Gold rush

We learn from On Chess by Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Álvarez (August 11, 2016) that very soon Fabiano Caruana will move to Saint Louis to live. The news may be of interest of others too, because, as writes Ramírez Álvarez, “With the Saint Louis University chess team starting in a couple of weeks, three additional grandmasters will be calling Saint Louis home. Darius Swiercz from Poland; Francesco Rambaldi from Italy/France and Yaroslav Zherebukh from Texas will also be frequent guests at the Saint Louis Chess Club”.

QuackShot

Vitaly Leonidovich Kunin – Francesco Rambaldi
35th Chess Mitropa Cup (Open Section); Prague, June 23, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. h3 0-0 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f5 12. Bc4+ Kh8 13. 0-0 fxe4 14. Ng5 e5. The alternative is 14. ... Nxd4 15. Nf7+ Rxf7 16. Bxf7 Qd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. Rab1 Bc6 19. Bc4 Rd8 20. Rfc1 Qc7 21. Qe1 Qe5 22. Rd1 Qc5 23. Bf1 Bf6 24. Kh1 Rd7 25. Rbc1 Qa3 26. Bh6 e5 27. Be3 Kg7 28. Bc4 h5 29. Bb3 Qe7 30. Qc3 Qd8 31. Qc5 a5 32. Bc4 g5 33. Bf1 g4 34. h4 Rd5 35. Qa7 Rd7 36. Qc5 Rd5 37. Qa7 Rd7 ½ : ½ Svidler – Vachier-Lagrave, FIDE Grand Prix, 3rd stage, Tbilisi 2015. 15. d5. If, instead, 15. dxe5 there might follow 15. ... Nxe5 16. Bd5 h6 17. Nxe4 Bxh3 18. gxh3 Nf3+ 19. Kg2 Nh4+ 20. Kg1 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 Nh4+ 22. Kg1 Nf3+ ½ : ½ Svidler – Grischuk, FIDE Grand Prix, 3rd stage, Tbilisi 2015. 15. ... Nd4 16. a4! For 16. Nxe4 b5 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Bxb5 Qxd5 19. Bd3 Bb7 see Schachinger – Papp, 34th International Open, Zalakaros 2015. 16. ... Bf5? Maybe it’s not a mistake, but it seems to me that Black loses time and ground. Deserving consideration was 16. ... Qe7 17. Nxe4 Bf5 and if 18. f3 then 18. ... Rac8 with a reasonable position for Black. 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qe7 19. Qg4 Rf5 20. Qxe4 Nxe6 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Qxb7. It’s quite obvious that Francesco has lost the opening battle. Black is in serious trouble. 22. ... Qe8 23. Rfc1! Rf7 24. Rc7 Rxc7 25. Qxc7 h5 26. a5. Not yet 26. Bxa7 because of 26. ... e4 followed by ... Qe8xa4. 26. ... a6 27. Rb1! Qa4

28. Bh6! Kunin delivers Italian boy a terrific blow. 28. ... Rg8. If 28. ... Bxh6 then 29. Rb7 finis. 29. Bxg7+ Rxg7 30. Rb8+ Kh7. On 30. ... Rg8 31. Rb7 White forces mate in three moves. 31. Qd8 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Kh6 33. Qh8+ Rh7 34. Qf8+ Rg7. Or 34. ... Kg5 35. h4+! Kxh4 (35. ... Kg4 36. Qf3+ Kxh4 37. Qg3 mate) 36. Qf6+ g5 37. g3+ Kg4 38. f3 mate. 35. Rb7 e4 36. Qh8+ 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Šachový svaz České republiky (Facebook)

Italy in a day

Sopiko Guramishvili – Francesco Rambaldi
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 20, 2015
English Opening A36

Notes by Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett, Spraggett on Chess, December 23, 2015

