Position after 41.Rxg7!

1 d4 Morozevich has already tried everything with White in this tournament. 1 ..Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 Qb3 [More common is 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 7 Bg2 c6] 5 ..Be7 [5 ..Bb7 6 Nc3 (6 Bg2 Be7 7 Nc3 d5 8 cxd5 exd5 9 0-0 0-0 10 Ne5 Na6 11 Bg5 Quarracino,S-Garzon,E/Villa Ballester 2006) 6 ..Nc6 7 Qd1 Bb4 8 Qd3 d5 9 cxd5 Qxd5 10 Bd2 Qh5 11 Bg2 0-0-0 12 0-0 e5 13 Rac1 Nxd4 14 Nb5 Nxb5 15 Qxb5 Bxd2 16 Nxd2 Bxg2 17 Kxg2 Rxd2 18 Qa6+ Kb8 19 Rxc7 Kxc7 20 Qxa7+ Kd6 21 Qxb6+ Ke7 22 Rc1 Rhd8 0-1 Van Wely,L-Leko,P/Moscow 2004.] 6 Nc3 0-0 7 e4 c5N [7 ..Bb7 8 d5 exd5 9 exd5 c6 10 Bg2 Na6 11 0-0 Nc5 12 Qd1 cxd5 13 cxd5 Nce4 14 Nh4 Nxc3 15 bxc3 Bc5 16 Nf5 Re8 17 c4 d6 18 Bb2 Bc8 19 Nd4 Bxd4 20 Qxd4 Ba6 21 a4 Rc8 22 Rfc1± Lautier,J-Sokolov,A/Aix les Bains 2003] 8 d5 exd5 9 exd5 The game evolves into a Benoni-type of position. 9 ..Re8 10 Bd3 Bf8+ 11 Kf1 d6 12 Kg2 Nbd7 13 h4!? Playing for the attack. 13 ..g6?! A mistake? Black invites White to attack, and this is a big risk if a creative player, such as Morozevich, is in front of you. [13 ..Ng4 14 Ng5 (14 Qc2 h6) 14 ..Ndf6 and Black places his knight on e5 with reasonable play.] 14 Qa4 Bb7 15 h5! Nxh5 16 Rxh5 gxh5 17 Ne4 f5 This move leaves more weaknesses in Black's position. [17 ..Be7!?] 18 Neg5 h6 19 Nh3 Ne5 20 Nxe5 dxe5 [20 ..Rxe5 21 Bf4 Re8 22 Bxf5] 21 Bxf5 Qf6 22 Be4 Re7 23 Qd1 h4 24 Qh5 The queen has regrouped to attack the black king. 24 ..hxg3 25 fxg3 Rg7 26 Bd2 [26 Bxh6 Qxh6! 27 Qxh6 Rxg3+ 28 Kxg3 Bxh6 Doesn't give White much.] 26 ..Qf7 27 Qe2! [But not 27 Qxe5? Re8 28 Qf5 Qxf5 29 Bxf5 Re2+-+] 27 ..Bc8 28 Nf2 Bf5 29 Bxf5 Qxf5 30 Ne4 Now White has a tremendous knight in the center. 30 ..Rf7 31 Rh1 Qg6 32 Rh4 The next threat is ¶g4. 32 ..Kh8 33 Ng5 Rf5 34 Ne6 h5 35 Bg5 Kg8 [35 ..Rxg5 36 Nxg5 Qxg5 37 Rxh5+ winning] 36 Rxh5 Re8 Already on move 36 Black has completed his development, but it's too late to save the game. 37 g4 Rf7 38 Bh4 Bg7 Leko has been in serious time trouble since move 25. [38 ..Bh6 was better than what was played.] 39 Rg5 Qh6 [39 ..Qb1 40 Bg3 Kh7 41 Bxe5] 40 Qxe5 Kh8 [40 ..Qxh4 41 Rxg7+] 41 Rxg7! [41 Rh5 Bxe5] 41 ..Qd2+ [41 ..Rxg7 42 Bf6 Kg8 43 Bxg7 Rxe6 44 Qxe6+ Qxe6 45 dxe6 Kxg7 46 g5+-; 41 ..Qxg7 42 Qxg7+ Rxg7 43 Bf6 Rxe6 44 dxe6 Kg8 45 Bxg7 Kxg7 46 g5+- arriving at the same winning position.] 42 Kh3 Qd3+ 43 Bg3 Rxe6 [43 ..Qf1+ 44 Kh2 Rf2+ 45 Bxf2 Qxf2+ 46 Kh3 Qf1+ 47 Kh4 Qf2+ 48 Kh5+-] 44 dxe6 Rxg7 45 e7 Qh7+ [45 ..Qf1+ 46 Kh2 and the checks end.] 46 Kg2 There is no remedy for Black. If[46 Kg2 Qc2+ 47 Bf2+- A great victory for White, against a player who was unable to defend his castled king.]  1-0

