[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2024.11.25"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Gukesh D"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [Annotator "Sundararajan Kidambi"] [PlyCount "84"] [GameId "2115851346960523"] [EventDate "2024.11.18"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "SIN"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] [TimeControl "40/7200:1800+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e6 $5 {[%emt 0:00:15] Only Alekhine(once against Capa) and Botvinnik(twice) against Tal(1960) and Smyslov(1954) and it produced a decisive result every single time!} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} (3... Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Ne7 9. Nf3 Nbc6 10. Bd3 Bb8 11. Nbxd4 a6 12. Be3 Ba7 13. O-O Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Nxd4 Qb6 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. c3 Rc8 18. Qe1 h6 19. a4 a5 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Qf2 O-O 23. Nb3 Bd7 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Nxc5 Rc7 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. bxa5 Ra8 28. a6 bxa6 29. c4 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd4 31. Be2 Nd5 32. g3 Nc3 33. Bf3 Rb8 34. Ra3 Nb1 35. Ra2 Nd2 36. Rf2 Nc4 37. h4 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. fxg5 Nxe5 40. Be2 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 a5 42. Rc2 Rb3 43. Rf4 Rd5 44. Re4 Kg7 45. Bh5 Ng6 46. Rg4 Re3 47. Bxg6 Kxg6 48. Rf2 Rf5 49. Rxf5 exf5 50. Rc4 Re4 51. Rc7 Rxa4 52. Ra7 Ra3 53. Kh3 f4 54. Kh4 fxg3 55. Ra6+ Kf5 56. Rf6+ Ke4 57. Kh3 Rf3 58. Ra6 Rf5 {0-1 Smyslov,V-Botvinnik,M World-ch19 Botvinnik-Symslov +7-7=10 Moscow (Russia) 1954 (1)}) 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. f4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 6. Nce2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 7. c3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a5 $5 {[%emt 0:27:42] After twenty seven minutes of thought! People doubted if he was not prepared for the line, but as it happened he was probably choosing his line of play which would suit the situation well. At the press conference Ding suggested that he was working out a strategy over the board, if true thats amazing, though kind of hard to believe!} 8. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} a4 {[%emt 0:02:47]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 10. g4 $5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:22] This once instantly blitzed out and honestly surprising! Completely agressive, so early on in the game and the match! There are ideas of Ng3 and Bd3 to normally develop the pieces. There are also ideas of h4 in such situations or maybe just to block Black's a4-a3 break.} Qa5 $1 {[%emt 0:14:17] An interesting a logical follow up to a4. We should note that Gukesh pointed out in the press conference that he was on his own from here! So, after a prepared variation, not expecting, Qa5 was an interesting moment. Does this show a peek into a prepration or is it just another press conference answer like Ding's ? We never know!} (10... O-O 11. g5 $1 {perhaps was a prophylactic idea to stop Black's f6 break, that White intended as pointed out by Judit in her commentary. But it makes more sense from Black's point of view to wait rather than commit his king to the kingside.}) 11. Bg2 {[%emt 0:20:25]} (11. Kf2 $5 {in order to take the King to g3 and hide behind the advanced pawn structure, is a wild thought!}) 11... a3 {[%emt 0:12:44]} 12. b3 {[%emt 0:00:39]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 13. b4 {[%emt 0:05:24]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 14. Nexd4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nb6 $1 {[%emt 0:17:58] White has gained space, but in the process has also created weakened squares as the pawns can never go back. The weakened c4-square would be a serious factor in Black's bid for counterplay. White has to justify the weakened squares with his activity and attacking chances on the kingside. This is not so easy and contrary to popular opinion, this position already seems easier to play from Black's perspective and Ding's strategy has worked well, one would have to admit.