Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DIARY
OFA
CHESS QUEEN
© 2009 Alexandra Kosteniuk
ISBN:978-0-9791482-7-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009937440
5
FOREWORD
In this 1990 photograph, I am signing autographs at one of the Moscow chess clubs;
next to me stands a little girl, who decides, after a few minutes' hesitation, to go ahead
and ask me to sign her card. At the time, ofcourse, I paid no attention to little Sasha, and
could not have imagined that in a few years - 2002, to be exact- I would encounter this
girl over the board in the final round ofan international tournament in Spain, or that in
2008 she would become the J:.lh Women~ World Chess Champion.
In 1975, I became the 121h World gerous opponent over the chessboard.
Chess Champion. I like the idea that She plays a very attractive, fighting
by winning the World Championship in style of chess, never shying away even
Nalchik in 2008, Alexandra became the from the most principled variations. It
I21h World Champion in the history of is thanks to players such as Kosteniuk
Women's Chess. I find it interesting that that the line between men's and women's
our World Champion numbers are identi- chess is gradually being erased. Fortu-
cal. This is not the only coincidence that nately, the emotional factor notable in
may be observed between Alexandra and women's chess remains, which often
myself. Both ofus are Russians, citizens renders Alexandra's games an unpre-
of a land rich in chess traditions; both of dictable and engrossing spectacle. I
us were born in the Urals - I in Zlatoust, should note that Alexandra became the
Sasha in Perm; and ofcourse both our last first Russian woman player to achieve the
names start with a "K." men's grandmaster title. In recent years,
As kind and sympathetic a person as I have met Alexandra often in rapid
Alexandra is in life, she turns into a dan- tournaments, and played her in dozens
7
Foreword
DI Pl J /\.( 10 DI
VALfNCIA
,-,£sport
'
8
Dear Reader,
This book is not just a games collection; it is my attempt to describe the road I
had to travel in order to attain the title of World Champion. In this book, I have at-
tempted to share my secrets, my observations, my emotions, and my trials. I tried to
answer whatever questions might occur to you, and to describe the most interesting
moments of my life.
The book's title, Diary of a Chess Queen, is no accident. In the course of my
narrative, I have provided excerpts from my youthful diaries which provide genuine
insight into all my experiences - both the happy and the sad - and my thoughts from
those days.
I attained the summit of the Chess Olympus on September 17, 2008, nearly two
decades after I first discovered the world of chess. For all those years, chess was much
more to me than just a game. My chess career has covered a lot of interesting encoun-
ters and discoveries, pretty combinations and embarrassing oversights, unfortunate
defeats and memorable victories. Chess gave my life meaning, forcing me to keep on
working and winning despite all hardships and obstacles. But at the same time, I never
allowed myself to focus on chess to the exclusion of all else. The world is so interesting
and varied that I could never restrict myself to nothing but life on 64 squares. I am
glad that, despite my grueling training, frequent travel and complicated tournament
life, I have been able to prove myself, not just as a chessplayer, but in other equally
interesting roles as well.
Life is a mysterious and witty intermingling of fate and events. At the start of
every journey, it is as if we open a door into the unknown. Will this journey be long,
or brief? Will it lead to success, or will we shortly be forced to tum back? Every road
is a winding one, and only fate will decide whether we remain on the same path we
chose many years ago. Sometimes, there comes a moment where it seems to us that
we are ready for something new. With the passage of time, this moment might later be
called decisive. This is a time when your life's path reaches a crossroads; sometimes,
you may not even know yourself which direction you will eventually choose. It is just
in such moments that I love to take a look back, to re-examine and revisit everything
I managed to accomplish, and renew my energies to forge ahead once again. I would
hope that writing this book would help me do this.
I should like to thank all the people who helped and supported me all these years
- those who believed in me, as well as those who doubted I would ever make it, and
thereby forced me to work even harder. First of all, I am deeply indebted to my dear-
est ones: my Mom, my Dad, my beloved sister Oxana, my husband Diego, and my
little girl, Francesca. Their love, devotion, and faith in me have helped me more than
once to stay on my difficult course. Without Dad's enthusiasm and energy, I would
not be World Champion today. Without Mom's goodness, I would never have learned
to follow my heart's calling. Without my sister's love - and it has probably been no
9
easy thing to be a champion's sister- I would have none of those particularly sweet
memories today of our childhood years, our games, and those nightly heart-to-heart
talks. And without my husband's support and astonishing patience, I could never have
become champion, wife, and mother.
There were some years, when things were especially difficult, when Daddy wrote
hundreds ofletters in search ofsupport. FortunatelY, he found some who responded and
helped our family out in those tough times: Nikolai Taimanov (Metakon); Sergei Ani-
simov (Stins Koman); Alexander Nikolayev (Centrosol); Sergei Yevdokimov, Eduard
Don and Alexei Melnikov; Alexei and Nikolai Korolev (TsMD); Arkady Dvorkovich,
Ziyavudin and Magomed Magomedov. To them - my eternal gratitude.
I would also like to thank my teachers and trainers. These were, first of all, my
Dad, who put his whole heart and soul into my chess development; also, the noted
Moscow trainer and pedagogue, Alexander Nikolayevich Novikov; International
Grandmasters Alexei Korotylev, Alexander Chemin, and Konstantin Landa. I should
like to address words of special thanks to Grandmaster Yuri Sergeyevich Razuvaev,
who has helped me on my chess journey since 2004. His priceless counsel, amazingly
refined annotations, and faith in me opened up a new world ofchess to me, and helped
me continue to work and struggle.
Many thanks to all these people.
Yours sincerely,
Alexandra Kosteniuk
10
·"'
·. ·. ::., ... '.. i
, ... .~. , . . I
!I<'~~
-~
Chapter 1
Those Wonderful Childhood Years
I first became acquainted with chess more 6 out of 8. I lost just two games - to
than twenty years ago. On April 23, 1989, Alexander Grischuk and Vitaly Kunin
my birthday present was a board and a - showed the best result among the
set of chess pieces, and my first lesson girls, and was awarded the title of Mos-
from Dad. After two months' work, I had cow Champion among girls under 10.
already learned the rules and could play Immediately after this tournament, the
the game. In the fall of that same year, newspaper Moskovskaya Pravda ran
Dad took me to the Hall of Pioneers an article about me under the heading,
near the Medvedkovo subway station, "Remember This Name!", and I had to
where l succeeded in outplaying several sign my first-ever autographs.
players older than me, and was awarded Those were not the easiest of times in
the 4th category (roughly equivalent to a Russia. In order to feed his family and
U.S. Chess Federation ratingof 1200-1400 still have the opportunity to work with
-ed.). me, Dad - who had by then decided to
From my earliest lessons, Dad de- resign his Army commission - went to
voted a lot of time to blindfold training. various institutions, firms, and acquain-
First I would try to guess the color of tances, looking for those who would be
a square without looking at the board. willing to give financial assistance to
Then, when I had absorbed this lesson, a small but talented little girl. Some-
and could easily see the entire board with times I would also have to earn money
my eyes closed, we played over many of by playing for stakes. Dad would take
the elementary positions and solved prob- my sister and me to hotels, such as the
lems blindfolded. The first major tourna- Rossiya, lntourist, or Slavyanskaya, and
ment for me - which did not end very leave us there to play for stakes. Since I
successfully - was the Little Octobrists had been a very introverted child from
Tournament in the fall of 1990 (which my earliest years, Oxana would be the
in those days had replaced the Moscow one to find opponents for me; my job
Championship) for children below age was to beat them. Since that time, I
10. At that time there were very few girls have been very careful with money, be-
playing, and boys and girls played in the cause I knew what it was worth from a
same tournament. I scored 2 points out very young age. Thankfully, Russia has
of 8, winning my first- and last-round always been a country as rich in philan-
games. thropists as it is in talent; and people
The following year, playing in the were found who supported and aided
same age group, my result improved to both me and my family, providing us
13
Chapter I
14
Those Wondeiful Childhood Years
with funds for training and for traveling During this time, my sister was grow-
to tournaments. ing up. Oxana began studying the rules
A month after winning the Mos- of chess at the same time I did; she was
cow Championship, in January 1992, I not yet two years old. By her second
made my first trip to the Russian Junior birthday, Ksiusha already knew the names
Championship. The Under-IO Russian of all the pieces and could set up the
Championship took place in Lipetsk; and starting position. Here's a short excerpt
I only remember that we had to stay in an from a newspaper article by Y. Saburov
unheated hotel. Nevertheless, in spite of from 1992: " ... Five-year-old Oxana
my youth I performed very successfully, and eight-year-old Sasha Kosteniuk are
taking second place with 6 out of9 points. active, playful little sisters, ready at any
A few months after the Lipetsk champi- moment to break out into loud laughter;
onship, it was announced that, in order to they happily dance and sing, love choco-
select representatives for the 1992 World lates and waffles; and when it comes to
Youth Championships in Europe, an porridge, they prefer wheat (Sasha) and
additional Russian Championship would barley (Oxana) ... These little girls de-
be organized, this one to take place in St. vote six hours every day to their favorite
Petersburg. At this championship, I was game. Both of these young players favor
not as successful as in Lipetsk; returning an attacking style, and have a number
to Moscow empty-handed, we once again of victories to their credit. But if Oxana
set to work. (or Ksiusha, her family nickname), who
holds a third-category ranking, is known
so far only in Moscow's Pervomaisky
district, the name of first-category player
Sasha Kosteniuk is already known to
many. Battling Sasha over the chessboard
is becoming tougher and tougher. Her
knowledge of the secrets of chess grows
ever deeper. Sporting and creative growth
for a chessplayer is unthinkable without
competition in Russian and international
tournaments. Not long ago, all expenses
in this regard would be absorbed by com-
mittees on physical education and sport.
But now, such possibilities no longer exist.
One would hope that the Russian and
Moscow Committees on physical educa-
tion and sport, the chess federations, and
charitable funds might take an interest
in these young and talented players. And
~\._______ _ perhaps, in some commercial firms there
In the third grade, 1993 might be some farsighted financiers who
15
Chapter 1
.
~-'·
f .
With my younger sister, Oxana
might be prepared to take a long-term from fixing our game in the later rounds.
interest in this chess family." There are times when life in children's
In the fall of 1992, at 8 years ofage, I tournaments resembles a tragicomedy.
became Moscow Champion once again, At this level, the battles between parents
scoring 9 out of9 in the Girls' Under-IO and between trainers have already begun.
section. It was my sister Oxana's first Each one thinks that his children, or his
championship; at age 5 she was fighting students, are the best. Ksiusha and I were
on equal terms with ten-year-olds. For always suspected of telling each other
this championship, we were intentionally moves, or ofbeing told moves, so we were
paired in the first round, to prevent us always followed and watched. Today it's
16
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
really funny to look back on this; but the hearing of this injustice, he offered to
most interesting thing is that, when I read transport us to Sheremetyevo airport
various articles about Moscow junior and buy our tickets himself. Packing our
tournaments now, I find that nothing bags, we went straight to the airport, but
has changed. It's a good thing that chess found there were no tickets to Hungary
is such an aboveboard kind of sport. that evening.
Everything is decided at the chess table, And that's how my first trip out of
and not by judges. Russia fell through. I won't go into how
In the spring of1993, the whole family awful it felt for a 9-year-old girl, who had
traveled to Kazan for the next Russian been so eagerly awaiting this trip, not to
Championship. I scored 8 out of 9 and be able to travel to this Championship,
shared first and second places; but my tie- simply because some bureaucrat forgot to
breaks put me in second place. According buy the tickets. But sometimes life gives
to the tournament rules, I was supposed us some very unpleasant surprises; chess
to fly to the European Championships in teaches us always to keep on fighting.
Hungary that summer. But the Russian My parents, who had promised to buy
Chess Federation didn't buy our tickets in me a kitten ifl did well at the European
time, which put my trip in jeopardy. From Championships, decided to give me
1993 to 1995, our family received a great one anyway. I recall the day we bought
deal of help from Nikolai Gelmanovich Kaska very well. In an atmosphere of
Taimanov and his company, Metakon; utmost secrecy, Mom and Dad told me
17
Chapter 1
and Oxana that there was something This Hall of Pioneers (now called the
we had to do right away. We quickly got House for Children's and Young People's
ready, and rode to the Arbatskaya metro Creativity) which I just mentioned played
station. In those days, there was a small no small role in the lives of my sister and
bird market on the sidewalk in front of myself. In those days, the Pioneer Houses
the Khudozhestvenny Theater. Almost and clubs within them played a notable
immediately, we saw a woman holding role. The staff there considered working
two tiny little furballs - a dark one and with children to be a true calling. In this
a lig!J.t one. After some thought, we de- Hall, my sister and I learned how to swim.
cided on the light-colored female kitty There we also took our first lessons at the
with stunning lantern eyes. Returning Young Journalists' School. I also partici-
home, we left the kitten alone in our pated in every other activity I could - in
bedroom, so as to give it time to get karate, gymnastics, art, and so forth. Spe-
used to the place. Five minutes later, cial mention must be made of the chess
we returned to the room; but it took us circle of the Pervomaisky Hall of Pioneers
another twenty minutes to find where and ofits trainer-Alexander Nikolayev-
the kitten had gone: she was hiding in ich Novikov. Many strong chessplayers
the underwear drawer under the bed. came out of this ordinary chess club in
We thought for a long time over what eastern Moscow. His students Alexey Ko-
to call her. In those days, Daddy was rotylev, Vladimir Kosyrev, Vitaly Kunin,
reading a book about Capablanca with Elena Lopatskaya, and others, went on
the title, Caissa 's Beloved; when we to become international grandmasters.
returned from our swimming lesson at Undoubtedly, the greatest credit for this
the Hall of Pioneers, he suggested we belongs to Alexander Nikolayevich and
name it Kaissa. Thus did the "Goddess his ability to work with children. I can
of Chess" - or just "Kaska" - come to recall some of his aphorisms to this day,
live in our home. such as, "Stop that yelling, I'm running
out of ears!" Strangely enough, I also re-
l · ~
member the first time we met. When I was
•• -
The Kosteniuk sisters with the fluffy
Hall's team in Moscow tournaments.
After neglecting to buy those tickets in
1993, not only did the chess bureaucrats
not apologize - in the following year,
0
Goddess of Chess" 1994, they forced me to start the quali-
18
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
19
Chapter I
and the match score also ended in favor And with all this, you must also take into
of Russia. I left completely delighted account that the opening lines which
with Yugoslavia, with the organization, mainly appear in junior tournaments
and with the people who took care ofus. diverge significantly from established
Afterwards, the Russian team traveled theory. Gambits, traps, and sacrifices are
by bus to Romania, where the European what you see most of all. In fact, it's far
Junior Championships were held in the easier to show your student three moves
small resort town of Baile Herculane. with a definite goal - that of giving mate
It was an unpleasant surprise for us to - than it is to spend hours explaining the
find when we arrived that the food for the nuances of the Ruy Lopez.
children at the hotel was very bad, while Since my father and I spent most of
the hotel itselfwas pretty expensive, since our time working on strengthening my
Dad had to pay for his own room out of play in the middle- and endgame, my
pocket. So we found private lodgings: a opening knowledge was quite limited
nice little cottage, with pleasant hosts, to - I would study a few games right before
which we moved. the round, and that was it. The main
We liked Baile Herculane very idea was for me to get out of the opening
much. My dad and l hiked up the hills without great losses. After 2... ~e7, lat
surrounding the little town. We caught least knew my plan, and that meant I
fireflies, washed in coldwater springs, also knew what my next few moves would
bathed in a mineral-water spa fed by hot be. And it was no less important that my
springs, and gobbled enormous, juicy opponent would have to start thinking on
sweet cherries. her own at once.
A successful performance at the Eu-
ropean Under- IO Championships - my
first international gold medal - made
my first start an excellent springboard for
further appearances.
20
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
Perhaps White should start fighting playing this in sharp King's Indian mode,
for the center at once with 4.d4. since her attack on the kingside is clearly
4 ... g6 5.d3 lllh6 6.0-0 f6 7J:!:el lllf7 going to come in ahead of her opponent's
8.d4 d6 9 ..te3 .tg7 10.h3 llld7 assault on the queenside. For example:
Black has carried out her plan. 2l. .. cxb4 22.l::i:xb4 lllc5 (the immediate
11.a3 22 ... 'iVh4 23 ..txd7 .txd7 24.l::i:ebl g5
l l .a4!? was worth considering. In this wouldn't be bad either, but the knight
kind of position, White can play more move has a better idea: with the white
aggressively; however, we should not lose bishop out of play at c6, why allow my
sight of the fact that ten-year-old girls are opponent to exchange it?) 23.~ebl 'iVh4
sitting at the board here. 24.~xb6 l:txb6 25.~xb6 g5, with a very
11 ... 0-0 12.d5 c5 13.b4 b6 14 ..tb5 strong attack.
a615 ..tc6 22.b5?
Children find it very difficult to play Of her own accord, White closes up
in situations where they see no concrete the game where she is stronger. Now Black
targets. The only piece which could be has nothing to worry about, and can start
attacked was the rook at a8, which is why active operations on the kingside.
White makes such a weird maneuver with 22 ... a5 23.'iVd3?
her bishop. Afterthismove, Black's attack unfolds
15 ... ~b8 16.~bl f5 by itself.
Meanwhile, Black has chosen a 23 ...f3 24.g4 'iVh4 25.'iVfl lllf6 26.g5
different target: the white king. In a .txh3
position with a closed pawn center, this White resigned.
seems logical enough.
17.a4 f4 18 ..td2 ~h819Ji'e2 In the summer of that same year,
I played in my first Junior World
Championship in Szeged, Hungary, in
the Girls' Under- IO section.
A. Kosteniuk - S. Cherednichenko
Szeged 1994
19 ... lllg5!?
Removing one of the white monarch's
defenders.
20.~h2 lllxf3 2V~'xf3 ~g8?!
Losing the thread. Black should be
21
Chapter 1
This moment decided the gold medal. both the European Championship in the
Had I found the uncomplicated winning French city of Verdun, and the World
line, then instead of sharing first place, I Championship in Sao Louren~o, Brazil
would have stood on the top step of the - where, for the first time in my life,
pedestal by myself. I flew without my family - turned out
37.f8~?? disastrously for me.
37.~g8+ <;i;>h6 38.~h8+! i.xh8
39.f8~+ i.g7 40.'iff4+ 'it'h7 41.tbg5+ L. Genova - A. Kosteniuk
wins. Verdun 1995
37 ... ~xfl+ 38.<;i;>h4 tbg2+ 39.<;i;>gS
~b5+ 40.~c5 ~xc5+
White resigned, as mate is unavoid-
able.
A. Kosteniuk - A. Riazantsev
Moscow 1997
22
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
43.J: xc4 ~ xc4 44.J: d8+ @ g7 tickets for an earlier date. At that point,
45.l:xc8 Black resigned. we still hadn't had much experience
with air travel; and it turned out that, in
A memorably amusing incident order to change the date on our tickets,
occurred while Daddy and I were traveling we had to pay still more. Having left the
to the European Championships in last of our cash with Aeroflot, all we had
Verdun. Daddy decided that, inasmuch were tickets for the next day's flight, and
as the championship was being held in not a penny to our name. That evening,
France, for us to fly to France without we went to the bus station by the Arc de
seeing Paris would just be wrong. So Triomphe, from where the buses leave
we traveled to Verdun separately from for the Paris airport, and Dad attempted
the Russian delegation, in order to go to explain to the driver that we had
through Paris. As soon as we were on our absolutely no money, and offered him
way to Verdun, we saw that the tickets everything we did have, in rubles and
for a trip through France would be very kopecks; but despite the fact that the bus
expensive, leaving us without enough stood empty, the driver refused to take us
money for the train trip back home, since without payment. Thus, we remained in
the idea had been to spend an entire week the middle of Paris; and in the morning,
in Paris. So we set off for Paris by bus. we would still have to somehow make it
Reaching the French capital at night, we to the airport.
located a small hotel on the outskirts of And here was where my skill at
Paris, and went to the Aeroflot offices on playing for stakes came in handy. I took
the Champs-Elysees in order to trade our out my chessboard (I always traveled
23
Chapter 1
24
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
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25
Chapter 1
and croissants, and when we left, gave journalist Ratko Knezevic, Dad learned
us 1500 francs - an enormous sum for that once a week, in one of the Moscow
us, on which our family was able to live casinos, they held a drawing of admission
that whole summer. Many years later, tickets, with a first prize of exactly $1500.
when I myself was able to live in Paris, He gathered the last of our family's
I attempted to seek out this Count, but money to buy a ticket for the casino, went
unfortunately without success ... in, and won the money! The following
These misfortunes of '95 forced Dad day, he took the money for the trip to the
and m~ to work that much harder. It was in Russian Chess Federation. This twist of
1995, in fact, that Daddy worked out and fate helped me become European Junior
created the well-known chess program, Champion for a second time, this time in
·~exandra," which helped me to make the Under-12 age group. Scoring 8 out of
a good study of the endgame. Whenever 9, I took clear first place.
Daddy had to go out on business or to In the summerof 1996, I also got my
seek sponsorship, this program became first official rating. I remember, as though
my trainer. I could spend hours in front it were yesterday, that on the FIDE July
of the computer screen, trying to earn the 1, 1996 rating list, I entered the list of
maximum number of points. Top-Ten Girls Under 20, with a rating
The year 1996 began with a convincing of2295!
win in the Russian Championships at In the fall of the same year, I traveled
Volgograd - 9 out of9! This was my first to the Junior World Championships,
gold in the Russian Championships. held on the island of Menorca, in the
European and World titles have always city of Cala Galdana. Although by that
come easier to me than victories in the time I still had not had much experience
Russian arena. playing in tournaments, even then [
Before the championships began in knew that the organization of many
Volgograd, since we could not afford to junior tournaments left a lot to be
live in the hotel, Dad found a granny who desired. It was obvious that, for some
agreed to loan us a room in her apartment organizers ofjunior championships, this
for the duration of the tournament. It was was mostly an opportunity to make a lot
precisely because of this quality of Dad's of money. There are few who think first
character - to have no fear of difficulties, and foremost of the children. In 1994, at
but to meet them with unexpected moves both the World and the European World
and ideas - that our family has been able Championships, for instance, the playing
to accomplish so much. For example, in hall and the playing conditions were
that same summer, I was able to travel to pretty good, but the food was far below
the European Under-12 Championships, even middling standards. My father was
just because Dad believed that there's always able to find some way of feeding
no such thing as a no-win situation. At us, other than what the organizers
that moment, we were without sponsors; offered. I was very picky as a child, and
and we needed $1500 to get to Rimavska would not eat anything that was even a
Sobota (Slovakia). From the Yugoslav little less than the standard I was used
26
Those Wonderful Childhood Year.s
to at home (and Mama is a marvelous first round, which meant I had to forgo all
cook); so feeding me at tournaments was those rich breakfasts for the remainder of
a tough job. But this turned out not to the tournarnent. It was only on the very last
be a problem on Menorca. And thanks daY, after the prize ceremony, that I came
to the support of the Centrosol company down to breakfast and realized what I had
president, Alexander Nikolaev, I traveled been denying myselfall that time ...
to this tournament, not just with my
father, but with Mama as well. We had a No. 2 Queen's Gambit Declined 035
buffet table, a beach, a pool, and a room Zhao Xue - A. Kosteniuk
set up for table tennis, where many of Cala Galdana 1996
the tournament participants spent their
evenings. 1.c4
I remember that at 12, I was very Even in junior tournaments, the
superstitious. If I won a game, for the Chinese players were among the top
following round I tried to follow the competitors, so encounters with them
same route to the board and to wear the frequently turned out to be the key
same clothes. I would write down the matchups.
moves with the same pen, and of course, I 1...e6 2.ttJc3 dS 3.cxdS exdS 4.d4 ltlf6
carried a number oflittle lucky talismans. S.i.gS ~ e7 6.e3 c6 7..i.d3 0-0 8.ltlge2
In Cala Galdana, I was very "unlucky": I This is the classic Carlsbad structure.
decided not to have breakfast before the As a child, for a long time l played the
Junior World Championships, Menorca 1996. Left to right: Toma Chistyakova, Maria Espinola,
the author, and Tanya Kosintseva
27
Chapter 1
system coded as "TMB" - that is, the - would hardly have entered my head
Tartakower- Makogonov- Bondarevsky then.
system - against closed openings. I 10.i.xf6 ~xf611.~h5 ~es
attended lectures explaining this opening 12.~xf6+ i.xf6 13.0-0 ~d6
in the Pervomaisky Hall of Pioneers, White is clearly running late with her
given by Alexander Novikov. "required" program - the queenside
You need to work on your openings minority attack. Meanwhile, Black
repertoire your whole life. Although it's a already has the advantage of the bishop
great temptation to teach children nothing pair, which she exploits convincingly
but the trap variations, a trainer needs enough.
to understand that there will inevitably 14.~bl as 15.a3
come a time when the student must
switch from the gambit openings to more
classical ones; and the sooner, the better.
Often enough, I regretted not starting to
study the classics, and the classic opening
setups, earlier in life. I spent a lot of my
childhood playing "offbeat" openings, like
the Scandinavian Defense for Black and
the Vienna Gambit for White. I only began
studying the Ruy Lopez, for instance,
when I was 16. And by "study," I mean
analyzing the games played by the classic
players of these openings. The foundation 15 ...i.dS!?
of the edifice known as "The Openings" The bishop was doing nothing on
should be the games first, and only then f6, biting on the granite wall of the
the variations. It's a well-known truism d4-pawn; therefore I transfer it to c7,
in chess that what's new is only what's creating the "queen + bishop" battery,
well and truly forgotten. To keep from pointing unequivocally at the white king.
constantly reinventing the wheel, one In playing a game of chess, you must
should begin as early as possible to study frequently make use of the two basic
the golden classics. principles of piece play:
8.. .li:lbd7 9.ei:lg3 1) watch out for unprotected pieces;
I don't know whether this move and
meant that my opponent was trying to 2) improve the position of your own
copy Alekhine's play in the 32nd game pieces.
of his match with Capablanca (Buenos The first principle is usually the one
Aires 1927), or if she was already starting explained to the youngest players: it's
to get creative. easiest to win a piece that's not protected.
9... h6 So we must try to keep our pieces on
Of course, the continuation that protected squares, and keep an eye out
Capablanca employed here - 9 ... ~e8 for opposing pieces that have been left
28
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
29
Chapter 1
After the black rook enters the enemy granted, and the result of the game
camp, White can no longer put up any was changed to a draw. Our delegation
resistance. preferred to take no action, consoling
40.l:tfS ~dl 41.'iit'c3 ~gl 42.~xeS me by pointing out that, after all, I still
fxeS 43.i.fS 'iit'f6 44.bS b6 had a lot of points.
White resigned. In this competition, Unfortunately, I often had to deal
I scored 10~ points out of 11, and with this kind of attitude on the part of
confidently secured first place. our federations (and not only the chess
However, there was one unpleasant federation) towards their sportsmen.
epis~de that occurred two rounds before The main thing that we have to teach
the end of the tournament. our sports bureaucrats is that, until we
learn to respect our own sportsmen and
A. Kosteniuk - E. Pahtz defend their interests, everybody else will
Cala Galdana 1996 continue to treat themjust the way I was
treated here.
At age 12, you don't think about
the importance of points and results
- you just play chess; so I accepted this
unjustified decision quietly enough,
won my last two games, and secured
first place, becoming World Under-12
Girls' Champion. Second place went
to Elisabeth Pahtz - who clearly got a
lot of help from the half-point she got
from our game - while third went to Ilze
Berzina.
84J:!:c8+ The year 1996 did not end for me
In this position, my opponent's flag with victory at the Under-12 Girls'
fell, and the arbiter awarded White the World Championship in Cala Galdana.
win. That same evening, the German By year's end, I had also managed to
delegation lodged a protest, based on win the World Rapid Championship in
their allegation that I had played on Paris, where we lived and played in the
the clock in a known drawn position, famous Disneyland, and the organization
and that the arbiters watching the was beyond praise. I also succeeded in
conclusion of the game had failed to winning the first adult tournament of
adjudicate the draw. Despite the fact my life. With 7112 points out of 9, I took
that the last pawn capture in this game first place in the Russian Women's Rapid
had occurred on move 63, while my Championship.
opponent's flag had fallen on move 84 After my 1996victory, the Eurovision
(which means that my opponent did company shot some film of me and
not yet have the right to claim the draw my family, which they titled, "How to
under the 50-move rule), the claim was Become a Queen." This film, with its
30
Those Wonde,ful Childhood Years
Menorca 1996: First World Championship gold. Le~ to right: 1/ze Berzina (silver),
the author (gold), Elisabeth PBhtz (bronze)
guileless child's commentary on the joys in our destined field of chess we must
of those days, is most touching to watch often make decisions which turn out to
now, more than a decade later. be critical. In 1997, after a bad result at
One of the very first entries in my the Junior World Championships, Dad
diary is my assessment of the year 1996: decided that this Junior World Cham-
In 1996, I wanted to: I. Get rated; 2. pionship was to be my last, and that I
Win between I" and Jrd places at the World should learn to play chess with adults.
and European Championships (that is, ifI Junior tournaments always feature a
go) - it was a good year! I did it all! particular atmosphere. I switched to
In her professional career, a chess- adult chess early on, and often look back
player often faces a choice: whether to with regret on those junior events, and
go on playing at an amateur level, or to how little time I was able to spend play-
work at chess as a professional; whether ing in them. This may be the reason why
to continue playing in children's tour- I began to hold the annual children's
naments, or to participate solely as an tournaments called the Alexandra
adult; whether to enter only women's Kosteniuk Cup, where each year 1 try to
tournaments, or to start playing against create a real chess holiday for its young
men right from the start. Just as in life, participants.
31
Chapter I
This marked the end of the first stage the wins would not come quickly; and
of my chess career and the beginning I had to experience both the agony of
of something completely different: the defeat and the despair that comes when
struggle to survive in adult chess. For nothing goes right. But time passed; and
I was used to winning in junior events. the final outcome did, of course, justify
When I began playing against adults, that difficult decision in 1997.
32
Chapter 2
Elista - The City of Chess
33
Chapter2
- -..... ~-
~ .......... 11111111 . . . . . . .
... -
--,---,.___
_
...
~-..
..., - ~
•·
·····- ........
,
I \
j
1·
34
Elista - The City of Chess
... '_,.:.
,/ • W _,.1•:• I ,J ...
~-1111
,..,., .. '4.
What has the past year brought me? State University a few years later, and I
Strangely, I had expected far worse re- began writing poetry regularly.
sults this year. 1. I earned my Jrd WIM
(Women~ International Master) norm; 2. Here's one of my first compositions:
I earned my 1'' WGM (Women~ Grand-
master) norm. My rating/or 1.01.1998 ABUSH
stands at 2260 (a loss of 15 points). Of
course, there were negatives, as well: I In the deep woods, where
took home nothing from the 1997 World theres neither sun, nor light,
Championships (Girls Under-14). But on There grew a small bush,
the whole, I am very satisfied with this past wrapped in shadow.
year. December 27, 1997. As pretty as a bird on the wing,
In 1998, Oxana and I began attend- As a delicate flower,
ing the Young Journalists' School at the caressed by spring.
Pervomaisky Hall of Pioneers, where the
notable teacher Natalya Nikolayevna He was lonely, living alone
Polyakova so entranced the students with in the world,
her own stories that, after these lessons, With the darkening wood
we all got top grades on our own composi- to keep him warm.
tions. After our work at this school, Oxana He did not live long
entered the journalism school at Moscow in his dark prison,
35
Chapter2
36
Elista - The City of Chess
l.e4 e6 2.1'2Jt3 dS 3.li'lc3 was that the starting position was taken to
I have used this system against the be"+/="; consequently, if Black reached
French Defense for a long time. It's nice "=" in any variation, that meant that
to be able to consider myself one of the somewhere, White had made a move that
pioneer theoreticians of this setup. led only to equality; and this move would
3 ... c6 4.d4 li:ld7 5.eS cS 6.dxcS i.xcS have to be annotated with a "=". Each
7.i.d3 a6 8.0-0 v/i!c7 9.Vlile2 li:le710.i.d2 week, Dad would submit the database of
0-0? my annotated games to the computer's
scrutiny; and if our assessments diverged
somewhere, I would have to correct it.
l.e4 dS
From 1996 to 1999, I made frequent
use of the Scandinavian Defense; it gave
me pretty good results, especially in
junior tournaments.
2.exdS v/i!xdS 3.li:lc3 v/i!aS 4.d4 tZ:lf6
5.tZ:lt3 i.g4 6.h3 i.hS 7.g4 i.g6 8.tZleS
e6 9.i.g2 c6 10.h4 i.e4 ll.li:lc4?!
Here, the main continuation for
White is 1 I.i.xe4 tZ:lxe4 12.Vlilf3, with
11.~xh7+ the better game.
In blitz, the initiative can sometimes 11 ... Vlilb4 I2.a3 v/i!xc4 I3.tZ:lxe4 li:lxe4
be more important than material. 14.i.xe4 li:ld7 15.Mh3
ll ... Wxh7 12.li:lgS+ Wg6 13. h4?! 15.c3 ~f6 16.i.f3 0-0-0 l 7.Vlile2::t.
Worth considering was 13.~ f4!?, 15 ... li:lf6 16.b3 'i'!a6 17.i.g2 0-0-0
shoring up the important e5-pawn. 18.c4?+ Vlilb6=
13 ... v/i!xeS?? 18 ... e5+.
Loses. 13 .. J:h8 14.h5+ Mxh5 19.Md3 v/i!c7 20.g5 li:ld7 21.Vlilt3-+
15.Q'lxe6 fxe6 16.v/i!g4+ Wf7 l 7.v/i!xh5+
would lead to an unclear game.
14.hS+ Wf6 15.li:lh7+ @f5 16. g4#
37
Chapter 2
26.i.d2i.e7 27.i.c3 ~a2+ 28.Wt'3 ~a3 their invitations, and so I was let in. So I'll
29.i.xg7 ~g8 30.i.d4 ~as be flying out on the 19h, which means the
30 ... aS-+ day after tomorrow, I'm back in the fight
31.i.xa7 ~rs+ 32.We2 ~c2+ again! 04/18/98.