Position after: 17.Rcc1!

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Bb4 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Qc2 c5 The sharp Manhattan variation 8 a3 White doesn't want any problems [8 e3 Qa5 9 Bd3 c4˜] 8 ..Bxc3+ 9 Qxc3 h6 [9 ..c4 10 Nd2 (10 Qe3+ Qe7 11 Qxe7+ Kxe7 12 Nd2 h6 13 Bh4 b5 14 e4 g5 15 Bg3˜) 10 ..0-0 11 e3 h6 12 Bf4 b5 13 a4 bxa4 14 Rxa4 Nb6Ñ] 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 e3 0-0 12 Be2 b6 Black opts for playing with hanging pawns. [12 ..c4 13 b3! cxb3 14 Qxb3 Qd6 15 Qb4 Qb8 (15 ..Qxb4+ 16 axb4 and Black would be very pressurized on the queenside.) 16 0-0 Nf6 17 Rfc1 Bg4 18 Rab1] 13 0-0 Bb7 [13 ..a6 14 Rac1 c4 15 Ne5 b5 16 f4 Qd6 17 Bf3 Bb7 18 g4 Rfe8 19 Rce1 Nf8 20 g5± Yakovich,Y-Sargissian,G/Moscow 2007] 14 Rfc1N A new but very logical move [14 b3 Rfc8 (14 ..Qe7 15 Rfc1 Nf6 16 dxc5 Ne4 17 Qe5 Qxe5 18 Nxe5 Nxc5 19 Bd1 Ne6 20 Bf3 Rac8 21 b4 Rfd8 22 h4 Ba8 23 Bh5 g6 24 Bg4 f5 25 Rxc8 Rxc8 26 Nxg6 1-0 Kizov,A-Savic,M/Obrenovac 2004) 15 Rfc1 Qe7 16 Qb2 Rc7 17 dxc5 bxc5 18 b4 c4 19 Nd4 g6 20 Nb5 Rcc8 21 Nc3 a5 22 Rd1 axb4 23 axb4 Nf6 24 Bf3 Rxa1 25 Rxa1 d4 26 exd4 Bxf3 27 gxf3 Nh5 28 Qd2 Qxb4 1/2-1/2 Antic,D-Cabrilo,G/Novi Sad 2000] 14 ..Rac8 15 dxc5 Qxc3 16 Rxc3 Rxc5?! But why not 16...c5? Black has an idea that will be refuted tactically 17 Rcc1! A touch of genius! [17 Rac1 Rfc8=] 17 ..Rfc8 18 Rd1 White temporarily gives away the control of the c-file. 18 ..Rc2 19 Bb5 Nf8 20 Rab1 R2c7?! [20 ..R2c5] 21 Ba4 Ne6 22 Bb3 Kf8 23 h3 Rc5 24 Kh2 Ke7 25 Rd2 White re-enforces his position without haste. 25 ..Rb5 26 Ba2 Rbc5 27 Ne1! a5 Now b6 is weak. 28 Rbd1 Rd8 29 Kg3 Rb5 30 f3 Rc8 31 Nd3 d4? Desperation in an inferior position. [31 ..a4!?] 32 Bxe6 Kxe6 [32 ..dxe3 33 Bxc8 exd2 34 Bxb7+-] 33 Nf4+ Ke7ô [33 ..Kf6 34 Rxd4 Rxb2 35 Rd7 Bc6 36 R1d6+ Ke5 37 Nd3+ Kf5 38 Rxf7+ Kg5 39 h4+ Kh5 40 Nf4#] 34 Rxd4 Rc7 [34 ..Rxb2 35 Rd7+ Kf8 36 Rxb7+-] 35 R1d2 Rbc5 36 e4 Blocking off the bishop completely. 36 ..Rc4 37 Rd6 R4c6 38 e5! [38 Nd5+?? Kxd6] 38 ..Rc2 39 Rxc2 Rxc2 40 Rxb6+- Now would have been a good moment to resign. 40 ..Bc6 41 b4 g5 42 Nh5 axb4 43 axb4 Bd5 44 Ng7 Re2 45 Nf5+ Ke8 46 Nxh6 Be6 [46 ..Rxe5 47 Rb5 and the pin condemns Black.] 47 Rb5 Rb2 48 Rb8+ Kd7 49 Rg8 A good victory by Ivanchuk, demonstrating good technique over tactics. 1-0

