[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"] [Site "Monte Carlo"] [Date "2011.03.20"] [Round "8"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Gelfand, Boris"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2733"] [Annotator "Moradiabadi,Elshan"] [PlyCount "67"] [Beauty "8111335157291"] [EventDate "2011.03.12"] [EventType "tourn (rapid)"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "MNC"] [EventCategory "21"] [SourceTitle "CBM 142"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2011.05.17"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 {Ivanchuk deviates from his previous choice against Gelfand, which had produced a spectacular win for him in the previous edition of very same event!} (5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Re8 10. h4 c6 11. Kb1 Qa5 12. h5 h6 13. Bd3 Bf8 14. g4 Nf6 15. g5 Be6 16. a3 Ng4 17. gxh6 Qd5 18. Qe2 Qa2+ 19. Kc1 Qa1+ 20. Kd2 Qxb2 21. Rdg1 Bd7 22. Rxg4 Bxg4 23. Ng5 Be6 24. Bd4 Qa2 25. Rg1 c5 26. Bh7+ Kh8 27. hxg7+ Bxg7 28. Nxf7+ Bxf7 29. Bxg7+ Kxh7 30. Qd3+ Kg8 31. Bf6+ Kf8 32. Qxd6+ {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2748)-Gelfand,B (2750)/Nice 2010/CBM 135 Extra}) 5... d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 {The most critical choice. Other options are less impressive nowadays. For instance} (8. Re1 Bg4 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nxd4 12. Qd1 dxc4 $1 13. Bxc4 c5 14. Qa4+ Qd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. Be3 Rhd8 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Bb5+ Kd6 19. Rad1 Bf8 20. Rxd4+ Kc7 21. Red1 Bc5 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Bc4 Ke7 25. Nd5+ Nxd5 26. Bxd5 b6 27. a4 a5 28. Kf1 h6 29. Ke2 Kf6 30. b3 Ke7 {½-½ Kulaots,K (2577)-Fridman,D (2655)/Caleta 2011/CB05_2011}) 8... Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. g3 {Not a novelty but a rare choice. The idea is to keep the bishop protected before going for further activity with c4.} (16. c4 Qe4 17. Be3 {is what has been examined several times before.and does not seem to offer so much to White since it has lost its popularity}) (16. h3 Be4 (16... h6 $5 {is the move which seems appealing to me. Black is solid enough after this move. Although I have nothing against Kramnik's choice, I find this move a simpler way for Black to achieve complete equality.} 17. Nd2 (17. Qa4 Bd7 18. Rab1 a6 19. Nd2 Na5 20. Qc2 Qf5 21. Qxf5 Bxf5 22. Bg4 Bxg4 23. hxg4 Bd6 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Bxd6 cxd6 26. Kf1 d5 27. a4 Re6 28. Rb4 Rc6 29. Nb3 Nxb3 30. Rxb3 b6 31. Ke2 Kf8 32. Kd3 Ke7 33. f3 Kd7 34. Rb1 Kc7 35. a5 bxa5 36. Ra1 Kb6 37. Rb1+ Kc7 38. Ra1 Kb6 39. Rb1+ {½-½ Quesada Perez,Y (2614)-Bu Xiangzhi (2695)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139}) 17... Na5 18. Bf3 Qd7 19. Nb3 Nxb3 20. Qxb3 b6 21. g4 Bg6 22. Bb7 Rb8 23. Qd5 Qxd5 24. Bxd5 Bd6 25. Bxd6 cxd6 26. f4 Bd3 27. Bc6 Rec8 28. d5 Kf8 29. a4 Ba6 30. a5 b5 31. Rab1 Bb7 32. Rxb5 Bxc6 33. Rxb8 Rxb8 34. dxc6 Rc8 35. Rb1 Rxc6 36. Rb8+ Ke7 37. Rb7+ Kf6 38. Rxa7 Rxc3 39. Kg2 {½-½ Shirov,A (2749)-So,W (2668)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139}) 17. Qc1 Na5 18. Qe3 Bf8 19. c4 Qd8 20. Ne5 Bf5 21. Qc3 b6 22. Rad1 Qf6 23. Qg3 Nc6 24. Ng4 Qg6 25. d5 Na5 26. Bxc7 Bc2 27. Rc1 Nb3 28. Rxc2 Qxc2 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+ Kh8 34. Be5 Qg6 35. Bg4 Rxc4 36. Qxb3 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Bd6 39. f4 Bxe5 40. fxe5 gxh6 41. Qe3 Qb1 42. d6 Rh1+ 43. Kg3 Re1 44. Qf4 Rf1 45. Bf3 {1-0 Anand,V (2790)-Kramnik,V (2788)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135}) 16... Bf6 {Gelfand is following in Wang Yue's foot-steps.} (16... b5 17. Nd2 Na5 18. Nf1 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Ne3 Qe6 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Re5 Qd7 23. Qe2 Bd6 24. Qxb5 c6 25. Rxe8+ {½-½ Karjakin,S (2720)-Smeets,J (2657)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135}) 17. Rc1 $146 (17. Nd2 Qd7 18. Nc4 Bh3 19. Qd3 g5 20. Be3 Qd5 21. Bf1 Bxf1 22. Qxf1 Ne7 23. Rab1 Nf5 24. a4 a6 25. Qd3 b5 26. Na3 c6 27. Nc2 Qf3 28. Qd1 Qxd1 29. Rexd1 Nd6 30. Bd2 Kg7 31. Nb4 bxa4 32. Nd3 a3 33. Rb4 Ne4 34. Ra4 c5 35. Nxc5 Nxc5 36. dxc5 Red8 37. Rxa3 Rc6 38. Ra2 Rxc5 39. Rxa6 Rcd5 40. Ra2 Kg6 41. c4 Rd4 42. Rc2 Be7 43. Kf1 Bc5 44. Ke2 Re8+ 45. Be3 Rxd1 46. Kxd1 Bxe3 47. fxe3 Rxe3 48. c5 Kf6 49. Kd2 Ra3 50. c6 Ra8 51. Ke3 Ke5 52. Kf3 h5 53. Rc5+ Kd6 54. Rxg5 h4 55. gxh4 Kxc6 56. Rf5 Kd6 57. Rxf7 Ke6 58. Rf4 Ke7 59. Kg4 Rf8 60. Ra4 Kf6 61. h5 Kg7 62. Kg5 Rf7 63. Rf4 Rxf4 64. Kxf4 Kh6 65. h4 Kxh5 66. Kf5 Kxh4 {½-½ Gashimov,V (2719)-Wang Yue (2732)/Nanjing 2010/CBM 139}) 17... h6 18. c4 Qa5 $6 {18...?d7 was more reliable, it is hard to offer White a great way to improve his position.} (18... Qd7 19. d5 Na5 20. Bd3 (20. Bd2 b6 21. Bxa5 bxa5 22. Nd4 Bg6 23. Qd2 (23. Nc6 $2 Bb2 {[%csl Gb2,Rc1,Gg6]}) 23... c6 $1 {[%csl Yd4,Gf6,Gg6]}) 20... Bg4 {[%csl Rf3] is a continuation which could reveal the drawback of g3. As a result of the hanging knight on f3, White can hardly make progress.} 21. Bd2 b6 {and an opposite coloured bishop ending is all that White can get.}) 19. d5 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Bd3 Bg4 (21... Bxd3 22. Nxe5 Bh7 23. Qb3 Qb6 24. Qc3 Qd6 25. Rcd1 {[%CAl Gc4c5]} Qc5 26. Re2 f6 {does not seem like much of a trouble either.}) 22. Re4 $5 {Ivanchuk prepares an exchange sacrifice; it is not clear whether it would work out or not.} Bxf3 {Gelfand should have accepted the challenge.} (22... f5 $1 23. Rxg4 fxg4 24. Nxe5 (24. Nh4 $6 Qxa3 25. Rb1 (25. Bf5 $2 Rcd8 26. Rb1 Bf6 27. Qxg4 (27. Ng6 $4 Qf3 $19) 27... Bxh4 28. Qxh4 Qf3 29. Be6+ Kh8) 25... Bf6 26. Ng6 {[%CAl Gg6f4,Gf4e6]} Rcd8 27. Rxb7 Qc3 $17 {[%csl Re1][%CAl Ge8e1]}) 24... Rxe5 25. Qxg4 Rf8 26. Qd4 (26. Kg2 $4 Qd2 $19) 26... Qb6 $1 27. c5 Qf6 28. Bf1 Re7 29. Qd2 $44) 23. Qxf3 Bb2 $2 {But this one seems like a mistake.} (23... Re7 24. Rb1 (24. Rce1 Rce8 25. R4e2 g6) 24... b6 25. h4 Rce8 26. h5 Kf8 27. Qf5 Bf6 28. Rxe7 Bxe7 29. Qh7 Bf6 {[%csl Ga5][%CAl Ra5e1]} 30. c5 Re1+ (30... bxc5 $4 31. d6 $1 cxd6 32. Rb7 {and mate is inevitable}) 31. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 32. Kg2 bxc5 $11) 24. Rb1 {Now White has a reliable advantage thanks to his attack on Black's king and to there being opposite coloured bishops.} Qxa3 25. c5 Kf8 $2 {The final blunder which loses instantly.} (25... Rcd8 26. Qe2 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 Kf8 28. d6 $1 $40) 26. d6 $1 {The game is over now.} cxd6 27. cxd6 Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bf6 29. Qh7 $2 (29. Qd5 $1 {[%csl Rf7]} b5 (29... Rc1+ 30. Kg2 Rxb1 31. Bc4 {leads to mate}) 30. Bxb5 $18) 29... g6 30. Bxg6 fxg6 31. Rxb7 Qa1+ $4 {The last final dramatic mistake! The check on c1 would have saved Gelfand.} (31... Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Qc6+ 33. Kh3 Qe8 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 {and White cannot progress. He had to concede the draw.}) 32. Kg2 Bg7 33. Qxg6 Qf6 34. Rxg7 (34. Rxg7 Qxg7 35. Qf5+ {[%csl Rc8]}) 1-0 [Event "USA-ch"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.04.21"] [Round "7"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2615"] [Annotator "Nakamura,Hikaru"] [PlyCount "73"] [Beauty "7907978268723"] [EventDate "2016.04.14"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "USA"] [EventCategory "17"] [SourceTitle "CBM 172"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.05.12"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 $5 {The first surprise, but this was not entirely unexpected. Varuzhan had already lost to Wesley So in a very brutal Rubinstein French earlier in the tournament.} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Ra2 $5 {This idea isn't completely new, in fact it was featured in Kasimdzhanov-Gelfand from the World Cup in 2007. However, Kasim's play wasn't inspiring and the line never really came back into fashion.} Na5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Rb2 c6 (16... a6 {Not best, but maybe not that bad either.} 17. Ne5 Bxa3 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 (19. Ra2 Bxc1 20. Rxa5 Bf4 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Rxa6) 19... Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Nc6 21. Qb2 $14 {½-½ (30) Shankland,S (2634)-Robson,R (2631) Saint Louis 2014. White is slightly better, but I'm not sure if it is enough of an advantage to win.}) (16... b6 $2 17. Ne5 $1 (17. Rb5 c5 18. Ne5 Qd6 19. Bf4 Bf6 $11 {0-1 (40) Filippov,A (2607)-Bu,X (2682) Ha Long City 2009}) 17... Rad8 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 $14) 17. Ne5 (17. Qa4 Qd8 18. c4 Bf6 19. Be3 Be4 20. Rd2 b6 $11 {0-1 (52) Kasimdzhanov,R (2677)-Gelfand,B (2733) Elista 2007} 21. Ne5 Qe7 22. Ng4 Bg5 23. Bf1 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Qg5 25. Qd1 Bf5 26. Ne5 f6 27. Nf3 Qf4 28. Rde2 Bd7 29. Qe1 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Qd6 31. h3 c5 32. d5 Kf8 33. Nd2 Bf5 34. Be2 Qd7 35. Bh5 Nb7 36. g4 Bg6 37. Bxg6 hxg6 38. g5 Nd6 39. gxf6 gxf6 40. Qa1 Kg7 41. Re6 Rf8 42. a4 Rf7 43. Qc3 Nf5 44. Nf3 Qxa4 45. Ng5 Rf8 46. Re1 Nd4 47. Re7+ Kg8 48. Qd3 Nf5 49. Qe2 Qa1+ 50. Kh2 fxg5 51. Qe6+ Kh8 52. Rb7 Qd4) 17... Bxa3 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Be6 21. Be4 $6 $146 (21. Bh5 Rf8 22. Re3 Nc4 $17 {0-1 (45) Melia,S (2467)-Nebolsina,V (2310) Rijeka 2010}) (21. Qb1 $5 {This is also an interesting alternative.