33.Wt'3 ~rs+ 34.We2 ~c2+ JS.Wet In the first round at Elista, I succeeded
i.b4+ 36.Wfl ~dl+ in getting past Tatiana Grabuzova; in
White resigned. the second round, however, [ lost by
2-0 to Alisa Galliamova, who was at
In early 1998, in order to qualify for that time the premier player in Russian
the Russian Women's Championship women's chess - and one of those losses
Final, I competed in the Upper occurred on the very day I turned 14.
League, held in the Moscow suburb of Nevertheless, my performance in this
Kolontaevo. The most memorable thing Championship was deemed a success.
about this tournament was, for me, the And being in Elista in April, I was able,
fierce table-tennis battles that went on for the first time in my life, to watch
immediately after the games. Nobody the tulips bloom on the steppes. After
owned a paddle, so most ofus had to use seeing this spectacle, I started telling
our schoolbooks. everyone my favorite flowers were tulips.
Prior to the Russian Championship in It was just these appearances in Elista
Elista, held in April of that year, I earned in 1997 and 1998 that helped me, soon
the third and final norm for the Women's enough, to receive an invitation from
Grandmaster title by winning a Category Kirsan Uyumzhinov to represent Team
III men's round-robin event. Once again, Kalmykia at the World Chess Olympiad.
a few words from my diary: But first things first...
02/ 14/98 I earned a grandmaster In the summer of 1998, our whole
norm. The WGM norm = 81/i out of 13 family headed off to Greece. On Mom's
( +4). Before the final round, I already had birthday (July 29) we gave her a video
+5. In the last round, I played Zhurina camera, and now we can recall that trip,
- and won. So I got +6. And along with not just in pictures, but on video as well.
the grand-, I earned 2 !Ms. This is probably the best place to say a
The following story from my diary few words about my mom. It happens
was written under the heading, "An that in this book, I mostly talk about
unexpected turn." how my father aided my chess career.
... What's this - my birthday is now But it must be immediately emphasized
"threatened" - and here's why: After that my mom, Natalya, played no less of
my disaster in the Under-20 Russian a role in my upbringing. Up until I was
Championship (Jth place, 5 out of 11), 5 years old, I was fully represented by
played at Dagomys, I thought I would not my mom. By age 5, I was a rapid reader.
get an invitation to the Russian Women '.s After our family was "infected" by chess,
Championship. It starts on 04/20/98, and Mom, who had not known how to play
will be played as a knockout event. But it the game before, taught herself to play,
appears that some of the players declined and utilized her experience as a teacher
38
Elista - The City of Chess
to set up a unique, methodical program would like to teach their children how to
for teaching chess to preschoolers. play the game. In October 2006, it was
In those difficult days while we were through my mother's initiative that the
growing up, Mom created such a feeling ·~exandra" school for the study of chess
of comfort in our home that we children was opened; and starting in 2007, we began
never even suspected the difficulties our running the Alexandra Kosteniuk Cup for
parents had to overcome. I remember that, children aged 6 to 8.
in order to save money on haircuts, Mom The first tournament I played in
took a course in barbering, and then cut the summer of 1998 took place on the
her family's hair herself for many years. beautiful little island of Ikaria. The
When we were unable to buy anything island takes its name from Icarus, son
at the store, Mom would sit down at her of Daedalus, who, according to myth,
sewing machine and make us skirts, shorts, fled from Crete with his father, flying
and dresses. I can remember her "anthill" upon wings attached to his shoulders.
cake to this day; nor can I get by, even now, Icarus flew too close to the sun, the wax
without her sage advice. In 2005, Mom holding his wings melted, and Icarus
wrote and published the book, How to fell into the sea and drowned. And so,
Teach Chess - A Preschooler's Manual, the sea was named the Ikarian, and the
aimed at teachers and relatives who don't nearest island was named lkaria. Before
know how to play themselves, but who the tournament began, we decided that
39
Chapter 2
. . -. .
--..
' >
A>..
rt~~ ...
't1.. .·
. ,.
--
Playing for the Kalmykian team at the 33rd World Chess Olympiad, Elista 1998
we would be there mainly to rest and that everything will tum out okay, and I will
relax, and that I would just play, without justify their faith in me. 08/25/1998.
preparation, any way I liked. This system From these youthful sentences, it's
gave unexpectedly good results: I earned a obvious how worried I was, and how
men's International Master norm. At my much I feared that I would perform badly.
second tournament, in Greece, I did not This internal struggle with oneself often
do so well - for a while we even regretted passes unnoticed by the chess-loving
that we hadn't stayed on Ikaria rather public. It is precisely because of this
than go to another tournament. struggle, these constant worries and fears,
A few words from my diary: victories and defeats, that I love chess,
Before nearly every tournament, I and consider it to be a most complex form
experience uncertainty. This uncertainty of sport. Tournaments, games, missed
gives me no peace, because there is a great chances, and astounding combinations
weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I fill your life with meaning. But however
have been added to the Kalmyk national much chess may engross you, it's always
team, andwillplayinthe 19980lympiad. It important to remember that, for all its
makes me happy; but at the same time, I'm attractions, it's still just a game. Points,
afraid I may play badly - the more so, in goals, seconds are only important when
that after Greece, I am playing very badly in the game's underway; when the clocks are
the rapid tournaments, and it always seems stopped, life goes on, in which there are,
to me that Im doing very little work on chess, unfortunately, far more terrible things,
paying it very little attention. But I still hope sometimes, than losing a game.
40
Elista - The City of Chess
In September 1998, I went to play in crazed countries can make their national
the Yugoslav League; in October, I was team rosters at a fairly young age, and test
due to travel to Elista for the World Chess their abilities and acquire experience in
Olympiad. grown-up events.
The World Chess Olympiad ... For Of course, nowadays, when the
any chessplayer, playing in the Chess whole system of playing for the World
Olympiad is probably just about the same Championship has been thoroughly
thing as it would be for any sportsman to revamped, any young woman player,
play in the Olympic Games. Since the for example, can take part in the adult
1998 Olympiad would be held in Elista, European Championship. In my view, you
Russia had the right to send three teams: should begin playing in adult tournaments
the A-team, the youth team, and the as early as possible - even though this of
Kalmyk team. Although I was only 14, I course means that someone else will be
hoped to be chosen for the youth team. taking home the prizes in the children's
There was great competition championships. The years saved for
among the young Russian players. In developing your skills can be worth far
my day, winning the Russian Junior more than a bunch of junior titles.
Championship was much harder than Having missed out on the second
becoming World Junior Champion. I Russian team (which fielded the following
only won our national championship for lineup for the Elista Olympiad: Anna
the first time in the U nder-12 age group Dorofeeva, Ekaterina Polovnikova,
in 1996, by which time I had already Natalya Andreeva and Evgenija Ovod),
won the European Girls' U nder-10 I practically despaired of playing in the
Championship while also winning the Olympiad - when suddenly, Kirsan
silver medal at the World Championships Ilyumzhinov invited me to play for the
in the same age group. After winning the Kalmyk team - that is, Russia-3. We
Russian Championship, we would go to had Julia Demina on first board, myself
the World and European Championships on second board, a local player, Baira
in pursuit of gold: any finish other than Kharashkina, on third, and another
in first place would be considered a Elistan, Anna Gelashvili, as reserve. I
disappointment. consider that successful performance at
On the other hand, stiff competition, the Olympiad as one ofthe turningl)oints
even in one's own age group, frequently in my chess career. I scored IO points out
meant that young Russian players of 13, winning the silver medal on Board
focussed mainly on beating those in Two, while my team shared 61h- IQ1h places
their own age group. After all, making the and came in ninth on tiebreak. This was
national team - or playing against adult a huge success for us, since according to
competition - is very hard, and not nearly our average rating we were only ranked
as interesting, since playing in grown-up 33n1 at the outset.
tournaments means forgetting about the At the FIDE Congress, held there
medals and the top prizes. At the same in Elista, I was awarded the Women's
time, talented children from less chess- Grandmaster title conditionally - that
41
Chapter2
is, provided I was able to raise my rating a categorical assessment; but I can agree
to 2300 (it was 2270 at the time). But at that after ... i.cS, Black simply develops,
the Olympiad, I exceeded the norm once paying no attention to White's concrete
again; so, in accordance with FIDE rules, plans, and making no effort to carry out
I was awarded the Women's Grandmaster any concrete ideas of her own.
title with no "conditions." Thus I became On the whole, my opening analyses
the youngest grandmaster in the world at from those days cannot but bring forth
that time. a smile. What a life I had: before every
game, all I had to do was go over two or
No. 5 Bishop's Opening C30 three variations, each 5 or 6 moves deep!
A. Kosteniuk - R. Pokorna Nowadays, unfortunately, such a thing
Elista 1998 would be almost inconceivable.
5.f4
1.e4 e5 2.li.c4 White executes the main idea of the
From 1998 to 2000, the Bishop's Bishop's Opening, as well as of many
Opening was my main weapon against other open games, where she puts off the
l ... eS. In fact, this opening frequently development of the knight on gl in order
leads to positions and structures closely to get in f2-f4 first, and only then develop
related to the Italian Game or Two the knight to f3.
Knights' Defense. True, Black has more 5 ... d6 6.lllf3 a6 7.f5 llJa5
choices in the Bishop's Opening than in By fixing the pawn structure with
the Italian Game. For example, we might f4-f5, White gives notice of her intent to
immediately notice that Black has not yet begin a kingside pawn storm. As we know,
decided where to develop either knight; the best response to a flank attack is a
consequently, she has a variety of plans counterstroke in the center. Black's last
- for example, there is the idea of playing move works well with this idea: not only
... c7-c6 and ... d7-d5. Black's bishop is is she going to trade off White's light-
also on f8 still - she may develop it to cS, squared bishop, she is also preparing for
to e7, orto b4. ... c7-c6 followed by ... d6-d5. However,
2.• .lhf6 3.d3 llJc6 4.llJc3 ii.cs the time previously lost may cost Black
Of course, Black has many acceptable her chance at equality.
setups here. The most energetic and
straightforward of these would be ...
i.b4 (intending ... d7-d5) or ... llJaS,
immediately snapping off White's bishop
and preparing the ... d7-d5 advance.
Later, I would make use of these ideas
myself when playing Black.
At the time, I believed the move order
employed by Black in this game granted
White an opening advantage. Now, of
course, I would find it hard to give such
42
Elista - The City of Chess
8 ..tb3 12.0-08g4
In my 1998 commentaries, I censured Black could not seriously have
this move, recommending the following expected that, after she made this
variation instead: 8.a3 CZ'ixc4 9.dxc4 h6 move, White would give up the dark-
I0.~e2, followed by i.e3, with some squared bishop. I remember, when I
advantage to White. It may be true that was just beginning to compete in junior
in this position, the open d-file will have tournaments, how eagerly I would wait
much more significance than the slight for my opponents to play i.g5 or ....tg4,
fracturing ofWhite's pawn structure that pinning my knights at f6 or f3. As a rule,
occurs after ... CZ'ixc4; dxc4. And if Black after h3 or h6, they would trade their
does not take the bishop at c4, then of bishop for my knight, which made me
course White will retreat it to a2. very happy, since I already knew how
8...c6 9.~e2 CZ'ixb310.axb3 bS?! valuable a bishop could be in many kinds
Black certainly should not have opened of positions.
the a-file for her opponent, and then left 13 ..td2 .tcS+ 14. @ht 'iVc7 15.h3 hS
herself with a weak a6-pawn on the open This attempt to whip up an attack with
file. Of course, then the reader could most just two pieces is doomed to fail.
certainly ask the very reasonable question: 16.~el 8f6
"Then how should Black have continued?" The outcome of Black's energetic
CertainlY, Black would not want to castle play has been to give herself kingside
kingside. Her position is rather cramped, weaknesses as well.
and sharp advances like ... b7-b5 could lead 17.~g3 l:g8
to further weakening ofher position. White
has an easier game to plaY, but she must
also keep in mind that although Black's
position may be passive, it's very solid;
and if White starts flinging pawns wildly
around on either wing, this could lead
to a weakening of her own position. So I
might recommend that Black play waiting
moves here, such as I0...'iVe7 or I0...h6,
giving White the opportunity to show her
hand first, while also keeping in hand the
possibility of ...d6-d5.
ll ..te3 i.b4?! 18J:tael
David Janowsky, in a game against This still happens to me quite often:
Mikhail Chigorin, the founder of the I see a pretty variation at the board
Russian chess school, long ago in 1905 (which usually doesn't work) and,
played l l...'iVb6 in this position. After distracted by this great idea, I make a
12.CZ'idl i.b7 13 ..txcS 'iVxcS, White move which doesn't fit in with the logic
decided to trade queens by 14.~f2, and the of the position. Instead of this mysterious
game ended in a draw after 39 moves. rook move, White could play either the
43
Chapter2
28.dxe5!
After this exchange, White breaks into
her opponent's position along the open d-
file, and Black is hard-pressed to stop her.
28 ... dxe5
Black simply cannot recapture with
22.l'2ldl!? the other pawn: 28 ... fxeS 29 ..txb6 ~xb6
At the time, this was my favorite 30.:xd6.
knight route (through dl to the center), 29 ..txb6~xb630.~g3~c731.:ed2
and it often made my trainers scratch :e7 32.l2lh4!
their heads. Since the position is closed The work of the white knights in this
in nature, with no clear plan for Black, game is simply amazing.
White can even allow herself to play in 32...:n 33.l2lg6 :th6
this style.
22 ...:de8 23.c3 .tb6 24.l2lt2 ~d7
25.:dt
Of course I did not seriously consider
the continuation 25.j_xffi gxffi 26. ~xffi??
j,d8 27.~g7 :eg8, when the white
queen would be trapped.
25 ... l2lg8 26.d4
White has carried out her plan of
breaking in the center. With Black's
pieces coordinating poorly, White has
44
Elista - The City of Chess
45
Chapter2
24 ... gS 25.l::id2
The computer tenaciously continues
the fight with 25.~d3 ~es 26.°@'c3 °@'xg3
27.f4 °@'h4 28.fS. Of course, White has
temporarily closed off the king's wing,
and Black probably will not be able to
organize a direct attack against the king.
But the passed g- and h-pawns must
eventually tip the scales in Black's favor.
25 ... ~eS 26.°@'el h5 27.r:lilfl?
Unwilling to submit to the inevitable
16 .. .llle4! - or perhaps just frightened to death
Switching to play in the center. The - the white monarch sets off on a ride to
tactical justification of this move is that the center of the board.
after the exchange on e4, the a4-pawn is
left unprotected.
17.li'ib5 lllxb5 l8.axb5 ~t7 19.li:ld2
l::ibf8 20.li:lxe4 fxe4 2l..txe4?
This exchange was not a good idea
for White. After 21. b3 '@' e5 22. '@' e3, the
position would have been equal.
21 ... .txh3 22..tg2 .tg4
Black's bishop is much more active
than its white counterpart, so of course
there was no point in trading it.
23.f3 .td7 24.e4?
Forgetting one of the basic strategic 27 ... h4 28.gxh4 g4
principles of chess - never stir up trouble White's king will find no peace in the
where you're weaker. After this move, I center - on the contrary, he comes under
can't see anyway for White to protect her the crossfire of all the black pieces.
pawns at g3 and f3. 29.r:/ile3 gxf3 30..txf3 .tg4 31 ..tg2
~xfl 32..txn l::tf3+ 33. r:/ile2 °@'xe4+
White resigned.
46
Elista - The City of Chess
chess. It was impossible to resist a trip he would have traveled with us in any
to Disneyland - after all, 14 years old is case.
still a kid! In addition, my experience at The trip to Disneyland did not
the 1996 Championship had shown me disappoint us: everything was, if that was
that in Disneyland, everything would possible, even better organized than it had
be at the highest level, and also that we been in 1996. As I discovered many years
would not only be able to play chess, but later, at this exact moment, France was
also to visit the attractions. As it turned undergoing one of its periodic strikes, and
out, my sister Oxana was also on the there were very few people at Disneyland.
Russian team for the World Under-12 So we were able to cover every attraction,
Championships, having qualified for from front to back; while the gold medal
the tournament by performing well in for the Under-14 Rapid Chess World
the Russian Rapid Championships. It Championship, which I acquired almost
was also decided to appoint my father as an afterthought, served as a welcome
the manager of our delegation, since addition to the whole trip.
0''
/
.)
47
Chapter 3
School Days
The first part of 1999 was not easy for Not surprisingly, under this kind of
me. My parents decided that I would be intense academic pressure I did poorly in
better off being homeschooled, as it had the Russian Women's Championship at
become difficult to coordinate my studies Serpukhov. But that summer, after pass-
with my frequent trips to competitions. ing the high-school graduation exams and
In January, I played in the Wijk aan Zee my college admission tests, I was finally
open tournament; in April - in Bled. I able to breathe freely. I entered a strong
spent all the rest of my time studying hard women's round-robin tournament at
for my high-school graduation ·exams. Dresden, and easily took first place.
Having skipped two grades, as soon as I In the fall, [ started my studies at
passed my graduation exams in May at RGAFK. This institute (which now
age 15 I sent in my papers to the Russian bears the title ofuniversity) is the largest
State Academy of Physical Education institution of higher learning for physical
(RGAFK). education and sport in Russia and in the
48
Schoo/Days
world. Here, many Olympic champions RGAFK chess department owes a great
and prizewinners in the championships deal to Evgeny Pavlovich. It often hap-
of the world and of Europe have studied, pens that something depends entirely
in many different kinds of sport. The on one person, upon his energy and de-
institute consists of 43 departments, votion; for the chess department, that
among them a chess department. My person has been Evgeny.
freshman class was a notable one: among Another great advantage of attend-
its members were future International ing the institute was the possibility of
Grandmasters Alexander Grischuk, combining trips to tournaments with my
Vladimir Potkin, Vladimir Dobrov, studies - and, sometimes, just playing
Alexey Khruschev, and Irina Zakurdjaeva in the department itself. For example,
- probably the strongest class in depart- right after I enrolled in the department,
ment history! they put on a Category IV round-robin
ActuallY, I began attending this insti- event, in which I started badly (l.5/4);
tute a long time before I actually enrolled but by finishing with 7 out of 7, not only
in it, having regularly competed in the did I share first and second places, but I
student round-robins. I even made my also earned a men's International Master
third and final candidate-master norm at norm.
the age of 12 within the institute's walls, In October 1999, I competed in
playing in the student championship the Isle of Man open tournament,
of Moscow. So the question of where where I scored my first victory over a
I would go to college was settled long grandmaster - Sergey Kudrin. Since I
before I finished grade school. RGAFK had not had any wins over men grand-
is just a 20-minute walk from my home masters in a long time, this game may
- right next door, by Moscow standards. have helped overcome that psychologi-
It was at the institute that I came to un- cal barrier.
derstand the necessity of participating
in sports. From 2000 on, I have been No. 7 Sicilian Defense 853
a frequent guest of the institute's track A.Kosteniuk - S. Kudrin
& field arena, and the alleys of Lilac Port Erin 1999
Boulevard became my jogging track.
Today, I still pay a lot of attention to my 1.e4 c5 2.t'i:lf'3 d6 3.i.bS+
physical preparation, and try to start In 1998 and 1999, I would often
each day with a run - although giving play .tbs when I had White against the
birth to a daughter has made all of that Sicilian. Even today, sometimes I still play
much more difficult. this line. The main idea behind the St.b5
I would like to say a few words in variations is to avoid the sharp Sicilian
particular about the head of the chess de- main lines. By playing St.b5, White often
partment, Evgeny Linovitsky - a retired reaches positions where her advantage
major-general in the Strategic Missile is minimal; on the other hand, she runs
Command, a great fan of chess, and no risk of losing, as often happens, for
a strong correspondence player. The example, in the NajdorfVariation.
49
Chapter]
50
School Days
22 ... exf3?
It appears my opponent overestimated
his position a bit, and decided that the
moment had come to switch to the
counterattack. After 22 ... c;i;>xg7 23.®xe4
~xe4 24.~xe4 ~c7, the players would
most likely have soon agreed to a draw.
23.~xf8 ~xf8 24.®e4!
A pinned knight is not always
19 ... dS!? completely tied down! It turns out that
A standard technique in this kind Black has no way to exploit the vis-a-vis
of position. Black not only rids himself between his rook and White's queen.
of the weak pawn at d6, which always
needed protection, but also opens the
c-file, setting up a threat against the
knight at c3.
20.cxdS exdS 21.~d4
I could have tested Black by playing
21.exd5!? i.xc3 (21...i.xd5? is bad
because of 22Jhd5 ~xc3 23.~dl Mc7
24.~cl, and White has traded off his
pinned c3-knight, while Black will
now find it hard to get out of the pin)
22.Si.g5 f6 23.dxc6 Mxc6 24.~e3 (24.
Macl fxg5 25.~d3 is also possible) 24 ... 24 ... ~e7?
~c7 25.Macl '.l:tc8. Because of the black 24 ... ®e5 (threatening ... fxg2+ and
bishop's rather inferior location, White ... ®f3+) was stronger, with an unclear
could expect to hold a slight advantage game. After White's knight reaches d6,
here. Black's position gets much worse.
21 ... dxe4 22.~xg7 25.t'Zl d6 ~ g5 26.g3 ~ g4 27. ~ c4
~xc4
51
Chapter]
52
Schoo/Days
2000, I began to work with grandmaster strive to work on chess not less than two
Alexey Korotylev, with whom I worked hours every day.
and continued to develop regularly for 8 As the player's strength increases, so
years. It was Alexey who explained to me does the time he or she needs to devote to
why I needed to study the chess classics; chess. Today's professionals must work not
for the entire course of our work, he tried less than 7-8 hours a day on chess. And I
scrupulously to eliminate the holes in my stress the word "work" - a concept that
chess education. does not include endless sessions of games
Sometimes I am asked: What does played on the Internet. What I have in mind
chess training look like? How many hours is the analysis and examination of one's own
must a player spend each day in order to games and those of strong grandmasters,
reach a high level? Keep in mind that, for solving positions, reading chess literature,
a chessplayer, the concept of a "normal and working on one's opening repertoire.
working day" does not exist. We are free As my own experience shows, the
artists. Sometimes, I can sit for hours at hardest thing is to force oneself to keep
a chessboard; other times, I may not take busy; to overcome one's laziness and sit
out the pieces at all. Still, when a player down at the chessboard. Still, nowadays,
has just begun to take the game seriously, when we always have a strong sparring
it's very important that the training be partner - the computer - handy, plus
regular in nature. Beginning players must an enormous amount of amazing chess
_r;. L
.. _.;...i . •
~ .... '!\.. -.
. . .--.....:.·,
. . . . __... .. " .
.•
. . ..: 'i
~~ - ...
... .... '
....
• .. -I -- .... •
i.. · ~ ~ . . _ - ; - - ~ - -
,- -
~.-- .........
! . ·. j;;_ ·_-:
..... _.
~~~:"'·_~ .~
r_ ~:_ . -·-- .·~- __ :· --r . ·· r. ~:. -~- -· · · - - -
53
Chapter]
literature, working by oneself has become During these years, I used to travel to
easier. Today's young players read less and tournaments with my volumes of ECO,
less, and would have trouble remembering and this variation was studied deeply
the names (to say nothing of the games) of in Volume B (Semi-Open Games).
the world chess champions. I believe that Obviously, the play here is mainly in the
trainers need to pay particular attention center. The breaks with d2-d4 and ... d7-
to making sure that their young students d5 will be the main ideas for the two sides
start at the earliest possible age to study the in this position. Black's last move hinders
games from the chess classics, to learn to both of the advances e4-e5 and d2-d4,
read chess literature. Because a classical and restricts White's possibilities in the
chess foundation needs to start being laid center. The main point is that after ... e7-
down at the earliest possible age. e5, Black will not lose the center pawn,
Along with my tournaments, I con- since it would not be good for White to
tinued studying at the institute in 2000 take on eS: 8.i.xc6 dxc6 9.lllxeS l:.e8
and playing regularly in the blitz events. I0.f4 (10.d4 cxd4 l 1.cxd4 lllxe4!) 10...
In Moscow, as my dad loved to say, one lllhS 1l.d4 ~h4 12.:!::!.fl ii.xh3 I3.gxh3
might become a grandmaster while ~g3+ 14.@hl ~xh3+ 15.@gl lllg3,
never making it past the Beltway Road. with a dangerous initiative for Black
So I got enough tournament practice. In (Galdunts-Dreev, St. Petersburg 1993).
March, I played in the Geller Memorial
in Moscow; and in early May, I traveled
to my beloved Elista for the next Russian
Women's Championship. After the 1998
Olympiad, I added the Kalmyk capital to
my list oflucky cities, which also includes
Dresden and Moscow and later came to
include Mainz and Nalchik.
After my 3.5/9 result at the 1999
Russian Championship, I really wanted
to score better at my next adult national
championship. In those days, the national
championship also selected for the Euro- 8.d4
pean championship, which unquestionably As I noted previously, in these years
raised the prestige of the Russian cham- 3.i.bS was my universal weapon against the
pionship and of the European as well. Sicilian Defense (after 2...d6 or 2... lllc6),
so I had had this position with both colors
No. 8 Sicilian Defense 831 already. Playing White, I would usually
I. Kryukova - A. Kosteniuk continue d2-d3, transposing to Ruy Lopez
Elista 2000 structures (8.d3 d6 9.lllbd2, etc.).
8...cxd4 9.cxd4 exd4 10.lllxd4?!
1.e4 c5 2.lllt'3 lllc6 3.i.b5 g6 4.0-0 IO.es llldS 11.ii.gS ~c7 l2.~b3
ii.g7 5.c3 lllf6 6.l:.el 0-0 7 .h3 e5 was better, with a complex game (White
54
Schoo/Days
should not be in a huny to take the pawn: of the fact that sometimes, at the right
after 12.i.xc6 dxc6 lHWxd4 h6 14.i.h4 moment, one of them may be traded
~b6, Black's position is already a bit offi"
more comfortable). 19.~xd3 ~xa4 20.l:e2
10 ... ~b6 Accepting a defensive posture. White
10... l:.e8 l 1.lllxc6 (l l.i.g5?! h6 would should still probably have tried to fight
be bad for White) 1l...bxc6!? 12.i.d3 d5 for the initiative and seize the d-file by
l3.exd5 l:xel+ 14.~xel lllxd5 l5.llla3 20.l:edl, although here too, after20...l:.fe8
l:b8 was worth considering: the strong 21.f3 i.xb2 22.l:.abl, and the accurate
position of Black's pieces compensates 22 ... i.fo! (but not 22 ... i.g7?! 23.l:xb7
for the weakness on c6, giving Black a 'iVxa2 24.l:d2 'iVal+ 25.\t'f2, when
little better game. Black suddenly has problems defending
11.lllxc6 dxc6 12.i.d3 i.e6 13.lllc3 the seventh rank) 23.l:xb7 l:ad8! 24.l:.d7
lbd7! l:xd7 25.~xd7 l:d8 26.'iVxd8+ i.xd8
Black repositions the knight to a 27.l:xd8+ \t'g7 28.i.d4+ \t'h6 29.i.e3+
central location. \t'h5 30.l:.h8 g5, Black would have good
14.'iVc2 llle5 15.i.e3 ~as 16.i.fl winning chances.
lbc4 20 ... l:fe8 21.t'3
Attacking the bishop, while On 21.i.g5, Black gets the better of
simultaneously creating the threat of it with 21...h6 22.i.h4 g5 23.i.g3 l:ad8
... lllxb2. White certainly doesn't want 24.~f3 l!dl + 25.l:xdl 'iVxdl + 26.\t'h2
to retreat the bishop back to c 1, besides f5! 27.i.c7 l!xe4 28.l!xe4 'iVxf3 29.gxf3
which after 17 ..tcl tl:la3! 18.'iVe2 i.c4 fxe4 30.fxe4 i.xb2.
19.'iVf3 b5, Black develops a dangerous 21. ..fS
queenside initiative. Thus, White has to
give up one of her bishops.
17.i.xc4 i.xc4 18.l?ia4
22.exfS?
The decisive mistake. White should
have fought for the d-file with 22.l!dl
18 ...i.d3! or22.i.g5.
As the classics used to say, "The 22 ... l!ad8 23.'iVb3+ 'iVxb3 24.axb3
advantage of the two bishops consists gxf5
55
Chapter]
I could also have played 24 ... l:td3 Another way was 39 ... l:tc2 40.l:txc6+
25.l:tael l::texe3 26.l::txe3 i.d4 27.@fl @d5 4I.l:.b6 b2, and wins.
gxf5 28.f4 l::txb3 29.@f3 i.xe3 30.l::txe3 40.@e2 l::tel+ 41.@d2 b2 42J:bc6+
l:txb2, and although rook endings are @d5
notorious for their drawish tendencies, White resigned.
Black's three connected passed pawns
should get through. By scoring 6 out of9 in this Champi-
25.@f2 l:td3 26.i.xa7 l:txe2+ onship, I took second place (Ekaterina
27.@xe2 l::txb3 28.l:tdl l::txb2+ 29. @fl Kovalevskaya became Russian Cham-
i.el pion) and made the list of candidates for
Two connected passed pawns will the 2000 Russian Olympic Team.
certainly decide the game soon. At the end of May, another event took
30.l::td7 b5 31.l:te7 i.g3 32.l:teS+ @fl place that later turned out to be of great
33.l:thS b4 34.l::txh7+ @e6 importance in my life. I was invited to give
White has restored material equality, a simultaneous exhibition, on 25 boards,
but her situation has not improved: her at the International Olympic Museum in
pieces are poorly coordinated, her king Lausanne, and to meet with Juan Antonio
remains cut off at the edge of the board, Samaranch, at that time president of
and Black's passed pawns will reach the the International Olympic Committee.
first rank almost unimpeded. This was my first trip to Switzerland;
Js.tth6+ @dsJ6.nr6 r4 J7.nf8 bJ and all through the trip from Geneva to
38.l:.b8@c4 39.~c8 l::tbl+ Lausanne, I stared uninterruptedly out
2000 Russian Championship awards ceremony. Left to right: Alexandra Kosteniuk (silver},
Vyacheslav 1/yumzhinov, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (gold}, Yulia Golyanina (bronze}
56
Schoo/Days
the train window at the quiet beauty of the most important thing is constantly
the meadows, drowning in green, and the training your brain!
deep blue of the mountains. After my immersion in the English
One of the great benefits of being a language, and a summer spent without my
chess professional is the chance to travel chess exercises, I had to put considerable
frequently around the world. Until I effort into reestablishing my usual work
was 15, I kept a careful record of all the schedule. I had several training sessions,
countries and cities I had been able to but at the World Cup in August 2000,
visit; eventually, however, I had to stop held in the Chinese city of Shenyang, I
writing down all the new countries on the performed poorly. This was my debut in
list. With such a kaleidoscope of travel, the arena ofintemational women's chess,
only the most memorable cities remain and it was a nightmare.
in my memory. Lausanne was a city I In October 2000, I played once
fell in love with at once: the view of Lake again in the Isle of Man Open; out of
Geneva, the Alps, and the famous Ouchy this tournament, the only thing worth
lakefront, awash in flowers. remembering was my last-round win ...
After the simultaneous exhibition over my husband-to-be.
at the Olympic Museum, I met Diego, At the close of 2000, once again I was
my future husband, who graciously not included in the main Russian team
offered to show my father and me around slated to participate in the Olympics at
Switzerland. For an entire day, he drove Istanbul; however, knowing what I now
up and down the mountains and valleys know about what a difficult tournament
of this attractive little country. As it that turned out to be for those teams
happened, chess had been a childhood that were in the running for medals,
pastime of Diego's - he had played until I'm not too broken up over it any more.
he went off to college. It was chiefly due The chief benefit from being on the list
to chess that he had studied Russian and of reserve players for the team was that
now knows it so well. After our meeting I could now go to the training sessions
in Lausanne, seeing that my English was along with the regular team members.
not very good, he suggested to my parents These sessions, held regularly from 2000
that they send me to England to study the to 2006, were most valuable to me. I
language. So it was that in the summer could examine my opening problems,
of 2000, I spent six weeks in Brighton lay out and analyze the variations that
studying English. Now, of course, I interested me. To this day, the work
understand how valuable this advice was, done in those sessions occasionally helps
and would like to point out to my young me out at tournaments. The chief team
readers how important it is for them to trainer and captain in those years was Yuri
learn at least one foreign language. The Yakovich. It was entirely owing to him
more so, in that it has been shown that that the sessions were at such a high level,
studying other subjects which also require that almost the entire team participated,
the development of memory, is often and that frequently the players on the
useful to chessplayers. Because in chess, Russian men's team would help us out
57
Chapter]
by analyzing various opening setups and scared me - too many subvariations; the
schemes with the women's team. Scheveningen's strategic ideas seemed
Instead of playing in the Istanbul too complex; and the Dragon was too
Olympics, I competed very successfully bullheaded. So my choice fell on the
in the strong Chigorin Memorial men's Rauzer Variation, in particular the 8... h6
tournament, including the following variant. Later, when White found a
engrossing encounter with grandmaster sufficiently powerful reply to this system,
Evgeny Vorobiov. that being the t.bxc6 and .tf4 approach,
I started looking into other setups. For
No. 9 Sicilian Defense 866 example, there was the classical system
E. Vorobiov - A. Kosteniuk with ... ii.e7, against which I often played
St. Petersburg 2000 the White side as well (see, for example,
my match against Galliamova at the 200 l
1.e4 c5 2.0')0 lilc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.0'lxd4 World Championship). Or the ... .td7
ltJf6 5.t.bc3 d6 6.ii.g5 e6 7.~d2 a6 variation, which leads to complex, double-
8.0-0-0 h6 edged play, but often involves a spoiled
The Rauzer system became my kingside pawn structure after .txf6 gxf6,
first Sicilian Defense variation. After which always made me a little nervous.
many years of experimenting with the Lately, I have turned to a few hybrid
Scandinavian Defense, I decided the variations, playing ...ii.e7 and then ... i¥b6
time had come for the more mainline with a later transposition into the basic
openings. And I decided to begin studying ideas of all Sicilians with opposite-side
the Sicilian Defense, which I felt was castling: attacking on the queenside with
suited to my style. The NajdorfVariation the advance of the a- and b-pawns, as well
58
Schoo/Days
59
Chapter]
Kosteniuk, Wijk aan Zee 2003) 28.cxb3 Here, I found an interesting, but very
(28.axb3? 'iYb4): risky idea, involving the advance of my
kingside pawns. In those days, for some rea-
son I was fond of advancing pawns in front
of my king- g2-g4 or ...g7-g5, for instance.
