MAXIME S TOUR DE FORCE GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scores a career victory at 5th Sinquefield Cup
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GM ALEKSANDR LENDERMAN WINS THE U.S. OPEN
MAXIME S
TOUR DE FORCE
GM Maxime
Vachier-Lagrave
scores a career
victory at 5th
Sinquefield Cup
November 2017 | USChess.org
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Chess Life
NOVEMBER
COLUMNS
14 CHESS TO ENJOY / ENTERTAINMENT
#)&)*% *!#)*% )*(
By GM Andy Soltis
16 BACK TO BASICS / READER ANNOTATIONS
)'#$%( *&% # $!
By GM Lev Alburt
18 IN THE ARENA / PLAYER OF THE MONTH
**************)$ )& $* !*!#)*(&" *
By GM Robert Hess
20 LOOKS AT BOOKS / SHOULD I BUY IT?
**************#)*(" %"('*&(") *%$* #)''*(('
By John Hartmann
46 SOLITAIRE CHESS / INSTRUCTION The French GM Maxime
**************) &)* (!* ( !)&' Vachier-Lagrave has
By Bruce Pandolfini become the fifth winner of
the Sinquefield Cup in
five years. Here he
48 THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME / INSTRUCTION
receives his winner’s check
************** "%# $)&*#)* ($" '%($ from Rex and Jeanne
By GM Daniel Naroditsky Sinquefield.
DEPARTMENTS
6 NOVEMBER PREVIEW /
THIS MONTH IN CHESS LIFE AND US
CHESS NEWS 22 COVER STORY / SINQUEFIELD CUP
******************* % ) '*( &* )*(&)
7 COUNTERPLAY / READERS RESPOND
BY GM ROBERT HESS
8 US CHESS AFFAIRS / Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scores a career victory in St. Louis.
NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS
10 FIRST MOVES /
CHESS NEWS FROM AROUND THE U.S. 32 US CHESS NATIONAL EVENTS /
2017 U.S. OPEN
11 FACES ACROSS THE BOARD /
BY AL LAWRENCE *") *)$ )& $* "(')'* !*!#)* *)$
BY AL LAWRENCE
51 TOURNAMENT LIFE / NOVEMBER
His undefeated score of 8 out of 9 literally keeps him in the game.
71 CLASSIFIEDS / NOVEMBER
71 SOLUTIONS / NOVEMBER
72 MY BEST MOVE / PERSONALITIES 42 US CHESS NATIONAL EVENTS /
U.S. MASTERS
EDDIE WYCKOFF
******************* '!)&'*(*%'& !%($
BY VANESSA SUN
ON THE COVER
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis hosted A star-studded field and shocking upsets highlight the 2017 U.S.
the fifth annual Sinquefield Cup, featuring 10 of the Masters with *" % %&*)"( ' ending up on top.
strongest players in the world and the return of Garry
Kasparov. In the end, however, French player Maxime
Vachier-Lagrave stole the show and won the prize. See
the full story on page 22. COVER PHOTO AND THIS PAGE: AUSTIN FULLER, COURTESY OF THE
CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF SAINT LOUIS
4 November 2017 | Chess Life
www.uschess.org 5
November Preview / This month in Chess Life and US Chess News
US CHESS NEWS PREVIEW NOVEMBER
64 SQUARES, 32
EMOJIS
Look for photos highlighting custom
and wild style chess boards sold at US
ARCH RIVAL MATCH UPS Chess Federation Sales, including the
“emojional” one above. Tag yourself
Tune in for some exciting St. Louis match-ups in the chess capital in mid-November, featuring
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on Instagram @US_Chess or Twitter
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AMANOV ON MEDAL THANKFUL FOR
SECRETS CHECKMATES
This year at the World Cadet in Brazil and Count your chess blessings this holiday
World Youth in Uruguay, the U.S. squad earned and enjoy our coverage of major
four gold medals, three silver, and one bronze. holiday events around the country
Chicago-area Grandmaster Mesgen Amanov of over the November 23-26 weekend,
ImproveMyChess.com gives insight into his pre- including the National Chess Congress
tournament work with two of our new in Philadelphia, the American Open in
medalists: Arthur Xu, who earned silver in the southern California, and the 2nd
Open Under 10, and Aren Emrikian, who took Annual Sevan Muradian Memorial in
gold in the Open Under 8. Schaumburg, Illinois.
GM ROBERT HESS
CONTRIBUTORS (Cover Story) is the coach of the U.S. women’s team and the 2010
VANESSA SUN Samford Fellow. A 2015 graduate of Yale University, Hess is the
(U.S. Masters) is a chess fan, player, journalist, photographer, and Chief Operating Officer of The Sports Quotient and serves as Director
tournament director. She writes for Chess Life, chess^summit, US of Business Development for Chess.com.
Chess News, ChessBase, and more.
GM YARO ZHEREBUKH AL LAWRENCE
(U.S. Masters) has been ranked among the top ten players in the (U.S. Open) is the former executive director of both US Chess and
United States (currently ranked 13th) and is a graduate student at the World Chess Hall of Fame. He is currently managing director
Saint Louis University. He has coached talented American youths for the US Chess Trust. His latest book, with GM Lev Alburt, is
since 2013, with GM Jeffery Xiong being among his best students. Chess for the Gifted and Busy.
