Second Survey CBM

My second Chess Base Magazine Survey features the 6.h3 line in KID, more specifically, the typical endgame that arises after 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8. You can see it in the coming CBM 130, here is a sample of it:
Arnaudov,P (2195) - Urukalovic,R (2273) [E90]
Zadar CRO, 15th Open Zadar CRO (7), 18.12.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0–0 6.Nf3 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5

9...Na6 10.Nd5 Rd6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Rc1 Bd8 13.c5 Re6 14.a3 c6 This move is logical. However, after: 15.Bxa6 it is better for Black to capture the knight, rather than the bishop, as this game shows clearly the dangers that Black might experience: 15...bxa6 [better is 15...cxd5 16.Bd3 Re7 17.0–0 Bd7=] 16.Ne3 a5 17.0–0 Rb8 18.Rfd1 Bc7 19.Nd5!

Typical idea. White sacrifices the knight in order to get two connected passed pawns. These pawns will go forward with tempoes, and inevitably win back he material with interest. 19...Bd8 It was not easy for Black to accept the sacrifice, since he has to be very careful not to lose immediately- [19...cxd5 20.exd5 e4 only move (20...Re8 21.d6 Bd8 22.c6±) 21.Ne1 (21.dxe6 exf3 22.e7 Be6 23.c6 Re8 24.Rd7 Bb6 25.Re1 fxg2 26.Kxg2 Kg7

27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.c7 Kf7 29.Kf3 h6 30.h4 Bxc7 31.Rxc7 Rxe7 32.Rc5 Rb7 33.Rxa5 Rb3+ 34.Kg2 Rxb2 35.Rxa7+ Kf6=) 21...Re8 22.d6 Bd8 23.c6 Rxb2 24.d7 Quite dangerous is also: (24.c7 Bd7 25.c8Q Bxc8 26.Rxc8 Rb7 27.Nc2 (27.d7 Rf8 28.Nc2 might be even better.) 27...Rd7 28.Ne3 with compensation- f5 29.Rd5 Kf7 30.Nc4 and White is on top.) 24...Bxd7 25.cxd7 Rf8ч] 20.Nf4 Re8 21.Nxe5 Bc7?! After this Black will be outplayed. The only chance was: [21...Bg5 for example- 22.Nxc6 Rxb2 23.Nd5 Rxe4! the key defensive move. (23...Bxc1 24.Nf6+ Kf8 25.Nxe8 Bg5 (25...Kxe8 26.Rd8#) 26.Nd6±) 24.Rb1 Rxb1 25.Rxb1 Be6 26.Nce7+ Kg7 27.c6 Rc4 28.Rb5 Bxd5 29.Nxd5 Rxc6 30.Rxa5=] 22.Nxc6І Bxf4 23.Nxb8 Bxb8 24.b4 Ba6 [24...a6] 25.c6 Bc7 26.Rd7 Rc8 27.Rd5 Rb8 28.Rd7 [28.b5 Rxb5 29.Rd7 Bf4! complicates the matters.] 28...Rc8 29.Rd5 Rb8 30.g3! Kf8 31.b5! Bc8 [31...Rxb5 32.Rd7 Bb6 33.c7±] 32.Rd7±

32...Bb6 More stubborn would have been: [32...Bxd7 33.cxd7 Bd8 34.Rc8 Rxb5 35.Rxd8+ Ke7 36.Ra8 Kxd7 37.Rxa7+ Ke6 with practical chances in the rook endgame.] 33.c7+- Ra8 34.Rd8+ Ke7 35.Rh8 h5 36.Rc6 Bd4 37.Rg8 Bb6 38.a4 Bd4 39.Kg2 Bb2 40.f4 Ba1 41.Kf3 Bb2 42.g4 hxg4+ 43.hxg4 Ba3 44.e5 Bb2 45.Ke4 Ba3 46.f5 gxf5+ 47.gxf5 Bb4 48.f6+ Kd7

