The third half

Baadur Jobava – Dronavalli Harika
23rd TePe Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament; Malmö, May 13, 2017
Semi-Slav Defence D31

Today Harika skillfully succeeded in restraining Jobava’s notorious tactical liveliness, putting her pink carriage on a ground quite suitable to her taste. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bd3 g6!? A new move that appears to be perfectly sound. 9. Nge2 Nbd7 10. Qd2 Nb6 11. f3 Be6 12. e4 Qe7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Qg5 Rae8 15. e5 Nh5 16. Qxe7 Rxe7 17. a4 a6 18. b4 Ng7

19. b5. Jobava, who obtained very little from the opening, clings himself to a (last) strategic classic motif: a minority attack on the Queenside. Harika, however, proves to have sufficient resources to defend herself. 19. ... Bf5 20. Bxf5 Nxf5 21. f4 axb5 22. axb5 h5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Ra6 Rb7 25. Rb1 Rfb8 26. Kf2 Ne7 27. g3 Nbc8 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. h3 Ra7. The exchange of the last pair of Rooks means that Black won’t lose the game. 30. Rxa7 Nxa7 31. g4 hxg4 32. hxg4 Kg7 33. Na4 Nb5 34. Nc5 Kf8 35. Ke3 Ke8 36. Ng3 Ng8 37. Nd3 Na3 38. Ne2 Nc4+ 39. Kf3 Nd2+ 40. Ke3 ½ : ½.

Pannkaka

Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer (SK Rockaden) – Baadur Jobava (Malmö AS)
Swedish Élite League 2016/2017; Västerås, March 25, 2017
Grünfeld Defence D94

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Bd3 0-0 7. 0-0 Na6 8. a3 Nc7 9. h3. 9. Qc2 Be6 10. cxd5 Nfxd5 11. h3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 c5 transposes into O. Bernstein – Alekhine, 7th Russian Chess Championship, Vilnius 1912. 9. ... Bf5 10. cxd5 Ncxd5 11. Na4 Qc8 12. Re1 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Rd8 14. Qc2 Nb6 15. Nc5 Nfd7 16. Nd3 c5! 17. dxc5 Nxc5! 18. Qxc5. On 18. Nxc5 Nd7 Black regains the Knight with very comfortable play. 18. ... Rxd3 19. Qxe7 Qc6 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Qxe5 Re8 22. Qg5 Nc4 23. b4 Rd5 24. Qh4 Rh5 25. Qd4 Ne5. In his commentary to the game, Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão assesses that Black has enough compensation for the Pawn. 26. f4

26. ... Nf3+! As usual, Jobava is able to create complications out of nothing. The effect on Hammer is quite upsetting. 27. gxf3 Qxf3 28. Ra2 Rxh3 29. Rg2 Qh5 30. Bb2 Rh1+ 31. Kf2 Qh4+ 32. Kf3? A tremendous blunder. Leitão recommends 32. Rg3 as after 32. ... Rh2+ 33. Kf3 Qh5+ 34. Rg4 Rxb2 35. Qxb2 f5 36. Qg2 White should be able to hold his own. 32. ... Rh3+ 33. Ke2 Rhxe3+ 0 : 1.

The Cobweb

David Navara – Baadur Jobava
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 19, 2016
Sicilian Defence B65

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. 0-0-0 0-0 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bd7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Qxd6. For 12. e5 Be7 13. exd6 Bf6 14. Qe3 Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Ne4 Rxa2 17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Bc4 Ra5 see Pruijssers – Abasov, 20th Cultural Village Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2015. 12. ... Bc6 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8 14. Bb5. White immediately returns the extra Pawn for consolidating a slight edge. On 14. e5 Bh4 Black wins back the Pawn under more favourable circumstances. 14. ... Bxc3 15. Bxc6 Bxb2+ 16. Kxb2 bxc6 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Kc3 Kf8 19. Rb1. Intending Rb1-b7. White’s endgame is undoubtedly more pleasant, but still far from being won. 19. ... Ke7 20. e5 h5 21. a4 Rd5 22. Rb7+ Rd7 23. Rb8 Rd8 24. Rb4 Rd5 25. g3 Rc5+ 26. Kb3 Rd5

27. c4! Rd2? Black should have played 27. ... Rd3+! (keeping at distance the enemy King) 28. Kc2 Kd7 in order to answer 29. a5 by 29. ... c5 when Black’s ending is slightly inferior but probably tenable. 28. a5! Kd8. Not 28. ... Rxh2? 29. Rb7+ Ke8 30. Rxa7 and White must win. 29. Rb8+ Kc7 30. Rf8 Rd7 31. Kb4 a6 32. Kc5. With such a powerful King, White can now regard the game as won. 32. ... g6 33. Ra8 Kb7 34. Rf8 Kc7 35. h3 Kb7 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Kc7 38. Ra8 Kb7 39. Rh8 Kc7 40. Rh1 Rd2 41. Rh7 Rd7 42. g5! 1 : 0. Black has no defence against the invasion by the White Rook: Rh7-h2-b2-b6. On 42. ... Kb7 43. f5! wins immediately.

