Vacation on Earth

Radosław Wojtaszek – Noël Oliver Studer

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 29, 2020

Bogo-Indian Defence E11

The Biel International Chess Festival concluded today its 53rd anniversary and, no matter who won and who came close, it will go down to history as a bold human achievement in times of unreality. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 0-0 7. 0-0 Nbd7 8. a4 a5 9. Qc2 c6 10. Na3 Bd6 11. Rfd1!? The most recent theory is 11. Ne1 Re8 12. Nd3 e5 13. cxd5 e4 14. Nf4 cxd5 15. Nb5 Bb8 16. Rac1 Ra6! which gave Black good play in 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Anand, 7th Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2019. 11. ... Ne4 12. Be3 f5. Transposing to a Dutch Defence. 13. Qc1 h6 14. Ne1 g5 15. f3 Nef6 16. Nd3 Qe7 17. Bf2 Qg7 18. Re1 h5 19. cxd5 (19. Be3⩲) 19. ... exd5 20. Nb1 Kh8 21. Nc3 h4 22. gxh4 gxh4 23. Kh1

23. ... h3! 24. Bxh3. Very risky, but if 24. Bf1 there might follow 24. ... Rg8 with the threat of ... Qg7-g7 followed by ... Rg8-g2. 24. ... Qh7 25. Nf4 Nh5?! Sound and peaceful is 25. ... Bxf4 26. Qxf4 Qxh3 27. Bh4 Ng4! 28. Bg3 Ngf6 with a likely draw by repetition, but even better is 25. ... Qh6! 26. Bg3 Rg8 with powerful compensation for the Pawn. Instead, as often happens, one mistake gives birth to another: 26. Ne6 Re8? (26. ... Ng7!∞) 27. Ng5 Qg6

28. Nf7+! Qxf7 (28. ... Kh7 29. Bxf5!+−) 29. Qh6+ Qh7 30. Qxd6 Ndf6 31. Bh4. That’s all. Within a few moves, White will force a liquidation to a won ending. 31. ... Qf7 32. Rg1 f4 33. Bxc8 Raxc8 34. Bxf6+ Qxf6 35. Qxf6+ Nxf6 36. Rg6 Nh7 37. Rag1 Rc7 38. R1g4 Rf7 39. Kg1 Nf8 40. Rh6+ Nh7 41. Kf2 Rg8 42. Rgh4 Rg5 43. Na2 Kg8 44. Nc1 Nf8 45. Nd3 Ng6 46. Rg4 Kg7 47. Rxg5 Kxh6 48. Rxg6+! Kxg6 49. Ne5+ Kf6 50. Nxf7 Kxf7 51. e4 fxe3+ 52. Kxe3 b6 53. h4 c5 54. f4 Kg7 55. Kf3 Kg6 56. Kg4 Kg7 57. h5 Kf6 58. f5 cxd4 59. h6 1 : 0.

Thus, in the end, all the glory went to Wojtaszek, who, by winning his last round game with Studer, succeeded in keeping Harikrishna and Adams (both winning their games as well) at a distance, finally securing the first prize. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

A Rook and a Chariot

Pentala Harikrishna – Romain Édouard

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 28, 2020

Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Qe3 Nf6 7. 0-0 g6 8. h3 Bg7 9. c4 0-0 10. Nc3 Rb8 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Rb1 b6 13. b3 Bb7 14. Bb2 Ba8 15. Nd5. Also good is 15. Rd2 Re8 16. Rbd1 Qc8 17. Nh4 Nd8 18. Bg4 h5 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Nd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2 b5 22. c5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Qe6 24. Nf3 dxc5 25. Rxc5 Nb7 26. Nd4 Qb6 27. Rc6 Qa7 28. Nf5 Qxe3 29. Nxe3 Ra8 30. Nd5 Nd8 31. Rb6 Ne6 32. Rc2 Kf8 33. h4 Rac8 34. Rcc6 Nd4 35. Rxc8 Rxc8 36. Rxa6 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Rc2 38. f4 e6 39. Nf6 Ne2 40. f5 exf5 41. exf5 Nf4 42. Kg3 Ne2+ 43. Kh3 Nf4+ 44. Kg3 Ne2+ 45. Kh3 Nf4+ 46. Kg3 Ne2+ 47. Kh3 Nf4+ ½ : ½ 倪华 (Ní Huá) – 赵骏 (Zhào Jùn), 3rd Singapore Masters International Open Tournament, Singapore 2006. 15. ... b5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. b4 bxc4 18. Bxc4 a5 19. b5 Nce5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bf1 Nd7 22. Rbc1 Bxd5 23. exd5 Nc5