But I should have played 17... 'i¥b7, which
transposes back into the aforementioned
Nisipeanu-Ivanchuk game.
18.i.f4 g5 19.i.e3 i.d6 20.f4
60
Schoo/Days
23.fxgS fxg5 24.~xf7 Mxf7 25.h4 i.f4 Here's a little food for thought:
26.i.xf4 gxf4 27.Mel, with a blockade 1) 27 ... i.eS? loses to 2S.kxe5 ~xe5
on the light squares. 29.~d2. One of White's ideas now
23 ... eS 24.h4 exd4 25.hxgS becomes clear: a queen invasion at h6.
2) 27 ... Af4+ 2S.@bl i.g5 29.llle2
(this move is necessary to defend against
the unpleasant threat of ... ~f4) 29 ...
a5 (Despite the extra rook, Black is
practically devoid of counterplay. The
purpose of 29 ... aS is to trade off White's
strong bishop at d3) 30.g4 i.a6 31.i.xa6
l:xa6 32.gxhS :cs 33.i.c3 (covering the
c2 square, while clearing the excellent d4
square for the knight) 33 ... i.h6 34.llld4
~e5 35.:eI (35.i.d2 lllxf5 36.g7+ [36.
ibxf5? l:::1:xc2!] 36... i.xg7 37.h6 i.f8 does
25 ...hS!
not work, as Black refutes the attack - as
Black cannot take the second minor
long as she avoids 37 ...lllxd4? 38.~g2 i.f8
piece: both 25 ...dxc3 26.:xh6+ @gS 27 .g6
39.Mgl) 35 ... ~f4 36.~xf4 i.xf4 37.h6
~e7 2S.@bl, followed by~h4, and 25 ...
llleS 38.:e7, and White is better here.
dxe3 26.Mxh6+ @gS 27.~h4 lose for me.
3) 27 ... @gS 2S.llle2 (by covering
26.i.xd4?
f4 against the enemy bishop, White
Once again, the obvious 26.g6! VJ/ic7
prepares to play ~e3-h6. 2S.g4 does not
27 .i.xd4 was simpler and stronger, giving
work because of 2S ... i.g3) 2S ... l:.aeS
White very strong compensation for the
(2S ... a5? 29.~e3) 29.g4 l:.xe2! (a forced
sacrificed rook. He would have several
counter-sacrifice; now Black can breathe
dangerous ideas at his disposal: g2-g4,
again) 30. ~xe2 (30.i.xe2 i.g3) 30...:es
~f2-e3-h6, andlllc3-e2-g3. Black would
31.~f3 ii.es 32.i.xeS, and now, Black
need to be constantly alert in order to
can take the bishop with either the rook
survive this defensive task. I do not have
or the queen - the worst is over:
a precise evaluation of this position, but
fans of dizzying complications could I
think, analyze it for themselves and fi~d
a lot of interesting stuff in there:
61
Chapter]
62
School Days
32 ...:at+?!
This check only helps White. It would
have been much better to take the rook
right away: 32 ... lt:lxh5 33.'<Wxg5+ (33.
gxh5 '<i'xh5, and in this variation, as
opposed to the game continuation, the
knight on e2 is undefended) 33 ... lt:lg7
34.fxg7 2'.f4+ 35.'<i'xf4 '<i'xf4+ 36.lt:lxf4
~xf4 and wins.
33.Wd2 lt:lxh5 34.gxhS 2'.b4+?
Distraction. Having almost repelled
the attack, I had only to make a few
maintained the tension by 30.2'. f5!? accurate moves - yet for some reason,
2'.xe2 (30 .. .lllxf5? 31.'<Wxf5 would be bad toward the end of this game, I started
- suddenly, it's White who's winning) opting for cheap checks. I could have won
31.fxg7 2'.xg4 32.gxf81<i'+ ~xf8 33.2'.xg4 either by 34 ... 2'.f4 35.lt:lxf4gxf4 36.'<i'xf4
'i¥xf2 34.2'.e6+ '<i'f7 35.2'.xf7+ '.t'xf7 '<i'xh5 37.'<Wg3+ '.t'f7 38.'<Wg7+ ~e6
36.~xh5. Even though Black has a 39.'<i'e7+ '.t'f5 40.'<Wd7+ '.t'f4 41.'<Wd6+
dangerous passed pawn, White retains '.t'f3 42.'<Wxf8 'iVh4 43.~c3 ~a4, or
every chance of drawing. by 34... :es 35.°i¥xg5+ '.t'h7 36.'<i'f5+
30 ... axbS 31.'<i'e3 :xa2 '.t'h8 37.'<Wg6 (37.'<Wg5 ~e4) 37 ... ~xe2+
Even stronger was 31 ... ~fe8 32.'<Wd3 38.'.t'xe2 'iVe6+ 39.2'.e3 2'.f8.
(32.'<i'xg5 :xe2 33.gxh5 ~e4) 32 ... 35.c3 '<i'xh5?!
l:Ixa2 33.~d2 2'.b4+ 34.lZlc3 h4, with a Once you've lost the thread of a game,
winning position. it's very difficult to stop, in time pressure,
32.~xhS and take a breath. Of course, I should not
White understands that his only have given the bishop back just like that.
chance is to try to confuse his opponent, 35 ... 2'.d6 36.'<Wxg5+ '.t'h7 37.'<Wf5+ ~h8
or he will just be down material. With 38.'<Wg6 (38.'<i'gs :ras) 38 ...'iVxg6 39.hxg6
time pressure looming, White sacrifices '.t'g8 40.f7+ :xf7 41.gxf7+ ~xf7 was
his other rook. better, with excellent winning chances, or
35 ... 2'.xc3+ 36.2'.xc3 '<i'xh5.
36.'i¥e6+ ~t7 37.cxb4 ~a8?!
Finally hunkering down into defense.
The rook did not need to be moved back
from its best position on the first rank,
where it creates constant mating threats.
37 ... g4 was stronger.
38.lt:lg3 '<i'h2+ 39.lt:le2 'i¥h5 40.lt:lg3
'<i'h2+ 41.lt:le2 :ds
The time control has been reached,
and Black decides to keep playing for
63
Chapter]
the win. No doubt she has made her Sensing that Black is making inferior
task much harder; but still, she is two decisions one after another, White is
exchanges ahead. already getting brave enough to think
42.2'. e5 1V f2 43.2'. d4 °iVh4 44. 1V f5 about seizing the initiative. Otherwise,
1Vh6 45.el:lc3 he could simply have taken the draw
by perpetual check with 5l.°iVg6+ '.t'h8
52.°iVh6+.
51...°iVh4 52.llle4
45 ... l:te8?!
In the fifth hour of play, of course
it's very hard to keep thinking clearly.
It wasn't for nothing that Tai used to 52 ... 1Vh7
begin solving complex problems just at 52 ... l:td8!? was worth considering.
the fifth hour of his training, in order 53.1Vxg5+ '.t'h8 54.lllc3 °iVd3
to get used to working under pressure 55. °iVh4+ '.t'g8 56. °iVf4?!
precisely at the end of his games. Here I White should have taken the draw by
should have played 45 ... l:td6. The idea is 56.'ii'g5+.
simple enough: to sacrifice one exchange 56 ... °iVh3
on f6, and thus make the exploitation And here, Black had the interesting
of my remaining extra material simpler. resource 56 ... l:tg7!?.
For example: 46.el:lxd5 (46.lllxb5 l:tdxf6 57.~g5+ '.t'h7 58.2'.d4 'i¥e6+
47.2'.xf6 1Vxf6) 46 ... l:tfd7, and Black I decided to force a draw, seeing that I
wins. was repeatedly making inferior decisions.
46.lllxd5 °iVh2+ After 58 ... l:td7, I could still have tried
And here, I should have remembered to win.
that Black also has a passed pawn: 46 ...g4+ 59.'.t'c2 l:txf6 60.2'.xf6 ~xf6 61.°iVxb5
47.lllf4 g3 48.°iVg4+ '.t'h8 49.°iVxg3 l:td8 l:tf2+ 62.'.t'd3 '.t'g6
50.@c3 l:txd4 5I.'.t'xd4 'ii'xf6+ 52.'.t'e4 63Ji'd5
°iVf5+ 53.'.t'e3 1Ve5+ 54.'.t'f3 'ii'd5+ Draw.
55.'.t'f2 °iVd4+ 56.'.t'f3 °iVdl+ 57.'.t'f2 An absorbing, fighting game. Neither
1Vc2+ 58.@f3 °iVb3+, and wins. side played flawlessly, but the game was
47 .'.t'c3 °iVg3+ 48.'.t'c2 °iVg2+ 49. '.t'b3 none the less interesting for that. After
~g3+ 50.lllc3 l:tef'8 51.2'.e5 a good performance in this Chigorin
64
School Days
I
t
I
·------ -
- .-
65
Chapter]
66
School Days
pre-arranged; but the very fact that I took old, and I can see for myself that the ratio
four draws in a row was amazing for me of boys to girls is about 70 to 30 percent.
at that time. By finishing with 71h points If only a few girls start playing chess,
out of 11, I qualified for the 2001 World then that many fewer will remain in the
Championship. professional game.
In May, I traveled once again to For a talented girl who finds a strong
Lausanne, where I competed in the trainer and has the opportunity to work
annual Young Masters' Tournament, with him starting at the earliest possible
a knockout-style event. Even though age, I see no barrier to her eventually
I lost to the now well-known Chinese being able to play on an equal footing
grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi in the first with men grandmasters. Here I should
round, he only overcame me in blitz. also note that talent does not simply mean
We played to 1-1 in both the standard the purely chess abilities nature has given
time-limit and the rapid games. Having us, but also the ability to work hard, to
been eliminated from the Young Masters' keep up the drive to win during difficult
tournament, I played very well in the open tournaments, and much else. All this can
event that ran parallel to it. And I was also be found in numbers small enough to
very happy to go to Switzerland and see count, especially among girls, whose very
Diego once again. natures are ill-designed for the waging of
I often hear the question, "Why do constant war against an opponent and
women not play chess as strongly as against oneself.
men?" Having been in chess for so long, Besides enormous effort, working
I cannot answer precisely for myself. It's with chess requires financial outlays too,
very difficult to explain to those who especially during a player's development.
don't play chess themselves that a game You must understand that it's very
of chess creates enormous nervous and hard to earn a living at chess - and in
physical tension, and, consequently, great children's tournaments there are no cash
expenditures of strength and energy. prizes at all. There are very few who can
The fact that men are physically allow themselves the luxury of playing
stronger is a factor that tells in an steadily and training with the finest
extended battle. Of course, in contrast specialists. Besides the player's individual
to other forms of sport, our physical determination to grow and mature, she
strength does not play the main role here; must have serious financial support in
thus, women can play against men with order to be able to focus on nothing but
increasing success - and they have been her chess and her training.
doing so in recent years. I believe the And once a girl decides that it's time
main reason there are more men G Ms for her to start a family, there's no point
than women G Ms is that far fewer girls in even thinking about competing with
start playing chess than do boys. For men, because children take up all of a
the last two years, I have been holding woman's time and energy. The most she
a children's tournament, the Alexandra can allow herself after starting her family
Kosteniuk Cup, for children 6-8 years is the occasional tournament. So my
67
Chapter]
advice to all girls who dream of playing where I ever bought and tried fresh,
chess professionally is: "Start working uncooked pistachios. After the match
seriously on chess as early as you can." was over, we flew to the Iranian city of
The career of a chessplayer may be long, Isfahan, built on the banks of the river
but the career of a professional woman Zahande, 340 kilometers to the south of
chessplayer is bound to be a short one. Tehran. In Isfahan, we passed through the
In the summer of 2001, I traveled Golden Bazaar, which I remember for the
to Iran, where I competed in a match- interweaving ofthe golden reflections and
tournament against the Iranian women the sun from the gallery of sales booths.
players. Women's chess is quite popular I also found it interesting that the
in Iran, as it is one of the few forms of Iranian women were very fond of the
sport (along with shooting and horseback pictures from my modeling photoshoot
riding) in which Iranian sportswomen for FIDE, asking continually for the little
may compete internationally. The match calendars that featured those photos.
took place in Tehran. I played two games In September 2001, I was scheduled
against each of the three strongest once again to travel to the match between
Iranian women, and scored 51h points Russia and China. Once again, I didn't
out of 6. In addition to playing, I was make the national women's team; but
able to visit an Eastern bazaar, which along with the women's and men's teams,
left me with an indelible impression of a this time they also sent junior teams,
whirlwind of sounds, smells, and goods consisting of two boys and one girl - and
for sale. The bazaar was the first place I made this team. After some excellent
.......
J
!
\
'
\
\
Match-tournament with the Iranian women chessplayers, Tehran, August 2001
68
School Days
69
Chapter]
70
School Days
17.exdS!?
An interesting, but risky, decision.
Believing that after the knight retreats and
Black plays ... d5-d4, Black will have no
further problems, White wants to profit
from the fact that Black's king is still in
the center.
17 ... exd4 18.2'.xd4 0-0-0 19.c4
Of course White must strive to open 22.1i¥c3?!
the position. The start of a bad plan - in this
position, it should be Black who dreams
of being able to exchange queens. 22.b3
li:lxd3 23.1i¥xd3 1li1a5 24.~hel, with
compensation, was correct.
22 ... li:lxd3 23.11i1xc7+?
Of course, White should not have
exchanged queens. In the ending, Black
no longer has to worry about king safety,
while White's pawns become easy targets
for my bishop pair.
23 ... '.t>xc7 24J::!:xd3 2'.e7 25J::!:c3+
'.t>b8 26.2'.xg7 l'Jhg8 27.2'.xh6
19 ...ll:lcS And although, in terms of material,
I didn't want to close up the game White seems to be perfectly fine (at the
by 19 ... b4, fearing that the pawn would moment, he actually has 5 pawns for
be lost on b4, and that the enemy pawn the piece!), in fact it turns out he has
phalanx on the queenside would more no defense against Black's two powerful
than compensate for the sacrificed piece. bishops plus the initiative.
20.cxbS '.t>b8 27 .. Jhg2 28.2'.f4+ '.t>a8 29.l'Jh2
Black could also trade off the bishop Trying to trade off Black's most active
at once, but I decided to delay that for a piece.
71
Chapter]
-
I........ I
IM.
Holding the European Blitz Cup, Minsk, 2001
72
Chapter4
Kremlin Breakthrough
The 2001 World Championship was my masters who come simply to play chess,
first adult world championship competi- who do well at such events.
tion. I could not say that I expected any Nevertheless, pulling oneself together
kind of huge result. In addition, just a for a single tournament is no easy task,
month before the start of this event, I either. I was lucky in this regard, because
had performed terribly at the Chigorin I have that ability to ready myself for
Memorial in St. Petersburg, scoring just concrete events and for the most impor-
4 points out of 9. tant games. I might lose a dozen games
The Moscow World Championship beforehand that don't mean anything,
was the first to be played according to the and on the very next day, against the same
knockout system. Of course, it's simpler opponent, win just one game - but that
for the World Chess Federation to run a will be the one that matters.
single tournament than it is to organize When the tournament pairings were
a whole series of events lasting two years. published, I saw that I would face very
And there are some sports where the strong opposition. In the first round, l
knockout system has done a great job. played the American Jennifer Shahade.
But after several tries, FIDE gradually This stage was easy enough - I scored two
came to the conclusion that although out of two. In the second round, my op-
knockout championships might appeal ponent was the Vietnamese player (now
to the spectators, a somewhat different representing Hungary) Hoang Thanh
system would be necessary in order to Trang. She was the current World Under-
determine who might be the strongest 20 Champion; and as a woman player
woman chessplayer in the world. But who had cut her teeth on men's round-
what sort of system? No one has a robin tournaments of FIDE Category IV
definitive answer to this question, because and V (that is, with an average rating be-
whichever system you choose, only one tween 2350 and 2400), she was famously
woman can become World Champion; difficult to beat. And in fact, after this
there will always be one winner and a Championship, I played Hoang several
loser- and the loser will always complain times in various team events, and every
about the selection system! game thereafter has ended in a draw.
A knockout tournament is, first and In the first game of our match, I
foremost, a test of the participants' physi- had White; after most of the pieces had
cal and psychological endurance. And it's been traded off, my opponent offered a
no surprise that it's frequently either the draw, which I accepted. That evening,
"dark horses" or the experienced grand- before going to bed, I suddenly realized
73
Chapter4
that I had taken the draw too early, and No. 13 Queen's Gambit -
spent the night before the second game Semi-Slav Defense D47
agonizing over my missed chances. Of Hoang Thanh Trang - A. Kosteniuk
course, such agonizing would be better Moscow 2001 (m/2)
saved until after the tournament was
over. The ability to forget your un- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.lt::lf3 c6
fortunate errors - a common enough After the Dutch Defense, I switched
occurrence in chess - and to think to Slav and Semi-Slav setups.
only of your upcoming games is a most 4.e3 lt::lf6 5.lt::lc3
valuable quality for a chessplayer's Besides transposing into the main
nervous system. lines of the Meran Variation, White could
also delay the development of her queen's
A.Kosteniuk - Hoang Thanh Trang knight for a bit, and then develop it to d2:
Moscow 2001 (m/1) 5.i.d3!? lt::lbd7 6.lt::lbd2.
5 ... lllbd7 6.2i.d3 dxc4 7.2i.xc4 b5
8.i.e2
The main line in this position is
8.2id3, where the bishop supports the
advance of White's center pawns.
8 ... a6
Other possible continuations for
Black are 8 ... i. b7 and 8 ... b4. But
regardless of the order of moves, Black's
basic plan is to develop her bishop to b7
and break up her opponent's center by
playing ... c6-cS. It should also be noted
As often happens, having decided to that Black will only take the c4-pawn
offer a draw, Black played a move that after White's bishop has moved to either
was not the best. e2 or d3, thereby winning a tempo.
43 ... l:::te2? 9.0-0
43 ... .l:i:b2 was better, as then, in order After 9.e4!? b4 IO.es bxc3 l l.exf6
to win the pawns at a7 and b6 without cxb2!? l 2.fxg7, we could get four queens:
losing all my own queenside pawns, I 12 ... bxal'iV (12 ... 2ixg7 I3.i.xb2, with
would have had to let Black's king off chances for both sides) I3.gxh8'iV, but
the eighth rank: 44.l:::td8+ r:J:Jg7 4S ..l:i:d7+ theory assesses this position as favoring
r:J:Jg6 46.a4 .l:i:b4 47.l:::txa7.l:i:xg4. White, who has the safer king. So Black
So here I should have turned down should recapture the pawn at g7 on move
the offer, and played 44.l:::td7 l:lxeS 4S.a4, 12 with the bishop.
after which Black would have had to play 9... c5
very accurately indeed to hold the draw. Theory considers the main line for
And so, I had Black for the second Black here to be 9... 2ib7 I0.e4 cS 11.eS
game. lt::ldS, with an approximately equal game.
74
Kremlin Breakthrough
But I was not terribly familiar with the continuation at her disposal which would
nuances of the various moves in this have underscored her opponent's lack of
position, so generally I played according development: 13.lllgS!? ii.d714.a4, and if
to the main ideas. In this position, that 14...b4?, then 15.aS bxc3 16.axb6 ~xb6
would be playing ... c6-c5. l 7.ii.c4! with advantage.
10.d5 lllb6 13••• ii.e7 14.ii.gS 0-0
After 10 ... exdS 11.lllxdS ii.b7 In this position, Black has no problems
12.lllxf6+ ~xf6 13.a4 b4 14.e4 h6, whatsoever.
Black's somewhat laggard development 15.eS?!
could cause her problems; but her White overestimates her chances
position has some advantages too, such and, through inertia, continues to play
as the strong bishop at b7. "actively." Later on, the d5 square proves
11.dxe6 very useful to Black.
Perhaps White ought to have tried her 15 ...lllfd516.ii.xe7vJ/ixe717.i.d3h6
luck in the endgame: 1 l.e4 exd5 12.eS 18.i.e4 ilad8
li:le4 13.lllxe4 dxe4 14.ihd8+ <iilxd8 Now Black has the upper hand, with
15.lllgS ii. e6 16.lllxe6+ fxe6 17 .ii.g4 a queenside pawn majority, which in mm
<iile7 18J::tel. gives her a concrete plan of advancing
11 ...i.xe6 12.~c2 her pawn phalanx and creating a passed
After 12.~xd8+ ~xd8 13.a4 b414.a5 pawn.
llla8 15.llla4 lllc7, Black has time to
protect all her weaknesses.
12 .. J!Vc7?!
12 ... ii. e7!? was better, in order
to finish developing as quickly as
possible.
75
Chapter4
Once again, the key square d5 helps 34.@fl ~d2 35J:tbl as 36.g3 lt:ld4
Black with another reorganization of 37 ..l:i:b8+ ~h7 38.:ds @g6 39.a4 lllt'3
her pieces. 40Jh8 :C:d5 41.:C:a6+ @f5 42.@e2
23 ..l:i:dcl :C:c8 24.:C:c2 :rd8 lllxe5 43.f4 ltJc4 44.:c6 :C:d2+ 45.@1'3
With her rooks posted on two central cld3+ 46.@e2 l:e3+ 47.@t2 :C:c3 48.:C:c7
files, Black is ready to proceed with the llld6 49.:C:a7 @e4 50.:C:xaS ~c2+
decisive attack. All White's forces will be 51.@el :C:xh2 52.:C:es+ @t'3 53.:ds
tied down to the blockade of the c-pawn. llle4 54.:C:d3+ @g4 55.l:a3 0.:lxg3 56.aS
25J:tdl :l:e2+ 57.@dl :C:e7 58.a6 ~a7
25.~ac I would also have been met by White resigned.
25 ... ltJb4, when 26.~xc5? would be bad
on account of26 ...:C:xc5 27.l:xc5 ~dl + And so I passed through the second
28.lllel llld3. round of the World Championship
25 ... lllb4! 26.:C:cd2 :C:xd2 27.:C:xd2 relatively easily. In Round Three I
faced Alisa Galliamova. At that time,
Alisa was the current Women's World
Vice-Champion (in 1999, she had lost
the world-championship final match
to Xie Jun). It goes without saying that,
before the tournament began, I had
no expectations of getting past Round
Three. The start of the first game of the
match with Alisa completely justified
my prognosis. Here is the position we
reached out of the opening:
76
Kremlin Breakthrough
want to be the first one to resign out of outgoing person, always ready to come to
the entire tournament hall. But the closer your aid. But in 200 l we didn't know each
we got to the time control, the stranger other yet. Our match followed nearly
things got. I managed not only to save the the same scenario as my previous match
game, but even to win it. against Galliamova. By some miracle, I
Understandably, this was a terrible avoided losing the first game with White,
psychological blow for Alisa. The fol- and then scored a relatively easy and
lowing day, she was unable to regain the convincing win with Black. And here I
point with White, and I won the match was, most unexpectedly, in the semi-final
2-0. of the World Championship!
In Round Four, I met Almira Skrip- I imagine that, for all my relatives
chenko. Today, Elia and I are the best of as well as my trainer, Alexey Korotylev,
friends, our daughters are playmates, and this was a complete surprise as well. I was
every game we play against each other is only 17 then, and I remember that in
now something of a trial. In the world of the spring of 2001, during the European
chess, where you always have to fight, it's Championships, the upper limit of my
very rare to meet somebody who will dreams was to achieve qualification to the
genuinely root for you and support you World Championship. And here I was,
no matter what happens. People who play just six months later, not just playing in
chess often get too deeply involved in the the World Championship, but entering
battle over the board; the game's out- the semi-finals, where I was to face the
come and the places they occupy in the Chinese Xu Yuhua.
tournament standings become the whole
point of their existence. And they will No. 14 Four Knights' Game C47
take a loss over the board as a personal A. Kosteniuk - Xu Yuhua
insult. Moscow 2001 (m/2)
Fortunately, once the clocks are
stopped l have always been able to draw In the first game of the semi-final, I
a clear line between my games of chess played Black and lost. So, for the second
and my personal relationships. Since I game, l needed to win in order to keep
ceased playing in junior tournaments playing for the title.
at an early age, for a long time I had no 1.e4 e5 2.ll:lf3 lllf6!?
friends in the chess world. Children my Of course, today it would be strange
age continued to play and socialize with not to look at Petroff's Defense as one
one another in junior tournaments, while of the possible replies to l .e4, especially
I did nothing but play against grownups. when a draw would mean the same as a
I was very fortunate that in 2004 I played win for Black. But in 200 l, my analyses
in the same rapid tournament as Elia were much less inclusive, and I knew a
in Warsaw. After our game, and being lot less, too. So my opponent's choice of
together during the tournament, I saw opening left me at a loss. Not knowing
that Elia was not just a very strong and which way to go, and having no idea
talented player, but also a very kind and what to do, I decided to steer away from
77
Chapter4
the normal path at once. It was a pretty highly recommend to my readers), played
impulsive decision - the sort of thing I this way in a number of his games. One
have yet to rid myself of, even today. alternative is l l. li:la4!?, hoping eventually
3.liJc3 li:lc6 4.d4 to place the knight on the blockading
This is a completely harmless variation square cS.
for Black, a line of the Four Knights' The strongest move here may be
Game. S..tbS would have led to more l l.'@'f3!? ~e7! (In the ending that arises
complex play; after which Black has either after l l...h6 12 ..txf6 'i!Vxf6 13.'i!Vxf6 gxf6
the symmetrical reply 4 ... ~ b4, or the 14.li:le2, Black has, in Capablanca's
sharp pawn sacrifice 4 ... li:ld4. phrase, four pawn islands to White's two.
4 ... exd4 5.li:lxd4 .tb4 6.li:lxc6 bxc6 Two bishops are insufficient compensation
7 ..td3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10 ..tgS for the holes in Black's pawn structure,
c6 so Black would have to struggle for the
At this point my knowledge of theory draw) 12.h3 (12.l::!:ael h6 13.~xh6 gxh6
ended and creativity began. White's l4.'i!Ve3 d4! 15.'i!Vxh6 'i!Vd6 leads to a
play in this position generally consists of draw by repetition) 12 ... l::!:b8 13.b3 gives
attempting to blockade and attack Black's chances for both sides.
hanging pawns, and also attempting to 11 ...h6!
put together a kingside offensive, banking Here is one ofNimzowitsch's games,
on her slightly better development. where he was able to realize his plan:
Meanwhile, Black hopes to exploit the ll.. ..td6 12.li:ld4 ~d7 13.'i!Vf3 ~es
mobility of her hanging pawns to turn 14.li:lfS 'i!Vc7 15.l:Iael l:Iae8 16.c3 i.xfS
them from a weakness into an asset. 17.'i!VxfS g6 18.'i!Vf3 li:lhS 19 ..th6 li:lg7
20.<;tihl fS 21.l:!:e2 l::!:t7 22.l:Ifel l:Ife7
23.i.gS l:Ie6 24.c4 'i!Vd6 25.cxdS cxdS
26.~bS l:Ib8 27.~a4.txb2 28.i.b3 l:IbS
29.l:!:dl ~f6 30.i.f4 'i!Va6 31.l::!:xe6 li:lxe6
32 ..txdS 'i!Vb6 33.~h6 <;tih8 34.~xe6
'@'xe6 35.'i!Va8+ 'i!Vg8 36.'i!Vxa7 l:!:b8 37.h3
l:Ia8 38.'i!Vb6 i.eS 39.f4 .tg7 40.i.xg7+
@xg7 41.l:Id7+ <;tih6 42.'@'f6, and Black
resigned (Nimzowitsch-Spielmann,
Munich 1905).
12.i.h4 ~d6 13.li:ld4
The knight continues its journey.
11.li:le2 Meanwhile, White avoids a little trap:
I decided to send my knight to the 13.c4? i.xh2+ 14.@xh2 li:lg4+ 15.@g3
kingside - via d4 (or g3) to fS. This is gS, and Black wins.
not a new idea - at the start of the 201h 13 ... cs
century; Aron Nimzowitsch, the founder Of course, 13 ... i.xh2+ does not
of the Hypermodern school and the work here, because of 14.@xh2 li:lg4+
author of the book, My System (which I 15.'i!Vxg4.
78
Kremlin Breakthrough
18 ... l::teS
18 ... \jj'b8 19.b3 \jj'e5, bringing the
queen to the center and placing the
initiative firmly in Black's hands, looks
very strong.
19.c3 l::tb7 20.\jj'a4 l::te2
20 ... l::te5!? or 20 ... l::tbe7!? deserves
consideration. 31 ... \jj'dS??
21.b4 cxb4 22.cxb4 l::te5?! Strange as it might seem, this move
Perhaps it was somewhere around is the decisive mistake. As before, Black
here that my opponent weakened could easily hold the position after 31...
and lost her concentration, leading @g7 or 31...\jj'f6. However, lulled by the
immediately to the improvement of slow pace of the game, she weakens her
White's position and a sharper game. back rank for just a moment - enough to
Even though the position remained give White an irresistible attack.
equal for a long time, Black had to 32. \jj'bS+ @g7 33.l::taS l::tel + 34. @h2
think constantly about defending her \jj'd7 35.l::ta8
isolated d-pawn. Rather than remove Now Black can no longer protect
her rook from "gluttony rank," she her king.
79
Chapter4
80
Kremlin Breakthrough
I wasn't afraid of this continuation, after 24.~e2 i.xc3 25.bxc3 tZ:leS, White
since at that time I believed White had a can only run the risk of not winning)
big edge in all lines. 24 ... ~ad8 - in this position, Black
13.f5 would have very good compensation for
the pawn.
21.tZ:ldS a5? 22.h4 ~f'8 23.~g3 i.h6
24.~e2 ~a7 25.hS
To sum up: White has developed
her initiative faster than Black. Black's
position remains solid enough, but
contains no visible counterplay.
25 .. J::tati 26. ~h3?!
26.hxg6 hxg6 27.~hS!? would have
been stronger.
26 ... ~h8?
Here Black could have tried to
13 ... i.xgS+ 14.<it'bl Llle5 15.jfhS exchange queens and equalize by 26 ...
~d8 16.tZ:ixe6 ~d7.
Here White enjoys a small but stable 27.Llle3 ~b6
advantage - an ideal variation for the
situation I found myself in.
16 ... ~xe617.fxe6g618.ext7+ <it'xt7
19.ih2 <it'g7 20.~f2
28.Lllc4!
The knight at e5 is the linchpin of
Black's entire position. Not surprisingly,
after this beauty is exchanged, her
20 ...b4?! position collapses like a house of cards.
Knowing she had to win the point 28... tz:Jxc4 29.i.xc4 ~e7 30.hxg6 hxg6
back, my opponent fails to withstand 31.~g3 :i::!'.e5 32.~dfl :i::!'.e7 33.~hgl
the pressure. Black would do better to It's well known that opposite-
continue 20 ... ~f8 21.~d4~f6 22.~xd6 colored bishops render an attack doubly
~xd6 23.l:xd6 tllf3, when White might dangerous. In addition, the black king
still go wrong with 24.Llle2 (of course, lacks secure pawn protection.
81
Chapter4
•
~
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1.
COMM E
82
Kremlin Breakthrough
83
Chapter4
30 .. .'~c8?!
Black passes up her chance to seize
the initiative. She had two interesting tries
at her disposal: an exchange sacrifice, or
the pawn break with ...b5-b4.
1) 30 ... l:xe3!? 31.fxe3 ~xe3. Black
obtains two pawns for the exchange,
but more importantly leaves the white
king less well defended than Black's
king at h8. The bishop is passive on
27.a4?! c2, the queen must defend as well as
27.~f3 is more accurate, immediately attack - in a word, this would not
removing the threat of a possible sacrifice have been a simple position to play.
one3. For example, 27 ... lbb6 28.a4, and But of course, one should not overdo
White develops an attack over the entire it, either: Black would still have been
board. the one fighting for the draw. For
27 ...lbb6 example, 32.l:tel:
84
Kremlin Breakthrough
85
Chapter4
tournament play. Our strength was on the Black had to choose this break anyway,
wane, but ahead lay the most important but by now, White's pieces have taken up
part: the battle for the chess crown. much better positions than they had a few
31.h4!? gxh4 32.~h3 li:ld5 33.~xh4 moves ago.
~c6 34..th6 .tf4 was worth considering, 38.cxb4 ~bS 39.l::taS
with chances for both sides. 39.l::ta2!? was worth considering, the
31. .. ~eS idea being 39 ... ~xb4 40.~c6.
Once again, Black had an interesting 39 ... ~xb4 40.l::tcS ~b2 41.i.e4 c3?
pawn break: 31...b4! 32.cxb4 c3, with After this move, the white pieces can
sharp play. no longer be prevented from claiming
32.l::ta6 i.c7? victory. Black had to play 41... W g7
And again, Black could have sacrificed 42.Mc6, although here too White has the
the exchange at e3: 32 .. Jhe3!? 33.fxe3 better prospects.
~xe3 34.~e4 (34.l::txb6 ~cl+ 35.We2
~xc2+ 36.@fl ~bl+ is equal) 34 ...
~xh3+ 35.~g2 ~e3, with equality.
32.~f3!
Finally, White protects herself against
the possible sacrifice at e3.
33 ... ~cS
33 ... b4!? still wasn't a bad way to
obtain good counterplay.
34.l::tal
White could also have tried the more
active 34.l::ta7!?.
34 ... ~eS 35.@g2 @g8 42.i.dS+ @h8
35 ... ~d8 was better here, with an After 42 ... @f8, 43.i.e6 is still very
unclear position. unpleasant.
