Dejan Bojkov Chess Blog

Exciting Finish in Queenstown

2012-01-26T08:03:00.002+02:00

As interesting as it started, the even more interesting it ended. This is the brief description of what had happened in Queenstown’s third edition of the Classic Tournament which took place between 15-23 January.

There is something special about this event. No, sorry, this was too mild. Everything is special about it! The fact that it is made on every three years, the exceptional beauty of the nature in Queenstown, the rare species that can be seen only here, even the travelling time to this wonderful place. It is worth all the efforts, I assure you, and the tournament itself is magnificent.
New Zealand is the only place where the kiwi birds can be found in the nature, and the locals are very proud of that. The rare the bird is, the rare the international tournaments are, but this should not be a problem for the chess travelers. And this one gathered together almost one hundred and fifty people from nineteen countries.
The promoter of the event, ideologist, founder and everything is GM Murray Chandler. No matter how modest he is this cannot be passed by. Every year he starts a journey from the North Island to the South one to assure that things will be in order. As you have already noticed in the previous reports, not everything started smoothly. However, the broken van was the first and only “bad move” in the event. Fortunately, without any severely bad consequences.
The International tournament is also an open New Zealand’s Championship, and at the closing ceremony one can see a long procession of “kiwis” queued for their prices. The top price, and the biggest cup was driven home by FM Michael Steadman who scored 6.5/9 and shared for the ninth place. He also received the right to represent New Zealand at the Olympiad. Do better watch out for him, he is very aggressive and entertaining!

The tournament is also a part of the Oceania Circuit, and here the champion is Darryl Johansen from Australia. He scored 7.5/9 and… also won the general tournament! There was a three-way tie for the first place but Darryl took yet another trophy thanks to his best tiebreak (number of wins- he had seven). The other two players in the triumvirate were the Chinese GMs Li Chao and Zhao Jun, but they both made three draws each. Johansen pulled out the win with three straight wins at the end, and in the last round he was very lucky as his opponent Gawain Jones rejected three fold repetition and eventually lost.
The tournament will be remembered with the high percentage of decisive games. One of the reasons was the rule that the players on first ten boards were not allowed to make draws before the thirty moves. Penalties were severe- first time punishment was 50 % of the eventual price won, and second penalty- 100%. I personally prefer the Australian method, which stimulated the fight with the fighting fund. However, as the organizers gave good conditions to the foreign titled players, they have the right to demand more from them.
Some players were more successful to others, and here is the time to mention three of them who earned IM norms. Trevor Tao (7/9) made his final one, and he is already over 2400 can claim the title. He had a great tournament, and could have even share the first place if he had punished Li Chao’s overambitious play in the final round. Irine Sukundar from Indonesia scored her fourth IM male norm and FM Junta Ikeda from Australia the toughest first one.
Gawain Jones won the brilliancy price game.

In Da Chess Club

2011-12-16T14:34:00.007+02:00

Chess.com is making a promotional video contest, and this is one product of the contest:

If you like to sing while watching it, here are the lyrics:
CHORUS:
You can find me in the club, acting like a thug
baby I got what you need if you need to play some bug
I'm into playing chess, I ain't into making love
so if you wanna mate with me you know where to look me up
You can find me in the club, acting like a thug
baby I got what you need if you need to play some bug
I'm into playing chess, I ain't into making love
so if you wanna mate with me, girl, you better know your stuff

When I'm rolling on Chrome you see chess.com
I bet you think you're pretty clever when you play the poison pawn
but Grandmaster G ain't never calculated wrong
and if you put me under pressure, keep it even, cool, and calm
But homie ain't nothing changed, Rook down, Queen up
got that Bishop in the corner fianchettoed from c1
if you watch how I move you'll mistake me for Deep Blue or Fritz
but make no mistake, fool, I don't think with a chip
Like the Black King's Bishop, son, I slay in the dark
I intimidate the ex-cons that play in the park
From New York to L.A., Paris to Moscow
the plan is to put the chess game in a lockdown
and I can't be stopped now, tactics on my mind
I got three days to play so I'm taking my time
and my trophies on the mantlepiece all in a row
got my homepage loaded and we're ready to go

CHORUS

and it doesn't even matter what opening you choose
the Sicilian or Indian, you're always gonna lose
I will smash through your defenses with my tactical tricks
why you playing the French, when this is a blitz, fool?
it's what I'm tearing you apart for
son I elevate trash talk to an art form
cause I'm fly like a g6, Accelerated Dragon
soaring over your head, spitting flames and laughing
no break in the action, I guess it's true what they say
you can hate the player, but you can't hate the game
still it's hard to get by in a material world,
I'm a positional guy, she's a material girl
and she was sitting next to me, like "boy will you teach chess to me?"
so I showed her all the moves, she was a tasty little recipe
soon I had her begging me for three-fold repetition,
but baby we should switch up and try some new positions
'cause I'm into playing quick, I ain't into laying plans
it's a smother mate, girl, call it a "one knight stand,"
baby I can make your bedrock, basics of chess man
put my King on the g-spot, O - O exclam!
and get you horny all for me
when I sack you like my Queen as if my name was Paul Morphy
uh, I know what you find arousing,
E.L.O. rating "over 9,000!"

straight up!
CHORUS

yeah, you know where we be
chess.com, all day, every day
shout out to my home team
who let the bulldogs out?
yeah, we the best man,
forget Bobby Fischer, we got Bobby Hess...
That's ridiculous
alright, we're done here man
cut it. Just... cut it.

[Mad props to the people whose patience and support made this video possible. I won't denigrate your good name by listing it here, but you know who you are, and this one's for you.]

Recovering from a Loss

2011-12-15T16:28:00.003+02:00

During my studies in the National Sports Academy we had many other subjects besides chess. Anatomy, psychology, biochemistry, sports medicine, etc. Some of them were not really related to chess, some very close to the aspect of our game. We also had many sports. And one winter day we headed towards the Vitosha mountains for a two-week ski course. I had never used skis in my life before. Nor skates nor any other sports that requires balance, and thus I was deeply worried.

The first thing that I did the first day was to fall. I was falling on every single angle, in every situation, at every occasion. People were laughing at me. But what they did not understand at this moment was that I was falling on purpose. I learned how to fall without being injured, and not to be afraid to do so. And in the remaining thirteen days I fell only one more time.

One of the first things that I now teach my students is how to fall. To attack, calculate, risk, and most of all- lose games. The earlier this fear is taken from them, the better. Those who risk will win. Draw is only half the reward, and no one remembers those games.

But that is only at the beginning. Then we start to play competitive chess, and need to face the unpleasantness of losing games. And not only to face it and to survive it, but to keep on moving after that. After all, there are still rounds to go, and one loss usually is not decisive in a tournament.

The following game was played in the penultimate round at the strong tournament in Sydney, 2010. I was leading the open with 6/7, while my opponent was half a point behind:
Bojkov,D (2505) - Zhao Zong Yuan (2592) [C00]
Sydney Int Open Parramatta AUS (8), 10.04.2010
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 Nge7 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 e5 9.a3 a5 10.a4 0–0 11.Na3 Kh8 12.Nb5 f5 Black did not handle the opening in the bets possible way, and White has now a pleasant choice how to gain the advantage. 13.exf5!? [13.Nd2 with the idea to bring the knight to c4 and attack the pawn on d6 was also great. 13...Be6 14.Nc4 Bxc4 15.dxc4 will discover the backward pawn on d6 anyways and Black is in trouble.] 13...gxf5 14.d4!

Once that the center is opened, White will have access to the opponent's weakened camp. 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 e4 16.Ng5 h6 17.Qh5 Kg8 18.Nh3 Rf6 19.Nf4 Bd7 White is obviously better. I just need to find the best way to place my pieces. 20.Qd1 [20.Bd2!?±] 20...Nb4 21.Bd2 Kh7 22.Bf1 A critical momemnt from psychological point of view. The sportive situation at this moment could be the decisive factor. [22.Bxb4 wins a pawn, but things are far from clear after- 22...axb4 23.Qb3 Bxb5 24.axb5 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 d5 26.Qxb4 Ng6 the opposite coloured bishops give chances for a successful defence for Black.; I also realized that if I wish to make a draw I can force repetition of moves- 22.Nh5 Rg6 23.Nf4 as the rook is forced to protect the d6 pawn, Black cannot deviate. A draw would have secured me leading position before the final round, and shared first place in case of a draw against the co-leader G. Jones in the final round. However, I became greedy, and decided to win a clear first place.] 22...Nbd5 23.Nh5 Rg6 24.Nxg7 Kxg7 Now I followed the intended forced line which I have foreseen with: 25.f3? Missing the strong reply: [Both: 25.Qb3 would be solid, and better for White.; Likewise, a small edge is preserved after: 25.Rc1] 25...e3!

26.Bxe3 Nxe3 27.Rxe3 f4 Tables have turned, now it is Black who is better. I could not adjust to the situation, and lost later. 28.Re2 fxg3 29.hxg3 Rxg3+ 30.Rg2 Rxg2+ 31.Bxg2 Nf5 32.Qd2 Qf6 33.d5 Kh7 34.Rc1 Rg8 35.Rc7 Rg7 36.Qc2 Kg8! The threats Nf5–e3 or Nf5–h4 cannot be faced. 37.Rxd7 Rxd7 38.Qc8+ Qd8 39.Qxd8+ Rxd8 40.Bh3 Ne3 41.b3 Kf7 42.Be6+ Kf6 43.Kf2 Nf5 44.f4 Ng7 45.Bg4 h5 46.Be2 h4 47.Bg4 Nf5 48.Kf3 Nh6 49.Be6 Nf5 50.Kg2 b6 51.Kh3 Ng7 52.Bg4 Nf5 53.Kh2 Rg8 54.Kh3 Rg7 55.Nc3 Re7 56.Bxf5 Kxf5 57.Nb5 Kxf4 58.Nxd6 Re3+ 59.Kxh4 Rxb3 60.Nf7 Kf5 0–1

What can we say after such a painful loss? Everything seemed to be irreparable. Instead of comfortably leading, now I needed to win as Black against India’s second GM (historically) D. Barua to maximally achieve shared first place, while a loss or even a draw would put me out of the prizes.

The bridges were burned, and the only good thing about the situation was that the next round was starting earlier than usual.
Barua,D (2479) - Bojkov,D (2505) [C55]
Sydney Int Open Parramatta AUS (9), 11.04.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.Bb3 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bc2 c5 9.a3 Nc6 10.h3 Re8 Here and on the next move, objectively best for Black is to orientate for the d6–d5 advance: [10...d5 11.b4 a6 Hoever, I wanted to keep as many pieces and pawns on the board as possible.] 11.Re1 h6 12.b4 a6 13.Nbd2 Bf8 14.Bb2 Qc7 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 cxb4 17.d5 Ne5 18.axb4 Bd7 Objectively speaking, White is slightly better as he controls the center. However the position now represents a kind of Benoni, and the Indian GM is a typical 1.e4 player, so I felt more confident about my future. And indeed, here he thought for a long time, and immediately comitted a mistake. 19.Qb1?! Letting the knight jump on an active position. I was expecting something like: [19.Rc1 Rac8 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Ba4 Qb6 (21...Qb8) 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Bxe5 Bxa4 24.Qxa4 Bxb4 with sharp, doubled-edged position.] 19...Nh5 20.Bd3 Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Nf4 Black gained the bishop pair, but it is hard to find a plan to open them. 22.Qb3 Rac8 23.Nd4 Qd8!

Threatening with 24...Qg5. 24.N2f3 Qb6 White lacks now the resource Nd2–c4–a5. These mikro-improvements of the position will discourage my opponent and he will fall in time-trouble. 25.h4 If the knight goes back- [25.Nd2 then 25...Bb5 intending doubling of the rooks along the c file is unpleasant for White, as he cannot oppose the activity there due to the Nf4–e2(d3) thrusts.] 25...Ng6! Another sudden move backwards, but the knight has a better future on e5 and c4. It is difficult for Black to improve his pieces, for example I realized that I cannot leave the f8 square with my bishop, as well as the dangers that a possible knight implanting on f5 might bring. Here is a sample line: [25...Bb5 26.Nf5? (26.Re3 is correct with unclear game) 26...Bc4? (26...Ne2+ wins teh pawn on e4 or an exchange) 27.Qc3 Ne2+ 28.Rxe2 Bxe2 29.Nxh6+ Kh7 30.Ng5+ Kxh6 31.Qd2 I actually calculated this line, but missed the simple 26...Ne2+ win...] 26.Re3 Ne5 27.Nd2 Qd8 Forcing g2–g3, and closing the white's rook access to g3. 28.g3 Qb6 Now we can return to our main plan-doubling of the rooks on the c file, Bd7–b5, and penetration along the c file either to gain absolute control over the second rank, or to attack the pawns on the fourth. 29.Kg2 Bb5 30.Nxb5 Qxb5 31.Ra5 Qb6 32.Ra4 Ng4 33.Rf3 [33.Re2 Qb5 34.Re1 Be7 with the idea Be7–d8–b6.] 33...Qb5 34.Ra5 Qe2 35.Qd3 Qxd3 36.Rxd3 Rc2 37.Ba1 After the game Barua named the move "probably a decisive mistake". In severe time-trouble he was trying to keep his pieces intact, but it looks like that the move: [37.Bd4 was giving more chances for salvation- 37...f5 38.exf5 Re2 39.Nf1 a) 39.Nf3 Nxf2 40.Bxf2 Rxf2+ 41.Kh3 h5 (41...Be7!?) ; b) 39.Kf3? Rexd2 40.Rxd2 Rxd2 the bishop is hanging; 39...Nxf2 40.Re3 Nd3+ 41.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 42.Kf3 Re1 43.Ne3 Rb1 44.Ke2 Nxb4 with an extra pawn for Black, although white's active pieces still keep the game going.] 37...f5! 38.exf5 h5 39.Kf3 g6! The point in the combination, which I noticed after a thorough check of my initial idea. I could still gone badly wrong after: [39...Nh2+ 40.Kf4 (40.Kg2 Re2 41.Kxh2 Rxf2+ 42.Kh3 Rfxd2 43.Rxd2 Rxd2 should be lost for White, as his pieces are discoordinated, he lacks the resource b4–b5 due to Rd2xd5 and last but not least, I am threatening Bf8–e7–d8 with decisive effect.) 40...g6 But just in time I saw the amazing position: 41.Kg5 Rxd2 42.Rxd2 Nf3+ 43.Kxg6 Nxd2 44.f6

and despite the extra piece I can resign as there is no defense against f6–f7 mate!] 40.fxg6 [40.f6 Bh6 41.Bc3 Bxd2 42.Bxd2 Ne5+–+] 40...Bh6 At the price of two pawns I activated all my pieces, and White is helpless. 41.Bc3 Barua saw the refutation of the line: [41.Ne4 Rxe4 42.Kxe4 Nxf2+ 43.Kd4 b5! with inevitable mate on c4.] 41...Rf8+ 42.Ke2 Rxf2+ 43.Kd1 Rxc3 44.Rxc3 Bxd2 0–1

It ended well after all. Two things helped me to recover quickly from the loss. First of all, between the games there was not much time for being sorry for myself. The last round was starting early in the morning after the tough defeat, and I was busy mainly to prepare for the final game. In chess there is no if, but only tomorrow (preparation) and now (over the board).
The second thing was that a draw and a loss in the final round were practically equal from a financial point of you, and I did not have doubts about whether I needed to play for a win, or for a draw. The award for the final effort was not only the gold medal, but the shared money prize.
Another important case: we can also lose a game earlier in the event, and we still need to recover after. This is harder, and I can only share my own ideas for this case.
First of all, do not analyse deeply the game that you lost! There is no need to discover how poorly you have played, and to feel bad about your chess. You are already shaky enough anyways. (The other possibility is that you discover how ingeniously you have played, and how stupidly, and unfairly you have lost- that is also a bad variation- in this case your mind keeps on coming back to the position in which you made the mistake, and distracts you during the future games!) You will have a lot of time to analyse your mistakes when you come back home, and you will do it in a more objective way. You need only to have a brief look at the game, as you might have lost it in the opening due to a lack of knowledge. Then the line should be repaired/learned in order not to lose in the same scenario afterwards (this might be really silly).
Secondly, try to relax. Do it in your prefered way- go out for a walk, read a nice (positive!) book, see a nice (preferably comedy!) movie, or just something that will not keep you returning to the lost game: take a hot shower, a bath, meet friends and have some drinks (but do not get drunk-this is definitely not the solution- you need to be sober tomorrow), visit the gym, listen to your favourite music. You know yourself best, you will decide what will make you feel good.
Third- postpone the preparation for tomorrow. You do not want to see the pieces when you are nervous, and you will have enough time tomorrow.
Last, but not least- if you have lost faith in yourself and your abilities- have a look at your best games. You will see that you can play better than in the game that you have lost, and that you are still a good player, despite the msitakes that you made, make and will make in the future. After all, we are all mortals.
Once your equanimity is restored, you can play in your usual way. Losses are still possible, but wins, too. What is sure is that you will give the best of yourself when you are balanced, and optimistic, and success will come.
Good luck!

Chenyi in Brazil

2011-12-08T15:56:00.004+02:00

My youngest student Chenyi Zhao from USA has just completed her first World Championship in Brazil. Chenyi does not yet know what the word draw means (which is great), and the finished on (+6-3) score, and tied for the sixth place at the under 8 age group. It is not bad at all for a first appearance on such a chess forum, and I hope that better performances are waiting for her.
I consider the following game her best effort from the event, as it was not decided by any huge blunder. Chenyi simply outplayed her opponent in the positional maneuvering:
Nadia Esmeralda Schmidt (RSA) - Chenyi Zhao (USA) [A04]
World Youth Chess Championship (girls U8 Caldas Novas, Brazil (4), 20.11.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d3 d6 5.0–0 Nf6 6.Nbd2 0–0 7.e4 Nc6 8.c3 Ne8 Chenyi memorized this idea from an earlier session of ours, and eventhough the white pawn does not stand on c4, and the d4 square is covered, the idea is still good. 9.Qc2 Nc7 10.Re1 e6 11.Nb3 b6 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.Nbd2 Rfe8

[14...e5 immediately was also possible, but Chenyi wants to have everything ready before advancing the central pawns.] 15.Nc4 e5 16.Be3 d5! Black is already better. The central pawns came into motion, and freed te pieces from behind. 17.Ncd2? d4 18.Bg5 Ne6 Consistently playing in the center, although she could have paid attention to the limited bishop instead: [18...h6 19.Bh4 g5 and trap it :) Next time I am pretty sure she will not miss this opportunity.] 19.Bh3 Qd6 20.Nc4 Qc7 21.a3 Nxg5 22.Nxg5 h6 23.Nf3 dxc3 24.bxc3 Rad8 25.Bg2 Rd7 26.Bh3 Rdd8 27.Bg2 Re7

As she does not yet know the meaning of the word "draw"and she is better, Chenyi decided to play further for a win. 28.Bh3 b5 29.Ncd2 Bc8 Freeing the d7 square for the rook, to double them, and attack the backward pawn. From now on many grandmasters would not be shy choosing the way in which my young student handled the position. 30.Bg2 Red7 31.Bf1 a5! 32.Nb3 Qb6 33.Nc1 b4!

Black is playing for the d4 square! We have never studied this idea before, nor does Chenyi play the Open games as Black, but she intuitively found the best plan! 34.Rd1 bxc3 35.Qxc3 Nd4 36.Ne1 Rb7 Seizes the open file. 37.Nc2 Nxc2 38.Qxc2 Qb2 39.Qxb2 Rxb2 The "pig"is on the second rank, and is really hungry. 40.Na2 Ba6 41.Nc1 c4 42.Kg2 c3 43.Kg1 Once more, Chenyi has a chance to show excellent understanding of the position: 43...Bf8!

and improve her last sleeping piece. It is not everyday that you will see an seven-year-old girl to step backwards in order to attack! The rest was easy for her. 44.Re1 Bc5 45.Rd1 Bxf2+ 46.Kh1 Bb5 47.Ra2 Ba4 48.Rxb2 cxb2 49.Na2 Bxd1 50.Nc3 Bf3+ 51.Bg2 Bxg2+ 52.Kxg2 Bd4 53.Nb1 Rc8 54.Kf3 Rc1 55.Nd2 b1Q 56.Nxb1 Rxb1 57.Kg4 h5+ 58.Kg5 Be3+ 59.Kf6 Bd4 60.h3 Ra1 61.g4 hxg4 62.hxg4 Rxa3 63.g5 Rc3 64.Ke7 a4 65.Kf6 a3 66.Ke7 a2 67.Kf6 a1Q 68.Ke7 Qa6 69.Ke8 Rc7 70.Kd8 Qc8# 0–1
Thank you, Cathy for the picture of Chenyi below:

The Half-Open File

2011-11-13T11:09:00.002+02:00

Not all of my games in Serbia were missed chances. This one was a good example of how to make use of a half-open file:

Vratonjic - Bojkov
1 Central Serbian League 06.10.2011
[Dejan ,Bojkov]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5!? It seems like that if you want to play for a win in the Italian this bishop should be placed as actively as possible right from the start! 5.c3 a6 6.Bb3 Ba7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Re1 d6 9.h3 Ne7 10.Bg5?! Somewhat too optimistic. The natural reaction was: [10.Nbd2] 10...Ng6 11.Nh4

This move was accompanied with a draw offer. However, our team needed to win on all the boards, and short draws were unacceptable. 11...Kh8! [Not: 11...Nxh4 12.Bxh4] 12.Nd2 White cannot make use of his active pieces: [12.Qf3 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxf6 gxf6 15.Nxg6+ (15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5 Nh4 17.g4? Nf3+–+) 15...fxg6; 12.Nf5 h6 13.Be3 Bxf5 14.exf5 Nh4; 12.d4 h6 13.Nxg6+ fxg6 14.dxe5 dxe5 Even better is: (14...hxg5! 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.Kh1 g4! with decisive attack.) 15.Be3 (15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Be3) 15...Qxd1 16.Bxd1 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 Rd8 18.Bb3 b5і] 12...h6 13.Nxg6+ [Again, tactics fails for White- 13.Bxf7? Rxf7 14.Nxg6+ Kh7 15.Bxf6 Qxf6] 13...fxg6 14.Be3 Nh5

Black is not at least equal. the half open f file, and the beautiful f4 square for the knight are his main assets. [14...Bxe3 15.fxe3] 15.Bxa7 [White should better play in the center with: 15.d4 Although he needs to be careful with his aggressive intentions: 15...Nf4 16.Bxf4 (16.Nf3 g5 with the idea to meet 17.dxe5 g4!) 16...Rxf4 17.Nf3 Qf6 18.dxe5? dxe5 19.Qd5 Bxh3 20.Qxb7 Rf8 21.Qxa7 Rxf3 22.Re2 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qg5+ 24.Kf1 Rh3] 15...Rxa7 16.Re3 Nf4 17.Qf1 A solid defence. [17.Nf3 g5 18.Nh2 Qf6 is better for Black] 17...Qf6 18.Bd1 [18.Rd1 Ra8 19.Nf3 g5] 18...Ra8 19.Rg3 [It is too early for: 19.Bg4 Bxg4 20.hxg4 Qe6 with large advantage for Black.] 19...Rf7 20.Bg4?! [20.Bb3!? would be a better version of the bishop trade.] 20...Bxg4 21.Rxg4 Raf8

There are some issues with the rook, as it might get easily get excluded from the game. 22.Rg3 g5 23.Nc4 Qe6 24.Qd1 The pressure against the white position grows. [24.Ne3 Nh5 25.Rg4 Rxf2 26.Qxf2 Rxf2 27.Kxf2 Nf4–+; 24.Re3 g4!] 24...g6 25.Re3 b5! Before sacrificing, I decided that the knight would be best placed on d2! [25...Nxg2 26.Kxg2 Rxf2+ 27.Kh1 (27.Kg3 h5) 27...Qf6 28.Rg3 (28.Qg1 is also possible and there is no knight hanging on d2.) ] 26.Nd2 [26.Na5 Nxg2 27.Kxg2 Rxf2+ 28.Kg1 Qf7 will leave the knight too far away! While now, it is hanging on d2.] 26...Nxg2!

27.Kxg2 Rxf2+ 28.Kg1 This makes things easier for Black. [28.Kg3 h5 29.Nf3 (29.Rf3 R8xf3+ 30.Nxf3 Rxb2–+) 29...Rxb2 would not help neither.; However, after the best defence: 28.Kh1 Qf6 29.Re2 (29.Rg3 Qf4) 29...g4 30.Rxf2 Qxf2 31.Qxg4 (31.Qf1 Kg7 32.Qxf2 Rxf2 33.Nf1 gxh3µ; 31.hxg4 Qh4+ 32.Kg1 Qg3+ 33.Kh1 Rf2) 31...Qxd2 32.Qxg6 Qe3 Black is better but he still has to prove his win] 28...Qf6 29.Re2 [29.Nf1 g4 30.hxg4 Qh4] 29...g4! It is over. 30.Kh1 [30.Nf1 Qf3 31.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 32.Kh1 Rf3; 30.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 g3; 30.hxg4 Qh4 31.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 32.Kh1 Qh4+ 33.Kg1 Rf4 34.Qe2 Rxg4+ 35.Kf1 Qh1+ 36.Kf2 Rg2+ (36...Qh2+) ] 30...Qh4 31.Rxf2 Rxf2 32.Qxg4 Qxg4 33.hxg4 Rxd2 34.a4 Kg7

35.g5 hxg5 36.axb5 axb5 37.Ra7 Rxd3 38.Rxc7+ Kf6 39.Rb7 Rd1+ 40.Kg2 Rd2+ 41.Kf3 Rxb2 42.Rd7 [42.c4 Rb3+ 43.Kg4 bxc4 and White cannot sacrifice his rook for stalemate.] 42...Ke6 43.Rg7 Rb3 44.Rxg6+ Kd7 45.Rxg5 Rxc3+ 46.Ke2 Kc6 47.Kd2 Rh3 0–1

The Missed Masterpiece

2011-11-03T14:56:00.002+02:00

The following game was played in the Central Serbian League.
Mista,Aleksander (2561) - Bojkov,Dejan (2541) [A24]
1st League CS 2011 Kraljevo (5.3), 20.09.2011
[Dejan ,Bojkov]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 A small surprise. Mista played this move more often in the Serbian League, but he usually choses the open games. 2...g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0 5.0–0 d6 6.Nc3 e5 7.d3 Nbd7 A flexible continuation. [The main move is: 7...Nc6] 8.Rb1 Re8 9.Nd2 In case of: [9.b4 Black can react with: 9...e4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.dxe4 Rxe4 12.Qd3 (12.Nd2 Re8 13.Bb2 Nf6 14.e4 1/2 (14) Pfleger,H (2490)-Hausner,I (2435) Germany 1988) 12...Qe7] 9...a5 10.a3 h5N

This move appeared to be an over-the-board novelty. Larsen would love to see that. First a7–a5, then h7–h5. However, while the first move was designed to make the rook work from its initial position, the latter intends to start the real play on "my own flank". [10...Nh5?! is somewhat slow, and the advance of the f pawn will weaken the light squares in the center.] 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 h4 13.Nde4 [Probably better was to finish the development of the pieces- 13.Bb2]

13...Nh7! Now f7–f5 is coming with tempo, and the knights are obstructing each other. The Polish GM tries to support them tactically. 14.Qd2?! Ndf8 [14...f5 White's idea is dicovered in the line: 15.Ng5 Bh6? 16.Bd5+ Kg7 (16...Kh8 17.Nf7+) 17.Ne6++–] 15.c5 Be6?! Misses a small detail. [I somehow missed that in the line: 15...d5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 Black takes three (and not two!) pieces for the queen. Despite what the computer says, I would love to have the pieces here.; 15...h3!? was another decent option. 16.Bh1 Be6 17.cxd6 cxd6] 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.gxh4! This is it, White can take the pawn, and make use of the g5 square. 17...d5 [17...Qxh4 18.Nxd6 Bh3 19.Bxh3 Qxh3 20.Nxe8 Qg4+ 21.Kh1+–; 17...f5? 18.Ng5] 18.Ng5

White returns the favour. He could have achieved some edge with: [18.Nc5 d4 19.Nb5! Not: (19.N3e4 Bd5; nor: 19.Nxb7? dxc3 20.Nxd8 cxd2 21.Nxe6 dxc1Q 22.Rfxc1 Nxe6 23.Bxa8 Rxa8 is much better for Black) 19...Qb6 20.Na3!] 18...d4 19.Nce4 [19.Nxe6? dxc3] 19...Bd5 Now the centralized position of the black pieces compensates with interest for the lost pawn. 20.f4 [20.h5 gxh5] 20...f5 21.Ng3 [21.Nc5 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 exf4 23.Qxf4 Rxe2+ is just bad for White.] 21...Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Qd5+ 23.Kg1 Nxg5! 24.hxg5 Ne6 25.fxe5 [Or: 25.Qe1 Ra2!? (25...Nxf4 26.Bxf4 exf4 27.Rxf4 Be5 with powerful centralization.) ] 25...Bxe5 The centralized position of the black pieces allows him to play on both flanks. At the moment, a decisive attack is on the agenda. 26.Qd1 [26.Qe1 Ra2] 26...Ra2 Prevents Qd1–b3. However, some consistency would not harm: [26...Kg7 27.Qb3 (27.Bb2 Nxg5) 27...Qd6 28.Rf3 Rh8 29.b5 Rh4 and Black's advantage is overwhelming.] 27.Rf2 [27.Qb3 Qxb3 28.Rxb3 Bxg3 29.hxg3 Rxe2 takes back the pawn with comfort.] 27...Rc8 28.Nf1 The culmination of the battle. I had to decide which rook to place on c2. The logic showed that it should be the less active one, but... 28...Rac2? One wrong move and a good game is thrown away. After the correct: [28...Rcc2! The game might have finished with a beautiful attack: 29.h4 would not help neither, as White has practially nothing to move. (29.e4 dxe3! 30.Rxc2 White is also getting mated after: (30.Nxe3 Rxf2 31.Nxd5 Rg2+ 32.Kf1 Rxh2 33.Kg1 Rag2+ 34.Kf1 Rf2+ 35.Kg1 Bd4 36.Be3 Bxe3 37.Nxe3 Nxg5) 30...Nxg5!

and despite the extra move (and rook!) White cannot prevent mate! 31.Ng3 (31.Nxe3 Nh3+ 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 Qxh2+ 34.Kf3 (34.Ke1 Bc3+ 35.Kf1 Qf2+ 36.Rxf2 Rxf2#) 34...Qf2+ 35.Rxf2 Rxf2#) 31...Nh3+ 32.Kf1 Rxc2 33.Qxc2 Qf3+ 34.Ke1 Bxg3+ 35.hxg3 Qxg3+ 36.Kd1 Qg1+ 37.Ke2 Qf2+ 38.Kd1 Qf1#) 29...Qc6 There is a more prosaic way to end the game- (29...Qd6 30.Ra1 Rxa1 31.Qxc2 Qc6 32.Qxc6 bxc6 33.Bd2 Bg3 34.Rf3 Bxh4 35.Rh3 Be1 36.Bxe1 Rxe1–+) 30.Qe1 Bf4! 31.Bxf4 Nxf4 32.Rxf4 Rxe2–+] 29.e4 Qa2 30.Rb2! The story as old as the chess game. I saw that one only after I have played Ra2–c2. My hopes were pinned with: [30.Rxc2 Rxc2 31.Bd2 fxe4 32.dxe4 d3 with almost decisive advantage.] 30...Rxb2?! My frustration was that bad, that I did not put up strong resistance: [30...Rxc1 31.Qxc1 Rxc1 32.Rxa2 Nxg5 33.Kg2 fxe4 (33...Ne6! 34.exf5 Nf4+ 35.Kf3 (35.Rxf4 Bxf4 36.fxg6 Kg7) 35...Nxd3 36.Rfd2 Nxb4 37.Rab2 Rxf1+ 38.Kg2 Rxf5 39.Rxb4=) 34.Ra5 Nf3 35.dxe4 Ne1+ 36.Kg1 Bc7 37.Rc5 Rc3] 31.Rxb2 Qa1 32.Qb3! [Much better than: 32.Rc2 Rxc2 33.Qxc2 Qc3!] 32...Qa6 [32...Rxc1 33.Qxe6+ Kh7 34.Rf2+–] 33.exf5 gxf5 34.Re2 Qd6 And it is White's turn to be flashy, which he does not miss: 35.Bf4!

After this game the Polish GM achieved three move wins to start with the fabulous 8/8![35.Bf4 Bxf4 36.Rxe6 Rc3 37.Re8+ Kg7 38.Qg8#] 1–0

The Most Progressive Scottish Player

2011-10-12T15:38:00.002+03:00

I always wanted to write something about my students, the people that I am very proud of. This one is dedicated to Dominic O'Rourke. We started working some months ago, and the fruit of our efforts (mainly Dom's efforts of course)was the fact that he became Scotland's most progressive player. His rating at the start was 1356 and at some months later it was 1795. I'll save you from getting a calculator and tell you the rise was 439 points! Great job for a half year job. If you keep on progressing that fast, Dom, I will have to take the lessons from you very soon!
I would like to present you one of his games, annotated by himself:

O'Rourke,Dominic (1356) - Kleboe,James P R (1797) [B13]
Edinburgh Challengers U1900 (5), 03.04.2011
[O'Rourke,Dominic]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 I watched a lecture and thought I would try this system as it seemed easy to play. 4...Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3 a6 10.a4

Takes space and makes b5 more difficult if black ever wants to play it. Rybka suggests Ne5 immediately. 10...Be7 11.0–0 0–0 12.Rae1 I considered Rfe1 but I thought as my play is on the kingside this would be better. 12...Rac8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nh5 The position of the black Knight and Bishop seems cramped and I thought he could potentially lose a piece after h3 g4 or at least force a weakening of his kingside 15.Be3 g6 He said to me after the game he thought he should have played g5!? which could have been interesting after [15...g5 16.h3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 exf5 It seems like more of a fight to me] 16.h3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 [17.Be2 d4 18.Bh6 Ng7] 17...gxf5 [17...exf5 Play against d5 pawn but this is the suggested route for black by Rybka] 18.Qd1

I liked this move:) 18...Ng7 19.Bh6 Qd8 I knew his next move was Bg5 and I thought for at least 35mins trying to find a knockout blow but eventually settled for the move I initially intended 20.Re3 Bg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Rg3 Qh6 [22...Qf4] 23.f4 Kh8 24.Rg5 f6 25.exf6 Rxf6? Keeps the Queen in a poor position [25...Qxf6 Things don't seem bad for black] 26.Nf3 Rc4 I was a little worried about 26 ..Nh5 but didn't have to be according to Rybka [26...Nh5 27.Qd4 Rc4 28.Rxh5 Qxh5 (28...Rxd4 29.Rxh6 Rxh6 30.Nxd4) 29.Qxf6+] 27.Nd4 Rg6 28.Rxg6 [28.Qb3 Rxg5 29.fxg5 Qxg5 30.Qxb7] 28...Qxg6 29.Qb3

Starting play against the weak pawns b7 and e6 29...Qf7 30.Re1 Qd7 31.a5 b7 is weak forever and the black knight is tied to defence of e6 31...Kg8 Trying to bring the King to defend e6 but there was a surprise for him if he steps on f7 32.Qb6 Kf7 33.Nf3! He cannot move two pieces at once so loses the exchange 33...Qc8 34.Ne5+ Kf6 35.Nxc4 [35.Qf2! I could never have found this move 35...Ke7 36.Qh4+ Ke8 37.Qxh7] 35...dxc4 36.Qd4+ Kf7 37.Rd1 Kg6 38.Kh1 I assume I ed to exchange Queens and didn't want to allow Qc5+ as a way to avoid this 38...Nh5 39.Qd8 I knew in my heart Qd7 was better but Qd8 forced the Queen trade and even though I am still winning I thought Qd7 allowed some lines without the Queen trade [39.Qd7] 39...Qxd8 40.Rxd8 Nxf4 41.Rd7 e5 42.Rxb7 e4 43.Rb6+ Kf7 It's over but if he is hoping to fight on the King had to come forward 44.Kg1

I was not in a hurry and knew I only had to get the King to f1 44...Nd3 45.Kf1 f4 46.Rxa6 Nxb2 47.Rc6 Nd1 48.a6 f3 49.gxf3 1–0

Thank you!

2011-10-06T15:49:00.002+03:00

The Sunday chess.com simuls were made on a very short notice, and without much publicity. The time was short, but many people appeared to take part in the fundraisers, and gave their part for the successful recovery of Rumen Raev. I would like especially to thank the players Bishopsun, FinnJespen, Tonymbird, dmorris99, tresequis, HristoProtos and caminator. There is a separate gratitude to Nassredin, who not only took part in both the simuls, but contributed additionally with extra funds.
I hope that you liked the simultanious games (I loved them) and some of them were really fightful and interesting.
I would like also to thank to all of those players who contributes annonimously for the noble cause of saving another human being!
I would also like to thank to those who did not have this possibility, but wished to do so!
Mr. Raev's condition is still critical, but I hope that he can make it, and that some time soon he will be able to thank you all personally!

Appeal for Help

2011-09-30T22:28:00.003+03:00

Dear Chessfriends,

After my first post a couple of days ago for chess.com many things were said (I hope that some were done, too). One of the readers pointed out correctly, that something should be changed in the post, and he was completely right.

In order to avoid any suspicious for fraud (no matter how ugly this sounds) I will suggest that those of you willing to help Elitza's father can take part in one of my simuls which will take place this Sunday 20.00 and 22.00 o'clock Bulgarian time (which is 18.00 and 20.00 o'clock London time respectively) on the server. There are twenty five spots in each of them, and the place costs 20 $. The money goes directly to the www.chess.com account , and www.chess.com takes the reponsibility to send the funds where they belong- for Mr Raev's treatment. By helping you will aslo get something in return, a game with a GM in a simul. The time control for each simul is 60 minutes (per side) for the whole game. I am pretty sure that you will not be bored.

You can apply for the product here.

David Pruess has added the products in my trainer's profile, with an inscription about them- just have a look at the last two of them, and choose one if you want to contribute. David and Danny Rensch are actively helping me with the fund-raising, with positive ideas, and human support, which can hardly be found anywhere else. Thank you, guys!

In order to reply to one of the readers question concerning the illness- it is lung cancer with metastases and the whole course of the treatment is at the price of 30 000 euro (not only the operation which should deal with the metastases, which I wrote- appologies for the mistake).

The person who needs treatment is the father of one of our best female players-Elitza Raeva- Rumen Raev. He used to be a member of the Bulgarian Chess Federation executive board, and Elitza is Bulgarian women's champion 2008, and co-champion from this year.
Rumen Raev is an assistant professor at the University of Ruse by occupation.

This is all that I can think of at the moment.

I hope to see many of you on Sunday, and thank you all in advance!