6 November 2017 | Chess Life
Counterplay / Readers Respond
Cuba, hurricanes,
and Chess Life
HURRICANE IRMA
Hi. It’s Sunday, September 10th, and my wife, Karen, and I are sitting
in a hurricane shelter near Wesley Chapel, Florida, having evacuated
from our home in south Tampa. I’m reading the September issue of
Chess Life—specifically, Dr. Gerald Levitt’s article entitled “Aging, Memory,
and Chess.” The article mentions that Dr. Levitt and his wife are residents
of Naples, Florida. All US Chess members need to keep the Levitts, and
everyone affected by Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria in their thoughts
and prayers. In the meantime, we'll keep our spirits up with good
fellowship—and maybe some chess.
Paul Fields
via email
CHESS IN CUBA
I am a long-time US Chess member and always enjoy your fine
publication. The September 2017 issue was an extraordinary treat with
the cover celebrating Chess in Cuba. I recently visited Havana this past
May 2017 with some friends for educational purposes in addition to
bringing school supplies and other items which included chessboards
from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL).
We donated these items to a local elementary school in Centro Habana.
Of all the items the chessboards were the biggest hit! The kids were
absolutely thrilled and many knew how to play and play quite well. I can
say chess is very well received in Cuba as your article states and could
relate to the article quite nicely. Please pass along many thanks to FM
Jacob Chudnovsky and Irina Medvedev on their fine story. I am also
including pictures we took at the school. As you can see, the kids were
quite thrilled to play.
Since becoming an out of state member of the CCSCSL I have been
doing my part to promote the game of chess also. I even met Leinier
Dominguez Perez last month at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz. They
have reignited my passion for the game and I also run a local chess club
in Parker, Colorado at the local library to help others and kids to learn Correction: In the October issue’s World Open
the game. feature, we inadvertently added “GM” to Jamaal
Keep up the great work. Abdul-Alim’s author byline. He is a former Chess
John Brezina Journalist of the Year, but he is not a grandmaster.
via email
www.uschess.org 7
US Chess Affairs / News for our Members
US CHESS Empowering people through
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The nomination petitions must contain the dated signature, printed begin at the conclusion of the 2018 delegates’ meeting.
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U.S. women in chess have made extraordinary strides in 2017. WIM Annie Wang just
clinched first place at the World Girls Under 16 Championships with her 10th, penultimate
round victory over WFM Marina Gajcin of Serbia. FM Maggie Feng made history when
she became the first girl to
win the National Junior High
School Championship in April.
And Sabina Foisor claimed
the U.S. Women's title in one
of the most inspiring under-
dog U.S. Championship stories
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ůůWƵƌĐŚĂƐĞƐĞŶĞĮƚƚŚĞh^ŚĞƐƐ&ĞĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ www.uschess.org 9First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.
Chess Politics
In this election month, some West Coast politicians talk to
Chess Life about their chess histories.
by Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
A
lthough 2017 is an off year for national elections, you can vote BIPARTISANSHIP
for state and local candidates this November. Through chess, Bob Ferguson emailed, “I had many interesting chess battles with Kent
you may know some of them. As a teenager I played chess with Pullen, who was an intense competitor. When I was 12 or 13, we
three other then-teens who now serve in government: Bob Ferguson, competed for the Boeing Employees Club Championship. That club was
Bryon Monohon, and Preston Polasek. very strong and its Championship was hotly contested. Defeating Kent
One of our chess competitors was Republican Kent Pullen (1942- in the last round of the 1984 Washington State Invitational Championship
2003). Polasek noted that Pullen “championed chess and other mental was especially memorable because I was just 18 and that victory clinched
sports” during his service in the Washington State Legislature and on my first of two state titles. We always got along quite well, despite our
the King County Council. Since Washington State Attorney General political differences. I was saddened by his death, doubly so because had
Bob Ferguson had been asked many times about how chess informs his he not passed away we would have served together on the King County
thinking (for example, a 2013 article on crosscut.com and 2017 articles in Council where he had been a long-time member. My first term on the
The Nation and chessbase.com), I asked Ferguson to instead reflect on Council began shortly after his 2003 death. I had been looking forward
Pullen, chess, and bipartisanship. to playing speed chess with Kent in our respective council offices.”
Left: Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Right: Lafayette, Oregon City Manager Preston Polasek showing the floor plans for a new fire station/city hall.
10 November 2017 | Chess LifeFirst Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.
Ferguson served on the King County Council for almost 10 years. He is now in his second
term as attorney general (elected in 2012; re-elected in 2016). He emailed, “As attorney
general, I propose many bills to the state legislature to protect consumers and keep our
communities safe. With one exception, the 40 pieces of legislation I have proposed have
FACES
had both Democratic and Republican sponsors. My parents were Republicans (when the
Republican party was, admittedly, different than it is today) and I have six siblings. One
ACROSS
learns to navigate and respect political differences in a large family where there will naturally
be a wide range of views. I am a deeply committed Democrat, but I work hard to find
THE BOARD
common ground whenever possible.” By AL LAWRENCE
ERNEST
VAMPIRE CENTRAL JOHNSON
Bryon Monohon is in his last months as Mayor of Forks, Washington, which became
famous as the setting for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Monohon emailed, “We believe MAYBROOK, NEW YORK
that we’re the hometown that many people wish they had growing up. The fact that we Deacon of Hudson Valley chess
have this whole vampire/werewolf vibe going on just makes it a bit more fun.” One book
in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, had a chess queen and chess pawn on its cover. A force in upstate New York chess for more than
Despite the chess pieces on its cover, there was no chess inside its 756 pages. Likewise, 30 years, Ernest is a top player and a hard-work-
there is no chess in Forks. Monohon emailed, “For a brief few months we had a youth ing officer for the Hudson Valley’s strongest club,
chess club but it withered on the vine. I’ve never had the time in my 15 years here to pick it the Vassar-Chadwick Chess Club in Poughkeepsie.
