ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.

org

Table of contents: # 04, 2009

Games ......................................................................................................................... 4 (01) Leon Hoyos,Manuel (2542) - Vovk,Yuri (2546) [B66]........................................ 4 (02) Carlsen,Magnus (2776) - Grischuk,Alexander (2733) [B85] ............................. 5 (03) Iturrizaga Bonelli,Eduardo (2528) - Mamedov,Nidjat (2607) [E97].................... 7 (04) Sjugirov,Sanan (2562) - Cheparinov,Ivan (2679) [B12] .................................... 8 (05) Motylev,Alexander (2676) - Nijboer,Friso (2560) [B67] ..................................... 9 (06) Vallejo Pons,Francisco (2702) - Jankovic,Alojzije (2571) [B66] ...................... 10 (07) Kacheishvili,Giorgi (2590) - Sadvakasov,Darmen (2616) [E13] ...................... 11 (08) Volokitin,Andrei (2671) - Jobava,Baadur (2669) [B12].................................... 13 (09) Aronian,Levon (2750) - Ivanchuk,Vassily (2779) [D97]................................... 14 (10) Aronian,Levon (2750) - Leko,Peter (2751) [E15] ............................................ 16 Editorial staff: ............................................................................................................. 18

 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

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 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

Games
counterplay [15.Bf3!? was much better; then White wants to put a knight on d4 via e2 and somewhere it will prepare g2g4 with an ad 25th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7), vantage] 15...b4! 16.Na4 [White could sacrifice 05.03.2009 a pair of pawns: 16.Ne2 Qa5 17.Kb1 Rxg2 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 (probably 17...Bc5 is better 18.Qd3 Bd7 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 Nxd4 19.Qh3 but White is still better) 18.Rg1 Rxh2 19.Rg8+ Bf8 20.Bf3 Rh6 21.Nc1 knight moves 9.Qxd4 a6 to b3; then White will break through a center by means of c2c4 and will get a serious attack] XABCDEFGHY 16...Qa5 17.b3 Bd7 18.Qb6 Qxb6 19.Nxb6 8r+lwqk+-tr( Ra7

(01) Leon Hoyos,Manuel (2542) Vovk,Yuri (2546) [B66]

7+p+-vlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+-+-+-vL-% 4-+-wQP+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1+-mKR+L+R! xabcdefghy

10.f4 [Another plan to play is 10.f3 and then pushing forward pawns "g" and "h" 10...0-0 11.h4 b5 12.Kb1 Bb7 13.g4 Rc8 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.a3 Rc5 16.Be2 Rc6 17.Na2 f6 18.Bc1 Qb6 19.c3 Qxd4 20.cxd4 d5 21.exd5 exd5 22.Bd3 White is better, MorozevichTimofeev, Saraevo, 2008] 10...b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.e5 [White could try to attack pawn's structure of Black from different side: 12.f5 Qa5 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Qf2 Qc5 17.Rhf1 Qxf2 18.Rxf2 Bd8 19.Ng3 Bb6 20.Re2 Rc8 1/2 TiviakovGelfand, Elista, 1998] 12...d5 13.Be2 Rg8 14.Rhe1 [14.g3!?] 14...f5

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+k+r+( 7tr-+lvlp+p' 6psN-+p+-+& 5+-+pzPp+L% 4-zp-+-zP-+$ 3+P+-+-+-# 2P+P+-+PzP" 1+-mKRtR-+-! xabcdefghy
20.Nxd5! exd5 21.e6 Bxe6 22.Rxe6 Rxg2 Otherwise White would play g2g3 and will get a huge advantage thanks to weaknesses on d5, f5, f7 23.Rxd5 Rxh2 24.Rxf5 Rxh5 25.Rxe7+ Kxe7 26.Rxh5

As a result of forced line we see an absolutely equal rook's endgame 26...Kf6 27.Rxh7 [White had to change a pawn b4 in order to organize a passed pawn: 27.Kb2 Rc7 28.Rxh7 Kf5 It's time to close a center [14...fxe5 15.fxe5 is 29.a3! bxa3+ 30.Kxa3 Kxf4 31.c4=] 27...Kf5 very risky because of opening of line "f"] 28.Kd2 Ke4 A pawn f4 will be eliminated in 15.Bh5?! This move allows Black to get a any way [28...Kxf4?! 29.Rh4+ Kg3 30.Rxb4] 29.Rh6 f5 30.Rc6 Kxf4 31.c3?! [I guess White

XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+r+( 7+-+-vlp+p' 6p+-+p+-+& 5+p+pzPp+-% 4-+-wQ-zP-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzPP+L+PzP" 1+-mKRtR-+-! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7tr-+-mkp+p' 6p+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+R% 4-zp-+-zP-+$ 3+P+-+-+-# 2P+P+-+-+" 1+-mK-+-+-! xabcdefghy

 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

could take a pawn b4 with idea to get an end game "a rook against of 2 pawns" 31.Rc4+ Kg3 32.Rxb4 f4 33.Rb6 f3 34.Rg6+ Kf2 35.b4 Kf1 36.a4 f2 37.b5=] 31...a5

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7tr-+-+-+-' 6-+R+-+-+& 5zp-+-+p+-% 4-zp-+-mk-+$ 3+PzP-+-+-# 2P+-mK-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5tR-+-+-+-% 4-+-+-zp-+$ 3+P+-+-mk-# 2Ptr-+-+-+" 1+-+-+K+-! xabcdefghy
43.Ra8? It is a final mistake [The only move was 43.Rf5! protecting a square f3 43...Rxa2 44.b4 Kf3 45.Kg1! King goes to short side. A long one is necessary for White's rook to give checks Black's king 45...Rg2+ 46.Kh1 Rg6 47.Ra5 Rb6 48.Ra3+=] 43...Rb1+ 44.Ke2 f3+ 45.Ke3 Re1+ 46.Kd4 f2-+ A pair of White's pawns can't save this game they are so far from 8th line 47.Rg8+ Kh4 48.Rf8 f1Q 49.Rxf1 Rxf1 50.a4 Kg5 51.a5 Kf6 52.Kc5 Ke7 53.Kc6 Kd8 54.Kb7 Rf7+ 55.Kb8 Rf5 56.a6 Rb5+ 57.Ka8 Kc7 58.a7 Rh5 White resigned 0-1

32.Ke2 bxc3 33.Rxc3 Rh7 34.Rf3+ [Maybe the best way to get a draw here. 34.Rc4+ looks risky 34...Kg3 35.Rc5 Rh2+ 36.Kd3 f4 and White will be forced to sacrifice a rook for both pawns and try to make a draw there] 34...Kg4 35.Ke3? This is a real mistake that makes a task of making a draw not so easy [Right way was 35.Rf1 Rh2+ 36.Rf2 Rh1 37.Rf1= and Black can't get a progress] 35...Re7+ 36.Kf2 f4 (02) Carlsen,Magnus (2776) - Gris37.Rc3 Rd7 chuk,Alexander (2733) [B85]

