	Dos Hermanas 2007 finals Melody Amber 2007 7th Final four - College Chess Annotated games by IM Rahal Tomato Update Central Learning corner Fun and training ICC store selection Solutions to the quizzes Past issues
● ICC Weekly Newsletter ● Vol. II - issue VIII ● Thursday, March 22, 2007 ●

Dos Hermanas 2007 finals

Dos Hermanas 2007 underway The 32 qualifiers of the 8th Internet Chess Tournament "Ciudad de Dos Hermanas", which is being held on the Internet Chess Club playing zone (www.chessclub.com), is now known - so let battle commence!

This premier event is regarded by many as the most important Internet chess tournaments in the world, taking into account both the number and the overall strength of the participants. More than 2,000 players from all over the world registered to participate in the event, including over 100 Gandmasters and 300 titled players.

ICC T-shirts

The total prize fund is 7,700 euros, with a first prize of 1,800 euros. As a novelty this year, 16 new cash prizes have been added that has increased the prize fund by 1,600 euros; so now all 32 finalists will win a cash prize. In addition, the first six non GM-IM players classified will receive a free 6-months subscription to ICC; twelve free 6 month free membership prizes will be raffled between all participants in the event who finish at least one qualifier; and also the novelty that the three players who accumulate most points during all the qualifying events will win a 6-month free subscription to ICC.

Among the qualifiers for the final stage on Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th, includes famous names from the game such as: Azerbaijan GM Sharidyar Mamedyarov, who is currently number 4 on the world rankings, with a 2754 Fide Rating; American GM Gata Kamsky (Fide Rating 2705); American GM, Hikaru Nakamura (2651 Fide Rating ), number 55 on the list; FIDE Vice-President, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili (2632 Fide Rating), number 83 on the world's list; and Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev (2661 Fide Rating), world number 43. Along with these established world-class players, many other strong GM's have qualified to the final, not to mention some strong +2400 International Masters. Lastly, another strong player to have qualified is the American player Jorge Sammour-Hasbun, who, although doesn't have an international title, has a Fide Rating of 2449.

The winners of the 12 qualifiers plus the 18 best other finishers are seeded by FIDE rating in the knockout finals played Friday March 23 starting at 3:00 pm EDT and Saturday March 24 starting at 3:00 pm EDT. Minimatches are best of 4 games except for the final of the last 2, where it is best of 6 games. Sudden Death if necessary.

1/16 Final matches [Friday 23rd | 15:00 EDT]

RK	FIDE	FED	TIT	NAME	RES	NAME	tit	FIDE	FED	RK
1	2754	AZE	GM	Shahriyar Mamedyarov	-	Levon Babujian	IM	2416	ARM	32
2	2705	USA	GM	Gata Kamsky	-	Miron Sher	GM	2420	USA	31
3	2661	BGR	GM	Kiril Georgiev	-	Alex Lenderman	IM	2420	USA	30
4	2651	USA	GM	Hikaru Nakamura	-	Manuel Leon Hoyos	IM	2430	MEX	29
5	2632	GEO	GM	Zurab Azmaiparashvili	-	Abbasov Farid Khanlar	IM	2444	AZE	28
6	2626	DEU	GM	Daniel Fridman	-	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun	--	2449	USA	27
7	2618	CHN	GM	Zhang Zhong	-	Keith Arkell	GM	2474	GBR	26
8	2597	ISR	GM	Golod Vitali	-	Wang Rui	IM	2480	CHN	25
9	2592	ARM	GM	Tigran L. Petrosian	-	Pavel Jaracz	GM	2483	POL	24
10	2591	RUS	GM	Sergey Shipov	-	Vovk Yuri	IM	2497	UKR	23
11	2585	AZE	GM	Gadir Guseinov	-	Georg Meier	IM	2504	DEU	22
12	2566	ESP	GM	Arthur Kogan	-	Zinchenko Yaroslav	GM	2507	UKR	21
13	2562	RUS	IM	Boris Savchenko	-	Ronen Har-Zvi	GM	2515	USA	20
14	2559	RUS	GM	Farrukh Amonatov	-	Valeriy Aveskulov	GM	2517	UKR	19
15	2557	SCG	GM	Dusan Popovic	-	Rasul Ibrahimov	GM	2530	AZE	18
16	2545	AZE	GM	Guliyev Namig	-	Jan Smeets	GM	2538	NLD	17

Related information

You have further information and registration pages in the Dos Hermanas website.
Also, visit the ICC Dos Hermanas section, including the standings and results, and the ICC help file.
The list of qualified players and best scores can be found on the page of contenders.
Download the Qualifiers 1-12 games in PGN zip format (5,2 mb).

