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Chess Life Online 2009 February Play Like Ray in Moscow
Chess Life Online 2009 February Play Like Ray in Moscow | Play Like Ray in Moscow |
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| By Jennifer Shahade | |
| February 23, 2009 | |
IM Ray Robson in a break between Moscow tournaments, visiting his coach Alexander Onischuk's home in Crimea.
American GM Melikset Khachiyan is also shining in Moscow, with 5/6 and a 2700+ performance in the very strong "A2" section. Round 7 Update: Ray Robson lost to GM Ildar Khairullin while Khachiyan drew on board one of the A2 section against IM Davit Petrosian. A little over a year ago, CLO posted a story, Play Like Ray, when Ray earned his final IM norm in Texas. Here are some more Robson puzzles inspired by his Aeroflot triumphs: 
White to Move, Robson-Bocharov, position after 22...fxg6.
In his round five game against GM Dmitry Bocharov (2647), Ray reached the above position. While his move does not win by force, it creates a wild chase that maximizes pressure on Black. What move did Ray play? 
White to Move Robson-Bocharov, Position after 38...Qe8
Black to Move
Van Wely- Robson, Position after 36.Ra4 In the above position against GM Loek Van Wely, Ray Robson found a sequence to lead the game to an imbalanced endgame in Black's favor. 
Black to Move
Akobian-Robson after 32. Rc1 
Black to Move
Akobian-Robson, Position after 33.Rxc4 Check out the full games from which the puzzles above were pulled: 2906 2905 2904 From the other American GMs in the A tournament, Jaan Ehlvest has 3.5/6, Onischuk has 3/6 and Varuzhan Akobian, Robson's latest victim, has 2.5. In the "A2" tournament, IM Irina Krush has 3/6, GM Alexander Ivanov has 2.5. In the B section, Bayaraa Zorigt has 2/9. Other breaking news from Aeroflot is top-seed Shakhriyar Mamedryrov's withdrawal from the tournament, due to suspicions that his opponent was cheating. Read more on chessbase.com. |