[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.22"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Aerni, Andreas"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2206"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5
Bd7 9. e6 $5 {A plausible move in analogous positions to stymie Black's centre
but not often seen in this particular line.} Bxe6 10. Ng5 {
Possibly a bluff, but quite a good one.} Bd5 ({After} 10... Bd7 {, the move}
11. Qf3 $5 {
is perhaps a little worrying for Black, though the computer is content to reply
} f6 12. Bd3 $5 g6 13. Nxh7 Rxh7 14. Bxg6+ Rf7 {
and not worry about any tactical complexities.}) 11. Nc3 e6 (11... Bxg2 12. Rg1
Bd5 {gains time for White in return for a pawn, and now} 13. a4 {
gives White compensation for the two pawns.}) 12. O-O Be7 (12... h6 {
looks like a decent alternative.}) 13. Qh5 Bxg5 14. Bxg5 Qd7 15. a4 a6 16. a5 {
White is determined not to let Black's king get too comfortable on either side
of the board.} axb5 ({
There doesn't seem to be anything Black can do to avert the draw now. If} 16...
Nc4 17. Ba4 Nxb2 18. Nxd5 Nxa4 19. Rfe1 {and White is better.}) 17. axb6 O-O {
[diag]} (17... Rxa1 18. Rxa1 O-O 19. Bf6 {is similar to the game.}) 18. Bf6 $1
{A surprising coup.} gxf6 19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. Nxd5 {
Exploiting the pin along the diagonal.} f5 21. Qh4 exd5 22. Qf6+ Kg8 23. Qg5+
Kh8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.22"]
[Round "1.35"]
[White "Cramling, Pia"]
[Black "Pinho, Paulo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2518"]
[BlackElo "2128"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b1rrk1/1p3q1p/pR1p2p1/P1pPb1B1/2P1P2P/3Q1P2/4N1K1/5R2 w - - 0 38"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

{[diag]} 38. f4 {Not a mistake but it necessitates the taking of a couple of
major decisions, just before the time control.} Bg7 39. h5 (39. Ng3 $5 h6 40.
Rxd6 hxg5 41. hxg5 {looks like a handy way to sacrifice a piece.}) 39... h6 40.
Bh4 $2 (40. Rxd6 $5 hxg5 41. Rxg6 {still looks like a possibility but this is
that familiar phenomenon - an error on move 40.}) 40... g5 $1 {
Now White is on the back foot.} 41. Be1 Qxh5 42. Rxd6 (42. Rh1 Qg4+ 43. Kf1 {
looks very unpleasant and, sure enough, Black's attack comes crashing through:}
Rxf4+ $1 {, etc.}) 42... Bh3+ $1 43. Qxh3 Qxe2+ {
White's king and exposed pawns leave her no hope of survival.} 44. Kh1 Rxe4 45.
f5 g4 46. Qg2 Qxe1 47. Rg6 Qh4+ 48. Qh2 Qxh2+ 49. Kxh2 Rf6 0-1

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.23"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "Le Quang, Liem"]
[Black "Roser, Kevin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[TimeControl "6600+2075"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Qe2
b5 9. Nc3 Nd5 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bd6 12. Bg5 Be7 {[diag]} 13. d5 $5 ({
This seems to be new.} 13. Bf4 O-O {and now} 14. d5 {
was played in Smirnov-Belov, Plovdiv 2008, and Black won.}) 13... Na5 ({
The knight is out of play here.} 13... Bxg5 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Ne5 $1 Bb7 16.
Rad1 {looks too risky for Black}) ({maybe} 13... Nb8 {is a better choice.}) 14.
dxe6 Bxe6 (14... fxe6 15. Ne5 Bxg5 16. Qh5+ g6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Qxh8+ Kf7 19.
Qh7+ Ke8 20. Rad1) 15. Rad1 Qc8 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 {By playing d5 a move earlier
than previously, White has managed to deprive Black of the ability to castle.}
17. Nd4 Rd8 (17... Bg4 {looks feasible but} 18. Qe3 $1 {
is a strong reply. Black cannot accept the exchange sacrifice with} Bxd1 {
because} 19. Nf5+ {gives White a winning attack.}) 18. Qh5 $1 {
[diag] Black is already lost as he cannot cope with threats of Qxh7 and Qc5+.}
c5 19. Nf5+ $1 Bxf5 20. exf5 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 f6 22. Re1+ Kf8 23. Qxh7 Qd8 24.
