Author Archives: myip2z2
GM Berkes,F(2679) in the Bundesliga 2012-2013
Here is an interesting game from recent Budesliga 2012-13 action. Let us see how a GM plays for a win against another strong GM.
Romanov,E (2611) – Berkes,F (2679) [A13]
Bundesliga 2012–13 Muelheim GER (2), 21.10.2012
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 dxc4 4.Qa4+ c6 5.Qxc4 b5 6.Qc2 Bb7 7.Nc3 a6 8.a4 Nd7 9.Nf3 Ngf6 10.0–0 Be7 11.d4 0–0
Critical Position 1
The opening phase was nothing special. White pushed ambitously on the kingside and seems to be making progress. But now what? The critcal moment has arrived. What plan should white adopt? Maybe there is a combination?
White to play
Budapest TCh Rd1-Benko Gambit
The Benko Gambit has been getting a lot of attention lately.
Here is an interesting effort from the Budapest TCh Rd1.
Farkas,Lajos Dr (2228) – Juhasz,Mark (2155) [A59]
BUD tch Lilienthal 12/13 Budapest (1), 30.09.2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nf3 d6 8.e4 Bxf1 9.Kxf1 Bg7 10.g3 0–0 11.Kg2 Nbd7 12.a4 Qb6 13.Qe2 Rfc8N
Critical Position 1
Black has just played the novelty 13…Rfc8. Normally black would play ..Rfb8 with play on the a.b files. Now black can support …c4 and follow with …Nc5-d3 with light square play. How do you assess the move? What should white do next? Seek a refuation? Play a normal move and keep the tension?
White to Play
Critical Position 2
The position is complicated. What is the right plan for black?
Black to Play
Canada-Ottawa Open 2012-10 19th-21st
The National Capital Open was held in 3 sections. Qn and Plotkin shared first place with 4/5 in the Open section.
2012 National Capital Open: Open Section
1 Zi Yi [joey] Qin 2453 4.0 Tied 1-2 for $300
3 Victor Plotkin 2335 4.0 Tied 1-2 for $300
(17 players)
2012 National Capital Open: U1900
5 Ryan Yang 1800 4.0 First $200
8 Herb Langer 1773 3.0 Tied 2-3rd $87.50
10 Steven Dale 3.0 Tied 2-3rd $87.50
(13 players)
2012 National Capital Open: U1600
2 John If Lukezich 1432 5.0 First $125
4 Curtis Barlow Wilkes 1307 4.0 Second $75
(7 players)
Here is an interesting ending from the tournament
Plotkin Victor (CAN) (2335) – Sun Mike (1928) [B22]
2012 National Capital Open/U2200 Ottawa (Canada) (3), 20.10.2012
Position 1
White is trying to make progress in an equal postion. How should white try for the win?
White to play
Vintage Portisch on the g3 King’s Indian(1964)
‘Lajos Portisch (born 4 April 1937 in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary) is a Hungarian chess Grandmaster, whose positional style earned him the nickname, the “Hungarian Botvinnik“. One of the strongest non-Soviet players from the early 1960s into the late 1980s, he participated in twelve consecutive Interzonals from 1962 through 1993, qualifying for the World Chess Championship Candidates‘ cycle a total of eight times (1965, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, and 1988). Portisch set several all-time records in Chess Olympiads. In Hungarian Chess Championships, he either shared the title or won it outright a total of eight times (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1975, and 1981). He won many strong international tournaments during his career. In 2004, Portisch was awarded the ‘Nemzet Sportoloja‘, Hungary’s highest national sports achievement award.’-Wikipedia
Here is a nice game featuring a plan which is still relevant today in the King’s Indian.
Portisch,Lajos – Gligoric,Svetozar [E69]
HUN-YUG Budapest (2.1), 1964
This middlegame is can be divided into distinct parts
(1)A quiet building phase where e4 is overprotected and small improvements are made to the position
(2)A favorable transformation in the pawn structure
(3)Concrete attacking play to break down the kingside
Critical Position 1
Nothing seems to be happening. What is white’s plan? Continue building? or is there a chance for concrete play?
White to play
Critical Position 2
The position still looks very calm. What is white’s plan? Build? A combination? Maneuver around?
