[Event "FIDE World Cup 2021"] [Site "Sochi"] [Date "2021.07.17"] [Round "2.36"] [White "Durarbayli, Vasif"] [Black "Predke, Alexandr"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2625"] [BlackElo "2683"] [Annotator "Anand,V"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2021.07.12"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 12,83,32,41,50,48,52,-9,-18,-42,-47,-47,33,32,34,24,53,31,18,19,19,19,0, 34,12,-21,-12,-77,0,-33,-10,-28,-42,-71,-66,-83,-81,-89,0,-73,-75,-51,-74,-55, 56,53,60,48,116,124,100,39,39,13,79,67,127,122,294,104,1104,119,122,25,1368, 1347,1239,564,542,542,663,651,29984,29985]} 1. e4 {Knaak,R Though both of us have played 1.d4 quite often, this match only featured the king pawn.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {Repeating the line Mickey went for in the semis against me. I guessed that he wanted to try 7...d5. I wasn't averse to that, since I had an idea. Hracek/Meyer,CD: '("Möller")'} 6. c3 ({When Hou was still inexperienced she played this line simply and successfully:} 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 h6 9. h3 O-O 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Qe2 Be6 14. Nbd2 Re8 15. Rae1 Nb6 16. Bxe6 Rxe6 17. Ne4 Qd5 18. Nh4 Ne7 19. Qg4 Nd7 20. Rf3 Rf8 21. Ref1 g6 22. R3f2 Qc6 23. Kh1 Qb6 24. Ng3 Nf6 25. Qf3 Nh7 26. d4 Rf6 27. Qe4 Rxf2 28. Rxf2 Qe6 29. dxe5 Ng5 30. Qf4 Rd8 31. Nf3 Nxf3 32. Rxf3 g5 33. Qe4 Ng6 34. Rf6 Qd5 35. Rxg6+ fxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kh8 37. Qxh6+ Kg8 38. Qg6+ Kh8 39. Qf6+ Kh7 40. Nf5 {1-0 Hou,Y (2488)-Kosintseva,T (2479)/Ergun 2006/}) ({Black has to be ready for the old classical line, which has not appeared in practice for a few years:} 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Nxe4 8. Qe2 Be7 9. Qxe4 Ng6 10. f4 O-O 11. f5 d5 12. Qd3 Nh4 13. g3 c5 14. gxh4 b5) (6. d4 $5 {is another interesting, but very rare option for White to explore.}) 6... b5 {Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Eine Mischung aus "Möller-" und "Archangelsk-Variante", mit der sich seit den 90er Jahren besonders der aus der Ukraine stammende Großmeister Alexander Onischuk hervorgetan hat. '} 7. Bc2 ({her memories of another move were not rosy here: Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Ein ganz anderes Thema ist'} 7. Bb3 {Hracek/Meyer,CD: ', z.B. ' Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'ist Zugumstellung zu unserer Partie.'} d6 8. d4 (8. a4 Rb8 (8... Bb7 9. d3 h6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Nh4 Bc8 13. Na3 Bg4 14. Qc2 Qb8 15. Kh1 g5 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 O-O 18. Qd1 Na5 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. b4 Bxb4 21. cxb4 Nc6 22. Nc2 Qc8 23. g4 Qa8 24. f3 {0-1 (37) Vachier Lagrave,M (2779) -Caruana,F (2819) Zagreb 2019 CBM 191 [Caruana,F]}) 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O {(nebst dem für diese Variante ebenso typischen wie umstrittenen Opfer des Bauern b5)} 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. d5 (13. Bc2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nh5 15. Kh1 Qf6 16. Ra4 Ne7 17. Rg1 Ng6 18. Bg5 Qe6 19. Bd3 Nhf4 20. Bf1 c6 $1 21. Na3 d5 22. exd5 cxd5 23. Nc2 Ra8 24. Ne3 Rxa4 25. Qxa4 exd4 26. cxd4 Bc7 27. Qa7 Bb8 28. Qa6 Qxa6 29. Bxa6 $13 {0:1/98, Kosintseva,N (2472)-Lahno,K (2449)/Krasnoturyinsk 2006}) 13... Ne7 14. Bc2 Qd7 15. c4 Ng6 16. h3 Bxh3 17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Ng5 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qh4+ 20. Kg2 h6 21. Nh3 Nxe4 22. Qe2 f5 23. Ra3 $16 {1:0/45, Karjakin, S (2672)-Radjabov,T (2729)/Cap d'Agde 2006}) 8... Bb6 9. a4 (9. Bg5 Bg4 $2 10. Bd5 $1 Bd7 11. a4 $1 h6 $2 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 $16 { 1:0/60, Hracek,Z (2630)-Onischuk,A (2580), Bundesliga 1997}) 9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bg5 Rb8 (11... Ne7 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 c6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Qc2 Bg6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qb1 O-O 19. Bc2 Qa7 {1-0 Hou,Y (2578)-Tania, S (2425)/Beijing 2008/CBM 126 Extra}) 12. axb5 axb5 13. Nbd2 exd4 14. Bd5 Ne5 15. cxd4 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Bxf3 17. Bc6+ Kf8 18. gxf3 h6 19. Be3 Nh5 20. f4 g6 21. Qf3 b4 22. Kh1 Kg7 23. Rg1 Kh7 24. f5 Qf6 25. Bd5 Rhf8 26. Qg4 Ng7 27. fxg6+ fxg6 28. f4 Rbe8 29. Qg2 Ne6 30. e5 dxe5 31. dxe5 Qf7 32. Be4 Rg8 33. Bxb6 Nxf4 34. Qg4 Rxe5 35. Bc2 cxb6 36. Rad1 Qb7+ 37. Kh2 Re2+ 38. Kg3 Nh5+ 39. Qxh5 Rxc2 40. Qb5 Qc7+ 41. Kg4 Rc4+ 42. Kf3 Qf4+ 43. Ke2 Qe4+ 44. Kf2 Rf8+ 45. Kg3 Qf3+ 46. Kh2 Rc2+ {0-1 Hou,Y (2578)-Stefanova,A (2548)/Beijing 2008/CBM 126 Extra}) 7... d5 {[%csl Gc2,Rc7,Gd3,Rd6,Ge4,Re5,Gf3,Rf6,Gg2,Rg7][%CAl Ge5d4,Gc3b2,Gc3b4, Gd4c5] C78: Ruy Lopez: Archangelsk and Möller Defences. Shirov himself has played 8.d4 here often. Wedberg,T: 'Black wants to punish White for putting the B on c2 rather than on b3.' Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Auch mit dieser Variante habe ich auf beiden Seiten des Brettes schon einige Erfahrungen gesammelt. (ZH) '} 8. a4 $1 {Threatens to win with exd5. A useful intermezzo - White delays d4 for a move to see what Black does. Szabo,Kr: 'Anand played this move for the first time in 2000 against Shirov.'} ({Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Beliebter als'} 8. exd5 Qxd5 {Hracek/Meyer,CD: ', z.B.'} 9. d4 ({The following flank activity now looks a bit unusual} 9. a4 {Roiz,M: 'which was Kramnik's choice against Leko looks more promising.'} b4 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb3 Qh5 $1 $146 (11... Qd8 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 (13. cxd4 $11) 13... Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. cxd4 {Das Endspiel hat sich mehr oder weniger forciert ergeben; Schwarz hat zwar noch Entwicklungsprobleme, doch er sollte diese lösen können und damit ausgleichen.} Bb7 16. Bg5 h6 $2 (16... Rd8 {ist naheliegend. Kramnik war ja offensichtlich vertraut mit diesem Endspiel; was hatte er hier geplant?} 17. Nd2 Rxd4 18. Rac1 Kd8 19. Be3 Rd7 20. Bxf7 Bd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne4 (22. Nc4 $5) 22... Kc8 { Beide Springer stehen hier hervorragend; ob Weiß ein kleines Plus hat?}) 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. g3 Rd8 20. Rac1 $16 Rd7 {Weiß steht klar besser und verfügt über mehrere verheißungsvolle Fortsetzungen. Neben dem Partiezug und den beiden Zügen, die ich hier analysiere kommen auch 21.h4 und 21.f4 gut in Frage. Denn in der Partie konnte Leko seinen schlechten Turm g8 über g5 aktivieren.