Young faces in Moscow Aeroflot Open
Vladislav Artemiev registered an impressive victory for a share of the lead with two others after the fourth round of the Moscow Aeroflot Open festival.
The 19-yearold Russian had 3.5 points, along with veteran Victor Bologan of Moldova and Armenian Tigran Petrosian, who battled to a mind-numbing 100-move draw.
Nine players are within one half point of the lead entering the last five rounds of the competition that attracted 60 GMs from various countries. In the following game, White is so intent in getting
his stranded Queen back into the game, that he fails to see disaster until the roof falls in. Black’s ability to exploit his pieces virtually from void is pleasant to follow.
Aeroflot Open 2018
W) A. Korobov (Ukraine)
B) V. Bologan (Moldova)
King’s Indian Defense
1. d4 d6
This is a flexible move, reachable by one transposition or another. At this point there is no saying what the opening will be. 2. Nf3 ... 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 leads to the Pirc Defense, while 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 transposes to the Philidor Defense. 2 .... Nf6
After 2...c5 3. e4, the opening will become a regular Sicilan 3. c4 g6 4. g3 ...
Now the opening has transposed into the old, familiar King’s Indian. 4 .... Bf5!?
This is the unorthodox variation of the KID. Usually, 4...Bg7 is played, but Black elects to delay, thereby giving new twist to the opening. 5. Bg2 Qc8 6. Qb3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Nh4 Nc6 9. Nxf5 Qxf5 10. e3 e5 11. d5 Na5 12. Qa4 b6 13. e4 Qc8 14. b4 Nb7 15. Qa6 Nd7 16. Bd2 ...
The alternative 16. Bh3 probably gives White a slight edge, because of his Bishop pair. 16 .... f5 17. h4 ... White embarks on an ineffective plan.17. 0-0 seems preferable. 17... Nb8 18. Qa4 a5 19. a3 axb4!? Black sacs the exchange in preference to obtaining the initiative. Complications quickly mount, though the game probably hangs in the balance. 20. Qxa8 bxc3 21. Bxc3 Nc5 22. O-O Nxe4!
Black’s pieces looked totally cramped, but they rapidly exploded, intensifying pressure on the opponent’s Kingside. 23. Bxe4 ...
This exchange only brings the Black Queen to a commanding position along the diagonal c8-h3. A reasonable continuation is 23. Bb4 with chances for both sides after 23...Nf6 24. a4 e4 25. a5 bxa5 26. Rxa5 f4 27. c5. 23... fxe4 24. Rae1?! ...
A dubious move. Correct is the engine’s 24. Kh2. E.g. 24...Qg4 25. Qb7 Qe2 26. Qxc7 Rxf2ch 27. Rxf2 Qxf2ch 28. Kh3 Qf5ch 29. Kh2 and Black has to accept a draw by repetition. 24 .... Qh3 25. Rxe4 Nd7 26. Qa4 ... 26. Qc6 Nf6 27.Rfe1 Nxe4 28. Rxe4 Qf5 29. Re2 Qf3 leads to a decisive advantage for Black. 26 .... Rf3!
A fine zwischenzug. Now Black gains an important tempo to launch a powerful K-side invasion. 27. Qc2 Nf6 28. Bb4? ...
28. The decisive error. 28. Rfe1 is the only move to stay in the game. 28 .... Nh5!
This is the first of a series of hammer blows to pry open the King position. 29. Qb1 ...
After 29. Qe2 Nxg3 30. Qxf3 Qxf1ch 31. Kh2 Nxe4 32. Qxe4 Bh6 33. Qg2 Bf4ch 34. Kh3 Qxc4, Black wins smoothly. 29 .... Bh6 30. a4 Nf4 31. Rxf4 Bxf4 0-1 There’s no defense against Black’s 32...Bxg3. Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to play and win
White=Kg2, Qf3, Rb7, Bf7, Pc4, Pf2, Pg3, Ph4
Black=Kh6, Qd8, Rf8. Bd4, Pe5, Pg6, Ph7 1. Bg8! Rxg8 If. 1...Rxf3 2. Rxh7 mate. 2. Qf7 ... Threatening 3. Qxh7 mate. 2... Rh8 3. Qg7ch Kh5 4. Kh3 1:0 If 4...Qc8ch 5. Rd7 followed by 6. g4 mate. White to play and draw.