马多·弗林的主意
(Da un’idea di Mado Flynn)
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
海战
Lord Vernon – Serafino Dubois
Southport, August 1862
rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
Southport, August 1862
rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
Serafino Dubois gives Lord Vernon the Pawn and Two Moves. Remove Black Pawn at f7.
1. e4 — 2. d4 d6 3. f4 Nf6 4. Bd3 e5 5. Nf3 exd4 6. 0-0 c5 7. Re1 Nc6 8. c3 Bg4 9. h3 h5 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nd5 12. Bg6+ Kd7 13. hxg4 hxg4 14. Ng5 Kc8 15. Qxg4+ Kb8 16. Nf7 Qh4 17. Qxh4 Rxh4 18. e6 Kc7 19. Bg5 Rg4 20. Na3 Ne3 21. Nb5+ Kb6 22. a4 Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 Rxb2 24. Bxe3 dxe3 25. Rxe3 Be7 26. c4 Nd4
1. e4 — 2. d4 d6 3. f4 Nf6 4. Bd3 e5 5. Nf3 exd4 6. 0-0 c5 7. Re1 Nc6 8. c3 Bg4 9. h3 h5 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nd5 12. Bg6+ Kd7 13. hxg4 hxg4 14. Ng5 Kc8 15. Qxg4+ Kb8 16. Nf7 Qh4 17. Qxh4 Rxh4 18. e6 Kc7 19. Bg5 Rg4 20. Na3 Ne3 21. Nb5+ Kb6 22. a4 Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 Rxb2 24. Bxe3 dxe3 25. Rxe3 Be7 26. c4 Nd4
White to play and mate in two moves, idem to say 27. a5+ Ka6 (or 27. ... Kc6 28. Ne5 mate) 28. Nc7 mate. 1 : 0. (Source: Schachzeitung, October & November, 1862, page 327).
Thursday, February 5, 2015
電動扶梯
劉勃麟 (Liú Bólín). Hiding in London No. 3 – Underground Escalators. Image courtesy of Scream Editions.
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灵魂伴侣 (Soulmate)
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – David Wei Liang Howell
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 5, 2015
Four Knights Game C48
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 5, 2015
Four Knights Game C48
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 Re8 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nd5 Qd8 10. c3 a6 11. Ba4 Ba7 12. h3 Ne7 13. d4 Nxd5 14. exd5 exd4 15. Nxd4 b5 16. Bc2 Qf6 17. Qd3 g6 18. a4 c5 19. dxc6 dxc6 20. axb5 cxb5 21. Rae1 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Bb7 23. Bb3 Rd8 24. Qg3 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Kg7 26. Rd1 Rd7 27. Qc3 h5 28. Ba2 Qc6 29. Qxc6 Bxc6 30. b4 Kf6 31. d5 Bb7 32. f4 Ke7 33. d6+ Kf6. It was probably safer to play 33. ... Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Kxd6 35. Bxf7 Be4 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Kc6! 38. Kf2 Kb6 39. Ke3 Bb1 40. Kd4 (clearly not 40. Bxg6?? because of 40. ... Bxg6 41. f5 Be8 42. g5 a5 and Black wins) 40. ... a5 with equality, as originally shown by Dennis Monokroussos. 34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 g5? “The tide had already turned in White’s favor, but now Black is in serious trouble”, Monokroussos writes. 36. fxg5+ Kg6. If 36. ... Kxg5 then 37. Bxf7! Bf3 38. Be6 (38. Rd4 Bxg4 39. Rxg4+ Kf6
followed by ... Rd7xd6, ... a6-a5 and ... Rd6-a6 with a theoretical draw) 38. ... Rd8 39.
Rd4 Kf6 40. Kf2 Bc6 41. Bf5 Ke5 42. Ke3 Rxd6 43. Rxd6 Kxd6 44. Kd4 Be8 45. Be4
Ke6 46. g5 Bh5 47. Kc5 Ke5 48. Bb1 and wins (Monokroussos’ analysis). 37. Bb1+. The staff of Chess-News.ru recommends the straightforward 37. Bd5! forcing the transition into a won Rook endgame: 37. ... Bxd5 (37. ... Bc8 38. Bc6 is no better) 38. Rxd5 f6 (also after 38. ... a5 39. bxa5 b4 40. a6 b3 41. Rd2 White has an easy win) 39. Kf2 fxg5 40. Ke3 Kf6 41. Kd4 Ke6 42. Kc5 and White wins. 37. ... Kxg5 38. Bf5 Rd8 39. d7 Bf3 40. Rd4 Kf6 41. Rd3 Bb7 42. Kf2 Ke7 43. Re3+ Kd6 44. Re8 Kc7
45. g5? A miscalculation. White ought to play 45. Re7! first, so that if 45. ... Bd5 then 46. g5! followed by the decisive King’s entrance on the scene. Similarly, also “45. Ke3! was absolutely crushing. Black runs out of moves: 45. ... Bc6 46. Re7 f6 (46. ... Rf8 47. Kd4 Kd8 48. Re5! and the Pawn is still untouchable while the King slowly waddles in) 47. Rf7 Bxd7 48. Ke4 Kc8 49. Bxd7+ Rxd7 50. Rxf6 with a winning Rook endgame”, Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Álvarez writes. 45. ... Bc6! 46. Re7 Rg8! “Hóu Yìfán must have missed this counterattacking move. Once the g-Pawn disappeares there is nothing left to play for”, Ramírez Álvarez writes. ½ : ½.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Sophie Triay.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Blunderbuss
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Richárd Rapport
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 4, 2015
Modern Defence B06
Notes by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 4, 2015
Modern Defence B06
Notes by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).
