January 2014

The Masters Bulletin

Peter's Chess Vibes

In the Spotlight

Middlegame Musings

24

IM Arthur
van de
Oudeweetering

3
GM Alex
Yermolinsky

The Underdog
Bites

Five Hidden
Gems from
2013

The Endgame Explained

29

IM Robert Ris

Topical Theory

A endgame
with an outside
passed

11
GM Danny
Gormally
Bobby
Fischer's 6.h3
Against the
Najdorf

Topical Theory

Solutions to the Tasty Tactics

31

Afeks Corner

32

IM Yochanan
Afek

17

Endgame
Studies

GM Viktor
Moskalenko
Bent Larsens
1.b3

Tasty Tactics

In the News

33

Featured Blogs 

34

Leaderboards34

23
1 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Peters Chess Vibes

Looking back one more time
Peter Doggers, editor

A Happy New Year to our readers! One thing that became clear in
2013 is how quickly online chess has adapted to new standards.
There's hardly any top tournament left that does not provide
online streaming commentary, to my great delight.
As I am writing this during the first week of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, I am quite busy myself with making this
service happen in Wijk aan Zee as well. I am assisting Lennart Ootes and together we are doing the work behind the
scenes to provide commentary by e.g. Yasser Seirawan, Erwin l'Ami and Lawrence Trent. Every day we are experiencing
new technical problems, but at the same time we're happy to serve the chess fans with the show, improving it step by
step!
Before we definitely say goodbye to 2013, Alex Yermolinsky provides us with a nice selection of games that he felt
deserved more attention. In his typical style, "Yermo" analyzes five gems that can't be missed!
Again, we have two theoretical articles on openings. GM Danny Gormally, who will also start writing strategical articles
for the Chess.com website from February onward, looks at Bobby Fischer's 6.h3 against the Najdorf Sicilian and deals
with one of Black's main replies, 6...e6. The acclaimed author GM Viktor Moskalenko tells us the current status of Bent
Larsen's 1.b3, and provides ideas for both sides.
The astonishing game Kramnik-Ezat from the recent World Team Championship inspired IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering
to both look at this game in depth, and provide more examples of a queen sacrifice where one only gets two minor pieces
in return (besides, of course, plenty of compensation). Names like Nezhmetdinov and Tal come to mind!
IM Robert Ris looks at the game Najer-Bacrot, played in December in the Bundesliga, that saw an instructive and typical
rook ending where White had one passed pawn on the queenside. And of course we have three new studies selected by
IM Yochanan Afek as well as last month's solutions.
Enjoy!
Peter Doggers,
Director of Content
Peter writes most news reports for Chess.com. He blogs at Chess.com/blog/chessvibes and tweets from @peterdoggers.

2 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

In the Spotlight
Five Hidden Gems From 2013
GM Alex Yermolinsky

For this first Bulletin of the new year, GM Yermolinsky looked back
at 2013 one more time and selected five interesting games that
didn't get much attention elsewhere. Enjoy these five hidden
gems, annotated below!
In this article I look back at 2013,

1.f3 f5 2.d3 c6 3.d4

6...b8!!

and I selected five interesting games

An interesting attempt to take

Talking about a proverbial mysterious

that

attention

advantage of the position of Nc6

rook move.

elsewhere. In my selection I tried to

ahead of the c-pawn. 3.e4 e5 4.c3

7.bd2

follow a modern trail of avoiding long

f6 5.exf5 d5 6.d4 is standard issue.

Once again, a sober decision. The

theoretical lines. Such strategy, laid

This position looks good for White,

mystery is uncovered after 7.c4 dxc4

out by new World Champion Magnus

and it may be an exact copy of a

where Black is pretending to defend

Carlsen,

Kings Gambit with reversed colors!

against the Catalan with his pawn

supporters among rank and file chess

3...e6 4.g3

sticking out on f5. 8.c3 b5 9.e5

players. The computer research net

Laurent is careful. 4.c4 f6 5.g3

(9.g5 is another try but after

is cast out wide to include long-

b4+ allows a transposition into

9...xd4 10.e3 Black has 10...h6

forgotten lines, all in the name of

an old line of the Dutch Defense

11.h3 b4 which saves the knight,

practical success in any given game.

frequently employed by Alekhine

and leaves him up a pawn in return

some 90 years ago.

for a house full of holes: 12.exd4

4...f6 5.g2 d5 6.00

bxc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.a4+ f7

didn't

get

these

much

days

finds

more

Working as an online commentator

15.xc4 b7 Who knows, Black may

this mini-match and was forced to go

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zppzp-+-zpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+p+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+NzP-0
9PzPP+PzPLzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

for broke in Game Two. Fortunately

So, here we have it: a Stonewall

Laurent finally allows himself to get

for Larry he usually does exactly that

with the black knight on c6. Time for

caught in the wild spirit of this game.

in every game anyway.

LarryC to work his magic.

11.f4 e7 12.d2 00 13.fd1 was

and chess instructor I sift through

dozens of games daily. The more I
look, the more I believe chess is far
from being exhausted please, enjoy
some samples from 2013.
Fressinet-Christiansen
FIDE World Cup (Troms), 2013
Christiansen lost the first game of

3 of 34

be alright here.) 9...xe5 10.dxe5

xd1 11.xd1 g4 12.xb5 c5 and
counterplay against f2 arrives just in
time.
7...b5
Slowing

down

Whites

c2c4

is

paramount.
8.e5 xe5 9.dxe5 d7 10.f3 c5
11.b3
After being so cautious early on

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

rock solid, particularly since Black

18...d5

must avoid the logical line, 13...

Black seeks more complications.

h6 14.xh6 gxh6 15.xh6 which

What was wrong with the simple

would end up in perpetual check and

18...xg2 19.xg2 d5 Perhaps

Fressinets qualification to the next

Larry was concerned with further

round.

simplifications

11...e7 12.c4 bxc4 13.bxc4

missed one tactical detail. 20...xe5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwqk+-tr0
9zp-+nvl-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zppzPp+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+NzP-0
9P+-+PzPLzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...dxc4!
Absolutely correct. Because of the
obvious weakness on e6 Black must
seek dynamic counterplay. 13...d4
14.e3 dxe3 15.xe3 is too comfy for
White.
14.c2 00 15.d1 c7 16.xc4
b6 17.c2 b7
Suprisingly,

Black

is

already

somewhat better. The weak e5pawn

ties down Whites pieces.
18.e1

after

20.f4

and

is after all, possible: (20...xf4

21.xf4 g5 22.c4 f7 23.d2
xe5 24.c3 you may reject this on
general grounds of giving White too

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-tr-mk0
9zp-+-vl-zp-0
9Q+-+p+L+0
9+-+nsN-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-zPq0
9PvL-+-zP-zP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

much activity for a pawn.) 21.xd5

27...xf2?

exd5 22.f4 b2 This is it, the

A step too far. I guess Larry wasnt

saving tactic! But then, of course,

absolutely sure hed win the game

the computer shows the incredible

after the logical 27...cxb2 28.f7+

resource 23.b3!! claiming that

(28.ab1

White is OK. Go figure.

28...xf2! 29.xf2 f8+ 30.g1

19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 xe5 21.xh7+

c5+ 31.h1 f2 32.c8+ f8 Could

h8

he have possibly missed this last

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-tr-mk0
9zpl+-vl-zpL0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zpnwq-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9P+Q+-zP-zP0
9tR-vLRsN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

and

only

now

comes

move? Backward diagonal moves

are known to be prone to omission.)
28...xf7 29.xf7 bxa1 30.xa1
c5 31.xe6 xe6 32.xe6 but then
theres 32...c3 and Black is simply
dominating.
28.xf2

cxb2

29.g1

bxa1

30.xa1
Suddenly the game leveled out and
no further effort from Black was
enough to bring that much-needed

18.g5 xg5 19.xg5 xg2 20.xg2

White is quite disorganized here.

point. LarryC went home early....

xe5 who would want that as White?

22.b2 h5 23.g6 h3 24.e2

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-trk+0
9zplwq-vl-zpp0
9-sn-+p+-+0
9+-zp-zPp+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9P+Q+PzPLzP0
9tR-vLRsN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

24.e4 wouldnt be many peoples

first choice here, but in fact, after

Andreikin-Karjakin

24...e3 25.xg7+ xg7 26.c3+

Russia Superfinal (Nizhny Novgorod),

f6 27.xe3 xe4 28.xe4 xa1

2013

29.xa1 f5 30.e3 he would have

decent practical chances as long as

These two are the same age as

he keeps his queen on the board.

Magnus Carlsen, so theres a rivalry

24...a6 25.d3 c4!

going on there. They will meet next

Everything unravels for White. Its a

in the Candidates in Khanty-Mansiysk

miracle hes not losing by force.

in March.

26.e5 c3 27.xa6

1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.d4

4 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

e6 5.a3 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3

(12.e2 c5 13.b2 00 14.d1 f6

may not have time to get all comfy. A

The old move long ago superseded by

would transpose to regular play.)

natural-born Grnfeld player - think

7.c2

12...c5!! The problem is, White

Peter Svidler and his ilk - would have

7...g6

simply shrugged it off with the

thought of 16...exd4 17.cxd4 b5

Korchnois great innovation that

consistent 13.g5 xd3+ 14.xd3

18.a2 c5 with counterplay first and

brought him a surprising victory over

d7 15.h6 f8 16.f6 and went on

foremost, never mind the dangers

the surging Garry Kasparov in their

to win the game!

awaiting Black after 19.h6 h8

1983 Candidates Match.

12.e4 e7 13.00 00 14.e1 fe8

20.e5.

8.h4

15.a4 a6 16.c4

17.h6 f6 18.a3 c5

We all know by now this pawn

thrust works against a straight-up
Gruenfeld.
many

See

games

Grischuk-Carlsen,
by

Mamedyarov,

Gareev-Robson from the last U.S.

Championship, and, most painfully,
Gareev-Yermolinsky from the recent
Vegas tournament for details. Here
c1 is blocked by the e-pawn, but
not for long.
8...g7 9.h5 d7

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9+lzpnwqpvlp0
9pzp-+-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+P0
9P+LzPP+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9+l+nwqp+p0
9pzp-+-vlpzP0
9+-zp-zp-+-0
9P+LzPP+-+0
9vL-zP-+N+-0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19.dxc5!

9...xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.b5+ c6

16...c6

Andreikin takes an original decision.

12.d3 d7 13.e4 c7 was another

Sergey Karjakin is a classically-

Anybody

old-timer,

Polugaevsky-Korchnoi,

trained chessplayer. Here he handles

20.c1 and claim a better game.

USSR vs. Rest of the World, London

a Grnfeld like its a Slav. Wrong

19...xc5 20.xc5

1984.

idea, and not because the old man

What, part with that bishop?

10.d3 xc3 11.bxc3

Ernst was an Austrian. Black simply

20...xc5 21.b3

could

11...e5
Years ago, Ljubo Ftacnik, a great
expert on all things Grnfeld, played
the

innoculous

move

11...c8

against then young Alexei Dreev.

The idea was uncorked after 12.e4

19.d5

d6

Eteri Kublashvili

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zplzpn+pvlp0
9-zp-+p+p+0
9+-+-+-+P0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-zPLzPN+-0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

play

A good win for Andreikin vs. Karjakin

5 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

A direct attack against Blacks pawn
weaknesses justifies it.
21...e7 22.ab1

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9+l+-trp+p0
9pzp-+-vlpzP0
9+-wq-zp-+-0
9P+L+P+-+0
9+QzP-+N+-0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9+R+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

January 2014

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+l+k+0
9tr-+-+p+p0
9-zp-+-vlpzP0
9zp-wqLzp-+-0
9P+P+P+-+0
9+R+-+N+-0
9-wQ-+-zPP+0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Or 30...c7 31.d3 d4 32.c5 xb2
33.xb2 but the endgame brings no

Cleaner was 39.c2 c5 40.xf7+

xf7 41.xf7 e3 42.d1.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-mk-+0
9tr-+-+l+p0
9-zpP+-+pzP0
9zp-+L+-vl-0
9P+-wqp+-+0
9+-+-sNR+-0
9Q+-+-zPP+0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

relief: 33...b5 34.axb5 xb5 35.xb5

39...c5

22...c6

xb5 36.xa5 with back rank issues

Black could have made some noise

22...c8 23.xb6 xb6 24.xb6 xc4

recurring.

with

25.xf6 xc3 26.d1 c8 27.g5

31.a2 e7?

forcing White to find an instructive

looks grim. An attempt to pitch a

Possibly, a time trouble induced

queen

pawn and eel out into a salvageable

error. 31...c7

42.c3! xh6 (42...xd5 43.c7)

ending 22...b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.xb5

32.f3 c5 33.xe5 g5

43.c7 c8 44.xf7+ xf7 45.xf3+

xb5 25.xb5 hits a snag, as Black is

33...f6 34.g4 h8 35.f3

g7 46.c3+! g8 47.h3 axc7

suddenly having a hard time putting

34.g4 d4

48.xh6 and the rest is obvious.

a rook on the c-file without allowing

a nasty simplification, e.g. 25...c7
(or 25...c8 26.xb7 xb7 27.a6)
26.xb7 xb7 27.d5.
23.ed1 b8 24.d5 e8
24...xd5 25.xd5 c6 26.c4 is no
improvement.
25.c4 c7 26.a1 f8 27.b2 a5
27...e7 would walk right into
28.g5.
28.d3 g8 29.b3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+l+k+0
9tr-+-+p+p0
9-zp-+-+pzP0
9zp-+L+-vl-0
9P+PwqP+N+0
9+R+-+-+-0
9Q+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

39...xd1+

40.xd1

maneuver:

40.xe4

xh6

exf3

41.a3+

41.d7

g8

xd7

42.cxd7 c1+ 43.h2

No need to continue: 43.h2 c7+
44.g3 xd7 45.d5 10
Yermolinsky-Neimer
SPICE Cup (St. Louis), 2013
This game started just hours after I
suffered one of the strangest losses
of my career. My opponent, Raja

Andreikin shows he can be patient.

