Showing posts with label Chess Piece. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chess Piece. Show all posts
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, October 4, 2010
Chess Piece: Good Show
2010 Olympiad
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Sept 21-Oct 3, 2010
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Sept 21-Oct 3, 2010
Final Top standings
(in tie-break order)
1. Ukraine, 19/22
2. Russia 1, 18/22
3-4. Israel, Hungary, 17/22
5-10. China, Russia 2, Armenia, Spain, United States, France, 16/22
11-19. Poland, Azerbaijan, Russia 3, Belarus, Netherlands, Slovakia, Brazil, India, Denmark, 15/22
149 teams participating
The 39th Chess Olympiad is over, and it remains for chess journalists the world over to analyze and overanalyze the failures and successes of the different competitors. The best individual rating performances during this event:
GM Emil Sutovsky (ISR) -- 2895, 6.5/8
GM Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) -- 2890, 8/10
GM Lev Aronian (ARM) -- 2888, 7.5/10
GM Sergey Karjakin (RUS-1) -- 2859, 8/10
GM Vitaly Teterev (BLR) -- 2850, 7/8
The Olympiad had a major impact on the top 10 players’ list. The highest rated player in the world, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, lost three games and his ELO plunged by 15 points, although he still remains top of the list. Aronian gained 10.8 points and overtook Topalov for third place, while Ivanchuk, Wang Yue and Karjakin entered the top 10 list, the latter for the first time in his life. The new Top 10 list:
1. Carlsen 2810.7
2. Anand 2800
3. Aronian 2793.8
4. Topalov 2785.5
5. Kramnik 2779.6
6. Ivanchuk 2771.9
7. Grischuk 2762.3
8. Karjakin 2760.9
9. Mamedyarov 2760
10. Wang Yue 2753.3
Sutovsky was his usual brilliant attacking self. His total crush of tough-to-beat Gata Kamsky led the way to Israel’s 3-1 rout over USA in the 10th round, who until then were still gunning for Olympiad medals.
Sutovsky, Emil (2665) -- Kamsky, Gata (2705) [B43]
39th Olympiad Men Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (10), 01.10.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 b5 6.Bd3
Universally recognized as the best continuation for White. I will point out, though, that in the 2008 Baku Grand Prix Gashimov came up with a strong line: 6.Be2 Bb7 7.Bf3 Qc7 8.0-0 Bd6 9.a4! (usual continuation is 9.g3) 9...Bxh2+ 10.Kh1 Be5 (Bad is 10...b4? 11.Ncb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 Qe5 13.g3) 11.axb5 Nf6 12.Be3 0-0 White was doing well. Gashimov, V. (2679)-Svidler, P. (2746)/ Baku 2008 1-0 (31).
6...Qb6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.0-0 Nge7 9.Be3 Qc7?
Position after 9...Qc7
A blunder, the refutation of which Sutovsky will demonstrate.
10.Bxb5! Rb8
Of course not 10...axb5? 11.Nxb5 Qb8 12.Nd6+ Kd8 13.Nxf7+ etc..
11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.b3 Bb7 13.Nd5! exd5 14.exd5 Nd8 15.Re1 Ne6
White was threatening a discovered attack on the queen, and 15...Be7 fails to 16.Ba7 followed by d5-d6.
16.Qd2 Bb4 17.Qxb4 Bxd5 18.Qd2 Bxf3 19.Bf4! d6 20.gxf3 Rd8 21.Rad1 0-0 22.Bxd6 Qc8 23.f4
[23.c4! h6 24.c5]
23...Nc5 24.Qc3 Rfe8 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.f3
[26.Qxc5?? Qg4+ it is Black who wins]
26...Rd8 27.Rd5 Qe6 28.Qxc5 Rc8 29.Qxc8+ Qxc8 30.Be7 1-0
Lev Aronian, top board of the defending champion Armenians, tried hard to bring gold to his country, but this year the magic was not there. You need at least two players to excel before you can contend, but Gabriel Sargissian, who was 10/13 in Turin 2006, and 9/11 in Dresden 2008, could not do as well in Khanty-Mansiysk and had to content himself with 6/11, losing two games (to Georgia’s Pansulaia and Peter Svidler).
Also, the very steady back-up on board 2 former world vice-champion Vladimir Akopian could only manage an even score (5.5/11) this year. In Turin he had 9/13 and Dresden 8/11.
Armenia’s seventh place finish is not too bad considering that they are such a small country, but the country has been fanatical about chess since Tigran Petrosian won the world title in 1963 and expected miracles from their players every Olympiad. Another blot on their performance this year was their 1.5-2.5 loss to their fierce rival (both in chess and politically) neighboring country Azerbaijan.
Aronian, Levon (2783) -- Jakovenko, Dmitry (2726) [E05]
39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk/Russia (4), 24.09.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4
The main move by far is 8.Qxc4 but of course being second does not mean it is second best.
8...Bd7
This Bc8-d7-c6 maneuver is considered the best counter for Black.
9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 h6
Black’s 10...Bd5 is the most popular here.
11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nc3 Bxf3
White’s pressure on the long diagonal is real. For example after 12...a5 13.Rfd1 It is not so clear how Black can complete his development.
13.Bxf3 c6 14.Qb3 Qc7 15.Rfd1 a5 16.Rac1
With the idea of 17.d5.
16...Bg5 17.e3 Qe7 18.Be2 Qb4 19.Qxb4 axb4 20.Ne4 Be7
Why can’t Black take the pawn? Well, after 20...Rxa4 21.Ra1 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Black’s queenside pawns will fall.
21.Ra1 Nd7 22.a5 Ra7 23.a6 bxa6 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.Bxa6 Rb8 26.Rc1 Rb6 27.Be2 Bf8 28.Kf1 g6 29.Ke1 Kg7 30.Kd1 Be7 31.f4 Kf8 32.Bf3 Ra6 33.Nf2 c5 34.Nd3! Ra5
Aronian’s idea is if 34...cxd4 then 35.Rc8+ Kg7 36.Rc7 Rd6 37.e4! followed by 38.e5.
35.Ke2 Kg7 36.Rc2 Bf8 37.Bc6 Nb8 38.Be8 Na6 39.Ne5 cxd4 40.exd4 g5 41.Bxf7!
Excellent! But can’t black win the two pieces for his rook with ...
41...Rxe5+ 42.fxe5 Kxf7
Well, black just did. But Aronian has seen further.
43.Rc6 Nb8 44.Rc7+ Be7 45.b3 Na6 46.Rb7 1-0
After 46.Rb7 Aronian’s king will just march up the white squares and take the black knight. If black tries 46...Ke8 then 47.Ra7 Nb8 48.Ra8 wins the knight just the same.
Russia was the host country and had the highest rated team, and so naturally hoped to win Olympiad gold medals this year. Whose fault was it that they only came away with second place? We will discuss on next Chess Piece.
Reader comments/suggestions are solicited. E-mail address is bangcpa@gmail.com
Friday, September 24, 2010
Chess Piece: Two Upsets
by Bobby Ang
Business World
The ongoing chess Olympiad has given us an embarrassment of riches in tremendous games. Today we have chosen two upsets for your entertainment.
The three former Soviet Republics from the Caucasus Region have traditionally been strong chess nations. Armenia, the land of the ninth world champion Tigran Petrosian, is the defending Olympiad champion while Azerbaijan is the reigning European champion. Georgia is more known for its women’s chess, being the mother country of former world champion Nona Gaprindashvili and Maya Chiburdanidze, not to mention perennial candidates Nana Alexandria, Elena Akhmilovskaya and Nana Ioselani, among many others.
Georgian men’s chess took off in the late ’90s with its first clear chess leader, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili. Zurab was top board for his country up till the 2004 Calvia Olympiad. After that, starting Turin 2006, their new leader was the young Baadur Jobava, born 1983. The two of them was a study in contrast -- whereas Azmaiparshvili had a solid positional style with a limited opening repertoire, Jobava was a tactician who liked to throw in new moves and theoretical novelties to unbalance his opponent.
In round 4, when Jobava faced the world’s highest rated player, everybody expected him to play for a draw. After all, the team from Norway had two strong players (GMs Magnus Carlsen 2826 and Jon Ludvig Hammer 2633) and the rest were just IMs. A draw on board 1 and 2 would enable their lower boards to go for wins. Nothing of that sort. Jobava remained true to form by unleashing an unexpected novelty and won a tremendous victory.
Jobava, Baadur (2710) -- Carlsen, Magnus (2826) [E24]
39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk/Russia (4), 24.09.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Nc6 6.e4!?
A move played more for its shock value than anything else. Indeed, after ...
6...Nxe4 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qxg7 Qf6 9.Qxf6 Nxf6 10.Nf3 b6
There is nothing wrong with Black’s position. Carlsen decides to play positionally and put pressure on white’s doubled c-pawns. Jobava on the other hand takes a tactical approach and goes for the attack.
11.d5 Na5 12.Nd4 Kf7 13.dxe6+ dxe6 14.Bf4 Ba6 15.Nf3 Ne4
[15...Bxc4?? 16.Ne5+]
16.Ne5+ Kf6 17.f3 Nd6 18.0-0-0 Rhd8 19.h4 Nf7 20.Nd7+ Kg7 21.Rh3
Jobava continues assaulting the Black king. He now threatens 22.Rg3+ Kh8 23.Ne5 with lots of mating threats. One possible continuation is 23...Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Nd6 25.c5! wins.
21...Kh8 22.Bg5! Nxg5 23.hxg5
With the idea of 24.Nf6.
23...Kg7 24.Rh6 Bxc4 25.Bxc4 Nxc4 26.Rdh1 Rh8 27.f4
To keep his stranglehold on the position best would have been 27.Rxe6 Rae8 28.Rc6 Nd6 29.Nf6! (29.Rxc7? Nb5 30.Rb7 Re7) 29...Rc8 30.Nd5 (threatens Ne7) 30...Rhe8 31.f4. Now however black gets a chance to escape...
27...c5?
...which he does not see. The best defense is grabbing the central file with 27...Rad8! 28.Nf6 c5 White does not gain anything by 29.Rxh7+ Rxh7 30.Rxh7+ Kg6 31.Rh6+ Kf7 32.Rh7+ Kg6 33.Rxa7 because of 33...e5!
28.Rxe6 Rae8
Position after 28Rae8
29.Rxh7+!
Does not allow Black to gain control of the central file.
29...Rxh7
[29...Kxh7 30.Nf6+ Kg7 31.Nxe8+ Kf7 32.Nc7]
30.Rxe8 Kf7 31.Ra8 Rh1+ 32.Kc2 a5 33.Ra7 Nxa3+ 34.Kd2 Rh2 35.Nxb6+ Kg6 36.Rxa5 Rxg2+ 37.Kd1 Nb1 38.Rxc5 Nd2 39.Nd5 Ne4 40.Rc6+ Kf7 41.Ne3 Rg3 42.Ke2
With two pawns up the end game is a win. There are a lot of tricks left and Magnus tries his best to hold, but in vain.
