This year’s London Classic, the fourth in succession, has been announced for the dates of December 1-10. The line-up, as usual, will include the world’s best, amongst whom are former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and world ranked number two Lev Aronian. These two recently tied a match 3-3 in Zurich and this week’s game and puzzle are taken from that event.
The World Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand is now over. For all games and comments see the header in The Times chess twitter feed (@times_chess).
White: Vladimir Kramnik. Black: Levon Aronian. Zurich Chess Challenge 2012. Semi-Slav Defence 1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 Nc3 e6 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bxf6 Qxf6 7 e3 Nd7 8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 g6 10 0-0 Bg7 11 Re1 0-0 12 e4 e5 13 d5 Rd8 14 Re3 b5 15 dxc6 bxc4 16 Nd5 Qe6 17 cxd7 Rxd7 18 Qa4 Bb7 19 Qxc4 Bxd5 20 exd5 Qxd5 21 Qxd5 Rxd5 22 Rae1 Re8 23 g4 Kh7 24 g5 hxg5 25 Nxg5+ Kg8 26 f4 Rb8 27 fxe5 Rxb2 28 Nf3 Rxa2 29 e6 fxe6 30 Rxe6 Rf5 31 Nh4 Rf4 32 R6e4 Rf6 33 Rg4 Kf7 34 Rc1 Bh6 35 Rc7+ Ke8 36 Re4+ Kd8 37 Rh7 Bf8 38 Rd4+ Kc8 39 Rc4+ Kb8 40 Rd7 g5 41 Ng6 Bd6 White resigns
Spot the Move 805: White to move
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This position is a variation from Kramnik-Aronian, Zurich Chess Challenge 2012. Black appears to have a blockade but White can swiftly dismantle it. How?
Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 805, 3 Thomas More Square, London E98 1RL, or email to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The first correct answer drawn after next Saturday wins £20.
Solution to Spot the Move 803:
1 Qxd7! destroys Black. The main variation is 1 ... Rxd7 2 Re8+ Kh7 3 Be4+ g6 4 Rxd7 winning easily.