[Event "FTX Crypto Cup KO 2021"]
[Site "Chess24"]
[Date "2021.05.27"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2881"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2021.05.26"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
{[%evp 14,107,14,32,41,14,27,0,0,12,20,0,58,66,98,101,101,101,110,6,106,0,117,
117,316,166,236,237,225,226,216,206,205,206,199,177,185,173,193,185,193,190,
222,210,261,253,227,216,228,220,229,216,277,278,479,479,466,468,458,466,466,
418,424,380,380,380,380,380,364,380,380,380,380,376,373,359,384,383,475,373,
379,363,329,281,372,336,381,379,414,398,1073,1071,2448,5042,3580,2416]} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 ({The text move is more enterprising than}
4... Be7 {- the Orthodox Queen's Gambit was absent in Norway!}) ({Another
sharp continuation is the Semi-Slav} 4... c6 {, which however arose in
Stavanger only by transposition:} 5. Bg5 (5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 (6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3
O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. Nxd4 Qh4
14. Nf3 Qh5 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 b6 19. Ba4 $146 (19.
Rd1 Bb7 20. Bb3 Rad8 21. Rd3 Bc7 22. Bd2 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25.
Rc1 Rd8 $11 {Mamedyarov,S (2753)-Anand,V (2786) Moscow 2013}) 19... Bb7 20. Bc6
Bxc6 21. dxc6 Rac8 22. Be3 (22. Nd4 Be5 $11) 22... Rxc6 23. Rad1 Re8 24. Bd4
Bf8 25. g3 Kg8 26. Kg2 Ne4 27. Rfe1 Rce6 28. Re3 Nc5 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,M
(2723)-Giri,A (2773) Stavanger 2015}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6
10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. f4 O-O-O 16. Qe1
e5 17. f5 ({More principled, but far from clear is} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 exf4
19. Bd2 $5 $44 {, this has brought White a moderate success in postal practice.
}) 17... h6 18. Nf3 N8d7 19. Kh1 (19. Bd2 $142) 19... Rhe8 (19... Nb8 20. Be3
Nc6 21. Rc1 Rhe8 22. Bb1 Nd4 23. b4 c4 24. a3 Bf8 25. Rd1 Nxf3 26. gxf3 Rxd1
27. Qxd1 Rd8 28. Qe1 Bc6 29. Qf2 Kb7 $11 {Knight,T (2526)-Loinjak,S (2443)
email 2008}) 20. Bd2 Qc6 21. Rd1 Nb6 22. Nd5 $2 ({Premature, but} 22. a3 Bc7
$15 {[%CAl Yb5b4,Yb6c4] is already comfortable for Black.}) 22... Nbxd5 23.
exd5 Qd7 24. Ba5 e4 25. Ng1 Bc7 26. d6 Bxa5 27. Qxa5 e3 28. Ne2 Qc6 {[%csl Rd6,
Ge3,Rg2] 0-1, Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Topalov,V (2798) Stavanger 2015}) 5...
h6 6. Bh4 (6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1 g6 9. Be2 Bg7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 a6
12. a4 O-O 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Qd6 15. O-O Nb6 16. Qb3 Rb8 17. Nd1 Bf5 18. Nb2
Rfc8 19. Nd3 Bxd3 ({Black has no problems at all after} 19... Nc4 $142 $1) 20.
Qxd3 c5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. h4 Na4 $6 (22... h5 23. Ng5 Qc7 $11) 23. h5 Rbc8 24.
Rxc5 Nxc5 25. Qc2 gxh5 26. Nd4 Qg6 27. Nf5 (27. Qf5 $5 $36) 27... Bf8 {Carlsen,
M (2876)-Topalov,V (2798) Stavanger 2015} 28. Bf3 Qe6 29. Rc1 $36) {A new
direction in the Anti-Moscow is} 6... g5 (6... dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2
Bb7 10. e5 Nd5 11. O-O Nxc3 (11... Nd7 {is the standard reaction}) 12. bxc3 c5
13. a4 a6 14. Qb1 g4 15. Nh4 cxd4 16. axb5 d3 17. Bxg4 a5 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3
Qd5 20. Ra4 Nd7 21. Qa2 Nb6 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23. Qxa5 Bc5 $44 {Grischuk,A (2780)
-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7. Bg3 {and now} Ne4 $5 (7... dxc4 {
already gives White a choice, apart from} 8. e4 ({he has the alternatives} 8.
e3) (8. h4 {and}) (8. a4 $5)) {The simplest and possibly the best reaction
seems to be} 8. e3 $5 {/\} (8. Nd2 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 (9... Qb6 $5 $13) 10. e3 a6
11. Bd3 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. f4 Bb7 15. Nf3 Rc8 16. O-O g4 17. Ne5
h5 18. Ne2 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 f5 20. Qc2 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Qc8 22. Qd2 $16 {Grischuk,A
(2728)-Kramnik,V (2788) Moscow blitz 2008}) (8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Qxd4 10. e3
Qxb2 11. Rb1 Qc3 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O Nc5 14. Nb3 Nd3 15. Nd2 Nc5 {½, Vachier
Lagrave,M (2723)-Carlsen,M (2876) Stavanger 2015}) 8... Qa5 9. Qb3 Bb4 10. Rc1)
5. Bg5 ({The main alternative is} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 {and now:} {Aronian
preferred} h6 (6... Nbd7 7. Rc1 (7. e3 c5 ({Black can still transpose into 6...
h6 with} 7... h6) 8. dxc5 (8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Qc2 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 {
is the older main line, here it's difficult for White to fight for an
advantage.}) 8... Qa5 ({or} 8... O-O {was the topic of an opening survey in
CBM 148.})) (7. Qc2 c5 8. g3 $5 {is another recent try to get an opening
advantage:} h6 9. Bf4 Qa5 10. Bg2 Ne4 11. Rc1 Qxa2 12. Nd2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qxc2
14. Rxc2 Nxd2 15. Kxd2 Nb6 16. dxc5 Nc4+ 17. Kd3 Bf5+ $2 (17... Be6 $132) 18.
e4 Bh7 19. Kd4 Na5 20. Kxd5 O-O-O+ 21. Bd6 b6 22. Ra1 Nb7 23. Rxa7 bxc5 24.
Bh3+ f5 25. e5 {1-0, Vitiugov,N (2735)-Aleksandrov,A (2603) EU-ch Jerusalem
2015}) 7... c6 8. e3 ({A more restrained way is} 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Rxc3 O-O 10. e3
Qe8 $132) 8... Qa5 9. Bd3 Ne4 (9... Qxa2 $5 10. O-O Qa5 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5
Ng4 13. Bf4 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Qb3 Be7 16. e4 Qb4 17. Qc2 d4 18. Ne2 Be6 19.
Bd2 Bb3 20. Bxb4 Bxc2 21. Bxc2 Bxb4 22. e5 Ng4 23. Nxd4 Nxe5 24. Ne6 Ke7 25.
Nxg7 Rad8 26. Rfd1 a5 $13 {/=, Khismatullin,D (2657)-Landa,K (2635) Dagomys
2010}) 10. O-O Nxg5 11. Nxg5 Nf6 12. Qc2 h6 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Ne5 Ng4 15. Nf3 (
15. Bf5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qf5 Qc7 19. Nxd5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Qd7
21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Qxf6 Rg8 23. Kxh2 Rg6 $132 {Korotylev}) 15... Nf6 16. h3 O-O
17. Ne5 a6 (17... c5 $6 18. Nb5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. f4 c4 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22.
