Refuting the Marshall Gambit
The yearly Biel (Switzerland) Chess Festival, one of the longest running international events in the European circuit, was held July 23-30 in the city of Biel.
The 49th edition had the traditional open Swiss and a four-player junior matches. But the main event was the match between French top GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and many-time Russian champion Peter-Svidler. The four-game match was conducted in rapid and classical time controls. When the smoke cleared, Vachier-Lagrave’s amazing run continued, easily defeating Svidler, 3.0:1.0 in classical chess, and 2.5:1..5 in the rapid.
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Still in Europe, a strong tournament was held in Germany, simultaneously with the Bilbao joust. The 44th Dortmund GM Meeting (8 GMs), became a Maxime Vachier-Lagrave tournament, in that he scored 5.5 out of a possible 7.0, to be followed only at a respectful distance by Lenier Dominguez (Cuba), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) with 4.0 each. The 25-year-old Frenchman, who went undefeated, gained significant rating points (not counting Biel) and moved into second spot with 2814 in the August 2016 world rankings.
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MVL’s deep opening preparations were displayed in this game, where he refutes the ever dangerous Marshall Gambit.
49th Biel Festival
Classical Game 2
W) M. Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)
B) P. Svidler (RUS)
Ruy Lopez
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 0-0
8. c3 d5
The Marshall Gambit, in which Black sacs a pawn in exchange for quick development and long lasting Kingside initiative, is one of the oldest and most popular openings in the history of chess. The opening was named after its pioneer and leader Frank James Marshall (US champion 1909 to 1936), who first played the gambit against Cuban world champion Jose Raul Capablanca in the great 1918 New York tournament.
9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Nxe5 Nxe5
11. Rxe5 c6
12. d3 ...
For some time, 3. d4 was the normal developing move, but after some unpleasant experiences by White, Ruy Lopez advocates switched to the text, which came into fashion as an effective shield against Black’s Kingside attack.
12... Bd6
13. Re1 Bf5
After 13...Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 (threatening to harass the Queen with 16. Rh4), the idea 15...g5?! is no longer possible because after 16. Bxg5 Qf5, the Rook on e4 is defended.
14. Qf3 Qf6
After 14...Re8 15. Rxe8ch Qxe8 16. Nd2 Qe1ch 17. Nf1 g6, the game hangs in the balance. Or 14... Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 Bxd3 17. Nd2 Qf5 18. Bd4 Rae8 19. Kg2 Qxf3ch 20. Kxf3 Re6, with equal chances Wei Yi-Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2016
15. Nd2 Qg6 16. Bd1 Bxd3 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Qxe4 19. Rxe4 f5
There are other alternatives, but 19...Rae8 is most accurate according to the engine.
20. Re2 Rfe8 21. Bd2 Bf4 22. Be1 Nb6 23. g3 Bc7 24. Rxe8ch Rxe8 25. Bf3 Re6 26. b3 Be5 27. Rd1 Kf7 28. Kf1 g6 29. Rc1 a5?!
A dubious move which makes White’s task easier by targeting the a-pawn. Better is 29 ...g5, though White still has a slight edge.
30. c4! ...
Suddenly the a5 pawn hangs. and Black can do nothing.
30... bxc4 31. Bxa5 cxb3 32. axb3 Nd5 33. Rxc6! Rxc6 34. Bxd5ch Re6 35. Bd2 Ke7 36. Bxe6 Kxe6
After a series of combinative play, White emerged with a passed pawn, which is decisive. Now the Frenchman’s technique becomes manifest.
37. Ke2 Kd5 38. Kd3 h5 39. b4 Bd6 40. Kc3 h4 41. Be3 h3
After 41...hxg3 42. hxg3 Be5ch 43. Kb3 is hopeless.
42. b5 Ke4 43. b6 Kf3 44. b7 Bb8 45. Kd3 Kg2 46. Bf4 Ba7 47. g4! 1:0
Not 47. b8Q? when Black draws after 47...Bxb8 48. Bxb8 Kxh2 49. g4ch Kg2 50. gxf5 gxf5.
Solution to last week’s pussle:
Black to play and draw.
White=Ke4, Rf5, Pd3
Black=Kf8, Rf7, Pc5
1... Rxf5 2. Kxf5 Kf7 3. Ke5 c4!
3...Ke7? 4. Kd5 c4 5. Kxc4 Kd6 6. Kd4 and White wins.
4. dxc4 Ke7 5. Kd5 Kd7 6. Kc5 Kc7 7. Kb5 Kb7 and draws.
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