Editorial Preface

Table of Contents
And the European Individual Champion is Alexander
Motylev!!! The Russian played a really amazing tournament,
 Editorial Preface 2 scoring 9/11 points and landing a clear point ahead of the 2nd
place. He is probably on his way to Khanty Mansisk right now
to help Karjakin, whose second he has already been for many
 4 best games of the past week 3
years.

 Puzzle section 17 The 2nd place was shared by 8 players with a score of 8/11. The
best one on tiebreak happened to be Anton Guijarro David, a
relatively unknown young player from Spain with a rating of
 Endgame section 20
2559 and Vladimir Fedoseev, a young player from Russia with
a rating of 2641, came 3rd.
 Clash of the Titans 24
Some other excellent news is that Csaba qualified for the
World Cup, finishing with 7.5/11!
 Surprise section / study 27
The Candidates Tournament in Khanty Mansisk has begun
with a big surprise in the first round, as Anand very easily beat
 Solutions 28
Aronian with the white pieces. Who would have expected this
after Aronian recently played his best chess in years, while
Anand played ”modestly” to say the least during the last few
years.
Kramnik also seems to be in good shape as he won a great
game against Karjakin (you will find this game annotated in
this issue). Peter Svidler continues playing very good chess
and is on 1.5/2.
With every round the tournament is going to become more
and more exciting, so for your next issue you can be sure to
find great games by the world’s best chess players!

2
Once again we also want to apologize that this issue came 4 best games of the past week
with a delay of a few days, but your commentators were very
busy playing themselves.
We promise to be on time with the next issue! :) (1) Motylev, Alexander(2656)
- Riazantsev, Alexander(2689) [B11]
Arkadij Naiditsch & Csaba Balogh
15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014(6.1), GM Csaba Balogh
2014.03.08 Best rating: 2672

We will now examine the first board encounter of the

6th round. These two players were leading the field
with 4.5 points out of 5 games. After this fine victory
Alexander Motylev, Karjakin’s second, took the sole lead of the
tournament.
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Recently this setup became a very
popular weapon against the Caro-Kann defence.
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 Giving up the bishop pair is the
main line, but it cannot guarantee full equality for Black.
Black has some alternatives, but those also lead to slightly
unpleasant positions.
5...e6 Black tries to keep the position closed to make the two
bishops less effective.
6.d3 [6.d4!? is a very serious alternative for White, played by
many top players nowadays.]
6...Nf6 At the moment it is not obvious how Black should
develop his minor pieces. The text move is the main, but Black
has Nd7, followed by Bd6 or Bc5 and Ne7 as well.

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 10...Nfd7

7.Bd2 This is the point of the d3 setup. White would like to

play 0-0-0 and g4-g5, while in the 6.d4 line, he is rather opting
for a calm game with Bd3 and 0-0. White can fight for an 11.d4! After sending away the knight from attacking the e4
advantage in both lines. square, White occupies the most important central squares
and also prevents Black from locking the position with d4.
7...Bd6?! I don’t like this move, especially in view of what is Now he has a very easy game with 0-0-0 and h4-h5-g6. White
coming next. [7...Bb4 directly was possible. 8.a3 Ba5 9.e5 can hardly hope for more in this opening. It is a bit strange
d4!? (9...Nfd7 10.Qg3 looks good for White.) 10.exf6 dxc3 that such a well prepared player and Caro-Kann expert like
11.bxc3 Qxf6 12.Qxf6 gxf6 With a slightly better endgame for Riazantsev ended up in such a bad position after only 11
White.] moves.
8.g4 Bb4 This is the novelty, hardly a prepared one. It is a bit 11...O-O 12.O-O-O Black also has problems with the
dubious to play Bb4 in two moves. Black could have played placement of his knights. He is lacking space to find
useful developing moves instead. adequate squares for them. Therefore Black tries to explode
9.a3 Ba5 The following two moves for White are standard the center, but the white pieces are much better prepared for
reactions in this variation. the opening of the position.
10.g5! [Black’s idea behind losing a tempo is clear. Now after 12...e5 13.dxe5 d4 [Black would quickly collapse in the center
10.e5 10...d4 11.exf6 dxc3 12.bxc3 Qxf6 13.Qxf6 gxf6 the pawn after 13...Nxe5 14.Qg3 Re8 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Bg2! d4 17.Bxb7
on g4 is a weakening. It would be much better placed on g3 dxc3 18.Bxc3h]
to avoid having holes in the structure. Black can also find his 14.Ne2 Bxd2+ 15.Rxd2 Qxg5 16.Nxd4! [At first sight it
counterplay with h5 later. But the game’s continuation is just would have been tempting to include 16.Rg1 with tempo, but
much stronger.] Black also has an intermediate move: 16...Nxe5!]
16...Qxe5 [16...Nxe5 looked much more logical, but the
problem is that the knight does not have an outpost on
e5. 17.Qf5! Qxf5 18.Nxf5c And Black cannot finish the

4
development, because Nbd7 runs into f4. Otherwise White
has an easy plan, Be2, Rhd1 and penetrate on the d-file.
Sometimes Nd6 is very unpleasant. Black has serious
problems due to his b8 knight.]
17.Nf5 Nf6 This was Riazan tsev’s plan, on f6 the knight is
more stable and now he could finish the development with
Nbd7 and Rad8. Therefore White has to play energetically to
achieve something before Black accomplishes his plan.
18.Qg2 [18.Bc4! looked even stronger in view of the 22.Rd6! this decisive deflection wins the game! 22...Qxd6
following lines: 18...Nbd7 (18...Qxe4 loses to 19.Nh6+! 23.Nf5+h]
gxh6 20.Rg1+ Kh8 21.Qxf6#; 18...Nxe4 19.Re2h) 19.Rg1 g6
20.Nh6+ Kg7 21.Nxf7! wins material. 21...Rxf7 22.Bxf7 Kxf7 20.f3 Kh8 Leaving from the annoying check on h6, but it does
23.Rxd7+h] not solve the problems.
18...g6 21.Rg1! [There was a small trick, that White had to avoid
21.Nh6 or 21.Nd6 21...Qxg5 22.Nxf7+ Kg7 23.Nxg5 h6 and
the knight is trapped.]
21...Ng8 A desperate move, but Black was lost anyway.
[21...Nbd7 22.Bc4 Black will soon collapse here too.]
22.Nd6! Qxg5 23.Rxg5 [Now even 23.Nxf7+!? was winning
23...Kg7 24.Nxg5 h6 The difference to 21.Nh6 is 25.Rd8!!
Rxd8 26.Ne6+ Kf6 27.Nxd8h]
23...Re7 [23...Rf8 24.Nxb7h White is not only a pawn up,
but the b8 knight is still hopeless.]
19.Qg5! The most aggressive move. White creates many
attacking ideas by pinning the black queen and Qh6 can also
sometimes be decisive.
19...Re8 [19...Nbd7 was probably better, although after 20.f3
White’s advantage is undisputable.; 19...Qxe4 has a nice
refutation: 20.Nh6+ Kg7 21.Bg2 The queen needs to cover
the f5 square otherwise Nf5 mates. 21...Qe6 And now