Position after: 27.Ne6!!

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 11 d4 Nd7 12 d5!? The latest trend in the Ruy Lopez, avoiding the main lines that arise after 12.§bd2 cxd4 12 ..Nb6 13 Nbd2 g6 14 b4!? Leko's novelty, which he played in a game against Mamedyarov. 14 ..cxb4 15 cxb4 Nac4 16 Nxc4 Nxc4 17 Bb3N And this is Anand' new twist.  [The original game continued 17 Bh6 Re8 18 Bb3 Bd7 19 Qe2 Nb6 20 Rac1 Rc8 21 Be3 Rxc1 22 Rxc1 Qb8 23 Nd2 Rc8 24 Rxc8+ Nxc8 25 f4 Qc7 26 Nf3 Qc3 27 Qd2 Qxd2 28 Bxd2 f6 29 fxe5 fxe5 30 Nxe5 dxe5 31 d6+ Kg7 32 dxe7 Nxe7 33 h4 Bc6 34 Bc2 Nc8 35 Bc3 Kf6 36 Kf2 Nd6 37 Ke3 h6 38 Be1 Nc4+ 39 Kf3 Ω-Ω Leko,P (2741)-Mamedyarov,S (2728)/Moscow 2006/EXT 2007] 17 ..Nb6 [17 ..Bd7 18 Bxc4 bxc4 is quite messy.] 18 Be3 The bishop doesn't go to h6 for the moment. 18 ..Bd7 19 Rc1 Rc8 20 Rxc8 Bxc8 21 Qc2 Bd7 22 Rc1 White dominates the c-file. 22 ..Na8 Black has to misplace his knight to prevent White from playing £c7. 23 Qd2 Qb8 24 Bg5! White exchanges the "bad" dark-squared bishop, but at the same weakens the castled king. 24 ..Bxg5 25 Nxg5 Rc8 26 Rf1! A very good move, preserving the rook for the attack. Black's pieces are stranded on the queenside and can't easily move over to  defend. 26 ..h6 27 Ne6!! Kh7 [If 27 ..fxe6 28 Qxh6 Be8 29 dxe6 Nb6 30 f4 looks very strong] 28 f4! Qa7+ 29 Kh2 Be8 [29 ..fxe6 30 dxe6 Be8 31 f5! gxf5 32 exf5 Qd4 33 Qxd4 exd4 34 f6 and the two passed pawns are just too strong.] 30 f5 The game is over. 30 ..gxf5 31 exf5 f6 Otherwise White plays 32.f6 with a winning attack. 32 Re1 Nc7 33 Rc1 Bd7 34 Rc3 The rook heads over to the kingside. Black is dead. 34 ..e4 35 Rg3 Nxe6 36 dxe6 Be8 37 e7! Threatening 38.•g8+ 37 ..Bh5 38 Qxd6 1-0

Congratulations to the winners of the w29 Championships!