36.Ma7 j,dS 37 .I::l:a6 43.j,e6 ~b4 44.~c6! Wg7 45.~d6
li:ld7 46,j,xd7 l::txe3 47.i.e6 l::txe6
On 47 ... ~b7+, 48.d5 ends matters.
48.fxe6 j,as 49.~d7+ @h6 50.e7
Black resigned.
86
Kremlin Breakthrough
the usual: I lived at home, returning after to time pressure, then try to complicate
each game by subway, and still managed the game.
to attend the Institute on my free days. 4..ii..g2 dS 5.0-0 .ii..d6 6.b3 V//ie7 7.c4
Of course, such an approach lacks any c6 8•.tb2 0-0 9.V//icl as to ..ta3
hint of professionalism; but on the other Black's position has one obvious
hand, it also enabled me not to get totally weakness, the e5 square; so it would
wrapped up in the chess battle, and be advantageous for White to trade off
consequently gave me a chance to get the dark-squared bishops. Meanwhile,
away from the tournament, even in the Black hopes to create an attack on the
very middle of the struggle. Nowadays, kingside, eventually; but it will be a long
of course, I would not attempt such time before this can happen. White's
experiments; but at that time, I was just fianchettoed bishop and knight on f3 are
17, and saw life in much simpler terms. securely guarding the approaches to the
Even today, I wish I knew how to live so king's fortress. On the whole, White's
completely without care. position is slightly preferable, but Black's
After winning the first game, I suffered is quite solid.
terrible losses in the second and third
games. In order to keep playing for
the title, I had to win the fourth and
last game, where I had Black. The day
before this game was a free day. That day,
Emil Sutovsky called me and gave me a
few valuable tips on how to arrange the
battle and what openings to choose. That
call was a very important one for me.
Before Game Four, he helped me regain
confidence in myself and in my chances
of winning. For the last game, I now had
a plan of action, which can sometimes 10 ... ll:ia6
be even more important than concrete Of course, I could not take in all the
opening variations. nuances of the Stonewall in just one day.
I can't say that I know any more about
No. 17 Dutch Defense A90 it even now. This game is the only one
Zhu Chen - A. Kosteniuk I have ever played in my entire life with
Moscow 2001 (m/4) this system.
Besides the text, Black has other
1.d4 fS 2.llJf3 ll:if6 3.g3 e6 alternatives: 10 ... bS 11.i. xd6 V//ixd6
The aforementioned plan consisted 12.ll:ibd2 ll:ibd7 13.V//ic2 i.a6 14.l:tfcl,
of the following: set up a Stonewall or 10 ... i. b4!? 1 l.it.xb4 axb4 12.cS
formation, and then wait...and wait ... and ll:ibd7, in either case with chances for
then -wait some more. Maneuver, slowly both sides.
and patiently; and when you get closer 11.i.xd6 V//ixd6 12.cS V//ie7
87
Chapter4
88
Kremlin Breakthrough
35 ... gS!?
Objectively speaking, this move should
be condemned. But if you take my
situation into account, then you might also
give it the exclamation mark. With time
pressure looming, I make a sharp change
in the character of the struggle and set my
opponent concrete problems.
35 ... ll:ld7 36.i:hc7 Mxc7 37.it.d3 ~a4
leads to abject equality.
36.i.g2 'iVa4 37.~ecl
White should have accepted the
23.ll:leS
challenge and played 37.fxg5!, when the
Of course, I would have answered
advantage swings to White.
23.bxa4?! with 23 ... c4.
37 ...iVaS
23...i.e8 24.dxc5 ll:lxc5 25.bxa4 i.xa4 37 ... 'iVa7, placing the queen on the
The position is even; but since a draw
same diagonal as the opposing king,
counted the same as a loss, I could only wait
would have been good too - perhaps
patiently and hope that at some point my
it would have come in handy in time
opponent, only a half-step away from that
pressure?!
precious crown, would lose her nerve.
38.~c3 ~a7 39.~d4 ~a3 40.'iVc3?
26.l::tabl ~a7 27.~d4 i.e8 28.l::tc2 With the last move before the time
~a329.~c3~a4 control, my opponent makes a mistake.
This phase of the game doesn't require
It was not too late to play 40.fxg5, when
lengthy annotation.
the combination 40 ... ll:lb3 fails due to
30.'iVb2 'iVa6 31.i.fl 'iVa7 32."li1d4
41.'iVb6 ~xcl+ (after 4I...~xc2 Black
White also is not averse to standing
will be mated: 42.~xe6+ ~f8 43.'iVffi+
in place, since it's Black who needs to
~g8 44.i.xd5+ etc.) 42.Mxcl l::txcl+
win. Perhaps White should have played
43.i.fl ll:ld2 44.lhe6+ and wins.
something active, such as 32. ~b6!?.
32... 'iV a3 33. 'iV c3 ~ a4 34. 'iVb2 'iV e4
35.~el
40 ...ll:lb3! 41.~xb3?
89
Chapter4
It was not too late to fight on with the men's and the women's World
4I.~d3 ~xcl + 42.Mxcl Mxcl + 43 ..tfl Championships started together. But
tbc5 44.'ijfaJ ~e4!? (44 ... Mbl gives Black now, there were only myself and Zhu
a small edge) 45.~a6i.f7 46JWa7 Mlc7, Chen on the stage (since the final
with somewhat better play for Black. But of the men's World Championship
White is upset, and errs yet again. between Ruslan Ponomariov and
41..Jlixb3 42.axb3 l:txc2 Vassily Ivanchuk would not take place
White could have resigned here, for another month), and there were
but she makes a few more moves out of a lot of spectators in the hall. Here
inertia. White resigned, and the hall exploded
43.l:txc2 l:txc2 44.fxg5 with joy. .. To tell the truth, no one ever
Finally White decides to capture rooted for me that way again. After
this pawn - but it can no longer change the game ended, in order to get to the
anything. coatroom (players and spectators all used
44 . .. !:t e2 45.lZH3 l: xe3 46.tl:l d4 the same cloakroom), I had to make my
~f7 47.i.fl i.d7 48.~f2 Mc3 49.b4 way through a celebrating throng.
es 50.ll:if3 We6 Sl.tl:lh4 e4 52.g6 hxg6 The human memory works in strange
S3.tl:lxg6 d4 54.h4 l:tc2+ 55.~el l:tcl+ ways. I remember only bits of it - a few
56.~f2 e3+ 57.~gl .tbs clear moments. Sometimes it seems
The great hall of the Kremlin's Hall that my body is defending itself this way
of Congresses was filled with people against the overly powerful experiences
at the start of the tournament, since and emotions I am subjected to. I can't
90
Kremlin Breakthrough
say I remember that day very well; but call during the breaks between games
I do have one photograph in my album of the tiebreaker. But of course, what
which is very dear to me: of me with my should happen, but that I forgot my
sister Oxana, taken right after the end cell phone at home, and unfortunately
of this game. This is exactly why I love had to forget about getting his valuable
photography - I could never find the advice.
words to describe that moment, but by I lost the first tiebreaker game and
lucky chance, the moment was captured won the second - and by then, I felt
by a camera shutter, and that picture can physically exhausted. This could only
tell you a lot! mean one thing: my strength was gone.
The match was now even up at 2-2; I tried to fight on, but the outcome
the following day would feature the four- only underscored the fact that I was not
game tiebreaker. destined to become World Champion
this time. Now that I understand what it
No. 18 Sicilian Defense 880 means to be the champion, I don't regret
A.Kosteniuk-Zhu Chen it. I became Vice-Champion, which gave
Moscow 2001 (m/6) me another few years to quietly develop
and play my game.
This was the second game of the So here's my last little triumph of the
Final tiebreaker - and the last game 2001 World Championship.
I managed to win. Emil Sutovsky, 1.e4 c5 2.lt:if3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Q::ixd4
who had given me helpful advice for Q::lf6 5.Q::ic3 a6 6.t'3 e5 7/i'lb3 ii.e6 8.ii.e3
the fourth game, said that he would Jie7 9.~d2 h5
91
Chapter4
14.li:la4?!
In the last rapid game of our match, I
improvedonthislinebycontinuing 14.li:ldS,
but played inaccurately in the middlegame
and lost: 14...i.xd515.exd5li:lh516.c4f5
17.l:tfdl (17.i.d3!?) 17...f4 18.i.f2h319.c5
dxc5 20.d6?! (after 20.i.d3 @fl 21.°@'c2,
11.a4 White could expect a small advantage) 20 ...
A little earlier at this same World i.h421.i.c4i.xf2+ 22.Vliixf2Vliig5 23.l:td2
Championship in Moscow, Veselin li:lhf624.Vliiel Wf8 25.l:te2e426.fxe4li:le5
Topalov had chosen a different 27.V/iic3 li:lxe4 28.V/iic2 lt'lf3+ 29.Wfl
continuation against Zhang Zhong: li:lxh2+ 30.Wel li:lf3+ 31.Wdl hxg2
11.li:ldS!? li:lxd5 12.exdS i.fS 13.0-0 32.Vliixe4 gl°@'+ 33.Wc2 lt'ld4+ 34.lt'lxd4
Vliic7 14.c4 b6 15.f4 g6 16.l:tadl! (16.fxeS Vliixd4 3SJ::tfl V/iixe4+ 36Jhe4 V/ii g2+, and
dxe5 leads to an unclear position) 16 ... White resigned (Kosteniuk-Zhu Chen,
a5 17 .fxe5 li:lxe5 18.l:txfS!? gxf5 19.ti'J d4, Moscow 2001).
with rich compensation for the sacrificed 14...li:lhS?!
exchange. Black should have immediately
And after she became World implemented the main strategic idea of
Champion, my opponent outplayed the the whole variation - the ... d6-d5 break:
men's Champion at the Rapid World 14 ... dS!? 15.i.b6 li:lxb6 16.lt'lxb6 :c6,
Cup: 13 ... 0-0 (rather than 13 ... V/iic7) when the small advantage would have
14.li:laS Vliic7 15.c4 ilf6 16.l:tacl been hers instead.
b6 17.li:lc6 a5 18.f4 exf4 19.i.xf4 15.:!~fdl f5 16.exfS gxf5 17.f4 Vliic7
i.g6 20.i.d3 i.xd3 2l.Vliixd3 l:tae8 18.:acl h3
22.l:tc2 Cl:ib8 23.V/iig3, and although 18 ... ll:lhf6!? deserves a look, for
White's advantage is indisputable in example: 19.i.f3 li:le4 20.i.xe4 fxe4
this position, it is Black who eventually 21.fxeS li:lxe5 (21...dxeS 22.lt'lb6 li:lxb6
won (Ponomariov-Zhu Chen, Dubai 23.axb6 favors White) 22.li:l b6 l:tg8
2002). 23.Whl, with chances for both sides.
11..JicS 12.aS g6 13.0-0 h4 19.li:lb6
92
Kremlin Breakthrough
93
Chapter4
- - Khurtsidze
lz>, J-.-,--;1
.Zotonskih - Li Ruafon Zatonskih =T -
kraine ~427 _Chino.2293 _ _ f,;. --
Zhu Chen - E.Maggiolo Zhu Cheri 1=,=;=,=;l,O;l
China '.1497 Aroentina,2090 l ,= 7hu Chen
. ononen o - . etrenlc"o- - - - Petrenko y_;.
krQjn~395 Moldova 2357 '1, 1 Zhu '.:hen
A.Marie - E LevushKina Marie 1 1,0;1,1
94
Chapter 5
After the Applause Died Down
Success at the World Championships in who know very little about you or your
Moscow somehow eclipsed the events in life. Often enough, I have found myself
which I played in 2002 and 2003: I had no the target of sharp attacks and insults
equally impressive sporting achievements from those who think they have a right
in those years. But life went on, as it to judge others.
always does; and in my life, there were In February 2002, not yet fully recov-
many very important and interesting ered from the three-week marathon of
events outside chess. the World Championship, I competed
After my "Kremlin breakthrough," in the very strong Aeroflot Open. My
everyone suddenly remembered my 2/9 result brought me back down to earth
modeling photographs from early 2001. from the clouds. I saw that success at the
The Western press crowned me the World Championship was just an isolated
"Kournikova of Chess." At first, the achievement, and that I still had a lot of
label made me smile; but people con- work to do.
tinued to call me that. Now, when Anna In March 2002, I took a long trip to
Kournikova's tennis career is long over, Singapore and Indonesia. In Indonesia,
I find it puzzling. It was the 200 I World I took on a "Dream Team" composed of
Championship that made me understand the country's three best junior players,
how important it was to work constantly playing two games against each of them.
with the press; and since that time I have As often happens with similarly-named
given a lot of attention to photoshoots and teams, the [ndonesian juniors' result
my off-the-board activities. The popular- was far from stellar: I won by a score
ity of chess during the Fischer, Karpov, of6-0.
and Kasparov eras can be explained After my success at the 2001 World
by the outsized personalities of those Championship, I thought that finally I
grandmasters. People who do not play would gain support and the opportunity
chess aren't very interested in what nov- to work with strong chess specialists; but
elty Grandmaster N employed on move nothing changed. In addition to purely
40 in Petroff's Defense; what interests financial support, in order to set up a
them are the grandmasters themselves proper training plan and to find exactly
- their life, their work, and everything the right specialists with whom it would
even remotely connected with chess. Of be useful to work, one also needs a lot
course, once you set out on this path, you of experience - which of course, at 17,
make yourself a public figure whose every I did not have. I can't say I was at all
step is subject to the scrutiny of people surprised by any of this - I didn't even
95
Chapter5
think it could be otherwise. At the begin- of all the talented youngsters in chess,
ning ofmy career in the sport, it was my there should be a few who lack a certain
father who helped me; and were it not something in order to achieve really
for his enthusiasm, energy, and belief in great results. The strength of the Soviet
me, I would not be writing this book. school of chess rested largely on its pil-
For many, many years, "knowledge- lars - good trainers and teachers who
able" people told Dad again and again nurtured grandmasters. In the complex
that working with me was a pure waste period of the early '90s, many of those
of ~ime; but he continued the work re- specialists left Russia, which had its
gardless. So my rise up the chess ladder effect. It's no accident that today we
"not because of, but in spite of' was just see that India, China, Vietnam, and
business as usual. other countries, one after another, are
Of course, now I can't complain producing talented junior chessplay-
about how it all turned out. History ers. There's some serious work behind
does not allow for hypotheticals: it them, accomplished in the past decade;
is meaningless to think about what and a lot of that work was done by our
might have been if things had turned (former) specialists, who left Russia
out otherwise. Life goes on. Even to make their living. It might seem as
in Russia - a country famous for its though anybody who knows the rules
chess traditions - talented players have could teach a youngster how to play
often had to overcome a high wall of chess, but it's not that simple. It seems
obstacles. So it's no surprise that out
~---
'I
I
...
~:-
obvious to me now: whatever founda-
',-~~
("!'I'
:J. .. ~-,~-~~ ..
.. ...,.
I,,
.,. ;. .
;
96
After the Applause Died Down
tion is laid when you first start teaching there be two people who meet and find
presages the kind of chessplayer you that they are so much alike? The world
will produce. The main thing an expe- is a fragile place, and sometimes love is
rienced teacher must avoid is stunting just a fairy tale we tell ourselves. But if
the student; he must teach him not only we can make anything in this life, if we
how to play chess, but also how to do have it in our power to influence this
his own work on it. ever-changing, fast-moving world, then
On April 23, 2002, I turned 18; Diego we can only do it in the name of love,
proposed, and I accepted. We were mar- and with love.
ried in August ofthat same year. I am lucky Of course, marriage completely
to have met a man, so early in my life, who changed my life. I left my parents'
understands me so well and is ready to do home, and my life and training regi-
everything he can to make me happy. men changed. At the age of 18, I
Here are a few words from my diary began to learn how to work on chess
of September 18, 2002: independently. This was not at all easy,
There are people who are so much like since over many years I had become
each other that sometimes you wonder accustomed to working either with my
how it is possible. How, on this great father or with a trainer. Nowadays, of
planet Earth, in completely different course, I would be fully able to set up
cities, at absolutely different times, could my work and training exactly the way I
•'•
.· .·.· f-·. ~
.
-~~r·
. .
.~Je
97
Chapter5
"Match of the Graces": Alexandra Kosteniuk faces off with Elisabeth Pahtz,
Mainz, August 2002
did it at the beginning of 2008. But this his film, "Bless the Woman." The film
is exactly what they call experience: it's shoot took place in Odessa, Ukraine. l
not just the willingness to work, but the had no idea what to expect of the film
ability to set up a training process. In world; all l knew of the filming process
2002, I still had no idea how or with was what various movie stars said in their
whom I should be working. interviews. Playing a game of chess, I
I spent the entire summer of 2002 was accustomed to working from start to
ranging through Europe, playing in finish, not waiting around for hours at a
various open tournaments. I also played time - which is probably why I imagined
a few matches: against Anatoly Karpov that working on a film would be just the
in the final of a rapid tournament in same. But the actual duration of shooting
Spain (I lost 1-3, but I did manage to is pretty short - a few minutes at most.
win one game); with the English hope The whole rest of the time that you spend
David Howell in London (I won that one on the set is all setting up the lighting,
by a score of 3Yz:Yz); and the "Match of repetition, and waiting, for which I was
the Graces" against Elizabeth Pahtz in totally unprepared.
Mainz, which I only managed to eke out Generally speaking, at age 18 I had
in the tiebreaker. no idea how to sit and relax. l did not
In August 2002, I made my debut understand how it was possible to do
- in film! At the invitation of director nothing. I absolutely had to put every
Stanislav Govorukhin, I appeared in minute of free time to some use. After
98
After the Applause Died Down
99
Chapters
crew trimmed the chestnut trees into erable role, and often the team favorites
amusing chess pieces, just for me. Even (based on average team ratings) can find
today, ifl visit the Mosfilm studios and themselves ending up a long way from
meet any of the people who worked on the medal list.
"Bless the Woman," they always greet In Bled, the women's teams consisted
me with genuine joy. of three players and one reserve. On first
In October 2002, I competed without board we had Ekaterina Kovalevskaya;
any great success in the World Cup in second board was Svetlana Matveeva; I
Hxderabad, India; I was unable to qualify played third board; and on reserve was
out of my preliminary group to the final Tatiana Kosintseva, who was also making
of the competition. her team debut.
At the end of November came my I have loved team events since I
long-awaited debut as a member of the was a child; to this day, I have warm
Russian national team at the World Chess memories of the Moscow tournaments
Olympiad in Bled. Even though I already for the children's clubs, which took
had one Olympiad in 1998 on my resume place on Saturdays. I played for the
- where I played most successfully for the Pervomaisky Hall of Pioneers, and
Kalmyk team (known as Russia-3) - I always did well.
had not yet played under the flag of my The Olympiad started very well for
country as part of its top team. me.
The World Chess Olympiad is a
unique event, requiring a separate, No. 19 Sicilian Defense 866
detailed discussion. It's a big chess A.Kosteniuk- N. Khurtsidze
vacation, where the main idea for most Bled 2002
teams is the participation, not the
result. But for the teams fighting for This game, from the match against
victory, an Olympiad is a most difficult, Georgia, was practically won at home.
tense tournament. And this strange I guessed the variation correctly, af-
combination of a feast for some partici- ter which - with the help of a strong
pants and a complex, uncompromising novelty on move 17, found prior to the
struggle for others has its own peculiar game by Peter Svidler, and the purely
charm. At this point, I have played in computer move 22.b4 - I succeeded
five Olympiads. Of these, the best-or- in obtaining an absolutely winning
ganized was the Bled Olympiad. This position. However, a later inaccuracy
pretty, quiet little town, located next gave me additional difficulties to over-
to a mountain lake, as though specially come.
made for evening strolls after a tense 1.e4 c5 2.lt'if3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ll:lxd4
round, created a wonderful atmosphere lZlf6 5.tZlc3 lt:lc6 6.i.g5
for chess battles. The Rauzer system once again, this
Team play differs markedly from time with White. The very best way to
competition in individual events. What study an opening variation or system is
they call team spirit plays a not inconsid- to start playing it for both sides.
100
After the Applause Died Down
ll ... ~b8?!
This is a somewhat dubious line
(as I managed to demonstrate in this
game), but it was in common use by
Georgian players in those days. Now
Black more often plays 11 ... i. b7,
the idea being to put the rook on the
half-open file in one move - ... ~c8
- rather than employing the rather
strange roundabout route ... ~a8-b8-
b7-c7. 25.:d4?
12.e5 dxe5 13.~xe5 ~b6 14.f5 ~b7 In this position, the simple 25.:xdS!
15.iH3 ~c7 16.ke3 i.c5 would have been decisive: if 25 ...
16...~aS loses to the far-from-obvious exd5, then 26.i.g4. When you are
l 7.Cba4!. converting an extra exchange, trading
the remaining pair of rooks leads to
an absolutely hopeless ending for the
defending side.
25 ... 'iite7 26.:et i.b7 27.i.e4 l::te5
28. 'iitd2 'iitd6
But now Black has managed to fortify
her position, and breaking down her
defense is no longer so easy. I have to
start winning the game all over again.
29.a4!?
Trying to open lines for the rooks.
29 ... f5 30.i.xd5 :xd5 3t.:xd5+
17.kh6! 0-0 18.<iJe4 <iJe8 kxd5 32.axb5 axb5
101
Chapter5
39.:cs+?!
Having reached a winning position,
White once again commits an error.
White wins easily after 39Jhg5 f3
40.i:l:cS+ Wd6 41.l:xc4 f2 42.i:l:cl
Uust not 42.We2?? ii.d3+!) 42 ... i.g2
43.We2, when the extra pawn - and an
outside passed pawn, at that! - secures
the victory.
39 ... @d6 40.l:xc4 .ids 41.l:tc8 e5
42.bS
35 ... i.e4 The race begins.
Giving up control ofc4, but otherwise 42 ... e4 43.b6 e3+ 44.Wd3 i.b7
it will be hard to defend her kingside On 44 ... ii.c6, 45.gxf4 gxf4 46.l:tf8
pawns. During the game, it appeared to i.bS+ 47.@c3 would decide.
me that 35 ... eS would set White greater 45.i:l:c7 ii.a6+ 46.@d4 e2 47.l:tcl
problems, for example: 36.l:hh7?! e4, fxg3
and the connected passed pawns are very After47 ... i.b7 48.gxf4gxf449.@d3 f3
dangerous. But then I found 36J:Ig7! h6 50.Wd2 ii.c6 51.Wel, White establishes
(36 ... e4 37.i:l:xgS e3+ 38.We2 i.c4+ a blockade on the dark squares, after
39.Wf3 e2 40.Wf2, and the pawns are which her rook will get through to the
stopped) 37.l:g6+ ii.e6 38.c4 bxc4 39.bS h7-pawn.
Wd5 40.b6 ii.c8 41.i:l:g7 e4 42.b7 e3+ 48.hxg3 h5 49.We3 h4 50.g4 (D)
43.We2 (but not 43.Wel ii.xb7 44.i:l:xb7 50 ... el~+?
f3, when the position has become Now the win is simple. 50 ... h3 was
unclear) 43 ... ii.g4+ 44.Wel f3 45.i:l:f7 stronger - but even then, White has a
and wins. study-like win: 51.@f2 i.b7 52.Wg3
36.l:ta6+ Wd7 37.i:l:aS Wc6 38.c4! i.g2 53.l:bl!. Black is in zugzwang-; 53 ...
Finally creating a passed pawn. @c5 (53 ... @eS 54.l:el) 54.i:l:el @xb6
38 ...bxc4 55.i:l:xe2 Wc6 56.i:l:eS Wd6 57.i:l:xgS We6
58.i:l:fS, and White wins.
102
After the Applause Died Down
Joyous arrival. The winners of the silver medal at the Bled Olympiad: Tatiana Kosintseva, Alex-
andra Kosteniuk, Svetlana Matveeva, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, and coach Yuri Yakovich
103
Chapter5
exercises and preparing for the following with 1.5/2, but completely blew the
tournaments. "middlegame" phase, scoring zero in
I celebrated the New Year 2003 by rounds 5 through 8. This explains my
playing in the Hastings Chess Congress. desire to improve mytournament standing,
This famous tournament has been held in if only a little - especially since, right after
England since I895. Eve:ryworld champion Hastings, I was due to play in yet another
except Fischer and Kasparov has competed strong round-robin in Wijk aan Zee.
in this famous tournament at least once. But 1.e4 c5 VZ"lf3 ltJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.l2Jxd4
my memories of Hastings are of the cold l2Jf6 5.l2Jc3 e5
and windy weather and of the enormous In contemporary opening theory,
sports hall where we played. This was a there are certain opening setups which
Category XII tournament, a level of play always frighten anyone who plays l .e4
at which I had had no experience as yet. and hopes to gain an opening advantage.
The competitors in the 2002/03 Congress One of these, of course, is the Sveshnikov
included the Indian grandmasters Krishnan Variation.
Sasikiran and Pentala Harikrishna, the 6.ltJ db5 d6 7.~ g5 a6 8.ltJ a3 b5
12-year-old wunderkind Sergey Karjakin, 9.~xf6 gxf6 10.lbd5 f5 11 ..td3 ~e6
the Dane Peter-Heine Nielsen, and other 12.0-0 .txd5 13.exd5 l2Je7
strong grandmasters. After a hard struggle, One of the basic theoretical positions.
first place went to Nielsen, who later These days, independent play in the
became Viswanathan Anand's second. Sveshnikov doesn't start until move 30,
or in some cases, even move 40. White
No. 20 Sicilian Defense B33 attempts to exploit the weaknesses in his
A. Kosteniuk - L. McShane opponent's pawn structure, while Black,
Hastings 2003 in turn, bets on dynamic piece play.
14.c4!?
This game was from the last round. An immediate attempt to attack
I began the tournament quite well, Black's weaknesses. I played this variation
SUL=-·
'..,.._
;
'°'"'Iii
-., ...- ~
··.
-j"A,
r '
-~
104
After the Applause Died Down
for a short while as White. The basic idea position is sharp enough that both White
is simple: either to win a pawn on the and Black must play very carefully.
queenside, or to exchange my d-pawn
for Black's a-pawn, and then try to deal
with Black's strong pawn center and
promote my extra queenside pawns before
my opponent can do likewise. But the
simplicity is only in the words. Of course,
Black obtains sufficient counterplay in
the center and on the kingside. So now I
hesitate to employ this variation, as it gives
Black too many dangerous possibilities.
14 ... e4 15.~e2 ilg7 16.illd2 bxc4
17.lllxc4 0-0 18.:acl :b8 19.b4 ~bS
20.ll'le3 f4 23 ... dS
A little bit later, in another strong
round-robin tournament, this one in
the famous Wijk aan Zee - I lost to the
Dutch grandmaster Nijboer, who played
the following novelty in this position:
23 ... t:Zld5!? 24.~d2 ~h4 25.t:Zle3? (25.
g3!?) 25 ... :h5, after which I didn't play
at all well .. .
24.:cdl
24.:fdl? would be bad, owing to
24 ... l:te6, attacking the bishop at a6 and
threatening ... ~h6.
21.t:Zlc2 24 ...fS 25.~c4 <Ji;ih8 26.:fel ~c8?!
A novelty. In the stem game ofthis line, 26 ... :e6!? looked interesting, with a
White unsuccessfully tried to demonstrate complex game.
that a rook and two pawns here would be 27.~b3 t:Zlg6 28.~cl f4
stronger than two pieces: 21.~xb5 fxe3
22.ihe3 axb5 23.ihe4 t:Zlg6, and after
a complex struggle, the game ended in
a draw (Hilbner-Sax, Ttlburg 1979). My
idea, as I already mentioned, was to bet
on my queenside pawns.
21...l:txdS 22.~xf4 :es 23.~xa6
Even before the game, I had decided
that this was the way I would play
the variation. Black, of course, has
compensation for the pawn; but the
105
Chapters
106
After the Applause Died Down
of Wijk aan Zee at the end of January No. 21 Caro-Kann Defense 812
have a long history. Their atmosphere A. Kosteniuk - I. Rogers
of a chess festival, held on the shores of Wijk aan Zee 2003
the North Sea, is unique: the huge hall,
filled with amateurs and professionals; 1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.es
the possibility of watching great players In my chess career, I have probably
at the board - almost right next to you, tried every possible setup against the
in fact. The cold wind seems to drive Caro-Kann with White. Now, as in 2003,
passersby right into the warm tournament I prefer 3.e5.
hall, where a blazing battle rages on every 3 ... lus 4.tZlf3
board. The sharp 4.lt'lc3!? has brought me a
For some, Wijk aan Zee might seem few memorable victories, among them a
boring and the tournament a long and IO-minute game against Anatoly Karpov.
difficult trial. I, however, have always 4... e6 5.i.e2 lt'ld7 6.0-0 lt'le7 7.b3
loved this tournament, and am glad to i.g4
be playing in it. The first two times, in Black more often begins an immediate
1999 and 2000, I competed in the Open; fight for the center by 7... c5.
in 2003, I received an invitation to play 8.c4 lt'lfS 9.lt'lbd2 i.hS 10.i.b2 i.e7
in the round-robin "B" tournament.
The player who takes first place in the
"B" group has the right to measure his
strength in the following year against
the grandmasters in the "A" super-
tournament. So the list of participants
even in the "B" tournament is always
impressive. In 2003, it reached Category
XI, with an average rating of 2525, which
made it just below that of Hastings. But
the Wijk aan Zee tournament is much
longer - 13 rounds, with two rest days.
Every year, the Wijk aan Zee organizers ll.h3
try to invite a mix of experienced players Black's pieces have taken up rather
and young hopefuls. They also invite a unfortunate positions, and the ... c6-c5
few representatives of the fairer sex; thus, break is now impossible. Therefore l
in 2003, in addition to myself, we had decided to begin active operations.
Humpy Koneru and Viktorija Cmilyte. ll ... i.g6 I2.g4 lt'lh6
Zhang Zhong, who scored 11 points out Black probably should not have
ofl 3, took undisputed first place; I shared put the knight in such an unfortunate
I2 1h- l3 1h places with 5 points. Here's position. 12 ... lt'lh4 was better.
one of my games, in which I scored a 13.lt'lel
victory over Australian grandmaster Ian The moves g4, lt'lel and f4, taken
Rogers. together, were my favorite maneuver
107
Chapter5
108
After the Applause Died Down
are so badly placed very rarely produces Soon after Hastings and Wijk aan
positive results. Zee, I traveled to the Swiss village of
22 ... cxb5 was much better - the idea Brissago for a 6-game match with Sergey
being, after 23.'ihb5, to develop one of Karjakin. The match was put together by
his knights by 23 .. .ll:lc6, and on 24.Mbl the Dannemann cigar company. A year
to continue 24 ... f5!, when after 25.gS later, this same company would organize
Black has the interesting idea 25 ... ii.xf4!? a World Championship Match between
26.Mxf4 ~xg5+ 27.l?Jg2 Itxh3. In this Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko, also in
position, the black pawns look much Brissago. I believe that Dannemann had
more dangerous than the bishop. plans to hold more chess events ofvarious
23.dxeS ~xc5+ 24. 'it'g2 fxe5 25.:tcl kinds, but the ban on advertising tobacco
~e7 26.bxc6 l?Jxc6 products put an end to all of them.
Brissago is a small town in Switzerland,
located on the banks ofLago Maggiore, on
the Italian border. We played in February,
and the sunny weather, palm trees, and
flowers were a pleasant change of scenery
after Hastings and Wijk aan Zee. The
playing conditions in Brissago turned out to
be excellent. The Eden Roe Hotel, with its
all-inclusive meal plan, remains to this day
one of the best places I have ever been to.
Today, Sergey is one of the world's
elite players; at that time, however, I was
27.Mxc6! facing a 12-year-old kid -who still played
White takes immediate advantage of a lot like a grown-up. The first two games
the opening of the c-file. were drawn, but then I lost the third game
27 ...bxc6 28.~a6+ 'it'd7 29.fxeS to Sergeywith White. In the fourth game,
Black's poorly placed pieces can't get I overlooked a pretty tactical shot.
back to their king in time.
S. Karjakin - A. Kosteniuk
29 ... :i::th7
Brissago 2003 (m/4)
29 ...:bs 30.l?Jb3 i.b6 3 I .l?Jd3 @e8
32.e6 Ith7 33.ii.a3 ~g7 34.l?Je5 wouldn't
save him, either.
30.l?Jd3 ~b8 31.ii.a3 Mb6 32.tVxa7
An even simpler win was 32.e6+ ~xe6
33.l?'icS+ 'it'e8 34.Itf8+.
32 ... ~h4
On 32 .. .llig5, White finishes quickly
with 33.l?J c5+ 'it' c8 34.M f8+ i. d8
35.~a8+ Mb8 36.°@'a6+ 'it'c7 37.l?Je6+.
3J.j.d6. Black resigned.
109
Chapters
110
After the Applause Died Down
111
Chapter5
112
After the Applause Died Down
113
Chapter5
29.UdS!
A Petrosian-style exchange sacrifice.
In chess, along with an array of tactical
combinations known worldwide, there
exists also an equal array of standard
strategic techniques. The larger a player's
arsenal of such techniques, the higherthe
level of his chess mastery.
The positional sacrifice ofmaterial is one
ofthe most subtle ofbattlefield techniques.
Besides its strength on the chessboard, it
often has a powerful psychological effect as 36 ... i.dS?
well: the battle sharpens, and our opponent, This is surrender. Fascinating complica-
who previously had a well-laid-out plan tions could have arisen after 36 ... i.xgS!
to develop his initiative, must quickly 37.CllxgS t:5 38.d7 'it'fo 39.i.e2 e4 (39 ...
reorient himself to defense, which is not ~hd8 40.cS Ub7 41.c6 Uc7 42.Ud6+ @xg5
to everyone's taste. 43.i.b5e444.@d2,andWhitewins,or39...
