The Russian Higher League, a selection tournament which chooses five finalists for the 2018 Russian Championship super final, is underway in the Kremlin’s ancient city of Yaroslavl.
Unseeded Alexey Sarana and Artyom Timofeev were the surprise leaders in the nine-round Swiss system event when fourth round play was concluded at the well-known Ring Premier Hotel. Both grand- masters had 3.5 points, going into the last five rounds.
Sarana, Russia’s third youngest GM at 18, posted an impressive three wins, one draw record in the 58-player field that included 37 strong GMs.
Tied for third-ninth at 3.0 apiece were E. Inarkiev, D. Paravyan, A. Motylev, V. Zviaginsev, S. Oparin, I.Popov and A. Rakhmanov.
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The recently concluded Chinese team championship (June 19-25) in Hangzhou City, produced lively and exciting chess. The following game has been selected on the basis that the players come out slugging and the winner incisively and doggedly pursues winning ideas employing both strategical and tactical schemes.
Chinese Team Championship 2018
W) Li Chao g (China)
B) Lin Chen g (China)
King’s Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6
5. h3 ...
This rare sideline against the King’s Indian has become popular lately in top level chess. This is actually a very old variant, but with modern tendencies, and was pioneered by Vladimir Andreevich Makogonov (1904-1993), many-time Azerbaijan champion.
5... O-O
6. Be3!? ...
White’s last is an interesting system of development. The standard move is 6. Nf3, and after 6... c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. exd5 Re8ch 10. Be3 Bh6 11. 0-0, White has a slight edge. For example 11...Bxe3 12. fxe3 Nbd7 (12...Rxe3?! 13. Qd2! favors White) 13. e4 Qe7 14. Qd2 and White stands better. Or 6. Nf3 e5 7. d5 Nh5!? 8. Nh2! Qe8 9. Be2 Nf4 10. Bf3 f5 11. g3! Nxh3, the game is unclear., e.g., 12. Bg2 f4! (12...fxe4 13. Be3) 13. Nf3 g5 14. Rxh3 g4, the game is in the balance.
6... c5
Rather unexpected. 6...Nfd7, 6...Nbd7 and 6...e5 are fair alternatives with good chances for both sides.
7. dxc5 dxc5
Usual here is 7...Qa5, which leads to interesting complications after 8. Bd3 dxc5 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. 0-0 Rd8 11. Nd5, etc.
8. Qxd8 Rxd8
9. e5 ...
After 9. Bxc5 Nc6, White is a pawn up, but Black’s better development more than compensate for the material deficit. The text creates a strong center for White, which will try to exploit his space advantage.
9... Nfd7
10. f4 f6
11. exf6 exf6
12. O-O-O Nc6
13. g4! ...
Opening up the long diagonal a8-h1 for White’s light-squared Bishop, which will eventually obtain control of the important d5 square.
13... Nb6
14. Rxd8ch Nxd8
15. Nf3 f5
16. Ne5 Nf7
After 16...fxe4 17.hxg4 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Bxg4 19. Ne4! White obtains sufficient compensation for the pawn.=Engine.
17. Nxf7 Kxf7
18. Nb5 Bf8
19. b3 Bd7
20. Bg2 Re8
21. Bd2 a6
22. Nc7 Rc8
22...Rb8 is met by 23. Ba5! and White gains the upper hand.
23. Nd5! ...
After the text, White’s endgame superiority is manifest once and for all.
23... Bc6?
This move loses material, but after 23...Nxd5 24. Bxd5ch Be6 25. Bxb7 White emerges a pawn up in an advantageous position.
24. Nxb6 Bxg2
25. Rh2 Rc6
26. Nd7! 1-0
After 26...Be4 27. Ne5ch Ke6 28. Nxc6, followed by 29. g5, clinches matters for White.
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
White to play and win.
white=Kg1, Qb7, Re1, Ng5, Pb5, Pf2, Pg3, Ph4
black=Kg8, Qc7, Rc8, Nb6, Pa7, Pf7, Pg6, Ph7
1. Re8ch! Kg7
1...Rxe8 is met by 1. Qxc7.
2. Ne6ch! fxe6
3. Re7ch Qxe7
4. Qxe7ch 1:0