The Footnotes

Radosław Wojtaszek – David Navara
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 17, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D52

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Rc1 Ne4 9. Ncxe4 dxe4 10. Bh4 Qxa2 11. Be2 Qxb2. Navara dares to grab the second, “poisoned” Pawn. The previous try was 11. ... Qa5 12. 0-0 Bxd2 13. Ra1 Qb4 14. Qc2 c5 15. Ra4 Qb6 16. Qxd2 e5 17. Ra5?? (a very serious blind spot by Grischuk; after 17. dxe5 White’s two Bishops surely compensate for the Pawn) 17. ... Qh6! 18. Bg3 exd4 19. Bf4 g5 20. Bg3 d3 with an overwhelming advantage for Black, Grischuk – Mamedyarov, Grand Prix 2014/2015, third stage, Tbilisi 2015. 12. Rc2 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Qa3 14. 0-0 0-0 15. c5. With the threat of Rf1-b1 followed by Rc2-a2 trapping Black’s Queen.

15. ... b5. Black wisely returns a Pawn for making a way out. 16. cxb6. Now 16. Rb1 is answered by 16. ... Qa6 17. Ra2 Qb7 and, however funny-looking Her Majesty’s spot might appear, Black’s game is quite safe. 16. ... axb6 17. Rxc6 Ba6 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Qc2 Qd3. Black returns also the second Pawn, implicitly agreeing to a draw. 20. Qxd3 exd3 21. Rc3 Rfc8 22. Rxd3 Rc2 23. Rb3 h6 24. h3 ½ : ½.

Radosław Wojtaszek vs. David Navara
Photo: European Chess Union (‏@ECUonline)

Baadur Jobava – Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 17, 2016
Ponziani Opening C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 a5 6. exd5. Stepping out from 6. Be2 Bc5 7. Qa4 0-0 8. b4 Bd6 9. 0-0 b5 10. Qxb5 axb4 11. exd5 Na5 12. cxb4 Bd7 13. Qxa5 Rxa5 14. bxa5 Nxd5 15. Ne4 Qa8 as occurred (by transposition) into Jobava – Caruana, Grand Prix 2014/2015, second stage, Tashkent 2014. 6. ... Nxd5 7. g3 g6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. a4 Nb6 11. Nb3 Bf5 12. Ne1 Nd5 13. Kh1. Jobava has achieved less than nothing out of the opening, but rather than play for a draw, he goes for a bold attack that looks like a block bet. 13. ... b6 14. f4 Qd7 15. fxe5 Nxe5 16. d4 Ng4 17. Qf3. White is obviously undeveloped and uncoordinated, but luckily for him, Inarkiev plays the only move which allow Jobava to escape to a draw. 17. ... Rae8

18. Qxd5 Nf2+ 19. Kg1. 19. Rxf2?? Rxe1+ loses both the Queen and the Knight. 19. ... Nh3+ ½ : ½.

Baadur Jobava vs. Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev
Photo: European Chess Union (‏@ECUonline)

Isn’t it strange the way things can change?

Baadur Jobava – Mircea-Emilian Pârligras
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 15, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E48

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Ne2 Re8 8. Bd2 Bd6 9. Rc1 a6 10. 0-0 Nc6. For the more usual 10. ... Nbd7 11. Ng3 b6 12. Nce2 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bc3 Ne5 15. Bb1 Bb7 16. Nf4 d4 17. Bd2 Qb6 see Shimanov – So, 2nd Millionaire Chess Open, Las Vegas 2015. 11. f3 Nb4 12. Bb1 c5 13. Kh1 Nc6 14. Be1 cxd4 15. exd4 Nh5 16. Qd2. 16. Nxd5 Bxh2 17. Kxh2 Qxd5 18. Rc5 Qd6+ 19. Kg1 g6 doesn’t seem to offer enough for White. 16. ... Be6 17. g4 Nf6 18. Bh4 Be7 19. Nf4 Nd7 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21. Rce1 Nf8 22. Nh5. Since Black’s position is a bit cramped but quite solid, Jobava feels he must provoke weaknesses in Black’s Kingside. 22. ... Nc6 23. Ne2 f6 24. Neg3 Rc8 25. h4 Rc7 26. Nf4 Rce7 27. h5 Bf7 28. Rd1 Qa5 29. Nf5 Rd7 30. Qf2 Qc7 31. Nd3 Be6 32. Rfe1 Rdd8 33. Rg1 Kh8 34. Qh4 Qf7 35. Nf4 Bxf5. White has undoubtedly made some progress as Black can’t avoid the opening of the g-file anyway (if 35. ... Bc8 then 36. g5!). 36. gxf5 h6 37. Rg2 Rd7 38. Rdg1