This was my second time in Gibraltar after a fantastic performance in 2012. Although we always hope to do better than in previous events, considering my not very good play in Wijk aan Zee I didn’t really have high expectations here. I just wanted to enjoy some interesting positions. In round nine I was facing a strong and talented player from Hungary and this was the first game between us. Let’s have a look now:
1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 a6 4. f4!? Another setup. In earlier rounds Richard played same structure with Spanish GM Vázquez and was fortunate to win. So this time I decided to choose a more aggressive line which allows White more space.
4. ... d5!? To fix the centre and look forward for a long battle. Another option here is 4. ... b5 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 d6 leading to the main line and probably it’s not what my opponent preferred.
5. e5 h5. Preventing g2-g4 and sometimes planning to move the Knight via h6 to f5 followed by ... h5-h4. An ideal plan for Black!
6. Nf3 Bg4. A well-known plan to exchange the “bad” Bishop. According to the Pawn structure, if Black keeps the light-squared Bishop on the board it might be the “French” one. 6. ... Nh6 is also possible. Because here White has to play 7. Be3 before Black’s Knight goes to f5, in that case d4 & h4 square will be out of control (7. h3 Nf5!).
7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 e6 9. g3! Slowly developing my position. Without allowing Black to push ... h5-h4 White’s position will be more flexible, which gives White more possibilities to enhance the advantage on the Kingside.
9. ... Ne7 10. Be3 Nbc6 11. g4. I thought about this for a long time: this move seems like a bit premature, but meanwhile it might save some time. Because now Black threatens ... Ne7-f5, if 11. Bf2 Qd7 12. a3 intending to create some attacks after Black castles long but it’s too slow: 12. ... 0-0-0 13. b4 f6! Breaking the centre, suddenly the position turns in favour of Black.
11. ... Qd7 12. 0-0-0 0-0-0 13. Bd3. A natural move played by hand. Here it’s worth paying attention to 13. Na4 The unavoidable Na4-c5 will bring White a promising position since Black cannot open the centre with ... f7-f6, then the g7-Bishop is unactive.
13. ... hxg4 14. hxg4 f6 15. exf6. Although it’s better to keep the Pawn structure which can block the dark-squared Bishop, that is really difficult. Now Black wants to break the Pawn chain with ... g6-g5, the other option which came to my mind was 15. Rxh8 Rxh8 16. Na4 (Now I found this plan, but already a bit late) 16. ... Nxd4 (16. ... fxe5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Qf1 Qd6 19. Bxa6 Nd8! not pleasant for White) 17. Nb6+! (17. Bxd4 Qxa4 18. exf6 Qxd4) 17. ... cxb6 18. Bxd4 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. fxe5 The weakness on the dark squares and the doubled b-Pawn offer White some compensation in a double-edged position.
15. ... Bxf6 16. Qf2 Qd6 17. a3. Preventing ... Nc6-b4.
17. ... Kb8 18. Kb1 Rdf8 19. Ne2 Na5 20. Bd2 Nac6 21. Bc1?! Starting from this point somehow I became puzzled with my position, could not find a clear plan to develop the pieces. Later on I realised that the Knight on e2 is out of work, it should be moved to a more active place. Then there are two option: f3/b3. Before doing that we should first defend the d4-Pawn: 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Qe3 Rh2 23. Bc3! (Δ Ne2-c1-b3-c5).
21. ... Bg7 22. Qe3 Na5 23. Rhe1 Nac6! A wise choice, it cannot move to c4 immediately: 23. ... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. Qe4 the pair of Rooks on the d- and e-files give White some pressure (25. Nc3 Nd5 26. Nxd5 exd5 27. Qe6 Qxe6 28. Rxe6 Rf6=).
24. Rh1. Still I didn’t find the right plan which is to activate the e2-Knight! It’s the key point in this game. 24. c3! Bh6 (24. ... Rh4 25. Ng1 xe6) 25. Bc2 The h6-Bishop covers the open file of the Rook. White is obviously much better but it’s still not easy to win the game.
24. ... Na5
1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 a6 4. f4!? Another setup. In earlier rounds Richard played same structure with Spanish GM Vázquez and was fortunate to win. So this time I decided to choose a more aggressive line which allows White more space.