24. Rd4! Kg8 25. Rh4 f5 (25. ... h5? 26. Rxh5!+−) 26. Rd4 a4 27. h4! Qe8

28. Rxc5! A disrupting sacrifice. 28. ... dxc5 29. Rxa4 Rxb5. Black returns the Exchange in the vain hope of avoiding the inevitable. 30. Ra7 Rf7. 30. ... Rb6 31. Bc4! is likewise bad for Black. 31. Bxb5 Qxb5 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Qxe7 Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Qxa2 35. Qxc5 Qd2 36. d6 Kf7 37. f3 Qe1 38. Qd4 Qe8 39. Qd5+ Qe6 40. Qxe6+ Kxe6 41. Kg3 Kxd6 42. Kf4 Ke6 43. Kg5 Kf7 44. Kh6 1 : 0. Black resigns, for 44. ... Kg8 45. f4 Kh8 46. h5 gxh5 47. Kxh5 Kg7 48. Kg5 is an elementary win for White.

Thanks to their victories in today’s games, both Pentala Harikrishna and Michael Adams can still hope to overtake Radosław Wojtaszek with only one round to go. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Beyond the Prosaic

Vincent Keymer – Noël Oliver Studer

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 27, 2020

Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 dxe4 7. fxe4 c5 8. d5 exd5 9. exd5 0-0 10. Be2 Re8 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. 0-0 Nbd7 13. h3!? In the recent first half of the Candidates Tournament 2020, Fabiano Caruana won a complex game after 13. d6!? Bf8 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nb5 Re6 16. Bf4 a6 17. Nc7 Re4 18. Bh2 Rc8 19. g4 Bxg4 20. hxg4 Nxg4 21. Bd3 Nxh2 22. Bxe4 Nxf1 23. Qxf1 Bxd6? (23. ... Nf6!∞) 24. Nd5 g6 25. Qh3 Kg7 26. Kh1 Ne5 27. Nh4 h5 28. Rg1 Bf8 29. Nf4 Ng4 30. Nxh5+! gxh5 31. Bf5 Be7 32. Bxg4 hxg4 33. Qxg4+ Bg5 34. Qh5 1 : 0 Caruana – Alekseenko, Candidates Tournament 2020, Yekaterinburg 2020. Keymer goes by another way. 13. ... Bxf3 14. Rxf3 Bd6 15. Bg5 Qe7 16. Nb5 Bb8 17. Re3 Be5 18. d6 Qf8 19. Bg4 a6? Studer goes for a very dubious Exchange sacrifice. Correct was 19. ... Bxb2 20. Rb1 Rxe3 21. Bxe3 Be5 with a perfectly playable game. 20. Bxd7 Nxd7 21. Be7 Rxe7 22. dxe7 Qxe7 23. Nc7 Rd8 24. Nd5 Qg5 25. Kh1 Bd4 26. Re7 Ne5 (26. ... Bxb2 27. Qf3 Ne5 28. Re1!+−) 27. Rxb7 h5 (27. ... Nxc4 28. Ne7+ Kh8 28. Nc6+−) 28. Qc1 Qh4 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Nf5 Qf6 31. Qf1 Qc6 32. Rb3 Qa4 33. Rg3. In a way 33. Rb6+− (Δ Nf5xg7) might have been simpler. 33. ... Bxb2 34. Rb1 Qxc4

35. Qf2. With a few minutes to the time control, Keymer is content to play safely within his comfort zone. Here 35. Nxg7 seems to be White’s best, for after 35. ... h4 36. Qf6! hxg3 37. Nf5 Nc6 38. Qxb2 Nd4 39. Qd2! his attack continues. 35. ... Bc1! 36. Qe1 Bf4 37. Rd1 Re8 38. Rc3 (38. Nxg7 Bxg3 39. Qxg3↑) 38. ... Qe6 39. Qe4 Ng6 40. Qxe6 (40. Qb1!) 40. ... fxe6 41. Ne3. Materially speaking, Black has enough compensation for the Exchange, but his Pawns are a bit too scattered to offer much hope for maintaining the status quo. Whatever it is, the following moves give the impression that Black could have defended better.

41. ... Rc8 42. Nc4 Rb8 (42. ... Ke7! 43. g3 Bc7 44. Re3±) 43. g3 Bc7 44. Rd7 Bd8 45. Re3 Bf6 46. Rxe6 Kg8 47. Rb6 Re8 48. Rd5 h4 49. gxh4 Nf4 50. Rf5 Re4 51. Nd2 Re1+ 52. Kh2 Be5 53. Nf3 Bc7 54. Nxe1 Ne6+ 55. Re5 Nd4 56. Rxa6 Bxe5+ 57. Kg2 1 : 0.

