Rusty in Montreal

The tournament in Montreal came after a long period without any chess practice for me. I was busy with the lessons and did not have any time for self-improvement. Unfortunately this became apparent in Canada. The first two games that I played were just horrible, I did not even know what to do with my pieces.
Then some wins came and at the seventh round I moved to board two for an encounter against one of the favourites, Wesley So:

So,Wesley (2653) - Bojkov,Dejan (2556) [D25]
Ch. ouvert du Quebec invitation Montreal, CAN (7), 26.07.2012
[Bojkov,Dejan]

1.d4 d5 [A small surprise. I did not play like that for years.]

2.c4 dxc4 [However this is the real one. Before that i opted mainly for the Chebanenko Slav.]

3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Be6

This is a rare line in which White needs to play energetically to claim the advantage.]

5.Be2 [I suspect that White can play for something only if he develops the knight on c3 and tries to use his central pawns as fast as possible.]

5...c5 6.0–0 Nc6 7.dxc5 Qxd1?! [Inaccuracy.]

[A neat solution of all the Black problems is: 7...Qa5=]

8.Rxd1 Ne4 9.Nc3 [Wesley could have started play in the center with: 9.Nd4!? to which I was choosing between: 9...Bd5 or: (9...Bd7 10.Bxc4 Nxc5=) 10.f3 Nxc5 11.e4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 Bc6=]

9...Nxc5 [The most natural move. I considered the position equal, but the Philippini GM starts to create problems.]

[9...Nxc3?! opens the b file in White's favour- 10.bxc3 Rd8 11.Rb1 Rxd1+ 12.Bxd1 Bc8 13.Be2 Na5 14.Ne5±]

10.Ng5 g6 [After some thought I decided to simplify the position and agree to double pawns. So was surprised of that decision and offered instead:]

[10...Bf5!? in the post mortem. Indeed, this looks like a good alternative- 11.Bxc4 e6=; On the other hand, the other retreat is not as good- 10...Bd7 11.Bxc4 Ne5 (11...e6 12.b3 is slightly better for White) 12.Be2 with slight advantage; Note that the pawn cannot be defended- 10...Ne5?! 11.Nb5 Rc8 12.Nxa7±; 10...Na5?! 11.Nb5]

11.e4!

[Black's problems are solved easier in case of: 11.Nxe6 Nxe6 12.Bxc4 Bg7 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Bd2 0–0–0= and the exchanges along the d file should secure the draw.]

11...Bg7 [Or: 11...Bd7 12.Bxc4 Ne5 13.Be2 with some advantage for White]

12.Be3 Nd3 [Black sticks to his plan to simplify the position. Accepting the sacrificed pawn is too dangerous-]

[12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Na4 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bxc4 Nxc3 16.Rdc1 (16.Re1!?) 16...Nxe4 17.Bxe6± the extra pawn is not a consolation once that you have a glimpse of the white bishops...]

13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Bxd3 cxd3 15.Rxd3 Rd8 [Again simplifications. In case of:]

[15...Ne5 16.Rdd1 Nc4 17.Bd4 e5 18.Be3 Nxe3 19.fxe3 the white knight dominates the bishop. I thought that keeping the adversary pieces is a better idea.]

16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Rc1 Bxc3!? 18.Rxc3 e5

Now Black's set up is obvious- the king goes to e6, h7–h5, and eventually a rook swap along the d file with fortress. However, White has two obvious plusses-the better minor piece and the slightly better pawn structure. So keeps on posing problems.]

19.Ra3! [He tries to force a weakening of the queen's flank.]

19...Kc7! 20.Kf1 [The pawn is poisonous:]

[20.Bxa7? b6 21.Ra6 Rd8 22.Kf1 Rd6–+ and the bishop is trapped after Kc7–b7.]

20...Rd8 21.Ke2 Nd4+?! [In the coming time-trouble I decided to clarify the situation. From practical point of view though this is a concession. The position still remains close to ballanced, but new problems arise and the play becomes much more concrete.]

[21...b6 22.Rc3 Rd6 with the idea Kc7–d7–e6 was the other way to defend.]

22.Bxd4 Rxd4 23.Rxa7 Rxe4+ 24.Kd2 Rd4+ 25.Ke3 Rd1

26.Ra4! [The rook is transfered to a more active position.]

26...b5 [So considered this move to be a mistake after the game. But as we shall see the defensive resources of the Black position were still sufficient.]

[26...Re1+ 27.Kf3 Rb1 28.Rc4+ Kd6 29.Rb4 (29.Rc2) 29...Kc6 and Black still needs to prove the draw; 26...Rb1 27.Rc4+ (27.Rb4) 27...Kd6 28.Rc2 and White can keep on playing]

27.Ra7+ Kd6 28.Rb7 Re1+! [The rook needs to be maximally active in these endgames.]