White to play
Critical Position 3
Black’s kingside looks too well fortified for a direct attack. What should white do? Press the compromised queenside pawns? Fight for the d-file? Patiently look for building moves? or is there something else?
White to play
GM Hoang at the Istanbul Olympiad 2012
GM Hoang led the Hungarian Womens Team at the recent Olympiad. 12th seeded Hungary finished 17th.
Bo. Name Rtg FED Pts. Games Rp
1 GM Hoang Thanh Trang 2464 HUN 6.0 10 2476
2 WGM Gara Ticia 2385 HUN 6.5 10 2320
3 WGM Rudolf Anna 2289 HUN 5.0 8 2231
4 IM Gara Anita 2306 HUN 3.5 7 2144
5 WGM Papp Petra 2302 HUN 6.5 9 2226
Rk. SNo Team Team Games + = – TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4
1 2 Russia RUS 11 8 3 0 19 450.0 33.0 155.00
2 1 China CHN 11 8 3 0 19 416.0 31.5 154.00
3 4 Ukraine UKR 11 7 4 0 18 408.5 30.5 154.00
4 6 India IND 11 8 1 2 17 336.0 28.0 148.00
5 10 Romania ROU 11 8 0 3 16 313.5 28.5 129.00
6 8 Armenia ARM 11 8 0 3 16 313.0 26.5 140.00
7 14 France FRA 11 7 1 3 15 347.5 29.0 147.00
8 3 Georgia GEO 11 6 3 2 15 344.0 28.5 144.00
9 26 Iran IRI 11 7 1 3 15 339.0 31.0 132.00
10 5 United States USA 11 6 3 2 15 326.0 29.5 133.00
11 9 Germany GER 11 7 1 3 15 316.0 27.0 144.00
12 22 Kazakhstan KAZ 11 6 3 2 15 309.0 27.0 138.00
13 21 Mongolia MGL 11 7 1 3 15 308.0 28.0 134.00
14 36 Belarus BLR 11 6 3 2 15 292.0 28.5 121.00
15 7 Poland POL 11 6 2 3 14 336.5 27.5 151.00
16 13 Bulgaria BUL 11 6 2 3 14 316.5 27.5 136.00
17 12 Hungary HUN 11 6 2 3 14 303.0 27.5 129.00
Here is a nice positional game
Hoang Thanh Trang (2464) – Pham Le Thao Nguyen (2393) [D23]
40th Olympiad Women Istanbul TUR (2.18), 29.08.2012
This game can be examined under the following themes
- Space advantage
- Bishop pair
- Infiltration
- Open file
Critical Position 1
Black is suffering from a lack of space and is slowly getting squeezed. How to continue? Is there a tactic?
White to play
Critical Position 2
White has made some progress. Black has an isolated pawn, White has increased the space advantage on the kingside and is pressing on the d-file. But what is next? More slow building? Is there a tactical blow?
White to Play
Papp,P(2303) at Chess House IM 2012-07
This small IM norm tournament could easily escape one’s attention. Papp,Petra one of the rising stars on Hungarian women’s chess, gained valuable experience scoring 4/9.
See ChesshouseIM
Final Standings
Eggleston,D won clear first with 7/9. Papp,P got 4/9.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1 Eggleston,D 2323 +233 * 0 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 7.0/9
2 Semcesen,D 2464 -20 1 * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 6.0/9
3 Andersen,Jack 2328 +88 ½ 0 * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 5.5/9
4 Pedersen,NicV 2453 -89 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5.0/9 19.75
5 Skytte,R 2401 -31 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 5.0/9 19.00
6 Jacobsen,Bo 2302 +39 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 0 1 ½ 4.5/9
7 Papp,Petra 2303 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 * 1 ½ ½ 4.0/9
8 Hansen,Mads3 2341 -82 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 0 * 1 1 3.5/9
9 Hagesaether,H 2278 -54 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 * 1 3.0/9
10 Sorensen,TorbenK 2181 -105 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 * 1.5/9
Average elo: 2337 ; Category: 4
Zalakaros Open A 2012-06: GM Horvath,J first 7/9
This is the Hungarian Open Championship. Horvath,J won clear first with 7/9.