5
24.Re5!! The decisive blow! Black cannot avoid losing
material. (2) Jakovenko, Dmitry(2723)
- Shimanov, Aleksandr(2649) [D45]
24...Rc7 [The f7 pawn could not be saved with 24...Kg7
because of 25.Rxe7 Nxe7 26.Ne8+ Kf8 27.Nc7h; 24...f6
Yerevan ARM(5.4), GM Csaba Balogh
25.Rxe7 Nxe7 26.Nxb7h followed by Rd8 is also decisive.] Best rating: 2672
2014.03.07
25.Re8 Black is totally paralyzed. White wants to play Bc4.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 Jakovenko also plays the Slav
25...b5 26.Nf5! [Black resigned in view of the Rxg8 and Rd8 defence with the black pieces. He is a big expert of this
mate threats: 26.Nf5 26...gxf5 27.Rg2h An excellent game opening.
by Motylev!] 1-0
4.e3 a6 A day later, Jakovenko was facing the same opening
but with the other color and he went for the line with 4...Bg4.
5.Nc3 e6 White can choose between at least 10 valuable
continuations, but the most common setup was played in the
game.
6.b3 With the idea to develop the bishop to d3 and to avoid
losing a tempo on recapturing on c4, but taking back with the
pawn. Also the c1 bishop would like to get fianchettoed, but
Black has a clever move to fight against it.

6...Bb4! This forces White to put his bishop on d2 to

neutralize the pin. Later the bishop goes back to d6 and the
one on d2 will be slightly misplaced.
7.Bd2 O-O 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.O-O Qe7 We are still just at the
beginning of the theory... Here again White has a wide range

6
of choices. 16.f4! [If White plays the most natural 16.Bc3 16...Ng4!
10.Qc2 After a few more natural developing moves, such as is very strong because 17.Bxh7+ leads to Black’s advantage
Rad1 and Rfe1, sometimes even h3, White would like to open after 17...Kh8 18.Bf5 Nxh2! 19.Bxc8 (19.Kxh2 19...Bxf5e)
the position with e4. With his last move, White has created the 19...Nxf1e]
positional threat of Ne5! followed by f4. Black should meet 16...Qh4 17.Rf3! We are still following some games. White
this threat with Nxe5 dxe5 Nd7 and f6 undermining next, but would like to counter the Ng4 threat with the simple Nf1 and
now the h7 pawn is hanging. suddenly he is threatening with Rh3!
10...e5 Black himself opens the center, but this leads to a 17...Re8 [17...Bg4 is met by 18.Nf5! Bxf5 19.Bxf5 The black
game with an isolated pawn on d5. He is hoping for active queen is misplaced on h4. Rh3 is coming next. If it was
piece play to compensate his weakness. [The other option for on e7, he could play g6 followed by Ne4 with a comfortable
Black to parry the Ne5 threat is 10...h6 Shimanov has already game, but now he cannot achieve this.; 17...g6!? was played
played it a few years ago, but now he deviates...] in the Cheparinov-Jakovenko blitz game in 2013, where Black
11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.cxd5 cxd5 eventually later won. Jakovenko has definitely studied this
position deeply and he has his ideas how to play it for both
sides. Shimanov tried to deviate from his well-prepared
opponent.]
18.Be1 [18.Nf5 18...Bxf5 19.Bxf5 Ne4! is the point of Rfe8!
20.Rh3? does not work because of 20...Qf2+]
18...Qh6

14.Ne2! White follows the principle which says that the best
blockader of an isolated pawn is the knight and he also drives
a piece to the kingside to defend against the attacking ideas
like Bd6 ot Ng4.
14...Bd6! Black needs to keep his pieces to create
counterplay for his isolated pawn. [14...Bxd2 15.Qxd2
leads to a long-term suffering for Black. It is not much fun to 19.Bc3! This is the novelty! The 19th move! This shows
defend such positions against a Russian player who plays in well the situation chess nowadays... I am quite sure that
Karpovian style.] Jakovenko had analyses over pages about this position and in
15.Ng3 Qg5 With the idea of Qh4 and Ng4! the game we will see it’s fruits. Black needs to react precisely

7
because White is threatening with Nf5 Bxf5 Bxf5 and g6 does 21.Re1! [21.Rh3 is strongly met by 21...Rxe3! 22.Nxe3
not work as the f6 knight is hanging, otherwise the queen gets (22.Rxh6 22...Re2+ 23.Kh1 Nf2+ 24.Kg1 Nxd3+ 25.Kh1
trapped after Rh3! [19.Nf5 happened in the previous games. Rxc2i) 22...Bxe3+ 23.Kh1 (23.Kf1 23...Nxh2+i and Bxh3
19...Bxf5 20.Bxf5 g6! 21.Rh3 Qf8 Black succeed ed to save his next.) 23...Nf2+ 24.Qxf2 Bxf2 25.Rxh6 gxh6=+]
queen and he settled his knight on e4 and solved the opening 21...Qb6 [In comparison to the 19...Bc5 line 21...d4 22.Bb2
problems.] Bb4 is met by 23.Rh3! and the knight on g4 blocks the c8
19...Ng4 [19...Bg4? is met by 20.Nf5! Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Black has bishop!]
problems to deal with Rh3.; 19...Bc5! seems like the critical
move! I wonder what Jakovenko’s analysis could be because
it seems to lead to a draw after 20.Be5 (20.Re1 20...d4! is just
fine for Black! 21.Bb2 Bb4)

