National U-13, Puducherry

Diptayan Ghosh, Monnisha Win Titles

by Arvind Aaron

Diptayan Ghosh of Kolkata and G.K. The event was smoothly and successfully
Monnisha of Chennai won the National conducted by the JCA Pondicherry Midtown
Under-13 Chess Titles at Puducherry on on behalf of the Puducherry State Chess
July 4. Diptayan is trained by Shankar Roy Association. Udayan Ghosh of Kolkata was
at Alekhine Chess Club and Monnisha is the Chief arbiter.
trained by R.B. Ramesh at Chess Gurukul. Final Ranking : U13 (Top 20 placings)
Two players, Diptayan and Karthikeyan of Rg. Name Elo Pkte
1 Ghosh Diptayan FM 2133 9½
Chennai remained undefeated in this event
2 Girish A Koushik FM 2276 9
which took place at the Arumuga Kalyana 3 Rakesh Kumar Nayak 1970 8½
Nilayam in Puducherry. All the girls lost at 4 Sreyan Bhowmick 1877 8½
least one game. 5 Karthikeyan Murali 2011 8½
6 Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh 2050 8
7 Vignesh Nr 1848 8
Various players in boys and girls led during
8 Rakesh Kumar Jena 1735 8
the eleven rounds making it one of the 9 Aravindh chithambaram Vr 2014 7½
interesting contests in many years. 10 K Praneeth Surya 1831 7½
Diptayan and Monnisha had won the 11 Rishi Sardana 1753 7½
National Under-9 at Bangalore in 2007 and 12 Narayanan S L 1964 7½
13 Vasantha Ruba Varman 1996 7½
it is strange that they are winning their
14 G Yogesh 2002 7½
second National title also together. 15 Tamhankar Viraj 1860 7½
16 Ayush Jugele 1912 7½
Monnisha was impressive winner, taking the 17 Rohan Ahuja 1755 7½
title with a round to spare. She lost to 18 Aditya Chakraborty 1967 7½
19 Kumaran B 1901 7½
Lasya and beat the rest and took a last
20 Gajwa Ankit 1892 7½
round draw against Sunyasakta for the
trophy. Bakshi Rutuja of Aurangabad Final Ranking : U13 Girls (Top 20 placings)
finished second and Mahalakshmi of Rg. Name Elo Pkte
Chennai was third.Rakesh Kumar Nayak 1 Monnisha Gk WFM 1808 9½
2 Bakshi Rutuja 1729 8½
was third and in the last few years Orissa 3 Mahalakshmi M WFM 1836 8½
chess is making giant leaps in placings and 4 Sunyasakta Satpathy 1846 8
chess activity. 5 Shoumi Mukerjee 1766 8
Gangamma b N 1669 8
7 Parnali S Dharia 1658 8
Girish Koushik of Mysore and Sunyasakta 8 Lasya G 1839 7½
Satpathy of Orissa started as the top seeds 9 Salini R 1617 7½
but did not win. Girish came close and 10 Ashwini U 1838 7½
11 Aarthi G 1602 7½
needed a win in the final round for the title
12 Varshini V 1525 7
with white. Diptayan had equalised. Girish 13 Andria L D‘souza 1691 7
should have tried more since if he loses he 14 Deodhar vrushali Umesh 1587 7
would probably still be second anyway. 15 Manjula R 1563 7
16 Dharani Sree R 1672 7
Defending champion Lasya played well in
17 Priyamvada Karamcheti 1615 7
patches but failed in crucial games. Girish 18 Sradhanjali Jena 1712 7
lost to National U-11 champion Aravind 19 Soneji Janhavi 1660 7
Chithambaram and that cost him heavily. 20 Varsha c K 1640 7

1
4th Mangalore International FIDE Rating Chess Championship-2010
Thipsay wins Mangalore Open
by V.Ravichandran,Chief Arbiter
4 Mangalore International FIDE Rating
th
Chess Championship attracted 344
participants from various parts of India
including major states like Andhra,
Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa,
Uttarpradesh,,Jharkand, Jammu &
Kashmir, Delhi, Madhyapradesh, Orissa,
Assam, Westbengal, Rajasthan and
Maharastra.
The event was well organized by SKDCA
under the dynamic leadership of Shri
Gururaj ,President, South Kanara District
Chesss Associaton.. This International
event attracted cash prize of Rs. 3 lakhs
with prize money of Rs 60000/- to the
winner. 239 Fide rated players including
Three GMs, Fourteen International
Masters, and six FMs made this
championship a strong one.
Speaking on the inaugration Deputy Mayor
of Mangalore City Corporation , Mr
Rajendra appreciated that “SKDCA” is
providing good platforms to chess players
of district and the state by conducting a
series of tournaments in Mangalore and
that MCC will support such tournaments
in future also.
Mr.Ganesh Karnik , Vice Chairman of NRI
form cell, in his talk said Dist and the state
is honoured by premium of players who
have come across the country. Karnataka
Government will support in all possible ways
activities of SKDCA.
Yogesh Bhat, MLA, Mangalore City,
Achuthananda Reddy , President of United
2
Karnataka Chess Association, General
Manager of Karnataka Bank Mr P Jai Rama
Hande also spoke on the occasion. M R
Vasudeva, Honorary President of SKDCA
and Airport Director of Coimbatore
launched the website of SKDCA
( w w w. s k d c a . s p o r t s . o f f i c e l i v e . c o m )
speaking on the occasion said SKDCA has
created history in organizing 4 National
Open FIDE rated chess tournaments in a
row (2007 to 2010).
At the end of sixth round defending
champion IM Thejkumar defeated IM DP
Singh to take his tally to 6 points.
Satyapragyan overcame Abhishek Das in
a fighting game to join Rahul Sangma on
the second position .In the 7 th Round
extended his lead to one point by
outplaying IM Rahul Sangma of Delhi. In
the 8th round Thejkumar held GM Thipsay
to a draw to maintain half a point lead over
IM Satyapragyan and GM Neelotpal Das
who were on 7 points.
IM Thejkumar of SWRly continued to lead
the table with 7.5 pts at the end of the 8th
round .Thej made a quick draw with GM
Thipsay from the black side of Center
Counter defense in 12 moves after a
probable exchange of queens was to
appear. Thej maintained half a point lead
over IM Satyapragyan who crushed Arjun
Tiwari in 23 moves on the 2nd board.
In the penultimate and 9th round Thejkumar
drew with Satyapragyan to continue with
half a point lead. Six others- GMs Thipsay
& Neelotpal Das, IM Satyapragyan & Koshy and finished from 3 rd to 8 th places
and Navin Kanna , Shivananda were on 7.5 respectively and received Rs15,000 each.
points Special mention about players like
Balkishan, MeghanGupte, Arvind
The 10th and final round over night leader
Chithambaram, Shardul Gagare who were
IM Thejkumar was held to a draw by GM
impressive.
Neelotpal Das of ONGC in the first board .
On the second table Thipsay outplayed On the concluding day Shri Gururaj,
Navinkanna in a fine attacking game of 49 President, South Kanara District Chess
moves in Ruy Lopez opening. Thipsay won Association welcomed the gathering, Shri
a pawn on the 40th moves and wrapped Ananthakrishnan, Chairman, Karnataka
up the game after playing out the major Bank, was chief guest and distributed the
piece endgame . prizes and Smt D’ Cunha, Secretary,
SKDCA rendered vote of thanks. 17 players
Thipsay took his tally to 8.5 points and
played more the 9 rated games in this
edged out Thejkumar on a better Buchholz
event and completed the rating
tie break. Thejkumar was placed
requirements. They will get the rating in
second.Both Thipsay and Thejkumar
forth coming list.The tournament was
shared the prize amount and received
smoothly run by the Chief Arbiter
Rs47,5000each.. Six players IM
V.Ravichandran ably assisted by Arbiters
Satyapragyan, GM Neelotpal Das,
IA Vijayakumar, IA Vijayaraghavan and
Shivananda B S, IM Koshy Varugeese,
others
Bhattacharya N S were scored 8 points
4th Mangalore Open-Final standings: (first 19 Lokesh P 2188 7½
40 placings only) 20 Gupte Meghan 2242 7
Rk Title Name Rtg Pts 21 FM Maheswaran P 2341 7
1 GM Thipsay Praveen M 2461 8½ 22 Kunal M 2246 7
2 IM Thejkumar M S 2416 8½ 23 FM Muralidharan M B 2199 7
3 IM Satyapragyan Swayangsu 2444 24 IM Babu N Sudhakar 2320 7
8 25 IM Murali Krishnan B T 2391 7
4 GM Neelotpal Das 2437 8 26 IM Venkatesh M R 2410 7
5 Shivananda B S 2365 8 27 Arvind Shastry 2317 7
6 IM Koshy Varugeese 2313 8 28 Shashikant Kutwal 2282 7
7 Bhattacharya N Shekhar 2123 8 29 Anilkumar O T 2237 7
8 Gahan M G 2164 8 30 FM Gagare Shardul 2172 7
9 GM Laxman R R 2503 7½ 31 Akash Pc Iyer 2087 7
10 IM Singh D P 2311 7½ 32 Aravindh Chithambaram 2007 7
11 IM Sangma Rahul 2397 7½ 33 IM Hegde Ravi Gopal 2225 7
12 Navin Kanna T U 2329 7½ 34 Sagar Shah 2285 7
13 Abhishek Das 2346 7½ 35 FM Joshi Pankaj 2329 7
14 Krishna C R G 2247 7½ 36 Shreyans K Shah 2176 7
15 FM Vinoth Kumar M 2200 7½ 37 Balkishan A 1977 7
16 Navalgund Niranjan 2222 7½ 38 IM Rathnakaran K 2405 7
17 Premnath R 2253 7½ 39 Phadke Sohan 2232 7
18 Sriram Sarja 2208 7½ 40 Dave Kantilal 2164 7

5
1st FIDE Rating open Chess Tournament for the Blind, Haryana…
Ashwin Makwana
by M Manjunatha, FIDE Arbiter
1st FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament for
the Blind was organised by Haryana Sports
and Chess Association for the Blind, under
the auspices of All India Chess Federation
for the blind, from 21st to 25th June 2010
at Government Institute for the Blind,
Panipat, Haryana. The tournament was
inaugurated by Sri Om Prakash Jain,
Transport and Tourism Minister of Haryana.
Sri Ramnivas, President Haryana Sports &
Chess Association for the blind, Sri Mahipal
singh, Principal of Government Institute for
Blind, Sri Pardeep Singh were the other
dignitaries on the dais.
A total of 70 players in which thirteen FIDE
rated players from 13 states and a female
player from Maharashtra participated in this
tournament. Organizers provided free
boarding and lodging to all the participants
and escorts. The tournament was
conducted in Swiss league system with
total number of 9 rounds.
In the first round unrated player Prakash
Chandra Soni drew with 6th seed player
Mahamad Khalid. All other seeded player
won their games in the first round.
In the second round on 9th table, 10th
seeded Sai Krishna lost to unrated player
Sankar Chakraborty. At the end of the sixth
round Ashwin Makwana K of Gujarat
became sole leader of the tournament with
5.5 points, in the 8th round Kishan Gangolli
of Karnataka defeated the sole leader
Ashvin and lead the race with 7 points. In
6
is Champion
the final round Swapnil Defeated Kishan,
Ashvin beat Shashidar, This victory made
Ashvin Champion of the tournament with
7.5 points. Three players scored 7 points
each and based on the better tie break
score Kishan Gangolli, Sachin and Swapnil
secured second, third and fourth place
respectively, Totally 8 players performed
their partial rating performance
The total cash prize was Rs 20,500. Chief
Guest, Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, Financé
Minister of Haryana, distributed the prizes
to the prize winners. Sri Baldevsingh Krora,
Disability Commissioner, Sri Dhalveer Jaglan
Industrialist and Sri Ramnivas were
dignitaries who graced the occasion. Durga
Prasad Mohapatra of Orissa Worked as an
Asst Arbiter.
Puzzle of the month
C.G.S.Narayanan
What is the colour of the queen?
Here is a Robert Smullyan’s teaser.This is a
retro-analytical problem where from the
position given you have to find the colour of
the queen on h5.Where was the other queen
captured?
Solution on page 44
Selected games - Commonwealth
Championship, Delhi annotated by S.Krishnan
Maletin,P (2584)
Negi,P (2636) [D17]
Slav Defence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6
4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 Czech Variation
6.Ne5 Krause Attack 6...Nbd7 [6...e6 7.f3
c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4
11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6
(13...Rc8 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7
16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8 18.a5 Be7 19.Bb6
Rf8 20.Rac1 f5= 1–0 Topalov,V (2805)-
Anand,V (2787)/Sofia BUL 2010 (56))
14.Rc1 Rg8 15.h4 h6 (15...h5 16.Ne2 Bd6
17.Be3 Ne5 18.Nf4 Rc8 19.Bb3 Rxc1+
20.Bxc1 with a slightly better position for
White–1/2–1/2 Topalov,V (2805)-Anand,V
(2787)/ Sofia/Bulgaria 2010 (44)) 16.Ke2
Bd6 17.h5 Bh7 18.a5 Ke7 19.Na4 f6 20.b4
Rgc8= 1/2–1/2 Topalov,V (2805)-
Anand,V (2787)/Sofia/Bulgaria 2010 (46)]
7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5
10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2
11...g5!? Introduced by Morozewich in top
level chess. In spite of its risky appearance
it has become more topical in recent times
than the old move 11.....f6. [11...f6 12.0–
0 0–0–0 13.Rc1 Nb6 14.Nd2 Bb4 15.Qb3
Qe7 16.e4 Be6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5
Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Kb8 20.Bxc6 Bxd2
21.Bxe5+ fxe5 22.Rc5 a6 23.Be4 with a
slightly better position for White. 1/2–1/2
Sasikiran,K (2653)-Bareev,E (2643)/
Moscow RUS 2010 (23)] 12.Bxe5
[12.Ne3 gxf4 13.Nxf5 0–0–0 14.Qc2 Ng6
(14...Nc5 15.0–0 Ne6 16.Qe4 fxg3
17.hxg3 a5 18.Nb5 cxb5 19.axb5 Nc5
20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Qc3± 1–0 Shirov,A
(2699)-Harikrishna,P (2680)/Foros 2006/
CBM 113 (38)) 15.0–0 Kb8 16.Rfc1 a5
17.b4 axb4 18.Nb5 Qe5 19.Nbd4 Bc5
20.Nb3 h5 21.Rab1 Ba7 22.Bxc6 fxg3
23.hxg3 Rc8 24.Qd3 bxc6 25.Qxd7 Rc7=
1–0 Carlsen,M (2772)-Wang Yue (2736)/
Nanjing CHN 2009 (69)] 12...Nxe5
13.Qd4 f6 14.0–0–0 Be6 [14...Rd8
15.Qe3 Be7 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Nxe5
Qxe5 18.Qxa7 Ba3 19.Rd1+ Kc8 20.Qd4
Qxd4 21.Rxd4 Bc5 22.Rd2 with a
preferable position for White, 1/2–1/2
Sokolov,I (2696)-Harikrishna,P (2673)/
Hoogeveen 2005/(36); 14...Be7 15.Ne3
Be6 16.Qe4 Bb3 17.f4 gxf4 18.gxf4 Ng6
19.Rd4 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8= 1/2–1/2
Karthikeyan,P (2408)-Deshpande,A
(2256)/New Delhi IND 2010(46)] 15.f4
gxf4 16.gxf4 Rd8 [16...Nxc4 17.Qxf6 Bf7
18.Qxh8 Qxf4+ 19.Kb1 Bg6+ 20.Ka1 Ne3
21.Rhf1 Nc2+ 22.Kb1 Ne3+ 23.Ka1 Nc2+
24.Ka2 Qc4+ 25.b3 Qc5 26.Rxf8+ Qxf8
27.Qe5+ Qe7 28.Qh8+ Qf8 29.Qe5+ 1/
2–1/2 Niessen,T (2473)-Schrancz,I
(2452)/LSS 2006] 17.Qxd8+ Qxd8
18.Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.fxe5 Bxc4 20.exf6
Bd6 21.Kc2 [Or 21.Ne4 Bf4+ 22.Kc2 Bxe2
23.Re1 Bg4! 24.h3 Be6=] 21...Be5 22.b3
Be6 23.Ne4 Rf8 24.Rd1+
7

