Aronian - Kramnik, Aronian won with 4:2

Game 1 Kramnik, Vladimir - Aronian, Levon 1-0 45 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.
c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3
Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. Qf1 Qh5 19. f3 Nxe3 20. Qf2
Nd5 21. fxg4 Qxg4 22. Qf3 Qg5 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Ne4 Qg6 25. Qe2 Nf4 26. Qc2
Nh3+ 27. Kg2 Qg4 28. Bxe6+ Qxe6 29. Qb3 Nf4+ 30. gxf4 Qxb3 31. axb3 Bxf4
32. Rxa6 Rc8 33. Nc5 Kf7 34. Nd3 g5 35. Nxf4 gxf4 36. Kf3 Ke6 37. Kxf4 Kd6
38. c4 Rf8+ 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Ra7+ Kb6 41. Rxh7 Rf1 42. Rh6 Kb7 43. Rh5 Rb1
44. Kd3 bxc4+ 45. Kc2 1-0
Replay:


Game 2 Aronian, Levon - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 76 D17 Slav Defence
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4
Bg6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14.
h4 Rc8 15. Ba2 h6 16. Rc1 Rg8 17. Ke2 Bc5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Nb1 Ke7 20.
Rxc5 Nxc5 21. h5 Bh7 22. Rc1 Nd7 23. Nd2 g6 24. hxg6 Rxg6 25. Kf2 Rg5 26.
Rc7 b5 27. a5 Rc5 28. Rxc5 Nxc5 29. Ke3 Kd6 30. b4 Nd7 31. Nb3 e5 32. Nc1
f5 33. Nd3 fxe4 34. fxe4 Nf6 35. Nc5 Bg6 36. Bb3 Ng4+ 37. Kd2 Nf6 38. Bc2
Kc6 39. Bd3 Nd7 40. Nxa6 Bf7 41. Be2 h5 42. g3 Bg6 43. Ke3 Bf7 44. Kd2 Bg6
45. Bd3 Bf7 46. Bf1 Be6 47. Kc3 Bg4 48. Bd3 Bf3 49. Bc2 Kd6 50. Kd3 Kc6 51.
Bb3 Kb7 52. Be6 Nf6 53. Nc5+ Kc6 54. Ke3 Bg4 55. Bf7 Bc8 56. Bb3 Bh3 57.
Bd1 Bg4 58. Bc2 Bc8 59. Bd3 Ng4+ 60. Ke2 Nf6 61. Nb3 Be6 62. Nd2 Ne8 63.
Nb1 Nc7 64. Nc3 Bd7 65. Kd2 Be8 66. Be2 Bf7 67. Nd5 Bxd5 68. exd5+ Kd6 69.
Bxh5 e4 70. Bf7 Na6 71. Kc3 e3 72. Bh5 Kxd5 73. Be2 Nc7 74. Bf3+ Ke5 75.
Bb7 Kf5 76. Kd3 1-0
Replay:


