Brillancy by Shirov 2 days ago

Shirov, Alexei(2749) vs. Tiviakov, Sergei(2637)
Unive Crown Group - Hoogeveen NED - 2010.10.26

[Event "Unive Crown Group"] [Site "Hoogeveen NED"] [Date "2010.10.26"] [Round "2"] [White "Shirov, Alexei"] [Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2637"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2010.10.25"] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 {Tiviakov is fond of this move and worked a lot on this variation. But one can say what he wants, this is not a normal place for a Queen in the opening!} 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. f4 { the two main moves are 7.Nc4 and 7.Bf4} Nb6 8. g4 Nbd5 (8... Be6 9. Bg2 g6 10. O-O {is Shirov-Tiviakov, Benidorn 2008, 1-0 !}) 9. Bg2 {this seems to be a little improvement on 9.g5 played in 2 games in 2008 and 2009 (black won in both!)} g6 10. g5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nd5 12. c4 { forcing the knight to go to an ugly square} Nc7 13. c5 Qd8 { so, how could Qxd5-Qd6-Qd8 have been useful?} 14. d5 $1 {you know Shirov...} cxd5 (14... Nxd5 $2 15. c4 f6 16. cxd5 fxe5 17. dxc6 {and white has some edge}) 15. c4 {you just can't give Shirov so much space and better placed pieces without being attacked!} e6 16. Bb2 {both white bishops are beautiful} Bg7 ( 16... Rg8 {may be better but is not very appealing!} 17. Ng4 Be7 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxf6 Qd7 20. O-O {and you only have to look a few seconds to the position to understand that white is just winning}) 17. Nc6 {of course} bxc6 18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. Be5 {nothing can challenge this bishop on dark squares} Bd7 {very nice bishop!! Well, I'm not sure, is the knight on c7 really better? Sure he can go to a6! Or more seriously in d5 after dxc4.} 20. O-O {dream position} Rb8 { maybe some activity?} (20... dxc4 $2 {is unfortunately not playable because of} 21. Bf6 Qb8 22. Rb1 Nb5 23. Rxb5 cxb5 24. Bxa8 $18) 21. Qa4 { well, the only square on the b file for the rook is b7 actually...} Rb7 (21... dxc4 {may have been the last (very small) hope} 22. Bxc6 (22. Rfd1 Nd5 { yes, the Be5 is worth a rook}) 22... Rc8 23. Bxd7+ Qxd7 24. c6 Qd5 25. Rac1 $16 ) 22. Rab1 Qc8 23. Rxb7 Qxb7 24. Rf2 d4 $2 { a mistake but black was dead lost anyway because of Rb2 coming} 25. Qa5 Kd8 ( 25... Na6 26. Bf6 Qc8 27. Rb2 {with some Rb7 idea, is of course crushing}) 26. Be4 {Tiviakov has had enough of this ugly position! Effortless win by Shirov.} 1-0

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Dxd5 3. Cc3 Dd6 Tiviakov is fond of this move and worked a lot on this variation. But one can say what he wants, this is not a normal place for a Queen in the opening! 4. d4 Cf6 5. Cf3 c6 6. Ce5 Cbd7 7. f4 the two main moves are 7.Nc4 and 7.Bf4 7...  Cb6 8. g4 Cbd5 ( 8... Fe6 9. Fg2 g6 10. O-O is Shirov-Tiviakov, Benidorn 2008, 1-0 ! ) 9. Fg2 this seems to be a little improvement on 9.g5 played in 2 games in 2008 and 2009 (black won in both!) 9...  g6 10. g5 Cxc3 11. bxc3 Cd5 12. c4 forcing the knight to go to an ugly square 12...  Cc7 13. c5 Dd8 so, how could Qxd5-Qd6-Qd8 have been useful? 14. d5! you know Shirov... 14...  cxd5 ( 14... Cxd5? 15. c4 f6 16. cxd5 fxe5 17. dxc6 and white has some edge ) 15. c4 you just can't give Shirov so much space and better placed pieces without being attacked! 15...  e6 16. Fb2 both white bishops are beautiful 16...  Fg7 ( 16... Tg8 may be better but is not very appealing! 17. Cg4 Fe7 18. Cf6+ Fxf6 19. Fxf6 Dd7 20. O-O and you only have to look a few seconds to the position to understand that white is just winning ) 17. Cc6 of course 17...  bxc6 18. Fxg7 Tg8 19. Fe5 nothing can challenge this bishop on dark squares 19...  Fd7 very nice bishop!! Well, I'm not sure, is the knight on c7 really better? Sure he can go to a6! Or more seriously in d5 after dxc4. 20. O-O dream position 20...  Tb8 maybe some activity? ( 20... dxc4? is unfortunately not playable because of 21. Ff6 Db8 22. Tb1 Cb5 23. Txb5 cxb5 24. Fxa8 +- ) 21. Da4 well, the only square on the b file for the rook is b7 actually... 21...  Tb7 ( 21... dxc4 may have been the last (very small) hope 22. Fxc6 ( 22. Tfd1 Cd5 yes, the Be5 is worth a rook ) 22... Tc8 23. Fxd7+ Dxd7 24. c6 Dd5 25. Tac1 +/- ) 22. Tab1 Dc8 23. Txb7 Dxb7 24. Tf2 d4? a mistake but black was dead lost anyway because of Rb2 coming 25. Da5 Rd8 ( 25... Ca6 26. Ff6 Dc8 27. Tb2 with some Rb7 idea, is of course crushing ) 26. Fe4 Tiviakov has had enough of this ugly position! Effortless win by Shirov. 1-0