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 Bxc3 6. dxc3 d6 7. Ne2 f5 8. e4 fxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bg2 Be6 11. b3 h6 12. Nf4 Bf5 13. h3 Qd7 14. Nd5 g5 15. a4 0-0-0 16. a5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 e6 18. Qd1 e5 19. a6 b6 20. Bd5 Be6 21. Be3 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 Kc7 23. Rd1 Qc8 24. Ra1 Ne7 25. Qf7 Rd7 26. 0-0 Rf8 27. Qe6 Nc6 28. Rfd1 Rdd8 29. Qxh6 Rh8 30. Qg7+ Rd7 31. Qxg5 Rxh3 32. Kg2 Qh8 33. Rh1 Rdh7 34. Qf5! A curious position! While White is up a good Pawn, this position’s theme is not about material, but rather attacking the Kings. Clearly Black has an attack against the White King, while White has chances against the Black King: if she could get in a check on the 7th rank then there will follow a check on b7 and another check on g5 with the Bishop. At first sight it appears that Black’s attack is stronger, having already tripled on the open h-file. But this is not the case! White’s last move (34. Qf5) sets several traps for Black... If now 34. ... Rxh1? 35. Rxh1 Rxh1 White should win after 36. Qf7+ Kc8 37. Qb7+ Kd8 38. Bg5+ Ke8 39. Qxc6+ Kf7 40. Qd7+ Kg6 41. Bh4!. Also insufficient is 34. ... Ne7?! 35. Qxh3! Rxh3 36. Rxh3 Qa8+ 37. f3 when White’s two Rooks are clearly more formidable than Black’s Queen. And there is another bit of poison hidden after 34. ... R3h5? 35. Rxh5 Rxh5 36. Qf7 Kd8 [...]. Now 37. Rh1!! wins on the spot (37. ... Rxh1 38. Bg5+!). Getting back to the game... Black played the correctly: 34. ... Rh2+! Black has wisely avoided White’s little traps! Now White should continue 35. Rxh2 Rxh2+ 36. Kf3 with the better chances [36. Kf1 is also possible: 36. ... Ne7 (36. ... Rh1+ 37. Ke2 Qh7 38. Qxh7+ Rxh7 and White still has his g-Pawn) 37. Qf7 with pressure]. If then Black wants to trade Queens then his ending is simply worse, while 36. ... Rh1 37. Ke2! maintains all of the advantages of the position. (Note that 37. Rh1 would be a mistake, as the reader can easily verify for himself). Instead, so much wanting to catch her Grandmaster opponent in a trap, Guramishvili momentarily lost her objectivity, pressing her luck: 35. Kf3(?). White is hoping that Black will take the bait: 35. ... Rxh1 36. Rxh1 Rxh1 when 37. Qf7+! will transpose into one of the traps previously described above. Unfortunately for her, Rambaldi is not a Grandmaster by chance!.

35. ... Ne7! At move 34 this move did not work (35. Qxh3!), and it is entirely possible that White just assumed it was still impossible... If now 36. Qg5 then simply 36. ... Qf8+ (simultaneously defending the Knight) followed by capturing the Rook would leave Black up a Rook for nothing. 36. Qe4!? (What else?) 36. ... d5! Black could also take the Rook on h1 immediately, when 37. Qb7+ would not work, but why give White the pleasure of giving some checks? White can now resign, but played on a few more moves. 37. cxd5 Rxh1 38. Rxh1 Rxh1 39. Bf4 Kd6 0 : 1. Moral of the story: if your opponent does not fall for your trap the first time, he will certainly not fall for the same trap the next time!

Sopiko Guramishvili
Photo: David Llada

Up-down cues

Francesco Rambaldi – John Bartholomew
7th CSC London Chess Classic FIDE Open; London, December 8, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined 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. Nxg6 hxg6 11. 0-0-0 dxc4 12. Qxc4 a6 13. Qb3. For 13. g3 b5 14. Qe2 c5 15. dxc5 Nbd7 see Ubilava – Alsina Leal, 13th International Open, Villa de Navalmoral de la Mata 2007. 13. ... b5 14. g3. For 14. e4 c5 15. d5 c4 16. Qc2 e5 17. g4 Nfd7 see Shengelia – Esen, 17th European Team Chess Championship, Novi Sad 2009. 14. ... c5. The position is much easier to play as Black. 15. dxc5 Nbd7 16. Kb1 Nxc5 17. Qc2 0-0 18. e4 Rac8 19. Be3. Driving the Black’s Knight where it was aiming for. Consideration deserves 19. a3, although after 19. ... Na4 20. Qb3 Rfd8 Black stands better anyway. 19. ... Na4 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. Qg2 Nxc3+ 22. Rxc3 Rxc3 23. bxc3 b4 24. c4 b3 25. Qb2

25. ... Nxe4! The decisive blow! 26. Qxb3 Qa8 27. Bd3 Nc5 28. Bxc5 Bxc5 29. Be4 Qa7 30. Kc2 Rb8 31. Qa4 Bb4 32. Rf1 Qe3 0 : 1.

Out of Nothing

Francesco Rambaldi – Simon Kim Williams
7th CSC London Chess Classic FIDE Open; London, December 6, 2015
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. 0-0 Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bg4 10. d5 Nd4 11. Be3 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 Bd7 13. a4 Be7 14. Qb3 0-0 15. Qxb7 Rb8. Or 15. ... Nh5 16. Kh1 f5 17. Bh3 Rb8 18. Qa7 Nf6 19. a5 Qe8 20. Nd2 Ra8 21. Qb7 Rb8 22. Qa7 Ra8 ½ : ½ Delchev – Goumas, 11th International Open, Gazi 2015. 16. Qxa6 Nh5 17. Nd2 f5 18. Nc4 fxe4 19. fxe4 Bc8 20. Qa7 Rb7 21. Qa5 Qe8 22. Bg2 Qg6 23. Kh1 Bh4 24. Rf1 Rbf7. Williams leaves White with a free hand on the Queenside hoping to mount an attack on the opposite flank. Apparently 24. ... Rb3! pursues the same goal without ceding ground. 25. Qb6 Rf6 26. a5 Qg4 27. f3. It’s maybe not the best solution, but the position is very double-edged.