Nd6 Nc5 23. Rcd1 $16 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Jakovenko,D (2736) Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}
) 18. f4 (18. Na4 $5 $14) 18... c5 19. g4 cxd4 20. exd4 Be6 21. Qb3 (21. Qf2
$13) (21. Kh1 $5) 21... b5 22. f5 Qb6 23. Nf3 $8 Bc8 24. Kg2 $6 (24. Nxd5 $1
Nxd5 25. Be4 Nc7 26. Rc6 Qb7 27. Nd2 $13) 24... Bb7 {[%csl Re4][%CAl Ga8h1]}
25. Na4 Qa7 26. Nc5 Rac8 (26... Ne4 $5 $36) 27. a4 (27. Nxb7 $142 Qxb7 $15)
27... Bxc5 28. dxc5 d4 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Bc6 31. Qb6 Qd7 32. Kg1 Rfe8
$40 {[%csl Rg1] Vachier Lagrave,M (2754)-Caruana,F (2803) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}
) 7. Bh4 Nbd7 (7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Bb2 12.
Rxc7 Na6 13. Rc2 Bxd4 14. e3 Bg7 15. h4 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Aronian,L (2815)
Flor & Fjaere blitz 2014} Bf5 $1 16. Bb5+ Kf8 $13) 8. e3 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Qc2
(10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Kb1 O-O-O
16. a3 Bd6 17. Nb5 Kb8 18. Nxd6 Rxd6 19. Nb3 Bc8 20. Nc5 Nd7 21. Na4 Nb6 22.
Nc5 $11 {Vitiugov,N (2739)-Aronian,L (2770) Sochi 2015}) 10... h5 11. h3 $146 (
11. h4 g4 12. Ng5 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 {Rasmussen,K (2462)
-Wegerer,F (2235) Pula 2007} Rh6 $1 $17 {[%CAl Yf7f6]}) 11... Qf6 (11... Bxc3+
12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Nb6 14. Bd3 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. O-O Qe7 17. Ne5 Be6 18.
Bf5 Nd7 19. e4 Nxe5 20. exd5 $1 O-O-O 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Rae1 exf5 23. Rxe5 $16
{Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 12. Bd3 Bxc3+ 13.
bxc3 Nxg3 14. fxg3 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Nh4 Nb6 17. Qf2 (17. e4 $5 dxe4 18.
Bxe4 c6 19. Rf1 $13) 17... Qxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Be6 19. Nf5 Kd7 20. Rh4 Rhg8 21. Ke2
Nc8 22. Rf1 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Kxd6 24. Bf5 Rg5 25. Bxe6 Kxe6 26. Rh7 Rf8 27. a4 b6
28. Kd3 c5 29. Rh6+ f6 30. Rh7 Rf5 $1 $44 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Grischuk,A
(2781) Stavanger 2015}) 5... h6 ({In a later round Levon didn't repeat this
line and went somewhat surprisingly for the Vienna with} 5... dxc4 6. e4 c5 7.
Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6
13. h4 a6 14. Rh3 Qb4 ({This has replaced the older} 14... Qa5 15. Ba4 $5 b5
16. Bb3 Qb6 17. Rc1 Bb7 18. Rhc3 Ne5 19. f4 Rd8 20. fxe5 Rxd4 21. Qf3 f5 22.
Qf2 fxe4 23. Rc7 {1-0, Khalifman,A (2617)-Kachar,V (2283) Voronezh 2014}) 15.
Be2 Ne5 16. Rb1 $5 (16. h5 Qd6 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. Rd3 Qh2 19. f4 Rg8 20. Bf3 Bd7
21. Ne2 Qh1+ 22. Ng1 Nd4 23. Rxd4 Bb5+ 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Ke3 e5 26. fxe5 Qg5+
27. Kf2 Qg3+ $11 {Anand,V (2770)-Kramnik,V (2787) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014}) 16...
Qd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 $5 $146 (17... b5 18. Rd1 Bb7 {0-1 (49) Bida,M (2323)-Bluebaum,
M (2521) Durban 2014} 19. Qh6 $1 Qe7 20. Rc3 {[%CAl Rd4b5]} Rd8 21. f3 $44) 18.
Rxb7 Bb5 19. Rb3 Rc8 (19... Rd8 20. R3xb5 axb5 21. Bxb5+ Kf8 22. Nxe6+ Qxe6 23.
Qxd8+ Kg7 24. Qd5 Qg4 $132) 20. Bxb5+ axb5 21. Qb4 (21. R7xb5 O-O (21... Nc4 $5
22. Qc3 O-O $13) 22. Rg3+ Ng6 23. h5 Rfd8 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. Rb4 e5 26. Rd3 exd4
27. Rbxd4 Qa6 $44) 21... Qxb4 22. Rxb4 O-O (22... Nd3 23. Nxb5 Rc1+ 24. Ke2
Nxb4 25. Rb8+ Ke7 26. Rxh8 Rc2+ $11) 23. R7xb5 Rfd8 24. Ke2 Kg7 25. Ra4 (25. a4
Rc1 $132) 25... Ra8 26. Rbb4 Rdb8 27. Nb3 Rxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxa2+ $11 {Giri,A
(2773)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 6. Bxf6 ({Without the exchange on d5}
6. Bh4 {can be rather risky:} dxc4 $5 ({White must also reckon with} 6... g5 7.
Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 (8. Rc1 $6 h5 9. Qa4+ Nc6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Ne5 Bd7 12. Nxc6
Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Bxc6 14. Qb3 h4 15. Be5 f6 16. f3 fxe5 17. fxe4 O-O 18. e3 Kg7
19. Bb5 Qd6 20. Qa4 Rae8 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Rf1 h3 23. gxh3 Qh6 $40 {Michalik,P
(2576)-Movsesian,S (2700) Czechia 2014}) 8... h5 9. h4 g4 $13) 7. Qa4+ (7. e3
b5 8. a4 c6 {and in practice White's compensation has been rather nebulous.})
7... Nc6 8. e3 Bd7 9. Qc2 b5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Ne7 12. Ne5 Nf5 13. Bxf6
gxf6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. a4 c6 16. g3 a5 17. Bg2 Ra6 18. d5 cxd5 19. axb5 Rb6 20.
e4 dxe4 21. Rxa5 O-O 22. Bxe4 (22. Qxe4 $5 Rxb5 23. Rxb5 Qxb5 24. O-O $132)
22... Nd6 23. Bc6 $2 (23. O-O $15) 23... Qc7 24. Ra4 Nxb5 25. Bxb5 Qe5+ $17 {
Eljanov,P (2729)-Khismatullin,D (2656) St Petersburg 2013}) 6... Qxf6 7. Qa4+ (
{After} 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 {Black has been holding his own
recently:} 10. O-O (10. dxc5 Bxc5 (10... Nd7 11. c6 Ne5 (11... bxc6 $5 12. O-O
Ne5 13. Be2 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Ba6 15. Re1 Rab8 16. Qa4 Rb6 $132 {Sasikiran,K
(2658)-Sandipan,C (2478) Mumbai 2003}) 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. O-O (13. Qb3 $5 Ba5
14. cxb7 Rb8 15. Ba6 Bxb7 16. Bxb7 Qc7 17. O-O Rxb7 18. Qa3 $14) 13... bxc6 14.