Metalac Successful in Serbia

2011-09-28T13:33:00.002+03:00

First League of central Serbia took place right before the European Club Cup (17-25 September) in Kraljevo- one of the nice towns in the country. Twelve teams competed for the right to promote in Premier League, or to stay in the Central one. The time control is FIDE, and in there is a tolerance of fifteen minutes at the start of the game.
This was by far the strongest and challenging of the championship that I have played so far. At least four from the teams had real chances for the first place, and their direct encounters were bound to define the winner. The first match between the rating favourites Jasenica (my team) and Jelica PEP was played in round five. This was probably one of the unluckiest events I have ever taken part in. Not only I lost my winning game on board one, but my teammate Nebojsa Ristic could not convert an extra pawn, and at the end, the experienced GM Dusan (Dule) Raikovic failed to see a forced draw in one move and the match was tight. We then lost to the local team and elo favourite Sloga Kraljevo with a minimal margin, and our contest for the first place was over.
As usual, the system in Serbia is a match-point one, with three points for the overall match winner, and only a point for each team in case of equality. While previous years saw many undecided matches practically before the start of the round, this year’s cruel contest was forcing the top teams to get the maximum in each round. Moreover, the rumours spelled that the second spot in our division might satisfy this year too for promotion, as one of the Premier’s teams might not be able to keep its place in the league officially.

While Jelica were heading the table, everything seemed like it should be perfect for them. Their leader, the Polish GM Alexander Mista was making miracles on board one, and in the first eight rounds he did not lose even a half point- 8/8! The team’s young players were doing well, but there was the major match in the penultimate round against Kraljevo, which they need to survive. However, just a round before that their perfect machine cracked, as Mista lost on board one, and the team drew only against Sabacki. The tension then proved a bit too much for the young team, and they lost against Kraljevo 4-2. The locals were playing under tremendous pressure, and in each round a huge mass of chess fans was surrounding their table. In our match I was literally unable to record the moves in some moments, as the fans were so close to the table…Still Kraljevo made a great result, drawing only one match, and losing to…
The fourth team in the contest, which I did not mention yet, and which was the most successful one. For many years the even team of Metalac was always in the contest for the medals, and was usually taking either bronze or silver. They have changed the composition of the team almost every year, but keeping their good players. Their team constitutes by strong IMs mainly, and the highest rated were sent to the back boards. This year they made it to the most valuable base metal thanks to these changes. The top board IM Slobo Vratonic held it to the fifty percent, while the rest of the boards collected a total of +21 score. The top scorer was Metalac’s ex-top board IM Dragan Kojovic, who started with five draws, but won the remaining six games, but I should also mention the results of FM Vladan Rabrenovic on board three (7/10), IM Igor Solomunovic on board two (7.5/11- one draw only!), and naturally, Metalac’s most famous player IM Radovan Govedarica who scored 7/10.
Thus Metalac qualified for the Premium League, while Kraljevo who shared the first place, but had worse tie-break will have to wait and see if the rumours are correct.
I am sending you pictures from “Pasuliada”- the bean feast in Kraljevo, which showed us various ways how to cook, and eat beans, as well as a chance to degustate the local’s famous Rakia.

Brilliancy Price

2011-09-22T15:57:00.003+03:00

The following game won one of the daily brilliancy prices contest, and was chosen as best in the tournament. Indeed, there was a lot of fight, many strategical nuances, and a sweet finish as a dessert.

Amanov,Zhanibek (2382) - Bojkov,Dejan (2544) [E61]
1st Metropolitan International Los Angeles (7), 20.08.2011
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nc3 0–0 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 e5 7.0–0 Nbd7 8.d4 Re8 9.b3 h5 10.h3 e4 I play this position as White, and even though a tempo down, the ideas are very familiar to me. 11.Qc2 Qe7

12.g4!?N This move appears to be a novelty in the the featured position. However, with reversed colours the idea is not new. White wants to get rid of the strong pawn on e4, but the problem is that he had already castled. [12.Nf4 c6 13.b4 Nf8 14.c5 d5 15.b5 1/2 (15) Wahls,M (2580)-Joachim,S (2443)/Germany 2001/ EXT 2003] 12...hxg4 13.hxg4 Nxg4 14.Qxe4 Qh4!? [14...Nde5!? is another idea as: 15.dxe5? is bad after: (15.Rd1 is playable though.) 15...Qh4 16.Qf4 Bxe5–+] 15.Qf4 he only move. [Do not listen to your silicon advisers, who claim that there is a forced draw- accepting the sacrifice is bad for White: 15.Qxe8+ Bf8! 16.Rd1 Qxf2+ 17.Kh1 Ndf6 18.Qd8 (18.Qb5 Bh6–+) 18...Bf5! (18...b5 might win as well) 19.Qxa8 Ne4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Nf4 Qg3 22.Kg1

22...g5 and White is helpless.] 15...Nf8 [At first I considered: 15...Ndf6 16.Qg3 Qh8!? 17.Rd1 but then realized that: 17...Nh5 is simply met by: 18.Qf3] 16.Qg3 Qd8 [From objective point of view correct is: 16...Qxg3 17.Nxg3 f5 with approximate equality. However, I wanted to keep the queens on the board, and to try to win.] 17.Bf3! This is correct, White drives back my pieces from the active positions and gives additional air to his king. 17...Nf6 18.Kg2 N6h7 19.Rh1 [The generally advisable expansion in the center is premature: 19.e4?! Ne6 20.Rd1 c5!] 19...Ng5 20.Bg4 c6 [Going for the bishop seemed risky to me: 20...f5 21.Bf3 Nxf3 (21...c6 22.Ba3 with an edge) 22.Qxf3 as the g6 pawn is vulnerable, and once that the b1–g8 diagonal is opened my king will be in constant danger.] 21.Bd2

Simple but dangerous. Zhanibek intends to bring his heavy pieces along the h and maybe g files and try to mate. [Computer claims slight edge for White after: 21.Bxc8!? Rxc8 22.Ba3 d5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Qd6 Ne4 25.Qxd8 Rexd8 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Rac1 but I do not really believe it. Something similar will happen in the game, but White first wants to try an attack.] 21...d5! Flank attack is best met by a central counter-strike, and here is a good case for this. 22.cxd5 [Or: 22.Rh2 f5 23.Bf3 dxc4 24.bxc4 Be6 25.c5 Nxf3 26.Qxf3 Qc7 and Black is ready to further ruin White's center after b7–b6.] 22...cxd5 Now the c file is open and I can deflect the opponent's pieces. 23.Bxc8 [Better than: 23.Rh4 Ne4 24.Nxe4 Rxe4!] 23...Rxc8 24.Rh4 Ne4 25.Nxe4 Rxe4 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Nc3 White managed to move the black pawn on e4, where it is a target. Now f7–f5 is needed for the defense, but this weakens the g6 pawn. In short, the position is ballanced, but we both need to be careful. [White is not ready yet to compete for the open file: 27.Rc1 Rxc1 28.Nxc1 Qc8] 27...f5 28.Rh1 [28.Rc1!?=] 28...a6 29.Be1!?

Setting a trap. 29...Kf7 Best, as if: [29...b5 30.Ne2 Rc2 31.Nf4 Kf7 32.Bb4! is strong and suddenly Black is in trouble.] 30.Na4 [30.f3!?] 30...Ne6 31.d5? Zhanibek decided to go "all in" in the time trouble. However now the knight on a4 is left without sufficient support and the intended counterplay is refuted convincingly. [31.Nc3 is best although Black is already better after 31... Ng5] 31...Nf8 32.Bb4 b5 33.Bxf8 [33.Nc5 Qxd5 34.Nxa6 Ne6 leaves the knight struggling at the edge of the board.] 33...Bxf8 34.Rh7+ Bg7 35.Qe5 Qg5+ 36.Kh2

36...Qh5+! He obviously saw this but calculated only the capture of the white rook after: 37.Kg2 [37.Rxh5 Bxe5+] 37...Qf3+ [After: 37...Qxh7? 38.Qe6+ Kf8 39.Qxc8+ Kf7 40.Qe6+ Kf8 41.Nc5 it is White who wins.; Wheras after the move in the game we have the opposite result. 37...Qf3+ 38.Kh2 Qxf2+ 39.Kh3 Qf1+ 40.Kh4 Qh1+ 41.Kg3 Qf3+ 42.Kh2 Rc2+] 0–1

The L.A International

2011-09-06T15:51:00.002+03:00

One of my first tournaments on American soil was the Jimmy Quon Memorial in Los Angeles. It was back then in January when Ankit Gupta invited me for the first Metropolitan International in August. Ankit is a decent chess player, a national master who sometimes takes part in his own events. Invitations for tournaments with conditions are very rare in USA and a friend of mine advised me to always accept such offers. Moreover, Ankit had great plans, and I already knew that he keeps his promises. Back in January it was already known that the top-seeded will be Michael Adams and Loek van Wely.

The Metropolitan Inernational (17-21 August) was predecessed by a chess camp. The organizer Ankit Gupta seized the opportunity to use both Michael Adams and Loek van Wely as lecturers in a five-day-event, which was attended by 34 children, some of the most talanted in the area. On the first day of the tournament when seeing Adams I asked him how did the camp go. „Oh, it was tough, really tough, I feel so exhausted now.“ Indeed, the intensitivity of the learning process was great, and the young chessplayers had approximately eight hours tutoring each day. Some of them felt already quite comfortable with their knowledge and did not pay much respect to their famous teachers. One of the days saw two young gentlemen analizing their game without paying attention to Adams‘ tries to suggest a move. „This is correct, that is the theory“, was their reply, and they proceeded the analyse without bothering to have a look at Grandmaster‘s suggestions...Still, The English GM was luckier than his Netherland‘s collegue-who was demanded by one of his students to show his GM certificate...

1st Metropolitan International Tournament - Day 1 from Ice Hat Creative on Vimeo.

After such a good school it is no wonder that Adams appeared fully armed, and quite eager at the start of the event. The speed with which he passed the first six round was also too fast for the others- 5.5/6 (draw against Van Wely only). His closest pursuer was the Uzbec GM Gareev, who had a strong tournament by defeating in the process both Akobian and Van Wely (the latter, in a minuature). After drawing each other in round seven, a very curious situation arose in the next round, when Adams had already played with all his five nearest rivals. I had the luck to repeat Black and face the Super GM. Such opportunities in life are very rare, and I am really grateful whenever I can face an opposition of that calibre. Moreover, the outcome was not as bad as expected :)
Going into the last round Adams kept a half-point lead. After a couple of hours of play the games of his pursuers on boards two and three ended peacefully, and now he only needed a draw (with the black pieces) to secure the first price, and the beautiful Svarowsky trophee. On the other hand his rival, IM Hungasky desperately needed a win to fulfil a GM norm. The Englishman proved better and won with a neat rook sacrifice to finish the event a full point ahead of the field 7.5/9.
Second place was shared between six players- GMs L. van Wely, M.Amanov, R.Ruck, T.Gareev, D.Bojkov and the young and perspective American IM Conrad Holt. The latter was very close to a GM norm, but failed short of avarage rating. Thus, the only player a norm was Michael Lee from Washington- he made an IM norm after scoring 5.5/9, and by keeping his concentration throughout the whole event thanks to his headphones.
It was a tough, but sweet week for Adams, and it will get even worse as the World Cup starts in some days. It was not supposed to happen like that, but as FIDE changed the dates of the Cup once that the Super-GM already agreed to play in L.A. he had no choice. A curious fact is that Adams will play in round one against M. Paragua, a player who was also in the list of the Metropolitan International, but who decided to rest before the more important event.

1st Metropolitan International - Recap from Ice Hat Creative on Vimeo.

The change of dates affected one of Gupta‘s ideas. Throughout the event there was a special contest for best game of the day. Draws did not count in the contest as the daily prices were various apple products (iPads, Shuffles, and Nano's). Those prices had to be judjed by two famous young GMs- Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana, but they also had to withdraw at the very last moment for the sake of the World Cup. IM David Pruess did the judjement instead together with the tournament organizer.
Despite the difficulties, the tournament was billed the strongest in Los Angeles since 1988 (as one of the participants IM Jack Peters stated) and successfully crowned Gupta‘s attempts to revive the chess life in the megapolis. For his intense work he received the price- Organizer of the Year by USCF.
The tournament was professionally covered by Christine Hartman and Christian Glawe of IceHat Creative (videos) and Betsy Dynako (photographer). You can enjoy her great pictures:

Californication

2011-08-23T08:07:00.004+03:00

Bay Area is a metropolitan region that surrounds San Francisco, and includes many „chess places“ like Berkeley, Concord and Fremont. I had the pleasure of visiting the latter at the beginning of August. The famous coach Ted Castro from the Norcal House of Chess invited me for my first chess camp on American soil. It took five days and was well attended, and ended with a simul on twenty boards. The club was very active this year, and before my participation two other GMs- Varuzhan Akobian and Ray Robson also did camps there. These events are extremely popular in USA, the kids use their summer time to get better in various activities. Chess is one of them, but a camp is not only the pure accademical work. The children are also having sports activities, and various competitions. In the Norcal House for example, they were collecting points for participating in the lectures, puzzle solving competitions, wins in training games. Disciplined students win additional points. Points are turned into „things“ and „things“ are transformed in various goods (Lego constructors, Barbie dolls, or mere candies) at the end of the day. This is the sweetest part when kids can taste the fruits of their efforts.

On 11 August Susan Polgar made a quick detour to East Palo Alto to visit Dyhemia Young. You probably have heard the story of the girl, but here it is in brief, as it comes to show one of the many positive sides of chess:
Dyhemia, who is fifteen years old, has spent the last three years in and out of foster care, received one of the wild card bids for the Annual Susan Polgar Girls Invitational in Lubbock, Texas. However, she later on disappeared and it was not sure if they will find her in time for the start of the event. It took almost a month and the help of the San Francisco‘s pollice detective to find her. Then the usual money problem occured, as she needed the funds to reach Lubbok. Still, with the help of many good people, including the famous movie star Will Smith the young girl made it to the event. And even though she did not win the it, she came back to Bay Area with a chess scholarship worth 40 000 $. From a poor orphan without a future Dyhemia got her chance thanks to our beautiful game.
Susan gave a „girly“ simul, against ten promising young ladies, and answered many questions on the formation of a champion, and gave many useful advises on what the young players need to do to become better.

After the wonderful time in Bay Area, I moved to the south, and took part in an open tournament in Central California, in a town called Fresno. It was a funny experience to me. I arrived one day later for the tournament to take the two day schedule instead of the usual three day. This meant that the first two games are played in a faster mode than the remaining games, so that the players can catch up with the three-day schedule. Then, in the third round the events are gathered together, and the tournament proceeds with the usual time control.
The five-round open event went smooth for me and I managed to tie for the first together with GM Nick De Firmian and IM Enrico Sevillano, scoring 4/5.
Here are the final standings
Altogether there were five sections, and plenty of young players. Some of them could not even reach the edges of the boards easily, but enjoyed greatly the game.
The journey proceeds to the south. More news would follow from L.A.

2011-08-11T08:44:00.002+03:00

The Canadian open championship took place in Toronto in the middle of July (9-17). After reading briefly the history of the event, and discovering that my personal hero Bent Larsen won the event twice I started dreaming of adding my name to winner’s list. However, a shock was waiting for me at the start. My first game in Canada turned out to be a disaster. I lost as White against an opponent who was rated 500 points less than me! The happy Brad Willis took home the prize for a major upset, and was kind enough to say that this was one of his greatest achievements in chess.

On the second day (10 July) the blitz tournament took place. It was a double-game, six round-tournament, with thinking time of 3 minutes, and an additional 2 seconds per move. GM Viktor Mikhalevski from Israel started viciously with ten straight wins, and claimed the title with an 11/12 result. Second place was tied between GM Bator Sambuev, IM Nikolay Noritsyn, GM Vitali Golod and GM Luis Manuel Perez. Naturally, I ended up a half point behind the prizes, and my mood significantly “grew”.
Things got even worse when I could not win in round three. Minus fifteen rating points, and with only 1.5/3, the next six rounds stretched before me like a real torture. I tried to recall if I had ever had such an open tournament in the past 20 years, but could not. I was briefly even considering taking my plane back home. But then stayed for what the locals later called the “Swiss gambit”.

Towards the middle of the event it became apparent that none would claim the bonus for a perfect score. Laszlo Witt was the only player ever to claim this prize back in 1962. 9/9 was out of the question, but some of the players were still in the battle for the additional 750 $ which would be won if someone achieved 8.5 points.
There was also a huge stream of chess-related events. Each day there were at least two lectures, on various themes. Some of the lecturers promoted their books. GM Eugene Perelshteyn presented Chess Openings for White/Black Explained, and GM Joel Benjamin spoke about his-- American Grandmaster: Four Decades of Chess Adventures. I was also very active on the first days, with a lecture and a simul, as well as participation in a Chess 960 event.

More spicy events also took place. Such were the tandem simuls, and the blindfold simultaneous exhibition by GM Benjamin Finegold who won five and drew only one game in his remarkable performance.

It is difficult to mention all the events, but it was definitely a feast for the chess player, and a good sample of what should be done for chess to become more popular! I use this chance to congratulate the tournament organizers David Cohen and Ted Winick for their efforts!
Back to the tournament-- things started to get better for me after the third round when I finally got a good twelve-hour sleep (yes, twelve!) Wins were still coming reluctantly, but I had five more in a row. The last one, against the top-rated Canadian player Bator Sambuev.

Then with a short draw in the final round against Joel Benjamin I accomplished my “Swiss gambit”. I did not know this expression, but my new Canadian friends explained to me that this is when you lose (presumably on purpose) in the first rounds to face weaker opposition and speed up later and catch the leaders at the end. Still, I would rather prefer Swiss chocolate instead…

As for the co-winners, both Joel Benjamin and Walter Arencibia made great tournaments. Despite our short draw in the final round Joel probably made the most moves in his games of all the participants. He won good technical games, and produced a masterpiece against GM Golod.

Arencibia was also very steady, did not lose a single game, and showed rich games. He won some interesting tactical encounters, but I loved best this positional effort against Michal Meszaros.

The chief organizer David Cohen made an interesting observation-none of the winners stayed in the comfort of the hotel. All the three of us stayed with families, and had to travel each day for about an hour to the venue. “But those who want, will”- was his comment.

I believe though that the secret lies elsewhere. Mine were three actually. Michael, Evan and David-- the kids in the Kanter family that I stayed with. Michael taught me how to play baseball and took care of my physical shape. Evan was my greatest fan, and already "“reserved” me for the next year for their guest. Finally, coach David (who is seven years old) arrived in my room in the evening before the final round and sent me to bed as I had an important game in the morning, and a tournament to win…

Quebec Open

2011-08-03T04:38:00.004+03:00

Quebec open took place in Montreal at the end of July 23-30 July.

In 1967, the Quebec chess federation was created in reason of the conflict between chess players from Quebec and from the rest of Canada. The language barrier was at the principal reason that pushed Quebecers to create their own federation.
In 1972, powered by the ‘’Fischer-Boom’’, the Quebec chess federation organized the first official Quebec Open, which attracted 744 players. It was a real shock since the previous tournaments in Quebec had barely attracted more than 50 players.
In 1982, two players from England were invited: GM Michael Stean and IM Nigel Short. The young IM was back then a big sensation, considered by many as a child prodigy who could one day aspire to the title of world champion.
In 1980, one of the strongest player to ever live in Canada arrived in a spy-movie way. His name was Igor Ivanov and he was part of a Russian chess team coming to Cuba for a chess tournament. He had earn his place on this trip by defeating the world champion Anatoly Karpov in a pretty convincing way. However, he ran away in Canada during a refuelling stop in Newfoundland, chased by KGB agents. He then made a big sensation by winning the Quebec Open, then the Canadian Open and Closed, the last two taking place at the same time! Running from one of his game to the other, he managed to win both tournaments ahead of very strong international masters. He later won all the Quebec Open in which he played (except in 1985).
Many chess legends participated in the Quebec Open, such as Boris Gulko in 1992, Ljubomir Ljubojević in 1984 (who back then had the third highest rating in the world) and Korchnoi in 2004. The tournament was composed of 6 sections- Invitational, Open, U2000, U1700, U1400, U1100.
The invitation section (consisted 30 players only, and the tournament is very similar to a round-robin event). IM Nikolaj Noritsyn made the tournament of his life to win the event outright 7/9. He made his first GM norm with a spare round, and did not lose a single game. Walter Arencibia of Cuba concluded his successful Canadian tourney to claim clear second with 6.5/9, thus becoming the unofficial winner of the improvised Canadian circuit. Best Quebec players were GMs Anton Kovalyov (better on tie-break) and Bator Sambuev. I lost a crucial game in the penultimate round against the winner, and ended sixth. Still, I had a reason to be proud with coach achievements. I had some brief sessions with two Canadian players who did very well in the open section. Twelve-years old Olivier Kenta Chiku-ratte finished second, while Felix Dumont sixth (and improved a good 100 points from the event). The only titled player in this section, IM Jean Hebert won the event outright with 8/9.

A Very Special Day

2011-07-03T17:43:00.003+03:00

Today is a very special day, as chess giant was born.I intended to write a poem about this genius, but instead decided to demonstrate his brightest achievements, which charactirize him best:

The Dominator
Bojkov,D - Delemarre,J
Wch U18 Szeged (4), 1994

That hero of ours has style. Instead of winning a piece with: 57.Bxe3 [57.a7 Bxa7 58.Rxa7] 57...Bxe3 58.Re7+ Or a pair of pawns after: [58.Kxe3 Rxh3+ 59.f3 Rh1 60.Rf5+ Kd6 61.Rxg5 our man decided to dominate on the whole board.] 58...Kf4 59.Rxe3 Indeed he does dominate, not for very long... 59...Rxf2+! Funnily, Jop found me on facebook today. 1/2

Mr. Cool.
Bojkov,D (2394) - Nikolov,S (2399)
Sunny Beach (6), 24.09.2003

Who would possibly be afraid about the hanging queen, when the piece that attacks it can be destroyed? 23.Bxc6 Nxb3 0–1, Khm, at least I had a great time on the beach after that.

The Tactical Master
Bojkov,D (2498) - Paulet,I (2275)
5th Open Kalamaria GRE (5), 06.08.2008

23.Qxa6 That remarkable person (luckily, not a GM yet) does not in fact in know that a queen is equal to nine (9) pawns, rather than one. In the featured position, instead of the cool retreats: [23.Qc6!?; 23.Qc2!? which could have caused Iozefina's flag to fall, that tricky guy found the fabulous combination, which he was sure to add to his first book.] 23...Rxa6 24.Rc8+ Ke7 25.Rfc1 [25.Nc6+ the only drawback of the combination though, was that the intended mate is somehow annoyingly refuted by the ingenious: 25...Rxc6!! The rest of the game was a not-very gentleman's try to cause the lady's flag falling. Let me, please, skip it.] 0–1

The Technical Genius
Bojkov,D (2544) - Naroditsky,D (2419)
Berkeley Int Open Berkeley USA (9), 07.01.2011

After spoiling the better part of his advantage, and after a fifteen minute of precise calculation, that gorgeous guy found the most technical decision: 45.h5 The move, that kept away the potentially weak extra pawn. The good thing about this Karpov-style preciseness is that after the slightly unexpected: 45…Rxc4 a mere ten moves later I was the first one to congratulate Daniel for his IM title. 0–1

And this is only the beginning…just let me entertain you 

Thank you all for your greeting!!!

The Unprepared Attack

2011-06-20T15:18:00.003+03:00

The following game against an old rival of mine from my youth days was my cleanest game in Albena. White’s overoptimistic attacking play in the opening was easily refuted by simple development.

Yovchev,A (2284) - Bojkov,D (2542)
BUL Teams (3.4), 09.06.2011
[,Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qc1?!

Alexi is an extremely sharp tactician. His dream now is to swap the bishops, weaken the fianchettoe position of my king, and to push the h pawn as far it gets. Therefore, exchanges are not part of his plan: [5.Qd2 Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ne5 Nd7= or even(7...f6 8.Nc4 Be6) ] 5...Bf5! Hits the pawn on c2, and provokes White for his next move. 6.Nh4?! [6.Bh6? Bxh6 7.Qxh6 Bxc2] 6...Be6! One might argue that the bishop is not better placed on e6 than on c8, but this is not the case. This piece is targeting... the a2 pawn! 7.Bh6 Bxh6 8.Qxh6 Qd6 Thanks to the small development twist, Black is already better. The knight on h4 as well the queen on h6 are completely unprepared for an "attack". Moreover, they are obstructing White's normal development. 9.Qd2 Played after 40 minutes of thought. I can only imagine White's frustration. However, the other options are no better: [9.h3 Ne4 (9...c5!?) 10.Nxe4 dxe4 is better for Black; Even worse is: 9.e3 Nc6 10.0–0–0 Ng4 11.Qg7 0–0–0–+

The most obvious: 9.0–0–0? is in fact losing after: 9...Ng4 10.Qg7 Rf8] 9...Nc6 10.g3 Probably White needed to settle on the continuation: [10.0–0–0 0–0–0 11.e3 Ne4 12.Qe1 when Black is a little better anyways (12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.g3 Bxa2 is a clear pawn ahead for me

this is when the bishop is needed on e6!) 12...f5 although I would defenetely prefer to have the black pieces here.] 10...0–0–0 11.Bg2 h6 The knight on h4 is still a concern for the first player. 12.Nb5 Qd7 13.f4 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.e3 The only move, as there is a double attack in case of the other pawn defense: [15.c3 Qd5] 15...g5 16.f5 Alexi decided to sacrifice a pawn. The alternative was not great either: [16.Ng2 Bg4 17.0–0

with a pleasant choice for Black- 17...gxf4 (17...Bf3 18.Ne1 g4) 18.Rxf4 f5 In both cases with great advantage.] 16...Bxf5 17.Nxf5 Qxf5 18.c4 a6 More energetic would have been: [18...Ne5 19.Qa5 Nd3+ 20.Kd1 (20.Kd2 Qf2+ 21.Kd1 Nxb2+ 22.Kc1 Nd3+ 23.Kd1 b6 24.Qxa7 Qf3+ 25.Kd2 Qg2+) 20...Qf3+ 21.Kc2 Qe2+ with immediate win.] 19.Rf1?! Qg4 20.Nc3 Ne5

21.Qe2 Nf3+ 22.Kd1 f5 23.Kc1 h5 Once that the h file is opened, black pieces will flood the opponent's position. 24.c5 c6 25.Nd1 [25.Qc4 Kb8 26.Qe6 h4 would not help either.] 25...Qh3 26.Rf2 h4 27.Rg2 hxg3 28.hxg3 Qh1 29.b4 Ne1 0–1
Naturally, not a great play by the first player, but a good example how to refute an overoptimistic play by your opponent.

Champions Again

2011-06-13T13:54:00.002+03:00

Bulgarian Team Competitions took place once more in the beautiful resort of Albena between 2-8 Junes. Practically all the best Bulgarian players (except Topalov, Cheparinov and Stefanova) took part in the event. Eight teams competed in the top male and female divisions, and additional 10 teams in the second male division plus four female teams, with the total of 194 players. Among them were 25 GMs and 30 IMs. Male teams constitute from 6 players and two reserves, while female- 4 players and one substitute. The rate of play was an hour and a half for the whole game, and increment of thirty seconds per move. Sofia rules were applied, as well as the zero-lateness tolerance.
The weather was fine, and many of the games had to be decided in a constant time-trouble.
In the male section my team “Naiden Voinov”-Vidin managed to double the title from the previous year. We won almost all our matches, including the direct encounters against Lokomotiv Sofia (3.5-2.5), and Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the last but one round (4-2) which proved to be the decisive match. Before that there was also a thrilling encounter against Lokomotiv 2000, which ended 3-3, but which we could have easily lost. The leader of the team Alexander Delchev arrived for the decisive match against Lokomotiv from the French Team Championship, and managed to win two team championships within a couple of days. Further on the squad was represented by the GMs M.Nikolov, Vl. Georgiev, V. Nevednichii (practically the only foreign player in the male part this year), D. Bojkov, M.Petrov, and FM Hr. Velchev, E.Stefanov.
The second place was for Lokomotiv Plovdiv led by GMs Spasov,Chatalbashev,Petkov and Drenchev. They did though less good on the lowest boards. The most remarkable about their team was the absolute record by IM Ljuben Popov (Bachkata) who played his 56-th (!) team championship with the same team, and who won his 40-th medal with his club!
Bronze medals went for Lokomotiv Sofia. Their indisputable leader Kiril Georgiev scored fabulous 4.5/5. However the saying “One swallow does not make a summer” worked for this strong team, as the leader did not get enough support.
The strong team of Lokomotiv 2000 did not really have a chance for the medals, as in the decisive final round one of their key players could not arrive on time and was forfeited for a minute delay. Another unpleasant incident happened in round two, when Dian Dimov from Abritus who had his mobile phone off in his pocket, pressed it unconsciously while thinking. The mobile made a noise, and he had to be forfeited. The moral is always the same; do better not bring any phones with you, no matter if they are off, or on. There are still alarms, that might start, reminders, or it might make a random sound when the battery is low, there are too many negative possibilities.
The poker phenomenon did not pass Bulgaria, and the team of Abritus was constituted by active poker players, and sponsored by a more advanced others.
From the group relegated the teams of Spartak Pleven, and sadly, the previous title-contenders CSKA. Victory Blagoevgrad and Tunja Yambol are replacing them.
The ladies tournament witnessed the indisputable success of Shah XXI Sofia who comfortably won all their six matches, and drew the last one when the job was done. The team consisted from WIM E.Raeva and WGMs E.Djingarova, M.Velcheva and G.Olarasu, who is the top-scorer of the championship with 6.5/7. A curious fact is that all he ladies from the champion’s team are connected with the champions from the male one. E.Djingarova and A. Delchev, and V. Nevendnichii and G. Olarasu (families), E.Raeva and M. Nikolov (couple) and finally M.Velcheva and Hr. Velchev (brother and sister, and captains).
The silver medals went for Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) (WGM Vosika,and WIM Chilingirova,Yordanova and Genova), while the last-year champions from CSKA managed to grab the bronze despite the financial crisis.
Lokomotiv Sofia and Spartak Pleven XXI got relegated and will be replaced in the next year by Krakra Pernishki and Ivis-Plus Sofia.
Albena is a hot spot at the Bulgarian chess map. It is one of the greenest resorts in our country, and there are more things to be seen in the neighborhood, like the Blachik’s Botanical Garden and the Balchik Palace (mere 9 km away), cape Kaliakra, etc. Currently the world workers championships are taking place in Albena (chess is one of the disciplines). A strong tournament with more than 200 participants (subscribed so far) will take place in the resort at the end of the month (25.05-03.07).
Finally, in September the European Individual Youth championships will be played.

6 Months and 60 Minutes

2011-06-09T14:53:00.000+03:00

This mass match on 100 boards was prepared long time ago and took place on Saturday, 28 May, just a couple of hours before the finals of the Soccer Champion’s League. There was no special occasion; it was just the passion to our great game and the respect that we have towards each other as nations that made the event happen. The Bulgarian and Serbian people have many things in common: we have similar language, use the Cyrillic alphabet, have the same religion- Orthodox Christians, and we have cooperated greatly in various arias of life, and chess is naturally one of them. Quite remarkable is the case with the legendary Serbian GM Svetozar Gligorich, who first became Bulgarian champion (unofficially) in 1945 and only after that, won his many titles in his home Yugoslavia.
100 boards is a lot of people and we were symbolically separated in various categories. Beside the male and female boards there were also students, handicapped, youth and seniors over 55 and 60 years. Furthermore, the unusual categories of federation and club managements, politicians, teachers, businessmen, journalists and even holy men competed each other.
It was a great chance for the players to meet some of their friends that they have not seen with years. It was also great to see many of our living legends gathered together.
Bankia is a state in Sofia, famous for the mineral water and the green environment. It become one of the hottest spots on the Bulgarian chess map this year, as both the male and female championships were conducted here in April.
The mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandukova, the deputy mayor of Begrade as well as many other politicians paid attention to the event, and made the symbolical first move.
Bulgaria was represented by Kiril Georgiev on the first male board, and Antoaneta Stefanova on the top female board, who had just arrived from the WIECC in Georgia as a silver medalist. Serbia’s top boards were Ivan Ivanisevic and Natasa Bojkovic. A total of 33 GMs and numerous titled players took part in the match. The time limit was 25 minutes per game, with an increment of 10 seconds per move. The top boards were translated online.
On the top boards we appeared to be quite hospitable hosts. However, we managed to recover the losses thanks to the business/politics/management stuff to finally clinch the win with the slim edge 51.5/48.5
The executive director of the Bulgarian chess Federation Nikolay Velchev said that this was “The longest prepared match (6 months) which ended in just 60 minutes”, but brought numerous positive emotions to all the participants.
The next match will be played in Belgrade.

Two Simuls and a Lecture

2011-05-30T15:02:00.002+03:00

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world! I discovered this with my first visit in 2010 and this year decided to spend more time on the continent.
I took an extra week after the tournaments in Canberra and Sydney that I have played with the intention to have a lot of time for sight-seeing. Still, the time was filled with chess. I first gave a lecture at the Sydney Academy of Chess (thank you for the invitation, Brett!) The material was based on the most interesting games of both open tournaments. Some strong players presented, like Rej Tomek, who is rated around 2350.
Two simultaneous exhibitions followed. One was at the Norths Chess Club, where I won 12 games, and lost one, to Jason Hu, rated 2190. While the simul took place, half of the members of the club competed in their club championship.
The second one was not planned initicially and took place in Golden Cost, a beautiful town near Brisbane. There I won 12 games and drew 3. One of those draws was against the Australian under 12 champion. Before the simul there was also a small blitz tournament, where I won all the five games. I want to thank the organizers Shane Burgess, and Amir Karibasic for making these events possible, as well to all the participants in both the events.
Now I can proudly say that I have conducted simultaneous exhibitions on four continents.
Australia is an extremely beautiful country, and I wish everyone the chance to see it, and experience the taste of the Australian nature.

SIO Winner's Best Game

2011-05-17T18:03:00.002+03:00

The following game was probably SIO's winner best achievement:
Akshat,Kh (2328) - Solomon,SJ (2398) [E30]
Sydney International Open Sydney AUS (4), 28.04.2011
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 The Leningrad System. 4...c5 5.d5 h6 6.Bh4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.e3 Qe7 9.Nf3 e5 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.Qc2

11...Kd8 Somewhat more common are the moves: [11...g5 or; 11...e4] 12.Bd3 Kc7 13.0–0–0 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5 15.h3

15...Nxg3 This move is a novelty. The only predecessor saw Black letting this bishop alive: [15...Ndf6 16.Bh2 Ng7?! 17.f4 Nd7?! 18.Rhf1 Rf8 19.g4 h5 20.Ne4 gxf4 21.exf4 f6 22.g5 1–0 Gordin,A (2275)-Soltanici,R (2389)/Bucharest 2003/CBM 093 ext (40) and White opened the position for his bishops to win a good game.] 16.fxg3 e4?! An interesting, but dubious idea. Solomon decided to award his knight with the e5 square. The price for it is though a bit expensive-a healthy central pawn. Both: [16...Nf6 17.Rhf1 (17.Bf5 Nh5!) 17...g4; Or: 16...Nb6 17.g4 (17.Bf5!? e4!? 18.Qxe4 Qf6 19.Bxc8 Qxc3+ 20.Qc2 Qa1+ 21.Qb1 Qc3+=) 17...Bd7 18.Rdf1 Raf8 would have been more to the point.] 17.Bxe4 Ne5 18.Bf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 a6?! Solomon is true to his active style. However, it was advisable to stick to the passive defense with: [19...g4 20.h4 (20.hxg4?! Rag8 21.Rdf1 Rxg4 is already better for Black.) 20...Rhf8 when it is hard to see how White will make progress.] 20.Rhf1 b5 21.Qf6 Now White firmly seizes the initiative. 21...Qd7 The endgame after: [21...Qxf6 22.Rxf6 is difficult for Black due to the many weaknesses that he has- 22...bxc4 (22...Rae8 23.g4 is probably Black's best chance, although he will have to sit, stay and pray for his position to be solid enough to survive.) 23.Ne4 Rab8 Playing for mate, but White can sacrifice the exchange. Alternatives are no better: (23...Rad8 24.Kc2 Rd7 25.Rb1 followed by g3-g4 leads to a comfortable advantage for White.; 23...Nd3+ 24.Kc2 Rab8 25.Rxf7+) 24.Rxd6 Nd3+

25.Rxd3 (25.Kd2?? Rb2#) 25...cxd3 26.Rc6+ Kd8 27.Nxc5±] 22.Rf5 Rhe8 23.Rdf1 Rab8 24.Qg7! Black's counter-chances should not be underestimated: [24.Qxh6 bxc4 25.Qxg5 Nd3+ 26.Kd1 Qa4+ 27.Ke2 Rb2 28.Rxf7+ Kb6 29.Rd1 (29.Qf6 Rxd2+ 30.Kxd2 Qxa2+ 31.Kd1 Qb3+ 32.Ke2 (32.Kd2?? Qb2+ 33.Kd1 Qc1+ 34.Ke2 Rxe3#) 32...Qc2+ 33.Kf3 Ne5+ 34.Kf4 Nxf7 35.Qxf7 Qe4+ 36.Kg5 Qxe3+ 37.Kg4 Re4+ 38.Rf4 Qe2+ 39.Kg5 Re5+ 40.Kh4 Qxg2 should end in a draw as both kings are a way too exposed.) 29...Qc2 and Black has a secured draw due to the resource Nd3-c1–d3.] 24...Re7 There is no time to capture the c pawn: [24...bxc4 25.Rxf7 Nxf7 26.Rxf7; However, the only move would have been: 24...f6 25.Qxd7+ Nxd7 26.e4 with comfortable advantage for White.] 25.Rxe5!

