. Now White will have the idea of playing c5-d6 to
totally kill all of Black's hopes.
13...Ba7 14.Nc3 Bg4
Black continues to try and create some complications. Maybe a slightly better
try to save the game could have been 14...Nd3 15.Nc2! (15.Bxd3 is premature
since after 15...Bxd4 16.Be2 Be5 the black bishop on e5 gives Black some
attacking chances.) 15...Nxc1 16.Raxc1 and of course White is a full pawn up
and has a much better position, but Black's bishop-pair could give him some
theoretical chances to survive the game.
15.c5!

[FEN r2q1rk1/bp3ppp/p4n2/2PPn3/

1P1Np1b1/2N5/P2QBPPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 15]
Another very good move by White based on an exact calculation. White is

using the moment that the pawn on d5 can't be taken to get the bishop on a7
completely out of the game.
15...a5
15...Nxd5 didn't really help since after 16.Nxe4 White is just a clear pawn up.
16.a3
Of course the structure must be kept.
16...Nxd5
This is not the best move order. To get a better version Black should have
played 16...Bb8 before taking on d5. Black is provoking the bishop to b2.
17.Bb2 Nxd5 18.Nxe4 Bxe2 Of course White is a clear pawn up, but Black
might keep some fighting chances.
17.Nxe4 Bb8
And now we see the difference to 16...Bb8, White has another move to play
rather than 18.Bb2.
18.f3
Hou Yifan is playing a perfect game. There is no reason for White to exchange
the bishop on e2, which is controlling the knight e5.
18...Nf4?!

[FEN "rb1q1rk1/1p3ppp/8/p1P1n3/1P1NNnb1/

P4P2/3QB1PP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 19"]
A mistake never comes alone. Giri makes another clear miscalculation, but I
must admit that it is difficult to find a good move in a bad position. 18...Bh5
would lead to the same result as in the game, since after 19.Nf5 the threat of
playing Qxd5 gives White enough time to put the knight to d6.
19.Nd6!
The last important move of the game. Black is losing material.
19...Bxd6
19...Nxe2+ 20.Qxe2 would lead to the same position as in the game via a
different move order.
20.cxd6 Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2 Qxd6 22.Nb5
I guess this is the move Giri blundered.
22...Qf6
22...Qb6+ didn't help since after 23.Be3 Black is losing the g4 bishop.
23.fxg4
The most simple. White has a big material advantage and the attack too!
23...Nf3+ 24.Qxf3 Qxa1

[FEN "r4rk1/1p3ppp/8/pN6/1P4P1/

P4Q2/6PP/q1B2RK1 w - - 0 25"]
25.Be3
Precision until the end. White wants to play Bc5 next, putting pressure on the
f7-pawn. The game is totally over.
25...Qf6 26.Qxf6 gxf6 27.Nc7
The white knight is coming to d5.

27...Rac8
27...Rad8 28.Bh6 and the f8 rook has no squares.
28.Nd5 1-0
A great game by Hou Yifan who perfectly capitalized on the mistakes of her
opponent. I guess with this win she gained a lot of respect from the top
players, who will not try to play against her as with a little girl, sacrificing
pawns for a doubtful initiative.



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CEWN #01-13
Arkadij Carlsen, Magnus (2877) Naiditsch, Arkadij (2709) by Chess Evolution

41st Olympiad Open 2014 Tromso NOR (7.1), 09.08.2014
Naiditsch
It is never easy to comment on your own game and especially such an
& Csaba Balogh

emotional one as against the current World Champion, but I will try to stay
objective. I didn't play too well in the opening and was quickly a pawn down
in a bad endgame, but strangely enough Carlsen started to give me chances
and already before the time trouble we had a very messy position. With very
little time on the clock, my opponent played few "uncontrolled" moves that
finally led to the position we see on the board.
Translate this page

CEWN #14-26
by Chess Evolution

[FEN 8/p1B4k/4p3/1P6/6p1/P2p1nP1/

5PK1/8 w - - 0 41]
41.Kf1
There is no other move to stop Black from playing d2.

CEWN #27-39
by Chess Evolution
41...Nd4
The time trouble was over, so I took a fresh look at the position. With not too
complicated calculations, I could see that I was going to be a pawn up, but it
was still hard to judge whether this endgame was winning or drawn. I was
very motivated to give my absolute best as it is not often I have the chance of
beating the best chess player in the world.
42.Ke1
This move is also forced as I wanted to play d2.
42...Nxb5
The white pawns are falling.

43.Bb8
The bishop from b2 is attacking the a7-pawn, which does not allow Black to
play e5 now because of a4.
43...Nxa3 44.Kd2
44.Bxa7 was losing to 44...Nc4 and the black king is going to f3.
44...a5
In any case I need to push the a-pawn.
45.Kxd3
So far things were pretty forced, but now I had a couple of moves to choose
from.

[FEN 1B6/7k/4p3/p7/6p1/n2K2P1/

5P2/8 b - - 0 45]
45...Kg6!?
The right decision. I don't need to hurry with the a4 move, based on the line in
the next variation.
46.Ke4
This is White's only chance.
46.Kc3 was losing as after 46...Kf5 we will see why 44...Kg6!? was the right
decision: 47.Kb3 It seems as if White has caught the black knight, but
47...Nb5 48.Kc4 now comes the very important 48...a4! 49.Kxb5 a3 The
white bishop from b8 can't stop the a-pawn. 50.Ba7 e5 and Black is winning.
46...a4
Of course my idea should be to push the a-pawn as far as possible.
47.Be5 Nc4 48.Bc3 a3
It is still not that clear if this position is winning or not because so little
material is left on the board.
49.Kf4
In case of 49.Kd4 Nb6 (49...Nb2 was another possible option.) 50.Ke5 Nd5
51.Bd4 Kf7 Black should be winning because White does not have the option
of playing Kf4.
Maybe the best chance for White was 49.f3!? gxf3 50.Kxf3 and now Black
needs to choose the right square: 50...Kf5! (50...Kg5 just leads to a draw:
51.Ke4 Kg4 52.Kd4

[FEN 8/8/4p3/8/2nK2k1/p1B3P1/8/8 b - - 0 52]
52...Nb2 53.Ke5 Kxg3 54.Kxe6 Kf3 55.Kd5 Ke3 56.Kc5 Kd3 and White is
just in time with 57.Kb4) 51.Ke2 (Now 51.g4+ was already working: 51...Kg5
52.Ke4 Kxg4 53.Kd4 Nb2 54.Ke5 Kf3 55.Kxe6 Ke4 and, as we can see,
White is missing the important tempo from the line above.) 51...Nb2 and it
seems like Black's winning chances are good here.
49...Kh5
Of course I need to hold on to the g4-pawn.
50.f3 e5+!
This move was not very hard to find, but still a very important one. I need
control over the g5-square.
51.Ke4

[FEN 8/8/8/4p2k/2n1K1p1/p1B2PP1/

8/8 b - - 0 51]
51...Nd6+ 52.Ke3
And here comes the key move.
52...Kg5
Now I already want to play exf3 and e4 and White does not have the Kf4 move
anymore because my king is on g5.
53.fxg4
Of course not 53.Bxe5?? Nc4+.
53...e4
53...Kxg4 was also possible.
54.Kd2 Nb5
I wanted to be sure to have the e3 move in the future, in case the white king
would try to go to b3, which is why I decided to chase away the bishop from
c3 first.
55.Be5 Kxg4
Kf3 is the threat.

56.Ke3 Kf5 57.Ba1 Nd6
And I am back with the knight to d6. Next move is Kg4.
58.Kd2 Kg4 59.Ke3
Of course I can't take on g3 immediately, so I improve my position even more.
59...a2
The g3-pawn is falling next.
60.Bc3

[FEN 8/8/3n4/8/4p1k1/2B1K1P1/

p7/8 b - - 0 60]
60.Kf2 Nc4 does not help White at all.
60...Kxg3
The g3-pawn is gone, so my next plan is to bring the king back to f5 and to
play Nc4.
61.Ba1 Kg4 62.Kd2
Everything else is losing as well.
62...Kf3 0-1
At the moment of the handshake I understood that I won a game with black
against the strongest opponent I have ever played before. My team also won
with the smallest score of 2.5-1.5. A moment of happiness!



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Chess An Extremely Exciting Game


CEWN #01-13
Arkadij Svetushkin,D (2580) - Kryvoruchko,Y (2708) by Chess Evolution

TCh-ESP Div Honor 2014 Linares ESP (3.1), 06.09.2014
Naiditsch
Sicilian Defence [B40]
& Csaba Balogh An extremely exciting game was played in the Spanish team championship. It
was not perfect, but both players found remarkable ideas in a very difficult
middle game!
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6
Translate this page Black is ready to play a sharp Paulsen variation in the Sicilian, but White
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Select Language prefers to keep the position closed and aims for a maneuvering fight.
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3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Qe2

CEWN #14-26
Another setup is 5.Nbd2 with the same idea to avoid the trade of the queens by Chess Evolution
after dxe4. Usually Black plays the same as in the 5.Qe2 line. 5...Nf6 6.Bg2
Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5 Nd7 9.Re1 with an attacking plan on the kingside with
Nf1, h4 and so on, while Black builds up his counterplay on the queenside
with b5-b4, a5.
5...Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5 Nd7

CEWN #27-39
by Chess Evolution

[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp1nbppp/2n1p3/2ppP3/

8/3P1NP1/PPP1QPBP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 9"]
9.c4!?
This is the difference to the 5.Nbd2 setup. White is still able to develop his
knight to c3 and he tries to exert pressure on the d5 pawn to force Black to
decide what to do with the d5 pawn. After both d4 and dxc4, White gets the e4
square for the knight and the diagonal of the g2 bishop opens up.
9...b5!?
A very interesting attempt to fight for the center at the cost of a pawn. This
reminds me of the Volga gambit!
Recently some high level games continued with 9...d4 10.h4 Kh8 11.Bf4 f5!
and Black locked the kingside in Svidler-Karjakin 2014. The point of the
previous Kh8 move was that after 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Qxe6 is not with check and
Black can play 13...Nde5.
10.cxb5!
White chooses the right way to accept the sacrifice.
White could also have won the pawn with 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Nc3 with a double
attack, but then the compensation should be enough after 11...Nb6 12.Nxb5 a6
13.Nc3 Bg4 and it is not easy to deal with the threat of Nd4.
10...Na5

[FEN "r1bq1rk1/p2nbppp/4p3/nPppP3/8/

3P1NP1/PP2QPBP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 11"]
11.Nfd2!
An excellent move! At first it is not easy to see the point, but soon it all
becomes clear. Black's idea is to undermine the queenside with a6 (like in the
Volga gambit) and after bxa6 Bxa6 compensating very strongly on the
queenside, as the d3 pawn might become very weak. Svetushkin correctly
realized that the a6 move should be answered by a4 and White should save his
b5 pawn at any cost to avoid the very unpleasant compensation. Therefore, he
brings back his knight to d2 to avoid Nb3 after a4 and prepares to strengthen
the b5 pawn with his other knight from a3!
11.Qc2!? was also possible with the same idea to control the b3-square and
play a4 and Na3 next.
11...a6 12.a4!
12.bxa6 Bxa6 is already better for Black. Nc6 is threatening to win the e5 and
also with Nb4. This is exactly what Black was playing for when he played b5!
12...Nb6
With the clear plan to win the b5-pawn with Bd7.
The computer suggests 12...Qb6 13.Na3 Bb7 but in this case, I do not see how
Black should strengthen the pressure on the b5-pawn to be able to seize the
initiative on the queenside. 14.Re1
13.b3
White's intention is to play Bb2-c3 and clarify the situation on the queenside,
therefore Black must urgently act before White could consolidate.
13...axb5 14.axb5 Bd7 15.Na3 Qe8?!

