The winner, GM Hikaru Nakamura

The Open Section, with a first prize of $7,000, proved to be a lure for many of the world's strongest grandmasters. New York Grandmaster Hikaru "H-bomb" Nakamura was back to his best as he decisively beat nearest rival Swiss GM Vadim Milov in the penultimate round, before going on to take first place with a magnificent unbeaten score of 6/7. Milov shared 2nd to 4th places with GMs Zviad Izoria and Alexander Shabalov, all of whom receiving $1883 for their efforts.

Position after 23...Qb7

Black had just played 23...Qb7, attacking White's pawn on e4. Nakamura realizes that his opponent's king side has become a fragile target and immediately launches a devastating attack. 24.Ba2! Threatening 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Nxg6 24...g5 objectively the best defense, but it is not enough 25.Ng6! Bxe4 [accepting the sacrifice was very dangerous as 25...hxg6 opened up more lines for the invading forces so that after 26.fxg6 it would be impossible to stop the decisive gxf7+ in the next move] 26.Nxf8 After the exchange of this valuable defender, the position becomes absolutely hopeless for Black 26...d5 Desperate, but after either recapture, the end would come quickly. [26...Rxf8 27.Qe3 followed by Rxd6; 26...Kxf8 27.Rxd6] 27.Qe3 h6 28.Nd7! Black resigned because after 28...Qxd7 29.Qxe4! Qc6 White wins in a number of ways, one of them 30.Qe3 d4 31.Qf3 1-0

Position after 29.hxg5

White is clearly better as he dominates the important b-file and he can further improve his chances in the kingside by means of the advance f2-f4 29...f5? This careless move deteriorates the position for Black as his King becomes extremely vulnerable. 30.exf5 gxf5 31.f4 [31.Rb7! immediately was much stronger] 31...Bxg2 32.Kxg2 e4 33.Rb7 Sacrificing the Knight en e4 was a killer too 33...Kg6 [33...exd3? 34.Qc3 winning on the spot] 34.Be2 Simple but efficient 34...Rf7 35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.h4 Rb8 37.h5 1-0

Position after 22.Qd3

At first sight the black position seems in danger, since White is threatening to penetrate through a long check, but a calm analysis reveals that real problems arise only after the next careless move 22...Bb5? [22...Rac8! keeps everything under control for Black as after 23.Qh7+ (23.Nc3 Nf6 followed by Bc6) 23...Kf8 24.Nc3 Nf6 Black is clearly on top] 23.Qh7+ Kf8 Perhaps the idea under Bb5 was that in this position Black is threatening to trap White's queen with Nf6 24.Nc3 However after this simple move the bishop is under attack, so White wins an useful tempo. 24...Bc6 25.Nxd5 Rxd5?! [25...Bxd5 Seemed a bit safer, for instance 26.a4 (26.Bd2 a5 27.Rac1 (unclear is 27.b4 b6 28.bxa5 bxa5 29.a4 Bxd4) 27...Qd6 White is a little better but Black is in the game.) 26...Rac8 27.b3 f5 Unpleasant, but playable] 26.a4! White begins to open up the route to make possible a check on a3. 26...Re8 One of the drawbacks of the last move. With the bishop on d5, Black would not need to protect his e-pawn in order to play f7-f5 27.b3 f5 28.Ba3+ Kf7 29.Bd3 Qd7 30.Rac1 g4 31.Bc4 Qd8 32.Bxd5 Qxd5 33.Rxc6 Qxc6 34.d5! Finishing with elegance 34...Qd7 After 35.dxe5+ Qxe6 36.Bb2 Rg8 37.Rc1 the mate cannot be far away [34...exd5 35.Bb2 Rg8 36.Qxf5+] 1-0

Corus Chess Tournament 2007

The Corus Chess Tournament 2007 will be held from 12-28 January 2007 in Wijk aan Ze at the De Moriaan Community Centre.

ICC will have daily live commentary of the first major of 2007, hosted by Mig Greengard, who will be joined by GM Larry Christiansen, GM Joel Benjamin, GM Gregory Kaidanov and GM Miguel Illescas.

The Corus Chess Tournament has three main tournaments: Grandmaster A, B and C. All three groups have 14 players and start on January 13th. All rounds begin at 13.30 hours, except for the last round on January 28th, which begins at 12.30 hours (Grandmaster group C starts at 11.30 hours in the last round). There are rest days: on January 17th, 22nd, and 25th.

The GMs participants in the main event are: Kramnik, Topalov, Anand, Svidler, Aronian, Radjabov, Navara, Shirov, Ponomariov, Carlsen, Tiviakov, van Wely, Karjakin and Motylev.

You have more information on the Corus 2007 official website.

Ready to Play the ICC Marathon?

On January, 13th-14th, the Tomato family of automated TDs will run another 24-hour marathon of tournaments. Marathons are held bi-monthly in the odd numbered months.

