7/8/16

Kourkounakis vs Benatsis (simul Preveza)


Ο Αλέξανδρος Μπενάτσης συμμετείχε στο χθεσινό σιμουλτανέ στην Πρέβεζα και μετά τη νίκη του επί του Σπ. Σκέμπρη έχει να δείξει και μία ισοπαλία εναντίον ενός International Master και φυσικά πολύ δυνατού και έμπειρου σκακιστή, όπως είναι ο Ηλ. Κουρκουνάκης. Ας δούμε πώς πήγε η παρτίδα τους...
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "Simultaneous Exhibition"] [Site "Preveza"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Kourkounakis"] [Black "Benatsis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E73"] [Annotator "Athanasios Basios"] [PlyCount "28"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2015.09.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 {Here Alexandros got a bit surprised but he knew that he should go for a Benoni type of position with ...c5.} Na6 $5 (6... c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Bd2 Qxc5) 7. f4 $5 c5 8. d5 Nc7 { [%cal Gb7b5]} (8... e6 $4 9. e5 $18) 9. e5 $6 Nfe8 {a sensible retreat. ... Nh5!? is risky and something that White wouldn't like to see on the board (especially in a simul) but ...Ne8 is perfectly fine. Black has nothing to complain here. His play is easy: put pressure on white's centre pawns.} (9... Nd7 $2 10. exd6) (9... Nh5 $5 10. Bxh5 f6 11. exf6 exf6 12. Bh4 gxh5 13. Qxh5 b5) 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. exd6 $6 {White gives in! Black is already better: he has the ...b5 break, his pieces are active and is ahead in development...} Nxd6 12. O-O Nf5 13. Qe1 f6 (13... Bxc3 14. Qxc3 f6 {[%csl Rg5]}) 14. Bh4 Ne3 {and here black offered a draw which White gladly (i guess) accepted.} 1/2-1/2

6/8/16

A missed opportunity and a typical Benko win


Κλείνουμε σήμερα την αναφορά μας στις παρτίδες του Γιάννη Παπαγεωργίου από το Γάζι με μία χαμένη ευκαιρία στον προτελευταίο γύρο και μία τυπική νίκη (για το Benko Gambit) στον τελευταίο. Και οι δύο αντίπαλοι του Γιάννη ήταν προετοιμασμένοι, αφού είχε χάσει σε προηγούμενο γύρο μία Caro-Kann, οπότε πολύ σωστά αποφάσισε να παίξει μία άλλη βαριάντα στο ίδιο άνοιγμα και όχι την βαριάντα προώθησης, ενώ στον τελευταίο γύρο ο αντίπαλός του επαναλαμβάνει την κλειστή βαριάντα στο Μπένκο με 5.β6, ωστόσο ο Γιάννης είναι πολύ έμπειρος στα συστήματα αυτά και καταφέρνει να εκμεταλλευθεί τις ανακρίβειες του αντιπάλου του.
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "12th Gazi-Heraklion Open"] [Site "Gazi"] [Date "2016.08.04"] [Round "8.13"] [White "Papageorgiou, Ioannis"] [Black "Santryan, Davit"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B17"] [WhiteElo "1959"] [BlackElo "1867"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2016.07.28"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [WhiteClock "0:26:58"] [BlackClock "0:13:38"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Ng3 e6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ne5 c5 10. c3 Bd6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. Nh5 Nxh5 14. Qxh5 g6 15. Qh4 Rfe8 16. Bg5 cxd4 17. cxd4 e5 $2 {after this white gets the upper hand} (17... Bc6 18. Rac1 (18. Re3 Be7 19. Rh3 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 Rad8) 18... Be7 19. Be4 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 Qb6 21. Bxc6 bxc6) 18. Bf6 exd4 19. Bxd4 Qd8 20. Bf6 Qa5 { Diagram [#]} 21. Bc3 (21. Red1 $5 {a difficult move to play but also very promising for White.} Qc7 22. Rac1 Bc6 23. b4 a6 24. a4 Qd7 25. b5 axb5 26. axb5 Bd5 (26... Bxb5 27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. Rxd6) 27. Qg5 $16) 21... Qh5 22. Qxh5 gxh5 23. Rad1 $6 (23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Rad1 $16) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Bxe1 Re8 25. Bc3 Be5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. f4 Re7 28. Kf2 Kg7 29. Re1 Rxe1 30. Kxe1 Be6 31. a3 Bd5 32. Kf2 h6 33. g3 b6 34. Ke3 Kf6 35. b4 Bg2 36. Be2 h4 37. g4 Ke6 38. Bf3 Bf1 39. Kd4 f6 40. a4 Kd6 41. a5 bxa5 42. bxa5 Bb5 43. Ke4 Bc6+ 44. Ke3 Bb5 45. Kd4 Ba6 1/2-1/2

