[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.12.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "Bruce Radford"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "Q7/1B6/2p4p/2Ppk1pP/1K1n2P1/8/8/5q2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]

{Diagram #} 1... Qb5+ 2. Kc3 Qb3+ 3. Kd2 Qc2+ 4. Ke1 Qe2# 0-1

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ilya Figler"]
[Black "Alexander Stripunsky"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2297"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[Annotator "Wyatt,Darrell"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Bg4 5. Bb2 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. g4
Bg6 9. Nh4 Nc5 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qe2 Bd6 13. Bg2 Qe7 14. b4 Ne6
15. b5 O-O 16. d4 Rfe8 17. Kf1 Qd7 18. Qd3 Rac8 19. a4 Bb4 20. bxc6 Rxc6 21.
Ne2 Rec8 22. Qb3 a5 23. Rd1 b5 24. axb5 Rc2 25. Rc1 Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 Qxb5 27. Qd1
a4 28. f3 a3 29. Kf2 Be7 30. Bd2 Qb2 31. Bc1 Qc2 32. Bd2 a2 33. Qxc2 Rxc2 34.
Bc3 {Diagram #} Ne4+ 35. fxe4 Bh4+ 36. Kf3 Ng5+ 37. Kf4 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "Russian Championships"]
[Site "Krasnodar RUS"]
[Date "2002.08.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ramil Hasangatin"]
[Black "Yuri Yakovich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2517"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2002.08.27"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Qd2 h6 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg3 Rc8 14. Qd3 Nd7
15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 Rc6 17. Kb1 Qc7 18. c3 Rc8 19. Bh4 Nb6 20. Qd3 {Diagram #
} g5 (20... Bxh4 21. Nxh4 Na4 22. Re2 b5 23. Qxb5 (23. a3) 23... Rxc3) 21. Bg3
Na4 22. Re2 b5 23. Rc2 b4 24. Qb5 Nxb2 0-1

[Event "Carlsen-Leko Rapid Match"]
[Site "Miskolc HUN"]
[Date "2008.05.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Peter Leko"]
[Black "Magnus Carlsen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.05.28"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 Re8 13. h4 h5 14. Bh6 Nc4 15.
Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd5 e5 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Nb3 {Diagram #} Rec8 (
19... Re6 20. Qa5) 20. Qxd6 Be6 21. c3 b5 22. Qd2 a5 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24. hxg5 a4
25. Nd2 R4c7 26. a3 Rd7 27. Kc1 f6 28. gxf6+ Kxf6 29. Nf1 Rxd1+ 30. Kxd1 Rd8+
31. Ke1 Kg5 32. g3 Rd3 33. Nd2 Bc4 34. Nxc4 bxc4 35. Ke2 Rd6 36. Rh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "56th Russian Championships"]
[Site "Krasnoyarsk RUS"]
[Date "2003.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ernesto Inarkiev"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C14"]
[WhiteElo "2582"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2003.09.03"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8. Nf3
Nb6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Bb5 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. Bxb5+ c6 13. Bd3 Rxa2 14. Kb1
Ra4 15. g4 Nc4 16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. Ng5 b5 18. Qe3 Na6 19. c3 Nc7 20. Ne4 Nd5 21.
Qf3 O-O 22. f5 b4 23. Rhf1 bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nxc3+ 25. Qxc3 Rb8 {Diagram #} 26. Rf3
Rb3 27. Qc2 Qa7 28. Qf2 c3 0-1

[Event "Geller Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "1999.02.08"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aleksandr Poluljahov"]
[Black "Mikhail Kobalia"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2537"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3
Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bd2 g6 12. f3 a5 13. Bb3 Nb6 14. Kh1 Re8 15.
g4 fxg4 16. fxg4 {Diagram #} Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nbd5 18. Qf3 Ne4 19. Qxf7+ Kh8 {
Diagram #} 20. Bxd5 (20. Rad1 Re7 21. Qf3 Nxd2 22. Rxd2 Rxe3) 20... Re7 21.
Qg8+ (21. Qf3 Qxd5 22. Be1 Rf7 23. Qxf7 Nf2+) 21... Qxg8 22. Bxg8 Nxd2 23. Rf2
Ne4 24. Rf7 Rae8 (24... Ree8 25. Bxh7 Ng5) 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Bb3 Nxc3 27. Re1
b5 28. Kg2 bxa4 29. Bc4 Rb7 30. Rc1 Ne4 31. Bd3 Rb2+ 32. Kg1 Nd2 33. Ra1 Nf3+
34. Kf1 Nxh2+ 35. Ke1 Nxg4 36. Rxa4 Nxe3 37. Rxa5 Rb4 38. Rc5 Rxd4 39. Be2 0-1

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Alexander Ivanov"]
[Black "Alexander Shabalov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2534"]
[BlackElo "2587"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nb3 Nbd7 8. a4
b6 9. Bg2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Bb7 12. Nd2 Rc8 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ne3 g6 15.
Ned5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Rxc2 18. Qd3 Qc8 19. Bf1 a5 20. Qb3 Rc7 21.
Be3 Rf8 22. Bh3 Nc5 23. Qxb6 Rb7 24. Qxc5 Qxc5 25. Bxc5 dxc5 26. Re2 Rd8 27.
Bf1 Rd4 28. f3 Rbb4 29. Rc2 c4 30. Be2 Bg5 31. Kf1 Kg7 32. Rd1 Be3 33. Rxd4
exd4 34. Bxc4 Rxa4 35. b3 Ra1+ 36. Kg2 g5 37. h4 gxh4 38. gxh4 Kf6 39. Kh3 Ke5
40. Rg2 h5 41. Rc2 Kf4 42. Be2 Bf2 43. e5 Bg3 44. Kg2 Bxh4 45. Bc4 Kxe5 46.
Re2+ Kf5 47. Bxf7 Bg5 48. f4 Bxf4 49. Bxh5 d3 50. Re7 d2 51. Rd7 Ke4 52. Bf3+
Ke3 53. Rd5 Bc7 54. Rc5 Bb6 55. Rb5 {Diagram #} Rg1+ 56. Kxg1 (56. Kh2 Kxf3)
56... Kxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Jake Kleiman"]
[Black "Jaan Ehlvest"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2318"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. d3 h6 6. h3 a6 7. Bc4 Na5 8. a3
Nxc4 9. dxc4 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Qe2 Bf8 12. Be3 d6 13. Rad1 b5 14. Bc1 Bb7 15.
Rfe1 bxc4 16. Nd2 c6 17. Nxc4 d5 18. Qf3 Qc7 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Nf1 Re6 21. Ng3
g6 22. Na4 c5 23. c4 d4 24. Qd3 Rb8 25. Bd2 Bc6 26. b3 Ree8 27. Rb1 Rb7 28. Qc2
Reb8 29. Rec1 d3 30. Qxd3 Bxa4 31. bxa4 {Diagram #} Rxb1 32. Rxb1 Qd7 33. Bxh6
(33. Qxd7 Rxb1+) (33. Rxb8 Qxd3 34. Bxh6 Nd7) 33... Qxd3 34. Rxb8 Nd7 0-1

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Alexander Stripunsky"]
[Black "Erik F Santarius"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2266"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. d4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2
b6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Rc8 13. Qe2 Nb8 14. Rd1 Qc7
15. Nbd2 Be7 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Nc4 f6 18. g3 b5 19. Ncd2 Qb7 20. e4 Nc7 21. Nf1
Na6 22. b4 Rfd8 23. Nh4 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rc1 Nab8 26. Qg4 Kf7 27. Ne3 Nd7
28. Nf3 a5 29. bxa5 Nf8 30. e5 f5 31. Nxf5 exf5 32. Qxf5+ Kg8 33. e6 Bf6 34.
Bxf6 gxf6 35. Qe4 Rd6 36. a6 Qa8 37. e7 Ne6 {Diagram #} 38. Nd4 f5 (38... Ncxd4
39. Qxa8+) (38... Rxd4 39. Qxe6+) (38... Nexd4 39. e8=Q+) 39. Nxf5 1-0

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gata Kamsky"]
[Black "Mikhail Langer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2282"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. a4
b6 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. Qc4 Qb7 11. Qb3 Rb8 12. Ng5 Na5 13. Qa2 Qc7 14. Nb5 axb5 15.
Bxb5+ Nc6 16. Qc4 Bb7 17. O-O-O Ba8 18. f4 h6 19. fxe5 hxg5 20. exf6 gxf6 21.
Qc3 Rh6 22. Rhf1 Be7 23. h3 Kf8 24. Rd4 Qb7 25. Rc4 Rc8 26. Bd4 Kg7 27. Kb1 Rg6
28. g4 Na7 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. Qxc8 Nxc8 31. Ba6 Na7 32. Bxb6 Nc6 33. Re1 Rh6 34.
Re3 Rh8 35. c3 Bd8 36. Bxd8 Rxd8 37. b4 Re8 38. Bc4 Rb8 39. Kc2 Kf8 40. a5 Ke7
41. Bd5 Ne5 42. Kb3 Kd7 43. c4 Rc8 44. Rc3 Nc6 45. Ka4 Ne5 46. a6 Bxd5 47. exd5
Nxc4 48. Kb5 Nb6 {Diagram #} 49. Kxb6 Rxc3 50. a7 Ra3 51. Kb7 Rb3 52. a8=Q
Rxb4+ 53. Ka7 Ra4+ 54. Kb8 Rxa8+ 55. Kxa8 f5 (55... Kc8 56. Ka7 Kc7 57. Ka6 Kc8
58. Kb6) 56. gxf5 Ke7 57. Kb7 Kf6 58. Kc6 Ke5 59. f6 1-0

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "E Rodriguez"]
[Black "Jaan Ehlvest"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A86"]
[WhiteElo "2285"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Nh3 Nc6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Rb1
O-O 9. b3 c5 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Rb8 12. Nf4 Ne8 13. Bd2 Nc7 14. f3 Qe8 15. Kh1
b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. axb5 Nxb5 18. Nxb5 Qxb5 19. Bc3 Bd7 20. Qc1 Ra8 21. Bb2
Rfb8 22. Bc3 Ra2 23. Re1 Qa6 24. Nd3 Nf7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qc3+ Kg8 27. e4 fxe4
28. fxe4 Qa5 29. b4 cxb4 30. Rxb4 {Diagram #} Rc8 31. Qd4 (31. Qb3 Ra3 32. Qb1
Rxd3) 31... Rd2 32. Reb1 (32. Ra1 Rxd3 33. Rxa5 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Rc1+ 35. Bf1 Bh3)
32... Ne5 33. R4b3 Qa2 0-1