White's advantage is now decisive,

Panjwani, actually gained time on

29...a7

and Dmitry finishes in style once

the clock - thanks to the increment -

Sergey feels obliged to open the

when I resigned on move 24. Little I

position up in search of counterplay.

knew I was about to return the favor.

35.c5! f8 36.c6 f5

1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4

30.e1

What else to try?

a6 5.c3 c7 6.f3

Finally he plays his trump card - the

37.f3 f7 38.e3 fxe4

shaky blockade on c5 is going to be

38...xe3 39.fxe3 e5 (39...c5

challenged.

40.b2) 40.a3+ g8 41.d1.

30...d4

39.d1

(diagram)

6 of 34

(diagram)

The Masters Bulletin

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvlntr0
9+pwqp+pzpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-sN-+Q+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This odd-looking move was invented
by Ian Nepo (would you rather have
me use CTRL+C instead?) a few
years ago. In a variety of styles
Ian scored four victories in four
games. A bombshell like that was

January 2014

question Whites accomplishments

up to this point, but one thing speaks
in his favor: Black has been dragged
kicking

and

screaming

into

an

opposite-side castling setup the Kan

move order was designed to avoid.
8.e3 b4 9.000 xc3 10.bxc3

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0
9+p+p+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+-wq-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-zP-vLQ+-0
9P+P+-zPPzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9+p+p+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sN-+q+0
9+-zPLvL-wQ-0
9P+P+-zPPzP0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This looks like a reasonable choice,
but

it's

only

an

illusion.

The

previously seen 12...d5 13.f3

keeps the initiative firmly in White's
hands.
13.g5!!

supposed to create a following,

10...xe4

Shadows

but people remained unimpressed.

10...00 11.d3 d6 12.b3 was

original idea: the exchange on g3

I guess they wrote White's success

Nepomniachtchi-Rublevsky, Russian

opens up the h-file! Here Vitaly sank

off as a showcasing of Ian's talent,

Ch Superfinal 2006. Its instructive

into a long depressing think.

rather than attribute it to quality

to see how safe the white king is

13...h5

of the innovation. I took notice and

despite its broken pawn shield. Good

13...c6 14.xf6 xg3 15.hxg3 gxf6

recommended this line to some of

development and control over the

16.xh7 e8 17.dh1 f8 was one

my students.

dark squares are obviously more

defensive try worth looking into.

6...f6

important here.

14.f3 xg3 15.hxg3 h7 16.xh5

In reply to 6...c6 the original game,

11.g3 00?

I rejected the tempting 16.e7 on

Nepomniachtchi-Pikula, 2009 went

In a practical game one rejects

account of the exchange sacrifice

7.xc6 bxc6 8.g3!! xg3 9.hxg3

11...g6 on sight, once the reply

16...g6!? I felt it would be hard to

and Nepo went on to win a model

12.d6 is spotted. We can look

break through.

blockade game on the queenside,

deeper. 12...e4 is a logical attempt

16...xg5 17.dh1 f5

augmented by the rook lift on the 4th

to dislodge the offending queen but

IM Neimer can see the trouble

rank! In light of that one should take

after (Instead 12...g4 goes after

coming on the back rank, so he tries

a look at Charbonneaus innovation

Whites valuable bishop, which can

to save a tempo on the following

9...e5!?.

be saved by 13.c5 c6 14.xc6

line: 17...g6 18.h8+ g7 19.xf8

7.g5 e5

bxc6 15.d4 with compensation.)

xf8 20.h8+ e7 21.xc8 f5 22.g4;

7...c6! is an interesting pawn

13.a3 c6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.d3 f5

along with avoiding 17...f6 18.h8+

sacrifice I was not going to accept!

16.f3 f6 17.g4 White already looks

f7 19.g6+ e7 20.xf8 xf8

8.000 would be my choice. (8.xc6

near winning.

21.h8+ e7 22.xc8 where Black is

bxc6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.xf6 g8 gives

12.d3 g4

totally hopeless.

White too much headache.) 8...xd4

9.xd4 e5 10.e3 b5 with a typical

of

Nepomniachtchis

18.xg5 c6 19.g4
(diagram)

Sicilian battle looming large. One can

Whites attack shows no sign on

letting up, and one error from Black

7 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

is enough to bring the game to a

automatic b1c3.

rapid conclusion.

3...g4 4.e2 c6!?

19...e5?!

A very principled decision - Black

19...fxg4 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xg4 d5

fights for the center. Say, he plays

22.h7 f7 23.gh4 f8 24.h8+

indifferently. 4...f6 5.00 e6 6.d4

e7 25.g8 followed by doubling up

and now White retains an important

on the 8th rank.

possibility of c2c4. This means that

20.gxf5 xd3+ 21.cxd3 e5 22.f6!

we are going to get some kind of a

xf6 23.xe5 10

Slav structure, where Black has his

light-squared bishop developed, but

Vachier-Lagrave - Papaioannou

White has already pushed e3e4. No

European

easy equality is guaranteed.

Team

Championship

(Warsaw), 2013

8...e5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vlntr0
9zppzpq+pzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+L+P0
9PzP-zP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

5.00 000 6.h3 xf3

For the history of this obscure line

Obviously, a concession of sorts. One

one has to refer to the game Short-

wonders if Black can maintain the

Salov, Dos Hermanas 1997, where

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvlntr0
9zppzp-zppzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+q+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

tension with 6...h5 In reply White

the ever-cautious Russian chose to

may try 7.c3 d7 8.b4!? as seen

go after the bishop, 8...e5 9.d4

in some games, but in my opinion

xf3+ 10.xf3 effectively accepting

it amounts to hardly more than

a slightly worse position after 10...

psychological warfare should Black

e6 11.d2 d5 12.e2 f6 13.e1

stay the course with 8...f6 9.b5

d6 14.f3 h5 15.c4 c6.

xf3 10.xf3 d4 11.d3 f5.

9.e1 f6

7.xf3 d7 8.c3

Black doesnt have time for 9...f5

Its not clear to me if White can

since he wont be getting anything

afford the luxury of 8.g3 as Black can

for the sacrificed pawn after 10.xc6

I didn't know there was another way

continue to occupy the center with

xc6 11.xe5 d6 12.xf5 h6

of playing this position aside of the

8...e5 9.d3 f5.

13.f3 g5.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3

Biel Chess Festival

10.b4
Now, with a developing move in place
of the useless f7f5 Maxim wanted
no part of 10.xc6 xc6 11.xe5
d6 12.e2 he8 13.d4 a6 where
Whites material advantage is offset
by the activity of the black pieces.
10...d6 11.d3 f5?
The resolute 11...e4!? 12.dxe4 he8
13.g5 e6 14.c1 h6 would have
been an interesting attempt to
exploit Whites lag in development.
12.a4!?
(diagram)
Vachier-Lagrave: particularly skillful in attacking the enemy king
8 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

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January 2014

move, I have always viewed it as a

Vitiugovs outrageous idea 6.f4!?

particular weapon to annoy some

brings about an interesting position

Grnfeld players who do not care at

after 6...h4+ (The sac can be

all for the Benoni or the Kings Indian.

declined with 6...c5!? 7.cxd5 exd5

I doubt it would be very effective

8.f3

against Garry Kasparov who felt at

h5 9.hxg3 xh1 10.c3 with

home in all Indian structures.

compensation.

3...e6!?

6...dxc4?!

c6)

7.g3

xg3

8.f3

Whites terrible bishop, but first he

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has to move his queen to safety. The

According to GM Atalik there are

8...d7

time lost proves to be too costly. 14...

some advantages of this move.

8...h5!? 9.e4 b4+ 10.f2 d7

a6 15.c4 fd7 16.d1 g6 17.c3 f5

Surprise value, maybe? Otherwise,

11.xc4 b6 12.b3 d7 13.g5

would have been a better try.

a combination of g7g6 and e7e6

e7 14.f6 f8 15.g5 c6 16.e2

15.d2 c5

looks suspect against White's central

and White is clearly better.

15...h5 would have covered the

strategy.

9.e4 e7 10.d2 c6?

dangerous g4square, but I dont

4.e4 d5 5.e5

This allows White to establish a

think Whites attack can be stopped

White charges forward, perhaps, too

mortal grip! 10...h5!?; 10...h4+

after 16.e4 g6 17.ad1! xe4

soon. The developing move 5.c3!

11.f2 c6 12.xc4 h5 13.000

18.xe4 f5 19.d5.

maintains the tension and practically

xe4 14.fxe4 xf2 15.xf2 hxg4

16.e4 xe3 17.xe3 h5 18.xa7

forces Black to go for 5...dxe4

16.g3 c5 with counterplay.

d5 19.c5 xe3 20.xb7# 10

(5...c5 is hardly an alternative on

11.f6+ f8 12.h6

Vachier-Lagrave

is

particularly

skillful in attacking the enemy king.

Here he casually parts with a central
pawn in order to facilitate his play.
12.e2 would give White a safe plus.
12...xd3 13.b5 b8 14.e3 f5
Papaioannou is trying to shut down

account of 6.cxd5 exd5 7.g5! e7

Kavutskiy-S.Atalik

8.e5 g8 9.e3! c6 10.b5 where

Mid-America Open (St. Louis), 2013

Black encounters severe difficulties.)

6.fxe4 e5 7.d5 Now Black has to

I was playing a couple of boards

figure out some transpositions. He

down and was totally taken by this

may pretend hes playing against the

fascinating encounter. In my notes

4.f3 line in the Nimzo, and proceed

I dipped rather heavily into Suat

with 7...c5 (7...g7 8.f3 00 is

Ataliks extensive analysis.

a Four Pawns Kings Indian down a

1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.f3!?

tempo for Black.) 8.f3 00 9.g5

We see this more and more often

but then why is his pawn on g6?

lately. While in itself its a reasonable

5...h5 6.e3

This move surrenders the e4 square.

6...c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.c3 c6 9.b5
cxd4 10.xd4 a6 11.xc6+ bxc6
looks shaky for Black, but if he gets
to complete his development the
bishop pair will offer good chances.
7.g4 g7 8.c3
Now this looks like a Queens Gambit
Accepted, the 3.e4 line gone terribly
wrong for Black. Wheres that crazy
guy who touched the g-pawn?

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When I saw this position I thought

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The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Suat was going to lose one way or

b6 25.b4?

another, but he was able to look past

25.xh7+

his fianchettoed knight, buried rook

27.gxf6 h7 and suddenly White is

28.xh7+ e7 29.xg7 dxe2 30.f4

and doomed king and create some

about to lose the bishop. This must

e1+ 31.h1! g8 32.f6+ d7

counterplay!

have discouraged Kavutskiy from

32...e8

12...d7

looking a bit deeper. If he did he

xf8 35.xf8+ e7 36.xa8.

12...xf6 13.exf6 xf6 14.g5 costs

for sure would have found 28.g5

33.h4?

the queen.

xh3 29.f4 with crushing attack

Kostya lost his way in time trouble.