XXVI SuperGM Linares ESP (12), 05.03.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 [Black's play is con nected with e6e5 anyway, so they have to decide, where rook will be more useful in this case. Some might say, that the most reason able here is 11...Rd8 12.Qe1 (12.Bf3 Ne5!) 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 e5 14.Be3 exf4 15.Bxf4 Be6 but Grischuk thinks differently.] 12.Bf3 Bf8 13.Qd2 Rb8 [Facing with attempt to use Qd2+Be3 by 13...Na5, it's better to react with the aid of 14.b3! (not 14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Bc1 in view of 15...e5 16.Nde2 d5!?), and 14...d5?! 38.Rc2?! [The best way was 38.a4 Rd2+ is useless: 15.e5 Bb4 16.Nde2] 14.Qf2 e5 39.Ke1 Rb2 40.Rd3! White is keeping a rook on the 3rd line till Black makes a move f4f3; after that rook automatically goes up to make a lot of checks with easy draw] 38...Rh7 39.Kg1 Kg3 40.Rc5 [Black should win after 40.Rg2+ Kf3 41.Rg5 Rc7 42.Rxa5 Rc1+ 43.Kh2 Kf2 44.b4 Rc6 45.Kh3 f3-+; In a case of 40.Rc8 Rd7 41.Kf1 Rd2 there is the similar situation as it happened in the game] 40...Rd7 41.Kf1 [41.Rg5+ Kf3 42.Rxa5 Rd1+ 43.Kh2 Kf2 look a comment to move 40th] 41...Rd2 42.Rxa5 Rb2

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+r+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5zp-+-+-+-% 4-+-+-zpk+$ 3+PtR-+-+-# 2P+-+-mK-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy

 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

XABCDEFGHY 8-trl+rvlk+( 7+pwq-+pzpp' 6p+nzp-sn-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4P+-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sN-vLL+-# 2-zPP+-wQPzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
[As recent practice have shown, it's better not to delay with e6e5: 14...Bd7?! 15.g4! e5 16.Nf5 exf4 17.Bxf4 , CarlsenAnand, Wijk aan Zee 2008.] 15.fxe5!N Excellent novelty! 15.fxe5 has just only one goal: opening square g5 for bishop e3 with further occupation of point d5. [After 15.Nde2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 Nb4 Black are getting sufficient countergame.] 15...dxe5 [15...Nxe5 16.Bg5] 16.Nb3 Nb4 Seems like Black have covered square d5, nevertheless following White's play wil be any way concerned with Nc3d5 and passed pawn's formation. But at first White are walking off bishop e3 from Nf6g4. 17.Ba7 Ra8 18.Bb6 Qe7 19.Rad1 [19.Nd5? Nbxd5 20.exd5 e4] 19...Be6 Being defenseless against Nc3 d5, Black are planning to advance their pawn "e" as far as possible. 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 e4 [There is no time for blocking Bf8d6: 21...Qd7 22.d6! Bxd6 23.Nc5 (that's even stronger than 23.Rxd6 Qxd6 24.Bc5) 23...Bxc5 24.Bxc5 Qxa4 25.b3 Qa5 26.Ra1+] 22.d6

25.Nxd7 exf3 26.Nxf8 Rxf8 27.Bc5 gives noth ing 27...fxg2+ 28.Kxg2 Qg6+ 29.Kh1 Rfd8!] 24...Qxf2 25.Rxf2 Nbd5 [25...Nfd5 26.Ba5!] 26.a5? [26.d7 Reb8! gives for White nothing more than slightly better endgame: 27.Rxf6 Nxf6 28.Nxe4 Nxe4 29.d8Q Rxd8 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Bxd8; but exchange's sacrifice 26.Rxf6! Nxf6 (26...Nxb6 27.Rf4+) 27.a5 with following b4, c4 leaves almost no chances for Black.] 26...Nxb6 27.axb6

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+rvlk+( 7+p+-+pzpp' 6pzP-zP-sn-+& 5+-sN-+-+-% 4-+-+p+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-zPP+LtRPzP" 1+-+R+-+K! xabcdefghy
27...Rab8? [Grischuk has passed through his lucky chance 27...Rec8!, and now White have to choose: 28.b4 a) 28.Nxb7 Rxc2 29.g3 (29.d7? Nxd7 30.Rxd7 e3-+) 29...Nd7 it's hard to see any nagging problem for Black here; b) 28.Rf5 Rc6 29.d7 Rd8 30.Rxf6 Rxc5! 31.Rf4 f5 the same situation, as in case of 28.Nxb7; 28...Rc6 29.Nxb7 (29.d7 Bxc5 (29...Rd8? 30.Rxf6!) 30.bxc5 Rd8 31.Bxa6!? bxa6 32.b7 Kf8 of course, White will win an exchange, but Black are going to obtain a pawn (or even two) for it, so it must be a draw) 29...Rxb6 30.d7 Rxb7 31.d8Q Rxd8 32.Rxd8 Rxb4 33.Bxa6 Ng4 the position of dynamic equilibrium.] 28.Rxf6! [Carlsen does not repeat his own mistakes. Dragging out with sacrifice could be objectionable: 28.c4 Red8 29.Rxf6 gxf6 30.Nxe4 f5 31.Nf6+ Kh8 32.c5 Bg7 and Black are winning pawn b2.] 28...gxf6 29.Nd7 f5 30.c4 Obviously, there is no need to hurry with rook taking: meanwhile double threat (Nxb8 and Nf6) is existing, White can easy join their queen pawns. 30...a5 31.c5 Bg7? [Entails a forced loss. 31...Kg7 32.Nxb8 Rxb8 was the only option, and if White have been enticed by 33.Ba6? bxa6 34.c6, than after 34...Bxd6 35.Rxd6 Rxb6 they can get in trouble.] 32.Nxb8 [Be2a6 (for pawn b7 elimination) is the main motive here, but everything is good in its season! 32.Ba6?! Rbd8 33.Bxb7 Rxd7 34.Bc6 Rxd6 35.Rxd6 e3!, and now all be comes unclear.] 32...Rxb8 33.Ba6! Bf6

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+rvlk+( 7+p+-wqpzpp' 6pvL-zP-sn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4Psn-+p+-+$ 3+N+-+L+-# 2-zPP+-wQPzP" 1+-+R+R+K! xabcdefghy
22...Qe6? [Grischuk made a mistake. The best way out here was 22...Qe5 23.d7 Nxd7 24.Rxd7 exf3 25.Qxf3 f6 (two pawns are under threat b2 and c2) 26.Nd4 Re7!=] 23.Nc5 Qf5 24.Be2! [It's found out that coming endgame is close to win, whereas tempting 24.d7 Nxd7

 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

34.Bxb7 Rxb7 35.c6 Rxb6 36.Rc1 [36.c7?? Rc6-+] 36...Bxb2 37.d7 1-0

(03) Iturrizaga Bonelli,Eduardo (2528) - Mamedov,Nidjat (2607) [E97]