22.b4!? A clever practical decision as this leads to a better

endgame after a forced line. [The computer gives 22.Bxh7+!
as an even stronger move. 22...Kf8 (22...Kh8 23.Rh3 Nh6
24.Rg3 d4 25.Bb2c With a big advantage, but of course to the
20...Bxe3+! 21.Rxe3 Ng4 22.Bxh7+! is given as the only human mind this is just very unclear.) 23.Qb2! d4 24.exd4
move by the machine (22.Nf1 is met by 22...Nxe3 23.Nxe3 Rxe1 25.dxc5 Qxc5+ 26.Kh1 And both the e1 and g7 pawns
Rxe5! Nice tactics!) 22...Qxh7 (22...Kh8 has a nice refutation: are hanging. White is winning, but of course it is very difficult
23.Bxg7+! Kxg7 24.Nh5+! Qxh5 25.Rh3h trapping the to play like this over the board.]
queen!) 23.Qxh7+ Kxh7 24.Ree1 Nxe5 25.fxe5 Be6 And 22...Bxe3+ [22...Bxb4? is elegantly refuted by 23.Qa4! with
Black should easily hold this endgame! Jakovenko probably a double attack!]
knew all this and hoped that his opponent would lose the
thread somewhere, which could of course very easily happen 23.Nxe3 Nxe3 24.Qf2! All black pieces are pinned, but the
without a preparation.] game goes on after the following only move:
20.Nf1 Bc5 Black must still try to create counterplay, but 24...d4! 25.Bxd4 Qxd4 26.Rfxe3
now White has

8
26...Rxe3 [26...Re6!! was the extremely difficult only move. 29.f5! There is no time to waste! f6 is coming next.
27.f5 (27.Bxh7+ is not enough here: 27...Kxh7 28.Rh3+ Kg8 29...b5 [29...f6 30.Bc4+ Kf8 (30...Kh7 31.Qh5! is decisive!
29.Qxd4 Rxe1+ 30.Kf2 Bxh3 31.Kxe1 Bxg2= Followed by Bc6 Qg6 and Re8 is coming next. 31...Qxf5 32.Bd3!h is an
and Re8 with a perfect fortress for Black. He has no weakness. important detail!) 31.Qe4h also looks quite hopeless.]
Despite his material advantage, White has no winning chance
30.f6 Bb7 Here comes the moment where White needs to
here.) 27...Rxe3 28.Rxe3 Qd8 29.f6 (29.Qh4 makes no sense
finish the game. Jakovenko finds the most direct way to do
now because the h7 pawn is not hanging. 29...Qb6) 29...g6
it:
30.Bc4+= White continues pressing, but Black also has his
resources. 30...Bf5 31.Re7 Qd1+; 26...Rf8 loses to 27.Bxh7+! 31.Qg3 g6 [31...g5 32.h4! Qd5 And here the most precise
Kxh7 28.Rh3+ Bxh3 29.Qxd4h] is 33.Kh2!h leaving from the d1 check and Black cannot
prevent the Be4 threat after which the g5 falls and Black gets
27.Rxe3 Qd7 An ugly move, but Black had no other option
mated.]
to cover the back rank and to leave the pin between the two
queens. [27...Qd8 would have been met by 28.Qh4!!h This
was Jakovenko’s point, which he had foreseen before playing
22.b4. White wins!]
28.Qh4! Weakening the kingside in order to launch
a decisive attack before Black succeeds to finish the
development. [28.Qe2 could have been met by 28...Qd4
and Bd7 saves the back rank.]
28...h6 [28...g6 29.f5h is over for Black.]
32.Bxg6! Kh8 A last trick to get counterplay on the g-file,
but after White’s cold-blooded reaction Black gets mated.
[32...fxg6 leads to a hopeless endgame: 33.Qxg6+ Kh8
34.Qxh6+ Qh7 35.Qxh7+ Kxh7 36.Re7+ Kg6 37.Rxb7h]

9
33.Bd3! Rg8 34.Qh4! Rxg2+ 35.Kf1 There was only one
check and Black cannot defend against Qxh6! An excellent (3) Kramnik, Vladimir(2787)
game! 1-0 - Karjakin, Sergey(2766) [D20]

FIDE Candidates 2014(2.4),

2014.03.14 GM Arkadij Naiditsch
Best rating: 2737

Could it be the last chance that Kramnik to take on the World

Championship title?! For over 20 years Vladimir has been
one of the best players in the world, he has won everything
possible, and we all remember that he was the only person
beating Kasparov in a WCC Match! Before the Candidates,
Kramnik even rejected to play in the Zurich super tournament
to be in a perfect shape. And he is, as with another novelty
Kramnik puts big problems to Karjakin, who didn’t find any
way to save the game
1.d4 d5 Karjakin said in his interview that he was preparing for
a month with 4 trainers and here he opens with the Queen’s
Gambit, an opening he rarely played before.
2.c4 dxc4 And we have the Queen’s Gambit accepted.
3.e4 Kramnik chooses the most aggressive line.
3...Nf6 [Another main line is 3...e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4]
4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 So far there is of course nothing new.
From the structure we can see that White has a slight space
advantage, but Black is dominating on the white squares.
5...Nb6 6.Bd3 is one of the most popular lines at the
moment.
6...Nc6 Black is aiming for a blockade on the d5 square.

10
7.Be3 Nb4 8.Be4 f5 This move is nothing new either. In 2012 11.Nc3 White doesn’t even try to save the pawn and plays for
Karjakin already played a blitz game against Ding Liren, who the initiative, and we can be sure that this was nothing new to
continued with the main move 9.exf6. Kramnik...
11...Bxb4 12.Qh5+! A very strong and important move.
Before attacking the e4 pawn, White tries to weaken Black’s
pawn structure as much as possible on the dark squares.
[To play 12.Qg4 with a double attack on e4 and g7 12...O-O
13.Ne2 would have been another option, but I think that
White doesn’t have anything special after thesimple 13...Bd7]
12...g6 13.Qg4 Now Black is not in time anymore to castle
kingside.