[FEN "r3qrk1/3bbppp/1n2p3/nPppP3/8/

NP1P2P1/3NQPBP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 16"]
This is logical, but Kryvoruchko probably missed the next move of his
opponent.
Black should have played 15...Nc8! with the same idea to win back the pawn
after Na7 and the difference is that after 16.Nac4 the a5 knight is not hanging
(compared to Qe8) 16...Bxb5 is equal.
16.Nac4!!
A brilliant positional piece sacrifice! Black has no choice, he must accept the
sacrifice.
16...dxc4 17.bxc4
White simply recaptures. He already has two pawns for the piece, but it is
more important to realize the misplacement of almost all the black pieces. The
g2 bishop turns out to be a beast on the long diagonal, which cannot be
neutralized with the one on d7. Black finds a clever idea to save the a5 knight,
but this creates new problems.
17...Nc6!?
A nice tactical idea!
On 17...Ra7, White can choose between some tempting options: 18.Ne4 I like
this the most. As long as Black is suffering on the queenside, White is playing
for mate like it happened in the game with Bb2 and Nf6. (18.Nb3 is also good
to win back some material. 18...Nxb3 19.Rxa7 followed by Bb2 to get rid of
the d4 knight and the rook on the seventh rank combined with the strong
bishop on g2 paralyzes Black completely.)
18.Bb2!
Svetushkin prevents the centralization of the c6 knight and continues playing

on intuitively, using the fact that despite Black solving the problem of one of
his poor pieces (the a5 knight) there are still many more left.
18.Rxa8 allows Black to have a centralized knight after the intermediate move
18...Nd4!
18...Rxa1 19.Rxa1 Nb4
In case of 19...Nd4 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Nb3 White will be fine even materially
after taking on d4, but the march of the queenside pawns looks even more
scary from Black's point of view.
20.Ne4!
White plans another sacrifice on f6! Kryvoruchko knows exactly what his
opponent is thinking about, but his poor pieces dont allow him to find an
adeqaute defense against the coming attack.
20...Kh8

[FEN "4qr1k/3bbppp/1n2p3/1Pp1P3/

1nP1N3/3P2P1/1B2QPBP/R5K1 w - - 0 21"]
Black leaves from the check on f6 and also from gxf6 exf6 Qg4-Qg7 mate.
I tried to defend with 20...f5 but White gets a winning advantage after 21.exf6
gxf6 22.d4! cxd4 23.Bxd4 Nc8 24.b6+- Black's pieces are simple too bad.
21.Nf6!
Consequent and strong! Svetushkin sees that the poor placement of the black
pieces should allow him to execute a decisive blow.
21...Qd8!
The only move!
The knight could not be taken as after 21...gxf6 22.exf6 Bd6 23.Qh5!+- Be4
comes next with an inevitable mate on h7.
22.Qh5
It was actually even stronger to start with 22.Be4! The difference is that after
22...Bxf6 23.exf6 g6 24.Ra7+- is threatening with Qe3, attacking the c5 pawn
and dropping the queen to h6. Many times Bxg6 also wins, using the fact that
fxg6 f7 and hxg6 Qh6 are both mate. The two bishops are killing.
22...Bxf6
22...gxf6 is refuted by 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Be4!+-.
23.exf6 g6 24.Qh6
Unfortunately for White 24.Qxc5 does not work because of 24...Nxd3 and
Black gets rid of the b2-bishop.
24...Rg8 25.Be4
Protecting the d3-pawn. White even has some slow ideas like h4-h5 in mind.
25...Nc2
Black wants to close the a1-h8 diagonal with Nd4, but the problem is the same
as in the 19...Nd4 line, that after Bxd4 cxd4, the c- and b- passed pawns start
to march with the support of the bishop and rook.
The best chance would have been 25...Nxd3! 26.Bxd3 Bxb5 Black finally
makes use of his poor bishop, although his position remains suspicious after
27.Ra3 Bxc4 28.Bc2 White even has some g4 ideas in mind with the threat of
Qxh7 Kxh7 and Rh3 mate!; 25...Qf8 leads to a lost endgame: 26.Qxf8 (The
pretty 26.Qg7+!? also wins: 26...Rxg7 27.fxg7+ Qxg7 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7
29.Ra7+- and Rb7 or Rc7 next.) 26...Rxf8 27.Be5 Rc8 28.Ra7+- Black is
completely squeezed. Rb7 or Bc7 wins next move.
26.Ra7 Nc8
On the direct 26...Nd4 27.Bxd4 cxd4 28.c5 comes with tempo. 28...Nc8
29.Rb7+- Those connected pawns should decide the outcome.
27.Ra8 Nd4 28.Bxd4 cxd4

[FEN "R1nq2rk/3b1p1p/4pPpQ/1P6/2PpB3/

3P2P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 0 29"]
29.Qf4!
A difficult move to find! The queen was standing well on h6, but the f6 pawn
had to be protected. White could not advance the c-pawn immediately because
the b5 was hanging. Now the plan is simply to push h4-h5, as Black has no
useful move anyway.
29...Qb6 30.Rb8
This seems to be unnecessary because the queen stands better on c5.
White should have started with 30.h4 Qc5 31.Qh6! The new threat is b6,
which cannot be taken by the knight and after Qxb6 h5 is going to be mate in
few moves. The only move is 31...Qh5 but now the endgame is lost after
32.Qxh5 gxh5 33.Ra6!+- and b6 next move! The pawn promotes.
30...Qc5 31.h4 e5 32.Qg5?
Until this moment, Svetushkin has played a nearly perfect game, but this
mistake allows his opponent a miraculous survival.
32.Qh6 was the winning move. Svetushking was probably worried about the
f6-pawn, that could be lost after 32...Qd6 but White wins with 33.Rb7 Be8
34.h5! Qxf6 35.hxg6+- and Black has no good recapture on g6.
32...Nd6!
Suddenly the black pieces are jumping out, which could not happen if the
queen was on h6. Perhaps, Svetushkin was counting with this move and he
had planned his very nice response beforehand, but he missed something later.

[FEN "1R4rk/3b1p1p/3n1Pp1/1Pq1p1Q1/

2PpB2P/3P2P1/5P2/6K1 w - - 0 33"]
33.Bxg6!
A great tactical shot, but Black also had something in mind!
33.Rxg8+ Kxg8 34.Qh6 Ne8! saves Black from the mate!
33...Bc8!!
A fantastic resource! Black closes the eighth rank and lets more pieces to focus
on the defense. Both sides have to be precise now!
33...fxg6 was refuted by 34.f7! Rxb8 35.Qf6#; 33...Rxb8 34.Qh6 fxg6
35.Qg7#
34.h5!
The tension is growing! White is threatening with Qh6 and on fxg6 f7 decides
the game. Therefore, Black is forced to take the f7-square under control.
34...Qc7!
34...fxg6 loses again to 35.f7! Nxf7 36.Qf6+ Rg7 37.b6! and b7 next wins!
35.Ra8

[FEN "R1b3rk/2q2p1p/3n1PB1/1P2p1QP/

2Pp4/3P2P1/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 35"]
35...Qb7!
Black continues defending perfectly. He sends away the active rook and
intends to create counterthreats with Bh3 and mate on g2.
35...fxg6 was still losing because of 36.hxg6 hxg6 (36...Rxg6 37.Qxe5+- Black
is helpless against f7 or c5!) 37.b6 Qf7 38.Qh4+ Qh7 39.c5+- Despite the two
extra pieces, the 3 passed pawns decide the game in White's favor.
36.Qh6!
Another only move, this time by White! The game turns to a forced stage
where all moves are necessary and if somebody fails to find one, he loses.
36...fxg6 37.hxg6 Rxg6 38.Qf8+ Rg8 39.Qxd6 Qxa8 40.f7!

[FEN "q1b3rk/5P1p/3Q4/1P2p3/2Pp4/

3P2P1/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 40"]
Despite the extra rook and bishop, the game seems to be over. White is
threatening with Qf6 or Qe5 mate, but in the last move of the time trouble
Black finds the way to escape.
40...Rxg3+!! 41.fxg3 Qa1+ 42.Kf2 Qa2+!
Only this check leads to perpetual, but the point is still about to come.
43.Kf3 Qa8+!
This is the reason why the queen had to give the checks on the a-file. Now the
king is forced to go back.
43...Bb7+ loses to 44.Kg4 Qe2+ 45.Kg5 Qe3+ 46.Kf6 Qh6+ 47.Ke7+- the
king runs away and the f-pawn promotes.
44.Kf2
44.Qc6?? Bb7 loses as both Qxb7 Qxb7 and f8Q Qxf8 are check!
44...Qa2+ 45.Kf3 Qa8+ 46.Kf2 -
Draw agreed! A fantastic game, where both players should have gained the full
point for their achievements!



Chess Blog!