Akshat shows excellent understanding of the position and removes Black's best piece from the board. 25...dxe5 26.Rf6 The simple threat d5-d6 is hard to meet. Black's position falls appart. 26...Rb6 27.Ne4! Rxf6 28.Qxf6 And it is the white knight now that dominates the position. 28...Re8 29.Qxa6 Rb8 30.Nxc5 [30.d6+ Kd8 31.Nxc5 Qf5 32.Qc6 Qc8 33.cxb5 would be even faster.] 30...Qd6 31.Qa7+ Kd8 [31...Kc8 32.Na6 Rb6 33.Qa8+ Kd7 34.c5 Rxa6 35.Qb7+ wins the rook anyway.] 32.Nb7+ Rxb7 33.Qxb7 bxc4

The rest is a demonstration of good technique. 34.Kb2 Qc5 35.Qa8+ Kc7 36.Qc6+ Qxc6 37.dxc6 Kxc6 38.a4 f5 39.g4 f4 40.exf4 exf4 41.Ka3 Kc5 42.a5 Kb5 43.a6 Kxa6 44.Kb4 Kb6 45.Kxc4 Kc6 46.Kd4 Kd6 1–0

Surprising Winner in Sydney

2011-05-12T16:13:00.000+03:00

Sydney International open took place 27.04-01.05 immediately after the Canberra open. These two events represent best Australia, and give a chance for the foreign players to visit this beautiful continent.
There was a great danger that the SIO will not take place this year. The previous organizer FM Brian Jones announced at the closing ceremony in 2010 that he quits doing the event; GM Murray Chandler also withdrew his support. Yes, financial crisis had reached this continent too. Still, due to the efforts and dedication of some chess men the tournament took place. Some of those need to be mentioned- Shaun Press and Charles Zworestine (the arbiters of the event) and Shane Burgess, the new organizer. All of them dedicated lots of their time and efforts to keep the open alive.
Sixty-nine players took part in the open sections, and fifty two competed in the Challengers tournament.
The tournament took place in the city hall of Parramatta, a district of Sydney. It is a lovely place, with many shops and restaurants, delicious food, and a river which can take you to the heart of Sydney. Parramatta becomes especially lively on Saturdays when an open market is placed on its main street.
My last year’s experience told me that Sydney’s open is somewhat more promising for the foreigners who get adjusted to the Australian time after the jet-lag. I also hoped that I can defend my title from the previous year. Alas, this time Lady Luck had a new favourite.
FM Akshat Khamparia started fiercely with 5/5. On his triumphal way he grounded down the experienced GM Daryl Johansen, and yet another local surprise- FM Chris Wallis. He then kept his own by drawing against GMs Deviatkin, Arutinian, and IM Goh, and managed to keep his lead till the final round. Still, his task seemed very difficult as he needed to hold in the final round as Black against the Aussies’ top rated Zhang Zong-Yuan. On second and third board respectively four players on six points were fighting to join the leader but none of them succeeded and all the games were drawn. The peace treaty was also signed soon on the top board, thus Akshat triumphed with a clear first, scoring 7/9. This is by far his best achievement ever as he confessed. In addition to the four grant price that he was afforded for his efforts, the Indian flies back home as an IM, as the result achieved on both Canberra and Sydney let him overcome the 2400 elo barrier. “I come completely unprepared here, and did not have any expectations”, said he, “as I had too much to study. The computer that I brought with me was recently bought, and the only thing that I had on it was the chessbase program. I downloaded the bases in the process of the events. I will repeat this system though”, said the lucky winner.
There was a big group sharing the second place and David Arutnian took second on tiebreak, while Angrei Deviatkin was declared third. The Georgian GM also won the lightning tournament.
The last day was also the twenty-seventh anniversary of the chess couple Cathy and Ian Rogers who were once more entertaining the chess auditorium.
I can only wish these nice people to see them here again doing the great job on their platinum wedding anniversary.

The Decisive Game in Canberra

2011-05-05T10:37:00.003+03:00

This game defined the winner of the tournament:
Arutinian,D (2575) - Deviatkin,A (2566) [B10]
Doeberl Cup Premier Canberra AUS (9), 25.04.2011
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Bb5 Curiously, Arutinian had the very same position on board two around ago, with the black pieces. The Georgian GM likes to play against both sides of the isolani. 7...e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.d4 0–0 10.Re1 Qd6 11.a3 Rd8 12.Qc2

White usually starts with the move: [12.Bd3 which is a bit more flexible, here are a couple of examples: 12...Nf6 (12...Bd7 13.Bc2 Be8 14.Qd3 g6 15.h4 Rac8 16.Bh6 Nxc3 17.bxc3 e5 18.Bb3 Bf6 (18...exd4 19.cxd4) 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Rd7 21.Re4 Rdc7 22.Qe2 Na5 23.Ba2 Nc4 24.dxe5 Qxa3 25.Re1 b5 26.h5 Rc6 27.Bf6 Qxc3 28.Qg4 Qa3 29.Qg5 Qf8 30.Rh4 Re6 31.Ree4 h6 32.hxg6 Rxf6 33.Qxf6 fxg6 34.Rxc4 bxc4 35.Rxc4 1–0 Nevednichy,2538)-Kallai,G (2500)/ Hungary 2004/EXT 2011) 13.Be3 b6 14.Qc2 Bb7 15.Rad1 Rac8 16.d5!

A thematic breakthrough, which Black should always be aware of! 16...Nxd5 (16...exd5 17.Bf5 Ra8 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 g6 (19...h6 20.Rxd5 Qb8 (20...Qf6 21.Bh7+ Kh8 (21...Kf8 22.Rf5 Qd6 23.Qb3+-) 22.Rf5+-) ) 20.Bxd5 Qc7 (20...Nb4 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Ne5+ Kg8 24.Nc6 Bxc6 25.Qxc6 Qb3 26.Bd4‚) 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Bh6 Kg8 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.Qf7 Rg8 25.Ng5+-) 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bxh7+‚ Kf8 19.Qf5 d4 20.Bf4 Qf6 21.Qg4 g6 22.Bh6+ Ke8 23.Bg5 Qd6 24.h4 Qd7 25.Qg3 Qd6 26.Ne5 Rc7 27.Bf4 Qd5 28.Nxf7 d3 29.Bxg6 1–0 Matamoros Franco,C (2540) -Dias,P (2425)/Campillos 2007/CBM 117 ext] 12...Bd7 13.Bd3 h6 Now Black's position is much more solid than with the g7-g6 set-up. 14.Bd2 Rac8 15.Nxd5 exd5 Deviatkin plays solidly. In case of: [15...Qxd5 The d4-d5 breakthrough idea will still irritate Black- 16.Bc3 Bf6 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Be4 Qb5 19.Rad1 and White is already threatening d4-d5.] 16.Bc3 Bg4= Or else White will play h2-h3. It seems as Black had already equalized. 17.Ne5 [17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qf6= (19...Kg8=) ] 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Qb6 19.Qa4 Bd7 [19...Be6? 20.Ba5] 20.Qf4 Be6

21.h4?! Black's active pieces will keep the balance in case of: [21.Bd4 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Rxc5 23.Qb4 (23.b4 Rc3 24.Red1 Rdc8) 23...Rc6 24.Rac1 Qxb4 25.axb4 Rb6 26.b5 a6= but this should have been preferred. Now Black will use his main trump.] 21...d4! 22.Bd2 Qb3 Of course not: [22...Qxb2?? 23.Reb1 and the queen is trapped.] 23.Be4?! One mistake leads to another. Arutinian should have preferred: [23.Qe4 g6 24.Qe2 h5 25.Bg5 Bxg5 26.hxg5 Rc5 although Black already has a pull here.] 23...d3 24.Qg3 Kh8 25.Bc3 d2 26.Red1 Rc4

Consistently following his plan. However, he is missing a strong tactical blow: [26...Bxa3! 27.Rxd2 (27.bxa3 Rxc3 28.Qf4 Qc4–+; 27.Rxa3 Qxd1+) 27...Rxd2 28.Bxd2 Qxg3 29.fxg3 Bxb2–+ 30.Rxa7 Bd4+] 27.Qf3 Bxh4 28.Ba5 Qxf3 Once more safe play by the Russian GM. The reason for this is understandable. A draw secures tie for the first place, while a possible loss will bring home nothing but peanuts. [28...Qxb2 29.Bxd8 Bxd8 30.Rab1 Qxe5 31.Bxb7 Bg5–+] 29.Bxf3 b6 30.Bxd2 Rc2 31.Be3 Rxb2 32.a4 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Bg5 34.Bd4 Rb4 35.Bc6 Bg4 [35...Bf5!? with the idea Bf5-c2 was better, and Black should win. Now Arutinian seizes his chance.] 36.f3!? Sacrificing a pawn to liquidate into an opposite-coloured bishop endgame, which is famous for the drawing tendencies. 36...Bxf3 37.Bxf3 Rxd4 38.Rxd4 Be3+ 39.Kf1 Bxd4 40.Bd5 Kg8 41.e6 fxe6 42.Bxe6+ Kf8 43.Ke2 Ke7 44.Bh3 Kd6 45.Kd3 Kc5 46.Bd7 Bf6 47.Be6?! This move lets Black create a passed pawn. The further the distance is between the pawns, the less chances the defender has, as it is easier "to stretch" his defensive forces. [47.g4! was much better. White needs to keep the zone with his king, and not let the counterpart approach his king's side pawns, or help the b passer win the bishop. An important detail is that the promotional square of the h pawn is at the opposite colour of the bishop that Black has. 47...a6 48.Be8 b5 A b pawn is less harmful. 49.axb5 axb5 50.Bg6 Kd5! This is the only way to make progress: (50...b4 51.Bf7 Kd6 52.Ke4 Ke7 53.Bb3 g6 54.Bg8 h5? Once that the h pawn is moved, White will have an additional fortress resource. 55.gxh5 gxh5 56.Kf3=

White is just placing his hing to h1, and then can sacrifice the bishop for the b pawn- it is a fortress.; 50...Kb4 51.Be8 harassing the pawn, and not letting the black king move freely. 51...Ka5 52.Bf7 b4 53.Kc2 Ka4 54.Bb3+ Ka3 55.Bf7 and Black cannot make progress.) 51.Bf7+ Ke5 52.Ke3 Bg5+! 53.Kf3 (53.Kd3 Kf4 54.Be6 Bf6 55.Ke2 b4 56.Kf2 Kg5 followed by h6-h5. Once that a second passed pawn is created Black should be winning, although there are still technical difficulties.) 53...Kd4 followed by Kd4-c3, pawn is marching to b2, and once the White king comes to deal with the b pawn, his counterpart goes to the king's flank and wins the bishop. Still, White has more defensive resources than in the game. For example if Black prematurely advances the pawn to b2 White places the bishop on the b1–h7 diagonal, and this is a draw!] 47...b5! Now Black wins. 48.axb5 Kxb5 49.Bf7 a5 50.Ke4 Kb4 51.Kd3 a4 52.Bg8 h5 53.Bf7 h4 54.Bg8 a3 55.Bf7 g5 56.Be6 g4 57.Ke4 Kc3 58.Kf4 g3 0–1
Deviatkin is the proud winner of Doeberl Cup 2011.

Deviatkin Successful in Canberra

2011-05-03T12:04:00.000+03:00

This year’s edition of the Doeberl cup appeared somewhat weaker than the previous one. The usual Indian flock was missing. Still four GMs from abroad took part in the event, as well as half of the Aussies’ GMs- Smerdon and Johansen. The third one, Zhao will represent them on the coming Sydney International open, while the last, but not least Ian Rogers was once again providing his excellent commentaries throughout the event. Those annotations attracted a great share of attention. Due to his work commitments Smerdon started with a half point bye at the start. So did Australia’s highest rated female Arianne Caoili who took two. Byes are allowed in Canberra for the first couple of rounds.
The tournament was once again hosted by the Hellenic club and started smoothly for the titled players. With two rounds per day we quickly passed the tournament equator when Andrey Deviatkin was most successful, with 5.5/6 score.
Seventh round appeared to be the longest, as Daryl Johanson pushed hard to overcome the young Mountlyn Ly. The game lasted more than 150 moves, and he finally managed to convert the tricky rook and bishop versus rook endgame. Eight’ round was postponed for half an hour, while they finish the game. That feast came too much for both the opponents and they both lost in the next round.
Remarkably, there were many long full-blooded games. Part of them is due to the price fund which Doeberl Cup provides. To claim it, a player is not allowed to make a draw before move thirty throughout the event, and to win their final game with a score equal to the lowest player’s score on board four in the final round.
The situation before the final round promised suspense. Two players on 6.5 were facing two GMs on 6 points with the white pieces. A third pair on six points was playing on board three where the top seeded Sune Berg Hansen managed to ground down the local surprise Eugene Schon. I totally messed the opening against David Smerdon on board two. The danger to get in the basic textbook of how not to play in the opening was there, but the Aussie was also nervous. He made a few inaccuracies and offered a draw, which I gladly accepted. In vain, the position was already much better for me.
Fortune favours the brave. In the meanwhile Andrei Deviakin showed guts by rejecting a similar draw offer against the Georgian GM David Arutinian. He won a pawn, then second, and converted it into the opposite coloured bishop endgame. Thus, the Russian took clear first place, scoring 7.5/9. This win also granted him a share of the thousand dollar fighting price fund. The other two who took a bite were Max Illingworth and Akshat Khamparia. They both made a performance over 2450 but for technical reasons could not fulfill the IM norm requirements.
While we were dealing with the price fund, the locals enjoyed themselves in the lobby of the hall with a game called “two up”. It is a rather simple gambling game, which the Australian soldiers used to play during the First World War, and which is repeated each year in their memories.
This year’s slogan for the Doeberl cup shirts was “It’s been a hard day’s knight.” But one other slogan attracts the attention- “Lost your bishop? Better start praying now…” It could be seen on the shirt that a two meter man wore. His name is Charles Bishop and he is the organizer of the event. It might really be trouble if Doeberl Cup loses their Bishop. The organization stuff that he does vary to wide ranges. His children played in the tournaments, and his wife Lara is involved in the organization as well. Charles was also our guide in the Australian life, showed us the wild kangaroos, and invited us to a delicious dinner. In previous years he even drove the bus from Canberra to Sydney to personally bring the guest players to their second event.
The next year is the 50-th jubilee edition of the tournament. We are looking forward for it.

KID on the Battlefield (2)

2011-04-13T09:51:00.005+03:00

The next time when I had to defend my ideas was in Groningen, at the end of the year. My young opponent confidently blitzed the theoretical moves...

Ashwin,Jayaram (2420) - Bojkov,Dejan (2544) [E91]
Schaakfestival 2010 Open A Groningen (2.5), 22.12.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 Na6 7.0–0 e5 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nd5 c6 12.Ne7+ Kh8 13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.Nxd4 Nf6 15.f3 Qe5 16.Be3 d5 17.Qb3 Black is very active after: [17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Bf2 Nf4 19.Bxa6 bxa6 20.Qc2 Qg5 with initiative- 21.Be3 (21.g3 Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Nxf2 23.Qxf2 Rfd8 24.Rad1 c5 25.Nb3 c4 and Black is already slightly better) 21...c5

22.Nb3 c4 23.Nd4 Qe5 24.Bxf4 Qxd4+ 25.Kf1 Qxb2 26.Qxb2 Bxb2і Jovanic,O (2527)-Saric,I (2566)/Rijeka 2009/CBM 128 Extra (48)] 17...c5 18.Nb5 dxe4 19.Rad1 Rcd8 20.Nxa7 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 exf3 22.Bxf3 Ne4 My opponent did not believe that I will repeat the same line that I played against Jakovenko. However, as we have seen from that game things were far away from clear, and the hunter became hunted in this game. Ashwin sank into deep thought.23.a3!?N

Logical move, which deprives the black knight from the b4 square. Still, it seems as Black has good counterplay here as well.[23.Qxb7 Nd6 24.Qb3 Nxc4 is unclear, while- 23.Re1 f5 24.Qxb7 leads to Jakovenko-Bojkov, ECC Plovdiv 2010 when 24...Nb4!] 23...f5 24.Qxb7

[24.Nb5!? Bringing back the knight into the action seems like a reasonable alternative for the first player. Note that the engame after: 24...Qxb2 (24...b6!? provides counterplay) 25.Qxb2 Bxb2 26.Bxe4 fxe4 27.Rd7± is again favourable for White.] 24...Nd6! The same manouver recommended in DVD solves Black's problems. 25.Qb3 Nxc4 26.Bc1 [Or- 26.Bf2 Nxb2 27.Re1 Qf4 with initiative.] 26...Nxb2 27.Nc6 Qf6 28.Rd7 Seems very active, but probably White had to try the endgame: [28.Bxb2 Qxb2 29.Qxb2 Bxb2 30.Rb1 Bc3 31.Rb6 and the a pawn and active pieces should compensate for Black's extra pawn.] 28...c4! Black's threats become too strong, and now White blunders- 29.Qb6 This loses on the spot. The only move was: [29.Qb5 Although Black is still much better here- 29...Re8 30.Rxg7 Re1+ 31.Kf2 Nd3+ 32.Kg3 f4+ 33.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 34.Kh3 Nf2#] 29...Nd3

[29...Qc3? 30.Bd2] 30.Qxa6 [30.Rxd3 cxd3 31.Qxa6 Qc3–+] 30...Qc3! 31.h3 Qxc1+ 32.Kh2 Qf4+ 33.Kg1 Nc5

34.Qa7 Nxd7 35.Qxd7 c3 0–1 This time things went well for me. In the meanwhile I was pleasantly surprised to receive this picture from a student of mine:

Thanks, Dom!

KID On the Battlefield (1)

2011-04-07T15:37:00.003+03:00

My first DVD on the KID with Na6 came out in February, although it was recorded before. In the meanwhile and soon after it some theoretically important positions were tested on the battlefield.

Jakovenko,D (2726) - Bojkov,D (2552) [E94]
26th European Club Cup Plovdiv BUL (3.8), 19.10.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Na6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Re1

White makes an useful move and does not commit yet in the center. The options are open, and the d4 pawn might be either exchanged or advanced forward, and there is also a very powerful idea c4-c5 in the area. The opposition of the white rook and black queen on the "e" file is also irritating for the second player. Black has various ways to threat the position. 10...exd4 Simplest, and most probably best. 11.Nd5 White's chances are currently linked with this idea of Huzman from 2005. 11...c6 12.Ne7+ Kh8 13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.Nxd4 Nf6 15.f3 The latest trend of the line is connected with this interesting Polish idea to hold the center. Radoslav Wojtaszek used it to surprise and defeat Ivan Saric at the ETCC in Novi Sad 2009. The idea though belongs to his country-man G. Gajewski. 15...Qe5 The best reaction, Black must act quickly- [15...Nc5?! 16.Bf1 Qe5 17.Be3 Rfe8 18.Qd2± see Wojtaszek,R (2640)-Saric,I (2573)/Novi Sad SRB 2009/] 16.Be3 d5 17.Qb3 '!' 'Wojtaszek.' White sacrifices a pawn for the initiative. 17...c5 18.Nb5 dxe4 19.Rad1 'with compensation' Up to here we were following the analyzes of the Polish players. This was the first time that Jakovenko chose the line, and I could not exactly remember what I had analyzed. But finally, after investing a large amount of time I played the prepared moves. 19...Rcd8N The rook is moving away from the tempoes after Nb5xa7, and fights for the d file. 20.Nxa7 Rxd1 Deflects the rook from the defence of the bishops. 21.Rxd1 [‹21.Bxd1 Nb4] 21...exf3 22.Bxf3 Ne4

23.Re1 [23.Qxb7 Nd6 24.Qb3 Nxc4 with unclear play, when Black has his share of chances. This is the line that I give in for my DVD on the KID. I believe that Black has good chances on the king's flank.] 23...f5 24.Qxb7 Qxb2? This move leads to a difficult endgame. I missed an important detail in the other main line: [24...Nb4! After the game both Ugra's captain Alexander Khalifman and Jakovenko himself immediately pointed out this move. Jakovenko added: "I could not see salvation for me here". In fact the computer shows that the game is equal, but still it was White who needed to find the good moves: 25.Nc6 I was afraid of: (25.Bxe4 fxe4 26.Nc6 but Jakovenko showed me the nice tacical shot that I missed- 26...Qf5 27.Nxb4 (27.Ne7) 27...Bh6! and Black is winning

I have only considered using the bishop on the other diagonal and this move was simply a black spot for me.) 25...Qxb2 (25...Nxc6 is also good and leads to an equal endgame after: 26.Qxc6 Qxb2 27.Bxe4 Qc3 28.Bf2 Bd4 29.Bxd4+ Qxd4+ 30.Kh1 fxe4=) 26.Bxc5! The only move. The dangers that White experience demonstrates the line: (26.Bxe4? Qc3! 27.Bf2 fxe4 28.Nxb4

28...Qxe1+!! I saw this line, but unfortunately missed that the bishop can be useful on the other diagonal too (see the previous line). 29.Bxe1 Bd4+ 30.Bf2 Rxf2 and White loses the queen or is getting mated.; And if: 26.Nxb4? might lead to a smothered mate after: 26...Bd4! 27.Bxd4+ Qxd4+ 28.Kh1 Nf2+ 29.Kg1 Nh3+ 30.Kh1 Qg1+ 31.Rxg1 Nf2#) 26...Nxc5 27.Qxb4 Bd4+ 28.Kh1 Qxb4 29.Nxb4 Bc3 30.Rb1 Rb8 31.a3 Na6= with full equality.] 25.Qxb2 Bxb2 26.Bxe4 fxe4 27.Nb5±

27...Re8 28.a3 Rd8 29.Bf2 Re8 30.Re2 Bc1 31.Be3 Bxe3+ 32.Rxe3 Nb8 33.Nc3 Nc6 34.Rxe4 Ra8 35.Nb5 Nd4 36.Re7 Nc2 37.Re2 Nd4 38.Nxd4 cxd4 39.Ra2 Ra4 40.Kf2 Kg7 41.Ke2 Kf6 42.Kd3 Ke5 43.h3 g5 44.Ra1 h5 45.Ra2 h4 46.Ra1 Kd6 47.Kxd4 Kc6 48.Ra2 Ra5 49.a4 g4 50.hxg4 Rg5 51.a5 Rxg4+ 52.Ke5 Kb7 53.a6+ Ka7 54.c5 Rg5+ 55.Kf4 Rxc5 56.Kg4 Rc4+ 57.Kh3 Rb4 58.Ra5 Rc4 59.Rg5 Kxa6 60.Rg4 Rc3+ 61.Kxh4 Kb6 62.Rd4 1–0 Despite the fact that my first game did not bring the desired effect, I liked my position and kept on testing it. Two more games were played in the coming couple of months.

(To be continued.)

Belgium Interclubs

2011-04-01T11:13:00.000+03:00

16-16. This was the final outcome of the top match in the last round of the Belgium league between the favourites KSK Rochade 1 KSK47-Eynatten 1. The first time of Eynathen had though secured the title long time ago. But what kind of result is that 16-16? Or 21-11, the largest win in the final round which my team Amay had achieved? Especially when there are only eight players in each team? Well, the system in Belgium this year is changed. The individual points are calculated as follows- 3 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, 1 point for a loss. Yes, a loss is awarded with a point, but if a player does not appear, he receives a zero. And that makes sense. Theoretically, a match can be tide 4-4, but if player from one of the teams does not appear, that team will lose the match 15-16 according to the new systems. And, if there were teams willing to save money from their expensive foreigners before they are no longer willing to do so. A match win is counted first and none is willing to lose due a sheer default of a player.
Belgium Interclubs is an all-play all 11 round Championship. Games are played on Sundays throughout the whole year. In total there are 5 Leagues, but starting from second league there are also groups. Fifth division for instance has groups A-M. The teams in second and third divisions consist of 6 players, and fourth and fifth divisions count on four players.
The last two teams from 1-st division relegate into second, and the top three qualify for the Champion’s League.
For many years a dominant force in Belgium is the Eynathen team. Khenkin, Van der Doel, Lutz, Sulskis, Horvath, Hausrath, these are only some of the GMs that the team can use in their matches. They also have a strong backbone of masters willing to prove themselves. If they want though, they can easily compose a team only of Grandmaster power. Their opponents can hardly do the same, although, the silver medalists Ans 1 have M. Hoffman and Luc Winants in their team, while the bronze winners KSK Rochade 1 can count on R. Vaganian, Berelovitsch, Feigin and Glek. Apart from the local players, the Belgium Interclubs recruits many foreigners, mainly from the countries in the neighborhood. Netherlands, Germany and France are well represented in the team squads. Top players include the names of Ivan Sokolov (NED), Georg Meier (GER), Tigran Gharamian (FRA). Players from other continents like Parimadjan Negi(IND) and Irina Krush(USA) also compete in the league.
Till Sunday the matches were always played in the home town of the hosting time. However this year an exception was made, and all the teams gathered together for the final round in Charleroi, in the hall where the traditional open tournament takes place in summer. This was made as an attempt to provoke the general interest towards our game in Belgium. The top three boards in each match were transmitted live, and despite the fact that the EICC is still in progress, 15 GMs and many IMs took part in the battles. The top match was KSK Rochade 1 KSK47-Eynatten 1, was tied as I mentioned before after a tough battle. In exciting games GMs Luts and Sulskis scored for Eynathen 1 on the top boards against colleagues Vaganian and Berelovitsch respectively, but Feigin and Coenen managed to level the score edging out Hausrath and Polaczek in return.
Namur 1 and Crelel 1 lost their spots in the top division.

UTD Invitational Tournament

2011-03-21T21:43:00.002+02:00

(Pictures James Stallings & UTD)
UTD abbreviation means The University of Texas in Dallas.

As the Final Four University team is approaching the UTD members get ready. It will be played the weekend of April 2-3 in Washington D.C. at the headquarters of the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. There is only one goal: defeat the other three teams and win the Presidents Cup. UTD defeated all of these teams (each with 3 GMs and 1 IM) at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship in December. The opposition includes GMs like Gareev, Kuljashevic, Erenburg, Bachman and other strong opponents.” It was not easy then, and we do not expect it will be easy this time”, says Chess Program Director James Stallings- the leading force behind the chess program at the University. Together with Luis Salinas and Coach Rade Milovanovic they form a successful unit that moves forward their chess project.
In the meanwhile, our tournament for preparation was in progress. We had hard time in the first seven rounds when the match was completely tied 21-21. James was even considering additional rapid games to determine the overall winner.
Then came the free day. It included an official lunch with the sponsors, demonstrative games in front of the University, interviews for the TV and publicity of chess, and a visit of the museum of the contemporary art.
The two games that we played with the big chessmen in front of the campus were extremely funny. As the chess pieces were very heavy (made by teak tree from Indonesia) guys did not want to castle (the king was around 20 kg heavy at least). We (the GM team) easily got winning position in the first game as white, but blundered a whole piece. At some stage a little lizard appeared, willing to help the UTD members, but coach Milovanovic realized that he does not have the scholarship and chased him off the board. We managed to get revenge in the second game, as black, and we won the moral win as that second game was recorded for the TV… And this was not the only time when the journalists took interest about us. The last round was attended by The Dallas Morning News journalists who both took interviews and lots of pictures.
After the free round the students’ team collapsed. We won the in the eight round by a two-point margin, and the next one demolished them 5.5-0.5, the biggest overall match win. Magesh Panchanathan, who started disastrously with four straight losses considerably improved his play, and in the second part of the event managed to recover his losses. The interesting fact about Magesh is that he is the first GM that UTD chess program “homebrewed”. Ray Robson, who was ill in the first half of the event, came back, as well as Julio Becerra, who finally even shared the second place scoring +3 in the second lap. In the meanwhile UTD’s top scorer from the first lap Ioan Chirilla lost some games, to finish on 6.5/12. Alejandro Ramirez who after the seventh round jumped over the 2600 mark had to swallow a bitter pill, losing 2 out of his five remaining games. Next year he might be representing the visiting team of “the examiners” as he is graduating by the end of the semester.
However, the students had an occasion to celebrate, as Julio Sadorra succeeded not only to fulfill his third and final GM norm, but also managed to improve his rating to the needed 2500 points. Congratulations for the freshly-elected GM! This norm makes the tournament successful for the UTD, despite the overall loss.
Almost all the members from the Grandmaster team were on positive score, and the best among us is Valentin Iotov. He scored four wins, and remained the only undefeated player in the event. I shared second place with Julio Becerra, both scoring 7.5/12. The most attractive participant from our team was though the oldest one. Alex Shabalov made only two draws for the whole event and was by far the most competitive participant.

What Rooks Want

2011-03-08T17:59:00.004+02:00

When at the end of January a friend of mine invited me for a lecture with his young students I did not think twice, and accepted. “You choose a theme”, said Pavel. I decided that something that will help my young audience understand better their pieces will be most helpful. Therefore I picked up the theme “What Rooks Like”.
Here are a couple of samples from the lecture, which came to demonstrate that rooks prefer to torture the opponent’s king from far away. The first sample is given by Tarrasch:

Black can save himself here if he is to move by harrassing the opponent's king: 1...Ra8+ 2.Kd7 Ra7+ 3.Ke6 Ra6+ 4.Ke5 Ra5+ 5.Kd4 Ra4+ 6.Kc5 Ra5+ 7.Kb6

And only when the king is too far away from the pawn- 7...Re5 ½
However, a slight change of rok's operating area might change the situation dramatically:

1...Rb8+ 2.Kd7 Rb7+ 3.Kd8 Rb8+ 4.Kc7 Ra8

Seems like everything is OK for Black, the rook occupied "his" vertical and is ready to torture the white king again, but...
5.Ra1! Re8 6.Kd7 Kf7 7.Rf1+ 1–0

The Witty Knights

2011-02-16T16:46:00.003+02:00

On my way back from USA I stopped by in Belgium for a very important match of my team Amay. We needed to win on any rate, but things seemed very bad for us. I had terrible game on board one against my friend Nicolas Clery, and had to lose. Luckily for me though, I managed to escape thanks to my great knight duo:
Bojkov,D (2544) - Clery,N (2402)
Belgium Interclubs Amay, 06.02.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]

57.Nf5+ Kh7 58.Ng5+ Kg6 [58...Kh8 59.Nf7+ Kh7 (59...Kg8 60.Ne7+ Kxf7 61.Nxd5=) 60.Ng5+] 1/2
Knights did great job, saved the half point and gave us the desired victory by a minimal margin 4.5-3.5. I sent the endgame to the famous etudist IM Yochanan Afek (he likes collecting practical ideas and implementing them into his own studies, and there were some other nice moments in the endgame prior to this position). And in return received this fabulous study:

Nadareishvili,G

White's pieces are scattered around and it seems impossible for them to coordinate without heavy losses. However: 1.Nb4+ Ka5 2.Nc6+ Ka4 3.Nb6+ Ka3 4.Nc4+ Ka2

5.Bf3! Yochanan wrote me that the study is cooked due to the tablebases-[5.N4e5! cook VV 5...Qxh5+ 6.Kg7 Qf5 7.Ng6 Kb2 8.Nce7 Qe6 9.Ng8 and according to those tablebases this position is a theoretical draw. Still, the author's idea is safer, quicker, and much, much more bautiful!] 5...Qxf3 [5...Qf8+ 6.Kh7 Qf7+ 7.Kh8 Qxc4 8.Bd5 Qxd5 9.Nb4+] 6.Nb4+ Ka1

And here we are again. Familiar position, is not it? The only difference is that the hunted prey is more delicious- 7.Nc2+ Ka2 8.Nb4+ 1/2

American Tour (Report for Chessvibes)

2011-02-11T16:14:00.002+02:00

After Robert’s two stories about his American experience, it is my term to share impressions. From 15-19 January I took part in the Golden State open in Concord, California which is part of the CCA (Continental Chess Association) events. Bill Goichberg is the man in charge here, and the series include the major chess opens in USA, such as the Philadelphia, Chicago World and North American open, those where the big money are. Goichberg’s tournaments have their own rules. There are no conditions for anyone (GMs do not pay entry fee, but the amount is deducted from their prices), and everyone is obliged to carry his own chess set and clock. There are various sections and those rated under 2200, 1600 or even 1300 can win a reasonable amount of money (for example, the under 1600 rating section’s first price is 2000 $, which is not as bad considering the fact that the first price in the open section is 3000 $). Therefore, these events attract huge mass of players.
This year the open section started with a major upset straight from the first round. The nine-year-old Samuel Sevian knocked down the rating favourite Mauricio Flores:

Sevian,S (2157) - Flores,M (2653) [B47]
Concord (1), 14.01.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]

28.e6!! 0–0 [28...dxe6 29.Qb5+ Ke7 30.Bxc3; 28...fxe6 29.Qe5 both win at least a rook for White.] 29.e7 [29.exf7+ Kxf7 30.Re1 would have been even easier, as the rook is not going anywhere- 30...Ra3 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Qe7+] 29...Bxe7 30.Qxe7 Rxh3+ 31.gxh3 Rxb8 32.Qe5 d6 33.Qd4 Qa6 34.Re1 Qc6+ 35.Kg1 Rc8

This allows another firework, but Black is losing anyway. 36.Bc3! f6 37.Qxf6 Qxc3 38.Re8+! 1–0
Mauricio told me that after the game his young opponent showed no excitement at all (even though this was his first win over a GM ever), and took it as normal. Samuel continued his great performance and managed to overcome the 2200 USCF rating mark, thus gaining the title of a national master. He is the youngest ever American who had achieved that and obviously, his main successes are still to come. In the meanwhile, after suffering from a poor start I managed to score 3.5/5 before the final 2 rounds. As usual, there is always a story with me when winning a tournament, and this was no an exception. It started with taking a train in the wrong direction before the sixth round that fortunately costed me only 45 minutes on the clock. (Thanks for not forfeiting for a minute late on the American tournaments!) I won that game though against E. Tate, and one more black after that against IM E. Sevillano, also as Black (I should add that Enrico is a great man and took the loss like a real gentleman), thus sharing the first with the American John Bryant (who in fact had the better tiebreak, and won some extra cash for that.)
On the next day I was already travelling to L.A. for the first since six years GM norm tournament on the South West Coast (19-23 January). It is a shame that such an enourmous city like Los Angelis with its’ seventeen million people is meager on chess events. This is however a subject to a change, as the local tournament organizer Ankit Gupta and tournament director Michael Belcher are working hard in promoting our sport. After organizing an IM norm event in December, they now succeeded in a GM brother, and there are still more to come, including a strong open in August.
The event was dedicated in memory of Jimmy Quon, who taught more than a thousand children in his life, and organized numerious events in L.A.
The contest for the first place did not really take place, as GM Mark Paragua started with 6/6 to claim the title in style. Second is the local hero GM Melik Khachiyan, third is IM Mackenzie Molner.
I did not play well here (fatigue was taking its toll) but there was a curious moment in one of my games that would definitely bring joy to Mr. Afek:

Molner,M - Bojkov,D
L.A. Invitational (8), 23.01.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]

Here I went for a correct idea, but in a wrong way: 1...Be4? The idea is to chase the king into a smaller cage with Be4-f3+, Bf3-g3+ followed by Rg2-b2-b1 mate. However, the correct way to this was to make it with checks: [1...Bc2+ 2.Ke1 Bg3+ 3.Kf1 Rd2 Already, threatening mate, for example: 4.f6+ The point is that the defense: (4.Be5 is not working due to: 4...Bd3+ 5.Kg1 Bf2+ as the rook on c5 is hanging.) 4...Kf7 5.Ra5 Bd3+ 6.Kg1 Bh2+ 7.Kh1 Be4#] 2.Ke1 Bf3 However here Molner had enough time to destroy my plans: 3.f6+! Ke6 [3...Kf7 4.Rf5] 4.f7 Bd6 There is not time for mating net: [4...Bg3+ 5.Kf1 Rb2 6.Re5+! Kd7 7.Re1] 5.Re5+! Kxf7 6.Rf5+ ½

In conclusion I would like to present you the wonderful video that Christian Glawe made from the event!

Jimmy Quon Memorial Chess Tournament from Ice Hat Creative on Vimeo.

Two Simuls in San Diego

2011-02-09T10:12:00.004+02:00

After the exhausting tournament scheme, that finally ended on 23 January in L.A. I got some free time to see USA. Chess was still involved though, as I was invited for a couple of simultaneous exhibitions in San Diego on 27 and 28 January. This is what the official site of the club wrote about the events:

“Thursday night was the first go around for this event and we had 19 participants, a few less than expected but not a bad turnout. It was a small field, but fairly strong, with over one half the players rated over 2000. It started promptly at 7 PM and GM Bojkov got right after it after a few brief announcements. Here were the players in rating order:
2 Masters: Bruce Baker and Kyron Griffith
8 Experts: Dimitry Kishinevsky, Nikolay Arutyunov, Alejandrino Baluran, Alan Tsoi, Jesse Orlowski, Bill Whitney, Antonio Gonzalez and Robert Defore.
3 Class A: Buddy Morris, Chuck Ensey and Carl Newell.
5 Class B: Edgar Lopez, Jim Krooskos, Frank Arias, Steve Perry and Leonardo Villaverde.
1 Class C: Fred Cleveland
Buddy Morris was the first to go down in flames - he transposed a move order and blamed it on being tired. Antonio Gonzalez was the next to drop as he tried to replay a blitz game he had had some success with Dejan yesterday. I (Chuck) was the next to drop, but just before I did, Bill Whitney had earned a draw!! I had to leave at that point, but it looked like Alan Tsoi had a won game, up the exchange and a pawn, and Bruce had drawing chances in a Rook and pawn ending, down a pawn, but it was doubled. Update: Yes Alan Tsoi won and Bruce Baker drew, as did Kyron Griffith. So, final score was 1 win, 3 draws and 15 losses for the home team. A repectable showing for both sides.
So Friday night we did it all over again, but the turnout was much lower, really hardly enough to hold a decent simul. There were a few kids from the Jedi Knights, plus 4 Experts (Arutyunov, Gonzalez Humphrey and Whitney), plus a few Class players (Morris, Perry, Vajapeyam). No one got a win or even a draw under these conditions.”
This short game was played in the second simul, where my young opponent fell for a typical trick:
NN - Bojkov,D [A00]
Simultanious San Diego, 28.01.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e3 d5 2.d3 e5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.d4 e4 6.Ne5 Bd6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h5 9.0–0?

9...Bxh2+ 10.Kxh2 Ng4+ 11.Kg1 Qh4 12.Bxg4 hxg4 13.f4 g3 0–1
I should add that San Diego is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, with the remarkable bay area, jolly downtown and glorious Balboa Park and Zoo.
I found many new friends. Thanks you Antonio, Dimitry, Bill, Buddy and Nikolay for showing me the city. And thank you Chuck, for the invitation!