29 ... i.xdS 30.exdS @xg5 40.cS e441.~d6!) 40.Ud6+! (40.UdS
White's plan is obvious: in a few @xg5 41.cS @fo 42.c6 @e6 43.i.c4 Ubd8
moves, the knight on b 1 will reach a 44.c7 ~xd7 45.~cS+ \tlfo 46. c8~ Uxc8
forward central post, and the white pawns 47 .~xc8 f4- Black can only be better here)
will march forward. Black cannot sit and 40 ...@xgS 41.cS, and Blackwillhavetogive
wait, so he tries to activate his pieces by up at least one of his rooks.
opening the h-file. 37.cS Uh4
Here, after 37 ... i.xgS, Black would
no longer be able to halt the march of
White's pawns: 38.lt:lxgS (5 39.d7 @to
40.c6 \tlxg5 41.i.e2.
38.~g3 i.xgS (desperation)39.lt:lxgS
rs 40.d7 Uh2+ 41.@cl @f6 42.c6 Uhh8
43.c7 Ubc8 44.lt:le4+ @e7 4S.dxc8~
Uxc8 46.kxfS
~,a~~a:~
~~---- ,~----~~
1 ~ Waf.i~
·fr1 ~~et~~~
30 ... g6 31.lt:ld2 h6 32.lt:le4 hxgS
33.hxgS @g7 34.@c2 as
The immediate 34... Uh8 would not
~8~ ~ ~i~
stop the white pawns, in view of35.Uxh8 7~ ~~ ~~-----7~
~xh8 36.cS.
3S.Ud3 Uhs 36.d6 m ~ ~~
114
After the Applause Died Down
Black resigned, as he cannot avoid the or impossible. For the moment, Black
exchange of rooks, when White will easily is holding on in all lines, although one
convert her extra knight: 46...gx5 47 JJg7+; incautious move can spell immediate
46 ...Ihc7+ 47.~d2 gx5 48.Mg7+. defeat.
115
Chapter5
116
After the Applause Died Down
ing and modeling shoots; I was the first to com, which gets over a hundred letters per
achieve the men's grandmaster title; and day, received an interesting offer from the
I was the first from our country to bring Korean company LG, offering to make me
home the Women's European and World the public face of their computers, under
Champion titles. the slogan, "The Choice of Champions."
The premiere of the film, "Bless the Filming for the advertising campaign took
Woman," took place that same summer. place in October 2003, and was just as
It's hard to express the emotions I felt entertaining as the movie sessions. I even
when my own name appeared in the cred- preferred the advertising shoots, because
its on the big screen ofthe Rossiya Theater. they allowed me not a minute of idleness.
I'm very happy to have been able to see We started shooting at 8 in the morning,
film-making from the inside; and I hope and didn't stop until 2 o'clock at night. At
this will not be my last such experience. the end of 2003, my advertising clips ap-
In 2002 and 2003, I signed various ad- peared on every channel throughout Rus-
vertising contracts with Western companies. sia and the countries of the former Soviet
The first was my contract with the Swiss Union, and large advertising billboards ap-
watch company, Balmain. The newspaper peared on the streets ofthe citY, bearing my
Commersant published a big article, under photograph and the words: "The Choice
the heading: "Russian Lady Chessplayer of Champions: Alexandra Kosteniuk,
Runs Like a Watch." In the fall of 2003, World Chess Champion (Under-12 and
my e-mail address- alexandra@kosteniuk. Under-14 Girls)." It was a strange thing
117
Chapter5
IBA1LMAHN
SWISS WATCHES
r- · . . . .....
fr~r~· .
~
'
' )\ ,'
;- I
·•
~. --· -,
. )KBaHT,.,7r ' l
·~~~- .· "
• ~
•
,Ls.-._ a
118
After the Applause Died Down
to be walking through Moscow and see the the Armenians. From Plovdiv, I remember
trolleys rolling by with my own smiling face a very tasty hot chocolate that was served
on them. This advertising campaign lasted at the local cafes; only at the close of the
about a year, and to this day, it remains one tournament did I learn that the monument
of my biggest contracts. that rises above the city is dedicated to the
After a busy summer, in the autumn Russian soldiers who liberated parts of
of2003 I played once again in the Young Europe from fascism in World War II.
Masters tournament in Lausanne, and Right after the Plovdiv championships,
then for the Podgorica team, which won [ flew to the United States, where I started
the European Cup in Crete. to spend a lot oftime after I got married. In
In November 2003, I played on the Rus- America, I devoted most of my attention
sian team in the European Team Champi- to staying in shape, running no less than
onships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This European 5 kilometers per day, and swimming about
Championship was the last in which the 1500 meters. I'm a very sports-inclined
women's teams consisted of only two main person by nature; so when I found that in
players plus one reserve. Alisa Galliamova Miami, where we lived, they had frequent
played on our first board, S\etlana Mat\eeva amateur races, I decided to participate.
on second, and I was the reserve. Soon my "trophy shelf' began to be deco-
We were leading for the entire rated not just with chess cups, but also with
tournament, until an unfortunate loss at medals for races I had won. My personal
the \ery end cost us the gold; we ended up best for 5 km is 21 minutes 30 seconds,
taking the bronze. With 41h out of6, I won which [ set twice: first in April 2005, and
the gold on my board. First place went to then in March 2008.
119
Chapter 6
The Conquest of Europe
The year 2004 was yet another turn- 2.d4 g6 3.lt:lc3 kg7 4.ke3 a6 5.lt:lf.3
ing point in my chess career. It began b5 6.a4?!
quite successfully: I became European Myunexpectedopeningchoicesurprised
Women's Champion. myopponent,judgingfrom the time she had
used up to this point as well as her extremely
No. 25 Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense 806 uncertain play. Here White does better to
M. Sebag - A. Kosteniuk develop the bishop to d3, shoring up the
Dresden 2004 center; only after this should she be thinking
about starting action on the queenside.
l.e4 d6 6...b4 7.lt:le2 kb7 8.lt:lg3 8d7
I did a lot of experimenting in Here and later, White should have
Dresden, which is easily explained: I had given serious thought to playing c2-c3,
not worked out a safe opening repertoire supporting her pawn center.
at home. A chessplayer must try to have 9.'i¥d2 c5 10..ltd3
most of her opening work done before Here again, 10.c3 would have made
leaving home, so as not to have to spend sense.
time at tournaments reviewing variations 10...lt:lgf6 11.h3?
or wasting valuable time and energy This move was made instantly; and, as
learning new opening setups. often happens with impulsive decisions, it
I ::-
WIII:..: _'iffi .
120
The Conquest of Europe
121
Chapter6
19 ... i.xg3
Here I used up a lot of time trying to
figure out whether 19 ... i.xg3 or 19 ... i.c7
was better. In the latter case, the game
might continue 20.0-0-0 (20.0-0?!
i.a5) 20 ... 0-0. Black's idea is that after
21.'iVxe7, she plays 21...i.f4+ (taking
control of the h6 square) 22.<J.ibl i.c8.
Black has the advantage; but I could not
evaluate the position after 21.llle2, so I
decided to play l9 ... i.g3 instead.
17.iH4? 20.fxg3
122
The Conquest of Europe
123
Chapter6
124
The Conquest of Europe
~I
.....
Awaiting Antoaneta Stefanova' s next move
-
6.l:kt
The most frequent continuation here is
6.e3. White gets very good compensation
for the b-pawn; but a pawn is still a pawn,
and Black could always hope to wriggle
her way out, while holding on to the extra
material.
6 ...i.d7 7Ji!Vd2
Here again, 7.e3 is possible.
7... ll:lc6 8.e3 e6 9.i.d3
After White decided to keep her b-
pawn, we arrived at a normal position
for this variation, but with a few extra 12 ... ll:lxd4!
tempi for Black, since White has played Surprise! Sometimes it's obvious that
: c 1 and ~ d2, instead of ti:l f3 and a position contains some sort of tactical
J..d3. solution. It's surprising that in such a
9 ... 0 h5 10.i. g5 h6 11.i. h4 g5 quiet opening as the Exchange Slav, as
12.~e2? early as move 12 Black should have a
After l2.i.g3 ll:lxg3 13.hxg3 i.g7, the tactical solution giving her the upper
position remains unclear, and playable hand.
for both sides. 13.~xh5 ~xb2 14.~dl
125
Chapter6
126
The Conquest of Europe
few moves back, I had been winning) Here I had two pawns left, which
34.@h3 d3 35.l:tgl i.d7 36.i.f6 e5+ made my life a lot easier.
37.@h4 :c4+ 38.f4.
33 ... d4+ 34.@g3?!
34.@h3 was much stronger, since
the rook might end up needing the open
g-file. In that case White's prospects
would have been much superior. But she
had no more than a minute left, and it's
impossible to expect accuracy under such
circumstances.
34 ... d3 35.i.f6
When I made my 32nd move, I was
happy that after 35.l:tbl, I still had
a defense against mate, by 35 ... i.d7 49.f3 l:td3 50.a4 h4+ 51.@g4 :e3
36J':tb8+ @e7; after 37J:tb3 l:txc7 The rest is simple enough.
38.i.xc7, however, Black would still have 52.aS l:txe4+ 53.@gS l:ta4 54.f4
had to fight for the draw. e4 ss.:es i.f3 56.@xh4 l:ta3 57.@g3
35 ... i.d7 36Jh7 hS 37.l:tbl i::th6 i.dl + 58.@g2 e3 59.h4 e2 60.@t'2 :a+
38.l:ta8+ i.c8 39.i.h4 es 61.@el l:txf4 62.:es :xh4 63.a6 i::thl +
At last I could breathe a sigh ofrelief 64.@d2 l:th7 65.l:td8+ @c6 66.l::tc8+
- my rook is back in the game! @b6 67.:es@xa6 68.l:te5@b6 69.l:te8
40.e4 l:td6 41.i.gS d2 42.i::tdl @d7 @c670.@el @d771.l:te3l:te772.:d3+
43.l:ta7+ @c6 44.:xf7 i.a6 4s.:rs @e8 73.l:th3i.a4 74.l:th8+@d7 75.l:Ia8
After 45.@f3, I did not see anything i.bS 76.l:ta7+@d6 77.l:ta3 l::tf7 78.l:te3
decisive during the game. :n+
45 ... i.e2 46.:xd2 l::tcxd2 47 .i.xd2 White resigned.
:!'.xd2 48.h3?
After 48 .l:txe5, I was preparing myself
for the long l:t + i. vs. : endgame, by The following game was played
trying to recall the Philidor position. in the last round of the European
Black still has one pawn, but a draw Championship. I shared first and second
seems the most likely outcome. For places with the Dutch player Peng, who
example: 48 ... :dJ+ 49.@h4 i.g4 (49 ... won her last-round game confidently.
j,f3 50.a4 @d6 [50 ... l:ta3 51.aS @d6 In order to have the chance to play a
52.:bs] 51.l:tdS+ :xd5 52.exdS @xd5 tiebreaking match against her for the
53.aS @c5 54.@g3 i.d5 55.f4@b5 56.fS title of European Women's Champion,
j_t7 57.@f4, with equality) 50.f4 :h3+ I had to win too. But I was paired against
51.@gS l:txh2 52.a4 l:tg2 53.aS i.f3+ Tatiana Kosintseva, and got into a very
54.@h4 l:tg6 55.1::tgS l:te6 56.:es, with difficult position immediately out of the
a draw. opening, where the most I could wish
48 ... @d6 for was a draw.
127
Chapter6
( ;.
\. .
.....
I
~
- ---~
The last round is the most important one. Facing off against Tatiana Kosintseva
128
The Conquest of Europe
------- -- -
----------
--
The tiebreak with Peng Zhaoqin determines the 2004 Women's European Champion
129
Chapter6
After this move, I ceased to worry 31.l'i:lxbS ~f6 32.~c4+ r:JiJh8 33.ti:lxd4
about the outcome of the game. During ~xh4
play, I felt that my last move had been
a mistake; but in an attempt to console
myself, I calculated the following
variation: 19.l'i:lxf7 r:J,;xf7 20.ti:lxdS ii.xd5
2I.ilxd5 exd5 22.~hS+ r:J,;f8 23.~f3+
ti:lf6. Here I broke off my calculations,
in view of White's first-rank weakness.
However, I would have had to resign after
24J:hf6+.
19 ... ~xd7 20.ti:le4~c7 21.~al ~c6
22.ild3 f5 23.Mcl ~xa4 24.~a3 ~d7
I might have tried to play for
complications by 24 ... ~xd4 25.Mc4 ~ e5 White resigned.
26.f4 ti:lxf4 27.ilxf4 ~xf4 28.ti:lffi+ gxf6
29.~xf4 ilxf4. Black's position is still Starting in the early '70s, all professional
much superior; but for a 15-minute game, chessplayers (and these days, several
the battle's outcome is not yet clear. thousand amateurs, as well) have had an
25.ti:lc3 ti:lf4 26.ii.xf4 ~xf4 27.Mdl individual rating, or "Elo coefficient,"
bS 28.~aal ~c6 29.dS exdS 30.~fl d4 named after the Hungarian-American
.•
~ ._ .me.'
~i
'·
1:,, ••
~i
The winners of the European Championship, Dresden 2004. Left to right: Peng Zhaoqin (silver),
Alexandra Kosteniuk (gold), Antoaneta Stefanova (bronze)
130
The Conquest ofEurope
professor Arpad Elo. Depending on your Chess Olympiad was undoubtedly also one
results in a particular tournament, your ofthe key moments inmy chess career. The
rating will rise or fall. But there is one year 2004 was also a very important one
more important mathematical indicator, for my further growth as a chessplayer.
characterizing a player's performance Returning from the World Champi-
in a particular event, and that is the onship in Elista, on the plane to Moscow
"performance rating." This shows how I fell into conversation with grandmaster
much your actual score in the tournament Yuri Razuvaev. Right awaY, he asked if I
differs from the expected result (that is, the planned to continue playing chess, and to
number of points you would need to score work at it. Because it had been three years
in order to leave your rating unchanged). since the 2001 World Championship,
After the 2625 performance rating I and my results - and more importantly,
turned inat the European Championships, my playing strength - had not changed
I was awarded the men's grandmaster title, significantly since then.
becoming the tenth woman in the history of Here I must note that I had already
chess to attain this status. The first woman known Yuri Sergeyevich for a long time.
to become a men's grandmaster was Nona In 1992 and 1993, I had attended some
Gaprindashvili, who received her title sessions at Razuvaev's school, where I
in 1978. In 1984, Maia Chiburdanidze had enjoyed the lectures given by Yuri
became the second woman grandmaster. Sergeyevich and other grandmasters. I also
EventuallY, this respected title would be spent time with the other kids my age, and
won by Judit and Zsuzsa Polgar, Xie Jun, played soccer and other sports. Yuri had
Pia Cramling, Zhu Chen, Humpy Koneru, long worked and spent time with Mikhail
andAntoaneta Stefanova. TodaY, 20 women Botvinnik, the patriarch ofthe Soviet chess
hold the men's grandmaster title. school. Thus, the work in Yuri Sergeyevich's
After my success in the European school was set up along the same lines as
Championship, my rating on the July 1, Botvinnik's. In the difficult years of the
2004 list was 2511. '90s, unfortunatelY, the Razuvaev School
In May 2004, Elista hosted the could not survive for long. It was one of
Women's World Championship. This the last of the great chess schools that did
time, I was already considered a candidate so much to help young players grow, and
for a high-placed finish, but lost in the formed an important link in the chain,
second round to Viktorija Cmilyte of handing down experience. It was just this
Lithuania. link in the chain that we lost for a while in
In a career, just as in life, everyone has the early 'Nineties, and the Russianjuniors·
turning points: encounters and instances current results in junior championships
wherein everything changes. Now, when are ample testimony to this.
l look back on the path I have traveled, In July 2004, Yuri and I reached
it seems to me that I've had several such an agreement to work together; after
moments. The first, and most important, the Calvia 2004 Olympiad, we held
\\-a5 ofcourse when Daddy decided to teach our first sessions. These exercises were
me chess. Competing in the 1998 World unquestionably priceless to me, not only
131
Chapter6
132
The Conquest of Europe
No. 29. Philidor's Defense C41 Here I did not have enough knowl-
A. Kosteniuk - A. Skripchenko edge of the opening to continue 8.t'llc3!
Warsaw2004 Wxe5 (other moves are no better, for ex-
ample: 8...c6 9.V//id4c5 [9 ... We610.t'llg6];
1.e4 e5 2.Q}f3 d6 3.d4 t'lld7 4.i.c4 8 ... i.b4 9.V//id4 i.xc3+ I0.bxc3 We6
h6? I I.V//id5+ Wffi 12.V//if7+ Wxe5 13.1H4+
Philidor's Defense is a solid enough Wxe4 14.f3#, Skatchkov-Krovelschikov,
opening; here, however, Black evidently Tomsk 2001; 8 ... i.c5 9.Vllif3+ Wxe5
got something mixed up. I0.V//if5+ Wd6 ll.i.f4+ We7 12.t'lldS+
We8 13.t'llxc7+ V//ixc7 14.i.xc7, with a
winning position; or 8...t'lle7 9.V//id4 We6
I0.f4, and White's attack is unstoppable)
9.V//id5+ Wffi I0.V//if5+ We7 11.t'lldS+
W d6 12.i. f4+ W c6 13.V//i e6+ i. d6
14.t'llb4+ Wb6 (or 14... WbS 15.a4+ Wa5,
Herbrechtsmeier-H. G. Schmidt, Ger-
many 1993, 16.V//ic4c617.t'lld5, and wins)
15.i.xd6cxd616.V//ixd6+Wa517.t'lld5b6
18.c4 Wa6 19.V//ic6 V//ig5 20.t'llc7+ Wa5
21.b4+, and mate is forced.
133
Chapter6
,
~
·~.
_..f.
134
The Conquest of Europe
In the game against Almira, I of events was pretty full, I played this
continued with 8.'iV d4, and in the end, championship on my last reserves.
after some less-than-perfect play, we It started well: I won my first game
settled for the draw: 8... c5 9/llxd7+ convincingly.
We7 10Ji'xc5+ Wxd7 11.'iVb5+ We7
12/llc3 Wf7 13.i.e3 lllf6 14.e5 tllg4 No. 30 Sicilian Defense 842
15.0-0 'iVh4 16.h3 tllxe3 17.fxe3+ Wg8 A. Kosteniuk - I. Slavina
t8.'iVb3+ Wh7 19.tlld5 'iVg5 20.:tr, Kazan 2004
i.xh3 21.'iVd3+ 'it'g8 22.lllf4 Wxf7
23.lllxh3 'iVxe5 24.l::tfl+ Wg8 25.'iVc4+ 1.e4 c5 2.tllt'3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tllxd4 a6
Wh7 26.'iVd3+ Wg8 27.'iVc4+ Wh7 5.i.d3 i.c5 6.~e3 'iVb6 7.c3 'iVc7
28. 'iV d3+. Here, in view of 28 ... Wg8 What happens after 7 ... 'iV xb2?
29.'iV c4+, we agreed to a draw. Some years later, I managed to catch
grandmaster Ilya Smirin in this opening
By 2004, the Russian Women's trap:
Championship had lost its former
prestige, due to the loss of the Zonal
and Interzonal tournaments (for which
it had served as a qualifier). In an
effort to bring back all the strongest
players, the Russian Chess Federation
decided to make team selections
entirely dependent on the outcome
of one event: the team would be made
up of the championship's first four
prizewinners. It was an interesting
decision, with positive and negative
sides to it. Regardless of the merits, 8.tlld2 'iVxc3 9.l::tcl 'iVxd3 10.l:hc5
the Kazan Championship drew a liJ c6 11. 'iV cl!, and the black queen
very strong field. Besides myself, is trapped. After 1 l...a5 12.tllb5 l::tb8
Kazan featured Tatiana and Nadezhda l3.a4 liJge7 14.l:tc3 tllb4 15.'iVdl, Black
Kosintseva, Alisa Galliamova, resigned (Kosteniuk-Smirin, Moscow
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, Svetlana 2006, Tai Memorial blitz).
Matveeva, Ekaterina Polovnikova, 8.'iVg4g6 9.f4tllf610.'iVg3b6 ll.liJd2
Tatiana Stepovaia, Tatiana Shumiakina, i.b7 12.0-0 i.e7 13.l::tael
Irina Slavina, and Elena Zaiatz. And The immediate I3.e5 tlld5 14.i.f2 d6
for the first time in a long time, the 15.tlle4, or 15.f5, with a small advantage,
Final was also labeled a Superfinal, was worth considering.
and would be conducted as a 12-player 13 ...d6 14.e5 tlld5
round-robin. 14... lllh5 15.exd6 i.xd6 16.'iVh3 0-0
Since the tournament was to be 17.f5 exf5 18.lllxf5 would have been
held in June, and my spring schedule dangerous.
135
Chapter6
1s.i.n?! 23.i.bS?!
Too slow- 15.llle4 Cbxe3 16.~xe3 The wrong solution to the problem of
d5 17.Cbd6+ was better, with advan- what to exchange. Keeping all the rooks
tage. on the board by 23.'.Ctbl ~d2 24.i.b5
15 ...dxeS 16.fxe5 Cbd7 17.Cbc4 was stronger.
Stronger was 17.a3!? (preparing c3- 23 ... l:txcl 24.l:txcl :cs 25.l:tfl
c4) 17 ...b518.c4bxc419.Cbxc40-020.b4, Cb5f6
when White has the better position. 25 ... '.Ctc3 doesn't work, owing to
17 ... 0-0-0?! 26.~h4 ~xd6 27.~d8+ i.c8 28.i.g3 e5
The queenside is not the safest (28 ...:xg3 29.hxg3 Cbc7 30.Cbc6+ @b7
place for the king in this position. The 31.a4) 29.i.xd7 ~xd7 30.i.xe5+.
black monarch would have been better 26.~f4 @a8 27.a3 ~b2?
off sheltering on the kingside, after 27 ... ~c5 28.i.xd7 Cbxd7 29.~xf7
17 ... 0-0. ~d5 30.Cbf3 ~xd6 was preferable, with
18.b4 a complex game.
An immediate l8.Cbd6+ i.xd6 28.i.xd7 Cbxd7 29.~xf7 Cbc5?
19.exd6 ~b8 20.Cbf3, with a small The decisive error - Black could still
advantage to White, would also have been have fought on after 29 ...:cl 30.~e8+
interesting. lbb8 31.~xe6.
18 ...@b8 19.Cbd6 i.xd6 30.d7 '.Ctd8 31.~e8
19 ... 11Jxe5 would not work because 31.~fo'.Ctxd732.~h8+@a733.Cbc6+
of 20.lbxb7 (but not 20.lb6b5 axb5 would have won too.
21.lbxb5 Cbxd3 22.Cbxc7 Cbxc7 23.'.Ctdl 31. .. Cbd3 32.~xd8+ @a7 33.Cbc6+
i.d6). i.xc6 34.~xb6+. Black resigned.
20.exd6 ~xc3 21.'.Ctcl ~xb4 22.i.xa6
~c8 No. 31 Ruy Lopez C92
Black loses after 22 ... Cbc5 23.~c4 A. Kosteniuk - E. Polovnikova
~a5 24.d7+ @a8 25.i.xb7+ @xb7 Kazan 2004
26.~d6 :xd7 (26 ... ~a6 27.lbb3 lbxb3
28.axb3) 27.~c6+ @a6 28.Cbxe6! fxe6 I first met Katya Polovnikova back
29.'.Ctxc5. in Lipetsk 1992. Since Katya is two
136
The Conquest of Europe
137
Chapter6
Black has executed her planned central wanted to punish her opponent for her
break, and we may say that she has won the uncertain play in the opening. However,
opening duel. But fortunatelY, there are by weakening her own king, she allows
two more duels in a chess game. the white pieces to develop a dangerous
initiative.
26.Q::\xf6+ gxf6 27.i.xcS
I could also have played 27 .Uc3 Q::ixe3
28J:he3 Uab8 29 ..txd3 at once.
27 ... 'iVxcS 28.Uc3
White's rook at el is taboo, because
of .txf7+.
28 ... 'iVb4 29.'iVg4+ 'it>b8 30.l:Idl
Q::id4 31.l:Idxd3
3l.'iVh4 Q::ie2+ 32.'it>h2 Q::ixc3
33.~xfo+ 'it>g8 is a draw by perpetual
check.
18.Q::ias d4 19.Q::ixc6 Q::ixc6 20.i.d2 31 ... I:tg8
Q::ib4 21.i.c4 Q::ics
32.'iVdl?!
22.Ua3!? And here, I would have done better
An interesting rook lift. to play 32.'iVh4 Q::ie2+ 33.'it>h2 Q::ixc3
22 ... aS 34.'iVxf6+ l:Ig7 35.I:txc3 ~ag8 36.g3
In the variation after 22 ... 'iVb7, the 'iVxb2 37.~f3 'iVd4 38.i.dS, when Black
rook lift turns out to be very useful: can do nothing to stop White's plan of
23.Q::ih2 i..e7 24.Ug3 Q::ixe4 25.'iVf3 Q::id6 advancing the h-pawn.
26.'iVxb7 Q::ixb7 27.Q::ig4, and the black 32 ... 'iVxb2 33.I:tg3
king is in danger. 33.Uxd4? 'iVxc3 loses for White.
23.Q::ih2 d3 24.Q::ig4 'iVd6 25.i.e3 33 ...Uac8?
Q::ic2? The natural move, but it's also the
After 25 ... Q::ixe4 26 . .txd3, the decisive mistake. She had to play 33 ...
position would be about equal; but Black Uab8 34.~xg8+ ~xg8 35.l:Ie3 Uc8
138
The Conquest of Europe
Closing ceremony, 2004 Russian Superfinal. Le~ to right: Alexander Zhukov, President of the
Russian Chess Federation; Tatiana Kosintseva; Mintimer Shaimiev, President of the Republic of
Tatarstan; Alexandra Kosteniuk; Nadezhda Kosintseva
139
Chapter6
t'Zlb3 52.h5 have been enough to save has become for me the "silver city": twice
Black. before this, in 1993 and 1998, I had played
After this, I brought the game home. in the capital city of Tatarstan, and both
47.h4 ~f6 48.hS t'Zlf4 49.~gS ~e6 times I had taken second place with 8
50.g4 t'Zle2 51.i.fS+ ~r, 52.~g2 t'Zlf4+ points (although in those tournaments, it
53.~g3 (or 53.~f3 l:::1:c6 54.i.h7) 53 ... wasover9 rounds).
~c6 54.i.g6+ ~f6 In the summerof2004, I played in Biel
54 ... ~e6 55.l:::1:f5 ~c3+ 56.~h4 again, and gave a simultaneous exhibition
~h3+ 57.~g5 and White is winning. at the Savoy luxury hotel, located right in
55.l:::1:fS+ ~e6 56.i.f7+. Black the center of Zurich. Afterwards, I flew to
resigned. Miami for a little rest and relaxation, to
Round 5 saw the game that decided rebuild my strength after a hot summer
the tournament, when I played Tatiana of chess competition.
Kosintseva. Playing White, I tried too In September, I played in the Lausanne
hard to attack at some point, and ended Young Masters tournament; and in
up losing. Despite a good finish, and a October, I competed in the 361h World
final score of8 out of 11, I finished only in Chess Olympiad in Calvia.
second place, half a point behind Tatiana. The 2004 Calvia Olympiad was my
But I had met my minimum goal: I had second as a member of the Russian
earned a place on the Russian team. Kazan Women's Team; but it was the first in which
140
The Conquest ofEurope
I competed as team leader. On second Our opponents also soon saw that we
board, we had Ekaterina Kovalevskaya; on were playing the same variation in both
third, Tatiana Kosintseva, with Nadezhda games; and when this position came up
Kosintseva as reserve. Playing first board in on our board, Antoaneta played the same
team events is a double responsibility; and move Velcheva had just played.
the opposition is often far stronger than 9.li:lb3 0-0 10.1'3 a6
on the other boards. Today, practically I played this without thinking, as I had
every country can boast at least one strong planned to play this line before I sat down
woman player. In Calvia, the first-board at the board. But Nadia played a different
roster was positively star-studded: I played line, and now our games diverged: 10...
against three former world champions l:::1:d8 11.g4 d5 12.exdS li:lxd5 13 ..txe7
- Maia Chiburdanidze, Zsuzsa Polgar, li:ldxe7 l4 ..td3 e5 15.~gS i.e6; and
and Xie Jun - as well as the then-World after a tense struggle, that game ended
Champion, Antoaneta Stefanova. Now in a draw on move 57.
that I am myself the World Champion, 11.g4
I can understand how difficult it was for 11.ilxffi i..xffi 12.~xd6 l:::td8 13.~cS
Antoaneta to play, for every win over a l:::txdl + 14.<;tixdl ~c7 would give Black
world champion is special, and almost the initiative. Another popular move in
every opponent that you play is putting this position is l 1.h4, which occurred,
her full effort into it. In such famous for example, in a game Ganguly-Svidler,
company, l did well to score 7 out of 11, Bled 2002.
with a performance rating of 2539. At the 11 ... ~d812.~el?!
FIDE Congress, held during the Calvia
Olympiad, there was one more significant
event: I was officially awarded the men's
lnternational Grandmaster title.
141
Chapter6
Another line worth considering was Now White takes over the initiative.
15 ... Q::ib6 16.'iH2 l:tb8, followed by 22 ... l:txcS? 23.'iVxe7 i.xd5 24.h6 was
... b5-b4. not good either, so 22 ... 'iVxcS 23.'iVxe7
16.g5 l:tac817.l:th2 i.xd5 was to be preferred. Black has the
On 17.~bl, Blackhastheunpleasant advantage, and White must play very
17 ... b4 18.Q::ia4 Q::ia5 19.i.d3 d5, with accurately. For example:
the threat of ... i.c6 and ... Q::ic4; and if 1) 24.i.xa6? l:te8 25.'iVd7 l:Ia8
20.Q::i b6?, then 20 ... dxe4! 21.Q::ixc8 l:Ixc8 26. 'iVbS (26.l:te2 l:txe2 27 .i.xe2 b3! loses
wins for Black. for White) 26 ... 'iVe3+ 27.l:Ihd2i.f3, with
17 ...Q::ic518.h5? advantage to Black;
White would have done better to play 2) 24.g6 l:te8 25.'iVd7 i.xa2 26.gxh7+
18.Q::ixcS dxc5, but Black would still have ~h8 27.l:Ihd2 (on27.'iVxd6?, it's mate in
a good position. 8: 27 ... 'iVe3+ 28.l:tdd2 l:Ixc2+ 29.~xc2
18 ...b4 19.Q::id5 exd5 20.exd5 Q::ia5? b3+ 30.~cl 'iVeI+ 31.l:Idl l:tc8+
Today, in the comfort of my home, 32.'iVc6 :xc6+ 33.i.c4 l:txc4+ 34.l:Ic2
I completely fail to understand why I :xc2#, while on 27.i.xa6?, it's mate in
needed to return my extra piece. After 5: 27 ... 'iVe3+ 28.:hd2 l:Ixc2+ 29.~xc2
20 ... Q::ib8 21.h6 g6 22.'iVxb4 Q::ibd7 b3+ 30.~cl 'iVcS+ 31.l:Ic2 'iVxc2#,
2Hi'd4 i.f8 24.i.h3 l:te8, Black would or 28.l:Idd2 l:Ixc2+ 29.~xc2 i.b3+
have had a quiet, secure position - and 30.~cl 'iVel+ 31.l:tdl 'iVxdl#) 27 ...
an extra knight. i.e6 28.~xd6 'iVaS 29.'iVxa6 'iVxhS, and
21.Q::ixa5 'iVxa5 22.i.xc5 Black's position is to be preferred.
When I gave back the piece, I decided 23.i.d4!
that with two good continuations to choose 23.'iVxb4 l:Ixc5 (23 ... 'iVxa2 24.'iVa3)
from, I would only need to decide which one 24.'iVxb7 'iVxa2 25.'iVxa6 l:taS leads to a
to play. l made my next move in the belief roughly even position.
that the positions after this move would be 23 ... 'iVxa2 24.'iVxb4
much more interesting and complex than Here I saw that after
the ones arising after 22 ...'iVxcS. 24 ... i.xd5
White could simply play 25. 'i!V a3, with a
better ending, where I would have to fight
for the draw.
25.l:Ih3?
25.'i!Va3 'iVxa3 26.bxa3 i.f3 27.l:td3
i.e4 28.l:Ie3 was preferable, with a small
advantage.
25 ...i.e4 26.i.d3?
And now Black has a forced win.
During the game, l thought that after
26.:c3, White would still have a good
position, but now it's not so clear: 26 ...
22 ... l:IeS? a5 27.'i!Va3 (or 27.'i!Vb3 'iVxb3 28.cxb3 d5
142
The Conquest of Europe
and Black holds the initiative) 27 ... ~ xa3 I have solved more than a thousand
28.bxa3 l::txc3 29.ii.xc3 d5, with a slightly studies, and have become a great fan of
better endgame for Black. chess composition. I particularly like the
26 ...d5 27 .~b7
27.~b6 wouldn't save White either,
due to 27 ... ii.xd3 28.~hxd3 (28.l::tdxd3
~al+ 29.@d2 ii.b4+ 30.c3 ~xb2+
31.@dl ~e2 32.~d8+ l::txd8 33.cxb4
~c2#) 28 ... .txg5! 29.fxg5 (29.ii.e3
ii.xf4!) 29 ... l::te2.
27 ... ~al+ 28.@d2 ~a4 29.c3ii.xd3
30Jhd3 l:tb8 31.~xd5 ii.xg5! 32.b4
ii.xf4+ 33.ii.e3 ii.xe3+ 34.l::txe3 :tbd8
White resigned.
143
Chapter6
miniatures - treasures created on the waiting periods, flights and train trips no
board with a minimal number of pieces. longer made me nervous: all I had to do
And also, once I started the practice of was to open up my book and spend a few
regular study-solving, all those breaks, hours immersed in problem-solving.