up and run with it.” His biggest chess thrills? “Winning my first
After eight years as Forks’ mayor and six years before that on its city council, Monohon is Dutchess County Championship. And I drew GM
leaving government service for a full-time job in the Chimacum school district. For that job, Leonid Yudasin several years ago.”
he recently purchased “the US Chess club starter pack with display board and tripod. I am Johnson has gone on to win four more county
directly integrating chess instruction into my seventh and eighth grade mathematics curriculums.” championships and honors in many of the hun-
Thinking like a chess player has been central to Monohon’s mayoral stint. He emailed, dreds of tournaments he’s competed in, includ-
“From chess, one gets a fine understanding of winning and losing and the variety of tempi ing being a member of a division-winning team
and strategies that can be brought to any one issue. My city attorney often tells people that at the U.S. Amateur Team East. But he’s never
his boss is a chess player and very much the tactician who will do what it takes to get things quite crossed that magic 2200-mark to make
done, even if that involves going against common thought or perceived best practices.” master and would love someday to meet that
Now a US Chess-rated expert, Monohon has fond memories of earlier chess adventures. goal.
He emailed, “I studied under Grandmaster Lombardy at the 1979 chess camp at Michigan
Johnson learned the game from his father as a
State University. I also traveled to Russia in 1990 and studied chess in the Central Institute
New York City kid. “I joined the JHS 117 Bronx
and attended the Moscow Chess Club.” club and was also fortunate enough to have a
competitive high school team, competing in
OREGON CHAMPION many events at the McAlpin Hotel” in Manhattan,
The biggest chess success in Expert Preston Polasek’s tournament career was tying for the chess-historic hotel just down the block from
first with National Master John Hatala in the 1994 Oregon Open. He emailed, “The 121- the Empire State Building. Later, IBM transferred
player field was the strongest to date, and included the reigning U.S. Open Champion, his dad upstate.
International Master Georgi Orlov. I settled a lot of scores that weekend, for example
But as much as Ernest loves the over-the-board
defeating the legendary National Master Viktors Pupols.” competition, he seems even more dedicated
Chess helps Polasek in his current job as city manager of Lafayette, Oregon. Polasek to helping others. He works with people with
emailed, “Chess training taught me to think methodically and strategically, which has helped disabilities for the Hudson Valley Office for Peo-
me as a public administrative professional for the past 30 years. As a city manager, I design ple with Developmental Disabilities and as a
public processes that are open and inclusive of important stakeholders. The various policy psych technician in a hospital. He’s a deacon
outcomes of a governmental process tend to take care of themselves when you have a good in his church. “My greatest joy was adopting
process and public input. It is also important to be able to anticipate the debate, the questions, four young people,” with his wife Becky. Two of
the options, and the saboteurs. The skills that I developed over the chessboard have definitely their daughters even helped proofread a chess
helped me harmonize the influences in my life and to facilitate effective public processes.” book for children.
Polasek has received several accolades over his career, including an award for a community
His favorite part of the game is fellowship with
visioning process from the International Association for Public Participation. When
other players. “Chess is a game I love and a
counseling those entering public service careers, he advises, “The best prescription is always game I can share with young people.” Johnson
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SUBJECTS
prevention and anticipation, but much like a messy chess problem, certain situations require teaches chess in several after school programs
tactics and probability assessments to guide the actions of the organization.” and has started a club at his church in Walden,
New York. He’s also been helping at the new
PARTICIPATION Books and Rooks Club in inner-city Newburgh,
These chess players advise participating in elections, possibly as a candidate and definitely as well as another small club that meets in the
as a voter. Monohon emailed, “I always said that I would never go into politics but at some Newburgh Armory Unity Center. He’s given nu-
point I started looking at things and saying ‘I could do better than that’ and the next thing I merous simultaneous exhibitions around the
knew I had other people believing that I could as well.” Ferguson emailed, “This is no time Valley to promote the game. Longtime area or-
in our nation’s history to be on the sidelines. Voting is something that I take seriously and ganizer Dr. Craig Fisher sums it up: “Basically, he
work to instill the importance of participating in our democracy with my children. We loves everybody and everybody loves him.”
always vote together as a family.”
www.uschess.org 11SINQUEFIELD CUP
CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS
Read our 2017 Sinquefield Cup report
2013 Magnus Carlsen beginning on page 22.
Hikaru Nakamura
Levon Aronian
“We're not really
playing
for money here;
Gata Kamsky
Fun Fact
Levon Aronian
Magnus Carlsen 2015
we're playing Hikaru Nakamura
chess.” ~Magnus Magnus Carlsen’s first
high-profile tournament in Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Carlsen, on
refusing a draw the United States. Anish Giri
“They say the third
offer from Aronian
Alexander Grischuk time counts.”