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "12th Gazi-Heraklion Open"] [Site "Gazi"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "9.13"] [White "Samakas, Anastasios"] [Black "Papageorgiou, Ioannis"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A57"] [WhiteElo "1765"] [BlackElo "1959"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2016.07.28"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [WhiteClock "0:48:45"] [BlackClock "0:47:30"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 g6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Nbd7 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. h3 (9. a4 Qxb6 10. a5) 9... O-O 10. Be2 a5 11. O-O a4 12. Qc2 Nxb6 13. Nd2 $2 (13. Bf4 $1 e6 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Rad1 $16) 13... Ba6 (13... e6 $5 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Rd1 Qb8 $1 16. Bf3 Nfd7 17. Rb1 (17. e5 $2 d5 $17) 17... Ne5 18. Be2 Nc6 19. Nf3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 $17) 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qd3 Qa8 16. Nb5 Ra5 17. Na3 Nfd7 (17... Qa6 $5) 18. Ndc4 Ne5 (18... Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Bd2 Qa6 22. Qxa6 Rxa6 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Rb6 25. Rab1 Rfb8 26. Rxb6 Rxb6 27. f4 Rb2 28. Rf2 a3 {and black is better}) 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bd2 Ra7 21. Bc3 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rfc1 Rb8 24. Rab1 Kg8 25. f4 Nd7 26. Nc4 Rb4 27. e5 $6 { [%csl Rd5]} (27. a3 Rb3 28. Rc3 Rab7 29. Rbc1 Rxc3 30. Rxc3 Nb6 31. Ne3 Nd7 32. Nc4) 27... Nb6 28. Nxb6 Rxb6 29. f5 $2 (29. exd6 exd6 30. Re1 Rb4 31. f5 Rd4 { [%csl Rd5]} 32. Qe3 Qd8 33. Qh6 Qf8 {black should be ok in any case}) 29... dxe5 30. Rxc5 Ra5 $1 31. Qc3 Rxc5 32. Qxc5 Rd6 {[%csl Rd5]} 33. fxg6 hxg6 34. Rd1 Qd8 35. Kh2 e6 36. Qc3 Rxd5 37. Re1 Qd6 38. Rf1 Rd4 39. Qe3 e4+ 40. Kg1 Qd5 41. Rf4 Rd1+ 42. Kh2 Qd6 43. h4 Rf1 44. g3 Rxf4 45. gxf4 Qd3 46. Qb6 Qe2+ 47. Kg1 Qg4+ 48. Kf2 Qxf4+ 49. Ke2 Qf3+ 50. Kd2 Qd3+ 0-1

4/8/16

Back on track!