Aronian and Ivanchuk catch Kramnik for the lead in Monaco

The 16th edition of the Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament is taking place at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel in Monaco from March 17th to March 29th. The tournament is organized by the Association Max Euwe and the total prize-fund is € 216,000.

Many of the best players in the world take part in this event, generously sponsored by the Durch magnate Mr. Van Oosterom. The name of the event is taken after his daughter, Melody, who due to her busy life will not be able to attend the tournament.

The main absence this year is Veselin Topalov, while Magnus Carlsen makes his Melody Amber debut thanks to his performance at the 2006 NH Hotels tournament. He made the best score there, with the Rising Stars team, and his prize was to come to Melody Amber this year, to fight against the big guns.

The full list of participants is:

GM Vishy Anand (India, Fide Rating 2779): Winner in 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005 and 2006 (with Morozevich)
GM Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, Fide Rating 2766): Winner in 1996, 1998 (with Shirov), 1999, 2001 (with Topalov) and 2004 (with Morozevich).
GM Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine, Fide Rating 2750): Winner in 1992. Second in 1996, 1997, 2000 (shared) and 2002. He is the only player who has taken part in all the Amber editions.
GM Peter Leko (Hungary, Fide Rating 2749): Second in 2003 (shared) and third place in 2002 and 2005 (shared).
GM Levon Aronian (Armenia, Fide Rating 2744). He debuted in the event last only year, and already shared second place in the rapid tournament.
GM Alexander Morozevich (Russian, Fide Rating 2741): Winner in 2002, 2004 (shared with Kramnik) and 2006 (shared with Anand). Second in 2005. Excellent results bearing in mind that he has only participated in 5 editions.
GM Boris Gelfand (Israel, Fide Rating 2733). Fifth place in 2001 and 2005.
GM Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan, Fide Rating 2729). He has just had to withdraw from the Morelia-Linares tournament because of a robbery.
GM Peter Svidler (Russia, Fide Rating 2728). He has played three times in Amber, although without having achieved yet a great score.
GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway, Fide Rating 2690). Debut in Amber.
GM Loek van Wely (Netherlands, Fide rating 2683). Seventh in 2000. He has participates in 11 Amber tournaments.
GM Francisco Vallejo (Spain, Fide Rating 2679): Second in the blindfold tournament in 2005, third in 2006.

Ivanchuk, ukrainian player of the 2006 and victory against Kramnik [Amber website]
Ivanchuk brilliantly defeats Kramnik to share
the lead in the combined standings [Photo: Amber website]

In the round 5, Vladimir Kramnik lost 1½-½ to Vasily Ivanchuk who joined the World Champion in the combined lead together with Levon Aronian. Visihy Anand and Peter Svidler are a point behind.

The time control is: blindfold 25 20 and rapid 25 10. ICC is offering the games live. With the exception of the last round, all the rounds will start at 10:00 EDT (15:00 CET).

Combined standings after round-5

N	NAME	FED	ELO	PTS
1	GM Vladimir Kramnik	RUS	2766	7.0
2	GM Levon Aronian	ARM	2744	7.0
3	GM Vassily Ivanchuk	UKR	2750	7.0
4	GM Peter Svidler	RUS	2728	6.0
5	GM Vishy Anand	IND	2779	6.0
6	GM Boris Gelfand	ISR	2733	5.0
7	GM Peter Leko	HUN	2749	5.0
8	GM Alexander Morozevich	RUS	2741	4.5
9	GM Magnus Carlsen	NOR	2690	4.0
10	GM Teimour Radjabov	AZE	2729	3.5
11	GM Francisco Vallejo	ESP	2679	3.0
12	GM Loek Van Wely	NED	2683	2.0

Related information

You have more information in the ICC LIVE COVERAGE page.
Visit the oficial site of the Amber event.
Download the Blindfold games and Rapid games from TWIC.