} 21. Nc4 $2 {Dieser Zug vergibt praktisch den gesamten Vorteil, weil nun der Rg8 ins Spiel gelangt.} (21. a5 Kd8 22. Ba4 Rxd4 23. Nb3 $1 (23. Rxe7 Kxe7 24. Nb3 Rd7 25. Re1+ Kd8 26. Bxd7 Kxd7 27. Nc5+ Kc6 $1 (27... Kc8 $6) 28. Rc1 Ba8 29. Nxa6+ Kb5 30. Nxc7+ Ka4 $13) 23... Re4 24. Red1+ Kc8 25. Rd7 Bd8 26. Nc5 $16) (21. Bc4 Rxd4 22. Nb3 Re4 23. Na5 (23. Rxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxa6 Kd7 25. Rd1+ Kc6 26. Bc4 $16) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 $16) (21. h4 $5) (21. f4 $5) 21... Rg5 $1 22. Ne3 (22. f4 Rgd5 23. Bc2 Rxd4 24. Bf5 {Weiß gewinnt eine Qualität, steht aber wohl nicht besser.}) 22... Kf8 23. h4 Ra5 24. d5 $6 ({ Fritz würde} 24. Bd1 {spielen, aber nach} Bd5 $1 25. Nxd5 (25. Bg4 Be6 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Rc6 Rd6 28. Rxc7 Rxd4) 25... Raxd5 26. Be2 a5 27. Bb5 R7d6 28. Rxc7 Bd8 $14 {/= sollte Schwarz keine große Mühe haben, um das Remis zu sichern.}) 24... Rc5 $11 25. Rcd1 c6 26. Nf5 cxd5 27. Rd4 Rdc7 28. Red1 Rc1 29. Bxd5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bc8 31. Be4 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 b3 33. Rd3 Rc4 34. Bd7 Rb4 35. Bc6 {1/2-1/2 (35) Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741) Brissago 2004 CBM 103 [Knaak,R]}) (11... Qd6 12. Re1+ Kf8 $13) 12. cxd4 Be7 (12... Bd6 $5) 13. Ne5 Qxd1 (13... Nxe5 14. Qxh5 Nxh5 15. dxe5 f6 16. Bd5 (16. Bd1 g6 17. Re1) 16... Rb8 17. Bf3 g6 18. Bxh5 gxh5 19. Bf4 $13) 14. Rxd1 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Ng4 $13 {Dominguez,L (2661) -Onischuk,A (2652)/Poikovsky 2005} (15... Ng4 16. Bd5 Rb8 17. Bf4 g5 18. Bg3 h5 19. h3 h4 $13)) (9. d3 Bg4 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qe2 Rad8 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Qd6 14. b4 Bb6 15. a4 Qf6 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 Rd6 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Rxd6 Rxd6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Kf1 Kf8 23. Ke2 Nd8 24. Bd3 Bxf2 25. Bxb5 Bg3 26. Ra8 Ke7 27. Bg5+ f6 28. Be3 Ne6 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Rc8 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Nxd8 32. Ba7 Ne6 33. Bc4 Ke7 34. Bxe6 Kxe6 35. b5 g6 36. c4 Kd7 37. Bc5 f5 38. Kd3 Kc8 39. Be7 Kb7 {remis, Nisipeanu,L (2696)-Hracek,Z (2605)/Sibenik 2006}) 9... exd4 10. Bg5 $6 {Wrong novelty, but there are no prizes for normal moves here:} (10. Re1+ Be7 11. cxd4 ({Better was} 11. Bb3 {was better:} Qd8 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. Qxd8 Bxd8 15. Bf4 Bb7 16. Nd2 Nd5 {Zelcic,R (2545)-Saric,I (2575)/ Zadar 2009; with equal play.}) 11... Bg4 12. Nc3 Qh5 13. d5 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qxf3 15. gxf3 Nd4 16. Bd1 b4 17. Be3 Nf5 18. Ba4+ Kf8 19. Bc6 Rd8 {Fernandez,D (2299)-Malaniuk,V (2582)/Parramatta 2010; with better play.}) (10. Bb3 Qd6 { The best square for the queen - here it controls the important central squares and it's not easy to disturb it.} 11. Re1+ ({Nothing promises also:} 11. cxd4 Bxd4 (11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Qf3 Rb8 14. Re1+ Be6 15. Bf4 Qb6 $15) 12. a4 b4 13. Re1+ Be6 14. Ng5 O-O $4 (14... Ne5 15. Nxe6 fxe6 $17) 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rxe6 $18 {1-0 Boros,D-Csorba,J/Hungary 1995/EXT 99 (27)}) 11... Kf8 ({Ofcourse not} 11... Be6 $2 12. Ng5 $36) 12. Bg5 $146 {White is trying to take control of the important 'e4' square, but it takes too much time.} ({White hasn't got a sufficient compensation for a pawn after:} 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Qc2 Bd6 15. h3 (15. Be3 Qe5 16. f4 Qf5 17. Qc6 Rb8 $15 {[%CAl Gc8b7]}) 15... Bb7 16. Nd2 Qc5 17. Qd3 Rd8 $15 {1/2-1/2 Garcia Carbo,M-Rada Equiza,M/Cala Mendia 2001/CBM 085 ext (34)}) 12... Bf5 $1 {This natural developing move is quite the best.} ({Less convincing would be:} 12... Bg4 13. Nbd2 dxc3 14. bxc3 Rd8 15. Qb1 Qd3 ({A natural} 15... h6 $2 {fails to:} 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Ne4 Qf4 18. Nxc5 Bxf3 {[%tqu "En","Please,find the ellegant refutation of black's slow play","","","b1g6","",10]} 19. Qg6 $3 Rd6 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Bg4 22. Nxa6 $16) 16. Qb2 $44) 13. cxd4 {Leads to serious simplifications.} ({Deserved attention also:} 13. Qc1 $5 {but after} d3 14. Bf4 Qd7 15. Nbd2 Re8 {I can hardly believe that Black may face any problems with such a strong Pd3.}) 13... Nxd4 {Now the threat of Qd1-f3 is not too scary, so Black may keep his dark-squared bishop on the board.} ({There is no reason for:} 13... Bxd4 $6 14. Nc3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 {[%csl Gb3,Gg5] and only Black may be worse here.}) 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qf3 ({After} 15. Bxf6 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 gxf6 17. Nc3 (17. Rd5 Re8 18. Nd2 Re5 $15) 17... Bd6 $15 {black's position would be better due to his pair of bishops.}) 15... Be4 16. Qf4 Bd5 $6 {The vulnerablity of Bd5 gives White an important tempo.} ({Black could cause White some problems after: } 16... Bb7 $142 17. Qf5 (17. Nd2 Qxf4 18. Bxf4 Rd8 19. Rad1 Bd6 $17) 17... Bd6 18. Nc3 Qg4 19. Qxg4 Nxg4 20. h3 Ne5 $15 {since White has no sufficient compensation for the pawn here.}) 17. Nc3 Bxb3 18. axb3 {Now the 'a' file is open, so White puts an unpleasant pressure on the Pa6.} h6 {This move is not that bad, but now Black is the side who has to play accurately.} ({I would prefer:} 18... Qxf4 19. Bxf4 c6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Rxe4 $11 {[%CAl Ga1c1]}) 19. Nxb5 ({Nothing changed:} 19. Qxd4 Bxd4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxb5 Bxb2 22. Nxc7 ( 22. Ra2 c5 23. Nd6) 22... Bxa1 23. Nxa8 Bc3 24. Rc1 Ke7 25. Nc7 Rd8 26. Nxa6 Rd2 27. Nc5 Bd4 28. Re1+ Kf8 29. Ne4 Rb2 $11) 19... Qxf2+ ({Black correctly avoids:} 19... hxg5 $6 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 $14 {where White gains an advantage, since black's pieces are still not coordinated.}) 20. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 hxg5 22. Nxc7 Rb8 $11 {Now a draw becomes unavoidable - there are not many pawns on the board.} 23. Kg1 Rxb3 24. Rxa6 Kg8 25. Ra5 ({After} 25. Re2 Kh7 26. Ra3 Rhb8 $11 {White would be unable to advance his passed Pb2.