Qe2 Rd8 15. Rfd1 Bb7 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qc7 19. h3 Bxc3 20.
bxc3 c5 21. Qa4 Qc6 $11 {Giri,A (2790)-Carlsen,M (2863) Shamkir 2015}) 11. Qc2
(11. O-O Rd8 (11... Qe7 12. Ne4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bb6 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. Rxd8+ Nxd8 16.
Ne5 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. g3 Nc6 20. Bb5 Rc8 21. Rc1 Ne7 22. Qxc7
Rxc7 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 $11 {Aronian,L (2816)-Anand,V (2780) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012})
12. Qc2 $5 (12. Qe2 Qe7 13. a3 Bd7 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. b4 Bb6 16. Bb3 Be8 17. Na4
Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Bc7 19. Nc5 Bd6 20. Bc2 a5 21. Qd3 g6 22. Ne4 Rd8 $15 {Shirov,A
(2696)-Wei,Y (2551) WCup Tromsoe 2013}) 12... Bf8 (12... Qe7 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14.
Bd3 Bb6 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 Nc6 17. Na4 f5 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. Ne5 Rxd1+ 20.
Rxd1 Bxa4 21. Qxa4 Qc7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Nf4 Rd8 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Qb3 $11 {
/+/=, Buczinski,H (2184)-Salzmann,S (2133) email 2008}) 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. Ne4
Qe7 15. Rxd8 Qxd8 16. Rd1 Bd7 {½, Wang,Y (2689)-Zhang,Z (2613) Jiangsu Wuxi
2008}) 11... Bd7 (11... Bb4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14. Rxc3 Bd7 15. Rd1 Rc8
16. Be2 Rxc3 17. bxc3 f6 18. Rb1 b6 19. Rd1 Kf8 20. Nh4 Bc6 {Fressinet,L (2711)
-Gajewski,G (2641) Saint Quentin 2014} 21. Bh5 $36) 12. O-O Bb6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14.
Rfd1 Nc6 15. a3 Rfd8 16. Nd6 Rab8 17. Qe4 (17. Ba2 $5 {[%CAl Ya2b1]}) 17... Bc7
18. Bd3 g6 19. Nb5 Bb6 20. h4 $6 (20. Qf4 Kg7 $11) 20... e5 21. Be2 Bf5 22. Qa4
e4 23. Nfd4 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Bd7 25. Bb5 {Ipatov,A (2608)-Zhukova,N (2470) Doha
2014} Bg4 $17) 10... cxd4 11. Ne4 (11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc3 14.
Rxc3 Bxc6 15. Bb5 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bc6 17. Bb5 Bd5 18. Bc4 {½, Topalov,V (2798)
-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger 2015 This quick draw in the last round only repeated
past games, but it brought Topalov tournament victory.}) 11... Qe7 12. Nxd4 Bd7
{This year White has tested} 13. Bd3 (13. Qh5 Nc6 14. Nb3 f5 (14... Be8 15. a3
f5 (15... Bd6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Qc5 Qf6 19. Bd3 {[%CAl Rd3h7]} g6
20. Qc2 Ne5 {Zhukova,N (2471)-Szczepkowska,K (2414) Chengdu 2015} 21. Be4 Ba4
22. Rd4 $14) 16. Qe2 Bxa3 17. bxa3 fxe4 18. Nc5 Ne5 19. Ba2 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh4
21. gxf3 Bh5 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Bg4 exf3 24. Qb2 Bxg4 25. Rg1 Rf7 26. Qd4 h5 27.
Nd3 Rd8 28. Qe4 Qe7 29. Qxe7 Rxe7 30. Nf4 Kh7 31. Rc5 $132 {So,W (2762)-Hou,Y
(2673) Wijk aan Zee 2015 For more details about this game see the notes by
Ftacnik in CBM 165}) 15. a3 fxe4 (15... Ne5 $5 16. Be2 Be8 17. Qh3 Bc6 18. axb4
Bxe4 19. Qg3 {Ramirez,A (2591)-Cornette,M (2545) Cappelle la Grande 2012} Qg5
$5 $11) 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. Nc5 Nd3 18. Nxd3 exd3 19. Bxd3 Bc6 20. Rc4 Rf6 21.
Be4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rd8 23. Qe2 Rf5 24. h3 Rfd5 25. Qg4 R8d6 26. Rc1 {Aronian,L
(2804)-Anand,V (2785) Bilbao 2014 For more details see the notes to this game
by Roiz in CBM 163} Qd7 $11 {/+/=}) 13... Nc6 14. Nb3 Na5 $5 15. Rc7 Rfd8 16.
a3 ({A forcing tactical line is} 16. Nbc5 f5 $8 17. a3 fxe4 18. axb4 exd3 19.
Qxd3 (19. bxa5 $2 Rac8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 $17 {[%csl Gd3]}) 19... Bb5 20. Rxe7 Bxd3
21. bxa5 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Rd1+ 23. Ke2 Rad8 24. Rxb7 R1d2+ 25. Ke1 $11 {½,
Matlakov,M (2694)-Wojtaszek,R (2746) Montpellier 2015}) 16... Nxb3 17. Qxb3 Ba5
18. Rxb7 Ba4 $1 19. Rxe7 Bxb3 20. Nc5 Bb6 21. Nxb3 Rxd3 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. exd4
Rb8 24. Rxa7 Rxb2 25. Ra4 Ra2 $11 {Gelfand,B (2744)-Giri,A (2776)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7... Nc6 8. e3 O-O {[%csl Gb2,Gb7,Rc2,Gc3,Gc6,Rc7,Rd3,
Gd4,Gd5,Rd6,Ge3,Re4,Re5,Ge6,Gf2,Rf3,Rf6,Gf7,Rg2,Rg7][%CAl Gd4e5,Gf6g7,Gf6g5,
Ge5f4,Re4d5,Rc6b7,Rc6b5,Rd5c4,Rc3b5,Rf1c4,Gd5e4,Gf3g2,Gf3g4,Ge4f5,Re5d4,Rc3b2,
Rc3b4,Rd4c5] D38: Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4 Nf3 Bb4).} 9. Rc1
(9. Be2 {Retains the central tension.} dxc4 {Sumets,A: 'A few monts ago
Alexandr Moiseenko opted for the other option and he got a good position
against C. Lupulescu.'} ({Perhaps it's more accurate to force White's Q to
move with} 9... Bd7 $5 10. Qb3 (10. Qc2 dxc4 11. O-O Na5 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Ne4
Bd6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Be7 17. Rac1 c6 18. Qb3 Rfd8 19. Nc5
Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Qe7 21. Qc3 Rd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 $11 {Zoler,D (2504)-Hammer,J (2647)
Yerevan 2014}) 10... dxc4 11. Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 Bd6 $11 {[%CAl Ye6e5,Rc6a5]})
11... Qg6 ({We will have a look at} 11... Bd6 {in the following note, it can
lead to similar positions.}) (11... Qe7 12. a3 (12. O-O Na5 13. Qd3 c5 14. a3
c4 15. Qc2 Bd6 (15... Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nb3 17. Rad1 b5 18. Ne5 Rab8 $132) 16. Ne4
(16. e4 Rad8 17. Rad1 b5 18. e5 Bb8 19. d5 $6 exd5 20. Nxd5 Qe6 $15) 16... Rac8
17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Qc3 Nb3 19. Rae1 b5 20. Ne5 a5 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 $11 {Postny,E
