Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Ippolito - Tanaka

Yesterday, in round six of the World Open at King of Prussia, another two-time New Jersey state champion, international master Dean Ippolito, defeated Christian Tanaka of California.

IM Dean Ippolito (FIDE 2437) - Christian Tanaka (FIDE 2106), World Open 7/3/2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6

The fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 has been Ippolito's favorite system against the King's Indian Defense.

6.O-O c5 7.Nc3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 a6 9.b3 Qc7 10.Bb2 Nc6 11.Rc1 Bd7

12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bxf6 exf6 16.Qd4 Qe7

In this position, White usually plays 17.e3. Ippolito tries something different.

17.Rc2 Rfd8 18.Rd1 Rd7 19.Rcd2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rad8 21.Kg1 Qe5

The point behind White's 17.Rc2 has become clear, as he is tripled up on the semi-open file against Black's backward d-pawn. White soon captures it by force.

22.c5 d5 23.e4 Kf8 24.exd5 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 f5 26.d6 Kg7 27.b4 Kf6 28.a4 Rc8 29.Rc4 Ke6 30.Rc2 h6

Now Ippolito shows fine technique in winning this endgame.

31.Kf1 g5 32.Re2+ Kf6 33.a5 Kg6 34.Re7 Rcd8 35.Rxd7 Rxd7

White's queenside pawns are about to crash through decisively.

36.b5 axb5 37.a6, Black resigns.

After 37...bxa6 38.c6, White will queen a pawn. This positional game is a good example of how to win by playing simple chess.