[Event "Philadelphia Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia United States"]
[Date "2010.04.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ilya Figler"]
[Black "Alexander Stripunsky"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2297"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.03.31"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Bg4 5. Bb2 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. g4
Bg6 9. Nh4 Nc5 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qe2 Bd6 13. Bg2 Qe7 14. b4 Ne6
15. b5 O-O 16. d4 Rfe8 17. Kf1 Qd7 18. Qd3 Rac8 19. a4 Bb4 20. bxc6 Rxc6 21.
Ne2 Rec8 22. Qb3 a5 23. Rd1 b5 24. axb5 Rc2 25. Rc1 Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 Qxb5 27. Qd1
a4 28. f3 a3 29. Kf2 Be7 30. Bd2 Qb2 31. Bc1 Qc2 32. Bd2 a2 33. Qxc2 Rxc2 34.
Bc3 {Diagram #} Ne4+ 35. fxe4 Bh4+ 36. Kf3 (36. Kf1 Rxc3) 36... Ng5+ 37. Kf4
Rxe2 38. Bf1 Rc2 39. Ba1 f6 0-1

[Event "London 1851"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1851.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "A. Anderssen"]
[Black "M. Wyvill"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d3 Ne5 5. Bf4 Nxc4 6. dxc4 a6 {Diagram #} 7.
Qe2 Ne7 8. O-O-O Ng6 9. Bg3 Be7 10. f4 O-O 11. f5 Bg5+ 12. Kb1 exf5 13. exf5
Re8 14. Qg4 Nf8 15. Nf3 Bf6 16. Ne4 b5 17. Bc7 Qe7 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Rd6 Ne6
20. fxe6 dxe6 21. Rhd1 Bb7 22. Rd7 Bc6 23. Be5 Bxf3 24. Qg3 Qg6 25. Qxf3 bxc4
26. Qxa8 {Diagram #} 1-0

[Event "ABC-January-2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 1"]
[Black "Fork"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k3/1pp2pp1/2n2bb1/3p4/8/4P3/PP1P1P2/RNB1KN2 b Qq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "ABC-January-2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 2"]
[Black "Trapping"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6n1/2k3p1/1pp2bb1/4pN2/4Pp2/P7/KPP5/2N5 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "ABC-January-2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 3"]
[Black "Fork"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5p2/3k2b1/2pn2p1/4NpB1/2r5/2P2P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "ABC-January 2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 4"]
[Black "Fork"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k4q1/1pp5/8/3pn3/8/8/2QP1PPP/5NK1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "ABC-January 2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 5"]
[Black "Pin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/8/4ppq1/4n3/3P1p2/8/4QPP1/5NK1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "ABC-January 2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 6"]
[Black "Multiple threat"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k6/1pp2p2/5B2/6q1/4b3/4PQ2/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]

{Diagram #}  0-1

[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1889.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Johann Hermann Bauer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]
[Annotator ",Microsoft"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1889.??.??"]

1. f4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. Bd3 b6 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Qc6 13. Qe2 a6 14. Nh5 Nxh5 {
Diagram #} 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh7 19. Rf3 e5
20. Rh3+ Qh6 21. Rxh6+ Kxh6 22. Qd7 Bf6 23. Qxb7 Kg7 24. Rf1 Rab8 25. Qd7 Rfd8
26. Qg4+ Kf8 27. fxe5 Bg7 28. e6 Rb7 29. Qg6 f6 30. Rxf6+ Bxf6 31. Qxf6+ Ke8
32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qg7+ Kxe6 34. Qxb7 Rd6 35. Qxa6 d4 36. exd4 cxd4 37. h4 d3 38.
Qxd3 1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.09.22"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Gundavaa, B."]
[Black "Nakamura, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3n1k1/2pR4/2P1pq1p/1Pp5/p3QP2/P1N4P/1K6/8 w - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "12"]
[EventDate "2010.10.31"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