1–0

Kosovo League

This was my second participation at the Kosovo Super League that took place between 6-11 May. It is very modern nowadays to speak about the world financial crisis. Due to this, or another reason (more local players), the Kosovo federation decided to reduce the numbers of the foreigners to one. Six out of the eight participating teams used an outside reinforcement, and logically, the other two went down from the League at the end. The foreign GMs that participated included also Vladimir Georgiev, Trajko Nedev (both FYROM), Jozsef Pinter (Hungary), Petar Genov (Bulgaria), and IM Ilir Seitaj (ALB). Glasshouse bar near Victoria hotel hosted the event.
The time limit was classical- two hours for fourty moves and additional one hour till the end of the game. Team points were counted again as the last year. In case that two teams were equal on that criterion the total number of board points was taken into an account and finally the tiebreak system was three blitz matches-when the winner is the team that scores two wins. The first two teams qualify for the European Club Club. This is a very important tournament for the local players-a chance to meet the greatest players of our time, and to practice their game.
The favourites were the teams of Istogu (the reigning chamion), Llamkosi (who finished second the last year), as well as Prishtina (with very strong local players), and my team RWE Power- Kosovo. The tournament battle was rich of full-blooded games, and twists, suspense till the very end of each game. In many cases the evaluation of the positions was rapidly changing, and we could never consider the job done till the score sheets are not signed. From the eight starting teams one withdrew after the first two rounds due to financial reasons.
My team started very well, and after three wins and a draw was leading the table. Especially well in these rounds played our captain Armend Budima (who by the way was a candidate for a president of the Kosovo federation and lost within a tiny margin), the UK situated Astrid Zymberi, and the father of five children Gani Hamiti. The general manager of RWE and our sponsor John Jowett was a regular visitor of our matches. However, an unfortunate loss against the Theranda team (not a bad team actually, but till that moment they had only losses in all their matches) in the fifth round postponed the titled destiny for the final round. In it we met the Prishtina team that had only one loss so far (from the first round). A win with more than 4.5 would give us the title, a draw would be fine for the team of Llamkos, and a win for Prishtina will secure them the overall win. It was all fine for them however, and they started fiercely with 3-0. Soon after they scored half more point, and despite our two final efforts won the match with 3.5-2.5 and claimed the title. Congratulations!
Some of the problems in Kosovo remain. The country is still not officially recognized, and the tournaments are not counted for rating. Thus Kosovo players cannot represent their country in international tournaments.
There is only one arbiter that can judge the tournaments-the second man in the federation- Burhan Musini. He now tries to organize a seminar for arbiters, and to give part of his duties to other people. “I cannot play myself in any event, since I have to be the arbiter there”, complains Burhan.
He also hopes that they can soon organize the first international tournament in Kosovo.
In general, many of the things changed for good. The chessmen became better, the audience started to respect the players’ efforts more. However, due to the lack of tournament practice and low knowledge of the chess rules some funny situations kept on appearing:
In one of the games between the local players one of them lost on time on move 39. However, he did not want to resign for a while. He claimed that at some moment before he forgot to press the button of his clock, and wanted his time back…
In another local game the second player also seemingly could not perform the needed moves, but then the clock added him additional hour. His opponent expected that the clock should show only zeroes, and did not know what to do. He kept on playing and the game ended a draw. He claimed zeitnot after the game was finished, and the score sheets signed.
GM Petar Genov had a main role in the last case. His opponent from the final round took his queen, wondered for a while where to put it, and after sawing that all the three available squares are bad just put it back. Then he started to touch the other pieces-the pawns, king, etc. without using the word “jadoube”, and finally made a move with his king. Genov claimed that he has to move the queen, to which the opponent innocently answered that he is not sure which piece he has touched first. “I might have touched the queen, but my mind did not register that…” Since the game did not matter anymore (the match was already decided) the players from Genov’s team were persuading him to continue, while the players from his opponent’s team were persuading their player to resign. “I do not know how is it, you are the Grandmaster, you tell me which move to play”, continued the opponent. “I cannot tell you your move, but according to the rules, you must move the queen”. Finally the local player resigned the game.

