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Here is a fine win from a previous event. The tournament website for further information is www.gibraltarchesscongress.com
Adams–Vallejo Pons; Gibtelecom Masters, Playoff Caleta 2010; French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 c5 4 Ngf3 Nf6 5 e5 Nfd7 6 c3 Nc6 7 Bd3 Qb6 8 0-0 a5 Black could also play 8 … cxd4 9 cxd4 Nxd4 10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Nf3 when White has excellent compensation for the pawn. However, this might have been superior to the text which seems to have little influence on matters and also weakens the square b5 for future occupation by a white piece. 9 a4 Be7 10 dxc5 Qc7 To me this looks like an over-refinement which leaves White in possession of a dangerous mass of queenside pawns. The simple recapture 10 … Nxc5 is in order here. 11 Nb3 Ndxe5 12 Nxe5 Qxe5 13 f4 Qc7 14 Be3 g6 An alarming weakening of his kingside dark squares but he was clearly worried about White playing f5 in the immediate future. 15 Qe1 Bd7 16 Kh1 h5 17 Nd4 Nxd4 18 Bxd4 0-0 (diagram 1) Black’s position is already critical but this gives White a clear target for his attack. 19 f5 Bxc5 If 19 … gxf5 20 Be5 followed by Qg3+ is terminal. 20 Bxc5 Qxc5 21 fxg6 Qe7 22 Qe5 f5 Black does his utmost to stem the flow but by now his position is desperate. 23 Bxf5 Qf6 24 Qc7 Of course White avoids the exchange of queens since he has a raging attack. 24 … Qg7 25 Bd3 Bc6 26 Qd6 Rae8 27 h3 e5 (diagram 2) 28 Bb5 The last difficult move of the game. By removing Black’s bishop White extinguishes all hope of counterplay and leaves Black’s central pawns as a further target. 28 … Qe7 29 Rxf8+ Qxf8 30 Qc7 Qg7 31 Qxa5 Qxg6 32 Bxc6 Qxc6 33 Rd1 Kh8 34 Rxd5 Rg8 35 Qb5 Qh6 36 Qe2 Qc1+ 37 Rd1 Qg5 38 a5 h4 39 Qe4 Rf8 40 Qxb7 Qf4 41 Qd5 e4 42 Re1 e3 43 Qd4+ Black resigns
Early in December the London Classic will commence once more at Olympia. This year the line up is stellar, with world champion Anand being joined by world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. An additional attraction this year will be Judit Polgar, whose tactics always enliven any event in which she participates. The British contingent is down to three, one fewer than in former years, and consists of Michael Adams, the victor of this week’s game, Luke McShane who has carved a formidable reputation for himself as a giant-slayer, and the reigning British champion, Gawain Jones, who will be experiencing his first outing at such an exalted level. David Howell will not be competing this year, while Nigel Short has taken on the role of chief commentator.
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