{This position occurred in the game Gundavaa - Nakamura in the second round of
the Olympiad. White is completely won here, but did not see the correct path
as both players neared move 40. In fact, when time control was made, Hikaru
was already searching for ways to win} 35. Qe5 ({Easily winning is} 35. Qh7+
Kf8 36. Ka2 Nd6 37. Rxc7 Rd8 (37... Nc4 38. Rd7 Rc8 39. c7 $18) 38. b6 Nc4 39.
Rd7 {As black does not have anything better than} Nxb6 40. Ne4 Nxd7 41. Nxf6
Nxf6 42. Qg6 $18) 35... Qg6 36. Qe4 {Black has no choice but to repeat the
position, as a queenless ending is completely hopeless.} Qf6 37. Qe5 Qg6 38. f5
exf5 39. Rd3 f4 40. Rd2 f3 {Both players made time control and black is no
longer losing. The position is relatively equal, but Hikaru showed great skill
in defeating his much lower rated opponent. 0-1 after 57 moves.} 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Nakamura, Hi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "RUS1"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{For all those who wondered what it is like to observe superstars play a game
of chess first-hand, heed my warning: do not stand too close to the game!!!!
As I tried to watch the opening moves, I was trampled by dozens of
photographers and journalists attempting to capture the perfect facial
expression or hand gesture. While I admit it was fantastic to have such an
experience, I was perfectly content from then on to just watch the games from
my laptop at the hotel. OK, now for the game you've been waiting for:} 1. Nf3 {
Already we have a mild surprise. Kramnik tends to begin with 1. d4, as he did
when these two played in Corus in January. Kramnik opted for this queen's pawn
move and defeated a Dutch defense. There would be no repetition here. Instead
we see a King's Indian Defense (the KID), an opening in which Nakamura is
certainly one of the world's best players.} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2 {Diagram # Here Kramnik chooses
the third most common move (though he has often played both 9. Nd2 or b4).
More frequently played, in general, is:} (9. Ne1 {With the idea to play Nd3,
f3, b4, c5 in the future and attack on the queenside while keeping protective
options open on the kingside.}) (9. b4) (9. Ne1) 9... Ne8 (9... a5 {is the safe
r option, but true to his style Hikaru prefers to go for the direct attack
right away.}) (9... a5) 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. a4 {12. a4 isn't the most
popular move, but Kramnik had great preparation. The idea is to continue
storming the queenside, allowing Ba3 without the annoying ...a5 stopping the
pawn storm. Also, it gives white the option of omitting the f3 move, which can
make black's attack tougher to realize.} (12. f3 f4 13. Nc4 g5 {
with complicated play is more common.}) 12... f4 13. Nc4 g5 14. Ba3 g4 15. cxd6
cxd6 16. b5 {After this move, white wins a pawn. Black cannot afford to give
up the d-pawn, as then his position crumbles. Therefore, Hikaru chose to rid
of his g-pawn.} Ne8 (16... f3 17. gxf3 (17. Nxd6 $5 fxe2 18. Nxe2 Rb8 19. Ng3 {
Is incredibly unclear. White has two pawns for the light-squared bishop, more
space, a safer king and much better piece play while black needs toconsolidate
his pieces and avoid an impending attack.}) 17... gxf3 18. Bxf3 Ne8 19. Ne3 Ng6
20. Kh1 Qh4 {Puts white's king in some serious danger, though white still has
an extra pawn and plenty of defensive resources. A position like this is
incredibly difficult to defend, as even a single mistake can cost white the
game immediately. Such a position suits Nakamura better than it does Kramnik.
I'd like Hikaru's chances in something like} 21. Ra2 Bh6 22. Rg1 Bf4 23. Nf1
Bd7 24. Ng3 Rc8 25. Rc2 Kh8 $13) 17. Bxg4 Qc7 18. Be2 f3 {Diagram #} 19. b6 $1
(19. gxf3 Bh3 20. Re1 Ng6 21. b6 Qe7 {This is the additional option that is
allowed by not playing 19. b6 before taking on f3.} 22. Kh1 Nf4 23. Rg1 a6 24.
Bf1 Rc8 {This series of moves leads to an unclear position with white being up
two pawns but under constant threat of a devastating attack. However, 16...f3
would have led to what seems like a more promising initative at the expense of
only one pawn.}) 19... axb6 (19... fxe2 20. bxc7 exd1=Q 21. Rfxd1 Ng6 22. Nb5
Rf7 23. Ncxd6 Nxd6 24. Bxd6 $16 {White has three pawns for a bishop and is
completely dominating the board. The passed c and d-pawns will most likely
lead white to a convincing victory.}) 20. Nb5 $6 {Kramnik was extremly
cautious, not allowing Hikaru to open up files and attack. however, gxf3 is
also possible and strong (I refrain to say "best" because it is not the
easiest move to make, especially when 20. Nb5 looks both consistent and
promising).} (20. gxf3 Bh3 21. Re1 Ng6 22. Nb5 Qd8 23. Kh1 Nf4 24. Rg1 $16 {
And white's position now is an improvement of the position analyzed in the
analysis of 19. gxf3, as black's pieces are more passive and white has more
targets to attack.}) 20... fxe2 21. Qxe2 Qd8 22. Nbxd6 Nxd6 23. Bxd6 Rf7 $1 {
Hikaru planned on placing his rook on g7, thus hitting g2. The alternative was
perhaps a "safer" option, but one in which black gets far less counterplay.} (
23... Re8 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. Nxe5 Ng6 26. Nxg6 (26. Nc4 b5 $1 27. axb5 Rxa1 28.
Rxa1 Qxd5 29. exd5 Rxe2 30. h3 Bd7 $11) 26... hxg6 27. Qd3 Qd6 {gives black
very reasonable chances to survive, but is clearly the one trying to draw.})
24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bxg7 {Diagram #} Nf4 $6 {
This looks most active, but it seems to help white more than black.} (25...
Rxg7 26. g3 Nh4 27. f4 (27. Qe3 Bh3 28. Nxb6 Rb8 29. Rfd1 Qf6 {
gives Black great chances to fight for a win.}) 27... Bh3 28. Rfc1 (28. Rf2 b5
$132) 28... Qf6 {
and it isn't clear how to kill black's counterplay, for instance} 29. Kf2 Ng2
$1 30. Qd2 Rf8 {and I won't claim to know what's going on here.}) 26. Qe3 Qg5
27. g3 Qxg7 28. Nxb6 Bg4 (28... Rb8 29. Nxc8 Rxc8 30. Rac1 (30. Rad1 $2 Rc3 31.
Qb6 Qg4 {with an irresistable attack.}) 30... Re8 31. Rcd1 Qg6 32. f3 h5 33.
Kh1 Nh3 34. d6 {and the pawns will overcome black's extra piece.} Ng1) 29. Nxa8
Ne2+ 30. Kg2 Bf3+ 31. Qxf3 Rxf3 32. Kxf3 Nd4+ 33. Kg2 Qf8 {Diagram # The next
few moves aren't the best, but it is hard to criticize either player here, as
it is an amazingly difficult position to understand. Even with the use of
computers it is tough to solve completely, never mind at the board with the
clock ticking...} 34. Rfe1 $2 {This move was made nearing time control, so it
does not get two question marks -- even though it throws away all winning
chances if faced with the proper reply} (34. h4 $1 {
(giving white's king extra room)} Qxa8 35. Rfd1 Nc2 36. Rac1 Qxa4 37. d6 Qxe4+
38. Kh2 Nd4 39. d7 Nf3+ 40. Kh3 {and white wins, though he'll have to fight
off plenty of checks before it is truly over, for instance} Qf5+ 41. Kg2 (41.
g4 $2 Ng5+ $1 42. hxg5 Qf3+ $11) 41... Nxh4+ 42. gxh4 Qg4+ 43. Kf1 Qh3+ 44. Ke2
Qe6+ (44... Qg4+ 45. f3 Qe6+ 46. Kf2 $18 {and black runs out of checks.}) 45.
Kf3 Qf5+ (45... Qh3+ 46. Ke4 Qe6+ 47. Kf4 Qf6+ 48. Kg3 Qe5+ {transposes.}) 46.
Kg3 Qe5+ 47. f4 Qe3+ 48. Kg4 Qe6+ (48... Kf7 49. d8=N+) 49. f5 Qe4+ 50. Kg5 Kg7
51. f6+ Kf7 52. d8=N+ $1 Kg8 53. f7+ Kf8 (53... Kg7 54. Rg1 $1 $18) 54. Rg1 $1
Qg6+ 55. Kf4 Qf6+ 56. Ke4 Qxh4+ 57. Ke5 Qh2+ 58. Ke6 Qa2+ 59. Kd7 Qa4+ 60. Kc8
Qa8+ 61. Kc7 Qa5+ 62. Kb8 $1 Qxd8+ 63. Rc8 Qxc8+ 64. Kxc8 Kxf7 65. Kxb7 Kf6 66.
Kc6 {and white's king gets back in plenty of time.}) 34... Qxa8 $6 (34... Nc2
35. Nc7 (35. Nb6 Nxe1+ 36. Rxe1 Qb4 37. Rc1 Qxb6 {and only white can lose.})
35... Qb4 $1 36. Reb1 Qxe4+ 37. Kg1 Ne3 38. fxe3 Qxe3+ 39. Kf1 Qf3+ $11 {
Drawn by perpetual check}) 35. Red1 $6 {After this move the game is drawn by
force. The only winning try was Rac1, though matters are anything but clear.} (
35. Rac1 Qxa4 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37. Rec1 (37. d6 Nc6 38. Rc7+ Kg6 39. Rxb7 Qd4 $132)
37... b5 38. R1c7+ Kf6 39. Rxh7 (39. Rf8+ {is also possible, but I don't like
chasing the black king to the queenside where it has shelter.} Ke5 40. Re8+ Kd6
41. Rxh7 Qd1 42. Rh6+ Kc5 43. d6 Qf3+ 44. Kh3 Qf7 $13) (39. f4 Qd1 $11) 39...
Qa3 $1 {(covering f8 and threatening Qf3+)} 40. Rh4 $1 Qf3+ 41. Kh3 {is still r
idiculously complex, though it looks like white has reasonable winning chances.
}) 35... Nc2 36. Rac1 Qxa4 37. d6 (37. Kf3 Qb3+ 38. Kg4 Qb4 39. Kf3 Qb3+ $11)
37... Qxe4+ 38. Kg1 ({Playing for a win is just not feasible at this point.} 
38. Kh3 $4 Nd4 39. Rc3 Qe6+ 40. Kg2 Qxd6 $17) 38... Nd4 39. d7 Nf3+ 40. Kf1
Nxh2+ 41. Kg1 Nf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Hoang Thanh Trang"]
[Black "Krush, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2482"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3r1k1/3nqpp1/pp2p2p/3pN3/P2P4/2PQ3P/1P3PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.27"]
[WhiteTeam "HUN"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{Diagram # I evaluated the diagram position as equal and was resigned to a
draw. But then my opponent started to play in an uncharacteristically
aggressive fashion.} 22. f4 $6 {This pawn thrust has a big drawback in that it
leaves the e4 square open for Black's knight. Thus the knight, which had
already been at f6, backtracks towards e4.} Nf6 23. f5 Ne4 24. fxe6 Qxe6 (24...
f6 $5 {was a cute intermediate move, kicking away the Ne5 before recapturing
on e6. But it didn't occur to me.}) 25. c4 {
A good decision, forcing me to play ...f5 to support the knight.} f5 26. Rac1
Rad8 27. Nf3 $1 {a solid move, getting out of the way of all the tactics. Now
White threatens to simply trade on d5 and win the a6 pawn. This was a tough
moment in the game for me, as I was forced to change my assessment of the
position. I had been thinking that I was better, but objectivity now led me to
concede that White didn't have any real problems. Also, during my long think
here, I realized one very important thing: if I wanted to win this game, I had
to avoid a queen trade. With a queen trade, White's weaker king becomes a
non-factor, and that's really the main thing going for Black here. So all
exchanges on c4 were taboo.} a5 {just getting the pawn out of attack.} 28. cxd5
Rxd5 29. Rc7 $5 {I was a little surprised at this active move. What does my
opponent want with that rook on the seventh?} Kh7 30. Qa6 $5 {Diagram # And
now I was really shocked by such bold play. Could it really be good to
decentralize the queen like that? Of course, now my opponent's idea became
clear: she wants to play Qb7 and attack the g7 point. I knew this was a
critical moment, and spent some time deciding how to react to her plan.} Qg6 $1
{A multi functional move. The queen defends g7 and also targets White's king
(now Black will have some ideas with ...Qg3).} 31. Qb7 Rdd8 $1 {
31...Rd6 was also a possibility, but I had other plans for the d6 square...}
32. Rec1 Nd6 $1 {This move was the centerpiece of the plan I had worked out a
few moves ago. The knight makes a paradoxical retreat from a great position,
but he does so with tempo and with the idea of clearing the e-file for the
rook.} 33. Qxb6 $4 {This loses by force. White's best was to return to a6 to
guard the e2 square, but it's always hard to admit that your idea was a
failure. I think my opponent just didn't appreciate that Black was setting up
very strong counterplay of their own. All it took was one move and White's
position collapsed.} Re2 34. Nh4 Qg5 $1 {Diagram #} ({
I still had to be careful because the other option} 34... Qg3 {allowed} 35.
Rxg7+ $1 {and the Rd8 hangs.}) 35. Qa6 Rxb2 36. Qa7 Rg8 37. Qxa5 Qxh4 38. Qd5
Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Ne4 40. Rg1 Qf4 41. Rgc1 Rxg2 {This game was a pleasant surprise
for me, as after the opening I considered a draw an inevitable result. But I
liked the way I had seized the initiative when given the chance and whipped up
a deadly attack seemingly out of nowhere.} 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9.6"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Cheparinov, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "BUL"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