9.a3!? N A very interesting and probably strong novelty. [The

main lines goes 9.exf6 9...exf6 10.Nc3 f5 11.Bb1 N4d5 with a
complicated position.]
9...fxe4 Black accepts the challenge, but his position is
getting very dangerous. [Another very logical reply is
9...N4d5 and now White has quite some moves, but probably
an idea could be to play 10.Bxd5 It looks a bit strange to
give up such a nice bishop, but Black is very slow with
development. 10...Nxd5 11.Ne2 followed by Nbc3. It is hard 13...Bxc3+ A very hum an move, but it seems like after this
to say if White is really better here, but we can be sure that logical move Black is just doing badly. [After 13...O-O 14.Ne2
Kramnik’s analyses are very deep, so I guess Karjakin would Bd7 15.O-O White keeps the very important option of playing
have had a tough times playing against an human+engine Bg5-Bf6 next.; The best try might have been 13...Nc4 14.Ne2
mutant! :)] Nxe3 15.fxe3 O-O but after 16.Ng3 White’s position also looks
clearly better.]
10.axb4 What a strange position, which is very hard for
evaluation. Black’s pawn structure is very bad, but on the 14.bxc3 Qd5 Karjakin c ontinues his strategy to play on
other hand he has control over the light squares and the the light squares and Black’s a-pawn could also be very
bishop pair... The position is very dynamic. dangerous, but the only problem is that Black is not in time!
10...e6 A very logical move. [After 10...Bf5 11.Ne2 e6 12.b5 15.Ne2 Bd7 16.O-O White castles before deciding whether to
followed by Nbc3 and short castle, I think that White’s play Nf4 or Ng3.
position somehow looks nice.]

11
16...Qc4 Black cannot protect the e4 pawn. [After the logical
16...a5 17.Ng3! is very strong. 17...Bc6

23.Rxc6! This move had of course been planned for a couple

of moves already, but it is still a very nice one. By sacrificing an
exchange White is totally destroying Black’s pawn structure
18.Nxe4! And the game is over... 18...Qxe4 19.Qxe6+ Kf8
and the white knight is getting a perfect position on c5. But of
20.Bh6# What a beautiful mate!]
course all this required very precise calculation.
17.Ng3 Bc6 Black’s hope is to exchange the bishop against
23...bxc6 [23...Nxe3 doesn’t seem to work: 24.Nxe4 Qa4
the white knight, but that is just a dream...
(24...Qd5 25.Rc5 Qxe4 26.fxe3 And White’s central pawns
18.Ra5! A very nice move! White continues his rush and Rc5 should give him an advantage.) 25.Rxc7! What a beautiful
next looks pretty deadly. move! 25...Kxc7 (25...Nxf1 didn’t work as after 26.Rxb7+ Ka8
18...O-O-O! A very good practical decision. [After 18...O-O 27.Nc5 Qa1 White has the amazing
19.h4 White’s attack should be deadly.]
19.Rc5 Kramnik is going for the e6 pawn. [Playing 19.Rxa7
19...Kb8 20.Ra3 was probably quite tempting, but somehow
Blacks is still holding on the light squares, although White
should be much better.]
19...Qb3 20.c4 Kb8 Karjakin continues defending very well.
[20...Rhe8 was losing on the spot: 21.d5 Bd7 22.d6! Bc6
23.Nxe4 With a totally winning position for White.]
21.Qxe6 Rde8 Black needs to go for the c4 pawn, as in case
White was in time to play d5 the game would be instantly over. 28.Rb8+!! Kxb8 29.Qb3+ with mate to follow soon.) 26.Qxe3
22.Qh3 Nxc4 The position remains quite sharp. White’s central pawns and the great knight basically give him
a winning position.]
24.Nxe4 Nb6 Black tries to consolidate.

12
25.Nc5 Finally the big tactical battle is over and White’s wants to play Rc5 next, but he also protects from Qf5 in many
position is clearly better. lines.
25...Qd5 26.Rc1 A logical move. [But 26.Ra1 might have 33...h5 It is difficult to advise anything better... [33...Rd8
been even stronger, with the idea of playing Bg5-Qa3 next.] 34.Nc6 and the game should not last for much longer...]
26...Ka8 Karjakin was already in some time trouble and it is 34.Rc5 The knight on d5 cannot be protected without losing
very hard to give any advice to Black here. All White needs to material.
do is to get the queen out from h3 to a3 to end the game, which 34...Rd8 35.Nc6 What a domination of the white pieces!
is why maybe a move like 26...h5 would have made sense,
although Black’s position remains very bad. 35...Rxc6 36.Rxc6 hxg4 The only thing which stops Black
from resigning is the very strong position of the knight on d5,
27.Na6 A good decision. White is giving up the great position who already got there on move 5!
on c5 to collect the c6 pawn.
37.Rf6 Qh7 38.Bg5! Another very tricky move, especially in
27...Kb7 28.Nb4 Qf7 Not giving White the chance to play time troubles. Too many black pieces are hanging and White’s
Qf3 next. e-pawn could also become very dangerous.
29.Qg4 [29.Bg5 with the idea of playing Qa3 next also looks 38...Qg8 This blunder in a lost position doesn’t really matter
deadly.] anymore...
29...Nd5 30.Nxc6 The game is almost over...
30...Re6 31.Na5+ The white attack continues and all Black
can do is watch...
31...Ka8 32.Qe4 Rb6 Karjakin continues trying to hold
things together.

