2/25/2018 – The Aeroflot Open 2018 has passed the half-way mark, and Russia's talented young grandmaster Artemiev Vladislav is now the only player with 4½ points at the top of the table. On Saturday, he showed his class to outplay the experienced Moldavian, Victor Bologan, taking advantage of small inaccuracies to convert the full point. It will be exciting to see if Fedoseev, Vidit and Andreikin can make a comeback in the second half of the event. | Photo: Niklesh Jain
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Russian "prince" beats Bologan in key game
Vladislav Artemiev, who turns 20 on March 5th, is one of a cadre of young Russians who has been waiting in the wings for a shot on the world stage. He hasn't yet fulfilled the promise of his 2013 triumph at the Youth Stars tournament, which he won by a staggering margin of 2½ points, posting the imposing final tally of 10½ / 11. Since then, his rating has plateaued a bit, although he currently stands at his all-time peak and is on track to cross 2700 for the first time with his performance in Moscow through the first five days.
With 4½ / 5, Artemiev currently stands at 2710 | Playerbase
In round 5, on board one, Artemiev outplayed Victor Bologan and scored a nice win in a kind-of reverse French structure, in which White played 9.g4!
V. Artemiev vs V. Bologan
9.g4 — the most active continuation
Just a few moves later, White was clearly for choice, as Bologan's centre collapsed, and his king was stuck there too.
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1.c4e52.e3Nf63.Nc3c6The most usual is:3...Nc64.Nf3Bb45.Qc20-06.Nd5=4.Nf3d65.d4e46.Nd2d57.Be2Bd68.Qb3Bc79.g4
Now Artemiev chooses the most active continuation! Looking for some kind of
early imbalance, another option was:9.Qa3Con idea de b49...h610.h4a611.Rg1g5Important blocking, it would be risky to allow white g5, it is
necessary to consider also:11...Bh212.Rg2Bc713.cxd5Nxd513...cxd514.g5±14.Rg1Be615.Ncxe4Qe716.Nc5±12.cxd5gxh4?Gm
Bologan Mistake leaves now with much advantage to white, you should try to
hold the position with:12...cxd513.Rh10-014.hxg5hxg515.Rh6Nbd716.Nxd5Ba513.Ndxe4h314.Bd2h215.Nxf6+Qxf616.Rh1Rg8Now the
black position is very sad: unfinished development, king in the center and
pieces without coordination. We will see how Artemiev manages to impose this
great advantage.17.0-0-0b518.f4Qh4more option18...Bxg419.Rxh2Bxe220.Rxe2a521.Qc2with the Nb5 or Nb419.Be1Keeping the advantage
but it is a shy move, much more better is:19.dxc6Nxc620.d5+-19...Qe720.dxc6Nxc621.Nd5Qd622.Rxh2Bd823.e4Bxg4Not knowing if the
remedy is worse than the disease. Bxg4 seems necessary, but this change will
lead to the weakness of white squares in the near future.24.Bxg4Rxg425.Qh3Qe6It does not work either:25...Rg126.Qxh6Qxh627.Rxh6Kd728.Rh7+-26.Qf3Rg127.Bc3White advantage is very big, but more precise
was to play:27.f5Nxd428.Qe3Rxe129.Rxe1Qe530.Rg2+-27...Rxd1+28.Kxd1Ne729.Nxe7Bxe730.d5Qb631.Rg20-0-032.Qh3+It is also
strong:32.Rg7b433.Be5Rf834.Qd3+-32...Kb833.Be5+Ka834.Qc3b435.Qc4Qb736.f5Rc837.Qd3Bg538.Rc2Re839.Bg3Qb640.Rc6Qg1+41.Kc2Qc1+42.Kb3Qe343.Qxe3Bxe344.d6Rxe445.d7Bg546.f6With this
victory the great Russian master is placed at the head of the classification,
apparently a very strong and exciting rest of the tournament is coming.1–0
Grandmaster Daniel King presents ten exemplary attacking performances. At key moments he stops and asks you to play a move. King then gives feedback on the most plausible continuations. It’s the next best thing to having your own personal trainer!