}) 21... Rad8 (21... f6 22. Nf3 (22. Qb1 {I suspect Varuzhan was afraid of this move because of how long he spent deciding between 21...?ad8 and 21...f6.} fxe5 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 (23... Kf8 $6 24. dxe5 Qc5 25. Qc1 Rad8 26. Qg5 Nc4 27. Bg6 Nd6 $3 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Re3 Nf7 30. Qg6 Kg8 31. Rg3 Qf8 32. Re4 Nh8 {I guess this position is equal, but the whole line feels very far from human.}) 24. Bg6 Nc4 25. Bxe8 Rxe8 26. Qxb7 Bd5 27. dxe5 Qe6 28. Qxa7 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Qg4+ 30. Kh1 Qf3+ 31. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 22... Bf7 23. Qb1 g6 24. h4 Kg7 25. h5 $44 {There is definitely compensation here, but I feel that Black should be able to defend with correct play.}) 22. Qb1 g6 23. f4 $6 {This move is probably fine, but I was very unhappy with myself during the game after the next couple of moves.} (23. h4 $1 Kg7 $8 24. h5 Nc4 $8 25. Bxg6 Nxe5 26. dxe5 Qe7 27. Be4 Rg8 {A computer move after which Black seems to be fine, but all of these moves would have been extremely hard to find.}) 23... c5 $1 24. f5 {I played this after a 45 minute think. For almost all of that time, I was trying to figure out what to do against 24...?b3. I tried to find alternatives, but nothing else besides f5 made any sense.} cxd4 $2 {A strange decision played almost instantly by Varuzhan. This decision confused me greatly. I had no concrete plan against 24...?b3, but I saw nothing better.} (24... Bb3 $1 25. Bd3 $3 {A brilliant computer move and one which I had seen, but completely underestimated.} (25. Bxb7 {Most likely, this is the move I would have played after which White cannot claim an advantage.} cxd4 (25... Rf8 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. d5 $1 Nxb7 28. Qxb3 Qxd5 29. c4 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 Na5 31. Qb5 Qc3 32. Qxc5 Nb3 33. Qxa7 Rd2 {White is up a pawn, but Black should again be able to liquidate into a drawn endgame.}) 26. Nc4 Bxc4 27. Rxe8+ Kg7 (27... Rxe8 {Not this order.} 28. Rxe8+ Kg7 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Qe1 $3 Qf6 (30... Nxb7 31. Qh4 $18) 31. Bf3 dxc3 32. Re3 c2 33. Be4 $16) 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. cxd4 Qxd4+ 30. Kh1 Bd3 31. Rd1 Bxb1 32. Rxd4 Nxb7 33. Rb4 Bxf5 34. Rxb7 a6 $11) 25... cxd4 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Nc4 Qd7 28. Nxa5 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Ba4 30. Bc4 Kg7 31. Qe4 dxc3 32. Qe5+ Kg8 33. Qxc3 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rf1 Rd7 36. Ra1 Bc2 37. Bb5 Re7 38. Kf2 $16 {I assume that this is probably still pretty close to a draw, but White can definitely press.}) (24... Bc4 $2 25. fxg6 fxg6 (25... hxg6 26. Bxg6 $18) 26. Nxc4 Nxc4 27. Bd5+ Qxd5 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Qe1 Qd7 31. Rb8 $18) (24... Bd5 $2 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 26. Ng4 Rxe2 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxd5 Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Rxd5 30. c4 Nxc4 31. f6 $18) 25. fxe6 Rxe6 26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. Bd5 $2 {Another dilemma. I played 27.?d5 because I wasn't certain if I could untangle all my pieces and win in the 27.?a2 variations. However, I simply forgot that it was possibile to sac the queen for the 2 rooks at the time.} (27. Qa2 Kg7 (27... dxc3 28. Bxg6+ hxg6 29. Rxe6 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 Rd5 31. Re7+ Kf6 32. Qe2 $18) 28. Qxa5 Rde8 29. c4 (29. Qxa7 $2 d3 30. Bxd3 Qxd3 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Qxb7+ (32. Rxe6 Qb1+ 33. Kf2 Qf5+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ $1 $11) 32... Kf6 33. Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Qc6+ Ke5 35. Qe8+ Kf5 36. Qe1 $14) 29... R8e7 30. c5 Qc7 31. Qb4 Re5 32. Bf3 Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Bxe2 Qe5 35. Qxb7+ Kh6 36. Qb5 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Qc1+ 38. Bf1 d3 39. Qxd3 Qxc5 40. Qe4 a5 41. g3 $18) 27... Qxd5 28. Rxe6 dxc3 $2 {The last blunder after which there are no remaining opportunities to save the game.} (28... Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Kxe6 30. Qe4+ (30. Qa2+ {During the game I thought this was simply winning, but to my horror I completely forgot about} Rd5 $11 {in my calculations.}) 30... Kd6 (30... Kf7 31. cxd4 Nc6 32. d5 Ne7 33. Qe6+ Kf8 34. d6 Nc6 35. Kf2 $18 {This should be winning.}) 31. Qxd4+ Kc7 32. Qxa7 Nc6 33. Qc5 Rd7 $11) 29. R6e5 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 b6 31. Qa2+ Kg7 32. Re7+ Kh6 33. Qf7 Nc4 34. Qxh7+ Kg5 35. R7e6 Qd3 36. h4+ Kf4 37. Qh6+ (37. Qh6+ Kg3 38. Qg5+ Kf2 39. Qf4+ Qf3 40. Qxf3#) 1-0 [Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2001.12.06"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Shirov, Alexei"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2706"] [Annotator "Stohl,Igor"] [PlyCount "87"] [Beauty "7427072199208"] [EventDate "2001.11.27"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "CBM 086"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.02.05"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff was extremely popular in Moscow, it helped Shirov to eliminate Topalov (in their match it came to be in 5 out of 7 games).} 3. Nxe5 {Nowadays White's main attempt.} ({After} 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O {the most solid is} Bd6 $1 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 (10. Qh5 O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ng5 $44 {or} (13... Bb4 $5 14. Be3 Re8 $44 {give White little hope for an advantage.})) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 f5 $5 (12... g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 $11 {is also playable, winning the ? back.}) 13. Qf3 (13. Re1 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rae8 15. Bc2 $6 g6 16. Qf3 Re4 $1 17. g3 Bb5 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. gxf4 Qd6 $1 20. Bxe4 fxe4 $17 {Svidler,P-Ponomariov,R/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 13... Kh8 $1 14. Bf4 Qc7 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Rfe1 Rac8 $11) 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 ({After the older} 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 (9. c4 Nf6 $132) 9... f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Bh4 $1 14. g3 Bf6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Re8 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ng5 19. f4 Nh3+ $1 20. Kg2 Rb8 21. c4 dxc4 22. Nxc4 Qd3 23. Ne3 Rxb2+ $1 24. Bxb2 Qd2+ 25. Kh1 Nf2+ $11 {½,Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee/1999/ still remains a model game. Black has a ?? for the sacrificed material, so White has again turned to the main alternative in the text.}) 8... Nb4 (8... Nf6 {is also playable and it's not simple for White to get an edge:} 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. a3 Bf6 13. Be4 h6 14. Bc2 (14. Qd3 $5) 14... Nce7 (14... Nxc3 $2 {is antipositional and only strengthens White's ?} 15. bxc3 Bc4 16. Nd2 Bd5 17. Rb1 Bg5 18. c4 $1 Bxd2 19. cxd5 Bxe1 20. dxc6 Ba5 21. cxb7 (21. Qd3 $2 g6 22. cxb7 Rb8 23. Bxh6 Re8 24. Qf3 Re6 25. Bb3 Rf6 26. Qg4 Rb6 $17 {Anand,V-Touzane,O/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 21... Rb8 22. Qh5 $1 f5 23. Bxh6 $16) (14... Nde7 15. Be3 Nf5 16. Ne2 Qd7 17. Qd3 g6 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Nf4 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Bf5 21. Qb3 Bxc2 22. Qxc2 Rfe8 $132 {Lutz,C-Jussupow,A/Bundesliga 9899/1998/}) 15. Ne5 Bf5 16. Bb3 Be6 17. Ne4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 b6 19. Qf3 c6 20. Bc2 Nf5 21. Rd1 Qh4 22. b4 Rad8 23. Bb2 Qf4 24. Qe2 Qh4 25. Qf3 Qf4 26. Qe2 Qh4 27. Qf3 $11 {½,Hracek,Z-Jussupow,A/Nussloch/1996/}) 9. Be2 {The ? is valuable, after} (9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 f6 $1 {it's White, who should be glad he has a draw after} 15. Qxc7 (15. b3 Kf7 16. Qxc7 Rhe8 17. Qc4 Qxc4 18. bxc4 b6 19. Bb2 Rac8 20. Rac1 Bd6 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. c5 Bf4 23. Rc3 Be4 $40 {Zhang Pengxiang-Motylev,A/Shanghai Summit/2001/}) 15... O-O 16. Rxe7 Qxf3 17. Rxg7+ Kh8 18. Bh6 Qxg4+ 19. Qg3 Qxd4 20. Rxg6 hxg6 21. Qh3 Kg8 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Qb3+ Rf7 $11 {Anand,V-Sokolov,I/Dortmund/1999/}) 9... O-O (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. Nc3 Nxc3 (11... Nd6 $143 12. Bb3 $36) 12. bxc3 Nd5 13. Ne5 $14 {is slightly more pleasant for White.}) 10. Nc3 {Stil the most topical moves.