ODT120124

=**London Classic delivers exciting contest**=




 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 6.

The London Chess Classic lived up to its name, delivering an exciting contest that went right to the wire. The tournament gathered all four players rated over 2800, plus the US number one Hikaru Nakamura and the top four English players. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia capped a successful 2011 by winning all four of his games against the locals and drawing the rest to win outright on 16 points (3 for a win, one for a draw). He was followed a point behind by Nakamura, winning just as many games, but losing one to Norway's Magnus Carlsen, who finished third on 14 points.

Today's game is the remarkable victory from the fourth round by Nakamura with the black pieces over reigning world champion, India's Vishy Anand. media type="custom" key="25596554" The Bayonet Attack is the most common top-level response to the King's Indian nowadays – seeking to prove Black's concept of giving up the queenside for a kingside attack unsound. By delaying f2-f3 White has gained a tempo on a book line thanks to black's 13...h6 when normally the pawn would be on h5 at this point. The slow-motion flank advances typical of the King's Indian continues with Black a clear move behind, so White's pawns make first contact. At this point my computer strongly favours White, having not even ranked Black's last move in it's top three candidates. But the long-term mating threats latent in the position from now on will make themsleves felt against a human opponent. Eliminating the bishop as a vital attacking unit is a standard King's Indian theme, but Anand's choice gives up a knight of great value. Preferable is 27 Be6 when 27...Nd7 to preserve the bishop from exchange maintains White's superiority, though Black still has attacking chances. White's last was a blunder allowing an unusual tactical motif to force the bishop off the key defensive diagonal. If now 30 Bh3 or 30 Bf5 then 30...Qb5! forks the two undefended minor pieces. Suddenly Black's attack gains enormous impetus. A crucial prelude to the final assault – activating Black's last piece. The c-file tangle means no time is lost. The pressure on f3 forces White to lift the blockade, since 37 Nd2? Rc1! 38 Qxc1 Nxf3+ mates. Prizing open the crack to get his remaining pieces into the attack. White can't reply 38 Bxa5 due to 38 ...Bxd6! and 39 Nxd6? Rc1! wins as in the previous note. Preserving the active rook for counterchances as the immediate return of material by 41 Rxc5 Nxc5 42 Be2 Ne6 is hopeless due to the threat of 43...Ng5 and 43 Kh1!? (to meet Ng5 with 44 Rh2) loses to 43...Ng2! winning the queen as 44 Rxg2? Rxh3+ mates. No improvement is 43 Rxb7 Nc5 44 Rb1 Nd3! 45 Bxd3 Bxf2 46 Be2 (46 Bxf2 Nxf3+ mates in three) Bxe1 47 Rxe1 Qg6! followed by Rg2+, Qg3 and mate. Coming is 50 ...Nxe4 followed by liquidation to a won endgame with the two connected passed pawns.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 g6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bg7**
 * 4.e4 d6**
 * 5.Nf3 O-O**
 * 6.Be2 e5**
 * 7.O-O Nc6**
 * 8.d5 Ne7**
 * 9.b4 ---**
 * 9.--- Ne8**
 * 10.c5 f5**
 * 11.Nd2 Nf6**
 * 12.a4!? g5**
 * 13.Nc4 h6**
 * 14.f3 f4**
 * 15.Ba3 Ng6**
 * 16.b5 dxc5**
 * 17.Bxc5 Rf7**
 * 18.a5 h5**
 * 19.b6 g4**
 * 20.Nb5 cxb6**
 * 21.axb6 g3!**
 * 22.Kh1 Bf8**
 * 23.d6 a6**
 * 24.Nc7 Rb8**
 * 25.Na5 Kh8**
 * 26.Bc4 Rg7**
 * 27.Ne6 ---**
 * 27.--- Bxe6**
 * 28.Bxe6 gxh2**
 * 29.Nc4? Qe8!**
 * 30.Bd5 h4**
 * 31.Rf2 h3**
 * 32.gxh3 Rc8!**
 * 33.Ra5 Nh4**
 * 34.Kxh2 Nd7**
 * 35.Bb4 Rg3**
 * 36.Qf1 Qh5**
 * 37.Ra3 ---**
 * 37.--- a5!**
 * 38.Be1 Rxc4!**
 * 39.Bxc4 Bxd6**
 * 40.Rxa5 Bc5**
 * 41.Be2 ---**
 * 41.--- Bxb6**
 * 42.Rb5 Bd4**
 * 43.Bd1 ---**
 * 43.--- Bxf2**
 * 44.Bxf2 Nxf3+**
 * 45.Bxf3 Qxf3**
 * 46.Rb1 Rg6**
 * 47.Rxb7 Nf6**
 * 48.Rb8+ Kh7**
 * 49.Rb7+ Kh6**
 * White Resigns**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Rd1+!! 2 Kxd1 Qd3+ 3 Kc1 (3 Ke1 Qd2#) 3... Rc4+ 4 Kb2 (4 Qc3 Rxc3+ 5 Kb2 Qc2+ 6 Ka1 Rxa3#) 4... Rc2+ 5 Ka1 (5 Kb1 Qb3+) 5... Qxa3+ and mates next move.