Bivirga

Anton Demchenko – David Wei Liang Howell
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 23, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. 0-0 Ba7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Bg3 0-0. Vainly trying to improve on 10. ... Na5 11. Bd5 0-0 12. b4 c6 13. Bxf7+ Rxf7 14. bxa5 Qxa5 15. d4 Qxc3 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Re1 Qb4 18. Nxe5 Rf8 19. a3 Qd4 20. Qb3+ Kh7 21. Rad1 Qb6 22. Qc2 Qc5 23. Nec4 Ne8 24. Nb3 Qe7 25. Nd6 Bg4 26. Rd2 Ng7 27. Nc5 Ne6 28. Ncxb7 Nd4 29. Rxd4 Bxd4 30. e5+ Kh8 31. Qc4 Bc8 32. Nxc8 Qxb7 33. Nd6 Qa7 34. e6 Bf6 35. Nf7+ Rxf7 36. exf7 Qxf7 37. Qxc6 Qf8 38. a4 a5 39. h3 Bg7 40. Rc1 Rd8 41. Qb6 Rd5 42. Qb7 Qf5 43. Rc8+ Kh7 44. Rc7 Rd1+ 45. Kh2 Qf6 46. Re7 1 : 0 Demchenko – Venkatesh, 8th International Chess Open, Chennai 2016. 11. a4 g4 12. Bh4! A tremendous surprise – in both practical and psychological ways. 12. ... Kg7. If 12. ... gxf3 then 13. Qxf3 Kg7 14. Rfd1 with the threat of Nd2-f1-g3-h5+.

13. Kh1! Intending – if Black doesn’t take the Knight – Nf3-g1 followed by f2-f4. 13. ... gxf3 14. Qxf3 Nb8 15. g4! White has only a Pawn for the Knight, but his initiative looks really dangerous. 15. ... Nbd7 16. Rg1 Rh8 17. Nf1 Qe8? The decisive mistake in a difficult position. Best was 17. ... Kf8 18. Ng3 Rg8 in order to answer 19. Nh5 by 19. ... Rg5! with the aim of reducing as most as possible the strenght of White’s attack. 18. g5! Big Bang disruption. 18. ... Ng8 19. gxh6+ Kf8. Or 19. ... Kxh6 20. Bg5+ Kh7 21. Be7+ Kh7 22. Qf5+ Kh6 23. Qh3 mate. 20. Qg3 Ngf6 21. Qg7+ Ke7 22. Rg6! Rg8 23. Bxf6+ Nxf6 24. Qxf6+ Kd7 25. Bxf7 1 : 0.

Anton Demchenko
Photo: Delhi Chess Association

The Importance of Being Earnest

Ekaterina Sekenova (@katya_sekenova)

Ernesto already knows we are always with him, but if someone doesn’t believe it... Congrats to our Champion Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev!!!

Playing It Cool

Vladimir Vasilievich Fedoseev – Marco Codenotti
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 22, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. 0-0 Bb6 7. a4 h6 8. Na3 0-0 9. Bb3 a5 10. Re1 Re8 11. h3 Be6 12. Nc4 Ba7 13. Bc2 Bxc4 14. dxc4 Nh5 15. Kf1 Nf4 16. Ng1 Qf6 17. Qf3 Nh5 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. g3 h5 20. Nf3 g6 21. Kg2 Kg7 22. Bd2 Bb6 23. Rad1 Nd7 24. b4 axb4 25. cxb4 Nd4 26. Nxd4 Bxd4 27. a5 b6 28. Ba4 Red8 29. Bc6 Ra7 30. Rb1 Nb8 31. Bb5 Rc8. Black’s position is surely easier to handle, but now White, rather than play to keep his slight uncomfort within acceptable terms by 32. axb6, decides to leave the a-Pawn to its fate, for focusing on the Kingside. 32. f4 bxa5 33. bxa5 c6 34. Ba4 Nd7 35. f5 Nc5 36. Bd1 Nb7 37. fxg6 fxg6 38. Rf1 Rc7