} (10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. c4 (14. Bf4 Na5 $5 (14... Rac8 {is also playable}) 15. Bxc7 Rac8 16. Bxa5 Qxa5 $44) 14... Qd6 15. d5 (15. Be3 $142 Bf6 16. Ra2 Rad8 17. d5 Ne5 $13) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. a4 Qg6 $1 $146 18. Bf4 Bf6 19. Ra3 Qe4 20. Be3 Rfe8 21. f3 Qg6 22. Bf2 Be7 23. Ra2 Bc5 $36 {Dominguez,L-Gelfand,B/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 10... Be6 {Shirov's move is the most popular, but not the only one.} ({Kramnik shocked Kasparov in Linares 2000 with} 10... b6 $5 {but later the interest declined, as} 11. a3 (11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Re1 $5 c5 $13 {?} 13. Bf3 cxd4 14. Nxd5 f5 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bf4 d3 $1 $132) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 16. c4 Qd8 17. d5 Nb8 18. Ne5 $1 Bf6 19. Bb2 g6 20. Qd2 $14 {is comfortable for White and} Nd7 $6 {simply costs a ? after} 21. Nxd7 Bxb2 22. Nxf8 Bxa1 23. Nxg6 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 hxg6 25. Qxa1 $16 {Kasparov,G-Olafsson,H/Kopavogur act/2000/}) ({The second most popular move is} 10... Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 (13. cxd5 Qxd5 {-10.a3}) {but maybe it will become number 1 due to} 13... Be6 $5 $146 (13... dxc4 $143 14. Bxc4 $14) 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. Be3 Na5 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. c4 Be6 18. Qc2 c5 19. Bd3 h6 20. Rad1 Qc7 21. Qc3 Rfd8 22. h3 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Rd7 24. Bf1 b6 25. Bf4 Rad8 26. Rd6 Nb7 27. Qg3 $1 $132 {Svidler,P-Ponomariov,R/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 11. Ne5 (11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ne1 c6 $5 $11 (12... Bf5 13. Be3 Bf6 14. Qd2 a5 15. a3 Nc6 16. d5 Ne5 17. f4 exf3 18. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Re8 20. Bd4 Bxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Qe7 22. c5 $16 {Svidler,P-Sulskis,S/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/})) ({The duel Topalov-Shirov took place after} 11. Be3 Bf5 $5 12. Qb3 c6 13. cxd5 (13. Ne5 a5 14. g4 Be6 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. a3 f6 (16... a4 $5 17. Qd1 Na6 $15) 17. axb4 fxe5 18. d5 cxd5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Bc4 Bxc4 21. Qxc4+ Kh8 22. bxa5 Rxa5 $11 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) (13. g4 Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nxc3 (16... Nc7 $2 17. Ne5 $1 $16 {loses material.}) 17. bxc3 Nc7 18. Rab1 Nb5 19. Ne5 (19. Bxb5 $5 Bxf3 20. Qxc6 $14) 19... Bxe2 20. Nxc6 Qe8 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Rfe1 Rb8 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} 23. Qxb8 Qxb8 24. Rxe2 Qe8 25. Nxd5 Qc6 $132) 13... Nxc3 $5 (13... cxd5 14. Rac1 a5 15. Na4 Rb8 16. Nc5 Bd6 17. Rfd1 b6 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Ne5 Qe8 20. Nc4 Bc7 21. Na3 Rb7 22. Nb5 Bb8 23. d5 Bd7 24. a4 Be5 25. d6 Qb8 26. Rc7 Rd8 27. Qc4 Na6 {Shirov,A-Topalov,V/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} 28. Rxb7 Qxb7 29. Qd5 $16) 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qxb7 Nxc3 16. Bc4 Rb8 17. Qxc6 (17. Qxa7 $5 Nb5 $13) 17... Be4 18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19. Qxc3 Bb4 20. Qc4 Bd5 21. Qd3 Rxf3 $1 22. gxf3 Qd7 23. Rfb1 Qh3 $44 {Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/EU-chT Leon/2001/}) 11... c5 {A radical continuation, critical for its evaluation is the position after White's 15-th move. Maybe it will be necessary to return to the less ambitious, but more solid} (11... f6 12. Nf3 Kh8 (12... c5 13. Be3 $1 $36) 13. Re1 Bg8 (13... c5 $5) 14. a3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nc6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bb2 f5 18. Nd2 Bf6 19. c4 Bf7 20. Nb3 b5 $5 21. cxb5 Bxb3 22. Qxb3 Nxd4 23. Qc4 Nxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 a6 26. Rad1 Qf6 27. Qxf6 Rxf6 28. Re7 axb5 29. Rxc7 h5 30. Rb7 $11 {½,Lutz,C-Van der Sterren,P/Venlo NED-GER/2000/}) 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. d5 Bc8 (13... Bd6 $6 14. a3 $1 $16) 14. a3 Na6 {An important moment. If Black could get his ? to d6 without concessions, he would have an excellent position. But Shirov will never manage and the ?a6 will actually not make another move in the whole game.} 15. Qc2 $1 {A significant improvement over the older} (15. f4 f6 16. Ng4 Bxg4 17. Bxg4 f5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. Rb1 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Nc7 21. b4 b6 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Qa4 {Baklan,V-Gunnarsson,J/EU-chT Leon/2001/} Ne8 $11 {and Black has at least equality. The text postpones the committal advance of the f-pawn till Black misplaces his forces.}) 15... f6 (15... Bd6 16. f4 f6 17. Ng4 $14 {leads to a position we will see later on, only here Black can't take en passant anymore.} ({Black also has to reckon with the unclear} 17. Qxe4 $5 Re8 18. Bh5 Re7 19. Nf7 Qc7 20. Nxd6 Rxe4 21. Nxe4 $13)) 16. Ng4 Qd6 $5 $146 (16... Bd6 17. f4 (17. f3 $143 $6 f5 18. Nf2 Qh4 $40) 17... exf3 (17... Bxg4 18. Bxg4 f5 19. Be2 $14 {[%CAl Yg2g4,Yb2b4] is different from the note above, here Black's ? is further away from its ideal d4-square and White will be the first one to get some play on the flanks (b4,g4) going.}) 18. Bxf3 Qc7 19. g3 Bd7 20. Nf2 b5 21. b3 Rae8 22. Kg2 $1 Be5 23. Rb1 Bd4 24. Bd2 b4 25. a4 Qc8 26. Rbe1 Bf5 27. Be4 Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Bh3+ 29. Kh1 Bxf1 30. Rxf1 $16 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/ Black's temporary initiative is over and his positional weaknesses have become clear, Shirov saved the game only with his opponent's help.}) ({Also accepting the pawn sacrifice with} 16... f5 17. Ne5 Bf6 18. f4 Re8 19. Bd2 (19. Be3 $5) 19... Bxe5 20. fxe5 Rxe5 21. Bc3 $44 {is not too enticing, as White fully controls the dark squares.}) (16... Bxg4 $5 17. Bxg4 f5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. Rb1 {deserved attention. Although this is a better version of the 15.f4 position (White can play also ?f4 at some moment), White's edge is minimal. Also in the game Shirov's ? aims for d4 via f6.}) 17. f3 $1 ({We have already indicated} 17. f4 $6 Bxg4 18. Bxg4 f5 {is OK for Black.}) 17... f5 {Consistent.} (17... Bxg4 $2 18. fxg4 $16 {[%csl Re4] ×e4}) (17... exf3 18. Bxf3 $14 {now or a move later leads to the same type of position Shirov has already had with Topalov and which he was trying to avoid.}) 18. Nf2 Bf6 19. fxe4 Be5 {An important intermediate move.} (19... Bd4 $6 20. Kh1 $16) 20. h3 Bd4 21. e5 $5 (21. Kh1 $2 Qg3 $17 {is not good anymore and otherwise White finds it difficult to unpin the ?, so he gives back the extra ?.}) 21... Qxe5 22. Kh1 Bd7 $6 {Somewhere here the fate of the game was decided. Shirov probably considered the ?} (22... f4 $5 23. Nd3 (23. Bd3 $2 Qh5 $40 {[%CAl Rf4f3] ?f3}) 23... Bf5 24. Nxe5 Bxc2 25. Bd3 Bxe5 26. Bxc2 Nc7 $14 {/= devoid of perspectives, but White's edge remains at best only minimal.}) 23. Nd3 Ba4 $2 {[%mdl 16384] Although this move fits tactically, strategically the exchange of the light-squared ? is very advantageous for White and Black's game will surprisingly rapidly go downhill.} ({More or less necessary was} 23... Qf6 24. Bf4 Rae8 25. Rae1 $14 {[%csl Ra6] ?a6 White is better, as the ?a6 can be activated only by a weakening g5, but this is incomparably better than the text.}) 24. Qxa4 (24. Nxe5 Bxc2 25. Bd3 $14 {leads to the ?, mentioned in the note to 22...?d7?!, but Anand rightly wants more.}) 24... Qxe2 25. Rf3 Rae8 {[%csl Re8] Black will have only problems with the ? on the e?.} (25... b5 26. cxb5 $1 (26. Qxa6 Qd1+ 27. Kh2 Rae8 $1 $132 {only complicates matters.}) 26... Nb4 (26... c4 $2 27. bxa6 $18) (26... Nc7 27. Bf4 Nxd5 28. Qc4 Qe4 29. Re1 Be3 30. Qa2 $1 $18) 27. axb4 c4 28. d6 cxd3 29. Qb3+ Kh8 30. Qxd3 $16 (30. Bf4 $5 $16)) (25... Nc7 {fails to} 26. Bf4 $16 {with tempo.}) ({Maybe the best was the passive} 25... Qe8 26. Qb3 $16 {but White retains a clear advantage.}) 26. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gd5][%CAl Ra1e1] ??e1,?d5} h6 {Practically an exchange sacrifice, but there was hardly anytrhing better.} (26... Bxb2 $2 27. Ra2 $18) (26... Rf6 {But more practical and much safer is} 27. Kh2 $1 (27. Re1 Qxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 Bg1+ 30. Kg3 Rg6+ 31. Kh4 {and there is no mate in sight:} Rxg2 (31... Bd4 32. g4 $1 (32. Re3 $2 Bf6+ 33. Kh5 Rh6+ $1 34. Bxh6 g6#) 32... fxg4 33. Re3 $1 $18) 32. Qd7 Bd4 33. Kh5 $1 $16) 27... Rg6 28. Bg3 $16 {[%CAl Rd3f4,Ra1e1] ??f4,?e1}) (26... Be3 27. Qb3 $16 (27. Rd1 $5 $16 {and the ? again aims for e6 with great power.})) 27. Bd6 $1 (27. Re1 $2 Qxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 g5 {immediately forces a draw, as the ambitious} 30. Bd6 Bg1+ 31. Kg3 $2 {can favour only Black due to} h5 $1 32. h4 (32. Rd3 $2 Rfe8 $19) 32... f4+ 33. Bxf4 gxf4+ 34. Rxf4 Bh2+ $17 {/? and already White has to fight for a draw.}) (27. Kh2 {was also possible, but the text is more direct.}) 27... Rf6 28. Nf4 Qe4 29. Ne6 Rexe6 ({The passive} 29... Ra8 30. Qb5 $18 {is out of question.