(2637) -Wojtaszek, R (2701) Legnica POL 2013 1/2 (41)}) 12... Bd6 13. Nd2 Nb8
14. Bf3 Bc6 15. Bxc6 Nxc6 16. O-O Qd7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Rac1 Ne7 19. Nce4 c6 20.
Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Qa4 a6 22. Nc4 Qc7 23. b4 Nd5 24. Qb3 Nb6 25. Na5 Rfd8 26. Rfd1
Qe7 27. Qc2 Rd5 28. e4 Rd7 29. Qc5 Na4 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. f3 Rd7 32. Kf2 Rbd8
33. Ke3 h5 34. Rc2 f6 35. Rdd2 Kf7 36. h4 Nb6 37. Nb3 Re7 38. Rc1 Ra8 39. Rc5
Rh8 40. Rc3 Ra8 41. Nc5 Nc8 42. Nb3 Nb6 43. Rdd3 Na4 44. Rc1 Nb6 45. Rc5 Rh8
46. Rd1 Na4 47. Rc2 Nb6 48. Nc5 Ra8 49. a4 Nc8 50. Nb3 Nb6 51. a5 Nc8 52. Rc5
g6 53. g4 hxg4 54. fxg4 Nd6 55. e5 fxe5 56. dxe5 Nb5 57. Kf4 Kg7 58. Kg5 Rf8
59. Rcc1 Rf3 60. Nd2 Re3 61. Nc4 Rb3 62. Rb1 Rc3 63. Nd6 c5 64. Rf1 Nd4 65.
bxc5 Rxc5 66. Rbe1 Nc6 67. h5 gxh5 68. gxh5 Nxe5 69. h6+ Kh7 70. Kf6 Nc6 71.
Rc1 Rxa5 72. Rg1 Rh5 73. Rxc6 Rd7 74. Rc8 Rxh6+ 75. Ke5 Rg7 76. Rxg7+ Kxg7 77.
Rc7+ Kg6 78. Rxb7 Rh1 79. Re7 Re1+ 80. Ne4 a5 81. Rxe6+ Kf7 82. Ra6 a4 83. Rxa4
Ke7 84. Ra7+ Ke8 85. Kd5 Kf8 86. Rb7 Ke8 87. Nd6+ Kf8 88. Nf5 Re2 89. Kd6 Re1
90. Ng7 Rd1+ 91. Ke6 Re1+ 92. Kf6 Rf1+ 93. Nf5 Ke8 94. Ra7 Kd8 95. Ke6 Re1+ 96.
Kd5 Rd1+ 97. Nd4 Ke8 98. Rh7 Kf8 99. Ke5 Re1+ 100. Kf6 Rf1+ 101. Nf5 Ke8 {
1/2-1/2 (101) Eljanov,P (2723)-Wojtaszek,R (2733) Biel 2015 CBM 168 [Sagar
Shah]}) 12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfd1 (13. Nb5 Rfc8 (13... e5 14. Nxd6 {Here White has
nothing after trading his knight for bishop. More ambitious was 14.d5 but it
seems that Black would be OK after} (14. d5 Ne7 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17.
Qb3 b6 $11) 14... cxd6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Rac1 e4 17. Nd2 Bh3 18. g3 d5 19. Qb5
Rd6 {Lupulescu, C (2634) -Moiseenko,A (2698) Legnica POL 2013 1/2 (41). Black
has nothing to worry about.}) 14. Nxd6 cxd6 15. Rac1 e5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bd3
Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Qb5 Qe6 20. Qxb7 Rab8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 22. Rc5 Rxa2 23. Qb7
Ra5 24. Rxa5 Nxa5 25. Qxa7 Nc4 26. Rc1 Nd6 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8 28. Qa1 e4 29. Nd4
Nf5 30. Nxf5 Qxf5 {½, Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Yu,Y (2677) Wijk aan Zee 2014}) (13.
Rac1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Bb1 Nb4 18. Be4 c6 19. Bb1
Be8 20. a3 Nd5 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Ba2 g5 23. h3 Kg7 24. Rd2 Nf6 25. Bb1 a5 26.
Nxf6 Bxf6 27. Be4 a4 $11 {Zhou,J (2589)-Yu,Y (2723) Xinghua 2015}) 13... Rfd8
14. Bd3 Na5 15. Qb5 Bxb5 16. Bxg6 Bc6 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 Nc4 19. Rdc1 Nb6
20. Kf1 c6 21. Ke2 Kf8 22. g4 Ke7 23. h4 Rac8 24. Rc2 Nd7 $11 {/+/=, Vallejo
Pons,F (2698)-Wei,Y (2634) Leon rpd 2014 Black had a solid, but rather passive
position, which he eventually managed to hold.}) (9... a6 10. Qb3 dxc4 11. Qxc4
Bd6 12. O-O Bd7 (12... Qg6 $5 13. Rac1 (13. Bd3 $2 Na5 14. Bxg6 Nxc4 $15) 13...
Bd7 $1 (13... e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Nd5 $14) 14. a3 e5 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. f4 Bd6 18. Bf3 Be6 19. Qe2 c6 $11) 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Rac1
Rfc8 15. Rfd1 $14 Nd8 16. Qc2 Bc6 17. Ned2 Bb5 18. Ne4 Nc6 19. a3 Nb8 $2 20.
Bxb5 axb5 21. d5 $16 {Rodshtein,M (2652)-Swiercz,D (2565) Plovdiv 2012 1-0 (82)
}) 10. O-O Bd7 (10... Bd6 {Sumets,A: 'A strange decision. Black allows White
to play Qxc4. That is certainly better for White then regaining the pawn after
Bxc4. Probably Alexander has mixed up something.'} 11. Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 e5 $5 12.
Ne4 Qe7 13. Nxd6 cxd6 $11 {/+/=}) 11... Bd7 (11... e5 $146 {Before the game we
are examining, the move 10...Bd6 was played only once and I don't think that
Alexander knew that game.} 12. d5 (12. Ne4 $5 Qe7 (12... Qd8 13. Rfd1 exd4 14.
Nxd4 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Qh4+ 16. Kg1 Qxe4 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. Bf3 Rb8
20. b3 $14) 13. d5 Nb8 (13... Nd8 $6 {The knight has nothing to do on d8.} 14.
Nxd6 cxd6 15. Rac1 f5 16. Rc3 Nf7 17. Rfc1 $16) 14. Rac1 Bf5 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16.
Qc7 Nd7 17. b3 $14 {White is clearly better.}) 12... Nd8 $2 {On d8 Black's
knight is out of play. It seems to me that after 12...Nd8? White has got a
huge advantage.} (12... Nb8 $1 {I believe he had to play this} 13. Rac1 Nd7 14.