Nice attacking chess by untitled player

Under 2200 players can play very good attacking chess too! Have a look at this one.

Mossong, Hubert(2184) vs. Katzourakis, Pavlos(2141)
26. European Club Cup 2010 - Plovdiv BUL - 2010.10.18

[Event "26. European Club Cup 2010"] [Site "Plovdiv BUL"] [Date "2010.10.18"] [Round "2.24"] [White "Mossong, Hubert"] [Black "Katzourakis, Pavlos"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "2184"] [BlackElo "2141"] [Annotator "chessallovertheworld.blogspot.com"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2010.10.??"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "BUL"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nge2 e6 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nf6 8. f4 Qc7 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Qe1 Be7 11. f5 b4 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Nf4 $1 {like in a Sozin!} bxc3 14. Nxe6 Qb6 15. Nxg7+ $1 { attacking chess, white saw he can let black take in b2} (15. bxc3 { was possible but less strong}) 15... Kf7 16. Nf5 cxb2 17. Bxb2 Qxb2 18. Rb1 Qxc2 19. Rxb7 {only one pawn for the piece but both rook targetting the black king and a killer Nf5!} Rhd8 (19... Qa4 $1 20. d4 $1 cxd4 21. e5 $1 dxe5 22. Nxe7 Kxe7 23. Qxe5+ {with a decisive attack}) 20. e5 $1 { opening all lines, white is totally winning} dxe5 21. Nxe7 Rab8 (21... Kxe7 22. Qxe5+ Kf8 23. Rxf6+ {with a quick mate}) 22. Nc6 {nice move to end a nice game} (22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Qxe5 {was crushing and nice too}) 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Cc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Fg2 Fb7 5. Cge2 e6 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Cf6 8. f4 Dc7 9. h3 Cbd7 10. De1 Fe7 11. f5 b4 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Cf4! like in a Sozin! 13...  bxc3 14. Cxe6 Db6 15. Cxg7+! attacking chess, white saw he can let black take in b2 ( 15. bxc3 was possible but less strong ) 15...  Rf7 16. Cf5 cxb2 17. Fxb2 Dxb2 18. Tb1 Dxc2 19. Txb7 only one pawn for the piece but both rook targetting the black king and a killer Nf5! 19...  Thd8 ( 19... Da4! 20. d4! cxd4 21. e5! dxe5 22. Cxe7 Rxe7 23. Dxe5+ with a decisive attack ) 20. e5! opening all lines, white is totally winning 20...  dxe5 21. Cxe7 Tab8 ( 21... Rxe7 22. Dxe5+ Rf8 23. Txf6+ with a quick mate ) 22. Cc6 nice move to end a nice game ( 22. Txd7 Txd7 23. Dxe5 was crushing and nice too ) 1-0

Bad surprise

Andriasian, Zaven(2579) vs. Khmelniker, Ilya(2483)
26. European Club Cup 2010 - Plovdiv BUL - 2010.10.18

[Event "26. European Club Cup 2010"] [Site "Plovdiv BUL"] [Date "2010.10.18"] [Round "2.6"] [White "Andriasian, Zaven"] [Black "Khmelniker, Ilya"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2579"] [BlackElo "2483"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3rr1k1/b1pq1pp1/p1bp1n1p/1p2nN2/4P3/1BP1NP2/PP1Q2PP/R1B2R1K w - - 0 19"] [PlyCount "3"] [EventDate "2010.10.??"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "BUL"] 19. Nxg7 Bxe3 20. Nxe8 1-0

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 abcdefgh

Black just played 18...Rad8. Which tactical problem did he totally overlook ?

