9/26/2018 – There was a proposal of marriage before Round 2 at the Olympiad but, of course, it is also a hotbed of high-quality chess. We could produce an entire book with interesting tactical and strategic positions for your improvement., but instead we have given a few positions for you to train and improve your chess. At the same time you get all the updates of the big news of round two, the main one being Uzbek women getting the better of Russia!
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Some training positions
Before we move to the actual news of what happened in the tournament, there are two things to share with you. First, are some training positions for you to flex your mind and improve your game. All of these have been taken from the 2nd round of the Olympiad. Not many hints have been given as we want your task to be as close to a game of chess that you are playing.
(1) A. Greet vs A. Giri (part 1)
White to move
(2) A. Greet vs A. Giri (part 2)
Black to move
(3) A. Tari vs M. Mchedlishvili
White to move
(4) L. Aronian vs R. Jumabayev
White to move
(5) N. Vitiugov vs C. O'Donnell
White to move
(6) N. Petriashvili vs S. Shankland
Should White play Kg2 or Kf2?
An Indian and Colombian Engagement!
This is the second thing to share with all of you. Niklesh Jain of India proposed to Angela Franco of Colombia minutes before the start of 2nd round of the Batumi Olympiad 2018! Niklesh is the editor-in-chief of ChessBase India Hindi and he is present at the Olympiad as a journalist. Angela is a member of the Colombian national team. It was a surprise for Angela, while Niklesh had planned it all! It was an amazing moment not just for Niklesh and Angela but the chess community in general. A Colombian got engaged to an Indian at the biggest possible event in chess where people from 189 countries are taking part! Gens Una Sumus! PS: Don't miss the expressions of the Chinese players in the background who couldn't believe that they were seeing this!
Niklesh Jain proposes to Angela Franco. Exclusive video!
Women's section
The real big news of the second round was Russia losing to Uzbekistan in round two. The first three boards ended in draws and the decisive win was scored by Nodira Nadirjanova on the fourth board.
Bo.
31
Uzbekistan (UZB)
Rtg
-
1
Russia (RUS)
Rtg
2½:1½
19.1
WGM
Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim
2369
-
GM
Kosteniuk, Alexandra
2559
½ - ½
19.2
WGM
Kurbonboeva, Sarvinoz
2202
-
GM
Goryachkina, Aleksandra
2535
½ - ½
19.3
WIM
Gevorgyan, Irina
2265
-
GM
Gunina, Valentina
2528
½ - ½
19.4
WIM
Nadirjanova, Nodira
2167
-
WGM
Pogonina, Natalija
2469
1 - 0
Nodira Nadirjanova proved to be the hero for the Uzbek team as she scored the critical win to help her team win by a score of 2½-1½ over the mighty Russians | Photo: Niklesh Jain
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1.d4d52.c4c63.Nf3Nf64.e3Bg45.h3Bxf36.Qxf3e67.Nc3Nbd78.Bd3Bd69.0-00-010.e4dxe411.Nxe4Nxe412.Qxe4g613.Bh6Re814.Rad1Qa515.a3Bf816.Bxf816.Bc1It would have made more sense to keep the bishop
pair.16...Kxf817.Bc2Kg718.Rfe1Rad819.Qf3Qc720.b4Nf621.Qc3Re722.Re3Red723.Qa1b5!From here on the position is just much easier for
Black to play.24.Re5?I think Pogonina already was flustered.Rxd4!25.Rc525.Rxd4Qxe5-+25...Rxc426.Rxc4bxc427.Qc3Rxd1+28.Bxd1Qf429.Bf3e530.Bxc6Ne430...Qd4was also very strong.31.Qe3Nd2!32.Qxa7Desperation.c333.Ba4Qd434.Qxd4exd435.Bc2Nc436.b5Kf637.Kf1Ke5Once the king comes in it's all over.38.b638.a4Kd639.Ke2Kc540.Kd3Nb2+41.Ke2h5-+sooner or later White wil be under zugzwang.42.h4f543.g3Kb644.f3Ka545.Bd1d3+-+38...Kd639.Ke2Nxb640.Kd3Kc541.Bb3Nd742.f4f643.g3Nb844.Bg8h645.Bf7g546.Be6Na647.Bb3Nc748.fxg5fxg549.Ke4Nb550.a4Nd6+51.Kd3Nb752.Bd1Na553.Kc2Kb454.Kd3Nc655.h455.Bf3Ne5+-+55...g456.Ke4Kc457.Bc257.Be2+Kb3-+57...Nb458.a5d3Nodira was not very ambitious out of the opening,
but once she got a good position, she was ruthless.0–1
Ukraine very nearly survived from the jaws of defeat against Turkmenistan | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Zhukova scored the important win on board three and rest of the games ended in a draw. But Anna Muzychuk and Anna Ushenina were lost in their games!