Chess Evolution Newsletter #137. CEWN is released every Friday
of the week, the newsletter contains twenty-plus pages of great chess material written by top grandmasters Arkadij
Naiditsch and Csaba Balogh.
An Intuitive Exchange Sacrifice!
by Csaba Balogh
Caruana,F (2844) - Gelfand,B (2748)
Baku FIDE Grand Prix 2014 Baku AZE (2.2), 03.10.2014
Najdorf Sicilian [B90]
Caruana and Gelfand continue their thematic opening discussion in the Sicilian Najdorf defense.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3
White avoids the 6.Be3 Ng4 variation and starts with the 6.f3 move-order. This one also allows an extra option for
Black, to try the 6...Qb6 line, but Gelfand rather chooses his favorite 6...e5.
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.Nd5
Caruana has already played many games for this position, including one against Gelfand.
10...Bxd5
10...Nxd5 11.exd5 Bf5 is the alternative for Black.
11.exd5 g6 12.Be2 Bg7
[FEN "r2qk2r/1p1n1pb1/p2p1np1/3Pp2p/8/1N2BP2/PPPQB1PP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 13"]
13.Na5
Caruana deviates from his own game against Gelfand with this move. The move has several ideas. First of all, it attacks
the b7-pawn and tries to get the c6-square for his knight. Second, White has pawn majority on the queenside and the
long-term idea to make use of it is the plan of c4, b4, c5. However if White starts with c4, then Black has the strong
response to push a5, followed by b6, creating strong blockade on the dark squares.
The previous encounter from January of 2014 went 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rac1 b6 15.h3 Re8 16.g4 also with an extremely
complex game, which was later won by Caruana. I commented this game in a previous CEWN.
13...Qc7
Black naturally does not want to allow the knight's jump to c6.
14.c4 e4
Black creates his counterplay in the center and on the kingside, where he has his pawn majority. He also opens the
diagonal for his strong bishop and creates some nice squares for his knights on e5 or in case of 15.f4 on Ng4.
15.0-0 exf3 16.gxf3!
This looks illogical at first sight, but White's kingside is much safer if he controls g4 square. White could later play Rf2
and Bf1, controlling all the important squares on the kingside.
16.Bxf3 is strongly met by 16...Ng4! White is forced to give up the pair of bishops.
16...0-0 17.b4 Rfe8 18.Rac1
[FEN "r3r1k1/1pqn1pb1/p2p1np1/N2P3p/1PP5/4BP2/P2QB2P/2R2RK1 b - - 0 18"]
Both sides are making their most useful developing moves. The game is heading in still waters in a complex position,
when suddenly Gelfand takes a fantastic decision.
18...Rxe3!
An intuitive exchange sacrifice! Black is aiming for compensation on the dark squares, all his pieces are becoming very
active.
In case of some logical and calm continuation like 18...Re7 doubling the rooks on the e-file, White maintains an
advantage after 19.Bf4 Rae8 20.Rf2!+/= followed by Bf1. The two bishops are perfectly neutralizing the e-file and
White creates serious threats, connected with c5!
19.Qxe3 Re8
White is facing a difficult decision. The e3 bishop was controlling perfectly the c1-h6 and the g1-a7 diagonals. Now, the
queen is forced to choose which diagonal to give Black. He must allow either Bh6 or Qb6.
20.Qd2
In case of 20.Qf2 Black gets excellent compensation after 20...Bh6 21.f4 Re4!.
20...Kh7?!
Black would like to get his bishop to h6, but this is a bit too slow kind of execution of the right plan.
It was much stronger to play 20...Qb6+! 21.Kh1 Bh6! 22.f4 This is already an achievement, since Black has spared the
Kh7 move. But White had nothing better. (On 22.Qxh6 Rxe2 White's pawns are loose. The b4 is hanging, the knight is
suddenly misplaced on a5. The e2-rook turns out to be very active and it can be exchanged with Re1 because of taking
and Qxb4. We can see the power of the black pieces in the next variation: 23.a3 looks natural to protect the b4, but it is
actually losing: 23...Qd4! Threatening to attack the h2 pawn with the queen and after 24.Rce1
[FEN "6k1/1p1n1p2/p2p1npQ/N2P3p/1PPq4/P4P2/4r2P/4RR1K b - - 0 24"]
24...Ng4!! wins decisive material as 25.fxg4 leads to mate 25...Qe4+-+) 22...Ne4 23.Qe1 It is clear that Black has
enough compensation here. He can choose here between some tempting options 23...Nef6 is the computer's suggestion
with the idea to drive the knight to g4! Perhaps, White has nothing better, than repeating the moves with Qd2. (23...Qd4
is more human to active even more the pieces 24.Nxb7 Ndf6 with terribly active pieces.)
21.Nb3
White is an exchange up, therefore Caruana changes the plan and tries to consolidate his position, but bringing back his
pieces. This is a very clever reaction and the move also serves to meet the Qb6 idea with c5!
However the machine considers 21.Kg2 Bh6 22.f4 Ne4 23.Qd3 to be much stronger with an advantage for White. In
such positions, it is impossible to compete with the strongest machines. At the end, always he will be the one who is
right! Caruana's 21.Nb3 was more human decision.
21...Bh6 22.f4 Ne4 23.Qe1
The white pieces are temporarily pushed back, but they are preventing all the direct threats. Therefore Gelfand decides
to continue activating his pieces.
23...Ndf6
23...Qb6+ 24.Kh1 Qe3? with the same purpose to active the pieces is much worse, because of 25.Bf3 and White
consolidates.
24.Bd3

[FEN "4r3/1pq2p1k/p2p1npb/3P3p/1PP1nP2/1N1B4/P6P/2R1QRK1 b - - 0 24"]
White must operate with small moves, using the fact that Black cannot gain any benefits from the pin on the e-file.
White intends to play Rc2-e2!
24...Qd7!
Very nice answer also from the Black side. The last piece which could be improved was the queen, therefore Gelfand
drives it to h3 or g4!
There is a forced line to win a pawn with 24...Nc5 25.Qd2 Nxd3 26.Qxd3 Qb6+ 27.c5 Qxb4 but now White maintains
the initiative after 28.Rc4 Qb5 29.a4 Qd7 30.c6
25.Rc2!
White continues his plan and also prepares to meet the Qg4 check with Rg2. There Black plays the more direct queen
move.
25...Qh3
Attacking the d3 bishop.
26.Qd1
The most human reaction again, but this is an inaccuracy, allowing a tactical blow for Black.
[FEN "4r3/1p3p1k/p2p1npb/3P3p/1PP1nP2/1N1B3q/P1R4P/3Q1RK1 b - - 0 26"]

The computer suggests the inhuman 26.Qe2 protecting the bishop, but it leaves the queen in the pin and also deprives
himself from playing Re2. It is impossible to make such moves for a human, but the machine claims an advantage for
him. 26...Nf2 (26...Ng3? is met by 27.Qf3!) 27.Bxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxf2 Re4 29.Nd2 Rxf4 30.Qe2 is gives on White's favor
but of course the position is looking extremely dangerous, very difficult to go for it.
26.Bxe4 is wrong because of 26...Rxe4 27.Qg3 Qf5! Black wins a pawn and keeps his very dangerous pieces.
26...Bxf4!
The small tactical shot solves the problems. All pieces were standing perfectly, so the position was calling for a direct
blow.
27.Qf3
Caruana decides to play on.
White could have forced a draw with 27.Rxf4 Qe3+ 28.Rff2 Nxf2 29.Rxf2 Ng4 30.Qf3 Nxf2 31.Qxf7+ Kh8 32.Qf6+
Kg8 33.Qxg6+ Kf8 34.Qf6+ with perpetual check. Neither side can avoid this line is White takes back on f4.
27...Qxf3 28.Rxf3
[FEN "4r3/1p3p1k/p2p1np1/3P3p/1PP1nb2/1N1B1R2/P1R4P/6K1 b - - 0 28"]
Black is still down materially, as he has only one pawn for the exchange, but his very active pieces supported with
further active moves are giving him enough compensation.
28...Ng5!
The bishop cannot be taken because of Nh3 and Black invades with his rook along the e-file.
29.Rf1 Re3! 30.Nc1 Ng4!
Very nice play by Gelfand! White's position is still looking very dangerous, despite that the queens are off the board.
31.c5
Caruana is looking for counterplay with the c- passed pawn.
31...dxc5 32.bxc5

[FEN "8/1p3p1k/p5p1/2PP2np/5bn1/3Br3/P1R4P/2N2RK1 b - - 0 32"]
32...Re8?
This is too passive, not in the spirit of the position.
The right move was 32...Be5 with the idea to play Rh3, which was not possible right away as the the bishop was
hanging on f4 (Nh3 works no longer). 33.d6 (On 33.c6 bxc6 34.dxc6 Bc7 and Rh3 next.) 33...Rh3! 34.d7
[FEN "8/1p1P1p1k/p5p1/2P1b1np/6n1/3B3r/P1R4P/2N2RK1 b - - 0 34"]
34...Bxh2+! 35.Kg2 (35.Rxh2 Rxh2 36.d8Q Nh3#) 35...Ne3+ 36.Kf2 Bc7 with Black's advantage, but both players has
spent most of their time in the complex middlegame and it was very difficult to find these ideas.
33.h4?
The most human move again, but it spoils the win. White misses an unexpected tactical blow:

[FEN 4r3/1p3p1k/p5p1/2PP2np/5bn1/3B4/P1R4P/2N2RK1 w - - 0 33]
33.Kh1! was the winning move, the bishop is hanging now on f4. If it goes away, h4 sends away the knight and wins the
f7-pawn with check. 33...Ne3 (33...Be3 34.h4) 34.Re2! also wins.
33...Re3!!
This brilliant move forces perpetual check!
Caruana was probably expecting 33...Nh3+ 34.Kg2 Re3 but here the difference is 35.Rf3! and white is winning.
34.hxg5
White had nothing better.
34...Rg3+ 35.Kh1
35.Rg2? loses to 35...Be3+ 36.Kh1 Rh3+.
35...Rh3+ 36.Kg2 Rg3+ 37.Kh1 Rh3+ -
A great fighting draw!
A PDF file of Chess Evolution, along with all previous columns, is available in the
Copyright 2014 ChessEdu.org. All Rights Reserved.

Magnus Carlsen was Very, Very Lucky!
Carlsen,Magnus (2863) - Anand,Viswanathan (2792)
WCh 2014 Sochi RUS (6), 15.11.2014
Sicilian Kan [B41]
We often hear people say that World Champions never blunder. In fact, World Champions blunder very rarely and even
more rarely a one-move tactic. And what is even more rare is that after a blunder the opponent doesn't use the mistake,
and this is precisely the case in the current game. How to explain such a moment? There have been many suggestions,
but I just believe that Magnus Carlsen was just very, very lucky! A very emotional game is awaiting us and maybe a
game that decided the outcome of the match.
1.e4
Carlsen continues playing 1.e4 because of his fantastic score against the Berlin, which is Anand's main opening.
1...c5 2.Nf3 e6
And again we see 2...e6. We can also see a big change in the match strategy of Anand, who is now looking for
complicated fighting positions rather than trying to hold a solid draw with Black.
3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
This probably came as a surprise - or maybe not. The Paulsen is a very rare opening on the very top level, but it is a
fighting opening and often leads to unclear positions.
5.c4
5.Nc3 or 5.Bd3 are more common moves and also the ones usually played by Carlsen.
5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4
Black is starting a quick attack against White's center.
7.Qd3
This is again not the main move, but I believe it deserves a lot of attention. The endgame which we will reach already in
a couple of moves is far from being an easy draw.