Game 3 Kramnik, Vladimir - Aronian, Levon 0-1 77 A30 English Symmetrical
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 d6 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 O-O 12. Rfd1 Be7 13. Ne4 Bxe4 14.
Qxe4 Ra7 15. Nd4 Qc8 16. b3 Re8 17. a4 Qc5 18. Ra2 Qh5 19. Bf3 Qe5 20. e3
Rc8 21. Qb1 Rac7 22. Rc2 Qf6 23. Bg2 Nd7 24. Qa2 Qg6 25. Rcd2 Nc5 26. Ne2
Nd7 27. a5 bxa5 28. Qxa5 Nc5 29. Nc1 h5 30. Rd4 Qc2 31. b4 Qa4 32. Qxa4
Nxa4 33. Ne2 Nb2 34. Ra1 Bf6 35. Rxd6 Nxc4 36. Rdxa6 Bxa1 37. Rxa1 Rb8 38.
Rb1 Na3 39. Rb3 Nb5 40. Bf3 g6 41. h4 Rc4 42. Nf4 Rc3 43. Rb2 Na3 44. Be2
Rc2 45. Rb3 e5 46. Nd5 Rxe2 47. Rxa3 Kg7 48. Rb3 Rd2 49. Nc7 Rc2 50. Nd5
Ra8 51. Nc3 Rc8 52. Ne4 R8c4 53. Nd6 R4c3 54. Rxc3 Rxc3 55. b5 Rd3 56. Nc4
f6 57. Kf1 Rb3 58. Nd6 Kf8 59. Ke2 Ke7 60. Nc8+ Kd7 61. Na7 Rb2+ 62. Kf3
Ke6 63. e4 Kd6 64. Nc8+ Ke6 65. Na7 f5 66. exf5+ Kxf5 67. Ke3 Rb3+ 68. Kd2
Ke4 69. Kc2 Rf3 70. Nc6 Rxf2+ 71. Kc3 Rf1 72. Kb4 Rc1 73. Ne7 Kf3 74. Nxg6
e4 75. b6 e3 76. Ne5+ Kxg3 77. Nd3 e2 0-1
Replay:


Game 4 Aronian, Levon - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 43 D45 Anti-Meran Variations
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Nd5 9. Ne4 Be7 10. Bd2 b6 11. Ng3 O-O 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qb3 c5 14. Bxb4
cxb4 15. O-O a6 16. Qe3 b5 17. Bd3 Bb7 18. g5 Rc8 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. Bb1 Rfd8
21. h4 Nf8 22. h5 Rc7 23. Qf4 Bd6 24. e5 Be7 25. Be4 Bc8 26. Bb1 Bb7 27.
Be4 Bc8 28. Kh2 Rcd7 29. Bb1 Bb7 30. Ne4 Bxe4 31. Bxe4 g6 32. hxg6 Nxg6 33.
Qe3 Bf8 34. Kg2 Bg7 35. Rh1 Qb8 36. Rc1 Qa7 37. Rh3 Rxd4 38. Rd1 Nf4+ 39.
Kh2 Ne2 40. Rd2 Bxe5+ 41. Nxe5 Qc7 42. Bxh7+ Kf8 43. Rxe2 1-0
Replay:


Game 5 Kramnik, Vladimir - Aronian, Levon 1/2 47 A60 Modern Benoni
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 6. Nd2 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nc7 8.
Bxa8 Nxa8 9. b4 c4 10. a4 Bxb4 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Ngf3 a6 13. axb5 axb5 14.
Qb2 Qf6 15. Qxb4 Qxa1 16. O-O Qa6 17. Bb2 f6 18. Ba3 d6 19. Nd4 Nc7 20. Rb1
O-O 21. Nxc4 bxc4 22. Qxb7 Qxa3 23. Qxc7 Qc5 24. Rb7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7 d5 26.
Nf5 Na6 27. Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Ra7 Nb4 29. Rc7 h5 30. Kg2 Re8 31. e3 Nd3 32. f4
Ra8 33. Kh3 Ra5 34. Kh4 Rc5 35. Rd7 Kg8 36. Kxh5 Kf8 37. Nd6 c3 38. Kg6 Rc6
39. Kxf6 Kg8 40. Kg6 Kf8 41. Kf6 Kg8 42. g4 Nc5 43. Rd8+ Kh7 44. Kf7 Rc7+
45. Kf6 Rc6 46. Kf7 Rc7+ 47. Kf6 Rc6 1/2-1/2
Replay:


Game 6 Aronian, Levon - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 55 D12 Slav Defence
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8.
g3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 dxc4 10. Qe2 Nb6 11. O-O Bb4 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Ne4 Qe7 14.
Bxb4 Qxb4 15. Nc5 Rab8 16. Rfc1 Rfd8 17. Qc2 Nfd7 18. Ne4 e5 19. a3 Qe7 20.
Re1 Nf6 21. Ng5 exd4 22. exd4 Qd6 23. Nf3 Re8 24. Re5 Nfd7 25. Ra5 a6 26.
Rd1 Rbd8 27. Bf1 Re7 28. Rg5 Qf6 29. Kg2 Rde8 30. h4 Qe6 31. a4 Qe4 32. Qc1
f6 33. Ra5 Qe6 34. Qc2 Qe4 35. Qc1 Kh8 36. Re1 Qg4 37. Rxe7 Rxe7 38. Bxc4
Nxc4 39. Qxc4 Qe4 40. Qb3 c5 41. dxc5 Qc6 42. Qc3 Re2 43. b4 Ne5 44. b5 Qe4
45. c6 Nd3 46. Qxd3 Qxd3 47. cxb7 Re8 48. bxa6 Qb3 49. Rc5 Kh7 50. Rc8 Rg8
51. Nd4 Qb6 52. Rxg8 Kxg8 53. Kg1 Kh7 54. Nc6 Qb1+ 55. Kg2 Qe4+ 1/2-1/2
Replay:


Have Fun!!

Vlagyimir vs Léko Péter - Kramnik won with 4.5-3.5

Kramnik won the rapid match with Leko with 4.5-3.5. Following is the replay...

Game 5 Kramnik, Vladimir - Leko, Peter 1-0 57 A30 English Symmetrical
Game 6 Leko, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 49 C84 Ruy Lopez Centre Attack
Game 7 Kramnik, Vladimir - Leko, Peter 1/2 30 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Game 8 Leko, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 30 C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen

Round 5
Kramnik,V vs Leko,P
Result 1-0
A30 English Symmetrical

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6
Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2
Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nb4 15. Kd1 O-O-O 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Kb7 18. Ke1 e5 19. e3
Kb6 20. Bf1 Bb5 21. Bc4 f6 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Rc2 a5 24. Rhc1 Ne7 25. Bxb5
cxb5 26. a4 Rhd8 27. axb5 Kxb5 28. Ne4 Ra7 29. g4 h6 30. h4 Kb6 31. g5 hxg5
32. hxg5 fxg5 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Rd2 Nc6 35. Rxg5 a4 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. Nd6 Rc7
38. Ne8 Rca7 39. Nxg7 Ra2 40. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 41. Kf3 Kc5 42. Nf5 Nb4 43. Ng3
Kd5 44. Ne4 Ra8 45. Nf6+ Ke6 46. Ng4 Nd3 47. Rg6+ Kf5 48. Rf6+ Kg5 49. Rd6
Rf8+ 50. Kg3 e4 51. Rd5+ Rf5 52. f4+ Kg6 53. Rd4 Nc5 54. Ne5+ Kg7 55. Rc4
Nd3 56. Nxd3 exd3 57. Rd4 1-0

Replay the game here:


Round 6
Leko,P vs Kramnik,V
Result 1-0
C84 Ruy Lopez Centre Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
a4 Bd7 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2 c5 12. Ng3 O-O 13. Nh4 g6 14. Bh6 Re8
15. Bd2 Bg4 16. f3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Nc6 20. Nf3 Nd7
21. c3 bxc3 22. bxc3 Nde5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Qc2 Ra7 25. Rfd1 Bf8 26. Nf1
Bh6 27. N1d2 Bxd2 28. Rxd2 Rd7 29. Rb1 Kg7 30. h3 Qc7 31. Rf1 Nd8 32. Rdf2
Qd6 33. Qc1 Nf7 34. Nh2 h5 35. Qe3 Ree7 36. Rf3 c4 37. dxc4 Qd2 38. Qb6 Ng5
39. Re3 Rf7 40. h4 Rb7 41. Qc5 Rb2 42. Qxe5+ Kh7 43. Qxg5 Rxf1+ 44. Nxf1
Qf2+ 45. Kh2 Qxf1 46. Rg3 Qf7 47. c5 Re2 48. Qe5 Qb7 49. Rxg6 1-0

replay the game here:


Round 7
Kramnik,V vs Leko,P
Result 1/2-1/2
D43 Anti-Meran Gambit

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qc2 dxc4
8. e3 b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 Bb4+ 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Be2 Rc8 14.
O-O Nd7 15. Rfc1 a5 16. Na4 Rab8 17. Qd1 e5 18. Rxc4 Rxc4 19. Bxc4 Bxf3 20.
Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 exd4 22. exd4 Nb6 23. Nxb6 Rxb6 24. Rd1 Kf8 25. b3 Rg6+
26. Kf1 Rg5 27. Rd3 Rh5 28. Kg2 Rg5+ 29. Kf1 Rh5 30. Kg2 Rg5+ 1/2-1/2

replay the game here:


Round 8
Leko,P vs Kramnik,V
Result 1/2-1/2
C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. O-O d6 8.
c3 h6 9. a4 Rb8 10. d4 Bb6 11. Na3 O-O 12. axb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Bg4 14. Be3
d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 18. Na3 exd4 19. cxd4 Be4 20. Bc2
Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Rad1 c5 24. Nb5 Rxb5 25. Qd3 g6 26.
Qxb5 Nf4 27. Qc6 Nxh3+ 28. Kg2 Nf4+ 29. Kf3 Ne6 1/2-1/2

replay the game here:

Vlagyimir vs Léko Péter - Day 2

Day 2 saw Kramnik winning game 3 and taking the lead of the match with 2.5 - 1.5

Result:
Game 3 Kramnik, Vladimir - Leko, Peter 1-0 44 E15 Queens Indian
Game 4 Leko, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 52 C88 Ruy Lopez Closed

Round 3
Kramnik,V vs Leko,P
Result 1-0
E15 Queens Indian

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8.
Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 18. Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4
Bg5 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Be5 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Bf6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1
b5 27. Qc2 b4 28. Bb7 g6 29. h4 Rfe8 30. Qa4 Qd2 31. Qc6 a5 32. Bxc8 Rxc8
33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Rc2 Qd3 35. Rc5 a4 36. Qxa4 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qd4 38. Qc2 h5 39.
Kg2 Qd6 40. Qb2+ f6 41. Qc2 Kf7 42. Qc4+ Kg7 43. Rc6 Qd7 44. Qc5 Kf7 1-0

Replay the game here:


Round 4
Leko,P vs Kramnik,V
C88 Ruy Lopez Closed

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.
h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. c3 Be6
15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. b4 Qd7 17. Ng3 Rfb8 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 cxd4 20. Nxd4
Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc8 22. Bb2 Rc2 23. Rad1 Qa7 24. e5 dxe5 25. Qxa7 Rxa7 26.
Bxe5 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Bd4 Kf7 29. Rd1 Nf6 30. Be5 Ra2 31. Rd3 a5 32.
bxa5 Bxa3 33. Rb3 Bc5 34. Rxb5 Bxf2+ 35. Kh2 Be1 36. Rb7+ Kg6 37. Bxf6 gxf6
38. Rb6 Bxa5 39. Rxe6 Bc7 40. Re3 Ra4 41. Rf3 h5 42. Kg1 Bb6+ 43. Kh2 h4
44. Nf5 Bc7+ 45. g3 hxg3+ 46. Nxg3 f5 47. Kg2 f4 48. Nf1 Kf5 49. Ne3+ Ke4
50. Ng4 Ra2+ 51. Nf2+ Kf5 52. Rb3 1/2-1/2

Replay the game here:

Vlagyimir vs Léko Péter - Day 1

Day 1 saw 2 draws from the match with following results:
Game 1 Kramnik, Vladimir - Leko, Peter 1/2 25 A33 English Symmetrical
Game 2 Leko, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 51 C88 Ruy Lopez Closed