24...Ke8? Losing a Pawn [24...Kc7=]
25.Bf3! Bxf6 26.Nd6+ Kd7 [Better
option seems 26...Ke7 27.Nxb7 Bf5+
28.Kd2 Bg6 29.b4! (29.Bxc6?! Bg5+
30.Kc3 (30.Ke1 Bh4+ 31.Kd2 Bg5+=)
30...Rc8 31.Rd7+ Kf8 32.Na5 Bd8 33.Kb4
Bxa5+ 34.Kxa5 Rxc6 35.Rxa7 Be4 36.b4
Rh6 37.Rc7 Rxh2 38.Kb6 Rxe2 with a
probable draw) 29...Be5! 30.Rc1 (30.Na5?
Rd8+ 31.Kc1 Bf4+ 32.e3 Bxe3+ 33.Kb2
Rxd1 34.Bxd1 Be4³) 30...Bxh2 31.Rxc6
Keeps an advantage though not clear
enough to win because of Black’s two
Bishops and counter play with the h-pawn.]
27.Nxb7+ Kc7 28.Nc5 Bf5+ 29.Be4!
29...Be7!? Deciding to try his chances of
survival in opposite coloured Bishops.
8
[Another try to keep floating is 29...Bc8
30.b4 (30.Bxh7 Rh8 31.Bd3 Rxh2 32.Rf1
Be7 33.Rf7 Kd8 34.Ne4²) 30...Be7 31.Rg1
Rf7±] 30.Bxf5 Bxc5 31.Rd7+ Kb6
32.e4 [32.Bxh7?! Rf2] 32...h6 33.Rh7
Rf6 34.Kc3 Bd6?
[Essential was 34...a5 ] 35.Kc4 [35.Bc8!
Rf8 (35...c5 36.Kc4 threatening 37.Rb7ch
Ka4 28 Rb5 mate. 36...a6 37.Kd5 e passer
wins the game for White.) 36.Rb7+ Ka5
37.Rxa7+ Kb6 38.Rb7+ Ka5 39.b4+!
Bxb4+ (39...Kxa4 40.Bd7 Rf3+ 41.Kc4
Ka3 42.Bxc6 Bxh2 43.b5 Rb3 44.Rf7 wins
as the Black King is cut off from the main
area of play.) 40.Rxb4 Rxc8 41.e5 White
easily wins the Rook ending by pushing his
e passer with the rook on e4 .] 35...Bxh2?
[Better try for survival seems 35...a6 36.h3
(36.Bc8 Rf4 37.Rb7+ Ka5 38.Kd4 Rf1
39.Ra7 Kb4 40.Rxa6 Rc1 41.Be6 is also
possible) 36...Be5 37.b4 a5 38.bxa5+
Kxa5± The presence of Rooks offer some
chances of win for white But there are
certainly some technical problems.]
36.Bc8! Rf8 [Or 36...c5 37.a5+ Kc6
38.Rxa7 Rf2 39.Bb7+ Kd6 40.Ra6+ Kc7
41.Bd5 Rc2+ 42.Kb5 Wins; 36...a6 37.b4
Bc7 38.a5+ Ka7 39.e5! Rf4+ 40.Kc5 Kb8
41.e6! Kxc8 42.Rh8+ Kb7 43.e7 White
wins the Exchange and the game.]
37.a5+!
37...Kxa5 38.b4+ Kb6 39.Rb7+ Ka6
40.Rb8+ Rxc8 41.Rxc8+- Kb6 42.Rh8
Bf4 43.Rh7 a6 44.Rf7 Bg3 45.Kd4 1–0
Laxman,R (2476)
Kokarev,Dm (2612) [E94]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0–0
5.d4 d6 6.Be2 Nowadays this classical line
is the most topical one against Kings Indian.
6...Na6!? Diagram # Knight at the edge
of the board. But it involves Interesting
ideas. Black develops his Knight without
blocking his queen Bishop and this knight
apart from protecting c7 is ready to jump
to c5 if White plays d4-d5. 7.0–0 e5
8.Be3 [8.d5 Nc5 9.Qc2 a5 10.Bg5 h6
11.Be3 b6 12.Nd2 Bg4 13.Rae1 Bxe2
14.Rxe2 Ng4 15.Bxc5 bxc5 16.Nd1 h5
17.Ne3 Nh6 18.g3 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.f4
e4= 0–1 Ashwath,R (2312)-Thipsay,P
(2453)/New Delhi IND 2009/ (55)]
8...Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.h3 [Main
alternative is 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Qc1 (11.h3
h6 12.Bd2 Nf6 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Qc1 Kh7
15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Rd1 Nxe4 17.c5 c6?
18.Nb6± 1–0 Sandipan,C (2552)-
Arakhamia Grant,K (2435)/Philadelphia
2007/CBM 119 ext (43)) 11...c6 12.Rd1
f6 13.Bd2 f5 14.h3 Nf6 15.exf5 gxf5
16.Bh6 e4 17.Nh4 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qf7
19.Qf4 Qc7 20.Qxc7 Nxc7= 1/2–1/2
Harikrishna,P (2632)-Volokitin,A (2685)/
Bermuda 2005 (44)] 10...h6 11.Bc1
exd4 12.Nxd4 Nf6 13.Bf3 Nh7 14.Re1
Ng5 15.Be3 c6
16.Nb3 Immediately pointing out that
Black’s d pawn is backward. 16...Qe7
17.Bg4! Bxg4 18.Qxg4 Rfe8 19.Bd4
White is ready to exchange pieces aiming
at a slightly better end game. But white’s
Bishop on e3 looks better placed than his
counterpart on g7. [To be considered is
19.Rad1 Ne6 20.f4] 19...Qe6?! [19...Ne6
20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Rad1 Rad8 22.Qg3
Nac5=] 20.Bxg7 Qxg4 21.hxg4 Kxg7
(See diagram next column) 22.Rad1
After the exchanges white has a slightly
better ending because of the Black’s
backward d pawn . 22...Red8 23.Na5!?
[23.Rd2] 23...Rab8 24.a3 Ne6
[24...Nc7] 25.b4 Nac7 26.Re3 Ne8
27.g3?! [27.f3!] 27...Rdc8 [27...Nf6!
28.f3 Nd7! 29.Rxd6 Ne5 30.Rxd8 Rxd8
9

(after 21....Kxg7)
31.Nxb7 Rd2 32.Ne2 Only move Otherwise
Black wins with 32....Nd4 32...Nxc4 33.Rc3
Nb2 Black has enough play for the Pawn.]
28.Kg2 Rc7 29.Nb3 Rbc8
30.a4?! [30.f3!] 30...Nf8?! [30...Nf6!
31.f3 Nd7 32.Rxd6 Ne5 with good
compensation for the pawn. For example
33.c5 (33.Nd2 Rd8 34.Rxd8 Nxd8 35.Ncb1
Rd7 with Ne6 to follow. The control of d-
file offers compensation, whereas white’s
doubled pawn is practically useless because
of the Black knight on e5.) 33...Nc4 34.Re1
Nxd6 35.cxd6 Rd7 36.e5 c5 37.bxc5 Nxc5
38.Nxc5 Rxc5 39.Nb5 Rc2+ 40.Kh3 a6
41.Nc7 Rcxc7 42.dxc7 Rxc7=] 31.a5 Re7
32.f4 Because of his passive play Black is
getting cramped move by move, 32...Ne6
10
33.Kf3 f6 34.Red3 c5? This late attempt
at freedom only back fires [Nevertheless
after 34...b6 35.axb6 axb6 36.Ra1 Rb7
Black can try to hold a passive position,
although here too White’s advantage in
space is unquestionable.] 35.Nd5 Rd7
36.b5 Nd8 37.b6 a6 38.Nc7 Nxc7
39.bxc7 Ne6?! Not the best defence [But
even after 39...Rdxc7 40.Rxd6 Nc6
41.Nxc5 Rf7 42.Ne6+ Kh7 43.R1d5 Black
can hardly survive.] 40.Rxd6 Re7 41.Rb6
[41.Rxe6!? Rxe6 42.Rd7+ Kf8 43.Nxc5
Re7 (43...Rc6 44.Rd8+ Ke7 45.Rxc8 Rxc5
46.Rg8 Rxc7 47.Rg7+ Kd8 48.Rxc7 Kxc7
White wins the Pawn Ending easily with
49.f5) 44.Rd8+ Re8 45.Nd7+ Kf7 46.Rxe8
Kxe8 47.Nxf6+ Kf7 48.Nd5 Ke6 49.e5
wins] 41...Rcxc7
42.Rdd6 Rcd7 43.Rxd7 Rxd7 44.Ke3
Nd8 [Or 44...Re7 45.e5! h5 (45...fxe5 46.f5
wins) 46.exf6+ Kxf6 47.Nxc5+-] 45.Nxc5
Rc7 46.Kd4 Kf7 47.Kd5 [47.Kd5 Ke7
48.e5 fxe5 49.Rxg6 wins] 1–0
That Fred produced accurate and deep analy-
sis should surprise no one who played him
over-the-board. His chess was precise, posi-
tional and poisonous.
– Arnold Denker and Larry Parr (on Reinfeld)
Lafuente,P (2587) Kunte,A (2519)/Cebu City 2007) 6...a5
Laxman,R (2476) [E16] 7.b3 0–0 8.Bg2 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0–0
Nc6 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.e3 Rd8 13.Qc2 Ba7
Bogo Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6
14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bd7 16.Qb2 Bc6
3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 [Equally good
17.Bc3 Bb8 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Rxa1
alternative is 4.Bd2 a5 5.Qc2 (5.e3 b6
20.Rxa1 dxc4 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Bxf6 Qxf6
6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nc3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Ne4 9.Rc1
23.Qxf6 gxf6 24.Nxc4 with a slight
d6 10.0–0 Nd7 11.Be1 f5 12.Qc2 0–0
advantage to White.] 5.a3 Be7 [Also
13.d5 Ndc5 14.dxe6 Nxe6 15.Nd4 N6c5
playable is 5...Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 Ne4 7.e3 d6
16.Be2 Ng5 17.f3 Qf6 18.Bf2 Rae8= 1–0
8.Bd3 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 Qe7 10.Qc2 h6 11.0–
Karavade,E-Paridar,S/Nyugen Nyang
0 e5 12.c5 Nd7 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.Rac1 Nf6
Gymnasium 2009 (55)) 5...d6 6.g3 Nbd7
15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Bb5 a6 17.Ba4 b5
7.Bg2 0–0 8.Nc3 e5 9.0–0 Qe7 10.dxe5
18.Bb3 Be6 19.Bxe6 Qxe6= 0–1 Koneru,H
dxe5 11.a3 Bc5 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nge4 Nxe4
(2531)-Nguyen Anh Dung (2555)/Kuala
14.Nxe4 Ba7 15.b4 f5 16.Nc3 c6 17.Na4
Lumpur 2005/ (53)] 6.g3 [6.e4 d5 7.Bd3
Bb8 18.bxa5 Bc7 19.Bb4 c5 20.Bd5+ Kh8
dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nc6 9.Ng3 Kh8 10.Bc2 a6
21.Bc3 Bxa5 22.Rab1 with a slight
11.Bg5 b5 12.Qd3 g6 13.h4 bxc4 14.Qxc4
advantage to White.1–0 Ashwin,J (2425)-
Qd5 15.Qc3 Bb7 16.h5 with a king side
Toufighi,H (2488)/Asian Junior Chess
attack1–0 Sasikiran,K (2601)-
Championship 2009 (30)] 4...0–0 [More
Sharavdorj,D (2441)/ Jakarta 2001/ (41)]
frequent line is 4...b6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2
6...b6 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0–0 [8.Qc2 c5 9.e4
Bb7 7.e3 0–0 8.Be2 Ne4 9.Qc2 f5 10.b3
d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.0–0 dxc4 12.dxc5
Rf6 11.Bb2 Rg6 12.Rg1 a5 13.h3 d6 14.g4
Bxc5 13.Nxc4 Be4 14.Qb3 Nbd7 15.Bf4
Nd7 15.d5 Ndc5 16.0–0–0 fxg4 17.Nd4
Bd5 16.Qd3 Rc8 17.Rac1 b5 18.Ne3 Bxf3
Nxf2 18.Rdf1 Qg5!–+ 0–1 Gupta,A
19.Bxf3 Ne5 20.Qe2 Nd3 with a favourable
(2570)-Antonio,R (2518)/Subic Bay Free
position for Black.0–1 Ravi,L (2416)-
Port 2009 (42); Another common line is
Koneru,H (2508)/Dubai 2005/ (51)]
4...d5 5.a3 Be7 6.g3 (6.e3 0–0 7.Bd3 c5
8...c5=
8.dxc5 a5 9.0–0 (9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Bc4
Qxc5 11.b4 Qc7 12.b5 Rd8 13.Bb2 a4
14.0–0 Nbd7 15.Rc1 Nc5 16.Qe2 b6
17.Ne5 Bb7 18.f4 Rf8 19.Ndf3 Nfe4= 1/
2–1/2 Sandipan,C (2550)-Short,N
(2677)/Mumbai 2006(33)) 9...Nbd7
10.b3 Nxc5 11.Bc2 dxc4 12.Nxc4 b5
13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nxc8 Rbxc8
16.Bd2 b4 17.axb4 Nce4 18.Bxe4 Nxe4
19.Rfd1 Nxd2 20.Rxd2 Bxb4 21.Rxd8+
Rxd8 22.Kf1 Rd3 23.Nd4 e5 24.Nc6 Rxb3
25.Nxb4 1/2–1/2 Adianto,U (2583)-