The best moments of the 2004 Ca/via Olympiad - Team Russia at a disco and the awards cer-
emony. Le~ to right: Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Ekaterina
Kovalevskaya, and coach Yuri Yakovich
144
Chapter7
Russian Gold
In early 2005, I competed in two strong That year, the average rating of the
men's tournaments. In Januacy, I wentto "B" tournament was 2564, or FIDE
Wijk aan Zee for the fourth time. Hardly Category XIII. The only women players
anything ever changes in this little were Antoaneta Stefanova and me. The
Dutch town. Once again, the familiar tournament began very well for me:
streets, the beach, the north wind, and in the first round, I managed to beat
the scent of pea soup in the tournament grandmaster Alexander Onischuk in a
hall. This soup is traditionally offered not entirely error-free game.
to the participants and guests of the
No. 33 Ruy Lopez C65
festival. During the Second World War,
A. Kosteniuk - A. Onischuk
the tournament was still held, even if
Wijk aan Zee 2005
there was nothing to feed the players.
So the organizers began to cook simple 1.e4 e5 2.lllt'3 tl'lc6 3.~b5 tl'lf6 4.0-0
pea soups, which they have continued ~cs 5.c3 0-0 6.d4 ~b6 7..tg5 h6 8..th4
doing to this day. d6
-corus
: --~---··--·
~ ~1
145
Chapter 7
146
Russian Gold
147
Chapter 7
To me, it seemed as though the ending, passed pawn, in this position it would be
with my two connected passed pawns, better to take it offthe g-file and leave it on
should be an easy win. the second rank, where it not only helps
40 ...i.xf4 41.l:::txf4+ @e7 42.l:::td4 c5 its pawns to advance, but also prevents
43.l:::td2 b5 44. f4 the enemy pawns from advancing. For
44.f3!? deserved consideration, the idea example, 5 I.l:te2 @f8 52.f5 a4 53.ffi a3
being not to allow Black's pieces entry into 54.bxa3 bxa3 55.@f4 i.e8 56.:d2 :c1
White's camp. For example: 44 ...c4 45.g4 57.i.a2 l:::tfl + 58.Wg5 l:::thl 59.l:::td3, and
l:::tg5 (45 ... l:th8 46.@g2 l:::td8 47.i.e4 :gs White should win.
48.@g3 a5 49.@f4 ~f8+ 50.@e5 l:::tg8 51...l:::tel+ 52.@d2 l::tbl 53.b3 a4
5I.i.f5) 46.@f2 a5 47.@g3 l:tg6 48.@f4 54.l::te3+
l:::tto+ (48 ... l:th6 49.g5 l:::thl 50.l:tg2, and Clearly, White has misplayed this,
in this position, my pawns have advanced and will now have to start the cashing-
further than they did in the game) 49.@e5: in process all over again. I haven't set
White's pieces are centralized, and soon she myself to establishing and documenting
should be able to convert her extra pawn. an accurate assessment of this position,
44 ... c4 45.@f2 a5 46.@e3 l:th3 but of course Black has good chances to
47.:g2:l::thl draw here. For example: 54.bxa4 i.xa4
By the second time control, the 55.g5 b3 56.g6 l:::tdl + 57.@c3 l:::tcl+
position had grown sharper, and I wanted 58.@b2 l:::txc4 59.g7 l:tc2+ 60.@bl
to play something safe. l:::tc8, 61.g8~ l:txg8 62.l:txg8, and
according to the Nalimov tablebase,
Black can draw. but only if he plays
62 ... i.c6.
54 ... W:t'B 55.bxa4 ii.xa4 56.i.d3?!
In the second time scramble, I didn't
have time to see that the most important
thing here is activating the rook. I should
have looked at 56.l'::!:e6!? b3 S7.l:tf6+
@e7 (57 ... @g7 ss.nn+ @h8 59.l:tf8+
@g7 60J::i:g8+, and White's pawns must
be faster) 58.l:::tb6 b2 59.i.e2 i.d7 60.f5,
and after Wc3, White wins the b2-pawn
48.a4 and the game.
After 48.g4!? I would most likely have 56 .. J::i:b2+ 57.Wcl :g2?
won, for example: 48 ... ~dl 49.i.b7 :al Black would have held out longer with
50.g5 l:::txa2 5I.g6 c3 52.g7 i.e6 53.l:tg6 57 .. J::i:b3.
i.g8 54.bxc3 b4 55.cxb4 axb4 56.f5. 58.gS i.e8 59.Me6!
48 ... b4 49.i.xc4 i.xa4 50.g4 i.c6 An important move. Finally, I
st.:g3 understood that the most important
Despite the well-known rule that the thing was to activate my rook. And
rook is generally best placed behind the despite having only seconds to reach
148
Russian Gold
the time control, I managed to play the I could have put an end to the battle by
strongest move. 70.g6!! ~xf4 7 l .~h7+ @g5 72.g7 l::txe4+
59 ...b3 60.~b6 ~g4 61J::U6+ @g7 73.@a3 ~e8 74.~h8!, but the last move
62 ..tc4 i.a4 63.i.dS ~g3 64.@b2 ~e3 of this line felljust outside the bounds of
65.~b6 ~e2+ 66.@a3 my calculation.
And here, 66.@c3!? would have been 70 ... .tes 71.~f8 b2 72.@c3 .tg6
interesting. 73.~h8+ @g4 74.i.xg6 l:txf4 75.@xb2
66 ...l:ta2+ 67.@b4 ~f2 @xg5
Once again I had attained a winning And so, according to all the manuals and
position; but by the sixth hour of play, tablebases, this position is a draw; however,
finding the exact continuation was not there have been many games in which the
the easiest of tasks. stronger side was able to win. One must
also keep in mind that, in Wtjkaan Zee, the
games are played using the classical seven-
hour time control, without an increment
(time added for each move played, usually
30 seconds - ed.). This makes the defense
more difficult. And White also has just 50
moves to work with - Black could claim a
draw on move 125.
76.i.d3 @f6 77 .~e8 @t7
I have had two games in my practice
with this material balance. Both times I
had the extra material, and both times I
68.~b7+@g6
succeeded in winning. Although this is
All other king retreats lose, for
a theoretically drawn position, it's not a
example: 68 ... @h8 69.g6; or 68 ... @f8
simple matter to hold it over the board.
69.@xa4 ~xf4+ 70.@xb3 ~f5 71.~b8+
I have tried to play it for the defending
@e772.g6.
side against the computer that hosts the
69.i.e4+ @h5
six-pieces tablebase. At first, I was unable
to last longer than thirty moves. If the
defender's king is forced to the edge of the
board, it's a very difficult defense indeed.
So the first thing the attacking side will try
to do is to force the opposing king back.
With the king in the center, it's easier
to defend if you know the basic ideas
- Cochrane's position and the seventh-
rank defense. I won't get into the details
here: without a doubt, it's an interesting
endgame. Those who wish to know
70.l::tt7? how to make the draw, and how White
149
Chapter 7
wins from the famous Philidor position, 99 ... @g2100.i.d5 l:.h4+ 101.@eS
should consult the major endgame Of course not 101.@e3?, because of
manuals, such as Mark Dvoretsky's 101...l:h3, exchanging the rooks.
fundamental work. 101...@gl 102. .te4 l::th2 I03.l:U4
78.l:e3 @f6 79.@c3 Mh4 so.i.c4@f5 ~d2 104.@fS ~f2 105 ..tf3 :b2 106.
81.@b4 @f4 82.l:e7 l::thS 83.@c3 l:ieS l:h4 l:tb8107.@f4 'i.t'f2 108.l:h2+ @el
84.l::l:f7+ :ctrs 85.l:te7 :es 86.l:th7 l::te3+ 109 ..l1Le4
78.l::te3 @f6 79.@c3 l:th4 80.i.c4 @f5 Now there are only two moves that
81.@b4 @f4 82J~e7 :cthS 83.@c3 l:ieS keep the position drawn: the one played
84.l:tf7+ J:!.rs ss.:e1 :ctes 86.l:!.h7 l:!.e3+ in the game, and 109 ... @dl.
It's very hard to play this position 109 ...:bJ 110 ..11Lf3 :!:b4+ 111.@g3
without guideposts, so it's important to
memorize at least one of the defensive
fortresses. After 93 .. .i:d2, Black could
try to set up a defensive barrier on the
second rank.
94.:cth3+ @f2 95.i.c4 :etas 96.@d4
l:ta4 97 .l:c3 l:a7 98.@e4 l:th7 99.!If3+
I finally manage to drive Black's king
closer to the edge of the board; and
although the position remains drawn, Black
must now pay attention or he will lose.
I, Kowrr('·r no T) pm'4:,
Ilpa11HTe.1I.cTBa MocKDH
In good company: at the AeroRot Open with Viktor Korchnoi and Boris Spassky,
Moscow, February 2005
150
Russian Gold
151
Chapter 7
152
Russian Gold
153
Chapter 7
20.li:ldS
Playing the Dragon requires you to stay
vigilant, since one incautious move could
have nasty consequences. For instance,
20.°i¥h2? (with the idea of 20 ... 'i¥a6
21..lii.f8) would be bad due to 20... l:txc3!
21..td2 .tg7 22 ..txc3 l:txc3 23.bxc3
154
Russian Gold
155
Chapter 7
It might have been simpler to play 15 .. . 21.tllxe6 (21.~xf5 i.g6 22.~h3 0-0)
0xe3 16.fxe3 i.h5, with the idea of .. . 21...fxe6 22.~xf5 i.f7 23.0f3 0-0, with
i.g6, for example: 17.l:kl i.g618.i.xg6 an even game.
hxg6 19.~d3 ~b6 20Jk2 0-0 21.l:tacl 20 ... 0e2+!?
Ufc8 22.~b3 ~a7 23.l:tc3, and drawn in After20 ... 0e6 21.~xf5 i.g6 22.~g4
Batsanin-Denisov, Novokuznetsk 2001. or 20 ... tllxb3 21.e6, White would have an
16.b4 i.hS easy game and the upper hand.
Again, 16... i.d8 or 16... 0xe317.fxe3 21.~hl
(17.Uxe3) 17 ... i.h5 were worth looking 21.Uxe2!? deserved consideration,
into. but Black should be able to defend
17.i.xfS!? with accurate play, for example: 21...
An interesting novelty. The move i.xe2 22.tlld4 (22.e6 fxe6 23.tlld4 i.g4
previously played was 17.l:ta2?! 0-0 18.h3, 24.tllgxe6 f4! - a resource that saves
and after a game which was certainly Black time and again) 22 ... i.g4 23.h3
not error-free, White overcame his (23.e6 fxe6 24.0gxe6 f4 25.0c5 ~e7)
opposition in Morozevich- Petursson, 23 ... ~e7 24.f4 h6.
London 1994. 21 ...b6?
17 ... exfS 18.i.gS i.xgS 19.tllxgS A mistake, which could have been
0xd4 fatal had White played accurately. Black
had to finish developing, by 21...0-0!
2Vllc5 (22.g4 is not so strong here,
because White no longer has the threat
of e5-e6, as she would with the king still
on e8: 22 ... i.xg4 23.f3 i.hS 24.l:txe2
h6):
20.0b3!
This move came as a complete surprise
to me. These were the variations I had
looked at:
I) 20.~d3 0e6 21.~xf5 i.g6 22.~g4 In this position, during the game I
h5 (or 22 ... 0xg5 23.~xg5 0-0) 23.~h4 only looked at 22 ... ~c8, but Black has
0-0 24.0xe6 fxe6, with approximate other possibilities:
equality; 1) 22 ... ~e7?! 23.~xf5 i.g6 (23 ... g6
2) 20.e6 20 ... 0xe6 (20 ... fxe6 21.~d3 24.~f6; here, compared to the 22 ... ~d8
h6 22.~xd4 hxg5 23.0b3, with strong variation, Black's queen is undefended,
compensation for the two pawns) so she has to allow the trade 24 ... ~xf6
156
Russian Gold
25.exf6, with the better ending for 3a2) 25.g4 ..txg4 26.f3 lllf4 27.fxg4
White) 24.~g4 lllc3 25.e6 f6 26.lllh3 h6, and White's knights are no better than
llle4 27.l:'facl, and White has the better Black's pawns;
position; 3a3) 25.~e5 b6 26.lllcxe6 h6
2) 22 ... ~d8!? 23.~xf5 g6 24.~f6 27.f3 (27.lllc7 hxg5 28.~xd5+ @h7
b6 25.~xd8 (25.llld3 h6 26.lllh3 .tg4 29.lllxa8 ~b8, with more than enough
27.f3 i.xh3 28.J:txe2 ..tf5, and Black is compensation) 27 ... hxg5 28.J:txe2 ~c4,
no worse) 25 ... J:tfxd8 26.llla4 b5 27.lllc5 and Black stands better;
h6 28.lllh3 g5, when the game is about 3a4) 25.J:txe2 .ltxe2 26.~xe2 b6
even; 27.llld3 ~c3 (27 ... h6 28..l:Icl ~e8
3) 22 ... ~c8: 29.lllf3 J:tc8 is also possible, with about
equal play) 28 ..l:kl ~xa3 29.~dl (29.
J:tc7?! e5 30.~h5? h6, and Black wins).
It might seem that Black's cut-off queen
and pieces scattered all across the board
would be unable to offer White any
resistance, but Black finds counterplay:
29 ... aS 30.lllf4axb4 3I.lllgxe6b3 32.lllc7
b2 33.~xd5+ @h8. White's attack is
at an end, while Black's passed pawns
remain.
3a) 23.e6!? (this move leads to 3b) 23.f3 lllf4 (another interesting
interesting positions, where both sides idea is 23 ... b6 24.e6 bxc5 25.~xf5 .ltg6
have chances) 23 ... fxe6 24.~b2!? 26.exf7+@h8 [or26 ... Mxf7!? 27.~xc8+
(24.lllgxe6 Mf6 25.lllg5 h6 26.lllh3 J:txc8 28.lllxf7@xf7 29.J:txe2 c4 30.Md2
[26.lllf3 .txf3 27.gxf3 lllf4] 26 ... b6 @e6] 27.~xc8 ~axc8 28.J:txe2 c4
27 .lll d3 f4, and Black goes on the 29.J:td2 c3 30.Mxd5 h6 3I.llle4 .ltxe4
attack; 24.~d3 ~f6 25.J:txe2 would 32.fxe4 Mxf7, with a roughly equal
lead to the variation examined after endgame) 24. Mel:
24.~b2) 24 .. J:f6:
157
Chapter 7
24.~cl?
Now the initiative really does go over
to Black; whereas 24.~d3! would have
left the position unclear. I intended to play
22.g4? 24... tlle4, but after 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.~g3,
After using up almost all of her my long-planned 26 ... h6? would not
remaining time, White chooses what must work, because of 27.e6 i.xe6 (27 ... fxe6
be the most unfortunate continuation 28.tllxe4 would also lose) 28.tllxe6 ~xe6
available, and gives Black counterplay. 29.~xg7, with a decisive advantage. Also
She had several attractive moves which bad would be 26 ... 0-0? 27.l:tgl, with an
would have forced Black to pay for her attack. My best chance was 26 ...~fS, but
inaccuracies: after 27.h4, Black would still have a lot of
I) 22.e6 fxe6 23.f3 (23.~b2 h6) problems to overcome. For example: 27...
23 ... lllf4 24.~xf5 l:tf8 25.~eS, with ~g6 (evidently strongest: 27 ...i.h5? 28J::tfl
advantage; ~g6 29.Mxfl h6 30.~h3 Md8 31.Mfo gxto
2) 22.~d3! (this was the move !feared 32.~e6+ 'it>f8 33.l:tfl hxg5 34.Mxfo+ ~fl
most during the game) 22 ... lllf4 (22 ... ~b5 35.~xb6Me8 36.tllc5, with an attack; 27...
23.~xf5) 23.~e3 tlle6 (23 ... h6 24.e6 h6 28.Ilfl hxg5 [28 ... ~g6 29.lllxfl 0-0
fxe6 25.~xf4hxg5 26.~xfS i.fl 27.tlld4, 30.tlld6] 29.MxfS Mxh4+ 30.'it>g2 i.xf5
with advantage to White) 24.tllxe6 fxe6 31.~e3 Mc8 32.tlld4, and Black does not
25.~xb6, with advantage; have enough compensation for the sacrificed
3) 22.~b2!? tllf4 23.e6 fxe6 24.~d4 queen) 28.tlld4 (28.~xg4 h6 29.Macl hxg5
h6 25.~xf4 hxg5 26.~xfS, transposing 30.Mc8+) 28 ...i.d7, with an unclear game,
into the variations examined above. although I'd rather have White.
22 ... i.xg4 23.f'3 tllc3 Notealsothat24.~c2!? isn'ttoogood, in
I was satisfied with my position here, view of24...l:k8 (24...i.xf3+ 25.tllxf3 llle4)
believing that White would have great 25.~d3 tlle4 (25 ...d4 26.e6 ~d5 27.exfl+
difficulty finding a move. But in fact 'it>d7) 26.fxe4 fxe4 27.~g3. This is a position
matters are not so simple. The game has from the 24.~d3 variation, but with an
become sharp and complex, and every extra tempo for Black. Now 27 ... h6? 28.e6
move carries a high price tag. i.xe6 29.tllxe6 would be bad for Black.
158
Russian Gold
159
Chapter 7
--
I'
. - .
II
~1:~1
With the Russian Championship Cup, Samara, May 2005
160
Russian Gold
In 2005, there were hardly any such No. 36 Ruy Lopez C78
tournaments, with Krasnoturinsk being A. Kosteniuk - A. Stefanova
the lone "women's Linares." I played Krasnoturinsk 2005
in the Northern Urals only in 2005, but
from year to year, both the organization 1.e4 es VZ'if3 li:lc6 J.j,bS a6 4..ia4
and the player lineup have remained on li:lf6 s.o-o b5 6..ib3 j,cs
the highest oflevels. Antoaneta and I have had a genuine
Again, a few words from my diary. theoretical discussion in this variation.
This is from 6/30/2005: For the moment, the results are
Today, I have to travel again - on the trending in my favor. After my wins in
road, to the Urals. I'll see my Grandma our games at the World Mind Sports
and Grandpa. Once again, I go into the Games (Beijing 2008), Stefanova hasn't
unknown, to play in some tournament. I repeated the line. Even the most solid
try not to think about it. Since I can never openings sometimes require time off
predict how things will go. So for now, I for repairs.
look forward to a change ofscenery and to 7.a4 .ib7 8.d3 b4
seeing my relatives. In the end, however the In Krasnoturinsk 2004, this move
tournament may work out, I am bound to brought Antoaneta a victory over Alisa
try to bring back with me more than I bring Galliamova. But this time, Fortune would
to it. Thoughts, impressions, love.... not be on Stefanova's side.
l~- --
---·-·-
161
Chapter 7
9.j,g5
9.a5 and 9.lllbd2 have been played
also.
9... h6 10.j,eJ
162
Russian Gold
35.:bl! No.37
Now the threats are :b4 and tl'if6. A. Kosteniuk - Xu Yuhua
Once again White demonstrates the truth Krasnoturinsk 2005
of the principle that all of one's pieces
must take part in the attack.
35 ...ll'le6
28.:xeS
The winning line was 28.tl'ixb7! i.xb7
29.:xe5 'ii'a2 (29 ... 'ii'c8 30.c6! 'ii'xc6
36.ll'lxg7! 3I.:xa5+ Wc8 32.1ii°h3+ :d7 33.:as+
This was called the best move of the i.xa834.:xb8#)30.c6!1ii°xbl+ 31.:eI+!
tournament. I received a souvenir for It was just this last move that I failed to see
it from the Russian chess composition when calculating this variation.
magazine Ura/sky Problemist. I won't 28 ... 'ii'a2 29.:dt Wa8 30.hS
deny that it's very nice to be able to make Here I could have set a pretty trap by
such a move in an actual game. 30.1ii°h3!?, and if 30... i.d7?? (30 ... 'ii'xa4
Of course, I could also have won by would be a better choice, with an inferior,
means of the less elegant, but scarcely though playable, position), then 31.c6!.
less effective 36.:t7 ll'lf8 (36 ... 'ii'e8 30 ... 'ii'xa4 31.1ii°h4?
37.tl'if6) 37.1ii°xg7+ :xg7 38.:xf8+, Desperation. White might still have
with a simple win; but then somebody played on after 3I.:cl 'ii'a3 32.:dI.
else would probably have won the prize 31. ..1ii°xh4 32.i.xh4 :xg2+ 33.Wfl
for the tournament's best move. :h2 34.i.xd8 i.f3
36... tZ'lgS White resigned. I ended up sharing
After 36 ... :xg7 37.:bs+ tl'id8 second and third places with Xu Yuhua,
38.:f8+, Whitemates;andon36 ... 'ii'xg7 placing third on tiebreak. The 2005
37.'ii'xe6, the win is also not far off. Southern Urals Cup went to Humpy
37.'ii'xh6+ tl'ih7 38.ll'lfS. Black Koneru.
resigned.
In August 2005, I played on the
In my game with Xu Yuhua, I Russian team in the European Team
overlooked a winning continuation, and Championship. This time, the sizes
unfortunately lost. of the men's and the women's teams
163
Chapter 7
were equalized: each had four regular Champion - Chess960, planned for the
players plus one reserve. The Russian summer of 2006.
women's team was as follows: I played In September 2005 I decided to play
on first board, Nadezhda Kosintseva in the men's national championship in
was on second, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya Kazan. The Upper League ofthe Russian
played on third, fourth was Tatiana Men's Championship turned out to be
Kosintseva, and our reserve board was very interesting, and a most serious test:
Alisa Galliamova. Of course we hoped I scored 4 points out of 9. The critical
that increasing the number of boards moment ofthe tournament for me was my
would help us secure the prized gold sixth-round game: had J.not overlooked
medal - but we ended up taking only a winning continuation in my game
the bronze. Playing brilliantly, the Polish against Valery Popov, everything might
team finished first. have turned out differently. Instead of
Immediately after the European winning that game, I even managed to
Championship, I went on to Mainz, lose. I did manage to win my final-round
where I competed for the chance to play game, though, so at least the tournament
a match for the title of Women's World ended on a positive note.
In front of a poster for the Northern Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk, July 2005
164
Russian Gold
30 ... ~g6?
The right move was 30... ~e6!, which 37 ... ~c6?
also attacks the e4-pawn - but not The decisive error. I should have
directly (as from g6), but indirectly, due to played 37 ... fS, with drawing chances.
the threat of31...ll:lf3+. White has a fairly Because of the weakness of his king,
wide selection of moves here, but none of White could not allow the enemy rook
them provides an adequate defense: access to his first rank. For example:
l) 31.f4 ~g4 32.j,e3 'i¥e2, with 38.~dS+ <.t>h7 39.~xe4 fxe4 40.~d7
unstoppable threats; j,f6 41.c5 ll:ld4.
2) 31.j,f4 l'l:lf3+ 32.<.t>g2 'i¥xe4 38.'i¥d5 'i¥xd5 39.cxdS g5 40.~c7
33.~xd3 l'l:lel+, and wins; ~f6 41.d6 Ma7 42.~b6 ~xa4
165
Chapter 7
166
Russian Gold
167
Chapter 7
168
Russian Gold
169
Chapter 7
Winners of the 2005 Golden Blitz - Ruslan Ponomariov and Alexandra Kosteniuk
170
Chapter 8
Career and Family
A few lines from my diary, 01/09/2006: Open, even with the last-round loss, was
Life goes on - there goes another year 2657. Here's my Round 8 win.
of my little life, into the past. Everything
changes around me. I go on complaining, No. 41 Sicilian Defense 828
crying, laughing - being myself. I remain A. Kosteniuk - R. Kempinski
convinced that the most important things Moscow2006
in life are to love and to believe that
everything will turn out right. And to strive 1.e4 c5 2.Qlf3 a6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 'iVxdS
to be better. 5.d4 e6 6.i.e2 Qlf6 7.0-0 Qic6 8.i.e3
After winning the "Golden Blitz," I cxd4 9.cxd4 i.e7 10.QlcJ 'iVd8
had a short break between tournaments. I A typical isolated-pawn position.
greeted the New Year 2006 in Las Vegas, 11.QieS i.d7 12.aJ 0-0 13Jkt
playing in one of those American opens White could also have played 13.i.d3
so famous for their democratic nature l:tc8 14.f4 at once.
(amateurs with ratings of 2000 play for 13... l:tc8 14.i.dJ i.d6
about the same prizes as the grandmasters)
and a very difficult schedule - usually,
two games per day.
My preparation for the 2006 World
Championship, to be held in March in
Ekaterinburg, was the Aeroflot Open
in Moscow. It remains to this day one
of my most successful appearances in
men's tournaments. I scored 5/9, staying
undefeated until the last round. In this
tournament, I drew with such famous
grandmasters as former world champion
Alexander Khalifman, Alexander Moty- 15.f4?!
lev, Wang Yue, Bu Xiangzhi, and Alexey White goes for broke. An earlier
Korotylev. In Rounds 2 and 8, I scored game between Kramnik and Karpov
victories over grandmasters Murtas Kazh- (Dortmund 1999), where White played
galeyev and Robert Kempinski, and only more solidly, was drawn after 15.Qlxd7
lost in the last round to Tigran Petrosian 'iVxd7 16.'iVf3 Qle7 17.i.g5 Qled5
- namesake of the great world champion. 18.i.xf6 Qlxf6 19.d5 Qlxd5 20.Qlxd5
.\1y performance rating for the Aeroflot l:txcl 21.i.xh7+ '.t>xh7 22.'iVhS+ '.t>g8
171
Chapter8
20 ...:cs?
Granting White additional possibili-
ties. lnserting 20 ....t b5 21.~ b I first was
more accurate; only then should Black
occupy the c-file by 2l...Mc8.
21.~bl
21.t'Zlxd7!? t'Zlxd7 22.~xh7+ @f8
(22 ... @xh7 is bad, because 23.Mh3+@g8 30 ... @e6
24.~h5winstherookonc8)23.~d3~xb2 Black could also have refuted the
24.f5, with the initiative, looks good. attack with the problem-like move
21. .. ~bS 22.~c2 'Wic7 23.~b3 t'Zld5 30 ... g5, for example: 31.'Wixg5+ @e6
24.Mh3 g6 25 ..txdS exd5 26.~el ~c2 32.'Wig4+ @e7 33.iVgS+ (33.'Wixc8?
27.Cllg4 iVbl +! - that's the idea behind the move
...g6-g5: in all variations, the rook on h7
is now hanging) 33 ... @d7 34.'Wif5+ @c7
35.i¥xf7+@b6 36.i¥xb7+@a5 37 .'Wixc8
~bl+! (here's where the inclusion of
...g6-g5 matters) 38.@f2 'Wixh7 39.'Wid8+
~c7 40.'Wixd5 ~xh2 41.~d2+ @b6
42.a4.
31.~g4+ @e7?
It wasn't too late to go back to 31...
@f6.
32.i¥xc8 i¥e2?
172
Career and Family
32 ... ~al+ 33.~cl ~xa3 was un- 1.lllf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.i.g2 i.g4 4.0-0
clear. llld7 5.d3 e6 6.lllbd2 i.d6 7.b3 lllgf6
33.~cli.d3? 8.i.b2 0-0 9.h3 i.h5 10.c4 :es 11.~c2
Black has clearly lost the thread, and e5 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 a5
now commits the decisive error. At home, we examined the games
~uba-Salov, Moscow 1986, and Hickl-M.
Gurevich, Jakarta 1996 as examples of
how to play this variation correctly, as in
those games, all the main ideas for Black
were revealed and convincingly carried
out. All that remained for me to do was
to demonstrate the fruits of our successful
homework:
1.ll:lf3 ll:lf6 2.g3 dS 3.i.g2 c6 4.0-0
i.g4 5.c4 e6 6.b3 lllbd7 7..tb2 i.d6 8.d3
0-0 9.lllbd2 :es 10.~c2 eS ll.e4 dxe4
12.dxe4a5:
34.f5! i.xf5 35.i.g5+ 'itf8 36.i.f6
Black resigned.
173
Chapter8
I -~ •• • :I~
_,,,_, .•
t.:,Q
;.., .'
'- .
·.-·-· . .- ~:- .-~, ~:..,~l'\t'ii.rJ,:;....-....::.:
---··-
4
game for Black) 21...l:td8!? 22.~cl (22. Clearly Black has jumped ahead ofher
tZ:lc2 tZ:lc5 23.~e3 ~d2 24.ll:le7+ Wh8 opponent in development, so beginning
25.tZ:lc8 ~xe3 26.tZ:lxb6 ll:ld3!? 27.ll:lxe3 active play in this situation must be
tZ:lxb2, with a small advantage for Black) somewhat risky.
22 ... tZ:le6 23.g4 (23.tZ:lc2 tZ:ldc5 24.~e3 18 ... axb4 19.axb4 ll:ld3 20.bS ~b4
l:td3 loses) 23 ...~g6, with a slightly better 21.tZ:lb3?
position in Hickl-M. Gurevich, Jakarta White has to play very accurately in
1996. After some complex play, Black order not to lose material. She should
went on to win. have tried to trade off as many pieces as
possible; then she wouldn't need to think
about defending them. For example:
21.~xb4tZ:lxb4 22.~a4!? (22.~c3?! tZ:ld3
23.bxc6? ~e2! 24.cxb7 ~xfl 25.l:txfl
~xb7) 22 ... tZ:ld3 23.~a7.
21 ... ~xc3
Perhaps the immediate capture, 21...
cxb5 22.c5 ~ c6, was more exact.
22JWxc3 cxb5 23.cS ~c7
23 ... b4 would not work, because of
24.~xd3 l:txd3 25.cxb6 ~xb3 26.l:tabl,
with equality.
14.a3 ~b615.tZ:lh4 l:tad816.tZ:lf5 ~ffl 24.tZ:le3 b4
17.~c3 ll:lcS 18.b4?! 24 ... ik6! deserved consideration.
174
Career and Family
25.~c4?
25.~c2 would offer stiffer resis-
tance. During the game, I had calcu-
lated some pretty though non-forcing
variations in response to this: 25 ...
lt:lf4!? 26.gxf4 exf4 27.lt:ld5 lt:lxd5 28.
exd5 f3 29.d6. Here, Black would have
a choice to make:
31 ... e4
On 31...~a8, 32.ll'la5 is unpleasant;
while 31...b6 leads to a drawn endgame
after 32.cxb6 ~c6+ 33.~gl ~xd6
34.~xd6 l:txd6 35.b7 Mb8 36.lt:lc5 l:Ib6
37.lt:ld7 l:t6xb7 38.ll'lxb8 Mxb8.
32.ll'ld4
29 ... ~c6 (29 ... ~d7 30.J.hl ~:xh3 32.ll'la5!? would have been interest-
31.IIfel with an unclear game; 29 ... l:Ixd6 ing.
30.~fel l:If8 31.J.fl Mg6+ 32.~hl, and 32...1::taS
the position is unclear) 30.l:tfel (30.J.hl? It seemed more important to me to
Mxd6 and Black wins) 30 ... fxg2 31.lt:ld4 seize the open file than to open up the
~c8, when Black is ahead on material, enemy king position. But it would still
but in a rather sharp position requiring have been more accurate to first play 32...
accurate play. e3 33.fxe3 l:Ixe3.
25 ... J.e2 26.lZ'idS 33.l:Ibtl:Ia7
After 26.l:Ifb 1, White loses her center And here, 33 ... e3 would actually lose:
pawn: 26 ... lt:lf427.~xb4lt:lxg2 28.~xg2 34.~xb7 ~xb7+ 35.l:txb7 e2 36.ll'lxe2
.id3. Mxe2 37.c6 - it's a well-known fact that
26 ... lt:lxdS 27.exd5 lt:lf4 28.d6 ~d7 two connected passed pawns on the sixth
Less accurate would be either 28 ... rank often beat a rook.
:txd6, because of29.~xb4 Mg6 30.~fel, 34.~c4?
with an unclear game; or 28 ... ~xd6 34.lll b5 was correct, putting the
29.cxd6 J.xc4 30.gxf4 J.xfl 31.J.xfl question to Black of how she intends to
exf4 32.d7. improve her position.
29.~xb4 lllxg2 30.~xg2 J.xfl+ 34 ... e3!
31.~xfl After this, White's position can no
Although Black is the exchange up, it longer be held.
will not be easy to bring home the point, 35.fxe3 Mxe3 36.Mfl g6 37. ~b5 ~d8
considering my opponent's central pawn 38.Mt2 Maa3 39.lt:lf3
mass. On 39.lt:le2, Black wins with 39...~g5.
175
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176
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177
Chapter8
Team Russia on the way to the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, 2006. Left to right:
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva
,l
r-· '
1-j
I!- I~-
With FIDE President Kirsan 1/yumzhinov and team coaches Yuri Dokhoian (left) and
Alexander Rustemov
178
Career and Family
Champion in "Chess960" - or, as some same, there are times when a king may
still call it, "Fischerandom Chess." start on b I and end up on gl, which will
Hans-Walther Schmitt, the irreplaceable often upset the plans of an opponent who
festival organizer, every year finds ways has forgotten that such long castling is
to improve the tournament; and every permitted.
summer, one sees more and more strong The first day's play in my match with
players in Mainz. Elizabeth ended with the score tied at
In the mornings, the tournament hall 2-2; but on the second day, I won three
is given over to the numerous participants games out of four, and the overall score
in the open tournaments. In the evenings, ended at SY:z-2Y:z.
on stage we have the matches that
determine world champions in Rapid No.43
and Fischerandom Chess. The spectators E. Pahtz - A. Kosteniuk
can not only watch these interesting Mainz 2006 (m/6)
encounters, but also listen to grandmaster
commentary. In addition, special screens,
visible only to the spectators, show the
computers' evaluations of the current
position.