13.g5! b6

after 29...h7 (29...xh2+ 30.g3

The endgame after 33.xf7+ xf7

after

h7 31.xg6 fxg6 32.xg6+ h8

34.xf7+ c6 35.xe6 d8 36.b3

13...xf6!? 14.gxf6 xf6 15.exf6

33.h1!+) 30.xg6 fxg6 31.xb6

d2 seems tricky, but once the white

xf6 16.g5.

axb6 32.xg6+ h8 33.f7+; 25.g2

knight returns, 37.f6! there will be

14.f4 b4+ 15.f2 c3 16.bxc3

c2 26.b2 d3 27.xh7++.

forks all over the place. 37...b5

xc3 17.d1 a4 18.e2 a5

25...c5!?

(37...xf3 38.a4+ c5 39.e4++;

An attempt to swindle. 25...c6

37...f2 38.a4+ c5 39.e4++)

would have given White another

38.e4 g2 39.h4 g1+ 40.h2 g2+

crack at 26.xh7+ g8 27.f6+

41.h3 g1 42.c3+ a5 43.e6 h2+

xf6 28.gxf6 h7 29.g5 xh3

44.g3 g2+ 45.f4+ This is the way

30.f4 etc.

White should have won the game.

26.xa4 cxd4

33...d3 34.f1 f2+ 35.g2 d8

Not

enough

compensation

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Up to this point it was hard to find
flaw in Kavutskiy's forceful play.
19.h4
Perhaps too academic. It would be
nice to finish the game with some
artistic

flair:

19.d5

exd5

20.e6

coming up with moves designed to

g8

26.f6+

xf6

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confuse his opponent.

33.xe6

fxe6

34.f8+

36.a4 c8 37.f4 d1!

Black is already playing for a win.
38.c1+ b8
Who would have thought the black
king would escape the execution
chamber on the kingside?
39.f6 f8 40.e4 a5!?
Ill give the rest of the moves without
annotations. The more experienced
grandmaster

was

able

to

take

advantage of further mistakes from

e7 21.xg7+ xg7 22.e5 f8

27.g2?

his frustrated opponent.

23.xd5+.

Another hesitation and Black charges

41.b5 f2 42.e2 h8! 43.xf2

19...g8 20.xg7+ xg7 21.h6

back into the game. White was

xf2 44.xf2 xh2+ 45.e3 xe5+

b2 22.h3?

unable to calculate a put-away:

46.e4 d4 47.e1 b4 48.d1

According to Suat this was the first

27.xh7+ g8 28.f6+ f8 29.f4

c7 49.f2 b2+ 50.e3 a8!

step Kostya went wrong! 22.g2

d3+ 30.g3 d2 31.h8+ e7 32.xg7

51.e8? e5!+ 52.f4 b6+ 53.f3

xd1+ 23.xd1 a4 24.b1 b6

and the threat is xg6 mate.

b3+ 54.g2 exf4 55.xf7 b2+

25.xh7++.

27...d3!?

56.h3 e3+ 57.g4 g2+ 58.h4

22...xd1+ 23.xd1 a4 24.b1

Realizing he was still lost Atalik kept

a7!? 59.xg6 f3 60.d6 f2 01

10 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Topical Theory
Bobby Fischers 6.h3 against the Najdorf
GM Danny Gormally

The little pawn move 6.h3 used to be a sideline that couldn't be

become immensely popular, and this month GM Danny Gormally
will focus on one of Black's main replies, 6...e6.
VachierLagrave - Anand

In many games he simply becomes

Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee), 2011

suffocated and runs out of moves, as

the white pawns march menacingly

1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4

up the board. But of course such

f6 5.c3 a6 6.h3!?

an approach is not without risk for

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White either...
6...e6!
In my opinion this is the best reply.
Or at least the most ambitious.
Why? Well because it keeps as much
tension in the position as possible,
and leads to positions that hang on a

Photo Wikipedia

that bad, as it was played by Bobby Fischer. In recent years it has

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knife edge, exactly what the Sicilian

b1) 11...b6!? Maybe this is the right

is all about! The other main move,

approach. Black wants to play the

6...e5 we will look at in part two.

other knight to e5 via d7, and ...c8,

7.g4 e7 8.g2

after which he will have total control

This line has become incredibly

The immediate 8.g5 is also possible.

over the important c4 square, and

popular in recent years, and contains

8...fd7 9.h4 b5! the right approach,

good counterplay on the queenside.

no small amount of venom. Of course

activating the queenside; the bishop

In many lines, once the black rook

White players hoping to slay the

goes to the long diagonal, putting

reaches the c-file, an exchange

Najdorf have tried a multitude of

pressure on the e4 pawn.

sacrifice on c3 will be threatened;

sixth moves, including 6.e2, 6.c4,

a) 10.g2 b7 11.00 c6 12.xc6

not only will this destroy the white

6.g5 and 6.e3 just to name a few.

xc6 13.e3 h6 14.f4 hxg5 15.hxg5

pawn structure on the queenside, but

But of late 6.h3 has started to rival

b4 16.e2 e5! undermining the

it will also weaken the defense of the

all of these in popularity, particularly

powerful

a5

e4 pawn. 12.g4 Highly aggressive

amongst the top players.The idea

18.d2 c5 With reasonable play

and typical of Yang-Fan. He wants to

behind this move is to provoke an

for Black in the game Bacrot-Giri,

play f4f5 and swamp Black on the

early kingside pawn assault, which is

Biel 2012

kingside. (12.d2 8d7 13.000

very dangerous for Black to handle.

b) 10.a3 b7 11.e3

e5 looks fine for Black, who intends

f4/g5

chain

11 of 34

17.a3

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

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...c4) 12...8d7 13.f4 c8 14.h3

10.e2

c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.000 c7

Normally the queen is played here.

was an interesting game played in

The bishop defends d4 anyway, and

a tournament that I also competed

White would like to vacate the d-file

in, this year in London. Interesting

for his rook. However 10.d2 is a very

because I was discussing this 6.h3

reasonable alternative that has been

line with Longson in anticipation

played a few times. 10...00 11.00

of his game against Yang-Fan. Now

Castling kingside in conjunction with

Black has a good position and should

the plan of g4 may seem slightly

have sacrificed the exchange here

strange, however these pawns are

with 16...xc3! 17.bxc3 a5 with

cramping Black and by no means is

excellent play, as the black knight is

White ruling out an attack on the

If

ready to spring to b6 and c4, and the

kingside in any case. (Nevertheless,

aggressively, and throw his pawns

White king is very exposed) 17.b1

11.000 is more than playable)

forward on the kingside, for me

c5 18.f5 e5 19.f6 exd4 20.fxg7 g8

11...de5 12.b3 xd4 13.xd4 g6

this way of playing makes the most

21.xd4 Even here Black was doing

14.e3 c7 15.e2 b5! 16.c4 (16.f4

sense. 12.00 b5 13.e5 d5 14.a3 c7

well as Whites compensation for the

b7 17.f5 h4 18.h1 exf5 19.gxf5

15.f4 c5 16.e3 xd4 17.xd4 Was

piece is slightly questionable, but

f6 can hardly be considered better

perfectly playable for White in the

he later went wrong and lost in the

for White, but at least it leads to a

game Hou Yifan-Wang Hao, Xinghua

game Zhou-Longson, Purley 2013.

murky position) 16...bxc4 17.ac1

Jiangsu 2009. There is nothing wrong

b2) 11...00 is another standard

b7 18.xc4 d7 19.fc1 ac8 As

with castling kingside, but at the

reply. 12.d2 c6 13.000 xd4

usual Magnus has shown the way, and

same time why not just go for it?

14.xd4 c8 15.g1 e5 16.e3

had carefully extinguished Whites

12...b5

c4 17.xc4 xc4 18.f4 It seems to

initiative

Howell-

The Russian grandmaster Alexander

me White has got what he wanted

Carlsen, London 2010; 10.00 00

Morozevich chose a different way

in this variation. His far-advanced

11.f4 xd4 12.xd4 b5 13.d2 b7

of playing here: 12...c7!? A typical

kingside pawns already threatened

14.g5 c8 15.e2 c4 16.b3 c7

move in the Sicilian, instigating

to wreak great destruction in the

(Some cavemen might be tempted by

counterplay on the c-file. 13.f4 b8

game Vallejo Pons-Topalov, Leon

16...xe4 here. Black certainly has

14.a7 a8 15.d4 e8 Of course

2012.

excellent compensation after the

Morozevich is not interested in a draw

8...fd7 9.e3 c6

natural continuation 17.xe4 xe4

at such an early stage of the game.

18.g3 c6) 17.g3 a8 18.f5 fc8

16.g5 b5 17.a3 b8 18.h4 b4 19.axb4

19.ac1 c5 With an unclear game

xb4 Now the half-open b-file gives

in the encounter Caruana-Ivanchuk,

Black excellent counterplay. 20.h5

Wijk aan Zee 2010. As is typical for

(The

this line, Black has a certain degree

impossible - Tal for one used this

of counterplay on the c-file, and is

idea extensively in some of his best

exerting useful pressure against the

Sicilian slays. White opens up the

White e-pawn, but White also has

kingside as quickly as possible. 20...

his chances on the kingside, starting

fxg6 21.h5! looks quite dangerous)

with the move 20.f6!?.

20...a5 21.b1 e5 22.c3 c5

10...xd4 11.xd4 00 12.000!

23.g6 e6 24.d2? (24.e1! c8

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in

the

game

12 of 34

White

is

going

immediate

to

20.g6!?

play

is

so

not

The Masters Bulletin

was

unclear)

24...c8!

Wikipedia

25.a3

January 2014

15...b4 16.a4 c6 17.b6.

25.f5? (25.a3 a4 is now good for

16.b1 c7 17.c1

Black. This variation would have

This looks rather passive, but of

been impossible if White had played

course White had no wish to create

the queen to e1, as then he could

any weaknesses on the queenside.

have just taken on b4. Now he loses

17.a3 a5! in any case renews the

the queen to ...b3 check.) And now

threat of ...b4.

25...a2! would have already have

17...c5 18.e2 a5 19.c3 a6

been completely winning for Black

20.c2 b6 21.hc1 b4!

in the game Sandipan-Morozevich,

Zurich 2009.
13.e5 d5 14.f4
White can also try the enterprising
sacrifice 14.xd5!? here. This is
a very ambitious approach. 14...
exd5 15.xd5 b8 16.a7 (16.e6!?
fxe6 17.xe6+ h8 18.f4 probably
doesnt quite give enough for the
piece, but does look scary for Black.)
16...b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.he1 c7

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27...f8
This looks rather passive, but in
fact avoids any potential disasters.
The machine at first recommends
27...a6 but rather changes its mind

Black's

arrived

when it sees the strong sacrifical idea

of it, as his two pieces for the rook

just in time. This position rather

28.fxe6 fxe6 29.xd5! exd5 30.e6

are likely to prove more telling in

resembles a variation of the 3.c3

c5 31.e7 g6+ 32.a1 e4 33.f4

the long run in the game Movsesian-

French; White has something of a

which is very dangerous for Black.

Ponomariov, San Sebastian 2009.

blockade on d4, but with the knight

28.h4 exf5 29.xd5 g6 30.b3 b7

14...b7

on e2 targeted by the bishop on a6,

31.e6 xe6 32.xe6 h1+ 33.c2

A typical position for this line, which

it's hard to maintain the status quo.

h2+ 34.b1 h1+

also resembles a line of the French

22.cxb4

Defense. Now Black intends the

24.xc2 axb4

Now lets look at one of the most

simple ...c8. He also has ideas of

The position is balanced.

important lines, 7...d5!?.

...b4, where the normal response

25.f5 c8 26.xc8+ xc8 27.g5!?

15.e3
Taking the sting out of ...b4, as now
the knight can be re-routed to e2.
15.f5 b4! 16.a4 (16.b1 is possible
but looks rather horrible, 16...g5+
17.d2 a5 intending ...a4 and ...b3
with a quick squash) 16...c6 17.b3
xa4 18.bxa4 a5 is not a happy
situation for White.
15...c8

xd4

has

back in the 1960s

19.b1 c5 and Black had the better

a4 can be met with ...c6!

counterplay

Fischer played 6.h3 a few times

23.xd4

xc2

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13 of 34

Anand-Gelfand
Zurich, 2013
1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4
f6 5.c3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 d5!?
An important move to consider. This
is the most forcing response that
usually leads to Black freeing his
position. Although this should appeal
to those sort of players who like
active piece play, in general I feel

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

White should gain an edge in this line

c7 White has this rather mangled

return, plus the weaknesses that

without much risk.

pawn structure on the queenside,

White has on the kingside, means he

8.exd5 xd5 9.de2 h5!?

but this doesnt trouble him much;

thinks there is likely to be more than

Trying to resolve the situation on

the open lines he gains for his two

enough compensation.

the kingside. 9...b4 is probably

bishops are more than compensation.