Round 1
Kramnik,V vs Leko,P
Result 1/2-1/2
A33 English Symmetrical

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 Qa5
8. Bh4 Ne4 9. Bxe7 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Nxe7 11. Nb5 O-O 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Nxc3 b6
14. O-O-O Rd8 15. Be2 Bb7 16. e4 f5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Rhg1 Rac8 19. Rd2 Kf8
20. g3 Ke7 21. Re1 Nd6 22. b3 b5 23. Red1 Ne4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Kb2 1/2-1/2

Replay the game here:


Round 2
Leko,P vs Kramnik,V
Result 1/2-1/2
C88 Ruy Lopez Closed

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.
h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. Ne3 Be6
15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 17. Nd2 Nf5 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. g3 g6 20. h4 Rc8 21.
b4 Qb6 22. h5 cxb4 23. axb4 Nf6 24. c3 Ng7 25. h6 Nge8 26. Bd2 Nxe4 27.
dxe4 f5 28. exf5 Rxf5 29. Be3 Qb7 30. Rc1 Bd8 31. c4 bxc4 32. Bxc4 Qxb4 33.
Rb1 Qxc4 34. Rc1 Qxc1 35. Bxc1 Bb6 36. Be3 Bxe3 37. Rxe3 Nf6 38. Qa4 e4 39.
Qxa6 Rc1+ 40. Kg2 Rc2 41. Re2 Rxe2 42. Qxe2 Rxd5 43. Qc4 Kf7 44. Qc7+ Ke6
45. Qc8+ Ke7 46. Kf1 Rc5 47. Qb7+ Ke6 48. Ke2 Rf5 49. Qc8+ Ke7 50. Qc7+ Ke6
51. Qc8+ 1/2-1/2

Replay the game here:


Watch the game live at The Official Website.

MCC Round 8 - Lucky Win

It had been some moments ago since I was seriously involved in my daily activities. Today, many activities was resumed as well as workout and chess. Here is my first win at Malaysian Chess Challenge 06 after playing badly for days.

Tan Eu Hong (2043) - Sri Shiva Kumar [B18]
AMBank Malaysian Chess Challenge, 25.08.2006

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 Caro-Kann Defence again. Incidently, I had some discussion on this variation with my teammate during Merdeka Open a week ago. That descussion ended in my favour with my pawn on d4-c5 squares and knight on d6 which was dominating. Few days later at the penultimate round of the Merdeka Open, I won again with such configuration though that was only a rapid game. Here, today, my 1600 national rated opponent allowed that to happen again providing me another win (though some luck was finally required) which sum up to 4 wins against the Caro-Kann Defence including round 1 of this event and my practice game against my friend.

6.Nf3 h6 7.Bd3 [7.Ne5 Nf6 (7...Bh7 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qf3 f6 10.Bc4 e6 (10...fxe5 11.Qf7+ Kd7 12.Qe6+ Ke8 (12...Kc7 13.Qxe5++- ) 13.Ne4 Na6 14.Qxe5 g5 15.Qxh8 Bxe4 16.Qxg8 Qxd4 17.Qf7+ Kd7 18.Qe6+ Kc7 19.c3+- ) ) 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bd3 Qb6 10.Bxg6+ Kd8 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Re1+- ]

7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 e6 I avoided the mainline which usually had this position 2 moves later where White's pawn on h5 and Black's knight on f6 or d7. White's pawn will be slightly over-extent and is harder for a player of my standard to play for a win as Black only need to defend accurately, exchange into endgame and pick up the h5-pawn.

9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 Nd7 12.Rfe1 Ne7?! [12...Ngf6 this is better as White cannot play Ne4 without allowing the knight to be exchanged off. The Black's knights can later move toward the centre, for example ...Nd5, ...N7f6 with an equal position.]

13.c4 0-0 14.Ne4! White is playing toward the aforementioned plan. Black is playing too passively.