Grandmaster plan in N vs B endgame

This nice endgame was played some days ago in Bundesliga.

Postny, Evgeny(2595) vs. Sandipan, Chanda(2641)
Bundesliga - Germany - 2010.10.10

[Event "Bundesliga"] [Site "Germany"] [Date "2010.10.10"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Postny, Evgeny"] [Black "Sandipan, Chanda"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2595"] [BlackElo "2641"] [Annotator "SR"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3n4/pp5p/2p2k2/5p1P/1PP1p2p/2P1P2P/4BP2/2K5 w - - 0 25"] [PlyCount "36"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] {How would you assess this endgame?} 25. c5 { this looks logical to free the bishop's way} (25. f4 $1 exf3 { to get e5 and g5 for the knight} 26. Bxf3 { maybe with the pressure on c6/b7 white could save the game?} Nf7 27. Kd2 Ng5 { black has to pressurize h3 or white will save the game!} (27... Ne5 $2 28. Be2 Kg5 {black is better : space advantage and white's king has problems to become active. And h3 and h5 are weak, despite being on white squares.} 29. c5 { and here black has to find} h6 $1 (29... f4 $2 30. h6 $1 { saves the game thanks to the clever idea Bd1-c2} (30. exf4+ Kxf4 31. c4 h6 32. b5 Nd7 33. Kc3 Nxc5 34. Kb4 Ne4 35. bxc6 bxc6 36. c5 Nf2 37. Bf1 Kg3 $19) 30... Kf5 (30... f3 31. Bd1 Nc4+ 32. Ke1 {only move} Nxe3 33. Bxf3 Kf4 34. Be2 Nf5 35. Bg4 Ne7 36. Kf2 Kg5 37. Ke3 Kxh6 38. Kf4 $11 { and with an alive King and b7/c6 on white, white is ok}) 31. exf4 Kxf4 32. Bd1 Nf3+ 33. Kd3 Kg3 34. Ke3 Ng5 35. Bc2 Kxh3 36. Kf4 Nf7 37. b5 $1 Kg2 (37... Nxh6 38. bxc6 bxc6 39. Be4 Kh2 40. Kg5 Nf7+ 41. Kxh4 Nd8 42. Bxh7 a5 43. Bc2 $11) 38. Bxh7 Nxh6 39. bxc6 bxc6 40. Be4+ Kg1 41. Bxc6 h3 42. Bd5 h2 43. c6 Nf7 44. c7 Nd6 45. Ke5 Nc8 46. Kd4 $11 (46. Ke6 $4 a5 $19)) 30. Bd1 (30. c4 f4 31. exf4+ Kxf4 32. Kc3 Kg3 $19) 30... Kf6 31. Be2 Nf7 { back to the good g5 square! So it was stupid to play Ne5.} 32. Bf1 Ke5 33. Ke2 Ng5 34. Bg2 f4 35. c4 Kf5 36. exf4 Kxf4 37. b5 Ne6 38. bxc6 bxc6 39. Kd3 Nxc5+ 40. Kc3 a5 41. Bxc6 Kg3 $19) 28. Bg2 Ke5 { better King, pressure on h3, it's winning, if black plays carefully} 29. Ke2 f4 (29... b6 {is less natural} 30. Bxc6 Nxh3 31. Kf3 h6 32. Kg2 Ng5 33. Ba4 Ne4 34. Kh3 Nxc3 35. Bb3 Ke4 (35... a5 $2 36. c5 $1 {only move} a4 37. cxb6 Kd6 38. Be6 Nd1 39. Kxh4 Kc6 40. Kg3 Kxb6 41. Kf4 a3 42. Kxf5 Nxe3+ 43. Kg6 Kb5 { threatening Nc4} 44. Bb3 $11) 36. Bc2+ Kxe3 37. Bxf5 Kd4 38. Be6 b5 39. cxb5 Nxb5 40. Kxh4 Kc3 41. Kg4 Kxb4 42. Bg8 Nd4 43. Kf4 a5 $19) 30. c5 (30. b5 $2 { gives