}) 30. dxe6 Qxe6 (30... Rxe6 31. Bg3 Bxb2 32. Re1 Qc6 (32... Qxe1+ 33. Bxe1 Rxe1+ 34. Kh2 Be5+ 35. g3 $18) 33. Qxc6 Rxc6 34. Rxf5 {[%CAl Re1e7] ??e7} Rb6 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Ra8 $16 {/+-}) 31. Bg3 Bxb2 32. Re1 Qf7 $8 (32... Qc6 33. Qb5 $1 {??e7+-}) 33. Bh4 $1 (33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Ra8 $16 {wins the ?a7, but Anand is still more interested in the 7-th rank and the coordination of his forces.}) 33... Re6 (33... g5 $2 34. Rfe3 $1 {loses more or less by force after} (34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Rfe3 $1 {-34.?fe3!}) 34... Qg6 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Qd7+ Rf7 37. R8e7 Rg7 38. Rxg7+ Bxg7 39. Re6 Nb8 40. Qd5 $18) 34. Rxe6 Qxe6 35. Qc2 Bd4 36. Qxf5 $5 {A clever move, Anand wants the ? off and rightly feels the ?c4 is poisoned.} (36. Rxf5 Nb8 $16 {still gives Black chances to resist.}) 36... Qxc4 $6 {[%mdl 128]} (36... Qxf5 37. Rxf5 Nb8 (37... Nc7 $143 38. Bg3 Ne6 39. Rd5 $18) 38. Bf2 $5 $16 {/+- gives Black only minimal survival chances, but now White's trio of attacking pieces will completely dismantle Black's defence.} (38. Rd5 Nc6 39. Rd7 b6 $16)) 37. Kh2 {White has enough time for useful prophylaxis.} Qe2 (37... Qc1 $2 38. Qe6+ Kh7 39. Qe4+ Kg8 40. Be7 Qg1+ 41. Kg3 $18) ({If Black does nothing, e.g.,} 37... b6 38. Rf4 $18 {[%CAl Rf4e4,Re4e8] ??e4-e8}) 38. Bg3 $1 {[%csl Ra6] Dominates the unhappy ?a6.} (38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qxb7 Nc7 $1 $16 {still gives Black some counterchances.}) 38... Qd1 {The ? can't return to the defence.} (38... Qe8 39. Qd5+ $18) (38... Qe7 39. Qd5+ Kh7 40. Rf7 $18) 39. Rf1 Qb3 40. Qe4 {Doesn't change the result, but} (40. Qg6 $142 $1 $18 {[%CAl Rf1e1,Rg3d6] ??e1,?d6}) 40... Qb5 (40... Qc4 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Rf8 g5 43. Be5 $1 $18) (40... Qe3 41. Qd5+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ g6 43. Qd7+ Bg7 44. Rf7 Qc3 45. Qe7 {[%CAl Rg3e5] ??e5+-}) 41. Qe6+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ Kg8 43. Qc8+ Kh7 44. Rf8 {[%CAl Rc8f5] ??f5} (44. Rf8 c4 (44... Qc6 45. Qf5+ Qg6 46. Rh8+ $1 $18) 45. Rh8+ Kg6 46. Qg4+ $18 {loses the ?d4.}) 1-0 [Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2001.12.06"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Shirov, Alexei"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2706"] [Annotator "Stohl,Igor"] [PlyCount "87"] [Beauty "7427072199208"] [EventDate "2001.11.27"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "CBM 086"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.02.05"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff was extremely popular in Moscow, it helped Shirov to eliminate Topalov (in their match it came to be in 5 out of 7 games).} 3. Nxe5 {Nowadays White's main attempt.} ({After} 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O {the most solid is} Bd6 $1 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 (10. Qh5 O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ng5 $44 {or} (13... Bb4 $5 14. Be3 Re8 $44 {give White little hope for an advantage.})) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 f5 $5 (12... g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 $11 {is also playable, winning the ? back.}) 13. Qf3 (13. Re1 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rae8 15. Bc2 $6 g6 16. Qf3 Re4 $1 17. g3 Bb5 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. gxf4 Qd6 $1 20. Bxe4 fxe4 $17 {Svidler,P-Ponomariov,R/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 13... Kh8 $1 14. Bf4 Qc7 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Rfe1 Rac8 $11) 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 ({After the older} 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 (9. c4 Nf6 $132) 9... f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Bh4 $1 14. g3 Bf6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Re8 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ng5 19. f4 Nh3+ $1 20. Kg2 Rb8 21. c4 dxc4 22. Nxc4 Qd3 23. Ne3 Rxb2+ $1 24. Bxb2 Qd2+ 25. Kh1 Nf2+ $11 {½,Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee/1999/ still remains a model game. Black has a ?? for the sacrificed material, so White has again turned to the main alternative in the text.}) 8... Nb4 (8... Nf6 {is also playable and it's not simple for White to get an edge:} 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. a3 Bf6 13. Be4 h6 14. Bc2 (14. Qd3 $5) 14... Nce7 (14... Nxc3 $2 {is antipositional and only strengthens White's ?} 15. bxc3 Bc4 16. Nd2 Bd5 17. Rb1 Bg5 18. c4 $1 Bxd2 19. cxd5 Bxe1 20. dxc6 Ba5 21. cxb7 (21. Qd3 $2 g6 22. cxb7 Rb8 23. Bxh6 Re8 24. Qf3 Re6 25. Bb3 Rf6 26. Qg4 Rb6 $17 {Anand,V-Touzane,O/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 21... Rb8 22. Qh5 $1 f5 23. Bxh6 $16) (14... Nde7 15. Be3 Nf5 16. Ne2 Qd7 17. Qd3 g6 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Nf4 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Bf5 21. Qb3 Bxc2 22. Qxc2 Rfe8 $132 {Lutz,C-Jussupow,A/Bundesliga 9899/1998/}) 15. Ne5 Bf5 16. Bb3 Be6 17. Ne4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 b6 19. Qf3 c6 20. Bc2 Nf5 21. Rd1 Qh4 22. b4 Rad8 23. Bb2 Qf4 24. Qe2 Qh4 25. Qf3 Qf4 26. Qe2 Qh4 27. Qf3 $11 {½,Hracek,Z-Jussupow,A/Nussloch/1996/}) 9. Be2 {The ? is valuable, after} (9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 f6 $1 {it's White, who should be glad he has a draw after} 15. Qxc7 (15. b3 Kf7 16. Qxc7 Rhe8 17. Qc4 Qxc4 18. bxc4 b6 19. Bb2 Rac8 20. Rac1 Bd6 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. c5 Bf4 23. Rc3 Be4 $40 {Zhang Pengxiang-Motylev,A/Shanghai Summit/2001/}) 15... O-O 16. Rxe7 Qxf3 17. Rxg7+ Kh8 18. Bh6 Qxg4+ 19. Qg3 Qxd4 20. Rxg6 hxg6 21. Qh3 Kg8 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Qb3+ Rf7 $11 {Anand,V-Sokolov,I/Dortmund/1999/}) 9... O-O (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. Nc3 Nxc3 (11... Nd6 $143 12. Bb3 $36) 12. bxc3 Nd5 13. Ne5 $14 {is slightly more pleasant for White.}) 10. Nc3 {Stil the most topical moves.} (10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. c4 (14. Bf4 Na5 $5 (14... Rac8 {is also playable}) 15. Bxc7 Rac8 16. Bxa5 Qxa5 $44) 14... Qd6 15. d5 (15. Be3 $142 Bf6 16. Ra2 Rad8 17. d5 Ne5 $13) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. a4 Qg6 $1 $146 18. Bf4 Bf6 19. Ra3 Qe4 20. Be3 Rfe8 21. f3 Qg6 22. Bf2 Be7 23. Ra2 Bc5 $36 {Dominguez,L-Gelfand,B/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 10... Be6 {Shirov's move is the most popular, but not the only one.} ({Kramnik shocked Kasparov in Linares 2000 with} 10... b6 $5 {but later the interest declined, as} 11. a3 (11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Re1 $5 c5 $13 {?} 13. Bf3 cxd4 14. Nxd5 f5 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bf4 d3 $1 $132) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 16. c4 Qd8 17. d5 Nb8 18. Ne5 $1 Bf6 19. Bb2 g6 20. Qd2 $14 {is comfortable for White and} Nd7 $6 {simply costs a ? after} 21. Nxd7 Bxb2 22. Nxf8 Bxa1 23. Nxg6 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 hxg6 25. Qxa1 $16 {Kasparov,G-Olafsson,H/Kopavogur act/2000/}) ({The second most popular move is} 10... Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 (13. cxd5 Qxd5 {-10.a3}) {but maybe it will become number 1 due to} 13... Be6 $5 $146 (13... dxc4 $143 14. Bxc4 $14) 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. Be3 Na5 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. c4 Be6 18. Qc2 c5 19. Bd3 h6 20. Rad1 Qc7 21. Qc3 Rfd8 22. h3 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Rd7 24. Bf1 b6 25. Bf4 Rad8 26. Rd6 Nb7 27. Qg3 $1 $132 {Svidler,P-Ponomariov,R/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) 11. Ne5 (11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ne1 c6 $5 $11 (12... Bf5 13. Be3 Bf6 14. Qd2 a5 15. a3 Nc6 16. d5 Ne5 17. f4 exf3 18. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Re8 20. Bd4 Bxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Qe7 22. c5 $16 {Svidler,P-Sulskis,S/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/})) ({The duel Topalov-Shirov took place after} 11. Be3 Bf5 $5 12. Qb3 c6 13. cxd5 (13. Ne5 a5 14. g4 Be6 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. a3 f6 (16... a4 $5 17. Qd1 Na6 $15) 17. axb4 fxe5 18. d5 cxd5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Bc4 Bxc4 21. Qxc4+ Kh8 22. bxa5 Rxa5 $11 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/}) (13. g4 Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nxc3 (16... Nc7 $2 17. Ne5 $1 $16 {loses material.