Nothing went well for Bologan | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Another co-leader Tigran Petrosian played a short draw against Dimitry Gordievsky and is now in joint second with two other players.
Former FIDE World Champion Alexander Khalifman also looks good in Aeroflot. In the fifth round he played top seed Vladimir Fedoseev to a draw.
Tigran Petrosian and Alexander Khalifman | Photo: Niklesh Jain
After beating Rauf Mamedov in the previous round, Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan held another 2700-player, Maxim Matlakov, in round five.
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1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nf3d54.Nc3Bb45.cxd5exd56.Bg5h67.Bh40-0D38: Queen's Gambit Declined:
Ragozin Defence (4 Nf3 Bb4)8.e3Bf59.Qb3Bxc3+10.bxc3Nbd711.Be2c5LiveBook: 15 Games12.dxc5Nxc512...g513.Nd4Bg614.c6bxc615.Nxc61/2-1/2 (46) So,W (2792)-Karjakin,S (2753)
Wijk aan Zee 201813.Qb4Rc814.0-0Re8NFind the theoretical
novelty and annotate with similar games:14...g515.Bg31/2-1/2 (41)
Ingersol,H (2414)-Babic,D (2468) ICCF email 201615.Rad1Nce416.Nd4Bh717.c4dxc418.Bxc4Qe719.Qb3g520.Bg3!The position is equal.a621.a4h5Hoping for ...h4.22.h3Nxg323.fxg3Qxe3+24.Kh2Qxb325.Bxb3Kg726.Nf5+Bxf5!27.Rxf5Black must now prevent Rd6.Kg628.Rdf1Rc629.Ba2g430.h4Kg731.Bd5Nxd532.Rxd5f633.Rxh5Re434.a5Rc2Precision:
White = 78%, Black = 79%.½–½
The Ragozin is being played by every top grandmaster in the world - it is time you also add it to your repertoire to get interesting and dynamic positions against 1. d4! GM Alejandro Ramirez analyses every single move that White can play once the Ragozin is reached, but due to several transpositional possibilities he always emphasises strategic goals to keep in mind.
Matlakov vs Karthikeyan | Photo: Niklesh Jain
The lowest rated, but best performing Indian player IM Eesha Karavade faced her first defeat of the tournament at the hands of GM Vladislav Kovalev, who moved to joint second with the score 4.0 / 5 points.
V. Kovalev vs E. Karavade
Position after 49.Ke5!
White tightened his grip with the king march from h2 to e5.
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1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Qxd4Nc65.Bb5Bd76.Qd3g67.c4Bg78.Nc3Nf69.0-00-010.Bxc6Bxc611.Rd1B53: Sicilian:
2...d6: Lines with Qxd411.Nd4Rc812.b3Nxe413.Nxe4d514.Nxc6Rxc615.Rb1dxe416.Qxe4Qd617.Bg5Bf618.Rbd1Qc719.Bf4Qc81/2-1/2 (49)
Andreikin,D (2727)-Dominguez Perez,L (2723) Havana 201311...Nd712.Nd4Rc8LiveBook: 4 Games13.Qe2White is slightly better.Nc514.f3Ne6N
Predecessor:14...Na415.Nxc6Nxc316.Nxe7+Qxe717.bxc3Bxc318.Rb1Be519.Qd3b61/2-1/2 (39) Rodriguez Perez,R (2097)-Randolph,D (1910) ICCF email
201415.Be3Bd716.Rac1a617.Nb3b518.cxb5Bxc319.bxc3axb520.f4Rc421.f5Ng722.f622.Nd2Ra423.c422...exf623.Rxd6Qc7
Black should try23...Rxe4Threatens to win with ...Nf5.24.Re1Rxe3!25.Qxe3Nf524.Rcd1Be625.Bb6 White has
some pressure.Qb8...Ne8 is the strong threat.26.Qe3Qa827.Rd8Rc8!28.Rxf8+Rxf829.Bd4Qxa230.Nc5Rd831.h331.Qe1keeps