~Levon Aronian,
Veselin Topalov on winning the cup
Fabiano Caruana after two failed
Fun Fact attempts
Caruana posted an Viswanathan Anand
incredible seven- Wesley So
game winning Fun Fact
Fabiano Caruana streak before Aronian beat every
finally drawing the American player and drew
Magnus Carlsen rest of his games. the rest of the field to take
Veselin Topalov the title.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Levon Aronian
Hikaru Nakamura 2014
“The advantage of getting older is
that you lose your memory. When “I wouldn't put my
you lose, maybe you forget the next Wesley So money on anyone.”
day.” ~Veselin Topalov, on playing ~Viswanathan
younger challengers Levon Aronian Anand, on
who might
Veselin Topalov win the
Viswanathan Anand 2016
edition $
Fabiano Caruana
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Hikaru Nakamura
“I would play 150
Magnus Carlsen
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
moves if it meant I Viswanathan Anand
win a game—I don’t Ding Liren
really care about Levon Aronian Fun Fact
the length of Peter Svidler
Sergey Karjakin Rounds 3, 4, and 7
the game.” ended with no Anish Giri
Peter Svidler
2016
~Fabiano decisive results (all
Caruana, about Fabiano Caruana draws).
his seven-hour, 110-
move win over Levon Hikaru Nakamura
Aronian
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Wesley So
Fun Fact
MVL’s win was his
career-best
performance to date.
2017www.uschess.org 13
Chess to Enjoy / Entertainment
Where Did the Time Go?
Is it worth passing the middlegame simply to flunk the endgame?
By GM ANDY SOLTIS
SUPPOSE YOU WERE IN SCHOOL, TAK- Computers say Black is better after, say, 49 Yet play went 40. Bh3?! Kf6 41. g4?? Kg5
ing an hour-long test. The teacher gives you Rb8 Kc3 50. Rc8+ Kd4 51. Rb8. They’re right. and White lost a pawn. He could resign on the
this heads up: Some questions are so hard it is He’s better. But he can’t win. spot but, after some sloppy play, agonized
almost impossible to get them right without Nevertheless, White played 49. Rxf7?? and through the ending until resigning.
guessing. You can pass even if you give a few resigned after 49. ... Rc1 50. Rb7 b1=Q Once again a great player made a move he never
second-best answers. Towards the end of the 51. Rxb1 Rxb1 52. Kg6 Ke4 53. Kxg7 Kf5. would have if he could think rationally. But he
test there are easier questions. But if you get He blundered because he only left himself had only a few seconds when the below position
any of them wrong, you’ll probably fail. with seconds to play the decisive part of the was reached. He had started the game with five
So, how do you budget your time? One endgame. This was one of several horror stories minutes and got a two-second increment after
strategy is to spend a lot of minutes on the on the final two days of the St. Louis grand- each move. Where did the time go? Here’s where:
tough questions. Another is to make sure master Rapid/Blitz tournament.
you have enough time to ace the easy ones. We burn bundles of minutes in some
It’s not an academic exercise. It’s one we get middlegames when it is almost impossible to
wrong all the time when a chess clock is find the right move. It’s impossible in many
ticking. positions because there are several almost
equally good moves and none is “right.”
TIC-TOC Then we find ourselves with only seconds
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE 2787, RUS) left in an endgame where there are “right” moves
GM Levon Aronian (FIDE 2794, ARM) to be found. Here’s another from St. Louis.
Saint Louis Blitz (15), St. Louis, Missouri,
08.18.2017
JUST SECONDS LEFT
GM Leinier Dominguez Perez
AFTER 18. ... Rcb8
(FIDE 2796, CUB)
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE 2787, RUS)
After 18 moves White was comfortably
Saint Louis Blitz (3), St. Louis, Missouri,
08.17.2017
better. Each side had about three and a half
minutes left to play all of their remaining moves.
In the next three moves White burned a minute
and a half while Black played quickly—19. Nd5
Qb7 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Qe2 b5.
If White’s move choices mattered a lot, then
it would be time well spent. But 19. Nd5 is not
significantly better than the chief alternatives,
AFTER 48. ... b2 such as 19. Bxc5, 19. a5 or 19. f3. All of them
would keep White on top.
White knew how to draw this kind of position. A move later, 20. Bxc5?! was not the best. But
He should. Most U.S. experts know how to do 20. c3, 20. a5 and 20. b3, the other appealing
it. Many B-players know how. Endgame text- moves, were only slightly better. And while 21.
books are filled with examples like it. AFTER 39. ... Ke7 Qe2 b5! allowed Black to equalize, the alternatives
White can simply pass. Black can’t force 21. Qc3 and 21. b3, didn’t promise a serious
progress after, say, 49. Rb8 or 49. Rb6, or 49. White can sit on this position by shifting advantage. In short, White failed the school test.
Rd7+ Kc3 50. Rc7+. If his rook moves, he loses his bishop back and forth between c8 and f5. Garry Kasparov’s time management in St.
the b-pawn. If his king protects that pawn, it Or moving his king between e2 and f3. Black Louis was severely criticized. But he also
can be checked away. has ways to try to win but a draw is likely. exploited his opponents’ wastrel ways.