Bxa8 1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.23"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Teran Alvarez, Ismael"]
[Black "Short, Nigel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2399"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[TimeControl "6600+995"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Qb6 7. Be3 a6 ({
Taking on b2 is not a great idea:} 7... Qxb2 $2 8. Nb5 Na6 9. Bd2 {
and the black queen's escape route has been cut off.}) 8. a3 Qa7 (8... Qxb2 {
would be even worse here:} 9. Na4 {traps the queen.}) 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. c3 c4 {
A committal decision. The blocked position that ensues is not to every chess
player's taste. Perhaps we should mark it "to be played by GMs only".} 11. g4
b5 (11... h5 12. gxh5 Rxh5 13. Ng3 Rh8 {
was played in Kritz-Ulibin, Biel 2010, with White eventually winning.}) 12. Ng3
Nb6 13. Bg2 Na4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. O-O h6 16. Rae1 O-O-O 17. f5 Kb8 18. Rf2 Bc8
19. Nh5 Qd7 20. Nh4 {[diag] Here some of us were hoping for 20...Na5, simply
for aesthetic reasons - four 'dim' knights on the rim could be a record. More
seriously, Black's position is starting to look creaky. White is calling all
the shots on the kingside, while Black's counterplay has so far failed to
materialise.} Rg8 21. Ref1 Qe8 22. h3 exf5 ({
'Pass' moves are no longer an option:} 22... Nb6 23. fxe6 Bxe6 24. Qh7 Be7 25.
Nf5 {puts major pressure on Black's kingside.}) 23. Nxf5 f6 (23... Bxf5 {
is probably better, but after} 24. Qxf5 g6 25. Qf4 $1 gxh5 26. e6+ Bd6 27. exf7
Bxf4 28. Bxf4+ Kc8 29. fxe8=Q Rgxe8 30. Bxh6 {
, Black is a pawn down and liable to be mauled by the white bishop pair.}) 24.
exf6 $1 Bxf5 ({If} 24... g6 25. f7 $1 Qxf7 26. Nxh6 {
is crushing. But the position is now utterly lost anyway.}) 25. Bf4+ Bd6 26.
Bxd6+ Rxd6 27. Qxf5 g6 28. Qf4 Qd8 29. f7 Rf8 30. Ng7 g5 31. Qg3 Ka7 32. Re1
1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.24"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2516"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Saunders, John"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Na3 Nc6 8.
Nxc4 Be6 9. b3 Bd5 10. Bb2 a5 11. a4 Nb4 12. e3 e6 13. Qe2 Be4 14. Ne1 Bxg2 15.
Nxg2 Qe7 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Nd7 18. Nf4 c6 19. Ba3 Bf8 20. Bb2 Rdb8 21. e4
Re8 {A slightly odd choice of square for the rook since it looks unlikely to
be supporting an e6-e5 push anytime soon.} 22. Qf3 Bg7 23. e5 Red8 {Perhaps Bla
ck was trying to provoke White into playing e4-e5 before switching the rook to
the more logical d8 square.} 24. Nd3 Bf8 25. Nc5 $1 {
[diag] A strong positional idea, backed up by a deadly tactic.} Nxc5 26. dxc5
Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Nd5 ({
Not falling for the gorgeous trap which White set up when playing 25 Nc5. If} 
27... Qxc5 $4 28. Rd7 $3 {and now if Black plays 28...Be7 or 28...f5 to deal
with the threat of 29 Qxf7+, White plays 29 Bd4!, winning the queen.}) 28. Bd4
Bg7 29. h4 h5 30. Kg2 {Although Black has established his knight on d5, White
seems to have a solid positional plus, with better dark square control and
tying the black rook to the defence of the a5 pawn, etc.} Qc7 31. Qe4 Rd8 32.