29.Kf3 [Better than: 29.Kd2 Rh1 30.h3 Rh2 31.Rxb5 Rxg2 32.Ke2 Rh2 33.Rb3 Rh1 and Black should be OK thanks to the active pieces.]

29...e4+ 30.Kg3 Kc5 [Unfortunately the position cannot be simplified with: 30...e3 due to: 31.Rxb5 e2 32.Kf3±]

31.Rxe7 Re2 32.Re5+ [A nasty in-between check.]

32...Kc6 [Keeping the material ballance with: 32...Kb4 33.a3+ Ka4 (33...Ka5!? gives draw chances.) 34.b3+ Kxb3 35.Rxb5+ Kxa3 36.Rb7+– should be lost for Black.]

33.b4 Rxa2 34.Rxe4 Kd5 35.f3 Rc2 36.Rh4 h5 37.Re4

The critical moment of the game and maybe the tournament. Wesley So won a pawn thanks to his clever play. However due to the reduced material the position is still a draw.]

37...Rc4? [The natural desire to do somthing in the time trouble spoils the defense. All Black needed was to wait:]

[37...Rb2 38.h4 Rc2 39.Kh3 and only when the king is far away to go: (39.Re7 Rc4 40.Rg7 Rxb4 41.Rxg6 Ra4 42.Rg5+ Kc4 43.Rxh5 b4 44.Rh7 b3 45.Rc7+ Kd3 46.Rb7 Kc2 and the Black's remaining pawn secures the draw. (46...Kc3) ) 39...Rc4!; 37...Rd2 would also suffice for a draw.]

38.Kf4 [Now White wins at least two tempoes to advance his king's side pawns and this proves decisive.]

38...Rc2 39.Re5+! Kc6 [Alas, the queen endgame after: 39...Kc4 40.Rc5+ Kb3 41.Rxc2 Kxc2 42.Kg5 Kc3 43.Kxg6 Kxb4 44.f4 Kc3 45.f5 b4 46.f6 b3 47.f7 b2 48.f8Q b1Q+ 49.Qf5! is pretty hopeless.]

40.Re6+ Kd5 41.Rxg6 Rb2 42.h4 Kc4 [Frustration, but even against best defense White is winning:]

[42...Rxb4+ 43.Kg5 Rd4 44.g4 b4 45.gxh5 Kc4 46.f4 b3 47.h6 b2 48.Rb6 Rd5+ 49.f5 Rb5 50.Rxb5 Kxb5 51.h7 b1Q 52.h8Q+–]

43.g4 hxg4 44.fxg4 Rxb4 45.h5 Ra4 46.h6 Kc5+ 47.Kg5 [Summarizing the game- White got nothing out of the opening but did not let go, kept on pushing, used all the chances he had (including the better time management) and deservedly won. Congratulations for Wesley So for winning the tournament!]

1–0

Iva Annotates (2)

It is always nice to finish a tournament with a win, especially against a strong opponent, and in a convincing way:
Kashlinskaya,Alina (2377) - Videnova,Iva (2301) [E42]
EU-ch (w) Gaziantep (11.25), 13.03.2012
[Videnova,Iva]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 c5 6.a3 Ba5 7.Bd2 [7.Rb1 is the most common continuation.]

7...0–0 8.g3 [8.Nf4 is another try, but Akopian showed how is Black supposed to play. 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 d5 11.Qf3 Bb7 12.Bd3 Nbd7 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Qh3 f5 16.0–0 Rf6 17.Bd2 Rg6 18.f3 Nb8 19.Rac1 Nc6 20.Be3 Qf6і 21.Bc4 Nxd4 22.Bxd5 exd5 23.Rcd1 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 Re8 25.f4 Ng3+! 26.hxg3 Rxe3 Hammes,M 2399-Akopian,V 2679/ Kallithea GRE 2008, 0–1]

8...Bb7 9.d5 b5


typical for the variation.]

10.Nxb5 exd5 11.Bg2 [11.Nd6 doesn't lead to something better: 11...Bc6 12.cxd5 Bxd5 13.Rg1 Nc6 and Black is ahead in development.]

11...Bc6 12.Nbc3? [Loss of 2 tempi (Nc3–b5–c3) in the opening is quite dangerous.]

[12.0–0 dxc4 13.Bxa5 Qxa5 14.Nd6 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qb6 16.Rc1 Qxb2 17.Rxc4 Na6 and the game is about equal, despite of the pawn more for Black.]

12...dxc4 13.e4 Re8 14.0–0 Bxc3 [Of course not 14...Nxe4? 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Rxe4 17.Bxa5 Qxa5 18.Qd5± winning one of the rooks.]