25th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (8), 06.03.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 As Kramnik does! 9...a5 10.Ba3 [10.bxa5 is considered less exact in view of 10...c5!] 10...b6 11.bxa5 Nh5 [Black give to understand, that they are going to take on a5 by pawn. Another option: 23...c6! Yet another strong move from Mame 11...Rxa5 12.Bb4 Ra8 13.a4 Re8, in order to dov. 24.Nbxd6? One move behind theory meet 14.a5 by 14...c5! 15.dxc6 Nxc6] 12.Re1 and already a mistake. So does opening theory f5 13.Bb4 bxa5 14.Ba3 deserve for cramming? [The main variant is 24.dxc6 Qxc6 25.Rxa4?! (25.Be3 is more pru XABCDEFGHY dent) 25...Nd4! 26.Be3 Bxb5 (not 26...Nxb5 8r+lwq-trk+( 27.Rxa6 Qxa6 28.cxb5 Qxa2 29.Qxd6 ) 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.cxb5 Qxb5, and White will be 7+-zp-sn-vlp' fight just for a draw.] 24...Nxd6 25.dxc6 Qf5 6-+-zp-+p+& 26.Qxd6 Rad8 That's the matter! Seeing that 5zp-+Pzpp+n% first rank is unprotected, White should part with material. 27.c5! This embarrasses Black's task 4-+P+P+-+$ a lot, because two pawns on the 6th rank is 3vL-sN-+N+-# not to be trifled with. [27.Qc5 Qxe4-+] 27...Bd3 2P+-+LzPPzP" 28.f3 Rxd6 29.cxd6 Qe6

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+-zpq+-vl-' 6l+-zp-+pzp& 5+N+Pzpn+-% 4ptRP+N+-+$ 3+-+Q+-+-# 2P+-+-zPPzP" 1+-vL-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy

1tR-+QtR-mK-! xabcdefghy

14...Nf4 [This is more agressive, than 14...Nf6 15.Bd3 fxe4 16.Nxe4 Bg4 17.Nxf6+ Rxf6 18.Be4 , KramnikSmirin, Beograd 1999.] 15.Bf1 [15.c5!? fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Nf5 18.Rab1 Ba6 19.Qc2, and here, according to Huzman, White have slightly better position.] 15...fxe4 16.Nd2 [If you are in sacrificial mood, you obviously would choose 16.Nxe4!? Bg4 17.Ned2 e4 18.Rxe4 Bxa1 19.Qxa1] 16...Nd3 17.Bxd3 exd3 18.Nde4 Nf5 19.Qxd3 All fol lowing game will be revolved around point d4 Black are trying to reach it by knight f5, White are trying to prevent that. 19...h6 White will struggle for the square d4 by the dint of Nc3 b5. Black should press down on it with the aid of Bc8a6 and Qd8d7, but in that case it's necessary to take into account Ne4g5e6. That's why Mamedov has played 19...h6. [19...Nd4?! 20.Nb5] 20.Rab1 Qd7 21.Nb5 Ba6 22.Bc1 a4!N [Before occured 22...Nh4 23.Qg3 g5 24.a4 , LikavskyKrnan, Montreal 2006 Black improve that game by not allowing a2 a4. Otherwise knight b5 would be strength ened, instead of pawn a5...] 23.Rb4

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-trk+( 7+-+-+-vl-' 6-+PzPq+pzp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4ptR-+N+-+$ 3+-+l+P+-# 2P+-+-+PzP" 1+-vL-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
30.Ba3? [Pawn d6 should be supported by rook instead of bishop: 30.Rd1 Bxe4 (30...Qxa2?! is very risky: 31.Rxd3 Qe2 32.Re3 Qd1+ 33.Kf2 Qxc1? 34.Rc3 Qf4 35.c7+) 31.Rxe4 Qxa2 32.d7 (32.Be3!?) 32...Qc2 33.d8Q Rxd8 34.Rxd8+ Kh7 35.Re1 Qxc6 36.Rd3, and maybe, White will be suc ceeded in fortress building.] 30...Qxa2 31.c7 Bxe4 32.d7 Qxa3 33.Rc4 [33.Rbxe4 Qc5+!] 33...Bb7 34.d8Q Qb3 As a result two bish ops for a rook, and passed pawn a4 will be not less dangerous, than c7 one. 35.Qh4 Qb6+ [It doesn't manage to win a rook: 35...g5 36.Qg4

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Bc8 37.Qe4 Rf4 38.Qd5+ Kh7 39.Rc5...;... but 35...e4! is very strong.] 36.Qf2 Qa6 Now Ma medov checks square c8 square of promo tion, and he starts to thinking about pawn's "a" advance. 37.Qc2 a3 38.Rc1 Rc8 39.Qb3

XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-+k+( 7+lzP-+-vl-' 6q+-+-+pzp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+R+-+-+$ 3zpQ+-+P+-# 2-+-+-+PzP" 1+-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
39...Bd5 40.Ra4 Bxb3 41.Rxa6 a2 42.Kf2 Kf7 43.Ke3 e4! Pawn a2 will be cost an extra piece. The rest doesn't require any comment... 44.fxe4 a1Q 45.Raxa1 Bxa1 46.Rxa1 Rxc7 47.Kf4 Re7 48.h4 Bc2 49.e5 h5 50.Ra6 Rc7 51.e6+ Kf6 0-1

Black would undertake central advancement: 11...d4!? 12.Qg4 h5 13.Qf3 Qd7 14.c4 Nb4!, IbarraSantana, corr 2004.] 11...g6 [Now 11...d4 is retorted by 12.Rd1!] 12.Nd2 h5 13.Nf3 Nh4 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.f4 [As black king is not castled yet, 15.c4!? makes a sense. But again, possibly, Sjugirov didn't burn with the desire to reveal a game. For the time be ing...] 15...Be7 16.Be3 Of course, White don't allow Be7c5. 16...Qc7 17.Kh1 Rd8 18.Rad1 Kf8 19.Qf2 Kg7

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-+-tr( 7zppwq-vlpmk-' 6-+n+p+p+& 5+-+pzP-+p% 4-+-+-zP-+$ 3+-zPLvL-+-# 2PzP-+-wQPzP" 1+-+R+R+K! xabcdefghy
20.f5! Very pragmatic (!) decision. White are intended to attack "with draw in a pocket". Was is any alternative? I'm not sure in that, because standard game g3, h3, Kg2, g4 looks a little awkward with rook on h8. 20...exf5 21.Bxf5 gxf5 22.Qxf5 [Let's take a look to one more way of attack's conduct: 22.Qg3+ Kf8 23.Rxf5 Qc8 (23...Ke8!?) 24.Qg6 Nxe5 25.Rxf7+ Nxf7 26.Rf1 Ke8 27.Qxf7+ Kd7 28.Qxd5+ Kc7 29.Qa5+ Kd7 (29...b6 30.Qxa7+ Qb7 31.Bxb6+ Kc8 32.Qxb7+ Kxb7 33.Bxd8 Rxd8 34.g3 can be fraught with difficulties for Black) 30.Qd5+=] 22...Rh7!? [Cheparinov, as ever, plays only for a winning. Otherwise he can easily choose 22...Nxe5 23.Bf4 (another pin is weaker: 23.Bd4? f6 24.Rde1 Ng4 25.Qg5+ Kf7 26.Rf4 Qd6, and White's attack is breathless) 23...f6 24.Rde1 Bd6 25.Bg5! (saving resourse) 25...fxg5 26.Qxg5+ Kh7 (26...Ng6? 27.Rf6 Rh6 28.Ree6+) 27.Rf6 Qg7 28.Qf5+ Kg8 29.Qe6+ Kh7=] 23.Rxd5 [Deserves an attention 23.Qxf7+ Kh8 24.Qf5, and if 24...Nxe5?, than White are winning by the following way: 25.Bd4 Bd6 26.Qf6+ Kg8 (26...Rg7 27.Rf5+) 27.Qe6+ Rf7 28.Bxe5 Bxe5 29.Rxf7 Qxf7 30.Qxe5+] 23...Kh8 24.Rfd1 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 Qb8! Very good idea Black want to link up the queen to defence through g8. That's why White are going to attack pawn b7 for deten tion. 26.Rd7 Qc8 27.e6 f6? [Looks like going too far. After correct 27...fxe6 28.Qxe6 Qg8