Once back to a classical time control, Keymer has regained his luster. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Behind the Panel

Radosław Wojtaszek – Pentala Harikrishna

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 27, 2020

Slav Defence D12

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. 0-0-0 dxc4 11. Bxc4 b5 12. Be2 a6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. fxe4 c5 16. Kb1 Nc6 17. Bc3!? Very interesting is 17. e5! cxd4? (17. ... Rc8 18. Bf3 0-0 seems fine for Black) 18. Bf3 Rc8 19. Rc1 Qd7? (19. ... Qb6!? 20. exd4 0-0) 20. Qc2! Na7 21. Qxc8+! Nxc8 22. Bc6 Nb6 23. Bxd7+ Kxd7 24. exd4 Nd5 25. h4! Rxh4?! 26. Rxh4 Bxh4 27. Rh1 Be7 28. Rh7 Bf8 29. Rh8 Ke7 30. Kc2 f6 31. exf6+ gxf6 32. Rh7+ 1 : 0 Carlsen – Vachier-Lagrave, The Magnus Carlsen Invitational, chess24.com, April 24, 2020, match game 3 (15+10). 17. ... 0-0 18. h4 c4 19. Qc2 b4 20. Be1 c3. Who knows, maybe the “dual” 20. ... b3!? 21. axb3 cxb3 22. Qc4 Qb7 23. h5 g5 might have offered better counterattacking chances. 21. h5 g5 22. e5 (22. h6!?↑) 22. ... b3 23. Qxc3 bxa2+ 24. Ka1 Bb4 25. Qc2 Bxe1

26. h6? This tempting zwischenzug will turn out to be a cruel illusion. Simply 26. Rdxe1 Rfc8 27. Rc1± gave White a manifest superiority and excellent Kingside attacking prospects. 26. ... Rfc8! Supposedly White was only expecting 26. ... Bxh4? 27. g3! Qb6! 28. gxh4 Na5∞ with unclear play. 27. Rdxe1 Nb4 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. hxg7?! This is certainly not good, but otherwise Black would play ... g7-g6 with great advantage. 29. ... Nc2+ 30. Kxa2 Nxe1 31. Rh8+ (31. Rxe1 Kxg7−+) 31. ... Kxg7 32. Rxa8 Nxg2 33. Rxa6 Nxe3. Material equality is restored, but the ending is hopeless for White. 34. Ra3 Nf5 35. Rd3 Rd7 36. d5 Rxd5 37. Rxd5 exd5 38. b4 Nd4 39. Bg4 Nc6 40. b5 Nxe5 41. b6 Kf6 42. b7 Nc6 43. Ka3 Ke5 44. Ka4 Kd6 45. Kb5 Kc7 46. Kc5 Ne7 47. b8=Q+ Kxb8 48. Kd6

48. ... f5! 49. Bd1 g4! 0 : 1. For after 50. Kxe7 g3 51. Bf3 d4 one of Black’s Pawns promotes.

After his Sunday débâcle in the Blitz Tournament, Harikrishna scored a much-needed “Classical” win against Wojtaszek, thus reducing the gap to three points with two rounds to go. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

The Third Wheel

Michael Adams – Romain Édouard

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Blitz; Biel/Bienne, July 25, 2020

Sicilian Defence B51

Radosław Wojtaszek and Michael Adams dominated the Blitz Tournament (3+2), which was today on the agenda of the Grandmaster Triathlon in Biel/Bienne, thus increasing their lead in the combined standings. Tomorrow is day off. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. Re1 Nf6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 d5?? A catastrophic blunder. After 8. ... e6 9. Nb5 White regains his Pawn with a very slight pull, Antipov – Sakaev, 7th World Blitz Chess Championship, Saint Petersburg 2018. 9. Bf4!+− (Δ Nd4-b5) 9. ... a6 10. Nc3 e6 (10. ... b5 11. Bxb5!+−)

11. Rxe6+! fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qb6 13. Nc7+ Kf7 14. N3xd5 Qa5 15. Bb3 Ra7 16. Nxf6+ Kxf6 17. Ne8+ (17. Qg4+−) 17. ... Ke7 18. Nd6 Qb4 19. Nxc8+ Kd8 20. Bd2 Qd4 21. Nxa7 Qxa7 22. Be6 b5 23. Be3 Qc7 24. Qd5 (24. Bb6+−) 24. ... Bd6 25. Rd1 Ke7 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Bg5+ 1 : 0.