There will be 2 sections for blitz players (U1600 and 1600+) in Tomato and Cooly, 2 bullet sections (U1800 and 1800+) in Olive and Flash and an Open 15-0 in Slomato.

Players rated 100 points below or 50 points above the section limit can play in either section, but to be eligible for a prize in the U1600 Blitz section or the U1800 Bullet section, a player must be below the respective limit before he enters the marathon and after it ends. This guarantees staying in the same section throughout the entire marathon. Players who are close to the limit are well advised to play in the high section from the start.

The first tournaments will start at exactly 12:00pm (noon) server time on January, 13 and the marathon will conclude at the end of any tournaments ongoing at 11:59am server time January, 14.

You can get more information in the ICC Marathons help page. Also, consult the 2007 schedule.

Lesson by IM Angel Martín

Angel Martín is an International Master from Spain. He's a former four-time Spanish Champion and Assistant Manager of the Spanish chess magazine Peón de Rey. Proof-reading and translations to English was prepared by International Master, Michael Rahal.

Attacking on the long diagonal

The theme that we shall analyze this week is the attack on the castled king with pieces. In the model game that we have selected, a position with opposite side castled kings is reached, but atypically the normal pawn race to see who arrives first is not played. Instead, White makes the attack only with pieces. In this attack, an important role is played on the long diagonal, as White's bishop helps in finishing-off the attack. We also offer some other interesting games, with brief notes, to expand the theme.

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Nd7 5.d4 dxe4 [Preferable is 5...exd4, although White can then leave his opponent with an isolated center pawn after 6.exd5 cxd5 7.Nxd4] 6.Nxe4 exd4 7.Qxd4! Ngf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.0–0–0 [Faithful to his style, Tal is angling for a complicated game - although he could have achieved a better ending with the bishop-pair after 9.Nd6+ Bxd6 10.Qxd6 Qe7+ 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7] 9...0–0 10.Nd6 Qa5 [Maybe better was 10...Nd5 11.h4 f6 12.Bc4 N7b6. Even 10...Nb6 was an idea to be considered.] 11.Bc4

Seeking an attack on f7 and at the same time defending a2. Albeit natural, this move must have been assessed carefully, because Black can now play 11...b5 and if 12.Bb3 c5 followed by ...c4 shutting in the bishop using a well-known maneuver. 11...b5 [Black accepts the challenge, as 11...Qc5 leads to an inferior ending.] 12.Bd2! Qa6 [After 12...Qc7, Tal was no-doubt thinking of playing the sacrifice 13.Bxf7+!? Rxf7 14.Nxf7 Kxf7 15.Ng5+ Kg8 16.Rhe1 with a complicated position.] 13.Nf5! Bd8 [It is important to keep the f6 knight defended. After 13...Bc5? 14.Qh4 bxc4 15.Bc3 White's attack is very strong. Tal gave the following variation 15...Qxa2 16.Rxd7!! Bxd7 17.Nh6+ Kh8 18.Qxf6! mating.] 14.Qh4!

An intuitive sacrifice, and very typical of Tal. It is very difficult to demonstrate the accuracy of the sacrifice - even with modern analytical engines - and therefore it must have been very difficult for Smyslov, with limited time in the game, and the obligation of finding a very precise defense in a position where one mistake could be fatal.

14...bxc4 15.Qg5 Nh5

Smyslov rightly returns the piece, seeking counterplay. The alternative 15...Ne8? 16.Qxd8 Qxa2 loses quickly to 17.Bc3 Nef6 18.Rxd7! Bxd7 19.Nh6+ Kh8 20.Qxf6!+- the same theme that we have already seen in a previous annotation. Black also had the interesting possibility of 15...g6. Tal was thinking of playing 16.Nh6+ Kg7 17.Bc3 with a very double-edged position. Therefore it looks like the best move for Black is 17...Qb5! 18.h4! Re8 19.Ng4 Qf5! and White must decide between a move repetition with 20.Nh6 Qb5 21.Ng4 Qf5 or 22.Rhe1 maintaining some compensation for the sacrificed piece. 16.Nh6+ [Logically, Tal prefers to continue the attack. Possibly Smyslov had hoped for 16.Qxh5 Nf6 17.Qg5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qxa2 were Black clearly takes the initiative.] 16...Kh8 17.Qxh5 Qxa2

17...Nf6 is answered by 18.Qc5 Nd7 19.Qd6 and if 19...gxh6 20.Qxh6 with very strong threats, whereas 17...gxh6 18.Qxh6 would take us to the same position, for example: 18...Bf6 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.Ng5! with a mating attack. Tal mentioned that Smyslov's move was a mistake, and recommended instead 17...Bf6 - but White retains a certain advantage with 18.Nxf7+ Kg8 19.N7g5 h6 (19...Bxg5 20.Qxg5 Qxa2 21.Bc3) 20.Ne4 Qxa2 21.Nxf6+ Nxf6 22.Qa5. The analysis demonstrates that the move chosen by Smyslov to be the best. 18.Bc3 Nf6? [But this is the decisive mistake, after which White's attack is unstoppable. The correct move was 18...Bf6 with complicated play and options for both sides. A possible variation was 19.Nxf7+ Kg8 20.N7g5 h6 21.Qg6 hxg5 22.Nxg5 Bxg5+ 23.Qxg5 Nf6 24.Bxf6 Rxf6 25.Rd8+ Kh7 and White has a draw by perpetual check, but nothing else.] 19.Qxf7!!

