He most celebrated Veterans versus Youth traditional team match is underway at the Botvinnik Central Chess House in the Russian capital of Moscow.
Dubbed the Nutcracker Battle of the Generations, the match is being held on Scheveningen format, i.e., each player on one side play against every player on the other side. There will be four classical games (90+40+30 seconds increment) and eight rapid games.(15+10 sec.increment)
Reliable veterans line up this year included Boris Gelfand, 51, (Israel), Alexey Shirov, 47, (Latvia) and the Russian tandem of Evgeny Najer, 42, and Evgeny Tomashevsky, 32. The all-Russian youth is bannered by 17-year-old Andrey Esipenko, Alexey Sarana, 19, Daniil Yuffa, 22, and Semyon Lomasov, 18.
After three rounds of classical matches, the overall results read Veterans, 13.0, Youth, 11.0. Esipenko provided the most impressive individual performance for the youth with 2.5/3.0, while Tomashevsky posted the same output for the veterans.
In classical games, a win is equivalent to two points and one point for a draw.
Battle of the Generations 2020
W) A. Esipenko (Russia)
B) B. Gelfand (ISRAEL)
English Opening
1. c4 ....
Many years back, this move has a less attractive reputation before British master Howard Staunton (1810-1874) resurrected the opening.in the 18th century. Today, when the benefits of flexible opening play is realized, the English Opening came into fashion and has become a favorite change-of-pace among leading players
1.... c5
Black employs the well-known Symmetrical Variation, the numerous branches of which are full of open questions. The cardinal question, though, is whether Black has a fair chance for equality.
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nc3 Nc6
4. d4 cxd4
5. Nxd4 e6
6. g3 Qb6
7. Nb3 Ne5
8. e4 Bb4
9. c5!? ....
An interesting Pawn sacrifice, which may result in dynamic equilibrium. However, it also leads to a drawish game after 9....Bxc5 10. Nxc5 Qxc5 11. Bg2 Qc4 12. Bf1 Qc5 13. Bg2 Qc4. The alternative 9. Qe2 0-0 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Bg2 b6 13. e5 Ne8 14. Bd2 probably favors White.
9.... Qc6
10. Bg2 Qa6
11. Qd4 d6
12. cxd6 Nc6
13. Qd2 Ne5
14. f4 Nd3ch
15. Kd1 Bxc3
16. bxc3 Nxc1?!
Not a good choice as it only facilitate White’s game 16....Qc4 is most accurate according to the engine with these possibilities:17. Qe3 Ng4 18. Qd4 Ndf2ch 19. Kc2 Qxd4 20. Nxd4 Nxh1 21. Bxh1 f6 22. h3 Nf2 23. Bg2 e5, and Black is ok.
17. Kxc1 e5
Another premature action. He may do better with 17....Qa3ch, reserving his choices.
18. fxe5 Ng4
19. Rd1 ....
White also obtains a satisfactory game after 19. Qd4 0-0 20. Bf1 Qa3ch 21. Kc2, etc.
19.... O-O
This move loses a piece, but 19....Bd7 is met by 20. Qd4 and White’s powerful center Pawns will soon rule the waves.
20. d7 Bxd7
21. Qxd7 Ne3
22. Qd6 b6
23. Rd2 Rac8
24. Bh3 Rxc3ch
25. Kb2 Nc4ch?!
This move loses quickly, but in any case, White wins after 25....Rc5 26. Nxc5 Qb5ch 27. Nb3, etc.
26. Kxc3 Nxd6
27. exd6 Qa3
28. d7 ....
We draw the curtain here as White’s material advantage is decisive. The rest is a matter of technique and White wins easily.
28.... Rd8
29. Rc1 g6
30. Kd3 f5
31. Ke3 Qe7
32. Rc8 Qxe4ch
33. Kf2 Qe7
34. Bg2 Kg7
35. Rxd8 Qxd8
36. Rd5 1-0
Solution to last week puzzle:
White to play and win.
White=Kd2, Ra5, Nd3, Bf3, Pb5, Pf2, Pg3, Ph4
Black=Ke6, Rb3, Rb7, Pa7, Pd5 Pd6, Pf7 Pg6, Ph5
1. Bxd5ch! Kxd5
2. b6ch Kc4
3. Ra4ch 1-0
If 3....Kb5 4. bxa7 and wins.
Black to play and win.