42...Ke8 43.Re6+ Kf7 44.Re5 Nxc3+ 45.Kf2 Rh3 46.Rxf5+ Kg6 47.Rf6+ Kg7 48.Nf5+ Kg8 49.Kg2 Rd3 50.Rd6 Ne2 51.Rg6+ Kh8 52.Rh6+ Kg8 53.Ne7+ Kf7 54.Ng6 Kg7 55.Kf2 Nc3 56.Ne7 Ne4+ 57.Ke2 Ra3 58.Nf5+ Kg8 59.Re6 Nc3+ 60.Kf3 Nd5+ 61.Kg4 Ra1 62.Re5 Rg1+ 63.Kf3 Rf1+ 1-0
Now the tournament book gives 64.Ke4 as the last move played, but I believe Black resigned here, realizing that 64.Ke2 (or even 64.Kg2) wins a piece. After a game is over and white wins the arbiters usually clear the board and put the white king on e4. Perhaps the arbiter in this case put the king on e4 first before clearing the board, so the sensory board registered Ke4 as the move played.
Vietnam started the Olympiad very well. After an expected win over Botswana they had victories over Azerbaijan (2.5-1.5), Uzbekistan (2.5-1.5) and Estonia (3.5-0.5). Clearly the Vietnamese are going to finish higher than their seeded 27th place.
Azerbaijan was one of the title contenders and may have been pulling their punches against Vietnam -- they didn’t want to give away any special opening preparation against a "weak" team. Too bad for them... below is the decisive encounter.
Mamedov, Rauf (2660) -- Nguyen, Anh Dung (2500) [C54]
39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk/Russia (1), 22.09.2010
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
Lately a lot of people are playing this way to avoid the Petroff Defense.
2...Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.Bb3 h6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.h3 Be6 9.Nf1 d5 10.Qe2 Re8 11.g4
Looks out of place, but I don’t want to condemn it, considering that I have a lot of respect for the player behind the white pieces -- he has whipped my butt very comprehensively each and every time we played bullet in the Internet Chess Club.
11...a5 12.Ba4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nxe4!
Probably overlooked by white.
14.Qxe4 Bd5 15.Qe2 e4 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Nd4
It is really a wretched position, for example 17.Be3 exf3 18.Qd2 Qxd2+ 19.Kxd2 Rad8+ 20.Kc2 Be4+ 21.Kc1 Bd3 this cannot be held.
17...e3!
The rook in the corner is lost.
18.Bxe3
Also bad is 18.f3 Qh4+ 19.Kd1 Bxd4 20.cxd4 Qf6! (threatening the pawn on f3) 21.Nh2 Ba4+ 22.Ke1 (22.b3 Qxd4+ and the a1 rook falls)22...Qh4+ 23.Kf1 Bb5! 24.Qxb5 Qf2# checkmate.
18...Bxh1 19.0-0-0 Qf6 20.Ng3 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Bf3 22.Qc4 Rad8 23.Rf4 Bd5 24.Qxc7 Qa6 25.Qb6 Bxa2 26.Qxa6 bxa6 27.Kc2 Rb8 28.Nf5 Bb3+ 29.Kc1 a4 30.Nd4 a3 31.bxa3 Rec8 32.Bd2 Ba2
This bishop will transfer to the b1-h7 diagonal to create mating threats against the king.
33.Nf5 Kh7 34.Nd6 Rc7 35.h4 Rb6 36.Nf5 Bb1 37.Ne3 Bd3 38.Rb4 Rb5 39.Kb2 h5 40.g5 Re7 41.a4 Rxb4+ 42.cxb4 Re4 43.Ng2 Be2 44.Nf4 Bd1 45.a5 Rc4 46.Ka3 g6 47.Be3 Kg8 48.Bd2 Kf8 49.Be3 Ke7 50.Kb2 Kd6 51.b5 axb5 52.a6 Bf3 53.a7 Ke5 54.Nd3+ Kf5 55.Ne1 Ba8 56.Nc2 Rxh4 57.Nd4+ Rxd4 58.Bxd4 h4 0-1
Reader comments/suggestions are solicited. E-mail address is bangcpa@gmail.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009
SCANDINAVIAN SECRETS
[Bobby Ang]
Long-time Chess Piece readers know that this writer has made the Scandinavian with 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 his trademark. Some time last week one of my close chess friends asked me to train him in the 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 line. "I'm sorry, but I can't", was my answer. "Why?" he persisted, and my reply was "Because I think that it has been refuted."
It was an honest answer, but he wouldn't leave me alone and made me promise to write about the so-called refutation. So here it is.
We are talking about the main line 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6. In one of the recent issues of New in Chess Yearbook, GM Sergei Tiviakov explains the technique easily:
"White easily gets an advantage if he remembers a small series of simple moves: Bc4, Bd2, Nd5, exchange on f6, followed by Bb3 (protecting the pawn on c2, may be dispensed with if attack is underway), Qe2, 0-0-0. Knowing these moves, he will always be ready for the variation with 3...Qa5 in the Scandinavian Defence. The sequence can be played against lines with both ...Bf5 and ...Bg4."
Ye Jiangchuan (2593) - Hauchard,Arnaud (2518) [B01]
Belfort Comtois 4th Belfort (7), 19.12.1999
GM Ye Jiangchuan has been China s top player since the late 80s and even reached ELO 2684 in 2003. I have met him several times and regarded him as a very friendly person who is not averse to accepting the quick draw. GM Joey told me once that Ye is equally good in attack, defence, tactics and strategical play. Today we are witness to his prowess in calculation.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5
3...Qd6 or 3...Qd8 also has its followers.
4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Bf5 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Bd2 e6 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6
The most natural move. The alternative 9...gxf6 will be taken up in the next game.
10.Qe2
This is the Shirov treatment - the fiery Latvian-turned-Spaniard won a brilliant game against Salov a few years back and it has become a model for White to adopt against this particular Black set-up.
10...Nd7
Taking the c-pawn with 10..Bxc2 is met by 11.d5! In Shirov-Salov the continuation was 10...Bg4 11.d5! Bxf3 12.gxf3 cxd5 (12...Qxb2 is just too much. Shirov has indicated 13.0�0 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Nc6 15.Rab1 Qxc2 16.Rxb7 Nd4 17.Qe3 Qc5 18.Qxd4! Qxd4 (18...Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Re1+ Kd8 21.Ba5+ Kc8 22.Rc7+ Kd8 23.Rxf7+ Kc8 24.Re8#) 19.Bc6+ Kd8 20.Ba5+ Kc8 21.Rc7+ Kb8 22.Rb1+ Bb4 23.Rb7+ Kc8 24.R7xb4 it is a rout) 13.Bxd5 Nd7 14.0�0�0 Ba3 15.c3 0�0 16.Be4 Black s position with fraught with danger. The game we are following concluded abruptly thus: 16...Be7? 17.Bxh7+!? (maybe 17.h4! is better, but who argues with success?) 17...Kxh7 18.Qd3+ Kg8 19.Qxd7 b6! 20.Rhg1 Rad8! 21.Qxa7 Bc5 22.Be3 Ra8 23.Qb7 Rxa2 24.Qe4! Bxe3+?! 25.fxe3 b5? 26.Kc2 b4 27.Qxb4 Qf5+ 28.Kb3 Raa8? 29.Rxg7+ 1�0 Shirov,A-Salov,V/ Madrid 1997.
11.0-0-0
[11.d5 does not work now: 11...cxd5 12.Bxd5 Be7 13.Bc3 Bb4 14.Bxb4 Qxb2 15.0�0 Qxb4 16.Rab1 Qa4 17.Rxb7 0�0 18.Bb3 Qc6 19.Rb4 Nb6 20.Nh4 a5 21.Nxf5 exf5 22.Rh4 a4 23.Bc4 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 Qb5 25.Qd3 1/2 Nataf,I-Waitzkin,J, Bermuda 1999]
11...Bd6?
Here is the mistake. GM Matthias Wahls, at one time the world s foremost authority in the Scandinavian, points out that Black should play 11...Nb6! 12.Bb3 (Rublevsky won a short game with 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Qg6?! 14.Qb3 Qxg2? 15.Rhg1 Qh3 (15...Qxf2 16.Qd3 leaves Black with a big problem) 16.Rg3 Qf5 17.Ne5 Be7 18.Rf3 Qe4 19.Rxf7 Qd5 20.c4 1�0 Rublevsky,S-Popov,V/ St Petersburg 2001) 12...Bg4 13.d5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 cxd5 15.Bxd5 0�0�0! (15...Nxd5? 16.Qb5+ Kd8 17.Qxb7 Rc8 18.Ba5+ mate soon) 16.Be4 Bc5 . But I think the way to salvation as pointed out by Wahls emphasizes the ills of the system. Apart from the fact that equality is only claimed but not proven, the point is that Black has to go through severe contortions to get an equal game, while White is just playing normal, easy-to-find moves.
12.Bg5! Qg6
Now the dam breaks.
13.d5! cxd5
Black can also try to wiggle out of his difficulties with 13...Ne5 14.h4 Nxf3 (14...Bxc2? 15.Nxe5! Bxd1 16.Rxd1 Qf5 17.dxe6 White is winning, for example after 17...Bxe5 (17...Qxe5 18.Qh5 0�0 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.Bd3 curtains) 18.exf7+ Kf8 19.Qd2) 15.gxf3 cxd5 16.Rxd5 Bc7 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Rd7 Black s position does not inspire confidence.
14.Rxd5 Be7 15.Bxe7 exd5
[15...Kxe7 16.Rxd7+ Kxd7 17.Ne5+]
16.Bxd5 Be6 17.Bd6 Rd8 18.Re1 Nb6 19.Qb5+ Rd7 20.Ne5 Qg5+ 21.Re3! Nxd5 22.Nxd7 a6
caption: position afer 22...a6
23.Nf6+! Kd8 24.Be7+!! Kc8
Everything loses:
a) 24...Nxe7 25.Qxg5;
b) 24...Kxe7 25.Nxd5+ Kd6 (25...Kf8 26.Qc5+ Kg8 27.f4 Qh4 28.Qc8+ Bxc8 29.Re8#; 25...Kd8 26.Qa5+ Kd7 27.Nb6+) 26.Qb6+ Kxd5 27.Qa5+ b5 28.Qd2+ Kc6 29.Rxe6+;
c) 24...Kc7 25.Qc5+
25.Qc5+ Kb8 26.Nd7+ 1-0
As can be seen Black's queen is misplaced in the kingside, so perhaps it might be a good continue to recapture on the 8th move with the g-pawn rather than the queen?
Bologan,Viktor (2620) - Hauchard,Arnaud (2518) [B01]
Belfort Comtois 4th Belfort (9), 21.12.1999
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Bd2 Bf5 7.Nd5 Qd8 8.Nxf6+ gxf6
We have now reached the same position as in the previous game, with the difference that Black played 8...gxf6 rather tan 8...Qxf6.
9.Nf3 e6 10.Bb3 Nd7 11.Qe2 a5?!
The text was not obligatory, of course, but normal means give White the advantage. Some examples:
a) 11...Bd6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.g3 Westerinen,H-Smeets,J/ Hoogeveen NED 1999 1-0 (52);
b) 11...Qc7 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.h4 Grosar,K-Rukavina,J/ Bled SLO 1999 1-0 (44)]
12.a4 Be7 13.0-0-0 Nb6?! 14.c4! Nd7 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Bc2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 Nf8 18.Kb1 Ng6
This knight had to go through a lot before it could improve its position. Funny thing is, by advancing his h-pawn White can force Black to relocate it again.