Official site with selected games- www.shahu-ks.com

Final Ranking Cross table

1. PRISHTINA- 10 (21.5)
2. LLAMKOSI- 9 (22)
3. RWE POWER KOSOVO- 7 (20)
4. MINATORI- 6 (16.5)
5. THERANDA- 5 (16.5)
6. ISTOGU- 4 (16.5)
7. TREPÇA -1 (11.5)

The mystery rook move

"To require from the pieces only direct attacking actions-this is the thinking of the average player. The more flexible understanding of the game would also require profilaxical influence from the pieces." This is how the great thinker of chess Aaron Nimzovitsch explains the ideas behind the mystery rook moves. And here is a demonstarion:
Von Gottschall,Hermann - Nimzowitsch,Aaron
Hannover Hannover (2), 1926

28...Rh8! Black wants to improve his king-Kf7-g6-f5. However, if he tries this idea immediately, White has the g4 resource, for instance: [28...Kg6 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 Rh8 31.Kg3= Thus, the mystery rook move. Profilaxis!] 29.Rd1?! For Von Gottschall black's move remained mystery. Otherwise, he could have ruined his opponent's plans if he had thought also profilactically. The move: [29.Rd6 (Dvoretsky) hitting the pawn on d6 would prevent Black's activisation.] 29...Kg6 30.Rd4 Kf5 31.Bd2

31...Rf8! Yet another mystery rook move. The reason for it is seen in the line- [31...e5 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.g4+ hxg4 34.hxg4+ Ke6 35.Rd6+=] 32.Be1?! White had to find instead the mystery king move- [32.Kg1!? taking away the king from the discovered attack, for example- 32...e5 33.fxe5 fxe5 34.g4+ hxg4 35.hxg4+= (Dvoretsky)] 32...e5 [32...g5 is more subtle.] 33.fxe5 fxe5 34.Rh4? g5 35.Rb4 [35.Rxh5 Kg6+ is one possible result of he mystery.] 35...Ke6+ 36.Ke2 e4 37.Bf2 Rf3 38.Rb6

Nimtzovitsch succeeded in his plans. Now the subtle maneuver- 38...Ke5! 39.Rb4 Kd5 created a zugzwang position, and later he won convincingly. 40.h4 gxh4 41.gxh4 Rh3 42.Rd4+ Ke5 43.Rd8 Bd5 44.Re8+ Be6 45.Rd8 46.Rf8+ Bf5 47.Rf7 Rh2 48.Re7 Bg4+ 49.Ke1 50.Rf7 Kg2 51.Kd2 52.Ke3 Bf3 54.Bd6 Rb3+ 55.Kd4 Kf2 56.Rg7 e3 57.Bg3+ Kf1 58.Rf7 e2 59.Re7 Bc6 'This game, which I count amongst the best I have played, is also significant for its treatment of the isolani as an endgame weakness. 0–1

This strong method is nowadays not a secret for any young player. Especially, if his name is Carlsen:
Carlsen,M (2714) - Adams,Mi (2729)
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (4.1), 03.12.2007

33.Rb1!! "This was my plan. Due to the weakness of the b6 pawn, White wins the needed time for regrouping."-Carlsen. 33...Kf8?! [better was- 33...Bg6 34.Rd1 Bc2 35.Rxd5 Rxd5 36.Ne3 Bb3 37.Nxd5 Bxd5 the position is unpleasant, but Black play on, states the young GM.] 34.Be1! Ke7 35.Kg1! The king moves away from the center, but this is temporarily. He frees at the moment the f2 square for the bishop, and White's position becomes obviously better after that. 35...Nb8 36.Bf2 Nd7 37.Re1+ Kf8 38.Rd1 Ke7 39.Re1+ Kf8 40.Nd6±

We see the results of Carlsen's deep strategy. He kept both his bishops on the board, and now exchanges the black one, thus achieving comfortable edge. Adams could not resist the growing pressure. 40...Ne5 [40...Bg8 41.Bb5] 41.Nxf7 Kxf7 42.Rd1 Ke7 43.f4 Ng4 44.Re1+ Kf8 45.Bd4 Rd6 46.h3 Nh6 47.Rd1 Nf5 48.Bf2 Ke7 49.g4 Nh6 [49...Nfe3 50.Re1 Re6 51.f5 Re5 52.Bg3 Re4 53.Bg2 nets a piece for White.] 50.f5 Nf7 51.Bg2 Nf4 52.Rxd6 Nxd6 53.Bxb6 Nc4 54.Bc5+ Kd7 55.Bf1 [55.b3 wins faster. Anyway, Carlsen was in full control till the very end-] 55...Nxb2 56.Bb5+ Kd8 57.Bb6+ Ke7 58.Kh2 Nd5 59.Bxa5 Kd6 60.Bd2 Kc5 61.Kg3 Nc7 62.Be3+ Kb4 63.Bd2+ Kc5 64.Bc1 Nc4 65.Bxc4 Kxc4 66.Bd2 Na6 67.a5 Kb5 68.Kf3 Nc5 69.Bc3 h6 70.Ke3 Kc4 71.Bd4 Na6 72.Ke4 Nb4 73.h4 Kb5 74.Bc3 Na6 75.Kd5 Nc5 76.Bd4 Nd3 77.Ke6 1–0