14...Qc7 15.c5 Nd5 16.Nd6?! Too soon. White should had prepared b4 first then only Nd6 when the knight will be standing even firmer on d6. Black to Move.

16...b5? [16...b6! challenging White's grip of the position at its root, namely the c5-square to prove that 16Nd6 was only an illusion and clearly doubius! 17.b5 is now impossible and White will be forced to play 17.Qc4.]

17.Qd2 a5 18.Kh1?! [18.Ne5 is better. White started to play aimlessly after achieving a slight plus.]

18...N7f6 19.Ne5 Rad8 20.Rac1 a4 21.Rc2 Ne8Black to move.

22.Rec1 f6? [Discouraging: 22...Nxd6 23.cxd6 Rxd6 24.Nxc6?/a> White's strong knight had disappeared but gained a newly opened c-file thus compensate for the isolated queen pawn.]

23.Ng6 Nxd6 24.cxd6 Rxd6 25.Nxf8 Kxf8+/= White is only slightly better after winning the exchange (N+P vs R) due to the isolated Queen pawn and Black's undisputed knight on d5-square.

26.f4?! [26.b3 axb3 27.axb3 Qd7 28.Ra2 Ne7 29.Qe2 Rxd4 30.Qh5= ]

26...Ne7 27.Qb4 Qd7 28.Rd1 Nd5 29.Qd2 Ne7 30.Qf2 Nf5 31.Rcd2 Rd5 32.g4 Ne7 33.b4 axb3 34.axb3 Qd6 35.Qe3 Kf7 36.Re1 g6 37.b4 f5 the position become more and more complicated and I am running low on time. I think the position is only slightly better for White given the various conditions.
White to move.

38.h3 fxg4 39.hxg4 h5 40.f5 e5?? The move that loses the game. [40...exf5 41.gxh5 f4 42.hxg6+ Nxg6 43.Qe8+ Kf6 44.Rc1+/- I was not able to see this move (44.Rc1!) threatening to win the Queen, in time trouble.]

41.dxe5?! Time trouble! [41.f6! Ng8 42.dxe5+- Black can already resign.]

41...Qxb4 42.fxg6+ Nxg6 43.e6+?! it happened that I kept playing those doubious moves in time trouble. [43.Rxd5 cxd5 44.Qf2+ Ke8 45.gxh5 Ne7 46.e6+- ]

43...Kg7 44.Rxd5 cxd5 45.e7 Qxe7 46.Qxe7+ Nxe7 47.Rxe7+ Kf6White to move.

48.Re3? I thought I cannot catch the pawns!!! [48.Rd7 Ke6 49.gxh5! and White either take all the pawns or queen if Black take the rook!; 48.Rb7 hxg4 49.Rxb5 Ke5 50.Kg2 Ke4 51.Kg3 d4 52.Rb8 d3 53.Re8+ Kd4 54.Kf4 mate in 18 as Fritz9 says.]

48...hxg4 49.Kg2 White chosen a wrong plan that actually throw away the win if Black knows how to continue.

49...Kf5 50.Kg3 d4 51.Rb3 Ke4 52.Rb4 Ke3 53.Rxb5 d3 54.Re5+ Kd4 55.Re8 d2 56.Kf2 I played this move and pray for miracle to happen. [Not 56.Kxg4?? d1Q+ when Black is suddenly winning!]
Black to move. Find the drawing continuation!


56...Kd3?? [56...d1N+= Black can start to claim for a draw from the arbiter in charge!] now Black loses.