Ne4 Qd8 15. Rfd1 f5 16. Nxd6 cxd6 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. Qb3 Qe7 19. Nc4 $14 {White
is still better but Black has some counterplay.}) 13. Rac1 Qe7 14. Nb5 Bf5 15.
Nxd6 cxd6 16. Nd2 $16 {White plays very simply and due to the knight on d8
Black's position is very difficult.} f6 (16... Rc8 {He could trade rooks but
probably it wouldn't help Black to save the game.} 17. Qa4 b6 18. Rxc8 Bxc8 19.
Rc1 Bf5 20. Nc4 $1 f6 21. Na3 Nf7 22. Nb5 a5 23. Rc7 $16) 17. Qc7 Rf7 18. Qxe7
Rxe7 19. Rc3 {White wants to double rooks on the c-file. Black can only wait.
Instead of waiting Moiseenko decided to trade his passive rook and he lost
immediately.} Rc8 $2 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Rc1 $18 {There is no way to protect the
d6-pawn.} Bd7 22. Ne4 Nf7 23. Bh5 $1 Be8 24. Rc8 Kh7 $8 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Bxf7
Rc8 27. g4 Rc2 (27... Rd8 28. h4 Rd7 29. Be6 Rd8 30. h5 $18) 28. Nxd6 Rxb2 29.
Be6 Rxa2 30. Nf7 Rd2 31. d6 Kg6 32. e4 (32. d7 Rxd7 33. Nxe5+ fxe5 34. Bxd7 $18
) 32... a5 33. Bd5 {1-0 (33) Gelfand,B (2764)-Moiseenko,A (2699) Tromsoe 2013
CBM 156 [Sumets,A]}) 12. Rac1 (12. Rfd1 Rad8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. Qb3
Rb8 16. Nc5 $14 {Malaniuk,V (2517)-Gralka,J (2240) Lazy POL 2013 1-0 (46)})
12... Qg6 13. Rfd1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Ne4 Nb4 17. Bb1 Ba4 18.
Rd2 Bc6 19. a3 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nd5 21. Rdc2 c6 22. Nd2 a5 23. g3 Rfd8 24. Nc4 Be7
25. Kf1 Ra6 26. Bd3 Nb6 27. Ne5 Raa8 28. f4 Nd7 29. Nf3 a4 30. Ke2 Ra5 $11 {
/+/=, Melkumyan,H (2676)-Naroditsky,D (2633) Tsaghkadzor 2015 This position is
slightly more pleasant for White and in the end he managed to win.}) (10... a6
11. Bxc4 Bd6 12. Bd3 Bd7 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. Rac1 e5 15. Nd5 Qe8 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17.
Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f4 Qe6 19. Nxc7 Qxb3 20. axb3 Rac8 21. Nd5 Be6 (21... Bc6 $1 22.
Nb6 (22. Be4 Rce8 $11) 22... Rcd8 23. Rfd1 Rfe8 $44) 22. Be4 Rc5 23. Rcd1 Re8
24. Nc3 Bb8 25. Bd5 $14 {Bu Xiangzhi (2676)-Vitiugov, N (2722) Ningbo CHN 2010
1-0 (57)}) (10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Bd7 12. Qxc4 Rac8 13. Rad1 Rfd8 14. Nd2 Na5 15.
Qb4 b6 16. Ba6 Rb8 17. Ne4 Qf5 18. Bd3 Bc6 19. f3 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Qg5 21. Rf3 c5
22. Qb2 e5 23. Rdf1 cxd4 24. cxd4 Rb7 25. d5 Rc7 26. h4 Qxh4 27. Qxe5 Qe7 28.
Qg3 Qc5 29. Rf6 h5 30. Rh6 Qc3 31. Rxh5 g6 32. e5 {1-0 (32) Aronian,L (2809)
-So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017 CBM 180 [Krasenkow,M]}) 11. Bxc4 Bxc3 {Aronian
decides not to lose any more time and gives up the bishop-pair instead. It's
not so simple to equalize after the alternatives:} (11... Bd6 12. Qc2 $5 (12.
Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 e5 14. d5 Nd8 15. Nxd6 cxd6 {Sumets,A: 'After this move Black
had the worse position. Probably he needed to opt for'} 16. Rac1 f5 17. Be2 (
17. Qb3 f4 18. exf4 Rxf4 19. g3 Rf8 20. Qe3 $14 {Lin Weiguo (2470)-Landa,K
(2560) Beijing 1997 1-0 (32)}) 17... Rc8 18. Qb3 f4 19. Nd2 b6 20. Qa3 fxe3 21.
Qxe3 Nf7 22. Ba6 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bf5 24. Ne4 Rd8 25. Ng3 Bg6 26. Bd3 $36 {
Wagner,D (2481)-Landa,K (2640) Germany 2013}) 12... e5 13. d5 ({White don't
get an advantage after} 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Rfd1 Re8
17. Rd2 c6 18. Nc3 Qe7 $15) 13... Nb4 14. Qd2 Qg6 {Sumets,A: '?!'} (14... a5 $5
15. a3 Na6 16. Ne4 Qg6 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Qxa5 e4 19. Ne1 (19. Nd4 $2 Bh3 $17)
19... b5 20. Ba2 Nc5 $44) 15. a3 Na6 16. b4 {Sumets,A: '+/=' Sumets,A:
'Black's knight on a6 is out of play'} Bh3 $6 17. Ne1 e4 18. f3 exf3 19. Nxf3
Bg4 20. Bd3 Qh5 21. Ne4 Rad8 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 23. e4 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Gd5,Ge4]
Ragger,M (2670)-Cornette,M (2552) Belfort 2012 Sumets,A: '1-0 (32) Ragger,M
(2670)-Cornette,M (2552) Belfort 2012'}) (11... Qg6 {[%CAl Rc6d4]} 12. Qd1 $5 {
[%CAl Yc4d3] also seems to retain a small plus.}) (11... Qe7 12. Qc2 Na5 13.
Bd3 c5 14. a3 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 b6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 bxc5 18. Ne5 Ba4 19. Rac1
Nb3 20. Rc3 Nd2 21. Re1 Rfb8 22. Rxc5 Rxb2 23. Rec1 Rd8 24. Rc8 Rb8 25. Rxb8
Rxb8 26. Rc7 Bb5 27. Bc2 Be8 28. h4 a6 29. Ra7 Rc8 30. Bd3 f6 31. Ng6 Rc3 32.
