ODT070828

=**Final GM norm for Smerdon**=


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

Young Australian International Master, David Smerdon (23) recently completed a major milestone toward becoming only the third Australian grandmaster. In scoring 6/9 at the Czech Open in Pardubice, Smerdon completed his third and final GM 'norm' or qualifying performance. All that remains is to lift his international Elo rating above 2500 – Smerdon's current rating is 2461 – and he will join fellow Australians Ian Rogers and Darryl Johansen in earning the grandmaster title.

Smerdon's result will be particularly welcome for Australian chess followers, coming as it does a few weeks after GM Rogers announced his retirement from competitive chess. The Australian number one for more than two decades was forced to give up competition at the the age of 47 due to medical advice that the strain would aggravate an existing condition.

Today's game is from the next tournament Smerdon pursued his quest, held in Paks, Hungary. It features a razor-sharp win with White over Romanian IM Mihai Grunberg. media type="custom" key="26795376" An offbeat line of the Alekine Defence. This move bolsters d5 while allowing the light-bishop to develop actively, similar to a Caro-Kann position. Targeting the c2 square, but a surprise is in store for Black. Instead of 12 Ra1 Nc2 etc with a draw, White just leaves the rook to be taken. For the exchange White gets a big lead in development and a strong central initiative. In fact White is virtually playing with an extra piece, as Black's rooks have no time to enter the game. Developing the bishop in fianchetto with 13 ... g6 was better as the move played provides White with a central target for opening lines. Black has kept the centre files closed at the cost further weakening pawn moves, but still he has not developed his kingside. The last move smacks of desperation to keep the White pieces out of e4 and White soon exploits the new kingside weaknesses. Denuding the Black king. The rook deficit is only temporary. Allowing another piece into the attack with check shortens the game. But even after the better 22 ... Kg7 23 Qxf5 Rg8 (defending against Qf7#) White has three pawns for the rook and a choice of winning methods. E.g. 24 Bf3 (going to e4) Ndxc5 25 Qxe5+ Kh7 26 d7 Nxd7 27 Be4+ Rg6 28 Qe6 and Black will lose a rook remaining pawns down with an exposed king. Other choices are 24 Bf7 or 24 Nd5 leading to a similar result. Good enough after 24 ... Kf7 (24 ... fxg4 25 Qg6+ Nf6 26 Qxf6+ Kd7 27 Qxh8) 25 Qxf5 Kg7 26 Bh5 Rh7 27 Ne7 Bxe7 28 dxe7 Ndxc5 29 Qxe5+ Kg8 30 e8=Q+ so Black resigns.
 * 1. e4 Nf6**
 * 2. e5 Nd5**
 * 3. d4 d6**
 * 4. Nf3 dxe5**
 * 5. Nxe5 c6**
 * 6. Be2 Bf5**
 * 7. O-O Nd7**
 * 8. Nf3 h6**
 * 9. c4 Nb4**
 * 10. Nc3! Nc2**
 * 11. Rb1 Nb4**
 * 12. Be3!! ---**
 * 12. --- Bxb1**
 * 13. Qxb1 e6?!**
 * 14. a3 Na6**
 * 15. d5! e5**
 * 16. Rd1 c5**
 * 17. d6 g6**
 * 18. b4 f5**
 * 19. bxc5 Qc8**
 * 20. Nh4 Kf7**
 * 21. Nxg6!! ---**
 * 21. --- Kxg6**
 * 22. Bh5+! Kf6?**
 * 23. Nd5+ Ke6**
 * 24. Bg4!**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qh6+ Kf6 (1 ... Kg8 2 Qh8#) 2 Rf5+! Kxf5 3 Qf4#.