19.Bh6 0-0-0 20.h4 Bf8 21.Be3! Bb4
Protecting his knight with 21...h5 sets himself up for 22.d5! c5 23.dxe6 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Qxe6 25.Qd2.
22.h5 Ne7 23.g4 Qc7 24.g5! fxg5
[24...f5 25.Ne5 Rhf8 26.Nd3]
25.Bxg5 Rhf8 26.Qe4 Rde8 27.Bf4 Bd6
[27...Qb6 28.Qe5 is tough]
28.Bh6 Nf5
[28...Rg8? 29.c5 wins the bishop]
29.Bxf8 Bxf8 30.d5 Bc5 31.dxc6 bxc6 32.Ne5 Bxf2 33.Rd7 Qb6 34.Rhd1 Bc5 35.Nxc6 Ne3 36.Ne7+ Kb8
[36...Bxe7 37.Qa8+ Qb8 38.Qa6+ Qb7 39.Qxb7#]
37.Rd8+ Rxd8 38.Rxd8+ Kc7
[38...Qxd8 39.Nc6+ Kc7 40.Nxd8 Kxd8 41.Qe5]
39.Qa8 1-0
So, Mr. Joe Rabe, I hope this explains why I don't play 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5.
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bang@bworldonline.com
"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Business World (Philippines) on 29 April 2005"
Long-time Chess Piece readers know that this writer has made the Scandinavian with 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 his trademark. Some time last week one of my close chess friends asked me to train him in the 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 line. "I'm sorry, but I can't", was my answer. "Why?" he persisted, and my reply was "Because I think that it has been refuted."
It was an honest answer, but he wouldn't leave me alone and made me promise to write about the so-called refutation. So here it is.
We are talking about the main line 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6. In one of the recent issues of New in Chess Yearbook, GM Sergei Tiviakov explains the technique easily:
"White easily gets an advantage if he remembers a small series of simple moves: Bc4, Bd2, Nd5, exchange on f6, followed by Bb3 (protecting the pawn on c2, may be dispensed with if attack is underway), Qe2, 0-0-0. Knowing these moves, he will always be ready for the variation with 3...Qa5 in the Scandinavian Defence. The sequence can be played against lines with both ...Bf5 and ...Bg4."
Ye Jiangchuan (2593) - Hauchard,Arnaud (2518) [B01]
Belfort Comtois 4th Belfort (7), 19.12.1999
GM Ye Jiangchuan has been China s top player since the late 80s and even reached ELO 2684 in 2003. I have met him several times and regarded him as a very friendly person who is not averse to accepting the quick draw. GM Joey told me once that Ye is equally good in attack, defence, tactics and strategical play. Today we are witness to his prowess in calculation.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5
3...Qd6 or 3...Qd8 also has its followers.
4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Bf5 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Bd2 e6 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6
The most natural move. The alternative 9...gxf6 will be taken up in the next game.
10.Qe2
This is the Shirov treatment - the fiery Latvian-turned-Spaniard won a brilliant game against Salov a few years back and it has become a model for White to adopt against this particular Black set-up.
10...Nd7
Taking the c-pawn with 10..Bxc2 is met by 11.d5! In Shirov-Salov the continuation was 10...Bg4 11.d5! Bxf3 12.gxf3 cxd5 (12...Qxb2 is just too much. Shirov has indicated 13.0�0 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Nc6 15.Rab1 Qxc2 16.Rxb7 Nd4 17.Qe3 Qc5 18.Qxd4! Qxd4 (18...Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Re1+ Kd8 21.Ba5+ Kc8 22.Rc7+ Kd8 23.Rxf7+ Kc8 24.Re8#) 19.Bc6+ Kd8 20.Ba5+ Kc8 21.Rc7+ Kb8 22.Rb1+ Bb4 23.Rb7+ Kc8 24.R7xb4 it is a rout) 13.Bxd5 Nd7 14.0�0�0 Ba3 15.c3 0�0 16.Be4 Black s position with fraught with danger. The game we are following concluded abruptly thus: 16...Be7? 17.Bxh7+!? (maybe 17.h4! is better, but who argues with success?) 17...Kxh7 18.Qd3+ Kg8 19.Qxd7 b6! 20.Rhg1 Rad8! 21.Qxa7 Bc5 22.Be3 Ra8 23.Qb7 Rxa2 24.Qe4! Bxe3+?! 25.fxe3 b5? 26.Kc2 b4 27.Qxb4 Qf5+ 28.Kb3 Raa8? 29.Rxg7+ 1�0 Shirov,A-Salov,V/ Madrid 1997.
11.0-0-0
[11.d5 does not work now: 11...cxd5 12.Bxd5 Be7 13.Bc3 Bb4 14.Bxb4 Qxb2 15.0�0 Qxb4 16.Rab1 Qa4 17.Rxb7 0�0 18.Bb3 Qc6 19.Rb4 Nb6 20.Nh4 a5 21.Nxf5 exf5 22.Rh4 a4 23.Bc4 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 Qb5 25.Qd3 1/2 Nataf,I-Waitzkin,J, Bermuda 1999]
11...Bd6?
Here is the mistake. GM Matthias Wahls, at one time the world s foremost authority in the Scandinavian, points out that Black should play 11...Nb6! 12.Bb3 (Rublevsky won a short game with 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Qg6?! 14.Qb3 Qxg2? 15.Rhg1 Qh3 (15...Qxf2 16.Qd3 leaves Black with a big problem) 16.Rg3 Qf5 17.Ne5 Be7 18.Rf3 Qe4 19.Rxf7 Qd5 20.c4 1�0 Rublevsky,S-Popov,V/ St Petersburg 2001) 12...Bg4 13.d5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 cxd5 15.Bxd5 0�0�0! (15...Nxd5? 16.Qb5+ Kd8 17.Qxb7 Rc8 18.Ba5+ mate soon) 16.Be4 Bc5 . But I think the way to salvation as pointed out by Wahls emphasizes the ills of the system. Apart from the fact that equality is only claimed but not proven, the point is that Black has to go through severe contortions to get an equal game, while White is just playing normal, easy-to-find moves.
12.Bg5! Qg6
Now the dam breaks.
13.d5! cxd5
Black can also try to wiggle out of his difficulties with 13...Ne5 14.h4 Nxf3 (14...Bxc2? 15.Nxe5! Bxd1 16.Rxd1 Qf5 17.dxe6 White is winning, for example after 17...Bxe5 (17...Qxe5 18.Qh5 0�0 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.Bd3 curtains) 18.exf7+ Kf8 19.Qd2) 15.gxf3 cxd5 16.Rxd5 Bc7 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Rd7 Black s position does not inspire confidence.
14.Rxd5 Be7 15.Bxe7 exd5
[15...Kxe7 16.Rxd7+ Kxd7 17.Ne5+]
16.Bxd5 Be6 17.Bd6 Rd8 18.Re1 Nb6 19.Qb5+ Rd7 20.Ne5 Qg5+ 21.Re3! Nxd5 22.Nxd7 a6
caption: position afer 22...a6
23.Nf6+! Kd8 24.Be7+!! Kc8
Everything loses:
a) 24...Nxe7 25.Qxg5;
b) 24...Kxe7 25.Nxd5+ Kd6 (25...Kf8 26.Qc5+ Kg8 27.f4 Qh4 28.Qc8+ Bxc8 29.Re8#; 25...Kd8 26.Qa5+ Kd7 27.Nb6+) 26.Qb6+ Kxd5 27.Qa5+ b5 28.Qd2+ Kc6 29.Rxe6+;
c) 24...Kc7 25.Qc5+
25.Qc5+ Kb8 26.Nd7+ 1-0
As can be seen Black's queen is misplaced in the kingside, so perhaps it might be a good continue to recapture on the 8th move with the g-pawn rather than the queen?
Bologan,Viktor (2620) - Hauchard,Arnaud (2518) [B01]
Belfort Comtois 4th Belfort (9), 21.12.1999
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Bd2 Bf5 7.Nd5 Qd8 8.Nxf6+ gxf6
We have now reached the same position as in the previous game, with the difference that Black played 8...gxf6 rather tan 8...Qxf6.
9.Nf3 e6 10.Bb3 Nd7 11.Qe2 a5?!
The text was not obligatory, of course, but normal means give White the advantage. Some examples:
a) 11...Bd6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.g3 Westerinen,H-Smeets,J/ Hoogeveen NED 1999 1-0 (52);
b) 11...Qc7 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.h4 Grosar,K-Rukavina,J/ Bled SLO 1999 1-0 (44)]
12.a4 Be7 13.0-0-0 Nb6?! 14.c4! Nd7 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Bc2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 Nf8 18.Kb1 Ng6
This knight had to go through a lot before it could improve its position. Funny thing is, by advancing his h-pawn White can force Black to relocate it again.
19.Bh6 0-0-0 20.h4 Bf8 21.Be3! Bb4
Protecting his knight with 21...h5 sets himself up for 22.d5! c5 23.dxe6 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Qxe6 25.Qd2.
22.h5 Ne7 23.g4 Qc7 24.g5! fxg5
[24...f5 25.Ne5 Rhf8 26.Nd3]
25.Bxg5 Rhf8 26.Qe4 Rde8 27.Bf4 Bd6
[27...Qb6 28.Qe5 is tough]
28.Bh6 Nf5
[28...Rg8? 29.c5 wins the bishop]
29.Bxf8 Bxf8 30.d5 Bc5 31.dxc6 bxc6 32.Ne5 Bxf2 33.Rd7 Qb6 34.Rhd1 Bc5 35.Nxc6 Ne3 36.Ne7+ Kb8
[36...Bxe7 37.Qa8+ Qb8 38.Qa6+ Qb7 39.Qxb7#]
37.Rd8+ Rxd8 38.Rxd8+ Kc7
[38...Qxd8 39.Nc6+ Kc7 40.Nxd8 Kxd8 41.Qe5]
39.Qa8 1-0
So, Mr. Joe Rabe, I hope this explains why I don't play 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5.
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bang@bworldonline.com
"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Business World (Philippines) on 29 April 2005"
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
CHESS PIECE: 2008 YOUTH OLYMPIAD
Mersin, Turkey
August 16-25, 2008
Final Standings
1-2 India, Russia, 28.5/40
3 Philippines, 27.0/40
4 Azerbaijan, 24.5/40
5-6 Armenia, Georgia, 24.0/40
7 Turkey “A”, 23.0/40
8 Turkey “B” 22.0/40
9-11 Slovakia, Turkey “C”, Greece, 21.0/40
Total of 26 countries
The Philippine team:
bd 01 GM Wesley So 2577, 9.0/10
bd 02 NM Haridas Pascua 2171, 5.5/10
bd 03 Jon Alcon Datu 2138, 5.5/10
bd 04 Jan Emmanuel Garcia 2232, 6.5/9
This is the second consecutive bronze medal finish for the Philippines in the Youth Olympiad. Wesley scored 9.5/10 in the 2007 edition and so his overall score in this team competition for Under-16 year olds is an incredible 18.5/20.
What is his rating now? Let us see:
2577 rating as of June 30, 2008
+14.6 pts from Battle of GMs
+12.2 pts from Phil Grand Finals
+ 8.0 pts from World Junior Championship
+15.0 pts from Youth Olympiad
Current rating, therefore, is 2626.8 or, rounded off, 2627. He is the highest-rated
Filipino player since the glory days of Eugene Torre in the early 80s.
