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Главная страница Справка Коды ЭШД C00 - C99 C54

Коды ЭШД

C51 C52 C53

C54

C55 C56 C57

C54

Код энциклопедии шахматных дебютов (ЭШД)

Описание

RU: Итальянская партия: 4 c3 Кf6 с 5 d4 и 5 d3
EN: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3

Ходы

1. e4 e5 2. Кf3 Кc6 3. Сc4 Сc5 4. c3 Кf6

Дебюты

Дебют королевского коня , Итальянская партия , Гамбит Греко

[Event "WchT 12th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2019.03.05"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Adhiban,B"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.03.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Sweden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SWE"]

{The World Team Championships held at Astana,Kazakh ended up being one of my
best events in recent times, the following game being one of my best
achievements in the tournament. I was paired against one of my friends Nils
who is known for his fighting spirit and hence I was looking forward to a
great fight.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O {Like MVL once
mentioned in his annotations nobody really understands the intricacies of
Italian and hence I won't even try to explain it :).} d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8.
Nbd2 a5 $5 {One of the innovations of the 21st century to grab space on the
queenside and fight against the expansion with b4.} 9. Nf1 {I didn't care
about such details and decided to aim for the black king!} Be6 10. Bb5 Ne7 11.
d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Bb6 (12... Bb4 13. Bd2 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. a3 $5 Bxd2 16. N1xd2
$14) 13. Ng3 d5 ({Against} 13... Bg4 {I was intending} 14. h3 $5 (14. Be3 d5
15. e5 Ne4 {was fine for Black in Inarkiev-Sargissian, World Rapid 2017.})
14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 {with a massive centre and kingside initiative.}) 14. e5
Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4 c5 $5 $146 {The first novelty in the game.} (16...
Qd5 17. Bd3 {wasn't so scary.}) 17. Bd3 {I liked this idea of immediately
aiming for the position after ...cxd4.} ({Later on in the European Individual
Championship another interesting game continued} 17. Be3 $5 Qd5 18. Bd3 Bf5 19.
Rh4 cxd4 20. Bxh6 $1 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Ng6 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 {I don't want to spoil
the rest with comp's biased suggestions :).} 23. Rg4 Rh8 24. h4 Rh5 25. Re1 Qe6
26. Ree4 Rc8 27. g3 Rf5 28. Kg2 Rc1 29. Ng5 Qc6 30. e6 Ne5 31. Nf3+ Nxg4 32.
Rxg4+ Kf6 33. exf7 Bc5 34. Rg8 Qxf3+ 35. Qxf3 Rxf3 36. f8=Q+ Bxf8 37. Rxf8+ Ke5
38. Kxf3 Rc2 39. h5 Rc6 40. g4 Rd6 41. Rf5+ {(Alekseenko-Svane, Skopje MKD
2019) Did look like an impressive game but if you want objectivity check with
comp :).}) 17... Bf5 (17... cxd4 18. Re1 $1 {Because the rook was feeling out
of place on e4 and now I can prepare Qe2-Bd2 etc.}) 18. Rf4 {I was quite happy
to keep the rook on the 4th rank.} (18. Re1 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 cxd4 20. Bd2 {
was another good option.}) ({It's too early for} 18. Rh4 Ng6 $1) 18... Bxd3 19.
Qxd3 cxd4 20. Rg4 {Making my intentions very clear!} ({Another way was} 20. Bd2
Qd7) 20... Qd7 21. h3 Qe6 ({I assumed that} 21... Kh8 {was more or less forced.
} 22. Bd2 {[%cal Ga1e1] and bringing in the final cavalry via Re1-e4.}) 22. Bd2
Rad8 {I was surprised to see this as I felt Rfd8 was very natural.} (22... Rac8
{Here I can consider taking the pawn:} 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 (23... Qxe5 24. Re1 {
is bad for Black.} (24. Bc3)) 24. Rxd4 {with the more pleasant position.}) 23.
Re1 Nf5 $5 {Only now I understood what his point was!} 24. Bg5 $1 {I received
lot of positive responses for this move!} ({I was thinking of repeating once
with} 24. Rf4 {But didn't like} Ne3 {Here Nils suggested} ({Black can also do} 
24... Ne7) 25. b3 {followed by moving the queen but somehow it didn't look
nice.}) (24. Ree4 Ne3 25. Rg3 Nf5 {with a minimum draw.}) 24... hxg5 (24... Rd5
{was my first issue but then I found} 25. Bf6 Bd8 26. Rf4 $1 $16) 25. Nxg5 Qc8
(25... Qd7 26. Ne4 {is nasty.}) 26. Rf4 $1 (26. e6 fxe6 27. Nxe6 Rde8 {also
leads to nothing.}) (26. Ne4 g6 {I couldn't see a good follow-up here.} 27.
Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nh5+ Kh8) 26... g6 27. g4 {This was the major tabiya in my
calculation and I was convinced that I was doing well.} Ne7 {This was one of
the first lines which concerned me but...} ({Good or bad, Black had to go for} 
27... Ne3 28. e6 (28. fxe3 dxe3 29. Qb3 {was another line but with a complete
mess} Rd1 $5) 28... Qc2 29. Rxe3 ({I think both of us didn't check} 29. exf7+
$1 Rxf7 30. Qxc2 Nxc2 31. Nxf7 Nxe1 32. Nxd8 Bxd8 33. Kf1 Nc2 34. Ke2 $16)
29... Qc1+ 30. Kh2 (30. Kg2 dxe3 31. exf7+ Kh8 32. Qxg6 Qc6+ $19) 30... Bc7 $1
(30... dxe3 31. exf7+ Rxf7 $5 (31... Kh8 32. Qxg6) (31... Kg7 32. Ne6+ Kh7 {
was one of his lines but now it is refuted by the stunning} 33. g5 $1 {[%cal
Rf4h4]}) 32. Qxg6+ Rg7 33. Qe6+ Kh8 34. Qxb6 $18) 31. exf7+ Kh8 32. Ne6 $1 dxe3
33. Qxg6 Bxf4+ 34. Nxf4 Qc6 35. Ne6 Qd6+ 36. Kg2 Qd5+ 37. Kg3 Rxf7 38. Qxf7
Qe5+ 39. Kh4 e2 40. Qg6 e1=Q 41. Qh6+ {with a normal perpetual :).}) 28. Qg3 $1
{Suddenly it's all over for Black.} Kg7 (28... f6 {Here both} 29. exf6 ({and} 
29. Rxf6 {wins}) 29... Nd5 30. Qh4 Qc7 31. Re7) 29. Qh4 Rh8 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31.
Rh7 {More than the victory I was happy with the level of play! I wanted to
play a good game and I did!} 1-0

[Event "Bad Homburg"]
[Site "Bad Homburg"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Polgar, Sofia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O Bb6 7. Bb3
Be6 8. Bc2 O-O (8... h6 $5 9. Nbd2 a6) 9. h3 d5 10. Qe2 h6 11. Rd1 Qe7 $6 (
11... Re8 $1 12. Nbd2 a6 $10) 12. b4 $1 a6 13. Ba3 dxe4 14. dxe4 Na7 15. c4 $1
$36 (15. Nxe5 $2 Bxh3 16. Nf3 Bg4 $15) 15... c5 16. b5 Ba5 $6 (16... axb5 17.
cxb5 Rfd8 18. Nc3 Nc8 19. Bb2 c4 (19... Rxd1+ $1 20. Rxd1 Bc7 $14) 20. Nxe5
Bxh3 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. Nd5 $16) 17. Bb2 Nd7 18. Nbd2 $2 (18. Nc3 $1 axb5 19.
cxb5 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 f6 21. a4 $16) 18... f6 19. Nf1 Qf7 20. Ne3 Nb6 21. Nd5 axb5
22. cxb5 Rfd8 (22... Nxd5 23. exd5 Bxd5 $4 24. Rxd5 $18) 23. Nh4 (23. Bb3)
23... c4 (23... Nxd5 24. exd5 Bxd5 (24... Rxd5 25. Qe4 Kf8 26. Ng6+ Ke8 27. Nf4
$1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $16) 25. Rxd5 $1 Rxd5 26. Qe4 Rad8 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Ng6+ Ke8
29. Nxe5 $40) 24. a4 g5 $1 25. Nxb6 Bxb6 26. Nf3 $6 $10 (26. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 27.
exf5 Bd4 28. Rab1 Nc8 (28... Bxb2 29. Rxb2 Rd4 30. Rb4 Rc8 31. a5 $14) 29. Ba3
$14) 26... Qc7 27. Rac1 Qc5 28. Bc3 Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 Nc8 30. Qe1 (30. Nh2 $6 Nd6
31. Bc2 Ba5 $132) 30... Qc7 31. Nd2 Bd4 (31... Nd6 $1 32. Nb1 Bc5 $10) 32. Nb1
Ne7 33. Qf1 Qc5 34. g3 Nc8 35. Qe1 Kg7 (35... Bxh3 $5 36. Bb4 Qc7 37. Nc3 (37.
Qe2 Be6) 37... Be6 (37... Ne7) 38. Nd5 Bxd5 39. exd5 $44) 36. Kg2 Nb6 $2 $138
37. Bb4 Qc8 38. a5 Nd7 39. Bg4 Bf7 40. Nd2 $16 c3 41. Nf3 h5 42. Bf5 Qc4 43.
Bxc3 Bxc3 44. Rxc3 (44. Qxc3 Qxb5 45. Qc7 Nf8 46. Rc5 $16) 44... Qxb5 45. Qd2
Nf8 46. Nxg5 $1 $18 fxg5 (46... Qxa5 {Petursson} 47. Nxf7 Kxf7 48. Qc1 {
Black does not have a sufficient defence to the threat Rc7+ and a following
invasion on the seventh rank}) (46... Bc4 47. Qc1 $18) 47. Qxg5+ Kh8 48. Qf6+
Kg8 49. Rc7 Qb3 50. Qg5+ Kh8 51. Qe7 $1 Kg8 (51... Kg7 52. Rxb7 Qa2 53. Qg5+
Kh8 54. Rb6 $18) 52. Rxb7 Qc4 53. Rc7 Qa2 54. Qg5+ Kh8 55. Rc6 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 12"]
[Site "Brest"]
[Date "2019.05.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Amin, Bassem"]
[Black "Santos Ruiz, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2704"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "Amin,B"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.05.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Clichy 92"]
[BlackTeam "Grasse echecs"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:03:29] This is the second time I am playing in the Top 12 event
in France. I had played earlier in 2014. It is one of the strongest leagues in
the world, which also has a unique system. The matches are played eleven days
in a row unlike in Germany or Sweden, where they are held on the weekends.
It’s a good opportunity to play against eleven strong players.} e5 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:23]}
Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. d3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:40]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
7. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:01]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:22]} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:02:41]} (8. h3 h6
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 14. a3 Bxd2 15.
Nxd2 Re8 16. b3 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Qh5 c5 19. Re3 f5 20. exf6 Bf7 21. Qh4 Rxe3
22. fxe3 Qe8 23. Nf3 Nxf6 24. dxc5 Bg6 25. Bb2 Qxe3+ 26. Kh2 Rf8 27. Bd4 Qxb3
28. Ne5 Be4 29. Ng4 Qc2 30. Rg1 Nxg4+ 31. Qxg4 Rf7 32. Rf1 Bf5 33. Qf4 Qe2 34.
Rf2 Qe6 35. Qe5 Qxe5+ 36. Bxe5 c6 37. g4 Be4 {Giri,A (2797)-Ding,L (2809)
Shenzhen 2019 1/2-1/2}) 8... Be6 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 9. a4 {[%emt 0:06:42]} Qe7 {
[%emt 0:26:40]} 10. Qb3 {[%emt 0:03:15]} Rab8 {[%emt 0:03:10]} 11. h3 {[%emt 0:
01:35]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:04:55]} 12. Nf1 {[%emt 0:09:00]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:03:36]} 13.
Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 14. Qb5 {[%emt 0:05:26]} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:19:31]} 15. N1d2 {[%emt 0:05:05]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:08:11]} 16. Qb3 {
[%emt 0:11:35]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:02:37]} 17. Qc2 {[%emt 0:10:03]} f5 {[%emt 0:03:
37]} 18. exf5 {[%emt 0:03:19]} Qxf5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 19. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:37]}
Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:05:22]} Bxe3 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 21. fxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:37]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:06:49]} 22. Nxf6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Rxf6 {[%emt 0:
00:31]} 23. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Rbf8 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 24. Rf2 {[%emt 0:01:22]}
Qg6 {[%emt 0:01:52]} 25. Raf1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Qg3 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 26. Qe2 {
[%emt 0:00:51]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:02:55]} 27. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:
09]} 28. Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qxf2+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 29. Qxf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30. Kxf2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 31. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:02:11]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 32. Na3 {[%emt 0:05:53]} Na7 {[%emt 0:00:
30]} 33. e4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 34. d4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} exd4
{[%emt 0:04:14]} 35. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 36. Ke3 {
[%emt 0:05:28]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 37. Nc4 {[%emt 0:02:38]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} 38. d5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:01:59]} 39. Kd4 {[%emt 0:10:51]} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {The tournament hadn't begun very well for me, I blundered and drew a
winning position against Navara in the first round and followed up by losing a
comfortable position against Magnus in the 2nd. I tried to compose myself for
the remaining games.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7.
a4 Ba7 8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 Ng6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 O-O 12. Qc2 (12. a5 c6 13.
Bb3 Re8) 12... c6 (12... a5 {is met by} 13. d4) 13. a5 {My idea, but it didn't
really work out in this game.} d5 (13... Re8 {is also playable.}) 14. Bb3 Be6
15. exd5 cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 {My reason for delaying Re1, now the rook
supports f4.} ({Better was} 17. Ng5 Qd6 $1 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. f3) 17... Qd6 18.
f4 exf3 19. Nxf3 (19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Rxf3) 19... Rae8 {Here I started to really
dislike my position. It's hard for White to rearrange his pieces, every queen
move is met by Ne4 or Nf4, whereas Black is simply going to double on the
e-file.} 20. Rfe1 (20. Rae1 Qc7 21. Ra1 Re7) (20. Ne1 Bd7 21. Qd2 ({not} 21.
Qf2 Bb5 $1) 21... Re6 22. N1c2 Rfe8) 20... Bd7 21. g3 {Creating extra space
for the queen.} (21. Qf2 Re7 (21... Ne4 22. Qc2 Bc6 {I had seen this idea, but
was reluctant to play c4 now.} 23. c4 $1 (23. Ng4 {This was also playable.} Re6
(23... Re7 24. Qc1 Rfe8 25. Nge5 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 Nc5) 24. Rad1 Qc7 25. Nfe5)
23... dxc4 (23... Nf6 24. Qd2 dxc4 25. Nxc4 Qd8 26. Nce5 {and White isn't
worse.}) 24. Nxc4 Qf4 {felt awkward.}) 22. Qg3) 21... h6 22. Qg2 (22. Ng2)
22... Re7 (22... Re6 23. Bc2 Rfe8 24. Bxg6 Rxe3) 23. Nc2 $2 {Now White gets
into trouble. Not only can he not return to e3, but it also takes away c2 from
the bishop.} (23. Bc2 $1 Rfe8 24. Nf5 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Qe6 26. Qf1 $1 (26. Qf2
Ng4) 26... Bb5 27. Bd3) 23... Rfe8 24. Nb4 (24. Rxe7 Rxe7 25. Re1 Qc7 {This is
White's problem, the a5 pawn is stranded.}) 24... Bb5 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Bd1 {
There were no good moves left, but this makes things worse.} (26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27.
Nxe1 Ne7 28. Nec2 Qd8 29. Qf3 (29. Ne3 Qxa5 30. h3 Qa1+ 31. Kh2 Qe1 32. Nexd5
Nexd5 33. Nxd5 Ne4 {and Nd2}) 29... Be8 30. Ne3 Qxa5 31. Qd1 {keeps the game
going albeit a pawn down.}) (26. Bc2 Re2 27. Qh3 Ne4 28. Qc8+ Nf8 29. Bxe4 dxe4
30. Nh4 g6 {White is just lost here.}) 26... h5 27. Qh3 {Around here,
Mamedyarov started to run down his time looking for a forced win.} (27. Nc2 h4
28. Nxh4 Nxh4 29. gxh4 Qf4 30. Bf3 (30. h5 Ne4 {and White is helpless.}) 30...
Ne4 31. Re1 Qxh4 32. Bxe4 dxe4) 27... Bd7 28. Qg2 Bb5 (28... h4 29. Bc2 h3 {
As I looked at my train wreck of a position, I tried not to calculate anything,
but this one came to mind. I assumed there were others.} 30. Qf1 Ne4 31. Bxe4
dxe4 32. Ng5 (32. Nd2 e3) 32... Qf6 $1 $19) 29. Qh3 h4 30. Bc2 hxg3 (30... Re3
$1 31. Nxh4 Nxh4 32. Qxh4 g6 33. Qf4 Qe6 {and White has no moves left. Though
looking at it without an engine, it isn't obvious that White is lost and
Mamedyarov was short of time already.}) 31. Qxg3 (31. Bxg6 gxh2+ 32. Qxh2 Qxh2+
33. Kxh2 Re2+ 34. Kg1 fxg6 {By far the best option, but it's lost.}) 31... Nf4
32. Kh1 Re3 33. Rg1 g6 (33... N6h5 34. Qg4 g6 $19) 34. Qf2 Re2 35. Qh4 Ne4 $2 (
35... N6h5 {He had seen this as he pointed it out right away at the press
conference, but decided to play Ne4 since he couldn't see a defence anymore.
He also had only seconds left (we played without increments till move 61).})
36. Bxe4 {I had seen the Qh8 idea, so I didn't hesitate.} dxe4 37. Ne5 (37. Ng5
{I spent a couple of seconds here.} Nh5) 37... Nd3 38. Qh8+ Kxh8 39. Nxf7+ Kh7
{He was really unlucky here, since he walks into the 2nd trick as well, but
it's the best move.} (39... Kg7 40. Nxd6 Bd7 (40... Nf4 41. Nxb5 axb5 42. Rg4
Rf2 43. Nc2 $1 {This saves it.} Nh3 44. Rg3 Rxc2 45. Rxh3 Kf6 46. Rh8 Kg5 47.
Rf8 {and this is fairly simple draw.}) (40... Nxb4 41. Nxb5 axb5 42. cxb4 Kf6
43. Rg2 Re1+ 44. Rg1 Re3 45. Rc1 Rb3 46. Rc5 Rxb4 47. Kg2 Rxb2+ 48. Kg3 $11) (
40... Ne1 $2 41. Nf5+ Kh7 42. Ng3 $18) 41. Rg2 {Not that White's moves are
obvious, but I hope I would have found them if only by elimination.} Nf2+ 42.
Kg1 e3 43. Rg3 Bh3 44. Rxe3 Rxe3 45. Kxf2 Re7) 40. Nxd6 Bd7 $2 {he bashed out
this move, but now we had made the time control. I had enough time to compose
myself and adjust to the new situation (playing for a win was inconceivable
just a few moves ago)} (40... Ne1 $1 {Still the best shot.} 41. Rg3 {So this
would have been the best move.} (41. Nf7 {is a remarkable resource:} Nf3 42.
Ng5+ Kg7 (42... Kh6 43. Nxf3 exf3 44. Rf1 b6 45. axb6 a5 46. b3 axb4 47. c4 Ba6
48. Rxf3 {and now the king is worse on h6, but we have left the human realm of
chess long back.}) 43. Nxf3 exf3 44. Rf1 {Seems like a draw, but there is one
more twist of the comp:} b6 $1 {A completely inhuman line, but there it is.}
45. axb6 (45. b3 bxa5 46. Nd5 a4 (46... Bd3 47. Nf4 Be4 48. Ne6+ Kf6 49. Nc5
Kf5 $19) 47. c4 (47. bxa4 Bc4 $1 48. Nf4 (48. Nb6 Bd3 {and wins.}) 48... Re3
$19) 47... Bd7 48. Rxf3 a3) 45... a5 46. b3 (46. b7 Re8 47. Rxf3 axb4 48. d5
Ba6 49. Re3 Rb8) 46... axb4 47. c4 Ba6 48. Rxf3 Re6 {Now White tries to build
a pawn wall, but isn't in time to do so.} 49. d5 Rxb6 50. Kg1 Bc8 51. Kf2 g5 $1
{Allows Rh6.} 52. Rg3 (52. Ke3 Rh6 53. Rf2 Rh3+ 54. Kd4 Rxb3 55. c5 Rb1 56. Ke5
(56. c6 b3) 56... b3 57. c6 b2 {and this is winning.}) 52... Kf6 53. Ke3 Ra6
54. Kd4 (54. Rg2 Ra3 55. Rb2 {fails due to} Ke5) 54... Ra2 55. Kc5 Rxh2 56.
Kxb4 g4 $19) 41... Bd7 42. Kg1 Nf3+ 43. Kf1 Rxh2 (43... Rxb2 44. Nd5) 44. b3 (
44. Nd5 Bh3+ 45. Rxh3+ Rxh3 46. Nf6+ Kh6 47. Nfxe4 Rh2) 44... Bh3+ 45. Rxh3+
Rxh3 46. Nxe4 {and White is still fighting.}) 41. Nxe4 {[%csl Yd7,Yh7][%cal
Ge4f6] The problem with Kh7 and Bd7.} Bf5 (41... Nxb4 42. Nf6+ Kg7 43. Nxd7 Nd3
44. b3 Nf2+ 45. Kg2) 42. Ng5+ Kh6 43. Nxd3 Bxd3 44. Rg3 Re1+ 45. Kg2 Re2+ 46.
Kg1 Re1+ 47. Kf2 Re2+ 48. Kf3 Rxb2 49. Kf4 {The king belongs on d6 and I am
ready to jettison all my extra material to get there.} Bf5 (49... Bc4 50. Rh3+
Kg7 51. Rh7+ Kf8 52. Rc7 {is hopeless.}) 50. Ke5 $1 Rxh2 (50... Rb5+ 51. d5
Rxa5 52. Nf7+ Kg7 53. Nd6 $18) 51. Nf7+ Kg7 52. Nd6 (52. Nd8 {was even
stronger:} Re2+ 53. Kd6 $18) 52... Re2+ 53. Kd5 Kf6 54. c4 Re7 (54... Ra2 55.
Nxb7 Bc8 56. Kc6) 55. Rf3 Rd7 56. c5 Re7 (56... Kg5) 57. Rf2 Rh7 58. Nxf5 gxf5
59. Kd6 Rh8 60. Rd2 $1 {The final nuance, now it's over.} f4 61. Kc7 Rh7+ (
61... Kf5 62. d5) 62. Kc8 f3 63. d5 {After staring at disaster, 0,5/3 in the
tournament, I got incredibly lucky in this game and was on 50%} 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 0607"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2007.02.25"]
[Round "11.3"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Johannessen, Leif Erlend"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2537"]
[Annotator "Areshchenko/Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.28"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Wattenscheid"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

{DER AUSGESPERRTE LДUFER} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6.
O-O a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13.
d4 Ne7 14. N1h2 Neg6 15. Kh1 $5 $146 c5 $5 ({I} 15... h5 16. h4 Be6 17. Bc2
Rfd8 18. g3 Nh3 19. Kg2 $16) ({II} 15... Be6 16. Ng4 $5) 16. d5 Qd8 (16... b5
17. c4 $5 Bd7 18. h4 Nh5 19. g3) 17. a4 (17. h4 $5 f5 18. Bc2 c4 19. g3 Nd3 20.
Bxd3 cxd3 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. Qxd3 fxe4 23. Qxe4 Ne7 $44) 17... f5 18. Bc2 fxe4
$2 (18... c4 $5 19. Nf1 $1 $13) 19. Bxe4 Bf5 20. Qc2 Qd7 21. c4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4
Qf5 23. Qxf5 Rxf5 24. Ra3 $3 e4 $2 ({I} 24... Raf8 25. Rb3 R5f7 26. Nd2 $16) ({
II} 24... Bb6 25. a5 Bc7 26. Nd2 $16) 25. Nd2 Nd3 26. Rf1 $18 {"Steht eine
Figur schlecht, ist die ganze Stellung schlecht." (S. Tarrasch)} Raf8 (26...
Nge5 27. b3) 27. Nxe4 Nxb2 28. Nxd6 R5f6 29. Rb3 Rxd6 30. Rxb2 b6 31. Nf3 Rd7
32. Rfb1 Re8 33. a5 b5 34. cxb5 axb5 35. Rxb5 Rxd5 36. Rb7 Re7 37. a6 Rd6 38.
Rxe7 Nxe7 39. Rb7 Nc6 40. Nd2 Rd3 41. Rc7 Rd6 42. g4 Re6 43. Kg2 g5 44. Nc4 Kf8
45. Na3 1-0

[Event "Jakarta Japfa"]
[Site "Jakarta"]
[Date "2014.04.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kuderinov, Kirill"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2448"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.04.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "INA"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
Be6 $5 (8... h6 9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nf1 Be6 {is the regular follow up.}) 9. Nc4 $1 {
To keep the bishop on c5 for a long time has a drawback: Black has available
the dangerous d4 push at any time.} Ba7 (9... h6 {is still a fair possibility.}
10. Re1 (10. d4 $6 Bxc4 11. Bxc4 Ba7 12. Qd3 Re8 {and Black still threatens d5!
}) 10... Ba7 11. Be3 $14) 10. Bg5 {This scares people with the combination of
further sacrifices on g5 if Black commits h6, g5.} h6 (10... Ne7 {is my
regular response to Bg5 but in this type of position I did not like the looks
of the move.} 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Ne3 Kh8 13. Nh4 Rg8 14. g3 $16) 11. Bh4 Bxc4 $5
(11... Ne7 $6 {is played by Silvio!} 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne3 f5 {with g5
protected, this is possible now.} 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qb3 Qc8 16. exf5 Nxf5 17.
Nxf5 Rxf5 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. cxd4 $16) (11... g5 12. Nxg5 $6 (12.
Bg3 {brings positions similar to the game}) 12... hxg5 13. Bxg5 Bxc4 (13... Kg7
14. Qf3 Rh8 15. Ne3 $36) 14. Bxc4 Kg7 15. Qf3 Rh8 {followed by Nb8-d7 if
needed, cast doubt on the sacrifice.}) 12. Bxc4 Na5 13. Nd2 g5 14. Bg3 Ne8 $1
$146 {This is the start of my swansong!} (14... h5 15. h4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 $1 Ng4
17. Nf3 $13) 15. Bd5 $1 {I like this move which softens up d6 for a future d4.}
(15. Bb3 Nxb3 16. Qxb3 Rb8 17. Nc4 Ng7 18. Ne3 Kh8 {and Black takes the
initiative with ...f5.}) 15... c6 16. Bb3 ({I was expecting} 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7 17.
b4 Nf6 (17... b5 18. bxa5 Qxa5 19. d4) 18. bxa5 Qxa5 19. Nc4 Qc7 20. a4 b5 21.
Ne3 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Raf8 $13 {both sides have their weaknesses.}) 16... Nxb3 17.
Qxb3 b5 $1 {Given the opportunity I have expanded my queenside.} (17... Rb8 18.
Nc4) ({Not only is his bishop not in real danger, but I will also commit
myself with} 17... h5 18. h3 h4 19. Bh2) 18. Nf3 Nf6 $1 19. Rfe1 Re8 20. Qc2
Nh5 21. Qe2 $6 {I do not like this.} (21. d4 f6 $11) 21... Qf6 $1 22. Nd2 Qg6
23. Kh1 d5 $40 24. Nf1 (24. exd5 cxd5 25. Bxe5 $2 Nf4 $19) 24... Rad8 25. a4
dxe4 26. dxe4 Nf4 27. Bxf4 exf4 28. axb5 cxb5 $17 {Black is simply better
because he has the better minor piece and more aggressive pawn structure.} 29.
Qf3 (29. Nd2 Re6 30. f3 Red6 31. Nb3 Qe6 32. Qc2 h5 33. Red1 Be3 $17) 29... Re6
{The other rook is even better placed on the 6th but I wanted to lure him into
the forthcoming combination.} (29... Rd6 30. g3 $140 $2 g4) 30. g3 $2 (30. Re2
Red6 $17) 30... g4 $1 31. Qxf4 Rf6 32. Qe5 $1 (32. Qc7 Bb6 33. Qe7 Re6 34. Qh4
Rxe4 $19 {is hopeless.}) 32... Rxf2 $1 (32... Bxf2 33. Re2 Bb6 $17) 33. Qe7 Rd7
$1 {Everything is forced, like in a combinational exercise.} 34. Qxd7 $1 (34.
Qe8+ Kg7 35. Rxa6 Qh5 $1 36. Qxd7 Qh3 $19 {just gives a checkmate.}) 34...
Rxf1+ 35. Kg2 Rf2+ $1 ({The most obvious looking line falls into perpetual
check.} 35... Rg1+ $2 36. Rxg1 Qxe4+ 37. Kf1 Qf3+ 38. Ke1 Qf2+ 39. Kd1 Qxg1+
40. Kc2 Qxa1 41. Qxg4+ Kf8 42. Qc8+ Kg7 43. Qg4+ Kf6 44. Qf4+ Ke6 45. Qe4+ Kd6
46. Qf4+ Kc6 47. Qf3+ Kb6 48. Qf2+ $11) 36. Kg1 $1 (36. Kh1 $4 Rxh2+ 37. Kxh2
Qh5+ 38. Kg2 Qh3# {is the backbone of Black's play.}) 36... Bb6 $2 {I
calculated both lines, and I preferred the one with B+2P vs R to a queen
ending a pawn up with no passer.} (36... Qh5 $1 37. Qd8+ Kh7 $1 (37... Kg7 $6
38. Qh4 $11) 38. Qh4 Qe5 39. Kh1 Rf1+ 40. Kg2 Rg1+ $1 41. Rxg1 Qxe4+ 42. Kf1
Qf3+ 43. Ke1 Qe3+ 44. Kd1 Qxg1+ 45. Kc2 Qxa1 46. Qe7 Qa4+ 47. Kc1 Kg7 48. Qxa7
Qe4 $1 $19 {and Black should win not due to the extra pawn but rather the
weakness of White's kingside pawns look decisive.}) 37. Qc8+ $4 {This deflects
the queen from the d8-h4 diagonal and it can not come back.} (37. Qe7 $8 Qh5
38. Qh4 Rxb2+ 39. Kh1 Qxh4 40. gxh4 Bc7 41. e5 a5 42. Reb1 Rxb1+ 43. Rxb1 Bxe5
44. Rxb5 Bxc3 {is quite incomprehensible since anything White plays ends up in
a draw.} 45. h3 $1 {being the simplest.} gxh3 46. Kh2 Kg7 47. Kxh3 $11) (37.
Qe8+ Kh7) 37... Kg7 $5 {Actually this is a mistake but sometimes I become
dogmatic.} ({Black could quickly mate with} 37... Kh7 38. h3 Re2+ 39. Kf1 Qxe4
$1 $19) 38. h3 $1 {An excellent move which I did not see.} (38. Rxa6 Rxb2+ 39.
Rxb6 Qxb6+ 40. Kh1 Rxh2+ 41. Kxh2 Qf2+ 42. Kh1 Qxe1+ 43. Kg2 Qxe4+ 44. Kg1 Qe3+
) 38... h5 $3 $138 {With less than 3 minutes on my clock I had burned all my
time and realised that the control of the g4-square will finish him off.} 39.
Kh1 (39. hxg4 hxg4 {and White is helpless.}) 39... Qf6 $1 0-1

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "2006.08.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Heberla, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2006.08.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Kh8 $5 $146 {I thought this might have stolen a tempo.} ({usually people plays
} 8... d6 9. Nf1 d5) 9. Nf1 ({Black's 8th also helps} 9. Nc4 $6 d5 10. exd5
Nxd5 11. O-O {to push} f6 $15 {without worries.}) 9... d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4
Be6 12. Ng3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Ne8 $1 14. O-O Nd6 15. Rd1 Qf6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3
Qe6 18. b4 f6 {When my opponent offered me a draw I really wanted call it a
day.Enough with this tournament.} 19. Qe2 (19. Qe2 Ne7 20. Ne1 Ng6 21. Nd3 b6
$15) ({I was expecting} 19. Qc5 Qf7) (19. Ne1 a5 20. bxa5 Nxa5 21. Nd3 Nb3 22.
Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Nb4 Nc4 24. Qe2 c6 $13) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jakarta Japfa"]
[Site "Jakarta"]
[Date "2014.04.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2014.04.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "INA"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 {We are back in the Giuoco
Piano.} a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. h3 h6 $5 (7... O-O 8. Bg5 {fits in with White's
strategy.}) (7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 {is another game.}) 8. Nbd2
Qe7 $5 {I simply did not want to castle that day!} 9. Nf1 (9. O-O $2 g5 $1 $40
{is always on the agenda when Black has played ...h6 before he himself castles.
}) 9... Be6 10. Ng3 (10. Bc2 d5) (10. Ne3 Bxb3 11. axb3 Bxe3 12. Bxe3 d5 13. b4
dxe4 14. dxe4 Qe6 $11 (14... Nxe4 $2 15. b5)) 10... d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 (11...
Bxd5 $6 12. Bxd5 (12. Nf5 $2 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Qd7 $17) 12... Nxd5 13. O-O O-O-O
14. Re1 Bb6 15. d4 $16) 12. Qe2 {This may well be needed at some moment of the
game.} (12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Rad8 14. Qe2 (14. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1)
14... Bd6 15. Nf5 Qf6 (15... Bxf5 16. Bxd5 Rfe8 $13) 16. Nxd6 cxd6 $36) 12...
Bd6 {The advantage of keeping the bishop on c5.} 13. Nf5 Bxf5 $6 {I am not
happy about this conservative decision to keep the pair of bishops.} (13... Qf6
$142 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1 Rfe8 $15) 14. Bxd5 Bd7 (14... Qd7 $5
15. Bxc6 $140 $2 Qxc6 16. Nxe5 Qxg2 17. Nf3+ Kf8 $19) 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1 Qf6
17. b4 $5 {I was expecting the other knight pawn's push but it is a matter of
taste.} (17. g4 Rae8) 17... Rfe8 18. Be3 Rab8 (18... e4 $6 19. dxe4 Qxc3 20. a3
{is quite unnecessary for Black.}) 19. Nd2 Qg6 20. Kh1 $2 {A minor tactical
oversight when we were both coming close to time trouble.} (20. Be4 Bf5 21. a4
$11) 20... Nd4 $1 21. Qd1 Bc6 (21... Qxd3 $2 {does not work!} 22. cxd4 exd4 23.
Bc4 $1 $18 (23. Be4 $2 Rxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Bxd4 Qf4 $19)) 22. Bxc6 (22. Be4
f5 23. cxd4 fxe4 24. Nxe4 (24. Qb3+ Qf7) 24... exd4 25. Bxd4 Kh7 $15) 22...
Nxc6 23. Qg4 $1 $11 {I have to admit that I missed this.} Qe6 {Obviously not
the only move! Later I was not really happy about my rook's place.} (23... Kh7
24. Qxg6+ Kxg6 25. g4 Rbd8 $11) (23... Qxd3 {I was only considering} 24. Ne4 $1
(24. Bxh6 Qh7 25. Bg5 (25. Be3 e4 $5) 25... Qg6 $5) 24... Re6 25. Red1 (25.
Rad1 Qb5) 25... Qc2 26. Rd2 Qa4 27. Bc5 $44) 24. Qxe6 Rxe6 25. a4 Bf8 26. Nb3
Rd6 (26... Rd8 $142 27. b5 axb5 28. axb5 Ne7 29. d4 Nf5) 27. b5 (27. Red1 Rd5)
27... axb5 $6 {I should have better kept the tension in the centre.} (27... Ne7
$142 28. d4 exd4 29. Bxd4 Rd5 30. c4 Rd7) 28. axb5 Ne7 29. d4 Nf5 $6 {An
unncessary pawn sac.} (29... exd4 30. Bxd4 Rd5 31. c4 Rd7 32. Be5 Ng6 33. Bg3
$13) 30. dxe5 Rd5 31. b6 cxb6 {This is forced} ({since} 31... c5 $2 32. Bf4 g5
33. Bh2 Rbd8 34. Na5 $18) 32. Bxb6 Rb5 33. Nd4 (33. Ba7 Re8 34. Nd4 Rbxe5 35.
Rxe5 Rxe5 36. f4 Rd5 $11) 33... Rxb6 34. Nxf5 Rc6 35. Re3 Rbc8 36. Rb1 g6 37.
Ng3 $2 $138 (37. Nd6 $142 $1 Bxd6 38. exd6 Rxd6 39. Rxb7 Rdc6 40. Rf3 R8c7 41.
Rxc7 Rxc7 42. g4 Rc5 43. Kg2 h5 $14 {is not enough to win the game but at
least Black does not equalise right away.}) (37. Nh4 Rc4 38. g3 (38. Nf3 Rxc3
39. Rxc3 Rxc3 40. Rxb7 Rc2) 38... Rxc3 39. Rxc3 Rxc3 40. Rxb7 g5 41. Nf5 Rf3
42. Nd4 Rxf2 43. Rb8 Rd2 44. Nf5 h5 $11) 37... Rxc3 38. Rxc3 Rxc3 39. Rxb7 ({
There is no real squeeze after} 39. Ne4 Rc7 40. Nf6+ Kh8 41. Ra1 b5) 39... Bg7
$5 (39... Rc1+ 40. Kh2 Re1 41. f4 (41. Rb5 Bg7) 41... Bc5 42. h4 Bg1+ 43. Kh3
Re3 44. Kg4 h5+ (44... Bf2 45. Nf1 h5+ 46. Kg5 Re1 47. Kh6 Bc5 48. Ng3 Rg1 $11)
45. Nxh5 gxh5+ 46. Kxh5 Rg3 47. Rb8+ Kh7 48. Rb7 $11) 40. Rb8+ Kh7 41. e6 {
A good practical decision which should not change the normal outcome of this
ending.} (41. Rb7 Kg8 42. Rb5 Rc1+ 43. Kh2 Re1 44. f4 g5 45. e6 gxf4 46. exf7+
Kxf7 47. Rf5+ Kg6 48. Rxf4 Be5 $11) 41... fxe6 42. Rb1 Ra3 (42... g5 $5 43. Re1
Rc2 44. Ne4 Bd4 45. f3 Kg6 $11) 43. Rb7 Ra1+ 44. Kh2 Re1 45. h4 h5 $4 {I
started to hallucinate around here.} (45... Kg8 46. h5 g5 47. Kh3 Be5 $11) 46.
f3 Kh6 $4 {Calculating the lines, I was mistakenly thinking that my rook is on
the second file.} (46... Kg8 47. Ne4 Be5+ 48. g3 Re2+ 49. Kh3 Bd4 50. Re7 e5
$11) 47. Ne4 $16 Be5+ 48. g3 Re2+ 49. Kh3 Bg7 (49... g5 50. Nxg5 (50. hxg5+ Kg6
51. Re7 Kf5 52. g6 $16) 50... Bf6 51. Ne4 Kg6 $16) 50. Ng5 e5 $2 {This loses a
piece which I saw but I was not so sure if it led to a defeat.} (50... Rb2 51.
Re7 Rb6 52. f4 Ra6 53. Kg2 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Ra3+) 51. Rd7 $4 (51. Ne6 $1 e4 52.
fxe4 Bf6 (52... Rxe4 $2 53. Nxg7 Re2 54. Ra7 $18) 53. Rf7 Bxh4 54. gxh4 Re3+
55. Kg2 Rxe4 56. Rh7+ $1 {would have won the piece and the game.} (56. Nf4 $18)
) 51... Rf2 52. Nf7+ Kh7 53. Nxe5 Re2 $16 {After this Black is just worse.} 54.
f4 Ra2 55. Nf3 Ra6 56. Ng5+ Kg8 57. Rd8+ Bf8 58. Nf3 Kg7 59. Rd7+ Kg8 60. Ne5
Bg7 61. Rd8+ Kh7 62. Nf7 Bf6 63. Rd7 Kg8 64. Nd6 Ra2 65. Ne8 Ba1 66. Nc7 Ra7
67. Rd8+ Kf7 68. Nb5 Bf6 69. Rd2 (69. Nxa7 Bxd8 $14 {should be a draw in this
type of pawn structure.}) 69... Re7 (69... Ra5 70. Rd7+ Ke6 71. Rb7 Ra2 72.
Rb6+ Ke7 73. Nc7 Rd2 74. Ne6 Rb2 75. Ra6 $14) 70. Kg2 Ke6 71. Rd6+ Kf7 $6 (
71... Kf5 72. Kf3 {There was no particular danger after this.} Rb7 73. Rd5+ Ke6
74. Ke4 Ba1 75. Rc5 Bb2 76. Rc6+ Kd7 77. Rd6+ Ke7 78. Rd5 Kf6 $14) 72. Kf3 Re1
73. Nc7 Ra1 74. Rd7+ Kg8 75. Nd5 Ra3+ 76. Kg2 Ra2+ 77. Kh3 Ra6 78. Rb7 ({
Too early for} 78. f5 $6 gxf5 79. Nf4 Be5 80. Nxh5 Ra5 $11) 78... Rd6 79. Rb5 (
79. Rd7 Re6) 79... Kf7 80. f5 Be5 $2 {The final mistake which costs half a
point.} (80... g5 81. Rb7+ Kf8 82. Nxf6 Rxf6 83. hxg5 Rxf5 84. Kh4 Ra5 85. Kxh5
Ra6 86. g6 Ra1 $11) 81. Ne3 $1 $18 Bd4 82. Ng2 $18 {Now a second pawn falls.}
Rc6 (82... gxf5 83. Rxf5+ Kg6 84. Rg5+ Kh6 85. Nf4 $18) 83. Nf4 gxf5 84. Rxf5+
Kg7 85. Nxh5+ Kh6 86. Nf4 Rc3 $2 87. Ne2 Rc4 88. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Kuala Lumpur op"]
[Site "Kuala Lumpur"]
[Date "2014.04.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ramnath, Bhuvanesh R"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2408"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.04.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "MAS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O $5 {An invitation to the Max Lange
Attack.} d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 (6. d4 Bb6 7. Qd3 h6 $13) 6... a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
(8. Bg5 $5 {looks like the critical move.}) 8... h6 9. Re1 (9. Be3 $5 Bxe3 10.
fxe3 g6 (10... Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 b5 $13) 11. Nbd2 Kg7 12. Qe1 Qe7 13. d4
Bd7 14. Bc2 Rae8 $13) 9... Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. Nb3 $5 $146 {
Bhuvanesh plays the opening in an interesting way.} Ba7 13. Nh4 $5 d5 14. Qe2 (
14. Qf3 $2 Nxe4) 14... Ne7 15. c4 c6 (15... dxe4 16. dxe4 Qd7 $11) 16. Bd2 (16.
Be3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 b6 $11) 16... b5 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Rac1 Rc8 19. Qf3 (19. Rxc8
Nxc8) 19... Bb6 (19... Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Qa8 21. Re1 $11) 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rc1 Rc6
(21... Qb7 22. Re1) 22. Rxc6 ({After} 22. Qg3 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 {However} Qc2 $1
$19 ({I calculated} 23... Qe6 24. Bxh6 Nh5 25. Qg5 Qxh6 26. Qxe7 dxe4 27. dxe4
(27. Qxe5 exd3 $13) 27... Qf4 (27... Nf4 28. Nf5 Qg6 29. g3 Nxh3+ 30. Kf1 Nxf2
31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Ne7 Qxe4 33. Qg8+ Kh6 34. Qh8+ Qh7 35. Nf5+ Kg6 36. Nh4+ $11)
28. Nf3 Ng3 $11 (28... Nf6 29. Qb7 $18)) 24. Bxh6 $140 Nh5 {decides the game
at once.}) 22... Qxc6 23. exd5 Nfxd5 24. Qe4 $2 (24. Nf5 Nxf5 25. Qxf5 f6 26.
Qe4 $15) 24... Qc2 25. Qxe5 Bc7 $1 (25... Qxd3 26. Nf3 Qb1+ 27. Nc1 $15) 26.
Qe1 $6 {Here my opponent had 1 minute to make the control besides a really bad
position.} ({Even after} 26. Qe4 $142 Bd6 27. g3 Qxb2 $17 {Black enjoys a big
edge.}) 26... Qxb2 27. Nc1 a5 (27... Bd6 $142 28. g3 Nb4 29. Bc3 Qb1 $19) 28.
Nf3 a4 29. Qe4 b4 $2 {My first mistake. I really could not understand what
happened with me I was really trying to calculate hard but I had very fluish
vision maybe due to my bad tooth infection.} (29... Bd6 $19) 30. Qc4 Bd6 $2 (
30... Bb6 $2 31. Qb5) (30... Be5 31. Nxe5 Qxd2 32. d4 b3 33. axb3 a3 $19 {
should decide sooner or later.}) 31. Qb5 Qc2 (31... b3 $2 32. Qxa4) 32. Qe8+ $2
(32. g3 Qc6 33. Nd4 $132) 32... Kh7 33. g3 b3 $4 {I completely overlooked that
my queen will be caught in a pin by his after I have lost the passer!} (33...
f6 $1 {wins immediately which I had even calculated.} 34. Qb5 (34. Bxh6 gxh6 (
34... Kxh6 $2 35. Qh8+ Kg6 36. Qe8+ $11) 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Qf8+ Ng8 37. Qxd6
Qxc1+ $19) 34... Be5 $19) (33... Kg6 34. Qd7 Qc6) 34. Qxa4 (34. axb3 axb3 35.
Qa4 $1 {Even now the same idea is valid.} (35. Nxb3 $2 Qd1+ 36. Ne1 Qxb3 37.
Qxf7 Qd1 38. Ba5 Qe2 39. Qf3 Qxf3 40. Nxf3 Nc6 41. Bd2 $17) (35. Qxf7 $2 Qd1+
36. Kg2 b2 $19)) 34... Bxg3 $6 (34... bxa2 35. Qxc2 a1=Q $14 {was the best
under the circumstances.}) 35. Qxb3 {He offered a draw which I really had to
accept.} (35. fxg3 Qc7 36. Ne2 Qb6+ 37. d4 b2 38. Qc2+ Kg8 39. Qb1 Nf5 40. g4
Qb5 41. Kf2 Nd6 $44) (35. Qxb3 Qc7 36. Qc4 Qb8 37. a4 $16 {was a simply
winning position.} (37. Qb3 Qd6)) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kuala Lumpur op"]
[Site "Kuala Lumpur"]
[Date "2014.04.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aravindh, Chithambaram VR"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2417"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2014.04.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "MAS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 (7. d4 Ba7
8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $11) 7... Ba7 {Later I have also
studied lines in which Black keeps his bishop on c5 and aims for the d5, Bf8
manoeuvre.} 8. Re1 (8. Nbd2 h6 9. Re1 O-O {transposes to the game.}) 8... h6 (
8... Ng4 $2 9. Re2 (9. d4 $4 exd4 10. cxd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Qh4 12. Be3 Qxh2+ 13.
Kf1 Qh1+ 14. Ke2 Qxg2 15. Rg1 Nxe3 16. Kxe3 Bxd4+ 17. Kxd4 Qxf2+ 18. Kd3 d5 $1
$40) 9... O-O 10. h3 Nh6 11. Bg5 $16) 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12.
Bxe6 $5 {An inspired decision by my young opponent.} (12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 (13.
Qe2 d4 $5) 13... Bxd5 $11) (12. h3 Bxb3 (12... d5 $5) 13. Qxb3 Qd7 $11 (13...
Rb8 $11)) 12... Rxe6 13. d4 d5 $1 ({There is nothing wrong with} 13... Re8) 14.
Nxe5 (14. c4 $6 Nxe4 (14... dxe4 15. d5 Re8) 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. d5 Re8 $17)
14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe4 $1 (15... Rxe5 16. Bf4 Re6 17. e5 Nh7 $14) 16. Nxe4
dxe4 17. Bf4 {An important position for the appreciation of this line.} Qxd1 (
17... Qd3 18. Qa4 Qb5 {which I had been pondering about during the game was
chosen in Radjabov-Karjakin,Shamkir 2014.}) (17... g5 $6 18. Qg4 $1) (17... Qe8
$5 18. Qg4 e3 19. fxe3 c6 $11 {may well be the most exact path to equality.})
18. Raxd1 g5 19. Bg3 $1 $146 (19. Be3 $2 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Rxe5 $15 {
Kudrin-Vescovi,Cali 2007.}) 19... h5 (19... Rae8 20. Kf1) 20. h4 (20. h3 $2 h4
21. Bh2 f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Re2 Raf8 24. Rdd2 e3 25. Rc2 Rd8 26. Kf1 Rd1+ 27.
Re1 Rd2 $19) 20... gxh4 21. Bf4 (21. Bxh4 Rxe5 22. Rd7 Rc8 23. Bg3 e3 24. Rxe3
Rxe3 25. fxe3 Bxe3+ 26. Kf1 Kf8 $11) 21... f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Be3 (23. Rxe4
Raf8 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. fxe3 h3 26. gxh3 Rg6+ 27. Kh1 (27. Kh2 Rf2+) 27... Rf3
28. Rd8+ Kg7 29. Re7+ Kh6 30. Rh8+ Kg5 31. Kg2 Rf5 32. Kh2 h4 $11) 23... Bxe3
24. Rxe3 Raf8 25. Rd2 Rf4 26. Rde2 Rd8 $1 ({The pawn ending is lost:} 26... Re8
$2 27. f3 Kf7 28. Rxe4 Rexe4 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. fxe4 Kf6 31. Kf2 Kg5 32. Kf3 $1
$18 (32. Ke3 Kg4 33. e5 Kf5 34. Kd4 c6 $18)) 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Rd2 $5 ({
The following line may well be better than I thought:} 28... Rd1+ 29. Kh2 Rd2
30. f3 Rxb2 31. a4 (31. Rxh4 Rxa2 (31... Rb5 32. Rb4) 32. Rxh5 a5 33. Rc5 c6
34. Kg3 a4) 31... Ra2) 29. Rxh4 (29. b4 $5 Rxa2 30. Re7 c6 31. Rxb7 Rc2 32. Rb6
Rxc3 33. Rxa6 Kf7 34. Kh2 Rc2 $1 35. f3 Rc4 36. Ra5 Kg6 37. Rc5 Rxb4 38. Kh3
Rb1 39. Kxh4 Rh1+ 40. Kg3 h4+ 41. Kf2 Ra1 42. Rxc6+ Kg5 43. Rc5+ Kg6 44. Rc8
Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Kf5 46. Rg8 Rb2 $11) 29... Rxb2 30. Rxh5 (30. Rb4 Rc2 (30... Rxb4
31. cxb4 Kf7 $11) 31. Rxb7 Rxc3 $11) 30... Rxa2 31. Rd5 (31. Rc5 c6 32. g4 a5
33. Kg2 a4 34. Kg3 (34. Ra5 b5) 34... Rc2 $1 35. f4 a3 36. f5 a2 37. Ra5 Rxc3+
38. Kf4 Rc2 39. g5 Kf7 40. Ra7 Rb2 41. Ke5 Rb5+ $11 {should bring a dynamic
equality.}) 31... a5 32. Rd7 a4 $5 (32... Rb2 33. Rxc7 Rb6 34. Rc4 Ra6 35. Ra4
b5 36. Ra1 Kf7 37. Kf1 Ke6 38. Ke2 Kd5 39. Kd3 a4 40. Kc2 Re6 $11) 33. Rxc7 a3
34. g4 $2 {My opponent has exaggerated his chances in this equalish endgame
and made a terrible mistake.} (34. Rxb7 Rb2 35. Ra7 a2 36. Kh2 $8 Rxf2 $11)
34... Rc2 35. Kg2 a2 $2 {I have paid the compliment back!} (35... b5 $142 36.
Rb7 (36. Ra7 Rxc3 37. f4 b4 38. f5) 36... Rc1 $1 (36... a2 37. Ra7) 37. Rb8+
Kf7 38. Rb7+ Kf8 39. Rb8+ Ke7 40. Rb7+ Kd6 41. Rb6+ Kc5 42. Ra6 Rxc3 43. g5 b4
44. g6 Kb5 45. g7 Rc8 $19) 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Ra8 Kf6 38. Ra5 b5 (38... b6 39.
Ra6 Ke5 40. c4 Rxc4 41. Rxa2 Rxg4+ $11) 39. Ra6+ Ke5 $1 (39... Kg5 $2 40. Kg3
Rxc3+ 41. f3 $18) 40. g5 Kf5 41. g6 Rxc3 42. g7 Rc8 43. Rxa2 Rg8 44. Ra7 Kf6
45. Kf3 Rxg7 46. Ra6+ Kg5 47. Rb6 Rf7+ 48. Ke3 (48. Kg3 Rf5 49. f4+ Rxf4 50.
Rxb5+ Rf5 $11) 48... Rf5 49. Rb8 Re5+ 50. Kf3 (50. Kd4 Kf4) 50... Rc5 51. Ke4
Rc4+ 52. Ke5 Rc5+ 53. Kd6 Rf5 54. Kc6 Kf4 55. Rxb5 Rxb5 56. Kxb5 Kf3 57. Kc4
Kxf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Trophy 26th"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "2012.12.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nabaty, Tamir"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2569"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2012.11.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 $5 {An idea of Ljubojevic if I
am not mistaken.} Be7 $5 (5... Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a6 (7... a5 8. b5 Ne7 9. O-O
O-O 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Bb3 c6 12. Nc4 Bc7 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Ne3 d5 15. Qc2 $14) 8.
O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 Be6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3
Ra8 $11) 6. d3 O-O 7. O-O (7. Bb3 d5 8. Nbd2 a6 9. O-O Be6 {looked more
cautious to me.}) 7... d5 {Having studied some time ago all the intricacies of
d5-pawn sac, I did not hesitate to go for it.} 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. b5 $1 (9. Re1
Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. b5 Na5 13. Nxe5 Nxc4 14. dxc4 Nb6 $132) (9. h3 $5
Nb6 10. Bb5 a5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxe5 Qd5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 $44) 9... Na5 10. Nxe5
$2 {I have an higher opinion of} ({the obvious} 10. Bxd5 $142 Qxd5 11. c4 Qd8
12. Bd2 b6 (12... c6 $6 13. Qe1 b6 14. Bxa5 bxa5 15. Qe4 $1 $16) 13. Nxe5 Bf6
14. Bxa5 bxa5 15. d4 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Be6 17. Na3 Qe7 $44) 10... Nxc4 11. dxc4 Nb6
12. Ba3 Bxa3 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Nxa3 Be6 $146 ({There is nothing wrong with
Kosteniuk's} 14... Na4 15. Rac1 f6 16. Nf3 Bg4 $15) 15. c5 (15. Rfe1 $5 {
attracted my attention during the game.} Rd2 16. Nf3 Rd3 17. Rac1 Rad8 $15)
15... Nd7 $1 (15... Rd5 16. cxb6 Rxe5 17. bxc7 Rc5 (17... Rc8 $2 18. Rfd1 Kf8
19. Rd8+ Ke7 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. c4 Rc5 22. f3 $14 {a pawn is a pawn after all.})
18. Nc2 Rxc7 19. Nd4 Rxc3 20. Nxe6 fxe6 $11 {and the chances are equal in this
double rook ending.}) 16. Nxd7 Rxd7 17. Rfd1 Rad8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. c6 bxc6 20.
bxc6 Rd6 21. Nb5 Rxc6 22. Nxa7 {Draw offer.} Rb6 $5 ({I was not satisfied with
} 22... Rxc3 23. a4 (23. Nb5 Rc5 24. a4 Bd7 25. f3 Kf8 26. Rb1 $15) 23... Bd7
24. a5 Kf8 $15) 23. a4 c6 24. c4 $1 {An inspired piece sac which may be the
best of what White had up to his sleeve.} ({He had some interesting line with} 
24. a5 $5 Ra6 25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. a6 Rc8 27. a7 Bd5 28. Rb1 Kf8 29. Rb8 Re8 30.
f3 $1 (30. h4 $2 Ke7 31. Kh2 Kd7 32. g4 Rc8 33. c4 $1 Bc6 34. Kg3 Kc7 35. Rxc8+
Kxc8 36. Kf4 Kb7 37. Ke5 Bf3 38. g5 Kxa7 39. Kd6 Kb6 40. Ke7 Bh5 41. Kf8 g6 $19
) 30... Ke7 31. Kf2 Kd7 32. Kg3 Rc8 33. Kf4 Ba8 34. Kf5 Kc7 35. Rxc8+ Kxc8 36.
Ke5 Kc7 37. h4 h6 38. h5 Kd7 39. c4 Kc7 40. f4 Bxg2 41. f5 $11) 24... Ra6 25.
Nb5 cxb5 26. cxb5 Ra8 {Not much differences among different squares for the
rook.} (26... Ra5 27. f3 Kf8 28. b6 Bd5 29. Rb1 Bb7 30. Rc1 Re5 31. a5 Ke8 32.
Kf2 Kd8 33. Rc7 Re7 34. Rc1 Kd7 35. h4 Kd6 36. g4 $44) 27. b6 Bc8 28. h4 Kf8
29. Rc1 Ke8 30. a5 Kd8 31. Rd1+ $4 {A terribly bad move by the young Israeli
in my time trouble.} (31. Rc7 Be6 (31... Rxa5 32. Rxf7 Rb5 33. Rxg7 h5 34. Rh7
$11) 32. Rc5 Rb8 33. Rc7 Rc8 34. Ra7 $11) 31... Ke7 32. Rc1 Kd6 33. Kh2 (33. f3
Bb7 34. Rd1+) 33... Bb7 34. Ra1 Ke5 $4 $138 {I obviously had to go the other
wing no matter what happens.} (34... Kc5 35. Rc1+ Kb5 36. Rc7 Bd5 37. f4 $3 (
37. Kg3 Be6 38. Rc1 Rc8 39. Ra1 Ka6 40. f3 Rc5 41. Kf4 Bc8 $19) (37. Rd7 Kc6
$19) 37... Bb3 38. Rc3 Be6 39. h5 Rc8 40. Re3 Kxa5 41. f5 Bc4 42. b7 Rb8 43.
Rg3 $132) 35. Kg3 Ra6 36. f3 g6 {I was taking the things a little bit too slow
but maybe there were no differences.} (36... h6 37. Kf2 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39.
Ke3 f5 40. g3 f4+ 41. gxf4+ gxf4+ 42. Kf2 Ra8 43. Ra4 $11) 37. Kf2 h6 38. Ke3
g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. g3 Ra8 41. f4+ gxf4+ 42. gxf4+ Kd5 43. Rg1 $1 {Now his
rook is about to infiltrate Black's back ranks.} Re8+ (43... f6 $2 44. Rg7 $11)
44. Kd2 Ba6 45. Rg7 Ke6 (45... Re7 46. Kc3 Kc6 47. f5 $11 {may also hold.}) 46.
Rg5 $2 {A mined square!} (46. Rg1 Rd8+ 47. Ke3 Rd5 48. Rc1 (48. Rb1 Rd3+ 49.
Kf2 Rd7 50. Ke3 $17) 48... Rxa5 49. Rc6+ Kf5 50. Rc7 $15 {and the game would
have gone into a R+B vs R ending.}) 46... Rd8+ 47. Ke3 Rd5 $19 48. Rg8 $8 Rd3+
$2 {Being tired, upset and frustrated, I sort of rejected my only chance} ({
with} 48... Rxa5 49. Ra8 f5 $1 {avoiding the R+B vs R ending.} (49... Ra3+ $2
50. Kd2 (50. Kf2 Rf3+ 51. Kg2 Bb7 $19) 50... Rd3+ (50... f5 $2 51. Ra7 Kd6 52.
Rf7 $11) 51. Kc2 Bb7 52. Re8+ Kd7 53. Rf8 Be4 54. Rxf7+ (54. b7 Rf3+ 55. Kd2
Bxb7 56. Rxf7+ Kc6 $15) 54... Ke6 55. Ra7 $15) 50. Ra7 (50. b7 Ra3+ 51. Kd2
Rd3+ 52. Kc2 Bxb7 $19) (50. Kf2 Ra2+ 51. Kg3 Rg2+ 52. Kh4 Bb7 53. Re8+ Kf7 54.
Rb8 Be4 $19) 50... Kd6 51. Rf7 Kc6 52. Rf6+ Kb7 53. Kd4 Rb5 $22 $19) 49. Kf2
Rb3 50. Ra8 $1 $11 Bb7 51. Rb8 Ba6 52. Ra8 Bb7 53. Rb8 Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bauer, Christian"]
[Black "De Vreugt, Dennis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2378"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1999.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Ba7 9. Nf1 Nh5 $5 {An interesting attempt to hamper the actualization of
White's plan.} ({Usually Black met 9.Nf1 with the move} 9... Ne7 {after which
White has a few possibilities to fight for the opening edge:} 10. Bg5 ({or} 10.
Ng3 Ng6 (10... h6 11. O-O c6 12. d4 Ng6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. a4 $14 {1-0 Bologan,
V-Bjerke,R/Gausdal Int-l 1991 (40)}) 11. O-O h6 12. d4 exd4 $6 13. cxd4 d5 14.
e5 Ne4 15. Bc2 Nh4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Qxd4 19. Bf4 $16 {
1-0 Bologan,V-Westerinen,H/Gausdal 1991/CBM 25 (32)}) 10... Ng6 11. Nh4 Kh8 12.
Nf5 h6 13. h4 Nf4 14. g3 Ne6 15. N1e3 Nxg5 16. hxg5 Nh7 17. f4 {1-0 Komliakov,
V-Ivanov,V/Moscow 1994/CBM 40 (17)}) 10. Ne3 {Apparently, this is not the most
convincing reaction. Both 10.Ng5 and 10.Bg5 deserved attention; probably White
may also try 10.Nf1-h2.} (10. Bg5 Qd7 11. N3d2 (11. Qd2 $5) 11... Nf4 12. Bxf4
exf4 13. d4 Na5 14. Bc2 f5 15. Qf3 fxe4 16. Bxe4 $14 Qf7 $140 17. O-O-O) (10.
Ng5 g6 (10... Nf4 $2 11. Bxf4 exf4 12. Qh5 $18) 11. Qf3 Be6 (11... Qe7 12. Ng3
$14) 12. Bxe6 $140 $2 fxe6 13. Nxe6 Rxf3 14. Nxd8 Rxf2) 10... Nf4 11. O-O Ne7
12. Kh2 c6 13. Ng1 $6 {intending first to oust a knight from f4, but an
immediate advancement of d-pawn was better.} (13. d4 exd4 (13... Neg6 14. Nf5)
14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 d5) 14... d5 $132) 13... Qd7 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 d5 16. e5
f6 {Not only exloding White's center, but opening an important files for the
own rooks as well.} 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Ng4 Rf8 19. Bc2 Neg6 20. Bxf4 Nxf4 21. g3
$6 {[%csl Yf3,Yh3] It weakens a complex of squares on the K-side. However
Black's position at this moment was already superior.} ({if} 21. Ne5 {Black
could have answered} Qd6 22. g3 Qh6 23. gxf4 Qxf4+ 24. Kg2 Bxd4 $44) 21... Ne6
{[%csl Rd4]} 22. Qd3 g6 23. Nf3 Qg7 24. Rad1 (24. Nge5 $2 Nxd4 $17) 24... Nc7
$1 $17 {A strong move which nails down Black's advantage. The knight is
transferred to a new destination, and interplay of Black's forces becomes even
more efficient.} 25. Kg2 (25. a4 $2 {loses to} Bf5) 25... Nb5 26. Qe3 (26. a4
Bf5 27. Qd2 Bxc2 28. Qxc2 Nxd4 $17) 26... Bxg4 27. hxg4 Rae8 {Now all Black's
pieces are ideally located.} 28. Qd3 (28. Qd2 Rxf3 (28... Qf6 $17) 29. Kxf3
Nxd4+ 30. Kg2 Re2 $19) 28... Re4 $19 {[%cal Ra7d4,Yb5d4,Ge4d4,Gg7d4] White's
pawns start to fall down one after the other.} 29. Bb3 Rxg4 30. a4 Nxd4 31. Nh2
Rg5 32. Ba2 Ne6 33. Qd2 Rgf5 34. f4 Nc5 35. Rde1 Nxa4 36. Re2 Qd4 37. Qc2 Nc5
38. Ng4 Kg7 39. Rd1 Qb4 40. Rde1 Ne4 {The knight has definitely made many more
moves than any other piece and continues to tear White's position apart.} 41.
Rxe4 {White gives up a whole rook for that knight, but it changes nothing.}
dxe4 42. Rxe4 Bd4 43. Re2 h5 44. Nh2 h4 45. Nf3 Bf6 46. Re4 Qd6 47. b4 hxg3 48.
Bb1 a5 49. bxa5 Qc5 50. Rc4 Qxa5 51. Kxg3 Qc7 52. Rb4 b5 53. Kg2 Qd6 54. Re4
Ra8 {and White decided to call it a day.} 0-1

[Event "London Agency"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1998.06.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "McDonald, Neil R"]
[Black "Ippolito, Dean"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1998.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O
8. h3 h6 9. Qe2 (9. g4 {- 62/347}) 9... Be6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 (10... Ne7 11. Ng3 (
11. g4 $5 Ng6 12. Ng3 $14) 11... Ng6 12. O-O Ba7 13. Rd1 {was recently played
in Adams,Mi-Gyimesi,Z/Deutschland 69/305 1997.}) (10... d5 $5 11. Ng3 Na5 $1
$13 {is Adams' suggestion. Preliminary exchange on b3 does not look convincing.
}) 11. axb3 d5 12. Ng3 dxe4 13. dxe4 Qd7 14. b4 Bb6 (14... Ba7 $142) 15. Nd2 $1
Rad8 16. Nc4 Ba7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Ge3f5,Gg3f5,Ge2c4,
Ga1d1,Gd1d8]} 19. O-O Qc6 (19... Qd2 $2 20. Nd5) 20. Qc4 h5 $6 {After this
move White wins a pawn, yet the game isn't over.} (20... Rd2 21. Ngf5 Nxf5 22.
Qxc6 bxc6 23. exf5 Rxb2 24. Rxa6 Nd5 25. Rxc6 (25. Nd1 Rd2 26. Rxc6 Rd8) 25...
Nxe3 26. fxe3 Rd8 27. Kh1 Rdd2 28. Rg1 Rd3 (28... Rd7) 29. Rxc7 Rxe3 $14) (
20... Qxc4 $5 21. Nxc4 Nc6 22. Rfd1 $14) 21. Ngf5 $1 Qe8 22. Qxc7 Nxf5 23. exf5
(23. Nxf5 $5 Rd7 (23... Nxe4 24. Qxb7) 24. Qc4 g6) 23... Rd7 24. Qb6 (24. Qa5
$5 Rd2 25. Nc4 Rd5 26. Qc7 {was a better try.}) 24... Qd8 $1 {Black tries to
liquidate into a rook endgame, where his control over d-file leaves him with
good practical chances.} 25. Qxd8 Rfxd8 26. Rfd1 Nd5 27. Nxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5
Rxd5 {Black's prospects to save this endgame are well substantiated.} 29. Ra5 {
This move allows Black to eliminate all but one White's pawns at the Q-side.
Since White's pawn structure at the K-side is compromised, usual plans of
converting an advantage in such type of endgames (cf. Spassky-Torre, Hamburg
1982) will not work here.} (29. Re1 f6 30. Re2 $14 {deserved attention.}) 29...
Rd1+ 30. Kh2 f6 $1 31. b5 Rd2 32. bxa6 bxa6 33. b4 Rc2 34. Rxa6 (34. Rc5 Rxf2)
34... Rxc3 35. f3 (35. h4 $2 Rc4) 35... Rb3 36. Rb6 {[#] Hecht: Der b-Bauer
ist von v o r n gedeckt Der blockierte Kцnigsflьgel erlaubt dem Angreifer nur
wenig Aktivitдten..} h4 $1 {Now it is just a draw.} 37. b5 Kh7 38. Rb8 Rb1 39.
b6 Rb2 40. Kg1 Rb1+ 41. Kh2 (41. Kf2 Rb2+ 42. Kf1 Kh6) 41... Rb2 42. b7 Rb1 43.
g4 Rb2+ (43... hxg3+ {Hecht} 44. Kxg3 Rb4 45. h4 Rb1 46. Kf2 Rb3 47. h5 Rb1 48.
Ke3 Rb3+ 49. Kd2 Rb2+ 50. Kc3 Rb1 51. Kc4 Rb2 52. Kd5 Rb6 53. Kc5 Rb1 54. Kd6
Rb2 55. Ke6 Rb6+ $2 (55... Rb1 $1 56. Ke7 (56. Kf7 Rb6 57. Ke7 Rb1 $11) 56...
Rb2 57. h6 Rb6 58. hxg7 Kxg7 $11) 56. Kf7 {Zugzwang!} Rb1 57. h6 gxh6 58. Kxf6
Rb6+ 59. Ke7 h5 60. f6 $18) 44. Kg1 Rb1+ 45. Kf2 Rb2+ 46. Ke3 Rb1 47. Ke4 Re1+
48. Kd5 Rd1+ 49. Ke6 Rb1 50. g5 {This is the only way to break through. And
yet, Black has no problems to retain his position.} fxg5 51. Kxe5 Rb4 52. Ke6
Rb6+ 53. Kd5 Rb3 54. Kd4 Rb4+ 55. Kd3 Rb3+ 56. Kc4 Rb2 57. Kc5 Rb3 58. Kc6 Rc3+
59. Kb6 Rb3+ 60. Kc7 Rc3+ 61. Kd7 Rb3 62. Ke8 Rb5 63. Kd8 Rb3 64. Kd7 Rb2 65.
Ke6 Rb6+ 66. Ke7 Rb3 67. f6 gxf6 68. Re8 (68. Kxf6 Rxf3+ 69. Kxg5 Rb3 70. Kxh4
{is a theoretical draw.}) 68... Rxb7+ 69. Kxf6 Rb3 70. Kxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Skolernes Skakklub"]
[Site "Aarhus"]
[Date "1997.06.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 (7...
O-O {is a popular alternative. The text move allows White to realize knight
transfer to g3, avoiding sharp lines, when Black plays d7-d5 without
preliminary d7-d6.}) 8. h3 h6 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bc2 Qd7 11. Ng3 d5 12. Qe2 dxe4
13. dxe4 b5 {Threatening 13...Bc4.} 14. Bb3 (14. b3 $2 {fails short after} b4 {
><d4}) 14... O-O 15. O-O Bxb3 $6 ({This move activates Ra1, and Black's
weaknesses on the queenside become more exposed. More prudent was} 15... Rfd8)
16. axb3 Qe6 17. b4 {Fixing the weakness on a6.} Bb6 18. Ra3 {Preparing
doubling the rooks along the a-file.} Kh7 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 {[%csl Ra6,Rc7]
[%cal Ga3a6,Gf1a1,Ga1a6,Ge3c5,Gc5c7] In this almost symmetrical position White
retains advantage due to the weaknesses on Black's queenside.} a5 {An attempt
to get read of the chonical weakness results in the loss of the pawn.} 21. bxa5
Nxa5 (21... Rxa5 22. Rxa5 Nxa5 23. Qc5 {, winning a pawn}) 22. Qc5 {[%csl Rb5,
Rc7,Re5][%cal Gc5e5,Gc5b5,Gc5c7] Triple attack!} Nd7 23. Qxb5 (23. Qxc7 $4 {
is bad in view of} Rfc8) 23... Rfb8 24. Qe2 Rxb2 $2 ({Dubious decision.
Regaining the pawn, Black tranform the game into the clearly better for White
ending. Stronger seems} 24... Nb3 {, although after} 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Rd1 {
Black does not have a sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 25. Qxb2 Nc4 26.
Rxa8 Nxb2 27. Rb1 Nd3 28. Ra7 c6 29. Rbb7 {The pressure of the doubled rooks
along the seventh rank is the major factor of the position.} N3c5 30. Rc7 g6
31. h4 $1 {The strong move. White strives for opening the seventh rank after
the advancement h4-h5.} f5 $4 {A tactical blunder.} ({Better was} 31... Qd6 {
or 31...Kg7, although after} 32. h5 {White has excellent winning chances.}) {
[%tqu "En","","","","f3d4","After his beatiful sacrifice Black's defensive
set-up is destroyed, and his position is defenseless.",20,"f3d4","",0]} 32. Nd4
$3 {[%csl Rc5,Rd7][%cal Gc7d7,Ga7d7,Gd7h7] After his beatiful sacrifice
Black's defensive set-up is destroyed, and his position is defenseless.} (32.
Nd4 exd4 (32... Qd6 33. Rxc6 (33. Nxc6 $18) 33... Qb8 34. Rcc7 {, winning}) 33.
cxd4 Kg8 34. dxc5 Nf8 35. Ra8 {, and Black cannot prevent loss of the knight
after Rcc8.}) 1-0

[Event "Tan Chin Nam Cup 3rd "]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "1997.08.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Xie, Jun"]
[Black "Sermek, Drazen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1997.08.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. h3
Ba7 9. Bb3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ng3 Re8 ({The noteworthy
alternatives are:} 12... Be6 13. d4 Qc8 14. Bc2 Re8 15. Be3 c5 16. Qd2 Qc7 17.
d5 Bc8 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 e4 20. Nh2 Nf8 21. Ng4 Qd8 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bf4
Qxf5 24. Bxd6 c4 25. Qf4 Qxd5 26. Rad1 Qb5 27. Bxe4 {Sutovskij,E-Goldin,A/
Rishon le Zion YM 1995/CBM 46/1/2-1/2 (77)}) (12... c6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 d5
15. exd5 cxd5 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Bf5 19. Re3 Re8 20. Kh1 Qd7
21. Qd2 Rad8 22. Rae1 Qc7 23. h4 Bg4 24. Qf2 Kh8 25. d4 f6 26. Qg3 h5 27. dxe5
{Krustkalns,K-Spesny,J/Komercni Banka op 1996/EXP 55/1-0 (38)}) 13. d4 Bd7 ({
Lutz tried against me} 13... b5 {, but after} 14. Bd2 $5 Bb7 15. dxe5 dxe5 16.
Qc1 Bc8 17. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 18. Qxh6 {Atlas,V-Lutz,C/Ptuj zt 1995, White has a
dangerous attack. The text move seems more passive, but is nowadays more
popular and more reliable.}) 14. Bd2 ({Xie Jun chooses the set-up similar to
that I have chosen in my game against Lutz. White intends to play 15.Qc1
threatening by the thematic sacrifice Bh6. There are some other promising
options for White in this position:} 14. Qc2 c6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Rad1 Be6 $6 {
This unfortunate move yields White a large advantage.} 17. dxe5 Bxb3 18. Qxb3
dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Nf5 Raa8 21. Nd6 Re7 22. Rd2 b5 23. Red1 Rd7 24. c4 Rad8
25. c5 Kf8 26. Qc3 Ne8 27. Nxe5 Nxe5 28. Qxe5 Nxd6 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. cxd6 Qd7
31. Qc5 f6 32. f4 Re8 33. e5 fxe5 34. fxe5 Re6 35. Rf1+ Kg8 36. Rc1 Qe8 37.
Qxc6 Rxe5 38. Qxe8+ Rxe8 39. d7 {1-0 Lakos,N-Dokmanovic,N/EU-chJW U16
Herculane 1994/TD 94\01}) (14. Be3 $5 Bc6 15. Bc2 exd4 16. Bxd4 Nf4 17. Bxa7
Rxa7 18. Nd4 Ng6 19. Qd2 Bd7 20. f4 Ra8 21. Rad1 Nh7 22. Rf1 Rb8 23. Ngf5 Bxf5
24. Nxf5 Nh4 25. Ng3 Ng6 26. Qf2 Qh4 27. Qf3 Ne7 28. Bb3 Rf8 {Dolmatov,
S-Razuvaev,Y/URS-FL Tashkent 1980/MCL 06/1-0 (86)}) 14... c5 {Logical
continuation, allowing Black to reduce the activity of the white light-squared
bishop.} (14... a5 $6 {is strongly met by} 15. a4) ({After} 14... Bc6 {White
can opt for} 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Qc1 {threatening Bh6}) (14... Nh7 15. Nf5 {
also seems rather dangerous for Black.}) 15. d5 (15. dxc5 $6 dxc5 16. Qc1 {
is strongly met by} Rc8 {threatening ...c4. After the text move the character
of the position is similar to Ruy Lopez, but the black dark-squareed bishop is
placed on the g1-a7 diagonale.}) 15... b5 16. Bc2 c4 17. Be3 Bxe3 $6 {A
dubious decision. After this move White develops dangerous attack on the
kingside, exploring the f-file. Instead,  Black could try 17...Qc7 or 17...Nh7.
} 18. fxe3 Qb6 19. Qd2 a5 20. Rf1 b4 21. Nh2 Nf8 ({After} 21... Nh7 {White can
play} 22. Nf5 {, intending Ng4}) 22. Rxf6 $1 {The correct decision. The
exchange sacrifice yields White excellent attacking perspectives.} gxf6 23. Nh5
Nh7 24. Qf2 {Threatening 25.Qg3+ Ng5 26.h4} Kh8 25. Nxf6 Re7 26. Bd1 $1 {
Bringing the bishop into play.} bxc3 27. bxc3 Rb8 28. Bg4 $1 Qb2 ({Loses the
piece, but allows Black to avoid the worst.} 28... Bxg4 {fails to} 29. Nxh7 $1
Kxh7 30. Nxg4 Qb2 31. Qf5+ {, with decisive attack.}) 29. Qxb2 Rxb2 30. Nxd7
Rb7 31. Nf3 Kg7 32. Nd2 h5 33. Bf5 Rbxd7 34. Bxd7 Rxd7 35. Rb1 {The ending is
very difficult for Black. The control over the open b-file, the extra pawn,
and the weakness of Black's queenside pawns yield White excellent winning
prospects.} Nf6 36. Kf2 Kf8 37. Kf3 Ke7 38. Rb5 Rc7 39. Rxa5 Nd7 40. Ra4 Nc5
41. Rxc4 Ra7 42. Nb3 $1 {Starting the operation, allowing White to transform
the game into the winning rook ending.} Nd3 43. Ke2 Nb2 44. Rb4 Rxa2 45. Nc1 $1
{This is the point!} Ra1 46. Rxb2 Rxc1 47. Rb7+ Ke8 48. Rb8+ Ke7 49. Rh8 1-0

[Event "Tan Chin Nam Cup 4th"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "1998.06.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ye, Jiangchuan"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. h3
O-O 9. O-O Ba7 10. Re1 Be6 11. Nf1 (11. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 12. Nf1 {/\ Be3+/=}) 11...
Bxb3 (11... Re8 12. N3h2 {Chebanencko,V; 12.Ng3} Bxb3 (12... d5 13. Qf3 {/\ Ng3
}) 13. axb3 $1 {Gavrikov,V-van der Sterren,P/Tallinn 43/395 1987}) 12. Qxb3 {
12.axb3 by analogy with Gavrikov-van der Sterren was an option in this
position.} Rb8 13. Be3 {Yet another try to obtain an edge in this line. Game
Malevinsky,A-Kuporosov,V/URS-ch sf Kostroma (8); MCD-ch 1985 continued 13.Ng3
Re8 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Rad1 Qe6 16.Qxe6 Rxe6 +/=/=} Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Qd7 15. Rad1 Rfe8
16. Nh2 $5 (16. Nh4) 16... Qe6 17. Nd5 Ne7 (17... Rec8 18. Re3 Ne7 19. Nxf6+
Qxf6 20. Ng4 Qe6 $14) 18. Nxc7 Qxb3 19. axb3 Rec8 20. Nd5 Nexd5 21. exd5 Rc5 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Gc5d5,Gf6d5]} (21... Nxd5 $2 {was is strongly met by} 22. d4 $1
$16) 22. d4 {White gives up pawn d5 and tries to get control over central
files instead. However due to the limited material left on the board Black
draws easily.} (22. c4 b5 23. Ra1 bxc4 24. bxc4 (24. dxc4 Rxb3 25. Rxa6 Rxb2
26. Rxd6 Rxc4 $36) 24... a5 $44 (24... e4 25. dxe4 Rxc4 26. Rxa6 (26. e5 dxe5
27. Rxe5 $2 Rxb2 $15) 26... Rxb2 (26... Nxe4 27. f3 Nf6 28. Rxd6 Rd4 29. Re2)
27. Rxd6 Rcc2 28. Nf1 Rxf2 29. g4 Rf4 30. e5 Nxg4)) 22... Rxd5 23. dxe5 Rxd1
24. Rxd1 dxe5 25. Ng4 Nxg4 26. hxg4 Kf8 27. Rd7 Ke8 28. Rc7 Rd8 $1 29. Rxb7 Rd2
30. c4 Rxb2 31. c5 (31. b4 $2 a5 32. b5 a4 33. Ra7 Rb4) 31... a5 32. c6 Rc2 33.
Rb5 (33. c7 Kd7 34. c8=Q+ Kxc8 35. Rxf7 Rc7 $11) 33... f6 34. Rxa5 Rxc6 35. Ra7
Rb6 $1 (35... Kf8 $11) 36. Rxg7 Rxb3 37. Rg6 Kf7 38. Rxh6 Kg7 39. Rh5 Kg6 40.
Kh2 Ra3 41. g3 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tan Chin Nam Cup 4th"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "1998.06.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1998.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Qe7
8. Re1 Ba7 9. a4 {In this position White has tried various plans:} (9. h3 $6 h6
$1 10. Nbd2 g5 $1 11. Nf1 (11. Nh2 {>=} Be6 $11) 11... g4 12. hxg4 Nxg4 13. d4
Bd7 14. Ne3 O-O-O 15. Bd5 Rdg8 $1 {/\ Nd8 (0-1 (50) Gipslis,A-Smagin,S/Berlin
45/365 1988)}) (9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bc2 Ng4 11. Rf1 O-O-O 12. Qe2 h5 $132 {(Simic,
D - Truta, S/ Bled op (03); EXP 51 1996)}) 9... Be6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nc4 h6 12.
h3 Rad8 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Qd7 15. a5 Ne7 16. Bc2 c5 $1 (16... Ng6 17. d4
$14) 17. d4 Qc7 18. Qd2 exd4 (18... Ng6 19. Nf5) 19. cxd4 d5 {[%csl Rd4,Re4]
[%cal Gd5e4,Gc5d4,Gd8d2] Black successfully solved opening problems and
harmonioulsy arranged his pieces. Further simplifications lead to an equal
endgame. Nay, it is White who has to play with due caution, since an advanced
pawn at a5 causes trouble for him.} 20. exd5 (20. e5 $2 Ne4 21. Nxd5 Nxd2 22.
Nxc7 Nxf3+ 23. gxf3 Bxh3 $17) 20... Nexd5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Qd4 Qb4 23. Nxd5
Nxd5 24. Qe4 (24. Ra4 $5 $11 Qb5 $140 25. Bd3) 24... Qxe4 25. Bxe4 Nb4 26. Red1
Bd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Nxd5 29. Rd1 Rd8 30. Ne5 Kf8 31. Rd3 $6 f6 32. Nc4
Ke7 33. Rb3 (33. Kf1 Ke6 34. Ke1 g5 {allows Black to keep on fighting.}) 33...
Rd7 34. Nb6 (34. Ne3 Kd6 $15) 34... Nxb6 35. Rxb6 {Better placement of the
black king and a weakness at a5 makes White's position difficult.} Kd8 {
Hecht: Vorbereitung zum Aktivierung des Turms und Eroberung eines Bauern am
Damenflьgel.} 36. b4 Kc7 37. b5 (37. Kf1 {Were it possible for White save the
game by means of this move? Pawn endgame ensuing after} Rd6 (37... Rd2 38. g4
Rb2 39. Kg2 $11) 38. Rxd6 Kxd6 39. Ke2 Kd5 (39... Kc6 40. Kd3 Kb5 41. Kc3) 40.
Kd3 {could have seen the following development:} h5 41. g3 $1 (41. g4 $2 h4 42.
f4 g6 $19) (41. h4 $2 g5 42. hxg5 (42. g3 g4) (42. Ke2 Ke4 (42... Kc4 $2 43. g4
) 43. hxg5 fxg5) 42... fxg5 43. f3 h4 $19) 41... g5 (41... g6 42. h4) 42. g4 h4
43. f3 Ke5 44. Ke3 f5 45. gxf5 Kxf5 46. Ke2 $11) 37... Rd6 38. bxa6 bxa6 39.
Rb1 Rd5 40. Ra1 Kc6 41. Kh2 Kb5 {Black's king has finaly reached the pawn at
a5, while his vis-a-vis is just too far away.} 42. Rb1+ Kxa5 {[#] Hecht: 
Schwarz hat seinen Freibauern mit Kцnigsunterstьtzung erhalten. WeiЯ sucht
Gegenspiel am Kцnigsflьgel.} 43. Rb7 g5 (43... Rg5 $2 {Hecht} 44. g4 {[%cal
Rf2f4]}) 44. Rh7 Rf5 $1 45. Rxh6 (45. Kg3 Kb4 46. Rb7+ Rb5) (45. f3 {Hecht} Kb4
46. Rxh6 a5 47. Rh7 a4 {[%cal Gf5a5,Ra4a3,Ra3a2,Ra2a1]}) 45... Rxf2 46. Kg1 Rf5
47. g4 Rf4 48. Kg2 Kb4 49. Kg3 a5 50. h4 a4 51. hxg5 (51. h5 {Hecht} a3 52. Rh8
a2 53. Ra8 Kb3 54. h6 f5 55. h7 (55. gxf5 Ra4 56. Rxa4 Kxa4 57. h7 a1=Q $19)
55... Rxg4+ 56. Kf3 Rh4 57. Rb8+ Kc4 58. Ra8 Rxh7 59. Rxa2 Rh3+ 60. Kg2 Rd3 $19
) 51... fxg5 52. Rb6+ Kc3 53. Rb5 a3 54. Rxg5 Ra4 {[#] Hecht:  WeiЯ hat sein
mцglichstes getan, doch ist sein eigener Freibauer schluЯendlich zu langsam.}
55. Rc5+ Kb3 56. Rb5+ Rb4 57. Rf5 (57. Ra5 a2 58. Rxa2 Kxa2 59. Kh4 Kb3 $19)
57... a2 58. Rf1 Ra4 59. g5 Kb2 $1 {Hecht: Mit diesem kleinen Kunstgriff
stellt Onischuk seinen Kцnig einen Tick besser, was dann den Gewinn verbьrgt.}
(59... a1=Q {Hecht} 60. Rxa1 Rxa1 61. Kf4 Kc4 62. Ke5 Rg1 63. Kf6 Kd5 64. g6
Kd6 65. g7 $11) 60. Rf2+ (60. g6 {Hecht} a1=Q 61. Rxa1 Kxa1 62. g7 Ra8 $19)
60... Kc3 (60... Kc3 61. Rxa2 (61. Rf3+ Kd2) (61. Rf1 {Hecht} a1=Q 62. Rxa1
Rxa1 63. Kf4 Kd4 64. Kf5 Kd5 65. Kf6 Kd6 $19) 61... Rxa2 62. Kf4 Kd4 63. Kf5
Kd5 $19) 0-1

[Event "WchT 4th"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1997.10.25"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Black "Malaniuk, Vladimir P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.10.25"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 (12. N3h2 Bxb3 13. axb3 a5 14.
Ng3 d5 15. Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Re6 17. Nf5 Qf8 18. Qg3 Kh8 19. Ng4 Nh7 20. Nge3
Rg6 21. Qh4 Ng5 22. Ng4 Nh7 23. Rd1 Qe8 24. Rd5 Bb6 25. b4 Re6 26. Qg3 Qf8 27.
b5 Ne7 28. Rxe5 Nxf5 29. Rxf5 Rxe4 30. Ne5 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Nf6 32. Rxf6 gxf6 33.
Bxh6 Qg8 34. Nxf7+ Qxf7 35. Rxe1 {1-0 Gavrikov,V-Van der Sterren,P/Tallinn
1987/EXT 87}) (12. Bc2 d5 13. Qe2 b5 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Bd2 Rad8 16. b3 d4 17. c4
Rb8 18. cxb5 axb5 19. b4 Qd6 20. a3 Nd7 21. Nh4 Ne7 22. Qh5 Kh7 23. Rf1 Ng8 24.
f4 g6 25. Qe2 exf4 26. Bxf4 Ne5 {Orlov,G-Kaidanov,G/URS-ch otbor 1986/EXT 86/1/
2-1/2 (61)}) 12... Bxb3 (12... d5 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16.
Ng3 Nf4 17. d4 exd4 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Nxd4 Ra8 20. Qf3 Ne6 21. Re1 Ncxd4 22.
cxd4 c6 23. d5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 Qb5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,M-Suetin,A/
Moscow-ch 1981/MCL 04 (28)}) (12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Bxb3 (13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5
15. Nc4 f6 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Bf7 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Nd6 cxd6
21. Bxd5 Qe2 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Qd5+ Kg6 24. Qxb7 {1-0 Ostojic,P-Wellendorf,J/
Baden Baden op 1990/GER 04 (54)}) 14. Qxb3 Rb8 15. a4 Qd7 16. a5 Ne7 17. Ra4
Ng6 18. Rb4 Nf4 19. Qc2 Re6 20. Kh2 d5 21. exd5 N6xd5 22. Re4 Rg6 23. Nh4 Rg5
24. d4 {1/2-1/2 Slobodjan,R-Stern,R/Schoeneck 1996/CBM 56}) 13. axb3 $5 {
[%csl Rf3,Rf5,Rg4][%cal Gf3h2,Gh2g4,Yd1f3,Rf1g3,Rg3f5] An interesting concept.
Standard 13.Qb3 yields White a minimal advnatage, but Black seems to have
sufficient resources to obtain a counterplay (cf. game Slobodjan-Stern). After
the text move White intends to develop initiative on the kingside (that is why
it is important to keep the queen on d1 preparing his quick mobilization to
the kingside via f3) and expolit the key g4 and f5 squares by his knights.}
Bxe3 {Facilitating knight's route to f5. Still, after 14. Ba7  the black
pieces are significantly discoordinated.} 14. Nxe3 Qd7 15. Nh4 {Despite the
absence of the bishops, the black king does not feel comfortably and White's
full control over the light squares open him good perspectives in the
forthcoming clash.} d5 16. Qf3 {[%csl Rd5,Rf5][%cal Ge3d5,Gh4f5,Ge3f5]} d4 17.
Nd5 Re6 ({Afer} 17... Nxd5 18. exd5 Nd8 {White has a pleasant choice between
19. cd4 ed4 20. Re4 and 19.Nf5, with a large advantage in both cases.}) 18. Nf5
{[%csl Rf6][%cal Gf5h6,Gd5f6,Gf3f6] Thretening 19. Nh6+} Kh7 19. cxd4 exd4 20.
Qg3 Ne8 (20... g6 $2 {loses after} 21. Nxc7) 21. Rac1 g6 22. Nh4 Rc8 23. f4 $1
{White clearly won the positional battle and obtained a large advantage. His
initiative on the kingside seems very dangerous and Black faces serious
problems.} Ne7 24. f5 $1 {March of the f-pawn proves a very efficicent
undertaking.} gxf5 25. Nxe7 Qxe7 26. Nxf5 Qg5 (26... Qf6 27. Rf1 {is hardly
better for Black.}) 27. Qf2 Rd8 (27... c5 {fails to} 28. Nxd4) 28. Nxd4 Rf6 29.
Nf3 Qb5 30. e5 Rf4 31. Rc4 $1 {The rook thrust terminates the struggle.} Rxc4
32. bxc4 Qb3 33. Nd2 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gf2f7] The simplest.} Qxd3 34. Qxf7+
Kh8 35. Nf3 Qh7 {Black gave up in view of 36.Qf8+ Qg8 37.Qh6+.} 1-0

[Event "HUN-ch"]
[Site "Lillafured"]
[Date "1999.02.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Acs, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2521"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.02.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. Re1 h6 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. d4 {One of a few moves
White has tried in this position. The other options are:} (13. Ng3 g5 (13... g6
14. Nh2 h5 15. Ne2 Bxe3 {1/2-1/2 Kudrin,S-Gulko,B/USA-ch 1989/CBM 19 (15)}) 14.
Nh2 Ne7 (14... Qg6 15. Qd2 Ne7 16. d4 h5 17. Bc2 Kg7 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Bxa7
Rxa7 20. Qe3 Qb6 $6 21. Nxh5+ $16 {1-0 Svetushkin,D-Rogozenko,D/Brasov 1998/
CBM 63 ext/(56)}) 15. d4 Nc6 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nh5 Nxh5 18. Qxh5 Qg6 19. Qxg6+
Nxg6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Lagvilava,G-Golovko,S/Smolensk 1992/EXT 97 (63)}) (13. Bxa7
Rxa7 14. Ne3 (14. Kh2 Ne7 15. Ne3 Ra8 16. a4 {1-0 Karpov,A-Jussupow,A/Bugojno
1986/MCL (61)}) 14... Qg6 15. Kh2 Ra8 16. Ng1 Kh8 17. g3 Ne6 18. Bc2 f6 19. h4
Qe8 20. h5 Ne7 21. d4 g6 22. hxg6 Ng7 23. Nf5 Ng8 24. Nh4 Bd7 25. Kg2 c5 26.
dxc5 dxc5 27. Bb3 Ne6 28. Nf5 {1-0 Kaidanov,G-Lane,G/Hastings 1989/TD (28)}) (
13. N1h2 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Kf1 h5 16. d4 {1-0 Iosif,C-Kogan,A/Oakham 1990/
CBM 16 ext (62)}) 13... Re8 14. Ng3 g6 {Planning to play h6-h5-h4.} (14... g5
$5) 15. a4 h5 16. Bc2 {e4-pawn will need a protection after the knight leaves
g3-square.} Kh8 17. a5 Rg8 18. Ra4 $1 {This rook comes into play following an
unusual trajectory.} h4 {Meantime Black gathers momentum of attack against the
enemy's king.} 19. Nf1 Bd7 20. Rc4 {Threatening 21.d5 and 21.dxe5.} g5 {
Black banks on his threats on the K-side. The game approaches its culmination.}
21. dxe5 Qe6 (21... Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxc7) 22. Bxa7 (22. Rxc6 bxc6 (22...
Bxc6 23. Bxa7 Rxa7 24. Qd4 $44) 23. Bb3 d5 24. exd5 cxd5 25. Nxg5 $140 $2 Rxg5
26. Bxf4 Rxg2+) 22... Rxa7 {How would the game continue if Black were to take
on c4? Probably it is here Black missed his chance.} (22... Qxc4 $5 23. Be3 (
23. Bb3 Qd3) (23. Bd4 g4) 23... Bxh3 $1 (23... Qe6 $143 24. exd6 Nxg2 25. Kxg2
Qxh3+ 26. Kg1 Qg4+ 27. Kh1 h3 28. Ng3) 24. gxh3 (24. N3d2 Qe6 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26.
Qh5+ Kg7 {is advantageous for Black.}) 24... Qe6 25. N3h2 (25. Bxf4 $2 gxf4+
26. Kh2 Qg6 $19) 25... Qxh3 26. Qf3 Nxe5 27. Qxh3 Nxh3+ 28. Kg2 Nf4+ {and an
endgame is in Black's favour.}) 23. Ne3 {Protecting the rook and the pawn on
g2.} dxe5 24. Bb3 g4 25. Rxc6 $1 {Distracting Black's queen and bringing minor
pieces into play.} (25. Nxg4 $6 {isn't good because of} Rxg4 26. hxg4 Qxg4 27.
Nxh4 Nh3+ 28. Kh2 Qxh4 29. g3 (29. gxh3 Qxh3+ 30. Kg1 Ra8 31. f3 Qg3+ 32. Kf1
Qh2 33. Qxd7 Rg8 34. Qg4 Rxg4 35. fxg4 Nxa5 36. Rb4 b5 $17) (29. Qxd7 Nxf2+ 30.
Kg1 Ng4 $17) 29... Qg4 30. Rf1 Ng5 (30... Qxd1 31. Rxd1 Be6 $2 32. Rxc6 $1 Bxb3
33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Rb6 $1 cxb6 35. axb6 Ra8 36. Rxa8 Nxf2 37. Ra7 Nxe4 38. Rxb7
$16) 31. Qxg4 Bxg4 $17) (25. hxg4 $5) 25... Nxh3+ 26. Kf1 (26. Kh2 $2 g3+ 27.
fxg3 hxg3+ 28. Kh1 Nf2+ 29. Kg1 Qxc6 30. Nxe5 Nxd1 $19) (26. gxh3 $2 gxf3+ $19)
26... Qxc6 27. Nxe5 Qb5+ 28. N3c4 Be6 29. gxh3 f6 30. Qd2 Kh7 31. Nxg4 {
Turning the tables on Black. Now it is White who is going after the enemy's
king.} Bxc4+ (31... Bxg4 32. hxg4 Qxb3 33. Ne3 $44) 32. Bxc4 Qxc4+ 33. Kg1
Rxg4+ {This enforced move stops White's attack, but gives White the decisive
material advantage.} ({The misplaced rook on a7 cannot be brought into play
timely, as the following variation shows:} 33... Rg6 34. Qd7+ Rg7 35. Qf5+ Kh8
36. Qxf6 Ra8 37. Qxh4+ Rh7 38. Qf6+ Rg7 39. Kh2 {and White already has
material advantage in addition to the strong attack.}) 34. hxg4 Ra8 35. Qd7+
Kg8 36. Qf5 Rf8 37. Rd1 Kg7 38. Rd7+ Rf7 39. Rxf7+ Qxf7 40. g5 fxg5 41. Qxg5+
Kf8 42. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "Manhattan March Int"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1999.03.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shahade, Gregory P"]
[Black "Shliperman, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2386"]
[BlackElo "2442"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 Bb6 8. Nbd2
Ne7 9. Re1 (9. Nc4 Ng6 10. a4 c6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Be3 h6 13. Ne1 c5 14. f3 d5
15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qe7 17. e5 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Nxe5 19. Qxb6 Re8 20. Bc5 Ra6 21.
Qb5 Qc7 {1/2-1/2 Degraeve,J-Hamdouchi,H/FRA 1994/TD (40)}) (9. h3 c6 10. Re1
Ng6 11. d4 Bc7 12. Bc2 Qe7 13. Nc4 Nh5 14. Nfxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 exd4 16. cxd4
Qb4 17. Nd2 Qxd4 {1/2-1/2 Jaracz,P-Votava,J/Duisburg 1992/TD (46)}) 9... Kh8 (
9... c6 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Ng3 h6 (11... Bc7 12. d4 Re8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qxd8
Rxd8 15. Bg5 {1/2-1/2 Castillo Melenes,O-Diamond,J/Las Vegas 1994/EXT 97 (15)})
12. h3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+ {0-1 Padilla Gonzalez,
J-Garbisu,U/Cordoba 1994/EXT 97 (15)}) 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nf1 $6 (11. h3 {is more
prudent:} c6 (11... Nh5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxh5 exd4 14. Nf3 $40) (11... Nf4 12.
dxe5 Nd3 13. exf6 Bxf2+ 14. Kh2) 12. Nf1 $14 {The text move leads to very
interesting complications.}) 11... Bg4 12. Ne3 $6 {After 12.d5 Black has a
good play. White undertakes a pawn sacrifice, counting on his active knight
and the bishop pair. Yet, the course of the game shows that the White does not
obtain a full compensation for the sacrificed pawn.} Bxf3 13. Qxf3 exd4 14. Nf5
(14. cxd4 {is strongly met by} Bxd4 15. Nf5 Be5 {, and White has no sufficient
compensation for the sacificed pawn.} (15... Bc5 $6 16. Bg5 $44 h6 $140 $2 17.
Nxh6 {The text move prevents the transfer of the blak bishop to the main
diagonal.})) 14... dxc3 15. Qxc3 a5 16. a4 Ne5 (16... Bc5 {, with the threat
17...Bb4, is met by} 17. Qh3 {/\Bg5}) 17. Kf1 (17. Bg5 $4 {loses after} Bxf2+
18. Kxf2 Nfg4+ {The text move resumes the threat 18.Bg5.}) 17... Qd7 18. f3 ({
No time for} 18. Bg5 {. After} Nxe4 {White is lost.}) 18... Qc6 $1 {
Transforming the game into the ending, in which Black's material advantage
must gives him an upper hand.} 19. Bd2 Qxc3 20. Bxc3 Ne8 (20... Rae8 {was a
good alternative. Also, 20...Bc5 /\Bb4 deserved a serious attention.}) 21. Rad1
f6 22. Ne7 Bc5 (22... c6 {was to be preferred.}) 23. Nf5 g6 24. Nd4 Bb4 $6 ({
Both} 24... Ng7 {and 24...Bd4 allowed Black to retain a slight advantage. The
text move yields White a dangerous initiative.}) 25. Bxb4 axb4 26. Ne6 Rf7 $2 (
{A serious mistake.} 26... Rg8 {was to be preferred:} 27. f4 Nc6 28. Nd4 Rg7
29. Nxc6 bxc6 30. e5) 27. f4 Nc6 28. Nc5 $1 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Gb3f7,Gc5b7]
Winning the key b7-pawn.} Re7 29. Nxb7 Nb8 $2 ({Why not} 29... Ra7 30. Bd5 ({
Certainly, not} 30. Rc1 $2 Nd4 31. Bd5 c6 $19) 30... Nb8 {[threatening 31...c6]
} 31. Nd8 (31. e5 dxe5 32. Nc5 Ra5) 31... Rxa4 32. Ra1 $36) 30. Nd8 Ng7 $2 {
Unexplainable decision. Black suddenly found himself out in a clearly inferior
position, but why lose in one move?} 31. Nf7+ $18 Rxf7 32. Bxf7 Rxa4 $2 33. Ra1
({After} 33. Ra1 Rxa1 34. Rxa1 Nh5 35. Ra8 Kg7 36. Bd5 Nd7 37. Ra7 {Black is
entirely lost.}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.10"]
[Round "11.2"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Qe2 {This move, though
rarely seen in the modern praxis, had been played more than once by I.
Gunsberg already 100 years ago.} (6. a4 {is another interesting possibility:}
a6 7. Na3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Bb3 O-O 10. Nc4 Qf6 11. O-O Nf4 12. Bxf4 Qxf4 13.
Ncxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. d4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. cxd4 Bd7 {1/2-1/2
Najdorf,M-Reshevsky,S/Mex/NY/Salvador 1952/MCL 03 (17)}) 6... Bb6 (6... Be6 7.
Bb3 (7. Bg5 Bxc4 8. dxc4 Ne7 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nbd2 {1-0 Gunsberg,I-Taubenhaus,
J/New York 1889/HCL 26 (33)}) 7... Bxb3 8. axb3 {1-0 Gunsberg,I-Baird,D/New
York 1889/HCL 26 (64)}) (6... Qe7 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. Bb3 Bxb3 9. axb3 {0-1
Gunsberg,I-Burille,C/New York 1889/HCL 26 (60)}) (6... O-O 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Be6
9. Nbd2 a6 10. a3 b5 11. Bd5 Bd7 12. O-O g5 13. Nxg5 Nxd5 14. Qh5 Qf6 15. exd5
hxg5 16. Bxg5 Qg6 17. Qxg6+ fxg6 18. dxc6 Bxc6 19. Be3 $16 {1-0 Mathonia,
C-Kohl,H/BL2-SW 1989/BL2 (53)}) 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Qe7 10. Nbd2 Bd7 11.
Bb3 Nh5 12. Nc4 Nf4 {Usually favourablie for Black manoeuvre is bound here
with a certain risk: leading the knight away from f6, Black decreases the
pressure on the central pawn e4, and makes it easier for White to carry out
his plan to play d3-d4.} 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. g3 $1 {A very strong continuation,
The situation on the board comes to the crunch.} Qf6 (14... fxg3 15. hxg3 $14 {
[%csl Rh6]}) 15. Nfd2 Bc5 16. Ba4 a6 17. Bxc6 $1 bxc6 (17... Bxc6 18. Na5 $14)
18. O-O-O {Two bishops against two knights in this position do not promise
Black traditional edge. He cannot prevent an advancement d3-d4 which will keep
dark-coloured Bishop out.} Ba7 19. Qf3 $1 {Intending an exchange at f4.} h5 20.
h3 Ke7 21. gxf4 Qxf4 22. Qxf4 exf4 23. d4 $16 {[%csl Ra7] De facto White has a
piece up. Nontheless, the game is not over yet. Weakness on h3 and danger of
activization of Black's rooks along g-file requiers on White's side a very
energetic play in order to preserve a strategic advantage.} Be6 24. b3 $1 Rag8
25. Nb2 f5 (25... Rg2 26. Nd3 c5 27. d5 Bd7 28. c4) 26. Nd3 fxe4 27. Nxf4 {
It is instructive to look how White makes use of his knights. After intended
by Black opening of the positon in order to provide space for his bishops,
Black's king suddenly finds himself under strong attack.} Bf5 28. Rde1 Kf6 (
28... d5 29. f3 $18) 29. f3 $1 (29. Nxe4+ $143 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 Kf5 31. Rhe1 d5
32. Nxd5 cxd5 33. Re6 $13) 29... exf3 30. Nxf3 h4 (30... Rg3 31. Rhf1) 31. Rhf1
{[%cal Ge1e6,Gf1f6,Gf5f6]} Bb6 32. Rf2 $1 Rh6 33. Ng2 Kg7 (33... Bxh3 34. Ng1+
Bf5 35. Ne3 Rh5 36. Ref1 Rgg5 37. Nh3 $18) 34. Ng5 $1 Bg6 35. Re7+ Kh8 36. Nf4
Be8 (36... Rg7 37. Rxg7 Kxg7 38. Nfe6+ $18) 37. Nfe6 c5 (37... Rh5 38. Rg2 $1
c5 39. Ng7 (39. Rxe8 Rhxg5) 39... Rxg7 40. Rxe8+ Rg8 41. Nf7+ $18) 38. Rf6 $1 {
[%cal Gf6h6,Ge7h7]} Rh5 (38... Bg6 39. Nf7+ $18) 39. Nf4 Rgxg5 40. Rxe8+ Kg7
41. Nxh5+ Rxh5 42. Rf4 cxd4 43. cxd4 1-0

[Event "Linares Anibal op 04th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Volzhin, Alexander"]
[Black "Allahverdiyev, Anar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2380"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1997.02.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. O-O
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 {This is one of the possible setups Black can apply
in this variation. It requires from Black a careful play to equalize though.}
11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ng3 Re8 (12... h6 13. d4 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Qd7 15. Qc2 Rfe8 16. Be3
Qc6 17. Rad1 b5 18. Qb1 Qb7 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. Nf5 Nf4 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. e5 dxe5
23. Nxe5 Nd5 24. Qc2 Kg8 25. Qe4 Rad8 26. Qf3 Qb6 27. Qg4 Qf6 28. Nc6 h5 29.
Qxg7+ Qxg7 30. Nxg7 Kxg7 31. Nxa7 Ne7 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Nc6 {1-0 Kudrin,
S-Garcia Padron,J/Las Palmas op ;EXT 89op 1989}) 13. d4 Qc8 $6 {Black is
underestimating 14.Bg5. 13...h6 was better.} 14. Bg5 Nf4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nh4
Kh8 17. Nh5 $1 {Eliminating the only active Black's piece. The pawn sacrifice
which this move entails is too dangerous to accept.} (17. Nhf5 d5 {would be
not so clear.}) 17... Nxh5 18. Qxh5 Rg8 (18... exd4 {Had Black taken the
challenge, White would have the following possibilities:} 19. Bc2 $1 (19. Nf5
Bxf5 20. exf5 Re5 $13) (19. Qh6 Qd8 20. Bc2 Rg8 21. e5 f5 22. exd6 dxc3 23.
bxc3 (23. dxc7 Qd4) 23... Qxd6) 19... Kg7 (19... dxc3 20. e5 $18) 20. e5 $1
dxe5 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Bb3 $1 (22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Qd8 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Rxe5+
fxe5 26. Qxe5+ Kf8 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Qe5+ (28. Re1+ $2 Kd6 $19) 28... Kf8 29.
Qh8+ $11) 22... Ke7 (22... Bxb3 23. Nf5 $18) (22... Qd7 23. Bxe6 $18) 23. Nf5+
Kd8 (23... Bxf5 24. Qxf7+ Kd6 25. Qxf6+ Kc5 26. Bf7 $1 $18) (23... Kd7 24.
Bxe6+ Kxe6 25. cxd4 $18) 24. Ng7 Rf8 25. Qh4 Ke7 26. Rxe5 $18) 19. Rad1 {
The position is difficult for Black: his Bishop at a7 is locked, pawn
structure at the kingside is compromised and he lacks concrete counterplay.
White aims at further consolidation of his forces.} Qf8 20. Kh2 Rg5 21. Qf3 Qg7
22. Re2 Re8 (22... Rf8 23. g3 Bd7 $5 {retaining control over the square f5,
would make it harder for White to increase the advantage.}) 23. g3 h5 $6 {
23...Bb6 or even 23...Bb8!? /\24...c6 came into consideration instead.} (23...
Bxb3 24. axb3 exd4 25. cxd4 d5 26. Rde1 $16) 24. Bxe6 $1 fxe6 25. d5 $1 {
After the improving the position of his pieces, White is finally ready for
this undertaking: if Knight finds the way to f5, Black's position will be
strategically lost.} f5 $2 {Loses at once.} 26. dxe6 fxe4 27. Qxe4 Bb6 $2 (
27... Rxe6 28. Nf3 Rgg6 29. Qxb7 Bb6 30. Qxa6 $18) 28. f4 d5 29. Qf3 (29. Qa4)
29... exf4 30. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.12"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Magem Badals, Jordi"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Spain"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
d6 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. d4 (12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. d4
Nf6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. dxe5 fxe5 17. Ng3 Kh8 18. Qf3 Qe7 19. Kh2 Qg5 {led to a
convinient game for Black in Grosar,A-Polgar,S/Bled op 1994 0-1 (53)}) 12...
Nhf4 13. Ng3 (13. Bxf4 $5 {was successfully played by Magem Badals earlier:}
exf4 14. Qd3 Be6 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nh4 18. Nf3 $14 {1-0 Magem
Badals,J-Flear,C/Palma de Mallorca 1991/EXT 97 (42)}) 13... Bd7 $5 {A flexible
new move.} (13... Qf6 14. Be3 (14. Nh5 Qe7 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Qd2
g5 18. e5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Belikov,V-Novik,M/Sochi 1990/TD 90\02 (51)}) 14... Be6
15. Bc2 Bb6 16. a4 c5 17. Nf5 cxd4 18. cxd4 Ba5 19. Bd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 exd4 21.
Qxd4 Ne5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Kamsky,G-Shereshevski,M/Minsk 1988/EXT 97 (51)}) (13...
Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bc2 h6 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. g3 Ne6 18. Nh2 Re8 19. Qh5 Ngf8 20.
dxe5 dxe5 21. Bxh6 Qg6 22. Qh4 gxh6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 24. Nf5+ Kg8 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26.
Nf5+ Kg8 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Campora,D/Moscow 1989/TD 89\02 (26)}) 14. Nf5 $6 {
Intending when appropriate to oust Black's knight by means of g2-g3. Yet,
moving the knight on f5 at this moment is probably premature, since White is
not capable to retain the tension in the center. Moreover, White's idea is
affected by miscalculation.} Re8 {Preparing favourable for Black exchanges.}
15. g3 $6 {Played consequently, but encounters convincing refutation.} (15. Be3
exd4 16. Bxd4 Bxf5 17. exf5 Rxe1+ $15) 15... Nxh3+ {Black meets the challenge.}
(15... Nh5 $2 16. Ng5 $18) (15... Ne6 16. Be3 $14) 16. Kg2 exd4 {[%cal Ge8e4,
Gd7f5]} 17. N3xd4 {Besides the move played White had in his disposal two other
continuations, likely also unsatisfactory:} (17. Kxh3 {was certainly an
interesting alternative. Now after} Rxe4 (17... d5 18. N3xd4) 18. Bxf7+ (18.
Rxe4 Bxf5+ $19) {Black answers} 18... Kf8 $1 (18... Kxf7 $143 19. Ng5+ Qxg5 (
19... Kg8 $2 20. Qb3+) (19... Kf8 20. Rxe4 Bxf5+ 21. g4 $1 Bd7 22. Qf3+ Kg8 23.
cxd4 $1 (23. Qf7+ Kh8 24. Qxg6 hxg6 25. Nf7+ Kg8 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27. cxd4 d5 28.
Bg5 dxe4 29. Bxd8 Bxd4 $11) 23... Bc6 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. d5 Be8 26. Be3 $16) 20.
Bxg5 Bxf5+ 21. Kg2 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 h6 {and the compensation is apparently
insufficient}) 19. Bxg6 (19. Rxe4 Bxf5+ 20. Kh2 Bxe4 $17) 19... Rxe1 20. Qxe1
hxg6 21. Bg5 Qe8 $17) (17. cxd4 {was worth attention as well:} Qc8 $5 ({if} 
17... d5 {then} 18. Bxd5 Bxf5 19. exf5 Qxd5 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. fxg6 {and Black
cannot retreat his knight.}) (17... Qf6 18. Bc2 d5 19. e5 Nxf2 20. Qd2) 18.
Kxh3 (18. Bc2 d5) 18... Rxe4 19. Bxf7+ (19. Rxe4 Bxf5+ 20. g4 Bxe4 21. Ng5 d5
22. f3 Bf5 23. Bxd5 (23. gxf5 Qxf5+ 24. Kh2 Re8 $36) 23... Be6 24. Nxe6 fxe6
25. Be4 c6 $17) 19... Kh8 20. Bxg6 Rxe1 21. Qxe1 hxg6 $17) 17... Bxd4 18. Qxd4
(18. cxd4 Qf6 $5 (18... Ng5) 19. Kxh3 $140 Rxe4 20. g4 Rxg4 $1 $19) 18... Bxf5
19. exf5 Rxe1 $19 20. fxg6 hxg6 21. Bh6 (21. Kxh3 Qd7+) 21... Re5 (21... gxh6
$143 22. Rxe1 Ng5 23. f4 $132) 22. Bd2 Qd7 23. Rh1 Qc6+ 24. f3 Re2+ 25. Kxh3
Qxf3 26. Bd5 Qh5+ 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 6th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2005.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Baramidze, David"]
[Black "Zawadzka, Jolanta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2542"]
[BlackElo "2383"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.06.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc4 Ne7 10. a4 Ng6 11. Re1 Be6 12. Be3 Re8 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ng5 d5 15.
Nxe6 fxe6 16. Ne3 c6 17. a5 Ra8 18. g3 Qc7 19. h4 Qf7 20. Bc2 Rf8 21. Qe2 Rad8
22. Rad1 Nd7 23. Ng4 h5 24. Nh2 Nf6 25. Rf1 Qc7 26. Ra1 Nh8 27. Nf3 Nf7 28. Ng5
Qe7 29. exd5 exd5 30. Rae1 Rde8 31. Qd2 g6 32. Nxf7 Qxf7 33. Qg5 Nh7 34. Qd2
Nf6 35. f4 e4 $6 ({A risky continuation. More cautious was} 35... exf4) 36. f5
Re5 37. Qg5 Ng4 $2 ({Better was} 37... Qg7 38. Qxg6 Qxg6 39. fxg6 Kg7 40. Rf4)
38. dxe4 dxe4 $2 ({The final mistake. More stubborn was} 38... Rfe8) {[%tqu
"En","How can White finish his attack?","Deflect the black queen.","Sacrifice
your bishop!","c2b3","A very nice game conclusion!",4]} 39. Bb3 $1 {[%csl Gb3,
Rf7,Rg4,Gg5,Rg6,Rg8,Rh5] The most elegant and convincing way to the victory.
Black suffers huge material losses.} Qxb3 40. Qxg6+ Kh8 41. Qxh5+ 1-0

