CHESS PIECE: NOLTE GETS GM NORM

[Bobby Ang]

3rd Kolkata Open Grand Master Chess Tournament 2008
March 23-April 2, 2008
Gorky Sadan, Kolkata, India

Final Top Standings
(10 Rounds)

1-2 GM Viktor Laznicka CZE 2595, GM Krishnan Sasikiran IND 2677, 8.5/10
3 GM Shukhrat Safin UZB 2493, 7.5/10
4-10 GM Chanda Sandipan IND 2593, GM Ziaur Rahman BAN 2492, GM Humpy Koneru IND 2612, Rolando Nolte PHI 2412, GM Alberto David LUX 2557, IM Prasad Arun IND 2423, IM Jayaram Ashwin IND 2478, 7.0/10
11-22 GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2525, GM Ahmed Adly EGY 2551, GM Tejas Bakre IND 2459, IM Roy Saptarshi IND 2404, GM RB Ramesh IND 2473, GM Dibyendu Barua IND 2491, GM Smbat Lputian ARM 2616, IM Kidambi Sundararajan IND 2442, GM Al-Rakib Abdulla BAN 2506, GM Das Neelotpal IND 2486, Krishnan Murali IND 2363, IM Jha Sriram IND 2457, 6.5/10
Total of 114 players

GM norms achieved: Rolando Nolte PHI, Prasad Arun IND
IM norms achieved: Oliver Barbosa PHI, Arghyadip Das IND, Dhopade Swapnil IND, and MS Thejkumar IND



caption: Rolando Nolte

The Philippines’ Rolando Nolte earned his first GM norm with a 4-win 6-draw performance in the 2008 Kolkata Open. Already in his early 40s, Nolte was just there to try and improve his rating, but he took his chances when they came and was undefeated in the tournament. He faced 7 International Grandmasters, defeating two (Lputian and Abdulla) and drawing with 5 (Neelotpal, Dobrov, Ramesh, Safin and Sandipan). He drew with IM Enamul Hossain and defeated two untitleds to round off his total score of 7 out of 10.

“Nolts” has an interesting story. He was a strong junior who developed a close friendship with Joey Antonio, later on to become the Philippines’ third International Grandmaster. This was in the late 80s, when they were both just considered “promising”. The two of them sparred everyday and became so strong that by 1990 Joey Antonio did something that no Fillipino chesser had achieved before him – he ended GM Eugene Torre’s 20-year reign as Philippine champion.

The Antonio-Nolte collaboration was not one-sided - practising every day with probably the greatest attacking player in the history of Philippine chess (although Wesley So is on his way to disputing this title) developed Nolte’s tactical skill to a very high level, enough to qualify for the national team to the 1992 chess olympiad.

In 1994 Rolando Nolte made a quantum leap in his career by winning the prestigious 279-player Far East Bank Open. Eugene Torre and Mascarinas were absent, but all the other top Filipino chessers were. This was a tremendous achievement, and as far as Nolts was concerned the highest point of his career. He then semi-retired from chess, got married, settled down in Baguio and used the Far East Bank prize money to purchase a Toyota Tamaraw which he converted to a taxi. His chess career was put on hold while he concentrated on family.

Everything was fine and OK until one day a few years ago his wife died under tragic circumstances. This completely uprooted Nolte and caused him to sell off his assets in Baguio and relocated back to Manila to resume a professional chess career. As the reader may have noticed Nolte is making steady inroads up the chess ladder and is on his way to re-entering the country’s top ten list. I am really happy with his GM norm for he is one truly nice person who deserves better.

It is time to show you his best game from Kolkata. Nolte reminds me of IM Rolly Martinez in this regard – he likes to provoke the opponent into complications and then hit back with a counterattack. The following victory over GM Smbat Lputian is typical.

By the way, allow me to make a few comments about GM Lputian. The Armenian GM is no ordinary GM - he was among the top Soviet GMs in the 80s and participated in several USSR Championships, rubbing elbows with the likes of Kasparov, Karpov, Petrosian, etc. He is also the trainer of the world champion Armenian Olympiad team and a renowned expert in the French Defence.

Nolte,Rolando (2412) - Lputian,Smbat G (2616) [C04]
3rd Kolkata Open (6), 29.03.2008

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6

This is an idea popularized by the Argentinian player Carlos Guimard in the 1940s. It is not so popular, but the Armenian players, especially Vaganian, play it a lot. Contrary to the usual plan and the traditional design of attack of the base of the chains of pawns by c7-c5, in this line Black will attack the head of the pawn chain by ...Nc6 and ...f7-f6.

4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.Bb5

Not as common as 6.Nb3 or 6.Be2, but Black has to be alert to get a good position.

6...a6

Would you believe that one of the main lines here is for Black to play 6...a5 followed by ...Na7 and ...c7-c5?

7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.Nb3 c5 9.Bg5

While I was looking at this position it occurred to me that 9.Na5 was a tricky line, threatening Nc6 which wins the black queen. Then I noticed 9...c6! which makes the white knight look ridiculous on a5, since 10.Nxc6 Qb6 traps the knight. Then it occurred to me that White can allow this, since he has another wicked knight move: 11.Ng5! with the idea of 11...Qxc6 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qf3 and a very strong attack. On the 11th move instead of taking the knight Black can insert 11...h6, but then there comes 12.Nxe6! with a strong attack. To analyze all of that is beyond the scope of this article, but I have never seen anyone mention these possibilities before - chess is so beautiful!