Nf4 f5 33. Bxa6 Rxa3 34. Nxe6 Bf7 35. Nd4 g6 36. h5 gxh5 37. f3 Rxe3 38. Nxf5
Re6 39. Bd3 Kf8 40. Ra8+ Re8 41. Rxe8+ Bxe8 42. Nxh6 Bd7 43. f4 Nb3 44. Kf2 Nc5
45. Bb1 Kg7 46. Nf5+ Kf6 47. Ne3 Bc6 48. Kg3 Ne6 49. Ba2 Nd4 50. Kh4 Be8 51.
Bd5 Bg6 52. Bb7 Bf7 53. Bc8 Ne2 54. g3 Nd4 55. Bb7 Be8 56. Be4 Bf7 57. Nc2 Ne2
58. Bf3 Nxf4 59. gxf4 Kf5 60. Bxh5 Bxh5 61. Kxh5 Kxf4 {1/2-1/2 (61) Guilleux,F
(2441)-Wiedenkeller,M (2455) Cappelle la Grande 2020}) 12. bxc3 Rfd8 (12... Qe7
13. Be2 (13. Qc2 $5 {/\} e5 14. Rab1 b6 15. Bd5 $36) 13... e5 $1 14. Qb3 b6 15.
Qc4 Rac8 16. Nd2 Na5 17. Qb4 c5 18. Qa3 Rfe8 (18... Qe6 $5) 19. d5 e4 20. c4
Qg5 21. Kh1 Rcd8 22. Rae1 Bf5 23. Rg1 h5 24. Nf1 Bg4 $11 {Fedoseev,V (2601)
-Aleksandrov,A (2586) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 13. Be2 $146 {[%mdl 40] Topalov's
novelty indicates a different strategy, contrary to prior examples: White will
concentrate more on queenside play.} (13. Qc2 Na5 14. Bd3 c5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4
Qe7 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. f5 f6 19. Ng4 exf5 (19... h5 20. Nf2 e5 $1 $36) 20. Bxf5
Rc7 21. Rad1 h5 22. Nf2 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nc4 24. Rfe1 Bf7 25. Bd3 b5 26. Ne4 Re8
27. Qf2 Rc6 28. Nc5 Rxc5 29. dxc5 Qxc5 $44 {0-1 (44) Hansen,C (2621)-Hammer,J
(2665) Oslo 2015}) (13. Qa3 Qe7 14. Qb2 Na5 15. Bd3 c5 16. e4 Be8 17. Rad1 cxd4
18. cxd4 Rac8 19. Rfe1 Nc4 20. Qe2 Nb6 21. Rc1 Qa3 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. d5 Bd7 $15
{Shankland,S (2661)-Aronian,L (2770) Tsaghkadzor 2015}) 13... Be8 {Follows the
same plan as against Shankland, but this seems unnecessarily passive.} (13...
e5 $5 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bf5 $132) 14. Qa3 Qe7 15. Qb2 Na5 {[%CAl Yc7c5]} (
15... b6 16. c4 Na5 17. e4 c5 18. d5 exd5 19. exd5 b5 20. cxb5 Rxd5 21. Rfe1
Qd8 22. Qc3 c4 23. Rad1 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Qb6 25. Nd4 Bd7 26. a4 a6 27. h3 Rd8 28.
bxa6 Bc8 29. Rd2 Rf8 30. Rb2 Qxa6 31. Rb5 Nb7 32. Bxc4 Nd6 33. Rb4 Nxc4 34.
Rxc4 Be6 35. Nxe6 Qxe6 36. Rc6 Qf5 37. a5 Rb8 38. a6 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Qf4+ 40. Qg3
Qxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Ra1 42. Kf4 Ra5 43. Ke4 Kf8 44. Rc8+ Ke7 45. Rc7+ Ke6 46. a7
Ra4+ 47. Kd3 {1-0 (47) Radjabov,T (2751)-So,W (2776) Batumi 2018 CBM 187
[Krasenkow,M]}) 16. Qb4 $5 {[%mdl 4096] Topalov prevents c5 and opts for a
slight endgame pull.} Qxb4 17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Rab1 a5 $5 {Aronian seeks activity.
} ({Moves such as} 18... Ne7 {, or}) (18... Rac8 {enable White to retain his
space advantage and a small, but long-term edge.}) 19. bxa5 {A controversial
decision. White opens the queenside for his rooks, but improves Black's pawn
structure.} ({More natural was} 19. b5 Ne7 (19... Nb4 20. a3 Nd5 21. Rfc1 $14)
20. Rfc1 $14) 19... Nxa5 20. Rfc1 Rdc8 21. Ne1 {[%csl Gc5,Ge5][%CAl Ye1d3]} Ra7
(21... Bc6 22. f3 (22. Nd3 Bd5 23. Nb4 c6 {[%csl Gc4][%CAl Yb7b5]} 24. a4 Bb3
25. Nd3 Bc4 $132) 22... Bd5 23. Rb2 $14) 22. Nd3 Nc6 23. Bf3 Nd8 {[%CAl Ye8c6]
Black has foregone an earlier chance to activate the Be8, but now he prepares
the bishop swap.} 24. Nb4 (24. g3 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Nxc6 26. Nc5 Nd8 ({or} 26... Na5
$5 {seemed one exchange too much to Topalov. Therefore he prevents Bc6, but
the knight obstructs the open file.})) 24... Ra5 {[%CAl Yc7c5]} 25. h4 Kf8 26.
Rc3 c6 (26... c5 27. Rbc1 (27. Nd3 c4 28. Nc5 b5 29. a4 bxa4 30. Rxc4 Rc7 $132
{[%csl Ga4]}) 27... b6 28. a3 f6 $5 {/\} 29. Nd3 c4 $132) 27. Bd1 $5 {[%CAl
Yd1b3,Yb4d3] The manoeuvring continues, the bishop will protect a2 and free
the knight.} Ke7 (27... c5 $6 28. Nd3 c4 29. a4 $1 b5 (29... Bxa4 30. Bxa4 Rxa4
31. Nc5 $36 {[%csl Rb7][%CAl Yc3c4]}) 30. axb5 Bxb5 31. Bf3 $14 {/+/-}) (27...
f6 $5 28. Bb3 Bg6) 28. Bb3 c5 $5 {Aronian finally decides to clarify the
position.} 29. Nd3 b6 30. dxc5 (30. Bc2 Rb5 31. dxc5 Rxb1+ 32. Bxb1 Bb5 $11)
30... bxc5 (30... Bb5 $5 31. Bc4 Bxc4 32. Rxc4 bxc5 33. a4 Rc7 {is probably a
more reliable way to neutralise the pressure. The distant passed pawn is under
sufficient control.}) 31. f3 (31. Rbc1 Nb7 {[%CAl Ye8a4]} 32. e4 {is similar.})
31... Rc7 32. e4 Nb7 33. Rbc1 Ba4 (33... f6 34. e5 Bg6 35. Nf4 Bf7) 34. e5 $1 {
() The difference in comparison with the note to move 30 is here the bishop
swap will take place on b3, enabling the Pb3 to join the attack on the
vulnerable Pc5. However, Black's position is still defensible...} Rc6 (34...
Bxb3 $142 35. axb3 Ra3 36. b4 (36. Kf2 Rd7 37. Ke3 Rd5 $11) 36... Rxc3 37. Rxc3
Kd7 38. bxc5 Kc6 $11 {[%CAl Yc6b5]}) (34... g6 {also deserves attention, Black
prevents further space gains.}) 35. Kh2 Rb6 36. h5 $1 $36 {[%csl Rg7] Fixes a
weakness and continues the fight.} (36. Bxa4 Rxa4 37. Nxc5 Nxc5 38. Rxc5 Rxh4+
39. Kg3 Rd4 $11) 36... Bxb3 (36... f6 $142 $5 37. Nb2 (37. Bc4 Bc6 $14) 37...
Bxb3 38. axb3 $14) 37. axb3 {[%CAl Rb3b4]} Kd7 $2 {This doesn't stop White's
main threat.} (37... Rab5 $142 {still retains reasonable drawing chances:} 38.
