Chess problems #1

Black to move and win!

Source:
Hammer, Jon Ludvig  (2608)   --   Carlsen, Magnus  (2868)
Game: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1716673

Sergey Karjakin only player with full point after two rounds

In the Super GM tournament in Norway, Sergey Karjakin is the only player, after two rounds, with full points. He beat Jon Ludvig Hammer, the second best player in Norway (after Magnus Carlsen).

Levon Aronian is second with 1.5 point after beating Kamura in a Slav Exchange game. 

The most interesting came before hand was of course the game between Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand. The reason it was interesting was because of their World Championship match later this year, but the game ended in a draw.

Carlsen "Deeply Disappointed" by FIDE

FIDE made a decision to sign a match contract stating that the match between Anand and Carlsen will be held in Anands hometown Chennai 6-26 November 2013.

This made Magnus Carlsen to state that he was deeply disappointed by FIDE for signing a contract without going through the bidding process outlined in the WC regulations, and for not choosing neutral ground.

Magnus added in the statement that he and his team still will start preparing for the match.

Aronian wins Alekhine Memorial 2013

Last week one of my favorit player, Levon Aronian, won the Alekhine Memorial 2013 tournament that was played in both Franch (Paris, round 1-5) and Russia (Saint Petersburg, round 6-9).

Aronian won his final game against the player GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, while GM Boris Gelfand  only got a draw against World Champion Vishy Anand.
Aronian and Gelfand both ended up on 5.5 out of 9 point, but Aronian won on tie break.

Aronian (white) winning position.

French Defense: Knight Variation

When I play live blitz chess, i often mean this variation:

1. e4 e6 2. Sf3

This variation is the 3rd option (after 2. d4  and 2. d3 (King's Indian Attack)) on both chess.com (1824 games) and chessgames.com (740 games).
The reason behind this move is probably is that it is a naturell developing move, it develops the Knight to a good square.

Responses suggested by Opening explorers is:

2... c5

• 28,317 games on chessgames.com
• 66,854 games on chess.com 
• 62,423 games on chesstempo.com

2... d5

•  668 games on chessgames.com
• 1676 games on chess.com
• 1367 games on chesstempo.com

Playing 2... d5 can transpose to French Exchange variation, or the Two Knight Variation (Good live video with commentary on the Two Knight Variation).

My opinion on this opening is to play d5, because it stays in the french,  we can reach exchange variation or the advance variation with a knight on f3. Are you familier with The Sicilian opening feel free to place c5 here directly. 

French Defense: Exchange Variation

1. e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5

Other opening that can transpose to this position:
Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5)
Queen's Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5)

Plus side for Black:

• No weakness in the pawn structure
• The light squared bishop is no longer a bad bishop! Since the blocking e6 pawn is gone!
• White strategic options is limited

Negative side for Black:

• White has the first move in a symmetrical position
• White can use the open e-file to double rook
• White has the e5 outpost (putting a Knight on e5 would be great)

Blacks plan is to defend the e5 square as much as possible since White want to use this as outpost (stated above).
This is a game, played by Paul Morphy against S. Smyth back in 1859 in a blind fold simul, that show what's going to happen if black ignore the e5 square threat: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1281985
Already at move 6..Be6 black is consided to do an inaccuracy.

White has two main continuations here:

• 4. Nf3 
• 4...Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O
• 4.Bd3
• 4...Bd6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O

chessgames.com has a very nice collection on how to beat the French Defense Exchange Variation: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1019741
Some of the games in the collection is played in the "Delayed exchange Variation", where White plays 3. Nc3 instead of 3. exd5

And directly after Blacks 3. Bb4 (The Tarrasch Variation) White exchanges the pawns just like in the normal Exchange Variation.

French Defense Traps #1

A common trap in the French Defense Advance variation is the following trap:

 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 b6 4. c3 Ba6 5 Bxa6 Nxa6 6. Qa4+

  and the knight is lost!