Pin

My first book “A Course in Chess Tactics” is out in shops now. Here is how it starts, and the first annotated game:
The pin is one of the most common tactical methods in chess. By using a line piece (a queen, a rook or a bishop) we can connect opponent’s piece, and freeze it partially or definitely not to move under the threat of losing a more important piece. If the pin is toward the king then we speak about “dead” pin and the pinned piece definitely cannot make a move. Ordinary is the pin towards any other piece.
The fact that the pinned piece usually protects another important one could be used by us for attacking it, and eventually destroying it. The lower valued the secondary attacking piece is, the better the threat becomes (pawns are ideal for the purpose). Otherwise, if we attack the pinned piece by a piece that is as the same value as it we are just exchanging it.
Another method of collecting the pinned piece is by putting more hits onto it than our opponent can possibly do.
Pinned piece is predictable in its actions, and is less mobile than usual. It can hardly use all the potential of its energy.
However, we must take into consideration the fact that a pin is a temporary advantage that must be used promptly. Otherwise our opponent can escape, or break the pin.
Exemplary Game:
Dreev,A (2650) - Seirawan,Y (2600)
Wijk aan Zee, 1995
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.a3 c6 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Bf4 a6 8.Rc1! Bb7 White is better developed, and already has some tactical threats-[8...Be7? 9.Na4!+-Threatening Bf4-c7, Na4xb6, or even Rc1xc8] 9.e3


9...Nc6?! Black is behind in development. With this move he gives an additional opportunity for his opponent to make use of a pin. [9...Be7 10.Na4! (10.Nb5 axb5 11.Bc7 Qc8 12.Bxb5+ Nbd7 13.Bf4=) 10...Nc6 (10...Bd6 11.Qb3 Bxf4 12.exf4 Nbd7 13.Bd3 0–0 14.0–0±) 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qc2±; 9...Nbd7 was the best choice, giving White only a slight edge] 10.Nb5! The "Troya knight" is untouchable, due to the pin. 10...Rc8 [10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Rc8 12.Qa4 or 12.Ne5 puts unbearable pressure onto the pinned knight and Black has to part either with it, or with his bishop after Bf8-c5 which leaves White completely winning. Note that White has the opportunity to quickly bring many hits on the pinned piece.] 11.Qa4 Nd7 [11...Qd7 was an alternative try to break the pin from the white queen. However after: 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Rxc8+ Bxc8 (13...Qxc8 14.Nd6+) 14.Bxe5± White preserves his advantage.] 12.Nc7+


Dreev wants to use the pin, this time towards his opponent's queen. Reasonable alternative was: [12.Nd6+ when Black has a defensive resource: 12...Bxd6 13.Bxd6 Nxd4! (Discovered attack!) 14.Rxc8 Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 Qxc8 16.Kd2! where Black's king should stay in the center, and White posses a strong bishop pair.] 12...Rxc7 13.Bxa6!? Tricky move, which intends to deprive Black from the option: [13.Bxc7? Qxc7 14.Bxa6 Ndb8 15.Bxb7 (15.Bb5 Bd6) 15...Qxb7 … b5 and Black is ready to break the pin. After: 16.Ne5 b5 17.Qc2 Nxe5 18.Qc8+ Qxc8 19.Rxc8+ Kd7 20.Rxb8 White still looks somewhat better, but the discovered attack levels the chances: 20...Bb4+ 21.axb4 Rxb8 22.dxe5 Rc8 23.Kd2 Rc4=] 13...Bxa6?! Black follows the stream, and ends up in difficult situation. [13...Ndb8!


additionaly supporting the pinned knight was still possible. In his notes Dreev points out the "refutation": 14.Bxb7 Rxb7 15.Bxb8? (15.Qb5!?) 15...b5 16.Qa6 but misses the simple: 16...Rb6 17.Qa8 Nxb8 where Black wins. Obviously Dreev would have to go for the line mentioned above where Black levels the chances. Why does this happen? The reason is logical-White does not use all his pieces either. Black did not commit such a terrible error in the opening. However his defense was never easy, and the chance to commit mistake(s) was much higher than his opponent.; for instance the natural 13...e5 does not solve the problems- 14.Bxb7 Rxb7 15.Qxc6] 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.Rxc6 Qb7 16.Ne5 White now has a rook and a pawn for two pieces, but he controls the vital open line, and still uses the pin to hinder his opponent's development. 16...Be7 17.b4! f6 In case of: [17...Bc4 18.Rxb6! is much better move than Dreev's idea 18.Ne5-c4. 18...Qxb6 19.Qxd7+ Kf8 20.Nc6 wins for White.] 18.b5 Bxb5 19.Qxb5 fxe5 20.0–0! [20.Rxe6 exd4 21.0–0 Kf7 22.Rc6 Nf6] 20...exd4?! [20...Kf7 21.Rfc1 Bd8? 22.Rc7!+- loses, but in my opinion Black was obliged to castle at any rate:; 20...0–0 21.Rxe6] 21.Rfc1! Kd8?! Finally Seirawan collapses under the pressure. Dreev gives one more instructive line: [21...Bd8 only move 22.Rxe6+ Kf7 23.Rcc6 Nf6 (23...Nc5 24.Red6 Be7 25.Rxd5 dxe3 26.Rf5+) 24.e4! dxe4 25.Qc4 Kg6