Seventh 'Final Four' of College Chess

RICHARDSON, Texas (March 15, 2007) — In a rare rematch, The University of Texas at Dallas will attempt to retain its standing as the best team in U.S. intercollegiate chess later this month when it again takes on The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Duke University and Miami Dade College in the “Final Four” chess tournament in Dallas.

The same lineup made it to the Final Four last year. The teams earned the right to compete in this year’s competition by finishing among the top four U.S. teams in December at the 2006 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, the most prestigious college chess competition held each year in the Western Hemisphere. UT Dallas won that tournament overwhelmingly.

Press release at website of the United States Chess federation.

The winner of the round-robin Final Four, which will be held in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the third time in the tournament’s history, will take home the President’s Cup chess trophy. The event is free and open to the public and is scheduled to take place the weekend of March 24-25 in the Centreport Room of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott South Hotel, located at 4151 Centreport Boulevard in Fort Worth. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches will begin at 10 a.m., and Saturday’s second round will start at 6 p.m.

A special added feature to this year’s match will allow the public to view the games live on a large “smart board” screen in the lobby of the UT Dallas McDermott Library. The games will be projected, allowing team members to draw comments and diagrams about the chess pieces and positions. These interactive WI-FI sessions are free, and rounds one and three will feature analysis by UT Dallas masters John Bartholomew, Keaton Kiewra, Igor Shneider and Jacek Stopa. Fans unable to attend the games in person can view the matches live at the Internet Chess Club Web site, www.chessclub.com.

Related information

Press release at website of the United States Chess Federation.
A program book with a complete listing of the teams and player line-ups is available at University of Texas at Dallas Chess Program website.

Ivanchuk, Vassily (2750) - Anand, Viswanathan (2779) [E37] (1-0)

Position after 18...Ne5?

Ivanchuk, Vassily (2750) - Anand, Viswanathan (2779) [E37]
Melody Amber (3) Blindfold, 03.19.2007
[IM Michael Rahal]

This game was played in the third round of the event. Both players are playing blindfold. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 Anand decides to play the Nimzo-Indian Defence. 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 [5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 is the other main line] 5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 This line of the 4.Qc2 Nimzo-Indian has become very fashionable of late. Black gives up the bishop pair but attacks quickly in the center, trying to achieve the initiative. 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nf3 Bf5 This move has practically substituted the old 10...Qa5. Black now has many threats, so White must be careful. 11.b4 d4!? [Or 11...0-0 12.Bb2 Ng3 13.Qc3 d4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.fxg3 Nc2+ 16.Kf2 Qg5 17.Rc1 is considered to be better for White.; Or 11...Ng3 12.Qb2 Nxh1 13.Qxg7 Rf8 14.Bh6 Qe7 15.Qxf8+ Qxf8 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.g3 is good for White] 12.g4 Bg6 13.Qb2!? A novelty. Previously, only 13.Qc4 had been played. [The most recent example is 13.Qc4 d3 14.Bg2 (Anand had already faced this position in 2003 14.Be3 Qf6 15.Rd1 Rd8 16.g5 Qf5 17.Bg2 d2+ 18.Nxd2 Nxd2 19.Bxd2 0-0 20.Qf4 Qe6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rc1 f6 23.Rg1 fxg5 24.Qc4 Rd5 25.Rxg5 Re8 26.Be3 Be4 27.Rxd5 Bxd5 28.Qd4 h6 29.Rc3 Qg6 30.f3 Qh5 31.h4 Re6 32.Kf2 Kh7 33.a4 a6 34.Qf4 Rf6 35.Qg3 Rg6 36.Qf4 Rf6 37.Qg3 Rg6 1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2735)-Anand,V (2766)/Bastia 2003/CBM 098) 14...Qf6 15.Ra2 Ne5 16.g5 Nxc4 17.gxf6 Nc3 18.fxg7 Rg8 19.Ra1 Nxe2 20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Kxd2 0-0-0 22.Bb2 Nd4 23.Rae1 Nb3+ 24.Kc3 d2 25.Re7 Nd4 26.Rd1 Nb5+ 27.Kc4 Bc2 28.Bxb7+ Kb8 29.Kxb5 a6+ 30.Kb6 Rd6 + 31.cxd6 Bxd1 32.d7 1-0 Iljin,A (2513)-Kogan,A (2567)/Fuegen 2006/ CBM 115] 13...0-0 14.Bg2 White has an extra pawn and the two bishops. However, he must still be careful because of his weakened kingside position and the strong knight on e4. 14...Re8 15.0-0 Nc3 16.Re1 The e2 pawn was under attack. 16...h5!? 17.g5 Be4 Anand is trying to stir up some complications on the kingside before White finishes his development and exchanges the c3 knight with Bd2. 18.Bd2 Ne5? [See diagram] A tactical mistake that loses material. [18...Na4 19.Qb3 b5 was the best option, although after 20.Rad1 White has a clear plus.] 19.Bxc3 Bxf3 20.exf3 dxc3 21.Qxc3 Two pawns down is just too much, but Anand misses a small combination that loses a piece. In any case, he was losing. 21...Qxg5? 22.f4! Qxf4 23.Re4 Anand Black resigned. After 23...Qf5 24.Rae1 f6 25.f4 wins a piece because of the pin on the e- file. 1-0