}) 25... Rxb2 26. Rxg5 Rh5 27. Rxh5 Nxh5 28. Nd5 Nf6 29. Nxf6+ gxf6 30. h3 Kg7 {1/2-1/2 (30) De Firmian,N (2547)-Onischuk,A (2650) San Diego 2006 CBM 112 [Roiz,M]}) 10... Bg4 $6 ({A clear advantage promised here} 10... Be6 {promised a clear advantage here:} 11. a4 b4 12. Qe2 dxc3 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. bxc3 Rd8 15. Be4 Qd6 16. Qxa6 Nd4) 11. Bxf6 $6 (11. Re1+ {promised some advantage:} Kf8 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Be4 Qd6 14. Qc1 f5 15. cxd4 fxe4 16. dxc5 Qg6 17. Nh4 Qf6) 11... Bxf3 12. Re1+ Kf8 $2 ({It was correct for the king to stay in the centre, despite the fact that it will be necessary to start a long jorney:} 12... Kd7 $1 13. Qxf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 gxf6 15. Bf5+ Kd6 16. Nd2 dxc3 17. Ne4+ Ke5 18. Ng3+ Kf4 19. Re4+ Kg5 20. Rg4+ Kh6 21. Be4 Ne7 22. Bxa8 cxb2 $11) 13. Bb3 Qe4 $3 (13... Qd6 {was very bad:} 14. Qxf3 gxf6 (14... Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bd5 $18) 15. Qh5 $18) 14. Bxg7+ $2 ({The World Champion was so shocked with Betul's last move, that she did not worry about having a slightly better endgame:} 14. Rxe4 Bxd1 15. Bxd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd1 Ne6 17. Nd2) 14... Kxg7 15. gxf3 $2 ({Now the better choice was a slightly worse endgame:} 15. Rxe4 Bxd1 16. Bxd1 Rhe8 17. Nd2 f5 18. Rxe8 Rxe8) 15... Qf5 16. Nd2 dxc3 17. bxc3 Rad8 ({It was better to create a safe haven on h8 for the king} 17... Rhd8) 18. Kh1 Qf4 {There were two other ways to win here:} (18... Bxf2 19. Re2 Bb6) (18... Bd6 19. Qe2 Bxh2 20. Kxh2 Qf4+ 21. Kg2 Rxd2) 19. Re4 {White's chance is just to try to bluff here.} Qxd2 20. Qg1+ Kf8 21. Qg4 Qd6 $4 {It happened! The winning line isn't easy:} (21... Bxf2 $1 22. Bxf7 Qxc3 $1 (22... Ne5 23. Rxe5 Qxc3 24. Rae1 $1 Bxe1 25. Qf5 $11) 23. Rg1 $1 Qf6 $1 24. Rf4 Ne5 $1 $19) 22. Qh5 $6 ({Now the correct winning attack was} 22. Qf5 Rd7 23. Re6) 22... Rd7 23. Rae1 $2 (23. Rd1 {was still promising:} Qxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Kg2 Rg8+ 26. Kh3 Rd6 27. Qxc5) 23... Bxf2 24. Rd1 $2 ({White had to fight for a draw with} 24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rxh8 Qg6 26. Qxg6+ hxg6 27. Ree8 a5 28. Rhg8+) 24... Qg6 25. Qxg6 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 hxg6 27. Bb3 Bc5 28. Kg2 Bd6 29. h3 Rh5 30. a4 Re5 31. Rh4 Re2+ 32. Kf1 Re3 33. axb5 axb5 34. Bd5 Ne7 {0-1 (34) Hou,Y (2623)-Yildiz Kadioglu,B (2333) Kazan 2012 CBM 149 [Mikhalchishin,A]}) ({The main move here has been tried by Hou Yifan too: Roiz,M: 'More popular is:' Szabo,Kr: '2 days later, So played'} 8. d4 { Knaak,R: 'ist üblich und wird wohl die Hauptvariante bleiben.' Baldauf,M: 'ist die Hauptvariante, die ähnlich forciert ist wie die Partiefortsetzung. Lampert konnte dort vor wenigen Monaten problemlos ausgleichen'} dxe4 {Roiz,M: 'where white should choose between: 9.dxe5, 9.Nxe5, 9.dxc5 and 9.Nbd2.'} 9. dxc5 { Negi,P: 'certainly hasn't been completely explored either.'} ({Szabo,Kr: 'Nevertheless '} 9. Nxe5 {Negi,P: 'leads to a long, insane variation that Svidler understandably wanted to avoid' Szabo,Kr: 'is the most common continuation.' Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Es scheint wohl nichts Besseres als dieses Abspiel zu geben, zumindest habe ich nichts gefunden. (ZH)'} Nxe5 10. dxe5 (10. dxc5 Nd3 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nd2 Bb7 13. Qe2 Qd5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qe3 Rad8 16. f3 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. fxe4 Rd2 20. Rf2 Rfd8 $11 {So Wesley-Onischuk, Saint Louis 2016, with an equal endgame.}) 10... Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 {Wedberg,T: '?'} (12... Rb8 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Bg5+ Ke6 15. Bh4 Nxe5 16. Bd5+ Kf5 17. Nd2 $13 {Wedberg,T: '1-0 Shirov,A-Ivanchuk,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext (57)' ist riskant für Schwarz, wie die Partie Shirov-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 1998, gezeigt hat, 1:0/57.} (17. Bxf7 $5 $146 {doesn't let Black equalise fully yet.} Bxf2+ (17... Nxf7 18. Rd5+ Kg6 (18... Kg4 19. Bg3 Bb6 20. h3#) 19. Rxc5 $16) 18. Bxf2 Nxf7 19. Bg3 $14 {Due to the opposite coloured bishops, and more activity, Black certainly has chances for a draw...but it's not yet easy. Black's exposed king, and likely pawn less, certainly give White enough reason to be happy with the outcome of the opening.}) 17... Bb7 18. Ne4 (18. Nb3 {This lets White maintain pressure as well.} Bb6 19. Bg3 f6 20. Nd4+ Bxd4 21. cxd4 (21. Rxd4 c5 22. Rd2 c4 23. Rad1 Rhe8 $11 {1/2-1/2 (55) Hermansson,E (2545)-Hector,J (2638) Sweden 2007}) 21... Bxd5 22. dxe5 Rbd8 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Bxc7 {is a much more drawish opposite coloured bishop endgame than 17.Bxf7.}) 18... Bb6 19. Ng3+ Kg6 20. Bb3 f6 $13 {1-0 Shirov,A-Ivanchuk,V/ Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext (57)} 21. Ne2 Rhe8 $11 {(57) Shirov,A (2710) -Ivanchuk,V (2740) Monte Carlo 1998}) (12... Bxf2+ 13. Kf1 Be6 (13... Rb8 14. Bc6+ Ke7 15. Bg5+ f6 16. exf6+ gxf6 17. Bf4) 14. Ke2 $16) 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 {Wedberg,T: '!'} Bb6 {Negi,P: '!' Negi,P: 'We've most of the theory established here already, with an old Svidler game after Bg5. And in general, Black seems to be doing fine after the following exchange sacrifice:'} 15. Bxa8 {Wedberg,T: 'has been exclusively played here, but after'} (15. Bg5+ $5 $146 { [%mdl 8] Wedberg,T: 'Svidlers novelty in 2001 that gave him a crushing win over Grischuk.'} f6 (15... Ke6 16. Rd4 $18) 16. exf6+ gxf6 17. Bh4 {White covers f2 and prepars to play against the weak black K. Black has no really good discovered check. This alreday looks very pleasant for White - even without having seen Svidlers computer analysis.} Ng4+ 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. Nd2 Be6 20. Rh5 $1 {[%mdl 128] Black has long term problems with his K. Fritz gives an equal game here, but that is surely wrong.} Kf7 (20... Rbd8 21. Ne4 $40) (20... Nf2+ $1 {[%mdl 8] An important improvement relieving the pressure against the black K.} 21. Bxf2 Bxf2 22. Rf1 (22. Ne4 Rb6 23. Nxf2 Rxc6 $11) 22... Be3 23. Nb3 (23. Ne4 $5) 23... Rbd8 {1/2-1/2 (23) Lautier,J (2676)-Onischuk,A (2652) Poikovsky 2004 CBM 100 [Wedberg,T] Black is almost better here.}) 21. h3 Ne5 22. Rh6 $1 Ng6 23. Rf1 f5 24. Bg5 Kg7 25. Nf3 Bc4 26. Rd1 $16 {[%CAl Yc6e8, Yg5d8,Gd1d7] Wedberg,T: '1-0 Svidler,P-Grischuk,A/Biel 2001/CBM 85/[Wedberg] (33)' Domination in the centre and attack. Svidlers delivers a very nice strangulation excercise in this game.} Rbf8 (26... Be6 27. Bd7 (27. h4 $5) 27... Rbd8 28. Bxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxh7+ $18) 27. h4 Bxa2 28. h5 Ne7 29. Rd7 Re8 30. Ne5 (30. Nh4 $1 Rhf8 31. Rxe7+ $18) 30... Bc5 31. Nd3 Bb6 32. Bf3 Bc4 33. Ne5 { 1-0 (33) Svidler,P (2695)-Grischuk,A (2669) Biel 2001 CBM 085 [Wedberg,T]} (33. Ne5 Bc5 (33... Bb3 34. c4 bxc4 35. Bf6+ Kxh6 36. Nf7#) 34. Nxc4 bxc4 35. Re6 Kf7 36. Bd5 $18)) 15... Nd3+ {Wedberg,T: '!' '!'