27. ... Rxf3?? As they say, from “illusions” to “hallucinations” there is only a step. Correct was 27. ... Qg6 28. Nd2! Ng3+! 29. hxg3 Bxg3 30. Kg1 Qh5 31. Rf2 Bh3! with a very unclear situation. 28. Nd2 Bd8 29. Qxd6 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Nf4 31. Bxf4 exf4 32. Nf3 Bxa5 33. e5 Bf5 34. e6 Qh5 35. e7 Re8 36. b4 Bd3 37. Re1 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi at Wien in 2015
Photo: Wikipedia

One Way Trip

Francesco Rambaldi – Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch
2nd PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament; Douglas, October 6, 2015
Réti Opening A05

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 d4 6. b4 Nc6!? 7. b5 Na5 8. d3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. 0-0 Bh6 11. Bc1 Bxc1 12. Qxc1 Qd6. Intending to answer 13. Qh6 by 13. ... Ng4 14. Qg7 Qf6. 13. Nbd2 a6 14. bxa6 Rxa6 15. Nb3 0-0 16. Nxa5 Rxa5 17. Qd2 Rfa8 18. Rfb1 R8a7 19. Rb2 Kg7 20. Qf4 Nd7 21. Qxd6 exd6 22. Ng5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Kf6 24. Nxh7+. “It took 13 moves to capture it, but the White Knight never made it back alive! :)”, the editor-in-chief of chess24.com said. 24. ... Kf5

25. e4+. If 25. h4 then 25. ... f6. 25. ... dxe3 26. fxe3 g5 27. h4 gxh4 28. gxh4 f6 29. h5 Ra8 30. Rf2+ Ke6 31. Raf1 Rxa2 32. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 33. Kh3 Ra8 34. Rg1 Kf7 35. h6 Rg8 36. Rxg8 Kxg8. Finally, Black can capture the Knight. 37. Nxf6+ Nxf6 38. Kg3 Kh7 39. Kf4 Kg6 40. d4 d5 41. cxd5 Nxd5+ 42. Ke4 c4 0 : 1.

Rambaldi vs. Naiditsch. Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni.

Варенье (Varenye)

Grand Finale at the World Junior Chess Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, September 16, 2015. They are the Champions: Mikhail Al. Antipov, Nataliya Buksa, Alina Bivol, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Francesco Rambaldi &c.

E più d’onore ancora assai mi fenno

Closing ceremony of the World Junior Chess Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, September 16, 2015. The Queen, Nataliya Buksa from Ukraine, and the King, Mikhail Al. Antipov from Russia, waiting for the golden medals as they are airily talking each other. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova.

“E più d’onore ancora assai mi fenno; Ch’ei sì mi fecer della loro schiera, Sì ch’io fui sesto tra cotanto senno”. Congratulations to Italian superstar Francesco Rambaldi (second from right) on his splendid if not lucky performance! Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova.

Lose to Win

Today Francesco Rambaldi is the image of a very gifted player who, incidentally, after two weeks of wonderful chess, is not a winner. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova.

Myths of the Near Future

Mikhail Al. Antipov – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 15, 2015
Caro-Kann Defence B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Nb3 Nd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Be2 Ne7 8. 0-0 g5 9. Ne1 Qc7 10. Nd3 Ng6 11. Bd2. Another try is 11. Ne1 Ne7 12. f4 0-0-0 13. Nd3 Ng6 14. Bg4 Bxd3 15. cxd3 gxf4 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. Rxf4 f5 18. Bh5 Nf6 19. Kh1 Nxh5 20. Qxh5 Qg7 21. Rf3 Rg8 22. Rg3 Qh7 23. Rxg8 Qxg8 24. Rf1 Qg5 25. Qxg5 hxg5 26. g4 fxg4 27. Rf7 Re8 28. Kg2 Be7 29. Kg3 b6 30. Kxg4 Kd7 31. Rf3 ½ : ½ Nakamura – Shankland, 59th U.S. Chess Championship, Saint Louis 2015. 11. ... 0-0-0 12. a4 f6! Rambaldi plays to win! 13. exf6 Bd6 14. g3 Rdf8 15. Ndc5 Bxc5 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Bh3 18. Re1 Rxf6 19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. Qxg4 h5! 21. Qxg5 Qf7 22. Qe3 e5 23. b4 Rf8 24. Rf1 h4! 25. Qe2 e4 26. Bc3 Rf3 27. Bd4 Qd7 28. Kh1 Qg4 29. Rfe1