14 November 2017 | Chess LifeChess to Enjoy / Entertainment
PROBLEM I PROBLEM II PROBLEM III
Saint Louis GM Le Quang Liem
GM Fabiano Caruana
GM Fabiano Caruana
GM Sergey Karjakin
GM Levon Aronian
GM David Navara
Rapid & Blitz
Quiz
Garry Kasparov got the headlines
but Levon Aronian and Sergey
Karjakin got the points in the Saint
Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament
last August. Karjakin had the best
score in the blitz games. Aronian WHITE TO PLAY WHITE TO PLAY WHITE TO PLAY
had the best overall score and took
home the $37,500 first prize. This PROBLEM IV PROBLEM V PROBLEM VI
month’s quiz provides six positions GM Garry Kasparov GM Leinier Dominguez Perez GM Fabiano Caruana
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi GM David Navara GM Ian Nepomniachtchi
from the tournament, held at the
Chess Club and Scholastic Center
of Saint Louis. In each diagram,
you are asked to find the fastest
winning line of play. This will usually
mean the forced win of a decisive
amount of material. For solutions,
see page 71.
BLACK TO PLAY WHITE TO PLAY BLACK TO PLAY
KASPY’S CLOCK This is one chess skill that can be improved MUST-FIND MOVE
GM Garry Kasparov (FIDE 2812, RUS) by chronometric study. That is, by recording GM Fabiano Caruana (FIDE 2700, USA)
GM Sergey Karjakin (FIDE 2807, RUS) how much time is spent on a move. Chess GM Sergey Karjakin (FIDE 2765, RUS)
Saint Louis Blitz (1), St. Louis, Missouri, chronometrics date back at least to the Soviet Saint Louis Rapid (3), St. Louis, Missouri,
08.17.2017 school in the 1960s. When Boris Spassky was 08.14.2017
preparing to challenge World Champion Tigran
Petrosian in the 1969 World Championship
match, he had his team of seconds compile data
based on past Petrosian games, when he started
with more than two hours: How often did
Petrosian think 30-plus minutes about a move?
How often for 20-30 minute moves, and so on.
Spassky’s goal was to detect situations in
which Petrosian wasn’t confident about his
moves. “The expenditure of time is very
important,” Spassky said. “There are positions
AFTER 41. ... Rxc3 in which the opponent ‘swims.’ And there are AFTER 21. ... a4
positions in which he calms down.”
His 42. Nxg6!? Rxg3+ 43. Qxg3 was You can perform the same kind of analysis White left himself with more than 14
inspired desperation. It may lose faster than on your own games but with a different minutes—to his opponent’s five—to find 22.
alternatives but it held out hopes that Black, purpose: Record how much time you had left Qh3!. Black would lose quickly after 22. ... h6
with only six seconds left, would go wrong. after each move. Then when you’re home, 23. Nd7 as in the game. Or 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24.
For example, 43. ... hxg6?? 44. Qxg6+ is a check out the moves you thought about most. Qf5! g6? 25. Nxg6!. Black sacrificed the
perpetual check. Were they significant moves? Did they make a Exchange, 22. ... g6 23. Nd7 Be7 24. Nxf8
Six seconds should be plenty of time to find big difference, or could you have made other Bxf8. White, winning, keeps his big time edge.
the somewhat obvious 43. ... Qc6+!. Then Black pretty-good moves quickly? And how much After 25. f5 axb3? he finished off with 26.
can capture 44. ... hxg6 and deny White checks. time did you have left when you had to find fxg6 hxg6 27. Bxg6!. White still had eight
But Black played 43. ... Qd2+?? and, in- the right move? minutes; Black was under half a minute. The rest
credibly, there is no win. Play went 44. Kh1 Those must-find situations can occur in the was 27. ... fxg6 28. Qe6 Kh7 29. Bxd6 Qxd6
Qd1+ 45. Kg2 Qe2+ 46. Kg1 and drew after middlegame, as another rapid game from St. and then … Well, you should try to figure it out.
many later checks on c2, b2 and a2. Louis showed. It’s our quiz position number II this month.
www.uschess.org 15Back to Basics / Reader annotations
Sveshnikov Triumphant!
Avoid main lines at your own risk.
By GM LEV ALBURT
THE WINNER OF THIS MONTH’S AWARD, often tempted to play Bg5, Bxf6, and I have Perhaps White should accept that he’s worse and
Alan Kolnick, played an interesting, sharp, found that in practice taking back on f6 with play solid with: 7. Bd3, 8. 0-0, etc.
made-for-computer game and accompanied it the g-pawn leads to a solid fortress for the black 7. ... Bb4
with in-depth analysis which, for space con- king and opens up the g-file for the rook or
cerns, I have had to cut somewhat. Writes Alan: queen, with pawn thrust ... f6-f5 often useful. I thought about this move for quite a while,
(My comments are in italics.) as opposed to the quiet and more classic 7. ...
6. Nxc6
This game was played in the last round of Be7 to block a pin on the knight. But that
the season in the Northern Virginia B League. I consider this a small mistake. He gives up a seemed passive, and I was out for a win, so I
Like many other older players, work and family centralized knight which made two moves to chose to pin the knight and continue to pressure
had kept me away from the chess board for exchange itself for a knight that made only one White’s e4-pawn.
several decades, and I finally began playing move, and after 6. ... bxc6 the possibility of Also, no good is the tempting “sacrifice”
again about five or six years ago. Once rated Black playing an eventual ... d7-d5 is improved. which seems to win a pawn 7. ... Nxe4 8. Nxe4
1850, I struggle to keep my ratings in the 1700s. Better is 6. Ndb5 aiming for d6, which forces d5 9. Bb3 dxe4 because 10. Bxf7+! Kxf7 (10. ...