Here is Wesley’s best game from the competition from our mighty upset of the Russian team in round 7.
So,Wesley (2577) - Shimanov,Alexandr (2480) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
Nowadays the names "Paulsen" and "Kan" Variation are used interchangeably to describe this line. It is less popular than the Taimanov (4...Nc6) but statistically has better results.
5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0
I have witnessed 6.e5?? several times. Of course it loses a pawn to 6...Qa5+
6...Qc7 7.Qe2
There is a subtlety here. White should not play 7.c4 right away because after 7...Nc6! 8.Nxc6 dxc6 followed by ...e6-e5 Black with his control of d4 is already slightly better. The f8-bishop is not shut in and can go to c5.
7...d6 8.c4
Now that 7..d6 has been played the possibility above has been avoided.
8...g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Rd1 0–0 11.Nf3
This plan was introduced by the Yugoslav attacking great Ljubomir Ljubojevic. White intends to put pressure on the pawn on d6.
11...Nc6 12.h3
Here is a tip - in such positions where White intends to play Bf4 he should preface it with h2-h3. Why? Well if he plays the move immediately then 12.Bf4 e5 followed by ...Bg4 and White loses control of d4.
12...Nd7
A waiting move. Black postpones ...b7-b6 because he might have other ways to develop the bishop.
13.Bf4 Bxc3!?
This idea has been seen previously, both with the White bishop on e3 or f4. Black destroys White's queenside pawn structure with 13...Bg7xc3!? followed by ...b7-b6 and ...Nd7-c5. White is compensated for this weakness by the prospect of a kingside attack. This type of position is ideal for Wesley So - he must have been rubbing his hands in glee while surveying the enemy kingside.
14.bxc3 f6
The great Vassily Ivanchuk has played this position for Black, and his treatment was to play 14...e5 followed by putting a knight on e6, rook on d8 and then ...f7-f6. Karjakin,S (2732)-Ivanchuk,V (2751)/ Nice 2008 1/2 (41). Let us see what Shimanov's idea is.
15.Nh2 Nc5 16.Bh6 Rd8 17.Ng4 Qe7 18.f4 e5 19.f5! Kh8
[19...gxf5 20.exf5 e4? does not work because of 21.Bxe4 Nxe4? 22.Qxe4 Qxe4 23.Nxf6+]
20.Qf2 gxf5 21.exf5 Qf7
Now the black knight cannot get to e6 and White's attack is getting very dangerous.
22.Bc2 b6 23.Rab1 Rb8 24.Be3!
Black wanted to play ...Ne7 to bolster his defences, but now 24...Ne7?? is refuted by 25.Bxc5, winning a piece.
24...Qe7 25.Qh4 Rf8 26.Nxf6! Nd7? caption: position after 26...Nd7
In the tournament bulletin it said that Shimanov lost after a blunder and in fact this move IS a blunder, but I don't see how the game can be saved anymore. After the relatively better 26...Qxf6 27.Bg5 Qg7 (better than 27...Qf7 because with the queen on g7 28.Rxd6 is met by 28...Bxf5!) 28.f6 (28.Rxd6 Bxf5) 28...Qf7 29.Rxd6 Bb7 (29...Bd7? 30.Bh6 wins) 30.Rxb6 White also wins.
27.Rxd6! 1–0
Black resigns because after the forced continuation 27.Rxd6 Rxf6 (27...Qxd6 28.Qxh7#; 27...Nxf6 28.Rxc6) 28.Rxc6 Qf8 29.Rxf6 Qxf6 30.Qxf6+ Nxf6 31.Rxb6 White is three pawns up with two powerful bishops to boot.
Our final score against Russia was 3-1. Here are the other Pinoy wins:
Yaksin,Oleg (2307) - Pascua,Haridas (2171) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.h3 Bg7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be3 b6 9.Qd2 e5 10.Bh6 Qd6 11.0–0–0 a5 12.Qg5 Re8 13.Nh2 a4 14.a3 b5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Ng4 Nh5 17.Qh6+ Kg8 18.g3 b4 19.Nb1 Rb8 20.Qe3 Be6 21.Nd2 bxa3 22.bxa3 Ba2 23.Rde1 Re7 24.Kd1 c4 25.Ke2 Qxa3 26.dxc4 Qb4 27.Qd3 Ree8 28.c3 Qb2 29.Rb1 Bxb1 30.Rxb1 Qa3 31.Qd7 Qf8 32.Ra1 Red8 33.Qxc6 Rb2 34.Rd1 a3 35.Nxe5 a2 36.Nd3 Rc2 37.Qa4 Rxc3 38.Nb3 Ra8 39.Qb5 Rxb3 40.Qxb3 a1Q 41.Rxa1 Rxa1 42.c5 Qa8 43.Ke3 Nf6 44.f3 Ra3 45.Qc4 Nd7 46.Qd4 Qa4 47.Qd5 Qb5 48.Kd2 Qa5+ 49.Ke2 Ra2+ 50.Kf1 Qd2 0–1
Datu,John Alcon (2138) - Bodnaruk,Anastasia (2394) [A30]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0–0 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bxg2 10.Kxg2 d5 11.cxd5 Qxd5+ 12.Nf3 Qb7 13.Na3 Na6 14.Rc1 Rfd8 15.Qc2 Rac8 16.Qb1 Nc5 17.Kg1 Nce4 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nc4 b5 20.Ne3 Nc3 21.Bxc3 Rxc3 22.Rd1 Qc7 23.Kg2 e6 24.Rd3 Rc1 25.Rd8+ Qxd8 26.Qxc1 Nd5 27.Nxd5 Qxd5 28.Qc8+ Bf8 29.Qa6 Qc5 30.Qb7 Bd6 31.h4 h6 32.e4 Kg7 33.Qa6 Bc7 34.Qc8 Qb6 35.Qd7 Bd6 36.Qc8 Bc7 37.Qd7 Bd6 38.Qc8 Bc7 39.Qd7 Bd6 40.Qc8 Qc5 41.Qxc5 Bxc5 42.Ne5 f6 43.Nd3 Bd4 44.Kf3 Kf7 45.h5 g5 46.Kg4 Ke7 47.f4 Kf7 48.f5 Ke7 49.Kf3 Kd6 50.fxe6 Kxe6 51.g4 a5 52.a4 bxa4 53.bxa4 Kd6 54.Ke2 Ke6 55.Kd2 Kd6 56.Kc2 Kc6 57.Kb3 Bb6 58.Kc4 Bc7 59.Ne1 Be5 60.Nf3 Bb2 61.Nd2 Be5 62.Nb3 Bc7 63.Nd4+ Kd7 64.Kd5 Bd6 65.Nf5 Bf8 66.e5 Ke8 67.exf6 Kf7 68.Ke5 Bb4 69.Nxh6+ Kf8 70.Ke6 1–0
Straka,Josef Jr (2121) - Garcia,Jan Emmanuel (2232) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (2), 18.08.2008
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 Bg7 6.f4 0–0 7.Nf3 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.e5 Ne8 11.Ne4 Bb7 12.Qe1 c5 13.c3 e6 14.Rd1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb6 16.Bc1 Nd5 17.Kh2 Rc8 18.Qd2 Qe7 19.Rde1 Kh8 20.g4 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nb4 22.Bb1 Bd5 23.b3 f6 24.g5 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 f5 26.Bb1 Nc7 27.h4 Ncd5 28.Bb2 Rc7 29.Rc1 Rfc8 30.Rxc7 Qxc7 31.Rc1 Qb7 32.Rxc8+ Qxc8 33.a3 Nc6 34.h5 Bf8 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.b4 Qd7 37.Qc1 Kg8 38.Ba2 Kf7 39.Kg3 Nce7 40.Qh1 Bg7 41.Bb3 Qc8 42.Qe1 Qh8 43.Qc1 Qh5 44.Kf2 f4 45.Qg1 Ne3 46.Ke2 Qh3 47.Bc1 N7d5 48.Bxe3 Nxe3 49.Ba2 Bf8 50.Bb3 Qf5 51.Qc1 Qe4 52.Qc7+ Be7 53.Kf2 Ng4+ 54.Kg2 Qe2+ 55.Kg1 Qf2+ 0–1
To all of you guys, congratulations!
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com
August 16-25, 2008
Final Standings
1-2 India, Russia, 28.5/40
3 Philippines, 27.0/40
4 Azerbaijan, 24.5/40
5-6 Armenia, Georgia, 24.0/40
7 Turkey “A”, 23.0/40
8 Turkey “B” 22.0/40
9-11 Slovakia, Turkey “C”, Greece, 21.0/40
Total of 26 countries
The Philippine team:
bd 01 GM Wesley So 2577, 9.0/10
bd 02 NM Haridas Pascua 2171, 5.5/10
bd 03 Jon Alcon Datu 2138, 5.5/10
bd 04 Jan Emmanuel Garcia 2232, 6.5/9
This is the second consecutive bronze medal finish for the Philippines in the Youth Olympiad. Wesley scored 9.5/10 in the 2007 edition and so his overall score in this team competition for Under-16 year olds is an incredible 18.5/20.
What is his rating now? Let us see:
2577 rating as of June 30, 2008
+14.6 pts from Battle of GMs
+12.2 pts from Phil Grand Finals
+ 8.0 pts from World Junior Championship
+15.0 pts from Youth Olympiad
Current rating, therefore, is 2626.8 or, rounded off, 2627. He is the highest-rated
Filipino player since the glory days of Eugene Torre in the early 80s.
Here is Wesley’s best game from the competition from our mighty upset of the Russian team in round 7.
So,Wesley (2577) - Shimanov,Alexandr (2480) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
Nowadays the names "Paulsen" and "Kan" Variation are used interchangeably to describe this line. It is less popular than the Taimanov (4...Nc6) but statistically has better results.
5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0
I have witnessed 6.e5?? several times. Of course it loses a pawn to 6...Qa5+
6...Qc7 7.Qe2
There is a subtlety here. White should not play 7.c4 right away because after 7...Nc6! 8.Nxc6 dxc6 followed by ...e6-e5 Black with his control of d4 is already slightly better. The f8-bishop is not shut in and can go to c5.
7...d6 8.c4
Now that 7..d6 has been played the possibility above has been avoided.
8...g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Rd1 0–0 11.Nf3
This plan was introduced by the Yugoslav attacking great Ljubomir Ljubojevic. White intends to put pressure on the pawn on d6.
11...Nc6 12.h3
Here is a tip - in such positions where White intends to play Bf4 he should preface it with h2-h3. Why? Well if he plays the move immediately then 12.Bf4 e5 followed by ...Bg4 and White loses control of d4.
12...Nd7
A waiting move. Black postpones ...b7-b6 because he might have other ways to develop the bishop.
13.Bf4 Bxc3!?
This idea has been seen previously, both with the White bishop on e3 or f4. Black destroys White's queenside pawn structure with 13...Bg7xc3!? followed by ...b7-b6 and ...Nd7-c5. White is compensated for this weakness by the prospect of a kingside attack. This type of position is ideal for Wesley So - he must have been rubbing his hands in glee while surveying the enemy kingside.