[Event "Krynica zt"]
[Site "Krynica"]
[Date "1998.09.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nevednichy, Vladislav"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1998.09.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.30"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 132]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7.
Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 (12... Bxe3 13.
Nxe3 Nf4 $11 {Karpov,An}) 13. Kh2 {This variation was tested in an encounter
Karpov,A-Yusupov,A/Bugojno 1986, in which White could get a small edge. The
text looks even more flexible, and yet Black succeeds in obtaining an
excellent counterplay.} (13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Kh2 Ne7 15. Ne3 Ra8 16. a4 $1 {
/\ a5+/=} Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 $6 $14 18. Ng1 Rad8 19. g3 Nfg6 20. Rf1 d5 21. Qe2
Nc6 22. Ng2 Rf7 23. h4 Rdf8 24. Rad1 Nge7 25. h5 g6 26. Nh3 (26. hxg6 {Karpov,
An} Nxg6 27. Qh5 Qg5 $1 $15) 26... Qf3 27. Qxf3 Rxf3 28. hxg6 Nxg6 29. Ne3 d4
30. Nc2 R3f7 (30... dxc3 {Karpov,An} 31. bxc3 Rd8 32. Ne1 (32. Ne3 Rf7 33. Rd2
Rfd7 $15) 32... Rf7 33. f4 $14) 31. cxd4 $1 $16 {1-0 Karpov,A-Yusupov,A/
Bugojno 1986/Inf 41/[Karpov,An] (61)}) 13... Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Bxa7 Rxa7
16. Ne3 Raa8 17. Ng1 Qg6 $1 18. g3 Nh5 {In contrast with Karpov,A-Yusupov,A,
Black retreats his knight on the safe square h5 from where it threatens a pawn
at g3. Creating a pressure along f-file, Black overtakes an initiative.} 19.
Qe2 Rf7 20. Rf1 Raf8 21. Ng4 Nb8 $1 {Intending to knock over one of the
defender of the crucial square f2.} 22. b4 Nd7 23. Rae1 Ndf6 24. Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.
Qe3 d5 26. Kg2 Qf7 27. Qe2 b6 28. Qd2 Qg6 29. Qe3 Kh8 30. a3 b5 $1 31. Rd1 c6
32. Rde1 Rf4 $1 33. exd5 {White has no useful moves any more.} (33. Re2 d4 34.
cxd4 exd4 35. Qxd4 Nxg3 $19) (33. Kh2 d4 34. cxd4 exd4 35. Qxd4 Nxg3 $19) 33...
cxd5 34. Qxe5 R4f5 35. Qe3 e5 {Black has sacrificed one of the pawns on e-file
in order to set another one going. Being totally deprived of counterplay,
White cannot cope with the increasing threats.} 36. Ne2 e4 37. dxe4 Rf3 38. Qc5
dxe4 39. Qe5 Qf7 40. Nf4 (40. Qd4 e3 41. Nf4 Nxf4+ 42. gxf4 Qh5 43. Qd7 (43.
Rxe3 Qxh3+ 44. Kg1 Qg4+ 45. Kh1 R8xf4 46. Qd8+ Rf8 47. Qd3 R8f5 48. Qd8+ Kh7
49. Qd3 Qg6 $19) 43... R8xf4) 40... Nxf4+ 41. gxf4 Re8 42. Qd6 Re6 43. Qd8+ Kh7
44. Rh1 (44. Qh4 Rxf4 $19) 44... Rg6+ (44... Rg6+ 45. Kf1 Rxf2+ $1 46. Kxf2
Qxf4+ 47. Ke2 Rg2+ 48. Kd1 Qf3+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Enghien les Bains 2nd"]
[Site "Enghien les Bains"]
[Date "1997.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fontaine, Robert"]
[Black "Dorfman, Josif D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "1997.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O Bb6 {This line
becomes quite popular at the las time. Black is ready to allow an exchange of
his bishop for the knight, counting on their counterchances at hte kingside.
In this position White has quite a few possibilities: 7.a4; 7.Bg5; 7.Re1 and 7.
Nbd2.} 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Bb3 Ne7 9. Nc4 Ng6 10. Nxb6 {10.a4 does not promise
White anything substantial:} (10. a4 c6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Be3 h6 13. Ne1 c5 14.
f3 d5 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qe7 17. e5 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Nxe5 19. Qxb6 Re8 20. Bc5
Ra6 $1 21. Qb5 Qc7 22. Bf2 Bd7 23. Qb4 b5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Degraeve,J-Hamdouchi,H/
FRA-chT ;TD 94\03 1994 (40)}) 10... axb6 11. Re1 h6 12. h3 Nh7 13. Nh2 $6 (13.
d4 Qf6 14. Be3 Nf4 $132) 13... Qh4 14. Qf3 Ng5 15. Qg3 Qxg3 16. fxg3 Ne6 17.
Be3 Kh7 {/\18...f5} 18. Rf1 f6 19. Nf3 Nc5 20. Bc2 {Bishop pair is of no
particular value in the endgame occured. Moreover, White cannot avoid an
exhcange of one of the Bishops. After} (20. Bxc5 bxc5 {Black has the ideal
pawn structure for the bishops left. White tries to save dark-squared bishop,
but Black firmly takes over the initiative, capitalizing the importance of the
open a-file.}) 20... Na4 21. Bxa4 Rxa4 22. g4 {Once again preventing f5.} b5
23. a3 Be6 24. Nd2 Rfa8 25. Rac1 c5 26. Rfd1 Ne7 {Black's play is simple and
strong. White is deprived of concrete counterplay and should passively wait
for the development of events. Any pawn advancement weakens his position. Yet,
White opted for} 27. c4 bxc4 28. Nxc4 (28. dxc4 {was probably a better try.}
Nc6 (28... Nc8 $5 {/\Nb6 xc4} 29. Rc3) 29. Nb1 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bxc4 31. Rxd6 Nd4
32. Nd2 Bd3 33. Nb3 $15) 28... Rd8 29. b3 Ra6 30. b4 cxb4 31. axb4 d5 $1 32.
Na5 (32. b5 {is no good:} Ra2 (32... Ra4 33. Nb6) 33. Rd2 Rxd2 $1 34. Nxd2 d4
35. Bf2 Rc8 $19) 32... Rd7 33. Bc5 $6 b6 $1 {Black gets material advantage by
force.} 34. Bxe7 bxa5 35. Bc5 axb4 36. exd5 Bxd5 37. Bxb4 Ra2 38. Rd2 Rxd2 39.
Bxd2 Bf7 {Pawn on d3 is history.} 40. Rc3 Bg6 41. Kf2 Bxd3 42. Be3 Be4 43. Ra3
Rc7 44. Ra2 Rc3 45. Bd2 Rd3 46. Bb4 Rb3 47. Bc5 Kg6 48. Re2 Bb7 49. Rd2 Bc6 50.
Rc2 Kf7 51. Bd6 Be4 52. Rc7+ $2 (52. Rd2 {was more stubborn.}) 52... Kg8 53.
Rc8+ Kh7 54. Rc7 Rb2+ 55. Ke3 Bxg2 56. Bf8 Rb7 {Now White is clearly lost.} 57.
Rxb7 Bxb7 58. Be7 Kg6 59. Kf2 Kf7 60. Bb4 g6 61. Bd2 h5 62. Kg3 Ba6 63. Kh4 Be2
64. Bc3 Ke6 65. Ba5 f5 66. gxf5+ gxf5 67. Kg5 f4 68. Bb6 Bf1 69. Kxh5 Kf5 70.
Kh4 e4 71. Bf2 e3 72. Be1 Bb5 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 14th final"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1999.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jaracz, Pawel"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2439"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1999.01.11"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Gorzow Stilon Welkopolski"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 {Black might also try to offer an exchange of light-square
bishops, playing on this move or later Be6. In this game Black chooses another
setup, with which he tries to seize initiative on the K-side.} (9... Be6 10.
Nbd2 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Rb8 12. Nf1 Qd7 13. Ng3 Rfe8 14. Bg5 Qe6 15. Qxe6 Rxe6 16.
Rad1 Rbe8 {= 1/2-1/2 Dolmatov,S-Rodriguez,A/Minsk 1982/MCL (33)}) (9... Qe7 10.
Nbd2 Be6 11. Nf1 Rad8 12. Ng3 d5 13. Qe2 Kh8 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. d4 Rfe8 16. Nxe5
Nxe5 17. dxe5 Bxb3 18. Bg5 Rd5 19. axb3 Rxe5 {= 1/2-1/2 Dzindzichashvili,
R-Kortchnoi,V/Chicago 1982/ (37)}) 10. d4 (10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Nxh4 12. Bxh4 h6
13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Nf1 Be6 15. Ne3 Rab8 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Rbe8 18. d4 Qd8 19.
dxe5 Rxe5 20. Qf3 {+= 1/2-1/2 Bojkovic,N-Micic,J/Cetinje 1990/EXT 97 (32)})
10... Ng6 11. Nbd2 b5 12. Nf1 Bb7 13. Ng3 c5 {Aiming at resolving a problem of
the dark-squared bishop and at pawn advancement on the Q-side..} 14. d5 $5 c4
15. Bc2 Bc8 16. Nh2 Kh8 17. a4 Bd7 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bd2 Bc5 20. Qf3 Nh4 21. Qe2
Qb6 {Black combines actions on both sides of the chess board, but white's
resources are far from being exhausted.} 22. a5 Qa7 23. Ng4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 Qd7
25. Bd1 $1 (25. g5 Qg4) 25... Nh7 {Otherwise g4-g5 is very unpleasant.} 26. Nf1
Ng5 {It looks as if well-arranged Black's pieces are impregnable, but White
proves this impression to be wrong. With a skilful maneouvre he eventaully
throws back both Black's knights and takes over the initiative on the K-side.}
27. Kh1 f6 28. Nh2 $1 Rae8 29. g3 Ng6 30. Bc2 Nf7 31. Nf1 Ne7 32. Ne3 g6 33.
Kg2 {Preparing to seize h-file with his rook and increase pressure on h6.} Kg7
34. Rh1 Rh8 35. b3 cxb3 36. Bxb3 Rb8 37. Bc2 Nd8 38. Bd3 Nb7 39. Nc2 Ba7 40.
Nb4 Nc5 41. Bc2 Rbc8 42. Be3 Rc7 43. Qd2 $1 Qxg4 (43... g5 {deserved attention,
since afther the text h-file will be in the hands of White.}) 44. Bxh6+ Kf7 45.
f3 Qc8 46. Be3 {gaining control over h-file.} Rxh1 47. Rxh1 g5 48. Rh6 Ng8 {
Black cannot ignore threats to his king.} (48... Ng6 $2 49. Bxg5) 49. Rh8 Kg7
50. Rh1 Kg6 51. Qd1 {threatening with 52. f4, and queen will take part in the
attack against Black's king.} Na4 (51... Rh7 52. Nc6) 52. Bxa7 Rxa7 53. Nc6 (
53. f4 {was also quite strong.}) 53... Rh7 {Now White liquideates into Q+N
endgame.} 54. Rxh7 Kxh7 55. Bxa4 bxa4 56. Qxa4 {White' position is won.} g4 57.
f4 exf4 58. gxf4 f5 59. Qd4 Qe8 60. e5 dxe5 61. Nxe5 Nf6 62. Qa7+ Kg8 63. d6
Qe6 64. c4 $1 1-0

[Event "FRA-ch"]
[Site "Meribel"]
[Date "1998.08.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chomet, Pascal"]
[Black "Chabanon, Jean Luc"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1998.08.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.30"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2176]} 1. e4 {. Landa,K} e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6.
O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bb3 Ba7 9. Re1 {Natural, yet probably not the best
continuation. The alternatives are:} (9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nc4 $5 {1-0
Landa,K-Almasi,Z/Budapest 1991/Inf 52/ (45)}) (9. Nc4 h6 10. Be3 Be6 11. Re1
Re8 $5 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Ne3 Ra8 14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. Nd5 Ne7 16. Nxf6+ Rxf6 17.
d4 Ng6 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rad1 Rfd6 21. Rxd6 Rxd6 {1/2-1/2
Kindermann,S-Bischoff,K/Hamburg 1991/Inf 52}) 9... Ng4 {'!' Igor Glek's idea.
An advancement f7-f5 which allows Black to open the f-file allows Black to
obtain very dangerous counterplay.} 10. Re2 Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nf1 f5 13. Bxh6
gxh6 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bd5 Qf6 (15... Ne7 16. Be4 {N; 16.Bb7 - 39/397} Ng6 17.
Bxf5 (17. Ng3 Bxe4 (17... Bxh3 18. gxh3 d5 19. Bf5 $1 $13) 18. Rxe4 (18. dxe4
Rxf3 $1 19. gxf3 Nf4 20. Re1 Qh4 $19) 18... d5 19. Rg4 {Dreev,A-Yakovich,Y/
USSR 1987/Inf 43 (19)} (19. Rg4 Nf4 $1 {/\ h5} 20. Nxe5 (20. Ne2 Nxh3+) 20...
Bxf2+ $1 21. Kxf2 Nxd3+ 22. Kg1 Nxe5 23. Qd4 Qd6 24. Re1 Rae8 25. b4 Qb6 $17))
(17. d4 Nf4 18. Re1 Bxh3 $1 19. gxh3 Qd7 $1 $17) 17... Rxf5 18. Re4 Nf4 19. Ng3
Qg8 $17 {0-1 Torre,E-Wedberg,T/New York 1988/CBM 08 (52)}) (15... Qd7 16. Kh2
Ne7 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Be4 Ng6 19. Rd2 Nf4 20. Bxf5 Rxf5 21. Ng3 Rg8 $1 $17 {
0-1 Ivanov,A-Glek,I/Borzomi 1984/Inf 38 (35)}) 16. Ng3 Bd7 17. d4 {This move
does not change the assessment of the position. Strong Bishop pair, possession
of the f-file + better development guarantee Black good prospects.} (17. Be4
Rg8 18. Kh2 $2 Bxf2 19. Nh5 Qf7 20. Rxf2 Qxh5 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 d5 23. Bc2
Raf8 24. Qd2 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Rxf3 26. Rxf3 Qxf3 {0-1 Jakubiec,A-Skalik,P/POL-ch
1993/EXP 35 (26)}) 17... exd4 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxd4 Rae8 $1 {The last Black's
piece come into play with tempo.} 20. Rd2 $6 {White had no time for this move
- he had to try to enter the other rook into play instead.} (20. Rc1 $142 Rxe2
21. Qxe2 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Qxd4 23. Rc4 Qf6) (20. Rxe8 $2 Qxf2+) 20... c5 21. Nc2
c4 22. Nd4 d5 23. Qf1 h5 $1 24. Qd1 (24. Nxh5 Qg5 25. Qd1 Bxh3 26. Ng3 Bg4 27.
Qc2 c5 $17) (24. Re1 h4 25. Rxe8 (25. Nge2 Bxh3) 25... Rxe8 $19) 24... h4 25.
Nf1 Bxd4 (25... Bxh3 $17) 26. cxd4 Bxh3 $1 27. Ne3 (27. gxh3 Rg8+ 28. Kh2 Qf4+
29. Kh1 Re1 $1 $19) 27... Qg5 28. Kh1 Bd7 29. Rc1 h3 30. g3 c5 $1 {Completely
disorganizing White's fortifications.} 31. dxc5 d4 32. Nxc4 Qd5+ 33. f3 Rxf3
34. Kh2 Rxg3 $1 35. Qh1 (35. Kxg3 Rg8+ 36. Kf2 Rg2+ 37. Kf1 Qf5+ 38. Ke1 Rg1+
39. Ke2 Qe4+ 40. Kf2 Qg2#) 35... Rg2+ 36. Rxg2 hxg2 37. Qxg2 Qh5+ 0-1

[Event "Hastings 9697"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Flear, Glenn C"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "1996.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 (6... O-O 7. h3 b5
8. O-O Bb6 9. Re1 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14.
Qf3 Bc7 $44 {Bologan,V-Sokolov,I/Halhidiki (7) 1992/0-1 (82)}) 7. Nbd2 O-O 8.
h3 h6 (8... d5 9. Qe2 dxe4 10. dxe4 Qe7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Ne3 Na5 13. Bc2 Nb7 14.
g4 g6 15. Rg1 Nd6 16. g5 $14 {1-0 Komleakov,V-Marin,M/Tusnad,CREM,IV.2 1993 
(38)}) 9. Qe2 (9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Ng3 Na5 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 {
promices Black a good position (Kramnik,V-Galdunts,S/URS-chJ Kherson 1991).})
9... Re8 10. g4 Nh7 11. Rg1 d6 12. Nf1 Be6 13. Ng3 Bxb3 14. axb3 d5 15. Nf5
dxe4 16. dxe4 Ne7 17. Bd2 Qd7 {An important moment in the game.} 18. Kd1 $1 (
18. Bxh6 $6 {Piece sacrifice} gxh6 19. Nxh6+ Kg7 20. Nxe5 Qe6 21. Nexf7 {
is refuted by} Ng8 $1) (18. Nxe5 $2 Qe6 {leads to Black's advantage in view of
the unstable position of the White's King.}) (18. O-O-O $6 {While evacuating
the King, White should be very careful. The rook belongs to a1, as the line}
Qb5 $1 {demonstrates.}) 18... Ng6 (18... Qb5 $6 {Now leads after} 19. Qxb5 axb5
20. Nxe7+ Rxe7 21. Ke2 {E 22. e3 to a good position for White.}) 19. Kc2 Nf4
20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Rge1 Rad8 22. Rad1 Qe6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. e5 Nf8 25. N3d4 Bxd4
26. Nxd4 Qd5 27. Qe4 Ne6 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. Nf3 {White preserves a minimal
advantage in the endgame. Yet Black has all chances to save the game.} Kf8 30.
h4 Ke7 31. b4 f6 32. Re4 fxe5 33. c4 $1 Rd8 34. Rxe5 Kf7 35. Kc3 Rd1 36. Rf5+
Ke7 37. Ne5 Rc1+ 38. Kd2 Rb1 39. Ng6+ Ke8 40. Nxf4 Nxf4 41. Rxf4 Rxb2+ 42. Kc3
Rb1 43. c5 Ke7 (43... a5 $6 44. bxa5 Rb5 45. c6 $1) 44. Kc4 Rd1 45. h5 Rd2 46.
f3 Rd1 47. Rf5 Rd2 48. Re5+ Kf7 49. Re4 Rd1 50. Kc3 Rd5 51. Re1 Rd8 52. Ra1 Ke6
53. f4 Rf8 54. Re1+ Kd7 55. Re4 Ra8 56. Re5 Rf8 57. Re4 Ra8 58. Kb3 b6 59. Re5
bxc5 (59... a5 {was probably a better try.}) 60. Rd5+ Kc6 61. Rxc5+ Kb6 62. Re5
Rf8 63. f5 Rf7 64. Kc4 c6 65. Re8 {White's pawn at b4 neutralizes both Black's
pawn at the queenside.} Rd7 66. Rb8+ Kc7 67. Rh8 Re7 68. Kd4 Rd7+ 69. Ke5 Re7+
70. Kf4 Kd6 71. Rd8+ $1 (71. Ra8 Rb7) 71... Kc7 72. Rf8 Kb6 (72... Kd6 73. f6
gxf6 74. Rxf6+ Re6 75. Rxe6+ Kxe6 76. g5 $18) 73. f6 gxf6 74. Rxf6 Rh7 75. Kf5
Rh8 76. Rg6 Kb5 77. Kf6 Kxb4 78. Kg7 Rc8 79. Rxh6 a5 80. Rf6 a4 81. h6 a3 82.
h7 a2 83. Rf1 c5 84. h8=Q Rxh8 85. Kxh8 1-0

[Event "MK Cafe Cup-A"]
[Site "Koszalin"]
[Date "1999.08.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2554"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1999.08.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 073"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Qe2 a6 $5 {This move,
known as an optimal responce to 6.Bb3, seems to fit well also after 6.Qe2.} (
6... Bb6 7. Bg5 (7. Bb3 $5) 7... h6 8. Bh4 Qe7 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Bg3 Bd7 (10...
Bg4 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Bb5 {0-1 Ivanchuk,V-Shirov,A/Linares 1998/CBM 64 (30)}) 11.
Bb3 Nh5 12. Nc4 {1-0 Onischuk,A-Sokolov,I/Elista 1998/CBM Extra 66 (43)}) (6...
O-O 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Be6 9. Nbd2 a6 {1-0 Mathonia,C-Kohl,H/BL2-SW 1989/BL2 (53)
}) 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. h3 Be6 9. Bc2 h6 10. Nbd2 d5 $1 11. g4 $6 ({In case of} 11.
exd5 {Black may take on d5 with the queen, however he also has little to fear
after 11...Bxd5 12. Nxe5 0-0 or 11...Nxd5 12.Nxe5 12...Nxe5.}) (11. O-O $2 Nh5
{[%csl Re2,Rf1][%cal Gh5f4,Gh5g3]}) ({An immediate} 11. Nf1 {with the idea 12.
Ng3 and 13.0-0 was probably a better continuation, but in this case White
should reckon with the danger to which his king is exposed on the k-side..})
11... Qd7 12. Nf1 O-O-O 13. Ng3 g6 14. Bd2 Ng8 $5 {The goal of this move is to
defend the e5-pawn by means of f7-f6 and to transfer the knights to a better
location.} 15. O-O-O Nge7 16. Kb1 Kb8 17. Rhe1 d4 18. c4 b5 $1 {[%mdl 32]
Black plays without prejudices! Using inferiority of White's setup, he
launches an attack against White's monarch, opening lines for his pieces.} 19.
Bb3 ({After} 19. cxb5 {[%cal Ye6a2] the bishop at e6 will become too dangerous.
}) 19... bxc4 20. dxc4 ({After} 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 21. dxc4 {Black playing} Ka8 (
21... d3 22. Qf1 Qe6 23. b3 Qf6 24. Qg2 Nd4 25. Nxd4 Bxd4 26. Rf1 Nc6 27. f4
$132) 22. Qd3 Rb8 23. Qa3 Qc8 {retains an advantage, but White's task would
likely be easier than it was in the game.}) 20... f6 21. Qd3 Ka8 {[%cal Yd8b8,
Yb8b3]} 22. Ba4 Rb8 23. Rc1 {White is deprived of any counterplay and can only
passively look at the regrouping of Black's forces.} Qc8 (23... Bc5 $5) 24. c5
Nb4 25. Bxb4 Rxb4 $17 26. b3 Qb7 27. Ka1 Rb8 28. Re2 Nc6 {One more piece
approaches the critical square b3, after which White's position becomes
indefensible.} 29. Ne1 ({After} 29. Bxc6 Qxc6 {Black threatents to play 30...
Bxb3 with the decisive attack.}) 29... Na5 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Ya5b3,Re6b3,Gb8b3]}
30. Qc2 (30. Rec2 Bxb3 31. c6 Qb6 32. axb3 Nxb3+) 30... Nxb3+ $1 31. axb3 Bxb3
(31... Rxa4+ 32. bxa4 Qb4 $19) 32. Bxb3 Rxb3 33. Qa2 Bxc5 $1 34. Nc2 d3 0-1

[Event "USA-ch Gr-B"]
[Site "Salt Lake City"]
[Date "1999.08.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2579"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 073"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bb3
Be6 9. Nc4 Ba7 10. a4 h6 (10... b5 11. Ne3 Qd7 12. Bc2 d5 13. Ng5 d4 {1/2-1/2
Pikula Dejan-Vujosevic Vladimir/Ch Yugoslavia team 1995 (28)}) (10... Ne7 11.
a5 Ng6 12. h3 h6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 {1/2-1/2 Fedorov,A-Aleksandrov,A/
Nikolaev zt 1993 (30)}) 11. a5 Ne7 12. Re1 Ng6 13. Be3 Bxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxe3 15.
Rxe3 c6 16. d4 d5 17. exd5 e4 18. Nd2 ({Consequences of a piece sacrifice:} 18.
dxc6 $5 exf3 19. cxb7 Ra7 20. Qxf3 Qc7 21. b3 {are difficult to assess.}) 18...
cxd5 19. Bf1 (19. Bb3 {also deserved attention, but since White has to play
f2-f3 in order to undermine Black's pawn chain, to retain Bishop in the
vicinity of the King is clearly safer.}) 19... Ne7 20. f3 Nf5 21. Re1 Re8 (
21... e3 $2 22. Nb3 {[%cal Yf1d3,Yd3f5,Re1e3]}) 22. fxe4 dxe4 23. Nc4 Qc7 24.
Be2 (24. Ne3 $6 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Qf4 $36) 24... Nd5 25. Qd2 Nh4 26. Bf1 Rad8 {
This natural move allows White to relocate his forces and eventually launch
pawn advancement on the Q-side.} (26... Re6 $5 27. Qf2 (27. Ne5 f6 28. Ng4 (28.
c4 e3 29. Qd1 Nf4) 28... Rae8 $132) 27... Ng6 28. Ne3 Rd8 29. g3 $14) 27. Qf2
Ng6 28. Qf5 Nf6 29. Ne3 Ne7 30. Qf2 Ned5 31. Nf5 $1 (31. c4 $2 Nxe3 32. Qxe3
Ng4 33. Qh3 Qf4 $19) 31... g6 (31... Ng4 32. Qg3 Qxg3 33. Nxg3 e3 34. Be2 {
[%csl Rb7,Re3][%cal Ye2f3,Gc3c4]}) 32. Ne3 Nxe3 $6 (32... Kg7 $142) 33. Qxe3
Rd5 {[%cal Gd5h5,Gd5a5]} 34. Be2 Kg7 (34... Rxa5 35. Qxh6 ({After} 35. Rxa5
Qxa5 36. Qxh6 Qa2 {the direct assault on the Black's king turns out to be
premature:} 37. Qf4 Kg7 (37... Nd5 38. Qd6) 38. Rf1 Re6 39. Bg4 $6 Rb6 (39...
Nxg4 $6 40. Qxf7+ Kh6 41. h3 Ne3 42. Qf8+ Kh5 43. Qh8+ Kg5 44. Qd8+ Kh5 45. g3
$1 $40) 40. Qe5 Qxb2 41. d5 Qd2 42. Be6 $2 Qe3+ 43. Kh1 Qf2 $1 $17) 35... Rxa1
36. Rxa1 Nd5 37. Rf1 {leaves White with an edge.}) 35. b4 {<<} Rdd8 {[%csl Rc3]
[%cal Yf6d5]} 36. c4 Qd6 37. d5 $1 Qxb4 {Black should accept the pawn
sacrifice, but now White's rooks come into play.} 38. Reb1 Qe7 39. Rb6 Qe5 (
39... Rd6 $5 40. Rab1 Rxb6 41. Rxb6 Qe5 42. Rxb7 Qa1+ 43. Bf1 Re5 $40) 40. Rf1
{[%cal Yf1f6,Yb6f6]} Ng8 41. Rxb7 {[%cal Yf1f7,Yb7f7]} Ne7 42. Qg3 $1 Nf5 43.
Qxe5+ Rxe5 44. g4 Re7 (44... Nd6 45. Ra7 {[%csl Ra6,Rf7][%cal Gc4c5]} Rc8 46.
Rd7 $1 $18) 45. Rxe7 $1 (45. Rb6 Nd4 46. Kf2 e3+ 47. Ke1 $16) 45... Nxe7 46.
Rb1 $18 Kf6 (46... Rd6 47. Rb6 Nc8 48. Rxd6 Nxd6 49. c5 $18) 47. Rb6+ Ke5 48.
Rxa6 Nxd5 49. cxd5 Rxd5 50. Kf2 Rc5 51. h4 $1 Rc2 52. g5 hxg5 53. hxg5 Ra2 54.
Ra7 1-0

[Event "RUS-Cup02"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanov, Victor L"]
[Black "Notkin, Maksim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1998.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ng3 Re8 13. d4 Bd7 14. Be3 (14. Qc2 c6
15. Be3 Qc7 16. Rad1 Be6 17. dxe5 Bxb3 18. Qxb3 dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Nf5 Raa8
21. Nd6 Re7 22. Rd2 b5 23. Red1 {1-0 Lakos,N-Dokmanovic,N/EU-chJW U16 1994 (38)
}) 14... Qe7 $5 ({A new move. After} 14... Bc6 15. Bc2 exd4 16. Bxd4 Nf4 17.
Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Nd4 Ng6 19. Qd2 Bd7 20. f4 Ra8 21. Rad1 Nh7 22. Rf1 Rb8 23. Ngf5
{White obtained a better position, Dolmatov,S-Razuvaev,Y/URS-FL 1980 (85)}) 15.
Qd2 Kh7 16. Rad1 Be6 17. Bc2 Qf8 18. Nh2 (18. Nf5 $5 {was an intersting option.
}) 18... Kg8 19. b3 $6 {This move yields Black additional possibilites for the
counterplay on the queenside. The a2-pawn, which is invulnerable at the moment,
could be always protected by Bb1.} (19. Kh1 {or 19.f3!?/\Ng4 (a similar motiv
was explored by Kasparov in one of his most impressive victories over Karpov)
were better options.}) 19... a5 $1 20. Rf1 Qe7 21. Kh1 a4 22. f4 axb3 23. axb3
exf4 24. Bxf4 Nh7 25. Be3 Bb6 26. Rde1 Ra2 27. Qd3 $6 (27. Nf5 $36 {deserved
serious attention.}) 27... Qh4 28. Bf2 $2 ({A mistake.} 28. Nf5 {was to be
preferred:} Bxf5 29. exf5 {, and if} Nf4 {, then} 30. Qd2 Nh5 31. Bf2) 28...
Nf4 29. Qb5 Qd8 30. d5 Bd7 31. Qc4 Rxc2 (31... Nxg2 {would also yield Black a
large advantage.}) 32. Bxb6 Nxg2 33. Re2 (33. Bxc7 Qh4 (33... b5 $19 {leads to
the unbearble position for White.})) 33... Rxe2 34. Qxe2 cxb6 35. Qxg2 Qc8 36.
Nh5 Qxc3 37. Rg1 (37. Rf6 Ng5 (37... Qe1+ 38. Nf1 Qxe4 $19) 38. Rxd6 Bxh3 $19)
37... Ng5 (37... g6 38. Nf4 Nf8 {had to suffice for win.}) 38. h4 Bh3 39. Qg3
Nxe4 $1 40. Qxc3 {[%csl Rc3,Rh1][%cal Ge4f2,Ge4c3]} Nxc3 $4 ({Incredible!
Instead of mate in one,} 40... Nf2# {, Black opts for the queen capture, after
which he has to fight for survival. It is not too often one can see missing
mate in one on the GM level.}) 41. Nf6+ Kf8 42. Nxe8 Kxe8 43. Rg3 Ne4 44. Rxh3
Nf2+ 45. Kg2 Nxh3 46. Kxh3 Ke7 47. Kg4 Kf6 48. Nf3 g6 49. Kf4 Ke7 50. Nh2 Kf6
51. Ng4+ Kg7 52. Nf2 Kf6 53. Ne4+ Ke7 54. Nd2 Kf6 55. Ne4+ Ke7 56. b4 f5 57.
Nd2 Kf6 58. Nf3 b5 59. Ng5 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-Cup01 Chigorin Memorial"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1997.11.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Belozerov, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.11.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7
9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Re1 (11. Qb3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nh2 Nf4 14. Ndf3
Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Nxc1 16. Raxc1 Kh8 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nh4 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rce1
Nd7 21. Ng2 d5 22. exd5 Nc5 23. Qd1 cxd5 24. Bb5 Bc7 25. f4 exf4 {Torre,
E-Tukmakov,V/Leningrad 1987/CBM 03/1-0 (52)}) 11... Re8 $6 {A dubious decision.
After this move White obtains a dangerous initiatvive on the queenside.  The
standard alternatives are:} (11... c6 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 Bc7 15.
Bg5 Be6 16. Ne3 h6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. c4 d4 19. Nf1 Bd6 20. N3d2 Bb4 21. Qf3 b6
22. g3 Kg7 23. h4 Qd7 24. Bd1 Bh3 25. Ra2 f5 26. Nh2 f6 27. h5 e4 28. Qe2 e3
29. hxg6 exd2 30. Rf1 Rae8 31. Qf3 Re1 {0-1 Gnecco,H-Villegas,B/ARG-chT 1936/
HCL 23}) (11... Nh5 12. Nf1 Nhf4 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Bxf4 Nxf4 15. h3 Bh5 16. Ng3
Qf6 17. Nxh5 Nxh5 18. Ra2 Nf4 19. Kh2 c6 20. d4 Bc7 21. b6 Bxb6 22. Rb2 Qd8 23.
dxe5 d5 24. exd5 cxd5 25. Ba2 Rc8 26. Qd2 {Bakhtadze,G-Jenni,F/WchJM-U16 1995/
JUN 95/1-0 (39)}) (11... Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Ba2 Bxa2 14. Rxa2 Re8 15. Nc4 d5
16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. Qb3 Rc8 18. Bg5 dxe4 19. dxe4 Qc7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Re3 Red8
22. Rd2 Rxd2 23. Nxd2 Nf4 24. Kh2 Kh8 25. g3 Qd7 26. gxf4 Qxd2 27. Rf3 Rg8 28.
Qxf7 Qe1 29. Qxf6+ Rg7 30. Qf8+ Rg8 31. Qf6+ {1/2-1/2 Elis,V-Pragua,C/BL2-W
1989/BL2}) 12. Qb3 $1 {The most energetic continuation. White efficiently uses
the g8-a2 and f8-a3 diagonals.} Re7 13. Ba3 h6 $6 {A natural reaction,
prevening 14.Ng5. Yet, this move allows White to increase the pressure in the
center. Instead, 13...Bc5 deserved serious attention.} 14. d4 {Threatening
d4xe5.} Qe8 15. h3 {[%csl Rc5,Rd6,Re5,Rf7][%cal Gb3f7,Ya3e7,Yd4e5,Rc3c5] White
is clearly better. His pieces are very active, he controls the most important
diagonals, whereas the black pieces are placed clumsy and deprived of active
possibilities. The next stage of White's plan is the preparement of c-pawn
march.} Bd7 16. Qc2 Qb8 {An original queen maneuver, which, however, does not
change the character of the play.} 17. Bd3 Qa7 18. Nc4 {Resuming the threat
d4xe5.} Ree8 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. c4 Nh5 ({The only meaningful way to meet the
threat c4-c5. After} 20... exd4 21. c5 {Black is helpless.}) 21. c5 dxc5 22.
Bxc5 ({It is much stronger than} 22. dxc5 $6 Qf6 {White needs to open the
centre, obtaining the excellent perspectives due to the bishop pair and the
pawn majority on the kingside.}) 22... Qf6 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Bf1
$1 {[%csl Yf4,Yg3,Yh3][%cal Gg2g3,Gf2f4,Gf1h3] A good move. White is planning
to move his kingside pawns and needs to protect the h3 pawn by his
light-squared bishop.} Be6 26. Rac1 Red8 27. g3 Rd7 (27... g5 $2 {, intending
to prevene 28. f4, is not reccomendable in view of 28. Ba3 /\Bb2, exploiting
the weakened main diagonal.}) 28. f4 Qf6 29. Qc3 Rad8 (29... Qxc3 30. Rxc3 {
, threatening 31. f5, does not leave Black real hopes.}) 30. Qf3 ({The natural
continuation} 30. Qxf6 Nxf6 31. f5 Bb3 32. e5 {/\Pe6-e7 yields White excellent
winning prospects. More persistent is 30...gf6, preventing the e-pawn march
and attacking the g3-pawn.}) 30... g6 31. Rc3 {A useful move. White reinforces
control over the third rank and intends to win material after e4-e5 and g3-g4.}
Rd2 32. e5 Qf5 33. Bf2 $1 {[%csl Rf5,Rh5][%cal Gg3g4]} (33. g4 {is less
convincing:} Qxf4 34. Qxf4 (34. gxh5 $4 {would be a terrible blunder in view of
} Qh2#) 34... Nxf4 35. Be3 g5 (35... R2d3 $5 36. Bxd3 Rxd3 {is also not
deprived of interest}) 36. Bxd2 Rxd2 37. Rxc7 Bd5 {, retaining counterchances.
After the text move Black's material losses are inevtiable.}) 33... c6 (33...
Ng7 {immediately loses in view of} 34. g4) 34. g4 Qxf4 35. gxh5 Qg5+ 36. Qg3 (
36. Bg2 {/\Be3 must also suffice.}) 36... Qxh5 37. bxc6 bxc6 38. Rxc6 Ra2 39.
Rd6 Rc8 40. Rd4 Rcc2 41. Be3 Rh2 {Trying the last chance.} 42. Qf4 $1 ({
The simplest.} 42. Qxh2 $2 {falls short after} Rxh2 43. Kxh2 Qxe5+) 42... Kh7 (
42... Bxh3 {leads to the mate after} 43. Rd8+ Kg7 (43... Kh7 44. Qxf7#) 44.
Qf6+ Kh7 45. Rh8#) 43. Bd2 $1 {Winning the rook. Black is entirely lost.} Rxh3
44. Bxh3 Qxh3 45. Qh2 1-0

[Event "WchT 4th"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1997.10.31"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Kazhgaleyev, Murtas"]
[Black "Malaniuk, Vladimir P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1997.10.25"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Kazakhstan"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "KAZ"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. e4 {Hansen,Cu} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 d6 (6...
O-O 7. Bb3 d6 8. h3 Be6 9. Bc2 h6 10. O-O Re8 11. Qe2 Nh5 12. Kh2 Nf4 13. Qd1
Qf6 14. Ng1 Rad8 15. Qf3 Qg6 16. Nb3 Nh5 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Be3 b6 19. Ne2 Nf6
20. Qg3 Qxg3+ 21. Nxg3 {Adams,M-Piket,J/Dos Hermanas 1995/CBM 47/1-0 (61)}) 7.
Nf1 (7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 h6 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Qe2 Ne7 11. Ng3 Ng6 12. O-O Ba7 13. Rd1
Qe8 14. Bc2 Nf4 15. Qf1 g5 16. d4 Bd7 17. Be3 Ng6 18. Re1 Kh7 19. Nf5 Be6 20.
Qe2 Rg8 21. Qd2 exd4 {Adams,M-Gyimesi,Z/BL9697 1997/BL9697/1-0 (34)}) 7... O-O
(7... Ba7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Bxa7 Rxa7 10. Ne3 Na5 11. O-O Nxc4 12. Nxc4 Be6 13. Ne3
h6 14. Qc2 Re8 {1/2-1/2 Klinger,J-Wittmann,W/AUT-ch 1985/MCD-ch}) (7... Be6 8.
Bb3 h6 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. Nxe3 O-O 11. O-O d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. h3
Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nf4 16. d4 Qg5 17. dxe5 Rad8 18. Rad1 b5 19. Qxc6 bxc4 20. h4
Ne2+ {0-1 Delveborn,I-Samuelsson,S/Stockholm op2 1992/EXT 92op}) 8. Ng3 Ba7 9.
Bb3 Be6 10. h3 h6 11. Nh2 d5 ({Or} 11... Qd7 12. Qf3 {threatening Bh6.}) (11...
Ne7 {/\Ng6 deserved here serious attention.}) (11... Bxb3 $5 {Hansen,Cu} 12.
axb3 d5 13. Qf3 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh7 15. h4 Qd7 16. Ng4 Rad8 $132 {Tkachiev,
V-Flear,G/Clichy 1995 (49)}) 12. Qf3 dxe4 13. dxe4 {Intending to continue 14.
Ng4.13...Qd7? fails to 14.Bh6.} Nd7 (13... Bxb3 {Hansen,Cu} 14. axb3 {See
Tkachiev-Flear mentioned above}) 14. Ng4 Ne7 15. O-O {Hansen,Cu: White has
better control over the central squares(<->d),and the Ns on g3/g4 forces black
to be very careful on the K-side.} Bxg4 $6 {Hansen,Cu: This exchange is not
one black would normally like to play. Now Bb3 wille be very strong.} ({
A dubious decision.} 15... Nc5 {was an interesting alternative:} 16. Bxe6 (16.
Rd1 Qc8) 16... fxe6 17. Qe2 Qd3) 16. hxg4 Nc5 17. Rd1 (17. Nh5 $5 {seems to be
less effiicient:} Nxb3 18. axb3 (18. Bxh6 $2 {fails to} Nxa1 (18... gxh6 $2 19.
Qf6 Nf5 20. gxf5 $18) 19. Bxg7 Ng6) 18... Ng6 19. g3 Qd6 $132) 17... Qe8 18.
Bc2 {Hansen,Cu: Of course white will not allow black to exchange Bb3. After
b2-b4 it might very well return to b3 and the diagonal a2-g8.} (18. Be3 {
leads to equality after} Nxb3 19. axb3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Qc6) (18. Bc4 $5 {was an
interesting alternative:} b5 (18... Ne6 19. Nf5) 19. Be2 $14) 18... Ne6 19. Nf5
(19. Nh5 $5 {, threatening Bh6 and planning g3, Kg1-g2, Rh1, deserved here
serious attention.}) 19... Rd8 20. Re1 {White avoids exchanges that might ease
blacks defense.} Ng5 21. Qe2 ({After} 21. Qg3 Ng6 {Black obtains good
counterplay. The text move allows more aggressive set-up: Pg2-g3, Kg2, Rh1.})
21... Ng6 22. g3 {[%csl Rg7,Rh6][%cal Gg1g2,Ge1h1,Gf5g7,Gf5h6,Gh1h6]} Qb5 $6 ({
This move allows White to undertake the effective actions on the queenside.
More prudent seems} 22... Rd7 23. Kg2 Qd8 {, although in this line White
retains a durable advantage.}) 23. c4 {Hansen,Cu: In the white players opinion
he has very good attacking chances on the K-side. So he wants to keep the Q on
the board. Even is it means he has to play the positionally suspekt textmove -
weakening the square d4.} (23. Qxb5 {falls short after} Nf3+ 24. Kg2 $140 $4
Nxe1+ $19) 23... Qc6 24. Kg2 Rfe8 25. Rh1 Nf8 (25... Ne6 {Hansen,Cu} 26. g5 $40
{[%cal Ye2h5]}) 26. Bxg5 hxg5 27. Rad1 {The threat is 28.Rd8 Rd8 29. Ne7# or
28.Ne7+.} (27. Rh5 $6 {fails to} g6 28. Rxg5 Nh7) (27. Rh2 {does not yield
anything in view of} g6 28. Nh6+ (28. Ne3 Qd6 29. Rah1 Qd2) 28... Kg7) 27...
Rxd1 28. Qxd1 Qb6 (28... Qxc4 {is refuted by the elegant} 29. Qd8 $1 Qe6 (29...
Rxd8 $140 $2 30. Ne7#) 30. Qxg5) 29. Qd2 ({Certainly, not} 29. Qd8 $4 {(/\29...
Rd8 30.Ne7#)} Qxf2+ 30. Kh3 Rxd8 $19) 29... Ne6 (29... Qxb2 $2 {loses after}
30. Qxg5 Ng6 31. Qh5 {/\Qh7+, and mate is inevitable.}) 30. b4 $1 {Intending
to lock the a7-bishop by closing the diagonal g1-a7 after c4-c5. Hansen,Cu:
White wants to shut Ba7 out of the game. After c4-c5 the diagonal a7-g1 is
closed for black and the diagonal a2-g8 is opened for Bc2.} Qc6 {[%csl Ra7]
[%cal Gc4c5]} 31. c5 b6 32. Qd1 ({Tempting} 32. Qd5 {yields Black after} Qxd5
33. exd5 Nd4 {a counterplay. White is threatening now by Qg1-h2.}) 32... g6 33.
Ne3 ({Immediate} 33. Qg1 $2 {fails to} gxf5 34. Qh2 Kf8 35. Qh6+ Ke7 36. gxf5
Nd4) 33... Nd4 $2 ({After this move Black's position is unbearable. Essential
was} 33... Kg7 {, although in this case White is clearly better. He can try
either} 34. Ba4 Qxe4+ 35. f3 Qxe3 36. Re1 {or 34.Nd5, with a large advantage.})
34. Nd5 a5 $2 {[%cal Rd1g1,Rg1h2,Rh2h8]} ({Black resigned. Indeed, after the
text move White forces win after} 34... a5 35. Qg1 {, and mate is inevitable:}
(35. b5 $1 {Hansen,Cu} Nxb5 36. Ba4 $18 {[%cal Rd1b3] /\Qb3, /\37. Bxb5 Qxb5
38. Nxc7/Nf6+ +-}) 35... Nxc2 36. Qh2 Ne1+ 37. Kf1 Qb5+ 38. Kxe1 $18) (34...
Kg7 {, intending to meet 35.Qg1 by 35...Rh8, allowed to avoid the mate final,
but after} 35. Ba4 Nb5 36. Qc1 $1 {White must win:} f6 37. cxb6 Qxc1 38. Rxc1
Bxb6 39. Bxb5 (39. Nxc7 {seems also to be sufficient to win:} Nxc7 40. Bxe8
Nxe8 41. Rc6) 39... axb5 40. Nxc7 $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.22"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Efimenko, Zahar"]
[Black "Avrukh, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Beer Sheva"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 {Recently a fashionable line,
which has gained popularity thanks to the games of Tiviakov.} a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7.
O-O d6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Nh4 ({Stronger than} 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 {because
after} 11. Nh4 {Black has} g5 $1) 10... Be6 {Lately I started to play 1...e5
and in the present game I faced the system, which, telling the truth, was
never studied carefully by myself. Actually I believe that I played this game
decently till some point, but I paid my price mostly due to the lack of
experience in this line.} ({After the game I spent some hours studying this
line more carefully and in general I came to conclusion that} 10... Bxe3 {
should be Black's best option here.} 11. fxe3 Kh8 ({Worse is} 11... Ng6 12. Nf5
(12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Qe1 $14) 12... c6 13. d4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Barua,D-Sasikiran,K/
Nagpur IND 2002/The Week in Chess 376 (43)}) 12. Qf3 Neg8 13. Nf5 g6 14. Ng3
Kg7 15. h3 Be6 16. Rf2 Qe7 17. Raf1 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Cabrera,A-Gustafsson,J/Dos
Hermanas 2004/EXT 2005 (63) and lately on Black equalised with accurate play.})
11. Bxa7 {The point of White's strategy. Now Blacks R is badly placed on the
a7 square, while White starts his play in the centre. Still I believe Black's
position is very solid and he should be able to hold the balance.} Rxa7 12. f4
exf4 13. Rxf4 d5 $146 {A logical novelty, which clearly improves upon} (13...
Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Ng6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. d4 {(1-0 Giaccio,A-Estremera Panos,S/
Havana CUB 2005/The Week in Chess 549 (57)). with a pleasant edge for White.})
14. d4 (14. e5 Nd7 15. Ndf3 h6 (15... c5 16. Ng5 $1 {looks dangerous for Black.
}) 16. Qe1 c5 (16... g5 17. Qg3) 17. d4 Qb6 {would still led to the same kind
of play.}) 14... c5 ({Premature would be} 14... dxe4 $6 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4
Nd5 17. Qf3 {with a clear advantage for White.}) 15. e5 (15. dxc5 Qc7 $132 {
[%csl Gc5,Gf4]}) 15... Nd7 16. Bc2 (16. Qh5 Qb6 $1) 16... cxd4 ({Black has no
time for} 16... Qb6 $143 17. Ndf3 Qxb2 {because White manages to launch a
serious initiative with the typical} 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 (19... Kh6
{loses after} 20. Rb1 Qxa2 21. Qc1 $3 {[%csl Gc1,Gh6]}) 20. Qh5 Qxa1+ (20...
Qc2 {[%csl Gh7]} 21. Rf2 Qd3 22. Rd1 $18) 21. Rf1 Qxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Re8 $1 (22...
Rc8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ Ng8 25. c4 $3 {with crushing attack} dxc4 26. Ng6+
fxg6 27. Nxe6+ Ke7 28. Qxg7+ Kxe6 29. d5+ $18) 23. Nxe6 g6 $8 24. Qg4 $16) 17.
cxd4 f5 $5 {During the game I felt that the white attack might be very
dangerous without the text move, but in fact Black could have played calmly} (
17... Qb6 18. Ndf3 {looks very dangerous, but after} (18. Nb3 a5 $1 $132 (18...
Nxe5 $6 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Qxe5 {clearly better for White.}) 19.
Qh5 h6 {very unclear}) 18... Qxb2 (18... Rc8 19. Ng5 Nf8 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Qe2
$16) 19. Ng5 ({Now} 19. Bxh7+ {doesn't work} Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kh6 $1 21. Rb1 Qxa2
22. Qc1 $140 ({and White has to force a draw} 22. Ra1 Qb2 23. Rb1 Qa2 $11)
22... Rc8 $1) (19. Rb1 Qxa2 20. Ng5 g6 21. Bb3 Qa5) 19... g6 $1 {it's not so
clear how White can develop his attack.} (19... h6 20. Qd3 (20. Rb1 Qc3 21. Rb3
Qc4 22. Bh7+ Kh8 23. Bd3 Qc6) 20... Qxa1+ 21. Rf1 Qxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Ng6 23. Nxg6
fxg6+ 24. Kg1 Bf5 25. Qb3 $16)) 18. exf6 $6 {In my opinion this capture
significantly eases Black's task.} ({After} 18. Ndf3 h6 19. Qe1 Rf7 20. Qg3 Qb6
{Black is doing fine.}) ({Stronger looks} 18. Qh5 Qb6 {[%cal Ob6b2,Gd7e5]} (
18... g6 19. Qg5 Nc6 20. Qg3 $16) 19. Nb3 Raa8 20. g4 {though I don't see any
decisive continuation after} Rac8 $1 21. Bxf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. gxf5 Nxe5
$132) 18... Rxf6 19. Rxf6 Nxf6 20. Qe2 {White still keeps some pressure, but
Black has all chances to equalise.} Bg4 21. Qe3 Nc6 (21... Ra8 22. h3 Bd7 23.
Rf1 $14) 22. h3 (22. Nf5 Nb4 23. Bb1 Ra8 $11) 22... Bc8 23. Ndf3 b5 (23... b6 {
more or less the same.}) 24. Ne5 Rc7 25. Rc1 Na5 $6 ({The straightforward} 
25... Nxe5 $1 26. dxe5 Ne4 {would led Black a comfortable equality after.} 27.
Nf3 Be6 28. Nd4 Qc8 29. Qf4 h6 $1) 26. b3 Nb7 $1 {[%cal Gb7d6] The point of my
previous move.} 27. Bd3 ({In case of} 27. Bf5 $5 Rxc1+ 28. Qxc1 Nd6 29. Bxc8
Qxc8 30. Qc5 Qxc5 31. dxc5 Nde4 {Black should be able to hold.}) 27... Nd6 28.
Rf1 Nde4 29. Nhf3 Rc3 $6 ({Stronger was} 29... b4 $1 30. Ng5 $140 Nc3 $1 {
and Black is not worse.}) 30. Ng5 b4 31. Nxe4 dxe4 $4 {Being short of time I
completely forgot about White's 33th move.} ({After the correct} 31... Nxe4 32.
Qf4 Nf6 33. Qh4 Qd6 {White is slightly better, but Black has good chances to
hold.}) 32. Bc4+ Kf8 33. Qxe4 $18 {Now it's over, Black is absolutely lost.}
Rc1 34. Qf4 Rxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Bb7 36. Nd3 ({Even stronger would be} 36. Nf7 $1 Qe7
37. Ng5 {[%cal Gg5e6,Gg5h7]}) 36... a5 37. Qe5 Bd5 38. Nc5 Bxc4+ 39. bxc4 Qc8
40. Qe6 {The best practical decision.} Qxe6 41. Nxe6+ Ke7 42. Nc5 $18 {The
rest doesn't require any special comments.} Nh5 43. Kf2 Nf4 44. Kf3 g5 45. h4
h6 46. g3 Nh3 47. hxg5 hxg5 48. g4 Nf4 49. Ke3 Nh3 50. d5 Nf4 51. Kd4 Ne2+ 52.
Ke5 Nc1 53. d6+ Kf7 54. Nb7 Nd3+ 55. Ke4 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 15th"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2014.03.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Iordachescu, Viorel"]
[Black "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2662"]
[Annotator "Bartel,M"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2014.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the 10th round of the EU championship in a so-called
must-win situation. Both players were at +3 at that moment and even 1.5/2
could be isufficient to qualify for the World Cup.} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3
Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 {White is trying to delay short
castling, to see what Black would do. In such positions early castling can be
met with quick counter-action like h6-g5.} h6 8. h3 d6 9. Nf1 Be6 {This set up
- Ba7, d6, Be6 - isn't the most common for Black. At the same time it's
absolutely ok and has some pluses - Black still keeps an option to castle long,
which sometimes can be really useful.} 10. Ng3 (10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qb3 Qc8 {
seems to be ok for Black.}) 10... Qd7 {Up to now both sides were playing more
or less normal moves. Starting from now my opponent became a bit over
optimistic and his position quickly became much worse.} 11. Ba4 $6 ({A more
natural move was} 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O Rfe8 13. Be3 $11) 11... b5 12. Bb3 {
Well, White's plan, to force Black to play ...b5, was just a waste of time.} d5
13. exd5 $6 ({Another option was} 13. O-O O-O 14. Qe2 Rad8 {with a more or
less equal position, however I prefer Black.}) 13... Nxd5 14. O-O O-O 15. Re1
Rae8 $1 $15 {I was very proud of this move, as it protects the e5-square, not
weakening the position.} (15... Rfe8 {was much worse, as White can take the
pawn:} 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Nxc3 $2 18. bxc3 Bxb3 19. Rxe8+ {with check!})
16. a4 (16. Qe2 $2 Nf4) ({Playing} 16. Bd2 {would mean he needed to calculate
lines like this:} Nf4 $5 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Ne2 $6 (18. Ne4 Bf5) 18... Bxh3 $1
$40) 16... b4 $1 17. a5 $2 {This is a positional mistake. At the first sight
it seems that White has good prospects on the a4-e8 diagonal, but in fact, it
is Black who gains a pawn for almost nothing.} (17. Qc2 $1 {was better:} Nf6 {
(to protect the e5-pawn)} (17... a5 18. Bc4 f6 19. Bb5 $14) (17... Rb8 18. Bc4
Rfe8 {what would lead to an extremely complex position:} 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5
bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxc3 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Bxe6 fxe6) 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 $15) 17... bxc3
18. Ba4 f6 $2 ({Too safe. Much better was} 18... Rb8 $1 {, but it requires
serious calculations:} 19. Nxe5 Qd6 20. Nxc6 cxb2 21. Rb1 bxc1=Q 22. Rxc1 Qxg3
23. Nxa7 Qg5 {and pressure on the kingside provides Black an advantage - it
seems that White will lose at least his h3-pawn.}) ({There was also the
interesting option to play} 18... Bxh3 $5 {, but I didn't take it too
seriously during the game. However, it was worth checking, e.g. :} 19. Bxc6 (
19. gxh3 $2 Qxh3 20. Bxc6 cxb2 $1 21. Bxb2 Nf4 22. Nh2 e4 $1 23. Bxe4 Qxg3+ 24.
Kh1 Bxf2 $19) 19... Qxc6 20. gxh3 Nf4 (20... Qg6 $5 21. Kf1 Qe6 22. Ng1 (22.
Kg2 $2 cxb2 23. Bxb2 Nf4+ $19) 22... Bd4 23. bxc3 Bxc3 24. Ba3 Ne7 {and Black
is better}) (20... cxb2 $6 21. Bxb2 Nf4 22. Bxe5 Nxh3+ 23. Kg2 Bxf2 $13) 21.
Bxf4 exf4 22. Ne4 c2 23. Qc1 f5 24. Ned2 Re3 $1 $40) 19. Ne4 $1 {This strong
move keeps the tension on.} c2 $5 {It was my idea when I played 18...f6.} 20.
Qxc2 Ncb4 21. Qd1 $2 {This is too passive and Black keeps an advantage.} ({
He had to play} 21. Qc4 $1 c6 {and now after} 22. d4 {White would be
absolutely ok.}) 21... c6 $15 {Now Black is better again, mainly because of
d3-pawn, which should be weak forever (or until it dissapear). To make any
progress Black needs to re-group his forces and for the next few moves this is
what I was trying to do.} 22. Bb3 Rd8 23. Ra3 Rfe8 24. Bc4 Nc7 (24... Nf4 {
was also an option.}) 25. Qb3 Nbd5 26. Ra1 $6 ({There was no reason to
withdraw the rook without it being attacked, so something like} 26. Bd2 {
was slightly more logical.}) 26... Rb8 27. Qd1 Red8 $1 $17 {Now all the black
pieces are well posted, so we are about to see some action.} 28. b3 Nb4 29. Be3
Bxe3 30. Rxe3 Bxc4 31. bxc4 Nxd3 {So, after some logical moves Black has got a
pawn up. The position is close to winning, but because of the weakened
structure on the kingside, there can potentially appear some difficulties.} 32.
Nh4 Nf4 33. Qc2 Nce6 {Here I was sure, that the game must be over soon.} 34.
Rg3 {Creating some threats.} Ng5 $2 {Too slow. It was the moment to strike.} (
34... Qd4 $1 {was very attractice, but it's always difficult to give up a pawn
in front of your own king. After} 35. Nxf6+ (35. Re1 $2 Rb2) (35. Rf1 Ng5 $19)
35... Kf7 36. Rf1 (36. Qf5 Qxa1+ 37. Kh2 Rd1 $19) 36... Kxf6 37. Rg6+ Kf7 38.
Qf5+ Kg8 39. Rxe6 Ne2+ 40. Kh2 Qxh4 {Black would be winning.}) 35. Re1 Nfe6 $2
({For the second time in a row, I chose not the most concrete move. It was
better to play} 35... Qd4 {with the obvious idea ...Rb2. However, I missed
that after} 36. Nf5 Qb2 37. Nxh6+ {Black has the simple} Kf8 $1 38. Qxb2 Rxb2 {
with a winning position as the white position is too "hanging".}) 36. Nf5 Nxe4
37. Qxe4 Ng5 38. Qc2 ({Being short on time my opponent didn't play} 38. Nxh6+ {
which represented a good chance. After} gxh6 39. h4 {I'd be forced to play} f5
$8 40. Qe2 f4 41. Rg4 Qf5 {and Black would still be better.}) 38... Qd2 $1 {
After a few blunders, I have finally chosen the right way to cash in on my
advantage.} 39. Nxh6+ Kf8 40. Qxd2 Rxd2 $17 41. Nf5 {Now Black is much better,
because the doubled rooks on the second rank are seriously powerful.
Unfortunately, it's not that easy to win it and I even didn't manage to pose
real problems to my opponent.} Rbb2 $2 (41... Ne6 {was much better.}) 42. h4 $2
({White had a great chance to play the simple} 42. Nxg7 $1 {. Now Black must
play} Rxf2 {and after} 43. Nh5 (43. Rd1 $5) 43... Rxg2+ {does not work because
of} 44. Rxg2 Nf3+ 45. Kf1 Rxg2 46. Re3 Rg5 47. Rxf3 Rxh5 48. Rxf6+ $11) 42...
Ne6 $17 {Now, again, Black is much better, if not winning.} 43. Rf3 Kf7 $6 (
43... c5 $5 {was better, slowly preparing progress. Having the pawn on c5
Black has a very simple plan - to play Rdc2. The pawn on c5 would allow him to
meet any counterplay on the d-file with ...Nd4!}) 44. c5 Nxc5 $2 ({Not for the
first time I played very carelessly. The most tempting} 44... Nd4 45. Nxd4 exd4
46. Rf4 {gave White some chances to save the endgame.}) ({But the paradoxical} 
44... Kf8 $1 {would keep the advantage. Why should Black put his king back to
f8? The explanation is simple - to prepare ...Rb5. The funny thing here is
that White has nothing he can do, so Black can do what he wants.}) 45. Rc1 Rdc2
$2 ({The final mistake. I should have played} 45... Rb5 $1 {and after} 46. Rfc3
Nb3 47. R1c2 Rxc2 48. Rxc2 Rc5 49. Rb2 Rc3 {Black would have every chance to
win the endgame.}) 46. Rxc2 Rxc2 47. h5 $1 {Now Black is a pawn up, but White
has serious counterplay against the g7-pawn.} e4 (47... Ne6 48. Rb3) (47... Rb2
48. Rc3) 48. Rg3 Ne6 49. Nd6+ Ke7 50. Nf5+ Kf7 51. Nd6+ ({At first sight} 51.
Nxg7 $2 {could be very strong, but this time it' does not work:} Nxg7 52. h6
Nf5 53. h7 $2 (53. Rg7+ $1 {would give some chances to hold the rook endgame
after} Kf8 54. Rg6 Nxh6 55. Rxh6 Kg7) 53... Nxg3 54. h8=Q Rc1+ 55. Kh2 Rh1+ $19
) 51... Kf8 52. Nxe4 Rc1+ 53. Kh2 Rc4 54. Re3 {Now the material is equal, so
in a few moves we agreed to a draw.} Nc7 55. g3 Ra4 56. h6 Rxa5 57. hxg7+ Kxg7
58. Rc3 Re5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Krasnodar"]
[Site "Krasnodar"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Beshukov, Sergei"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
(8. h3 d5 9. O-O dxe4 10. Nxe4 h6 11. a4 Nxe4 12. dxe4 Qf6 13. Nh2 Qg6 14. Qf3
Na5 15. Ba2 Be6 $10 {Komljakov,V-Aleksandrov,A/Nikolaev zt/1995/0,5/66/}) 8...
d6 9. h3 Ne7 (9... h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3
Be6 $10 {Ivanov,V-Rausis,I/Moskow/1992/0:1/32/}) (9... Be6 10. a4 Qd7 11. Nc4
h6 12. Be3 Rfe8 13. Re1 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Rad8 $10 {Grosor,A-Gyimesi,Z/Mitropa Cup/
1995/0,5/73/}) 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ng3 Bd7 (12... Be6 13. d4 Qc8 14. Bc2
Re8 15. Be3 c5 16. Qd2 Qc7 17. d5 $14 {Sutovskij,E-Goldin,A/Rishon le Zion YM/
1995/0,5/77/}) (12... Re8 13. d4 Bd7 14. Be3 Bc6 15. Bc2 exd4 16. Bxd4 Nf4 17.
Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Nd4 $14 {Dolmatov,S-Razuvaev,Y/Tashkent/1980/1:0/86/}) 13. d4 Qe8
14. Nh2 $5 (14. Be3 $14) 14... Rd8 15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. hxg4 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18.
g5 $1 hxg5 19. Bxg5 cxd4 (19... Rc8 20. Nf5 Be6 21. Qh5 $36) 20. Qh5 $1 (20.
Bxd8 Qxd8 21. Nf5 Qf6 $14) 20... Be6 21. Nf5 Bxb3 (21... Qd7 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23.
Qh6+ Kg8 24. Bf6 $18) 22. Bf6 $1 Qe6 (22... gxf6 23. Qh6 $18) (22... Be6 23.
Nxg7 Qd7 24. Qh6 Rfe8 25. Nh5 $18) 23. Bxg7 Bc2 24. Qh6 Rd7 (24... Rfe8 25. Bh8
$18) 25. Bxf8 f6 (25... Nxf8 26. Qg7#) 26. Bxd6 (26. Qxg6+ Kxf8 27. Rac1 d3 $16
) 26... Qe8 (26... Ne5 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. Bc5 Bxc5 29. Qxc5 d3 30. Re3 $18) 27.
Be7 $1 Qf7 (27... Rxe7 28. Qxg6+ Qxg6 29. Nxe7+ Kf7 30. Nxg6 Kxg6 31. Rac1 d3
32. Rxc2 dxc2 33. Rc1 $18) 28. Qd2 Qe6 (28... Ba4 29. Nh6+ $18) 29. Qxc2 Nxe7
30. Qb3 Qxb3 31. Nxe7+ Kf7 32. axb3 Kxe7 33. Red1 $18 Ke6 34. Ra5 Rc7 35. Rh5
Rc2 36. Rh7 Ke5 37. Re7+ Kf4 38. Rd3 Bb8 39. g3+ Kg4 40. Kg2 Be5 41. Rg7+ Kh5 (
41... Kh5 42. Rg8 Rxb2 43. g4+ Kh6 44. Rh3#) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 20th"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2015.11.19"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Berg, Emanuel"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Berg,E"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Having played the Spanish in almost all my games
of late, it was time for a change not the least to surprise my opponent.} Bc5
4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 $5 {The Italian Wing Attack. Not really something particulary
dangerous for Black but leading to interesting play and hopefully something my
opponent hadn't checked.} Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 {White hopes to get a space
advantage on the queenside with some long term pressure.} a5 $1 (7... a6 {
is the main alternative and the most popular move over the years. However I
find it rather comfortable for White following} 8. Nbd2 {intending ideas like
Bb3 and Nc4.}) 8. b5 Ne7 9. Bb3 {The bishop gives space for the knight on b1.
It's better to wait with castling for White to avoid} (9. O-O Ng6 10. Ba2 O-O
11. Nbd2 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 {1/2-1/2 (42) Jobava,B (2712)-Hammer,J (2601) Rogaska
Slatina 2011; when Black has a nice initiative on the kingside.}) 9... Ng6 10.
Na3 c6 {Black opens a route for his bishop to c7.} 11. Nc4 Bc7 {Now Black's
plan is to proceed with ...d5.} 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Re8 {White can no longer
stop Black from ...d5 so it's time to retreat with the knight from c4.} 14. Ne3
{A good square for the knight preventing ...Bg4.} d5 {Black has achieved his
main aim and has a nice pawn centre. However this is where the real battle
starts.} 15. exd5 cxd5 16. g3 $1 {A good move restricting Black's knight on g6
while also securing White's king against attacks along the b8-h2 diagonal.
True it also has a drawback of weakening the light squares but that's nothing
Black can take advantage of at first sight. I had been analysing this exact
position at my hotel room before the game and come to the conclusion that
White had interesting chances to fight for an edge although theoreticaly Black
should be just fine.} b6 {A logical move preparing the a8-h1 diagonal for the
light squared bishop.} 17. d4 {White's main idea in the position. Now after ...
e4 he can play his knight back to d2 preparing the c4-break.} Bb7 {Black keeps
the centre dynamic hoping for an opening of the long diagonal.} 18. Bb2 {
So far I had evrything under control having played my moves quickly while my
opponent had used a considerable amount of time.} Qd7 {A human move which I
had not investigated during my preparation.} ({Instead the computer gave} 18...
e4 19. Nd2 {which I was quite satisfied with. Having the pawn on e4 it's hard
for Black to create anything really dangerous on the kingside. But White for
his part can always open up with c4 at some point.}) 19. Re2 {Played after a
long period of thought. The fact that Black's pawns were not static on d5 and
e4 troubled me and I was slightly concerned about ...Qh3 ideas.} ({My first
thought was to play} 19. Rc1 {which is also the computer's top suggestion.
However I was not quite comfortable and thought that perhaps Black could get a
quick attack on the kingside following} Qh3 $5 {Even with the computer by my
side I'm far from convinced that the fearless} 20. c4 $1 {would lead to
something good for White. To open the long diagonal towards White's king looks
like a nightmare. When going down the lines a bit we end up in a critical
position after} (20. Ng5 Qh6 21. dxe5) {The main continuation follows} 20...
exd4 21. Bxd4 (21. Ng5 $5 {also deserves serious attention intending} Qh6 22.
Nxf7 {with great complications.}) 21... Ng4 22. cxd5 Nh4 $1 23. Rc2 $1 $13 {
An important defensive resource which is the only way of surviving for White.
Although the computer engine keeps rather calm all the way down these lines
even the smallest error could end up in disaster for White.}) 19... e4 {
This plays into White's hands, especially as now I knew exactly which plan to
follow.} ({Instead} 19... Qh3 {was what I expected when White has to be
careful.} {I had planned to continue} 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Qf1 Qh5
23. Rae1 {when White has driven away Black's queen and has things pretty much
under control.}) 20. Nd2 h5 $6 {This plan might look logical but in fact it
only wastes time and in the end even helps White.} (20... Rad8 {looks better
to keep control in the centre and be ready for the c4-break.}) 21. Qf1 {
A practical move but there might well have been better options.} ({The
immediate} 21. c4 $5 {is one interesting alternative.}) 21... h4 22. c4 dxc4 {
This exchange gives White a very harmonious position. Perhaps Black should
rather have allowed the advance c5 although that's not an easy decision to
make.} 23. Ndxc4 Nd5 ({During the game I started to think about} 23... Nh7 {
intending ...Ng5-f3. This would at least be slightly annoying for White but
the central counterplay should prove stronger after} 24. d5 Ng5 25. Rd1 Nf3+
26. Kh1 $14 {since Black lacks the power to continue his attack.}) 24. Rd1 $1 {
Nicely preparing for Ne5 which is now a major concern for Black.} Qe7 25. Ne5
Rad8 $6 {Black was in a difficult situation but this does not solve the issue.}
({The straightforward} 25... Nxe3 {looks best when after} 26. fxe3 Bxe5 27.
dxe5 Bc8 {followed by ...Be6 Black is at least able to limit White's attacking
chances. Still White has a solid plus following} 28. Rd6 Be6 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30.
Qg2 $16) 26. Nxd5 $6 {Not at all bad but there was better to be found.} (26.
Nxg6 $1 fxg6 {would simply leave Black in very bad shape having a king without
a real shelter, e.g.} 27. Rc1 Kh7 28. Qh3 $18) (26. Nc6 $5 {was another good
way to a clear advantage following} Bxc6 27. bxc6 $16 {with two potentially
strong concted passed pawns as well as the pir of bishops.}) 26... Bxd5 27.
Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxe4 hxg3 29. hxg3 Bxe5 30. dxe5 Nxe5 {A tricky move in time
trouble. Black bravely enters the complications with the risk of losing a
piece.} 31. Kg2 $6 (31. Re3 $1 {would have forced Black into giving up his
knight after the forced line} Red8 32. Rde1 f6 33. f4 Qb4 34. Ba3 Qxa4 35. fxe5
Rxe5 36. Rxe5 fxe5 37. Bb2 $16 {with excellent winning chances for White.})
31... Qb7 $6 (31... Qd8 $1 {was more precise when White keeps only a symbolic
advantage.}) 32. f3 f6 33. Bxe5 $1 {Liquidating into a very comfortable
endgame for White.} Rdxe5 34. Rxe5 fxe5 (34... Rxe5 $4 {cannot be played due to
} 35. Rd8+ {when White's attack will become decisive.}) 35. Qc4+ Qf7 36. Rd5
Qe6 37. Qe4 {White has a nice grip holding Black passive defending his e5-pawn.
} Kf8 38. g4 $1 {Launching the g-pawn is a good way to play for White. It
gives more space and at some point the g-pawn might continue to g5 or even g6.}
Kf7 39. Kg3 Kf8 40. Kg2 {A safety move to complete the time control.} Kg8 41.
Kg3 Qe7 42. Rd1 $1 {It's time to regroup the pieces. Now Rh1 and Qc4+ can
cause Black serious trouble.} Qf6 43. Rc1 Rf8 44. Rc4 {Importantly defending
against the exchange of queens on f4.} Qf7 $2 (44... Rd8 {would have been
better.}) 45. g5 $1 {Allowing this move should normally mean the end for Black.
Now g6 is a crucial threat.} Qf5 46. Qxf5 $4 {I saw that this would give Black
good drawing chances but} ({in the eternal time trouble I did not realise that
} 46. g6 $1 {was just winning.} {There might follow} Qxe4 (46... Qe6 47. Rc6
$18) 47. fxe4 Rf6 48. Rc8+ Rf8 49. Rc6 (49. Rxf8+ Kxf8 50. Kg4 Ke7 $11 {
is just a draw.}) 49... Rf6 50. Kg4 $1 Kf8 51. Rc8+ Ke7 52. Rc7+ Kf8 53. Kg5
Rf4 54. Rc6 Rxe4 (54... Ke7 {is the most stubborn but after} 55. Rxb6 Rxe4 56.
Rb7+ Ke6 57. Rxg7 $18 {White's two passed pawns will decide.}) 55. Kf5 Rf4+ 56.
Ke6 Rf6+ 57. Kd7 $18) 46... Rxf5 47. Kg4 g6 48. Rc6 Rf4+ 49. Kg3 Kf7 50. Rxb6
Rxa4 51. Rf6+ Kg7 52. Ra6 ({White could win a pawn by playing} 52. Re6 {
but after} Kf7 53. Rxe5 Rb4 {Black will soon be able to force an exchange of
his a-pawn against White's b-pawn which leads to a completely drawn endgame.})
52... Kf7 53. Rf6+ Kg7 54. Ra6 Kf7 55. b6 Rb4 56. Rxa5 Ke6 57. Ra8 Rxb6 58. Rf8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 1516"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2016.04.10"]
[Round "13.7"]
[White "Piorun, Kacper"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2591"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.09.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SF"]
[BlackTeam "Solingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg4 10. Nbd2 a6 11. a4 Ba7 12. a5 Nd7 13. b4 Ne7 14. Qb3 Ng6 15. h3 {
Diagramm [#]} Bxf3 (15... Bh5 $1) 16. Nxf3 h5 17. Qd1 Kg7 18. d4 {Diagramm [#]
Weiß beantwortet den schwarzen Angriff mit einem Gegenstoß im Zentrum -
klassisch!} g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. Nh2 Nf6 21. Re1 {Diagramm [#]} Rh8 $6 (21...
Re8 $1 {mit Konzentration auf das Zentrum war stärker.}) 22. Nxg4 exd4 23.
cxd4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxd4 25. Rad1 $2 (25. Ra3 $1) 25... Qf6 $1 26. Rd3 Raf8 $2 (
26... Rh7 $1 27. Rf3 Rah8 28. Kf1 Rh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Bxf2+ $1 $11) 27.
Qf5 $2 (27. Red1 $1 Bb2 28. Bd5 {mit starker weißer Zentrumsstellung}) 27...
Rh6 28. Qxf6+ Bxf6 29. f4 Rfh8 30. e5 Be7 31. Re4 Rh5 32. Bb3 {Diagramm [#]}
Rh1+ $6 ({Es ist immer verlockend, sich für aktives Spiel zu entscheiden,
doch hier war die passive Blockade des Bf4 wohl stärker:} 32... Rf5) 33. Kf2
Rb1 34. exd6 Rb2+ 35. Kf3 {Diagramm [#]} Bxd6 (35... cxd6 {war nötig:} 36. f5
Ne5+ 37. Rxe5 Rxb3 38. Rxb3 dxe5 39. Bxe5+ f6 {zunächst "nur" mit einem
Minusbauern.}) 36. f5 Rh1 (36... Bxg3 37. Kxg3 Nf8 38. Re7 $18) 37. Bxd6 Rf1+
38. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Vienna op-A"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2016.08.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Rathnakaran, Kantholi"]
[Black "Ragger, Markus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2452"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.08.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.08.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.08.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bb3 d5 7. Qe2 a5 {
Diagramm [#] Die weiße Eröffnungsbehandlung vermag nicht zu überzeugen:
Nach sieben Zügen liegt die Initiative bereits eher bei Schwarz.} 8. O-O $6 {
Ein weiterer sehr passiver Zug.} ({Mit} 8. Bg5 {konnte Weiß dem schwarzen
Vorstoß a5-a4 entgegentreten.}) 8... a4 9. Bc2 h6 (9... Re8 {war auch
möglich.} 10. Bg5 {beantwortet Schwarz einfach mit} d4) 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. Nbd2
Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 ({Die Computer finden} 12... Bf5 {besser. Nach} 13. g4 Bh7 {
gewinnt Schwarz gegenüber der beim 13. Zug genannten Variante ein Tempo und
nach} 14. Ne4 Be7 {scheitert} 15. Nh4 $2 {an dem einfachen Zug} Qd7) 13. Ne4 ({
Weiß sollte aktiver spielen:} 13. g4 $1 Bg6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Nh4 Bh7 16. Nf5
Bxf5 17. gxf5 Qd7 18. Qf3 $11) 13... Be7 {Diagramm [#]} 14. Ng3 (14. g4 $1 {
war auch hier noch möglich.}) 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 $2 {vergrößert den
ohnehin schon vorhandenen schwarzen Vorteil, denn angesichts der zerstörten
Struktur vor dem weißen König hätte der Anziehende besser die Damen
tauschen sollen.} Qe6 16. Kh2 Nd5 17. Rg1 Nf4 18. Qf1 Ng6 {Diagramm [#]} 19. d4
$2 {"Verzweiflung!", haben frühere Kommentatoren-Generationen bei solcher
Gelegenheit gerne geschrieben.} exd4 20. f4 Nh4 {Diesem Springer ist es egal,
dass er nicht mehr nach f4 gelangen kann.} 21. f5 Qd7 {Diagramm [#]} 22. Nh5 $2
{Weiß gibt eine Qualität, doch das führt zu nichts.} (22. Be4 $1 {war
wesentlich hartnäckiger. Schwarz hätte dann zunächst seine Stellung noch
weiter verstärken müssen, bevor er einen Durchbruch hätte erzielen können.}
) 22... Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Nxg1 24. Qg2 (24. Qxg1 Qd5+ 25. Kh2 g5 {ginge natürlich
noch viel weniger.}) 24... g5 {Das ist gut genug, um die weiße Aktion
komplett auszubremsen.} 25. Kxg1 (25. fxg6 Qxh3+ {usw.}) 25... f6 26. Nf4 Kh7
27. Be4 dxc3 28. Nd5 Rae8 29. h4 g4 30. bxc3 Bd6 31. Be3 Qf7 32. Rb1 Ne5 33.
Rxb7 Rg8 34. Kf1 {Diagramm [#]} Rb8 $1 {Macht sich auch die zweite von Weiß
geöffnete Linie zu Nutze.} 35. Ra7 Rg7 36. Bd4 Qf8 37. Nf4 Qe8 38. Ne6 Qb5+
39. Kg1 Nf3+ 40. Bxf3 Qb1+ 41. Bd1 Qxd1+ 42. Qf1 Bh2+ {Diagramm [#]} (42...
Bh2+ 43. Kg2 Qf3+ 44. Kxh2 g3+ {führt zum Matt.}) 0-1

[Event "Mitropa Cup 16th"]
[Site "Buekfuerdo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Stajcic, Nikola"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.02.27"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Bb6 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. a4
a6 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 {Typical modern Italian pawn structure. White will like to
play on the queen's side, black will prefer counterplay in the centre.} Re8 11.
Nf1 d5 (11... Be6 $5) 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ng3 Be6 (13... Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 16. Nh5 {קf4}) 14. Qb3 (14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Kxf2 (
16. Kh2 Qd6 17. d4 Bxg3+ 18. Kxg3 f6 $19) 16... Qf6+ 17. Rf5 Bxf5 18. Qf3 Ne7
$19) 14... f6 (14... Na5 15. Qc2 Nxc4 16. dxc4 {קe5}) 15. Qc2 Qd7 {/\Qf7,/
^g8-a2} 16. Ne4 Qf7 17. b4 Rad8 (17... a5 $142) 18. a5 Ba7 19. b5 {/\קb7} axb5
20. Bxb5 Bd7 (20... Nde7 21. a6 bxa6 22. Rxa6 $36) 21. Qb3 Rb8 (21... b6 22. a6
Na5 23. Qb2 Bxb5 24. Qxb5 f5 25. Ned2 Qf6 {/\c6} (25... Nxc3 26. Qb2 Nd5 27.
Nxe5 $16)) 22. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 23. Qxd5 Be6 (23... Qxd5 24. Nxf6+ Kg7 25. Nxd5 $18
) 24. Bxc6 Bxd5 (24... bxc6 25. Qxc6 $18) 25. Bxd5 Re6 26. Nxf6+ $1 $18 Qxf6
27. Rxe5 Rbe8 28. Rae1 Kg7 29. Bxe6 Re7 30. d4 c6 31. Rf5 Qg6 32. Re4 Qe8 33.
Rg4+ Kh8 34. Ne5 $4 (34. Rg8+ Qxg8 35. Bxg8 Kxg8 36. Re5 $18) 34... Rg7 $4 (
34... Rxe6 35. Rgf4 $10) 35. Bf7 Qc8 36. Bg6 Qe6 37. Rf8+ Rg8 38. Rxg8+ Qxg8
39. Nf7+ Kg7 40. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Maribor Pirc Memorial"]
[Site "Maribor"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grosar, Aljosa"]
[Black "Osmanbegovic, Suad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Qe7 {<->d} 7. b4 Bb6
8. a4 a6 (8... a5 9. b5 {/\Ba3,d4}) 9. Nbd2 Rg8 (9... O-O 10. a5 Ba7 11. h3 {
+/= [+]}) 10. Bb3 Ba7 (10... g5 11. Nc4 Nd7 12. Nxb6 Nxb6 13. a5 Nd7 $16) 11.
Nc4 Be6 12. Ra2 {<->2} Nd8 (12... h6 13. b5 Nb8 14. Ba3 $14) 13. Re1 Nd7 (13...
h6 {/^c1-g5-d8}) 14. d4 (14. Ba3 Nb6 15. Nxb6 Bxb3 16. Qxb3 Bxb6 17. a5 Ba7 {
/\Ne6} 18. d4 {+/=/+/-}) 14... f6 (14... exd4 15. cxd4 {/\Bb2 /^a2-g8,/^a1-g7})
15. Ne3 Bxb3 16. Qxb3 Qf7 (16... Ne6 17. Nd5 Qf7 18. b5 $16) 17. Nd5 Rc8 {/\c6}
(17... Ne6 18. b5 Nb6 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. a5 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Ke7 {+/=/+/-}) 18. Qb1
Nb6 (18... c6 19. Ne3 g6 20. b5 $36) 19. dxe5 dxe5 (19... fxe5 20. a5 Nd7 (
20... Nxd5 21. exd5 h6 22. c4 {/\c5})) 20. Be3 Nxd5 21. exd5 (21. Bxa7 Nxc3 $19
) 21... Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Qxd5 23. Rd2 Qe6 24. Rde2 (24. Qxh7 {+/-/+-}) 24... Nc6
25. b5 (25. Qxh7 Rd8 26. b5 $16) 25... axb5 26. axb5 Ne7 27. Nxe5 $1 (27. Nd4
Qf7 28. Qxh7 $14) 27... fxe5 28. Rxe5 Qd6 29. Qe4 (29. Qxh7 Kf7 30. Qh5+ $18)
29... Rd8 (29... Kf8 30. Rxe7 Qg6 31. Rf7+ $3 Qxf7 32. Qb4+ c5 33. bxc6+ Qe7
34. Qxe7#) 30. Rxe7+ Kf8 31. Re8+ Kf7 32. Qc4+ Qd5 33. Qf4+ 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-14c"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Torre, Eugenio"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1987.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1988.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1988.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8.
Nc4 d6 9. c3 Ne7 10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Bg4 12. Qc2 Nf4 $6 (12... Qd7 $142) 13.
Ne3 Ne6 14. Bxe6 Bxe6 15. Nhf5 h6 16. Bh4 $16 Kh7 17. d4 g5 $1 18. Bg3 Nh5 19.
dxe5 $2 (19. Qe2) 19... Nxg3 20. hxg3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 dxe5 $10 22. Rad1 Qe7 23.
Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5+ (24. Rxd5 Rad8 $10) 24... Kg7 25. g4 Qd7 26. Qe4 Rae8 27.
Rd3 $6 (27. Qb4 $142 b6 28. d6 a5 $6 29. dxc7 $1 Qxd1 30. Qxf8+) 27... f5 28.
gxf5 Rxf5 29. g3 Ref8 $15 {<-> f} 30. c4 (30. g4 R5f6 31. Qxe5 Qxg4+) 30... Qd6
31. Re3 h5 32. Kg2 g4 33. Re2 b6 34. Rc1 Qg6 {/\ Rf2} 35. Qe3 Qd6 36. Rcc2 Kg8
37. Kg1 R8f7 38. Qe4 a5 39. b3 Qf6 40. Qe3 h4 $40 {>>} 41. gxh4 Qxh4 42. Qg3
Qh5 43. Rc3 $1 Rg5 44. Qh2 g3 $5 45. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 46. fxg3 Qg4 47. Rd2 $1 (47.
Rf2 $2 Qd4 {/\ e4-e3} 48. Kf1 Qa1+ 49. Kg2 Rxf2+ 50. Kxf2 Qxa2+ 51. Kg1 Qxb3)
47... e4 (47... Rf3 48. Qh4 $1 Rxg3+ 49. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 50. Rg2 $10) 48. Qh4 Qf5 $2
(48... Qf3 49. Qd8+ Kg7 50. Qg5+ Kf8 51. Qd8+ $10) 49. Qf4 Qxf4 (49... Qh3 50.
Qg5+ Kf8 51. Rf2) (49... Qg6 50. Qe5 e3 51. Qe8+ (51. Qxe3 $4 Qb1+ 52. Kh2 Rh7+
$19) 51... Kg7 52. Qxe3 $18) 50. gxf4 Rxf4 51. Rf2 Rf7 $6 (51... Rh4 $1 {/\ a4}
) 52. Re2 (52. Kg2 Rg7+ $5 53. Kf1 Rh7 54. Ke2 Rh3 {/\ a4}) 52... Re7 53. Kf2
Kf7 54. Ke3 Ke8 55. Kd4 Kd7 56. Rxe4 Rh7 57. c5 bxc5+ 58. Kxc5 $18 {R 6/a} Rh5
59. Rg4 Rf5 60. Rh4 Rg5 61. Rf4 Rh5 62. Rg4 Kc8 (62... Rf5 63. Ra4 c6 64. Rxa5
Rxd5+ (64... cxd5 65. Ra6) 65. Kb6 Rd2 (65... Kd6 66. b4 {/\ Rc5}) 66. Ra7+ Kd6
67. Rc7 Rxa2 68. Rxc6+ Kd7 69. b4 $18) 63. Rd4 Kb7 64. Kb5 Rh6 (64... c6+ 65.
Kxa5 cxd5 66. Kb5) 65. a3 Rh5 (65... Rb6+ 66. Ka4 {/\ Rc4-c5}) 66. Kxa5 c6 67.
a4 Kc7 68. Kb4 cxd5 69. Kc5 Rh3 70. b4 Ra3 71. a5 Rc3+ 72. Kb5 Kd6 73. a6 Ke5
74. Rd1 Ra3 75. Kb6 d4 76. a7 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-15"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Torre, Eugenio"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1990.06.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 a6 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. Nc4 h6 10. Re1 Be6 11. Be3 (11. a4) (11. Ne3 $5) 11... Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Qd7
13. Nh4 (13. Bc2 $5 {/\ d4}) 13... Bxb3 (13... d5 14. Qf3 $1 (14. exd5 $6 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Nhf5 Be6 $1 17. Qg4 g6 18. Nxh6+ Kg7 $19)) 14. Qxb3 b6 15.
Nhf5 Kh7 16. Rad1 Rfe8 (16... g6 17. Ng3 Rfe8 18. Rf1 $5 {/\ f4}) 17. Nd5 (17.
Rf1 $5 {/\ f4}) 17... Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. d4 $14 {()} Kg8 {/\ Ne7} 20. Ne3
b5 21. h3 Ne7 22. Qb3 Qc6 23. d5 Qc5 24. a4 Rf8 {/\ f5} 25. Qc2 Rb8 26. b4 Qb6
27. Ra1 Ra8 (27... c6 28. axb5 (28. dxc6 Qxc6 29. axb5 Rxb5 $132) 28... axb5
29. dxc6 Qxc6 30. Ra7 Rb7 31. Rea1 $14 {|^<->a}) 28. c4 (28. Qd3 $5 c6 29. dxc6
Qxc6 30. Red1 Rfd8 31. axb5 axb5 32. Rxa8 Qxa8 33. Qxb5 Qxe4 34. Qb6 $16) 28...
bxc4 29. Qxc4 f5 $132 30. Rec1 Rac8 31. b5 axb5 (31... a5 32. Ra3 fxe4 33. Qxe4
Rf4 34. Qc2 {/\ Rc3}) 32. axb5 fxe4 33. Ra6 Qd4 (33... Qb7 34. Rc6 $1) (33...
Qb8 34. Rca1 Nf5 35. Nxf5 Rxf5 36. Qc6 $16) 34. Qa2 $1 $16 Qd3 35. Rc4 $1 {
[/\ Ra3]} Rxf2 (35... Nf5 36. Ra3 Nxe3 37. Rxd3 Nxc4 38. Rc3 Nb6 39. Qa7 Na8 (
39... Rf7 40. Qb7 {/\ Rc6+-}) (39... Ra8 40. Qxc7 Rac8 41. Qxb6 Rxc3 42. Qxd6
Rc1+ 43. Kh2 Rxf2 44. Qxe5 $18) 40. b6 $1 Nxb6 (40... cxb6 41. Rxc8 Rxc8 42.
Qd7 $18) 41. Rxc7 Rxc7 42. Qxc7 Nc8 43. Qd7 {/\ Kf1-e4-c7+-}) 36. Qxf2 Rf8 37.
Qe1 Nxd5 38. Ra3 $8 Qxa3 39. Nxd5 Rf7 40. Kh2 Qb3 41. Qxe4 Qxb5 42. Nxc7 $18
Qd7 43. Nd5 Qe6 44. Ra4 g6 45. Ra8+ Kg7 46. Rd8 {><d6} h5 47. Qc4 {/\ Qc6} Qf5
48. Rxd6 Qg5 49. Nc7 Qf4+ 50. Qxf4 exf4 51. Ne6+ Kh6 52. h4 Rf6 53. Ng5 Rxd6
54. Nf7+ Kg7 55. Nxd6 Kf6 56. Ne4+ Kf5 57. Ng5 Kg4 58. Nf3 Kf5 59. Kg1 Kg4 60.
Kf2 Kf5 61. Ke2 Kg4 62. Kd3 Kf5 63. Kd4 Kg4 64. Ke4 (64. Ke5 Kg3 65. Ke4 Kg4
66. Ne5+ Kxh4 67. Kxf4 g5+ 68. Kf3 g4+ 69. Kf4 g3 70. Nf3# {Short,N}) 64... Kg3
65. Ke5 Kg4 66. Kf6 Kg3 67. Kg5 1-0

[Event "Lazne Bohdanec"]
[Site "Lazne Bohdanec"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Blatny, Pavel"]
[Black "Kogan, Artur"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1996.01.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. b4 Ba7 7. O-O d6 8. Be3 (
8. a4 h6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Bb3 b5 11. h3 Be6 12. Re1 Qd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Be3
Bxe3 15. Nxe3 {1/2-1/2 Prasad,D-Thipsay,P/New Delhi/1987/}) (8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Bb2
$6 Nh5 10. d4 Nf4 $36 11. g3 (11. dxe5 dxe5 12. b5 axb5 13. Bxb5 Qf6 $40 {>>})
(11. Qb3 exd4 (11... b5 12. Bd5 $10) 12. cxd4 b5 13. Bd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Bd7 $15)
11... Nh3+ 12. Kg2 Bg4 13. Be2 f5 14. Ne1 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Ng5 16. exf5 (16. dxe5
$5) 16... Rxf5 17. f4 Nf7 18. a4 $2 {1/2-1/2 Renner,C-Klebel,M/Augsburg (01)/
1989/} (18. dxe5 $10) (18. d5 $10) 18... exd4 $1 $17) (8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Be6
10. Nf1 d5 11. exd5 Bxd5 12. Bg5 Bxc4 13. dxc4 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 Ng4 15. Bh4 f6
16. c5 Rad8 17. h3 Nh6 18. Ne3 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. g4 g5 22.
Bg3 Kf7 $15 {Reyes,R-Bisguier,A/New York op (09)/1989/}) (8. Bg5 Be6 9. Nbd2 h6
10. Be3 O-O 11. Bxa7 Nxa7 12. Re1 Nc6 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 $14 {
Maier,C-Staiger,F/BL2-SW 9091 (1990)/1991/}) 8... O-O (8... Be6 9. Nbd2 h6 10.
a4 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 O-O 13. Qe1 d5 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe4 16.
d4 Nd7 $10 {Zigo,V-Hladik,J/CZE-ch (04)/1994/}) 9. a4 Ne7 (9... Bxe3 10. fxe3
Qe7 11. Nbd2 Bg4 $10) 10. Bg5 $5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Bg4 $6 (11... Nxh4 $142 12. Bxh4
h6 $1 $10) 12. Qd2 $4 (12. Qxg4 Nxg4 13. Bxd8 Rfxd8 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. h3 Nf6
16. Nd2 $14 {_|_}) (12. Qc1 Nxh4 13. Bxh4 c6 14. Re1 $14) 12... Nxh4 13. Bxh4
Nxe4 $1 14. Bxd8 (14. Qe1 $142 $1 Nf6 (14... Qxh4 15. Qxe4 c6 16. h3 d5 17.
Bxd5 cxd5 18. Qxg4 Qxg4 19. hxg4 $15) 15. Bb3 $17) 14... Nxd2 15. Bxc7 $5 (15.
Nxd2 Raxd8 $19 {P,^^}) 15... Nxf1 16. Kxf1 (16. Bxd6 Rfd8 17. Bxe5 Be2 $19)
16... Rac8 $1 17. Bxd6 Rfd8 18. Be7 (18. Bxe5 $2 Rxc4 19. dxc4 Rd1#) (18. f3
Bf5 19. Bxe5 Rxd3 $1 (19... Rxc4 20. dxc4 Rd1+ 21. Ke2 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Bxb1 $19 {
_|_}) 20. Na3 Rxc4 $1 21. Nxc4 Rd5 22. Ke1 Bd3 $19) 18... Rd7 19. Bc5 $8 Bxc5 (
19... b6 $2 20. Bxa6 $1) 20. bxc5 Rxc5 21. Nd2 (21. Na3 Kf8 $19 {_|_}) 21...
Bf5 $1 22. Ke2 Bxd3+ $1 23. Bxd3 Rcd5 $19 24. Nc4 Rxd3 25. Nxe5 Rd2+ 26. Ke1 (
26. Ke3 R7d6 27. Rb1 f6 28. Nc4 (28. Nf3 R2d3+ 29. Ke2 Rxc3 30. Rxb7 Rc4 $19)
28... R6d3+ 29. Ke4 f5+ $19) 26... Rd8 27. Rb1 Ra2 28. Rxb7 Rxa4 29. f3 Ra2 30.
Nxf7 Re8+ 31. Kf1 Ree2 32. Ng5 Reb2 0-1

[Event "SRB-chT Central"]
[Site "Kraljevo"]
[Date "2011.09.23"]
[Round "9.5"]
[White "Vratonjic, Slobodan"]
[Black "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2396"]
[BlackElo "2541"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,D"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2011.09.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Metalac"]
[BlackTeam "Jasenica"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "YUG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YUG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 $5 {It seems like that if you want to
play for a win in the Italian this bishop should be placed as actively as
possible right from the start!} 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O $1 O-O $1 8. Re1 d6
9. h3 Ne7 {[%cal Ge7g6,Gf6h5,Gh5f4]} 10. Bg5 $6 {Somewhat too optimistic. The
natural reaction was:} (10. Nbd2 {[%cal Gd2f1,Gf1g3]}) 10... Ng6 11. Nh4 {
This move was accompanied with a draw offer. However, our team needed to win
on all the boards, and short draws were unacceptable.} Kh8 $1 ({Not:} 11...
Nxh4 12. Bxh4 {[%cal Ge1f1,Gg1h1,Gf2f4,Rd1f3,Rf3g3]}) 12. Nd2 {White cannot
make use of his active pieces:} (12. Qf3 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Qxf6 gxf6 15.
Nxg6+ (15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Nh4 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Rh4f5]} 17. g4 $2 Nf3+ $19)
15... fxg6 {[%csl Ga7,Gc8]}) (12. Nf5 h6 13. Be3 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nh4 {[%csl Yf5]
[%cal Rh4f5]}) (12. d4 h6 13. Nxg6+ fxg6 14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... hxg5 $1 {is even
better:} 15. exf6 Qxf6 {[%csl Rf2]} 16. Kh1 g4 $1 {with a decisive attack.})
15. Be3 (15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Be3) 15... Qxd1 16. Bxd1 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Rd8 18. Bb3
b5 $15 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Gc8b7]}) 12... h6 13. Nxg6+ ({Again, tactics fail for
White-} 13. Bxf7 $2 Rxf7 14. Nxg6+ Kh7 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {[%csl Rg6]}) 13... fxg6
14. Be3 Nh5 {[%cal Gh5f4] Black is now at least equal. the half open f file,
and the beautiful f4 square for the knight are his main assets.} (14... Bxe3
15. fxe3 {[%csl Rf2,Rf4][%cal Re3f4,Rg1f2]}) 15. Bxa7 ({White would do better
to play in the centre with:} 15. d4 {Although he needs to be careful with his
aggressive intentions:} Nf4 16. Bxf4 (16. Nf3 g5 17. dxe5 $140 g4 $1) 16...
Rxf4 17. Nf3 Qf6 {[%csl Rf2,Rf3,Rh3][%cal Rc8h3,Rf4f3,Rf3f2]} 18. dxe5 $2 dxe5
19. Qd5 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Rd5g8]} Bxh3 20. Qxb7 Rf8 21. Qxa7 Rxf3 22. Re2 Bxg2
23. Kxg2 Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Rh3 {[%cal Rh3h1]}) 15... Rxa7 16. Re3 Nf4 17. Qf1 {
[%cal Yb3d1,Yd1g4] A solid defence.} (17. Nf3 g5 18. Nh2 Qf6 $15) 17... Qf6 18.
Bd1 {[%cal Gd1g4]} (18. Rd1 Ra8 19. Nf3 g5 {[%cal Rg5g4]}) 18... Ra8 19. Rg3 ({
It is too early for:} 19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. hxg4 {[%csl Yg4]} Qe6 $15) 19... Rf7 20.
Bg4 $6 (20. Bb3 $5 {would be a better version of the bishop trade.}) 20... Bxg4
21. Rxg4 Raf8 $17 {[%csl Rg4] There are some issues with the rook, as it might
get easily get excluded from the game.} 22. Rg3 g5 23. Nc4 Qe6 {[%csl Rf2]
[%cal Rf4h5,Rf7f2]} 24. Qd1 {The pressure against the white position grows.} (
24. Ne3 Nh5 25. Rg4 Rxf2 26. Qxf2 Rxf2 27. Kxf2 Nf4 $19 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Gf4d3]
}) (24. Re3 g4 $1) 24... g6 25. Re3 b5 $1 {Before sacrificing, I decided that
the knight would be best placed on d2!} (25... Nxg2 26. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 27. Kh1 (27.
Kg3 h5 {[%cal Rh5h4]}) 27... Qf6 28. Rg3 (28. Qg1 {is also possible and there
is no knight hanging on d2.})) 26. Nd2 (26. Na5 Nxg2 27. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 28. Kg1 Qf7
{[%cal Gf7f4,Rf4h2] will leave the knight too far away! While now, it is
hanging on d2.}) 26... Nxg2 $1 27. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 28. Kg1 {This makes things
easier for Black.} (28. Kg3 h5 {[%cal Rh5h4]} 29. Nf3 (29. Rf3 R8xf3+ 30. Nxf3
Rxb2 $19 {[%cal Re6f6,Rf6f4,Rh5h4]}) 29... Rxb2 {[%cal Rh5h4,Re6f6,Rf6f4]
would not help neither.}) ({However, after the best defence:} 28. Kh1 Qf6 {
[%cal Rf6f4,Rf4h2]} 29. Re2 (29. Rg3 Qf4 {[%csl Rd2,Rg3][%cal Rd2f1,Rf2f1]})
29... g4 {[%cal Rg4g3,Rg4h3]} 30. Rxf2 Qxf2 31. Qxg4 (31. Qf1 Kg7 32. Qxf2 Rxf2
33. Nf1 gxh3 $17 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Gg6g5,Gg5g4,Gh6h5]}) (31. hxg4 Qh4+ 32. Kg1
Qg3+ 33. Kh1 Rf2) 31... Qxd2 32. Qxg6 Qe3 $17 {Black still has to prove his win
}) 28... Qf6 29. Re2 (29. Nf1 g4 30. hxg4 Qh4 {[%cal Rf2f1,Gf8f4,Gf4g4]}) 29...
g4 $1 {It is over.} 30. Kh1 (30. Nf1 Qf3 31. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 32. Kh1 Rf3) (30. Rxf2
Qxf2+ 31. Kh1 g3) (30. hxg4 Qh4 31. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 32. Kh1 Qh4+ 33. Kg1 Rf4 34. Qe2
Rxg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 Rg2+ (36... Qh2+)) 30... Qh4 31. Rxf2 Rxf2 32. Qxg4
Qxg4 33. hxg4 Rxd2 34. a4 Kg7 {[%cal Gg7f6,Gf6g5,Gg5h4,Gh4g3,Gh4h3]} 35. g5
hxg5 36. axb5 axb5 37. Ra7 Rxd3 38. Rxc7+ Kf6 39. Rb7 Rd1+ 40. Kg2 Rd2+ 41. Kf3
Rxb2 42. Rd7 (42. c4 Rb3+ 43. Kg4 bxc4 {and White cannot sacrifice his rook
for stalemate.}) 42... Ke6 43. Rg7 Rb3 44. Rxg6+ Kd7 45. Rxg5 Rxc3+ 46. Ke2 Kc6
47. Kd2 Rh3 0-1

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989.08.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Bulletin"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1989.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Na5 (10... Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13.
Ne4 $10) 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Qb3 (12. Ne5 O-O 13. Nxc6 Qe8+ $1 $17 {Miles}) 12...
Na5 13. Qa4+ Nc6 {vgl. Miles,A-Kortschnoj,V/South Africa/1979/} 1/2-1/2

[Event "ROM-GER Kings"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2015.10.31"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Nevednichy, Vladislav"]
[Black "Wagner, Dennis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2557"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Bulmaga,I"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.10.30"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Romania"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 {Die Lieblingsvariaten des rumänischen
Großmeisters, in der er über viel Erfahrung verfügt.} Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3
Ba7 7. h3 d6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O h6 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5
Nxd5 {[#]} 14. Nxe5 $2 {Eine aggressive Fortsetzung - aber Schwarz ist noch
nicht entwickelt und könnte in Schwierigkeiten geraten.} Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+
16. Kh1 Qf6 (16... Qh4 $5 17. Qf3 Bg4 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Qxg4 Qxg4 20. hxg4 Re1
21. g3 Be3 22. Bxe3 Rxa1 23. Kg2 Rxf1 24. Kxf1 Nxe3+ 25. Ke1 Nxc2+ $19) 17. d4
(17. Qe2 Bd7 18. d4 Rxe5 19. dxe5 Re8 $17) 17... c5 18. Qd3 g6 (18... cxd4 $2
19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. b3 $44) 19. Bxh6 cxd4 20. Qe4 (20. cxd4 $5 Nb4 21. Qd2 Bxd4
22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Bb3 Bxb2 24. Bg5 Rd8 25. Bxf6 Rxd2 26. Nxd2 Bxa1 27. Bxe6
Bxf6 28. Bb3 $44) 20... dxc3 21. Bg5 Qh8 $2 {[#]} (21... cxb2 22. Rb1 Qg7 23.
Rxb2 f5 $19) 22. Rd1 $1 Nf6 23. Qf3 $1 {Durch sein ungenaues Spiel hat Schwarz
hat dem Weißen Kompensation gegeben und nachdem GM Nevednichy zwei einzige
Züge gefunden hat, ist er wieder im Spiel. In Zeitnot ist der Ausgang völlig
offen.} Bh4 (23... Nh7 24. Bf4 $11) 24. Bxh4 Qxh4 25. bxc3 Rad8 {Schwarz steht
etwas besser, aber das reicht vielleicht nicht aus.} 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Bb3 Bxb3
28. axb3 Nh5 29. Kh2 Kg7 30. Re4 Qf6 31. Qxf6+ Nxf6 32. Re7 Rd7 $6 (32... b5
33. c4 Rd3 34. cxb5 axb5 35. Re3 Rd1 $15) 33. Rxd7 Nxd7 34. Kg3 Kf6 35. Kf4 g5+
36. Ke3 Nc5 37. Nd2 Kf5 38. g3 Ne6 39. b4 Ke5 40. Kd3 f6 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-ch ko"]
[Site "Ayamonte"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Khamrakulov, Ibragim S"]
[Black "Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2563"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "199"]
[EventDate "2007.11.09"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Ng3 h6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Qe2 Qd6
15. O-O f5 16. Nh4 {Diagrama #} f4 $2 (16... Nce7) 17. Ne4 $18 Qd8 18. Ng6 Rf6
(18... Rf7 19. Nc5) 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. exf4 Qxg6 21. f5 Qg5 22. fxe6 Nf4 23.
Qg4 $6 (23. Rxf4 $1 Qxf4 24. e7+ Kh7 25. Rf1 Qh4 26. Rf8) 23... Qxg4 24. hxg4
Re8 25. d4 Na5 26. dxe5 Nxb3 27. axb3 Nxe6 28. Rad1 Re7 29. b4 Kh7 30. g3 Kg6
31. Kg2 Kg5 32. Kh3 Kg6 33. Rf5 Ng5+ 34. Kg2 h5 35. Rf4 hxg4 (35... Rxe5 36.
gxh5+ Kxh5 37. Rd2) 36. Rxg4 Rxe5 37. Rd2 a5 38. Rc4 axb4 39. Rxb4 b6 40. Rbd4
Ne6 41. Rd5 Re4 42. Kf3 Rc4 43. Re2 Kf6 44. Kg2 Rc6 45. Rd7 Kg6 46. Rf2 Nc5 47.
Re7 Ne6 48. Kh3 Ng5+ 49. Kg4 Ne6 50. b3 Ng5 51. c4 Ne6 52. Rf5 Rd6 53. Rd5 Rc6
54. Rdd7 Kf6 55. Rf7+ Kg6 56. Rf5 Kh6 57. Kh4 Kg6 (57... Nc5 58. Rh5+ Kg6 59.
Rg5+ Kh6 60. Rf7 (60. Rdxg7 Ne4 61. Rg4 Nf2) 60... Nxb3 61. Rgxg7 Rxc4+ 62. g4)
58. g4 Kh6 59. Re5 Kg6 60. b4 Kf6 61. Rf5+ Kg6 62. Re7 Rd6 63. Rd5 Rc6 64. b5
Kf6 65. Re8 Rc5 66. Kg3 Rxd5 67. cxd5 Nd4 68. Kf4 Nxb5 69. g5+ Kf7 70. Rc8 Ke7
71. Ke5 Kf7 72. Rd8 Ke7 73. Rh8 Nd6 74. g6 Nc4+ 75. Kf5 Nd6+ 76. Kg5 Ne4+ 77.
Kh5 (77. Kf4) 77... Nf6+ 78. Kg5 Ne4+ (78... Nxd5 79. Rg8) 79. Kf4 Nd6 80. Rh1
Kf6 81. Rc1 Ne8 82. Rc6+ Ke7 83. Ke5 Kd7 84. Rc1 Nd6 85. Rf1 Ke7 86. Rf4 b5 (
86... Kd7 87. Rf8 Ke7 88. Rg8 Ne8 89. Kd4 (89. Kf4 Kd7 90. Ke3 Ke7 91. Kd3 Kd7
92. Kc3 Ke7 93. Kb4 Kd7 94. Ka4 Ke7 95. Kb5 Kd7 96. Ka6 Ke7 97. Kb7 $18) 89...
Nd6 90. Rxg7+ Kf6 91. Rg8 Nf5+ 92. Ke4 Ne7 93. Re8 Nxg6 94. Re6+ Kf7 95. Rc6
Nf8 96. Rxc7+ Kf6 97. Kd4 $18) 87. Kd4 Kd7 88. Kc5 Nb7+ 89. Kxb5 Nd8 90. Kc5
Ke7 91. Kd4 c6 92. Kc5 cxd5 93. Kxd5 Kd7 94. Rb4 Ke7 95. Rb6 Kd7 96. Ra6 Ke7
97. Ke5 Kd7 98. Ra7+ Ke8 99. Rxg7 Nc6+ 100. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 1516"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Paehtz, Elisabeth"]
[Black "Gustafsson, Jan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2452"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "230"]
[EventDate "2015.09.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hockenheim"]
[BlackTeam "Baden-Baden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 Ne7 8. Re1
Ng6 9. Bb3 Qe7 10. Bc2 Bb6 11. Na3 Nh5 12. Nc4 Nhf4 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. d4 Qf6
15. Kh2 Nh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Qf3 g5 18. Qg3 Qh6 19. Bd1 Kh8 20. Bg4 Qg6 21.
Bxc8 Rfxc8 22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. Qxg6 hxg6 24. dxe5 dxe5 25. a3 Rd8 26. Rad1 {[#]}
Kg7 {Schwarz hat hier vielleicht einen minimalen Vorteil.} 27. Kg1 Kf6 28. Kf1
Ke6 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Ke2 f5 31. exf5+ gxf5 32. Rd1 (32. g3) 32... Rh8 33. Kf3
b5 34. Rd2 c6 35. Rd1 Ke7 36. Rd2 Rh4 37. Ke2 e4 38. Rd4 Ke6 39. Rd8 Rh7 40.
Rd4 Rh8 41. Rd1 Rg8 42. Kf1 c5 43. Rd2 Ra8 44. Ke2 b4 45. axb4 cxb4 46. cxb4
Ra4 47. Rd4 Ke5 48. Rc4 b6 49. h4 Ra1 50. Rc6 Rg1 51. Rxb6 Rxg2 52. Rb5+ Ke6
53. Rb6+ Ke5 54. Rb5+ Kd4 55. Rxf5 f3+ 56. Kf1 Rh2 57. Kg1 Rxh4 58. Rc5 (58. b5
e3 59. fxe3+ Kxe3 60. Rf8 $11) 58... Rh8 59. Rc3 Rb8 60. Rb3 Kc4 (60... Rg8+
61. Kf1 Rh8 62. Kg1 Kc4 63. Rc3+ Kxb4 $17) 61. Rc3+ Kxb4 62. Re3 Re8 63. Rc3 (
63. Kh2 Kc5 64. Kg3 Kd4 65. Ra3 Rg8+ $11) 63... Rh8 64. Re3 Rh4 65. Rc3 Kb5 66.
Rc8 Kb4 67. Rc3 Ka4 68. Ra3+ Kb5 69. Rc3 Kb4 70. Rc8 Kb3 71. Rc7 Kxb2 72. Rc8
Kb3 73. Rc7 Rg4+ 74. Kf1 Rg8 75. Ke1 Rd8 76. Rc6 Rd4 77. Rc8 Rc4 78. Rb8+ Kc2
79. Rb7 Rc8 80. Ra7 Rc5 81. Ra8 Rb5 82. Rc8+ Kd3 83. Rd8+ Kc4 84. Rc8+ Kd4 85.
Rd8+ Ke5 86. Re8+ Kf4 87. Rf8+ Rf5 88. Re8 Rf7 89. Rg8 Rf5 90. Re8 Rh5 91. Rf8+
Kg4 92. Rg8+ Rg5 93. Rh8 Rg6 94. Re8 Kh3 95. Kf1 Ra6 96. Rh8+ Kg4 97. Rg8+ Kf5
98. Rf8+ Ke5 99. Re8+ Kd5 100. Rd8+ Kc5 101. Rc8+ Kd6 {[#] Schwarz hat lange
manövriert und hier einen Bauern mehr. Aber reicht das zum Gewinn?} 102. Rc1
Ke5 {[#]} 103. Ke1 $2 {Das ist der entscheidenden Fehler.} (103. Kg1 Kf4 104.
Rc8 Ra1+ 105. Kh2 Rf1 106. Rc2 e3 107. fxe3+ Kxe3 108. Rc3+ $11) 103... Kf4
104. Rc8 (104. Rb1 Ra8 105. Rc1 Rh8 106. Kd2 Rh2 107. Rf1 e3+ $19) 104... Ra1+
105. Kd2 e3+ $1 {Nur so.} 106. fxe3+ Kg3 107. Rg8+ Kh2 108. Rh8+ Kg2 109. Rg8+
Kf1 110. e4 f2 ({Oder} 110... Re1 111. Kd3 f2 112. Kd4 Ke2 113. Rf8 f1=Q 114.
Rxf1 Rxf1 115. e5 Kf3 116. e6 Re1 117. Kd5 Kf4 118. Kd6 Kf5 119. e7 Kf6 $19)
111. e5 Ra2+ $2 {Wirft den Gewinn eigentlich weg:} (111... Re1 $18) 112. Kd1 $2
(112. Ke3 $1 Ke1 113. Rf8 f1=Q 114. Rxf1+ Kxf1 {und nun lässt sich der
e-Bauer nicht mehr aufhalten:} 115. Ke4 Kf2 116. e6 Ra5 117. e7 Ra8 118. Ke5
$11) 112... Ra5 113. e6 Rd5+ 114. Kc2 Re5 115. Rg6 Ke1 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 77th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2015.01.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 {Actually not the most common m
ove, but one that has been seen since the good old 1800s.} exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7.
Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Ke6 {This idea of
moving the king forward is very popular. The point is that since Black can
force the trade of queens it only makes sense to put the king in the most
active square possible.} (11... Kg8 $6 12. Qxb4 {was seen a game played by
Greco in 1620!}) 12. Qxb4 Qf8 13. Qxf8 Rxf8 14. f3 (14. Nc3 {was Harikrishna's
choice against Aronian last year. That game also ended in a draw.}) 14... Ng5
15. Nc3 c6 16. h4 Nf7 17. Nd3 Kd6 18. Kf2 Nd8 19. g3 Ne6 20. Ne2 a5 21. Ndf4
Ra6 22. Rad1 Rb6 23. Rd2 Rb4 24. Re1 Nxf4 25. Nxf4 Rc4 26. a3 Bf5 27. Re3 b6
28. Rb3 b5 29. Re3 b4 30. Ne2 h5 31. Ke1 g6 32. b3 Rc2 33. Rxc2 Bxc2 34. a4 Bf5
35. Nf4 Rc8 36. Kd2 c5 37. Re5 cxd4 38. Rxd5+ Ke7 39. g4 hxg4 40. fxg4 Bxg4 41.
Nxg6+ Kf6 42. Rxd4 Be6 43. Rd6 Kf7 44. Ne5+ Ke7 45. Rd3 Kf6 46. Nf3 Bg8 47. Ng5
Kf5 48. Nf3 Kf6 49. h5 Rc5 50. h6 Rh5 51. Rd6+ Ke7 52. Ra6 Bxb3 53. h7 Bxa4 54.
Rxa5 Rxh7 55. Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.22"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Nguyen, Anh Dung"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Vietnam"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "VIE"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Be6 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 Re8 11. g4 a5 12. Ba4 dxe4 13. dxe4 {#} Nxe4 $3 {A
beautiful shot, completely missed by White.} 14. Qxe4 Bd5 15. Qe2 e4 16. Bxc6
Bxc6 17. Nd4 {#} e3 $1 {White cannot protect the rook, and will lose the
exchange.} 18. Bxe3 ({Moving the rook away from the bishop's attack with} 18.
Rg1 {runs into} exf2+ 19. Kxf2 Rxe2+) (18. f3 {is equally disastrous after}
Qh4+ 19. Kd1 Bxd4 20. cxd4 Qf6 $1 21. Nh2 Ba4+ 22. Ke1 (22. b3 Qxd4+ 23. Kc2
Qxa1 24. bxa4 Qxa2+ 25. Bb2 Re5) 22... Qh4+ 23. Kf1 Bb5 $3 24. Qxb5 Qf2#) 18...
Bxh1 $19 {Try as he might, White was unable to save the game thereafter.} 19.
O-O-O Qf6 20. Ng3 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Bf3 22. Qc4 Rad8 23. Rf4 Bd5 24. Qxc7 Qa6 25.
Qb6 Bxa2 26. Qxa6 bxa6 27. Kc2 Rb8 28. Nf5 Bb3+ 29. Kc1 a4 30. Nd4 a3 31. bxa3
Rec8 32. Bd2 Ba2 33. Nf5 Kh7 34. Nd6 Rc7 35. h4 Rb6 36. Nf5 Bb1 37. Ne3 Bd3 38.
Rb4 Rb5 39. Kb2 h5 40. g5 Re7 41. a4 Rxb4+ 42. cxb4 Re4 43. Ng2 Be2 44. Nf4 Bd1
45. a5 Rc4 46. Ka3 g6 47. Be3 Kg8 48. Bd2 Kf8 49. Be3 Ke7 50. Kb2 Kd6 51. b5
axb5 52. a6 Bf3 53. a7 Ke5 54. Nd3+ Kf5 55. Ne1 Ba8 56. Nc2 Rxh4 57. Nd4+ Rxd4
58. Bxd4 h4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-C 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Black "Pruijssers, Roeland"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. h3 Ba7 8. Bg5
d6 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Qf3 Ng6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Ne7
15. Ne4 Ng8 16. Ng3 Ne7 17. Nh5 Qd7 18. g4 Qc6 19. Qxc6 bxc6 20. Nxf6 Kg7 21.
Nh5+ Kh6 {# The Italian GM finds a very fine move here with} 22. Bd1 $1 {
The threat is simply h4-g5 mate!} Nd5 23. h4 f6 24. Rg1 Rg8 25. Kf1 Rab8 26.
Bb3 $1 {Planning Bxd5 and Nxf6 now as the passed pawns would easily decide it.}
Rgf8 27. Re1 (27. Bxd5 cxd5 28. Nxf6 {is not as strong since now Black gets
some counterplay after} Rxb2 ({Not} 28... Rxf6 $2 {which would just fit into
White's plans.} 29. g5+ Kg7 30. gxf6+ Kxf6 31. b3) 29. Rg2 Rxf6 30. g5+ Kg7 31.
gxf6+ Kxf6 {and here the strong central pawns and activity make winning far
harder.}) 27... Nf4 28. Nxf4 exf4 {#} 29. Re7 $1 {with the intention of g5+
fxg5 hxg5 Kh5 Rh7 mate.} (29. Re7 {If} Rg8 30. g5+ $1 fxg5 31. hxg5+ Rxg5 32.
Re6+ Kh5 33. Bd1+ Kh4 34. Rh1#) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 20th"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2015.11.22"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]
[TimeControl "6000+1360"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:33"]
[BlackClock "0:30:59"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Nf1 h6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ng3 Qd7 15.
b4 Rad8 16. a4 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nh4 Bb6 19. Nhf5 Ne7 {Diagramm [#]} 20.
Nxg7 (20. Nxe7+ Rxe7 {kann nicht die Intention des Manцvers Sh4-Sf5 sein -
Schwatz steht strukturell besser und muss am Kцnigsflьgel nichts mehr
befьrchten}) (20. Rxe5 Nxf5 21. Rxf5 Qc6 $1 {und Weiß hat Probleme alle
Problemstellen zu versorgen}) 20... Kxg7 21. Rxe5 Ng6 22. Bxh6+ Kxh6 23. Nf5+
Kh7 24. Qc1 Kg8 25. Qh6 {Diagramm [#]} Nh5 $1 {gibt eine der beiden
Mehrfiguren zurьck und gewinnt dafьr wichtige Zeit zur Konsolidierung} 26.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Qxh5 Qc6 28. c4 bxc4 29. d4 Be6 30. Ba4 Qa8 31. Nh6+ Kg7 32. d5
Bd7 33. Nxf7 Bxa4 34. Ra3 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Qa7+ 36. Kf1 c3 0-1