Pictured above (foreground) is Adams playing his last round game against Noël Oliver Studer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Œil-de-bœuf

Pentala Harikrishna – Vincent Keymer

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 24, 2020

Semi-Slav Defence D47

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bb3 b4 9. Ne2 Be7 10. 0-0 Bb7 11. Nf4 c5 12. Ng5 0-0!? A novelty and an improvement over 12. ... Qb6? (Annakov – Nevostrujev, Moscow 1995) and now White ought to have played 13. Nxf7! with devastating effect.

13. Ngxe6! White sacrifices a Knight for three Pawns and an enduring initiative. 13. ... fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qc8 15. Nxc5+ (15. Nxf8?! Kxf8 is fine for Black) 15. ... Kh8. Likewise after 15. ... Bd5 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. Bxe6+ Kh8 18. f3 White has an easier game. 16. Nxb7. After 17. Ne6?! Bd6! 18. Nxf8 Nxf8 White would gain material, but at the cost of ceding all initiative to his opponent. 17. ... Qxb7 17. f3 a5 18. e4 Nb6 19. Qe2 a4 20. Bc2 Rfc8. 20. ... a3 21. b3 Rac8 seems more natural. 21. Bd3 a3 22. b3 Qd7 23. Be3 Rc3 24. Rad1 Rd8 25. Kh1 Qe8 26. Bg1 Bf8 27. Qe1 Nbd7 28. Bb1

28. ... Nh5? Keymer, with a few minutes left on the clock, only hastens his own demise. 28. ... Qh5 was Black’s best chance. 29. e5 Qe6 30. Qh4 Qh6. Black still hopes for White to fall for a last ditch trick: 31. Qxd8?? Ng3#. 31. g4 Nf4 32. Qxd8 Qh3 33. Rf2 Rxf3 34. Qa8 Rxf2 35. Bxf2 Qxg4 36. Rg1 Qh5 37. Re1 1 : 0.

A convincing win by Harikrishna and a new setback for Keymer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Meta-Reality

Vincent Keymer – Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 23, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E62

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 0-0 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c6 7. e4 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e5 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 a5 12. Be3 Na6

13. h4! h5 14. g4! The corollary of what, with Teutonic pride, Grandmaster Georg Meier calls “a stragetically decisive breakthrough”. 14. ... hxg4 15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Nb4 17. h5!?? Maybe Keymer just couldn’t believe he had to exchange Queens after Queenside castling, although 17. 0-0-0 Qc8 18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 19. Kb1 would have left White with an imposing bind. 17. ... f5? “All’s well that ends well”. Critical was 17. ... Nc2+ 18. Kd2 Nxa1 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6 Rf6 (20. ... Qf6?? 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Rh6!+−) 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Rxa1 with unclear compensation. 18. Qxg6 Rf6 19. Qg2 Kh7 (19. ... Kf7 20. exf5!+−) 20. exf5! Nc2+ 21. Kd2 Nxe3 (21. ... Nxa1 22. Ne4!+−) 22. fxe3 Qb6 23. Kc2 Rc8 (23. ... Qxe3 24. Rh3+−) 24 Rag1 Bh6 25. Kb1 Qxe3 26. Ne4 Rff8 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. Nf6 1 : 0.

After yesterday’s eclipse, the sun shined today for Keymer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Life on Earth

Michael Adams – Vincent Keymer

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 22, 2020

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 Be6 9. Qe2 Qc8 10. Bb3 Nbd7 11. Bg5 Bd8 12. a5 Bxb3 13. cxb3 Qc5 14. Be3 Qc6 15. Qc4 Rc8 16. Nd2 Ng4 17. Qe2 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 b6? Since Black won’t be able to obtain enough compensation for the weakening and subsequent fall of the a-Pawn, he’d have done better to consider something like 18. ... 0-0 19. 0-0 Nc5 with reasonable play. 19. axb6 Bxb6 20. Qe2 a5 21. 0-0 Nf6 22. Nc4 0-0 23. Nxa5 Bxa5 24. Rxa5 Rb8 25. Ra6 Rb6?! Perhaps Keymer wasn’t too enthusiastic about 25. ... Qc5 26. Rd1 Rfd8 27. Qd3 Kf8 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Qxd6+ Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxb3 31. Rd2± which would have brought Black into a Rook and Knight ending a Pawn down — but, as they say, “Out of the frying pan into the fire”.