} 15. O-O {[%emt 0:09:15]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Bd7 $1 {[%emt 0:02:38] The weakness of the c4 square gives Black a static advantage, and this in a way reminds of the girst game of the 1954 match between Smyslov and Botvinnik!} 17. Qe2 {[%emt 0:33:41] Gukesh burned up his more than 30 minute time advantage here. This was critisized, in general, but this illustrates the point of how complex the position is. There are various options and nothing concrete seems to work. Naroditsky was also coming up with Nd2 to exchange the strong knight on c4 or make a general useful move like Kh1, all of which are interesting. Judit came up with Qe2 quite early and her idea was to play that without much of a thought. She does have a good feel for such positions, no doubt. While the move is very natural and good, the time spent may be the turning point in the game, where Ding got back into the groove and started playing much faster in the rest of the game and maintained time advantage over Gukesh. Let us not forget there was no increment in the first time control!} (17. Nd2 $5) (17. Kh1 $5) 17... Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 18. Nxd4 $6 {[%emt 0:06:22]} (18. Bxd4 $1 {Kramnik considered this to be forced, bolstering the e5-point and preparing for f4-f5. He was quite critical of ?d4 showing a flaw in understanding. Well this is a very fair point from the point of view classical old school chess, but in Gukesh's defense one has to say that Judit and Naroditsky also were thinking of ?d4 only here!} h5 $5 {is perhaps what Ding would have gone for, had he encountered this. He clearly was going with the Steinitzian approach of waiting with the castling in this game!} (18... Bb5 19. f5 O-O-O {is a totally another way to play the position, but risky.}) (18... O-O {is clearly not what Black wants, to define the position of his ? where it can become a target.}) 19. Ng5 (19. g5 g6 {would lock up the kingside and be reminiscent of Nimzo-Capa ( New York 1927)}) 19... hxg4 20. Qxg4 {with a complex position}) 18... Nb2 $1 {[%emt 0:00:41][%csl Yb2] This is the way to show that ?d4 was inaccurate. Once again Black plays purposeful moves, he is trying to put pressure against the backward pawn on c3 and if possible try to exchange the Queens and force White's pieces to worser positions if he avoids them.This move came as a surprise to the commentary team Judit and Daniel. The pawn on a3 creating an outpost for Black's knight at the advanced spot b2, is a treat to watch!} 19. Qe3 $6 {[%emt 0:02:54] Mistakes rarely come in isolation, Ding started to play quickly and put pressure on the clock. This move was made quickly by Gukesh, but the Queen need to be further away from the contact of Black's counterpart.} (19. Qf3 $1 Qc4 (19... Rc8 20. Rfc1 {maintains the equilibrium, White can take control of the c4, d3 squares with ?f1 if need be, but White does not have direct possibilites of an attack against Black's kingside.}) 20. Rfe1 $1 {in order to counter Black's ?d3 by ?e3.}) 19... Rc8 $1 {[%emt 0:01:39]} 20. Rac1 {[%emt 0:04:04]} Qc4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:28] This move makes a stronger impression now that a2 is also hanging. Black started to play quickly and confidently here.} 21. f5 {[%emt 0:04:35]} Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 22. Qe1 {[%emt 0:03:31]} (22. Qf4 {was apparently Gukesh's original intention, but this fails to} g5 $1 23. fxg6 Qxg6 $17 {When White's overextended space, collapses to Black's superior coordination.}) 22... Bg5 $1 $17 {[%emt 0:02:01] [#] An ideal picture of domination. Black's pieces quite nicely exploit the overextended White's space. After this natural move White's position is falling apart.} 23. Rc2 {[%emt 0:02:17]} Rc4 $5 {[%emt 0:00:10] Ding played the move quickly, this move which comes with a threat looks nice and is a strong one, though Black had an even stronger option of maintaining all the options with simply contnuing with development.