More From the 50th World Junior Event

In the world of serious chess there are no really easy days. Today Deepak had to play a strong young opponent, Ajgaonkar Mithil, the 10th ranked under 13 player in India.

At the top of the pairings the exalted title of Grandmaster got little deference. On the first board GM Salgado Lopez lost his lead in the event after drawing with IM Piorun, K of Poland. This came about because his closest GM rivals did not do all that well. GM Nabaty, T of Israel was defeated by IM Rombaldoni, A of Italy on board two, and GM Ray Robson of the US lost to IM Goganov, A of Russia on board three. Rombaldoni’s win vaulted him into first place with a 4 - 0 score. Salgado Lopez is tied for 2d through 6th place, and Saturday he plays Rombaldoni with a chance to regain the lead. GM Robson dropped down the standings and is now tied for 29th through 50th place.

Mr. Aaron reached a really bad position in his game. Ever resourceful, Deepak made a stubborn defense, stayed alert and took advantage of a slip from his opponent.

Mithil, Ajgaonkar (2130) - Aaron, Deepak [D15] (2288)

50th World Junior Championship, Chennai, India, 05.08.2011

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6

A topical line that has become popular in recent years. It is not seen much at the very top of the heap among the candidates and challengers for the world title, although with it Kamsky took a pair of draws from Gelfand in the Candidates’ finals, 2007. At a somewhat lower level of excellence it is more often played. Here is an example:

L'Ami, Erwin (2598) - Sokolov, Ivan (2666) [D15]

Staunton mem 5th London (8), 15.08.2007

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.gxf3 Nbd7 9.f4 e6 10.c5 h6 11.h4 h5 12.Bd3 Be7 13.Qf3 g6 14.Qh3 Ng4 15.Ne2 Nh6 16.Ng1 Bxc5 17.Nf3 Bb4+ 18.Ke2 Bc3 19.Rb1 Nf5 20.Bxf5 exf5 21.Bd2 Bxd2 22.Nxd2 c5 23.Nf3 Rc8 24.Rhd1 c4 25.Ne5 Nf6 0–1

An enduring point of interest for me is the tactics that can be created in the Slav, an opening that superficially appears to start out as a positional struggle.

5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.0–0 Bd6 9.Qc2 0–0 10.a3 Nbd7

The game is out of the “book” now. Rybka calls the position just about level.

11.e4,..

Let the party begin! Less aggressive moves such as 11 Rd1, or 11 c5, seem to let Black have a chance for an advantage.

11..., Bxf3!?

A tough decision. Possibly better is 11..., e5; first, and that might give Black more after 12 exd5 Bxf3 13 Bxf3 exd4 14 Ne2 bxc4 15 bxc4 cxd5 16 cxd5 Rc8; when the tactical melee could well resolve itself into a simplified and level position. To use Kotov’s terminology; this whole sequence includes a very “bushy tree” of variations, and a big commitment of time to calculate everything.

12.Bxf3 e5!?

White wants to build a big center. The natural counter for Black is to play to break the center up. To that end he could undertake the sacrificial line; 12... bxc4!?; and if 13 e5?! cxb3 14 Qxb3 Nxe5 15 dxe5 Bxe5 16 Re1 Rb8 17 Qc2 Nd7; and Rybka says Black is a little better than White. The game move has same motivation without seeking a material imbalance. Which path is superior I can’t judge. This is a juncture where we could use the insight of a GM to guide us to a correct evaluation.

13.exd5 exd4 14.Ne4 d3?!

This move is suspicious. Why give up the pawn before time? 14..., Ne5 15 Nxd6 Nxf3+ 16 gxf3 Qxd6; disturbs the White K-side pawns and devalues the White center pawn mass, the goal mentioned in the previous note. It is true that Black conceded the minor Exchange and the Knight has no unassailable post to which he can go. Deepak maybe didn’t care for such a result because the winning chances for Black would be small, and his tournament position made him need a win.

15.Qxd3 Ne5 16.Qd4 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Qh4?

