When the Wind Blows

Pavel Eljanov – Dronavalli Harika
23rd TePe Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament; Malmö, May 10, 2017
Réti Opening A05

“I have not been to Sweden before but I am confident of doing well here. I will just try to do routine stuff, play quality games and give tough fight to all my opponents”, Harika said on the eve of her début in the invitational élite TePe Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 d6 3. d4 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. g3 Bd7 6. Bg2. The (vintage) alternative was 6. Nc3 c5 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Nd5 ½ : ½ U. Andersson – Najdorf, 1st Clarín International Tournament, Buenos Aires 1978. 6. ... Qc8. 6. ... 0-0 after 7. 0-0 Qc8 8. Re1 Bh3 9. e4 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 e5 11. dxe5 Nfd7 would transpose into Reshevsky – Kagan, 7th International Tournament, Netanya 1973. 7. h4 0-0 8. c4 c5 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. a4 a6 14. 0-0 Ne8 15. a5. 15. h5 Nd6 (15. ... gxh5 16. Qg5) 16. h6 Bh8 17. e4 is Stockfish’s recipe to keep fighting for a (very unlikely) White’s edge. After the text Black won’t ever have any more worries. 15. ... Nd6 16. Qc2 Qc7 17. e4. Eljanov’s purpose was probably to prevent ... f7-f5, but I think he very unwilling made such a move. 17. ... b5! 18. axb6 Qxb6 19. Ra3

19. ... Nxc4! Harika will end up a Pawn ahead, but no real winning chances, due to White’s Rook on the seventh rank and the Bishops of opposite colour. 20. bxc4 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Rxb2 22. Na4 Bxa4 23. Rxa4 Bh6! 24. Rxa6 Rb4 25. Ra7 Re8 26. Rc7 Rxc4 27. Ra1 Rc1+ 28. Rxc1 Bxc1 29. Bf1 Kf8 30. Bc4 Rd8 31. g4 Bb2 32. Kg2 h6 33. Rb7 Bc3 34. Kg3 Bd2 35. Rc7 Bc1 36. Kf3 Bd2 37. Ke2 Bc1 38. Kd3 Bb2 39. Rb7 Bd4 40. Ke2 Bc3 41. Rc7 ½ : ½.

Dronavalli Harika contemplating Malmö’s sea
Photo: Dronavalli Harika (@HarikaDronavali)

Women’s Tales from Catalonia

Pavel Eljanov (@Eljanov)

Chess Grandmaster Pavel Eljanov alludes to what happened yesterday night, when Barcelona accomplished the greatest comeback in Champions League history by overturning a four-goal first-leg deficit to stun Paris Saint Germain. The Catalans were humbled 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, but defied overwhelming odds to triumph 6–1 in the return encounter at the Camp Nou securing a miracle 6–5 aggregate victory.

Last Tango in Haarlem

Pavel Eljanov – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
79th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Haarlem, January 25, 2017
English Opening A13

Just a premise. On his way to Harleem before the game started, Grandmaster Eljanov sought inspiration (and good luck) listening to “Tango in Harlem” by the Touch and Go. 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc7!? Not the most common, but surely not unexpected to Eljanov. 11. Nd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qd6 13. g3 Bh3 14. Re1 Rac8 15. Bf1!? Finally, departing from the nonclassical matrix: 15. Bd3 Ba5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qh5 Qh6 18. Qxh6 gxh6 19. Red1 Bg4 20. f3 Bh5 21. g4 Bg6 22. Nf1 Bb6 23. Kg2 Rc3 24. Bxg6 hxg6 25. Rxd5 Rfc8 26. Rad1 Bxe3 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Nxe3 Rxe3 30. Rd7 Re2+ 31. Kg3 Re3 32. Kg2 Re2+ 33. Kg3 ½ : ½ Malakhov – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), Chinese Team Chess Championship, 绍兴 (Shàoxīng) 2016. 15. ... Bg4 16. Be2 Bf5 17. Bb2 Qe7. Black stands well. 18. a3 Bb6 19. Ra2 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qa1 Rc2 22. Bc3 Rxa2 23. Qxa2 Rd8 24. Qb2 Qg5 25. h4 Qg6 26. Be5 Bg4 27. Qc2 Bxe2 28. Rxe2 Qf5 29. Bf4 h6 30. Rd2 Rd3 31. Rd1 g5 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Bb8 Kh7 34. Qe2 Kg6 35. b4 Qd7 36. Rc1 Rd2 37. Qe1

37. ... Qd3? 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) was dominating the board and probably he could have tightened the noose around Pavel’s neck by 37. ... f5! (Δ ... f5-f4); for instance: 38. Be5 f4! 39. Bd4 (39. gxf4? Qg4+ 40. Kh2 Rd7! melodramatically runs into checkmate) 39. ... Qh3! 40. Qf1 Qxf1+ 41. Kxf1 Bxd4 42. exd4 f3! with winning endgame. 38. a4 Re2 39. Qc3 Rxe3!? Still playing for the maximum unbalance! 40. fxe3 Bxe3+ 41. Kh1 Bxc1! Black disdains the draw by 41. ... Qe2 42. Qe1 Qh5+ 43. Kg2 Qf3+ with perpetual check. 42. Qxc1 e3 43. Bxa7 e2. Here is the fantastic position 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) was aiming for at move 39. Black has only one Pawn for the Bishop, but the e2-Pawn is a Damocles sword hanging over the opulent White House! 44. Qe1 Kh5 45. b5. 45. Kh2 Kg4 46. b5 transposes into the game. 45. ... Kg4 46. Kh2 Qh7+ 47. Kg1 Qd3 48. Bb6 f5 49. Ba5 b6 50. Bxb6 f4 51. gxf4 gxf4 52. Bc5 Qc4 53. Bb6 Qd3 54. Bc5 Qc4 55. Bb6 Qd3 ½ : ½. Perhaps 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) could have gotten something more, but honour to him (and Eljanov as well) for resisting the prosaic, workaday routine and showing that the tango is a dance of passion, excitement, and seduction.