26. Rfa1. Also very strong is 26. b4! (26. ... Rxa6 27. b5+−). 26. ... Qb7 27. Rxb6 Qxb6 28. Ra6 Qb8 29. g3 h5 30. h4 Qb4. Other moves may be better (perhaps), but probably not enough to change the outcome of the game; for instance: 30. ... Rd8 31. Qc4 Qb7 32. Qa4 Rb8 33. Rxd6 Qxb3? 34. Rd8+! Kh7 35. Rxb8 Qxb8 36. b4 with a won ending. 31. Qc4 Rb8 32. Ra8 Qb7 33. Rxb8+ Qxb8 34. b4 Qa7 35. Kg2 g6 36. b5 Ng4 37. Qe2 Nf6 38. Qd3 Ng4 39. Qd2 Kg7 40. Nd5. Adams’ display of technique is elegant as usual. 40. ... Qc5 41. b6 Qc4 42. f3 Nf6 43. Nxf6 Kxf6 44. Qxd6+ Kg7 45. Qxe5+ Kh7 46. Qc3 Qb5 47. Qd4 Qe2+ 48. Qf2 Qd3 49. e5 Qb5 50. f4 Kg8 51. Kg1 Qb3 52. Kf1 Qd3+ 53. Kg2 Qb5 54. g4 hxg4 55. Kg3 Qb3+ 56. Kxg4 Qd1+ 57. Kg3 Qb3+ 58. Kh2 Qb4 59. Kg2 Kf8 60. Kf3 Ke8 61. Kg4 Kf8 62. h5 gxh5+ 63. Kxh5 Qb3 64. Kg5 Kg7 65. f5 Qb4 66. f6+ Kf8 67. Qg2 Qa4 68. b7 Qb5 69. Kh6 1 : 0. For if 69. ... Qxe5 then 70. Qg7+ Ke8 71. b8=Q+! and finis.

A superb positional game by Adams and a setback for Keymer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Back to the Future

Pentala Harikrishna – Alexander Anatolyevich Donchenko

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; ACCENTUS Chess960 Tournament (15+5); Biel/Bienne, July 18, 2020

brnkqrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNKQRNB w FBfb - 0 1

Position 627

1. b3 b6 2. e4 e5 3. Nd3 d6 4. 0-0-0 f5? A dangerous adventure. Safer seems 4. ... Nce7 in order to reply 5. f4 with 5. ... f6 6. g4 g5 7. f5 h5 followed sooner or later by a-side castling (0-0-0). 5. exf5 Nce7? Likewise after 5. ... Rxf5 6. g4! Bxh1 7. gxf5 Bg2 8. f4! Bxf1 9. Qxf1 e4 10. Nf2 d5 11. d3 e3 12. Ne4! the complications should favour White, but Black’s cause is not yet lost. Instead, after the text Black has neither the harmony in development nor the coordination to carry out a decent defence. 6. f4! e4 7. Nf2 Nxf5 8. g4 Nfh6 9. Ngh3 d5 10. f5. It’s quite incredible, but Black could resign already! If nothing else, he finally manages to castle, but that is of little consolation: 10. ... 0-0-0 11. Ng5 Rf6. Black gives away also the Exchange, but Harikrishna can afford to snub it, at least for a while. 12. Nxh7 Rc6 13. Ng5 Qe7 14. Ne6 Qa3+ 15. Bb2 Qxa2 16. Nxd8 Kxd8

17. Nxe4! By now it’s only a matter of one blow after another. 17. ... dxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qb4 Nd7 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qc4 Bg2 22. g5 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 b5 24. Qe6 Ng4 25. Qg8+ Ke7 26. Qxh8 1 : 0.

“I didn’t invent Fischerandom chess to destroy chess”, 11th World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer said in a radio interview on June 27, 1999. “I invented Fischerandom chess to keep chess going”. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Through the Looking-Glass

Pentala Harikrishna – David Antón Guijarro

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; ACCENTUS Chess960 Tournament (15+5); Biel/Bienne, July 18, 2020

rnbkqrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBKQRNB w FAfa - 0 1

Position 631

1. d4 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Qc3 g6 6. 0-0 0-0-0 7. Bf4 Ne4 8. Qe3 f6 9. c4. White will get no material compensation for his Bishop sacrifice, but his a-side initiative may well produce the most gratifying results under such a time control. 9. ... g5 10. Bxc7 Kxc7 11. cxd5 Rxd5 12. Nfd2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 e6 14. Qc3 Bg6 15. b4 Kb8 16. Nb3 Ne7 (16. ... Rd6 17. b5 Ne7) 17. Nc5 Qc8 18. Rac1 b6??

