ODT080701

=**Prodigy takes another step forward**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 3.

Norway's child prodigy, 17 year old Magnus Carlsen, took another major step towards fulfilling his considerable promise last month with a dominating victory in the very strong Aerosvit tournament in Foros, Ukraine. Carlsen started with four wins in the first five rounds and lead by two points for most of the event. Eventually he slowed down with several draws, assuring victory and finishing unbeaten on 8/11.

Ukrainian veteran Vassily Ivanchuk narrowed the winning margin to a point with a several late wins and a fine performance to place second on 7 points. At age 39 he and world champion Vishy Anand are the only players in the top 20 born before 1970.

As a result of his victory Carlsen shot to number two in the unofficial 'live' world rankings just behind Anand. The official list is published today but Aerosvit finished too late to be included this time.

Today's game is an instructive grandmaster miniature from the Aerosvit tournament. Loek van Wely (Netherlands) playing White underestimates the attacking potential of his opponent's pieces after some original play by Ivanchuk. media type="custom" key="26561190" After an irregular opening, this move forces the exchange of knights, since 7 Nb5 Qxb2! 8 Nxc7+ Kd8 9 Nxa8 Qxa1 and the knight will not escape from a8. Black deviates from Chekhover-Alatortsev, Kiev 1940, when Black recaptured with the queen. Black's plan is to reposition his queen and knight to control the central dark squares d4 and e5 with his pieces. Otherwise the knight will be evicted by a future f2-f4. The possibility of g5-g4 softening up the White kingside is also in the air. The pros and cons of a move like this have to weighed carefully, however, as the black king's position is irrevocably weakened. An indication that Black's unusual strategy has succeeded. White has no targets to aim at or entry points for his pieces, but the move played seems to achieve little. Showing that it is White, not Black who has kingside problems. White cannot defend h2 - E.g. 20 Bxe5 Qxe5 21 g3 Qh5 22 Kg2 Qh2+ 23 Kf3 Ne5+ 24 Ke2 Rad8 and White's exposed king gives Black the advantage. Not liking the above variation, White makes a mistake and gets much worse. The alternatives are no better: a) 21 Bxe5? Rxe5 and the only way to stop mate is to give up the queen by 22 Qxg4. Or b) 21 Qd2 Rad8 22 Qc1 Rxd1 23 Nxd1 Re6! and the threat of Rh6 forces 24 Bxe5 Rxe5 (24 ... Rh6?! 25 Qxh6! is less clear) 25 Re1 Qh2+ 26 Kf1 Qh1+ 27 Ke2 Rxe4+ 28 Ne3 Qxg2 is hopeless with Black about to collect a third pawn. Simply forking queen and rook as the knight can't be taken. White resigns as after 22 Qg3+ Qxg3 23 Bxg3 Bxg3 24 fxg3 Nxf1 25 Kxf1 Rad8 leaves him an exchange down with no chances.
 * 1. Nf3 g6**
 * 2. c4 Bg7**
 * 3. e4 e5**
 * 4. d4 exd4**
 * 5. Nxd4 Nc6**
 * 6. Be3 Qf6**
 * 7. Nxc6 dxc6!?**
 * 8. Nc3 Qe7**
 * 9. Bd3 Nf6**
 * 10. h3 Nd7**
 * 11. O-O O-O**
 * 12. Qc2 Ne5**
 * 13. Be2 g5!**
 * 14. Rad1 Be6**
 * 15. b3 Rfe8**
 * 16. Bh5 ---**
 * 16. --- g4**
 * 17. Bxg4 Bxg4**
 * 18. hxg4 Nxg4**
 * 19. Bf4 Be5!**
 * 20. Qe2? ---**
 * 20. --- Qh4**
 * 21. Qf3 ---**
 * 21. --- Nh2!**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Ra1+! 2 Kxa1 Qa3+ 3 Ra2 Qc1#.