11
9.Nb3 Na6 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Nxc5
bxc5! 12.Qc2 Be4 13.Qc3 Qb6 14.Ne5
Bxg2 15.Kxg2 a5 16.Qf3 d5! 17.Rd1
Bd6! 18.Bf4 Qb8!
Forcing exchange of minor pieces after
which Black has a slightly better end game
due to the backwardness White’s b pawn.
19.Ng4 [19.Nd3? e5–+] 19...Nxg4
20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Qxg4 d4! 22.e3 e5
23.exd4 exd4 24.b3 Rab8 25.Rd3
Rfe8! 26.Rad1 g6 27.Qf3 Qe6
28.a4?! Surrendering the chance of ever
playing b4 [A waiting move like 28.Rc1 may
be preferred here.] 28...f5! 29.Kg1 Qe4
This centralisation of Black Queen results
in further constriction of White’s position.
12
Black’s Systematic play has resulted in a
clear advantage for him. 30.Qg2 Kg7
31.h4?! [31.Qf1] 31...h6!?
After tying up White pieces for the
defence of b Pawn Black is ready to open
another front on Kingside. The advantage
having more space and better
development allows Black to alternate
the attack on both sides. [However
31...Qxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Re2 33.Rb1 Kf6
34.Kf1 Rc2 threatens 35....Rxc2 35.Re1
Rb2–+ would have also won straight
away.] 32.Rf3?! [32.Qf1] 32...g5!
Black does not want to give any counter
play to White. Now he threatens
33.....Re6 followed gh4 and Rg6.
[32...Qc2!? 33.Qf1 Rxb3 34.Rxb3 Qxb3
35.Rb1 Qc3 36.Rb7+ Kf8 37.Kh2 Qf3–
+] 33.hxg5 hxg5 White is in serious
trouble now as he has to defend against
so many threats such as g4, d3 and loss
of b3 Pawn. 34.g4? Hastens the end.
[But neither advisable is 34.Rfd3 Re6
35.f3 (35.Qf3? Rh6!–+) 35...Qe2
36.Qxe2 Rxe2 37.Rb1 Rc2–+] 34...fxg4
35.Rg3 Qxg2+ 36.Kxg2 Re4 37.Rg1
Kf6 38.Kf1

38...Rf4 [38...Rbe8!? idea 39.Rxg4 Rxg4
40.Rxg4 d3!–+] 39.Rd3 Re8 40.Rgg3
Kf5 41.Rd2 Rf3 42.Rd3 Ree3! 0–1
Harika,D (2491)
Dreev,A (2655) [D12]
Slav Defence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6
4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 [5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 Qb6
7.Qxb6 axb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.Ne5
e6 11.Nxd7 Kxd7 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.f3 Ne8
14.Ke2 Be7 15.a3 Nd6 16.Bd3 Na5
17.Rab1 Nac4 18.Be1 h5 19.e4 Bg5 20.h4
Bh6 21.e5 Nc8 22.Bxc4 dxc4 23.Rd1 Ne7
24.d5 Rhd8 25.Bf2 exd5 26.Bxb6 Kc6
27.Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Ne4 Nf5 29.g4 hxg4
30.fxg4 Ne3 31.g5 Nxd1 32.Rxd1 Re8
33.gxh6 gxh6 34.Rxd5 1–0 Abhijit,K
(2522)-Chakkravarthy J,D (2518)/
Mumbai India 2009] 5...e6 6.Nh4 Bg6
[6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 (8...Qb6
9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Kf2 Nbd7 11.g3 Qc7
12.Kg2 Bd6 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Ne4 Be7
15.Nf2 Qb6 16.Bc4 Qxb3 17.Bxb3 c5
18.e4 N5b6 19.Be3 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Bf6=
0–1 Rahman,Z (2548)-Siddharth,R
(2424)/Chennai IND 2010/AICF CRL May
2010 (74)) 9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.Rc1 Be7 11.g3
dxc4 12.Bxc4 a6 13.0–0 b5 14.Be2 c5
15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.a4 Qd6 17.axb5 cxd4
18.Nb1 Nc5 19.Qc4 d3 20.Bd1 0–0= 1/
2–1/2 Koneru,H (2614)-Vernay,C (2442)/
Caleta ENG 2010(61)] 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.g3
[8.0–0 Bd6 9.h3 (9.g3 transposes to
present game) 9...Qc7 10.Bd2 dxc4
11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Be2 e5
14.Qc2 Qe7 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.e4 0–0–0
17.Be3 Qe6 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rxh3
20.Nb5 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Bb8 with
compensation for the exchange.1/2–1/2
Sundararajan,K (2520)-Saravana,K
(2324)/ Mumbai IND 2010(88)] 8...Bd6
9.0–0 dxc4
10.Nxg6 [10.Bxc4 Bh5=] 10...hxg6
11.Bxc4 Qe7 12.e4 e5 13.d5 Nb6
14.Bb3 Qd7 threatening 15.. ..Qh3
15.Qf3 cxd5 [15...Qh3 16.Qg2=]
16.Nxd5?! [16.exd5] 16...Nbxd5
17.Bxd5?! Nxd5 18.exd5 Qf5 19.Qxf5
gxf5 (See Diagram next column) After
the series of exchanges Black stands
slightly better due to weakness of White’s
d pawn and Black’s control of h file. 20.Be3
[20.Bd2] 20...f4 21.gxf4? Breaking down
the Pawn chain on Kingside and creating
further weaknesses. [To be considered is
13
 (after 19....gxf5)
21.Bd2 Kd7 22.Kg2 with a slightly difficult
but playable game.] 21...exf4 22.Bd4 f3!
23.Rae1+ Kd7 24.Be5
(after 29.Re4)
Re8? [30...f5! still wins 31.Rxf5 Rgh8–+]
31.Re3 Rxe3 32.fxe3 Kxd5 33.Rxg4
f2+ 34.Kf1 Rxh2 35.Rf4 Rh1+ 36.Kxf2
Rh2+ 37.Kg3!? [37.Kf3 Rxb2 38.Rxf7
Kc6 39.Rf6+ Kc5 40.Rf5+=] 37...Rxb2
38.Rxf7 a6 39.Rf2 Rb4=

24...Rh5 [24...Rh3! 25.Bg3 (25.Bxd6?

Kxd6 26.Re3 Rah8 27.b3 g5 28.Rfe1 g4
wins) 25...g5!–+ Now Black Threatens
26...Rah8 followed by Bxg3 - winning
The game is already heading towards draw.
26.Re3 (26.Re4 Rah8 27.Rg4 f5 28.Rxg5
40.Kf3 b5 41.Rh2 Ra4 42.Rh5+ Kd6
f4–+) 26...g4 27.Re4 f5–+ White is
43.Rh6+ Kc5 44.Rh5+ Kc6 45.Rh6+ Kd5
helpless against Black’s threat of doubling
46.Rh5+ Ke6 47.Rh6+ Kf5 48.Rh5+ Kf6
the Rook along h file followed by Bxg3.]
49.Rh2 Kg5 50.Rg2+ Kf5 51.e4+ Ke5
25.Bxd6 Kxd6 26.Re3 Rh3 27.Rc1 g5
52.Rg5+ Kf6 53.Rg2 Ke5 ½–½
28.Rcc3 g4 29.Re4 (See Diagram next
column) 29...Rg8 [29...f5! 30.Re6+ Even with a good position, a player, no mat-
Kxd5 31.Rce3 (31.Rf6 Rh5 32.Re3 Rah8– ter how strong, cannot afford to relax his at-
tention even for one move.
+) 31...Rah8 32.R6e5+ Kd4 with the fall
– Jose R. Capablanca
of h2 Pawn Black has an easy win.] 30.Rf4

14
Harika,D (2491)
Prasenjit,Dat (2283) [A30]
English Opening 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3
e6 4.g3 b6 Opting for a Hedgehog setup
which consists of playing the pawns to
a6,b6,d6 and e6. The Bishops are placed
on b7 and e7 and Knights on f6 and d7.
With such a set up though Black appears
to be a bit cramped it is quite solid as it is
not easy for white to break through the
set up. Once black is able to play either b5
or d5 Black has chances of equalising easily.
The opening is rich in strategical ideas and
affords highly flexible opportunities for both
sides. [4...d5 may transpose to Tarrasch
Defence.] 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 Be7
18.a5 b5 19.Bxc6 dxc6= 1/2–1/2 Popov,V
(2590)-Sasikiran,K (2700)/Moscow 2007/
CBM 117 (36)] 7...0–0 [7...d6 8.e4 a6
9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Be3 0–0
12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.f4 h5 14.h3 Rfe8 15.f5
Bd8 16.b3 Ne5 17.Rf1 Rc8 18.fxe6 fxe6
19.Nde2 Qd7 20.a4 Rf8 21.Nf4 g6 22.Rc2
Bc7 23.Bd4 Qe8 24.Rcf2 Nfd7 25.h4 Rf6
26.Bh3 Nf8 27.Nce2 Bd8 28.Nc3 Rf7
29.Qe2 1/2–1/2 Sasikiran,K (2659)-
Nisipeanu,L (2692)/Dubai 2004; Here
transposition to Queens Indian is possible
with 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 0–0 10.Bf4
Nbd7 11.Rc1 Ne4 12.a3 Ndf6 13.dxc5
Bxc5 14.e3 Re8 15.b4 Bf8 16.Nb5 a5
17.Qb3 axb4 18.axb4 Rc8 19.Nfd4 Qd7
20.Red1 1/2–1/2 Sasikiran,K (2666)-
Nisipeanu,L (2686) / Pune 2004] 8.e4 d6
9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Now White is
threatening 11.e5 10...Qc8 [10...Qc7!?
11.Ndb5 Qc6 12.Bf4 Rd8 13.Rc1 a6
14.Nd4 Qc7 (14...Qc8? 15.Bh3! idea Nd5)
15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 Qd7 does not changes
the character of the position much. Does
not changes the chrarector of the position
much.] 11.Be3 a6 12.Rc1 Nbd7

7.Re1 preparing immediate e4- This is one

of the best ways of testing the Hedgehog
set up. [7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 0–0 (8...d6
9.Bg5 a6 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qf4 0–0
12.Rfd1 Be7 13.Ne4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Ra7
15.Nd4 Qc8 16.b3 Bf6 17.e3 Rd8 18.Qg4
g6 19.Rd2 h5 20.Qe2 Bg7 21.Rad1 with a
slightly better position for White.1/2–1/2
Anand,V (2785)-Adams,M (2737)/Sofia
2005 (54)) 9.Rd1 Nc6 10.Qf4 Qb8 11.b3 Now Black has reached the typical
h6 12.Qxb8 Raxb8 13.Bf4 Rbc8 14.Ne5 Hedgehog set up. 13.f4 Ra7!? 14.Bf2
g5 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd6 Rfe8 17.a4 a6 Qa8 15.g4 g6 16.g5 Nh5