Pavel Eljanov (@Eljanov)

Out from the barrio

Pavel Eljanov – Fabiano Caruana
3rd Gashimov Memorial; Şəmkir, May 27, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D91

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. e3 0-0 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd7 11. 0-0 Nb6 12. Bb3 c4 13. Bc2 Nd5 14. Qd2 Nxf4. Another try was 14. ... Qa5 15. Be4 Nf6 16. Bb1 Bg4 17. Ne5 Be6 18. Rc1 Rfd8 19. Qe1 Rac8 20. h3 Qa3 21. Nf3 Nd5 ½ : ½ Sikorsky – Yamaliev, correspondence game, 2012. 15. exf4 Be6 16. a4 Bd5 17. Ne5 e6 18. Rfb1 Rb8 19. Qe3 a6 20. a5 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 22. g3 Rxb1+ 23. Rxb1 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Qa8 25. h4 Bh1 26. Kf1 h5 27. Ke1 a5 28. Ra1 Qg2 29. Rxa5 Qg1+ 30. Ke2 Bg2 31. Qe3 Rb8 32. Ra2 Bh3 33. Kd2 Bf5 34. Qe1 Qg2 35. Bxf5 exf5 36. Kc2?? Black’s position is easier to play, especially in a time scramble, but it is likely that after 36. Rc2 White may hold everything together.

36. ... Qb7?? Fabi, too, finds himself in terrible time pressure and misses the killer 36. ... Qf3!-+ 37. Kc1 (or 37. Rb2 Qd3+ 38. Kc1 Ra8-+) 37. ... Rb3 winning immediately. 37. Kd2 Qg2 38. Kc1?? Repetita non semper iuvant. Eljanov was still in time to play 38. Rc2. 38. ... Qf3! Caruana doesn’t give him a second chance! The rest is almost smooth :). 39. Rc2 Ra8 40. Qe2. On 40. Kb1 Ra3! (Δ ... Qf3-a8) 41. Kb2 Qb7+! wins. 40. ... Qh1+ 41. Kd2 Ra1. White is virtually in Zugzwang. 42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qe5+ Kh7 44. Qe2 Rb1 45. f3. Or 45. Qxc4 Rd1+ 46. Ke2 Qe1+ 47. Kf3 Qe4 mate. 45. ... Rg1 0 : 1.

Fabiano Caruana
Photo: shamkirchess.az

Empire State Building Cometh

Magnus Carlsen – Pavel Eljanov
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 29, 2016
Dutch Defence A90

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 0-0 7. 0-0 c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. a4 a5 10. Rc1 Ne4. Eljanov decides to transpose his anti-Catalan into a Stonewall Dutch – very questionable opening strategy against a superb positional player such as Carlsen. For 10. ... h6 11. Be1 b6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nc3 Bb7 14. Nb5 Rc8 see Sandipan – G. Meier, ZMDI Open, Dresden 2012. 11. Be1 f5 12. Nbd2 Bd6 13. e3 Ra7 14. Qd1 b6 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nb1! “Magnus says game plan was to get into mutually unknown territory and just (out)play”, Grandmaster Jonathan David Tisdall said. 16. ... Ba6 17. Na3 Qa8. Very involute, very compressed. It will be easy for Magnus making his dream come true. 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5. Eljanov has got rid of his “bad” Bishop, but at the cost of leaving SuperMagnus the Bishop pair and a much freer game. 19. ... Rc8 20. Bf1! Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc7 22. Rxc7 Bxc7 23. Qa4! Qb8 24. b4 axb4 25. Bxb4 h6 26. Qc2! Bd6 27. Qc6? The paralyzing irruption, but too hasty. First he should have played 27. Bxd6. 27. ... Ndf6? Eljanov crashes off. Even worse was 27. ... Qc7? 28. Nd2! winning on the spot. However, Black could defend by 27. ... Qa7! 28. Bd3 (both 28. Bxd6? Qa2! and 28. Qc8+ Nf8 29. Bxd6 Qa2! would lead only to a draw) 28. ... Bxb4 29. Qxe6+ Kh8 30. Qxd5 Qa3 31. Bxe4 fxe4 32. Qxe4 when White has three Pawns for the Bishop, but no win in sight. 28. Bxd6 Qxd6. After 28. ... Nxd6 29. Ne5 White stands much better anyway.

29. Qc8+ Kh7 30. Ne5. That’s (almost) all. 30. ... Qe7 31. Qc6 Ng4 32. Nxg4 fxg4 33. Bd3! g6 34. Bxe4 dxe4 35. Qxb6 1 : 0. “I’m incredibly delighted to be able to win here”, then Magnus said.