[Event "Bilbao Masters 9th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2016.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2016.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Ne7 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Bb3 c6 12. h3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Bxf2+
15. Kxf2 Nxe5 16. d4 Ng6 17. Kg1 Qh4 18. Bd2 Bd7 19. Qf3 Rae8 20. Ng3 Re6 21.
Nh5 Rfe8 22. Rf1 Qe7 23. Qg3 Re2 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Qh4 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 27.
Qxh4 Nxh4 {[#] Mit dem Läuferpaar hat Weiß Endspielvorteil und geht nun im
Zentrum vor.} 28. c4 Ne7 29. Kf2 Nhf5 30. d5 Nd4 31. Ba2 cxd5 32. cxd5 Bxa4 33.
Bc3 Bb3 34. d6 Nec6 35. Bxd4 ({Ein anderer Versuch war} 35. Bxb3 $5 Nxb3 36.
Nxg7 f6 37. Nf5 Kf7 38. Nxh6+ Ke6 39. Ng8) 35... Bxa2 36. Bxg7 Kh7 37. Bc3 Be6
{[#]} 38. Nf6+ (38. g4 $5 {um den König zu mobilisieren.} b5 39. Ke3 b4 40.
Bf6) 38... Kg6 39. d7 a5 40. g4 b5 41. h4 b4 42. Be5 a4 43. h5+ Kg7 44. Ne4+
Kh7 45. Bd6 f5 46. Nc5 a3 47. bxa3 b3 48. Be5 Bxd7 49. Bc3 Bc8 50. Nxb3 fxg4
51. Kg3 Ne7 52. Nc5 Nf5+ 53. Kxg4 Nd4+ 54. Kh4 Nf5+ 55. Kh3 Ng7+ 56. Kh4 Nf5+
57. Kh3 Ng7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "SWE-ch"]
[Site "Uppsala"]
[Date "2016.07.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hector, Jonny"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2016.07.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.08.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.08.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:13"]
[BlackClock "0:05:53"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Be6 10. Re1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Qd7 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ng3 {[#] The position
can be regarded as fairly equal, even though it is easrier to find moves for
White (plan d3-d4). Grandelius played 13...Tfe8 against Hillarp 2009. But now
he deviates.} Kh7 {It is certainly not clear that this move is an improvement.
Jonny has a keen eye for tactics and spots the oppurtunity to seize a small
initiative.} 14. d4 $1 Rfe8 (14... exd4 15. cxd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Qd3 {
Threatening e4-e5+.} Be5 18. f4 {and White is very much better.}) 15. Be3 Kg8 (
{Again, it is fatal to grab the pawn.} 15... exd4 16. cxd4 Nxe4 17. d5 $1 Nd8
18. Bxa7 Nxg3 19. Rxe8 Qxe8 20. fxg3 Rxa7 21. Qc2+ Kg8 22. Qxc7 {And White
will emerge with a superior coordination and a helthy pawn (d5) up.}) 16. Rad1
exd4 (16... b5 {finally threating the pawn was the alternative.}) 17. cxd4 Nxe4
({The waiting strategy by} 17... Ne7 {did not appeal to Grandelius.}) 18. Nxe4
Rxe4 19. Qxb7 Rb8 {A human move which gives White a clear edge.} (19... Ree8
20. Rc1 Bc5 $1 {was a tricky way to keep White's advantage to a minimum.} 21.
Qb3 (21. dxc5 $2 Reb8) 21... Bb6 22. d5 Ne5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Bxb6 Rxe1+ 25.
Rxe1 Rb8) 20. Qxa6 Rxb2 21. Rc1 Rb6 22. Qa3 {A nice little Zwischenzug, aiming
at gaining an important tempi.} Rb8 (22... Rb7 23. d5 Nb8 24. Bxa7 Ra4 25. Qd3
Raxa7 26. Nd4 {is depressing.}) 23. Qa4 $1 Rb6 24. Nd2 $1 Rh4 25. Rc3 Rh5 {
So far Hector has played a perfect game and I can imagine that in his mind
there was a sence of harmony.} 26. d5 ({Perhaps White could improve te
position even a little bit further before playing d5.} 26. Nb3 {it is not easy
to see how black can prevent d4-d5 as} d5 27. Rec1 {is winning the piece.})
26... Rxd5 27. Bxb6 Bxb6 28. Nb3 Rf5 29. Re2 Ne5 30. Qa8+ $6 ({Hector is
clearly very good at endgames, and many topplayers would probably not give
many seconds of thought to} 30. Qxd7 {simply exhanging the Queen and then
slowly grind Black down.} Nxd7 31. a4 $1 {heading for a ending with an clear
exchange up due to the weak c7-d6-pawns.} g6 32. a5 Bxa5 33. Nxa5 Rxa5 34. Rxc7
Ne5 35. Rd2 d5 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37. Rd8 {wrapping up the pawn.}) 30... Kh7 31. Qe4
{Now, on the other hand the picture is not so clear.} Ng6 ({Putting up
resistance with a advanced frontier by playing} 31... d5 32. Qc2 g6 {was
better. Black has interesting possibilities as Q-d6-g3 (when circumstances
allow it), and d4-d3 which gives White some problems.}) 32. Rf3 Re5 33. Qc2 Kg8
34. Rxe5 Nxe5 35. Rc3 {[#] If we compare this position to the one with Queens
exhanged one can see that this one demands an exceptional level of technique
for White.} d5 36. Qe2 Qf5 37. Nd2 $1 ({I still like the idea of playing} 37.
a4 {taking away the safe haven of the Bishop.} {Perhaps Jonny was preoccupied
with} d4 38. Rc1 d3 39. Qd2) 37... d4 {Jonny finds a clever way to activate
the rook.} 38. Ra3 d3 39. Qe1 $6 ({Again Jonny disregards the exchange of
Queens. This time it was not as obvious as last time:} 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40. Qe4
Bxf2+ 41. Kf1 {Black is temporarely winning a pawn.} Qxe4 42. Nxe4 Bb6 43. Nd2
{But now he can't prevent the a-pawn without giving something back:} Nc6 44.
Nc4 Bd4 45. a4 Nb4 46. Rd8 Bc3 47. Rd7 c6 48. Rxf7 {and White is winning.})
39... g6 40. Ra4 Kg7 41. Re4 f6 42. Kf1 h5 {The psychological momentum is now
on Black's side.} 43. Ra4 Qd7 44. Qd1 Qc6 45. Rf4 g5 46. Re4 Qc5 47. Qe1 Qd5 {
Centralization.} 48. Ra4 Qc6 49. Qd1 Qc5 50. Qe1 Qc2 (50... Ba5 $1) 51. Re4 $2
(51. Nb3 {The sad news for White is that he now has to find "only moves".})
51... Ba5 {curtains.} 52. Rxe5 Bxd2 53. Re7+ Kh6 54. Rh7+ Kxh7 55. Qe7+ Kg6 56.
Qe8+ Kf5 57. Qd7+ Ke5 58. Qe7+ Kd5 59. Qd7+ Kc5 60. Qxc7+ Kb4 61. Qe7+ Ka4 62.
Qa7+ Ba5 63. Qd4+ Ka3 64. Qd6+ Bb4 {This game might indicate that Grandelius
will win this year. Despite weak play in the initial phase of the middlegame
and inadequate creativity in the defence he ended up winning by oppotunistic
play in a losing position. And Nils will probably not end up in many more
losing positions in the tournament. Jonny on the other hand might consider to
forget about the audience once and a while. His preformance up to move 29 was
absolutely world class. It is allowed to finnishing of games boringly...} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Alkaloid"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. h3 Ne7
15. Nh2 c6 16. Rad1 d5 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Rad8 19. d4 exd4 20. Rxd4 Qc8 21.
Red1 b5 22. Qc2 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Nd5 24. Qd3 Qe6 25. Qf5 Qxf5 26. gxf5 Re5 27. g4
Kh7 28. R1d2 {[#]} h5 $1 {Zersplittert die weißen Bauern am Königsflügel,
was sich für das kommende Turmendspiel als vorteilhaft erweist} 29. gxh5 Rd6
30. b3 a5 31. Nxd5 $6 ({Nach} 31. c4 bxc4 32. bxc4 {scheitert} Nxe3 33. Rxd6 {
an} Nxc4 {mit Bauerngewinn.}) ({Die Maschinen empfehlen} 31. a4 $5) 31... Rdxd5
{[#]} 32. c4 $2 {Danach entsteht ein für Weiß ungünstiges Turmendspiel.} (
32. Rxd5 $5 cxd5 33. f6) 32... bxc4 33. bxc4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Rxf5 35. Rd7 f6 36.
Ra7 Rxh5 37. Kg2 Kg6 {[#]} 38. f4 $2 ({Besser war} 38. Kf3 {z.B.:} Rc5 39. Ke3
Rxc4 40. Rxa5 $17) 38... Rc5 39. Kf3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Rxc4 41. Rxa5+ c5 42. a4 Re4+
43. Kd3 Kxf4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2844"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Carlsen,M"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {The first time I've ever tried 1.e4 against Mickey in classical chess}
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {But alas, the free day before the game was not spent
refuting his Ruy/Berlin repertoire} Bc5 4. O-O d6 {Avoiding the Max Power (Max
Lange) attack after ...Nf6 d4.} 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 {I remembered that Saric got
an advantage with d4 Bb6 dxe5 against Aronian in last year's Tata, but I
assumed Mickey had that covered.} h6 {Avoiding Bg5. Against the Italian such
liberties can often be taken. Besides he stays flexible on the queenside,
deciding whether to play ...a6 or ...a5 only after I've shown some of my cards.
} 7. a4 {I spent more than 25 minutes combined on this and the next move, time
that I would later curse myself for having wasted. Part of the time was spent
pondering whether the extra h6-move could somehow be used to my advantage
after d4 Bb6 (I cannot imagine why I thought it maybe could). But mostly I was
trying to figure how I could favourably expand on the queenside.} (7. b4 Bb6 8.
Nbd2 {was one of the lines I considered, as if I get time for Bb3 and Nc4 I
will have a little something.} Ne7 {However looked fine to me, as Black will
be in time to meet Nc4 with ...Bc7.}) (7. Nbd2 a6 {also gives Black a normal
Italian.} (7... Ne7 8. d4 {is probably an achievement for White})) 7... a5 {
Probably the right decision. If ...a6 (one of the two naturally had to be
played to avoid me trapping his bishop) then I would follow the same plan,
with a little more space than in the game.} 8. Na3 {Once again I spent time
considering d4, but finally decided to just play normally.} O-O {I actually
thought he might consider just chopping off my knight, as my rook would be
temporarily misplaced, and I was not sure my dark-squared bishop would have
such a bright future. The bishop pair will soon be gone after ...Be6.} 9. Nc2
Re8 {I was quite happy to see this move, as I will be able to pin his rook
after ...Be6 Bb5.} (9... Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 {was naturally quite possible, but
White could claim to be slightly better after Be3 Bxe3 Nxe3, probably without
justification.}) 10. Re1 {As he cannot go Be6 Bxe6 Rxe6 due to d4-d5, it makes
sense to make a waiting move before going Be3.} Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 {
Now I felt that I just needed to make another waiting move, and he would have
to make a slight concession.} 13. Bxa7 {After a frustrating half an hour of
thinking I could not find anything better.} (13. h3 {is the move that suggests
itself. But I did not want to weaken f4} Ne7 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4 Ng6 {It
seemed to me that I would not be able to exploit the undefended position of
his rook on a7 after dxe5, and otherwise Black is solid, and might find some
counterplay with ...Nf4 later.}) (13. Rc1) (13. g3) (13. Nd2) (13. Qd2) (13.
Qe2 {were other more sophisticated means I considered in the fight for a tempo,
but none of them came close to convincing me.}) 13... Nxa7 14. Bc4 Be6 {
Very logical. He could also go ...Nc8 immediately, but then I might go hide
the bishop:} (14... Nc8 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Bb3 Be6 17. Bc2 {with d4 coming,
although it is naturally not much.}) 15. Bxe6 Rxe6 16. Ne3 Nc8 {The best route
for the knight.} (16... Nc6 17. Qb3 {with Nd5 looming, is a little
uncomfortable.}) 17. Nf5 {The white pieces are a little better placed, but
with such a symmetrical structure my slight advantage will naturally disappear.
That's why I took the chance to force matters a little.} Ne7 18. d4 {The idea
of my previous move.} (18. N3h4 {is pointless, as without the dark-squared
bishops I cannot make use of the knight on f5.}) 18... exd4 19. N3xd4 Re5 $2 {
A mistake, though neither of us really understood that during the game.} (19...
Rxe4 20. Rxe4 Nxe4 21. Qg4 {At first seemed to me quite promising for White,
as I somehow only considered Nxf5 here} Ng5 $1 {I discovered that this was
possible only after I played 17.Nf5} (21... Nxf5 22. Nxf5 Ng5 23. Re1 $1 {
is what I liked for White; h4 is now a serious threat and after} Qf6 24. Ne7+
Kh8 25. Nd5 Qd8 26. Qf5 $1 Qc8 27. Qxc8+ Rxc8 28. Re7 {White's initiative
persists without queens}) 22. Re1 (22. h4 Nxf5 23. Nxf5 Ne6 24. Nxh6+ Kf8 25.
Nf5 Qf6 {is objectively the best, with equality}) 22... Ng6 $1 23. h4 Nh7 {
and there is nothing concrete while Black remains a pawn up.}) 20. Ng3 Ng6 {
It's easy to understand why Mickey did not feel the need to play concretely,
Black seems very solid, while my space advantage (e4 vs d6) does not feel very
significant with two pairs of minor pieces exchanged. Besides it appears that
the space advantage could disappear at any moment after a timely d6-d5. His
last move is quite necessary to avoid f4, as rolling with a Lasker rook on c5
understandably seemed a bit too funky.} 21. Qc2 {I spent seven minutes on this
move, partly hesitating between going c4 immediately and bringing my rook into
play first, and partly cursing myself having wasted so much time earlier in
the game and now wasting more precious time (I had about half an hour left
before this move) on a decision that did not seem particularly significant.} (
21. c4 {I finally decided against it because of} c6 {with ...Qb6 coming, even
after} 22. Ndf5 Qb6 {and ...Rd8 follows after either capture.}) 21... c6 {
Not a great move, but very logical. Engines start suggesting moves like Qb8-a7,
which is not very intuitive while White has a square on b5.} 22. Rad1 {Now I
was very surprised and happy to discover that I was actually better! It's hard
to play ...d5 under favourable circumstances and my plan in the game is
surprisingly powerful.} Qc7 (22... d5 {does not quite work} 23. Nf3 Re8 24.
exd5 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 cxd5 (25... Nxd5 26. c4) 26. Nf3 {is comfortably better
for White. Normally it would not be much, but the inclusion of a4 a5 helps me
enormously, as there will be a square on b5 and additional targets.}) 23. Ndf5
Rd8 (23... d5 24. exd5 Nxd5 (24... cxd5 {is better, but again by no means equal
}) 25. Nh5 {is not difficult, but it was somehow aesthetically pleasing during
the game. g7 cannot be defended.} Rae8 26. Rf1 (26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Qb1 $1 {
is also possible} (27. g3 Qe2)) 26... Re2 27. Qb1 {and Black's temporary
activity is extinguished, while g7 falls.}) 24. Qd2 {Going c4 was also
possible, with a nice grip on the position, but I was excited about the
prospect of attacking d6 and threatening f4 with one move.} Kh7 {Played after
18 minutes of thinking, a sure sign that he realised that his position was
getting really unpleasant.} (24... Qb6 25. Kh1 {does not seem to change much.}
(25. Nxd6 Re6 {is much too hasty})) 25. f4 Qb6+ {Normally one would like to
save such a check for later, but here it is absolutely forced.} (25... Ree8 26.
Nxd6 Qb6+ 27. Qf2 {Now I can safely block the check, since the rook on e8 is
hanging.}) 26. Kh1 (26. Qf2 {Now f4 is simply hanging:} Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Nxf4)
26... Ree8 (26... Re6 27. e5 {is absolutely terrible for Black, as long as I
avoid a nasty little trick} Ng4 28. Rf1 $1 {I was going to play this on
general grounds, as one should not take the rook off the last rank for no
reason!} (28. Re2 $4 Nxf4 $1 29. Qxf4 dxe5 {This is the point; because of the
last rank weakness the tables are turned.})) 27. h3 {By far the best move, but
again I invested a large part of the time I had left.} (27. Nxd6 Ng4 28. Rf1
Rxd6 (28... Ne3 29. Qf2 $1) 29. Qxd6 Nf2+ 30. Rxf2 Qxf2 {and I am only
temporarily a pawn up as both f4 and b2 are hanging.}) 27... Rd7 {This came as
a major surprise to me. Black cannot defend d6 as both ...d5 and ...Re6 run
into e5, but while maybe not objectively better,} (27... h5 {is what I spent
all my time calculating before I played h3 and would have been a very
interesting try. I investigated several options:} 28. Qe2 $1 {The surprising
move is the one I liked the most during the game} (28. Qc2 {or Qd3 were other
moves that I briefly touched on, with the idea of answering} h4 {with} 29. Nxh4
Nxh4 30. e5+ {But if he simply defends the pawn with ...Qc7 or ...Qc5 instead,
I was not convinced about my advantage}) (28. Nxd6 {This is the simplest.
After the forced} h4 29. Ngf5 Nxe4 {I saw} 30. Nxe4 $1 Rxe4 $1 {but I could
not evaluate} (30... Rxd2 31. Ng5+ {mates:} Kg8 32. Rxe8+ Nf8 33. Ne7+ Kh8 34.
Rxf8#) 31. Rxe4 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 {properly. With more time I would surely have
realised that all the entry points for his queen are covered and my threat of
Nd6 is very strong, but with little time and a possibly unsafe king, I'm
always a bit wary of playing against the queen.}) 28... h4 (28... Nxf4 {
Normally one would stop calculating here, but since my queen is now no longer
pinned on the d-file} 29. Qf3 {followed by Nxd6 is now very strong}) 29. Nh5
Nxe4 30. Qf3 $1 {I saw this idea, but I was still apprehensive, as I could not
really believe that it would work. But it does!} Nf2+ (30... Qc5 {This is a
much better defence, but it does not solve his problems} 31. Nhxg7 Ng3+ 32.
Nxg3 Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 hxg3 34. Nh5 Qf2 35. Qxg3 Qxg3 36. Nxg3 {and since ...Nxf4
is met by Rf1 White has good winning chances}) 31. Kh2 Nxd1 32. Nf6+ $1 gxf6
33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. Qh6 {and mates.}) 28. Nxd6 Rxd6 {The only chance:} (28... Red8
29. e5 Ne8 30. Ngf5 {is just a pawn.}) 29. Qxd6 Qf2 {Since all my attention
had been focused on 27...h5, I only now realised that even I was still a long
way away from a win.} (29... Qxb2 {Even this is not so bad} 30. f5 (30. Qd2
Qxd2 31. Rxd2 Nxf4 32. e5 N6d5 {also does not look too convincing}) 30... Ne5
31. Qd2 Qa3 32. Ra1 Qe7 {and while I suspect White should be technically
winning, Black has a solid blockade for the moment, and with eight moves still
to go till move 40 one never knows what could happen.}) 30. Qd3 {There is
nothing better than to return a couple of pawns. Additionally, after
blundering both mate on g2 and the knight on g3 in different lines, getting
the queens off seemed like a very wise idea.} Nxf4 31. Qf3 Nxh3 32. Re2 {
32.Rf1 was also possible, but I liked the idea of doubling rooks on the d-file.
} Qxf3 33. gxf3 Ng5 34. Kg2 Ne6 35. Red2 g6 {He has managed to set up a solid
defence for the moment, but the following knight manoeuvre is surprisingly
strong.} ({He should perhaps have tried} 35... g5 {immediately, as Nf5 and Nd6
can be met by ...Re7. Practically speaking, Black certainly has drawing
chances.}) 36. Nf1 h5 {Since there is no good way to meet Ne3-c4 anyway,
Mickey has to go for it after all.} 37. Ne3 h4 38. Nc4 g5 39. Nxa5 g4 40. Nxb7
{I decided to be really greedy, as it seemed to me that his h3-g3 pair would
not really be dangerous.} g3 41. Nd6 Rg8 42. Nf5 Nf4+ 43. Kh1 h3 44. a5 {
So far so good. I have a lot of extra material, and he has no threats.
Additionally, my a-pawn is running very fast.} N6h5 45. a6 Ne6 {Now however, I
sank into thought and began seeing all sorts of ghosts.} 46. a7 (46. Rd6 {
This had been my original intention preventing ...Ng5 and game over I thought.
But then I saw} Nhf4 {with the idea of ...Ne2, and it spooked me a lot more
than it should have} 47. Nxg3 Rxg3 48. a7 {and game over, one would think? ...
Rg8 Rd8 is easy enough. But then you start seeing lines like} (48. Rg1 Ng2 49.
a7 Rg8 50. Rxc6 {is still completely winning, which I more or less realised
during the game. But some doubts still remained: For what did I give up my
knight!?}) 48... Ne2 $1 49. a8=Q $4 Rg2 {and once you find one line in which
are suddenly mated, you start looking for other options.}) 46... Ra8 47. Ra1
Ng5 48. Nh4 {So this is the idea that I settled on. I have to remove the
knight from its best post on f5, but I could still not see any ideas for Black.
} (48. Rd3 Nf4 49. Re3 {would have been a very clean solution, were it not for}
g2+ (49... Ng2 {was what I feared, but this is very easily solved by} 50. Re2
Nf4 51. Nxg3 {and the rook is protected}) 50. Kh2 Ne2 $1 {I naturally did not
see this} 51. Rxe2 Nxf3+ 52. Kg3 (52. Kxh3 g1=Q 53. Rxg1 Nxg1+ {and I lose
both rooks}) 52... Rxa7 53. Rb1 g1=Q+ 54. Rxg1 Nxg1 {and he has suddenly
regained all his material, even if not solving all his problems as the knight
is rather stuck on g1.}) 48... Nf4 49. b4 $2 {Panic, confusion... I just
decided to get rid of the pawns once and for all.} (49. Ra5 {would still have
been a clean win, as Mickey pointed out to me after the game. I rejected it
because of} c5 {but now} 50. b4 {which I somehow failed to consider works much
better} Ng6 (50... g2+ 51. Nxg2 hxg2+ 52. Rxg2 Nxg2 53. Kxg2 cxb4 54. cxb4 {
and with the c6-pawn gone, the pawns are unstoppable}) 51. Nxg6 Nxf3 52. Rg2 {
and this works even here.}) 49... g2+ {Because of Kh2/g1 Ng6, I am forced to
give up a full rook.} 50. Nxg2 hxg2+ 51. Rxg2 Nxg2 52. Kxg2 Ne6 53. c4 Nc7 {
And the pawns are reasonably well blockaded. It still felt like I should be
winning, as his pieces are very passive and my king and f/e-pair will manage
to create something before his king can get to the queenside.} 54. Kg3 Kg6 55.
Kf4 Kf6 56. e5+ Ke7 (56... Ke6 57. Ke4 f6 {would have been very logical,
seemingly exchanging off the e5-pawn without letting my king take up a
dominating position on e5. But I had seen in advance that it would fail to} 58.
Kd4 {and since he does not have the e6-square for the knight, my king
decisively penetrates on the queenside.}) 57. Ke4 f6 {Quite logical, but not
the best try.} (57... Kd7 58. f4 Kc8 59. f5 Kb7 60. e6 {with the idea of fxe6
f6 and} f6 61. Kd4 {But I missed} Kb6 $1 {stopping Kc5 and making a draw. My
father told me after the game that a Norwegian supercomputer gave me +4 even
after 57...Kd7, so I guess I'm still winning. Am I going to find out how, or
stick to the old clichй that this would have given better chances for a draw,
but should still lose? The latter obviously. Deal with it.} (61... Na6 62. Rxa6
{seemed to win still.} (62. Rxa6))) 58. f4 fxe5 59. Kxe5 Ne8 60. f5 Nd6 {
Now I'm winning by force.} (60... Nf6 {and the win, while attainable, is still
not quite easy.}) 61. f6+ Kd7 62. Rd1 Re8+ 63. Kd4 {The point. While breaking
the pin does not look logical, I am threatening Kc5 and after the forced.} Kc7
64. Re1 {White wins a crucial tempo} Nf5+ {As Peter and I agreed on after the
game, resigning instead of trying this would have been unprofessional.} 65. Kc3
(65. Kc5 {Fortunately I had a lot of time...} Rxe1 66. a8=Q Re5#) 65... Ra8 66.
f7 1-0

[Event "URS-ch49 Final"]
[Site "Frunze"]
[Date "1981.11.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1981.11.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O (5... d6 $5) 6. c3 Bb6 7.
Re1 (7. Bg5 $5) 7... d6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 (8... Be6 $5) 9. Nf1 Ng6 10. Ng3 Be6 11.
Bb3 h6 12. h3 Re8 13. d4 $14 c6 14. Bc2 Qc7 15. Be3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Nf4 $6 (16...
Bc8 $5 {/\d5/}) 17. Qd2 Ng6 18. Rad1 d5 19. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 20. Bf4 Nfd7 21. exd5
Bxd5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 $1 Rxe5 24. c4 $18 Qe7 (24... Bxc4 25. Qxd8+ Qxd8
26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Bxe5 $18) 25. Bxe5 Bf3 26. Qxd8+ $1 Bxd8 27. gxf3 Bb6 28. f4
Qc5 29. Bd4 Qxc4 30. Bb3 Qb4 31. Bxb6 axb6 32. Rd7 (32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Bxf7 Qxf4
{/\Qc1-b2/}) 32... Qxf4 33. Bxf7+ Kh7 34. Bg6+ $1 (34. Bg6+ Kg8 35. Rd8+ $18) (
34. Bg6+ Kxg6 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Nh5+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Bugojno"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1986.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 h6 $5 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 (12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Nf4
$10) 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Kh2 Ne7 (14... Be6 $5) 15. Ne3 Ra8 16. a4 {/\ a5+/=} Be6
17. Bxe6 fxe6 $6 $14 (17... Nxe6) 18. Ng1 Rad8 19. g3 Nfg6 20. Rf1 d5 21. Qe2
Nc6 22. Ng2 Rf7 23. h4 Rdf8 (23... Rfd7 24. Rad1 $5 (24. Nf3 Rf7 25. Nge1 {
/\ h5, Nh4}) 24... dxe4 25. Qxe4 Qf5 26. Ne3 $16) 24. Rad1 (24. b4 $5) 24...
Nge7 25. h5 (25. f4 $1 $14) 25... g6 26. Nh3 (26. hxg6 Nxg6 27. Qh5 Qg5 $1 $15)
26... Qf3 27. Qxf3 Rxf3 28. hxg6 Nxg6 29. Ne3 d4 (29... Rd8 $5) 30. Nc2 R3f7 (
30... dxc3 31. bxc3 Rd8 32. Ne1 (32. Ne3 Rf7 33. Rd2 Rfd7 $15) 32... Rf7 33. f4
$14) 31. cxd4 $1 Nxd4 (31... exd4 32. f4 Nge5 33. Nf2 h5 34. Kg2 $16) 32. Nxd4
exd4 33. f4 c5 (33... Ne5 34. Nf2 $1) 34. a5 b6 (34... Ne5 35. Nf2 Nc6 36. Rc1
Nxa5 37. Rxc5 $16) 35. axb6 Rb7 $2 (35... Rb8 $5) 36. Rc1 Rxb6 (36... Rc8 37.
b4 $18) 37. Rxc5 (37. Rf2 Rc8 38. Rfc2 Rb5 39. Nf2 $16) 37... Rxb2+ 38. Rf2
Rxf2+ (38... Rfb8 39. Ra5 $18) 39. Nxf2 Ra8 40. Ra5 (40. Ng4 a5 41. f5 exf5 42.
exf5 Nf8 $1 $132) 40... Ne7 41. Ng4 Nc6 $8 (41... Kg7 42. Ne5) 42. Rc5 $1 (42.
Ra4 a5 43. Nxh6+ Kg7 44. Ng4 Rb8 45. Rc4 Nb4) 42... Ne7 (42... Nb4 43. Rc7 $1
$18 a5 (43... Nxd3 44. Kh3 a5 45. Nf6+ Kf8 46. Kg4 {/\ Kh5-g6, Rf7#}) 44. Nxh6+
Kf8 45. g4 Nxd3 46. Kg3 {/\g5-g6}) 43. Rc7 $1 (43. Nxh6+ Kf8 44. Ra5 Nc6 45.
Rg5 Ke7 $13) 43... Kf8 44. Ne5 $1 a5 (44... h5 45. f5 $18) 45. g4 (45. f5 exf5
46. exf5 Nd5 47. Rd7 a4 48. f6 (48. Rxd5 a3 49. f6 a2 50. Rd7 a1=Q $10) 48...
Nxf6 (48... a3 49. Ng6+ Ke8 50. Rh7 $18) 49. Rf7+ Kg8 50. Rxf6 a3 51. Rf1 a2)
45... a4 46. f5 exf5 (46... Ra5 47. Rxe7 Rxe5 48. Ra7 h5 49. Kg3 $1 (49. Rxa4
hxg4 50. fxe6 Rh5+ 51. Kg2 Rh3 52. Rxd4 Ke7 $10) 49... hxg4 50. fxe6 Rxe6 51.
Kxg4 $18) 47. gxf5 Nxf5 (47... a3 48. f6 a2 49. Rxe7 a1=Q 50. Ng6+ Kg8 51. Rg7#
) 48. exf5 Ra5 49. Rc5 Rxc5 50. Nd7+ Ke7 51. Nxc5 a3 52. Kg3 $8 Kd6 53. Nb3 Ke5
54. Kg4 h5+ (54... a2 55. Na1 Kf6 56. Kf4 h5 57. Nc2 h4 58. Kg4 h3 59. Kxh3
Kxf5 60. Kg3 $18) 55. Kg5 h4 56. f6 Ke6 (56... h3 57. f7 h2 58. f8=Q h1=Q 59.
Qe7+ Kd5 60. Qb7+ $18) 57. Kg6 h3 58. f7 h2 59. f8=Q h1=Q 60. Nc5+ Ke5 61. Qb8+
1-0

[Event "London International Masters notcounted"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1883.04.27"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Bird, Henry Edward"]
[Black "Winawer, Szymon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1883.04.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "26"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "HCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7
9. O-O Ng6 10. Be3 d5 11. exd5 Bxe3 12. fxe3 Nxd5 13. Qb3 Be6 14. Bxd5 Bxd5 15.
c4 Be6 16. Nbd2 Qe7 17. d4 f6 18. Ne4 b6 19. d5 Bf7 20. Ng3 Qd7 21. Rad1 Ne7
22. Nh4 O-O 23. e4 Nc8 24. c5 bxc5 25. Rc1 g6 26. Rxf6 Qe7 27. Rcf1 Nd6 28. Qe3
Ne8 29. Qg5 Nxf6 {[#]} 30. Ngf5 $2 (30. Rxf6 $18) 30... Qd8 $11 31. Nh6+ Kh8
32. Rxf6 Bg8 33. Nxg8 Kxg8 34. Rxg6+ hxg6 35. Qxg6+ Kh8 36. Qh5+ Kg8 37. Qg4+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Qe2 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
Qe7 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Bg3 Bg4 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Bb5 Nf4 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. N1d2 Rg8
15. g3 fxg3 16. fxg3 O-O-O 17. a4 Nb8 18. a5 Bc5 19. Bc4 a6 20. h3 Be6 21. g4
Nd7 22. Bxa6 bxa6 23. d4 Nb8 24. dxc5 dxc5 25. O-O-O Qe8 26. Nxe5 Qa4 27. Rhf1
Rge8 28. c4 Rd4 29. Kb1 Red8 30. Rf3 $4 (30. b3 Qxa5 31. Ndf3 $13) 30... Rxe4
0-1

[Event "World-ch29 Karpov-Kortschnoj +6-2=10"]
[Site "Merano"]
[Date "1981.10.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "1981.10.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "MainBase"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Italienisch! Ganz allgemein ist 3.Lc4 bei
Weltmeisterschaftspartien seit der  6.Partie Lasker-Steinitz, 1896 vollstдndig
ignoriert worden.} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.
Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Na5 $1 11. Qa4+ Nc6 $1 {Die schwarze
Verteidigung ist kaum zu knacken.}) 5... d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. O-O O-O 8. Bb3 Ba7 9.
h3 {Erst mit diesem Zug weicht Karpov von der Partie Nunn-Kortchnoi,
Johannesburg 1981, ab.} Be6 10. Bc2 d5 11. Re1 dxe4 {Durch die Festlegung der
Zentralbauern macht Schwarz deutlich, daЯ er auf Aus- gleich spielt.} (11...
Qd7 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Nc4 {Wollte Schwarz die Zentrumsspannung erhalten, so
kцnnte sein e-Bauer unter Druck geraten.}) (11... d4 12. Nc4 dxc3 13. bxc3 Bxc4
14. dxc4 {Zerstцrt zwar die weiЯe Bauernstruktur, ьberlдЯt aber dem WeiЯen
nicht nur das Lдuferpaar, sondern auch Chancen in der b- und d-Linie.}) 12.
dxe4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Rad8 15. Be3 f6 {Schwarz will in der Lage sein,
spдter einmal c6 spielen zu kцnnen, um das Feld d5 gedeckt zu halten. Es ist
deshalb nicht wichtig, daЯ sein Springer sich vorьbergehend vom Zentrum
entfernt.} 16. Bxa7 Nxa7 17. Ne3 Nf4 18. h4 Bf7 19. Ne1 Nc8 20. f3 Ne6 21. Nd3
Rd7 22. Bb3 Ne7 (22... c6 23. Bxe6 Bxe6 24. Nc5 $1) 23. Nd5 Nc6 24. Ba4 b5 25.
Bc2 Rfd8 26. a4 Kf8 27. g3 Rd6 28. b4 Ne7 29. Ne3 Rc6 30. Ra3 {Kortchnoi hat
fьr die letzten zehn Zьge vor der Zeitkontrolle nur noch einein- halb Minuten
Bedenkzeit, wдhrend Karpov noch 25 Minuten zur Verfьgung stehen.} Nc8 31. axb5
axb5 32. Kf2 Nb6 33. Nb2 Rxd1 34. Bxd1 Rd6 35. Be2 Be8 36. Ra5 Rd8 37. Ke1 c6
38. Ra6 Rb8 39. Bd1 Nc8 40. Nd3 Nc7 41. Ra5 {Die Hдngepartiestellung, in der
Schwarz seinen 41.Zug abzugeben hatte.} Ra8 42. f4 exf4 43. gxf4 Nb6 {Schwarz
schlдgt nicht auf a5, weil dieser Abtausch dem WeiЯen sowohl einen Freibauern
in der a-Linie als auch das groЯartige Feld b4 fьr einen seiner Springer
bescheren wьrde.} 44. Bf3 Rd8 $1 45. Be2 Na4 46. Ra7 Rd7 47. Kd2 Ne6 48. Rxd7
Bxd7 49. Bg4 g6 50. f5 gxf5 {WeiЯ hat durch die Isolierung der schwarzen f- u.
h-Bauern einen kleinen Er- folg erzielt. Auch der Sa4 steht abseits vom
Hauptkampfplatz.} (50... Nd8 51. fxg6 {Mit Materialgewinn.}) 51. Bxf5 Kg7 52.
e5 Nf8 (52... fxe5 53. Nxe5) 53. Bxd7 Nxd7 54. e6 Ndb6 55. Nf4 Kf8 {Ein ganz
ungewцhnlicher Endspieltyp - vier Springer und Bauern - und WeiЯ hat sich die
Initiative gesichert.} 56. Kd3 {Vielleicht ist hier 56.Se3-f5!? chancenreicher.
} Nc8 57. Ng4 Ke7 58. Nh6 Kd6 59. Kd4 Ne7 60. Nf7+ Kc7 61. Nh5 c5+ {Geschickt
und gar nicht offensichtlich, denn jetzt kann der gestrandete Sprin- ger auf
a4 ins Spiel zurьckkehren.} (61... Nf5+ 62. Kd3 Nxh4 63. Nxf6 Ng6 64. Kd4 $1 {
WeiЯ beherrscht die sS, bedroht den Bh7 und hдlt den sK auf Abstand zum  
e-Freibauern.}) 62. bxc5 Nc6+ 63. Ke3 (63. Kd5 Nxc3# {Matt.}) 63... Nxc5 64.
Nxf6 Nxe6 65. h5 (65. Nxh7 b4 $1 {Um Remis zu erzielen, braucht Schwarz jetzt
nur noch einen Springer fьr den weiЯen h-Bauern zu opfern, das sollte nicht
schwerfallen.}) 65... Nf8 (65... b4 66. Nd5+) 66. Ke4 Kb6 67. Ng5 h6 68. Nf7
Ne6 69. Ne8 Nc5+ 70. Ke3 Na4 71. Kd2 b4 72. cxb4 Nxb4 73. Nxh6 Nc5 74. Nf5 Nd5
{WeiЯ hat zu guter Letzt einen Bauern gewonnen, aber es ist ganz undenkbar,
daЯ nicht einer der zentralisierten Springer in der Lage sein sollte, das
Vorrьk- ken dieses letzten Freibauern aufzuhalten.} 75. h6 Ne4+ 76. Kd3 Ng5 77.
Kd4 Kc6 78. Nfg7 Ne7 79. Nf6 Ng6 80. Nf5 {Remis. Es hдtte noch folgen kцnnen
80...Sg5-f7 usw.. Am SchluЯ dieser Partie mцchte ich Kortchnoi meine
Anerkennung aussprechen fьr den groЯen Sachverstand , mit dem er dieses
schwierige Endspiel gerettet hat. [Keene,R]} Nf7 81. h7 Ng5 82. Ne7+ Kb7 83.
Nxg6 Nxh7 84. Nxh7 {WeiЯ hat dann zwar zwei Springer mehr, kцnnte aber nicht
gewinnen.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1976.04.04"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Vasiukov, Evgeni"]
[Black "Ostojic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1976.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Re1
d6 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Ng3 Bf8 12. h3 Be6 13. d4 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 b5 15. a4
Na5 16. Qd1 Qb8 17. b3 c5 18. d5 c4 19. Nd2 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nc4 21. Nf5 Qc7 22.
Qf3 Nd7 23. h4 Ndb6 24. axb5 axb5 25. h5 Kh7 26. g3 Rec8 27. Kg2 Rxa1 28. Nxa1
Na4 29. Nc2 Na5 30. Nxh6 gxh6 31. Ne3 Nb3 32. Qf5+ Kg7 33. Ba3 Qd8 34. Qg4+ Kh8
35. Rb1 Rxc3 36. Bb4 Rd3 37. Qe2 Nac5 38. Bxc5 Nxc5 39. Rxb5 Rd4 40. Qb2 Nd7
41. Rb7 {Sealed move} Rxe4 42. Qb5 Rxe3 43. fxe3 Nf6 44. Rb8 Qc7 (44... Qe7 45.
Rb7 Qd8 46. Rb8) 45. Rxf8+ Kg7 46. Qc6 (46. Rb8 Qc2+ $19) 46... Qa5 47. Qxd6
Qd2+ 48. Kh3 Qf2 49. Rxf7+ Kxf7 50. Qe6+ Kf8 51. Qd6+ Kg8 52. Qd8+ Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch06 Lasker-Steinitz +10-2=5"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1896.11.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Steinitz, William"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1896.11.07"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "MainBase"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 (9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 {
modern line}) 9... d5 10. Ba3 (10. Re1) (10. Bd3) 10... dxc4 11. Re1 f5 (11...
Be6) 12. Nd2 Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rxe4 Qf6 $1 $15 15. Qe2 Bf5 16. Qxc4+ Kg6
17. Re3 Rae8 18. Rae1 (18. Rg3+ $142 Kh5 19. Qb5 Re4 20. Rf1 $11) 18... Rxe3 (
18... Qf7) 19. Rxe3 h5 $17 (19... Qf7) 20. h3 h4 (20... Kh7) 21. d5 Ne5 22.
Qxc7 Nd3 23. Qxb7 Bc8 (23... Qxc3) 24. Qc6 Qxc6 25. dxc6 Nf4 26. Re7 a6 27. c4
Kf6 28. Ra7 (28. Re3 $11) 28... Nd3 $15 29. Be7+ Ke6 30. Rc7 (30. Ba3 g5 31.
Re7+ Kf5 32. Re3 Rd8 $15) 30... Ne5 $17 31. Bg5 Rg8 32. Be7 g5 33. c5 (33. Bxg5
Kd6 34. Rh7 Rxg5 35. f4 Nf3+ 36. Kf2 Rg3 37. gxf3 Rxh3 $17) 33... Nf7 $17 34.
f3 Re8 35. Kf2 Rxe7 36. Rxc8 Kd5 37. Ra8 Ne5 38. Ke3 (38. Rg8 Kxc6 $17) 38...
Nxc6+ $19 39. Kd2 a5 40. Rf8 Re5 41. f4 gxf4 42. Rxf4 Rh5 43. Ke3 Ne5 44. Ra4
Nc4+ 45. Kf4 Kxc5 0-1

[Event "Match Eliskases-Spielmann +2-1=7"]
[Site "Semmering"]
[Date "1936.12.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Spielmann, Rudolf"]
[Black "Eliskases, Erich Gottlieb"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1936.12.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "HCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Qb3 d5 11. Bxd5 O-O 12. Bxf7+ Kh8 13. Ba3 (13. Qxc3
Rxf7 14. Qb3 $14) 13... Bxa1 14. Bxf8 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Re1 Qf6 17. Re2
Bg4 18. Be7 Bxf2+ $2 (18... Qf4 $1 19. Rc2 Qe4 20. Bb4 Bd1 $19) 19. Rxf2 Qxe7
20. Qxb7 Rf8 21. Qxa7 h6 22. Bc4 Qe1+ 23. Rf1 Rxf1+ 24. Bxf1 Qe5 25. Bd3 Qe1+
26. Bf1 Qe5 27. Bd3 Qe1+ 28. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Match Mason-Bird +11-4=4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1875.12.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bird, Henry Edward"]
[Black "Mason, James"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "236"]
[EventDate "1875.12.28"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {1)Dubuque Chess Journal 1876, p.144-148 2)Van Winsen: James Mason in
America.p.150,225.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7.
Bg5 Be6 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Bg3 Qe7 12. a4 a5 13. b5 Nd8 14.
Nc4 Bc5 15. Nfd2 Nf7 16. Nb3 Bb6 17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. h4 Qc7 19. Rc1 O-O-O 20. c4
Nd7 21. Qh5 Nc5 22. Nxc5 dxc5 23. Rd1 Qe7 24. Qe2 Qf6 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Kd2 Nd6
27. Kc2 Nf7 28. Rh5 Rxh5 29. Qxh5 Rh8 30. Qg4 Nh6 31. Qe2 Nf7 32. Qd2 Qd8 33.
f3 Qe7 34. Rf1 Rh7 35. Qc3 Qd6 36. Qa1 Rh8 37. Rh1 Rd8 38. Qc3 Kd7 39. Bf2 Rh8
40. Rxh8 Nxh8 41. Qe1 Nf7 42. Qh1 Ke7 43. Qh7 Kf6 44. Be3 Qf8 45. Kd2 Qg7 46.
Qh2 Qh8 47. Qxh8+ Nxh8 48. Ke2 Nf7 49. Kf2 Kg6 50. Kg3 Nh6 51. Bd2 Kh5 52. Bc3
Nf7 53. Bb2 Kg6 54. Ba1 Kh5 55. Bb2 Kg6 56. Kh3 Kh5 57. g3 Kg6 58. Bc3 Kh5 59.
Bd2 Kg6 60. f4 exf4 61. gxf4 gxf4 62. Bxf4 e5 63. Bg3 Kg5 64. Kg2 Kh5 65. Kf3
Ng5+ 66. Ke3 Nf7 67. Be1 Kg4 68. Bc3 Kg3 69. Be1+ Kg4 70. Bc3 Kg3 71. Bb2 Kg4
72. Kf2 Kf4 73. Bc1+ Kg4 74. Kg2 Ng5 75. Kf2 Nf7 76. Ke3 Kh4 77. Bb2 Kg4 78.
Bc3 Kg3 79. Be1+ Kg4 80. Bf2 Ng5 81. Be1 Nf7 82. Ke2 Ng5 83. Kf2 Nf3 84. Bc3
Kf4 85. Bb2 Ng5 86. Bc1+ Kg4 87. Bd2 Nf7 88. Kg2 Ng5 89. Be1 Nf7 90. Bg3 Kh5
91. Kf3 Ng5+ 92. Ke3 Nf7 93. Kf3 Ng5+ 94. Kg2 Nf7 95. Bh2 Kg5 96. Bg3 Kh5 97.
Kf3 Ng5+ 98. Ke3 Nf7 99. Bf2 Kg4 100. Be1 Ng5 101. Bc3 Nf7 102. Kf2 Kf4 103.
Ke2 Ng5 104. Bb2 Nf7 105. Bc1+ Kg4 106. Ke3 Ng5 107. Bd2 Nf7 108. Bc3 Kg3 109.
Be1+ Kg4 110. Kd2 Ng5 111. Ke3 Nf7 112. Bc3 Kg3 113. Bb2 Kg4 114. Kd2 Kf4 115.
Kc3 Kg5 116. Bc1+ Kg4 117. Kb3 Ng5 118. Bd2 Nf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "PAL/CSS Freestyle fin 4th"]
[Site "Playchess.com INT"]
[Date "2006.10.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Zor champ"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2422"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Behind this legendary nick probably hides the patron of these Freestyle
events. It was not clear during the tournament whether the centaur operator
was using Hydra, but it was my working assumption. Zor_champ won the second
Freestyle tournament, but had not had as much luck so far in this final. On my
side, I was on +0 with two blacks on the last day, so I had given up thinking
about placement, and instead just wanted to enjoy and play a good game vs.
Zor_champ.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Nf6 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 3. d3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 4. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} Bc5 {Study of the nuances of the Giucco Piano is not part of
my chess education. I had expected a Ruy Lopez before the game. [%emt 0:00:12]}
5. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 6. Be3 {Be3 this early is uncommon,
even a novelty according to the Shredder base. [%emt 0:00:22]} Bxe3 {I
hesitate d to play this. For one thing, I don't have much experience with this
kind of positions. Secondly, it seems to give my opponent a game on his
territory, with prospects of a kingside attack. I decided to play 6...Bxe3
only once I felt safe enough that it was objectively sound. [%emt 0:08:54]} 7.
fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 8. Bb3 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Nxb3 {
[%emt 0:03:51]} 9. axb3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:00]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:
02:31]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:48]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} a5 {[%emt 0:03:57]} 12.
Qe1 {[%emt 0:03:45]} h6 {A commital decision, and I spent some time
investigating white's various options at move 14 before making the move. [%emt
0:11:01]} 13. Qg3 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:02:20]} 14. Ne1 {I felt it
hard to assess this position. Perhaps black is OK and maybe even with a slight
edge. On the other hand, I've seen Zor_champ develop initiatives really well
from similar positions with mutual castling on the kingside. Additionally,
Rybka in my experience does not understand this particular type of positions
too well, often suggesting too loose moves on the kingside, and also happy to
rely on exd4 if white plays d3-d4, often giving white too much space in the
center. 14...f5 was a suggestion of my own (you won't get Rybka to suggest it
on her own this time of New Year, since she is happy with several alternatives)
, and once I was convinced it was a safe (and beautiful) draw, I played it in
light of the above considerations. The move leeds to a quite forcing sequence
- the option to investigate such forced sequences in depth is btw a clear
advantage of centaurs over pure engines. [%emt 0:04:21]} f5 {[%emt 0:07:05]}
15. h3 {[%emt 0:11:46]} f4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 16. exf4 {[%emt 0:03:44]} exf4 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} 17. Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 18. Rxf8+ {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxf8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 19. Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (19. Ndf3 Qe3+
20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Kh2 (21. Rxa5 g5) 21... Nh5 22. Qh4 Nf4 23. Rxa5 Bxh3 ({or} 
23... Qe2 24. Nd4 Qxb2 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. Rxf5 Rxf5 27. exf5 Qxc3 $11) 24. gxh3
Qe2+ {with a draw.}) 19... Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 20. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qd2
$1 {Exclamation mark for aesthetic value :-). Black goes down a knight, but
relies on the a-passer and first rank pin to keep white tied up. [%emt 0:05:49]
} (20... Ne3 21. Qxg5 Rf1+ 22. Kh2 hxg5 {and black is probably also OK.}) 21.
hxg4 {[%emt 0:01:57]} Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 22. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qe2 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Rf1+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} 24. Kh2 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 25. Ra1 {[%emt 0:01:37]} b6 {This move can
maybe be seen as an attempt to prove the validity of black's concept :P. It
may even also give white some possibilities to err. [%emt 0:04:15]} ({When
playing 14...f5, I had relied on} 25... a3 26. Rxa3 Rxe1 27. Ra8+ Kh7 28. Rf8
Qd1 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. gxf3 Re3 31. Kg3 Rxd3 32. Rf7 Rxc3 33. Rxc7 b5 34. Rd7
bxc4 35. Rxd6 g5 {and it looked like a sure draw to me.}) 26. d4 {[%emt 0:01:
33]} (26. e5 dxe5 27. d4 e4 {is just more passed pawn fun probably leading to
various draws by perpetual.}) (26. Rxa4 Qxe1 $11) 26... Qxe4 {[%emt 0:02:52]}
27. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 28. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rxc1 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 29. Nxc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 30. Nd3 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 31. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} a2 {[%emt 0:00:11]
} 32. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:01:01]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 33. Qf5+ {[%emt 0:02:10]} Kg8
{[%emt 0:00:45]} 34. Qe6+ {[%emt 0:01:09]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 35. Qe4+ {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 36. Qe8+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:
08]} 37. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 38. Qe8+ {[%emt 0:00:12]}
Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Qe4+ {(Lag: Av=0.74s, max=4.0s) [%emt 0:00:09]}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Boeblinger op 35th"]
[Site "Boeblingen"]
[Date "2018.12.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Dann, Matthias"]
[Black "Ochsner, Bjorn Moller"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2457"]
[Annotator "Dann,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2018.12.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,127,21,31,31,31,13,13,18,5,5,19,61,9,9,-17,-16,-15,-15,-38,-35,-7,3,
-22,-2,10,6,27,15,15,25,13,18,-5,18,-1,7,-4,0,0,0,36,31,41,50,56,62,62,58,51,
83,53,52,65,83,91,79,84,84,74,75,69,59,58,69,52,70,52,70,52,51,55,62,48,74,65,
75,70,70,54,70,56,55,75,111,72,81,71,72,74,174,172,206,236,467,467,467,483,488,
373,409,409,409,375,375,378,383,379,385,390,378,378,377,384,416,438,425,433,
421,439,436,458,551,551,614,637,633,706,683,756]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 (5. d3 {ist der heutige Standardzug.}) 5... exd4 6. e5 (6.
cxd4 {wird auf hohem Niveau kaum noch gespielt, da Schwarz bei genauem Spiel
mindestens Ausgleich erreicht.}) 6... d5 $1 {Dieser typische Gegenstoß im
Zentrum, den jeder 1.e4 e5 - Spieler kennen sollte, ist auch hier richtig.} 7.
Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 (8... Bb4+ $6 {führt eher zu Problemen bei Schwarz. Weiß
kann zwischen} 9. Nbd2 {und} (9. Bd2 {wählen, beide Varianten versprechen
Vorteil für Weiß.})) 9. h3 {[%cal Gc8g4] ist ein seltener Zug und wurde vor
allem von GM Jobava gespielt.} (9. Nc3 {ist der Hauptzug.} O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 {
Diesen Zug verhindert Weiß mit 9.h3.} 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14.
O-O c6 15. Bd3 Nd2 (15... Kh8 {1-0 (51) Jones,G (2677)-Aronian,L (2780)
Douglas 2018}) 16. Nxd2 Bxd3 17. Rfe1 $36 {1/2-1/2 (85) Kovalev,V (2639)
-Malakhov,V (2686) Riadh 2017}) 9... O-O 10. O-O Bd7 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Rc6e5]
Schwarz droht mit 11...Sxe5 einen Bauern zu gewinnen.} (10... f6 $1 {packt den
Stier direkt bei den Hörnern. Die Partie von Grischuk scheint eine direkte
Remisvariante zu sein:} 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 fxe5 13. Nxe5 Ba6 14. Re1 Ba5 15.
Nxc6 Qh4 16. Nxa5 Rxf2 17. Nc3 Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qxh3+ 20. Kg1 Qg3+
21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Qh3+ {1/2-1/2 (23) Jobava,B (2699)-Grischuk,
A (2780) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 CBM 167 [Szabo,Kr]}) 11. Ba4 Qe8 $6 $146 {
Dieser Zug sieht gekünstelt aus.} (11... f6 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Nc3 Ng5 $6 (13...
Kh8 $5 $146) 14. Nxg5 fxg5 15. Be3 $14 {0-1 (19) Januszewski,P (1874)
-Zielinski,M (1888) Ostroda 2009}) (11... Ne7 {[%cal Rc7c5,Yc5d4] ist auch ein
typisches Vorgehen, um den c-Bauern zum Laufen zu bringen. 1-0 (45) Jobava,B 
(2673)-Sakaev,K (2594) Minsk 2015}) 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Nc3 Rd8 14. Re1 {[%csl Re8]
[%cal Ye1e8] Weiß verstärkt den Druck gegen e4 und bestrahlt die Dame auf e8.
} Qd7 15. Be3 (15. Nxe4 $6 {würde Schwarz in die Hände spielen:} dxe4 16.
Rxe4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 $15) 15... h6 16. Qd3 Bf5 (16... f5 $1 17. exf6 Rxf6
18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qxe4 Bxb3 20. axb3 Qf5 21. Qxf5 Rxf5 $44 {Schwarz hat keine
Probleme.}) 17. Qe2 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Na5 19. Nh4 Nxb3 (19... Bh7 20. Bc2 Bxc2 21.
Qxc2 Nc4 22. Nf5 $36) 20. Nxf5 $1 (20. axb3 Bh7 21. f4 f6 $13) 20... Qxf5 (
20... Nxa1 $2 {stellt die Partie ein:} 21. Qg4 g6 22. Nxh6+ Kg7 23. Qh4 Rh8 (
23... Nc2 24. Ng4 $18 (24. Bg5 $18)) 24. Qf6+ Kh7 25. Nxf7 $18) 21. axb3 $14 {
[%cal Gg2g4,Gf2f4,Gf4f5] Nominell hat Schwarz den guten und Weiß den
schlechten Läufer. Viel wichtiger in der Stellung ist, dass die weißen
Bauern am Königsflügel ins Laufen kommen.} a6 {Die nächsten Züge sind von
beiden Seiten sehr logisch.} 22. g4 $1 Qe6 23. f4 f5 $8 {Schwarz muss f5
stoppen.} (23... g6 $2 {hilft nicht wegen} 24. f5 $1 gxf5 25. gxf5 Qxf5 26. Kh2
Kh7 27. Rf1 Qe4 28. Rf6 $18) 24. Kh2 Rc8 $5 {[%cal Rc7c5]} 25. b4 {Weiß darf
kein Gegenspiel am Damenflügel zulassen, damit er langsam am Königsflügel 
(g-Linie) Fortschritte machen kann.} c6 26. Rg1 Bd8 27. Rg2 {Es ist schwierig
die beste Aufstellung für die Schwerfiguren auf der g-Linie zu bestimmen.} Rc7
28. Rag1 Kh7 29. gxf5 (29. g5 $6 hxg5 30. fxg5 g6 $11) 29... Qxf5 30. Qg4 Re7 (
30... Qxg4 $2 31. hxg4 $18 {[%cal Gf4f5,Ge5e6] Weiß kommt langfristig zu f5
und e6, was für Schwarz den Untergang bedeutet.}) 31. Rg3 Rff7 32. R1g2 Kh8
33. Qd1 (33. h4 $5 Qxg4 34. Rxg4 Kh7 $14 {Auch in dieser Stellung hat Weiß
noch Vorteil, aber mit Damen muss Schwarz mehr aufpassen.}) 33... Qe4 34. Qg1
Rc7 35. Bd2 Qf5 36. Qe3 Kh7 37. Qe2 Kh8 38. Qg4 Rce7 39. Qe2 Rc7 40. Rg4 Rce7
41. Qe3 Rc7 42. Qg3 Kh7 43. Be3 Kh8 44. h4 {[%cal Gg3h3,Gh4h5,Yg4g6] Ein neuer
Plan: Weiß will Dh3 nebst h5 und Tg6 spielen.} Rce7 $2 {stellt die Partie ein.
} (44... Kh7 45. Qh3 Qh5 (45... Kh8 46. h5 Rce7 47. Rg6 $16) 46. Bc1 Rf5 47.
Qg3 Rff7 48. e6 Rfe7 49. b5 $1 $18) 45. Rg6 $1 {[%cal Gg6h6,Ge5e6] Die
Doppeldrohung Txh6+ und e6 ist tödlich.} h5 (45... Rc7 46. Rxh6+ $18) 46. e6
$1 Qxe6 (46... Rxe6 47. Rxg7 $18) (46... Rf8 47. Rxg7 Qxe6 48. Rg6 Rf6 (48...
Qf7 49. Rh6+ $18) (48... Qd7 49. Rg8+ Rxg8 50. Qxg8#) 49. Rxf6 $18) 47. Rxe6
Rxe6 48. f5 $1 {Weiß nutzt die Gunst der Stunde und ist bereit dafür etwas
Material zurückzugeben.} Re4 (48... Bc7 49. fxe6 Bxg3+ 50. Rxg3 Re7 51. Rg5
$18) 49. Qg6 Rxh4+ 50. Kg1 Kg8 51. Bg5 Bxg5 52. Rxg5 Re7 53. f6 Rf7 54. Kg2 (
54. fxg7 Rg4+ 55. Rxg4 hxg4 56. Kg2 g3 $18 {gewinnt auch für Weiß, ist aber
komplizierter.}) 54... Re4 (54... Rg4+ 55. Rxg4 hxg4 56. fxg7 g3 57. Qe6 Kxg7
58. Kxg3 $18) 55. fxg7 Re2+ 56. Kh3 Re3+ 57. Rg3 Rxg3+ 58. Qxg3 Rxg7 59. Qb8+
Kh7 60. Kh4 Kg6 61. Qd6+ Kf5 62. Qe5+ Kg6 63. Qe6+ Kh7 64. Kxh5 {Schwarz kann
sich nicht halten.} (64. Kxh5 Rg1 65. Qf5+ Kg7 66. Qd7+ Kf6 67. Qxb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 12"]
[Site "Brest"]
[Date "2019.05.25"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Wagner, Dennis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2578"]
[Annotator "Dhananjay Khadilkar"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2019.05.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Asnieres"]
[BlackTeam "Nice-Alekhine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:23]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 6. c3 {
[%emt 0:05:57]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:01:28]} h6 {[%emt 0:02:00]}
8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:03:49]} (8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 10. d4 Ba7 11. Bb3 Re8 12. Bc2
Bd7 13. Na3 Qc8 14. Nb5 Bb6 15. Bb1 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Ra3 Re7 18. e5 dxe5
19. dxe5 Nfd5 20. Nh4 Qe8 21. Qe2 Nc6 22. Nf3 Rd8 23. Kh2 f5 24. g4 fxg4 25.
Qd3 g6 26. Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 28. Rg1 Bf7 29. Ba2 Bxa2 30. Rxg6+ Qxg6 31.
Qxg6+ Rg7 32. Qxg7+ Kxg7 33. Rxa2 Rd1 34. Ra1 Kf7 {0-1 (34) Giri,A (2797)
-Karjakin,S (2753) Shamkir 2019}) 8... O-O {[%emt 0:01:01]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:06:
39]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 10. Nf1 {[%emt 0:02:58]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 11. Ng3
{[%emt 0:01:24]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 12. Bb3 {[%emt 0:07:13]} Bg4 $146 {
[%emt 0:04:12]} (12... Ba7 13. d4 Re8 14. h3 d5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17.
Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. g4 h5 20. Rxe4 Be6 21. Bc2 Bd5 22. Rb4 hxg4 23.
Rxg4 Be6 24. Rg3 Rd5 25. Bg5 Kf8 26. Re1 Bb8 27. Bf4 Bc7 28. h4 Rad8 29. h5 Bb6
30. h6 gxh6 31. Bxh6+ Ke8 32. Kg2 Kd7 33. Bb3 Ra5 34. Bc2 Rd5 35. Be4 Ra5 36.
Bg5 Re8 37. Bc2 Kc8 38. b4 Rd5 39. Bf6 Rd2 40. Be4 Bxf2 41. Rf1 Be1+ 42. Kf3 {
Topalov,V (2761)-Fressinet,L (2687) Paris 2016 0-1}) 13. h3 {[%emt 0:10:11]}
Qb6 {[%emt 0:01:43]} 14. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 15. gxf3 {
[%emt 0:01:54]} Bxe3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 16. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:37]} a5 {[%emt 0:03:
42]} 17. Nf5 {[%emt 0:17:48]} d5 $132 {[%emt 0:03:50]} 18. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:36]}
Rad8 {[%emt 0:11:15]} 19. Rg1 {[%emt 0:04:46]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 20. Qc2 {
[%emt 0:00:40]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 21. Rg2 {[%emt 0:01:46]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:09:
23]} 22. Nxe7 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Rxe7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 23. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:23]}
Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Ba2 {[%emt 0:04:31]} f5 {[%emt 0:23:34]} 25. Qf2 {
[%emt 0:05:55]} fxe4 {[%emt 0:09:05]} 26. Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:
12]} 27. fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} dxe4 {[%emt 0:04:35]} 28. dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:19]}
Qd8 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 29. Reg1 {[%emt 0:04:32]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:10:13]} 30. Be6 {
[%emt 0:06:58]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 31. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxg2+ {[%emt 0:
00:33]} 32. Rxg2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 33. Qg3 {[%emt 0:04:56]}
Rd8 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 34. Qg6 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 35. Qg3 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 36. Qg6 {[%emt 0:01:23]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:
14]} 37. Qg3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:48]} 38. Be6 {[%emt 0:01:06]}
Nxe4 {[%emt 0:03:45] Wagner fell into a trap here with 38...Nxe4 (...Rd6 is
balanced) as 39.Qg6 Nf6 gives White a winning attack. But on the last move of
the first time control, Movsesian missed it!} (38... Rd6) 39. Qg6 {[%emt 0:01:
16]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 40. e4 $2 {[%emt 0:01:40] The Armenian GM played 40.
e4? which allowed Wagner to consolidate his pawn advantage by 40...♛e7.
Movsesian tried to maintain the pressure, but the black king escaped while
White's ended up in hot water.} Qe7 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 41. Bf5 {[%emt 0:10:28]}
Rd8 {[%emt 0:06:35]} 42. Qg3 {[%emt 0:04:28]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 43. Qg6 {
[%emt 0:01:47]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 44. Kh1 {[%emt 0:03:28]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:04:
38]} 45. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 46. Kh1 {[%emt 0:03:53]} Kf8
{[%emt 0:00:49]} 47. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:04:25]} 48. Bg4 {
[%emt 0:03:51]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:12:41]} 49. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxh3+ {[%emt 0:
01:24]} 50. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rh4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 51. Bc4+ {[%emt 0:00:24]}
Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 52. Qh7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 53. Qf5 {
[%emt 0:02:46]} Kd8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 54. Re2 {[%emt 0:01:56]} Rg4+ {[%emt 0:01:
07]} 55. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 56. Qg6 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
Rh4+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} 0-1

[Event "Candidates FIDE m1"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wolff} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O
8. h3 Ba7 9. Nf1 $1 {WeiЯ spielt Nd2-f1-g3 vor der Rochade weil der Turm
spдter ein tempo gewinnt Rf1-d1 statt 9.0-0,Re1,Nf1 nebst Rd1.} d5 (9... h6 $5)
(9... Ne7 {Wolff} 10. Ng3 Ng6 11. O-O b5 $5 (11... Be6 12. d4 $14) 12. d4 (12.
Re1 $5 Bb7 $140 13. Nf5 $14) 12... Bb7 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bc2 d5 $1 $10 {Bolognan,
V-Georgiev,Ki Tilburg 1993}) 10. Qe2 Re8 (10... dxe4 11. dxe4 h6 (11... Nh5 $1
{Wolff} 12. g3 (12. N1h2 Nf4 13. Bxf4 exf4 $132) 12... Nf6 $13 {Belikov,
V-Neverov,A USSR 1990}) 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Qxe3 Qe7 $10) 11. Ng3 $146 (11. Bg5
dxe4 12. dxe4 Be6 13. Rd1 Qe7 $10 {Mora,V - Holubkova,M Debrecen E 1992}) 11...
h6 12. O-O Be6 $10 13. Rd1 $1 {Siehe der komentar zum neunten zug!} Qd7 14. Nh4
{! Wolff} (14. d4 exd4 (14... dxe4 15. Nxe5 Qd6 16. Nf5 Bxf5 $2 (16... Qf8 $142
) 17. Nxf7 $1 $16) 15. e5 Ne4 16. Nxe4 (16. cxd4 $5 Nxg3 17. fxg3 Na5 18. Bc2
Bf5 $15) 16... dxe4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. cxd4 Bxb3 19. axb3 Bxd4 20. Be3 c5 21.
Bxd4 cxd4 22. Qxe4 Rad8 $15) 14... Ne7 (14... Rad8 $5 15. Nhf5 Ne7 $10) 15. Qf3
(15. exd5 {Wolff} Bxd5 $10 16. Qxe5 $2 Bxb3 17. axb3 Ng6 $19) 15... dxe4 16.
dxe4 Qc6 17. Bc2 {/\Bh6} (17. Nhf5 $6 Nxf5 (17... Bxf5 {Wolff} 18. Nxf5 Nxf5
19. Qxf5 Qxe4) 18. exf5 (18. Nxf5 Nxe4 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Bxb3 21. axb3 Rad8
$15) 18... Qxf3 19. gxf3 Bxb3 20. axb3 Rad8 21. Be3 Bb6 $15) (17. Bxh6 $2 Bxb3
18. axb3 gxh6 $19) (17. Bxe6 {Wolff} Qxe6 18. Ngf5 Ng6 $1 $10) (17. Be3 {Wolff}
Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Ng6 $5) 17... Kh7 18. Nhf5 (18. Rd5 {Wolff} Ng6 $1 19. Nxg6 $140
fxg6 20. Rxe5 Nd7 $17) 18... Nxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5+ g6 $10 21. Qf3 Kg7
22. Be3 (22. b3 $142 Rad8 23. Bb2 $13) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 82nd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2020.01.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2872"]
[Annotator "Duda,Jan Krzysztof"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2020.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The game was played on 11th round, and after a free day which felt no fun at
all. Magnus had just overcome a drawing crisis and had scored 3/3 in the last
rounds. Still he was down to Caruana by half a point, so I assumed he would go
for an even higher winning streak. Furthermore the free day made me paranoic
about his opening preparation. After much thought I decided to stay loyal to
my 1.e4 and see what happens, without certainity though.} 1. e4 e5 {So after
all this hours spend on repeating all kinds of Sicilian variations, French
Defence, Modern, Scandinavian and even Alekhine Defence, he just played 1...e5.
A true surprise.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 ({Not even going for} 3... Nf6 {
as he played against Van Foreest a couple of rounds earlier}) 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3
d6 {So the Italian game. The only prep I had done was that I wasn't going to
play a set up with Bg5. Not a brilliant stuff, but at least I had played the
Italian 32 times in my recent years.} 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Nf1 {Pretending to save a
tempo on Re1 later on, but most importantly avoid ...Ng4/...f5 stuff.} (7. Bb3
h6 8. Nf1 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ng3 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Re1 Nf6 13. h3 Be6 14.
Bc2 Bd5 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. Nhf5 Bf8 $1 {That's the point!} 17. f4 Rad8 18. fxe5
Nxe5 19. d4 Ng6 20. Rf1 Qc6 21. Rf2 Ne4 $11 {1/2 (43) Duda,J (2739)-Mamedyarov,
S (2820) Batumi 2018; with comfortable equality for Black.}) 7... h6 8. Ng3 O-O
9. O-O {I didn't remember the exact move order from my game against Mamedyarov.
Obviously I wasn't willing to allow Bf8 anymore. Luckily here Black can hardly
play d5, because his e5-pawn would be too weak. My opponent's next move
deprives him of this option once and for all.} Ba7 10. Bb3 {I spent some time
choosing between the game continuation and the more positional 10.a4.} Re8 11.
h3 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 {By transposition we have arrived to a position
which is quite tricky for unprepared Black player to face, and was popular
some time ago. The good thing was I had analysed this stuff a couple of years
ago, back in times, when setups with a4 or Bg5 hadn't been yet so well known.
The bad thing was that I couldn't have recalled anything and I was facing the
World Champion} Nxd5 {Black has other recaptures as well:} (13... Qxd5 14. Re1
Rad8) (13... Bxd5 14. Re1 Qd7 15. Nh4 (15. Be3 $5 {is a slower approach}) 15...
Rad8 16. Nhf5 Kh8 17. d4 {this is a 'forced draw' when Black defends right}
exd4 18. Nxg7 Rxe1+ (18... Kxg7 $2 19. Bxh6+ Kh8 20. Qd2 $40 {with a very
powerful attack 1-0 (29) Ganguly,S (2660)-Kollars,D (2436) Caleta 2016}) 19.
Qxe1 Kxg7 (19... Bxg2 $5 20. Kxg2 Qd5+ (20... d3) 21. Kf1 Qb5+ 22. Kg2 Qd5+ 23.
Kf1 {1/2 (23) Laine,J (2311)-Gerhards,G (2304) ICCF email 2018}) (19... d3 $5)
20. Bxh6+ Kh8 (20... Kxh6 $2 21. Qd2+) 21. Qd2 (21. Bg5) 21... Rg8 (21... Nh7)
22. Qf4 Qd6 $4 {Vishy didn't handle it well, but it was a blitz game after all.
} (22... Nh5 $1 23. Bg7+ Kxg7 24. Nxh5+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Re1+ Kd8 27. Nf6
Rxg2+ 28. Kf1 Rxf2+ 29. Kxf2 d3+ 30. Re3 Bxe3+ 31. Kxe3 Qe6+ 32. Kxd3 $11) 23.
Qh4 Qxg3 24. fxg3 {1-0 (26) Giri,A (2773)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger 2015}) 14.
Re1 Qd6 15. Nh4 Qe7 16. Nhf5 ({On the correspondence level, the following
endgame is quite common:} 16. Qh5 Rad8 17. d4 Nf4 (17... exd4 $2 18. Bxh6 gxh6
19. Qxh6 $40) (17... Nf6 18. Qf3 Bd5 (18... exd4 19. Nhf5 Qf8 20. Nxh6+) 19.
Qd3 $36) 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Nf1 (19. Ngf5 Qg5 20. Qxg5 hxg5 21. Nf3 g6 22. Nh6+
Kg7 23. Ng4 f6) 19... Rd5 20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxe7 Nxe7 {Maybe in corr chess
this is an easy draw, but to my eyes it looks as comfortable edge for White,
at least in terms of OTB chess.}) 16... Qf6 17. Qf3 $2 {As it turned out - the
bluff. But in the game I was pretty confident, I guess I mixed up variations.
The other logical continuation is probably better, but it involves a queen sac.
} (17. Qg4 {with the following line in mind:} g6 18. Nxh6+ Kf8 19. Ne4 $1 Bxf2+
20. Nxf2 Bxg4 21. Nhxg4 {with a crazy game ahead. Objectively my choice was
bad, but it's refutation was anything but easy.}) 17... g6 $2 {Frankly I
didn't see this. But both alternatives are better:} (17... Kh7 18. d4 g6 {
and the engine suggests} 19. Ne4 {which feels entirely wrong} (19. Be4 exd4)
19... Qxf5 20. Ng5+ Qxg5 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. dxe5 {and in general terms three
pieces should be better than the queen, but thanks to Qh5+ White is only
marginally worse.}) ({or} 17... Kh8 $1 18. d4 (18. Re4 g6 19. Nh4 {is a
disaster. After} Qg7 {the black pawns will start rolling.}) 18... g6 19. Be4 {
Magnus calculated this far, but he either didn't see or misevaluated the next
move} exd4 $1 {The refutation. White has to go for a sad endgame after} 20.
Nxh6 Qxf3 21. Bxf3 Kg7 22. Bd2 {which might be holdable but no more than that.}
) 18. Nxh6+ Kg7 19. Qxf6+ Nxf6 20. Ne4 (20. Bd1 {is the alternative mentioned
by Magnus, but Black obviously has some compensation for the missing pawn:}
Rad8 21. Be2 Nd5 22. Ng4 Nf4 $5 (22... f5 23. Nh2 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Ngf1
$14 {1/2 (74) Harikrishna,P (2737)-Sethuraman,S (2640) Baku 2015})) 20... Nh7 (
{In the game I also wasn't entirely sure about} 20... Nxe4 21. dxe4 Rh8 22. Ng4
Bxg4 23. hxg4 Rh4 {but here both} 24. Kf1 ({and} 24. Bd1 {should lead to some
edge for White})) 21. g4 (21. h4 {is probably better, but I was a bit unease
about my h6-knight.} Rf8 $5 {A sophisticated move.} (21... f5 22. Ng5 Bd5 23.
Nxh7 Kxh7 24. g4) (21... Rad8 22. g4 f5 23. gxf5 gxf5 {1-0 (75) Rabiega,R 
(2498)-Feller,S (2573) Germany 2017} 24. Ng3 $1 {is a far better version of my
game.}) 22. g4 f5 {Now with the f5-pawn safely guarded, White has to go Ng5
and the position becomes a complicated one with h6-knight indeed being hanging.
}) 21... f5 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Ng3 f4 24. Ngf5+ Kg6 {For some reason I was
expecting only} (24... Kf6 {which according to engine doesn't change much:} 25.
d4 Ng5 26. Ng4+ Kf7 27. Kg2 Bd5+ 28. Kf1 {with similar equality.}) 25. d4 Ng5
26. Kg2 $1 Bd5+ 27. Kf1 {Black has a perpetual but apparently nothing better.
Of course at this moment I didn't expect Magnus to take repetition.} Nf3 28.
Rd1 (28. Re2 {I calculated this valid alternative as well, but it felt a bit
unnatural with the potential ...Bc4 in the air.}) 28... Rad8 29. Ne7+ $1 {
The simplest, and I think he missed it} Kxh6 30. Nxd5 Nfxd4 $1 {Luckily for
Magnus he had this escape. Now the game should peter out to a draw.} 31. cxd4
Rxd5 32. dxe5 Rxd1+ 33. Bxd1 Kg5 34. h4+ Kf5 35. Bc2+ $6 {Played based on a
miscalculation.} ({After the normal} 35. Bd2 {it's Black who would have to
work for a draw.} Bd4) 35... Kg4 36. Bd1+ $6 (36. Bd2 {was still a lesser evil.
}) 36... f3 37. Bg5 Nxe5 38. Bc2 $1 {Luckily I have this move, which with a
correct follow-up guarantees draw.} ({In the intended variation} 38. Rc1 Nd3
39. Rc4+ {I completely forgot Black has} Kh3 $1 {and he is already winning now.
}) 38... Nc4 39. Re1 Rxe1+ 40. Kxe1 Nxb2 41. Bf6 $1 Nc4 42. Bg6 Bc5 {It seems
as if Black is going to stop the h-pawn, but my next move disturbs his
coordination.} 43. Bf7 $1 (43. h5 Bf8 $15 {would be very unpleasant to defend
even if defensible.}) 43... Kf5 {Offering a draw.} (43... Bb4+ 44. Kd1 $1 Nd6
45. Be6+ Kh5 (45... Kf4 46. h5 Ne4 47. Bd4 Kg5 48. Bd5 $11) 46. Bd5 Kg4 47.
Be6+ {with a draw.  An interesting battle, and my first draw in classical
chess against Magnus!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "ISR-ch"]
[Site "Tel Aviv"]
[Date "2002.11.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Erenburg, Sergey"]
[Black "Kreizberg, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2494"]
[BlackElo "2346"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2002.11.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4 {This move leads to long
theoretical variations, where white doesn't achieve anything.}) 5... d6 6. Bb3
({Other option for white is:} 6. Nbd2 {1/2-1/2 Fedorov,A-Rizouk,A/Shenyang
2000/CBM 79/[Lukacs] (83)}) 6... h6 {Other possibilities are:} (6... O-O 7. Bg5
Be6 8. Nbd2 {0-1 Kasparov,G-Timman,J/Rotterdam 1999/CBM 73 (59)}) (6... Bb6 7.
Nbd2 Ne7 8. Nc4 Be6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Ng6 11. Re1 c6 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. Bc2 $14
{1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Krasenkow,M/Moscow 1991/URS-ch (53)}) (6... Bg4 {It is too
dubious to play this move, while white doesn't make the castle, in view of
following g2-g4, which gets away the black bishop out of the game. For example:
} 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Qe2 Re8 10. g4 Bg6 {[%csl Rg6]} 11. Nf1 d5 12. Ng3
dxe4 13. dxe4 $16 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Karman,A/Internet 2000/EXT 2001 (34)}) 7.
Nbd2 {White doesn't hurry to make the castle, saving the option of attack on
the king side with g2-g4.} (7. h3 {See 0-1 Kasparov,G-Lautier,J/Linares 1994/
CBM 40/[Lautier] (29)}) 7... O-O 8. h3 {[%cal Yd2f1,Yg2g4] White prepares to
centralize his pieces and maybe prepares the attack on the black monarch.} (8.
Nf1 {The mistake was to play} Ng4 {[%csl Rf2]}) 8... Nh5 $6 $146 {[%cal Yd8f6,
Gh5f4] This continuation is a strange one, and in my opinion, is a dubious
novelty, but it isn't so easy for white to find clear refutation.} (8... Bb6 9.
Nc4 Ne7 10. g4 {It is one of the main ideas for white in this variation to
start the attack on the black king, without making the castle.} Nh7 11. g5 $40
{1-0 Colin,V-De Vreugt,D/Aviles 2000/CBM 77 ext (38)}) 9. d4 {The most logical
and principal reply,} ({deserved attention,} 9. g3 $5 {,covering the f4 square}
) (9. Nxe5 $4 Nxe5 10. Qxh5 Nxd3+) 9... Bb6 ({After} 9... exd4 10. cxd4 Bb6 ({
Of course not} 10... Nxd4 $4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Qxh5 $18) 11. O-O $14 {[%csl
Gd4,Ge4][%cal Yd2c4] white succeeds to take the control over the center.}) 10.
Nc4 (10. d5 {leads to unclear position.} Ne7 11. Nc4 $13) (10. O-O $5 {comes
into consideration.}) 10... Qf6 $6 {This move allows white to get a pair of
bishops, to complete the development and to keep the center. All these factors
give the advantage for white.} ({Black had to play} 10... exd4 $142 {,
continuing the principal fight for the center.} 11. Nxb6 (11. cxd4 Nf6 {
and white has some problem with the e4-pawn. For example:} 12. Bc2 Nxe4) 11...
axb6 12. Nxd4 (12. cxd4 Nf6 {see 11.cxd4.}) 12... Nf6 13. f3 $13 {[%cal Ge1g1]}
) 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. O-O $14 Nf4 13. Kh2 $1 {White parries black's attack
without any serious problems. White is intending to play Be3, then Ng1
following by g3, driving out the black knight from its active position.} Ra5 $6
{[%cal Ge5d4,Ga5h5] This move isn't the decisive mistake yet, but it is very
commiting move. After this move black goes for all or nothing.} 14. Be3 $1 {
defending the d4-pawn and preparing Ng1.} exd4 $6 (14... Ne7 {The least of the
evils, that could be recommended for black is to renounce one's idea of attack.
}) 15. cxd4 $16 Rh5 ({Better was} 15... Re8 {keeping a playable position.}) 16.
Ng1 $8 Ne7 $2 {And now it is already a decisive mistake.} ({After white
parried easily the black's threats on the white king, Rh5 is absolutely out of
the game and it is just a target, so more resistant was} 16... Ra5) {[%tqu
"En","Please find the way to get a decisive advantage for white.","","","e3f4",
"",10]} 17. Bxf4 $1 $18 (17. g3 {remains some chance for black.} Neg6 $1 (17...
Bxh3 $2 18. Nxh3 Rxh3+ 19. Kg1 Neg6 (19... Nfg6 20. Qg4 $18) 20. Bxf4 Nxf4 21.
Qg4 $18)) (17. Qf3 Neg6) 17... Qxf4+ 18. g3 {White is going to capture the
black rook on h5.} Qg4 (18... Qg5 {doesn't change anything} 19. f4 $18) 19.
Qxg4 Bxg4 20. f4 $1 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gf4f5,Gh2g2] Black is going to pay for
his wrong manouevre Ra8-a5-h5. The Rh5 is doomed.} Bc8 21. f5 {[%csl Rh5][%cal
Rg3g4]} d5 22. Bd1 (22. g4 Rg5 23. Nf3 {good as well}) (22. Bd1 Rg5 (22... g6
23. g4 $18) 23. h4 $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 4th"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2003.05.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Erenburg, Sergey"]
[Black "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2499"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2003.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 16832]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {The following
continuation provides to sharp force variations, while the move in the game
connected with more positional struggle:} (5. d4) 5... a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2
O-O 8. h3 h6 {This continuation seems to me more flexible than 8...d6, as it
saves option of immediate d7-d5.} 9. O-O {Another option, which saves
possibility of attack on the black monarch on the kingside is} (9. Qe2 d6 (9...
d5 $5 10. Nf1 Be6 11. Ng3 $13 (11. g4 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nd7 {[%cal Gd7c5]}) 11...
Na5 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 $11 {Kramnik,V-Galdunts,S/URS-chJ Kherson 1991.})
(9... Re8 {1-0 Movsesian,S-Flear,G/Hastings 1996/CBM 57/[Atlas,V] (85)}) 10.
Nf1 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Comp Deep Junior/Internet 2000/CBM 76/[Lukacs] (42)}) (9.
Nf1 $2 d5 $1) 9... d6 10. Re1 Nh5 $5 {Black intends to realyze a typical idea
of occupying the f4 square by the knight, through Qf6.} (10... Re8 {1/2-1/2
Zhang Pengxiang-Karpov,A/Moscow 2001/CBM 86/[Kostakiev,D] (40)}) 11. Nf1 Qf6
12. Be3 {This move seems to me as the most logical one. First of all, white
eliminates black's dangerous dark-squared bishop, and after it white plays Ne3.
White tried also immediate} (12. Ne3 {0-1 Mahjoob,M-Gyimesi,Z/Yerevan 2001/CBM
86/[Lukacs] (36)}) 12... Bxe3 {Possible alternative is} (12... Nf4 {1-0
Alekseev,E-Golod,V/Tel Aviv 2001/CBM 83 ext/[Golod,V] (78)}) 13. Nxe3 {The
capture on e3 by the pawn seems to me as an interesting option.} (13. fxe3 Qe7
14. g4 Nf6 15. Ng3 Be6 16. d4 Bd7 17. Qe2 Nh7 18. Qg2 $13 {1-0 Svetushkin,
D-Marcelin,C/Yerevan 1999/CBM 72 ext (37)}) 13... Nf4 14. Kh2 Ne7 $146 {
covering the d5 square. Black continued in the previous game} (14... Be6 15.
Ng1 Bxb3 16. axb3 Rad8 17. g3 Ng6 18. Rf1 Nce7 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 d5 21. Ng4
Qe6 (21... Qd6 {deserves attention.}) 22. f5 Qd6+ 23. Kh1 Ne5 24. f6 Nxg4 25.
Qxg4 Ng6 26. fxg7 Kxg7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Zaichik,G-Anand,V/Moscow 1987/TD (60)}) 15.
Ng1 {a little passive, but with concrete idea- to push away the black knight
from excelent position f4.} ({Deserves attention:} 15. d4) 15... Be6 16. g3
Bxb3 17. axb3 Nfg6 (17... Ne6 18. Qe2 $11) 18. Qc2 (18. Qf3 $2 {wasn't good,
due to} Qe6 $1 19. b4 f5 $1 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Qxb7 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rf2+ 23. Kh1
Raf8 $44 {[%cal Gg6e7,Ge7f5]}) 18... Qe6 {preparing to provide the
breakthrough f7-f5.} 19. Rf1 {White has to play passive, as after} (19. d4 {
his position is quite difiicult:} exd4 20. cxd4 f5 $1 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5
Qxf5 $17) 19... f5 $15 {Black has a slight advantage, thanks to a space
advantage and activity of his pieces compared to the white ones. On the other
hand, white has solid position without any weaknesses.} 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Rae1
d5 {increasing space advantage.} 22. Ng2 (22. Ng4 $15 {[%cal Yg1f3] Comes to
consideration}) 22... Qd6 23. Qe2 Rf6 24. Nf3 Re8 25. Nd2 Ref8 26. Nf3 Re8 27.
Nd2 a5 $1 {fixing the white's pawn on the queenside.} 28. Ne3 $1 Nxe3 $2 {
throwing away the slight advantage.} (28... c5 29. c4 $1) ({Better was} 28...
c6 $15) 29. fxe3 $1 {Now white succeeds to change the rooks, that makes his
life much easier. (According to well-known rule, the side, who suffer from
lack of space is interested to change as much pieces as possible.)} Ref8 30.
Rxf6 Rxf6 31. Rf1 $11 Nf8 32. Rxf6 Qxf6 33. Kg2 Nd7 34. e4 $1 Qe6 ({Doesn't
change the estimation of position:} 34... c6 35. Nf3 (35. Qg4 Nc5 36. exd5 cxd5
) 35... Qe6 36. exd5 cxd5 37. Qe3 $11) 35. exd5 Qxd5+ 36. Qe4 Qxe4+ (36... c6 {
was an intersting alternative.}) 37. Nxe4 Kf7 38. Kf3 Ke6 39. h4 g6 40. g4 b6
41. Ke3 Nf6 {Black would stand on his place, that promises him a draw:} (41...
Kd5 $11) 42. Nxf6 Kxf6 43. Ke4 Ke6 44. d4 exd4 45. Kxd4 Kd6 46. Ke4 Ke6 {
Other possibilities provide also to a draw.} (46... c5 47. c4 $11) (46... b5
47. Kd4 c5+ 48. Ke4 Ke6 49. c4 $11) 47. Kd4 Kd6 48. Ke4 Ke6 49. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam ACP Golden Classic"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2012.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2012.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Be2 $5 {
A rare continuation. Normally White pins Black's knight from b5. The idea of
this move is to create a strong centre by not allowing Black to pin White's
kingside knight from g4.} (7. Bb5 {is way more popular.}) 7... Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6
{Keeping constant pressure on White's centre.} ({The other alternative is} 8...
Bb4+ 9. Nbd2 ({There is nothing wrong with} 9. Bd2 $5 {as well.}) 9... O-O 10.
O-O Bxd2 $6 ({I think it made more sense not to exchange the active pieces,
but keep the tension in the centre with} 10... Bf5 11. Nb3 a5 12. a3 Be7 13.
Be3 a4 14. Nbd2) 11. Bxd2 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Bf5 13. Rac1 $14 {1-0 Cicak,S (2480)
-Lorenz,E (1960)/Filseck 1998/EXT 2006 (23)}) 9. O-O Bg4 $146 {I like Kamsky's
novelty. Black keeps his options open: he may castle to either side and attack
White's centre at any moment.} ({In the preceding game, Black tried} 9... O-O
10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 f6 12. Qb3 $6 (12. exf6 $5 Qxf6 13. Bd3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bg4
$11) (12. Bd3 fxe5 13. dxe5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bg4 $15) 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 fxe5 14.
dxe5 Bxe3 (14... Qe7 $5) 15. fxe3 Na5 16. Qa3 b6 17. Rad1 Qe8 $15 {1/2-1/2
Socko,M (2486)-Pogonina,N (2491)/Plovdiv 2010/CBM 138 Extra (58)}) 10. Be3 f5
$5 {Kamsky is playing very consistently. He tries to force White to determine
the pawn structure right away, which may allow him to castle long.} (10... O-O
{is less ambitious, in view of} 11. Nc3 Qd7 12. Nd2 {and White's prospects
look good.}) 11. exf6 $6 {This helps Black to get mobilised quickly.} (11. Nc3
{seems to be better.} O-O 12. Ne1 $1) 11... Qxf6 12. Nc3 O-O-O {Black can be
completely satisfied with the outcome of the opening. He has no passive pieces,
White's centre is kind of vulnerable and Black's monarch is safe. White has to
play carefully in order to avoid serious problems.} 13. Na4 {Eliminating the
dark-squared bishop.} Kb8 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4 {White is trying to create an
attack on the queenside.} ({However,} 15. Ne5 {deserved attention as well.}
Bxe2 16. Nxc6+ Qxc6 17. Qxe2 $11) 15... Bxf3 ({Apparently, by trading the
bishop for White's knight, Kamsky wanted to prevent the following variation:} 
15... Rhe8 16. Ne5 Nxe5 (16... Bxe2 17. Nxc6+ Qxc6 18. Qxe2) 17. Bxg4 Nc4 18.
Bc1 $13) 16. Bxf3 Rhe8 17. b4 $1 Nd6 {Transfering the knight to c4.} (17...
Nxb4 18. a5 $132) 18. a5 (18. Bxd5 Nf5 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 $132) 18... b5 19. Qc1 ({
Now} 19. Bxd5 {was worth serious consideration. The difference is that White's
tactical possibilities had widened with the inclusion of 18.a5 b5:} Nf5 20.
Bxc6 Qxc6 21. Qd2 {so that} Nxd4 {is not playable anymore:} 22. Bxd4 Qc4 23.
Rad1 $14 Re4 $4 24. Ba7+) 19... Nc4 $6 {The move itself is not bad, but why
not take the central pawn?} ({I haven't found anything wrong with} 19... Nxd4
20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. a6 (21. Rd1 Qxb4 $17) 21... c6 $1 $17) 20. Bg5 Qxd4 21. Bxd8
Rxd8 22. a6 $2 ({White could have protected the b-pawn and then started the
offensive on the queenside:} 22. Rd1 Qe5 23. Qb1 $5 {[%cal Ya5a6]}) 22... Nxb4
23. axb7 Kxb7 24. Rb1 c5 $17 {Although Houdini does not give Black a big
advantage, it is extremely difficult for White to play this kind of position.
Black has a clear plan of pushing forward his pawns, whereas White can only
look for tactical chances to save the game.} 25. Rd1 Qe5 26. Re1 Qf6 27. Rb3 {
The second rook has to join the battle somehow!} Kb6 28. Bd1 Rd6 (28... d4 $5 {
was probably better, but Black had to see the following line:} 29. Rf3 Qd6 30.
Rf7 Nd3 31. Qa1 Rd7) 29. Bc2 h6 $2 {Probably, Black was in severe time trouble
at this point. Otherwise, it is hard to explain why he did not play d5-d4.} (
29... d4 $1 30. Bxh7 (30. Rf3 Qh6) 30... d3 $19) 30. Re8 ({Houdini suggests
playing} 30. Bd3 {with the idea of slowing down Black's movement on the
queenside. However, it is hard to convince yourself that the passive defence
is better than activating the rooks.}) 30... Re6 31. Rf3 Rxe8 ({Perhaps} 31...
Qe5 {was more precise.} 32. Rxe6+ Qxe6 $19) 32. Rxf6+ gxf6 {[%mdl 1024]} 33.
Bg6 Rd8 34. Qxh6 Ne5 $2 {Too slow.} ({Black was better off starting pushing
his pawns right away:} 34... d4 $1 35. h4 d3 36. Bxd3 Rxd3 37. h5 Ne5 38. Qxf6+
Nbc6 39. Qf5 Rd1+ 40. Kh2 Rd6 41. f4 Nd3 $19 {and Black should be faster.}) 35.
Bf5 d4 36. Qxf6+ Nec6 37. h4 c4 (37... d3 {is similar to the game, and would
lead to an unbalanced and unclear position:} 38. h5 d2 39. Bg4 Rd4 40. Bd1 c4
41. Qf3 Rd3 42. Qe2 Nd5 43. Qe6 Nc3 44. Bc2 d1=Q+ 45. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 46. Kh2 Na4
47. h6 Nc5 48. Qf6 Rd7 49. g4 $13) 38. h5 d3 39. h6 d2 40. Bg4 d1=Q+ 41. Bxd1
Rxd1+ 42. Kh2 Rd7 43. g4 Nd3 $1 {Preparing the highway for the b-pawn and
bringing the knight to e5 to limit White's queen activity.} ({After} 43... Nd5
44. Qf5 Rd8 45. g5 {White's connected pawns pose a serious threat.}) 44. g5
Nde5 45. Qf4 $6 {Baadur prevents c4-c3, but Black has another dangerous pawn.}
({It was necessary to play} 45. Qf5 $1 {to help White's kingside pawns to
advance.} c3 46. h7 Nf3+ (46... Rxh7+ 47. Qxh7 Nf3+ 48. Kh1) 47. Kg3 (47. Qxf3
Rxh7+ 48. Kg2 c2 49. Qc3 Nb4 50. g6 Rc7 51. Qd4+ Ka6 52. Qa1+ Kb7 53. g7 Rc8
54. Qb2 Kb6 $11) 47... Rxh7 48. Qxh7 Nfd4 49. g6 c2 50. g7 c1=Q 51. g8=Q Qg1+
52. Kh3 Qh1+ 53. Kg3 Ne2+ 54. Kg4 Qg2+ 55. Kh4 Qxf2+ 56. Kh3 $11) 45... b4 46.
Qe3+ $2 ({It was not too late to play} 46. Qf5 c3 47. h7 Rxh7+ 48. Qxh7 Nf3+
49. Kg3 Nfd4 50. g6 c2 51. g7 c1=Q 52. g8=Q Qg1+ 53. Kh3 Qh1+ 54. Kg3 Ne2+ 55.
Kg4 Qg2+ 56. Kh4 Qxf2+) 46... Kb7 47. Qc5 $2 ({The last chance was} 47. Qe4 c3
48. h7 Nf3+ 49. Qxf3 Rxh7+ 50. Kg2 c2 51. Qf4 Rh4 $1 52. Qxh4 c1=Q 53. g6 Qb1
$1 54. Qf6 $17) 47... c3 $19 {Now it's over. Black is simply a lot faster.} 48.
f4 (48. Kg3 Rd3+ 49. Kg2 Ng6 $1 50. Qb5+ Kc7 51. Qc4 Kb6 $19) (48. Kg2 Nd3 49.
Qc4 c2 50. h7 Ne1+ 51. Kf1 Rxh7 $19) 48... Rd2+ 49. Kg3 c2 50. h7 (50. fxe5
Rd3+ 51. Kf2 Rc3 $19) 50... Rd3+ 51. Kg2 Rc3 52. Qb5+ Kc7 53. Qf1 c1=Q 54. Qxc1
Rxc1 55. h8=Q b3 56. Qh7+ Nd7 57. g6 b2 58. g7 Ne7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Reefat, Bin Sattar"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2467"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bangladesh"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1
d6 9. Nbd2 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8 {One of the main lines in the Italian game.} 11. h3
Nh6 12. Nf1 f5 13. d4 Qf6 (13... fxe4 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Bg5 dxe4 {Hector}) 14.
dxe5 dxe5 15. Be3 f4 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Rd2 Na5 18. N1h2 Ra8 19. Rd5 Nxb3 20.
axb3 Re8 21. c4 b6 $11 22. Qc2 Bb7 23. Rd2 Nf7 24. Rad1 a5 25. Re1 Qe7 26. Ng4
c5 27. Red1 Bc6 $1 28. Rd5 $6 {Black threatened a pawn race on the kingside.}
Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Qc7 30. Qc3 Rad8 31. Ngxe5 Nxe5 32. Rxe5 Rxe5 33. Nxe5 Kg8 34.
Nf3 Qe7 35. Qc2 Qd6 36. Qc3 Qd1+ 37. Kh2 Re8 $1 38. e5 h6 $19 39. Ne1 (39. Nh4
Qe2 40. Ng6 Qxf2) 39... Rd8 40. e6 Qe2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:06:44]} 6. O-O {
[%emt 0:05:57]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 7. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:08:11]} (8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 {is the main line,
and the jury is still out. Personally, following the trail of most-played
moves, I am sceptical of Black's concept after} Nb6 11. Bb5 f6 12. Ne4 Be7 13.
Ng3 $36) 8... Bf5 {[%emt 0:08:59]} (8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 {is a fascinating
gambit line which I have already mentioned on this site.}) (8... a5 {is the
most played move, espoused by Aronian among others.}) 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:28:29]}
Nb6 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 10. Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:01:16] This delayed
implementation of the gambit is based on a Dominguez game from a year ago, and
seems to equalise, albeit in slightly uninspiring fashion if White reacts
correctly.} 11. a5 {[%emt 0:02:56]} (11. Nxe5 c6 12. Bc4 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Qxd1 14.
Rxd1 Ng6 $44 {is more dangerous for White than Black.}) (11. Rxe5 Bd6 12. Re1 (
12. Rxf5 Nxf5 13. d4 $44 {is a maximalist exchange sac, leading to a
strategically confusing game.}) 12... a6 13. Bc4 Nxc4 14. dxc4 c5 $11) 11... c6
{[%emt 0:00:32]} 12. axb6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} cxb5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. Be3 {
[%emt 0:10:58]} (13. Rxa7 Qxb6 14. Rxa8 Bxf2+ 15. Kh1 Rxa8 $15 {Mamedov,
R-Dominguez Perez,L Doha 2016}) (13. bxa7 $5 Bxa7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxa8 Bxf2+
16. Kxf2 Qxa8 17. Rxe5 $11) 13... axb6 {[%emt 0:04:51]} 14. Rxa8 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} Qxa8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:12:08]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 16.
Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 17. d4 {[%emt 0:08:36]} (17. Rxc5 {
seems to improve slightly.} Bxd3 (17... Qxd3 18. Qxd3 Bxd3 19. Na3 $14 {
might now have been a little something.}) 18. Na3 $5 ({Following} 18. Nd4 Bxb1
19. Qxb1 b4 20. Rb5 $11 {we have transposed to the game.}) 18... Ng6 (18... Be4
19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. h3 {is still inexplicably more pleasant for White.}) 19. Ne5
Bc4 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. f4 Nxf4 22. Naxc4 bxc4 23. Nxc4 $11 {The endgame is
roughly equal, but the imbalance can only favour White in the event of
slightly sub-optimal play from either side.}) 17... cxd4 {[%emt 0:25:31]} (
17... b6 $5 {tries to keep something in the position, but after the accurate}
18. Qe1 Be6 19. Ng5 {Black is forced into a slightly speculative pawn
sacrifice:} Ng6 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxe6 Nf4 $44) 18. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Bxb1
{[%emt 0:01:19]} 19. Qxb1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} (19... Nc6 20.
Rxb5 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxb7 Re8 23. h3 $14) 20. Rb5 $11 {[%emt 0:03:34]
As far as I can see, White's tenuous grip on an edge has now completely gone,
and there is also 19...Nc6 to think about, but nevertheless for a few moves
his position is marginally more pleasant. We have transposed to the game.} bxc3
{[%emt 0:02:42]} 21. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 22. Qd3 {
[%emt 0:02:56]} ({Following} 22. Qb3 Qe8 $1 $11 {Black infiltrates to e1 and
takes c3 for b7 anyway.}) 22... Nf4 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 23. Qf3 {[%emt 0:02:10]}
Ne6 {[%emt 0:03:22]} 24. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:35]} (24. Qe4 Nxd4 25. Qxd4 Qxd4 26.
cxd4 Re8 27. Kf1 Re7 $11) (24. Nxe6 $5 {demands a bit of precision.} Qd2 $1 (
24... fxe6 25. Qe2 Qc8 26. h3 $14) 25. h3 fxe6 26. Qe3 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Rc8 28.
Rxb7 Rxc3 29. Kf2 $11 {The proper computer evaluation of this position is +/=
due to White's better king, but in practice this is almost totally drawn.})
24... Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 25. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07] Now
two further unnecessary moves were played.} 26. g3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} g6 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 27. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. cxd4
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (7. Nc3 {
is the 'main line' I was taught as a kid, but it has a number of problems.}
Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Ne5 (9... Bf6 {becomes needlessly messy, e.g.} 10. Re1
Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7 $11 {and Black must be
precise to draw}) 10. bxc3 Nxc4 11. Qd4 O-O $1 12. Qxc4 Nd6 13. Qf4 b6 $11 {
White faces all the practical problems in this ending as his compensation does
not take the form of a real attack on the king.}) 7... Bxd2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]}
8. Nbxd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 10. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:00] Here, Black's third most common move,
other than the two he played, is actually to agree a draw.} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:00]
} (10... Be6 {is a slightly entertaining gambit line}) 11. Qa4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]
} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nce7 {[%emt 0:00:00] My
feeling is that this optimism is maybe a bit misplaced, and Black soon ends up
a little worse as his position is after all a bit more difficult to play.} 13.
O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {
[%emt 0:13:46]} 15. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:08:14]} (15... a5 16. Ne5
f6 $11 {is the engine suggestion but you have to be reasonably sure of
yourself to cue up White's future Ne6 motifs.}) 16. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Ned5 {
[%emt 0:03:42]} 17. Nc5 {[%emt 0:09:10] This was the position on the board
when I began my game in the 4NCL (British chess league.) Shortly before
leaving my room, I noted down a prediction - White to win here. It does indeed
look slightly more pleasant, but of course IQP positions are always hard to
play.} Nf6 {[%emt 0:06:29]} 18. Rac1 {[%emt 0:08:23]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:05:37] When
you play such moves, you must ipso facto be slightly worse. Finding a plan for
White is, however, not totally trivial.} 19. Qa3 {[%emt 0:09:00]} ({One of my
best ideas in the position, I think, is to try and exploit the position of the
Black rook by means of a cumbersome-looking 'queen lift'.} 19. Qb4 $5 Nfd5 {
If this isn't played now or next, the White queen gets to f4.} 20. Qd2 Nd7 21.
Nb3 $14 {Black still lacks ways to complete his development.}) 19... a6 {
[%emt 0:03:18]} 20. Qb3 {[%emt 0:05:49]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 21. Ne4 {[%emt 0:
10:44]} (21. Ne5 $14 {was another relatively easy move to make, with the idea
of Qd1-f3 and (if allowed) Bc2-b3! Black also lacks ...Rd8 due to a rather
cheap tactic.}) 21... Nfd5 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 22. Nc3 {[%emt 0:09:34]} Qd6 {
[%emt 0:03:44]} 23. Be4 {[%emt 0:16:28]} Bg4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:51] Black has now
completely equalised.} 24. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:02:29]} (24. Ne5 Be6 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26.
Ne4 {looks tactically tricky, but Black's defences are all in place after} Qd8
27. Nc5 Re8 $11) 24... cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Bxf3 {
[%emt 0:01:02] Now White lacks the dynamism he would need to try and win, and
in fact if Black could get his knight to c6 he could try something. A few more
good-enough moves and peace broke out.} 26. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rfe8 {
[%emt 0:01:10]} 27. Qc3 {[%emt 0:05:38]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 28. Bd3 {[%emt 0:
02:05]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:21:44]} 29. g3 {[%emt 0:02:43]} Rbc8 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 30.
Rxe8 {[%emt 0:03:03]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 31. Qb3 {[%emt 0:02:20]} Re7 {
[%emt 0:03:18]} 32. Bf1 {[%emt 0:04:18]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:03:31]} 33. Qb4 {[%emt 0:
01:05]} Re4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 34. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:47]} Re7 {[%emt 0:02:48]} 35.
Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Re4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 36. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Re7 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