39.Rxg6 What a fantastic game by Kramnik. Great

preparation followed by great play.... Karjakin fought
well, but his bad position and Kramnik’s amazing left him in
a hopeless situation. 1-0

33.g4! Very well played by Kramnik again. White not only

13
 8.Na3
(4) Svidler, Peter(2758)
- Andreikin, Dmitry(2709) [B32]

FIDE Candidates 2014(2.3),

2014.03.14 GM Arkadij Naiditsch
Best rating: 2737

Lately Peter Svidler showed great chess and his wild car was
not really a surprise... He seems to be in better shape than
ever and he proves this with a great victory over Andrekin, a
player who you clearly want to beat in this event.
8...Be6 Of course this is all still theory and the move in the
1.e4 c5 This move was probably a little surprise for Svidler, as game is solid, but seems to lead to a slightly better position for
Andreikin usually likes to play the Berlin, which is solid like a White. [8...f5 is the only critical move in my opinion. It is not
rock. that easy for White to show a direct way to a clear advantage.]
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 [Lately the most played move is probably 9.Be2 Bg5 Andreikin uses the moment to exchange the
3.Bb5 ] bishops.
3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 The Kalashnikov ! A very rare opening on 10.Nc2 Svidler covers the d4 square "just in case". [10.Bxg5?!
the highest level, but quite a tricky one. About a year ago, we of course didn’t work as after 10...Qxg5 11.Qxd6?? Rd8 Black
published a book on the Kalashnikov and from time to time is winning.]
I have also been going through the lines of this aggressive
10...Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Qg5 I don’t like this move personally. The
opening for Black.
black queen seems to be misplaced on g5... [The more usual
5.Nb5 d6 Now White has quite a big range of possibilities... 11...Nf6 12.O-O O-O 13.Qd2 leads to a position with a small
6.c4 The main move and the safest line. [6.N1c3 6...a6 7.Na3 plus for White.]
would lead to much more sharp lines, for example after: 7...b5 12.O-O Now White already wants to take on d6.
8.Nd5 Nge7 With a very sharp position.]
12...Rd8 13.b4 Svidler probably wanted to be sure that Black
6...Be7 Black is developing the bishop on e7 before playing plays Nf6 and not Nge7 with the idea of castling kingside and
Nf6, with the simple idea of playing Bg5 soon and to exchange possibly f5 or Ng6-Nf4 in the future.
the "bad" bishop.
13...Nf6 [13...Nge7 14.b5 and Black can’t return to e7 because
7.N1c3 a6 It is time to chase the knight from b5 as White the square is already taken...]
wanted to play Nd5 next.
14.Qd3 O-O 15.Rfd1 It is easy to see that White is better and
what is even worse is that it is very hard for Black to find a plan

14
to go on... 19...bxc4?! Black is probably getting into real big trouble
15...Rc8 Black is trying to bring the rook from f8 into the now... [19...Bxc4 was a more solid option. 20.Bxc4 bxc4
game, but this loses a tempo. [After 15...Ne7 16.Qe3 White 21.Rxd6 White needs to win the pawn back. 21...Rfd8! The
would enter a clearly better endgame.] only move to stay in the game. 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Ne3
Nxb4 24.a3 Nc6 25.Rxc4 Nd4 Once again we can easily see
16.Nd5 White could have waited a bit longer with this move, that because of the pawn structure White’s position is clearly
but to play Nd5 is of course one of White’s main ideas. better, but Black could have tried to defend for a long time.]
16...b5 It seems to me like Andreikin blundered White’s next 20.f4! A very strong move! Peter does not hurry with taking
move... [16...Bxd5 was more solid. 17.exd5 (17.cxd5 would of the black pawns as they will fall automatically. The threat
course be a mistake as after 17...Nxb4! the queen on g5 is of playing f5 next is deadly! [After 20.Rxd6 20...Rfd8 Black
suddenly very useful. 18.Nxb4 Rxc1i) 17...Ne7 18.Ne3 And would be almost fine.]
White’s position should be clearly better because of the c5
idea, but I think Black can still fight after 18...Rfd8.] 20...f5 There was no other way to prevent f5...
21.exf5 Bxf5

17.Qg3! An extremly strong move by Svidler! At first sight it

is not easy to see that White is going to be much better in the 22.Ne3 And the knight is joining the game with tempo!
resulting endgame... [The simple 17.Nxf6+ 17...Qxf6 18.cxb5 22...Bd3 [After 22...Be6 23.Rxd6 (23.f5 is premature because
axb5 would give Black good chances to escape.] of 23...Nd4!) 23...Rfd8 Black probably doesn’t have anything
17...Qxg3 Black doesn’t have a choice. [After 17...Qh6 better than 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.f5 and White’s advantage
18.Nxf6+ White reaches a huge advantage with very easy should be enough to win the game.]
moves: 18...Qxf6 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Bxa2 21.Ba6! with 23.Bxd3 cxd3 At first sight the position doesn’t seem to be so
the idea of playing b5 next, with good winning chances.] obvious, but Svidler continues playing great moves...
18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.hxg3 Now Black needs to decide how to 24.Nf5! A very important and deadly move. The white knight
take on c4. on f5 is perfectly placed and the next threat is to play Rxc6

15
Rxc6 and Ne7. The black king is already in deep trouble excellent game by Svidler! 1-0
because of the many mating ideas on the back rank in case
of exchanges.
24...e4 Andreikin ends his game with a scream! [24...Kh8
would lead to a slow death as after 25.Nxd6 Rc7 26.Rxd3
Black is totally hopeless.]
25.Nxd6 The most precise move. [White would have needed
a better technique after 25.Rxc6 To win a piece is always
tempting but after 25...Rxc6 26.Ne7+ Kg7 27.Nxc6 Rc8!
strangely Black has some counterplay. 28.Nd4 Rc4 29.Nf5+
Kg6 30.Ne3 With a winning position for White, but the fight
would still continue for some time...]
25...e3 [Playing 25...Rc7 26.Nxe4 is same as resigning.]
26.Nxc8 d2 Andreikin is lookint for some practical chances,
but it is already too late...
27.Rxc6 e2 Wow, Black gets a second pawn on the 2nd rank!
:)

28.Rcc1! This is the last exact move. White reaches an easily

winning rook endgame.
28...exd1=R+ 29.Rxd1 Rxc8 30.Rxd2 Rc3 31.Rd5! This is a
very nice finishing move. Black cannot take on g3 because
of Rg5 and Ra3 is not possible either because of Ra5. An

16
Puzzle section
(5) Meribanov, V(2410)-Akopian, V(2682) (7) Ben Artzi, I(2370)-Beliavsky, A(2570)
European Championship, 2014.03.04 European Championship, 2014.03.05

1... i 1... i

(6) Salgado Lopez, I(2605)-Riazantsev, A(2689) (8) Balogh, C(2651)-Rozum, I(2505)