Nxc5 (38. b4 cxb4 39. Nxb4 (39. Rc8 $2 Rd5 $17) (39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rc8+ Nd8 41.
Nxb4 Rxe5 $15) 39... Rxb4 40. Rc7+ Ke8 41. Rc8+ Nd8 42. Rd1 Ke7 43. Rcxd8 Rb7
$11) 38... Nxc5 39. Rxc5 Rb7 $5 (39... Rxc5 40. Rxc5 Rb7 $1 $14 (40... Rxb3 41.
Rc7+ Kf8 42. Rc8+ Ke7 43. Rg8 {[%csl Rg7,Rh6]} Rb5 44. f4 f6 45. Rxg7+ Kf8 46.
Rh7 fxe5 47. fxe5 Rxe5 48. g4 $18 (48. Rxh6 $2 Rg5 49. Kh3 Kg7 $11))) 40. R1c3
f6 $14) (37... f6 $2 38. b4 cxb4 39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rxg7 $18) 38. b4 $1 cxb4 (
38... Rab5 39. bxc5 Rc6 40. Rc4 $16 {[%CAl Yc4g4]}) 39. Rc8 {[%CAl Rc1c7]} Nd8
40. R1c7+ Ke8 41. Nc5 {[%CAl Rc7d7]} Rxc5 $8 {Bitter, but true - Black must
give up an exchange to stave off the mating attack.} 42. Rxc5 b3 43. Rc1 Kd7 (
43... b2 $6 44. Rd1 Ke7 45. Rcxd8 Rb7 46. Rg8 b1=Q 47. Rxb1 Rxb1 48. Rxg7 $18 {
[%csl Rh6][%CAl Rg7h7]}) 44. R8c7+ Ke8 45. Rc8 ({Topalov probably spurned} 45.
R7c3 {due to} Rb5 (45... b2 46. Rb1 Nc6 47. f4 $18) 46. f4 f6 $16) 45... Kd7
46. R8c3 Ke7 (46... Rb5 47. Rd1+ Ke7 48. Rc7+ Ke8 49. Rc8 Rd5 50. Rxd5 exd5 51.
Rb8 $18) ({A more resilient try was} 46... Nc6 $142 $5 47. f4 f6 $16) 47. Rd3 (
47. Rb1 $1 {Stohl,I: '+-!' Stohl,I: '-47.Rb1!'} Nc6 48. f4 Nd4 49. Rc7+ Ke8 50.
Ra1 Rb8 51. Raa7 Nb5 (51... b2 52. Re7+ Kd8 53. Rxf7 Ke8 54. Rxg7 Kf8 55. Rh7
Kg8 56. Rag7+ Kf8 57. Rh8+ $18) 52. Rab7 Rxb7 53. Rxb7 Nd4 54. Rb4 Ne2 55. Rb8+
Ke7 56. Rb7+ Kf8 57. g3 Nc1 58. Kg2 $18 {[%CAl Yg2f3,Yf3e3,Ye3d2]}) (47. f4 $5
{leads to the game position.}) 47... Nb7 (47... Nc6 $142 48. Rd6 b2 49. Rb1 f6
$16) 48. Rdc3 Nd8 49. f4 $5 {Stohl,I: 'leads to the game position.'} (49. Rb1
$1 $18 {-47.Rb1!}) 49... f6 (49... b2 50. Rb1 {[%CAl Yc3c2,Yc2b2]} f6 51. Rc7+
Ke8 52. exf6 (52. Rxg7 $2 fxe5 {/\} 53. fxe5 Nf7) 52... gxf6 53. Rc2 Rb5 54. g4
Rb4 55. Rf2 $18 {and White will gradually win.}) 50. Rc7+ Ke8 (50... Kf8 51.
Rc8 b2 52. Rb1 $18 {- 49...b2}) 51. Rxg7 $1 fxe5 (51... Nc6 52. exf6 b2 53. Rb1
Nd4 54. g4 $1 $18 {[%CAl Rg4g5] /\} Nf3+ (54... Nc2 55. Rd1 $1 $18) 55. Kg2 Nd2
56. g5 Nxb1 57. g6 $18 {[%CAl Rg7e7,Rg6g7]}) 52. Rcc7 $18 {[%CAl Rg7g8] The
mating attack trumps the passed pawn and the rest is simple and
straightforward.} Kf8 53. Rh7 Kg8 $8 54. Rcg7+ Kf8 55. Rd7 Kg8 56. Rxh6 Nf7 (
56... b2 57. Rxd8+ Kg7 (57... Kf7 58. Rh7+ Kf6 59. Rf8#) 58. Rg6+ Kf7 (58...
Kh7 59. Rd7+ Kh8 60. f5 $1 b1=Q 61. Rh6+ Kg8 62. f6 $18 {[%CAl Rf6f7,Rd7g7]})
59. Rd7+ Ke8 (59... Kf8 60. h6 b1=Q 61. h7 $18) 60. Rc7 Kf8 61. h6 b1=Q 62. h7
$18) 57. Rg6+ Kh8 58. Rf6 $1 {1-0 (58) Topalov,V (2798)-Aronian,L (2780)
Stavanger 2015 CBM 167 [Stohl,I]} (58. Rf6 b2 59. Rfxf7 Kg8 60. h6 Rb8 (60...
b1=Q 61. Rg7+ Kf8 62. Rd8#) 61. Rh7 b1=Q 62. Rdg7+ Kf8 63. Rh8#)) ({Topalov
spurns the Carlsbad-like} 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 (10... a6 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12.
bxc3 Qd6 13. O-O Bd7 14. Rfb1 b5 15. Qc2 Ne7 16. Ne5 Bf5 17. Bd3 f6 18. Nf3 Bd7
19. a4 c5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. axb5 Bxb5 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Nd4 Rb8
25. Qd3 b4 26. Qd2 b3 27. Rxb3 Rxb3 28. Nxb3 Qb5 29. Qc2 Nc6 30. h3 Qc4 31. Nc1
Na7 32. Ne2 Nb5 33. f3 Na3 34. Qd2 Nb5 35. Kf2 Qh4+ 36. Kf1 Qc4 37. Qb2 Kf7 38.
Qb4 Qc6 39. Kf2 h5 40. h4 g6 41. Qb3 Kg7 42. Qa4 Qb7 43. Qb4 Qd7 44. Nf4 Nc7
45. Qb7 Kh6 46. Qb8 Ne8 47. Qa8 {1-0 (47) Grabarczyk,M (2506)-Kritz,L (2484)
Griesheim 2003 CBM 094 [Ribli,Z]}) 11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 (13. a3 Ne7
14. b4 c6 15. Qb3 g5 16. Qb2 Qg7 17. Na4 Rae8 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. g3 Nf5 20. Bd3
Qf6 21. Rf1 h5 22. Rac1 h4 23. Qd2 Nh6 $2 (23... hxg3 24. hxg3 Kg7 $15) 24. e4
$16 {Aronian,L (2777)-Anand,V (2797) Baden-Baden 2015}) 13... Ne7 14. a3 Rfd8
15. b4 Nc8 16. Na4 b6 $6 (16... b5 $5 17. Nc5 Nb6 $132) 17. Nb2 Ne7 18. Nd3 Ng6
19. a4 a5 20. b5 Re8 21. Rc3 Bf5 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Nd2 Rd7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Bg4
$16 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2797) Wijk aan Zee 2015 Although White won
both quoted games, Krasenkow in his notes in CBM 165 indicates ample
improvements for Black. Especially Anand, who concentrated on his kingside
play, achieved a promising position.}) (9. Rd1 Rd8 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bd7
12. Qc2 Na5 13. Bd3 c5 14. O-O cxd4 15. Ne4 Qe7 16. a3 Rac8 17. Qe2 Bd6 18. b4
Nc6 19. exd4 Be8 20. Rfe1 Qc7 21. Nxd6 Rxd6 22. Qe4 f5 23. Qf4 Bh5 24. Bc4 Kh8
25. d5 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Qd8 27. Rc1 e5 28. Qxf5 Rf6 29. Qg4 Rf4 30. Qh3 Nd4 31.
