Reykjavik Open March 10-18

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:01 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Brilliant win!!

The same set up by White was used by Nigel Short in his game with Movsesian at the Tromso Olympiad. In that game, Movsesian chose to play e6 to e5 and delayed d5 to much later in the game. The idea worked well and made the position very much like a Kings Indian Fianchetto variation in reverse, particularly those old Bronstein games where Black plays exd4 and then pushes the a pawn down the board. The problem for Nigel was that his pieces had gone to different squares than in the 1950s equivalents.

I've been playing the sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 (switching recently to 3. g3) from time to time for over forty years. It was promoted in Ray Keene's Flank Openings book as well as by Game 1 against Sherwin in Fischer's MSMG. The problem is that horrible defeats as in Nigel's game are just as frequent as brilliant victories as in Daniel's game.

Jonathan Rogers · Post by **Jonathan Rogers** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:51 pm

There's no cheering up Roger, is there!

Great win by Daniel - the latest, though presumably best, of a number of GM scalps he has taken over the couple of years or so.

Jonathan Rogers · Post by **Jonathan Rogers** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:53 pm

Mike Truran wrote:Is Qh7 with the idea of Bh6 also possible?

We're violently agreeing again, Mike

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:16 pm

I am trying to make some form of f6 work for Black, but yes, the White bishop going to h6 (I must confess I missed that possibility entirely) is lethal as the threat then is Qh8+, so you can't delay the attempt at f6. If Black captures on b5 with the bishop or rook, and then White plays Qh7, how does White respond to f6? If Black has captured on b5 with a rook, then the Black queen on d7 is unprotected and White plays Bh6 threatening Qh8+ and ends up winning the queen for two pieces after Bxh6. If Black has captured on b5 with a bishop, then after f6 you capture with the e-pawn and after Bxf6 White exchanges queens on d7, throws in Bh6+, and takes the loose rook on b8. Is that enough to win or am I missing something more forcing and better?

Chris Rice · Post by **Chris Rice** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:30 pm

I'm sure Dan would like nothing more than to go out on the lash and celebrate his victory. However, today is the day when they have two rounds and in Round 3 he's Black against Italian GM Axel Rombaldoni (2488). Good luck Dan. Rest of Round 3 pairings http://chess-results.com/tnr143563.aspx ... =30&wi=821

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:36 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:I am trying to make some form of f6 work for Black, but yes, the White bishop going to h6 (I must confess I missed that possibility entirely) is lethal as the threat then is Qh8+, so you can't delay the attempt at f6. If Black captures on b5 with the bishop or rook, and then White plays Qh7, how does White respond to f6? If Black has captured on b5 with a rook, then the Black queen on d7 is unprotected and White plays Bh6 threatening Qh8+ and ends up winning the queen for two pieces after Bxh6. If Black has captured on b5 with a bishop, then after f6 you capture with the e-pawn and after Bxf6 White exchanges queens on d7, throws in Bh6+, and takes the loose rook on b8. Is that enough to win or am I missing something more forcing and better?

Ah! I see it. After 27.Qh3 Bxb5 28.Qh7 f6 29.exf6 Bxf6 White plays 30.Bh6+ and if the king moves it is mate on g8, if the bishop goes to g7 it is mate with the queen via h8 and g7 and f8, if the queen goes to g7 you take it and that should be a clear win. Not sure if I'd ever see all of a combination like that at the board...

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 5:18 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Not sure if I'd ever see all of a combination like that at the board...

I've been using a computer engine to attempt to see what Movsesian missed. I suppose he wasn't as appreciative of the dangers to his king as he could have been, as the idea of capturing the a4 pawn is by no means forced. The engine confirms that taking on b5 isn't really possible although after Rxb5, he can survive to a piece down ending. The big error was 29. .. Bxe5 when 29. .. Bc8 needed to be played in order to prevent the 30. Nd5 winner.

The engine thinks White is mostly a bit better from about move 15 ( 15. .. Nd8) onwards.

Chessbomb has the online Stockfish as well which reckons that the winning 31. Bf6 could be replaced by 31. Ne7 which forces mate.
http://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2015-rey ... ian_Sergei

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:56 pm

Maybe a second GM scalp for Dan Bisby? He didn't play the most crushing move (21...Nxc5) in response to his opponent's blunder (21.f3), but still has great winning chances, especially as Rombaldoni has blundered again with 22.Rad1. Black is completely winning now, and Rombaldoni has 6 minutes to Bisby's 23. If you count the material, Black is 'only' a pawn ahead, but the assessment is -3.44.

Hmm. Trouble is, they are tricky computer lines to calculate...

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:26 pm

10 moves to the time control (90 min for 40 moves + 30 minutes after 40 moves. Increment of 30 sec. for every move). Looks under control, but it is a bit nerve-racking when they are down to only a few minutes each (four minutes each at the moment after move 31).

MJMcCready · Post by **MJMcCready** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:45 pm

I thought it was a poor game by Movsesian, considering his huge rating, Great play by Danial but I think his opponent took him too likely.

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:46 pm

Time control safely reached. Rombaldoni, instead of resigning, has apparently blundered his rook. Assessment is currently -47.1...

And Dan has won. He can now go and celebrate TWO GM scalps tonight!

MJMcCready · Post by **MJMcCready** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:48 pm

Yes, very strange, Daniel wins again!!

Chris Rice · Post by **Chris Rice** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:55 pm

Rombaldoni-Bisby 0-1 Brilliant day for Dan.

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:52 pm

A total of four GMs lost today (three of them had White):

Board 14: FM Hauge Lars Oskar (2380) 1-0 GM Rasmussen Allan Stig (2532)
Board 15: GM Danielsen Henrik (2514) 0-1 WGM Abdumalik Zhansaya (2379)
Board 17: GM Idani Pouya (2496) 0-1 FM Christiansen Johan-Sebastian (2351)
Board 19: GM Rombaldoni Axel (2488) 0-1 FM Bisby Daniel L (2321)

Maybe something about that area of the playing hall affects GMs?

Dan (the leading British player, ahead of Gawain who drew) has White in round 4 and is paired with GM Gao Rui (2533) of China.

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 12:16 am

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: Dan (the leading British player, ahead of Gawain who drew) has White in round 4 and is paired with GM Gao Rui (2533) of China.

He's in pole position for a Norm seeker. Provided he can knock them over or at least draw, the pairing system will continue to feed him GMs.

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