}) 17. bxc3 Nc7 18. Rab1 Nb5 19. Ne5 (19. Bxb5 $5 Bxf3 20. Qxc6 $14) 19... Bxe2 20. Nxc6 Qe8 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Rfe1 Rb8 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} 23. Qxb8 Qxb8 24. Rxe2 Qe8 25. Nxd5 Qc6 $132) 13... Nxc3 $5 (13... cxd5 14. Rac1 a5 15. Na4 Rb8 16. Nc5 Bd6 17. Rfd1 b6 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Ne5 Qe8 20. Nc4 Bc7 21. Na3 Rb7 22. Nb5 Bb8 23. d5 Bd7 24. a4 Be5 25. d6 Qb8 26. Rc7 Rd8 27. Qc4 Na6 {Shirov,A-Topalov,V/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} 28. Rxb7 Qxb7 29. Qd5 $16) 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qxb7 Nxc3 16. Bc4 Rb8 17. Qxc6 (17. Qxa7 $5 Nb5 $13) 17... Be4 18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19. Qxc3 Bb4 20. Qc4 Bd5 21. Qd3 Rxf3 $1 22. gxf3 Qd7 23. Rfb1 Qh3 $44 {Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/EU-chT Leon/2001/}) 11... c5 {A radical continuation, critical for its evaluation is the position after White's 15-th move. Maybe it will be necessary to return to the less ambitious, but more solid} (11... f6 12. Nf3 Kh8 (12... c5 13. Be3 $1 $36) 13. Re1 Bg8 (13... c5 $5) 14. a3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nc6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bb2 f5 18. Nd2 Bf6 19. c4 Bf7 20. Nb3 b5 $5 21. cxb5 Bxb3 22. Qxb3 Nxd4 23. Qc4 Nxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 a6 26. Rad1 Qf6 27. Qxf6 Rxf6 28. Re7 axb5 29. Rxc7 h5 30. Rb7 $11 {½,Lutz,C-Van der Sterren,P/Venlo NED-GER/2000/}) 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. d5 Bc8 (13... Bd6 $6 14. a3 $1 $16) 14. a3 Na6 {An important moment. If Black could get his ? to d6 without concessions, he would have an excellent position. But Shirov will never manage and the ?a6 will actually not make another move in the whole game.} 15. Qc2 $1 {A significant improvement over the older} (15. f4 f6 16. Ng4 Bxg4 17. Bxg4 f5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. Rb1 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Nc7 21. b4 b6 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Qa4 {Baklan,V-Gunnarsson,J/EU-chT Leon/2001/} Ne8 $11 {and Black has at least equality. The text postpones the committal advance of the f-pawn till Black misplaces his forces.}) 15... f6 (15... Bd6 16. f4 f6 17. Ng4 $14 {leads to a position we will see later on, only here Black can't take en passant anymore.} ({Black also has to reckon with the unclear} 17. Qxe4 $5 Re8 18. Bh5 Re7 19. Nf7 Qc7 20. Nxd6 Rxe4 21. Nxe4 $13)) 16. Ng4 Qd6 $5 $146 (16... Bd6 17. f4 (17. f3 $143 $6 f5 18. Nf2 Qh4 $40) 17... exf3 (17... Bxg4 18. Bxg4 f5 19. Be2 $14 {[%CAl Yg2g4,Yb2b4] is different from the note above, here Black's ? is further away from its ideal d4-square and White will be the first one to get some play on the flanks (b4,g4) going.}) 18. Bxf3 Qc7 19. g3 Bd7 20. Nf2 b5 21. b3 Rae8 22. Kg2 $1 Be5 23. Rb1 Bd4 24. Bd2 b4 25. a4 Qc8 26. Rbe1 Bf5 27. Be4 Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Bh3+ 29. Kh1 Bxf1 30. Rxf1 $16 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/ Black's temporary initiative is over and his positional weaknesses have become clear, Shirov saved the game only with his opponent's help.}) ({Also accepting the pawn sacrifice with} 16... f5 17. Ne5 Bf6 18. f4 Re8 19. Bd2 (19. Be3 $5) 19... Bxe5 20. fxe5 Rxe5 21. Bc3 $44 {is not too enticing, as White fully controls the dark squares.}) (16... Bxg4 $5 17. Bxg4 f5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. Rb1 {deserved attention. Although this is a better version of the 15.f4 position (White can play also ?f4 at some moment), White's edge is minimal. Also in the game Shirov's ? aims for d4 via f6.}) 17. f3 $1 ({We have already indicated} 17. f4 $6 Bxg4 18. Bxg4 f5 {is OK for Black.}) 17... f5 {Consistent.} (17... Bxg4 $2 18. fxg4 $16 {[%csl Re4] ×e4}) (17... exf3 18. Bxf3 $14 {now or a move later leads to the same type of position Shirov has already had with Topalov and which he was trying to avoid.}) 18. Nf2 Bf6 19. fxe4 Be5 {An important intermediate move.} (19... Bd4 $6 20. Kh1 $16) 20. h3 Bd4 21. e5 $5 (21. Kh1 $2 Qg3 $17 {is not good anymore and otherwise White finds it difficult to unpin the ?, so he gives back the extra ?.}) 21... Qxe5 22. Kh1 Bd7 $6 {Somewhere here the fate of the game was decided. Shirov probably considered the ?} (22... f4 $5 23. Nd3 (23. Bd3 $2 Qh5 $40 {[%CAl Rf4f3] ?f3}) 23... Bf5 24. Nxe5 Bxc2 25. Bd3 Bxe5 26. Bxc2 Nc7 $14 {/= devoid of perspectives, but White's edge remains at best only minimal.}) 23. Nd3 Ba4 $2 {[%mdl 16384] Although this move fits tactically, strategically the exchange of the light-squared ? is very advantageous for White and Black's game will surprisingly rapidly go downhill.} ({More or less necessary was} 23... Qf6 24. Bf4 Rae8 25. Rae1 $14 {[%csl Ra6] ?a6 White is better, as the ?a6 can be activated only by a weakening g5, but this is incomparably better than the text.}) 24. Qxa4 (24. Nxe5 Bxc2 25. Bd3 $14 {leads to the ?, mentioned in the note to 22...?d7?!, but Anand rightly wants more.}) 24... Qxe2 25. Rf3 Rae8 {[%csl Re8] Black will have only problems with the ? on the e?.} (25... b5 26. cxb5 $1 (26. Qxa6 Qd1+ 27. Kh2 Rae8 $1 $132 {only complicates matters.}) 26... Nb4 (26... c4 $2 27. bxa6 $18) (26... Nc7 27. Bf4 Nxd5 28. Qc4 Qe4 29. Re1 Be3 30. Qa2 $1 $18) 27. axb4 c4 28. d6 cxd3 29. Qb3+ Kh8 30. Qxd3 $16 (30. Bf4 $5 $16)) (25... Nc7 {fails to} 26. Bf4 $16 {with tempo.}) ({Maybe the best was the passive} 25... Qe8 26. Qb3 $16 {but White retains a clear advantage.}) 26. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gd5][%CAl Ra1e1] ??e1,?d5} h6 {Practically an exchange sacrifice, but there was hardly anytrhing better.} (26... Bxb2 $2 27. Ra2 $18) (26... Rf6 {But more practical and much safer is} 27. Kh2 $1 (27. Re1 Qxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 Bg1+ 30. Kg3 Rg6+ 31. Kh4 {and there is no mate in sight:} Rxg2 (31... Bd4 32. g4 $1 (32. Re3 $2 Bf6+ 33. Kh5 Rh6+ $1 34. Bxh6 g6#) 32... fxg4 33. Re3 $1 $18) 32. Qd7 Bd4 33. Kh5 $1 $16) 27... Rg6 28. Bg3 $16 {[%CAl Rd3f4,Ra1e1] ??f4,?e1}) (26... Be3 27. Qb3 $16 (27. Rd1 $5 $16 {and the ? again aims for e6 with great power.})) 27. Bd6 $1 (27. Re1 $2 Qxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 g5 {immediately forces a draw, as the ambitious} 30. Bd6 Bg1+ 31. Kg3 $2 {can favour only Black due to} h5 $1 32. h4 (32. Rd3 $2 Rfe8 $19) 32... f4+ 33. Bxf4 gxf4+ 34. Rxf4 Bh2+ $17 {/? and already White has to fight for a draw.}) (27. Kh2 {was also possible, but the text is more direct.}) 27... Rf6 28. Nf4 Qe4 29. Ne6 Rexe6 ({The passive} 29... Ra8 30. Qb5 $18 {is out of question.}) 30. dxe6 Qxe6 (30... Rxe6 31. Bg3 Bxb2 32. Re1 Qc6 (32... Qxe1+ 33. Bxe1 Rxe1+ 34. Kh2 Be5+ 35. g3 $18) 33. Qxc6 Rxc6 34. Rxf5 {[%CAl Re1e7] ??e7} Rb6 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Ra8 $16 {/+-}) 31. Bg3 Bxb2 32. Re1 Qf7 $8 (32... Qc6 33. Qb5 $1 {??e7+-}) 33. Bh4 $1 (33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Ra8 $16 {wins the ?a7, but Anand is still more interested in the 7-th rank and the coordination of his forces.}) 33... Re6 (33... g5 $2 34. Rfe3 $1 {loses more or less by force after} (34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Rfe3 $1 {-34.?fe3!}) 34... Qg6 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Qd7+ Rf7 37. R8e7 Rg7 38. Rxg7+ Bxg7 39. Re6 Nb8 40. Qd5 $18) 34. Rxe6 Qxe6 35. Qc2 Bd4 36. Qxf5 $5 {A clever move, Anand wants the ? off and rightly feels the ?c4 is poisoned.} (36. Rxf5 Nb8 $16 {still gives Black chances to resist.}) 36... Qxc4 $6 {[%mdl 128]} (36... Qxf5 37. Rxf5 Nb8 (37... Nc7 $143 38. Bg3 Ne6 39. Rd5 $18) 38. Bf2 $5 $16 {/+- gives Black only minimal survival chances, but now White's trio of attacking pieces will completely dismantle Black's defence.} (38. Rd5 Nc6 39. Rd7 b6 $16)) 37. Kh2 {White has enough time for useful prophylaxis.} Qe2 (37... Qc1 $2 38. Qe6+ Kh7 39. Qe4+ Kg8 40. Be7 Qg1+ 41. Kg3 $18) ({If Black does nothing, e.g.,} 37... b6 38. Rf4 $18 {[%CAl Rf4e4,Re4e8] ??e4-e8}) 38. Bg3 $1 {[%csl Ra6] Dominates the unhappy ?a6.} (38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qxb7 Nc7 $1 $16 {still gives Black some counterchances.}) 38... Qd1 {The ? can't return to the defence.} (38... Qe8 39. Qd5+ $18) (38... Qe7 39. Qd5+ Kh7 40. Rf7 $18) 39. Rf1 Qb3 40. Qe4 {Doesn't change the result, but} (40. Qg6 $142 $1 $18 {[%CAl Rf1e1,Rg3d6] ??e1,?d6}) 40... Qb5 (40... Qc4 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Rf8 g5 43. Be5 $1 $18) (40... Qe3 41. Qd5+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ g6 43. Qd7+ Bg7 44. Rf7 Qc3 45. Qe7 {[%CAl Rg3e5] ??e5+-}) 41. Qe6+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ Kg8 43. Qc8+ Kh7 44. Rf8 {[%CAl Rc8f5] ??f5} (44. Rf8 c4 (44... Qc6 45. Qf5+ Qg6 46. Rh8+ $1 $18) 45. Rh8+ Kg6 46. Qg4+ $18 {loses the ?d4.}) 1-0 [Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"] [Site "Brissago"] [Date "2004.09.25"] [Round "1"] [White "Leko, Peter"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Lukacs,Peter"] [PlyCount "130"] [Beauty "6121444090384"] [EventDate "2004.09.25"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "SUI"] [SourceTitle "CBM 103"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2004.11.11"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Kramnik wants to build up the Russian Game as an unbreakable wall, similarly to the Ruy Lopez Berlin against Kasparov.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 $1 (16... h6 17. c4 $16) (16... Bf6 17. Nh2 $1 Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Ng4 Qxc3 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Be3 Rcd8 $132 {Huzman}) 18... Rcd8 (18... Ne7 19. Ng4 (19. Bf3 Rcd8 20. Ng4 (20. Bxb7 c5 (20... c6 $5) 21. Ng4 Bxg4 22. hxg4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qc7 $11) 20... Bxg4 21. hxg4 $1 h6 {(Shirov-Bologan, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 CBM 99)} 22. Bxb7 $1 {winning the ? was simple!