European Championship, 2014.03.05 European Championship, 2014.03.06

1... i 1. h

17
(9) Almasi, Z(2704)-Aleksandrov, A(2544) (11) Tomashevsky, E(2711)-Perunovic, M(2617)
European Championship, 2014.03.06 European Championship, 2014.03.10

1. h 1... i

(10) Aleksandrov, A(2544)-Qashashvili, A(2378) (12) Shomoev, A(2581)-Cheparinov, I(2681)

European Championship, 2014.03.08 European Championship, 2014.03.10

1... i 1. h

18
(13) Jones, G(2651)-Urkedal, F(2495)
Reykjavik Open, 2014.03.08

1. h

(14) Van Kampen, R(2603)-Naiditsch, A(2706)

Reykjavik Open, 2014.03.09

1... i

19
Endgame section 64...a2 This is another mistake, after which the game is
already lost. [

(15) Riazantsev, Alexander(2689)

- Pashikian, Arman(2612)

15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014(11.14),

2014.03.14 GM Arkadij Naiditsch
Best rating: 2737

64...Re5! is of course not an easy move to find in time trouble.

65.Nf6+ Kd8 And White already doesn’t have anything better
than forcing a draw after 66.Rd7+ Kc8 67.Rd5 Rxd5 68.Nxd5
a2 69.g7 a1=Q 70.g8=Q+]
65.Nf6+ Kd8 66.g7? And White misses his chance! [

We are in the last round of the European Championship and a

draw is no good for both player as the winner would qualify for
the World Cup. It is clear that White is pushing but the position
is of course a draw.
61...a3 62.g6 What else to do, the g-pawn must advance.
62...Nc6? A big mistake. [62...Nxg6 63.Nxg6+ Ke8 would
lead to a theoretical draw, even without the a3 pawn, but
Pashikian probably didn’t want to suffer for the other 50
moves holding the draw, and he might even still have had 66.Rd7+! should have been played first 66...Kc8 and only
some hopes to win the game in case of a blunder by his now 67.g7 Re8 There is no other way to stop the white pawn.
opponent.] 68.Rd1 And White would have won the game.]
63.Rf7+! A good choice, White grabs his chance. 66...Ne7! An excellent resource!
63...Ke8 64.Nd5 Suddenly Black’s position is looking very 67.Rf8+ [The game would still have been a draw after 67.Rxe7
dangerous. White wants to play Nf6 followed by g7. 67...Kxe7 68.g8=Q a1=Q 69.Qe8+ Kd6!]

20
67...Kc7 68.Ra8 Re2+! Not giving White any chances as the
a2 pawn is saved. (16) Melkumyan, Hrant(2613)
- Fressinet, Laurent(2709)
69.Kf3 White is still hoping for Nd5+.
European Championship, GM Csaba Balogh
2014.03.07 Best rating: 2672

69...Kb7! And another good move by Black crushes all the

white hopes. The game is now a draw.
70.Ra3 Re6 Black is collecting the g7 pawn. White is a pawn up but as we know, in rook endgames the
weaker side might always hope for salvation.
71.Ne4 Rg6 72.Rxa2 Rxg7 73.Rg2 Rxg2 74.Kxg2 What an
exciting endgame "out of nothing" and I don’t even want 52.h5+ Kg5 53.Rf5+ Kxg4 54.Rxb5 White obtained a
to imagine how Riazantsev must have felt after drawing this passed b-pawn. He is threatening to move his king to c2 (to
game after missing a win in 1 move! 1/2-1/2 avoid Rb3) followed by Rc5 and advancing the pawn. The
h-pawn cannot be taken as the king cannot catch the b-pawn,
therefore the black king is forced to go to the b-pawn.
54...Kf4 55.Kd2 Ke4 56.Kc2 Kd4

57.Rc5! It is very to parry the Kc4 threat and suddenly Black

21
finds himself in zugzwang. If the rook moves on the h-file, the
white king succesfully crosses the 3rd rank and supports the
b-pawn, while if the rook keeps the 3rd rank, then the h5 pawn
will not be under attack anymore and White can go for the
h6 pawn. The consequences of the king moves we see in the
game.
57...Ke4 [It was more challenging to try 57...Rg3!? keeping
the white king cut along the 3rd rank even if that costs another
pawn. 58.Rc6! Rh3 59.Rxh6 Kc4
62...Kc3! Getting the king closer with the help of the mate
threat. 63.Kd1 Kd3 64.Ke1 Ke3 65.Kf1 Kf3 66.Kg1 And now

The only winning move is 60.Rh8! Rh2+! Black can keep his
tenacious defence by forcing the king to the back rank. (Black
fails to reach the 7th rank after 60...Kxb4 61.h6 Kb5 62.h7 If 66...Rg2+! 67.Kh1 Rg6 68.h7 Rf6! This is the key! Black
Black could play Kb7, the game would be a theoretical drawn. prevents the check on the f-file and the rook cannot leave
Black would only wait with his rook and when the white king from h8 because of Rh6 check. 69.Kg1 Threatening to move
goes to g6, he starts to give checks and at the end he goes the rook, but after the last strong move 69...Rf7!= the game
back to the h-file. 62...Kb6 63.Rb8+h) 61.Kd1! Again the is drawn, because Black collects the h-pawn with Kf4-f5-g6!)
only move to win! (61.Kc1 leads to an instructive draw after 61...Kd3! Again the only chance, but now the b-pawn
61...Kxb4 62.h6 survives. The win remains very difficult though... 62.Ke1 Ke3
63.Kf1 Kf3

22
 59...Rh1 60.Kb3 The win is more or less automatic, because
the black king is cut along the c-file, White promotes his
b-pawn.
60...Kd4 61.Rc4+ Kd5 62.Rc5+ Protecting the h5 pawn,
followed by further activating the king...
62...Kd4