29. ... e3! Francesco conducts the attack with glaring élan! 30. Bxe3 hxg3 31. hxg3. Sad, but understandable, as 31. fxg3 Rf1+! wins the Queen. 31. ... Nh4! Threatening ... Qg4-h3+ and mate next move. 32. Kh2. Obviously the Black Knight is taboo: 32. gxh4?? Rh3 mate. 32. ... d4?? Oh, no, the Italian flight remains stunned in the ruins of a broken dream! Instead 32. ... Qh5!! wins on the spot, threatening 33. ... Nf5+ 34. Kg2 Nxg3! 35. fxg3 Rxg3+! 36. Kxg3 Rg8+ 37. Kf2 Qh2+ 38. Kf1 Qh3+ 39. Kf2 Qg2 mate. 33. Bf4 Rxf2+ 34. Qxf2 Nf3+ 35. Kg2 Rxf4 36. Re8+ Kd7 37. Rae1. Alas, what a turnaround! 37. ... Nxe1+ 38. Qxe1 Rf7 39. Rb8 Qf3+ 40. Kg1 Rf8 41. Rxb7+ Kc8 42. Rxa7 Kb8 43. Re7 Rd8 44. b5 d3 45. Qe5+ Ka8 46. Ra7+ Kxa7 47. Qc7+ Ka8 48. Qxd8+ Kb7 49. Qd7+ Kb8 50. Qxd3 1 : 0.

Mikhail Al. Antipov (R.) vs. Francesco Rambaldi (L.)
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Stop and Stare

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 14, 2015
Pirc Defence B07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. d5 Ne7 7. h3 Bd7 8. Bg5 Ng6 9. Nbd2. For 9. c4 Be7 10. Nc3 h6 11. Be3 0-0 12. Qd2 Nh5 see Abu Sufian – Mohammed Abdul, 32nd Bangladesh Chess Championship, Dhaka 2006. 9. ... Be7 10. h4 Ng4 11. g3 c6 12. Nc4 Qc7

13. h5 Bxg5? This is bad judgment if not bad luck. First 13. ... cxd5 14. exd5 (14. hxg6 is answered by 14. ... dxc4 15. Rxh7 Rf8 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Bf1 fxg6! 18. Rxg7+ Kf6! 19. Rh7 Rh8!) 14. ... Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Ne7 was more to the point, although after 16. h6! Nxh6 17. Ne4 White keeps the initiative. 14. dxc6. Rambaldi evidently underestimated the strenght of this zwischenzug. 14. ... Qxc6 15. Nxg5 Ne7 16. Be2 Nc8 17. Bxg4. Very tempting – and apparently more energetic – is 17. Na5!, e.g. 17. ... Qb6 18. Bxg4 Bxg4 19. Qxg4 Qxa5 20. h6! with crushing effect. 17. ... Bxg4 18. Nxe5. Duda doesn’t want to take any risks and plays safely for staying inside his own “comfort zone”. Here 18. Qxg4 Qxc4 19. h6! was probably stronger. 18. ... Bxd1 19. Nxc6 Bxh5 20. Nd4 Bg6 21. 0-0-0 0-0. Francesco is already in serious time trouble, but he keeps defending stubbornly. 22. f3 Rd8 23. Rh2 h6. “Black miraculously maintained the material balance, and now he misses the last chance to put up a stubborn resistance: 23 ... Nb6! 24. Nb5 h6 25. Nh3 Nc4!. He chose instead to assume a passive defence, and Jan-Krzysztof gradually tightened the noose”, writes International Master Vladimir Barsky. 24. Nh3 f6 25. Nf4 Bf7 26. Nf5. Meanwhile Duda also got into grave time trouble. 26. ... Kf8 27. b3 a5 28. Kb2 Ra6 29. Nd4 Rd7 30. Rhd2 Rb6 31. c4 Na7 32. c5 Ra6 33. Nf5 Nc8 34. cxd6 Rc6 35. g4 a4 36. Nh5 axb3 37. axb3 g6. This hastens the end, but Black’s game was already past recovery. 38. Nxf6 Rd8 39. Nh7+ Kg8 40. Nxh6+ Kg7 41. Nxf7 Kxf7 42. Ng5+ Kf6 43. f4 1 : 0.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Invincible

Francesco Rambaldi – Ulvi Bajarani
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 13, 2015
French Defence C03