Rd3 Bh6 33. Rf3 {Continuing to squeeze, with the idea of playing Nd6, to
attack the f7 pawn, and then Qe1 to win the a-pawn.} Ne7 ({
Black decides to jettison a pawn. Perhaps} 33... Rf8 34. Qe1 Ra8 35. Nd6 Rf8 {
was still solid, though White has the alternative of roughing up the kingside
with a g3-g4 push.}) 34. Bc3 Rd5 35. Bxa5 Qb8 36. Bc3 Nf5 (36... Rxc5 $2 {
allows} 37. Bb4 {, winning the exchange.}) 37. Nb6 Rd1 ({
White continues to find tactical tricks which indirectly defend her c5 pawn.} 
37... Rxc5 $2 {loses to} 38. Nd7 {, of course.}) 38. Rd3 {White has consolidate
d her material advantage though there could still be a considerable technical
exercise involved in winning.} Rc1 39. Bd2 ({
It looks as if White could trap the black rook by playing} 39. Nc4 {
, etc, but White prefers to liquidate some material.}) 39... Bxd2 40. Rxd2 {
Now that Black's rook has moved off the d-file, he's in big trouble because
the white rook has taken over control of the file and is helping the queen and
knight to launch an invasion on Black's weak kingside dark squares. At this
level Black is just plain lost.} Kg7 41. Qf4 Rb1 42. Nc4 $1 {Antoaneta is no
longer interested in defending her pawns as she has calculated through to the
end.} Rxb3 (42... Qe8 43. Qg5 Qe7 {
was Black's last chance to challenge the queen invasion, but then} 44. Qxe7
Nxe7 45. Rd7 {wins a second pawn on b7 and Black's counterplay is non-existent.
}) 43. Qg5 Qf8 44. Qf6+ Kh7 45. Rd7 $1 (45. Rd8 $2 Qg7 {
is not so conclusive, though White can still win eventually.}) 45... Nh6 46.
Nd2 (46. Nd2 {The knight is coming round to g5 to join in the kill:} Rb4 47.
Nf3 Rb2 48. Ng5+ Kg8 49. Rd8 {when the trick} Rxf2+ $5 50. Kxf2 Ng4+ 51. Ke2
Nxf6 52. Rxf8+ Kxf8 53. exf6 {is still hopeless for Black.}) 1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.24"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kanep, Meelis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/2q1pp2/5rp1/4n2p/1QPR3P/5BP1/4PPK1/1R6 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

{[diag]} 35... Nxf3 $2 ({
Black surprisingly overlooks a way to close out the game for a draw:} 35...
Rxf3 $1 36. exf3 Nc6 37. Qc5 Nxd4 38. Qxd4 Qxc4 {
eliminates the c4 pawn and assures Black of a relatively simple draw.}) 36.
exf3 {and, though the position is not much better for White, Mickey eventually
ground out a win in 80 moves.} 1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.24"]
[Round "3.7"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Zatonskih, Anna"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2491"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 ({
The usual intention when Black plays 4...Qb6 is to be able to play} 6... Bb5 {
here.}) 7. Nxd4 (7. cxd4 {is often seen in analogous positions but it is
insipid here. The text move is quite useful here, where the e5 pawn is not en
prise to a knight on c6.}) 7... Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. O-O c5 10. c4 {
White has a lead in development and is slightly better here.} dxc4 11. Be4 Rd8
12. Nd2 Qa6 13. b3 $1 {White is playing sharp moves, looking for open lines in
order to capitalise on his lead in development.} Bb5 ({If} 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3
Bb5 15. Rb1 $1 {, White's attack is gathering momentum. If Black continues with
} Bxf1 16. Bb7 Qb5 17. Nxf1 Qxb3 18. Bc6+ {
and White has some compensation for the sacrificed material.}) 14. a4 $1 c3 {
[diag]} ({Perhaps Black should back off with} 14... Bc6 {
though White looks in good shape after} 15. Qe2 Ne7 16. Rb1 {, etc.}) 15. axb5
$1 Qxa1 16. Bc6+ Ke7 {Black's pieces are now in a terrible tangle.} 17. Qc2 Qa5
18. Nc4 Qc7 19. Qxc3 f6 20. Bf4 Kf7 21. g3 f5 22. Ra1 Kg6 23. Nd6 Rxd6 $2 ({
After this the game comes to a sudden end. But it is pretty hopeless: if} 23...
Bxd6 24. exd6 Qf7 25. Qxc5 Nf6 26. Rxa7 {
, Black cannot survive the pressure for long.}) 24. Be8+ 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.25"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Swiercz, Dariusz"]
[Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8.