The Advantages of the Isolated Pawn

2011-01-31T08:47:00.002+02:00

Bojkov,D - Adamson,R [B10]
Los Angelis Los Angeles, 21.01.2011
[Bojkov,Dejan]
I did not do well at L.A. as a whole, but the following game was my best achievement. Most of the beautiful lines though remained behind the curtains: 1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Bb5 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.d4 0–0 10.Re1 Bd7 11.Bd3 Nf6 12.a3 Rc8 13.Bg5

13...Qa5?! Robby told me after the game that he had prepared this line at home, and that everyone plays here 14.Bc2. However, as I did not know that I found another move, that actually prevents his idea: 14.Ne5! And Black went into the thinking tank. 14...Qd8?! The point is that if Black continues with his normal development, he might be crushed due to the weakness of the f7 square: [14...Rfd8? 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxh7+! Kf8 The only move, that was concerning me for a while. Much weaker is: (16...Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Qxf7+ Kh7 19.Re3 when Black is getting mated.) 17.Qh5! Only when I saw this follow up I chose 14.Ne5! White's attack is unstoppable, for example: 17...g6 18.Bxg6 fxg6 Or: (18...Bxe5 19.dxe5 fxg6 20.Qh8+ Ke7 21.Qg7+ Ke8 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qf6+ Ke8 24.Re4 followed by Re4-h4-h8 and mate.) 19.Qh6+ Bg7 20.Qf4+ Ke7 21.Qf7+ Kd6 22.Nc4+ and White wins.; After the game Robby suggested the defense: 14...Be8 I thought that this is also very bad for him, but I now believe that this might have been Black's best chance. Here are some possibilities: 15.Re3 h6 a) 15...g6 16.Bh6 will win at least an exchange for White.; b) 15...Nxe5 This was Robby's idea, as after: 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Ne4± The sacrifice on h7 does not work:(18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rh3+ Kg8 20.Qh5 f5) ; 16.Bxh6! This one of the lines that was keeping me calculating. Black is mated after: 16...gxh6 17.Rg3+ Kh8 18.Qd2 Ng8

19.Rxg8+ Kxg8 20.Qxh6 f5 21.Qxe6+ Bf7 22.Qxf5 Kg7 23.Qh7+ Kf6 24.Qh6+ Bg6 25.Qxg6#] 15.Qf3! Preventing the move 15...g7-g6, and transfering the queen on a vintage point. The rook lift does not bring anything substancial after: [15.Re3 g6] 15...Nxe5 Black sacrifices material to loose the grip. There is no time to grab the central pawn, as the opening of this highway is deadly for Black: [15...Nxd4 16.Qh3 h6 17.Bxh6! gxh6 18.Qxh6 Nf5 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Qg5+ Kh8

21.Nxd7 (The simplest) 21...Qxd7 22.Rad1 Qc7 23.Rd3 with mate to follow.] 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 After: [17...Nxe7 White has a pleasant choice which pawn to take: 18.Rad1 (18.Qxb7 Bc6 19.Qa6) 18...Qc7 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Qd3+] 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Qxd5 Bc6 20.Qb3 Rfd8 Black is a pawn down without any compensation, and the active try in the game only speeds up the end. 21.Bf5!

Threatening both the rook and the e5-e6 advance. 21...Qg5 22.Qh3 Bxg2 23.Qxh7+ My initial idea was to win the exchange with: [23.Qg4 However, the move in the game gains more material.] 23...Kf8 24.h4 Qf4 25.Bxc8! The straightforward attack wins as well:[25.e6! fxe6 26.Bxe6 Rc6 27.Qg8+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Kd6 29.Rad1+; However, the gain of the bishop spoils the victory, as Robby pointed out: 25.Kxg2? Rd2 26.Rf1

26...Rcc2!! 27.Bxc2 Qg4+ 28.Kh2 Qf4+=; 25.Bxc8 Rd2 26.Qf5] 1–0

LA Invitational Tournament

2011-01-26T10:15:00.000+02:00

From 19-23 January Los Angelis hosted a GM norm tournament dedicated to the memory of one of the cities best chess promoters-Jimmy Quon.
Jimmy Quon was a beloved chess player from the Southern California Community who taught at La Jolla Country Day School for 14 years. At one time he was teaching 15% of the student body. In the end, he had coached over 1000 players.
This was the first GM norm event in Southern California since six years. The dream of our T. D. (tournament director) Michael Belcher was always to host an event like that. Since the times of the Spassky-Fischer match, Michael always admired to one of the people on the stage. But that person was neither Boris, nor Bobby. That person was the arbiter! And when he reached the mature age of twelve, he started to organize tournaments. Michael is originally an Indian from the Navaho tribe and experienced problems as the people did not know how to play chess. Therefore, he taught them, and then organized them tournaments. In L.A. he found support by both Jimmy Quon, and the current organizer of the event- Ankit Gupta. Ankit is a national master, who does his best to promote our sport in the enourmous city. Still, despite its seventeen million populations, L.A. is meager in chess events. These two men efforts though gave already two norm events to South California- an IM and GM norm invitationals, when the plan is that those events become regular. Metrochess L.A. is also organizing a strong open in August and have already participants’ confirmation by GMs like Adams and van Wely.
All the games were played in the California Market Center, which is the L.A. downtown. It is a fashion district, and many reviews took place while we played our games. The tournament itself appeared to be a triumph for the Philipini GM Marc Paragua, who started with remarkable 6/6. he took clear first, two points ahead of his closest pursuer GM Melik Khachiyan, former trainer of Levon Aronian. Third is Mackenzie Molner. None achieved the desired norm.

Unfortunately, this wonderful event was affected by a racist scandal, caused by a third party. In his regular information email Ankit Gupta recommended among others the events of a local club LACC (Los Angelis Chess Club) whose founder and director Mick Bighamian has an Iranian origin. Confused by the many emails in the list, the Israeli GM and student at Texas Tech University Anatoly Bykhovsky wrote an email to LACC, instead of Metropolitan Chess Club asking for conditions for the summer open. Despite the fact that LACC has nothing to do with this tournament, the Israeli received the following reply from Bighamian’s email: “We don’t allow players from terrorist countries in our tournaments! Good Chess! ”
Bykhovsky rushed in to complain to Susan Polgar, and the whole case soon reached Israel, where the President of the Chess Federation wrote an official letter of protest to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
In the meanwhile Bighamian’s explanations to what have happened vary to either a computer virus or the public usage of the club computer.
This is a very sad case in our sport, which should be used to unite the people, rather than segregate them. In an official letter of the participants we stand behind the organizer Gupta, and condemned any racist’s attitude. Ankit on his turn hurried up to invite Anatoly Bykhovsky for the summer tournament. I hope that he will understand, and accept the invitation.

The Typical American Open

2011-01-19T09:24:00.003+02:00

Concord open took place 14-17 (for most of the players 15-17) January in the small town located near the Pittsburgh Bay Point Area, in California. It was part of the American tour, and had various sections for each rating.
The word that can specify an open here is flexibility. Chess is a business as any other. Therefore, the organizers try to attract as many people as possible, providing them various options. They can either choose the four days scheme, when they play all the seven games in the normal time modus (2 hours per 40 moves, and additional hour till the end of the game), or play the three-days schedule. This means that they will play three days, and in the first day the first two games are in a semi-rapid time limit (75 minutes per game). After that the two tournament schedules are gathered together. Most of the players choose the three days-schedule, as they have one day less to pay a hotel, or they simply have work to do in that day.
Another peculiarity is the re-entry option. If a player plays in a lower rated section, and let’s say loses his first game, he can quit this tournament and re-enter the next day into the open section with the three-day schedule, thus starting a new tournament. However, in that case he will have to pay yet another entry fee.
There is no special treatment to any players. Each of them has to carry his own chess set and clock for his white games. Someone had told me that it is not a rare picture to see the likes of Kamsky and Nakamura with a chess set under their arm at the tournament hall. Grandmasters’ only privilege is that do not pay entry fee at the start of the event. But in case that they take prices- those entries are deducted from their price.
One more interesting thing was the five-second delay modus. This means that your clock starts to count the seconds only after five seconds have passed by (and not adding five seconds on the clock as I thought). Still, as some players come with mechanical clocks they cannot use that system. But none cares. It was a bit unexpected for me that despite all this freedom, and lack of control the tournament went smoothly, and none ever complained of anything.
The byes are allowed, and you can take as many as you want once that you have announced them before the third round. You can take one whole bye-bye to the tournament as long as you pay your fee. You can also leave it whenever you want in case that you do not like your tournament situation. When I asked the tournament director Bill Goichberg if he can place the pairings on the internet the night before the rounds he replied: “I do them in the morning, as many people leave the night before, and there is no sense to repair them.”
Headphones are also allowed during games, and most of the people use them for better concentration. Some listen to the music. The look of an opponent with headphones on performing strong moves was bit too scary for me though.
“Why do you guys take so many byes?” I asked Daniel, a new acquaintance who I meet at the station while we wait for the free bus shuttle for the hotel (which was never coming). “You see man, I work as a DJ in San Francisco, and there was none to replace me for my show, so I took a bye for my third game. I worked till 3 a.m., and here I am (it was 10 a.m.) for the fourth one.” But then you must be tired-why do not you take another bye in the morning?” “Ah, no, I want to play some good games and if I have the chance to make to the money that will be good.” Daniel is 42, rated around 1300 and started playing chess three years ago, but he really enjoys it. “You know man, this is something that you can always keep learning, and satisfy you.”
I started the event horribly scoring 2/3 in my first game, which objectively could have been much less for the level of the play that I was showing. But then things went better and with two final black wins I managed to tie for the first with Daniel John Bryant, each of us scoring 5.5/7. There was an additional tie-break criteria (which I never understood what exactly it was, neither it was written anywhere), and Daniel got some extra bucks for edging me in that.

King Loek Rulez

2011-01-14T06:51:00.002+02:00

Berkeley international took place at the beginning of January (2-8) at the Berkeley Chess School, up the hill of the town. It was a 10-round open, with a tough scheme that featured three doubled rounds at the beginning. We played the FIDE time limit, with the only difference that the phone ring would not necessarily mean a defeat by forfeit.
Berkeley is a small town near San Francisco, famous for its University of California. One of the organizers of the event, Arun Sharma is a professor teacher in Mathematics in this prestigious University. He is rated around 2300 and recently did very well at the North American Open in Las Vegas where he won a special price for rating category. “This was probably my best tournament so far”, said he with satisfaction. The other organizer is David Pruess, an IM and great promoter of chess in USA. He also organized the previous three editions of the tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
I can say that the event was very well organized. The halls were spacious, and easily accessible, there were free beverages and snacks for the players during their games.
The field was rather strong, and the surprises started immediately from round one. The rating favourite Loek van Wely had to leave his top board after drewing a game against Keaton Kiewra, who is rated 2337. I was always wondering why people call the Dutch GM- King Loek. Here I understood it, after watching his consecutive string of five-in-a-row recovery, which included wins against strong GMs Magesh Panchanathan, Josh Friedel and Robert Hess. He then made three more draws, and won the decisive last round game to claim a clear first in style. His opponent from the first round also did quite well, secured an IM norm with a round to go, and created a marvelous game against the compatriot Hess to score his first GM norm. The tournament itself was quite rich of norm achievements. Sam Shankland scored his final GM norm to gain the title at the age of 19, Denys Shmelov who is not even an IM made his first GM norm. In addition, Daniel Naroditsky became an IM at the age of 14, and Conrad Holt and Roman Yankovsky scored their second norms, while Tatev Abrahamyan made it to the WGM norm. in a thrilling game Sergey Erenburg managed to outwit Timur Gareev and take clear second, while Magesh Panchanathan edged out Josh Friedel to win the third price. I was in a Christmas mood and presented as many points as possible. What made me an impression was the fact that there was no closing ceremony. The price winners calmly took their checks and left, there were neither bombastic speeches nor long applauses.

Not many people attended the tournament, and I was once shocked by a question from a visitor who asked me if it is allowed to get inside and have a look at the games.
There were more chess-related activities throughout the event- simultaneous exhibitions with the youngest national master Kayden Troff and GM Timur Gareev, free chess lecture by IM Daniel Rensch, blitz tournament which was won by Robert Hess.
The American tournaments are much more different than those in Europe. The bye point system is still not very clear to me. How many half-point byes can one possibly take? And when should he/she announce them? Some of the players took four byes. Some none. It is a completely free world.
And it is not only like that on the chess field. The next day while walking around in San Francisco we see people on underwear coming out of the BART (something in between a train and metro) station. It appeared that there was a “No pants day” in San Francisco, and those willing to do it can walk this way. It is 10 degrees centigrade, but noone cares. It’s America!
We had a wonderful time visiting the Golden Gate Park, the Japanese Garden, the China town, the Mechanics Chess Club and walking around in San Francisco.

Groningen's Best Effort

2011-01-11T07:48:00.003+02:00

The following game was played in round seven of the tournament:
Bojkov,Dejan - Bok,Benjamin [C45]
Schaakfestival 2010 Open A Groningen (7), 28.12.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Played for the first time in my life. But there is always a first time. 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Nd2 d6 8.Nb3 Bb6 9.a4 a5 10.Bd2 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Ne7 12.Rg1 Ng6 Another possible plan is: [12...0–0 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 as Anand-Aronian, Bilbao 2008 is more usual, but as a whole this line is still in developing progress.] 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3

14...Bd7 The beginning of a wrong idea. The bishop is vulnerable on d7. The simple: [14...Ne5 is more to the point, for example: 15.Be2 g6 16.f4 Nd7 17.Bf3 c5 18.e5 Ra7 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Nd2 with a slight pool for White occured in Radjabov,T (2744)-Aronian,L (2737)/Bilbao 2008/CBM 126 (34)] 15.f4 0–0 16.0–0–0 c5 17.Nxc5 Bc6 The point behind Black's play. However, it seems that he underestimated the follow up: 18.Na6 Ra7 Both: [18...Rfc8 19.Bh3; 18...Bxe4 19.Rd4 cannot be recommended.] 19.e5 Bad is: [19.Rd4 Rfa8 20.Rg5 Rxa6 21.Bxa6 Rxa6і; But serious attention deserved: 19.Rg5!? Rfa8 20.Rxa5 Bb7 21.Nxc7 Rxa5 22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.b3 Bxe4 24.Rxd6 and as the pawns become more valuable in the endgame, White has the better chances.] 19...dxe5 20.f5 Nh4 21.f6 g6 [21...Ng6 22.fxg7 Kxg7 23.Nc5±] 22.Nc5 Nf5

So far the game for more or less forced. Black needs to make one more move-Nf5-d6 to put his pieces together, after which he will be out of danger. Therefore: 23.Bb5! Much better than: [23.e4 Nd6 24.Bg2 Raa8 and Black is only marginally worse.] Temporarily sacrificing the pawn I manage to get the maximum of my pieces, while keeping the rook on a7 in a "box". 23...Bxb5 24.axb5 Nxe3 25.Rd7 With the threat b5-b6. 25...Nc4 26.b3 [26.Re7 a4] 26...Nb6 27.Re7 a4 White's idea is supported tactically: [27...Nd5 28.Nd7! Nxe7 (28...Rfa8 29.Rxe5±) 29.fxe7 Rfa8 30.Nf6+ Kg7 31.e8Q Rxe8 32.Nxe8+ Kf8 33.Nf6+-] 28.bxa4 Nxa4 29.Nd7 ! I was also considering the position after: [29.Nxa4 Rxa4 30.Rg5 Rf4 31.Rxc7 Rxf6 32.Rxe5 with an advantage for White but then realized that the move in the text is even stronger.] 29...Rfa8 [29...Rd8 30.Nxe5 Nc3 31.Nc6+-] 30.Rg5 Not the most accurate. Better is: [30.Nxe5 Nb6 31.Rg4 Ra1+ 32.Kd2 Rd8+ 33.Ke2 when White keeps all his active pieces on the board. ] 30...Nb6 I spent most of my time calcuating the line: [30...Nc3 31.Rgxe5 h5

32.Rxf7! Kxf7 33.Re7+ Kg8 34.f7+ (34.Rg7+? Kh8 35.Ne5 Ra1+ 36.Kb2 Nd1+ 37.Kb3 R1a3+ 38.Kb4 R8a4+ 39.Kc5 Rc3+ 40.Kd5 Ne3+ 41.Ke6 Re4 42.Kf7 Rxe5 43.Rg8+ Kh7 44.Rg7+ Kh6 45.Rxg6+=) 34...Kh8 35.Re8++-] 31.Nxb6 [31.Nxe5 Ra1+ 32.Kd2 Rd8+ 33.Ke2 Ra2 34.Rxc7 Nd5 35.Rd7 Rxc2+ 36.Ke1 Rc1+ 37.Kd2 Rcc8 is not something that you would like to enter in the coming time-trouble.] 31...cxb6 Black can also keep the second rook, but his situation is no better: [31...Ra1+ 32.Kd2 cxb6 33.Rgxe5 Rd8+ 34.Kc3 Raa8 35.Rc7±] 32.Rxa7 Rxa7 33.Rxe5

The arising endgame is technically won for White. He has more active pieces, and will soon organize a strong distant passed pawn. 33...Ra8 [33...Kf8 34.Rd5 Ke8 35.Rd6 Rb7 36.Kb2 g5 37.c4 g4 38.Kc3 h5 39.Rd5 (39.Kb4 Rb8 (39...h4 40.Rd4) 40.Rd5 (40.c5 bxc5+ 41.Kxc5 Rc8+ 42.Kd5 Rc2 43.b6 Rd2+ 44.Kc6 Rc2+ 45.Kb7 h4 46.Rc6 Rd2 47.Kc7 Rd7+ 48.Kb8 Rd2 49.Rc4 Kd7 50.Rxg4 Rxh2 51.Rd4+ Ke6 52.b7 Rb2 (52...h3) 53.Rxh4 Kxf6 54.Rh5 Ke6 55.Ra5 f5 56.Ka8 f4 57.b8Q Rxb8+ 58.Kxb8+-) ) 39...Ra7 40.Rxh5+-] 34.c4 Kf8 [34...Rc8 35.Kd2 Kf8 36.Kc3+-] 35.Kc2 Rd8 36.Kc3?! [36.c5! bxc5 37.Kc3 is more precise.] 36...Rd6 37.c5 bxc5 In time trouble Bok did not find the best defense: [37...Rxf6! 38.Kc4 Rf4+ 39.Kd5 f6 40.Re2 Rf5+ 41.Kc6 Rxc5+ 42.Kxb6 Rc3 43.Ka6 Ra3+ 44.Kb7± compared to the game, Black will have several extra tempi.] 38.Kc4 Rxf6 39.Kxc5 Rf2 40.b6 Rb2 [40...Rxh2 41.b7 Rb2 42.Kc6 Rxb7 43.Kxb7+-] 41.Kc6 f6 42.Rb5 Rc2+ 43.Kd7

Now there is not even a reason to win the rook immediately, as Black will not have any counterplay. 43...Rd2+ 44.Ke6 Rd8 45.b7 Rb8 46.Kxf6 Ke8 47.Ke6 h6 [47...Kf8 48.Kd6 Kf7 49.Kc7 Re8 50.b8Q Rxb8 51.Kxb8 Kf6 52.Kc7 g5 53.Kd6+-] 48.h4 Kf8 49.Kf6 g5 50.Rc5 I believe this was my best game in Groningen. 1–0

2010 Gold Coast International Chess Festival (26-30 December 2010)

2011-01-05T21:50:00.003+02:00

The organizer of this Australia tournament was very kind to write a report on it:
My name is Amir Karibasic and I am the main Organizer of the 2010 Gold Coast Chess Festival for the 4th time .

The fact is that our club, Kings of chess club, see www.kingsofchess.biz, organized these tournament successfully every year using different months, but this Year we decided to alter the dates (just to test) from after the Christmas break, 26 – 30 December. Not many chess organizers believed that this would work and chess players over looked this date very sceptically, especially when the Australian Open starts every Year on the 2nd of January. We thought that that was good because the 2 tournaments could be linked together and International visitors could have 2 weeks of fun.
Back to 2009: Australia is far away from the chess world unlike Europe which chess central. You cannot see many “Super” Grandmasters visiting this continent. As a club chess player I was always fascinated about the combinations in chess, therefore I studied Mikhail Tal and Alexei Shirov games and bought all of Shirov’ s books and DVDs published by Chessbase.
Then I started wondering-“What would it be like to have Alexei Shirov visit the Gold Coast?”. (For those people who don’t know where the Gold Coast is- it is located 80km from Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, and 900km from Sydney and 2000km from Melbourne)

As we announced it to the 2007 to club members, everyone laughed at our idea. Then it all started in 2008 when Super Grandmaster Alexei Shirov accepted to be the judge for the Brilliancy prize and in 2009 surprised us once again with his decision to visit Australia and Gold Coast, whilst performing a Simul which increases the popularity of chess in Australia. OK, obviously that is already a too long story but I have only one thing to add. I had spent 5 days with Alexei showing him around Gold Coast. To me it felt like I was accompanying a school mate, could I find a better word, possibly, but that is how our friendship and trust became strengthened. The best moment of this event I remember, was when Alexei Shirov walked into the venue, The Australian public was stunned, for 5 seconds everything went quiet and then after came a big applause, as they realised it was true. That was the best moment in my chess career as the organizer.

Let’s continue with 2010 and again there were sceptics about our idea to make a FIDE tournament, from 26-30 December, just after the Christmas. In my life I was always an optimist and always believed that I can do something if I want to. It looks arrogant, but I found that is a like a medicine for good health and a long life. Supported only by several players, I felt all my work in the last 3 Years was collapsing and my reputation was fading. But thanks to my personality and my brain which switched on the trigger for survival- commanding me, saying ‘Let’s do it. Open a campaign, and search for public support’. The “blitz-krieg” advertising began and the chess public answered positively. The Sponsorship and entries started to flow including No.1 Australian player Grandmaster Zhao Zong Yuan (2586), \No. 3 Australian player IM George Xie (2478), IM James Morris 2260, Moulthun Ly 2298, FM Junta Ikeda 2264 etc.

2010 Gold Coast Chess Festival became an event created by the Australian chess public.

The highlight of the event was that we used 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss, for the first time in Australia. This scoring system made FM Junta Ikeda a new Champion who in the last round jumped 3 points up and won the tournament, for more see www.goldcoastchessfestival.com or check our video release at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaAa-hpQ8ME

Here is the for me the best game between: GM Zhao Zong Yuan (2586) vs IM George Xie (2478):

Zhao,Zong-Yuan (2586) - Xie,George (2478) [C11]
Gold Coast Chess Festival 2010 (9), 30.12.2010
[Zhao,Zong-Yuan]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.a3 Bb7 10.Bd3 g5!? 11.fxg5 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Ncxe5!? [12...Ndxe5 this is the move I knew of 13.0–0 Bg7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bc5 is a line if I am not mistaken] 13.0–0 Bg7 14.Nce2 this seemed like the most logical plan, bringing the knight to h5 14...0–0 15.Ng3 Ng4! this move I hadn't expected although looking back it seems to be the best move [15...Qc7 16.Nh5 Ng4 17.Rf4 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Qe5 (18...e5 19.Nf6+) 19.Qh3! (19.Qg3+-) ] 16.Rf4 I didn't quite realise that with this move the next set of moves is semi forced [16.c3 During the game I really only thought about going for a direct attack but this sensible move certainly has merits] 16...Nde5! After this I went into the thinking tank, the more I thought the more I realised that white now has to sacrifice something [16...Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qxg5 (17...e5 18.Rh4 exd4 (18...e4 19.Ngf5 exd3 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Rxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qh3+ is a nice line which I did see :)) 19.Bxh7+ Kh8 I saw up to here and I thought it should be winning, now with an engine it's also quite straight forward 20.Qf4 Ne5 21.Nh5 f6 22.Bf5 fxg5 23.Nf6++-) 18.Nxe6 I was this much but now Fritz 5 points out 18...Qe7 but the rest is quite easy here 19.Nf5 Qxe6 20.Qg3 Qe5 21.Nxg7±] 17.Raf1!? I saw the upcoming idea and despite the fact it all worked out I still have doubts now even after the game. On the other hand everything else looked depressing so this decision is forced too... 17...Nxe3 Black has many options now...most of them winning some material [17...Qxg5 18.Rxg4 (18.Nxe6? Qh4–+) 18...Qxg4 19.Rf4 Qg5 20.Nxe6+- took a while for me to see but finally it clicked; 17...Nxd3 this one also gave me huge headaches 18.Rxg4! a) 18.cxd3 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 e5 20.Rf6 exd4 21.Qxd4 Bxf6 22.Rxf6 Qe7–+; b) 18.Qxd3 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 (19.Rh4 h6!–+) 19...e5 20.Rf6 exd4 21.Qxd4 Bxf6 22.Rxf6 Qe7 23.h3 Rae8–+ this whole variation could have also happened in the game but if white is forced into it then he is justlost; 18...Nxb2 this move fell outside of my vision but fortunately white seems fine here (18...Ne5 19.Rh4 is what I was planning) 19.Nh5‚] 18.Qxe3 Nxd3

19.Rf6 Nc5? I feel this is too passive although of course a deep computer analysis is needed [19...Bxf6! 20.gxf6 Kh8 21.cxd3 Rc8! and I am not that confident about white's chances (21...Rg8 22.Nf3 (22.Qe5 Qb6 (22...Rg6) 23.Kh1 Rac8 24.Nf3 d4) 22...Rc8 (22...d4 23.Ne5!) 23.Ne5 Rc7 24.d4©) 22.Nh5 Rg8 23.Ng7 Qf8 here I think black is better although white may hold; 19...Nxb2 20.Nh5 Nc4 21.Qh3 Qb6 22.c3 Bh8 23.Kh1 (23.Rh6 Bxd4+ 24.cxd4 Qxd4+ 25.Kh1) ; 19...e5 I didn't think this was good in the game but there is this Nc1 idea which might make it okay 20.Nh5 exd4 21.Qxd4 (21.Qxd3 Qe7) 21...Nc1!? Fritz 5 idea 22.Rxc1 Bh8 23.Rcf1 Qe7] 20.Nh5 Bh8 21.Rh6 Now I didn't really see a defence 21...Ne4 22.Nf6+ Bxf6 23.gxf6 Qd6 [23...Kh8 24.Rxh7+ Kxh7 25.Qh3+ Kg6 26.Qg4+ Ng5 27.h4+-; 23...Qb6 24.Rf4 Rfc8 25.Rxe4 dxe4 26.Qg5+ Kf8 27.Qg7+ Ke8 28.Qg8+ Kd7 29.Qxf7+ Kd6 30.Qxe6+ Kc7 31.Rxh7++-] 24.Rh5 A nice way to sort of rescue a really up and down tournament 1–0
Other events like the Blitz tournament and something new and special like a Simul on the 64 boards at Broadbeach Mall. The Winner of the Blitz tournament was Mr Moulthun Ly (2298), one of the sharpest players in Australia.
The Simul on 64 boards had been held with the idea that 8 Masters played on 8 boards against the Australian public. The Simul performers where: GM Zhao Zong Yuan (No1 Australian Player), IM James Morris(Highest titled Junior in Australia), Moulthun Ly(one of the fastest Blitz Chess players in Australia), WFM Emma Guo (Highest rated Female Junior), Daniel Lapitan (the boy who drew with Alexei Shirov in 2009 Simul), Leteisha Simmonds (Queesland Junior Champion), Abbie Kanagarajah (rising star in women chess) and Melanie Karibasic (best women in Kings of chess Club).

No1 Australian Player GM Zhao Zong Yuan (2586) – Simul
2010 Gold Coast Chess Festival: All in all it became a success and attracted Australian television and local news papers.
See you again from 26-30 December on the Gold Coast , No 1 Tourist destination in Australia.
All International players are welcome.

Success in Groningen

2011-01-01T17:32:00.003+02:00

Pictures by Bart Beijer and Dejan Bojkov
I have always enjoyed playing in Netherlands, and this was my fifth visit in Groninen. The city is one of the most beautiful in the country, with the famous Martini tower, Grote Markt place, the many picturesque channels with the ships and boats on them. This is an exceptional place where the environments is taken care of, and even in the cold winter that we had to face most of the people prefer to use their bikes rather than cars. It is also a place where fifty thousand students come each year to study in the second oldest University in Netherlands. One of his graduates is Jan Werle, whose game opened the festival, but Groningen is also proud to have Sipke Ernst, Sergey Tiviakov (you saw his pictures already, did not you), and Ivan Sokolov as citizens.
This year the event was organized again by Jan Colly, but there was a huge group of chess enthusiasts who help with everything they possibly do.
What is it that makes this chess festival so famous, and well known? I believe that the answer in that question is the number of young players, who regularly take part in the event. Therefore, the report starts with the norms claimed in the event.
Three players achieved IM norms. One of them is the youngest chess author ever Daniel Naroditsky from USA. The Indian player Shiven Khosla is less known, however I understood that he is a very talented and ambitious player, who is coached by the Ukrainian GM Goloschapov. His third and final norm would not become true, if the arbiters in Groningen did not show their creativity and bald interpretation of the chess rules. In the penultimate round the Indian was paired against Oleg Romanishin. However, at the end of tournament many participants got sick and could not complete the event. One of them was the legendary Ukrainian. Shiven was supposed to lose his norm without a fight if the arbiters were blindly following “the book”. Instead they paired him at the very last moment with the resting player Peter Ypma (rated 2080) who did not mind playing a game. An easy win for Shiven? No, the game was a fightful draw, but both the players got satisfaction out of the battle, and the Indian had the chance he needed to succeed in the final round. A remarkably wise decision! The third player to achieve a norm is from Armenia. Vahe Baghdasaryan started furiously with wins against Mark Bluvshtein and IM David Lobzhanidze and a draw as Black against the top seeded Vladimir Baklan. Only shortly before our game I understood that the 17-old-man has already 2 GM norms, despite his rating of only 2311. An original player, and obviously a good advertisement of the Armenian school of chess talents.
Three players achieved GM norms, and all of them tied for the first players. The Dutch Daan Brandenburg is a very solid player, and his third norm is obviously coming in the near future. Only good words can be said about Robin van Kampen, and extremely sharp and talented juniour who I believe will soon represent Netherlands on highest chess forums. However, the breaking news from the tournament came from Ukraine, when Illya Nyzhnyk became the youngest GM in the world (at the moment) after scoring his last norm within a spare round at the age of 14. Let me just add that Illya scored his second norm, with an overall title claim a year ago in Groningen again! There were also many local young players, who were prepared by both IM Erik Hoeksema and WGM Jozefina Paulet.
The B tournament saw the “local” Croatian Bruno Jelic repeating his usual exercise from 2008 by scoring 7/7 and securing the overall victory with two spare rounds. His overall result was 8.5/9; one wonders how his manages to keep his rating low with such play. C group was won by Fred Steggink-7.5/9.
In Groningen there is also a four-group compact tournament, for those who cannot free themselves before Christmas, or simply prefer to stay at home with their families for the holidays. It is a five-round event that starts on 26 December. The strongest A group of this competition was won by FM Floris van Assendelft, who also won the blitz tournament and IM Vishal Sareen, who is the trainer of the Indian flock in Groningen.
When talking about Groningen, we cannot pass through the famous Café Atlantis. Lambertus van den Marel, the humble owner of the Café, composer and organizer was again preparing various side events in his place. One of them was a night of study miniatures by IM Yochanan Afek, on which presented the GMs Nijboer and Ernst. In his usual entertaining style the Israeli master explained the ideas behind the studies, and how those are born. The picture that I chose for the report though shows another delightful moment in the Café- wine degustation with GM Ivan Sokolov. I would like to use the occasion to thank Bert for his Atlantis tournament this summer due to which received my invitation for Groningen Chess Festival.
As for me, I believe that I played well, and could have won even more points prior to the positions that I had throughout the tournament. I was winning against Nyzhnyk on at least a couple of occasions, had stable advantage against Brandenburg, and could not convert an extra piece against Rotstein, as he found an amazing fortress.
Happy and Successful New Year to all!

The “Chinese” Championship

2010-12-19T14:02:00.002+02:00

The WWCC started at the beginning of December in Antakya, Turkey. The sacral chess number of players-64 had to take part in the event, but two of them did not appear, and lost by forfeit.
The first round saw the first surprises. Some of the rating favourites were knocked down by lower rated opponents. The Russian chess authorities did a doubtful service to their best players by scheduling their national championship just a couple of weeks before the WWCC. Natalia Pogonina was one of the victims of this mental overload. However, the achievement of her opponent Baira Kovanova should not be underestimated.
The greatest surprise of that round was the departure of the European Champion Pia Cramling, who went down against the local Yildiz Betul.
The second round saw also a couple of major upsets, when another Russian player- Tatiana Kosintseva gave way to the Greek Y. Dembo, and unfortunately for me Antoaneta Stefanova had also to leave the stage. After winning her first game against the Chinese Qian Huang, she lost the second, as well as the tie-break. Even though I was not personally in Turkey with Ety, I kept holding my fingers crossed for her, and supported her as well as I could, but some times things just do not work.
The third round was significant as it determined that the chess world will have a new champion. Alexandra Kosteniuk from Russia lost her title in a dramatical tie break against yet another player from China- Lufei Ruan.
In the quarter finals the remaining eight players met, and defined four semi-finalists. Curiously, all of them were from Asia, and three out of these four-Chinese! If you have a look at the pictures from the first round though you may discover how impressive the Chinese group of players/trainers/officials was. Nothing comes by chance in a sport like chess and the success of these two nations should not surprise anyone.
So far the elo favourite Humpy Koneru was winning her matches exceptionally in the normal time, and did not experience the joy of the rapid games. On the other pole was Ruan Lufei who won all her matches in the tie-break.
The top seeded Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru met in the first semi-final (like they did at the previous WWCC in Nalchik).Despite the fact that the Indian managed to avoid the rapid games again, she had to give way to her younger opponent, just like a couple of years ago in Russian republic. Decisive proved to be the first game in their mini-match:
Hou,Yifan (2591) - Koneru,Humpy (2600) [C67]
2010 WWCC Antakya (51.2), 16.12.2010

This is one of the worst possible scenarious for the second player in the Berlin. She is practically a pawn down on the king's flank, and in addition has weaknesses on the queen's wing, that might ba attacked by the white bishop. 31.Kf3 Bf8 32.g4 Hou opens the diagonal for her bishop. From h4 it will threaten to gain the black pawns on the queen's flank. The other plan is to prepare this advance with h2-h3 first, Kf3-e4, and after g3-g4 White will be threatening to open up the position with f4-f5. If Black swaps the h pawns, Hou can transfer her king to h3, and play with her bishop to h4, followed by Bf6, and Kh3-h4-g5. 32...Be7 Since the pawn endgames are almost always lost, Koneru has to wait patiently. For example: [32...hxg4+ 33.Kxg4 Bh6 34.Bf2 Ke8 35.Bg3 Bf8 36.h4 Kf7 37.h5 gxh5+ 38.Kxh5 Be7 39.Bh4 Bxh4 Otherwise Black loses the queen's side pawns, but now the extra pawn in the center decides. 40.Kxh4 Kg6 41.Kg4 c6

42.f5+! exf5+ 43.Kf4 And Black is in zugzwang. 43...b5 44.axb5 cxb5 45.cxb5 c4 46.bxc4 a4 47.b6 a3 48.b7 a2 49.b8Q a1Q 50.Qg8+ Kh6 51.Qg5+ Kh7 52.Kxf5 and wins.] 33.Kg3 c6 Black should better have avoided this move, as that tempo could be needed in the possible pawn endgame (reserve tempo). [33...h4+ 34.Kh3 followed by Be3-f2xh4 is hopeless for Black.] 34.Kh3 Bd8 35.Bf2 Bc7 36.Bh4 hxg4+ [36...Ke8 37.Bf6 hxg4+ 38.Kxg4 transposes to the game.] 37.Kxg4 Kg7 38.Bf6+ Kf7 39.Bh4 Kg7 40.Bf6+ Kf7 41.Kg5 Zugzwang. 41...b5 [41...Bb8 42.Bd8 Ba7 43.Bc7 Kg7 44.Bd6 Kf7 45.Kh6 and Black runs out of moves.] 42.Kh6 bxa4 43.bxa4 Bb6

44.Be7!? The pawns become more valuable in the endgame, and the young Chinese player realizes that the position had riped for this decisive breaking in. Moreover, the therapeftic measures do not work here: [44.h4 Bc7 45.h5? (However, White can achieve yet another zugzwang, and only then return to the plan with the bishop sacrifice here, to win the game)45... gxh5 46.Kxh5 Bb6 47.Kg5 Bc7 48.f5 Bb6 49.Kf4 Bc7 50.Ke4 Bb6 51.Bh4 Bc7 52.Bf2 Bb6 53.Be3 Ke7 and Black holds thanks to the blockade.] 44...Bc7?! [44...Kxe7 45.Kxg6 Bd8 46.h4 Kf8 47.h5 Kg8 48.h6 Bh4 49.h7+ Kh8 50.Kf7 Kxh7 (50...Bg3 51.Kxe6 Bxf4 52.Kf6 Kxh7 53.e6 White will win back the bishop, as well as the rest of the black pawns.) 51.Kxe6 Kg7 52.Kd7 Kf8 53.f5 Bg3 54.e6 Bh4 55.Kxc6

After writing the annotations for this game I discovered that Black could have saved herself here with the move 55...Kg7!!. I only analysed- 55...Ke7 (55...Be7 56.Kb5) 56.Kxc5 Bg5 (56...Kf6 57.Kd6 Kxf5 58.c5 and White promotes one of the pawns.) 57.Kb5 and the white pawns prevail over the bishop.; 44...Ba7 45.Bd8 will lose even faster.] 45.Bxc5 Hou not only won a pawn, but also activated her bishop. There is one more weakness remaining in the Black's camp, and this proves decisive. 45...Bd8 46.Bf2 Be7 47.c5 Bf8+ 48.Kg5 Be7+ 49.Kg4 Ke8 50.Be1 Bxc5 51.Bxa5 Be7 52.Kf3 Kd7 53.Ke4 c5 54.Kd3 Kc6 55.Kc4 Bh4 56.Bd2 Bf2 57.h3 [57.a5 with the idea to deflect the king would have won immediately, for example: 57...Bg1 (57...Kb7 58.Kb5) 58.h4 Bf2 59.a6 Bxh4 60.a7 Kb7 61.a8Q+ Kxa8 62.Kxc5 Be7+ 63.Kc6] 57...Bg1 58.Bc1 Bf2 59.Bd2 Bg1 60.Kd3 Bf2 61.Be3 Be1 62.Kc4 Bb4 63.Bf2 Kb6 64.Be3 Kc6 65.Bg1 Kb6 66.Bf2 Kc6 67.Bh4 Bd2 68.Bg5 Be1 69.Be7 Bf2 70.a5 Be3 71.Bg5 Bf2 72.h4 Bg3 73.a6 Bf2

74.h5! gxh5 75.f5 exf5 76.e6 Bg3 77.e7 Kd7 78.a7 1–0
Ruan Lufei is the other finalist after winning yet another rapid tiebreak against the compatriot Zhao Xue

Chess Mentor Course 2

2010-12-09T00:21:00.003+02:00

My second chess mentor course features the situation in which the knight prevails against the other light piece-the bishop. Here is a recent sample:

Li Chao (2613) - Barua,Dibyendu (2479)
Doeberl Cup Canberra AUS (5), 03.04.2010

One of the most unpleasant endgames for the bishop is the so called "French" one- a position that usually arises after the same defense. Even if there are pawns left only on one side of the board, the defender is in great danger for the various zugzwangs that can arise, and the lack of space. The bishop also is not much of a help in the defense. 40.Nc8+ White first gains some space. 40...Kf8 41.Kd8 Bc6 42.Nd6 Ba4

43.c4! Although the exchanges usually favour the defender here this one is perfectly justified, as White needs the e4 square for his knight. 43...dxc4 44.Nxc4 Bb5 45.Nd6 Bc6

Covering both e4 and e8, but the next moves forces a zugzwang. 46.h4! Ba4 47.Ne4 Bb5 48.Nf6 Ba4 Black cannot allow the opponent's king come closer. [48...Kg7 49.Ke7 with the threats Nf6-e4 (e8)-d6 and wins all the pawns. 49...Bc6 50.Ng4 and Nh6xf7 to follow.] 49.Nxh7+ Kg7 50.Nf6 Kf8 White won a pawn, and now needed only to discover the beautiful breakthrough idea in the pawn endgame. The win is: 51.Kc7?! [51.Nd7+! Kg8 a) 51...Kg7 changes nothing. 52.Nb6 Bb5 53.Ke7; b) 51...Bxd7 52.Kxd7 Kg8 53.Ke8! Kg7 54.Ke7 Kg8

55.h5!! (55.f5 gxf5) 55...gxh5 56.f5 exf5 57.g6 fxg6 58.Kd7 h4 59.e6 h3 60.e7 h2 61.e8Q+ check!; 52.Nb6 Bb5 53.Ke7 Bd3 54.Nc8 Kg7 55.Nd6 Be2 56.Nxf7] 51...Ke7 52.Ne4 Bc2 53.Nd6 Ba4 54.Nc8+ Ke8 55.Kd6 Bb5 56.Nb6 Kd8 57.Kc5 Be2 58.Na4 Bf3 59.Nc3 Ke7 60.Nb5 Kd7 61.Nd6 Ke7 62.Kb6 Bd1 63.Kc7 Ba4 64.Ne4 Bc2 65.Nf6 Bd1 66.Kc6 Be2 67.Kc5 Bd1 68.Kd4 Bf3 69.Ke3 Bd1 70.Nh7 Bh5 71.Kf2 Bd1 72.Kg3 Be2 73.Kg2 Bd1 74.Kf2 Bg4 75.Kg3 Bd1 76.Nf6 Be2

77.h5 gxh5 78.Kh4 Bd1 79.Nxh5 Be2 80.Ng3 Bf3 81.Nf1 Be2 82.Ne3 Kf8 83.Kg3 Bd3 84.Kf2 Kg7 85.Ke1 Kg6 86.Kd2 Bb5 87.Kc3 Kh5 88.Kd4 Kh4 89.Kc5 Ba6 1/2

Bent the Great 2

2010-12-02T10:12:00.004+02:00

I continue to present the most memorable games of my most favourable chess player ever with his own invaluable remarks. Today's game is against another remarkable person, the Dutch GM Donner:
Larsen,Bent - Donner,Jan Hein [A00]
Hoogovens Beverwijk, 1960
[Bent Larsen]
1.g3 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.Nf3 Bd6 4.0–0 Ne7 5.c4

(?) In this position not very effective. Better was: [5.d3 followed by Nb1–d2 and e2-e4.] 5...c6 6.d3 0–0 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.e4 dxe4 Deserved attention: [8...d4 with the idea to meet: 9.Nh4 Nc5 10.Qe2 g5! White should better play 9.Qd1–e2 immediately.] 9.Nxe4 Bc7 10.b3 [10.d4 exd4 11.Qxd4 Ne5 is good for Black.] 10...Re8 11.Bb2 Nf5 12.Re1 I have caught a cold, and the thinking machine was working on slow motion. On this not really ingenious move was spent more than half an hour! 12...Nf8 13.Qd2 f6 14.Rad1 As I got afraid not to fail into time trouble, I started playing quickly. However, if I did not want to make the move 14.d4 I should have better opted for 14.b4. 14...Ne6 15.b4 a5 16.b5 Bb6 [16...cxb5!? was a serious alternative.] 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Qc1 a4 19.c5 Ba5 20.Bc3 Re7 21.Bxa5 Rxa5 22.Nfd2 Ned4 23.Nc4 Raa7 24.f4

Black can defenetely be proud with his knight on d4, but the unnecessary care about it will lead them to a wrong way. In general their position should not be overestimated, white knights are full of life...
Donner had to take on f4 but he decided to keep the pawn on e5 as a solid stronghold for the knight. Later though he received almost nothing from it.
The finish of this game belongs to my most favourable memories.
24...Be6? 25.fxe5 fxe5 26.Kh1 I need to pay the fightful knight at least some respect. Now it cannot give check. 26...Bd5 27.Rf1 Re6 28.Rf2 Rf7 29.Rdf1

White is improving. I am almost taking control over the f file, and the weak pawn on e5 is a problem for Black. They also need to do something against the threat Ne4-g5. 29...Bxc4 30.dxc4 Nh6 31.Rxf7 Nxf7 32.Qd1!

