Schacksnack

The Blitz tournament in LCC was taken place on the evening of 8 December 2014 and ended in a tie-break between GM Michael Adams, England (2715) Hikaru Nakamura, U.S.A.(2906) and Vladimir Kramnik, Russia (2731) with 17/30. The tie-break was won by Adams because of the better  individual result against his rivals. Nakamura was second and Kramnik third. Anish Giri, Netherlands (2757) got 16, Viswanathan Anand, India (2811) 10 and Fabiano Caruana, Italy (2695) 9. This tournament decided the draw order for the main tournaments which starts tomorrow, Wednesday.

More information and all the games at LCCEliteBlitzsite

There were many interesting  blitz games and particularly the following stick to your mind:

Anand,Vishy (2811) – Nakamura,Hikaru (2906) [B30]
London Chess Classic Blitz Olympia (3.1), 08.12.2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 Thus the Rossolimo variation has turned out to be the Moscow variation. 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.d4 While Black has the pair of Bishops White is ahead in development and tries to open the position in his favour. 7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Rc8 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.b3

Suggest a continuation for Black!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11…b5!? This looks risky considering the retarded development of the kingside. It’s very instructive to see how Anand exploits his lead in time. Of course 11…e6 is the standard move. 12.Bg5 bxc4 13.Nd5 h6 This gives White more time but it’s not easy to suggest any other continuations involving openings of lines since this would normally be advantageous to White. 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qf3 The aggressive queen move is also a prophylactic move preventing Black from playing the pawn to e6. 15…h5 15…Rg8 followed by 16…Rg6 and 17…e6 is another idea to improve Black’s kingside. 16.h3 Bh6?

How does White exploit Black's misplacement of the Bishop?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.Nf5 Naturally! 17…Bf8 The bishop is needed here as otherwise e7 would fall and destroy Black’s pawn formation completely. 18.bxc4 18.Nxd6+! exd6 19.Nxf6+ Ke7 20.e5 is a quicker and prettier win. However Anand prefers quieter methods using his universal style to the outmost. 18…e6 19.Rab1 Bc6

Suggest some firework for White!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.Qc3 Good enough but more spectacular is 20.Nxf6+! Qxf6 21.Nxd6+ Bxd6 22.Qxf6 and White is winning material. 20…Rh6 21.Nxh6 Bxh6 22.Nxf6+ Ke7 23.Nd5+ Bxd5 24.exd5 e5 25.Rb7+ Kf8 26.Qf3 Rc7 27.Reb1 Qe7 28.Rxc7 Qxc7 29.Qxh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh7 31.g3 a5 32.Rb3 a4 33.Rb4 White plays cooly in the whole game and wins in the manner he wants. 33…Qa7 34.Kg2 Bd2 35.Rb5 A more stable square for the rook. 35…Bc3 36.c5! This deciding break had to come sooner or later. 36…dxc5 37.d6 Bd4 38.Qe4+ Kg7 39.Rb7 Qa6 40.Qg4+ Black is shortly mated, so  1-0

The former world No. 4 GM Michael Adams won the Blitz in LCC 2014 on his home ground with solid play. (Photo: Stefan 64 - Wikimedia 2014)

 

 

 

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