19. Na6+!+− Qxa6 (19. ... Kb7 20. Qa3+−) 20. Qc7+ Ka8 21. Qxe7 Re8 22. Qd7 f5 23. Bxd5+ exd5 24. b5 1 : 0.

Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna finished on top in the ACCENTUS Chess960 Tournament, a highlight of the 53rd Biel International Chess Festival, with 5½ points from seven rounds. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

♂

Back to reality. The 53rd Biel International Chess Festival, one of the most prestigious Swiss classic, has been announced to be staged offline from July 18–29, 2020 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, in compliance with all health and hygiene protocols outlined by the Federal Council. Eight players will take part in the Grandmaster Triathlon (GMT) feauring 28 games as 3 sets of round-robin: 7 classical games (100 minutes for the first 40 moves + 50 minutes for the next 20 moves + 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one), 7 rapid games with reversed colours (15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move), and 14 two-way blitz games (3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move). Three years after the triumph of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in the 50th anniversary (2017), no woman will take part in it. The eight participants are (in rating order): Pentala Harikrishna, Radosław Wojtaszek, David Antón Guijarro, Michael Adams, Romain Édouard, Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch, Noël Oliver Studer, and Vincent Keymer.

The Girl of the Lake

Today, on her day off from the tournament, Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) enjoyed sailing on Lake Biel/Bienne. Photo: Bieler Tagblatt.

Ring a Ring o’ Roses

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
47th International Chess Festival “In Memoriam Hans Suri”; Biel/Bienne, July 16, 2014
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. 0-0 a6 5. Bd3!? Ngf6 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1 e6. Another try is 8. ... c4, e.g. 9. b3 Rc8 10. a4 cxb3 11. Bxb3 Nxe4 12. axb5 axb5? (⌓ 12. ... Qb6) 13. Ra7 and White’s position is already imposing, Bosboom – Zso. Polgár, Münster 1994. 9. d4 Be7. If 9. ... cxd4 may follow 10. cxd4 Be7 11. Nbd2 0-0 12. Nf1 Rc8 13. Ng3 Re8 14. h3 Bf8 15. Bd2 Qc7 16. Rc1 Qb8 17. Ba5 g6 18. Qd2 Qa8 19. a3 Rc4 20. Bd3 Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qd2 Qa7 23. h4 e5 24. Bc3 Ng4 25. Bb1 Bg7 26. Ba2 exd4 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Nde5 29. Rd1 Ba8 30. f3 Nf6 31. Qg5 Ne8 32. Nf5 Kf8 33. Nxd6 Nxf3+ 34. gxf3 Nxd6 35. Qf6 Qc5 36. b4 1 : 0 Svidler – Papaioannou, Rhodes 2013. 10. Nbd2 Qc7 11. Nf1 0-0 12. Ng3 Rfe8 13. h3 Rac8 14. Bd3 Bf8 15. Bd2 g6 16. Qe2 Bg7 17. a4 e5. This transposes the early Sicilian into a Ruy Lopez. 18. d5 c4 19. Bc2 Nc5 20. Nh2 Rb8

21. Ra3. A journey in the tracks of Fischer, Karpov & other superstars... 21. ... Bc8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ng4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 Ra8 25. Rea1 Rxa3 26. Rxa3 Qb7. And now, how to milk the cow? 27. g5 Nfd7 28. Qd1 Ra8 29. Qa1 Rxa3 30. Qxa3 Bf8 31. Be3 Be7 32. Nf1 Bd8 33. Nd2 Bb6 34. Nb1 Bc7 35. Nd2 Bb6 36. Nb1 Bc7 37. Nd2 Kg7. Vachier-Lagrave refuses the draw by threefold repetition (37. ... Bb6). 38. g3 Bb6 39. Nb1. Maybe a little too speculative. On 39. Kg2 Qb8 is absolutely equal. 39. ... Nd3! Despite his time trouble, Maxime evaluates the ensuing ending with boldness and precision! 40. Bxb6 Qxb6 41. Bxd3 cxd3 42. Nd2 Qd8 43. c4 Qxg5 44. Qxd3 b4 45. Nb3 h5. Black’s game is easier. 46. Kg2 h4 47. Kh3. If 47. Qf3 then 47. ... f5. The text is no better. 47. ... hxg3 48. fxg3 Qd8! Her Majesty vehemently enters the scene! 49. Kg2 Qa8 50. Qc2 Qa7 51.Qd2 Nf6 52. Qe2 Qa2 53. Nc1 Qb1 54. Nd3 b3 55. Nf2 Qc1 56. Kf3 Nh7 57. Kg2. No better is 57. Nh3 f5. 57. ... Ng5 58. g4 Kf6 59. Qd3?? A gross blunder in time trouble. 59. c5 Qc2 is equally ruinous. The critical line is 59. Nh3 Nxh3 (but not 59. ... Qc2? on account of 60. Qf2+!) 60. Kxh3 Qc2 which, however, looks equally successful in the long run for Black. Of course are needed deeper analysis! 59. ... Qxb2 60. c5 dxc5 61. d6 Qd4 62. d7. Else 62. Qxb3 Qxd6 (Δ ... Qd6-d4) and wins. 62. ... Qxd3 63. Nxd3 Ke7 0 : 1.