[FEN "rnbqk2r/1p1p1ppp/p3pn2/8/1bPNP3/2NQ4/PP3PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 7"]
7...Nc6
From a practical point of view this is a strange decision by Anand. From the first moves it seemed like Black was going
for a fight and then with 7...Nc6 he entered a slightly worse endgame. How to understand that?!
7...Qc7 and 7...d5 are the other two major possibilities here, which lead to pretty unclear positions.
8.Nxc6
For the next moves things are getting forced.
8...dxc6
In case of 8...bxc6 White has two nice-looking options: 9.a3 (After 9.e5 Ng4 10.f4 White's position also looks better.)
9...Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 and the bishop pair should give White a comfortable advantage.
9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.e5!
A very important move. If Black was in time to play e5 himself, White's position could never be better.
10...Nd7
The only move.
10...Ne4?! 11.a3! It is very important for White to get the black dark squared bishop. 11...Bxc3+ (11...Ba5 12.b4 and
White is doing great.) 12.bxc3 Nxc3 and here comes the crusher:

[FEN "r1bk3r/1p3ppp/p1p1p3/4P3/2P5/P1n5/5PPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.a4! preventing Black from playing Na4, so now the knight on c3 is almost trapped and needs to come back. 13...Ne4
14.Be3 and once again the knight is in trouble. White is just a pawn down but has fantastic play.
11.Bf4
Of course not 11.f4 which would fix the structure even further and make the c1 bishop as good as dead.
11...Bxc3+
This move is also almost forced. White wanted to play Kd2 next followed by a3.
12.bxc3
So now it is time to take a fresh look at the position. White has the bishop pair, more space and the better development,
but a horrible pawn structure on the queenside. But is it enough to make the position equal?! I don't think so. I believe
that White is seriously better here, it is a long-term advantage and soon we will see how unpleasent it is to play this
position with Black.
12...Kc7
The king is better placed on c7 than on e7, to protect the b-pawn at some point and to support the play on the queenside.

[FEN "r1b4r/1pkn1ppp/p1p1p3/4P3/2P2B2/2P5/P4PPP/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.h4!
A typical and very strong move! White gains more space and he has the idea of playing Rh3-Rg3 to try and create some
play on the kingside- and that is where the action will start already very soon.
13...b6
Black is developing the bishop from c8, which is a must.
14.h5
Threatening h6.
14...h6 15.0-0-0 Bb7
So the pieces have been developed and now it is time for White to think what to do. next
16.Rd3!?
This is a very interesting way of playing this position. More standard moves could be g4 and Rg1, trying to play g5
next, or maybe Rh3 and Rg3, but Carlsen's idea is deeper. Black's idea could be to play c5, Rad8 and Nb8 and then
White would have the choice of exchanging the rook or let Black control the d-file.
16...c5 17.Rg3
The g7 pawn is a target!
17...Rag8
Black has no choice as after 17...Rhg8, 18.Bd3 and Bh7 would have come next.
18.Bd3 Nf8
Black is preparing to play g6 next.
19.Be3
A prophylactic move against g6.
19...g6
It is hard for me to believe that to open the h-file can be good for Black.
Maybe Black could have chosen a more passive strategy with 19...Nd7!? when the e5 pawn is under attack and White
needs to either to go back to f4 with the bishop and try to find something better on Nf8 than Be3, or maybe to play
20.f4 but now the e3 bishop became a much weaker piece. 20...f5!? could be a try for Black to fight for equalization,
but of course only White is trying to play for a win here.
20.hxg6 Nxg6

[FEN "6rr/1bk2p2/pp2p1np/2p1P3/2P5/2PBB1R1/P4PP1/2K4R w - - 0 21"]
21.Rh5
21.Rxh6? doesn't work for the moment as after 21...Nxe5 22.Bf4 Kd6 Black equalizes.
21...Bc6
Maybe Black wants to play Ba4 and Rd8, targeting the d1 square.
22.Bc2 Kb7
A waiting move and also leaving the pin in case Black could take the e5 pawn at some point.
23.Rg4
This move is hard to understand. Does Carlsen think the rook is better placed on g4 than g3?! I don't know. Black never
threatens to attack the c4 pawn and White's idea of playing g3 at some moment is just impossible because of Bf3. But
of course White doesn't do any hark to his position, since all Black can do is just keep on waiting.
23...a5 24.Bd1
With the idea of playing g3?! I don't know.
24...Rd8 25.Bc2 Rdg8
After repeating moves twice, Carlsen starts the usual idea of getting his king to a more central position, but the way he
starts it is everything but accurate.

[FEN "6rr/1k3p2/1pb1p1np/p1p1P2R/2P3R1/2P1B3/P1B2PP1/2K5 w - - 0 26"]
26.Kd2??
What a shock for the people in the playing hall. The World Champion is blundering two pawns in a two-move tactic!
Can you imagine what would have happened if in this moment somebody screamed "Nxe5"?!
26.Kd1 with the same idea, but not allowing the Nxe5 blow, was maybe Carlsen's intention.
26...a4??
After only one minute of thinking, Anand doesn't play it! I guess this might have been the longest 60 seconds of
Carlsen's life and had Anand played 26...Nxe5 he would probably have been a clear favourite to win the match.
The crushing move was of course 26...Nxe5! 27.Rxg8 Nxc4+ 28.Kd3 and now comes the move that Anand might have
blundered?! We will never know, but for me it is very hard to believe that it is possible to miss it in the calculations.

[FEN "6Rr/1k3p2/1pb1p2p/p1p4R/2n5/2PKB3/P1B2PP1/8 b - - 0 28"]
28...Nb2+! 29.Kd2 Rxg8 and Black's position just looks totally winning.
27.Ke2
What a relief for Carlsen, the game goes on and White keeps his big advantage!
27...a3
Fixing the a2 pawn of White in deeper endgame
28.f3
A solid and good move. White still doesn't threaten anything concrete but he keeps on impoving the position.
28...Rd8
Allowing Bxg6 in the hope of getting some play on the d-file and the a3 pawn could also become strong at some
moment.
29.Ke1
There is no reason for White to give Black any play.
29.Bxg6 would not be the best in my opinion. 29...fxg6 30.Rxg6 Ba4! Black wants to play Bc2-Bd3 and get the c4
pawn. White should still be much better here, but the game would get more dynamic and Black would have some
practical chances.
29...Rd7
Anand resigns himself to passive defense. Actually I think he quits too early. Of course it is very unpleasant to defend
just by moving the king, but it would not be that easy for White to break through either. I think 29...Rdg8 back would
have been a better practical choice for Black.
30.Bc1
Another cool move by Carlsen. To keep the a3 pawn under attack could be useful.
30...Ra8
Anand is trying to look for complications as he is planning to play Ba4.
31.Ke2
It seems like the moves 29.Ke1 or 31. Ke2 are just senseless, but they are not. White got what he wanted, Black's
kingside is crushed and the only thing that is needed now is to take the material in an accurate way.
31...Ba4

[FEN "r7/1k1r1p2/1p2p1np/2p1P2R/b1P3R1/p1P2P2/P1B1K1P1/2B5 w - - 0 32"]
32.Be4+
Of course before taking on g6 White forces the black bishop back to c6.
32...Bc6
32...Ka7 33.Bxa8 Kxa8 34.Bxa3 and I see no compensation for Black.
33.Bxg6
White is starting to collect the pawns.
33...fxg6 34.Rxg6
White is a pawn up and the e6 and h6 pawns are hanging. The game is over.
34...Ba4 35.Rxe6 Rd1

[FEN "r7/1k6/1p2R2p/2p1P2R/b1P5/p1P2P2/P3K1P1/2Br4 w - - 0 36"]
36.Bxa3
White keeps on collecting the pawns.
36...Ra1 37.Ke3
This is the most safe.
37...Bc2 38.Re7+ 1-0
Now the black king is even the one who is in danger. What a game! If it wasn't for this terrible blunder it would have
been an accurate and very nice win by Carlsen, perfectly fitting his style, but how to explain a two-move blunder like
26. Kd2?? Maybe the World Champion is feeling somewhat immortal, but already Game 3 showed this is not the case.
In the next game it is clear that it is going to be very hard for Anand to recover and of course his team is going to very
depressed after holding their breath for 60 seconds and just screaming after Anand did not play Nxe5. It is also hard to
imagine that Carlsen is not going to keep his WCC crown now, but we will know more in about ten days from now!

Excellent Intuition
by Balogh Csaba
Jarmula,Lukasz (2307) - Sibashvili,Giorgi (2387)
World Youth U16 Olympiad Gyor HUN (8.1), 19.12.2014
Blumenfeld Gambit [E10]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5

[FEN "rnbqkb1r/p2p1ppp/4pn2/1ppP4/2P5/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5"]
Once again the Blumenfeld Gambit! It looks like it is a very popular weapon in youth tournaments. I must admit that I
also employed this variation when I was younger.
5.e4!?
A shocking move, but it looks extremely strong! Black wants to sacrifice a pawn to get a very strong center and White
replies with a counter sacrifice for quick development!
5...Nxe4
This must be the critical move. 5...bxc4 is simply met by 6.Nc3 followed by taking back on c4.
6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0!
As simple as that! White has sacrificed a pawn and at first sight the compensation is not obvious, but the machine
already gives him a significant advantage. There are no direct threats at the moment, but still Black is unable to solve
the problems.
7...Be7
The most logical follow-up. Black should aim at quickly finishing the development.
8.Nc3!
It seems like White is not in a hurry at all, he calmly develops his pieces, ignoring the fact that he is a pawn down.
8...b4
The drawback of 8...bxc4 9.Bxc4 is that White is threatening with d6, trapping the bishop and it is not easy at all to
parry this threat. 9...exd5 weakens the light squares too much, 10.Nxd5 gives more than enough compensation. 9...d6 is
met by 10.Bb5+ Kf8 would already confirm that something went wrong for Black, but other moves are not better either.
10...Bd7 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.Ng5! Quickly putting pressure on the e6 weakness. 12...0-0 13.Re1 e5 14.Bc4+
9.Ne4
White creates the threat of d6!
9...exd5
Not an easy decision as it deprives Black from castling, but other moves were no better.
9...Nxe4 10.Bxe4 f5 looks decent:

[FEN "rnbqk2r/p2pb1pp/4p3/2pP1p2/1pP1B3/5N2/PP3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 11"]
But White has the important reply 11.Ne5! 0-0 (11...fxe4 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Qxh8+ Kf7 15.Qh7++- wins.)
12.Bf3 Black cannot hold the h1-a8 diagonal. 12...d6 13.dxe6 dxe5 14.Bxa8+/-; Even after 9...d6 the problems are
coming along the long diagonal: 10.dxe6! Bxe6 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Be4 wins material.
10.Nxf6+ Bxf6 11.Re1+ Kf8
11...Be7 is met by 12.Bg5! provoking a huge weakening! 12...f6 13.Bf4 threatening Bd6! 13...0-0 14.Nh4!+- This is the
point of provoking f6. Now Qh5 and Nf5 are decisive threats against which Black has no adequate defense.
12.Bf4!
Developing with tempo. The bishop cannot be allowed to occupy the d6-square as that would paralyze the black pieces.
12...d6

[FEN "rnbq1k1r/p4ppp/3p1b2/2pp4/1pP2B2/3B1N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Bc2!
A very deep and powerful move! The rook on a8 seems to be a permanent problem for Black in this entire game. White
is threatening to play Qd5, trapping the rook and 13...d4 is met by 14.Be4!.
13...Bb7
The only move. Black must try to cover the long diagonal, but suddenly the problems are coming from another
direction.
13...d4 14.Be4+-.
14.Ba4!
The other point of 13.Bc2! Suddenly Black's back rank becomes a real target and he has no good way to parry the
threats because of the d6 weakness.
14...Be7
14...Nd7 15.Bxd6+ is also bad.
15.Qd2!?
White makes a useful developing move, connects his rooks and at the same time he prepares the exchange sacrifice on
e7, followed by bringing the other rook to e1 and penetrating on e8.