64.Rf8+! The only winning move! The king faces an

unpleasant decision, to which pawn’s direction he should
go... 64...Ke4 (After 64...Kg4 65.Ke1! White comes back to
support his b-pawn. 65...Rxh5 (65...Rb2 66.h6h) 66.Kd2
Rh3 67.Kc2h And the black king is cut too far from the pawn.
White wins easily after by simply pushing the pawn.) 65.Re8+!
Another very important check and now Black must either
leave the f3 square or he is getting too far from the h-pawn.
65...Kf3 (65...Kd5 loses after 66.Rh8! Kc6 (66...Kc4 67.h6 63.Ka4! The plan is simple, Kb5-b6 and pushing the pawn.
Kxb4 68.h7h) 67.Kg1h and the king will be free to go up on 63...Rh4 64.Kb5 Rh1 65.Kb6 White is ready to advance the
the g-file, because if the rook continues cutting along the 2nd pawn.
rank h6-h7 wins. 67...Rd2 68.h6 Kb7 69.h7 Rd7 70.Rb8+h) 65...Rf1 66.b5 The game is over. Black tries a last trick...
66.Ke1! Rxh5 (66...Rb2 67.h6h) 67.Kd2h followed by
Kc3-c4 and advancing the pawn. The black king is too far cut 66...Rf6+ 67.Rc6 Rf5 68.Rxh6 Kc4 69.Ka6! [Black
along the e-file, he has no more chance to survive. This would resigned as the b-pawn cannot be taken: 69.Ka6 69...Rxb5
have been the only way to win for White if Black had played 70.Rc6+! Kb4 71.Rb6h And the h-pawn promotes.] 1-0
57...Rg3. Yes, rook endgames are really tough indeed!]
58.Rc4+! Driving the king onto the 5th rank to stay in the
motif.
58...Kd5 59.Rc3! Great technique! The rook helps the king
to cross the 3rd rank. The pawn cannot be taken on h5
becauseofRc5!

23
Clash of the Titans 7...Rxb8 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qxa7

(17) Keres, Paul

- Fischer, Robert

Candidates Tournament(15),
1959.10.03
GM Kamil Miton
Best rating: 2655

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nbd2 [4.e3 With idea to 9...Ne4! White has lost some time in order to win the pawn,
create the following setup: c3-Nbd2-h3-Be2-0-0-a4.] so Black is immediately going to take advantage of his better
4...c5 Black has many different plans in this position. I development.
suppose the idea of this move is to prevent White from playing 10.e3 [10.Nxe4 10...dxe4 11.Nd2 (11.Ne5 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 O-O
over e4 and of course fight for the center. 13.e3 Rc8! Now White will not be in time to finish his
5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 We have a symmetrical pawn structure development.... 14.Be2 Rc2 15.Bd1 Rxb2 16.O-O Bb5 17.Re1
which we can also see in the Slav Exchange Variation. Usually Qd2i)
when Black has a limited bishop on g7 White keeps a stable
advantage but in this case the knight is badly placed on d2 (it
should be on c3) and the position is equal. [6...d6 7.h3 With
the idea of saving the bishop after Nh5. 7...O-O 8.e3 b6 9.Be2
Bb7 10.O-O Nbd7 With equal play.]

11...e3! A typical id ea. Black gives a second pawn to prevent

White from finishing his development too easily. 12.fxe3
O-O 13.Nf3 (13.g3 13...Bc6e) 13...Bc6 14.Kf2 Ra8 15.Qc5
Ra5AFollowed by e5.]
7.Bxb8 A concrete move. White is going to win a pawn. [7.e3 10...Nxd2 11.Nxd2 White had an interesting alternative:
7...O-O=] [11.Kxd2 The king stays in the center but Black is not able

24
to open the position and activate the pieces after e5 now. to finish his development without losing some material.
11...O-O 12.Bd3 White wants to escape with the king after 16.Rxb2? Rc1+ 17.Ke2 Bg4+i) 13...Ra8 14.Qb4 (14.Qb3
Rhc1-Ke1. (12.Be2 ) 12...Bg4 13.Ne5 Bh5 looks strange but 14...Qa5C) 14...Qa5 Even in the endgame Black keeps the
Black is preparing f6-e5. 14.g4 Bxe5 15.gxh5 Bd6 16.Qa4 initiative. 15.Qxa5 Rxa5 16.Nb3 Ra4 17.O-O-O (17.Nc5
(16.hxg6 16...fxg6 17.f4 Ra8 18.Qxb7 Bxf4! 19.exf4 Qd6 With a 17...Bxb2 18.Nxa4 Bxa1 19.Nc5 Bc3+ 20.Kd1 Bc6=+ With the
strong initiative.) 16...e5V] idea Ke7-Ra8 and then the a2 pawn can be weak.) 17...Rxa2
18.Rxd5 Bf6 19.Nd4 Ke7n]
12...O-O 13.Qc5 [13.Be2 13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Qc7! White will
now lose control over the d4 square because of the Ra8 threat.
15.Qa3 Bxd4 16.exd4 Rfe8C]
13...Rc8 14.Qb4 [14.Qxd5 14...exd4

11...e5! Black needs to play actively otherwise White will play

Be2-0-0 and keep his pawn up for nothing.
12.Nb3 [12.dxe5 12...Bxe5 13.Qa3 (13.Be2 13...O-O 14.O-O Qc7
Attacking both h2 and b2 and Ra8 is also a threat.; 13.Qc5
13...Bxb2 14.Rb1
15.Bb5! To finish the development is the most important
thing. (15.Nxd4 15...Qb6 16.Qxd7 Qb4+i) 15...Bxb5
16.Qxb5 dxe3 17.O-O Bxb2 18.Rab1 exf2+ 19.Rxf2 And White
has some drawing chances because of the reduced material.]
14...Re8 15.Be2 exd4 [15...Rc2 16.Bd3 Rxb2 17.O-O (17.Qc3
17...exd4 18.Qxb2 dxe3 19.Qc2 Bxa1 20.Nxa1 exf2+ 21.Kxf2
Qf6+i) 17...exd4 18.exd4 Qg5=+]

14...Rc8! A strong tactial idea! (14...Bg7 15.Bb5 And

here White takes the initiative. Black will not have the
pair of bishops and he has problems with the d5 and b7
pawns.) 15.Qxd5 O-O And White will probably not manage