However, even experienced players may pass through the idea, like in the game:
Najer,Evgeniy (2608) - Landa,Konstantin (2614)
EU-Cup 19th Rethymnon (3), 30.09.2003

24...Rd5 Landa could have used the mystery rook move instead- [24...Rb8і (Hellsten) aiming Rb8-b5-a5, with better prospects. In the game he allowed the freeing a2-a3, which relieved White's game.] 25.a3 bxa3 26.bxa3 Rb5 27.Rb3 Ke6 28.Ke2 Rxb3 1/2

The Gods must be Crazy

The fifth Jubilee tournament M-Tel Masters takes place in Sofia. It is from the ultra-prestigious 21 Category. Two rounds are already played, and the audience could witness (live from the glass cage in front of the National Theater!) full-blooded battle, excellent chess, and high quality...blunders.
Have a look at these two:
Wang Yue (2738) - Dominguez Perez,L (2717)
5th MTel Masters Sofia BUL (1), 13.05.2009

64.b5?? Insted White was easily winning after- [64.Kd3! e1Q 65.Rxe1 Kxe1 66.Ke3! Kf1 67.Kf4

and even the Reti idea to win a tempo and catch the pawn does not work- 67...Kf2 68.Kxg4 Ke3 69.b5] 64...e1Q 65.Rxe1 and draw was agreed since both players promote-[65.Rxe1 Kxe1 66.b6 g3 67.b7 g2 68.b8Q g1Q] Ѕ–Ѕ

Ivanchuk,Vassily (2746) - Wang Yue (2738)
5th MTel Masters Sofia BUL (2), 14.05.2009

Ivanchuck’s will to win is remarkable, but here it backfires:

44.Bxg5?? White could make a draw, instead, for example- [44.Bxe6 Kxe6 45.Bxg5 hxg4 46.Kxg4 d5= and the opposite-coloured bishops secure Black the half point] 44...Bxd5 45.f4+ [45.cxd5 Nxg5 46.f4+ Ke4 transposes to the game] 45...Ke4 46.cxd5 Nxg5 47.fxg5

47...h4+!! Otherwise it is White who wins. 48.Kxh4 Kf3 The king is trapped. Soon the useful moves will be over, and White will have to give away a pawn. 49.b4 b5 50.a5 Kg2 51.h3 Kh2

[51...Kh2 52.c3 Kg2 53.c4 bxc4 54.b5 c3 55.bxa6 c2 56.a7 c1Q 57.a8Q Qe1#] 0–1

Important Draw

The following game was played in round six of the Bulgarian Individual Championship. Krasimir Rusev was one of the favourites, a player who has a strong white colour. He did not start very impressively, and he needed to win for sure if he still wanted to chase the title. In my turn I had not to lose and keep him in distance. However, a possible win would be quite desirable, in order to keep the lead together with Boris Chatalbashev.
Rusev,Krasimir (2546) - Bojkov,Dejan (2477) [E81]
Blagoevgrad BUL, 73rd Men Ch r_6 Blagoevgrad BUL (6.5), 16.02.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 The first surprise. He did not play like this for about two years. 5...0–0 6.Be3 c5 This was already a surprise for him, since I do not have games on this subject in Magabase. 7.Nge2 Qa5 8.Qd2 [8.d5 b5 9.cxb5 a6 10.Ng3 (10.Nc1? is not working due to