In two of the league games prior to this one, I 6. ... d6 and then 7. Bg5 pinning the knight on Ke7 11. Bg5+ Kxf7 12. Bxd8 loses the queen)
lost to two young players rated in the 1400s f6 and keeping Black’s f8-bishop behind the 11. Qxd8 Bb4+ 12. Qd2 Bxd2+ 13. Bxd2 leaves
and came to this one ready to win at all costs. pawn barrier. Other moves are 6. Nf3, 6. Nb3 Black with shattered and double pawns.
First, the good news—my opponent, though or the seemingly aggressive 6. Nf5 (which allows All true and to the point.
younger than I, is clearly not a 10-year-old 6. ... d5, exposing the knight to the bishop on 8. Bg5
future world champion! c8), all with a comfortable game for Black.
Pin versus pin. But as I said before, I am not
Indeed, a better game.
afraid of having to take back on f6 with the g-
SICILIAN DEFENSE, 6. ... bxc6 pawn. An alternative: 8. 0-0 Bxc3 9. bxc3 0-0
SVESHNIKOV VARIATION (B33) 10. Bg5 h6 with Bxf6 or Bh4 as an even game.
Greg Howland (1718) Not 6. ... dxc6, 7. Qxd8+ and Black loses the
Black’s weak d-pawn compensates White for
Alan Kolnik (1676) chance to castle and has to untangle his a8-
Northern VA Chessleague Season 3 (5),
his doubled pawns and he also has the two
rook while White can even win a tempo by
Sterling, Virginia, 06.11.2017 bishops if he keeps his dark-square bishop.
castling queenside with check after the bishop
on c1 joins the fray. 8. ... Qa5
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 7. Bc4 Following my plan. The computer does not
like this move, giving White a small advantage
I thought this was another small mistake, after 9. Qf3.
though Greg probably played it to ward off I’d prefer the flexible 8. ... h6—check with your
Black’s ... d7-d5 opportunity and pressure the computer.
f7-square.
The Sveshnikov Variation. Obviously d6
immediately looks like a weakness for Black.
The d-pawn is weak and will remain backward
if it continues to stay on d7 or d6. White is ANALYSIS AFTER 8. h6
16 November 2017 | Chess LifeBack to Basics / Reader annotations
9. Qd3? Nevertheless, better was: 12. ... Bxb2 13. 19. Kf3
Rab1 (13. Bb3 f6) 13. ... Bc3 14. Bb3 Ba6+ 15.
A mistake that costs White the game, though
Kd1 0-0 16. Qa4 Qb6.
a logical one to make—the queen protects
knight, bishop, and e4-pawn. However, the 13. bxc3 Bxc4+ 14. Kd2 d4 15. Qg3?
correct way to do this would have been 9. Qf3.
Now I saw my chance to play the move I had
wanted to play on move seven.
9. ... Nxe4!
19. ... 0-0+
Note that 19. ... e4+, aiming at grabbing the white
queen, loses to a counter-check, 20. Rxe4+.
White is lost, but makes things worse (he
20. Kg3
has blocked the escape route for his bishop).
The potential threat against e5 is easily parried. Or 20. Kg4 Be6+.
The continuation 15. Kd1 Qxc3 16. Rc1 f6 20. ... Qxf2+ 21. Kh3 Be6+ 22. g4 Rf3
is slightly better but does not overcome the mate.
Had White’s queen been on f3, the point of positional deficiency and two pawn advantage.
my opponent’s bishop on c4 would have been Tough fight by two strong players! And kudos
revealed with 10. Qxf7 mate. 15. ... f6 to Evgeny Sveshnikov and his colleagues from the
10. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11. Ke2?? I thought ... f7-f6, protecting the base of the Siberian Chelyabinsk, who in the early seventies
pawn chain and winning the bishop on the invented, and bravely continued using, this
As so often happens, once the initial mistake spot or after Bh4-g5, was very strong, but the seemingly antipositional variation. It has certainly
is made, the side under pressure begins making computer prefers 15. ... h6 and if 15. ... h6 16. passed the test of almost half a century, viewed
additional errors. Relatively better is: 11. bxc3 Qf3 Bd5 17. Qh3 Be6 18. g4 Qxc3+ 19. Qxc3 throughout as both ambitious and (surprisingly!)
Qxc3+ 12. Ke2 d5 13. Qd3 Qxc4 14. Qxc4 dxc4 dxc3+ 20. Kxc3 hxg5. solid. And avoiding the Sveshnikov can bring one
15. Kd2. in peril—fast.
With some chances for a draw due to opposite 16. Rhe1??
color bishops. Hoping Black will blunder and grab the bishop.
11. ... d5 12. Qh4 16. ... dxc3+
Send in your games!
Now the king is exposed on the open d-file. If you are unrated or rated 1799 or be-
And not 16. ... fxg5?? 17. Rxe5+ winning Black’s low, then GM Lev Alburt invites you to
queen. send your most instructive game with
Excellent! If tempted by 16. ... Qxc3+, exchanging notes to:
queens, White is only a bit better after 17. Qxc3 Back to Basics, c/o Chess Life
dxc3+ 18. Kxc3, and Black’s bishop on c4 hangs. PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN
38557-3967
Or e-mail your material to
backtobasics@uschess.org
GM Alburt will select the “most instruc-
Or 12. Qd3 Bxb2. tive” game and Chess Life will award an
autographed copy of Lev’s newest book,
12. ... Ba6!? Platonov’s Chess Academy (by Lev Alburt
I thought for a long time before deciding not and Sam Palatnik) to the person
to take the b2-pawn. I felt that with my c3 bishop submitting the most instructive game
stopping the king from running to e1 or d2, and and annotations.
the attack on the white squares after I played 12. ANALYSIS AFTER 18. Kxc3 Make sure your game (or part of it) and
... Ba6, then after a possible 13. Bxa6 Qxa6+ (or your notes will be of interest to other
if, as happened, he took on c3) if I then took on 17. Ke3
readers. Writing skills are a plus, but
c4 with check I might be able to transition to a Now the rook on e1 cannot get to the e5- instructiveness is a must! Do not send
mating attack rather than a long endgame based pawn so: games with only a few notes, as they are
on my advantage in pawns. In addition, this was of little instructive value and can’t be used.