1 Horvath,Jozsef 2530 7.0/9
2 Horvath,Adam 2505 6.5/9
3 Nagy,Gabor 2375 6.0/9
4 Gonda,Laszlo 2557 6.0/9
5 Berczes,David 2550 6.0/9
6 Csonka,Balazs 2277 6.0/9
7 Tesik,Csaba 2339 6.0/9
8 Sipos,Janos 2223 6.0/9
9 Szekeres,Robert 2259 6.0/9
10 Vegh,Endre 2256 6.0/9
Horvath,Jozsef (2530) – Vegh,Endre (2256) [A11]
Zalakaros ‘A’ (Magyar Nyílt Bajnokság) Zalakaros (9), 16.06.2012
This game can be studied with the following themes in mind
- Small center attack
- Pawn centers in full contact
- Attack
Position 1
The solid small center has been formed. White has just played 14.Rfe1. There does not seem to be much happening in the position so it is hard to anticipate the course of events.
Position 2
The center has expoded after white played 23.e4 and now the pawn centers are in full contact.
Position 3
The attack is well underway.But how to kill black?
White to play
GM Horvath,Ad in the TCh AUT 2012-2013
Here is an interesting game From the Austrian TCh
The following game can be examined under the following themes
- Misplaced pieces
- Light square weakness
- Sudden alternation from flank to flank
Renner,C(2458) – Horvath,Ad(2485)
Sicilian Closed[B26]
TCh-AUT 2 Mitte 2012–13 Bad Schallerbach AUT (3.1), 21.10.2012
After a unspectacular beginning, it is time for black to come up with a suitable plan that meets the needs of the position. What should black be doing?
Black to Play
GM Ribli in the Bundesliga 2012-2013 Rd1
Here is an interesting game from veteran GM Ribli.
Ribli,Z (2554) – Chuchelov,V (2543) [A13]
Bundesliga 2012–13 Muelheim GER (1), 20.10.2012
Critical Position 1
White has a slight development lead as both rooks are in play so now is the time for action.
White to play: How do you exploit the development lead?
Critical Position 2
Deep into the ending white is pressing in a queenless attack.
White to play
Vintage Portisch on the Sicilian(1962)
Here is a model dark square maneuvering game by Portisch from Stockholm 1962, in the Sicilian Kan/Scheveningen.
Typical middlegame themes include
- Good knight vs bad bishop, arranging pawns to compliment one’s own bishop
- Knight regrouping(..Nb8-c6-d4)
- Correct exchanging(..BxNd5)
- Exchange sacrifice breakthrough
- Attak on the king
Yanofsky,Daniel Abraham – Portisch,Lajos [B80]
Stockholm Interzonal Stockholm (8), 07.02.1962 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 So far a Sicilian Kan.[Yip] 6…Nc6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Be3 d6 Now the structure is a Sicilian Scheveningen.[Yip]
[9…0–0 10.f4 d6 11.Kh1 Bd7 12.Nb3 b5 13.a3 b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.g4 h6 16.Nd4 Rab8 17.h4 h5 18.gxh5 Rfc8 19.Bf3 e5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.exf5 e4 23.Bg2 Qg3 24.Bf2 Qe5 25.Bg1 Bd6 26.Rc1 Rc4 27.Qe2 Rbc8 28.Qe3 Nxh5 29.Ne2 Rxc2 30.Rxc2 Rxc2 31.Qg5 Rxe2 32.Qxh5 Rxg2 0–1 Guseinov,G (2625)-So,W (2640)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009/CBM 134]
10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4 Rb8 12.c4 0–0 13.Re1
[13.b3 c5 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.Nc3 Bc6 16.Rad1 Qb7 17.Bf4 Rbd8 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.Rd3 h6 20.Red1 e5 21.Bc1 Bf8 22.f3 g6 23.Be3 Qb4 24.Qb2 Rb8 25.Qc1 Kh7 26.Nb5 axb5 27.Bd2 bxc4 28.Bxb4 cxd3 29.Be1 d5 30.exd5 Bb5 31.Bf1 e4 32.fxe4 Rxe4 33.Bxd3 Bxd3 34.Rxd3 c4 35.bxc4 Bc5+ 36.Bf2 Bxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Ng4+ 38.Kg1 Rbe8 39.Rd1 Re2 40.Qf4 f5 41.d6 Rxa2 42.d7 Ree2 43.Qf3 Ne5 44.Qxe2 1–0 Livshits,G (2414)-Ibrayev,N (2516)/Moscow 2005/EXT 2006]
13…c5 14.b3 Rd8 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.f4 Nd7 17.Qd2 Rbc8 18.Nd1
After this leisurely retreat black takes over on the dark squares.[Yip][18.Rad1= [Yip]]
18…Bf6
Starting to battle for the central dark squares.[Yip]
19.Rc1 Diagram 1
[19.Nc3 Going back to c3 and admitting that Nd1 was unproductive is a better.[Yip] 19…Nb8 20.Rad1 Nc6 21.f5 Re8 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Ne2 Rcd8= I prefer black with as there is the dynamic ..d5 break to play for.[Yip]]
19…Nb8!