14.bxc3 f6
The great Vassily Ivanchuk has played this position for Black, and his treatment was to play 14...e5 followed by putting a knight on e6, rook on d8 and then ...f7-f6. Karjakin,S (2732)-Ivanchuk,V (2751)/ Nice 2008 1/2 (41). Let us see what Shimanov's idea is.
15.Nh2 Nc5 16.Bh6 Rd8 17.Ng4 Qe7 18.f4 e5 19.f5! Kh8
[19...gxf5 20.exf5 e4? does not work because of 21.Bxe4 Nxe4? 22.Qxe4 Qxe4 23.Nxf6+]
20.Qf2 gxf5 21.exf5 Qf7
Now the black knight cannot get to e6 and White's attack is getting very dangerous.
22.Bc2 b6 23.Rab1 Rb8 24.Be3!
Black wanted to play ...Ne7 to bolster his defences, but now 24...Ne7?? is refuted by 25.Bxc5, winning a piece.
24...Qe7 25.Qh4 Rf8 26.Nxf6! Nd7? caption: position after 26...Nd7
In the tournament bulletin it said that Shimanov lost after a blunder and in fact this move IS a blunder, but I don't see how the game can be saved anymore. After the relatively better 26...Qxf6 27.Bg5 Qg7 (better than 27...Qf7 because with the queen on g7 28.Rxd6 is met by 28...Bxf5!) 28.f6 (28.Rxd6 Bxf5) 28...Qf7 29.Rxd6 Bb7 (29...Bd7? 30.Bh6 wins) 30.Rxb6 White also wins.
27.Rxd6! 1–0
Black resigns because after the forced continuation 27.Rxd6 Rxf6 (27...Qxd6 28.Qxh7#; 27...Nxf6 28.Rxc6) 28.Rxc6 Qf8 29.Rxf6 Qxf6 30.Qxf6+ Nxf6 31.Rxb6 White is three pawns up with two powerful bishops to boot.
Our final score against Russia was 3-1. Here are the other Pinoy wins:
Yaksin,Oleg (2307) - Pascua,Haridas (2171) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.h3 Bg7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be3 b6 9.Qd2 e5 10.Bh6 Qd6 11.0–0–0 a5 12.Qg5 Re8 13.Nh2 a4 14.a3 b5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Ng4 Nh5 17.Qh6+ Kg8 18.g3 b4 19.Nb1 Rb8 20.Qe3 Be6 21.Nd2 bxa3 22.bxa3 Ba2 23.Rde1 Re7 24.Kd1 c4 25.Ke2 Qxa3 26.dxc4 Qb4 27.Qd3 Ree8 28.c3 Qb2 29.Rb1 Bxb1 30.Rxb1 Qa3 31.Qd7 Qf8 32.Ra1 Red8 33.Qxc6 Rb2 34.Rd1 a3 35.Nxe5 a2 36.Nd3 Rc2 37.Qa4 Rxc3 38.Nb3 Ra8 39.Qb5 Rxb3 40.Qxb3 a1Q 41.Rxa1 Rxa1 42.c5 Qa8 43.Ke3 Nf6 44.f3 Ra3 45.Qc4 Nd7 46.Qd4 Qa4 47.Qd5 Qb5 48.Kd2 Qa5+ 49.Ke2 Ra2+ 50.Kf1 Qd2 0–1
Datu,John Alcon (2138) - Bodnaruk,Anastasia (2394) [A30]
WChT U16 Mersin (7), 22.08.2008
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0–0 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bxg2 10.Kxg2 d5 11.cxd5 Qxd5+ 12.Nf3 Qb7 13.Na3 Na6 14.Rc1 Rfd8 15.Qc2 Rac8 16.Qb1 Nc5 17.Kg1 Nce4 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nc4 b5 20.Ne3 Nc3 21.Bxc3 Rxc3 22.Rd1 Qc7 23.Kg2 e6 24.Rd3 Rc1 25.Rd8+ Qxd8 26.Qxc1 Nd5 27.Nxd5 Qxd5 28.Qc8+ Bf8 29.Qa6 Qc5 30.Qb7 Bd6 31.h4 h6 32.e4 Kg7 33.Qa6 Bc7 34.Qc8 Qb6 35.Qd7 Bd6 36.Qc8 Bc7 37.Qd7 Bd6 38.Qc8 Bc7 39.Qd7 Bd6 40.Qc8 Qc5 41.Qxc5 Bxc5 42.Ne5 f6 43.Nd3 Bd4 44.Kf3 Kf7 45.h5 g5 46.Kg4 Ke7 47.f4 Kf7 48.f5 Ke7 49.Kf3 Kd6 50.fxe6 Kxe6 51.g4 a5 52.a4 bxa4 53.bxa4 Kd6 54.Ke2 Ke6 55.Kd2 Kd6 56.Kc2 Kc6 57.Kb3 Bb6 58.Kc4 Bc7 59.Ne1 Be5 60.Nf3 Bb2 61.Nd2 Be5 62.Nb3 Bc7 63.Nd4+ Kd7 64.Kd5 Bd6 65.Nf5 Bf8 66.e5 Ke8 67.exf6 Kf7 68.Ke5 Bb4 69.Nxh6+ Kf8 70.Ke6 1–0
Straka,Josef Jr (2121) - Garcia,Jan Emmanuel (2232) [b]
WChT U16 Mersin (2), 18.08.2008
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 Bg7 6.f4 0–0 7.Nf3 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.e5 Ne8 11.Ne4 Bb7 12.Qe1 c5 13.c3 e6 14.Rd1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb6 16.Bc1 Nd5 17.Kh2 Rc8 18.Qd2 Qe7 19.Rde1 Kh8 20.g4 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nb4 22.Bb1 Bd5 23.b3 f6 24.g5 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 f5 26.Bb1 Nc7 27.h4 Ncd5 28.Bb2 Rc7 29.Rc1 Rfc8 30.Rxc7 Qxc7 31.Rc1 Qb7 32.Rxc8+ Qxc8 33.a3 Nc6 34.h5 Bf8 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.b4 Qd7 37.Qc1 Kg8 38.Ba2 Kf7 39.Kg3 Nce7 40.Qh1 Bg7 41.Bb3 Qc8 42.Qe1 Qh8 43.Qc1 Qh5 44.Kf2 f4 45.Qg1 Ne3 46.Ke2 Qh3 47.Bc1 N7d5 48.Bxe3 Nxe3 49.Ba2 Bf8 50.Bb3 Qf5 51.Qc1 Qe4 52.Qc7+ Be7 53.Kf2 Ng4+ 54.Kg2 Qe2+ 55.Kg1 Qf2+ 0–1
To all of you guys, congratulations!
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com
Saturday, April 5, 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"
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"
Saturday, October 13, 2007
GM DARWIN LAYLO
[Bobby Ang]
6th Asian Individual Championship
Cebu City, Philippines
18-30 September 2007
Final Top Standings
1-2 GM Zhang Pengxiang CHN 2649, GM Wang Hao CHN 2626, 8.0/11
3-8 GM Abhijit Kunte IND 2519, GM Zhao Jun CHN 2558, GM Susanto Megaranto INA 2554, IM Wen Yang CHN 2475, IM Darwin Laylo PHI 2486, GM Zhou Jianchao CHN 2572, 7.5/11
9-13 IM GN Gopal IND 2480, IM Enamul Hossain BAN 2485, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr PHI 2532, GM Mohamad Al Modiahki QAT 2563, G Rohit IND 2470, 7.0/11
14-19 IM Anton Filippov UZB 2481, Li Chao CHN 2529, GM Ni Hua CHN 2681, GM Yu Shaoteng CHN 2524, GM Li Shilong CHN 2550, GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly IND 2586, GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2537, 6.5/11
Total of 72 participants
The first 10 in the above list (including Pinoy Darwin Laylo on 7th) qualify for the next FIDE World Cup which starts in November 22, 2007 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
What a difference a day makes.
Darwin Laylo is 27 years of age. He was born to a poor family from San Roque, Marikina. His father was a tricycle driver and hardly played chess, but one day his uncle brought a chess set and taught him the moves. Before long Darwin was beating the uncle, the uncle’s friends and in fact everybody in sight. His prowess in this game of kings was to become the hope of his family for a better life.
Darwin became a college star for the multi-NCAA champion San Sebastian College Stags. In 1999 he won the National Junior (Under-20) Championship with a terrific score of 10.5/11, and represented the Philippines in the Asian Juniors which took place in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Despite the fact that he was unrated and a total unknown, Laylo started beating everybody else in sight, including the top seed Chinese zonal champion Liang Chong. He however lost a bit of steam towards the middle of the tournament and 4 straight victories towards the end could only get him second place, half a point behind the champion, soon-to-be Indian superstar Krishnan Sasikiran.
After the tournament Darwin continued his chess growth, and won the Philippine national championship in 2004 and 2006. Since both times were in were Olympiad years, he represented the Philippines in the 2004 Calvia Olympiad and also in 2006 Turin.
Also in 2006 he picked up two GM norms, the first from the 2006 Malaysian Open, and the second at the 2006 Bad Wiesse tournament in Germany. One more norm would give him the full International Grandmaster title.
But now came the big blow.
Charges of game-fixing came up out of the blue early this year, and, together with several other International Masters, he was banned for six months by the Federation. This meant that they could not take part in tournaments, both local and international, plus the monthly allowances that he received as a member of the Philippine chess pool from the Philippine Sports Commission were stopped.
A lot has been said about whether these charges and its penalties were justified or not, or in fact where all the evidence were just fabrications of some jealous rivals. The fact is rather than sit around at home moping Darwin buckled down to some serious work and waited for his reinstatement.
His chance came in the recently-concluded Asian Individual Chess Championship, where the top players in Asia took part to get a chance at the US$6,000 first prize as well as the 10 qualifying slots for the Khanty-Mansiysk World cup to take place in November 22 this year.
Darwin poured all his mental energy into the event. Over 11 rounds he faced 8 grandmasters, defeating Sandipan Chanda (India 2563), Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam 2537) and Le Quang Liem (Vietnam 2542), drawing with Zhou Jianchao (China 2572), Zhao Jun (China 2558) and tournament winner Zhang Pengxiang (China 2649) and losing twice, to Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia 2554) from a very favorable position, and to Indian whiz kid Parimarjan Negi (2529) from a winning game.
So now the wheel has turned full circle, and prospects are once again very bright. Darwin Laylo has graduated to a full-fledged International Grandmaster, the 7th in the Philippines after Eugenio Torre (1974), the late Rosendo Balinas Jr. (1976), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (1993), Bong Villamayor (2004), Nelson Mariano II (2004) and Mark Paragua (2006).
A few years ago during a training session I noted to Darwin that his Black openings were not impressive, and suggested a switch to more open positions with the Scandinavian. I then handed him my “secret weapon”, a CD containing secret analyses prepared over several years on the Scandinavian including a complete repertoire against White’s possible replies. This also included every known/existing game on the Scandinavian in chess history with all games catalogued per variation. Darwin took this up quite seriously and is now probably the country’s greatest expert on the Scandinavian.
It has become traditional that I end a write-up on Darwin with his latest exploits in the Scandinavian. The following game could not be more crucial – Laylo had to score 1.5 out of his last two games to enter the magic 10. Here is the win he needed so much.