Μετά από μερικά ατυχή αποτελέσματα ο Γιάννης Παπαγεωργίου κέρδισε και πάλι χθες σε μία από τις αγαπημένες του βαριάντες στο Benko Gambit.
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "12th Gazi-Heraklion Open"] [Site "Gazi"] [Date "2016.08.03"] [Round "7"] [White "Fragiadakis, E."] [Black "Papageorgiou, I.."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A57"] [WhiteElo "1842"] [BlackElo "1959"] [PlyCount "102"] [EventDate "2016.07.28"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [SourceDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 {a positional continuation. White tries to keep the queenside closed and use to his advantage the presence of the a pawn.} g6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 (7. Nf3 Qxb6 8. e4 Bg7 9. Nd2 O-O) 7... Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 (9. a4 Qxb6 10. a5 Qb4 11. Ra4 Qb7) 9... Nbd7 10. O-O Nxb6 11. a4 (11. h3) 11... Bg4 12. Nd2 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Qc7 14. a5 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Qb7 16. Bd2 Ne8 17. f4 $6 (17. Na4 Nc7 18. Nab6 Rad8 19. Bc3 $14 {this is what white should be trying to achieve: blockade the queenside with his knights, exchange the strong g7 bishop and then decide the future course of action.}) 17... Nc7 18. Ra2 Nb5 19. Na4 e6 $5 20. Nab6 $2 (20. dxe6 fxe6 21. Bc3 Nd4 (21... Nxc3 $6 22. bxc3 $16) 22. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qc6 24. Nab6 Nxb6 25. Nxb6 Rae8 26. b3 ( 26. Qxa6 $2 Qxe4 (26... d5) 27. Qb5 {prevents black from capturing on f4 but already black is better}) 26... d5 $13) 20... Rad8 (20... Rae8 $1 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Nb6 Qb7 23. Qf3 exd5 24. exd5 Bd4+ 25. Kh1 f5 26. b4 Re4 27. bxc5 Bxc5 { black controls the e file, has several targets to attack and is better coordinated.}) 21. Qd3 exd5 22. Nxd5 Nf6 23. Nxf6+ Bxf6 24. Bc3 Bxc3 25. bxc3 d5 26. exd5 Qxd5 27. Qxd5 Rxd5 {black is better but too many pieces have been exchanged and white might be able to cover his weakenesses.} 28. Ne5 $2 { Obviously there is no reason White should give up a pawn and ruin his position in three moves!Probably it has something to do with time situation. It happens sometimes especially when you are not satisfied with thw course of the game and you don't know exactly what you are doing on the board!} Nxc3 29. Rc2 Ne4 30. Re1 f5 31. g4 $2 Rfd8 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Ree2 Rd2 34. Nc6 $2 (34. Rg2+ { white needs to give this check because this way he avoids the variation played in the actual game and the exchange of rooks.} Rxg2+ 35. Rxg2+ Kf8 (35... Kh8 $4 36. Nf7#) 36. Rb2 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Rd2+ 38. Rxd2 Nxd2 39. Nd7+ Ke7 40. Nxc5 $11) 34... Rxc2 35. Rxc2 Rd1+ 36. Kg2 Rd2+ 37. Rxd2 Nxd2 38. Kf2 (38. Ne7+ Kf7 39. Nxf5 Ke6 40. Ne3 Nb3 41. Kf3 Nxa5 42. Ke4 {black is a pawn up but white is somehow better coordinated}) 38... Kf7 39. Ke2 Nb3 40. Kd3 Ke6 41. Kc4 Kd6 42. Nb8 {[%csl Rb8] white's knight got trapped!} Nxa5+ 43. Kc3 Nc6 44. Nxa6 Nb4 45. Nb8 Nd5+ 46. Kc4 Nxf4 47. Na6 Ne6 48. h4 h5 49. Kd3 Nc7 50. Nb8 Nd5 51. Na6 Nb4+ 0-1
Στο μεταξύ σκακιστική δράση υπάρχει και στην περιοχή μας. Από αύριο και για το τριήμερο 5-7 Αυγούστου υπάρχουν σκακιστικές δραστηριότητες στην πόλη της Πρέβεζας, ενώ την Κυριακή στις 19:30 στο Θεατράκι Παραμυθιάς το καθιερωμένο πια (εδώ και μερικά χρόνια) τουρνουά γρήγορου σκακιού. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στους ακόλουθους συνδέσμους α) Πρέβεζα β) Τουρνουά Παραμυθιάς