13.00

the most common approach. The

14.b1 Its important to prevent

Nevertheless it was possible to grab

main idea of this is to prevent White

the d7c6 maneuver. If Black can

the pawn: 13.xd5 c6 14.e3 e6

capturing on d5, thus laboring Black

exchange the light-squared bishops

15.d2 when Black has some play

with an isolated d-pawn. 10.g2 00

he would stand better, as the open

for the pawn, but its questionable

11.00

nature of the White kingside could

that its quite enough.

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become an issue. So this is a useful

13...c6 14.xd5 e6 15.f3 e8

prophylactic measure against that

16.e3 c4 17.fe1 b4 18.ac1

plan. (White has a lot of choice here,

18.d4!? g6 19.d2

for example 14.a3 d8 15.f3)

18...e5 19.c3 xc3 20.bxc3 d5

14...c6 (14...xc3 looks like an

21.xh5 xg2 22.xg2 d5+

a) 11...xc3 12.xc3 c7 (12...c6

in Adams-Vachier Lagrave, Paris/St

is possible of course, but this enables

Petersburg 2013.

White to take it into a endgame

10.g5 d6 11.xd5 exd5 12.g2

where he holds a pleasant edge

00!?

extremely risky pawn grab, but may

actually be playable. For example
15.b3 c7 16.a3 d8 17.d3
which is fairly unclear.) 15.e3 b5
16.c4 d8 17.e2 b4 18.c3!? with
slightly better chances for White

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has more counter-chances, as his

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king is slightly less exposed than its

A very interesting idea by Boris,

Despite the extra pawn White has no

counterpart. 15.f4 f5! 16.gxf5 xf5

which was surely the product of

real way of making progress - Black is

17.e3 d7 gave Black more than

intense preparation. Possibly a by-

too solidly placed in the center.

enough in the game Shirov-Vachier

product of their world championship

37...f5 38.a3 xc4 39.xa5 xa5

Lagrave, Biel 2011.

clash even. Black is happy to gambit

40.xa5+ f6 41.a6+ f5 42.f3

b) 11...xc3 12.xc3 xc3 13.bxc3

a pawn, as the time he will gain in

with very little risk.

13.xd8

xd8 14.a4 e5 15.c3 e7 16.b6

b8 17.xc8 bxc8 18.e3 This is
rather a dream endgame for White,
as the presence of the two bishops
ensures him a large advantage. He
went on to win in Alekseev-Karjakin,
Nalchik 2009.) 13.e4 c6 14.c3
e7 The difference between this
and the Karjakin game is that Black

14 of 34

23.g1?
23.f3! xf3+ 24.xf3 xa2 25.b1
xc3 26.xb7 would have given
serious chances.
23...c6 24.ed1 xa2 25.g6 fxg6
26.xg6 f7 27.xf7+ xf7 28.b1
b5 29.c4 b4 30.c3 bxc3 31.bc1
ed8 32.xd8 xd8 33.xc3 a5
34.f1 e6 35.e2 h8 36.b6
h4 37.e3+

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Carlsen-Gelfand

13.a4+ d7 14.xe4! from this

threat of e5. 11.f4! 00 (11...c6!

Amber-blindfold (Nice), 2008

move onward, Fischers every move

is a possible improvement. Whites

is the first choice of the engine!

set-up may look very scary, but

Finally I want to look at what happens

Doubtless if such a game were

in the Sicilian there are many

if Black goes for the fianchetto on

played today, suspicious eyebrows

defensive resources, and in any case

the queenside with 7...b5; this is one

would be raised... No wonder that

this at least slows down the plan

of the most popular ways of meeting

he had a reputation as the human

of 12.f5 which can now be met by

the 6.h3 Najdorf, as it enables Black

computer. It is worth giving this

12...xd4 13.xd4 00 when White

to quickly mobilize the queenside.

attacking masterpiece in full: 14...

doesnt have any pressure against

1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4

dxe4 15.f5 c5 16.g7+ e7

e6, so Black is not forced to play this

f6 5.c3 a6 6.h3 e6

17.f5+ e8 18.e3! xe3 19.fxe3

unfortunate ...e5 move.) 12.f5 e5 A

The immediate

6...b5!? is also

b6 20.d1 a7 21.d6!+ d8

strategic concession, but how else

worthy of a mention. Black doesnt

22.b3 c7 23.xf7+ d8 24.e6

was White to meet the threat to e6?

even bother with the preliminary

10 Fischer-Najdorf, Varna Olympiad

13.b3 c6 14.d5 c8 15.c3 h4

...e6. 7.d5!?

1962.

16.a4! and with a lovely bind on d5

7.g4 b5!?

White could happily chip away at the

An ambitious way to play - Black

black queenside in the game Ehlvest-

seeks to put the bishop on its natural

Amanov, Philadelphia 2011.

diagonal to combat the strength of

9...h6

Whites own fianchettoed bishop on

Holding up the kingside assault, but

g2. But this does require accurate

creating some potential weaknesses

play.

on the kingside, if White can ever get

8.g2 b7

through the move g5, then he may be

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+-+-zppzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9+p+N+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-+-+-+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
because Black hasn't played ...e6
yet, White immediately takes the
opportunity

to

sharpen

up

the

game. 7...b7 (7...bd7?? would be

catastrophic because of 8.c6!; 7...
e6 8.xf6+ xf6 however is possible.
9.a4 b4 10.a5 b7 11.d3 and
White holds a nagging edge, as b4 is

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-+pzpp0
9p+-zppsn-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+P+0
9+-sN-+-+P0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

potentially weak) 8.xf6+ gxf6 9.c4

9.00

bxc4 10.xc4 xe4 11.00 d5 12.e1

White can also play the less ambitious

e5? One too many pawn moves in the

but seemingly equally good, 9.a3

opening gets the natural optimist

but as we shall see, White doesnt

Najdorf into trouble. (The computer

really have to fear the move ...b4.

suggests 12...xg2! here, but they

9...e7 10.00 fd7 This may look

didnt play that way back then!)

slightly odd, but White now has a

15 of 34

able to play g6 as well and weaken

the crucial e6 square. 9...c6!?
seems both solid and logical. 10.xc6
(Its worth mentioning that

10.e5

isnt quite as crushing as it looks;

10...xd4! 11.xb7?! dxe5! 12.xa8
xa8 with plenty of action for the
exchange.) 10...xc6 11.e1 d7

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9p+lzpp+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-+-+P0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

12.d5 (Perhaps White should start

tolerated here, but to take would

world championship challenger, but

with 12.a4!? as after 12...b4 (12...

lead to even greater disaster; the

this seems to be like a red rag to a

bxa4 13.xa4 and White can play

bishop on g2 would be unleashed,

bull. Having already wasted a move

b3, b2. The black a-pawn is also

with

consequences.

with ...e6, this seems to not only

potentially weak in the long-run.)

13...c7 14.xe7 xe7 15.e1+!

lose time, but to lure the knight to

13.d5! there is a threat to the

is probably even stronger. (15.d4

a very useful square on f5 where it

b-pawn.) 12...b7 13.d4 e5 14.f4

f6 16.e1+ d8 17.xb4 e5 with

can also be recycled around to e5,

c6 15.f2?! (15.b6 was safer.)

a murky game in Parligras-Kurnosov,

clamping down on the d5 square.

15...exd5 16.exd5+ e7 17.a4 and

Bucharest 2008.) 15...f8 (15...d8!

11.f5 g6 12.e3 bd7 13.a4 b4

although White has some punting

16.e3 isnt completely clear, but

14.cd5 xd5 15.xd5 a5 16.c3

chances for the piece, objectively

White has ideas of crowbarring the

bxc3 17.bxc3 e7 18.b1 c6

Black should have been better in

queenside open with moves like a3

19.f1 h5 20.b5 xb5 21.xb5

the game Carlsen-Dominguez Perez,

and c3, and Black may well be mated

hxg4 22.hxg4 h4?

Biel 2008. And they say Magnus is a

long before his extra piece holds any

This move turns out to be rather

boring endgame player!; 9...b4 This

value...) 16.e2 even the computer

pointless.

is perhaps the key line, but it seems

likes White here. 16...d8 17.f4

immediately tried to challenge this

to be scoring well for White. 10.d5!

e5 18.xe5 dxe5 19.xe5 White

monster knight on d5 with 22...f6!

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-+pzpp0
9p+-zppsn-+0
9+-+N+-+-0
9-zp-sNP+P+0
9+-+-+-+P0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

already has two pawns plus a raging

Which would have minimized his

initiative for the piece, and the game

disadvantage.

did not last much longer in Karjakin-

23.f3 f6 24.b7!

Of course White has no intention of

meekly retreating, which would hang
the e-pawn, but dares to go forward.
This discovery seems to me to put
the idea of 9...b4 to bed. Black wins
a piece but the threats and pressure
that White gains in return more than
compensate - plus, from a practical
point of view, it's horrible to play
for the defender. 10...exd5 11.exd5

devastating

Van Wely, Nice 2008. 9...bd7!?

looks like a solid alternative. Black
should certainly avoid the extremely
casual 9...e7?? as after the typical
reply 10.e5! White is close to winning
already.
10.e1

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-+pzp-0
9p+-zppsn-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+P+0
9+-sN-+-+P0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

e7 12.g5 fd7 13.c6! This is the

10...e5?!

problem. The knight can hardly be

Far from me to criticize a former

16 of 34

Black

should

have

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+R+-+p+-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9zp-+Nzp-+-0
9P+-+P+Pvl0
9+-zP-+Q+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-vL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The point - Black can't now take on
d5 because of the mate.
24...c8 25.g5! xd5 26.xf7+
d8 27.exd5 g4+ 28.f1
White easily sidesteps the checks.
28...h3+ 29.e2 g4+ 30.d3
f5+ 31.xf5 gxf5 32.h1 c8
33.f7 10

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Bent Larsens 1.b3

GM Viktor Moskalenko

Bent Larsen's 1.b3 is another move that has become popular quite
recently. Players like Hikaru Nakamura and Baadur Jobava, active
at the Tata Steel tournament as we speak, have tried it and so this
is a good moment for GM Viktor Moskalenko to dive into it!

Bent Larsen (19352010), one of the

The basic idea after fianchetto b3

Jobava-Nakamura

best players in the world in the 60s,

b2 is dominating the long diagonal

World

a chess romantic of the 20th century,

a1h8, avoiding the most known

(Beijing), 2012

was above all a very creative player

openings and exiting theory quickly.

who pioneered unusual openings

So White forces his opponent to think

1.b3!?

in order to pose problems for his

from the first move. Meanwhile, he

Remarkably, GM Jobava played 1.b3

opponents from the first moves.

will attack the black center from a

in Beijing 2012 all the time, in all

One of these special openings that

distance, in good hypermodern style

kind of chess, scoring three points

Larsen played regularly was 1.b3,

(Rti), similar to the Modern/Pirc

out of four against strong opponents.

while history has added his name to

defense with Black.

1...e5

this interesting pawn move (in some

Mind

Games

Blindfold

This is the first and most logical of

publications is called Nimzowitsch-

But what about strategy? As we will

Blacks responses as it closes the

Larsen Opening).

see in the commented games, the

diagonal a1h8 and allows quick

knowledge of the pawn structures is

development.

the key to success in Larsen Opening!

2.b2

In this article, we will know a little

more White and Black strategy
behind 1.b3, with special attention

In addition to the slight theoretical

to critical positions that happen

explanation, you can enjoy several

once Black occupies the center with

recent games, including the lines:

his pawns.

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvlntr0
9zppzpp+pzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9PvLPzPPzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

Before going into detail, it should be

Game 1 (Jobava-Nakamura) 1.b3 e5

clarified that more than five thousand

2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5

registered database games have

Game 2 (Petrosian-Vishnu) 1.b3 e5

been played. Many grandmasters

2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6

have occasionally used this opening,

Game 3 (Moskalenko-Vallejo) 1.b3 d5

which is extremely flexible and

2.e3 e5!

does not require lot of theoretical

Game 4 (Jobava-Ma Qun) 1.b3 d5

2...c6

knowlege. Recently, it has been

2.b2!?

Practice shows that this defense is

quite popular in speed and classical

The latter is rather an illustrated

superior, in order to play 3...d5 or

games by players like Nakamura and

game, which also shows some typical

3...f6 on the next move. 2...d6

Jobava.

Black and White options.