and now a cunning use of the pin: 26.Qxd4 Kf7 27.Qc4 Kg6 28.Qxe4+ Kf7 29.Rxf6+!+-] 22.exd4! The Russian prefers to attack, rather than defend in the line: [22.Rc8+ Qxc8 23.Rxc8+ Kxc8 24.Qc6+ Kb8 25.Qxd7 Rc8!] 22...Rf8 23.a4!+-


The pawn on b6 is pinned now... 23...Bg5 24.R1c2 Rf4 25.a5 Rxd4 26.g3 Rd1+ 27.Kg2 Ra1 28.axb6 Nb8 There is no salvation anyway, since after: [28...Qa6 29.Qxa6 Rxa6 30.b7 Rxc6 31.Rxc6 Bf6 32.Rd6 the pawn goes into queen.] 29.Rd6+ 1–0
More to follow soon.

Wins Matter

In the middle of January (11-17 January) two interesting events took place in Bulgaria. In Blagoevgrad was played the second Memorial Tournament in honour of GM Nino Kirov, and in Pleven took place the final round-robin tournament from the series Balkan Grand Prix.

Blagoevgrad was not chosen incidentally to be the place for the second memorial, for the GM was born there in 1945, and he is so far the only grandmaster from the town. Nino Kirov achieved the highest chess title in 1974, a year after his first national title. He won again the Bulgarian Championship in 1978, and represented the country in many international events with good results. His bohemian way of living, remarkable sense of humour, as well as his kindness and frankness brought him the nickname “The King”, and he was well known among all the chess society. He passed away suddenly in September, 2008 after short illness, which was a painful shock in Bulgaria’s chess community.
Soon afterwards, in 2009 his son- Kiril Ninov, successful businessman, who is also a strong player, and a chess IM (in the book of Anand’s best games you may see his name in the first game of the future world champion) paid a tribute to his father and sponsored the first Nino Kirov Memorial in January, 2009. Father and son used to travel and play tournaments together, sometimes facing each other. In 1995 the Bulgarian championship was held in a knock-out system, and of course the both players have to face each other at some stage. Routine prevailed against youth, and The King only remarked: “He did not study the King’s Gambit yet.”


This year the tournament is repeated. 56 players from five countries took place in the event, among them were 7 GMs and 11 IMs. From the previous year the regulations claimed, that in case of a tie the first place is awarded to the player with the most wins. Generally, it is a great idea to support the open, aggressive chess, and this also gives a chance for the “underdogs” to win the event. Last year such a player won the tournament, but this one the expectations were that the top seeded Kiril Georgiev should win comfortably. He indeed started quite convincingly, scoring 3/3. In the meanwhile his closest elo-rival Julian Radulski lost in the first two rounds. Normally in such situation I have seen strong players “getting ill” and leaving the tournament. Not that Julian is such a person, but it was also nice that the tie-break system this did not appear too frightening. Scoring 6/6 in the next rounds, Radulski secured at least second place by making a short draw in the last one. His only threat for the first place was his teammate GM Evgeny Janev, who also started poorly, and had 2.5/5. Janev won, and the tie-break roulette awarded him the first place thanks to a better third criterion. Four more players tied for the first, and among them was Georgiev, who suffered his only loss in the penultimate round against his town-mate Grigor Grigorov (which gave a case for the some jokers to call the latter the new champion of Petrich). The same young player did not suffer any loss, but won only four games, and was left at the tail of the crosstable-sixth place.


Best qualified woman was WIM Adriana Nikolova, who scored six points, and left four GMs and many IMs behind her, while the second-qualified woman Stefi Bednikova made her final WIM norm.


Standings:
Rank SNo. Name Rtg FED Club Pts vict BH. BH. Fide
1 10 GM Janev Evgeni 2461 BUL Plovdiv 6,5 6 32,0 40,5 29,0
2 2 GM Radulski Julian 2577 BUL Lokomotiv2000 Plovdiv 6,5 6 32,0 40,5 27,5
3 1 GM Georgiev Kiril 2672 BUL Sofia 6,5 5 38,0 49,5 36,5
4 5 IM Petrov Marijan 2500 BUL Naiden Voinov Vidin 6,5 5 36,0 46,5 34,5
5 7 IM Drenchev Petar 2477 BUL Plovdiv 6,5 5 36,0 46,0 32,0
6 4 IM Grigorov Grigor 2508 BUL Lokomotiv2000 Plovdiv 6,5 4 38,0 49,0 31,5

Etc. (56 participants).