10...Nxe4! 11.fxe4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qxc3+–+) 10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.0–0 Nd7 14.Rc1 Ne5 15.Qe2 c4і 16.a3 Nd3 17.Rc2 Nac5 18.Nd1 Qb5 19.Bd2 Na4 20.Bc3 Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Qb3 22.Nd1 Rab8 23.f4 e6 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.Rf3 Nxf4 0–1 Bogdanovski,V (2483)-Kempinski,R (2587)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092; 8.Nc1 cxd4 9.Nb3 (9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Nb3 Qd8 11.Be3 Be6 12.Rc1 Ne5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.cxd5 e6 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Be2 (16.Qd2 d5) 16...Nxe4 17.fxe4 Qh4+ 18.Kd2 Qxe4 19.Rc3 Qxg2 was rather unclear and soon after a draw was agreed in Bischoff-Stelvagen, Germany, 2004(19...d5! however would have given Black strong initiative) ) 9...Qh5 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Qd2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Be6=] 8...Nc6 9.d5 [9.dxc5 is somewhat antipositional exchange. 9...dxc5 10.Nd5 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Nd7 and Black has an excellent position; 9.0–0–0 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.b3 a6 14.Nd5 Qxd2 15.Rxd2 Bxd5 16.cxd5 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Be2 a5= or maybe even slightly more pleasant for Black.] 9...Ne5 10.Ng3

[10.Nc1 a6 11.Be2 (11.a4 e6! 12.Ra3 (12.Be2 exd5 13.cxd5 b5) 12...exd5 13.cxd5 Nh5! 14.Be2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Bh6 Qb4 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 (17...Qh4+ 18.g3 Nxg3 19.Bxe5! Ne4+ (19...dxe5 20.Rg1) 20.Bg3 Nxg3 21.Rg1 f4 (21...Qxh2 22.Qg5+ Kf7 23.Rxg3+-) 22.Bd3+-) 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.a5 Bd7 21.N1e2 Rae8 1/2 Spassky,B (2565)-Polgar,J (2595)/Budapest 1993/CBM 033/[Ftacnik] ) 11...Bd7 12.f4?! a) 12.a4 Qb4 13.b3 e6 14.N1a2 Qa5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Qxd6 Nfd7 17.Kf2 Nc6 18.Rac1 Nd4 19.b4 Qb6 20.Qxb6 Nxb6 21.bxc5 Nxe2 22.Nxe2 was quite messy in Kramnik,V (2685)-Gelfand,B (2690)/Linares 1993/CBM 034 (53); b) 12.h3? b5 13.b3 Nh5!µleads to big advantage for Black (13...Ne8! is also good) ; 12...Neg4 13.Bg1 b5 14.Bf3 Nh5 (14...Bh6! is already an edge for Black) 15.N1e2 0–1 Lehtivaara,P (2337)-Gallagher,J (2531)/Neuchatel 2004/CBM 100 ext (32)] 10...Qb4 [10...a6 is the main continuation 11.f4?! (11.Be2 is more solid.) 11...Ned7 12.h3 h5 (12...b5! 13.cxb5 h5 14.bxa6 h4 15.Nge2 Bxa6 gives strong initiative to Black as Dautov pointed out) 13.Bd3 b5 14.0–0 1–0 Dautov,R (2595)-Kempinski,R (2530)/Bad Wiessee 1997/CBM 061 ext (34)] 11.a3 [11.b3? Nfg4! 12.Rc1 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 b5 14.cxb5 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qd2 Qh4 17.Qf2 a6 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Qe2 c4 21.0–0 Nd3 22.Nb5 Nxc1 was great for the second player 0–1 Gupta,A (2470)-Jones,G (2567)/Yerevan 2007/CBM 120 ext (64)] 11...Qb3 12.Qd1 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 Nfd7

[or 13...e6 14.Be2 exd5 15.cxd5 a6 16.f4 1/2 Maiwald,J (2500)-Kempinski,R (2613)/Dresden 2008/CBM 125 Extra] 14.Kd2 Nb6 15.b3 e6 16.Kc2 White could sacrifice a piece with: [16.Nb5!? exd5 17.exd5 f5 18.Nxd6 f4 19.Bxc5 fxg3 20.hxg3 Nbd7 21.Bf2 with compensation] 16...exd5 17.exd5?! [Better was 17.Nxd5 Be6 (17...Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Nc6 19.Rxd6 Nd4+ 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Ne2 Bg7 and nice compensation on the black squares) 18.Nc7 (18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Rxd6 Rxa3 is excellent for Black) 18...Rad8 19.Nxe6 fxe6=] 17...f5

The opening battle is in favour of Black. I managed to develop harmoniously my pieces, and can try to press on both flanks. 18.f4 Ng4 19.Bg1 Bh6 20.Nge2 Bd7 21.h3 Nf6 22.Be3 Rae8 23.Bd2 Na8!?