15

17.Qg4?! [17.Be3 threatening f5 looks
more appropriate. If Black still persists on
17...Nc5 then after (17...Re8? 18.f5±;
17...Rc8? 18.Bh3!) 18.f5 Nxe4 19.Bxe4!
Bxe4 20.fxe6 Rc7 21.Qb3 Bh1 22.Nd5!
White stands better] 17...Nc5! 18.Rcd1
e5? Overlooking White’s natural response.
[18...f5! 19.gxf6 (19.exf5 Bxg2 20.Qxg2
Qxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Nxf4+ 22.Kg3 Nh5+
23.Kg2 (23.Kf3? e5!; 23.Kh4 h6=)
23...Nf4+=) 19...Nxf6 20.Qh3 e5 with
chances for both sides.] 19.Nf5! gxf5
[Lesser Evil is 19...Bc6 20.Nxe7+ Rxe7
21.fxe5 dxe5 22.b4 Ne6 23.Bxb6±]
20.Qxh5 Ne6
21.fxe5?! [21.Be3! Preventing Black’s Nf4
would have put Black in precarious position
16
as now the threat of fxe5 followed by Nd5
becomes more dangerous. It is very difficult
for Black to survive long as after 21...exf4
(21...Nxf4? 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rd3! idea 24.
Rh3 winning.) 22.Bxb6 Nxg5 23.Nd5+-
Black’s position is in shambles.] 21...dxe5
22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Nf4 24.Qh6 Rd7?
[Better defence is 24...Rd8 Clearing f8 for
the Bishop 25.d6 (25.Bxb6?? Rd6–+;
25.exf5 Nxg2=) 25...Bf8 With the Bishop
coming to the aid of his King Black has
good chances of survival than in the
game.] 25.exf5! [Not tempted for winning
a piece for two Pawns with 25.d6 Rfd8
26.dxe7 Rxd1 27.exd8Q+ Qxd8 28.Qh4
Rxe1+ 29.Bxe1 fxe4 Black has some
hopes of survival because of his well placed
Knight on f4 and exposed nature of White
King.] 25...f6 Only move [25...Rc8 26.g6!
(26.f6? Bf8) 26...fxg6 27.fxg6 Bf8
(27...Nxg6? 28.d6+-; 27...hxg6
28.Rxe5+-) 28.Qg5+-] 26.Be4 Qd8
Bringing the Queen to the defence of King
side. [26...Bb4!?] 27.g6?! (See Diagram
next column) [27.d6! Bxd6 28.g6! with
the threat of Rxd6 28...Rg7 (28...Bb4
29.Bc6!+-; 28...Bc5 29.Bxc5 bxc5
30.Bc6+-) 29.Be3 Qc7 30.Kh1±]

(after 27.g6)
27...Bc5? It was necessary to remove the
Bishop from e7 in order to protect h7 by
the Rook, But Black misses a better square
for his Bishop. [27...Bb4! 28.Rf1
(28.gxh7+?? Rxh7 traps White’s Queen.;
28.Re3 hxg6 29.fxg6 f5 30.Bg2 Bd6
White’s attack is in stand still and his pawn
on g6 is more of a weakness than
strength.) 28...hxg6 29.fxg6 f5 with
counter play] 28.Bxc5 bxc5 29.Kh1!
Removing the king from g file serves attack
and defence. Hence forth White has
additional possibilities with Rg1 29...hxg6?
[29...Kh8] 30.fxg6 f5 [Or 30...Rg7 31.Bf5
Re8 32.d6 Black totally tied up and is
helpless against the advance of d passer
and impending sacrifice of White Rook for
the Knight with Re4-Rxf4] 31.Bf3?
Diagram # [Missing 31.g7! Rxg7 32.Rg1
Black can resign as after 32...Qf6
(32...Rxg1+ 33.Rxg1+ Kf7 34.Rg7+ Ke8
35.Qc6+ he gets mated) 33.Rxg7+ Qxg7
34.Rg1 Black loses his queen.] 31...Qf6
32.d6! Now White threatens 33.Bd5 and
after the forced exchange of the Black
knight for the White Bishop Black’s Pawns
on his fourth rank are at the mercy of White
rooks. 32...Rc8 Black proceeds to protect
his c5 pawn, but as we shall see the Rook
was better placed on f8. [Better defence
seems 32...c4! 33.Bd5+ Nxd5 34.Rxd5 e4
35.Qc1 Kg7 36.Qxc4 Qxb2 Though Black
still has a difficult game.] 33.Bd5+ Nxd5
34.Rxd5 Re8
After all this Rook could not protect c5
Pawn and Black’s 33rd move has proved
only a waste of time. [It may be noted
that after 34...e4? 35.Rf1 the absence of
Black Rook on f8 proves suicidal as black
cannot protect his f pawn the fall of which
annihilates his position] 35.Qe3?!
[35.Qh5! Idea 36.g7 35...Qe6 (35...Rg7
36.b3 a5 37.a4 Black’s Pawn should fall)
36.Rxc5 Rf8 Black suffers from absence
of reasonable moves. (36...a5 37.b3 does
not alter the situation as he is still gasping
for breath.; 36...Rxd6 Invites mate after
37.Qh7+ Kf8 38.g7+ Ke7 39.g8Q+)
37.Rcxe5 Qxd6 38.Qf3 Qd3+-] 35...Rxd6
36.Qxc5? Rxd5 37.Qxd5+ (See
Diagram next column) 37...Qe6??
Losing finally possibly in time trouble
[However after 37...Kg7! It is white who
has to find a draw as Black threatens to
advance his centre pawns and White’s
Pawn on g6 has become a traitor as he
protects his enemy King better against
17

(after 37.Qd5+)
checks along the g file. 38.b4 e4] 38.Rxe5
Qxd5+ 39.Rxd5 Re1+ 40.Kg2 Re2+
41.Kg3 Rxb2 42.h4! Kg7 43.h5 Rxa2
44.Rxf5
[44.Rd7+ Kf6 45.g7 Ra3+ 46.Kf2 Ra2+
47.Ke3 Rg2 48.h6 also wins] 44...Ra3+
45.Kg4 Kh6 46.Rf7 Ra4+ 47.Kf5 Ra5+
48.Kf6 [Another idea is 48.Ke6 Kxh5
49.g7 Rg5 50.Rf5] 48...Kxh5 49.g7 Rg5
50.Rf8 1–0
Ashwin,J (2457)
Gupta,Ab (2570) [C48]
Four Knights Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nd4 Rubinstein Variation
[4...Bb4 is more solid] 5.Bc4 [White
cannot win a Pawn with 5.Nxe5 as after
18
5...Qe7 6.Nf3 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2
Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Nd5 10.c4 a6 Black has
regained the Pawn apart from having bishop
pair.; 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6
(7...cxd2+?! 8.Bxd2 Qxf6 9.0–0 White has
development advantage and 9...Qxb2? only
aggravates the position for Black after
10.Re1+ Kd8 11.Rb1) 8.dxc3 Qe5+ 9.Be2
(9.Qe2 Qxe2+=) 9...Bc5 10.0–0 0–0
11.Bd3 d5 12.Qf3 Bd6 13.g3 c6= 1/2–1/
2 Iuldachev,S (2555) -Mari Arul,S (2335)/
Calcutta 1997; More popular is 5.Ba4 c6
6.0–0 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 d6 8.d3 Be7 (8...Be6
9.Bb3 Qd7 10.Bxe6 Qxe6 11.Rd1 Be7
12.d4 exd4 13.Rxd4 d5 14.Bg5 Qe5
15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rad1 Qg5 17.R4d2 d4
18.Ne2 0–0–0 19.Qa3 Qe5 20.Qxa7± 1–
0 Postny,E (2482)-Koneru,H (2486)/
Budapest 2002) 9.Nd5 Qa5 10.Nxe7 Qxa4
11.Nxc8 Rxc8 12.Bg5 Nd7 13.b3 Qa5
14.Qg4 h6 15.Be3 Ke7 16.f4 Rhg8 17.fxe5
Nxe5 18.Qf5 f6 19.d4 Qc3 20.Rae1 Kf7
1–0 Anand,V (2725)-Ljubojevic,L (2600)/
Monte Carlo 1996] 5...Bc5 6.d3 [6.Nxe5
Qe7 (6...d5!?) 7.Nxf7 (7.Nf3 d5=) 7...0–0
8.Ng5+ Kh8 9.d3 b5!? (9...d5=) 10.Nd5
(10.Nxb5?! Nxb5 11.Bxb5 Bxf2+!)
10...Qd6 11.c3 Ne6 with complicated Play]
6...d6 7.Nxd4 [7.h3 h6 8.Nxd4 Bxd4
9.Ne2 Bb6 10.Ng3 Be6 11.0–0 Qd7 12.Qf3
c6 13.a4 Rd8 14.Re1 a6 15.Be3 Bxe3
16.Qxe3 0–0 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.d4 Qc7
19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Qb3 Rfe8 21.Rad1 Rxd1
22.Rxd1 Kh7 23.Rd3 b5 24.c4 Qa5 25.axb5
axb5 26.cxb5 cxb5 27.Qd1 Qa2 28.Rd2
Rc8 29.Kh2 Qc4 30.b3 Qc5 1/2–1/2 Roy
Chowdhury,S (2427)-Anwesh,U (2406)/
Mumbai 2009/ CBM 133 Extra] 7...Bxd4
8.Be3 [8.Ne2!?] 8...0–0 9.0–0 Be6
10.Bb3 c5
 here after 27...Kg7 the threat of Ng3 gives
Black enough counter play for the Pawn.
For example 28.Bf1 (28.d6 Ng3!–+)
28...Ng3 29.c3 Qxc3 30.fxg3 Qe3+
31.Kh1 hxg3 32.Qh4 Qf2 33.Qc4 Qe3
34.Qh4 Qf2 35.Qc4 Qe3=] 21.g3 Qg5

11.Bg5 threatening 12.Nd5 11...Bxc3

12.bxc3 h6 13.Bxe6 hxg5 14.Bc4 g6!?
[14...Qa5 15.Qd2 b5 16.Bb3 c4! is also
interesting 17.dxc4 Nxe4 18.Qe3 bxc4
with complex play] 15.Rb1 Rb8 16.Qd2
Nh5 17.d4! Qe7 18.Rfd1 Rfd8

[21...hxg3! 22.fxg3 Qg5 23.Qxg5 Nh3+

24.Kg2 Nxg5 25.dxe5 Kg7! 26.exd6
(26.Re1 dxe5) 26...Nxe4 27.Rd3 Rxd6
Black Keeps his extra Pawn with better
position] 22.Qxh4 Qxh4 23.gxh4 cxd4
24.cxd4 Rdc8 25.Bf1?! [25.Bd3]
25...Rxc2 26.dxe5 dxe5 27.Rd7 Rbc8!

19.h4? This Pawn sacrifice is hardly

advisable. [19.g3=] 19...gxh4 20.Qh6
threatening 21.Qxg6 20...Nf4! .This move
Not only protects g6 but also forces
exchange Queens. Possibly this was
overlooked by White when he played
19.h4? [20...Qf6? 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Rxd8+
Rxd8 23.Rxb7; May be White was
expecting 20...d5 21.exd5 exd4 22.cxd4
b5 23.Rxb5 Rxb5 24.Bxb5 cxd4 25.Rxd4 28.Rbxb7?? Overlooking Black’s 29th
Qc5 26.Qg5 Qxd4 27.Qxd8+ though even move. [However after 28.Rdxb7 Rxa2

19
29.R7b2 Rxb2 30.Rxb2 Black can easily Girinath,P (2378)/Mumbai IND 2009/(49);
win the ending.] 28...Rc1! 29.Rxf7 8.Ng1!?] 8...c5 9.d5 Na6 10.0–0 Nc7
Rxf1+! 30.Kh2 [30.Kxf1 Rc1#] 11.a4 This move can wait till Black plays
30...Rxf2+ 31.Kg3 Rg2+ [31...Rg2+ a6 as now Black can reteat his Knight to
32.Kf3 Rc3#] 0–1 a6 aiming at weak b4 square. [11.h3 Bxf3
12.Bxf3 a6 13.a4] 11...Re8 [11...Na6!?]
Lalith,B (2493) 12.Bg5 Qb8
Agaragimov,D (2304) [E91]
Kings Indian Defence 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0–0 6.Be2 Bg4
The idea is to play Bxf3 followed by e5 or
c5 with better control of d4 square 7.Be3
Most logical reply White strengthen his d4
7...Nfd7

[12...Na6 Idea 13...Qb6] 13.h3 Bxf3

14.Bxf3 a6 Consistent with his previous
play to say the least. Black suffers for want
of suitable plan. Possibly he intends to play
b5 sooner or later. but it looks too slow as
white is ready to engage him in the centre
15.Bg4! e6 [15...Nf6 16.Be2 Idea f4]
The other knight is scheduled for c6 or a6.
16.Be3 Nf6 17.Be2 exd5 18.exd5 Ne4
8.Rc1 [8.Qd2 c5 9.d5 Na6 10.h3 Bxf3
19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.Bf3 Re8
11.gxf3 e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Qxd6 Ne5
14.Qxd8 Raxd8 15.f4 Nb4 16.0–0 Ned3
17.Rad1 Nxf4 18.Bxf4 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Rxf4
20.Bg4 Bd4 21.Bxe6+ Kf8 22.Rd2 Nc6
23.Bd5 Ne5 24.Kg2 Bxc3 25.bxc3 b6
26.a4 Rf6 27.Rb2 Nd3 28.Rd2 Ne5 29.Rb2
Nd3 30.Rd2 1/2–1/2 Sasikiran,K (2666)-
Harikrishna,P (2609)/Pune 2004/ CBM
104; 8.0–0 c5 9.d5 Na6 10.Qd2 Re8
11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nc7 13.Rfd1 a6
14.Be2 Rb8 15.a4 e6 16.dxe6 Nxe6
17.Qxd6± 1–0 Sundararajan,K (2516) -

20
21.b4?! [21.Qd2 Is simple and logical and If
21...b5 22.b4!] 21...cxb4 22.a5? [22.c5!?;
22.Bb6?! a5 23.c5 Na6 24.c6 bxc6 25.Rxc6
Bc3 26.Bxa5 Rc8 Idea Nc5 when Black ‘s
position seems preferable.] 22...Qd8?
Returning the compliment. [22...Rxe3
23.fxe3 Qa7 24.Qd3 Qc5! Black has enough
compensation for the exchange with his
complete domination of black squares in the
centre and White’s Kingside and also White’s
a5 Pawn has to fall sooner or later,(24...Re8
25.c5 (25.Rfe1 Qc5) 25...Bc3 26.Qc4 Nb5 33.Qc3!? [33.Qb4 Rb8 34.Ba7 Ra8
27.c6 Qxe3+ 28.Kh1³) ] 23.Bd2! Rb8 35.Qxb7 Ne5 36.Be2 Nxc4 37.Bxc4 Qxc4
24.Bxb4 Qd7 25.Rb1 38.Rfc1 Qa2 39.Ra1 Qd2 40.Rc7 Bg7
41.Rf1 Qf4 42.Be3 Qf5 43.Qc6 White
stands better.] 33...Qc7 34.Rfc1 Rab8
35.h4 Nc5! 36.h5?! f5?! This only
weakens Black King. [Preferable seems
36...Re7 idea Rbe8] 37.hxg6 hxg6
38.Bxc5! Qxc5 [38...dxc5? 39.Rb6!+-]
39.Qf6 Kh7 40.Re1!