25
16.Nxd4 22.Qg4 [22.Qb5 22...Bxd4 23.Bf3 Qe6 24.g3 What else to
do? 24...Rc2 (24...Bxf2 25.Kg2 Rc2 26.Rhf1 Hoping to escape
with the king, but now Black plays 26...Ba7+ 27.Kh1 Rb8 with
the idea to put pressure over the second rank (with Rbb2 or
Qh3). 28.Qa4 Rxa2e) 25.Qxe8+ Qxe8 26.Rxd4 The position
looks like it might be drawish now, but after

16...Qh4! The only move which doesn’t allow the white king
to get to safety.
17.Qxb7 [17.Rd1 17...Rxe3 18.g3 Rxe2+ 19.Kxe2 Qe4+i;
17.g3 17...Qe4 18.Bf3 Qxd4i]
17...Bxd4 18.Qxd7 Bxb2 19.Rd1 Bc3+ 20.Kf1 26...Rc3! White loses coordination and is not able to play Kg2
in time. 27.Bd5 (27.Kg2 27...Rxf3!) 27...Rc1+ 28.Kg2 Rxh1
29.Kxh1 Qe5 30.Rd1 Qe2 31.Bb3 Qxf2e]
22...Qc2 23.g3 Now everything depends on whether White
will manage to play Kg2 and consolidate his position or not.
[23.Bb5

20...d4! Black opens the position in front of the white king.

21.exd4? This is the decisive mistake, but it was impossible
to calculate all the variations... White should have played
[21.Qg4 21...Qxg4!? Black could also have kept the queens.
22.Bxg4 dxe3 23.fxe3 Rb8CAnd White still has problems with 23...Be1! 24.Qf3 (24.Rxe1 24...Rxe1+ 25.Kxe1 Qb1+ 26.Kd2
his king and his rook on h1.] Rc2+ And Black is winning material.) 24...Rc3 25.Rd3 Rb8!
21...Qe4 [21...h5 22.Qh3=] 26.Qe2 (26.a4 26...Rxb5! 27.Rxc3 Bxc3 28.axb5 Qc1+ 29.Ke2

26
Qd2+ 30.Kf1 Qe1#) 26...Rxb5 27.Rxc3 Qxe2+ 28.Kxe2 Bxc3 Surprise section / study
29.Kd3 Ba5 White has some practical chances thanks to his
active king and the two passed pawns, but objectively Black (18) Platov
should win the game.]
[CEWN]
1. =

23...Qxa2? Black missed a win here: [23...Bd2! 24.Kg2

(24.Bf3 24...h5 25.Qd7 Be3! 26.fxe3 Rxe3 27.Qd5 Rcc3i)
24...h5! 25.Qf3 Rc3i]

24.Bb5?? What a blunder! White could have saved the game

after [24.Bf3 24...Bd2 25.Kg2 Be3 26.Rhf1 Rc2 27.Kh1 Rxf2
28.Rxf2 Qxf2 29.Bc6 (29.Bg2 29...Bxd4 30.Qf3) 29...Rd8
30.Qf3 White will lose the d4 pawn but thanks to the opposite
colored bishops and reduced material it should not be too
hard to make a draw.]
24...Qd5i 25.Bxe8 Qxh1+ 26.Ke2 Rxe8+ 27.Kd3 Be1
0-1

27
Solutions (21) Cheparinov, I(2681)-Dzagnidze, N(2546)
European Championship, 2014.03.04
(19) Navara, D(2700)-Duda, J(2563)
European Championship, 2014.03.04

28.Bxf6! Nxd3 [28...gxf6 29.Rg3+ Kh8 30.Rxf6h Rce8

31.Rh3h (31.Qh6h ) ]
40.R2a3!! Qb2+ 41.Nf2 Ng6 [41...Qxb1 42.Rh3#] 29.Rg3? [29.Qg4! 29...Rxf6 30.Rxf6 Nf4 31.Rxd6h]
42.fxg6 Qxb1 43.Rh3+ Kxg6 44.Rah7! 1-0 29...Rc7? [29...Ne8!k]
30.cxd3h
(20) Palac, M(2561)-Inarkiev, E(2698)
(22) Pashikian, A(2612)-Firat, B(2480)
European Championship, 2014.03.04
European Championship, 2014.03.04

28...Rxg3! 29.Kxg3 [29.Nxg3 29...Qxh4#]

27.Nxd5! exd5 28.Bxd7c
29...Bg1!! 0-1

28
(23) Hovhanissyan, R(2611)-Nadanian, A(2399) (25) Ruecker, B(2265)-Jovanic, O(2526)
European Championship, 2014.03.04 Capelle la Grande Open, 2014.03.01

23.Rxd7+! Kxd7 24.Nxc5+ Kd6 25.Rxb4 Kxc5 25...Bxh3! 26.Bc4+ [26.gxh3 26...Qg3+ 27.Kh1 Qxh3+
26.fxe6!h 28.Kg1 Qg3+ 29.Kh1 Qf3+ 30.Kh2 Re5i]
26...Kg7 27.Bf1 Be6i

(24) Kravtsiv, M(2601)-Jessel, S(2334) (26) Beeke, B(2254)-Ikonnikov, V(2580)

Cappelle la Grande Open, 2014.03.01 Noteboom Open, 2014.02.28

25.Nc3! Qd3 26.Rxa7 Rxa7 27.Qd1! 1-0 32.Rxf7! 1-0 [32.Rxf7 32...Qxd1+ 33.Ka2h]

29
(27) Solodvnichenko, Y(2586)-Loiseau, Q(2394) (29) Chekhover
Rochefort Open, 2014.02.25

1.Kg8!! f2 2.Re7+ Kf3 3.Rf7+ Kg2 4.Rg7+ Kf1 5.Rh7!

h3 6.Rxh3! Kg2 7.Rh7! f1=Q 8.Rg7+ Kh3 9.Rh7+ Kg4
30.Rxg6! d3 [30...hxg6 31.Qh3+h] 10.Rg7+ Kh5 11.Rh7+ Kg6 12.Rg7+=

31.Qxd3 Rfd8 32.Qh3h

(28) Antoli Royo, J(2413)-Dumitrache, D(2453)
Rochefort Open, 2014.02.25

28.Nf5!! Bxe5 29.Nxh6+! 1-0 [29.Nxh6+ 29...gxh6 30.Qg6+

Kh8 31.Bxe5+ f6 32.Bxf6+ Rxf6 33.Qg8#]

30