57.Rd8+ Kc2 58.Ke2 Black resigned. Afterward my opponent told me that he did not know endgame with K+R vs K+N+P was theoritically drawn and all the while he was only thinking of promoting to a queen. I am so lucky this time! I am now back to even score with 4/8 by winning the this game. 1-0

Replay the game here:

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

MCC Round 5

Kamalarifin Wahiduddin - Tan Eu Hong (2043) [D02]
AMBank Malaysian Chess Challenge PC (5.13), 23.08.2006

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c6 4.Nbd2 Nbd7 5.e3 e6 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Rb1 c5 8.c3 Bd6 9.Ne5 Qc7 Black's entire opening plan is doubious. The plan in the game involving c5, Bd6 etc is kind of too ambitious and 2 tempo was wasted by Qb6-c7 and P-c6-c5. As a result, leads to lost of a pawn later. A more reliable plan involves pawns at h7, g6, f7, e7, Bg7, 0-0 etc and at the right time play either c5 or e5 to activate the black bishop.

10.Ndf3 Ne4 11.0-0 0-0 12.c4 f6?!If Black is to play f6, then the knight should not be at d7 so that White will have to retreat the e5-knight.
13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Bxe4 Qxe4 17.dxc5 Bc6 White started a series of exchange that won him a pawn. However, Black has some compensation, namely the better placed pieces, bishop at c6 aiming at White's kingside and White's c5-pawn is some how slightly over extended.

18.Qd4?! Qf5 19.Nh4 Qg5?! [19...Qh5! 20.Qc4 Bd5 21.Qb4 (21.Qa4 b5 22.cxb6 axb6 23.Qd4 b5-/+ ) 21...Bxa2 22.Rbc1 Bd5=/+ ]
20.g3 Rad8?! [20...Rfd8! 21.Qc4 Bd5 22.Qa4 f5 23.Rfd1 Qh5 24.f4 b6 25.c6 Rdc8 26.Qb5 Bxc6 27.Qe5=/+ ]

21.Qc4 Kh8? [21...Bd5 22.Qa4 Qh5 23.e4 Bc6 24.Qc4 Qe5= ]

22.Qxe6 Qxc5 23.Rbd1 Qh5 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.f3 Qc5 26.Ng2 Qc2?! [26...Bb5 27.Re1 Bc6 28.Kf2 Rd2+ 29.Kg1 Bd5 30.Qe8+ Bg8-/+ ]

27.Qe7 Qd2?! Black was too obsessed with the open d-file which does not bring much benefit. Yet, Black's position is difficult after several inaccuracy earlier. [27...Re8 28.Qa3 f5 29.Qc3 Qe2 30.Qd4 Qc2 (30...Bxf3 31.Nf4 Qxe3+ 32.Qxe3 Rxe3 33.Kf2+- ) 31.Nh4+/- ]

28.h4? Both players have now less than 10 minutes each.

28...Re8 29.Qa3 a6 30.e4 Rd8? [30...Qd4++/= ]

31.Rf2 Qd1+ 32.Kh2 h6 33.Qb4 Rd3 34.Qe1 Qa4 35.b3 Qd4 36.Qe2 Bb5?! [36...Rd1 37.Ne3 Rc1 intending Bb5 or Qa1 when again, Black gains counter-chances.]

37.Qc2 Rc3?+/- [37...Rd1+/= and the position is still tenable. Both players had only a few minutes on hand. Blunders is in the air now...]

38.Qb2 Qe3?? 39.Nxe3! It took my opponent a minute to figure out what had happened. Queen sacrifies? He then took the queen and Black immediately resigned. 1-0


Another sad game with another strong player. Something must be really wrong somewhere...

Replay the game here:



Until then,
Eu Hong

MCC 06, Round 2

Anthony Liong Ing Kiat - Tan Eu Hong (2043) [B33]
Round 2, AMBank Malaysian Chess Challenge, 21.08.2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.a4 a6 8.Na3 Be6 9.f4?! exf4=/+ Black now seize the initiative
10.Bxf4 d5! 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5! Black is better as White is having difficulty developing his kingside [12...Qxd5 13.Qxd5 Bxd5 14.0-0-0=] 13.Qe2+ Qe7 14.Qxe7+ Bxe7 15.0-0-0 Rd8 16.Nc4 0-0 17.Ne3 Be4! [According to Anthony, he was expecting following moves 17...Be6 18.Bc4 Bxc4 19.Nxc4=]