In the meanwhile in Pleven ten players were playing in a more solid way in category 12 (average rating 2543) event. The first final of the Balkan Grand Prix was under the patronage of deputy Rumen Petkov, and took place in hotel Rostov. The top 5 players from the tournament series around the Balkans were joined by five more personally chosen by their federations. For various reasons not all of the qualified managed to take part, but it was still the second-best international tournament in Bulgaria (after M-Tel Masters). The price fund was 7000 euro, with 1500 for the winner, and 300 for the last place. The quality of the players made them more careful and less willing to risk. The tournament appeared to be an easy walk for the top-rated Bojan Vuckovic from Serbia, who won his first three white games, and with relatively short draws claimed the title. He also won the hand-made wooden cup. Second-fourth place was shared by Constantin Lupulescu from Romania (who decided not to risk in the final round against Vuckovic as black and signed a quick draw), Momchil Nikolov from Bulgaria, and Nikola Sedlak from Serbia. If the number of wins system was used in Pleven, Sedlak would have been second for he was the most fightful player, with four wins and two losses. Momchil Nikolov accomplished a remarkable series of great results in the Balkan Grand Prix tournaments. He qualified first in those series and topped the table, after four tournaments with no defeat and one GM norm, and achieved the grandmaster requirements with his last norm in Pleven (needless to say, he also did not lose a single game here, either).
The second final of the Balkan Grand Prix is already scheduled for December, and it will take place in Belgrade, Serbia.

Dimi with a Title!

The recently finished championship of Greece saw two of my ex-students achieving the best possible results. Both Antonis Pavlidis and Dimitra Vatkali from Kavala Chess Club claimed the titles in Athens. While Antonis is always considered to be a favourite in these events (he already is also an IM) Dimitra’s success is a fruit of her stubbornness, patience and discipline as well as the every-day hard-work that she does. Among her best qualities is the good evaluation of the position and she is very good in strategical aspects of the game. I proudly present you her most important win from the championship with her annotations.

Vatkali,Dimitra (1905) - Barbageorgopoulou,Fani (1878) [B12]
13 Greek Indiv. Ch. Girls U18 - 2010 KYBE registr. Peristeri Greece (8.1), 08.01.2010
[Dimitra Vatkali]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 I usually play Nd2 here but I was prepared to play something more attacking as I needed to win to play for first place! 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 Nd7 7.Nf4 Ne7 8.h4 h5 9.Nxg6 Nxg6 10.Bg5


10...Be7 [10...Qb6 11.gxh5 Rxh5 12.Qxh5 Qxb2 13.Bd3! Qxa1+?? would be a mistake 14.Kd2 Nf4 this is what Rybka suggests here. (14...Qxh1 15.Bxg6± and white has a very pleasant position.) 15.Qf3! (15.Bxf4?? Qxh1–+) 15...Qb2 16.Rb1± otherwise Bb4 is coming.] 11.gxh5 Bxg5 [11...Nxh4 maybe this is better. 12.Bxh4 Bxh4 13.Qg4 Bg5] 12.hxg6 fxg6 now the e6 ang g6 pawns are very weak. 13.Qg4 Nf8?+/= [13...Qe7 is much better,preparing also 0–0–0.] 14.Bd3 Rh6

15.h5! gxh5 16.Rxh5 Rxh5 17.Qxh5+ Kd7 18.f4 Bh6 [18...Bxf4?? of course not B:f4 because it loses a piece. 19.Qf7++-] 19.Ne2 with idea to castle in the next move. 19...Rc8? 20.0–0–0 Qe8 21.Qg4 [21.Qxe8+ exchanging queens would not be such a good idea as white would lose the initiative.] 21...Rc7 22.Kb1

getting away from the pin. 22...Kd8 23.f5 exf5 24.Bxf5 g6?? A mistake,now white can win a pawn. 25.Qh4+ Qe7 26.Qxh6 gxf5 27.Ng3 c5 [27...Qf7 28.Qg5+] 28.Nxf5 Qf7 29.Qd6+ Kc8 30.Ne3 cxd4 31.Nxd5 Rd7 32.Qc5+ Kb8 33.Nf6 Rc7 34.Qxd4


and now it is plain sailing for white to win. 34...Ne6 35.Qd6 Qg6 36.Rc1 Qf5 37.Ne8 Black resigned. 1–0