{[%evp 0,81,38,30,22,22,21,9,17,21,21,15,-13,-13,-18,-38,-8,-5,-6,-12,12,1,-5,
-3,21,9,9,-19,5,1,-5,-4,35,32,16,-27,-27,-43,-10,-1,5,-3,14,-11,17,21,32,33,39,
65,146,78,110,110,146,90,86,31,29,0,49,24,50,40,42,0,5,5,92,107,130,140,99,56,
109,99,124,138,408,446,549,549,556,645]} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:
16]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:34]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:26] Opting, oddly enough, for a
similar strategy to the one Anand used against Matlakov in the first round,
despite that opening beginning with 3.Bb5. Here it seems like the immediate
idea is probably to prevent Black using a setup with ...d5.} h6 {[%emt 0:04:29]
} 7. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (7... g5 {led to a draw in a
recent high-profile game.} 8. Bg3 d6 9. a4 a6 10. Qd2 Nh5 11. h4 Nxg3 12. fxg3
g4 13. Qxh6 gxf3 14. Qg6+ Kh8 15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Qg6+ Kh8 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,
M-Karjakin,S Paris 2017}) 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} (8...
Na5 $5 {is not a completely pointless gambit:} 9. Nxe5 Nxc4 10. Nexc4 (10. dxc4
Nxe4 $15) 10... d5 11. Ne3 dxe4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxe4 Be7 $132 {With two
bishops for two knights and a pawn, Black has very reasonable counterplay,
analogous perhaps to the Gajewski line of the Ruy Lopez.}) 9. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:
53]} (9. a4 {was faced by Kramnik himself from the other side of the board
recently.} Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 (10... Nb8 $5 {could have been played immediately,
not giving White the needed clarity on what is happening on the h-file.} 11.
Nf1 (11. Nxe5 {is obvious, but following} Nxg3 12. Nxf7 Rxf7 13. hxg3 Qf8 $13 {
White will soon have nothing better than to enter a double-edged material
balance of two pawns plus rook against two bishops, which probably should
ultimately favour the bishops.}) 11... c6 12. Ne3 Nd7 $11 {Playing for ...Ndf6
and ...d5. White should probably castle short, but the moment he does that, he
will no longer ever use the h-file.}) 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14.
g4 (14. Bxa6 bxa6 15. d4 $14) 14... Nc7 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,M-Kramnik,V
Leuven 2017, Following a slightly complicated opening battle Black had
equalised.}) 9... Nh5 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 $132 {is another
standard plan, and Black will probably continue with ...Be6, ...Nc6 and
consider ...d5.}) 10. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 11. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:09:14] Telegraphing a kingside attack rather
clearly, but this then prompts White's overreaction.} (11... Be6 12. Ne3 Nf6 {
was solid in Baramidze, D-Fressinet,L Germany 2009.}) 12. Ne3 {[%emt 0:03:57]}
Nf4 {[%emt 0:13:54]} 13. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (13. O-O {followed by g3 could
have been one way to go.} Ne7 14. d4 g5 15. g3 $132) 13... Ne7 {[%emt 0:03:19]}
14. g3 {[%emt 0:07:03]} Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 15. Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:29] Now we
can see what Kramnik is playing for: a sharp opposite-side castling position.}
c5 {[%emt 0:06:00]} 16. O-O-O {[%emt 0:10:22]} (16. Ng1 $11 {or something was
technically still legal, but who plays chess like this?}) 16... Be6 {[%emt 0:
03:06]} 17. d4 {[%emt 0:17:27]} (17. Kb1 $5 {is almost always useful
preparation, and that holds here too.} Rfc8 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 $132) 17...
cxd4 {[%emt 0:17:53]} 18. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:03:50] Missing a
chance.} (18... Bxa2 $5 {is possible here according to the machines, and it
seems to get an edge! The critical line is} 19. b3 a5 20. Kb2 $6 a4 21. Kxa2 $2
axb3+ 22. Kxb3 d5 $19) 19. Kb1 {[%emt 0:08:54]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:08:45]} (19...
Rxc2 {was another noteworthy chance, though not obvious if you're not looking
for it. The point is the non-trivial} 20. Kxc2 $6 Qg6 $3 $17) 20. Rd2 {[%emt 0:
03:36]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 21. dxe5 {[%emt 0:12:33]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
22. Rhd1 {[%emt 0:00:25] Now everything is under control, and just like in
Anand-Matlakov from round 1, the position is just easier for White, even if
not actually better.} g6 {[%emt 0:07:13]} (22... b5 $5 {is a little bit faster.
}) 23. Rd6 {[%emt 0:09:28]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 24. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:13]} Rf8
$2 {[%emt 0:12:04]} (24... Rxd6 25. Rxd6 h5 {survives according to the machine,
but White is definitely significantly better after even the simple} 26. a3 $36)
25. R1d3 $2 {[%emt 0:08:44]} ({If I had to guess I would say Black's last move
was based on using the f-file after} 25. Bxe6 {but neither order quite works:}
Rxd6 (25... fxe6 26. Rd8 $1 $16) 26. Bxh3 $1 $18 (26. Rxd6 fxe6 $14)) 25...
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 26. Rd1 {[%emt 0:02:18]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 27. a3 {
[%emt 0:01:12] Missing the same idea again.} h5 {[%emt 0:05:04] It is
generally useful to avoid Ng4 motifs.} 28. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:04:15]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 29. Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nc8 $2 {[%emt 0:02:38]} (29... Qxf3 30. Qxf3
Rxf3 31. Rxe7 Rf7 {almost equalises, and so should be preferred.}) 30. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:09:50]} (30. Nh4 $16 {is another option, cuing up interesting Nd5
ideas.}) 30... Nxf2 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 31. Ncxe5 {[%emt 0:02:51] An alluring and
practically tricky option, but not objectively best.} (31. Rf1 $5 Rxc4 32. Rxf2
{leaves Black with bizarrely few options against Qe3-h6. The only move is} Rd4
$8 {but now if nothing else White acheives a large advantage with} 33. Nxd4
Qxf2 34. Qxf2 Rxf2 35. Nxe6 Rxh2 36. Rxb7 $16) 31... Nxd1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 32.
Qxd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:01:47]} (32... Rb6 33. Qd2 g5 $11 {is the
machine defence.}) 33. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:52] This is now practically impossible
to defend, but the errors understandably continue from both sides.} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} (33... Rb5 34. Rc7 {might look like a lethal battery, but
Black can execute the text move now:} Nb6 $14 {and Black has gained a tempo
over the text.}) 34. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 35. Rxa7 Rd8 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 36. Qc3 {[%emt 0:02:15]} (36. Rf7 $3 $16) 36... Rc8 {[%emt 0:
00:30]} (36... Nd7 $3 $132) 37. Rc7 {No further accidents.} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:42]
} 38. Qc6 {[%emt 0:01:28]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:39]} (38... Rxe5 39. Nxe5 Qxe5 40.
Qxb6 Qxe4+ 41. Ka2 Qd5+ 42. Qb3 $16 {is basically over too.}) 39. Rf7 $1 {
Enough to force resignation even if this was a time scramble.} (39. Rf7 $1 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} Qxf7 40. Nxf7 Kxf7 41. Ng5+ {wins a rook with the next check.})
1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Wereldschaaktoernooi"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1950.11.29"]
[Round "14"]
[White "O'Kelly de Galway, Alberic"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1950.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. a4 (13. Rac1
Qb6 14. Qa3 Be6 15. Ne4 {Rossolimo-O'Kelly/Amsterdam/1950}) 13... Qb6 (13... a5
$143) (13... Qc7) (13... Nf5) 14. a5 Qxb3 15. Nxb3 Bf5 $2 (15... Rd8 16. Nc5
Rb8 $1 17. Ne5 Kf8 {/\18... b6= O'Kelly-de Jong/Winterswijk/1951}) 16. Ne5 Nb4
17. Rac1 (17. Nxf7 Ned5 $1 $17 {/\Sc2}) 17... Ned5 18. a6 $1 b5 19. Bxd5 cxd5
20. Nc6 $1 Nxc6 21. Rxc6 Rfe8 {Najdorf offered a draw! After speaking with
Euwe, who was strolling through the tournament hall and who accepted a draw,
Najdorf proposed O'Kelly a draw.} (21... Rfe8 22. Rxe8+ (22. Rec1 $6 Rac8 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 $10) 22... Rxe8 23. f3 (23. h3 Re1+ (23... Rc8 24. Rd6
{compare 23.f3 Tc8}) 24. Kh2 Re2 25. Rc7 Rxb2 26. Rxa7 g5 27. Rb7 Ra2 28. Nc5
Ra5 29. a7 Kg7 30. Nd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 Kf6 32. Rxd5) 23... Re1+ (23... Rc8 24.
Rd6 Be6 25. Nc5 Kf8 26. Nxe6+ fxe6 27. Rxe6 Rc2 28. Rd6 Rxb2 29. Rxd5) 24. Kf2
Rb1 25. Nc5 Rxb2+ 26. Kg3 g5 27. Rc7 Kg7 28. Rxa7 Ra2 29. Rb7 Bc8 30. Rxb5 Bxa6
31. Nxa6 Rxa6 32. Rxd5) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.25"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Ragger, Markus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Ganguly, Surya Sekhar "]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Austria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUT"]

{2006 Turin was the last Olympiad where Anand played for India. After a huge
gap finally the Tiger is back which is a tremendous boost for the team.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Italian nowadays is as popular as Spanish specially at
the top level.} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 {Although this was first played
in 1841, it only got huge popularity after MVL recently started using the idea
heavily in this position as well as in some other similar positions. I
personally had this position a few times as White with a4-a5 included.} h6 7.
Bh4 Be7 {The old conception was that after this Black has no issues, hence Bg5
ideas were not that popular. Thanks to MVL's effort it is now clear that
though Black is still fine here, White does have many interesting tries.} 8.
Nbd2 d6 9. a4 Nh5 10. g3 $5 {A rare and very interesting idea from my good
friend Sethu. He used this idea to beat Inarkiev in the last World Rapid in
Saudi Arabia. The point is White simply protects the bishop and asks Black to
show his plans.} (10. Bg3 {MVL played this against Kramnik which is when this
whole Bg5 line started picking up rapidly. Since then many games have been
played with tries from both sides.} Nxg3 (10... g6 {is the latest trend from
the black side which was seen in Hari - Inarkiev and Sethu - Giri}) 11. hxg3
Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14. g4 {was the MVL - Kramnik game from where it
all started.}) 10... Nf6 {A natural response. Now Black threatens g5. Another
interesting move is ...Bh3 which I am sure was prepared too.} 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12.
h4 {That is the idea of this whole g3 business! White gives up the bishop and
tries to launch a kingside attack.} Ne7 (12... h5 {was the Sethuraman -
Inarkiev game:} 13. Nh2 g6 14. g4 hxg4 15. Nxg4 Bxh4 16. Qf3 {1-0 (69)
Sethuraman,S (2646)-Inarkiev,E (2689), Riadh 2017 and White had good
compensation.}) 13. Nh2 {The most natural way to follow. White has a pretty
straightforward plan in this line.} d5 14. Bb3 {From the human point of view
this is most natural. However, the engine insists on taking on d5.} (14. exd5
Nxd5 15. Qf3 Be6 {is dynamically balanced. I like Anand's choice more as it
has better practical value.}) 14... c6 (14... d4 {A counter-intuitive
suggestion from the machine. Why would anyone give up the centre and open the
diagonal for the bishop! Practically it could be easier to play from the white
side, irrespective of the computer evaluation.} 15. Qe2) 15. Ng4 Qd6 16. Qf3
Bxg4 17. Qxg4 {Both sides are playing very logically. White's bishop is
clearly stronger than its counterpart, but Black holds the centre very
strongly and there is no kingside attack coming either.} g6 {Not sure if this
was needed right away.} (17... Rad8 {Black could play ...g6 later at anytime.})
18. h5 {After 10 minutes of thought Anand decides to close the kingside and
make the black bishop even more passive.} g5 {A committal decision but a
fairly justified one. Black agrees to lock in the dark-squared bishop totally
but makes sure the kingside is completely closed. His solidity in the centre
always compensates for the passivity of his minor pieces.} (18... Bg7 {would
have changed the character of the position completely:} 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. O-O-O
{can get wild soon}) 19. Qf3 (19. Qe2 {with a similar idea as in the game is
also doable.}) 19... Bg7 {[%cal Gf7f5]} 20. g4 {Now the position is completely
closed on the kingside. Both squares f4 and f5 are weak, but White will get
his knight faster towards f5 than Black his to f4. Thus, Black's knight must
not move, but rather stay at e7 from where it controls both f5 and d5. White's
bishop is also stronger than its counterpart. However, Black still has solid
control over the centre which compensate all other things. As long as he can
maintain that, there is nothing to be worried about.} Rad8 21. Ke2 $5 {It is
debatable where the king would be ideally placed. It does look safe at e2 as
of now.} a5 22. Rhd1 Rd7 23. Nf1 Rfd8 (23... Qc7 $5 {Now that White has moved
the knight, Black perhaps could have started to harass the b3-bishop.} 24. Qe3
(24. Ne3 Qb6) 24... Rfd8 {with a balanced position.}) 24. Ne3 (24. Ng3 $5 {
It is not clear how to break further, but if I had to pick a colour I would
pick White.}) 24... Qf6 $2 {A strategic error. The only way for White to make
some progress is to open up the game but with queens on the board it would
have been very difficult to do so. Now it will be much easier to create play
on the queenside and suddenly the king on e2 becomes so much more active.} (
24... Qc7 {Just keeping the queen on b6 would suffice to stop White from
opening another front. For the moment its not clear how White will
breakthrough. The position remains balanced.}) 25. Qxf6 $1 {Of course!} Bxf6
26. Ba2 (26. Bc2 {with the same idea of b4 but this time unstoppable.}) 26...
Bg7 (26... Ra8 $5 {, stopping b4 for the moment, would have been more
tenacious, although White has all the time in the world to regroup and play b4
eventually.}) (26... dxe4 {Changing further major pieces doesn't solve the
problem of passive minor pieces that Black has.} 27. dxe4 Rxd1 {, and now both
Nxd1 and Rxd1 are good for White.} 28. Rxd1 (28. Nxd1 {and no need to
calculate any furher variation:} Nc8 29. f3 $14) 28... Rxd1 29. Kxd1 {[%cal
Ge3c4,Gb2b4] White still keeps some pressure.}) 27. b4 {Anand goes for the
straightforward plan.} (27. Rdb1 {In order not to give Black a chance to swap
rooks.} Nc8 (27... Ra8 28. Bb3 $14 {White can still slowly transfer the bishop
to c2 and eventually break on the queenside.}) 28. b4 dxe4 29. dxe4 axb4 30.
cxb4 Rd4 $132) 27... axb4 (27... d4 28. Nc4) 28. cxb4 dxe4 29. dxe4 Rd4 $6 (
29... Rxd1 {Good or bad, this was the last chance to swap both rooks and Black
had to opt for it.} 30. Rxd1 (30. Nxd1 Rd4) 30... Rxd1 31. Nxd1 {It is
psychologically difficult to accept as Black that he should aim for this
position, but compared to the alternative this was clearly the better choice.}
Nc8 32. b5 $1 cxb5 33. a5 $1 {is one of the typical ideas when White will take
on b7 no matter what.} Kf8 (33... Ne7 34. Bd5 $1) 34. Bd5 Ke7 (34... Nd6 $4 35.
Bxb7 $18) 35. Bxb7 Na7 36. Ne3 $16 {White is clearly better. If he can win or
not is not important from a practical point of view. Nevertheless, this is
still much better than what happened in the game.}) 30. b5 Rxd1 31. Nxd1 $1 {
Subtle. Now that there is no more ..Rd4 trick, Anand refuses to exchange rooks.
} (31. Rxd1 Rxd1 32. Kxd1 cxb5 33. axb5 Nc8 34. Nf5 Bf8 {Here Black can just
escape.}) 31... Bf8 (31... Rd4 32. Ne3 $1 {is a nice way to finish:} Rxe4 (
32... Rxa4 33. Bxf7+) 33. bxc6 Nxc6 (33... bxc6 34. Bc4 $18 {[%csl Ga4]}) 34.
Bd5 Rb4 35. Bxc6 bxc6 36. a5 $18) 32. Ne3 cxb5 33. axb5 Nc8 34. Bd5 Nd6 35. b6
$1 {giving no chance to escape. Anand at ease. Once he gets an initiative
somehow, he makes it look so simple and easy.} Rc8 36. Ra7 Rb8 37. Kd3 $1 {
[%cal Ge3c4] The most direct way once again.} (37. Ra5 {was equally strong.})
37... Nc8 $8 38. Bxb7 Nxb6 39. Bd5 $1 {The final touch.} Rd8 (39... Nxd5 40.
exd5 $18) 40. Rb7 Nc8 41. Rb8 $1 {Now Black is competely stuck.} Re8 42. Bc6
Bd6 (42... Rd8+ 43. Nd5) 43. Ra8 Rf8 44. Nf5 Ne7 45. Nxd6 Nxc6 46. Rxf8+ Kxf8
47. Nf5 {A fine positional masterpiece by Anand.} 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT CECLUB Honor"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2017.08.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Mareco, Sandro"]
[Black "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[Annotator "Ganguly,S"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.08.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Equigoma Social Catolica"]
[BlackTeam "Solvay CA"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. e4 {Mareco plays lot of things and I ended up preparing pretty much
everything except 1.e4 by making a wild guess that he won't opt for it :-)} e5
{After making few more wild assumptions I decided to go for 1...e5 and
eliminated 1...e6 and 1...c5 .} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Once again this is
something that I didn't guess. I should stop making guesses. I guess I am not
good at guesses!} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d6 {I have played both d6 and
d5 in this position. For this game I decided on less forcing lines.} 7. b4 {
This was the real surprise. This line is not so popular and is not that
critical yet. Oh yes in case you are wondering.... I didn't guess this!} Bb6 8.
a4 {I remembered that against Akopian in last world rapid I had played a6 and
during the game itself realised a5 was better.} a5 9. b5 Ne7 {Here finally my
opponent stopped blitzing and started to think.} 10. Be3 {This is slightly
inaccurate. Now Black has number of ways to react and all of them looked
decent.} (10. Nbd2 {is the most popular move.}) 10... c6 {There were other
ways also but I felt this move simply ruins White's idea and makes the
e3-bishop a bit aimless.} 11. Re1 Bc7 $5 {I will get d5 before he gets d4 so
basically it will be some sort of reverse Italian with weird pawn structure on
the queenside.} (11... Bxe3 12. Rxe3 Ng6 $11 {was the most classical approach
and Black gets easy equality. However, at this stage I wanted to keep more
pieces and get d5 as early as possible.}) (11... d5 {I wanted to make this
work but couldn't do so.} 12. Bxb6 Qxb6 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 Ng6 (14... Bg4 {
doable but this was not the point of playing d5}) 15. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Ng4
17. Re2 Qd6 18. g3 {I wasn't sure about my compensation here} Ne5 (18... Qh6
19. f3) 19. Re3 $1 $16 {and I didn't see anything concrete for Black.}) 12.
Nbd2 d5 13. Ba2 Ng6 14. h3 (14. Bg5 $5 h6 (14... Be6 {I was happy with this})
15. Bxf6 gxf6 {even this was not so bad. Black will create some attacking
chances on the kingside} (15... Qxf6 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bxd5 Nf4 18. Ne4 $16)
16. exd5 cxd5 17. c4 Nf4 {with a messy position. I wasn't sure which one to
opt for in the event of 14.Bg5. Both looked complicated and Black has good
counterplay.}) 14... h6 15. Qc2 {Here I thought if I play ...Be6 then he might
have some d4 ideas so I came up with an interesting alternative instead.} Bd7
$5 {[%csl Rc2,Rg1][%cal Gd8c8,Gd7h3]} (15... Be6 16. d4 {although the engine
thinks this is also fine for Black} Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bf5 18. Nfd2 Qh4 $1 {being
the point.}) 16. Rab1 (16. d4 {with the bishop on d7 this never works} dxe4 {
no more ...Be6 business} 17. Nxe4 Bf5) 16... Qc8 $1 {[%cal Gd7h3] Suddenly the
idea of ...Bxh3 becomes annoying. The white queen is awfully placed at c2
which won't be able to reach f1 so fast after the sac on h3.} 17. Nf1 Rd8 {
The threat is better than its execution.} (17... Bxh3 $5 18. gxh3 Qxh3 19. N3h2
$8 {Otherwise White might as well resign} (19. Ng3 Nf4 $19) (19. N1h2 Ng4 $19)
(19. Qe2 dxe4 20. dxe4 Nxe4 $19) 19... Nh4 $1 {looked tempting but I did not
see a clear way} (19... d4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nh4 22. f4 Bxf4 23. Bxf6 {
wasnt' clear either}) 20. f3 Nh5 $44 {Surely Black has huge compensation but
during the game I wasn't completely sure and hence decided to wait further.}) (
17... Nh5 $5 {This was also very tempting} 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. exd5 Bxh3 20. N1h2
$13 {Here also I did not see a clear cut way and I did not want to commit so
fast.}) 18. Ng3 Be6 $1 {For now, just waiting. I did not see how white is
improving and realised there are not many useful moves for White. Now that d4
is also not working (thanks to the queen on c8) I wanted to have my bishop on
e6.} (18... Bxh3 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. gxh3 Qxh3 21. Qe2 $1 $14 {now the queen is
in time. As a matter of fact this was also the only move for White.}) 19. Bd2
$2 {[%csl Rc2] Mostly he wanted to play c4 at some point and hence removed the
bishop from e3 so that d4 will not come with tempo.} (19. Red1 Nf4 $1 20. Bxf4
exf4 {[%csl Re4]}) (19. d4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 {the advantage of
having the queen on c8} 22. Qxe4 f5 23. Qc2 e4 $36) (19. Kh2 {probably this
was practically the best..., get rid of Bxh3 ideas. Definitely not a move that
one would like to make with the bishop on c7.} Bd6 20. Bb6 Re8 {I prefer Black
here.}) 19... Bxh3 $1 {And now that Qe2-Qf1 takes one more extra move....this
is the time! Just the previous move Black played Bd7 to e6 and now Be6 to h3.
All thanks to Bd2 which prevents Qe2.} 20. bxc6 {Including this makes sense as
it can only benefit White.} bxc6 21. gxh3 Qxh3 {[%cal Gf6g4,Gg6h4,Gg6f4] No
more Qe2 business.} 22. Rb7 (22. Qd1 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Nf1 dxe4 $19) 22...
Ng4 $1 {With the threat of ...Nh4.} (22... dxe4 {I checked this out a bit too.
Trying to take on d2} 23. Bxf7+ (23. dxe4 Rxd2 $19 {[%cal Yg6f4]}) 23... Kh8
24. Ng5 $1 {Comps} (24. dxe4 Rxd2 $19) (24. Nxe4 {I saw this, which is also
fine} Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Qxf3 26. Rxc7) 24... hxg5 25. Bxg6 $14) (22... Rd7 $1 {
The computer says this is also fine. I quite liked my move too. Much more
human and stylish :P}) 23. Bc1 {[%cal Gc2e2] Now White is coming with Qe2-Qf1.
Black must react fast to stop this only plan of White.} (23. Rxc7 Nh4 {is mate
in two}) (23. Be3 {With the bishop on e3 white is kind of stalemated! White's
only plan is to get Qe2-Qf1 but with the bishop on e3 that doesn't work. Now
nobody moves on the kingside and white has absolutely zero plan.} Rd7 $1 {
[%cal Gg6f4] White's only defence is Qe2-Qf1 and with the bishop on e3 that
does not happen.} (23... Rd6 24. Rxc7 Rf6 25. Qe2 Nh4 26. Nxh4 Qh2+ 27. Kf1
Qxg3 28. Rc1 Qxh4 29. Ke1 dxe4 {also wins but is completely unnecessary}) 24.
Qe2 (24. exd5 e4 $19) 24... Nxe3 {The disadvantage of having the bishop on e3}
25. Qxe3 (25. fxe3 Qxg3+ $19) 25... Nf4 $19) 23... Ra7 $3 {Giving no time for
Qe2-Qf1.} (23... Bd6 24. Qe2 Bc5 25. d4 exd4 26. Qf1 {White has no problems
anymore.}) (23... Rd6 $5 24. Qe2 {this was my problem} (24. Rxc7 Rf6 25. Qe2
Nh4 $19) 24... Nh4 (24... Rf6 25. Qf1 $16) 25. Nxh4 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Qxh4 27. Qc2
$8 {I left lff calculating around here as by now I realised the game
continuation was much stronger} Qh3+ 28. Ke2 Nxf2 29. Nf5 Nxd3 30. Nxd6 Nxe1
31. Kxe1 Bxd6 $17 {is a computer generated line.}) 24. Rxa7 (24. Rxc7 {good or
bad this was absolutely needed} Rxc7 25. Qe2 {The only way} dxe4 26. dxe4 Nh4
$1 (26... Rd3 {unfortunately this cool move didn't work} 27. Qxd3 Nh4 28. Qd8+
{This being the problem} Kh7 29. Qxh4 $18) (26... Rcd7 27. Qf1 Qxf1+ 28. Nxf1
Rd3 29. Ne3 Nxe3 30. Bxe3 Rxc3 31. Rb1 $132) 27. Nxh4 Qxh4 28. Kg2 {[%cal
Ye1h1]} (28. Qf3 Rd3 $1 $19) (28. Nf1 Rd6 $19) 28... Qh2+ 29. Kf3 Qh3 $1 {
I had to spot this move well in advance and surprisingly this was the move
which somehow took quite some time to spot. Mainly because there were so many
other ways to play for Black} 30. Rh1 Nh2+ 31. Ke3 Rcd7 $19) 24... Bb6 25. d4 (
25. Be3 Bxa7 $1 26. Bxa7 Nf4 $19) 25... exd4 $3 {[%cal Yd4d3]} (25... Bxa7 26.
exd5 {[%cal Gc2f5] too late for an attack now.... every move counts!} exd4 27.
Qf5 $1 dxc3 28. Qxf7+ $3 {I don't like to get such shocks during a game! It
reminds me of Krasenkow - Nakamura, Barcelona 2007.} Kxf7 (28... Kh8 29. Qxa7
$18 {not only is the bishop gone but White is also protecting f2 so no more ...
Nh4 tricks either}) 29. dxc6+ Kf6 30. Re6+ Kf7 {I didn't really bother to
check if White is winning or its just a draw. In any case the computer
confirms that this is 0.00.}) 26. cxd4 {Here I so much wanted to sac three
pieces by playing 26...exd4 but at some point, I convinced myself that even if
I sacrifice three pieces I would get only one point for winning the game. Mr.
Gelfand and his masterpiece 'Positional decision making' took over and
Shirov's great 'Fire on board' despite having its momentary excitement
couldn't come to the fore. Although that was solely because of my lack of
calculation.} Bxa7 {[%cal Ya7d4] Now the threat is again ...Bxd4 and there is
no way to stop it.} (26... Bxd4 27. Nxd4 {at this stage, I would have been
three pieces down and I wanted to make this work but didn't see the exact way}
Nh4 28. f4 (28. f3 {would reach similar lines and white will also lose the pawn
}) 28... Qxg3+ 29. Kf1 Nf3 $3 {this is the move order that I missed} (29...
Nh2+ 30. Ke2 N4f3 {I was trying to mate White here but..} 31. Qc3 $13 {I
didn't see a clear way out here} (31. Rd1 $1 $14 {computers})) 30. Nxf3 Qxf3+
31. Kg1 Qg3+ 32. Qg2 (32. Kf1 Nh2+ 33. Qxh2 Qxh2 $19 {and White loses another
piece}) 32... Qxe1+ 33. Qf1 Qb4 $19 {very computerish. Nevertheless, had I
seen all these lines I am sure I would have decided to implement 'fire on
board'.}) 27. Be3 {Just when it looks like White stopped ...Bxd4....} (27. Qd3
Nh4 $19) (27. Qe2 Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Nh4 $19) (27. Rd1 dxe4 28. Qxe4 Nh4 $19) 27...
Bxd4 $3 {Lets be honest....It felt really great to play these moves :)} 28. Qd3
(28. Bxd4 Nf4 29. Nh4 Qxh4 $19) (28. Nxd4 Nh4 29. f3 Qxg3+ 30. Kf1 Nxf3 31.
Nxf3 Qxf3+ 32. Bf2 dxe4 $19) 28... Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Nh4 $1 {The shortest way to
finish the game.} 0-1

[Event "Munich SKA"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O $5 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8. O-O
d5 $5 $146 (8... d6) 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nf6 (10... Nf4 $2 11. Bxf4 exf4 12.
a5 Ba7 13. d4 $16) (10... Be6 11. Ng5 h6 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Ra2 (13. Nd2 Rxf2
14. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Qh4+ 16. Ke2 (16. Kg1 $2 Qe1+ 17. Nf1 Rf8 18. d4 Qf2+
19. Kh1 Qxf1+ $19) 16... Qg4+ $40) 13... Rf7 14. Kh1 $5 $14 {/\ f3, Nd2-e4})
11. Ng5 Qe8 12. Nd2 (12. Be3 $5 Bxe3 13. fxe3 h6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 (14... Ng4 15.
Rf3 {/\ h3}) 15. dxe4 $16) 12... h6 13. Nge4 Nh5 (13... Nxe4 14. dxe4 Kh8 15.
Bd3 (15. Qc2 $5) 15... Be6 16. Qc2 Rd8 17. Nc4 $16) 14. a5 (14. Ba3 Nf4 (14...
Kh8 15. b5 Na5 16. Qd1 $1 $16) 15. b5 Na5 16. Qb4 (16. Qc2 Nxc4 17. Nxc4 (17.
dxc4 $5 f5 $1 18. Bxf8 fxe4 19. Bb4 Bh3 $1 20. g3 Qh5 21. c5 Bg2 $1 22. cxb6
Bf3 (22... Qh3 $2 23. f3 $1 Ne2+ 24. Kf2 $13) 23. Nxf3 Qxf3 24. gxf4 Qg4+ $10)
17... f5 18. Bxf8 fxe4 $44) 16... Ng6 17. Qb2 Ne7 18. Qb4 Ng6 $10) 14... Ba7
15. b5 axb5 16. Qxb5 Bb6 $5 (16... Kh8 17. Ba3 Rg8 18. Bc5 Nf4 19. Be3 $5 $14)
(16... Kh7 17. Ba3 Rh8 {Shirov; /\f5, Nf4}) 17. axb6 $1 (17. Nd6 Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2
cxd6 19. Ne4 Qd8 $15) 17... Rxa1 18. Nb3 (18. bxc7 Nf4 19. Nb3 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Rb1
$1 $17) 18... Rxc1 (18... Ra6 19. bxc7 Qe7 20. Qc5 $1 $16) (18... Rb1 19. bxc7
Qe7 20. Qb6 Nf4 21. Bxf4 Rxf1+ 22. Kxf1 exf4 23. Nbc5 $44) 19. Rxc1 Nf4 (19...
Qd8 $5 20. Na5 (20. bxc7 Qxc7 $10) (20. d4 $6 cxb6 21. dxe5 Qe7 22. Nd6 $140
Be6 $1) 20... Nf4 21. Rb1 cxb6 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Qxb6 Be6 $1 $10) 20. Rb1 Kh7
$2 (20... Qd8 21. Nbc5 Kh8 22. bxc7 Qxc7 23. Qb6 (23. Nxb7 $4 Bxb7 24. Qxb7 Rb8
$19) (23. g3 $2 f5 $1 $17 (23... Nh3+ 24. Kg2 f5 25. Nd2 $14)) 23... Qe7 24.
Re1 $13) 21. bxc7 f5 22. Ng3 h5 23. d4 $1 exd4 (23... h4 24. Ne2 Nxg2 25. Kxg2
Qg6+ (25... f4 26. f3 Qg6+ 27. Kf2 $18) 26. Kh1 f4 27. Bd3 $18) 24. Nxd4 h4 25.
Nge2 Nxe2+ 26. Bxe2 Rf7 27. Bf3 Rxc7 $4 (27... Re7 $1 28. Kf1 $1 (28. Bxc6 bxc6
29. Nxc6 Re1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 31. Qf1 Qxc3 $10) 28... Qd7 $1 29. Bxc6 (29. Nxc6
bxc6 30. Bxc6 Qxc7 $132) 29... bxc6 30. Qc5 $1 (30. Qxc6 Qxc6 31. Nxc6 Ba6+ 32.
Kg1 Rxc7 $10) 30... Qxc7 31. Nf3 $16) 28. Nxf5 $18 Bxf5 29. Qxf5+ Qg6 30. Qe4
Qxe4 31. Bxe4+ g6 32. f3 Kh6 33. Kf2 Ne5 34. Rb5 (34. Ke3 Rd7 35. Rb4 b5 36.
Rd4 $18) 34... Nc4 35. Rxb7 Rc5 36. Rb4 (36. Rd7 Ra5 $132) 36... h3 37. gxh3 $4
(37. g4 Nd2 38. Rd4 Nxe4+ 39. Rxe4 Rxc3 40. Kg3 $18) 37... Nd2 $1 (37... Nd6
38. Bb1 Rxc3 39. Rb6 $18) 38. Bd3 (38. Ke3 Nxe4 39. fxe4 Rxc3+ $10) 38... Rxc3
39. Rd4 Rc6 $10 40. Ke3 Nb3 41. Rd5 Nc5 42. Bb5 Re6+ 43. Kf2 (43. Kf4 $5) 43...
Nb7 44. h4 Nd6 45. Bd7 Rf6 46. Bg4 Ne8 47. h5 g5 48. Rd8 Nd6 49. Ke3 (49. Rh8+
$5 Kg7 50. Ra8 Kh6 51. Ra5 Ne8 52. Kg3 {/\ h4}) 49... Nf5+ 50. Ke4 Nh4 51. Ke5
Rf4 52. Rd3 Kg7 53. Ra3 Kh6 54. Ra6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Army"]
[Site "Russia"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Komliakov, Viktor"]
[Black "Yagupov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[Annotator "Giese"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 h6 10. g4 d5 11. Qe2 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nd7 13. Ng3 Nc5 14. Bc2 Ne6 15.
Nf5 Re8 16. h4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Rd1 Qf6 19. g5 hxg5 20. hxg5 Qg6 21. N5h4
Qh5 22. Qd2 Bc5 23. g6 Bd6 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. Rg1 Bg4 26. Bb3+ Kf6 27. Rxg4
Qxg4 28. Qd5 Ne5 29. Nxe5 Rxe5 {=/+/-/+} (29... Bxe5 $142 {=/+/-/+}) 30. Qf7+
Kg5 31. Kd2 {[%csl Ye1,Yf1,Yg1,Yh1]} Kh6 (31... Qxh4 32. Qxg7+ Kh5 33. Bf7#) (
31... Kxh4 32. Rh1+ Qh3 33. Qxf4+ $18) (31... Re7 32. Qg6+ Kxh4 33. Rh1+ Qh3
34. Qh7+ $18) 32. Rh1 Qh5 (32... Bf8 33. Nf5+ Kg5 34. Nxg7 {[%cal Rh1h5]} Rd8+
35. Kc1 Re7 (35... Rxe4 36. Rh5+ $18) 36. Ne6+ Rxe6 37. Bxe6 $18) 33. Nf5+ Rxf5
34. exf5 {[%cal Rf7g6]} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2020.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Alekseenko, Kirill"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "196"]
[EventDate "2020.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 195"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {My opponent has a lot of experience playing
the Italian and I even read some praise of his skills in this subtle opening
by Magnus Carlsen himself.} 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 a5 {I played
with ...a6 more often, but this system is one of the main lines as well. Black
stops White from grabbing space on the queenside.} 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Bb5 Ba7 {
After some thought I decided to deviate from the main theoretical move.} (9...
Qb8 $1 10. Nf1 Qa7 {is what they usually do here, but I fancied my chances
more in less explored waters.}) 10. Nf1 {If White wants to look for an
advantage in this variation he has to do it somewhere between now and move 13,
because after I got the d5 break, my position was very fine. On every move
White has alternatives.} Ne7 11. Ng3 {Instead, White could play d4 or h3
already here.} c6 {It looked sensible to kick the bishop while it is forced to
go to a4, before he pushed d4.} 12. Ba4 Ng6 13. h3 (13. d4 {was more
principled, taking the center first, but then surely White was bothered by} Bg4
$5 {when indeed it is not so easy for him.}) 13... d5 $1 14. exd5 Nxd5 {
The e5 pawn is not hanging because of the Bxf2+ Qf6+ trick in the end and in
general, Black got a good version of this central pawn break. I was satisfied
with this position, rarely does one get a slight edge with Black against such
a well prepared player. That said, white's position remains solid, of course.}
15. Bc2 (15. d4 {is more natural immediately, but it is most likely just going
to transpose.} exd4 16. Nxd4 Qc7 $5 17. Nxe6 Bxf2+ $1 {is a theme:} 18. Kxf2
fxe6+ 19. Kg1 Qxg3) 15... Qc7 ({I actually spent some time pondering over the
overly risky} 15... f5 $5 {but finally decided that it is too murky, plus the
move in the game is simple and good.}) 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rae8 {I spent a
little too long on this obvious move, but I was trying to pin down my small
plus and hesitated a lot between this move and the more direct 17...Ndf4.} (
17... Ndf4 {had me excited as I was deeply immersed in tactics after Nxe6, but
White is never going to be this suicidal and has some solid options to try and
hold the balance.} 18. Nge2 $5 (18. Nxe6 Bxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Nxh3+ 20. gxh3 fxe6+
21. Bf5 Rxf5+ 22. Nxf5 Qh2+ 23. Ke3 exf5 {is very spectacular and also winning.
})) 18. Bg5 {Sensible, White wants to finish his development too.} (18. Be4 {
is what I expected, when I finally settled on the simple retreat} Nf6 $5 {
Now if White captures everything he once again has some issue on f2.} 19. Bxg6
hxg6 20. Nxe6 Bxf2+ $5 21. Kxf2 fxe6 {and Black will win back the piece with
dividends, because} 22. Nf1 {fails to} Ng4+ 23. Kg1 Rxf1+ $1 {and Black will
crush.}) 18... Ndf4 (18... h6 $5 {was an alternative I considered very
seriously too.} 19. Bd2 Ndf4 {Black keeps some pressure.}) 19. Qd2 Bd5 20. Rxe8
$6 {Very natural to trade down with tempo, but objectively White should give
up the bishop pair to equalize.} (20. Bxg6 Nxg6 21. Ndf5 f6 22. Be3 $11 {
and White is not having much fun, but stands nonetheless very solid.}) 20...
Rxe8 21. Re1 {Taking on g6 was again a better option.} Re5 $6 {I planned this
from very far and it does look pretty, but quite clearly after I played it I
realized that it was an awful idea. I simply miscalculated.} (21... Rxe1+ 22.
Qxe1 Kf8 $1 {would lead to a surprisingly substantial advantage. White not
only has an issue with the g2 pawn, but don't forget about the little a2
soldier as well.} (22... Ne6 {was actually played in a high level game that
reached this far, although from a slightly different move order. 0-1 (51)
Grandelius,N (2687)-Hovhannisyan,R (2630) Reykjavik 2019} 23. Ngf5 {would sort
of equalize though.})) 22. Bxf4 Rxe1+ $1 {Fortunately I got my mind back in
time and noticed that my original plan of keeping the e-file with Nxf4 fails
to Be4 when I am suddenly in trouble, as the f4 knight is hanging.} (22... Nxf4
23. Be4 $1 {Just for fun I tried to figure out a way here during the game, but
it was no longer possible, White is simply better already.}) 23. Qxe1 Qxf4 24.
Qe8+ $6 {Tempting check, but actually White will regret it later. No funky
business works here.} (24. Ngf5 $1 Bc5 25. a3 {White should be defending
modestly, the queen on e1 does a good job defending from Qc1+.}) 24... Nf8 25.
Bb3 {This move came as a surprise, I expected White to fish for some chances
in 25.Ngf5, though after 25...Bc5 I didn't see how he can proceed.} (25. Ngf5
Bc5 26. Bb3 {was actually a better option here.} Bxb3 27. axb3 g6 28. Qe3 Qxe3
29. Nxe3 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Ne6 {and this endgame I felt is holdable, but Black is
still very much pressing.}) 25... Bxd4 26. cxd4 Bxb3 27. axb3 Qf6 $6 {The
problem was that I considered mostly the natural move ...g6, which was well
met with Ne4 and once I spotted Qf6 I was just too happy not to play it. In
fact I was sort of proud of this move, but it was actually here where I let
the biggest part of my edge slip.} (27... h6 $1 {For some reason I didn't
consider this simple move, which is a pity, because the line is not that
complicated -} 28. Ne4 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Qxb2 $1 {and the queen is in time to
return, after picking up the important pawn.}) 28. Qe4 $1 {Now that White
retreats Black enjoys a pawn structure for free, but at the same time, White
is still very solid and it is hard to convert Black's position edge into
something real.} g6 (28... Qe6 $5 {felt right, but I didn't want to allow a
knight endgame, which I felt was too drawish.} 29. Qxe6 Nxe6 30. Ne2) 29. Ne2
Ne6 30. h4 h5 $6 {very sloppy. I played this swiftly and usually these
inclusions happen indeed automatically, but here it was important to regroup
the queen immediately to d6, which I later realized turned out to be not so
easy.} (30... Qd8 $1 {Now White doesn't have time for Qe5, that's the point.}
31. g3 Qd6 $15) 31. g3 Qd8 32. Qe5 Qb6 $6 {I had to of course go Qc7 to keep
any winning chances, but not wanting such an endgame in general and having
refused it in much better version earlier, I acted too stubborn.} 33. d5 $1
cxd5 34. Qxd5 Kf8 {I bluffed that I had Nc5-Nd3, but obviously White has many
ways to deal with it. Now the position is just totally equal. Black still has
a better pawn structure on the queenside, but White's queen is more
centralized.} (34... Nc5 35. Qd4 $5 {is one of the many ways to indirectly
protect the b3 pawn.} (35. Nd4 Nd3 {was my point, though here too, White has
resources, thanks to his excellent pieces.})) 35. Nc3 Qc7 36. Ne4 Qc1+ 37. Kg2
Qxb2 {At this point I had given up on this game and expected White to smoothly
coast towards equality. My opponent, however, decided to use the momentum
which was in his favour for the last few moves and decided to try his luck.} (
37... Qc6 38. Qe5 $1) 38. Qd7 $2 {Taking on b7 would be the easiest when White
should manage it quite easily. At first I thought the move in the game was
fine as well, but then I noticed that I can reply with the calm} b6 $1 {
Now it turns out that White can no longer win back the pawn.} 39. Nd6 Qf6 40.
Qe8+ Kg7 41. Qd7 {Accompanied by the draw offer, to which I by accident
instantly replied "yes, I can see that." Embarassing stuff and my only excuse
is that the draw offer came as a shock.} Kg8 {Black of course has a way to
play on.} 42. Qe8+ Nf8 43. Qc6 $1 {After a long think my opponent pulled
himself together and found the way to defend. My advantage started to
evaporate as I started to calculate the lines deeper and finally I settled on
the long line which seemed to offer some practical chances.} Qd8 $1 (43... b5 {
looks brilliant, but White forces a draw with} 44. Qd5 $1) (43... Qd4 44. Nb5
Qd8 45. Nc7 {was a problem. White is doing ok here, rerouting the knight to d5.
}) 44. Nc4 {I expected this move, but turns out there was a cleaner way for
White.} (44. Nb7 $1 {is very strong, but I must say not easy.} Qd4 45. Nd6 $1 {
and Black can't improve his position. This is just OK for White.}) 44... Ne6 $5
(44... Qd7 {was another try to squeeze something out of this. One nice line
goes} 45. Qxb6 Qd5+ 46. Kg1 a4 $1 {the point.} 47. bxa4 $5 Qxc4 48. a5 {
and the best Black can get is 3 vs 2 queen endgame-} Qc1+ 49. Kh2 Qf1 50. a6
Nd7 51. Qd4 Ne5 $1 52. Qxe5 Qxf2+ 53. Kh3 Qf1+ 54. Kh2 Qxa6 {which, after some
suffering, should be held.}) 45. Nxb6 Nd4 46. Qc5 (46. Qb7 $5 {is the computer
way to hold this.} Nxb3 47. Nd7 a4 48. Ne5 {and White manages, due to better
coordination, but this really would be a tough call to make, when you can
force all the queenside pawns off the board instead.}) 46... Nxb3 47. Qb5 Nd2
$1 (47... a4 $5 {also kept some chances alive and would likely lead to a
similar endgame. For example} 48. Nxa4 Qa8+ 49. Kh2 Nd4 50. Nb6 $1 Qe4 51. Qd5
Nf3+ 52. Kg2 Nxh4+ 53. Kh2 Nf3+ 54. Kg2) 48. Qxa5 Qd3 {I actually didn't see
how White could clinch the draw here and it seems there is no way.} 49. Qa1 $1
{White finds the right way, bailing out into a pawn down knight endgame, which
obviously should be within.} (49. Kh2 {is the move I was expecting from a far,
when I planned} Qd4 $1 50. Kg1 Ne4 51. Qe1 Nxg3 52. Qe8+ Kg7 53. Nd7 Ne2+ 54.
Qxe2 Qxd7 {with what I thought was serious winning chances, though I am not
sure.}) 49... Qe4+ 50. Kg1 Nf3+ 51. Kf1 Nxh4 52. Qa8+ {All forced. Now we get
a 3 vs 2 endgame. I wanted to prevent g4 for a while and I am not sure if
White can play without f4 forever. Something to think about. Carlsen-Anand is
a game to study. The position was the same with colors reversed and White
having a4-b3-c3 vs b6-c5 pawns. There Vishy defended better than Kirill,
conceptually, as he kept the knight around good squares, but eventually
stumbled as well, after meeting h4 (there a5) with g4(b5) instead of gxh (bxa).
} Qxa8 53. Nxa8 Nf3 54. Kg2 Ne5 55. f4 Ng4 56. Nb6 Kf8 57. Nd5 Ke8 58. Nc3 Ke7
59. Ne4 Ne3+ 60. Kf3 Nc4 61. Ng5 Kf6 62. Ne4+ Kf5 63. Nf2 {The first moment I
got hopeful. I think the knight should roam free.} (63. Nc5 $5) 63... Nd2+ 64.
Ke3 Nf1+ 65. Kf3 Nh2+ 66. Kg2 Ng4 67. Nh3 {This stops Ke4, but the knight is
completely misplaced here.} f6 68. Kf3 Ke6 69. Ke4 Kd6 70. Ng1 Kc5 (70... Nh6
71. Ne2 Nf5 72. Kf3 Kc5 73. Nc3 $11) 71. Kd3 Nh6 72. Ke3 (72. Ne2 Nf5 73. Kc3
Kd6 74. Kd3 Kd5 75. Nc3+ $11) 72... Nf5+ 73. Kf3 Kc4 74. Nh3 Nd4+ 75. Ke3 Nf5+
76. Kf3 Kd4 77. Nf2 Nd6 78. Nh3 $2 {This is suddenly a losing mistake,
although not so suddenly. At this point I was already wondering if I am not
actually winning, but in fact White has a findable defense.} (78. Nd1 Nc4 (
78... Nf5 79. Nb2 h4 80. gxh4 Nxh4+ 81. Kg4 Nf5 82. Kf3) (78... Ne4 79. Nb2 Nc3
80. Kg2) 79. Ke2 {when Black doesn't have a good move and will have to let
white knight outside the perimeter.}) 78... Ne4 $2 {I liked the look of this
move, but I missed the strength of 80.Kg2!. Black had two ways to win, both
quite subtle, but the main key was to keep the knight dominated.} (78... Kd3
79. Nf2+ Kd2 80. Nh3 Nf5 81. Kf2 Kd3 82. Kf3 Nd4+ 83. Kf2 Kd2 84. Ng1 Kc3 {
Some triangle action.} 85. Ke3 Nf5+ 86. Kf2 Kc2 87. Nf3 Kd3 88. Ne1+ Ke4 89.
Ng2 h4 $1 90. gxh4 Ng7 $1 {beautiful win.} 91. Kg3 f5 92. Ne1 Nh5+ 93. Kf2 Nxf4
{and Black will eventually also pick up h4.}) (78... Nb5 79. Ng1 Kd3 80. Kf2
Nd4 81. Nh3 Ke4 82. Kg2 Ke3 83. Nf2 Nf5 84. Nd1+ Kd2 85. Nf2 {On b2 knight is
too far away and while it escaped, it is too far from Black's pawns to be in
time for counter.} Nd6 86. Kf3 Ke1 87. Nd3+ Kf1 {Black walks around and
eventually wins. All, still, not so simple, of course.}) 79. Ng1 Kd3 80. Kg2 $1
{I didn't count on this move. With little time on the clock as well, I felt
how it started slipping away.} Nd2 81. Kf2 Ke4 82. Ne2 Nb1 {Here in the mutual
time trouble, I briefly thought I am sort of winning it, but unfortunately
White finds the only moves:} 83. Ng1 $1 h4 84. Nh3 $1 {Here it has slowly
became apparent that White escaped, so I tried some last tricks and
surprisingly it worked, already when I really didn't expect it to.} Kf5 85.
gxh4 Kg4 86. f5 {Classy way to do it, but not even the only way.} (86. Kg2 Kxh4
87. Nf2 $11) 86... gxf5 {I was wondering what if I keep both f-pawns and try
to get my knight to e6 and eventually get some f4 Kf5 in. With good defense
White can prevent that, but even more importantly with the next move my
opponent doesn't even give me that.} (86... Kxf5 87. Kg3 Nd2 88. Nf4 Nf1+ 89.
Kf3 $11) 87. Ke3 $1 (87. h5 Kxh5 88. Kg3 Nc3 89. Nf4+ Kh6 90. Kf3 Ne4 91. Ne2
Kg5 92. Nf4 Nc5 93. Kg3 Nd7 94. Ne6+ {it is a draw.}) 87... Nc3 88. Nf2+ Kg3
89. Nd3 $4 {Shocking, after such a long sequence of great defensive moves, I
really didn't expect White to stumble here. 89.h5 also draws, but 89.Nh1+ is a
very direct variation. 7 hours is a lot of hours though.} (89. Nh1+ $1) 89...
Nd5+ 90. Kd4 Nf4 $1 {White must have missed this move. The pawn endgame is
lost, and now that the white king is misplaced, so is the knight endgame.} 91.
Nc5 Kxh4 92. Ke3 Kg3 93. Nb3 Ne6 94. Nd2 f4+ 95. Ke2 Ng5 96. Kf1 f3 97. Kg1 f2+
98. Kf1 f5 0-1

[Event "EU-chT 22nd"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2019.10.26"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.10.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Netherlands"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]
[WhiteClock "0:51:54"]
[BlackClock "0:16:11"]

{[%evp 0,55,36,31,27,18,3,28,45,23,6,13,13,2,60,-1,-3,-24,10,-19,-19,-22,-16,4,
3,9,-9,-9,0,-33,-25,-48,0,-21,5,-14,11,-3,24,-41,-28,-51,-97,-40,7,135,70,0,4,
14,197,262,323,323,323,714,753,369]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Italian has
been one of my main weapons for a while and although oftentimes the games end
up being rather dull, occasionally there are these pleasant exceptions.} Bc5 4.
O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a5 {David Anton likes this principled system. Black
doesn't allow this to grab any space on the queenside, on the other hand the
fact that he will not threaten Na5 (which is the case after a6 Ba7 and 0-0)
gives White more time to develop his pieces quickly.} 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 (8. Bg5
{Used to be all the rage, but now the theory has become broader.}) 8... h6 9.
Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb6 ({Ding Liren went} 
13... Bb4 {against me.}) 14. a4 {A peculiar new idea. The rook is suddenly
ready to join the game via a3!} Re8 {I thought the tempo-moves d5 and Qa7 were
more tempting, but this waiting move is actually very decent.} 15. Ra3 Qb7 $6 (
15... Qa7 $1 {is main, when the d4 pawn is under attack and} 16. Nf1 {is met
with} d5 $1 {where the analyses begin.}) {I had to play on my own here, but
the following moves looked very natural to me and I didn't bother doubting
myself too much.} 16. Rae3 $1 Rab8 17. b3 $1 {The bishop joins the game as
well.} Ba7 $1 18. Bb2 $6 {I could, and objectively, should have played for the
eventual grip on c5 square, but I got too tempted with mating ideas.} (18. Ba3
d5 19. e5 Ne4 20. Qc1 {is a stable plus, as Black is unable to breakthrough
with c5 and White will proceed with Nf1-Ng3.}) 18... d5 19. e5 Nd7 $1 {To be
honest I underestimated this move. Fortunately I didn't see my opponents
defensive resource and proceeded casually.} (19... Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Nd2 {
is what I was counting on, when Black is worse, because if he starts any sort
of action of his own with let's say c5, he will get steamrolled with Nxe4 Rg3
Qh5 ideas.}) 20. Nh4 {Inspired and careless.} c5 $4 {Natural, but horrible. We
both totally missed Black's defensive idea here.} (20... Qb4 $1 {was a very
beautiful resource. Black brings the queen back in!} 21. Bc3 Qe7 $1 22. Qh5 Qg5
$1 {and it is White who has to think about equality here.} 23. Qxg5 hxg5 24.
Nhf3 c5 $1) 21. Rg3 {Now all goes according to the plan. The attack is swift!}
Qa6 {Not good, but it was already late to set up a real defense here.} 22. Qh5
{I tried this attacking setup against both Karjakin and Ding Liren preivously,
but it was only in this game that it brought me a full point.} Kh8 23. Bc1 $1 {
The easiest, bringing all the boys into the action.} Rg8 24. Ndf3 Nf8 25. Bxh6
$1 {Standard stuff.} g6 (25... gxh6 26. Qxh6+ Nh7 27. Ng5 Rxg5 28. Rxg5 Rg8 29.
Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Nf5 {and White collects -} Bxf5 31. Qxa6) 26. Nxg6+ $1 {It's
bad news when even I, am sacrificing a piece.} fxg6 27. Qh4 Nh7 28. Ng5 $1 {
White is crushing - Black's queenside pieces never got to take part in the
defense.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 82nd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2020.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2020.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The 2020 edition of Wijk aan Zee hasn't been easy for me and after a slow
start of four draws I lost a painful game to Firouzja after commiting a few
mistakes that a player of my level shouldn't be committing. I played this game
a day after that and was hoping to finally get things going.} 1. e4 e5 {
Once before Vlad Kovalev surprised me with an obscure Sicilian, but this time
he decided to stick to his lifelong weapon.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Italian is a
frequent guest on the highest level and theory keeps growing in all sorts of
directions. I have played it a lot before, but hardly ever with the idea of
developing the bishop to g5 early on, which is what I did in this game.} Bc5 4.
c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 {A very risky, but highly interesting idea which has
gained in popularity a lot lately. White almost forces black to weaken his
kingside with h6-g5, but in return white ends up with a burried bishop on g3.
The victories in this line, be it by white or by black are often crushing.} h6
7. Bh4 a6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 g5 11. Bg3 {This position has been
reached in quite a few high level games, with various move orders. Black has a
huge choice of options or setups, the most popular move here being Nh7
preparing h5. The move Vlad chose is also not new and has been played by
theoreticians such as Peter Leko, Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura.} Kg7 12. Re1
Nh7 {Following Van Forees J-Leko from 2016 and Anand-Nakamura from Tata blitz
2019.} 13. b4 {Following in footsteps of Vishy Anand. He is as massive an
authority on the opening theory as ever.} h5 14. h3 h4 (14... g4 {is another
way to try and develop the kingside initiative.}) 15. Bh2 g4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17.
b5 Ne7 18. d4 Ng6 {I don't know whether my opponent was aware that we are
still following Anand-Nakamura or if he was long improvising, but one way or
the other, it all took him a lot of time. Here Vishy played the natural Be2,
but after some further mutual inaccuracies got nowhere and had to settle for a
draw. I had prepared a more direct continuation, not fearing the potential
doubling of the f-pawns.} 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Nf1 $5 {This was the new idea. Now
over the board I had expected Black to quickly play Ng5, which to me seemed
the most natural, but my opponent came up with a surprising, but a cool
looking alternative.} exd4 (20... Ng5 21. Ne3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Nh3+ 23. Kg2 Ngf4+
24. Bxf4 Nxf4+ 25. Kh2 {is the position I had expected to get. Black has a
juicy square on f4, but with h4 pawn shielding the white king nicely, it is
White who has most of the trumps here, which is what the computer insists on.
These days, the computers are almost always right in such cases.}) 21. cxd4
Bxf3 22. gxf3 $1 (22. Qxf3 {was a little bit tempting, to keep the kingside
pawn structure neutral, but I quickly realized that after} Bxd4 23. Rad1 Be5 {
Black has pretty easy play and is likely to get away here, thanks to all the
dark squares and for now an extra pawn.}) 22... f5 $6 {This move frankly
shocked me, but I kind of liked the look of it after a while. The computer,
though, realizing that chess is not all about the pawn structure, but much
more about the king's safety and initiative is shouting that white has a
winning advantage now and in more than one way too.} 23. Ne3 {I had a lot of
time on the clock after blitzing out most of my opening moves, so I figured I
may use some of it to calculate some sort of a long variation. It wasn't
really needed.} (23. exf5 $1 {is sort of very clean, but one has to understand
chess on a very high level to realize that it is time to sacrifice the
beautiful pawn structure in the center to gradually switch to the attack on
the king.} Rxf5 24. Kh1 {it doesn't help Black that even if he attacks f3 pawn
one more time, it is still not hanging in view of Bd5 and so Ne3 and Rg1 are
coming, when White's attack will quickly develop itself.}) 23... fxe4 24. fxe4
Qg5+ 25. Kh1 Rxf2 26. Nf5+ $6 {I have to say I was quite mesmerized by the
forced line that ends with 31.Qg1!. I didn't realize I had much better
alternatives at this point, but fortunately the continuation in the game
worked out perfectly too.} (26. Bg1 $5 {was an idea I simply didn't consider,
now one of the possible lines could be} Rb2 27. Qc1 Rab8 28. Bb5 $1 Rb3 29. Qc2
Rxe3 30. Bxe3 Qg3 31. Bf1 {when White is up an exchange for the pawn and does
well.}) (26. Ra2 $1 {first was even stronger, but then again it is important
to see the Bg1 motive later on.} Raf8 27. Rxf2 Rxf2 28. Bg1 $1 Rb2 {now there
seem to be two ways to play, one going directly for the king and another for
positional domination.} 29. Qc1 (29. Rf1 Kh8 30. Ng4 Rd2 31. Qf3 Bxd4 32. Qf7
Ne7 33. Be6 {with a deadly mating attack.} Bxg1 34. Qe8+ Ng8 35. Rxg1 $1) 29...
Rb8 30. Nf5+ Kh8 31. Bh2 {and Black can trade into an engame, but there
despite being a pawn up for now, he is completely dominated and lost.}) 26...
Kh8 27. Rg1 {From now it's all forced.} Rxh2+ $1 28. Kxh2 Qf4+ 29. Kh3 Ng5+ 30.
Rxg5 Qxg5 31. Qg1 $1 {I was too fascinated with the idea of trading the queens
in order to force a pretty checkmate and also I noticed a nice motif after 31.
Qg1! Nf4+ 32.Kh2 Qxg1 33.Rxg1 d5 34.Bxd5 Nxd5 35.exd5 Rd8 and now 36.Rg4! when
Black can't ever capture on d5, also not after 36...Kh7 37.Kh3!. However, upon
reaching closer to the position I realized that while the domination does work
in some of the lines, in reality Black also has many defensive resources in
the endgame that I so happily went for.} (31. Qf3 {has a pretty threat of Rg1,
but it is strongly met with} Bxd4 $1 32. Nxd4 Ne5) 31... Nf4+ (31... Qh5 {
seemed insanely risky and is simply losing after} 32. Qe3 {followed by Rg1.})
32. Kh2 Qxg1+ 33. Rxg1 d5 $5 ({My opponent didn't have much time, but while he
spent the remainder of it, I thought I found a draw for him. Fortunately it
wasn't as easy as I thought it was.} 33... Rb8 $5 34. Rg4 Rb2+ 35. Kg1 Ne2+ 36.
Kf1 $1 {I hadn't considered this option, missing 37.Ke1!.} (36. Bxe2 Rxe2 37.
Rxh4+ Kg8 38. Ne7+ {and here I noticed the precise} Kg7 $1 {point being that
after} 39. Nc6 Bb6 40. a5 Rc2 $1 41. axb6 Rxc6 {I don't have any Rh7/Rh8+
things.}) 36... Ng3+ 37. Ke1 $1 Nxf5 38. exf5 {here Black has to still show
some resourcefulness not to lose on the spot-} d5 $1 39. Bxd5 Rb6 $1 40. Rxh4+
Kg7 {and the line continues, but while white keeps the extra pawn and winning
chances, objectively it should be within for Black.}) 34. Bxd5 Nxd5 $1 (34...
Rb8 {here looked quite shaky and indeed there is no easy save here, contrary
to what my opponent had suggested after the game-} 35. Bc4 Rb2+ 36. Kh1 {
here Vlad pointed out} Nh5 {but missed that there is a pretty refutation-} 37.
e5 $1 Ng3+ 38. Rxg3 $1 hxg3 39. e6 $1 {and White will win the rook for the
passer.}) 35. exd5 Re8 $2 {The natural 35...Rd8 fails to the aforementioned 36.
Rg4! idea, based on a fork. Instead, however Black could force a draw brutally
here.} (35... Rg8 $1 {I thought trading rooks was incredibly dangerous for
Black and most likely losing, which is evidently what my opponent thought too,
but we missed some important saving resources here.} 36. Rxg8+ Kxg8 37. Kh3 Kf7
38. Kxh4 {now it seems that White is in time to block the Black king from
bothering his central configuration, but Black has a forced solution-} Kf6 39.
Kg4 Bxd4 $1 40. Nxd4 Ke5 {and it is not that hard once in this position, to
realize that Black is just in time to capture both remaining pawns.}) 36. Kh3
$5 {It is logical to assume that if Black didn't trade the rooks on the
previous move, he isn't going to do it now and at the same time I wasn't sure
if the natural 36.Rg4 doesn't allow Black a miraculous escape after he
activates his rook.} (36. Rg4 Re1 $1 {the computer defends very precisely, in
fact White wants to activate his king anyway, so there is no need to rush it
with check.} (36... Re2+ {is what I wasn't sure about.} 37. Kh3 Ra2 38. Kxh4
Rxa4 39. Kg5 {here White actually creates a mating net with the remaining
forces.}) 37. a5 h3 $1 {This is just math.} 38. Kxh3 Ra1 39. Rh4+ Kg8 40. Ne7+
Kf7 41. Nc6 Rh1+ $1 {the point of h3!} 42. Kg3 Rxh4 43. Kxh4 Bxd4 {here it is
particularly miraculous that Black is saving it, but he does.} 44. Nxd4 Ke7)
36... Bb6 $2 {Black really had to trade rooks.} (36... Re4 $1 37. Rg4 Rxg4 38.
Kxg4 Kg8 39. Kxh4 Kf7 40. Kg5 {here Black doesn't draw by the bishop sac on d4,
but he can still setup the final line of defense.} Ke8 41. Kf4 Kd7 42. Ke4 c6
$1 {it is essential to push this quickly. When I was thinking about this
endgame during the game, I assumed Black wouldn't help white in creating the
passed pawn, but then white would actually win by means of endless knight
jumps provoking a5 and so on, although it is all not obvious even after all
that.} 43. dxc6+ Kxc6 44. Ne7+ Kd7 45. Ng6 Kd6 46. Ne5 Bb8 {and Black sets up
some sort of a defense, which it seems can not be broken.}) 37. Kxh4 Rd8 38.
Rg5 $5 {It was incredibly tempting to try and mate the Black king and it seems
it was possible to do so. The move I made keeps the position winning and is a
lot more prosaic.} (38. Kh5 $5 Bxd4 {was my issue and now I calculate a few
moves further-} 39. Rh1 Kg8 40. Kg6 Bc5 {I thought this was key. Here I didn't
find a mate, but I actually stopped looking just a tad too early.} 41. Rh7 Rxd5
42. Rxc7 $1 {and white mates after all. The position after Black sacs the
exchange is not a draw, by the way.} Rxf5 43. Kxf5 Bb4 {Black king is cut off
very badly here, the easiest win would be-} 44. Kf6 a5 45. Rf7 Bc3+ 46. Kg6 {
also possible is to bring the king to b5, with king cut off on the f-file it
is too far to come back in time to c8.} Bb4 47. Rf5 {with a zugzwang.}) 38...
Kh7 {loses, but otherwise Kh5-Kg6 was a threat. Black's position seems lost
already.} 39. Rh5+ Kg6 40. Ne7+ Kf6 41. Nc6 {It was tempting to dominate the
bishop with the knight like that, but it was only after I saw that I win by
force that I had decided to go for this. Sometimes positions are too pretty to
be won, but this was fortunately not the case here.} Re8 42. Re5 Rh8+ 43. Kg4
a5 (43... Bxd4 {is met with the intermezzo} 44. Re6+) 44. Rf5+ $1 {At first I
was tempted to try and push the Black king down to the 8th rank, but after
further searching I found a more forcing way to win.} Kg6 {This loses on the
spot, but the only alternative lost by force too.} (44... Kg7 45. d6 $1 {
As so often, you have to free the dominated opponent briefly, in order to
convert the positional advantage into some concrete gain.} cxd6 46. Rb5 Bd8 {
and here I intended the simple} 47. Nxd8 $5 Rxd8 48. Kf5 {with an easily won
rook endgame.}) 45. Ne5+ Kg7 46. Rg5+ Kh7 47. Rh5+ Kg7 48. Rxh8 Kxh8 {with
Black king so far from the action the endgame is dead lost.} 49. Nc4 {the
quickest path to resignation.} Kg7 50. Kf5 Kf7 51. d6 1-0

[Event "Maccabiah GM 16th"]
[Site "Tel Aviv"]
[Date "2001.07.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Golod, Vitali"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2544"]
[BlackElo "2514"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2001.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {Before I always I played: 3...Nf6} 4. c3 Nf6 5.
d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 h6 $5 {/\Nh5,Qf6 and so on.} ({
Before,in this tournament,against my contender in this position black played:} 
9... Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. d4 Nhf4 13. Ng3 Qf6 $2 14. Nh5 $1 $16 {
[%csl Gc1,Rf6] Alekseev,E-Mikhalevski,A/Tel Aviv,2001(1-0)(32)}) 10. Nbd2 Nh5
11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 $5 ({Much worse is:} 12. Ne3 {in view of:} Nf4 {See
comments to Hamdouchi,H-Tkachiev,V/Cap d'Agde,2000/CBM 80(0-1)(Lukacs)(42)})
12... Nf4 13. Ng3 $5 {This one of numerous continuations, which were checked
in practice.} g6 $5 ({Is a possibly continuation of the play:} 13... g5 $5 {
See comments to Svetushkin,D-Rogozenko,D/Brasov,1998/CBM 63(1-0)(Marin,M)(56)})
14. Nh2 $5 {[%cal Gd1f3] Opening a point "f3" for the queen.} ({Was checked in
the previous games:} 14. Rf1 $6 h5 15. Nh2 Be6 16. Bxa7 Bxb3 17. axb3 Rxa7 18.
Ne2 $11 {Sigurpalsson,R-Hjartarson,J/Reykjavik,1995 (0-1)(39)}) (14. d4 h5 (
14... Nd8 $143 15. Bxf4 Qxf4 16. Qc1 Qxc1 17. Raxc1 Re8 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Rcd1
Nc6 20. a4 Kg7 21. Nf1 Nb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 {+/=/= Tseshkovsky,V-Levin,F/
Le Touquet,1998 (1/2-1/2)(66)}) 15. Bc2 Re8 16. a3 Nd8 17. Kh2 Nde6 $13 {
Tolnai,T-Lukacs,P/HUN,1998(1/2-1/2)(29)}) 14... Be6 $6 $146 {[%mdl 16384] All
the same I not so well have understood subtleties of a position.} (14... Bxe3
$5 15. fxe3 Qg5 $11 {[%csl Rg3]}) (14... h5 $143 15. Ne2 (15. Qf3 $5) 15...
Bxe3 {1/2-1/2 Kudrin,S-Gulko,B/USA-ch,1989(15)}) 15. Qf3 $1 {[%csl Rf6]} Qh4
16. d4 $1 {[%csl Rf4]} ({Differently,at me all in the order:} 16. Rad1 $6 Bxb3
17. axb3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Ne6 $11) 16... Na5 (16... Bxb3 $143 17. axb3 $14) 17.
Bc2 Nc4 18. Bc1 c6 $5 {[%mdl 256]} (18... c5 $143 19. d5 {and mine bishop"e6"
becomes very weak.}) 19. b3 Nb6 20. Ne2 $6 ({Can be recommended:} 20. Be3 $5 {
/\Rad1and so on.}) 20... Nxe2+ 21. Rxe2 $14 Rad8 22. Be3 ({Senselessly:} 22.
Ng4 {in view of:} h5 23. Nf6+ Kg7 $13 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Yf8h8,Yh8h6] (/\Rh8 and
Qxf6)}) 22... Kg7 23. Rd2 Nc8 24. Rad1 exd4 $1 {It's best decision.} 25. cxd4 (
25. Bxd4+ $142 Bxd4 26. cxd4 $5 (26. Rxd4 $14) 26... f5 $140 27. Qc3 $36 {
[%csl Rg7]}) 25... f5 26. Bf4 $5 {I at all did not consider this original move.
} Qf6 $6 (26... Kh7 $5 {An interesting move which was mentioned by Alekseev,E
after the game}) ({I obviously have underestimated:} 26... fxe4 $1 27. Qxe4 Qf6
{[%cal Ge6f5]} (27... Bf5 $4 28. Be5+ {[%csl Rh4]}) (27... Qxf4 $4 28. Qxg6+
Kh8 29. Qh7#) (27... Rxf4 $2 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 $8 29. Qxe6 Re8 30. Qg6 $16) 28. Ng4
Bxg4 29. hxg4 Rde8 30. Qd3 $8 Ne7 31. Bg3 Nd5 $13) 27. e5 $1 Qf7 ({Weakly:} 
27... Qh4 {because of:} 28. Bg3 (28. exd6 $140 Bd5) 28... Qg5 29. h4 $36) 28.
h4 $1 dxe5 29. Bxe5+ Kh7 30. h5 Ne7 $6 ({Can it was necessary to decide on a
"computer move":} 30... gxh5) (30... g5 $143 31. Ng4 {[%csl Rf6]}) 31. hxg6+
Nxg6 32. Qh3 {[%csl Rf7,Rh7][%cal Gh2f3,Gf3g5]} Rg8 33. Nf3 {[%csl Rf7,Gh3,Rh7]
[%cal Gf3g5]} Nxe5 34. dxe5 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 $16 Bc5 $138 {[%csl Yc5]} 36. Kf1 {
[%csl Yf1,Rg1][%cal Yg1f1] The important preventive move!} Kg7 37. Nd4 Bxd4 38.
Rxd4 f4 39. Qf3 Rf8 40. g3 $1 fxg3 41. Qxg3+ Kh8 42. Rh4 Qg7 43. Qh2 ({From my
point of view,it was better:} 43. Qxg7+ Kxg7 44. f4 $16 {[%cal Gf1e2,Ge2e3]})
43... Kg8 44. Rxh6 Bf5 $8 45. Bxf5 Rxf5 46. Rd6 $2 {My contender did not see
my next move.} ({Good enough:} 46. Qh4 $5 $40) (46. Rh5 $5) ({or} 46. Rh3 $5
Qxe5 $140 47. Rg3+ $18) 46... Qg5 $1 {[%csl Re5,Rf1][%cal Gf5e5,Gg5c1]} 47. Rd1
Rxe5 48. Qh3 {[%csl Rg8][%mdl 128] The attack of white becomes fatal in view
of an open position of my king.} Rf5 (48... Kg7 49. Rd7+ $1 Re7 $140 50. Rd3
$40 {[%cal Gd3g3]}) 49. Rd3 Qf6 50. Qg3+ Kh8 $2 (50... Qg5 $142 51. Rd8+ Kg7
52. Qc3+ {+/-/+-}) ({After:} 50... Kf7 $2 {white has a interesting way to win:}
51. Qc7+ Kg6 52. Rd6 Rxf2+ 53. Ke1 Rf1+ 54. Ke2 Rf2+ 55. Kd3 Rf3+ 56. Kc4 Rf4+
57. Kc5 {[%cal Gc5b6]} Rf5+ 58. Kb6 Rb5+ 59. Ka7 $18) (50... Rg5 $2 51. Qb8+
Kh7 52. Qc7+ Rg7 $8 (52... Kh8 53. Rd8+ Rg8 54. Qh2+ Kg7 55. Qg3+) 53. Qh2+ Kg8
$8 (53... Kg6 54. Rd6) (53... Qh6 54. Rh3) 54. Qb8+ Kh7 (54... Kf7 55. Rd7+ {
[%csl Rf6][%cal Gd7d6]}) 55. Rh3+ Kg6 56. Qe8+ Rf7 (56... Qf7 57. Qe4+ Qf5 (
57... Kg5 58. Rg3+ Kh6 59. Qh4+ Qh5 60. Qf6+ Rg6 61. Qh8#) 58. Rg3+) 57. Qg8+
Rg7 (57... Qg7 58. Rg3+) (57... Kf5 58. Rf3+) 58. Rg3+ Kh6 59. Qh8+ Rh7 60.
Qxf6+) 51. Rd7 $6 ({Leads to elegant win:} 51. Qb8+ $1 Qf8 (51... Kg7 52. Rd7+
Kh6 53. Rd6 Rxf2+ 54. Ke1 $18 {[%cal Ge1e2,Ge2d3,Gd3c4,Gc4c5,Gc5b6]}) 52. Rd8
Rxf2+ 53. Ke1 Rf1+ 54. Ke2 Rf2+ 55. Ke3 Rf3+ 56. Ke4 Rf4+ 57. Ke5 Rf5+ 58. Ke6
Rf6+ 59. Kd7 Rf7+ 60. Kc8 Qxd8+ 61. Kxd8 Rf8+ 62. Kc7 Rxb8 63. Kxb8 {[%csl Ra6,
Rb7,Rc6]} b5 64. b4 $18) 51... Qh6 52. Qb8+ Rf8 53. Qe5+ Kg8 54. Rd3 Rf7 55.
Qe8+ Qf8 (55... Rf8 $142 56. Rg3+ Kh8 57. Qe5+ Kh7 58. Kg2 Rg8 $1 59. Rxg8 Kxg8
60. Qb8+ Qf8 $16) 56. Rg3+ Rg7 57. Qe6+ ({Dubiously:} 57. Rxg7+ Kxg7 58. Qxf8+
Kxf8 59. Ke2 {and I am not sure at all that the white has a win in this pawns
endgame.}) 57... Kh8 $138 {Here on my hours already remained about 3 minutes
up to the end of a game.} 58. Rd3 Rh7 59. Qe5+ Rg7 60. Rh3+ Kg8 61. Qe6+ ({
It deserves attention:} 61. Qh5) 61... Rf7 $8 62. Rg3+ Kh8 63. Qe5+ Rg7 64. Rg5
Qe7 (64... Kg8 $143 65. Qe6+ Qf7 $140 66. Qc8+ {[%csl Rb7]} Kh7 (66... Qf8 67.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 68. Qxb7+ $18 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6]}) 67. Qh3+ Kg8 68. Rh5 $18 {[%cal
Gh5h8]} Qg6 69. Qc8+ Kf7 70. Qxb7+ $18) 65. Qb8+ Kh7 66. Rh5+ Kg6 67. Rh3 Qf6
$2 $138 ({More stubborn resistance after:} 67... Qd7 $16) 68. Qe8+ Rf7 69. Rg3+
Kh6 70. Qe3+ Qf4 71. Qe6+ Kh5 $8 72. Qh3+ (72. Rh3+ $142 Kg5 73. Qh6+ Kf5 74.
Rh5+ Ke4 75. Rh4 {[%csl Re4,Rf4,Gh4]}) 72... Qh4 73. Qg2 $18 {[%cal Gg3h3]} Rd7
(73... Rf5 74. Rg8 $18 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gg8h8]}) (73... Rf4 74. f3 {[%cal
Gg3h3]} Rd4 75. Rh3 Rd1+ 76. Ke2) 74. Rh3 Rd1+ 75. Ke2 Rd4 76. Rxh4+ Rxh4 77.
Qg7 Rg4 78. Qxb7 1-0

[Event "Biel GM 51st"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2018.08.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Golubev,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {At the top level, this move usually leads to slow
manoeuvring play. And serves as an alternative to the Ruy Lopez Anti-Berlin
system, one can say.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 h6 8. Nbd2 {
Black has tried, literally, every sensible looking move here.} a5 $5 {This is
a more or less trendy idea.} ({While} 8... a6 {is more typical.}) 9. Nf1 ({
After} 9. h3 {,} a4 $5 {can make sense.}) 9... Ne7 ({Jakovenko-Svidler,
Bundesliga 2017/8 continued} 9... Be6 10. Bb5 Ne7 11. d4 Ba7 $5 12. dxe5 Ng4
13. Be3 Nxe5 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 $6 (14... Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Rxa7) 15. Nd4 N7g6 16. Ne3
Bd7 17. Bf1 $1 a4 18. g3 $1 $16) ({Another example is Inarkiev-Andreikin,
ch-RUS rapid Sochi 2017:} 9... Bb6 10. Ng3 Be6 11. Bb5 Ne7 12. d4 Ng6 13. h3
exd4 $5 14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 $1 {with the idea of} 16. Nxe4 dxe4
17. Rxe4 c5 $11) 14... Bd7 $5 15. Bd3 Re8 $11 16. Nf3 a4 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3
Ra5 $5 $132) 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. d4 $5 (11. Ng3 a4 $5 12. Bxa4 Bg4 13. d4 exd4 $6 (
13... Ba7 $1 {with the idea of ...Nh4, or} 14. Bb5 d5 $1 $44) 14. cxd4 Bb4 15.
Re3 $1 c5 16. d5 {Sethuraman-Naiditsch, Sharjah 2018. This was probably better
for White.}) 11... Ba7 12. h3 Bd7 $5 13. Ng3 ({Here White could have played} 
13. a4 $5 {eventually.}) 13... a4 $1 14. Bc2 Nh7 {Starting an unfortunate
manoeuvre.} 15. Nf5 $5 Ng5 $2 {White's threats on the kingside were still
rather illusory, but after Navara's big mistake things are getting grim for
Black. The remedy was clearly worse than the disease in this case!} 16. Nxg5
hxg5 17. Qh5 $1 Nf4 $8 18. Bxf4 $1 exf4 ({Forced, because} 18... gxf4 19. dxe5
dxe5 20. Rad1 $1 {is just lost for Black:} g6 21. Qh6 gxf5 22. exf5 f6 23. Qg6+
Kh8 24. Rxe5 fxe5 25. f6 $18) 19. h4 $1 $16 g6 $2 ({He had to play} 19... gxh4
20. Nxh4 Qf6 21. e5 Qh6 22. Qxh6 gxh6 $16 {, anyway with quite a bad position.}
) 20. Qh6 $1 gxf5 21. exf5 f6 22. Qg6+ $1 ({Avoiding} 22. hxg5 Rf7 $1) 22...
Kh8 23. hxg5 $18 {And White's attack is decisive.} Bc6 24. Rad1 ({A faster win
was} 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Re6 $1 {and then, for example,} Qd7 26. gxf6 $1 Qh7 27.
Qg5+ Kh8 28. f7 $1 Rxf7 29. Rh6 Rg8 30. Rxh7+ Rxh7 31. Qf6+ $18) 24... Qd7 25.
Rd3 $1 Qg7 26. Rh3+ Kg8 27. Re7 ({Another good option was} 27. Qh5 Rae8 28. Re6
$1) 27... Qxg6 28. fxg6 f5 (28... Rae8 $6 {would have allowed White to execute
his main threat:} 29. Rh8+ $3 Kxh8 30. g7+ Kg8 31. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 32. gxf8=Q+) ({
After} 28... Rfe8 {there is, for example,} 29. Reh7 $5 fxg5 30. Rh8+ Kg7 31.
R3h7+ Kf6 32. Rf7+ Ke6 33. Rh5 $5 Kd5 34. Rxg5+ Kc4 35. Rxf4 $18) 29. Rhh7 $1 {
And MVL concluded his assault confidently.} Rfe8 30. Reg7+ $1 Kf8 31. Rxc7 Kg8
32. Bxf5 Bb6 33. Rcg7+ Kf8 34. Rf7+ Kg8 35. d5 $1 Bxd5 36. Rfg7+ Kf8 37. Rd7 $1
Kg8 38. g7 $1 Bf7 39. g6 {A nice spectacular game for the final round, but at
he same time not much fun for the Czech grandmaster, indeed.} 1-0

[Event "Gausdal Int"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Westerinen, Heikki MJ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 025"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Ba7 9. Nf1 Ne7 (9... d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nh5 12. g3 Nf6 $13 {Belikov,
V-Neverov,A USSR 1990}) 10. Ng3 Ng6 11. O-O h6 12. d4 exd4 $6 (12... Qe8 13.
Re1 Be6 14. Be3 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 Qc6 16. Rad1 $14 {Oratovsky,M-Novik,M USSR 1989})
(12... c6 13. Be3 {Bologan,V-Bjerke,R Gausdal International 1991 (1)}) 13. cxd4
d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. Bc2 Nh4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Qxd4 19. Bf4
$16 c6 20. Rad1 Qb4 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Qg3+ Kh8 23. Qf4 Kg7 24. Rd3 Re8 25. Rg3+
Kf8 26. Qxh6+ Ke7 27. Qh4+ $1 Kf8 (27... Kd7 28. Bf5+ Kc7 29. Qxb4) 28. a3 $18
(28. Qh6+ Ke7 29. Qf6+ Kd7 $1 $13 (29... Kf8 $2 30. Bh7 $18)) 28... Qd4 (28...
Qxb2 29. Qh6+ Ke7 30. Qd6#) (28... Qc5 29. Bh7 $18) 29. Qh6+ Ke7 30. Qf6+ Kd7 (
30... Kf8 31. Bh7 $18) 31. Rd3 Qxd3 32. Bxd3 {C.Hansen} 1-0

[Event "Mitropa Cup 16th"]
[Site "Buekfuerdo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sermek, Drazen"]
[Black "Rogic, Davor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.02.27"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. a4 a5
9. b5 Ne7 (9... Nb8 10. Nbd2 c6 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Re1 d5 13. Ba2 Bc7 14. c4 dxe4
15. dxe4 b6 16. c5 $14 {Hajkova Moskova,J-Limbach,R/Novi Sad ol-W/1990/} Bg4)
10. Nbd2 (10. Qb3 Ng6 (10... h6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 c6 13. Qa2 Qb6 14. Qe2
Ng4 15. d4 d5 16. Bd3 dxe4 17. Bxe4 f5 18. Bc2 e4 19. Bb3+ Kh7 20. Nfd2 Qc7 21.
g3 $13 {Mozes,E-Papp,N/HUN-chT/1992/}) 11. Kh1 h6 12. Ra2 Bg4 13. Ng1 Qd7 14.
f4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Nh5 16. Bc1 Ne5 17. d4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Rae8 $15 {Horwitz,
B-Kieseritzky,L/London/1846/}) (10. Bg5 Ng6 (10... c6 11. bxc6 bxc6 12. Ba2 Ng6
13. Nh4 Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Nbd2 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Re1 d4 19. h3
Bh5 20. Qc2 dxc3 21. Qxc3 c5 22. Re4 Nb8 23. Rae1 Nc6 24. e6 Ra7 25. Ne5 $16 {
Sermek,D-Wehmeier,S/Gronningen op/1993/}) 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Qf3 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxh4
14. Bxd8 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Rxd8 $15 {Djurhuus,R-Wahl,M/EU-chJ Arnhem/1988/}) (10.
Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Ng6 12. Na3 b6 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. Rae1 Be6 15. Bd5 h6 16. Kh1
Bxd5 17. exd5 e4 $15 {Rogers,N-Rios,A/Philadelphia op/1992/}) (10. Re1 Ng6 11.
Qb3 h6 12. d4 Bg4 13. Nbd2 Nd7 14. Ba3 Qf6 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Nxf3 Nf4 17. Kh2
exd4 18. cxd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Qc2 Ne5 $17 {Van Blitterswijk,S-Homs,G/ch
Netherlands XI/1994/}) 10... Ng6 (10... c6 {Pd6-d5} 11. bxc6 $5 bxc6 12. Ba3
Re8 13. Bb3 Ng6 14. Nc4 Bc7 15. Qc2 Bg4 $10 {Hjartarson,J-Georgadze,G/Tilburg/
1993/0-1/43/}) 11. Ba2 (11. Bb3 c6 (11... h6 12. Nc4 Ba7 13. Nxa5 Bxf2+ 14.
Rxf2 Rxa5 15. h3 Be6 16. Nd2 $14 {Fuglsang,F-Jakobsen,P/Copenhagen-ch/1995/})
12. d4 {N; 12.Ba3? - 42/(387)} (12. bxc6 $5 {N; 12.Ba3? - 42/(387); 12.d4} bxc6
13. d4 Bg4 14. Qc2 Nf4 $5 (14... Rb8) 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 $1 Be2 17. Ndf3 $1
(17. Re1 $2 Bxf2+ $1 {/\ Qb6-+}) 17... N6h5 $1 $8 (17... Bxf1 18. Bxf4 {
/\ Ng5+-}) 18. Re1 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qd7 $44 {Mestel,J-Greenfeld,A/Beer-Sheva/1988/
inf 45/367/} (19... Qf6 $2 20. e5 Nh3+ 21. Kf1 $18) (19... Qc8 20. Nd4 $1))
12... Bg4 13. Bb2 d5 14. h3 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Bf5 $1 16. Ng3 Qc8 17. Nxe5 $2 (17.
bxc6 $16 {/\ Ne5 Nunn,J}) 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. Qf3 Nd2 $2 (19... Nxg3
$15) 20. Qf4 Nxb3 21. Nxf5 $18 {+- Nunn,J-Winants,L/Bruxelles 45/(365) 1988}) (
11. Qb3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nh2 Nf4 14. Ndf3 Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Nxc1 16. Raxc1 Kh8 17.
g4 Bg6 18. Nh4 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rce1 Nd7 21. Ng2 d5 22. exd5 Nc5 23. Qd1
cxd5 $15 {Torre,E-Tukmakov,V/Leningrad/1987/}) 11... c6 12. bxc6 bxc6 13. d4
Bg4 14. Bb2 Rb8 (14... d5 15. h3 dxe4 16. Nxe4 $14) 15. Qc2 Nh5 16. h3 (16. g3
Qf6 $40) 16... Bc8 {/\Nhf4 ->} 17. Ba3 Re8 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Rad1 exd4 (19... Qf6
20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bd6 $16) 20. Rxd4 (20. cxd4 Nhf4 $132) 20... d5 21. exd5 cxd5
22. Ne3 Nhf4 23. Bxd5 {/\Bxf7+} Qf6 $44 24. Rfd1 Ne5 {/\25..Nxh3+ 26.gxh3
Nxf3+ -/+} 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26. Rc4 {Hansen,Cu} (26. Rc4 Qg5 (26... Ba6 27. Ng4 (
27. Rc6 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 Qxf2 29. Rxa6 Ng3+ 30. Kh2 Ne4+ 31. Kh1 Qxc2 32. Nxc2 Nf2+
33. Kg1 Nxd1 $15) 27... Qg5 28. Rc6 $16) 27. Kh1 Qh5 $44) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sigeman & Co 22nd"]
[Site "Malmo"]
[Date "2014.05.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.05.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 (5. c3 {or}) (5. O-O {is more
popular.}) 5... O-O 6. c3 d6 (6... d5 {is also possible} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Ne4
Be7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Bb3 Bg4 11. Ng3 Qd7 12. h3 Be6 13. Bxe6 (13. Re1 {is a
better try, but} Rad8 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Qxd3 16. Qxd3 Rxd3 17. Re1 Nc8 $1
$11 {, defending both e7 and a7 after a possible ...Bxb3/ axb3.}) 13... Qxe6
14. Re1 Rad8 15. Qe2 Rfe8 $13 {Fressinet-Hammer, Yerevan 2014}) (6... a6 7. Bb3
Ba7 {is another plan.}) 7. b4 (7. O-O {is more popular. Here is a good example:
} a6 8. Bb3 Be6 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nf1 d5 $1 {The typical strategy: After ...Re8
and ...Be6 Black breaks in the centre with ...d5.} 11. exd5 Bxd5 $1 (11... Nxd5
12. Ng5 (12. Nxe5 $6 Bxf2+ $1 (12... Nxe5 13. d4 $1 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Ng6 {is also
equal, but if your opponent has the bishop pair there is always some risk}) 13.
Kxf2 Nxe5 $132) 12... Qd7 13. Nxe6 (13. Qf3 Rad8) 13... Rxe6 $13) 12. Bg5 $1
Qd6 $1 13. Bc2 (13. Bxf6 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Qxf6 $13) 13... h6 14. Bh4 Nh5 15. Ne3
Bxe3 16. Rxe3 (16. fxe3 e4 $1) 16... Nf4 $13 {Degraeve-Tkachiev, Aix-les-Bains
2007}) 7... Bb6 8. Bb3 (8. a4 {is also typical, but it can't harm Black,} a5 9.
b5 Ne7 $13) 8... Ne7 $1 {This is the typical regrouping. If ...Nc6-e7-g6, ...
c6, ...Bc7 and ...d5 can be carried out, Black grabs the initiative.} 9. a4 (9.
Nc4 {intends to take the bishop and avoids ...d5 by attacking the e5-pawn, but
this isn't dangerous for Black:} Ng6 10. O-O Be6 11. Re1 h6 12. Nxb6 Bxb3 13.
Qxb3 axb6 14. b5 Re8 15. Bd2 Qd7 $132 {Nunn-Azmaiparashvili, Amsterdam 1990})
9... c6 $1 {Of course!} 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. Bg5 (11. O-O Ng6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Qc2 d5
14. Ncd2 Nf4 $13 {Goetz-Neunhoeffer, Germany 1995} (14... h6 $5 {/\ ...Be6, ...
Qd7})) 11... Ng6 $1 {Simply improving the knight and preparing for the central
breakthrough.} (11... d5 $5) 12. Nh4 (12. O-O h6 13. Be3 d5 $13 {with a good
position} (13... Be6 $13 {is also good.})) 12... Kh8 (12... d5 $1 {is even
better.} 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Ne3 Nf4 $15) 13. Nxg6+ fxg6 14. Ne3 h6 15. Bh4 (15.
Bxf6 Qxf6 $132) 15... Bb6 $1 {Activating the bishop.} (15... a5 $5 {or}) (15...
g5 $5 {is also good.}) 16. Qe2 a5 $1 {Weakening the structure.} 17. b5 ({If} 
17. O-O g5 18. Bg3 axb4 19. cxb4 Bd4 20. Rab1 Qe8 $1 $15 {with the plan of ...
Nh5.}) 17... Qe8 $6 (17... cxb5 18. Bxf6) (17... g5 $1 18. Bg3 cxb5 19. axb5
Bd7 20. Ba4 Be6 $15 {White's structural weaknesses are very vulnerable after ..
.Rc8 and ...Qe8 followed by ...Nh5.}) 18. Nc4 (18. Bxf6 {This move was allowed
by 17...Qe8. It gives up the bishop pair, but at least now ...g5 won't force
the bishop to go to g3.} Rxf6 19. O-O $11) 18... Bc5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. O-O g5 (
20... Nh5 $1 $36 {Black will play ...Nf4 in order to activate the bishop, the
knight and the rook. Such moves can't be bad!}) 21. Bg3 Nh5 22. d4 $5 {This
move leads to a draw.} (22. Rad1 Nf4 23. Bxf4 gxf4 24. Qf3 Qg6 25. h3 $1 $13 {
with double-edged play.}) 22... Nxg3 23. hxg3 exd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25. Rad1 c5
26. Nxd6 Qe7 (26... Ba6 $1 {was the only chance, when White has to find} 27.
Qxa6 $1 (27. Bc4 Qe5 $36) 27... Rxa6 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Bc4 $11 {with equality.}
) 27. e5 Ba6 28. Bc4 (28. Qe4 $1 Bxf1 29. Rxf1 $44 {and the threat of Bc2 and
Nf7 secures White the draw.}) 28... Bxc4 (28... Bxe5 $1 29. Bxa6 Bxd6 30. Rd5
Qxe2 31. Bxe2 Be7 $15) 29. Qxc4 Rab8 30. Nb5 Qxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 77th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2015.01.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 {This move is very
typical: to move the B back to a7, preventing d4.} (6... O-O {is the main line.
}) 7. Bb3 (7. b4 Ba7 $13) 7... Ba7 8. Re1 (8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 (9... Ne7 10.
Re1 Ng6 11. d4 (11. Nf1 h6 12. d4 Re8 $13 {1/2 (35) Alekseev,E (2698)-Matlakov,
M (2700) St Petersburg RUS 2013}) 11... Re8 12. Bc2 Bd7 13. Nf1 d5 14. Nxe5
Nxe4 15. Nxg6 hxg6 $11 {1/2 (22) Andriasian,Z (2610)-Michalik,P (2577)
Groningen NED 2013}) 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 $132 {1/2 (36) Gelfand,
B (2720)-Kramnik,V (2788) Moscow 2008}) 8... O-O 9. h3 Be6 (9... Ne7 {is a
usual move to move the N to g6} 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Nf1 Re8 $11) (9... h6 {
is also a typical move.}) 10. Nbd2 (10. Bc2 {is the most usual move to avoid
the exchange of Bs} h6 11. Nbd2 Re8 $13) 10... Bxb3 (10... h6 {is also good,
which keeps the tension.}) 11. axb3 (11. Qxb3 {was also played} Qd7 12. Nf1 h6
13. Ng3 Rfe8 $13 {1/2 (41) Pruijssers,R (2529)-Michalik,P (2584) Eppingen GER
2014}) 11... d5 12. Qe2 (12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Ne4 Qe6 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $11 {1/2 (49)
Galdunts,S (2506)-Aronian,L (2648) France 2004}) 12... Qd7 13. Nf1 d4 $146 {
This is a good move, Black tries to complicate the position.} (13... h6 {
was played in a previous game, it's also good} 14. Ng3 Rad8 $11 {1/2 (44) Van
Weersel,A (2186)-Ferguson,M (2379) England 2011}) 14. b4 (14. Ng3 Ne8 $1 $13 {
/\ Nd6}) 14... Rad8 (14... Ne8 {followed by Nd6 is also good} 15. c4 Nd6 16.
Bd2 f6 $13) 15. Rd1 Ne8 $1 16. Ng3 (16. c4 Nd6 17. Bd2 f6 $13) 16... f6 17. Qe1
{White prepares for c4.} Kh8 (17... Nd6 18. c4 Rfe8 $13) 18. c4 Bb8 {Black
moves the B away from the a-file and wants to improve his position.} (18... Nd6
{is also good immediately}) 19. h4 $1 {White's best, but the position is equal.
} Nd6 (19... Ne7 {is also good followed by c6, Bc7}) 20. h5 Rde8 21. c5 (21.
Bd2 $1 {is a better try, as White has a very slight, but lasting advantage
after Nh4} Nd8 22. Qe2) 21... Nc8 22. Nh4 N8e7 23. Bd2 Qg4 24. Nhf5 (24. Nf3 {
is better} h6 25. Qe2 f5 26. exf5 Nxf5 27. Qe4 Qxe4 28. Nxe4 $14 {White has a
slight advantage, but it won't be enough to win the game.}) 24... Nxf5 25. exf5
Ne7 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27. Nxe4 c6 (27... Nxf5 {leads to draw} 28. c6 Nd6 29. Nc5 Ba7
$1 30. Nxb7 Nxb7 31. Rxa6 Bb6 32. cxb7 $11) 28. g4 Nd5 29. Kf1 h6 30. Ke2 Kg8
1/2-1/2

[Event "UKR-ch 83rd"]
[Site "Lvov"]
[Date "2014.11.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2014.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O {White chooses the positional line, 4.c3
would be the sharper move.} Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 {This is a normal waiting
move, it will be useful to have the possibility of playing Ba7 and preventing
d4, which can be unpleasant if the B is on c5.} (6... O-O {is the most popular
move.}) 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Re1 h6 {A normal prophylactic move} ({The immediate} 8...
O-O {is the most popular move} 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ng3 Bxb3
13. Qxb3 Rb8 $15 {Kamsky-Jakovenko, Loo 2014}) 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nf1 Be6 (10...
Re8 {is also usual}) (10... Ne7 {is also typical to move the N to g6} 11. Ng3
Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 c6 $11 {Grischuk-Lautier, Biel 2001}) (10... Nh5 {
is the active try} 11. Be3 Qf6 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Ne3 Nf4 $13 {Jakubiec-Jaracz,
Zakopane 2000}) 11. Be3 ({If White avoids the exchange with} 11. Bc2 {Black
can play} Re8 {or} (11... Ne7 12. Ng3 Ng6 $13 {Degraeve-Delorme, Marseille 2010
}) 12. h3 d5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Ng3 Rad8 $13 {Michiels-Lalic, Metz 2011}) (11. Ng3
{is the most popular move. Black got nice play after} Qd7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3
Rfe8 14. Qe2 Rad8 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. c4 Ne7 17. Nh4 c6 $132 {followed by d5,
Kovalev-Kryvoruchko, Dubai 2014.}) 11... Qd7 ({Taking on e3 is also possible:} 
11... Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Qd7 13. Qe2 Bxb3 14. axb3 a5 15. Rad1 Rfe8 $13 {
Potapov-Malakhov, Olginka 2011}) 12. Ba4 {White pins the knight and provokes
b5.} (12. Bxa7 {was played in a game} Rxa7 13. Ng3 Raa8 14. Bc2 Rad8 $13 {
Woudt-Lacrosse, Ghent 2012}) 12... b5 13. Bc2 Ne7 $146 {This is the novelty.} (
13... Bxe3 {has been played before} 14. Nxe3 Ng4 (14... Rfe8 15. d4 $14) (14...
d5 {seems interesting, as otherwise White plays d4 and gets strong in the
centre} 15. exd5 Bxd5 $1 (15... Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Nxe5) 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 {
and White should have a little advantage, but the position isn't so easy.}) 15.
d4 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Qe7 19. Qd2 Na5 20. b3 $14 {with a
pleasant position for White, because of his strong pawn centre,
Valkesalmi-Bjerke, Espoo 1988.}) 14. d4 {White occupies the centre and wants
to improve his position.} ({White shouldn't exchange the Bs before d4, as his
B seems more useful in this position:} 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4 Ng6 $11) 14... Ng6
{Black wants to hold the centre.} ({If Black gives up the centre, White also
has some advantage after} 14... exd4 15. cxd4 (15. Nxd4 {is also good
according to the computer, but taking with the P is more human} Rfe8 16. h3 $14
) 15... d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Ng3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Bf5 19. Bxf5 Nxf5 20. Rc1 $14) 15.
h3 $1 {White prevents Ng4 or Bg4.} c6 16. Ng3 Qc7 17. Qd2 $14 {White has
achieved a dream position. He has a strong centre and Black's a7-bishop is
slightly passive. He will follow up with Rad1 and Nf5.} Rfe8 18. Nf5 $1 {
White immediately seizes the initiative. White has a serious advantage.} (18.
Rad1 $5 {is also good.}) 18... Bxf5 (18... d5 {was an interesting try, but
White is slightly better after} 19. exd5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 exd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22.
Qxd4 $14) (18... exd4 {loses to} 19. Bxh6 $3 $40) 19. exf5 Nf4 (19... Nf8 {
is no better} 20. Bxh6 $1 N8h7 (20... gxh6 21. Qxh6 $40) 21. Be3 $16) 20. Bxf4
exf4 21. Qxf4 $16 Rxe1+ ({In the event of} 21... c5 {White has many good plans,
I like} 22. Bb3 $1 Rac8 23. Rad1 $16) 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. g4 $1 {
White starts the decisive attack.} Kf8 (24... Nf6 25. h4 $40) 25. h4 f6 26. d5
$1 {White wants to change the character of the position favourably. In the
event of simple moves, the position may become hard to win after after Black's
...d5.} (26. g5 {isn't so good} hxg5 27. hxg5 d5 28. Qe3 Bb8 {and White's task
isn't so easy.}) 26... cxd5 27. Bb3 Qf7 28. g5 {This move takes unnecessary
risks.} (28. Nd4 $16 {is more simple.}) 28... hxg5 29. hxg5 Qe7 $1 30. Kf1 $6 (
30. gxf6 {was still better} Nxf6 31. Kf1 $14 {and there is no unpleasant ...
Qe4.}) 30... Qe4 $1 31. Qxe4 dxe4 32. Nd2 e3 33. Ne4 fxg5 $11 {Black has
equalised.} 34. f3 Ke7 35. Ke2 g4 {A good move, which leads to a draw, but
there was no need to play this move.} (35... Nf6 36. Nxg5 Nh5 37. Ne6 Ng3+ 38.
Ke1 Kf6 39. Nc7 Nxf5 40. Nxa6 Nh4 $11) (35... Nc7 36. Nxg5 d5 $11) 36. fxg4 Nf6
37. Nxf6 gxf6 $11 {The position is of course equal.} 38. Bd5 Kd7 39. b4 Bb6 40.
Bb7 a5 41. a3 axb4 42. axb4 Kc7 43. Be4 Kd7 44. Kf3 Kc7 45. Bd5 Kd7 46. Bf7 Ke7
47. Be6 Kd8 48. Ke2 Kc7 49. Kd3 Kd8 50. c4 bxc4+ 51. Bxc4 Kd7 52. Bb5+ Kc7 53.
Ke4 d5+ 54. Kxd5 e2 55. Bxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jinan 3 Arrows Cup"]
[Site "Jinan"]
[Date "2003.09.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Xu, Yuhua"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "2003.09.17"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Re1 f6 11. Nbd2 Kh8 12. Ne4 Be6 13. Ng3 Qd7 14. Nh4 Rad8
15. Qh5 Bf7 16. Qf3 Nde7 17. Bc2 Bd5 18. Qh5 Bf7 19. Qf3 Bd5 20. Qh5 Qe8 21.
Qe2 Qf7 22. Be3 Rfe8 23. Ne4 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Bxe4 25. dxe4 Na5 26. Bd3 c5 27. b4
c4 28. Bc2 Nac6 29. a4 g6 30. Nf3 Nc8 31. Red1 Qe6 32. Rd2 Rxd2 33. Nxd2 Nd6
34. Qf1 Kg7 35. Bd1 a5 36. bxa5 Nxa5 37. Rb1 Qc8 38. Rb4 Qc5 39. Qe2 Re7 40.
Kh2 Rc7 41. Bc2 Nc6 42. Rb1 Nb8 43. Nf1 Qa3 44. Qd2 Rd7 45. Qe1 Na6 46. Ng3 Nc5
47. Rb4 Na6 48. Rb1 h5 49. h4 Kf7 50. Rb6 Ke7 51. Kh3 Nc5 52. Rb4 Nd3 53. Bxd3
cxd3 54. Qd2 Nc8 55. Nh1 Na7 56. Nf2 Nc6 57. Rb5 Qxa4 58. Rd5 Qc2 59. Qxd3 Qxd3
60. Nxd3 Rxd5 61. exd5 {[#] Anfдllige schwarze Bauernstruktur trotz des
gedeckten Freibauern d5.} Na5 62. e4 (62. Nb2 b5 {[%cal Gb5c4]}) 62... Nc4 63.
g4 (63. Kg3 Nd2 {[%csl Re4,Gf3]} 64. Nf2 Kd6 $19 {zeigt die Schwierigkeiten
klar auf: die weiЯen Figuren behindern sich.}) 63... Nd2 64. Nf2 b5 {[#]
fixiert den Bc3 und stellt WeiЯ vor eine sehr schwierige Entscheidung.} 65. g5
{Kostet einen Bauern, schafft aber die angreifbare Schwдche e5, in der
Hoffnung, die schwarzen Figuren binden zu kцnnen.} (65. gxh5 gxh5 66. Kg2 Kd6
67. Kg3 {beweist zwar erneut die Ohnmacht des eingesperrten weiЯen Kцnigs,
doch auch der schwarze Kцnig kann wegen des gedeckten Freibauern d5 nicht so
ohne weitereres auf Bauernjagd (c3) gehen.} f5 $1 68. exf5 Kxd5 69. Nd1 (69.
Kg2 e4 70. f6 (70. Nd1 Ke5 71. Ne3 Nc4 72. Nc2 Kxf5 73. Nd4+ Kg4 74. Nxb5 Kxh4
$19 {wegen dem klotzigen Sc4}) 70... Ke6 71. Kg3 e3 72. Nd3 Kxf6 73. Kf4 e2 74.
Ke3 Nb1 75. Kxe2 Nxc3+ {und wegen der geringen Bauernmasse muss sich Schwarz
gehцrig strecken}) 69... Kd6 70. Kf2 Ke7 71. Ke3 Nc4+ 72. Ke4 Kf6 73. Nf2 {
Hier bieten sich WeiЯ trotz Sd2+ noch die besten Ьberlebenschancen, die in der
geringen Bauernzahl und dem mцglichen Spiel gegen den Bb5 bestehen.}) ({
Dagegen scheidet das Abwarten mittels} 65. Kg3 hxg4 66. Kxg4 Nxe4 $1 67. Nxe4
f5+ 68. Kf3 fxe4+ 69. Ke3 Kd7 $1 {wegen Zugzwang aus.}) 65... fxg5 66. hxg5 Nf3
67. Nd3 Nxg5+ 68. Kh4 Nf7 69. Nb4 Kf6 70. Nd3 Nd6 71. Nc5 Kg7 72. Kg5 Nf7+ 73.
Kh4 Kh6 74. Nb7 g5+ 75. Kg3 Kg7 {kommt rechtzeitig zurьck, um den d-Bauern
aufzuhalten} 76. Nc5 Kf6 77. Kf3 Ke7 78. Nb3 (78. Ne6 g4+ 79. Kg3 Nd6 80. Nc5
Nc4 81. Nb3 {[%csl Gd2]} (81. Nd3 Nd2 82. Nf2 Kd6 ({Zu prьfen ist der Wartezug
} 82... Kd7 $5 83. Kh4 Kd6 84. Kg3 Nxe4+ 85. Nxe4+ Kxd5 86. Nd2 e4 87. Kf4 {
und es gibt ein weiteres Endspiel mit drei Bauern vs Springer zu sehen, das
Schwarz mit g3 oder h4 gewinnen kцnnte.}) 83. Kh4 Nxe4 84. Nxe4+ Kxd5 85. Ng3
Kc4 86. Kxh5 Kxc3 87. Kxg4 b4 88. Ne4+ $11)) 78... Kd6 79. Na5 Kc5 80. Ke3 g4
$19 {weil die "Verbundenen" nicht mehr zu stoppen sind.} 81. Kd3 h4 82. Nb3+
Kb6 83. Ke3 Nd6 84. Nc1 Nc4+ 85. Kf2 Kc5 86. Nd3+ Kd6 87. Ne1 Nd2 88. Ke3 h3
89. Nd3 h2 0-1

[Event "Abu Dhabi op 13th"]
[Site "Abu Dhabi"]
[Date "2003.08.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Al Sayed, Mohammed"]
[Black "Gokhale, Chandrashekhar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2357"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2003.08.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Ng3 g6 14. d4 h5 15. Bd5
Ne7 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Bb3 Kg7 18. Qd3 c5 19. Rad1 Nc6 20. Ne2 Qf6 21. dxe5 Nxe5
22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. c4 Be6 24. Nc3 Rad8 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. exd5 Bb8 27. Qf3 Qd6 28.
Kf1 f5 29. g3 Qf6 30. Qc3 h4 31. Rd3 Rh8 32. gxh4 Rxh4 33. Rg3 Rd4 34. Bc2 e4
35. Rg2 Be5 36. Qb3 b6 37. f3 exf3 38. Rf2 Bg3 39. Re6 Qg5 40. Rxf3 Bh4 41. Bd3
b5 42. Be2 Rd7 43. Qc3 b4 44. Qe3 Qxe3 45. Rfxe3 Bg5 46. Rg3 Bf6 47. Bd3 a5 48.
b3 Rf4+ 49. Ke2 Re7 50. Rxe7+ Bxe7 51. Re3 Kf7 52. Re6 Rh4 53. Rc6 Rxh3 54. d6
Bg5 55. Bb1 Rh1 56. Bd3 Rh2+ 57. Kf1 Rd2 58. Be2 Be3 59. Ke1 Rxa2 60. Bf3 a4
61. Bd5+ Kg7 62. Rc7+ Kh6 63. bxa4 Bf4 64. Rxc5 Bxd6 65. Rc6 b3 66. Rxd6 b2 67.
Rb6 Ra1+ 68. Kd2 b1=Q 69. Rxb1 Rxb1 70. c5 Rb4 71. Kc3 Rxa4 72. c6 Ra7 73. Kd4
Kg5 74. Ke5 Re7+ 75. Kd6 Kf6 76. c7 Rxc7 77. Kxc7 Ke5 78. Kc6 g5 79. Kc5 g4 80.
Kc4 f4 81. Bc6 f3 82. Kd3 Kf4 83. Kd2 Kg3 84. Ke1 $4 {[%mdl 20480]} (84. Ke3 {
only the double attack on f3 is sufficient for the draw. nur der zweifache
Angriff gegen f3 hдlt remis}) 84... Kg2 85. Kd2 (85. Bd5 Kg1 $19) 85... Kf2 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 1st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2000.07.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kuczynski, Robert"]
[Black "Bauer, Christian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2479"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "188"]
[EventDate "2000.07.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nbd2
d6 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 12. Ng3 Bb7 13. Nh2 Nd7 14. Qh5 Qh4 15.
Qxh4 Nxh4 16. Bg5 Ng6 17. Nf5 Nc5 18. Bc2 Ne6 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Rfe8 21. a4
Ngf8 22. Ra3 g6 23. Nh4 Nd7 24. Rea1 Nb6 25. Ng4 Kg7 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra7 Reb8
28. R1a5 Rxa7 29. Rxa7 Nc5 30. Ra2 b4 31. cxb4 Na6 32. Ra3 Nxb4 33. Bd1 Ba6 34.
Nf2 Ra8 35. d4 Nc4 36. Rc3 Ra7 37. Nf3 Nxb2 38. dxe5 Nxd1 39. Nxd1 dxe5 40.
Nxe5 Bc8 41. Nf2 Be6 42. Nfd3 Nxd3 43. Nxd3 Kf6 44. Nb4 Rb7 45. Na6 Ke5 46.
Nxc7 Kxe4 47. Na6 Ke5 48. Nc5 Rb1+ 49. Kf2 Bd5 50. Nd3+ Kd6 51. Ne1 h5 52. Rc2
Be4 53. Ra2 f6 54. Nf3 Rc1 55. Ra6+ Ke7 56. Ra7+ Kf8 57. Rd7 g5 58. Rd4 Bc6 59.
Rd2 Ke7 60. Nd4 Be4 61. Ne2 Ra1 62. Ng3 Bg6 63. Rb2 h4 64. Ne2 Bd3 65. Rd2 Ba6
66. e4 Ra3 67. Nd4 Bd3 68. Nc2 Rc3 69. Nb4 Bxe4 70. Nd5+ Bxd5 71. Rxd5 {
[#] WeiЯ verliert diese Remispositon, nachdem er dreimal Remisfortsetzungen
auslдsst} Ke6 72. Ra5 Rd3 73. Rb5 Rd5 74. Rb6+ Ke5 75. Rb2 Ke4 76. Re2+ Kf4 77.
Ra2 Rd4 78. Rb2 f5 79. Ra2 Rd3 80. Ra4+ Ke5 81. Ra5+ Ke4 82. Ra2 g4 83. hxg4
fxg4 84. Ra4+ Rd4 {[%mdl 20736] [#]} 85. Ra2 {Verpasster Ьbergang ins
Bauernendspiel!} (85. Rxd4+ Kxd4 86. Ke2 Ke4 87. Kf2 Kd3 (87... Kf4 88. g3+
hxg3+ 89. Kg2 $11) 88. Kf1 Ke3 89. Ke1 (89. Kg1 $2 Ke2 90. Kh2 Kf2 91. Kh1 Kf1
92. Kh2 g3+ 93. Kh1 h3 $19) 89... g3 90. Kf1 Kd2 91. Kg1 Ke2 92. Kh1 h3 93. Kg1
$1 $11) 85... g3+ 86. Ke2 Rb4 87. Ra8 $2 {[%mdl 20736]} (87. Ra1 $1 {
Verteidigung analog dem Endspiel Turm gegen Turm + g-Bauer.} Rb2+ 88. Kf1 Rf2+
89. Kg1 Rc2 90. Kf1 Ke3 91. Ra3+ Kd2 92. Ra1 $11) 87... Rb2+ 88. Kf1 Rf2+ $2 (
88... Rb1+ 89. Ke2 h3 $19) 89. Kg1 Rb2 90. Kf1 $2 (90. Ra1 $1 $11) 90... Rb1+
91. Ke2 h3 92. Ra4+ Ke5 93. Ra5+ Kd6 94. Ra6+ Kc7 0-1