This unexpected move decides the game. Black has no defense. 19...Qa1+ [19...Re8 allows the well-known Philidor mating-theme with 20.Qg8+ followed by 21 Nf7 mate] 20.Kd2 Rxf7 [Now White has a material advantage, but 20...Qxd1+ was even worse: 21.Rxd1 Rxf7 22.Nxf7+ Kg8 23.Nxd8+-] 21.Nxf7+ Kg8 22.Rxa1 Kxf7 23.Ne5+ Ke6 24.Nxc6 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Bb6+ 26.Bd4 1–0

VIDEO LECTURE: GM Lie vs. GM Akobian by GM Varuzhan Akobian

GM Varuzhan Akobian learn us the secrets of one "cooked" line in the French Defence with the 'Advanced Variation' 3. e5 through this instructive game. The main strategic theme tour through a powerful black pawn in the column "e". Don't miss this Video Lecture!

You can watch more Video Lectures in the ICC Webcast section.

VIDEO LECTURE: Bogo-Indian Defence by GM Eugene Perelshteyn

GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaches you the secrets of Bogo-Indian Defence after: 1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 e6; 3.Nf3 Bb4+; 4.Bd2.

The lecture also covers the main answers for black: 4...Qe7; 5. g3 Nc6; and 6.Bg2, 6.Nc3 lines. Don't miss this Video Lecture!

You can watch more Video Lectures in the ICC Webcast section.

ICC Quiz #2540
submitted by Knight2Play



White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2540
Then type: play trainingbot

ICC Quiz #2563
submitted by Zugzwang



White mates in 2

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2563
Then type: play trainingbot

Novag Citrine computer

For experienced to tournament players. Estimated strength: 2330 USCF

• Magnet Sensor wooden chessboard (size 370 x 370 x 35 mm).
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• 81 LED lights to indicate each move, i.e. each square has 4 LED lights.
• H8/300H RISC Style processor with 56Kbyt ROM, 3K Ram, 20 MHz.
• Detachable LCD screen (you can attach and detach the LCD at any point during the game).
• Menu access is via the chessboard.
• Will connect to the PC to print/store/follow games.
• 64 Level settings.
• Est. ELO rating (USA) 2330

  Price $349.95 - Buy now!

Play the Ruy Lopez - Andrew Greet

The Ruy Lopez is an incredibly popular opening at all levels of chess; this is perhaps unsurprising given that it’s recognized by most experts as White’s greatest chance of obtaining a lasting advantage after the moves 1 e4 e5.

Also known as the Spanish Opening, the Lopez is steeped in rich tradition, having provided the battleground for countless clashes between World Champions of past and present: Kasparov, Fischer, Karpov, Topalov, Kramnik, Anand – the list is endless!

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Caro-Kann Defence: Panov Attack - Karpov & Podgaets

The Panov Attack against the Caro-Kann, 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4, covered in this second volume in the series, leads to a rapid opening of lines and very lively piece play with prospects of a quick attack on the kingside, queenside or the centre.

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov selects and analyses the essential main lines that provide Black not only with security, but also with active play.

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Novag Star Ruby - SAVE $50 OFF LIST PRICE!

• New touch screen LCD chessboard.
• Pen input provides easy access to many game options and chess pieces cannot be lost.
• Adjustable contrast.
• Advanced high speed RISC processor with energy saving CMOS technology.
• 112 preset playing levels.
• Over 8,000 pre-stored openings from Master Chess, with fascinating middle and end game strategies.

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Garde Chess Clock

AS USED IN KASPAROV-SHORT '93

This is the finest analogue chess clock available. Its robust casing and reliable German mechanism have such a good reputation that Chief Arbiter at the Kasparov - Short match in 1993, Yuri Averbakh, virtually demanded two of them! A truly classic clock.

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Kasparov's Fighting Chess 1999-2005 - Karolyi & Aplin

Garry Kasparov has dominated the world of competitive chess for longer than any world champion. The period 1999–2005 represents one of the most fascinating and controversial phases of his career, including repeated and frustrated attempts to reunify the world championship.

Following the recent announcement of his retirement, this must-have guide is a celebration of the final years of one of the greatest players of our time.

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Solution to ICC Quiz #2540
submitted by Knight2Play

1.Qe6+! Qf7; (...Kf8; 2.Ng6#) 2.Qxf7+ Kh8; 3.Ng6#

Solution to ICC Quiz #2563
submitted by Zugzwang

1.Rh8+! Bxh8; (1...Qg8; 2.Nh7#) 2.Nh7#