} ({This was the moment when Black could have castled as Magnus pointed out, and Blacks superior piece coordination and White's totally passive pieces, which are stepping on each other's toes present a contrasting picture.} 23... O-O $1 $19) 24. h4 {[%emt 0:07:40]} Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. Qb1 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Rxc3 {[%emt 0:07:13]} 26. Rxc3 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Qxc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 27. fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:04:34] Black had 22 minutes at this point and came up with this practical choice after 4 minutes of thought. Clearly Ding was economising his thinking time and trying to keep the position under control as well.} ({Objectively stronger was} 27... Bxe6 28. Nb5 (28. Ne2 Qxe5 29. Nxf4 Qxf4 $19 {Black's kingside is more compact compared to the game.}) 28... Qxe5 29. Re1 Bh2+ $1 30. Kh1 (30. Kf1 Qf4 $19) 30... Qf4 $19 {But surely this was not an easy practical choice given the time situation.}) 28. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Qxe5 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 29. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:01:23]} Qxf4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30. Qc2 $2 {[%emt 0:06:09] Gukesh had ten minutes to make the last eleven moves, and he ended up using six minutes for this move which turned out to be the point of no return and a losing mistake.} ({Clearly both Ding and Gukesh had seen the strongest move} 30. Bc5 $1 Qxg4 31. Rf3 ({Judit} 31. Qc2 Bb5 (31... Nc4 32. Qf2 Kd8 $1 {White has a chance to create counterplay, even though Black may still be better. With the tough zeitnot phase, one would say there was a fighting chance.}) 32. Rf3 $1 {[%CAl Yf3a3] hitting a3, was not obvious move, but a strong one nonetheless!} Nc4 33. Qf2 $1) ({and after the original intention of Gukesh} 31. Qxh7 {Black turnes the tables with} Qd4+ $1 {as pointed out by Ding in the press conference. Perhaps being disappointed by this idea not working, White decided to shelve the move altogether, given the time crux, hard to criticize.}) 31... Nc4 (31... Bb5 32. Rxa3) 32. Qf1 Kd8 33. Qf2 Bc6) 30... Qc4 $1 {[%emt 0:06:08] after six minutes of thought, while still remaining with ten minutes on the clock, Ding's move dries up all of Gukesh's counterplay.} 31. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:48]} O-O {[%emt 0:03:48]} 32. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nd3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 33. Qe3 {[%emt 0:02:53] Gukesh had 45 seconds after this for the last seven moves, and the position is lost too!} Rxf1+ {[%emt 0:03:13]} 34. Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:02] Ding execeted this move with still more than three minutes on the clock, and the decides the game decisively in his favour.} 35. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qxg4+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 36. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 37. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Be4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 38. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 39. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 40. Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:00] White just barely made the time control!} Qc2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxa2 {[%emt 0:03:37]} 42. Be6+ {[%emt 0:05:46]} Kh8 $1 {[%emt 0:00:55] On the very final move Ding dodges the final trap of Gukesh and as he admitted in the press conference he was lucky to have these tactical possibilites which he had missed from afar. But it is known that when the position is good, these tactics generally tend to work! Score 1:0 in Ding's favour} (42... Kh7 43. Qxe4+ $1) 0-1 [Event "Masters"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1927.03.13"] [Round "15"] [White "Nimzowitsch, Aron"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [Annotator "Capablanca,J. R."] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "385161894037"] [EventDate "1927.