There was one game in the women's section which is important to be mentioned here. It was Shen Yang with the white pieces against Colombian Melissa Gomez.
Position after 27.Ke2
White has just played the king to e2. What should be the result of the game? Mind you, think deep!
The solution is just unbelievable! Have a look at how you can weave a mating net even with much less material on the board.
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1.d4Nf62.c4c53.d5b54.cxb5a65.bxa6g66.Nc3Bg77.Nf30-08.e4Qa59.Nd2Bxa610.Bxa6Qxa611.a4Ra712.Qe2d613.Nb5Rb714.0-0Ne815.Re1Nc716.Nxc7Rxc717.Ra3Rb718.Nc4Nd719.Bg5Nb620.b3h621.Bd2Nxc422.Qxc4Qxc423.bxc4Rb224.Rd1Rfb825.Kf1Rc226.a5Rbb227.Ke2
looks very normal, but turns out that there is a deep idea here.27.Be1!?
White is just winning here.27...Bc3!28.Kd3This is what Shen Yang had
prepared.Bxd228...Rxd2+29.Rxd2Bxd230.a6+-And White wins.29.a6Stopping the a-pawn will cost Black his piece is what Shen Yang had thought.Ra2?29...Bf4‼30.a730.g3?Rxf231.gxf4Rf3#30...Rxf231.a8Q+Kg7Black's idea is simple - Rfe2 or Rbe2 and a mate on e3. Can that be
stopped?32.Qa5Rbe233.Qc3+33.Re1Rd2+34.Kc3Rc2+35.Kb335.Kd3Rfd2+36.Qxd2Rxd2+37.Kc3Rxg2-+35...Rb2+36.Ka436.Kc3Bd2+-+36...Bd2-+33...f634.Re1Rd2+35.Qxd2Rxd2+36.Kc3Rxg2-+is a
trivial win.29...Bg5will also do but Bf4 is just more accurate.30.Ra1Rc3+31.Rxc3Rxa132.Kxd2Rxa6The game ended in a peaceful draw, but
both the players would be sad with the result as both had a chance to win!33.Ke3½–½
Don't give 1.d4 players an easy ride — sacrifice a pawn with 3.b5 for a lasting initiative. GM Ramirez shows you clear ideas for play in every variation.
No.
SNo
Team
Team
Pts.
MP
Res.
:
Res.
MP
Pts.