Heading to d4 eventually.[Yip]
20.Nf2 Nc6 21.Ng4 Bd4 22.f5 Bxe3+ 23.Qxe3 f6! Continuing to battle for the dark squares. Now the secondary idea is the make white’s light bishop a spectator.[Yip]
24.Qf2?
Now white will suffer on the dark squares.[Yip] [24.fxe6!? Keeps the game close.[Yip] 24…Nd4 (24…Re8 25.e5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 dxe5 27.Bd5= [Yip]) 25.Qd2 Nxe6 26.Ne3 Ra8 27.Rc3 a5 28.Rd3 Ng5 29.Rd1 Nf7= [Yip]]
24…e5! The pawn structure is transformed into a dark square wall to complement Bb7 and lock onto d4 for the knight.[Yip]
25.Ne3 Nd4 Now Nd4 is the dominant minor piece.[Yip]
26.g4 a5 Playing for the queenside.[Yip]
27.Rb1 Ra8 Now the line opening ..a4 break is in the air.[Yip]
28.h4 Qe7 29.Qd2 h6!
Black must take defensive measures against the threatened g5 break.[Yip]
30.Rb2 Kf8 A nice defensive king walk in light of the threatened g5 break.[Yip]
31.Kh2 Bc6 32.Nd5 Bxd5!
Now the minor piece battle is won for black as the good N easily dominates the bad B.[Yip]
33.cxd5 Rdb8
Full attention is turned to the queenside. Black must open lines as the well placed Nd4 cannot win the game without additional entry points into white’s position.[Yip]
34.Reb1 Rb7 35.a4 A drastic measure to prevent the …a4 break but now the future of the bishop is even dimmer.[Yip]
35…Rab8 36.Bf1 Rb4 37.Bc4
White goes over to a completely passive defence and now the search is on for black for a way to break into white’s position.[Yip]
37…R8b6 38.Kg2 Qb7 39.Qc3 Ke8 40.Kf2 Kd8 41.h5 Ke7 42.Kg2 Kf8 43.Kf2 Kf7 44.Kg2 Kg8 45.Kf2 Kh7 46.Ke3 Qa7 47.Kf2 Rb8 48.Kg2 Diagram 2
48…Rxc4!
Finally a way to infiltrate appears.[Yip]
49.Qxc4 Rb4 50.Qc3 Qa6
The knight is not inferior to any rook on the secure d4 outpost.[Yip]
51.Kf2 c4! [Yip] 52.bxc4 Rxc4 53.Qa3?
Guarding the a-pawn allows black to infiltrate on the c-file.[Yip] [53.Qd2 Is a tougher defence.[Yip] 53…Qc8 54.Re1 Qc5 55.Kg2 Rxa4 56.Rc1 (56.Re3 Rc4³ [Yip]) 56…Rc4 57.Rxc4 Qxc4 58.g5! White has to try an open up the kingside for counterplay.[Yip] 58…hxg5 59.h6 gxh6 60.Qxa5= The game remains competitive.[Yip]]
53…Qc8!–+ Now white cannot challenge the c-file.[Yip]
54.Rd2 Rc3 55.Qb2 Qc4 56.Kg2 Nb3
[56…Nf3! Going to the kingside is stronger.[Yip] 57.Rf2 Nh4+ 58.Kh2 Qd3–+ [Yip]]
57.Re2 Qd3 58.Rbe1 Nd4 59.Kh1 Qh3+ 60.Rh2 Qf3+ 61.Kg1 Qg3+ 62.Kf1 Nf3 0–1
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