Michigan Chess Association

MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION

	Michigan	May June 2001
	Chess
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Games from Eger

Annotations by Vasik Rajlich

Rajlich,V
Habibi,A
Round 1, 16-Feb-2001
[B79]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.g4 Ne5 13.0-0-0 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.h5 Rac8 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Nb3 Qe5

This is a new move, it should get a thorough analysis. The queen is vulnerable on this square but the move e4-e5 for White is prevented.

18.Bd4 Qe6 19.Rh4 Qf7

The queen is very good on this square.

20.Rdh1 Be6 21.Kb1 b5 22.Qh2 b4 23.Ne2 Rxc2

It's not clear which of White's moves was a mistake but at least one of them was as Black now has a tremendous position.

24.Rxh7 Nxh7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Bxg7+

Unfortunately White has nothing better than regaining the material and going into a horrible ending.

26...Qxg7 27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.Nbd4 Rxe2 29.Nxe2 Bc4 30.Nc1 Rf8 31.Rh3 d5

This is very strong, also strong was 31...Bf1 32.Rg3 Kg5, it's not clear which was better.

32.exd5 Bxd5 33.Nd3 Rxf3 34.Rxf3 Bxf3 35.Nxb4 Kf6

This is definitely best, 35... Bxg4 36.Nc6 and White should draw without major problems.

36.Kc1 Kg5 37.Nd3

It is not clear where exactly in this ending Black should improve. I think the best place is here, maybe 37...Kxg5 38.Ne5 a6, this is probably the best line, it's not clear that White can draw this.

37...Be4 38.Nf2 Bd5 39.a4 Kf4 40.b4 Ke3

Black's king is very active but this doesn't seem to lead to anything concrete. It seems like a clear draw now.

41.Nd1+ Kd4 42.Kd2 Bf3 43.Ne3 a6 44.g5 e6 45.Nc2+ Kc4 46.Ke3 Bc6 47.b5 ½-½.

Kiss,P
Rajlich,V
Round 2, 17-Feb-2001
[E99]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.g4 Kh8 12.Kh1

My opponent frequently plays this system with 12.Kh1 and 13. Rg1.

12...Ng8 13.Rg1 a5 14.Nd3 Rf7

This was my preparation, but I don't like it any more. I think it's better to just play 14. .. f4 here and prevent white's bishop from going to the g1-a7 diagonal.

15.Be3 f4 16.Bf2 Bf8

This is a serious mistake. It was necessary to play 16...Bf6, then 17.c5 Bh4, but White has a lot of play in this line and so maybe has a slight advantage.

17.h4 Be7 18.Qe1

Now White has completely sealed off the kingside and can play on the queenside at his leisure. ...h5 is now always met with g4-g5, and g6-g5 with h4-h5. However Black can hold the queenside decently as well so a draw is probably still the correct result. However Black cannot win.

18...Ngf6

18...Nb6 19.b3 a4 20.Rb1 does nothing, only misplaces the knight.

19.b3 b6 20.Kg2 Nc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Kf1

This is a big mistake which lets Black break in on the kingside after all. It was best to play 23.Rh1, then I was going to play ...Rf8, with the idea of just holding the queenside with ...Ba6, Rfb8, etc., I think Black can draw in this case but it will be a long defense.

23...h5 24.g5 Qh3+ 25.Ke1 Ng4 26.Bf1

The only move. Now Black gets the better ending, but it's still a draw.

26...Nxf2 27.Bxh3 Nxd1 28.Be6

This move saves the game in all variations.

28...Bxe6 29.dxe6 Nxc3 30.exf7 c6

30...d5 31.exd5 Bd6 32.Kd2 e4 33.Kxc3 Be5+ is also just a draw, as is 30...a4 31.Kd2 axb3 32.Kxc3 bxa2, etc., I don't know which gives the best winning chances. The game is a simple draw, there is nothing Black can do.

31.Kd2 Nxe4+ 32.fxe4 Kg7 33.Kc3 Kxf7 34.Rad1 Ke6 35.Rd3 Bd8 36.Rgd1 Bc7 37.a3 Ke7 38.Kc2 Rf8 39.Rf1 Kd7 40.Kc3 Kc8 41.Kc2 Kb7 42.Kc3 Ka6 43.Rf2 a4 44.Rf1 axb3 45.Kxb3 Ka5 46.Kc2 Ka4 47.Rff3 Rd8 48.Rf1 Rf8 49.Rff3 Rd8 ½-½.