18.Bd3 [18.Bc4 Bc5 19.Rhe1 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Rd8+-/+] 18...Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.cxd3 Rd8

21.Rd1 Bc5? [I'd played too fast here. 21...Rd4!-/+ wins a pawn and Black is winning due to material advantage and the isolated d pawn] 22.Nc2 Kf8 23.h3 Ke7 24.Be3 Bxe3+ 25.Nxe3 g6?! Black is playing too fast and 25...g6 is commital. [25...Nd4 intending 26...Nb3+ and 27...Nc5 winning a pawn] 26.Kd2 Rd4 27.b3 b5?! inconsistent as when Black first played 22...Kf8 the intended plan was to move the king forward to the centre or the kingside. Now that going to the centre is not beneficial, 27...f5 intending Kf6, Kg5, Kh4/f4 and Kg3 continuing the earlier intended plan is better. On preparating the king maneuver, Black can first play Ne5 to lock down White's pieces eg.27...f5 28.Ke2 b5 29.ab ab 30.Nc2 Rd8 31.Ke3 Kf6 =+ 28.axb5 axb5 29.Nc2 Rd5 30.Re1+ Kd6 31.Re4 f5 32.Re8 f4 33.Rf8 Ke5 34.Re8+ Kf5 35.Rc8 Ne7?+/= Leads to passive play and end up with a blunder later. 36.Rc7 Ke6 37.Ke2 Rg5 38.Kf2 Rd5 39.Nb4 Rd4?? Blundering a piece!

40.Rxe7+! Kd6 41.Re4 Kc5 42.Na6+ Kd5 43.Nc7+ I resigned the game here since I will either lose the rook after 43...Kc6 or lose both rook and knight after 43...Kc5 44.Ne6+ 1-0

Replay the game here


Until then,
Tan Eu Hong

MCC06, Round 1

Last year during the Malaysia Chess Festival (end of August, 06) MCC (Malaysian Chess Challenge) was organised alongside with the Malaysian Open 06 at Cititel Hotel, Midvalley Megamall. Both events were FIDE rated but MCC was only for players rated below 2200. Yet I did poorly for the tournament scoring only 6/11 where I started the first 7 rounds with a blunder each round!

White to Move and Win!

This position was reached after Black played 22... Nf7??. However during the game, I did not notice the winning continuation and played 23Qe3. Though White finally won the game but not without some help from Black.

Replay the game here


Until then,
Tan Eu Hong

King's Indian Defence Rules!!!

Corus Chess 2007 (Wijk aan Zee, NED) saw Radjabov scored 3.5/4 with his favorite King's Indian Defence (KID) including 100% wins over the most feared Bayonett Attack.

More details and analysis of the games can be seen at Chessbase.com
Round 1, van Wely 0-1, Classical, Bayonett Attack
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3610
Round 3, Shirov 0-1, Classical, Bayonett Attack
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3613
Round 11, Kramnik 1/2-1/2, Classical, Gligoric System
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3632
Round 12, Motylev 0-1, Classical
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3634

The KID had been suffering from some drawback since Kasparov stopped playing it during late 90s thanks to the Bayonett Attack with improvements by Kramnik! Yet, Radjabov had been playing it even suffering losses against Bareev back in 2002/03. (if not mistaken) and today, he had finally breakthrough with wins. I think KID will regain its popularity soon after this event.

Another bad news for adherents of Bayonett Attack from the White side is that, since Kramnik is not playing it against Radjabov at Corus, there might be some doubt in the line. I remember Kramnik still playing the Bayonett Attack during the Turin Olympaid which he got ONLY a draw against a 25++ player.

Seems like White's pawn sac at e6 square after Ng5, Ne6 and Black play Bxe6 is not so sufficient!

Lucky for me, I am playing both 1.d4 and 1.e4.

Until then,
Eu Hong