Gelfand, Boris (2733) - Aronian, Levon (2744) [E06] (1-0)

Position after: 15.Bc7!

Gelfand, Boris (2733) - Aronian, Levon (2744) [E06]
Melody Amber (3) Blindfold, 03.19.2007
[IM Michael Rahal]

This game was played in the third round, and both players were blindfold. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 The Catalan opening is back in vogue thanks mainly due to Kramnik's use in the World Championship match. 3...d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 Black spends a tempo to leave the bishop on d2, slightly worse than on c1. 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 White returns the tempo with this main move. 8.b3 and above all 8.Ne5 are the principal alternatives. 8...b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 All this is main-line theory. Black's position is fundamentally very solid, and appeals to players like Aronian. 10.Rc1 [Gelfand deviates from his latest game with the same opponent. 10.Nd2 Nh5 11.Be5 Nd7 12.e4 Nxe5 13.dxe5 dxc4 14.Bf3 g6 15.Bxh5 gxh5 16.Nxc4 1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B (2733)-Aronian,L (2741)/Moscow 2006/EXT 2007] 10...Nh5 11.Be5 [Another very recent game with Aronian defending the Black side went 11.Bxb8 Qxb8 12.Ne5 Nf6 13.e3 Rd8 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f4 Qd6 16.Nb5 Qb4 17.Rc7 Ba6 18.a4 Bxb5 19.axb5 Bd6 20.Rxf7 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Kxf7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.exf6 gxf6 24.Qg4 + Kh8 25.Qxe6 Rf8 26.Qxd5 Rae8 27.Rf3 Qe1+ 28.Bf1 Rxe3 29.Qd6 Ree8 30.Rxf6 Kg7 31.Rxf8 Rxf8 32.Qe5+! Qxe5 33.dxe5 Re8 34.Bc4 Rxe5 35.Kf2 Kf6 36.b3 Re4 37.Bd3 Re7 38.Kf3 h6 39.Kg4 Re5 40.Bc4 Rc5 41.Kf4 Rf5+ 42.Ke4 Rf2 43.h4 Rd2 44.Ke3 Rd8 45.Ke4 Rd1 46.Bd5 1/2-1/2 Leko,P (2749)-Aronian,L (2744)/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007/The Week in Chess 642] 11...Nd7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e4! A strong move, opening up the center. Also, note that the queen on d1 is now "looking" at the knight on h5. 13...f6?! 14.exd5! cxd5 [14...fxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 +/-] 15.Bc7! [See diagram] The winning move. If Black doesn't capture the bishop, 16.Qc3 wins the d5 pawn. 15...Qxc7 16.Nh4! Threatening the knight on h5 but also 17.Nxd5 and 17.Nf5. 16...Nf4 [Another sample defense line could be 16...Rfc8 17.Nxd5 Qxc1 18.Nxe7+ Kf8 19.Qxh5! Qh6 20.Qxh6 gxh6 21.Nxc8 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rxc8 23.Nf5+-] 17.gxf4 Rf7 18.Nxd5 Aronian could have easily resigned here. 18...Qb8 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.Nf5 Re8 21.Qb3+ Kh8 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Nd6 Winning more material or forcing a well-known mate after 24.Nf7. 1-0

March Marathon Results!