Be3 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 Nf6 10. Nc3 d6 11. O-O-O e5 (11... O-O 12. f4 Qc7 13. Rhg1 b5
14. g4 b4 15. g5 Ne8 {is a vintage line from some years ago in which White
seems to have the upper hand.}) 12. g3 Be6 13. f4 b5 14. Kb1 Rb8 15. Be2 O-O
16. f5 Bxb3 17. axb3 (17. cxb3 {
is also feasible, intending to put the c-file to use.}) 17... Nd4 (17... Qa5 {
is a sharp line which was looked at by the commentary team of Simon Williams
and Irina Krush.}) 18. g4 (18. Rxd4 $5 exd4 19. Qxd4 {
is a possibility but White might not have quite enough for the sacrifice.})
18... b4 19. Na4 d5 20. exd5 Re8 (20... Qxd5 {seems to make sense since} 21. g5
{can be answered by} Qe4 {and Black is doing fine.}) 21. d6 $1 ({
A useful deflection of the black queen. If White plays the immediate} 21. g5
Nxd5 22. Qe4 {, Black has} Qxg5 $1 23. Qxd5 Nxe2 {
which could be pretty good for Black.}) 21... Qxd6 22. g5 Nd5 23. Qe4 Rec8 {
[diag] Material is level but the position is wide open and very imbalanced.}
24. Rhe1 $1 ({Very enterprising.} 24. Bc4 $2 {runs into big trouble after} Rxc4
$1 25. bxc4 Nc3+ $3 {and Black wins. 24 Bd3 is possible, however.}) 24... Rxc2
({Black is brave and takes the bait but} 24... f6 {
is a more cautious move and probably better.}) 25. Bf3 $1 (25. Rxd4 Rxe2 26.
Rxe2 exd4 27. Qxd4 {works out about equal, but White wants more from the
position. As played, White is threatening the knight on d5, and to play Rxd4
followed by Qxc2, so Black has to take drastic action.}) 25... Nc3+ $5 {
The only move to carry the fight to the white king.} 26. bxc3 Rxc3 (26... bxc3
27. Rxd4 {and Black's various tries don't work, e.g.} Qa3 28. Kxc2 Qa2+ 29. Kd3
Qd2+ 30. Kc4 {
and the king is safe despite its apparent exposure in the middle of the board.}
) 27. Qd5 $1 ({White is a piece up and wants a queen exchange. In avoiding it,
Black has to retreat.} 27. Nxc3 bxc3 {forces} 28. Rxd4 {when} Qa3 $5 {
leads to murky complications.}) 27... Qc7 28. Nxc3 {
Safer than previously as Black doesn't have the Qa3 possibility.} bxc3 29. Rxd4
$1 {White needs to be rid of the powerful knight on d4.} exd4 30. g6 d3 31.
Qxd3 ({Analysis engines might want to play something bizarre like} 31. Bh5 {
in this position but most humans would prefer not to take chances with
connected passed pawns bearing down on their monarch.}) 31... Rxb3+ 32. Kc1 Rb8
33. Bd5 Qa5 {
Now White can force the rooks off and use his extra piece to win the endgame.}
34. gxf7+ Kf8 35. Re8+ Rxe8 36. fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 37. Qe4+ Kd8 38. Kc2 Qa3 39. Qh4+
Ke8 40. Bc6+ Kf7 41. Bd5+ Ke8 42. Qe1+ Kd8 43. Qe6 Qb2+ 44. Kd3 Qxh2 45. Qg8+
Kc7 46. Qxg7+ Kd6 47. Bg2 {A useful move to hinder the black queen.} Qh4 48. f6
Qe1 49. Qf8+ Kd7 50. Bh3+ Kc6 51. Qc8+ 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.26"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Black "Swiercz, Dariusz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 f6 10. d3 Be6 11. Ne4 Qd7 12. Qc2 a5 ({Perhaps} 12... a6 {
is a more solid set-up.}) 13. b5 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 (14... Qxd4 15. Be3 Qd7 16.
Bc5 {is an alternative, where White is probably a little better.}) 15. Nc5 $5
Bxc5 16. Qxc5 Na4 ({A bit too ambitious: maybe it is better to blunt White's
dangerous bishop on the long diagonal with} 16... Bd5 {, although} 17. Bxd5+
Nxd5 18. Bb2 {puts pressure along the other long diagonal.}) 17. Qc2 Qxb5 18.