} (15... Be6 {Wedberg,T: '?'} 16. Rd4 $1 $18 {1-0 Lutz,C-Onischuk,A/Germany 1996/GER-chT (44) Wedberg,T: '+/ -'}) 16. Kf1 Nxc1 17. Na3 Be6 18. Rxc1 Rxa8 {Negi,P: 'The insanity is simplified to a much more normal position, but as is often the case, the excellent bishops actually offer Black good compensation for the rook.'} 19. Rd3 Bf5 {Wedberg,T: '~/=' The position with the forced exchange sacrifice guarantees Black a very comfortable endgame. Wedberg,T: '1/2-1/2 Shirov, A-Onischuk,A/Germany 2000/CBM 74 ext (78)' Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Zugumstellung zur Partie.'} 20. Rdd1 ({Auf} 20. Rg3 $6 {folgt} Rd8 $1 ({jedoch nicht} 20... Ke6 $6 21. Nc2 Rd8 (21... c5 22. Rd1) 22. Nd4+ Bxd4 23. cxd4 Rxd4 24. a3 (24. Rxc7) )) 20... Be3 $5 $146 (20... Bg4 {Wedberg,T: '1/2-1/2 Mariano,N-Onischuk,A/ Jakarta 1997/CBM 58 ext (22)'}) 21. Ra1 Bf4 22. g3 Bxe5 {Wedberg,T: 'Black is clearly not worse. 1/2-1/2 Zhang Zhong-Onischuk,A/Beijing 2000/CBM 78 (40) and 1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Onischuk,A/Germany 2000/CBM 74 ext (78)'} 23. Rd2 {Hracek/ Meyer,CD: 'In dieser Stellung hat Onischuk zwei Mal ...Rd8 gezogen, aber ich meine, daß auch mein folgender Zug völlig okay ist. (ZH) '} Rd8 (23... h5 24. Nc2 Bxc2 25. Rxc2 f6 {Tatsächlich ist erst dieser Zug eine Neuerung! Zwar ist das Endspiel nach Computeranalyse günstiger für Weiß, aber den Vorteil zu realisieren ist beinahe unmöglich. (ZH)} (25... Rh8 26. Re1 Ke6 27. c4 b4 $11 { Hracek-Delchev, CRO-chT 2006, remis/33}) 26. a4 Rb8 27. axb5 axb5 28. Ra6 { Nach diesem Zug bot Thomas remis an. Natürlich ist die Position etwa ausgeglichen, aber ein paar Züge wollte ich noch machen. (ZH)} b4 29. cxb4 Rxb4 30. Rac6 Kd7 31. R6c4 Rb3 32. Rd2+ Ke6 33. Rcc2 Kf5 34. Kg2 g5 35. Rf2+ Kg6 36. Rf3 Rxb2 37. Rxb2 Bxb2 38. Rb3 Bd4 39. Rb8 g4 40. Kf1 c5 41. Rg8+ Kf5 42. Rh8 Kg6 43. Rg8+ Kf7 44. Rc8 {1/2-1/2 (44) Luther,T (2594)-Hracek,Z (2614) Germany 2007 CBM 118 [Hracek/Meyer,CD]}) 24. Ke1 (24. Ke2 Bg4+ 25. Ke3 Bd6 26. Nc2 f5 27. Nd4 Rf8 28. Rf1 g5 29. Rdf2 f4+ 30. gxf4 Bxf4+ 31. Rxf4 gxf4+ 32. Rxf4 Rg8 33. Nc6+ Ke6 34. Nb4 a5 35. Nc6 b4 36. cxb4 axb4 37. Nxb4 c5 38. Nd3 Kd5 39. Re4 (39. b4 $142) 39... Kd6 40. Rc4 Re8+ 41. Re4 Rg8 42. Rc4 Re8+ 43. Kf4 Be2 { remis/78, Shirov,A (2751)-Onischuk,A (2637)/Germany 2000}) 24... h5 25. Nc2 Bxc2 26. Rxc2 h4 $44 {Zhang,Z (2636)-Onischuk,A (2627)/Beijing 79/(314) 2000} 27. Re2 Kf6 28. gxh4 Rh8 29. h3 Rxh4 30. Re3 b4 31. Ke2 bxc3 32. bxc3 Rc4 33. Rf1+ Ke6 34. Rc1 f6 35. Kd3 Kd5 36. Kc2 g5 37. Rd1+ Kc5 38. Rd8 a5 39. Re8 Kb5 40. R8xe5+ {remis, Zhang Zhong (2636)-Onischuk,A (2627)/Beijing 2000}) (9. dxe5 {Hracek/Meyer,CD: '!?' Baldauf,M: '!?' Szabo,Kr: 'has also been played by Svidler,'} exf3 (9... Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxf2+ (10... exf3 $1 {Even though there is still one game with this move, it was almost certainly a surprise for White. Black voluntarily spoils his structure, and does not take a pawn with a check.. ..} 11. exf6 gxf6 12. Be4 (12. Bf4 $5 {could be an interesting way which needs further checking. After} Ne5 13. Be4 Rb8 14. g3 {The pawn sacrifice seems to be just temporary, and if White is able to regain the f3-pawn without spoiling his position, then White might have chances. Still, the assesment is probably close to equal right now.}) (12. a4 Ne5 $5 {dealing with it aggressively} 13. axb5 Bb7 14. bxa6 Rxa6 15. Rxa6 Bxa6 $132) 12... Bd7 $1 (12... Bb7 {looks more natural, but now Black won't be able to go 0-0-0.}) 13. a4 O-O-O 14. axb5 Ne5 $1 {Really impressive play! No wonder, Svidler spent a huge deal of time on these moves. It is already White who needs to be careful here...} 15. Bf4 Bxb5 {Szabo,Kr: '<=>' Szabo,Kr: 'Svidler-Topalov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014,' Black's pawn structure is abysmal, but his activity more than makes up for it. Szabo, Kr: 'with a double-edged fight.'} 16. Na3 Rxd1+ $6 {Slight inaccuracies begin creeping into Topalov's game....it's always hard to start to focus right after your preparation ends. Black is still ok after this, but giving away the d-file makes White's play a lot easier.} (16... Bd3 $1 {would have been the simplest.} 17. Bxe5 (17. gxf3 Rhg8+ 18. Bg3 f5 $1 {would win material}) 17... Bxe4 18. Bxf6 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Re8 20. g3 Bd5 $15 {Black's pieces are much better, and the mating bind due to the f3-pawn is very annoying for White as well.}) 17. Rxd1 Be2 18. Rd5 Rg8 $2 {A surprising mistake. Black should have tried to take fxg2 when he could. The pawn on f3 looks impressive, but he isn't active enough to hold on to it for too long...and in general a tripled pawn is never too nice to keep. But it was already not that easy to make a decision:} (18... Bxa3 {would be definitely better than the game, but it's not entirely equal} 19. bxa3 fxg2 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. Rxe5 {with slight pressure.}) ( 18... Bd6 19. g3 {the pawns are still a problem, although Black has more counterplay here.}) (18... Ba7 $1 {now g3 is probably not very nice due to the pressure on f2} 19. Bxe5 fxe5 {and Black should have enough counterplay to equalise probably.}) 19. g3 Bxa3 20. bxa3 Ng6 21. Be3 {The tripled pawns make Black's life hard, and Svidler conducts the next few moves quite well and practically, just increasing the pressure.} Re8 22. Bf5+ Kb7 23. Rd4 Re5 24. g4 a5 25. h3 h5 26. Be4+ Ka6 (26... Kc8 {is a more stubborn defence, but it's hard to figure it out during a game...Black can't really expect his king to come under a mating attack, can he?}) 27. gxh5 $1 Rxh5 28. Rd8 {Finally, it's time for precision! The king is a target now.} Ne5 (28... Rxh3 29. Rb8 $1 { is an amazing move that Topalov might have overlooked. Bb7 is a very strong threat as well...} (29. a4 Rh8 {is a draw.}) 29... Rh8 30. Rb2 {and the beautiful mate with Bb7 follows.}) 29. a4 c6 30. Rb8 {The king is still not out of the woods.} Nc4 31. Bd4 c5 32. Bxf6 Nb6 33. Bd8 (33. h4 $16 {was simpler.}) 33... Nd5 34. Ra8+ Kb7 35. Rxa5 Re5 36. Rxc5 Rxe4 37. Rxd5 Rxa4 38. Rf5 Kc8 39. Bg5 Rc4 40. Bd2 {It could be argued that Svidler spoilt his advantage a bit in the last moves, but he did reasonably well to reach the time control, and the endgame is still quite unpleasant for White.