Team
Team
SNo
1
54
TKM
Turkmenistan
4
2
1½
:
2½
2
4
Ukraine
UKR
2
2
5
IND
India
4
2
4
:
0
2
4
Venezuela
VEN
55
3
9
GER
Germany
4
2
2
:
2
2
4
Georgia 3
GEO3
56
4
11
AZE
Azerbaijan
4
2
4
:
0
2
4
Belgium
BEL
57
5
13
HUN
Hungary
4
2
2½
:
1½
2
4
FYROM
MKD
58
6
59
SWE
Sweden
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Georgia 2
GEO2
14
7
15
ESP
Spain
4
2
2½
:
1½
2
4
Bangladesh
BAN
60
8
62
ISL
Iceland
4
2
1
:
3
2
4
Netherlands
NED
16
9
17
MGL
Mongolia
4
2
3
:
1
2
4
Bosnia & Herzegovina
BIH
63
10
19
VIE
Vietnam
4
2
4
:
0
2
4
ICCD
ICCD
64
11
65
BOL
Bolivia
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Romania
ROU
20
12
66
POR
Portugal
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Cuba
CUB
22
13
23
SRB
Serbia
4
2
3
:
1
2
4
Algeria
ALG
67
14
68
MAS
Malaysia
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Turkey
TUR
24
15
25
ENG
England
4
2
3
:
1
2
4
Scotland
SCO
69
16
70
MNE
Montenegro
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Czech Republic
CZE
26
17
27
GRE
Greece
4
2
4
:
0
2
4
Wales
WLS
71
18
72
FIN
Finland
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Iran
IRI
28
19
31
UZB
Uzbekistan
4
2
2½
:
1½
2
3½
Russia
RUS
1
20
3
CHN
China
3½
2
3
:
1
2
4
Colombia
COL
32
Results of round two (open)
No.
SNo
Team
Team
Pts.
MP
Res.
:
Res.
MP
Pts.
Team
Team
SNo
1
65
GEO3
Georgia 3
4
2
1½
:
2½
2
4
United States of America
USA
1
2
2
RUS
Russia
4
2
3
:
1
2
4
Ireland
IRL
66
3
67
URU
Uruguay
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
France
FRA
7
4
10
ISR
Israel
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Costa Rica
CRC
68
5
69
INA
Indonesia
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Poland
POL
11
6
70
SCO
Scotland
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Netherlands
NED
13
7
71
TJK
Tajikistan
4
2
1
:
3
2
4
Czech Republic
CZE
15
8
16
GER
Germany
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Myanmar
MYA
72
9
18
CRO
Croatia
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Monaco
MNC
73
10
74
JOR
Jordan
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Peru
PER
19
11
20
ARG
Argentina
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Mexico
MEX
75
12
79
SGP
Singapore
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Romania
ROU
21
13
22
TUR
Turkey
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Kosovo
KOS
80
14
81
LUX
Luxembourg
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Iran
IRI
23
15
24
ESP
Spain
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Dominican Republic
DOM
82
16
83
KGZ
Kyrgyzstan
4
2
½
:
3½
2
4
Greece
GRE
25
17
26
SLO
Slovenia
4
2
4
:
0
2
4
South Africa
RSA
84
18
86
IRQ
Iraq
4
2
1½
:
2½
2
4
Vietnam
VIE
27
19
87
AND
Andorra
4
2
0
:
4
2
4
Brazil
BRA
29
20
32
SWE
Sweden
4
2
3½
:
½
2
4
Tunisia
TUN
88
Solutions to the problems
Solution 1 and 2
The first two training positions at the start of the article are from the game between Andrew Greet and Anish Giri. This game has been analyzed in depth by GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly. We will let you enjoy the annotations below, but first the solutions.
Solution 1
b4 was an extremely strong move
Solution 2
Bh4!! Once you see the move, everything becomes obvious. But to see it is not easy!