I like playing Fischerandom Chess
very much, because here there can
be no endless replaying of opening
variations. You don't need to spend
the whole morning before the round
anxiously trying to guess what opening
your opponent will play; instead, you
can take a leisurely walk along the Rhine l.d4
riverbank. In Fischerandom Chess, the In Chess960, the development and
opening position is selected at random coordination of the pieces are even more
immediately before the game starts, important than in normal chess.
and the thinking begins at move one. l...d5 2.lt:Jf3 lt:Jd6 3.lt:Jd3 e6 4.g3 lt:Je4
The pawns in the Fischerandom Chess 5.i.g2 f6 6.ctJd2 i.g6 7.lt:Jf4 i.f5
starting position are placed normally. The opening stage is difficult
The pieces are placed according to two to comment on, but today I would
rules: each player must have one light- have played it a little differently: the
squared and one dark-squared bishop, bishop's development to g6 seems a bit
and the king must be placed between artificial.
the rooks. This reduces the number 8.lt:Jxe4 dxe4 9.e3 g5 10.lt:Je2 i.g6
of possible starting positions down to ll.h4 f5 12.hxgS ~xg5 13.lllf4 i.f7
960. The castling rules are somewhat 14.i.c3 i.g7
different: although the final positions of Black's pieces are not harmoniously
both short and long castling remain the placed. White could try playing
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Chapter8
24 ... 'ii'ti
After some rather strange play in the
opening, and castling in Fischer-chess
16.'ii'bS 'ii'e7 17.g4 a6 18.'~'aS 'ii'd7 style, we've practically reached a normal
19.gxfS exf5 20.t'3?! position.
White should not have opened up the 25.~dfl?!
e-file for the black pieces. Once again, 25.Wbl was better.
20.Q:lh5!? deserved consideration. 25 ... MheS
20 ... Q:lf6 21.fxe4 Q:lxe4 22 ..@.h3 .i.g6 25 ... li'lxc3!? should be considered.
23.~gl Wb8 24.0-0-0 26.i.b4 ltJd6 27.i.xd6 l':xd6
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181
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182
Career and Family
Blitz can be played very aggressivelY, And after a few more adventures,
because piece activity is one of the most White won on move 67.
important factors for success in blitz
chess. The Upper League of the Russian
18 ... i.xd6 19.exd6 ~xd6 20.lZ'ie4 Men's Championship at Tomsk was to
~dd8 21.0-0 'iilb8 22.'iilhl 'iila8 be one of the worst tournaments of my
23Jiael entire career. My losing streak began in
For the sacrificed pawn, White has the second round, after I overlooked a
compensation in the form of the strong pretty drawing combination.
light-squared bishop.
23 ... i.gS 24.t'Z'igS e5 25.Vj'g3 exf4 No.45
26.i.xf4 ~de8? 27 .i.d6 A. Kosteniuk - E. lnarkiev
White would be almost winning after Tomsk2006
27 .i.c7! Vj'b4 28J!xf8 ~xf8 29.i.d6 ~c8
30.lbe4, as Black would be unable to
defend the c5-pawn.
27 ... ~xfl+ 28.~xfl t'Z'ib4 29.t'Z'ie4
i. d5 30. t'Z'i xc5 i. xg2 + 31. Vj' xg2 Vj' c6
32.Vj'xc6 bxc6 33.gS t'Z'ig4 34.l:i:17
Continuing to play for mate, but in the
endgame White could also think about
pawn weaknesses, such as by 34.l:i:f4!?.
34... t'Z'ixc2 35.t'Z'ld7 l:i:el+ 36.'iilg2
26.Vj'h4?
By this point, I had already used up
almost two hours; but despite spending
almost all my remaining time, I could
not find the strongest continuation,
26.i.xh6 gxh6:
36 ...'ii1 b7??
36 ... t'Z'ice3+ 37.'iilg3 ~gl+ 38.'iilh3
~hi+ 39.'iilg3 ~gl + would have been a
perpetual check, but now we were down
to our last few seconds.
37.t'Z'ieS+ 'iilc8 38.t'Z'ixg4 d3 39.i.f4 27.t'Z'i d6!. This was the move
d2 40.i.xd2 I:i:e2+ 41.~t'l I overlooked; the line I considered,
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Chapter8
27.li:lxh6 li:lf6 28.~h4 ..txh6, led 36 ... exf3 was more exact, but both
nowhere. players were now in very deep time
27 ... ..txd6. Afterothercontinuations, pressure.
Black is even a little worse: 27 ... ll'if6 37 .fxe4 fxe4 38. Wh2
28.ll'ixb7 ll'ixh5 29 ...txdS with a slight 38.~g6 would have held out longer.
advantage to White; 27 ... ~c6 28 ...txdS 38 ... e3 39.I:i:fl I:i:xfl 40.I:i:xfl e4
~xd5 (28 ... ~xd6 29.~xf7 ll'iffi 30.i.xa8 41.~e8+
I:i:xa8 3 l.a4, with a little better position The time scramble is over, and Black
for White) 29.ll'ixf7+ Wg8 (29 ... Wg7 confidently brings home the point.
30.li:lxh6 with an attack; 29 ... Wh7? 4t.. ...tg8 42 ...tdt ~c7+ 43.Whl
30.I:i:adl ~c6 31.~d6! and White wins) ~g344.~h5 li:ld245.I:i:gl ..tc446.~e8+
30.~g6+ ..tg7 31.li:lxh6+ Wf8 32.ll'if5 'it>h7 47.~d7 ~f4 48 ...tg4 li:lfl
~fl 33.~xfl+ Wxfl 34.li:ld6+ 'it'e6 White resigned.
35.li:lxe8 ~xe8 36.a4, with the better
ending. In chess as so frequently in life - after
28.~xh6+ 'it>g8 29.I:i:e3 li:lf8 30.~g3+ a dark time comes the light. After Tomsk,
li:lg6 31.l:i:xg6+ fxg6 32.~xg6+ Wh8 I immediately flew to Mexico, where I did
33.~h6+ ~h7 34.~f6+ ~g7 35.~h4+ very well in a rapid-chess tournament,
~h7 36.~ffi+ with perpetual check. sharing second and third places with
Korchnoi, and defeating him in our
personal two-game match.
This is exactly why we should not let
ourselves get too downhearted after bad
performances and give up: betterwe should
make an effort to understand our errors,
and work on them carefully, before the next
tournament. We also should not forget that
such dark times may stretch out for several
events in a row; but that in any case, we
need to keep working, while believing that
we shall eventually succeed.
26 ... I:i:e6 27...tc2 After Mexico, I returned to Europe
I should have accepted the slightly for the Cap d'Agde tournament, and got
inferior endgame after 27 ...txdS Vi:Vxd5 right off the plane into the playing hall.
28.~xe4. The tournaments in this French resort
27 ... I:i:c8 28 ...td2 li:l b6 29.I:i:adl town appear to have been organized
li:lc4 30 ...tcl I:i:f6 (30 ... li:ld6 was better) according to the motto: "Liberte, Egalite,
31.li:lxh6 I:i:xh6 32...txh6 gxh6 33.~h5? Fratemite. "In order to get your lunch and
Again, I should have taken on e4: dinner, you must stand in an enormous
33 ...txe4 ..txe4 34.~xe4. line at the restaurant, and then get to the
33 ... ..tg7 34.a4 ~f8 35.axb5 axb5 buffet table. But even this atmosphere
36.f3f5 of equality is not as terrifying as the
184
Career and Family
On excursion to the Teotihuacan pyramids with Anatoly Karpov and Sergey Kariakin
185
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Career and Family
27.liJcS ~h6 28.liJe4 ~g6 29.tiJcS i.xg2 51.l::te5+ @g4 52.h5!), I re-
~g5?! signed.
The most logical continuation would In November, I competed in a blitz
have been to take the draw by 29 ... ~h6, tournament in Moscow, which turned out
but even now, I thought I had a very to be my last event before the break for my
dangerous attack. pregnancy and the birth of my daughter.
30.~d3 :n? 31.i.c2? Here is one of my wins.
A mistake. 31.liJe4 ~g6 32.~xe3
was stronger, when Black doesn't have No. 47 Ruy Lopez CBB
enough compensation for the three E. Sutovsky- A. Kosteniuk
pawns: 32 ... nff8 33.i.f3. Moscow 2006 (blitz)
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Career and Family
young players that they play no more The expert on this variation preferred
than ten blitz games per day, and ab- not to castle, instead playing 13 ... b4
solutely analyze every game they play. here. For example: 14.llle2 h6 15.i.h4
I never start a new blitz session until [ I:i:c8 16.i.f2 VJ/ic7 17.l::.tcl d5 18.lllg3
have analyzed the games I played the dxe4 19.lllxe4 0-0 20.g3 a5 21..td4 a4
day before. Internet play can provide 22.lllbd2 l::tfd8 23.VJ/ie2 a3 24.b3 lllxe4
useful sparring, but only if it doesn't 25.lllxe4 i.xe4 26.VJ/ixe4 lllf6 27.i.xf6
take up all your time. i.xf6 28.c4 bxc3 29.VJ/ih7+ Wf8 30.i.c2
In recent years, many blitz tour- 'it>e7 31.fS nh8 32.I:i:xe6+ fxe6 33.VJ/ig6
naments have been held through the e5 34.b4 VJ/ic4 35 ..tb3 c2+, and White
Internet. At the end of 2006, after [ resigned in Visser-Dvoirys, Leeuwarden
had stopped playing in serious events, l 1995.
competed in one of them, organized by 14.Villh3 h6 15.i.xf6 .txf6 16.eS!?
theACP. A typical shot in these kinds of
positions. With this pawn sacrifice, White
No. 48 Sicilian Defense B96 tries to whip up an attack against the
A. Kosteniuk - K. Sasikiran black king.
Internet 2006 16 ...dxeS 17.i.e4
I 7.f5!? was worth considering.
1.e4 c5 2.Cllf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lbxd4 17 ...exf418.i.xb7+ Villxb7
lll f6 5.lll c3 a6 6 ..t g5 e6 7 .f4 lll bd7 I 8... Wxb7 was better, leaving d6 under
8.'@'f3 VJ/ic7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.i.d3 i.b7 the watchful eye of Black's queen.
11.:!::.thel Villb6 19.llle4 i.e7
12.lllb3 20J:td6!
The best-known line here is the sharp Even in a serious game, such a move
12.llldS!?, first played in Chiburdanidze- can throw an opponent into confusion;
Dvoirys, USSR 1980. But in blitz, I usually in blitz, Black went completely crazy and
try not to play the "Who remembers their lost immediately.
opening analysis better?" game. 20 ... Wb8? 21.lllaS VJ/ia7?? 22.Cllc6+
12....te7 13.@bl 0-0-0 Black resigned.
189
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Return
190
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*
4
First simu/ a~er returning to chess. Austria, September 2007
plays well too. In Crete, the Russian up my last reserves of strength for this
women's team took the gold for the first tournament in the following encounter
time in the history of this event. I used from the next-to-last round with Peng,
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Chapter 9
who had had nearly a perfect score up 24.~xe6+ ~xe6 25.l:txe6 dxc3 26.l::Ixf8
to that point. i. xf8 27 .i. fS, and Black resigned in
lvanchuk-Vaganian, Horgen 1995.
No. 49 French Defense C11 10.dxc5
A. Kosteniuk - Peng Zhaoqin 10.0-0 is also interesting.
Heraklion 2007 10 ... ~a5+ 11.c3 ~xc5 12.~e2
i.d6
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3/llc3 lllf6 4.$i,g5 Black is not in a hurry to castle. She
dxe4 5.Ci:l xe4 Ci:l bd7 6.Ci:l xf6+ Ci:l xf6 leaves herself the option of taking her
7.i.d3 h6 8.i.h4 i.d7 king to either side, and invites White to
Peng played a very interesting opening.
The game Morozevich-Zvjaginsev, Moscow
2005, continued as follows: 8... cS 9.dxcS
~as+ I0.c3 ~xc5 11.Ci:lf3 i.e7 12.~e2
0-0 13.0-0-0 i.d7 14.Ci:leS i.a4 15.l::Id2
a6 16.l::Iel, and after a complex battle the
players agreed to a draw on move 52.
9.Ci:lt'3 c5
9 ... i.c6 10.0-0 i.xf3 l 1.~xf3 c6
12.c3 i.e7 13.l:tael ~dS 14.~h3 g5
15.l:teS ~xa2 16.i.xgS 0-0-0 17.li.cl
ii.d6 18.l::Ie2 ~dS 19.f4 hS 20.~f3 cS
2I.f5 cxd4 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.~xf6 l::Ihf8
~ ~ ~ - - - - ·--- --
~
l
1
192
Return
13 ....txg3
After this move, White's position
begins to appeal to me more and more:
the h-file is now open, and I have a plan
to transfer my rook to the center and
advance my kingside pawns. During the
game, I spent the mosttime studying 13 ...
t'i:ld5, in order to take on g3 only if White
castles kingside. Possible continuations:
14.0-0-0 0xc3 (14 ... 0-0 15 ..ixd6 "@'xd6
16.~hel with a complex game; 14 ...
ttlf4?! 15.~d2 and Black has to retreat) 19.~e3!? "@'xe3 20.&Llxc6+ c;t>d7 (20 ...
15.bxc3 "@'xc3+ 16.~c2 "@'a3+ 17."@'b2 c;t>d6? is bad, in view of 21.t'i:lxd8 "@'xf2
~c8+ 18.c;t>bl; or 14.t'i:leS 0xc3 15."@'hS 22.t'i:lxt7+ c;t,c7 23.t'i:lxh8) 21.t'i:lxd8:
0-0 16.~cl .txe5 17 ..txeS f6 - with
mutual chances in both cases.
14.hxg3 .tc6 15.~h4 a6?!
15 ... ~d8 was better.
16.0-0-0 b5 17.c;t,bt
Unnecessary prophylaxis. Now Black
has ideas like ... ~d8-d3, ....te4, and- as
we shall see later on - moving the bishop
to a2 with check. 17.:d4 was stronger,
occupying the d-file and pushing Black
to decide where to castle. For example: 1) Fiery complications erupt after
17 ... 0-0 18.t'i:leS .tdS 19.c;t,bl, followed 21...~xf2 22 ..ixbS+ c;t>c7 23.~c4+:
by advancing the f- and g-pawns. 1a) 23 ... c;t, b6? 24.~ d6+ c;t> xb5
17 ... ~d8 18.tlle5 c;t>e7?! 25.~b4+ c;t>as 26.t'i:lb7#:
During the game, I had the feeling
that Peng didn't want to castle, so as
not to give me a chance to attack her
king. Even though in similar systems
Black's king frequently feels comfortable
enough on e7, this position looks to
me like one where Black should have
castled - 18 ... 0-0, now asking White to
declare her intentions, since advancing
her kingside pawns no longer works. For
example, on 19.g4(19.c4!?), Black replies Oh, how I wish that this variation had
with 19 ....te4. been forced!
Here I spent 20 minutes calculating lb) 23 ... c;t>b8 24 ..ixa6 "@'fS+ (24 ...
an interesting queen sacrifice: ~xd8 2s.:xd8+ c;t>a7 26.~a4) 2s.c;t,a1
193
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194
Return
195
Chapter9
No.SO
K. Lahno - A. Kosteniuk
Heraklion 2007
196
Return
21. .. ~d6?
The decisive error. Black still had
chances to draw with 21...~xf3 22.i.h6
ii.a5! 23Jhg7+ 'it'h8 24.ilc2 .ib6
25.:txh7+ 'it'g8.
22.:tdl?! Black resigned.
The "Knockoutn team: Ekaterina Korbut, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, Tatiana Kosintseva, Alexandra
Kosteniuk, Nadezhda Kosintseva
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Chapter 9
Despite this loss, our team was My first encounter with the Berlin
able to draw the match and win the Endgame occurred in 2003, in my match
European Team Championship. I took with Sergey Karjakin. Unprepared for
the bronze medal on first board. Gold this turn of the game, I struggled in vain
and silver on first board went to Peng and to make something of my position, but
Danielian, both of whom I had defeated. the outcome brought me no joy. The
Here was the lineup of our gold-medal Berlin Endgame, like the aforementioned
team: Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Sveshnikov Variation and Petrofrs
Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Defense, are all sworn enemies to
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya and Ekaterina White.
Korbut. It's interesting that the last After the exchange of queens, a
names of all the members of the Russian maneuvering game begins, where
team began with the letters "Ko" - the White tries to make something out of
abbreviation for "knockout." And in her kingside pawn majority and the
fact, we certainly did have a "knockout" black king's unfortunate position;
team! meanwhile, Black bets on his pair of
After a successful performance in bishops.
Crete, I took part in the next Tal Memorial 9.t2lc3 ild7 10.h3 h6 11.t2le4 b6
Blitz, where again I won some interesting 12.b3
games and matches. For example, Nowadays, Berlin theory has
winning the Berlin Endgame against a developed many moves further into
great specialist in this line like Zoltan the endgame. Of course, in a blitz
Almasi, meant a great dea1 to me. game you won't try to remember all
these numerous variations - you just
No. 51 RuyL6pezC67 play your setup. For this game, I chose
A. Kosteniuk - Z. Almasi the most "classical" arrangement of
Moscow 2007 (blitz) White's pieces in this ending: b2-b3,
.ib2 and l:tadl, l::tfel, playing in the
1.e4 e5 2.t2lf3 t2lc6 3 ..ib5 l2lf6 4.0-0 center.
t2lxe4 5.d4 l2ld6 6 ..txc6 dxc6 7 .dxe5 t2lf5 12 ... c5 13..tb2 @c8 14.l::tadl ii.c6
8.Vi'xd8+ Wxd8 15.~fel a5 16.a4!
After my game against Peter-
Heine Nielsen, I understood that
a2-a4 is practically an automatic
reaction by White against ... a7-a5 in this
ending.
16 ...ii.e7 17.g4
Trying to exploit the unfortunate
placement of the black pieces.
17 ... t2lh4 18.t2lxh4 ilxh4
198
Return
19.e6! 44.~c4+
A standard technique in these Of course it was better to take the
structures. e-pawn, when Black would have had to
19 ...fxe6 20.i.xg7 resign, since the e4-pawn would then be
White has broken up Black's kingside, unstoppable.
and later on will seek to attack the weak 44 ... @a7 4S.~xb4 :c7 46.@f3 :cs
e- and h-pawns. 47.@f4 es+ 48.@fS @a6
20 .. Jlh7 21.i.eS hS?! Here I lost the thread for a bit; but
He probably shouldn't have helped then I found the winning plan of trading
White to create a passed pawn. my queen for rook and pawn, reaching a
22.:eJ Wb7 23.t'3 hxg4 24.hxg4 c4 won pawn ending.
Black tries to dissolve his doubled 49.@e6 :as SO.@d6 :cs Sl.~d2
pawns and create counterplay on the Wa7 S2.~b2 @a6S3.~h2 Wa7 S4.~h8
queenside. :as SS.~xeS :xeS S6.@xeS Wa6
2S.@g2 cxb3 26.cxb3 i.e7 27.:c3 S7.@dS
i.b4 2s.:c2 :n? Black resigned.
The decisive error - Black just loses
a tempo. He should have played 28 ... After these successful forays at the
i.d5!? immediately, as after 29.:dcl European Team Championship and the
i.xb3 30.:xc7+ l:hc7 3L:xc7+ Wa6 Tai Memorial in Moscow, I returned once
the pawn races will soon begin, with the again to my daughter, who had turned just
outcome still unclear. 8 months old at the end of 2007.
29.:dcl i.dS 30.:xc7+ :xc7 For the first half of 2008, I didn't
3t.:xc7+ @a6 32.gS compete anywhere, but spent the
But now, Black clearly comes too time working and preparing for the
late. World Championship slated for June in
32 ...:gs 33.:g7 :cs 34.g6 i.xb3 Argentina. From the very beginning of
3S.:h7 :c2+ 36.@h3:ct 37.g7 :ht+ 2008, I had decided that I really wanted
38.Wg2 :xh7 39.g8~ :a7 40.~c8+ to play well in this World Championship,
:b7 41.i.d6 i.d5 42.i.xb4 i.xe4 43.fxe4 and began preparing myself with that
axb4 goal in mind. The more so in that, by
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200
Return
the Marshall Attack, I expected to conclude 48 ... @d5+! 49.l:bc8 (after 49.@h4,
the game with a quick victory. However, White even loses, in view of 49 ... '@' cfS)
Maxime sacrificed his queen and, after a 49 ... '@'g6+ 50.@f4 '@'h6+! (the queen
couple of poor decisions, I obtained a lost cannot be taken, because of stalemate)
position. But in the ending I was able to find 51.@fS (5I.'it>g4 '@'g6+ 52.@h3 '@'h6+
a study-like idea, which unfortunately was 53.Wg2 '@'d2+, with a perpetual):
not implemented.
No.52
M. Vachier-Lagrave - A. Kosteniuk
Paris 2008
46 .. .'@'c8
On 46 ...b I'@' 4 7 .h8'@' '@' e4+ 48.@h3
'@'fS+ 49.@h4, the checks are over, and
White wins.
47.l::tg8 bl'@' 48.l::txc8! 55.Wg8 '@'f7+ 56.Wxf? - stalemate
After this move, we reach an endgame in the center of the board!) 53 ... '@'h5+
where Black has every reason to expect a 54.@g7 '@'g5+ 55.@f? '@'h5+ 56.@e7
draw. In reply to the obvious and forced '@' f7 +, and the queen again sacrifices
(or so it seemed to me) 48.h8'@', I had herself to save the king.
found an astounding study-like idea: Honestly, when my opponent bypassed
that beautiful stalemating variation, I became
so upset that I played the rest ofthe game veiy
weakly, and resigned on move 85.
After this round, it was as though
something had broken; I played the rest
of my games very badly. After losing
ingloriously in the last round, I caught
myself thinking this was a bit of deja vu.
Following such a weak performance, all I
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Chapter 9
could do was to forget this local misfortune 34...i.hS! 35.'i¥xh5 'i¥xd2+ 36.'i¥e2
as quickly as possible, and continue to work 'i¥xh6
and prepare for the World Championship. Black has an extra pawn and the better
At the end of June, I was slated to position (White's bishops are hemmed in
defend my title of Women's Chess960 by her pawn chain); I was also far ahead
World Champion in Mainz. This time, the on time. The outcome ofthis game should
title would be defended under a different have been a victory for Black; however, not
system than in 2006. There would be two only did I not win - I even lost!
stages: first, a match-tournament with In the third match game, Kateryna
four players, followed by a title match played most unfortunately in the opening;
between the players who finished in first as early as move 12, I already had what
and second places. The starting field was practically a decisive advantage.
included Kateryna Lahno, Viktorija
Cmilyte, Natalia Zhukova, and myself. A. Kosteniuk - K. Lahno
Viktorija and Natalia had qualified for Mainz 2008 (m/3)
this championship in 2006 and 2007 by
winning the top women's prize in the open
tournament. Kateryna, who was at that
time the reigning European Champion,
got a wild-card spot from the organizers.
In the round-robin event, I scored
5 1/z out of 6! In the Final, I was to
meet Kateryna Lahno, who had taken
second place in the match-tournament.
I began the final four-game match with a
convincing win. In Game 2, I outplayed
my opponent with Black; but strange 12. lllfS!
things started happening when I was During the game I spent a long time
within striking distance of the win. looking at 12.llle6+ fxe6 13.:xIB+ 'it>d7
l 4.l::txa8 lllxa8 15.i.xa7 b6 16.'i¥fl, which
K. Lahno - A. Kosteniuk would have given White an edge. I thought,
Mainz 2008 (m/2) however, that I should be looking for more.
202
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203
Chapter9
Black's two bishops assure her strong On 14... 'i¥g4, I did not like 15.f3 'i¥h3
compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 16.l':If2, when the queen is imprisoned.
6.a3 .ixc3 7Jlhc3 d6 8.b4 0-0 9.0-0
15.'i¥dl?
9 ... c6 White yields to the pressure. She
The plan with ... d6-d5 looks perfectly could take the perpetual after 15.gxf4
logical in this position, but Black could 'i¥g4+ 16.Whl (16.lllg3 exf4) I6 ... 'i¥f3+,
have tried here the very same strong but 15.f3 would have been very strong,
idea that White employed next move, threatening to win the queen after g3-g4
namely: 9 .. .tl:lh5!? l:Ifel c5, with an and llle7+. It's not clear how Black is
unclear game. supposed to continue the game here. For
10.lZlh4! example: 15 ... l:Ice8 16.gxf4; 15 ... l:Ife8
Exploiting the fact that the black I6.gxf4dxc417.'i¥g3 'i¥g618.'i¥xg6hxg6
bishop on a8, being too far away from the 19.llld6; 15 ... f6 16.gxf4 dxc4 17.'i¥g3
kingside, cannot prevent the white knight - the bishop at al will soon come into
from invading at f5. Black also cannot play, and Black will have no way to op-
play ...g7 -g6, since after f2-f4 the bishop pose the strong bishop and the good
on al would become too powerful. knight at f5.
10 . ./2:ldS 15 ...'iYxdl 16.l:Ifxdl??
Although I didn't like my position The final error of the match. As
after this move, I understood that I had Kateryna said to me after the game, she
to try for complications, since otherwise simply forgot that the rook on cl would
White's win would be too easy. be hanging. 16. l:Icxdl was correct, when
1I.tZlf5 'i¥g5 12.'i¥el lllf4 13.g3 d5 after 16... llle2+ 17.Wh2 dxc418.llle7+
Looks too risky; however, now White Wh8 19.lllxc8 l:xc8 20 ..txe5 we would
had concrete problems to solve, which is reach an interesting endgame.
not so easy to do in a 20-minute game. 16 ...llle2+ 17.Wfl ll:lxcl
14.h4 The rest is simple.
14..txe5 lllh3+ 15.Wg2 dxc4 16.f4 18.llle7+ Wh8 19.lllxc8 l:Ixc8
would also have been strong enough. 20Jhcl dxc4 21.dxc4 c5 22.f3 l2:l c6
14 ...'i¥h5 23.b5 llld4 24. Wt2 f6 25. We3 l':Id8 26.a4
204
Return
@g8 27.aS i.b7 28.i.c3 i.c8 29.g4 7 ... d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.l'i'lc3 l'i'lbd7
i.e6 10.i.f4 a6 11.l'i'leS i.d6 12.~b3 Me8
White resigned. 13.t'i'lxd7 ~xd7 14.t'i'lxdS t'i'le4 15.Itadl
i.xd5 16.~xdS c6 l 7.~b3 i.xf4 18.gxf4
Winning the match with Kateryna Itad8 19.~xb6 f5 20.~xa6 Ite6 2l.~c4
Lahno made me two-time Women's @h8 22.i.xe4 fxe4 23.@hl e3 24.f3 Mf8
World Chess960 Champion. I was happy 25.dS Mh6 26.Itgl ~d6 27.dxc6 ~f6
to take part in the Open Rapid event, 28.c7 Mc8 29.1illVd4, and Black resigned in
where I scored six points in the first six Morozevich-J.Polgar, Mainz 2008.
rounds! 8.t'i'le5 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.t'i'lc3 c5
11.i.gS
No. 54 Queen's Indian Defense E17 The main continuation here is 11.dxcS
P. Tregubov - A. Kosteniuk t'i'lxc5 12.i.e3 Ite8 I3.t'i'ld3, with pressure
Mainz 2008 (rapid) on Black's isolated pawn.
11 ... h6 12.i.xf6 i.xf6 13.e3 i.xe5
1.d4 t'i'lf6 2.l'i'lf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 i.b7 l4.dxe5 t'i'lc7 15.~hS?!
5.i.g2 i..e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Itel t'i'la6 15.@'a4 was better, which is how the
We were playing on the morning Morozevich-Carlsen game continued:
of August 3. The previous evening in 15 ...~e716.f4Mfd8 17.I:tadl @'e618.b4
Mainz, two games had been played in this i.c6 19.~b3 Md7 20.bxcS bxc5 2l.@'a3
variation: Morozevich-J.Polgar, where ~e7 22.Itd2 Mad8 23.Itedl f6 24.e6
Black proceeded somewhat differently, t'i'lxe6 25.t'i'lxdS ~f7 26.1/llVaS f5 27.t'i'le7+
and Morozevich-Carlsen. We followed ~xe7 28.i.xc6 Mxd2 29.Itxd2 @h7
this second game for a while. 30.@f2 ~f6 3l.i.d7 c4 32.i.xe6, draw.
205
Chapter 9
206
Return
207
Chapter 10
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
I flew to the World Championship at were able to get to know this rich and
Nalchik in good spirits, with several astonishingly beautiful land, to get better
months of hard training and a victory acquainted with the cultural life, history,
in Mainz under my belt. Additionally, and hospitable residents of Kabardino-
the playing schedule for the World Balkaria. In Nalchik, they cook some
Championship featured special days set delicious meat dishes. I remember the
aside for the tiebreakers, which would be shish kebab I had there to this day. Some
very good for me. two kilometers from the hotel we lived
Almost every strong woman player in during the championship was the
in the world came to fight for the crown Windmill restaurant, where I would go
of chess. The ratings favorite was the every evening for a dinner of great shish
Indian, Humpy Koneru, whose rating kebab.
was the first in many years, after Judit Every day, Diego, my dad - who ar-
Polgar's achievement, to exceed the rived by the third round, to lend support
coveted 2600 mark. Also playing in the - and I would walk around 5 kilome-
tournament were the current World ters.
Champion Xu Yuhua, and the former
champion Antoaneta Stefanova. The
largest contingent came from China.
Many young and talented Chinese
players flew to the championship, along
with a team of trainers, doctors and
interpreters.
The organizers greeted their guests in
top-class fashion. Each player had a car ~ .
- .
at her disposal. The Sindica Hotel and a
' }
the tournament hall were both located
in the town's resort area. For the entire ~-
three weeks of the tournament, we only
had rain on two days; the rest of the time,
we had lovely late-summer weather.
The organizers did everything possible
to give the players an ideal setting,
with play days for chess battles and free
days for relaxation. The participants Shish kebabs in Nalchik are the best/
208
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
209
Chapter JO
White achieved nothing out of the Here I spent a long time wavering
opening. In fact, after a few unfortunate between
moves, I now disliked my position 28.Wlie2!?
intensely. But suddenlY, there came: - the move I actually played, and
26 ... .th4? 28.i.g5 i.xg5 29.W/ixg5+ Wf8, as I
I thought that after 26 ... lll bd7, had planned on playing earlier. During
White would already have to start going the game, I saw nothing concrete
for broke: 27 .f4 exf4 28. ihf4 l2:l e5 after 30.Wlixh5 (30.f4 lllbd7 31.fxe5
29.121xh5 gxh5 30.V.i'g3+ lllg6 31.Wlif3, lllxe5 32.Wlixh5 We8 33.lllg4 W/ie7
but that I probably would not find enough 34.lllxe5 Wlixe5 35.Wlixf7+ Wd8 leads to
compensation for the sacrificed piece. unclear play) 30 ... We8. After 30 ... We7,
But now, the sacrifice on h5 gives White White has the pleasant choice between
very dangerous play. perpetual check 31.W/ig5+ or playing for
27.lllxh5! gxh5 compensation: 31.lllg4!? or 31.f4 l2:lbd7
32.lllg4 exf4 33.W/ig5+ f6
34.W/ig7+ @d8 35.Wlih8+ @e7
36.W/ig7+ @d8.
3 l.f4 (3 l. lllg4 Wlie7 32.f4 exf4 33.~xf4)
31...exf4 32.Wlih8+ Wd7. Of course,
White would have some compensation for
the piece, but not more than that.
28 ... f6
Black does not have an easy time
defending this position. After 28 ... i.c8,
for example, White has a number of
210
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
attractive continuations: 29.~xhS ~e7 but with 4 pawns for the piece: 32 ...:gs
(29 ... i.f6): 33.~h6+ ~h7 34.~xd6 lllbd7 35.lllg4,
with advantage to White.
Worth considering were 32.lllg4!?
~g7 33.~xd6, or 33.~hS+ @g8
34.h4.
32 ... ~h7 33.~xd6 lllbd7 34.lllg4
~g7
After my inaccuracy on move 32,
we have reached a complex position of
dynamic equality. I spent a lot of time
here, and decided to prepare the break
and now 30.lllg4. After 30.f4!?, Black b2-b3.
could play 30... i.g3 (30 ... exf4? 3 l.i.xf4!
- threatening e4-e5 or i.d6 - 31...llld3
32.i.xd6) 31.i.gS f6 32.~g6+ ~g7
33.~e8+ ~f8 34.~g6+ with perpetual
check.
30 ... i.f6 (30 ... llld3 31.i.e3 :a6
32.lllh6+ @g7 33.lllxf7 ~xf7 34.~h6+
@g8 35.~xh4 followed by f4) 31.lllxf6+
~xf6 32.f4 ~g6 33.~h4 with a strong
attack.
28 ... i.f6 was still worse, in view of
29.~xhS i.c8 30.f4 exf4 (or 30 ... llld3
31.i.xd3 cxd3 32.fxeS i.xe5 33.~gS+
3S.:bt@h7
@h8 34.tllf3 f6 35.~hS):
Preparing ... ~f8, which does not
work right away because of 36.lllxeS.
36.~c7
After 36.b4 we would reach a roughly
even endgame: 36... cxb3 37.i.xb3 ~f8.
36 ... ~h8 37.b4 cxb3 38.i.xb3 ~b8
39.~xb8 :xb8 40.i.c2 i.a6
Time pressure is over; on the board,
we have a complicated position where
Black has a knight and White has
31.eS! dxe5 32.lllg4 ~d6 33.i.h7+ pawns. Ct's not clear which will be
@h8 34.i.fS, and White wins. better in this ending; but both White
29.~xhS i.gS 30.~g6+ @h8 and Black have the option of just
31.i.xgS fxg5 32.~h6+?! standing in place, since any kind of
After 32.~xgS!, I would have reached concrete action might very well weaken
the same position as I had in the game, their position.
211
Chapter JO
~~~-~~
41.g3 @g7 42.f3 tl'ib7 43 ..Zi.d3 tl'ibc5
44.kc2
Here it would have made the most
sense to agree to a draw by repeating
f im~~{'t~
~L3~~~~~
~~
moves (44 ... tl'ib7); but Tatiana decided to
keep playing. Within one move, however,
~~f~~~;~~w.f~~~
~~ ~W; f~ ~
she committed a grave error that could ~~rrt···!);~----~~
have cost her the game. ~~~~~~~~~
44 ... l:tb6 45.@f2 tl'ia4? 46.tl'ixeS
tl'ixe5 47 ..txa4 l:th6?