3.e3 (In the same tournament White

17 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

also used a double fianchetto: 3.g3

very interesting; lets explore and

As you can see, the pressure on the

- see the games Kamsky-Bologan

investigate. A solid alternative is

e5 is the key in this variation.

and Kamsky-Giri, Beijing 2012.) 3...

5.f3 while the legendary Bent

7...f6

c5 (Or 3...g6 4.d4 g7 5.dxe5 d7

Larsen tried 5.c4 dxc4 6.f3 against

The main alternative is 7...g4!?

6.c3!? Jobava-Guseinov, Fujairah

Caferty in Teeside 1972.

8.fxe5 from here on, Black has

City

5...h4+

to be wary, to avoid the traps and

Black includes the check, in order to

snares that exist in these positions:

2012) 4...cxd4 5.exd4 exd4 6.f3

weaken Whites kingside.

8...xe5 The only move. (8...xf3?

Jobava-Bologan, Beijing 2012

a)

3.e3!?

initiative.

advantage is decisive) 9.xe5 xf3

The true Larsen plan begins -

b) 5...exf4? capturing of the pawn

10.xf3 xe5 11.c3 (11.d4!? e6

preparing b5.

on f4 is bad for Black: 6.xg7 h4+

12.00 f6 13.c4! is an interesting

3...d5

7.f1 with a decisive advantage; the

idea,

The most popular and ambitious

black rook is doomed.

2004) 11...f6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.00

move, trying to occupy the center

c)

with two pawns. A safer alternative

immediately

2012)

5.bc3

4.d4!?

(4.e2

Jobava-Bologan,

f6

Beijing

5...e7?!

6.f3

9.exd6! e4 10.c3! and Whites

Blatny-Blazkova,

Litomysl

and White had a slight advantage

lead to a complex

due to presence of the two doubled

is 3...f6 with the idea 4.b5 d6!?

position: 6.h5+ (Interesting and

pawns on the c-file - Ljubojevic-

- see the next game.

little explored is 6.h3!? with the

Portisch, Teeside 1972.

4.b5!

idea of 6...xh3?! 7.h5+! g6 8.xh3

8.c3!

Threatening the e5pawn. Any other

with domination over the white

The modern continuation (suggested

option simply loses the initiative and

squares) 6...g6 7.h4 and after a

by the well-known chess writer John

cannot be recommended.

useful queen maneuver the a1h8

Watson), attacking the pawn on d5

4...d6

diagonal is weakened. 7...exf4 and

first, and then continue fxe5 and e2

now 8.f3! is my recommendation,

e4!

5.f4!?
The funny, popular line. With this
move White raises his direct attack
via

diagonal

a1h8.

It

weakens

his own kingside a little, but with

correct play White doesnt need to
be alarmed. The following play is

This

the

alternative

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+nvl-+-+0
9+L+pzp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzP-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

5...f6!?

keeps

playing in gambit style: sacrifice the

center pawns in order to continue
the development. Many white pieces
will be involved in a direct attack on
the black king. (However, 8.exf4!? is
also possible.)
6.g3 e7 7.f3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+ntr0
9zppzp-wqpzpp0
9-+nvl-+-+0
9+L+pzp-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-zPNzP-0
9PvLPzP-+-zP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18 of 34

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+ntr0
9zppzp-wq-zpp0
9-+nvl-zp-+0
9+L+pzp-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+PsN-zPNzP-0
9PvLPzP-+-zP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The old attempt 8.fxe5 fxe5 9.xe5?
(9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xe5 f6! with
counterplay) 9...xe5 10.xc6+ fails
to 10...d8! and Black is better now
(avoiding 10...bxc6? 11.h5+).
8...d4N

The Masters Bulletin

Peter Doggers

January 2014

Jobava

continuing

in

the

same

adventurist style.
15...xd2
An important deviation for Black
here was to include first 15...g4!
16.h4 c8 17.xg7 and only now
17...xd2!
16.af1
Objectively preferable was 16.xg7
xe3+ 17.g2! d2+ 18.g1! with
a probable draw.
16...xe3+ 17.g2

Georgian GM Baadur Jobava is one of the main experts on 1.b3 these days
A curious idea, even if Black is
somewhat worse objectively after
this move.
a) Normal is 8...e6 where White
has a choice between a number of
options: 9.00!? (Or, 9.fxe5 fxe5
10.d4!? e4 11.e5 xe5 12.h5+!)
9...h6 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.e4! with the
initiative for White.
b) In some games Black has opted
for 8...f7!? 9.00 (9.e4! see line
on move 10) 9...e4? (9...exf4)
10.e5!

was

winning

Gonzalez

Vericat-Perpinya

blow,

10...fxe5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+ntr0
9zppzp-+qzpp0
9-+nvl-+-+0
9+L+Nzp-+-0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+P+-zPNzP-0
9PvLPzP-+-zP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lmk-+-tr0
9zppzp-+Rzpp0
9-+nvl-+-sn0
9+-+-zp-sNQ0
9-+Lzp-+-+0
9+P+-wq-zP-0
9PvLP+-+KzP0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17...g4!? 18.h4 c8 19.xg7 f8
20.c1?!
Again White could have played for a
draw: 20.xh6! d2+ 21.g1=
20...c3 21.f7 xc2+ 22.g1!

11.00?

xf7?!

This sacrifice is suspicious, but OK

The strongest move for Black was

Badalona 2013.

for rapid or blindfold chess. Now

22...c5 23.xh6 d7 with the idea

9.d5!?

extremely sharp play begins. 11.e4!?;

of 24.e6 b8! 25.xd7 e4!! but

Certainly, there were alternatives

11.c4!?

who could have seen it!?

such as 9.e4 dxe3 10.fxe5! with

11...xd5! 12.c4 a5

23.xg4+ b8 24.gxf7

a strong initiative. Or, the engines

Engines prefer 12...c5 but again,

White has compensation. Now Black

9.exd4!? exd4+ 10.e2 with a slight

in a variation like 13.g5 dxe3

selected the wrong square for his

advantage.

14.h1 anything may happen, even

rook.

9...f7 10.fxe5

in classical chess.

24...e8?

13.g5 h6

He had to play 24...d8 25.g5 g6!

11.fxe5 fxe5 12.00 h5 13.e2 h6

13...f6!? 14.xf6 gxf6 15.h5+ and

25.e6!?

Karlsson-Lindberg, Stockholm 2007.

now 15...d7! was fine for Black.

25.a3! was winning for White.

And now 14.h4! with the initiative.

14.h5+ d8 15.f7!?

25...d8!

Also

playable

is

10.e4!?

Rofes,

ge7

19 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Not 25...xe6?? 26.f8+ and the

I cannot say that I understood much

black king gets checkmated.

about this game while analyzing it in

26.g5 a6 27.7f2 c3 28.xd8

the express mode, but was definitely

xd8 29.d7 c6 30.xh7 a7

happy to do it, commented GM

31.g2 b4 32.a3 c6 33.e4

Mikhail Golubev on the Internet. 01

xa3 34.h4 h8 35.f3?!

Around here White still had an

Petrosian-Vishnu

advantage. Possible was 35.c2 a5

Fujairah Masters, 2012

36.a2! b4 37.xa3 xa3 38.xe5

4...d6!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zppzpp+pzpp0
9-+nvl-sn-+0
9+L+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzP-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

with a clear advantage.

1.b3

35...a5 36.h3 d6 37.f7 d2

The young Armenian GM Tigran

38.1f6 b4 39.d7 a5 40.d5

Petrosian is also a great fan of the

b5 41.df7 d8 42.f3?!

Larsen Opening.

A little strange move, but the idea is

White misses a strong counterstrike

1...e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6!?

to meet xc6 with ...dxc6, otherwise

by his opponent.
42...b4 43.c4 xc4 44.bxc4
xc4 45.g4?! d5!? 46.xd5 xd5
47.g5
The final mistake. But, White is
clearly in trouble after 47.xc7 e4
48.ff7 a5! 49.xb7+ a6 is winning.
47...d3 48.f1 e4 49.g6?! e3+

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9mkpzp-+R+-0
9p+-+-+P+0
9+-+r+-+-0
9-vl-+-+-zP0
9+-+pzp-+K0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zppzpp+pzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzP-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

As a matter of fact, nowadays this

is the most principled line. The
immediate exchange x is already
possible: 5.xc6 dxc6 6.d3 00 7.d2
e8 8.e4 (8.gf3!?) 8...d7 9.e2
hoping for f2f4 later, NakamuraPonomariov, Saint Louis 2011.
5...a6

Black prefers a quick development.

a) 5...a5!? shows that chess is far

However, after b5 and the exchange

from being played out: 6.f3 c6 (6...

x the position may become static,

a6 see below) 7.e2 e7 with an

which favors White.

unclear position where both knights

4.b5!

are badly placed on the rim!

Again White goes for the true Larsen

b) 5...e7 leads to creative play:

setup as in the previous game.

6.e2 (6.c4 d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2

Black's pawns are too strong.

Another option is to transpose to

Jobava-Jakovenko,

50.g7 d8

the English Opening with 4.c4. Also

6...00 7.c4 e4 8.xc6 bxc6 9.00

Incredibly, Black is winning also after

interesting is 4.f3 e4 (4...d6 5.d4

Jobava-Bacrot, Fujairah City 2012;

50...e2 51.g8 d2!

e4 6.fd2 Gonzalez Rodriguez-

c) After 5...e4 6.e2 e5 7.c1 e7

51.xc7 e2 52.ff7 b6 53.xb7+

Moskalenko,

2012)

(similar is 7...00 8.h3 e7 9.xc6

a5 54.bd7 e1 55.xd8 e6+

5.e5 xe5 6.xe5 d5 7.d4 exd3

xb2 10.xb2 dxc6 Jobava-Aronian,

56.g3 d6+ 57.g2 g6+ 58.h3

8.cxd3 d6 9.xd6 xd6 and a draw

Beijing 2012) 8.xc6!? dxc6

titanic

fight,

despite

numerous inaccuracies by both sides.

important

5.a3!?

This recalls the Ruy Lopez move.

truly

this

preparing ...d7d5.

alternative

With

Black plays ...00, ...e8 and ...f8

Catalonia

tt

Rhodes

was agreed in Gonzalez RodriguezMoskalenko, Sitges 2000.

20 of 34

(diagram)

2013)

The Masters Bulletin

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zppzp-wqpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-+-vl-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9sNP+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzPNzPPzP0
9tR-wQ-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

January 2014

Nevednichy, Albena 2013.

playing 20...a5 or 20...dxc5, but

8.c2 c6 9.g4!?

he went astray:

A spectacular advance. Each other

20...g6?? 21.xc6! 10

move would keep a solid position, but

now the game becomes completely

Jobava-Ma Qun

unbalanced.

Fujairah Masters, 2012

9...b5 10.g5 e4 11.h4 b7 12.f3

f5 13.d3 c5 14.d5+ h8 15.d4

1.b3 f6

exd4 16.exd4 e8+ 17.f1 e4?

Of course, the order of first moves

18.c5 f8 19.e2 d6 20.f4+

may be variable.

An ambitious retreat, after which

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvl-mk0
9+lzp-+-zpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+pzPL+pzP-0
9-+-zPnsN-zP0
9+P+-+-+-0
9PvLN+-zP-+0
9tR-+Q+K+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

the game takes its independent

In this still complicated position

(but complex) course. The exchange

White has a couple of deadly threats

6.xc6!? is more in the spirit of the

- 21.g6+ hxg6 22.h5 and 21.h5.

opening (as in the above lines): 6...

Black had to deal with them by

the pawn structure is better for

White: 9.c4 xb2 10.xb2 e6
11.g3

000

12.a3!?

xa3

13.xa3 d6 14.f3!? hd8 15.000

exf3 16.gxf3 and White won an
important and nice technical game
on

move

84,

Nakamura-Jones,

London Classic 2013.

6.e2

dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.e2 00 9.00

a) An important line is

is 1...d5

2.b2!? (instead of anterior 2.e3

e5!) 2...g4!? (Interestingly, 2...e6
3.e4!? transposes to the Reti/Papa
Gambit - C00!)

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvlntr0
9zppzp-zppzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-+l+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9PvLPzPPzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
Peter Doggers

e4 10.xd6 cxd6 11.g3 d5 12.f3

and White was slightly better in
Petrosian-Naroditsky, Golden Sands
2012
6...a5
6...e4!?
7.c4
7.f3 GM Baadur Jobava in his games
twice preferred this move: 7...e7
8.b1 00 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 e5
11.c3=

Jobava-Karjakin,

Beijing

2012 and Jobava-Andriasian, Fujairah

City 2012.
7...00
7...c5 8.g4 is another ingenious idea
like in the main game, Bernadskiy-

Hikaru Nakamura played 1.b3 three times at the 2013 London Chess Classic
21 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

3.f3

(3.f3

reversed

xf3

4.gxf3!?