Rb1 Qd7 19. Bd2 $1 ({White is not worried about being a pawn down temporarily.
} 19. Bxb7 $6 Nc3 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {gives Black some compensation for the pawn.})
19... Nb6 20. Rfc1 Rf7 21. Bxb7 Ra7 22. Bc6 {[diag] White has restored
material equality and can now look forward to a considerable positional
advantage, with the bishop occupying the c6 square and cutting off the a7 rook
from its kingside colleagues.} Qd6 23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 a4 25. Rb4 Nd7 26. Rc1
Ne5 27. Bxa4 Rf8 28. Rxd4 Rfa8 29. Bd1 Rxa3 30. f4 Ra2 31. Be1 Ra1 32. Rd8+
Rxd8 33. Rxa1 Nd7 {Black has done quite well to reactivate his position but he
is still a pawn down.} 34. Ra6 Nb6 35. Ba5 Ra8 (35... Rd6 {
is better but it still looks grim for Black.}) 36. Rxa8+ Nxa8 37. Ba4 Kf7 (
37... Nb6 38. Bxb6 cxb6 39. Kf2 {
leads to a probably lost bishop and pawns endgame.}) 38. Kf2 Ke7 39. e4 Kd6 40.
Bb4+ (40. d4 {
threatens mate in one with Bb4, so the Black king has to back up with} Ke7 {
, allowing} 41. d5 {with what looks like a comfortable win.}) 40... c5 41. Ba5
(41. Ba5 {A slightly premature resignation but an example line is} Bd7 42. e5+
fxe5 43. fxe5+ Ke6 44. Bxd7+ Kxd7 45. Ke3 {, when the knight can never escape
and what remains is a won king and pawn endgame.}) 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2013.01.26"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Iturrizaga, Eduardo"]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. O-O Qe7 11. e4 e5 12. d5 Nb6 13. Bb3 O-O 14. h3 Rd8 15. a3
a5 16. Qe2 a4 17. Ba2 Bc5 18. Rfd1 Rd6 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. Rxd6 Bxd6 21. Rc1 Nd7
22. Rd1 Bc7 23. Qc2 Nc5 24. Ne2 Bb6 25. Ng3 g6 26. Qc3 Bc7 27. Rc1 Ra5 28. h4
Kg7 29. h5 Bd7 30. Bc4 Nb7 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. Rd1 Be8 33. Ba2 Nd6 34. b4 axb3
35. Qxb3 Nf7 36. Rd3 Rb5 37. Qc2 Qc5 38. Rc3 Qb6 {[diag]} 39. Bxf7 $2 Rb2 $1 (
39... Kxf7 {
is equal but the text move sets up a powerful skewer on the f2 square.}) 40.
Rb3 (40. Bxe8 Rxc2 41. Rxc2 Qb1+ 42. Ne1 Qxe1+ 43. Kh2 Bb6 {gains White a rook
and a knight for the queen but looks very unpleasant for White on the dark
squares.}) 40... Rxc2 41. Rxb6 Bxb6 42. Bxe8 Bxf2+ 43. Kh2 Kf6 {The body count
(two knights for rook and pawn) doesn't seem too terrible for White at first
sight but then you notice that White's two knights have little scope. In
particular, they can't help in stopping the advance of Black's passed c-pawn.}
44. Nh4 Rc3 45. Nf3 c5 46. a4 c4 47. Bb5 Rc2 48. a5 c3 49. a6 Ra2 (49... Ra2 {
If} 50. Ne2 {to stop the pawn, simply} Rxe2 51. Bxe2 c2 {and the pawn promotes.