39. Bg5!?? White launches into a reckless attack, evidently overestimating his own Bishop pair. Maybe 39. g4 hxg4 40. hxg4 Nxa5 41. Bg5 Rf7 was not appealing to him as Black has a Pawn to the good and clearly better chances, but yet it would have been the best offering he could find. 39. ... Rxa5 40. Bf6+ Kh7 41. g4. As consistent as bad. 41. ... Ra2+ 42. Kh1 hxg4. Fedoseev to play and selfmate: 43. hxg4?? What a blunder! After 43. Bxg4 Kh6! 44. Bf3 Nc5 45. Rb8 Rh7 46. h4 Be3! Black should win anyway, but must play carefully for a while yet. 43. ... Kg8! 0 : 1. Very bad news for Fedoseev: mate is unstoppable.

Marco Codenotti
Photo © Andreas Kontokanis

Not an Easy Chair

Igor Viktorovich Kovalenko – Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 21, 2016
Queen’s Indian Defence E18

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Bf6 9. Ne5 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Qd6 Qb6 14. Rad1 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Be7 16. Rd2 d6 17. Nd3 a5 18. f4 Nd7 19. Ne5 Nb8 20. Ng4 f5 21. Nf2 Nd7 22. e4 Nb6 23. exf5 Nxc4 24. Re2 Rxf5 25. Rxe6 Bf8 26. Rfe1 Rf7 27. Ne4 d5 28. b3 Na3 29. Ng5 Rfa7 30. Be5 h6 31. Nf3 a4 32. Rb6 Ra6 33. Rb7 R6a7 34. Rb6 Ra6 35. Rxa6 Rxa6 36. Kf2 Rb6 37. Rd1 d4 38. Nd2 Nc2 39. Kf3 Rb7 40. Rb1 Nb4 41. a3 Nd5 42. bxa4 Ra7 43. Rb8 Kf7 44. Ke4 Nc3+ 45. Kd3 Rxa4 46. Nc4 Nd1

47. Rxf8+!? Kovalenko’s Exchange sacrifice doesn’t lose itself, but certainly doesn’t give him any chance of winning. The simplest way was 47. Bxd4! cxd4 48. Ne5+ Kg8 49. Ng6 Kf7 50. Ne5+ drawing by repetition. 47. ... Kxf8 48. Bd6+ Kf7 49. Bxc5 Ne3 50. Nb6? Pushing too hard for a win. 50. Nxe3 dxe3 51. Bb4 followed by Kd3xe3 would have clearly lead to a draw. 50. ... Ra5 51. Bb4 Rh5 52. a4? Consistency in fallacy. After 52. h4 Rb5 53. Nc4 Ke6 Black has obviously the better chances, but it’s not yet clear whether he can make anything substantial out of it. 52. ... Rxh2 53. a5 Ra2? 53. ... Rb2! 54. Bc5 Ra2 55. Bb4 Nc2 was simpler and quicker. 54. Na8? Here Kovalenko could have put up more resistance with 54. Kxd4 as after 54. ... Nc2+ 55. Kc5 Nxb4 56. Kxb4 Ke6 57. Na4 Kd6 Black’s win would be far more laborious. 54. ... Ke6 55. Ke4 Ra4 56. Nc7+ Kd7 57. Na6 Kc6 58. Bf8 Rxa5 59. Nb4+ Kb5 60. Nd3 Kc4 61. Bxg7. Or 61. Ne5+ Rxe5+! 62. fxe5 Ng4 63. Ba3 d3 winning easily. 61. ... Nf5 62. Ne5+ Rxe5+! 63. Bxe5 d3 64. Kxf5 d2 65. Kf6 d1=Q 66. f5 Kd5 67. Bf4 Qh5 0 : 1.

Kovalenko vs. Inarkiev. Photo: European Chess Union (@ECUonline).