Trompowsky

with

motives)

3...h5 (3...f5 4.e3 e6 5.f4 is a

similar set-up to the main game,
Jobava-Navara,

Rhodes

2013.)

4.e4!? (4.h4N Creative! 4.h3 is

also interesting and examined in the
book Play 1.b3! by IM Ilya Odessky.)
4...dxe4 5.e2! with the tricky
idea of b5+, winning the black
bishop on h5. This was also recently

January 2014

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zppzpp+p+p0
9-+-+-zpp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9P+PzPPzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
position

is

to

the

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzP-+PzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

popularised by Odessky, who named

The

this line The Litis Gambit.

Trompowsky Opening with lots of

4...f5

b) 1...b6!? would be a symmetrical

strategy! A very nice and creative

The bishop on f5 will be vulnerable.

line, used by some GMs as Anti-

game went 4.c4 g7 5.c3 f5 6.c1

Possibly a better plan is 4...g6!?

Larsen: 2.b2 b7 3.e3 (Curiously,

00 7.g3 e8 8.g2 f4 9.gxf4 h4

Moskalenko-Velikov,

3.c3 c6 4.d4 d5 5.e3 e6 6.d2

10.f1 xc3 11.xc3 xf4 12.h4 d6

5.f3 bd7 6.h3!? h6 7.c3 e6 8.g4

d7 7.000 000 8.b1 b8 9.f3

13.h5 c6 14.h3 d4 15.e3 f6

The first sign to the following attack.

and now Black changed the rumbo

16.f4 e7 17.f3 g5 18.h3

Perhaps, preferable was first 8.d3!?

first by playing 9...g6 Jobava-Kamsky,

c6 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.xc8 axc8

with the tricky idea to prevent

Beijing Blitz 2012) 3...e6

21.h5! (21.e4!?) 21...f5 22.d3

8...d6? by the surprising 9.e4!

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvlntr0
9zplzpp+pzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9PvLPzP-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

f7 23.f4 cd8 24.h7+ f6

8...h7 9.g2 d6 10.d3 00 11.d2

25.d1

e5! 12.000 d4

10

similar

4.f4!?

Jobava-Mamedyarov,

This

game for its attractiveness. More

advantage for White in the end.

frequent is 3...e6 4.f3 (4.f4 is

Stronger was 12...exf4 13.exf4 c7

also typical; Or, a bit shocking 4.g4

with counterplay.

h6! 5.g2 d6 6.h4 e5 7.g5 hxg5

13.exd4 exf4 14.g5! hxg5 15.xg5

8.hxg5 xh1 9.xh1 g4 10.xd5

h5 16.xh7 f3 17.xf3 f4

c6 11.c4 xg5 12.f3 f6 13.h1

The

draw, Ibarra Jerez-Moskalenko, Villa

expected.

Salou 2012.) 4...e7 (In my own

18.xf8 df6 19.d5 xf8?

4.c3 An unusual plan, or at least

game, I preferred 4...d6!? 5.d4

19...cxd5!? was necessary.

an unusual move order. (4.f3 f6

00 6.d3 b6 7.00 b7= Gonzalez

20.dxc6 bxc6 21.xc6 c8 22.b7

5.c3

Rodriguez-Moskalenko,

c7 23.a6 d7 24.c4

Moscow,

Montcada

sacrifice

leads

1998.

Beijing 2012. Or 3.e3 c6. I chose this

Jobava-Yilmaz,

tactically

Varna

of

the

to

some

queen

is

Aeroflot rapid 2013) 4...c5 5.ge2!?

2005) 5.d4 00 6.d3 c5 7.00 c6

White finally constructed a fabulous

f6 6.d4 e7 7.d2 00 8.000

8.a3 b6 9.bd2 b7 10.dxc5 bxc5

fortress!

which is extremely unclear, Jobava-

11.c4 a5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c2 g6

24...b6

Giri, Beijing 2012.

14.ad1 and White gained some

xc4 27.dxc4 d7 28.a4 xd1+

2.b2 d5

pressure,

game

29.xd1 c8 30.d5 e6 31.a3+

Or, for instance 2...g6 3.xf6 exf6

Nakamura-Gelfand, London Classic

e8 32.e7 b7 33.d5! c7?

2013 ended in a draw in 78 moves.

34.f5! 10

but

the

22 of 34

tense

25.xf4

xf4

26.b1

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Tasty Tactics
Selected by IM Robert Ris (solutions on page 39)

Cmilyte-Zhao Xue

Karpov-Timman

Bok-Romanov

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rtr-+k+0
9+-vl-+pzp-0
9-+P+psn-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+Pwq-+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9-+-+-wQPzP0
9+-tRR+-vLK0
xiiiiiiiiy
o

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-+-+-zpk0
9-+p+-+q+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-+rzP-zp0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+Q+-zP-+0
9+-+-+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
O

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+k+-tr-0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9zP-+-+psn-0
9-+-+l+-wQ0
9+-+-tRP+-0
9-zPq+-+PzP0
9+-+RmK-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
o

Sebag-Lagno

l'Ami-Cernousek

Wojtaszek-Tkachiev

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rvlk+0
9+r+-+pzp-0
9-+q+p+-zp0
9+-+l+-+-0
9-zp-vL-+Q+0
9+-zPL+-+P0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
O

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
9p+-+-+p+0
9+-wqL+-mk-0
9-zp-+-vl-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0
9+Q+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
O

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-+PwQp+p+0
9+-+-+-wq-0
9-+-sn-+-+0
9+-+-sNP+-0
9P+-+PmK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
o

A.Muzychuk-Cmilyte

Jobava-Oleksienko

Dreev-B.Socko

XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-+-tr0
9+-+-mkpzp-0
9Q+-zp-sn-zp0
9+r+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
O

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-sn-+0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-zP-vL-sN-0
9PzPL+-+pzP0
9+-mKR+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
O

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-mk0
9zpl+-wq-zp-0
9-zp-+-+-zp0
9+-+-zpN+-0
9-zP-+-sn-sn0
9zP-+-+P+-0
9-+-+-vLPzP0
9+Q+-tRLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
o

23 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Middlegame Musings
The Underdog Bites
IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering

Kramnik-Ezat from the recent World Team Championship was an

astonishing game where the underdog sacrificed his queen for just
two minor pieces (and a long-lasting initiative). IM Arthur van de
Oudeweetering analyzes the game deeply. Join the fun!
Kramnik-Ezat

Preparation,

Tukmakov

wanted to seize their last chance

World Teams (Antalya), 2013

- successful coach of the Ukrainian

to make a mark on the tournament.

team on several occasions, has

Still, of course all the players from

The last month of 2013 saw the finish

touched on this subject in a chapter

the Russian team were top level and

of yet another team event:

on deciding games. He stressed

experienced professionals, who had

World Championship for teams in

the

composure,

been in similar situations before.

Kemer (a small resort at the Turkish

determination and concentration,

Anyway, let us now see what actually

Mediterranean beach, near Antalya,

but also concluded that there is

happened in the game on board one.

and a place where I myself had the

no universal recipe and that what

1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e6 4.00

pleasure to participate during the

matters will differ per individual.

e7 5.c4 00 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6

European

in

If we take the current game, it is

8.e3 b6 9.c3 b7 10.cxd5

2007). The game you are about to

clear an easy win was expected

The opening will not have been

watch is taken from the last, decisive

from the Russian team. On the first

a surprise for Ezat. A year earlier

round. Russia had just taken over

board Kramnik would be experienced

Kramnik had had the same position

the lead from Ukraine by beating

enough to deal confidently with his

against Gawain Jones in the London

them in the mutual encounter in the

much lower rated opponent. On the

Chess Classic. This is what Tukmakov

previous round. In the last round the

other hand the Russian team had

has to say about the choice of

Russian team had to play outsider

not been doing too well in team

openings: It is hard to overestimate

and by then tail-ender Egypt (the

tournaments for some time, and not

the significance of the opening in such

tournament was a nine rounds round

too long ago there was much ado

trials. It should correspond as far as

robin). The latter had not gained a

about this in Russia. Furthermore,

possible to the players mental state

single match point and was playing

playing such an obvious outsider

and sporting goal, and it shouldnt

with their

highest rated player,

can create some extra tension for

provoke any inner discomfort. Here

Bassem Amin, at the fourth board.

the clear favorite - certainly when

as well general recommendations are

As a result, Vladimir Kramnik was

things do not go entirely your way

out of place. One of the examples

now facing Mohamed Ezat.Such a

during the game - but also give rise

he supplies is the last WCh match

decisive last-round game always

to some underestimation and loss of

game Kramnik-Leko 2004, where

brings about special psychological

concentration every now and then.

Kramnik appeared to be comfortable

factors. In his book Modern Chess

Doubtlessly in Kemer the Egyptians

with a technical position. Lets see

Club

Championship

the

Vladimir

importance

of

24 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

how he did manage here.

easy. 13...d6 would of course be

Chernikov, 1962 where White did

10...xd5

the normal move and in fact has

exactly so and managed to score

In the aforementioned game Gawain

been played many times. But after

an

Jones continued with 10...exd5

14.dxc5 xc5

are different here. Though after

11.xd5 xd5 12.d4 ad8

The other rook 12...fd8 would allow
White the strong extra possibility of
13.e5 d6 14.f3.
13.e5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-zpqsN-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-zP-zP-0
9PvL-+-zPLzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

amazing

win.

True,

things

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-wq-sN-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zP-zP-0
9PvL-+-zPLzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

15.h3 the white king will be in big

it is White who may spring a little

(also the one against Polugaevsky,

surprise on his opponent (though of

featuring another kind of queen sac)

course not for those theoretically

to the first choice of the many strong

in the know in this variation):

engines of today (published on the

15.d7

forum of chesspro.ru).

Self-pinning

the

knight!

trouble after 15....f3!, the game

continuation does not leave Black
much play on the diagonal. By the
way, Nezhmetdinov, a much praised
attacker, would have celebrated
his 101st birthday December 15th.
On that occasion someone calling
himself Jeweller has made the
interesting comparison of his most
famous and

imaginative games

If I remember correctly at this

(Even Kasparov opted for the safe

15.f3

moment Ezat was contemplating

e2 in a simul in 2000). Black's

As this position has been seen before

some time. Clicking through the live

number of replies is limited to two

you could call this a theoretical

coverage of the last round games I

though:

15...f5 (or 15...g5 as

one (the first one in my database

was wondering what choice he had.

otherwise White will venture g4

is Varnusz-Kluger, 1966, albeit with

13...xg2+!?

winning material.) After f5 play

the kings rook on d8, but that could

That explains a lot! This continuation

may continue 16.e4 g5 17.h4 h6

easily amount to the same, when

when

18.c1 g5 19.hxg5 g7 20.f6+ (20.

the rooks have been doubled on

watching the game, as there seemed

e5!? for those with strong nerves and

the d-file). In other openings more

to be no clear follow-up after the

good calculation abilities. One idea

queen sacs for a mere two pieces

upcoming discovered check, which

is

20...xe5 21.b2!) 20...xf6

can be found. One that springs to my

leaves Black with just two pieces

21.gxf6 g6!? while the latter is

mind is the Saemisch Kings Indian,

for the queen.

nearly refuted by 16.h4 h6 17.c1!

with

the database I now know that the

for

18.xf8

Nezhmetdinov (him again!), 1956,

sacrifice has been tried some times

xg2 19.xg2 xd1 20..fxd1 xf8

the same concept as in Bobotsov-

before, with Nakamura as the most

21.d8 winning.

Tal (a great admirer of Nezh), 1958

prominent practitioner. And I realize

14.xg2 xe5+

or also Karpov-Velimirovic (another

that after Whites 15th move indeed

So Black has sacrificed his queen

artist), Skopje 1976 which features

there is no forced continuation, but

for only two pieces, with some play

a concept which can still be seen

we just have to take the position

against the long diagonal and the

in present-day grandmaster chess

as it is and try and make a correct

light squares. This may remind you

occasionally. You can find all these

assessment of it. Which is not that

of the fabulous game Nezhmetdinov-

games attached in the PGN. I dare

did

not

take

seriously

Having searched

instance

17....b8

25 of 34

for

instance

Zamikhovsky-

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

you readers to bring on some more

Kapengut was made fun of after the

somewhere. I figured that I will

examples!

game by his team-mates: how could

always have f6, xd4 ideas or even

15...cxd4 16.exd4 c6

he not have won being a queen up!

g5g4 plans creating discoveries along

Contrary to some of the other queen

He could not convince them that the

the long diagonal. Unfortunately for

sacs mentioned above this position

position was unclear. Here too at

me, Ehlvest remained calm under

is more about strategic decisions

first Blacks sac seemed unlikely, but

pressure and found the best human

than about tactics and calculation.

once you have studied the position

move. 19.c4! (19.fd1 f6 actually

I thus strongly advise you not to let

more deeply it starts to makes more

transposes to the aforementioned

your engine run along here; it will

sense. Anyway, the onus was even

Vanusz-Kluger

probably show only useless numbers

more on Kramnik now! J 17.e2

reasonable option as well, as here

most of the time, distracting you

was the move Ehlvest chose against

too it seems Black can only play for

from a clear focus on the position.