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1.d4d52.c4e63.Nf3Nd7With his already huge opening repertoire Anish
still managed to find something that he never played before as early as move
3! Judging by Andrew Greet's opening repertoire which is largely based on
Catalan probably Anish most likely just wanted to find a way to make sure that
white doesn't get normal Catalan that easily. It’s an old line played by
many strong players and goes back all the way when players like Lasker and
Capablanca used it followed by many strong players. Nevertheless, it is not as
common as other main moves here.4.Nbd2It paid off. Andrew after 15 min of
thought decided to stick to Catalan setup anyways but here black will not have
any issues with equality.4.Nc3most principled of course but then a
player who plays mainly Catalan would be reluctant to test this while facing
with somewhat better prepared player :)Ngf6transposes to a completely
different big line and at least it won’t be easy to get normal Catalan setup
here which was probably Anish's genius idea of playing 3...Nd7.4.g3
It is certain that Andrew didn't want to test Anish's preparation and thus
started with Nbd2 before g3. Nothing wrong to play g3 just that it gets to
some less analysed position rather quickly.dxc4I guess this is what
bothered white5.Bg2and now there are many fresh areas like 5...Rb8/Nb6/
Bb4/c6 etc and it would be a tough call to predict what Anish had in mind4...Ngf65.g3Finally bishop came to g2 but white is committed to Nbd2 and
black didn't even have to compromise anywhere. Opening problem is solved to
start withb66.Bg2Bb77.0-0Be78.b30-09.Bb2Re810.Rc1c511.dxc5
I don't understand the need of releasing the central tension so quickly. It
just gives away the central battle rather too easily11.e3is a normal
move with not so complicated position :)11...bxc512.Ne5Also, didn't
make much sense to change the knight volunteered and losing a few tempo.Nxe513.Bxe5Qb614.e3Rad8I am pretty much sure that Anish would not have
played this move had he seen white's little trick here which only works with
the rook on d815.cxd5exd516.Qc216.b4!a sudden chance to nullify
the center and get a good square at d4. I actually like white after this moveBa616...cxb417.Bc716...Qxb417.Rb116...c417.a316...Nd717.bxc5Bxc518.Rb117.bxc5Bxc518.Bxf6gxf619.Nb3some random line of comps but would have never happened in the actual
game16...Ng4!17.Bf4?!bishop definitely doesn't belong to this
diagonal.17.Ba1was called for17...h618.h318.e4engine says
this but it’s understandable that one can get unhappy to play Be3 after g5.g519.Be3d420.Nc4Qg621.Bd2Bf818...Nf619.e4?!19.Be5
it was not too late to get the bishop where it belongs19...Nh5!I guess
by now Anish has seen the brilliant idea19...dxe4leads to some forced
lines which was not that clear20.Nxe4Nxe421.Bxe4Bd622.Bxb7Bxf423.gxf4Qxb724.Rfe1also better for black but the game continuation is much
stronger20.Be3d421.Nc4Qg622.Bd2Bh4‼and here comes the 19th
century move! Anish is a peaceful guy but today he decided to have the 'beast
mode' on for a change ;-)23.Rce123.Ba5It would be interesting to know
what Anish saw here. With so many tempting possibilities it is not clear which
one is best. I feel he probably would have just played Rd7 with his huge
understanding which is also practically the best. However, the lines here are
quite pretty after d3.d3!?23...Nf4looks super cool but doesn't work24.gxf4Bxe425.Qxe4Rxe426.f5!=spoils the show23...Rd7!
I think this is what he would have opted for eventually which in my opinion is
most practical and strong enough.24.Qd1Rxe4just because it looks really
tempting24...Rd425.Nd2Bxg3also good enough25.Bxd8Nxg326.fxg326.Bxh4Ne2+27.Kh1Qxg2+28.Kxg2Rg4+29.Kh2Rg2+30.Kh1Rxf2#wouldn't
it feel nice to mate like this!26...Re227.Qxe2dxe228.Bxh4exf1Q+29.Rxf1Bxg230.Kxg2Qe4+!31.Rf3g532.Bxg5hxg533.g4but the question
is why to get here and bother if its fortress or not when black could simply
play Rd7 without having to calculate too many lines :P23...Nxg3!