Tilting at Windmills

Daniil Dimitriyevich Dubov – Ante Brkić
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 20, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 h5 9. h3 Bxc3+. For 9. ... Nxg3 10. fxg3 Bd6 11. 0-0-0 Bxg3 12. e4 see Hole – Forsaa, 83rd Norwegian Chess Championship, Hamar 2007. 10. bxc3 Nxg3 11. fxg3 Nc6 12. e4! dxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd6 14. Kf2 Bd7 15. c5 Qe7 16. Rb1 0-0-0 17. Ne5. Most likely Black was expecting for 17. Rxb7!? Kxb7 18. Bb5 a6! coming out of the storm, but Dubov has in mind something more sublime. 17. ... f5 18. Qf3 g4? Had Black foreseen what he was doomed for, should have probably played 18. ... Qe8, although after 19. Ba6! bxa6 20. a4! White keeps good attacking chances.

19. Ba6!! A disruptive “windmill” combination which must have been overlooked by Brkić. 19. ... gxf3. If 19. ... bxa6 then 20. Qe2! Nb4 21. Rxb4 Bb5 22. Rxb5! axb5 23. Qxb5 c6 24. Qxc6+ Qc7 25. Qxe6+ and White gets an overwhelming advantage. 20. Bxb7+ Kb8 21. Bxc6+ Kc8 22. Bb7+ Kb8 23. Bxf3+ Kc8 24. Bb7+ Kb8 25. Bc6+ Kc8 26. Rb2! The pointe. 1 : 0. For if 26. ... Bxc6 then 27. Rhb1! with unavoidable mate.

Daniil Dimitriyevich Dubov
Photo: Chess-News.ru

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.

Under the Volcano

Avital Boruchovsky – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 19, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 0-0 9. Ne2 c5 10. d5!? e6 11. Be3 b6 12. Bb3 Qh4! An ambitious novelty. For 12. ... Na6 13. 0-0 Nc7 14. Qd2 exd5 15. exd5 Nb5 16. Bf4 Nd6 17. Ng3 Bb7 see Avrukh – Greenfeld, Wydra Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament, Haifa 2000. 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. dxe6 c4 15. Ba4 b5 16. Qd2 fxe6 17. Bc2 Rd8 18. Nd4

18. ... e5!! Hammer offers an Exchange sacrifice for eventually relying on the Bishop pair as well as on his Queenside Pawn majority. 19. Bg5 Qg4 20. Bd1?? Being hard-pressed, Boruchovsky loses his head and commits a very palpable mistake. It doesn’t look so appealing either 20. f3 Qc8 21. Bxd8 exd4 followed by ... d4-d3 when Black’s powerful passed d-Pawn would paralyze White’s position. The critical line is probably 20. Bxd8 exd4 (but not 20. ... Qxg2?? because of 21. Nf3!! Qxh1+ 22. Ke2 Qxa1 23. Qd5+ Kh8 24. Nxe5 with mate in short order) 21. cxd4 Nc6 to be soon followed by the taking of the d4-Pawn and, in spite of the lack of any material compensation, Black retains pretty promising dynamical prospects. 20. ... Qxg2 21. Bf3 Qh3 22. Bxd8 exd4 23. Qg5 Qxf3 24. Qd5+ Kh8! 25. 0-0 Qg4+. In order to gain time on the clock. 26. Kh1 Qf3+ 27. Kg1 Nc6 28. Qxc6 Qg4+ 29. Kh1 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Rxd8 31. Qxa6 Be5! 32. Qe6 Qf4 33. Qh3 dxc3! Threatening ... Rd8-d3. 34. Rfd1. We can hardly call it a mistake, as White has no good move. 34. ... Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 c2 0 : 1.

Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen)

Next Door

Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer – Nderim Saraci
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 17, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D36