[Event "Alushta3"]
[Site "Alushta"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Beshukov, Sergei"]
[Black "Margolin, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nf1
Ne7 9. Ng3 Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. Be3 h6 12. h3 Be6 13. d4 Re8 14. Re1 c6 15. Nh2
Qc7 16. Ng4 Nxg4 17. hxg4 Rad8 18. d5 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 cxd5 20. exd5 Bc8 21. Bc2
Nf4 22. Nf5 Qc5 23. Be4 b5 24. Qf3 a5 25. Kh2 b4 26. g3 Ng6 27. Kg2 Ne7 28.
Nxe7+ Rxe7 29. g5 f5 30. gxf6 Rf7 31. cxb4 axb4 32. Qd1 Rxf6 33. Rc1 Qa7 34.
Qb3 Rdf8 35. Rc2 Qf7 36. Rf3 Rxf3 37. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 38. Bxf3 Bh3+ 39. Kxh3 Rxf3
40. Kg2 Rd3 (40... b3 41. axb3 Rxb3 42. Rc6 Rxb2 43. Rxd6 $10) 41. Rc8+ Kf7 42.
Rb8 Rxd5 43. Rxb4 Ra5 44. a4 d5 45. b3 Kf6 46. Kf3 h5 47. Ke3 Kf5 48. f3 d4+
49. Kd2 g5 50. Rb8 g4 51. Rf8+ Ke6 52. f4 e4 53. Re8+ Kf5 54. Rg8 Kf6 55. Rd8
h4 56. Rxd4 hxg3 57. Rxe4 Kf5 58. Re1 (58. Re5+ Kxf4 59. Rxa5 g2 $19) 58...
Kxf4 59. Rf1+ Ke4 60. Ke2 Rh5 61. Re1 Rh2+ 62. Kf1+ Kf3 63. Kg1 Rg2+ 64. Kf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "CUB-ch"]
[Site "Holguin"]
[Date "2002.04.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"]
[Black "Vazquez Igarza, Renier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2442"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2002.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. h3
Ne7 9. Nf1 Ng6 10. Ng3 O-O 11. O-O h6 12. Re1 Re8 13. d4 c6 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Qd2
Be6 16. Bxh6 exd4 17. cxd4 Bb6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. Bg5 Rae8 20. Qd3 Nh7 21. Bd2
Qd8 22. Nf5 Qd7 23. h4 Rf6 24. g4 Ngf8 25. g5 Rfe6 26. Ng3 R6e7 27. Kg2 g6 28.
d5 Qg4 29. Bc3 cxd5 30. exd5 Nd7 31. b4 Nhf8 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Re1 Rxe1 34.
Bxe1 f6 35. Qe4 Qxe4 36. Nxe4 fxg5 37. hxg5 Bc7 38. Bc3 Nb6 39. Nf6+ Kf7 40.
Bd4 Nc4 41. Nh2 a5 42. bxa5 Bxa5 43. f4 Bd2 44. Kf3 b5 45. Nhg4 b4 46. Ke4 Na5
47. Bb6 b3 48. axb3 Nxb3 {Merkmale: Geringe Bauernzahl - Beherrschung der
schwarzen Figuren durch die weiЯen: a) Sf8 durch Sf6 b) spдter Sb7 durch den
Lдufer Raumvorteil, dokumentiert insbesondere durch den Bd5} 49. Bc7 Nc5+ 50.
Kf3 Ke7 51. Nh6 Nb7 52. Kg4 Be3 53. f5 Bd4 54. Ne4 Ba7 55. Nf6 Bd4 56. Bb8 Bxf6
57. Ng8+ Kf7 58. Nxf6 gxf5+ 59. Kxf5 Ng6 60. Ba7 Ne7+ 61. Kg4 Kg6 62. Bb6 Nf5
63. Nh5 Ne7 64. Nf4+ Kg7 65. Bd4+ Kh7 66. Kh5 Nf5 67. g6+ Kg8 68. Bb6 Ng7+ 69.
Kg5 Ne8 70. Ne6 {Schwarz ist nahezu patt} Nc5 71. Bxc5 dxc5 72. Nxc5 Kf8 73.
Ne4 Ke7 74. Kh6 Kf8 75. Kh7 Ng7 76. Kh8 Nf5 77. d6 Nh6 78. g7+ 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 9798 8th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1997.12.31"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Strikovic, Aleksa"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1997.12.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Nbxd2 O-O 12. O-O c5 13. a3 Bxd2 14. Qxd2
c4 15. Qc3 Rb8 16. Nd2 Be6 17. f4 g6 18. b4 Bf5 19. h3 a5 20. bxa5 c5 21. Rf2
Bd3 22. Nf3 Rb3 23. Qc1 Qxa5 24. f5 Bxf5 25. Qh6 Rxf3 26. Rxf3 Be4 27. Rf2 Qc3
28. Rd1 cxd4 29. Qf4 Qe3 30. Qf6 Bf5 31. e6 fxe6 32. Qxd4 Qxd4 33. Rxd4 {
[#] Leichter Gewinn mit den drei verbundenen Freibauern. Der weiЯe a-Bauer
wird frьh geblockt und spielt keine Rolle.} c3 34. Rd1 Ra8 35. Ra2 Ra4 36. Kf2
d4 37. g4 Be4 38. Re2 Bd5 39. Re5 Kf7 40. g5 Ke7 41. Rb1 Kd6 42. Rbe1 d3 0-1

[Event "Mitropa Cup 16th"]
[Site "Buekfuerdo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grosar, Aljosa"]
[Black "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1995.02.27"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. a4 Qd7 11. Nc4 h6 12. Be3 Rfe8 13. Re1 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Rad8 15.
a5 g6 16. Ba4 Bxc4 17. dxc4 Qe6 18. Qf1 Rb8 19. b4 Nd7 20. Rd1 Kg7 21. Qd3 Red8
22. Nh2 Ne7 23. Re2 Nf6 24. Red2 Rf8 25. Nf1 Nh5 26. Ne3 Nf4 27. Qf1 h5 28. Kh2
h4 29. c5 dxc5 30. bxc5 Nc6 31. Rd7 Rbc8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33. Qc4 b5 34. axb6 cxb6
35. Qxa6 Qxc5 36. Qb7 Qxc3 37. Qxb6 Qc6 38. Qxc6 Rxc6 39. Ra1 Rb6 40. Raa7 Rb2
41. Ng4 Re2 42. Re7 Rxe4 43. Nxe5 Nd5 44. Rxf7+ Rxf7 45. Nxf7 Re7 46. Rxe7 Nxe7
47. Ng5 Kf6 48. Nf3 g5 49. g3 Ng6 50. gxh4 gxh4 51. Ne1 Ne5 52. Kg1 Kf5 53. Kf1
Ng6 54. Ng2 Ke4 55. Ke1 Kf3 56. Kf1 Ke4 57. Ke2 Nf4+ 58. Nxf4 Kxf4 59. Ke1 Ke4
60. Kf1 Kf3 61. Kg1 Ke4 62. Kg2 Kf4 63. Kg1 Ke4 64. Kf1 Kf3 65. Ke1 Ke4 $1 (
65... Kf4 $2 66. Ke2 Ke4 67. f3+ Kd4 68. Kd2 $18) 66. Ke2 Kf4 67. f3 Kg3 68.
Ke3 Kxh3 69. Kf2 Kh2 70. f4 h3 71. f5 Kh1 72. f6 h2 {Pattverteidigung} 73. f7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 a5
$5 {A very modern idea in an opening that is evolving day by day. Grischuk is
credited with this plan, although it was played in a slightly different move
order. Black, bizarrely, moves the a-pawn for a second time in three moves. He
argues that White's 'extra' a2-a4 move is not as useful as it looks, and the
tempo was a worthwhile investment as he now takes the b4-square under control.}
(8... Ba7 {and}) (8... h6 {are both regularly seen alternatives.}) 9. h3 h6 10.
Nbd2 Be6 11. Bb5 Na7 12. d4 Nxb5 {This has all been seen before, with most of
the games featuring Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on the White side. There is now a
crossroads:} 13. axb5 {The most natural choice.} (13. dxc5 {Initially seems
innocent, but some strategic complexities lurk beneath the surface:} Na7 14. b3
$1 {An idea of MVL's.} Re8 (14... dxc5 15. Nxe5 $14) 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 {
and White exerts a modicum of pressure. Vachier-Lagrave has scored against
formidable opposition (Grischuk and Karjakin) from this position.}) 13... exd4
14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 $6 Bb4 $15 {finally shows the idea behind Black's idea of
playing 8...a5. The b4-square is a strong outpost for the bishop.}) 14... Re8
15. Nf1 {Giri follows a game in which Leko beat Kasimzhanov in the 2018
Olympiad.} (15. N2f3 {is also worth considering.}) 15... Bc4 {Anand's prepared
improvement.} (15... Bd7 16. Ng3 c6 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Qf3 d5 19. e5 {
eventually led to a white win in Leko-Kasimzhanov, Batumi 2018.}) 16. Ng3 d5 {
Again this seems to be Anand's preparation, although I still find it hard to
believe he had memorised the entire messy variation that we will see below (if
White had played 20.Qg4).} (16... a4) ({or} 16... Qd7 {would have been
sensible alternatives.}) 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 {Anand was
still playing his moves at a brisk pace, which clearly unnerved Giri. Here he
paused for a deep think before opting for a suboptimal move:} 20. Qf3 $6 (20.
Qg4 $1 {was critical, and would have demanded great energy (and accuracy!)
from Anand to prove equality:} h5 $1 21. Qf4 Bd3 {(other moves exist, but this
is clearly the most forcing - in the style of Anand himself)} 22. Re3 Bxb5 23.
Rg3 Rxe5 24. Qf6 Re1+ 25. Kh2 Bf8 26. Nf5 Qe5 {and it appears that Black is
fine, although further analysis shows that the position is still full of
intrigue:} 27. Nh6+ Kh7 28. Qxf7 $1 Qe6 $8 29. Qxh5 gxh6 30. Qxb5 (30. Bxh6 {
leads to a beautiful variation:} Re5 31. Bg5+ Qh6 $8 32. Qf7+ Qg7 33. Qh5+ Qh6
{with a draw}) 30... Bd6 31. f4 Rg8 32. Qd3+ Rg6 33. h4 Qf6 34. h5 Qh4+ 35. Rh3
Bxf4+ 36. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 37. Rg3 Qh4+ 38. Rh3 Qf4+ {with a draw. Could Anand
really have analysed this deeply? Many of the above moves are forced, so it is
quite possible, although it would have been a great feat of memory to get this
far.}) 20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 (21. Rxd4 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Bxb5 $15 {Is very pleasant
for Black due to his superior pawn structure.}) 21... Re6 $1 22. Rf4 {And Giri
offered a draw, which was quickly accepted. To be honest, I would have been
very tempted to continue, as Black appears to be running no risk at all:} (22.
Rf4 Qxb5 $1 23. Qg3 (23. Rxf7 $2 {Perhaps Anand missed that this was
impossible, otherwise he might have played on:} Rg6 $1 $19 {with ...Bxf7 or ...
Bd5 to follow, Black is winning.}) 23... Rg6 24. Rg4 Raa6 $1 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,100,19,38,25,16,16,8,17,17,19,-9,10,7,17,-44,-16,-33,-30,-24,-18,-10,
81,68,50,54,124,55,47,56,65,67,65,61,68,73,73,-50,0,-4,30,16,14,-52,-10,-3,0,
-20,-19,-14,-30,0,7,-15,45,-22,-31,-23,-23,-66,0,0,0,-67,-60,-60,-56,-52,-54,
-54,-51,-44,-44,-41,-44,-54,-52,-52,-65,-61,-32,-32,-42,-160,-181,-230,-256,
-248,-324,-326,-348,-379,-420,-482,-494,-692,-712,-982,-1011,-1022,-1032,-1032,
-1032]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5
{Previously 7...a6 was more usual, but after it recently White has been trying
action on the queenside: 8.a4 Ba7 9.b4 (for example M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin,
5th WCh match game 2016). How effective that is may be undecided; in any case
with the text move Black turns against this plan with the assumption that the
weakening of the b5-square will be unimportant.  Üblicher war bisher 7...a6,
doch hat Weiß in letzter Zeit danach das Vorgehen auf dem Damenflügel
versucht: 8.a4 La7 9.b4 (zum Beispiel M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin, 5. Partie der
Weltmeisterschaft 2016). Wie wirksam dies ist, sei dahingestellt; Schwarz
wendet sich mit dem Textzug auf jeden Fall gegen dieses Vorgehen in der
Annahme, daß die Schwächung des Feldes b5 unwesentlich sein wird.} 8. Bg5 {
This is a sharp plan and so far little experience has been gathered with it.
White allows his queen's bishop to be driven to g3. There it is at first out
of the play and may be exposed to further attacks (by h6-h5 after appropriate
preparation). But White is counting on getting in d3-d4 and that the pressure
against the e5-point will then be important; in addition he wll perhaps be
able to get some advantage out of the weakening of the black kingside whenever
the positioon opens up. There is no way to decide whether the move is better,
worse or just as good as the continuations 8.Nbd2 and 8.h3, which strive
towards more modest goals. Dies ist eine scharfe Idee, mit der bisher wenig
Erfahrung gesammelt wurde. Weiß läßt es zu, daß sein Damenläufer nach g3
getrieben wird. Dort steht er zunächst außer Spiel und mag weiteren
Angriffen ausgesetzt sein (durch h6-h5 nach geeigneter Vorbereitung). Weiß
rechnet aber damit, daß er zu d3-d4 kommt und daß dann der Druck gegen den
Punkt e5 wichtig sein wird; außerdem wird er vielleicht aus der Schwächung
des schwarzen Königsflügels Nutzen ziehen können, wenn die Stellung sich
öffnet. Es ist nicht zu entscheiden, ob der Zug besser, schlechter oder
ebenso gut ist wie die Fortsetzungen 8. Sbd2 und 8.h3, die bescheideneren
Zielen dienen.} h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 ({To the best of my knowledge nobody has
yet tried the sacrifice on g5. It is speculative in nature because White has
no pieces attacking and his pawn on f2 is pinned, so that the dangerous
advance f2-f4 is at first prevented. Nevertheless things are not quite so
clear. Let me give some sample continuations: Das Opfer auf g5 hat meines
Wissens noch niemand probiert. Es ist spekulativer Natur, weil Weiß keine
Figuren im Angriff hat und der Bauer auf f2 gefesselt ist, so daß der
gefährliche Vorstoß f2-f4 zunächst unterbunden ist. Dennoch ist die Sache
nicht so klar. Ich gebe einige Beispielfortsetzungen:} 10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 {
I. I.} Bg4 ({II. II.} 11... Kg7 12. Qf3 Kg6 13. Bh4 ({After Nach} 13. h4 Bg4
14. Bxf6 Qd7 15. Qg3 Kxf6 {Black is winning. steht Schwarz auf Gewinn.}) 13...
Rg8 ({The move Auf} 13... Be6 {is followed by folgt} 14. Qg3+ Kh7 15. Qg5) 14.
Nd2 Be6 {A similar judgement to that for Line I is applicable. Ein ähnliches
Urteil wie unter Abspiel I ist zutreffend.}) 12. Qd2 (12. Bxf6 Bxf2+ 13. Kf1
Bxd1 14. Bxd8 Bxe1 {and Black wins material und Schwarz gewinnt Material})
12... Kg7 ({The move Auf} 12... Kh7 {is followed by folgt} 13. d4 Bb6 14. Na3 {
and White retains pressure. und Weiß behält Druck.}) 13. h3 Be6 14. Bh6+ Kh7
15. Bxf8 Qxf8 {I think that Black is better, but of course matters are not
totally clear. Ich meine, daß Schwarz besser steht, aber ganz klar ist die
Sache natürlich nicht.}) 10... Nh7 {[#] [#]} ({To the best of my knowledge
this is a new move; Black allows the immediate advance d3-d4. The game A. Giri
- P. Eljanov, Stavanger 2016 continued Dies ist meines Wissens ein neuer Zug;
Schwarz läßt den Vorstoß d3-d4 sofort zu. In der Partie A. Giri - P.
Eljanov, Stavanger 2016, folgte} 10... Ba7 11. Na3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nc2 Bg6
14. Bh2 {And White's position should be somewhat more comfortable. Weiß
dürfte etwas bequemer stehen.}) 11. d4 {It is hard to evaluate the
consequences of the move in the game. Die Folgen des Partiezuges sind schwer
zu beurteilen.} Bb6 12. dxe5 h5 {This is Black's plan: he would like to
immediately break open White's kingside. After 12...g4 13.Nd4 Ne5: 14.Nd2
White has a secure and comfortable position.  Dies ist der Plan des Schwarzen:
Er möchte den Königsflügel des Weißen sofort aufbrechen. Nach 12...g4 13.
Sd4 Se5: 14.Sd2 hat Weiß eine sichere und bequeme Stellung.} 13. h4 ({
Continuation I. Die Fortsetzung I.} 13. exd6 h4 14. Be5 g4 {costs White a
piece; after kostet den Weißen eine Figur; nach} 15. dxc7 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 gxf3
17. Bd6 fxg2 {the most he can hope for is equaity. kann er höchstens auf
Ausgleich hoffen.}) ({Continuation II. Auf II.} 13. h3 {is followed by folgt}
g4 14. hxg4 hxg4 15. Nd4 Nxe5 16. Nd2 Qg5 {For Black the position is more
favourable than the one after the immediate 12...g4; it should be more or less
balanced. Die Stellung ist für Schwarz günstiger als die nach sofortigem 12..
.g4; sie dürfte etwa im Gleichgewicht sein.}) 13... Bg4 ({Here Hier
überlässt} 13... g4 14. Nd4 Nxe5 15. Na3 {concedes to White clearly the
better game. The pawn on h4 deprives Black's pieces of the g5-square, and his
kingsde is weakened; after dem Weißen das klar bessere Spiel. Der Bauer auf
h4 nimmt den Figuren des Schwarzen das Feld g5, und sein Königsflügel ist
geschwächt; auf} Ng6 {there comes folgt} 16. Qd2 {with the threat of 17.Qh6.
mit der Drohung 17.Dh6.}) 14. Nbd2 {Once again White plays the sound and
obvious move. Wiederum spielt Weiß den gesunden, naheliegenden Zug.} ({
Otherwise it was worth considering: I. In Betracht kommt sonst: I.} 14. hxg5 {
White allows Black's king's knight to become involved in the play in order to
get rid of one of the doubled pawns. Weiß läßt den Königsspringer des
Schwarzen ins Spiel eingreifen, um einen der stochernden Bauern loszuwerden.} {
After Nach} Nxg5 15. exd6 h4 16. Bh2 Qf6 17. Nbd2 cxd6 18. Be2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3
Ne5 {The position is probably approximately level, although Black's attack
looks threatening. ist die Stellung wohl ungefähr im Gleichgewicht, obwohl
der Angriff des Schwarzen drohend aussieht.}) ({II. II.} 14. exd6 {is more
plausible than 14.hxg5. ist plausibler als 14.hg5.} {After Nach} gxh4 {White
has a choice: kann Weiß wählen:} 15. Bxh4 {cannot be recommended ist nicht
empfehlenswert:} (15. Bh2 Ng5 (15... cxd6 {[#] [#]} 16. Bxd6 (16. Qxd6 Bxf3 17.
gxf3 Qg5+ 18. Kh1 Bxf2 {also with an unclear situation. ebenfalls mit unklarer
Lage.}) (16. Qd3 Kh8 17. Nbd2 Rg8 {and again Black has a dangerous looking
attack. und wieder hat Schwarz einen gefährlich aussehenden Angriff.}) (16.
Qd5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Ne5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Qxe5 Re8 20. Qxh5 Qc7 {Here too the
initiative is on Black's side; White must painstakingly look for a way to draw.
Auch hier ist die Initiative auf Seiten des Schwarzen; Weiß muß mühsam nach
einem Remisweg suchen.}) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qf6 {with an unclear position;
Black's attack looks very dangerous. mit unklarer Stellung; der Angriff des
Schwarzen sieht sehr gefährlich aus.}) 16. dxc7 Qf6 ({After Nach} 16... Qxd1
17. Rxd1 Nxe4 18. Rf1 {White effortlessly gets an advantage erhält Weiß ohne
Mühe Vorteil}) 17. Nbd2 h3 18. e5 Qg7 ({After Auf} 18... Qf5 {there follows
folgt} 19. Qb1) 19. Be2 {and it appears that White can successfully ward off
the attack. und es scheint, daß Weiß den Angriff erfolgreich abwehren kann.})
(15. Bf4 Qf6 {wastes time. verschenkt Zeit.}) 15... Bxf3 16. Bxd8 Bxd1 17. Bxc7
(17. Be7 Bg4 18. Bxf8 Nxf8 19. dxc7 Bxc7 {In any case Black is no worse.
Schwarz steht jedenfalls nicht schlechter.}) 17... Bxc7 18. dxc7 Bg4 19. Na3
Rfc8 20. Nb5 Na7 {Black collects White's advanced c-pawn and has the advantage
(P. van der Sterren). Schwarz holt den vorderen c-Bauern des Weißen ab und
hat Vorteil (P. van der Sterren).}) {The move played is the best. Der
gespielte Zug ist der beste.} 14... Nxe5 15. Be2 Nxf3+ ({The continuation Die
Fortsetzung} 15... Ng6 16. hxg5 Nxg5 17. Nh4 {is not much fun for Black. ist
nicht erfreulich für Schwarz.}) 16. Nxf3 Bxf3 {Black logically follows his
attacking plan. Schwarz verfolgt konsequent seinen Angriffsplan.} ({After Nach
} 16... Re8 {White would have a greater choice between simple and comfortable
continuations: hätte Weiß eine größere Auswahl unter einfachen, bequemen
Fortsetzungen:} {I. I.} 17. hxg5 ({II. II.} 17. Qd5 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 gxh4 19. Bf4
Qf6 20. Qf5 {does not set White any problems either. In no way does this mean
that the text move is objectively better than 16...Re8. White has done nothing
wrong and Black certainly does not have an advantage. stellt dem Weißen
ebenfalls keine Probleme. Dies bedeutet keineswegs, daß der Textzug objektiv
besser ist als 16...Te8. Weiß hat nichts falsch gemacht, und Schwarz hat
sicher keinen Vorteil.}) 17... Nxg5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. Bxg4 hxg4 20. Qd5 {
leads to a drawn position. führt zu einer Remisstellung.}) 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18.
Bh2 ({A safer way is Sicherer ist} 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 {but the
move in the game is not worse. aber der Partiezug ist nicht schlechter.}) 18...
h3 {[#] [#]} {Black is aiming to get his queen to h4.  Schwarz strebt mit
seiner Dame das Feld h4 an} 19. e5 {White allows Black the queen sortie to h4,
because he would like to immediately open up the position for his two bishops.
Weiß erlaubt dem Gegner den Damenausflug nach h4, weil er die Stellung sofort
für seine beiden Läufer öffnen möchte.} ({I prefer Noch besser gefällt mir
} 19. Bxh5 {I. I.} Kh8 ({II. II.} 19... Qg5 20. Qg4 f5 21. Qxg5+ Nxg5 22. e5
Ne4 (22... dxe5 23. Rxe5 Kg7 (23... Ne4 {is met with wird mit} 24. Rf1 {
. beantwortet.}) 24. Rd1 Kh6 25. Be2 Rae8 {Here too White is marginally better.
Auch hier steht Weiß geringfügig besser.}) 23. Re2 dxe5 24. gxh3 {White has
something of an advantage. Weiß hat etwas Vorteil.}) 20. Qf3 hxg2 21. e5 {
concedes a strong initiative to White. überläßt dem Weißen eine starke
Initiative.}) 19... Qh4 20. Qd2 $6 {From which square should the queen protect
f2? Von welchem Feld aus soll die Dame f2 decken?} ({I 20.Qe2 is not good,
because it blocks the prospects of the rook on e1. After I Nicht gut ist 20.
De2, weil dem Turm e1 die Aussicht versperrt wird. Nach} 20. Qe2 dxe5 {then
führt} 21. Bxb7 ({After Nach} 21. Bxe5 Rae8 22. g3 Qg5 {it is up to White to
find posibilities to equalise. ist es an Weiß, Ausgleichsmöglichkeiten zu
finden.}) 21... Rab8 22. Bc6 e4 23. Bxe4 Nf6 24. Bf3 Ng4 25. Bxg4 hxg4 {
leads to a clearly superior position for Black; the threat is 26...Bf2:+. zu
einer deutlich überlegenen Stellung für Schwarz; es droht 26...Lf2:+.}) ({
II. II.} 20. Qc2 {[#] appears to me, on the other hand, to be more plausible
than the move in the game. Black will have no opportunity to get his queen's
rook to d8 with gain of tempo and the queen often finds the chance to settle
on the nice f5-square. [#] sieht mir dagegen plausibler aus als der Partiezug.
Schwarz wird keine Gelegenheit haben, seinen Damenturm unter Tempogewinn nach
d8 zu bringen, und die Dame findet oft Gelegenheit, sich auf dem schönen Feld
f5 niederzulassen.} dxe5 (20... Ng5 21. Bxb7 hxg2 ({Or Oder} 21... Qg4 22. Qe2
{with good play for White. mit gutem Spiel für Weiß.}) 22. Bxg2) (20... d5
21. Re2 ({After Nach} 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Ng5 {Black has the better game. hat
Schwarz das bessere Spiel.}) 21... c6 22. Qf5 {and White has the initiative.
und Weiß hat die Initiative.}) (20... Rae8 21. Re4 Qg5 22. Kh1 hxg2+ 23. Bxg2
Kh8 24. Rg1 {and the attack has turned towards White. und der Angriff ist auf
Weiß übergegangen.}) 21. Rxe5 Ng5 22. Bd5 Kh8 23. Qf5 f6 24. Re7 {looks
uncomfortable for Black. sieht für Schwarz ungemütlich aus.}) {The move
played leads to a level game. Der gespielte Zug führt zu gleichem Spiel.}
20... dxe5 ({The continuation Die Fortsetzung} 20... Ng5 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Bd5
{is no better for Black than the way the game went. ist nicht besser für
Schwarz als die Partiefolge.}) 21. Rxe5 Rad8 22. Qe2 ({The attempt Der Versuch
} 22. Qh6 Qxf2+ 23. Kh1 Rd6 24. Qxh5 Rg6 25. Qxh3 {is not attractive for White.
ist für Weiß nicht attraktiv.}) ({On the other hand Dagegen kommt auch hier
noch} 22. Qc2 {is still worth considering. After in Betracht. Nach} Ng5 23.
Bxb7 Rfe8 {a ;position arises which should be balanced. entsteht eine Stellung,
die sich im Gleichgewicht befinden dürfte.}) 22... Ng5 23. Bxb7 f6 ({After Auf
} 23... hxg2 {White replies antwortet Weiß} 24. Bxg2 {For the moment there is
no reason for Black to carry out this exchange; the opportunity to do so will
not go away. Es gibt für Schwarz im Augenblick keinen Grund, diesen Abtausch
durchzuführen; die Gelegenheit dazu läuft ihm nicht weg.}) 24. Re7 Rf7 {
Black must render the annoying invader on e7 harmless. White cannot avoid the
exchange, because his queen is still tied to the defence of f2.  Schwarz muß
den lästigen Eindringlich auf e7 unschädlich machen. Weiß kann den Abtausch
nicht umgehen, weil er immer noch mit der Dame an die Verteidigung von f2
gebunden ist.} 25. Rxf7 ({After Auf} 25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Qxe8+ Kg7 27. Rf1 Qg4
28. Kh1 Rd7 {and the threat of 29...Rd1 is annoying. und die Drohung 29...Td1
ist lästig.}) 25... Kxf7 26. Re1 Kg6 {[#] [#]} 27. Qc2+ $2 {White decides to
mark time; but in this sharp position this is fatal.  Weiß entschließt sich
dazu, auf der Stelle zu treten; aber dies ist in dieser scharfen Stellung
fatal.} ({I suggest Ich schlage} 27. b3 {This improves the starting position
for White in possible subsequent endgames.  vor. Dies verbessert für Weiß
die Ausgangslage in eventuell entstehenden Endspielen.} {I. I.} Kh6 ({II. II.} 
27... f5 28. c4 {Now Jetzt scheitert} f4 {fails to an} 29. c5 Bxc5 30. Qc2+ {
In addition, now and then White has the chance to play c4-c5 and then Bh2xc7
or block the d-file for Black's rook with Bb7-d5. Giving up the d4-square is
unimportant; the situation is roughly level. Außerdem hat Weiß bisweilen die
Möglichkeit, c4-c5 nebst Lh2xc7 zu spielen oder die d-Linie mit Lb7-d5 für
den Turm des Schwarzen zu sperren. Die Aufgabe des Feldes d4 ist unwesentlich;
die Lage ist ungefähr im Gleichgewicht.}) 28. g3 Qg4 29. Qe7 Qf5 30. Kh1 {
is something White need not fear. braucht Weiß nicht zu fürchten.}) (27. c4 {
is less precise, because it gives Black the chance to play 27...Kh6. Now after
28.g3 the reply 28...Qd4 is strong. ist weniger genau, weil es dem Schwarzen
Gelegenheit zu 27...Kh6 gibt. Jetzt ist nach 28.g3 die Antwort 28...Dd4 stark.}
) {After the unfruitful check Black has a winning position. Nach dem
unfruchtbaren Schachgebot hat Schwarz eine Gewinnstellung.} 27... f5 {King
moves are of course met with 28.Qf5.  Auf Königszüge folgt natürlich 28.Df5.
} 28. Qe2 ({White is also lost if he does not defend against the threat of 28..
.Qg4, for example Weiß ist auch verloren, wenn er sich nicht gegen die
Drohung 28...Dg4 verteidigt, zum Beispiel} 28. c4 hxg2 {and then: und nun:} {
I. I.} 29. c5 ({II. II.} 29. Bxg2 Qg4 30. Kh1 (30. Kf1 Nf3 31. Bxf3 Qxf3 32. c5
Qh1+ 33. Bg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke2 Bxc5 {is equally hopeless for White. ist ebenso
hoffnungslos für Weiß.}) 30... Nf3 31. Re6+ Kf7 {[#] [#]} 32. Qe2 Nxh2 33.
Kxh2 Qh4+ 34. Kg1 Qxf2+ {and Black wins. und Schwarz gewinnt.}) ({III. III.} 
29. Kxg2 Qg4+ 30. Kh1 Nf3 {leads to Line II: führt zum Abspiel II:} 31. Re6+
Kf7 32. Qe2 Nxh2 33. Bd5 (33. Kxh2 {see above II. siehe oben II.}) 33... Qxe2
34. Rxe2+ Rxd5 35. cxd5 Ng4 {with a winning position for Black. mit
Gewinnstellung für Schwarz.}) 29... c6 30. Bxc6 Bc7 {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) 28... hxg2 $2 ({I Also ineffective is the attempt I
Untauglich ist auch der Versuch} 28... Qg4 {After Nach} 29. Qe7 {White obtains
a perpetual check: erreicht Weiß Dauerschach:} Rd1 ({Or Oder} 29... Ne4 30.
Qe6+ Kg5 31. Qe7+ {etc. usw.}) 30. Qe8+ {etc. usw.}) ({II. There is a win
after II. Zum Gewinn führt} 28... f4 {If White clings on for example with
Wenn Weiß verharrt, etwa mit} 29. b3 {there follows so folgt} (29. Qe7 Bxf2+
30. Kh1 hxg2+ 31. Bxg2 f3 {[#] [#]} ({After Auf} 31... Bg3 32. Re6+ Nxe6 33.
Be4+ {, and White mates; Black must first take control of the e4-square , und
Weiß setzt matt; Schwarz muß zuvor das Feld e4 unter Kontrolle nehmen}) 32.
Qxd8 (32. Bxf3 Bxe1 33. Qxd8 Bg3 34. Qe8+ Kf5 35. Qf8+ Ke5 36. Qe7+ Kf4 37.
Qf6+ Ke3 {, and Black wins. , und Schwarz gewinnt.}) (32. Bf1 Bg3 33. Bd3+ Rxd3
34. Qe8+ Nf7 35. Qg8+ Kf6 36. Qxg3 Qxg3 37. Bxg3 c5 {and Black is winning. und
Schwarz steht auf Gewinn.}) (32. Re6+ Nxe6 33. Qxe6+ Qf6 34. Qe4+ Qf5 35. Bxf3
Qxe4 36. Bxe4+ Kg5 37. Bxc7 Rd2 {and Black wins. und Schwarz gewinnt.}) 32...
fxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Qh3+ 34. Kxf2 Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Nh3#) (29. Rf1 hxg2 30. Bxg2 Rf8 {
and Black's attack breaks through. und der Angriff des Schwarzen dringt durch.}
) 29... hxg2 30. Bxg2 (30. Kxg2 {fails to scheitert an} f3+ 31. Bxf3 Qh3+)
30... f3 31. Qc2+ (31. Bxf3 {is met with wird mit} Bxf2+ {. beantwortet.})
31... Kh6 32. Bf1 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2 Nh3+ 34. Bxh3 Rg8+ {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) {After the move played White can save himself. Nach dem
erfolgten Zug kann Weiß sich retten.} 29. Bxg2 $2 ({But Zum Ausgleich führt} 
29. Kxg2 {leads to equality. I. I.} f4 ({II. II.} 29... Qg4+ 30. Kf1 Qxe2+ 31.
Rxe2 {This endgame is slightly more favourable for White than the one which
arises later in the game. White has no difficulty holding. Das Endspiel ist
noch etwas günstiger für Weiß als dasjenige, welches später in der Partie
entsteht; Weiß hält sich mühelos.}) 30. Qe7 Qg4+ (30... f3+ 31. Kh1 Bxf2 32.
Qxd8 Bxe1 33. Qg8+ Kh6 34. Qf8+ {and White cannot lose. und Weiß kann nicht
verlieren.}) (30... Qxf2+ $2 31. Kh1 {and Black is powerless against the
threat of 32.Rg1. und Schwarz ist machtlos gegen die Drohung 32.Tg1.}) 31. Kh1
Rd1 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Qe5+ {with a draw by perpetual check. mit remis durch
Dauerschach.}) {Now Black can steer the game back into the winning position
already examined above.  [#] Jetzt kann Schwarz wieder in die schon oben
untersuchte Gewinnstellung einlenken.  [#]} 29... Qg4 $2 {But he doesn't do so.
After 29...f4 White once more does not have an adequate defence against the
threat 30...f3 31.Bf3: Bf2:+. The relevant lines have already been mentioned
in the annotation to 28...hg2:. In the endgame which now arises Black has some
slight pressure, but with careful play White should be able to save the day.  
Aber er tut es nicht. Nach 29...f4 hat Weiß wiederum keine genügende
Verteidigung gegen die Drohung 30...f3 31.Lf3: Lf2:+. Die einschlägigen
Abspiele sind schon in der Anmerkung zu 28...hg2: erwähnt. In dem Endspiel,
das jetzt entsteht, hat Schwarz leichten Druck, aber bei sorgfältigem Spiel
sollte Weiß sich retten können.} 30. Kf1 h4 31. b3 ({Other moves are worth
considering, for example: I Andere Züge kommen in Betracht, zum Beispiel: I} 
31. f3 Qa4 32. f4 Ne4 33. Bxe4 Qxe4 34. Qxe4 fxe4 35. Rxe4 Kf5 {Although Black
is a pawn down he is exerting some pressure Obwohl Schwarz einen Bauern
weniger hat, übt er einigen Druck aus.}) (31. Bc6 {is perhaps the most
natural move. ist vielleicht am natürlichsten.} h3 (31... Qxe2+ 32. Kxe2 {
with equality. mit Ausgleich.}) 32. Be8+ Kh6 33. Qxg4 fxg4 34. Bf4 {White is
no worse. Weiß steht nicht schlechter.}) {After the text move the defence
becomes more difficult for White, but with careful play he is in no danger.
Nach dem Textzug wird die Verteidigung für Weiß etwas schwieriger, doch
läuft er bei sorgfältigem Spiel keine Gefahr.} 31... Qxe2+ 32. Kxe2 {32.Re2:
Rd1+ 33.Re1 Re1:+. leads to the same. Auf dasselbe hinaus kommt 32.Te2: Td1+
33.Te1 Te1:+.} Re8+ 33. Kf1 Rxe1+ 34. Kxe1 h3 35. Bd5 {Since the game
continuation is enough to secure the draw, we do not need to investigate
whether White can also put up a defence if he retains the bishop pair by
giving up a pawn: 35.Bc6 Ne4 36.Ke2 Nc3:+ 37.Kf3 Na2: 38.Be5 etc. Da die
Partiefortsetzung zum Erreichen des Unentschieden genügt, braucht nicht
untersucht zu werden, ob Weiß sich auch verteidigen kann, wenn er unter
Aufgabe eines Bauern das Läuferpaar behält: 35.Lc6 Se4 36.Ke2 Sc3:+ 37.Kf3
Sa2: 38.Le5 usw.} Ne4 36. Bxe4 fxe4 {[#] [#]} 37. Ke2 {White takes the light
squares under control as much as possible and arranges the exchange of another
pawn. It is not necessary to look for an alternative to this plausible plan.
Weiß nimmt die weißen Felder so weit wie möglich unter Kontrolle und sorgt
für den Abtausch eines weiteren Bauern. Es ist unnötig, für dieses
plausible Verfahren nach einer Alternative zu suchen.} Kf5 38. f3 c6 ({Black
achieves nothing with Mit} 38... e3 {After erreicht Schwarz nichts. Nach} 39.
a4 c6 40. b4 {he can make no further progress. kann er nicht weiterkommen.})
39. b4 $2 {This is the losing move. Das ist der Verlustzug.} ({There is a draw
after Zum Unentschieden führt} 39. a4 {I. I.} Bc5 {White wants to play 40.b4.
Weiß will 40.b4 spielen.} ({II. II.} 39... c5 40. fxe4+ Kxe4 41. Bd6 Bd8 (
41... Kd5 42. Bg3 c4 43. bxc4+ Kxc4 44. Kf3 {creates just as few winning
chances for Black. verschafft dem Schwarzen ebensowenig Gewinnaussichten.}) (
41... Ba7 42. Bc7 Bb6 43. Bd6 {etc. usw.}) 42. Kf2 Kd5 43. Bxc5 Kxc5 44. b4+ {
and the draw is obvious. und das Remis ist offensichtlich.}) 40. Bc7 {and
Black can make no further progress. und Schwarz kann nicht weiterkommen:} Be7 (
40... Bg1 41. fxe4+ Kxe4 42. Kf1 Be3 43. Bxa5 {with a drawn position. mit
Remisstellung.} Kf3 44. Bc7 {and Black is just plunging into danger.. stürzt
Schwarz nur in Gefahr.}) (40... Bb6 41. Bh2 {and Black has achieved nothing.
und Schwarz hat nichts erreicht.}) 41. fxe4+ Kxe4 42. Kf2 {and Black cannot
hold on to the pawn on a5. und Schwarz kann den Bauern auf a5 nicht halten.}) (
{Nor does an previous exchange on e4 spoil things: Auch vorheriger Tausch auf
e4 verdirbt nichts:} 39. fxe4+ Kxe4 40. a4 {also leads to a draw. führt
ebenso zum Remis.}) 39... a4 {[#] [#]} 40. c4 {White has nothing better; he is
in a sort of zugzwang: Weiß hat nichts Besseres; er befindet sich in einer
Art Zugzwang:} ({I. I.} 40. Bg3 Bg1 41. Kf1 Be3 {Nach Nach} 42. Ke2 (42. fxe4+
Kxe4 43. c4 Kd3 {transposes to the future course of the game. geht in den
späteren Partieverlauf über.}) 42... Bf4 43. fxe4+ Kxe4 44. Bxf4 Kxf4 45. Kf2
Ke4 46. c4 Kd4 {Black wins the pawn ending. gewinnt Schwarz das Bauernendspiel:
} 47. b5 (47. c5 a3 ({But not Aber nicht} 47... Kc4 48. a3 Kb3 49. b5 {and
White wins. und Weiß gewinnt.}) 48. Kg3 Kc4 49. Kxh3 Kxb4 50. Kg3 Kc3 {
and once again White loses the race by some lengths. und wieder verliert Weiß
den Wettlauf um einige Längen.}) 47... cxb5 48. cxb5 Kc5 49. Kg3 Kxb5 50. Kxh3
Kb4 {and obviously White comes up short by several tempi. und Weiß kommt
offensichtlich um einige Tempi zu spät.}) ({II. II.} 40. a3 Bd8 41. c4 ({
After Auf} 41. Ke3 {there follows folgt} Bg5+ 42. Ke2 Bc1) 41... Bf6 42. b5
cxb5 43. cxb5 Be5 44. fxe4+ ({After Nach} 44. Bxe5 Kxe5 45. b6 Kd6 46. Kf2 e3+
{one of Black's passed pawns will queen. wird einer der Freibauern des
Schwarzen zur Dame.}) (44. Bg1 h2 {is hopeless. ist hoffnungslos.}) 44... Kxe4
45. Bxe5 Kxe5 46. Kf3 Kd5 47. Kg3 (47. b6 Kc6 {comes to the same thing. kommt
auf das Gleiche hinaus.}) 47... Kc5 48. Kxh3 Kxb5 49. Kg3 Kc4 50. Kf3 Kb3 51.
Ke3 Kxa3 52. Kd2 Kb2 {White arrives one move too late. The lines given here
are also relevant in the future course of the game. Weiß kommt ein Tempo zu
spät. Die hier angegebenen Abspiele sind auch im weiteren Partieverlauf
einschlägig.}) 40... Bd4 41. fxe4+ ({Delaying the exchange brings no
advantage. After Die Hinauszögerung des Abtauschs bringt keine Vorteile. Nach
} 41. a3 {there is not folgt nicht} Be5 $2 ({but rather sondern} 41... Bb2 42.
b5 cxb5 43. cxb5 Be5 {and Black wins (previous annotation II). und Schwarz
gewinnt (vorige Anmerkung II).}) 42. fxe4+ Kxe4 43. Bxe5 Kxe5 44. Kf3 Kd4 45.
c5 {and White wins (see the previous annotation, I Line 1. brackets). und
Weiß gewinnt (siehe die vorige Anmerkung, I Ab, 1. Klammer).}) 41... Kxe4 42.
Kf1 {It has already been established that 42.b5 cb5: 43.cb5: Be5 is hopeless
for White. 42.a3 is followed by 42...Bb2 43.c5 (43.b5 cb5: 44.cb5: Be5 as
usual) 43...Kd5, and Black wins effortlessly. White tries something different
but that does not save him either.  Es ist schon bekannt, daß 42.b5 cb5: 43.
cb5: Le5 für Weiß hoffnungslos ist. Auf 42.a3 folgt 42...Lb2 43.c5 (43.b5
cb5: 44.cb5: Le5 wie gehabt) 43...Kd5, und Schwarz gewinnt mühelos. Weiß
versucht etwas anderes, aber auch dies rettet ihn nicht.} Kd3 {[#] [#]} 43. b5
cxb5 44. cxb5 Kc4 45. Ke2 Kxb5 46. Kf3 ({On Auf} 46. Kd3 {there follows folgt}
Bb6 47. Kc3 Ba5+ 48. Kb2 Kc6 49. Ka3 Bc7 50. Bg1 Kb5 {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) 46... Kb4 47. Kg4 (47. Bd6+ {is met with wird mit} Bc5 {
. beantwortet.}) ({And after Und nach} 47. Ke4 Bb6 48. Kd3 Ka3 49. Kc3 Kxa2 50.
Kc2 a3 {White is in zugzwang, since bishop moves are met by 51...Bg1. gerät
Weiß in Zugzwang, denn auf Läuferzüge folgt 51...Lg1.}) 47... Ka3 48. Kxh3
Kxa2 49. Bd6 Kb3 50. Kg2 Bc3 {White resigns. After 51.Kf1 Bb4 52.Be5 a3 and
then Bb4-c3 the a-pawn cannot be stopped.  Weiß gibt auf. Nach 51.Kf1 Lb4 52.
Le5 a3 nebst Lb4-c3 ist der a-Bauer nicht aufzuhalten.} 0-1

[Event "Paleochora op 13th"]
[Site "Paleochora"]
[Date "2020.07.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Foreest, Lucas"]
[Black "Ioannidis, Evgenios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[Annotator "Kapnisis,Spyridon"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2020.07.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,81,22,25,57,24,18,18,24,13,21,-9,13,4,21,-50,-26,-48,-16,-28,-27,-47,
-21,-24,-19,-13,-13,-9,8,-35,-24,-24,-49,-42,-47,-105,-105,-159,-126,-275,-274,
-284,-119,-346,-182,-283,-127,-113,-76,-76,143,143,275,275,275,231,306,289,308,
187,187,139,192,236,197,197,162,162,242,335,352,337,464,486,486,491,919,517,
530,530,1563,530,536,525]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6
6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 h6 8. h3 a5 9. Nbd2 (9. d4 Bb6 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12.
exd5 Ne7 13. Nc3 Nexd5 14. Qd2 $13 {1/2 (42) Caruana,F (2835)-Nakamura,H (2736)
chess24.com INT 2020}) 9... Be6 (9... a4 $5 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Bxd7
Qxd7 (12... Nxd7 13. Ng3 f5 {1/2 (60) Ragger,M (2670)-Navara,D (2717) Prague
CZE 2020 with an interesting middlegame in which White keeps the slightly
better chances.}) 13. d4 Bb6 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. Be3 $13 {1-0 (38) Leko,P (2663)
-Svidler,P (2723) chess24.com INT 2020}) (9... Bb6 {has been played regularly
by Nakamura in a lot of blitz and rapid games with mixed results} 10. Bb5 (10.
Nf1 Be6 11. Bb5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. Ng3 $13 {
1-0 (30) So,W (2767)-Nakamura,H (2745) chess.com INT 2020}) (10. Bb3 Be6 11.
Nc4 Ba7 {0-1 (41) Vachier Lagrave,M (2778)-Nakamura,H (2736) chess24.com INT
2020}) 10... Be6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nxa5
dxe4 16. Nxc6 Qe8 17. Nfe5 $14 {1-0 (34) Nepomniachtchi,I (2776)-Nakamura,H 
(2745) chess.com INT 2020}) 10. Bb5 Qb8 (10... Nd7 $5) 11. Bxc6 (11. Nf1 Qa7
12. d4 exd4 13. Bxc6 bxc6 (13... dxc3 $5 14. Ba4 Bxf2+ 15. Kh2 Bxe1 16. Qxe1
$13 {1/2 (61) Aronian,L (2758)-Anton Guijarro,D (2674) Douglas ENG 2019}) 14.
cxd4 (14. Nxd4 Bd7 15. Qd3 Rfe8 {1-0 (53) Antipov,M (2584)-Dvirnyy,D (2485)
lichess.org INT 2020}) 14... Bb6 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Be3 d5 $2 (16... Bd7 {
was a better choice}) 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nh5 $40 {1-0 (33) Ragger,M (2684)-Nyback,
T (2565) Batumi GEO 2019}) 11... bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb6 {[#]} (13... Bb4
{is another valid choice for Black. Black hurries to exchange his dark-squared
bishop so that White's attack becomes less strong/impossible.} 14. a3 (14. Re3
$5) (14. Re2 a4 15. a3 Ba5 16. e5 Nd5 $13 {0-1 (42) Gledura,B (2615)-Kovalev,V
(2687) Wijk aan Zee NED 2019}) 14... Bxd2 15. Nxd2 (15. Qxd2 Re8 16. Qf4 $13)
15... Nd7 (15... Re8 16. b3 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Nf3 $14 (18. Qh5 {1/2 (43) Giri,
A (2797)-Ding Liren (2809) Shenzhen CHN 2019})) 16. Nf1 a4 17. Qh5 $13 {
1/2 (26) Vaibhav,S (2591)-Maghsoodloo,P (2674) Moscow RUS 2020} (17. Ng3 $5)) (
13... Ba7 {1/2 (88) Giri,A (2769)-Antipov,M (2549) Moscow RUS 2019}) 14. a4 $5
{White weakens the b2 pawn and all the squares on the b-file. On the other
hand, White stops a4 while he gets the chance to activate the Ra1 by a rook
lift on the 3rd rank.} (14. b3 Re8 (14... d5 15. e5 Nd7 16. Nf1 c5 17. Ng3 Kh8
18. Nh4 $1 $40 {1-0 (38) Stevic,H (2579)-Deac,B (2594) Batumi GEO 2018}) (14...
a4 $5) 15. Qc2 Bd7 16. e5 Nd5 $13 {0-1 (45) Vocaturo,D (2620)-Anton Guijarro,D
(2674) Batumi GEO 2019}) 14... Qa7 $5 (14... Re8 15. Ra3 Qb7 (15... d5 16. e5
Nd7 17. Nf1) 16. Rae3 (16. Nf1 d5) 16... Rab8 17. b3 Ba7 18. Bb2 d5 19. e5 Nd7
20. Nh4 c5 $2 (20... Qb4 $5 $13 {[%cal Yb4e7] Bringing back the queen to the
defense was necessary.}) 21. Rg3 $18 {1-0 (28) Giri,A (2780)-Anton Guijarro,D 
(2674) Batumi GEO 2019 White's attack is unstoppable.}) 15. Nf1 (15. Nb1 $5 d5
16. e5 Ne4 17. Nc3 $13) 15... d5 16. e5 (16. Ng3 c5 $2 {[#]} (16... dxe4 $1 17.
Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Rad8 $13) 17. e5 $2 (17. exd5 $1 Nxd5 18. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 19.
Nh4 $18 {[%cal Yd1h5] with a winning attack.}) 17... Ne4 $1 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19.
Rxe4 cxd4 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qd2 Kg7 22. Rh4 Rh8 23. Ng5 Kf8 $13 {0-1 (62)
Brkic,A (2600)-Onischuk,V (2616) Batumi GEO 2019}) 16... Ne4 17. Ra3 $5 {
White hurries to bring his rook to the attack} (17. Be3 {Stabilizing the
center is another aprroach which doesn't promise any advantage to White.} c5
18. Rc1 (18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd4 Bd7 $15) 18... c4 19. b3 cxb3 20.
Qxb3 $13) 17... c5 18. N3d2 (18. Bxh6 $2 {is premature and black has enough
resources to survive White's attack.} gxh6 19. Nh4 Rfd8 20. Qh5 cxd4 21. Qxh6
d3 $1 22. Ne3 {[#]} Qa6 $3 {[%cal Ya6h6] stops Nf5 while protecting d3} (22...
Bc5 23. Rxd3 Bf8 24. Qf4 $13) 23. Kh2 Bc5 $19) 18... cxd4 19. Rxe4 $5 {White
decides to sacrifice the exchange and keep both of his knights. Eliminating
the Ne4 is necessary if White wants to carry on with his attack on the
kingside.} (19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe4 {Here Black has several ways to defend
against White's attack:} d3 $1 (20... f5 21. Rh4 d3 $1 22. Rf4 $13) (20... Bf5
21. Ng3 $1 (21. Rf4 Bg6) 21... Bg6 (21... Bxe4 $2 22. Nxe4 $16 {[%cal Ya3g3,
Ye4f6,Yc1h6] White has enough firepower on the kingside to mate the black king.
}) 22. Rf3 {[%cal Ye4g4,Yc1h6]} Qb7 23. Rg4 Rae8 24. Bxh6 $1 Rxe5 (24... gxh6
$2 25. Qd2 $18) 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Nf5+ Rxf5 (26... Kg8 $2 {[#]} 27. Qb3 $1 (27.
Qc1 Qd5 $1 28. Qh6 Rxf5 29. Rxg6+ fxg6 30. Qxg6+ $11) 27... Qc6 28. Rfg3 $1
Qc1+ (28... Kh7 29. Rh4+ Kg8 30. Rh6 $18) 29. Kh2 Rxf5 30. Rxg6+ Kh8 {[#]} 31.
Qc2 $1 Qf4 32. R6g4 Qe5 33. Rh4+ Rh5 34. f4 $1 Qd5 35. Qc6 $1 $18) 27. Rxf5 $13
) 21. Rf4 $13) 19... dxe4 20. Nxe4 d3 $5 {Closing temporarily the 3rd rank
while opening the diagonal a7-g1 is a logical thought.} (20... Rfd8 {preparing
d3 while opening a door for the black king to the center is another important
move.} 21. Rg3 Kf8 {[#]} 22. b3 $1 Bf5 $5 (22... Qb7 23. Qf3 d3 24. Rg6 $1 (24.
Rxg7 Kxg7 25. Bxh6+ Kxh6 26. Qf6+ Kh7 27. Ng5+ Kg8 28. Nxe6 $11) 24... Qc8 {[#]
} (24... Qd5 $2 25. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 26. Qf6+ Kf8 27. Qxh6+ Ke7 28. Bg5+ Kd7 29.
Nf6+ $16) (24... d2 25. Nfxd2 $16) 25. Rxg7 $1 (25. Ba3+ $2 Kg8 (25... c5 26.
Nd6 $40) 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Rxh6+ gxh6 28. Qf4 Kg7 29. Nh5+ $11) 25... d2 (25...
Kxg7 26. Bxh6+ $1 Kxh6 27. Qf6+ Kh7 28. Qg5 $1 {[%cal Ye4f6]}) 26. Nfxd2 Kxg7
27. Qf6+ Kf8 28. Ba3+ c5 29. Nd6 Qb8 30. N2e4 $18) (22... Rab8 23. Qf3 (23.
Ba3+ c5) (23. Qd2 $5 $44 {[%cal Yg3g7]}) 23... Bc5 (23... d3 24. Rxg7 Kxg7 25.
Bxh6+ $1 (25. Qf6+ Kf8 $19) 25... Kxh6 26. Qf6+ Kh7 27. Qg5 Bxf2+ 28. Kh1 Be3
29. Nxe3 Qxe3 30. Nf6+ Kh8 31. Qxe3 Kg7 32. Ne4 $16) 24. Qf4 $1 Ke7 25. Rxg7
$13) 23. Nfd2 $5 (23. Ba3+ c5 24. Nd6 Rxd6 25. exd6 Rd8 26. Qh5 $13) 23... Re8
24. Ba3+ c5 25. Nc4 $5 Bxe4 26. Qxd4 $44) (20... Bf5 {Bringing the bishop on
the diagonal b1-h7 would help Black's defense.} 21. Nf6+ (21. Nfg3 Bg6 22. Bxh6
$1 Rfe8 $13 (22... gxh6 $2 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Ngh5+ $18)) 21... Kh8 (21... gxf6
$2 22. exf6 Kh8 (22... Rfd8 23. Qh5 $18) 23. Qh5 Bh7 24. Bxh6 Rg8 25. Rg3 Rxg3
26. Nxg3 Rg8 27. Bg7+ Rxg7 28. fxg7+ Kxg7 {[#]} 29. Qe5+ $1 Kf8 30. Qh8+ Bg8
31. Nf5 $18) 22. Bxh6 Bg6 $1 {Stops Qh5} 23. Rf3 (23. Rg3 d3 $1 24. Qg4 Bxf2+
25. Kh1 Qd4 26. Bxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nh5+ Kh8 28. Qg5 Kh7 29. Nf6+ Kg7 $11) 23...
gxf6 24. Qc1 $1 (24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Qd2 fxe5 $1 $11) 24... Rg8 {[#]} (24... fxe5
25. Qg5 $18) 25. Bf8 $1 Bh7 $1 (25... Raxf8 $2 26. Qh6+ Bh7 27. Rg3 $1 Rxg3 28.
Nxg3 $18 {[%cal Yg3h5] Black is getting mated on the dark squares.}) 26. Be7 $1
(26. Qh6 $2 Rg6 $19) 26... Rg6 27. Bxf6+ $13 {Position remains quite complex.})
21. Qh5 {Prepares Bxh6/Nf6+ while stopping Bf5.} (21. Rxd3 Bf5 {this is one of
Black's points for including d3.} 22. Nfg3 Bg6 (22... Bxf2+ $5 23. Nxf2 Bxd3
24. Qxd3 {is not easy to evaluate although I would be surprised if Black was
worse.}) 23. Bxh6 $1 Bxf2+ 24. Nxf2 gxh6 25. Nh5 $1 Bxd3 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Qxd3
Rfd8 (27... Rh8 28. Qg3+ Kf8 29. Qa3+ c5 (29... Kg7 $2 30. Nh5+ Kg8 31. e6 $1
$18) 30. Qd3 $44 {[%csl Rf8,Rh8][%cal Yf2e4,Ye4d6,Yg1h1]}) 28. Qg3+ Kf8 29.
Qa3+ $1 c5 30. Qe3 $44) 21... Qb7 (21... Rfd8 $5 22. Bxh6 {[#]} (22. Nf6+ $2
Kf8 $19) 22... Bd4 $1 {Forced!} 23. Qg5 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 gxh6 25. Nf6+ Kf8 26.
Nh7+ $11) (21... Bd5 $5 22. Nf6+ (22. Nfg3 f5 $1 23. exf6 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxf2+
$1 25. Nxf2 Rad8 $5 26. Qd1 Rxf6 27. Qe1 Qb6 $17) 22... gxf6 23. exf6 Bxf2+ 24.
Kh1 {[#]} Bxg2+ $1 {Black sacrifices some of his material advantage to deal
with the f6 pawn.} 25. Kxg2 Qb7+ 26. Kxf2 Qb6+ $13 {remains highly complex and
difficult to evaluate}) 22. Nfg3 (22. Nf6+ gxf6 23. Rxd3 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qb6+ $1
25. Kg3 {[#]} (25. Ke1 Qb4+ $1 26. Rc3 Rfe8 $13) 25... Qc5 $1 26. Qxh6 Qxe5+
27. Kf2 Qc5+ 28. Ke1 Bf5 $1 29. Rg3+ Bg6 30. Rxg6+ $11) 22... Rfd8 $1 23. Bxh6
Bxf2+ $2 (23... d2 $1 24. Qg5 (24. Bxd2 Bxf2+ $1 25. Kxf2 Qxb2 26. Qf3 Rxd2+
27. Nxd2 Qxd2+ 28. Ne2 Rd8 $15) (24. Nxd2 $2 Bxf2+ $1 25. Kh2 Rxd2 $1 26. Bxd2
Qxb2 $17) 24... d1=Q+ 25. Kh2 {looks very scary but Black can still survive:}
Kf8 26. Bxg7+ Ke8 27. Nf6+ Ke7 28. Nf5+ $1 Bxf5 29. Ne4+ Ke8 (29... Kd7 $2 30.
Qxf5+ Ke8 31. e6 $1 c6 $1 {[#]} 32. Rg3 $3 {[%cal Yg7h6,Yg3g8] Although Black
has a huge material advantage, White's attack is very difficult to stop.} Bxf2
$1 33. Qxf2 fxe6 34. Be5 $1 Qf7 $1 35. Nf6+ Ke7 36. Rb3 $1 (36. Qc5+ Rd6 37.
Ne4 Rad8 38. Rg7 Qxg7 39. Bxg7 Qd5 $1 $13) 36... Rd7 {remains highly chaotic:}
(36... Kf8 37. Qc5+ Qe7 38. Qe3 Qd2 39. Qe4 $13)) 30. Nf6+ $11) 24. Nxf2 gxh6
25. Qxh6 $18 Bxh3 26. Nge4 Ra6 27. Qg5+ Rg6 28. Qxd8+ Kg7 29. Qf6+ (29. Rxd3
Bxg2 30. Ng5 $18) 29... Rxf6 30. exf6+ Kg6 31. gxh3 Qxb2 32. Rxd3 Qa1+ 33. Kg2
Qxa4 34. Rg3+ Kh6 35. Rg7 $1 Qb3 36. Ng4+ Kh5 37. Ng3+ Kh4 38. Nf2 Qd5+ 39. Kh2
Qf3 40. Rg4+ Qxg4 41. Nxg4 1-0

[Event "Bazna Kings 5th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2011.06.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Karjakin,S"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2011.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{I started the tournament with 4 unimpressive draws. Zakhar Efimenko, who was
also Kramnik's second in Kazan, at the same time had been playing in the
Ukraine championship. He started with a couple of draws too, but just one day
before managed to win a game! With Black against Ivanchuk I was not in an
aggressive mood, but somehow I got the feeling that my series of draws would
also finish soon...} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Having Black versus Vasily
Mikhailovich is not an easy task but even more difficult is just to guess the
opening. This move was already a surprise for me!} Bc5 {It was my turn to
surprise him! Before I had played only 3...Nf6, and if 4.d3 then 4...Be7.} 4.
c3 Nf6 5. d3 {Here I knew the theory very fluently and that's why I decided to
make more moves off my own bat. The problem was that every move cost me a
couple of minutes and Vassily's time advantage started to increase.} O-O 6. O-O
d6 7. h3 Ne7 {Over the board I had the idea not to lose time for ...a6 and ...
Ba7 and instead transfer the knight to g6.} 8. Re1 (8. d4 Bb6 9. dxe5 Nxe4 {
looks fine for Black.}) 8... Ng6 9. Nbd2 c6 10. Nf1 {White is making his plan,
but Black is ready to start an operation in the centre.} d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 {
Exploiting the fact that the e5-pawn is untouchable.} ({I don't like} 11...
cxd5 12. Bb3 {and Black's pawns on d5 and e5 become a target for the white
pieces.}) 12. Ng3 ({Of course White can not play} 12. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 13. Rxe5
Bxf2+ $1 {with Black's advantage!}) 12... h6 ({It was also possible to play
slowly} 12... Qc7 {but I wanted to prepare ...Be6.}) 13. Bb3 {Not very
ambitions.} ({Viorel Iordacescu offered a more interesting move:} 13. Nh5 $5 {
with the main idea} Re8 $2 (13... Qb6 $2 14. Qd2 $1 {is also dangerous for
Black.}) 14. d4 exd4 15. Rxe8+ Qxe8 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Bxh6 $1 $16 {So Black
should prefer 13...Qc7 with an about equal position.}) 13... Re8 $11 {Now I
think we can judge the result of the opening. Black has completely equalised
and has an easy game.} 14. Bd2 ({I expected more} 14. d4 exd4 15. Rxe8+ Qxe8
16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Nxd4 {with a balanced position where the weak pawn on d5 is
compensated for by the advantage of the two bishops.}) 14... Bb6 ({It was also
possible to start from} 14... Be6 {with good play for Black.}) 15. Qc2 $6 {
Starting a wrong plan.} ({It was time to think about equalising:} 15. d4 exd4
16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Nxd4 $11) 15... Be6 (15... Bxh3 $2 {was not
good:} 16. gxh3 Qf6 17. Qd1 Nh4 18. Nxh4 Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 Qxg3 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21.
hxg4 Bf2 22. Nf3 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 {with a slightly better endgame for White.}) 16.
Rad1 $2 {Continuing with a wrong plan which has a tactical refutation! White
had to try to equalise.} ({After} 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Ndf4 {
Black is a bit better.}) ({Probably the most presice was} 16. Re4 Nf6 17. Re2
Bxb3 18. axb3 Qd7 19. Rae1 {and White is close to equalising.}) 16... Bxh3 $1 {
A nice and unexpected blow! Mainly because Black has just played ...Be6 and is
now "losing" a tempo with Be6-h3! It was funny that I did not see this idea on
the previous move, but in this position, I noticed that White's queen is far
from the king's flank and I suddenly found this idea!} 17. c4 $2 {We both
thought that this move is the strongest, but after it, Black is clearly better!
} (17. d4 Bg4 18. c4 Rc8 $1 {Nice and the strongest move! Here White has a big
choice, but probably Black is better in all the lines!} 19. Qb1 (19. cxd5 cxd5
20. Qd3 e4 21. Nxe4 Bf5 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. Qg3 dxe4 24. dxe5 $15) (19. Nxe5 Nxe5
20. dxe5 Qh4 21. c5 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 Bc7 23. Nf5 Qg4 24. f3 Qg6 25. f4 Rcd8 $15) (
19. Bc1 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nb4 21. Qf5 Bxd4 22. a3 Nh4 23. Qg4 Na6 24. Bc2 Qf6 25.
f4 exf4 26. Bxf4 Ng6 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Ne4 Qf5 29. Qxf5 gxf5 30. Rxd4 fxe4 31.
Rexe4 $15) (19. dxe5 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qh4 21. c5 Qh3 22. Qf5 Qxf5 23. Nxf5 Bxc5
$15) 19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nh4 21. cxd5 Qd7 22. Re4 Nxf3+ 23. Kg2 cxd5 24. Kxf3
dxe4+ 25. Qxe4 exd4 26. Qf5 Red8 27. Qxd7 Rxd7 {This is probably the best that
White could achieve! Black is a little bit better, but not more.}) (17. gxh3 $4
{loses immediately:} Qf6 {Here compared with 15...Bxh3 White's rook is on d1
and White can not play Qd1!} 18. Kg2 Nh4+ 19. Nxh4 Qxf2+ 20. Kh1 Qxg3 $19)
17... Ndf4 18. c5 {Other moves were not better.} (18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8
20. c5 fxg3 $17) (18. gxh3 Qd7 $19) 18... Nxg2 (18... Bxg2 19. Nxe5 {was not
so clear.}) 19. cxb6 Qf6 {Exploiting the fact that Black's knight is
controling e3; Black is forcing White to move the knight from its good
position.} 20. Nh2 Nxe1 21. Rxe1 axb6 $19 22. Bc3 {There was nothing better,
for example:} (22. Ne4 Qe7 23. Re3 Be6 24. Rg3 Nf4 $19) (22. Re4 Be6 23. Ng4
Qf3 24. Nh2 Bxb3 25. Qxb3 Qf6 $19 {With a technically winning position!}) 22...
Be6 23. Re3 Nf4 24. Rf3 ({Also losing is} 24. Rxe5 Bxb3 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. axb3
Qg5 $19) 24... Qh4 25. Bd2 Bg4 26. Qc4 ({White is also lost after} 26. Bxf4
Bxf3 27. Bxe5 Bd5 28. Bxd5 cxd5 29. Bxg7 Qh3 30. Bf6 (30. Bc3 d4 $19) 30...
Re1+ 31. Nhf1 Rc8 32. Qa4 d4 33. Bxd4 Rxf1+ 34. Nxf1 Qg4+ 35. Ng3 Rd8 $19)
26... Be6 {Having about 10 minutes on the clock I decided to play safe.} ({
Also winning was} 26... Bxf3 27. Qxf7+ Kh7 28. Nxf3 Qg4 29. Bxf4 Qxf4 $19) 27.
Qc2 Bxb3 28. Qxb3 Re6 {Bringing the rooks closer to White's king.} 29. a3 Rae8
30. Qb4 Rf6 31. Qe4 Ree6 $1 {The last clear move after which White is
defenceless against many threats!} 32. Ne2 {Losing immediately, but there was
nothing better.} Nxe2+ {Having not so much time I decided to go to a technical
position. Instead, almost anything was winning.} ({For example} 32... Rg6+ 33.
Kh1 f5 $19) 33. Qxe2 Rxf3 34. Qxf3 Rg6+ 35. Kh1 Rf6 36. Qg3 Qxg3 37. fxg3 Rd6 {
White is losing the 4th pawn and resigned!} 0-1

[Event "World-ch29 Karpov-Kortschnoj +6-2=10"]
[Site "Merano"]
[Date "1981.10.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Keene,R"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1981.10.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "MainBase"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {Kortschnoj vermeidet die ungestьmen
Verwicklungen der Drei Springer Verteidigung, wie zu erwarten war.} 4. c3 Nf6
5. d3 a6 {Schon eine Verbesserung, sogar eine theoretische Neuerung. Der
Weltmeister versank hier in tiefe Gedanken.} (5... d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8.
Nbd2 {Mit spдterem Lc4-b3 in Verbindung mit Sd2-c4 bekommt WeiЯ einen
betrдchtlichen Erцffnungsvorteil.}) 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Bb3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Be6
10. Nf1 {Vor diesem Zug war die Stellung schon aus der achten Partie bekannt.
Die Neuerung von Schwarz im 5.Zug brachte keine wesentliche Verbesserung.} Bxb3
{Kortschnoj spielt auf Vereinfachung, verstдndlich nach seiner Niederlage in
der vorigen Partie.} 11. Qxb3 Qc8 12. Ng3 Re8 13. h3 {Das ist wohl zu zahm.
Agressiver wдre s.Var..} (13. Bg5 {und z.B.:} Ng4 14. Re2 h6 15. Bd2 {gefolgt
von h2-h3 und Sg3-f5.}) 13... Rb8 {Ьberdeckung(!?) des Bauern b7?} 14. Be3 Qe6
{Noch ein Zug Kortschnojs im Sinne seines zehnten Zuges, und Karpov willigt
seinerseits in weitere Vereinfachungen ein. Er hofft auf Fehler von Kortschnoj,
ohne daЯ er selbst sie herbeifьhren muЯ.} 15. Qxe6 fxe6 (15... Rxe6 16. Bxa7
Nxa7 17. d4 {WeiЯ hat eine nicht zu unterschдtzende Initiative am Damenflьgel
und im Zen- trum.}) 16. Rac1 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Rbd8 18. d4 Rd7 19. Kf1 Kf8 (19...
exd4 20. cxd4 {WeiЯ ьbt einen fьhlbaren Druck auf der c-Linie aus.}) 20. Rd1 h6
21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Rxd7 Nxd7 24. Ke2 Ke7 {Die isolierten
schwarzen e-Bauern sind zwar eine Schwдche, decken aber wich-  tige Felder im
Zentrum. Die Stellung ist ausgeglichen.} 25. Nf1 b5 26. Nd2 c5 27. Rg3 Rg8 28.
b3 (28. c4 $5 b4 29. Nb3 {Gefolgt von 30.Sb3-a5, aber eine klare Ьberlegenheit
fьr WeiЯ ist nicht zu be- weisen.}) 28... Nb8 29. a4 Nc6 30. axb5 axb5 31. h4
Kf7 32. Rf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Zhang, Pengxiang"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 {
Involved in the practice by Albin 1894. Karpov has met that position already
third time.} 8. Bb3 (8. b4 Ba7 9. Bb3 Ne7 10. Nc4 Ng6 11. Ne3 c6 {1/2-1/2
Calvo Minguez,R-Karpov,A/Montilla 1976/MCD (45)}) 8... Ba7 (8... Be6 9. Bc2 Ba7
10. h3 {1-0 Hanham,J-Albin,A/New York 1894/HCL (34)}) ({Klovans always was big
opening specialit. He became 3 times world veteran's champion . So I draw your
attention to his move:} 8... b5 $5 $11 9. Bc2 Bb6 10. Nb3 Ne7 11. a4 Bb7 12.
Nh4 d5 {1/2-1/2 Bronstein,D-Klovans,J/Tbilisi 1973/MCD (35)}) 9. h3 h6 (9...
Be6 10. Bc2 d5 11. Re1 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 $11 {1/2-1/2
Karpov,A-Kortschnoj,V/Merano 1981/MainBase (84)}) 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12.
Be3 Bxe3 (12... d5 {Yudasin-Adams, EU Cup final 14th Belgrade 1999 CBM 69}) (
12... Bxb3 {Kaidanov-Malaniuk, WchT 4th Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) 13. Nxe3 Bxb3 ({
Very interesting is too} 13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 {1-0 Smagin,
S-Galdunts,S/Bad Wiessee 1999/EXT 2001 (27)} (15. Nc4 Nf4 $1 {The
counterattack is the best defence!} (15... f6 16. d4 $1 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4)) (
15. d4 Nxe3 (15... e4 $6 {is not a successful change of the P structure for
Black.} 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Nd2 $16))) 14. Qxb3 Rb8 15. Nd5 $146 (15. a4 Qd7 16.
a5 {1/2-1/2 Slobodjan,R-Stern,R/Schoeneck 1996/CBM 56 (24)}) 15... Nxd5 $11 16.
Qxd5 Ne7 17. Qb3 Ng6 18. g3 Qd7 19. Kg2 Kh8 20. d4 f5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5
Rxe5 23. exf5 Qc6+ 24. Kg1 Rxf5 25. Re2 Rbf8 26. Qb4 Qd5 27. Rae1 a5 28. Qa4
Qc5 29. Qd4 Qxd4 30. cxd4 {"All R's endgames are draw!" Tartakover.} Kg8 31.
Rc2 c6 32. Re7 R8f7 33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Kg2 g5 35. Rce2 Kg7 36. R8e6 Rd5 37. R6e4
h5 38. Rc2 Kf8 39. Rce2 Kg7 40. Rc2 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.07"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,93,19,31,36,58,8,18,31,12,17,17,14,10,38,26,33,25,13,15,0,4,30,19,8,4,
18,-31,-26,-19,0,0,0,0,-14,-20,29,26,12,23,18,24,24,24,30,37,48,40,40,41,47,56,
30,60,108,66,135,73,71,58,54,84,99,102,99,133,133,133,164,148,142,145,215,197,
197,179,179,177,192,198,198,139,144,198,175,155,155,228,238,239,236,238,254,
103,126,66]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4
{This plan has become popular in recent years.} h6 8. a5 O-O 9. h3 (9. Re1 Be6
(9... Ba7 10. Be3 Ne7 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Nbd2 Ng6 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15.
exd5 Nxd5 {1-0 (45) Kosteniuk,A (2507)-Pogonina,N (2457) Izhevsk RUS 2019} 16.
Ne5 $14) 10. Nbd2 Qd7 11. Nf1 Ng4 12. Be3 Nxe3 13. Nxe3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Bxc4 15.
dxc4 f5 $132 {0-1 (39) Cori Quispe,K (2480)-Rajesh,V (2325) Barcelona 2018}) (
9. Nbd2 Ba7 (9... Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 Qe8 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14.
Ne3 Qg6 15. g3 d5 16. exd5 exd5 17. d4 e4 18. Nh4 Qf7 19. f3 $16 {0-1 (39)
Tseshkovsky,V (2513)-Kaplan,S (2437) Biel 2007}) 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Nf1 (11. d4 {
1-0 (45) Nevednichy,V (2528)-Markidis,K (2329) Paleochora 2018} Nc6 $1 (11...
exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 $5) 12. d5 Ne7 $132 {[%cal Yc7c6]}) 11... Ng6 12. Ng3
c6 $11 13. Be3 $6 Bxe3 14. fxe3 d5 15. Bb3 Qc7 16. Qc2 Be6 17. c4 dxe4 18. dxe4
c5 19. Ne2 Ne7 20. Qc3 $17 {1/2 (20) Vovk,Y (2620)-Esipenko,A (2429)
Cappelle-la-Grande 2016}) 9... Ba7 10. Be3 d5 {The simplest way to equality.} (
10... Bd7 $6 11. Nbd2 Ne7 12. Re1 Ng6 13. d4 (13. Bxa7 $142 Rxa7 14. d4) 13...
exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15. exd5 Bb5 $11 {1-0 (27) Nevednichy,V (2548)-Georgiev,K 
(2623) Thessaloniki 2018}) 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Re1 Nf4 14. Nxe5 {
Risky but, of course, Black has no problems after, say,} (14. Nbd2) 14... Qg5
15. Ng4 h5 $6 (15... Nxa5 $1 {was the right way. Black eliminates the most
dangerous enemy. After} 16. Ba2 (16. Re5 Bxg4 17. Rxg5 Bxd1 18. Rgxa5 Be2)
16... h5 17. Re5 Bxg4 18. Rxg5 Bxd1 19. Rxa5 b6 {etc. he has nothing to worry
about. After the text move it is more difficult for Black to bring his a7 rook
into play.}) 16. Ne3 Bxh3 (16... Nxh3+ 17. Kf1 Nf4 18. Nd2 $14) 17. Qf3 Ne5 18.
Qg3 Bg4 19. Nd5 $1 ({After} 19. Nd2 h4 20. Qh2 {Black's most accurate reply is}
Be6 $1 21. Ne4 (21. Bxe6 fxe6 {[%cal Gf8f2]} 22. d4 Ned3 23. Nf3 Qh5 {[%cal
Rd3e1,Rh4h3]} 24. Qxh4 Qxh4 25. Nxh4 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 Nd3 $1 27. Re2 c5 $15) 21...
Qh6 $13) 19... Nxc4 20. Qxf4 (20. Nxf4 h4 21. Qh2 Nd6 $11 ({rather than} 21...
Nxa5 22. Nd2 {[%cal Yd2e4]})) 20... Qxf4 21. Nxf4 Nxb2 22. Ra2 g5 23. Rxb2 gxf4
24. Re5 Rd8 (24... b6 25. f3 (25. axb6 Rb7) 25... Be6 26. Nd2 Rd8 27. d4 bxa5
28. Rxa5 Rd5 29. Ra3 $14 {[%cal Yd2e4] Engines may show equality but in fact
Black faces serious problems due to his destroyed pawn structure.}) 25. d4 Rd6
({If now} 25... b6 26. axb6 Rb7 {then simply} 27. bxc7 {Perhaps it was the
lesser evil for Black, though, as his rook is in play after} Rxc7) 26. f3 Bd7
27. Nd2 b6 28. Ne4 Rg6 $6 {Black's rook is out of play here. Two passive rooks
are too much!} (28... Re6 $142 29. Rxh5 Kg7 $16) 29. Re7 Bb5 (29... Bf5 30.
axb6 Rb7 31. Rxc7 Rbxb6 32. Rxb6 Rxb6 33. c4 $16 {/+-}) 30. d5 $1 f5 31. axb6 (
31. d6 $1 fxe4 32. dxc7 {was winning at once here, e.g.} Ra8 (32... Rc6 33.
axb6 Rb7 34. c8=Q+ Rxc8 35. Rxb7) 33. Rxb5 axb5 34. Rd7 Rf8 (34... Rc6 35. axb6
) (34... Rf6 35. Rd8+ Rf8 36. Rxa8 Rxa8 37. axb6) 35. Rd8 Rc6 36. axb6 $18)
31... Rxb6 32. Nc5 Kf8 33. Rh7 Kg8 34. Rxh5 Bc4 35. Rd2 Rd6 (35... a5 {was
Black's last chance to create counterplay although after} 36. Rg5+ Kh7 (36...
Kh8 37. Rd4 $5 Ba2 38. Rxf4 Rh6 39. Rfxf5) 37. Rxf5 a4 38. Rxf4 a3 39. Rxc4 a2
40. Rxa2 Rxa2 41. Ne6 {White should win.}) 36. Rxf5 c6 37. Ne4 $1 Rxd5 38. Nf6+
Kg7 39. Nxd5 cxd5 40. Rd4 a5 41. Rdxf4 Kg6 (41... a4 42. Rg5+ Kh8 (42... Kh6
43. Rg3 Kh5 44. Rfg4 $18) 43. Rh4+ Rh7 44. Rgh5 {etc.}) 42. Rf8 Kg7 43. Rb8 a4
44. Rff8 d4 (44... a3 45. Ra8) 45. cxd4 Bd5 46. Rfd8 a3 47. Rxd5 (47. Rxd5 a2
48. Rd7+ Rxd7 49. Ra8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A 18th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fier, Alexandr"]
[Black "Safarli, Eltaj"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2561"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,77,29,18,22,25,12,17,7,-7,-12,-12,-8,-9,-9,1,-15,-12,-12,-7,0,-11,-5,
9,8,-3,16,12,11,1,26,11,35,50,63,69,76,81,79,0,52,38,30,32,38,25,0,42,6,0,131,
192,115,106,197,222,248,259,243,237,264,274,353,343,344,337,366,355,355,339,
389,381,431,381,387,367,432,449,455,453]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3
Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3
Bh5 12. Qc2 Ba5 {A relatively rare move, instead of the usual} (12... Bg6) 13.
Bxc6 (13. O-O {can lead to a forced draw after} Bxf3 (13... Bxc3 $5 14. bxc3
Na5 15. Nd2 Bg6 16. Qb2 c6 17. Be2 f5 $13 {1/2 (24) Najer,E (2693)-Rodshtein,M
(2688) Czech Republic 2017}) 14. gxf3 Nxd4 $1 15. Bxd4 Qg5+ (15... Bxc3 $143 $2
16. Be3 $1) 16. Kh1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qf5 18. Kg2 Qg5+ 19. Kh1 Qf5 {1/2 (19)
Hracek,Z (2582)-Dragnev,V (2485) Le Castella 2018}) (13. a3 f6 14. Bxc6 Bxc3+
15. bxc3 bxc6 16. Nd2 Bg6 $36 17. Qa4 $6 {1/2 (37) Maze,S (2612)-Gozzoli,Y 
(2592) Agen 2017} Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bd3 $1 19. Qxc6 Re8 $40) (13. Be2 Bg6 (13... f6
$5) 14. Qb3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Na5 16. Qb4 b6 17. O-O Rc8 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. Rac1 c6
$13 {1/2 (42) Forcen Esteban,D (2528)-Anton Guijarro,D (2656) Las Palmas 2017})
13... bxc6 14. O-O (14. Nd2 Bxc3 (14... Bg6 $5) 15. bxc3 Bg6 16. Qc1 c5 17. O-O
c4 18. Kh2 Rb8 $132 {1/2 (39) Bulmaga,I (2394)-Muzychuk,A (2555) Batumi GEO
2018}) 14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 f5 $5 (15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Ng5 17. Kg2 {[%cal Yf3f4]
} (17. f4 Nf3+ 18. Kg2 Nh4+ 19. Kh2 {1-0 (39) Kollars,D (2562)-Holm,K (2468)
chess.com INT 2019} Qd7 $15) 17... f5 $13) 16. Nd2 f4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bc1 Bg6
$132 19. f3 (19. Kh2 $13) 19... exf3 $6 (19... e3 $1 $36 {[%csl Ge3]}) 20. Qb3+
Kh8 21. Rxf3 {[%csl Rf4]} Rb8 22. Qa3 $6 (22. Qe6 $5) 22... Qh4 23. Bd2 Be4 24.
Rf2 Bxg2 $2 {[%mdl 512] An incorrect sacrifice. Eltaj Safarli misses something.
} (24... Rf5 {, and the initiative belongs to Black.}) 25. Rxg2 f3 26. Be1 $1
Qf4 $2 (26... Qxh3 $142 27. Rg3 Qf5 28. Bf2 g5 {, and the position remains
tense.}) 27. Rh2 Rf5 28. Qc1 Qe4 29. Bg3 Qd3 30. Rf2 $18 {White has protected
everything and keeps a decisive material advantage.} Rh5 31. Qf4 Rf5 32. Qd2
Qc4 33. Qe3 c5 34. dxc5 Rbf8 35. Raf1 Kg8 36. Rxf3 Rxf3 37. Rxf3 Re8 38. Rf2 h6
39. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Vilnius Mikenas Memorial op"]
[Site "Vilnius"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sveshnikov, Evgeny"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "LTU"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Nbd2 Bd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nxe4 $5 (11. a3 $11) 11... dxe4 12. Ng5 Nxe5 (
12... Bf5 $5 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. f3 $5 (14. Be3 $6 Be7 (14... h6 $2 15. g4 Bc8 (
15... Bg6 16. Nh3 $14) 16. Nxe4 Ba6 17. f4 Bxf1 18. Qxf1 $44) 15. Qh5 $140 Qd7
$17) 14... exf3 15. Nxf3 $11) 13. Qa4 $1 (13. dxe5 $2 Bxb5 14. Qh5 h6 15. Rd1
g6 $1 16. Rxd8 Rfxd8 17. Qg4 h5 $19) (13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. Nxe4 Nb6 15. Nc5 Qd5
16. Qb3 (16. Be3 Nc4 $17) 16... Bxc5 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 18. dxc5 Rfe8 $15) 13...
Bxb5 (13... Be7 $2 14. dxe5 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 Bxg5 16. Qxb7 $14) 14. Qxb5 Nd3 15.
Be3 Qe7 16. f3 {xNd3} (16. Qxb7 Rae8 $5 (16... f5 17. Qd5+ Kh8 18. Ne6 Rfe8 (
18... Qf7 $6 19. Qc6 Rfe8 20. d5 {/\21.Bd4|^}) 19. Ng5 Rf8 $11) 17. Qxa7 f5 $36
) 16... c6 17. Qc4 b5 $1 (17... Nxb2 $2 18. Qb3 Nd3 (18... exf3 19. Rxf3 h6 20.
Nh3 $18) 19. Nxe4 $18) 18. Qxc6 $6 (18. Qc2 c5 19. dxc5 $8 (19. Nxe4 $2 c4 $17)
(19. fxe4 $2 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Ne1 $1 $19) 19... Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21. Qxc5 Nxc5
22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. fxe4 $11) 18... exf3 19. Rxf3 (19. Qxf3 Rae8 20. Bf4 Nxb2 $17
) 19... Ne1 $1 20. Rg3 $2 (20. Rxe1 Bxe1 $19) (20. Rh3 $1 h6 (20... Rac8 21.
Qxb5 h6 22. a3 $1 Nc2 (22... hxg5 23. Qxb4) 23. Qd3 g6 (23... f5 24. Qb3+ Kh8
25. Rf1) 24. Rf1 $1 $11) 21. a3 $1 (21. Qe4 Qxe4 22. Nxe4 Rfe8 $19) 21... hxg5
22. axb4 g4 23. Rg3 Rac8 24. Qxb5 Nc2 (24... Nf3+ $2 25. gxf3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1
gxf3 27. Rag1 $40) 25. Rf1 Nxe3 26. Re1 Qd6 27. Rgxe3 Qxd4 28. Qe5 Qxb4 29. Re4
Qb6+ 30. Qd4 $15) 20... Rac8 21. Qxb5 (21. Qe4 Qxe4 22. Nxe4 f5 23. Nc3 (23. a3
$2 Nc2 24. Rf1 Be1 $19) 23... f4 (23... Bxc3 24. bxc3 Nc2 25. Rc1 Rxc3 26. Bf2
Rc4 $17) 24. Bxf4 Rxf4 25. Rxe1 Rxd4 $17 {/\26...Rd2} 26. Re2 $140 (26. Rge3
Rd2 27. Re8+ Rxe8 28. Rxe8+ Kf7 $19) 26... Bc5 27. Kf1 b4 28. Na4 (28. Ne4 Rd1+
29. Re1 Rxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Re8 31. Rg4 h5 $19) 28... Bd6 $17) 21... h6 $1 (21...
Nc2 $2 22. Qd3 g6 23. Rf1 (23. Rd1 $2 Bd6 24. Rh3 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Rxe3
Bf4) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Bd2 26. Rg3 Rc2 27. Ne4 $11 Rxb2 28.
Rf2) 22. Nh3 (22. a3 Nc2 23. Rd1 Bd6 $19 {xRg3}) 22... Nc2 23. Bxh6 Nxa1 24.
Qf1 (24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Qf1 Rc6 $1 26. Ng5 (26. Bg5 Qe1) 26... Rxh6 27. Rxf7 Rf6
$1 $19) 24... g6 (24... Qe1 $4 25. Qxe1 Bxe1 26. Rxg7+ Kh8 27. Ng5 $11) 25.
Qxa1 (25. Bxf8 Qxf8 26. Qxa1 Qh6 27. Rg5 (27. Ng5 Bd2 $19) 27... Be7 $19) 25...
Rfe8 26. Be3 (26. a3 Qe1+ 27. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 28. Kf2 Rc2+ 29. Kf3 Bd2 $19) 26...
Qxe3+ $1 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. Kf2 Re1 29. Qxe1 Bxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Rc2 $19 31. Nf4 Rxb2
32. h4 Rxa2 33. g4 a5 34. h5 a4 35. hxg6 a3 36. gxf7+ Kxf7 37. Nd3 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,60,19,28,17,13,8,17,17,-18,1,-2,5,-1,23,21,32,6,6,-1,10,24,24,11,10,
-10,6,-39,20,5,11,-24,-17,-37,-13,-10,-8,-5,11,36,43,26,51,71,0,-14,20,-15,-19,
-117,-147,-182,-121,-95,-52,-15,-15,-15,-13,-216,-216,-233,-253]} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 $5
{An unexpected move, which became popular recently. Black prevents b2-b4 and
a4-a5. In case of d3-d4 he gets an option to play ...e5xd4 c3xd4 and gain the
b4 square for his pieces (knight, first of all).} 10. d4 {This is a rare
continuation in the present position. Other options:} (10. Bb5 Na7 11. d4 exd4
12. cxd4 Bb4 13. Bd2 Nxb5 14. axb5 Bd7 15. Qb3 Bxb5 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Rxa8 Qxa8
18. Qxb4 Qa4 $11 {1/2 (30) Grandelius,N (2694)-Karjakin,S (2753) Astana KAZ
2019}) (10. Na3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nc2 Ba7 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Qd7 15. Qb3
b6 16. Qb5 Rf7 17. Nd2 Raf8 18. Re2 Qe8 19. g3 Qa8 $11 {1/2 (53) Aronian,L 
(2767)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis 2018}) (10. Nbd2 Be6 (10... Ne7 11. Nf1
Ng6 12. Ng3 c6 13. Bb3 Re8 14. d4 Bb6 15. Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6
18. Qb3 Bxd4 {0-1 (41) Fressinet,L (2657)-Anand,V (2794) Douglas 2017} 19. Nxd4
$14) 11. Bb5 {(tested by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave several times)} (11. Qb3 Qd7
12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 b6 16. g3 Kh8 17. N1h2 Nf6 18.
Rd1 Qf7 19. Qc4 Qd7 20. Kg2 Rae8 $11 {1/2 (43) Nepomniachtchi,I (2757)
-Grischuk,A (2766) chess.com INT 2018}) (11. b3 d5 (11... Bxc4 12. bxc4 Nd7 13.
Nb3 (13. Nf1 $5) 13... Bb6 14. d4 Re8 15. Rb1 Qf6 16. Qd3 exd4 17. cxd4 Nb4 18.
Qd1 Qe6 19. Nbd2 f5 20. Rb3 fxe4 21. Rxe4 Qf7 $13 {0-1 (36) Jumabayev,R (2612)
-Grischuk,A (2772) Riadh 2017}) (11... Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Nf4
$6 (14... Nb6 $5) 15. Bxf4 Bxc4 16. bxc4 exf4 17. d4 Bf8 18. N1d2 $16 {1-0 (42)
Chigaev,M (2599)-Paravyan,D (2629) Sochi RUS 2018}) 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bb6
14. Ra2 f5 15. Ng3 Qf6 16. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 17. Nh5 Qf7 18. Rxe5 Nxc3 19. Rxe6 Nxd1
20. Re7 Rad8 21. Rae2 Nc3 22. R2e5 c6 23. Rxb7 Nd5 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Re6 {
1/2 (40) Ding Liren (2813)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee NED 2019} Rc8 $11) 11...
Na7 (11... Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 (13... Ng6 14. N2f3 (14. Nxe6 fxe6 15.
Nb3 Bb6 16. Nd4 $14) 14... c6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Bc4 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. Bd3
Ne4 19. Be3 $14 {1/2 (26) Vachier Lagrave,M (2804)-Grischuk,A (2783) Tbilisi
2017}) 14. Nf1 Re8 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. f4 (16. Bc4 c6 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Ba2 Re5 19.
Qc2 Rae8 20. Nf3 R5e7 21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Rad1 Bc8 $11 {1-0 (44) Vachier Lagrave,
M (2804)-Grischuk,A (2783) Tbilisi 2017}) 16... Bxb5 17. axb5 Qd7 18. Kh2 Re7
19. Ndf5 Re6 20. Nd4 Re7 21. b4 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Qxb5 $13 {1/2 (27) Vachier
Lagrave,M (2804)-Svidler,P (2751) Tbilisi 2017}) 12. d4 Nxb5 (12... exd4 13.
cxd4 Bb4 14. Bd3 d5 15. e5 Nd7 16. Re2 c5 17. Nf1 cxd4 18. Bc2 Nc5 19. Nxd4 Nc6
$1 $13 {1/2 (76) Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Svidler,P (2751) Tbilisi 2017 CBM
181 [Sagar Shah]}) 13. dxc5 (13. axb5 exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 (14... Bd7 15. Nf1 Bxd4
16. cxd4 Bxb5 17. Ng3 d5 18. e5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe4 Qd5 21. Rh4 Ra6 $11
{1/2 (46) Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Grischuk,A (2766) Leuven 2018}) 15. Nf1 Bc4
(15... Bd7 16. Ng3 c6 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Qf3 (18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. Qc2
Rab8 21. Re2 Re6 22. Rae1 Rbe8 23. Qd3 Qb5 24. Qxb5 cxb5 25. Kf1 a4 $11 {
1/2 (104) Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Karjakin,S (2782) Leuven 2018}) 18... d5 19.
e5 Ne4 20. Bf4 Qb6 21. Qg4 g6 22. Re2 Kh7 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Nxc6 Qxc6 25. Bg3
$16 {1-0 (33) Leko,P (2690)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2662) Batumi 2018}) 16. Ng3 d5 17.
e5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 20. Qf3 $6 (20. Qg4 $1 h5 $1 21. Qf4 Bd3 22.
Re3 Bxb5 23. Rg3 Rxe5 $13) 20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Re6 $1 22. Rf4 {1/2 (22) Giri,A
(2783)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee NED 2019}) 13... Na7 14. b3 $1 Re8 15. cxd6
Qxd6 16. Ba3 Qa6 (16... c5 17. Qe2 b6 18. Nc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rad8 20. Re3 Nc6
21. Rae1 Rd7 22. Bc1 Red8 23. g3 Ne7 24. Nd2 Nc8 25. Qf1 Qe6 26. Nc4 Ne8 27. f4
$14 {1-0 (49) Vachier Lagrave,M (2779)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis 2018}) 17.
b4 axb4 18. cxb4 b5 19. Bb2 Nc6 20. Nxe5 Nxb4 $13 {1/2 (56) Vachier Lagrave,M 
(2789)-Grischuk,A (2783) Tbilisi 2017}) 10... Ba7 11. Bb3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bd7 13.
Na3 Qc8 {Black probably planned ...Bd7xh3 but later abandoned that idea.} (
13... exd4 $5 14. cxd4 Nb4 {[%csl Gb4] was more to the point.}) 14. Nb5 Bb6 15.
Bb1 exd4 $6 (15... Bxh3 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Nh2 Qh4 18. Kg2 $1 exd4 19. cxd4 Nxe4
20. Ng4 $1 {is rather favorable for White.}) (15... Na7 $5 16. Na3 Nc6 17. Nc4
Ba7 18. Be3 $14) 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Ra3 Re7 $6 {It was better to admit his
mistake:} (17... Qd8) 18. e5 dxe5 19. dxe5 Nfd5 20. Nh4 $2 {A wrong move order.
} (20. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 21. Nh4 {[%cal Ra3g3,Rd1h5] with a formidable attack.})
20... Qe8 21. Qe2 (21. Bxh6 $2 Rxe5) (21. Qh5 $142 Nf6 $1 22. Qe2 $36) 21...
Nc6 22. Nf3 Rd8 23. Kh2 f5 $15 {Black has parried all threats and has a
comfortable position, with a blockade on e6 and centralization. The rest of
the game was played under time pressure on both opponents.} 24. g4 $2 {A
desperate, completely wrong attack.} (24. Rd3 Be6 25. Nbd4 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 Bxd4
27. Rxd4 Red7 $15) 24... fxg4 25. Qd3 g6 $2 {Too humble.} (25... g5 $1 26.
Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 $19) 26. Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 (27... Bxf2 $1 $13) 28.
Rg1 $6 (28. Qh4 $13) 28... Bf7 (28... Rg7 $1 29. Bxh6 Bd5 30. Qe1 Qxe5+ 31.
Qxe5 Nxe5 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 $44) 29. Ba2 $2 {A final mistake but it was difficult
to find a narrow right path in complications:} (29. Qh4 $1 Nxe5 30. Bxh6 Rdd7
31. Qf6 Bd5 32. Bxg6 Nxg6 33. Rxg6+ Kh7 $13) 29... Bxa2 30. Rxg6+ Qxg6 31.
Qxg6+ Rg7 32. Qxg7+ Kxg7 33. Rxa2 Rd1 34. Ra1 Kf7 {The deadly pin decides the
game.} 0-1

[Event "Linares 26th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2009.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2009.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {Italienisch ist ein hдufiger Gast in der
heutigen Turnierpraxis.} (3... Nf6 {ist eine gute Alternative.} 4. d3 (4. Ng5 {
verlor einiges an Popularitдt in der letzten Zeit.} d5 5. exd5 {Schwarz hat
mehrere Mцglichkeiten, eine gute Kompensation fьr den geopferten Bauer zu
erzielen, eine davon ist} Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10.
Ne5 Qd4 11. f4 Bc5 $44) 4... Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a4 Be6 8. a5 a6 $11 {
WeiЯ hat keinen echten Vorteil.}) 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4 {ist eine alte
Variante.} exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 $1 {Etwas Besseres hat WeiЯ nicht.} (7. Nc3
Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 14.
Qe2 hxg5 15. Re1 Be6 16. dxe6 f6 $17 {Schwarz steht einfach viel besser -
seinem Plan c6-d5-Qd6 hat WeiЯ nichts entgegenzusetzen.}) 7... Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Na5 (10... Nce7 $6 {Schwarz seinerseits sollte dem
Remis auch nicht ausweichen, denn WeiЯ kann in dem Fall eine gefдhrliche
Initiative entwickeln.} 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. Ne4 Nb6 14. Bd3 Ned5 15.
Nc5 $36 {Van den Doel - Sokolov (Leeuwarden, 2004)}) 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Qb3 $11)
5... a6 6. Bb3 O-O {Schwarz hat eine Menge an Mцglichkeiten, das ist mehr oder
weniger Geschmackssache. Mir gefдllt der Zug 6....Ba7 besser.} (6... Ba7 $5 7.
Nbd2 O-O 8. h3 (8. Nf1 Ng4 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 d5 $1 11. Bxd5 Nxd4 $3 12. Nxd4
c6 $44) 8... d6 9. Nf1 (9. O-O {fьhrt zur Partiestellung.}) 9... d5 $3 {
Mit Tempoverlust, aber trotzdem sehr stark.} 10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 dxe4 11. dxe4
Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 Be6 $11) 10... Be6 11. Ng3 (11. Ng5 dxe4 $1 12. Nxe6 exd3 13.
Nxd8 dxe2 14. Nxc6 exf1=Q+ 15. Rxf1 bxc6 16. Ba4 Rfd8 17. Bxc6 Rab8 $36) 11...
dxe4 12. dxe4 Bxb3 13. axb3 Ne8 14. Nf5 Nd6 15. g4 Qf6 $11 {Bologan - Malakhov
(Kemer, 2007)}) 7. O-O d6 (7... d5 $6 {Diesen VorstoЯ muss man sehr gut
vorbereiten, ansonsten bekommt man Schwierigkeiten mit dem e5-Bauern.} 8. exd5
Nxd5 9. Nbd2 (9. h3 $6 Nb6 10. Re1 h6 11. Nbd2 Qxd3 12. Nxe5 Qg3 13. Qf3 Qxf3
14. Ndxf3 $11 {Kramnik - Krasenkow (Wijk aan Zee, 2003)}) 9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5
11. Ne4 Ba7 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Nh4 Na5 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Bc2 $14 {
Sanduleac - Daurelle (Creon, 2007)}) 8. h3 h6 9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 {Es gibt
viele Zugfolgen, die zu dieser Stellung fьhren. Jetzt ist der entscheidende
Moment, in dem Schwarz einen Plan auswдhlen muss.} Be6 $1 {Ich denke, das ist
der beste Weg zum Ausgleich.} (10... Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 {ist genau so gut, weil
es nur eine Zugumstellung ist.}) (10... Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 Re8 13. d4 $14
{Hat WeiЯ es geschafft, das Zentrum d4-e4 aufzubauen, so hat er sich schon mal
einen kleinen Vorteil gesichert. Natьrlich ist die Stellung von Schwarz immer
noch in Ordnung, aber es geht hier darum, ob Schwarz einen absoluten Ausgleich
erreicht, oder nicht.}) (10... Nh5 11. Nf1 (11. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 12. Qxh5 Nxd3 $15)
11... Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Ng3 g6 14. d4 $14 {Wieder hat WeiЯ das Zentrum unter
Kontrolle genommen.}) 11. Bc2 (11. Nf1 Re8 12. Ng3 {Zieht WeiЯ den Lдufer
nicht zurьck, so wird zu viel abgetauscht und die Stellung sehr vereinfacht.}
d5 (12... Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Rb8 14. Nf5 d5 15. Qc2 Qd7 16. N3h4 Re6 17. Qe2 dxe4
18. dxe4 Rd8 19. Qf3 Qd3 $11 {Hamdouchi - Tkachiev (Cap d'Agde, 2002)}) 13. Bd2
dxe4 14. dxe4 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 Qd7 16. Rad1 Qe6 17. Qxe6 (17. Qxb7 $4 Bb6 $19)
17... Rxe6 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 g6 $11 {Petrosian - Kobalia (Kallithea, 2008)}
) 11... Re8 12. Nh2 (12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 14. Qe2 Rad8 15. Ng3 Bc5 $1 16.
Nh4 Bf8 $132 {Radjabov - Aronian (Dresden, 2008). Mit der Ьberfьhrung des
Lдufers nach f8 hat Schwarz die Lage seines Kцnigs verbessert und hat die
Mцglichkeit, mittels g6 das Feld f5 unter Kontrolle zu nehmen.}) 12... d5 13.
Qf3 dxe4 $146 {Eine ruhigere Fortsetzung. Es ist nicht auszuschlieЯen, dass
Schwarz auch schon auf Konter spielen kann.} (13... d4 $5 14. Ndf1 Qe7 15. Ng3
Rad8 16. c4 b5 17. cxb5 Nb4 18. Bb1 axb5 19. a3 Na6 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Nc5
22. Bc2 Nb7 23. Qf3 c5 24. a4 b4 25. Nf1 c4 $1 26. dxc4 Nc5 $44 {Areshchenko -
Azarov (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 14. dxe4 (14. Nxe4 {Je mehr Figuren getauscht sind,
desto einfacher ist die Verteidigung fьr Schwarz.} Nxe4 15. dxe4 Ne7 16. Rd1
Qc8 17. Ng4 Ng6 $11) 14... Ne7 15. Ndf1 Ng6 16. Be3 (16. Ng3 $6 {Dieser Zug
ist sinnlos, denn der Springer kann demnдchst nicht nach f5 gehen.} c6 17. Rd1
(17. Nf5 $4 Bxf5 18. exf5 (18. Qxf5 Nh4 $19) 18... e4 19. Qe2 Nh4 $17) 17...
Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Bxh6 $4 Nh4 $19) (18. b4 Qc7 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 c5 $15)
18... Rad8 $15) 16... Bxe3 17. Nxe3 c6 $11 {Schwarz hat ьberhaupt kein Problem.
} 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 (19. Qxf5 $4 Nh4 $19) 19... Nf4 20. Rad1 Qc7 21. Ng4
N4h5 (21... Nxg4 {ist ebenfalls mцglich, WeiЯ kann keinen Nutzen aus seiner
augenblicklichen Initiative ziehen. Aber die Partiefortsetzung ist trotzdem
besser.} 22. Qxg4 (22. hxg4 Nd5 $11) 22... Nd5 23. Bb3 Rad8 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25.
f6 g6 26. Qh4 Qb6 $132) 22. Re3 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Nf6 {Der Springer auf f6
verhindert das gesamte weiЯe Spiel am Kцnigsflьgel.} 24. Qg3 Rad8 25. Rde1 Rd2
26. Bb3 Qd8 (26... Rxb2 $2 {Habgier wird bestraft.} 27. g5 $1 hxg5 28. Qxg5 {
Der weiЯe Angriff ist sehr gefдhrlich.} Nh7 29. Qh4 Qe7 30. Qh5 Nf6 31. Rxe5
Qxe5 (31... Nxh5 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Rxe7 $16) 32. Rxe5 Rxe5 33. Qxf7+ $16) 27.
g5 (27. Rxe5 $5 {kam ebenfalls ins Betracht.} Rxe5 28. Qxe5 Rxb2 (28... Nxg4
29. Qe8+ Qxe8 30. Rxe8+ Kh7 31. f3 Nf6 32. Rf8 Nd5 33. Rxf7 b5 34. Bxd5 cxd5
35. Ra7 Rxb2 36. Rxa6 $14) 29. Rd1 Rd2 30. Rxd2 Qxd2 31. Qb8+ Kh7 32. Bxf7 Qe1+
33. Kh2 Qe5+ 34. Qxe5 Nxg4+ 35. Kg3 Nxe5 36. Be6 Nd3 $11) 27... hxg5 28. Qxg5
Nd5 29. Qh5 Qf6 30. Rh3 {WeiЯ kann nur eine Mattdrohung aufstellen, Matt
selbst kann er jedoch nicht geben.} Kf8 31. Qg4 (31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qh7 Kd6 $1
$15 {Der schwarze Kцnig wird sich auf c7 in Sicherheit fьhlen, und die weiЯen
Figuren haben alle nichts mehr zu tun.}) 31... Kg8 (31... Ke7 $2 {Das wдre zu
frech...} 32. c4 (32. Rxe5+ Qxe5 33. Qg5+ Kd6 34. Qxd2 Qe1+ 35. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 36.
Kh2 Re2 37. Rh7 Rxf2 38. Rxg7 Rxf5 $11) 32... Nb6 33. Rxe5+ Qxe5 34. Qg5+ f6
35. Qxd2 $16) 32. Qh5 Kf8 33. Qg4 Kg8 34. Qh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lubbock SPICE Cup"]
[Site "Lubbock"]
[Date "2008.09.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Black "Kritz, Leonid"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.09.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 {Mit diesem Zug ьberfьhrt Schwarz die Partie zu
Italienisch. Die klassische Reaktion ist 3....c6.} (3... c6 4. Nf3 Be7 $1 {
Meiner Meinung nach der beste Zug. Nach dem klassischen 4....d5 bekommt WeiЯ
Initiative in allen Varianten.} (4... d5 5. Bb3 Bd6 6. exd5 (6. Nc3 dxe4 7. Ng5
O-O 8. Ncxe4 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bf5 10. Qf3 Bxe4 11. dxe4 Nd7 12. c3 Nc5 13. Bc2 a5
$11 {Der Vorteil des Lдuferpaares ist rein symbolisch. Die Stellung ist
geschlossen und Schwarz hat keine Schwiriegkeiten.}) 6... Nxd5 (6... cxd5 7.
Bg5 Be6 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. O-O {WeiЯ hat sehr gutes Spiel gegen das schwarze
Zentrum.} Nbd7 10. Qe1 $1 d4 $2 11. Ne4 Qb6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14.
Bh4 $16 {Fedorov - Mamedjarova (Baku, 2008)}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Nd7 9. Nbd2 Bc7
10. Ne4 Re8 (10... h6 11. h3 Kh8 12. Bd2 a5 13. a3 f5 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 $36
{Nevednichy - Fridman (Plovdiv, 2008). WeiЯ hat gutes Spiel gegen den
e5-Bauern.}) 11. h3 h6 12. Bd2 Nf8 13. Nh2 f5 14. Qh5 Nh7 15. Nf3 Rf8 16. Nc3
f4 17. Qh4 Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Qh5 Bf5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Bc3 Re8 22. Qf3 $18
{Nevednichy - Beliavsky (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 5. O-O (5. Nxe5 $4 Qa5+ $19) 5... d6
6. Re1 O-O 7. Bb3 Bg4 $11) 4. Nf3 (4. f4 {Der Versuch, die Partie sofort zu
gewinnen, fьhrt zu einer unklaren Stellung:} d5 5. exd5 Ng4 6. d4 Bxd4 7. Nf3
Bf2+ 8. Kf1 Bb6 9. fxe5 Nf2 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Bg5 f6 12. d6+ Kh8 13. exf6 gxf6
14. dxc7 Bxc7 15. Kxf2 fxg5 16. Qc3+ Qf6 17. Qxf6+ Rxf6 18. Re1 Bb6+ 19. Kg3
Bc7+ 20. Kf2 Bb6+ 21. Kg3 Bc7+ {1/2-1/2 Aronian - Anand (Monte Carlo, 2006)})
4... d6 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 O-O 7. Bb3 (7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 $1 {Die
prinzipiellste Fortsetzung. Schwarz zwingt WeiЯ, die Entscheidung bezьglich
des Opfers auf g5 sofort zu fдllen.} 9. Nxg5 (9. Bg3 Bg4 $132) 9... hxg5 10.
Bxg5 Kg7 11. Qf3 Be6 12. Nd2 Rh8 13. h4 Qe7 14. Bd5 Nxd5 15. Bxe7 Ndxe7 16. b4
Bb6 17. b5 Na5 18. g3 Rag8 19. d4 Kf8 $40 {Vajda - Sutovsky (Turin, 2006)})
7... a6 8. h3 (8. d4 $6 {ist zu frьh, denn das weiЯe Zentrum wird zum
Angriffsziel der schwarzen Figuren:} Ba7 9. Re1 Bg4 $15 {Es ist sogar kein
Ausgleich - Schwarz steht einfach besser!}) 8... Ba7 {Am Brett ist eine
theoretische Stellung aus der Italienischen Partie.} 9. Re1 h6 10. Nbd2 $1 {
Bevor WeiЯ d4 spielen kann, muss er den Springer nach g3 ьberfьhren, um den
Bauern e4 zu verteidigen.} (10. d4 $6 Re8 $11 {Das Problem fьr WeiЯ ist nun,
dass er keine Entwicklungsmцglichkeiten hat: die beiden Bauern e4 und d4 sind
angegriffen. WeiЯ ist fast gezwungen auf e5 zu nehmen, wonach keine Rede von
Vorteil sein kann.}) 10... Be6 (10... Re8 {fьhrt nur zu Zugumstellung.} 11. Nf1
Be6 12. Bc2 {->10....Be6} (12. N3h2 Bxb3 13. axb3 Qd7 14. Qf3 Qe6 15. Ng3 Ne7
16. b4 c6 17. Ng4 Nxg4 (17... Nh7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Rad8 $11 {Leko - Adams
(Sarajevo, 1999)}) 18. hxg4 d5 19. Nf5 Rad8 20. g3 f6 21. Kg2 dxe4 22. dxe4
Nxf5 23. gxf5 Qc4 24. Be3 Bxe3 {1/2-1/2 Leko - Kramnik (Mexico City, 2007)}) (
12. Be3 d5 (12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. Nh2 Ne7 15. Nhg4 Nxg4 16. hxg4 d5 17.
d4 exd4 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd4 Bc6 $11 {Ivanchuk - Svidler (Beer
Sheva, 2005)}) (12... Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Qd7 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Ng3 Ne7 16. d4 Ng6
17. Rad1 Qc6 18. Nh2 Raa8 $11 {Alekseev - Jakovenko (Kemer, 2007)}) 13. Bxa7
Rxa7 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. d4 exd4 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Nxd4 Ra8 $11 {
Movsesian - Jakovenko (Dagomys, 2008)})) 11. Bc2 $1 {Ich denke, das ist der
einzige Weg fьr WeiЯ, auf Vorteil zu spielen.} (11. Nf1 Re8 12. Ng3 d5 13. Qe2
{Alle anderen Zьge erlauben den Generalabtausch und fьhren schlicht und
einfach zum Remis:} (13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Bxb3
17. axb3 Na5 18. b4 Nc4 19. Re2 a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 $11 {Sermek - Delchev (Turin,
2006)}) (13. Nh2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Rad8 16. Re1 Nd7 $11 {Jaracz -
Georgiev (Warsaw, 2005)}) 13... dxe4 {fьhrt am einfachsten zum Ausgleich.} (
13... Qd7 $5 {Schwarz kann auch um Vorteil spielen, immerhin hat er das
Zentrum.} 14. Bc2 Bc5 15. Nh4 Kh8 16. Qf3 Ng8 17. Nhf5 Bf8 18. Bb3 Rad8 $132 {
Vysochin - Aleksandrov (Warsaw, 2006)}) 14. dxe4 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qd6 16. Nf5 Qe6
$11) 11... Re8 12. Nf1 d5 $1 {Ich sehe nicht, wie Schwarz ohne diesen Zug
zurechtkommen kann. Der weiЯe Plan ist einfach: Ng3-d4.} 13. exd5 (13. Qe2 Qd7
14. N3h2 (14. exd5 $2 Nxd5 {Jetzt ist die Dame auf e2 anfдllig.} 15. Ng3 (15.
Nxe5 $4 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Bxh3 $19) 15... Nf4 16. Qe4 f5 $17) 14... Ne7 15. Qf3 Nh7
16. Ng4 Ng6 17. Nfe3 c6 18. Nf5 f6 $1 $132 {Areshchenko - Movsesian (Kemer,
2007)}) 13... Qxd5 (13... Nxd5 14. Ng3 $36 {Mir gefiel nicht, dass der Bauer
e5 schwach wird.}) 14. Qe2 (14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Qe2 Bc5 $1 $11 {Der Plan von
Aleksandrov. Der Lдufer wird nach f8 ьberfьhrt, so dass Schwarz g6 spielen
kann und damit das Feld f5 kontrollieren kann.}) 14... Bf5 15. Ng3 Bh7 16. Ne4
Qe6 $6 (16... Nxe4 $1 {Das fьhrt am einfachsten zum Ausgleich. Trotz dass WeiЯ
eine augenblickliche Initiative hat, kann Schwarz sich halten.} 17. dxe4 Qd6
18. Rd1 Qe7 19. Bb3 Na5 $1 {Das ist ein wichtiger Zug, ansonsten kommt der
weiЯe Lдufer nach d5.} 20. Ba4 b5 (20... Red8 $5 21. b4 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Nc6 23.
Bb3 Bg6 24. Bd5 Qf6 $11) 21. Bc2 Nc4 22. b3 Nd6 $11) (16... Qd8 $5 {wдre auch
besser gewesen, denn die Dame auf d8 ist nicht anfдllig.} 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3
Nd5 $11) 17. Bb3 Qe7 (17... Nxe4 $5 {Unglaubliche Abwicklung! Schwarz gibt die
Dame, doch um Vorteil zu erreichen, muss WeiЯ den Springer nehmen!} 18. dxe4 $1
(18. Bxe6 Bxf2+ 19. Kh2 (19. Qxf2 Nxf2 20. Bd7 Nxd3 21. Bxe8 Rxe8 $17) (19. Kh1
Ng3+ 20. Kh2 Nxe2 21. Rxe2 Rxe6 22. Rxf2 Bxd3 $19) (19. Kf1 Ng3+ 20. Kxf2 Nxe2
21. Bd7 Nxc1 22. Raxc1 Reb8 $3 {Nur so!} (22... Red8 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Nxe5 f6
25. Nxc6 Rxd3 26. Rcd1 $14) 23. Nxe5 (23. Bxc6 bxc6 $17 {Der Bauer b2 hдngt -
das ist der Grund, warum man den Turm nach b8 stellen soll.}) 23... Nxe5 24.
Rxe5 Bxd3 25. Rd1 Bg6 $17) 19... Bg3+ 20. Kh1 (20. Kg1 Bf2+ $11) 20... Nf2+ 21.
Kg1 Rxe6 22. Be3 Nxd3 23. Rf1 Rd8 $15 {Schwarz hat mehr als genug fьr die
geopferte Dame.}) 18... Qf6 19. Bd5 Rab8 $5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Ne7 $13 {
Es sieht so aus, als ob Schwarz hier ok ist.}) (17... Nd5 $2 {Das war der Zug,
den ich geplant habe, als ich die Dame nach e6 zog...} 18. Neg5 (18. Bxd5 Qxd5
19. Bxh6 f5 $1 $17) 18... hxg5 19. Nxg5 Qd7 20. Nxh7 Kxh7 21. Qe4+ f5 22. Qxd5
Qxd5 23. Bxd5 Rad8 24. Bb3 $16 {Nach} Rxd3 {folgt} 25. Bc2 Rd6 26. Bxf5+ $18)
18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. d4 e4 (19... Re7 $5 {fьhrt zum sofortigen Ausgleich, wobei
es WeiЯ ist, der die richtigen Zьge finden muss.} 20. d5 (20. dxe5 Nxe5 21.
Nxe5 Rae8 22. Be3 Rxe5 23. Rad1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Bf5 $15) (20. Nxe5 Rae8 21. Be3 (
21. f4 Nxe5 22. fxe5 Rxe5 $19) (21. Qf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Nxe5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 $15)
21... Nxe5 22. dxe5 Rxe5 23. Rad1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Bf5 $15) 20... Na5 21. Be3 (21.
Bc2 Bxc2 22. Qxc2 Nc4 $132) 21... Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Nxb3 23. axb3 e4 24. Nd2 Rd8
25. Ra4 Rxd5 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Rd2 29. Re2 $11) 20. Nh2 Qd6
$4 {Ein unglaublich schlechter Zug, der die Partie an die Grenze der
Niederlage bringt. Schwarz hat wenig zu befьrchten, wenn er langsam seine
Figuren aktiviert:} (20... Bg6 21. Ng4 Qd6 22. Ne3 Na5 23. Bc2 b5 $1 {Ein
interessanter Plan: der Springer geht nach b7 und spдter vielleicht nach d6,
aber was viel wichtiger ist - der Bauer geht nach c6 und der Lдufer a7 bekommt
das Feld b8, um den weiЯen Kцnig anzugreifen.} 24. b4 Nb7 25. Bd2 c6 $132) 21.
Qg4 $1 $16 {WeiЯ entwickelt eine Initiative und die schwarzen Figuren am
Damenflьgel bleiben im Abseits.} (21. Ng4 Na5 22. Bc2 c5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 $11 24.
b4 $2 Qxc3 25. bxa5 Qxa1 $19) 21... Qg6 (21... Na5 {Das war meine Hoffnung
gewesen, doch hat WeiЯ einen kleinen taktischen Trick:} 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23.
Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qxa5 c5 25. dxc5 Qxc5 26. Qxc5 Bxc5 27. Be3 $18) 22. Bf4 Re7 23.
Qh4 $6 {Mein Gegner wдhlt den falschen Plan. Obwohl WeiЯ auch in der Partie
besser stand, ist es immer einfacher einen komplikationsfreien Weg zu nehmen.
Nach 23.Bd5 wдre meine Stellung sehr verdдchtig gewesen:} (23. Bd5 Rd8 24. Qxg6
Bxg6 25. Bxc6 bxc6 26. b4 $1 $16 {Der Lдufer a7 ist gestorben. Die Schwдche
der weiЯen Felder spielt keine so groЯe Rolle. Vielleicht kann sich Schwarz
mit viel Mьhe retten, aber die Stellung ist absolut ohne Gegenspiel.}) 23...
Rae8 24. Re3 {WeiЯ versucht Matt zu geben.} Kh8 25. Rg3 Qf5 26. Re1 $6 (26. Nf1
$1 {wьrde wahrscheinlich gewinnen:} Nxd4 (26... Na5 27. Ne3 Qd7 28. Rxg7 $1
Kxg7 29. Bxh6+ Kg8 30. Qg5+ Bg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qg7#) 27. cxd4 Bxd4 28. Ne3
g5 29. Nxf5 gxh4 30. Nxh4 Bf6 31. Rg4 h5 32. Rg5 $18) (26. Bxh6 {Das Opfer
bringt WeiЯ nur Remis:} gxh6 27. Qxh6 Rg8 28. Rxg8+ Kxg8 29. Ng4 Qg6 30. Nf6+
Kh8 31. Qf8+ Bg8 32. Nxg8 Qxg8 33. Qh6+ Qh7 34. Qf8+ $11) 26... f6 (26... Na5
27. Bxh6 $1 f6 (27... gxh6 28. Qxh6 Rg8 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Ng4 Bg6 31. Qh4 $1
$18) 28. Bc2 gxh6 29. Rxe4 $1 Rxe4 30. Qxh6 $3 Re1+ 31. Nf1 $18) 27. Bc1 $4 (
27. Bxh6 gxh6 (27... Nxd4 28. cxd4 gxh6 29. Qxh6 Bxd4 30. Nf3 $1 $18 {Das
haben wir beide ьbersehen.}) 28. Qxh6 Ne5 29. Rxe4 Ng6 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Nf3
$18) 27... Ne5 $1 {Jetzt kommt Schwarz zum schnellen Gegenangriff.} 28. Bd2 $2
{Mein Gegner ьbersah 27....Ne5 und konnte sich nicht mehr wiederfinden. WeiЯ
hatte noch gute Chancen auszugleichen:} (28. Rxg7 $1 Rxg7 29. dxe5 e3 (29...
Qg6 30. g4 Rxe5 31. Bxh6 Rd7 32. Bf4 Ree7 33. Nf1 $132) 30. Bxe3 Bxe3 31. Rxe3
Rxe5 32. Ng4 Rxe3 33. Nxe3 Qg5 34. Qd4 $44) (28. Bxh6 Ng6 29. Rxg6 Qxg6 30. Be3
Qf5 31. Nf1 g5 32. Qh5 Qg6 $15) 28... Nd3 {Nun ist es mir gelungen, mit einer
Serie von starken Zьgen entscheidenden Vorteil zu erreichen.} 29. Rf1 c5 $1 {
Aktiviert den Lдufer.} 30. Ng4 cxd4 31. cxd4 (31. Nxh6 gxh6 32. Qxh6 Qe5 $19) (
31. Bxh6 g5 $1 32. Bxg5 (32. Qh5 Nf4 $19) 32... fxg5 33. Qh6 Nf4 34. Kh2 Re6
35. Bxe6 Rxe6 36. Nf6 Rxf6 37. Qxg5 Qxg5 38. Rxg5 Ne6 $19) 31... Bxd4 32. Ne3
Qc5 $19 {Der Rest ist klar.} 33. Bc3 Rd8 34. Rd1 Be5 35. Bxe5 Qxe5 36. Nc4 Qd4
37. Re3 Red7 38. Bc2 $4 Qxc4 39. Rexd3 Rxd3 0-1