Rajlich,V
Foldi,I
Round 3, 18-Feb-2001
[B27]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 3.Bc4

This is a mistake, it's not a good square for the bishop. The best is just 3.d4.

3...e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb7 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.0-0 Qb8 8.Kh1

White's plan of f2-f4 is not effective here.

8...Nf6 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qd3 0-0 12.Be3 Qc8

Black has a slight edge here.

13.Bxc5 Qxc5 14.Ba6 Bc6 15.Rae1 Qb4 16.Bb5

This was a big mistake, Black can win a pawn for nothing with 16...Qxb2 since the tactic 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Na4 is met with 18...Qb5.

16...Rac8 17.Bxc6 dxc6 18.Rb1 Rcd8 19.Qe2 Rd4 20.a3 Qc4 21.Qxc4 Rxc4 22.e5

This is the best. Black's advantage is almost nonexistent.

23...Ng4

This is an interesting way to liven up the game. Normal would be 22...Nd5 23.Nxd5 cxd5 24.c3 and now either 24...Rec8 or 24...d4, with a very small advantage for Black. White can draw this easily.

23.Rbe1 Rd8 24.h3 Nh6 25.Rd1 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 g6 27.g3 Nf5 28.Rd3 Kf8 29.b3 Rd4 30.Ne2 Re4 31.Ng1 Re3

This is a slight mistake. Black could just draw with 31...Rd4 since White needs to play 32.Ne2. Or, he could play 31...Re1, etc. Without the rooks, however, White is a little bit better, his king has more space.

32.Rxe3 Nxe3 33.c3 Nc2 34.a4 f6 35.Nf3 Kf7 36.Kg1 c5 37.Kf2 a5 38.Ke2 Na1

Black's last three time-trouble moves completely destroyed his position. White is now winning.

39.Nd2 Nc2 40.Kd3 Ne1+ 41.Kc4 g5 42.Kb5

This is best, it wins by force. White can afford to give up the f4 and h3 pawns, it's just a matter of calculating. Less clear is 42.fxg5 fxe5 and now either 43.g4 Kg6 44.Ne4 Nf3 or 43.Kb5 Kg6 44.Kxb6 Kf5 45.Kxc5/e5 e4 46.Nc4 Nc2 and it's getting messy.

42...gxf4 43.gxf4 Nd3 44.Kxb6 Nxf4 45.Kxa5 Nxh3 46.Kb6 Nf4 47.a5 Nd5+ 48.Kb7 Nxc3 49.Kc6 Nd5 50.Kxc5 fxe5 51.a6 Nc7 52.a7 Ke7 53.Kc6 Kd8 54.b4 Na8 55.b5 e4 56.Nxe4 h5 57.b6 Nxb6 58.Kxb6 1-0.

Nakamura,H
Rajlich,V
Round 4, 19-Feb-2001
[B76]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Qc5 Qb8

The last half-year has shown that this is better than the previously normal 14...Qb7, since 14...Qb7 15.Qa3 Bf5 16.Bd3 Rab8 17.b3 Rb/fc8 18.Bxf5 gxf5 19.Rd3 is good for White.

15.Qa3 Be6 16.Bd3

Adams-Fedorov, Wijk yan Zee '01, went instead 16. Ba6. 16.Bd3 is a mistake, Black is a little bit better now.

16...Qe5 17.Bd2 Rab8 18.Bc3 Qg5+ 19.Kb1

Of course not 19.Rd2 Bxc3 and now 20.Qxc3 Bxa2 or 20.bxc3 Rb6 etc.

19...Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qxg2 21.Rdf1 Rfc8 22.Qd4 a5 23.h4 Rb4 24.Qe5

A brave but correct move, the endings after 24.Qf2 are better for Black though probably they can be held.

24...Bxa2+

This was too early, it leads only to a forced draw. Better is 24...Qd2, now the threat is 25...Bxa2+ winning (ie. 25.h5 Bxa2+ -+), so White can choose between 25.Rh2 Qf4, etc., and 25.b3 a4 26.Rh2 Qf4, etc., with a better ending for Black in both cases.

25.Kxa2 Rxc2 26.Rb1 Qd2

When I discovered this move I played 24...Bxa2+ without analyzing further, however amazingly White can defend this.

27.Rhd1 Rcxb2+

There are no mates. There is only this ending and a draw with 27...Ra4+ 28.Kb3 Rb4+ 29.Ka3 Ra4+ etc.