[FEN "rn1q1k1r/pb2bppp/3p4/2pp4/BpP2B2/5N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 15"]
However it was even stronger to play 15.Nh4!! Of course it is easy to miss this move, but once the knight occupies the
f5-square the game is over. 15...Bxh4 (15...g6 does not prevent the threat, White still plays 16.Nf5! gxf5 17.Bh6+ Kg8
18.Qf3!+- and Qg3 wins next.) 16.Bxd6+! Kg8 (16...Qxd6 17.Re8#) 17.Re8+ Qxe8 18.Bxe8+- with decisive material
advantage and White keeps on attacking.
15...Nd7

[FEN "r2q1k1r/pb1nbppp/3p4/2pp4/BpP2B2/5N2/PP1Q1PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 16"]
Unfortunately for Black, there is no time to push 15...d4 because of 16.Rxe7! Qxe7 17.Re1 Be4 White has different
winning moves here, but the strongest is 18.Nxd4! cxd4 19.Qxd4+- and the threats of Rxe4 and Bxd6 are too much for
Black.
16.Rxe7!!
Excellent intuition! The young Polish player feels that he should not let his opponent slip away. One cannot calculate
such sacrifices until the end, but must feel that all white pieces are already perfectly placed, while the black rooks are
still disconnected and it takes a lot of time until he could get them into the game. There is a lot of tension in the center,
but Black is ready to lock the center with d4. One can feel that this is the moment to seize the initiative with a tactical
blow.
16...Qxe7 17.Re1 Ne5
17...Qd8 is even worse and White wins after 18.Bxd6+ Kg8 19.Re7! Nf6 20.Qf4+- simply bringing all the pieces to the
attack. Black has no move, the b7 bishop is hanging and Ng5 is coming. 20...Ba6 21.Bc6+-.
18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Rxe5 Qd8
Black tries to protect the back rank.
19...Qf6 is strongly met by 20.Qe3!+- and the threat of Re8 is decisive. 20...Bc6 does not work because of 21.Qxc5+,
winning the bishop.
20.cxd5
Not a bad move, but not the best either.

[FEN "r2q1k1r/pb3ppp/8/2ppR3/BpP2B2/8/PP1Q1PPP/6K1 w - - 0 20"]
White could have played more directly and won more or less by force: 20.Qe2! f6 Black could take twice on e8, because
after Bd6 he has Kf7. However White continues slowly with 21.Re6! threatening Bd6! 21...Kf7 22.Bd6!+- and Black
cannot parry the Re7 threat! The game is over. This would have been a very nice finish.
20...f6
Black tries to connect his rooks with Kf7.
21.Re8+ Qxe8 22.Bxe8 Rxe8 23.d6

[FEN "4rk1r/pb4pp/3P1p2/2p5/1p3B2/8/PP1Q1PPP/6K1 b - - 0 23"]
In general, the two rooks are superior to the queen, but in this particular position, there are more relevant factors. Black
still needs a few moves to activate both of his moves. Meanwhile, the pawn on d6 is very dangerous, threatening to
promote with d7 and Bc7. The black pawns on the c5 and b4 are vulnerable. All these facts mean that only White can
be better.
23...Kf7 24.h4
White opens the back rank.
24.d7 right away was premature because of 24...Re4! and White cannot promote his pawn because of his weak back
rank and Bc7 is met by Rd4!, winning the pawn.; 24.f3! was stronger to get control over the e4 square. Now it is much
harder for Black to use his rooks.
24...Re4 25.Bg3
White frees his queen. Black already seems to consolidate, but the variations prove that he is still in trouble.
25...Rhe8
25...Rd4 is met by 26.Qe2 Re8 27.Qh5+! and the c5-pawn falls.; 25...Rd8 26.f3 Rd4 27.Qe2 threatening on e7 and after
27...Re8 28.Qb5! this time the way to h5 is closed, but the queen penetrates from another direction.
26.Kh2
Kind of prophylaxis, but a bit slow.
White could have attacked the weak pawns with 26.Qc2! c4 27.f3 (Or 27.Qa4 is also strong.)
26...Bc6
Black tries to parry the Qb5 and Qa4 ideas and also to block the d-pawn.
27.Qd1!
A very nice move and the point of the previous Kh2! White had this Qh5+ in mind and he wanted to execute it at any
cost.
27...g6 27...c4 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qc5 wins the b4-pawn.
28.Qc1!
The profits of provoking g6. White now keeps an eye on the h6-square. The queen is extremely powerful, threatening
from all directions with each move.
28...c4 29.Qh6
White missed a beautiful direct win: 29.f3! The c4-pawn must be protected, so the only move is 29...Rd4

[FEN "4r3/p4k1p/2bP1pp1/8/1ppr3P/5PB1/PP4PK/2Q5 w - - 0 30"]
30.Qg1!!+- A fantastic move! Black cannot hold his rook on d4 and the queen enters the black camp and decides the
game with Qxa7 next. (But not 30.Bf2? because of 30...Rxd6 31.Qxc4+ Ree6.)
29...Kg8 30.Qd2!
The queen is switching directions again and again. This time the b4 is under attack and it supports the d-pawn.
30...a5?
The decisive mistake, but the position was difficult anyway. 30...Rd8 31.Qxb4 is also bad.

[FEN "4r1k1/7p/2bP1pp1/p7/1pp1r2P/6B1/PP1Q1PPK/8 w - - 0 31"]
31.d7!
The right moment for advancing the pawn. White correctly calculates that he wins material.
31...Rd8 32.Qd6! Bxd7 33.Qd5+! Re6 34.Bc7!+-
And the game is over!
34...Rde8 35.Qxd7 c3 36.bxc3 bxc3 37.Bf4 c2 38.Bh6 R6e7 39.Qd5+ Re6 40.Qc4 1-0
Black resigned! A great opening and a very nice attacking game!


Clash of the Titans: Fischer-Weinstein
by Kamil Miton
Fischer,Robert James - Weinstein,Raymond Allen

USA-ch New York (1), 18.12.1960
French Defense [C19]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5

[FEN "rnbqk2r/pp2nppp/4p3/2ppP3/3P4/P1P5/2P2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 7"]
7.a4!?
In general this move is very useful but in this concrete position White usually plays other moves:
7.Qg4 0-0 (7...Qc7 leads to very complex play after 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Ne2 Nbc6 11.f4 Bd7 12.Qd3 dxc3 and
Black is looking for a strong initiative on the queenside.) 8.Bd3 f5 (8...Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3) 9.exf6 Rxf6 10.Bg5
Rf7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qd1 Nbc6 13.Nf3 and is not easy for White to prove an advantage because of the weak dark squares.
7.Nf3 Qc7 8.h4 This is the alternative plan. White is going to create some weaknesses on the kingside. 8...b6!? with the
idea to exchange bishops. 9.h5 h6 The only move! 10.Bb5+! A strong move which was probably discovered by Fischer.
White simply prevents Ba6. 10...Bd7 11.Bd3 Ba4 An important square for the black bishop. In many lines Black also
plays Qa5-Qa4 just to prevent the activation of the white bishop after a4-Ba3. 12.Kf1!?.
7...Nbc6 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Qd2
White wants to keep the opportunity to develop the bishop to a3 but in my opinion the whole setup looks very artificial.
9.Bd2 Bd7 unclear.
9...Bd7 10.Bd3

[FEN "r3k2r/pp1bnppp/2n1p3/q1ppP3/P2P4/2PB1N2/2PQ1PPP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 0 10"]
10...c4?!
I don't like this move. In my opinion Black could equalize after 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 (12.Kxd2 Na5
Without the queens on the board the a3-f8 diagonal has no big meaning and Black has good counterplay over the c-
file.) 12...Nf5 13.Bxf5 exf5 and only Black can be better here!
11.Be2 0-0-0 12.Ba3 f6 13.0-0 Nf5 14.Rfe1 Be8

[FEN "2krb2r/pp4pp/2n1pp2/q2pPn2/P1pP4/B1P2N2/2PQBPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 15"]
Black is going to activate his pieces. It was also possible to play 14...h5!? 15.Bf1 h4 unclear.
15.g4!
White's only plan is to regroup his pieces and to create pressure on the kingside.
15...Nfe7 16.Bf1 Bd7
16...h5 17.exf6 gxf6 18.g5 unclear with the idea to get control of the dark squares.
(18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Rxe6 hxg4 20.Rxe7
gxf3 21.Qf4 Bd7 unclear); 16...f5? 17.Ng5+/-.
17.Bh3
It is clear what Fischer wants. He could immediately try 17.exf6 gxf6 18.g5 Rhg8 19.Kh1 fxg5 20.Nxg5 Nf5! In a
dynamic position it is important to play very actively. 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.Rxe6 Ncxd4 23.Bh3! Nxe6 24.Bxf5 Rde8
25.Re1 Rg6 26.Bxg6 hxg6 unclear.
17...h6!
Black simply prevents White's idea.
18.Bd6

[FEN "2kr3r/pp1bn1p1/2nBpp1p/q2pP3/P1pP2P1/2P2N1B/2PQ1P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Rdf8!
Black also looks for the best places for his pieces.
19.Rab1 Rf7
19...fxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rf7 22.f4 h5! with the idea to stop the f5 break.; 19...f5 20.gxf5 Nxf5 An original
strategical sacrifice! 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Bxf5 Rxf5 and I suppose that because of White's many weaknesses, Black has
full compensation.
20.exf6 gxf6 21.Bg3

[FEN "2k4r/pp1bnr2/2n1pp1p/q2p4/P1pP2P1/2P2NBB/2PQ1P1P/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 21"]
21...Ng6
Black prevents the Qf4 threat.