9...Be7 10.h4!?

A new move. Usual is 10.Na5 but 10...Nb8 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 and Black is fine.

10...h6 11.Be3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 c5 13.Qg4 g6

White must open up the position.

14.c4!?

Nolte wants e4 for his knight.

14...d4 15.Bf4 Bb7 16.Nbd2 Qc7 17.0–0–0

Most people would have castled kingside, but I did say Nolte likes to provoke his opponents, right?

17...Bc6 18.Kb1 Rb8 19.Ka1 Qb7 20.Rb1 Bd8 21.Rhd1 Ba5 22.Ne1 Bxd2 23.Rxd2 a5 24.Qg3 a4 25.Rc1 Qa8 26.f3 Kf8 27.Nd3 Kg7 28.Qf2 Rb3 29.Rcc2

Of course not 29.axb3?? axb3+ 30.Kb1 Qa2#

29...Rhb8 30.Nc1 R3b6 31.Nd3 R8b7 32.Rd1 Ra7 33.Qd2

Now watch the counterattack kick in.

33...h5 34.Bh6+ Kh7 35.Bg5 Qf8 36.Qf4 Qg7 37.g4 Rb3 38.Re2 Rb8 39.Rg1 Rg8 40.Reg2 Raa8 41.Be7

The top players like to do this. Of course he has seen that 41.gxh4 wins, but Black cannot improve his position anyway so Nolte tos and fros for a while and gives Lputian a chance to blunder.

41...f5??

Which he promptly does. Don't fret - Black was lost anyway.

42.exf6 e5 43.Nxe5 1-0


caption: final position


Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com

"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 11 April 2008"

The BUDAPEST

[Bobby Ang]

During the Melody Amber tournament GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated the “unbeatable” Vladimir Kramnik with the Budapest Gambit. Now that is a sensation, since 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 is not considered one of the sound lines that you can play against a super grandmaster.

Let’s take a look at that game first before proceeding with our story.

Kramnik,Vladimir (2799) - Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2760) [A52]
Amber Rapid Nice FRA (3), 17.03.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4

There is this cousin of the Budapest, known as the Fajarowicz, which goes 3...Ne4. Many players consider it to be unsound, but even up to now it still scores its fair share of victims. Here is an attractive exhibition by the so-called "Executioner of Berlin": 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 d6 6.exd6 Bxd6 7.Nbd2 Nc5 8.a3 Qf6 9.Nb3 Nxb3 10.Qxb3 Bg4 11.c5 (11.Qxb7 0–0!) 11...Bxc5 12.Qc4 Bxf3 13.gxf3 0–0–0 14.Bg2 (14.Qxc5? Qxf3 threatening the rook on h1 as well as mate on d1) 14...Ne5 15.Qb3 Nd3+ 16.Ke2 Qa6 17.Kd2 Bxe3+! 18.Kc2 (18.fxe3 Nc5+) 18...Nb4+ 0–1 Strasdas-Richter,K/ Berlin 1933. It is mate after 19.axb4 Qg6+ 20.Qd3 Qxd3.

4.Nc3

This is a new idea. Previously, White's main lines were either to hold on to the extra pawn with:
(a) 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6, or
(b) 4.Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qe7 7.Qd5 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 or
(c) 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7

Another idea is to build up a strong pawn center with Alekhine's maneuver 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4.

Kramnik prefers not to hold the pawn nor occupy the center. He goes for an edge based on control of d5. He will later on embark on Ng1–h3-f4.

Please do not fall for:

1. 4.f4 Bc5 5.Nh3 Nxh2 6.Rxh2 Qh4+ 7.Kd2 d5! 8.Qb3 Bxh3! 9.Qxh3 Qxf4+ 10.Kc2 Qxf1 11.Qc8+ Ke7 12.Qxh8 Qxe2+ 13.Bd2 Nc6! 14.Qxa8 Nb4+ 15.Kb3 Qxc4+ 16.Ka4 b5+ 17.Ka5 Bb6# 0–1 Helmer-Krejcik/Vienna 1917; or

2. 4.a3 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.g3 Nxf2 0–1 Warren-Selman/Corr 1930(6...Nxf2 7.Kxf2 Bxg3+).

4...Nc6 5.e3 Ngxe5 6.a3

Kasparov played this way in the two instances when he faced the Budapest. I will show you what happened in the following notes.

6...a5

Here is the Kasparov treatment:

1. 6...a6 7.f4 Ng6 8.g3 Bc5 9.b4 Ba7 10.Nf3 d6 11.Bg2 Be6 12.Qd3 Qd7 13.0–0 Nge7 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Nd5 Rb8 16.Bb2 0–0 17.Ng5 f5 18.Qc3 Nxd5 19.Bxd5+ Kh8 20.Rae1 Rbe8 21.e4 Bd4 22.Bxc6 Bxc3 23.Bxd7 Bxb2 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.h3 White is the exchange up and about to win another pawn. The game is already resignable. Kasparov - Mercury Asset Management, London 1993;

2. 6...Be7 7.f4 Ng6 8.g3 d6 9.Bg2 Be6 10.Nd5 Qd7 11.b4 Bg4 12.Qd3 0–0 13.Nf3 a5 14.b5 Nd8 15.Bb2 Ne6 White has a strong center but Black has enough counterplay. Kasparov-EuropChess, Madrid 1997 1/2 (37)

7.f4

The same typical maneuver as Kasparov plays, the difference being that Garry would follow-up by fianchettoing his f1–bishop while Kramnik prefers to put it on d3.