Crushing and brilliant.24.fxg3Bxg325.Ba5Rd7He surely would have
played Rd7 in the other line too :)26.Qd326.Rd1Rxe426...Bxe127.Rxe1f5!cleanest28.Kh2fxe429.Qg3Qxg3+30.Kxg3Anish has excellent
technique and with +5 evaluation he plays even better chessRe631.Rc1Bd532.Bf1Rf733.Be2Rg6+34.Kh4Rg235.Bg4Rxa2No rush36.Be1Rf137.Ne5Bxb3if the game goes for few more moves he would not leave the h3 pawn either
38.Rxc5Rxe139.Rc8+Kh740.Bf5+g641.Rc7+Kg842.Bxg6Rg2Good to
see a nice attacking game by Anish for a change :)0–1
Aryan Tari played the move Nd4 and Mchedlishvili had no option but to resign. I was very surprised that Baadur Jobava didn't play on board one for the team of Georgia. This resulted in a 2:2 draw against Norway.
Solution 3
The e7 pawn is where the gold is!
Solution 4
The move Bf4 is very accurate because after Rd7+ there is no square on h6 available for the black king
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1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a65.Bd3Bc56.Nb3Be77.Qg4g68.Qe2d69.0-0Nd710.a4b611.Na3Bb712.Nc4Qc713.a5b514.Nb6Rb815.c4bxc416.Bxc4Ngf617.Be3Nxe418.Bxa6Bxa619.Qxa60-020.Qb5Rfd821.Qa4Nec522.Nxc5dxc523.Bf4Bd624.Nxd7Rxd725.Rfd1Rb426.Qxd7Qxd727.Bxd6Ra428.Be5Rxa529.Rac1Qe730.b4Ra831.bxc5f632.Bd6Qa733.c6Rc834.c7Kg735.Bf4!This is the only way to win. Why not bishop g3?35.Bg3e536.Rd7+Kh6That's the reason why! The bishop on f4 controls the
all important square on h6.35...Qa436.Be3!Qa537.Rd7+Kg838.h3!
Very calm. No backrank worries now.g539.Rb1Qa840.Ba7!Qxa741.Rd8++-Great finish by Levon. These guys really know how to win a winning game.1–0
The right move is Bf4! closing the door of the queen on g4.
The idea to trap the queen with Bf4 and Be2 reminds us of a battlefield where a warrior goes too deep into enemy territory finding no way to go back!
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1.e4c62.d4d53.e5c54.dxc5e65.Bd3!?A very rare line. Above 2500+
players it was seen only once when Volokitin used this in 2014. Idea is to
keep Qg4 option open in case of Bc5 which is what happened in the gameBxc55...Nd7I feel this will be more to the point as white is committed to Bd3
it makes sense to put the knight on c5 now6.Qg4Ne7natural response7.b47.Qxg7Rg88.Qxh7Qb6can get very complicated soon7...Bb68.Nf38.Qxg7Now that there is no more Qb6 but still it doesn't workRg89.Qxh7Bd4!and black is better8...a5?!8...Ng6would have been better
than the move played in the game9.b5nothing wrong but white could have
gone for something much direct and stronger9.Qxg7!Now was the time to
take it.Rg810.Qxh7Rxg2It does look scary at first sight but closer
inspection reveals that black has no threats and white can simply ignore the
f2 pawn11.Nc3!axb411...Rxf212.Rf1changing the
active piece and white is winning here12.Nb5Nbc613.Bf4Rxf214.Rf1+-9...Ng610.h410.Nc3!?anticipating Nd7 this this also makes senseNd711.Na4Bc712.Bxg6hxg613.Bg510...f510...Nd7!?11.Bb2!11.h5Ngxe512.Nxe5Qf6!13.Nxd7Bxd714.c3Bxf2+15.Kd1e5black gets decent
compensation for the whole piece!11...Qc711...0-012.h5f513.exf6Nxf614.Bxf6Qxf615.hxg6+-12.h5Ndxe513.Nxe5Nxe514.Qxg7Nxd3+15.cxd3Rf816.0-0there were other ways too but here as well white keeps the
pressure11.Qg30-012.h5Nh812...Ne7runs into13.Bh6Rf714.Ng513.Bh6Qe714.Bg514.c4!Nd715.Nc3Nc516.Rd1With the bishop