Magnus finally propheta in patria!
Photo © Jose Huwaidi 2016

From Earth to Sky

Pavel Eljanov – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 28, 2016
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

And, finally, our hero 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) has the honour to be challenged to duel by Pavel Eljanov. 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Ne4 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. Ne5 f6 9. g4 fxe5 10. dxe5 Be7 11. gxf5 exf5 12. Rg1 g6 13. Qe2 Qd5 14. 0-0-0 Nc6 15. Nb3 Qe6 16. Qb5 0-0 17. Kb1 a5 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. exd4 c6 20. Qb6 Rfd8 21. a4 Rd7 22. d5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Qxb7 Re8 25. b3 Ba3 26. h4 Qd4 27. Bc1 Bxc1 28. Rxc1 f4 29. h5 g5 30. h6 Qxe5 31. Rd1 Re7 32. Qxc6

Forget about computers as now 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)’s technique in the conduct of the ending is worth a study composer! 32. ... e3!! 33. fxe3 fxe3 34. Rd5. It is very natural, from a human point of view. After a whole night’s struggling and deep computer questioning, “they” say 34. Qc4+ would have won for White... Their main analysis runs: 34. Qc4+ Re6 35. Rd5 Qf6 36. Qc7 Re7 37. Qc8+ Kf7 38. Rf5 e2 39. Rxf6+ Kxf6 40. Qc3+ Kf5 (on 40. ... Kf7 41. Qe1 wins) 41. Qxa5+ Kf4 42. Qe1 g4± “is an engine-proposal to improve White’s play in the game”, writes André Schulz, but 41. ... Re5! (instead than 41. ... Kf4) 42. Qe1 g4 is an improvement that suggests itself, after which Black certainly cannot lose. Maybe he could not win, since unlike the actual game there is no Black Pawn at a5, but surely he won’t lose. It is quite evident, however paradoxical it may appear, that only Black can win this game – from a human point of view, of course. 34. ... e2!! The pointe. 35. Rxe5 Rxe5 36. Qa8+ Kf7 37. Qa7+ Re7 38. Qf2+ Ke8 39. Qe1 g4 40. Kc1 g3 41. Kd2 g2 42. c3 Re6!! Fantastic! A waiting move, and the only move which wins. 43. b4 Kd7 44. b5 Rd6+ 45. Kc2 Rg6 46. Qd2+ Kc8 47. Qxe2 g1=Q 48. Qe8+ Kb7 49. Qe7+ Kb6 50. Qd8+ Kc5 51. Qf8+ Kd5 52. Qf5+ Kd6 53. Qf4+ Ke7 54. Qe4+ Re6 55. Qxh7+ Ke8 56. Qh8+ Kd7 57. Qh7+ Kc8 0 : 1. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) painted his own masterpiece, the same day when Garry Kimovich Kasparov came back to chessboard!

Jonathan David Tisdall (‏@GMjtis)

Pavel Eljanov vs. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni

Novruz bayramı

The 3rd Vugar Gashimov Memorial “Shamkir Chess” will take place from May 26 to June 4, 2016 in Shamkir (Şəmkir), Azerbaijan, e3e5.com reported. The organizers were waiting for 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, who won the two previous editions, to confirm his participation, but finally he decided against it, adding fuel to the “Cold War” with his next challenger Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin. Participants in alphabetic order are: Fabiano Caruana, Pavel Eljanov, Anish Giri, Pentala Harikrishna, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Rauf Mamedov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, and Eltaj Safarli.

Shamkir (Şəmkir), Azerbaijan
Photo: shamkir-ih.gov.az

Heartbeats

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Pavel Eljanov
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Utrecht, January 27, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3. Miss 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s opening repertoire doesn’t yet include everlasting classics like the Evans Gambit, but who knows, someday maybe it will all come true. 4. ... Nf6 5. d3 0-0 6. 0-0 d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bb3 Be6 9. Bc2 h6 10. h3 Re8 11. Re1 d5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. b4 Ba7 14. a4 b5 15. Bb2!? A new try. On the other hand, after 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Bc4 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rad8 the game seems quite even, Nevednichy – Melkumyan, Grand Europe Open, Albena 2013. 15. ... Qb8 16. Nf1 Qb6. Eljanov’s Queen manoeuvre (... Qd8-b8-b6) is as original as well-founded. 17. Ne3 Rad8. The decision to give up the Bishop pair is all but obvious. If 17. ... Be6 then 18. Qe2 with a slight plus. 18. a5 Qb7 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Nh4 Re6!