A very strong move. Black needs to protect the a pawn, and White will turn his pieces to the king's flank then. 32...Qa5 33.Qh5 Qc7 34.Bh3 Rh6?? The rook is excluded from the game. Also bad was: [34...Re8 due to- 35.Ng5; However, Black should have tried: 34...Re7 Black is in difficult situation, but not yet lost.] 35.Qg4 Rg6 36.Qd1 Qa7 37.Qb1! Ng5 38.Qb6! Qa8 [38...Qxb6 39.cxb6 will obviously give White a passed pawn that will win the game.] 39.Nxg5 Rxg5 40.Qc7 h6 41.Rb1

Here the game was adjourned. [41.Rb1 Black sealed the move: 41...Kh7 after which (No better is: 41...Qa6 42.Bf1!) 42.Bg2 wins easily. But what I really wanted to do about the game was to ask: "What was the black knight on d4 doing?"] 1–0

Classifying Chess Players with Fuzzy Clustering Analysis in Fuzzy Data Using Eco Codes

2010-11-30T14:52:00.002+02:00

Recently, a friend of mine from Turkey who is writing his Ph. D. on a chess theme asked me how many types of players chess people are? Since I did not know what precisely to asnwer, I decided to publish his study, so that anyone who is interested in this subject can answer him, and discuss the topic. Here it comes:

From Necati Alp ERİLLİ1
1Statistics Dep. / Faculty of Science / 19 May Univ. / Samsun

E-mail address: aerilli@omu.edu.tr

ABSTRACT – Chess is the most popular brain game in the world. Since it has been playing for centuries, we have usually met the same questions typically: “Who is the strongest player in the world?, Can you beat me?, What’s your style?” It is hard to answer these types of questions which need objectivity. Every chess game has an ECO code. These codes help players for preparing to opponents or improving themselves. We classify chess players according to their styles by using ECO codes. These codes are named by A to E capitals and numbers from 00 to 99. In general there are 500 different types of chess openings. Some openings are aggressive and some are defensive. These codes are in crisp data form but results can be in crisp or fuzzy data form. By using fuzzy clustering analysis we can classify players into 3 groups. They are; aggressive player, defensive player or positional player. Results have been tested on some strong players and some amateur players. All these show that we can use fuzzy systems in these complicated problems.

Keywords: Fuzzy Clustering, ECO Codes, Chess, Fuzzy Data

Introduction
Chess is the most popular brain game in the world. It is a board game played between two players. It is played on a chessboard, which is a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. At the start, each player controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king, whereby the king is under immediate attack (in "check") and there is no way to remove or defend it from attack on the next move.
In recent years chess became more popular than previous centuries by the help of FIDE (World Chess Federation), chess lessons in schools and World Championship games. Chess not only develops memory, logical thinking, capability but also improves concentration and teaches independence [1]. Chess has long been considered a way for children to increase their mental prowess, concentration, memory and analytical skills. To anyone who has known the game, it comes as no surprise that these assumptions were actually proven in several studies on how chess can improve the grades of students [2].
The main problem for chess players is their graduates. For ranking players a mathematical system called ELO has been introduced by Hungarian Mathematician Dr. Arpat Elo. It has been using since 1970. World Chess Federation expresses ELO list in every three months. By this list, players listed in order to their elo points in tournaments. Players can learn their world ranking or country rankings through this list.
Another point for chess players is their positions among all of the players. It is hard to make a decision for players which category they in. Good player or bad player or defensive players etc. are all linguistic expressions. All they are subjective and can be change for everyone.
In this article we try to classify players whether they are defensive player, aggressive player or positional player. The names are co-decision thanks to chess players around us.
We utilize from ECO codes to classify players. Every chess game has an opening code called ECO code. Every move has a typical task for openings. Some openings ended 6 or 7 moves and some openings ended 20 or 25 moves. Some of them called openings and some of them called defence for names in private. ECO codes are named by A to E capitals and numbers from 00 to 99. In general there are 500 different types of chess openings. These codes are in crisp data form. But we use them as fuzzy data for estimation.
We classify players looking to their game scores and game ECO codes. After a game finishes player can take 1 point for victory, 0,5 point for draw and 0 point for loss. By using these codes and scores which had been taken in games, we can put them in to classes which we determine at the beginning.
With the help of Fuzzy clustering analysis we can classify players into groups which we determined in the beginning.. It is one of the common technique in statistical classification methods.
FUZZY CLUSTERING
Cluster analysis is a method for clustering a data set into groups of similar objects. It is an approach to unsupervised learning and also one of the major techniques in pattern recognition [3]. Hard clustering methods allow each point of the data set to exactly one cluster. Zadeh [6] proposed fuzzy sets that can use for the idea of partial membership described by a membership function. After that many fuzzy clustering methods have been studied [4,5,7,8,14].

Fuzzy Cluster Analysis of Crisp Data
This approach comes into the picture as an appropriate method when the clusters cannot be separated from each other distinctly or when some units are uncertain about membership. Fuzzy clusters are functions modifying each unit between 0 and 1 which is defined as the membership of the unit in the cluster. The units which are very similar to each other hold their places in the same cluster according to their membership degree.
Similar to other clustering methods, fuzzy clustering is based on distance measurements as well. The structure of the cluster and the algorithm used to specify which of these distance criteria will be used. Some of the convenient characteristics of fuzzy clustering can be given as follows [10]:
i. It provides membership values which are convenient to comment on.
ii. It is flexible on the usage of distance.
iii. When some of the membership values are known, they can be combined with numeric optimization.
The advantage of fuzzy clustering over classical clustering methods is that it provides more detailed information on the data. On the other hand, it has disadvantages as well. Since there will be too much output when there are too many individuals and clusters, it is difficult to summarize and classify the data. Moreover, fuzzy clustering algorithms, which are used when there is uncertainty, are generally complicated [13].
In fuzzy clustering literature, the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm is the most well-known and frequently used method. FCM is a method of clustering which allows one piece of data to belong to two or more clusters. This method which is developed by Dunn [9] and improved by Bezdek [11], is frequently used in pattern recognition. It uses Euclidean distance between variables and cluster centers:
d_ik=d(x_i,v_k )=[∑_(j=1)^p▒(x_ji-v_jk )^2 ]^(1/2)
(1)
It is based on minimization of the following objective function:

J(u,v)=∑_(j=1)^n▒〖∑_(k=1)^c▒〖u_jk〗^m ‖x_ji-v_jk ‖^2 〗
(2)
Here; m is any real number greater than 1, u_jk is the degree of membership of x_i in the cluster j, x_i is the i’th of d-dimensional measured data, v_j is the d-dimension center of the cluster, and ||*|| is any norm expressing the similarity between any measured data and the center.
Fuzzy partitioning is carried out through an iterative optimization of the objective function shown above, with the update of membership u_ik ;

u_ik=[∑_(j=1)^c▒(〖d_ji〗^ /〖d_jk〗^ )^(2/(m-1)) ]^(-1)

(3)

and the cluster centers v_jk by:

v_jk=(∑_(j=1)^n▒〖u_jk^m x_ik 〗)/(∑_(j=1)^n▒u_jk^m )

(4)
1≤j≤c , 1≤i≤n
Equations (3) and (4) constitute an iterative optimization procedure. The goal is to iteratively improve sequence of sets of fuzzy clusters until no further improvement in J_m is possible.
The FCM algorithm is executed in the following steps:
Step 1: Initialize the following values: Number of cluster c, value of fuzziness m, termination criterion (threshold) ε and membership matrice U. Here, ε takes degree between 0 and 1.
Step 2: Calculate the fuzzy cluster centroid v_jk for i=1,2,…,c using (4).
Step 3: Employ (3) to update fuzzy membership u_ik.
Step 4: If the improvement in J_m is less than a certain threshold (ε), than halt; otherwise go to step 2.

Fuzzy Cluster Analysis of Fuzzy Data
Cluster analysis constitutes the first statistical area that lent itself to a fuzzy treatment. The fundamental justification lies in the recognition of the vague nature of the cluster assignment task. For this reason, in the last 3 decades, many fuzzy clustering models for crisp data have been suggested as we mentioned.
The fuzzy clustering of fuzzy data has been studied by different authors [20]. Sato and Sato [12] suggest a fuzzy clustering procedure for interactive fuzzy vectors. Yang and Ko [15] proposed clustering model called “Double fuzzy K-numbers clustering model” which deals with a single fuzzy variable on l units. “Fuzzy K-means clustering model for conical fuzzy vectors” proposed by Yang and Liu [16] is applicable to multi-dimensional fuzzy variables observed on l units. Yang et al. [17] proposed a clustering model called “Fuzzy K-means clustering model for mixed data” to classify mixed data like symbolic data or LR-II type data. Hung and Yang [18] proposed a clustering model called “Alternative double fuzzy K-means clustering model” to classify units. Authors used an exponential type distance for LR fuzzy numbers based on the idea of Wu and Yang [19] and discussed the robustness of this distance.

III. DOUBLE FUZZY K-NUMBERS CLUSTERING MODEL
This clustering model proposed by Yang and Ko [15]. It is assumed that the membership function of the fuzzy variable belongs to LR family and the univariate fuzzy data are represented by W_i=〖(m_(W_i ),α_(W_i ),β_(W_i ))〗_LR . Here m is called the mean value of W_i and α and β are called the left and right spreads, respectively.
The authors suggested a distance measure each pair of fuzzy numbers X_jand W_i as follows.
d_LR^2 (X_j,W_i )=1/3 {〖(m_(X_j ) 〖-m〗_(W_i ))〗^2+〖((m_(X_j ) 〖-α〗_(X_j ) )-(m_(W_i ) 〖-α〗_(W_i ) ))〗^2+〖((m_(X_j ) 〖+β〗_(X_j ) )-(m_(W_i ) 〖+β〗_(W_i ) ))〗^2 } (4)

Objective function is given as follows:
J_FCN (μ,W)=∑_(j=1)^n▒∑_(i=1)^c▒〖μ_i^m (X_j ) d_LR^2 (X_j,W_i ) 〗

(5)

Here m>1 is the index of fuzziness and μ=(μ_1,…,μ_c) is a fuzzy c-partition and W_i=〖(m_(W_i ),α_(W_i ),β_(W_i ))〗_LR are fuzzy c-numbers of LR-type. The necessary conditions for minimize (μ,W) of J_FCN are the following update equations:
m_(W_i )=(∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j )[3m_(X_j )+(α_(W_i )-α_(X_j ))+(β_(X_j )-β_(W_i ))〗)/(3∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j)〗)
i=1,…,c (

6)

α_(W_i )=(∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j )[m_(W_i )-m_(X_j )+α_(X_j )]〗)/(l∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j)〗)

i=1,…,c (

7)

β_(W_i )=(∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j )[m_(X_j ) 〖-m〗_(W_i )+β_(X_j )]〗)/(r∑_(j=1)^n▒〖μ_i^m (X_j)〗)

i=1,…,c (

8)
and

μ_i^m (X_j )=〖[1/(d_LR^2 (X_j,W_i ) )]〗^(1/(m-1))/(∑_(k=1)^c▒〖[1/(d_LR^2 (X_j,W_k ) )]〗^(1/(m-1)) )

i=1,…,c ; j=1,…,n (9)

IV.APPLICATION
By using DFKC we try to classify chess players in to clusters according to their style.
There are lots of chess styles according to chess players from amateur to top players. There can be many answers for the question of chess style. We simply categorized players in to 3 clusters: Defensive players, Aggressive players and positional players. Defensive players generally use defensive openings in which colour they are. Their scores depend on their defensive power during games. Aggressive player use sharp opening both in white and black. They use open openings for winning the game immediately. Positional players use the openings according to their opponents. Sometimes they use sharp openings sometimes they use defensive openings to hold the game in safe.
The authorities categorized chess openings in to 6 sub categories. This classification is not official but many people accept that in general use. We can classify openings in to 6 clusters: Open (Starts with 1.e4 e5), Closed (Starts with 1.d4 d5), Semi-Open (1.e4 (without e5)), Hint Systems (1.d4 Nf6), Wing Systems (Generally starts with a, b, c or f pawns) and Other openings (Not grouped to previous ones).
As we stated every chess game has an Eco code. This simple code gives information for the opening. In which category it belongs, its name and its sub-level.
For example B20 to B99 named as Sicilian Defence. But in detail B33 named as Sveshnikov Variation, B44 Taimanov System and B50 Kopec Variation etc.
Numerical Example
Our first player is former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. Results have been taken from his best games in his career [21]. Firstly Kasparov’s results had listed according to their Eco codes. Then every sub-Eco code counted as a fuzzy number. For example A0 counted as LR-type fuzzy number (2.33, 1.33, 0.01). Here numbers are mean, left spread and right spread respectively. Every player has games both white and black. So we calculated results for white and black separately. For example Kasparov’s results in white for A and B openings are given below:
Table 1-Fuzzy Numbers for Kasparov in A and B Op.
Mean Left Right Mean Left Right
A0 2,33 1,33 0,01 B0 3 0,01 0,01
A1 2,6 0,8 0,01 B1 2,5 1 0,01
A2 2,28 0,85 0,14 B2 NAN NAN NAN
A3 2,5 1 0,01 B3 2,36 0,91 0,91
A4 3 0,01 0,01 B4 2,36 0,91 0,91
A5 2,33 1,33 0,01 B5 2 2 0,01
A6 3 0,01 0,01 B6 2,28 0,28 0,28
A7 3 0,01 0,01 B7 2,66 0,66 0,01
A8 2 2 0,01 B8 2,63 0,72 0,01
A9 3 0,01 0,01 B9 2,42 1,14 0,01

Figure 1-Seperation draw for Whites’ results

If we look to the figure 1, we can see cluster number is one for white results. Similarly black results are nearly same either. There is only one outliner in the figure but that opening played only 2 times. It isn’t necessary to take it calculate for clustering.

Figure 2-Three style for a particular criterion
We know that fuzzy sets are suited to describing ambiguity and imprecision in natural language and we may thus define these terms using triangular fuzzy numbers as follows:
X_Defensive=(0;0;1,5);〖 X〗_Positional=(1,5;1,5;1,5) X_Aggressive=(3;1,5;0)
These representations are shown in figure 2.
According to Kasparov’s games results, nearly every opening scores gets between 2 and 3. His average in white pieces (2,43; 0,71; 0,06) and in black pieces (2,42; 0,81 ;0,21). His scores generally equal to aggressive in all openings. As a result we can surely say that Garry Kasparov is an aggressive player both in white and black pieces.
Top players of the world chess are belong to aggressive class. This score are expected as well. New world chess champion V.Anand’s average is (2,41; 0,7 ;0,06) in white and (2,4; 0,99 ;0,06) in black or former world champion A.Karpov’s average is (2,426; 0,77 ;0,05) in white and (2,39; 0,88 ;0,066) in black. We can say both are aggressive during their careers.
Here are my scores from my career. I played 397 games which added to official tournaments. Results showed that I am aggressive player with white pieces and positional player with black pieces. In general I am between aggressive and positional player but nearest to aggressive side. But as addition i have to say that my opponents averages not same like top players as well.

Table 2-My scores to opening clusters
WHITE BLACK
Bird Positional Aggressive Sokolsky
English Aggressive Aggressive Queen-Indian
Queen Pawn Aggressive Positional Budapest
Holland Positional Defensive Pirc
Alekhine Defensive Positional Sicilian
Pirc Positional Aggressive French
Scilian Positional Positional Two Knight
French Aggressive Aggressive Queen Pawn
Philidor Aggressive Positional Gruenfeld
Petroff Aggressive Positional King-Indian
Ponziani Aggressive Positional Spanish
Two Knight Aggressive
Spanish Positional
Queen Gambit Aggressive
Queen-Indian Aggressive

My mean values are for white (2,24; 0,87; 0,78) and for black (1,91; 1,01; 1,28).

V.DISCUSSION
There are a lot of methods for fuzzy clustering in fuzzy data. Chess games or chess data never used in this kind of papers. We try to show that these type of irregular data can be used in clustering algorithms. Uses of these kind of data showed that, we can use much linguistic expressions in clustering methods.

VI.REFERENCES
[1] Dr. Robert C.Ferguson. Teacher’s Guide: Research and Benefits of Chess. (2006). (www.quadcitychess.com)
[2] Dean J. Ippolito. The benefits of chess in education. (2006). Benefits of chess for children. (www.deanofchess.com/benefits.htm)
[3] Rencher A.C.,(2002). Methods of Multivariate Analysis, John Wiley&Sons Inc.,UK.
[4] Bezdek, J.C., (1981). Pattern Recognition with Fuzzy Objective Function Algorithms. Plenum Press, New York.
[5] Dave, R.N., (1992). Generalized Fuzzy C-Shells Clustering and Detection of Circular and Elliptical Boundaries. Pattern Recognition 25 (7), 713-721.
[6] Zadeh, L.A., (1965). Fuzzy Sets, Inf. Control 8, 338-353.
[7] Gath, I., Geva A.B., (1989). Unsupervised Optimal Fuzzy Clustering. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Machine Intell. 11, 773-781.
[8] Höppner, F., Klawonn, F., Kruse R., Runkler, T., (1999). Fuzzy Cluster Analysis: Methods for Classification Data Analysis and Image Recognition. Wiley, New York.
[9] Dunn J.C., (1974). A Fuzzy Relative of the ISODATA Process its Use in Detecting Compact Well-Separated Clusters, J. Cybernet. 3, 32-57.
[10] Naes T., Mevik T.H., (1999). The Flexibility of Fuzzy Clustering Illustred By Examples, Journal Of Chemo Metrics.
[11] Bezdek, J.C., (1981). Pattern Recognition with Fuzzy Objective Function Algorithms. Plenum Press, New York.
[12] Sato and Sato (1995). Fuzzy clustering model for fuzzy data. Proceedings of IEEE.2123-2128.
[13] Oliveira J.V., Pedrycz W., (2007). Advances In Fuzzy Clustering And Its Applications, John Wiley &Sons Inc. Pub.,West Sussex, England.
[14] Fukuyama Y., Sugeno M., (1989). A New Method Of Choosing The Number Of Clusters For The Fuzzy C-Means Method, Proceedings Of 5th Fuzzy Systems Symposium, pp 247-250.
[15] Yang M.S.and Ko C.H.(1996) on a class of fuzzy c-numbers clustering procedures for fuzzy data. Fuzzy sets and systems,84,49-60.
[16] Yang M.S. and Liu H.H.(1999). Fuzzy clustering procedures for conical fuzzy vector data. Fuzzy sets and systems, 106, 189-200.
[17] Hwang P.Y. and Chen D.H.(2004) Fuzzy clustering algorithms for mixed data feature variables, fuzzy sets and systems,141,301-317.
[18] Hung W.L. And Yang M.S.(2005). Fuzzy clustering on LR type fuzzy numbers with an application in Taiwanese tea evalution. Fuzzy sets and systmes, 150,561-577.
[19] Wu K.L. and Yang M.S. (2002) alternative c-means clustering algorithms. Pattern recognition, 35, 2267-2278.
[20] Oliveira J.V. and Pedrycz W., Advances in fuzzy clustering and its applications (2007). John Wiley & Sons Ltd.,West Sussex,England.
[21] Sahovski Informator 76, VI-IX (1999).

Amazing Resourcefulness

2010-11-25T09:45:00.002+02:00

One Bulgarian GM won a silver medal on his board at the ECC in Plovdiv. He managed to win a couple of difficult games against players rated over 2650 as black. Although his result was in some way a piece of luck, it should not be underestimated. After all, luck should be searched, chased and only then deserved. Have a look at this remarkable game to see what I mean:
Naiditsch,Arkadji (2674) - Nikolov,Momchil (2549) [B42]
EU Plovdiv 2010 (4), 20.10.2010
[Momchil Nikolov]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 Qc7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Nf3 0–0 11.Rd1 Nc6 12.Bc2 Ng4 13.Ne1?!

13...f5?! [13...Nge5! 14.f4 Nd7 15.Nf3 Na5! 16.Bd3 Nb6! (16...b6=) 17.c5! dxc5 18.Be3 Nd7! 19.Rac1 c4 20.Bb1 b5 with good play] 14.h3 Nf6?! [14...Nge5 15.f4 Nf7 16.Nf3 Bd7=] 15.Nf3 Ne5 [15...fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Ne5 is better for White] 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.b3! Rf7 18.Ba3 Bf8 [18...Qa5 19.Na4 Bd7 20.b4 Qc7 21.Nc5±] 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Qd2 Bd7 21.Qd6 Qxd6? [21...Rac8! 22.Rd3 a) 22.f4 exf4 23.e5 Nd5! This was the move that I missed while calculating the option: (21...Tac8!)- 24.Nxd5 (24.Qxc7 Rxc7 25.Nxd5 exd5 26.Rxd5 Re8) 24...exd5 25.Qxd5+ Rf7= 26.e6 Qb6+; b) 22.Rd2 b5!; 22...b5! 23.exf5 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 gxf5 25.Rxa6 bxc4 26.b4 Ra8=] 22.Rxd6 Kf7?! [22...Rad8? 23.Rad1 f4 (23...Kf7 24.f4!+-) 24.Na4+-; 22...Rae8!? 23.f4 Bc8! 24.fxe5 Nd7 25.Na4 Nxe5 26.Nb6±] 23.f4! Bc6 The only move 24.fxe5 Nd7 25.Re1 f4 26.Nd5! [26.Ne2 g5 27.Nd4 Nxe5 28.Nxe6 (28.Rxe6 Rae8±) 28...Rg8±] 26...f3!? [The alternatives do not leave Black any chances: 26...g5 27.Nc7 Nxe5 28.Rxe6 (28.Nxa8 Rxa8±) 28...Rae8 29.Rh6+-; 26...Nxe5 27.Nxf4 Bd7 28.c5! Rad8 (28...Ke7 29.Nd5+!+-) 29.Nd3+-] 27.Nc7 [27.gxf3?! Nxe5 28.Kg2 Rfd8 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Kg3 g5 is just marginally better for the first player; 27.Rd1!+-] 27...Nxe5 28.Rxe6?! [28.Red1!+-; 28.Nxa8? f2+! 29.Kxf2 Ke7+ 30.Ke3 Kxd6 31.Rd1+ Kc5 32.Nc7 Rf6 33.Rd8 Bd7 is only slightly better for White] 28...Rad8!!

The best practical chance! In return for the sacrificed piece I limit all the white pieces, deprive the white king of pawn cover, get control over the second rank, and will have a strong passed pawn on f3. [28...Rae8!? 29.Rxe8 Bxe8 30.Rd1 fxg2 31.Kxg2 Ke7±; 28...Nd7? 29.Rf1! (29.Rxc6! Rac8 30.Rd1!+-; 29.Rd1!+-) ] 29.Rxe5 Rd2 30.Rc1 [Deserved attention: 30.gxf3!? Rxc2 31.Rd1 Rxa2 32.Ne6 Re8 33.Rd6± However, for a human being it is too difficult to leave the control over the second rank for a mere pawn.] 30...Rxg2+ 31.Kh1 Only move as: [31.Kf1? Bd7!–+] 31...Kf6!

There is noone else left on the board, and His Majesty rushes in for the g3 square, to attack. This is an idea without which 28...Tad8!! would not be possible.32.Re6+! [32.Ra5?! Rd2!! (During the game I was counting on the move: 32...b6! but after the subtle: 33.Rf1! Black can hardly save himself. The other continuations are not dangerous, for example: a) 33.Nd5+ Kg5 34.Nxb6+ (34.Rxa6 Kh4=) 34...Kh4 35.Bd3 Rd2 36.Bf1 Rf4 (36...Bxe4 37.Re5 Bf5 with an attack) 37.b4 Rxe4 38.Nd5 Kg3 39.Ra3 Bxd5 40.cxd5 Rxb4 41.Kg1 Rbb2 42.Rcc3 Rf2 43.Rc1 Rbd2 and only Black can play for a win; b) 33.Ra3 Rd2! 34.Bb1 Ke5! 35.Nd5 Bd7 with a clear edge; c) 33.Rxa6 Kg5! 34.Ne6+ Kh4 35.Nxf8 (35.Ra7 Kg3 36.Rg1 Kf2=) 35...Kg3 36.Rg1 Kf2=; 33...Rxc2 34.Rxf3+ Kg7 35.Ne6+ (35.Rxf8 Kxf8 36.Rxa6 Bxe4+ 37.Kg1) 35...Kh6 36.Rxf8 bxa5 37.Nc5 Re2 38.Kg1 a4 39.Rf2 Re1+ 40.Rf1 Re2 41.Rf6 Bxe4! 42.Nxe4! (42.Re6 Rxa2! 43.Rxe4 a3=) 42...Rxe4 43.Rxa6 axb3 44.axb3 Kg5!± And with correct play Black can escape, for instance: 45.c5 Re3 46.b4 Rb3 47.Rb6 Kf4 48.Rb7 Kf3 +/=) 33.Bb1 b6! (33...Rf7!?) 34.Nd5+ a) 34.Rxa6 Ke5! with devastating attack, here is a sample line: (34...Bd7!?) 35.Nd5 Bd7 36.Nxb6 Bxh3 37.Ra5+ Kf4 38.Rd5 Rxd5 39.cxd5 Kg3 40.Rc3 Bg2+ 41.Kg1 Rf4–+; b) 34.Ra3 Ke5-/+; 34...Kg5 35.Rxa6 (35.Nxb6+ Kh4-/+) 35...Bd7!? (35...f2 36.Rf1 Bd7 37.Kh2 Kh4 38.Ra7 Rf3=) 36.Ra7 Bxh3 and the attack is too strong.; 32.Rc5? Ke7 33.Nd5+ Kd6 34.Ra5 Rxc2 35.Rxc2 f2 36.Rc1 f1Q+ 37.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 38.Kg2 Re1=] 32...Kg5 33.Rg1! [The other moves lead to a draw: 33.Rxc6? bxc6 34.Ne6+ Kh4 35.Nxf8 Kg3 36.Rg1 Kf2=; 33.Re7? Kh4 34.Rg1 Kg3 35.Rxh7 Kf2=; 33.Bd3?! Kf4 34.Bf1 Rxa2 with unclear play] 33...Rxg1+!? [After: 33...Rf7 34.Rxg2+ fxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Rxc7 36.Kg3 Rd7 37.h4+ Kh6 38.Rf6± Black's position remains difficult. The move in the text is the best chance for Black.] 34.Kxg1 f2+ 35.Kf1 Bd7! 36.e5? This move lets the win slip away. [Hardly better was: 36.Bd1? Rf7! 37.Bg4 h5 38.Re5+ Kf4 39.Be6! Re7!=; The win is simple, and surprising: 36.Re5+!

36...Kh4 37.Ne6 Re8 38.Kxf2 Rxe6 39.Rxe6 Bxe6 40.e5! Bxh3 41.Be4 b6 42.b4 h5 43.c5 bxc5 44.bxc5 Bc8 45.c6 Kg4 46.Ke3+-] 36...Kh4! 37.Be4 [37.Rf6? Rxf6 38.exf6 Kg3–+] 37...Kg3 38.Bxb7?? But this move loses. [The only move was: 38.Bg2 Rf4 39.Rd6 Bf5! 40.Ne6 again the only move as (40.e6? Rf3!–+) 40...Rf3! 41.Nc5! Re3 42.Rd1! Bc2 43.e6 b6 44.Ne4+ Bxe4 45.Bxe4 Rxe4 46.Rd3+ Kh4= with a draw.] 38...Rf4–+

39.Bd5 [39.Bg2 Rd4 40.Rd6 Rxd6 41.exd6 Bf5–+] 39...Rd4 [39...Rf5!–+] 40.Rf6 [40.Ke2 Rf4 (40...Bxe6 41.Nxe6 Rxd5 42.cxd5 Kg2 43.Nf4+ Kg1–+) 41.Kf1 Rf5–+] 40...Rd1+ 41.Ke2 Re1+ 42.Kd2 Bf5 0–1

Free Chess Analyses from an International Master Released!

2010-11-18T12:50:00.004+02:00

Bulgarian International Master Kalin Karakehajov had recently published a big part his analyses online. The analyses are very deep and beautiful. I am publishing probably the sharpest and most intriguing of them:
Two knights 4.Ng5 - For white [C57]
[Kalin Karakehayov]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5

[5...Nxd5?! 6.d4! Bb4+! a) 6...Nxd4 7.c3! f6 (7...h6 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.cxd4; 7...b5 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.f3) 8.Ne4! Bf5 (8...Bg4 9.f3 Ne3 10.Bxe3 Nxf3+ 11.Kf2 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Ng5 13.Nxg5 Bxd1 14.Nf7; 8...b5 9.Bxd5 Qxd5 10.f3 f5 11.Ng3; 8...Nb6 9.cxd4 Nxc4 10.Qa4+) 9.f3 Bxe4! (9...b5 10.Bxd5 Qxd5 11.cxd4; 9...Nb6 10.cxd4 Nxc4 11.Qa4+) 10.fxe4 Nb6 11.cxd4 Bb4+! 12.Ke2!! (12.Nc3 Qxd4 13.Be2 Qxe4 14.0–0 Qd4+ 15.Qxd4 exd4 16.Nb5 0–0–0 17.Bf4 Nd5І) 12...Nxc4 13.Qa4+ c6 (13...Qd7 14.Qxb4 Qg4+ 15.Kf2 Qh4+ (15...Nd6 16.Nc3) 16.Kf3 Qh5+ (16...Nd6 17.Nc3) 17.Kg3 Nd6 (17...Qg6+ 18.Kf2) 18.Nc3) 14.Qxb4 Qxd4 15.Nc3 b5! (15...Nd6 16.Qxd4 exd4 17.Rd1! c5 18.Bf4!) 16.Rd1 a5 17.Qb3 a4 (17...Qc5 18.a4 b4 19.Nb1 Rd8 (19...Ke7 20.Na3! Nxa3 21.Rxa3!) 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Nd2 Nd6 22.Qd3) 18.Qc2 Qc5 (18...Qb6 19.b3 axb3 20.Qxb3 0–0 (20...Qb7 21.a4 Qf7 22.Qb4!; 20...Qa6 21.Qb4!) 21.a4+-) 19.Rb1! 0–0 (19...Qb4 20.b3 axb3 21.Qxb3; 19...Ra5 20.b4 axb3 21.Qd3!; 19...b4 20.Nxa4 Qb5 21.Qd3!) 20.Nxa4! Rxa4 (20...bxa4 21.b3 axb3 22.axb3 Rfb8 23.Bd2+-) 21.b3 Ra6 22.bxc4 Rfa8 (22...Ra4 23.Be3 Qxc4+ (23...Rxc4 24.Qb3 Qe7 25.Rbc1) 24.Qxc4+ Rxc4 25.Rbc1) 23.a3 Ra4 24.Rb4! Rxb4 25.axb4 Qxb4 26.cxb5 cxb5 27.Be3+-; b) 6...Qd6 7.0–0 Be6 (7...Nxd4 8.c3) 8.Nxe6 fxe6 (8...Qxe6 9.dxe5) 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Bf4 0–0–0 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nc3±; c) 6...exd4 7.0–0! Be6 c1) 7...f6? 8.Re1+ Be7 (8...Ne5 9.Nf3 Be7 10.Nxe5 fxe5 11.Qh5+ Kf8 12.Rxe5 c6 13.Bxd5 cxd5 14.Qf3+ Bf6 15.Bg5) 9.Nc3!! dxc3 c11) 9...fxg5 10.Nxd5+-; c12) 9...Nxc3 10.Qh5+ g6 (10...Kd7? 11.Be6+ Kd6 12.Nf7#) 11.Bf7+ Kd7 12.Qh3+ Kd6 (12...f5 13.Ne6) 13.Ne6 Ne2+ (13...Ne5 14.bxc3; 13...Bxe6 14.Qxe6+ Kc5 15.bxc3) 14.Rxe2 Bxe6 (14...Ne5 15.Qa3+) 15.Rxe6+ Kc5 16.Qa3++-; c13) 9...Ncb4 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qh6 fxg5 13.Qg7+-; 10.Bxd5 fxg5 11.Bxg5 cxb2 (11...Kf8 12.Qf3+ Bf6 13.Rad1! Nd4 (13...Bd7 14.Bc4!+-) 14.Rxd4 c6 15.Rf4) 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 (12...Kf7 13.Bd5+) 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Bxe7+ Ke8 15.Ba3+ Kf7 16.Re7+! Kf6 17.Rb1+-; c2) 7...h6 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Qf3+ Qf6 10.Bxd5+±; c3) 7...Be7 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Qf3+ Ke8 (9...Ke6 10.Qe4+) 10.Bxd5±; 8.Re1 Qd6 (8...Qd7 9.Nxf7 Kxf7 10.Qf3+ Kg8 11.Rxe6 Ncb4 (11...Rd8 12.Qe4!! h6 13.Bf4 Na5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Bxc7 Rd7 16.Bxa5 Qxa5 17.Re8+-) 12.Re4±) 9.Nxf7! Kxf7 10.Qf3+ Ke7™ 11.Bxd5 Ne5 12.Bg5+ Kd7 (12...Ke8 13.Qe4 Bxd5 14.Qxe5+±) 13.Bxe6+ Qxe6 14.Qe4 Re8 15.Qxd4+ Bd6 16.Nd2±; d) 6...Be7 7.Nxf7! Kxf7 8.Qf3+ Ke6 9.Nc3 Ncb4 (9...Nxd4 10.Bxd5+ Kd6 11.Qd3 c6 12.Be4±) 10.Qe4! c6 11.a3 Na6 (11...b5 12.Bb3 Qa5 13.Bd2+-; 11...Qa5 12.Bd2 Kd7 13.dxe5) 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qxe5+ Kf7 (13...Kd7?? 14.Bb5#) 14.Bxd5+ Kf8 15.Bf4! Bf6 16.Qe4±; 7.c3 Be7 8.Nxf7! Kxf7 9.Qf3+ Ke6 10.Qe4!