7...Ng6

After 7 moves all Black has to show for his troubles are two developed knights, one of which is not so well placed on g6. This is only a temporary situation, though, and White has to proceed vigorously to make it count.

8.Bd3 Bc5 9.Qh5 d6 10.Nf3 a4 11.Bd2 0–0 12.Ne4

There is a threat of Neg5, ...h6, Nxf7 in the air.

12...Qe8 13.0–0–0

[13.Neg5? h6 14.Nxf7 Nxf4!]

13...f5 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Kb1

Kramnik does a "Leko". After building up a strong position he shies away from continuing aggressively and plays safe moves. In one of those slow openings this might be OK, but with the Dynamic Budapest this one tempo might be all that Black needs to turn the tables. Take a look at how Black manages to claw back. Probably better is 15.g4! Na5 (15...fxg4?? 16.Ng5) 16.Rhg1 (16.gxf5?? Nxf4 wins) 16...Nb3+ 17.Kc2 Nxd2 18.Kxd2 Ne7 with chances for both sides.

15...Nge7 16.Qh4 h6 17.Bc3 Be6 18.Rhg1 Rd8 19.Ka1?!


caption: position after 19.Ka1

Was Kramnik provoking the exchange sacrifice that follows? Probably not, because it is too strong.

19...Rxd3! 20.Rxd3 Bxc4

After the rook retreats then ...Nd5 sets up a strong counter-attack. Kramnik panics.

21.Bxg7? Kxg7 22.g4 Ng6 23.gxf5 Rxf5 24.Rc3 Bf7 25.Qf2 Qe6

Overlooked by White. The threatened mate on a2 gives Black the time he needs to kick his own attack into high gear.

26.b3 axb3 27.Nh4 Rh5 28.Kb2 Qf6 29.Nxg6 Bxg6 30.e4 c4! 31.Qd2

[31.f5 is met by 31...Ne5 (threatening ...Nd3+) 32.Kb1 Kh8 and the hanging queen on f2 saves Black's bishop]

31...Qd4 32.Qxd4+ Nxd4 33.Rcg3

[33.f5 Rxh2+ 34.Kb1 Nb5 35.Rcg3 Nxa3+ 36.Ka1 b2+ 37.Ka2 b1Q+ 38.Kxa3 Qa2+]

33...Rxh2+ 34.Kb1 Kf7 35.Rxg6 c3 36.Rg7+ Ke8 37.R7g2 Rxg2 38.Rxg2 Nf3 39.Kc1 Nd2 0–1

The Budapest Gambit can be grouped together with openings like the Alekhine, Scandinavian and Chigorin – Black does not have a pawn center and counts on rapid development and piece play to keep White on his toes.

A lot of us don’t really study such openings. Having invested a lot of money in goods about opening principles and classical set-ups, we assume to have an easy time meeting those “unsound gambits” over the board. As the German Siegbert Tarrasch once said, “people use gambits to get a reputation as a dashing player at the expense of losing a game.”

I assure you that this is absolutely the wrong attitude to take. Our foremost Filipino player of the Budapest, the late Ramon Lontoc, Jr. (8-time Philippine Champion) gives us an example:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bf4 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ncxe5 8.axb4?? Nd3#

Lontoc also tell us that he witnessed this mate executed no less than three times in various serious tournament competitions in groups of strong players.

How about the following game:

Reitz,R - Legky,Nikolay A (2465) [A52]
St.Ingbert op (1), 1989

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nc3 0–0 7.Be2 Ncxe5 8.0–0 Nxf3+ 9.Bxf3 Ne5 10.Be2 Re8 11.a3 a5 12.b3 Ra6 13.Bb2 Rh6 14.h3 d6 15.Ne4 Bxh3 16.Nxc5 Bxg2 17.Bxe5 Qh4 18.f4 Qg3 0–1

or this one:

Laszlo,Deli - Alfoldy,Laszlo [A52]
Budapest master, 1933
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Qd4 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Nf3 0–0 7.h3 Nc6 8.Qe4 Re8 9.Qc2 Nb4 10.Qc3 Ne3 11.Na3 Nbc2+ 12.Nxc2 Bb4 0–1

Nobody is immune to the sudden tactics of the Budapest. The best way is to take a look at its ideas, understand where the attacks are coming from.

We will continue this discussion on Monday.

Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com

"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 04 April 2008"

IM HUSARI

The MERALCO Chess Club organized the PAWNS, BISHOP and ROOK simul match by International Master Satea HUSARI of Syria as part of the MERALCO Emplyees' Day MERALCOLYMPICS event. The event was an exclusive all-kids event and the "winners" or last five finishers were Pet Gonzales, JC Andan, Miguel Vergara, Junior Sol Cruz and Earl Cabugao.

MERALCO CHAMPIONS SIMUL

As part of MERALCO Employees' Day 2008, the MERALCO Chess Club held a simulataneous exhibition by its three Champions; Romy AGUILAR of Call Center, Abet CASIANO of Baliwag Branch, and Darryl MATA of Sta. Rosa Sector, against its junior members.