21. d4. White opens up the game in order to exploit the power of her two Bishops. It looks quite logical. 21. ... Rf6. If 21. ... exd4 there might follow 22. Qd3 Nf6 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Bb3 and White exerts some pressure. 22. Qh5? A bit too adventurous. 22. ... Qc8! Not 22. ... exd4? 23. Qxd5! with amazing fireworks. 23. Be4 Nf4! 24. Qf3 Ng6 25. Qg3. Not 25. Nf5 exd4 26. Nxh6+? Kf8 and White gets into much more serious trouble. 25. ... Nxh4 26. Qxh4 exd4 27. Bf3 d3. Both players were in serious time trouble, so let’s forget the perfect schachpartie. 28. Rad1 Qf5 29. c4. Good news: White’s dark-squared Bishop finally enters the game! 29. ... g5 30. Qe4 Bd4 31. Bxd4 Nxd4 32. Rxd3! A timely Exchange sacrifice which should be sufficient to survive. 32. ... Ne2+ 33. Rxe2 Rxd3 34. Qe8+?? Miss 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) commits a very unlucky mistake, with almost no time left on clock. The exchange of Queens followed by c4xb5 would have given her excellent drawing chances (as after 35. ... Rxb5 36. Re8+ Kg7 37. Be2 White regains her material loss). 34. ... Kg7 35. Be4 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Qf4+ 37. g3 Qd6 38. cxb5 Rd2 39. Bg2 Rxf2 40. Rxf2 Rxf2 41. Qe3 Rf6. Pavel’s first move after the time control and certainly not a bad one. In spite of her heroic efforts to resist, White will soon have to give up the game. 42. bxa6 Qxa6 43. Qc5 Qd6 44. Qc3 Kg8 45. b5 Rf2 46. Qe1 Ra2 47. a6 Qd5 48. Qf1 Qd4 49. Qg1 Qxg1+ 50. Kxg1 Kf8 51. Bd5 Ra3 52. Kf2 Ke7 53. g4 f6 54. Ke2 Kd6 55. Be4 Kc5 56. Bd3 Kd4 57. Bf5 Rxh3 58. Bd7 Ra3 59. Bc6 Kc5 60. Bd7 Kb6 61. Kf2 c5 62. bxc6 Rxa6 63. Kf3 Ra4 64. Ke3 Kc7 65. Kf3 Kd6 66. Ke3 Ra5 67. Ke4 Re5+ 68. Kf3 Re7 0 : 1.. As they say, after all tomorrow is another day, and, who knows, maybe there will be a happy day after tomorrow.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Tata Steel Chess (Facebook)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Michael Adams – Pavel Eljanov
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 24, 2016
Spanish C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Be7 10. Rd1+. If 10. Nc3 then 10. ... Nh4 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. Ne2 Bf5 13. Nd4 Bd7 14. f4 Be7 15. f5 Bc5 16. Be3 Re8 17. e6 fxe6 18. Nxe6+ Bxe6 19. Bxc5 Bd5 20. Rad1 b5 21. b3 Kc8 22. Rde1 Kd7 23. Bd4 g6 24. f6 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Bxa7 Kf7 28. a4 bxa4 29. bxa4 Kxf6 30. a5 Ke6 31. Kf2 h5 32. Be3 Kd7 33. a6 Kc8 34. Bc5 Be4 35. c3 Bd3 36. a7 Kb7 37. Kf3 Bf1 38. Kf2 Bd3 39. Kf3 Bf1 40. Kf2 Bd3 ½ : ½ Grischuk – Eljanov, 20th European Team Chess Championship, Reykjavík 2015. 10. ... Ke8 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Nc3 h5 14. f3 f5 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Ne2 Kf7 17. b3. Departing from 17. Bf4 hxg4 18. fxg4 f5 19. g5 Be6 20. Nd4 Rag8 21. Nxe6 Kxe6 22. Rd3 Bxg5 23. Re1+ Kf7 24. Bxg5 Rxg5+ 25. Kf2 Rhg8 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Rde7 R5g7 28. R7e6+ Kf7 29. Kf3 Rg3+ 30. Kf4 Rxh3 31. Re7+ Kf8 32. Re8+ Kf7 33. R8e7+ Kf8 34. Kxf5 Rf3+ 35. Ke6 Rf2 36. Kd7 Rd2+ 37. Kxc7 Rxc2 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. R8e2 Rg2 40. Rxg2 Rxg2 41. Rb1 Ke6 42. Kxb7 Kd5 43. Kxa7 Kc5 44. Ka6 Kb4 45. Kb6 Rc2 ½ : ½ Sutovsky – Lysyj, 16th Poikovsky Karpov Tournament, Poikovsky 2015. 17. ... Re8 18. Nf4 hxg4 19. fxg4 f5 20. Rf1 Bf6 21. Rb1 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 fxg4 23. Bb2 Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Re3 25. c4 Rf3 26. Rxf3 gxf3 27. Rf2 Bf5 28. Kh2 Be4 29. Nd3 Ke6 30. Ne1 Kd6 31. Kg3 Kc5 32. Nxf3 Kb4 33. Kf4 Bb1 34. Rb2 Rf8+ 35. Ke3 Bf5 36. Rh2 Ka3 37. h4 Bb1 38. h5 Bxa2 39. Nd2 Bxb3 40. Kd4 Bc2 41. Kc3 Bh7 42. Rh1 Ka2 43. Rh2 b6 44. Ne4+ Ka3 45. Ng5 Bb1 46. Rh1 Ba2 47. Rh3 b5 48. Ne6 Rg8 49. h6 Bxc4

