So one point up in Cuba

In Havana, Cuba, Wesley So of the Philippines, opened up a one-point lead after the seventh-round at the 49th Capablanca Memorial. So scored 5.5 points on four wins and three draws, to distance himself from the field.  Cuban star Lazaro Bruzon was alone in second with 4.5, while compatriot Lenier Dominguez was sitting 1.5 points back. Next were Paco Vallejo-Pons of Spain and Zoltan Almasi of Hungary with 3.5 apiece, while in last spot was Ukraine’s Vassily Ivanchuk with 3.0. The category 19 event is being held in honor of the Cuban world champion Jose Raoul Capablanca.

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Meanwhile, in Khanty-Mansyisk (Russia), Croatian GM Ivan Saric and veteran Russian campaigner Alexander Morozevich shared  the fifth-round lead with 4.0 points in the 15th Karpov-Poikovsky Classic, one of the major events in the  European chess calendar. In third place at 3.5 points was Russian Dmitry Jakovenko. There were 10 super GMs competing in the Cat. 18 tournament.

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Below is a fine endgame technique demonstrated by the young Croatian champion.

Karpov-Poikovsky 2014

W) I. Saric (CRO)

B)  P. Eljanov (UKR)

Caro-Kann Defense

1. e4  c6 2. d4  d5 3. e5  ...

This is the Advanced Variation in which White anticipates long range prospects on the K-side, while Black must improvise counter-play in the center  and on the opposite wing.

3... Bf5 4. h4!? ...

Usual here is 4. Nc3, but  there are also good alternatives. The text is the most dynamic.

4...   h5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. Bg5  ...

The alternatives are 7. Nf3 and 7. Nc3,

7... Be7

After 7...Qb6 8. Nc3 c5 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bc5, the position  is rich in possibilities.

8. Nf3 Nh6 9. Nbd2 Nf5 10. Nf1 Qa5ch 11. c3 Qa6 12. Qc2  ...

White declines an early Queen exchange, hoping to obtain some advantage in the middle game.

12...  Nd7 13. Ne3  g6 14. b4 b6 15. a4  c5 16. b5 Qc8 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. 0-0  cxd4 19. cxd4  ...

In the absence of middle game  prospects, White finally accepts the Queen swap.

19... Qxc2 20. Nxc2 Nf5 21. Nb4   ...

Now the game leads to a fascinating endgame in which White holds a slight edge because of his space advantage and more active pieces.

21...  0-0  22. Rfc1 Rfc8 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. g3   f6?!

This move seems premature and risky. However, in the absence of anything better to do, one can easily go wrong. The passive 24...Ne7 is safer.

25. exf6 Nxf6 26. Rxc8ch Rxc8 27. Nc6  ...

Now Black’s weaknesses on the Q-side begins to tell. The text is an unappetizing one.

27... Ne7 28. Nfe5 Nxc6 29. Nxc6 a5 30. f3  Ne8 31. Re1 Kf7 32. Ne5ch Kf6 33. Nd7ch Kf7 34. Ne5ch Kg7 35. Nc6 Kf7 36. Ke2 Na6 37. g4 hxg4 38. fxg4 Ne4 39. Ke3 Rh8 40. Rh1 Kg7 41. h5!?  ...

41. Rh2 is the computer’s suggestion.

41...  gxh5 42. gxf5 Kh6 43. Kf4 Nf2 44. Rb1 ...

Denying the Black N  good squares on the Q-side.

44...  Kxh5 45. Ke5  Kg5 46. Rg1ch! ...

Perhaps stronger than 46. Kd6.

46... Ng4ch

Or 46...Kh4 47. Kxe6 Nh3 48. Rg7 and White is winning.

47. Kd6!    ...

After 47 Kxe6 Kf4 48. Kxd5 Ne3ch 49. Kd6 Rh7, Black can prolong the game.

47... Kf4 48. Kc7 e5

The alternative 48...Ne3 is met by 49. Kxb6 Nc4ch 50. Kc5.

49. Rxg4ch! Kxg4 50. Nxe5ch  Kf5 51. Kxb6      ...

The fight is over as  White’s passed pawn can only be stopped by giving up material.

52. Ka7 Rh7ch 53. Ka6  Kd6 54. b6 Rh1 55. b7  Rb1 56. Nd3!  1:0

After 56...Kc6 57. Nc5 Rb4 58. Ka7 and White wins.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to play and win. White=Kg1. Qe8, Re1, Rf1, Ba4, Pa3, Pb2, Pc2, Pf3, Pf2 Black=Kf6, Qd6, Rh3, Be7, Ng8, Pa6, Pc5, Pe6, Pg7

1. Rxe6ch       Qxe6

If 1...Kxe6

2. Qg6ch Nf6

(2...Bf6

3. Re1ch Kd5

4. Qe4 mate)

3. Re1ch Kd5

4. Qd3 mate.

2. Bd7          Q any

3. Bxh3         1:0