25...Red8 [Or 25...b5 26.axb6 Rxb6

27.Qd3 Reb8 28.Bd2±] 26.Qd3!
Discouraging b5 once and for all. 26...Ne8
[26...b5? 27.axb6 Rxb6 28.Ba5±] 27.Bd2
Nf6 28.Be3!? [28.Bf4! (idea c5) If now
Black plays 28...Qa4 29.Rfc1 Qxa5 30.c5!
Ne8 31.Bd2 Qc7 32.c6!±] 28...Qc8
29.Ba7 Ra8 30.Bb6 Re8 31.Qa3?! 40...Bg7 [Or 40...Rxe1+ 41.Rxe1 Qc7
[31.c5! Nd7 (31...dxc5 32.d6 Nd7 33.Qd5 42.Qh4+ Kg8 (42...Kg7 43.Re6 Qf7 44.c5!
with complete domination) 32.c6 bxc6 Re8 (44...dxc5? 45.Bh5 gxh5 46.Qg3++-
33.dxc6 Ne5 34.Qd5±] 31...Bf8! [Less ) 45.Qd4+ Kh7 46.c6 bxc6 47.Rxe8 Qxe8
attractive alternative is 31...Qxc4 32.Qxd6 48.dxc6 White should win the in spite of
Rac8 (32...Ne4 33.Qc7 Qxd5 34.Be3±) presence of opposite colour Bishops)
33.Rfe1±] 32.Bd4! Nd7 43.Re6 Qg7 44.c5! g5 (44...dxc5 45.d6)

21
45.Qh5 Qa1+ 46.Kh2 Qh8 47.Qxh8+ Kxh8
48.c6 bxc6 49.dxc6 Again White keeps
chances of winning.] 41.Qh4+ Kg8
42.Re6 Qxa5 43.Qg5! [43.Rxg6?! Re1+
44.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 45.Kh2 Qe5+ 46.g3 Rf8
47.c5 f4 48.cxd6 fxg3+ 49.Qxg3 Qxg3+
50.Kxg3 Rf6 51.Rxf6 Bxf6 Black can draw.]
43...Rxe6 44.dxe6 Qe5

(after 51.e8=Q+)
Sachdev,T (2398)
Gurpreet,S (2227) [D94]
Grunfeld Defence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3
Nf6 4.e3

45.Qe7!? [Also possible is 45.Qxg6 Qf6

46.Qg3 f4 47.Qg4 Qe5 48.Bd5 Kf8
49.Bxb7 (Now Black suffers for want of
useful moves while White threatens 50.
Qg6) 49...Qf6 50.e7+! Qxe7 51.c5! Bd4
(51...Be5 52.Rb6!) 52.Qxf4+ Qf6
53.Qxf6+ Bxf6 54.c6 Bd8 55.Rd1 Bc7
56.Bxa6+-] 45...Kh8 46.Bd5 Qf4??
[46...Bf6 47.Qc7 Rg8 48.Qxb7 Rg7
49.Qb8+ Kh7 (49...Rg8? 50.e7!+-) 50.g3
Be7 51.Kg2 Rg8 52.Qa7 Qf6 53.Rb7 Rg7
Would have prolonged the game.] 47.Qc7
[Also possible is 47.g3! idea Kg2-Rh1 ch
winning immediately.] 47...Re8 48.Qf7
Rf8 [48...Ra8 49.e7! (49.g3!) ] 49.e7!
Rxf7 50.Bxf7 Bd4 51.e8Q+ (See
Diagram next column) 51...Kg7
52.Qg8+ Kf6 53.Qxg6+ [53.Qxg6+ Ke7
(53...Ke5 54.Qe6#) 54.Rxb7+ Kd8
55.Qg8#] 1–0
4...g6 Transoposing to Grunfeld [4...Bf5
Leads to Slav Defence; 4...e6 5.Nc3 Leads
to Semi Slav] 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.cxd5 After this
early exchange on d5 Black is able to
develop his queen Knight to its most
natural square c6 and equalise easily
[Frequently Played here is 6.Be2 0–0 7.0–
0 e6 (7...a6 8.b3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.Bxc3
Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 e6 13.Rc1 Nd7
14.Qc2 Qe7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.g3 Rac8
17.Bg2 h5 18.Ba5 b6 19.Be1 Nf6 20.cxd5
exd5= 1/2–1/2 Dao Thien Hai (2524)-

22
Negi,P (2620)/Ha Long City VIE 2009 (44))
8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.b3 (9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4
Nxe4 11.Qxe4 c5 12.Bg5 Qb6 13.Rfd1
cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Qh4 Bd7 16.Rab1
e5 17.b4 Na4 18.c5 Qc7 19.Qg3 a6
20.Bc4 Qc8 21.Ne2 Bf5 22.Rb3 a5 23.Rc1
e4 24.bxa5 Rxa5 25.Rb5 Rxb5 26.Bxb5
Qa8 1/ 2–1/2 Kidambi,S (2520)-Das,N
(2453)/Bhubaneswar India 2010) 9...Re8
10.Bb2 a6 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4
13.Qxe4 c5 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Qb1 cxd4 (after 9.Bd2)
16.Nxd4 Nc5 17.Nc2 a5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7
gxf5 11.Ne2!? Heading for the control
19.Ne3 b6= 1/2–1/2 Koneru,H (2614)-
of e5 [To be considered is 11.Qb3 Na5
Kamsky,G (2693)/Caleta ENG 2010/(37);
12.Qb4 Nc4 13.Rfc1 a) 13.Qxb7?! Qd6
6.Bd3 e6 (6...0–0 7.0–0 Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3
14.Nb5 Qe6 15.Ng5 (15.Nc7? Qd7
9.Qxf3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Rd1 e5
16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Rab8 18.Qxa7
12.d5 cxd5 13.Bxd5 Qb6 14.Bxb7 Rad8
N e 4 1 9 . B a 5 B x e 5 W h i t e ’s p o s i t i o n
15.Qc6 Qb4 16.Qb5 Qxb5 17.Nxb5 Nc5
remains critical.) 15...Qc8 16.Qxc8
18.Bf3 e4 19.Be2 Rxd1+ 20.Bxd1 Rd8 with
Rfxc8 Black would regain the Pawn with
minimum compensation for the Pawn)
better position.; b) 13.b3 Nxd2 14.Nxd2
7.0–0 Nbd7 8.b3 dxc4 9.bxc4 0–0 10.Ba3
Qd7=; 13...a5 14.Qa4 (14.Qxb7 Rb8
c5 11.Na4 b6 12.dxc5 Qe7 13.Rb1 e5
15.Qc6 Nxb2=) 14...Rc8 with some
14.Nd2 e4 15.Be2 Rd8 16.Qc2 Ne5
complications to keep the game alive
17.Nc3 Bf5 18.Ncxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 h5
and chances for both sides] 11...e6
20.f3 bxc5 21.Rbd1 Ng4 22.Bc1 Qe5
12.Qb3 [12.Ne1! Aiming for d3 and
23.fxg4 Bxe4 24.Qa4 hxg4 25.Bxg4 Qg5
White can hope the bring the Bishop to
1/2–1/2 Zhou Weiqi (2600)-Sasikiran,K
life via e1–g3( after an eventual f3)]
(2653)/Moscow RUS 2010] 6...cxd5
12...Qb6= 13.Rfc1?! [13.Qxb6 axb6
7.Bd3 [7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.Ne5 Bd7 9.Qa4 Qc7
14.a4 Seems consistent with her twelfth
10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Bd2 0–0 12.0–0 Rfc8
move.] 13...Rfc8 [to be considered is
13.Rfc1 a6 14.Bf1 b5 15.Qd1 e6 16.Be1
13...Qxb3 14.axb3 Rfc8 with a minimum
Ne8 17.Ne2 Bh6 18.Rc2 Nd6 19.Nc1 Nc4=
advantage to Black due to his slightly
1/2–1/2 Piket,J (2670)-Anand, V (2715)/
better Bishop] 14.Nf4 Ne4 [14...Qxb3]
Monte Carlo 1995/ (36)] 7...0–0 8.0–0
15.Be1 Bf8 [15...Qxb3] 16.Nd3 Bd6
Nc6 9.Bd2 (See diagram next column)
17.Qa4!? a5 18.Nfe5 Bxe5 19.dxe5
9...Bf5?! While the idea of exchanging the
(See diagram next column)
light square bishop is good for Black there
19...Nb4? Losing a Pawn at the least.
is no need to break the pawn structure for
[19...Rd8 idea d4 is in order.] 20.Nxb4
that. [More natural is 9...Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3
axb4 21.Qxb4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qxb4?
11.Qxf3 e5 with easy equality.] 10.Bxf5

27
 (after 19.dxe5)
Possibly Black had missed White’s 24th
move. Otherwise he would have
reconciled himself to the loss of the
Pawn and tried to keep the Queens on
board rather than getting into the lost
ending after the exchange Queens.
[Hence better try seems 22...Qa6 23.a3
b6 24.f3 Nc5] 23.Bxb4 Rxa2 24.f3!
It seems that this move was missed by
Black when he played 19....Nb4? A practical
advice for calculating long variation is to
“Stop the calculation with the
opponent’s move!”. 24...Rxb2
[24...Ng5? 25.h4 The knight is lost
anyhow.] 25.Rc8+ Kg7 26.Bf8+ Kg6
27.fxe4 dxe4 28.Be7!+- h6 29.Bf6
Rb4?
28
[29...h5] 30.Kf2 [30.Rg8+! Kh7 31.Rg7+
Kh8 32.Rxf7+ Kg8 33.Re7+-] 30...Rb2+
31.Kg3 Kh5 32.h3 Re2 33.Rg8! b5
[33...Rxe3+? 34.Kf4 Black is in mating
net.] 34.Kh2 Rc2 35.Kg1 Rc1+ 36.Kf2
Rc2+ 37.Ke1 Rc1+ 38.Kd2
[38.Kd2 White is threatening 39.g4 with
mate to follow. 38...Rg1 39.Ke2 b4 40.Kf2
wins] 1–0
Meenakshi,Sub (2348)
Anwesh,U (2419) [D30]
Queens Gambit declined 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.b3 aiming at the
control of e5. however there are more
popular alternatives such as 5. Nc3 and
5.Bd3. 5...Nbd7 [5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bd6
7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd3 f5 9.0–0 Nd7 10.Ne1 [13...Qxc1+ 14.Rxc1 Black’s pawn on c6
Ndf6 11.f3 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 0–0 13.Nc2 Bd7 becomes sick and forces Black to play
14.Rae1 c5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 14...b5 complying with White’s intention on
17.b4 Bb6 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.Ncd4 g6 20.Bc2 his twelfth move.] 14.0–0 bxc5 15.Qxc5
Qe7 with a slight advantage to black. 0–1 Qxc5 [15...Qxd2 16.Rfd1 Qb2 17.Rdb1
S Dhopade,S (2368)-B,A (2481)/Kolkata Qd2 18.Rd1 Qb2=] 16.dxc5
India 2009/AICF Crl Sept 2009 (71)]
6.Bb2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0–0 [7...b6 8.0–0 Bb7
9.Ne5 c5 10.Nd2 0–0 11.cxd5 exd5
12.Bf5 cxd4 13.Nxd7 Nxd7 14.Bxd4 g6
15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.Bb2 Qe7 17.Qg4 Rac8
18.Rac1 Be5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Nf3 Qb2
21.Ra1 Rc2= 0–1 Halkias,S (2566)-Arun
Prasad,S (2567)/Bursa TUR 2010/AICF
CRL April 2010 (56)] 8.Nbd2 Qe7 9.Ne5
Ba3 10.Bxa3 Qxa3

16...a5?! [16...e5!] 17.Nb1?! [17.Nf3!

Controlling e5] 17...e5 18.Nc3 Be6 19.f4
Rfb8!? 20.e4 [20.fxe5 Nd7 favours black]
20...exf4 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Bxd5
23.Rxf4 Rb4! 24.Raf1

11.Nxd7?! [11.f4!?] 11...Bxd7 12.c5?!

