ODT151208

=**Russia dominates European Teams' Championships**=




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

The 20th European Team Championship was held last month in Reykjavik, Iceland. The venue was the same hall used to host the most famous world championship match in history – Fischer-Spassky 1972. The participating countries turned out their strongest teams, including world champion Magnus Carlsen playing top board for Norway. This time the Russian teams lived up to their seeding and were completely dominant in both the Open and Women's sections. The final placings were Open: 1st Russia 15/18, 2nd Armenia 13, 3rd Hungary 13. Women: 1st Russia 17/18, 2nd Ukraine 15, 3rd Georgia 14. The Russian Open team's result was spearheaded by an unbeaten 5/8 on board one from current Candidate Peter Svidler. Today's game features Svidler with Black against Vassily Ivanchuk of the Ukraine from the fourth round at Reykjavik. media type="custom" key="28109513" **1.e4 e5** **2.Nf3 Nc6** **3.Bb5 a6** **4.Ba4 Nf6** **5.O-O Be7** **6.Re1 b5** **7.Bb3 O-O** **8.c3 d5** The Marshall Attack has been proven to be a viable gambit against the Ruy Lopez, even at the highest levels. **9.exd5 Nxd5** **10.Nxe5 Nxe5** **11.Rxe5 c6** **12.d3 Bd6** **13.Re1 Bf5** **14.Qf3 Re8** **15.Rxe8+ Qxe8** **16.Nd2** The depth of analysis of this opening is indicated by the fact that this is the most common move in the current position. White allows the black queen to check on his first rank and tie up his queenside. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16... Qe1+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.Nf1 Bg6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.g3** Not repeating Karjakin-Svidler from the World Cup, when 18.Bc2? should have been met by 18... Nxc3! 19.bxc3 Qxc3 forking both bishops and rook. White wants to avoid 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Qxd5 Rd8 20.Bg5 Qxa1 21.Bxd8 Bxh2+!? 22.Kxh2 Qxf1 with few winning chances. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18... b4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.h4 h5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.c4** Deciding to retain his light squared bishops and evict the black queen. After 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qxd5 Rd8 22.Bg5 Qxa1 23.Bxd8 Qb1! 24.Kg2 (24.Qxd6 Bxd3 25.Kh2 Bxf1 is equal) 24... bxc3 25.bxc3 Qxd3 26.Qxd3 Bxd3 Black's two bishops should draw the ending. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20... Nf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.Bd1 Re8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Bd2?!** Premature – thereby losing control of the central dark squares, after which Black's attack soon becomes too strong. It was important to first control the e5 square 22.d4! when after 22... c5 23.Bd2 Qe6 24.d5 White holds the advantage as the a7-g1 diagonal is closed. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22... Qe5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Rc1** White also has problems defending f2 after 23.Rb1 Bc5! 24.Ba4 Ng4. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23... Bc5!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24.a3 a5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25.axb4 axb4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26.Rc2 Ng4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27.Ne3** After 27.Bf4 Qe1 28.Kg2 Re6! Black will break through on f2 e.g. 29.b3 Nxf2! 30.Rxf2 Bxd3 31.Bd2 Bxf1+ 32.Rxf1 Qxd2+ with an extra pawn. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27... Qd6!** Playing to continue the attack. After 27... Bxe3 28.Bxe3 Bxd3 29.Rd2 Bxc4 30.Ba4! Nxe3 31.Qxe3 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Rxe3 33.Rd4 White has chances to draw the ending. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28.Nxg4** Falling prey to a mating combination. But after 28.Qf4 Qxf4 29.gxf4 Bxd3 30.Rc1 Rxe3! White loses material. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28... hxg4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**29.Qxg4 Bh5!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**30.Qxh5 Qxg3+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**31.Kh1 Qxf2** White Resigned. Mate can only be prevented at the cost of his queen.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**0-1**


 * Solution:** 1.Qa8+! Rxa8 (1... Re8 2.Qxe8#) 2.Rxa8+ Re8 3.Rxe8#