50. Nd4? Adams unusually danced on the outer edge, but so far he kept to the inside. Now 50. Nf4! Rh8 51. h7 Bf7 52. Kd4+ Ka4 53. Kc5 b3 54. Nd3 b3 (not 55. ... a5?? 56. Nb2 mate) 55. Rh1 is a pretty drawing variation originally championed by Klaus-Günther Besenthal. After the text mistake, instead, the “Spider” falls into very, very serious trouble. 50. ... Bd5 51. h7 Rh8 52. Nc2+ Ka4 53. Kd4 b4 54. Kc5 a5 55. Rh4 Kb3 56. Nd4+ Ka3 57. Nc2+ Kb2 58. Rh2 b3!? Astonishingly, Eljanov’s technique is lacking: 58. ... Rxh7 59. Rxh7 Kxc2 is an easy win for Black. 59. Ne3+ Ka3 60. Nd1 a4 61. Nc3 b2 62. Rh3 Be6 63. Re3 Bf5? Pavel’s (second) blind spot. The easiest was the best: 63. ... Rxh7!-+ 64. Rxe6 Rh3 65. Nb1+ Kb3 66. Nd2+ Kc2 67. Re2 Kd1 followed by ... a4-a3. 64. Nd5+! Ka2 65. Nb4+ Ka1 66. Ra3+ Kb1 67. Rf3 Kc1 68. Rf1+ Kd2 69. Rf2+ Ke3 70. Rxb2 Rxh7 71. Ra2 Rh1 72. Ra3+ Ke4? The last mistake. With 72. ... Kd2 73. Kxc6 Rc1+ 74. Kd5 Bd7 Black could have kept his winning chances. 73. Na2 Ke5 74. Rxa4 Be4 75. Ra8 Bg6 76. Rf8 Ra1 77. Rf2 Be4 78. Re2 Kf4 79. Nc3 Bf3 80. Re7 Rc1 81. Kd4 c5+ 82. Kd3 c6 83. Ne2+ Bxe2+ 84. Rxe2 Kf5 85. Re8 ½ : ½. The amazing “Spider-Man” has escaped the impossible, just like Harry Houdini.

Michael Adams vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Alina l’Ami

Starred Up

Fabiano Caruana – Pavel Eljanov
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Bg5 0-0 9. Qe2 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. Rad1 Nbd7 12. Ne5 Nb6 13. Bd3 Nfd5 14. Bg3 Bd7. For 14. ... f5 15. h3 Bd6 16. Rfe1 Qg5 17. Qf3 Nf6 18. Bf4 Qh5 19. Qg3 see Mamedyarov – Kramnik, World Blitz Championship, Moscow 2009. 15. Ne4. White must search for a way to develop a lively play in order to compensate for his Pawn deficit. 15. ... Ba4 16. Rc1 Nd7 17. b3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bc6 19. Rfd1 a5 20. a4 Qe8 21. h4. Fabi continues his committal approach as he is hardpressed to find compensation for the Pawn. 21. ... Rd8 22. h5 Nb4 23. Bb1 Kh8. It would have made sense to exchange a pair of Rooks by 23. ... Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Kh8 – maybe so; maybe not. 24. Bf4 Rg8 25. Bd2! Rd5. Eljanov’s plans start going astray. 26. Bxb4 axb4 27. Rxd5 exd5 28. Ng3 Bg5 29. Re1 g6 30. Qg4 Qe7 31. Qd4

31. ... b6?? It is not understandable why Eljanov allowed White to advance the e5-Pawn. 31. ... Qe6 seems sound enough to hold out for at least a while. 32. e6+ Bf6. Not 32. ... Kh7 33. Nf5! and wins. If, instead, 32. ... Rg7 then 33. exf7! Qxe1+ 34. Kh2 Qe7 35. hxg6 and, despite being a Rook down, White wins in all variations. 33. Qf4 g5!? Dramatically desperate, but 33. ... Kg7 34. Re3! Bg5 35. exf7! would be equally ruinous. 34. Qf5 Rg7 35. Qc2! Qc5 36. Qxc5 bxc5 37. Nf5 Rg8 38. exf7! 1 : 0.

Fabiano Caruana vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Alina l’Ami

Steel

78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament (@tatasteelchess)

Through the Never

78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament (‏@tatasteelchess)

Фейр-плей (Fair Play)

Pavel Eljanov (@Eljanov)

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin (@SergeyKaryakin)

Подбрасывание монеты (Coin flipping)

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – Pavel Eljanov
6th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 4 (Blitz 10+10); Baku, September 29, 2015
Queen’s Pawn Game A40

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 f5. Peter Veniaminovich Svidler on Eljanov needing to win with Black: “I think mostly in the opening he should forget about the opening” :)”. 7. g3 Nf6 8. Bg2 Qa5 9. Qb3 Nbd7 10. Nd2 Nb6 11. 0-0 Bd7 12. Re1 Qa4 13. Bf1 Ne4 14. e3 0-0-0 15. Bd3 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 e5 17. f4 e4 18. Be2 h6 19. Kf2 g5 20. h4 Rdg8 21. Rh1 gxf4 22. exf4 Rg7. As a result of a very poor opening strategy by Karjakin Black has got a splendid position. 23. h5 Rhg8 24. Rhg1 Qa6 25. a4 Be8 26. Be1 Nd7 27. Ke3 Nf6 28. Rh1 Qa5 29. Bf2 b6 30. Rh3 Kd8 31. Be1 Ke7 32. Bf2 Kf8 33. Be1 Re7 34. Rh1 Rgg7 35. Ra3 Kg8 36. Bf2 Kh8 37. Be1 Rg8 38. Bf2 Reg7 39. Rh3 Qa6 40. Qd1? An amazingly bad move for White to make in his very inconvenient position, losing two Pawns. It is hard, however, to suggest any good move; maybe 40. Be1, although after 40. ... Ng4+ 41. Kd2 Re7 Black stands much better. 40. ... Ng4+ 41. Bxg4 fxg4 42. Rh1 Qxc4 43. Qe2 Qxd5 44. Rd1 Qe6 45. c4 Rd7 46. Rd5 Bf7 47. Be1 Qe8 48. Rf5 Kh7 49. Bc3 Be6 50. Rf6 Rf7 51. Rg6. In desperation, White sacrifices a third Pawn! 51. ... Rxg6 52. hxg6+ Kxg6 53. Ra1 h5 54. Rd1 Rd7 55. Qh2. White offers a fourth Pawn! 55. ... Qd8 56. Ba1 d5. Why not 56. ... Bxc4? 57. cxd5 Rxd5 58. Qb2 Rd3+ 59. Ke2 Qd4 60. Qxd4 cxd4 61. Rxd3 Bc4 62. Bxd4 exd3+ 63. Ke3. Karjakin managed to slip out into an ending with Bishops of opposite colours – even if two Pawns down. Both objectively and psychologically, it will turn out to be his saving clause!