4. ... d5!? To fix the centre and look forward for a long battle. Another option here is 4. ... b5 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 d6 leading to the main line and probably it’s not what my opponent preferred.
5. e5 h5. Preventing g2-g4 and sometimes planning to move the Knight via h6 to f5 followed by ... h5-h4. An ideal plan for Black!
6. Nf3 Bg4. A well-known plan to exchange the “bad” Bishop. According to the Pawn structure, if Black keeps the light-squared Bishop on the board it might be the “French” one. 6. ... Nh6 is also possible. Because here White has to play 7. Be3 before Black’s Knight goes to f5, in that case d4 & h4 square will be out of control (7. h3 Nf5!).
7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 e6 9. g3! Slowly developing my position. Without allowing Black to push ... h5-h4 White’s position will be more flexible, which gives White more possibilities to enhance the advantage on the Kingside.
9. ... Ne7 10. Be3 Nbc6 11. g4. I thought about this for a long time: this move seems like a bit premature, but meanwhile it might save some time. Because now Black threatens ... Ne7-f5, if 11. Bf2 Qd7 12. a3 intending to create some attacks after Black castles long but it’s too slow: 12. ... 0-0-0 13. b4 f6! Breaking the centre, suddenly the position turns in favour of Black.
11. ... Qd7 12. 0-0-0 0-0-0 13. Bd3. A natural move played by hand. Here it’s worth paying attention to 13. Na4 The unavoidable Na4-c5 will bring White a promising position since Black cannot open the centre with ... f7-f6, then the g7-Bishop is unactive.
13. ... hxg4 14. hxg4 f6 15. exf6. Although it’s better to keep the Pawn structure which can block the dark-squared Bishop, that is really difficult. Now Black wants to break the Pawn chain with ... g6-g5, the other option which came to my mind was 15. Rxh8 Rxh8 16. Na4 (Now I found this plan, but already a bit late) 16. ... Nxd4 (16. ... fxe5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Qf1 Qd6 19. Bxa6 Nd8! not pleasant for White) 17. Nb6+! (17. Bxd4 Qxa4 18. exf6 Qxd4) 17. ... cxb6 18. Bxd4 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. fxe5 The weakness on the dark squares and the doubled b-Pawn offer White some compensation in a double-edged position.
15. ... Bxf6 16. Qf2 Qd6 17. a3. Preventing ... Nc6-b4.
17. ... Kb8 18. Kb1 Rdf8 19. Ne2 Na5 20. Bd2 Nac6 21. Bc1?! Starting from this point somehow I became puzzled with my position, could not find a clear plan to develop the pieces. Later on I realised that the Knight on e2 is out of work, it should be moved to a more active place. Then there are two option: f3/b3. Before doing that we should first defend the d4-Pawn: 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Qe3 Rh2 23. Bc3! (Δ Ne2-c1-b3-c5).
21. ... Bg7 22. Qe3 Na5 23. Rhe1 Nac6! A wise choice, it cannot move to c4 immediately: 23. ... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. Qe4 the pair of Rooks on the d- and e-files give White some pressure (25. Nc3 Nd5 26. Nxd5 exd5 27. Qe6 Qxe6 28. Rxe6 Rf6=).
24. Rh1. Still I didn’t find the right plan which is to activate the e2-Knight! It’s the key point in this game. 24. c3! Bh6 (24. ... Rh4 25. Ng1 xe6) 25. Bc2 The h6-Bishop covers the open file of the Rook. White is obviously much better but it’s still not easy to win the game.
24. ... Na5
25. Bd2? The last mistake, letting all his advantages slip away. 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26. Qf3 keeps the structure with a pair of Bishop and will definitely favour White.
25. ... Nc4! Seizing the right time to move there! I guess my opponent must have been waiting this chance for the whole game, it seems like the only promising way to level the position.
26. Bxc4 dxc4. Precise move order. If 26. ... Rxh1 27. Rxh1 dxc4 28. Rh7! Nd5 29. Qe4 Nf6 (29. ... c3 30. Bxc3 Nxc3+ 31. bxc3 makes no sense) 30. Qxg6! Nxh7 31. Qxg7+−.
27. Rxh8 Rxh8 28. Re1. A calm choice. Actually my first intention was to play 28. Bb4 Nd5 29. Qe4 Nxb4 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. c3! (31. Qxg6 A few moves earlier I had calculated until now, but before making up my mind on move 28 I surprisely found a brilliant idea for Black: 31. ... c3! 32. Nxc3 Bxd4∓) 31. ... Qb3 32. Re1 The computer shows equality but as a human I prefer Black.
28. ... Qc6
25. ... Nc4! Seizing the right time to move there! I guess my opponent must have been waiting this chance for the whole game, it seems like the only promising way to level the position.
26. Bxc4 dxc4. Precise move order. If 26. ... Rxh1 27. Rxh1 dxc4 28. Rh7! Nd5 29. Qe4 Nf6 (29. ... c3 30. Bxc3 Nxc3+ 31. bxc3 makes no sense) 30. Qxg6! Nxh7 31. Qxg7+−.
