Wesley running second

The fourth Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, paid off for Azeri chess.

Local GM Shakriyar Mamedyarov, the defending champion, moved into position for his second straight victory after he took a commanding lead entering the penultimate round of the category 21, Super GM event.

Mamedyarov, 32, who is ranked seventh in the world, had five points in seven rounds, and a one-point lead over the top-seeded American Wesley So. The 23-year-old So posted two consecutive victories and bounced back after a rocky start to take second spot with four points. Tied with So were British Mikey Adams and former world champion Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria.

The rest of the field read Eljanov (UKR), 3.5, Kariakin (RUS), Radjavov (AZE), Kramnik (RUS) and Wojtaszek (POL), 3.0 and Harikrishna (IND), 2.5.

In this game, with the uncastled White King exposed to dangerous attacks, Black has an easy task. His mastery of the open lines made his tactical threats irresistible.

2017 Gashimov Memorial

W) R. Wojtaszek (POL)

B) V. Topalov (BUL)

Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. d4         d5

2. c4         c6

3. Nf3       Nf6

4. e3         Bf5

5. Nc3                       e6

6. Nh4                       Bg6

A reasonable alternative is 6...Bg4!?

7. Nxg6                     hxg6

8. Bd3                       ...

An improvement from the game Nakamura-Topalov, 2016 Candidates that went 8. Rb1 Nbd7 9. c5 a5 10. a3 Be7 (10....e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 led to even chances, Topalov-Kramnik 2006 World Championship) 11. g3 e5 12. Bg2 e4 13. b4 and White secured a slight edge. Another system is 8. a3 and after 8...Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. f4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 0-0 12. b5, the game was unclear, Topalov-Kramnik, Elista 2006.

8...                           c5

8...Qc7 9. h3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nbd7 11. Bd2 0-0-0 is probably in the balance, according to the engine.

9. Qb3                       Qd7

10. cxd5                    exd5

11. dxc5                    Nc6

12. Bd2                     Bxc5

13. Rc1                     Rd8

14. Na4                     Bd6

15. Nc5                     Bxc5

16. Rxc5                   d4

17. Bb5                     ...

The engine suggests 17. e4 with promising possibilities.

17...                          0-0

18. Bxc6                    bxc6

19. f3                        Qe7

19...Rb8! is stronger according to the engine, i.e., 20. Qa3 dxe3 21. Bxe3 Nd5, Black has a clear advantage.

20. Rc2                     Nd5

21. Kf2                      ...

21. e4 is met by 21...f5 22. Rxc6 fxe4 23. 0-0 e3, and Black obtains the upper hand.

21...                          Rb8!

Now Black starts operation along the half open b file.

22. Qa3                     Rxb2!?

An interesting sacrifice. This kind of calculated risk has often brought Topalov success. However, the simple 22...dxe3ch gives Black a huge positional advantage after 23. Bxe3 Qh4ch 24. g3 Qh3.

23. Qxb2                   ...

After 23. Qxe7 Rxc2 24. Qe5 Rxd2ch 25. Kg3 Nxe3 26. Kh3 Nxg2, the Queen is helpless against Black’s R and N plus 3 pawns.

23...                          dxe3ch

24. Bxe3                    Qxe3ch

25. Kg3                     Qf4ch

26. Kf2                      Rb8!

This tempo-gaining move compels White to abandon the important a1-h8 diagonal.  

27. Qc1                     ...

27. Qa1 is refuted by 27...Qe3ch 28. Kg3 Qg5ch 29. Kf2 Ne3.

27...                          Qd4ch

And here is the clincher.

28. Kg3                     ...

Seems forced as 28. Ke1 is refuted by 28...Nb4.

28...                          Ne3

29. Rc5                     Rb2

30. Rg1                     Rxa2

30...Rc2! wins outright.

31. h3                       Qd6ch

32. f4                        Qd3

33. Kh2                     Qe4

34. Rg5        Rc2!

0:1

There’s no adequate defense to Black’s 35...Qxf4ch.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to move and mate in two.

White=Kh7, Qf3, Bg6, Bh4

Black=Kf8, Qf5, Bh3. Pe7

1. Bg5!                      ...

Threatening 2. Bh6 mate.

1...           e6/e5/Qf7ch

Any other move is met by 2. Bh6ch.

2. Qh8/Qa3/Qxf7        mate.

* * *

White mates in two moves.