} Rc7 { Too passive. The h-pawn is just on a roll now} (40... Rh4 41. Kh2 Bf1 42. Rxf3 Rh5 {is an interesting suggestion by the computer. Amazingly, there aren't many ways to improve...but it's hard to say if Black can save the position after} 43. Rxf7 Rxh3+ 44. Kg1 Be2 $16) 41. h4 Kd8 42. Bg5+ $1 {A very nice trick. Black would have been in time to control the h-pawn...but White brings mating nets into the game as well!} Ke8 43. Rd5 f5 (43... Rd7 44. Rxd7 Kxd7 { should just be lost as the two pawns are too far away. As usual, the computer doesn't understand these opposite coloured bishop endgames very well...}) 44. h5 Rc4 45. Rd4 $1 {The opposite coloured bishop endgame is of course lost...} Rxc3 46. h6 Rc8 47. h7 Kf7 48. Bd8 $1 {1-0 (48) Svidler,P (2758)-Topalov,V (2785) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160 [Negi,P] The final touch.}) 11. Kf1 $1 exf3 (11... Ng4 12. Bxe4 $14 Bb7 13. h3 Ne3+ 14. Bxe3 Bxe3 15. a4 O-O (15... Ke7 16. Na3 Rhb8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Nxe5 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Nxc7 Nxf3 22. Nd5+ Ke6 23. Nxe3 $16 {1-0 (46) Areshchenko,A (2657)-Gupta,A (2570) Mumbai 2009}) 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Na3 b4 19. Nc2 Bf4 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Nxb4 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Bxe5 23. Nc6 Bd6 24. b4 f5 25. b5 Rf6 26. Rd5 Re6 27. c4 $14 {1-0 (44) Hossain,E (2516)-Gupta,A (2584) Kolkata 2009}) 12. exf6 $16 { Topalov-Shirov, 2001}) 10. Qxd8+ Nxd8 11. exf6 gxf6 (11... fxg2 $1) 12. Re1+ Be7 13. g3 Bb7 14. Nd2 Ne6 15. Bd1 O-O-O 16. Bxf3 {Hracek/Meyer,CD: '+/=' Hracek/Meyer,CD: 'Hracek-Onischuk, Torino (ol) 2006'} Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Rd5 18. Be3 Rhd8 19. Kf1 Kb7 20. Rac1 Bc5 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Rc2 Ne6 23. Rce2 a5 24. Rc2 { 1/2 Hracek,Z (2593)-Onischuk,A (2650)/Turin ITA 2006/The Week in Chess 604}) ( 9. Nbd2 {was surprising but not very effective after} exf3 (9... exd4 10. Nxe4 $36) 10. Qxf3 Be7 11. Qxc6+ Bd7 12. Qf3 exd4 13. cxd4 (13. Ne4 O-O 14. Rd1 { Fischer,J: 'Both sides follow a topical variation which has been tried a few times recently. At the Gibraltar Open Maxime Vachier-Lagrave here played'} Re8 $1 $146 {An improvement by Jones! Fischer,J: 'and won against Gawain Jones.'} ( 14... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Ra7 16. Bf4 (16. cxd4 $5) 16... dxc3 17. Qxc3 c5 18. Rd3 Qb6 19. Re1 Bf6 20. Qc2 $44 {Nijboer-Holzke, Wijk aan Zee 2009, with strong pressure for the P.}) (14... c5 {Baldauf,M: '!'} 15. Bg5 (15. cxd4 c4 $13 16. Nxf6+ ({A new move. In a previous Swedish GM Nils Grandelius tried} 16. Bg5 { and defeated Lawrence Trent.} Nd5 17. Nc5 Bxg5 18. Qxd5 Bg4 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qe6+ Kh8 21. f3 Re8 22. Qc6 Rc8 23. Qb7 Rc7 24. Qxa6 Re2 25. fxg4 Rxc2 26. Re1 g6 27. Kh1 Qd5 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Rg1 Rxc5 30. dxc5 Rxg2 31. Qd6 Qxd6 32. cxd6 Rd2 33. gxf5 Bf4 34. Rg4 g5 35. h4 h6 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Rb8 Rd5 38. Rb6 Kf6 39. d7+ Ke7 40. Rb7 Rxf5 41. Rg1 Rd5 42. Re1+ Be5 43. Re4 Kd8 44. Kg2 Rc5 45. Kf3 Rd5 { Grandelius,N (2628)-Trent,L (2452) Germany 2016 1-0 (62)}) 16... Bxf6 17. Be4 Rb8 18. Bf4 Rb6 $11 {1-0 (41) Beliavsky,A (2630)-Lampert,J (2472) Reykjavik ISL 2016} 19. Rac1 Re8 20. h3 Bg5 21. b3 Qf6 22. Be3 Qxf3 23. gxf3 $5 {[#] An interesting pawn sacrifice to activate White's pieces and to get the d-pawn moving.} Bxe3 24. fxe3 cxb3 25. axb3 Bxh3 26. Kf2 g6 27. Rc7 Rc8 28. Rdc1 Rxc7 29. Rxc7 b4 $6 {Black gradually loses control. Better was} (29... Rd6 {to keep the d-pawn in check.}) 30. Bc6 $1 {Paving the way for the d-pawn.} Rb8 31. d5 Kf8 32. e4 h5 33. Kg3 Bf1 34. d6 {Now, White's d-pawn is very strong. Moreover, White threatens 35.Bd5.} Rd8 35. e5 Bb5 36. Bxb5 axb5 37. Kf4 {White's king hurries to support its d-pawn which is more dangerous and more important than Black's h-pawn.} Re8 38. Ke4 h4 39. Kd5 g5 40. d7 Rd8 {1-0 (40) Beliavsky,A (2630)-Lampert,J (2472) Reykjavik 2016 CBM 171 Extra [Fischer,J] After the time-control was reached Black resigned. After 41.Kd6 Black's h-pawn is simply not fast enough to stop White from playing 42.Rc8, winning.}) 15... Rc8 (15... Re8 $5) 16. b4 $1 Nd5 17. Nxc5 Bxg5 18. Qxd5 Bc6 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. Rxd4 Bf6 21. Rd3 Rfe8 $44 {Bobras-Carlstedt, Trier 2016, and White looks more comfortable, but Black should hold with his B pair.}) 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Qd3 Nxe4 ( {Probably} 17... g6 $5 {was more accurate} 18. Nd6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Re6 20. Qf4 Bc6 {and it is not easy to finish the development for White.}) 18. Qxd7 Qxd7 19. Rxd7 Nf6 20. Rd1 c4 21. Bf4 Bc5 22. Kf1 $14 {The position is very comfortable for White, because he has two Bs and the Ps are on both sides of the board. It will be a long torture for Black.} a5 ({The natural} 22... h6 { was the alternative} 23. a4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 23. Re1 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Kf8 25. Bd1 $1 {A good B manoeuvre, he would like to transfer his B to f3, from where it is more powerful.} Re8 26. Bf3 b4 (26... Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1 Ke7 28. Bc7 a4 29. Bc6 {is also unpleasant for Black!}) 27. Rc1 $1 {A very deep move. White avoids the exchange of Rs; moreover the c4-P becomes weak.} bxc3 28. Rxc3 Bb4 29. Rc1 ({Of course} 29. Rxc4 $4 {does not work because of} Re1# {mate!}) 29... Ne4 $1 {Black also tries to activate his pieces.} 30. Rc2 $1 {The correct reply!} ({The greedy} 30. Rxc4 {could have been met by} Nd2+ 31. Bxd2 Bxd2 {and with opposite coloured Bs, there is more of a chance for Black to survive.}) 30... a4 31. Be3 f5 32. g3 Rc8 33. Be2 Nd6 34. a3 Ba5 35. Bf4 Ke7 36. Bd1 $1 {Now the a4-P is the main weakness.} c3 37. bxc3 {The natural human reaction.} ({However} 37. Re2+ $1 {was more accurate} Ne4 38. Bxa4 Kf6 39. Be3 Nd2+ 40. Kg2 $16 {and White is better.}) 37... Ne4 38. c4 Nc3 39. Be2 Nxe2 40. Kxe2 {Suddenly the position is changed a bit. Black could exchange his N for the light-squared B, but White is a P up.} Bb6 41. Rb2 Bc5 42. Rb7+ Ke6 43. Bc1 Be7 44. Rb6+ {Fischer,J: 'Vachier Lagrave,M (2785)-Jones, G (2625) Gibraltar 2016 1-0'} Kf7 $6 {This is an inaccuracy.} ({The K should come to} 44... Kd7 {, because it should control the c-P, for example:} 45. Kd3 Bc5 46. Rb7+ Rc7 {and still this endgame is not easy.}) 45. Kd3 Rd8+ 46. Kc3 Rd1 47. Be3 $1 {A very nice move! White sacrifices the a3-P, because he activates his B; moreover he will win the a4-P too.