[Event "NED-ch62"]
[Site "Hilversum"]
[Date "2007.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hendriks, Willy"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[Annotator "L'Ami,E"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2007.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Nbd2 Ba7 7. Bb3 O-O 8. O-O
d6 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 12. Ng3 h6 13. d4 c5 {There was a time
when I considered all the positions resulting from this opening to be rather
equal and drawish. Perhaps after this game it's time to change my mind. After
13...c5 I thought comfortable equality was reached but his next move made me
doubt this assesment already.} 14. a4 {Highlighting the uncomfortable
placement of bishop and rook on the a-file.} Qc7 $6 15. Be3 Bd7 $6 {After my
last two shaky moves, real trouble starts.} 16. Qd2 {White doesn't hide his
intentions to take on h6. In the meantime he is preparing Rd1, invading on the
d-file. White's advantage is very substantial already.} Kh7 17. axb5 axb5 18.
Red1 c4 19. Bc2 Bb6 {I decided to cut my losses and give up a pawn in order to
relieve some of the pressure.} 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Ne7 23. dxe5
Bxe3 24. Qxe3 dxe5 25. Nxe5 $6 ({I think} 25. Qxe5 {was a better choice, when}
Qxe5 26. Nxe5 Ra2 27. Rb1 Kg8 (27... Ned5 28. Nxf7 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Rxc2 30. Rxb5
Rxc3 31. Rb8 $16) 28. g4 Ned5 29. h4 {is very grim for Black.}) 25... Ned5 26.
Qd4 Re8 27. Nf3 b4 $1 {Every exchange brings Black closer to a draw.} 28. cxb4
Nxb4 29. Bb1 Nbd5 {Preparing c4-c3.} 30. g3 $6 ({My opponent was drifting into
time-trouble and fails to find the best moves. Here} 30. Rc1 {would still pose
Black serious problems.}) 30... c3 31. Rc1 Rc8 32. bxc3 Nxc3 33. Kh2 Qa5 34.
Qd2 Qb6 35. Rxc3 $6 (35. Qe3 Qb2 36. Qd2 {would have resulted in an immediate
draw; of course the text move draws as well but now Black can try a little
something.}) 35... Rxc3 36. Qxc3 Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qf1+ (37... Nh5 {looks strong
but doesn't work in view of} 38. f6+ g6 39. Bxg6+ $1 Kxg6 (39... fxg6 40. Qc7+
$11) 40. Qd3+ {and White makes a draw.}) 38. Ng1 Qxb1 39. Qf3 Qc2 40. Ne2 Ne4 {
The 40th move has been reached and what remains is a slightly uncomfortable
ending for White. Of course he should be able to hold on but it is of course
not easy to defend such an ending after having had such a fantastic position.}
41. Kg2 Ng5 42. Qg4 Qc6+ {The white king is provoked out into the open.} 43.
Kf2 Ne4+ 44. Ke3 Nf6 45. Qf3 Qc5+ 46. Kd2 Qe5 47. Nc3 ({White would like to
play} 47. g4 {but} Ne4+ 48. Kd3 Ng5 {is annoying, when the h-pawn is likely to
fall.}) 47... Qd4+ 48. Kc2 $2 ({A serious error, the king belongs on the
kingside:} 48. Ke2 h5 49. Kf1) 48... h5 $1 {Preventing g3-g4 which would
considerably improve White's position. The next task is to provoke h3-h4,
creating further weaknesses in White's camp.} 49. Kb3 Qg1 50. Kc4 Qh2 51. h4
Qd2 52. Kb3 Qd4 {The second step has been completed and now Black can combine
the attack on the weakness on f5 with an attack on the king with the joint
forces of queen and knight (via g4-e3).} 53. Kc2 Ng4 54. Ne2 $6 ({Tougher is} 
54. Kb3 {now Black is winning by force.}) 54... Ne3+ 55. Kb3 Qd3+ 56. Ka4 Qa6+
57. Kb4 Qc4+ 58. Ka3 (58. Ka5 Nd5 {would be mating.}) 58... Nc2+ 59. Kb2 Ne1 $1
{In order to prevent mate White must put both queen and knight completely out
of play.} 60. Qxh5+ Kg8 61. Nf4 {The only way to prevent Nd3.} Qc2+ 62. Ka3
Qc3+ 63. Ka4 $6 ({The win is more complicated after} 63. Ka2 {for example} Nc2
64. Qd1 Nb4+ 65. Kb1 Qxg3 66. Nd5 Qxh4 67. Nc3 {and White is prolonging the
fight.}) 63... Nc2 {White's pieces are too far away to help the lonely king.}
64. Kb5 Nd4+ 65. Kb6 Qc6+ 66. Ka7 Nb5+ 67. Kb8 Qc7+ 68. Ka8 Qa7# 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 7th"]
[Site "Kusadasi"]
[Date "2006.04.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "L'Ami,E"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2006.04.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 a6 8. h3 h6
9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Ne3 Nf4 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15.
d4 $5 ({A move frequently employed - with succes - by Manuel Bosboom in the
beginning of the 90's.} 15. Nh4 {is less accurate, because after} Qg5 16. Nf3
Bxg4 (16... Qg6 $11) 17. hxg4 Qxg4 {White is a tempo down compared to the game.
}) 15... Bxg4 16. hxg4 Qxg4 17. Qd3 Ne7 $5 ({The most easy way to equalise. An
example from earlier in the tournament saw} 17... Rae8 18. Bd5 Qd7 19. Qd2 g5
20. Qe2 Kg7 21. Nh2 f5 22. Qh5 {which looks better for White, Mamedov-Azarov,
Kusadasi 2006. With the text move I'm ready to meet e5 with d5 and I may want
to throw in ...c5 at an appropriate moment, liberating the bishop.}) 18. e5 d5
19. Bc2 g6 20. Qd2 {Here my opponent looked at me with a smile on his face,
hinting at the repetition that is following.} c5 21. Nh2 Qg5 22. Nf3 ({I dont
think Black has much to fear after} 22. Nf3 Qg4 23. e6 $5 f6 {therefore the
repetition of moves resulting in draw is a logical outcome.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik Blatny,P} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 h6
7. h3 a6 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Bc2 $6 (9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 Qc8 $10) (9. Nc4 O-O {
/\ d5} 10. O-O {/\ d4} (10. g4 $2 d5 $17) 10... Ba7 11. a4 Re8 $13) 9... Ba7 {
/\ d5} (9... d5 $2 10. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 (10... Bxf2+ 11. Kxf2 Nxe5 12. d4 $16) 11.
d4 Bd6 (11... Bxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. e5 $16) 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nf3 $16) 10. Qe2
Qe7 {/\ d5} 11. b4 $1 (11. Nf1 {Blatny,P} d5 12. Ng3 (12. g4 $5 dxe4 13. dxe4
b5 $15) 12... dxe4 13. dxe4 Rd8 $10) 11... d5 12. a4 (12. Ba4 {Blatny,P} b5 13.
Bb3 d4 14. Bb2 dxc3 15. Bxc3 {= קb4:קe5}) 12... b5 $1 (12... d4 $2 13. b5 (
13. Bb2 dxc3 14. Bxc3 Nxb4 $17) 13... dxc3 (13... axb5 14. axb5 dxc3 (14... Nd8
15. cxd4 exd4 16. Nxd4 $18) 15. bxc6 cxd2+ (15... bxc6 {Blatny,P} 16. Nb3 Bxb3
17. Rxa7 (17. Bxb3 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rxa1 $132) 17... Rxa7 18. Bxb3 O-O 19. Qc2
$13) 16. Bxd2 bxc6 17. Be3 $16 (17. Bc3 Nd7 18. Qe3 $1 c5 (18... Bxe3 19. Rxa8+
Qd8 (19... Nb8 20. Rxb8+ Kd7 21. Nxe5+ Kd6 22. Rxh8 $18) 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.
fxe3 $18) 19. Ba4 O-O 20. Bc6 Rab8 21. Nxe5 $16)) 14. bxc6 cxd2+ 15. Qxd2 $1
bxc6 16. Bb2 $16) (12... dxe4 $6 13. dxe4 O-O 14. O-O $14 {/\ Nb3, Be3}) (12...
O-O 13. b5 $5 (13. O-O b5 {See the game} (13... d4 $2 14. b5 $16)) 13... axb5
14. axb5 Bxf2+ (14... Nb8 $2 {/\ Bf2} 15. b6 $1 cxb6 16. Ba3 (16. Nxe5 $2 Qc7
$17) 16... Qc7 17. Bxf8 Qxc3 18. O-O $18) 15. Kxf2 Rxa1 16. bxc6 bxc6 {/\ Qc5}
(16... Qc5+ 17. d4 Qxc3 (17... exd4 $4 18. Nb3 $16) 18. Qd3 $1 $13 (18. Nb3 $2
Ra2 $19)) 17. d4 $1 $13 (17. Nb3 $2 Ra2 $17 {/\ de4})) 13. O-O (13. axb5 $2
axb5 {/\ Bf2} 14. d4 $2 exd4 15. Qxb5 Bd7 $19) 13... O-O 14. axb5 axb5 15. d4
$2 (15. Bb2 $10 {/\} d4 $6 16. Bb3 $1 dxc3 17. Bxc3 Nd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4
exd4 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Nf3 $1 Qxb4 (21... Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Qxb4 23. Qa2 $1 $44)
22. Rab1 $14 {/\ Qb2}) (15. exd5 {Blatny,P} Nxd5 16. Bb2 Nf4 17. Qe4 Bd5 $36)
15... exd4 (15... dxe4 $2 16. Nxe5 $16) 16. e5 (16. Qxb5 $2 Bd7 $17 (16... dxc3
{Blatny,P} 17. Qxc6 cxd2 (17... Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rxa1 19. Qxc3 $14 (19. Qxc3 Rfa8
$14)) 18. Bxd2 dxe4 19. Bxe4 {Ftacnik} Bd7 (19... Bxh3 $2 20. Qxa8 Rxa8 21.
Bxa8 $18) 20. Qxa8 (20. Qxc7 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 22. Kg1 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Qe3+
$19) 20... Rxa8 21. Bxa8 Bb6 22. Rfe1 $13)) (16. cxd4 {Blatny,P} dxe4 17. Nxe4
Nxb4 18. Ba3 c5 (18... Bc4 19. Bxb4 Qxb4 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qe4 $18) (18...
Nxe4 19. Qxe4 f5 20. Bxb4 fxe4 21. Bxe7 exf3 22. Bxf8 $18) 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20.
Qxb5 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Rad8 $15) (16. exd5 {Blatny,P} Nxd5 17. Qxb5 dxc3 18. Qxc6
Bxf2+ {/\צa1}) 16... dxc3 $5 (16... Nd7 $6 17. cxd4 (17. Qd3 {Blatny,P} g6 18.
cxd4 Nxb4 19. Ba3 Nxd3 (19... c6 {Ftacnik} 20. Qb3 c5 21. Bxb4 cxb4 22. Rfb1
$14) 20. Bxe7 Rfe8 21. Bxd3 Rxe7 22. Bxb5 $14) 17... Nxb4 (17... Bxd4 $4 18.
Qd3 $18) 18. Ba3 c5 (18... Bb6 {/\ Ra3} 19. Bb1 $44) 19. Bb1 $5 $44 (19. Bxb4
cxb4 20. Qxb5 Rfb8 21. Qd3 g6 $13)) (16... Bd7 $1 {(Kasparov)} 17. cxd4 (17.
Re1 dxc3 $1 18. exf6 (18. Qd3 cxd2 19. exf6 dxe1=Q+ 20. Nxe1 Qxe1+ 21. Kh2 g6
$19) (18. Nb3 Ne4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxb4 $19) 18... Qxe2 19. Rxe2 cxd2 $19
{/\ Bf2}) 17... Bxd4 $1 (17... Nxd4 $2 18. Nxd4 (18. Qd3 $2 Bf5 19. exf6 Qxf6
$19) 18... Bxd4 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Nf3 Bc3 (20... Bb6 $2 21. Qd3 Ne4 22. Qxd5
$18) 21. Qd3 Bxe5 22. Re1 Ra1 23. Qd2 $1 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Ne4 25. Qd1 $16) 18.
Rxa8 (18. Qd3 Bxe5 $19 (18... Rxa1 $4 19. exf6 $18)) 18... Rxa8 19. Nxd4 Nxd4
20. Qd3 Qxe5 21. f4 Ne2+ $19) 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Nb3 (18. Qd3 {Blatny,P} Rfd8
19. Nb3 Nxb4 20. Qh7+ Kf8 $19) (18. Qxb5 {Blatny,P} cxd2 19. Bxd2 Ne5 {Ftacnik}
20. Ne1 (20. Nxe5 Bxf2+ $1 $19) 20... Nc4 21. Rd1 Rfc8 $17) 18... Nxb4 19. Bb1
(19. Be3 Bxe3 (19... d4 $6 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Nbxd4 $13 {/\} Bc4
$6 23. Qe4 $40) 20. fxe3 Nxc2 21. Qxc2 b4 22. Nfd4 Qg5 $17) (19. Ba3 {Blatny,P}
Nxc2 20. Qxc2 Rfd8 $19 (20... Rfd8 {Ftacnik} 21. Bb4 d4 $17)) (19. Bd1 {
Blatny,P} Rfb8 {P->}) 19... d4 $1 (19... c5 $2 20. Ba3 d4 21. Bxb4 (21. Nbxd4
$2 Bc4 22. Qe4 c2 23. Bxc2 (23. Nxc2 $2 Bd3 $19) 23... Nxc2 24. Nxc2 Bxf1 25.
Rxf1 $17) 21... Bxb3 (21... cxb4 $2 22. Nbxd4 $1 Bxd4 23. Qe4) 22. Rxa7 Rxa7
23. Bxc5 $14) 20. Rxa7 $6 (20. Nbxd4 $2 Bxd4 21. Qe4 (21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Qe4 Rd8
$19) 21... Bf5 $1 (21... c2 $2 22. Rxa8 $1 (22. Nxd4 $2 Rxa1 $19) (22. Bxc2 $2
Bf5 23. Qxa8 Bxa1 $1 $19) 22... Bd5 (22... Bf5 $2 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. Qa8+ $18)
23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. Qh7 $1 cxb1=Q 25. Qxb1 $16) 22. Qxa8 (22. Qxf5 c2 $1 23.
Bxc2 Qxf5 24. Bxf5 Bxa1 $19) 22... c2 $1 23. Bxc2 Bxa1 $1 $19) (20. Qe4 $2 c2 (
20... d3 21. Qxb4 c2 22. Bxc2 dxc2 23. Ba3 $17) 21. Bxc2 Nxc2 (21... d3 22.
Bxd3 Nxd3 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxd3 Bc4 {Ftacnik} 25. Qe3 Ra6 $17) 22. Qxc2 d3 (
22... Bc4 {Blatny,P} 23. Ba3 c5 $19) 23. Qxd3 (23. Qxc7 Bb8 (23... Rfc8 $40) (
23... Bxf2+ $5) 24. Qc5 $1) 23... Bc4 $1 (23... Bxb3 24. Rxa7 $15) 24. Qc2 (24.
Qb1 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 c5 $17) 24... Bxb3 $19) (20. Ba3 $1 d3 21. Bxd3 (21. Qe4 Bxb3
22. Bxb4 Bxf2+ $1 (22... c2 $6 23. Rxa7 $1 Rxa7 24. Bxf8 cxb1=Q 25. Rxb1 Bc2
26. Bc5 $1 $14 (26. Rxb5 $2 Ra1+ 27. Kh2 d2 28. Qe8 Qf4+ $1 (28... d1=Q $4 29.
Be7+ Kh7 30. Bxf6 $18) 29. g3 Qxf3 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qe5+ Kh7 $19)) 23. Kxf2
Rxa1 24. Bxd3 (24. Bxf8 $2 c2 25. Qxd3 cxb1=Q 26. Rxb1 Bc4 $19) 24... Qb6+ 25.
Kg3 f5 26. Qe7 Qg6+ 27. Kh2 Re8 $17) 21... Nxd3 22. Bxf8 (22. Qxd3 $2 Rfd8 (
22... Bxb3 $6 23. Bxf8 Bc4 24. Qe4 Rxf8 25. Rxa7 Bxf1 26. Kxf1 $13) 23. Qc2 (
23. Qe4 Bxb3 24. Be7 Qb6 25. Bxd8 Rxd8 $19) 23... Bf5 24. Qc1 Bxh3 25. Bb4 Bxg2
26. Kxg2 Rd3 $1 27. Nbd4 (27. Nh2 Qg6+ 28. Kh1 Qe4+ 29. f3 Qxb4 $19) 27... Qg6+
28. Kh1 c5 $1 29. Bxc5 Qh5+ $19) 22... Nf4 $1 (22... Bxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rxa1+ 24.
Nxa1 Nxf2 25. Bb4 $5 (25. Kxf2 Kxf8 26. Qxb5 $13) 25... Nxh3+ 26. gxh3 Bxh3 $13
) 23. Qxb5 Nxh3+ $1 24. Kh1 (24. gxh3 $2 Qxf3 $19 {/\ Bd5}) 24... Nxf2+ 25.
Rxf2 Rb8 26. Qe2 Bxf2 27. Qxf2 c2 $1 28. Rc1 Bxb3 29. Bc5 $15) (20. Qxb5 {
Blatny,P} Bxb3 (20... Rab8 21. Qe5 Qxe5 22. Nxe5 c2 23. Bxc2 Nxc2 24. Rxa7 Rxb3
25. Rxc7 Rc8 $17) 21. Qxb4 Bc5 22. Qxc5 Rxa1 23. Ba3 (23. Bh7+ Kxh7 24. Qxf8 d3
$19 25. Be3 (25. Qc5 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 d2 $19)) 23... Rd8 24. Bh7+ Kxh7 25. Rxa1 d3
{Ftacnik} 26. Qb4 Bc2 27. Qe4+ Qg6 28. Qe7 Ra8 $19) 20... c2 $6 (20... Rxa7 $1
21. Nbxd4 (21. Nfxd4 $2 Bc4 22. Qe4 Qg6 $1 23. Nf5 c5 $1 24. Nxc5 Bd5 25. Qg4
Qxg4 26. hxg4 c2 $19) 21... Ra1 $1 (21... Bc4 $6 22. Qe4 g6 (22... Qg6 $2 23.
Nf5 $1 {/\ Ne7} c5 24. Ne5 $40) (22... c2 {Ftacnik} 23. Nxc2 Nxc2 24. Bxc2 $14)
23. Ne5 $1 {(Kasparov)} Bxf1 24. Ng4 $40) 22. Qe4 Qg6 $1 (22... c2 23. Bxc2
Nxc2 24. Qxc2 Bc4 25. Re1 $13) 23. Qxg6 fxg6 24. Nxe6 (24. Bxg6 $2 Bc4 25. Re1
c5 26. Nf5 (26. Nc2 Nxc2 27. Bxc2 b4 28. Ne5 Re8 $19) 26... Rd8 $19 {/\ Nd3})
24... Rxf3 $1 (24... Rxb1 25. Nxf8 Kxf8 26. Ba3 $13) 25. Be4 (25. gxf3 Rxb1 26.
Nd4 (26. Nxc7 Nd3 27. Be3 c2 $19) 26... c5 27. Nxb5 Nd3 28. Nxc3 Rxc1 29. Rxc1
Nxc1 $19) 25... Rf7 26. Nd4 Rd7 $17) 21. Rxa8 $1 $8 (21. Bxc2 $2 Rxa7 22. Nbxd4
(22. Qe4 Nxc2 23. Qxc2 Bc4 24. Rd1 d3 $19) 22... Bc4 23. Qe4 (23. Qd2 {Blatny,P
} c5 24. Nb3 Ra2 $19) 23... Nxc2 24. Qxc2 c5 $19 (24... Bxf1 $19 {Ftacnik}))
21... cxb1=Q 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. Qxb5 $4 (23. Nc5 $6 Qbg6 $1 (23... Qc2 $2 24.
Qxb5 Nd5 (24... Qc4 $2 25. Qxc4 Bxc4 26. Nd7+ $18) 25. Qb8+ Ke7 26. Ba3 $18 {->
}) (23... Qbf5 $2 24. Qxb5 Nd5 25. Qb8+ Ke7 26. Ba3 $18) (23... Kg8 $2 24. Bg5
$1 (24. Qxb5 $2 Qbg6 $1 $19) 24... Qxf1+ (24... Qfg6 25. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 26. Kh2
hxg5 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Qxe6+ $18) 25. Qxf1 hxg5 26. Qxb5 Nd5 27. Qe8+ Kh7 28.
Ne4 $1 Qe7 29. Nexg5+ $1 Kg6 30. Qh8 Nf6 31. Nh4+ $1 Kxg5 32. Qxg7+ Kh5 (32...
Kf4 33. Ng6+ $18) (32... Kxh4 33. Qh6+ Nh5 34. g3+ Kxh3 35. Qxh5+ $18) 33. Nf3
$18) (23... Qa2 $6 24. Qxb5 Nd5 25. Qb8+ Ke7 26. Nb7 $1 {/\ Qd8} Kd7 $8 27. Re1
$40) (23... d3 24. Qe4 {/\ Qa8, Ba3} Qfa1 $1 $8 25. Re1 $3 Qxc1 (25... d2 $6
26. Bxd2 Qxe4 27. Rxa1 Qc4 28. Ne5 {/\} Qxc5 $2 29. Ra8+ Ke7 30. Bxb4 Qxb4 31.
Nc6+ $18) 26. Qxb4 d2 27. Nxe6+ Kg8 28. Qxd2 $1 (28. Qf8+ $2 Kh7 $19) 28...
Qxd2 29. Rxa1 {/\ Ra8} Qd5 $8 30. Nxc7 Qc6 31. Na6 Qd6 $10) 24. Ne5 $1 {/\ Ncd7
} (24. Qxb5 $2 Kg8 $1 $19) 24... Qgf5 $8 25. f4 $1 Qd8 $1 (25... Nd5 $4 26. g4
$18) (25... Kg8 26. Qxb5 Nd5 27. g4 $1 (27. Qe8+ $2 Kh7 28. Ncd7 Bxd7 29. Nxd7
Qe7 $19) 27... Qc2 (27... Qh4 28. gxf5 Qg3+ 29. Kh1 Qxh3+ 30. Kg1 $10) 28. Qb8+
$1 (28. Qe8+ $2 Kh7 29. Ncd7 Bxd7 30. Nxd7 Qe7 $19) 28... Kh7 29. Ncd7 Bxd7 30.
Nxd7 Qd6 31. Nf8+ Kg8 32. Ng6+ Kh7 $10) 26. Ba3 (26. Qxb5 Nd5 27. g4 Qc2 $17)
26... Bc4 $1 27. Qf2 Bxf1 28. Bxb4 Qd5 $1 29. Qxf1 Qc2 $17) (23. Bg5 $1 Qxf1+ (
23... Qff5 $2 24. Nbxd4 Qbd3 (24... Qbe4 25. Be7+ $1 Kg8 26. Qxe4 Qxe4 27. Re1
Qd3 28. Bxb4 $13) 25. Be7+ $1 $16 (25. Be7+ $1 Kg8 (25... Kxe7 {Ftacnik} 26.
Nxf5+ Qxf5 27. Nd4 $16) 26. Qxd3 Qxd3 27. Bxb4 Qc4 28. Bd2 c5 29. Rc1 $132)) (
23... Qfg6 $6 24. Qxb5 Qxf1+ (24... hxg5 $4 25. Qb8+ Ke7 26. Qxb4+ $18) (24...
Kg8 {Blatny,P} 25. Qb8+ (25. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 26. Kh2 Qxb3 27. Nxd4 Qc4 28. Qxc4 Bxc4
29. Bf4 $14) 25... Kh7 26. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 27. Kh2 (27. Nc1 hxg5 28. Nxg5+ Kg6 29.
Nxe6 Qxc1+ $17 {_|_}) 27... Na6 28. Qa7 Qxb3 29. Nxd4 Qc4 30. Nxe6 Qxe6 31. Be3
$17) (24... Qbf5 $2 25. Qb8+ Bc8 26. Nh4 Na6 27. Nxg6+ fxg6 28. Qa8 $18) 25.
Kxf1 Qd3+ $8 26. Qxd3 Nxd3 27. Nbxd4 hxg5 28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. Nxg5 $10) 24. Qxf1
hxg5 25. Qxb5 Nd5 26. Nbxd4 $1 $10 (26. Qb8+ Ke7 27. Nbxd4 Bd7 $15)) 23... Qxb3
24. Qb8+ Ke7 25. Qxc7+ Ke8 26. Bd2 Qd8 (26... Nd5 $6 27. Qc6+ Kf8 (27... Bd7 $6
28. Re1+) 28. Qa8+ Ke7 29. Qa7+ $40) (26... Nd3 $1 27. Ra1 Qd5 $1 $19 {/\ Qfd8}
) 27. Qe5 Kf8 $6 (27... Nc6 28. Qxg7 Bxh3 $1 $19) 28. Nxd4 $2 (28. Qc5+ Kg8 (
28... Qe7 $2 29. Qxe7+ Kxe7 30. Nxd4 Qc4 31. Bxb4+ Kf6 32. Nxe6 Qxb4 33. Nc7
Qc4 34. Ne8+ Ke7 35. Re1+ $10) 29. Bxb4 Qc4 (29... d3 $5) 30. Rd1 Qxc5 31. Bxc5
d3 $19) 28... Nd3 $1 29. Qe3 Qc4 0-1

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.15"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{There were some other interesting games this round, besides this draw between
the leaders, but in the end I decided that since this was a critical game for
the final tournament standings, and it was an interesting battle, it deserved
to be the choice.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 (3... Bc5 {is also very
common leading to the traditional Italian Game.}) 4. d3 (4. Ng5 {is also
interesting, leading to a very sharp game after d5.} d5 5. exd5 Na5 (5... Nxd5
$6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 $40 {is a very dangerous attack for White,
called the Fried Liver Attack.}) 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 {This move has
been sort of the new main line these days and leads to very sharp play.} (8.
Be2 h6 $44 {was the old main line.})) 4... Bc5 {And now we transpose into the
main line.} (4... Be7 {is an additional line, which has the benefit of being
flexible with ...Nf6 instead of ...Bc5.}) (4... h6 $5 {Even this is
interesting, as it allows the opportunity to play with ...d6 and ...g6 and ...
Bg7, while stopping Ng5.}) (4... d6 $2 {Of course is a mistake here, since now
White will play...} 5. Ng5 $1 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 (6... Na5 7. Bb5+ c6 8. dxc6 bxc6
9. Ba4 $16 {Here Black barely has any compensation for the pawn.}) 7. Nxf7 {
and he is up a tempo.}) 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. h3 h6 {Black deviates
from another game Nepomniachtchi played before. However, this position after ..
.h6 did occur in the game Nepo-Mamedyarov, so it's likely that the top
Azerbaijan players had studied this position together.} (8... Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6
10. d4 Ba7 11. Re1 exd4 12. cxd4 e5 13. Be3 d5 14. Nc3 exd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16.
Bxd4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 dxe4 19. Qxe4 {1/2 (40) Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2719)-Yu Yangyi (2737) Moscow RUS 2016. Where White had a very small pull but
Black held on...}) 9. Re1 Ba7 {Deviating from Mamedyarov. This is still a very
theoretical position though.} (9... Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7
13. Qc2 d5 14. Nb3 $14 {1-0 (54) Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)-Mamedyarov,S (2761)
Moscow RUS 2016; is already a bit unpleasant for Black and White later on won
a very nice game.}) 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. d4 (11. Nf1 $5 {has been tried a few
times by Anish Giri.}) 11... Ng6 12. Bf1 Re8 13. Qc2 (13. a5 $5 {was tried by
Kramnik against Radjabov in the Olympiad, with a lot of success, but I'm sure
Radjabov did a lot of work on this position. In general, when top players lose
in a certain line they usually know it really deeply next time, so very often
the next opponents don't go into that line, assuming they will be better
prepared.} Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 (14... d5 {Possibly this was Radjabov's improvement.}
) 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4 Nf4 17. c5 g5 $6 (17... dxc5) 18. Nc4 $16 {1-0 (34)
Kramnik, V (2808)-Radjabov,T (2722) Baku AZE 2016. From here White won a very
nice game.}) 13... Nh7 14. dxe5 {This is a novelty according to my database.} (
14. Nb3 Nh4 15. Nxh4 Qxh4 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Ng5 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 {0-1 (69)
Dragnev,V (2515)-Zilka,S (2523) Lesnica SVK 2017. And here Black was
comfortable and even later on won.}) 14... dxe5 15. Nc4 Qf6 16. Ne3 Ne7 (16...
Nf4 {seems like a reasonable alternative:} 17. Nf5 {would lead to a complex
game though, and probably the idea of ...Ne7 was to prevent Nf5.}) 17. Ng4 {
I am not sure about the objective value of this move.} (17. Be2 {Maybe at this
point objectively it was better to play a humble move like Be2 to try to
maintain equality, but of course Nepo needed the win, being a half a point
behind, so he was willing to take some risks to unbalance the game.}) 17...
Bxg4 18. hxg4 Ng6 19. Bc4 Rad8 20. a5 $6 (20. Be3 {Again, perhaps it was
better objectively to steer the game to equalish grounds.}) 20... Nf4 21. Nh2
$6 {This move makes matters worse for White.} (21. Rf1 {was objectively a
better defence but here Black is the only one who can be better.} Ng5 22. Nxg5
Qxg5 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Qe2 c6 {And only Black can be better. White can't
really dream of winning such a position at an elite level, if Black is ok with
a draw.}) 21... Rd7 22. Be3 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Ne6 $17 {Now Black is much better.
White's pawn structure is really spoiled with a pair of doubled isolated pawns.
} 24. Rf1 Qe7 25. b4 Nhg5 $6 {Here, however, Black lets go of a big portion of
his advantage. This move wasn't so logical since now the knight on e6 isn't as
happy, and the knights become redundant.} (25... Nf6 $1 26. Rf5 Qd6 (26... Ng5
{should also be sufficient.}) 27. Raf1 Ng5 $19 {and Black is basically already
winning material here.}) 26. Nf3 Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 {Now thanks to the threat of
the e5-pawn, at least White was able to fix his pawn structure. He's still
worse with a weak king though and really never risked winning the game.} Qg5
28. Rae1 Red8 29. Qh2 Rd2 30. Re2 Rd1 31. Bd5 Rxf1+ 32. Kxf1 c6 33. Bxe6 Rd1+
$1 {An important in-between move AKA a 'zwischenzug'.} (33... fxe6 34. Rd2 $11
{is just equal.}) 34. Kf2 fxe6 35. Qh5 $1 {White finds the best defensive
resource here, transposing into a rook endgame with excellent drawing chances.}
Qxh5 36. gxh5 Kf7 37. Rb2 Rc1 38. Rd2 Ke7 39. Rd3 Rh1 40. Kg2 Rxh5 41. c4 {
White is in time to create counterplay.} Rg5+ 42. Kh2 Rh5+ 43. Kg2 Rg5+ 44. Kh2
h5 {Black could've forced a draw here, but at this moment Grischuk hadn't
officially drawn yet, and had Grischuk won, Radjabov would not have won clear
first. So he still tried to press. Besides Radjabov really has no risk here.
However, maybe a slightly better way to press was with ...Rg6!?} (44... Rg6 $5
45. b5 axb5 $1 46. cxb5 Rf6 $1 {and here after this unusual move, ...Rf6,
Black still has some winning chances. However, finding a variation like that
isn't natural for the human eye, giving White a passed pawn, especially when
all you really need is a draw, the last thing you want to do is to take an
unnecessary risk.} (46... cxb5 47. Rb3 $11)) 45. b5 h4 46. Kh3 (46. bxa6 bxa6
47. c5 Rg3 48. Rd6 Rxf3 49. Rxc6 Rxe3 50. Rxa6 Rxe4 51. Ra7+ $1 Kd8 $1 52. c6 {
would've also secured a draw, and in fact Black had to play Kd8, or else he
could even risk losing here, since White's 2 passed pawns are more dangerous
than Black's 4.}) 46... Rg3+ (46... Rg1 {might have offered slightly better
winning chances but I'm pretty sure this should be a draw as well.} 47. bxa6
bxa6 48. Kxh4 Ra1 49. Rb3 Rxa5 50. Kg5 Ra1 51. c5 {and White has enough
counterplay.}) 47. Kxh4 Rxf3 48. bxa6 bxa6 49. c5 {Now the game peters out to
a draw by force.} Rf1 50. Rd6 Ra1 51. Rxc6 Rxa5 52. Kg5 Kd7 53. Rd6+ Ke7 54.
Rc6 Kd7 55. Rd6+ Ke7 56. Rc6 {A very nice last round battle. Nepo really tried
hard to create chances but Radjabov was really prepared well in the opening,
and also was in excellent form in the event and only he could have won this
game. Congratulations to Radjabov on a huge result, which possibly even
giveshim some outside chances to qualify for the Candidates.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "ARM-ch 72nd"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2012.01.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ter Sahakyan, Samvel"]
[Black "Grigoryan, Avetik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2569"]
[BlackElo "2621"]
[Annotator "Let's Check"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2012.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2
Re8 9. Re1 Be6 10. Ba4 Bd7 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. d4 Bxa4 13. Qxa4 exd4 14. cxd4 Bb6
15. Ng3 Ng6 16. Bd2 c6 17. Re2 Qd7 18. Rae1 Re6 19. Qb3 Rae8 20. a4 Qc7 21. h3
Ba5 22. Bxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxb7 Qxa4 24. b3 Qa3 25. Re3 Qa2 $2 (25... Nf4 26. Qxc6
d5 $11) 26. Qxc6 $18 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-B 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Black "Ernst, Sipke"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Let's Check"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. h3 d6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 Qd6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bc2 b5 13. Nh4 d4 14. O-O dxc3 15.
bxc3 Qc5 16. Bg5 Nd7 17. Bb3 Qa3 18. Nhf5 g6 19. Bc1 Qa5 $2 (19... Qc5 20. Bh6
Rfe8 $16) 20. Bh6 $6 (20. Bd5 gxf5 21. Bh6 $18) 20... Rfd8 $2 (20... Bc5 $16)
21. Bd5 $18 Ndb8 22. Nh5 $1 Bxf5 23. exf5 Qxc3 24. fxg6 hxg6 25. Qf3 Kh7 26.
Qxf7+ Kxh6 27. Qg7+ Kxh5 28. Bf3+ 1-0

[Event "Brussels"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1987.04.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ljubojevic,L"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1987.04.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1988.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1988.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 (7... a6)
8. b5 Ne7 9. Nbd2 {[%cal Yd3d4,Gd2e4]} (9. Na3 $5) 9... Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bb3
{[%cal Yd2c4]} d5 (11... Ba7 12. Nc4 (12. d4 $5) 12... d5 (12... c6 $142) 13.
Ncxe5 (13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Qc2) 13... dxe4 14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nxe5 16. Nxe5
Nxe4 17. Nxf7 Nxf2 18. Rd8 Ne4+ 19. Kf1 Bc5 $1 $11) (11... c6 12. bxc6 bxc6 13.
d4 $14) 12. Ba3 Re8 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 $5 {[%cal Yc3c4,Yc4c5,Yf3g5,Yd1h5]}
Ndf4 (14... Ngf4 15. c4 Nb4 16. c5 Ba7 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Nfg5 Re7 (18... Ne6 $2
19. Qh5) 19. g3 Nh3+ (19... Nd5 20. Qf3) 20. Nxh3 Bxh3 21. Re1 Bf5 22. Rc1 $16)
(14... h6 $1 {[%cal Gh6g5]} 15. Ra2 $5 Ndf4 16. Rd2 Be6 17. c4 $14) 15. Nfg5
Be6 (15... Ne6 16. Qh5 h6 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qf5+) 16. Nxe6 Nxe6 (16... fxe6 17.
g3 Qxd3 18. Qxd3 Nxd3 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Bc4 $18 {[%csl Rd3]}) 17. g3 $16 Kh8
18. Qf3 f6 19. h4 $1 (19. Rad1 Qd7 20. h4 Ne7) 19... Ngf8 20. Rad1 Qd7 21. Rfe1
Rad8 22. Bc4 h6 23. Qh5 Nh7 24. Kh2 (24. Qf5 Nd4 25. Qxd7 Nf3+ 26. Kf1 Rxd7 27.
Re2 f5) (24. Kg2 $2 f5 25. Qxf5 $2 Nf4+) 24... Ba7 25. Rf1 Bb8 26. Nc5 {
[%csl Ga2,Gb3,Gc4,Gd5,Ge6,Gf7,Gg8]} Nxc5 27. Bxc5 b6 (27... Rc8 28. d4 e4 29.
Bf7 Red8 30. Bg6 $18 {[%csl Rc8,Rd7,Re4][%cal Yg6f5]}) 28. Ba3 c5 29. bxc6 Qxc6
30. Bb5 Qxc3 31. Bxe8 Qxa3 32. Bb5 Bd6 {[%cal Yd6c5]} 33. d4 $1 exd4 34. Rfe1
Be5 (34... Qa2 35. Re2) 35. f4 Bd6 36. Re8+ Rxe8 37. Qxe8+ Bf8 (37... Nf8 38.
Qf7 {[%cal Yb5c4]}) 38. f5 $1 (38. Qe6 f5 39. Bc4 Nf6) 38... Qf3 39. Qe6 $3 (
39. Rf1 Qd5 40. Qe6 Qxe6 41. fxe6 $18) 39... Qxd1 (39... Bd6 40. Qxd6 Qf2+ 41.
Kh3 Qxf5+ 42. g4 Qf3+ 43. Qg3 Qxd1 44. Qb8+ Nf8 45. Qxf8+ Kh7 46. Qa8 Qb3+ 47.
Kh2 f5 (47... Qe3 48. Qd5 Qf2+ 49. Kh3 Qe3+ 50. Kg2 Qd2+ 51. Kg3 Qe1+ 52. Kf4
$18) 48. gxf5 Qc2+ 49. Qg2 d3 50. f6) 40. Bc4 Qc2+ 41. Kh3 Qxc4 42. Qxc4 Bc5
43. Kg4 Nf8 {[%cal Yf8d7,Yd7e5] Kortschnoj mцchte eine Festung bilden.} 44. Qd5
$1 Kh7 45. Kf3 Kh8 46. Ke4 Kh7 47. Kd3 Kh8 48. Kc4 Kh7 49. Kb5 Kh8 50. Kc6 Kh7
51. Kc7 h5 52. Kd8 Kh6 53. Ke8 (53. Ke8 Kh7 54. Kf7 Kh6 55. Kg8 {[%csl Rg7]
[%cal Yd5f7]}) 1-0

[Event "CHN-chT"]
[Site "China"]
[Date "2019.11.22"]
[Round "17.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Wen, Yang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Lorenzini,Martin"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.04.09"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 195 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Shanghai China Mobil"]
[BlackTeam "Shandong Jingzhi"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 h6 {
This move avoids the annoying Bg5 from White. It also allows ideas with ...g5 
(if Black has not castled). The inconvenience is that it takes away the h6
square from the knight in the line ...Ng4 (intending ...Kh8/...f5) h3 and now
there is no ...Nh6..} 8. Nbd2 a6 {Another modern option is playing a5 directly,
looking for space on the queenside, many times followed by Qb8 and Qa7. An
expert on this is the great Chinese player Ding Liren.} (8... a5 9. h3 Be6 10.
Bb5 Qb8 11. Nf1 (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 14. a3 Bxd2 15. Nxd2
Re8 16. b3 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Qh5 c5 19. Re3 f5 20. exf6 Bf7 21. Qh4 Rxe3 22.
fxe3 Qe8 23. Nf3 Nxf6 24. dxc5 Bg6 25. Bb2 Qxe3+ 26. Kh2 Rf8 $11 {Giri, A. -
Ding Liren, 1/2-1/2, 3rd Du Te Cup 2019}) 11... Qa7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7
14. a4 Ng6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qa6 17. g3 Rfe8 $11 {1/2 -1/2, Carlsen-Ding
Showdown G20, 2017}) 9. Nf1 Ba7 10. a4 Ne7 {At this point, Black has three
main plans: to play Ne7 and Ng6 as shown in the game; Be6 directly allowing
the pawns to be doubled on the e-file, or Re8-Be6 followed by ...d5 at the
right time.} (10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 a5 14. Ng3 Qe8 15.
Qb3 Ra6 16. Rae1 Rb6 17. Qc2 Ne7 18. Nd2 Ng6 19. f3 Ra6 20. Qb3 Rb6 21. Qc2 Ra6
22. Qb3 b6 23. d4 Ra8 24. Nc4 Nd7 25. Na3 Kh8 26. Nb5 Rc8 27. Na7 Ra8 28. Nb5
Rc8 29. Na7 Ra8 30. Nb5 Rc8 {Vocaturo, D. - Mamedyarov, S., 1/2-1/2, 43rd
Olympiad 2018}) (10... Re8 11. Qb3 (11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. b5
Ne7 15. bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Qb3 c6 18. Rab1 Ng6 19. g3 a5 20. Ne3 Re8
21. Nc4 Kh7 22. Qc2 Qe6 23. Ne3 d5 24. Kg2 Kg8 25. h4 Rd7 26. c4 Red8 27. cxd5
cxd5 28. Rb5 $14 {Kramnik, V. - Adams, Mi, 1-0, Vugar Gashimov Mem 2017}) 11...
Qe7 12. a5 Rb8 13. Be3 Be6 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Qxe6 Rxe6 16. Bxa7 Nxa7 17. Ne3
Rd8 18. b4 d5 $11 {Carlsen, M. - Mamedyarov, S. , 1/2-1/2, GCT Blitz Paris 2017
}) 11. Ng3 Ng6 12. d4 ({Grischuk employs an elite novelty. The normal way for
White is to play 12.h3 followed by d4. It is true that in grandmaster level
games Black equalizes comfortably with a quick ...d5.} 12. h3 c6 13. Bb3 (13.
Ba2 Be6 (13... d5 $5) 14. Bxe6 fxe6 $14 {Giri, A. - Nakamura, Hi, 1/2-1/2,
FIDE Candidates 2016}) 13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Re8 (16...
Bd7 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Be3 f5 19. f4 (19. Ne6 $5 Bxe6 20. Bxa7 Re8 21. Bd4 $13)
19... Kh7 20. Qf3 Qh4 (20... Qc7 $11) 21. Nge2 Rae8 22. Bf2 Qf6 23. Qxd5 Bc6
24. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 25. Kxf2 bxc6 26. Qd4 Qh4+ 27. Kg1 Re4 $11 {0-1 (81), 18th
ch-EUR Indiv 2017}) 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bxd5 cxd5 19. Be3 Bb8 20. Qd2 Bxg3 (
20... Bd7 $11) 21. fxg3 Qe5 (21... Bd7 $11) 22. Bf2 Bd7 23. Nb3 Qg5 24. Qxg5
hxg5 25. Nc5 Bc6 26. b4 Ne5 27. Re1 Nd7 28. Nxd7 {Mareco, S. - Kravtsiv, M., 1/
2-1/2, 1st Sharjah Masters 2017}) 12... c6 13. Bd3 (13. h3 d5 14. Bb3 (14. Bd3
dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 f5 17. Bd3 e4 18. Bc4+ Kh8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5
Qe8 $15 {The pawn of e5 is weak.}) 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17.
dxe5 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Bf5 $11) 13... Bg4 14. Be2 Re8 {This opening was a success
for the Chinese player.} 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 d5 $1 {A thematic move,
achieving total equality.} 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 (18... Qb6 $5) 19. Bxd5
Qxd5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Rd1 Rad8 {We find a typical endgame of the French
Tarrasch variation, in which Black has control of the d4 square.} 22. Nf5 Nc6
23. Kf1 d4 {Black frees himself of his weakness, with full equality.} 24. cxd4
Bxd4 ({There are two satisfactory alternatives:} 24... Nxd4 25. Be3 Nc6 26.
Bxa7 Nxa7 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Ke2 Nc6 29. Rd1 Re8+ (29... Rxd1 30. Kxd1 Kf8 31.
Kd2 {It seems that White is better here, but Black has an excellent move:} g6
$1 {It is understandable not wishing to go for this variation in a tournament
game.} 32. Nxh6 (32. Nd6 Nd8 33. Kd3 Ke7 34. Ne4 b6 35. Kd4 Ke6 $11) 32... f5
33. g4 Kg7 34. g5 $11) 30. Kf3 Re5 31. Ne3 Re6 $11) (24... Rd5 25. g4 h5 26.
Ra3 hxg4 27. hxg4 g6 28. Ng3 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Bxd4 $11) 25. Nxd4 Nxd4 (25... Rxd4
26. Rxd4 Nxd4 $11) 26. Bf4 Nb3 (26... Nc6 27. b3 f6 28. Be3 Kf7 29. Bb6 Rxd1+
30. Rxd1 $11) 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Ra3 Nc5 (28... Nc1 $5 {This is a beautiful but
unnecessary move} 29. Bxc1 Rd1+ 30. Ke2 Rxc1 31. Kd2 Rg1 32. g3 g6 33. Rb3 Ra1
$11) (28... Na5 29. Ke2 $11) 29. Be3 Rd5 30. Ke2 {When I saw this game for the
first time, I was surprised by the easy way White won the ending. I thought it
was due to the excellent technique of Grischuk. A detailed analysis shows that
Black made various mistakes. Although his game is not easy at all, he can
achieve a draw with precise play.} Kf8 $2 (30... a5 {This move places a pawn
in the enemy bishop's range, but fixes the weakness a4. White is almost
obliged to switch the bishop for the knight to free his rook from a3.} 31. Bxc5
(31. Ra1 Re5 32. Ra3 Rd5 33. g3 $11) 31... Rxc5 32. Rc3 {This is the only try
to get some advantage.} Rxc3 33. bxc3 Kf8 34. Kd3 Ke7 35. Kc4 Kd6 36. Kb5 Kd5
37. Kxa5 Kc5 38. f4 g6 39. g4 f5 40. gxf5 gxf5 41. c4 h5 42. h4 b6+ 43. Ka6 Kc6
44. Ka7 Kc7 45. Ka8 Kc8 $11) 31. b4 Ne6 (31... Ne4) 32. Rd3 Rxd3 33. Kxd3 {
We see an endgame in which White has an advantage. With pawns on both sides
and an open center, the bishop could be a bit superior to the knight. Also,
the white king is superior to the black one. The question is if this is enough
to win.} Ke7 34. Kc4 Kd6 35. g4 Ke5 $6 (35... g6 $5 36. Bxh6 {Otherwise, Black
places all pawns on light squares.} g5 {Sacrificing a pawn, Black has trapped
the white bishop on the square h6.} 37. b5 (37. f4 gxf4 38. h4 b5+ 39. axb5
axb5+ 40. Kxb5 Ke5 41. Kc4 Ke4 42. Kc3 Kf3 43. b5 Nc7 44. Kc4 Kxg4 45. b6 Na6
46. b7 f3 47. Be3 $11) 37... f6 38. a5 axb5+ 39. Kxb5 Kc7 40. f4 gxf4 41. h4
Kd7 42. Kb6 Kc8 43. h5 Kb8 44. Kb5 Kc7 45. Kc4 Kd6 46. Kd3 Ke5 47. Bg7 Nc5+ 48.
Ke2 Ne6 49. h6 Ng5 $11) (35... Ng5 $5) 36. b5 Kd6 37. f4 (37. h4 $1 {would
have been a better move, with the idea of h5 blocking the black pawn on h6.
Also, after 37.f4, in many variations the bishop on e3 is undefended.} g5 (
37... axb5+ 38. Kxb5 Kd7 39. h5 Nf8 40. f4 Nh7 41. g5 hxg5 42. fxg5 $16) 38. h5
axb5+ 39. Kxb5 Nc7+ 40. Kc4 (40. Kb6 $2 Nd5+ 41. Kxb7 Nxe3 42. fxe3 f5 $11)
40... Ne6 41. a5 Kc6 42. Bc1 Nc5 43. f4 gxf4 44. Bxf4 $18) 37... axb5+ 38. axb5
(38. Kxb5 $6 Nc7+ 39. Kc4 (39. Kb6 Nd5+ 40. Kxb7 Nxe3 41. a5 Nc4 42. a6 Na5+
43. Kb6 Nc6 44. f5 g6 45. fxg6 fxg6 46. h4 g5 47. h5 Kd7 48. Kb7 $11 {White
keeps the king on b7 and b6.}) 39... Nd5 40. Bd2 Nb6+ 41. Kb5 Nd7 $11 {The
white king cannot enter the queenside.}) 38... g5 $2 (38... Kd7 39. Kd5 Nc7+
40. Kc5 g6 41. b6 (41. Bd2 h5 42. Kb6 hxg4 43. hxg4 Kc8 $11) 41... Ne8 42. Kd5
h5 43. g5 $11) 39. f5 $18 Nf4 (39... Nc7 40. Bf2 Kd7 41. Bd4 Ne8 42. Kd5 Nc7+
43. Kc5 Ne8 44. Be5 $18) 40. Bxf4+ gxf4 41. Kd4 f6 42. h4 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT poule haute"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2003.05.08"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Hamdouchi, Hicham"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2003.05.07"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 095"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Montpellier"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. O-O
d6 9. Nc4 b5 $5 {This is a bit unusual, but still playable.} (9... h6 {and}) (
9... Be6 {are the main lines.}) 10. Ne3 Ne7 (10... Na5 11. Bc2 c5 {is the
"spanish" solution, but the B on a7 looks peculiar.} 12. Re1 Re8 13. h3 $14)
11. a4 (11. Nh4 Be6 (11... d5 12. Qf3 Bb7 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 Qc8 15. Qh5 Qe6
$13 {and White has no real pressure on the >>, Pokojowczyk-Kostyra, Myslenice
1987.}) 12. Qf3 Qd7 13. h3 c6 {/\ d5} 14. g4 d5 {White's |^ on the flank is
countered by a central push.} 15. Bc2 Ng6 16. Nef5 Nxh4 17. Nxh4 Ne8 18. Nf5 f6
$13 {Sitnikov-Maiorov, EU-ch U16 Haldiki 2001}) 11... Bb7 {/\ d5 is the active
counterplay.} (11... Bd7 {is a bit passive, but covers >< f5.} 12. Re1 Ng6 13.
Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 c6 15. Bb3 h6 16. h3 Qf6 17. d4 Be6 $11 {Dgebuadze-Erwich,
Utrecht op 2000}) 12. Nh4 d5 $1 {This push in the [+] is Black's main weapon
here.} 13. Ng4 (13. exd5 Nfxd5) 13... Nxg4 (13... Qd6 $5 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. Qg4
) 14. Qxg4 Kh8 {leaving the a2-g8 /^.} 15. Re1 (15. Nf5 {leads to unnecessary
exchanges.} Nxf5 16. Qxf5 dxe4 17. dxe4 Qd6 $11) 15... f6 16. exd5 {White
seemingly gives up the [+], but he can prepare d4 by tactical means.} Bxd5 17.
Bxd5 Nxd5 (17... Qxd5 18. d4 $1) 18. d4 $1 {This is the main idea, but even so
the position remains equal.} exd4 19. Nf5 Rg8 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Nb6 22.
Qxd8 Rgxd8 $11 23. axb5 axb5 24. Bf4 Nd5 25. Bg3 Kg8 26. h3 Kf7 27. Rac1 Re8
28. Red1 c6 29. b3 Red8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bermuda"]
[Site "Bermuda"]
[Date "2004.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2004.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Be3 {The whole variation is not dangerous for
Black from theoretical point of view, but it can be promising as a surprise
weapon!} f5 (11... Bg4 {is meant to be slightly inferior, but this statement
needs thorough verification as well.} 12. Qa4 $1 (12. h3 $6 Bh5 {works for
Black, because after} 13. Qa4 c5 $5 14. dxc5 {the B is not hanging on g4.} Nxc5
15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O-O d4 {Black's ^^ is really marvellous!} 17. g4 Bg6 18.
Rhe1 {Here the positional Q sacrifice by} dxc3 $1 {was the clear-cut solution.}
(18... Rb8 19. Rxd4 $1 {This is the best practical chance. White sacrifices
the exchange, but destroys Black's ^^ and avoids the -> on the <<.} Bxd4 20.
Qxd4 $1 {White's chances are in the _|_.} (20. Nxd4 Qg5+ 21. Re3 Qf4 $15) 20...
Re8 21. Rd1 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 $1 (22. Rxd4 Rbd8 $1 $15) 22... f6 23. e6 Rbd8 24. f4
c5 25. Ndb5 Rxd1+ 26. Kxd1 {(Honfi-Lukacs, Budapest 1982)} Rd8+ $1 27. Ke1 Be8
$15) 19. Rxd8 Rfxd8 20. Rd1 (20. bxc3 Rd3 $1) 20... Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Rb8 $17) (
12. Qc2 Rb8 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 {White's P formation is
utterly corrupted.} Ba5+ 16. Kf1 f5 17. exf6 Qxf6 $17 {Valvo-Brooks, New York
op 1990}) 12... c5 $5 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qd7 $13 {deserves attention.}) 13.
dxc5 $1 (13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. dxc5 exf3 15. Qxg4 (15. cxb6 fxg2 16. Rg1 Bf3) 15...
Qd3 $1 16. gxf3 Ba5+ 17. b4 Qc3+ 18. Ke2 Bxb4 $13 {and the white K is not
completely safe in the middle.}) 13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16.
O-O-O Bxf2 $1 (16... Qe8 17. Qa5 Bxf2 18. Qxd5 Qe6 19. Kb1 Rac8 20. Rhf1 Bb6
21. f4 Qf5+ 22. Ka1 h6 23. Ne4 {White successfully centralized his pieces.} Kh7
24. Ng3 Qg4 25. a3 Qh3 26. Qe4+ Kh8 27. f5 $16 {Sveshnikov-Dautov, Pinsk 1986})
(16... d4 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. f4 $14 {and the black B is rather bad.}) 17. Nxd5 (
17. Rxd5 Qg5+) 17... Qe8 $1 (17... Qg5+ 18. f4 Qh4 19. Qc6 $1 $14) 18. Qc2 Bb6
19. Rhe1 Qe6 20. Kb1 Rfd8 21. Qe4 {White's centralized pieces dominate the
board.} c6 22. Nf4 Qh6 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. e6 fxe6 25. Nxe6 $14 {Huerta-Estrada
Nieto, Carlos Torre op 2000}) (11... Nxc3 $5 12. bxc3 Ba6 13. Qa4 Qc8 $1 {
Black sacrifices the doubled P in order to put pressure on the weakened light
squares.} (13... Bb5 14. Qc2 Ba5 15. Ng5 g6 16. h4 $40) 14. Qxc6 Qf5 $132) 12.
exf6 (12. O-O {allows the advance} f4 13. Bc1 Bg4 $132) 12... Qxf6 13. Nxe4 $2
{Now Black's ^^ gets the main role in the play.} (13. Qb3 Qg6 $1 $132 {-
Rowson-I.Sokolov, Selfoss 2003 CBM 98} (13... Bh3 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16.
Ng3 Ba5+ 17. Kd1 Bxh1 18. Nxh1 $16 {and Black has no compensation for the lost
material.})) (13. h3 Ba6 $40) 13... dxe4 14. Nd2 Ba6 (14... Qg6 15. Qc2 Bf5 $13
) 15. Nxe4 (15. Qg4 Rae8 $36) 15... Ba5+ {The ^^ looks rather esthetic now.}
16. Nc3 (16. Nd2 Qxf2+ $19) 16... Bxc3+ {One of the big advantages of the ^^
is that You can chose the optimal moment for it's exchange!} 17. bxc3 Qg6 {
The opposite coloured B strengthens the -> as a rule. The white K remains in
the middle.} (17... c5 $5) 18. Rb1 $6 {Finally White will lose the b <->,
which is not a surprise, because his K hinders the connection of the rooks.} (
18. Rg1 Rab8 $15) (18. Qb3+ $6 Kh8 19. c4 Qxg2 $17) 18... Bd3 19. Rb7 (19. Rb2
Rab8 $19) 19... Bc2 20. Qe2 Rab8 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 $19 {and there is
no defence against the penetration on the b <->. White is playing practically
without his R.} 23. Ke2 Rb2 24. Qc5 Bb3+ 25. Kf3 Bd5+ 26. Kf4 Qe4+ 27. Kg3
Qxg2+ 28. Kh4 Qxh1 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 07th"]
[Site "Smolensk"]
[Date "2000.04.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanov, Victor L"]
[Black "Svirin, Oleg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2366"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.04.15"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow Phoenix"]
[BlackTeam "Smolensk TsEM"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. O-O
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 {Black wants to improve his N's position. From g6 he is
threatening >< f4.} (9... h6 {/\ Re8 and Be6 is an other plan.}) 10. Re1 Ng6
11. Nf1 Nh5 {The idea of sparing h7-h6 deserves serious attention.} (11... h6 {
is the normal main line here.}) 12. d4 (12. Bg5 {looks like a refutation at
first sight, but Black can fight back.} Qe8 13. Nxe5 (13. Nh4 {leads to only
unnecessary exchanges.} Nhf4 14. Nxg6 Nxg6 15. Ng3 Kh8 16. Nf5 Be6 17. Qh5 {
without pawns the -> of pieces is not dangerous.} f6 18. Be3 Qf7 19. Bxe6 Qxe6
20. Qg4 Qf7 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. g3 Raa8 23. d4 Rae8 $11 {Prihotko-Grabarczyk,
Bydgoszcz Bank Pocztowy op 1999}) (13. d4 Nhf4 14. Ne3 Ne6 {Now White has to
give up the ^^.} 15. Nf5 Nxg5 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Nf3 Nf4 18. g3 Ne6 (18... Nxh3+
$2 {opens up the h <-> only for White.} 19. Kg2 Ng5 20. Nxg5 hxg5 21. Qh5 $18)
19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qd5 (20. Nxe5 $6 {is rather risky, because Black gets
counterplay against the weakened >>.} Ng5 21. Nd3 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qc6 23. Ne5 Qc5
24. Re2 Rfe8 25. h4 Rxe5 (25... Nh3+ 26. Kg2 Rxe5 27. Kxh3 Rxe2 28. Qxe2 Qxf5+
$11 {Bitoon-Marciano, Elista ol (Men) 1998}) 26. hxg5 Rxf5 27. Qc2 Rxg5 $15)
20... f6 21. Rad1 Kh8 $11) 13... Qxe5 $5 (13... Nxe5 {looks riskier at first
sight, but even here things are far from clear.} 14. d4 $1 Nf6 15. Bxf6 gxf6
16. dxe5 fxe5 17. Ng3 (17. Qh5 Qe7 18. Rad1 Qf6 19. Ne3 Kh8) 17... Kh8 18. Qf3
Qe7 19. Kh2 Qg5 $13 {and although the light squares are weak, Black's pieces
can easily be activated, A.Grosar-S.Polgar, Bled op 1994.}) 14. Qxh5 Nf4 15. d4
$1 Nxh5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Rad1 h6 18. Be3 Nf6 {defending the penetration
squares on the d <->.}) 12... Nhf4 13. Ng3 (13. dxe5 {gives up White's central
advantage.} dxe5 14. Bxf4 {Now White gives up his ^^ as well.} (14. Be3 Qf6) (
14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Bxf4 exf4 {- 14Bf4}) 14... exf4 15. Qxd8 (15. Qd5 Qxd5 16.
exd5 (16. Bxd5 c6 17. Bb3 Be6 $11) 16... Bf5) 15... Rxd8 16. Rad1 Be6 17. Bxe6
fxe6 $11 {with a strong B on the g1-a7 /^.}) (13. Bxf4 $5 {This is a dangerous
idea, because Black has only Hobson's choice.} exf4 {ruins the P structure and
allows e4-e5, but avoids the direct threats..} (13... Nxf4 {At first sight
this is the consequent reply, but here Black has to go for wild complications.}
14. dxe5 Bxh3 15. gxh3 Nxh3+ 16. Kg2 Nxf2 17. Qd5 Qc8 18. e6 Kh8 (18... fxe6 $2
19. Qxe6+ Qxe6 20. Bxe6+ Kh8 21. Ng5 $16) 19. Ng5 fxe6 20. Qxe6 Qxe6 21. Nxe6
Nd3 (21... Rf6 $2 22. Re2 (22. Nxc7 $18) 22... Nd3 (22... Re8 $2 23. Nxc7 Re5
24. Ng3 $18 {Waitzkin-Acs, Budapest 1997}) 23. Rd1 Rxe6 24. Rxd3 Re5 $16) 22.
Re2 Nf4+ 23. Nxf4 Rxf4 24. Ng3 $16) 14. Qd3 (14. e5 d5) 14... Re8 (14... Be6
15. Rad1 Qe7 16. e5 Bxb3 (16... d5 17. Bc2 c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. N1d2 $14 {
/\ Nb3 >< d4}) (16... dxe5 $6 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 (17... Nh4 $2 {(Magem Badals-Flear,
Palma de Mallorca 1991)} 18. Nxf7 $1 $18) 18. Rxe5 $16) 17. exd6 (17. axb3 d5)
17... Qxd6 18. axb3 Rfe8) 15. N1d2 c6 {putting up a persistant resistance.}) (
13. Be3 {is too peaceful.} Bd7 14. Kh1 Qc8 15. Ng1 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bc2 f5 18.
g3 Nd3 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Bxa7 Rxa7 21. Qxd3 fxe4 22. Qe3 Ra8 23. Kg2 Bf5 $17 {
Bakhtadze-Aleksandrov, RUS-Cup Krasnodar 1998}) 13... Qf6 $2 {[#] Falling into
the well-known trap.} (13... Bd7 $5 {Magem Badels-Alesandrov, Elista ol (Men)
1998 CBM CBM66}) (13... Qe7 14. Be3 (14. Ne2 {is already met by} Qf6) 14... Rd8
15. Bc2 h6 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. g3 Ne6 18. Nh2 Re8 19. Qh5 Ngf8 20. Ng4 (20. dxe5
dxe5 21. Bxh6 {is exciting, but at the end it leads only to a draw.} Qg6 22.
Qh4 gxh6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 24. Nf5+ Kg8 25. Nh6+ (25. Ng4 {can even be risky after}
Nh7 $1 26. Ne7+ (26. Nxe5 Qg5) (26. Qe7 Rf8 27. Kg2 Bc5 28. Qxc5 Nxc5 29. Ne7+
Kg7 30. Nxg6 fxg6 31. Nxe5 Ng5 $15) 26... Rxe7 27. Qxe7 Neg5 28. Nxe5 Qb6 $132)
25... Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kg8 {1/2:1/2 Kramnik-Campora, GMA-Open Moscow 1989}) 20...
Qg6 21. Qh4 $14) 14. Nh5 $1 $16 {[%mdl 64] This is the nasty trick here!} (14.
Be3 {misses the chance.} Be6 15. Bc2 Bb6 16. a4 c5 17. Nf5 cxd4 18. cxd4 Ba5
19. Bd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 exd4 21. Qxd4 Ne5 $15 {Kamsky-Shereshevsky, Minsk 1988})
14... Qe7 $2 {Black loses his head after this blunder.} (14... Qd8 {was the
persistant reply.} 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 (15... exf4 16. Qd2 $16) 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Qd2
(17. e5 d5 18. Qd2 g5 19. Bc2 Kg7 20. Qd3 Rh8 $14) 17... g5 (17... Qf6 18. e5
$16) 18. Qd3 (18. e5 d5 {- 17.e5}) 18... Kg7 (18... Be6 19. d5 Bd7 20. e5) 19.
Bc2 Rh8 $16) 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 (15... exf4 16. Qd2 $16) 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. e5 (17.
Qd2 {was also rather strong.} g5 (17... Qf6 18. e5 dxe5 19. Nxe5 h6 (19... f3
20. Nxf7 $1 fxg2 21. Qg5 $1 Qxg5 22. Nxg5+ Kh8 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Re7 $18)) 18.
e5 h6 19. exd6 Qxd6 20. h4 $1 Bg4 21. Qd3 $16 {Belikov-Novik, URS-ch U20 Sochi
1990}) 17... dxe5 (17... c6 {was the lesser evil.} 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. Ne5 Be6
20. Bxe6 fxe6 (20... Qxe6 21. Qf3 $16) 21. Qg4 $16 {with an awful P structure
for Black.}) 18. Nxe5 $18 {Now the material loss is inevitable.} Be6 (18... Qf6
19. Nxf7 $18) 19. Qf3 Qg5 20. Qxb7 c5 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Qxa6 f3 23. Qxe6+ Kh8
24. Nxf3 Rxf3 25. Re5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 13th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2001.11.08"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2001.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 Be6 {This is perhaps the simplest try to fight for equality.} 10. Bc2
{White has some undeveloped pieces and brings his B into a passive position in
order to avoid the exchanges.} (10. Nbd2 Nd7 $5 {This is the beginning of a
logical N manoeuvre.} (10... Bxb3 {There is no need to hurry with this
exchange, because after} 11. Qxb3 {Black has to make a concession by defending
his b P.} Rb8 12. Nf1 Qd7 (12... Nh5 $5 {/\ Qf6, Nf4 or Kh8, f5.} 13. Bg5 Qd7 (
13... Qe8 14. g4 h6 15. Bd2 Nf6 16. Ng3 Kh7 17. Kg2 {with some space advantage
and |^ on the >>.} (17. Be3 {is less logical, because the -> on the >> needs
the B on the c1-h6 /^ especially against >< h6.} Bxe3 18. fxe3 Qd7 19. Re2 d5
20. exd5 Nxd5 21. Rf1 Nde7 $13 {Zude-Dautov, Wiesbaden op 1990})) 14. g4 $5 {
White has to grab the |^ on the <<.} (14. Rad1 {/\ d4 is not so impressive.}
Qe6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qxb3 17. axb3 f5 18. d5 Ne5 19. N1h2 fxe4 20. Rxe4
Rbe8 $15 {Waitzkin-Xie Jun, San Francisco, 1995}) 14... h6 15. Bd2 Nf6 16. Kg2
{/\ Ng3} (16. Ng3 h5 $1)) 13. Ng3 Rfe8 14. Bg5 Qe6 15. Qxe6 Rxe6 16. Rad1 $14 {
/\ d4 Dolmatov-A.Rodriguez, Minsk 1982}) (10... Re8 11. Nf1 h6 {- 10..h6}) (
10... h6 {defending the g5 square, therefore holding the strong B on e6.} 11.
Nf1 (11. Bc2 d5 {- 10.Bc2}) 11... Re8 12. Be3 (12. Ng3 d5) 12... Bxe3 {-
Adams-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2000 CBM 75} (12... Bxb3 {- Kaidanov-Malaniuk, WchT
Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) (12... d5 {- Yudasin-Adams, EU Cup final 14th Belgrade
1999 CBM 69})) 11. Nf1 Bxb3 12. Qxb3 Nc5 {sparing the ugly Rb8.} 13. Qc2 Ne6
14. Be3 Bxe3 {is the simplest way, as usual.} (14... d5 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Bxa7
Rxa7 17. Ne3 Qd7 18. Ng4 f6 19. d4 exd4 20. Qf5 Re8 21. cxd4 $14 ({but not} 21.
Re4 $2 Re7 22. Rd1 Ng5 $1 $17 {Waitzkin-Levin, Budapest 1997})) 15. Nxe3 Nf4
16. Rad1 (16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Ne7 $11) (16. Kh2 {/\ Ng1, g3 is again rather
time consuming, but otherwise the N on f4 remains a menace.} Qf6 17. Ng1 Rae8
18. Rf1 Qd8 19. g3 Nh5 20. Rae1 Nf6 21. f4 d5 22. f5 d4 23. Ng2 dxc3 24. bxc3
Qd6 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Nf3 Qc5 27. Qb2 b5 28. Rfe1 Rd7 $13 {Waitzkin-Adams, New
York CITS 1996}) 16... Qf6 $13) 10... d5 $5 {This is again the logical way to
attack the [+], if White plays passively.} (10... Ne7 {/\ Ng6 is a standard
manoeuvre, but White gets the upper hand in the [+].} 11. d4 Ng6 12. Be3 h6 13.
Nbd2 Re8 14. a4 c6 15. a5 $14 {Nevednichy-Gligoric, JUG-Cup Herceg Novi 2000})
(10... h6 11. Nbd2 d5 {Black has finished his development and now begins the
invasion of the [+]. White cannot claim any advantage here.} 12. exd5 Qxd5 13.
Nf1 Rfe8 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Qd6 16. Re1 Nd5 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19.
Qxd4 Qb6 $11 {Rossiter-Parker, BCF-chT 1996}) 11. Ng5 $2 {Instead of finishing
the development White makes seemingly aggressive moves with an already
developed piece. This cannot be good from strategical point of view, therefore
will be punished by a tactical blow.} (11. exd5 Qxd5 (11... Nxd5 12. Ng5 $1 $14
{attacking the vulnerable B.} (12. Nxe5 {is certainly met by} Nxe5 13. Rxe5
Bxf2+ $1 {and the B is taboo.} 14. Kh1 Bg3 $15)) 12. Bb3 (12. Qe2 Rae8 13. Nbd2
h6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. dxe4 Qd8 16. Nh2 Qh4 17. Nf1 Bc4 $1 18. Qf3 Bxf1 19. Rxf1
Re6 20. Be3 Rf6 21. Qe2 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Qf4 $11 {Nisipeanu-Parker, EU-ch U20
Siofok 1996}) (12. Ng5 Bf5 $11) 12... Qd6 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. d4 (14. Nbd2 Rfe8)
14... e4 15. Ng5 (15. Qc2) 15... Qf5 16. Qc2 (16. g4 $6 {is pushing too hard.}
Qg6 (16... Qd5 17. Qb3) 17. h4 h5 18. gxh5 Nxh5 19. Rxe4 Nf6 20. Re1 Rae8 $44)
16... Rae8 17. Na3 h6 18. Nf3 Qg6 $11) (11. Nbd2 h6 {- 10...h6}) 11... dxe4 $1
{This is the refutation, the opening f <-> helps Black to attack >< f2.} 12.
Nxe6 fxe6 13. Be3 (13. dxe4 {founders on the mighty} Ng4 $1 $19 {Probably this
move was overlooked by White.}) 13... exd3 14. Qxd3 (14. Bxd3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 e4
$17) 14... Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Rad8 {White is a P down, and still struggling with
problems of development.} (15... Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Rad8 $17 {was also tempting.})
16. Bc2 (16. Bc4 Bxe3 17. Bxe6+ {wins back the P, but leaves White with his
undeveloped <<.} Kh8 18. Rxe3 (18. fxe3 e4 $17) 18... Rd1+ 19. Kh2 Nd5 20. Bxd5
Rxd5 21. f3 Rd1 $17) 16... Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Nd5 18. Re1 Nf4 19. Na3 Nd3 (19... Rd2
20. Rad1 Rfd8 $15) 20. Re2 Nf4 21. Re3 (21. Ree1 Rd2 22. Rad1 Rfd8 $15) 21...
Rd2 22. Rd1 Rfd8 23. Rxd2 Rxd2 24. Kf1 {[#]} Na7 $1 {Black improves his worst
piece's position. /\ Nb5, so White has to do something against it.} 25. Rxe5 (
25. Ke1 {runs into} Rxc2 $1 26. Nxc2 Nxg2+ 27. Kd2 Nxe3 28. Kxe3 Kf7 $19) (25.
Bb3 {loses the b P.} Rxb2 26. g3 Nd5 27. Rxe5 Kf7 $17) 25... Nb5 $1 {Black has
given back a double P, but improved his N's position.} 26. Bb3 (26. Nxb5 Rxc2
27. Nxc7 Rxb2 $17) 26... Rxb2 27. g3 Nd3 28. Rxe6 (28. Bxe6+ Kf8) 28... Kf8 (
28... Rxb3 {would have won material, but loses the |^.} 29. axb3 Nxa3 30. Re7
Nb5 31. c4 Nd4 32. Rxc7 Nxb3 33. Rxb7 Ndc5 {and although the a o^ is dangerous,
the two knights are usually not effective in the _|_.}) 29. Nxb5 (29. Re3 Rxf2+
30. Kg1 Nxa3 31. Rxd3 Rf6 $17 {with a healthy extra P.}) 29... axb5 (29...
Rxf2+ 30. Kg1 axb5 31. Re3 {- 29...axb5}) 30. Re3 Rxf2+ 31. Kg1 Rd2 32. Rf3+
Ke8 33. Rf7 c5 $1 34. Rxg7 (34. Be6 {allows the black R to come back for the
defence of the 7-th rank.} Re2 35. Bg4 Re7 36. Rxe7+ (36. Rf5 Re3 37. Rf3 Re1+
38. Rf1 Rc1 $17) 36... Kxe7 37. Be2 Nc1 $17) (34. Bd5 Ne5 $19) 34... c4 35.
Rxb7 Nc1 $1 {Impressive technique, the B cannot run away!} 36. Rxb5 Ne2+ $1 37.
Kf2 Nxc3+ 38. Ke1 Re2+ 39. Kf1 Nxb5 40. Kxe2 Nd4+ 41. Ke3 cxb3 42. axb3 Nxb3 {
liquidating to a theoretically winning _|_, White cannot eliminate the last
remaining P.} 43. g4 Kf7 44. h4 h6 45. Ke4 Ke6 46. Kf4 Nc5 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.27"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Zhang, Pengxiang"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 a6 8. Nbd2
Be6 9. Nc4 Ba7 (9... Bxc4 $6 10. Bxc4 Na5 {is a well-known motif here, but
only with a B on a7.} 11. b4 (11. Bxf7+ Rxf7 12. b4 Bxb4 13. cxb4 Nc6 {is less
impressive.}) 11... Nxc4 12. bxc5 Na5 13. Qa4 $14) (9... h6 {is certainly
logical against Bg5, or Ng5.} 10. a4 {/\ a5 gaining some space advantage on
the <<, but the whole setup is rather harmless.} (10. Re1 Ba7 {- 9...Ba7})
10... Re8 11. a5 Ba7 12. Be3 Ne7 {/\ Ng6, the N on c6 is without perspectives.}
13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3 Ng6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 {Now Black has defended >< d5 and f5,
and can organize a counterplay on the f <->.} 16. g3 Qd7 17. Ra4 Qf7 18. Kg2
Rf8 19. Rb4 Ne7 $11 {Kuczynski-G.Garcia, Saint John 1988}) 10. Bg5 $5 {White
wants to exploit that Black has no Be7 against the pin.} (10. a4 {is again the
quiet positional approach.} Ne7 (10... h6 {comes into consideration again.} 11.
a5 Ne7 12. Re1 Ng6 13. Be3 Bxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 c6 $11 {-
Benjamin-Kaidanov, USA-ch Salt Lake City 1999 CBM 73}) 11. a5 Ng6 12. h3 h6 13.
Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 {and Black has equalized in the [+], 1/2:1/2
Fedorov-Aleksandrov, Nikolaev zt 1993.}) (10. Re1 h6 (10... Ne7 11. Be3 (11.
Bg5 {is parried by} Ng6 {/\ h6}) 11... Ng6 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. d4 Bxc4 14. Bxc4
Qe7 15. g3 {White's advantage is microscopical.} Raa8 16. a4 a5 17. Qb3 c6 $11
{Pirttimaki-Norri, Helsinki 1995}) 11. Be3 (11. a4 Re8 (11... Qd7 12. a5 Rad8
13. Be3 Rfe8 14. Bxa7 Nxa7 15. Ba4 c6 16. Ne3 Nc8 {/\ Ne7-g6 bringing the N
into battle again.} 17. b4 Ne7 18. Qc2 Ng6 19. d4 Qc7 20. d5 Bd7 21. c4 Rc8 22.
Rac1 cxd5 23. Nxd5 Nxd5 24. exd5 Bxa4 25. Qxa4 Nf4 $13 {Messa-Pinter, Rome 1983
}) 12. h3 b5 13. Ne3 d5 {Black radically solves the problem of the [+].} 14.
exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 $11 {Shur-Galdunts, SU-chT Azov 1991})
11... Bxe3 (11... b5 12. Ncd2 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 d5 {Black again easily equalizes
in the [+].} 14. Re1 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Re8 16. h3 Nxe4 17. dxe4 Qd6 18. Qe2 Rad8
19. Red1 Qc5 $11 {Kosten-A.Ivanov, Reykjavik 1990}) (11... Bxc4 12. Bxc4 Na5 {
is the typical method to exchange White's active pieces.} 13. Bb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3
Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Rb8 16. g3 Re8 $11 {Kuczynski-Lalic, Manila ol (Men) 1992}) 12.
Nxe3 Qd7 {- Torre-Kamsky, Manila izt 1990 CBM 19} (12... Re8 13. Bxe6 fxe6 {
The doubled pawns do not cause any harm for Black.} 14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Rad1 Kh8
16. Nf1 Nh5 17. d4 Qf6 $11 {Hendriks-Van der Sterren, NLD-ch 1996})) 10... h6
11. Bh4 Kh7 $5 {Black wants to prepare g5 by Rg8.} (11... Bxc4 12. Bxc4 Na5 {
was again possible.} 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Qf3 {(Regan-Bradbury, Oxford 1984)} g5 15.
Bg3 b5 16. Bb3 Nxb3 17. axb3 Bb6 18. b4 a5 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxa5 Bxa5 21. Ra1
Bb6 22. b4 Qe6 $11 {and the B on g3 is out of play.}) (11... g5 {immediately
looks dangerous in view of} 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Kg7 14. Ne3 $44) 12. Ne3 Rg8
13. d4 exd4 (13... g5 {now is strongly met by} 14. d5 $1 gxh4 (14... Bxe3 15.
fxe3 gxh4 16. dxe6) 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Bxe6 $16 {ruining Black's >>.}) (13...
Bxb3 14. Qxb3 exd4 (14... g5 $5 15. Bg3) 15. cxd4 {- 13...exd4}) 14. cxd4 Bxb3
15. Qxb3 Nxd4 $2 {Black misses the tactical riposte.} (15... g5 $5 {was very
exciting.} 16. d5 (16. e5 $5 gxh4 17. Qxf7+ Rg7 18. Qxf6 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20.
Nf5 Qxf6 21. exf6 Rg4 22. h3 Rf4 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Rac1 Rc8 $11 {and o^ f6
will soon fall.}) (16. Bg3 g4 $5 (16... Nxe4 17. Qxf7+ Kh8 18. Qe6 Nf6 19. d5
$14) 17. Nf5 (17. e5 gxf3 18. exf6 (18. Qxf7+ Rg7 19. Qxf6 Nxd4) 18... Qxf6 $15
) (17. d5 gxf3 18. dxc6 fxg2 19. Nxg2 bxc6 20. Qxf7+ Rg7 $13) 17... gxf3 (17...
d5 $5 18. Qe3 Qf8) 18. Qxf7+ Kh8 19. Bh4 $1 Rxg2+ 20. Kh1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Ng4 $1
{with a nice combination for perpetual check!} 22. Bxd8 Rxh2+ $11) 16... Na5 $1
(16... Nd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Bg3 Re8 19. Qd3 Bxe3 20. e5+ Kh8 21. fxe3 $16) (
16... gxh4 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. e5 $1 $14) 17. Qc2 gxh4 18. e5+ Kh8 19. exf6 Qxf6
20. Qf5 $1 (20. Nd2 Qg7) (20. Nf5 h3 21. g3 Nc4 $1 22. N3h4 b5 23. b3 Ne5 24.
Qxc7 Bc5 $15) 20... Qxb2 $1 (20... Qxf5 21. Nxf5 h3 22. g3 Nc4) 21. Nxh4 Qg7
22. Qd7 Bb6 23. Nhf5 Qg5 $13 {with immense complications.}) 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 {[#]}
17. Nf5 $2 ({missing the double -> by} 17. Qd3 $1 Bxe3 (17... g5 18. e5+ Rg6
19. Qxd4 $18) 18. e5+ $1 Kh8 19. exf6 g5 20. Qxe3 $18) 17... Bb6 18. Qxf7 (18.
Rad1 Qe8 $5) 18... Qf8 {Now Black has again everything in order.} 19. Qc4 Re8
20. Rae1 g5 (20... g6 $5 {looked logical to chase away the strong N from f5.}
21. Bxf6 (21. Nd4 $2 Rxe4 $19) (21. e5 Nd7 22. Ne3 Nxe5 $17) 21... Qxf6 (21...
gxf5 $5) 22. Ne3 Rgf8 23. Re2 c6 $15) 21. Bg3 Nxe4 22. Nxh6 $1 {[#]} Kxh6 $6 (
22... Nxf2 $1 {was the real continuation of playing for complication.} 23.
Qxg8+ (23. Nxg8 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Nd3+ 25. Kh1 Nxe1 26. Bxe1 Qxg8 $15) 23... Qxg8
24. Nxg8 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Nd3+ 26. Kf1 Nxe1 27. Nf6+ Kg6 28. Nd5 Nd3 $15 {
liquidating for a bit better _|_.}) 23. Rxe4 Qf5 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. h4 {White
wants to exploit the weakness of the black K.} (25. Qc3 Kg6) 25... g4 (25... d5
$5) 26. Bf4+ Kh7 $6 (26... Kh5 $1 {surprisingly enough the K is more safe here
than on h7.} 27. Be3 (27. Rd1 Re4 28. Rd5 Re5 $1) 27... d5 28. Qc3 (28. Qb3 d4)
28... Bxe3 29. fxe3 Qe5 $15) 27. Be3 $1 Re4 (27... d5 28. Qc3) 28. Qb3 ({or} 
28. Qc2 Re5 29. Qxf5+ Rxf5 30. Bxb6 cxb6 31. Rd1 $14 {corrupting Black's P
structure in the _|_.}) 28... Bxe3 $2 {This unnecessarily activates White's R.}
(28... Qe6 $14) 29. fxe3 Qe6 30. Qxb7 $16 Rxe3 $2 (30... Rc4 31. Qb3 $16) 31.
Qxc7+ Kg6 32. Qc2+ Qe4 (32... Re4 33. b4 $1) 33. Qf2 {Now the black K is not
safe at all.} (33. Qc8 Qe6 34. Qxa6 $18) 33... Qe6 34. Qf4 Re5 35. Kh2 a5 36.
Rd1 d5 37. Rd4 Kh5 38. Qf8 $6 (38. b3 $18 {was the simple way.}) 38... Kxh4 $1
39. Qh8+ Kg5 $2 {This is the last mistake.} (39... Rh5 {was still playable,
for example:} 40. Qd8+ Rg5 41. Rf4 Qe5 42. g3+ Kh5 43. Rf2 $14) 40. Qg7+ Kh5
41. Rxg4 $1 $18 Qxg4 42. Qxe5+ Kg6 43. Qg3 Kf5 44. Qxg4+ Kxg4 45. Kg1 {This
was the first big sensation on the KO World Championship!} 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 15th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "2005.12.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2005.12.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2 {
/\ Nf1-g3 manoeuvre before 0-0.} O-O 9. Nf1 d5 {Black has to react in the [+].}
10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 {allows Black to exchange queens, after which the tension
disappears.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 h6 {/\ Be6} 13. O-O Be6 14. b3 Rfd8
15. Bc2 a5 16. Bb2 a4 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb6 $11 {V.Atlas-Z.Almasi,
AUT-chT Austria 1997}) (10. exd5 {gives up the [+] without getting anything
for that.} Nxd5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. O-O f6 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Qe4 Qd7 15. Bd2 Rad8 16.
Rad1 Qf7 $13 {Kofidis-Stefansson, Athens op 1993}) 10... h6 $6 (10... dxe4 11.
dxe4 Nh5 $5 {fighting against Ng3} (11... Be6 {Black is not afraid of the
doubled pawns, because then he covers >< d5 and f5 and opens the f <->.} 12.
Ng3 Qd7 (12... Qc8 13. O-O (13. Bg5 Ne8 {/\ Nd6} 14. Bd5 f6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16.
Qxe3 Nd6 $13) 13... Ne8 {/\ Nd6} 14. Bc2 Nd6 15. b3 f6 {/\ Ne7-g6 improving
the bad knight's position.} 16. Kh2 Ne7 17. Nh4 Rd8 (17... g5 $6 {
unnecessarily weakens >< f5.} 18. Nhf5 Nexf5 19. exf5 Bf7 20. Ba3 $14 {
Mamedov-Filippov, Cannes 1997})) 13. Bg5 Ne8 (13... Bxb3 $6 {is met by the
intermediate move} 14. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 15. axb3 Qe6 16. Nf5 Kh8 17. b4 Rg8 {
(Stepovaia Dianchenko-Stjazhkina, RUS-ch (Women) 2000)} 18. O-O $14 {with a
wonderful N on f5.}) 14. Rd1 (14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. O-O f6) 14... Nd6 $11) (11...
h6 $143 {is again met by the standard} 12. g4 $5 (12. Be3 Bxe3 $11)) (11... Qe7
$143 {Black is not afraid of the doubled pawns, because then he covers >< d5
and f5 and opens the f <->.} 12. Ng3 $142 (12. Ne3 Be6 13. Bc2 {White wants to
keep the tension, but the exchange of the light-squared B is strategically
good for him.} Rad8 (13... h6 14. g4 $5) 14. Ng5 Bc8 15. O-O h6 16. Nf3 Be6 {
and now the advance on the >> is not dangerous anymore.} 17. Nh2 {/\ Qf3, Nf5,
Ng4 is the typical plan for White.} Rfe8 18. Qf3 Qf8 19. Nf5 Nh7 20. h4 Ne7 21.
h5 {This irreversibily weakens the dark squares.} Nxf5 22. exf5 Bd5 23. Qg3 Kh8
24. Ng4 f6 25. Ne3 Bf7 $11 {Komliakov-Frolov, Seversk 1997}) 12... Be6 13. Bc2
(13. Bg5 h6 $11) 13... Rfe8 (13... Rad8 14. Nh4 {/\ Nhf5 which is one of the
main threats in this structure.} Qc5 15. Nhf5 Bc4 16. Qf3 $36) (13... b5 14.
Nh4 Bc4 15. Qf3 $16 {and White has achieved what he wanted.}) 14. Nh4 $1 {
The target is >< f5.Tiviakov-Sargissian, FIDE-Wch k.o. 2004}) 12. g3 (12. N1h2
Nf4) (12. Bg5 Qd6 13. Rd1 Qg6 14. g3 Nf6 15. Bc2 Be6 16. b3 Rfd8 $13 {
Berzins-Paldanius, Tempere op 1999}) 12... Nf6 {The N has done his job.} 13. g4
(13. Bc2 Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 g6 17. Nd2 Be6 18. f4 exf4 19.
gxf4 Raa8 {and White has to play cautiously because of his weakened pawns.} 20.
Qf2 Re8 $13 {Jaracz-Narciso Dublan, EU-ch 2nd Ohrid 2001}) (13. Bg5 h6 14. Rd1
Qe7 $11) 13... Nd7 (13... Qe7 14. Ne3 (14. Bg5 Rd8 15. Ng3 (15. Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {
This is a typical exchange here.} 16. Qxe3 Be6) 15... h6 $11) 14... Bxe3 $1 15.
Bxe3 Be6 $11 {and White has to give up the ^^, or go to a passive place with
his B.}) 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Ne6 {trying to exploit the weakness of >< f4.} (
15... a5 $6 {is rather useless here.} 16. O-O $14 {Gonzales-Gomez, CUB-ch
Holguin City 2002CBM 89}) 16. Nd5 (16. Nf5) 16... Re8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {
defending >< f4, but ruining the P structure.} Nb8 19. Nxe5 c6 $1 (19... Nc5 {
(Komliakov-Nikolenko, Moscow 1990)} 20. O-O-O $1 Rxe5 21. Nb6 Bd7 22. Nxa8 Nc6
23. b4 Nxe4 24. Rhf1 $16) 20. Nf4 Nc5 $44) (10... d4 11. Ng3 (11. g4 $6 {
Since Black didn't commit his >> by h6, this push is overoptimistic.} Nd7 $1 {
/\ Nc5 finding a counterplay in the [+] against White's flank ->.} 12. Ng3 Nc5
13. Bc2 (13. Bd5 dxc3 14. bxc3 Ne7 $17) 13... b5 {/\ dxc3 and b4 getting
control over the vital d4 square.} 14. Nf5 {[#]} dxc3 $1 15. bxc3 b4 $1 {
This is the typical strategy in this P structure. White has created only
weaknesses, he has no chance for an -> on the >>. See Maiorov-Lastin,
Krasnodar 2002 CBM 91.}) 11... Qd6 {- 10...Qd6}) (10... Re8 11. Bg5 (11. Ng3 h6
12. O-O Be6 $11 {and although White has spared Re1, this is not a big deal.}) (
11. g4 $5 Be6 12. Bg5 (12. Ng3 Na5) 12... dxe4 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qd6 15.
Ng3 Nd7 $11 {- And.Rodriguez-Diego, Najdorf final K.O. CBM 79}) 11... dxe4 (
11... d4 $5) 12. dxe4 Be6 13. Ng3 h6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bc1 Rad8 {and Black has
finished comfortably his development.} 16. O-O Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {
Nevednichy-Mannion, Moscow ol (Men) 1994}) ({On} 10... Be6 11. Ng5 {is critical
} (11. Ng3 Na5 $1 (11... Qd6 {- 10..Qd6}) 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 14. Qd2
Qxd2+ 15. Nxd2 Be6 $11 {Vorobiov-Diu, ch-RUS 2002}) (11. Bg5 dxe4 12. dxe4 Bxb3
13. axb3 Qd6 14. Ng3 Qe6 15. b4 Ne8 16. O-O f6 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {Having
two doubled pawns White's position cannot be better.} Nd6 19. Rf2 a5 20. bxa5
Nxa5 21. Nh4 g6 22. Raf1 Nb3 23. Qc2 Ra1 24. Nf3 Rxf1+ 25. Nxf1 Nc5 26. N3d2 b5
27. Kh2 {1/2-1/2 Movsesian-Topalov, Tripoli 2004})) (10... Qd6 11. Ng3 (11. Bg5
d4 $13) 11... d4 (11... Be6 12. Ng5 {The exchange of this B is usually
favourable for White especially for the N.} Ne7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Nh5 Nd7 15.
Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Rxf6 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. g3 c6 20. d4 Rf7 21.
Rae1 $14 {Macieja-Acs, Budapest FS02 GM 1996}) 12. O-O Be6 $142 (12... Bd7 {
This is not the right place for the B.} 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Kh2 dxc3 15. bxc3 Bb5
16. Bc2 Rfd8 17. Rd1 {and Black cannot emphasise the pressure on >< d3.} Qc5
18. a4 Qxc3 19. Ra3 Qc5 20. axb5 $16 {Jaracz-Krasenkov, POL-ch 58th Warsaw 2001
}) 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Bg5 Ne8 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nhf5 Qd7 18. Bxe6
fxe6 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 {>< d3} 20. Qc2 Rd8 21. Qb3 Qb6 $11 {Macieja-I.Sokolov,
Elista ol 1998}) 11. g4 $1 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nd7 (12... Be6 13. g5 $5 $14 {It is
best to do this immediately.} (13. Ng3 $6 Nd7 {(Rossi-Bykhovsky, Reggio Emilia
1981)} (13... Re8 {allows the attacking move} 14. g5 hxg5 15. Bxg5 Bxb3 16.
axb3 Qd6 17. Rg1 g6 18. Bxf6 $1 (18. Nh4 Nh7 $5 (18... Qe6) 19. Ngf5 $1 Qe6 20.
Bh6 Kh8 $1 (20... Bc5 $2 21. Qh5 $1 $18 {Degraeve-Cruz Lopez Claret, France
1995}) 21. Bg7+ Kg8 22. O-O-O Rad8 (22... Qxb3 23. Nxg6 $1 $18) 23. Rd5 $1 $36)
18... Qxf6 19. h4 Rad8 20. h5 Ne7 21. Rg2 $16) {and still} 14. g5 $1 {is
required.})) (12... Nh7 13. Ne3 {The target is >< f5, as in case of 13.Ng3,
but this looks more flexible} (13. Ng3 Be6 14. Be3 (14. Bc2 $5) 14... Bxb3 15.
axb3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Qf6 17. Nf5 Qe6 18. b4 Rad8 19. Rg1 Rd7 {/\ Rfd8 with
counterchances on the only opened <->.} 20. Rg3 Rfd8 $13 {Jaracz-Dergileva,
Bad Wiessee 2002}) 13... Be6 14. Bc2 Re8 (14... Qd7 15. Bd2) 15. Bd2 $1 {
/\ 0-0-0} b5 (15... Qd6 16. Rg1 $1 $40) 16. O-O-O b4 17. Nf5 (17. Ba4 $5 $14)
17... Qf6 (17... Bxf5 18. gxf5 bxc3 19. Bxc3 $16 {Y.Gonzalez-Otero, Havana 2001
}) 18. h4 $40) (12... Na5 13. Bc2 $14 (13. g5 $5)) 13. Ng3 (13. g5 $6 {is not
so good anymore:} Nc5 $1 14. Bc2 $1 (14. gxh6 $2 Nd3+ $1 15. Kd1 Nf4+ 16. Qd2
Qf6 $19 {Bologan-Adams, New York 1994}) (14. Bd5 Ne7 $1 {and the vital B will
be exchanged.} 15. b4 (15. gxh6 Nxd5) 15... Nxd5 16. exd5 e4 $15)) 13... Nc5
14. Bc2 Ne6 {fighting for the dark squares, >< f4.} 15. Nf5 Re8 16. Rg1 (16. h4
{is the other attacking plan on the >>.} Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Rd1 Qf6 19. g5
hxg5 20. hxg5 Qg6 21. N5h4 $16 {Komliakov-Yagupov, Russia 1995}) 16... Nf4 (
16... Ne7 {/\ Ng6 >< f4, but it takes precious time.} 17. Bd2 Ng6 18. O-O-O Qf6
19. h4 $40) 17. Bxf4 exf4 {[#]} 18. Rd1 $6 {Now the white K remains unsafe as
well.} (18. Bd3 $142 $1 {/\ 0-0-0} Be6 (18... Qf6 19. O-O-O Ne5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5
21. Qf3 $14) 19. O-O-O Qf6 20. Kb1 Rad8 21. h4 h5 22. Qc2 hxg4 23. Rxg4 $16)
18... Qf6 19. g5 hxg5 20. Rxg5 g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 {[#]} (21... Kf8 22. e5 Qg7 (
22... Qe7 23. Nxf7 $1) 23. Nxf7 $1 Qxf7 24. Bxg6 Qxa2 25. Qd2 $1 $18) 22. Nxf7
$1 Qxf7 23. e5 {White has a nice ->, but his K is still in the middle.} Ne7 24.
Bxg6 (24. Nh4 f3 $1 25. Qd2 Bxh3 $1 (25... Be6 26. Bxg6 Nxg6 27. Rxg6+ Qxg6 28.
Nxg6 Kxg6 29. h4 $1) 26. Bxg6 Nxg6 27. Rxg6+ Qxg6 28. Nxg6 Kxg6 29. Qf4 Bf5 $13
) 24... Nxg6 25. Nh4 Bxh3 $1 {Black sacrifices his Q in order to neutralize
White's ->. Now he gets a R and a ^^ for it.} 26. Nxg6 Qxg6 27. Rxg6+ Kxg6 28.
Qe4+ Kg5 (28... Bf5 29. Qxf4) 29. Rd5 Rad8 (29... Be6 30. Rd2 Bf5 $13) 30. Rxd8
Rxd8 31. Qh7 Bxf2+ {liquidating for a drawish _|_.} 32. Kxf2 Rd2+ 33. Ke1 Rh2
34. Qg7+ Kh4 35. e6 f3 {The f3 o^ becomes also very dangerous.} 36. Qh7+ (36.
Qf6+ Kg4 37. Qd4+ (37. e7 Re2+ 38. Kd1 Kg3 $1 39. e8=Q Rxe8 40. Qg7+ (40. Qg6+
$2 Bg4 $19) 40... Kf2 (40... Bg4 41. Qxc7+ Kh3 $11)) (37. Qg7+ Kh4 38. Qf6+ Kg3
39. Qe5+ {- 37.Qd4}) 37... Kg3 38. Qe5+ Kg2 39. Qe3 Rh1+ 40. Kd2 f2 $11) 36...
Kg4 37. Qg7+ Kh4 38. Qh7+ {and White has to give the perpetual checks.} Kg4 39.
Qg7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2002.01.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 a6 8. h3
Ba7 9. Re1 Be6 10. Nbd2 (10. Bc2 d5 $5 {- Fedorov-Ivanchuk, EU-chT (Men) 2001
CBM 86}) 10... Nh5 $5 {Black wants more than simple equality.} (10... h6 {
/\ Re8 is the old idea.} 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 {- Adams-Anand, Wijk aan Zee
2000 CBM 75} (12... Bxb3 {- Kaidanov-Malaniuk, WchT Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) (12...
d5 {- Yudasin-Adams, EU Cup final Belgrade 1999 CBM 69})) (10... Bxb3 11. Qxb3
{is supposed to be slightly better for White.} Rb8 12. Nf1 {There is some
pressure on the light squares especially on f5 and d5 after the exchange of
the light-squared B.} Nh5 $5 (12... Qd7 13. Ng3 Rfe8 14. Bg5 Qe6 15. Qxe6 Rxe6
16. Rad1 $14 {Dolmatov-A.Rodriguez, Minsk 1982}) 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. g4 $5 (14.
Rad1 Qe6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qxb3 17. axb3 f5 18. d5 Ne5 19. N1h2 fxe4 20.
Rxe4 Rbe8 $15 {Waitzkin-Xie Jun, San Francisco 1995}) 14... h6 15. Bd2 Nf6 16.
Kg2 $14 {is the prophylactic move /\ Ng3-f5.} (16. Ng3 {runs into} h5 $1)) (
10... Nd7 $5 {/\ Nc5} 11. Nf1 Bxb3 12. Qxb3 Nc5 13. Qc2 Ne6 {Now the N is
excellent on e6 covering the vital dark squares d4 and f4.} 14. Be3 Bxe3 (14...
d5 {Changing the P structure is not so logical.} 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Bxa7 Rxa7
17. Ne3 {Now >< e5 will become a target.} Qd7 18. Ng4 f6 19. d4 $1 exd4 20. Qf5
Re8 21. cxd4 $14 ({but not} 21. Re4 $2 Re7 22. Rd1 Ng5 $1 $17 {Waitzkin-Levin,
Budapest 1997})) 15. Nxe3 Nf4 {is the logical continuation of the dark-square
strategy.} 16. Kh2 {/\ g3} (16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Ne7 $11) (16. Rad1 Qf6 $13)
16... Qf6 17. Ng1 {/\ g3 anyway.} Rae8 18. Rf1 Qd8 {securing the retreat of
the N.} 19. g3 Nh5 20. Rae1 Nf6 {/\ d5 with counterattack in the [+].} 21. f4
d5 $1 22. f5 d4 23. Ng2 dxc3 24. bxc3 Qd6 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Nf3 Qc5 $13 {
Waitzkin-Adams, New York 1996}) 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 {White is fighting against
Black's strong dark-squared B.} (12. Ne3 Qg6 13. Nh4 Qg5 14. Nf3 (14. Nef5 Nf4
15. Qf3 g6) 14... Qg6 $11 {may lead to a repetition of moves.}) 12... Nf4 $5 (
12... Bxe3 {was good and simple.} 13. fxe3 {fighting for >< f4 and opening up
the f <->, but hindering seriously the mobility of the pawns.} (13. Nxe3 Nf4
$11 {with a firm control over the vital >< f4.}) 13... Qg6 14. Nh4 Qg5 15. Nf3
Qg6 $11) 13. d4 $5 {Now White wants to reduce the sphere of the a7 B.} (13.
Bxf4 {is not logical at all.} Qxf4 14. Ne3 (14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qb3 Nd8) 14...
Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Rae8 $11) 13... Na5 $6 (13... exd4 14. cxd4 (14. Nxd4 Ne5 $11 {
with wonderful black knights on the dark squares.}) 14... Bxb3 15. axb3 (15.
Qxb3 $2 Nxh3+ $17) 15... Rfe8 {was exciting to organize pressure against
White's [+].} 16. Ng3 Ne7 17. e5 Qh6 $1 $13) 14. Bc2 (14. Bxe6 $5 {was also
interesting corrupting Black's central P formation.} fxe6 (14... Nxe6 15. d5
Nf4 16. Qa4 $16 {exploits the miserable position of the N on the edge of the
board.}) (14... Qxe6 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. d5 $16 {allows White the advance in the
[+].}) 15. Bxf4 Qxf4 (15... exf4 16. e5 $16) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qd7 Qh6 18. N1h2
$14 {attacking >< e5 and e6.}) 14... Nc4 15. Bc1 {White wants to keep his ^^.}
(15. Bxf4 Qxf4 (15... exf4 16. b3 $16) 16. Qc1 Qxc1 17. Raxc1 Rfe8 18. b3 $14)
15... c5 16. b3 Na5 (16... Nb6 17. d5 Bd7 18. a4 $1 a5 (18... Nc8 19. a5 $16)
19. c4 $14 {with a very good version of Ruy Lopez with a B on the unbelievable
square a7!}) 17. d5 {White now gets the space advantage in the [+].} Bd7 18.
N1h2 (18. Ng3 b5 $14) 18... h5 {against Ng4} 19. h4 {securing >< g5} b5 20. Ng5
c4 21. Be3 Qg6 $2 {This runs into the opening of the b1-h7/^.} (21... g6 $14) (
21... Bxe3 $5 {is met by} 22. fxe3 $1 (22. Rxe3 {allows Black to organize a
counterplay on the >>.} Qg6 23. g3 Nh3+ 24. Nxh3 Bxh3 25. b4 Nb7 26. a4 f5 $132
) 22... Nd3 $1 23. Bxd3 cxd3 24. Qxd3 (24. Qxh5 Qh6 $1) 24... Nb7 25. b4 {
killing the b7 N.} Qg6 $14) 22. Bxf4 $1 $18 {Now Black's position goes down
like ninepins.} exf4 23. b4 $1 Nb7 24. e5 $1 Bf5 25. Bxf5 Qxf5 26. Qxh5 Nd8 27.
Ng4 a5 28. e6 fxe6 29. dxe6 Nc6 30. e7 Rfe8 31. Re6 Nxe7 32. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 33.
Qf7+ Kh8 34. Rxf6 Bxf2+ 35. Kh1 1-0