28.Rxb2 Ra4+ 29.Kb3 Qxd1+ 30.Bc2 Rb4+ 31.Ka2 Rxb2+ 32.Kxb2 Qxf3 33.Qxe7 ½-½.

Rajlich,V
Hajnal,Z
Round 5, 20-Feb-2001
[C96]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Bb7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Re8 15.b3

This is not the best move, the best is 15.Nf1, then 15...Bf8 16.Ng3 g6 17.b3 Bg7 18.Bb2 and White is better. After 15.b3 White gets tied down.

15...Bf8 16.Bb2 g6

Now White doesn't have anything natural. NCO gives this as =.

17.Qf3 Bg7 18.Rad1 Rc8 19.Bb1 Nd7

Maybe the best move here is 19...Qe7, keeping White tied down.

20.Nf1 Qb6 21.Ne3

White has to be careful that the knight isn't misplaced here if the tactics don't work.

21...Nf6

This loses by force. Black should just play 21...b4, this seems about equal.

22.Ndf5 gxf5 23.Nxf5 d5

The main try was 23...Re6, then White wins with 24.Qg3 Nh5 (24...Ne8 25.Bxg7 Rg6 26.Bd4 +-) 25.Qg5 Rg6 26.Ne7+ Kf8 27.Nxc8 +-

24.exd5 Bxd5 25.Qg3 Nh5 26.Qg4 Be6 27.Bxg7 Bxf5 28.Bxf5 Nxg7 29.Bxc8 Rf8 30.Rd5 f5 31.Rxf5 Rxc8 32.Re7 Rc1+ 33.Kh2 Qd6+ 34.Rfe5 1-0.

Rajlich,V
Vajda,A
Round 6, 21-Feb-2001
[D42]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Re1 a6 11.a3

10... a6 is unusual. I think that 11.a3 is not the best move, better was 11.Be4, then 11...Nf6 12.Bxc6, etc., and White is better.

11...Nf6 12.Bg5 Bd7 13.Bc2 Rc8 14.Qd3 g6 15.Rad1

This is probably a mistake, black now equalizes with his next move.

15...Nd5 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Bb3

This is also probably not best. White should just play 17.Nxd5 exd5 but Black is equal here.

17...Nxc3 18.bxc3 Na5

Black could also take the pawn, 18...Bxa3 19.d5 exd5 20.Rxe8 Bxe8 21.Bxd5. It's not clear that White has enough compensation.

19.Ba2 Bb5 20.Qc2 Bc4 21.Ne5 Bxa2 22.Qxa2 Bf6

This position is a little bit better for Black. White's pawns are weakened, and there are no real attacking chances.

23.Rd3 Bxe5 24.Rxe5 Nc4 25.Re1 e5 26.d5 e4 27.Rd4 Nd6 28.Qd2 Nf5 29.d6

This is necessary, 29.Rdxe4 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Nxh6 31.Qxh6 Qxd5 is even better for Black.

29...Qd7 30.Rdxe4 Rxe4 31.Rxe4 Qxd6

Now Black wins a pawn by force. If 31...Nxh6, then 32.Qxh6 Qxd6 is one possibility, another is 32.Re7 Qb5 33.c4 (33.d7 Rd8 34.c4 loses to 34...Qb1+ 35.Re1 Rxd7) which is unclear.

32.Qxd6

Unfortunately 32.g4 is bad due to 32...Qc6.

32...Nxd6 33.Re1 Rxc3 34.Re7 Rc8 35.g4

It looks like White is about to get the pawn back with a better position. However, Black has a good move here:

35...Ra8 36.Bf4

This is better than 36.Rd7 Nc4 37.a4 Ne5 38.Rxb7 Nxg4.

36...Nb5

36...Nc4 37.a4 b5 38.axb5 axb5 39.Rb7 is good for White.

37.a4 Nc3 38.a5 Nd5 39.Re4 Nxf4 40.Rxf4

Fortunately this rook ending is a draw.