(04) Sjugirov,Sanan (2562) Cheparinov,Ivan (2679) [B12]

10th EICC Budva MNE (2), 07.03.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.c3 [More often 6.Be3 meets here, but maybe Sjugirov didn't want to engage in tactical battle after 6...Qb6 from the first moves.] 6...Nc6 7.00 cxd4 8.Nxd4!? [One more rarity. 8.cxd4 Nge7 is generally accepted, and next game will be developed like French defence with the "good" bishop.] 8...Nge7 [8...Nxe5? 9.Bb5++] 9.Nxf5 Nxf5 10.Bd3 Be7

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+n+p+-+& 5+-+pzPn+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-zPL+-+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tRNvLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
11.Qe2!?N [Worthwhile strengthening. If White had defended a pawn by rook 11.Re1 than

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29.Qxg8+ (29.Qxc6?! bxc6 30.Bd4+ Rg7 31.Rxe7 Qxa2) 29...Kxg8 30.Rxb7 Bf6 Cheparinov doesn't risk to lose... and to win too!] 28.h3 b6 29.Bf4?

XABCDEFGHY 8-+q+-+-mk( 7zp-+Rvl-+r' 6-zpn+Pzp-+& 5+-+-+Q+p% 4-+-+-vL-+$ 3+-zP-+-+P# 2PzP-+-+P+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy
It's clear, that Sjugirov wants to move Rd7c7, but White are losing sight of square f1. [I like 29.b4! more b4b5 prevents Qc8a6, and threatens to pawn a7.] 29...Qe8? [Such a pity, that following variant was not rendered on the board: 29...Qa6! 30.Kh2 (30.Be3 Qe2) 30...Qf1 31.Qe4 (after 31.Rc7 Rg7 32.Qxh5+ Kg8 33.Bg3 Qd3 White have nothing more than perpetual check) 31...Rg7 32.Bh6 Bc5!! (fan tastic sacrifice!) 33.Bxg7+ Kg8, and now only 34.Kg3 Bf2+ 35.Kf4 saves White from defeat! 35...Qc1+ 36.Kf3 Qf1=] 30.Qd5?! [30.Qe4 is much better, because queen controls rook h7 from here: 30...Ne5 (30...Nd8 31.Bd6 Qf8 32.Qxh7+! Kxh7 33.Bxe7+) 31.Bxe5 fxe5 32.Rxa7+] 30...Ne5 31.Rxa7 Qc6? [Some draw chances still remain after 31...Qg6 32.Bxe5 (32.Be3 Rg7 33.Bxb6 Nd3) 32...fxe5 33.Ra8+ (33.Qxe5+? Rg7 34.Qd5 Bd6!-+) 33...Kg7 34.Qxe5+ Qf6] 32.c4! Rg7 [The final error, but position is lost anyway: 32...Qxd5 33.cxd5 Bd6 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.Rd8 Be7 36.Rb8+] 33.Bh6 [33.Bh6 Rh7 34.Ra8++] 10

13.Nd5 a5 14.f5! here is the idea of 12.Qe1.] 13.Bd3 Qb6 14.Kb1 [White move beforehand away from check on e3, like in 14.f5 b4 15.Ne2 Qe3+ 16.Kb1 Bxe4, AlmasiAcs, Hungary 2003.] 14...Qc5 As White's game is connected with f4f5 (they have nothing different in mind), Black are going to put own queen to the excel lent central point e5. When one has the chance... [14...b4 15.Ne2 d5!? is of interest Black are clearing space away for bishop c6.] 15.f5 [Sometimes before that White evoke few catches: 15.Qg3 Kf8 16.Qh4 h5 17.f5 b4 18.Ne2 e5, KarjakinAcs, Wijk aan Zee 2003, but any benefit from g2g4 can be graded by white queen's distraction from left flank.] 15...b4 16.Ne2

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+k+-tr( 7+-+-vlp+p' 6p+lzppzp-+& 5+-wq-+P+-% 4-zp-+P+-+$ 3+-+L+-+-# 2PzPP+N+PzP" 1+K+RwQ-+R! xabcdefghy

16...a5!N [Groundbreaking novelty! One and all played 16...e5 earlier, but Nijboer isn't scared by Ne2f4 possibility.] 17.fxe6 [It's necessary to familiarize with 17.Nf4 Qe5 18.Qh4: 18...a4! 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Ng6 (20.Bc4 a3 21.Qh5+ Qxh5 22.Nxh5 Kf7 23.Nf4 Bd7 doesn't promise much) 20...hxg6 21.Qxh8+ Kd7 22.Qh6 a3 23.bxa3 (23.Qc1 f5!-+) 23...bxa3 24.Kc1 Qc3 black rook are thirst for route Rb8b2a2, so Black have fully com pensation here. Nijboer's novelty is justified!] 17...fxe6 18.Nf4 Qe5 19.Qf2 [19.Qh4 a4 as in previous variant.] 19...a4 [No time for castle: 19...0-0?! 20.Bc4 Bd7 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.Nxe6!] (05) Motylev,Alexander (2676) - Ni20.Bc4 Bxe4 [20...a3 21.Rd4] 21.Rhe1 [Ap jboer,Friso (2560) [B67] parently, draw after 21.Nxe6 Rc8 (21...b3 10th EICC Budva MNE (2), 07.03.2009 22.Nd4) 22.Ng7+ Kf8 23.Ne6+ was not in [IM Polivanov, A] cluded in Motylev's plans.] 21...b3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 [Move 10...Qxf6!? is much better than its reputation: 11.e5 (11.Bxb5 axb5 12.Ndxb5 not so strong as usual in view 12...00-0!) 11...dxe5 12.Ndxb5 Qd8 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.Qxd6 exf4 15.Ne4 Ne7, KupreichikPopov, USSR 1974, and Black are able to ward off.] 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qe1 Be7 [12...b4 is met by

 ChessZone Magazine #04, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+k+-tr( 7+-+-vl-+p' 6-+-zppzp-+& 5+-+-wq-+-% 4p+L+lsN-+$ 3+p+-+-+-# 2PzPP+-wQPzP" 1+K+RtR-+-! xabcdefghy
[This is the only attack's continuation, cause 21...a3 22.Nd3 Qf5 23.Qxf5 exf5 24.Nxb4 is evidently flavourable for White.] 22.Rd4?! [Eh... 22.Rxe4!? Qxe4 23.axb3 axb3 24.Bxb3 would be a consistent directing of White strat egy.] 22...bxc2+ 23.Kc1 f5! [Bishop can't be protected otherwise: 23...d5 24.Nxd5 Qg5+ (24...exd5 25.Rxd5+) 25.Ne3] 24.Nxe6 a3 25.Rexe4? [It was needed to hold a fortress with one's last bit of strength: 25.b3 Rc8 26.Bd5, and there is nothing to be solved yet.] 25...axb2+ 26.Kxc2 b1Q+! [26...fxe4? 27.Bb5+! Qxb5 28.Nc7++ that's why Black entice white king to "b"file.] 27.Kxb1 Rb8+ 28.Kc1 fxe4 29.Qc2 Rf8?