27. Rxh8 Rxh8 28. Re1. A calm choice. Actually my first intention was to play 28. Bb4 Nd5 29. Qe4 Nxb4 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. c3! (31. Qxg6 A few moves earlier I had calculated until now, but before making up my mind on move 28 I surprisely found a brilliant idea for Black: 31. ... c3! 32. Nxc3 Bxd4∓) 31. ... Qb3 32. Re1 The computer shows equality but as a human I prefer Black.
28. ... Qc6
29. Bc1. A passive move again! 29. f5!? can still create some difficulties for Black: 29. ... gxf5 30. Qg5 Bh6 31. Qf6 Bxd2 32. Qxh8+ Ka7⯹.
29. ... Rh4 30. f5?! Unfortunately I picked the same idea at the wrong moment: The accurate one is 30. Qg3 Rh1 31. Rxh1 Qxh1 32. Qe3 Qc6 33. f5 gxf5 34. Qg5 with a series of only moves following it will lead to a drawish ending.
30. ... Rxg4 31. fxe6
29. ... Rh4 30. f5?! Unfortunately I picked the same idea at the wrong moment: The accurate one is 30. Qg3 Rh1 31. Rxh1 Qxh1 32. Qe3 Qc6 33. f5 gxf5 34. Qg5 with a series of only moves following it will lead to a drawish ending.
30. ... Rxg4 31. fxe6
31. ... Re4?! A confident move made by Richard. I guess he might have missed my next move or didn’t pay enough attention to it. Otherwise the simple 31. ... Nd5 will bring some winning chances for Black 32. Qf2 Re4 Losing the only hope on e6 White will be suffering for rest of the game.
32. Qf3! Rxe6. Now both of us were in time trouble but still my opponent made the right choice. If 32. ... Qxe6 33. Nf4 Rxf4 34. Qh1! (Probably this is the move Richard missed?) 34. ... Qf6 35. Bxf4 Qxf4 36. Rxe7 Qxd4 37. Qc1! The only move to keep some hopes (37. c3 Qd3+ 38. Ka2 Bxc3! 39. Re8+! avoid a3 check to capture the Rook 39. ... Ka7 40. bxc3 Qc2+=).
33. Qf7 Nd5? A blunder resulting from strong pressure. Frankly speaking it’s not easy to find the continuations over the board: 33. ... Bf6 34. d5! Nxd5 35. Nd4 Rxe1! 36. Nxc6+ bxc6 37. Qxg6 A weird position. White can use perpetual to save the c1-Bishop. With accurate defence the game will end in a draw.
34. Qxg7+− Ka7. If 34. ... Qe8 immediately, White will exploit its position on the 8th rank to play 35. Rh1!.
35. Qf8! Although a piece up White still needs to play carefully. If 35. Bd2 Qe8.
35. ... c3 36. Qc5+. Avoiding the last trap. If 36. Qf3? cxb2 37. Bxb2 Re3⯹.
36. ... Qxc5 37. dxc5 c6
32. Qf3! Rxe6. Now both of us were in time trouble but still my opponent made the right choice. If 32. ... Qxe6 33. Nf4 Rxf4 34. Qh1! (Probably this is the move Richard missed?) 34. ... Qf6 35. Bxf4 Qxf4 36. Rxe7 Qxd4 37. Qc1! The only move to keep some hopes (37. c3 Qd3+ 38. Ka2 Bxc3! 39. Re8+! avoid a3 check to capture the Rook 39. ... Ka7 40. bxc3 Qc2+=).
33. Qf7 Nd5? A blunder resulting from strong pressure. Frankly speaking it’s not easy to find the continuations over the board: 33. ... Bf6 34. d5! Nxd5 35. Nd4 Rxe1! 36. Nxc6+ bxc6 37. Qxg6 A weird position. White can use perpetual to save the c1-Bishop. With accurate defence the game will end in a draw.
34. Qxg7+− Ka7. If 34. ... Qe8 immediately, White will exploit its position on the 8th rank to play 35. Rh1!.
35. Qf8! Although a piece up White still needs to play carefully. If 35. Bd2 Qe8.
35. ... c3 36. Qc5+. Avoiding the last trap. If 36. Qf3? cxb2 37. Bxb2 Re3⯹.
36. ... Qxc5 37. dxc5 c6
38. Bg5! With the clear plan Bg5-h4. 38. Ka2 makes the position more complicated: 38. ... a5 39. Kb3 a4+! 40. Kc4 (40. Kxa4? cxb2 41. Bxb2 g5=) 40. ... cxb2 41. Bxb2 Nf4 42. Nxf4 Rxe1 43. Nxg6 A technically
winning position but you may need many moves to achieve the win. Compared to the previous position it’s not at all necessary.
38. ... Re5 39. Bh4 cxb2 40. Kxb2 1 : 0. A piece down, first time limit past, with hopeless position Black resigned.