 Peter-Patzer was able to successfully defend his 2006 1 0 championship!  However, in the 3 0 event, we have a new champion this year: ChampBlair.  Both were certainly among the favorites in their fields, but the grueling Quad Elimination format makes this quite an achievement.  With Peter-Patzer proving himself the best w29 bulleter for the 2nd straight year, it would seem he’ll be the one to beat again next year!

Wild 29. Selects another wild at random from wilds 1-28, but not one of the odds games. The game will be rated in the category of the wild selected (if the game is a rated game).

Weekday Blitz

  If you’ve never played in the weekday blitz, you don’t even know what you’re missing! 

One of ICC’s longest running scheduled tourneys, the weekday blitz features two 5 round blitz tourneys with 5 0 time control beginning at 11:30 and 13:00 server time (type “date” to see server time).

A very popular tourney, the weekday attracts up to 100 players and features several titled players every day.  Weekly and monthly prizes are awarded to the top finishers and those who played the most games.  Type “Finger Weekday” for more info and type “Finger TomatoWinners” to see the weekday prize winners from last month. 

Celebration Results! 

 Congratulations to manest (IM) for winning Chickenman’s 2000th tourney celebration! 

Plotkin took 2nd place, while JasonHu finished 3rd.  Other prize winners included akibael, capijoca, terpene, and kaimann.

Thanks to the 104 players and especially the 28 who played all thirty two rounds! 

Lesson by IM Angel Martín

Angel Martín is an International Master from Spain. He's a former four-time Spanish Champion and Assistant Manager of the Spanish chess magazine Peón de Rey. Proof-reading and translations to English was prepared by International Master, Michael Rahal.

Opening files against the castled king

The importance of the open files is something that we have seen in many previous lessons. But when these files lead directly to the opponent's castled king position (actually we are talking about semi-open files) their value increases, as the files allow the incorporation of the major pieces in the attack on the king.

This is particularly important in positions with opposite castled kings, where it is easier to open files on the side of the board without putting our own king in danger. Also, if our opponent has moved one of the pawns around the castled monarch, it is much easier to open a file, as we shall see in this week’s model game.

1.b3 [This opening became popular when Bent Larsen stated playing it; hence the reason for it being named after the Great Dane. However, Spanish GM Juan Bellón also uses it frequently.] 1...e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 [The alternative is 3...d5 4.Bb5 Bd6] 4.Bb5 [Also playable is 4.c4 with the idea 4...d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 and a typical reversed Sicilian Defence sort of position.] 4...d6 [Now this seems to be the only reasonable way to defend the pawn on e5. However, the strange move 4...Bd6 has also been played, the idea being to follow up with ...0–0, Re8 and then move back the bishop to f8 and play ...d5. For example, in the game Kharlov-Epishin. Elista 2001 Black played the plan of 5.Ne2 (5.Nf3 e4 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nd4 0–0 is good for Black) 5...0–0 6.0–0 Re8 7.Bxc6 bxc6 (7...dxc6 is also to be considered) 8.d3 Bf8 9.Ng3 d5] 5.Ne2 [With the idea of breaking through later with f2-f4. The alternative 5.d4 was played in Bellon-Buxade in the same event, but after 5...Bd7 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Bxd7+ Qxd7 8.Nf3 Qf5! Black has a very satisfactory position; 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.0–0 Be7 is also an acceptable continuation. Larsen-Andersson, Teeside 1972, continued 7.Be2!? 0–0 8.c4 and White kept a small opening advantage.] 5...Bd7 6.0–0 a6 [This forces White to exchange his bishop, although it does delay Black's development. Another possibility is 6...Be7, where Larsen used to play 7.f4 e4 8.Ng3] 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.f4 Qe7 [Probably the start of a bad plan. By defending the pawn, Black compromises his kingside development, but he was already thinking of castling queenside. However, this castling plan has a small defect: the presence of the pawn on a6, which allows the opening of files on the queenside with the rapid advance of the white pawns with a4 and b4-b5. In fact, the e5 pawn didn't need to be defended and play could have continued 8...Be7 as 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.Bxe5?? loses to 10...Qd5. That way, Black could have castled on the kingside, which would have been the positionally correct plan.] 9.a4 0–0–0?!