(06) Vallejo Pons,Francisco (2702) Jankovic,Alojzije (2571) [B66]

10th EICC Budva MNE (3), 08.03.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 [Since recently popularity of 8...h6 has a little fallen in view of 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bf4 d5 11.Qe3] 9.f3 h6 [Thus Black make it clear, that they are not go ing to castling (h6 is a hook for g4, h4 and so on), otherwise it's worth to choose 9...Be7] 10.Be3 b5 11.Kb1 Ne5 [Black are intended to play Ne5 and Qc7 with further Nc4, but imme diate 11...Qc7?! faces classical 12.Bxb5! axb5 13.Ndxb5 three pawns for a piece.] 12.f4!? [That's interesting. Usually White choose cen tralized strategy: 12.Bd3 Qc7 13.Rhe1, but Vallejo has conceived something...] 12...b4 [12...Neg4 should be met by 13.a3!, preventing b5b4; 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 bxc4 14.e5] 13.fxe5 bxc3 [13...dxe5 14.Nf3 bxc3 15.Qxc3 Nxe4 16.Qxe5 Nf6 17.Bc4 White's edge in devel opment becomes quite menacing.] 14.Qxc3 Nxe4 15.Qe1

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[Minute slackness? 29...Rc8!-+] 30.Qa4+?? [Motylev missed the unique chance to draw achieving: 30.Ng7+! Kd8 (30...Qxg7 31.Qa4+ Kd8 32.Qa5+ Ke8=) 31.Ne6+ Qxe6 32.Bxe6 Rf1+ 33.Kd2 (33.Rd1? Bg5+) 33...Rf2+ 34.Kc3 Rxc2+ 35.Kxc2 Bf6!=] 30...Kf7 It's found out, that uncovered check is not so dangerous, as it appears at first. 31.Nxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qa7 Qf4+ The rest is finishing off. 33.Rd2 [33.Kc2 Qf2+] 33...Rc8 34.Qd4 Bf6 [34...Qf1+ 35.Kb2 Qxc4 also not bad.] 35.Qd5 Qf1+ 0-1

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15...Qc7?!N [I think, Vallejo figured on at heart 15...dxe5?, RamirezLeon Hoyos, Guillermo Garcia Memorial 2003, and now 16.Nxe6!! fxe6 17.Bd3+ weakness of a point g6 compels Black to resign; the most reasonable here is 15...d5 16.Bd3 Nc5 17.Rf1 Qc7 (17...Be7 18.Qg3) 18.Qg3 (18.Qf2 Ba4 19.b3 Rb8) 18...Rb8 maybe, Black should regroup on the 7th rank by means of Rb8b7 (for pawn f7 protecting). There is no doubt, that Black's po sition is passive, but anyway it's solid one.] 16.Bd3 Nc5?! [That's the serious inaccuracy as for a grandmaster level. With queen on e1 and king on e8, line "e" has no right to be open! So there is only 16...d5 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Qg3 g6! 19.Qf4 Bg7 20.Rhf1 0-0 21.Qxe4 yeah, Black are pawn less, but at least their king is sheltered, and line "b" is opened. So,

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that's position is playable.] 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Nf5! Be5 [18...exf5 19.Bxc5+ Be5 20.Bb6+; 18...Bf8!? represents a praisewor thy attempt to remain "e"line closed, but White will react by 19.Bd4 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 f6 21.Nh4 Kf7 22.Ng6!] 19.Qb4! Excellent nu ance, which appears to be underestimated by Jankovic. 19...exf5?! [Now Black are finding oneself in a tight corner. The last opportunity to come off clear was 19...g6!? 20.Bxc5 gxf5, but after 21.Bd4 everyone would play by White here; 19...Rc8 20.Bxa6!] 20.Qxc5 Be6 [20...Bd6 hardly changes anything: 21.Qxc7 Bxc7 22.Bc5] 21.Rhe1! White did not forget about black king. 21...g6 [Black have to defend pawn f5: 21...h5 22.Bxf5 Bxf5 23.Qxc7 Bxc7 24.Bf4++] 22.g3 [Perhaps, Vallejo made a correct decision, although there was a tempta tion to use rook e1 at once: 22.Bc4!? Qxc5 (22...Bxc4 23.Qxc7 Bxc7 24.Bd4+ Be6 25.Bxh8 Bxh2 (that is the reason of 22.g3) 26.Be5 Bxe5 27.Rxe5) 23.Bxc5 Bxc4 24.Rxe5+ Be6 25.c4 Rd8 26.Bd6 with huge overweight.] 22...h5 (what else?) 23.Bd4 Qxc5 24.Bxc5 Bc7 [24...f6 25.Bd6 Kf7 26.Bxe5 fxe5 27.Rxe5] 25.Bc4 Rd8 The only way to not to lose at one stroke. 26.Bxa6 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 f6

40.Kd2 Be4 41.a7

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41...Ra1 [It's found out, that campaign for the pawn h2 doesn't bring luck: 41...Rg2+ 42.Ke3! Rxh2 43.Rc5+ Ke6 44.Kxe4 Ra2 45.Rd5+] 42.Ke3 Bh1 43.c5 Ke6 44.Kd4 f5 45.Re7+ Kf6 46.Rh7 Ra2 47.Rxh3 [This exchange is not obligatory, because even if Black will cap ture on h2, how can they promote pawn h3? No kind of way... 47.b4 Rxh2 48.b5 Ra2 49.c6+] 47...Rxa7 48.Be5+ Ke6 49.Rh6 Rd7+ 50.Bd6 Kf6 51.b4 Finally, Jankovic gets tired with hopeless resistance. 1-0

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Let's take a view of this position. White have three potential passers, so any exchanges will just facilitated the deal. At the same time Black have any possible counterplay h5h4 (thanks to bishop c7). Vallejo finds the con crete solution... 28.Bb5+ Kf7 29.Bc4! Bxc4 30.Rd7+ Ke6 31.Rxc7 Presence of rooks to gether with oppositesquare bishops must se cure extra pawn's realization. 31...h4 32.b3 Bf1 33.c4 With mate threat. There are just two defences: hopeless 33...Re8 or sacrifice of one more pawn... 33...f4 34.gxf4 Kf5 35.Bd6 h3 [Cause 35...Re8 faces 36.Re7, Jankovic tries to catch pawn h2, using another route.] 36.a4 Rh4 37.a5 Rg4 38.a6 Bd3+ 39.Kc1 Rg1+