Le Quang,Liem (2542) - Laylo,Darwin (2486) [B01]
Asian Individual Ch Cebu City (10.5), 28.09.2007
1.e4
Le Quang is a 1.d4 player, and so suddenly switching to 1.e4 can only mean one thing - he has something prepared for Darwin's Scandinavian Defence. Darwin confessed that he took 30 minutes thinking whether to stick to his guns or to play the Sicilian. After a lot of soul-searching the decision is made to fight "in his own backyard".
1...d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Bf5 5.Nh4!?
So this was Le Quang's idea!
5...Bd7 6.c4 Nf6
It might seem that White is driving back the enemy forces at will, but consider this: his only developed piece is the knight at h4, his king has not yet castled. This is the type of position Scandinavian players like.
7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 c5 9.Nf3
[9.dxc5 Na6 10.Qd4 Qa5 simply wins back the pawn]
9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Be7 11.Be2 Nc6 12.Ndb5 0–0 13.0–0 a6 14.Nd6 Qc7 15.c5 Rfd8 16.Nc4 Rab8 17.Nb6
Darwin told me that for a while he thought Le Quang would play 17.Qd6!? Bxd6 18.cxd6 Qc8 19.Nb6 winning back the queen, but it does not appear to lead to any advantage. For example Black can play 19...Nd4! 20.Nxc8 (20.Bxd4 Qc6 saves the queen) 20...Nxe2+ 21.Nxe2 Rbxc8 the advanced d6-pawn is in danger of falling.
17...Ne5 18.Qd4
Caption: position after 18.Qd4
18...Bb5!
Obviously White was surprised with this tactical shot.
19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Qf4 Bxc5 21.Rac1
[21.Bxb5 Bxe3 22.Qxe3?? Neg4]
21...Bxe3! 22.Qxe3 Nc6 23.Rfd1
The pawn is still taboo 23.Bxb5? Ng4.
23...Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Rd8 25.Bf3 b4
Now Black is a clear pawn up.
26.h3 h6 27.Qc5 Qf4 28.Qe3 Qd6 29.Nc4 Qc7 30.Bxc6 Qxc6 31.Ne5 Qa4 32.Qb3 Qb5 33.Qe3 Qd5 34.Rc4 b5?!
This was actually quite unnecessary, as the simple 34...Qa5 followed by ...Nd5 keeps the pawns. However, at this point Le Quang had 30 seconds left in this crucial game and was trembling with nervousness. Darwin on the other hand had 90 seconds and thought that the text would surprise his opponent, as it in fact did.
35.Rc5?
[35.Rxb4]
35...Qxa2 36.b3 Nd5 37.Qg3 Qa7 38.Rc6 Qd4 39.Kh2 Nf4 40.Nxf7?
A completely unsound attempt to complicate the position, but if he does not do anything drastic Black would have a simple win in the ending.
40...Kxf7 41.Rc7+ Kg8 42.Rb7 Qe5 0–1
After this win Darwin agreed a short draw with GM Zhang Pengxiang to get his GM title.
I am very proud of Darwin Laylo. May I say that this happy ending could not have happened to a nicer guy.
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 12 October 2007
6th Asian Individual Championship
Cebu City, Philippines
18-30 September 2007
Final Top Standings
1-2 GM Zhang Pengxiang CHN 2649, GM Wang Hao CHN 2626, 8.0/11
3-8 GM Abhijit Kunte IND 2519, GM Zhao Jun CHN 2558, GM Susanto Megaranto INA 2554, IM Wen Yang CHN 2475, IM Darwin Laylo PHI 2486, GM Zhou Jianchao CHN 2572, 7.5/11
9-13 IM GN Gopal IND 2480, IM Enamul Hossain BAN 2485, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr PHI 2532, GM Mohamad Al Modiahki QAT 2563, G Rohit IND 2470, 7.0/11
14-19 IM Anton Filippov UZB 2481, Li Chao CHN 2529, GM Ni Hua CHN 2681, GM Yu Shaoteng CHN 2524, GM Li Shilong CHN 2550, GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly IND 2586, GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2537, 6.5/11
Total of 72 participants
The first 10 in the above list (including Pinoy Darwin Laylo on 7th) qualify for the next FIDE World Cup which starts in November 22, 2007 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
What a difference a day makes.
Darwin Laylo is 27 years of age. He was born to a poor family from San Roque, Marikina. His father was a tricycle driver and hardly played chess, but one day his uncle brought a chess set and taught him the moves. Before long Darwin was beating the uncle, the uncle’s friends and in fact everybody in sight. His prowess in this game of kings was to become the hope of his family for a better life.
Darwin became a college star for the multi-NCAA champion San Sebastian College Stags. In 1999 he won the National Junior (Under-20) Championship with a terrific score of 10.5/11, and represented the Philippines in the Asian Juniors which took place in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Despite the fact that he was unrated and a total unknown, Laylo started beating everybody else in sight, including the top seed Chinese zonal champion Liang Chong. He however lost a bit of steam towards the middle of the tournament and 4 straight victories towards the end could only get him second place, half a point behind the champion, soon-to-be Indian superstar Krishnan Sasikiran.
After the tournament Darwin continued his chess growth, and won the Philippine national championship in 2004 and 2006. Since both times were in were Olympiad years, he represented the Philippines in the 2004 Calvia Olympiad and also in 2006 Turin.
Also in 2006 he picked up two GM norms, the first from the 2006 Malaysian Open, and the second at the 2006 Bad Wiesse tournament in Germany. One more norm would give him the full International Grandmaster title.
But now came the big blow.
Charges of game-fixing came up out of the blue early this year, and, together with several other International Masters, he was banned for six months by the Federation. This meant that they could not take part in tournaments, both local and international, plus the monthly allowances that he received as a member of the Philippine chess pool from the Philippine Sports Commission were stopped.
A lot has been said about whether these charges and its penalties were justified or not, or in fact where all the evidence were just fabrications of some jealous rivals. The fact is rather than sit around at home moping Darwin buckled down to some serious work and waited for his reinstatement.
His chance came in the recently-concluded Asian Individual Chess Championship, where the top players in Asia took part to get a chance at the US$6,000 first prize as well as the 10 qualifying slots for the Khanty-Mansiysk World cup to take place in November 22 this year.
Darwin poured all his mental energy into the event. Over 11 rounds he faced 8 grandmasters, defeating Sandipan Chanda (India 2563), Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam 2537) and Le Quang Liem (Vietnam 2542), drawing with Zhou Jianchao (China 2572), Zhao Jun (China 2558) and tournament winner Zhang Pengxiang (China 2649) and losing twice, to Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia 2554) from a very favorable position, and to Indian whiz kid Parimarjan Negi (2529) from a winning game.
So now the wheel has turned full circle, and prospects are once again very bright. Darwin Laylo has graduated to a full-fledged International Grandmaster, the 7th in the Philippines after Eugenio Torre (1974), the late Rosendo Balinas Jr. (1976), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (1993), Bong Villamayor (2004), Nelson Mariano II (2004) and Mark Paragua (2006).
A few years ago during a training session I noted to Darwin that his Black openings were not impressive, and suggested a switch to more open positions with the Scandinavian. I then handed him my “secret weapon”, a CD containing secret analyses prepared over several years on the Scandinavian including a complete repertoire against White’s possible replies. This also included every known/existing game on the Scandinavian in chess history with all games catalogued per variation. Darwin took this up quite seriously and is now probably the country’s greatest expert on the Scandinavian.
It has become traditional that I end a write-up on Darwin with his latest exploits in the Scandinavian. The following game could not be more crucial – Laylo had to score 1.5 out of his last two games to enter the magic 10. Here is the win he needed so much.
Le Quang,Liem (2542) - Laylo,Darwin (2486) [B01]
Asian Individual Ch Cebu City (10.5), 28.09.2007
1.e4
Le Quang is a 1.d4 player, and so suddenly switching to 1.e4 can only mean one thing - he has something prepared for Darwin's Scandinavian Defence. Darwin confessed that he took 30 minutes thinking whether to stick to his guns or to play the Sicilian. After a lot of soul-searching the decision is made to fight "in his own backyard".
1...d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Bf5 5.Nh4!?
So this was Le Quang's idea!
5...Bd7 6.c4 Nf6
It might seem that White is driving back the enemy forces at will, but consider this: his only developed piece is the knight at h4, his king has not yet castled. This is the type of position Scandinavian players like.
7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 c5 9.Nf3
[9.dxc5 Na6 10.Qd4 Qa5 simply wins back the pawn]
9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Be7 11.Be2 Nc6 12.Ndb5 0–0 13.0–0 a6 14.Nd6 Qc7 15.c5 Rfd8 16.Nc4 Rab8 17.Nb6
Darwin told me that for a while he thought Le Quang would play 17.Qd6!? Bxd6 18.cxd6 Qc8 19.Nb6 winning back the queen, but it does not appear to lead to any advantage. For example Black can play 19...Nd4! 20.Nxc8 (20.Bxd4 Qc6 saves the queen) 20...Nxe2+ 21.Nxe2 Rbxc8 the advanced d6-pawn is in danger of falling.
17...Ne5 18.Qd4
Caption: position after 18.Qd4
18...Bb5!
Obviously White was surprised with this tactical shot.
19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Qf4 Bxc5 21.Rac1
[21.Bxb5 Bxe3 22.Qxe3?? Neg4]
21...Bxe3! 22.Qxe3 Nc6 23.Rfd1
The pawn is still taboo 23.Bxb5? Ng4.
23...Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Rd8 25.Bf3 b4
Now Black is a clear pawn up.
26.h3 h6 27.Qc5 Qf4 28.Qe3 Qd6 29.Nc4 Qc7 30.Bxc6 Qxc6 31.Ne5 Qa4 32.Qb3 Qb5 33.Qe3 Qd5 34.Rc4 b5?!
This was actually quite unnecessary, as the simple 34...Qa5 followed by ...Nd5 keeps the pawns. However, at this point Le Quang had 30 seconds left in this crucial game and was trembling with nervousness. Darwin on the other hand had 90 seconds and thought that the text would surprise his opponent, as it in fact did.
35.Rc5?
[35.Rxb4]
35...Qxa2 36.b3 Nd5 37.Qg3 Qa7 38.Rc6 Qd4 39.Kh2 Nf4 40.Nxf7?
A completely unsound attempt to complicate the position, but if he does not do anything drastic Black would have a simple win in the ending.
40...Kxf7 41.Rc7+ Kg8 42.Rb7 Qe5 0–1
After this win Darwin agreed a short draw with GM Zhang Pengxiang to get his GM title.
I am very proud of Darwin Laylo. May I say that this happy ending could not have happened to a nicer guy.
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 12 October 2007
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
LAYLO IS CHAMP AGAIN
[Bobby Ang]
Twenty-six year old IM Darwin Laylo got himself a seat in the Philippine team to the 2006 Turin Olympiad (to start on the 20th of this month) by topping the 2006 National Chess Open Championship held in the Marketplace Shopping Mall in Mandaluyong City with a score of 10.5/13.
The attentive BW reader might recall that Darwin first became national champion two years ago which in turn qualified him for his maiden appearance as a member of our national squad to the 2004 Calvia de Mallorca Olympiad.