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "20"] [EventCountry "USA"] [SourceTitle "J. R. Capablanca"] [Source "Pickard & Son"] [SourceDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%mdl 1][%evp 0,92,19,31,75,71,71,74,49,62,53,56,53,56,73,72,52,52,54,47,36,21,21,13,13,13,25,25,81,28,35,28,35,10,14,14,4,0,2,1,-6,-16,-14,-19,-18,-21,-13,-21,-8,-8,4,-12,-17,-26,3,-12,3,0,3,8,28,-34,-1,1,14,0,8,1,-25,-12,-3,-17,-1,-33,-31,-35,-34,-43,-42,-55,-67,-88,-88,-94,-94,-94,-189,-194,-167,-228,-228,-249,-249,-939,-1123]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {[This is one of the forms of attack in this opening. Nowadays it is considered inferior to either 3.?c3 or 3.exd5. The latter move followed by 4.c4 is most in vogue at the present time. Both 3.?c3 and 3.exd5 are developing moves that tend to gain time. 3.e5 is more in the nature of a positional move; the pawn at e5 acting as a wedge. The drawback to 3.e5 is the immediate liberation of the Black Queen's Bishop, which as a general rule should not be done except for very definite reasons. In most openings Black has trouble in developing his Queen's Bishop, while the White King's Bishop generally plays a very important part in most of the attacks that develop right out of the openings; hence the reason why it is not advisable for White as a rule to play any system of development involving the exchange of White's King's Bishop for the Black Queen's Bishop.]} Bf5 4. Bd3 Bxd3 5. Qxd3 e6 6. Nc3 Qb6 7. Nge2 c5 ({The safest course would have been} 7... Qa6 {to exchange Queens; or should White move away his Queen, then Black's Queen would be in command of the light squares along the diagonal a6-f1, owing to the absence of White's King's Bishop. Black, however, wishes to avoid the exchange of Queens, which would facilitate the draw. By this advance the evenly balanced force on both sides is broken up. It might be said that the equilibrium of the position is disrupted. The result in these cases varies. Often, as in this game, there is a struggle on both sides of the board, each player trying to obtain the upper hand on one side while holding the opponent on the other side.}) 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O Ne7 ({Black is a little behind in development, but he has a solid position and can regain a little time by playing either 9...?d7 or 9...?c6. Should White answer either of these moves with 10.?g3, Black would have the choice of the conservative 10...g6 or the risky 10...?f8, to say nothing of a rather good pawn sacrifice by 10...?e7. There are too many possibilities to show them all, but it might be interesting to look at some of them:} 9... Nc6 10. Na4 ({or} 10. Qg3 Nge7 11. Qxg7 Rg8 12. Qxh7 Kd7 {with a very strong attack for the two pawns.}) 10... Qa5 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 12. Be3 {and unless Black plays} Qc4 {forcing the exchange of Queens, White will play 13.f4 and obtain a very similar position to the one he got in the actual game, but with a certain advantage in time owing to the resulting position of the Black Queen}) ({Against} 9... Nd7 10. Na4 Qc7 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 ({best, as against} 11... Nxc5 {White can play} 12. Qg3 g6 13. Nd4 {with a good game}) 12. Be3 Qc7 13. f4 {with a position similar to the one he obtained in the actual game but slightly better. In the game Black chose a third move 9...?e7, with the idea of placing a Knight at f5 as quickly as possible.}) 10. Na4 Qc6 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 12. Be3 Qc7 13. f4 Nf5 14. c3 Nc6 {[At last Black is fully developed and with the possibility of castling on either side open to him. In such positions it is generally better to retard castling as long as possible in order to compel the opponent to guard against both possibilities. Besides, should a general exchange take place, bringing about a Rook ending, the King would then be better placed where it is, right in the center of the board.]} 15. Rad1 g6 ({This move would have to be made sooner or later. Black really wanted to play} 15... h5 {but he was hoping that if he left White the opportunity to play g2-g4 White might be tempted to do so.