40...Rc8 41.Rb4 Rc5 42.Rxb7 Rxa5 43.Ra7 Kg7 44.h4 Ra4 45.f3 Kf6 46.g5+ Ke6 47.Kf2 Ra1 48.Ke3 a5 49.Kd4 a4 50.Ra6+ Ke7 51.Ra7+ Kf8 52.Ke3 a3 53.Kf2 Kg7 54.Kg2 a2 55.Kh2 h6 56.Kg2 hxg5 57.hxg5 Kf8 58.Kh2 Ke8 59.Ra8+ Ke7 60.Ra7+ Ke6 61.Ra6+ Kf5 62.Ra5+ Kf4 63.Kg2 Ke3 64.Ra3+ Kd4 65.Ra7 Kc4 66.Rc7+ Kb5 67.Ra7 Kc5 68.Ra8 Kd4 69.Ra7 Ke5 70.Re7+
Kd6 71.Ra7 Kd5 72.Rd7+ Kc4 73.Rc7+ Kb5 74.Ra7 Kb6 75.Ra8 Kc6 76.Ra7 Kd6 77.Ra5 Ke6 78.Ra7 Kd5 ½-½.

Illijin,N
Rajlich,V
Round 7, 22-Feb-2001
[B71]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd7 9.exd6 exd6 10.Bd3

This is a new move. It's logical, White prepares Qe2+ and also to threaten f4-f5 after that.

10...Bg7 11.Qe2+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.0-0 Nc5

This is probably best, things become a little bit uncomfortable for a few moves but everything seems ok. Other moves are met with 14.f5.

14.Re1+ Kd7 15.Bc4 d5 16.Be3 Ne6 17.Rad1 Bb7

This is needed, 17...Re8 18.Nxd5.

18.Bb3 Rhe8 19.Na4 Nd4

After this the position becomes drawish. Another possibility was 19...Kc7 20.c3 Ba6, this should be =.

20.c3 Nxb3 21.axb3 Bf8 22.Kf2 Bd6 23.g3 Kc7

This is of course an oversight. Maybe Black should just play 23...Ba6 24.Nc5+ Bxc5 with a dead draw. It's equal anyway.

24.Bxa7

Fortunately after this Black has good chances to draw because the knight is trapped and if it goes to c5 then Black can play .. Bxc5 and blockade all the light squares.

24...Ba6 25.Bb6+ Kb7 26.Bc5 Bc7 27.Bd4 Bd6 28.Rxe8

White needs to play more energetically if he wants to win, maybe 28.Be5.

28...Rxe8 29.Re1 Rxe1 30.Kxe1 Bb5 31.Kd2 Ka6

Preparing 31...Ka5, etc. Black can no longer lose.

32.Nc5+ Bxc5 33.Bxc5 Bf1 34.Ke3 Kb5 35.Kd4 h5 36.Be7 Be2 37.Ke5 Bg4 38.Kd6 Bh3 39.b4 Be6 40.Bf6 Bf5 41.Bd4 Bg4 42.b3 Bh3 43.Bc5 Be6 44.h4 Bg4 45.c4+ dxc4 46.bxc4+ Kxc4 47.Kxc6 Bd1 48.Be7 Ba4+ 49.Kb6 Bd7 50.Bf8 Ba4 51.Be7 Bd7 52.Bc5 Ba4 53.Bf8 Bd7 54.Kc7 Ba4 55.Bd6 Kb5 56.Kd7 Bb3 57.f5 gxf5 58.Ke7 Bd1 59.Kxf7 Bg4 60.Kf6 Kc6 61.Ke5 ½-½.

Rajlich,V
Blasko,I
Round 8, 23-Feb-2001
[B90]

Notes by Vasik Rajlich 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Bc4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.h4 Qb6 13.Bb3 Bd7 14.Qd2 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 Be6

Probably not the best move, maybe 15...Kc7 16.hxg5 Rb8 is better, or 15...Be5.

16.Bxe6+ fxe6 17.hxg5 hxg5

A clear error, Black should play something like 17...Kc7.

18.Qxg5 Bxc3

Seems like the best try, 18...Bh6 19.Rxh6 Nxh6 20.Qxe7 Rhe8 21.Qg7 and then 22.Bxd6 is hopeless for Black.

19.bxc3 Nf6

Black had to play 19...Rxh1 20.Rxh1 Nf6 here, then 21.Qg7 and White is much better.

20.Rxh8 Rxh8 21.Bxd6 Qxf2

21...Nxe4 22.Qe5+-, or 21...Rh5 22.Qg7 +-.

22.Bxe7 Nxe4 23.Qe5 Qe3+ 24.Kb2 Re8 25.Qxe6+ Kb8 26.Qxc6 Rc8 27.Rd8 Rxd8 28.Bxd8 Nf2 29.Qb6+ 1-0.

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