This year three Olympiad slots were up for grabs in this national championship. FM Oliver Dimakiling defeated IM Richard Bitoon in the last round to finish solo second with 10.0/13. There was a multiple tie for the 3rd and last seat between FM Wesley So (the 12-year old sensation), IM Petronio Roca, and National Masters John Paul Gomez, Roderick Nava, Rolando Nolte, and veteran Mirabeau Maga. A double round-robin elimination event was held after the Holy Week in Tagaytay and So, by scoring 2 wins and 3 draws, made chess history by becoming the youngest ever player to represent our country in a chess Olympiad.
The three qualifiers IM Darwin Laylo, FM Oliver Dimakiling and FM Wesley So will join the seeded GMs Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio in Turin for the Olympiad.
Today we will introduce Darwin Laylo to our readers. Oliver and Wesley will be discussed on Friday.
Darwin was born to a poor family in San Roque, Marikina. His father was a tricycle driver and there was not much to do at home until one day his uncle brought a chess set and taught him the moves. It soon became apparent that Darwin and the game were a magical match, and pretty soon he was defeating everyone in sight.
I first heard about him in 1993. GM Joey Antonio had just gotten his International Grandmaster title and was invited to play in a giant Quezon City Open. He won it all right but had to endure an upset loss to a 13-year old in an exciting game.
Laylo,Darwin - Antonio,Rogelio Jr [E39]
Quezon City op, 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 0–0 6.Nf3 Na6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5 9.Bg5 Nce4 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.e3 b6 12.Be2 Bb7 13.0–0 Rc8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Rac1 Rfd8 16.Nd4 Qb8 17.b4 d5 18.Qb3 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Ng4!
White wants to sacrifice a piece on e6, but Joey counters against h2.
20.g3 Ne5
A trap. 20...Qe5 might be even stronger but GM Joey was playing a kid who must might be enticed to sacrifice unsoundly with 21.Nxe6? when 21...Rxd1! wins the bishop on c4.
21.Be2 Qa8 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Nxe6! Bh1?
Naturally Black cannot play 23...fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Nf7 25.Rd7 Rf8 26.Bc4, but the correct response would have been 23...Nf3+! 24.Bxf3 Bxf3 and both white's rook on d1 and knight on e6 are hanging.
24.Nf4 Be4 25.Qb2 f6 26.Qb3+ Kh8 27.Qe6 Re8 28.Qd6 Qc8 29.h4 Ba8 30.h5 h6 31.Kh2 Qb7 32.Nd5 Rc8 33.Qe7 Qc6 34.b5 Qc2 35.Nxf6! gxf6 36.Qxf6+ Kg8 37.Qxe5 Qe4 38.Qxe4 Bxe4 39.Rd4 Bf5 40.g4 1–0
Darwin finished 10th in the tournament and defeated several of our top players in the process - aside from GM Joey there was also Bong Villamayor and Luis Chiong – not bad for an unknown 13-year old.
Shortly after this brilliant performance he was recruited by NM Bong Cunanan into the San Sebastian chess team. This was one of the best moves that Bong ever made, for Laylo teamed up with Ronald Dableo to establish the San Sebastian dynasty in NCAA chess.
In 1999 Darwin won the National Junior (Under-20) Championship with a terrific score of 10.5/11, including a win over a soon-to-be-famous player:
Paragua,Mark - Laylo,Darwin [A08]
PHI-ChJr Greenhills (7), 22.05.1999
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Nbd2 Nge7 6.Bg2 g6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.Re1 Qc7 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nb3 Bg4 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Nc5 Qc8 14.Bd6 Bf6 15.Qd2 0–0 16.Qf4 Qf5 17.Nxb7 g5?! 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 19.Ne5 Bxc2 20.Nd7 Kg7 21.Nxf6?
Too much subtlety - he should have simply taken the rook with 21.Nxf8.
21...Kxf6 22.Na5 Rfd8 23.Bc5 d3
Now the tables have turned.
24.Nb3 Nf5 25.Nd2 Nfd4 26.Bf1 Re8 27.f3 Re6 28.Kf2 Rae8 29.Rxe6+ fxe6 30.b4 e5 31.Bh3 Ba4 32.Rc1 Ne2 33.Re1 Ncd4 34.Bxd4 Nxd4 35.Bf1 Bb5 36.a4 Bc4 37.b5 g4 38.Rb1 gxf3 39.Nxf3 Nxf3 40.Kxf3 e4+ 41.Ke3 Ke5 0–1
Next stop was the Asian Junior Championships to be held a few months later in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Bong Cunanan took Darwin to the Philippine Chess Society and asked for help in his training. He did not want the business-as-usual “training” prevalent in these times where you get some money from the Sports Commission for training in Baguio, and then spend your time there eating strawberries and flirting with girls.
The Chess Society through Sportsman Jerry Acuzar, Horace Templo and Rey Sarmiento managed to come up with the funding for serious training. I worked with Darwin for several days on his opening preparation and then arranged for a series of mini-matches with players of different styles using the time controls which will be in force in Vung Tau. The results were heartening as you can almost feel his confidence growing and strength increasing with every day. He even managed to beat GM Joey again:
Laylo,Darwin - Antonio,Rogelio Jr [A60]
Training Match Timog (2.2), 02.09.1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.e4 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nge2 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.a4 Na6 11.0–0 Nb4 12.h3 a6 13.f4 Nd7 14.g4 c4 15.Be3 Qa5 16.g5 Nc5 17.Bd4 Nbd3 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.f5 Nb3 20.Ng3 Ne5?
A mistake. 20...Qb6+ followed by 21...Nxa1 wins material.
21.Nh5+! gxh5 22.Qxh5 Nxa1?
[22...Rg8! holds]
23.Qh6+ Kh8 24.g6
Black will be mated. 1–0
When the time came for the Junior tournament Darwin was in fighting shape – he started off in the first round by upsetting the heavy favorite to win, China’s Liang Chong. This is no mean feat – Liang had represented China in the 1999 World Championship and had even won their zonal championship.
Liang Chong (2415) - Laylo,Darwin [D85]
ASIA-ChJr Vung Tao (1), 12.09.1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 9.Ne2 0–0 10.0–0 c5 11.Rb1 Qc7 12.Qb3 Rab8 13.Bf4 e5 14.Bg3 Qc6 15.d5 Qd6 16.c4 a6 17.a4 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f3 b6 20.Qd3 Rbe8 21.Nc3 Qh6 22.Rbe1 e4 23.fxe4 f4 24.Bf2 Ne5 25.Qd1 Rf6 26.Kh1 Rg6 27.Bg1 Qg5 28.Qc2 Ng4 29.Rf3 Bd4
The threat is ...Qh4, threatening the rook on e1 as well as ...Bxg1
30.Re2 Ne5 31.Ref2
[31.Rf1 f3 32.Rd2 Nxc4 33.Bxd4 Nxd2 is hopeless for White]
31...Nxf3 32.Rxf3 Qe5 0–1
Liang Chong was not able to recover from this loss. All throughout the tournament it was Darwin, Malaysia’s Hafizulhelmi Mas and India’s Krishnan Sasikiran (now a super GM) who fought for the lead. Even Iran’s highly-touted Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (now also a super GM) could not catch up with the scorching pace and was a non-factor.
Although Laylo lost to both his co-leaders he defeated everybody else and his do-or-die stance greatly impressed the public. At the end he became Vice Junior Champion of Asia by finishing solo second to Sasikiran.
When he came home to the Philippines Darwin had arrived, both literally and figuratively – he was already considered among the top players in the country. And that is where we have to cut this story of his early years up to the time he became an international campaigner.
A few years ago during a training session I noted to Darwin that his Black openings were not impressive, and suggested a switch to more open positions with the Scandinavian. I then handed him my “secret weapon”, a CD containing secret analyses prepared over several years on the Scandinavian including a complete repertoire against White’s possible replies. This also included every known/existing game on the Scandinavian in chess history with all games catalogued per variation. Darwin took this up quite seriously and is now probably the country’s greatest expert on the Scandinavian.
And this is where I will end the Darwin Laylo story, with his latest Scandinavian conquest in the tournament just concluded.
Milagrosa,Alex (2223) - Laylo,Darwin (2406) [B01]
2006 National Chess Open Ch Mens (4.1),
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.dxe6 Bxe6 5.d4
It looks like White is doing fine, with an extra pawn and a strong center. In reality he has to be very careful in order to survive into the middlegame.
5...Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Ne4
Now Milagring realized the gravity of his situation and thought for a long time here. At the end he just decides to give up a pawn without, however, improving his prospects.
7.a3
[7.Qd3 Bf5! 8.Qf3 a) 8.Bd2? 0–0 9.Nxe4 (9.0–0–0 is refuted by 9...Nxc3 10.Qxf5 Nxd1 11.Bxb4 Qxd4) 9...Bxe4 10.Qe3 Re8 wins the queen; b) 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 0–0 10.Qf3 Re8 11.Be2 Qd7 12.Bb2 Nc6 13.g4 Bg6 14.0–0–0 Na5 15.Rd3 Nxc4 16.Re3 Ned2 17.Qxb7 Reb8 18.Qg2 Qb5 19.Ba1 Qb1# 0–1 Bilalic,M-Vescovi,G (2490)/ WJuCh, Medellin COL 1996; 8...Qxd4!]
7...Nxc3 8.Qd3 Qe7
Only on the 7th move, and White is already critical.
9.Be3 Ne4+ 10.axb4 Qxb4+ 11.Kd1
[11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.Rd1 Nxd2 13.Rxd2 Qa1+ 14.Rd1 Qa5+ 15.Rd2 0–0 16.Be2 Bf5! 17.Qb3 Nc6 18.Nf3 Be4 19.0–0 Bxf3 20.Ra2 Nxd4 0–1 Paaske,A (2038)-Simonsen,O (2183)/ Copenhagen 2000]
11...Qxb2 12.Qa3 Qxa3?
Black overlooks 12...Nxf2+
] 13.Rxa3 c6 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Kc2 0–0 16.Bd3 Nd6 17.Nd2 Rfc8 18.Bf4 Nf5 19.Nf3 Nf6 20.h3 Rd8 21.Kc3 b5! 22.Bg5 bxc4 23.Bxf6³ gxf6 24.Bxf5 Bxf5 25.Ra5 Rd5 26.Rha1 Re8 27.Rxa7 Kg7 28.Re1 Rxe1
White has to be careful here otherwise he will be mated.
29.Nxe1 Rb5 30.Ra1 Be6 31.Ra3 Rb1 32.Kd2 Rb2+ 33.Nc2 Bf5 34.Rc3 Bd3 35.Kc1 Rb8 36.Na3 Rb4 37.Nc2 Ra4 38.Ne1 Ra1+ 39.Kd2 Ra2+ 40.Nc2 f5 41.Kc1 f4 42.Kb1?
The pressure was too much - White crumbles.
42...Rxc2 43.Rxc2 Kf6 44.Kb2 Bxc2 45.Kxc2 Ke6 0–1
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bobby@cpamd.net
"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 01 May 2006"
Twenty-six year old IM Darwin Laylo got himself a seat in the Philippine team to the 2006 Turin Olympiad (to start on the 20th of this month) by topping the 2006 National Chess Open Championship held in the Marketplace Shopping Mall in Mandaluyong City with a score of 10.5/13.