} c5 23. dxc5 $5 (23. Be4 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qb6 25. Rb1 Qxd4 26. Ba5 Qxd1 27. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $14) 23... Qxc5 24. Qa4 $1 $16 {Huzman}) 19... Bxg4 20. Bxg4 Rcd8 $14 {and White has at least the ? in an opened position.}) 19. Bf3 h6 (19... Qa6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Ne3 Bd3 22. Nd5 Bd6 23. Bf4 $36) 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qxg5 24. Rb1 $16) 23. Qc1 $1 (23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nd8 {½:½ Timman-Karpov, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003} 25. g3 c6 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. Rb1 Re7 28. c4 $14 {Kramnik-Anand, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003 CBM 93}) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 $14 {? ?b1 Anand}) 17. Be3 (17. Nd2 $5 {deserves attention.} Bxg2 18. Bg4 $1 (18. c4 Qf5 19. Bg4 Qxf4 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 $44) 18... f5 (18... Bh1 $5 19. f3 f5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Kxh1 gxh5 22. Qb1 $1 $44) 19. Be2 b5 20. c4 (20. a4 a6 21. axb5 axb5 22. c4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qd6 24. Kxg2 f4 25. Ne4 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 fxe3 27. cxb5 Nb4 $11 {Huzman}) 20... Qxd4 21. Be3 Qd6 22. Kxg2 f4 23. Ne4 Qg6+ 24. Ng3 Rcd8 25. Qb3 Qf7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3 bxc4 28. Qb5 Nb8 29. Bxa7 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rd2+ 31. Re2 c6 32. Rxd2 cxb5 33. Bd5 $14) 17... Na5 $1 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik's strong novelty is based on a positional ? sacrifice after which Black wants to bulid up a fortress.} (17... Rcd8 18. Nd2 (18. c4 Qf5 $132) 18... Bg6 19. Qa4 $5 {? ?f3} (19. Bf3 Qd7 20. Qa4 (20. Qb3 Na5 $11) 20... Ne5 $1 21. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 22. Nxf3 Rxd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. a4 Kf7 26. Reb1 {½:½ Leko-Bologan, Dortmund rapid 2004})) 18. c4 (18. Nd2 $5 {was the last chance to avoid the "fortress" position.} Bf5 (18... Bxg2 $2 19. c4 Qc6 20. d5 Bxd5 (20... Qg6 21. Bh5) 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Qa4 $18) (18... Bg6 19. c4 Qd8 20. Bg4 Ra8 21. Qa4 Nc6 22. Rad1 Bf6 23. d5 Ne5 24. Be2 b6) 19. Qa4 (19. c4 Qd7) 19... Bd7 20. Bf3 (20. Qc2 Bf5) 20... Bxa4 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Bb5 $13) 18... Nxc4 $1 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qd5 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Bg5 Qxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Bxg5 24. Qa5 (24. Qb4 $5 b6 25. d5 Be7 26. Qa4 a5 27. Re1 Kf8 $44) 24... Bf6 $1 25. Qxa7 (25. Rd1 a6 26. d5 Be5 $44 {and it is very difficult to find a breakthrough here.}) 25... c5 $1 {Even this was a home preparation of Kramnik.} 26. Qxb7 Bxd4 27. Ra2 c4 {The ? c4 is very strong.} 28. Re2 (28. a4 g6 (28... c3 29. Re2 $1 (29. Rc2 Rb8 30. Qc6 Rec8 31. Qd7 (31. Qe4 Rc4 $1 32. Kh2 (32. Qf4 Re8) 32... Rxa4 33. Rxc3 Bxc3 $11) 31... Rd8 32. Qf5 g6 $11) 29... g6 (29... c2 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Qc6 $18) 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Kf1 $16) 29. a5 (29. Rc2 c3) 29... c3 30. Rc2 Rb8 31. Qd7 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Be5+ 33. f4 (33. g3 Rb2) 33... Rb2 $11) 28... Red8 $1 29. a4 (29. Rd2 Bf6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qc6 c3 32. a4 h6 33. a5 Rd2 34. a6 Bd4 35. a7 Bxa7 36. Qxc3 Rxf2 $11) 29... c3 30. Qe4 Bb6 $1 31. Qc2 $6 {White pushes it too hard.} (31. Rc2 Ba5 (31... Rd2 $4 32. Rxc3 $18) 32. g3 g6 33. Kg2 Rd2 $11) 31... g6 32. Qb3 Rd6 33. Rc2 Ba5 34. g4 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcd8 36. Rxc3 (36. Rc1 Rb2 37. Qc4 Rdd2 38. Qc5 Bb6 39. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 40. Kg3 Rfe2 41. Qc8+ Kg7 42. Rc3 Rg2+ 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Kg3 Rb1 $132) 36... Bxc3 37. Qxc3 R2d5 $15 {The roles have been changed, now it is Black who can try to win.} 38. Qc6 Ra5 39. Kg3 Rda8 40. h4 R5a6 41. Qc1 Ra5 42. Qh6 Rxa4 (42... R8a6 43. Qd2 Rxa4 44. h5) 43. h5 (43. f3 R4a5 44. Qd2 (44. h5 g5 45. Qf6 h6 $17) 44... Ra2 $15) 43... R4a5 {[#] ? g5} 44. Qf4 $4 {This blunder loses the game.} (44. hxg6 $1 {was the only chance for a draw.} hxg6 45. g5 Rf5 46. f4 {building up the fortress.} Ra4 47. Qh4 Kf8 (47... Rfxf4 48. Qxf4 Rxf4 49. Kxf4 Kg7 (49... Kf8 50. Ke4 Ke8 (50... Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 51. Kd4 Kd8 52. Ke4 $11) 50. Ke5 $11) (47... Re4 48. Kf3 $11) 48. Qh8+ $1 (48. Kf3 $2 Raxf4+ (48... Ke7 49. Qe1+ Kf8) 49. Qxf4 Ke7 $3 (49... Rxf4+ $2 50. Kxf4 Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 50. Qxf5 gxf5 51. Ke3 Kd6 $19) 48... Ke7 49. Qb8 $1 Raxf4 (49... Rfxf4 50. Qe5+ $11) 50. Qc7+ $1 {The black ? has to retreat.} (50. Qxf4 $2 Rxf4 51. Kxf4 Kd6 $1 $19) 50... Kf8 (50... Ke6 51. Qc6+ Ke5 52. Qc5+ $11) 51. Qxf4 Rxf4 52. Kxf4 $11 {and the ? ? is draw!}) 44... g5 $1 45. Qf6 h6 $1 $19 {Probably this move was overseen by Leko. The ? can be trapped on h6!} 46. f3 (46. f4 Ra3+ $1 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48. Kf1 (48. Kf3 R8a3+ 49. Ke4 Ra4+ $19) 48... Rc8 $19) 46... R5a6 47. Qc3 Ra4 $1 {The f3 ? will soon or later fall and the ? ? is already lost.} 48. Qc6 (48. Qf6 R8a6) 48... R8a6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qb5 R4a5 51. Qb4 Rd5 52. Qb3 (52. f4 Rd3+ 53. Kf2 Ra2+ 54. Ke1 Rh3 $19) 52... Rad6 53. Qc4 Rd3 54. Kf2 Ra3 55. Qc5 (55. f4 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Rh2 $19) 55... Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Rf6 $1 {? ?a4-f4} 57. Qb4 Raa6 58. Kg2 Rf4 59. Qb2+ Raf6 60. Qe5 Rxf3 61. Qa1 Rf1 62. Qc3 R1f2+ 63. Kg3 R2f3+ 64. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kf6 0-1 [Event "Groningen Harmonie"] [Site "Groningen"] [Date "2002.12.22"] [Round "2"] [White "Nijboer, Friso"] [Black "Smeets, Jan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2556"] [BlackElo "2461"] [Annotator "Huzman,Alexander"] [PlyCount "99"] [Beauty "7014776307721"] [EventDate "2002.12.21"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "NED"] [EventCategory "10"] [SourceTitle "CBM 093"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2003.04.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Qb3 $146 (14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 (15. Nd2 Rfe8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Ng3 Bg6 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. Rae2 Rxe2 21. Qxe2 Rd8 22. h4 $36 {1-0 Felgaer,R-Pacheco,M/Yucay 2001/EXT 2002 (43)}) 15... Rac8 16. Nd2 Qd7 (16... Rfe8 17. Bf3 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Qd7 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Qd1 Bd6 $1 21. Bxd6 cxd6 22. Ng3 Ne7 $1 23. Nxf5 Nxf5 $132 {½-½ Short,N-Karpov,A/Prague 2002/CBM 89/[Huzman] (45)}) 17. Nb3 Rcd8 (17... Rce8 18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Qa4 a5 20. Bf3 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Nd8 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 b6 24. Qc4 Ne6 25. Bg4 Qb7 26. Bf3 b5 27. Qe2 Nxf4 28. Rxf4 Qb6 $11 {½-½ Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69 ext (32)}) 18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Bf3 b6 20. Ne4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Ne7 22. Qf3 c6 23. h4 Ng6 24. Bg5 Bxg5 25. hxg5 Rd6 26. Bf5 Qd8 27. Qg4 $14 {1-0 Stellwagen,D-Koneru,H/Wijk aan Zee 2003/CBM 93_01 (53)}) (14. Bf4 Na5 (14... Rc8 15. Qa4 a6 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qb4 Nxc4 (17... c5 18. dxc5 Nc6 19. Qb3 Na5 20. Qb4 Nc6 21. Qb3 Na5 22. Qb4 {½-½ Ljubojevic,L-Jussupow,A/Belgrade 1989/CBM 16 (22)}) 18. Qxb7 c5 19. Bxc4 dxc4 20. Be5 Qa5 21. d5 Bxe5 22. Nxe5 Qxc3 23. Rac1 Qb3 24. Qxa6 c3 25. Nc6 Ra8 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Qc6 Bg6 28. Qxc5 $16 {1-0 Sax,G-Jurkovic,A/Nova Gorica 2002/CBM 86 ext (34)}) (14... Ne7 $6 15. Qb3 $14 b6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Be5 Bg4 $6 18. Rad1 Be7 $6 19. h3 Bh5 20. g4 $1 $16 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Sokolov,I/Sarajevo 2000/CBM 77/[Blatny,P] (26)}) 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Qa4 (16. Nd2 Qd7 17. Bf3 Rfe8 18. Ne4 Be7 19. Ng3 Bg6 20. Bg4 Qc6 21. Bf3 Qd7 22. Ra2 Bf8 23. Rae2 Rxe2 24. Qxe2 c6 25. h4 h6 26. h5 $36 {1-0 Polgar,J-Nielsen,P/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72 (38)}) (16. Bxc7 Rac8 17. Be5 Rxc3 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Rc1 Rxc1 20. Qxc1 Re8 $132 {½-½ Sokolovs,A-Nielsen,P/Germany 1998/GER-chT (30)}) (16. Bf1 b6 17. Ne5 Rad8 18. g4 Be4 19. Qe2 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nb3 21. Ra2 Bf3 22. Qe3 Na5 23. Rc2 f6 24. Bxc7 Rd7 25. Bg3 Bxg4 26. Bg2 Qb3 27. Rcc1 Qf7 28. d5 Qh5 29. c4 $18 {1-0 Anand,V-Sokolov,I/Kopavogur 2000/EXT 2001 (56)}) (16. Ne5 c5 17. Bg4 $1 Bxg4 18. Nxg4 Qd8 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Be5 Qc6 21. dxc5 $14 {½-½ Adams,M-Dao Thien Hai/New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Huzman] (57)}) 16... b6 17. Bxc7 (17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bd3 c6 19. Ne5 Qb3 20. Qxb3 Bxb3 21. Rb1 Rfe8 22. Re3 Bd5 $11 {½-½ Varga,Z-Drazic,S/Budapest 2001/CBM 83 ext (46)}) 17... Rfc8 18. Be5 Qb3 19. Qb4 Rxc3 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nh4 Bg6 22. Bf3 Rf8 23. Qe7 $16 {½-½ Benjamin,J-Nielsen,P/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72 (59)}) 14... Na5 15. Qb4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 (16. Qxb7 c5 17. Bxc4 dxc4 {-see game}) 16... dxc4 17. Qxb7 c5 (17... Be6 $5 18. Bf4 (18. Ne5 c5 $132) (18. Qb5 Bd5 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 c6 $11) 18... c5 19. Be5 Bd5 $14) 18. Be3 Re8 (18... Be6 $5 $132 {[%CAl Ye6d5]}) 19. Qb5 Rc8 20. Rad1 Bd3 21. Rc1 {[%CAl Gd4c5]} Qb6 $6 (21... Be4 $1 22. dxc5 (22. Nd2 cxd4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25. Rxc4 Re5 $11) 22... Bxf3 23. gxf3 Qd5 24. Kg2 Re6 $44) 22. Qa4 h6 (22... cxd4 $2 23. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qb8 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Nd4 $16) 23. dxc5 Qb3 24. Qa5 $16 Kh7 (24... Qb7 $142) 25. h3 Qb7 26. Bd4 Be4 27. Re3 Bxd4 28. cxd4 Bd5 29. Qb4 Qa6 30. Rce1 Red8 31. Ne5 Qf6 32. Qc3 Rb8 33. Nxc4 Bxc4 34. Qxc4 Rxd4 35. Qc2+ g6 36. Rf3 Rf4 37. Rxf4 Qxf4 38. c6 $18 Rc8 39. Rc1 Rc7 40. Qc4 Qxc4 41. Rxc4 Kg7 42. Kh2 Kf6 43. Kg3 Ke5 44. Rc1 Kd5 45. Kf4 f6 (45... Rxc6 46. Rxc6 Kxc6 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Kf6 Ke8 49. Kg7 h5 50. Kf6 Kf8 51. f4 $1 Kg8 52. f5 $18) 46. h4 $1 h5 (46... Rxc6 47. Rxc6 Kxc6 48. h5 $1 $18) 47. g4 $1 hxg4 48. Kxg4 a5 (48... Rxc6 49. Rxc6 Kxc6 50. f4 Kd7 51. f5 gxf5+ 52. Kxf5 Ke7 53. Kg6 $18) 49. f4 Ke4 50. a4 (50. a4 Kd5 51. f5 $18) 1-0 [Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"] [Site "Brissago"] [Date "2004.09.25"] [Round "1"] [White "Leko, Peter"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Lukacs,Peter"] [PlyCount "130"] [Beauty "6121444090384"] [EventDate "2004.09.25"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "SUI"] [SourceTitle "CBM 103"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2004.11.11"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Kramnik wants to build up the Russian Game as an unbreakable wall, similarly to the Ruy Lopez Berlin against Kasparov.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 $1 (16... h6 17. c4 $16) (16... Bf6 17. Nh2 $1 Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Ng4 Qxc3 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Be3 Rcd8 $132 {Huzman}) 18... Rcd8 (18... Ne7 19. Ng4 (19. Bf3 Rcd8 20. Ng4 (20. Bxb7 c5 (20... c6 $5) 21. Ng4 Bxg4 22. hxg4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qc7 $11) 20... Bxg4 21. hxg4 $1 h6 {(Shirov-Bologan, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 CBM 99)} 22. Bxb7 $1 {winning the ? was simple!} c5 23. dxc5 $5 (23. Be4 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qb6 25. Rb1 Qxd4 26. Ba5 Qxd1 27. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $14) 23... Qxc5 24. Qa4 $1 $16 {Huzman}) 19... Bxg4 20. Bxg4 Rcd8 $14 {and White has at least the ? in an opened position.}) 19. Bf3 h6 (19... Qa6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Ne3 Bd3 22. Nd5 Bd6 23. Bf4 $36) 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qxg5 24. Rb1 $16) 23. Qc1 $1 (23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nd8 {½:½ Timman-Karpov, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003} 25. g3 c6 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. Rb1 Re7 28. c4 $14 {Kramnik-Anand, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003 CBM 93}) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 $14 {? ?b1 Anand}) 17. Be3 (17. Nd2 $5 {deserves attention.} Bxg2 18. Bg4 $1 (18. c4 Qf5 19. Bg4 Qxf4 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 $44) 18... f5 (18... Bh1 $5 19. f3 f5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Kxh1 gxh5 22. Qb1 $1 $44) 19. Be2 b5 20. c4 (20. a4 a6 21. axb5 axb5 22. c4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qd6 24. Kxg2 f4 25. Ne4 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 fxe3 27. cxb5 Nb4 $11 {Huzman}) 20... Qxd4 21. Be3 Qd6 22. Kxg2 f4 23. Ne4 Qg6+ 24. Ng3 Rcd8 25. Qb3 Qf7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3 bxc4 28. Qb5 Nb8 29. Bxa7 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rd2+ 31. Re2 c6 32. Rxd2 cxb5 33. Bd5 $14) 17... Na5 $1 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik's strong novelty is based on a positional ? sacrifice after which Black wants to bulid up a fortress.} (17... Rcd8 18. Nd2 (18. c4 Qf5 $132) 18... Bg6 19. Qa4 $5 {? ?f3} (19. Bf3 Qd7 20. Qa4 (20. Qb3 Na5 $11) 20... Ne5 $1 21. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 22. Nxf3 Rxd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. a4 Kf7 26. Reb1 {½:½ Leko-Bologan, Dortmund rapid 2004})) 18. c4 (18. Nd2 $5 {was the last chance to avoid the "fortress" position.} Bf5 (18... Bxg2 $2 19. c4 Qc6 20. d5 Bxd5 (20... Qg6 21. Bh5) 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Qa4 $18) (18... Bg6 19. c4 Qd8 20. Bg4 Ra8 21. Qa4 Nc6 22. Rad1 Bf6 23. d5 Ne5 24. Be2 b6) 19. Qa4 (19. c4 Qd7) 19... Bd7 20. Bf3 (20. Qc2 Bf5) 20... Bxa4 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Bb5 $13) 18... Nxc4 $1 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qd5 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Bg5 Qxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Bxg5 24. Qa5 (24. Qb4 $5 b6 25. d5 Be7 26. Qa4 a5 27. Re1 Kf8 $44) 24... Bf6 $1 25. Qxa7 (25. Rd1 a6 26. d5 Be5 $44 {and it is very difficult to find a breakthrough here.}) 25... c5 $1 {Even this was a home preparation of Kramnik.} 26. Qxb7 Bxd4 27. Ra2 c4 {The ? c4 is very strong.} 28. Re2 (28. a4 g6 (28... c3 29. Re2 $1 (29. Rc2 Rb8 30. Qc6 Rec8 31. Qd7 (31. Qe4 Rc4 $1 32. Kh2 (32. Qf4 Re8) 32... Rxa4 33. Rxc3 Bxc3 $11) 31... Rd8 32. Qf5 g6 $11) 29... g6 (29... c2 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Qc6 $18) 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Kf1 $16) 29. a5 (29. Rc2 c3) 29... c3 30. Rc2 Rb8 31. Qd7 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Be5+ 33. f4 (33. g3 Rb2) 33... Rb2 $11) 28... Red8 $1 29. a4 (29. Rd2 Bf6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qc6 c3 32. a4 h6 33. a5 Rd2 34. a6 Bd4 35. a7 Bxa7 36. Qxc3 Rxf2 $11) 29... c3 30. Qe4 Bb6 $1 31. Qc2 $6 {White pushes it too hard.} (31. Rc2 Ba5 (31... Rd2 $4 32. Rxc3 $18) 32. g3 g6 33. Kg2 Rd2 $11) 31... g6 32. Qb3 Rd6 33. Rc2 Ba5 34. g4 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcd8 36. Rxc3 (36. Rc1 Rb2 37. Qc4 Rdd2 38. Qc5 Bb6 39. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 40. Kg3 Rfe2 41. Qc8+ Kg7 42. Rc3 Rg2+ 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Kg3 Rb1 $132) 36... Bxc3 37. Qxc3 R2d5 $15 {The roles have been changed, now it is Black who can try to win.} 38. Qc6 Ra5 39. Kg3 Rda8 40. h4 R5a6 41. Qc1 Ra5 42. Qh6 Rxa4 (42... R8a6 43. Qd2 Rxa4 44. h5) 43. h5 (43. f3 R4a5 44. Qd2 (44. h5 g5 45. Qf6 h6 $17) 44... Ra2 $15) 43... R4a5 {[#] ? g5} 44. Qf4 $4 {This blunder loses the game.} (44. hxg6 $1 {was the only chance for a draw.} hxg6 45. g5 Rf5 46. f4 {building up the fortress.} Ra4 47. Qh4 Kf8 (47... Rfxf4 48. Qxf4 Rxf4 49. Kxf4 Kg7 (49... Kf8 50. Ke4 Ke8 (50... Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 51. Kd4 Kd8 52. Ke4 $11) 50. Ke5 $11) (47... Re4 48. Kf3 $11) 48. Qh8+ $1 (48. Kf3 $2 Raxf4+ (48... Ke7 49. Qe1+ Kf8) 49. Qxf4 Ke7 $3 (49... Rxf4+ $2 50. Kxf4 Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 50. Qxf5 gxf5 51. Ke3 Kd6 $19) 48... Ke7 49. Qb8 $1 Raxf4 (49... Rfxf4 50. Qe5+ $11) 50. Qc7+ $1 {The black ? has to retreat.} (50. Qxf4 $2 Rxf4 51. Kxf4 Kd6 $1 $19) 50... Kf8 (50... Ke6 51. Qc6+ Ke5 52. Qc5+ $11) 51. Qxf4 Rxf4 52. Kxf4 $11 {and the ? ? is draw!}) 44... g5 $1 45. Qf6 h6 $1 $19 {Probably this move was overseen by Leko. The ? can be trapped on h6!} 46. f3 (46. f4 Ra3+ $1 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48. Kf1 (48. Kf3 R8a3+ 49. Ke4 Ra4+ $19) 48... Rc8 $19) 46... R5a6 47. Qc3 Ra4 $1 {The f3 ? will soon or later fall and the ? ? is already lost.} 48. Qc6 (48. Qf6 R8a6) 48... R8a6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qb5 R4a5 51. Qb4 Rd5 52. Qb3 (52. f4 Rd3+ 53. Kf2 Ra2+ 54. Ke1 Rh3 $19) 52... Rad6 53. Qc4 Rd3 54. Kf2 Ra3 55. Qc5 (55. f4 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Rh2 $19) 55... Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Rf6 $1 {? ?a4-f4} 57. Qb4 Raa6 58. Kg2 Rf4 59. Qb2+ Raf6 60. Qe5 Rxf3 61. Qa1 Rf1 62. Qc3 R1f2+ 63. Kg3 R2f3+ 64. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kf6 0-1 [Event "USA-ch"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.04.21"] [Round "7"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2615"] [Annotator "Nakamura,Hikaru"] [PlyCount "73"] [Beauty "7907978268723"] [EventDate "2016.04.14"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "USA"] [EventCategory "17"] [SourceTitle "CBM 172"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.05.12"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 $5 {The first surprise, but this was not entirely unexpected. Varuzhan had already lost to Wesley So in a very brutal Rubinstein French earlier in the tournament.} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Ra2 $5 {This idea isn't completely new, in fact it was featured in Kasimdzhanov-Gelfand from the World Cup in 2007. However, Kasim's play wasn't inspiring and the line never really came back into fashion.} Na5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Rb2 c6 (16... a6 {Not best, but maybe not that bad either.} 17. Ne5 Bxa3 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 (19. Ra2 Bxc1 20. Rxa5 Bf4 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Rxa6) 19... Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Nc6 21. Qb2 $14 {½-½ (30) Shankland,S (2634)-Robson,R (2631) Saint Louis 2014. White is slightly better, but I'm not sure if it is enough of an advantage to win.}) (16... b6 $2 17. Ne5 $1 (17. Rb5 c5 18. Ne5 Qd6 19. Bf4 Bf6 $11 {0-1 (40) Filippov,A (2607)-Bu,X (2682) Ha Long City 2009}) 17... Rad8 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 $14) 17. Ne5 (17. Qa4 Qd8 18. c4 Bf6 19. Be3 Be4 20. Rd2 b6 $11 {0-1 (52) Kasimdzhanov,R (2677)-Gelfand,B (2733) Elista 2007} 21. Ne5 Qe7 22. Ng4 Bg5 23. Bf1 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Qg5 25. Qd1 Bf5 26. Ne5 f6 27. Nf3 Qf4 28. Rde2 Bd7 29. Qe1 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Qd6 31. h3 c5 32. d5 Kf8 33. Nd2 Bf5 34. Be2 Qd7 35. Bh5 Nb7 36. g4 Bg6 37. Bxg6 hxg6 38. g5 Nd6 39. gxf6 gxf6 40. Qa1 Kg7 41. Re6 Rf8 42. a4 Rf7 43. Qc3 Nf5 44. Nf3 Qxa4 45. Ng5 Rf8 46. Re1 Nd4 47. Re7+ Kg8 48. Qd3 Nf5 49. Qe2 Qa1+ 50. Kh2 fxg5 51. Qe6+ Kh8 52. Rb7 Qd4) 17... Bxa3 18. Bf3 Qd6 19. Rbe2 Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Be6 21. Be4 $6 $146 (21. Bh5 Rf8 22. Re3 Nc4 $17 {0-1 (45) Melia,S (2467)-Nebolsina,V (2310) Rijeka 2010}) (21. Qb1 $5 {This is also an interesting alternative.}) 21... Rad8 (21... f6 22. Nf3 (22. Qb1 {I suspect Varuzhan was afraid of this move because of how long he spent deciding between 21...?ad8 and 21...f6.} fxe5 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 (23... Kf8 $6 24. dxe5 Qc5 25. Qc1 Rad8 26. Qg5 Nc4 27. Bg6 Nd6 $3 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Re3 Nf7 30. Qg6 Kg8 31. Rg3 Qf8 32. Re4 Nh8 {I guess this position is equal, but the whole line feels very far from human.}) 24. Bg6 Nc4 25. Bxe8 Rxe8 26. Qxb7 Bd5 27. dxe5 Qe6 28. Qxa7 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Qg4+ 30. Kh1 Qf3+ 31. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 22... Bf7 23. Qb1 g6 24. h4 Kg7 25. h5 $44 {There is definitely compensation here, but I feel that Black should be able to defend with correct play.}) 22. Qb1 g6 23. f4 $6 {This move is probably fine, but I was very unhappy with myself during the game after the next couple of moves.} (23. h4 $1 Kg7 $8 24. h5 Nc4 $8 25. Bxg6 Nxe5 26. dxe5 Qe7 27. Be4 Rg8 {A computer move after which Black seems to be fine, but all of these moves would have been extremely hard to find.}) 23... c5 $1 24. f5 {I played this after a 45 minute think. For almost all of that time, I was trying to figure out what to do against 24...?b3. I tried to find alternatives, but nothing else besides f5 made any sense.} cxd4 $2 {A strange decision played almost instantly by Varuzhan. This decision confused me greatly. I had no concrete plan against 24...?b3, but I saw nothing better.} (24... Bb3 $1 25. Bd3 $3 {A brilliant computer move and one which I had seen, but completely underestimated.} (25. Bxb7 {Most likely, this is the move I would have played after which White cannot claim an advantage.} cxd4 (25... Rf8 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. d5 $1 Nxb7 28. Qxb3 Qxd5 29. c4 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 Na5 31. Qb5 Qc3 32. Qxc5 Nb3 33. Qxa7 Rd2 {White is up a pawn, but Black should again be able to liquidate into a drawn endgame.}) 26. Nc4 Bxc4 27. Rxe8+ Kg7 (27... Rxe8 {Not this order.} 28. Rxe8+ Kg7 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Qe1 $3 Qf6 (30... Nxb7 31. Qh4 $18) 31. Bf3 dxc3 32. Re3 c2 33. Be4 $16) 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. cxd4 Qxd4+ 30. Kh1 Bd3 31. Rd1 Bxb1 32. Rxd4 Nxb7 33. Rb4 Bxf5 34. Rxb7 a6 $11) 25... cxd4 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Nc4 Qd7 28. Nxa5 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Ba4 30. Bc4 Kg7 31. Qe4 dxc3 32. Qe5+ Kg8 33. Qxc3 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rf1 Rd7 36. Ra1 Bc2 37. Bb5 Re7 38. Kf2 $16 {I assume that this is probably still pretty close to a draw, but White can definitely press.}) (24... Bc4 $2 25. fxg6 fxg6 (25... hxg6 26. Bxg6 $18) 26. Nxc4 Nxc4 27. Bd5+ Qxd5 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Qe1 Qd7 31. Rb8 $18) (24... Bd5 $2 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 26. Ng4 Rxe2 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxd5 Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Rxd5 30. c4 Nxc4 31. f6 $18) 25. fxe6 Rxe6 26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. Bd5 $2 {Another dilemma. I played 27.?d5 because I wasn't certain if I could untangle all my pieces and win in the 27.?a2 variations. However, I simply forgot that it was possibile to sac the queen for the 2 rooks at the time.} (27. Qa2 Kg7 (27... dxc3 28. Bxg6+ hxg6 29. Rxe6 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 Rd5 31. Re7+ Kf6 32. Qe2 $18) 28. Qxa5 Rde8 29. c4 (29. Qxa7 $2 d3 30. Bxd3 Qxd3 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Qxb7+ (32. Rxe6 Qb1+ 33. Kf2 Qf5+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ $1 $11) 32... Kf6 33. Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Qc6+ Ke5 35. Qe8+ Kf5 36. Qe1 $14) 29... R8e7 30. c5 Qc7 31. Qb4 Re5 32. Bf3 Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Bxe2 Qe5 35. Qxb7+ Kh6 36. Qb5 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Qc1+ 38. Bf1 d3 39. Qxd3 Qxc5 40. Qe4 a5 41. g3 $18) 27... Qxd5 28. Rxe6 dxc3 $2 {The last blunder after which there are no remaining opportunities to save the game.} (28... Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Kxe6 30. Qe4+ (30. Qa2+ {During the game I thought this was simply winning, but to my horror I completely forgot about} Rd5 $11 {in my calculations.}) 30... Kd6 (30... Kf7 31. cxd4 Nc6 32. d5 Ne7 33. Qe6+ Kf8 34. d6 Nc6 35. Kf2 $18 {This should be winning.}) 31. Qxd4+ Kc7 32. Qxa7 Nc6 33. Qc5 Rd7 $11) 29. R6e5 Qd4+ 30. Kh1 b6 31. Qa2+ Kg7 32. Re7+ Kh6 33. Qf7 Nc4 34. Qxh7+ Kg5 35. R7e6 Qd3 36. h4+ Kf4 37. Qh6+ (37. Qh6+ Kg3 38. Qg5+ Kf2 39. Qf4+ Qf3 40. Qxf3#) 1-0 [Event "Chess@iceland-A"] [Site "Kopavogur"] [Date "2000.04.01"] [Round "3"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Olafsson, Helgi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2851"] [BlackElo "2491"] [PlyCount "127"] [Beauty "6187634404886"] [EventDate "2000.04.01"] [EventType "rapid"] [EventRounds "5"] [EventCountry "ISL"] [EventCategory "15"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2001"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2000.11.22"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 16. c4 Qd8 17. d5 Nb8 18. Ne5 Bf6 19. Bb2 g6 20. Qd2 Nd7 21. Nxd7 Bxb2 22. Nxf8 Bxa1 23. Nxg6 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 hxg6 25. Qxa1 c6 26. dxc6 Bxc6 27. Qc3 Qd6 28. Be2 Bd7 29. Qe3 Be6 30. h4 Kf8 31. g3 Ke7 32. g4 Kf8 33. h5 gxh5 34. gxh5 Qc5 35. Qh6+ Ke7 36. Qf4 Qxa3 37. Qg5+ Kf8 38. h6 Qa1+ 39. Kg2 Qd4 40. Bf3 Bxc4 41. h7 Qg7 42. h8=R+ Qxh8 43. Qd8+ Kg7 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. Qxc4 Qe5 46. Qe4 Qxe4 47. Bxe4 Kf8 48. Kf3 Ke7 49. Ke3 Kd6 50. Kd4 b5 51. Bd5 f6 52. Bf7 Kc6 53. Be8+ Kb6 54. Bd7 a5 55. Kd5 a4 56. Kd4 b4 57. Kc4 Ka5 58. Be6 b3 59. Kc3 Ka6 60. Kb4 b2 61. Ba2 Kb6 62. Ka3 Kc5 63. Kxb2 Kd4 64. f3 1-0 [Event "Lisbon op"] [Site "Lisbon"] [Date "2001.08.24"] [Round "4"] [White "Kotronias, Vasilios"] [Black "Piket, Jeroen"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2528"] [BlackElo "2630"] [PlyCount "122"] [Beauty "5087925646858"] [EventDate "2001.08.21"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "POR"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2002"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2001.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Re8 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. c4 Qa5 17. Be3 Qf5 18. Bd3 Qh5 19. c5 bxc5 20. dxc5 Be5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Qxh5 Rxh5 23. Bf4 Bd7 24. Rac1 Nd4 25. Bxc7 Rc8 26. Bd6 h6 27. Ba6 Re8 28. Red1 Nb3 29. c6 Be6 30. Rb1 Ra5 31. Bb7 Rb5 32. a4 Rb6 33. Bc7 Rb4 34. a5 Re7 35. Bd8 Rexb7 36. cxb7 Rxb7 37. f3 Rb8 38. Bc7 Rb7 39. Bd8 Kh7 40. g4 Rb8 41. Rd6 Rc8 42. f4 Rc3 43. f5 Bc4 44. Rd7 Rc2 45. Rbd1 Be2 46. R1d5 Bxg4 47. Rxf7 Bf3 48. Rd3 Rg2+ 49. Kf1 Nd2+ 50. Rxd2 Rxd2 51. Bf6 Rg2 52. Rxa7 Kg8 53. Bc3 Be4 54. a6 Rg5 55. Ke2 Rxf5 56. Rxg7+ Kf8 57. Rc7 Rh5 58. Ke3 Bg2 59. Kf2 Bd5 60. Bb4+ Ke8 61. Bd6 Rf5+ 1/2-1/2