sitting on h6 black's kingside got totally fixed and its not clear how black
will be able to untangle himself.14...Qb4+aiming for a wrong plan14...Qc7is safer15.Nbd215.Bd2Qe715...Qg416.Qh2!similar to
the game16.Nc315...Qg4?15...Nd716.0-0Nf7is still ok
for black16.Qh2!A fine move. Now the queen will face serious trouble
at enemy camp.Nd717.Bf4! Living no room to returnNc518.Be2Ne419.Rf1Nc320.Ng1!20.Nd4!Also equally strong but why to
even spend one second on seeing calculating Bd4.20...Nxe221.Nxe2g621...Bd822.Rh1!22.hxg6Qxg623.a4!One of the good qualities of stronger players are that they
can see the board in broader perspective. Everything is happening right now on
kingside but Nikita figures out that the rooks have to join the attack and a1
rook is not doing much at the moment so he decided to bring that resource too
hence a calm looking move on queenside.Bd724.Ra3Qf725.Rh1!Rfe826.Rh3finally, everyone is involved in the attack.Re727.Nf3Knight joins
the feast tooQg728.Ng51–0
Kf2 was the correct move because White would want his knight on e2 to be defended after ...Qd3.
If Nikoloz Petriashvili would have found the best move, it could have been possible for the young Georgians to hold or beat USA. The young Georgians played in a very spirited manner with Noe Tutisani holding Fabiano Caruana on board one and Nikolozi Kacharava having a better position against Ray Robson.
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1.c4c52.Nc3g63.g3Bg74.Bg2Nc65.e3Nh66.Nge2Nf57.b3b68.Bb2Bb79.0-0h510.h30-011.Qb1e612.Rd1Rb813.Nb5d514.Bxg7Kxg715.cxd5exd516.d4Qf617.Nbc3Nce718.dxc5bxc519.Nxd5Nxd520.Bxd5Bxd521.Rxd5Rfd822.Rxd8Rxd823.Qe1h424.g4Nd625.Rd1Ne426.Rxd8Qxd827.f3Nd228.Kg2?28.Kf2was the correct move.Qd3Now the knight on e2
is not protected and hence28...Qd629.Nf4±29.Qa1+Kg830.Qc3+-
White is just winning.28...Qd3!The undefended nature of the e2 knight
doesn't let White's queen to move freely.29.Kf2Qc230.Qa1+Kg831.e4a532.g5c433.bxc4Nxc434.Qd4Qxa235.Qd8+Kh736.Qd5Kg837.Qd8+Kh738.Qd5½–½
Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
Alexandr Fier is going to find his name in many tactics books in the years to come because of this position.
The main idea is to clear the h-file.
Once Black takes back on e6, do you see the finishing tactic?
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1.Nf3d52.c4dxc43.Na3a64.Nxc4b55.Ne3Bb76.g3Nf67.Bg2e68.0-0Be79.b30-010.Bb2c511.Qc2Nbd712.Rac1h613.Rfd1Rc814.Qb1Qb615.Qa1Rfd816.h3Bf817.d3Bc618.Ng4Nxg419.hxg4Qb720.e4a521.g5hxg522.Nxg5a423.Bh3Re824.Kg2axb325.Rh1c426.Bxe6!All that White
needs is to clear the h-file!26.Bf5will also do!26...Rxe627.Rh8+‼It doesn't always happen in books!27.Rh8+Kxh828.Rh1+Kg829.Rh8+Kxh830.Qh1+Kg830...Rh631.Qxh6+31.Qh7#1–0
Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
It was Wesley So who provided the much-needed win for the Americans | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Anand's first Olympiad victory at the after 12 years
Vishy Anand's last Olympiad was in Turin in 2006. He played his first Olympiad game after twelve years against GM Markus Ragger and won it in excellent style. Check out this brilliant game with the help of Ganguly's analysis and then enjoy Anand's interview after the game.