more tension.Ne832.Ra1Qc233.h3Bc434.Qe331...Ne832.Rf1Qc433.Rb1Ra834.Qf3Ra335.Kh2Bc8?35...Bd7=and Black is okay.36.Qg3?36.e5!+-fxe537.Rb4Rxc338.Qxc3exd439.Qxc439.Rxc4dxc340.Rxc3Kf839...bxc440.Rxc436...Ra8=37.e5Bf538.Qf338.Re1!?38...Nc739.Re1And now Qb7 would win.Qd5!40.Qxd5Nxd541.exf6h542.Re5Nc743.Nb7Bd344.Re7Ne845.Kg3Bc446.Kf4Bd546...h4=47.g4hxg448.hxg4Bc4
Better is48...Rc849.Ke5!±Rc850.g5Kf851.Bc5White wants
to mate with Rc7+.Kg852.Bb4Ra853.Na5Rc8?53...Bf1±54.Nc6Rc854.Nb7Ra8!55.Ba5Kf8?55...Kh756.Rd7Ra756.Rd7+-Be657.Rd8Rxd858.Nxd8 Endgame KBN-KBNNot58.Bxd8Kg8±58...Bc459.Bb4+Kg8
60.Bd6!Nxd6?60...Kh7+-61.Bb8Bb361.Kxd6
KB-KN. White mates.Kf862.Kd7Bd563.Nc6Be464.Ne5Bd565.Kd8Bb366.Nd7+Kg867.Ke7Bc468.Ne5Bb369.Ng4Precision: White = 65%, Black = 42%.1–0
The Maroczy System of the Sicilian Defence is one of the modern openings where Black attacks the white centre mainly with pieces. After the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 the pawns c4 and e4 secure White a space advantage in the middle, however, it is exactly these central pillars which may easily become targets of the black counterattack. Sergei Tiviakov has been applying this system with Black in his tournament practice since 1991 and is considered one its greatest experts.
IM Eesha Karavade and GM Vladislav Kovalev | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Igor Lysyj was another player to watch today. He outplayed talented Iranian Parham Maghsoodloo in a nice endgame.
I. Lysyj vs P. Maghsoodloo
A crucial moment of the game. Can you find best move for black?
After Black missed a chance for advantage, White went on to convert his positional advantage in the queen and knight ending.
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1.Nf3b62.d4Bb73.c4e64.g3Bb4+5.Bd2Bxf36.exf3Bxd2+7.Qxd2Nf61
A40: Unusual replies to d4 Another way to play is:7...Nc68.f4Qf69.d5Nd410.Bg2Rd811.Nc3c512.0-0-0Nh613.Ne4Qe714.Rhe1Nhf515.Qc30-1 (62) Aronian,L (2805)-Rapport,R (2707) Riadh 20177...d58.cxd5exd59.Nc3Ne710.Bh30-011.0-0Nd712.Rfe1Nf613.b4a614.Re2Nc615.a3Qd616.Rae1Na717.Re3Nc818.Re5c619.Na4Rb820.Bxc8Rfxc821.Qd3Nd722.Re7Nf823.Qxa6Qf624.Nxb6Rd825.Rb7h526.Qa7Rxb727.Qxb7h428.Qe7Qxf329.Qxh4Rb830.Re3Qd1+31.Kg2Ng632.Qg5Nf833.Qf4Rxb634.Qc7Qxd435.Re8g636.Qd8Kg737.Rxf8Qe4+38.Kg1Qe1+39.Kg2Qe4+
1/2-1/2 (39) Gelfand,B (2737)-Morozevich, A (2765) Nice 20088.Bg2d59.f4Nc6The position is equal.10.0-00-011.cxd5Nxd512.Nc3Nce7!13.Rac1c6A good plan in this position is to relocate the knight to e3 via d114.Ne4Rc815.Ng5NPredecessor:15.Rfd115...Qd616.Rfd1Rfd817.Qe2h618.Nf3Nf519.Rc4Rc720.a3c521.Qe5f621...Qxe5=22.dxe5Kh722.Qe122.Qe4looks sharper.cxd423.Rxc7Nxc724.g4Ne725.Rxd4Ncd526.f522...cxd423.Nxd423.Bf1feels hotter.b524.Rxc7Nxc725.Rc1Rd726.Qe423...Rxc424.Nxe6
'?' Rd4 is the kind of plays difficult
to foresee!24.Nxf5!=Qd725.Bxd5exd526.Rxd5!Re8=24...Nfe3?Play that give the advantage to white, in this crucial moment the GM
Maghsoodloo had to assure a great advantage with:24...Rd4!keeps