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. e5 c5 5. Qg4 Kf8 6. Ndf3 Nc6 7. Bd3 h5 8. Qf4 cxd4 9. Ne2 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 Be7 11. Nexd4 h4? Over-hazardous play, since Black has no attacking prospects along the open h-file. The immediate 11. ... Nh6 12. Bd2 Qb6 deserves consideration. 12. Bd2 Nh6 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 g5? With this “coherent” move Black makes matters even worse. 15. h3 a5 16. Qe3 Rg8 17. Rg1 Qc7. White now wins a Pawn, cashing in on his manifest superiority: 18. Nxh4 Bc5 19. Qe2 Bd4 20. Nf3 Bxb2 21. Rb1 Bc3 22. Bxg5 Rxg5. Evidently forced, as 22. ... Rh8 is refuted by 23. Bf6. 23. Nxg5 Bxe5 24. Nf3 Bc3 25. Qe3 Ng8 26. Nd4 Bb4 27. Nf3 Bd7 28. Ne5 Be8 29. g5. Black has no compensation at all for his sacrificed Exchange and his game appears already irremediably lost. 29. ... Ba4 30. Qf4 Kg7 31. g6 f6 32. Qh4. The Knight is taboo, since 32. ... Qxe5 is met by 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Qf7 mate, while 32. ... fxe5 33. Qh7+ leads to the win of the Queen. 32. ... Kf8 33. Qh7. Here Rambaldi misses a very elegant way to win: 33. Rxb4! axb4 34. g7+ Ke8 35. Qxb4 Qe7 36. Qb6! fxe5 37. Bg6+ Kd7 38. Qxb7+. 33. ... Qg7 34. Nf3 b6 35. Rg4 Bd7 36. Rh4 Rd8 37. Nd4. Another winning method is 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Rh7+ Kf8 39. Nd4. 37. ... f5 38. Bb5 Bxb5+ 39. Nxb5 Rd7 40. Nd4 Rd6 41. c3 Bc5 42. Re1 Bxd4 43. cxd4 Rc6 44. Qh5 Ne7 45. Qg5 Qxg6 46. Qf4. Again Francesco misses the coup de grâce: 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Qh4 f4 48. Rh6! Qxh6 49. Qxe7+ Kg6 50. Qe8+. 46. ... Qg7 47. Rh5 Kf7 48. Qh4 Ng6 49. Qg3 Nf8? “Azerbaijani Grandmaster ingeniously defended, and after 49. ... b5! 50. Qb8 Kf6 got real chances for a draw [since] White cannot take the Pawn (51. Qxb5? Nf4) [...]”, writes International Master Vladimir Barsky.

50. Rxf5+! Very pretty solution! 50. ... exf5 51. Re7+ Kxe7 52. Qxg7+ Ke8 53. Qe5+ Ne6 54. h4 Kf7 55. Qxf5+ Kg7 56. h5 Rc1+ 57. Kg2 Re1 58. Qg6+ Kh8 59. Qf6+ Kh7 60. Qf7+ Kh8 61. h6 Re4 62. f3 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova

Formidable

Trần Tuấn Minh – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 12, 2015
Neo-Old Indian Defence A41

1. d4 d6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nd7 5. h3 e5 6. Bh2 Nh6 7. Be2 0-0 8. 0-0 Qe7 9. c4 f5 10. Nc3 c6 11. b4 g5 12. c5. No better at all is 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. c5 Nf7 14. Qb3 Kh8 15. Rad1 h5 as occurred in the game Lenz – Szenetra, Baden-Baden 1990. 12. c5 d5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. dxe5 f4

16. Nxd5? A mirage! Theoretically, three Pawns compensate for a Knight, but here Black has more dynamic positional pluses, while White only static ones. The right way was 16. exf4 gxf4 17. Bf3 Qxe5 18. Ne2 Nf5 with rough equality. 16. ... cxd5 17. Qxd5+ Be6 18. Qd6 Qf7 19. Bh5 Qxh5 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. exf4 gxf4 22. f3 Nf5. Rambaldi concludes the game with restless energy. 23. Rf2 Rad8 24. Re1 Qg5 25. Qc4 Ne3 26. Qe4 Rg8 27. g4 Rge8 28. h4 Qxe5 29. Qxb7 Rd1 30. Rxd1 Nxd1 0 : 1.

Trần Tuấn Minh vs. Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Everything’s Eventual

Francesco Rambaldi – G. Akash
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 11, 2015
Réti Opening A05
 

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 0-0 5. Bg2 d5 6. 0-0 c6 7. c4 Bg4 8. d3 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 e5 12. e3. No better at all is 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Bg2 Rc8 as occurred in Jongsma – Cortlever, 31st Hoogovens-B International Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 1969.