2/8/16

Action from Gazi_2016


A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "12th Gazi-Heraklion Open"] [Site "Gazi"] [Date "2016.08.01"] [Round "5.10"] [White "Mitsis, Georgios"] [Black "Papageorgiou, Ioannis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A43"] [WhiteElo "2174"] [BlackElo "1959"] [Annotator "Alterman,B, Basios Athanasios"] [PlyCount "157"] [EventDate "2016.07.28"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [WhiteClock "0:56:44"] [BlackClock "0:00:32"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 d6 ({probably the better choice if we compare the styles of play between the two players.} 5... Bb7 6. Qd3 f5 $146 7. Nbd2 (7. Qxb5 Bxd5) 7... c4 8. Qd4 Na6 9. c3 {Kramnik doesn't like position after} (9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Qxe4 Nb4 11. Rd1 Nxd5 $1 12. c3 (12. Rxd5 Qa5+ 13. c3 Qxa2 $5 {With unclear game.} (13... e6 $4 14. Qf4 $18 {[%csl Rf7] [%cal Gf3e5]}))) 9... Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Qb6 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Re4][%cal Ga6c7,Ga6c5]} 11. O-O-O (11. g4 $6 fxg4 12. Ne5 Qd6) 11... g6 12. Qd4 (12. Bg3 Bg7 $15 { [%cal Gb5b4,Gg7b2]}) 12... Rg8 (12... Qxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc7) 13. e4 Bg7 $5 { Sharp, temping, but probably not the best. After} (13... Bh6+ 14. Bg5 Qxd4 15. Rxd4 Bxg5+ (15... fxe4 16. Bxh6 exf3 17. gxf3 $13) 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Nh3 fxe4 18. b3 $13 {the position is unclear.}) 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Re1 Nc5 17. Rxe7+ Kf8 18. Nd4 (18. Ne5 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Rg7 20. Rxg7 Bxg7 21. f4 Bxd5 $17) 18... Rxa2 19. Nxf5 $6 {Too active. Better was} (19. Kb1 $1 Ra5 (19... Ra8 $1) 20. Nxf5 Nb3 {And now!} 21. Be2 $3 Ra1+ 22. Kc2 Rxh1 23. Re8+ $3 Kxe8 24. Bh5+ Kf8 25. Be7#) 19... Bxd5 20. Nd6 (20. Kb1 $1 Ra8 21. Nd6 Nb3 22. Kc2 Be6 23. f4 $36) 20... Ra1+ 21. Kc2 Bh6 22. Re8+ Kg7 23. Rxg8+ (23. Nf5+ Kg6 24. Rxg8+ Bxg8 25. Ne7+ $11 Kg7 26. Nf5+ $11) 23... Bxg8 24. Nf5+ $11 Kg6 25. Nxh6 $4 { Last mistake. Perpetual check was possible after} (25. Ne7+ $11) 25... Nb3 $1 26. Bxc4 Bxc4 27. Rxa1 Nxa1+ 28. Kb1 Nb3 29. Ng4 Kh5 $1 {[%cal Rh5g4,Rh5h4]} 30. Nf6+ Kxh4 31. Nxh7 Bd3+ 32. Ka2 Nc1+ 33. Ka3 Bxh7 {0-1 (33) Kramnik,V (2758)-Topalov,V (2702) Monte Carlo 2000 CBM 076 (Alterman,B)}) 6. e3 Nd7 7. a4 Qa5+ 8. Nbd2 bxa4 $2 {[%csl Ra4,Ra7,Rc4] This capture allows White to get the upper hand. Now he can use the c4 square and black's pawn are weak.} (8... Nxd2 9. Nxd2 (9. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 10. Nxd2) 9... Qb4 {[%cal Gb4h4]} 10. f4 (10. Bg3 bxa4) 10... bxa4 11. Rb1 Qb7 12. Qf3 g6) 9. c3 Nxd2 10. Nxd2 Qb6 11. Nc4 (11. Qxa4 $5 Qxb2 $4 12. Rb1 Qxc3 13. Qc6 $18) 11... Qb3 12. Rxa4 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 Bb7 $4 $18 14. e4 $2 {Not a bad move but still if you can finish the game in two moves... It seems that both players missed Nxd6+ and Re4+ with a crushing position for White.