ODT080909

=**Veteran in top form**=


 * Problem:** White played 1 Rxd6? Why was this a mistake?

The Otago Primary/Intermediate Individual Championship was held at the Otago Chess Club last month and attracted 33 entries from schools around the region including Oamaru, Mosgiel and Queenstown. Elliot Munro (12) of Dunedin North Intermediate and Remi Ritchie (11) of Arthur Street School jointly won with 6 points from 7 games to share the title, ahead of Joel Smith (11) of Balmacewen Intermediate alone in 3rd place on 5½.

These players may seem young, but by the standards of the professional chess arena, it is the exploits of 39 year old Vassily Invanchuk of the Ukraine that are considered noteworthy. The 'veteran' took clear first a point ahead of the field in the prestigeous Tal Memorial tournament in Moscow. Then to show it was no fluke, followed up by winning the even stronger Blitz championship that followed.

Today's game is from the first round in Moscow and features the winner Ivanchuk in devastating form playing White against Gata Kamsky of the USA. media type="custom" key="26515454" As in other variations of the Gruenfeld Defence, having allowed White to build the ideal pawn centre, Black must immediately attack it and force an advance. The knight unmasks the fianchettoed bishop on d4. The pressure on d4 having forced 11 d5, White's chances lie in the mobility of his pawn centre and active pieces. The pawn recapture is preferable to 12 Bxf3 despite the weakened kingside, as the f-pawn is free to advance. Presumably removing the queen from the d-file in anticipation of 16 Rfd1. But the move allows White some tactical possibilities that the immediate 15 ... cxd5 might have avoided. Better than 17 Nxd5 Nxd5 18 Qxd5 Nf6 19 Qxb7 Rb8 20 Qxa7 Nxe4 and White's centre has disappeared. Grabbing a pawn with 19 Nxa7 Qc7 20 Rc1 Qd6 21 e5 Qe6 allows the Black queen some air. Now with the queen and g7 bishop kept passive, it is a matter of time before the Black queenside pawns fall. Leaving the a-pawn to its fate and fighting for active counterplay. But White ignores the free pawn in favour of launching an attack on the weakened black king. Forcing the knight's infiltration to d8 and f7. A blunder in a lost position as 34... Rf8 would not have saved Black for long. Mate in 3.
 * 1. d4 Nf6**
 * 2. c4 g6**
 * 3. Nc3 d5**
 * 4. Bf4 Bg7**
 * 5. Nf3 O-O**
 * 6. Rc1 dxc4**
 * 7. e4 Bg4**
 * 8. Bxc4 Nfd7**
 * 9. Be2 Nc6**
 * 10. Be3 Nb6**
 * 11. d5 Bxf3**
 * 12. gxf3! ---**
 * 12. --- Ne5**
 * 13. Qb3 c6**
 * 14. f4 Ned7**
 * 15. O-O Qe8?!**
 * 16. a4 cxd5**
 * 17. Nb5!? ---**
 * 17. --- Rc8**
 * 18. Rxc8 Qxc8**
 * 19. e5! ---**
 * 19. --- a6**
 * 20. Na7 Qc7**
 * 21. Rc1 Qd8**
 * 22. a5 Nc4**
 * 23. Bxc4 dxc4**
 * 24. Qxb7 g5?**
 * 25. Nc6 Qe8**
 * 26. Rxc4 gxf4**
 * 27. Bxf4 Kh8**
 * 28. Bg3 Rg8**
 * 29. Kf1 e6**
 * 30. Rd4! ---**
 * 30. --- Nc5**
 * 31. Qb6 Nd7**
 * 32. Qc7 Nb8**
 * 33. Nd8 Qb5+**
 * 34. Kg1 h6?**
 * 35. Nxf7+ Kh7**
 * 36. Qc2+ Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Rxd6?? Ng3+! 2 hxg3 Rh5#.