Free Chess Lessons

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=88 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="005785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="AucoinExtBol" ><B><U>PRIME SUPPORT AND SERVICE</U></B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NBeqos Website"><U><B><U>Home</U></B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chess Training"><U><B>Chess Training</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Free Chess Lessons</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Annotated Games"><U><B>Annotated Games</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=21.125% BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NBeqos Website"><U><U>Up Level</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>Lesson 1</U></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>Rook endgame</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson_2" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>Lesson 2</U></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson_2" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>French Defence</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson3" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>Lesson 3</U></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id8_m.htm#lesson3" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Free Chess Lessons"><U><U>Ideas and Novelties</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Annotated Games"><U><U>Game Annotations</U></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=392 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B><U>Free Chess Lessons</U></B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="lesson_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Lesson 1 - Rook endgame</U></B></FONT></div> <div> Question: </div> <div> Sometimes I am a whole rook up and I do not know what is the fastest way to mate. Please help. I would appreciate it if you will explain to me something more about rook endgames. </div> <bR> <div> Answer: Let us have a look at the diagram1:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="02cb6b70.png" border=0 width="182" height="183" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The first step is to push the opponent's king to one of the edges of the board and lock him there. This is a position that can be reached easily, but if you have any difficulty up to here please let me know. The second step is to try to reach a position where the kings are facing each other, which is called opposition, and the rook delivers the mate from the side.</div> <div> Let us start with the following position in diagram2: </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="02db9bb0.png" border=0 width="185" height="187" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> White  to play and mates in 3 moves</div> <bR> <div> This is a key position to practice very well in order to be able to mate the opponent's king very fast. If it is black's turn, then there are only two moves left: 1...Ka6 or 1...Ka4.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="02ebabc0.png" border=0 width="186" height="188" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> From the  diagram is clear then after 1...Ka6 2.Ra6 Ka5 ( the only move) the next 3.Ra7 is mate! The same thing if black will play 1... Ka4. </div> <div> Now,  you can go back to diagram 2 and find mate in 3 if white is to play first! If you are ready , let us continue with the second step of mating the black King:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="02fb6b70.png" border=0 width="182" height="183" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1.Kd6 is an easy way to mate. 1...Ke8 [1...Kc8 2.Rh7 This is called a " waiting move". 2...Kb8 3.Kc6 chasing the King 3...Ka8 4.Kb6 Kb8 5.Rh8#] 2.Rb7 I love waiting moves! Now there is a mate in 6. [2.Rd7 This also leads to mate in 6 2...Kf8 3.Ke6 Kg8 <I>(3...Ke8 </I>and now the well-known mate in 3 4.Rd1 Kf8 5.Rg1 Ke8 6.Rg8#) 4.Kf6 chasing the King 4...Kh8 5.Kg6 Kg8 6.Rd8#] 2...Kf8 3.Ke6 chase him! 3...Kg8 4.Kf6 Kh8 5.Kg6 haha, he has to come back! 5...Kg8 6.Rb8# When you force the opponent to win or lose the opposition by giving him the turn to move, you put him under "Zugzwang". 1-0</div> <div> Let us try another way:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="030b6b70.png" border=0 width="182" height="183" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1.Rb7 Waiting! There are 2 choices for black: A) 1... Kc8 and white claims a mate in 3 moves. Can you find it? B) 1... Ke8 and the white King chases the black King until he goes to the corner. Afterwards the black King is forced to come back. That is the moment when the opposition is reached, and the Rook delivers the mate from b8 square. 1-0</div> <div> What about if we try another way? Hope you are going to like it!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="031b6b70.png" border=0 width="182" height="183" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1.Rd7+ is another way. 1...Ke8 [1...Kc8 now you know how to mate in 3!] 2.Kd6 Kf8 3.Ke6 Kg8 [3...Ke8 mate in 3 of course!] 4.Kf6 Kh8 5.Kg6 Kg8 6.Rd8# There are many ways to mate the black king. You do not need to use the shortest way but the way you feel more comfortable with. It is your choice; you can either drive on a road that you do not know well, and it might be busy, but it is short according to the map, or you drive on a road that is longer according to the map, but you know it very well, and you can drive faster. Time is money! You lose on time; you lose the game and the prize! 1-0</div> <bR> <div> As regarding the second question about rook endings here are some examples for you to study on your own:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Rook ending 1</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="032bcbc0.png" border=0 width="188" height="188" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> In this simple position the white Rook supports the promotion square f8. White King moves along the g and h file and approaches the black Rook. 1.Kg7 Rg2+ 2.Kh6 Rh2+ 3.Kg5 Rg2+ 4.Kh4 Rh2+ 5.Kg3 1-0</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Rook ending2</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="033bbbc0.png" border=0 width="187" height="188" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1.Rd1+ Kc7 2.Rd4 The Rook cannot approach more as after 1.Rd5 Kc6. Now the Black Rook cannot control both e and g file, so the white King is coming out and inviting his pawn to promote! White Rook is going to cover the King from Checks after his trip to f5 square via Ke7-f6-e6-f5 and Rf4. 2...Rg1 [2...Re2 3.Kg7 <I>(</I>In this case even 3.Rf4 wins i.e. 3.Rf4 Rg2 4.Ke7 Re2+ 5.Kf6)<I> </I>3...Rg2+ 4.Kf6 Rf2+ 5.Ke6 Re2+ 6.Kf5 Rf2+ 7.Rf4] 3.Ke7 Re1+ 4.Kf6 Rf1+ 5.Ke6 Re1+ [5...Kc6 6.Rd8 Re1+ 7.Kf6 Rf1+ 8.Kg6 Rg1+ 9.Kh5 Rh1+ 10.Kg4 Rg1+ 11.Kh3; 5...Rf2 6.Rd5 followed by Rf5 1-0] 6.Kf5 Rf1+ 7.Rf4 1-0</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Rook ending 3</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="034bbbc0.png" border=0 width="187" height="188" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1.Rc1 the idea is to play Rb8 in order to control the b-file so the white King can get out of the corner and make room for the pawn to promote. 1...Ke7 2.Rc8 Kd6 this will allow the white King to hide on d8 behind the black King, and be safe from checks. [2...Kd7 In this case the white King will escape from c5 square. 3.Rb8 Ra2 4.Kb7 Rb2+ 5.Ka6 Ra2+ 6.Kb6 Rb2+ 7.Kc5] 3.Rb8 Rh2 4.Kb7 Rb2+ 5.Kc8 Rc2+ 6.Kd8 Rh2 7.Rb6+ [Of course not 7.a8Q?? Rh8#] 7...Kc5 8.Rc6+!! This is the key move in this ending. 8...Kxc6 [8...Kd5 9.Ra6 Rh8+ 10.Kc7 Rh7+ <I>(</I>10...Ra8 11.Kb7) 11.Kb6 Rh6+ 12.Kb5; 8...Kb5 9.Rc8 Rh8+ 10.Kc7 Rh7+ 11.Kb8] 9.a8Q+ Kc5 10.Qc8+ Kd4 [10...Kb4 11.Qb8+] 11.Qg4+ Kd5 12.Qf5+ Kc6 13.Qe6+ 1-0</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="lesson_2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Lesson 2 - French Defence</U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> French defence suits players that do not mind passive positions, hoping of emerging with a superior pawn structure and an eventual counterattack. White's attack on the kingside often backfires and exchange sacrifices are very common. Critical in this opening is maneuvering in a closed position, the pawn structure and exchanging the light-squared bishops. In order to master French it is important to study great masters Nimzovitch, Botvinnik, Petrosian, Uhlmann, Kortchnoi and Vaganian. Nowadays there are many Grandmasters that employ this opening in tournaments regularly: Short, Bareev, Dreev, Psakhis, Morozevich, Nikolic, Lputian, Gulko, Gurevich, Radjabov, Volkov, Kiriakov and many more. French is a semi-closed opening that leads to complex unbalanced middlegame positions, where the stronger player can benefit more than in other openings which are more vulnerable to the opening theory developments. I will illustrate this with one example:</div> <div> A couple of years ago, in the 6th round of a tournament in Iraklion, Greece, I had to play a strong master (around 2300) as Black. Everyone knew that my main opening as Black was French, so I fell into my opponent's preparations:</div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 d4 4.Ne2 c5 5.c3 Nc6?! </B>Here, I was already on my own! </div> <div> <B>6.cxd4 cxd4 7.Qa4 Bc5 8.b4 ... </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="035fafa0.png" border=0 width="250" height="250" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> In this position I was thinking that it is normal for black to be slightly worse and my job is to equalize first. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>8... Bxb4 9.Nexd4 Qa5 10.Qxa5 Bxa5 11.Nxc6 bxc6</B> </div> <bR> <div> and slowly, slowly I won the game. Just for records, I was in great shape and I won the next round and the whole tournament scoring 7 out of 7! My opponent could not believe that he lost the game without making any serious mistake. We were playing in his chess club (OFH), so he took the ECO (Encyclopedia of Chess Openings) book out of the shelf, and showed me that the assessment after 8. b4 is clear advantage for white! That did not surprise me, as I had seen lots of wrong assessments in opening books, worse than this one. I agree that white is better but not a clear advantage.</div> <bR> <div> I posted this in newsgroups in order to point out that memorizing variations is not good, etc. However, someone replied: “I think white has a better game with initiative after 11.Bb5: </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="036fafa0.png" border=0 width="250" height="250" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ne5 Rc8 14.Nxd7 Kxd7 15.Nb3 Bb6 16.Bb2 Nf6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 and the white player have a nice endgame because black have to many bad pawns. </div> <div> 11.Bb5 Nge7 12.Ne5 Bd7 13.Nxd7 Kxd7 14.Bb2 f6 15.Rc1 Rac8 16.Nb3 Bb417.Rc4!? Or 16. ... Bb6 17.d4!? and white have a very good game. Control in the centre and 2 B's”.</div> <bR> <div> I had a quick look at his variations, and I think that after 11.Bb5 Nge7 12.Ne5 Bd7 13. Nxd7 Kxd7 black can play 13...Nd4 instead. I love this position for black! As a matter of fact, in post-mortem analyze me and my opponent both agreed that 11.Bb5 was probably white's best continuation.</div> <bR> <div> Let us have a look at the main variations in this opening:</div> <bR> <div> Advanced variation:</div> <div>  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 (3…Bd7, 3…b6, 3…Ne7) 4.Qg4, 4.dc, 4.Nf3, 4.c3</div> <div> White tries to gain space and start an eventual attack on the kingside. Black's counter play is in the c-file and Queenside. Even this variation is not a test of long complicated variations, but a test of chess understanding.</div> <div> Sveshnikov, Sax, Rozentalis and Movsesian have often employed this variation as white.</div> <bR> <div> Burn variation</div> <div>  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 (5…Nbd7) 6. Bf6 …</div> <div> This variation is a transposition to Rubinstein Variation.</div> <bR> <div> Classical variation</div> <div>  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 [5.Bxf6] 5...Nfd7 6.Bxe7</div> <div> [6.h4 c5 <I>(6...0-0; 6...f6; 6...a6; 6...Bxg5; 6...h6)</I>] 6...Qxe7 7.f4 [7.Qg4; 7.Nb5; 7.Qd2; 7.Bd3]  </div> <div> Black puts pressure on the central pawn e4. As the Winawer variation is getting more and more analyzed over the years, the classical variation is a very good alternative. It is less ambitious, but also less explored. Black has to be calm towards white's attack and try to exploit any chance for counter play. </div> <bR> <div> Exchange variation</div> <div> 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ed ed (4.c4, 4.Nf3, 4.Nc3, 4.Bd3)</div> <div> The symmetrical structure and the “e” open file can be used for both: exchanging the major pieces, and penetrating to the opponent's camp. Although this variation is considered peaceful, white has found ways in the fight for initiative. Malaniuk and Ulibin have often employed this variation as white, but even Kasparov has played this variation occasionally.</div> <bR> <div> MacCutcheon variation</div> <div>  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 [5.Bd3; 5.Nge2; 5.exd5] 5...h6 </div> <div> This is an unclear variation, because had been neglected due to the opinion that black has an inferior position compare to Winawer. It is a very complicated variation to play, as white cannot avoid double pawns on c-file and black has to exchange the dark-squared bishop, which is a very important piece.</div> <bR> <div> Rubinstein variation</div> <div> 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 / Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (4…b6, 4…Qd5, 4…Nf6, 4…Be7, 4…Bd7)</div> <div> White has a space advantage, but black has chances to develop his pieces faster and to attack the center. Black light-squared bishop can usually play an active role on b7 or c6. White strategy is to attack the king, so it is important to decide whether to castle long or short, depends on the circumstances.</div> <bR> <div> Steinitz variation</div> <div> 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 </div> <div> White can take the initiative on Kingside or Queenside, depends on circumstances. Black can undermine white center by c5 and f6, and it is advisable for white not to try to keep the center at any cost.</div> <bR> <div> Tarrasch variation</div> <div>  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5</div> <div>  [3...f5; 3...Be7; 3...b6; 3...a6; 3...Nc6; 3...Ne7; 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 <I>(5.c3; 5.Ngf3)</I>]  </div> <div> The knight stands better on c3 rather than on d2, but white does not allow black to develop his bishop on b4. This leads to quiet and positional play which is solid for white and not dangerous for black. White does not block the center and this variation can be unpleasant if strong positional players play it. This is a reason that this variation is met very often in Grandmasters tournaments. IQP (Isolated Queen's Pawn) positions are characteristic for this variation, and Karpov is one of the experts.</div> <bR> <div> Winawer variation</div> <div> <B>1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B>[4.Qg4; 4.Qd3; 4.Bd3; 4.Bd2; 4.exd5; 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 <I>(5...Ne7) </I>6.Qg4 Nf6 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qh6; 4.Nge2 dxe4 <I>(4...Ne7; 4...b6; 4...Nf6) </I>5.a3]</div> <div>  <B>4...c5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B>[4...Qd7; 4...Ne7; 4...b6 5.Bd2 <I>(5.Nh3; 5.Qg4; 5.a3) </I>]</div> <bR> <div>  <B>5.a3 ...</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B>[5.dxc5; 5.Bd2 Ne7 6.f4 <I>(6.a3; 6.Nb5) </I>; 5.Qg4 Ne7 6.a3 <I>(6.dxc5; 6.Nf3) </I>] </div> <bR> <div> <B>5...Bxc3+</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B>[5...cxd4; 5...Ba5 6.Bd2 <I>(6.b4; 6.dxc5; 6.Qg4 Ne7) </I>]</div> <bR> <div>  <B>6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 </B>[7.h4; 7.Nf3; 7.a4] <B> </B></div> <div> This is the main and the most popular line of French defence. It is one of the sharpest and most analyzed variations by the theory of chess openings. Black puts pressure on e4 pawn, and in difference from Classical variation White does not attack the knight by advancing the pawn e4-e5. Developing the bishop before the knight has also some drawbacks, as it weakens the king. </div> <bR> <div> Rare variations</div> <div> 2.b3, 2.Nf3, 2.Bb5, 2.c4, 2.Qe2, 2.e5, 2.d3, 2.f4</div> <div> To meet rare variations it requires a minimum of theoretical knowledge combined with common sense.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="lesson3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Lesson 3 - Ideas and Novelties</U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I> The Pamplona Tournament </I><I>-  </I>27th December 2001 - 6th January 2002</div> <div> 1. Bologan V  7 Points,   2. Radjabov T  5.5,   3. Almasi Z  5.5,   4.Andersson U 5.5 </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="037d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Bologan,V (2668) - Leitao,R (2581) [B51]</div> <bR> <div> The opening was  Moscow Variation of Sicilian. Bologan clears the e4 square to centralize the knight and exploits the c-file in a very instructive way!</div> <div>  21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Ne4 ..... with a clear advantage.  1–0 (68)</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="038d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Bologan,V (2668) - Fressinet,L (2588) [B90]</div> <bR> <div> Considering the position of  Be7 and Nh5, I think this is a bad variation of Najdorf for Black. Bologan showed once again that he is an expert in English Attack type of positions! Here, he followed an interesting idea of activating Rh1 before Bf1, and playing on the Queenside. </div> <div> 19.Rg1 Rab8 20.cxb5 axb5 21.a3 Qa4 22.Rg4 Nf4 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Rd4 Qa5 25.Re4 Qd8 26.Bxb5 Kh8 27.Rexf4 Qb6 28.a4 Qc5 29.Rd4 f5 30.Rg2 Rfc8 31.Qxc5 Rxc5 32.f4 g6 33.b4 Rc3 34.Rc2 Rf3 35.Bc6 Rf1+ 36.Ka2 Bf8 37.b5 Bg7 38.Rcd2 Bxd4 39.Rxd4 Rc1 40.a5 1–0</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="039d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Conquest,S (2601) - Bologan,V (2668) [A29]</div> <bR> <div> This game was a 4 Knights variation of English opening. </div> <div> <B>13.Rb1!?</B> ...</div> <div> Taking control of the semi open b-file as the opening of the position by d5xc4 favours white, who has the pair of bishops. Other possibilities are 13.Bf4 c6 14.Be5 dxc4 15.dxc4 and 13.Qc3 Be6 14.Rb1 b6 15.Bf4 c6 16.a4 Qc8 17.Rfc1</div> <div> <B>13...c6 14.c5?! ...</B></div> <div> Now it is amazing to see the Knight's trip to e7 and how Bologan created a free connected pawn on the queen side!</div> <div> 14... Nh7 15.h4 Nf8 16.Be3 Ng6 17.Rfe1 Ne7 18.f3 b5 19.a4 a6 20.Bf2 h5 21.Re5 f6 22.Re3 Bf5 23.Rbe1 Qd7 24.Qd2 Kf7 25.Bf1 Rab8 26.Be2 b4 27.Qb2 a5 ... 43.Rc7 Rc8 0–1</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03ad6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Bologan,V (2668) - Narciso Dublan,M (2517) [B07]</div> <bR> <div> In this position white is clearly winning, but don't you think some technique is required? Bologan uses his King to support the promotion of the pawn! In this jurney , white King draws the letter "q" on the board: Ke5-e6-e7-d8-c7-c6-d6-e7!</div> <div>  69.Ke5 Qa1+ 70.Qd4 Qa3 71.Ke6 Qc1 72.d7 Qh6+ 73.Ke7 Qh7+ 74.Kd8 Qg8+ 75.Kc7 Qb8+ 76.Kc6 Qb5+ 77.Kd6 Qb8+ 78.Ke7 Qc7 79.Qd6 Qb7 80.Qc5 1–0</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03bd6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Radjabov,T (2567) - Leitao,R (2581) [E43]</div> <bR> <div> Radjabov had a good opening preparation in this tournament. In this line of Rubinstein, he introduced the novelty <B>12.hxg3N ...</B></div> <div> Usually white would respond 12.fxg3 Ne7 13.Qc2 Qh6 14.Rae1 0–0 15.Bc1 d6 16.Nd2.  The game ended with a blunder from Leitao in move 32 but I am not sure  if 12.hg is better than 12.fg. The game continued: </div> <div> 12...0–0 13.Rc1 Rae8 14.Qe2 Qh6 15.Rfd1 Kh8 16.d5 Nd8 17.Nd4 Nf6 18.f3 Nh5 19.Qf2 a6 20.c5 Bxd5 21.cxb6 cxb6 22.Rc7 Nf7 23.Rxd7 Nf6 24.Ra7 Ne5 25.Qe2 Nh5 26.Qe1 Nf6 27.Qd2 Qg6 28.Ne2 Nxd3 29.Qxd3 e5 30.Qxa6 f4 31.exf4 Qc2 32.Rxd5 exf4 33.Qb7 Rg8 34.Bxf6 Qb1+ 35.Kh2 1–0</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03cd6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Fressinet,L (2588) - Radjabov,T (2567) [C11]</div> <bR> <div> This is the second time that Radjabov plays as black against Fressinet and again French! This opening is becoming a good weapon for Radjabov against 1.e4. The previous encounter saw a draw in the advanced variation.</div> <div> <B>1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5  de</B></div> <bR> <div> The classical system of French Defense has been popular lately.</div> <bR> <div> <B> 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Qd2 0–0 9.0–0–0 Be7 10.Bc4 c5?! </B></div> <bR> <div> It is not recommended to open the position if you are behind in development. The main line is 10...Nf6.</div> <bR> <div> <B>11.Rhe1 N ...</B></div> <bR> <div> This move seems to be a novelty even it looks very natural. The main lines for white are 11.dxc5 Qc7 12.Rhe1 Nxc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5; and 11.d5 Nb6 (11...exd5 12.Bxd5 Nf6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Rhe1 Qb6 15.Ne5 Be6 16.Nc4 Qa6 17.Qa5 Qxa5 18.Nxa5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 b6 20.Nc4) 12.dxe6 Qxd2+ ( but not12...Nxc4? 13.exf7+ Kh8 14.Qc3 Qb6 15.Qxc4) 13.Nfxd2 Bxe6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Nb3</div> <bR> <div> <B>11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nb6 13.Bb3 Bd7 14.Qf4 a5</B> </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03dd6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Black is threatening to play a5-a4 to win the bishop, and normally the play could continue 15.a3 a4 16.Ba2 etc.Instead Fressinet has something else in mind:</div> <bR> <div> <B>15.Qg3 a4 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.Rxd8 Bxd8 19.Nd6 Bd5 20.Re8 Rxe8 21.Nxe8 ... </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03ed6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>21...Bg5+! </B></div> <div> Did white miss this check in his calculations at move 15 ? Maybe yes, maybe not! The fact is that black has more than enough compensation for the queen and Radjabov won the game. Had white played 15. Qe5 instead of 15.Qg3 then 15... a4 was not possible as after 16.Ne6! white wins on the spot. Probably the best choice for black would had been exchanging the queens by 15.Qe5 Qb8. Interesting game by these two young talented players!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="03fd6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Almasi,Z (2630) - De la Riva Aguado,O (2495) [B85]</div> <div>  Almasi,Z (2630) - Andersson,U (2601) [B49]</div> <bR> <div> In this tournament, Almasi reached this typical position of Tajmanov variation, twice! De la Riva played 8... Be7 and after 9.f4 d6 10.Kh1 0–0 11.a4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 e5 there was a Scheveningen position which continued: 13.Qd3 exf4 14.Bxf4 Be6 15.Qg3 Rad8 16.Rad1 Qb6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Bd4 Ne8 19.Bd3 g6 20.Qe3 Rc8 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Qd8 23.Qh3 f5 </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="040d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 24.g4! Bf6 25.gxf5 g5 26.Be3 Ng7 27.Bxg5 Bxg5 28.f6 Rxf6 29.Qxh7+ Kf8 30.Bg6 Rxf1+ 31.Rxf1+ Bf6 32.Re1 1–0</div> <bR> <div> Whereas Andersson played 8.... Bb4 after which Almasi went for the pair of bishops by 9.Na4 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 Rb6 15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0–0 17.b3 Rc6 </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="041d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 18.Qg3 g6 19.Qf4 Qd8 20.Rad1 d5 21.exd5 exd5 22.Bf3 Re6 23.Rfe1 Bd6 24.Qh4 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 d4 26.Bd2 </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="042d6d60.png" border=0 width="214" height="214" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Here, Andersson played 26...Nd7?! and after 27.Qxd8 Rxd8 28.Bb7! </div> <div> white won the endgame  28...Ne5 29.h3 c4 30.bxc4 Nxc4 31.Bg5 Rb8 32.Bxa6 Na3 33.Bd3 Kg7 34.Bc1 h5 35.g3 Nb1 36.a4 Bb4 37.Bf4 Bxe1 38.Bxb8 Ba5 39.Be5+ 1–0</div> </td> </tr></table></body>