17. ... fxg5 18. Qxg5 Qc5+
a sudden death in 90 + five seconds, and my time
was starting to run down so I preferred to go, Driving the king to f3 where it can be www.ChessWithLev.com
hopefully, for a quicker end to the game. checked by Black’s rook as Black castles.
www.uschess.org 17In The Arena / Player of the Month
Lenderman at the World Cup
GM Aleksandr Lenderman followed his victory at the U.S. Open
with a strong start at the World Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia.
By GM ROBERT HESS
AT EVERY WORLD CUP, THERE IS AN very issue of Chess Life in my report on page stands that his best opportunity to put pressure
underdog sensation who catches fire and upsets 22, and in GM Daniel Naroditsky’s column on on his opponent is with both pairs of rooks on
a top seed. In 2017, Aleksandr Lenderman swept page 48. Lenderman was no doubt inspired by the board. The d-file is the lone unblocked one,
25th seed Pavel Eljanov before knocking off the World Champion’s opening choice, which but there are no infiltration points. Even once
Norwegian talent Aryan Tari in the second eschews opening theory in favor of strategizing connected, the black rooks don’t have a bright
round. By Lenderman’s own admission he was on the fly. But Carlsen isn’t the only one who future.
fortunate to overcome Eljanov, who had deserves credit for revitalizing this variation, 11. ... Bd6 12. a4 Ke7
established a dominant position in their first as GM Teimour Radjabov won an extremely
game before going awry at a critical moment. nice game over GM Peter Svidler at July’s
However, in the second round he could hardly Geneva Grand Prix.
be so modest: the following game was won by
7. ... Nc6
the American in convincing fashion.
The move 7. ... Bf5 was chosen by MVL,
SYMMETRICAL ENGLISH (A34) and he obtained a fine position before Carlsen
GM Aleksandr Lenderman started pressing. 8. Nd2 Nc6 9. e4 Bg6 10. Bb5
(FIDE 2565, USA) Rc8 11. h4 h5.
GM Aryan Tari (FIDE 2588, NOR)
8. e4 b6
World Cup 2017 (2), Tbilisi, Georgia,
09.07.2017 I am not a fan of this setup. White already
intends to expand on the queenside with
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 a2-a4-a5, so why help him accomplish this feat? It is hard to call this move a mistake, because
5. e3 Nxc3 6. dxc3
Now instead of merely gaining space, White chess principles suggest that a king in the center
Popular in many of Levon Aronian’s games has the opportunity to trade on b6 or pressurize of the board is useful in the endgames. Yet
in the summer of 2017, 6. bxc3 keeps the queens the softened light squares. unlike the white king, which comfortably sits
on the board and allows White to establish a 9. Kc2 Bb7 10. Be3 on c2, the king on e7 is at risk. This sounds
strong center. Aronian’s opponents invited his like a ludicrous concept, but bear with me.
kingside pawn launch, with mixed results: 6. A viable alternative is 10. Bf4, which encour- The continuation 12. ... 0-0 13. Nc4 Bc7 14.
... g6 7. h4 Bg7 8. h5 with a very complex game. ages 10. ... f6. Here White invites ... e7-e5 with f3 still leaves White with a slight edge. Black
a tempo, believing the vulnerability of the a2-g8 is best suited to passively maneuvering, for
6. ... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1
diagonal, and the permanent hole on d5, are active resistance causes more issues than it
beneficial. Yet GM Ian Nepomniachtchi found resolves. For example, 14. ... f5!? (Both 14. ...
a path to equality after 11. Rd1 e5 12. Bc1 (12. h6 and 14. ... Rad8 are neutral moves that keep
Be3 should be more precise, since the bishop the status quo and welcome 15. a5.) 15. exf5
does nothing on c1. Yet even here if any exf5 16. Rd1 Rad8 (16. ... Bc8 might actually
advantage exists it is very small.) 12. ... Na5 13. be the way to go, but Black’s setup still feels a
Bb5+ Kf7 14. Rhe1 a6 15. Bc4+ Nxc4 16. Rd7+ bit rickety.) 17. Bd3 is clearly easier to play for
Be7 17. Rxb7 Rhb8 18. Rxb8 Rxb8. Eventually White. Black’s pawns are more advanced, which
a draw was reached in GM Santosh Gujrathi in this position means they are more vulnerable.
Vidit (2669)-Nepomniachtchi (2740), Baku Pushing pawns leaves behind weak squares;
2016. here Black is stuck defending. To further
10. ... e6 11. Nd2 illustrate this point, in order for Black to prevent
If the position looks familiar, it is because Many players would be tempted to seize the the pestersome Bg5, he must play ... h7-h6,
Magnus Carlsen opted for this very line in his open file as quickly as possible with 11. Rd1. which only loosens up the surrounding light
game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) However, this would be a mistake given the squares and makes a future ... g7-g6 difficult.
at the 2017 Sinquefield Cup, analyzed in this dynamics of the position. Lenderman under- 13. f3 Ne5
18 November 2017 | Chess LifeIn The Arena / Player of the Month
The reason Tari played inaccurately is 18. Na3! nowhere to go. Now Lenderman aims to invade
because he was too attached to the game’s with his king.