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.02.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Sveshnikov, Evgeny"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2002.02.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
{This old, forgotten line is used time by time by Sveshnikov, who has a lot of
romantic ideas against 1...e5.} Bb4+ (8... Bb6 {- Zorko-Atalik, SLO-chT Bled
2001 EXT 2002}) 9. Bd2 (9. Nbd2 Bd7 (9... O-O 10. O-O Bd7 {- 9...Bd7} (10...
Bg4 $5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qc2 {White wants to exploit the structural weaknesses
on the c <->.} Nxd2 13. Nxd2 (13. Bxd2 Bxf3 14. Bxb4 {allows Black to grab the
|^ on the >>.} Qg5 15. g3 {weakening the vital light squares.} Qg4 16. Qc3 {
(Kalivoda-Kamenik, Klatovy 1999)} Rfb8 $1 17. Ba3 (17. a3 a5 18. Bc5 Rxb2 $1)
17... c5 $1 18. Bxc5 Rxb2 19. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 20. Rxb1 Be4 $11) 13... Qd7 (13... c5
$2 14. dxc5 Qe7 15. Nb3 Qxe5 16. a3 {and the B is captured.}) 14. Nb3 {>< c5,
but White cannot exchange the dark-squared bishops.} Bf5 15. Qe2 (15. Qd1 Rab8
$11) 15... Rfe8 16. Bf4 a5 $132) (10... Nxd2 11. Bxd2 Bxd2 12. Qxd2 Ne7 {
is the simple way.} 13. Rac1 c6 14. Bd3 Bf5 $11 {Castaldi-Phillips, Hastings
1950})) 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd3 (11. Nxe4 $5 dxe4 12. Ng5 Nxe5 (12... Bf5 $5 13.
Bxc6 bxc6 14. f3 (14. Be3 $6 Be7 15. Qh5 Qd7 $17) 14... exf3 15. Nxf3 $11 {
Krasenkov}) 13. Qa4 $1 Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Nd3 15. Be3 Qe7 $13 {-
Sveshnikov-Krasenkov, Mikenas mem Vilnius 1997 EXT 98}) 11... Bf5 12. Qc2 Bxd2
13. Bxd2 Bg6 {Black can still hold his stronghold on e4.} 14. Bc3 Qe7 15. Rae1
Nd8 16. g3 c5 17. Nh4 Nxc3 18. bxc3 cxd4 19. f4 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 dxc3 21. Qxc3 Ne6
22. Nf5 Qd8 23. Nd6 $44 {Sveshnikov-Azarov, Minsk 2000}) 9... Nxd2 10. Bxc6+ {
Otherwise Black can avoid the doubled pawns on the c <->, if he wants.} (10.
Nbxd2 O-O (10... Bd7 11. O-O (11. Bd3 Bg4 12. Bb5 O-O (12... Bd7 $11) 13. Bxc6
bxc6 14. O-O Bxd2 15. Qxd2 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qd7 17. Kh1 f6 18. f4 fxe5 19. fxe5
Rf3 20. Rg1 Qf5 21. Rg2 g6 $15 {A.Kogan-Miles, Biel 1994}) 11... O-O (11... Be7
$6 {is too passive.} 12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2 Be6 14. Rac1 Ra7 15. Qe3 {Now White
has got a strong [+].} O-O 16. Ne1 {/\ f4, Nd3} f6 17. Nd3 (17. exf6 {helps
only for Black.} Rxf6 18. Nef3 Bd6) 17... fxe5 (17... Qd7 18. f4 $14) 18. Nxe5
$14 {A.Hernandez-Knezevic, Havana 1986}) 12. Qb3 Nxd4 $5 (12... Bxd2 13. Bxc6
Bxc6 14. Nxd2 Qg5 {runs into} 15. f4 $14) 13. Nxd4 (13. Qxb4 Nxb5 14. a4 a5 15.
Qc5 Na7 16. Qxd5 Nc6 17. Rfd1 Qe7 $13 {and White has also problems with his
weakened <<.}) 13... Bxd2 14. Rfd1 Bh6 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. Qxb7 Rab8 17. Qc6 Rfd8
$13) (10... Bg4 $6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qa4 {- 10.Bc6}) 11. Bxc6 (11. a3 {
is too slow.} Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Ne7 13. Bd3 Bf5 {Black has to exchange the
light-squared B.} 14. Rc1 c6 15. O-O Qb6 16. Rfe1 a5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qd3 g6
$11 {blockading the vital f5 square, A.Sanchez-J.Perez, Albacate 1994.}) (11.
O-O Ne7 12. a3 (12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Nb3 c6 14. Qc2 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Ng6 16. g3 Qd7 $11
{Mutton-Walker, Southend 2000}) 12... Bxd2 $11) 11... bxc6 12. O-O {- 10.Bc6})
10... bxc6 11. Nbxd2 O-O (11... Bg4 $6 {is strongly met by} 12. Qa4 Bxd2+ 13.
Nxd2 O-O 14. f3 Bd7 15. Qb4 Qg5 16. O-O Rab8 17. Qc3 Qf4 18. Nb3 {/\ Nc5
reaching the dream position of the N versus the bad B.} f6 19. Nc5 Bc8 20. Rae1
$16 {Klee-C.Bauer, Bochum 1992}) 12. O-O ({The lingering with} 12. a3 $6 Bxd2+
13. Qxd2 {is punished by} Ba6 $1 $132) 12... c5 13. a3 {This is again not so
effective.} (13. Rc1 $142 c4 $142 $13 {and the knights have no good blockading
squares.} (13... cxd4 $6 {helps only for White, the centralized N has a lot of
threats.} 14. Nxd4 c5 (14... Qd7 15. Nc6 (15. a3 Be7 16. Nc6) 15... a5 16. Qc2
$14 {keeping the blockade on the c and d lines.}) 15. Nc6 Qd7 (15... Qe8 16.
Nxb4 cxb4 17. Re1 {Now the P structure clearly favours White.} a5 18. Nf3 a4
19. Qxd5 Be6 20. Qe4 Rb8 21. Ng5 g6 22. Qh4 h5 23. Ne4 Qb5 24. Nf6+ Kg7 25.
Nxh5+ $1 $18 {Kashtanov-Solovjov, Petrov mem Open 2002}) 16. Nxb4 cxb4 17. Nb3
$16 {and the blockading N on d4 will dominate the board.})) 13... Bxd2 14. Qxd2
(14. Nxd2 $2 cxd4 15. b4 f6 {and White has no time for recapturing on d4 by
his N.} 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Nb3 Ba6 18. Re1 Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 d3 $19 {Kagas-Skembris,
GRE 1994}) 14... Bg4 (14... c4 $142 $5 {looks again better.} 15. Qc3 Rb8 16.
Nd2 Be6 17. f4 (17. b4 Bf5) 17... g6 {The f5 square is vital for Black's
defence.} 18. b4 Bf5 19. h3 a5 $5 20. bxa5 c5 $1 {and suddenly Black grabs the
|^ in the [+], White cannot hold >< d4.} 21. Rf2 (21. dxc5 Qc7 22. Qd4 Qxa5)
21... Bd3 $1 22. Nf3 Rb3 23. Qc1 Qxa5 24. f5 Bxf5 25. Qh6 Rxf3 $1 $19 {
Strikovic-Illescas Cordoba, Pamplona 1997}) (14... cxd4 $6 15. Qxd4 $14) 15.
dxc5 Bxf3 16. gxf3 {White is a P up, but his >> is rather weakened, and the
doubled pawns are not so frightening.} c6 17. Rfe1 (17. Qd4 Qg5+ 18. Kh1 Qh5
$44) (17. b4 Qh4 (17... Qd7 18. Rfe1 Qf5 19. Re3) 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 $44) 17... Qd7
18. Qd3 Rae8 19. Re3 (19. f4 f6 $1 20. b4 (20. Qg3 Re6 $1) 20... fxe5 21. fxe5
Rf5 $44) 19... Re6 {Black concentrates all of his pieces to the >>.} (19... Qh3
$5) 20. f4 f6 $1 21. Rh3 h6 22. Re1 fxe5 23. fxe5 Rf4 24. b4 Qe7 25. Rf3 Qg5+
26. Kf1 Rh4 $5 {Now it is already Black, who wants more!} (26... Rxf3 27. Qxf3
Rxe5 $11) 27. h3 (27. Rg3 Qh5 28. h3 Rc4 $44) 27... Rc4 28. Qf5 (28. Rg3 Qh5)
28... Qxf5 29. Rxf5 a5 {but now he has to go for a drawish R _|_.} 30. Rb1 axb4
31. axb4 Re7 32. b5 Rxc5 33. bxc6 Rxc6 34. e6 Rd6 35. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Szeged m"]
[Site "Szeged"]
[Date "2000.06.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2594"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2000.06.27"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 {This is the solid way of handling
the Evans Gambit.} (4... Bxb4 {is the real theoretical question.}) 5. a4 a6 6.
c3 Nf6 {Now we have transposed to the Italian game with b4.} 7. d3 d6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 {[%mdl 32768]} (9. Nbd2 Ne7 {/\ Ng6} 10. Bb3 {/\ Nc4} (10. Re1 Ng4
$5 {with the standard Kh8 f5 idea.} (10... Ng6) 11. Re2 Kh8 {/\ f5} (11... d5
$6 {is not consistant here.} 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bf5 14. Qc2 c6 15. h3 Ngf6
16. Ng3 Be6 17. a5 Ba7 18. Rxe5 $16 {Lazic-Lejlic/ Kladovo 1990})) 10... Ng6 (
10... c6 $5 11. d4 ({On} 11. Nc4 Bc7 {is Black's main idea with 10...c6} 12.
Bg5 (12. Re1 Ng6 13. Bb2 $6 {The B is not well-posted here.} Re8 14. Ne3 d5 15.
Qc2 Nf4 16. Rad1 Qe7 $36 {Werner-Svidler/ Oakham 1990}) 12... Ng6 13. Nh4 Nf4
$5 $13) 11... Bg4 (11... Ng6 $5 {is the consistant continuation.}) 12. dxe5 {
If White gives up the [+] he cannot claim any advantage.} dxe5 13. h3 Bh5 14.
g4 Bg6 15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Bc2 c5 17. Nc4 cxb4 18. cxb4 Nc6 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Rb1
$11 {Spasov-Ziatdinov/ Niksic 1991}) 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 (12. Ra2 {is rather
useless here.} h6 13. Re1 Re8 14. h3 Be6 $11 {Ljubojevic-Furman/ Portoroz/
Ljubljana 1975}) (12. h3 h6 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Ra2 Re8 15. a5 Qe7 16. Ba4 {
1/2-1/2 Nunn-Byrne,R/ Baden 1980 (16)}) (12. a5 {White has some space
advantage on the <<, but this is not relevant. The important is the [+] and
the >>.} Re8 (12... h6) 13. Re1 h6 14. Ra2 Be6 15. Rd2 Nf4 16. Ne3 {(Lutz-Leko/
Cap d' Agde 1994)} Bc8 $1 $13) 12... Be6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Re1 Ra8 15. Ra2 h6
16. Rd2 (16. Na5 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Qc8 18. h3 Nf4 19. Re3 N6h5 {and Black has some
|^ on the >> balancing White's pressure on the <<, Harding-Thorbergsson/ North
Atlantic Teams corr 1990-92.}) 16... Re8 {This is the standard central
strategy preparing for d5.} (16... Nh7 17. Ne3 Ng5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. Bxe6 fxe6
20. Qg4 Qf6 21. g3 $14 {Ljubojevic-Hjartarson/ Linares 1989}) 17. Ne3 d5 $11) (
9. a5 Ba7 10. Re1 (10. Bb3 Ne7 11. h3 Ng6 12. Re1 h6 $11) 10... h6 11. h3 Nh5 {
/\ Qf6, Nf4 attacking >< h3 and g2.} 12. d4 Qf6 13. Be3 Nf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Ne5 {Black has pressure on the dark squares.} 16. Kh2 c5 17. Nc2 Rd8 18.
g3 Nxh3 $1 19. Bxh3 Nf3+ 20. Kg2 Bxh3+ 21. Kxh3 Qe6+ 22. Kg2 Nxe1+ 23. Nxe1
Qxe4+ 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ $11 {Timoshenko-Jaracz/ MK Cafe Cup-A 1999}) (9. Bg5 Kh8 {
/\ Nh7} 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. d4 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {is not dangerous for Black,
because he can play f5 in time.}) 11... Ng6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. Nh4
h6 15. Nxg6+ fxg6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Be6 $11 {with doubled
pawns on both sides, Nun-Gretarsson/ Pardubice Czech op 1998.}) (9. Be3 Bxe3
10. fxe3 d5 {This is the typical equalizing method in these types of position.}
11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Qd2 Be6 13. Na3 Qe7 14. e4 Nb6 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. Nc2 Rad8 17.
Ne3 f6 18. a5 Nc8 19. Nd5 Qd7 20. Rad1 N6e7 $11 {eliminating the strong N,
Yermolinsky-Anand/ Madrid Magistral 1998.}) (9. Bb3 Ne7 10. a5 Ba7 11. h3 Ng6
12. Re1 c6 $1 (12... h6 13. d4 Re8 14. Bc2 Bd7 {This plan with the following
moves is usually dubious.} 15. Be3 Qc8 16. Nbd2 Kh8 17. Kh2 $16 {Sermek-Polgar,
S/ Ljubljana op 1994}) 13. Nbd2 (13. Bg5 h6) (13. d4 {is dubious because of}
exd4 $1 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 {with a very good Open Ruy Lopez for Black.} 16.
Bc2 Bf5 17. Ra3 f6 18. Nbd2 fxe5 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rxe4 Qd5 22.
Qe1 exd4 23. Bb2 Rf4 $19 {Palkovi-Karolyi/ HUN-chT Zalaegerszeg 1998}) 13... d5
14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Ne4 (15. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Nxc3 $17) (15. Bxd5 Qxd5 $11)
15... Re8 $11 {and Black holds the [+].}) 9... h6 (9... Ne7 10. a5 Ba7 11. Bg5
{White wants to exploit the pin on the h4-d8 /^.} (11. Nbd2 {is similar to the
previous note.} Ng6 12. Nf1 h6 13. h3 Re8 14. Ng3 c6 15. d4 Be6 {1/2-1/2
Becerra Rivero-Arencibia/ Mondariz op 1996 (15)}) 11... Ng6 12. Nh4) 10. h3 (
10. Nbd2 Kh8 {Black is playing for f5.} (10... Ne7 11. Bb3 c6 12. a5 Ba7 {
- 9.Bb3 Ne7 10.a5 Ba7 11.h3 Ng6 12.R e1 c6}) 11. Nf1 Ng4 {This is the typical
reaction on R e1 if h3 hasn't been played.} 12. Ra2 f5 13. h3 fxe4 14. dxe4 Nf6
15. Ng3 Nh7 (15... Ne7 16. Nh4 Kh7 17. a5 Ba7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Qe8 {/\ Ng6
} 20. Rd2 Ng6 $13 {Nun-Arkhipov/ NRW-Liga 1992}) 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Ng5 $11
{and Black has play on the dark squares, Armas-Zude/ BL 1989.}) (10. a5 Ba7 11.
h3 Ne7 12. Bb3 Ng6 13. d4 exd4 $5 (13... Qe7 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4
Rfe8 $11 {Yudasin-Granda Zuniga/ Madrid 1992}) 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 16. Bc2
Bf5 $132) 10... Ne7 (10... Kh8 11. Ra2 Nh7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 f5 14. Rf1
fxe4 15. dxe4 Bd7 16. Raf2 Qe7 $11 {Ambroz-Honfi/ Reti mem Trnava 1982}) 11. d4
$6 {Now White's [+] will fall apart. This move needs thorough preparation here.
} (11. a5 Ba7 12. Nbd2 Ng6 13. Bb3 $11 {is similar to the 9.Nbd2 lines.}) 11...
exd4 12. a5 Ba7 13. cxd4 (13. Nxd4 {was the lesser evil.} d5 14. exd5 Nexd5 $11
) 13... d5 $1 (13... Nxe4 $2 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Rxe7 $1) 14. e5 (14. exd5 Nexd5
$15) 14... Ne4 15. Bd3 Bf5 {This is an ideal Open Ruy Lopez structure for
Black.} 16. Na3 (16. Be3 f6 17. Qb3 {looks better.}) 16... f6 $5 (16... c6 {
was also good and simple.}) 17. exf6 (17. Qb3 Kh8 18. Be3 Ng6 19. Rad1 c6 $15)
17... Rxf6 18. Be3 (18. b5 $5 axb5 $1 {This is the simple reaction.} (18... Nc3
{is only an adventureous move with the best piece.} 19. Qc2 Nxb5 (19... Bxd3
20. Qxd3 Ne4 (20... Nxb5 21. Nxb5 axb5 22. Qxb5 $13) 21. Rb1 $13) 20. Nxb5 axb5
21. Rxe7 $1 {Now immense complications will arise.} Rc6 $1 {This is Black's
answer on the challenge.} (21... Bxd3 22. Qxc7 Qxc7 23. Rxc7 Be4 24. Rxb7 Bxf3
25. gxf3 Bxd4 26. Ra2 $14) 22. Rxg7+ $1 {The battle is continuing!} (22. Qe2
Bxd3 23. Qe5 Rg6 24. Qxc7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7 Be4 $17) 22... Kxg7 23. Bxh6+ Kh8 (
23... Kxh6 24. Qd2+ Kg7 25. Bxf5 $44) 24. Qd2 Bxd3 25. Bg5 Qg8 26. Qxd3 Rg6 27.
Bf4 Rxg2+ 28. Kh1 Re8 29. Qf5 $44) 19. Nxb5 Bb8 {/\ c6 revitalizing the B.} 20.
Bxe4 (20. Be3 $2 c6) 20... Bxe4 21. Ne5 c6 22. Nc3 Bf5 23. Ba3 Ng6 (23... Bd6
24. Bxd6 Qxd6 25. Qb3) 24. Nxg6 Rxg6 25. Qh5 Qf6 26. Re7 (26. Re8+ Kh7 $17)
26... Ba7 $15) 18... c6 {[#]} 19. g4 $4 {[%mdl 8192] This is a terrible
blunder.} (19. Ne5 {was the normal continuation, although even here Black's
chances are preferable.} Qd6 20. Nc2 Ng6 (20... Raf8 $15 {is the simple way.})
21. f3 Ng3 $1 {Black's main target is on the >>.} (21... Nc3 {The << is the
wrong direction for the N.} 22. Qd2 Bxd3 23. Nxd3 $1 (23. Qxd3 Nb5) 23... Bb8
24. Ne5 $1 (24. Qxc3 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 (25. Kf2 Nh4 26. Ke2 {- 25.Kf1}) 25... Nh4
26. Ke2 Qxg2+ 27. Kd1 (27. Bf2 Bg3 $19) (27. Nf2 Rxf3 $17) 27... Nxf3 28. Re2
Qxh3 $44) 24... Nb5 (24... Nxe5 $2 25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. f4 $18) 25. Bf2 $13) 22.
Bf2 (22. Qd2 Raf8 $15) 22... Nf4 23. Bxf5 (23. Bxg3 Nxd3 $15) 23... Nxf5 $15)
19... Nc3 $1 $19 {Perhaps White hasn't seen this intermediate move? Now the
game is over.} 20. Qc2 Bxd3 21. Qxc3 (21. Qxd3 Rxf3 22. Kg2 (22. Qxc3 Rxh3 $19)
22... Nf5 23. Kxf3 Nh4+ 24. Kg3 Ne4+ 25. Kh2 Qd6+ 26. f4 (26. Kh1 Rf8 $1 (26...
Nf3 27. Kg2) 27. f4 Qxf4 $19) 26... Nf3+ 27. Kh1 Nxe1 28. Rxe1 Qxb4 $19) 21...
Rxf3 22. Qxd3 Qd6 0-1

[Event "Najdorf Memorial Great fin"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "2000.09.15"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Rodriguez Vila, Andres"]
[Black "Flores, Diego"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2493"]
[BlackElo "2358"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2000.09.09"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O (7...
Ba7) 8. h3 {White is waiting with castles intending Nf1 and perhaps g4 and
then Ng3 remaining with his K in the [+].} Ba7 9. Nf1 d5 {It seems to be
logical to react on White's >> intentions in the [+].} (9... Nh5 {Bauer-De
Vreugt, Wijk aan Zee B 1999 CBM 69}) (9... Be6) (9... h6 $6 10. g4 $1 d5 11. g5
$1 {Rodriguez-Szmetan, Najdorf final KO 2000 CBM 79}) 10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 {
allows Black to swap queens.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 h6 13. O-O Be6 14.
b3 Rfd8 15. Bc2 a5 16. Bb2 a4 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb6 $11 {with a very
comfortable position for Black, V.Atlas-Z.Almasi, AUT-chT Austria 1997.}) (10.
exd5 {gives up the tension in the [+] and opens the position when White has
not finished his development yet.} Nxd5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. O-O f6 13. Qe2 Re8 14.
Qe4 Qd7 15. Bd2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Qf7 $13 {and Black has a strong [+],
Kofidis-Stefansson, Athens op 1993.}) 10... Re8 (10... Qd6 {looks a bit
strange.} 11. Ng3 d4 {Black is gaining space in the [+], but the a2-g8 /^ is
opened.} (11... Be6 12. Ng5 Ne7 {Black is ignoring the loss of his important B.
} 13. O-O Ng6 14. Nh5 Nd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 {Now Black's P structure is a bit
corrupted.} 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Rxf6 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. g3 c6 20. d4 $1 Rf7
21. Rae1 $14 {Macieja-Acs, Budapest FS02 GM 1996}) 12. O-O Be6 13. Nh4 Ne7 14.
Bg5 Ne8 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nhf5 Qd7 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 {
The weakness of d3 compensates the doubled pawns.} 20. Qc2 Rd8 21. Qb3 Qb6 22.
Qxb6 cxb6 23. Rfd1 Rf7 24. Kf1 Rfd7 $11 {Macieja-I.Sokolov, Elista ol (Men)
1998}) (10... dxe4 {is the simple way.} 11. dxe4 Be6 {Black is not frightened
from the doubled pawns, because they control also the central squares.} (11...
Qe7 {preparing for Be6.} 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Bc2 Rad8 14. Ng5 Bc8 {This B is
important!} 15. O-O h6 16. Nf3 Be6 17. Nh2 Rfe8 18. Qf3 Qf8 19. Nf5 Nh7 20. h4
Ne7 21. h5 Nxf5 22. exf5 Bd5 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Ng4 f6 25. Ne3 Bf7 $11 {
Komliakov-Frolov, Seversk 1997}) (11... h6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qe7 $11) (
11... Nh5 $5 {is an aggressive approach to grab the |^.} 12. g3 (12. N1h2 Nf4)
(12. Bg5 Qd6 {/\ Qg6} 13. Rd1 Qg6 14. g3 Nf6 {The N has done his job already
provoking g3.} 15. Bc2 Be6 16. b3 Rfd8 $13 {Berzinsh-Paldanius, Tampere op 1999
}) 12... Nf6 13. g4 Nd7 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Ne6 16. Nd5 Re8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18.
fxe3 Nb8 $1 19. Nxe5 c6 $1 (19... Nc5 {(Komliakov-Nikolenko, Moscow 1990)} 20.
O-O-O $1 Rxe5 21. Nb6 Bd7 22. Nxa8 Nc6 23. b4 $1 Nxe4 24. Rhf1 $16) 20. Nf4 Nc5
$44 {with troubles on the e <->.}) 12. Ng3 Qc8 (12... Qd7 13. Bg5 Ne8 (13...
Bxb3 $6 {is met by the intermediate move} 14. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 15. axb3 {>< f5} Qe6
16. Nf5 {The N is excellent on f5.} Kh8 17. b4 Rg8 {(Stepovaia
Dianchenko-Stjazhkina, RUS-ch (Women) 2000)} 18. O-O $14) 14. Rd1 (14. Bxe6
Qxe6 15. O-O f6) 14... Nd6 $11 {and the N covers important squares from here.})
13. O-O (13. Bg5 Ne8 14. Bd5 f6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Nd6 $13) 13... Ne8 14.
Bc2 Nd6 15. b3 f6 16. Kh2 Ne7 17. Nh4 g5 $6 {This looks a bit risky.} (17...
Rd8 $5) 18. Nhf5 Nexf5 19. exf5 Bf7 20. Ba3 $14 {Mamedov-Filippov, Wch U12
Cannes 1997}) (10... h6 {creates only a target for White.} 11. g4 dxe4 12. dxe4
Be6 13. Ng3 $6 (13. g5 $5 {is the main idea here.}) 13... Nd7 {
(Rossi-Bykhovsky, Reggio Emilia 1981)} {and still} 14. g5 $1 {was required.})
11. g4 {This is the risky, but consequent continuation.} (11. Bg5 dxe4 12. dxe4
Be6 13. Ng3 h6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bc1 Rad8 16. O-O Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {with
simplification for the equalization, Nevednichy-Mannion, Moscow ol (Men) 1994.}
) (11. Ng3 h6 12. O-O Be6 {- Gelfand-Adams, Candidate's FIDE m1 Wijk aan Zee
1994 CBM 39}) 11... Be6 12. Bg5 (12. Ng3 Na5 $1) 12... dxe4 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14.
axb3 Qd6 15. Ng3 Nd7 16. Rd1 (16. Nf5 Qe6) 16... Qe6 17. Nf5 Nf8 (17... f6 {
was also quite playable:} 18. Be3 (18. Bd2 Rad8 (18... Qxb3 $2 19. Bh6 $1))
18... Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Ne7 $11) 18. b4 Ng6 19. O-O f6 20. Bc1 Nf4 $5 (20... Red8
$11 {was good and simple}) 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Qd2 g6 (22... Qxe4 $2 {allows the
penetration after} 23. Qd7 Ne7 (23... Re7 24. Nxe7+ Nxe7 25. Nh4) 24. Rde1 Be3
25. Nd2 Qc2 26. Nxe7+ Rxe7 27. Qxe7 Bxd2 28. Re4 $18) (22... Rad8 {leads to
transposition after} 23. Qxf4 g6 (23... Rxd1 $2 24. Rxd1 Qxe4 25. Qxc7 $18) 24.
Nh6+ Kg7 {- 22..g6 23.Nh6 Kg7 24.Qf4 Rad8!}) 23. Nh6+ Kg7 24. Qxf4 Ne5 $2 {
This is the big mistake!} ({There was nothing wrong with} 24... Rad8 $1 25. g5
(25. Rxd8 Rxd8) 25... fxg5 26. Nxg5 Qe7 27. Ng4 h5 28. Ne3 Ne5 $44 {/\ Qg5})
25. Nxe5 fxe5 26. Qg5 $18 {Here White is a P up without any counterplay.} Rf8
27. Kg2 (27. Rd2 $1) 27... Rf4 28. f3 Re8 29. Rd3 Kh8 30. Rfd1 Qb6 (30... Ref8
$2 31. Rd8 $1 Rxf3 32. Nf5 $1 Rf2+ 33. Kg3 R2xf5 34. gxf5 $18) 31. Qh4 g5 $2 (
31... Ref8 32. Kh1 $16 (32. Rd7 $2 g5 $1 $19)) 32. Qh5 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Ref8 34.
Qxg5 Qg3 (34... Rxf3 35. Qxe5+ $18) 35. Qxe5+ R8f6 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ 1-0

[Event "Drammen Smartfish Masters"]
[Site "Drammen"]
[Date "2004.12.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2523"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.12.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. h3 Ba7 7. Bb3 d6 8. Nbd2
Ne7 {/\ Ng6 improving the N's position.} (8... O-O {is the main line.}) 9. Nf1
Ng6 10. Ng3 O-O 11. O-O h6 {The position is almost symmetrical, the question
is who grabs the |^ in the [+].} (11... Be6 12. Bc2 c6 13. Re1 Re8 14. d4 h6 {
- 11...h6}) 12. Re1 Be6 (12... c6 13. d4 Qc7 14. Be3 Re8 $5 (14... b5 {is not
the best plan.} 15. Qd2 $14 {Gipslis-Ruderfer, SU 1979})) (12... Re8 13. d4 Be6
{- 12...Be6}) 13. d4 Re8 14. Be3 (14. Nf5 $6 {is premature because of} exd4 15.
cxd4 d5 $15) (14. Bc2 {White wants to avoid the exchanges.} Nh7 $5 (14... c6
15. Be3 Qc7 16. Qd2 (16. Qc1 {looks less active.} Rad8 (16... Kh7 17. Nf5 Ng8 {
defending >< h6} (17... exd4 18. N3xd4 $14) 18. Qd1 Nf6 {repeating moves looks
better.} (18... f6 $2 {is a serious weakening of the position.} 19. Nh2 (19. d5
$5) 19... N6e7 20. Ng4 $40 {Rabiega-Kosten, Germany 2001})) 17. b3 Bc8 $1 {
attacking >< e4.} 18. c4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 d5 $1 {This freeing move
is also well-known in the Ruy Lopez.} 21. cxd5 {1/2:1/2 Wolff-I.Sokolov, Wijk
aan Zee 1993}) 16... Rad8 17. Nf5 $1 {keeping an eye on >< h6.} (17. Rad1 d5 $1
{This is the clear-cut solution.} (17... Bb8 18. Qc1 b5 19. b3 {immediately
looks more to the point.} (19. Bb1 Ba7 20. b3 Bb6 $13 {Gipslis-Unzicker,
Daugavpils 1990})) 18. Nxe5 (18. Qc1 dxe4 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe3 21. Qxe3
Rxd1 22. Bxd1 Qxe5 $15 {Zuriel-Sorin, Villa Ballester 2001}) 18... Nxe5 19. Bf4
Bxh3 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. Nf1 Bg4 $44 {Kudrin-Kosten, London 1988})
17... Bxf5 (17... d5 $6 {allows the devastating sacrifice} 18. Bxh6 $1 Nxe4 (
18... gxh6 $2 19. Qxh6 Bxf5 20. exf5 $18) (18... dxe4 19. Nxg7 exf3 20. Nxe8
Rxe8 (20... Nxe8 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Qg5 Bf7 23. Rxe5 $16) 21. Rxe5 Nh7 (21...
Bb8 22. Rae1 $16) 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Rae1 Qf7 24. Qe3 $16) 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20.
Nxg7 exf3 21. Nh5 $1 $16 {De la Paz-Rod.Perez, Cuba 1993} (21. Qg5 {is not so
clear.} Qe7 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 $1 (22... Qxg5 23. Nxg5 $14 {A.Rodriguez-Sorin, Pico
City 1996}) 23. Rxe5 Qd6 24. Rae1 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qe7 $15)) 18. exf5 exd4 19.
Nxd4 $1 (19. cxd4 Nf8 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qxh6 N8h7 {with rich defensive
resources for Black.} 22. Ng5 Bxd4 23. Red1 c5 24. Rd3 Nxg5 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 $11)
19... Nf8 20. Bf4 $14 {Nogueiras}) 15. Nf5 Ng5 16. Nxg5 hxg5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 $13
(17... dxe5 $6 {simply loses the P after} 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. Bxg5 f6 20. Be3
$16 {A.Rodriguez-Benares de sa Leitao, Sao Paulo 2004})) (14. Bxe6 fxe6 15.
dxe5 dxe5 (15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. Be3 {gives nothing after} Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Nc4
18. Re2 Nd7 $11 {Belikov-Smagin, St Petersburg 1993}) 16... dxe5 17. Be3 $14 {
with a slight edge due to Black's doubled pawns.}) 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Qxd1+
18. Rxd1 {The _|_ is again a bit better for White, although the doubled pawns
are not easy targets!} Red8 19. Red3 $14 {Miljanic-Lazic, Herceg Novi 2001})
14... Qc8 15. Bc2 (15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Qb3 $14 {
leads to the same structure again.} (18. Nh2 Nf4 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Rf8 21.
Nh5 $14 {Najer-Azarov, playchess.com INT 2004})) 15... c5 (15... Bd7 {looks
rather slow.} 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Rad1 Bc6 18. c4 exd4 19. Bxh6 $5 (19. Bxd4 Bxd4
20. Nxd4 Qd7 $14 {gives White a strong central pressure.}) 19... d3 $1 (19...
gxh6 {allows White to continue the -> by the forceful} 20. Nf5 Ng8 21. Ng5+ $1
Kh8 22. Nxf7+ Kh7 23. e5 $1 $40 {Vorobiov-Cvek, Pardubice 2002}) 20. Bxg7 $1
Kxg7 21. Bxd3 $1 (21. Nf5+ Kg8 22. Qh6 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 24. Rxe4 Qxf5 25.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bxd3 Qf4) 21... Rh8 (21... Kg8 22. Qh6 Re6 23. e5 $1 dxe5 24.
Bxg6 Bxf3 25. gxf3 fxg6 26. Qxg6+ Kh8 27. Rxe5 $40) 22. e5 $40) 16. Qd2 ({
The standard} 16. Nf5 $5 {deserved attention again.}) 16... b5 $6 {Black wants
to bulid up a "spanish" P formation.} (16... cxd4 17. cxd4 exd4 18. Nxd4 (18.
Bxd4 Ne5 $1 $13) 18... Ne5 {was the lesser evil.} 19. Nxe6 $14) 17. Nf5 Bxf5 $2
({Still} 17... exd4 {was required.} 18. cxd4 Bxf5 19. exf5 Ne7 20. Bf4 (20.
Bxh6 $6 gxh6 21. Qxh6 Ned5 22. Qg5+ $11) 20... Qc6 21. a4 $36) 18. exf5 Ne7 {
[#]} ({In case of} 18... Nf8 19. Bxh6 $1 {crashes through.} gxh6 20. Qxh6 N8h7
(20... N8d7 21. Re4 $1) 21. Ng5 $1 $18) 19. Bxh6 $1 {Now White has an
irresistable ->.} Nxf5 (19... gxh6 20. Qxh6 Ned5 21. Re4 $1 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 $18 {
and White will soon mate.}) 20. Bg5 ({Or first} 20. dxe5 dxe5 {and then} 21.
Bg5) 20... Nh7 (20... cxd4 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Qd3 $18) 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Nxe5
$18 Nxg5 23. Qxg5 Nh6 24. Be4 Rb8 25. Bd5 Rb6 26. Nxf7 $1 Nxf7 27. Re7 Rxe7 28.
Qxe7 Qf5 29. Qxa7 Kh7 30. Qa8 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch"]
[Site "Krasnodar"]
[Date "2002.08.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Maiorov, Oleg Ivanovich"]
[Black "Lastin, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2458"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2002.08.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 4]} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. Nbd2
a6 8. h3 Ba7 9. Nf1 {White is lingering with castles in order to use the f1
square for the N manoeuvre. The K may stay in the middle, and in some cases he
can attack on the >> by g4, Ng3.} d5 {This push in the [+] is the logical
reaction.} (9... h6 $6 {creates only a target for White's advance on the >>.}
10. g4 $1 d5 11. g5 $1 $40 {- Rodriguez-Szmetan, Najdorf final KO 2000 CBM 79})
(9... Nh5 {- Bauer-De Vreugt, Wijk aan Zee B 1999 CBM 69}) 10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 {
allows Black to exchange queens, after which the tension disappears.} dxe4 11.
dxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 h6 {/\ Be6} 13. O-O Be6 14. b3 Rfd8 15. Bc2 a5 16. Bb2 a4
17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb6 $11 {V.Atlas-Z.Almasi, AUT-chT Austria 1997}) (10.
exd5 {gives up the [+] without getting anything for that.} Nxd5 11. Ng3 Be6 12.
O-O f6 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Qe4 Qd7 15. Bd2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Qf7 $13 {
Kofidis-Stefansson, Athens op 1993}) 10... d4 (10... Re8 11. Bg5 (11. Ng3 h6
12. O-O Be6 $11 {and although White has spared Re1, this is not a big deal.}) (
11. g4 $5 Be6 12. Bg5 (12. Ng3 Na5) 12... dxe4 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qd6 15.
Ng3 Nd7 $11 {- And.Rodriguez-Diego, Najdorf final K.O. CBM 79}) 11... dxe4 12.
dxe4 Be6 13. Ng3 h6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bc1 Rad8 {and Black has finished
comfortably his development.} 16. O-O Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {
Nevednichy-Mannion, Moscow ol (Men) 1994}) (10... h6 {is again strongly met by}
11. g4 $1 dxe4 12. dxe4 Be6 13. g5 $5 $13 (13. Ng3 $6 Nd7 {(Rossi-Bykhovsky,
Reggio Emilia 1981)} {and still} 14. g5 $1 {is required.})) (10... dxe4 {
Black wants to simplify the position, but here he can't get more than a
roughly equal position. It is not necessary to give up the tension in the [+]
too early.} 11. dxe4 Be6 {Black is not afraid of the doubled pawns, because
then he covers >< d5 and f5 and opens the f <->.} (11... Qe7 {/\ Be6} 12. Ne3
Be6 13. Bc2 {White wants to keep the tension, but the exchange of the
light-squared B is strategically good for him.} Rad8 (13... h6 14. g4 $5) 14.
Ng5 Bc8 15. O-O h6 16. Nf3 Be6 {and now the advance on the >> is not dangerous
anymore.} 17. Nh2 {/\ Qf3, Nf5, Ng4 is the typical plan for White.} Rfe8 18.
Qf3 Qf8 19. Nf5 Nh7 20. h4 Ne7 21. h5 {This irreversibily weakens the dark
squares.} Nxf5 22. exf5 Bd5 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Ng4 f6 25. Ne3 Bf7 $11 {
Komliakov-Frolov, Seversk 1997}) (11... h6 {is again met by the standard} 12.
g4 $5 (12. Be3 Bxe3 $11)) (11... Nh5 $5 {fighting against Ng3} 12. g3 (12. N1h2
Nf4) (12. Bg5 Qd6 13. Rd1 Qg6 14. g3 Nf6 15. Bc2 Be6 16. b3 Rfd8 $13 {
Berzins-Paldanius, Tempere op 1999}) 12... Nf6 {The N has done his job.} 13. g4
(13. Bc2 Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 g6 17. Nd2 Be6 18. f4 exf4 19.
gxf4 Raa8 {and White has to play cautiously because of his weakened pawns.} 20.
Qf2 Re8 $13 {Jaracz-Narciso Dublan, EU-ch 2nd Ohrid 2001}) (13. Bg5 h6 14. Rd1
Qe7 $11) 13... Nd7 (13... Qe7 14. Ne3 (14. Bg5 Rd8 15. Ng3 (15. Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {
This is a typical exchange here.} 16. Qxe3 Be6) 15... h6 $11) 14... Bxe3 $1 15.
Bxe3 Be6 $11 {and White has to give up the ^^, or go to a passive place with
his B.}) 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Ne6 {trying to exploit the weakness of >< f4.} (
15... a5 $6 {is rather useless here.} 16. O-O $14 {Gonzales-Gomez, CUB-ch
Holguin City 2002CBM 89}) 16. Nd5 (16. Nf5) 16... Re8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {
defending >< f4, but ruining the P structure.} Nb8 19. Nxe5 c6 $1 (19... Nc5 {
(Komliakov-Nikolenko, Moscow 1990)} 20. O-O-O $1 Rxe5 21. Nb6 Bd7 22. Nxa8 Nc6
23. b4 Nxe4 24. Rhf1 $16) 20. Nf4 Nc5 $44) 12. Ng3 Qd7 (12... Qc8 13. O-O (13.
Bg5 Ne8 {/\ Nd6} 14. Bd5 f6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Nd6 $13) 13... Ne8 {/\ Nd6}
14. Bc2 Nd6 15. b3 f6 {/\ Ne7-g6 improving the bad knight's position.} 16. Kh2
Ne7 17. Nh4 Rd8 (17... g5 $6 {unnecessarily weakens >< f5.} 18. Nhf5 Nexf5 19.
exf5 Bf7 20. Ba3 $14 {Mamedov-Filippov, Wch U12 Cannes 1997})) 13. Bg5 Ne8 (
13... Bxb3 $6 {is met by the intermediate move} 14. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 15. axb3 Qe6
16. Nf5 Kh8 17. b4 Rg8 {(Stepovaia Dianchenko-Stjazhkina, RUS-ch (Women) 2000)}
18. O-O $14 {with a wonderful N on f5.}) 14. Rd1 (14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. O-O f6)
14... Nd6 $11) ({On} 10... Be6 11. Ng5 {is critical} (11. Ng3 Na5 $1 (11... Qd6
{- 10..Qd6}) 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 14. Qd2 Qxd2+ 15. Nxd2 Be6 $11 {
Vorobiov-Diu, ch-RUS 2002})) (10... Qd6 11. Ng3 d4 (11... Be6 12. Ng5 {The
exchange of this B is usually favourable for White especially for the N.} Ne7
13. O-O Ng6 14. Nh5 Nd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Rxf6 18. Bxa7 Rxa7
19. g3 c6 20. d4 Rf7 21. Rae1 $14 {Macieja-Acs, Budapest FS02 GM 1996}) 12. O-O
Be6 {- 10...d411.Ng3 Qd6 12.0-0 Be6}) 11. g4 $6 {Since Black didn't commit his
>> by h6, this push is overoptimistic.} (11. Ng3 {is the logical continuation
of the plan.} Qd6 12. O-O Be6 $142 (12... Bd7 {This is not the right place for
the B.} 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Kh2 dxc3 15. bxc3 Bb5 16. Bc2 Rfd8 17. Rd1 {and Black
cannot emphasise the pressure on >< d3.} Qc5 18. a4 Qxc3 19. Ra3 Qc5 20. axb5
$16 {Jaracz-Krasenkov, POL-ch 58th Warsaw 2001}) 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Bg5 Ne8 15.
cxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nhf5 Qd7 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 {>< d3} 20.
Qc2 Rd8 21. Qb3 Qb6 $11 {Macieja-I.Sokolov, ol (Men) Elista 1998}) 11... Nd7 $1
{/\ Nc5 finding a counterplay in the [+] against White's flank ->.} 12. Ng3 Nc5
13. Bc2 (13. Bd5 dxc3 14. bxc3 Ne7 $17) 13... b5 {/\ dxc3 and b4 getting
control over the vital d4 square.} 14. Nf5 {[#]} dxc3 $1 15. bxc3 b4 $1 {
This is the typical strategy in this P structure. White has created only
weaknesses, he has no chance for an -> on the >>.} 16. Bb2 (16. d4 exd4 $1 (
16... Bxf5 17. dxc5 Bd7 $1 (17... Bg6 18. Ba4 $1)) 17. cxd4 (17. N5xd4 Bd7 $1
18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. cxb4 Nxe4) 17... Bxf5 18. dxc5 Qf6 19. Rb1 Qc3+ 20. Kf1 Be6
$17 {and White's position is in ruins.}) 16... Ne6 $1 {>< f4 is the next
target.} (16... Bxf5 17. gxf5 bxc3 18. Bxc3 Qd6 19. Rg1) 17. cxb4 Nf4 18. Qd2
Bxf5 19. gxf5 (19. exf5 $2 Qd5) 19... Bd4 20. O-O-O $2 {Now Black gets a
strong -> on the <<.} ({Safer was} 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Bd1 Rb8 22. Bc3 Qd6 23. a3
Rfd8 $44 {but Black's knights may deserve the Holy Gral...}) 20... Bxb2+ 21.
Kxb2 Nxb4 $1 $17 22. d4 Rb8 23. Ka1 (23. dxe5 $2 Qe7 $1 {avoiding the exchange
of Q and keeping the tension on the <<.} (23... Nxc2+ 24. Kxc2 Qe7 (24... Qe8
25. Qxf4 Qa4+ 26. Kd3 Rfd8+ 27. Ke2 Qc4+ {- 24...Nc2}) 25. Qxf4 Qc5+ 26. Kd3
Rfd8+ 27. Ke2 Qc4+ 28. Ke3 Qc3+ 29. Ke2 $11) 24. Bb3 Nbd3+ 25. Kb1 Qa3 $1 26.
Qc2 a5 27. Rxd3 Nxd3 28. Qxd3 a4 $19) 23... exd4 24. Bb1 Qe7 25. e5 $6 {
It is already hard to give a good advice, but this weakens d5 as well.} (25.
Rhg1 g6 26. Rg4 (26. Qxf4 $4 Nc2+ $1 27. Bxc2 Qb4 $19) 26... Nh5 $17) (25. Qxf4
$4 Nc2+ $1 26. Bxc2 Qb4 $19) 25... Nbd5 $1 26. Rhg1 (26. Qxd4 Qa3 $1 $19) 26...
g6 27. Qxd4 Qa3 $1 $19 {and Black's -> crashes through.} 28. fxg6 hxg6 29. e6
Nxe6 30. Qe5 Nc5 31. Bc2 Nc3 0-1

[Event "American Continental 2nd"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "2003.08.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Flores, Diego"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2439"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2003.08.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 Bb6 {
Black's plan is simple, he prepares the typical N manoeuvre Ne7-g6 followed by
c6, Bc7 in case.} 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. h3 {If White prepares the typical manoeuvre
Re1 and Nf1 then usually Ng4 may come, therefore h3 is useful in most of the
cases.} (9. Re1 {Shahade-Shliperman, Manhattan March Int 1999 CBM 70}) 9... c6
{against Nc4} 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 (11. d4 exd4 (11... Bc7 12. Bc2 (12. Nf1 {
allows the equalizing blow in the [+] after} d5 $1 13. Ng3 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Rxe4 Bf5 $11) 12... Re8 $5 (12... Qe7 {The Q is more vulnerable here if
the [+] will be opened.} 13. Nc4 Be6 (13... Nh5 {This was not necessary at all.
} 14. Nfxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 exd4 16. cxd4 Qb4 17. Nd2 Qxd4 18. Nf3 $14 {
Jaracz-Votava, Duisburg 1992}))) (11... Nh5 {looks premature again.} 12. Nc4
exd4 (12... Bc7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nfxe5) 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Nxd4 Nhf4 15. Qd2 Bxd4
16. cxd4 Ne6 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 cxd5 {(Schmaltz-Wehmeier, Lippstadt 1996)} 19.
Ne5 $14) (11... Qe7 12. Bc2 Be6 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ng3 Rad8 (14... h6 15. Be3
Rad8 16. Qc1 $11 {Skembris}) 15. Nf5 (15. Be3 d5 $5) 15... Qf8 16. Bg5 Kh8 $5
17. Nh2 d5 $1 $132 {Djurhuus-Skembris, Skei 1993}) 12. cxd4 d5 {is the active
counterplay in the [+].} 13. exd5 (13. e5 $5 Nh5) 13... cxd5 (13... Nxd5 $5 {
blockading the isolated P deserves attention.}) 14. Nf1 Ne4 {The N is strong
here similarly to the Petroff Defence.} 15. Be3 Be6 16. Rc1 f5 $13 {
Cartagena-Ziatdinov, Koltanowski Team Match 1999}) 11... Nh5 $1 (11... h6 {
is the quiet approach.} 12. Ng3 (12. d4 Re8 13. Ng3 {and the position is
almost symmetrical!} Be6 14. Bc2 {White avoids the exchanges, but his small
central plus is not enough.} (14. Be3 Qc7 15. Bxe6 Rxe6 16. c4 {White wants to
gain more space in the [+], but Black still has a d5 threat.} exd4 17. Nxd4 Re5
{Provocation!} 18. Ndf5 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Qd4 Rae8
23. Rd1 {(Sax-Unzicker, FRG-HUN Oberhausen 1980)} Qc6 $5 24. Qxa7 Nxe4 25. Nxe4
Rxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 $13) 14... Qc7 (14... Qe7 15. Nf5 Qc7 16. Be3 Rad8 17. Qc1
exd4 {weakening White's P formation.} 18. N3xd4 Bxf5 19. exf5 {(Sariego-G.
Hernandez, Capablanca mem B 1995)} Ne5 $5 $13) 15. Be3 Rad8 16. Qe2 d5 $5 {
and Black has everything in order.}) 12... d5 (12... Re8 13. d4 Be6 {- 12.d4})
(12... Be6 13. d4 Re8 {- 12.d4} (13... Nh7 $5 {/\ Qf6 looks a bit a
sophysticated.} 14. Bc2 {/\ Nf5} (14. Be3 $6 Qf6 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Bc8 {
still keeping an eye on >< h3.} 17. Bc2 (17. Nh5 Qe7 18. Nd2 Qh4 19. Rf1 Ng5
20. f4 $13 {Gipslis}) 17... Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bxb6 axb6 {
and Black has pressure on the dark squares, especially on >< f4.} 21. Qe3 b5
$13 {Gipslis-Dobrovolsky, Bardejovske Kupele 1991}))) 13. Be3 ({White cannot
win the e P by the typical blow:} 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+
$1) 13... c5 14. Bc2 Re8 {Black has already space advantage in the [+].} 15.
Qe2 Be6 16. Ba4 Re7 17. Nf5 Rc7 18. Rad1 Qf8 $11 {Knoppert-Mikhalevski, Donner
mem op 1995}) (11... Be6 12. Ng3 h6 {- 11..Be6}) 12. d4 (12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxh5
{is strongly met by} Nxd3 14. Re2 Qf6 $17 {Neubauer-Baumegger, AUT-ch Mureck
2001}) 12... Nhf4 13. Ng3 Qf6 $2 {[#] This is a typical blunder in this type
of position, even a very strong tactician like Shabalov can overlook it!} (
13... h6 $2 14. Bxf4 exf4 (14... Nxf4 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Nxe5 $16)
15. Nh5 $16) (13... Qe7 $1 14. Nf5 {and only now} (14. Be3 h6 15. Nf5 Qf6 16.
dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxb6 axb6 $11) 14... Qf6 $13 {looked better.}) 14. Nh5 $1 Qe7 (
14... Nxh5 $4 15. Bg5 $18 {captures the Q.}) 15. Nxf4 exf4 {Now White has an
ideal central P formation.} 16. e5 $14 (16. a4 $5) 16... Bc7 (16... d5 17. Bc2
$14) 17. exd6 Qxd6 18. Ng5 $1 {/\ Qh5, Ne4} (18. Bc2 Qf6 19. Be4 Be6 20. Bd2
Rfe8 $14) (18. Bc4 Qf6 $14) 18... h6 (18... Qf6 19. Ne4 $16) 19. Ne4 (19. Nxf7
{is not enough because of} Rxf7 20. Re8+ Nf8 21. Qh5 Qf6 22. Bd2 Rb8 23. Rae1
Bd6 (23... Bd7 $4 24. R8e7) 24. Rd8 Bc7 25. Rde8 Bd6 $11) 19... Qd8 20. Qh5 Kh7
21. Nc5 $2 {One inaccuracy is enough to ruin the whole game.} (21. Bc2 Re8 22.
Bd2 Kg8 23. Bb3 $14 (23. Nf6+ $5 gxf6 24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Qxh6+ Kg8
27. Bxf4 Bxf4 28. Qxf4 $14)) 21... Nh4 $1 {[%mdl 128] Black gives back the
same blow he got before!} 22. Nd3 (22. Bxf7 $4 g6) 22... g6 23. Qe2 Qg5 $1 {
Suddenly Black's |^ on the >> becomes very dangerous.} ({The seemingly logical
} 23... f3 $2 {is not the best way for continuing the ->} 24. Qe3 $1 (24. gxf3
Bxh3 25. Ne5 Qf6 {/\ Be5} (25... Be6 26. Qe4 (26. f4 Bxb3 27. axb3 Bxe5 28.
fxe5 Qd5 $17) 26... Bxe5 27. dxe5 Bxb3 28. axb3 f5 29. exf6 Qxf6 30. Qe7+ Kg8
31. Qxf6 Rxf6 32. Re7 $132) 26. f4 Be6 $15) 24... g5 (24... fxg2 25. Qxh6+ Kg8
26. Re4 (26. Bg5 $4 Nf3+) 26... Nf3+ 27. Kxg2 Bf5 28. Kxf3 Bxe4+ 29. Kxe4 Qf6
30. Nf4 $1 Rfe8+ 31. Kf3 Re1 32. Kg2 Rxc1 33. Nh5 $18) 25. g3 Ng2 26. Qe4+ f5
27. Qe7+ Kh8 28. Qxd8 Bxd8 29. Re5 Bf6 30. Bd1 f4 31. Bxf3 Bxe5 32. Nxe5 Ne1
33. Be4 Bf5 34. Bxf4 $16) 24. g3 (24. g4 h5 $1 25. Qe7 (25. Nc5 hxg4 26. Ne4
Qh6 27. hxg4 (27. Nf6+ $2 Kg7 28. Nxg4 Bxg4 29. Qxg4 (29. hxg4 Rfe8 $19) 29...
Rae8 $19) 27... g5 28. Qd3 Kg7 {/\ f5}) 25... Nf3+ 26. Kh1 hxg4 27. Qxf8 Be6
28. Bxf4 Bxf4 29. Qxa8 gxh3 30. Rg1 Nxg1 31. Rxg1 Bd5+ $19) 24... Bxh3 $1 {[#]}
(24... Nf5 25. Bxf4 Nxg3 26. fxg3 Bxf4 27. Nxf4 Qxg3+ 28. Ng2 Bxh3 29. Qf2 $18)
25. Nxf4 $2 {This is another miscalculation.} (25. Bxf4 {was the best way to
neutralize Black's |^.} Bxf4 26. Nxf4 Bd7 (26... Bg4 27. gxh4 Qxf4 28. Qe4 $16)
27. Qd3 (27. Kh1 Rae8 28. Qc4 (28. Qf1 Kg7) 28... Rxe1+ (28... Rd8 $5 29. Re5
Qf6) 29. Rxe1 Kg7 30. Qb4 Bc8 31. Re5 Qg4 $132) 27... Rfe8 28. Bxf7 (28. Kh1
Qg4 29. Bxf7 Bf5 30. Qf1 Re4 $1 $17) 28... Bf5 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. Qd1 Re7 31.
Bc4 Bg4 $44 (31... Be4 32. Be2 Bf3)) 25... Rfe8 $1 $17 26. Ne6 (26. Nxh3 {
sacrificing the Q was more persistant.} Qf5 27. Nf4 Rxe2 28. Rxe2 Bd6 $17)
26... Qf6 27. gxh4 (27. Nf8+ Kg7 $19) 27... Bxe6 $19 {and White's >> is in
ruins.} 28. Be3 Qxh4 29. Qf3 Bf5 30. Qh1 Bh3 31. Bd1 Re4 0-1

[Event "Bermuda"]
[Site "Bermuda"]
[Date "2005.02.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2618"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2005.01.30"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. O-O (
7. a4 a5 (7... a6 8. O-O {- Sulskis-Kharlov, Istanbul 2003 CBM 096}) 8. b5 {
White gets some space advantage on the <<, but the real play begins on the >>
and in the [+]. His major threat is a Nc4 move, but Black's c6, Bc7 manoeuvre
is handy anyway.} Ne7 9. O-O Ng6 $1 {The idea is to prevent White from the Bg5,
Nh4 plan, which was played in the game.} (9... O-O {- 7.0-0}) 10. Bb3 (10. Nbd2
O-O 11. Ba2 (11. Ba3 $6 {This abandons the vital c1-h6 /^, weakening the key
square f4.} Nh5 $5 (11... Nd7 $143 {defending against non-existing threats.}
12. Ba2 $1 {/\ Nc4 and the B is in trouble.} Qf6 (12... Nf4 13. Nc4 Qf6 14. g3
$1 $14) 13. Nc4 Nc5 $14 {Yudasin} (13... Bc5 $6 14. Bc1 {and d4 will come with
a tempo.} h6 15. d4 Bb6 16. Be3 Re8 (16... Qe7 17. Re1 exd4 18. Bxd4 $14) (
16... Nf4 17. g3 $14) 17. Qc2 $1 Nf4 18. Qd2 $1 $16 {with an impressive Q
manoeuvre keeping White's central advantage, Yudasin-Antunes, Sevilla 1992.}))
(11... h6 {/\ Re8 defending >< f7} 12. Ba2 $5 Nf4 (12... c6 13. Nc4 Bc7 {
at least saves the B.}) (12... Re8 13. Nc4 Bc5 14. Bxc5 dxc5 {Now White's P
structure is a bit more flexible.} 15. Qd2 $1 Bg4 16. Qe3 $14 {Yudasin-Velicka,
Tallin 1992}) 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Re1 {White wants to leave the pin
by Re3.} (15. h3 Bh5 16. Kh2 Qd7 17. Rg1 Rfc8 18. Bb2 Bg4 $1 $132) 15... Nh7 (
15... Qd7 $5) 16. h3 Bh5 {Black has a strong pressure on the >>.} 17. Kh2 {
/\ g4} (17. Bc1 $5 Ng5 18. Bxf4 exf4 $36) 17... Nxg2 $5 (17... Ng5 $5) 18. Kxg2
Ng5 19. Re3 Qc8 20. Qh1 Nxf3 21. Rxf3 Bxf3+ 22. Kxf3 Qxc3 23. Ke2 Qc2+ 24. Ke3
{+/-/~~ Gershon-Ilfeld, Israel ch 1994}) (11... Re8 12. Re1 {(Rodriguez
Talavera-Montecatine, Dos Hermanas 1992)} (12. Ng5) 12... c6 $1) (11... c6) (
11... Qe7 12. Re1 (12. Bb3 $5 {/\ Nc4}) 12... Bc5 13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Qb3 Rd8 15.
Rad1 Nd7 16. Nf1 (16. Qa3 Nb6 17. Re3 Nxc4 18. Nxc4 b6 19. Qb2 $5 (19. h3 {
This only weakens White's >>.} Qf6 20. Qc1 Be6 21. Nb2 Nf4 $15 {
Yudasin-Mikhalevsky, Beersheva 1993})) 16... Nb6 17. Ne3) (11... Bg4 $5 12. h3
(12. Qc2 Nh5 13. d4 $5 (13. Rfe1 Nhf4 14. d4 Qf6 {Black has real threats on
the >>, the f4 N is a superpower.} 15. Bf1 $2 (15. dxe5 $2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxf2+
$1 17. Kxf2 Nh3+ $19) 15... Nh3+ $17))) 12. d4 Nhf4 13. dxe5 $1 (13. Re1 Bg4
14. h3 $2 Bxh3 $1 {destroying White's defensive wall.} 15. gxh3 Nxh3+ 16. Kh2
Nxf2 17. Qe2 Ng4+ 18. Kg3 Nf4 19. Qf1 Qf6 $17 {Ivanchuk-Khalifman, Reykjavik
1991}) 13... Bg4 $1 (13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qg5 15. g3 Nh3+ 16. Kg2 Qxe5 17. Bd5
$1 {/\ Nc4} Qxc3 18. Nc4 Ng5 19. Bb2 Bh3+ 20. Kh1 Qf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxf3 22. Nxb6
cxb6 23. Rfc1 {White's strong ^^ gives more than emough compensation for the P.
} Rac8 {(Hjartarson-Short, Manila ol 1992)} 24. Bxb7 $1 Rc5 25. Ba3 Nd4 26.
Bxc5 dxc5 27. Bd5 Rd8 28. f4 Kf8 29. Ra2 $14) 14. g3 (14. exd6 Nh4 15. dxc7
Qxc7 16. Bxf8 Rxf8) (14. h3 Bh5) 14... Nxe5 $1 {This is the strong
intermediate move.} 15. gxf4 Bxf3 16. Nxf3 Nxc4 17. Bc1 (17. Qd5 $6 Nxa3 18.
Rxa3 Qf6 19. f5 g6 $17 {Lutz-Khalifman, Wijk aan Zee1994}) 17... c6 $15 {Lutz})
(11. Qb3 $6 {leaves the >> unattended, and deprives the B from the retreat on
the a2-g8 /^.} Bg4 $1 (11... Nh5 12. d4 Qf6 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rfe1 Nhf4 {Black
has good attacking chances on the >>.} 15. Rac1 Be6 16. Re3 Nh4 17. Nxh4 Qxh4
18. Bb2 Qh6 19. g3 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 d5 $1 21. Qf1 exd4 22. cxd4 Nh3+ 23. Kh1 dxe4
24. Rce1 Ng5 $17 {Yudasin-Malaniuk, Simferopol 1988}) 12. h3 Bh5 $1 (12... Bxh3
$2 {is not correct this time.} 13. gxh3 Qd7 14. Kh2 Nf4 15. Ng1 Ng4+ 16. Kg3 $1
Nh5+ 17. Kf3 Nh2+ 18. Ke2 $16 {and the K escapes in the [+].}) 13. Nh2 (13. g4
{looks too optimistic.} Nxg4 14. hxg4 Bxg4 $44) 13... Nf4 14. Ndf3 Ne2+ 15. Kh1
Nxc1 16. Raxc1 Kh8 $15 {Black's dark-squared B becomes very effective.} 17. g4
(17. Nd2) 17... Bg6 18. Nh4 c6 $1 {/\ d5} 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rce1 (20. Nxg6+
fxg6 $15) 20... Nd7 $1 21. Ng2 (21. Nxg6+ fxg6 $15) (21. Nf5 Nc5 22. Qc2 Ne6
$15) 21... d5 $1 22. exd5 Nc5 23. Qd1 (23. Qa2 cxd5 24. Bxd5 Nxd3 $17) 23...
cxd5 24. Bb5 Bc7 25. f4 exf4 26. Nxf4 Bxf4 27. Rxf4 Rc8 $1 28. Qd2 Qc7 29. Rf2
Nb3 30. Qe3 Qxc3 $17 {Torre-Tukmakov, Leningrad 1987}) (11. Re1 {weakens >< f2.
} c6 12. bxc6 bxc6 13. Bb3 d5 {Black comes first in the [+].} 14. h3 Re8 15.
Nf1 Rb8 16. Bc2 Bc7 {1/2:1/2 Raaste-Nei, Helsinki 1989}) (11. d4 {looks
premature, White may even lose the [+].} exd4 12. Nxd4 (12. cxd4 d5 $1 {
creating an isolani on d4.}) 12... Re8 13. Re1 Bg4 14. f3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16.
Nc4 Bc5 $13 {Stroe-Piper, Oakham 1990}) (11. Bb3 {- 10.Bb3}) 11... c6 $142 (
11... Bg4 $5 12. h3 (12. Qc2 Nf4 13. Ba3 {This plan is again rather dubious,
Black gets free hand on the >>.} N6h5 14. g3 Ne6 15. Kg2 Qf6 16. Ng1 Nef4+ $1 {
This is the point!} 17. Kh1 (17. gxf4 Nxf4+ 18. Kh1 (18. Kg3 Qg6 $1) 18... Qg6
$1 19. f3 Bh3 $19) 17... Nh3 18. f3 Nxg3+ $1 19. hxg3 Nxg1 20. Kg2 Qh6 21. d4
exd4 $19 {Czischke-Kreuzer, corr 1985}) 12... Bh5 13. Qc2 Nf4 14. Kh2 g5 $5 {
Black's aggressive plan is really original.} 15. Ng1 g4 16. g3 gxh3 $5 17. f3
Kh8 (17... Ne6) 18. gxf4 Rg8 $44 {Mestel-Pinter, Las Palmas izt 1982}) (11...
d5 12. Ba3 Re8 $13) 12. d4 $142 (12. Ba3 $6 {is again inferior.} Re8 13. Qc2 (
13. Ng5 $2 {is countered by the push in the [+].} d5 14. c4 h6 15. Ngf3 Nf4 16.
c5 Bc7 17. Qc2 Qd7 18. h3 cxb5 19. axb5 Qxb5 20. exd5 N6xd5 21. Bc4 Qd7 $15 {
Hassapis-C.Flear, BCF-ch 1989}) 13... Bc7 (13... Nh5 $5 {was more aggressive.}
14. g3 Bh3 15. Rfe1 Qf6 16. Rab1 Rab8 $40) 14. Rfe1 Nh5 15. d4 (15. g3 Bg4 16.
d4 Qf6 17. Re3 d5 $1 18. Rae1 $13 (18. exd5 $2 exd4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Nxd4
Nhf4 21. gxf4 Nxf4 $19)) 15... Nhf4 $132 {(Miles-Nikolac, Dortmund 1979)} 16.
Rab1 Qf6 17. b6 Bd8 18. Bc4 Bg4 19. Re3 $13) (12. bxc6 bxc6 13. d4 Re8 (13...
d5 $5) 14. dxe5 (14. Re1 d5 $11) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 $1 $11 {
Psakhis-Schussler, Lugano 1988} (15... Rxe5 16. Nc4 Rxe4 17. Nxd6 Re7 18. Nxc8
$14)) (12. Nc4 Bc7 13. Ne3 h6 14. Qc2 d5 {and Black grabs the |^ in the [+].}
15. Rd1 Be6 16. Nd2 Nf4 17. Ba3 Re8 18. Ndf1 Bb6 $15 {The B comes back to the
good /^, Tovillas-Slipak, Konex op 1991.})) (10. Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 O-O $11) (
10. h3 {looks a bit passive.} O-O 11. Re1 c6 $1 (11... h6 {is not so important.
} 12. Bb3 Re8 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Be3 Nhf4 15. Bxb6 cxb6 16. Re3 d5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5
18. exd5 Qxd5 19. Na3 Bf5 20. Qa2 Qc5 $15 {Sofieva-Ibragimov, St Petersburg op
1994}) 12. Bb3 Re8 (12... d5 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Na3 h6 15. Be3 Bc7 16. bxc6 bxc6
17. exd5 cxd5 18. Nb5 Bb8 19. d4 e4 20. Nd2 Nh4 21. Kf1 Qd7 22. Ke2 Nxg2 $19 {
Anka-Lukacs, Hungary ch 1989}) 13. bxc6 bxc6 14. Na3 d5 $1 {This is the ideal
setup for Black in the [+].} (14... h6 $6 {allows the activization of the N.}
15. Nc4 Bc5 16. Bd2 Rb8 {weakening only >< a5.} 17. Rb1 Bd7 18. d4 exd4 19.
cxd4 d5 20. Bxa5 $16 {Tolnai-Siklosi, Hungary tt 1993}) 15. exd5 (15. Bg5 h6
16. Bxf6 Qxf6 {and Black's ^^ is of high importance, the dark squares are very
vulnerable.} 17. exd5 Nf4 $15) 15... Nxd5 16. Nc4 Bc7 17. Ng5 (17. Qc2 Bf5)
17... Rb8 $1 18. Ne3 h6 19. Ne4 $15 (19. Bxd5 $2 cxd5 {Black has a strong [+],
active ^^ and good attacking chances.} 20. Nf3 Be6 21. Nc2 (21. c4 d4 $17)
21... f5 22. Na3 Rb7 $1 {/\ Bb8 keeping the strong B.} 23. Nb5 Bb8 24. Rb1 Qf6
$17 {Tolnai-I.Sokolov, Croatia 1993})) (10. Ba3 O-O 11. Nbd2 {- 10.Nbd2}) 10...
O-O 11. Nbd2 (11. Na3 $5 c6) 11... c6 (11... d5 $143 {Here this advance is
premature, White can open the [+] for his active pieces.} 12. Ba3 $1 {Finally
this move works!} Re8 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 $5 h6 $142 $1 {Black has to defend
himself against Ng5.} (14... Ndf4 $6 15. Nfg5 Be6 (15... Ne6 16. Qh5 {and
suddenly White's -> is too strong.} h6 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qf5+ $16) 16. Nxe6
Nxe6 (16... fxe6 {corrupts Black's P structure.} 17. g3 Qxd3 18. Qxd3 Nxd3 19.
Rad1 Rad8 20. Bc4 $18) 17. g3 $16 (17. Qf3 Ngf4 18. Rad1 Kh8 19. g3 Nh3+ 20.
Kg2 Nhg5 21. Nxg5 Nxg5 22. Qxb7 $18 {Markovic-Runic, JUG-chw 1990}) 17... Kh8 (
17... f5 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Kh8 20. Ba3 $16) 18. Qf3 f6 19. h4 $1 {The
battering ram advances!} Ngf8 20. Rad1 Qd7 21. Rfe1 (21. Kh2) 21... Rad8 22.
Bc4 h6 23. Qh5 Nh7 24. Qf5 $16 {with a strong pressure on the weakened light
squares, Ljubojevic-Kortchnoi, Brussels 1987.}) (14... Ngf4 15. c4 Nb4 16. c5
Ba7 {The B is rather pathetic here.} 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Nfg5 Re7 19. g3 Nh3+ 20.
Nxh3 Bxh3 21. Re1 Bf5 22. Rc1 $16) (14... Bf5 15. Nfg5 Bxe4 16. Nxf7 $1 {
This is the point!} Kxf7 17. dxe4 Ngf4 18. exd5 $18 {Suchorukov-Svirin, Orel
1992}) 15. Ra2 $5 (15. g3 Nf6) 15... Ndf4 16. Rd2 Be6 17. c4 $14) (11... Ba7
$143 {Blacvk wants to keep his B on the a7-g1 /^, but in vain.} 12. Nc4 (12. d4
$5) 12... c6 $142 $14) 12. d4 (12. Ba3 $6 {is again a blow into the air, >< d6
can easily be defended.} Re8 13. Nc4 Bc7 14. Ne3 (14. b6 $2 Bb8 $17) (14. bxc6
bxc6 15. Qc2 $6 Bg4 $1 16. Ng5 d5 {and Black's pieces stand more harmoniously.}
17. Ne3 Bh5 $1 18. Nf5 (18. Nh3 $2 Nf4 19. Nxf4 exf4 $17) 18... h6 19. Nf3 (19.
Nh3 Bg4 20. Kh1 Qd7 $1 $17) 19... Nf4 {This N is Black's main trumph.} 20. Kh1
Rb8 21. Ba2 Qd7 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 Kh7 23. Bc1 N6h5 24. Rg1 g6 25. Ng3 Qh4
26. Be3 $15) 22. Ng1 Bg6 23. Ng3 h5 $15 {Hjartarson-Georgadze, Tilburg 1993})
14... d5 {The white pieces lack harmony.} 15. Qc2 h6 $13 {/\ Be6
Dolmatov-Goldin, Irkutsk 1986}) (12. Nc4 Bc7 13. Re1 (13. Bg5 $6 {is useless,
because} h6 {may come anyway.} 14. Bd2 d5 $1 15. exd5 cxd5 {and White's [+]
has collapsed.} 16. Ne3 Qd6 17. g3 Bh3 18. Re1 Rfe8 $15 {Pihajlic-Veroczi,
JUG-cht 1989}) (13. Ne3 d5 $1 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Rd1 h6 16. Qa2 Be6 {Here only
Black can be better.} 17. Bb2 Nf4 18. exd5 N6xd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Bc1 g5 21.
Bxf4 exf4 22. Nd4 Bg4 {1/2:1/2 Fedorov-Iuldashev, Protvino 1992}) 13... Re8 14.
Qc2 $142 (14. d4 {is met by the counterblow in the [+].} exd4 $1 15. Qxd4 d5 $1
16. exd5 Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 cxd5 18. Ne3 Be5 19. Qd3 Nf4 20. Qc2 Bxc3 21. Bb2 Bxb2
22. Qxb2 Be6 $15 {Shirov-Kindermann,Pardubice 1994}) 14... d5 15. Ne3 h6 $5 $13
{/\ Be6} (15... Nf4 16. g3 Nh3+ 17. Kg2 Bb6 18. exd5 $1 {This time White gets
the upper hand in the [+] with this exchange.} cxd5 19. d4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Ng4
21. f3 $14 {Micic-Nikolin, JUG-chw 1990})) (12. bxc6 bxc6 13. d4 Bg4 $5 14. Qc2
{(Mestel-A.Greenfeld, Beer Sheva 1988 )} (14. Bb2 d5 $13) 14... Re8 $13) 12...
Re8 $142 $1 {/\ d5} (12... Bg4 $5 13. Bb2 Nh4 $5 (13... d5 14. h3 Bh5 (14...
dxe4 15. Nxe4 Bf5 16. Ng3 Qc8 {(Nunn-Winants, Brussels 1988)} 17. bxc6 $1 $16 {
/\ Ne5}) 15. g4 Nxg4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Qb1 Nf4 18. Bd1 f5 {Black's -> looks
really dangerous from now on.} 19. exd5 e4 20. Bc1 cxd5 21. Ne5 Bxd1 22. Rxd1
Ne2+ 23. Kf1 Nxc3 $17 {Degraeve-Lev, Arnhem 1988}) (13... exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15.
e5 (15. exd5 cxd5 16. Bc2 Nf4 17. Re1 Re8 $13 {Werner-Pirrot, BL 1990}) 15...
Ne4 $13) 14. Bc2 Re8 15. h3 Bh5 {Black has a nasty pressure on White's [+].}
16. dxe5 Rxe5 17. g4 Nxg4 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. hxg4 Qg5 20. Kh1 Bxg4 21. Rg1 Qh6 {
0-1 Nun-Chiburdanidze, Sochi-A 1989}) 13. bxc6 bxc6 14. dxe5 (14. Re1 d5 $11 {
Psakhis}) (14. Nc4 Bc7) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 $11) 7... O-O 8. a4 a5 (8...
a6 {- 7.a4}) 9. b5 Ne7 10. Bg5 (10. Be3 $143 {exchanges the dark-squared
bishops, but looks rather harmless.} c6 (10... Bxe3 11. fxe3 Ng6 {- 7.a4}) (
10... Ng6 11. Nbd2 d5 12. Bxb6 cxb6 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Re1 Ndf4 15. Re3 Bf5 {
Black has very active pieces fully compensating the defects in the P structure.
} 16. Nf1 Rc8 17. Ng3 Be6 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Ngf4 {=/+/=
Armas-Unzicker, BL 1990}) 11. Bxb6 Qxb6 12. Nbd2 d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Ba2 Ng6
15. c4 e4 16. dxe4 dxe4 17. Ng5 e3 $17 {Sutter-G.Garcia, US open 1990}) (10. h3
Ng6 $13 {- 7.a4}) (10. Qb3 {is again rather useless.} h6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3
c6 13. Qa2 Qb6 $13 {Mozes-Papp, Hungary tt 1992}) (10. Nbd2 Ng6 {- 7.a4 a5} (
10... Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bb3 c6 13. Ba3 Qd7 14. Re1 Ng6 15. Nf1 Nf4 16. Ng3 Bg6
17. Rb1 N6h5 18. Nxh5 Bxh5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Rfe8 21. Bc1 Ng6 22. g4 Bxg4
23. hxg4 Qxg4+ 24. Kh1 d5 25. e5 Nh4 26. Nxh4 Qxh4+ 27. Kg2 Bxd4 $44 {
Verbeek-Kishnev, Eupen op 1993})) 10... Ng6 $1 {is the logical and strong
continuation.} (10... c6 11. bxc6 (11. Nbd2 Ng6 {/\ h6} 12. Nh4 {White wants
to secure the pin .} Nf4 13. Qf3 h6 14. Bxf4 Bg4 15. Qg3 exf4 16. Qxf4 g5 17.
Qg3 gxh4 18. Qxh4 Bh5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. d4 {~/= Stecko}) (11. Bxf6 gxf6 12.
Nbd2 d5 $132) 11... bxc6 12. Ba2 Ng6 13. Nh4 Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Nf3 Bg4 16.
Nbd2 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Re1 (18. d4 f6) 18... d4 (18... Re8 $5 $13) 19. h3 Bh5
20. Qc2 dxc3 21. Qxc3 $14 {Sermek-Wehmeier, Groningen op 1993}) 11. Nh4 Nxh4 (
11... Bg4 $6 {leads to unfavourable exchanges for Black.} 12. Bxf6 (12. Qc2 Qd7
13. Nd2 Nh5 $11) 12... Qxf6 13. Qxg4 Nxh4 (13... Qxh4 14. Qxh4 Nxh4 15. Bd5 $1
{>< b7} Ra7 16. Nd2 Ng6 17. Nc4 Bc5 18. b6 cxb6 19. Rab1 $14) 14. Nd2 Ng6 15.
g3 $14 Ne7 16. Kh1 {/\ f4 and White comes first.} Rad8 17. f4 exf4 18. d4 d5 {
(V.Spasov-Kir.Georgiev, Sofia tt 1991 )} 19. Bb3 $1 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Qf5 21. Qxf5
Nxf5 22. Rxf4 $14 {and the ^- help only for White.}) (11... Kh8 12. Nxg6+ (12.
Qf3 $2 h6 13. Bxf6 {is met by the zwischenzug} Nxh4 $1 14. Bxd8 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3
Rxd8 16. Kg2 f5 $15 {Djurhuus-Wahls, Arnhem 1988} (16... Be6 17. Bd5 $15 {
Topakian-Ryan, Arnhem 1988})) (12. Qb3 $6 {forgets about the >>.} h6 $1 13.
Nxg6+ (13. Bxf7 Nxh4 14. Bxh4 g5 15. Bg3 Qe7 16. Bc4 h5 17. h4 Ng4 $19) 13...
fxg6 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Ng4 16. Nd2 Nxe3 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. Bf7 Qe7 19. Nf1
Qg5 $17 {V.Spasov-Razuvaev, Burgas 1992}) 12... fxg6 13. Be3 {= Razuvaev} Bxe3
14. fxe3 c6 $11) (11... Nf4 $5 12. Nd2 (12. Qf3 $2 Bg4 $15 13. Bxf6 $4 {
is strongly met by the standard} Qd7 $1 14. Qxf4 exf4 $19 {Armas-Blees,
Sonnevanck 1992}) 12... Bg4 (12... Kh8 13. Nhf3 h6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. d4 Bg4 $1
{(Moroz-Maksimenko, UKR-ch 1986)} 16. Qc2 $14) 13. Nhf3 Ne6 $13) 12. Bxh4 h6
13. Na3 g5 (13... Qe7 14. Nc2 {/\ Ne3}) 14. Bg3 {/\ Nc2-e3 exploiting the
weakness of >< f5.} h5 $6 {/\ h4 but he has no time for that.} (14... Kg7 15.
Nc2 $14 {/\ Ne3}) 15. Qd2 $1 Nh7 16. h3 Qf6 (16... h4 17. Bh2 g4 $5 18. Kh1 $1
gxh3 {looks frightening, but after} 19. f4 $40 {suddenly White has the real ->.
}) 17. Kh1 (17. Bd5 $1 {/\ Nc4 was more to the point.}) 17... Qg7 (17... h4 18.
Bh2 Qg6 19. d4 $36) 18. Ba2 {/\ Nc4} Kh8 {/\ f5 in case.} 19. Nc4 Bc5 20. Rad1
{/\ d4, so Black has to come out of passivity.} (20. Ne3 h4 21. Bh2 Be6 $13)
20... f5 21. exf5 (21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Bb4 $132) 21... Bxf5 22. d4 (22. Ne3 $5
{deserved serious attention.} Bg6 23. d4 (23. Nd5 c6) 23... exd4 24. cxd4 Bb4
25. Qc1 $14) 22... exd4 23. cxd4 Bb4 24. Qb2 Nf6 (24... h4 25. Bh2 g4 26. hxg4
Bxg4 27. Rc1 Rae8 28. Ne3 Nf6 (28... h3 29. Bd5) 29. Nxg4 Nxg4 $13 {and the
black pieces are active again.}) 25. Ne3 Bg6 26. f3 c6 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Bb1 $6
(28. Nc2 Bxc2 29. Qxc2 $14 {grabbing the ^^ was the logical follow up.}) 28...
Rae8 29. Nc4 Bxb1 30. Rxb1 Re6 31. Be1 Nd5 $15 {Now the black pieces are
well-posted, the N is excellent blockading the isolated P.} 32. Nxa5 $2 {
This is a serious blunder.} (32. Bxb4 axb4 33. Rbe1 Rxe1 34. Rxe1 g4 $1 35.
fxg4 hxg4 36. Nxd6 gxh3 37. gxh3 Qg3 38. Qe2 Qxh3+ 39. Qh2 Qxh2+ 40. Kxh2 Nc3
$15) 32... Rxe1 $1 33. Rfxe1 Bxa5 {Now materially Black is better plus he has
still good attacking chances.} 34. Rec1 g4 $1 35. fxg4 hxg4 36. Qe2 $2 {
This is the last mistake.} (36. Rxc6 gxh3 37. gxh3 Qh6 $17) 36... Nc3 $19 37.
Qe1 Nxb1 38. Qxa5 Qh7 39. Qe1 gxh3 40. g3 Qd3 0-1

[Event "American Continental 2nd"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "2003.08.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Crosa Coll, Martin"]
[Black "Sorin, Ariel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2519"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2003.08.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Bb3
O-O 9. Nbd2 Ng4 {If White wants to spare to the preventive h3 move he has to
reckon with the complications of the following line.} 10. Re2 Kh8 {/\ f5} 11.
h3 Nh6 12. g4 $6 {White directly prevents f5, but seriously weakens his own >>.
} (12. Nc4 {Here the N is far from the >>, which will be the main battlefield
soon.} f5 13. Bg5 (13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Rd2 Qf6 16. Nh2 Ne7 17. Ne3
Bd7 18. Qh5 Qg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 c6 $15 {Van
Mechelen-Winants, BEL-ch 2001}) 13... Qe8 14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Nh4
Bd7 17. Rd2 Qe7 18. Qh5 Rf4 19. Nf3 Qf6 $15 {Hund-C.Flear, Thessaloniki olw
1988}) (12. Nf1 {is the main line.} f5 13. d4 (13. exf5 {helps only Black to
finish his development.} Nxf5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Qd2 h6 16. Nh4 Nxh4 17. Bxh4 g5
18. Bg3 {The B is rather passive here.} Qg7 19. Rae1 Bd7 20. Kh1 Rae8 21. Bd5
b5 22. Nh2 Ne7 $13 {Hickl-Bischoff, Bern zt 1990}) (13. Bg5 Qe8 14. d4 {
The opening of position helps for Black.} fxe4 15. Rxe4 Bf5 16. Rh4 Nf7 17. Be3
Qe7 18. Ng3 Bg6 19. Bc2 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 g6 21. Ne4 exd4 22. Bg5 Nxg5 23. Nexg5 d3
$132 {Small-Hawelko, Dubai ol 1986}) (13. N1h2 {looks rather defensive.} Qf6
14. Be3 Bxe3 (14... fxe4 15. dxe4 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Ne7 17. Qf1 Ng6 18. g3 Bd7 19.
Rd1 Nf7 20. Rd2 Rae8 21. Bd5 Bc8 $13 {Luetke-Gyimesi, Groningen op 1995}) 15.
Rxe3 f4 16. Re1 g5 17. d4 g4 {1/2:1/2 Lyrberg-Z.Almasi, Wch U16 Mamaia 1991}) (
13. Bxh6 gxh6 {Black is happy to get rid of his passive N for the ^^.} 14. exf5
(14. N1h2 Qf6 15. Qd2 f4 {Now Black has threats against >< g2 and h3.} 16. Rd1
Qg6 17. Kh1 Qh5 18. d4 $13 {Modhiaki-Toh, Singapore 1990}) (14. Ng3 fxe4 (14...
f4 15. Nf5 Qf6 16. Qd2 Ne7 {Black desperately needs his light-squared B.} 17.
Nxe7 Qxe7 18. d4 Qg7 $13 {Gelashvili-Makropoulo, 2001}) 15. Rxe4 (15. Nxe4 Bxh3
) 15... Qf6 $13) 14... Bxf5 15. Bd5 {is the main line.} (15. N1h2 $6 Qf6 16.
Qd2 h5 {-/+ Adams} (16... Rae8 $6 {This allows White to exchange the vital
light-squared B.} 17. Ng4 $1 (17. Kh1 Re7 18. a3 {White's play is very passive.
} (18. Bd5 $5) (18. Ng4 Bxg4 19. hxg4 Qf4 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. Rae1 $15) 18... Rg7
19. Rg1 h5 20. Ba2 (20. Bd5 Bd7 21. b4 Nd8 $17) 20... Bd7 21. b4 Ne7 22. d4
exd4 23. Nxd4 (23. cxd4 $6 Ng6 24. Re4 Nf4 $17 {Spraggett-Adams, France 2001})
23... Nf5 24. Nhf3 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 c6 26. a4 d5 $17) 17... Bxg4 18. hxg4 Re7 19.
Rae1 Rg7 20. Re4 $13 {Adams}) 17. Rd1 {/\ d4 with a counterblow in the [+].}
Ne7 {/\ Ng6} 18. d4 Ng6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qh6 Rae8 21. g3 h4 22. Ng5 Re7 $13 {
Kovelavskay-Stefanova, Varna 2002}) (15. Kh2 {Overprotecting >< h3, but in
vain, as we will see...} Ne7 16. Ng3 Bd7 17. d4 Ng6 18. dxe5 Bxh3 $1 19. Re4 $1
(19. Kxh3 $2 Rxf3 $1 $19) 19... Bd7 20. e6 Bc6 21. Bd5 Bxf2 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23.
Qd2 d5 24. Rg4 Bxg3+ 25. Rxg3 Qf6 26. Qxh6 Nf4 27. Qxf6+ Rxf6 28. Re1 Nxe6 29.
Nd4 $11 {Lanc-Smagin, Trnava 1987}) 15... Ne7 {Black sacrifices the b P
without hesitation.} (15... Qd7 16. Kh2 (16. Ng3 Bg6 17. d4 exd4 18. Bxc6 bxc6
19. Nxd4 Rae8 {Black's P structure looks awful, but his ^^ is excellent.} 20.
Rxe8 Qxe8 21. Qd2 h5 22. Re1 Qf7 23. b3 Bb6 $13 {Polakovic-Sykora, corr 1988})
16... Ne7 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Be4 Ng6 {Black has sacrificed a P for some tempi
for his >> ->.} 19. Rd2 Nf4 {The N on f4 is extremely dangerous in this line.}
20. Bxf5 Rxf5 21. Ng3 Rg8 $1 22. Ng1 (22. Nxf5 Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 Qxf5 24. Ng1 e4 $3
25. d4 Qg5 26. Qf1 Qh4 $3 $19 {/\ Nh3}) 22... Rfg5 23. d4 e4 $17 {A.
Ivanov-Glek, Borzhomi 1984}) (15... Qf6 16. Ng3 (16. Ne3 Bd7 17. Nh2 Qg7 18.
Kh1 Rae8 19. Qd2 Nd8 20. Rg1 c6 $13 {Polzin-Blasovszky, Budapest op 1993})
16... Bd7 17. d4 (17. Be4 Rg8 18. Kh2 $2 Bxf2 19. Nh5 Qf7 20. Rxf2 Qxh5 21. d4
exd4 22. cxd4 d5 23. Bc2 Raf8 24. Qd2 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Rxf3 26. Rxf3 Qxf3 {
0-1 Jakubiec,A-Skalik,P/POL-ch 1993}) 17... exd4 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxd4 Rae8 $1
$11 {Chomet-Chabanon, FRA-ch Meribel 1998 CBM 67}) 16. Be4 {is the safe option.
} (16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Be4 Ng6 $1 {is the logical follow-up of the plan.} (17...
Bxe4 18. Rxe4 $1 Rxb2 19. d4 Qa8 $1 (19... Ng6 $2 20. Qc1 $1 $16) 20. Rg4 e4
21. Qc1 $1 (21. N3d2 $6 d5 22. Qa4 Ng6 $1 23. Rb1 (23. Qxa6 Bxd4 24. Qxa8 Bxf2+
$17) 23... Rxb1 24. Nxb1 Qb7 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. axb3 c5 $17 {and the B finally
comes out of passivity, Gipslis-Podgaets, SU 1985.}) 21... Rb6 (21... Rb5 22.
a4 $1 $16) 22. Qxh6 $1 Nf5 23. Qg5 exf3 24. Ng3 Qd8 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Nxf5 Rf8
$13 {Podgaets Podgaets}) 18. Ng3 (18. Bxf5 Rxf5 19. Ng3 Rxf3 $1 {The typical
blow again and again!} 20. gxf3 Nf4 (20... Qh4 21. Kh2 Nf4 {- 20..Nf4}) 21. Kh2
Qh4 22. Qf1 Rg8 {Black's direct -> is very dangerous.} 23. d4 exd4 24. Re4 d3 (
24... d5 25. Rxd4 Bxd4 26. cxd4 Qf6 27. Rd1 h5 28. Qe1 h4 $17 {Ma Hong
Ding-Shu Yimin, PRC-ch 1987}) 25. Nf5 Qg5 26. Nd4 d5 27. Re3 Bc5 $17 {
Burchardt-Botsari, Novi Sad olw 1990}) 18... Bxe4 19. dxe4 Rxf3 $1 {Have we
seen this before?!} 20. gxf3 Nf4 21. Kh2 Qh4 22. Qf1 Rg8 23. Nf5 (23. Rd2 Bxf2
24. Nf5 Bg1+ 25. Kh1 Qh5 26. h4 Bb6 $17 {Podgaets}) 23... Qh5 24. Re3 Qg5 $44 {
Belkhodja-Perovic, Paris 1988}) 16... Ng6 17. Bxf5 (17. Ng3 Bxe4 (17... Bxh3
18. gxh3 d5 19. Bf5 $1 $13) 18. Rxe4 (18. dxe4 Rxf3 $1 19. gxf3 Nf4 20. Re1 Qh4
$19) 18... d5 (18... Qd7 19. d4 Qf7 20. Kh2 Rae8 21. Qd2 d5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23.
Rxe5 Rxe5 24. dxe5 Bxf2 $15 {Battseseg-Garcia, Moscow ol 1994}) 19. Rg4 Nf4 $1
{/\ h5} 20. Nxe5 (20. Ne2 Nxh3+) 20... Bxf2+ $1 21. Kxf2 Nxd3+ 22. Kg1 Nxe5 23.
Qd4 Qd6 24. Re1 Rae8 25. b4 Qb6 $17 {Dreev-Yakovich, SU 1987}) (17. d4 Nf4 18.
Re1 Bxh3 $1 19. gxh3 Qd7 $1 $17) 17... Rxf5 18. Re4 (18. Ng3 $2 {again falls
into} Rxf3 $1 19. gxf3 Nf4 $17 {/\ Qh4}) 18... Nf4 19. Ng3 Qg8 $1 {/\ Raf8
with a nasty pressure on the semi-opened f and g lines.} 20. d4 Raf8 21. Kh2
R5f6 22. Ne1 Ng6 23. f3 d5 (23... exd4 24. cxd4 d5 25. Rg4 {- 23...d5}) 24. Rg4
(24. dxe5 Rb6 25. Rg4 Qe6 $17 {/\ Ne5}) 24... exd4 25. cxd4 Rf4 $1 26. Nc2 (26.
Nh5 Rxg4 27. hxg4 Nf4) 26... c6 27. Ne2 Rxg4 28. hxg4 h5 29. Ne3 (29. gxh5 Nh4
30. Qf1 Qg5 $19) 29... Bb8+ 30. Kh1 Nh4 $1 31. Qd2 Qg5 32. Nf1 Qxd2 33. Nxd2
hxg4 $17 {Torre-Wedberg, New York op 1988}) 13... fxe4 (13... Qf6 14. dxe5 dxe5
(14... Nxe5 {In most of the cases it is advisable for Black to exchange the
c6N.} 15. Nxe5 dxe5 $13 (15... Qxe5 $6 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Be3 {neutralizing the
pressure against >< f2.} Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Qg5 19. Qd5 Qf6 20. Rd1 Ng8 21. Bc2 g6 (
21... Ne7 22. Qc4 c6 23. Qd3 $16) 22. Qc4 c6 23. Qb4 d5 24. c4 $16 {
Ehlvest-Salov, Rotterdam 1989 47/394})) 15. Be3 f4 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Rd2 Na5
18. N1h2 Ra8 19. Rd5 Nxb3 20. axb3 Re8 21. c4 b6 22. Qc2 Bb7 $13 {
Reefat-Aleksandrov, Istanbul ol 2000}) 14. Rxe4 Bf5 (14... d5 15. Bg5 (15. Re1
exd4 (15... e4 16. Ng5 (16. Bg5 Qd6 $15) (16. N3h2 Nf5 $13) 16... Na5 $13) 16.
Bxh6 gxh6 17. cxd4 Bf5 {despite of his corrupted P structure Black has good
tactical chances on the semi-opened f and g lines and his ^^ is also active.}
18. Ng3 Bg6 (18... Qd6 19. Nxf5 Rxf5) 19. Qd2 Qd6 20. Rad1 Rxf3 $1 {This
positional exchange sacrifice destroys White's >> and the [+].} 21. gxf3 Nxd4
22. Qc3 c5 23. Ne2 Qf6 $13) 15... dxe4 $3 {This brave positional Q sacrifice
is Black's main idea.} 16. Bxd8 Rxd8 17. Ng5 exd4 18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. Qe2 Bf5 20.
Ng3 Bg6 21. N5xe4 (21. Kh1 Re8 22. Rf1 {1/2:1/2 Psakhis-Hector, Palma de
Mallorca 1989}) 21... Re8 22. Re1 Rdxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 g6
26. Bd5 $1 Bb6 27. g4 $1 Kg7 28. Re8 $1 Nf7 29. Kg2 {(Gipslis-Hector, GER 1998)
} Nd6 30. Rg8+ Kf6 31. f4 h6 $1 $13 {Gipslis}) (14... Qf6 15. Ng3 Nf5 16. Nh5
Qg6 17. Nh4 Nxh4 18. Rxh4 exd4 19. Nf4 Qe8 20. Qh5 Bf5 21. Bd2 Qxh5 22. Nxh5 d3
$17 {Nielsen-Brinck Claussen, Lyngby op 1989}) 15. Rh4 (15. Re1 exd4 $1 {
It is advisable for Black to open the position for his active pieces.} (15...
e4 16. Ng5 (16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Nh4 d5 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qh5 Ne7 20. Qxh6 Ng6 21.
Ne3 Nxh4 22. Qxh4 c6 23. Bd1 Qg7 24. Bg4 Bg6 $44 {Frois-Shomoev, Capella
Grande 2003}) 16... d5 17. f3 exf3 18. Nxf3 $14 {and the B on a7 is out of
play.}) 16. cxd4 Qf6 {>< d4} 17. Bg5 Qg6 18. Qd2 Nf7 19. Bf4 Bxh3 20. Ng3 Bg4
21. Bc2 Qf6 22. Ne4 Qd8 23. Bg5 Qc8 $17 {Song Daoxin-Lin Ta, PRC-tch 1987})
15... d5 (15... e4 $5 16. Bg5 $1 (16. Ng5 $6 d5 {/\ Ne7}) 16... Qe8 17. N3d2
Qg6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Ne3 {and White has created a successful blockade on e3.}
Ne7 20. Qh5 (20. Nxf5) 20... Qxh5 21. Rxh5 Bg6 22. Rh4 (22. Rxh6 $6 {is too
greedy!} c5 23. dxc5 (23. d5 c4 24. Ndxc4 Nf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Ne3 Rf4 $17)
23... Bxc5 24. Rh4 d5 $44) 22... c5 {Black has to open up the position at any
rate.} 23. Nxe4 $142 (23. dxc5 {helps only for Black in view of} d5 $1 {/\ Bc5}
) (23. d5 $6 {is met by the positional P sacrifice} c4 $1 {in order to open up
the dangerous g1-a7 /^.} 24. Bxc4 (24. Ndxc4 Nxd5 25. Rd1 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 Rf6 {
/\ Raf8=/+}) 24... Nf5 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Nxe4 (26. Nf1 Bg6 27. Ne3 Bb6 $1 28.
Rxh6 Rf4 29. Rf1 $2 Raf8 30. Rxg6 hxg6 $17 {Minasian-Peng Xiaomin, Luzern 1993}
) 26... Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxf2 28. Kh1 Rg8 $11 {^-}) 23... cxd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25.
Nxd6 Bxb2 26. Rd1 b5 $14) 16. Ng3 (16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Rxh6 Be4 $44 {and Black
has a fine compensation for the P because of his strong ^^ and the semi-opened
f and g lines.}) 16... e4 17. Ng5 (17. Bg5 $6 Qd6 18. Nd2 Bg6 {/\ Nd8-e6})
17... Ne7 $13 {Grabarska-Wiliczkiewicz, Lubniewice POL-chT 1994}) 12... Ng8 (
12... f6 {/\ Nf7 is a slow, positional way.} 13. Nf1 Nf7 14. Kg2 Ng5 15. Nh4
Ne6 {>< f4 is the main drawback of the White's setup.} 16. Be3 g6 $15 {and the
N is out of play, Skripchenko-Pinter, FRA 1999}) (12... Nxg4 $5 {is always an
exciting question.} 13. hxg4 Bxg4 {Black has two pawns and good attacking
chances for the piece.} 14. Nh2 {looks more to the point.} (14. Qf1 f5 15. Qg2
Qd7 16. Bd1 (16. Re1 Rf6 17. Ng5 Raf8 18. exf5 Qxf5 19. Nde4 Rg6 20. Qh2 (20.
d4 Bf3 21. Ng3 Rxg5 $19 {Larrea-Izquierdo, Montevideo 2001}) 20... h6 21. Qh4
Bf3 $44) 16... Rf6 17. Re1 (17. exf5 Qxf5 18. Re4 Bh3 $17 {Popek-Dubiel,
Suwalki 1999}) 17... Raf8 $44) 14... Qh4 {The exchange is not important, Black
continues his ->.} 15. Nxg4 Qxg4+ 16. Kf1 f5 17. exf5 $1 (17. Nc4 fxe4 18. Ne3
(18. dxe4 Qh4 $44) 18... Qh4 {(Shipunov-Rodin, Voronezh 1999)} 19. Kg1 Rf6 $17)
17... Rxf5 18. Ne4 Ne7 $1 (18... Raf8 19. Ke1 Ne7 $5 (19... Qh4 20. Kd2 $16) (
19... Bxf2+ $2 20. Kd2 {and the white K escapes on the <<.} Rf3 21. Kc2 Qg6 22.
Nxf2 Rxf2 23. Be3 $18 {Izmukhambetov-Aronian, Moscow 1996}) 20. Be3 Bxe3 21.
Rxe3 Qh4 22. Qe2 d5 23. Ng3 Rxf2 24. Qxf2 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 $14) 19. Be6 Qh3+ 20.
Ke1 Qh1+ 21. Kd2 Qh6+ 22. Ng5 Rxg5 23. Kc2 Rf8 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 $44) 13. Nf1 Be6 (
13... Nge7 $5 {/\ Ng6 >< f4}) 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Bc2 f6 (15... h5 $5 {looked more
aggressive!} 16. Nf5 (16. Nxh5 Bxg4 $17) 16... g6 $15) 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 (
17. cxd4 d5 $15 {with a nasty pressure on >< d4.}) 17... Nxd4 18. cxd4 d5 19.
Qd3 (19. Be3 Ne7 $15) 19... g6 {This is a useful prophylaxys.} (19... Ne7 20.
e5 $1 (20. exd5 Bg8 21. Bd2 Nxd5 $15) 20... f5 21. Bg5 $36) 20. Be3 Rae8 21. f3
{White wants to hold his [+] and weakened >>, he is not strong enough for an
advance.} Ne7 22. Kg2 (22. a3 {seems to be the better prophylaxys.}) 22... Nc6
23. Rd1 Nb4 {Now Black gets the vital ^^.} (23... dxe4 24. fxe4 Nb4 25. Qd2
Nxc2 26. Qxc2 $13) 24. Qc3 Nxc2 25. Rxc2 c6 $15 (25... Bb6 $5 $15) 26. e5 $2 {
This is a miscalculation, underestimating the strength of the pin.} fxe5 27.
dxe5 d4 28. Bxd4 $2 (28. Rxd4 $1 {was the only possibility.} Bxd4 29. Bxd4 Qd5
(29... Kg8 30. Ne4 $44) (29... Rd8 30. Bb6 $44) 30. Ne4 $15) 28... c5 $1 29.
Bxc5 Qxd1 30. Bxa7 Rxf3 $1 $19 {This is the decisive blow!} 31. Qd2 Rd3 32.
Qxd1 Rxd1 33. Ne2 Bd5+ 34. Kg3 Rd3+ 35. Kh2 Bc6 36. Rc3 Rd2 0-1

[Event "Lausanne YM 4th"]
[Site "Lausanne"]
[Date "2003.09.18"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2457"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2003.09.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 4]} e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3
O-O 8. Re1 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Ng4 {If White wants to spare to the preventive h3 move
he has to reckon with the complications of the following line.} 10. Re2 Kh8 {
/\ f5} 11. h3 Nh6 $1 12. Nf1 {[%mdl 32768] This is the main line.} (12. g4 $6 {
- Crosa-Sorin/ American Continental 2003}) (12. Nc4 {Here the N is far from
the >>, which will be the main battlefield soon.} f5 13. Bg5 (13. Bxh6 gxh6 14.
exf5 Bxf5 15. Rd2 Qf6 16. Nh2 Ne7 17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Qh5 Qg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. Nd5
Nxd5 21. Bxd5 c6 $15 {Van Mechelen-Winants/ BEL-ch 2001}) 13... Qe8 14. Bxh6
gxh6 {This exchange is usually good for Black, because he gets the ^^ and the
g <->.} 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Nh4 Bd7 17. Rd2 Qe7 18. Qh5 Rf4 19. Nf3 Qf6 $15 {
Hund-Flear,C/ Thessaloniki olw 1988}) 12... f5 13. d4 $5 (13. Bxh6 gxh6 {
Black is happy to get rid of his passive N for the ^^.} 14. exf5 (14. N1h2 Qf6
15. Qd2 f4 {Now Black has threats against >< g2 and h3.} 16. Rd1 Qg6 17. Kh1
Qh5 18. d4 $13 {Modhiaki-Toh/ Singapore 1990}) (14. Ng3 fxe4 15. Rxe4 (15. Nxe4
Bxh3) 15... Qf6 $13) 14... Bxf5 15. Bd5 {- Chomet-Chabanon/ FRA-ch Meribel 1998
} (15. N1h2 $6 Qf6 16. Qd2 h5 (16... Rae8 $6 {This allows White to exchange
the vital light-squared B.} 17. Ng4 $1 (17. Kh1 Re7 18. a3 {White's play is
very passive.} (18. Bd5 $5) (18. Ng4 Bxg4 19. hxg4 Qf4 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. Rae1
$15) 18... Rg7 19. Rg1 h5 20. Ba2 (20. Bd5 Bd7 21. b4 Nd8 $17) 20... Bd7 21. b4
Ne7 22. d4 exd4 23. Nxd4 (23. cxd4 $6 Ng6 24. Re4 Nf4 $17 {Spragett-Adams/
France 2001}) 23... Nf5 24. Nhf3 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 c6 26. a4 d5 $17) 17... Bxg4 18.
hxg4 Re7 19. Rae1 Rg7 20. Re4 $13 {Adams}) 17. Rd1 {/\ d4 with a counterblow
in the [+].} Ne7 18. d4 Ng6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qh6 Rae8 21. g3 h4 22. Ng5 Re7
$13 {Kovelavskay-Stefanova/ Varna 2002}) (15. Kh2 {Overprotecting >< h3, but
in vain, as we will see...} Ne7 16. Ng3 Bd7 17. d4 Ng6 18. dxe5 Bxh3 $1 19. Re4
$1 (19. Kxh3 $2 Rxf3 $1 $19) 19... Bd7 20. e6 Bc6 21. Bd5 Bxf2 22. Bxc6 bxc6
23. Qd2 d5 24. Rg4 Bxg3+ 25. Rxg3 Qf6 26. Qxh6 Nf4 27. Qxf6+ Rxf6 28. Re1 Nxe6
29. Nd4 $11 {Lanc-Smagin/ Trnava 1987})) (13. exf5 {helps only Black to finish
his development.} Nxf5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Qd2 h6 16. Nh4 Nxh4 17. Bxh4 g5 18. Bg3
Qg7 19. Rae1 Bd7 20. Kh1 Rae8 21. Bd5 b5 22. Nh2 Ne7 $13 {Hickl-Bischoff/ Bern
zt 1990}) (13. Bg5 Qe8 14. d4 {The opening of position helps for Black.} fxe4
15. Rxe4 Bf5 16. Rh4 Nf7 17. Be3 Qe7 18. Ng3 Bg6 19. Bc2 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 g6 21.
Ne4 exd4 22. Bg5 Nxg5 23. Nexg5 d3 $17 {Small-Hawelko/ Dubai ol 1986}) (13.
N1h2 {looks rather defensive.} Qf6 14. Be3 Bxe3 (14... fxe4 15. dxe4 Bxe3 16.
Rxe3 Ne7 17. Qf1 Ng6 18. g3 Bd7 19. Rd1 Nf7 20. Rd2 Rae8 21. Bd5 Bc8 $13 {
Luetke-Gyimesi/ Groningen op 1995}) 15. Rxe3 f4 16. Re1 g5 17. d4 g4 {1/2-1/2
Lyrberg,P-Almasi,Z/ Wch U16 Mamaia 1991 (17)}) 13... Qf6 (13... fxe4 14. Rxe4
Bf5 (14... d5 15. Bg5 (15. Re1 exd4 {is the dynamical reply.} (15... e4 16.
N3h2 (16. Bg5 Qd6 $15) (16. Ng5 Na5 17. f3 Nxb3 18. axb3 c5 19. fxe4 cxd4 20.
cxd4 dxe4 21. Be3 Qd5 22. Ng3 Nf5 23. Rf1 Bd7 24. Qh5 h6 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 $17 {
Frois-Izeta Txabarri/ San Sebastian op 1996}) 16... Nf5 $13) 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17.
cxd4 Bf5 {despite of his corrupted P structure Black has good tactical chances
on the semi-opened f and g lines and his ^^ is also active.} 18. Ng3 Bg6 (18...
Qd6 19. Nxf5 Rxf5) 19. Qd2 Qd6 20. Rad1 Rxf3 $1 {This positional exchange
sacrifice destroys White's >> and the [+].} 21. gxf3 Nxd4 22. Qc3 c5 23. Ne2
Qf6 $13) 15... dxe4 $3 {This brave positional Q sacrifice is Black's main idea.
} 16. Bxd8 Rxd8 17. Ng5 exd4 18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. Qe2 Bf5 20. Ng3 Bg6 21. N5xe4 (
21. Kh1 Re8 22. Rf1 {1/2-1/2 Psakhis-Hector/ Palma de Mallorca 1989 (22)})
21... Re8 22. Re1 Rdxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 g6 26. Bd5 $1 Bb6
27. g4 $1 Kg7 28. Re8 $1 Nf7 29. Kg2 {Gipslis-Hector/ GER 1998} Nd6 30. Rg8+
Kf6 31. f4 h6 $1 $13 {Gipslis}) (14... Qf6 15. Ng3 Nf5 16. Nh5 Qg6 17. Nh4 Nxh4
18. Rxh4 exd4 19. Nf4 Qe8 20. Qh5 Bf5 21. Bd2 Qxh5 22. Nxh5 d3 $17 {
Nielsen-Brinck Claussen/ Lyngby op 1989}) 15. Rh4 (15. Re1 exd4 $1 {It is
advisable for Black to open the position for his active pieces.} (15... e4 16.
Ng5 (16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Nh4 d5 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qh5 Ne7 20. Qxh6 Ng6 21. Ne3 Nxh4
22. Qxh4 c6 {/\ Bc7 with pressure on the f- and g-lines for the P.} 23. Bd1 Qg7
24. Bg4 Bg6 $44 {Frois-Shomoev/ Capella Grande 2003}) 16... d5 17. f3 exf3 18.
Nxf3 $14 {and the B on a7 is out of play.}) 16. cxd4 Qf6 17. Bg5 Qg6 18. Qd2
Nf7 19. Bf4 Bxh3 $1 (19... h6 $2 20. Ng3 Qf6 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Bc2 Qf6 23. Qd3
$16 {Hawelko-Lukacs/ Rubinstein mem 1984}) 20. Ng3 Bg4 21. Bc2 Qf6 22. Ne4 Qd8
23. Bg5 Qc8 $17 {Song Daoxin-Lin Ta/ PRC-tch 1987}) 15... d5 $5 (15... e4 $6
16. Bg5 $1 (16. Ng5 $6 d5 {/\ Ne7}) 16... Qe8 17. N3d2 Qg6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19.
Ne3 {and White has created a successful blockade on e3.} Ne7 20. Qh5 (20. Nxf5)
20... Qxh5 21. Rxh5 Bg6 22. Rh4 (22. Rxh6 $6 {is too greedy!} c5 23. dxc5 (23.
d5 c4 24. Ndxc4 Nf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Ne3 Rf4 $17) 23... Bxc5 24. Rh4 d5 $44)
22... c5 {Black has to open up the position at any rate.} 23. Nxe4 $142 (23.
dxc5 $6 {helps only for Black in view of} d5 $1 {/\ Bxc5}) (23. d5 $6 {is met
by the positional P sacrifice} c4 $1 {in order to open up the dangerous g1-a7 /
^.} 24. Bxc4 (24. Ndxc4 Nxd5 25. Rd1 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 Rf6 $15 {/\ R af8}) 24...
Nf5 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Nxe4 $1 (26. Nf1 Bg6 27. Ne3 Bb6 $1 28. Rxh6 Rf4 29. Rf1
$2 Raf8 30. Rxg6 hxg6 $17 {Minasian-Peng Xiaomin/ Luzern 1993}) 26... Bxe4 27.
Rxe4 Rxf2 28. Kh1 Rg8 $11) 23... cxd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd6 Bxb2 26. Rd1 b5
$14) 16. Ng3 (16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Rxh6 Be4 $44 {and Black has a fine
compensation for the P because of his strong ^^ and the semi-opened f- and
g-lines.}) 16... e4 17. Ng5 (17. Bg5 $6 Qd6 18. Nd2 Bg6 {/\ Nd8-e6, c5}) 17...
Ne7 18. Be3 Qd7 19. Qd2 Bg6 20. Bd1 Nef5 21. Nxf5 Nxf5 22. Bg4 Qe7 23. Bxf5
Rxf5 $15 {Jaracz-Wiliczkiewicz/ Lubniewice POL-chT 1994}) (13... f4 $5 14. dxe5
Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Nh2 Re8 18. Nf3 Be6 19. Bc2 Nf7 20. b3 g5
$132 {Dobrovolsky-Kachiani Gersinska/ Mitropa Cup 1995}) 14. Bg5 $2 {The B
remains only vulnerable here.} (14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... Nxe5 {In most of the
cases it is advisable for Black to exchange the c6N.} 15. Nxe5 dxe5 (15... Qxe5
$6 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Be3 {neutralizing the pressure against >< f2.} Bxe3 18.
Nxe3 Qg5 19. Qd5 Qf6 20. Rd1 Ng8 21. Bc2 g6 (21... Ne7 22. Qc4 c6 23. Qd3 $16)
22. Qc4 c6 23. Qb4 d5 24. c4 $16 {Ehlvest-Salov/ Rotterdam 1989}) 16. Be3 f4
17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. f3 a5 19. Qe1 Nf7 20. Rd2 Ng5 21. Nh2 Ra6 22. Rad1 Qe7 $40 {
Stefanov-Kolev/ BUL-ch Sofia 1992}) 15. Be3 f4 $13 {- Reefat-Aleksandrov/
Istanbul 2000}) 14... Qg6 {This is the best place for the Q anyway.} 15. exf5 (
15. Bxh6 {is met by the zwischenzug} fxe4 $1 $17) 15... Bxf5 {Now Black's
pieces are well-developed and active.} 16. Qd2 (16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxg5 18.
Nf3 Qf6 $15 {and Black's ^^ is extremely effective.}) 16... Nf7 17. Ng3 (17.
Bxf7 Qxf7 18. dxe5 Bxh3 19. N1h2 Be6 $15 {leaves White again without the ^^.})
17... exd4 18. Bf4 $2 {Now Black gets a clear advantage.} (18. Nxf5 Nxg5 19.
Qxg5 Qxf5 20. Qxf5 Rxf5 $15 {and although Black is a P up, the ^- may give
some drawing chances in the _|_.}) 18... d3 $1 19. Ree1 Bd7 20. Bd5 Nfe5 21.
Be3 $2 {This is the decisive mistake.} (21. Nxe5 Nxe5 $17) (21. Rad1 Nxf3+ 22.
Bxf3 Qf7 23. Bxc6 Bxc6 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Qxa2 26. Rxd3 Rae8 $17) 21...
Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Rxf3 $1 $19 {This typical blow destroys White's >> defence
completely.} 23. gxf3 Ne5 24. Qd1 d2 25. Re2 Nxf3+ 26. Kg2 Rf8 27. Bxd2 Bc6 28.
Be3 Qe6 29. Qc1 Nd4+ 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 07th"]
[Site "Smolensk"]
[Date "2000.04.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kovchan, Alexander"]
[Black "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2441"]
[BlackElo "2534"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2000.04.15"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow M. Saulin PRSFI"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Phoenix"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 {White wants
to gain space on the << meanwhile escures his B on the a2-g8 /^.} (7. Bb3 {
is the real main line saving the B from the Na5 plans.}) 7... O-O 8. Nbd2 Ba7 {
This is the typical prophylactic move here. Now White has to decide which plan
to chose.} 9. a5 (9. Re1 Ng4 {Black immediately attacks >< f2 preparing the
opening of the f <-> by Kh8 and f5.} (9... Ne7 {is the quiet positional plan
regrouping the N to g6.} 10. Nf1 c6 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 (12... Bb8 $5 {
looks sophisticated, but it worked well in the game Speelman-Morozevich,
Moscow PCA-Intel qual 1995. The game went as follows:} 13. Ng3 h6 14. d4 Bc7
15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Bc5 Re8 17. h3 b6 18. Be3 Qe7 19. Nf5 Qf8 20. Nd2 Nf4 $13)
13. Nxe3 Nf4 $11) 10. Re2 Kh8 (10... Bd7 {is less consequent, but still
playable.} 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 {This P structure is not bad
for Black, because the f5 and d5 squares are covered and the f <-> is opened.}
14. h3 Nf6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qe8 $11 {Adams-Kula, EU-ch U20 Arnhem 1988})
11. h3 Nh6 12. Nf1 f5 $1 {This is the main idea of Black's setup.} 13. exf5
Nxf5 14. Bg5 Qe8 15. d4 Qg6 16. d5 e4 17. Rxe4 Ne5 18. N1d2 Ng3 $5 (18... h6 {
looks also dangerous for White, for example:} 19. Nxe5 (19. Bh4 Nxh4 20. Rxh4
Qg3 21. Qe2 Nxf3+ 22. Nxf3 Bd7 $17 (22... Rxf3 $4 23. Qxf3 Qxh4 24. Qf8+ Kh7
25. Bd3+ $18)) 19... dxe5 20. Be3 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Bxh3 $19) 19. Rf4 Bxh3 20. gxh3
Rxf4 21. Bxf4 Ne2+ 22. Kh2 Nxf4 23. Qg1 Qf5 $17 {with a strong -> on the dark
squares, Adams-Barua, London NWYM 1989.}) (9. h3 {avoids the -> beginning with
Ng4.} Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 c6 12. Ng3 h6 (12... d5 $5 {is worthy of
attention to begin the action in the [+] first.}) 13. Ba2 Re8 14. d4 exd4 (
14... Qc7 15. Qc2 Be6 16. Be3 Bxa2 17. Rxa2 d5 18. dxe5 {(Beshukov-B.Lengyel,
Spring op Budapest 1993)} Nxe5 $11) 15. cxd4 (15. Nxd4 d5 $11) 15... d5 16. e5
Nh7) 9... Kh8 {with the well-known f5 plan} (9... Be6 {is the simplest way.}
10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Re1 Kh8 {with the well-known f5 idea.} 12. Nf1 Ng4 13. Re2 Bxc4
14. Qxc4 f5 $13 {Kovchan-Jirka, Wch U16 Oropesa del Mar 1999}) (9... Ne7 10.
Re1 (10. Ba2 {/\ Nc4} Ng6 11. Nc4 h6 12. h3 Re8 13. Be3 Be6 14. Qa4 {The Q is
doing nothing here.} Qc8 15. Kh2 Nh5 16. Ng1 Nhf4 $17 {with attacking chances
against >< g2 and h3, Kontic-Mastrokoukos, Balkaniad Hania 1989.}) (10. d4 Ng6
(10... Nxe4 $6 {opens up the position for the better developed party.} 11. Nxe4
d5 12. Nxe5 $14) (10... exd4 11. Nxd4 (11. cxd4 d5 12. e5 $5 (12. exd5 Nexd5 {
blockading the isolated P.}) 12... Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5 h6 15. e6 (15.
Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Qb3 Qf8 17. Be3 c6 {parrying the immediate threats.}) 15... f5
$17) 11... Re8 12. Re1 Ng6 {with pressure on e4 and f4.}) 11. Re1 Qe7 12. Qc2
Be6 13. Qb3 Bxc4 14. Qxc4 c6 15. b3 Rad8 16. Ba3 Rfe8 17. h3 Qd7 $15 {
Komljenovic-Koludrovic, Split op 1999}) 10... Ng6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Bb3 h6 13.
Be3 Be6 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Ng3 c6 16. d4 Ra8 17. Bc2 Qc7 $11 {and in these
positions the a4-a5 moves are not important, Gavrikov-Van der Sterren, OHRA-B
Amsterdam 1987.}) 10. Bb3 Ng8 $1 (10... Nh5 $5 {looks more active, but the N
can be vulnerable here.} 11. Nc4 (11. Nxe5 $4 {immediately loses to} Nxe5 12.
Qxh5 Bg4 $19) (11. d4 {is met by} Nf4) 11... f5 (11... h6 $2 {is already bad
because of} 12. Nfxe5 dxe5 13. Qxh5 Qxd3 14. Nxe5 $18) 12. Nfxe5 $1 {This is
the main threat here.} (12. Ng5 Nf6) (12. Bg5 Qe8) (12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Bg5 Qd7)
12... Nxe5 (12... dxe5 13. Qxh5 Qxd3 14. Bg5 Qxe4 15. Rae1 Qg4 16. Qxg4 fxg4
17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Bd7 19. Re7 Bc6 20. Rxc7 Rae8 21. Re7 {with a healthy P
up.}) 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Qxh5 Qxd3 15. Bg5 Bc5 (15... Qxe4 $2 16. Be7 $18) 16.
Bf7 $1 {/\ Bg6} Qxe4 17. b4 $1 {This is better than the straightforward} (17.
Bg6 h6 18. Bxh6 Qg4 19. Qxg4 fxg4 20. Be3 $14) 17... Qc6 $1 (17... Bd6 18. Bg6
h6 19. f3 $1 $16) 18. bxc5 g6 19. Bxg6 Qxg6 20. Qxg6 hxg6 21. Rae1 e4 22. f3
Bd7 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Rxe4 $14 {and White is a P up in a
notorious ^- _|_ with rooks.}) 11. Nc4 (11. Re1 f5 $15) 11... f5 $1 12. exf5 (
12. Bg5 Qe8) (12. Be3 fxe4 13. dxe4 Bg4 14. Ncd2 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Nf6 $15) 12...
Bxf5 {Now Black's pieces are very active, he has threats on the f <-> and in
the [+].} 13. Bg5 (13. Be3 Bg4 14. Ncd2 Nf6 $15) 13... Qe8 ({or} 13... Qd7 14.
Ne3 Bg6 $15) 14. Ne3 $2 {[#] This allows Black to ruin White's >>.} ({However} 
14. Nh4 Be6 15. Qe2 Qf7 16. Be3 Bd5 $15 {was already a bit better for Black.})
14... Bxd3 $1 $17 15. Qxd3 e4 16. Qd5 exf3 17. gxf3 {The P structure is rather
ugly now.} (17. Rfe1 Bxe3 18. Bxe3 (18. Rxe3 Qg6 $19) 18... Qg6 $17) 17... h6
18. Bh4 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qxe3+ 20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Qe4 (22. Ba4 Qc5 $19)
22... Re8 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 $19 {with an extra P in an easy _|_.} 24. Bd5 Rf5 25.
Be4 Rh5 26. Bxc6 Re2 $1 27. Rfe1 Rhxh2+ 28. Kg1 Rhg2+ 29. Kh1 bxc6 30. Rxe2
Rxe2 31. b4 Rc2 32. Re1 Rxc3 33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Ra8 Rxf3 35. Rxa6 Rb3 36. Rxc6
Rxb4 37. Rxc7 Ra4 38. Ra7 d5 39. a6 Ra2 40. Kg1 d4 41. Rd7 Rxa6 42. Rxd4 g5 43.
Rb4 Kg6 44. Kg2 h5 45. Kg3 Ra3+ 46. Kg2 h4 47. Rb6+ Kh5 48. Rb4 h3+ 49. Kh2 g4
50. Rb8 Ra2+ 51. Kg1 Re2 52. Rb5+ Kh4 53. Rb4 Kg3 54. Rb3+ Kf4 55. Rb8 Re4 56.
Kh2 Re2+ 57. Kg1 Kf3 58. Rf8+ Kg3 59. Rf1 Rg2+ 60. Kh1 Rf2 61. Rb1 Re2 62. Kg1
Kf3 63. Rf1+ Ke3 64. Rf8 Rg2+ 65. Kh1 Rf2 66. Rh8 g3 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 56th"]
[Site "Krasnoyarsk"]
[Date "2003.09.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vorobiov, Evgeny E"]
[Black "Vekshenkov, Nikolai"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2547"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2003.09.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 Ba7 7. Bb3 d6 8. h3
O-O 9. O-O Nd7 {/\ Nc5, Kh8, f5, or Ne6. This move is not that popular,
although it is playable.} 10. Bc2 {Leaving the a2-g8 /^ deliberately doesn't
look very logical, but Nc5 will come anyway.} (10. Re1 Nc5 (10... Kh8 {/\ f5}
11. Bc2 (11. Nf1 Nc5 12. Bc2 f5 {This is the main idea of Black.} 13. exf5 (13.
Bg5 Qe8 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. d4 Bxc2 16. Qxc2 Rxf3 $1 {This typical exchange
sacrifice destroys White's >>.} 17. gxf3 Qh5 18. Be3 exd4 19. cxd4 Ne6 $44) (
13. b4 {helps only for Black after} fxe4 14. dxe4 Ne6 $15) 13... Bxf5 14. Ng3
$13 {Sariego-Leyva, Cuba-ch 1996}) 11... f5 (11... Nc5 $2 {is now met by} 12.
d4 $16 (12. b4 $2 Ne6)) (11... Qf6 $5 {is not consistant.} 12. Nf1 $14) 12.
exf5 Rxf5 (12... Nf6 13. g4 $1 $16 {with similarities to the King's Gambit
Accepted!}) 13. d4 Rf8 14. Ne4 $14) 11. Bc2 Ne6 {This manoeuvre may secure the
control over the dark squares.} (11... f5 $6 {This idea is a bit overconfident.
} 12. d4 $1 {This is the logical counterblow in the [+].} (12. b4 {works again
for Black.} Ne6 (12... fxe4 13. bxc5 exf3 14. Nxf3 Bxc5 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4
$14) 13. exf5 Nf4 (13... Rxf5 $2 14. d4 $16)) (12. exf5 {allows Black to
finish his development.} Bxf5 13. d4 Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxd3) 12... Nxe4 13. Nxe4
fxe4 14. Bxe4 (14. Bb3+ $143 d5 15. Rxe4 exd4) 14... Bf5 (14... exd4 15. Ng5 $1
{and suddenly Black's >> is weak.} h6 16. Qb3+ Kh8 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18. Qxf7 $16)
(14... d5 15. Qb3 $1) 15. Bxc6 (15. Qb3+ Kh8 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Qxb7 $16) 15...
bxc6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Nxe5 Bxh3 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 $16) 12.
Nf1 Bd7 (12... Kh8 $13) (12... Qf6 13. Ne3 Bxe3 14. Bxe3 Ne7 15. Bb3 Ng6 16.
Bxe6 fxe6 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Qf7 19. Rc1 c6 20. e5 $16 {Boewer-Winants,
Hessen-ch 1999}) 13. Ne3 Kh8 14. Nf5 (14. h4 $6 Qf6 15. b4 $5 {/\ Bb3 Adams} (
15. Nd5 Qg6 16. Ng5 Nxg5 17. hxg5 Rac8 18. d4 $5 exd4 19. cxd4 Bxd4 20. a4 $1
f5 21. gxf6 Bg4 22. Qd2 gxf6 23. Ra3 Qf7 24. b4 Ba7 25. Rg3 Be6 $13 {
Bosboom-Adams, Ostende 1991})) 14... Qf6 15. Bb3 Rab8 $13) 10... Re8 {/\ Nf8
following the dark-square strategy.} (10... h6 {doesn't look extremely urgent
now.} 11. Re1 $5 {/\ Nf1} (11. Nc4 Nb6 12. Ne3 d5 $1 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nc4 Re8
15. Re1 f6 16. d4 exd4 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qd3 f5 19. Bd2 Qe4 20. Qxe4 fxe4 21.
Bxe4 {1/2:1/2 R.Perez-L.Valdes, Cuba 1995})) (10... f5 {wants to exploit the
absence of the B on the a2-g8 /^.} 11. exf5 Rxf5 12. d4 Rf8 13. Ne4 exd4 14.
Neg5 Nf6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 $13 {Nunn-Pribyl, GER-chT 1995}) (
10... Ne7 {The two knight-moves do not harmonize together.} 11. d4 (11. Re1 $5
Ng6 12. Nf1) 11... Ng6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Nf1 Ndf8 14. Ng3 Ne6 15. Bb3 Bd7 $13 {
Beshukov-Meister, Krasnodar 2001}) (10... Nc5 11. Re1 {- 10.Re1} (11. b4 Ne6
12. Re1 {- 10.Re1})) 11. Re1 Nf8 12. Nf1 Ne6 (12... Ng6 {allows} 13. d4 (13.
Ng3 Bd7 {1/2:1/2 Komliakov-Belikov, RUS-ch 1997}) 13... exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5
{The P structure gives White good attacking chances on the >>.} (15. exd5 Rxe1
16. Qxe1 Nxd4 $11) 15... Nh4 16. N1h2 (16. Ng5 g6 $13) (16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Be3
Nxd4 18. g3 Qxh3 19. Bxd4 Bg4 $17) 16... Nf5 17. Bg5 $1 {This is rather
unpleasant for Black.} (17. Be3 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Nb4 19. Bb1 c5 20. a3 cxd4 21.
Re1 Nc6 22. Qd3 g6) 17... Qd7 (17... f6 18. exf6 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 gxf6 20. Ng4 $1
$16) 18. Be3 {and the Q is rather stupid on d7.} Nxe3 19. Rxe3 Nb4 20. Bb1 c5
21. a3 cxd4 22. Re1 Nc6 23. Qd3 $40) 13. Ne3 {Black has some pressure on >< d4
and f4, but White controls >< d5 and f5.} Nf4 (13... Qf6 $6 {brings the Q
rather early into action.} 14. Nd5 Qg6 15. Nh4 $1 (15. Rf1 Qh5) 15... Qg3 16.
Nf5 $1 Qxf2+ (16... Bxf2+ $2 17. Kf1 $18) (16... Qg6 17. Qf3 $16) 17. Kh1 {
and the Q is in danger.} Nf4 18. Bxf4 Bxf5 19. Rf1 Qh4 20. Bh2 $16) 14. d4 $1 {
White now grabs the |^ in the [+].} (14. Nf5 $5) 14... Bd7 (14... exd4 15. cxd4
d5 {is now met by} 16. Nxd5 $1 (16. e5 Ne7 $11) 16... Nxd5 17. exd5 Rxe1+ (
17... Ne7 18. Ng5 $16) (17... Nb4 18. Bb3 $16) 18. Qxe1 Ne7 19. Bg5 $1 {
and Black has problems gaining back the P on d5.} f6 20. Bb3 Kf8 (20... Kh8 21.
Ne5 $16) (20... fxg5 21. d6+ Kf8 22. dxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qc3 $18) 21. Bd2 $16) 15.
Nd5 (15. Nf5 {is the other route for the N.}) 15... Ng6 (15... Ne6 16. Be3 $14
{and there is no more pressure against >< d4.}) 16. Be3 Nce7 {Black has to
eliminate the strong centralized N.} 17. Bg5 {provoking a serious weakness.} f6
{[#]} (17... h6 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxd5 21. exd5 $16) 18.
Nxf6+ $5 {This is a very tempting piece sacrifice, but things are far from
clear.} (18. Bxf6 {is the other version of the piece sacrifice.} gxf6 19. Nxf6+
Kg7 $1 (19... Kh8 20. Ng5 $5 Rf8 21. Qh5 $1 Kg7 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxh7+ Kf6 24.
Qh6 $16) 20. Nxe8+ Qxe8 21. Qd2 h6 22. Bb3 Nc6 $13) ({The quiet positional
approach looked OK, for example:} 18. Bb3 $142 Nxd5 19. Bxd5+ Kf8 20. Be3 $14)
18... gxf6 19. Bxf6 Kf7 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bxe5 (21. Nxe5+ Kxf6 $1 {The
"Steinitz" K fights bravely.} (21... Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Ng6 23. Qf3+ Kg8 24. Bf6 Qc8
25. e5 $16) 22. Nxd7+ Kg7 23. e5 Ng8 24. Bxg6 (24. e6 Nf6) 24... hxg6 25. e6
Nf6 $13) 21... Nc6 (21... Kf8 22. Qd2 Ng8 {is the other defence, White has
however 3 pawns and the |^ for the piece.}) 22. Bb3+ Kf8 (22... Be6 23. Bxe6+
Rxe6 24. Qxd8 Nxd8 (24... Rxd8 25. Bxc7 $16) 25. Bxc7 Ke7 26. Bg3 $16) 23. Qd2
$2 {This is a tactical oversight.} (23. Bg3 $44 {was still very complicated:}
Bb6 (23... Kg7 24. Re2 {/\ Rd2} Bb6 25. Rd2 Re7 26. Nh4 $40) (23... Na5 24. Bc2
Kg7 25. Qd5 $44) 24. Qd5 (24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Rad1 Be6 $11) 24... Be6 25. Qh5 Bxb3
26. axb3 Kg8 27. Rad1 Qe7 $13) 23... Rxe5 $1 $19 {and suddenly Black wins!} 24.
Qh6+ (24. Rad1 Ke8 25. Nxe5 Ncxe5 $19) 24... Ke8 25. Kh1 (25. Nxe5 Ncxe5 26.
Qxh7 Qf6 $19 {and White's -> cannot be continued.}) 25... Qf6 26. Nxe5 Ncxe5
27. f4 (27. Rf1 Nd3) 27... Qxf4 28. Qxh7 Bb5 29. Qg8+ Qf8 30. Qe6+ Qe7 31. Qg8+
Nf8 32. c4 Bd7 33. Rf1 Bc5 34. Bd1 Be6 $1 35. Rxf8+ $1 Kd7 $1 {is the
cold-blooded answer!} 36. Bg4 (36. Rxa8 Bxg8 37. Rxg8 Qf7 $19) 36... Nxg4 37.
Rd1+ Kc6 0-1