(07) Kacheishvili,Giorgi (2590) - Sadvakasov,Darmen (2616) [E13]

Eastern Class Ch Sturbridge USA (5), 08.03.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 Bb7 Not very popular move 6.Bh4 . [More usual 6.Nd2 h6 7.Bh4 with fol lowing f2f3, e2e4. Main adherents of this variation are Moiseenko, Azmaiparashvili, Svetushkin.] 6...Bxc3+ Black wants to put own pawns on black squares and then make use of weaknesses on c3,c4 7.bxc3 d6 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Be2 h6 10.0-0 Qe7 11.Nd2 e5 12.Qc2

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12...g5 Black begins something like attack at the kingside 13.Bg3 h5 14.h4 Rg8 [14...0-00!? was deserving attention; 15.hxg5 Ng4 16.Bh4 exd4 17.exd4 (17.cxd4? Nxe3! 18.fxe3 Qxe3+ 19.Bf2 (19.Rf2 Qxd4-+) 19...Qxe2 Black is better) 17...Qxe2 18.Rae1 Ne3! 19.Rxe2 Nxc2 20.Nb1 Ba6 and Black is slightly better] 15.hxg5 Rxg5 16.d5 White should block a bishop b7 in order to safe own king 16...Qf8?! [16...e4!? looks more logical; 17.Qa4 0-0-0! (17...a5? 18.Bh4 Rg7 19.c5! otherwise Black could make a castle and then place a knight on c5 19...dxc5 20.Nc4 0-0-0 21.Rfd1 with idea d5d6; White is better) 18.Bh4 (after 18.Qxa7?! Rdg8 Black has a very strong pressure along "g"line) 18...Qe5!? (Black is also ok in a case of 18...Rg7 19.Qxa7 Rdg8 20.g3 Qe5) 19.Qxa7 (after accepting of a present Black gets more than enough com pensation 19.Bxg5 Qxg5 20.Rfd1 Rg8 21.Bf1 Ng4) 19...Rdg8 20.g3 Rxg3+ (Black also can try to play on for an advantage 20...Nc5!?) 21.fxg3 Rxg3+ 22.Bxg3 (22.Kf2? Rh3 23.Rh1 Rh2+-+) 22...Qxg3+ 23.Kh1 Qh3+=] 17.Bh4 Rg8 18.Ne4 Knight transfers to f5 18...Qg7 19.Ng3 It looks like this move is a mistake [My propose is to change a pair of knights 19.Nxf6+!? the idea is to break very strong co operation of knights d7f6; after the change the bishop h4 is getting be very strong and the h4d8 diagonal is getting be more weak 19...Nxf6 20.g3 Bc8 21.Kg2 with following Rh1; White is better] 19...0-0-0

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[26.Ne7?! is dangerous for...White 26...Rxe7 27.Bxe7 f6! 28.Bf5 Qf7 29.Bxh7 Qxh7 30.Bxf6 h4! with multiple threats] 26...Nf8! Knight moves to f4! 27.Kf2 Qh7 28.Rh1 Ng6 29.Bf5 Qg7 30.Ke2 [30.Bxg6 Qxg6 with following Bc8, Ref8, f7f5...(30...fxg6 is no good 31.Bg5 and Black will not be able to push off the bishop from g5)] 30...Nf4+ 31.Kf1 Qh6 Black is obvi ously better 32.Rd1 Ba6 33.Rh2 Ng6 34.Bf2 Qg5 35.Rd2?! [White could make the king more safe: 35.Kg1 Ne7 36.Kh1] 35...Ne7 36.Bh3 Qf4 37.Rh1 Ref8 [Black could play f5 right now 37...f5!? but Kazakh GM decided to make all the preparations before] 38.Ke1 f5 39.Nxf5 [Black is better after 39.Bxf5 Nxf5 40.exf5 Bc8] 39...Nxf5 40.Bxf5 Bxc4 41.Bxc5 [This capture was not compulsory: 41.Rh4 Qh6 42.Rh2 Rf7 and Rfg7; Black is still better] 41...dxc5 42.Kd1 [42.Rxh5?? Qe3+-+] 42...Rg3 43.Re1 [43.Rxh5?? Qxf3+!-+] 43...Rfg8?! [43...Qg5 with the same idea of tripling on the gline would be better] 44.Be6

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Black doesn't pay any attention to weakness of f5square; its plan is to safe own king first of all and then to improve all another pieces 20.Bd3 Rde8 21.f3 Nc5 22.Bf5+ Kb8 23.e4 Qh6 24.Bh3 White has no active options and should just wait on 24...Nh7 25.Nf5 Qg6 26.Ne3

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44...Rxg2!? [44...R8g7? 45.Qa4 and White begins play for a win] 45.Rxg2 Qxf3+ 46.Rge2 Rg2 47.Qd2 Bd3 48.Qe3 Bxe2+ 49.Rxe2 Qf1+ 50.Kd2 Rg1

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when its opponent has a pair of bishops and advantage in development [12...Be7 looks more solid: 13.c4 dxc4 14.Rxc4 Nb6=] 13.dxc5 Nxe5 14.Re1 One bishop is going to be left 14...Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be7 [15...Bxc5?? 16.Qxf5+] 16.c4

Black has some attack for a bishop but its enough just for a draw. 51.Kd3?? [But Kache ishvili decided to try win this game and imme diately makes mistake 51.Re1! Rg2+ 52.Re2 Rg1=] 51...Qd1+-+ Black is winning 52.Rd2 c4+! 53.Kxc4 Qa4+ 54.Kd3 Qa6+ 55.Kc2 Qxa2+ 56.Kd3 Qa6+ 57.Kc2 Qa4+ 58.Kd3 16...dxc4 17.Rxc4 0-0 18.Bc3 [There is noth Qb5+ White resigned 0-1 ing after 18.Qxb7 Bxc5! (18...Rb8? 19.Qa6! (19.Qxa7? Rxb3 20.Ba5 Qb8! and Black is ok) (08) Volokitin,Andrei (2671) - Jo19...Rxb3 20.Ba5! Qd5 21.axb3+) 19.Ba5 bava,Baadur (2669) [B12] Qe7 20.Qxe7 Bxe7 21.Rec1; But probably the 10th EICC Budva MNE (8), 14.03.2009 best way here was 18.Rd1!? Qc7 19.Bf4 e5 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 The CaroCann's defence is 20.Bh2! (White doesn't need any changes that the favourite opening of Georgian's players are coming after 20.Qe4 exf4 21.Qxf5 Bf6 and 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.Nbd2 Bg6 7.0- Black get a counterplay) 20...g6 21.Qe4 Bf6 0 Nf5 8.Nb3 Nd7 We see one of popular line in 22.g4 with advantage of White] 18...Qc7 the CaroCann. Both sides are improving own 19.Ra4 [19.Nd4!? Nxd4 20.Bxd4 and White is pieces before real conflict starts. 9.Bd2 Rc8 slighly better due to the advantage at the queenside] 19...b6 [White is obviously better 10.Rc1 in a case of 19...Bxc5?! 20.Nxc5 Qxc5 21.Qxb7 Rc7 22.Qe4] 20.cxb6 axb6