March Marathon Results! A hearty congratulations to those who were brave enough to play chess for all or most of the 24 hour marathon, and especially to the winners of each category: U1600 Blitz – BlackMagpie; Over 1600 Blitz – SSM; Standard – akibael; U1800 Bullet – PeterPatzer; Over 1800 Bullet – damir1813.

Many others won prizes as well! For a complete recap, “finger MarathonWinners”. Mark your calendar now for the next marathon, which will be held May 12-13!

Sleepless Series

Sleepless Series It’s either early in the morning or late at night, depending on how you look at it. But either way, it’s a great time to play some chess!

So every day at 00:45 server time (type “date” to see server time), we proudly present the Sleepless Nights Series. Three consecutive 5 round swiss 3 0 blitz tourneys are run in Cooly every single day! Best of all, prizes are awarded to the top 3 finishers for the month and the 3 players who played the most games in the month.

Type “Finger SleeplessNights” for more info and type “Finger TomatoWinners” to see last months prize winners. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity! Log onto ICC tonight and tell Cooly join!

3 0 Blitz Championships are coming soon!

3 0 Blitz Championships are coming soon! There will be six qualifiers held at different times of the day from April 14-19. Each tourney will be 11 rounds of swiss 3 0. The top 5 from each qualifier, plus the top 3 overall in the series that didn’t already qualify will join last year’s champion manest in the finals on April 21.

There will be prizes for both the open section and the under 2000 rated section. So come play in the qualifiers and see if you can be this year’s champion! For full details, go to www.littleper.com and click on the “Championships” link.

Tourney Tip of the Week

What’s the average rating of all the players in this tournament? How long has this tournament been open?

These questions and more can be answered by typing in one simple command: tell <bot> info. For example, if you wanted to know what time the Sleepless Series (mentioned above) opened tonight, you could “tell Cooly info”. There’s a line that says ‘Start Time’ …. 00:27, which means the tourney opened at 12:27 am server time.

If you’re looking for more info, tell <bot> info is a great place to start!

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.

The blocked chain of centre pawns

Blocked center pawn structures forming a chain are quite frequent in opening structures. In many openings, as for instance in the French Defense or the King's Indian, these structures are very common and the plans are characteristic; especially with regard to the way you prepare to breakthrough by attacking the lateral pawns.

Precisely in these positions the main strategy in the game is to prepare this type of structures. Today's model game is a good example.

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G
XII World Correspondence Championship.
Ruy Lopez, Breyer variation [C95]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Nb8 [The Breyer Variation against the Ruy Lopez. Compared to the more popular Chigorin system, starting with 9...Na5, the knight, which will go to d7, is less out of play.] 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 [All this is well-known and has been played in thousands of games. Black moves his bishop to g7 supporting the center, in order to play ...d5] 14.Ng3 g6 [In addition, Black takes the f5 square away from the white knight.] 15.a4 c5 [The alternative is 15...Bg7, although White can then play 16.d5 and concentrate his attack on the b5 pawn.] 16.d5 Nb6 [Another very popular continuation is 16...c4 followed by ...Nc5.]

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 1

17.Qe2 [White isn't worried about the exchange of his bishop-pair, as c2 is obstructed by his own pawns. Also playable is 17.a5 Nc4 18.b4 (the pawn sacrifice 18.b3 Nxa5 19.Bg5 is also interesting) 18...cxb4 19.cxb4 Rc8 20.Bd3 Bg7 21.Ra2 Rf8 22.Rc2 Qd7 and although White can win a pawn by exchanging on c4 at some moment, Black gets good compensation, for instance the game Karpov-Portisch. Madrid 1973.] 17...Nxa4 18.Bxa4 bxa4 19.Rxa4 Bc8 20.Bg5 h6 [After 20...Rb8 White plays 21.Qd2 and now it is much more difficult to unpin.] 21.Be3 Rb8 22.Qc2 [22.Rea1 had already been played but the game move is more precise, with the maneuver Nd2 and Nc4 in mind.] 22...Nd7 23.Nd2 Nb6 24.Ra3 Qc7 25.c4

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 2

Now the pawn chain in the center has been defined. Black has a lot of trouble to make the typical break with ...f5, as White has three pieces controlling this square. Meanwhile, White can easily prepare b4 and when Black exchanges, then there is c4-c5.