38. ... Re5 39. Bh4 cxb2 40. Kxb2 1 : 0. A piece down, first time limit past, with hopeless position Black resigned.
Sure, creativity matters, but it’s not everything. Photo: John Saunders.
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Everything happens for a reason
Women’s World Chess Championship 2015: schedule
Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi, Russia), 16 March – 7 April 2015
Women’s World Chess Championship 2015: schedule (PDF)
Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi, Russia), 16 March – 7 April 2015
Women’s World Chess Championship 2015: schedule (PDF)
Motorola Ming8 with GPS in China
© Ogilvy & Mather 北京市 (Běijīng)
© Ogilvy & Mather 北京市 (Běijīng)
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
摇滚年代
Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 3, 2015
English Opening A18
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 3, 2015
English Opening A18
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e5 Ne4 6. d4 Bb4 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. Bb5 0-0 9. Ne2 Bd7 10. 0-0 Bxc3. For 10. ... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be7 12. Nf4 see Hort – Lengyel, 2nd International Alekhine Memorial Tournament, Moscow 1971. 11. bxc3 a6 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. Qc2 Bb5. If 13. ... f6 may follow 14. f3 Ng5 15. Bxg5 fxg5 16. f4 Qd7
17. f5 Ba4 18. Qb1 Bb5 19. e6 Qe7 20. Rf2 h5 21. g4 h4 22. Nc1
Bc4 23. Nd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 a5 25. Rb1 b6 26. Re2 Rfd8 27. Rf1
Kh8 28. Qf3 c6 29. Re5 Rd6 30. f6 gxf6 31. Qxf6+ Qxf6 32. Rxf6
Re8 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Rff5 Rdxe6 35. Rxg5+ Kh6 36. Rh5+ Kg6
37. Kh3 Rxe5 38. dxe5 Rf8 39. Kxh4 Rf2 40. Rg5+ Kh6 41. h3 Rc2
42. Rg8 Rxc3 43. g5+ Kh7 44. Rd8 Re3 45. Rd6 Rxe5 46. Rxc6 d4
47. Rd6 Re2 48. a4 d3 49. Rxd3 Re4+ 50. Kh5 Rxa4 51. g6+ Kg7
52. Rd7+ Kg8 53. Rb7 Rb4 54. h4 a4 55. Kg5 a3 56. h5 Rb5+
57. Kf6 1 : 0 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), 4th International Tournament, 儋州市 (Dānzhōu) 2013. 14. Re1. A continuation worth considering is 13. a4, as played in a vintage game: 14. ... Bxe2 15. Qxe2 c5 16. Qe3 Qa5
17. Ra3 Rfe8 18. Qd3 cxd4 19. cxd4 Rac8 20. f3 Rc3 21. Rxc3
Qxc3 22. Qd1 Nc5 23. dxc5 Rxe5 24. Bf4 Qxc5+ 25. Kh1 Re6
26. Qb1 b5 27. Rc1 Qf8 28. axb5 Rb6 29. Qf5 1 : 0 Despotović – Ülker, by correspondence, 1973. 14. ... c5 15. f3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Ba3 b6 18. Qd2 Re8 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. Nf5 Re6 21. h4 h6 22. a4 Bc4 23. Rab1 Rb8 24. Rxb8 Qxb8 25. Nd6 Qb3 26. f4 Qa2 27. Qxa2 Bxa2 28. Re2 Bb3 29. Rb2 c4 30. Rd2 g5 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. g3 f6 33. Rxd5 gxf4 34. gxf4 fxe5 35. fxe5 Bxa4 36. Kf2 Rh6 37. Ke3 Kf8 38. Nf5 Rh1 39. Rd6 Bc2 40. Rf6+ Ke8 41. Nd6+ Ke7 42. Kd4 Rd1+ 43. Kxc4 a5 44. Nc8+ Ke8 45. Kc5
45. ... a4 46. e6. A long awaited moment for Svidler: her opponent cannot stop the Pawn. 46. ... Bb3 47. e7. A more straightforward solution was 47. Rh6! Bxe6 (what else?) 48. Rxe6+ Kd7 49. Rc6 a3 50. Nb6+ Ke8 51. Rc8+ Kf7 52. Ra8 and White has an easy win. 47. ... Bf7 48. c4? “What was Svidler’s only winning move vs. Hóu Yìfán here? (he missed it...)”, the guys of chess24.com asked rhetorically. Indeed, there is only one way: 48. Rf2! a3 49. Nd6+ Kxe7 50. Nxf7 a2 51. Rxa2 Kxf7 52. Re2! (Ramírez Álvarez’s analysis) – Black’s King is cut off and with accurate play White wins. 48. ... a3 49. Nd6+ Kd7!! Perhaps White overlooked this superbrilliant defensive resource! The automatic answer 49. ... Kxe7 50. Rxf7+ Ke6 51. Ra7 Rxd6 52. Rxa3 would lead only to a theoretically lost ending. 50. Rxf7. On 50. Nxf7 a2 51. Re6 Ke8! 52. Nd6+ Rxd6 53. Re1 Ra6 is a clear-cut draw (Ramírez Álvarez’s analysis). 50. ... Rxd6 51. e8=Q+ Kxe8 52. Ra7 Rh6 53. Rxa3 ½ : ½. “The draw is very easy – just keep the Rook on the third rank until the Pawn gets to c6, and then start checking from behind”, Marmot PFL says.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: John Saunders.