12. ... e4. Even if not everyone knows him, G. Akash is a highly gifted player. Here he doesn’t hesitate to play the sharpest continuation, foreseeing all the outcomes of his next Pawn sacrifice. 13. dxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 h5 15. Qc2 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Bxe4 Qd7. The domination along the d-file and the opposite colour Bishops fully compensates Black for his Pawn deficit. 21. Kg2 Qd2 22. Qb1 Qb2. After the exchange of Queens, White’s extra Pawn is virtually nullified by the presence of Bishops of opposite colour. A long, very drawish endgame now follows: 23. Qxb2 Bxb2 24. b4 Ba3 25. b5 cxb5 26. cxb5 b6 27. Bc2 Rd5 28. Rb1 Rd2 29. Bb3 Kg7 30. Kf3 f6 31. Rg1 Kh6 32. Rf1 Kg7 33. g4 h4 34. Be6 Rd6 35. Bc4 Rd2 36. Rb1 Bb2 37. Rf1 Ba3 38. Bb3 Kh6 39. Ke4 Kg7 40. Kf3 Kh6 41. Rd1 Rxd1 42. Bxd1 Bb4 43. Ke4 Be1 44. f4 Bd2 45. Kd3 Bc1 46. Kd4 Bd2 47. a4 Bc1 48. Bc2 Bd2 49. Kd3 Bc1 50. Ke2 g5 51. Kf3 Kg7 52. fxg5 fxg5 53. Ke4 Kf6 54. Kd4 Ke6 55. Bb3+ Kd6 56. Bd1 Ke6 57. Bf3 Kd6 58. Bb7 Bd2 59. Bc8 Bc1 60. Bf5 Bd2 61. Ke4 ½ : ½.

Francesco Rambaldi (R.) vs. G. Akash (L.)
Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova

Monolith

Benjamin Bok – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 10, 2015
Caro-Kann B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. 0-0 h6 7. c3 a6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. b4 Nc8. For 9. ... a5 10. a4 Ng6 see Vishnu Prasanna – Lupulescu, 3rd Chess Classic, Al-’Ain 2014. 10. Nb3 Be7 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 b6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Rfc1 0-0 15. a4 Qb7 16. Rab1 a5 16. Rab1 a5 17. bxa5 bxa5 18. Nxa5 Qc7 19. Nb3 Ncb6 20. a5. Here Bok was already in very serious time trouble. 20. ... Nc4 21. Nfd2 Nxa5 22. c4 Nxb3 23. Rxb3 Qa7 24. c5 Rfb8 25. Rcb1 Rxb3 26. Rxb3 f5 27. exf6 Bxf6 28. Nf3 e5 29. dxe5 Nxe5 30. Nxe5 Qa1+ 31. Rb1 Qxe5 32. g3 d4 33. Qc4+ Kh7 34. Bd2 Qf5 35. Rb3 Ra1+ 36. Kg2 Rd1 37. Rf3 Qe4 38. Qd3 Qxd3 39. Rxd3 Bg5 40. f4 Be7. Time control is reached just when Francesco is going to win a Pawn, even if under the actual circumstances it will be very hard for White to exploit his Pawn advantage. 41. Kf3 Bxc5 42. Ke4 Bb6 43. f5 c5 44. Bf4 Rh1 45. Rb3 Bd8 46. Be5? Bok is in time trouble again! Correct was 46. Kd5 Rxh2 47. Be5 Rh5 48. Rb7 Rg5 49. Rd7 Ba5 50. f6 Kg8 51. f7+ Kf8 52. Ke6 Rg6+ 53. Kd5 Rg5 with a draw by repetition.

46. ... Bf6? Rambaldi misses his chance! Instead, 46. ... Re1+! 47. Kd5 c4 48. Rb7 (else 48. Rf3 d3 49. Bc3 d2! 50. Bxd2 Rd1 is a more prosaic win) 48. ... Rxe5+ 49. Kxe5 c3 50. f6 c2 51. f7 Bf6+! would, in fact, win in all variations, as originally demonstrated by Edo. 47. Bxf6 gxf6 48. Kd5 Re1 ½ : ½.