25...Bg7 26.Rb1 Nd7 27.Nb3 [From here, the knight has two objectives: the square c6 via a5, or retreat to c1 with the idea Nd3 supporting b2-b4 and also a later c4-c5.] 27...Nf8 28.Nc1 [28.Na5 can be answered by 28...Bd7] 28...Qd7 [Preparing ...f5, although the disposition of Black's pieces is slightly artificial. However, it's not easy to find a totally satisfactory plan.] 29.Bd2 [This move not only prepares b2-b4 but also the bishop retreats anticipating ...f5 and ...f4] 29...f5 30.b4

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 3

Both sides have been able to attack the opponent's pawn chain, but Black is hardly creating any threats.

30...f4 31.Nf1 cxb4 32.Rxb4 [Also playable was 32.Bxb4 - but after 32...g5, White must prepare the next break with 33.Nd3. Premature though is 33.c5, because of dxc5 34.Qxc5 Ng6 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.dxc6 Bf8 37.Rab3 Rxb4 38.Rxb4 Bxb4 39.Rxb4 Re6 40.Rc4 Ne7 41.c7 Rc6 42.Rxc6 Nxc6 43.Nd2 Kf7 44.Nc4 Ke6 45.Nb6 Kd6 46.Nxc8+ Kxc7 with advantage for Black.] 32...Qc7 33.Nh2 [Probably unnecessary. Directly 33.Nd3, preparing c5, was more natural and would have assured the advantage for White.] 33...Nd7 34.Nd3 Bf8 [Now Black has arrived in time to control c5.] 35.Rxb8 Qxb8 36.Nf3 Qa7 37.Qa4 g5

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 4

38.c5 [This advance is logical, although it could have been prepared better with 38.Rb3 or 38.Rc3] 38...dxc5 39.Ndxe5 [39.Qc6 Qb6 40.Ba5 Qxc6 41.dxc6 c4 42.cxd7 Bxd7 43.Nb4 Rb8 leads to unnecessary complications.] 39...Rxe5 40.Nxe5 Nxe5 41.Qe8 Nc4 42.Qxc8 Nxa3

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 5

43.e5?! [Stronger was 43.d6 Nc4 44.d7 Nd6 45.e5! Nxc8 46.dxc8Q a5 47.e6 a4 48.Bc1 and White conserves his advantage, albeit a pawn less.] 43...Nc4 44.Bc3 [44.d6 Nxe5! (but not 44...Nxd2 45.d7 Qb6 46.Kh2! and Black doesn't have anything better than a draw with 46...Nf1+ 47.Kg1 Nd2) 45.Qe6+ Nf7 46.Qg6+ Bg7 47.Bc3 Nxd6 with advantage for Black.] 44...Qe7 45.Qf5 [More possibilities to fight for the initiative could have been obtained by 45.d6 Nxd6 46.exd6 Qxd6 47.Qe8] 45...Bg7 46.Qc8+ Bf8 47.Qf5 Qf7 48.Qb1 [48.Qe4!? was somewhat better.]

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 6

48...Na3! 49.Qe4 [49.Qb6 Nb5 50.Bb2 c4! 51.Qxa6 c3 52.Qxb5 cxb2–+] 49...Nb5 50.Ba1 Qh7 51.Qa4 [51.Qc4 Nd6!? (Also good is 51...Qb1+ 52.Kh2 Qxa1 53.d6+ Kg7 54.d7 Be7 55.Qe6 Bd8 56.Qe8 f3 57.Qxd8 Qxe5+ 58.g3 Qe2) 52.exd6 Qb1+ 53.Kh2 Qxa1 54.d7 Qf6] 51...Qb1+ 52.Kh2 f3!