Monday, February 2, 2015
刀鋒 (The Razor’s Edge)
余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 2, 2015
Sicilian Defence B82
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 2, 2015
Sicilian Defence B82
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 a6 10. g4 Nd7 11. g5 b5 12. Bd3 Nc5. If, instead, 12. ... Bb7 then 13. Qh3 Nc5 14. g6! with powerful initiative, Zawadzka – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 1st World Mind Sports Games, Women’s Individual Rapid Tournament, 北京市 (Běijīng) 2008 (time control: 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move).
13. Kb1 Bb7 14. h4 (14. Rhg1 Rc8 15. Nce2 Na5 16. Bc1 Nc4 17. f5 Ne5 18. Qh3 Nexd3 19. cxd3 e5 20. f6 exd4 21. fxg7 Rg8 22. Qxh7 Kd7 23. Nxd4 Ne6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. h4 Qc2+ 26. Ka1 Qf2 27. h5 Qd4 28. h6 d5 29. Qg6 b4 30. e5 b3 31. axb3 Qb4 32. d4 Qxb3 33. Qd3 Rxc1+ 0–1 Lukin – Kr. Georgiev, 12th International Tournament, Plovdiv 1984)
14. ... Rc8. “On one hand White looks quite menacing, but on the other hand he isn’t threatening anything”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said afterwards.
15. h5. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) called this a “critical position”, for Black has now to decide on how to counter White’s intentions.
15. ... Nxd4 16. Bxd4 b4 17. Ne2. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) then mentioned an interesting sacrificial line suggested by the engines: 17. h6! bxc3 18. hxg7 Rg8 19. Bxc3 Na4 20. Bd4 e5 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Rxh7 exd4 23. Rh8 Kd7 24. Rxg8 Rxg8 25. Qxf7+− — nothing forced, but a scary scene for Black.
17. ... e5. “It’s always difficult to describe exactly what is happening in a Sicilian. Black’s last move is strategically desirable, but it is risky as it opens the f-file for the White Queen”, Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Álvarez writes.
According to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 17. ... 0-0 was now perfectly playable and probably better than the text, but then 18. f5! could be annoying for Black.
13. Kb1 Bb7 14. h4 (14. Rhg1 Rc8 15. Nce2 Na5 16. Bc1 Nc4 17. f5 Ne5 18. Qh3 Nexd3 19. cxd3 e5 20. f6 exd4 21. fxg7 Rg8 22. Qxh7 Kd7 23. Nxd4 Ne6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. h4 Qc2+ 26. Ka1 Qf2 27. h5 Qd4 28. h6 d5 29. Qg6 b4 30. e5 b3 31. axb3 Qb4 32. d4 Qxb3 33. Qd3 Rxc1+ 0–1 Lukin – Kr. Georgiev, 12th International Tournament, Plovdiv 1984)
14. ... Rc8. “On one hand White looks quite menacing, but on the other hand he isn’t threatening anything”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said afterwards.
15. h5. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) called this a “critical position”, for Black has now to decide on how to counter White’s intentions.
15. ... Nxd4 16. Bxd4 b4 17. Ne2. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) then mentioned an interesting sacrificial line suggested by the engines: 17. h6! bxc3 18. hxg7 Rg8 19. Bxc3 Na4 20. Bd4 e5 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Rxh7 exd4 23. Rh8 Kd7 24. Rxg8 Rxg8 25. Qxf7+− — nothing forced, but a scary scene for Black.
17. ... e5. “It’s always difficult to describe exactly what is happening in a Sicilian. Black’s last move is strategically desirable, but it is risky as it opens the f-file for the White Queen”, Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Álvarez writes.
According to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 17. ... 0-0 was now perfectly playable and probably better than the text, but then 18. f5! could be annoying for Black.
18. Bxc5. It is significant that all engines agree on the “best” line 18. fxe5 dxe5 (18. ... Nxd3 19. Qxd3 dxe5? 20. Bxe5!+−) 19. g6 — whereas 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) prefers “human-like” methods instead.
18. ... Qxc5 19. g6! hxg6. On 19. ... f5 20. h6! is very strong.
20. hxg6 Rxh1 21. Rxh1 Bf6! 22. Qg4. “I thought that 22. f5 may be slightly better for White as Black’s Bishop only serves defensive purpose while Ne2-g3-h5 is coming, but perhaps, even in that case, I can hold thanks to ... a6-a5-a4-a3”, said 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).
22. ... Ke7 23. gxf7. Intending Ne2-g3-f5+ as ... Ke7xf7 is met by Bd3-c4+.