{This game provided the decisive margin in the USA's 2.5-1.5 win over Bulgaria.
In my opinion, this was one of the best games of the entire Olympiad. Gata
showed fine style while employing a novelty, calculating well, and giving his
opponent no chances.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6.
Be3 e5 7. Nf3 {Here Gata opts for the second most popular option, played far
fewer times than 7. Nb3.} (7. Nb3) 7... Qc7 8. a4 h6 9. Be2 Be6 10. O-O Be7 11.
a5 Qc6 12. Ne1 $1 $146 {A fantastic novelty that stunned Cheparinov. Not a
winning move by any means, but one that black could not have expected, thus
giving Gata a psychological edge} Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Qxe4 14. Bf3 Qb4 15. c4 $1 {
Diagram #} Nd7 (15... Nc6 16. b3 Rb8 17. Bb6 Bf5 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Qf3 Be6 (
19... Bd7 20. Qe3 $1 Bg5 21. f4 Bd8 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. fxe5 $14) 20. Qxc6+ Bd7
21. Qf3 O-O 22. Nc2 Qd2 23. Ne3 $14 {Rybka's evalutation states white is
"slightly better" but the position speaks for itself. White has the initative
and a rather concrete advantage in practical play.}) 16. b3 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc3 18.
Nf4 $1 {Diagram #} exf4 {The human move, though black had a way to survive
(thanks to our silicon friend):} (18... O-O $1 19. Nxe6 (19. Ne2 Qb2 20. Rb1
Qa3 21. Ra1 Qb2 $11 (21... Qb4 $4 22. Ra4 $18)) 19... fxe6 20. Qb1 Nc5 21. Bxc5
dxc5 22. Rc1 Qd2 23. Rd1 Qg5 24. Be4 $14 {Although white is down a pawn, he
retains a decent edge due to the extremely weak black pawns and a far superior
bishop}) (18... Bf5 $5 19. Ra2 exf4 20. Bd4 Qd3 (20... Qb4 21. Ra4) 21. Rd2 Qb1
22. Qxb1 Bxb1 23. Rxb1 {Is another variation, but white looks better here. The
two bishops are very strong, and it appears that black will have to give back
the extra pawn, leading into an opposite color bishops ending with better
prospects for white.}) 19. Bd4 Qb4 20. Ra4 Qxa4 21. bxa4 O-O {We come to a
position where black has Lasker compensation (rook+minor piece+pawn for a
queen). White's weak pawns give black some chances to hold, but Gata has a
clearly superior position.} 22. Re1 Ne5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Rxe5 Bf6 25. Re4 Rbd8
{Wrong rook! Rfd8 was much better, keeping b7 protected. It is really tough to
make accurate moves once down material, but Cheparinov had much better chances
to hold a draw with the proper move.} (25... Rfd8) 26. Qc1 Bd7 (26... g5 {
Looks better, guarding f4.}) 27. c5 Bc6 28. Rb4 Rfe8 29. Kf1 ({
Gata avoids a disaster:} 29. h3 $2 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Bc3 $1 31. Re4 (31. Qxc3 $4
Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Ree1 33. Qxe1 Rxe1 34. Rxb7 Rc1 {Looking drawn}) 31... Rxe4 32.
fxe4 Be5 {And black has much better chances to draw than he did 5 moves ago.})
29... Rd3 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Qb1 Rd5 32. Rb8 Bd8 33. g3 Rxc5 34. gxf4 ({
An amusing alternative win is} 34. Qb6 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Bxb6 36. Rxe8+ Kh7 37. axb6
Rb1 38. a5 c5 39. Ra8 $18 {Diagram #}) 34... Rxa5 35. Qb3 Rf8 36. Qc4 Be7 37.
Rb6 Rc5 38. Qxa6 Rc2 39. Qb7 Bc5 40. Rb2 Rc1+ 41. Kg2 Bd6 42. Ra2 Bxf4 43. a5
Rc5 44. a6 Bb8 45. h3 ({OK so here is the problem: If white goes} 45. a7 Bxa7
46. Rxa7 Rg5+ 47. Kf1 Rg6 {he may not be able to win. If a pair of rooks get
traded, even at the expense of the c-pawn, black can just maintain a rook on
the 6th rank and support a fortress. As Gata noted, the idea is for white to
trade his rook for the active black rook and then put his queen on a8,
freezing black. Marching the king over to the queenside wins easily in that
position.}) (45. a7 Bxa7 46. Rxa7 Rg5+ 47. Kf1 Rg6) 45... g6 46. Rd2 Rg5+ 47.
Kf1 Rf5 48. Rc2 Kh7 49. Rxc6 Kg7 50. Qd7 Bg3 51. Qxf5 $1 {Diagram # Now the
win is simplified. Gata shows fine technique in this endgame. Moves such as
Rc2 also win, they just take much longer.} gxf5 52. fxg3 Rb8 53. Rc1 {
Putting the rook behind the pawn. The rest is easy.} f4 54. gxf4 Kg6 55. a7 Ra8
56. Ra1 Kh5 57. Kf2 Kh4 58. Kf3 h5 59. Ra5 f6 60. Ra1 f5 61. Ra5 Kxh3 62. Rxf5
h4 63. Ra5 1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Zatonskih, A."]
[Black "Javakhishvili, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E19"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.27"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "GEO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nxc3 9. Qxc3 c5 10. Rd1 {This reminds me of a conversation I had with Anna
during the Olympiad. I asked her why she's virtually abandoned her old move, 1.
e4. She said that in 1.d4, even if you don't know any theory, you just put the
pieces in the center, and it can't be that bad.} d6 11. Qc2 {At first glance,
a mysterious retreat. By far the most common move is 11.b3 followed by Bb2.}
Nc6 ({I wondered about the other developing move} 11... Nd7 {(just avoiding
the d5 business) and the computer pointed out the typical discovered attack}
12. Ng5 $5 {(here's the point to 11.Qc2!)} Bxg5 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Bf3 Bxc1 15.
Raxc1 Qc7 {The computer gives this as an edge for White, but I don't believe
it. White may have a bishop, but it's not superior to Black's knight, Black
has no weaknesses and simple development. I'd say this is closer to = than +=.}
) 12. d5 $1 exd5 13. cxd5 Nb4 14. Qd2 {Of course the d5 pawn is immune to
capture. 14...Nxd5 15. Ne1+-; 14...Bxd5 15.a3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Na6 17.Bxa8 Qxa8
and White is much better.} a5 (14... Bf6 $5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qc2 b5 17. e4 Re8
18. Be3 Qe7 $13 {was Korchnoi,V-Tiviakov,S/Reggio Emilia ITA 2008.}) 15. e4 Bf6
(15... f5 16. e5 $1) 16. a3 Na6 17. Qc2 Re8 18. Bf4 Rc8 19. Re1 $1 {Diagram #}
Be5 {I assume Black felt a lot of reluctance about playing this move, but
simply didn't see a good way to deal with White's threat to play e5.} ({
Black would like to play} 19... c4 {
(which they've prepared with ...Rc8) but it's met with} 20. e5 $1 dxe5 21. Nxe5
{all of White's pieces are ideally positioned and they threaten an invasion on
c6.} Nc5 {loses the c4 pawn.} 22. Nxc4) 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Bd2 $16 c4 22. Bh3
Rc7 23. b3 $1 {
Ensuring that Black will never get the d3 square for their knight.} Nc5 {
This move is rather surprising, as it simply concedes a pawn.} ({On} 23... cxb3
24. Qxb3 {It looks as though the b6 pawn will fall, for example 24...Qd6 25.
Ra-b1. But Black has a hidden chance in} Nc5 $1 {which sets the trap} 25. Qxb6
$2 Nxe4 $1 26. Bxa5 (26. Rxe4 Rc1+ 27. Rxc1 Qxb6) 26... Nxf2 $3 27. Kxf2 Qxd5 {
Black has enough counterplay for a draw.} 28. Qxc7 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Qh1+ 30. Kf2
Qf3+ $11 {. Therefore, White's best is 25.Qb5 and now on 25...Ba6 they can
safely take on b6, since the previous tactics don't work with the bishop on
the f1-a6 diagonal. After 25.Qb5, the weakness of the b6 pawn should
eventually decide the game.}) 24. bxc4 Bc8 25. Bf1 $5 {An interesting decision.
I would have been tempted to just trade on c8 and play Ra-b1.} Bd7 26. Rab1 Ba4
27. Qb2 Bb3 {Diagram #} 28. a4 $1 Rb7 {28...Bxa4 29.Qxb6 +-.} 29. Be3 $1 {
Anna rounds up the bishop.} Qc7 {29...Bxa4 20.Bxc5 +-.} 30. Qa3 Bc2 31. Rb2 {
Black loses a piece after 31...Bxe4 32.Bxc5. A very smooth effort from Anna.}
1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.5"]
[White "Mkrtchian, L."]
[Black "Zatonskih, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2484"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r2k/1q3pp1/p4b1p/3p4/1prNbBQ1/P3P3/1P1R1PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "ARM"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{Diagram # Black already has a more pleasant position, but after White's 28.
b2-b3, Anna found a way to obtain concrete dividends.} 28. b3 Bxd4 $1 29. exd4
(29. bxc4 Bc3 30. Re2 b3 $19) 29... Rc6 $1 {Threatening ...Rg6.} 30. f3 Bc2 31.
Ra1 bxa3 32. Rxa3 Bxb3 {Diagram # Now imagine this position with the pawn on
a2, and you will have a pretty good idea of how Anna won the game.} 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.10.01"]
[Round "10.3"]
[White "Sutovsky, E."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "ISR"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. O-O
Nge7 9. Be3 Qc7 $4 {Diagram # Black's position is already significantly worse
due white's huge lead in development, but Qc7 is a horrible blunder. Qb8 is
probably best, though black's position is already difficult.} (9... Qb8 10. Re1
Bb7 11. Qd2 Ng6 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Nce7 15. Bc5 d6 16. Bxb4 $16 {
is a sample variation that illustrates the problems black can face here.}) 10.
Bxb5 Rb8 11. Bxc6 Nxc6 12. b3 Bb7 {Missing white's strong reply (as does Rybka
initially). Better was Be7 in order to castle. Black is worse (and down a pawn)
, but remains in the game due to the two bishop advantage.} (12... Be7 13. Qd2
O-O 14. Rad1 d6 $16) 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Nd8 15. Re1 Ne6 16. Qd2 Bb4 {
Giving up the dark-squared bishop is an unpleasant necessity.} (16... Be7 17.
dxe6 dxe6 18. Bf4 $18) (16... Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Bb4 18. Bd2 {and white has 0
counterplay for his pawn. The text at least leads to a position where there
are some imbalances.}) 17. Qxb4 Bxd5 18. Qd2 Bxf3 19. Bf4 d6 20. gxf3 Rd8 21.
Rad1 O-O 22. Bxd6 Qc8 23. f4 $4 {Diagram #} (23. c4 Rd7 24. Re5 {
with Rd5 coming would be completely won for white.}) 23... Nc5 $4 (23... Ng5 $1
{Gata was very upset to realize he missed this move. Yes, he played poorly out
of the opening, but this idea leads to a draw or a position with chances for
both sides -- a draw would have saved the match vs. Israel.} 24. Re3 Qg4+ 25.
Kf1 Nf3 26. Qd5 Nxh2+ 27. Ke1 Qg6 28. c4 Ng4 29. Re2 Rfe8 $14 {
Diagram # with an incredibly unclear position.}) 24. Qc3 {The rest is trivial.}
Rfe8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. f3 Rd8 27. Rd5 Qe6 28. Qxc5 Rc8 29. Qxc8+ Qxc8 30. Be7
1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9.9"]
[White "Papadopoulou, V."]
[Black "Baginskaite, Camilla"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2241"]
[BlackElo "2328"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "GRE"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{Camilla felt that this was her best effort from the tournament:} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9.
Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 Bd7 11. Nb3 Be7 {Diagram # A typical Catalan endgame. I just
wanted to pause here, because I remembered something funny my coach said about
White's play from moves twelve to sixteen. The essence of it was, it's a crime
against chess to play this way.} 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Rac1 Rfd8 14. h3 Kf8 15. e3
Rac8 16. Kh2 {Of course, White has done nothing in the last few moves but
their position is solid and how does Black make progress? Camilla found an
interesting plan. (It's always good when you're the only one with a plan).} a5
$5 17. Nbd4 a4 18. c4 a3 19. Bc3 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Ba4 21. Rd3 Nd7 22. Nd2 b5 {
Diagram # With the threats of Ne5/Nc5 followed by ...b4, Black is very close
to winning.} 23. Bf1 f6 ({Grabbing more space on the queenside with} 23... b4
$1 {was best, with the threat of ...e5 and ...Nc5.} 24. f4 Nc5 25. Bxc5 Bxc5 {
Black isn't up any material yet, but the position is overwhelming. The far
advanced a and b-pawns inspire reverance.}) 24. f4 Nc5 25. Bxc5 Bxc5 26. cxb5
Bxb5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Nb3 ({I hate to rain on Black's parade, but I think
Camilla would have had some cause for regret had White went for} 28. Bxb5 Rxd2+
29. Kh1 Bxe3 30. Rc3 {
where it looks like you need a lot of help from White to win...}) 28... Bxe3
29. Re1 Bf2 30. Rc1 Be3 31. Re1 Bxf1 32. Rxf1 Rd3 33. Rb1 Rc3 34. Na1 Bf2 35.
g4 Bg3+ 36. Kg2 Bxf4 37. Rf1 Be5 38. Nb3 {Diagram #} Rxb3 $1 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9.9"]
[White "Krush, I."]
[Black "Dembo, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E98"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2452"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4kb1R/5r2/p2Bn3/1p2PN2/4K3/8/P7/8 w - - 0 53"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "GRE"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

