Jobava magic

The 10th Mikhail Tahl Memorial, the strongest invitational tournament in the year’s third quarter, starts today at the Museum of Russian Impressionism in the Kremlin’s capital city of Moscow.

The Category 21 single round robin event had 10 participants with two former world champions – Vladimir Kramnik ( Russia) and Vishy Anand ( India) – and eight super GMs led by world No. 5 Levon Aronian of Armenia, Azeri Shakriyar Mamedyarov and Dutch Anish Giri. The rest of the field included Li Chao (China), Boris Gelfand ( Israel) and hometown bets Peter Svidler, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Evgeny Tomashevsky.

The tourney is being held in honor of the Latvian eighth world champion Mikhail Tahl (1936-1992), who at 20, became the youngest player to win the USSR championship, and at 23, shocked the chess world by demolishing then world champion Mikhail Botvinnik (12.5-8.5), in the 1960 Moscow world championship match.

*** Unbelievably in this fascinating game, White’s ability to exploit his pieces virtually from nothing, is close to magic. A fine performance by the Olympiad board one gold medal winner.

42nd Chess Olympiad W) B. Jobava (Georgia) B) R. Ponomariov (Ukraine) Queen’s Pawn Game 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 ...

Jobava has lately displayed a knack for this irregular opening.

2... d5 3. Bf4 c5

After 3...e6 4. Nb5 Na6 5. a3 c6 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. e3 Nc7 8. Nf3 Bxf4 9. exf4 Qd6 10. Ne5 b6, White is slightly better. Jobava-Topalov, Rd.3 42nd Chess Olympiad.

4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 a6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nge2 e6 8. Qd2 b5

The developing move 8...Bd7 seems better.

9. 0-0 Be7 10. a3 Bd7 11. h3 0-0 12. Rfe1 Na5

A good plan, as the engine suggested, is 12... Nh5, and after 13. Bh2 f5 14. Qe3 Bg5 15. b3 Nd6 the game is probably even.

13. Rad1 ...

The alternative 13. Ng3 leads to equality after 13...Nc4 14. Qc1 Be6 15. b3 Nd6.

13... Qb6

The immediate 13... Nc4 seems a better alternative.

14. Ng3 Rfc8

Seems risky as it allows White’s next move. Safer is 14...Rfe8 according to the engine.

15. Nf5! ...

Suddenly, White gets busy opening lines for his pieces.

15... exf5

After 15...Qd8 16. Nxe7ch Qxe7 17. Bg5, White’s positional advantage is overwhelming, while 15...Bf8 is soundly met by 16. Nh6ch. E.g. 16...gxh6 17. Bxh6 and the threat of 18. Qg5ch will be difficult to handle.

16. Rxe7 Be6?!

Black has banked on this move, threatening to trap the White Rook, but proved insufficient. Correct is 16...Qd8 to keep the Kingside under more surveillance, and after 17. Qe1 Nc6 18. Re3 h6, Black holds for the time being.

17. Bh6! ...

Like a bolt from the blue. This is the first of a series of hammer blows to pry open the King position.

17... gxh6

No good is 17...Nh5 18. Qg5 Nc6 19. Rxe6 fxe6 20. Qxh5 gxh6 21. Qxh6, and White’s multiple threats will be decisive.

18. Qxh6 Rxc3?

The best try for Black would be 18...Bd7 and after 19. Qg5ch Kf8 20. Re3, White has the upper hand as Black must create a safe square for his vulnerable King.

19. Qg5ch Kf8 20. Qxf6 Rxd3 21. cxd3 1:0

Black has no good reply against the threat of 22. Rxf7ch. 21...Qc6 loses to 22. Re1 Re8 23. R1xe6 Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Rxe6 25. Qd8ch.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to move and win. White=Kg1, Qf6, Ne5, Rf1, Rh2, Pa3, Pb2, Pd4, Pe3 Black=Ke8, Qb6, Be6, Ra8, Rf8, Pa6, Pc6, Pd5, Pf7

1. Qxe6ch! fxe6 2. Rxf8ch Ke7

Or 2... Kxf8 3. Nd7ch followed by 4. Nxb6. 3. Rf7ch 1:0

If 3...Ke8/Kd8 4. Rh8 mate and 3...Kd6 4. Rd7 mate.