10...Bf8! a) 10...Rf8 11.f4 h5 a1) 11...Qd7 12.fxe5 Rf5 13.Be2 g6 (13...h5? 14.Bxh5) 14.Bg4 Kf7 15.Bxf5 gxf5 16.Qf3±; a2) 11...b5 12.Bxb5 Bb7 13.fxe5+-; a3) 11...g6 12.0–0 Qd7 13.fxe5 Rf5 14.Qg4+-; 12.fxe5 Rf5 13.Bd3 Kf7 14.Qe2 g6 15.Bxf5 Bxf5 16.0–0±; b) 10...g5 11.Nd2! Rf8 (11...Bf6 12.Nf3 Rg8 13.dxe5 Nxe5 (13...Bxe5 14.Bxg5 Rxg5 15.Bxd5++-) 14.Nd4++-) 12.Nf3 Rxf3 (12...Rf5 13.g4 Rxf3 14.Qxf3 Na5 15.Qf5+ Kd6 16.Qxe5+ Kc6 17.Bd3 Bxg4 b1) 17...Bf6 18.Qe4 Qe7 (18...b5 19.b4!+-) 19.Qxe7 Bxe7 20.b4±; b2) 17...b5 18.Qe2 a6 19.Bxh7±; 18.c4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Bf3 20.Rg1±) 13.gxf3! b5 (13...Qd6 14.h4! Nxd4 15.hxg5+-) 14.Bxb5 Bb7 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.c4 Nb4 17.d5+ Nxd5 18.cxd5+ Qxd5 19.Qg4+ Kf7 20.Bxg5 Qxf3 21.Rg1 Rg8 22.Qxf3+ Bxf3 23.Rg3±; c) 10...Qd6? 11.f4 Na5 12.dxe5; d) 10...b5 11.Bxb5 Bb7 12.f4 a6 (12...Kf7 13.fxe5 a6 14.0–0+ Ke8 15.Ba4+-) 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.fxe5 Rf8 (14...Kf7 15.c4 Nb4 16.d5±) 15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.0–0+ Ke8 (16...Kg8? 17.Qe6+) 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.Qf5+ Ke8 19.Qxh7±; 11.f4 Nce7 12.fxe5 c6 13.0–0 Kd7! (13...h5 14.Bb3 b5 15.Bg5 Kd7 16.Nd2±) 14.Be2! Ke8! (14...Kc7 15.c4 Nb4 (15...Nb6? 16.e6+-) 16.e6 b6 17.a3 Na6 18.Bf4+ Kb7 19.Rd1 Qe8 20.d5 Nc5 21.Qe5 Ng6 22.Qc7+ Ka6 23.Bd2!+-) 15.c4 Nb6!N a) 15...Nb4 16.a3 Na6 17.Nc3 Be6 18.Bg5±; b) 15...Nc7 16.Be3! g6 (16...Be6 17.Nc3 Qd7 18.Rad1±) 17.Nc3 Bf5 18.Qh4; 16.Be3 Be6 17.b3© In case of g6, Be3-g5-f6 with a difficult position for black...; 5...Nb4?! 6.d6! Nbd5 a) 6...Qxd6?! 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Bb3±; b) 6...Nfd5?! 7.d4! Qxd6 b1) 7...Bf5? 8.Bxd5 Nxc2+ (8...Nxd5 9.Qf3 Be6 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5++-) 9.Kf1 Qxd6 (9...Nxa1 10.Nxf7 Qd7 11.Nc3+-) 10.Nc3 Nxa1 11.Nxf7 Qa6+ 12.Kg1+-; b2) 7...h6 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.a3±; b3) 7...Bxd6? 8.a3+-; 8.c3 Nc6 b1) 8...h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 (11...Qxc6? 12.Qb3+-) 12.0–0±; b2) 8...f6 9.Ne4 Qc6 10.Na3 Nxc3 (10...Bd7 11.cxb4 Bxb4+ 12.Nd2 Nf4 (12...Bxa3 13.Qb3! Nf4 14.d5±) 13.d5) 11.Nxc3 Qxg2 12.Rf1±; 9.0–0! Be6™ 10.dxe5 Nxe5 (10...Qd7 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qe2±) 11.Nxe6 fxe6 (11...Nxc4 12.Qxd5! Qxe6 13.Qxb7+-) 12.Bxd5 exd5 13.Bf4 0–0–0 14.Qh5 g5™ 15.Bxg5! Be7 16.Bf4! Bf6 17.Nd2 Rde8 18.Rfe1! Bg7! 19.Rad1 Qg6 20.Qxg6 Nxg6 21.Be3±; 7.dxc7 Qxc7 8.d3 Bc5 a) 8...h6?! 9.Ne4 Bg4 (9...Nxe4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.dxe4±) 10.f3 Bd7 11.0–0±; b) 8...Bg4 9.f3 Bd7 10.Ne4 Be7 (10...b5 11.Bb3 Be7 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.Nc3±) 11.Nxf6+ Nxf6 12.Nc3 0–0 13.Qe2 Bc5 14.Be3±; c) 8...Bd6!? 9.Ne4 Nxe4 (9...0–0 10.Nxd6 Qxd6 11.0–0±) 10.Bb5+ Ke7! (10...Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.dxe4 Nf6 13.Nc3 Bb4 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.Bd2±) 11.dxe4 Qa5+ 12.Qd2 Qxb5 (12...Qxd2+ 13.Bxd2!± Nf4 (13...Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 15.c3 Bc5 16.Bc4±) 14.Bf1!±) 13.exd5І; 9.Ne4 Nxe4 (9...0–0 10.Nbc3±; 9...Bg4 10.Nxf6+ Nxf6 11.f3 Bd7 12.Nc3±) 10.dxe4 Nf6! a) 10...Nf4 11.Bxf4 exf4 12.Bb5+±; b) 10...Nb6 11.Bb5+ Bd7 (11...Ke7 12.0–0±) 12.Bxd7+±; c) 10...Bb4+ 11.c3 Qxc4 12.Qxd5 Qxd5 13.exd5 Bd6 14.Be3±; d) 10...Nb4 11.a3; 11.Bb5+ Ke7! (11...Bd7 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Qxd7+ Kxd7 14.f3±) 12.0–0! Nxe4 a) 12...Rd8 13.Qf3±; b) 12...a6 13.Bd3 Bg4 14.Qe1±; c) 12...Bg4 13.Qd3 a6 (13...Be6 14.Qf3 Rhd8 15.Bg5±) 14.Bc4 Rhd8 15.Bd5±; 13.Qf3! Nd6! a) 13...Nf6 14.Bg5±; b) 13...f5!? 14.Bd3 Qc6! b1) 14...Nd6 15.Qg3 Kf6 16.Nc3 Be6 17.Re1 Bd4 18.Ne2 Bc5 (18...Bb6 19.Nf4!+-) 19.b4 Bb6 20.Nf4!+-; b2) 14...Rf8 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.Qxe4 Bf5 18.Qe2±; b3) 14...Nxf2 15.Rxf2 e4 (15...Qb6 16.Nc3 Bxf2+ 17.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 h6 19.Be3 Be6 20.g4! g6 21.Re1! b6 22.Bf4! e4™ 23.Ba6±) 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.Bb5+ Bd7 b31) 17...Kf8 18.Qe2 Qb6 (18...a6 19.Ba4 Qb6 20.Bb3 Bd7 21.Nc3 Bxf2+ 22.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 23.Kxf2±) 19.Nc3 Bxf2+ (19...a6 20.Nxe4!+-) 20.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2±; b32) 17...Kf7 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Qe2±; 18.Qxf5 Bxf2+

19.Kf1!! Bxb5+ 20.Qxb5+±; 15.Be3 Bd6 16.Bxe4 Qxe4 17.Qxe4 fxe4 18.Nc3 Bf5 19.Rad1І; 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Bd3І; 5...Nd4 6.c3 b5 (6...Nf5 7.0–0 h6 (7...Nxd5 8.Re1І; 7...Bd6 8.d4І) 8.Nf3 e4 9.Ne5 Bd6 10.d4 0–0 (10...exd3 11.Nxd3 0–0 12.Bf4І) 11.f3І) 7.Bf1 is covered below] 6.Bf1! Nd4 [6...h6 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.dxc6 Bc5 a) 8...Qd6 9.Bxb5 Qd5 10.Bf1 Bc5 11.Nc3 Qxc6 12.Bc4+±; b) 8...Qd5 9.Qf3 Qc5 (9...e4 10.Qb3; 9...Qxf3 10.gxf3 a6 11.Nc3±) 10.Nc3 Bg4 (10...b4 11.Ne4 Qd4 (11...Qxc2 12.Bd3; 11...Qd5 12.Bd3) 12.Nxf6 gxf6 13.Be2+-) 11.Qe3 a6 (11...Qxc6 12.f3 Bc5 13.Bxb5 Qd6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Be6 16.Bc4+-) 12.Qxc5 Bxc5 13.Be2±; 9.Be2 Ne4 a) 9...e4 10.0–0±; b) 9...Qd5 10.0–0 Qxc6 11.d3 Rd8 (11...Bb7 12.Bf3 e4 13.dxe4 Rad8 14.Qe2±) 12.Nc3±; 10.0–0 Bxf2+ a) 10...Qf6 11.Qe1; b) 10...Rf8 11.Nc3 Nxf2 (11...Nxc3 12.dxc3; 11...Bxf2+ 12.Kh1+-) 12.Ne4 Kg8 13.Nxf2 Qf6 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Kh1 Bxf2 16.Be3 Rd8 (16...Qh4 17.Qd5+ Kh8 (17...Kh7 18.Bd3+) 18.Qc5) 17.Qb1 Bxe3 18.Rxf6 gxf6 19.Qe1+-; c) 10...Nxf2 11.d4 Bxd4 12.Rxf2+ Bxf2+ 13.Kxf2+-; d) 10...Qh4 11.Qe1; 11.Rxf2+ Nxf2 12.Qf1! Rf8 13.Qxf2+ Kg8 14.Qe3 Qh4 15.Bf3 Bg4 (15...Qf6 16.Qe2+-) 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.d3 Be2 (17...Rad8 18.Be4+-) 18.Qxe2 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Qxd5 (19...Rf2 20.Qe1 Raf8 21.Bf3+-) 20.Nc3 Qxc6 21.Be3+-; 6...Nxd5?! 7.Bxb5 Bb7 8.d4!±; 6...Bg4?! 7.f3 Nxd5 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.fxg4 Nf4 10.Nc3±; 6...Qxd5?! 7.Nc3±] 7.c3 Nxd5 [7...Nf5?! 8.Bxb5+ Bd7 9.Qe2] 8.cxd4 Qxg5 9.Bxb5+ Kd8 [9...Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Kxd7 11.0–0 Nf4 (11...Bd6 12.d3; 11...exd4 12.d3 Qf6 13.Qg4+ Kc6 14.Nd2±) 12.g3 Qg6!? a) 12...Nd3 13.Qf3; b) 12...Nh3+ 13.Kg2 Nf4+ 14.Kh1 Nd3? 15.Qf3+-; c) 12...exd4 13.d3 Bd6 (13...Nh3+ 14.Kg2 Qf5 15.Qa4+ Kc8 (15...Ke7 16.Qc6) 16.Qe8+ Kb7 17.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 18.dxe4+-) 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Qa4+±; 13.d3!? Nxd3 14.dxe5 Bc5 15.Nc3 Kc8 (15...Rhd8 16.Bg5!) 16.Qe2 Re8 17.Be3 Bxe3 (17...Rxe5? 18.Rad1 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Nc5 20.Qc4+-) 18.fxe3!± The knight can't hold d3 and white is much better] 10.0–0 Bb7 [10...Nf4 11.Bc6! Rb8 a) 11...e4 12.Bxe4 Bg4 13.Bf3 h5 (13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Rb8 15.d3 Bd6 16.Nc3±) 14.d3 Bd6 15.Nc3±; b) 11...Bg4 12.Bf3 Bxf3 b1) 12...f5? 13.dxe5 Nxg2 14.d4 Nf4 15.Bxg4 fxg4 16.Qb3 Rc8 17.Qe3 Nh3+ 18.Qxh3 Qxc1 19.Rxc1 gxh3 20.Nc3+-; b2) 12...h5 13.dxe5 Qxe5 14.d4 Qf5 15.Nd2 Bd6 16.Re1 (16.h3? Nxh3+ 17.gxh3 Qf4ч) 16...Nd3 17.Re2 Nf4 18.Re4±; 13.Qxf3 Rb8 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Nc3 Bd6 16.g3 Ne6 17.d3±; 12.dxe5 Nd3!? (12...Bg4 13.Bf3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxe5 15.Nc3 Bd6 16.g3!±; 12...Bd7 13.Be4 Qxe5 14.Nc3 Bd6 15.g3!±; 12...Rb6 13.Be4 Qxe5 14.Nc3 Bd6 15.g3) 13.Be4! Ba6

(13...Nxc1 14.d4 Rxb2 15.Qxc1 Qxc1 16.Rxc1±; 13...Bh3? 14.Qc2 Nf4 15.d4; 13...Bg4 14.Qc2 Nxc1 15.Rxc1 Qxe5 16.d4) 14.Re1!! Nxe1 a) 14...Qf4 15.Bxd3 Bxd3 16.Re3 Qf5 17.Nc3 Bc5 18.Rf3 Qg6 (18...Qd7 19.Qa4+-) 19.Rg3 Qf5 20.Qf3+-; b) 14...Bc5? 15.Bxd3 Bxd3 16.Qf3+-; 15.d4 Qh4 16.Qxe1± Rb4?! 17.Nc3 Rxd4? 18.Be3+-; 10...exd4!? 11.Bc6 Rb8 12.d3 Nf4 (12...Qf5!? 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Nd2 Rb6 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Nc4І) 13.Na3! Bxa3 a) 13...Rb6 14.Qf3 Qf6 (14...Nh3+ 15.Qxh3 Qc5 16.Qh4+ Be7 17.Qe4 Rxc6 18.b4 f5 19.Qf3 Qb6 20.Nc4 Rxc4 21.dxc4±; 14...Qg6 15.Qxf4 Rxc6 16.Nc4; 14...Bd6 15.Nc4!) 15.Bxf4 Qxc6 (15...Rxc6 16.Qd5++-) 16.Qg3±; b) 13...Nh3+ 14.Kh1 Qf6 15.Qf3 Rb6 16.Qd5+ Qd6 17.Ba8; c) 13...Bg4 14.Qc2 Bd6 15.Re1; 14.bxa3 Bg4 15.Qc2‚; 10...Rb8 11.Bc6 exd4 (11...Nb4 12.d3 Qg4 13.Bf3 Qxd4 14.Nc3±; 11...Nf4 12.dxe5 is already covered) 12.d3 is already covered; 10...Bg4 11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 exd4 13.d3 Qf5 14.Nd2±] 11.Qf3 Rb8 [11...exd4!? 12.d3 Qe5 a) 12...Qf6 13.Qg4! Bc8 14.Qh5 Qf5 (14...Qe6 15.Qh4+ Be7 16.Qxd4 Bf6 17.Qc5; 14...Nf4 15.Bxf4 Qxf4 16.Qd5+ Bd6 17.g3 Qf5 18.Qxa8 Qxb5 19.Na3±; 14...Ne7 15.Bc4!) 15.Qh4+ Be7 16.Qxd4 Bf6 17.Qe4 Rb8 18.Na3; b) 12...Nf4 13.Bxf4 Qxb5 14.Qg3 Qd7 b1) 14...Qb6 15.Nd2; b2) 14...c5 15.Na3 Qc6 16.Rfe1! Qg6 (16...h5 17.Bd2 Qc7 18.Qg5+ f6 19.Qg6) 17.Bg5+ f6 (17...Kd7 18.Nb5 Rc8 19.Nxa7 Ra8 20.Nb5 Rc8 21.a4±) 18.Nb5 Rc8 19.Nd6 Rc7 (19...fxg5 20.Nxb7+ Kd7 21.b4+-) 20.Nxb7+ Rxb7 21.Qf3 Qf7 22.Bd2+-; b3) 14...Rc8 15.Nd2 f6 16.Rac1 Qd7 17.Ne4±; 15.Nd2 f6 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Ne4±; c) 12...Qg6 13.Bc4 Qc6 (13...c6 14.Nd2) 14.Nd2; 13.Nd2 Bd6 (13...a6 14.Nc4 Qf6 (14...Qe6 15.Ba4 Rb8 (15...Be7 16.Na5±) 16.Bg5+ f6 17.Rfe1 Ne3 18.Qg3 fxg5 (18...Bb4 19.Bf4) 19.fxe3±) 15.Qg4! Qe6 (15...Bc8 16.Qh5 Qe6™ 17.Ne5 g6 (17...Nf6 18.Nxf7+ Ke7 19.Qf3) 18.Qh4+ Be7 19.Nc6+ Kd7 20.Nxe7+ axb5 21.Qxd4 Bb7 22.Bg5!±) 16.Bg5+ Be7 17.Bxe7+ Nxe7 (17...Qxe7? 18.Na5+-) 18.Qxd4+ Qd5 19.Qxd5+ Nxd5 20.Ba4 Nf4 21.Ne5±) 14.g3 Qf6 a) 14...Be7 15.Nb3! Rb8 16.Na5!; b) 14...a6 15.Nc4 Qf6 (15...Qe6 16.Na5 axb5 17.Nxb7+ Kd7 18.Nxd6±) 16.Qg4! Bc8 17.Qh5 Ne7 (17...Qe6 18.Bc6 Nf6 19.Bg5 Be7 20.Bxf6 Qxc6 21.Bxg7+-) 18.Bg5 Qg6 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 (19...Bxe7? 20.Qd5+) 20.Qh4+ Qf6 21.Qe4+ Be6 22.Nxd6 axb5 (22...Kxd6 23.Qc6+ Ke7 24.Qc5+! Kd8 25.Rac1+-) 23.Nxb5+-; c) 14...Nb6 15.Qxb7 Qxb5 16.Qf3±; d) 14...Rb8 15.Nc4 Qf6 d1) 15...Nb4 16.Nxe5 Bxf3 17.Nxf7+ Ke7 18.Bc4±; d2) 15...Qe6 16.Na5! Be7 (16...Ba8 17.Bc6±) 17.Nxb7+ Rxb7 18.Bc4 c6 19.Bd2±; d3) 15...Nc3 16.Nxe5 Bxf3 17.Nxf7+ Ke7 18.bxc3 Kxf7 19.Bc4+ Kf6 20.cxd4±; 16.Qxf6+ Nxf6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Bf4І Bd5 19.a4 Nd7 20.Bxd6 Rb6 21.Bf4 a6 22.Bxd7 Kxd7 23.Be5; 15.Qg4 Nb6! a) 15...Bc8 16.Qe4 Bb7 (16...Nb6 17.Nf3) 17.Nf3 h6 18.Nxd4 Bc5 19.Qf5 Qxf5 20.Nxf5±; b) 15...c6 16.Ne4 h5™ 17.Qd1 Qg6 b1) 17...Qe6 18.Bc4 Be7 19.Re1 Qf5 (19...h4 20.Nc5 Qc8 21.Nxb7+ Qxb7 22.g4 Qd7 23.Qf3±) 20.Qb3 Bc8 (20...Rb8 21.Qa4) 21.Qa4 Nb6?! 22.Qxc6 Bd7 23.Nd6+-; b2) 17...Qe7 18.Bc4; b3) 17...Qe5 18.Bc4 Be7 19.Re1±; 18.Bg5+ Be7 19.Bxe7+ Nxe7 20.Bc4±; c) 15...Qe6 16.Qxg7 Be5 17.Qg5+ f6 (17...Bf6 18.Qh6±) 18.Qh4! Nf4 19.Ne4 Ne2+ 20.Kg2 Nxc1 21.Raxc1 Rb8 22.Bc4 Qf5 (22...Qe7 23.Kg1) 23.b3±; 16.Ne4 h5! a) 16...Qe5 17.Bg5+ Be7 (17...f6 18.Bf4 Qxb5 19.Qxg7 Re8 20.Nxd6 cxd6 21.Qxf6++-) 18.Bxe7+ Kxe7 (18...Qxe7? 19.Qxg7) 19.Rfc1!! (19.Rac1 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qxe4 21.dxe4 a6 22.Rxc7+ Kd8 23.Rb7 axb5 24.Rxb6 Re8І) 19...Bxe4 (19...Kf8 20.Bc6±; 19...h5 20.Qh4+ f6 21.Bc6 Bxc6 22.Rxc6 g5 23.Qh3±) 20.Qxe4 Qxe4 21.dxe4±; b) 16...Qg6 17.Qxg6 hxg6 18.Bg5+ Be7 (18...Kc8 19.Nxd6+ cxd6 20.Rac1+ Kb8 21.Bf4+-; 18...f6 19.Nxf6±) 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Rac1 Rhc8 b1) 20...Bxe4 21.Rfe1!±; b2) 20...Rac8 21.Rfe1 Kd8 (21...Kf8? 22.Nd6+-) 22.Ng5 Bd5 23.Bc6 Rf8 24.a3 Bxc6 25.Rxc6 Kd7 26.Rec1+-; b3) 20...Kd8 21.Ng5 Rf8 22.Bc4±; 21.Rfe1 Kf8 22.Bc6 Bxc6 23.Rxc6±; 17.Qg5 Qxg5 18.Bxg5+ f6! (18...Be7 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Rac1 Kd8 (20...Rhc8 21.Rfe1 Kf8 22.b3±) 21.Ng5 Rf8 (21...Bd5 22.Bc6+-) 22.Bc4±) 19.Nxf6 c6 (19...Be7 20.Ne4) 20.Nd5+ Kd7 21.Nxb6+ axb6 22.Bc4І; 11...Bd6 12.d3; 11...a6 12.Bc4 e4 (12...exd4 13.Re1!) 13.Qxe4 Bd6 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Qf3 Qf4 (15...Qh4 16.g3) 16.Qh3 Qxd4 (16...Nf6 17.d3 Qxd4 18.Bxf7 Re7 19.Bc4 h6 20.Nd1! Qg4 21.Qxg4 Nxg4 22.Ne3±) 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxh7 Kd7 20.Qh3+ f5 21.Qc3±; 11...e4 12.Qxe4 Bd6 13.Re1 c6 (13...Qe7 14.d3) 14.Bf1 Kd7 (14...f5 15.Qc2±; 14...Bc8 15.Qc2±) 15.Qf3±] 12.dxe5 Nb4 [12...Nf4 13.Qg3 Qxe5 (13...Qxg3 14.hxg3 Ne6 15.Nc3±) 14.d4 Nh3+ (14...Qxb5 15.Bxf4+-) 15.Qxh3 Qxb5 16.Nc3±; 12...Qxe5 13.d4±; 12...Ne3 13.Qh3 Qxg2+ 14.Qxg2 Nxg2 (14...Bxg2? 15.fxe3 Bxf1 16.Bxf1+-) 15.d4 Nh4 (15...Be7 16.f4 Nh4 17.Be2±; 15...f6 16.f4 Nh4 17.Be2± c5? 18.d5!) 16.Bg5+ Be7 17.Bxh4 Bxh4 18.Nc3±] 13.d4! Qg6 [13...Qxg2+ 14.Kxg2 Bxf3+ 15.Kxf3 Rxb5 16.Nc3+-; 13...Qxe5 14.dxe5 Bxf3 15.Nc3+-; 13...Bxf3? 14.Bxg5++-] 14.d5! Bxd5 15.Rd1 Rxb5 16.Nc3 Qc6 [16...Ke8 17.Nxd5 Qc6 18.e6; 16...Kc8!? 17.Nxd5 Qc6 18.Qf5+ Qe6 19.Qxe6+ fxe6 20.Nxb4 Bxb4 21.Be3±] 17.Qf5!! Be7 [17...Ke8 18.Qc8+ Ke7 19.Nxb5 Qxb5 20.Bg5+ f6 21.exf6+ Kf7 (21...gxf6 22.Qxc7++-) 22.fxg7+-; 17...Ra5 18.Bg5+ Be7 19.a3 h6 (19...f6 20.Rac1+-) 20.Rab1!

20...hxg5 (20...Na2 21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.Qxf7+-) 21.axb4 Bxb4 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 23.Qe4+-; 17...h6 18.a3 Ra5 19.Be3 g6 (19...Qd7 20.Qb1! c6 21.axb4 Rxa1 22.Qxa1 Bxb4 23.Nxd5 cxd5 24.Qa2 Ke7 25.Rxd5+-; 19...Qe6 20.Qb1!+-; 19...Be7 20.axb4 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Be6 22.Qd3++-) 20.Qf4 g5 21.Qxf7 Kc8 22.Qf5+ Qe6 (22...Be6 23.Qf6+-) 23.Qxe6+ Bxe6 24.axb4 Bxb4 25.Bxa7 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Rd8 27.Be3+-; 17...g6 18.Bg5+ Be7 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Qf6+ Qxf6 21.exf6+ Kxf6 22.Nxb5+-] 18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.a3 g6! [19...Na6 20.Qxf7 c6 21.Qxg7 Re8 (21...Rf8 22.Bg5) 22.b4!+-] 20.Qf4 Na6 [20...Nc2? 21.Qe4+-] 21.Qd4 c6 22.Qxa7±

More of this excellent stuff you can find on chessbase format here: http://online-chess.eu/

A Moment of Overload

2010-11-11T14:31:00.002+02:00

The ability to spot the moment for a combination is a great gift that should be trained constantly. After all no one will approach us during a game to announce that we have to look for a combination at this precise moment. Contrary to practicing from a book, we need to feel that something is wrong the opponent’s camp, and just after that to try and calculate our killer move till the end. Here is a recent sample of how White felt a moment of overload:
Lajthajm,B (2493) - Kojovic,D (2381)
3rd Open Paracin SRB (5), 13.07.2010

One should have great tactical view to discover the flaws in Black's set up. Those are: the fact that almost all his pieces are protected from the light squares, which may mean that black queen and some other piece can be overloaded and the active white knights ready to deliver deadly double attacks. Lajthajm found a marvelous decision: 27.Rxg6!! Nd4 Black declined the offer, but this is hopeless. The main line of the combination runs after: [27...Kxg6

28.Rxc6+! Much better than the immediate: (28.Qg4+ Kh7 29.Rxc6 Nf6 30.Nxf6+ Rxf6 31.Qe4+ Qf5 where White is still better, but Black can hold.) 28...Qxc6 If Black ignores the rook: (28...Kh7 he can insist: 29.Rxc7!) 29.Qg4+ Kh7 Unfortunately for Black he cannot save the knight with: (29...Kf7 30.Qxf5+ Nf6 31.Nxe5+) 30.Qxf5+ Qg6

(30...Kh8 31.Qxh5 is prosaic win for the first player.) 31.Neg5+ hxg5 32.Nxg5+ Kh6 33.Nf7+ Kh7 34.Qxg6+ Kxg6 35.Nxd8+-

; 27...Rxf3 the desperado try cannot save the materal neither- 28.Qxf3 Kxg6 29.Rg1+] 28.Nxd4 exd4 29.Rcc6 Qf7 30.Qg2 Nf4 31.Bxf4 Rxf4 32.Qg3 Rf8 33.Kg2 Qe7 34.h5 R4f5

35.Rxc7 1–0

Bent the Great

2010-11-04T16:53:00.003+02:00

One of the most colourful personalities in the chess world ever passed away not long time ago. Bent Larsen, the giant of positional chess, one of the most honest annotators had a profound influence in my chess development. I doubt that I would have made it to the GM title without his book “50 Selected Games”. At first I wanted to annotate some of his games, but then I found this being pointless. The great man has still things to tell us, so why not learn these lessons from his own moves and words:
Larsen,Bent - Gligoric,Svetozar [A05]
Vinkovci Vinkovci (12), 18.10.1970
[Bent Larsen]
1.g3 g6 2.Bg2 Bg7 3.e4 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.0–0 Nf6 6.d3 0–0 7.Re1 d6 8.Nbd2 Rb8 9.a4 There are two more plans that deserve attention here- preparation of the b2-b4 advance or d3-d4. The position of Nc4 has only aestetical value. 9...b6 10.Nc4 Bb7

"I will write about this tournament an article in which there will be only one diagram. Now you will see the most amazing move of tournament, but not a bad one at all!" Petrosian. 11.h4!? A difficult, but profitable decision. [11.e5 was the most natural move, with great danger of exchanges and draw.] 11...Qc7 White's idea is seen in the line: [11...d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.h5 with initiative.] 12.Bd2 Rbd8 13.Qc1 d5 14.Bf4 Qc8 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Bh6 Rfe8 After the game people were suggesting: [16...f6 to which I would have replied- 17.h5] 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.h5 Nf6 19.h6+ Kg8 20.Qf4 Nh5 [20...Qg4 was losing at least a pawn after: 21.Rxe7!; Bad for Black is: 20...Qf5 21.Qxf5 gxf5 22.Ng5!] 21.Qd2 f6?

22.a5! This move is especially unpleasant precisely now, when the black knight on h5 is inactive, and the set-up with e7-e5 and Nc6-d4 is not yet dangerous for White. 22...b5 23.a6 Ba8 24.Na5 e5 25.Qc3 Black underestimated this move. Now White has an advantage in all the lines. 25...Nd4 26.Nb7! Bxb7 27.axb7 Qxb7 28.Nxd4 cxd4 29.Bxb7 dxc3 30.bxc3 Re7 31.Rxa7 Kf8 32.Rb1 f5 33.Rxb5 Nf6 34.Ra8 Rxa8 35.Bxa8 Ng4 36.Rb8+ Kf7 After: [36...Re8 37.Rxe8+ Kxe8 38.Bd5 Nxh6 39.f3!

39...g5 40.Kf2 g4 41.f4 White is winning easily, as the black knight is locked.] 37.Bd5+ Kf6 38.c4 e4! The last try. 39.Rf8+! Ke5 This might seem a bit unexpected, but after: [39...Kg5 the king is too far away from c file, and analyses show easy road to the win: 40.dxe4 fxe4 41.c5 e3 42.fxe3 Rxe3 43.c4!] 40.dxe4 fxe4 41.Bxe4 Nxh6 42.Bd3 Nf7 43.Rg8 Nd6 The sealed move. In my home analyses I found win in all lines: 44.Ra8 Nb7 [44...Rc7 45.Ra5+ Kf6 46.Ra6 Ke7 47.Ra4 Kf6 48.f3 Rc6 49.Kf2 h6 50.c5!

with the following subtlety: 50...Rxc5 (50...Nf7 51.Be4 Rxc5 52.Ra6+) 51.Ra6 Rd5 52.Be4 Rd4 53.c3 and wins.] 45.Ra7 Kd6 46.f3 Nc5 47.Rxe7 Kxe7 48.Kf2 Kf6 49.Ke3 h5 50.Kd4 Ne6+ 51.Kd5 g5 52.Kd6 h4 53.gxh4 gxh4 54.Bf1 Ng5 55.c5 Nf7+ 56.Kd5 Ke7 57.f4 Nh6 58.Bh3

58...Ng8 59.c6 Nf6+ 60.Ke5 Ne8 61.f5 1–0

Plovdiv Again

2010-10-27T18:31:00.003+03:00

ECC in Plovdiv had started with a small crisis when the NATO soldiers decided that the dates of the tournament are perfectly suitable for them too to occupy the building. One problem is that Novotel has a contract with the NATO forces that gives them the possibility to use it any day they want. The other problem is that the American soldiers does not want anyone else on the floor where they have people, no matter if the floor is full or not. These things caused some inconvenience with the accommodation of the players. Still, place for those rated over 2700 for the open event, and over 2500 in the ladies part was duly reserved.

The freshly elected presidents Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Silvio Danailov presented at the opening ceremony. The ECU President also made the symbolic first moves on both the male and female boards at the start of the tournament.
The colour of Europe meets in Plovdiv in the open section. Except for those who participate now in Nanjing all the best players are practically here.

The top seeded Levon Aronian shines so far in the event with a rating performance of 3000 elo points. His Mika Yerevan (practically the Armenian national team) will try to overcome the one point deficit in a direct encounter against the leaders- Economist Saratov, who had won all their matches so far. The latter also has a top scorer- Alexander Moiseenko, who has 4.5/5, but the truth is that both teams has practically no weak point, and the match will be decided on very minuscule nuances. Some more top scorers include Alexander Grishchuk 4/4 and Vladimir Malakhov 4.5/5.
The female tournament is extremely strong, too. The ladies from AVS, led by Antoaneta Sefanova are leading in the female part. However, four teams are pursuing them a point behind. Nothing will be clear there until the very last game. Koneru, Atalik, Zaiatz and Galojan are the top scorers after the fifth round.

As a tradition the nations are of no big meaning here. We can see players from China, India and USA taking part in the European event, and this is normal. We can also observe couples playing in the same teams, or in two different teams. The Zhigalko brothers for example play for two different teams-one leads a team from home country Belarus, and the other one strengthens an Ukrainian one.
One of our journalists even joked that there are some illegal Bulgarians here-those who do not represent our country.
I am one of those, as I play for my Belgium team. We also have a couple of German players (one of them is surprisingly fluent in Russian, too), and a Dutch guy (also illegal I might add). And there are teams who have player only from different countries. Just have a look at the team Werder Bremen- the apotheoses of internationality.

As my Belgium teammates have never been yet in Bulgaria, we went to a typical Bulgarian restaurant. Vesloto selo (The “Jolly Village”) was especially good for this reason. The food starts with our typical rakia (not to be confused with the Turkish raki, ours is made by fruits and does not smell like anise!), then follows the rich meat main course. In the meanwhile the entertaining program have started, which includes various Balkan rhythms- Greek, Serbian, Gypsies, Oriental. It all ends with the traditional Bulgarian dance-horo, which my teammates learn with surprising speed.
The preparation was a huge success, and next day we comfortably lose 6-0.

(Pictures Claude Bikady, Evtim Stefanov)

Positional Sac in the Trompy

2010-10-13T17:20:00.003+03:00

Ety's best achievement in Ulanbaatar was the following game:
Stefanova Antoaneta - Kosintseva Tatiana [D00]
Ulaanbaatar GP Mongolia
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 A time for a change. In their previous encounter just a month ago in Jermuk the players tested the main lines of the Ragozin. However, Tatiana is definetely well prepared against the Trompy, too. 2...d5 3.e3 g6 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.Ne2 Bd6 6.g3 c6 7.Bg2

7...f5! A good idea. Black was less precise in the following game: [7...Nd7 8.b3 f5 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nbc3 Be6 11.c5 and White achieved harmony in his development and initiative on the queen's flank. 11...Bc7 12.b4 a6 13.a4 0–0 14.0–0 g5 15.b5 Qd7 16.Qd3 Kg7 17.f4! Laznicka,V (2617)-Mamedov,N (2614)/Benasque ESP 2009/The Week in Chess 766 (42) with pleasant advantage for White who won later.] 8.b3 Be6 Now Black forces her opponent to lose some time before advancing the c pawn. 9.Qd3 Nd7 10.Nd2 Nf6 11.c4 Ne4 12.c5 Bc7 13.b4 h5 Both players wait with the kingside castling. 14.Nf3 Qf6 15.h4 Qg7 The trick: [15...a5 16.b5 (16.0–0 axb4 17.Rfb1 Ba5 18.a3 is also good for White.) 16...Nxc5 does not really work as the c6 pawn is hanging: 17.Qc2 Ne4 18.bxc6 b6 19.0–0 0–0 20.Rab1±] 16.0–0 Now when h5-h4 is stopped White can finally castle. She has though to hurry with her play on the queen's flank. 16...f6 17.b5 g5 Kosintseva straightforwardly follows her plan. However, a little profilaxis might be better here: [17...Bc8 18.Rab1 0–0 19.Rb2 (19.Nf4 does not prevent g6-g5, as the knight might be trapped after: 19...g5 20.Nxh5? Qf7 traps the knight) 19...g5 with sharp play where both sides have their share of chances.] 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.Qa6 Bd7 20.Rab1 0–0

21.Rb7! A nice positional sacrifice. Ety will gain control over the light squares thanks to the invested exchange. 21...Bc8 22.Rfb1 Worse is: [22.hxg5 Rb8 23.Rfb1 Qd7 24.gxf6 Bd8! However, objectevely best seemed to be:; 22.Qxc6 Bxb7 23.Qxb7 Rfd8 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.Qc6 with full compensation for the exchange.] 22...Bxb7 There is nothing wrong with this move, but White's task would have been much more complicated after: [22...Qd7! with the idea to exchange both the white rooks. Play may continue: 23.hxg5 (23.Rxc7?! Qxc7 24.Qa3 Rb8µ) 23...Rb8 and now the highly entertaining sacrifice: 24.gxf6!