A Piece of Heaven

In the middle of the cold winter I got an invitation for private training session on a country which I always wanted to visit. The capital of UAE, Abu Dhabi was the place where I gave a week of lessons to a real Sheikh. While the temperatures in Europe were dropping down under the zero, I had some exciting days, enjoying the +25 temperatures and the beach, the beauty of the local architecture, and first class conveniences of my host.
I was surprised to learn that until 1950-ies UAE was an extremely poor country, in which the local people earned their living mainly thanks to the pearl diving. Everything changed for good when petrol was found. However, contrary to some other countries where only a few people benefit from such discoveries, the people from UAE can hardly complain. You do not have to be Sheikh to receive a house, car and scholarship to study in a foreign country, all you need is your native pass, and will to do so.
Nowadays, the country is a real sample of religious tolerance where Muslimism meets all other religions in a really patient way.
Among the positions that we studied with HH was this famous one:
Steinitz - Trapping the knight
[Dejan Bojkov]

1.Re4 A rook versus knight endgame is usually a draw, but the weak side should stick his pieces together. Here we have a case in which the knight is too far away from his king and is dominated by the opponent's king and rook duet. 1...Nd1 The knight is moving away from the king, and will be patiently surrounded. However, the other retriets would not save it: [1...Nf1 2.Rf4+ is an immediate fork, while; 1...Ng2 places the knight on a poor place, where it is already limited by the opponent's rook. 2.Kf6


2...Kg8 3.Rg4+; 1...Nc2 does not help either- 2.Kd5 Na3 3.Kc5 Nb1 4.Kb4


4...Nd2 5.Re2! and White benefits from the position of the opponent's king. 5...Nb1 6.Rb2+-] 2.Rf4+ Kg7 3.Rf3!


Strong manouever, that takes away three from all four available squares from the knight and chaces it away to the corner. 3...Kg6 [Or- 3...Nb2 4.Kd5 Kg6 5.Kd4 Kg5 6.Rf1 Kg4 7.Rb1 Na4 8.Rb4] 4.Ke5 Kg5 5.Kd4 Kg4 6.Rf1 Nb2 7.Rb1 Na4 8.Rb4


and finally, the knight is trapped 1–0

Happy New Year 2010!

Let the coming 2010 be better than the previous one!

Neuhausen Is Doing Well

At the recently finished round of 2 Bundesliga South the team of Neuhausen managed to take an important win against one of the favourites- Baden-Baden 2.
It was a nice match for our young players, who scored the major part of the overall points.
I managed to outplay the talented Raoul Strohhaeker, but unfortunately passed by a beautiful finish:


17.b4 My position is strategically winning after this move, however...I saw the move- [17.Re7 but after- 17...Qd6 I abandoned the search for a win- 18.Qe1 Qxc5 (18...Nf6 19.Qb4+ Ka8



20.Rxa7+ Kxa7 21.Qa5+ Kb8 22.Qb6+ Ka8 23.Nxc6 is also nice) 19.Qb4+!



is the idea I missed when Black gets mated. A pity. 19...Qxb4 20.Nxc6+ Ka8 21.Rxa7#] The game ended prosaically after- 17...Ka8 18.Qe2 Nf6 19.Qe5 Qb6 20.c3 Rfe8 21.Qg5 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qxg7 c5 24.bxc5 Qxc5 25.Qxf7 e3 26.Rxe3 Rxe3 27.fxe3 Bb7 28.Rb1 Be4 29.Rf1 Qxc3 30.Qxa7+ Kxa7 31.Nb5+ Kb6 32.Nxc3 Ba8 33.Rd1 1–0

Afek's Best (7)

Yochanan Afek
New In Chess 1997 (v)
[Afek,Y]

White pair of knights is outweighted by a direct attack as well as by the dangerous black advanced pawn. 1.Ne3 g3! [The black king is in a mate net after: 1...gxh3 2.Nef1 Kg2 3.Kf5 Kh1 4.Kg4 Kg2 5.Kh4 Kg1 6.Kxh3 Kh1 7.Ng3+ Kg1 8.Nf3#; while following 1...f1Q 2.Nexf1 gxh3 3.Kf5 it's a DGTB win in 32 moves] 2.Nhf1! The first surprise. The more natural looking [2.Nhg4? is met by 2...f1Q! 3.Nxf1 Kg2 4.h4 Kxf1 5.h5


5...Ke2! 6.h6 g2 with a dead draw] 2...g2


with the threat 3...g1Q but also 3...gxf1Q 4.Nxf1 Kg2. Time to offer a draw? not quite! 3.h4!! g1Q 4.Kf7!!


It's the queen's turn to be trapped in an astonishing reciprocal zugzwang position. 1–0