22.Rb5?!
The beginning of a strange plan. White should probably create something over the e-file and on the kingside, so the idea
to double rooks on the b-file cannot be dangerous for Black.
22...Qa6?!
Why not take the a4 pawn immediately? 22...Qxa4 23.Rbb1 Qa3-/+.
23.Reb1
23.Qc1!? with the idea to activate the queen over Qa3-Qd6. 23...Qxa4 24.Qb2 threatening Ra1.
23...b6
And the white rooks are stopped very easily.
24.Qc1 Qxa4 25.R5b2
Threatening Ra1.
25...Qa3 26.Qe3 Kb7 27.Nh4 Nxh4 28.Bxh4

[FEN "7r/pk1b1r2/1pn1pp1p/3p4/2pP2PB/q1P1Q2B/1RP2P1P/1R4K1 b - - 0 28"]
28...e5??
A huge strategical mistake. Black opens the position and with one move activates all the white pieces!
29.dxe5 fxe5
The decisive mistake! Black lost a good game in just two moves!
29...Re8 30.Rxb6+ (30.Bg2 Rxe5 31.Qd2 with initiative and here White has many attacking targets like d5-h6 and even
b6.) 30...axb6 31.Qxb6+ Kc8 32.e6 Rxe6 33.g5 Qa7! preventing the white queen from activating. 34.Bxe6 Qxb6
35.Rxb6 Bxe6 36.g6 Rg7 37.Rxc6+ Kd7 38.Ra6 Rxg6+=.
30.Rxb6+!+-
And White is winning very quickly now!

30...Ka8 31.R6b5 Be6 32.Bg3 e4

[FEN "k6r/p4r2/2n1b2p/1R1p4/2p1p1P1/q1P1Q1BB/2P2P1P/1R4K1 w - - 0 33"]
33.Qxh6! 1-0
Copyright 2014 Chess Evolution and ChessEdu.org. All Rights Reserved.

This month we present a lightly edited excerpt from Chess Evolution Top GM Secrets Newsletter #156.
Top GM Secrets is released every Friday of the week. The newsletter contains twenty-plus pages of great
chess material written by top grandmasters Arkadij Naiditsch and Csaba Balogh, along with theoretical

articles by GM Alexander Khalifman, puzzles, endgames, and more.
A Great Game by Anand!

By Csaba Balogh
Anand,Viswanathan (2797) - Aronian,Levon (2777)

4th Zurich CC Classical SUI (2.3), 15.02.2015
Gruenfeld Defence [D97]
Anand has a terrible personal score against Aronian, but in this game he takes a nice revenge. It would be very
interesting to know how long his preparation lasted, perhaps it was until he reached a completely winning position. In
any case, Vishy wins a very nice game.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
A surprise by Aronian. He only occasionally employs the Gruenfeld Defence, but recently everyone faces serious
difficulties about how to play for and edge against it.
4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3
Anand sticks to his amazing preparation, which he did before the World Championship match against Carlsen. He got a
very promising position there in this 5.Qb3 system.
5...dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4

[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/5np1/8/2QPP3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQ - 0 7"]
7...Na6
Aronian follows the game against Carlsen and the old main line used in so many games successfully by Kasparov.
However recently all the experts are trying different setups like 7...a6 or 7...Nc6.
8.Be2 c5 9.d5 e6 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5
The initial position of the 7...Na6 system.

11...Re8
The other main line is 11...Bf5, but they often transpose to each other.
12.Rd1
The main line, but at the same time the deviation from the Anand-Carlsen WCC game from last year November. White
supports his main trump, the d5 passed pawn, which sometimes becomes extremely strong when it starts to advance.
The Anand-Carlsen game continued with the rare 12.Bg5; Arkadij commented it in detail in a previous issue of our
newsletter.
12...Bf5
Black usually pins his counterplay to the Ne4 move, which opens the diagonal of the g7 bishop, which is often
threatening with tactical ideas like Nxc3 followed by Re4 or just the positional plan of a Nd6 retreat. The knight could
become the ideal blockader of the passed pawn.
13.d6
Everything is still known with hundreds of games in the database. White has in mind to play Ng5 sometimes or Qb3,
attacking the b7 pawn and threatening Bb5 or Bc4.
13...h6!
The correct answer. Black has to take control over the g5 square.
Many players have fallen into the opening trap of 13...Ne4 which is strongly met by 14.d7! Re7 15.Nxe4 Rxe4

[FEN "r2q2k1/pp1P1pbp/n5p1/2p2b2/2Q1r3/5N2/PP2BPPP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Bg5! We can clearly see the strength of the d7 pawn. White comes out with a big advantage from the complications.
One important line is 16...Qxd7 17.Rxd7 Rxc4 18.Rxb7! Ra4 19.Rd1+/- with a big advantage for White. Suddenly the
black pieces are poorly placed and the king is getting very vulnerable. One direct threat is Rxa7 because after Rxa7 Rd8
Bf8 Bh6 wins.
14.Be3
This is the new direction prepared by Anand.
Almost all the games continued with 14.Bf4 Nd7 even such classical ones as Karpov-Kasparov from their World
Championship match back in 1987.
14...Ng4!
Aronian tries to point out the drawback of the previous move with the most direct answer.
14...Ne4 is again met by 15.d7! Re7 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 (16...Rxe4 17.Qd5 is too strong! The b7, c5 and a6 are hanging. This
is one of the points of the 14.Be3 move, as the e2 bishop is hanging now.) 17.Rd6! and Rad1 next. The d7 pawn
paralyzes the black pieces.
15.Bf4

[FEN "r2qr1k1/pp3pb1/n2P2pp/2p2b2/2Q2Bn1/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Bxc3!
This is the tactical point of the previous knight move! If Black gives up his favorite bishop, there must be serious reason
to do it. The point is that the bishop has moved into the Re4 fork. The Gruenfeld players must be good in creativity and
very strong in calculation, which in general fits perfectly both Anand's and Aronian's style.
16.bxc3 Re4
Black wins a piece, but the game goes on. Obviously Anand had to be prepared for all these things.
17.Qb5 Rxf4 18.Qxb7
Black is a piece up, but his pieces are totally uncoordinated. He must try to consolidate in the next couple of moves.
18...Ra4
The human move, indirectly protecting the a6 knight.
The machine shows a brilliant variation, which seems to lead to a forced draw 18...c4!! 19.Qxa6

[FEN "r2q2k1/p4p2/Q2P2pp/5b2/2p2rn1/2P2N2/P3BPPP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 19"]
19...Bd3!! 20.Bxd3 Rxf3! Of course it is impossible to find these ideas over the board. Black eliminates the main
defender of the king and Qh4 is coming next move with a scary attack... 21.gxf3 (21.Qxc4 Qh4 comes anyway.)
21...Qh4! There is nothing else left to do for Black, he sacrifices all his pieces... 22.fxg4 Qxg4+ 23.Kf1 Qh3+ 24.Ke1
White might try to avoid the perpetual check by moving the king towards the center, but he cannot escape from it...
24...Re8+ 25.Be2 (25.Kd2?? Qxd3+ 26.Kc1 Qxc3+ 27.Kb1 Rb8+-+) 25...Qg4! A subtle move, when Black is a rook
and bishop down! It is important to protect to c4 pawn to stop the white queen from joining the defence. 26.f3 Qg1+
27.Kd2 Qg5+ and White is forced to agree a draw with 28.Ke1= (28.Kc2?? loses to 28...Rxe2+ 29.Kb1 Qf5+ and mate
on c2!).
19.d7!
This position was clearly part of Anand's preparation. The lines show that in case of Black's perfect reply the game is
balanced, but obviously to play such a sharp position over the board is quite impossible for a human, so it is a good
practical choice for Anand to opt for this position. Black is still a piece up, but his pieces are misplaced and the d7
pawn keeps many tactical resources at White's disposal.
19.Bxa6? right away was wrong in view of 19...Rb8! and White cannot save his a6 bishop. 20.Qc6 (20.Qxa7 Ra8-+)
20...Bd7!-+ is the point and the bishop falls.
19...Be4
The alternative was 19...Nc7 saving the knight, but White has strong counterplay here as well after 20.h3! Nf6

[FEN "r2q2k1/pQnP1p2/5npp/2p2b2/r7/2P2N1P/P3BPP1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Ne5! creating the threat of Nc6 and Qb3, with a double attack on a4 and f7! 21...Nxd7 22.Nxf7! Black must accept
the sacrifice. 22...Kxf7 (Other moves are much worse, for instance 22...Qf8 23.Nd6+- wins for White . Too many
pieces are hanging. The c7 knight, the f5 bishop and then the d7 knight and also Qb3 check.) 23.Qb3+ Kg7 24.Qxa4+=
The position has simplified and White's prospects are better. He is already doing fine materially and the black knights
remain uncoordinated.
20.Qb3 Bc6?
A blunder which causes the loss of the game for Black.
The only move was the ugly 20...Ra5 protecting the pieces on the a-file. 21.Nd2

[FEN "r2q2k1/p2P1p2/n5pp/r1p5/4b1n1/1QP5/P2NBPPP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 21"]
Attacking many pieces again. The g4, the e4 are hanging directly and Nc4 is threatening to trap the rook. Black is forced
to sacrifice to survive this tension somehow... 21...Bxg2! Surprisingly Black survives the complications in all the lines.
22.Nc4
(22.Bxg4 Qg5; 22.Kxg2 Qh4) 22...Rb8 23.Nxa5 Rxb3 24.axb3 Ne5 25.Kxg2 Nb8 and Black eliminates the d7
pawn and solves most of his problems. These are all computer lines and it is very hard to understand what is going on
for us.

[FEN "r2q2k1/p2P1p2/n1b3pp/2p5/r5n1/1QP2N2/P3BPPP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Rd6!
The rook joins the game with decisive power. Black has no good way to deal with the hanging of the c6 bishop because
the a4 rook must also be protected. Rxg6 is an additional threat.
21...Bxd7
21...c4 22.Qd1!+- is over. The c6 and the a4 are hanging and after 22...Bb5 23.Qd5!+- wins because of the Rxg6 check
threat.; 21...Rb8 22.Qd1 leads to the same problems as the 21...c4 line. 22...Rb6 23.Rxc6! Rxc6 24.Qxa4+-.
22.Rad1!+-
As simple as that! Black cannot solve problems despite his extra piece. Even Qxa4 is a threat.
22...Qb8 23.Rxd7 Qxb3 24.axb3 Ra2
The material is balanced, but the weakness of the black king and the misplacement of the a6 knight decides the game.
25.Bc4! Rf8 26.R7d6!
The final b low! White wins as not just the a6 knight is hanging, but Rxg6-Rxg4 is also in the air.
26...Kg7 27.Rxa6 Rxf2 28.Re1 1-0
What a great game by Anand!