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nge2. Of course 11. Nf3? Nf4 is nonsense. For the sharp 11. 0-0-0 Nb6 12. Nf3 Bg4 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Rc1 Nfd7 15. Ka1 0-0-0 see Aronian – Carlsen, 3rd GRENKE Chess Classic, Baden-Baden 2015. 11. ... Nb6 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Rae1 Bg4? Black loses valuable time and, furthermore, induces White to make an useful move (f2-f3). The immediate 13. ... Be6 is more consistent and much more probing; for instance: 14. Nc1 Rad8 15. Nb3 Rfe8 16. Nc5 Bc8 17. b4 Nc4 18. Qe2 Qg5! 19. f4?! Qh4 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. g3? Nxg3! 22. hxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Kh1 Qh3+ 24. Qh2 Rxe3 25. Nd1 Rxe1 26. Qxh3 Bxh3 27. Rxe1 b6 28. Ne4 Rxd4 29. Kh2 Bf5 30. Ndc3 Rd3 31. b5 cxb5 32. Nxb5 Bd7 33. a4 a6 34. Nc7 Bxa4 35. Nxa6 c3 36. Nb4 Rd4 37. Na2 Rd2+ 0 : 1 Navara – M. Adams, 48th International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne 2015. 14. Nc1 Rfe8 15. f3 Be6 16. Qf2 c5 17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. Nb3 Qb4 19. Nd4 Nc4?? This should be the losing move. Black had more than one better move at his command, for instance 19. ... a6(!).

20. Nxe6! Nxb2. If 20. ... Rxe6 there might follow 21. Nxd5 Qc5 22. Rc1 b5 23. Be4 gaining material, while after 20. ... fxe6 21. Bg6 White wins the Exchange. 21. Nxd5 Qa3 22. Bb1 1 : 0. Whatever Black takes the e6-Knight, it will follow Nd5-c7.

Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Chess-Free Days

European Chess Union (‏@ECUonline)

Baleti i Kosovës (National Ballet of Kosovo)

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)

Rex Romae

Daniele Vocaturo – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 16, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 0-0 6. 0-0 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Nb6 11. b4 Be7 12. Qe2!? Most usual is 12. g4, e.g. 12. ... Bg6 13. b5 Na5 14. Nxe5 Naxc4 15. Ndxc4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bc2 18. Rd2 Ba4 19. Re2 a6 20. Ng6 hxg6 21. Rxe7 axb5 22. Rxc7 bxc4 23. Rxc4 Bb3 24. Rb4 Bxa2 25. c4 Ra6 26. Rxb7 Bxc4 27. Rxa6 Bxa6 28. Rb6 Rc8 29. Bf4 Bc4 30. Rb8 Rxb8 31. Bxb8 ½ : ½ Forcén Esteban – Sandipan, 34th International Chess Open, Benasque 2014. 12. ... Nxc4 13. Nxc4 f6. Deserving consideration was 13. ... Bf6 in order to answer 14. b5 by 14. ... Nb4! with very appealing variations. 14. b5 Nb8 15. d4 a6 16. bxa6 Rxa6 17. dxe5 Rc6 18. Bb2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 fxe5 20. Qe4 Bc5 21. Rad1 Qe7. 21. ... Bxf2+ 22. Kh1 Qe8 is Stockfish’s first choice, and indeed, it might have been chosen. 22. Re2 Nd7 23. Rdd2 Rcf6 24. Ne3 Nb6 25. c4 Bxe3 26. fxe3! Far from obvious. 26. ... Qe6 27. Rc2

27. ... Qc6? Hammer intuitively feels that it’s time to search for counterplay, even at cost of sacrificing a Pawn. His version, however, will not prove good enough to provide him sufficient compensation. Best was 27. ... Nd7! in order to met 28. Qxb7 by 28. ... Rf1+ 29. Kh2 Nf6 (threatening ... Nf6-g4+!) with fairly good compensation. 28. Qxe5 Nxc4 29. Qd4 b5 30. a4 Qe6? “30. ... Qb6 31. axb5 (31. Qxb6 Rxb6 32. axb5 Nxb2 33. Rxb2 Rfb8 should lead to a draw) 31. ... Nxb2 32. Rxb2 Re8 appears to be a better plan”, writes Tarjei J. Svensen (Matt & Patt, May 17, 2016). 31. axb5 Nxb2 32. Rxb2 Rf1+ 33. Kh2 h6 34. Rbc2 R8f7? This loses a second Pawn, making Black’s cause desperate. 34. ... Qb6 35. Qxb6 cxb6 36. Rc6 doesn’t look pleasant, but is the best worst thing that Black could hope for. 35. Rxc7! Rxc7 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Qxc7 Rb1 38. Qc5 Qe4 39. Rf2 Rb3 40. Rf4 Qb1. Clearly not 40. ... Qxe3?? on account of 41. Qf5+ Kg8 42. Rf3 winning the Rook. 41. Rf5 Qd3 42. Re5 Qg6 43. Qd5 Rb2 44. Qf3 Qd6 45. Qf5+ Kh8. Or 45. ... g6 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. Qe6 Qxe6 48. Rxe6 Rxb5 49. Rxg6 and White should win the ending. 46. Qf4 Kh7 47. h4 Qg6 48. Qg3 Qf6 49. Qf4 Qg6 50. Qf3 Rb4 51. Kh3 Qb1 52. Qf5+ Qxf5+ 53. Rxf5 Kg6 54. g4 Re4 1 : 0. Hammer resigns without waiting for 55. Kg3 Rxe3+ (as bad as any other move) 56. Rf3 Re6 57. h5+ Kh7 58. Rb3 Rb6 59. Kf4 with an easy win.