MERALCO CHAMPIONS SIMUL

CHESS PIECE: SANCHEZ GETS NORM

[Bobby Ang]

Festival of Games
11-17 February 2008
Cannes, France

Final Top Standings

1-3 GM Christian Bauer FRA 2614, GM Ruben Felgaer CUB 2539, IM Joseph Sanchez PHI 2492, 7.0/9
4-8 GM Hichem Hamdouchi MOR 2576, GM Ognjen Cvitan CRO 2535, IM Gergely Antal HUN 2457, IM Oleg Gladyszev RUS 2485, GM Miroljub Lazic YUG 2512, 6.5/9
9-17 GM Ante Saric CRO 2438, GM Igor Miladinovic YUG 2604, GM Jozsef Horvath HUN 2519, IM Benjamin Bujisho FRA 2387, Vladimir Doncea ROM 2444, Sebastien Midoux FRA 2338, IM Pierluigi Piscopo ITA 2357, FM Daniyyl Dvirnyy ITA 2326, FM Clovis Vernay ITA 2391, 6.0/9
Total of 110 players

Here is what I wrote about Joseph Sanchez 9 years ago during the 1999 Philippine Chess Championship:

“ ‘Chess is a game to subdue the turbulent spirit, and to puzzle a tranquil mind’ (William Hartston, “Kings of Chess”). I remember this line whenever the name of Joseph Sanchez is mentioned. Wherever you see him he is invariably seated in a corner quietly observing the proceedings, never speaking until he is spoken to. Polite, mild-mannered, this immediately changes when you mention anything remotely involving chess. Then a broad smile comes to his face and he becomes animated, explaining this and that with accompanying gestures and jokes.

“His chess is geared towards the attack. Hardly a game passes by without some display of a new tactical motif with accompanying fireworks. What was keeping him from joining the very elite of Philippine chess was a lack of stick-to-it-iveness (for lack of a better word). His offense sometimes crumbles in the face of resourceful defense, and he is usually not at his best when defending inferior endgames.

“All of that changed when, as fate would have it, he was matched against GM Antonio is the first round of the grand finals. Joey got a strong grip on the position right out of the opening, drained out any possible complicating tactics, and headed into an endgame where he expected to outplay Sanchez. Joseph, still riding on the crest of a win streak from the eliminations, resisted with might and main and forced a draw on the 65th move. As if a veil had been lifted from his eyes, he realized that he had it in him to fight with the very best.

“Starting from round 2 he was a changed man – no more middlegame collapses, no more losses of concentration, just a committment to constantly bombard his opponent with everything he has got. Yes, Joseph Sanchez has arrived. We expect to hear a lot more about him in tournaments to come!”

Joseph Sanchez left for Europe six years ago to try his luck and we have chronicled his exploits in this column. His games have greatly improved in quality and in fact he has reached a point where defeating an International Grandmaster is no longer considered extraordinary. Bad luck has dogged him, however, and I don’t remember how many times he has missed the GM norm, sometimes by half a point, sometimes making a good performance rating but missing out on the norm just the same because there were not enough GMs playing in the tournament.

It is only now that Sanchez has scored his first GM norm. Just like a millionaire whose first million is the hardest, we hope that by breaking the ice the rest of the norms (he needs 2 more) will come quickly.

The game that I am about to show you features the Sveshnikov Sicilian. Joseph is a specialist in this line and he used to play it long before it became popular in the turn of the new century. He is hit by a theoretical novelty on the 18th (!) move but was able to spot the weakness and refuted the new move on the board.

Lamoureux,Charles (2492) - Sanchez,Joseph (2353) [B33]
Cannes FIJ open (4), 13.02.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.c3 Bg7 13.0–0 0–0 14.Nc2 Rc8

Ever wonder why Black cannot play 14...fxe4 15.Bxe4 f5? Well the answer is because White has 16.Nf4!

15.Nce3 fxe4

The text is better than 15...f4?! which is answered by 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.exf5 followed by 18.Be4 or 18.a4.

16.Bxe4 f5 17.Bc2 Ne7

Here is another pitfall that you should be aware of: 17...f4? 18.Qh5 Rf7 (18...h6? 19.Qg6 wins) 19.Bxh7+ Kf8 20.Bg6 likewise wins.

18.f4!?

This is a new move. Lamoureux was probably not convinced of 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qh5? (19.a4 is better) 19...e4 20.g4 Rc5! 21.gxf5 Bxf5 22.Nxf5 Rcxf5 23.Qe2 d5 Black is already winning. Abreu,D-Blanco,C (2172)/ Colonia Tovar 1999 1–0 (27).

18...Kh8

Joseph's plan on facing the novelty is: (1) do not lash out! this is precisely what the opponent wants when he unleashes a novelty, (2) get the king to safety, (3) exchange off at least a pair of pieces to limit the tactics, (4) what is the weakness of the new move? Well, after ...exf4 White might not be able to recapture immediately because the black bishop can either go to e5 or h6.

19.Bb3 Rc5 20.Qd2 Nxd5 21.Nxd5

Less advisable is 21.Bxd5 exf4 22.Rxf4 Bh6 White is going to lose some material.

21...a5

Threatening to win a piece with ...a5-a4.

22.Ne3 Bc8 23.a3 exf4 24.Nd5

[24.Rxf4? Re5! 25.Nd5 Bh6 wins the exchange]

24...Be6 25.Ba2

[25.Rxf4? is still not possible: 25...Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Bh6]

25...Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Be5 27.Rf3 Qf6 28.Rd1 Rb8

Intending to push his b-pawn.