Nakamura (USA Ch St Louis 2009).

a draw here. ) 19...a6 20.e4 xc4

Black has a solid position and will

That game continued with 17...d5

21.bxc4 5d6 22.d1 f6 23.a3 and

probably win d4 in the long run.

(after

17...xd4

White was better, though Nakamura

After that though he will run the

18.xd4 xd4 19.fd1 the rooks are

held on to a draw with relative ease.

risk of both rooks being exchanged,

indeed exchanged and Whites queen

Take a note of Ehlvest strategy here:

which will leave the white queen

will invade, e.g. 19...d5 20.xd5

by returning some material, reaching

with a lot of space and possibilities

xd5 21.a6) 18.ac1 fd8 and

another

to attack Blacks pawns.

here Naka makes some instructive

changes the dynamics of the position.

17.c1

general observations on his blog:

In general such counter-sacrifices

Here we could mention another

Here, I have achieved the basic

should be taken into account: it is

psychological factor. As Dvoretsky

setup which I envisioned when I first

an additional possibility for the side

recounts,

beaten

decided to sacrifice my queen. When

with material up.

Kapengut with a no less spectacular

I saw this position in my analysis, I

17...d7

queen

Dvoretsky

simply did not see how White could

Covering the c7square where Whites

with two bishops for the queen),

progress with sacrificing an exchange

rook would like to enter and as a

after

(leaving

had

premature

material

This

is

imbalance,

he

result also enabling a possible b4

Turkish Chess Federation

sac

he

the

game.

d5. It would of course be interesting

to know up to what point both players
had studied all this at home.
18.a3 fd8 19.e2 f6

XIIIIIIIIY
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xiiiiiiiiy

The game Kramnik vs. Ezat

26 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

20.b4

Now at least Black has a passed pawn.

sufficient for equality: 27.c4 e6

I dont see any big objections to the

In general with unbalanced material

28.a6 c8 29.c4 (After 29.xb6

immediate 20.fd1 rendering Blacks

this is big asset for the side without

e2+ Whites king is in trouble! For

next

Anyway,

a queen, as naturally the queen is a

example 30.f1 h3+ 31.g1 ee8!)

after the text-move Black has run

bad blockader. Here the other side of

29...e6 with a draw by repetition

out of normal development moves

the story is, that the white rook can

or 30.c7 e2+ 31.g1 c2 32.f4

and has to make a difficult choice:

now invade on c7.

b5 and having established an active

between the immediate capture on

24.c7 c8

rook on the second rank Black is even

d4, the move played in the game and

After the immediate 24...d3 25.e4

on top! By now was Ezat avoiding the

regrouping with 20...e7. A waiting

White

(or

draw and trying to win? Of course

move like 20...h6 would not change

25...a6 26.xa7 c8 and White

there are examples which prove

much.

is a tempo up compared to the

him right. Hadnt Bronstein faltered

20...e5

game

against Cardoso in the last round of

20...xd4 can be met with 21.cd1

a5 27.xd3 xe4 28.xd8+ xd8

the Portoroz interzonal in 1958?

xb2 22.xd7 xd7 23.xb2 d4

29.bxa5 c6 30.axb6 xb6 31.a6.

27.a4

24.c3 g5 25.d1 e5 26.f2 and

25.xa7

Trying to create a passed pawn as

the

loosen

Here we conclude that Kramnik

well. If White blocks Blacks trump

Blacks position, granting White a

has not been able (or not been

first with 27.d2 Black can generate

winning advantage. Both 20...xd4

willing)

counterplay with 27...h6 (27...c3

21.xd4 xd4 22.fd1 e5 23.c2 g6

position. And I admit, by now, with

28.xd3!) 28.c7 e5 29.f4 e8!

24.cd2 (24.dc1 e4 25.fxe4 e8

concrete calculation becoming more

27...d2 28.e2 d4 29.e3 h6 30.a5

gives Black some counterplay) and

important, an engine becomes a

bxa5 31.bxa5

20...e7 21.d5 (This is perhaps the

helpful tool. The text-move seems

best retort. After 21.fd1 d5 White

natural

cannot easily untangle and activate

White could also consider to activate

his pieces.) 21...xb2 22.xb2 xd5

his queen first with, for example,

23.b3 leave Black with perhaps

25.c4 e6 26.xa7 and after 26...

a solid, but also a passive position.

d3 27.c6 5d6 28.a4 White is just

The text-move opts for an active

able to prevent b3 because 28...

solution. 21.d5 xd5 22.fd1 d4

b5 fails to 29.xb5 b3 30.d2 c3

23.xd4 exd4

31.xd3.

move

impossible.

upcoming

f3f4

will

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wins

after

enabling

to

go

enough,

25...a8

27.a8)

for

but

26.xa7

technical

apparently

25...d3 26.e4
It seems that with this natural move

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Kramnik starts to go astray. An

31...d3

alternative was 26.f2 5d6 27.c7

All very logical moves. Now it seems

e6 (27...d2 28.c2) 28.d2 after

Kramnik is in trouble, but it turns out

which Black will find it more difficult

he has still a way to bail out now.

to become active and White will

Instead 31...g5 was very strong:

perhaps be able to build gradually on

32.c3 (After 32.f4 f6 White is

his own trump card on the queenside.

also in dire straits: he has to reckon

26...e6

with d3, d5 and f3.) 32...d3

Already

26...e5!? seems to be
27 of 34

33.c7 d5 I guess it was here that

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Mohammed Ezat missed his chance

white king, for example: 39.f1

h8 48.f5 g7 49.g4 d8 50.g3

for true immortality!

e2+ 40.e1 c2 winning.) 38...b3

e8 51.c5 d8 52.b5 c8 53.g5

32.e2 b3 33.a8! xd1 34.xd3

39.e2 e6 40.a6 d7 Whether he

hxg5 54.fxg5 a1 55.g6 f6 56.gxf7

xa8 35.xd2 d8

can make headway here is another

c3+ 57.g4 xf7 58.d7+ f8

Funnily enough after the (of course

question.

59.h5 c6 60.d2 e7 61.b4+

unlikely) continuation

37.a6 c6 38.a7 a8

d7 62.b5 e7 63.d5+ d6

36.xa5

the

35...xa5

peculiar

ending

Black has no sensible set-up with

64.g8 c8 65.f7+ c6 66.c4+

from

Polugaesvky-Geller,

Skopje

which he can win the a-pawn - his

b7 67.b5+ c7 68.a5+ c6

1968

would

Polugaevsky

pieces will have to be placed too

69.a6+ d7 70.g5 c6 71.b6

managed to win this and called his

loosely for that and will come under

f8

achievement possibly the most

the attack of Whites queen. For

74.g7 c8 75.f6 e8 76.f7

meticulous analysis I have ever made

the same reason an attack against

d5+ 77.g6 e6+ 78.f5 e5+

in my life (in his book Grandmaster

the white king or f3 fails: also the

79.f6 e6+ 80.f5 e4+ 81.g4

Performance). Mind you those were

passed pawn just keep Blacks hands

g6+ 82.h5 g8 83.b5+ e6

the days of the adjourned games!

and feet tied.

84.e2 f5 85.f2+ e6 86.e3

Like in that ending, here it is difficult

39.f4 g5 40.b8 g6 41.e5 f8

f5 87.h3+ f6 88.h4+ f5

for Black to create a safe stronghold

42.h4

89.h3+ f6 90.h4+ e5

for both bishops.

Now the kingside pawns will slowly

As a result Egypt just missed out on a

36.e3 a4

disappear from the board and with

spectacular 22, Russia narrowly won

With 36...d6 Black can try to stop

the black king in the open the draw

the match with 2.51.5 and became

the a-pawn at a6: 37.e8+ h7

is not far off, although the players

world champion. But certainly this

38.g4 (38.xf7? d2+ and it is very

kept on fighting for a long time.

was a daring queen sac and a fine

instructive to learn how much the

42...d8 43.h5 gxh5 44.xh5 g5

and also entertaining performance

three pieces are able to harass the

45.h3 g7 46.f4 f6 47.g4+

by Ezat! 

arise!

72.g6

a8

73.f6

Would you like to write us about the Bulletin? Please do! We always welcome
feedback so please send your comments to bulletin@chess.com!
28 of 34

f8+

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

The Endgame Explained

A endgame with an outside passed
IM Robert Ris

This month IM Robert Ris looks at a Bundesliga game played last

month between Evgeny Najer and Etienne Bacrot. The rook ending
with one passed pawn is a very common one and worth studying in
depth. As it turns out, Bacrot missed some tricky drawing chances.

openings where theory goes straight

Bringing the behind Whites passed

into the endgame. In the game Najer-

is certainly the best practical try.

Bacrot from the fifth round of the

Black basically loses on the spot in

Bundesliga, the players reached a

case he decides protecting his , as

typical ending from the well-known

37...e6? is met by 38.c6! and either

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Bayonet Variation in the Kings Indian

the ensuing ending wins or the on

I think that this natural looking

Defense, but along the way something

g6 falls, while after; 37...f5? 38.b6

move is a serious error, as it allows

clearly went wrong for Black.

the b-pawn is out of reach.

Black to trade off some s. Instead,

38.xe5 b3 39.f1!

I would like to recommend White

Nothing can be gained from 39.xe4

playing first 40.h4! before activating

xb5 and the ensuing 3 vs. 2 on one

the

wing shouldnt be too problematic to

pawn formation f2g3h4 is even

hold for Black. Moreover, it looks like

better than all the three s still

the activation of the is needed

on their initial squares, as it eases

right now, since after something like

the

39.h4 b1! the is boxed in and I

them up with the . Also in this

fail to spot a successful winning plan

particular case I think it would have

for White.

been helpful including that plan,

39...b2

as it simply prevents Black from

Najer-Bacrot

be a matter of time converting

Bundesliga (Hockenheim), 2013

the positional trumps into victory.

Bacrot, however, doesn't want throw

Of all types of endgames, endgames

in the towel yet and fights on till the

are seen most often in practice.

bitter end.

Nowadays

37...f3!

there

are

numerous

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Thanks to the outside passed b-pawn
Black's

(diagram)

vulnerable

doubled e-pawns it just seems to

Generally

opponents

speaking

task

of

the

picking

generating any sort of counterplay.

White has a clear advantage and

considering

For example 40...f7 41.e1 f6

42.c5 f7 43.c7+ f6 44.c6+
f5 45.b6 and Black ends up in some

40.e1?
29 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

kind of zugzwang. When the moves

for 41...e3! with a transposition to

with 45...h3 since after 46.b7

the white approaches and 45...g5

the lines indicated after 40...e3.

xg3+ 47.c4 the b-pawn queens.

is met by 46.c5+!

42.c1!

46.b5

answered with 42...b2 43.e6 f7

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44.c6 g5! followed by 45...h4 when

An excellent decision, preventing the

after the creation of a passed

black getting behind White's passer.

Whites slight material advantage is

Harmless is 42.xe4? b2! (Slightly

insignificant.) 42...f7 43.c1

more accurate than 42...xh2 which

40...f7?
It seems to me that Bacrot misses
a great opportunity to save this
difficult ending. After 40...e3! either
the position will be simplified or
Black obtains counterplay on the
kingside with the potential passed ,
e.g. 41.fxe3 (41.xe3 xb5 should
be drawn.) 41...xh2 42.d1 (The
alternative 42.b6 can strongly be

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enables White placing his behind

the passed 43.b4 even though

White is also winning after 46.xe4

c1+ 47.b4 c8 48.b5 and with
the being well placed on the fourth
rank there isnt any chance for Black
creating a passed on the kingside.
46...c1+ 47.d4 c8 48.xe4

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that should be a draw as well, but

48...f6

he needs to find the only move

Ideally Black would like to block

43...a2!) 43.e5 xh2 44.c1 h4

the passed with his , releasing

45.gxh4 xh4 with a comfortable

the with the idea eliminating

draw for Black.

