39th Chess Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (9)
Ukraine beat Azerbaijan despite Ivanchuk defeat
IM Malcolm Pein - Saturday 2nd October 2010
Ukraine beat Azerbaijan to win again. Vassily Ivanchuk's brilliant start was disrupted when he lost to Mamedyarov. Malcolm Pein looks at a fine win from Sebastian Feller.
Mamedyarov beat Ivanchuk who was on 6.5/7 but Ukraine still won in Round 9 to lead. Photo © 2010 | http://www.europe-echecs.com
Another match victory for Ukraine ensured they stayed top of the pile at the Chess Olympiad with two to play. The Ukrainians overcame Azerbaijan despite Vassily Ivanchuk first loss. Russia defeated Armenia as Peter Svidler finally stirred and scored the decisive victory. France defeated Georgia and put them out of the running, while moving into the bronze medal position. Sebastian Feller won again.
England were slightly out-rated by Russia III but managed a 2-2 draw. David Howell lost but Gawain Jones won.
Leaders
1 Ukraine 16/18
2-3 Russia, France 15
4-6 Israel, China, USA, 14;
20 England12/18; 83 Scotland 9/18; 112 Wales 7/18. Two rounds remain.
The decisive game from the France vs Spain match. Feller also spared his team from defeat by England, winning a brilliant game against David Howell in the 2-2 draw with France.
LD Alsina - S Feller
Spain - France
Ruy Lopez Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4
(White wins back the knight and secures the better pawn structure but Black pins his hopes on the bishop pair, particularly his unchallenged light squared bishop)
7...Nbd4 8.Nxd4 d5 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Be3 0-0 12.a5 Bf5 13.Na4
(Feller had played this line in 2007 so I suspect this plan was prepared. If White can exchange dark bishops on c5 he will be better but he misses his one opportunity)
13...f6! 14.f4
(14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxc2)
14...Qe8 15.Qd2
(15.Bc5 Bxc5+ 16.Nxc5 fxe5)
15...Qg6 16.c3 fxe5 17.fxe5 Rad8 18.Bxa7?!
Sebastian Feller
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LD Alsina
Position after 18.Bxa7?!
(18.Bc5 Bg5 19.Qf2!)
18...d4! 19.cxd4 Bg5
(White's minor pieces are out of play and his position is perilous)
20.Qe1 Bd3 21.Rxf8+ Rxf8 22.Bc5
(22.Qg3 Qf5)
22...Be4! 23.Qg3
(Now it's lost but if 23.Bxf8 Be3+ 24.Qxe3 Qxg2#)
23...Be3+ 24.Kh1
(24.Qxe3 Qxg2#)
24...Rf2 25.Qxg6 hxg6 26.d5
(26.Rg1 Bxg2+ 27.Rxg2 Rf1+ 28.Rg1 Rxg1#; 26.Nc3 Bxg2+ 27.Kg1 Re2#)
26...Rxg2! 0-1
Sebastian Feller
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LD Alsina
Position after 26...Rxg2! and if 27.Bxe3 Rg3#
A brilliant finish from Daniel Stellwagen is today's puzzle. 18...Qh7! is nice, defending and attacking.
JF Corrales - D Stellwagen
Cuba - Holland
Caro-Kann
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qf1 0-0 18.Re1 Qh7! 19.Qe2
(19.g4 Nxg4 20.Rg1 looks a better practical chance as Black soon seizes the initiative)
19...Rad8 20.Bc3 Rfe8 21.Rh3 b5! 22.Ne5 bxc4 23.Rf3 Nd5! 24.Nxf7
(24.Rxf7 Bg5+ 25.Bd2 Nb4 26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.Rxe4 Nd3+ 28.Nxd3 Kxf7)
24...Nxc3 25.bxc3 Rb8 26.Qe4 Ba3+ 27.Kd2
Daniel Stellwagen
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JF Corrales
Position after 27.Kd2 Black to play and win
Answer to puzzle
27...Rb2+ 28.Ke3
(28.Kd1 Rb1+ 29.Kc2 Qxe4+ 30.Rxe4 Reb8 and 28.Kd1 Rb1+ 29.Kd2 Bc1+ 30.Kc2 Qxe4+ 31.Rxe4 Reb8 lead to mate
28...Re2+!! 0-1
in view of 29.Rxe2 Bc1+!