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2006 Turin was the last Olympiad where Anand played for India. After a huge
gap finally the Tiger is back which is a tremendous boost for the team.1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Italian nowadays is as popular as Spanish specially at
top level.Bc54.c3Nf65.d30-06.Bg5Although this was first played in
1841 but only got huge popularity after MVL recently started using this idea
heavily in this position as well as in some other similar position. I
personally had this position few times as white with a4-a5 included.h67.Bh4Be7This was the old conception that after this black has no issues hence Bg5
ideas were not that popular. Thanks to MVL's effort it is now clear that
though black is still fine here white does have many interesting tries.8.Nbd2d69.a4Nh510.g3!? A rare and very interesting idea
from my good friend Sethu. He used this idea to beat Inarkiev in last World
Rapid at Saudi. The point is white simply protects the bishop and asks black
to show his plans.10.Bg3MVL played this against Kramnik which is when
this whole Bg5 line started picking up rapidly. Since then many games have
been played with tries from both sides.Nxg310...g6is the latest trend
from black side which was seen in Hari - Inarkiev and Sethu - Giri11.hxg3Nb812.Nf1c613.Ne3Na614.g4was the MVL - Kramnik game from where it
all started10...Nf6a natural response. Now black threatens g5. Another
interesting move is Bh3 which I am sure was prepared too.11.Bxf6Bxf612.h4That is the idea of this whole g3 business! White gives up the bishop and
tries to launch a kingside attack.Ne712...h5was the Sethuraman -
Inarkiev game13.Nh2g614.g4hxg415.Nxg4Bxh416.Qf3and white had
good compensation: 1-0 (69) Sethuraman,S (2646)-Inarkiev,E (2689) Riadh 201713.Nh2the most natural way to follow. White has pretty much straightforward
plan in this lined514.Bb3From human point of view this is most natural.
However, engine insist taking on d514.exd5Nxd515.Qf3Be6is
dynamically balanced. I like Anand's choice more as it has better practical
value.14...c614...d4a counter intuitive suggestion from machine. Why
would anyone give up the center and open the diagonal for the bishop!
Practically it could be easier to play from white side irrespective of the
computer evaluation15.Qe215.Ng4Qd616.Qf3Bxg417.Qxg4Both sides
are playing very logically. White's bishop is clearly stronger than its
counterpart but black holds the center very strongly and there is no kingside
attack coming either.g6Not sure if this was needed right away17...Rad8Black could play g6 later at anytime18.h5after 10min of thought Anand
decides to close the kingside and make the black bishop further passive.g5
a committal decision but fairly justified one. Black agrees to lock the dark
square bishop totally but makes sure kingside is completely closed. His
solidity in center always compensates the passiveness of his minor pieces.18...Bg7would have changed the charactastic of the position completely19.hxg6fxg620.0-0-0can get wild soon19.Qf319.Qe2with similar idea
as in the game is also doable19...Bg720.g4
now the position is completely closed at kingside. both f4 and f5 squares are
weak but white will get his knight faster towards f5 as compared to black
knight getting to f4. Thus, black's knight must not jump and rather stay at e7
from where it controls both f5 and d5. White's bishop is also stronger than
its counterpart. However black still has a solid control over center which
compensate all other things. As long as he can maintain that there is nothing
to be worried about.Rad821.Ke2!?Its debatable where the king would be
ideal. It does look safe at e2 as of nowa522.Rhd1Rd723.Nf1Rfd823...Qc7!?now that white moved the knight black perhaps could have gone for
harassing the b3 bishop.24.Qe324.Ne3Qb624...Rfd8with a balanced
position24.Ne324.Ng3!?its not clear how to break further but if I
had to pick a colour I would pick white24...Qf6? A
strategical error. Only way for white to make some progress is to open up the
game but with queens on board it would have been very difficult to do so. Now
it would be much easier to create play on queenside and suddenly the king on
e2 becomes so much active.24...Qc7just keeping the queen on b6 would
suffice to stop white from opening another front. For the moment its not clear
how white will breakthrough. The position remains balanced.25.Qxf6!
of course!Bxf626.Ba226.Bc2with the same idea of b4 but this time
unstoppable26...Bg726...Ra8!?would have been more tenacious.