} Bxa3 48. Ra6 Be7 49. c5 ( 49. Rxa4 {was also good, but I also prefer the text move.}) 49... g5 $6 (49... Bf6+ 50. Kc4 Ra1 {was tougher, Black doesn't give up the P so easily. However} 51. Kb4 Rb1+ 52. Kxa4 $18 {should also be winning for White.}) 50. Rxa4 $18 { White is a healthy passed P up and Black can't stop it.} Rd8 51. Kc4 h5 52. Ra7 Rg8 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Ke5 f4 55. gxf4 gxf4 56. Bxf4 Rc8 57. Be3 Ke8 58. Kd5 Kf7 59. c6 Rd8+ 60. Ke5 {1-0 (60) Vachier Lagrave,M (2785)-Jones,G (2625) Caleta 2016 CBM 171 [Szabo,Kr] Very nice technique by Vachier Lagrave!}) 13... O-O $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee 2001/CBM 81/[Wedberg] (34)} 14. Ne4 Be6 15. Nxf6+ $6 (15. Rd1 $5) 15... Bxf6 16. Be4 Bxd4 $1 {[%mdl 512] A beautiful exchange sacrifice. Black can never be worse after this. His pressure against White's queen-side and the strong B on d4 assures that.} (16... Rb8 17. d5 $36) 17. Rd1 (17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Qxa8 Rxa8 19. Bf4 c5 $44) 17... c5 18. Bxa8 Qxa8 19. Be3 $5 (19. Qxa8 Rxa8 20. Be3 Bxb2 21. Rab1 Bf6 $17) 19... Qxf3 20. gxf3 Bxb2 21. Bxc5 Rc8 {It's important for Black to keep his R. With R and the pair of Bs he can play against the white K.} 22. Rab1 h6 23. Bb4 (23. Rxb2 Rxc5 $15 { Black has an easier game. White has to guard all his weaknesses, including the K.}) 23... Be5 24. a3 Rc6 25. Rbc1 Bc4 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Re1 Bc7 28. Rd7 (28. Rc8 $4 Bxh2+ $19) 28... Be6 29. Rd3 Bf5 30. Rd5 Bh3 31. Kh1 Rf6 32. Rd3 Be6 ( 32... Bb6 $6 33. Rd6 $1 Rxd6 34. Bxd6 Bxf2 35. Re8 {Should be OK for White. The R is the dominating piece.}) 33. Bc3 Rf5 34. Rxe6 $1 {1/2-1/2 (34) Topalov, V (2718)-Anand,V (2790) Wijk aan Zee 2001 CBM 081 [Wedberg,T]} (34. Rxe6 fxe6 35. Rd7 Be5 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Ra7 $11)) 9... Qxd1 10. Bxd1 exf3 11. Bxf3 e4 { Negi,P: '!'} (11... Bb7 12. a4 (12. b4 $5 a5 {else White plays a4.} (12... e4 13. Be2 O-O 14. a4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Rowson,J-Benjamin,J/Edmondton 2000/EXT 2001 (54) Negi,P: '+/=' Negi,P: '1/2-1/2 (28) Dvirnyy,D (2515)-Saravanan,V (2401) Forni di Sopra 2012'} bxa4 15. Rd1 Ne5 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. c4 Re7 18. Nc3 $14 { 1/2-1/2 Rowson,J-Benjamin,J/Edmondton 2000/EXT 2001 (54)}) 13. Na3 {Wedberg,T: '|^'} e4 14. Be2 axb4 15. Nxb5 O-O (15... O-O-O 16. cxb4 Nxb4 17. Rb1 $40) 16. Nxc7 Rac8 17. Nb5 $14) 12... b4 $5 {Wedberg,T: '<=>!?' Wedberg,T: '1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Benjamin,J/Salt Lake City 1999/CBM 73/[Wedberg] (29)' Benjamin keeps the position as closed as possible and invites White to grab a P.} (12... O-O-O 13. axb5 axb5 14. Na3 $16) 13. Re1 O-O-O 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. cxb4 Nd5 16. Bd2 f6 17. b3 Ne7 $1 {The d-file gives Black enough compensation for the P.} 18. Ra2 Rd3 19. b5 Bd5 (19... axb5 $2 20. axb5 Bd5 21. Nc3 $16) 20. bxa6 Rxb3 21. Ra3 Rxa3 22. Nxa3 Kd7 $11 23. Nc2 Nc6 24. f4 Ra8 25. fxe5 fxe5 26. Bc3 (26. Nb4 Nxb4 27. Rxe5 Bxg2 $11) 26... Rxa6 27. Bxe5 Nxe5 28. Rxe5 Bc6 29. Nd4 Rxa4 { 1/2-1/2 (29) De Firmian,N (2598)-Benjamin,J (2579) Salt Lake City 1999 CBM 073 [Wedberg,T]}) 12. Be2 (12. Re1 O-O $5 (12... Bf5 13. Nd2 O-O-O 14. Be2 Nd7 15. a4 Nxc5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bxb5 $14 {1/2-1/2 (22) Chandler,M (2537)-Lane,G (2445) Brisbane 2005}) 13. Bxe4 Re8 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. f3 Rad8 {should be quite ok for Black.} 16. Kf1 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. fxe4 Ne5 $44 {1/2-1/2 (45) Rajlich,V (2337)-Gustafsson,J (2535) Budapest 2001}) 12... Bg4 {Negi,P: '!' We have to say, that the endgames here are very comfortable for Black. Negi,P: 'exchanging a pair of bishops will make Black's life a lot easier.'} 13. Bxg4 ( 13. f3 exf3 14. gxf3 Bf5 15. b4 O-O-O 16. a4 Rhe8 $1 $15 {1/2-1/2 (24) Shen,Y (2459)-Kosintseva,T (2479) Ergun 2006}) 13... Nxg4 14. a4 O-O (14... b4 15. cxb4 Nxb4 16. Bd2 Nc2 17. Ra2 Rb8 18. Nc3 O-O 19. Nxe4 Rfe8 20. Ng3 Ne5 $44 { 1/2-1/2 (41) Salai,L (2440)-Onischuk,A (2605) Yerevan 1996.}) 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Na3 b4 18. Nb5 Ra5 19. c4 Nge5 20. b3 Nd3 21. Be3 f5 22. g3 Ra2 23. Rb1 Nce5 24. Nxc7 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Nd2 26. Bxd2 Rxd2 27. Nd5 Rxf2+ 28. Kg1 Rd2 29. c6 Ne5 30. c7 Nf3+ 31. Kf1 Nxh2+ 32. Ke1 Nf3+ {1/2 Hou,Y (2298)-Shen,Y (2411)/Wuxi 2006}) 8... b4 {[#]} ({But not} 8... Nxe4 $6 9. axb5 Ne7 10. Nxe5 $16) (8... dxe4 {Black has alternatives like 8...Rb8 or 8...b4, but to analyse 9.d4 under the changed circumstances at the board isn't trivial. He played pretty quickly.} 9. axb5 Bg4 {But the effect was spoiled when he sank into thought for a long time here! Baldauf,M: 'wurde von Onischuk gespielt, Caruana konnte in den komplizierten Stellungen jedoch die Oberhand behalten'} (9... exf3 10. Qxf3 e4 11. Bxe4 Ne5 12. Qe2 O-O 13. d4 $1 $16 (13. Bxa8 Nd3 $5 $44 14. h3 Re8 15. Qd1 $2 (15. Qf3 $8 axb5 $44) 15... Bxh3 $1 $40 16. Bf3 Qd6 17. b4 Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 Qh2 20. Qf1 Ne4+ 21. Bxe4 Rxe4 22. d3 Bxg2 23. Qxg2 Re2+ 24. Kxe2 Qxg2+ 25. Ke3 axb5 26. Nd2 h5 27. Nf3 g5 28. Bd2 g4 29. Ng5 f6 30. Ne4 f5 31. Nf6+ Kf7 32. Nxh5 Qh3+ 33. Kd4 Qxh5 34. Bf4 Qh8+ 35. Be5 Qd8+ 36. Ke3 Qd5 37. Bxc7 Qf3+ 38. Kd4 g3 39. c4 bxc4 40. dxc4 f4 41. b5 g2 42. b6 Qe3+ 43. Kd5 g1=R {0-1 (43) Feuerstack,A (2461)-Kollars,D (2410) Bargteheide CZE 2015}) 13... Bg4 14. Qc2 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf3+ $1 {Diagramm [#] nachdem Zilka bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt alle Züge heruntergeblitzt hatte, musste er nun bereits Zeit investieren - unverständlich, da ...Sf3+ einerseits die erste Wahl der Engine ist, andererseits der einzig bisher gespielte Zug, der zudem von einem Vereinskollegen Lamperts angewandt wurde. Schlechte Vorbereitung des Tschechen, welche in solch scharfen Stellungen schnell zum Verhängnis wird.} 16. gxf3 (16. Kh1 $2 f5 17. Qe6+ Kh8 18. dxc5 Re8 $40) 16... Bh3 17. Re1 $146 ( 17. dxc5 {damit wurde Lamperts Hamburger Vereinskollege Jonathan Carlstedt konfrontiert. Das Opfer der Qualität stellt Schwarz jedoch vor keinerlei Probleme, vielmehr muss Weiß aufgrund des schwachen Königs bereits um seine Stellung bangen.