15.Nxc3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4


17.Ba5! [White finds clever defensive resource.]

17...Qc8 [‹17...Qxa5?! 18.Bxe4 Nc6 (‹18...Rxe4? is weaker again: 19.Qd5 Nc6 20.Qxe4І with advantage for White.) 19.Qxd7 Rxe4 20.Qxc6 and the double "c" pawns devalue Black's material advantage.; It's never too late to lose: 17...Qf6? 18.Re1 Qc6 19.f3 Qb5 20.fxe4 Qxa5 21.e5 Nc6 22.Qxd7±]

18.Bxe4 Rxe4 19.Qf3 [Better was 19.Qd5 Qc6 20.Rfd1 a6!?і with the idea Ra7. (20...Re6 21.Rac1! with stubborn defense. (White mustn't allow his opponent to develop: 21.Qxc4 d6 and after Nd7 the last undeveloped piece - the Ra8 will join the game.) ) ]

19...d5 20.Rad1 Nc6 [20...Qe6?! 21.Rxd5 Qxd5 22.Rd1±]

21.Rxd5 Qe6 22.Rxc5 Nd4


23.Qh5 [23.Qd1 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 (24.Kg2 Rh4!–+) 24...Qh3–+ and the threat Rh4 is killing.]

23...Re8 [23...g6?! allows 24.Qd5 and White is fine after 24...Rb8 25.f3 (‹25.Bb4? Qg4 26.h3 Qf3 27.Rxc4 Ne2+ 28.Kh2 Nxg3 29.Rxe4 Nxe4‚) 25...Ne2+ 26.Kg2 the only move and now: 26...Rxb2!


beautiful combination, ending draw with perpetual check: 27.Qa8+ Kg7 28.fxe4 Nxg3+ 29.Kxg3 (29.Kg1 Ne2+ 30.Kh1 Ng3+ 31.Kg1 Ne2+=) 29...Qd6+ 30.e5 Qxc5 31.Bc3 Qe3+ 32.Qf3 Qg5+ 33.Kh3 Qh6+ 34.Kg4 Qh5+ 35.Kf4 Qf5+ 36.Ke3 Qd3+=]

24.Kg2 Nb3 25.Rb5 Nd4 [Stronger is 25...g6 winning immediately after 26.Qd5 a6–+]

26.Rc5 Re2 27.Qd5? [White misses her best chance- 27.Bc3! Qe4+ 28.Kh3 Nb3 and although the king on h3 looks dubious, Black has no direct threat.]

27...Nb3 28.Qxe6 fxe6 29.Kf3 [29.Rg5 h6 30.Rb5 (30.Kf3 Nd4+) 30...a6 31.Rh5 g6]

29...Rxb2 30.Rg5 e5


[30...h6 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Bc3+ Kg6 33.Bxb2 Nd2+]

31.Bc3 Rc2 32.Be1 Nd4+ 33.Kg2 c3

0–1

Iva Annotates

It is not everyday that you see a rook trapped at the center of the board. WGM Iva Videnova was kind enough to annotate the following marvelous game:
Videnova,Iva (2301) - Bezgodova,Maria (2200) [C92]
EU-ch (w) Gaziantep (10.35), 12.03.2012
[Videnova,Iva]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Be6


Quite rare line - Kholmov Variation in Ruy Lopez. May be the most frequent follower among Grandmasters is Predrag Nikolic.]

10.d4 Bxb3 11.axb3 Qc8 12.d5 Nb8 [12...Nd8 is another option: 13.c4 c6 14.Nc3 b4 15.Na4! Qc7 16.dxc6 Nxc6 17.Bg5 Nd7 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Qd2 targeting pawns b4 and d6. 19...a5 20.Rad1 and White is somewhat better.]

13.c4 Nbd7 14.Nc3 Nc5 White keeps some advantage in case of [14...b4 15.Na4!? aiming c4–c5.]

15.b4 Ncd7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bd2


Better was the more active: [17.Be3!? Rxa1 18.Qxa1 c5 19.bxc5 Nxc5 20.Qa7 with advantage for White.]

17...c5 18.dxc6 Rxa1 [18...Qxc6 19.Ra5 is good for White.]

19.Qxa1 Qxc6 20.Qd1 Rc8 21.Qe2 Qc4 22.Nxb5 Qxe2 [22...Nxe4? loses in view of 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.b3±]

23.Rxe2 Rc4 Black misses a good chance-[23...Rc2 24.Ne1 Rxb2 25.Nd3 Rb3 26.Nc1 Rb1 27.Na3 Ra1 28.Nc2 Rb1 29.Na3= and draw could be fixed.]