the pressure on.25.Nxd425.Nxd8Rxd126.Qxd1Nfe725.Rxd4Nxd425...Nc7'-/+'25.Bxd5!±Don't play25.Nxd8?!Nxd126.Qe8+Kh7=25...Nxd1Also had to consider:25...Nxd526.Nxd8Qxd827.Qe6+±26.Bxc4Nxb2And now ...Rc8 would win.27.Nxd8+Nxc428.Qe8+Qf8
29.Qd7!aiming for Ne6.Kh830.Ne6Qg831.f5Little by little the white is
having more space and definitely his two pieces coordinate better than his
opponent'sa532.a4Ne533.Qb7h534.Qxb6Qa8
35.f4It was very
strong to play immediately:35.Qd8+!±Qxd836.Nxd8Kh737.Kg2g638.Nb7Nc439.Kf3±35...Nf3+'?!' The best defense method was:35...Nf7!=keeps the balance.36.Qc5Nh637.Qf8+Qxf838.Nxf8Nxf5=36.Kf2Black must now prevent Qc7.Nxh237.Qd8+Qxd838.Nxd8Endgame Hoping
for Nc6. KN-KNNg4+39.Kf3Nh640.Ke4'?!' This impression of Lysyj gave
his adversary chances to maneuver with knight through the squares g4-f2-d1-b2.40.Nc6±Era mejor:40.Nb7Nxf541.Nxa5±40...Kh7?40...Ng4=41.Nb7Nf2+42.Kd442.Kd5Nd1=42...Nh1=41.Nc6+-g542.fxg6+Kxg643.Nxa5Nf544.Kf3Nd4+45.Ke3Nf5+46.Kf2Kf747.Nb7Ke648.a5a6 is the strong threat. Now the victory is easy for the white thanks to
the pawn A awayKd548...Ne7+-49.Nc5+Kd549.a6White mates.Kc6
50.Nc5!Kb650...Kxc551.a751.Nd7+Kxa652.Nxf6h453.g4Ne754.Kg2Kb655.Kh3Kc656.Kxh4Kd657.Kg5Ke658.f5+Kf759.Ne4Nc660.Kf4Nb461.g5Nd3+62.Kg4Ne5+63.Kh5Kg764.Nd6Kg865.g6Nf366.f6Ne567.Nf5A good duel, where most of the time the white kept his advantage,
after that in move 24 ... Ne3 the player of black pieces lost his great
opportunity.1–0
The third part of the endgame series tackles queen endings, rook against minor pieces, queen against rook and queen against two rooks. Queen endings are not nearly as mysterious as they appear at first sight. Knowing a few rules of thumb and principles will make things very much easier for you. Over 7 hours video training.
His name means "Igor the bald" but that doesn't seem to be a concern just yet! | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Indian star GM Vidit Gujrathi is still missing his first win of the tournament. He played a fifth draw in a row, and stands on an even score 2½ / 5, well out of contention for first.
GM Vidit Gujrathi | Photo: Niklesh Jain
The great Gata currently on 3.0/4 | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Uzbek child prodigy Nodirbek Abdusattorov looks very solid with a 2694 performance | Photo: Niklesh Jain
After scoring his first victory Dmitry Andreikin hold by Mikhail Antipov | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Alexander Skopovskiy manages the players' transportation, visas and the live broadcast
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Niklesh Kumar JainFIDE Instructor Niklesh Kumar Jain Jain is an international chess player who has participated in tournaments in almost in 20 different countries, winning the international tournament in Sri Lanka in 2010. He also worked for a television network as an anchor and news writer for two years and reported in Hindi during World Chess Championship 2013 and 2014.
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
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