} Bxf1 18. Kxf1 Qd1+ 19. Qe1 Qxf3 20. Be3 axb5 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Nd2 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Qxh2 $13 24. Nf3 Qh3 25. Qd1 Qe6 26. Qd3 c6 27. Ng5 Qc4 28. Qxc4 bxc4 29. Nf3 f6 30. Nd4 Ra6 31. Nc2 Ra8 32. Nd4 Ra6 33. Nf5 h5 34. Nd6 Ra4 35. Nc8 Kf7 36. Nb6 Ra1 37. Nxc4 h4 38. Bf4 g5 39. Bb8 g4 40. b4 Ke6 41. b5 cxb5 42. Nb6 g3 43. fxg3 h3 44. c6 h2 45. c7 h1=Q 46. c8=Q+ Kf7 47. Qd7+ Kg6 48. Qg4+ Kf7 49. Qd7+ {1/2-1/2 (49) Popov,I (2661)-Carlstedt,J (2442) Skopje MKD 2015}) 17... Bd6 18. Rxa6 Rb8 {Weiß hat satte drei Mehrbauern, hinkt in der Entwicklung jedoch deutlich hinterher und der Monarch auf g1 macht ebenfalls keinen zufriedenen Eindruck.} 19. c4 $2 {Diagramm [#] klebt am Material und vernachlässigt weiterhin die Entwicklung der Leichtfiguren} (19. Bf4 $142 Rxb5 20. Bg3 Rxb2 $44 {Auch hier gefällt die schwarze Stellung deutlich besser - der weiße Mehrbauer wird durch die sicherere Königsstellung und das Läuferpaar mehr als kompensiert}) 19... Qf6 20. Rxd6 $8 (20. c5 Rbe8 $3 {dieses Ablenkungsmanöver ist die teuflische Idee Lamperts} 21. Qxe8 (21. cxd6 Qg6+ 22. Qxg6 Rxe1#) 21... Qg6+ 22. Kh1 Qg2#) 20... cxd6 21. Bf4 {Materiell ist Weiß immer noch im Soll, doch der schwarze Angriff ist noch lange nicht vorbei} (21. Qf4 Rbe8 $1 22. Rd1 Qg6+ 23. Qg3 Qc2 $19) 21... Bd7 $1 {erobert die e-Linie} 22. Be3 (22. Nc3 Rbe8 23. Qb1 Qxf4 $19) 22... Bf5 23. Qf4 Qg6+ 24. Qg3 Bxb1 25. Qxg6 Bxg6 {Lampert hat nun einen ganzen Turm mehr, die weißen Bauern am Damenflügel sorgen noch für etwas Kopfzerbrechen, doch das schwarze Material wird sich durchsetzen.} 26. Bf4 Rb6 27. d5 Bd3 28. b3 Bc2 29. Re3 f6 30. Rc3 Bf5 31. Kg2 Rc8 32. Rc1 Bd7 33. Ra1 Bxb5 $1 34. cxb5 g5 35. Bc1 Rxb5 36. Bb2 Kf7 37. Ra7+ Kg6 38. Ba3 Rxd5 $19 {Diagramm [#] Lampert hat gut abgewickelt und der Rest ist unkompliziert} 39. Rd7 Rc3 40. Rxd6 Rxd6 41. Bxd6 Rxb3 42. h3 Kf5 43. Bc7 Rb7 44. Ba5 Ke6 45. Bc3 f5 46. Bd2 f4 47. Bc3 Rb3 48. Bg7 Kf5 49. Bd4 h5 50. Bg7 g4 51. hxg4+ hxg4 52. fxg4+ Kxg4 53. Bd4 f3+ 54. Kh2 Rb7 55. Be5 Rh7+ 56. Kg1 Kh3 57. Kh1 Rd7 58. Bh2 Rd1+ 59. Bg1 Rd2 {0-1 (59) Zilka,S (2533)-Lampert,J (2488) Prague 2016 CBM 173 Extra [Baldauf,M]}) (9... O-O 10. bxc6 exf3 11. Qxf3 Bg4 12. Qg3 Bd6 13. Re1 (13. d3 Be2) 13... e4 14. Qh4 (14. Qe3 Re8 15. h3 Be6) 14... Re8 {/\ Re5} 15. Ra5 $1 $14) 10. Bxe4 { Szabo,Kr: 'was chosen by Anand,'} (10. bxc6 exf3 11. gxf3 Be6 {Black sacrificed a P, because he wanted to weaken White's kingside. However the fight is direct, so Black has no time to attack White's K.} (11... Bh3 { is cutting edge theory.} 12. Re1 O-O 13. Ra5 Qd6 14. b4 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 e4 16. Kg1 Rae8 17. Re3 Nh5 18. f4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 18. Rg5 Qh6 19. Rg3 Nxg3 20. hxg3 exf3 21. Qxf3 Re6 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qd4 Rd6 24. Qe5 {0-1 (59) Dominguez Perez,L (2758)-Caruana,F (2835) Lichess.org INT 2020}) 18... Nxf4 19. Rg5 f5 20. d4 Bg4 21. Rxg4 fxg4 22. Qxg4 Nd3 23. Bxd3 exd3 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Bf4 Qxc6 26. Be5 Qh6 27. Bf4 Qc6 28. Be5 Qh6 29. Bf4 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 (29) Vachier Lagrave, M (2760)-Caruana,F (2820) Bucharest 2021}) 12. Ra5 $1 Qd6 13. f4 $5 {Baldauf,M: '!' Baldauf,M: 'bereitet die Befreiung der Läufer vor'} e4 (13... Bh3 $5 14. Qf3 $1 Bxf1 15. fxe5 Qxe5 16. Kxf1 Qe7 17. d4 Bd6 18. Na3 O-O 19. Nc4 Rfe8 20. Kg2 $36 {and White has a powerful position.}) 14. d4 exd3 15. Qxd3 O-O 16. Qxd6 Bxd6 {Baldauf,M: '~~' Baldauf,M: '1-0 (28) Caruana,F (2795)-Onischuk,A (2664) Saint Louis USA 2016'} 17. Rd1 Bg4 $6 $146 {A tempting novelty, but this is an inaccuracy.} (17... Rfe8 {was played in a correspondence game,} 18. Be3 Bg4 19. Rxd6 (19. Rd4 $5) 19... cxd6 20. Nd2 $44 {Voiculescu-Gavrilakis, ICCF 2009, with compensation.}) 18. Rd4 $1 {The correct reply. d4 is a nice square for the R and now White is ready for the development with Be3, Nd2.} Bf3 19. Ba4 Rfe8 20. Be3 Ne4 ({In the event of} 20... Re4 21. Nd2 Rxd4 22. Bxd4 Be2 23. Be3 $16 {and White is a healthy P up.}) ({Or} 20... Ng4 21. Nd2 Be2 22. Ne4 $16 { is also promising for White.}) 21. Bd1 $1 {The right move. Thanks to ...Ne4, the c6-P is already not hanging, so White can exchange the light-squared Bs.} Bxd1 22. Rxd1 Rab8 23. Nd2 Rxb2 $2 {Loses, but Black's position was already difficult.} (23... Nxd2 24. Rxd2 Re4 25. Rxa6 $16 {is also better for White.}) 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. Re5 $3 $18 {This is the point of Caruana's 23th move! Black's back rank is weak, so White can win with this nice tactical move!} Rxe3 (25... Rxe5 26. fxe5 Be7 27. Rd7 $18 {is also hopeless for Black.}) 26. fxe3 Rb8 27. Ra5 Kf8 28. c4 {1-0 (28) Caruana,F (2795)-Onischuk,A (2664) Saint Louis 2016 CBM 172 [Szabo,Kr] A nice and flawless victory by Caruana!}) 10... Nxe4 11. bxc6 O-O (11... Ng5 12. d4 Bxf3 13. Bxg5 Bxd1 14. Bxd8 $16) (11... Nxf2 $5) 12. d4 {Here it was my turn to sink into thought. There were a lot of tempting possibilities, but they fell short.} (12. Ra4 Qd3 $1) (12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nxe5 Nxf2 $1 (14... Qh4 15. d4) 15. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Qh4+ $1 ( 16... Qf6+ 17. Nf3 Bd3 18. Na3 Qxc6 (18... Rfe8 19. Nc2 Re2+ 20. Qxe2 Bxe2 21. Kxe2 $44) 19. Nc2 f5 $1 $44) 17. Kg2 Be4+ 18. Nf3 f5 $17) (12. d3 {The critical line, but Black's choice isn't difficult!} Nxf2 $8 13. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 e4 $1 15. Ra4 $8 f5 {I looked at this for a long time, but found enough counterplay for Black.} 16. Qb3+ (16. Rd4 Qe8 17. Qb3+ Kh8 18. Ne1 e3+ 19. Bxe3 (19. Kg1 f4 $44) 19... f4 20. Bd2 (20. Rxf4 Rxf4+ 21. Bxf4 Qe2+ 22. Kg3 Be6) 20... Qe2+ 21. Kg1 f3 $19) 16... Kh8 17. dxe4 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qh4+ 19. Kg2 Qe1 20. Qc2 Rad8 21. Bf4 Rd1) 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bb6 (13... Bb4 14. Qd3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 $14) 14. Nc3 Re8 (14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qd5 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 18. Ne5 $14) 15. Be3 Qd6 (15... Qf6 $1 $11 {Pablo told me about this after this game and it is difficult to see what White has.} 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxc6 18. d5 Qg6 $11) 16. d5 (16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. d5 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Qc5 (18... Rxe3 19. Qd4 Bxf3 (19... Rxf3 20. gxf3 Bh3 21. Rf2) 20. Qxe3 Bxd5 21. Rfd1 Qxc6 22. Qd4 Be4 23. Rxa6 $1 $18) 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Rxf3 Rxe3 $11) 16... Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rad8 $1 ( 17... Nxc3 18. bxc3 Rxe3 (18... Qc5 $2 19. Qd4) 19. Qd4 Bxf3 20. Qxe3 Bxd5 21. Rfd1 Qxc6 22. Qd4 Bc4 23. Qd8+ Qe8 24. Qxc7 $16) 18. Rxa6 (18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Rxa6 Rxe3 20. Qd4 Rxf3 21. gxf3 Bh3 22. Re1 Qg6+ 23. Kf2 Qg2+ 24. Ke3 Re8+ { I stopped around here and decided to look at the direct capture on a6!} 25. Kd3 Qxf3+ 26. Kd2 (26. Kc4 Bf1+ 27. Kc5 Rb8 28. Ra5 Qb3 $19) 26... Qg2+ 27. Kc3 Qf3+ 28. Qd3 Qf6+ 29. Qd4 Qf3+ $11) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 {Szabo,Kr: ' (Anand-Shirov, New Delhi/Teheran 2000)'} Qxd5 (19... Rxe3 {Szabo,Kr: '!'} 20. Qd4 {I saw that I would have to travel to c5 with my king, so it's safe to say that I would have double checked everything before starting, but it looks correct!!} Rxf3 {Szabo,Kr: '!'} 21. gxf3 Bh3 {Szabo,Kr: '<=>' Szabo,Kr: 'with a double-edged fight.'} 22. Re1 (22. Rfa1 $2 Qg6+ 23. Kf2 Qg2+ 24. Ke3 Re8+ $19 ) 22... Qg6+ 23. Kf2 Qg2+ 24. Ke3 Re8+ 25. Kd3 Qxf3+ 26. Kc4 Bf1+ 27. Kc5 $16) 20. Qxd5 Rxd5 21. Nd4 g6 $1 {Luft for the king and the f5 square for the bishop simultaneously.} 22. Rf4 (22. Ra7 Rxe3 $1 {As in the game.} (22... Re7 23. e4 (23. Rf4 Be6 $1 (23... Bf5 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Rd4 $16) 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rd4 Kf7 {Black should be able to save this.}) 23... Rc5 24. h3 Be6 25. Rb1 Rxc3 26. Rbb7 Rc4 (26... Bc4 27. Rxc7 Rxe4 28. Rd7 $1) 27. Nxe6 Rxe6 28. Rxc7 Rcxc6 (28... Rexc6 29. Rxf7 Rxe4 30. Rg7+ Kf8 31. Rxh7 $16) 29. Rxf7 h5 30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. Rgd7 Rc8) 23. Rxc7 Rxc3 24. Rf4 (24. Rfxf7 Rxd4 {Doesn't lead anywhere} 25. h3 Bf5 $11) 24... h5 $1 (24... f5 25. h3 $16) (24... Bf5 25. g4) 25. h3 Bf5 $11 ) 22... Bf5 23. Ra7 (23. Kf2 Rc5) 23... Rxe3 $1 (23... Re7 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Rd4 $1 $16) 24. c4 Rc5 25. Rxc7 Re4 {Black should now save the game.} 26. Rxe4 Bxe4 27. Re7 (27. Ra7 Rxc4 28. c7 Kg7 29. Nb5 Bf5 30. Nd6 Rc1+ 31. Kf2 Bd7 { /\ Rc6}) 27... Bf5 28. c7 Kf8 $2 (28... Kg7 $1 $11) 29. Nxf5 gxf5 30. Rd7 Kg7 31. Rd4 {White protects the c4 pawn and preserves some winning chances.} Rxc7 32. Kf2 Kf6 33. Ke3 Ke6 $2 {A crucial loss of time.} (33... Ra7 $1 {Black should activate his rook as soon as possible.} 34. g3 (34. Rd2 Ke5 35. Kd3 Ra3+ 36. Kc2 f4 $132) (34. Rh4 Ke5 35. Rxh7 (35. g3 f6 $132) 35... f4+ 36. Kf3 Ra3+ 37. Kg4 Ra2 $132) 34... Ke5 35. Rd5+ (35. Rh4 Ra3+ 36. Kd2 f4 $1) 35... Ke6 36. Rd2 Ke5 $1) 34. g3 (34. Kd3 {Was more precise}) 34... f6 $2 (34... Ra7 $1 35. Rh4 (35. Rd2 Ke5) 35... Ke5 36. Rxh7 Ra3+ {Black is still fighting.}) 35. Kd3 $1 {Now White's king crosses over.} Ra7 36. Kc3 $14 {Now Black can't cut White's king off on the 2nd rank.} Ke5 37. Rh4 Rb7 38. Rf4 Rb1 39. Rf2 Rc1+ $2 (39... h5 $1 {I think Black should have tried to break White's kingside structure.} 40. c5 Rc1+ 41. Kb4 {Still, White has gained a lot of time, so he should be better.}) 40. Kb4 Ke6 (40... Kd6 41. Rxf5 Rb1+ 42. Kc3 {Doesn't work. }) 41. Kb5 $2 {I felt that White shouldn't obstruct his pawn, but this allows Black a neat trick. Either of the alternatives would have been better.} (41. Kc5 $16) (41. c5 $1 $16) 41... Kd6 $1 {The best chance under the circumstances. } 42. Rxf5 (42. Kb4 Rb1+ 43. Kc3 Rc1+) 42... Rb1+ 43. Ka4 {Now White's king is out of it.} Rb2 44. Rxf6+ $6 (44. Rh5 $1 Kc6 (44... Rb7 45. Rb5 $16) 45. Rxh7 Kc5 46. Rh4 $14 {Nonetheless, with the king on the a-file, it won't be easy.}) 44... Kc5 45. Rh6 Kxc4 46. Rh4+ Kd5 47. Rxh7 $14 Ke5 48. Ka3 Rb8 49. Rh5+ Kf6 ( 49... Ke4 $2 50. Rg5 $1 {White can now advance his kingside pawns without his king.}) 50. Rh4 Kg5 51. Rb4 Rh8 52. h4+ Kh5 53. Rb5+ Kh6 54. g4 Re8 (54... Kg6 55. h5+ $1 Kh6 56. Rb6+ Kg7 57. Kb3) 55. Rb4 {I hadn't yet decided what was the right plan, and this seemed like a safe move.} (55. Rb6+ Kg7 56. h5) 55... Kg6 56. Rb6+ Kf7 57. Rb7+ Ke6 (57... Kf6 58. g5+ Kf5 59. Rh7 Kg6 60. Rh6+ Kg7 61. Kb4) 58. Rh7 $1 {Now White's pawn will reach the 6th rank.} Rb8 59. g5 Kf5 60. Rh6 Ke5 $2 (60... Rb1 61. g6 Kf6 62. h5 Kg7 63. Rh7+ $18 Kg8 64. Rf7 (64. h6 $4 Rg1 65. Rg7+ Kh8 $11) 64... Rh1 65. Rf5 {White just strolls over his king.}) 61. h5 $1 $18 {Now White doesn't even need his king.} Kf5 62. g6 Kf6 63. Rh7 {/\ 64. g7 Kf7 65. h6+-} Rg8 64. Kb3 {Obviously, I was very pleased to break through in the match and take the lead. 1-0 (64) Anand,V (2762)-Shirov,A (2746) New Delhi/Teheran 2000 CBM 081 [Anand,V]}) (8... Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. d4 $146 {ist aufgrund der offenen a-Linie besser für Weiß als die Hauptvariante} ( 10. exd5 $6 Qxd5 11. d4 exd4 12. Re1+ Be6 13. Bb3 Qd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (38) Kantans,T (2498)-Beliavsky,A (2603) Teplice CZE 2016})) 9. exd5 (9. Nxe5 $1 $14 Nxe5 10. d4) 9... Qxd5 $11 {The position is equal.} 10. d4 exd4 {[#]} 11. Re1+ $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty.} ({Predecessor:} 11. Bb3 Qd8 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 {1/2-1/2 (35) Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741) Brissago 2004 CBM 103 [Knaak,R]}) 11... Be7 ({Black should play} 11... Be6 $15) 12. Bb3 $14 Qd6 13. cxd4 O-O 14. Nbd2 Na5 $1 15. Ba2 Bb7 16. Re5 Bd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. h4 (19. Nb3 $11 { keeps the balance.} Nxb3 20. Qxb3) 19... Rfe8 (19... Qg6 $17 20. Qxg6 hxg6) 20. h5 h6 21. Qd3 Qc6 22. Rf5 f6 23. Nf1 Qc4 24. Qe4 Nb3 (24... Bf8 $1 $17 25. Qb1 Nb3) 25. N1d2 Nxd2 $17 26. Bxd2 Bf8 27. Qg4 Qd3 ({Better is} 27... Qc2 $15 28. Bxh6 Re4) 28. Bxh6 $1 $14 {Ne5! is the strong threat.} Qe4 29. Bf4 {And now h6 would win.} Nxf4 (29... Qe6 $1 $14) 30. Rxf4 $16 Qe6 31. Qh4 (31. Qg6 $1 $16) 31... Rd5 $14 32. Rg4 {Hoping for Re1.} Qf5 (32... Qf7 $11 33. Rg6 Re2) 33. h6 $1 $16 g5 34. Qh5 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White has strong initiative.} Re2 {[#]} ( 34... Re6 $16) 35. Rf1 $2 (35. Ne5 $1 $18 {[%mdl 512] Intending Qf7+ and mate.} Qh7 (35... Rexe5 36. dxe5) 36. Rg3 $1 Rexe5 37. dxe5 Qxh6 38. Qe2 Rxe5 39. Qc4+ Kg7 40. Qxc7+ Re7 41. Qb6) 35... Kh8 $2 {[%mdl 8192] [#]} (35... Re6 $16) 36. Rg3 $2 (36. Qf7 $1 $18 {[%mdl 512]} Qd7 37. Qxf8+ {[%mdl 64] Double Attack} Kh7 38. Qxf6 {[%mdl 64] Double Attack}) 36... Re7 {[#]} 37. Rc1 (37. Re1 $1 $16 { [%CAl Re1e7] White wants to mate with Rxe7.} g4 38. Qxf5 (38. Qxg4 Qxg4 39. Rxg4 Rxe1+ 40. Nxe1 Kh7 $16) 38... Rxe1+ 39. Nxe1 Rxf5 40. Rxg4) 37... Rh7 { [%mdl 8192]} (37... Qe6 $11) 38. Qe8 $18 {[%CAl Re8f8]} Kg8 {[#]} 39. Nxg5 $1 { [%mdl 512]} fxg5 40. Rf3 Re7 41. Rxf5 Rxf5 42. Qg6+ {[%mdl 64] Double Attack. Weighted Error Value: White=0.61/Black=0.44} 1-0