Benjamin Bok vs. Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

The Shimmer

Francesco Rambaldi – Dmitry Gordievsky
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 8, 2015
Réti Opening A07

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. 0-0 Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8. dxe4 Be7 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nh4 Re8 12. Nf5 Bf8 13. Nc4 Qc7 14. Bd2 b5. For 17. ... Nc5 15. f3 Nfd7 see Vaganian – van den Doel, Belgian Team Chess Championship 2003/2004, December 8, 2003. 15. Na5 Nb6 16. c4 Nxc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18. Ne3 Bc5 19. Nxc4 Bd4 20. Rc1 c5 21. b3 Qc6 22. Bc3 Bg6 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. f3. 24. e5 Be4 25. f3 Bd5 is nothing special for White. 25. ... Rad8 25. Qf2 Nd7 26. Rfd1 f6 27. b4 Bf7 28. Bf1

28. ... Ne5 29. Nxe5 Rxe5? Probably the decisive mistake. A little better was 29. ... fxe5 30. bxc5 Re6 and if 31. Bc4 then 31. ... Rf6 32. Qe2 Qc7 followed by ... Rf6-c6 retaining some drawing chances. 30. Rxd4! Just a petite combinaison, as José Raúl Capablanca would put it. 30. ... Rxd4 31. Qxd4 cxd4 32. Rxc6 Bxa2 33. Ra6. Now White wins the a-Pawn under the most favourable circumstances for a win. 33. ... Bb1 34. Bc4+ Kf8 35. Rxa7 f5 36. b5 d3 37. b6 d2 38. Rd7 fxe4 39. Rxd2. Of course 39. b7 wins on the spot, but Rambaldi was apprehensive about the impending time control. 39. ... Re8 40. Rb2 Bd3 41. Bxd3 exd3 42. b7 Rb8 43. Kf2 Ke7 44. Ke3 Kd6 45. Kxd3 Kc7 46. Kc4 Kc6 47. f4 Kd6 48. Rb6+ Kc7 49. Kc5 Kd7 50. Kb5 Kc7 51. Ka6 Rd8 52. Ka7 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi vs. Dmitry Gordievsky
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

The Unvanquished

Francesco Rambaldi – Giuseppe Leiva
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 6, 2015
English Opening A28

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bd6 9. d4 0-0 10. Be2 Re8. 10. ... f5 11. 0-0 Kh8 12. Rd1 Qf6 13. c4 see Malakhatko – Socko, Najdorf Memorial Festival, Warsaw 2010. 11. Bb2 e4 12. Nd2 Qg5 13. g3 Qg6 14. c4 Bf8 15. Bf1 Nd8 16. Bg2 f5

17. 0-0-0. Francesco decides to adopt the sharpest mode of castling. 17. ... c5 18. Rhe1. To prepare for f2-f3. 18. ... Ne6 19. f3 Ng5 20. Kb1 Bd7 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. h4 Nf7. Also after 22. ... Nf3 23. Nxf3 Ba4 24. Qxa4 exf3+ 25. Qc2 fxg2 the game would tend towards a draw. 23. Ka2 Bf5 ½ : ½.

Artwork: KiraCreator21

Footfalls

Daniil Aleksandrovich Yuffa – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 5, 2015
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nb6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. d3 0-0 9. Be3 Re8 10. Rc1 Bf8 11. Ne4 Nd4 12. Nc5 Bxc5 13. Rxc5 Bg4 14. Bxd4 exd4 15. Qc1 c6 16. Qf4 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Re6 18. Rf5 Re7 19. Rc1 Rd7 20. Re5

20. ... Qb8! A very timely rassemblement by Rambaldi. 21. Qe4 Rd8! 22. Rh5 h6! Also playable is 22. ... g6 and if 23. Rh4 (23. Qg4 is answered by 23. ... Nd7 followed by ... Nd7-f8) then 23. ... Rd7 with a fundamentally quite sound position. 23. Re5 Nd7 24. Rf5 Qd6 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Nb6 27. Rf5 a5 28. Kf1 g6 29. Rfc5 Na4 30. R5c2 Ra6! A “Rook lift” just to increase pressure against White’s Queenside. 31. Rd1 Rb6 32. Rdd2. White has almost imperceptibly got into a somewhat passive position and Francesco can already think of playing to win. 32. ... Rb5 33. e4 f5 34. h4 Kg7 35. exf5 gxf5 36. Bd1 Kf6 37. Re2 Nc5 38. Rcd2 Nd7 39. Re1 Re5 40. Bh5 Rxe1+ 41. Kxe1 Nc5 42. Kd1 f4! 43. Bf3 Rg8 44. g4 Re8 45. Re2 Rxe2 46. Kxe2. Not 46. Bxe2? on account of 46. ... f3! with decisive effect. 46. ... Nd7. We wonder why Rambaldi didn’t play 46. ... Na4 winning a clear Pawn. Now Yuffa manages to save the day. 47. Be4 Ne5 48. f3 b5 ½ : ½.

Yuffa vs. Rambaldi. Photo: Vladimir Barsky.