Tari must have missed or underestimated
guidelines. Between two options with no clear 26. ... Rhd8 27. Rhd1 Rb8
this backwards move. Understandable, because
distinction, why would one choose to move to
the knight looked impeccably placed on c4. Unfortunately for Black, he is unable to trade
the rim of the board? The answer is that after
However, now a piece will come to b5, which all rooks. The resulting king and minors end-
13. ... Na5 the knight blockades the queenside.
at the very least is incredibly annoying. game is terrible for Black. For example 27. ...
As soon as the white knight jumps to c4 it will
be swapped. Expanding with b2-b4 is implau- 18. ... bxa5 19. Bb5 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Nxd8 30. Ka4.
sible with the king on c2. With this simple Also good was 19. Nb5 Bb6 20. Bf4 though 28. Ka4 a6
move, all of White’s trumps are diminished. the game continuation is superior. Exchanging This is the final straw; now Black’s position
14. a5 the bishops secures White permanent domi- completely collapses. The last chance was 28.
nance over the light squares, whereas leaving ... f6 29. Rxd8 (29. Kb5 Bc7+ forces the king
Of course. Now Black is forced to calculate
them on only one gives Black additional options. back to a4. Not 30. Kxc6?? Rdc8 with a forced
axb6 and a5-a6 on every turn.
19. ... Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Bb6 21. Bf4 e5 22. mate.) 29. ... Nxd8 30. Rd1 Nf7. Here the
14. ... h6 15. h4 Bc6 16. h5
Bd2 endgame is still very tough for Black, but
importantly, there are new opportunities. The
knight on f7 defends both d6 and e5. Now Black
can consider kingside breaks such as ... Rg8
followed by ... g7-g6 or even ... f6-f5.
29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Bxc5
Smart play by Lenderman, who grabs more
Stronger was 22. Bg3 because it eliminates
space without making any concessions.
Tari’s only resource. After 22. ... c4 (22. ... f6
16. ... Nd7? 23. Na3) 23. Rhd1 the c4-pawn is weak and
The question mark is certainly harsh, but this Black must spend important time and resources
move lost Tari the game. Objectively, Black is to defend the pawn on e5.
not even that much worse here, but his position 22. ... Nb8 With material equality restored, the rest
quickly becomes difficult to defend. When in When up or level in material but with a is easy.
symmetrical structures where one player controls cramped position, a sacrifice for activity must 30. ... Bc7 31. Rd1 g6
the pawn breaks, the reactionary side should always be considered. Here jettisoning a pawn
always take extra caution to search for ways his Trading the rooks loses because the kingside
was a good way to get Tari back into the game: pawns are also vulnerable as can be seen in the
opponent can further restrict his activity. 22. ... c4! 23. Ra4 Rac8 24. Na3 Rhd8 25. Rxc4
The try 16. ... Rhb8 does not change anything. following variation: 31. ... Rd8 32. Rxd8 Bxd8
Bc5 26. Ra4 Bb6. Black’s final two moves in 33. Bf8 Kf6 34. Ne3.
White continues with the natural 17. Be2; the this variation are an excellent demonstration
move 16. ... b5 was Tari’s hope for active of restraint. Just because the pieces suddenly 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Rd2 Rb5 34. Bd6 Bd8
counterplay. Yet as is the case any time a pawn have more room to roam does not mean they 35. Bf8 Be7 36. Bxe7 Kxe7 37. Rd5 Na7
is pushed, the previously defended square—in 38. Rxe5+ Kf6 39. Rd5, Black resigned.
must do anything for the time being.
this case c5—loses its protection. Thus, 17. Nb3 Aleksandr Lenderman had a summer to
is problematic. Another step forward invites 23. Na3 Nc6 24. Nc4 Ke6 25. Be3 Rac8
remember in 2017, winning the U.S. Open and
the knight to d4 and forces Black to part with far exceeding expectations in the World Cup.
the bishop pair. 17. ... c4 18. Nd4 a6 (Keeping Such a performance is the result of extremely
the bishop with 18. ... Bd7 makes matters worse, hard work and superb decision-making. In this
because the b5-pawn is now weak. White can match-clinching victory over the teenager Tari,
choose from a number of strong options like Lenderman forced his opponent to defend in
19. Be2, 19. Rh4, or 19. a6.) 19. Nxc6+ Nxc6 a queenless position without much space or a
White has a potential liability on a5, but in this clear strategy. The American grandmaster
middlegame White’s two bishops and array of obtained a large positional advantage and never
plans keep him with the better position. took his foot off the gas.
17. Nc4 Bc7
Black might have been interested in playing
the more active 17. ... Bg3 but the downside of Did you know you could read archival copies of “In
26. Kb3!
the king sitting on e7 becomes immediately The Arena” (and all columns and features)? Go to
clear: 18. axb6 axb6 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Nxb6 White’s knight and bishop completely uschess.org, click on “Chess Life Magazine,” and
and c5 falls with check. dominate their counterparts. Black’s rooks have then “Archives.”
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