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10...Bh5N [The novelty that perhaps was pre pared at the home. Ukrainian GM played this position earlier: 10...a6 11.c4 dxc4 12.Rxc4 Be7 13.Na5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qa8 15.g4 Nh6 16.Bb4 Nb6? 17.Bxe7! Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxe7 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Ng5 VolokitinAnastasian, Plovdiv, 2008] 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 c5?! I'm not sure about this move. Black opens position

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[20...Qxb6 is also possible. But Jobava de cided to protect a5 and c5 squares by a pawn] 21.Nd4 Nh4 [White has nothing after 21...Nxd4 22.Rxd4 Rfd8 (even 22...Bf6? doesn't lost im mediately 23.Qxf6! Qxc3! 24.Qxf7+ Rxf7 25.bxc3 Rxc3 and draw is the most probable

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result)] 22.Qe4 Qd7 [22...Ng6= looks more solid, but Baadur wants to make some mess at the board when his opponent is under time pressure] 23.Ra6 Rc4! Black was not forced to protect a pawn 24.Rxb6 [White could change a pair of rooks. 24.Ra8 But Volokitin definitely even didn't analyse such opportunities] 24...Bc5 [Computer advices to play 24...Ng6 and threat of e6e5 + activity of Black's pieces provide Black a full compensation for a pawn] 25.Qc6 [25.Rc6?! Nf5 26.Rd1 (Probably White has to sacrifice exchange right here: 26.Rxc5!? Rxc5 27.Nxf5 (27.Bb4?! Nd6!) 27...Rxf5 28.a4 and due to strength of bishop c3 White is ok) 26...Rd8 27.Rd2 Nxd4 28.Rxc5 Rxc5 29.Rxd4 Rd5 30.Rxd5 Qxd5 31.Qxd5 Rxd5 and Black has all chances to realise extra material] 25...Qa7 26.Ra6 Qb8 27.Ra4

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[Probably more resistance could be offered by move 32.Qc6 Qxc6 33.Nxc6 Bc5 but Black still should win such endgame] 32...f5! 33.Ne3 Rxa2-+ 34.Nd5 Qb8 35.Qd3 Rd8 36.Kh1 Qa7 37.Nb4 Ra1 38.b3 Rxd1+ 39.Qxd1 Qxf2

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A key moment in the game. It looks like White is forcing Black to change a pair of rooks but... 27...Nf3+! This trick saves Black and faces White to new complications 28.Qxf3? [Volo kitin couldn't calculate all necessary variation and made a mistake 28.gxf3 made a draw: 28...Bxd4 29.Qxc4! (29.Rxc4? is lost 29...Qg3+ 30.Kh1 Qxh3+ 31.Kg1 Qg3+ 32.Kh1 Bxf2 33.Be5 Qh3+ 34.Bh2 Bxe1-+) 29...Qg3+ 30.Kh1 Qxh3+ 31.Kg1 Qg3+ 32.Kh1 Qxf3+ (32...Bxf2?? 33.Qg4+) 33.Kh2 Qxf2+ 34.Kh1 Qf3+=] 28...Rxa4 29.Nc6 Qb6 [29...Qf4! 30.Qxf4 Rxf4 31.Re2 Rc8 32.Ne5 Ra4! 33.b3 (33.a3? Bxa3-+) 33...Ra7 with advantage of Black] 30.Ne5 Qc7 31.Rd1 [In a case of 31.a3 Black would capture a line "d" 31...Rd8] 31...Bd6 32.Ng4

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The rest is easy stuff 40.Nc6 Rd7 41.Qa1 [41.Ne5?? Bxe5 42.Qxd7 Qf1#] 41...h6 42.b4 Qf4 43.Be5 Bxe5 44.Nxe5 Qd4 45.Qa6 Qd1+ [45...Qxe5?? 46.Qc8+ Kh7 47.Qxd7 and this endgame is no so easy to win] 46.Kh2 Qd6 47.Qb5 Rd8 48.h4 Qb8 49.Qxb8 Rxb8 50.Nd3 Rb5 51.h5 e5 White resigned 0-1

(09) Aronian,Levon (2750) - Ivanchuk,Vassily (2779) [D97]

18th Amber Blindfold Nice FRA (1), 14.03.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.Qa4 Move is no so popular but is pretty normal for a blindfold game 8...Nbd7 [8...Bg4 9.Be3 Nfd7 Black pre pares b7b5 (and after Bb5 Nb6) 10.Qb3 b5 11.Be2 Nc6 12.Rd1 Nb6 13.e5 Nc4 14.0-0 N6a5 15.Qb4 Rc8 16.Bg5 f6 17.b3! fxg5 18.bxc4 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Nxc4 20.Bd5+ Kh8 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Qxc4 White is much better, PashikianKurnosov, Aeroflot, 2009] 9.e5 Nb6N

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[White is slightly better after 9...Ng4 10.h3 Nh6 11.Be2] 10.exf6 I dont want to mark this move by any marks because I dont believe that Aro nian seriously was expecting to get a normal chess compensation here. The main reason of this sacrifice is that game was played without looking at the board [After normal 10.Qa3 Black has no any problems 10...Nfd5 11.Be2 Bf5 12.0-0 a5=] 10...Nxa4 11.fxg7 Re8!? Iv anchuk is going to make use of position of un castled king of White [In a case of 11...Kxg7 12.Nxa4 Bg4 White is still in troubles] 12.Nxa4 e5! 13.dxe5 Bg4 14.Nc3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Rxe5+ 16.Be2 [After 16.Be3 Black could sacrifice an exchange 16...Qd4 17.Be2 Rxe3 18.fxe3 Qxe3 and disgarmony of White's pieces could be a main factor in this position] 16...Qe7

19.Bf3 Re1+ [The alternative is 19...Kxg7 20.Kg2 c6 and White is in serious troubles] 20.Kg2 Rxh1 21.Kxh1

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21...Rd3 22.Kg2 [A pawn b7 was untouchable: 22.Bxb7? Qb4! and White can't save a material 23.Ba8 (23.Bg2?? Rd1+!-+; 23.Bxa6 Rxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Rb1 Qe1+ 26.Kg2 Qe4+-+) 23...c6! 24.Bxc6 Rxc3 25.bxc3 Qxc3 26.Rb1 Qxc6+-+] 22...c6 23.Ne4 [A "typical" sacrifice is coming after 23.Be3 Rxe3 24.fxe3 Qxe3 25.Kg3 g5! with huge advantage of Black] 23...f5 24.Nc3 Kxg7

Black is obviously better and only thing that saves White is that Black can't easily get White's king 25.a4 a5 26.Nd1 h5 Black im proves everything it can 27.Ne3 h4 28.h3 Qe6 17.f4? [But 17.Be3 in any way would be 29.Kf1 Rd4 30.Be2 stronger than a move in the game. Obviously Aronian was very afraid of the exchange's sacrifice.] 17...Re6 [Another interesting option was 17...Rxe2+! 18.Nxe2 Re8 19.Be3 Qb4+ 20.Kf1 Qxb2 21.Rc1 Qxa2 with a big advan tage of Black: White's king is weak and Black's pawns are going to become a main actors at this scene] 18.Kf1 [18.Be3 still was better than continuation in the game 18...Rxe3 19.fxe3 Qxe3 20.Rf1 Rd8 Black is better] 18...Rd8