38. ... Nxd4?? And all ends with a trivial blunder by Pârligras. The most resilient 38. ... Nh7 39. Rxg7 Qxg7 40. Rxg7 Rxg7 (or 40. ... Kxg7 41. Ne6+ Kh8 42. a3) 41. Ng6+ Kg8 42. a3! followed by Bb1-a2 leaves White with a clear advantage, but no absolute certainty. 39. Ng6+ Nxg6 40. hxg6 1 : 0. In fact, both the Queen and the Knight are en prise.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: Stefan Printz

The Aims of Art

Baadur Jobava – Sebastian Bogner
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 13, 2016
Sicilian Defence B28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. a4 Bb7 5. d3 e6 6. Bg2 d6 7. 0-0 Nd7 8. Na3 Ngf6 9. Bf4 e5? A serious mistake which evidently weakens the central light squares, particularly d5 and f5. Correct was 9. ... Qb6 and if 10. c3 Be7 11. Qb3 then 11. ... c4!? with unclear but balanced play, To Nhật Minh – Sárosi, Kecskemét 2014. 10. Bd2 Bc6 11. b4! The first of a series of powerful blows by which Baadur literally dismantles Black’s position. 11. ... Be7 12. axb5 axb5 13. c4! Rb8. If 13. ... bxc4? then 14. b5 Bb7 15. Nxc4 with an overwhelming advantage. 14. bxc5 Nxc5 15. cxb5 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Rxb5 17. d4! The final breakthrough is in the centre. 17. ... Ncd7. Not 17. ... Ncxe4?? 18. Qa4 Qd7 (or 18. ... Qb6 19. Rfb1) 19. Bh3 and wins. 18. Qe2 Qb8 19. Nh4! 0-0? An unlucky case of self-targeting. Of course, after 19. ... g6 20. Bh6 White keeps the upper hand, but still there is no win in sight. 20. Nf5 Re8 21. g4! g6. On 21. ... h6 22. h4 doesn’t change anything. 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. g5 Nh5 23. ... Ng8 is equally met by 24. Ra8! with similar consequences to those in the game.

24. Ra8! Indeed, it’s not hard to foresee, but beautiful to see! 24. ... Qxa8 25. Qxb5 Qd8? Committing hara-kiri, but after 25. ... Rd8 26. Rc1 White stands much better anyaway (Leitão’s analysis). 26. Ba5 1 : 0. For if 26. ... Qc8 then 27. Bh3 finis.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: Tarjei J. Svensen/Matt & Patt

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Baadur Jobava – Vladimir Veremeichik
European Rapid Chess Championship; Minsk, December 19, 2015
Richter–Veresov Attack D01

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. h3!? A bit of improvisation. For 5. f3 e6 6. g4 Bg6 7. h4 h6 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. cxd3 Bd6 see Rapport – Tania Sachdev, 12th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2014. 5. ... h6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. g4 Bh7 8. Bd3 e6 9. Bxh7 Nxh7 10. Qd3 Nhf6 11. 0-0-0 Qa5 12. a3 Nb6? A bit convoluted. After 12. ... b5! followed by ... b5-b4 as soon as possible, the game is dynamically balanced. 13. Nd2 Nc8. As it will be soon clear, Black’s formal consistency is not sufficient to guarantee safety. It’s complicated but interesting HAL 9000’s suggestion 13. ... Bxa3!? 14. Nb3 Bxb2+ 15. Kxb2 Qb4 eventually followed by ... a7-a5-a4. But 13. ... Qa6, forcing the exchange of Queens might have been relatively best. 14. Rhg1 Be7 15. h4! Nd7 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Nf8 18. g6! f6 19. e4! The breakthrough in the centre secures White an overwhelming game. 19. ... Bd6 20. e5! fxe5 21. dxe5 Be7 22. Qf3 Qc7 23. Be3! Bd8. Not 23. ... Qxe5 on account of 24. Qf7+ Kd7 25. Nde4 with potentially devastating threats, such as Ne4-c5+ and Rg1-g5.