The attentive BW reader might recall that Darwin first became national champion two years ago which in turn qualified him for his maiden appearance as a member of our national squad to the 2004 Calvia de Mallorca Olympiad.
This year three Olympiad slots were up for grabs in this national championship. FM Oliver Dimakiling defeated IM Richard Bitoon in the last round to finish solo second with 10.0/13. There was a multiple tie for the 3rd and last seat between FM Wesley So (the 12-year old sensation), IM Petronio Roca, and National Masters John Paul Gomez, Roderick Nava, Rolando Nolte, and veteran Mirabeau Maga. A double round-robin elimination event was held after the Holy Week in Tagaytay and So, by scoring 2 wins and 3 draws, made chess history by becoming the youngest ever player to represent our country in a chess Olympiad.
The three qualifiers IM Darwin Laylo, FM Oliver Dimakiling and FM Wesley So will join the seeded GMs Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio in Turin for the Olympiad.
Today we will introduce Darwin Laylo to our readers. Oliver and Wesley will be discussed on Friday.
Darwin was born to a poor family in San Roque, Marikina. His father was a tricycle driver and there was not much to do at home until one day his uncle brought a chess set and taught him the moves. It soon became apparent that Darwin and the game were a magical match, and pretty soon he was defeating everyone in sight.
I first heard about him in 1993. GM Joey Antonio had just gotten his International Grandmaster title and was invited to play in a giant Quezon City Open. He won it all right but had to endure an upset loss to a 13-year old in an exciting game.
Laylo,Darwin - Antonio,Rogelio Jr [E39]
Quezon City op, 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 0–0 6.Nf3 Na6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5 9.Bg5 Nce4 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.e3 b6 12.Be2 Bb7 13.0–0 Rc8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Rac1 Rfd8 16.Nd4 Qb8 17.b4 d5 18.Qb3 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Ng4!
White wants to sacrifice a piece on e6, but Joey counters against h2.
20.g3 Ne5
A trap. 20...Qe5 might be even stronger but GM Joey was playing a kid who must might be enticed to sacrifice unsoundly with 21.Nxe6? when 21...Rxd1! wins the bishop on c4.
21.Be2 Qa8 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Nxe6! Bh1?
Naturally Black cannot play 23...fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Nf7 25.Rd7 Rf8 26.Bc4, but the correct response would have been 23...Nf3+! 24.Bxf3 Bxf3 and both white's rook on d1 and knight on e6 are hanging.
24.Nf4 Be4 25.Qb2 f6 26.Qb3+ Kh8 27.Qe6 Re8 28.Qd6 Qc8 29.h4 Ba8 30.h5 h6 31.Kh2 Qb7 32.Nd5 Rc8 33.Qe7 Qc6 34.b5 Qc2 35.Nxf6! gxf6 36.Qxf6+ Kg8 37.Qxe5 Qe4 38.Qxe4 Bxe4 39.Rd4 Bf5 40.g4 1–0
Darwin finished 10th in the tournament and defeated several of our top players in the process - aside from GM Joey there was also Bong Villamayor and Luis Chiong – not bad for an unknown 13-year old.
Shortly after this brilliant performance he was recruited by NM Bong Cunanan into the San Sebastian chess team. This was one of the best moves that Bong ever made, for Laylo teamed up with Ronald Dableo to establish the San Sebastian dynasty in NCAA chess.
In 1999 Darwin won the National Junior (Under-20) Championship with a terrific score of 10.5/11, including a win over a soon-to-be-famous player:
Paragua,Mark - Laylo,Darwin [A08]
PHI-ChJr Greenhills (7), 22.05.1999
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Nbd2 Nge7 6.Bg2 g6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.Re1 Qc7 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nb3 Bg4 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Nc5 Qc8 14.Bd6 Bf6 15.Qd2 0–0 16.Qf4 Qf5 17.Nxb7 g5?! 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 19.Ne5 Bxc2 20.Nd7 Kg7 21.Nxf6?
Too much subtlety - he should have simply taken the rook with 21.Nxf8.
21...Kxf6 22.Na5 Rfd8 23.Bc5 d3
Now the tables have turned.
24.Nb3 Nf5 25.Nd2 Nfd4 26.Bf1 Re8 27.f3 Re6 28.Kf2 Rae8 29.Rxe6+ fxe6 30.b4 e5 31.Bh3 Ba4 32.Rc1 Ne2 33.Re1 Ncd4 34.Bxd4 Nxd4 35.Bf1 Bb5 36.a4 Bc4 37.b5 g4 38.Rb1 gxf3 39.Nxf3 Nxf3 40.Kxf3 e4+ 41.Ke3 Ke5 0–1
Next stop was the Asian Junior Championships to be held a few months later in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Bong Cunanan took Darwin to the Philippine Chess Society and asked for help in his training. He did not want the business-as-usual “training” prevalent in these times where you get some money from the Sports Commission for training in Baguio, and then spend your time there eating strawberries and flirting with girls.
The Chess Society through Sportsman Jerry Acuzar, Horace Templo and Rey Sarmiento managed to come up with the funding for serious training. I worked with Darwin for several days on his opening preparation and then arranged for a series of mini-matches with players of different styles using the time controls which will be in force in Vung Tau. The results were heartening as you can almost feel his confidence growing and strength increasing with every day. He even managed to beat GM Joey again:
Laylo,Darwin - Antonio,Rogelio Jr [A60]
Training Match Timog (2.2), 02.09.1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.e4 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nge2 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.a4 Na6 11.0–0 Nb4 12.h3 a6 13.f4 Nd7 14.g4 c4 15.Be3 Qa5 16.g5 Nc5 17.Bd4 Nbd3 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.f5 Nb3 20.Ng3 Ne5?
A mistake. 20...Qb6+ followed by 21...Nxa1 wins material.
21.Nh5+! gxh5 22.Qxh5 Nxa1?
[22...Rg8! holds]
23.Qh6+ Kh8 24.g6
Black will be mated. 1–0
When the time came for the Junior tournament Darwin was in fighting shape – he started off in the first round by upsetting the heavy favorite to win, China’s Liang Chong. This is no mean feat – Liang had represented China in the 1999 World Championship and had even won their zonal championship.
Liang Chong (2415) - Laylo,Darwin [D85]
ASIA-ChJr Vung Tao (1), 12.09.1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 9.Ne2 0–0 10.0–0 c5 11.Rb1 Qc7 12.Qb3 Rab8 13.Bf4 e5 14.Bg3 Qc6 15.d5 Qd6 16.c4 a6 17.a4 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f3 b6 20.Qd3 Rbe8 21.Nc3 Qh6 22.Rbe1 e4 23.fxe4 f4 24.Bf2 Ne5 25.Qd1 Rf6 26.Kh1 Rg6 27.Bg1 Qg5 28.Qc2 Ng4 29.Rf3 Bd4
The threat is ...Qh4, threatening the rook on e1 as well as ...Bxg1
30.Re2 Ne5 31.Ref2
[31.Rf1 f3 32.Rd2 Nxc4 33.Bxd4 Nxd2 is hopeless for White]
31...Nxf3 32.Rxf3 Qe5 0–1
Liang Chong was not able to recover from this loss. All throughout the tournament it was Darwin, Malaysia’s Hafizulhelmi Mas and India’s Krishnan Sasikiran (now a super GM) who fought for the lead. Even Iran’s highly-touted Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (now also a super GM) could not catch up with the scorching pace and was a non-factor.
Although Laylo lost to both his co-leaders he defeated everybody else and his do-or-die stance greatly impressed the public. At the end he became Vice Junior Champion of Asia by finishing solo second to Sasikiran.
When he came home to the Philippines Darwin had arrived, both literally and figuratively – he was already considered among the top players in the country. And that is where we have to cut this story of his early years up to the time he became an international campaigner.
A few years ago during a training session I noted to Darwin that his Black openings were not impressive, and suggested a switch to more open positions with the Scandinavian. I then handed him my “secret weapon”, a CD containing secret analyses prepared over several years on the Scandinavian including a complete repertoire against White’s possible replies. This also included every known/existing game on the Scandinavian in chess history with all games catalogued per variation. Darwin took this up quite seriously and is now probably the country’s greatest expert on the Scandinavian.
And this is where I will end the Darwin Laylo story, with his latest Scandinavian conquest in the tournament just concluded.
Milagrosa,Alex (2223) - Laylo,Darwin (2406) [B01]
2006 National Chess Open Ch Mens (4.1),
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.dxe6 Bxe6 5.d4
It looks like White is doing fine, with an extra pawn and a strong center. In reality he has to be very careful in order to survive into the middlegame.
5...Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Ne4
Now Milagring realized the gravity of his situation and thought for a long time here. At the end he just decides to give up a pawn without, however, improving his prospects.
7.a3
[7.Qd3 Bf5! 8.Qf3 a) 8.Bd2? 0–0 9.Nxe4 (9.0–0–0 is refuted by 9...Nxc3 10.Qxf5 Nxd1 11.Bxb4 Qxd4) 9...Bxe4 10.Qe3 Re8 wins the queen; b) 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 0–0 10.Qf3 Re8 11.Be2 Qd7 12.Bb2 Nc6 13.g4 Bg6 14.0–0–0 Na5 15.Rd3 Nxc4 16.Re3 Ned2 17.Qxb7 Reb8 18.Qg2 Qb5 19.Ba1 Qb1# 0–1 Bilalic,M-Vescovi,G (2490)/ WJuCh, Medellin COL 1996; 8...Qxd4!]
7...Nxc3 8.Qd3 Qe7
Only on the 7th move, and White is already critical.
9.Be3 Ne4+ 10.axb4 Qxb4+ 11.Kd1
[11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.Rd1 Nxd2 13.Rxd2 Qa1+ 14.Rd1 Qa5+ 15.Rd2 0–0 16.Be2 Bf5! 17.Qb3 Nc6 18.Nf3 Be4 19.0–0 Bxf3 20.Ra2 Nxd4 0–1 Paaske,A (2038)-Simonsen,O (2183)/ Copenhagen 2000]
11...Qxb2 12.Qa3 Qxa3?
Black overlooks 12...Nxf2+
] 13.Rxa3 c6 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Kc2 0–0 16.Bd3 Nd6 17.Nd2 Rfc8 18.Bf4 Nf5 19.Nf3 Nf6 20.h3 Rd8 21.Kc3 b5! 22.Bg5 bxc4 23.Bxf6³ gxf6 24.Bxf5 Bxf5 25.Ra5 Rd5 26.Rha1 Re8 27.Rxa7 Kg7 28.Re1 Rxe1
White has to be careful here otherwise he will be mated.
29.Nxe1 Rb5 30.Ra1 Be6 31.Ra3 Rb1 32.Kd2 Rb2+ 33.Nc2 Bf5 34.Rc3 Bd3 35.Kc1 Rb8 36.Na3 Rb4 37.Nc2 Ra4 38.Ne1 Ra1+ 39.Kd2 Ra2+ 40.Nc2 f5 41.Kc1 f4 42.Kb1?
The pressure was too much - White crumbles.
42...Rxc2 43.Rxc2 Kf6 44.Kb2 Bxc2 45.Kxc2 Ke6 0–1
Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bobby@cpamd.net
"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 01 May 2006"
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