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 7

53.gxf3 [There is no longer a satisfactory defense. Sanakoev recommended 53.d6 and if 53...Qf1 54.Qb3+! c4 55.Qxf3 Qxa1 56.Qd5+ Kg7 57.d7 analyzing only 57...Be7 58.d8Q Bxd8 59.Qd7+! with a draw. But 57...Nc7! 58.d8Q Nxd5 59.Qxd5 c3 wins. Other continuations aren't enough, for example: A) 53.Qxa6 Nc7 54.Qc4 Qxa1 55.d6+ Kg7 56.dxc7 Qxe5+ winning. B) 53.Qg4 Nc7 54.d6 Qxa1 55.dxc7 Qxe5+ 56.Qg3 Qxg3+ 57.fxg3 f2 winning. C) 53.Qc4 Qxa1 54.d6+ Kh8 etc.] 53...Qf1 54.Qxa6 Qxf2+ 55.Kh1 Qxf3+ 56.Kh2 Nd4 57.Qg6+ Kh8 58.Qe8 [If 58.Bxd4 cxd4 59.d6 Qf4+ 60.Kg1 Qxe5 61.d7 Qg3+ followed by Qxh3+ y Qxd7] 58...Qf2+ 59.Kh1 Qf1+ 60.Kh2 Nf3+

Oim, T - Sanakoev, G (0-1) - diagram 8

And White resigned, as after 61.Kg3 Nh4 he doesn't have a satisfactory defense.

ICC Quiz #2986
submitted by Icarus

White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2986
Then type: play trainingbot

ICC Quiz #3064
submitted by Kingzilla

White mates in 2

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 3064
Then type: play trainingbot

Internet Chess Club - ICC T-shirts

The ICC store now has limited quantities of ICC T-shirts.

Visit the ICC store for more information about the ICC T-shirts, sizes and availability.

Price $15.00 - Buy now!

Secrets of Opening Surprises Volume 6 - edited by Jeroen Bosch

The highly acclaimed SOS series provides intermediate chess players with perfectly playable, easily digestible opening ideas: deviations from main line opening theory in a very early stage of the game (usually before move six).

Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the chess opening will be able to apply these SOS-ideas in an actual game. There is no need to study large quantities of stuffy theory, but there is an almost immediate return on the investment of a limited amount of time.

Readers of SOS will baffle their opponents, gain crucial time, and stand a good chance to get an advantage in the game.

Price $20.95 - Buy now!

Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess: Revolution in the 70's - Garry Kasparov ** AUTOGRAPHED COPY

This book is the first in a brand new series that follows on from My Great Predecessors and sees chess legend Garry Kasparov reflecting on a pivotal time in chess history. Bobby Fischer's spurt towards the chess summit (1970-1972) marked the approach of a new era affecting all aspects of the game and opening theory in particular. Fischer demonstrated the need for deep preparation with both colours, expanded the range of openings knowledge, and laid the foundations for present-day professional chess.

The leader of the new generation, Anatoly Karpov, fully reaped the benefits of the Fischer revolution by mastering the lessons of his great predecessor. Of the players of the older generation, only Victor Korchnoi was able to achieve such a high level of professionalism.

Alas, Fischer then left the chess stage. However, the tectonic shifts he had brought about led to the beginning of a genuine revolution in opening theory and a revolution that overturned traditional impressions about many typical positions. Between 1972 and 1975 alone, progress in the field of opening theory was more significant than in the entire preceding decade! Under Fischer's influence chess was radically regenerated, a process which then continued to accelerate. As a result, from the 1972 Fischer-Spassky world championship match to 1984 and the Kasparov-Karpov matches, the overall picture of chess openings changed almost beyond recognition.

A fabulous collector's item! - autographed by Garry Kasparov. Garry signed labels for us which are affixed on the page after the inside cover.

Price $60.00 - Buy now!

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Solution to ICC Quiz #2986
submitted by Icarus

1.Qh8! Kxh8 2.Kg6+ Kg8 3.Rh8#

Solution to ICC Quiz #3064
submitted by Kingzilla

1.Rh8+! Kxh8 2.Qh7#