63. ... Kf5 64. Bc3 a5 65. Be1 Ke6 66. Bc3 Kf5 67. Be1 Kf6 68. Bd2 Kg6 69. Bc3 Kf5. Here the drama of Eljanov: he fell into a threefold repetition that Karjakin claimed immediately! ½ : ½.

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin vs. Pavel Eljanov
chess24.com (@chess24com)

Lars Bo Hansen (@GMLars)

Jonathan David Tisdall (@GMjtis)

Upside Down

Pavel Eljanov – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
6th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 3 (Blitz 10+10); Baku, September 29, 2015
Réti Opening A05

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. 0-0 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Nc3 d6 7. d3 0-0 8. a4 Nb4 9. h3. Departing from the first tie-break game when he played 9. Nd2. 9. ... Re8 10. Re1 Bd7 11. Nd2 Bc6 12. Nc4 Bf8 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Na5 Bd7 16. Nb5 Qd8 17. Nc4 Be6 18. c3 Nc6 19. Ne3 a6 20. Na3 Rb8 21. Nd5 Ne7 22. Nc4 b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Nce3 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 g6 26. Ra7 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qb6 28. Qa1 c4 29. dxc4 bxc4 30. Re2 Rb7 31. Ra6 Qb3 32. g4. Peter Veniaminovich Svidler calls it “very, very brave”. 32. ... Rb6 33. Ra5 Rb7 34. Be4 Qb6 35. Ra6 Qd8 36. Qa4 Qb8 37. Kg2 Rd8 38. Qxc4 Rxb2 39. Rxb2 Qxb2 40. Ra7 Qb6 41. Rc7 Bg7

42. h4? Eljanov gets the wrong idea. He could have consolidated his manifest advantage by 42. Qc6. 42. ... Bf6! It’s cool to be clever! 43. h5?? And now Eljanov blunders away the game. There was still time for 43. Qc6. 43. ... Bh4! “Poor Elanjov just went red – he missed 43. ... Bh4!”, Grandmaster Daniel W. Gormally said. Game over. 44. Kh3 Qxf2 45. Qd3 gxh5 46. gxh5 Bg5 47. Qg3 Qf1+ 48. Qg2 Qf4 49. Qg4 Qe3+ 50. Kg2 Rb8 51. Rc8+ Rxc8 52. Qxc8+ Kg7 53. Qc4 Qd2+ 54. Kh3 Qd1 55. Qd3 Qxh5+ 56. Kg2 Qg4+ 57. Kh1 Bh4 58. Bf5 Qg5 59. Qf3 Be1 60. Bc2 Bd2 61. c4 Qh4+ 62. Kg2 Qxc4 63. Qf5 Qxd5+ 64. Be4 Qe6 65. Qh7+ Kf8 0 : 1.

Pavel Eljanov vs. Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
Photo: chess24.com (@chess24com)

Sum of squares

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – Pavel Eljanov
6th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 2; Baku, September 29, 2015
English Opening A11

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 c6 4. c4 e6 5. cxd5 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 cxd5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. e3 0-0 11. Bd2 Rc8 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Ne2. For 13. Qe2 a6 14. Bg2 Nb6 15. Rfd1 Qd7 16. Be1 Na7 17. b3 Nb5 see Efimenko – Solak, International Chess Festival, Baku 2013. 13. ... Nb6 14. Nf4 Nc4 15. Bc3 Bb4 16. b3 Nb6. Not 16. ... Bxc3? on account of 17. bxc4 Bb4 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Qb3 and Black loses material. 17. Bb2 Qe7 18. Nd3 Ba3 19. Bxa3 Qxa3 20. Nc5 Rc7 21. Nxb7 Rxb7 22. Rxc6 Qxa2 23. Qd3 Nd7 24. Rb1 a5 25. Bd1 Nf6 26. Bc2 g6 27. f3 Qa3 28. Qc3 Qb4 29. Qxb4 axb4 30. Ra1 h5 31. h4 Re8 32. Kf2 Ree7 33. Ke2 Rec7 34. Rxc7 Rxc7 35. Kd2 Rb7 36. Ra8+ Kg7 37. Bd3 Nd7. Eljanov is struggling to defend a most instructive endgame Rook and Knight vs. Rook and Bishop, “with possibly a nightmare structure f5, g6, h5 vs. f4, g3, h4 on K-side”, says International Master Malcom Pein. Karjakin afterwards suggested a possible improvement with 37. ... Ng8, eventually followed by ... Ng8-e7-c6. 38. e4 dxe4 39. Bxe4 Rb6 40. Ra4 e5 41. Ke3 Kf6 42. dxe5+ Kxe5 43. Ra5+ Kd6 44. Kd4 Rb8

45. Bd5! f6 46. Ra6+ Ke7 47. f4 Nb6 48. Ra7+ Kd6 49. Bf7 Rc8 50. Ra6 Kc6 51. Bxg6 Kb7 52. Ra5 Rc3 53. Be4+ Kb8 54. Rb5 Ka7 55. Rxh5 1 : 0.