Anyway, she’ in a good mood for a change. Photo: Biel Chess Festival.

法式千層酥 (Mille-feuille)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anish Giri
47th International Chess Festival “In Memoriam Hans Suri”; Biel/Bienne, July 14, 2014
Sicilian Defence B51

Notes by Grandmaster Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch, Chess Evolution #30, ChessCafe.com.

In the history of chess, only one woman has played on the highest level and this is Judit Polgár. At her best she even managed to enter the Top Ten. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the current Women’s World Champion and clearly the strongest female player after Polgár seems to do fine against men as well. 逸凡 (Yìfán) is very close to entering the Top 100 and already proves this in the first round of Biel.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+. This is a very popular move at the moment. There have always been a few Top GMs who liked 3. Bb5, but especially after the games of Carlsen this move came into fashion.
3. ... Nd7. And this is the most fighting reply for Black. The main line is clearly 3. ... Bd7 and now in the latest games White seems to push a bit after 4. c4!?, and strangely Black did not show a clear way to equalize so far.
4. d4. The most principled. White also has moves like 4. 0-0 or 4. c3.
4. ... cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6

6. Be2!? Quite an interesting and rare move. We would be in the main lines after 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. 0-0 and now White’s idea is usually connected with the c2-c4 move.
6. ... Ngf6 7. 0-0 e5. Giri is already planning a Pawn sacrifice, which just looks too dangerous. The simple 7. ... e6 8. c4 b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 would lead us to hedgehog structures where the White Queen is not so perfectly placed on d4. Anyhow, he might be in time to regroup and get some small plus.
8. Qe3 d5. It is clear that Black had planned the ,,, d6-d5 move before playing ... e7-e5.
9. exd5. Of course!
9. ... Bc5?

It seems as if Giri does not take his opponent too seriously. There was no reason for Black to take such rushed actions. After 9. ... Nxd5 10. Qd3 N5f6, Black’s position is maybe a bit worse, but White has nothing too spectacular.
10. Qd2! The Queen takes a perfect position on d2, not only to protect the d5-Pawn, but as well to prepare the c2-c4 and b2-b4 Pawn pushes.
10. ... 0-0 11. c4. So Black is a full Pawn down and in case White will be in time to play something like b2-b4, Nb1-c3 and Bc1-b2 the game could already simply be over. Black needs to react very quickly here.
11. ... e4. This is probably the best try for Black, as at least the Knight is going to take a great position on e5.
12. Nd4 Ne5. White’s position is clearly better, but Black has many tricks; for example, connected with ... Nf6-g4 and ... Qd8-h4 or ... Qd8-c7 with the idea of playing ... Ne5-g4 next. White needs to be careful.

13. b4! Another strong decision by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the move in the game is much stronger than something like 13. Nc3. Now White will have the idea of playing c4-c5 ans d5-d6 to totally kill all of Black’s hopes.
13. ... Ba7 14. Nc3 Bg4. Black continues to try and create some complications. Maybe a slightly better try to save the game could have been 14. ... Nd3 15. Nc2! (15. Bxd3 is premature since after 15. ... Bxd4 16. Be2 Be5 the Black Bishop on e5 gives Black some attacking chances) 15. ... Nxc1 16. Raxc1 and of course White is a full Pawn up and has a much better position, but Black’s Bishop-pair could give him some theoretical chances to survive the game.
15. c5!

Another very good move by White based on an exact calculation. White is using the moment that the Pawn on d5 can’t be taken to get the Bishop on a7 completely out of the game.
15. ... a5. 15. ... Nxd5 didn’t really help since after 16. Nxe4 White is just a clear Pawn up.
16. a3. Of course the structure must be kept.
16. ... Nxd5. This is not the best move order. To get a better version Black should have played 16. ... Bb8 before taking on d5. Black is provoking the Bishop to b2. 17. Bb2 Nxd5 18.Nxe4 Bxe2. Of course White is a clear Pawn up, but Black might keep some fighting chances.
17. Nxe4 Bb8. And now we see the difference to 16. ... Bb8, White has another move to play rather than 18. Bb2.
18. f3. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is playing a perfect game. There is no reason for White to exchange the Bishop on e2, which is controlling the Knight e5.
18. ... Nf4?!