{Diagram # Black is nearly paralyzed but it's not clear how to make progress.} 
53. Nh6 $2 {With some ideas of Ng4-f6.} (53. Nd4 Rf4+ 54. Kd5 Nxd4 55. Bxf8
Rxf8 56. Rxf8+ Kxf8 57. Kxd4 Ke7 {The king and pawn endgame is drawn.} 58. Kd5
b4 59. Kc5 a5 60. Kb5 Ke6 61. Kxa5 Kxe5 62. Kxb4 Kd6 $11) 53... Rf4+ {
I was somehow expecting 53...Rf2, on which I intended 54.Ng4.} 54. Kd5 $2 {
Anywhere but this square.} Kd7 {Now Black threatens mate with Rd4.} 55. Rh7+
Bg7 {Diagram # I had missed the bishop block when I played 54.Kd5. Now the
whole shock of what's happened in the last few moves- the prospect of getting
mated in the center of the board was something I couldn't anticipate in my
worst nightmare- completely paralyzed my mind. I can still draw with 56.Rxg7
Nxg7 57.e6! Nxe6 58.Bxf4 Nxf4 59.Kc5 and the knight endgame isn't a problem.
But instead, I defend the d4 square with...} 56. Bc5 $4 {completely missing}
Nc7# {Oops. Gotta work on those mate in ones.} 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Onischuk, Al"]
[Black "Macieja, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "POL"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 {Here we have a typical isolated queen-pawn position, coming
from the Nimzo-Indian Rubinstein variation. White has many options here, the
most popular one being 9. Bg5. Alex instead chooses the second most frequently
played move,} 10. Qe2 Nb6 {Diagram # White now has two main options, either
Bd3 or Bb3. Each has it's own plan: Bd3 to put pressure on the black king via
the h7 square, or Bb3 to get ready for a d5 break. Alex chooses the latter.}
11. Bb3 Bd7 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. Bg5 Bc6 ({"Winning" a pawn with} 13... Bxc3 $6 14.
bxc3 Rxc3 15. Ng4 {leaves black under huge pressure. For example:} Nbd5 16.
Bxd5 exd5 17. Nxf6+ (17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Ne3 Be6 19. Qf3 $14) 17... gxf6 18. Qb2
Rc4 (18... Qc7 19. Bxf6) 19. Bh6 Re8 20. Qxb7 $14 {The advantage in all of
these variations is based on black's weak king, and the positions are
extremely unpleasant to play for that side.}) 14. Rad1 Be7 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16.
Bxf6 Bxf6 17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 {At first glance this might
appear drawish, but white has a nice initiative that gives him great chances.}
Rd6 20. Bxb7 {Diagram #} Re8 $4 {A horrendous blunder. Macieja simply
miscalculates, not realizing that white can just go Qxe8+ as in the game and
win easily.} ({Better was} 20... Bd4 {Whereas something like} 21. Bf3 Re8 22.
Qc2 g6 23. b3 {would leave white with an extra pawn and a nagging advantage
for the rest of the game.}) 21. Qxe8+ Qxe8 22. Rxd6 Qb5 23. Rfd1 g6 24. Bd5 {
Macieja resigned, as playing on is hopeless. White will simply target f7 and
black has no satisfactory defense against this plan. A fine victory by Alex,
who was struggling with his form prior to this round. Winning such a game was
encouraging both for Alex and the US team.} 1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Li Chao2"]
[Black "Shulman, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[Annotator "Yury Shulman"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "CHN"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{When I was asked to give my impressions about the 39th Chess Olympiad in
Khanty-Mansiysk, I felt that rather than just simply evaluating this event, I
would compare it to several previous chess celebrations: two Olympiads, in
Torino (2006) and Dresden (2008) as well as to the three World Cups which were
held in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The opening ceremonies were
always amazing at Khanty-Mansiysk and this time was no exception. Our team was
lucky enough to lodge at Ugra Valley Hotel which was a little out from the
city and we got a real chance to enjoy fresh Siberian air. Most of the teams
stayed at newly built Olympic Center, which turned out to be a comfortable
acommodation according to the players who stayed there, although it was not
ready three weeks before the Olympiad! The food was similar to what one can
expect in Russia, but I think in general our team had nothing to complain
about. Except of course one of the most disturbing facts about travel to
Khanty-Mansiysk: the travel time and the jet lag. Although I would say with
combined efforts of our team captain John Donaldson and team cheer leader :)
Tony Rich, I had much a more comfortable transition than in Bursa earlier this
year. Tony was taking care of the team in Prague and even cooked a couple of
amazing meals there. The tournament started well for our team, especially
since I was able to win the game in round 1, which has never happened before
when I represented the US team :). The pity was that in the most important
matches if one of our players was having a hard time, remaining teammates
somehow were not able to rebound. This unlucky situation occurred in the
matches against Russia and Israel. Hungarian team to its honor was able to
show this "Phoenix approach" for almost the entire duration of the tournament
- although the "almost" was a key word for them. Also it was a real pity that
Hikaru, who was in absolutely great shape, had his hardest time in two matches
when he needed to score just half a point with White. As for my play - I could
not convert a couple of positions with a little and huge advantage and then
had to switch more on defensive side since after playing the first 4 games
with White I had to repeat the same streak with Black. Before the match with
China I made 6 draws in a row(!). I thought it might be a record, but a couple
of days ago I saw my student Allan Beilin performing at the World Youth where
he made 10 draws in a row. I was happy that he learnt something from his
coach! :)} 1. d4 {Came as total surprise for me! Before this game my opponent
tried 1.d4 only once in his career! I had to make a choice between my usual
repertoire or something surprising for my opponent as well. But curiosity took
over the wisdom :)} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4
7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 9. Ba5 {I went for the position which I was
absolutely sure was on my opponent's computer that morning, but I felt quite
comfortable about my preparation as well.} Bd7 ({
In the later game against Var Akobian (US Chess League rd 10) I tried} 9... f6
{but after} 10. Nf3 b6 11. Nd2 Qf4 12. Bh5+ g6 13. Bf3 Ne7 14. Bc3 O-O 15. O-O
{White got a very powerful initiative and unfortunately for me Var played one
of his best games.}) 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Qd6 Qf5 12. Ne5 {Diagram #} Qxf2+ 13. Kxf2
Ne4+ 14. Kf3 Nxd6 15. Rhd1 Ke7 {All of it was known to the theory.} 16. Rd2 {
was invented by A.Grischuk in our game 3 in Khanty-Mansiysk World Cup (2005)}
Be8 17. Rad1 Nf5 ({Aformentioned game continued:} 17... f6 $2 18. Rxd6 fxe5 19.
Ke3 h5 20. Bd8+ Kf7 21. Rf1+ Kg8 22. Be7 Nc7 23. Rd2 Rc8 24. Bd3 g6 25. Rdf2 {
where White has a decisive advantage}) 18. Rd8 {A real novelty! Li Chao Bin
was blitzing his moves and I was trying to recall my analysis which we did
some time ago with Var Akobian. Rd7 and Bd8 was tried before.} (18. Rd7+ Bxd7
19. Rxd7+ Ke8 20. Rxb7 f6 21. Nxc6 Nc5 22. Rc7 Na6 23. Rb7 Nc5 {
and the draw was agreed in Dziuba - Frolyanov , 2005}) (18. Bd8+ Rxd8 19. Rxd8
f6 20. Ng4 e5 {with good chances for Black}) 18... Rxd8 {The only move!} (18...
f6 $2 {looses on the spot:} 19. Ng6+ $3 hxg6 20. Rxa8 $18) 19. Bxd8+ Kf8 20. g4
Nh6 21. Nd7+ {Another thin road} Kg8 {Diagram # Again is the only move.} (21...
Bxd7 $2 22. Rxd7 Ke8 23. Rxb7 Kxd8 24. c5 $1 f5 25. g5 Ng4 26. Bxa6 {
is practically hopeless for Black}) 22. Kf4 $5 ({
A very curious draw arises after} 22. Nf6+ Kf8 (22... gxf6 23. Bxf6 {
is probably called stalemate as well.}) 23. Nd7+ Kg8 $11) 22... f5 23. g5 Nf7
24. Be7 {My opponent still continued accumulating his time and I went down to
alittle over 30 minutes, but by this time I was able to recall our analysis
with Var.} (24. Bh5 g6 25. Bf6 h6 26. Bxh8 hxg5+ 27. Kg3 Nxh8) 24... g6 $1 {
After finally moving a g-pawn I raised my head from the board and with gesture
asked Var to bring some tea. After the game he said that if I hadn't played 24.
..g6, I would probalby never get my one of my favorite drinks :)} (24... c5 25.
h4 $1) 25. Nf6+ {After a long thought Li Chao Bin went for a less obvious
choice. I was really glad that his preparation was over at this point and it
was time to play chess.} (25. Bf6 {is the real test of the whole line.
Probably Var found something deeper in this continuation when he went for this
variation in the US Chess League.} h6 26. Bxh8 hxg5+ 27. Kg3 Nxh8 (27... Kxh8
28. Nf6 Nc7 29. Nxe8 Nxe8 30. Rd7) 28. c5 Nb4 29. Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nh7 Nd5 (30...
Ke7 {is another move where evoluation is far from being clear} 31. Rd4 a5 32.
a3 e5 33. Rd6) 31. Rd3 g4 32. Rb3 b5 33. Ra3 {with an absolutely crazy position
}) (25. h4 h6) 25... Kg7 26. Nxe8+ (26. Nd7 $1 {
still would transpose to a 25.Bf6 variation} h6 27. Bf6+ Kg8 28. Bxh8) 26...
Rxe8 27. Rd7 e5+ 28. Kf3 $6 {Only this move gives an advantage to Black. Here
White King will get checked by e-pawn, which will be the desicive tempo!} (28.
Ke3 $1 Rc8 29. Rxb7 Rc7 30. Rxc7 Nxc7 31. h4 h6 32. gxh6+ Kxh6 33. Bd1 {
with an idea Ba4 and White probably has close to enough compensation}) 28...
Rc8 29. Rxb7 Rc7 30. Rxc7 (30. Bf6+ Kf8 31. Rb3 Ke8 (31... c5)) 30... Nxc7 31.
h4 h6 32. Bf6+ (32. gxh6+ Kxh6) 32... Kh7 33. c5 (33. gxh6 Ne6 34. Ke3 Kxh6 {
would be more stubborn although the endgame remains quite unpleasant for White}
) 33... Nd5 (33... hxg5 34. hxg5 (34. Bc4 g4+) 34... Nd5 {was probably a
little more precise move order since gxh6 is only an extra option for White.})
34. Bc4 e4+ 35. Ke2 Nxf6 36. Bxf7 (36. gxf6 Ne5 37. Bb3 Nd3 {
and the Black Avelanche decides}) 36... hxg5 37. hxg5 Kg7 38. Be6 Nh7 $1 39. b4
({Now it became clear that after} 39. Bd7 Nxg5 40. Bxc6 Ne6 {
White cannot save his c5 pawn in a view of Nd4.}) 39... Nxg5 40. Bd7 Nf3 41.
Ke3 Ne5 42. Bc8 Kf6 43. a4 Nd3 44. b5 Nxc5 45. bxc6 Nxa4 (45... Ne6 {
was also winning, but it so nice to finish the game with 4 passed pawns.}) 46.
c7 Nb6 47. Bb7 Ke5 48. c8=Q Nxc8 49. Bxc8 a5 {White's Bishop is absolutely
helpless against the march of all pawns, especially the g-pawn. When the game
was over I was very enthusiastically congratulated by my teammates and I
realized that at the moment when I had an hour deficit on my clock and a
picturesque position with Rook on h8 and King on g8 as well as 2 Knights on h6
and a6, my team had little faith that I can score even half a point. To my
regret this important win did not bring the overall victory to our team and we
drew after Hikaru, who in search of complications, pushed too far and lost.
The match was drawn, which meant that we had to score two wins and one draw in
the remaining three matches in order to have real chances for medals. The next
day match against Bulgaria finished well for us after Gata beat Cheparinov and
Hikaru, Alex and myself protecting different level of worse positions. The
match against Israel was our decisive one of the Olympiad. Unfortunately Gata
blundered a pawn early in the game, but it felt that all three remaining
players could score a full point. At some point Gata had an amazing chance to
equalize the position, whereas a couple of moves before seemed absolutely
hopeless. Gata missed his chance and we lost our first game in this hard match.
I had a better position against Victor Mikhalevski, but my opponent defended
well and we reached absolutely drawn Queen endgame, where out of all
continuations, there was no losing ones! But I still was able to find one!
Neither Hikaru nor Alex could score a victory, so we lost 1:3 and our chances
for medal were gone. But we still had to play our final round against a very
powerful team of Cuba. After 40 moves and 4 hours almost all the games in the
Olympiad ended. We already knew that the team of Ukraine won a Gold Medal,
Russia won Silver. But not a single game in our match was finished. Israel of
course was supporting us especially enthusiastically, since we could improve
their tiebreaks. Gata won in this amazing fight and then all remaining games
were drawn. We tied for the 5-10th places, but were only 9th on a tie-break.
Since only 5 teams qualified for the World Team Championship from the Olympiad,
The team USA needs to seek for its chance in 2011 Panamerican championship in
order to qualify for this prestigious event. Meanwhile I would like
congratulate our Women's team who were able to qualify and will represent our
country in the World Team Women Championship! I think our experiecne at the
Chess Olympiad was a bitter-sweet one - we had a very friendly team, spent a
lot of time together, exchanged a lot of jokes and in general had a positive
mood about everything. The organization of the Olympiad in general was on a
high level, but the last moment changes with charters and hotels were a little
disturbing. A couple of things still did not feel right: Khanty-Mansiysk is a
great place to visit - but not 4 times! Of course, one might say that if we
just had beaten Israel, the impressions would be absolutely different :) This
person might be right!} 0-1