}) 16. g4 {[White has accepted the invitation to drive away the Knight. He probably considered that if he did not drive away the strongly posted Knight, Black would play ...h7-h5 and then the Knight would be a source of trouble for the rest of the game. Black has considered other factors before allowing this move. He felt that after the exchange of the Knight for the Bishop he would play ...h7-h5, forcing White to play g4-g5. As a result White's f-pawn would be very weak. The whole Kingside would be open to any Black piece able to enter that territory. It is true that it does not seem possible for Black to penetrate White's defense, but Black felt that there would be a way to do it. His judgment was vindicated, since he was able to prove that White's stronghold could be conquered and that the weak f-pawn, combined with the exposed position of the White's Kingside, would be the cause of White's downfall.]} Nxe3 17. Qxe3 h5 {[This forces 18.g5; otherwise Black would exchange the pawn and castle on the Queenside with a very strong attack which White would probably be unable to withstand.]} 18. g5 O-O 19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Rf2 Rfc8 21. a3 Rc7 22. Rd3 Na5 23. Re2 {[%CAl Rf4f5]} Re8 {[White threatened 24.f5, and if 24...exf5 then 25.e6.]} 24. Kg2 Nc6 25. Red2 Rec8 26. Re2 Ne7 27. Red2 Rc4 {[White has been marking time for the last few moves. His defensive position is at the maximum of its force; it cannot be improved. It is now up to Black to show how to break down the barriers.]} 28. Qh3 Kg7 29. Rf2 a5 {[Black has everything his own way, so he prepares his position until he is ready to force a break.]} 30. Re2 Nf5 {[Black takes the first opportunity to break through.]} (30... Rxd4 31. cxd4 (31. Rxd4 Nf5) 31... Nf5) 31. Nxf5+ ({White is forced to take the Knight. Should he play instead} 31. Red2 {then} Nxd4 32. Rxd4 {(best)} Rxd4 33. cxd4 Qb5 {followed by} 34. Z0 Rc1 {and Black will win in a similar way to that of the actual game.}) 31... gxf5 32. Qf3 ({White had played his Queen to h3 hoping to prevent the recapture with the g-pawn. He finds, however, that he cannot take} 32. Qxh5 {because of} Rh8 33. Qf3 Rh4 {The weak f-pawn of White begins to tell the story.}) 32... Kg6 33. Red2 Re4 34. Rd4 Rc4 {[Black forces a second exchange in order to work his Queen into White's position. The situation is most interesting. Whether White exchanges Rooks now or later he always loses because of the fact that all the resulting Queen endings are lost for White owing to his weak f-pawn, and to the fact that the Black Queen can work her way in into the open King's position of White.]} 35. Qf2 Qb5 36. Kg3 Rcxd4 37. cxd4 Qc4 38. Kg2 b5 {[Again Black is at liberty to do as he pleases; therefore he prepares for all eventualities.]} 39. Kg1 b4 40. axb4 axb4 41. Kg2 Qc1 42. Kg3 Qh1 43. Rd3 Re1 44. Rf3 Rd1 45. b3 Rc1 46. Re3 Rf1 {[White resigns. For this game Black was awarded the special prize for the best played game of the Tournament.]} 0-1 [Event "World-ch19 Botvinnik-Symslov +7-7=10"] [Site "Moscow (Russia)"] [Date "1954.03.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Smyslov, Vassily V"] [Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C18"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2116086405786600"] [EventDate "1954.03.16"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "24"] [EventCountry "URS"] [SourceTitle "MainBase"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Ne7 9. Nf3 Nbc6 10. Bd3 Bb8 11. Nbxd4 a6 12. Be3 Ba7 13. O-O Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Nxd4 Qb6 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. c3 Rc8 18. Qe1 h6 19. a4 a5 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Qf2 O-O 23. Nb3 Bd7 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Nxc5 Rc7 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. bxa5 Ra8 28. a6 bxa6 29. c4 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd4 31. Be2 Nd5 32. g3 Nc3 33. Bf3 Rb8 34. Ra3 Nb1 35. Ra2 Nd2 36. Rf2 Nc4 37. h4 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. fxg5 Nxe5 40. Be2 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 a5 42. Rc2 Rb3 43. Rf4 Rd5 44. Re4 Kg7 45. Bh5 Ng6 46. Rg4 Re3 