black a free a-passed pawn} f3+ $1 31. Bxf3 Nxf3 32. Kxf3 a5 $19) 30... Kf5 {white will very soon be in some zugzwang} 31. exf4 Kxf4 32. b5 (32. h6 Kg3 33. Kf1 Nf3 34. Bh1 Kf4 35. Kf2 Ng5 36. Bg2 Ne4+ 37. Ke1 Nxc3 38. Bf1 Nd5 39. b5 cxb5 40. Bxb5 Nf6 $19) 32... Ne4 33. bxc6 bxc6 34. Kd3 (34. c4 a5 35. Kd3 a4 36. Kc2 Nxc5 37. Kb2 Kg3 38. Bxc6 Kxh3 39. Ka3 Kg4 40. Kb4 h3 $19) 34... Nxc5+ 35. Kc4 Ne4 36. h6 a5 37. Kb3 c5 38. Ka4 Nxc3+ 39. Kxa5 Ne4 40. Kb5 Nf2 41. Kxc5 Kg3 42. Bf1 Nxh3 $19) 25... Nf7 26. Kd2 Ng5 27. Bf1 Ke5 { black is on top. More space, better King and pressure on h3.} 28. Kc2 f4 29. Kd1 f3 $1 {taking more and more space! It's very difficult for the computer to find a winning plan! Could you?} (29... fxe3 30. fxe3 { and black will win h5 but it's not easy to win the game}) 30. Kd2 h6 { the first step is to grab h5, this will allow to play h6-h5} 31. Kc2 Nh7 { now h3 is not attacked any more but the white bishop can't take benefit of that } 32. Kd2 Nf6 33. Bc4 Nxh5 34. Bf7 {would have the bishop been able to reach c8, of course it wouldn't be the same story} Nf6 35. Bc4 (35. Bg6 $5 { could almost have saved the game!} a5 $1 {another black's idea} (35... Ng4 { a very important idea, coming again and again in this endgame} 36. Ke1 a5 37. bxa5 Nf6 38. Kd2 Nd7 39. Bf7 Nxc5 40. Bc4 $13 { to stop Nd3. I'm not sure black can win now}) 36. bxa5 Nd7 37. Be8 Nxc5 38. c4 {white may feel out of danger but black is able to win} Kd6 39. Bg6 Kc7 40. Bf5 (40. Bh5 Nd3 41. Bxf3 Nxf2 42. Ke2 Nxh3 43. Bxe4 Ng5 44. Bd3 Kd6 45. Bf5 Ne6 46. Kf3 Nc5 47. Bc8 Kc7 48. Bf5 Nb3 $19 49. Kg4 Nxa5 50. Bd3 Kd6 51. Kxh4 Kc5 52. Kh5 Nxc4 53. e4 Kd4 54. Be2 b5 55. Kxh6 b4 56. Bd1 Ne3 57. Ba4 c5 $19) 40... Kb8 41. Kc3 Nd3 42. Bxe4 Nxf2 43. Bxf3 Nxh3 44. Kd4 Ng5 45. Bh1 Ka7 46. e4 Ka6 47. Kc5 Kxa5 48. e5 h3 49. Kd6 Kb4 50. e6 Nxe6 51. Kxe6 Kxc4 52. Kf5 h2 53. Kg4 Kd3 54. Kg3 c5 55. Bxb7 c4 56. Kxh2 c3 57. Bc8 Ke4 $19) 35... Nh7 $19 { going back to g5} ({or} 35... Ng4 36. Ke1 Kf6 37. Bf1 Kf5 38. Bc4 Ne5 39. Bf1 h5 {will allow Ng4 for ever} 40. Kd2 Ke6 41. c4 Ng4 $1 42. Ke1 Nh2 $19 43. b5 Ke5 $19 {zugzwang}) 36. Kd1 Ng5 37. Bf1 Kd5 { stopping all Bc4. Now the last step: h5 and Ng4 are unstoppable} 38. Kd2 (38. Kc2 Nf7 39. Kb3 Ne5 40. Kc2 (40. c4+ Ke6 41. Kc3 Kf5 42. Kd4 h5 43. b5 Ng4 $19) 40... h5 41. Kd2 Ng4 42. Ke1 Nh2 $19 {with zugzwang to come}) 38... Nf7 39. c4+ (39. Kc2 Ne5 40. Kb3 h5 41. c4+ Ke6 42. b5 Ng4 $19) 39... Ke5 40. Kc3 h5 41. Kd2 Nh6 42. Ke1 Ng4 {with total domination and zugzwang!} 0-1