[Event "39th Olympiad Women"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.10.03"]
[Round "11.5"]
[White "Abrahamyan, T."]
[Black "Karavade, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2352"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.04"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "IND"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 {As Tatev explained, her opponent plays both the Najdorf and 1...e5,
but since Tatev had had trouble against the Najdorf in round nine and it was a
must-win situation for both teams, she and Melik thought it was more likely a
Najdorf would appear.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7.
Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 {In round nine, Black chose 8...Be7, and a line arose that
gained a lot of popularity after the game Karjakin-Anand Wijk aan Zee 2007.
Tatev had prepared some deviation from it, but there was no need to show it in
this game as her opponent veered off first.} 9. O-O-O Rc8 {9...Be7 would have
transposed back into Tatev's earlier game, but this move puts the game on an
altogether new course.} 10. f3 h5 {Black takes extreme measures to halt the
advance of White's g-pawn. This is a relatively modern approach that's gained
traction across all kinds of Sicilian lines.} 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Bd3 b5 13. h3 {
preparing g4.} h4 14. f4 {
Now this move is possible because White has the g4 square under control.} Qc7
15. Rhe1 Bc4 16. a3 Rb8 17. Na2 Bd8 $6 18. Nb4 Qb7 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 {
Diagram # Black's position is already quite unpleasant because their king has
no safe shelter on the board.} Bxd3 (20... Qxd5 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 (21... Qxd2 22.
Nxd2 bxc4 23. Nxc4 O-O 24. Nxd6 $18) 22. Nc5 $1 Nxc5 23. Qxd6 Ne6 24. Qxb8 $18)
(20... Bxd5 21. Bf5 $1 Nf6 (21... Bc6 22. Qxd6 Be7 23. Bxd7+ Bxd7 24. Qxe5 $18)
22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bc5 e4 24. Qd4 $18) 21. Qxd3 O-O 22. Bd2 $1 {a nice transfer
of the bishop. The bishop both stops Black's queenside play, and will put
pressure on Black's position from c3.} Qa7 23. Bc3 exf4 ({
There's just no time for} 23... a5 {as White is faster after} 24. fxe5 b4 25.
Bd4) ({and if Black tries to defend the e5 pawn with} 23... Bf6 24. Na5 $1 {
The c6 square is a big weakness in Black's position.}) 24. Nd4 Ne5 25. Qf5 Qc7
26. Nc6 {Diagram #} Bf6 (26... Nxc6 {
begs to be played, but Black's position is really pitiful after} 27. dxc6 Qxc6
28. Qxf4 {White will win back their pawn, and the Bc3 is just too much of a
dominant force. For example:} Bc7 29. Bxg7 $1 {decides the issue.} Kxg7 30.
Qg5+ Kh7 31. Rd4 $18) 27. Nxb8 Rxb8 28. Qxf4 {Diagram # A technically winning
position, but still a psychological challenge for Tatev. In her own words,
after seeing Anna and me draw, and judging that Camilla's game would be a draw
too, she knew that everything depended on her and she was so nervous and
worried about messing up that she kept playing solidly trying not to blunder
instead of looking for a winning plan. I couldn't read her mind during the
game, but that was the impression I got from watching: that the psychological
burden made it much harder for her to convert her advanatage than it would
have in another situation.} Rc8 29. Qf2 a5 30. Re4 Ra8 31. Rf4 b4 32. axb4 axb4
33. Rxb4 Nd7 34. Bxf6 Qa5 35. c3 Nxf6 36. Qf3 Qa2+ 37. Kc2 Re8 38. Rxh4 Re5 39.
Rhd4 Qa6 40. Qd3 Qa7 41. Qb5 Qe7 42. Qb8+ Kh7 43. Rh4+ Kg6 44. Qb5 Re3 45. Rd3
Re2+ 46. Rd2 Re3 47. Qc4 Ne4 48. Rg4+ Kh7 49. Qd4 {
Forcing a trade of rooks with 49.Re2! would have been simpler.} Nf6 50. Rf4 Re5
51. Qd3+ Kg8 52. Rb4 g6 53. Qf3 Kg7 54. Rf4 Ne4 55. Rd1 Nc5 56. Rf1 Re2+ $4 {
A helpful check...for White. Now the rook is attacked and White threatens to
take on f7. Black should've kept the game going with 56...f5.} 57. Kd1 {
Diagram # Thanks for this game, Tatev!} 1-0

[Event "39th Olympiad Men"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.09.23"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Lopez Silva, Hugo"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2413"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[Annotator "Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1k2r/ppppqpp1/5n1p/4p3/2BnPP1B/8/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 b kq - 0 9"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2010.11.02"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.02"]
[WhiteTeam "Chile"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{In our third round against Chile, I boosted our team's confidence with an
easy win. It's only move nine, but little did my opponent know that Var and I
found this line earlier in the morning. White is in huge trouble after} 9...
Qc5 10. Bxf7+ (10. fxe5 {Was a much better try, but still fails to} Nf3+ 11.
Kh1 Nxh4 12. exf6 Qxc4 13. fxg7 Rg8 14. Nc3 c6 (14... Rxg7 $2 15. Qh5 Ng6 16.
Nd5 Kf8 17. Qxh6 {Puts black under a dangerous attack}) 15. Qh5 Ng6 16. Qxh6 d6
17. h4 Bg4 18. h5 Bxh5 19. Qxh5 Rxg7 {Although the material is now even, black
has a significant advantage because white's king will be in grave danger once
black castles queenside.}) 10... Kxf7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 (11... Nxc2+ 12. Kh1 gxf6
13. fxe5 Ke8 14. Nc3 Nxa1 15. exf6 Rf8 {
Should also be winning, but is unnecessarily dangerous.}) 12. fxe5 Qxe5 $19 {
And I converted my extra piece after 36 moves.} 0-1

[Event "QGA - Smyslov Variation"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#1    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Bxc4 Bg7 {Diagram # **  #1  Queen's
Gambit Accepted - Smyslov Var. :   1.d4 d5, 2.c4 dxc4, 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.e3 g6 ***,
5.Bc4 Bg7.    This method of trying to convert a QGA into a kind of Gruenfeld
Defense has never quite caught on, in part because of the lag In piece
development caused by playing d5Xc4 Followed by the KB fianchetto. However, it
is a somewhat tricky system that is good for the occasional surprise weapon or
speed game !     Amateur : ( Hereafter  "A" ) * *  Expert & Up : ( Hereafter
"X" ) * *} *

[Event "Ruy Lopez  v  3...g6"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#2    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "6"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {Diagram # #2  3/\g6 Defense to the Ruy Lopez. 
1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 g6 ***.     This solid, somewhat cramped fianchetto
defense is probably better than most of the other Non-Morphy ( 3/\a6 )
defenses to the Lopez, but what it gains in flexibility it loses in lack of
direct central pressure against White's pawn at e4. Also, White can often save
a tempo by not having to play the slow move of h2-h3. Why ? Because an early
Bg4 is not a good idea for Black now, since there is no good retreat for the
QB after White simply plays h2-h3 !  This problem was created of course, on
move three by Black !  A  :  *  X  :  * *} *

[Event "4.Bg5 ~ e3   v   K.I.D."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#3    Smyslov"]
[Black "Opponent"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C60"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 {**} d6 5. e3 {Diagram # #3  Early Bg5
~e3 vs. The King's Indian Defense.  1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6, 3.Nc3 Bg7, 4.Bg5 *** d6,
5.e3 ***.      This is a solid way to eliminate much of the dynamic
counterplay of the KID. The pin against Black's KN clamps down on Black's KW
pawn storms and by putting the "e" pawn on e3, more support is given to the d4
pawn, which renders that pawn something less than an easy target for Black's
KB fianchetto. However, a well-prepared QW advance often involving c6 ~ Qa5
and b5 have been found to give Black good play.  A  :  * *  X  :  * *} *