47. Bxg6 Kxg6 48. Rf2 Rf5 49. Rxf5 exf5 50. Rc4 Re4 51. Rc7 Rxa4 52. Ra7 Ra3 53. Kh3 f4 54. Kh4 fxg3 55. Ra6+ Kf5 56. Rf6+ Ke4 57. Kh3 Rf3 58. Ra6 Rf5 0-1 [Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."] [Site "New Delhi/Tehran"] [Date "2000.12.24"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Shirov, Alexei"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2762"] [BlackElo "2746"] [Annotator "Anand,Viswanathan"] [PlyCount "81"] [GameId "2116146460156919"] [EventDate "2000.11.27"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "IND"] [SourceTitle "CBM 081"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2001.03.20"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 {Needing only a point from 3 games to become World Champion, I decided just to play a normal game and to forget about the score. I had to check all the openings that Alexei plays, but this year we have played a lot of French Defences, so I wondered if he would repeat.} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 {In Sydney, I went for 4.?g5, but didn't get much out of the opening.} Nfd7 5. Nce2 {I used this against him in Leon and Frankfurt. Against Bareev, I didn't get much from the opening, so in Sydney I deviated with 4.?g5, but now it's time to return to "our" main line!} c5 6. f4 ({Against} 6. c3 cxd4 7. cxd4 f6 {Black tried to blast White's centre immediately. White can play 8.f4, but this contains a lot of danger for White.}) 6... Nc6 {Fairly quickly. Black can go for 6...cxd4, but Alexei had an improvement in mind over our game in Frankfurt.} 7. c3 Qb6 8. Nf3 f6 {He played 8...?e7 in Frankfurt, but we transpose anyway.} 9. a3 Be7 10. h4 O-O 11. Rh3 a5 $1 (11... Na5 $2 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Nc4 14. Ng3 $16 {Anand-Shirov Frankfurt 2000}) 12. b3 Qc7 {There are two game with 12...?d8, but this move looks much better. For a start, there are possiblities of ?c3+ in some line...} 13. Neg1 a4 $2 {There is no need for this.} (13... b6 14. Be3 (14. Bd3 cxd4 15. cxd4 (15. Bxh7+ $2 Kxh7 16. Ng5+ fxg5 17. hxg5+ Kg8 18. Qh5 Ndxe5 19. fxe5 Qxe5+ 20. Ne2 Ba6) 15... fxe5 16. fxe5 Nxd4 (16... Ncxe5)) 14... Ba6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 {This looks about equal.}) 14. b4 fxe5 15. fxe5 Ndxe5 {In this position, such drastic measures are simply necessary. If White can consolidate his centre, then his kingside attack will be overwhelming.} (15... cxd4 16. cxd4 Ndxe5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Bb2 $16) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 $1 {The best move. White's two knights would keep tripping on each other, so it's useful to exchange one of them.} Qxe5+ 18. Qe2 Bxh4+ $2 {He played this quite fast, but it's an error.} (18... Qc7 $1 {Black now follows with e5 which should give him some play. Also, White's king isn't going to be completely safe on the queenside either.}) 19. Kd1 $1 {Now Black has to exchange queens.} Qf6 $2 (19... Qxe2+ 20. Bxe2 Bf2 21. Be3 e5 22. Bxf2 Rxf2 23. Rg3 {I think White has a comfortable edge in the ending. This reminds me of the ending in the Slav, where White is a piece up (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4). Here Black's centre is too loose.}) 20. Nf3 $1 Qxc3 $6 (20... g5 21. Nxh4 Qxf1+ 22. Qxf1 Rxf1+ 23. Ke2 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 gxh4 25. Rxh4 $16 {White's rooks have all the open files they need!}) 21. Bb2 {Now White wins a second piece.} Qb3+ 22. Kc1 e5 {The only move - otherwise ?e5 wins the queen.} 23. Rxh4 {Obviously a pleasant choice - to win a queen or be two pieces up. I saw that I could swap queens and go into an ending and decided not to bother with the alternative. Still, taking the queen would have finished it earlier.} (23. Nd2 Bxh3 24. Nxb3 Rf2 (24... Bg4 25. Qxg4 Rxf1+ 26. Kc2 axb3+ 27. Kxb3 c4+ 28. Ka2 $18 {White just collects all the pawns.}) 25. Qb5 (25. Qd1 Bg5+ 26. Kb1 Bf5+ 27. Bd3 e4 28. Bc2 axb3 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. Qxb3 $18) 25... Bg5+ 26. Kb1 Bf5+ 27. Bd3 axb3 28. Bxf5 Rxf5 29. bxc5 $18) 23... Bf5 24. Qd1 e4 25. Qxb3 axb3 26. Nd2 {Harvesting all these pawns is going to take a while, but basically the evaluation of the position is clear - White is winning.