24. Nde4! An inspired Knight sacrifice. 24. ... b6. Accepting the sacrifice equally leads to catastrophe: 24. ... dxe4 25. Nxe4 and Black is without resource against all White’s threats. 25. Nf6+! The pointe. 25. ... gxf6 26. exf6. Of course 26. g7 is also very good, but Jobava is not a “black bull” and enjoys playing chess. 26. ... Nxg6 27. Rxg6! Qf7 28. Rdg1. Such a dream position! 28. ... Nd6 29. Bd4 Nf5 30. Qd3 Nxd4 31. Qxd4 Rf8 32. Nxd5! The final touch! The Knight is taboo, for if 32. ... exd5 then 33. Qe5+ followed by Rg6-g7, while if 32. ... cxd5 then 33. Rg7. 32. ... Qd7 33. f7+! Qxf7. If 33. ... Kxf7 then 34. Rg7+ Ke8 35. Nf6+ and mate in two moves. 34. Qc4! Rc8 35. Rxe6+! Kd7 36. Rgg6 Bg5+ 37. Kb1 Qxe6 38. Nxb6+ 1 : 0.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: ruchess.ru

L’homme qui plantait des arbres

Baadur Jobava – Ivan Šarić
20th European Team Chess Championship; Reykjavík, November 16, 2015
Ponziani Opening C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Ne7 6. Nxe5 Ng6 7. Qe2 Qe7 8. Qxe4 Qxe5 9. Qxe5+ Nxe5 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Bg3 f5 12. Nd2 0-0

13. f4! Baadur’s inimitable style is under the lights: who would ever have played such a move? For 13. f3 f4 14. Bf2 Be7 see Velimirović – P. E. Littlewood, Borovo 1980. 13. ... Ng6 14. 0-0-0 Bxf4 15. d6! cxd6 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. g3 Nh5 18. Nc4 d5 19. Nd6. Although Jobava is momentarily two Pawns down, he has the better prospects, for now the c8-Bishop is buried alive. 19. ... Nf6 20. Bg2 Ne4 21. Rxd5 Nxd6 22. Rxd6 Re8 23. Rf1 g6 24. Bd5+ Kh8 25. Kd2 a5 26. Rf4 Re5 27. Rc4 Rb8 28. Rc7 b6 29. c4 Kg7 30. a4 Kf8 31. Rf6+ Ke8 32. Ra7 Re7 33. h4 Rg7 34. Ke3 Ke7 35. Re6+ Kd8 36. Re5 h6. Šarić is not able to put up serious resistance, but also 36. ... Bb7 37. Kf4! looks quite hopeless. 37. Kd4 Rh7 38. h5 Rg7 39. hxg6 Rxg6 40. Re3 Rg7 41. Rf3 Rg6 42. Rxf5 Rxg3 43. Rf8+ Ke7 44. Rf7+ Kd6 45. Rf6+ Ke7 46. Rxh6 Rg4+ 47. Ke5 Rg5+ 48. Kf4 Rg1 49. Be4 Re1 50. b3 Re2 51. Ke5 Kf7 52. Kd6 Rxe4 53. Kc7 Rb7+ 54. Rxb7 Bxb7. The very short life of a Bishop: “My first breath is my last breath”. 55. Kxb7 Re6 56. Rxe6 dxe6 57. Kxb6 e5 58. Kxa5 1 : 0.

Baadur Jobava at the 11th Poikovsky Karpov Chess Tournament in 2010
Photo: Evgeny Surov

Thus Spoke Baadur

Chess-News.ru (@Chess_News)

• “Ian, Hang In There, Buddy!” Jobava Thinks Nepomniachtchi Should Be In 1/8 Final, Chess-News.ru, September 21, 2015

Chess artist Baadur Jobava’s original post on his Facebook account

Man on the Moon

Tigran Levonovich Petrosian – Baadur Jobava
22nd International Chess Festival; Abu Dhabi, August 31, 2015
English Opening A24

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. 0-0 0-0 5. c4 d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 c6 8. Bg5 Be6 9. Rb1 Nbd7 10. Nd2 a5! For 10. ... h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. b4 see Gouillart – Campagnola, 16th Venetian Chess Autumn, Venice 2010. 11. a3 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. b4 axb4 14. axb4 d5 15. Qc2 Qe7 16. Rfc1

19. ... h5! 17. b5 h4 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rb6 Rfc8 20. Rcb1 hxg3 21. hxg3 Ng4 22. e3 e4 23. dxe4? Decidedly bad play. Comparatively better is 23. d4, though after 23. ... Qf6 25. Nf1 Ra3 Black holds the initiative. 23. ... d4! Now for an attacking player such as Jobava it’s an easy way... 24. Nd1 dxe3 25. Nxe3 Nxe3 26. fxe3 Be5. Intending to add fuel to the fire by ... Kg8-g7 followed by ... Rc8-h8. 27. Nf1 Qc5 28. R6b4 Kg7 29. Qf2 Ra3 30. Rb7 Qxc4 31. R1b4 Qa2 32. Qf3 Ra7 33. g4 c5 34. R4b6 Rxb7 35. Rxb7 c4 36. g5 c3 37. Rb5 c2 0 : 1.

chess24.com (@chess24com)

