Rapport traps the queen

Written by Georgios Souleidis on 15 April 2017.

There weren’t any big surprises in the second round of the GRENKE Chess Open. The start of the second day saw some title holders only drawing to lower rated opponents, as well as a number of tournament favorites achieving relatively straight forward victories. Among them was Richard Rapport from Hungary.

Richard Rapport is one of the biggest favorites for first prize at the GRENKE Chess Open. So far the 21-year-old Hungarian has had an easy game. In the second round he finished his game against David Hoeffer by trapping his Queen.

Rapport,Richard (2696) - Hoeffer,David (2319)
GRENKE Chess Open (2), 14.04.2017

Position after 20...Dxa5:

Black captured the pawn a little too boldly on a5 and Rapport took the chance to chase the black Queen. 21.Nxc4 Qb4 Otherwise, white takes the pawn on d6. 22.Nb6 22.Na2 + was another possibility. 22... Qxb2?! After this move white can trap black’s Queen 22... Bb5 23.Nxb5 axb5 24.Qd2 Qxd2 25.Bxd2 + - Black will cost one or two pawns. 23.Bd4 Qb4 24.Nxd7 Nexd7 24... Nfxd7 25.Ra4 Qb2 26.Nb1 + - 25.Ra4 Qb2 26.Bb1 1-0

Of the top men on the first ten boards, Gata Kamsky was forced to accept a draw. The American Grandmaster playing with black pieces, could not break the defense of the young Swiss Fabian Baenziger. The performance of international players Elenva Levushkina and Melanie Lubbe was pleasing from a German perspective. Both fought hard against their much higher-rated opponents to achieve a draw. Another surprise was the draw of Fide Master Felix Meissner from Hamburg against the strong Croatian Grandmaster Ivan Saric.

Melanie Lubbe drew against GM Konstantin Landa