23. ... Rf8 24. f5. 24. b3 Rxf7 25. Bc4 Rf8 26. Qe6+ Kd8 leads nowhere for White.
24. ... a5 25. Ng3 a4 26. Nh5 a3 27. Qg1 Rxf7 28. Qxc5 dxc5 29. bxa3 bxa3 30. c4 Kd8 31. Kc2 Bc6 32. Nxf6 gxf6 33. Kb3 Rg7 34. Rh3 Rg4 35. Re3 Kc7 36. Kxa3 Kb6 37. Kb3 Ka5 38. a3 Rh4 39. Kb2 ½–½. White’s extra Pawn is meaningless.
18. ... Qxc5 19. g6! hxg6. On 19. ... f5 20. h6! is very strong.
20. hxg6 Rxh1 21. Rxh1 Bf6! 22. Qg4. “I thought that 22. f5 may be slightly better for White as Black’s Bishop only serves defensive purpose while Ne2-g3-h5 is coming, but perhaps, even in that case, I can hold thanks to ... a6-a5-a4-a3”, said 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).
22. ... Ke7 23. gxf7. Intending Ne2-g3-f5+ as ... Ke7xf7 is met by Bd3-c4+.
23. ... Rf8 24. f5. 24. b3 Rxf7 25. Bc4 Rf8 26. Qe6+ Kd8 leads nowhere for White.
24. ... a5 25. Ng3 a4 26. Nh5 a3 27. Qg1 Rxf7 28. Qxc5 dxc5 29. bxa3 bxa3 30. c4 Kd8 31. Kc2 Bc6 32. Nxf6 gxf6 33. Kb3 Rg7 34. Rh3 Rg4 35. Re3 Kc7 36. Kxa3 Kb6 37. Kb3 Ka5 38. a3 Rh4 39. Kb2 ½–½. White’s extra Pawn is meaningless.
No entry allowed. Photo © John Saunders.
Last dinner on the Titanic
On February 2, 2015 the Governor of Gibraltar Sir James Dutton hosted a gala dinner in honour of an élite group of chess Grandmasters, organisers and sponsors at The Convent in Main Street, Gibraltar. Pictured above, from left, bottom row: Shirley Callaghan, Lady Dutton, Sir James Dutton, three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), James Humphreys, Minister Steven Linares. Second row: Joseph Caruana, Brian Callaghan, Daniel Yarur, Irina Borisivna Krush, Silvio Danailov, Marcus Killick. Third row: 梁自明 (Liáng Zìmíng), Pentala Harikrishna, Leontxo García, Stuart Conquest. Top row: Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov, Joseph Canilla, Anna Olehivna Muzychuck, Sunil Weeramantry, Tim Bristow, and John Isola. Photo © Sophie Tray.
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Amor, ch’al cor gentil ratto s’apprende
Hikaru Nakamura – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 1, 2015
Sicilian Defence B51
Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 1, 2015
Sicilian Defence B51
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 a6 8.
Be2 b6 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bh4 Ne5 14. Nf1
Rd8 15. Bg3 0-0 16. Ne3 Rc8 17. Kh1 Rfd8 18. f3 Nh5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20. Bf1
Nfg6 21. Qd2 Bg5 22. Qe1 Nf4 23. Bg3 Nh5 24. Bf2 Qe7. Topalov decides to vary to avoid a draw by repetition. It’s not certain, however, whether Nakamura would have resigned himself to it after 24. ... Nf4. We guess so, since the same move as in the text 25. Ra3 would be met by the strong rejoinder 25. ... d5! (Deviatkin’s analysis).
25. Ra3! The following elegant Rook maneuver accentuates the weakness of the Black Queenside Pawns. 25. ... Nf4 26. Rb3!
Rc6 27. Ne2! Getting rid of the annoying Black Knight. 27. ... Nxe2 28. Bxe2 Rdc8. If 28. ... Bxe3 then 29. Bxe3 Rxc2 30. Rxb6 and White stands much better. 29. c3 Nd7 30. Nc2 d5. Black is too impatient in his attempt to use tactics to solve his problems. Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Álvarez suggests 30. ... Nc5 31. Ra3 R6c7 as “perhaps slightly favorable for White but still anyone’s game”. 31. Nb4! Rc5 32. exd5. “Suddenly there is no good way of recapturing on d5. It is unclear to me what Topalov had planned, as 31. Nb4 was quite obvious”, Ramírez Álvarez writes. 32. ... Ra5 33. Nc6 Bxc6 34. dxc6 Rxc6 35. Rb4 Bf6 36. Qf1! Rd6 37. Rxd6 Qxd6 38.
Bxa6. “One Pawn finally falls: White has converted his advantage into something tangible”, Ramírez Álvarez writes. 38. ... Nc5 39. Bb5 Qd2 40. Bg1 Ra8 41. Bc6! Rc8 42. Rxb6. White is now two Pawns ahead. 42. ... Bd8 43. Rb5 Rxc6 44.