How would you assess this endgame? 25. c5 this looks logical to free the bishop's way ( 25. f4! exf3 to get e5 and g5 for the knight 26. Fxf3 maybe with the pressure on c6/b7 white could save the game? 26... Cf7 27. Rd2 Cg5 black has to pressurize h3 or white will save the game! ( 27... Ce5? 28. Fe2 Rg5 black is better : space advantage and white's king has problems to become active. And h3 and h5 are weak, despite being on white squares. 29. c5 and here black has to find 29... h6! ( 29... f4? 30. h6! saves the game thanks to the clever idea Bd1-c2 ( 30. exf4+ Rxf4 31. c4 h6 32. b5 Cd7 33. Rc3 Cxc5 34. Rb4 Ce4 35. bxc6 bxc6 36. c5 Cf2 37. Ff1 Rg3 -+ ) 30... Rf5 ( 30... f3 31. Fd1 Cc4+ 32. Re1 only move 32... Cxe3 33. Fxf3 Rf4 34. Fe2 Cf5 35. Fg4 Ce7 36. Rf2 Rg5 37. Re3 Rxh6 38. Rf4 = and with an alive King and b7/c6 on white, white is ok ) 31. exf4 Rxf4 32. Fd1 Cf3+ 33. Rd3 Rg3 34. Re3 Cg5 35. Fc2 Rxh3 36. Rf4 Cf7 37. b5! Rg2 ( 37... Cxh6 38. bxc6 bxc6 39. Fe4 Rh2 40. Rg5 Cf7+ 41. Rxh4 Cd8 42. Fxh7 a5 43. Fc2 = ) 38. Fxh7 Cxh6 39. bxc6 bxc6 40. Fe4+ Rg1 41. Fxc6 h3 42. Fd5 h2 43. c6 Cf7 44. c7 Cd6 45. Re5 Cc8 46. Rd4 = ( 46. Re6?? a5 -+ ) ) 30. Fd1 ( 30. c4 f4 31. exf4+ Rxf4 32. Rc3 Rg3 -+ ) 30... Rf6 31. Fe2 Cf7 back to the good g5 square! So it was stupid to play Ne5. 32. Ff1 Re5 33. Re2 Cg5 34. Fg2 f4 35. c4 Rf5 36. exf4 Rxf4 37. b5 Ce6 38. bxc6 bxc6 39. Rd3 Cxc5+ 40. Rc3 a5 41. Fxc6 Rg3 -+ ) 28. Fg2 Re5 better King, pressure on h3, it's winning, if black plays carefully 29. Re2 f4 ( 29... b6 is less natural 30. Fxc6 Cxh3 31. Rf3 h6 32. Rg2 Cg5 33. Fa4 Ce4 34. Rh3 Cxc3 35. Fb3 Re4 ( 35... a5? 36. c5! only move 36... a4 37. cxb6 Rd6 38. Fe6 Cd1 39. Rxh4 Rc6 40. Rg3 Rxb6 41. Rf4 a3 42. Rxf5 Cxe3+ 43. Rg6 Rb5 threatening Nc4 44. Fb3 = ) 36. Fc2+ Rxe3 37. Fxf5 Rd4 38. Fe6 b5 39. cxb5 Cxb5 40. Rxh4 Rc3 41. Rg4 Rxb4 42. Fg8 Cd4 43. Rf4 a5 -+ ) 30. c5 ( 30. b5? gives black a free a-passed pawn 30... f3+! 31. Fxf3 Cxf3 32. Rxf3 a5 -+ ) 30... Rf5 white will very soon be in some zugzwang 31. exf4 Rxf4 32. b5 ( 32. h6 Rg3 33. Rf1 Cf3 34. Fh1 Rf4 35. Rf2 Cg5 36. Fg2 Ce4+ 37. Re1 Cxc3 38. Ff1 Cd5 39. b5 cxb5 40. Fxb5 Cf6 -+ ) 32... Ce4 33. bxc6 bxc6 34. Rd3 ( 34. c4 a5 35. Rd3 a4 36. Rc2 Cxc5 37. Rb2 Rg3 38. Fxc6 Rxh3 39. Ra3 Rg4 40. Rb4 h3 -+ ) 34... Cxc5+ 35. Rc4 Ce4 36. h6 a5 37. Rb3 c5 38. Ra4 Cxc3+ 39. Rxa5 Ce4 40. Rb5 Cf2 41. Rxc5 Rg3 42. Ff1 Cxh3 -+ ) 25...  Cf7 26. Rd2 Cg5 27. Ff1 Re5 black is on top. More space, better King and pressure on h3. 28. Rc2 f4 29. Rd1 f3! taking more and more space! It's very difficult for the computer to find a winning plan! Could you? ( 29... fxe3 30. fxe3 and black will win h5 but it's not easy to win the game ) 30. Rd2 h6 the first step is to grab h5, this will allow to play h6-h5 31. Rc2 Ch7 now h3 is not attacked any more but the white bishop can't take benefit of that 32. Rd2 Cf6 33. Fc4 Cxh5 34. Ff7 would have the bishop been able to reach c8, of course it wouldn't be the same story 34...  Cf6 35. Fc4 ( 35. Fg6!? could almost have saved the game! 35... a5! another black's idea ( 35... Cg4 a very important idea, coming again and again in this endgame 36. Re1 a5 37. bxa5 Cf6 38. Rd2 Cd7 39. Ff7 Cxc5 40. Fc4 to stop Nd3. I'm not sure black can win now ) 36. bxa5 Cd7 37. Fe8 Cxc5 38. c4 white may feel out of danger but black is able to win 38... Rd6 39. Fg6 Rc7 40. Ff5 ( 40. Fh5 Cd3 41. Fxf3 Cxf2 42. Re2 Cxh3 43. Fxe4 Cg5 44. Fd3 Rd6 45. Ff5 Ce6 46. Rf3 Cc5 47. Fc8 Rc7 48. Ff5 Cb3 -+ 49. Rg4 Cxa5 50. Fd3 Rd6 51. Rxh4 Rc5 52. Rh5 Cxc4 53. e4 Rd4 54. Fe2 b5 55. Rxh6 b4 56. Fd1 Ce3 57. Fa4 c5 -+ ) 40... Rb8 41. Rc3 Cd3 42. Fxe4 Cxf2 43. Fxf3 Cxh3 44. Rd4 Cg5 45. Fh1 Ra7 46. e4 Ra6 47. Rc5 Rxa5 48. e5 h3 49. Rd6 Rb4 50. e6 Cxe6 51. Rxe6 Rxc4 52. Rf5 h2 53. Rg4 Rd3 54. Rg3 c5 55. Fxb7 c4 56. Rxh2 c3 57. Fc8 Re4 -+ ) 35...  Ch7 -+ going back to g5 ( or 35... Cg4 36. Re1 Rf6 37. Ff1 Rf5 38. Fc4 Ce5 39. Ff1 h5 will allow Ng4 for ever 40. Rd2 Re6 41. c4 Cg4! 42. Re1 Ch2 -+ 43. b5 Re5 -+ zugzwang ) 36. Rd1 Cg5 37. Ff1 Rd5 stopping all Bc4. Now the last step: h5 and Ng4 are unstoppable 38. Rd2 ( 38. Rc2 Cf7 39. Rb3 Ce5 40. Rc2 ( 40. c4+ Re6 41. Rc3 Rf5 42. Rd4 h5 43. b5 Cg4 -+ ) 40... h5 41. Rd2 Cg4 42. Re1 Ch2 -+ with zugzwang to come ) 38...  Cf7 39. c4+ ( 39. Rc2 Ce5 40. Rb3 h5 41. c4+ Re6 42. b5 Cg4 -+ ) 39...  Re5 40. Rc3 h5 41. Rd2 Ch6 42. Re1 Cg4 with total domination and zugzwang! 0-1

Areshchenko: Scheveningen killer

Ukrainien strong GM Alexander Areshchenko won 2 Scheveningen sicilians in a row in Bundesliga (German team championship). You will find them commented below.

[Event "Bundesliga Bremen - Hamburg"] [Site "Germany"] [Date "2010.10.09"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Areshchenko, Alexander"] [Black "Ftacnik, Lubomir"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B85"] [WhiteElo "2664"] [BlackElo "2568"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Be7 8. f4 Qc7 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qe1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Qg3 Rad8 ( 14... Bc6 {Areshchenko-Lammers, Bundesliga 2010 (7)}) 15. Rae1 Rd7 16. Bd3 Re8 17. Re3 g6 18. Ref3 d5 19. e5 Ne4 {black is fine} 20. Qe1 b4 (20... Nxc3 { simple chess was good too} 21. Bxc3 d4 {opening for the bishop} 22. Ba5 Qc8 23. Rh3 Qa8 $11) 21. axb4 Bxb4 22. Rh3 Qd8 (22... Rc8 $11) 23. Qe3 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bf8 25. f5 $1 {it takes some time for the computer to find Areshchenko's move} exf5 (25... Qc7 {cold blood defense} 26. Qg3 exf5 {forced} 27. Bxf5 { with better chances for white}) 26. Bxf5 {white's idea} gxf5 (26... Rc7 27. e6 $1 {crushes black}) 27. Rg3+ Kh8 (27... Bg7 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. e6+ Kg6 30. Rf3 $18) 28. e6+ f6 29. Rxf5 (29. Qg5 Bg7 30. Qxf5 Rc7 31. Rh3 h6 32. Rxh6+ Bxh6 33. Bxf6+ Qxf6 34. Qxf6+ Bg7 {looks unclear}) 29... Bg7 30. Rh5 {now black can' t save his position. White is pressing both on dark squares (with the bishop) and light squares (on h7). And the small e6 pawn is very useful too.} (30. Rxf6 {would have been flashy} Bxf6 (30... Qxf6 31. Bxf6 Bxf6 32. exd7 Rxe3 33. Rxe3 Kg7 34. Re6 Bd8 35. Re8 Bf6 36. d8=Q Bxd8 37. Rxd8 Bc6 38. Rd6 $18) 31. e7 $1 { with a nice picture} Qxe7 32. Bxf6+) 30... Rc7 31. Qd3 h6 { the bishop is trying to hold black's castle} (31... Bf8 32. Qg6 { mating! Black can't defend h7, g8 and f6!}) {thus...} 32. Rxg7 {bang!} (32. Qe3 $18 {was the calm but as efficient alternative}) 32... Rxg7 (32... Kxg7 33. Qg3+ Kh7 34. Qh4 Kg7 35. Rxh6 Rxe6 36. Rh7+ Kf8 37. Qh6+ Ke8 38. Qg6+ Kf8 39. Bc5+ {mating}) 33. Rxh6+ Kg8 34. Qh3 {black will be mated very soon} 1-0 [Event "Bundesliga Bremen - Delmenhorst"] [Site "Germany"] [Date "2010.10.08"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Areshchenko, Alexander"] [Black "Lammers, Markus"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B85"] [WhiteElo "2664"] [BlackElo "2395"] [Annotator "Sylvain"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Kh1 Bc6 ({ In the 1st round, Ftacnik tried} 14... Rad8 {and lost in 34 moves}) 15. Rae1 Qb7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Nd1 (17. axb4 Qxb4 18. Ne2 Qb7 19. e5 Nh5 20. Qh3 g6 21. Bc3 Bb5 22. f5 exf5 23. exd6 Bxd6 24. Bxf5 Rae8 {and black may hold}) 17... bxa3 18. bxa3 g6 19. Nf2 {all this is welknown, the position must be balanced} Rac8 20. Qh3 Rfd8 21. Rb1 Qd7 22. Qh6 Bb5 23. Nh3 Bf8 (23... d5 24. Ng5 Bf8 25. Qh3 $14 {+=}) (23... Bxd3 24. cxd3 Rb8 25. Ng5 e5 26. Bb6 Re8 27. fxe5 Bf8 28. Qh4 Qg4 29. Qxg4 Nxg4 30. exd6 Bxd6 31. Nxf7 Bxh2 { is the computer's defense, though white is still a pawn up}) 24. Qh4 Nh5 25. g4 Be7 26. Ng5 e5 27. gxh5 Bxg5 28. Qxg5 exd4 29. f5 $16 { and suddenly black's castle is falling apart} Re8 (29... Qe8 {was a better try} 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. fxg6 hxg6 32. Rf6 Kh7 33. e5 Bxd3 34. cxd3 Rd7 35. Rg1 Rg7 36. Rxd6 $18) ({or} 29... Rc5 30. Qh6 Qe7 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. fxg6 f6 33. Rxf6 $1 Qxf6 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. g7+ Qxg7 36. Rf1+ $18) 30. f6 Kh8 31. hxg6 Re5 (31... fxg6 32. f7 $18) 32. Qh6 {f7 is coming} 1-0

1. Areshchenko, Alexander vs Ftacnik, Lubomir 1-0 Bundesliga Bremen - Hamburg Rnd:1.4 Germany 2010.10.092. Areshchenko, Alexander vs Lammers, Markus 1-0 Bundesliga Bremen - Delmenhorst Rnd:7.4 Germany 2010.10.08

1. e4 c5 2. Cf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Cxd4 Cf6 5. Cc3 e6 6. Fe2 a6 7. O-O Fe7 8. f4 Dc7 9. Rh1 Cc6 10. Fe3 O-O 11. De1 Cxd4 12. Fxd4 b5 13. a3 Fb7 14. Dg3 Tad8 ( 14... Fc6 Areshchenko-Lammers, Bundesliga 2010 (7) ) 15. Tae1 Td7 16. Fd3 Te8 17. Te3 g6 18. Tef3 d5 19. e5 Ce4 black is fine 20. De1 b4 ( 20... Cxc3 simple chess was good too 21. Fxc3 d4 opening for the bishop 22. Fa5 Dc8 23. Th3 Da8 = ) 21. axb4 Fxb4 22. Th3 Dd8 ( 22... Tc8 = ) 23. De3 Cxc3 24. bxc3 Ff8 25. f5! it takes some time for the computer to find Areshchenko's move 25...  exf5 ( 25... Dc7 cold blood defense 26. Dg3 exf5 forced 27. Fxf5 with better chances for white ) 26. Fxf5 white's idea 26...  gxf5 ( 26... Tc7 27. e6! crushes black ) 27. Tg3+ Rh8 ( 27... Fg7 28. Txg7+ Rxg7 29. e6+ Rg6 30. Tf3 +- ) 28. e6+ f6 29. Txf5 ( 29. Dg5 Fg7 30. Dxf5 Tc7 31. Th3 h6 32. Txh6+ Fxh6 33. Fxf6+ Dxf6 34. Dxf6+ Fg7 looks unclear ) 29...  Fg7 30. Th5 now black can' t save his position. White is pressing both on dark squares (with the bishop) and light squares (on h7). And the small e6 pawn is very useful too. ( 30. Txf6 would have been flashy 30... Fxf6 ( 30... Dxf6 31. Fxf6 Fxf6 32. exd7 Txe3 33. Txe3 Rg7 34. Te6 Fd8 35. Te8 Ff6 36. d8=D Fxd8 37. Txd8 Fc6 38. Td6 +- ) 31. e7! with a nice picture 31... Dxe7 32. Fxf6+ ) 30...  Tc7 31. Dd3 h6 the bishop is trying to hold black's castle ( 31... Ff8 32. Dg6 mating! Black can't defend h7, g8 and f6! ) thus... 32. Txg7 bang! ( 32. De3 +- was the calm but as efficient alternative ) 32...  Txg7 ( 32... Rxg7 33. Dg3+ Rh7 34. Dh4 Rg7 35. Txh6 Txe6 36. Th7+ Rf8 37. Dh6+ Re8 38. Dg6+ Rf8 39. Fc5+ mating ) 33. Txh6+ Rg8 34. Dh3 black will be mated very soon 1-0

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Funny tactic

Kofidis, Andreas(2385) vs. Gogolis, Alexandros(2330)
Athens - 1994

[Event "Athens"] [Site "?"] [Date "1994"] [Round "2"] [White "Kofidis, Andreas"] [Black "Gogolis, Alexandros"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r2q2k1/1p4p1/p1np3p/2b1pr2/6n1/2NQ4/PPP1NPB1/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 15"] [PlyCount "5"] [EventDate "1994.??.??"] *

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 abcdefgh

Black just sacrificed with 14...Rxf5. How should white react?

Final results of chess olympiad

The last round was incredible. Ukraine couldn't win against Israel (2-2) whereas Russia wasn't able to overcome Spain (2-2)! Ukraine won again after 2004. No win for Russia since 2002.

Some big clashes of this last round:
Poland 1,5 - 2,5 Hungary
France 2 - 2 Armenia
Azerbaijan 2 - 2 Russia-3
Cuba 1,5 - 2,5 USA
England 2 - 2 Czech Republic
India 2,5 - 1,5 Georgia

Final ranking in the open section:
1.Ukraine 19
2.Russia 18
3.Israel 17
4.Hungary 17

Individual board gold medals: (with Rating Performance)
1st board: Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2890
2nd board: Emil Sutovsky ISR 2895
3rd board: Vitaly Teterev BLR 2853
4th board: Sergey Karjakin RUS 2859
5th board: Sebastien Feller FRA 2702

All results here