Daniele Vocaturo
Photo © Fred Lucas

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

Beauty Conquers Injustice

Nathan Birnboim – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 12, 2016
French Defence C03

As maybe you know, the very gifted Grandmaster Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer was excluded from the 4th Altibox Norway Chess for “reason of state”, viz. the sponsor had to pay homage to Marco Polo’s Milione – not a best-seller anymore, I guess. Therefore, since justice requires equality, he hopes to win here in Kosovo. 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 a6!? Apparently Hammer has prepared something special for Birnboim’s favoured 3. Nd2. 4. Bd3 c5 5. Ngf3. Here 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. Qe2 Bxc5 7. Ngf3 Nc6 is the critical alternative. 5. ... c4 6. Be2 b5! 7. exd5 exd5 8. Nf1. For 8. 0-0 Bd6 9. c3 Ne7 see Meszároš – Hlas, Slovenská Extraliga 2009/2010, Žilina 2009. 8. ... Bd6 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 Ne7 11. Bg3 0-0 12. c3 Nbc6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Ne3 f5! Of course Black’s light-square Bishop does not risk to become “bad” in any way! 15. 0-0 f4 16. Nc2 Bf5 17. Qd2 Be4. Black stands much better, having gained an advantage on both wings – in the best Tarrasch style.

18. Nce1 Rab8 19. b4 a5 20. bxa5. It can’t be good. 20. a3 was mandatory, so to induce Black to close the a-file by 20. ... a4 – but I doubt Hammer would have played it so soonly. 20. ... Ra8 21. Qb2 Rxa5 22. a3 Rfa8 23. Nd2 Bf5 24. Nef3 Rxa3 25. Rxa3 Qxa3 26. Qxb5 Qxc3. And so the Black c-Pawn has fallen as the first pear. Since also the d4-Pawn is doomed, Birnboim – who is a clever tactician – decides to sacrifice his Knight hoping in a future for the d-Pawn. 27. Nxc4 dxc4 28. d5 Qb4. Stockfish’s first choice 28. ... Ra5! 29. Qxc4 Nxd5 is even more merciless. 29. Qxc4 Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Nb4 31. d6+ Ned5 32. Nd4. 32. Rd1 Kf8 appears to be more stubborn, but it is mere illusion. Black must win, and Hammer does not lack the technique necessary for doing it. 32. ... Bd7 33. Rb1 Kf8 34. g3 Rc8 35. Bb3 Nc3 36. Ne6+ Bxe6 37. Bxe6 Nxb1 38. Bxc8 fxg3 39. hxg3 Nc3 40. Kg2 Nb5 41. Bf5 h6 42. d7 Ke7 43. Kf3 Nd5 44. Kg4 Nf6+ 45. Kh3 Nd4 46. Bd3 Nxd7 47. Kg2 Kf6 48. Bc4 Ne5 49. Ba2 Nd3 50. Bd5 Ke5 51. Bb7 Ne6 52. Bc6 Kd4 53. Bb7 Nec5 54. Bc6 Ne4 55. f3 Ne1+ 0 : 1.

Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
Photo: Yerazik Khachatourian/Matt & Patt