Hoping to Keep the black bishop shut. [To
be considered is 12.0–0 c5 13.cxd5 exd5
14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Nf3 Bg4 16.Rc1 Qa3
17.Rc2 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Rac8=] 12...b6
Natural reaction to White’s move. [Also
playable is 12...e5! 13.dxe5 Ng4 14.Qc2 24...Rd8?! [Desirable is 24...g6 Preventive
(14.Nf3 Qxc5 is in Black’s favour.) against back rank mate. Black can now
14...Nxe5 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Qc3 (16.Bd3 think of Rb8-a4 or even f5 aiming at a
Qxc5! 17.0–0 (17.Qxc5?? Nxd3+–+) slightly better position.] 25.Be2?!
17...Qxc2 18.Bxc2 g6=) 16...Kxh7 [25.Rxb4 axb4 26.Rf4 Rb8= (26...Bxb3!?
17.Qxe5 Qxc5 18.0–0=] 13.Qc1 Qa5! 27.Rxb4! Bxa2 28.Be4 Kf8 29.Bxc6 Rd2=)

29
] 25...Re8 [25...g6] 26.Rxb4 axb4
27.Bf3! Bxf3 28.Rxf3 f6 29.Rf4 Rb8
30.Kf2 Kf7 31.Ke3 Ke6 32.Kd4 Rd8+
33.Kc4?? [33.Ke3 Ra8 34.Rxb4 Rxa2 35.Kf3
h5 36.Rb6 Kd5 37.b4 Rb2 Black enjoys some
slight advantage as he can advance the kingside
pawns to create play against the King.]
33...Rd2? Prosaic play. [33...Ke5! 34.Rh4
(34.Rf3 Rd4#) 34...g5 35.Rg4 h5 White can
resign.] 34.Kxb4 [Or 34.Rd4 Rxg2!
(34...Rxa2?! 35.Rd6+ Ke7 36.g3! Rxh2
37.Rxc6 With better chances for White as the
Pawn on g3 may slow down black’s creation
of passer on kingside.) 35.Rd6+ Ke7 36.Rxc6
f5 Black’s f5 Passer assures him a draw as in
the game.] 34...Rxa2 35.Rd4 Rxg2
36.Rd6+ Ke7 37.Rxc6 f5! 38.Rc7+ Ke6
30
39.Rc8?! [Better try is 39.Kc4!
Threatening to bring the King to kingside
and pushing the connected passers
together though the game shall still be
drawn with correct play by Black]
39...Rxh2 40.c6 Rc2 41.Kb5 f4 42.b4?!
[42.Re8+ Kd5 43.Rd8+ Ke4 44.Re8+ Kf3
45.Re5 Kg3 46.Rg5+ Kh4 47.Rxg7 h5
48.c7 f3 49.Kb6 f2 50.Rf7 Kg3 51.Rg7+
Kh2 52.Rf7=] 42...g5!
43.Kb6?–+ [43.Re8+! Kd6 44.Rd8+ Ke5
45.Re8+ Kf5 46.Rf8+ Ke4 (46...Kg4?
blocks his own pawns. 47.Kb6 f3 48.c7
Kg3 49.b5 f2 50.Kb7+-) 47.Re8+ Kd3
48.Re5 f3 49.Rxg5 f2 50.Rf5 Ke2 51.Kb6
f1Q 52.Rxf1 Kxf1 53.b5 h5 54.Kc7 h4
55.b6 h3 56.b7 Rb2 57.b8Q Rxb8 58.Kxb8
h2 59.c7 h1Q 60.c8Q=] 43...Kf7?
[43...f3! 44.c7 g4 45.Rf8 h5 46.b5 h4 Black
wins] 44.c7? [Better try for a draw seems
44.Rc7+ Kg6 45.Rc8 g4 46.c7 Kf7 (46...Kg7
47.Rd8 Rxc7 48.Kxc7 g3 49.Rd1 47.Rd8 f3
48.Rd5! Idea Rc5 48...Rxc7 49.Kxc7 Kg6
50.Rd1 f2 51.b5 g3 52.b6 g2 53.b7 f1Q
Solution to ‘Tactics from Master games’ on
page 33
(1) Bindrich,Falko (2532)
Raykhman,Alexander (2352) [B94]
81st ch-GER Bad Liebenzell GER (1), 05.03.2010
Position after 32nd move. # White to play.
33.Bxf7!! Kxf7 34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Qxh6+ Ke8
36.Qg6+ Kf8 37.h6 Rd8 38.h7! Rxd1+ 39.Ka2
b3+ 40.cxb3+- 1–0
(2) Krasenkow,Michal (2652)
Jobava,Baadur (2695) [B38]
11th EICC Men Rijeka CRO (4), 09.03.2010
Position after White’s 33rd move. # Black to play.
33...Bd4!! 34.Rxd4 Re1+ 35.Qf1 [35.Kf2 Re2+
36.Kxe2 Nxf4+–+] 35...Ne3! [35...Ne3! 36.Rd8+
Kg7! White gets mated on g2 or f1] 0–1
(3) Motylev,Alexander (2705)
Godena,Michele (2561) [C60]
11th EICC Men Rijeka CRO (5), 10.03.2010
Position after 11th move # White to play. 12.Nxd4!
cxd4 13.Qxd4 f6 14.e5! Bb7 15.Na3 Qb2 16.exf6
Nh6 17.Qe5+ Kd8 18.Nxb5 Qd2 19.Qc7+ Ke8
20.Nd6+ [20.Nd6+ Kf8 21.Qxd7 mates on g7
21...Nf5 (21...Rg8 22.Qe7#) 22.Qf7#] 1–0
(4) Baramidze,David (2528)
Natsidis,Christoph (2270) [B18]
81st ch-GER Bad Liebenzell GER (7), 11.03.2010
Position after 15th move. # White to play.
16.Bxh6! gxh6 17.Rxe6! Kh8 [17...fxe6
18.Qxg6+ mates] 18.Rf6!+- Qe7 [18...Kh7
19.Bxf7 Bxf7 (19...Rxf7 20.Qxg6)20.Qg7#]
19.Bxf7Rxf720.Qxg6 Rxf6 21.Nxf6 [21.Nxf6 Qg7
22.Qxg7+ Kxg7 23.Ne8+ Kf8 24.Nxd6 1-0
(5) Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2656)
Inarkiev,Ernesto (2667) [C77]
11th EICC Men Rijeka CRO (8), 14.03.2010
Position after 32 nd move.# White to play.
33.Nxf7! Kxf7 34.exd5! cxd5 35.Rc7!+- Rd7
[35...Qa6 36.Ng5+ Kg8 37.Qxa6 Rxa6 38.Nxe6+-]
36.Rxb7 1–0
54.b8Q Qxd1 55.Qg8+ Kf5 56.Qxg2 h5 though
Black has more practical chances to win]
44...f3! 45.Rh8? [45.Rd8] 45...f2?
[45...Kg7! 46.Rd8 f2 47.Rd7+ Kg6 48.Rd6+
Kf7 49.Rd7+ 46.Rxh7+ Ke6 47.Rh2! Kd7
48.Rh7+ Ke6 49.Rh2 Kd7 50.Rh7+ Kd6
51.Rh6+ Kd7 ½–½
(6)Heinemann,Thies (2484)
Siebrecht,Sebastian (2456) [B42]
Bundesliga 2009/10 Germany GER (12.7),
20.03.2010
Position after 25th move # White to play.
26.Bxh6! gxh6 27.Qxh6 e4 28.Rc3! Ra7
29.Nxe4 Nxe4 30.Rg3+ Nxg3 31.Bh7+ Kh8
32.Bf5+ Kg8 33.Qh7+ Kf8 34.Qh8+ Ke7
35.Re1+ Be6 36.Rxe6+! [36.Rxe6+ fxe6
37.Qg7#] 1–0
Solutions to ‘Test your endgame’on page 34
(1) Gulyyayev.A.,1929
1.a7 h5 [1...h6 2.c4! h5 3.c5 h4 4.c6 h3 5.c7 h2
Stalemate.(5...Kxc7 Stalemate.) ] 2.c3! [2.c4? h4
3.c5 h3 4.c6 h2 5.c7 h1Q#(5...h1B#) ] 2...h4 3.c4
h3 4.c5 h2 5.c6 h1Q Stalemate.[5...h1R 6.c7
leading to Stalemate.; 5...h1B Stalemate.; 5...h1N
6.c7 Stalemate
(2) Kozlowski.S. 1931
1.Rf8+ Kd7 2.Rf7+ Ke6 3.Rf5!= .
(3) Prokop.F., 1929
1.Rg6+! Kxh5 [1...Kf5 2.Rd5+ Kf4 3.Rxg4+ Kxg4
4.Rd1 Kxh5 5.Rh1+-] 2.Rxg4! h1Q 3.Rg7 Kh6
4.Rgg2! Qe1 [4...Qf1 5.Rh2+ Kg5 6.Rdg2+ Kf4
7.Rf2++-] 5.Rge2! Qf1 6.Rh2+ Kg5 7.Rdg2+ Kf4
8.Rf2 1–0
(4) Sackman.F.,1913
1.g7+ Kxh7 2.gxf8B!! [2.gxf8Q Stalemate.;
2.gxf8R Stalemate.; 2.gxf8N+ Kg8=] 1–0
(5) Sackman.F.,1913
1.Nf7+! Rxf7 [1...Kg7 2.h8Q+ Rxh8+ 3.Nxh8 Kxh8
4.Kh6 Kg8 5.g7+-] 2.gxf7 Kxh7 3.f8R [3.f8Q
Stalemate.] 1–0
(6) Fritz.J.,1933
1.b7 Ra5+ 2.Kd6 [2.Kxe6? Ra6+ followed by Rb6
and draws.] 2...Rb5! [2...Ra6+ 3.Bc6++-] 3.Bc6+
Kd8 4.Bxb5 Bc8! 5.b8B!! [5.b8Q Stalemate.;
5.b8R Stalemate.] 5...Bd7 [5...Bg4 6.Bc7+ Kc8
7.Ba6#; 5...Bb7 6.Bc7+ Kc8 7.Bd7#] 6.Bc7++-
[6.Bxd7?] 1–0
31
 23rd SPIC Open FIDE rating Chess
Tournament 2010
AICF event code:52510/TN/2010
FOR
SPIC TROPHY
Sponsored by
SPIC CENTRAL SPORTS COUNCIL
Conducted by
Thoothukudi District Chess Association

Date: 26.9.2010 to 2.10.2010

Total prize money more than Rs.90,000
Venue:
Community Hall, SPIC Nagar, Thoothukudi 628005.

Entries to

Jayaseelan Rathinam, Treasurer,

Thoothukudi Chess Association 94423 07024

For details contact

V.S.Narasimhan, Secretary,

Thoothukudi Chess Association 94433 11922

For details of prizes and entry fees visit www.indianchessfed.org

32
 Tactics from master games
by Srinivas Krishnan

1. 2.

White to play Black to play

3. 4.

White to play White to play

5. 6.