The way things have turned out is just the opposite of what Black wanted; White has his big center. Black on the other hand makes a gesture at a K-side attack with this move, but the idea is flawed. Correct is 18..., Bxh2+; and taking the draw by perpetual if 19 Kxh2 Qh4+. White could ignore the Bishop and play 19 Kg2, then 19..., Bc7 20 c5 Qh4 21 d6 Qg4+; with the perpetual again. Or, White could vary with 21 f4, then 21..., Qg4+ 22 Kh2 f5! 23 e5? Bxe5! 24 Qxe5 Rf6; wins. White can of course improve in this line, but he has to find some creative moves. For example; 21 f4 Qg4+ 22 Kh2 f5! 23 Ra2 to meet 23..., Rf6; with 24 Qxf6! After 23 Ra2, Rae8 24 Rg2 Rxe4 25 Qb2 Qh4+ 26 Kg1 g6; and Black is not at all badly placed. The White King is awkward and the Black Bishop can maneuver through d8 to f6 where it could be dangerous.

19.f4!,..

A good defensive resource that takes away much of the sting in the attack Black wants to carry out.

19..., cxd5 20.e5 Be7?

A natural move but wrong. Oddly this is less active than 20..., Bb8; threatening 21..., Ba7. The threat would provoke White to play 21 c5, then 21..., Qg4+ 22 Kh1 Qh3 23 Be3 Bc7; and it is noteworthy how the seemingly helpless d-pawn is too poisoned for White to take it anywhere along the way. After the text White is on top. Rybka does not make the margin big, a little more than a full pawn, exactly the material difference on the board. In any event it is surely uncomfortable to be playing the Black pieces faced with two connect and advanced passed pawns in the middle of the board.

21.cxd5 Rac8 22.d6 Qg4+

The alternative 22..., Rc2 23 Bd2, is not more promising.

23.Kh1 Bh4 24.Bb2 Qh5 25.Rac1 Rxc1 26.Bxc1,..

Taking back with the Rook lets Black off the hook; 26 Rxc1 Qf3+ 27 Kg1, etc. and drawn by perpetual check.

26..., Qe2?

This move helps White reorganize his forces.

27.Qd1 Qe4+ 28.Qf3 Qf5

Black could have put his Queen here on move 26 instead of helping White to get his Queen to f3 where she covers the White King usefully. White’s advantage has grown from significant to nearly winning.

29.Rd1 Rc8 30.d7?!,..

Technique begins to slip for White. Better 30 Bd3. A difficult move to see. In the obvious line White has to find a neat move to make the development of the Bishop possible; 30 Bd3 Rc3? 31 Rd3!, works because the Black Rook and Queen must stay connected to the c8 square, otherwise there is a mate beginning with the White Queen checking on a8. Best play seems to be; 30 Bd3 h5 31 Bb6, increasing the edge for White.

30..., Rd8 31.Qd3 Qe6

Black would a little better off with his Queen on h5 keeping an eye on f3.

32.Be3 Qh6

Black is desperate. He lays a trap with this move.

33.f5 Qh5 34.Bf4??,..

Into which White falls instantly. Either 34 Qf1, or 34 Rf1, guarding the delicate point f3 are enough to seal the deal. Even 34 Qd5, wins. All the alternatives keep the Black Queen out of f3. Deepak’s young opponent may have gotten carried away with the chance to “lay a master by his heels” and lost his sense of danger.

34..., Rxd7!

Suddenly everything falls to bits. The one tricky try; 35 f6, is foiled by 35..., Qxd1+; winning a whole Rook. The final moves of the game show why capturing on d7 also loses.

35.Qxd7 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 Bf2+ 37.Kf1,..

White gives up because 37..., Be3+; and its mate the next.

0–1

A nice recovery after getting in serious trouble.

Tomorrow Aaron plays another youngster from the host country, Mohapatra Sidhant, the 9th rated under 14 in India. Sidhant has faced tough opposition to get to 1 ½ points; two 2300+ FIDE masters and two 2400+ International Masters. He lost one and drew three against tough guys! This game will be serious test for Deepak.

More tomorrow.