~~~~~ ~~
It's widely known that errors always
come in pairs. Upset after blundering 58.cxb4??
a pawn on e5, Tatiana immediately Now the blockade succeeds. White
gave up another one. Here I might would have won after 58.@e5 b3 59.l:thl
have sat quietly in thought, taken the b2 60.d6+ l:txd6 61.l:th7+ @f8 62.e7+
pawn on b5, and brought the game to @g8 63.l:thl.
its logical conclusion. But instead, 58 ... @d6! 59.e7 @xe7 60.:et + @d7
possibly due to fatigue, I started to 61.fS tl'ixb4 62.l:thl l:td6 63J!h7+ @d8
get sloppy. 64.@cS
48 ..tdl?!
48.i.xb5 Ub6 49.c4 lllxc4 50 ..Zi.xc4
l:txbl 5I..txa6, and the pawns must
queen.
48 ... l:txh3 49.!bl ?!
49 ..Zi.e2 was more accurate.
49 ... l:th6?!
Both players were tired, and therefore
not playing their best. 49 ... Uhl was
stronger.
50 ..te2 l:tb6 51.@e3 @f'l 52.@d4
tZ'i d7 53.eS Draw.
212
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
Of course, I was very upset at the and Nigel Short (London 1993): l l.c3
conclusion of this game. I had had h6 12.ii.a2 d6 13.lllh4 ~d7 14.lllg6
several winning positions, and several llle7 15.tzlxf8 @xf8 16.f3 l::tad8 17.b4
times I had overlooked simple decisive lllg6 18.lllb3 ii.c8 19.ii.bl lllh5 20.axbS
continuations. But the next day, I was axb5 21.ii.e3 ll:lh4 22.l::!:a2 Ifo6 23.d4
slated to play Black; so I tried to forget ~g6 24.@hl l:Ie8 25.dxeS ~xe5 26.g4
this relative misfortune and begin :!:I f6 27 .ii. d4 lll g3+ 28.hxg3 lll xf3
preparing for the second game. I have 29.ii.xeS ~xg4 30.l:Ih2 lllxel 31.~xel
already noted how important it is for a dxe5 32.llld2 l::!:d6 33.ii.c2 ii.e6 34.@gl
chessplayer to forget about the result of @g8 35.lllfl ~g5 36.~e3 ~d8 37.l::td2
the previous game. In Nalchik, I forgot c6 38.l:Ixd6 ~xd6 39.~cS ~xc5+
about my relative misfortunes easily 40.bxcS h5 41.llld2 @f8 42.@f2 @e7
enough, which had to be a great help 43.ii.b3 itd7 44.lllf3 @f6 45.c4 bxc4
tome. 46.ii.xc4 ..te6 47.ite2 itg4 48.itdl g6
49.ii.a4 itd7 50.Cbel @e6 51.itb3+
No. 56 Ruy Lopez CBB '1;e7 52.llld3 f6 53.lllb4 f5 54.ita4
T. Kosintseva - A. Kosteniuk fxe4 55.itxc6 itxc6 56.lllxc6+ @e6
Nalchik 2008 (m/2) 57.@e3 g5 58.@xe4 h4 59.gxh4, and
Black resigned.
1.e4 eS Vbf3 ll:lc6 3.ii.bS a6 4.ii.a4 11 ... tzlaS 12.ii.a2
t'llf6 5.0-0 ii.e7 6.d3
The various ways of avoiding the
Marshall Attack are currently very
popular for White.
6 ... bS 7.ii.b3 0-0 8.a4 ii.b7 9.l::!:el
l::!:e8 10.lllbd2 ii.:f8 11.tzlfl
It's very difficult to think up anything
new in the Ruy Lopez. Dozens of classic
games have already been played in all
the main lines; contemporary praxis
frequently boils down merely to a
demonstration of previously played
lines. For example, in this variation 12 ...dS!?
the moves lll bd2, lll fl, c2-c3, ii. a2, Pushing the pawn to d5 is one of
and then d3-d4, or using the knights Black's basic ideas in the Ruy. In this
on the kingside form part of White's exact position, the move is a novelty
plan; but what order to play these moves which I found during preparations for the
in, and what that might depend on, is game. Black's idea is that, after 13.axbS
something every player must decide for axb5 14.exdS, she has 14... tzlxdS! (14 ...
him- or herself. One of the best known itxd5 is inferior: after 15.ii.gS! White
classic games from this position was has a slight advantage) 15.lllxeS lllb3!
played in 1993 between Garry Kasparov 16.cxb3 t'llb4.
213
Chapter JO
214
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
215
Chapter 10
~- --
At the footo f Mount Elbrus
216
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
11.SleS
l 1.li'lge2 Slf5 12.~eS 0-0 is the main
line here, with various sharp offshoots
after 13. li:l d4.
11 ... 0-0
Here, after prolonged thought, Anna
selected
12.~d3
12.li:l ge2 ~ f5 leads to the main
lines.
l2 ..• li:lc6
I remembered that this move had not
been considered dangerous for Black 15 ...b6?!
after one of the Kasparov-Short match I was entranced by the interesting
games in 1993. idea I executed in the game, but White
13.~xe4 li:lxe5 14.~h7+?! could have played more accurately.
After 14.~xdS i.g4 15.li:lf3 Slxf3 An immediate 15 ... d4! was stronger:
16.Slxf3 li:lxf3+ 17.gxf3 Mac8 18.0-0, after 16.exd4 ~xc3+ 17.bxc3 tl'lxd3+
a draw was agreed in Kasparov-Short, 18.ihd3, and here 18 ...l:::i:e8+ or 18 ... i.fS
London 1993. gives Black strong compensation for
14 ... ~g7 15.~d3 the pawn in view of White's lack of
development.
217
Chapter JO
1.e4 e6
This came as a complete surprise. I had
21. .. ~xb6 prepared mainly for the Sicilian Defense,
218
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
as lately Pia has played it almost exclusively. On 14... 0-0, of course, I would have
But as Pia said at the post-game press played 15.l'l:h3.
conference, she had played the French 15.~d2@b8 16.c3 ~d:f8
Defense in her youth, and decided to Interesting alternatives were 16 ... g6
surprise me with her choice of opening. and 16 ... ~hf8.
2.d4 d5 3/Zlc3 lllc6 17.~e3 llla7?
Not the most popular move in this It's not even the move itself that's so
position. When I saw the French appear wrong (although removing the knight
on the board, I thought that at some from the center is dubious enough): it's
point, Pia would take on e4. the plan connected with it. Black should
4.lllf3 lllf6 5.e5 llle4 6.i.d3 i.b4 have played l 7... i.e8.
7.i.d2 lllxd2 8Jlhd2 f6 9.a3 ..txc3 18.a4
toJIVxc3 fxe5 ll.dxe5 ~e7
In modern chess, if White manages
to get even a small advantage out of the
opening, it's considered a success. I was
satisfied with the outcome of this opening:
Black has a pretty cramped position, while
I can choose whatever plan I like.
12.h4
Of course I was in no hurry to castle:
I wanted to give Black the chance to
declare herself first.
12...i.d7 13.b4 a6 14.h5 0-0-0
219
Chapter JO
220
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
221
Chapter 10
The other semifinal match, between to fight for the chess crown. For my
Humpy Koneru and the 14-year- encounter with Hou Yifan, in contrast
old Chinese wunderkind Hou Yifan, to the final match in 200 l, now it was
featured very intense fighting. After my opponent who played the role of
winning the first game, Hou blundered underdog, as she was only 14!
horribly in the second; thus, the score The final match was under control
at the end of the first stage was 1-1. In from start to finish. In nearly every
rapid chess, Koneru once again pulled game, I had winning chances. The
back even after losing the first game, number of unconverted extra pawns in
and the score reached 2-2. In the blitz this match probably broke all records.
games, however, Hou did manage to In the first game, I managed to win
break down her notable opponent's with Black; and in the end, that proved
resistance, winning this tense encounter decisive.
by a score of 4-2 and thereby becoming
the youngest World Championship No. 60 Ruy Lopez C90
finalist in history. Hou Ylfan - A. Kosteniuk
Before the final, consisting of four Nalchik 2008 (m/1)
games, there would be one last free
day. Once again, we experienced the 1.e4 e5 2.Ci:lf3 lllc6 3.i.b5 a6 4.i.a4
hospitality of our hosts; the next day, lllf6 5.0-0 i.e7 6.l::tel b5 7.i.b3 0-0
we were ready to face the biggest and 8.a3
most difficult challenge of the Nalchik White avoids the concrete lines of
tournament: the final match for the the Marshall, and strives for advantage
title of l2 1h Women's World Chess by exploiting nuances. My opponent's
Champion. move came as a surprise to me, as I had
And so, here I was, seven years thought she would employ a different
later, playing another title match. A version of the Anti-Marshall, beginning
lot had changed in my life in those with 8.a4.
seven years. I had played at least 8... d6
a couple of hundred tournament Since [ knew almost nothing of this
games, attended over fifty training variation, I tried to employ logic in order
sessions, won perhaps a thousand games to resolve the opening problem. In 2008,
in simultaneous exhibitions, given Magnus Carlsen had used this variation
innumerable interviews, made my film twice with White and achieved a very
debut, given my first public speech, good result - although I have my doubts
written two books, graduated from the that the opening was the main reason
university, gotten married - and, most for this:
importantly, given birth to a wonderful 8... i.cS 9.c3 d6 10.h3 i.b6 1l.d3 h6
baby, who was now back in Moscow, 12.lllbd2 llle7 13.lllfl lllg6 14.lllg3 i.b7
rooting for her Mama throughout the 15.lllfS i.c8 16.d4 i.e6 17.dxeS i.xb3
whole match. I'd had to go through 18.ihb3 dxeS 19.'iHc2 l::te8 20.c4 bxc4
thick and thin to get a second chance 21.'iHxc4 'iHd7 22.i.e3 ~e6 23.'iHxe6
222
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
l:rxe6 24.g3 l:tb8 2S.i.d2 l2:lf8 26.Jlc3 36.lZlf4 JlgS 37.lZlhS+ <;i;ih8 38.l::txa6
lZl8d7 27.l:re2 l::tbe8 28.lZld2 lZlcS d4 39.<;i;ie4 l::tg6 40.l::ta7, and Black
29. <;i;ig2 lZla4 30.1:rcl ~c6 3 I.lZle3 lZlxc3 resigned in Carlsen-Aronian, Morelia/
32.l::txc3 l::txc3 33.bxc3 .iaS 34.lZldl l::td8 Linares 2008.
3S.lZlc4 l::txdl 36.lZlxaS l:rd3 37.lZlc4 9.c3 Jlg4 10.d3 lZla5 11.Jlc2
l::txc3 38.lZlxeS l::txa3 39.f3 l::taS 40.lZlc6 This move surprised me a little,
l::tcS 41.lZld4 aS 42.l::ta2 l::tc4 43.iiJfS a4 too. It seemed to me that 11..i a2
44.lZle3 l::tc3 4S.<;i;if2 a3 46.lZlc2 lZld7 would have been more consistent for
47.lZlxa3 lZleS 48.f4 lZld3+ 49.<;i;ig2 lZlb4 White.
SO.l::tb2 cS Sl.tZlbS l:rd3 S2.eS gS S3.fxgS ll ... c5 12.h3 Jld7 13.d4 Wilc7 14.d5
hxgS S4.lZld6 Me3, and drawn in Carlsen- Turning the opening into a classical
Leko, Nice 2008; and Chigorin Ruy - but with practically an
8 ... JlcS 9.c3 d6 I0.d4 Jlb6 1 l.h3 extra tempo for Black, since adding the
l::te8 12.JlgS h6 13.Jlh4 exd4 14.cxd4 moves a3 and ... Jld7 is clearly good for
gS 1S.Jlg3 g4 16.hxg4 Jlxg4 17.Jlh4 the second player. Since I had had this
lZlxd4 18.lZlc3 Jlxf3 19.gxf3 <;i;ih8 kind of structure before with White, I
20.lZldS l:rg8+ 21.<;i;ifl lZlg4 22.'\i'xd4+ knew the basic ideas and plans for both
Jlxd4 23.Jlxd8 lZlh2+ 24.<;i;ie2 l:raxd8 sides, and this gave me a definite playing
2S.l::tadl .ixb2 26.l:thl c6 27.lZlf4 advantage .
.ieS 28.lZld3 lZlxf3 29.<;i;ixf3 Jlg7 In 2006, Morozevich used the
30.l::thS dS 31.exdS ~d6 32.1::tfS cxdS alternative, 14.b4!?, to win his game
33.l::tcl l::tf6 34.l:rxf6 .ixf6 3S.l::tc6 <;i;ig7 against Bruz6n in Biel.
223
Chapter JO
224
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
24/l'lg3
After this retreat, Black's advantage
is indisputable. White could have tried to
confuse the issue by 24.ll:lxd6!? ~xcl (24...
~fo 25.~xg5 lllxg5 26.~d2 lt'lh7 27.ll:lf5
gxf5 28.gxf5 ~g7+ 29.ll:lg4) 25.~xc 1 ~fo 29 ... :ag8?!
26.ll:lfS gxf5 27.gxf5 ~g5+ (27 ... ~g7+ I couldn't see a way to develop my
28.@hl fo 29.~e3 l:!ac8 30.ll:lg4 ~g5, or initiative, so I decide simply to wait. Now
30...ll:lgS 31.@g2; 27 ... @h8 28.ll:lg4l:!g8 1 think I should have played 29 ... lt'ld3!?
29.l:!hl) 28.t'l:lg4, when, although Black 30..itxd3 cxd3 31.~f2 ~f4 32.l:!adl, and
is a piece up, she needs to be very careful. although it seems that the pawn at d3 must
For example, after28 ... ~xcl 29.:C:axcl fo be lost within a move or two, it's not so
30.Mhl @g7 31.l:!cgl, White would have easily captured: 32... aS 33.Mxh8 (33.l:!xd3
very strong compensation for the knight: Mxhl 34.@xhl lt'lh3, or 34.lt'lxhl tl'lxe4
31...lt'lgS 32.lllxeS fxe5 33.@f2, etc. 35.~e2 Mh8, with an attack) 33 ... Mxh8
24 ... @g7 25.:C:hl :C:h8 26.lllhfl ~f6 34.lt'lefl (34.Mxd3 lt'lxe4 35.fxe4 :C:h2+)
27.~e3 .itxe3 34... ~f6 35.l:!xd3 lt'lh3 36.~e3 lt'lf4+
27 ... ~f4 28.~e2 lllg5 29.lZld2 lllh3! 37.@gl lt'lxd3 38.~xd3 ~f4.
30.i.xcS (30.Mxh3 :C:xh3 31.'i£txh3 30.:C:afl ~f4
~h4+! was worth considering:
225
Chapter JO
~~~A~~~~~
,,~~~~~lt~
The World Championship began in
Nalchik on August 28; we played the fourth,
~.rw8~ l":
,~~~ "i'~
~~{~ ·tsE'~
~~,,~:----!?~
and last, game ofour match on September
17. Three whole weeks of continuous
~ ~~ ;', ,8ffl struggle! And in addition, my young
----"~~~~mt~
~ ~~ ~~CL)
opponent, besides her main match games,
had also had to play out two tiebreakers.
Everyone's strength had reached its limit,
and the nervous tension was so high, it
33 .. .tbd3!
beggars description. Still, I was ahead
After this move, White's position
2-1 in the match, and there was only one
collapses like a house of cards.
game left, in which I had White.
34 ..txd3
On 34.lbg4, Black would continue
No. 61 Sicilian Defense BBS
34 ... lbxf3 35 ..txd3 lbh4+ 36.<;t>h3 cxd3
A. Kosteniuk - Hou Yifan
37.~xd3 lbf3, with total domination.
Nalchik 2008 (m/4)
34 ... cxd3 35.~t2 d2 36.lbg3
1.e4 c5 2.lbf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lbxd4
lbc6 5.lbc3 d6 6.i.e3 lbf6 7.Si.e2
It was fairly easy to predict that, by one
move order or another, there would be a Sch-
eveningen Sicilian on that day. While prepar-
ing for the game, I had decided to go for the
most solid continuation, since for me a draw
in this game counted the same as a win.
7 ••. ii.e7 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 0-0 10.f4 ~c7
11.<;t>hI Si.d7 12.lbb3 b6 13.~el
226
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
For this game, I gave up the g2-g4 22 ... bS!? 23.axbS axbS
plan in favor of piece play. My young opponent was forcing me
13 ...i.cS 14.~g3 i.b7 15.f5?! to resolve concrete problems. The first
I should have continued the central game was, which of the two sacrificed pawns
by 15.:1::tadl!? instead of weakening the e5 should I take?
square. Then I oould still have had the choice 24.lZ'lxbS
of continuing with either f4-f5 or e4-e5. After 24.l:!b4 i.a5 25.l::txb5 Axc3
15 ... Wh816.l::tadl :!::tae8 26.bxc3 ~c7, the position is probably
Remember that Black needed a win in about equal, but I didn't like White's
this game; therefore, variations resulting in pawn weaknesses.
multiple exchanges would have to be good 24 ... l2lxe4
forWhite: 16 ... lZ'lb417.fxe6lZ'lxc218.exf7 On 24 ... i.a6, I could even sacrifice
l2lxe3 19.~xe3 :!::txf7 20.l2ld4, etc. the exchange by 25.l2lxd6.
17.fxe6 fxe618.~h3 25.i.d3
The immediate 18. lZ'l d4!? l2l xd4 On 25.i.h5, I really didn't like
l9.l:txd4 deserved attention. 25 ... i.g5, when the bishop cannot move
18 ... i.dS 19.lZ'ld4 lZ'lxd4 20.l::txd4 from e3 because of the fork at f2. When
During the game I was a bit afraid you go home and check the calculations
to decide to move my rook to c4; but in you went through, sometimes you're
the end, I decided that nothing could surprised by how many possibilities you
threaten my rook on the fourth rank. rejected just because, emotionally, you
20 ... es 21.l::tc4 ~b8 22.:1::tdl felt that you "liked" or "didn't like"
I liked my position - especially after them. Ifwe extend this variation, we find
Hou sank into thought for over forty it's not so bad: 26.i.g6 h6 27 .i.xe4 Axe4
minutes. In the end, she made absolutely 28.l2lxd6 l:!d8 29.l:!xe4 l:!xd6 30.:1::tel
the correct decision. :!::tdf6 31.Agl ~xb2 32.Vj'bJ is equal.
After 22.i.d3, Black has a plan: to put 25 ... l2lf6
her queen at a8 and force through ... b6-
b5: 22 ... ~a8 23.lZ'ld5 b5 24.axb5 axb5. I
therefore decided to tie Black's queen to
the defense of the d-pawn.
26.l::th4
During the game, at first I wanted
very much to play 26.i.g6; finally,
227
Chapter JO
228
Na/chik - The Ascent of Olympus
and in this position, despite the extra have the i.c5 idea that comes into play
pawn, I would prefer Black. after 34. ~ c 1. And on 34. ~ g5 .t xh4
3l. . .'i!la7 32.i.xd6 i.f2 35.'i)/xd5 :as, Black is better.
From this point on, I was playing 34 ••. l:cS
"only" moves. 34 ... i.xh4 35 ..txf8 'i)/f2 (35 ... ltJe3
36.i.cS!) 36.l:xdS (after 36 ..txg7+
@xg7 37.:xd5 ~xe2 38.l:g5+ .txgS
39.~xg5+ @f7 40.~f5+ @e7 41.'i)/e5+
we get a study-like draw, as the black king
cannot hide from the checks) 36 ... l:i:xf8
37.'i)/dl, and White is better.
35.~d2:fd8
I gave a sigh of relief after this move.
Black could try 35 ... i.xh4, when White
would still have a couple of accurate
moves to find: 36.i.xf8 ltJe3 37.b6! ~xb6
38.i.xg7+! @xg7 39.~d7+. ButifWhite
33.'i!lf4 manages to reach this position, only
The following variations all led to she can win it: 39... @g6 40.l:d6+ .tf6
inferior positions: 33.'i)/a3 (at some point, 41.i.h5+@xh5 42.~f7+ @g443.~e6+
I thought seriously of playing this move, @h5 44.g4+! Luft!
but then I got myself under control, and 36.:xh7+! @xh7 37.'i)/xdS 'i)/e3
played 33.'i)/f4instead) 33 ... 'i)/xa3 34.bxa3 38.i.g4 l:i:a8 39.'i)/e6?
i.xh4 35.i.xf8 l:i:xf8 36.g3 i.g5 37.a4 l:i:b8 Blindness. I could have ended the
38.a5 @g8 39.b6.te3. I couldn't make an game right here by 39.b6!, when Black
exact assessment of this position. Perhaps would be unable to stop this pawn.
White will not lose; but since Black has 39 ... @h8 40.~e7 'i)/b6
succeeded in stopping the passed pawns,
White will be facing a difficult defense.
The difference between the move I
actually played and other queen retreats
is that after 33.'i)/h3 .txh4, for instance, I
can't reply 34.i.xf8 because of 34...'i)/f2!.
Or 33.'i)/g5 i.xh4, when I would have to
continue 34.~xh4 :n with an inferior
position.
33 . ..li:ldS
After 33 ... i.xh4 34.i.xf8 :xf8
35.~xh4, White has no problems.
34.~cl! Time pressure is over. Here, I could
Again, the only move. 34.'i!I d2 i.xh4 take a breath, settle down, and make a
35.i.xf8 ctJe3 doesn't work, since I don't strong and logical move.
229
Chapter JO
230
Nalchik - The Ascent of Olympus
231
Chapter JO
chess, about the enormous strain on the victory in their news broadcasts. The
nerves that a chessplayer experiences following day, the Sindica Hotel, where
during serious competition. No scientific the tournament was held, received
studies have ever been conducted on how a congratulatory telegram from the
intense this strain is; but sometimes, President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev;
during a game, your soul is so gripped, and a few days later, the Russian
and your adrenaline runs so strong, that Chess Federation in Moscow received
the moment when the game ends and the fresh congratulations from the prime
clocks are stopped seems like the most minister, Vladimir Putin.
wonderful gift in the world. For the closing ceremony, the
Chess indisputably gives the winner organizers had had specially made
great happiness; but the path you take to for me a baroness's costume from the
reach that victory requires you to spend Kabardino- Balkaria region, which
so much time and effort, that every time made me really feel like a queen. At the
you reach the finish line, you think: this brilliant and beautiful closing ceremony,
will be the last tournament - I haven't I was awarded a laurel wreath, a medal,
the strength and energy to withstand this and a gold crown, decorated with a
pressure any more. But the tournament shower of diamonds and sapphires. And
ends, life goes on; and after a while, then, in front of a crowd of spectators,
you're sitting down at the board again, I danced the regional dance, the kafu.
setting up the pieces, ready to fight again, The closing ceremony ended with an
to endure, and to win. amazingly beautiful laser show on the
After the championship was over, I main square of N alchik. Against the
was deliriously happy. Strong emotions darkened sky, the lasers' piercing beams
and feelings can be hard to put into lit up a banner reading: "Alexandra
words. I had spent my whole life Kosteniuk - Women's World Chess
working toward this moment - and Champion!"
now, just like a fairy tale, it had all come However my life and chess career
true. The evening after the fourth match tum out after this, I am most happy to
game, and the following day, when the have become the I21h Women's World
grand closing ceremony took place, Champion, fulfilling the dream of every
were like a waking dream to me. My cell girl who ever started to learn about this
phone, Diego's phone, Dad's phone, mysterious and absorbing black-and-
our hotel phone - all rang off the hook white world. The moment when I stood
from people calling to congratulate upon the stage, wearing the laurel wreath,
me on my victory. I gave countless gold medal and crown upon my head, will
interviews. All the major Russian TV remain forever etched in my memory.
channels included an item about my This sweet moment of victory. ...
232
Na/chik - The Ascent of Olympus
The sweet moment of victory. On the left, FIDE and Republic of Kolmykio
President Kirson 1/yumzhinov; on the right, Kobordino-Bolkoria President Arsen Konokov
233
Chapter 11
Being World Champion
The reader may be surprised that I didn't For reasons unknown to me, the
cqnclude this book after my victory at Russian Chess Federation decided to
Nalchik. However, I could not relax ignore the Games. When I learned of this
and savor my victory after the World decision, I took the initiative in my own
Championship - two weeks later I had hands and put together a women's team
to fly off to yet another historic event: myself; this was the team that traveled to
the First World Mind Sports Games in China. Many thanks to all the girls who
Beijing. We had a short training session supported me and responded to my invi-
to go over the games played in Nalchik; tation to appear in Beijing "under Olym-
then, once again, I packed my bags. pic conditions." Here was the lineup of
The Intellectual Games in Beijing were, our golden team: Alexandra Kosteniuk,
for me, one more event in 2008 to which I Natalia Pogonina, Valentina Gunina,
had eagerly looked forward. While prepar- and Irina Vasilevich. Baira Kovanova also
ing for Nalchik that June, I studied with took part in the individual events.
equal interest the schedule for the Games The World Intellectual Games in
in Beijing, which seemed to carry the sta- Beijing were a continuation of the Olym-
tus of a world championship. The idea of pic and Paralympic Games. Over 4420
gathering under one roof every intellectual sportsmen, from 126 countries, took part.
form ofsport, and thereby get ourselves into The host country; China, put forward the
the Olympic family at the outset, seemed largest team - 479 members. France sent
to me the right way to go. I should note 110 to Beijing; Russia and the USA sent
right away that I have a special, reverent 108 apiece. This was a genuine festival of
attitude toward the Olympic Games, and intellectual sport. In the enormous center,
I certainly don't feel it's right that to this under one roof, we intellectuals played
day; chess has not found a place in the for 35 sets of prizes: ten for chess, nine for
Olympic family. So I try to do everything bridge, six for Go, and five for checkers and
in my power to help chess become part of the Chinese version of chess, xiangqi.
the Olympic movement. There are many As the games took place just two weeks
who object that chess is not a physical kind after N alchik, there was of course not
of sport; but they cannot argue that chess enough time for me to recover fully. For
is not an intellectual form of sport. We after winajng a tournament as difficult as
should not forget that the Olympian ideal the World Championship, a full recovery
is a philosophy of life, lifting and uniting might take several months. But after
into a balanced whole the achievements Nalchik, I was full of emotional drive;
ofbody; will, and mind. and this helped me to play in spite of
234
Being World Champion
235
Chapter 11
32J:!:g6 Ma6 33.i.d2 l::tcc6 34.:i::tbl! thf6 5.d3 a6 6.ii.b3 ii.a7 7.h3 0-0 8.0-0
Exploiting the fact that Black's pieces d6 9.l2ibd2
are tied to the defense of their king and Our team won the first match by 21'2-
the kingside. 11'2, so all we had to do for the second
34 ... b4 35.cxb4 :i::txa2 36.b5 l::tb6 match was "just" not to lose. But of
37.:i::tcl! (threatening Mc7) 37 ... Mb7 course, when you're playing blitz, you're
Or 37 ... Mxd2 38.Mc7. not thinking about concrete results. Here,
38.:ctcs instead of the usual quiet continuations,
I decided to play something a little bit
more interesting.
9 ... ~h8 IO.Mel l2ih5 11.lhfl f5
12.l2ig5
As soon as I saw this move, I
concluded that l had probably mixed
up my variations; however, once I had
quashed the desire to resign immediately,
I decided to carry on. In fact, the whole
idea of this variation for Black is that,
after winning the exchange, White finds it
very hard to stop Black's plan of attacking
And after 38 ... Mxd2, White mates on the kingside.
prettily by 39.Mxf812ixf8 40.thxfo+ ~h8
41.Mg8#.
236
Being World Champion
exchange: 17 ... b6 (17 ... ii.b8 18.d4 gS) On 23.a4 Black would have played
18.d4 gS 19.dS /jje7 20./jjh2 hS 21.ii.d2 23 ... ~hS.
i.d7 22.a4 ~g6. 23 ... ~h5 24.l:rd2 ~g7 25.gxf4 exf4
16 ...f4 26.~fl g3
After I got in this move, I realized Here 26 ... /jjeS! would have won - an
that my position was not as bad as it idea I could not find right away- because
had seemed to me earlier. What's more of 27 .dxeS g3 with a forced mate.
important is that I have an obvious plan 27.fxg3 fxg3
of advancing my kingside pawns, and 27 .. J::txg3+ 28.c;t>hl (28.l:rg2 ii.h3)
combining that with an attack on the 28 ... ii.g4 29.~f2 was better, when once
white king. In blitz, it's a well-known again 29 ... /jjeS! would have been strong.
fact that attacking is much easier than 28. ~:f8+ c;t>b7 29. c;t>bt
defending; and extra material here 29./jjf3 ii.g4 30.~fl.
doesn't carry the same weight as a 29 ... ii.h3
dangerous initiative. I didn't see that after 29 ... l:rf7, a8
17./jjh2 g5 18.b4 ii.d7 19.ii.b2 l:rg8 was the only square for White's queen to
ZO.d4 retreat to: 30. ~ a8 - but now, the queen
20.a4 hS 21.bS was worth consider- is too far from the main action. Black
ing. continues 30 ... ii.g4 and wins.
20 ...hS 21.l:redl 30.~f3 ~h6 31.l:re2 /jjeS!
And here, 21.a4 g4 22.hxg4 hxg4 Finally I noticed this maneuver,
23.bS would still be interesting. bringing the knight in. Here, after using
21 ... g4 22.hxg4 hxg4 up almost all of her remaining seconds,
By now I could safely say that Black Hou played
;tood better. 32.~:fS
23.g3 but let her queen tip over and then pressed
237
Chapter 11
the clock, which - according to the rules analysis of what was taking place at the
we were following in Beijing - meant time. But it's just this kind of variety that
that she lost. It should be said that makes up my life. Flashes oflight alternate
White's position was hopeless anyway. with moments ofdarkness, victories follow
For example, 32 ...gxh2 33.I:txh2 2i.g2+ defeats, and the smiles and the laughter
34.~gl t'llf3+, winning. make you forget the tears. Everything I do,
After our victory in this match, I was I try to do it l 00%, putting my whole soul
able once again to climb to the top step into it. I wanted very much to share my
on the pedestal. thoughts and feelings with the reader, and
~ :: ....
:-· ri-·y-
I P
.·~ )&o- - ~
The year 2008 was a real golden one to provide a glimpse inside the palace of
for me: I became World Champion for the this royal game. I hope I have succeeded.
second time in Fischerandom chess, then To conclude, I would like to address the
the 121h Women's World Champion, and young players reading these lines. Whether
finally secured two gold medals and one you get to be world champion or not is not
bronze at the World Intellectual Games. important. The main thing is to set yourself
In 2008, I had several opportunities to a goal and to do everything in your power to
take pride in achieving what I had worked achieve it. Remember that every moment
long and hard to reach. has value, every minute is important. No
In this book, I have told my story, one one knows what life will bring; but the main
which at times seemed like the tale ofsome thing is that, in the end, you will know that
chess Cinderella. I have tried to focus you tried, and that you made the effort to
most intensely on those moments which become better every day.
helped me on my difficult path to chess I will be happy if this book helps you
success. I spent several months writing this to understand something new about the
book, and can take pride in the fact that world ofchess. May you find many strong
every jot and tittle of the Russian edition moves, both on the chessboard and off it!
was written by me personally. Perhaps at Be brave, and always move forward!
times this book gets too emotional; and Best wishes in chess and in life,
somewhere, it must lack a more detailed Alexandra Kosteniuk
238
MAIN TOURNAMENT AND MATCH RECORD
1991
Moscow Championship
6/9 1 (girls)
(Children Under 10)
1992
Moscow Championship
9/9 1
(Girls Under 10)
Russian Championship
7/9 2
(Girls Under 10), Lipetsk
1993
Russian Championship
7/9 2
(Girls Under 10), Yaroslavl
1994
Russian Championship
(Girls Under 10), Kazan
8/9 2
European Championship
(Girls Under 10), Baile 7/9 1
Herculane, Romania
World Championship
(Girls Under 10), 7.5/9 1-2
Szeged, Hungary
1996
Russian Championship
(Girls Under 12), Vologda
9/9 1
European Championship
(Girls Under 12), Rimavska 8/9 1
Sobota, Slovakia
World Championship
(Girls Under 12), 10/11 1
Cala Galdana, Spain
239
World Rapid Championship
8/9 1
(Girls Under 12), Paris, France
Russian Rapid Championship
7/9 1
(Women), Moscow
1998
1999
International Women's
Tournament Grandmasters, 7.5/9 1
Dresden, Germany
International Tournament,
7.5/11 1
Moscow
2000
2001
2002
240
Match Against the
"Dream Team," Jakarta, 6:0
Indonesia
Swiss Blitz Championship 14/19 3
2003
2004
European Women's
Championship, Dresden, 9.5/12 1
Germany
International Rapid
Tournament, Warsaw, 6.5/10 1
Poland
Russian Women's
8/11 2
Championship
361h World Chess
7/11 3
Olympiad, Calvia, Spain
2005
World Biathlon
1
Championship "Chess-Darts"
Russian Women's
8/11 1
Championship, Samara
International Women's
Tournament, Krasnoturinsk, 5.5/9 2-3
Russia
International Open
"Chess960" Tournament, 7/11 1 (women)
Mainz, Germany
European Team
3.5/7 3
Championship
241
2006
World "Chess960"
Championship
5.5-2.5
Match against E. Pahtz,
Mainz, Germany
International Rapid
3.5/6 2-3
Tournament, Mexico
3"71h World Chess
6/10 2
Olympiad, Torino, Italy
2007
International Rapid
Tournament, Villandry, 2
France
European Team
1 (third place
Championship, Heraklion, 5.5/8
on first board)
Greece
2008
Qualifier - 5.5/6
World Women's "Chess960"
2.5-1.5 victory
Championship, 1
over Kateryna
Mainz, Germany
Lahno in final
FIDE World Championship, 2.5-1.5 victory
1
Nalchik, Russia over Hou Yifan in final
Gold medal in blitz
(victory against
Stefanova in final).
World Mind Sports Games, Gold medal in team blitz 2 gold medals, 1
Beijing, China (victory over China in bronze
final).
Bronze medal in team
rapid.
242
List of Opponents
(numbers refer to games or fragments of games)
243
list of Openings
(numbers refer to games)
244