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30...Qe4!? [30...Rxf4 allowed White to active a bishop c1 31.Bd2 Kh7 32.Kg1; That's why 30...Kh7 was deserving attention] 31.f3 [31.Kg1 is lost 31...Rxa4-+] 31...Rxa4! Black sacrifices a queen back! [In a case of 31...Qe6 White could reply with 32.Nc2 Rd8 33.Ra3 and position is no so clear; White's pieces are de fencing everything around own king and Black can't break through this] 32.fxe4 Rxa1 33.exf5 Rxc1+ 34.Kf2 Rb1 [34...gxf5 is also good 35.Bd3 (35.Nxf5+ Kf6 36.Ne3 a4) 35...a4 36.Nxf5+ Kf6 in both variation Black has a good chances for a win] 35.Nc4

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) 40.Kd2 Rh2+ 41.Kc3 Rxh3 and position is unclear] Now game is over 37.Nxb2 a3 38.Bc4! The move that was missed by Ivan chuk 38...axb2 39.Bd3+ c5 40.Ke3 b5 41.Bb1 b4 42.Kd3 Kxg6 43.Kc4+ Black re signed 1-0

(10) Aronian,Levon (2750) Leko,Peter (2751) [E15]

18th Amber Rapid Nice FRA (2), 15.03.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6 [The main continuation here is 10...Qc8 for example, take a look at the game TopalovAnand, Bilbao, 2008 11.a3 Nf6 12.Bg5 d5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Na6 16.Nh4 g6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 0-0 19.Rad1 Nc7 20.Rd7 Ne6 21.Qe4 Qe8 22.Nf3 c4 23.Qh4 Nc5 24.Re7 Rd8 25.Rf1 1-0] 11.Qa4 [Aronian also doesn't choose a main line 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 g6 13.Qf4 0-0 14.e5 Nh5 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Nc3 Qb8 with unclear position, Wang YueRowson, match ChinaGreat Britain, 2007] 11...Nf6

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35...a4? [Just this move is a serious mistake that misses an advantage. Right move was 35...gxf5! 36.Bd3 Ra1 37.Bxf5 b5 38.Ne3 a4 and Black pawns are very dangerous] 36.fxg6! Rxb2?? Black losses a game in two moves [A difficult position could happen in a case of 36...b5 37.Bd3! Rh1 38.Nd6 Rh2+ 39.Ke1 Rh1+ (39...Rxb2? is lost because of attractive checkmate 40.Ne8+ Kh6 41.Be4!+ protecting a square g2 41...a3? 42.g7 a2 43.g8N+! Kh5 44.Ng7#!

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12.Nh4 A novelty [Another possible moves are 12.Nc3 0-0 13.g4!? Nb4 14.a3 Nbd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.g5 Bc6 17.Qh4 Ne8 18.Ne5 Bxg2

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19.Rxd7 Bb7 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Be3 White is better, ShirovAronian, Elista, 2007; and 12.e4 0-0 13.e5 Ne8 14.Nc3 Nc7 15.Be3 Qe8 16.Rd2 Rd8 17.Rad1 f5 with complicated posi tion, AkopianPalac, ECC, 2008] 12...g6 [Black could make a castling 12...0-0 but after 13.Nf5 Re8 14.Nc3 h6 (14...Bf8?! 15.Bg5) 15.Bf4 Bf8 White has a big pressure for its po sition. There is a choice between agressive 16.Nb5 (and more solid 16.Rd2 with doubling rooks)] 13.Bh6 Bf8 It's the only way to make king safe 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Nc3 Kg7 So, Black made a castle but another pieces (rooks and queen) are still not developed 16.Rd6

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20...Re8?? [Leko didn't see a combination of White. Otherwise he would play 20...Qe8 de fencing a key square near Black's king g6 21.Qg4 h5 22.Qg5 (22.Qf3!?; 22.Qf4!?) 22...Nb7 23.Qf6+ Kg8 (23...Kh7 24.Rd3 Qe6 25.Qxe6 dxe6 26.Rd7 Nd8 27.Rad1 White is better) 24.Rd3 Qe6 25.Qf3 d5! 26.Qxd5 Qxd5+ 27.Rxd5 Kg7 28.Rd7 Na5 29.Nf3 Rhe8= The variation is no forced but its obviously that Black has a good chances to save the game] 21.Rxg6+! Not very difficult combination de stroys the Black's position 21...fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxh6+ Ke7 [23...Kg8 24.Nf5 Re7 25.Qg6+ Kh8 (25...Kf8 26.Qf6++) 26.Qf6++; 23...Kf7 24.Qg6+ Kf8 25.Nf5 Re7 26.Qf6++] 24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nd6+ Ke7 [25...Kg8 26.Qg6+ Kf8 (26...Kh8 27.Nf7#) 27.Qf7#] 26.Rd1 Rf8 27.Rd5 [27.Qh4+ is the Rybka's first line 27...Rf6 28.Nf5+ Kf8 (28...Ke6 29.Rd6+ Kxf5 30.Qh5+ Ke4 31.Qd5#) 29.Qh8+ Kf7 30.Qh7+ Ke8 (30...Ke6 31.Rd6+ Ke5 32.f4+ Ke4 33.Ne7++) 31.Qg8+ Rf8 32.Qg6+ Rf7 33.Nd6+ Ke7 34.Qxf7#] 27...Rf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 [28...Ke6 29.Qe4#] 29.Rg5 Black resigned be cause of inevitable checkmate 1-0

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16...Na5 [16...Qe7? is not good because of 17.Qf4 (with a threat of check on f5) 17...h6 18.Rad1 Nd8 19.Nxg6! Kxg6 (19...fxg6 20.Bxb7 Nxb7 21.Rxf6!+) 20.Qg4+ Kh7 21.Rxf6! Qxf6 22.Be4+ Bxe4 23.Qxe4+ Kg7 24.Qxa8 with big advantage thank to multiple weaknesses that Black has; Probably the best way was 16...Rb8!? defencing a bishop b7 17.Qf4 Re8 18.Rad1 Nd4 and Black is ok] 17.Qf4 With the same idea of check on f5 17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 h6?! [A first key moment in the game. Black misses a good opportunity to make position equal 18...Ne8! 19.Rd3 Qf6! for example, 20.Qe4 Qc6 21.Nf3 Qxe4 22.Nxe4 d6! 23.Nxd6 Nxd6 24.Rxd6 Rhe8=] 19.Ne4! White changes only developed defencer of Black's king 19...Nxe4 20.Qxe4

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Editorial staff:
GM Valery Aveskulov (ELO 2541) IM Anatoliy Polivanov (ELO 2382) IM Konstantin Tarlev (ELO 2483) Dmitry Posokhov (ELO 2294) Chief editor Roman Viliavin (ELO 2248) email: chesszone@ya.ru

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