Whites remaining on the kingside.

42...xh2?!

However, there is simply not enough

Bacrot understandably grabs the ,

time fulfilling that dream, e.g.

hoping for some counterplay with

48...e7 49.b7 b8 50.f4 d6

his kingside s. Our silicon friend

51.g5 c7 52.xg6 g8+ 53.xh5

careless

prefers 42...f6 but after 43.d2

b8 54.g4 and White wins.

43...f6? which runs into 44.b6

White is technically winning anyway.

49.b7 b8 50.b4

and the b-pawn is unstoppable.)

43.b6!

Many roads lead to Rome, but in any

44.gxh4 xh4 45.c2 f6 46.c5

Simple

is

case you need to be very careful not

g5 and Black has obtained sufficient

43.xe4? h3 44.b6 xg3 45.c2

allowing your opponent to reach a

counterplay holding the balance.

g5! 46.b4 c5+ 47.d3 c8 and

vs. ending where your own is

41.d1?

Black is in time.

standing too far away. The following

Still, it wasnt too late for 41.h4!

43...h1+ 44.c2!

line illustrates this: 50.d5 f5

and play transposes to the lines

Very precise, as 44.b2? would have

51.b4 g5 52.c6 e8

mentioned after 40.h4!.

allowed Black to get his back into

41...xf2?

defense with 44...d1!

And evidently, the same counts for

44...h2+ 45.c3 h1

Black, as he still could have opted

There is no time picking up another

43...h4!

(but

not

the

and

strong.

30 of 34

Inferior

(diagram)
White should refrain from 53.b8?

The Masters Bulletin

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which leads inevitably to a draw after
53...xb8 54.xb8 h4 55.gxh4 gxh4
56.d5 h3 57.d4 f4 58.h8 g3

January 2014

Black cant prevent the white

53.h7+ winning the . The attempt

entering the kingside via g5.

to trade off the s on the kingside

51.b6+ e7

with 52...h4 53.gxh4 gxh4 doesnt

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work out well for Black either, in

view of 54.d5! and the active
placement of Whites army proves
decisive, e.g. 54...xb7 (54...d7
55.h7+ d8 56.d6 is hopeless
too.) 55.h7+ f6 56.xb7 f5
57.h7 g4 58.e4 g3 59.e3 h3
60.g7+ h2 61.f2 h1 62.g1+
h2 63.g3 h1 64.xh3#
53.d5
It has never really been Whites

59.e3 g2! (59...h2? 60.g8+ h3

52.h6!

intention

grabbing

the

61.f2 h1 62.h8++-) 60.g8+ f1!

In such technical endings the stronger

53.xh5? since after 53...g6! the

with a theoretically drawn position.)

side often needs to make use of

b-pawn will be annexed as well.

However, the correct plan is 53.c7

such small tactical motifs in the

53...g7 54.b6 h4 55.gxh4 gxh4

53...e7+ 54.b6 e8 55.a7 e7

process of converting the advantage.

56.c6 h3 57.b3 h8

56.a8 and after the queen will be

Instead, all efforts are spoiled after

Also after 57...h2 58.h3 Blacks

taken White recaptures with his ,

52.d5? d7! when the b-pawn will

trump will be made undone.

retaining control over the 4th rank

be eliminated soon.

58.b8 and Black resigned, because

with the .

52...f7

after 58...xb8 59.xb8 h2 60.b1

50...g5

Of course, the point of Whites last

g6 61.h1 the h-pawn will be

After 50...e6 51.f4 f6 52.b6+

move is that 52...xb7 can be met by

picked up. 10

with

Solutions to the Tasty Tactics

Cmilyte-Zhao Xue, World Mind Games Blitz (Beijing),

[38.xd5? g8] 38...e4 39.g2+ f4 40.xd5 10

2013: 34...xd3! 35.xd3 [35.xf4 xf4 36.xd3 xc1

Jobava-Oleksienko, Al-Ain Classic Open, 2013: 27.d4+!

+] 35...xc1+

h3 [27...e4 28.xe4+] 28.f5+ xh2 29.h4+

Sebag-Lagno, World Mind Games Blitz (Beijing), 2013:

29.h4+ xg3 30.h3# 10

32.c4! xg2 [32...xc4 33.c1+] 33.xg2+

Bok-Romanov,

A.Muzychuk-Cmilyte, World Mind Games Blitz (Beijing),

35.gxf3 [35.f1 xg2#; 35.xf3 xf3 36.gxf3 g1#]

2013: 22.xd6? [22.a7! b7 (22...c7 23.xb5+)

35...g1# 01

23.xd6+ e8 24.d8#] 22...xd6 23.xb5 b8

Wojtaszek-Tkachiev,

Karpov-Timman, Exhibition match (Groningen), 2013:

(Warsaw), 2013: 40...xe3+! 41.xe3 f5+ 42.e4

45.d6? [45.f3! xe3 (45...e8 46.xg6+ xg6 47.xe8+;

xd6++ 01

45...e6 46.f5!+) 46.h8+! xh8 47.xg6+] 45...f5=

Dreev-B.Socko, European Blitz Championship (Warsaw),

E.l'Ami-Cernousek, Groningen Open, 2013: 36.xf4!

2013: 32...h3+! 33.h1 [33.gxh3 xf3+ 34.h1 xe1+

xf4 37.xg6 xd5 [37...g8 38.xg8+] 38.g3+!

35.g1 f3+ 36.h1 d2+ 37.g1 g5++] 33...xf2++

31 of 34

Groningen

Open,

European

2013:

Blitz

34...xf3+!

Championship

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Afeks Corner
Endgame Studies
Selected by IM Yochanan Afek

Every month we present you three endgame studies selected by

IM Yochanan Afek: player, trainer, endgame study composer and
writer. The studies are especially useful for the practical player.
Next month well publish the solutions. Good luck solving!
L. Salai, 2011

G. Josten, 2011

A. Pallier, 2010

XIIIIIIIIY
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White to play and draw

White to play and win

White to play and win

M. Zinar, 2012
1.a8!! 1.xa7? c7 2.a8 h6! 3.a7
(3.a7 g6 4.a8 h5+; 3.g5 h5 4.a7
h4 5.g6 e4+) 3...c8 4.g5 h5 5.g6
e4+ 1...d7 2.b7! d6 3.a8!
c6 4.b8! h6 5.xa7! c7 6.a8
g6 6...b6 7.b8 xa6 8.c7 g6
9.d6! h5 10.gxh5=; 6...c8! 7.a7!
g6 8.b6! b8 9.c5 h5 10.gxh5
gxh5 11.d5 h4 12.e4 a7
13.f3 xa6 14.g4 b6 15.xh4
c5 16.g5 d5 17.f5= 7.a7 e4
8.dxe4 h5 9.gxh5! gxh5 10.e5 h4
11.e6 h3 12.e7 h2 13.e8+! c8

14.d6+ d7 15.b8 h1 16.a8

xa8+ 17.xa8 xd6 18.b7=

Solutions last month:

S. Didukh, 2012
1.h8+! 1.f4+? e4! 2.c4+ (2.d3+
xd3+ 3.e2 h1 4.c4+ d5=)
2...d5 3.f7+ d6 4.d4+ c5
5.xd8 h1+ 6.c2 xh7 7.e6
h4= 1...xh8 2.f4+! e4! 2...xf4
3.c4+ g5 4.f3+ 3.d3+! xd3
4.d2+! e4 4...c3 5.f3 h1+
6.xh1 xh1+ 7.e2+ 5.f3+!
xf4 6.xh2 g3 7.h1 g2
8.h4 g3 9.g4+! 9.d4? xh5
10.e2 xf5 9...xf3 10.h4+!
g3 11.h1 g2 12.f3+!+ 10

32 of 34

V. Aberman, 2012
1.g4! 1.xf7+? g8 2.f4 c3+
3.d7 d2+ 4.e6 xh2 5.g4+
h7!+ 1...g7 2.h6+! 2.f4?
f5+ 2...g8 3.f6+ f8 4.g4!!
4.d7+? e7 5.c6 xg3+ 6.c8
g8+ 7.c7 d8++ 4...xh6
5.g5 h8 6.d7! g7 7.e8+
h7 8.f6+ g7 9.e8+ g8
10.f6+ f8 11.h6! xh6 12.gxh6=

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

In the News
Hikaru Nakamura Wins 5th London Chess Classic
The London Chess Classic's Super Sixteen Rapid tournament was won by Hikaru Nakamura. On
Sunday, December 15th, 2013 the American grandmaster beat Boris Gelfand in the final, after
he had eliminated Vladimir Kramnik. For the first time, the London tournament saw rapid
chess instead of classical. Jon Ludvig Hammer won the FIDE Open with 7.5/9, which was half a
point more than Boris Grachev, Tigran Gharamian, Mateusz Bartel, Viorel Iordachescu and Neil
McDonald. Read John Saunders final report here.

Tata Steel Tournament Under Way - Follow The Commentary on Chess.com/TV!

At the time of writing, the 76th Tata Steel Chess Tournament is under way in Wijk aan Zee,
and not only there. This year two rounds are held elsewhere: on Wednesday, January 15th the
players visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (see our report here) and during the second
week, one round will be held in Eindhoven. This year the tournament is closely cooperating
with Chess.com, and as a result the official website's daily live streaming commentary can also
be followed on Chess.com/TV!

Vugar Gashimov Dies at 27

The chess world is shocked by the death of one Azerbaijan's top players, Vugar Gashimov. The
27-year-old grandmaster from Baku had been ill for a long time and was under treatment
for the last 1.5 years in Berlin, Germany where he passed away on January 11th, 2014. In
a personal In Memoriam, editor Peter Doggers describes Gashimov an extremely nice and
friendly guy, who had a laugh with all his colleagues everywhere and any time. (...) Vugar was
highly talented and had an attractive, dynamic style. Read the full article here.

Saturday, January 18th: Death Match 20 A Family Affair

For the first time in Death Match history, we may have to ask the wives to leave the room.
American GM Yury Shulman and German GM Daniel Fridman are both married to titled
chess players (WIM Viktorija Ni and IM Anna Zatonskih respectively), but there won't be any
consultation allowed during their match on Saturday, January 18 at noon Eastern, 9 a.m.
Pacific, 6 p.m. CET. Tune in for Chess.com's 20th Death Match! More info here.
33 of 34

The Masters Bulletin

January 2014

Featured Blogs
GM Jeski1's Blog

IM RobertRis's

IM Danny

Blog

Rensch's blog

Last 9 weeks:

Last 9 weeks:

Last 9 weeks:

12 posts

6 posts

2 posts

13,976 reads

3,499 reads

3,477 reads

The day I lost my mind. -

Tata Steel part 1 - January 16,

January 16, 2014

A Chess Movie Experience: My

2014

Why are Russians so good at

Role in Life of a King - January

Report & analysis of 4th round

chess? - December 24, 2013

Dutch League - January 5, 2014

Is Kramnik the hardest working

14, 2014
Blitz Death Match: New Qualifier

Training services IM Robert Ris -

person in chess? - December 21,

December 29, 2013

System! - November 24, 2013

The State of Chess.com - August

2013

9, 2013

Leaderboards - Top Titled Players

Bullet
#

Blitz

Name

Rating

Daily Chess/Correspondence
Name

Rating

Name

Rating

01

IM brute4ever

3004

01

GM JuditPolgar

2718

01 IM elobispo

2795

02

IM TigerLilov

2903

02

GM Daniel_Fridman

2704

02 GM Julio_Becerra

2736

03

GM Phoenix

2850

03

FM Kulinarist

2701

03 GM Kalif88

2623

04

GM Hikaru

2802

04

FM Eilyisum

2623

04 NM RWHaines

2595

05

GM SultanOfKings

2777

05

GM Janosik

2609

05 NM KingWhacker85

2571

06

GM 2Vladimirovich90

2764

06

GM GeorgMeier

2598

06 FM VPA

2569

07

GM GeorgMeier

2739

07

GM lorcho

2595

07 NM BMcC333

2561

08

GM LittlePeasant

2734

08

GM NigelShort

2585

08 FM ImmortalTechnique

2549

09

IM Molton

2709

09

GM FabianoCaruana

2577

09 NM mrbill

2542

10

FM Kulinarist

2704

2571

10 FM The_Evil_Ducklings

2538

10

NM TheTruth

(Standings reflect the top titled players, active within the last month on Chess.com)

The Masters Bulletin is Chess.coms monthly PDF & PGN magazine. Any copying or distribution (reproduction, via print, electronic format, or in any
form whatsoever), as well as posting on the web, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. 2013-2014 Chess.com

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