[Event "Caro-Kann  v  4...Nd7"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#4    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {Diagram # #4  The 4/\Nd7 Var. of
the Caro-Kann = the Smyslov Var.  1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 dxe4, 4.Nxe4 Nd7 ***.
Gold standard stuff here !  After Nimzovitch, there were few Black defenders
of the Caro who challenged Capablanca's endorsement of simply developing his
QB to f5 before playing e6.  Smyslov was the first world-class player to
actively champion the solid 4/\Nd7 treatment on a regular basis.  While it is
a slower system than 3...Bf5, it has the plusses of eventually putting the QB
on the long white diagonal without it being harassed by White's KN and KW
pawns. This solid system has been a perennial Karpov favorite. Since it is
somewhat more cramped than 3/\Bf5, it may be somewhat more difficult to handle
for Amateurs than that system.  A  :  * * * *  X  :  * * * * *} *

[Event "Gruenfeld Def. ~ Qc7& Rd8 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#5    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Qc7 {**} 11. Rc1 Rd8 {Diagram # #5  Qc7~Rd8  in the
Gruenfeld Defense vs. the Exchange Var.  1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.cxd5
Nxd5, 5.e4 Nxc3, 6.b2xc3 Bg7, 7.Bc4 0-0,  8.Ne2 c5, 9.Be3 Nc6, 10.Qd2 Qc7 ***,
11.Rc1 Rd8 ***.     This system requires real care by the defender, due to
White's menacing central control. However, the Black position has been
championed by a number of strong Grandmasters, including Bobby Fischer. The
rewards for Black are high if he can induce White to over-extend his central
pawn-mass, but this system requires both accuracy and careful timing by Black.
A  :  * *   X  :  * * *} *

[Event "Vienna Game  ~  3.g3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#6    Smyslov"]
[Black "Opponent"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A10"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 {Diagram # #6  g3 in the Vienna Opening = the
Smyslov Var.  1.e4 e5, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 ***.     Before you toss out the Vienna
as a too unsubtle try for an edge after 1.e4 e5, take a look at Smyslov's
subtle handling of this opening. By fianchettoing his KB, White sets Black
some positional problems that are not trivial too solve. White often swaps off
his QN for Black's KB in these lines, then gradually watches his bishop-pair
asset grow right down to the Endgame. A bit subtle for Amateur players, but if
your study time is limited, it is a good and solid system with perhaps 1% of
the theory of the Ruy Lopez  to learn !   A  :  * * *  X  :  * * * *} *

[Event "Closed Sic. ~ 6.Be3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#7    Smyslov"]
[Black "Opponent"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C26"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 {Diagram # #7  Closed
Sicilian with Be3 ~ Qd2 and often 0-0-0 = Smyslov Sic.  1.e4 c5, 2.Nc3 Nc6, 3.
g3 g6, 4.Bg2 Bg7, 5.d3 d6, 6.Be3 ***.     This is a really first-rate system
for the club player with limited time to study the main Open lines of the
Sicilian Defense ! White often castles long in this system ! This system often
gives White a ready-made attack against Black's king, if Black plays in an
over-routine manner. The dangerous pitfalls to avoid are almost all in Black's
court. I think that it is easier to play this attacking system than the main
Closed Sicilian systems with f4~Nf3 with a bulky KW pawn-storm to try and
co-ordinate.   A  :  * * * *  X  :  * * *} *

[Event "Ruy Lopez  v  Open Defense"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#8    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {Diagram # #8  Huge and
original analysis of many lines of the Ruy Lopez Open Var.  1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6,
3.Bb5 a6, 4.Ba4 Nf6, 5.0-0 Nxe4 ***.     Attention all Marshall Gambiteers and
Schliemann addicts. Restless struggling against the python-like grip of the
Lopez ?  Have you ever considered playing  a defense to the Ruy Lopez that is
both active and sound ?  If you really like playing a pawn down or with part
of the pawn-cover shot up in front of your KW, then by all means, carry on.
However, you should be aware that during the 1940's and 1950's, a cadre of top
Soviet players took the venerable Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez and subjected
it to incredible depths of thorough analysis. The chief analysts in this
project included Mikhail Botvinnik, Paul Keres, Isaac Boleslavsky and yes you
guessed it - Vasily Smyslov. Almost every main variation of this ancient and
honorable defense was analyzed, updated and strengthened. If you choose it,
Smyslov's analytical discoveries will be a big reason for your successes. They
have been recorded in many opening books-but not always with proper credit.
Incidentally, both Amateur and Advanced players should keep the following tip
in mind; In a double KP opening, if Nxe4 by Black can not be clearly punished
within 4-5 moves, then the capture is probably a good thing to do !  ( One
last plug. Be honest now. Go take a luck at that bug-ugly Berlin Defense after
8/\KxQ and then go take an honest look at the above position after move 5.  I
mean, come on ! )  A  :  * * * * *  X  :  * * * *} *

[Event "Goring Gambit Accepted"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#9    Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 Bxc3+ {**} 7. bxc3
d6 8. O-O Nf6 9. e5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. Ba3 c5 13. Bb5+ Kf8 {
Diagram # #9  Goring Gambit  vs.  Accepted, Smyslov Variation.  1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3
Nc6, 3.d4 exd4, 4.c3 dxc3, 5.Nxc3 Bb4 ***, 6.Bc4 Bxc3, 7.b2xc3 d6,  8.0-0 Nf6,
9.e5 Nxe5, 10.Nxe5 dxe5, 11.Qb3 Qe7, 12.Ba3 c5, 13.Bb5+ Kf8 ***.     Hmmm.
Well, this is gold standard stuff again, but the gold is somewhat molten and
hot to handle for Amateurs. If you are a middling strength player, you will
have to have a strong stomach and a deep and abiding faith in material to
embrace the final position after 13/\Kf8.  You might want to stick with the
good old solid Goring Gambit Declined with 4/\d5 instead.  However, if you are
both a strong player and you have a bent for defensive play, be reassured that
this variation is considered by many GMs as the acid test of the Goring Gambit
Accepted. Black is two pawns up and has few pawn weaknesses. "Goring Gambit is
very riskant" said the great man, after defeating his opponent  when he first
introduced this variation into international play.  A  :  * *   X  :  * * **} *

[Event "Budapest Fajarowicz  v  Rd5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#10  Smyslov"]
[Black "Opponent"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C18"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Nxd2
8. Qxd2 Qe7 9. Qc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Re8 11. Rd5 {Diagram # **} b6 12. e3 Bb7 13. Be2
{#11   Rd5 !  Variation vs. the Fajarowicz Budapest.  1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e5, 3.
dxe5 Ne4, 4.Nf3 Bb4+, 5.Nbd2 Nc6, 6.a3 Bxd2+, 7.Bxd2 Nxd2,  8.Qxd2 Qe7, 9.Qc3
0-0, 10.Rd1 Re8, 11.Rd5 ***.    Once again, a variation that is still state of
the art !  The somewhat startling positional sacrifice of the Exchange for a
pawn plus a central space advantage has proven its worth in international play
in many games. If Black does not accept the passive rook sacrifice, then he is
usually left struggling to try and regain his pawn. While this is not the
easiest type of maneuvering game for an Amateur to play, it is still quite
strong for White. Also, you will greatly benefit from the practice that you
will get in playing out this kind of game !   A  :  * * * * *  X  :  * * * * *}
*

[Event "Gruenfeld Def.~Smylov  v  Qb3 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#11  Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 {**}
8. Be2 Nfd7 9. Be3 Nb6 10. Qb3 Nc6 {Diagram # #12  Smyslov Var. of the
Gruenfeld  vs. Qb3.  1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Nf3 Bg7, 5.Qb3 dxc4, 6.
Qxc4 0-0, 7.e4 Bg4 ***,   8.Be2 Nfd7 ***, 9.Be3 Nb6 ***, 10.Qb3 Nc6.    Here
too, the Master's innovation back in the 1940's is still one of the very most
respected defenses against White's Qb3 attack. Smyslov's system involves first
pinning White's KN, then re-routing his two knights over to the QW, where they
will both harass White's queen as well as strive for a well-timed e7-e5 pawn
thrust against White's center.  I believe that once learned, this system is
actually easier for Black to handle than it is for White.  A  :  * * * * *  X 
:  * * * * *} *

[Event "Ruy Lopez  v  Strongpoint ~ h6"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#12  Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 h6 $1 {Diagram # **} 13. Nbd2 Re8
14. Nf1 Bf8 15. Ng3 {#13  Closed Ruy Lopez with h6.  1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5
a6, 4.Ba4 Nf6, 5.0-0 Be7, 6.Re1 b5, 7.Bb3 0-0,  8.c3 d6, 9.h3 Bb7, 10.d4 Re8,
11.Ng5 Rf8, 12.Nf3 h6, 13.Ndb2 Re8, 14.Nf1 Bf8, 15.Ng3.    It has often been
argued that the very best of the Morphy defenses to the Ruy Lopez is a strong
point system, based on maintaining the solid point at e5. If it can be further
argued that the natural development of the Zaitsev system is the best and most
efficient way to achieve that objective, then Smyslov's subtle h6 is an
absolutely critical line, since it avoids a White-forced repetition of the
position.  There are a few theory hounds that seem to think that allowing
White's knight to hop over to the g3 square in a couple of moves is a big
concession to White. Not only does it not look that way to me, but the silicon
monsters don't see anything really wrong with Black's position either. Like in
most strong point Ruys, you have a somewhat cramped but very solid position 
as Black, with reasonable chances of outplaying an impatient opponent. All of
this is good news if you are playing down and want to avoid a three-fold
occurrence of position draw !  A  :  * * *  X  :  * * * *} *

[Event "QG  Schlechter / Slav"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#13  Opponent"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D25"]
[PlyCount "12"]
[EventDate "2010.08.26"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.26"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Bd3 Bg4 {Diagram # #14 
Revival of the Schlechter-Slav.  1.d4 d5, 2.c4 c6, 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.e3 g6, 5.Nc3
Bg7, 6.Bd3 Bg4 ***.    I have a suggestion for all of those a6 fans in the
red-hot Slav and Semi-Slav defenses to the Queen's Gambit. Why not develop a
piece instead ? Almost single-handedly, Vasily Smyslov revived Carl
Schlechter's ancient idea of keeping the diagonal for Black's QB open and then
quietly proceeding with castling. The downside is that Black will usually have
to part with his QB for White's KN at f3 after White plays h3. While this is
something of a drawback, there is still a lot to commend to Black in this line
for the following reasons.   #1) His development is easy in this line.   #2 )
There are way fewer hot-theory Slav lines that have to be learned by Black.  
#3) Black often gets his QB traded off for White's KN anyway in other
variations.   #4) Winning the bishop for the knight costs White a tempo.  #5)
The White queen is not ideally placed at f3.   #6) Ultimately, in looking for
a White edge after his "bishop for knight " trade, White often has to look
hard. He tries to find a good square for his QB at e1 or d2 or at b2 watching
his own pawn at d4. Not very impressive posts for the bishop.     In short, if
you don't mind defending with knight vs. bishop and your study time is limited,
this is an ideal system. I believe that it is better than the old Classical
Bd6 sometimes trotted out by Anand. I believe that it is definitely better
than the time-consuming Bb4 Romih, which is played on occasion in
International play.   Well, Ok. it's not the most glamorous Belle at the Ball.
But hey, the Schlechter could make you a solid life partner, who won't make
too many demands on you/\  A  :  * * * *  X  :  * * * *} *