In the line: (24.Qxa7?! Bxb7 25.Rxb7 Rxb7 26.Qxb7 Rb8 27.Qa7 (27.Qa6 fxg5) 27...Rb1+ 28.Bf1 Nxg5 29.Nh4 White seems in control, but there is a tactical stroke: 29...Nh3+ 30.Kg2 Nxf2!) 24...Bd8 25.Rxb8 Bxa6 26.Ne5 Qc7 27.Nf4! Better than: (27.f7+ Rxf7 (27...Kg7 28.Nf4 Ng5 29.Nxh5+ Kh6 30.Nf4ч) 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Nf4 Bb5!µ) 27...Bc8 (27...Rxf6 28.Ra8 Kh7 Here: (28...Bb5? loses to: 29.Rxb5 cxb5 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.Nd5+-) 29.Rbb8 Bb7 30.Rxd8 Bxa8 31.Rd7+ Qxd7 32.Nxd7 Rf7 33.Ne5±) 28.f7+ Rxf7 29.Nxf7 Kxf7 30.Ra8

and it is difficult to judge who is better, but obviously White should have at least enough for her sacrificed piece.] 23.Rxb7 Qd7 24.hxg5! Ety looks for juicy squares for her knights. 24...Nxg5 The only move, as Black's position crumbles after: [24...fxg5 25.Ne5 Qg7 26.Qxc6+-] 25.Nh4 [25.Nxg5 is enough only for a draw, as after: 25...fxg5 26.Bxd5+ cxd5 27.Qg6+ Qg7 28.Qxg7+ Kxg7 29.Rxc7+ Black can harass the active rook- 29...Rf7=; 25.Nf4!? though deserved serious attention: 25...Rab8 only move (25...Rfb8? 26.Nxg5 fxg5 27.Nxd5! cxd5 28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Qg7 (29...Ke8 30.c6 Qe7 31.Rxc7 Qxc7 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qg7+ Kd6 34.Qf6#) 30.Qxg7+ Kxg7 31.Rxc7+ Kf6 32.Bxd5+-) 26.Nh4 (26.Nxh5 Rxb7 27.Qxb7 Kf7 28.Nh4 also gives great compensation to White.) 26...Rxb7 27.Qxb7 Rb8 28.Qxa7 Rb1+ 29.Kh2 (29.Bf1 Qc8 30.Nxh5 Ne4) 29...Ne4 30.Bxe4 fxe4 31.Kg2 and I would love to have White here.(31.Nxh5? Bxg3+) ] 25...Rfb8 26.Nf4 White is better, although the computer claims that the position is equal (it already sees the only salvation that Black has though). However, for a human being defending both the king and all the pawn weaknesses without having any active plan is a painful task. Moreover, if both the humans are in time trouble this task becomes impossible for the defender. Tatiana soon erred. 26...Rxb7 27.Qxb7 Rb8 28.Qxa7 Ne4 29.Bh3 Rb1+? The rook had to stay on the eight rank in order to protect the king. [29...Qc8! with the idea: 30.Bxf5 (30.Nxf5 Qb7 31.Ne7+ Kf8 32.Qxb7 Rxb7 33.Nxc6 Bxf4 34.gxf4 Rb1+ 35.Kg2 Rb2) 30...Ra8!

was Black's only chance. After: 31.Bxc8 Rxa7 32.Bd7!? Bxf4 33.Bxc6 Nxg3 34.Bxd5+ Kh7 35.Ng2 Bc7 36.fxg3 Bxg3 the position is approximately ballanced.] 30.Kg2 Rb2 31.Bxf5 Qg7 [31...Rxf2+ 32.Kg1 Qd8 33.Bxe4 and wins.] 32.Nxh5 Rxf2+ 33.Kg1 Qh6 34.Qa8+ Qf8 35.Be6+ 1–0

Three Weeks in Mongolia (for NIC)

2010-10-08T17:53:00.002+03:00

We work with Ety since October 2009. My contract obligations included the tournaments from the Women Grand Prix series. These tournaments were created only a couple of years ago in attempt to lift the image of the women chess all over the world. The initial idea was that they are rapid events, but later it grew in something more substantial. The stakes in this circuit are high. The overall winner of the event receives the right to play a match against the World Champion who must be defined at the end of this year in Turkey. Therefore almost all the best women players take part in the event. In the strength of the players the tournaments can be compared to the super male round-robins, such as Linares and Wijk an Zee. A fact that was not seen lately in the women chess world. It is not a secret that most of the ladies compete in usual opens, and the one in Gibraltar for example brings together the cream of the female elite with the attractive prize fund and the opportunity to win prices in both men and women sections.
The Grand Prix series consist of six tournaments (Istanbul (Turkey), Nanjing (China), Nalchik (Russia), Jermuk (Armenia), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and Santiago (Chile), and each player can compete in maximum four of them. The best three are counted for the overall standings. Each host country has the right of a participant in the series.
Speaking of the world championship system we never have clearance. Of lately the Russian chess federation came with a new proposal that adds two more players in the fight for the title-the current World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and the last spot is left free for the top rated female player.
In my personal opinion the Mongolian Grand Prix was the strongest of them all. Four former World Champions took part in the event, as well as the top three rated players (we if of course exclude J. Polgar).
The further expansion of the chess popularity is very welcomed. Mongolia is relatively new destination on the chess map, although as a former communist country largely influenced by USSR our sport is very popular there. We lived in the closed area Ikh Tenger which is the president’s complex.
In the day of the opening ceremony the new Chess Academy was opened by Kirsan Ilymzhinov himself. The FIDE president had a very busy schedule due to his elections campaign but nevertheless found time to open the tournament, just like he did in Jermuk. In the center of the town, in front of the monument of Mongolian’s most famous personality-Chingiz Khan the ladies picked their numbers in alphabetical order of names. Curiously, those who started first were picking up the small numbers and the more white pieces.
The ladies play the way with the Sofia rules and they cannot agree short draws. This probably is not needed as they all are proved fighters and like to play till the end. The chief adviser for the draw offers in the event was the legendary Nana Aleksandria from Georgia and her opponent for the World Championship in 1981 Maia Chiburdanidze was participating in the competition.
The initial rounds define the roles in a tournament, and show who will play the role of an underdog, and who will compete for the top places.
Ety started with two draws, and the second one was especially unpleasant as she spoiled huge advantage in her time trouble against Maia Chiburdanidze. In the next eight rounds though, she would take no prisoners, scoring six wins against two losses.
As the tournament equator was reaching the column was led by the Chinese Zhao Xue. Her wins though were not very impressive; one could find many twists in her games, and decisive changes in the evaluation of the positions. Her game against Zhu Chen was especially significant in that sense. First White was completely winning, and then came a huge blunder and it was Black who was winning. Finally the game reached the position on the diagram:
Zhu Chen - Zhao Xue
Ulaanbaatar GP Mongolia

Without spending more than a second on her next move the former women champion played: 64.Kb8?? Instead the precise [64.Ka8!= would save the day- 64...Qe8+ 65.Kb7 Qe4+ 66.Kb8 Qb1+ 67.Ka7 Qa2+ 68.Kb8 Qh2 69.Ka8] and resigned after: 64...Kc5 65.Ka8 Qd7 66.Kb8 Kb6 0–1

The logic of the events was telling that Zhao should not keep the lead. Indeed in the very next round she was technically outplayed by Tatiana Kosintseva. The Russian player had no other alternative in this tournament but first place, as due to the engagements with her Russian club for ECC in Ohrid 2009 she could play only three Grand Prix tournaments. Tatiana was playing in her usual solid manner, but in the very next round she was stopped by Ety.
This was a period when the leaders were constantly changing their places and none could really predict the overall winner. Ety was replaced in the lead by top seed Humpy Koneru, then the Indian lost to Zhao, and this finally gave a chance to Hou Yifan to grab the lead after her postponed win against Zhu Chen. The young Chinese had a critical moment in round eight when she had to visit the hospital due to health problems. Luckily for her this round was the one before the second free day, and her opponent generously agreed for a postponement. How Hou won this important game you can see with her own notes.
Most of the participants had problems with the food throughout the whole event. I do not why it was happening like that-normally it was delicious, and I cannot call it exotic, but it was obviously the overall change that mattered.
As in a good movie the tournament winner had to be decided in the final round. Hou Yifan was leading with a half point advance in front of Ety, but we had the white pieces. An unpleasant change in the program spoilt a bit the tournament finish when the players were asked to play at 10.00 a.m. The organizers insisted on this hour as it would give them a chance for a comfortable closing ceremony at the theater, and as there were public speeches scheduled for later in the evening, the closing should take place at five p.m. in fact the organizer’s second proposal was that the games start at 9.00 a.m...For an owl like Ety such a change had a huge psychological impact. We tried to protest, taking on the account the fact that for such a change there should be the signature of the FIDE president, but the FIDE official could not contact him. There was only one critical moment in the game, but it could have changed the name of the winner.
Stefanova,A (2560) - Hou Yifan (2577) [A14]
5th FIDE GP w Ulaanbaatar MGL (11), 11.08.2010

After a stubborn and careful defense Hou Yifan decided to activate her knight with:28...Nb5? But this moves blunders a whole pawn. However Ety also missed the chance- 29.e4? The simple: [29.Bxf6 wins a pawn as the line 29…Rxf6? 30.Rc2 loses even more material. Now the position is balanced again and draw was agreed after sixty moves.] 1/2
Thus the young Chinese remained the only undefeated player, and deservedly won the tournament. The tradition that in each tournament from the series there is a new winner was kept. Stefanova finished clear second, and there was a tie for the third place with Kosintseva, Zhao and Koneru to finish in this order.
We arrived a couple days before the start of the event, and had some time to visit the local attractions- the Gandantegchenling Monastery and the Migjed Janraisig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, the symbols of the Mongolians-the bell tents (called yurts) in some of which there are still people living. That was all the fun as during the tournament I lived like a hermit and worked in the hotel. The first free day could be a change as there were meetings with the sponsors organized, but the door-knob of my room decided to take a day off, and I was left locked inside for some hours. The previous day I asked Ety if she would like to go to these meetings or she would rather prefer to stay and have some rest to which she replied: “We are all complaining for the lack of sponsors, but when a time comes for a single sign of respect everyone tries to cover himself. I have my obligations to these people, and I need to go.” However when in the second free day the organizers made a large entertaining program with museums, horse riding and archering she preferred to skip the attractions and have some rest for the decisive rounds.
A quick look at the overall standings of the Grand Prix events reveals that the leader now is Hou Yifan with one first, one second, and one shared second places or total of 410 points. However, she already accomplished her tournaments and has to wait and see if some of her two closest rivals Nana Dzagnidze or Humpy Koneru might catch up with her. The final stage is scheduled in Chile, but the earthquakes might hinder the organizational process. There are rumours already that the tournament will be postponed, or even cancelled.
In any case for the good of the women chess I hope that these Grand Prix series will continue in the future.

Belogradchik Rocks (Pictures-Eddie)

2010-09-29T17:41:00.003+03:00

When this May while playing the Bulgarian teams Eddie told me that he is organizing an amateur tournament at the beginning of September in Belogradchik, I found the idea fabulous. This was the first time that such an event would take place in Bulgaria, and the things that he told me about the organization convinced me that it is worth the efforts. I met him in…Milano, Italy when he came for a tournament from France where his future wife was studying. Nowadays Evtim Stefanov is the president of the Bulgarian team champion- Nayden Voynov-Vidin, and organizer of the First Blakan Amateur Tournament in Belogradchik.
This small town is chosen for a host city for a good reason. It is located near the capital Sofia, and is exuberant in natural wonders, the most famous one being the Belogradchik Rocks with their weird forms and shapes. The rock figures are approximately 200 meters tall, and there are altogether three groups. The central and biggest one of them is right next to Belogradchik.

A total of 110 players took part in the event, from fifteen different countries, and almost all continents. The tournament became huge success, and we are starting head over feet with the final standings:
The winner of the festival with total 7.5 points was Naiden Dobrev from Dobrich. He is a young player, and started viciously not to let any chance for his closest pursuers- Yanko Panayotov (second) and Momchil Todorov (third) (all from Bulgaria). Dimitar Krastanov was ranked fourth and became a champion among the players without FIDE rating. Best rating performance was delivered by Velizar Sofranov, who managed to make 7 points thanks to excellent play and the training of the Grandmaster team. The winners received a total of 15 000lv /about 7500euro/ of total 18 prizes. Not a bad price fund at all, it can easily compete with any open event.
The mayor of Belogradchik, Mr. Emil Tsankov personally awarded the winners of the festival with the medal of honour of Municipality Belogradchik and invited all the players to visit again the next year tournament in mid August 2011 for its second edition.
However, this was not all that the tournament can be proud of. Many beside activities took place. There was a voting for a queen of the event, which was won by Simoneta Ivanova. She is only 13 from Pleven and already chess queen of the first Balkan amateur chess festival. She was elected by the participants in the tournament. Two more chess ladies received gifts from Municipality Belogradchik and Chess Club Naiden Voinov. These are Tsveta Galunova from Veliko Tarnovo and Silvia-Raluca Sgircea from Dobreta Turnu Severin, Romania. At the ceremony Saturday evening at a glass of wine the manager of hotel “Skalite” presented the festival queen with a body peeling spa therapy with chocolate and honey.
On Friday night 54 players entered a blitz battle in 9 rounds. After a tense fight Bogidar Ivanov won the tournament with 7 wins and 2 draws. Dejan Dimitrov (former chess trainer, and sports journalist at the moment) finished second and the leader in the main tournament Naiden Dobrev ended third.

Additionally a team blitz took place. The winners were Plamen Vasilev and Dimitar Pashev from Bulgaria. Second finished the Macedonians Vladimirov and Semshiu and enjoyed a professional massage in spa hotel Skalite for both of them and Hristo Velchev and Tsvetelin Stoev finished third and rolled downhill in a big zorbing ball.

The activities included lessons with GMs. Some of the participants profited from their work with GM Delchev, GM Iotov and FM Velchev. All these title-holders are members of the Nayden Voinov team that won the Bulgarian championship this year. Those masters were analysing the best games of the festival in the evenings with tons of humor and intelligence. The participants could also take part in the analyses, and gave their opinion. Those lectures were completely free of charge. Furthermore, there were private or group lessons for those willing to take part.
Four excursions were organized for the players. They visited “Kaleto”, the Magura cave, “Baba Vida” fortress and to ride a buggy in the famous Belogradchik rocks.
The second edition of the festival is scheduled for August 2011. We will be happy to see more people joining it.

The Bishop Fortress

2010-09-09T14:12:00.002+03:00

Kunte,A (2528) - Fernandez,Dan SIN (2299) [E90]
Sydney Int Open Parramatta AUS (9), 11.04.2010

This was one of the decisive games at the SIO open in April. In case that one of the players have won his game, he would have tied for the first place. In addition, if the second player-young Daniel Fernandez from Singapoore had won, he would have achieved a GM norm. 43.Re7? Kunte is rushing at a moment when he did not need to do that. Now Black had a chance to create a beautiful fortress thanks to his bishop pair. 43...fxg4!! White was obviouly counting on the line: [43...Qa2? 44.Nxe5 Now both the black bishops and his king are in danger. 44...Qa1+ 45.Kh2 Bxe5+ 46.Qxe5 Qxe5+ 47.Rxe5+- where he is easily winning.] 44.Rxe6 Bxe6 45.hxg4 Kh7 Of course not: [45...Bxg4?? 46.Qc4+ However, Black does not necessarily need the g4 pawn to biuld a fortress thanks to his bishops.] 46.f3 Ba2 47.Qe7 Bb1 48.Kf2 The other possible plan would have been: [48.g5!? h5 49.g4 with the idea to open the h file, bring his king to f7, and finally use the h file to create mating threats. However, the subtle: 49...hxg4 50.fxg4 e4=

Prevents the white king from reaching the f7 square. When the bishop are placed on neighbour diagonals they can cooperate in their best possible way. ] 48...g5 This is a correct decision, Black is getting ready to exchange as many pawns as needed. 49.Ke3 Bg6 50.Kd2 Kg8 51.Qe6+ Kh7 52.g3 Or: [52.Kc3 e4+ 53.Kc4 exf3 54.gxf3 Bb2 55.Kc5

with the idea to bring the king to f8, but this does not prove successful, as Black always have the possibility to chase it away with a check from g7, thus keeping his king in safety.] 52...Bh8 53.Ke3 Bg7 54.f4 exf4+ 55.gxf4 gxf4+ 56.Kxf4 Bh8 57.g5 h5! The last finesse. In case of:[57...hxg5+?? 58.Kxg5 The white king will spoil Black's coordination, and the queen can show her best features: 58...Bb1 59.Qd7+ Bg7 60.Qh3+

60...Kg8 61.Qb3+] 1/2 When treated carefully, the bishop prove that they are not worse than the queen.

Chess Mentor Course 2

2010-08-31T12:05:00.004+03:00

After a busy summer, I finally have some time left for my bloggy (as the Dutch might say). The second Chess Mentor Course will be soon out, and I like to present you one of the samples:
Li Chao (2613) - Barua,Dibyendu (2479) [C11]
Doeberl Cup Canberra AUS (5), 03.04.2010
One of the most unpleasant endgames for the bishop is the so called "French" one- a position that usually arises after the same defense. Even if there are pawns left only on one side of the board, the defender is in great danger for the variouz zugzwangs that can arise, and the lack of space. The bishop also is not much of a help in the defense.

40.Nc8+ White first gains some space. 40...Kf8 41.Kd8 Bc6 42.Nd6 Ba4 43.c4! Although the exchanges usually favour the defender here this one is perfectly justified, as White needs the e4 square for his knight. 43...dxc4 44.Nxc4 Bb5 45.Nd6 Bc6 Covering both e4 and e8, but the next moves forces a zugzwang. 46.h4!

46...Ba4 47.Ne4 Bb5 48.Nf6 Ba4 Black cannot allow the opponent's king come closer. [48...Kg7 49.Ke7 with the threats Nf6-e4 (e8)-d6 and wins all the pawns. 49...Bc6 50.Ng4 and Nh6xf7 to follow.] 49.Nxh7+ Kg7 50.Nf6 Kf8 White won a pawn, and now needed only to discover the beautiful breakthrough idea in the pawn endgame. 51.Kc7?! The win was:[51.Nd7+! Kg8 a) 51...Kg7 changes nothing. 52.Nb6 Bb5 53.Ke7; b) 51...Bxd7 52.Kxd7 Kg8 53.Ke8! Kg7 54.Ke7 Kg8

55.h5!! (55.f5 gxf5) 55...gxh5 56.f5 exf5 57.g6 fxg6 58.Kd7 h4 59.e6 h3 60.e7 h2 61.e8Q+ check!; 52.Nb6 Bb5 53.Ke7 Bd3 54.Nc8 Kg7 55.Nd6 Be2 56.Nxf7] 51...Ke7 52.Ne4 Bc2 53.Nd6 Ba4 54.Nc8+ Ke8 55.Kd6 Bb5 56.Nb6 Kd8 57.Kc5 Be2 58.Na4 Bf3 59.Nc3 Ke7 60.Nb5 Kd7 61.Nd6 Ke7 62.Kb6 Bd1 63.Kc7 Ba4 64.Ne4 Bc2 65.Nf6 Bd1 66.Kc6 Be2 67.Kc5 Bd1 68.Kd4 Bf3 69.Ke3 Bd1 70.Nh7 Bh5 71.Kf2

71...Bd1 72.Kg3 Be2 73.Kg2 Bd1 74.Kf2 Bg4 75.Kg3 Bd1 76.Nf6 Be2 77.h5 gxh5 78.Kh4 Bd1 79.Nxh5 Be2 80.Ng3 Bf3 81.Nf1 Be2 82.Ne3 Kf8 83.Kg3 Bd3 84.Kf2 Kg7 85.Ke1 Kg6 86.Kd2 Bb5 87.Kc3 Kh5 88.Kd4 Kh4 89.Kc5 Ba6 1/2

Chess Mentor Course

2010-07-13T16:18:00.003+03:00

My first chess mentor course for www.chess.com was published on 1 July. The theme was bishop stronger than a knight in the endgame. I received many positive feed backs, but I especially appreciated this one:
“Dear Mr. Bojkov,
My name is Sam Shankland, I'm an IM from the US rated over 2500 FIDE, and I'm also a chess.com employee. I'd just like to say your Bishop vs Knight chess mentor course is extremely good- bishop vs knight endgames have always been a weak point in my game, and I actually learned something from a course with an average rating of about 1800. I'm sure you get messages like these all the time (I definitely do), but perhaps they don't always come from near- GMs.... In any case, great job and thanks a lot!”
Dear Sam, thank you too, and good luck at the youth USA championship! I hope that you can apply some of the learned ideas. Here is a sample from the course:

Rej,T (2348) - Castor,D (2131) [A57]
Sydney Int Open Parramatta AUS (6), 09.04.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]

An ouside passed pawn is a great advantage in all endgames. A bishop is extremely happy to have such support. 25.Ke2! First White brings his king into the play. 25...Ke6 Unfortunately for Black he cannot exchange the knight for the bishop as the resulting pawn endgame is lost due to the possibility for White to create an outside passed pawn: [25...Nxe3 26.Kxe3 Ke6 27.Kd4 The most precise method is-first maximally activate the king. 27...a5 28.b3 d5 29.a3 Kd6

Now the plan is to create the b passer, deflect the opponent's king and win in return the d5 pawn, and all the others on the king's flank. And the best technique to do that is first to improve your own pawns on the kings flank with: 30.g4 then h2-h4, f2-f4, and finally b3-b4, etc.] In the game he will win in similar way but with the minor pieces still on the board. 26.Kd3! Kd7 27.Kc4! Kc6 28.b4 When all the white pieces are on their perfect places White creates an outside passed pawn. 28...Nc7 29.a4

29...d5+ Black is practically in zugzwang, and he will have to do this move sooner or later. 30.Kd3 Ne6 31.g3! Nc7 32.h4! Gaining space on the king's flank and placing the pawns on defended squares. [32.Bc5 Ne6] 32...Ne8?! This move eases White's task, as the knight now will be dominated. More stubborn was: [32...Ne6 although this should also be won for White after: 33.g4 Expanding on the king's flank- this will give two extra trumps for White- control over the e6 square, and possibility for combined play on both flanks. 33...Nd8 (33...g6 is probably best 34.Bd4 f5 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.Ke3 but Black will soon in zugzwang) 34.f4 Nb7 35.f5 Nd6 36.h5 Nc4 (36...Nf7 37.Bf4 h6 38.Kd4+-

and b4-b5 is coming will be similar as in the game) 37.Bd4 h6 38.Bc5 Ne5+ 39.Kd4 Nxg4 40.Bf8 Nf2 41.Bxg7 Ne4 42.Ke3 Ng3 43.Bxf6 Nxf5+ 44.Kf4 Nd6 45.Bg7 Nf7 46.Kf5 and White wins.] 33.Bf4! Restricting the knight immediately when the moment occurs. Black is lost. 33...g6 34.Kd4! The king is maximally activated. White is ready for the decisive operation. 34...Ng7 35.b5+! Finally deflecting the opponent's king and going for the pawns on the king's flank. 35...axb5 36.axb5+ Kxb5 37.Kxd5 f5 38.Be5!

And the opponent's knight will be shut either on h5 or e8 squares. 38...Nh5 39.f3 f4 40.Bxf4 Ng7 [40...Nxf4+ 41.gxf4 Kb6 42.Ke6 Kc6 43.f5 is an easy win as well.] 41.g4 h5 42.Be5 Ne8 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.f4 1–0

Jermuk- Final Impressions

2010-07-09T16:35:00.000+03:00

Jermuk is probably the most famous mountain resort in Armenia. The country that is mainly associated with the Ararat Mountains (which are already part of Turkey) is proud to have such a wonderful place. It also becomes one of the hottest spots on the chess map of the world after the second Grand Prix tournament, this time for females.
There are many things that make the place special-the extremely fresh air, wonderful mineral water springs, the beauties of the mountains, the view of Jermuk from above, the lake and the local waterfall. Those were things that the players enjoyed mostly during their free day. Another important thing is the experience that the Armenians have after the Men Grand Prix, the incredible chess tradition for such a small country, their hospitality, and the will to do things the right way. The chief organizer and right hand of the president of Armenia GM Smbat Lputian is the best sample of that. He is not only an experienced and famous GM, he is inside the game from very long time, and knows what the players need to show their best. During the free day when the mayor of the town gave lunch for the participants and the trainers we learned something more about him. He was making the toasts-greeting us all, and especially Nona Gapridanshvili, who was celebrating her birthday then, when Zurab Sturua stood and gave a toast for the organizer himself. “He is also ours” said Gaprindashvili. “Yes, we won the USSR championship back in 1977 for the team of… Georgia”, adds Sturua. Lputian told us that he dreamed to have Jermuk as a chess town since the time that he first saw it. He is now happy that this dream came true.
The tournament was very popular in Armenia as a whole. From the start of our journey at the Erevan airport, I saw many posters on the road to Jermuk. Daily reports were shown on the national TV. During the event Armenian school for young talents was established in Jermuk, and almost all the best young Armenian players participated in a tournament nearby the venue. Those young players took the chance to make pictures with some of the participants at the closing ceremony.
How did the tournament go? Nana Dzagnidze won her first Grand Prix tournament in an impressive manner after a stormy start- 7.5/8, with wins against her main rivals. She showed good preparation (this is the place to mention once again her trainer Zurab Sturua), excellent calculation skills, and above all-strong will and nerves. Tatiana Kosintseva took clear second and produced many modal games. Despite her loss against Dzagnidze, she was the only pursuer that the Georgian had. Third-fifth places were shared by L. Mkrtchian, A. Stefanova and E. Danielian. Both the Armenian players can be fully satisfied with their performance in the strong field, while Ety can be satisfied with the way that she recovered after the poor start. The elo favourite Hou Yifan looked very tired after two extra strong tournaments that she played in China. Shen Yang played very interesting games, and could do better, while Pia Cramling made it to the fifty percents only thanks to her final two wins. Both former champions M. Chiburdanidze and Xu Yuhua must be disappointed by their pale performance, as well as B. Kovanova and M. Fierro.
After the fourth tournament from the Grand Prix series, the leader in the overall ranking is Nana Dzagnidze who has in her active a first, second and third place. Tatiana Kosintseva is in the battlefor the overall victory too, with a first and second place, while Xu Yuhua and Humpy Koneru have also won tournaments so far. Let me remind you that the overall winner of the Grand Prix Series receives the chance to challenge the winner of the Women World Cup in a match for the world title.

Women Grand Prix in Jermuk

2010-07-07T14:32:00.003+03:00

The Grand Prix tournament in Jermuk, Armenia is already over. Ety started poorly, and until round nine was only on fifty percents. She managed to recover at the end and to share the third place, scoring 2.5/3 in the last games. She tried many new openings, and I am sure that this will pay back in the coming tournaments.
In the penultimate round Ety fought well to save a lost position, and even missed a beautiful study-like win at the end:
Stefanova Antoaneta - Kosintseva Tatiana
Genrikh Kasparian Grand Prix - Jermuk-20 (10.2), 2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qb3 c5 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 c4 10.Nd2 0–0 11.e3 h6 12.Bf4 Nb6 13.a4 a5 14.Be2 Be6 15.Qa3

15...Qd7 16.Nb1 Rfc8 17.Be5 Qd8 18.f3 Bf5 19.Nc3 Bd3 20.Rd1 Nfd7 21.Bf4 Bxe2 22.Kxe2 Nf8 23.Rhe1 Rc6 24.Kf1 f5 25.Kg1 Qd7 26.Bg3 Ng6 27.Qa1 Rf8 28.Qc1 Re6 29.Qc2 Qc6 30.Nb5 Rf7 31.Ra1 Rf8 32.Qc3 Nxa4 33.Rxa4 Qxb5 34.Rxa5 Qd7 35.Bf2 [35.Qb4 Rfe8 36.Rb5 Rxe3 37.Rxe3 Rxe3 38.Rxb7 Qe6 39.Rb6 іs slightly better for Black] 35...Rb6

36.e4? fxe4 37.fxe4 Nf4 38.Bg3 Rb3 39.Qd2 Nd3 40.Rxd5 Qg4 41.Qd1 Qxd1 42.Rxd1 Rxb2 After a tough battle, and mistakes by Ety in the time trouble, Tatiana managed to get a winning endgame. Still, a couple of subtle moves are needed, but is seemed that she got over-relaxed. 43.h4 Ra8? The obvious plan is to advance the passed pawns. This active move with the rook is a mere waste of time. Moreover, the rook was placed great on the other open file, not letting his white collegue to penetrate via it to the seventh rank. [43...b5! is winning 44.Kh2 (44.Rd7 b4 45.Ra1 Kh7 46.Raa7 Rg8 followed by march of the c pawn.) 44...b4 45.Rd7 b3 46.Rc7 (46.Ra1 Ra2 and both the open files are under control.) 46...Rc2–+ 47.d5 b2 48.Rb1 Rc1 49.Rxb2 Nxb2 50.Be5 Rf2–+] 44.Kh2 b5 Probably here Tatiana reazlized that the doubling on the second rank will not bring her dividents: [44...Raa2 45.Kh3 Rxg2 46.Rf1 Rge2 47.Rd8+ Kh7 48.Rff8 and Black has to accept the draw: 48...Kg6 a) 48...Rxe4?? 49.h5 leads to mate; b) 48...Nf2+ 49.Bxf2 Rxf2 50.Rxf2 Rxf2 51.Kg3 Rf1 52.Rc8 b5 53.e5 Re1 54.Kf2 Re4 55.Kf3 Rxd4 56.e6 Rd3+= 57.Kf4 (57.Kf2 Rd2+ 58.Kf3 Rd3+=) 57...g5+ 58.hxg5 hxg5+ 59.Kxg5 Re3 60.Kf6 Rf3+ 61.Ke5 Re3+ 62.Kd6 Rd3+ 63.Kc5 Re3 64.Kxb5 Rxe6 65.Kxc4; 49.Rd6+ Kh7= (49...Kh5? 50.Rd5+ g5 51.Rh8 Kg6 52.hxg5 hxg5 53.Rd6+ Kg7 54.Rc8±) ] 45.Rd7 Re8 46.e5 The waste ot two tempoes in sharp position is enough for Black to lose her advantage. Now the game becomes extremely exciting: 46...b4 47.Rc7 Correctly harassing the passers. And not: [47.Ra1 Kh7 48.h5 c3 when Black wins.] 47...Ra2 Or: [47...b3 when the best is: 48.d5! (48.Rxc4? Rc2 49.Rxd3 Rxc4 50.Rxb3 Rxd4 with large advantage for Black) 48...Nxe5 49.Bxe5 Rxe5 50.d6 Ree2 51.d7 Rxg2+ 52.Kh3 Rh2+ 53.Kg4 Rbg2+ 54.Kf3 Rf2+ 55.Ke3

and perpetual check, as White cannot step on the d file: 55...Re2+= 56.Kd4?! Rd2+ 57.Rxd2 Rxd2+ 58.Kxc4 b2 59.Rb7 Rxd7і] 48.Rf1! Ety is not falling into the trap: [48.Rxc4? Nb2 49.Rd2 Nxc4 50.Rxa2 b3–+] 48...c3 It is too late to fight for the seventh rank: [48...Rf8? 49.Rxf8+ Kxf8 50.e6 b3 51.Bd6+ (51.d5 is also sufficient for a win) 51...Kg8 52.Rc8+ Kh7 53.e7 Re2 54.e8Q Rxe8 55.Rxe8 c3 56.Ba3 b2 57.Rb8 c2 58.Bxb2 Nxb2 59.Rc8+-] 49.Rff7 c2?! Now suddenly Black is on the verge of the loss. Tatiana had to settle for a slightly worse rook endgame: [49...Kh8 50.Rxg7 h5 51.Rh7+ Kg8 52.Rcg7+ Kf8 53.d5 Nxe5 54.Bxe5 Rxe5 55.Rb7 Kg8 56.Rhc7 Ra8 57.Rxb4 Rxd5 58.Rxc3 Ra7 This is a draw as the king is save on the seventh rank.] 50.Rxg7+ Kh8 51.Rh7+ Kg8 52.Rhg7+ Kh8 53.Rh7+ Kg8 54.Rcg7+ Kf8

55.Rf7+ With second on the clock Ety could not find the extremely difficult study-like win: [55.e6! Ra6 (55...Rxe6 56.Rb7 Kg8 57.Rhc7 Ra8 (57...Re8 58.Rg7+ Kh8 59.Rh7+ Kg8 60.Rbg7+ Kf8 61.Bd6+ Re7 62.Rxe7 c1Q 63.Rh8#) 58.Rxc2+-) 56.d5!! Support of the e6 pawn that creates mating net is much more important than the newborn black queen! 56...c1Q 57.Rg6!

Remarkable position. Black is a whole queen ahead, but has to give back material with interest to defend the mate on f7. Genrikh Kasparian would be delighted to see this over the board! 57...Qf1 (57...Raxe6 58.dxe6 Rxe6 59.Rxe6 followed by Rh7-c7 and Blck is helpless against Bg3-d6+ and mate on the back rank.) 58.Rh8+ Ke7 59.d6+!! Rxd6 (59...Kd8 60.Rxe8+ Kxe8 61.Rg8+ Qf8 62.d7+ Ke7 63.Rxf8+-) 60.Rxe8+ Kxe8 61.Bxd6+- and the threat Rg6-g8 forces Black to part with her queen.] 55...Kg8 56.Rhg7+ Kh8 57.Rh7+ 1/2

Women Grand Prix in Jermuk Starts Today

2010-06-24T12:26:00.000+03:00

One of the most famous Armenian resorts- Jermuk hosts the fourth tournament from the Women Grand Prix Series from today. This small town (with a population of approximately six thousand people) is situated in the mountains with an altitude of 2080 meters. It is famous for its mineral water springs, green forests and fresh air.
Twelve players compete in the round robin event that will end on fifth of July, with only one free day on 30-th June. The time limit is one hour and thirty minutes for fourty moves, and thirty minutes additional time after that, with an increment of thirty seconds for every move.
The Zero Tolerance rule is applied, but this should not be a problem for the ladies, as they live literally some 15-20 meters away from the venue. All the games will be played in the Armenia hotel, which also hosted part of the male Grand Prix series.
The players are not allowed to offer draws to each other, but only throughout the arbiter when the position has a theoretical character, there is a three-fold repletion or perpetual check. Chief advisor for such cases will be the legendary champion Nona Gaprindashvili from Georgia. The six time women champion is also a guest of honour in Jermuk.
Before the opening ceremony there was a short players meeting in the lobby of the hotel, where the participants were greeted by the organizers and Jeffrey Borg. The chief arbiters from Armenia were presented to the participants and the most important details were clarified. The ladies received gifts and souvenirs from Jermuk.
The weather yesterday was quite tricky and no one was sure till the end if the opening ceremony in front of the hotel will take place. Rain was coming and going, but finally the weather was merciful, and the ceremony started in time.
The heroes of the future chess battles were presented to the audience, with short information about their major achievements so far. First the former world champions were invited to the stage. There are three of them- M. Chiburdanidze (Georgia), Xu Yuhua (China) and A. Stefanova (Bulgaria). They were directed to their places by life chess pieces. These chess figures stayed on the podium till the end, waiting for their final dance, but the lack of mobility caused an incident as one of them collapsed. Fortunately there was no serious injury for that chess hero.
FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov paid a tribute to the players, and made a short speech. He said that the tournament might be referred as an unofficial world championship not only because of the presence of three former world champions, but also for the quality of all the participants.
Ilymzhinov’s speech was followed by songs of famous Armenian singers. As the tournament is named after one of the most famous chess composers ever- Genrikh Kasparian, a short movie about him was shown after that. Kasparian was born hundred years ago.
Finally, the president of the country Serzh Sargsyan, who is also a president of the Armenian Chess Federation greeted the players before the drawing of lots took place. The players were presented with bouquets of flowers, in which their starting numbers were hidden.
The tournament starts today at three o’clock local time.

Bulgarian Team Championships

2010-06-10T17:27:00.000+03:00

Bulgarian Team Championships took place in Albena between 27 May and 2 June. The tradition to organize the competitions on nice resorts was kept for good and one of the greenest Black-sea resorts hosted the event.
The women section saw eight teams competing for the medals. The first place though seemed to be an easy task for the team of CSKA (V.Cmilyte, E. Zaiats, S.Collas, E.Djingarova, R. Gocheva) who won all their matches more than convincingly. As many of the chess players observed this team might be better than the Bulgarian female national one. Five out of seven matches ended with a “dry” score, including those against the future silver and bronze medal winners. CSKA lost only 1.5 points on all boards throughout the championship, and became the indisputable champion. Runner up became the young and perspective team of Lokomotiv 2000 (A. Nikolova, I. Videnova, D. Sirkova, M. Janeva, N. Kalcheva). They made a great championship, and won 12 match points in total (only one loss, you know against whom). Third is the experienced team of Lokomotiv Plovdiv (M.Voiska, Sv.Yordanova, R.Genova, P. Chilingirova). From the division were relegated the teams of “Krakra Pernishki” and “Mikhail Tal”-Cherven Briag. Quite curious was the situation in the second division where there was a severe fight for the first two places between…two teams. Somehow they both got promoted.
The male part saw more excitement. Until the final round there was no clearance who will claim the title, and the right to take part at the ECC in Plovdiv this year. Two teams (CSKA-Sofia and Naiden Voinov-Vidin) made strong selection. The team from the capital, with strong financial support managed to attract K.Georgiev, K.Lupulescu, V. Spasov, A.Kolev, Kr.Rusev (all strong GMs), as well as the young I.Enchev, who did very well in the last championship. My team Vidin had in its disposal A.Delchev,V.Iotov, A.Kogan, M.Nikolov, M.Petrov, D.Bojkov, all GMs. We were younger, they were more experienced, and the eternal question which skill will prevail had to be answered throughout the seven days.
The decisive match was bound to be played in the third round. We started with a short draw, than a win for our team, then another draw on board one. At this moment it seemed that CSKA will suffer an utter defeat, as on each of all the remaining three boards we had an extra pawn. However, the seemingly impossible happened. First Iotov could not convert his extra material against Lupulescu, then Petrov blundered his opponent’s only threat and lost, and finally Kogan missed his chances against Spasov. 3-3, everything had to start from the beginning, and both teams had not only to win their matches, but to do so with biggest possible margin.
This was a hard moment for our team, and I had to cheer them up. Karaoke bar in the night came handy although I still wonder if they enjoyed the music, or the laughter.
Anyway, in the next two rounds we lost 2.5 points in total, while CSKA only 1.5, and took the lead.
Penultimate round had to give definite answer who will win. CSKA were facing the third ranked Lokomotiv Plovdiv and we- Lokomotiv 2000, both of these teams are composed by titled players. Our match started devastatingly, with two loses for us. Any lost point now would mean that we are already out of the competition, but we managed to concentrate, and took the maximum-4-2. In the meanwhile CSKA were suffering after five draws, but finally managed to take the overall success- 3.5-2.5. Thus we were leveled before the final round, and the only difference was the fourth criteria, which was in our favour. We also had to play against slightly worse opponent. And despite the fact that CSKA won their match 6-0, we also managed to do so, and claim the title for the first time in the history of the club. Bronze medals went to Lokomotiv –Plovdiv.
The happiest man of us all was our president- Evtim Stefanov. Eddie, who is in the chess society from not very long risked a lot with our team. The municipality provided the funds in the very last minute and he was shaking till then, ready to spend the money on his own pocket. Now he is ready with his next project- an open amateur (up to 2250 rated) tournament in September (5-12), with 7500 euro price fund. The tournament will take place in one of the most picturesque towns in Bulgaria-Belogradchik. More info on www.belchess.com

Anand still Reigns the Chess World!

2010-05-12T00:46:00.003+03:00

Topalov,V (2805) - Anand,V (2787) [D56]
Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 Game_12 Sofia BUL (12), 11.05.2010
Game twelve from the Sofia match was meant to be the last one. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0–0 7.e3 Ne4 The Lasker Defense came as a reserve back-up line. However as the Bulgarian's seconds discover during the game there was no player rated over 2500 ever to win a game as black. 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0–0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.dxc5 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5

At first sight it seemed that Black has problems as his pawn structure is ruined and in the long term this can be lethal. However, the strong bishop, and active heavy pieces nivelate this drawback. 19.Qc2 Bb7 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6N [21...Qd6 22.Nb3 Ba6 23.Rd1?? Qxd1+ 0–1 Bellmann,H (2158)-Schulze,G (2012)/corr 1998/UltraCorr2/]] 22.Rf2?! Not the best place for the rook. Topalov could have tried: [22.Rc1 instead.] 22...Rd7 23.g3 [23.Ne4? Rxb2 24.Qxb2? Rd1+ 25.Rf1 Rxf1#; 23.h3 Rbd8 is good for Black.] 23...Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1 Ba6 26.Ra3 White had to settle for a draw with: [26.Qc2=] 26...Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5!