Three Days of the Condor

Francesco Rambaldi – Noël Studer
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 4, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc3 8. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 a6 10. Bg2 0-0 11. 0-0 d6 12. Qa4 Nd7 13. Qa3. Another try is 13. Rfd1 Rb8 14. Nb3 Qc7 15. Qa3 Ne5 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Nxc4 18. Rdd1 b6 19. Rab1 Na3 20. Rb2 Nc4 21. Rbb1 Na3 22. Rb2 Nc4 ½ : ½ Molner – Lê Quang Liêm, SPICE Cup Open, Saint Louis 2013. 13. ... Qc7. Here 13. ... Ne5 is perhaps sounder, e.g. 14. c5 d5 15. e4 Nc4 16. Qb4 a5= (if 17. Qb5 then 17. ... Bd7 18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qa7 Ra8 with a draw by repetition).

14. Nb5 Qxc4 15. Nxd6 Qc5. Black is rightly afraid of going Pawn-hunting, exposing himself to danger, e.g. 15. ... Qxe2 16. Rfd1 Ne5 17. c4! Nxc4 18. Nxc4 Qxc4 19. Qe7! g6 20. Rac1 Qxa2 21. Rd4! and White’s imposing position more than compensates him for the three Pawns minus. 16. Qb4 Rb8 17. Rfd1 b6 18. Rab1 Qxb4 19. cxb4 Nf6 20. Rbc1 Bd7 21. Rd3 a5 22. b5 e5 23. f4 exf4 24. gxf4 Bg4 25. Kf2 g6 26. Bc6 Nh5 27. e3 Rbd8 28. Bf3 Bf5 29. Rd4 Ng7 30. Rc6 Be6 31. Rxb6 Bxa2 32. Ra4 Be6 33. Rxa5 Nf5 34. Nxf5 gxf5 35. Rba6 Bc4? Far better drawing chances were offered by 35. ... Rd2+ followed by ... Rd2-b2. Now White picks up a second Pawn and concludes the game confidently. 36. Rc6 Bd5 37. Rc5 Bxf3 38. Kxf3 Rd3 39. Rxf5 Re8 40. Re5 Rxe5 41. fxe5 Rb3 42. Ke4 Rb2 43. h3 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova

Kingdom Come

Irakli Beradze – Francesco Rambaldi
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 3, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Qd6 7. e3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxg5 9. Nxg5 c6 10. Bd3 h6 11. Nf3 Be6 12. 0-0 Nd7 13. Rfc1 Qe7 14. a3 Bd6 15. Re1 0-0 16. e4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf6 18. d5 Nxe4 19. dxe6 Nxc3 20. exf7+ Qxf7 21. Qxc3 Bc7 22. Rad1 Rfe8 23. h4 Bb6 24. Qb4 Qf5 25. Re7 Rxe7 26. Qxe7 Rf8 27. Qe2 Kh8 28. Rd6 Qg4 29. Re6 Qf4 30. Re8 Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Kh7 32. Qe2 Qf5 33. g3 Bd8 34. Kh2 Bf6 35. Ne1 Qe5 36. Qc2+ Kh8 37. Nd3 Qe4 38. Qd2 b6 39. Nf4 Be5 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Qe8 Qf5 42. Qxc6 Bxf4 43. Qf3 Bxg3+. Now follows a very difficult (if very drawish) Queen ending. 44. Qxg3 a5 45. a4 Qe4 46. b3 Qd4 47. Kh3 Kg8 48. Qf3 Qd7+ 49. Kh2 Qd6+ 50. Kh3 Qe6+ 51. Kh2 Qf7 52. Qa8+ Kh7 53. Qe4+ Qg6 54. Qf3 Qd6+ 55. Kh3 Qe6+ 56. Kg3 Kg6 57. Qd3+ Kf7 58. Qf3+ Ke8 59. Qc3 Kf7 60. Qc7+ Kf6 61. Qf4+ Kg6 62. Qf3 Qe5+ 63. Kg2 Qf5

64. Qg3+? The first player cannot enter a King and Pawn ending – neither directly nor indirectly: 64. Qxf5+?? Kxf5 65. Kg3 h5 66. Kf3 g6 and White is in Zugzwang. Therefore the right way was 64. Qc6+ Kh5 65. Qxb6 Kxh4 with equality. 64. ... Kh5! Naturally Francesco gets the unexpected chance! 65. Kf1. After 65. Qxg7 Qg4+ Black forces the exchange of Queens and thanks to the distant passed h-Pawn he wins easily. 65. ... Qb1+ 66. Kg2 Qe4+ 67. Kf1 Qh1+ 68. Ke2 Qxh4 69. Qe3. Again 69. Qxg7 is met by 69. ... Qg4+ giving Black a winning ending. 69. ... Qf6 70. Qh3+ Kg6 71. Qg4+ Kh7 72. Kf1 Qg6 73. Qc4 h5 74. Qh4? Beradze loses his nerve and after the text he loses also a second Pawn. White could only patiently defend waiting for Godot. 74. ... Qg4 75. Qd8 Qh3+ 0 : 1.

Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Vladimir Barsky