A Happy End For Both Players

By Arkadij Naiditsch
Bartel,Mateusz (2631) - Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2714)

16th ch-EUR Indiv 2015 Jerusalem ISR (11.3), 08.03.2015
Sicilian Moscow Variation [B51]
We are in the last round of the ECC and both players are on a score of +4, which is enough to qualify for the World
Cup, but knowing Bartel and Nepomniachtchi we could be sure we would get a fighting game instead of a short draw.
The young Russian was leading the tournament for quite a while, but a loss to Navara dropped him back, so he could
only fight for the 2nd-3rd placed with a win. To play Bartel is never easy, as we sometimes see the Polish player lose to
anyone in 20 moves with White, or he can have great games and win against almost anybody.
1.e4 c5
A sign that it is going to be a fighting game!
2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+
Maybe a sign that Bartel is happy with a draw?! 3.Bb5 is counted as a very safe move, but it seems to give Black more
or less equal play.
3...Nc6
3...Bd7 is the main reply here.
4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bxc6
This is a rather rarely played line, much more popular is 6.Bf1.
6...Bxc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4
It is never great to give away a bishop in the Sicilian, but White sort of gained a tempo. Of course according to theory
Black is OK here.
8...Bd7
This is a very rare move. The usual reply here is 8...Nf6 or 8...Rc8.

[FEN "r2qkbnr/1p1bpppp/p2p4/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQR1K1 w kq - 0 9"]
9.Bg5!
A good reply by Bartel! Black can't get the knight from g8 that easily into the game now. In case White would continue
with the simple 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Bg5 Black would be in time now to develop with 10...e6 and his position is very solid.
9...Nf6
I am not sure about this move at all. Maybe Black should have tried something "crazy", which actually would perfectly
fit Ian's style. 9...h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Of course it looks very dangerous to weaken the pawn structure that much when
the king is still on e8 and the pieces are still undeveloped, but Black has the bishop pair, something we should not
forget about. 11...h5! The key move! (After the usual
11...Bg7 12.Nc3 followed by Nd5 or Nf5 or even e5. White is
better.)
12.h3 e5! playing against the g3 bishop. The position is very complicated.
10.Bxf6
Of course White takes the chance to give Black a "bad" pawn structure.
10...gxf6 11.Nc3
We often see this kind of structure in the Rauzer, but somehow now it looks like White is at least a few tempos up. In
case Black would manage to develop and maybe castle kingside, things would be fine, but White is very active now and
will have direct threats already in couple of moves from now.
11...e6

[FEN "r2qkb1r/1p1b1p1p/p2ppp2/8/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QR1K1 w kq - 0 12"]
12.Qh5!
The white queen is perfectly placed on h5, also preventing Black from playing Qa5 himself.
12...Bg7?!
Black is looking for trouble. Now the d6 pawn is also getting weak. Black could have tried to activate his rook over c5:
12...Rc8 but White has the very interesting 13.Nf5!? Rc5 and the second knight is joining the attack. 14.Nd5!? None of
the knights can be taken and I guess that because of Black's very poor development we could say that White at least has
a strong initiative.
13.Rad1
White brings the last piece into the game and the white rooks can always be transported to the nice g3 square over the
3rd rank.
13...Rc8?!
And after this logical move Black's position is just lost!

[FEN "2rqk2r/1p1b1pbp/p2ppp2/7Q/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/3RR1K1 w k - 0 14"]
It is already not that simple to find a "good defense" against White's Nf5, but maybe Black could have tried 13...Qc7
14.Rd3 (Whites can also consider playing 14.Nf5 exf5 15.exf5+ Kf8 16.Re7! Kxe7 17.Nd5+ Kd8 18.Nxc7 Kxc7 19.Qxf7
Rhg8 and we have a strange position, with queen against rook+2 bishops, but both bishops are passive and the black
king is still under attack. It is quite sure that White is not worse, but it is hard to tell if he is better!) 14...Qc5 Black's
position is still very dangerous, but at least things are not that clear.
14.Nf5!
Bartel doesn't miss his chance for this typical tactical blow.
14...exf5
Black has no choice but to take on f5.
15.exf5+ Kf8
And here comes the move that Black probably missed.

16.Ne4!
White wants to play Nxd6, attacking the f7 pawn and the rook on c8.
16...Bc6
It is already hard to give Black any advice. There is no good way to defend from Nxd6.
17.Nxd6 Qc7
At least Ian found a way not to get mated on the spot.
18.Nxc8 Qxc8
White has a rook and 2 pawns against the black bishop-pair, where the g7 bishop is more looking like a pawn. White is
clearly close to winning here.
19.Rd4 Qc7 20.Qd1
Rd8 is a deadly threat.
20...Bh6 21.h4!
Stopping Black from playing Kg7 because of Qg4 check and the threat of playing Rd8 followed by Qg4.
21...Qa5
Black is looking for chances, attacking the f5 pawn and making the rook on e1 feeling observed.
22.Rd8+
Bartel continues his good play and it is easy to see why, as a win would give him a chance to get a place on the podium!
22...Kg7 23.Qg4+ Bg5
Now that the bishop on g5 is pinned White is simply collecting the material.

[FEN "3R3r/1p3pkp/p1b2p2/q4Pb1/6QP/8/PPP2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 24"]
24.Rdd1!
So far Bartel played a perfect game! The bishop on g5 can't be rescued and it seems like the game is almost over.
24...h6!
I can't say that Black has any chances to save the game, but from a practical point of view this is clearly the best chance.
At least the rook from h8 gets into the game and the black king on g7 has a safe position.
25.a3
Bartel continues choosing the most safe moves. Why give the a2 pawn away?!
25...Qc7 26.Qg3
Protecting the h2 square, just in case.
26...Qa5
And again the f5 pawn is under attack, so White needs to think about what to do next.
27.f4?!
From a practical point of view this is clearly a bad decision. The white king's position is getting very open now and
there was no reason at all for such risky action. After a simple move like 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Re7 White is a full exchange
up! 28...Qxf5 29.Qb3 Qg6 The black queen is getting to h5 which looks dangerous, but in fact it is just nothing. 30.Rd4
Qh5 31.f3 and Black doesn't have anything more than one check on h1. White is totally winning.
27...Qc5+
Black is planning a very nice tactical blow.
28.Re3
Of course it is not pleasant to put the king on the h-file after which hxg5 would already not be a threat anymore.

[FEN "7r/1p3pk1/p1b2p1p/2q2Pb1/5P1P/P3R1Q1/1PP3P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 28"]
28...Bxg2!
And this is clearly the move Bartel missed. The bishop on g2 can't be taken!
29.fxg5
The bishop on g5 has to be taken sooner or later. 29.Kxg2? Qxc2+ and Black is winning the d1 rook.
29...hxg5
The g2 bishop is still untouchable.
30.hxg5!
Bartel shows great nerves and exact calculation in such an important game! The white king is totally "naked" but the
black king is also getting under attack now.
30...Rh1+
It is hard to say if White calculated it all or if he was just a bit lucky, but Black is losing by force now, if White finds the
only move. In case of 30...Be4 31.gxf6+ Kxf6 White can enter a winning endgame after 32.Qd6+ Qxd6 33.Rxd6+ Kxf5
34.Rd4 and some technique is still needed to win the game, but objectively the position is of course winning.
31.Kxg2

[FEN "8/1p3pk1/p4p2/2q2PP1/8/P3R1Q1/1PP3K1/3R3r b - - 0 31"]
31...Qc6+
Black is fighting! 31...Rxd1 32.gxf6+ Kxf6 33.Qh4+ leads to mate in a couple of moves.
32.Rf3!
The only winning move!
32...Rxd1
Now Black can't play 32...Qxc2+ because the rook on h1 is hanging. 33.Kxh1
33.gxf6+ Kxf6
White is only a pawn up, but now it is Bartel who starts to mate his opponent's king.
34.Qh4+ Kg7 35.f6+!
Once again the only winning move for White! It was not to hard to find this one, but to see all this before playing 30.
hxg5 is everything but easy.
35...Kg8
White is also easily winning after 35...Kg6 36.Qg4+ Kh6 37.Qg7+ Kh5 38.Qxf7+
36.Qg3+ Kf8
Maybe somebody else would just play 37. Qg7 followed by Qg8 here, with a win of the f-pawn, but not Bartel! He finds
a very beautiful mating idea!
37.Qb8+ Qe8

[FEN "1Q2qk2/1p3p2/p4P2/8/8/P4R2/1PP3K1/3r4 w - - 0 38"]
38.Rh3!
Black has no defense against Rh8. What a beautiful mating idea!
38...Rd2+ 39.Kf3 1-0
We just saw a great game by Bartel and of course clearly not the best game of Nepomniachtchi, who was practically lost
after just 14 moves! Anyhow, this win gave Bartel the bronze medal and good prize money, while Nepomniachtchi was
very lucky to take one of the last places to qualify for the World Cup 2015 in Baku. So it was actually a happy end for
both players!


A Nice Win by Nakamura

By Csaba Balogh
Troff,Kayden W (2532) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2798)
ch-USA 2015 Saint Louis USA (8.1), 09.04.2015
Modern Benoni [A62]
Nakamura has convincingly won the U.S. Championship. Let's examine one of his victories.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6

[FEN "rnbqkb1r/pp3p1p/3p1np1/2pP4/8/2N2N2/PP2PPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7"]
Recently it is extremely hard to win a game, especially with the black pieces because everybody is very well prepared in
the openings. Nakamura shows his intention right in the beginning of the game. The Benoni defense is considered to be
a bit risky, but very sharp opening and it was exactly what he needed to outplay his young GM opponent.
7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0
The initial position of the g3 system. This position arises more often from the King's Indian defense. A huge line with a
lot of theory.
9...Re8 10.Re1
White wants to occupy the center with e4.
10...a6
Black tries to ground on the queenside, which must be prevented with a4, but it creates some holes in the white camp.
These are all standard ideas.
11.a4 Nbd7 12.e4 Ng4
Transferring the knight to it's ideal square on e5.

13.Nd2
A typical maneouvre to drive the knight to c4. If White could play Nc4, Bf4 and a5, he would achieve the maximum of
this opening, but of course, Black also has his trumphs.
It is not advisable to occupy the center with the pawns by playing 13.h3 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 The trading of the pair of
knights favors Black, as he is lacking of space, therefore the maneouvering with his pieces inside his camp will be more
easy. If it was his move, he could play c4, establishing a knight on d3, while after 15.f4 Nc4! with strong pressure on
the h8-a1 diagonal. The g7 bishop is very strong now and if White kicks out the knight with Qd3 for instance, Na5
could come with a new direction to occupy the hole on b3!
13...Nge5 14.Bf1
White has to establish control over the d3 and c4 squares to prevent Black's counterplay.