Anand plays in accordance with the position trying to prolong the diagonal for his bishop. 31.exf5? The beginning of the end. Topalov should not lose control over the e4 square in particular, and the long diagonal in any case. Safer and stronger is: [31.Nd2 Qg5 (31...fxe4 32.Nxe4 Rd4 (32...Bxe4 33.fxe4 Rd4 34.Re3 is a draw as White's only weakness on e4 can easily be protected.) 33.Re3 c4 34.Qc3=) 32.exf5 e4 (32...Qxf5 33.Re3 Rcd7 34.Ne4=) 33.Qc2 exf3+ (33...e3? 34.Qb3+±) 34.Nxf3 Rf7 (34...Rf8 35.Qc4+ Kh8 36.Qf4 (36.g4 Rxf5 37.Kg3 is a recommendation by the comuter, but it is impossible for a human to play this way.) 36...Qxf4 37.gxf4 Rxf5 38.Kg3= Black has a strong bishop, but white knight on e5 won't be worse.) 35.Qxc5 Rxf5 36.Qxa7 as the best that Black can profit from the pin is perpetual: 36...Rxf3 37.Raxf3 Bxf3+ 38.Rxf3 Rd2+ 39.Rf2 (39.Kg1 Rd1+ 40.Rf1 Rxf1+ 41.Kxf1 Qc1+=) 39...Qd5+ 40.Kg1 Rd1+ 41.Rf1 Rd2=] 31...e4 32.fxe4? Played in less than a minute thought! After this move White's game is beyond salvation and the world crown stayed in India. [32.Re3 exf3+ 33.Kg1 could have still kept the hope alive, although the position after: 33...Qg5 34.Qc2 Rcd7 is disgusting for White.] 32...Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 [34.Rf4 Qg2+ leads to a forced mate.] 34...Qe8

It is hard to imagine what did Topalov missed as this move is quite obvious for this level. At the press conference he gave part of the explanation "Five years ago I lost the title in rapid games on the date 13. If I had drawn this game we would have to play the rapid at the same date, therefore I tried to press too hard today." 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 The line: [36.Ng2 Bxg2+ 37.Rxg2 hxg4+ 38.Kh4 g3+! 39.Kxg3 Qe5+ 40.Kf2 Rcd7 underlines the lack of coordination in White's camp.] 36...g5+ [36...Qd8+ is an alternative win, with the point: 37.Kxh5 Kf7 and Qd8-h8-h6 mate to come.] 37.fxg6 [37.Kxg5 Rg7+–+] 37...Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7

With the threat Rxe3+, Rh4+ and Qg4 mate. [39...Qg5 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Re4–+ is a computer-made line.] 40.Rf8+ Kg7 [40...Kh7 41.Rh8+ Kxh8 42.Qf8+ Qg8 43.Qxe7 Qc8 44.Qf6+ Kg8–+] 41.Nf5+ Kh7 Anand has calculated everything thorougly. [41...Kxf8?? 42.Nxe7+ Qf7 43.Ng6+ Rxg6 44.Qxf7+ Kxf7 45.Rxa7+ at least saves White.] 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 [47.Rf7+ will win back the queen but will not save the game: 47...Kg6 48.Rg7+ Kxf5 49.Rxg4 hxg4 50.Kxg2 Ke4 51.Kf2 Kd3–+] 47...Qe2+ The rest is easy for the world champion as there is not even a hint of a fortress. 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7

Unfortunately in a match of two one has to lose. Flawless game for the World Champion who retained his title. As a consolation for Topalov we can say that thanks to his efforts small Bulgaria saw a match for the World Championship for the first time in our history, and this was one of the greatest matches ever. Congratulations for Topalov for his uncompromised play, and congratulations for Anand for being the more complex player. Long live the Champion! 0–1

Game Eleven is a Draw, Noone Wants to Step back

2010-05-10T16:24:00.002+03:00

Anand,V (2787) - Topalov,V (2805) [A29]
Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 Game_11 Sofia BUL (11), 09.05.2010
1.c4 Anand decided to try something completely new and to astonish his opponent. At the press conference Topalov admitted that he did not expect the English opening as it did not practically appear in Anand's normal games. 1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0–0 Be7 8.a3 0–0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 A rare move. Usually White includes Rb1 before this manouver. 11...Qe8

According to the Megabase, this is a novelty, but I found a couple of games in a correspondance base. The idea is to bring Ra8 in the center. Another usual plan to control the center is connected with Rf8-f7-d7 (when the black bishop goes to f8). 12.Nc5 Probably a bit premature. Very interesting was the course of one other game: [12.Bb2 a6 13.Rc1 Qf7 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Rxc5 Na4? a bit too tricky to be true 16.Qxa4 Bb3 17.Nxe5! Nxe5 18.Qxb3 Qxb3 19.Bd5+ Qxd5 20.Rxd5 and Black is lost, although managed to escape later–1/2 Figueiras,J-Neves,J/corr 1992/UltraCorr2 (56)] 12...Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7 Black comfortably equalized. In return for the white bishop pair he has owes the better pawn structure, and control over the center. 16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2

21...h6 This semi-waiting move brings some trouble for Veselin. One reasonable idea was to plant a knight on d4: [21...Nf5?! but it has a tactical flaw- 22.Ng5 fxg5 23.Bxc6±; However, the simple: 21...Nd5= followed by exchange on c3, and Be6-d5 leads to complete equality.] 22.Qb1 Nd5 23.Rb2 b6 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 Black concentrates his pieces along the d file in order to prevent possible d3-d4 break, which is White's most dangerous idea in the position. 27.h4 Rd8 Black has to be careful if he wants to start exchanges along the c file: [27...Nce7? self-traps the knight after: 28.e4] 28.Qb5 White would like to get rid of his isolated a pawn: [28.a4?! with the idea a4-a5 however is not good due to: 28...a5 followed by Nc6-b4, and White did nothing but created a weakness on a4.] 28...Nde7 With the idea Be6-d5xf3, followed by Nc6-d4. 29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 This move practically seals the equality as Black starts reliefing exchanges along the c file. However, both players kept on searching their piece of luck. 30...Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6

Topalov plays for a win, and keeps the pressure. A calm continuation is: [33...Rc8=] 34.d4!? e4 [34...exd4?! does not win a pawn, but only brings headaches after: 35.Rd2 Nf5 36.e4 Nd6 37.Rxd4 Qe7 38.e5 and White is better] 35.Nd2 Qxd4 36.Nxe4 [36.Qxd4 Rxd4 37.Bxe4=] 36...Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7 Black is completely out of danger and can play for a win thanks to the weakness on b5. 38.e3 g5 [38...Rd3!? with the idea Ne7-d5 seems like a good idea. Still, this also should end in a draw.] 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 Reducing the number of pawns to the minimum. 40...gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Bf3 Bd5 44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4 Anand plays for activity. He could prepare this advance with: [46.Rd2 Ke7 47.Re2+ since if Black wants to play for a win now he has to abandon the king's flank- 47...Kd6 (47...Kf7=) 48.g4 Ne7 49.Kg3 and the king on d6 rather than f7 is clearly in White's favour.] 46...Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2 Now it is Anand who plays for a win. None of the opponents wants to give in to the will of the other even for a second. This is a real match strategy. [49.Kg3 though was objectively better with possible move repetition.] 49...Nxb5 50.f5 Re4 [50...Nc3! bringing the knight back in the game was Black's best chance. Then the world champion would have to be very precise in order to achive a draw. Here is a lengthy line fruit from my analyses- 51.Kh5 (51.Rd7+ Ke8 52.Rb7 is another defensive direction (52.Rd3 Ne4 53.Kh5 Nf2 54.Re3+ (54.Rd6 Nxg4 55.Nd4 Ne5 56.Nc6 Nxc6 57.Rxc6 Ke7–+) 54...Re4 55.Ra3 Nxg4 56.Rxa7 Ne3 57.Rb7 Nd5 58.Kh6µ does not seem perfectly sufficent for a draw, as Black has progress after Re4-e7, and advance of the b pawn.) ) 51...Rf4 (51...Ne4 52.Rd7+ Ke8 53.Rb7) 52.Rd7+ (52.Nh4!?) 52...Ke8 53.Rd3 Ne4 54.Nd4

54...Rxg4!? (54...Nf2 55.Rd2 Rxg4 (55...Nxg4 56.Nc6 Ne5 57.Rd8+ Kf7 58.Nxe5+ fxe5 59.Kg5 is sufficient for a draw as the last white pieces cooperate in perfect harmony.) 56.Nb5 Rg5+ (56...Rg2 57.Nxa7 Rg5+ 58.Kh4 Rxf5 59.Nc8 Ne4 60.Re2 Rf4+ 61.Kh3 f5 62.Nxb6 and one extra pawn is not enough for a win.) 57.Kh4 Rg2 58.Re2+ Kd7 (58...Kf8 59.Nxa7) 59.Rd2+ Kc8 60.Nxa7+ Kb7 61.Rd7+ Ka6 62.Nc8 Rg8 63.Nd6 b5 64.Rf7 Ng4 65.Ne4 b4 66.Nxf6 (66.Kh5) 66...Nh6 67.Nxg8 Nxf7 68.Nf6 b3 69.Ne4 b2 70.Nd2=) 55.Re3 Rf4 56.Kg6 (56.Ne2 Rxf5+ 57.Kg6 Re5–+) 56...a5 57.Ne2 Rg4+ 58.Kh5 Rg5+ 59.Kh4 Rxf5 60.Rxe4+ Kd7 (60...Re5 61.Rxe5+ fxe5 62.Kg5 Ke7 63.Kf5 Kd6 64.Nc3 Kc5 65.Kxe5 Kc4 66.Nd5 b5 (66...Kc5 67.Nxb6 Kxb6 68.Kd4=) 67.Nb6+ Kc5 68.Nd7+ Kc6 69.Nf6 b4 70.Kd4 Kb5 71.Nd5=) 61.Kg4 Rc5 62.Kf4 b5 63.Nd4 and this should be a draw, although with some difficulties.] 51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3 Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3 Anand rejects the line: [56.Nxe7 Nxd3 57.Nc8 with an immediate draw.] 56...Rd7 Since Black wants to push his pawns on the queen's flank, logical seems to be to support them with: [56...Rb7 However, this square is not perfect either. White plays: 57.Re3 with the idea to force drawish mechanism 57...Kg7 Here is the mechanism- (57...b5 58.Kh6 b4 59.Nh8+ Kf8 (59...Kg8?? 60.Re8#) 60.Ng6+ Kf7 (60...Kg8?? 61.Re8+ Kf7 62.Rf8#) ) 58.Nf4 b5 59.Rc3 Nd7 60.Ne6+ Kh7 61.Nd8 Rb8 62.Ne6= as White threatens Rc3-c7.] 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5 b5 Another exciting draw line occurs after: [58...a5 59.Nf4 a4 60.g6 Ra7 61.Kg4 a3 62.Nh5+ Kh6 63.Re8 Ra4+ 64.Kf3 a2 65.g7 Ra3+ 66.Kg2 a1Q 67.Rh8+ Kg5 68.g8Q+ Kxf5

69.Ng3+ Rxg3+ 70.Qxg3 Qa2+ 71.Qf2+ Qxf2+ 72.Kxf2=] 59.Nf4 b4 60.g6 b3 Black cannot play for a win, as his king is too vulnerable- [60...a5 61.Re8 Rd4 Here is what happens if the second player becomes too greedy: (61...b3? 62.Rc8 b2 63.Rxc5 b1Q 64.Ne6+ Kg8 65.Rc8+ Rd8 66.Rxd8#) 62.Rc8 Rxf4 63.Rxc5 a4 64.Rc7+=] 61.Rc3 Rd4 [61...b2? loses as above. 62.Rxc5 b1Q 63.Ne6+] 62.Rxc5 Rxf4 63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 1/2
Topalov solved the problem of his black colour, and tomorrow will have the opportunity to try his luck for a straight match win with the white pieces. Both players seem extremely exhausted but have to bring this match to its end.

Tenth Game is a Draw, Topalov Misses Good Chances in the Endgame

2010-05-08T11:49:00.003+03:00

Topalov,V (2805) - Anand,V (2787) [D87]
Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 Game_10 Sofia BUL (10), 07.05.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 b6 11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6

15.d5N [15.e5 was seen before.] 15...Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3 Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6! Black is freeing his positions after the pawn exchanges in the center and levels the game. 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5 [21...Qe5!? intending to exchange the queens with Qe5-a1 was a good way to prove equality.] 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 This move shows that Anand is still suffering after the last games. Black could have won a pawn, but White would have rich compensation for it, and the second player needs to be careful as his king is in danger, and Na5 out of play; it is only Black who risks after: [24...Bxd5 25.exd5 Qxd5 26.Qc8+ Bf8 27.Be2 h5 although objectively the position is balanced - a) 27...Qe5? shows the risks that Black might face- 28.Bc4+ Nxc4 29.Qxc4+ Kg7 30.Bd4 Bc5 31.Qxc5!+-; b) 27...Qd6 28.Bf3 Qe5= 29.Bf2 since (29.Bh6 is countered by- 29...Qc5+ although even the endgame with a pawn down should not be a problem for White, too powerful his bishops are.) 29...Kg7 30.Qd7+ Kh6; 28.Bf3 Qe5 29.Kf2 Qb2+ 30.Kg3 Qe5+=; However: 24...Qa1!? though was a safe option.] 25.Ba6!

Excellent practical chance. Although the position remains equal Anand will have to solve difficult problems. 25...Nd4?! [25...Bxa6 was a better option, and should lead to a draw by force: 26.Qxc6 Qa1+ 27.Kh2 (27.Bc1 Probably this was a line that bothered the world champion: 27...Qd4+= But not:(27...Bb2? 28.Qa8+ Kg7 29.Qxa7+ Kg8 30.Qb8+ Kg7 31.Qc7+ Kg8 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Qe7+ Kg8 34.Kh2 Qxc1 35.e5 Bxe5+ 36.Qxe5± with large plus for White thanks to the favourable Q+N pair.; 27...Bh6?? is even worse 28.Qe6+ Kg7 29.Qe7+ Kh8 30.Kh2! Qxc1 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Ne7#) ) 27...Be5+ 28.Bf4 Bxf4+ 29.Nxf4 Qe5 30.Qa8+ Kg7 31.Qxa7+ Kg8 32.g3 (32.Qxa6 Qxf4+ 33.Kg1 Qe3+ 34.Kf1 Qf4+ 35.Kg1 Qe3+=) 32...Qb2+ 33.Ng2 Bf1 34.Qb8+ Kg7 35.Qc7+ Kg8 (35...Kh6? 36.Qf4+) 36.Qd8+ Kg7 37.Qe7+=; 25...Ba8?! Brings Black only trouble 26.Bb5 Ne7 (26...Qe6? 27.Bxc6 Bxc6 28.Qxc6 Qxc6 29.Ne7+) 27.Nxe7+ Qxe7 28.Qc8+ Qf8 29.Qc7 and Black will lose both his pawns on the queen's flank.; 25...Qb8? loses a whole piece 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.Qxc6 Qxc6 28.Ne7++-] 26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5

The arising endgame is not only unpleasant for Black, it is very difficult. White owes the bishop pair, more space, and has a strong passed pawn. He also can make progress on both flanks. Black should look for fortresses or ways to exchange the pawns on the queen's flank. In any case his defense is an ungrateful task. The fact that the game was seemingly effortlessly drawn by Anand is misleading, he was in great danger, and probably even losing at some stages: 28...Be5 29.Kf2 Topalov improves his position by bringing the king in the center, and gaining space on the king's flank. 29...Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 So far the Bulgarian GM made all strong and logical moves. However now he could advance the kingside pawns: [35.h4!? The idea is to create a second weakness in the opponent's camp either on g6, or even better on h7, then to force an opponent's piece to protect it, and finally to penetrate with his king: 35...b5 36.h5 a6 (36...gxh5 will live the h7 pawn vulnerable, and will "stretch" Black's defense thus making it more difficult (if possible at all) 37.gxh5 Nxd5 38.Bxb5 Nf6 39.Bc4+ Ke7 40.h6±) 37.hxg6+ hxg6 38.Ke4 Ne8 39.g5 Bc5 40.Ke5 Nd6 41.Bd2 Ke7 (41...Nc4+ 42.Bxc4 bxc4 43.d6+-) 42.Bc3 followed by Ke5-f4 and Bc3-f6 and further improvement of the position. Black's defense is getting harder and harder with each move, and I am not sure that he can survive that.] 35...b5 Anand gains space on the queen's flank and eventually likes to exchange the pawns there. [35...Ke7 36.Bg5+ Kf7 37.Kd4 and White can proceed with the above-mentioned plan- h3-h4-h5, etc.] 36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Breaking in does not prove sufficient. [42.Kf6 Nxd5+ 43.Kg7 Bf4 44.Bg4+ Kd6 45.Bxf4+ Nxf4 46.Kxh7 a5 47.h4 a4=] 42...Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Topalov goes for a wrong plan. He had play for a zugzwang: [44.Kf3! I borrowed this line from Sergey Shipov: 44...Bd6 45.Bc8 engaging the opponent's knight with the defense of the pawns. 45...Nc7 46.Ke4 Kd8 47.Bb7 Ke7 48.Bc3 Ba3 49.Be5 this is Shipov's line, though: (49.Bf6+!? Kf7 (49...Kd7 50.Bc6+ Kc8 51.Be5+- and d5-d6) 50.Be5 Ne8 51.Bxa6 is even stronger.) 49...Bd6 50.Bc6

Black is in zugzwang, and when the pawns start to move new weaknesses will be created and that will be the end- 50...a5 51.Kd4 b4 52.Bf6+ Kf7 53.Bd8 Kg7 54.Kc4 Kf7 55.Kb3 Kf8 56.Ka4+- This is how close to a defeat the Indian was.] 44...Nd6+ 45.Kf3 [45.Kd4 Bf2+] 45...Nc4 46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 White cannot go for the h7 pawn. [48.Bg8 Kf8 49.Bxh7? Kg7] 48...Ba3

After this exchange draw is inevitable. 49.Bxa3+ Probably more practical is to sign the peace treaty after: [49.Bf4 Bd6 50.Bc1=] 49...Nxa3 50.Ke5 Another possible draw continuation is: [50.Be6 b4 51.Bg8 Nb5 (51...Kf8 52.Bxh7 Kg7 53.d6 Nc4 54.d7 Nd6+ 55.Kd5 Nf7 56.Bxg6 Kxg6 57.Kc5 Kxg5 58.Kb5 Kf6 59.Kxa5 Ke7 60.Kxb4 Kxd7= Black's king will stop the a passer, and the knight can deal with the h one.) 52.Kd3 a4 53.h4 (53.Kc4?? b3 54.axb3 a3–+) 53...Kf8 54.Be6= since none of the sides can make progress.] 50...Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3 53.h4 Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4 55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4 57.Be2 Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4 1/2Anand survived his extra black colour and the chances before the decisive two games seem equal. Topalov's better physical form can be a factor at the end, but more important are the psychological aspects. Both players have their deserved rest today getting ready for their final efforts.

Nine Game is Draw, Anand Misses Win(s)

2010-05-07T00:20:00.002+03:00

Anand,V (2787) - Topalov,V (2805) [E54]
Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 Game_9 Sofia BUL (9), 06.05.2010
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Anand changes the opening at a very early stage. He needs to make the maximum of his white colour today, after the painful defeat from Tuesday. 3...Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0–0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3N

White takes control over the important f4 square. [18.Qd2 is the game Psakhis-Hillarp Persson] 18...e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4?! This move is contraversial, and is probably the start of Black's troubles. Rooks appear to be better in the particular position than the queen. Safer was: [20...Nhf6! 21.Qb2 the tactical justification is: (21.Bg3? Rxc3! 22.dxe5 Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.exf6 Nxf6 and Black is clearly better) 21...e4 22.Bg3 Qf8 23.fxe4 Nxe4=] 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7 [27...Bxc4 28.Bxf6 b5 29.d5 (29.Nf2±) 29...Qc5+ 30.Nf2 Qxd5 31.a4 is awkward for Black.] 28.a3 Qa4?! Second inaccuracy after which Black's king will be in real danger. [28...Qa5 29.Bxd5 Qxd5 30.Rc8+ Nef8 31.Nf2 Nxe5 32.dxe5 Kg7 was a better defense.] 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 Qxd4+ 31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5± Qd6 33.Ne4 [33.Nxe6!?±] 33...Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5? [35...Qb4 was the only move, bringing the queen to defense.] 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Ke8 39.Rxh7 Black is desperately lost as his king is cut on the back rank, and white pieces can harmoniously cooperate. The world champion now needed only to bring his second rook for the decisive blow. However time-trouble takes its toll. Except for the move in the game there was another convincing line: [39.Nxe6! Probably Anand got scared from the blow: 39...Nxf3! But White is not in a need to accept the sacrificed knight- (39...a5 40.Ng5 Kd8 41.Rc5 Nd3 42.Nf7+ Kd7 43.Rd5+ Kc6 44.Rxd3+- White is not only material ahead, but he continues the attack after 44.Ne5 and this decides quickly.) 40.Rd1! and as all the lines are cleared for the rooks, and white king is sequre, White's attack proves decisive- (40.gxf3? Qf2= leads to a perpetual) 40...Nd2 41.Ng5 Qe5 (41...Nc4 42.Re1+ Kd8 43.Ne6+ Ke8 44.Rf1; 41...h6 shows White's main idea- 42.Re1+ Kd8 43.Ne6+ Ke8 44.Rxa7 and there is no defense against 45.Ng7+ and 46.Re8 mate.) 42.Rc8+ Ke7 (42...Kd7 43.Rc2+-) 43.Rd8!!

traps the knight in a study-like manner. 43...Qf4 (43...Kxd8? 44.Nf7+; 43...Qg3 44.R8xd2 Qxh4+ 45.Nh3 leads to the same) 44.R8xd2 Qxh4+ 45.Nh3 and as the black queen cannot be exchanged for the two rooks White has a decisiive attack. 45...a5 (45...g5 46.Rd7+ Ke8 (46...Kf6 47.Kg1 Qc4 48.R1d6+ Kf5 49.Rd5+ Kg6 50.Nxg5+-) 47.R7d5 g4 48.Re5+ Kf7 49.Rf1+ Kg6 50.Rg5+ Kh6 51.Rf6#) 46.Rd4 Qh5 47.Rd7+ Ke8 48.R7d5 Qg4 49.R1d4 Qg3 50.Re4+ Kf8 51.Rxb5+- It is hard though to blame the world champion for this inaccuracy, as he was short in time, and the line is extremely difficult to find even with a lot of time on the clock.] 39...Qc3 40.Rh8+? Instead two moves were winning surely: [40.Re2! a5 (40...b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 Qc4 43.Re4 Qc1+ 44.Kh2 b2 45.Ra4+- is similar as the lines after 40.Re4!) 41.Nxe6 b4 42.Rc7 Qa1+ 43.Kh2 b3 44.Rb7 a4 45.Re4 Black's pawn are fast, but king is more important! 45...a3 (45...b2 46.Rxe5 b1Q 47.Ng7+ Kf8 48.Re8#) 46.Nd4 Kd8 (46...Kf8 47.Nxb3 before concluding the attack, White can snack some pawns 47...Qc3 48.Ra4 Qc8 49.Nc5 and Black is helpless) 47.Nxb3 Nxf3+ 48.gxf3 Qf1 49.Kg3 a2 50.Ra4 Kc8 51.Re7 Qg1+ 52.Kf4 Qh2+ 53.Kg5 Qg3+ 54.Kh6+-

and the white king hides behind the enmy pawn.; 40.Re4! is another winning option. White must not permit the opponent's king to leave the dangerous back rank. 40...a5 (40...b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 b2 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Ra4 Nd7 (44...Qa1 45.Rab4 Nd3 46.R4b6 Qa4 47.Ne4 with total domination.) 45.Rab4 Qe1 46.Rxb2 Qxh4+ 47.Nh3+-) 41.Nxe6 with the loss of this pawn black's king becomes absolutely helpless. 41...a4 42.Nd4 Kf8 a) 42...Qc5 cannot save the knight 43.f4+-; b) 42...Kd8 43.Nxb5 The threat is not only to win the knight, but mate after 44.Rd4 43...Qa1+ (43...Qc1+ 44.Kh2 Nxf3+ 45.Kg3! g5 46.Nc7 gxh4+ 47.Kxf3 Qf1+ 48.Ke3 Qe1+ 49.Kf4 Qf2+ 50.Ke5 Qg3+ 51.Kf5 Qf2+ 52.Ke6 Qxg2 53.Rd4+ Kc8 54.Nd5 with decisive attack) 44.Kh2 Nxf3+ (44...a3 45.Rd4+ Ke8 (45...Kc8 46.Na7+ Kb8 47.Rd8#) 46.Nc7+ Kf8 47.Rd8#) 45.Kg3! (45.gxf3 Qb2+ 46.Kg3 Qxb5 might not be sufficient enough) 45...Qb2 46.Rxa4 Qe5+ 47.Kxf3 Qd5+ 48.Kf4+-; ] 40...Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Qa1+ This appeared to be a mistake. Computers proved it. The difference is that the queen is vulnerable on a1, contrary to c1... After: [44...Qc1+ 45.Kh2 Nc6 46.h5 gxh5 47.Nd5+ Ka5 48.Rxh5 Ka4 the king is away from the danger zone.] 45.Kh2 a5 [45...Nc6 46.h5 g5 (46...gxh5 47.Nd5+ Ka5 48.Nxb4 Nxb4 49.Rxa7++-) 47.Nd5+ Kc5] 46.h5 gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 Now the king is cut for the second time in the game, and again this had to be decisive. 49.Rh7+ Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4 [51...Nd8 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rg6 Qb1 54.Rhg5 changes nothing, the king is naked: 54...Kb7 55.Nc4 Qe1 56.Rg7+ Kc6 57.Nxa5+ Kd6 58.Nc4+ Kc6 59.R7g6+ Kd7 60.Rd5+ Kc7 61.Rc5+ Kd7 62.Rd6+ Ke7 63.Rc7+ Ke8 64.Rd4 and White is completely winning.] 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rd6 Anand is winning again, but he felt in time-trouble for a second time in the game. For me this means that he is either clearly out of physical strenght, or he does not really thrust himself. 53...Kb7 54.Nc4

[54.Nd5! is more subtle, as the game resource is not possible: 54...Nxf3+ 55.gxf3] 54...Nxf3+! The only way to prolong the battle. 55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 Cutting the king on the sixth rank seemed to be more important: [57.Rhh6! b3 58.Kg3 b2 59.Rdg6 Qf7 (59...b1Q 60.Rg7+ Kd8 61.Rh8+ Qg8 62.Rhxg8#) 60.Rc6+ Kd7 (60...Kb7 61.Rb6+ Ka7 62.Ra6+ Kb7 63.Rhb6+ Kc8 64.Ra8+ Kc7 65.Ra7+ wins the queen as well as in the main line) 61.Rhd6+ Ke7 62.Rc7+ Kxd6 63.Rxf7+-] 57...b3 58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 The best square for the rook, although another move is also sufficient for a win: [61.Ra7 b2 (61...a4 62.Rd4 a3 63.Kg3 Qb2 64.Re4! Kb8 (64...Kd8 65.Rg4 Qe5+ 66.Kf2 Qc5+ 67.Ke2 Qxa7 68.Rg8+ Kc7 69.Rg7+ Kb6 70.Rxa7 Kxa7 71.Nxb3+-) 65.Rh7 nets the queen) 62.Rh5 Kb8 63.Rg7+-] 61...a4 62.Rc5+ [62.Rdd7! is still winning. The world champion got extremely tired. 62...a3 63.Kg3 Qa1 64.Rc7+ Kd8 65.Rgd7+ Ke8 66.Re7+ Kd8 67.Rcd7+ Kc8 68.Nxb3+-] 62...Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3? Qa1! 65.Rg4 b2 And Topalov survived! 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4

Another bitter disappointment for Anand. Indeed, some draws are even more painful than losses. On the other hand Topalov did not felt down, kept on fighting till the end and was rewarded with the most precious half point. Nerves are starting to rule the match, there are three more games in which obviously anything is possible. 1/2

Topalov Levels the Score after another Thriller

2010-05-04T23:40:00.002+03:00

Topalov,V (2805) - Anand,V (2787) [D17]
Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 Game_8 Sofia BUL (8), 04.05.2010
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 Rc8 Anand changed his defensive set-up, but Topalov seemed prepared for that. 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8

There are only two games in Megabase featuring the position, and both were defended by F. Amonatov: 18.a5N [18.Rac1 was the more recent try, when Black could not hold after: 18...Rc6 19.Na2 Rxc1 20.Nxc1 Be7 21.Bb6 e5 22.Nd3 Bf7 23.Rc1 Bd8 24.a5 Ke7 25.Rc8 Re8 26.Rb8 and later 1–0 Maletin,P (2545)-Amonatov,F (2650)/Novokuznetsk 2008/CBM 126 (49); The other try was: 18.Bb6 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Rxc5 20.Rd6 Ke7 21.Rad1 Be8 22.R6d3 a5 23.Ke3 Bc6 with ballanced position in Bocharov,D (2614)-Amonatov,F (2574)/Voronezh 2007/CBM 118 ext (60)] 18...Be7 [18...Bb4!? might be an improvement for Black, with the idea: 19.Ra4 Be7 20.Bb6 Kf8!? followed by Bg6-e8-c6.] 19.Bb6 Rf8 With the idea Rf8-f7, followed by Be7-f8 and finally Rf7-d7. If Black manages to exchange this rook he will not have any problems. 20.Rac1 f5?! I believe this is the first inaccuracy by Black. He had to proceed with his plan: [20...Rf7!? 21.Na4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Bd6 23.Nc5 (23.Be3 Rd7) 23...f5 with good chances for equality.] 21.e5 Bg5 22.Be3 f4?! The world champion missed an important detail. However, the move: [22...Bxe3 which he mentioned at the press-conferense does not really look perfectly safe: 23.Kxe3 f4+ 24.Kf2 (24.Kd4 is harmless for Black- 24...Ke7 25.Ne4 Bxe4 26.Kxe4 g5=) 24...Rf5 25.Re1! Here the idea from the game: (25.Ne4 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rxe5 27.Rc5 Rd5 28.Rxd5 exd5 29.Nd6+ Ke7 30.Nxb7 Bd3 is not dangerous at all for Black, as the white king cannot reach d4 square easily-the pawns on g2 and f3 are targets.) 25...Rc5 (25...Kf8!? followed by Bg6-e8-c6 might be Black's best) 26.b4 Rcxe5 27.Ne4± looks awkward for Black; while 22...Be7 23.Na4 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 followed by Nb6 and Rc8 (c7) cannot be recommended for the second player.] 23.Ne4!

23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1 The mighty knight on d6 and the more active pieces give White comfortable advantage. 25...Kc6 26.Bd2 Logical and good move. Another resonable option is: [26.Rd4 Kc5 (26...b5 27.axb6 Kxb6 28.g3 Kc6 (28...fxg3 29.Bxg5 gxh2 30.Rh4+-) 29.h4 Bd8 30.Bxf4±) 27.Rc4+ Kd5 28.Bd2 Kxe5 29.Nxb7 Be7 30.Rc7 Re8 31.b4± as the king on e5 is vulnerable, White preserves his large advantage.] 26...Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3?! [28.Bb4! was much better and natural. White will need this bishop later on b4 and eventually on d6 in some lines. Now: 28...Bxd6 29.Rd1 Rc8 30.Rxd6+± nets a healthy pawn on e6.] 28...Bxd6 29.Rd1! Topalov will have to find only moves in order not to let the advantage slip away: 29...Bf5 [29...Rd8!? trying to exchange the rooks is a good alternative. At first I though that White should be winning after: 30.Rxd6+ Ke7 31.Rb6 (31.Rxd8 Kxd8 32.Bd2 is a draw, as only one extra pawn is not enough to create enough passers. If White wants to go for an opposite-coloured bishops endgame he needs to snatch at least two pawns) 31...Rd7 32.Bb4+ Kf7 33.Bd6 Bf5 34.Kd2 as I saw the plan king going to a7, and then even to c8 if needed. But closer looks shows that Black has good counterplay- 34...g5 35.Kc3 h6 36.Kd4 Kg6 37.Rb3 (37.Kc5 Bd3 and Black threatens Bd3-f1xg2) 37...g4 38.Kc5 Kg5 39.Kb6 h5 and Black has strong counter-chances; 29...Rc8 30.Rxd6+ Ke7 31.Rb6 Rc7 32.Rb4±; 29...Kc8 30.Rxd6 Bf5 31.h4 might lead to the game continuation] 30.h4! Otherwise Black will connect his pawns with g7-g5 and will be out of danger. 30...g6 This is not bad, but Anand could have defended even better: [30...Kc7! 31.exd6+ (31.Rxd6 Rd8 32.Rb6 Rd5 followed by Rd5-b5 should be a draw) 31...Kd7 uses the fact that the g file is open, and if: 32.Bxg7 (32.Be5 keeps practical winning chances for White, as well as good drawish chances for Black after: 32...Rc8) 32...Rg8 33.Be5 Rxg2+ Black takes back the pawn with comfort.] 31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2! Why? Why did Topalov need to exchange the rooks when he could have continued the game without the resources that the opposite-coloured bishop endgames always have. I thought that it was much better: [32.Rd4 And now: Passive defense does not save: 32...Rd8 a) However: 32...h6!! With the idea g6-g5 seems to lead to a forced draw thanks to an important tactical detail: 33.Bb4 (33.Rxf4 Bd3+! 34.Ke3 Rxf4 35.Kxf4 Bf1 36.g4 Kd7 37.Bd2 Ke7 38.Kg3 h5=) 33...Rf7 34.Rxf4 Bd3+! Black will win an important tempo to harass the white pawns from behind. As the pawn on h6 stops the manouver Kf4-g5-h6 Black is just in time to build a fortress: 35.Ke3 Rxf4 36.Kxf4 Kd7 37.Bf8 h5 38.Kg5 Ke8 39.Bc5 Kf7 40.Bd4 Bf1 41.g4 Be2=; b) 32...Bb1 33.Bd2 (33.Bb4 Rf5 (33...Rf7 34.Bd6 Ba2 35.Rd1 Bd5 36.Rc1+ Bc6 37.Kd3) ) 33...Rf7 34.Bxf4 Rc7± gives White an extra pawn, but with rooks still on the board, and excellent winning chances.; 33.Rxf4 Kc7 34.g4 Bc2 35.Rf6 (35.Rf7+ Rd7 36.Rf6) 35...Bb3 36.Ke3 followed by Ke3-f4-g5-h6 and Rf6-f7 (or Rf6-f8-h8 if the opponent's rook is on the seventh rank).] 32...Rd8 33.Bxf4 The only move to play for a win. If White does not have a passed pawn, he has nothing to fight for: [33.Rxd8+? Kxd8 34.Bxf4 Bc2 and the bishop is transfered to attack the white pawns 35.Ke3 Ba4 36.Kd4 Bb5 37.Kc5 Bf1 38.g3 Kd7 39.Bg5 Bg2 and the pawns are blocked] 33...Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7 The arising endgame is far from trivial, and it is a great pleasure to analyse it. 35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4

36...Ke8!! Fantastic move. The idea of exchanging the functions of the defensive pieces is surely not new, but is quite impressive nevertheless. If Black allows the opponent's king to penetrate via f6, White will create a second passer that is more than enough distant from its collegue on d6: [36...Bb3 37.Ke5 Bc4 38.Kf6 Bf1 39.g4 Be2 (39...Bd3 40.Kg7 h5 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.Kh6 Be2 43.Kxh5 Bxf3+ 44.Kh6+- and White wins as there are three lines between the passed pawns) 40.g5 This is what I was thinking should be the right plan during the game but White can win prosaically after: (40.Kg7 Bxf3 41.Kxh7 g5 42.hxg5 e5 43.Bxe5 Bxg4 44.g6 Bf5 45.Kg7+-) 40...Bxf3 I just cannot stand showing you one beautiful line that I discovered: 41.Kg7 Be2 42.Kxh7 Bh5 43.Be5 Kc6 44.Kg7 Kd7 45.Kf7 Zugzwang, black loses the pawn, but this is still not enough- 45...Kd8 46.Kxe6 Bg4+ 47.Kd5 In order to reach progress White must also use the queen's side pawns: 47...Ke8 48.Kc5 Kd7 49.Kb6 Bf3 50.b4 Bc6 (50...Kc8 51.Bf4 Kd7 might actaully save Black; 50...Bd5 51.h5 gxh5 52.g6 h4 53.g7 h3 54.Bf4 and the win is similar like in the main line) 51.h5! gxh5 52.g6 h4 53.g7 Bd5 54.Bf4 h3 55.Bh2 Kd8

This endgame without the a, b and black's h pawn is a theoretical draw. However here White wins after: 56.b5!! axb5 57.a6! bxa6 58.Kc5! and there is no defense against the idea Kc5-c6, d6-d7, Kc6-d6 and mate with the bishop on one of the diagonals: 58...Bb3 59.Kc6 b4 60.d7 Ba4+ 61.Kd6 Bb3 62.Bf4 a5 63.Bg5#] 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Be3 Ba4 39.Kf4 Bb5 [39...Kf6 is a resource offered by Peter Doggers, but it is not sufficient, as after: 40.Bd4+ e5+ 41.Bxe5+ Ke6 42.Bc3 Kxd6 43.Kg5 Ke6 44.Kh6 Kf7 45.Kxh7 Bc6 46.Kh6 Bd5 White is technically winning: 47.h5 gxh5 48.Kxh5+- then he simply advances the pawns on the king's flank, wins the bishop, and thanks to the fact that there are still b pawns on the board (no fortress with a wrong-colour bishop idea) wins.] 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7 Here I left the hall, sure that the game should be a draw. I saw only one plan for White- to exchange the his h for the g pawn of the opponent, and then to create a second passer on the f line. But then, the distance between the passers is only one line, and this should be a draw. However, Topalov kept on playing and finally, the world champion erred: 42.Kg5 Bc6 43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8 45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5 48.Kg5 Kg7 49.Bd4+ Kf7 50.Be5 h4 51.Kxh4 Kg6 52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5 Bc6?? The decisive mistake. Black had to switch the functions of the defenders one more time: [54...Ke8 55.g4 Be2 56.f4 Bd3 57.f5 exf5 58.gxf5 and now the simplest is: 58...h6+ Although the position that arises after: (58...Kf7 59.f6 Bb5 should also be a draw, for example: 60.Kf4 (60.Kh6 Kg8) 60...h6 61.Ke3 Ke6 62.Kd4 h5 63.Kc5 h4 64.Kb6 h3 65.Kc7 Kxe5 66.f7 h2 67.f8Q h1Q=) 59.Kf6 Kd7 hitting the pawn on f5 with a draw.] 55.Kh6 Kg8 56.g4 And Anand resigned due to:[56.g4 Bd7 57.g5 Be8 (57...Bc6 changes nothing as White has many reserved moves 58.Bg7 Be8 59.f4‡+-) 58.Bg7

58...Bc6 59.g6 hxg6 60.Kxg6 Be8+ 61.Kf6 Bb5 62.Bh6 followed by Ke7 and material gains. A painful defeat for the world champion. Topalov finally managed to materialize his playing advantage from the last games. The score is levelled, and as the match is approaching its final phase the most important question is if the players will continue to risk and search for a win in the regular part of the match, or will settle for solid play. I hope that it will be the first option.] 1–0