29.Kh1 Rc7 30.Qd3 b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.cxb4 Rxb4 33.b3 Rd4 34.Qf1 Rxd1 35.Qxd1 Bb2! 36.Rf1

[36.Bc4 will lead to the same thing as in the actual game: 36...Ra7 37.Rf1 Ra1 38.Qf3 Rxf1+]

36...Rc1 37.Qf3 Rxf1+ 38.Qxf1 Qe5

Joseph has reached a pawn-up endgame, but this is not yet enough to win due to the presence of the opposite colored bishops. He has to drum up a kingside attack to force more white weaknesses.

39.Qd1 Bd4 40.Bf3 Bc5 41.Bd5 Kg7 42.Bc4 Kf6 43.Qb1 h5 44.h3 d5 45.Bd3 Bd6

Threatening ...f4-f3.

46.Qg1 Qc3 47.Qb1


caption: position after 47.Qb1

47...f3! 48.Qf1

[48.gxf3 Qd2 wins because of the threatened checkmate on h2]

48...Qe5 49.Kg1

[49.Qg1 f2]

49...Qh2+ 50.Kf2 Qg3+ 51.Kg1 0-1

White resigns without waiting for 51...fxg2 52.Qd1 Bc5 checkmate.

Congressman Pichay promised 5 GMs for this year. Hmmm ... let us see ... Jayson Gonzales, Joseph Sanchez, Roland Salvador, Ronald Dableo, Oliver Dimakiling, Rolly Martinez ... Yup! It is attainable.

Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com

"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 29 February 2008"

CHESSDOM: KID - SHIROV vs RADJABOV

Alexei Shirov - Teimour Radjabov

Morelia Linares 2008
Round 7
Morelia

23.02.2008

Shirov and Radjabov have played plenty of exciting games over the last couple of years. Radjabov won the last two, but Shirov is in much better form nowadays than on January 2007. Probably 1. e4 and Sicilian defence, unless Radjabov again wants to try Jaenish Gambit in Ruy Lopez. Enjoy the game.

1.d4!? So our prediction was wrong :) Shirov also started with 1.d4 at the last year Corus, but Radjabov won with King's Indian defence.

1... Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 Radjabov wants to play his favorite KID, but what has Shirov prepared?

5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Few weeks earlier, Kramnik used 9. Nd2 against Radjabov, but couldn't achieve more than a draw. 9. Ne1 is considered to be a main line, but bayonet attack with 9. b4 is the most popular over last couple of years.

9... Nd7 ( Judit Polgar liked to play 9... Ne8)

10.Be3 (10.Nd3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bd2 is an older approach.)

10... f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 There is some difference in placing dark-squared bishop on d2 or f2. Bishop from f2 is adding power to white's projected advance on the queenside by eying pawn a7 and supporting c4-c5. But also, black's g4-g3 might come with tempo...

12... g5 13.Nd3 Radjabov is, of course, perfectly familiar with this position, but he likes to spend some time in the opening, to calm the spirits and perhaps even find a way to improvise (like yesterday against Carlsen). Main move here is 13... Nf6, but Radjabov also tried 13...Rf6!? once.

13... h5!? (13... Nf6 14.c5 Ng6 is the main move order.)

14.c5 Nf6 This isn't necessary a different line, because black usually executes same moves in his kingside expansion - Ng6, Rf7, Bf8 (to support d6 and 7th rank), Rg7, g4 etc...

15.Rc1 g4!? Now, this is independent line. Black is neglecting queenside safety and goes for immediate attack. But if he falters, pressure on c7 and d6 might be very dangerous. This variation hasn't been tested in more that two grandmaster games.

16.Nb5!? GM Neverov played this move on one occasion, while most of the amateurs opted for 16. cxd6

16... Ne8 It is unclear what is Radjabov up to? Without Rf7 and Ng6 (and with inpatient h5-g4), he has problem on how to hold g4 and prevent incursion on c7. Shirov can simply take this pawn on g4. (16... g3 17.hxg3 fxg3 18.Bxg3 Bh6 19.Rc3 doesn't give anything to black.)

17.fxg4 a6!? this attempt to enclose intermediate move can be met with 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nc3 or 19. Nc7!? Nxc7 20. Bb6

18.Nc3 ( Also sufficient was 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.Nc7 Nxc7 20.Bb6 hxg4 21.Rxc7 but Shirov probably didn't want to worry about consequences of black's f3 or g3.)

18... hxg4 19.Bxg4 Nf6 20.Bxc8 Rxc8 Exchanging light-squared bishops is one of white's main goals in many lines of king's indian defence. This white piece is limited by its own pawn mass, while black counterpart can support attack on h3 pawn in some lines. Black is pawn down and with absolutely no counterplay as there are too few pieces on the board, and in addition, black is poorly coordinated.

21.g3!? Interesting idea to challenge black pawn chain and remove potential weakness on the g-file (g2 pawn). 21. Bh4!? with idea to trade another black active piece was good alternative.

21... Qe8 Of course, Radjabov will try to at least keep some tension. (21... fxg3 22.Bxg3 Ng6)

22.Kh1 This might be a waste of precious tempo. (22.gxf4! would efficiently clean the mess in the center 22... Qg6+ 23.Bg3 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Qxe4 25.cxd6 cxd6 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.d6)

22... Qg6 23.Qe2 23...f3!? with idea 24. Qxf3 Nfxd5

23... f3 24.Qxf3 Nfxd5 A dash of counterplay for Radjabov. One careless move (Kh1) and black is back from a completely hopeless position! 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 or 25. Qe2 Nf6...