Stopping b4 for the moment. Although white has all the time to regroup and
play b4 eventually26...dxe4changing further major pieces doesn't solve
the problem of passive minor pieces that black has.27.dxe4Rxd1now both
Nd1 and Rd1 are good for white28.Rxd128.Nxd1and no need to calculate
any furher variationNc829.f328...Rxd129.Kxd1
white still keeps some pressure27.b4Anand goes for the straightforward
plan27.Rdb1in order not to give black a chance to swap rooksNc827...Ra828.Bb3White can still slowly transfer the bishop to c2 and
eventually break on queenside28.b4dxe429.dxe4axb430.cxb4Rd427...axb427...d428.Nc428.cxb4dxe429.dxe4Rd4?!29...Rxd1
Good or bad this was the last chance to swap both rooks and black had to opt
for it.30.Rxd130.Nxd1Rd430...Rxd131.Nxd1it is psychologically
difficult to take the call from black side if he should aim for this position
but judging by the alternative black had this is clearly better choice.Nc832.b5!cxb533.a5!is one of the typical idea when white will take on
b7 no matter whatKf833...Ne734.Bd5!34.Bd5Ke734...Nd6??35.Bxb7+-35.Bxb7Na736.Ne3±White is clearly better. If he can win or
not that is not important from practical point of view. Nevertheless, this is
still much better than what happened in the game.30.b5Rxd131.Nxd1!
Subtle. Now that there is no more Rd4 trick Anand refuses to exchange rooks.31.Rxd1Rxd132.Kxd1cxb533.axb5Nc834.Nf5Bf8Here black can just
escape31...Bf831...Rd432.Ne3!is a nice way to finishRxe432...Rxa433.Bxf7+33.bxc6Nxc633...bxc634.Bc4+-34.Bd5Rb435.Bxc6bxc636.a5+-32.Ne3cxb533.axb5Nc834.Bd5Nd635.b6!
giving no chance to escape. Anand at ease. Once he gets initiative somehow, he
makes it look so simple and easy.Rc836.Ra7Rb837.Kd3!
most direct way once again37.Ra5also equally strong37...Nc838.Bxb7Nxb639.Bd5!the final touchRd839...Nxd540.exd5+-40.Rb7Nc841.Rb8! Now black is competely stuckRe842.Bc6Bd642...Rd8+43.Nd543.Ra8Rf844.Nf5Ne745.Nxd6Nxc646.Rxf8+Kxf847.Nf5A fine positional masterpiece by Anand.1–0
Studying the content of this DVD and adding these openings to your repertoire will provide players with a very strong tool to fight 1...e5 - as the practice of the author clearly demonstrates.
Vishy Anand on his win over Markus Ragger
Round 3 team pairings for open (all teams on 4 match points)
The most interesting match is surely the Netherlands versus the USA. Anish Giri will take on Fabiano Caruana on board one. When we interviewed Anish Giri after round two, he gave his opinion about the US team. Here is what he said:
Anish Giri speaks about his round two game, his approach towards the Olympiad, the strength of Netherlands team. He speaks about the US team at 11 minutes 30 seconds.
Other interesting matches are between the young Iranian team that will take on a strong Belarus team. Also, Brazil against England would be an interesting fight.
Round 3 team pairings for women (all teams on 4 match points)
Spain versus Georgia 2 is going to be a close fight. Other matches of interest are England against Azerbaijan and India takes on Serbia.
Two of the games in this report have been annotated by GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly and he has helped us tremendously in finding the training positions. He is six-time National Champion for India, Asian Champion and has been Anand's second in numerous World Championship matches.
Sagar ShahSagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
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