The Arrangement

Baadur Jobava – Péter Prohászka
22nd International Chess Festival; Abu Dhabi, August 30, 2015
Spanish C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Please, just tell us what’s happening? Is Baadur really going mad? 3. ... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Nbd2 h6 10. Re1 Be6 11. h3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bb6 13. b3 b4 14. Bb2 bxc3 15. Bxc3 d5. A Pawn sacrifice that vaguely resembles the Marshall Counter-Gambit. 16. a3 a5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 f6 20. Re1 Nc3 21. Qc1

27. ... Bxh3! A very tricky resource: Prohászka challenges Baadur on tactics. 22. gxh3 Ne2+ 23. Rxe2 Rxe2 24. d4. Also 24. Ne4 f5 25. Bd1 fxe4 26. Bxe2 exf3 27. Bxf3 Rb8 leads to rough equality as Black will soon recover his Pawn. 24. ... Bxd4 25. Be4 Rxe4 26. Nxe4 Bxa1 27. Qxa1 Qd3 28. Ned2 a4 29. b4 Rd8 30. Qc1 c6 31. Kg2 Qg6+ 32. Kh2 Qd3 33. Kg2 Qg6+ 34. Kh2 Qd3 35. h4 Kh8 36. Kg2 Qg6+ 37. Kh2 Qd3 38. Kg2 Qg6+ 39. Kh1 Qd3 40. Kh2 Kh7 41. Kg2 Qg6+ 42. Kh2 Qd3 ½ : ½.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: Amruta Mokal (‏@amrutamokal)

Bamboozled

Elshan Moradi Abadi – Baadur Jobava
9th Hogeschool Zeeland Chess Tournament; Vlissingen, August 8, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D94

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 b6 8. b3 Bb7 9. Ba3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 c5 12. Rad1 Qb8 13. d5. White can rely on a solid advantage in space. 13. ... Re8 14. Bb2 e6 15. a4 a6 16. dxe6 Rxe6 17. Nd5 h6 18. Bc3 Bc6 19. Rb1 Ra7 20. Rfd1. Not 20. Nxb6? Qxb6! 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Rxb6 Bxf3! 23. Rb8+ Re8! and Black remains a piece ahead. 20. ... Rb7 21. Qa2 Kh7 22. Qa1 Qh8. “A somewhat unusual stand off on the a1-h8 diagonal in this Jobava game”, Olimpiu G. Urcan said. 23. a5 b5 24. Nf4 Re7 25. cxb5 Bxb5 26. Bc4? Here, probably, Iran’s Grandmaster misses his chance. After 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 27. Rxb5 axb5 28. a6 the position looks quite unpleasant for Black. Now Jobava snatches the initiative. 26. ... Ne4 27. Bxg7 Qxg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Nd5 Re6 30. Nf4 Re8 31. Bd5 Ra7 32. Rbc1 Ndf6 33. h4 Rd7 34. Bb3. We would recommend, instead of the text, the simplifying 34. Bxe4 in order to make things more difficult for Black. 34. ... Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1

35. ... g5 36. hxg5? The opening of the h-file gives the Black Rook a way to bite the enemy King. After 36. Nd5 g4 37. Nxf6 Nxf6 38. Nd2 g3 Black stands better, but the game is not yet over. 36. ... hxg5 37. Nd5 Ng4 38. Nc7 Rh8 39. Rd5. If 39. Nxb5 then equally 39. ... Ngxf2 threatening both ... Rh8-h1 mate and ... Nf2xd1. 39. ... Ngxf2 40. Nh2 g4 41. g3. Else 41. Nxb5 g3! and wins. 41. ... Bc6 42. Nxa6. Not 42. Rf5 Nh3+ 43. Kg2 Nd6+ and wins. If, instead, 42. Re5 there follows 42. ... Nd2! threatening both ... Nf2-h3 mate and ... Nd2xb3. 42. ... Rh3 43. Nf1 Bb5 0 : 1.

Elshan Moradi Abadi vs. Baadur Jobava
Photo: Ad Bruijns and Frans Peeters

chess24.com (@chess24com)

Starship Enterprise

Robby Kevlishvili – Baadur Jobava
9th Hogeschool Zeeland Chess Tournament; Vlissingen, August 7, 2015
Philidor Defence C41

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7. The so-called Hanham Variation, favoured by Aron Nimzowitsch. 5. Bc4 Be7 6. a4 0-0 7. 0-0 a5 8. Re1 b6!? Probably it is not without reason that 8. ... c6 is much more common than the text, but Jobava is notoriously a deep thinker, so let’s take it serious. 9. h3 Bb7 10. b3 h6 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Bb5 Bf8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nd5 Nxe4 15. Rxe4. After 15. Nxc7 Qxc7 16. Qxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxd7 Red8 18. Nxe5 Bc5 19. Rf1 Ba6 20. c4 Nd2 Black wins back his Pawn with satisfactory play. 15. ... c6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bf1 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 Nf3+ 19. gxf3 cxd5 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Bb5 Re6 23. Bd4 h5 24. Kg2 h4 25. Rd3 Kf8 26. Kf1 g5. Baadur continues to play with great energy. 27. Rd1. If 27. Bxc5+ bxc5 28. Rc3 then 28. ... Ke7! 29. Rxc5 Kd6 30. Rc3 Rf6 31. Rd3 Rf4 32. c3 Kc5! 33. Re3 d4! 34. Re5+ Kd6 35. cxd4 f6 followed by ... Rf4xd4, when Black’s strong position fully compensates for the minus Pawn. 27. ... Ke7 28. Kg2 f5 29. Kf1 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 Kf6 31. Rd1. Maybe it was better to play 31. f4 gxf4 (31. ... g4!? is quite an interesting Pawn sacrifice, but after 32. hxg4 fxg4 33. Bd7 Re4 34. Rxe4 dxe4 35. Bxg4 Bd5! 36. Bh3 Be6! 37. Bg2 Bf5 38. Kg1! White holds the draw) 32. Rxf4 Re4 33. Rf3 d4 34. Rd3 Ke5 when Black’s edge is perhaps not enough to win. 31. ... d4! Jobava gradually improves his own position eventually reducing his opponent to total passivity. 32. Rxd4 Bxf3 33. Bc4 Rc6 34. Kg1 Ke5 35. Rd8 Rd6 36. Re8+. The ending with King, Bishop, and Pawns would be equally hopeless for White, e.g. 36. Rxd6 Kxd6 37. c3 Bd5! and Black must win. 36. ... Kf4 37. Bd3 Rd5 38. Rf8 Re5. Threat: 39. ... Re1+ 40. Bf1 Be2. 39. Kh2? The losing move, but also 39. Kf1 Bh1! followed by ... g5-g4 would have been very unpleasant for White (if 40. Kg1 there follows 40. ... Bb7! 41. Kf1 g4! 42. hxg4 h3! winning easily for Black).

Of course Black cannot play 39. ... Re1?? on account of 40. Rxf5 mate, but... 39. ... g4! Sic et simpliciter. 40. hxg4 Re1 41. Rxf5+ Kxg4 42. Rxf3 Kxf3 43. Kh3?? This is a self-mate, but Robby would also lose after other moves, e.g. 43. Bb5 Kxf2. 43. ... Rh1 mate.

Mythos

Baadur Jobava – Julian van Overdam
9th Hogeschool Zeeland Chess Tournament; Vlissingen, August 5, 2015
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. e3 Nc6 6. Be2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 d6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Ne1 e5 10. d5 Nb8 11. e4 a5 12. g3 Na6 13. Ng2 Nc5 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Rae1 c6 16. Qb1 b5 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. cxb5 Bxe4 19. Nxe4 Ncxe4 20. Rd1 d5 21. Ne3 d4 22. Nc4 Nc5 23. Rfe1 Rfd8 24. Nxa5 Rxa5 25. b4 Raa8 26. bxc5 Qxc5 27. Rc1 Qd5 28. Bc4 Qd6 29. Bd3 Re8 30. Rc6 Qe7 31. b6 Rab8 32. a4 Qa3 33. Qb5 e4

34. Rxf6!? Unsurprisingly, Jobava goes in for a rather speculative Exchange sacrifice. Objectively speaking, 24. Bc4 was probably stronger. 24. ... gxf6? But this automatic recapture is very bad. After 34. ... Qxd3! 35. Rf5 g6 36. Rd5 Qc3 37. Rf1 e3! Black has at least equality. 35. Rxe4 Rxe4 36. Bxe4 d3 37. Bxd3 Rxb6 38. Bxh7+ Kxh7 39. Qxb6 Qc3? An incomprehensible error. After 39. ... Qxa4 40. Qxf6 Black at least has eliminated the terrific passed a-Pawn. 40. Kg2 Kg7 41. a5 Qe5 42. h4 1 : 0.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: Ad Bruijns and Frans Peeters

chess24.com (@chess24com)

No Man’s Land

Dirk van Dooren – Baadur Jobava
19th Hogeschool Zeeland Chess Tournament; Vlissingen, August 2, 2015
Bird’s Opening A02

1. f4. “1. f4 against Jobava – what could go possibly go wrong? :)”, the editor-in-chief of chess24.com joked. 1. ... b6 2. d3 Bb7 3. e4 e6 4. Nf3 Ne7 5. c3 d5 6. e5 c5 7. Na3 Nbc6 8. Be2 Nf5 9. 0-0 h5 10. Nc2 d4 11. Ng5 h4 12. Bf3 Be7 13. Ne4 Qd7 14. c4 0-0-0 15. a3

15. ... h3 16. g3 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. b4 Ne3 19. Nxe3 dxe3 20. Bxe3 Qxd3 21. Kf2 cxb4 22. Qxd3 Rxd3 23. axb4 Rhd8 24. c5 f5 25. b5? Less committal is 25. Ng5 Nxb4! 26. cxb6 Bxf3 27. Nxf3 (not 27. Rxa7? Bg2 28. Rc1+ Kb8 when 29. Rxe7 is met by 29. ... Rxe3 30. Kxe3 Nd5+) 27. ... a6! with mutual chances in a very complex-looking position. 25. ... Rxe3 26. Kxe3 fxe4 27. bxc6? Here is Dirk’s real mistake. After 27. Rfc1! Bxc5+ 28. Rxc5 bxc5 29. bxc6 exf3 30. cxb7+ Kxb7 31. Kxf3 Kc6!? – Black’s extra Pawn would in any case be difficult to exploit – 32. Rxa7 Rd2 White, despite Black’s initiative, should hold the endgame. 27. ... Bxc5+ 28. Kxe4 Bxc6+ 29. Ke5 Bxf3 30. Rxa7. If 30. Rxf3 then 30. ... Bd4+ and wins. 30. ... Bd5 31. Rd1 b5 32. Rh7 Ba3 33. Rb1 b4 34. Ra7 Rd7 35. Ra5 Kd8 36. f5 Ke7 37. g4 Bc4 38. fxe6 Bxe6 39. g5 Rd2 40. Ra7+ Bd7 41. g6 Bb2+ 42. Kf4 Bc3 43. Re1+ Kd6 44. Re3 Rf2+ 45. Kg3 Rg2+ 46. Kh4 Bf5 47. Ra6+ Kd7 48. Ra5 Bf6+ 49. Kh5 Bxg6+ 50. Kh6 Bc3 51. Ra7+ Kd6 52. Ree7 Bd2+ 53. Kg7 Be4+ 54. Kf8 Bh6+ 55. Ke8 Rg8+ 56. Kf7 Rf8 mate.

Dirk van Dooren vs. Baadur Jobava
Photo: Ad Bruijns and Frans Peeters

Meteoropathy

Peter Veniaminovich Svidler – Baadur Jobava
FIDE Grand Prix; Khanty-Mansiysk, May 26, 2015
French Defence C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Neg5 Bxg5. This move is questionable since Black unnecessarily gives up the Bishop pair. It was preferable to play the immediate 8. ... h6 in order to met the wild 9. Nxe6 by 9. ... fxe6 10. Bg6+ Kf8 11. Bd2 Bd6 12. c4 Qf6 as in the game van der Wiel – Hodgson, Harlingen 1990. 9. Nxg5 h6 10. Nf3 Qf6 11. Ne5. Very dry strategy. 11. ... Nxe5 12. Qxe5 0-0-0 13. Be3 Qe7 14. 0-0-0 Nf6 15. f3 g5 16. c4 b6 17. Bd2 Nh5

18. d5! White energetically seizes the initiative. 18. ... f6 19. Qe2 Ba4 20. b3 Bd7. Unsound is 20. ... Qa3+ 21. Kb1 Bxb3 because of 22. Bc1! Bxd1 23. Qxe6+ (Jobava’s analysis) 21. g4 Ng7 22. Kb1 h5 23. h3 Qf7 24. Bc3 Kb8 25. Be4 Bc8 26. Rhe1 hxg4 27. hxg4 Bb7 28. dxe6 Bxe4+ 29. Qxe4 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Nxe6 31. Qf5 Rh6 32. Rd2 Qg6 33. Qxg6 Rxg6 34. Rd5 Rh6 35. Rf5 Rh1+ 36. Kb2 Rh2+ 37. Kb1. White marks time. 37. ... Rh1+ 38. Kb2 Rh2+ 39. Ka3 a5 40. Rxf6 Re2 41. Rf5 Rf2 42. Re5 Nf4 43. Rxg5 Rxf3 44. Kb2 Nd3+ 45. Kc2 Nb4+ 46. Bxb4 axb4 47. Rf5 Rg3 48. g5. The Rook endgame is very difficult for Black, but not necessarily lost yet. 48. ... Kc8 49. Kd2 Kd7 50. Ke2 Ke6 51. Rb5 Rg2+ 52. Kf3 Rxa2 53. Rxb4 Ra1? On the wrong track. After 53. ... Rd2! 54. Rb5 Rd4 Black has excellent drawing chances. 54. Rb5 Kf7 55. Ke4 Rd1? More stubborn was 55. ... Re1+ 56. Kd5 Re6! 57. Kd4 c5+ 58. Kd5 Ke7 and Black is still fighting for survival. Now it’s very easy for White. 56. b4 Re1+ 57. Kd5 Re6 58. Kd4 Re1 59. c5 Rd1+ 60. Ke4 Re1+ 61. Kd5 Re6 62. Kd4 Rg6 63. cxb6 cxb6 64. Re5 Rc6 65. Kd5 Rc1 66. Kd6 1 : 0.