Bxc5 Bc7 45. a5 Qc2 46. f4 f6 47. h3 Kh7 48. f5 exf5 49. Bg1 Be5. After 49. ... f4 the quickest and most elegant is 50. a6! Rxa6 51. Rc5 Ra7 52. Rc4 Rb7 53. Qf3 Qxb2 54. Qd3+ Kg8 55. Rxc7 Rxc7 56. Qd8+ leaving Black helpless (Deviatkin’s analysis). 50. a6 1 : 0.
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
Photo: Sophie Triay
Photo: Sophie Triay
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Back to the Future
In late December 2012, it was reported that Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoi was recovering from a stroke and was unlikely to play competitive chess again. On March 28th and 29th 2014, however, Kortschnoi played an exhibition match of two games in the University of Leipzig, against Wolfgang Ulhmann, with the time control of 60 minutes/game for each. Kortschnoi won 2-0.
Pretty soon we’ll see Viktor Lvovich over the board again, also against Ulhmann. The match will be held on February 15th and 16th as surplus of the 4th edition of the “Zürich Chess Challenge 2015” and consist of 4 rapid games. In March 2015, Kortschnoi and Ulhmann will celebrate their 84th and 80th birthdays respectively. |
University of Leipzig, March 29, 2014. Wolfgang Ulhmann vs. Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoi.
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Go Girl
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Sandro Fabio Mareco
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 1, 2015
Sicilian Defence B90
13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 1, 2015
Sicilian Defence B90
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. 0-0-0 (9. f3 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Qc7 11. g4 h6 12. Kb1 b5 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. Na5 Rc8 17. Nc6 Nxd5 18. Nxe7 Nxe7 19. Qxd6 ½ : ½ Mareco – Baramidze, 45th World Junior Chess Championship, Yerevan 2006) 9. ... Nbd7. Of course there’s always a past: 9. ... 0-0 10. f4 Ng4 11. g3 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Nc6 13. Kb1 Qc7 14. f5 Bxb3 15. cxb3 Nd4 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. g4 Bf8 18. g5 b5 19. Rhg1 Qa7 20. Nd5 a5 21. Nf6+ Rh8 22. Nxh7 Nxf5 23. Qh3 Nh6 24. gxh6 g6 25. Ng5 a4 26. Qf3 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Nakhbayeva, 3rd Asian Indoor Team Rapid Prelim, Hạ Long 2009 (time control: 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move). 10. f4 b5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Kb1 Rb8
13. g4! A very promising Pawn sacrifice. 13. ... Nxg4. Mareco accepts the challenge and plays the game. If 14. ... h6 there may follow 14. Qg2 Qc7 15. h4 Bxf1 16. Rdxf1 b4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Rb5 19. g5 Qc4 20. Nd2 Qxd5 21. Ne4 Kd8 22. Rd1 Qc6 23. f6 gxf6 24. gxh6 Bf8 25. h5 Kc7 26. Qg4 d5 27. Ng3 d4 28. Bc1 Nb6 29. Ne4 Nd5 30. h7 Nc3+ 31. Nxc3 bxc3 32. b3 d3 33. Rh2 d2 34. Bxd2 Rxh7 35. Qg8 Qf3 36. Rhh1 cxd2 37. Qxh7 Bb4 38. Qxf7+ Kb8 39. h6 1 : 0 Felgaer – Ricardi, 83rd Argentine Chess Championship, La Plata 2008. 14. Rg1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Bxf1 16. Rdxf1 Bf6 17. Rd1 Nb6 18. Qd3 Ke7. This move — apparently a bit too conservative — is consistent with Black’s plan of “artificial castling”. Better seems 18. ... 0-0 returning the Pawn with good prospects for equality.
19. a3! Re8 20. Nc1. Intending Nc1-a2-b4-d5 — a Karpovian route. 20. ... Qd7 21. N1a2 a5 22. Qxb5 Qxb5 23. Nxb5
23. ... Rec8? Black’s last hope for counterplay was 23. ... d5! (24. exd5 e4!). 24. Nac3 Na4 25. Rd3 Nxc3+ 26. Nxc3 Kd7 27. b3 Rc6 28. Kb2. The position is such that the Knight is far superior to the Bishop. 28. ... Rbc8 29. Rg2 h6 30. Nd5 Bg5 31. a4 Ke8 32. c3 Kf8 33. b4! White obtains two connected passed Pawns. Game over. 33. ... axb4 34. cxb4 Rc4 35. Re2 Rd4 36. Rxd4 exd4 37. Rc2 Ra8 38. a5 d3 39. Rc3 d2 40. Kc2 g6 41. f6 h5 42. a6 1 : 0.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo © John Saunders.
回答
Copy of U.S. Treasury Department letter ordering Robert James Fischer not to play his 1992 World Championship match.
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On 1 September 1992 in Sveti Stefan, Montenegro, Robert James Fischer gave his first press conference in 20 years. When asked about his reply to the threats by Washington, Fischer took out the letter from the Treasury Department and spat on it.
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