} (14. Nxd6+ exd6 15. Re4+ $1 Be7 16. Rxe7+ Kf8 17. Rxd7) 14... e6 15. Na5 Rb8 16. dxe6 $6 fxe6 17. Nxb7 Rxb7 18. Kc2 Be7 19. Bg3 Kf7 20. Be2 Rhb8 21. Ra2 Rb6 22. Rd1 R8b7 23. f4 g6 24. Bf2 (24. Bc4 Nf6 25. f5 Nxe4 26. fxe6+ Kg7 27. Bf4) 24... a5 25. Kc1 Nf6 26. Bf3 Nd7 27. Rd2 Bd8 28. g3 $6 (28. e5 $5 d5 29. c4 d4 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 {maybe white didn't want to play this position. He is an exchange up but he has to find a way to open up the position for his rooks.} ) 28... e5 29. Ra4 Ke8 30. Bg2 exf4 31. gxf4 Ne5 {This is an interesting moment in the game: black has the inferior position and he lashes out with ... Ne5!? trying to complicate matters. What should White do?} 32. h4 $1 {Covers the g5 square and correctly (for once in the game) avoids complications, for two reasons: a) the variations with fxe5 are difficult and you might make a mistake which obviously you don't want. b) black probably has calculated the piece sacrifice, so why not use the time and play an equally strong (if not stronger move) which black might have not analyzed?} (32. fxe5 Bg5 {this was black's idea} 33. b4 axb4 34. cxb4 Rxb4 35. Rxb4 cxb4 36. exd6 b3 37. e5 Bxd2+ (37... b2+ 38. Kb1 Bxd2 39. Bxb7) 38. Kb2 Rb8 39. Ba7 $18) 32... Rxb2 33. fxe5 Rb1+ 34. Kc2 R7b2+ 35. Kd3 Rxd2+ 36. Kxd2 Rb2+ 37. Ke3 dxe5 38. Bf1 Kd7 39. Bg3 Kd6 40. Ra1 {good move, brings the rook into play} Kc6 {A practical decision, abandons the e5 and a5 pawns in order to take the h4 pawn and use his kingside pawns} 41. Bxe5 Bxh4 42. Rxa5 Bf2+ 43. Kd3 g5 44. Be2 $4 (44. Bh3 h5 45. Be6 g4 46. Bd5+ Kd7) 44... c4+ 45. Kxc4 Rxe2 46. Bd4 Bxd4 47. Kxd4 {the endgame phase! } Rg2 $6 (47... Rd2+ $1 48. Ke3 (48. Ke5 h5 49. Kf5 g4 50. Ra6+ Kc5 51. e5 g3 52. Ra1 (52. Rg6 $4 g2 53. e6 Kd6 54. Rg7 Rf2+ 55. Ke4 h4 56. e7 Kd7 57. Ke3 Ra2) 52... g2 53. Kg5 Kc4 54. Kxh5 Re2 55. Kg4 Rxe5 56. Kf3 g1=Q 57. Rxg1 Kxc3) 48... Rg2 49. Kf3 Rg1 {the difference is in the activity of the king. In the end black loses the game due to the active white king. Probably here should have forced white's king to move back or allow inroads for his king too.}) 48. Ra6+ Kb7 $2 {Now the king is far away from the c and e pawn} (48... Kb5 { [%cal Gb5c4,Gg2d2]} 49. Rh6 Rd2+ 50. Ke5 g4 51. Rxh7 g3 52. Kf4 g2 53. Rg7 Kc4 54. Kf3 Kxc3 55. Rxg2 Rxg2 56. Kxg2 Kd4 57. Kf3 Ke5 $11) 49. Rh6 Rd2+ 50. Ke5 Rd7 51. Kf5 Re7 52. e5 Kc7 53. Ra6 g4 54. Kf6 $6 (54. Ra7+ $1 {Computer finds a clear victory here ...} Kd8 55. Ra8+ Kd7 56. e6+ Kd6 57. Ra6+ Kd5 58. Kf6 Rc7 59. e7 Rc8 60. Kf7 g3 61. e8=Q Rxe8 62. Kxe8 Kc4 63. Ra4+ Kxc3 64. Ra3+ $18) 54... Kb7 $2 (54... Re8 $5 55. Ra7+ Kc6 56. Rxh7 g3 57. Rg7 Rf8+ 58. Ke7 Rf3) 55. Ra4 Rc7 56. Rxg4 Rxc3 57. Rg7+ Kc8 58. Rxh7 Rf3+ (58... Kd8 59. Rh8+ Kc7 60. e6 Rf3+ 61. Ke7 Rf2 62. Ke8 Kd6 63. e7 Ra2 64. Rh6+ Kc7 65. Kf7) 59. Ke7 Kc7 60. e6 Rf2 61. Rf7 {white makes it a little more difficult that it is but the balance is clearly in his favour now.} (61. Ke8+ Kd6 62. e7 Rf4 (62... Re2 63. Rh6+ Kc7 64. Rf6 Re3 65. Kf8 Kd7 66. Rf7 Kd6 67. e8=Q) 63. Kd8 Ra4 64. Rh6+ ) 61... Rh2 62. Rg7 Rh1 63. Rg2 Rh7+ 64. Kf6 Rh1 65. Rd2 Rh6+ 66. Kf7 Rh7+ 67. Kg6 Rh1 68. e7 Rg1+ 69. Kf7 Rf1+ 70. Ke8 Rf3 71. Rh2 Rf1 72. Rh7 Rf2 73. Rf7 Rh2 74. Kf8 Rh8+ 75. Kg7 Re8 76. Kf6 Kd7 77. Rh7 Kd6 78. Rh1 Rxe7 79. Rd1+ 1-0