}) 0-1

[Event "Tradewise Gibratar Chess Festival 2013 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.27"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/5k2/3P2p1/p1p2p2/Pp4p1/1P3qP1/3Q3P/4R1K1 b - - 0 40"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]

{Your computer will blithely tell you that this position is level but what it
omits to say is that is extremely difficult for a human to figure out the
complications...} 40... Rd8 $2 ({The one and only defensive move is} 40... Re8
$1 {and it still needs to be followed up with rigid accuracy:} 41. d7 Rxe1+ $1
42. Qxe1 Qa8 $1 {and now Black is through to calmer waters. But the business
of finding three 'only moves' in a row would tax even a GM.}) 41. Qh6 $1 Re8 {
Black probably thought he was getting out from under here but the Bulgarian
veteran has a killer move on the way...} 42. Qh7+ Kf6 43. Qe7+ $3 {
The only move to win.} Rxe7 44. dxe7 {
There is nothing to be done about the pawn queening.} 1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibratar Chess Festival 2013 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.27"]
[Round "6.6"]
[White "Dzagnidze, Nana"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. Nh4 g6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. O-O d6 10. Bg5 Qd7 11. cxd5 h6 12. Bd2 b5 13. a3 O-O 14. e4 Na6 15. Qb3
Nc7 16. Rfe1 a5 17. Qa2 Rfe8 18. a4 b4 19. Nd1 Re7 20. f4 Rae8 21. Nf2 {[diag]}
Nfxd5 $1 22. exd5 ({The computer suggests} 22. Rad1 {but after} Nf6 {Black is j
ust a pawn up. Nana decides to test Mickey's combination but so much the worse
for her.}) 22... Re2 $1 {The problem is that the d2 bishop is embarrassed...}
23. Rxe2 Rxe2 24. Rd1 Bd4 {... and so is the f2 knight.} 25. Be1 Qe8 26. Nf3
Qe3 27. Qb1 Rxb2 28. Qc1 Qxc1 $1 {
The absence of queens in no way lessens the potency of the black pieces.} 29.
Rxc1 Be3 30. Rd1 c4 {A position for Benoni players to relish, as the black
pawns bear down on the queenside. It's getting desperate now and White tries a
risky trick.} 31. Ne5 $5 dxe5 32. d6 Bxg2 $1 {Nerves of steel.} 33. f5 (33. d7
Ne6 34. d8=Q+ Nxd8 35. Rxd8+ Kh7 36. Kxg2 c3 {and the c-pawn is just too fast.}
) 33... Bb7 34. d7 Bg5 35. d8=Q+ Bxd8 36. Rxd8+ Kg7 37. Rd7 Rb1 38. Kf1 c3 39.
f6+ (39. Rxc7 Ba6+ 40. Kg2 Rxe1 {and the black pawns win the game.}) 39... Kxf6
40. Ng4+ Kg5 41. Nxe5 c2 0-1

[Event "Tradewise Gibratar Chess Festival 2013 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.27"]
[Round "6.9"]
[White "Jakubiec, Artur"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2518"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1Q1b2p1/5pkp/1P2p1n1/4P3/2BP2Pq/8/1KN5 b - - 0 50"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]

50... Bxb5 $3 {Black gambles on his kingside pawns being able to advance
quickly and White's awkwardly placed minor pieces not being able to mobilise
as effectively.} 51. Qxb5 Qxg3 52. Qe8+ Nf7 53. Qd7 Qf3 54. Kc2 h5 55. Be1 Ng5
56. Qa7 Qg4 57. Qf2 Nf3 58. Nb3 (58. Qg3 Qxg3 59. Bxg3 h4 60. Bf2 Kg5 61. Ne2
h3 62. Ng3 h2 {and the black king will advance and shepherd home the h-pawn.})
58... h4 59. Nd2 Nd4+ {The knight is beautifully placed here.} 60. Kb2 h3 {
Around here, your analysis engine may be waking up to the fact that White has
a very tough defensive task ahead of him. Doubtless so was White himself, but
it may already be too late.} 61. Nf1 Qd1 $1 {A brilliant switch to queenside
action, which is surprisingly hard to defend against.} 62. Nh2 (62. Qd2 Qb3+
63. Kc1 Qa3+ 64. Kb1 Qa4 {keeps White tied up, e.g.} 65. Bg3 $2 Qb5+ 66. Ka2
Qb3+ {and Nc2+ is a killer.}) 62... Qb3+ 63. Kc1 Qxd3 {Black's smaller force
totally dominates White's pieces and Black will soon have four connected
passed poawns. A truly remarkable finish.} 0-1

[Event "Tradewise Gibratar Chess Festival 2013 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.28"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3R4/5pk1/7p/r3P2P/3N1K2/5P1b/8/8 b - - 0 68"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]

68... Ra6 $2 ({A small but fatal slip by the older player. After} 68... Ra4 {
, if White plays} 69. Kg3 {, Black has} Be6 {
when White still has to prove he is winning.}) 69. Kg3 $1 ({
This is pretty good but analysis engines find} 69. Nb5 $5 {which threatens to
invade the black king's inner sanctum via d6 and e8 and give mate. Then} f6 70.
Nc7 fxe5+ 71. Kg3 {
wins material for White. The lines look rather inhuman, however.}) 69... Be6 (
69... Bf1 70. Nf5+ Kh7 71. Nd6 {sets up the mating net indicated above.}) 70.
Rd6 $1 Bc8 ({Black has the choice of the devil and the deep blue sea.} 70...
Rxd6 71. exd6 Bd7 72. Nb3 Kf6 73. Nc5 Bf5 74. Kf4 Bc2 75. Ke3 {
looks hopeless in the long run.}) 71. Nf5+ $1 Kh7 72. Ne7 Bb7 (72... Rxd6 73.
exd6 Be6 74. Kf4 f6 75. Ke4 Kg7 76. Kd4 {is an easy win.}) 73. Rd7 $1 Rb6 74.
e6 $1 {Either capture of the e6 pawn allows the win of major material, so it
is effectively all over.} Rb3 75. exf7 Rxf3+ (75... Kg7 76. Nf5+ Kf8 77. Nd4 {
wins, e.g.} Rb6 78. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 79. Ne6+ Kxf7 80. Nd8+ {
and takes the rook with a won endgame.}) 76. Kg4 Kg7 (76... Rxf7 77. Rxb7 Rg7+
78. Kf5 {wins.}) 77. Rxb7 1-0

[Event "Tradewise Gibratar Chess Festival 2013 "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.28"]
[Round "7.7"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Larino Nieto, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C61"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[Annotator "Saunders,John"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2013.01.22"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O c6 6. Ba4 Nf6 7. Re1 d6 ({
Black is a known Bird's Defence aficionado, it seems. He played} 7... h5 8. e5
Ng4 9. g3 d3 {here in a Spanish Championship game in 2012.}) 8. d3 Bg4 ({
Unusual. Black has played} 8... Be7 {here.}) 9. f3 Be6 10. c4 g6 11. f4 Bg4 12.
Qd2 Bc8 13. b4 {For some bizarre reason, White's odd configuration of pawns
and pieces around the axis of d2-d4 reminds me of a hanukkah candle, though
the bishop on a4 slightly spoils the effect.} Bg7 14. h3 Nd7 15. Bd1 {
Even more hanukkah-ish...} Qb6 16. Na3 O-O 17. Rb1 f5 $6 {This looks
as White is able to open up the a2-g8 diagonal to his advantage and the
kingside looks vulnerable.} 18. exf5 gxf5 19. c5 $1 {A pawn sacrifice, which
Black doesn't accept, but the open lines gained would have been worth it.} dxc5
20. bxc5 Qd8 ({Probably better than} 20... Qxc5 21. Bb3+ Kh8 22. Nc4 Nb6 23.
Ne5 {when White dominates the position and gets ready for a final attack.}) 21.
Qb4 (21. Nc4 {is also very good, as in the previous note.}) 21... b6 22. cxb6
axb6 23. Bf3 Bb7 24. Nc4 (24. Bxc6 Bxc6 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26. Qxc6 {
is also possible but Short prefers to keep more pieces on the board.}) 24...
Kh8 25. Nd6 (25. Qe7 {
is also very strong, setting up the threat of Nd6 and Nf7+. If, for example,}
Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Rad8 27. Nxb6 {
regaining the pawn and maintaining the attacking momentum.}) 25... Ba6 26. Bxc6
Rb8 27. Re8 Qc7 (27... Rxe8 {allows} 28. Nf7+ {, winning the queen.}) 28. Rxb8
(28. Nf7+ Kg8 29. Rxf8+ {and, for example,} Bxf8 30. Qb3 $1 {
and White is having all the fun.}) 28... Nxb8 29. Bb5 Bxb5 30. Nxb5 Qf7 31. Qb3
Qg6 32. Ba3 Rg8 33. Qd5 Bf6 34. Bd6 Qg3 ({
Black has more or less given up and is trying a last throw.} 34... Qg7 35. Be5
Bxe5 36. fxe5 {and White will soon be a safe two pawns up, if not more.}) 35.
Bxb8 Qxd3 (35... Rxb8 {allows the fork} 36. Qd6 {.}) 36. Rb3 1-0