The knight is heading to c7 (b4) and wants to support the b7-b5 advance. However, the computer recommends: [23...Ne4!? 24.Nxe4 fxe4 25.Be3 but in this line I did not appreciate- 25...a5 with the idea-26.a4?! Nxc4! I considered this blow during the game, but could not find an appropriate moment for it... 27.bxc4 Bxa4+ 28.Kd2 Bxd1 29.Kxd1 a4 and Black is close to win] 24.a4 Nc7 25.g3 Na6 26.Bg2 [26.Nb5 Ne4 27.Re1 Nxd2 28.Kxd2 Bxb5 29.axb5 Nb4 30.Ra1 a6 31.bxa6 bxa6 is advantageous for Black.] 26...Nb4+ 27.Kb1 a6 The patient [27...b6 was suggested by my opponent after the game.] 28.a5 Re7 29.Bf3 Rfe8 30.Nc1 Bg7 31.N3a2 Nxa2 32.Kxa2 [32.Nxa2? loses on the spot- 32...Re3 33.Bxe3 Rxe3 34.Rhf1 Rxb3+ 35.Kc2 Ra3 36.Nc3 Ng4

] 32...Ne4 33.Bxe4 fxe4 34.Ne2 e3 35.Bc1 Bf5 36.Bb2 Bf8 [36...h5!?] 37.Rh2 b5 I decided to open a second front in the time-scramble. Not very practical decision, indeed. [37...Be4 38.Ng1 h5 39.Re2 Bf5 40.Bc3 looks solid for White.] 38.axb6 Rb7 39.Re1 Rxb6 40.g4 Bd7 The last move before the control is a serious inaccuracy. I was afraid to place the bishop on a vulnerable position, and went back passively. Correct was: [40...Be4! 41.Nc1 (41.Ng1 a5 42.Rxe3?? Bb1+) 41...Bf3 42.Bc3 Bg7

for example: 43.Bxg7 Kxg7 44.Ne2 a5 45.Ng1 Be4 46.Rhe2 Reb8 47.Rxe3 Bc2 48.Re7+ Kf8 49.Rxh7 Bxb3+ 50.Ka1 Bxc4 51.Ra7 Bxd5 52.Rxa5 Rb4 and Black is clearly on top.] 41.Ng3 a5 42.Rhe2 a4 There is no other way for me anymore. 43.Rxe3 axb3+ 44.Kb1

The tables have turn in White's favour now. 44...Kf7 45.Rxe8 Bxe8 46.Bc3 White wants gradually to improve his position. Before the second time-limit I correctly decided to sacrifice my passer in order to liquidate in seemingly drawish position. However, I did not foresee all the aspects of white ideas. 46...b2!? 47.Ne4 Ba4 48.Re2 h6 49.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 50.Kxb2 Bd1 The bishop hits the enemy pawns and does not let him to improve his knight and king. I believe that this is a draw with precise play. 51.g5 Bf3 [51...hxg5 is more precise.] 52.Nd2 Be2 53.h4 hxg5 54.hxg5 Be7 55.Ba5 Ke8 56.Kb3 Bd1+ 57.Kc3 Be2 58.Kb3 Bd1+ 59.Ka3 Bf8 60.Bc3 Kd7?? 61.Nf1?? We both played carelessly and missed half point each. I did not occupy the vital diagonal at one, and could be punished severely- [61.f5! Bc2 62.f6+-

after this White's plan is simple- he goes with his knight on e6, exchanges the dark-squared bishop, transfers the bishop on c7 and simply wins both the pawns, since my king is busy guarding the f6 passer.] 61...Be2 White tries now various set-ups, but finally, in vain.62.Ne3 Bd3 63.Bf6 Bb1 64.Kb3 Be4 65.Kc3 Ke8 66.Kd2 Kf7 67.Kc1 Bd3 68.Kb2 Ke8 69.Kb3 Kd7 70.Ka4 Be4 71.Ka5 Bd3 72.Kb5 Be4 73.Nf1 Bd3 74.Ng3 Ke8 75.Nh1 Kd7 76.Nf2 Bc2 77.Kb6 Bb3 [77...Bf5] 78.Kb5 Computer defends after the straightforward: [78.f5 Bxc4 79.fxg6 Bxd5 80.g7 Be7 81.Ng4 Be6 82.Kb5 d5 (82...Ke8 83.Nh6) 83.Nh6 d4 84.g8Q Bxg8 85.Nxg8 d3=