[FEN "r1bqr1k1/1p1n1pbp/p2p2p1/2pPn3/P3P3/2N3P1/1P1N1P1P/R1BQRBK1 b - - 0 14"]
We can see the point why White wants to keep all knights on board. Now the one on e5 is nice, but is threatened by
getting trapped by f4! Nakamura plays another typical move, which helps him to keep his knight on e5!
Preventing Nd3 with a developing move is inferior 14.Qc2 is strongly met by 14...c4! preparing to install an annoying
knight to d3 15.Bf1 comes too late, because Black gets too big activity after

[FEN "r1bqr1k1/1p1n1pbp/p2p2p1/3Pn3/P1p1P3/2N3P1/1PQN1P1P/R1B1RBK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Nc5! The knight cannot take on c4 because of Nf3 and after 16.Bxc4 Bh3! followed by Rc8. All black pieces are
standing perfectly which clearly worth the value of a pawn. White cannot play like this.
14...g5!
Black starts his fight for the dark squares on f4 and e5. If it was his move, he would push g4, creating eternal outpost for
the knight on e5 by preventing f4 forever.
15.h3
White prevents g4 and would like to push f4 later at some point after some preparation.
15.f4 right away was premature, because the white pieces are not supporting well the center. Black could quickly get his
counterplay with 15...gxf4 16.gxf4 Ng6 17.Nf3
(17.Nc4 is stongly met by 17...Bd4+! 18.Kh1 Nf6 with pressure on all
the pawns and threatening with Bg4 or Ng4.) 17...Qf6 forcing White to push f5, but it gives up the e5 square.
15...Qf6
Black continues fighting for the dark squares.
16.Qh5
Troff tries to show the drawback of the g6-g5 move, namely, that it has weaken the h5 and f5 squares. The plan is to
drive the c3 knight to f5 through d1-e3. Nakamura was familiar with this positional ideas of the opening and he makes
an excellent preparation for this plan.

[FEN "r1b1r1k1/1p1n1pbp/p2p1q2/2pPn1pQ/P3P3/2N3PP/1P1N1P2/R1B1RBK1 b - - 0 16"]
16...Bh6!
With the intention of playing Qg7, Nf6 and g4. The knights are occupying the f6-e5 squares (closing the a1-h8
diagonal), but the bishop finds another great diagonal to stay on!
On the natural 16...h6 to strengthen the g5 pawn, the plan of the game is much more efficient. 17.Nd1! and Ne3 next.
17.Nd1
White consequently follows his plan.
17...g4?!
A tempting move, which was seriously criticized by Nakamura himself.

Black should have followed his initial idea with 17...Qg7! 18.Ne3 Nf6 19.Qd1 g4! and he is doing very well.
18.Ne3!
Of course not 18.hxg4? because of 18...Bxd2 19.Bxd2 Nf3+ 20.Kg2 Nxd2-+
18...Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Qg7!
Freeing the f6 square for the knight. The queen looks kind of trapped on h5, but it finds an unusual way to come back to
the game.
20.hxg4 Nxg4
20...Nf6 could be a transposition.

[FEN "r1b1r1k1/1p1n1pqp/p2p4/2pP3Q/P3P1n1/4R1P1/1P1N1P2/R1B2BK1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Rc3?
It is very deep and hard to foresee, but White should have overprotect his e4 pawn in order to be able to leave the d2
square with his knight and finish the development (ideally Nc4 and Bf4). If Black cannot do anything concrete against
it, his position simple becomes much worse. 21.Re2! The plan executed in the game does not work properly now,
because after 21...Ndf6 White needs find some artificial moves 22.Qh1! Re5 23.Qg2! leaving from the Rh5 threat and
intending to play Nc4! 23...Rh5 24.Nf3! White protects everything and Bf4 is coming next. Despite his strange queen
on g2, White is much better.
21...Ndf6 22.Qh1

[FEN "r1b1r1k1/1p3pqp/p2p1n2/2pP4/P3P1n1/2R3P1/1P1N1P2/R1B2BKQ b - - 0 22"]
22...Re5!
Very nice atta cking idea by Black. He drops his rook to the h-file. In comparison with the 21.Re2 line, White has
problems with his e4 pawn and he cannot get his knight ideally to c4 or f3.
23.Qf3
Leaving from the Rh5 tempo.
Now on 23.Qg2 Rh5 and Rh2 is coming next. Nf3 does not work this time because the e4 is hanging.; 23.f3? loses
nicely to 23...Rh5 24.Qg2 Rh2 trapping the queen.
23...Bd7
Bringing the rest of the pieces to the game! The other rook also arrives to the e-file, putting pressure on the e4 target.
It was easy to go wrong with some premature moves like 23...Qh6? 24.Qg2 Black has moved into different motifs with
discovered attack on the queen after jumping away with the knight. 24...Qh5 25.f3! pushes back the black pieces
25...Nh6 26.Nc4 and suddenly Black collapses.
24.Qd3?
A blunder, but it was difficult to play the position.
The critical line was 24.Rb3 but it strongly met by 24...Rae8! 25.Rxb7 Qg6! with huge compensation for the sacrificed
pawn. All black pieces are standing well. Here is one line to illustrate their power 26.Rb6 attack the d6 pawn, but
suddenly after

[FEN "4r1k1/3b1p1p/pR1p1nq1/2pPr3/P3P1n1/5QP1/1P1N1P2/R1B2BK1 b - - 0 26"]
26...Bf5!! Black gets a very strong attack. 27.exf5 (27.Rxd6 Qh5 28.Qg2 Nxe4)
27...Rxf5 28.Qh1 Rxf2-+ White will be
punished for his undeveloped pieces.; It is easy to understand, that White did not want allow the black rook penetrate
on the back rankafter 24.Nc4 Rxe4 25.Nxd6 Re1 threatening with Rxf1 and Nh2.
24...Qh6!
Nakamura does not let the oportunity slip away and he makes use of his opponent's mistake.
25.Bg2
25.Nf3 is simple met by 25...Qh5! leaving from the attack and White cannot protect his e4 pawn!
25...Qh2+ 26.Kf1

[FEN "r5k1/1p1b1p1p/p2p1n2/2pPr3/P3P1n1/2RQ2P1/1P1N1PBq/R1B2K2 b - - 0 26"]
26...Nxf2!
A well-calculated sacrifice gives Black a winning advantage.
27.Kxf2 Bh3! 28.Qf1

[FEN "r5k1/1p3p1p/p2p1n2/2pPr3/P3P3/2R3Pb/1P1N1KBq/R1B2Q2 b - - 0 28"]
White is threatening to solve the problems with Qh1, forcing the trade of the queens and preserve his extra piece, but a
decisive blow was prepared by Black before sacrificing on f2 a couple of moves ago.
28.Qf3 loses to 28...Ng4+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+! 30.Ke2 Qxg2+ 31.Qxg2 Bxg2-+ with material advantage and better position.
28...Rxe4!! 29.Nxe4
29.Qh1 refuted nicely by 29...Ng4+ 30.Kf3 Bxg2+ 31.Qxg2 Ne5+ 32.Kf2 Re2+-+ wins the queen.
29...Nxe4+ 30.Ke3
The point is after 30.Kf3 Qxg3+! 31.Kxe4 Re8# is a nice mate in the middle of the board.
30...Bxg2 31.Qf4 Nxc3
It is all over now. Even materially Black is ahead, but the main problem is the king on e3, which cannot survive for
long.
32.Qg5+ Kf8 33.bxc3 Re8+ 34.Kf2 Bh1+ 0-1
White resigned in view of Qg2 mate next move. A very nice win by Nakamura!

Arkadij Naiditsch - Chess Cafe - Chess Evolution - 1-39

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Contributors to the September 4/2011 issue include Naiditsch, Maze,

Chess A "Do-Not-Play-Again" Move

E. Bacrot (2710) R. Edouard (2587) Chess Informants 107-109

Overall, an interesting fighting game, but less interesting theoretically: 11...

11...Na5 is the main move in the position.

Play through and download

Chess Informant 110

Not the best! The right move was:

This is clearly the main move here.

13.Rad1 Na5 14.d5 Nxb3 15.axb3 h6 16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.d6+/- Caruana

12...Na5 13.Bc2 Nc4 14.Qe2

A critical moment of the game.

14...Nxb2! was possible after which Black is at least equal.

16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Ne4 Na4

28.Nxh7! A very beautiful tactic. 28...Bxc2 (28...Qxh7 29.Qd2 Bxc2 30.Qxc2

19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Ne5

20.Qe3 Kg7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+=

20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kh7 24.Qh4+=

21...Kg7 22.Qg4+ Kxh7 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Qh5+=

17.Bxd8 Nxc3 18.Qd2

15...Na5 16.d5 exd5 17.Bxd5+/-.

15...Nb6 16.Ne5+/= Bc6 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 (17...bxc6 18.Qxa6+/-) 18.Bxf6 Bxf6

18...Bxf6 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Ne4 Be7

20...Bxd4 21.Ng5 e5 22.Qe4 g6 23.Qh4 h5 24.Rxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.

18.Bh4 b4 19.d5 exd5 (19...Nfxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd7 Bxh4 22.Nxf8

18.Bxf6! Bxf6 19.Qe4

With the simple and almost deadly threat of Bc2.

19...b4 20.Bc2 g6 21.Nxg6 fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Bg7 23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.Bg6++

20.dxe5 Nc4 21.Bc2 g6 22.Bb3+/-

The idea is that after:

23.Bxe6! Bxe6 24.Rxd8 Rfxd8 25.Qh4!+/-

18.Bf4!? is also interesting with the idea Rd3 followed by Bxh6 or a

19.d5! A killing move. 19...exd5 20.Nxd5 Nbxd5 21.Bxd5+ Black is losing

19...Nc4 20.Bc2 Kh8 21.Rg3 with a strong attack.

The best defence!

22.Ne4 exd5 23.Bxd5 Bb5-/+

22...bxc3 23.bxc3 fxe6 24.Bxe6

30...Be7 31.Rxg8 Kxg8 32.Rxe7+

22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Rd4

Black's first big mistake and also his last.

Black should have played:

24...Qxd7 25.dxe6 Qc6 unclear 26.Nd5

With the idea of preventing White from playing Qc3.

27.bxc3 Bg5 28.f4 Bh4 29.g3 fxe6! 30.Nb4 Qb7

24.dxe6! Bxd4 25.Qxd4

25...Qf6 26.exd7 Rcd8 27.Re3 Ne7 28.Rf3 Nc6

28...Nf5 29.Qe4 Qg5 30.h4!+

29.Nxf7+ Rxf7 30.Qxf6+ 10

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Contributors to the September 4/2011 issue include Naiditsch, Maze,

Chess A Grnfeld Defence Queen Sacrifice

L. Aronian (2805) E. Sutovsky (2700) Fritz 13

The first round of the World Team Championship offered us Armenia

Chess Informant 111

d) White can defend his c3-pawn with:

11...Rb8!? intending ...b5.

12.Nc4 Qc7 13.dxc5 Qc6 unclear

12...b5 counterplay, Black has good play.

Black may also try taking a pawn with:

9...00 10.Be2 Qxc3

11.Rc1 Qa3 12.Rxc5 Qxa2

White can develop some initiative with: