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CT-260(2140) Sunday 17th September 2006

CT-260(2140)

Test Yourself!
De Santis (2331) - Naumkin (2445)

5. C.A. Valencia del Ajedrez Moderno 0 (5) Official website

Verona Open, ITA (7), 07.01.2006

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7th Lausanne Young Masters

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France and the Chinese, Wang Yue, will play for the title.

Semi-final
Gashimov Vachier-Lagrave 12 Areshchenko Wang Yue 34

World Chess News

Spanish Team Ch, Group 2
Spanish Team Ch Group 2

For 5-8 places Predojevic Koneru 1 Wojtaszek T.Kosintseva 1

Official website

Round 4 results:
C.A. Ajoblanco Cuna de Dragones Gros Xake Taldea 3-3 Mamedyarov Gelfand Jakovenko Van Wely Harikrishna Zhang Penxiang Timofeev Bauer Llanes Gomez Esteban Ibarra Jerez Gonzalez C.A. Linex Magic C.A. Valencia del Ajedrez Moderno 5 Aronian Arizmendi Ponomariov Llobell Cortell 10 Shirov Valmana 10 Karjakin Fernandez Gil 10 Sargissian Bermejo 10 Perez Candelario Andres 10

3rd Szeged Cup

Final round top pairings: A.Muzychuk (6) A.Gara (5) Schneider (5) Khurtsidze (6) T.Gara (6) S-F. Foisor (5) Madl (5) C-A. Foisor (5)
Official website

14th Kostic Memorial, Vrsac

Standings after 5 rounds: 1. Ivanisevic 4 2-3. Damljanovic, Macieja 3 4-5. Markus, Spraggett 2 6-8. Solak, Korneev, Miladinovic 2 9. Delchev 1 10. Munizaba 1
Official website

Standings before the final round: 1. C.A. Linex Magic 6 (13) 2. Gros Xake Taldea 5 (11) 3. C.A. Ajoblanco Cuna de Dragones 3 (10) 4. C.A. AMD Cofiman 2 (8)

This issue is prepared by IM Maxim Notkin; technical editor Ralph Marconi Subscription is 15 euro for 3 months. For further details please refer to http://www.chesstoday.net CT-260(2140) Page 5 of 5

Annotated Game
by IM Maxim Notkin
White: I. Miladinovic (2584) Black: I. Ivanisevic (2596) TCh-Serbia Zlatibor SCG (5), Nimzo-Indian - [E20] 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.f3 c5 5.g3 (D) From time to time this old Rubinstein's move, revived in the mid 70's by Romanishin, comes into fashion again. Nowadays its main adherents are Bacrot and Moiseenko.

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10...bd7 Kramnik against Bacrot in Dortmund 2005 preferred another plan 10...d7 11.00 c6 12.g4 00 After 13.h6! f6 14.g5 g6 15.xc6 xc6 16.h4 f6 17.e3 fd8 18.ab1 and White obtained a certain initiative which transformed into a real advantage after 18...f7? 19.xc6! bxc6 20.xc5 dxc5 21.e4; The continuation suggested by Gavrikov 10...e5 11.b3 ba6 12.a3 c7 13.d1 e6 14.xc5 xc5 15.xc5 dxc5 after 16.00 (White yields nothing with 16.xb7 xb7 17.xb7 b8) 16...b8 17.h5 00 (17...xc4? 18.g4) 18.d5 fe8 19.xe6 xe6 20.d5 e7 21.fd1 led to White's slight edge in Aronian - Nielsen, Turin 2006 11.00 e5 Black isn't in a hurry with castling taking care of his centre first of all. [In case of 11...00 12.d1 e5 13.f4 d7 14.b3 followed by a3 White is in time to create pressure upon the d6 pawn. 12.f4 d7 12...xc4? isn't advisable on account of 13.b5 a6 (13...e5 14.d1) 14.xd6+ xd6 15.d1 and the white bishops are loose. 13.b3 13.d1?! is answered by 13...a4; Later on in the game White sent the knight to b5 which was quite possible right away - 13.b5 xb5 14.cxb5 though after 14...00 15.d1 c8 Black's position is solid as Milov Aronian, Warsaw 2005 and several other games have shown. 13...c8 (D)

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5...cxd4 6.xd4 e4 7.d3 xc3+ 7...a5 is another long story. 8.bxc3 c5 9.f3 As the white light-squared bishop isn't fianchettoed yet the queen assumes its role impeding Black's queenside development. [In case of 9.e3 Black solves this problem by 9...b6 10.g2 b7 11.xb7 xb7 and if 12.e4 (after 12.a3 there are various ways to equality e.g. 12...a6 13.f5 f6 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 c8 followed by c5) then 12...c6! 13.xc6 dxc6 14.xc6+ d7 15.xd7+ xd7 with an approximately equal ending where the defects of White's pawn structure abolish his material advantage. 9...d6 The game Bacrot - Akopian, Enghien les Bains 2001 ended in a nice draw after 9...c6 10.f4 00 11.d1 (11.g2 may be met with 11...b6!) 11...a5 12.d6 xd4 13.xd4 b6! 14.xa8 xc3+ 15.d2 a1+ 10.g2 (D)

This issue is prepared by IM Maxim Notkin; technical editor Ralph Marconi Subscription is 15 euro for 3 months. For further details please refer to http://www.chesstoday.net CT-260(2140) Page 5 of 5

XIIIIIIIIY 8-+rwqk+-tr0 7zpp+l+pzpp0 6-+-zpp+-+0 5+-sn-sn-+-0 4-+P+-wQ-+0 3+NzP-+-zP-0 2P+-+PzPLzP0 1tR-vL-+RmK-0} xabcdefghy
An original plan with the long castling 13...c7 14.a3 f6 15.fd1 000 16.d4 a4 17.ab1 b6 is worth mentioning, P.Horvath - Gyimesi, Balatonlelle 2002 14.a3 On 14.d1 Black again replies 14...a4 and the tactical attempt 15.xc5 xc5 (15...xd1? 16.xb7) 16.a3 xd1 17.xc5 xe2 18.d4 gives White no advantage after 18...f6! (18...dxc5? 19.xe5) 19.xd6 f3+ 20.xf3 xf3 Zubarev - Maletin, Nishnij Tagil 2005; The direct attack on the d6 pawn 14.d4 is parried by 14...f6!? (worse is 14...b6 15.a3 f6 16.fd1) 15.xd6 b6! (not 15...xc4 16.d4 and Black should either give up the b7 pawn after 16...a4 or exchange on b3 repairing his opponent's pawn formation.) 16.xc5 (better is 16.d4 ) 16...xc5 17.d1 xc4 18.d4 c7 and Black is fine, Botsari - Zhu Chen, Bled 2002 14...b6 15.fd1 In Moiseenko - Akopian, Tripoli 2004 a draw was agreed after 15.d4 f6 16.ad1 (16.xd6? xc4) 16...f7 17.h4 f5 18.d4 00 19.fe1 The white queen's manoeuvres don't impress. The final position is already preferable for Black but the peace treaty secured Akopian qualification for the next round. 15...c7 15...a4 is possible but Black chooses a more reliable arrangement firmly defending the d-pawn. 16.d4 f6 17.ad1 f7 18.e3 00 (D)

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19.h4 White doesn't really intend to threaten the h7 pawn. The rook just frees the d4 square for the knight. With that aim in view much worse was 19.4d2 fe8 20.d4 e5 when the c4 pawn falls down and the whole White's position collapses. 19...ce8 20.d4 e5?! Simpler and better was 20...a6 White's pawn structure would remain damaged and it wouldn't be clear how to improve the position of his pieces. 21.b5 xb5 22.cxb5 d5 Threatening with c4 and at the same time defending against c3-c4 when the d6-pawn would have become a real target. 23.b4 e7 24.hd4 c4 (D)

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It made sense to wait and see for example 24...c8 25.xc4! By the exchange sacrifice White seizes the initiative. 25...dxc4 26.d4 d8 26...e5 deserves attention trying to put the white rook in an awkward position but in this case White has 27.d5+ (27.xc4 d7 28.c6 d1+ 29.g2 f7! 30.h4 g5) 27...h8 28.xc4 d7 29.c6 (29.xc5? xd5) 29...d1+ 30.g2 and in contrast to the 27.xc4 line 30...f7 fails to

This issue is prepared by IM Maxim Notkin; technical editor Ralph Marconi Subscription is 15 euro for 3 months. For further details please refer to http://www.chesstoday.net CT-260(2140) Page 5 of 5

31.xc5 when the rook f8 is hanging. 27.c6 d6 Of course not 27...xd4? 28.cxd4 although in principle the rooks exchange favours Black. 28.xc4 d8 After 28...xc6 29.bxc6 xc6 30.xc5 d7 31.e4 c7!? (or 31...xe4 32.xe4 bxc5 33.xe6 d2 Black would have good drawing chances but in fact there's no need to panic liquidating into a clearly inferior ending. ) 29.xc5 bxc5 30.xc5 d1+ 31.g2 d6 (D)

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remote check - 42...h6+! 43.d3 c1 44.b7 d1+ 45.c4 xd4+ 46.xd4 b2 47.a7 (or else xb7) 47...xe2+ with perpetual) 40.h4 h5 41.b6 axb6 42.axb6 h1! 43.e3 c1+ 44.f3 (44.d3 d1+= 45.c4? xe2+) 44...h1 45.b7 xh2+ 46.e3 c1+= 39.d3 h5 Wrong is 39...xa4? 40.b6 and the bpawn slips to b7 as 40...axb6? loses on the spot to 41.xe7+; 39...c2 with idea of h1+ will be replied by 40.g2 xe2 41.d8 (41.d4 followed by f3 is strong as well.) 41...e1 42.e8+! xe8 43.d7+ g8 44.c7 g1+ 45.f3 (bad is 45.h3? f1+ 46.h4 g5+ 47.g4 e2+ 48.f3 h5+ 49.xh5 xh2+ 50.g6 c2+ and it is White whose king is checkmated.) 45...xg3+ 46.hxg3 h1+ 47.e2 h5+ 48.d2 and White is winning. 40.d7 e5? (D)

32.h5 With idea of e4 In case of 32.xd6 xd6 White's advantage isn't enough for a win e.g. 33.a4 (or 33.d4 xd4 34.cxd4 c7 35.e4 a6 36.a4 axb5 37.axb5 a7 38.b6 a2 39.b7 b2) 33...c7 34.e4 f8 35.f3 e7 36.e3 c8 32...g6 33.f3 g7 If 33...f7 34.a4 a3 35.e3 intending h6 while in the ending after 35...c1 36.xc1 xc1 37.a5 the white passers will be dangerous. 34.a4 a3 The line 34...d2 35.d4 e1 36.xd1 xd1 37.a5 leaves Black with the passive rook whereas the white pawns are again the strength to be reckoned with. Therefore 34...e5 comes into consideration depriving the white rook of the d4 square. 35.e3 a1 36.c5 f7 37.d4 g1+ 37...xd4 38.xd4 is similar to 34...d2. Black correctly plays for a counterattack. 38.f3 c1 After 38...f1 a draw is the most probable outcome e.g. 39.a5 g2 (or 39...g2+ 40.e3 xh2 when in case of 41.b6 axb6 42.axb6 Black has a

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Notorious move 40! Black overlooked his opponent's dreadful threat. [Correct was 40...d1 neutralizing the white rook; or 40...g5 making an escape for the king. 41.e6+! xe6 41...xe6 loses immediately to 42.d7+ e8 43.c8# 42.c4+ A study-like decision 42.d5+!? f5 43.h4! g5 (43...xa4 44.e4+) 44.e4+ e6 (d) XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-+-+-+0 7zp-+-tr-+-0 6-+-+kzp-+0 5+P+-zp-zpp0 4P+-+Q+-zP0 3+-zPR+KzP-0 2-+-+PzP-+0 1wq-tr-+-+-0} xabcdefghy

This issue is prepared by IM Maxim Notkin; technical editor Ralph Marconi Subscription is 15 euro for 3 months. For further details please refer to http://www.chesstoday.net CT-260(2140) Page 5 of 5

contains a brilliant move 45.d6+!! xd6 (45...f7 46.h7+ f8 47.h8+ f7 48.xf6#) 46.c6# but over the board one usually prefers to hunt the king with checks. 42...f5 43.c8+ g5 44.h4+ h6 45.h8+ h7 46.f8+ g7 47.d7 e4+ (D)

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Less spectacular is 47...xc3+ 48.g2 48.f4! All the other moves lose. 48...g5+ 49.f5 Mating on the next move. A splendid combination! 10. Solution to our quiz:
De Santis (2331) - Naumkin (2445)

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Verona Open, ITA (7), 07.01.2006

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24.xe5! xa3 24...dxe5 25.xf8; 24...xe5 25.xf7+ h8 26.xe5 25.xf7! xb3 26.h6+ 10.

This issue is prepared by IM Maxim Notkin; technical editor Ralph Marconi Subscription is 15 euro for 3 months. For further details please refer to http://www.chesstoday.net CT-260(2140) Page 5 of 5