] 78...Bc2 79.Ng4 Bf5 80.Ne3 Bd3 81.Kb6 Be2 82.Kb5 [82.f5 gxf5 83.Nxf5 Bxc4=] 82...Bd3 83.f5 Bxf5 84.Ka4 1/2

Hunt

Oleg Pervakov
1992

White is a pawn ahead, but it is under attack. The material is reduced, and he needs to co-ordinate all his pieces in order to achieve the win. First he starts a hunt for the rook. 1.Bc2 White loads the gun. The rook is in danger. 1...Rxa3+ White will realize the extra pawn prosaically in the line: [1...Kh6 2.a4 Ne6 (2...Rb2 3.Rb1!) 3.Kc3 Nc5 4.Rg4] 2.Kc4+ Kh8 [2...Kh6 3.Rg6+ Kh7 4.Rxa6+] 3.Rh1+ The move transposion is impossible: [3.Bb3? Ra5 4.Rh1+ Rh5=] 3...Kg8 4.Bb3!

The gun is loaded again. Black must give away the rook. Instead he goes for the last white pawn. 4...Ne6 5.Kb4 Rxb3+ 6.Kxb3 Nd4+ 7.Kc4 Nxe2

However, the knight is far away from his monarch, and another hunt starts... 8.Rf1! Kh7 9.Rf2 Ng3 [9...Nc1 10.Rc2+-] 10.Rh2+ Kg6 11.Rg2 1–0

Concentration till the End

I try to teach my students how to avoid the mistakes of my poor experience, and to save them precious time. This recent game reminded me of some of the most common ones that I did:
Lupulescu,C (2608) - Abasov,N (2397)
Victor Ciocaltea Mem Bucharest ROM (6), 28.03.2009

29.Rf6!! What made White discover this move? Let us try to follow his thinking process. [White is a pawn ahead, and he has more active pieces. Various tactical ideas can be seen for him. The first one is the weak eight rank: 29.Qf7!? (Not 29. Qf5 because of 29...g6 30.Qe5+ Bg7) 29...g6 30.Rd8 Black must defend with only moves- 30...Qa3 (30...Rxd8 will either lose both rooks or lead to mate as in the line- 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Qxd8+ Kf7 33.Bd5+ Kg7 34.Qe7+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Bg7 36.Qd8+ Bf8 37.Qxf8#) White is at crossroads, should he win a second pawn with- 31.Qf6+ or should he better proceed with the development- (31.Rfd1!

This option is in fact much better. Bringing more forces into the attack is never a mistake. Even the tricky computer move- 31...Qd6!? would not save Black- 32.Qxh7+ Kxh7 33.R8xd6 Rxc4 34.Bxg6+ Kg7 35.Rxa6+-) At the same time the win of the second pawn makes White's task more difficult- 31...Bg7 32.Rxf8+ Qxf8 33.Qxa6±

True, he emerged two pawns ahead. However, the presence of the opposite coloured bishops, active black pieces, and last but not least-the fact that black king is now in safety should make us abandon this line. I missed many wins like this in my life. Remember, when you realize your advantage there is always a moment in which you must calculate precisely the win till the end. Any prolonging of the battle increases the possibility of your further mistakes.

Another interesting tactical idea is: 29.Rxh6?? With the idea to pick up the rook in case of- …29...gxh6 (However, this rushy continuation may cost you a well deserved win, since White's back rank is also weak. The cold shower- 29...Qxf2+!!

30.Rxf2 Rc1+ 31.Rf1 Rfxf1# will follow. We must never forget that the opponent has his own, creative ideas!) 30.Qe5+; Finally, we reach the move made in the game. It is both attacking and prophylactic, excluding the Black's counter attacking options. 29.Rf6!! gxf6 30.Qxh6 Rf7 31.Bxh7 White's attack is enough to take back the material with interest- 31...Qa3 32.Be4+ Kg8 33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Bd5 Qe7 35.Rb1 Rb3!?

36.Qh6+ Kg8 37.Bxf7+ Kxf7 38.Qh7+ Kf8 39.Qxe7+ Kxe7 40.Rxb3+-] 1–0