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Blitzkrieg

Pavel Eljanov – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
6th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 1; Baku, September 29, 2015
Réti Opening A05

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. 0-0 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Nc3 d6 7. d3 0-0 8. a4 Nb4 9. Nd2 h6 10. Nc4 Bg4 11. Qd2 Bd7 12. Nd1 Re8 13. Nde3 Bf8 14. c3 Nc6 15. f4 exf4 16. gxf4 Be6 17. Qf2 Bxc4 18. Nxc4 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Bd2 Nf6 21. Qf3 Na5 22. Ne5 Qb6 23. Rab1 Rad8 24. Kh1 Qb3 25. Be1! Eljanov offers a Pawn sacrifice for mounting a sudden Kingside attack. 25. ... Qxa4. It seems unwise to accept the gift. 26. Bh4! Rd6. Also after 26. ... Be7 27. Ra1 Qb5 28. Qg3 White’s attack appears to be overwhelming. 27. Ra1 Qb5 28. c4! Qa6

29. d4! A very pretty pointe. 29. ... Rxd4. Naturally, after 29. ... cxd4 White wins trivially with 30. b4. 30. Qc3! The Black Knight is doomed anyway. 30. ... Ne4. Black cannot save the Knight: if 31. ... b6 there follows 32. Bxf6 gxf6 33. Qg3+ Bg7 (on 33. ... Kh7 34. Rg1 forces mate) 34. Rg1! fxe5 35. Bd5 and mate in a few moves. 31. Qxa5 Qxa5 32. Rxa5 Nd2 33. Rd1 Bd6 34. Bf2 Bxe5 35. fxe5 Nxc4 36. Bxd4 Nxa5 37. Bc3 Nc4 38. e6 Rxe6 39. Rd8+ Kh7 40. Bd5! 1 : 0.

Pavel Eljanov vs. Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

The Last Tycoon

Pavel Eljanov – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
6th Chess World Cup; match game 1; Baku, September 27, 2015
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 0-0 12. 0-0 Rc8 13. Re1 c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Rc1 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Nc5 17. Bb2 d4? This is a surprising slip by Karjakin. 18. Nf3! d3!? Mater artium necessitas. 19. exd3 Nxd3 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rxe7. “I have fond memories of 13. Re1, beat GM Sax for my 1st GM norm with it in 1989. Eljanov on course to win with it too”, Grandmaster Lars Bo Hansen tweeted. 21. ... Nxb2

22. Qd7? Pavel is possibly relying too much on his virtuoso technique. After 22. Qd2! Nd3 23. h4! White’s position looks already imposing. 22. ... Qc1+! Of course Karjakin seizes his best practical chance! 23. Re1 Qc8 24. Qxc8. Again 24. Qd2 Nd3 25. Re7 is still comparatively best, giving White the somewhat better position. 24. ... Rxc8 25. Bh3 Rd8 26. Ne5 g6 27. Bf1 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 a5 29. Re3 f6 30. Ng4 Kf7 31. Rc3 h5 32. Ne3 Nd3. The Knight finally comes back into play. 33. Rc7+ Ke6 34. Rb7 Nc1 35. Rxb6+. Pavel has finally won a Pawn, though whether it is enough to win is not clear. 35. ... Kf7 36. Rb7+ Ke6 37. Rb6+ Kf7 38. a4 Rd3 39. b4 axb4 40. Rxb4 Ra3 41. Nc4 Ra1 42. Kg2 Nd3 43. Rb7+ Ke6 44. Rb6+ Ke7 45. a5 Ra4 46. Rc6 Ne1+ 47. Kf1 Nf3. The game is most likely a draw. 48. Rc7+ Ke6 49. Ke2!? Pavel does not surrender to the inevitable and makes one last-ditch attempt to win. 49. ... Nxh2 50. Kd3. “Eljanov’s outside passed Pawn doesn’t look to be going anywhere fast”, says the editor-in-chief of chess24.com. 50. ... Nf3 51. Rc6+ Kf5 52. Kc3 g5! 53. Rc5+. If, instead, 53. Kb3 then 53. ... Rxa5 54. Nxa5 Nd4+ 55. Kc3 Nxc6 56. Nxc6 h4 57. Nd4+ Kg4 58. gxh4 gxh4 59. Kd2 h3 60. Ne2 h2 61. Ng3 Kf3 62. Nh1 Kg2 63. Ke1 Kxh1 64. Kf1 f5 65. f4 stalemate – a pretty variation! 53. ... Ke6 54. Kb3 Ra1 55. Kb2 Ra4 56. Kb3 Ra1 57. Kb2 Ra4 58. Nb6! Rb4+! 59. Ka3 Rb1 60. Ka2 Rb4 61. Rc6+ Kf5! 62. a6 Ne5 63. Rxf6+ Kxf6 64. Nd5+. After 64. a7 Rxb6 65. a8=Q White promotes his Pawn to a Queen, but it’s not enough because Black is able to build up an unassailable fortress. 64. ... Ke6 65. Nxb4 Nd7 66. Nd3 Kd6 67. a7 Nb6 68. Kb3 Kc7 69. Kc3 Kb7 70. Kd4 Kxa7 71. Ke4 Nc4 72. Ne5 Nb2 73. Nf7 h4. Black’s defensive task is now very easy: sacrifice his Knight for the last enemy Pawn! 74. Nxg5 hxg3 75. fxg3 Kb7 76. g4 Kc8 77. Kf5 Nd1! ½ : ½.