Baadur Jobava
Photo: Kirill Merkurev

Fight for Santa Clara

Baadur Jobava – Leinier Domínguez Pérez
FIDE Grand Prix; Khanty-Mansiysk, May 26, 2015
Italian Game C53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. h3 0-0 10. 0-0 f6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 fxe5 13. Nxe5 Bb7. Departing from 13. ... Ba6 14. Re1 Ba5!? 15. Nxc6 Qh4 16. Nxa5 Rxf2! 17. Nc3! Rxg2+! 18. Kxg2 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qxh3+ 20. Kg1 Qg3+ 21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Qh3+ ½ : ½ Jobava – Grischuk, FIDE Grand Prix, Khanty-Mansiysk, May 17, 2015. 14. Nd2 c5 15. Nxe4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 dxe4 17. Qb3+ Bd5 18. Qc3 Qg5 19. Be3 Qh5. According to Jobava, here the Queen is out of play. 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Rde1 Bd5 22. a4

22. ... Ba5? A bad speculation. 23. Qxa5 Qxe5 24. Rc1! A very strong move, by which Baadur establishes a deadly tightening grip on Black’s position 24. ... Rac8. Obviously, 24. ... c6? is refuted by 25. Rxc6! and Black’s position falls apart. Equally after 24. ... Rfc8 25. Rc6! Black must lose material. 25. Rfd1! Jobava is in no hurry to capture the Pawn (25. Qxa7 Qxb2 26. Rxc7) and prefers to strengthen the position still further. 25. ... c6 26. b4 Qe6 27. b5 Bb3 28. Rd2 cxb5 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. axb5. After all, the a7-Pawn is doomed anyway. 30. ... Bc4 31. Rc2 Qe6 32. Qxa7 Qd5. Black cannot regain his Pawn with 32. ... Bxb5? because of 33. Rc7! with an irresistible attack. 33. Bd4 Rf7 34. Qb8+ Rf8 35. Qc7! Jobava elegantly liquidates into a winning endgame. The rest is a masterly display of technique. 35. ... Qxd4 36. Qxc4+ Qxc4 37. Rxc4 Rb8 38. Rb4 Kf7 39. Kf1 Ke6 40. Rxe4+ Kd6 41. Rd4+ Ke6 42. Rb4 Kd5 43. Rh4 h6 44. Rg4 g5 45. Rb4 Kc5 46. Rb1 Kb6 47. Re1 Kc5 48. Re6 Kd5 1 : 0.

Baadur Jobava vs. Leinier Domínguez Pérez
Photo: Kirill Merkurev

Olimpiu G. Urcan (@OlimpiuUrcan)

A prayer to Flora

chess24.com (@chess24com)

Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus

Anish Giri – Baadur Jobava
FIDE Grand Prix; Khanty-Mansiysk, May 23, 2015
French Defence C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 Bd7 5. Nf3 a6 6. a3. For 6. Ne2 Na7 7. Be3 Ne7 8. Ng3 Bb5 9. Bd3 Qd7 see Stock – Bednarski, Sankt Ingbert 1989. 6. ... f6 7. Bd3 fxe5 8. dxe5 Bc5 9. 0-0 Nge7. “In Jobava’s hands, even the stable structures of the Caro-Kann and the French swiftly shapeshift into moving sands”, Olimpiu G. Urcan said. “With ever predictable results...”, Peter Long added. 10. Ne2 0-0 11. Nf4 h6. To prevent Nf3-g5; the ensuing position, however, is anything but easy for Black. More pertinent would have been 11. ... Nf5 in order to answer 12. c4 by 12. ... dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nfd4. 12. c4 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bc2 c5 17. Be3 Qb6 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Qd3

18. ... Rf5!?? Everyone here would have preferred 18. ... Bf5 with a tenable position, but, of course, Jobava is not a human being like everybody else :). 20. f4 Bb5!? Obviously. 21. Qxf5 d3+ 22. Rf2 Rf8 23. Bxd3. White most conveniently gives up the Queen for the two Rooks plus a Pawn. 23. ... Rxf5 24. Bxf5 Qe3? A grave error, which loses the valuable d-Pawn. But even after 24. ... g6 25. Bc2 either the d-Pawn or the g-Pawn appear hopelessly doomed. 25. Be6+ 1 : 0. Jobava, disgusted with himself, resigned.

Baadur Jobava: I’m only sleeping...
Photo: Kirill Merkurev

Lawrence Trent (@Lawrence Trent)

Spider-Man: One More Day

Lars Bo Hansen (@GMLars)