25.Nxd5 Nxd5 26.Qe2 Nf6 27.Rce1 Suddenly, position is roughly equal with chances for both players. This comeback might depress Shirov and give some wind in the back for Radjabov. Doubling rooks on the f-file looks like a good plan.

27... Qf7 28.g4! Shirov immediately grabs opportunity presented by black's last move. 28...Qxa2 29. g5 Nh7 30. Qg4! is simply better for white, maybe best to move the queen back to g6.

28... Qg6 Radjabov lost two moves for nothing and now Shirov can continue with 29. Rg1 insisting on g5...

29.h3 Rf7 29. h3 was tame and Radjabov catches up with the better plan, doubling rooks...

30.Kg2 Nd7 (30... Bh6!?)

31.Bg1 Qe6?! (31... Rcf8)

32.b3?! (32.Rxf7 Qxf7 33.g5! with quick h4-h5)

32... Rxf1 33.Rxf1 d5?! White can play g5 or Rf5. All these inaccuracies are consequence of the time trouble.

34.g5! Finally! :)

34... a5 35.h4 Qc6 36.Re1! Rf8 37.exd5 Qxd5+ 38.Qe4 c6 39.Bh2! Qe6 40.Bg3 Rf5 Time control has passed and Radjabov is once again clearly worse. Rook exchange with 41. Rf1 or just 41. Nf4 should be sufficient.

41.a3!? Rf7 42.b4 This might give some squares to black queen (a2, b3), but Shirov wants to fortify c5 pawn before doing anything else.

42... Qa2+ 43.Re2 Qxa3? Ouch, queen might end captured! 44. g6 Rf8 45. Qc4+ and Ra2

44.g6 Indeed, Radjabov realised what is happening and resigned because queen is trapped on a3. Neverthless, even before this blunder he stood worse. Main question is whether he mixed lines from his opening preparation before dropping g4 pawn? He was plain lost at one moment, before Shirov allowed him to come back into the game. Shirov and Topalov have finished Morelia leg with +1 score. Thank you everyone for following Chessdom live commentary, we continue our coverage on Thursday 28th at 9:30 EST / 15:30 CET. See you there!

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CASIANO vs SALTORIO

Abet CASIANO vs Jefferson SALTORIO
CHAMPION'S MULTI-SIMUL
MERALCO, Pasig City

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bf4 Nf6
MANUAL OF CHESS, "Get the N's into action before both B's are developed."

4 e3 Bf5

5 Bd3 Bg6
THE TEN MOST COMMON CHESS MISTAKES, "Don't lose time by moving the same piece twice."

6 O-O
WINNING CHESS OPENINGS, "The purpose of the opening is to get a safe K and an equal middle game."

6 ... e6 7 c3 Be7 8 Re1 O-O 9 BxB f7xB 10 Nbd2 Bd6 11 Bg3 Ne4 12 a4 Be7

13 NxN PxN 14 Nd2 Bh4 15 NxP BxB 16 h2xB Qd7 17 Qg4 Rad8 18 Nc5 Qd5 19 Qxe6+ Kh8 20 e4 Qg5 21 Qc4 Rde8? 22 Ne6 RxN 23 QxR Qd2 24 Rf1 Qxb2 25 d5 Nd8 26 Qe7 Qxc3??? 27 QxR# [1-0].

PAUL CASIANO

CLRAA 2008
W: ESGUERRA, Fim Journ Blevern (TARLAC CITY)
B: CASIANO Benjamin (Bulacan)
R2, 1 hr/player

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.f4 Qe7 7.Nf3 c6 8.Na4 Bb4 9.c3 Ba5 10.b4 Bc7 11.Nb2 d5 12.fxe5 Bxe5 13.Bb3 Bg3 14.Kf1 dxe4 15.dxe4 Rd8 16.Qe2 Qxe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Ng5 Nxg5 19.Bxg5 Re8 20.Nd3 Bf5 21.Nf2 h6 22.Bd2 Nd7 23.Bc4 Ne5 24.Be2 Rad8 25.Be1 Re6 26.Bg4 Rf6 27.Ke2 Bxf2 28.Bxf2 Nxg4 29.hxg4 Bxg4 30.Ke1 Re8 31.Kf1 Re2 32.a4 Rfxf2 33.Kg1 Rxg2 34.Kf1 Bf3 35.b5 Rgf2 36.Kg1 Bxh1 37.Kxh1 Ra2 [0-1]

CHESSDOM: SEMI-SLAV; CARLSEN vs ANAND

Magnus Carlsen - Vishwanathan Anand

Morelia Linares 2008
Round 3
Morelia

17.02.2008

Good day everyone, welcome to the Chessdom live coverage of Morelia/Linares 2008. Anand started win a nice win against Shirov, but then suffered defeat against Aronian after the nasty blunder in a slightly better position. Is he feeling shaken for that reason? We're not convinced, but let's wait and see. Anand won against Carlsen in both games at the last year's event, few weeks ago at Corus 2008, and Carlsen will be seeking for revenge. Naidorf Sicilian or Semi-Slav, it depends on Carlsen's first move.