Pavel Eljanov (R.) vs. Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin (L.)
Photo Eteri Kublashvili

In Dubious Battle

Hikaru Nakamura – Pavel Eljanov
6th Chess World Cup; match game 2; Baku, September 24, 2015
English Opening A13

“Alas it has all come to an end in round 5 of the Fide World Cup! Simply put, my opponent Pavel Eljanov played better than I did, especially yesterday when he found a nice sacrificial idea to which I responded very poorly”, then Nakamura posted on his Facebook account.

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Ne5 Qc8 8. 0-0 Nc6 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Qa4 Rc8 12. d3 0-0 13. Be3. For 13. Bd2 Rfd8 14. Rfd1 b6 15. Rab1 Qb7 16. a3 a6 see Ki. Georgiev – Khairullin, 30th European Chess Club Cup, Bilbao 2014. 13. ... Rfd8 14. Rac1 b6 15. Rfd1 h6 16. h3 Ne8 17. Nb5 Bf6 18. b3 Nd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Bxc6 Qxc6

21. Qg4 Kf8 22. Rc4 Qd5 23. Rdc1 h5 24. Qf4 Bb2 25. R1c2 Be5 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27. Rxe4 Bd6 28. Rh4 g6 29. Rhc4 g6 29. Rhc4 Rb8 30. d4 cxd4 31. Rxd4 Ke8 32. Kg2 Rb7 33. Rdc4 Ke7 34. Bg5+ f6 35. Be3 Rdd7 36. Rc8 Rd8 37. R8c4 Rdd7 38. Ra4 Rbc7 39. Rxc7 Rxc7 40. h4 e5 41. f4 Ke6 42. fxe5 Bxe5 43. Bf4 ½ : ½. Thus Eljanov jumps to the semifinals!

Hikaru Nakamura vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Small Steps

Pavel Eljanov – Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
50th Torneo Internacional Capablanca in Memoriam; Havana, June 15, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D92

“Poco después concluyó el duelo de Eljanov ante Nepomniachtchi. El ucraniano llevó figuras claras y afrontó la defensa Grünfeld planteada por su oponente. En la jugada 20 ganó el peón de d5 y el resto no fue complicado, sobre todo después de pasar el peón por la columna ‘c’. En el movimiento 35, el ruso inclinó su rey”, Miguel Ernesto Gómez Masjuán wrote in his Mi Columna Deportiva.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. Rc1 Be6 7. e3 c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. Ng5 Qa5 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Be2 Ne4 12. 0-0 Bxc3!? Most theoreticians would probably regard this as a sideline, but if 12. ... Nxc3 then 13. bxc3 Qxc5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Rb1 and White stands better, García González – Milos, Havana 1986. 13. cxd5! Sharper and more effective than 13. bxc3 Nxc3 14. Qd2 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Dxc5 16. cxd5 Qxd5 17. Rfd1 Qf5 18. Rd7 Rac8 19. Rxb7 g5 20. Rc7 gxf4 21. R1xc6 Rxc7 22. Rxc7 f3 23. gxf3 Rf6 24. Qd1 Rg6+ 25. Kh1 Qg5 26. Qf1 Qh5 27. Qd1 Qg5 28. Qf1 Qh5 ½ : ½ Knudsen – Brinck-Claussen, 72nd Danish Chess Championship, Aarhus 1981. 13. ... Rad8 14. Qc2 exd5 15. bxc3 Nxc5 16. Rfd1

16. ... Qa4? A serious error which, after the exchange of Queens, implies the (decisive) loss of the valuable d5-Pawn. After 16. ... e6 17. h4! White has the upper hand, but Black can still defend. 17. Qxa4 Nxa4 18. Bg4 Rf6. If 18. ... Kf7 then 19. Bc7 Nb2 20. Rf1! with advantage to White. 19. Bf3 Kg7 20. Rxd5 Rxd5 21. Bxd5. The Pawn has finally fallen and Eljanov quite easily gets to convert it into a win. 21. ... Rf5 22. c4 Nb6 23. g4! Rf8 24. Rb1 e5 25. Bg3 Kf6 26. Rb5 Re8 27. h4 h6 28. Rc5 Nb4 29. Bxb7 Nxa2 30. Ra5 Nb4 31. c5 Nc4. It makes no difference 31. ... N6d5 32. c6 and Black is helpless. 32. Rb5 a5 33. c6 Nd6 34. Rxa5 g5 35. Rc5 1 : 0.

Pavel Eljanov vs. Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: Fernando Medina / Cubahora