Dubious because of the reasons given above – but even more relevant now that White has already shown his intentions with 9.a4. Safer was 9...g6, not defining the position of the king as yet. 10.b4 Kb8 11.c4 Now the rupture b4-b5 is imminent. 11...Bd7 [With the idea of answering b4-b5 with ...a5 keeping the files closed. But Black is already falling back on development.] 12.Nbc3 g6 13.a5 Be6 14.Qb3 [Also playable was 14.b5 Bxc4 15.d3 Bxb5 16.Nxb5 axb5 17.a6 b6 18.Qb3 as White gets excellent compensation for the sacrificed material.] 14...Bg7?! [After this, White has no problems in executing his plan of opening files. Black could delay this with 14...c6 that obviously weakens the b6-square, but this is less important factor. In this case, White conserves better perspectives but he would have some chances of defending.] 15.b5 Ka8 [15...axb5 16.Qxb5 Qe8 17.Qb4 Qc6 was slightly better.] 16.Rfb1 Rb8 [Now 16...axb5 17.Qxb5 Qd7 18.fxe5 is no good.] 17.Na4 Nd7 18.d4 [Not allowing the black knight to get to c5.] 18...Bf5

19.Nec3! [White doesn’t want to lose time moving his rook away from a file that will be useful. The sacrifice of the exchange is completely correct, as White has a majority of attacking forces while Black's pieces can't come to the defence of his king.]

19...Bxb1 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Nab6+?! [White chooses a spectacular continuation – but it may not be the strongest. After the simple 21.Rxb1, Black's defence is difficult as there are no more useful moves. Even 21.b6 looks strong. But after the move played, with best defence from Black, there is no more than a draw] 21...cxb6 [Obviously the only response. Bad is 21...Ka7 22.Nxd7 Qxd7 23.b6+ cxb6 24.axb6+ Ka8 25.Nc7+] 22.axb6

22...Nxb6?! This move looks like the only option - but White's attack gains strength again with new files being opened. Black had the surprising deviation move 22...Bc2!! that would have improved his defensive chances considerably, for example 23.Qxc2 Nxb6 24.bxa6 Nxd5 (24...Ka7 is also to be considered, now that 25.c5 doesn't exist, as in the game) 25.axb7+ Kxb7 26.cxd5 Qb6 and the position is difficult to assess, as although White's attack is still strong, Black is a rook up. Probably he must sacrifice his queen for another white rook, but is looks as if he has enough fight for at least a draw.

23.bxa6 Ka7 Now this is the only move. 24.c5!? [24.Qb5 was an interesting alternative. Black must find the only defense 24...Bc2! for 25.axb7+ Na4 and the game is a draw after 26.Rxa4+ Bxa4 27.Qxa4+ Kxb7 28.Qb5+ Ka7 29.Qa4+] 24...dxc5 [The immediate 24...bxa6 25.Nb4 (25.cxb6+ Rxb6 26.Nxb6 Qxb6 27.Qxf7+ Qb7 28.Qxb7+ Kxb7 29.Rxb1 exf4 and Black has nothing to worry about in the ending.) 25...Qc8 26.Qxf7+ Nd7 27.Rxa6+ Qxa6 28.Nxa6 Kxa6 (28...Rxb2 29.Qxg7 Kxa6 30.Qxh8 dxc5 31.Qc8+) 29.Qc4+ is good for White. This is his best defense, but exchanging first on c5] 25.dxc5 bxa6 [Clearly the only defense. There is no time for 25...Bc2 26.Qxb6+ Qxb6 27.cxb6+ Ka8 28.Nc7#] 26.Nb4!