1.d4 It will be Semi-Slav. Anand has enormous trust in this opening and it brought him couple of important wins on his route to the World Championship title. Still, in the recent Corus tournament, Teimour Radjabov managed to outplay him with white.

1... d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5 ( Already famous Topalov's win against Kramnik at Corus had a different course 9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxf7 The diagram with sacrifice appeared on the front page of esteemed Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.)

9... h5 Anand already played this move against Aronian at the World Championship in Mexico City and against Kasimdzhanov. They both continued with 10. h4. ( Boris Gefland and Alexey Dreev are usually playing 9... Bb7)

10.f3!? This is older move, 10. h4 being main weapon at the moment. Bellon Lopez is the only Grandmaster that used it, while his wife Pia Cramling played 10. h3!? against Loek Van Wely on one occasion.

10... h4 11.Bf2 Bb7 12.Be2 12. Be3 has been played before, but Carlsen obviously wants to complete his development as soon as possible.

12... Nbd7 13.Nxd7 Nxd7 14.O-O e5 A standard strike against white's powerful center. Anand doesn't seem surprised with Carlsen's choice of variation, but at the same time his plan is simple: hold the queenside and try to shake white's center...

15.a4 a6 16.d5 White has to press against black's pawn mass on the queenside. Carlsen probably has something prepared against the straightforward 16...cxd5 17. Nxd5 Nc5, so perhaps better idea is to play 16...Nc5 immediately.

16... Rh6!? A common move in similar setups. Maybe Anand wants to prevent any possibility of the future Qd6 from White (play lines bellow). (16... Bc5 17.dxc6 (17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.axb5 Qb6! 20.bxc6?? (20.Kh1 axb5 21.Qd6) 20... Nxe4+ 21.Kh1 Ng3+ 22.hxg3 hxg3#) 17... Bxf2+ 18.Rxf2 Bxc6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Qxa8 21.Qd6!?) (16... Nc5!? 17.Qc2!?)

17.dxc6 Magnus finally decided to clean the mess on the queenside, even if Qd6 won't be on his disposal at the end. ( Other possibility was 17.axb5!? cxb5 18.b3!? b4 19.Na4 c3 20.Be3 with unclear consequences)

17... Bxc6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 20.Qc1!? Clearly targeting g5 pawn and Be3 might be coming soon. Queen is also cleaning d1 square for the rook. (20.Nd5!? Bxd5! 21.exd5 Rd6 black looking great)

20... Rg6 21.Rd1!? (21.Be3 Bd6!? 22.Bxg5 h3 23.g3 Bc5+ 24.Be3 Qa7)

21... Bc5 The difference compared to the line above (when white takes on g5) is that white can take on c5 and play Qe3 - 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Qe3. In such case, black will probably shuffle his knight to d4 via e6. Magnus is spending lots of time pondering over his next move. He's feeling this might be crucial moment to prove compensation for a pawn.

22.Bxc5 Nxc5 23.Qe3 Nb3 Probably best for Magnus is 24. Qb6 to get behind the enemy lines before knight establishes itself on d4. Black is still better though. (23... Ne6 with same idea to play Nd4, might allow 24.b3 but black comes out on top after (24.Qb6 looks better) 24... Qa3! 25.bxc4 b4 26.Nd5 Qxe3+ 27.Nxe3 Nd4)

24.Qb6 Nd4 Maybe exchange sacrifice before things go too far?

25.Rxd4 exd4 26.Nxb5 Magnus is a fighter, this game will be played on (26.Qxd4 Qa1+ 27.Nd1 Qc1!? and black is slowly infiltrating...)

26... Bxb5! Anand keeps finding the best moves. Queen exchange with 26...Qb7 would make it much easier for white.

27.Qxb5+ Qc6 28.Qe5+ Re6 29.Qxd4 Qb6 Carlsen took off one of the central pawns, but the resulting endgame will be very hard for him, even if all pawns are on the same flank.

30.Qxb6 Rxb6 31.Bxc4 Rxb2 32.g3 Carlsen's main problem is that king is pushed on the back rank. (32.h3 loses, because black will simply bring his king to e3 and g2 pawn will fall.)

32... f6 Taking on g3 would only give some hopes to white. Anand will rather invite white to trade on h4 and break his pawn mass in two parts. Now black king is heading forward to e3.

33.Be6 Ke7 34.Bg4 Re2!? 35.gxh4 gxh4 36.h3 There was no need to rush with h3... If white can trade his e and f pawns for black's f6, he will be very close to achieving draw. Therefore, perhaps 36. Bf5!? with idea f4-e5?

36... Kd6 37.Kf1 Rb2 Okay, maybe 38. f4!? now...

38.f4 Kc5 39.e5 Rb4 40.exf6 Rxf4+ Time contro l has passed and Magnus can carefully consider defending plan. Anand's only chance for a win is to create some sort of zugzwang against white king or bishop. But can he make it? Carlsen also has to keep his king close enough to prevent any kind of sacrifices on h3.

41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Bf3 Rxf6 43.Bb7 Rb6 Tablebases have it as winning for black, but is it possible to find it over the board in a practical game?

44.Bc8 Ke4! Keeps bouncing white king to the back rank.

45.Bg4 Rb2+ 46.Ke1 Ke3 47.Kf1 Kf4 48.Ke1 Kg3 Taking on h3 would be winning, but only if white king is on the d-file. The question is how to make it happen.

