ODT061121

=**Essent excitement in Hoogeveen**=


 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 4.

The dutch town of Hoogeveen annually plays host to the Essent tournament with an interesting format the elite 'Crown' group: A double-round-robin featuring the top ranked player from the Netherlands, a current or former world champion, the top ranked female player in the world, and the junior world champion. This year these places were filled respectively by Ivan Sokolov (Nethaerlands), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Judit Polgar (Hungary) and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan). The invited players are all known for their fighting qualities, and they certainly delivered, with only two draws among the twelve games.

Worldwide attention was focused on the event for several reasons: How would Topalov fare in the tournament beginning just a week after his defeat in the world championship match with Kramnik? How was Polgar's form in here first tournament since taking another year out to have her second child? Would Mamedyarov live up to his promise and truly join the elite group of players? Did the best dutch player stand a chance in this sort of line-up? These question were resoundingly answered when Topalov suffered defeats to Mamedyarov and Polgar in the first two rounds, and these two shared first on 4½ /6 ahead on Topalov on 2½ and Sokolov on ½. Topalov was clearly exhausted. Polgar showed no ill effects and bagged two wins against Topalov, the top ranked player in the world. Mamedyarov looked extremely dangerous and likely to enter the world top-ten, and Sokolov capped a miserable performance by getting outplayed from a better ending against Mamedyarov in the final round.

Today's game from the 4th round at Hoogeveen features Judit Polgar, the greatest female player in history demonstrating her legendary attacking skill with Black against Sokolov. Notes are by IM Malcolm Pein from The Week In Chess. media type="custom" key="27021630" A typical position from the Nimzo Indian has arisen.White hopes to liberate his bishop pair by opening the b2-g7 diagonal and putting bishops on b1 and b2. Also White wants to play e3-e4 and advance in the centre. Black uses her control of the light squares and pressure on d4 to restrict White's play. She would like to exchange light squared bishops and she will attack the centre with e6-e5 and try to strangle the white bishops by playing c5-c4 and e5-e4. In some endgames her queenside pawn majority may advance. If 16 dxe5 Nxe5 coming to d3. Or 17 Ne4 Nxe4 18 Qxe4 Ne7 19 Qf3 c4 20 Bb1 Bb7 21 e4 Ng6 and White's bishops are under control. Retired world No 1 Garry Kasparov admiringly commented “What aggression!” refering to this rook lift to the kingside. If in Reply 21 Qe2, then h5 leaves White passive. The pawn sacrifice has ensured the exchange of the only kingside defender. Or 27 Kh2 Bxh3 28 gxh3 Qf5 29 Re2 Rh5 mates. White is defenceless on the light squares.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bb4**
 * 4.e3 0-0**
 * 5.Bd3 d5**
 * 6.a3 Bxc3+**
 * 7.bxc3 dxc4**
 * 8.Bxc4 c5**
 * 9.Ne2 Qc7**
 * 10.Ba2 b6**
 * 11.0-0 Ba6**
 * 12.Re1 Nc6**
 * 13.Ng3 Rad8**
 * 14.Bb2 e5**
 * 15.Qc2 Rd7**
 * 16.Rad1 ---**
 * 16. --- Rfd8**
 * 17.h3 ---**
 * 17...c4**
 * 18.a4 Re8**
 * 19.Ba3 e4**
 * 20.Bb1 Rd5!**
 * 21.Ne2 Rg5**
 * 22.Nf4 Bc8**
 * 23.Qe2 Qd7!**
 * 24.Qxc4 Na5**
 * 25.Qb4 Nd5**
 * 26.Nxd5 Qxd5**
 * 27.h4 ---**
 * 27. --- Rg4**
 * 28.Qb5 Qd8!**
 * 29.g3 a6!**
 * 30.Qb4 Qxh4**
 * 31.Bxe4 Rxg3+!!**
 * 32.fxg3 Qxe4**
 * 33.Rd2 Qf3**
 * 34.Kh2 Qh5+**
 * 35.Kg1 Qf3**
 * 36.Kh2 Bf5!**
 * 37.e4 Bxe4**
 * 38.Rxe4 Qxe4**
 * 39.d5 Nc4**
 * After 40 Rf2 a5! 41 Qb5 Re5 the threat of Rh5+ wins.**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:**1 Bxd5+! cxd5 (1... Kh8 2 Qxf8+ Rg8 3 Qxg8#; 1... Rf7 2 Qxf7+ Kh8 3 Qf8+ etc) 2 Qxf8+! Kxf8 3 Rc8+ Bd8 4 Rxd8#.