24.Re3 Rxe4 25.Rc3


The rook is suddenly in danger despite the many squares that it possibly hits. The problem is that almost all of them are already taken... 25...d5 26.Rc8+ Nf8 The rook is trapped in case of:[26...Bf8 27.Nd6 Re2 28.Kf1]

27.Na7 Bxb4 28.Nc6 [28.Bxb4 Rxb4 29.Nc6 Rb7 the only move 30.Nfxe5 and although Black's position looks crumpled, after 30...g6= White pressure would hardly bring it to the win.]

28...Bd6 [28...Bxd2?? 29.Ne7+]

29.b3! [trying to surround the rook on e4.]

[29.Nfxe5 Rxe5 30.Nxe5 Bxe5 31.Bb4 N6d7 32.Bxf8 Nxf8 33.b4 f5 34.b5 Kf7 35.b6 Nd7 36.b7 Ke7]

29...N6d7 30.Kf1 f6 31.Ba5


31...Rf4 32.Bd2 Re4 [32...Rf5 33.Ng1 with the idea g2–g4. 33...Rh5 is the only move, as if- (33...Bc5 34.Be3 Bxe3 35.Ne7+ Kf7 36.Nxf5±) 34.g4 Rh4 35.Nf3 (35.Kg2 e4 36.Nd4 g6 37.f3 Kf7 38.Be1 Rh6 39.Bd2 Rh4=) 35...Rxh3 36.Kg2 Rxf3 37.Kxf3 and White is better. Despite the fact that Black has 2 pawns for the exchange, "b"-pawn may cause problems.]

33.g3 [taking away the last squares from the rook on e4.]

33...Nb6 [Better was 33...d4 34.Ne1 threatening f3. 34...Nc5 (34...Nb6 35.Rd8 Bc7 36.Re8±) 35.Bb4 (‹35.f3? Nxb3 36.fxe4 Nxd2+ 37.Ke2 Nxe4 and only Black can try to win.) 35...Rxe1+ 36.Bxe1 Nxb3 37.Rd8 Bc7 (37...Bc5 38.f4±) 38.Rd5 Ne6 39.Bb4 Black has two pawns for the exchange and should normally be out of trouble. However, as the knight on b3 is cut from the main camp Black still needs to prove equality.]

34.Rd8 Bc7 35.Re8 Bd6 [35...Nbd7 36.Bb4 Kf7 37.Re7+ Kg6 38.Ba3 f5 39.Nd2]

36.Ba5 Kf7 37.Rxf8+?! [Inaccurate play in a key moment that could have costed half point.]

[37.Rd8 was winning immediately: 37...Bc7 38.Bxb6 Bxd8 (38...Bxb6 39.Rxd5 Ke6 40.Rb5) 39.Bxd8 Ke6 40.Be7+– Ng6 41.Bc5 Kd7 42.Na5]

37...Bxf8 38.Bxb6 Bb4?! [With clever manoeuvre Black could save the game: 38...Ke6 39.Ba5 Kd7 40.Nb8+ Kc8 41.Nc6= funny, but the knight cannot escape.]

39.Be3 Bc3 40.Bd2 d4 41.Bxc3 [41.Nd8+ Ke7 42.Nb7]

41...dxc3 42.Ne1 Ke6 43.Nc2 Kd5 44.N6b4+ Kc5 45.Nd3+ Kd5 46.f3


Mission accomplished - the rook is finally captured.]
1–0

Sofia-Zagreb (The Bloody Friendship)

It was probably the successful experience that Bankia had the last year which suggested the organization of yet another mass chess match. Or maybe it was the natural desire of the people to see each other in person rather than play on the net?
Anyways, the little town which is situated just seven kilometers away from the capital Sofia hosted the match between the capitals of Bulgaria and Croatia. Zagreb is much further than Belgrade and the event also coincided with the big Albena open in Bulgaria and the Mitropa Cup (true, the latter starts on 30-th of May, but some of the players decided to stay and prepare for the event). Therefore the number of the boards were reduced- “only” fifty compared to the hundred from the previous match against Belgrade.



This should not fool you though as the Croatians brought their heavy artirelly headed by the reigning champion Mladen Palac, the former World Youth Champion Hrvoje Stevic, the living legend Krunoslav Hulak and three more strong GMs- A. Brkic, A. Jankovic and R. Zelcic.
The Sofia squad was even more impressive with twelve GMs and three WGMs. The team was headed by top GM Kiril Georgiev and the tenth world women champion Antoaneta Stefanova.
The start of the match was delayed for about an hour. We were waiting for the Sofia mayor Y. Fandukova to open the event. Sofia suffered earthquake and floods these days and as a bridge felt down she had more important things to care about that day. Still, as her colleague, the Zagreb mayor M. Bandic stayed at the opening ceremony-everything is repairable as long as there are no victims. The politicians combined the nice with the useful and after the symbolic start of the event 1.e4 (Fandukova) 1…e5 (Bandic) went on to sign some important contracts for co-operation between the capitals. I wonder when our mayor will start to play the Queen’s gambit at last…
The top six boards were relayed online and saw uncompromised battle. The time limit predisposed such play and was twenty five minutes per game and additional ten seconds per move. K. Georgiev won first with a little but elegant combination against Palac:

20...Qxh2+! [20...Qxh2+ 21.Kxh2 Ng4+ 22.Kg1 Nxe3] 0-1

The last game to finish was Stefanova-Stevic in which the Croatian GM had to act like a real gentleman. We won here 4-2 and the overall match 30-20. A friendly match but a thrilling one!
A special guest of the event was Veselin Topalov and most of the participants used the chance to chat with him or to make a memorable photo. Soccer was represented by the prominent football player of Levki Sofia H. Yovov (a regular guest of all the chess events).
ECU president Danailov was naturally there too and used the case to announce the Mega match on 1000 boards Sofia-Belgrade on November!
Trio Soprano entertained the participants at the opening ceremony and the official lunch ad both the teams received cups and souvenirs from the officials.
After seventy years Sofia took revenge for the defeat in the friendly match Croatia-Bulgaria.

Bojkov,Dejan (BUL) - Jankovic,Alojzije (CRO)
Sofia - Zagreb Bankya (BUL) (1.1), 28.05.2012
[Bojkov,Dejan]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0–0 Nge7 5.b3 Ng6 6.Bb2 f6 7.Re1 Be7 8.c3 0–0 9.d4 d5 10.Nbd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bd7 12.a3 Bd6 13.Bf1 Nce7 14.b4 a5 15.e5 fxe5 16.dxe5 Bc7 17.Nb3 Ba4 18.Ng5 Nf4 19.g3 Neg6 20.gxf4 Nxf4 21.Nf3 Qe8 22.Nfd4 Bb6 23.Re3 Qf7 24.Qg4 Nh3+ 25.Rxh3 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Qxb2 27.Bd3 Bxd4 [27...Bxb3

28.Qxg7+ Kxg7 29.Rxh7+ Kg8 30.Rg1+ Qg2+ 31.Rxg2#]

28.Bxh7+ Kf7 29.Rf3+

1–0

The Game for the Title

The Bulgarian Individual championship in Panagyurishte welcomed a new female champion. Iva Videnova have always been one of the contenders for the medals in the past championship and have already won medals; none of them was a gold one though.
This tournament started more than well for her and she scored seven wins in her first seven games! Still, the defeat in the last-but-one led her to a situation when she could not afford loss of other point in the final game. A draw would be sufficient for a tie and an additional match for the title.
This is how the last game went with the notes by the winner:

Nikolova,Adriana (2293) - Videnova,Iva (2301) [B22]
BUL-ch (w) 61st Panagyurishte (9), 28.04.2012
[Videnova,Iva]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 [A rare variation of Sicilian Alapin, played from time to time by Radjabov, Dreev, Almasi, Babula.]

5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Na3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3 0–0 9.0–0 [If White goes for material 9.dxc5 Ng4 Black has compensation for the sacrificed pawn. In example: 10.Qc2 (10.Qd2 Nxe3 11.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 12.fxe3 Nd7 White cannot keep the pawn up and easily gets a worse position, because of his demolished pawn structure and the lack in development.) 10...Qxc2 11.Nxc2 Nxe3 12.Nxe3 Nd7 13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne7+ Kh8 15.c6 Nb6 16.Be2 bxc6 17.Nxc6 Bb7 with initiative- 18.Na5 Rab8 19.Nxb7 Rxb7 20.a4 Nd5 and despite the pawn up, White is the one who has problems.]

9...cxd4 10.cxd4?!

May be the first key-moment in the game. White could recapture in 4 ways and Adriana chose the worst, in my opinion. Many books are written about the positive and negative sides of the isolated pawn and for sure in this particular position creating IQP doesn't seem to favour White. The knight on a3 is misplaced, after recapturing 10.c:d4 the obvious place for him is the c3–square.]

[10.Bxd4; 10.Nxd4; 10.Qxd4]

10...a6?! [takes away the b5–square for the knight, but makes a weak point on b6.]

[Better was 10...Nc6 developing naturally.]

11.Ne5?! [A rock solid rule: if you have an isolated pawn do not exchange pieces! The knight on e5 just longs to be exchanged.]

[White could use the drawbacks of the last Black move this way: 11.Bd3 Qd5 12.Nc4 and the misplaced piece enters the game 12...Nbd7 13.h3 b5 14.Na5ч with mutual chances.]

11...Ng4? [Is 10...a6 wasn't fatal, the second lost of a tempo already is!]

[Developing a piece 11...Nc6 is always the better option: 12.Nxc6 (12.Bd3 Qd5 13.Nac4 (worse is-13.f4?! Nxe5 14.dxe5 (14.fxe5 Ng4і 15.Qe2 Be6 16.Bc4 Qe4 17.Bxe6 Nxe3 18.Rxf7 Rxf7 19.Nc4 Qxd4 20.Nxe3 Raf8 with Black's advantage) 14...Ng4 15.Qe2 Rd8 16.Rad1 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Be6 18.Nc4 Qd4і) 13...Nxd4 14.Bxg6 Nf5 15.Bxf5 Bxf5 16.Bd4 Ng4 taking the initiative: 17.Nxg4 Bxg4 18.Qxg4 Qxd4 19.Qxd4 Bxd4 20.Rad1 Rfd8 with chances only for Black.) 12...Qxc6 13.Rc1 Qd6 hanging around the IQ pawn.]

12.Bd3?! [The second very important key move wasn't imressive neither. Black is by no means worse after it.]

[White could find a deep tactical motif: 12.Nxf7! Rxf7 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.Nc4!

Calm move, threatening f3 and Nb6. 14...Qd5 (14...Be6 15.f3 Qxe3+ 16.Nxe3 Nxe3 17.Qd3 Nxf1 18.d5 Bf5 19.Qb3 b5 20.Rxf1+– Although Black has enough material for the Queen, the lack of coordination between his pieces bothers the defensive task.) 15.Rc1! This move is hard to find when calculating 12.N:f7, but practically wins the game. 15...Bf6 the only move as (‹15...Nc6?? 16.Nb6 Qd6 17.g3+–) 16.Nb6 Qd6 17.g3 Qxb6 18.Rxc8 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Qe6 20.Qb3 Qxb3 21.axb3+– and Black is lost.]

12...Nxe3 13.Bxe4 Nxd1 14.Rfxd1 Ra7!? [Precise move.]

[Although Black is not worse even after 14...Nd7 15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Bxb7 Rab8 17.Bxa6 Rxb2 18.Nc4 Rb4 19.a3 Ra4 20.Nb6 Rxa6 21.Nxd7 Rfa8 and White must be careful to keep the balance.]

15.Nac4 b5 16.Na5 Be6 [16...f6 17.Bd5+ (17.Nec6 Nxc6 18.Nxc6 Rc7 19.Bf3 (19.d5? is a mistake in view of 19...f5 with advantage) 19...e6 20.Rac1 Re8) 17...e6 18.Nec6 Nxc6 19.Bxc6 f5=; 16...Rc7 17.Rac1 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 Be6 19.b3 Rd8 20.Nac6 Nxc6 21.Nxc6 Re8 22.d5 Bd7=]

17.Rac1 Re8 18.f4 f6 19.Nec6

19...Nxc6 20.Bxc6 [20.Nxc6 Rc7 21.d5 Bf7 22.Bf3 f5 23.b4 Kf8 and Black must be OK.]

20...Rd8 [20...Rb8 hampering the knight to get in play. 21.d5 Bf7]

21.Nb7 Rb8 22.Nc5 Bf7 23.d5 f5 24.b3 [24.b4?! a5 25.bxa5 Rxa5 and Black gets counterplay on the queenside.]

24...Bb2!? [The idea behind is placing the bishop on d6 - a better square, from which can take an eye on both flangs, hampering an eventual movement of d5–pawn.]

25.Rc2 Ba3 26.Ne6? [26.Re1 a5 27.Re3 a4 28.bxa4 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 bxa4=]

26...Bd6 [26...Bxe6 immediately is not so strong, because of 27.dxe6 Rc7 28.Rd7 the only move Rbc8 29.Rxc7 Rxc7 30.Kf2 Bd6 31.g3 Kg7 32.Ke3 Kf6і and Black takes the e6–pawn, but the chances to win are not so big with the opposite-coloured bishops on board.]

27.g3 [27.Re1 Bxe6 28.Rxe6 Bxf4і and although Black has a clear pawn up, the probable outcome is draw.]

27...Bxe6 28.dxe6 Rc7 29.Rdc1??

After this blunder White gives up the game.]

[Time trouble didn't let my opponent to find the right continuation. There were chances to rescue: 29.a4 Rbc8 (29...bxa4 30.bxa4 Rbc8 31.Rdc1 Ba3 32.Ra1 Rxc6 33.Rxc6 Rxc6 34.Rxa3 Rxe6 with slight advantage for Black.) 30.Rxd6 exd6 31.e7 (worse is-31.axb5? Kf8! 32.Re2 Ke7 when Black is close to winning) 31...Kg7 32.Re2 Rxc6 33.e8Q Rxe8 34.Rxe8 Rc1+ 35.Kg2 Rc2+ 36.Kg1 bxa4 37.bxa4 Ra2 38.Rd8 Rxa4 39.Rxd6 and after precise play by White the game is supposed to end draw.]

29...Rbc8 30.b4 Bxb4 31.Rb1 Bd6 [And title comes :)]

0–1

Viorel Bologan Annotates

The recently finished EICC in Plovdiv was a real feast for those of us who love the opened, aggressive chess. One of the usual suspects of such play was the Moldavian GM Viorel Bologan. He was kind enough to allow me to publish the following fabulous game with his notes:

Bologan Victor Viorel (MDA) - Mchedlishvili Micheil (GEO) [B10]
13th EICC round_8 Plovdiv BUL (8), 29.03.2012
[Bologan Victor Viorel (MDA)]

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 [Black is taking the chalenge and chooses a side line. I think the main idea of my opponent was to avoid my preparation - I must say he reached his goal!]

4.e5 Ne4 5.h3 [Prophilaxis which is mainly directed against the bishop on c8; the bad news about this move is that black can transpose into a comfortable french with a solved problem of the kingside knight. That, I understood only few days after the game.]

[5.Ne2 would be the most principled move which would pose a question on the knight status on e4: 5...Qb6 6.d4 c5 (6...e6 7.Nfg1 f6 8.f3 Ng5 9.Ng3 Nf7 10.exf6 gxf6 11.Nh5 Nd7 12.Ne2І) 7.dxc5 Qxc5 8.Ned4 Nc6 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.0–0 e6 11.Be3 Qb4 12.c4 Qxb2 13.cxd5 Nc3 14.dxe6 ! 14...Nxd1 (14...Bxe6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Qd3±) 15.exd7+ Kd8 16.Raxd1 Nxd4 17.Nxd4

despite the queen down White has a very serious atack which he later managed to convert into a full point, Svetushkin D 2554 - Landa K 2635 , 14.3.2010 11th EICC Men; 5.d4 it's another attempt which ignores the development of the bishop on g4 or f5: 5...Bf5

a) 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 (7...Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.Be2) 8.e6 fxe6 9.Rb1 Qc7 10.Be2 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nd7 12.0–0 with compensation;

b) 5...Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.e6 fxe6 8.Be2 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nd7 11.0–0 e5 12.Bg4 and White has compensation for the pawn; 6.Bd3 (6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Ng5 Bg6 8.h4 h6 9.Nh3 e6 10.Nf4 Bf5 11.c3 c5 = Shumyatsky V 2352 - El Debs F 2502 , 29.11.2010 77th ch-BRA) 6...e6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Qe1 Nxc3 9.Bxf5 Nxa2 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Rxa2 with slight advantage for White.]

5...e6 6.d4 [Here for some time I was considering]

[6.d3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 and only now 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bd3 c4 10.Be2 However, comparing with the game I am a clear tempo down.]

6...c5 [6...Bb4 was also good enough 7.Bd2 Nxd2 8.Qxd2 0–0 9.Be2 c5 10.a3 Qa5 11.0–0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 b6 After the exchanges Black is getting rid of his pieces thus minimizing the space advantage of White. In the meanwhile he can start exploiting the white weaknesses on the queeneside.]

7.Bd3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c4 [Now an interesting French with alive bishop on f8 arises, which is definitely in Black's favour.]

9.Be2 Be7 10.h4 Nc6 11.h5 h6 12.g3 [Here I felt unconfortable to find a good move and the main question was where to put the knight?]

[12.a4 Qa5 13.Bb2 Bd7 14.Nh4 0–0–0 15.f4 Rdg8 would be similar to the game]

12...Qa5 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nh4 0–0–0 15.a4 [My point is at some stage to exchange the black coloured bishops but even after that the weaknesses on the queens side together with black counterplay on the kingside would give me a motive for a headake.]

15...Rdg8 16.Bg4 Bg5! [The idea is to weaken the pawn on g3.]

17.f4 Be7 18.Kf2?! g5! [A typical breakthrough for this type of pawn structures.]

19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Nf3 [My point now is at least to keep the g file closed after exchanging on g5.]

20...Qd8 [Black had a pleasant choice here either to go for immediate:]

[20...g5 21.fxg5 hxg5 22.Rxh8 Rxh8 23.Kg2 Qd8 24.Ba3 Bxa3 25.Rxa3 Qe7 26.Ra1 Qh7; Or to play even stronger: 20...Nd8! To be honest I missed this idea completely - with the help of the knight Black's attack becomes realy dangerous.]

21.Qe2 Qf8 22.Kg2 Nd8 [Already here I had to realize that I am in trouble, but I reacted with the fast:]

23.a5 [, instead of more solid]

[23.Be3 Nf7 24.Raf1 Qg7 25.a5 holding the position]

23...Nf7 24.Rf1!

A critical moment of the game finaly I understood that I am completely strategicaly outplayed by my opponent and I am in deep trouble. After long thought I saw that the only way to stop black' attack is the idea of f5. The other point in my plan it was to combine that with idea of the sacrifice on c4.]

24...Qg7 25.Nd2 h5 [25...g5 26.f5 exf5 27.e6+–]

26.Bf3 [Perhaps:]

[26.Bh3 was stronger, but I was already focused on the attack 26...g5 27.Bxe6 Bxe6 28.f5 h4 29.g4 Nd8 30.a6 b5 31.fxe6 Nxe6 32.Kh2 Nf4 33.Qf3 Rf8 with unclear play.]

26...g5

On:]

[26...h4 I would react with 27.g4 g5 (27...h3+ 28.Kh2) 28.f5 holding the files closed on the kingside.; But I was mostly afraid of: 26...Bb5 ! which I saw in my opponents face. After considerable thought Micheil declined it 27.a6 bxa6 28.Rh1 g5 29.f5 g4 30.Bxd5 exd5 31.f6 Bxf6 32.exf6 Qxf6 33.Rf1 Qg6 34.Qe7 Ng5 35.Rf6 Qg7 36.Qc5+ and the position is anything but clear.]

27.Nxc4?! [Objectively speaking:]

[27.f5 was a better move, but could not let the chance of sacrifice to run away from me- 27...g4 28.Bxd5 exd5 29.f6 Bxf6 30.a6 b6 31.Rxf6 h4 32.Nxc4 hxg3 33.Rxf7 Qxf7 34.Nd6+ Kc7 35.Nxf7 Rh2+ 36.Kf1 Rh1+ 37.Kg2 Rh2+=]

27...g4? [Allows a nice combination which was easy to avoid:]

[27...gxf4! The only real chance for Black to take the advantage and of course this corresponds with idea of opening the files: 28.Bxf4 Bg5 29.Kf2 h4 30.Ke1 hxg3 31.Bxg5 Qxg5 32.Bg2 dxc4 33.Rxf7 Rf8 34.Rf6 Rxf6 35.exf6 Qxf6µ; 27...h4 28.g4 gxf4 29.Bxf4І]

28.Bxd5! [One by one, White is destroying the strong pawn chain freeing the way for his pawns.]

28...exd5

29.Nb6+!! [A tempo! Black prepared very strong attack, so the only thing white has is time, time even on a price of two pieces!]

29...axb6 [29...Kd8 30.Nxd7 Kxd7 31.Qb5+ Kc7 32.a6 b6 33.Qxd5 Rb8 34.f5+–]

30.axb6 Kd8 [The other moves would not save neither:]

[30...Kb8 31.e6 Nd6 32.exd7 Qh7 33.Ba3 Qe4+ 34.Qxe4 dxe4 35.Ra2+–; 30...Bf5 31.Qb5 Kd8 32.Ra8++–; 30...Bd6 31.Ra8+ Bb8 32.f5+– followed by Bf4]

31.Ra8+ Bc8 32.Qb5! [This move escaped from the attention of my opponent as he confessed after the game.]

32...Nd6 33.Qxd5 Qf7 34.Qc5 Bf8 35.f5 Qd7 36.e6 Qc6+ 37.Qxc6 bxc6 38.f6

The triumph of the white pawns over the black pieces. Because of the pin on the eight rank Black can not do anything in order to stop the pawns being promoted.]

38...Rh7 39.f7 Rg6 40.Ba3 Rxe6 41.Bxd6

1–0

Lots Of Good Things Happening

As a trainer I am always proud (probably more than when I do it myself) when my students achieve good results. The last week in Chicago was a great one for my student Ashritha Eswaran who won the All Girls National under twelve with the excellent score 5.5/6. Ashritha is now USA champion and will represent her country at the World Youth Championship in Slovenia this October. Kudos to her main coach, the fabulous Ted Castro from the Norcal House of Chess who not only produces a huge mass of champions but have also organized the Berkeley International at the beginning of the year!

In Europe a former student of mine from my stay in Greece- Haralambos Tsakiris won the FIDE World Amateur Championship and is now a FM. I am sure that his current trainer Dejan Antic is also very proud of him, as well as with the player who took bronze- George Kafetzis. On the top of this WGM Iva Videnova whom I started helping recently was more than impressive at the Bulgarian National Championship which she has just won with 8/9.

Thank you Plamena for the picture! Ivan Cheparinov was also incredibly convincing with the amazing 10/11 score! Ivan is on his way of returning the 2700+ membership ticket. I will soon write more about the Bulgarian championships which were really great. Enjoy your weekend!