White to play White to play

Solutions on page 31

33
 Test your endgame
by K.Muralimohan, FIDE Instructor

Gulyyayev 1929 Kozlowski S 1931

White to play and draw White to play and draw

Prokop F 1929 Sackman F 1913

White to play and win White to play and win

Sackma F 1913 Fritz J 1933

White to play and win White to play and win

Solution on page31

34
Selected games from National Club
Championships.Gurgaon (annotated
by Srinivas Krishnan)
Arun Prasad,S (PSPB) (2567)
Lahiri,A (LIC) (2379) [E97]
Kings Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7 Kings Indian is one of very
complex hypermodern defences where in
Black deliberately allows White to occupy
the centre but starts to undermine it
immediately. This Defence had been a
favourite of uncompromising players such
as Tal, Fischer and Kasparov. However the
credit for reviving it at highest level after
Kasparov abandoned it in 1997 goes to
Rajdabov 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 This classical line
is more solid and most popular. 5...0–0
6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
9.b4 Bayonet Attack , most topical line.
White starts his Queenside expansion
immediately. 9...Nh5 Black counters on
Kingside. [9...Ne8 10.c5 h6 11.a4 f5
12.Nd2 Rf7 13.Ba3 Bf8 14.Nc4 fxe4
15.Nxe4 Nf5 16.Bb2 Bg7 17.Bd3 Nf6
18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Qc2 Bg7 20.Rae1 Nh4
21.Re3 Bf5 22.Rg3 g5 23.Nd2 dxc5
24.Qxc5 Bxd3 25.Rxd3 e4= 1/2–1/2
Thejkumar,M (2453)-Thipsay,P (2466)/
Mumbai IND 2009(76); Attempts to slow
down White’s initiative on Queenside and
gaining the control of c5 square with 9...a5
is also tried here though it seems less
effective] 10.Re1 Kramnik’s preference. It
clears the f1 square for retreat of king
Bishop. Also the Rook is better placed one
file 10...f5 [10...a5 11.bxa5 Rxa5 12.a4
c5 (12...f5 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.Ba3 b6 15.exf5
gxf5 16.Bb4 Ra8 17.Nf3 Ng6 18.a5 Bh6
19.axb6 Rxa1 20.Qxa1 cxb6 21.Nb5 Ne4
22.Qa7 Nf4 23.Bf1 Nc5 24.g3 e4 25.Nfd4
Ng6 26.Nc6 Qd7 27.Qxd7 Bxd7 28.Nxd6
Rf6 29.Nb5 Bxc6 30.dxc6 Rxc6 31.Rd1
Nd3 32.Bxd3 exd3 33.Rxd3 Rxc4 34.Bc3
Bf8 35.Bd4 Rb4 1/2–1/2 Harikrishna,P
(2599)-Fedorov,A (2616)/Dubai 2004)
13.Ra3 Nf6 (13...Ra6 14.Nb5 Nf6 15.Bf1
Kh8 16.Bb2 Ng4 17.h3 Nh6 18.Nd2 g5
19.Be2 Ng6 20.Bg4 Nf4 21.Nf1 f5 22.exf5
Bxf5 23.Ng3 Bg6 24.Ne4 Nxg4 25.hxg4
1/2–1/2 Bacrot,E (2653)-Sasikiran,K
(2670)/Bled 2002) 14.Nd2 Ra6 15.Nf1
Ne8 16.Ng3 f5 17.exf5 Nxf5 18.Nce4 Nd4
19.Bg5 Nf6 20.h4 Qe8= 1/2–1/2
Moradiabadi,E (2560)-Sasikiran,K (2664)/
Kolkata IND 2009(66); 10...Nf4 11.Bf1 a5
12.bxa5 c5 13.a4 Rxa5 14.Ra3 Ra6
15.Nb5 Bd7 16.Kh1 h6 17.Nd2 Qc8 18.g3
Nh5 19.Bb2 Nf6 20.f4 Ng4 21.Qe2 h5
22.h3 Nh6 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Kh2 with a
slight advantage to White 1/2–1/2
Topalov,V (2707)-Sasikiran,K (2573)/
Istanbul 2000/ (94)] 11.Ng5 opting for
the main continuation. [11.c5!?] 11...Nf6
[11...Nf4 12.Bxf4 exf4 13.Rc1 Bf6 14.Ne6
Bxe6 15.dxe6 Bxc3 16.Rxc3 fxe4 17.Bf1
favours White] 12.f3 [Earlier White Players
preferred 12.Bf3 here. But after 12...c6
Black got an equal game] 12...Kh8 An
useful move-clearing g8 square for the
Knight and tucking Black King into safe
corner before undertaking further action
in kingside. [12...Nh5 13.c5 Nf4 14.Bc4
35
Kh8 Black would be forced to make this
move sooner or later. 15.Rb1 White’s
position seems preferable] 13.c5 Looks
logical - Clearing c4 square for the King
Bishop and proceeding with his queen side
expansion. [However 13.Rb1 seems more
subtle.] 13...h6 [13...a5!?] 14.Ne6 Bxe6
15.dxe6
15...d5!? Striking at the centre. Now the
game may revolve round the e6 Pawn.
16.exd5 Nfxd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Qb3
[18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Bc4 (19.Rb1?! Rad8
20.Bc4 Rfe8 is in Black’s favour) 19...Nxb4
20.Rb1 Nc6 (20...Nc2 21.Rd1! Nd4
22.Rxb7+-) 21.e7 (21.Rxb7?! Na5)
21...Rfe8 22.Bf7 Rxe7 23.Bxg6 Rf8
24.Rxb7 e4 seems ok for Black] 18...Qxb3
19.axb3 Nc6 20.Ra4 Rfe8 21.Be3! This
seems to be more energetic than 21.Bc4
21...Nd8! [21...a6? 22.b5 axb5 23.Rxa8
Rxa8 24.Bxb5 Re8 25.Rd1 Rxe6 26.Rd7
f4 27.Bf2 e4 28.fxe4 Rxe4 29.Rxc7± 1–0
Arun Prasad,S (2567)-Rajesh,V (2321)/
Chennai IND 2010 (36); 21...Rxe6?! 22.b5
Nd4 (22...Nd8 23.Rd1 c6 (23...Re7 24.c6
b6 25.Bc4 Black can hardly keep his extra
pawn while White has a strategically won
position) 24.Rd7 cxb5 25.Bxb5 Bf8 26.b4
White has more than enough
compensation for the Pawn.) 23.Bd3 Ree8
36
24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Rxa7
Re5 27.b4 Re3 28.Bf1 d3 29.Ra8+ Kh7
30.Rd8 Bc3 31.Rd7+ Kg8 32.Kf2 Re5 33.f4
Re4 34.Bxd3 Rxf4+ 35.Ke2 Rxb4
36.Rxc7²] 22.Rea1
22...Nxe6?! This pawn can wait. [22...f4
23.Bd2! (23.Bf2?! e4! 24.Rxa7 Rb8!
25.Rd1 (25.Bb5? c6 Black wins the
exchange without much compensation for
White.) 25...e3 26.Be1 Nxe6 favours
Black) 23...e4 24.Rxa7 Rxa7! (24...Rb8?
25.Bb5! (25.Rd1 e3 26.Be1 Nxe6
Transposes to 23.Bf2?1) 25...c6 26.Bxf4!
Rc8 27.Bc4 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 Nxe6 29.Be5+
Ng7 30.f4 g5 31.g3 gxf4 32.gxf4 Kh7
(32...Ra8 33.Re1±) 33.Ra7 White has
more than enough compensation for the
exchange.) 25.Rxa7 e3 26.Be1 Nxe6
27.Bc4 (27.Rxb7? Ra8–+) 27...Rd8!
28.Kf1 (28.Bxe6 Rd1 29.Ra8+ Kh7
30.Bg8+ Kh8 31.Bc4+ Kh7 White has to
take the draw as Black is threatening Bc3.)
28...Nd4 29.Rxb7 Nc2 30.Rxc7 (30.Be2?
Ra8! White is in difficulties.) 30...Rd1
31.g4!? (31.Rc8+=) 31...Rxe1+ 32.Kg2
e2 33.Kh3 Kh7 34.c6 Nd4! 35.Rxg7+
Kxg7 36.c7 Nxf3 37.c8Q Ng5+ 38.Kh4
(38.Kg2?? Rg1+ 39.Kxg1 e1Q+ Black
wins) 38...Nf3+ 39.Kh3 Ng5+ Black forces
the draw] 23.Rxa7 Rab8 24.Bc4?!
[24.Rd1 Nd4 25.Bc4 with an advantage
to White.] 24...f4 25.Bd2 e4 26.fxe4
Bxa1 27.Rxa1 Rbd8 28.Bc3+ Kh7
29.h4
29...Nd4! [29...g5!? with counter
chances] 30.Ra7 Rxe4 31.Bxd4!
[31.Rxb7? Ne2+ 32.Bxe2 Rxe2 33.Rxc7+
Kg8 34.Rg7+ Kf8 35.Rxg6 Rd3 36.Kf1
(36.Bh8? f3! wins) 36...Rc2 37.Be1 Re3
38.Rxh6 (38.Rf6+ Ke7 39.Rxf4 Rc1–+)
38...Rc1 39.Kf2 Rcxe1 Black should win]
31...Rexd4 32.Rxb7 R4d7 33.b5 g5
34.Be2
34...Kg6 [34...Re7 35.Bg4 (Or 35.Bf3 Kg6
36.b6 (36.Bg4? h5–+) 36...Kf5 37.hxg5
hxg5 38.c6 Re1+ 39.Kf2 (39.Kh2?? Rh8+
mates) 39...Rc1 40.bxc7 Rd2+ 41.Be2
Rxc6 42.Rb5+ Ke4 43.Ke1 Rxe2+ 44.Kxe2
Rxc7 45.Rxg5 Rb7=) 35...Ra8 36.Kh2 Ra1
37.b6 Ree1 38.Rxc7+ Kg8 39.Rc8+ Kg7
(39...Kf7?? 40.Bh5++- White King gets an
escape Square. 40...Kf6 41.Rf8+ Kg7
42.Rf7+ Kg8 43.Kh3 wins) 40.Rc7+ Kg8=
White has to take the draw] 35.Bg4
Rd1+? Losing move. [35...Re7! 36.b6 Ra8
37.bxc7 Ra1+ 38.Kh2 Ree1 39.h5+ Kf6
40.Rb6+ Kg7 41.Rg6+ Kh7 42.Bd1 Raxd1
43.Kh3 Re3+ 44.Kh2 Ree1 45.Kh3=]
36.Bxd1 Rxd1+ 37.Kf2+- Rd2+ 38.Kf1
g4 39.Rxc7 g3 40.b6 Rf2+ 41.Ke1 Rb2
42.b7 f3 43.gxf3 1–0
Negi,P (AI) (2621)
Praveen Kumar,C (TN) (2421)
French Defence 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
Bb4 Winawer Variation a favourite of
Botvinnik and Nimzowitch. Now a days the
Classical line starting 3....Nf6 is more
popular 4.e5 Advance variation . White
tries to keep a Pawn on e5 and plans a
Kingside attack as the Black Knight , main
defender of the kingside is deprived of its
natural square f6. Black on his part would
double the pawns on c file with Bxc3 and
pursue his chances on queenside. 4...c5
5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0–0
Opting for a solid but cramped position.
[The other popular alternative 7....Qc7
37
invites tactical complications by sacrificing fxg6 13.Qg4 Qf7 14.Ng5 Qe8 15.h4 h6
g7 Pawn. 7...Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 16.Nh3 Qf7 17.Qe2 Ne7 18.g4 Bd7 19.Nf4
10.Ne2 (10.Kd1 dxc3 11.Nf3 Nbc6 12.Ng5 b5 20.Kf1 Kh8= 1/2–1/2 Jakovenko,D
Nd8 13.f4 Bd7 14.h4 Qc5 15.h5 Bb5 (2570)-Harikrishna,P (2551)/Goa 2002/
16.Bxb5+ Qxb5 17.h6 Rg6 18.f5 Nxf5 CBM 091 ext (51)) 12.h4 Nf5 13.g4 Nxe3
19.Qh8+ Kd7 20.h7 Rh6 21.Re1 Rh2 14.fxe3 cxd4 15.cxd4 Qc3+ 16.Ke2 Bd7
22.Nxe6 Nxe6 23.Qxa8 Rxg2 24.Ra2 17.Rab1 with a sli ght advantage to White
Ne3+ 25.Bxe3 Qb1+ 26.Bc1 Rd2# 0–1 1–0 Anand,V (2774)-Lputian,S (2634)/
Short,N (2697)-Neelotpal,D (2436)/Dhaka Moscow 2004(61); 8...Qc7 9.Nf3 Ng6
1999) 10...Nbc6 11.f4 Bd7 12.Qd3 dxc3 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qc3+ 12.Ke2 b6
13.Nxc3 (13.Qxc3 Nf5 (13...0–0–0 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.h4 f5 15.Qh5 Qf7 16.Qg5
14.Rb1 Nf5 15.Rg1 d4 16.Qd3 Na5 17.g4 Ba6 17.h5 Nh8 18.h6 g6 19.Rhc1 Rc8
Ba4 18.c3 Bc2 19.Qxc2 d3 Unclear 0–1 20.a4± 1–0 Sasikiran,K (2569)-Ravi,L
Volokitin,A (2645)-Ganguly,S (2571)/ (2395)/Raipur 2002] 9.exf6 Rxf6
Moscow 2007 (66)) 14.Rg1 Rc8 15.Rb1 10.Bg5 Rf7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qd1 Nbc6
d4 16.Qd3 Nce7 17.g4 Qxc2 18.Qxc2 13.Nf3 Qf8
Rxc2 19.Bd2± 1–0 Karjakin,S (2694)-
Harikrishna,P (2668)/Bilbao 2007) 13...a6
14.Ne2 0–0–0 15.g3 d4 16.Qc4 Nf5
17.Bg2 Na5 18.Qxc7+ Kxc7 19.Rb1 Bc6
20.Bxc6 Kxc6= 1–0 Anand,V (2791)-
Ivanchuk,V (2779)/Nice FRA 2009(47);
7...Kf8!? 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Bd2 Qa4 10.Ra2
Nbc6 11.Nf3 b6 12.Ng5 h6 13.Qh5 g6
14.Qh4 Nxe5 15.Be2 Nc4 16.Bf4 e5
17.dxe5 Nf5 18.Qh3 Kg7 19.Nxf7 Kxf7
20.g4 Ne7 21.0–0 Be6 22.Qh4 g5
23.Qh5+ Ng6 24.Bg3 Nd2 25.f4 Nxf1
26.f5 Rag8 27.Bxf1 Ke7 28.fxe6 Qe4 more or less the critical position of this line.
29.Ra1 Rf8 30.Bd3 Qe3+ 31.Kh1 0–1 Black prepares drive away the Bishop with
Ganguly,S (2573)-Ravi,L (2408)/Pune h6. 14.h4!? [14.0–0 is the usual move here,]
2006; 7...cxd4 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 Nbc6
10.f4 Qa5 11.Ne2 dxc3 12.Qd3 Nb4
13.Qd1 Nf5 14.Rg1 Nc6 15.g4 Qc5 16.Qd3
Nfd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Be3 Qa4 19.h4 1/
2–1/2 Negi,P (2529)-Hug,W (2440)/Biel
2007] 8.Bd3 f5 Contrary to the
appearance it is more of a defensive move.
Black Rook gets f7 square for defence of
the King. However in the long run the f file
may itself be useful for an attack too.
[Other alternative is 8...Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6
10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Be3 Nce7 (11...c4 12.Bxg6