Bd3 Nxf3+ 32. Kh1 Rb8 33. Re2 Nxh2 34. Rec2 Ng4 35. Kg1 Qg5 36. Qg3 Rxf2 37. d6
Rd8 38. Rc8 Rff8 39. d7 h5 40. Be4 h4 {0-1 (40) Korobov,A (2686)-Movsesian,S
(2627) Skopje 2019 CBM 189 [Krasenkow,M]}) 9... Qg6 10. h4 $5 {[%mdl 4] [#]
Leaves trodden paths.} (10. Qc2 Qxc2 11. Rxc2 Rd8 12. a3 Bf8 13. Be2 Na5 14. c5
Nc6 15. b4 g5 16. b5 (16. g4 e5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 a5 19. O-O axb4 20. axb4
c6 21. Rd1 Bg7 22. f4 Re8 23. Kf2 gxf4 24. exf4 f6 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. h3 Ra3 27.
Rd3 Kg7 28. Kf3 Be6 29. Nd1 Ra4 30. Rb3 d4 31. Bc4 Ra2 32. Rxa2 Bxc4 33. g5
Bxb3 34. gxf6+ Kxf6 35. Rd2 Bxd1+ 36. Rxd1 Re3+ 37. Kf2 Re4 38. Rd3 Rxf4+ 39.
Ke2 Ke5 40. Rg3 Ke4 41. Rg7 d3+ 42. Kd2 Rf2+ 43. Kc3 Rc2+ 44. Kb3 Rc1 45. Re7+
Kf3 46. Rf7+ Ke2 47. Re7+ Kd1 48. Kb2 d2 49. Re4 Rc2+ 50. Kb1 Rc3 {0-1 (50)
Krasenkow,M (2610)-Hammer,J (2695) Stockholm 2016 CBM 170 Extra [CB]}) 16...
Ne7 17. O-O Bg7 18. h3 f6 19. Rd1 Bd7 20. a4 a5 21. bxa6 bxa6 22. Rb2 Be8 23.
Ne1 Nc6 24. Bd3 Kf8 25. Nc2 Ke7 26. g4 Rab8 27. Rbb1 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 Ra8 29. Kf1
Kd8 30. Ke2 Ne7 31. f3 a5 32. e4 Bc6 33. Bb5 Bb7 34. Ne3 dxe4 35. fxe4 Bc8 36.
Kd2 f5 37. exf5 Bxd4 38. f6 Bxf6 39. Rf1 Ng8 40. Ne4 Ke7 41. Nc4 Bg7 42. c6 Nf6
43. Nxf6 Bxf6 44. Ke3 Bc3 45. Ke4 Ba6 46. Rf3 Bb4 47. Ne5 Bxb5 48. axb5 Kd6 49.
Rf7 Kc5 50. Rxc7 Kxb5 51. Rb7+ Kc5 52. Rh7 Bc3 53. c7 Rc8 54. Rd7 Kb6 55. Rd6+
Kb7 56. Rxe6 Rxc7 57. Kd5 Bxe5 58. Rxe5 Rc6 59. h4 gxh4 60. Rh5 a4 61. Rxh4 a3
62. Rh2 Ra6 63. Ra2 Kc7 64. Kc4 Kd6 65. Kb3 Ke5 66. Re2+ Kf4 67. Ka2 Kxg4 68.
Re8 h5 69. Rg8+ Kh3 {0-1 (69) Goryachkina,A (2466)-Pham,L (2351) Teheran 2017
CBM 177 [Moradiabadi,E]}) 10... Rd8 $146 {The position is equal.} ({
Predecessor:} 10... dxc4 11. h5 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qf6 13. Bxc4 Bd7 14. Qd1 Rad8
15. Nd2 e5 16. Qf3 Qe7 {1/2-1/2 (68) Dreev,A (2698)-Huzman,A (2574) Rethymno
2003}) 11. h5 Qf6 12. Rh4 e5 (12... Qf5 $11) 13. cxd5 $14 Rxd5 {[%CAl Re5d4]}
14. dxe5 Bxc3+ 15. Rxc3 Nxe5 16. Qe8+ Kh7 17. Rf4 ({White should try} 17. Rd4
$16 Qe6 18. Qxe6 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxe6 20. Rxd5 (20. Rxc7 Rxd4 21. exd4 Bxa2 $16)
20... Bxd5 21. Rxc7) 17... Qd6 (17... Qb6 $11 18. b4 (18. Nxe5 $2 Qxb2 19. Bd3+
Rxd3 $19) 18... Bg4 19. Qxa8 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nxf3+ {[%mdl 64] Discovered Attack}
21. Ke2 (21. Rxf3 $2 Qxb4 22. Bd3+ Rxd3 $19) 21... Qa6+ 22. Kxf3 Qxf1) 18. Be2
$16 {Strongly threatening Nxe5.} f5 $2 {A mistake that costs the game.} (18...
c6 $16 {is a better defense.}) 19. Nd4 (19. Rd4 $142 {And now Rxd5 would win.}
Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 Rxd4 21. exd4) 19... c6 (19... Qb6 {keeps fighting.}) 20. Nxf5
$18 Qd8 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Re4 Re8 24. Rc5 Nf7 25. Bd3 {[#] Hoping
for Rxe8+.} Kh8 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. b4 Nd6 28. Bg6 Re7 29. a4 Kg8 30. Ke2 Ne4
31. Rc2 Nf6 32. b5 cxb5 33. axb5 a6 $2 (33... Kf8 34. f3 Re5) 34. bxa6 bxa6 35.
Rb2 Be8 36. Rb8 Kf8 37. Nf5 Re6 38. Ra8 Nd5 {Black hopes to continue with ...
Nf4+.} 39. Bxe8 Rxe8 40. Rxa6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRN-KRN} Nf4+ 41. Kf3 Nxh5
42. g4 Nf6 {[#]} 43. Nxh6 {[%mdl 512]} Ne4 44. Nf5 Ng5+ 45. Kg2 Rb8 46. Nd4 Kf7
47. Ra5 Ne4 48. Re5 Nf6 49. f3 g6 50. Kg3 Rb1 51. Rb5 Rxb5 (51... Re1 52. Kf2
Rd1 53. Rb7+ Kg8) 52. Nxb5 {White is clearly winning.} g5 53. Nc3 Kg6 54. f4 {
Weighted Error Value: White=0.14/Black=0.37} 1-0