The best move. Bad would have been 26.Qb5? Na4! 27.Qxa4 Bd3! etc. But 26.cxb6+ Rxb6 (26...Kb7 27.Qc4) 27.Nxb6 Qxb6 28.Qxf7+ Qb7 29.Qxb7+ Kxb7 30.Rxb1 Kc6 would give White a favourable ending, much better than the one mentioned on move 24.

26...Kb7 [After this, Black's position is very delicate. As we have said, the correct was 26...Qc8 27.Qxf7+ Nd7 (27...Rb7 28.cxb6+) 28.Rxa6+ Qxa6 29.Nxa6 Rxb2 Now this is the best 30.Qxg7 Kxa6 31.Qxh8 Nxc5 32.Qa8+ Kb6 33.Qb8+ Nb7 34.Qxe5 Rb4 with more or less a balanced ending.] 27.Rxa6 [27.Rxb1 Rc8 28.Qa2 Rxc5 29.Qxa6+ Kb8 30.Nd3 Rc6 31.Nxe5 and White has a winning attack.] 27...Ba2? This move loses. [Also bad was 27...Be4? because of 28.Rxb6+ Kc8 29.Rxb8+ Kxb8 30.Nc6+; The ingenious defense 27...Nc4 with the idea of 28.Qxc4 Qd1+ isn't enough, because of 28.Qa4 with strong threats; The best resource seems to be 27...Na8 28.Qxf7+ Kc8 although 29.Nd5 Nc7 30.Rd6 is still good for White, for example 30...Nxd5 31.Qe6+ Kb7 32.Qxd5+ Ka7 33.Bc3 with the advantage.] 28.Rxa2 Qd2 29.Ra1

After this simple move, White recovers nearly all the sacrificed material, at the same time keeping up the pressure. The game is effectively over. 29...Rhd8 [If 29...Ra8 30.Rd1] 30.h3 Enough to win, as Black can't improve his position. [But 30.Na6! was winning quicker.] 30...Bf8 [Also bad is 30...exf4 31.Qxf7+ Kc8 32.cxb6! Qxe3+ 33.Kh1 Rxb6 34.Nd5 Rxd5 35.Qxd5 with a winning position.] 31.Bxe5 Ra8 [If 31...Bxc5, there would follow a quick mate with 32.Ra7+!! Kxa7 33.Qa3+ etc.] 32.c6+ Kc8 33.Rxa8+ Nxa8 34.Nc2 This move prevents Black from capturing the c-pawn, which is the key to the mating net Black is now snared in. 34...Bb4 35.Qxf7 Be7 36.Qxe7 1–0

ICC Quiz #2963
submitted by CommanderSolo



White mates in 2

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2963
Then type: play trainingbot

ICC Quiz #2978
submitted by claymore



White mates in 2

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2978
Then type: play trainingbot

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The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich- Morozevich & Barsky

A World Class Player on the Opening he Made Popular by Alexander Morozevich and Vladimir Barsky.

In this highly personal book Morozevich reveals the ideas and secrets behind his pet lines in the Chigorin.

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Secret Notes - Bronstein & Voronkov

This book, published shortly after the passing of David Bronstein, gathers accounts of David's finest trials and tribulations. He includes some thirty instructively annotated games from the period after his defection from the USSR in 1976. Bronstein also looked back into the past, including details of a secret training match against Victor Korchnoi in 1970, the games of which have never been published. A fitting tribute to a remarkable man. Published by Trafalgar.

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How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings - John Watson & Eric Schiller

This single chess book provides the material needed to deal with the ramifications of playing 1.d4 d5, the most frequently played queen pawn opening now and throughout the last two centuries. The unique part of the book is that it arms players of both White and Black to successfully combat a wide range of opening variations with which the opponent can frustrate their goals.

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Solution to ICC Quiz #2963
submitted by CommanderSolo

1.Qxe6+! fxe6 (...Qe7; 2.Qxe7#) 2.Bxg6#

Solution to ICC Quiz #2978
submitted by claymore

1.Nxc7+! Nxc7 (...Kf8; 2.Rd8#) 2.Rd8#