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1919.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "William Winter"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C49"]
[Annotator "Wyatt,Darrell"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1919.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Bd6 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. Nd5 g5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. Bg3 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3
Qxf3 15. gxf3 f6 16. Kg2 a5 17. a4 Kf7 18. Rh1 Ke6 19. h4 Rfb8 20. hxg5 hxg5
21. b3 c6 22. Ra2 b5 23. Rha1 c4 24. axb5 cxb3 25. cxb3 Rxb5 26. Ra4 Rxb3 27.
d4 Rb5 28. Rc4 Rb4 29. Rxc6 Rxd4 {Diagram #} 0-1

[Event "g/60"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cobb, Matt"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "1293"]
[BlackElo "1692"]
[Annotator "Anne,J"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.10.05"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 a6 {Diagram #} 7. c5
Nbd7 (7... b6 8. b4 a5 9. a3) (7... e5) (7... Ne4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2) (7...
Nc6) 8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 {Diagram #} Ba6 11. b5 Bc8 (11... bxc5 12. bxa6
c4) 12. c6 Nb8 13. Be5 (13. Ne5) 13... Bd6 14. Qc2 h6 15. O-O Qe7 16. a4 Ng4
17. Rae1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 f6 {Diagram #} 20. e4 d4 21. exf6 Qxf6 22.
e5 Qg5 23. Ne2 Qxe5 24. Ng3 Qd6 25. Qe2 {Diagram #} Nxc6 26. bxc6 Ra7 27. Qe4
Qd5 28. Qh7+ Kf7 29. Bg6+ Kf6 30. Ne4+ Ke5 {Diagram #} 31. Nc3+ (31. f4+ Rxf4
32. Qxg7+ Rf6 33. Qxf6#) (31. Qxg7+) 31... Kd6 32. Nxd5 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.12.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sidebar"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r4/1p2k3/4p1p1/6Pp/2p1RP1P/PbP5/1K5R/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]

1. Rhe2 Rd6 2. Rd4 Rd7 3. Rxd7+ Kxd7 4. Re5 b6 5. Rb5 Kc6 {Diagram #} 6. Rxb3 (
6. f5 Kxb5 (6... exf5 7. Rxf5 gxf5 8. g6) 7. fxg6 (7. f6)) *

[Event "Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hikaru Nakamura"]
[Black "Diego Flores"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]

1. g3 c5 2. Bg2 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d5 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Ne5
O-O 9. O-O Nd7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Nb6 13. Bxc6 Bh3 14. Re1 Rc8
15. Bf3 Bxd4 16. Nb5 Bf6 17. Nxa7 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Rc2 {Diagram #} 19. Nc6 (19. a4
Nc4 20. a5) 19... Na4 20. Bh6 Nxb2 21. Rdc1 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Re8 23. g4 e5 24.
Be2 (24. Re1) 24... e4 25. Rb1 Nd3 26. a4 Bh4 27. Be3 f5 28. gxf5 gxf5 29. Bd4
f4 30. a5 e3 31. fxe3 (31. Bxd3 Bxf2+ 32. Kh1 f3) 31... Bf2+ 32. Kh1 Ne1 33.
Rxe1 Bxe1 {Diagram #} 34. a6 (34. Bh5 Ra8 35. Bf3 Kf8 36. exf4 Bxa5) (34. e4
Rxe4 35. Bf3 Rxd4 36. Nxd4 Bxa5) 34... Be6 (34... Bf2 35. e4 Be3) 35. Bf3 fxe3
36. Bxe3 Bc8 (36... Bg4 37. Bd5+) 37. a7 Bb7 38. Ne7+ Rxe7 39. Bxb7 Re8 40.
a8=R Rxa8 41. Bxa8 Bc3 42. Kg2 Bb2 43. Kf3 Bc3 44. Ke4 Bb2 45. Kf5 Bc3 46. Ke6
Bb2 47. Kf5 Bc3 48. Kg5 Bb2 49. Kh5 Bc3 50. h4 Bb2 51. Kh6 Bc3 52. Be4 Kh8 53.
Kg5 (53. Bxh7 Bd2) 53... Bb2 54. h5 Kg8 55. Bd5+ Kh8 56. Kf5 Bc3 57. h6 Bb2 58.
Ke6 Kg8 59. Ke7+ Kh8 60. Kf7 Bc3 61. Bc5 1-0

[Event "Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gata Kamsky"]
[Black "Ivan Cheparinov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. a4
h6 9. Be2 Be6 10. O-O Be7 11. a5 Qc6 12. Ne1 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Qxe4 14. Bf3 Qb4 15.
c4 Nd7 16. b3 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc3 18. Nf4 exf4 19. Bd4 Qb4 20. Ra4 Qxa4 21. bxa4
O-O 22. Re1 Ne5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Rxe5 Bf6 25. Re4 Rbd8 26. Qc1 Bd7 27. c5 Bc6
28. Rb4 Rfe8 29. Kf1 Rd3 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Qb1 Rd5 32. Rb8 Bd8 33. g3 Rxc5 34.
gxf4 Rxa5 35. Qb3 Rf8 {Diagram #} 36. Qc4 Be7 37. Rb6 Rc5 (37... Rh5 38. Qe2
Bd8) 38. Qxa6 Rc2 39. Qb7 (39. Rxc6 Bc5 40. Rc8 Rxf2+ 41. Ke1 Rc2 42. Kd1 Rc3
43. Kd2) 39... Bc5 40. Rb2 Rc1+ 41. Kg2 Bd6 42. Ra2 (42. f5 Rb8) 42... Bxf4 43.
a5 Rc5 44. a6 Bb8 45. h3 g6 46. Rd2 Rg5+ 47. Kf1 Rf5 48. Rc2 Kh7 49. Rxc6 Kg7
50. Qd7 {Diagram #} Bg3 51. Qxf5 gxf5 52. fxg3 Rb8 (52... Ra8 53. Ke2) 53. Rc1
f4 54. gxf4 Kg6 55. a7 Ra8 56. Ra1 Kh5 57. Kf2 Kh4 58. Kf3 h5 59. Ra5 f6 60.
Ra1 f5 61. Ra5 Kxh3 62. Rxf5 h4 63. Ra5 1-0

[Event "Chess Olympiad (Women)"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2010.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Irina Krush"]
[Black "Anna Muzychuk"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
Nf3 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 h6 11. Bh4 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e3 Rc8 14. Bd3 c5 15.
O-O Re8 16. Bf5 Rc6 17. Rad1 Nf8 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nb3 Qb6 20. Na5 d4 21. exd4
cxd4 22. Qb4 Nd5 23. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 24. Rxd4 Ne3 25. Be4 Rb6 26. Re1 Ne6 27. Rd2
Bxe4 28. fxe4 Ng4 29. h3 Ne5 30. Bf2 Ra6 31. b4 Nf4 32. Re3 Rc8 33. Rb3 f6 34.
Be3 Ne6 35. Kf2 Ng5 36. Bxg5 hxg5 37. Nb7 Rb6 38. Nd6 Rc1 39. b5 Nc4 40. Nxc4
Rxc4 41. Ke3 {Diagram #} a6 42. Rd4 (42. Rd5 axb5) 42... Rc5 (42... Rc2) 43. a4
axb5 44. Rd5 (44. g4) 44... Rc2 45. axb5 Rxg2 46. Kd4 Rc2 47. Rc3 Rb2 48. Kc4
Kf7 49. Rb3 Rc2+ 50. Kb4 Rb8 51. Rd7+ Kg6 52. Rd6 Re2 (52... Kf7) 53. b6 Rxe4+
54. Kc5 g4 55. hxg4 Kg5 56. Rd7 g6 57. Rg7 Rxg4 58. b7 f5 59. Kb6 f4 60. Kc7
Rf8 {Diagram #} 61. Ra3 (61. b8=Q Rxb8 62. Rxb8 Rg3 63. Rb6 Kh4 64. Rh7+ Kg5
65. Rf7 Ra3 66. Rbf6) 61... Rg3 62. Ra8 Rc3+ 63. Kd6 Rf6+ 64. Kd5 Rb3 65. b8=Q
Rxb8 66. Rxb8 f3 {Diagram #} 67. Rb1 Kf4 68. Rg1 f2 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.12.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem I"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pp1/8/4p3/8/3kP1P1/5P2/3K4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]

{Diagram #} 1. g4 (1. Ke1 f5 2. Kd1 g5 3. Ke1 f4) 1... f6 2. Ke1 g6 3. Kd1 f5
4. g5 Ke4 (4... f4 5. exf4 exf4 6. Ke1 Ke4 7. Ke2 Kf5 8. f3 Kxg5 9. Kf2) 5. Ke2
f4 6. exf4 (6. f3+ Kf5 7. exf4 Kxf4) 6... Kxf4 7. Kd2 Kxg5 8. Ke3 Kf5 9. f3
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.12.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem II"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Kantor, Alan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3k4/2p5/p2pK3/Pp6/3P4/1P6/2P5/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]

{Diagram #} 1. c3 Ke8 2. c4 b4 (2... bxc4 3. bxc4 Kd8 4. c5 dxc5 5. dxc5 Ke8 6.
c6) 3. Kd5 (3. c5 dxc5 4. dxc5 Kd8 5. Ke5 Kd7 6. Kd4 Ke6 7. Kc4 c6 8. Kxb4 Kd5)
3... Kd7 4. c5 c6+ (4... dxc5 5. Kxc5) 5. Kc4 d5+ 6. Kxb4 Ke6 7. Kc3 Kf5 8. Kd3
Kf4 9. b4 Kf5 10. Ke3 Ke6 11. Kf4 Kf6 12. Kg4 Ke6 13. Kg5 Ke7 14. Kf5 Kf7 15.
Ke5 Ke7 16. b5 1-0