} e3 (26... c4 27. Bd4 $18) 27. Nf3 (27. Nxb3 Bg6 28. Be2 Rf2 29. Kd1 Rxg2 30. Rg4 $18) 27... Rae8 28. Kd1 (28. bxc5 e2 29. Kd2 exf1=Q 30. Rxf1 {Wins as well, but there is no reason to return material.}) 28... c4 29. Be2 Be4 30. Kc1 Re6 31. Bc3 Rg6 32. Rh2 Bd3 33. Bxd3 cxd3 34. Kb2 d2 35. Kxb3 (35. Rd1 {Followed by ?xd2 just finishes it.}) 35... Rg3 36. Kb2 {Yes, ?c2 is quicker. I guess I was getting nervous!} g5 37. Kc2 Rc8 (37... g4 38. Nd4 (38. Be5 gxf3 39. Bxg3 f2 40. Rh4 Rf5 41. Rg4+ Kf7 42. Bxf2 Rxf2 43. Kd3 $18) 38... Rf2 39. Rd1 e2 40. Nxe2 Rxe2 41. Rxd2 $18) 38. Kd3 g4 39. Be5 Rc1 40. Rh1 Rxg2 41. Nh4 {I played this and left the stage. When I came back Alexei graciously congratulated me on becoming World Champion!} (41. Nd4 $4 {There is one last trick in the position} d1=Q+ $1 42. Rxd1 Rd2+ $1) 1-0 [Event "World-ch24 Petrosian-Botvinnik +5-2=15"] [Site "Moscow (Russia)"] [Date "1963.03.23"] [Round "1"] [White "Petrosian, Tigran V"] [Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E35"] [Annotator "Bulletin"] [PlyCount "80"] [GameId "2116145952986011"] [EventDate "1963.03.23"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "22"] [EventCountry "URS"] [SourceTitle "MainBase"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,80,36,21,27,-23,-14,-3,5,-20,-25,-43,-34,-58,-31,-13,-13,-3,-3,-8,-8,3,3,-8,-1,-9,4,-51,-33,-93,-81,-85,-81,-70,-57,-59,-40,-36,-41,-91,-91,-93,-81,-104,-85,-93,-85,-126,-61,-66,-81,-78,-50,-54,-50,-34,-54,-61,15,-32,-48,-125,-151,-158,-258,-232,-155,-183,-102,-94,-206,-206,-206,-336,-312,-338,-338,-344,-325,-325,-325,-594,-355]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {This continuation was popular in the 1930s, but then it went out of fashion.It guarantees White} d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 (7. Bh4 c5 $13) 7... Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ (8... Ba5 $6 9. b4 Bb6 10. e3 $16) 9. Qxc3 c6 10. e3 O-O 11. Ne2 Re8 $1 12. Ng3 $6 (12. Nf4 $4 Qxf4) (12. Nc1 {? Nd3-c5}) 12... g6 $1 {? 13... h4-h5} 13. f3 $2 (13. Bd3 $5 h5 14. Ne2 {15.b4, a4}) 13... h5 $10 14. Be2 Nd7 15. Kf2 (15. O-O h4 16. Nh1 Qg5 17. e4 dxe4 18. fxe4 Rxe4 19. Bc4 Nf6 $17) 15... h4 16. Nf1 Nf8 17. Nd2 Re7 18. Rhe1 Bf5 $15 19. h3 $6 (19. Nf1 $5) (19. b4 $5) 19... Rae8 20. Nf1 Ne6 21. Qd2 (21. Bd3 $6 c5 $1 22. Bxf5 cxd4 23. exd4 Qxf5 24. Re5 Qf4 25. Rae1 Rc7 $1 $19 {(26.Qe3 Rc2 27.Re2 Rxe2+ 28.Kxe2 Nxd4+ -+)}) 21... Ng7 $2 {?} (21... Ng5 $1 22. Kg1 Bxh3 $1 23. gxh3 Nxh3+ 24. Kh1 (24. Kh2 Rxe3 $1 25. Nxe3 Qf4+ 26. Kh1 Nf2+ 27. Kg1 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Nh3 29. Bd1 Qg1+ 30. Ke2 Nf4# {#}) 24... Qg5 $1 25. Kh2 Qg1+ 26. Kxh3 Rxe3 27. Kxh4 R8e4+ 28. fxe4 (28. Kh3 g5 $19) 28... g5+ $19) (21... Ng5 $1 22. Qd1 Bxh3 $1 23. gxh3 Ne4+ $1 24. Kg2 Qg5+ 25. Kh2 Nf2 26. Qd2 Rxe3 27. Bd1 Qf4+ 28. Kg2 Nxd1 29. Raxd1 Qxf3+ 30. Kg1 Re2 31. Rxe2 Rxe2 32. Qg5 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Rxb2 $19) (21... Bxh3 22. gxh3 Ng5 23. Kg2 Qf5) 22. Rad1 Nh5 23. Rc1 Qd6 24. Rc3 Ng3 25. Kg1 (25. Nxg3 hxg3+) 25... Nh5 (25... Nxf1 26. Bxf1) 26. Bd1 Re6 27. Qf2 Qe7 28. Bb3 (28. f4 $5 {? Nf1-h3-f3(g4)-e5}) 28... g5 29. Bd1 $2 (29. e4 $5 Nf4 30. Qd2 {31.Rce3!?}) 29... Bg6 30. g4 $2 {Petrosian} (30. Bc2 $5 $17) 30... hxg3 31. Nxg3 Nf4 $1 32. Qh2 (32. Qf1 c5 33. dxc5 d4 34. Rb3 dxe3 $19) 32... c5 (32... Nd3 $1 $19 33. Re2 Rxe3) 33. Qd2 c4 34. Ba4 b5 $1 35. Bc2 (35. Bxb5 $5 Rb8 36. Ba4 Nd3 $19) 35... Nxh3+ 36. Kf1 Qf6 37. Kg2 Nf4+ 38. exf4 Rxe1 39. fxg5 Qe6 40. f4 Re2+ $1 0-1 [Event "World-ch22 Tal-Botvinnik +6-2=13"] [Site "Moscow (Russia)"] [Date "1960.03.15"] [Round "1"] [White "Tal, Mihail"] [Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [Annotator "Knaak,R"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2116146117116844"] [EventDate "1960.03.15"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "21"] [EventCountry "URS"] [SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2000.04.19"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 {Tal hatte schon geraume Zeit vor dem Match versprochen, mit dem e-Bauern zu eröffnen.} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 {Dieser Zug hat nach wie vor eine hohe Bedeutung, obwohl er viel weniger gespielt wird als 6...Ne7. Der Punkt ist, dass in 70% der Partien nun nicht 7. Qg4 folgt und Schwarz gelangt damit in die ruhigen Positionsvarianten des Winawer-Farnzosen.} 7. Qg4 $1 {Das ist der prinzipielle Zug.} f5 8. Qg3 ({Auch} 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qd1 {wird gespielt.}) 8... Ne7 $5 {Führt zu sehr verwickelten Varianten. Heute hat} (8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Ne7 {mit positionellen Stellungen eine höhere "Einschaltquote".}) 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 cxd4 11. Kd1 {Tal selbst tadelt diesen Zug, doch es gibt fast keine Partien mit dem Alternativzug 11. Ne2.} Bd7 $1 12. Qh5+ Ng6 $2 ({Ein Jahr später beim Revanchematch kam} 12... Kd8 $1 {aufs Brett. Dann gibt es drei Möglichkeiten:} 13. Nf3 {Tal,M-Botvinnik, M (12)/Wch24-Moscow/1961/1-0/} (13. Bg5 {(Tal)} dxc3 $13) (13. Ne2 dxc3 14. Qf3 (14. f4 Qc5 $1) 14... Nbc6 15. Qxc3 Nxe5 16. Qxc7+ Kxc7 17. Nd4 {Diese Stellung wurde von Keres als besser für Weiß angegeben. Doch die Praxis zeigte ein anderes Bild.} Ng4 $1 18. Ke1 e5 $17) 13... Ba4 $1 {(Keres)}) 13. Ne2 d3 {Botvinnik hat hier 37 Minuten nachgedacht, aber vermutlich den 16. Zug von Weiß übersehen. Vermutlich scheute sich Botvinnik mit zwei Minusbauern zu spielen, doch das scheint unumgänglich zu sein.} (13... Nc6 $5 14. cxd4 O-O-O {Das ist fast die gleiche Stellung wie in der Anmerkung zum 14. Partiezug von Schwarz, nur steht der Bauer hier auf c2 statt c3. Das ist wohl eher ein Vorteil für Schwarz.}) (13... dxc3 $2 14. Nf4) (13... Qxe5 $2 14. cxd4) (13... Ba4 $2 14. Nf4) 14. cxd3 Ba4+ $2 {Treibt den weißen König auf ein besseres Feld.} ({Nach} 14... Nc6 15. d4 O-O-O {kann sich Schwarz Hoffnungen auf ein Spiel gegen den weißen König machen, doch zwei Minusbauern sind eine schwere Hypothek.}) 15. Ke1 Qxe5 $6 {Schwarz verbleibt danach mit nur noch einem Minusbauern, aber auch ohne Kompensation.} (15... Nc6 $5 16. f4 O-O-O 17. Bd2 $16 {(Tal)}) (15... Bb5 $6 16. Bg5 $1 Bxd3 17. Kd2 $16 {(Tal)}) 16. Bg5 $1 {Verhindert die lange Rochade. Weiß kann ebenfalls nicht mehr rochieren, aber das ist auch nicht notwendig, denn der König steht auf e1 sicher. Doch für das schwarze Spiel (für den Minusbauern) wäre die lange Rochade lebensnotwenig.} Nc6 (16... f4 $6 17. d4 $1 Qf5 18. Nxf4 Qc2 19. Ne2 $16 {(Tal)}) 17. d4 Qc7 18. h4 $1 {Der Rh1 wird einfach über h3 entwickelt.} e5 (18... Nce7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qg5 $18 {(Tal)}) 19. Rh3 Qf7 20. dxe5 Ncxe5 (20... Rh8 21. e6 $1) 21. Re3 Kd7 22. Rb1 b6 $6 ({Auf das zähere} 22... Bc6 $1 {gibt Tal diese Variante an:} 23. Nd4 f4 24. Rxe5 $1 Nxe5 25. Qxf7+ Nxf7 26. Bxf4 Rae8+ 27. Kd2 $16) 23. Nf4 {Spätestens jetzt ist alles klar: Weiß hat einen gesunden Mehrbauern, das Läuferpaar und die bessere Königsstellung.} Rae8 24. Rb4 Bc6 25. Qd1 Nxf4 26. Rxf4 Ng6 27. Rd4 Rxe3+ 28. fxe3 Kc7 29. c4 $1 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Qg7 31. Bxg8 Qxg8 32. h5 {Quelle: "Im Feuer des Angriffs" (russ.) Tal, Moskau 1978} 1-0 [Event "Wch-13"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "1927.09.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Alekhine, Alexander A"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [PlyCount "86"] [GameId "385161894050"] [EventDate "1927.??.??"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "34"] [EventCountry "ARG"] [SourceTitle "J. R. Capablanca"] [Source "Pickard & Son"] [SourceDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. O-O Bf5 8. Bxf5 Nxf5 9. Qd3 Qd7 10. Nd1 O-O 11. Ne3 Nxe3 12. Bxe3 Rfe8 13. Nf4 Bd6 14. Rfe1 Nb4 15. Qb3 Qf5 16. Rac1 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Qxf4 18. g3 Qf5 19. Rce2 b6 20. Qb5 h5 21. h4 Re4 22. Bd2 Rxd4 23. Bc3 Rd3 24. Be5 Rd8 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 26. Re5 Qf3 27. Rxh5 Qxh5 28. Re8+ Kh7 29. Qxd3+ Qg6 30. Qd1 Re6 31. Ra8 Re5 32. Rxa7 c5 33. Rd7 Qe6 34. Qd3+ g6 35. Rd8 d4 36. a4 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Qc6+ 38. f3 Re3 39. Qd1 Qe6 40. g4 Re2+ 41. Kh3 Qe3 42. Qh1 Qf4 43. h5 Rf2 0-1