49.Kf1 Rf2+ 50.Ke1 Rf4 The idea is to take on g4, play Kg2 and push h-pawn. Black promotes first and with check.

51.Bc8 Of course, Magnus won't let it happen by will.

51... Rf8 52.Bg4 Kg2 53.Ke2 Re8+ 54.Kd3 Kf2! Perhaps black can set position with Re3, when white will have to have king on d2 (to prevent Rd3+), then after bishop moves, black rook uses opportunity to step back, attack the bishop and check on d-file in the next move. That might push white king too far away and allow black to take with rook on h3.

55.Bf5 Re3+ 56.Kd4 Kf3 57.Bg4+ Kf4 58.Kd5 (58.Bd7 Re1! 59.Bg4 Rg1! 60.Be6 (60.Kd3? Rxg4 61.hxg4 h3) 60... Rd1+ is important achievment for Anand)

58... Re5+ (58... Rg3!?)

59.Kd4 Rg5 It becomes similar to the line that was starting with 58. Bd7. Update: Magnus has just resigned. It is obvoius that white king will be pushed on the c-file and then black is free to sacrifice exchange on h3 and win the game. Excellent play from Anand as this Semi-Slav becomes dangerous weapon in his hands. Kramnik will have to invest serious work prior to the World Championship match. Pity for Magnus as his opening variation didn't provide him enough compensation for a pawn. He fought hard till the very end, but Anand is already famous over his fantastic technique. Thank you everyone for following Chessdom live commentary, tomorrow is a rest day, see you again on Tuesday at 16:30 EST / 22:30 CET for the live coverage of Carlsen-Leko.

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CHESSDOM: RL-MA; ANAND vs ARONIAN

Anand, Vishwanathan - Aronian, Levon

Morelia Linares 2008
Round 2
Morelia

16.02.2008

Yesterday Aronian faced a dangerous opponent and suffered a heavy loss. After such bitter start he is to have second Black pieces in a row - this time against the World champion Anand who is in excellent form lately. Would Levon who has already proved himself as a great tournament fighter be able to begin a comeback? The Indian is a provisional leader and sure will try to make good use of his White pieces. This result of this game may be very important to the tournament aspirations of both GMs so a tense battle is to be expected.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 Re8 The opening is Ruy Lopez, Marshall.

14.d4 Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Ra7 16.Be3 Re7 Aronian constantly chooses the Marshall variation.This predictability seems to facilitate the preparation of his opponents but he is well versed in these lines. Anand have never won against him in Ruy Lopez.

17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nf1 Though 13...Re8 is not as fashionable as 13...Bf5 or 13...Qd7, Anand does not seem surprised and plays rapidly on,

18... h5 After this logical move (Black pieces are well placed so the kingside fortifications are to be shattered) Anand began thinking over the position for a long period of time.

19.a4 Be6 All this seems to still follow Aronian's home preparation. Nxe3 is threatening and 20.Bd2 may be answered by 20...c5.

20.Bd1 (20.Bd2 c5 21.axb5 Qxb5) Evacuating the Bishop, Anand consolidates the kingside light squares at the same time.

20... h4 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bf3 Bh3 Keeping the 'h' pawns is the correct decision. (22... hxg3 23.hxg3 Bh3 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Qe2) is threatening Qh5.

23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Qd1 (24.Qe2 Re4) It seems that White managed to consolidate his position. Black cannot recapture his pawn back: (24.Qd1 hxg3 25.hxg3 Bxf1 26.Kxf1 Bxg3 27.Qf3) Anand's plan is simple - Bd2, Qf3 and Bf4 to exchange the dark squared Bishops. Additionally his Rook is very strong on the 'a' file. Nice tactical trick awaits Black in the line (24.Qd1 f6 25.Bd2 Re2 26.Ra8)

24... f5 Aronian understands the necessity to find some counterplay though in the line (24... f5 25.Qb3 Qf7 26.Bg5 Re4 27.Bxh4 f4 28.Qd1) it costs him second pawn.

25.Bg5 Re4 (25... hxg3 26.hxg3 Re2 27.Ra8 Qxa8 28.Qxe2 Qa1 29.Qe8+ Bf8 30.Qxb5)

26.Bxh4 Qg6 Serious attention deserved 26...Kh7. Now the White Bishop comes back in play.

27.Bd8 f4 (27... Re8 28.Bb6 f4 29.Bc5 Bc7)

28.Qd3 Qh5 After 29.Bb6 Qe2 30.Qxe2 Rxe2 Black has compensation for the missing pawns.

29.Nd2 Re2 (29... Re2 30.Bh4 (30.Nf3 Re3) 30... Rxd2 31.Ra8+ Bf8 32.Qxd2 Qf3 33.Rxf8+ Kh7) and there is no perpetual. P.S. During live comment I thought White may still draw.

30.Nf3 Re3 Incredible blunder by Anand.

31.fxe3 Qxf3 32.Qc2 fxg3 33.hxg3 Qxg3+ 34.Kh1 Bf5 White resigns. Anand was still under the impression that should look for advantage in this position and as a sequence of his earlier imprecisions - 25.Ng5, 29.Nd2? - came the decisive one - 30.Nf3 Aronian creatively maintained initiative, did not hesitate to sacrifice second pawn and finally tricked his opponent, thus fully restoring his chances in the tournament.

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IM CARDOSO Workshop