Young Azeri shines

The 18th Aeroflot Open in Moscow paid off for Azerbaijan chess. 

Aydin Suleymanli,  the 14-year-old Azeri sensation, topped the table with an undefeated 6.5 out of 9.0,   and accomplished his second GM norm. He also secured a spot for the 2020 elite Dortmund (Germany) chess classic and became the youngest player to  win a major international event. 

Although tied  with three others, superior tie-break points made Suleymanli tournament winner. Rinat Jumabayev (Kazakhstan) came in second, followed by Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) and Chithambaram Aravin of India.

With too many young guns around, it appears the chess veterans may be forced to scrounge  by delivering lectures, conducting clinics and exhibitions or turning chess journalists. Competing with the young guns for prize money is getting to be pretty strenuous and nerve wracking.

By winning the 2020 Aeroflot open, the  young  Suleymanli had to shove off a number  of his elders.  Watch the following game  where  he manhandled an eminent Iranian grandmaster.

Aeroflot Open 2020 round 08

W) P. Maghsoodloo (Iran)

B) A. Suleymanli (Azerbaijan)

Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. c4       e6 

2. Nc3    d5 

3. d4      Be7 

4. cxd5  exd5 

5. Bf4     ....

The Petrosian System, named after the Armenian world champion Tigran Petrosian (1929-1984).

5....        Nf6

6. e3      Bf5

7. Qb3   Nc6!?

An interesting line in which Black  sacs the b Pawn in return for initiative.  White obtains a satisfactory game after 

7....Qc8 8. Nf3.

8. Qxb7 ....

In Topalov-Kasparov, Linares (Spain) 1997, play went 8. g4!? Nxg4 9. Nxd5 0-0, and Black has a sound position.  

8....        Nb4 

9. Rc1    ....

The alternative is 9. Bb5ch Kf8,  when Black is not hard put to obtain equality. 

9....        O-O 

10. Qxc7               Qxc7 

11. Bxc7                Rfc8 

12. Bf4  Ne4 

13. f3 N ....

A novelty. After 13. g4 Bxg4 14. f3 Bh4ch 15. Bg3 Nxg3 16. hxg3  Bxg3ch 17. Kd2, the game leads to unclear consequences, Osmak-Buksa, Ukraine 2017.  

13....      Nxc3 

14. bxc3                g5 

15. Bg3  a5!

Note the logic in Black’s move. Not a single tempo is wasted. Here he prevents White’s freeing move Ba6.

16. a4    Na2 

17. Ra1  Nxc3 

18. Ne2 Bb4

18....Nxe2! is considered best  by the engine, e.g., 19. Bxe2  Rc2   and Black has tremendous pressure. 

19. Kf2  Bc2 

20. Nxc3               Bxc3 

21. Ra2?!              ....

This costly error  spoils White’s  chances for survival. Instead he could have tried  21. Ra3.

21....      Bb1

22. Re2?               ....

And this loses material. Again  22. Ra3 is necessary to prolong the  game.

22....      Rc4!

Black chooses the most energetic continuation. Apart from the threat on the a Pawn,  he aims to double Rooks on the c file.

23. Rc2?                ....

Hoping for 23....Bxc2 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. Rc1, when White retains drawing chances,  but Black’s next move is a crusher. 

23...       Be1ch!

The clincher, as Black breaks  the game wide open.

24. Kxe1               Rxc2

25. h4    Rac8

This is the end, as two  Rooks on an open file are irresistible. 

26. Bd6 R8c3 

27. hxg5               Rb2 

0-1

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

Black to move and win.

White=Kh2, Qg2, Bf1, Nc3, Pa2, Pb2, Pc4, Pd5, Pe4, Pg3, Ph3

Black=Kg8, Qe3, Bc5, Bd7, Pa5, Pb7, Pc6, Pd6, Pe5, Pg6, Ph7

1....            Bxh3!

2. Kxh3       ....

If 2. Qxh3 Qg1 mate, or 2. Qh1 Bg4 and wins.

2....             Qh6ch

3. Kg4          Qh5 mate.

* * * *

White to play and win.