A mistake never comes alone. Giri makes another clear miscalculation, but I must admit that it is difficult to find a good move in a bad position. 18. ... Bh5 would lead to the same result as in the game, since after 19. Nf5 the threat of playing Qxd5 gives White enough time to put the Knight to d6.
19. Nd6! The last important move of the game. Black is losing material.
19. ... Bxd6. 19. ... Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 would lead to the same position as in the game via a different move order.
20. cxd6 Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Qxd6 22. Nb5. I guess this is the move Giri blundered.
22. ... Qf6. 22. ... Qb6+ didn’t help since after 23. Be3 Black is losing the g4 Bishop.
23. fxg4. The most simple. White has a big material advantage and the attack too!
23. ... Nf3+ 24. Qxf3 Qxa1

25. Be3. Precision until the end. White wants to play Be3-c5 next, putting pressure on the f7-Pawn. The game is totally over.
25. ... Qf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Nc7. The White Knight is coming to d5.
27. ... Rac8. 27. ... Rad8 28. Bh6 and the f8 Rook has no squares.
28.Nd5 1 : 0. A great game by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) who perfectly capitalized on the mistakes of her opponent. I guess with this win she gained a lot of respect from the top players, who will not try to play against her as with a little girl, sacrificing Pawns for a doubtful initiative.

The girl kicked him hard. Photo: Biel Chess Festival.

埃文達芝士 (Emmental)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anish Giri
47th International Chess Festival “In Memoriam Hans Suri”; Biel/Bienne, July 14, 2014
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Be2. More usual is 6. Bxd7+. 6. ... Ngf6 7. 0-0 e5 (7. ... Qc7 8. c4 e6 9. b3 b6 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Rd1 Be7 12. h3 Rd8 13. Qe3 0-0 14. Ba3 Rfe8 15. Rac1 h6 16. b4 Rc8 17. Bb2 Qb8 18. Bd3 Nh7 19. Ne2 Ba8 20. e5 Ng5 21. Nxg5 Bxg5 22. f4 Be7 23. Be4 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Red8 25. Nd4 Bf8 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. exd6 Re8 28. Rc3 Qa8 29. Qxa8 Rxa8 30. c5 bxc5 31. bxc5 Reb8 32. Ba3 Rd8 33. c6 Rac8 34. Bb2 Nb8 35. c7 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Bxd6 37. cxb8=Q Rxb8 38. Bc1 Rb4 ½ : ½ Svidler – Grischuk, 4th Chess World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011, match game 4) 8. Qe3 d5!? If you say a you must say b... If 8. ... Nc5 then 9. Nc3 Be7 10. b3 0-0 11. Ba3 Ne6 12. g3 Qa5 13. Bb2 Nc5 14. Nd2 Be6 15. a4 Rfe8 16. Nc4 Qc7 17. a5 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Qc6 19. Nd2 h6 20. Bf3 Bf8 21. Nf1 Bg4 22. Bxg4 Nxg4 23. Qf3 Nf6 24. Re1 Ne6 25. Ra4 Ng5 26. Qg2 d5 27. exd5 Nxd5 28. Rc4 Qf6 29. Nxd5 Nf3+ 30. Kh1 Rxd5 31. Re3 Rd1 32. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 33. Rxf3 Rxf1+ 34. Kg2 Rb1 35. Bc3 Rc1 36. Bd2 Rd1 37. Rd3 Be7 38. Kf3 Bg5 39. Bxg5 Rxd3+ 40. cxd3 hxg5 41. Ke4 f6 42. Rc7 Rb8 43. b4 Kh7 44. Kd5 b6 45. b5 axb5 46. a6 Rd8+ 47. Kc6 b4 48. Kb7 b3 49. Rc3 1 : 0 see Fressinet – Grandelius, 22nd Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament, Malmö 2014.

9. exd5 Bc5? Throwing away a Pawn in a velleitary attempt to snatch the initiative. Better was 9. ... Nxd5 10. Qe4 N5f6 11. Qh4⩲ with only an edge for White. 10. Qd2! 0-0 11. c4 e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. b4! Ba7 14. Nc3 Bg4. 14. ... Nd3 15. Nc2! Nxc1 16. Raxc1 leaves White with a Pawn ahead and much the better game. 15. c5! a5. On 15. ... Nxd5 16. Nxe4 Bb8 17. f3 it’s almost like in the text. 16. a3 Nxd5. Makes it easy. A little better is 16. ... Bb8 17. Bb2 Nxd5 18. Nxe4 Bxe2. 17. Nxe4 Bb8 18. f3 Nf4. A desperate bid for counterplay. He’s hoping for 19. Qxf4?? Nxf3+. 19. Nd6! The coup de grâce. 19. ... Bxd6 20. cxd6 Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Qxd6 22. Nb5 Qf6 23. fxg4 Nf3+ 24. Qxf3 Qxa1 25. Be3 Qf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Nc7 Rac8 28. Nd5! 1 : 0.

Photos: Biel Chess Festival.