38
14...c4 15.Be2 h6 16.Bd2 Nf5!? 17.Qc1
Rh7? Not at all necessary. The Rook was
better placed on f7. There was in reality
no threat to h6 Pawn. [17...Bd7 18.g4
(18.Bf4?! Nfxd4!) 18...Ng7 19.Bxh6? Rxf3
Favours Black] 18.Bf4! Now this move is
quite possible The bishop is aiming to
occupy e5 square with domination on black
squares around Black King. 18...Nd6
[18...Bd7] 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bd7
21.Rh3 Ne4 After the lapse on move 17
Black is trying his best. [21...Rf7?!
22.Bxd6±; 21...Qe7 22.Rg3 Be8 23.Bh5
Qxh4 24.Bxg6 Bxg6 25.Rxg6+ Kf7
26.Rf6+ Ke7 27.Qb2 Qh1+ 28.Kd2 Qxg2
29.Re1 White’s attack looks dangerous]
22.Qe3 Rf7 Back to proper place. 23.f4
White wants to protect his f Pawn and play
Bxc4. But the move looks a bit committal
as it blocks Queen’s route. There is also a
little snag in White’s idea as Black could
have answered 24.Bxc4 with Rc8! [Simpler
was 23.Bf3 Nf6 (23...Ba4? 24.Bxe4 dxe4
25.Rg3! and Black is in danger,) 24.a4
Keeping the advantage.] 23...Ba4
24.Bxc4?! [24.Kd1 comes into
consideration.] 24...Bxc2?!
[24...Rc8! 25.Bd3 Rxc3 with counter on
queenside.] 25.Be2 [25.Qe2 Rc8!=]
25...Rc8? [25...Ba4? 26.Bd3±; 25...Nf6
26.h5 gxh5 27.Bxh5 Rg7 28.Be2 Rxg2
29.f5 Kh7 seems to be a better try.]
26.c4?! [26.Rc1! Ba4 (26...Rxc3?
27.Qxc3! Nxc3 28.Rxc3 Ba4 29.Rc8 Be8
30.Bb5±) 27.c4!±] 26...Qd8? [26...Nf6?!
27.h5!±; 26...Qe8! Deters White from
exchanging on d5. On 27.h5 (27.cxd5?!
exd5 plays into Black’s hand as he gets c3
square for his rook and e6 for his Queen.)
27...g5 28.fxg5 Nxg5 29.Rg3 dxc4 30.Bf4
Rxf4 31.Qxf4 b5 32.Rc1 Bf5 33.d5 Qe7!
remains complex with all three results
possible.] 27.Rc1! Qa5+ 28.Kf1 Ba4
29.Bg4 [29.h5!? g5 30.Kg1! Qd2 31.Qxd2
Nxd2 32.fxg5 hxg5 33.h6±; The
Prophylactic 29.Kg1! forces 29...Qd2 as
otherwise Black’s King cannot survive the
opposing Bishop pair and Queen (29...Bd7
30.f5!+-) 30.Qxd2 Nxd2 31.Rg3 Kh7
32.h5‚] 29...Bd7 [29...Nd2+? 30.Kg1
Rxc4 (30...Nxc4? 31.h5!! g5 (31...Nxe3??
32.Rxc8+ Rf8 33.Bxe6+ Kh7 34.Rxe3!
Rxc8 35.hxg6+ Kxg6 36.Rg3+ Kh5
(36...Kh7 37.Bf5#) 37.Bf7+ Kh4 38.Rh3+
Kg4 39.Be6#) 32.Qd3 Wins) 31.Rxc4
Nxc4 32.Qd3±] 30.h5 The long awaited
move. 30...g5 31.Kg1!
31...Qd8? [After 31...Qd2 There is still
much fight left.] 32.Bf3!+- Qf8?
[32...gxf4 33.Bxf4 Qf6 34.Be5 Qg5 may
39
be a better try though White should win
after 35.Qe1! (35.Qxg5+ Nxg5=) ]
33.Bxe4 gxf4 [33...dxe4 34.fxg5 hxg5
(34...Rf5 35.Rg3+-) 35.Qxg5+ Rg7
36.Bxg7 Qxg7 37.Qe3! Wins] 34.Qf3 dxe4
35.Qg4+ Rg7 36.Bxg7 Qxg7 37.Rh4 f3
38.Qxg7+ Kxg7 39.Rxe4 1–0
White.] 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 [9.Bxe4! Nxe4
10.Nxe4 0–0 11.Bf4 Again White is better.]
9...Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Qc7 11.Be3 0–0
12.Rc1!? [To be considered is 12.Qe2 c5
13.Rad1] 12...c5= Unambitious play By
White has resulted in complete equality for
Black in spite of his inferior opening.

Sriram,J (2511)
Sasikiran,K (2653) [D45]
Semi Slav Defence. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6
3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 g6?!

13.Qd2 Nf6 14.Bb1 Rd8 15.Bf4 Qe7

16.Be5 b6 17.Qc3 Bb7 [17...cxd4!
18.Nxd4 Bb7 idea Rac8 with a slightly
better position for Black.] 18.dxc5 bxc5
19.Rcd1 Rac8 20.h3 Bxf3!? 21.Qxf3

Rarely played as after the e pawn has

moved to e6 and c pawn to c6 the dark
coloured Bishop belongs to d6 and not g7
when a3- f8 diagonal looks weak [5...Nbd7
6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 leads to
Meran Variation; 5...Nbd7 6.Qc2] 6.Bd3
[6.b3!? Nbd7 (6...Bg7 7.Ba3 Qa5 8.Qc1
Ne4 9.b4 Qd8 10.Bd3 f5 11.b5 Qa5
12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Nd2 is a worthy try too.)
7.Bd3 b6 8.0–0 Bb7 9.Qc2 Bg7 10.Ba3±]
6...Bg7 7.0–0 [7.Ne5 0–0 8.0–0 c5 9.f4
cxd4 10.exd4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nc6 12.Be3 21...Nh5! Already planning an outpost on
Bd7 13.Qe2 Ne7 14.Bf2 Bc6 15.Rad1 Rc8 d4 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.b3?! [23.Qe3 Rxd1
16.Bb3 Ned5 17.Bh4 Qd6 18.g4 Rce8 (23...e5?! 24.Rde1 When White is slightly
19.Bg3 Qd8 20.h3 a5= 1/2–1/2 Adly,A better.) 24.Rxd1 Rd8 25.Rxd8 Qxd8
(2591)-Sasikiran,K (2653)/Bursa TUR 26.Bc2=] 23...e5 [23...Rd4!?] 24.Bf5
2010/(80)] 7...Nbd7 8.e4 [8.b3!? 0–0 [24.Rfe1 is simpler] 24...Rb8 25.Bg4
9.Ba3 Re8 10.Bd6 with better position for drives the Knight to a better square only

40
25...Nf6 from where it supports the
advance of e pawn. 26.Qe3 Rd4 27.Rfe1
Re8 28.Bf3 Qc7 29.Qc3
29...h5?! [29...e4! 30.Be2 Qe5! with the
threat of Rxd1. White’s queenside majority
is stranded while Black’s central pawn is
becoming dangerous.] 30.Re3! e4
31.Be2 [31.Rde1 exf3 32.Rxe8 Nxe8
33.Rxe8 fxg2 34.Qe1=] 31...Red8
32.Re1 Qf4!? Preventing f3 [32...a5 33.f3
Kg8 34.fxe4 Nxe4 35.Qc2=] 33.Bf1?!
[33.f3? Kg8! 34.fxe4? Nxe4 with attack.;
33.Qa5 Qf5 34.Qxa7 Rd2 35.a4 Ra2
36.Qc7 (36.a5?! Rdd2) 36...Rdd2 37.Qg3
Black keeps the pressure on White. But
White has an extra pawn and can possibly
hold the position] 33...Rd2
34.f3? [34.R1e2 Essential was 34...Rxe2
35.Bxe2 Rd4 36.b4 Qe5 37.a3 Black is still
better But White’s defences seem
adequate] 34...R8d4! White is tied up.
35.fxe4 difficult to suggest alternatives
35...Qf2+ 36.Kh2 h4! clearing the h4 for
the Knight, 37.Qc1 [37.R3e2? Rxe2
38.Bxe2 Rxe4–+] 37...Nh5–+ 38.R3e2
Qf4+ 39.Kg1 Ng3
40.Rxd2 Rxd2 41.Qc3+ Kh6 42.Qf3
Qxf3 43.gxf3 Kg5 44.Rb1 Rxa2
45.Bg2 a5 46.Rd1 Ne2+ 47.Kh1 Nd4
A good knight against a bad Bishop. After
48. Rb1 material is equal. But White is more
or less in zugzwang and helpless against
Black King’s entry via f4-g3 etc. 0–1
41
42
3rd DBFS SECURITIES-RSC INTERNATIONAL
RATING CHESS TOURNAMENT
Organised by
Regional Sports Centre, Cochin
In association with
Chess Association Ernakulam

Approved by All India Chess Federation

Reg.No.52703/KER/2010
Date: 20-25th September 2010

Venue: Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium

Regional Sports Centre,Kadavanthra, Cochin-20

Inauguration: 20.9.2010 11.a.m
Prize Distribution: 25.9.2010 3.00 p.m
30 Main prizes and special prizes @ Rs.1000 for Best veteran,
Best Woman, Best Ernakulam, Best unrated Best Kerala and
age category prizes

For details contact the following:

M.B.Muraleedharan 09447871267 Muralichess@yahoo.com
M.S.Ananthakrishnan 09447396758 msananthakrishnan@gmail.com
Tito V.William 09495336247 titovwilliam@gmail.com
For details of prize money and entry fee visit
www.indianchessfed.org

43
3rd Mayor Cup International Open Chess Tournament 2010, Mumbai..

Kokarev wins Mayor Cup

The annual edition of the Mayor Cup Final Ranking (first 20 placings only)
International Open Chess Tournament was Rk Name Rtg FED Pts
organized for a record third time at the 1 Kokarev Dmitry 2612 RUS 9
Goregaon Sports Club by Venus Chess 2 Maletin Pavel 2584 RUS 8½
Academy from 2 nd June to 10 th June 3 Dreev Alexey 2655 RUS 8½
2010.The tournament was inaugurated by 4 Aleksandrov Aleksej 2604 BLR 8½
Shri.K.L.Saha, Executive Director HRD, Life 5 Bocharov Dmitry 2592 RUS 8½
6 Fier Alexandr 2581 BRA 8½
Insurance Corporation of India.The
7 Luther Thomas 2541 GER 8½
tournament attracted a record 37
8 Kovalyov Anton 2615 ARG 8
Grandmasters and 30 International 9 Khusnutdinov Rustam 2525 KAZ 8
Masters who participated in this strong 10 Varga Zoltan 2479 HUN 8
event.Total entries were 354 with 260 11 Hera Imre Jr 2558 HUN 8
among them raeted. 12 Turov Maxim 2624 RUS 8
13 Kunte Abhijit 2523 IND 8
The Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpallika 14 Greenfeld Alon 2561 ISR 8
(BMC) supported the event for the third 15 Kravtsiv Martyn 2546 UKR 8
time and LIC was the co-sponsor with 16 Himanshu Sharma 2440 IND 8
Goregaon Sports Club as the official 17 Ashwin Jayaram 2457 IND 8
18 Pogorelov Ruslan 2454 UKR 8
host.The tournament carried a prize
19 Ovetchkin Roman 2519 RUS 8
money of Rs.13,00,000 and the games 20 Tirto 2358 INA 8
were fiercely fought among the
Grandmasters for the top prize of Rs.3
Solution to puzzle of the month on p.6
lakhs.
The WPc3 must have captured either
Grandmaster Dmitry Kokarev of Russia the black pawn which came from e7
took early lead and maintained it till the or the black queen. Assuming it was
very end. He emerged as unbeaten the BP which was captured, then BPe7
champion after the final round when he must have made two captures to
offered a draw to Grandmaster Thomas reach c3, the WB on light square and
Luther just after seven moves.Our talented the WQ, the only two missing men.
young Grandmaster and second seed
The WB must have been captured on
Partimarjan Negi was in the race for the
d5 after the WPe3 let the bishop out.
top spot but a draw with GM R.R.Laxman
The white queen was later captured
and a shocking loss in the penultimate
by BP on c3 after which WPd2 must
round to IM Debashis Das put him out of
have captured BPc3. But then the
reckoning.There were seven IM norms
made during the tournament.Players from WBa3 could not have come out via
13 countries participated in the event. c3 or e3! Therefore it was the black
queen which was captured on c3 and
The prizes were given away by the Deputy it is the white queen that stands at
Mayor of BMC Mrs.Shailaja Girkar. h5.

44
47
 AICF Calendar Sep.2010

(confirmed dates are in bold print)

5th Edition Chess for Youth Sep 02- 05 Sep Kolkata

National Sub-junior (Boys and Girls) Sep 04-12 Sep New Delhi
National Challengers Sep 15- 28 Sep Haryana
Chess Olympiad Sep 19- 04 Oct Khanty Manysk
3rd RSC Intl. FIDE Rated Tmt Sep 20- 25 Sep Cochin
11th Maheswaranand Saraswathi Mem.Open Sep 25- 28 Sep Pune
23rd SPIC FIDE Rated Tmt Sep 26- 02 Oct Thoothukudi
National U-9 Boys and Girls Sep 30- 09 Oct Gujarat
National Junior Boys and Girls Sep 30- 09 Oct Orissa
Commonwealth Games Oct 03- 14 Oct New Delhi
2nd KPK Intl. FIDE Rated Tmt Oct 03- 08 Oct Tirupur
1st ICA FIDE Rated Tmt Oct 07- 10 Oct Bengaluru
1st MGR Intl. FIDE Rated (2200) Tmt Oct 11- 14 Oct Salem
2nd Asian Club Cup Championship Oct 10- 18 Oct Al Ain UAE
National U-25 Championship Oct 11- 20 Oct Chandigarh
Payyanur Sasidharan Mem.FIDE rated Oct 15- 20 Oct Kannur,Kerala
World Youth Championship Oct 19- 31 Oct Greece
National U-17 Boys and girls Nov 02-11 Nov J&K
Asian Games Nov 12- 27 Nov China
National U-7 Boys and Girls Nov 21- 01 Dec Jamshedpur
World Youth Olympiad Nov 26- 05 Dec Badur, Turkey
Women World Championship Dec 02-25 Dec Turkey
National Premier Championship Dec 08- 22 Dec New Delhi
Asian Schools Dec 16- 23 Dec Colombo
2nd KCF FIDE Rating Dec 26- 31 Dec Chennai
Ntional Women Ptremier Dec 25- 05 Jan Orissa

For more information, details, confirmation of dates refer to website:indianchessfed.org

ADVERTISE IN AICF CHRONICLE

Tariff for advertisement : Monthly (in Rs.) Annual (in Rs.)
Back Cover (Colour) 15,000 1,20,000
Inside Cover (Colour) 15,000 1,00,000
Full Page Inside (Colour) 7,000 60,000
Full Page Inside (Black & White) 5,000 45,000
Half Page Inside (Black & White) 3,000 30,000

48