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. h3 h6
9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 (12. Ne3 Nf4 {- Hamdouchi-Tkachiev,
Cap d'Agde 2000 CBM 80}) 12... Nf4 {This is one of the main lines in the
Italian game where Black wants to build up some pressure on the dark squares
of the >>.} 13. Kh2 {/\ Ng1, g3 chasing away the the intruder N.} (13. Bxf4 $6
{is clearly premature.} Qxf4 14. Qd2 Qf6 15. Kh2 Ne7 {Black has a strong ^^
now.} 16. Ng3 Ng6 17. Nh5 Qe7 18. d4 Kh8 19. Bc2 Nh4 20. Nxh4 Qxh4 21. Ng3 Qg5
$11 {Tsilidis-Vouldis, Athens 2001}) (13. Bc2 {looks a bit passive.} Be6 14. d4
Ne7 15. h4 g5 {Black bravely opens fire on the >>.} 16. hxg5 hxg5 17. N3h2 Kg7
18. Ng4 Bxg4 19. Qxg4 Rh8 {<-> h} 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. Ne3 Raa8 $15
{P.Nikolic-Chandler, 1982}) (13. N1h2 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Kf1 h5 16. d4 {
White has got a nice [+] at the expence of the ^^.} Re8 17. Bc2 Qh6 18. h4 Bd7
19. Kg1 (19. Qd3 $6 {runs into the tactical motif} Nb4 20. Qd2 Nxc2 21. Qxc2
$13 {Iosif-Kogan, Oakham 1990})) (13. d4 $5 g5 $5 {here looks a bit better
than before, because g5-g4 is a threat attacking >< d4.} (13... Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4
15. Bc1 $14 {and the c4 N has to retreat as well.}) (13... Ne7 $5 14. Ng3 (14.
N1h2 Neg6 15. Bc4 h5 16. Bf1 {This slow plan cannot be dangerous for Black.}
Re8 17. d5 Qe7 $13 {Domont-Jenni, SUI-ch 2003}) (14. Kh2 Be6 15. Ng1 Bxb3 16.
axb3 Ne6 {The N has to retreat anyway.} 17. Nf3 Ng6 18. d5 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Ng5
$15 {Beshukov-Korneev, RUS-Cup Novgorod 1997}) 14... Neg6 {It is a pity that
only one N can stand on f4!} 15. Bc2 {/\ Nf5 disturbing the harmony of the
black pieces.} c6 (15... Be6 16. Nf5) 16. Nf5 Bb8 17. Qd2 Be6 18. Kh2 Rd8 19.
g3 $14 {and White has got everything that he wanted from the opening, Roy
Chowdhury-Azorov, Wch U20 2002.}) (13... Re8 14. Ng3 g6 (14... Qg6 15. Kh1 $14
{Z.Almasi}) 15. Bxf4 $1 (15. a4 a5 $1 $13 (15... h5 16. Bc2 Kh8 (16... a5 $5)
17. a5 Rg8 18. Ra4 $1 h4 19. Nf1 Bd7 20. Rc4 g5 21. dxe5 Qe6 {Z.Almasi-Acs,
1999 HUN-ch} 22. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 23. Bb3 d5 24. exd5 cxd5 25. N3h2 $14)) 15...
Qxf4 (15... exf4 $6 {is strongly met by the central blow} 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17.
Ne4 Qe7 18. dxe5 $16) 16. Nf5 $1 {The good old trap again!} Bxf5 17. g3 Qxe4
18. Rxe4 Bxe4 19. Nd2 (19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5) 19... Bf5 20. g4 $1 Bd7 21.
Qf3 $16 {and Black has no real compensation for the Q.} (21. Ne4 Kg7 22. Qf3 f5
$15)) 14. Ng3 (14. Bxf4 $6 gxf4 $17) (14. dxe5 {This exchange usually helps
for Black.} dxe5 15. Bxf4 gxf4 $1 (15... Qxf4 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. Ne3 $14 {putting
pressure on the weakened light squares.}) 16. Qe2 Qg6 17. Kh1 Kh8 $13 {<-> g,
^^}) 14... g4 15. dxe5 (15. Bxf4 $6 gxf3 $15) (15. hxg4 Bxg4 $132) 15... dxe5
16. Bxf4 gxf3 17. Be3 fxg2 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 $11) (13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Kh2 (14. Ng3 {
The N here disturbs the g3 plans.} Ne7 15. Re3 Be6 16. Qf1 {White's plan looks
rather sophysticated.} Raa8 17. Bc2 c5 18. Rd1 Nc6 $11 {Kim-Garcia Vicente,
1998}) (14. d4 {is less logical after exchanging the dark-squared bishops.}) (
14. Ne3 Be6 (14... Qg6 $6 15. Kh2 Ra8 16. Ng1 {This is the typical manoeuvre,
the white N retreats in order to force the retreat of the opponent's one.} Kh8
17. g3 Ne6 18. Bc2 f6 19. h4 Qe8 20. h5 Ne7 21. d4 $16 {Kaidanov-Lane,
Hastings B 1989}) (14... Ne7 15. d4 (15. Kh2 {- 14.Kh2}) 15... Neg6 16. Ng4 Qe7
17. Bc4 {/\ Bf1, g3} Ra8 18. Bf1 h5 19. Ne3 Qf6 20. Kh2 $14 {Miljanic-I.
Sokolov, BIH-chT 2002}) (14... Ra8 {- 12...Be3 13.Ne3 Nf4}) 15. Kh2 (15. Bxe6
fxe6) 15... Raa8 $1 {The R is badly placed on a7, it was time to improve it's
position.} (15... Bxb3 16. axb3 Raa8 17. g3 $1 {and Black has to give up his
stronghold on f4.} Ne6 18. Nd5 $16 {Kuczinsky-Macieja, Poland 1995} (18. Kg2 {
is a beginning of a slow plan.} Rae8 19. h4 Qg6 20. Rh1 Qh5 21. b4 Ne7 22. Nd2
Qxd1 23. Raxd1 f5 $11 {Fernandez Garcia-Narciso Dublan, 2000})) 16. Ng1 (16. g3
$2 {is bad because of} Nxd3) (16. Bxe6 $6 {is not logical from strategical
point of view, it opens the f <-> and the e6 P covers the previous targets d5
and f5.} fxe6 17. a4 (17. Ng1 Qg6 18. g3 Nh5 19. Qe2 Rf7 20. Rf1 Raf8 21. Ng4
Nb8 {/\ Nd7-f6, the N is usually bad on c6.} 22. b4 Nd7 $15 {Nevednichy-Z.
Almasi, 1998}) 17... Rad8 18. Rf1 d5 {Black already grabs the |^ in the [+].}
19. exd5 exd5 20. d4 e4 21. Ne1 Ne7 $15 {Hawelko-Yusupov, 1986}) (16. Nd5 Bxd5
17. exd5 Ne7 {is not a good change of P structure for White.}) 16... Rad8 (
16... Ne7 17. g3 Bxb3 18. axb3 Ne6 {The black knightes are pushed back, White
has to prepare for the advance f4 or d4.} 19. Rf1 Qg6 20. Nf3 Rad8 21. Nh4 Qg5
22. Nhf5 Rfe8 23. f4 $16 {Sivokho-P.Svidler, Leningrad 1990}) 17. g3 Bxb3 18.
axb3 Ne6 (18... Ng6 19. Rf1 Nce7 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 d5 {Black has to find
some counterplay in the [+].} 22. Ng4 Qe6 23. f5 Qd6+ 24. Kh1 Ne5 25. f6 Nxg4
26. Qxg4 Ng6 27. fxg7 Kxg7 28. Ne2 {+/= Zaitshik-Anand, Moscow B 1987}) 19. Rf1
$5 {/\ f4 looks more determinate.} (19. Kg2 Ne7 20. Qf3 (20. Nf3 h5 $5) 20...
Qg6 (20... Qxf3+ {The _|_ cannot be worse for Black.} 21. Nxf3 Nc5 (21... f5)
22. d4 (22. b4 Nxd3 23. Red1 d5 $1) 22... exd4 23. Nxd4 Rfe8) 21. Nf5 Qf6 {
+/=/= V.Ivanov-Rausis, Moscow 1994} 22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qg4 Qd7 24. b4 (24. Kh2
Nc5 25. Qd1 f5) 24... f5 $1 25. exf5 Rxf5 $17)) 14... Ne7 15. Ne3 Ra8 (15... g5
$6 {weakens the >>, but cannot strengthen the position of the f4 N for long.}
16. Ng1 (16. d4 $14) 16... c6 17. g3 Nfg6 18. Kg2 $14 {Bojkovic-Izeta, 1986})
16. Ng1 (16. a4 {/\ a5} Be6 17. Bxe6 Nxe6 $11 {Karpov} (17... fxe6 18. Ng1 Qg6
$5 (18... Rad8 19. g3 Nfg6 20. Rf1 (20. Ng4 Qf7) 20... d5 21. Qe2 {Black's
advance in the [+] is not decisive at all.} Nc6 22. Ng2 Rf7 23. h4 Rdf8 (23...
Rfd7 24. Rad1 (24. Nf3 Rf7 25. Nge1 {/\ h5, Nh4} a5 $13) 24... dxe4 $6 {
This helps only for White.} 25. Qxe4 Qf5 26. Ne3 $16 {with a much better P
structure for White because of the doubled pawns.}) (23... dxe4 24. dxe4 (24.
Qxe4 Qf5) 24... Rfd7 25. Nf3 Rf7 26. Nd2 Rfd7) 24. Rad1 (24. b4 Nb8) 24... Nge7
{The N on g6 was out of play.} 25. f4 $1 $14 {Karpov} (25. h5 g5 $1 {forces
White to take on g6.} (25... g6 26. Nh3 $1 Qf3 (26... g5 27. f4 $1 gxf4 28.
gxf4) 27. Qxf3 Rxf3 28. hxg6 Nxg6 29. Ne3 d4 30. Nc2 {(Karpov-Yusupov, Bugojno
1986)} dxc3 31. bxc3 Rd8 32. Ne1 (32. Ne3 Rf7 33. Rd2 Rfd7 $11) 32... Rf7 33.
f4 b6 34. Ng2 a5 $14) 26. hxg6 (26. Nh3 Qf3) (26. f4 exf4 27. gxf4 dxe4 28.
dxe4 gxf4) 26... Nxg6 27. Qh5 Qg5 $1 $13) 25... d4 $5 26. Nf3 exf4 27. Nxf4 e5
28. Nd5 Qd6) 19. g3 Nh5 $11 {followed by the pressure on the f <-> looks
acceptable.})) 16... Kh8 17. g3 Ne6 18. Rf1 $5 {looks again more to the point.}
(18. Qf3 Qg6 19. h4 f5 $13 {Tisseyre-Flear, 1993})) (13. Ng3 g6 {taking
squares from the g3 N.} (13... g5 $5 {is an aggressive try strengthening the
position of the N on f4, but it weakens the light squares.} 14. Nh2 Qg6 15. d4
{White comes first in the [+].} (15. Qd2 Ne7 16. d4 h5 17. Bc2 Kg7 18. dxe5
dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Qe3 $14 {Svetushkin-Rogozenko, Cupa Dinamo Brasov 1998})
15... Kh8 16. Bc2 f6 {Black builds up a defensive wall on the dark squares but
seriously weakens the light ones.} 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 Qh5 19. Ng4 Kg7 20.
Bb3 Na5 21. dxe5 fxe5 22. f6+ $142 {immediately is the precise move order.} (
22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. f6+ Rxf6 24. Nxf6 Qxd1 25. Raxd1 Kxf6 $14 {and it is not so
easy to open the lines for the rooks, Svetushkin-Pilgaard, Ubeda op 1999.})
22... Rxf6 (22... Kh8 23. Bc2 $16) 23. Nxf6 Qxd1 24. Raxd1 Kxf6 25. Bc2 $16) (
13... Bxe3 14. fxe3 Ne6 15. Rf1 $14 {with some pressure on the f <-> and d4
will also come.}) 14. d4 $1 {It is important to advance in the [+] first, now
the a7 B begins to suffer.} (14. Nh2 $5 {/\ Qf3} Bxe3 (14... Be6 $6 15. Qf3 $1
Qh4 16. d4 $1 {- Alekseev-Golod, Maccabia GM 2001 CBM 83 ext} (16. Rad1 $6 Bxb3
17. axb3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Ne6 $11)) (14... h5 {can again be met by} 15. Qf3 $5 (
15. Ne2 Bxe3 {1/2:1/2 S.Kudrin-Gulko, USA-ch 1989})) (14... Nd8 $5 {/\ Nde6
bringing the other N to the >>.} 15. d4 Nde6 {strengthening the stronghold on
f4.} 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Qf3 h5 {White's knights have no good
squares.} 19. Rad1 a5 20. Bc4 Ra8 21. Qe3 Ng5 22. Ne2 Be6 $11 {
Kurnosov-Kayumov, Alushta 2002}) 15. fxe3 Qg5 $11 {Golod}) (14. Rf1 h5 15. Nh2
Be6 16. Bxa7 Bxb3 17. axb3 Rxa7 18. Ne2 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Raa8 $11 {and the
tension is vanished, Sigurpalsson-Hjartarson, Iceland 1995.}) 14... h5 $5 (
14... Nd8 $2 {/\ Nde6 but there is no time for that.} 15. Bxf4 $1 Qxf4 (15...
exf4 16. e5 dxe5 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. Nxe5 $16) 16. Nf5 $1 (16. Qc1 Qxc1 17. Raxc1
Re8 {This _|_ cannot be bad for Black, because of the ^^.} 18. dxe5 dxe5 19.
Rcd1 Nc6 20. a4 Kg7 21. Nf1 Nb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Nd7 24. a5 Nc5 25. Bc2 f6
26. b4 Ne6 27. Bb3 Nf8 28. Ba4 Re7 29. Red3 Be6 $11 {Tseshkovsky-Levin, Le
Touquet op 1998}) 16... gxf5 17. g3 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe4 19. Nd2 $16 {is much
worse for Black than in case of 14...Na5, see the following note.}) (14... Na5
$5 15. Bc2 (15. Bxf4 exf4 $1 (15... Qxf4 {is met by the typical blow} 16. Nf5
$1 {and the Q is trapped, although it is not the end of the world.} gxf5 17. g3
Qxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe4 19. Nd2 Nxb3 20. Qxb3 $14) 16. Nf1 Nxb3 17. axb3 Re8 $13 {^^
}) 15... Nc4 16. Bc1 $14 {and soon the c4 has to leave as well.}) (14... Re8 {
- 13.d4 Re8 14.Ng3 g6}) 15. Bc2 (15. Bxf4 $6 {is useless because of} Qxf4 {
and the Q cannot be trapped anymore.}) 15... Re8 16. a3 {/\ b4 opening a new
front on the <<.} (16. a4 a5) 16... Nd8 $5 (16... Bd7 17. b4 $14) (16... b5 17.
b4 Bb7 18. d5 (18. Bxf4 Qxf4 $13) (18. Qd2 $2 Nxh3+) (18. Kh2) 18... Ne7 19. a4
$14 {with somr Ruy Lopez Arkhangelsk reminiscences.}) 17. d5 $1 {kills the d8
N!} (17. Kh2 {White wants to consolidate things on the >>, but this was not so
necessary, it is not easy for Black to create a real -> there.} Nde6 18. h4 $5
(18. Nf1 Ng5 19. Ng1 $6 {looks very passive.} exd4 20. cxd4 Nxe4 21. f3 Ng5 22.
Qd2 Rxe3 $17) 18... Nf8 $1 19. Ng5 Nh7 {just in time!} 20. Ne2 $1 Bg4 $1 (20...
Nxg5 21. hxg5 Qxg5 22. g3 Bg4 23. Qd2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 $16) 21. Bxf4 (21. f3 {
can be met by the aggressive} Nxg2 $5 22. Kxg2 Nxg5 23. Ng1 Nxf3 24. Nxf3 exd4
25. cxd4 Bxd4 26. Bxd4 Bxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Qxd4 28. Rf1 Re7 $11 {and Black has
three pawns for the B.}) 21... Bxe2 22. Rxe2 Qxf4+ 23. g3 Qf6 24. Nxh7 Kxh7 {
The ^- makes the situation fairly drawish.} 25. Rd2 Kg7 26. Kg2 Rad8 27. f4
exd4 28. cxd4 c5 29. d5 c4 $11 {Tolnai-Lukacs, HUN-chT 1998}) 17... Bd7 18. c4
a5 19. b3 $14 {preparing for a further advance on the <<.}) 13... Be6 (13...
Ne7 {is the other typical plan improving the N's place.} 14. Ng1 Be6 15. Bc2 (
15. g3 Nfg6 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 {In the _|_ White cannot get anything.} Bxb3
18. axb3 f5 $15 {Jessel-Korneev, Cergy Pontoise op 2003 rapid}) 15... d5 16.
Qf3 {1/2:1/2 Atlas-Flear, Geneve op 1991}) 14. d4 (14. Bxe6 {helps again for
Black, the doubled pawns are advantagous for him.} fxe6 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3
Raa8 17. Ng1 Qg6 $1 $15 {Nevednichy-Z.Almasi, Krynica zt 1998}) 14... Bxb3 15.
axb3 Ng6 (15... exd4 {unnecessarily gives up the [+].} 16. cxd4 Rfe8 17. Ng3
$14 {Nevednichy-Moldovan, Andorra la Vella op 2002}) (15... Ne7 16. Qd2 $14 (
16. g3 Ne6 {There is a nasty pressure against >< d4.} 17. dxe5 {This exchange
cannot yield a big advantage for White.} dxe5 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Qe2 (19. Ne3
Ng5 20. Kg2 Qxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxf3 22. Kxf3 Rd8 23. Red1 (23. Rad1 Raa8 24. Nd5
Nxd5 25. exd5 f6 26. g4 $14 {with only a slight advantage for White in the R
_|_.}) 23... Raa8 24. Nc4 f6 25. b4 (25. Na5 b6 26. Nb7 $2 Rdb8 27. Rd7 Ng6 $1)
25... Kf7 26. Na5 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 b6 28. Nc4 Ke6 29. Ke3 Nc6 30. h4 h5 31. f4 g6
32. Rf1 f5 $1 $14 {Nevednichy-Marin, ROM chT 1999}) 19... Rd8 20. Ne3 Ng5 21.
Nxg5 hxg5 22. Kg2 Raa8 23. Red1 Qc6 24. Qc4 Qxc4 25. Nxc4 f6 26. b4 Kf7 27. Na5
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 b6 $14 {and White's advantage is again microscopical,
Nevednichy-De Vreugt, Valle d'Aosta op 2002.})) 16. Ng3 (16. d5 Nce7 17. Bxa7
Rxa7 18. Ne3 Nh4 $11 {and despite of White's space advantage in the [+] Black
has good counterchances by f7-f5.}) 16... Nh4 (16... exd4 $5 17. cxd4 d5 {
changing the subject was interesting, too.} 18. exd5 (18. e5 Qe6 $13) 18... Nb4
$13) 17. Nxh4 Qxh4 18. Nf5 Qf6 19. dxe5 {If White has to give up the tension
in the [+], then Black has already achieved something.} (19. Qf3 $5 {/\ Nh6})
19... Qxe5+ (19... dxe5 20. Bxa7 Rad8 $5 {is funny!}) 20. f4 Qf6 21. Bxa7 Rxa7
22. Qg4 Raa8 23. Ne3 (23. Re3 Kh7 24. Rg3 Rg8 {White has no real continuation
of the ->.} 25. Ne3 Ne7 26. Rf1 Rad8 27. Qh5 Rgf8 $11) 23... Ne7 24. Qf3 (24.
Qg3 Qg6 $11) 24... Qg6 25. Ra5 (25. f5 Qg5 $11) 25... f6 26. b4 Rae8 27. b5
axb5 28. Rxb5 b6 29. c4 Kh7 30. Nd5 Nxd5 31. cxd5 {The P srtucture is not bad,
but the R on b5 is out of play.} Re7 32. Rb3 Ra8 33. Rbe3 Ra4 34. Qe2 Rd4 35.
b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2005.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2005.10.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. h3
Ba7 9. Be3 {Instead of the time-consuming N manoeuvre Nbd2, Re1, Ne1-g3 or Ne3
White immediately wants to exchange the active black B.} Bxe3 (9... Ne7 {/\ Ng6
} 10. Nh4 Ng6 11. Nxg6 (11. Nf5 d5 $1 $132) 11... hxg6 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. f4 {
Now White got everything he wanted.} Ra8 14. Qf3 $16 (14. Nd2 Qe7 15. Qf3 Be6
16. Bc2 Rad8 17. Qe3 {White has clearly lost the thread.} Bc8 (17... Nh5 18.
fxe5 dxe5 19. Nf3 $14) 18. Rf2 Nh5 19. fxe5 (19. f5 $6 gxf5 20. exf5 Nf6 (20...
Qh4 21. d4 Rfe8) 21. Re1 Rfe8 22. Qg3 Qf8 23. Ne4 Qe7 24. Ng5 d5 25. Qh4 Qd6
$142 (25... Qc5 26. Kh1 b6 27. Rf3 a5 28. Ref1 (28. Rg3) 28... Qd6 29. Rg3 Re7
$1 (29... Bb7 30. Ne6 $1 $18 {Fedorchuk-Akhayan, Charleroi 2004}) 30. Nh7 $1
Nxh7 31. f6 Nxf6 32. Rxf6 Re6 $13)) 19... dxe5 20. Nf3 $14)) (9... h6 10. Nbd2
Be6 {Black wants to neutralize his opponent's strong B, too.} 11. Re1 Bxe3 12.
Rxe3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Re1 Nf4 15. Nxe5 Bxb3 16. Nxb3 Qg5 17. Qg4 Nxe5 18.
Qxg5 Nf3+ 19. gxf3 Nxh3+ {1/2-1/2 Felgaer-Xie Jun, Buenos Aires 2001}) 10. fxe3
Ne7 $6 (10... Be6 {looked more natural, the mass exchanges give the game a
drawish character.} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Qb3 Qd7 13. Ng5 Rae8 14. Nd2 (14. Qxb7 $2
h6 15. Nf3 Rb8 16. Qxa6 Ra8 17. Qc4 (17. Qb5 Rfb8) 17... Na5 18. Qb4 Rfb8 $19)
14... Na5 $11) 11. Nh4 (11. Nbd2 {allows} Ng6 12. Rf2 c6 13. Qe2 d5 $13) 11...
Ng6 12. Nf5 (12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Qe1 $14 {looked a bit better, White
has the f <-> and prospects in the [+].}) 12... c6 {The N is well-placed on f5,
but Black has a counterattack in the [+] by d5.} 13. Nd2 d5 14. Qf3 Be6 (14...
Bxf5 15. exf5 Ne7 16. Qg3 Qb8 $13 {and Black's P [+] remains impressive.}) 15.
d4 a5 {This is not so urgent.} (15... Bxf5 16. Qxf5 (16. exf5 e4) 16... Re8 $13
{holds the [+].}) 16. exd5 cxd5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Qg3 {White has created a
stronghold on d5, While Black cannot get to e4, his B is passive.} Ng6 (18...
Bxf5 $142 19. Rxf5 Ng6 {to get rid of the bad B was worthy of attention.}) 19.
Nd4 $1 {The N is extremely strong on the blockade square >< d4.} Qb6 20. Rab1 (
20. a4 Rfe8 $13) 20... Bd7 21. Bc2 Rae8 (21... Rfe8) 22. b4 {White advances on
the <<, but this certainy weakens his own P structure as well.} Re7 (22... axb4
23. Rxb4 Qc5 24. Rxb7 Qxc3 {and the R is on e8 instead of e7.}) 23. bxa5 Qxa5
24. Rxb7 Qxc3 25. Nb1 Rxe3 (25... Qc8) 26. Nxc3 Rxg3 27. Nce2 $2 (27. Nxd5 $1
Nxd5 28. Rxd7 Ngf4 29. Kh1 g5 30. Bb3 $14 {and at least White has a remore o^
and a strong B.}) 27... Bc8 28. Ra7 (28. Nxg3 Bxb7 $17) 28... Re3 {Now Black
is a healthy P up.} 29. a4 Ne5 30. Rb1 Ra3 $2 {This is a big mistake!} (30...
Nc4 $17) 31. Bb3 $1 {and the R is trapped!} Be6 $2 (31... Bd7 32. Nc2 Rxb3 33.
Rxb3 Nc6 $14 {was the lesser evil.}) 32. Nc3 $18 {Now White wins the exchange,
Black has no counterplay.} Rc8 (32... Bd7 33. Ncb5) 33. Ncb5 Rxb3 34. Nxb3 h5
35. N3d4 Rc4 36. a5 Ra4 37. a6 Kh7 38. Ra8 Nc4 39. a7 Ra2 40. Re1 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 4th"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2003.05.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Fontaine, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2527"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2003.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2
{White wants to spare the insertion of moves a4-a6, in order to play Bb3 and
Nc4 exchanging the important dark-squared B.} (8. a4 a6 {- Bacrot-Z.Almasi,
Szeged m 2000 CBM 78}) 8... Ne7 {/\ Ng6 and c6, Bc7} 9. Bb3 {/\ Nc4} (9. a4 c6)
9... c6 $5 (9... Ng6 {allows White to get the ^^, but even so the position
remains very close to equality.} 10. Nc4 Be6 (10... h6 {/\ Be6} 11. a4 c6 12.
Nxb6 {otherwise the B will escape.} Qxb6 13. a5 Qc7 14. h3 {(Mainka-Sonntag,
GER-chT 1992 )} Be6 $11) 11. Re1 (11. a4 c6 12. Nxb6 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 axb6 $11)
11... h6 12. Nxb6 (12. a4 c6) 12... Bxb3 13. Qxb3 axb6 14. b5 Re8 15. Bd2 Qd7
16. a4 d5 {and Black has good counterplay in the [+], 1/2:1/2
Nunn-Azmaiparashvili, OHRA Amsterdam 1990.}) 10. Nc4 (10. a4 Ng6 11. a5 Bc7 {
helps only for Black to consolidate his position.} 12. Re1 d5 {Black comes
first in the [+]!} 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ng3 Be6 15. Be3 Qd7 16. c4 d4 {Now Black
gets a big space advantage.} 17. Bd2 b6 18. h3 Kh7 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qe2 Rfe8
21. Qf1 Nf4 {After some preparatory moves black grabs the |^ on the >>.} 22.
Bxf4 exf4 23. Ne2 c5 $15 {Short-Salov, Linares 1990}) (10. h3 Ng6 11. Re1 Bc7
12. d4 d5 {Black's counterattack in the [+] comes right in time.} 13. exd5 exd4
14. Nxd4 Nxd5 15. Ne4 Ndf4 $11 {Xu Jun-Xie Jun, Jakarta 1994}) 10... Bc7 11.
Bg5 (11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 (12. Bg5 {is illogical due to} h6 $11) (12. a4 Re8 13.
Ne3 d5 {and Black has a strong P formation in the [+].} 14. Qc2 h6 $11 {
Morrison-Muhammad, New York 2001}) 12... h6 {/\ Be6 finishing the development.}
13. h3 Be6 14. Qc2 Nh5 {>< f4} 15. Ne3 Nhf4 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxe6 fxe6 $1 {
The doubled pawns keep control over the vital central squares and the
semi-opened f <-> helps for Black's |^ on the >>.} 18. Nh2 Nh4 19. Kh1 Bb6 $40
{Luther-Gavrilakis, Naleczow masters 1987}) 11... Ng6 12. Nh4 (12. d4 $6 {
is certainly answered by} h6 13. Bxf6 (13. dxe5 Nxe5) 13... Qxf6 {and Black
has some pressure on the dark squares, >< f4.} 14. Ne3 a5 (14... Nf4 $5) 15. d5
{White wants to take control over the light squares, especially on d5.} Nf4 16.
Kh1 axb4 17. cxb4 Rd8 18. Rc1 Bb8 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. Rxc6 Bb7 21. Rb6 Bxe4 $17 {
with good attacking chances for Black, Gomez Jurado-Marin, Andorra op 1991.})
12... Nf4 13. Bxf4 {White wants to corrupt Black's P formation and build up a
strong [+] by d4, but Black comes first.} (13. Qf3 $6 {allows Black to grab
the |^.} h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. g3 Qg5 {/\ Bg4} 16. Kh1 Bg4 17. Qe3 Ne2 {
suddenly White's position collapses...} 18. Nf5 d5 19. Nxe5 Bxf5 20. f4 Nxg3+
21. hxg3 Qh5+ 22. Kg1 Bxe4 $1 $19 {Teske-Lukacs, Autoteam Budapest 1991}) (13.
Ne3 $142 {looks more to the point.} h6 (13... d5 $5 14. Qf3 $5 (14. Nhf5 dxe4
$15) (14. exd5 cxd5 $13) 14... Nxd3 15. exd5 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17.
exd5 e4 {/\ Be5} 18. Nhf5 Be5 $13) 15... e4 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxe4 (17. Qxf6
gxf6 {- 15.Bf6}) 17... Nf4 18. Nhf5 Ne2+ 19. Kh1 Nxc3 $13) 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15.
Nhf5 d5 (15... Bxf5 {immediately} 16. Nxf5 {and then} d5 {was also playable
but the text is more flexible.} 17. Qf3 Rad8 18. Rad1 Kh7 {/\ g6} 19. g3 Nh3+
20. Kg2 Ng5 21. Qh5 dxe4 22. dxe4 Nxe4 $5 (22... Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rxd8
Bxd8 25. h4 Ne6 26. Qd1 $14 {and all the white pieces are better than their
colleagues, Kudrin-Sion Castro, Salamanca 1989.}) 23. Rxd8 (23. Bc2 Qg6 $1)
23... Bxd8 24. Bc2 Qg6 $1 $13) 16. g3 Bxf5 ({The humble} 16... Ng6 {is not so
bad either:} 17. Ng4 Qd8 18. Qf3 Be6 19. h4 a5 $5 (19... h5 20. Nge3 (20. Nh2
Nh8 21. exd5 cxd5 22. Ne3 d4 23. cxd4 exd4 24. Nc2 Bxb3 25. axb3 Bb6 26. Qxh5
Rc8 27. Ne1 Qd6 28. Nef3 {(Kudrin-Pavlovic, Bor 1984)} Rc3 $1 29. Rfd1 (29. Ng5
$6 Qg6 $15) 29... Rxb3 $13) 20... d4 $13) 20. h5 axb4 21. cxb4 Ne7 22. Ngxh6+
$1 Kh8 $1 23. Nxe7 (23. Qg4 Nxf5 24. Nxf5 Qf6 $44) 23... Qxe7 24. Nf5 Qf6 25.
b5 Bb6 $44 {^^}) 17. Nxf5 (17. exf5 $6 {is out of question:} Nh3+ 18. Kg2 Ng5
19. h4 Nh7 $15) 17... dxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. Qc2 Ng6 {/\ Ne7 with a drawish ^-
_|_.} (19... Nh3+ 20. Kg2 Ng5 21. h4 Ne6 22. Rad1) 20. Rfd1 Ne7 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7
22. Kg2 {1/2:1/2 Sadvakasov-De laPaz, Santa Clara 1999}) 13... exf4 14. Nf3 d5
$1 15. exd5 (15. Ncd2 dxe4 16. Nxe4 (16. dxe4 Qd3 $1) 16... Bg4 $132) 15...
cxd5 $5 (15... Nxd5 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. d4 Re8 18. Rfe1 $14) 16. Ncd2 Bg4 {Black
has now an active position and a strong ^^ for the somewhat weaker P structure.
} 17. Qc2 (17. Re1 Qd6) 17... a5 {Black creates more tension.} (17... Re8 18.
Rfe1 Qd6 $13) 18. a3 (18. b5 Re8 19. Rfe1 Qd6 $13) 18... Qd7 19. Rae1 Rfe8 20.
Rxe8+ (20. Nd4 a4 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Ba2 Bb6 23. N2f3 Bxd4 24. Nxd4 Qe5 25. h3
Bh5 $13) 20... Rxe8 21. Nd4 b5 $1 {Black gains space on the <<.} 22. N2f3 a4
23. Ba2 Bb6 {When the knights defend each other against the ^^, then there is
something wrong with the position...} 24. Qd2 {[#]} Bxd4 $1 {[%mdl 128] Black
destroys White's >> creating a dangerous ->.} 25. Nxd4 f3 $1 26. g3 (26. Nxf3
Bxf3 27. gxf3 Qf5 28. Qd1 Nh5 $40 {/\ Nf4 with nasty threats.}) (26. gxf3 Bxf3
$1 $15) 26... Bh5 $1 {/\ Qh3} 27. Qf4 Qh3 $1 28. Nxf3 h6 {and White is almost
paralyzed.} 29. Bb1 Bg4 $1 30. Re1 $2 {this loses outright.} (30. Nd2 {was
more persistant.} Be2 31. Re1 Ng4 32. Nf3 Re6 $17) 30... Rxe1+ 31. Nxe1 Be2 $19
32. Ng2 Ng4 33. Qb8+ Kh7 34. d4+ g6 35. Bxg6+ Kg7 $1 {and the mate is
inevitable.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.20"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 {allows Black to exchange queens, after which
the tension disappears.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 h6 {/\ Be6} 13. O-O Be6
14. b3 Rfd8 15. Bc2 a5 16. Bb2 a4 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb6 $11 {V.Atlas-Z.
Almasi, AUT-chT Austria 1997}) (10. exd5 {gives up the [+] without getting
anything for that.} Nxd5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. O-O f6 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Qe4 Qd7 15. Bd2
Rad8 16. Rad1 Qf7 $13 {Kofidis-Stefansson, Athens op 1993}) 10... dxe4 (10...
d4 11. g4 $6 {Since Black didn't commit his >> by h6, this push is
overoptimistic.} Nd7 $1 {/\ Nc5 finding a counterplay in the [+] against
White's flank ->.} 12. Ng3 Nc5 13. Bc2 (13. Bd5 dxc3 14. bxc3 Ne7 $17) 13... b5
{/\ dxc3 and b4 getting control over the vital d4 square.} 14. Nf5 {[#]} dxc3
$1 15. bxc3 b4 $1 {This is the typical strategy in this P structure. White has
created only weaknesses, he has no chance for an -> on the >>. See
Maiorov-Lastin, Krasnodar 2002 CBM 91.}) (10... Re8 11. Bg5 (11. Ng3 h6 12. O-O
Be6 $11 {and although White has spared Re1, this is not a big deal.}) (11. g4
$5 Be6 12. Bg5 (12. Ng3 Na5) 12... dxe4 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qd6 15. Ng3 Nd7
$11 {- And.Rodriguez-Diego, Najdorf final K.O. CBM 79}) 11... dxe4 12. dxe4 Be6
13. Ng3 h6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bc1 Rad8 {and Black has finished comfortably his
development.} 16. O-O Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {Nevednichy-Mannion, Moscow ol 
(Men) 1994}) (10... h6 {is again strongly met by} 11. g4 $1 dxe4 12. dxe4 Be6
13. g5 $5 $13 (13. Ng3 $6 Nd7 {(Rossi-Bykhovsky, Reggio Emilia 1981)} {and
still} 14. g5 $1 {is required.})) ({On} 10... Be6 11. Ng5 {is critical} (11.
Ng3 Na5 $1 (11... Qd6 {- 10..Qd6}) 12. Bc2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc4 14. Qd2 Qxd2+ 15.
Nxd2 Be6 $11 {Vorobiov-Diu, ch-RUS 2002}) (11. Bg5 dxe4 12. dxe4 Bxb3 13. axb3
Qd6 14. Ng3 Qe6 15. b4 Ne8 16. O-O f6 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {Having two
doubled pawns White's position cannot be better.} Nd6 19. Rf2 a5 20. bxa5 Nxa5
21. Nh4 g6 22. Raf1 Nb3 23. Qc2 Ra1 24. Nf3 Rxf1+ 25. Nxf1 Nc5 26. N3d2 b5 27.
Kh2 {1/2-1/2 Movsesian-Topalov, Tripoli 2004})) (10... Qd6 11. Ng3 d4 (11...
Be6 12. Ng5 {The exchange of this B is usually favourable for White especially
for the N.} Ne7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Nh5 Nd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+
Rxf6 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. g3 c6 20. d4 Rf7 21. Rae1 $14 {Macieja-Acs, Budapest
FS02 GM 1996}) 12. O-O Be6 $142 (12... Bd7 {This is not the right place for
the B.} 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Kh2 dxc3 15. bxc3 Bb5 16. Bc2 Rfd8 17. Rd1 {and Black
cannot emphasise the pressure on >< d3.} Qc5 18. a4 Qxc3 19. Ra3 Qc5 20. axb5
$16 {Jaracz-Krasenkov, POL-ch 58th Warsaw 2001}) 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Bg5 Ne8 15.
cxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nhf5 Qd7 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 {>< d3} 20.
Qc2 Rd8 21. Qb3 Qb6 $11 {Macieja-I.Sokolov, Elista ol 1998}) 11. dxe4 Qe7 $143
{Black is not afraid of the doubled pawns, because then he covers >< d5 and f5
and opens the f <->.} (11... Be6 {Black is not afraid of the doubled pawns,
because then he covers >< d5 and f5 and opens the f <->.} 12. Ng3 Qd7 (12...
Qc8 13. O-O (13. Bg5 Ne8 {/\ Nd6} 14. Bd5 f6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Nd6 $13)
13... Ne8 {/\ Nd6} 14. Bc2 Nd6 15. b3 f6 {/\ Ne7-g6 improving the bad knight's
position.} 16. Kh2 Ne7 17. Nh4 Rd8 (17... g5 $6 {unnecessarily weakens >< f5.}
18. Nhf5 Nexf5 19. exf5 Bf7 20. Ba3 $14 {Mamedov-Filippov, Cannes 1997})) 13.
Bg5 Ne8 (13... Bxb3 $6 {is met by the intermediate move} 14. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 15.
axb3 Qe6 16. Nf5 Kh8 17. b4 Rg8 {(Stepovaia Dianchenko-Stjazhkina, RUS-ch 
(Women) 2000)} 18. O-O $14 {with a wonderful N on f5.}) 14. Rd1 (14. Bxe6 Qxe6
15. O-O f6) 14... Nd6 $11) (11... h6 $143 {is again met by the standard} 12. g4
$5 (12. Be3 Bxe3 $11)) (11... Nh5 $5 {fighting against Ng3} 12. g3 (12. N1h2
Nf4) (12. Bg5 Qd6 13. Rd1 Qg6 14. g3 Nf6 15. Bc2 Be6 16. b3 Rfd8 $13 {
Berzins-Paldanius, Tempere op 1999}) 12... Nf6 {The N has done his job.} 13. g4
(13. Bc2 Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 g6 17. Nd2 Be6 18. f4 exf4 19.
gxf4 Raa8 {and White has to play cautiously because of his weakened pawns.} 20.
Qf2 Re8 $13 {Jaracz-Narciso Dublan, EU-ch 2nd Ohrid 2001}) (13. Bg5 h6 14. Rd1
Qe7 $11) 13... Nd7 (13... Qe7 14. Ne3 (14. Bg5 Rd8 15. Ng3 (15. Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {
This is a typical exchange here.} 16. Qxe3 Be6) 15... h6 $11) 14... Bxe3 $1 15.
Bxe3 Be6 $11 {and White has to give up the ^^, or go to a passive place with
his B.}) 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Ne6 {trying to exploit the weakness of >< f4.} (
15... a5 $6 {is rather useless here.} 16. O-O $14 {Gonzales-Gomez, CUB-ch
Holguin City 2002CBM 89}) 16. Nd5 (16. Nf5) 16... Re8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {
defending >< f4, but ruining the P structure.} Nb8 19. Nxe5 c6 $1 (19... Nc5 {
(Komliakov-Nikolenko, Moscow 1990)} 20. O-O-O $1 Rxe5 21. Nb6 Bd7 22. Nxa8 Nc6
23. b4 Nxe4 24. Rhf1 $16) 20. Nf4 Nc5 $44) (11... Re8 {- 10...Re8}) 12. Ng3
$142 $146 (12. Ne3 Be6 13. Bc2 {White wants to keep the tension, but the
exchange of the light-squared B is strategically good for him.} Rad8 (13... h6
14. g4 $5) 14. Ng5 Bc8 15. O-O h6 16. Nf3 Be6 {and now the advance on the >>
is not dangerous anymore.} 17. Nh2 {/\ Qf3, Nf5, Ng4 is the typical plan for
White.} Rfe8 18. Qf3 Qf8 19. Nf5 Nh7 20. h4 Ne7 21. h5 {This irreversibily
weakens the dark squares.} Nxf5 22. exf5 Bd5 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Ng4 f6 25. Ne3 Bf7
$11 {Komliakov-Frolov, Seversk 1997}) 12... Be6 13. Bc2 (13. Bg5 h6 $11) 13...
Rfe8 (13... Rad8 14. Nh4 {/\ Nhf5 which is one of the main threats in this
structure.} Qc5 15. Nhf5 Bc4 16. Qf3 $36) (13... b5 14. Nh4 Bc4 15. Qf3 $16 {
and White has achieved what he wanted.}) 14. Nh4 $1 {The target is >< f5.} Qf8
(14... Qc5 $5 {Playing} 15. Bg5 $1 {first looks more precise} ({The immediate} 
15. Nhf5 {allows Black simplifications after} Ne7 $1 16. Bg5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 (17.
exf5 Bc4) 17... Qb6 18. Bxf6 (18. O-O Bxf5 19. exf5 Qxb2) 18... Bxf5) 15... Bc4
(15... Nd7 16. Nhf5 $14) 16. Qf3 Re6 17. Nhf5 $14) 15. Nhf5 Ne7 (15... Bxf5 16.
Nxf5 {Now White has the ^^.} (16. exf5 Nd4 $1) 16... Ne7 17. Bg5 Nxf5 18. exf5
(18. Bxf6 {is answered by the intermediate move} Nd4 $1) 18... Qd6 19. O-O h6
20. Rad1 Qc6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qe4 {White has some additional chances because
of the ^-, the B is strong on the a2-g8 /^.} Rab8 23. Rd7 Bb6 24. Rfd1 $14) 16.
Bg5 Bxf5 $2 {Now White gets the ^^ and the better P structure, the /^ of the
c2 B becomes longer.} (16... Nxf5 17. exf5 (17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 {- 15...Bf5}
) 17... Bd5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Be4 c6 {and it is not easy to gain a total
control over >< e4.}) 17. exf5 Ned5 (17... Nfd5 18. O-O-O $16) 18. O-O-O $1 $16
{With opposite castled kings White can attack on the >>.} h6 19. Bh4 Qc5 (19...
c6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 $16) 20. Ne4 Qc6 (20... Nxe4 21. Qxe4 c6 22. Bb3 $16)
21. Bb3 {All the white pieces are well-placed.} Nf4 $5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qg4
Qc6 24. f6 $1 {Now White's -> looks already too strong.} Qxg2 $2 {This loses
quickly.} (24... g6 25. Rd7 Ne6 26. Rhd1 $16 {was not rosy either.}) 25. Bg3
$18 g5 26. Qd7 (26. Bxf4 $1 {was even more direct.} Qxg4 27. hxg4 exf4 28. Rxh6
Bxf2 29. Rg6+ Kf8 30. Rg7 $18) 26... Rf8 $2 (26... Ne2+ 27. Kb1 Qe4+ 28. Ka1
Qg6 29. Qxc7 Qxf6 30. Qxb7 Bc5 31. Qe4 Nxg3 32. fxg3 $16 {>< f7}) 27. Bxf4 {
Now the game is over.} exf4 28. Qf5 $1 Rfd8 29. Qg6+ 1-0

[Event "NED-ch59"]
[Site "Leeuwarden"]
[Date "2004.07.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van den Doel, Erik"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2004.06.30"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 {Black can fortify his stronghold on d5,
successfully blockading the isolated P.} (10... Na5 $5 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Qb3 {
is only a repetition of moves.}) 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. Ne4 Nb6 $142 (
13... Qb6 {is also playable, the _|_ can even be better for Black because of
the weakness of >< d4.} 14. Nc3 $142 $1 {White continues his fight against the
blockading square d5.} (14. Qa3 Bg4 $1 15. Ne5 Qxd4 $1 16. Nd6 Be6 17. Nxb7 Ng6
$1 $11 {and the active black pieces compensate the defect of the P structure
on the <<, Sveshnikov-Chekhov, Sochi 1983.}) 14... Qxb3 (14... Bg4 15. Bxd5
Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Ne5 $14 {with a somewhat better P
structure and the N is worthier than the B.} (18. Re7 Rfc8 19. h3 Bxf3 20. gxf3
Rc2 $132 {and in the R _|_ Black has excellent chances for a draw,
Blauert-Ovsejevitsch, Budapest 2003.})) (14... Qd8 {allows White to change the
P structure for his favour.} 15. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 16. Re3 b6 17. Rae1 $14 {and
White has a pressure on the e <-> and against >< d5, Hmadi-Kaabi, Djerba 1998})
(14... Be6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Ng5 b5 17. Bb3 $14 {and Black cannot hold d5
anymore, Hmadi-Acs, Budapest 1995.}) 15. Bxb3 Be6 (15... Bg4 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17.
Bxd5 cxd5 18. Re7 $14 {Makarichev} (18. Ne5 Be6)) (15... h6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17.
Bxd5 cxd5 18. Rac1 $14 (18. Re7 b6 19. Rc1 Be6 20. Ne5 Rfc8 21. Rcc7 Rxc7 22.
Rxc7 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Nc6 Kf8 25. Nxa7 Bd7 {The N is trapped, White has
to give back the P.} 26. a4 Bxa4 27. Nc8 Bc6 28. Nxb6 Ke7 {The N is trapped
again...} 29. Nc8+ Kd7 30. Na7 Ba4 31. b3 Bxb3 {1/2-1/2 Onatsevich-Ovod,
Gatchina 2001})) 16. Ng5 Bd7 17. Nxd5 (17. Re5 h6 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Ne4 Rad8
20. Nd6 Bc8 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. g3 (22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 Rc2 {The penetration
to the second rank is very uncomfortable for White.} 24. Rb5 b6 $132 {/\ Re8-e2
}) 22... Rfd8 23. Rc1 Kf8 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Rc5 b6 26. Rcxd5 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 Rc2
$132 {Bogoljubow-Euwe, Karlsbad 1941}) 17... Nxd5 18. Ne4 $5 $14 (18. Bxd5 cxd5
19. Re7 (19. Nf3 f6 20. Rac1 Rfe8 $11 {and Black can easily hold this _|_,
after the exchange of the rooks the K marches to d6.}) 19... Rad8 20. Nf3 f6
21. Rc1 Rc8 22. Rc5 Bc6 $11 {Keshav-Babu, Raipur 2002})) (13... h6 14. Ne5 Qb6
15. Rad1 $14 {Ugrinovic}) 14. Bd3 {+/= Makarichev} (14. Bxf7+ {cannot yield
any real for White.} Rxf7 15. Neg5 Nbd5 16. Nxf7 Kxf7 {White has only a R and
a P for two pieces, if Black can finish his development, he cannot be worse.}
17. Re2 Ng6 18. Rae1 Qf6 (18... b6 19. Ne5+ Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Bd7 21. Rxd5 cxd5 22.
Qxd5+ Kf8 23. Re4 Rc8 24. Rf4+ Ke7 25. Qg5+ Kd6 26. Qe5+ Kc6 27. Rf7 Kb7 28. h3
$44 {Zelcic,R-Golubovic,B/Rijeka 2001/CBM 80 ext}) 19. Ne5+ Nxe5 20. Rxe5 h6
$11) (14. Bf1 {The B is rather passive here.} Nf5 15. Rad1 Be6 16. Qa3 Nc4 17.
Qc3 Ncd6 18. Nc5 Bd5 19. Re5 b6 20. Na6 f6 21. Ree1 Rc8 22. Nb4 Qd7 23. Nxd5
cxd5 24. Qb3 Nc4 $11 {Tarrasch-Rubinstein, Berlin 1918}) 14... Ned5 (14... Bf5
$1 {is the clearest way for the equalization.} 15. Nc5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Rb8 17.
Qa3 Nec8 18. Rad1 Nd6 19. Ne5 Qc7 20. Qg3 Rbd8 $11 {Nay Oo Kyaw Tun-Stefanova,
Surabaya 2002}) 15. Nc5 $14 {Now the c8 B cannot find his place.} Rb8 16. Rac1
(16. Ne5 {looks rather aggressive.} Nf4 17. Rad1 Be6 (17... Nxd3 18. Qxd3 f6
19. Nc4 Nxc4 20. Qxc4+ $14) 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Be4 $14 {and the P structure
favours already for White.}) 16... Nf4 (16... Nf6 17. h3 {against Bg4 and also
for the safety of the K.} (17. Qa3 Ra8) 17... Qd6 18. Re5 $14) 17. Bb1 Qf6 18.
Ne5 (18. Qc2 Qh6 19. Ne5 Be6 $13) 18... Qg5 19. Qf3 f6 (19... Bh3 20. g3 Nfd5
21. Be4 Nf6 22. Bc2 $14 {/\ Bb3 in case.}) (19... Be6 20. g3 Nfd5 21. Rcd1 $14)
20. Ned3 Nbd5 21. Nxf4 Nxf4 22. h4 $1 Qh6 {Now the Q is out of play.} (22...
Qxh4 {runs into the pin after} 23. Re4 g5 24. Qb3+ Kh8 25. Re7 f5 {This
seriously weakens >< e5.} (25... Ng6 26. Rf7 Re8 27. g3 $16) 26. Qe3 $14) 23.
g3 Nd5 24. Be4 Nb6 25. Qb3+ Kh8 26. Qa3 (26. Bf3 Bh3 27. a4 $1 $16 {was the
logical continuation of the plan.}) 26... Ra8 27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. Rxe3 (28. fxe3
Rb8 29. b4 Re8 30. Bf3 $14 {can also be slightly better for White with some
minority attack plans on the <<.}) 28... Re8 29. Rce1 Nc4 30. R3e2 Nd6 {[#]}
31. Bd3 {chosing the wrong /^.} (31. Bf3 $1 Rxe2 (31... Rd8 {allows the
penetration to the 7-th rank after} 32. Re7) 32. Rxe2 Kg8 33. d5 $16 {and
Black still couldn't finish the development of the <<.}) 31... Rxe2 32. Rxe2
Kg8 $11 {Now Black is more or less OK.} 33. Bc2 b6 34. Bb3+ Kf8 35. Ne6+ Bxe6
36. Rxe6 Nf5 37. Rxc6 Nxd4 38. Rc7 Nxb3 39. axb3 {[%mdl 4096] The R _|_ looks
even slightly better for White due to his active R on the seventh rank.
However the roles will be changed soon.} Rd8 $1 {Black has to activate his
passive R.} 40. Rxa7 Rd3 41. Ra3 b5 42. b4 Rd4 43. Rb3 h5 {White is a P up,
but his R became very passive.} 44. Kg2 Kf7 45. Kf3 (45. f4 Ke6 46. Kf2 Kf5 47.
Kf3 Re4 48. Rc3 {White has to give up his extra P, but the draw is not far.}
Rxb4 49. b3 $11) 45... Rc4 46. Ke3 (46. Re3 Rxb4 47. b3 g5 48. hxg5 fxg5 49.
Kg2 Kf6 {and Black can try to continue the fight.}) (46. Kg2 g5 47. hxg5 fxg5 {
is similar to the previous note.}) 46... g5 $1 {Black wants to open the second
front giving White chances for a mistake.} 47. f4 $2 (47. hxg5 fxg5 48. f4 {
was enough for an equality.} gxf4+ (48... h4 49. gxh4 gxh4 (49... gxf4+ 50. Kf3
Kg6 51. Kg4 $11) 50. Kf3 $11) 49. gxf4 Ke6 50. Rd3 Rxb4 (50... h4 51. Kf3) 51.
b3 Kf5 52. Rd5+ Kg4 53. Rg5+ Kh4 54. Rg1 Rxb3+ 55. Ke4 $11 {and the active
white K and the strong o^ secure the draw.}) 47... gxh4 $1 48. gxh4 Kg6 $1 49.
Rc3 $1 (49. Rd3 Rxb4 50. b3 Kf5 $19) 49... Rxb4 50. Rc5 {Otherwise the black K
will penetrate.} Rb3+ 51. Ke4 Rxb2 {Black finally won the P, but the R _|_ is
usually drawish even without the P.} 52. f5+ Kh6 53. Rc6 (53. Kf3 Rb4 54. Kg3
Rg4+ 55. Kh3 b4 56. Rc6 (56. Rc7 $2 Rg7) 56... Kg7 57. Rc7+ Kf8 58. Rb7 Rd4 59.
Rb6 (59. Kg3 Ke8 60. Kh3 Kd8) 59... Kf7 (59... Ke7 60. Re6+ Kf7 61. Rb6) 60.
Kg3 Re4 $1 61. Kh3 Ke7 62. Kg3 $11) 53... Rb4+ $1 {[#]} 54. Kf3 $4 {Now White
loses the second P.} (54. Kd5 $1 {The K must be active in the R _|_!} Rxh4 55.
Rxf6+ Kg5 56. Rf8 Rh2 (56... b4 57. Ke5 $1) 57. f6 $1 Kf5 $1 (57... Kg6 58. Ke5
Re2+ 59. Kf4 b4 60. Rb8 Rf2+ 61. Kg3 Rb2 62. Rb5 Kxf6 63. Rxh5 Ke6 64. Kf3 $11)
58. f7 (58. Kc5 Rc2+ 59. Kxb5 Kg6 60. f7 Rf2) 58... Kf6 59. Rb8 Kxf7 60. Rxb5
Re2 61. Kd4 Kg6 62. Kd3 Re8 63. Rb2 {/\ Re2} Kg5 64. Re2 {and White arrives
back just in time!} Rf8 65. Ke3 Kg4 66. Rg2+ Kh3 67. Rg7 $11) 54... Rxh4 $19
55. Rxf6+ Kg5 56. Rg6+ (56. Rb6 Rf4+ $19) 56... Kxf5 57. Rb6 Rb4 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 32] Kramnik nowadays regularly plays 1.e4. Is this a deception
before his match against Leko?!} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Open Ruy Lopez? No, thanks...}
3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O (6... Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. h3 O-O 9. Nf1
d5 {- Y.Gonzales-F.Gomez, CUB-ch Holguin City 2002 CBM 89}) 7. O-O (7. Nbd2 {
can also be met by the push in the [+].} d5 8. Qe2 (8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Ne4 Ba7 10.
O-O {- 7.0-0}) 8... Be6 9. O-O (9. h3 Nh5 10. Nf1 h6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. d4 Nf6
13. dxe5 Nxe4 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Re8 $11 {Rybak-Jaracz, POL-ch (Women) 1994}
) 9... Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. h3 Qd7 12. Nf1 dxe4 {This exchange followed by the
occupation of the d <-> equalizes easily.} 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Rad8 15. b4
Ba7 16. Ng3 Qd3 $11 {Zaichik-A.Ivanov, World op Philadelphia 2000}) 7... d5 8.
exd5 (8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. h3 (9. exd5 Nxd5 {- 8.exd5}) (9. Re1 Re8 10. exd5 {- 8.ed}
) 9... Re8 (9... dxe4 10. dxe4 Qe7 11. Nh2 Be6 12. Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Rad8 14.
Nc4 {White has some pressure on the light squares, especially on f5, but the d
<-> is in Black's hands.} h6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. Nf1 Rd7 17. Ng3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Rd3
19. Qe2 Kh7 20. Rf1 b5 21. Nce3 Bxe3 22. Bxe3 R3d7 {1/2:1/2 Beshukov-J.Geller,
Krasnodar 2001}) 10. Re1 h6 11. Qe2 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. N3h2 Nf4
15. Qf3 Ne7 {/\ Neg6} 16. Be3 Neg6 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Ne3 Nh4 19. Qg3 c6 $13 {
Varini-Mikac, Portoroz op 1997}) 8... Nxd5 9. h3 {against Bg4.} (9. Nxe5 {
is harmless.} Bxf2+ 10. Rxf2 Nxe5 11. Qh5 Nxd3 12. Rxf7 Be6 13. Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.
Be3 Nxe3 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16. Qe2 Qf4 17. Nd2 Rd8 18. Nf3 c5 19. b3 h6 $11 {
Lakos-Jaracz, EU-ch U20 Girls 1995}) (9. Nbd2 Ba7 (9... Bg4 $5 {is the real
question.} 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ne4 Ba7 12. Re1 f6 {/\ Bf7 neutralizing the pressure
on the a2-g8 /^.} (12... Bg6) 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Bf7 15. Qd2 Qe7 $5 (15...
h6 16. d4 f5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Ne7 {(Svidler-Ernst, Peer Gynt
Gausdal 1991)} 20. Bxf7+ Rxf7 (20... Kxf7 21. e6+) 21. Nd7 $14)) 10. Nc4 (10.
Re1 Nf4 $142 $5 {looks crisper.} (10... Re8 11. Nc4 $142 {- 10.Nc4} (11. d4 {
again allows the pin by} Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nf1 e4 14. Ng3 Bg6 15. Nh2 Qd6 16.
Ng4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Ne3 Na5 {/\ c5 freeing the passive B.} 19. Bc2 c5 20.
d5 Rad8 21. Qg4 Qxg4 22. hxg4 b5 23. Rad1 Bb8 24. Nef5 Bxg3 25. Nxg3 Nc4 $11 {
Dolmatov-Salov, SU-FL Irkutsk 1986}))) (10. Ne4 Kh8 11. h3 h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13.
Re1 Qd6 14. Nh4 (14. Qe2 Rfe8) 14... Rad8 15. Qf3 {(Tkachiev-A.Ivanov, New
York op 1995)} Nde7 $11 {fighting for >< f5 and targeting >< d3.}) 10... f6 (
10... Re8 11. Re1 (11. Ng5 h6) 11... f6 $5 (11... Bg4 $6 12. h3 Bh5 {is simply
met by} 13. g4 {and >< e5 falls.} Bg6 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 $16) (11... Qf6
$6 {runs into} 12. d4 $1 e4 (12... Bg4 13. Ncxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Rxe5 16. Rxe5 Qxe5 17. Bd2 $16) 13. Ncd2 Bf5 14. Bxd5 exf3 15. Bxf3 $16 {
with a clear P up for White, Svidler-Steingrimsson, Gausdal Int 1991.}) 12. d4
{This is now stronger than before because of the pin on the e <->.} exd4 (12...
e4 13. Nfd2 f5 14. Ne3 Nce7 15. f3 $16 {successfully blowing up Black's [+],
Gerthold-Zoebish, AUT 1998.}) 13. Nd6 $1 (13. Rxe8+ Qxe8) 13... cxd6 14. Bxd5+
Kh8 $14) 11. d4 (11. Ne3 Be6 $11) (11. Be3 $5 Be6 (11... Nxe3 12. fxe3 Kh8 (
12... Be6 13. Ncxe5 Bxe3+ 14. Kh1 $14) 13. d4 {Now Black has problems with his
entombbed B on a7.} Bg4 14. Qe1 e4 15. Nfd2 (15. Nh4 Ne7 $1 (15... Qd7 16. Qf2
$14 {Berzinsh-Jirka, Friendship 2001})) 15... b5 16. Na3 f5 17. Qg3 Qd7 18. Bd1
Bxd1 19. Raxd1 $14 {and the d4 P in the [+] keeps the black pieces passive.})
12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Ne3 Kh8 $11) 11... exd4 12. Re1 $5 (12. cxd4 Be6 {Black can
blockade the isolani on d5.} 13. Re1 Bf7 14. Ne3 Nce7 $11 {Belmonte-Bulgarini,
Santiago 1994})) 9... Nb6 $6 {The N is usually badly placed here.} (9... Ba7
10. Re1 Be6 (10... Re8 {is again met by the standard plan} 11. d4 $1 e4 12. Ng5
Bf5 (12... e3 13. Bxe3 Rxe3 14. Rxe3 Nxe3 15. Qh5 $18) 13. Nxf7 $1 {
(Felgaer-Jirka, Yerevan 2000)} Qd7 (13... Kxf7 14. Qh5+ $18) 14. Qh5 $1 $16) (
10... Qd6 11. Nbd2 (11. Qe2 Bf5 $5 $13) 11... Nf4 12. Nc4 (12. Ne4 Qxd3) 12...
Qxd3 (12... Qg6 13. Bxf4 exf4 14. Nce5 $16) 13. Bxf4 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 exf4 15.
Nce5 {and White has a lead of development.} Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. Rxe5 $14) 16...
Bf5 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Re7 Bg6 19. Rdd7 Raf8 20. Rxc7 $14) 11. Qe2 $5 (11. Ng5
Bf5 12. Qf3 Nde7 $13) 11... Re8 (11... f6 12. d4 $14) 12. Ng5 $14) 10. Re1 $1 (
10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Ne4 Be7 $13) 10... h6 (10... a5 $5 {/\ a4 is met by} 11. a4 {
securing the a2-g8 /^ for the B.} (11. Nbd2 a4 12. Bc2 Re8)) 11. Nbd2 (11. Nxe5
$143 {is always answered by} Bxf2+ $1 12. Kxf2 Nxe5 13. d4 Qh4+ 14. Kf1 (14.
Kg1 Nd3) 14... Ng6 15. Qf3 Be6 $1 16. Re4 (16. Qxb7 Rae8 $44) 16... Qd8 $11)
11... Qxd3 12. Nxe5 Qg3 13. Qf3 Qxf3 14. Ndxf3 {White has now serious threats
against >< f7.} Ne7 $6 {[#]} (14... Nxe5 {was the lesser evil, although after}
15. Nxe5 Bd6 16. Ng6 Rd8 17. Ne7+ Kf8 18. Nxc8 Raxc8 19. Be3 $14 {White has a
strong ^^ in an open position.}) 15. Nd3 ({missing the "small combination a la
Capablanca"} 15. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 16. Rxe7 $1 (16. Ne5 $2 Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Ned5 18.
Re2 (18. Nxf7 Bxe1) 18... Bc5+ $19) 16... Bxe7 17. Ne5 $16 {winning a P.})
15... Bd6 16. Bf4 $14 Ng6 {By this way Black can finish his development, but
the weakness of d6 remains a long-lasting one.} 17. Bxd6 cxd6 18. Re4 {/\ Rd4}
(18. Nb4 {activating the N was the alternative.} a5 19. Nd5 $16) 18... a5 (
18... Bf5 19. Rb4 $16) 19. Rd4 Rd8 20. Rd1 d5 (20... a4 21. Bc2 a3 22. b3 $16)
21. Nc5 $16 Ne7 22. a4 Re8 23. R4d2 Nd7 (23... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 {Black has
changed the P structure, but now the penetration on the d <-> is nasty.} 25.
Rd8 Bf5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nxb7 $18) 24. Nxd7 Bxd7 25. c4 $5 {White usually
fights against the isolated P not exchanging it, but this activates the white
pieces dramatically.} (25. Re1 Kf8 26. Nd4 $16 {looks more thematic, although
>< a4 may pose some problems for White.}) 25... dxc4 26. Rxd7 cxb3 27. Rxb7
Rab8 28. Rdd7 {The penetration on the 7-th rank wins a P at least.} Nc6 (28...
Rxb7 29. Rxb7 $16) 29. Rxf7 Rxb7 30. Rxb7 Re4 31. Rxb3 Rxa4 {If Black can
exchange the pawns on the <<, the _|_ is drawish.} 32. Rb6 Rc4 33. g3 (33. b3
Rc2 34. Kh2 Rc3 35. Rb7) 33... a4 34. h4 Nd4 35. Ne5 (35. Kg2 Nxf3 36. Kxf3)
35... Rc5 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. Nd7 Rb5 38. Ra8 Ne2+ 39. Kg2 Rxb2 40. h5 {Even in
endgames there are chances for a mating ->!} (40. Rxa4 Nc3 41. Ra7 Nd1) 40...
Nc3 41. Ne5 {/\ Ng6 and mate!} Rb5 42. f4 Ne4 (42... Rd5 43. g4 {/\ Ng6}) 43.
g4 $1 {White concentrates only to the >>.} (43. Ng6 {allows Black to sacrifice
the exchange.} Rxh5 44. g4 Kxg6 45. gxh5+ Kxh5 46. Rxa4 Nd6 (46... Nf6 47. Kf3
Kg6 48. Ra5) 47. Kf3) 43... Nf6 (43... Rb2+ 44. Kf3) 44. Ng6 $18 Ng8 {The N is
now more or less paralyzed.} 45. Nf8+ Kh8 46. Ng6+ Kh7 47. Kf3 Rb3+ 48. Ke4 a3
49. Nf8+ Kh8 50. Ng6+ Kh7 51. g5 $1 hxg5 52. fxg5 Rb4+ 53. Kf5 Rb5+ 54. Kg4
Rb4+ 55. Kf5 Rb5+ 56. Kg4 Rb4+ 57. Nf4 a2 58. Rxa2 Ne7 59. Ra8 Ng8 {and the N
has to return again!} 60. Ra7 Kh8 61. Ra8 Kh7 62. Rf8 Kh8 63. Kf3 Rb3+ 64. Ke4
Rb4+ 65. Ke5 Rb5+ 66. Nd5 Ra5 67. Rd8 Kh7 68. g6+ Kh8 69. h6 $1 Ra7 70. Ne3
gxh6 71. Nf5 {Total domination!} Ra5+ 72. Kf4 Ra4+ 73. Kf3 Ra3+ 74. Kg4 Ra4+
75. Kh5 Ra7 76. Rf8 Rb7 77. Kh4 Rb4+ 78. Kg3 Rb6 79. Ne7 Kg7 80. Rf7+ {and
mate!} 1-0

[Event "Linares Anibal op 07th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.01.16"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svetushkin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2486"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2000.01.07"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. h3 d6 8. Bb3
O-O {Black wants to spare the usual h7-h6.} 9. Re1 (9. Bg5 $5) 9... Kh8 {
Black is playing for the opening of the f <-> by f7-f5.} (9... h6 10. Nbd2 Nh5
{is one of the main lines.}) 10. Nbd2 Nh5 (10... Ng8 $5 {doesn't look so
active, but it is also worthy of consideration.} 11. Nf1 f5 12. Bg5 (12. exf5
Bxf5 13. Ng3 d5 14. d4 e4 15. Nh2 Qd6 16. Ng4 Nge7 17. Bg5 Rae8 18. Ne3 Be6 $13
(18... Bg6 $6 {allows the Q to come:} 19. Qg4 $1 h6 $2 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21. Bxd5
$1 $18 {winning material, Klinger-Jonkman, Capella op Grande 1994.})) 12... Nf6
13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 h6 17. Nxf5 Qxf5 18. Bc2 Qd5 19.
Be3 Qh5 $13 {Lakos-Rantanen, Viking op Aaland-Stockholm 1997}) 11. Nf1 Qf6 (
11... f5 $5 12. d4 (12. Bg5 $5) 12... fxe4 13. Rxe4 Bf5 14. Rh4 Nf6 15. Be3
exd4 {1/2:1/2 Gipslis-Giorgadze, Podolsk 1992}) 12. Ne3 (12. Be3 Nf4 13. d4 Ne7
14. Kh2 {/\ Ng1 g3} (14. Ng3 g5 $5 {Black wants to control the dark squares,
especially f4.} (14... Neg6 $2 {founders on} 15. Nh5 $1 Qd8 (15... Nxh5 $2 16.
Bg5 {catches the Q.}) 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. Nxf4 exf4 18. Qd2 $16 {and White has a
strong [+] neutralizing Black's ^^.}) (14... Be6 15. Bxf4 (15. dxe5 {gives up
the tension in the [+].} dxe5 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Bxe6 fxe6 {The doubled pawns
are not so weak, and they cover the central squares.} 18. Re3 Neg6 $13) (15. d5
{closes the /^ of the light-squared B.} Bd7 $13) 15... Qxf4 $11) 15. Nh5 $6 Qg6
$132) 14... Neg6 15. Ng1 (15. Ng3 Be6 $13) 15... Ne6 16. Ne2 Ngf4 17. Nxf4 $142
(17. Nfg3 exd4 $1 18. cxd4 Nxe2 19. Nxe2 c5 $1 {attacking the [+], mostly ><
c5.} 20. d5 Nd4 21. Ng3 $11 (21. Bxd4 $6 cxd4 22. f4 Bd7 $15 {^^, Lane-Anand,
BCF-ch Blackpool 1988.})) 17... Nxf4 (17... exf4 $143 {loses the control over
>< d4.} 18. Bd2 $16) 18. Qf3 Be6 (18... g5 19. g3 $16) 19. Bxf4 $1 (19. Ng3 g5
$132) 19... Qxf4+ (19... exf4 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe6 $14) 20. Qxf4 exf4 21. Nd2
$14 {and Black has problems with his dark-squared B.}) 12... Nf4 13. Ng4 (13.
Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 (14. Bxd5 $2 Qg6 $1 15. Kf1 (15. Nh4 $2 Qg3 $1 $19) 15... f5
$15 {is Black's main threat in this line.}) 14... Nd8 {The N is not very
well-placed here.} (14... Nb8 15. d4 Nd7 16. Bc2 {/\ Bg5}) 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4
(16. cxd4 h6 17. Qe2 (17. Bc2 Bf5) 17... Bf5) 16... Bd7 $14) 13... Bxg4 (13...
Qg6 $5 14. Bxf4 (14. Nh4 Qh5) 14... Bxg4 (14... exf4) 15. hxg4 exf4 16. Nh2
Rae8 $11) 14. hxg4 g5 $6 {This weakens the light squares.} (14... Qg6 $1 {
was more flexible, for example:} 15. Nh4 Qf6 16. Nf5 g6 $13) 15. Be3 (15. Bxf4
{is useless here.} Qxf4 $11) 15... h5 (15... Bxe3 $2 16. fxe3 Ne6 17. Rf1 $14 {
<->f and the knights have no basis in the [+].}) 16. Bxa7 (16. gxh5 $2 {
gives Black ample play after} g4 $1 ({but not} 16... Bxe3 $2 17. fxe3 Nxh5 18.
Nxe5 $1 $18) 17. Nh2 Rg8 18. Nxg4 ({On} 18. Bxa7 g3 $1 {is a nasty
intermediate move.} ({There is no time for} 18... Rxa7 {because of} 19. Re3 $1
{defending against g3.})) 18... Qh4 19. f3 Nh3+ $1 20. gxh3 Qg3+ 21. Kf1 Rxg4
$1 22. hxg4 Qh3+ 23. Kg1 Qg3+ $11 {and draw by perpetual.}) 16... Nxa7 (16...
hxg4 17. Nh2 $1 {This is the simle way for the advantage.} (17. Nxe5 $6 {
gives Black time to organize a counterplay on the h <->.} Nxe5 18. Bd4 Kg7 19.
Bxe5 dxe5 20. Qxg4 Nxd3 21. Rf1 Rh8 $40) (17. Be3 gxf3 18. Qxf3 Kg7 (18... g4
$6 19. Qxg4 Rg8 20. Qf3 Rxg2+ 21. Kf1 Rag8 (21... Rh2 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. d4) 22.
Bxf4) 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. d4 Rh8 $13) 17... Rxa7 18. Nxg4 {Now White has
pressure on the light squares.} Qg6 19. g3 $16 {and the weaknesses in the
black camp begin to tell.}) 17. Nh2 (17. gxh5 $1 {was the consistent reply.} g4
(17... Nxh5 $2 18. Nxe5 $1 $18) (17... Qh6 $2 18. g4 $18) 18. Nh2 Rg8 19. Re3
$1 (19. Nxg4 {immediately opens up the g <-> against the K.} Qh4 20. f3 Nh3+ $1
21. gxh3 Qg3+ 22. Kf1 Rxg4 $1 23. hxg4 Qh3+ 24. Ke2 (24. Kg1 Qg3+ $11) 24...
Qh2+ 25. Ke3 Qf4+ $11 {and draw by perpetual checks.}) 19... Qh4 (19... Nxh5
20. Nxg4 Qg6 21. Rh3 $18) 20. Rg3 $18 {and >< g4 will soon fall.}) 17... h4 $14
{and Black has avoided the opening of the >>.} 18. Qf3 Kg7 19. Nf1 {/\ Ne3-f5}
(19. g3 Ng6 20. Qxf6+ Kxf6 $11) 19... Nc6 (19... Rh8 20. Ne3 h3 21. Nf5+ Kf8
22. g3 h2+ 23. Kh1 {The o^ on h2 defends the white K.} Rh3 24. Qd1 Ng6 25. Kg2
Qh8 26. Qf3 $14) 20. Rad1 Ne7 (20... Rh8 $5) 21. Ne3 c6 22. d4 Rad8 23. Rd2 Ne6
$6 (23... Rh8 24. Red1 exd4 25. cxd4 h3 26. g3 h2+ 27. Kh1 Rh3 28. Bc4 $1 Nfg6
$14) (23... Rfe8 24. Red1 $14) 24. Qd1 (24. Qxf6+ Kxf6 25. d5 cxd5 (25... Nf4
$6 {gives White time to attack the weakness on d6.} 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. Red1 d5
28. g3 $16) 26. Bxd5 Rd7 27. Red1 Rfd8 28. Kf1 $14 {with a slightly better _|_
for White because of the backward P on d6.}) 24... b5 (24... exd4 25. cxd4 Rfe8
26. d5 $14) 25. Bc2 ({missing the aggressive} 25. Nf5+ $1 Nxf5 26. exf5 Nf4 (
26... Nc7 {is no escape from trouble.} 27. Rxe5 $1 {This is a nice, unexpected
tactical blow} dxe5 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qxd8 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Qxf2 32.
Qxc7 $18) 27. g3 ({Here the previous motif is not so good:} 27. Rxe5 $2 dxe5
28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qxd8 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Qxf2 32. Qd4+ Qxd4 33. cxd4
Ne2 34. d5 cxd5 $11) 27... hxg3 28. fxg3 Nd5 29. Bxd5 cxd5 30. dxe5 dxe5 31.
Rxd5 $16) 25... Rh8 26. Bb3 Nf4 (26... h3 $5 27. g3) 27. a4 (27. g3 $5 hxg3 ({
In case of} 27... Ne6 28. dxe5 (28. Nf5+ Nxf5 29. exf5 Nc7 30. gxh4 gxh4 (30...
Rxh4 31. dxe5 Qh6 32. f6+ Kf8 33. Qf3 $18) 31. Rxe5 $1 {is strong again!} dxe5
32. dxe5 Qxe5 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Qxd8 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Kh2 Qf4+ 37. Kh3
Qf3+ 38. Kxh4 Qxf2+ 39. Kh5 $18) 28... dxe5 29. Bxe6 Rxd2 30. Qxd2 fxe6 {
is playable for Black.}) 28. fxg3 Qh6 29. Qf3 $16) 27... Rh6 (27... h3 $5 28.
g3 h2+ 29. Kh1 Nh3 30. Rf1 {and the N has no perspectives on the edge of the
board.}) 28. Qf3 Rdh8 29. Ra1 b4 30. Rad1 bxc3 31. bxc3 h3 32. g3 Ng2 $2 {
This loses a P without any fight.} (32... h2+ {was the last practical chance.}
33. Kh1 exd4 34. cxd4 Nh3 (34... Nfd5 35. Qxf6+ Nxf6 36. Bc2 $16) 35. Nf5+ Nxf5
36. gxf5 $16) 33. Qxf6+ {This is the simple method.} (33. Nf5+ $6 Nxf5 34. gxf5
$14) 33... Rxf6 34. dxe5 dxe5 35. Nxg2 hxg2 36. Kxg2 $18 {and White is a
healthy P up in the _|_.} Rb8 37. Bc4 a5 38. Rd6 Rb2 39. Rxf6 Kxf6 40. Rd6+ Kg7
41. Rd7 Kf8 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Re8 Kf6 44. Rf8 Kg6 45. Ra8 ({or} 45. Rxf7 Nd5 46.
Bxd5 cxd5 47. Rf5 $18) 45... Rc2 46. Rxa5 Rxc3 47. Rc5 Kg7 48. a5 f6 49. Kf1
Kf8 50. Ke2 Ra3 51. a6 {White has a strong remote o^.} Ke8 52. Bd3 Kd7 53. Rc1
Nc8 54. Rh1 Kc7 55. Rh7+ Kb6 56. Rf7 Nd6 57. Rxf6 Nb5 58. Bxb5 Kxb5 59. Rf5
Ra2+ 60. Kf3 Ra3+ 61. Kg2 c5 62. Rxe5 Rxa6 63. Rxg5 Kb4 64. Rg8 c4 65. g5 c3
66. Rc8 Kb3 67. f4 c2 68. f5 Ra8 69. Rc5 Ra5 70. Rxc2 Kxc2 71. g6 Kd3 72. g7
1-0

[Event "Ubeda op 5th"]
[Site "Ubeda"]
[Date "2000.01.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lobzhanidze, Davit"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2448"]
[BlackElo "2449"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.01.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Bb3 a6 8. h3
Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 {Black wants to regroup his N, which has a strong pressure on
the dark squares from g6.} 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 {/\ Bb7 and later on d6-d5.}
(11... h6 {V.Ivanov-Notkin, RUS-Cup02 Moscow 1998 CBM63}) (11... Nh5 {Magem
Badals-Alesandrov,Elista ol 1998 CBM 66}) 12. Ng3 (12. d4 Bb7 13. Ng3 exd4 14.
cxd4 c5 {This is the right way to attack the [+].} (14... d5 $6 15. e5 {
This Ruy Lopez Open P structure is good for White, because Black's bishops are
out of play.} (15. Bg5 $5) 15... Ne4 16. Bc2 {Now Black has to give up his
strong centralized N.} Nxg3 17. fxg3 c5 18. e6 {It's time for an assault!} Qd6
(18... fxe6 19. Ng5 Qf6 20. Kh2 $16 {/\ Qh5}) 19. Ng5 Qxg3 20. exf7+ Rxf7 21.
Bxg6 hxg6 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Bf4 $1 Qxf4 24. Rf1 Qf6 25. Qg4 Bc8 26. Rxf6+ gxf6
27. Qh4 $18 {Jaracz-Ibragimov, Biel op 1996}) 15. dxc5 (15. d5 Re8 $13) 15...
Bxc5 $11 {and both black bishops are active again.}) 12... Bb7 {This move
leaves >< f5 unattended, but White cannot successfully attack only with pieces.
} 13. Nh2 (13. Nf5 Re8 14. Ng5 {This looks aggressive, but} d5 $1 {and the
counterattack comes from the [+].} 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18.
dxe4 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Rad8 $11) 13... d5 $1 {If the N leaves the [+], the
counterattack will come immediately.} 14. Ng4 (14. Bg5 $5 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16.
Ng4 Qg5 $5 (16... Qh4 17. Nf5 Qg5 18. Qf3 d4 $13) 17. exd5 (17. Bxd5 $6 {
gives Black free hand on the >>.} Bxd5 18. exd5 f5 19. Ne3 f4 20. Ne4 fxe3 $1
21. Nxg5 exf2+ 22. Kh1 fxe1=Q+ 23. Qxe1 hxg5 $13) 17... f5 18. Ne3 Kh8 (18...
f4 $2 {now is met by the intermediate move} 19. Ne4 fxe3 20. d6+ $1 {and
Black's K is also in danger!} Kh8 21. Nxg5 exf2+ 22. Kf1 fxe1=Q+ 23. Kxe1 $16)
19. Kh1 Rad8 $44) 14... Nxg4 (14... dxe4 15. dxe4 (15. Bg5 Qxd3 $1) 15... Nxg4
$11 ({but not} 15... Qxd1 $2 {because of the zwischenzug} 16. Nxf6+ $1 gxf6 17.
Rxd1 $14 {corrupting Black's P structure.})) 15. Qxg4 (15. hxg4 d4 $5 (15...
dxe4 16. dxe4 (16. Nxe4 Bd5 $11) 16... Bb6 $11 (16... Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Rfd8 (17...
Nf4 $6 18. Be3 $1 {Development first!} (18. Rd7 {is premature in view of} Bc8
19. Rxc7 Nd3) 18... Bxe3 19. fxe3 $1 {Time is of great importance.} Ne6 20. Rd7
({The penetration on the seventh rank} 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Rd7 {is parried by}
Rf7) 20... Nc5 (20... Rac8 21. Rf1 $1 {with nasty threats on the a2-g8 /^.})
21. Rxc7 Rac8 22. Re7 $16) 18. Bg5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Nf8 $14)) 16. Nf5 c5 17. Qf3
(17. cxd4 exd4 $13) 17... dxc3 18. bxc3 Rc8 {/\ c4} 19. Bd5 Rc7 20. Rb1 Rd7 $13
) 15... c5 $2 {Now White gets control over the light squares.} (15... Bc8 16.
Nf5 c6 $13) 16. Bxd5 $1 (16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 {is met by the central push} c4)
16... Bxd5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Nf5 $1 $16 (18. Rd1 {allows the freeing move} f5
$1 19. Nxf5 Qf7 {opening up the f <->.} 20. Nd6 Qxf2+ 21. Kh1 Rad8 (21... Nf4
22. Bxf4) 22. Ne4 {The N is excellent on e4.} Qc2 $5 23. Rd2 Qa4 24. b3 Rf1+
25. Kh2 Qa5 26. Bb2 $14) 18... c4 $2 {[#]} (18... Qxd3 $2 19. h4 $1 {/\ h5 ><
g7.} (19. Rxe5 {is not so impressive because of} Rfe8 20. Bf4 c4 $132) 19...
Qc4 20. Re4 $1 h5 $1 {otherwise h4-h5 comes.} 21. Rxc4 hxg4 22. Rxg4 $16 {
/\ h5 again.}) (18... Kh8 {was the cold-blooded defence, although White's
chances are still preferable.} 19. h4 $1 c4 20. h5 cxd3 (20... Rae8 21. dxc4
bxc4 22. Be3 $18 {and the N will fall.}) 21. Bg5 (21. hxg6 $2 {is premature
because of the zwischenzug} Bxf2+ $1 22. Kxf2 fxg6) 21... Qe6 (21... d2 22.
Red1) 22. Re4 Rae8 23. Bh4 Rg8 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. Ne3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Qxg4 27.
Rxg4) 19. Be3 $2 ({missing the crushing} 19. Bh6 $1 Qxd3 (19... gxh6 $4 20.
Ne7+ $18) (19... Rfe8 20. Nxg7 $18) 20. Bxg7 ({and not} 20. Nxg7 $2 f5 $1 21.
Qh5 f4) 20... Rfe8 21. Bxe5 $18) 19... Bxe3 (19... Qxd3 {is again met by the
strong} 20. h4 $1 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Qd2 22. h5 Qxb2 23. Rae1 $40) 20. Nxe3 $2 {
The N leaves his excellent post.} (20. Rxe3 $1 {was the logical continuation
of the ->.} Rad8 (20... cxd3 $4 21. Qxg6 $18) (20... Qe6 21. d4 Qf6 22. Rae1 $1
(22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Qxg7+ Qxg7 24. Nxg7 Nd3 $1 25. Nf5 Nxb2 $11) 22... exd4 23.
cxd4 Rad8 24. Rf3 Qb6 25. h4 $16) 21. h4 cxd3 22. h5 d2 23. Rd1 Qxa2 24. hxg6
$18) 20... Qxd3 21. Rad1 f5 $1 {This zwischenzug saves the day.} 22. Qg5 Qe4
23. Nd5 Qh4 $2 {This is a serious error again.} (23... Qc2 $1 24. Rd2 h6 $1 {
Zwischenzug forever.} (24... Qa4 $2 25. Nb6 $16) 25. Qxh6 (25. Qe3 Qe4) 25...
gxh6 26. Rxc2 Rad8 $11) 24. Qxh4 ({missing the trivial} 24. Ne7+ $1 Kf7 25.
Qxf5+ Qf6 (25... Kxe7 $2 26. Rd7+ Ke8 27. Rxe5+ $1 Nxe5 28. Qe6+ $18) 26. Rd6
$1 (26. Qxf6+ gxf6 27. Nf5 Rfd8 $11) 26... Qxf5 27. Nxf5 $16) 24... Nxh4 25.
Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Buenos Aires zt 2.5"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rodriguez Vila, Andres"]
[Black "Sorin, Ariel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2493"]
[BlackElo "2488"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2000.07.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 {This is the quiet equalizing line exchanging the pieces and
solving the tension.} (9... Ng4 $5 10. Re2 Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 {/\ f5 is a more
aggressive approach in order to disturb the balance.}) 10. Nf1 Qd7 $6 {The Q
is usually not well-posted here, she belongs to the dark squares.} (10... Bxb3
{is the consequent try making life easier by exchanges.} 11. Qxb3 Qd7 $5 {
looks a bit more active.} (11... Qc8 12. Ng3 (12. Be3 {If both bishops will
disappear, the chances for a draw are much higher.} Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7 {The N
on c6 is usually badly placed.} 14. Rad1 {/\ d4} b6 15. d4 exd4 16. Rxd4 Nc6
17. Rdd1 Re8 (17... Nxe4 $4 18. Qd5 $18) 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 Ne7 20. Qd3 Ng6
$11 {and Black has evened out completely, Magem Badals-Morovic Fernandez,
ESP-chT 1990.}) 12... Re8 13. h3 Rb8 {freeing the Q from the defence of >< b7.}
14. Be3 Qe6 {Mass exchanges are on the horizont.} 15. Qxe6 fxe6 16. Rac1 Bxe3
17. Rxe3 Rbd8 18. d4 Rd7 $11 {Karpov-Korchnoi, World Championship 30th 1981})
12. Be3 (12. Qxb7 $4 {loses to} Rfb8) 12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 (13. Rxe3 {The R is
not particularly good here.} Rfe8 14. Rae1 Nh5 15. d4 Nf4 $11 {with play on
the dark squares, Sharif-Haik, New York op 1984.})) (10... h6 {is the other
typical defensive move here.} 11. Ng3 d5 (11... Bxb3 {is worthy of attention
again.} 12. Qxb3 Qd7 13. Be3 {The B has no other reasonable square.} Bxe3 14.
Rxe3 Ne7 {/\ Ng6 fighting for the dark squares on the >>.} 15. d4 Ng6 16. Rd1
Qb5 17. Qc2 Qc4 18. b3 Qe6 19. Nf5 Rfe8 $11 {Chiburdanidze-Zsu.Polgar,
Thessaloniki ol (Women) 1988}) 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 {
This is the point!} 15. Kh1 Bxg3 16. hxg3 Nf6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. d4 (18. Rxe6
Qd5 $1) 18... Qe8 $11 {with weak pawns on both side, Dreev-Kaidanov, URS-ch
U26 Lvov 1985.}) (10... d5 $6 {is clearly premature:} 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Ng5 $1
({or} 12. Qe2 f6 13. d4 {using the pin on the e <->.}) 12... Qf6 {Black cannot
rescue his nice light-squared B.} 13. Qf3 Rad8 (13... Qxf3 14. Nxf3 f6 15. d4
$14) 14. Qxf6 gxf6 {(Belkhodja-Borm, OHRA-B Amsterdam 1985)} 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16.
Bh6 Rf7 17. Ng3 Na5 18. Bc2 Nc6 19. Rad1 $14 {^^}) 11. Bc2 $1 {If White wants
to create more complications, he has to avoid the exchange of the B.} (11. Be3
{leads to unnecessary simplifications.} Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Rae8 13. Bc2 (13. Ba4 {
provoking} b5 {and only after} 14. Bc2 {is answered by the same} d5 $11) 13...
d5 {Now Black grabs the |^ in the [+].} 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd5 Bxd5
17. Rxe8 Rxe8 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Qe6 $15 {<-> e, Nunn-Korchnoi,
Johannesburg 1981}) (11. Bg5 {wants to drive the N to a worse square.} Nh5 12.
Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Nf6 {and even so, the position is still balanced.} 14. Bc2
Ng4 15. d4 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Qe7 $11 {controlling the
stronghold on e5, Nunn-Smejkal, Luzern ol (Men) 1982.}) 11... h6 (11... Ng4 $5
{is a similar idea to the 9...Ng4 variation followed by f5.} 12. d4 (12. Ne3 f5
) (12. Be3 f5) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 $1 (13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 f6 {blowing up the 
[+] immediately.}) 13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 f5 $1 (14... d5 $6 {now is inferior to}
15. h3 Nf6 16. e5 $16) 15. h3 Nf6 16. e5 dxe5 17. dxe5 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 (18. Bxd1
Ne4 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Rad8 $11 {with an active piece play.}) 18... Ne4 19.
Be3 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Rad8 $11 {and the o^ e5 is well-blockaded.}) 12. h3 {This is
a bit caoutious.} (12. d4 $142 exd4 (12... Bg4 {allows White to gain space in
the [+].} 13. d5 Ne7 14. h3 Bh5 15. Ng3 $14) 13. Nxd4 (13. cxd4 $6 Bg4 {>< d4})
13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 c6 {Now White has to keep his strong [+].} (14... d5 $6 {
gives White a strong central P formation with chances for a quick >> ->.} 15.
e5 Ne4 16. f3 Ng5 17. Bxg5 hxg5 18. Qd3 g6 19. Qd2 $16) 15. Qd3 {hindering ...
d5.} (15. Ne3 {allows} d5 16. e5 Ne4 {and the N on e3 disturbs the harmony of
the white pieces.} 17. f3 Ng5 18. Qd3 (18. h4 Nh7 19. Qd3 f5 $13) (18. Rf1 c5
$13) (18. f4 Ne4 19. Rf1 c5 $1 $13 {attacking the [+] and opening up the /^
for the B.}) 18... f5 19. exf6 Rxf6 20. h4 Nf7 21. Bd2 (21. Qh7+ $6 Kf8 $15 {
and there are no real threats against the black K.}) 21... Qd6 22. Re2 Rf4 $13)
15... Rfe8 16. Ng3 {This is the right place for the N.} Rad8 17. Be3 $1 $14 {
holding White's mighty P [+].} (17. f4 $6 {opens up a too wide battlefront.} d5
$1 18. e5 (18. f5 $4 dxe4 19. fxe6 exd3 $19) 18... Ne4 $1 19. Be3 (19. Nxe4
dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ $15) 19... g6 $15) (17. h3 d5 $1 {- 12.h3 Rfe8 13.d4 exd4
14.Nxd4})) 12... Rfe8 13. d4 $5 (13. Be3 {leads to equality, as usual after}
Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 $11) 13... exd4 $1 14. cxd4 $6 {This allows
Black's counterattack in the [+].} (14. Nxd4 {was more to the point answering
the N jump on e4 by f3.} Nxd4 (14... d5 15. e5 Nxd4 (15... Ne4 16. f3 $16 {
This is the big difference!}) 16. cxd4 (16. exf6 $2 Nxc2 17. Qxc2 Bf5) 16...
Nh7 (16... Ne4 {is again met by} 17. f3 $16) 17. Ng3 (17. f4 Bf5) 17... f5 (
17... Nf8 18. f4 $16) 18. Qd3 (18. Nh5 c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Nf4 $14) 18... Rf8
19. Be3 $14) 15. cxd4 c6 (15... d5 $2 16. e5 Ne4 17. f3 $16) 16. Qd3 Rad8 17.
Ng3 d5 $1 {Now it's time for the counterstrike.} 18. e5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20.
Qxe4 f5 $1 21. Qf3 (21. exf6 $2 Bf5 $17) 21... Bxd4 22. Qg3 Kh8 $13) 14... d5
$1 {Now the N will feel himself on e4 very comfortably.} 15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 $1
(16. Bxe4 $6 {is out of question.} dxe4 17. Rxe4 Bd5 18. Re1 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxd4
20. Qe4 Nc6 21. Bf4 Rad8 $15) (16. a3 {is too slow.} Bf5 17. Ne3 Bg6 18. Bb3
Ne7 $15) 16... Nb4 $1 17. Bb1 (17. Bb3 $6 c5 18. a3 Nc6 19. dxc5 Nxc5 $15)
17... c5 $2 {Surprisingly enough this logical attacking move is a mistake.} (
17... Bf5 {activating the passive B was the right plan.} 18. a3 Nc6 19. Bc2
Rad8 $11) 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 (19. Bxe4 {wins the P, but loses the |^
forever:} Bxe3 20. Rxe3 dxe4 21. Qxd7 Bxd7 22. Rxe4 a5 23. Re2 Bc6 24. Nd4 Bd5
$44) 19... Nxc5 20. Ng3 $5 (20. a3 Nc6 21. b4 (21. Ng3) 21... Ne4 22. Bxe4 dxe4
23. Qxd7 Bxd7 24. Rxe4 Bf5 25. Re3 Rad8 26. Ng3 Bc2 27. Rae1 $14 {is a better
version of winning the P.}) 20... Qa4 $2 {Black forgets about his >>, there
are already too many pieces crowded on the <<.} (20... Qb5 $6 {gives a lot of
tempi for White.} 21. Nd4 Qc4 22. b3 Qc3 23. Re3 Qb2 24. a3 $16) (20... Rad8 $1
{was the logical continuation bringing the last missing piece into action.} 21.
Qd2 (21. Nd4 Ne4 $1) 21... a5 (21... Nc6 22. Qc2) 22. Nd4 (22. a3 Nb3) 22...
Ne4 $1 $132) 21. Qd2 (21. b3 Qa3 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Nc6 24. Nd4 Nxd4 25.
Qxd4 Rad8 26. Rec1 Ne6 27. Bxe6 Rxe6 28. Rc7 Re7 $11) 21... Rad8 (21... Nc6 22.
Nh5) 22. Nh5 $1 {White is building up his -> on the >> step by step.} (22. Nd4
Bd7) 22... Ne4 (22... Nc6 {founders on the typical blow} 23. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 24.
exf6 $18) 23. Qf4 $1 (23. Qd4 Qb5 24. a4 Qa5) 23... g5 {This is a desperate
attempt to change the course of the game.} (23... Nc2 $2 24. b3 Qc6 25. Rc1
Nxa1 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Qg3 $18) 24. Nf6+ ({The simple} 24. Qe3 {
was also very tempting, for example:} Nc2 25. Bxc2 Qxc2 26. Nd4 Qc7 27. f3 Qxe5
28. fxe4 dxe4 29. Rad1 $18) 24... Kf8 (24... Nxf6 25. Qxf6 $18) 25. Qe3 Nxf6
26. exf6 Bc8 (26... d4 $2 27. Nxd4 Bxa2 28. Qe7+ $3 Kg8 29. Nf5 Rxe7 30. Nxh6+
$18) (26... Bd7 27. Qc5+ Kg8 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. a3 Nc6 30. Qxd5 $18) 27. Qc5+
Kg8 28. Re7 $5 (28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. a3 Nc6 30. Qxd5 $16) 28... Nc6 {[#]} 29.
Nxg5 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (29. Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Qxd5 $16 {was still very good for
White.}) 29... Nxe7 $1 ({On} 29... hxg5 $2 {White's idea becomes dangerous:}
30. Qe3 Kf8 (30... Nxe7 $2 31. Qxg5+ Ng6 32. Bxg6 $18) 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Qxg5
Re1+ 33. Kh2 Re5 (33... Re6 34. Bf5 $18) 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Qg8+ Kd7 36. Qxf7+
Kd8 37. Qf8+ Kc7 38. b4 $1 $16) 30. Bh7+ Kf8 (30... Kh8 $2 {runs into} 31. fxe7
$1 hxg5 (31... Rd7 32. Qc3+ d4 33. Qf3 $18) 32. exd8=Q Rxd8 33. Qb6 Qe8 34. Qh6
Qf8 35. Qh5 Kg7 36. Bc2 $16) 31. Re1 $2 {White is pushing really too hard, and
now his position is lost.} (31. fxe7+ {was good enough for a normal position
after} Rxe7 32. Qb6 Qc6 33. Qxd8+ Re8 34. Qa5 hxg5 35. Bd3 $11) 31... Qd7 $19 {
and White's -> is repelled!} (31... Rd7 $2 32. Qe3 $1 Qh4 33. Qe5 $18) 32. Bf5
(32. fxe7+ Rxe7 33. Bf5 Qd6) 32... Qd6 33. Nh7+ Kg8 34. Qxd6 Rxd6 35. Bxc8 Rxc8
36. fxe7 Re8 37. Ng5 hxg5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Be6 9. O-O Ba7 10. Re1 h6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 (12... d5 {Yudasin-Adams,
EU Cup final 14th Belgrade 1999 CBM 69}) (12... Bxb3 {Kaidanov-Malaniuk, WchT
4th Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) 13. Nxe3 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 (15. Nc4 Nf4 $1 {
The counterattack is the best defence!} ({Passive defence gives time for White
to seize the |^ in the [+].} 15... f6 16. d4 $1 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Bf7
19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Nd6 $1 cxd6 21. Bxd5 $16 {and Black's weaknesses in his P
structure begin to tell, Ostojic-Wellendorf, Baden-Baden op 1990.}) 16. Ncxe5 (
16. Bc2 {looks rather passive.} Qf6 17. Kh2 (17. Nfxe5 $2 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 {
is strongly met by the crushing} Bxh3 $1 $19) 17... Bf5 $36) 16... Nxe5 17.
Rxe5 ({and not} 17. Nxe5 $2 Qg5 18. Ng4 Bxb3 19. axb3 h5 $17) 17... Nxd3 18.
Re3 Bxb3 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Qxd3 $11) (15. d4 Nxe3 (15... e4 $6 {is not a
successful change of the P structure for Black.} 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Nd2 $16) 16.
Rxe3 exd4 $1 (16... Bxb3 {is also enough for equality, but here Black has to
defend himself more carefully.} 17. Qxb3 exd4 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Qxb7 $1 dxc3 (
19... Ra7 20. Qb3 $14) 20. bxc3 Ra7 21. Qb3 Ra8 (21... Na5 22. Qd5 Qb5 23. Qd8+
Kh7 24. Re1 $14) 22. Re1 Qd7 $11) 17. cxd4 Bxb3 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Qxb3 Rb8 $11
{and Black has everything in order.}) 15... Bxd5 16. d4 e4 $6 {This idea is
dubious again, but Black wanted more than just a simple equalization.} (16...
Bxb3 $142 17. Qxb3 exd4 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 {- 15.d4 Bb3 16.Qb3 exd4}) 17. Nd2 (17.
c4 $6 {is not a good intermediate move.} Bxc4 $1 18. Bxc4 exf3 19. Qxf3 Qd7)
17... f5 (17... Qg5 18. Re3 $1 $16 {parrying the threats again >< g2.}) 18. f3
$1 {White wants to blow up Black's strong central P formation.} (18. Qh5 $5 {
was rather complicated.} Bxb3 $1 {This is the simplest solution.} ({On} 18...
Qd7 19. g4 $5 {blowing up Black's P chain was exciting, for example:} Bxb3 (
19... Rf8 $2 20. Bxd5+ Qxd5 21. Nxe4 $18) 20. Nxb3 $1 (20. axb3 Rf8 21. gxf5
Rxf5 22. Qh4 Raf8 23. Nxe4 Qd5 $44) 20... Ne7 (20... f4 $2 21. Nc5 $18) 21. Nc5
Qd5 22. gxf5 Nxf5 23. c4 $1 (23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Qxf5 Qxb2 $13) 23... Qf7 24.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 25. d5 $14 {with better prospects for White in the _|_.}) 19. axb3 (
19. Nxb3 Ne7 $11) 19... Qd7 20. b4 Qe6 $1 $11 {against Nb3} (20... Rad8 21. Nb3
$14)) 18... e3 (18... Kh8 $2 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Re3 $16 {and the
weakness on e4 is not easy to defend.}) 19. f4 $1 {Now the weak e3 P will fall.
} Na5 $1 {Black has to find some counterplay.} (19... Kh8 20. Nf1 Bxb3 21. axb3
Qh4 22. Qf3 Re4 23. Rxe3 Rxf4 24. Qg3 $16 {controlling the vital <-> e.}) (
19... exd2 $2 {loses outright.} 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Bxd5+ Kh8 22. Qxd2 $18) 20.
Bxd5+ $1 (20. Nf1 {allows Black} Nxb3 21. axb3 Qh4 (21... e2 22. Rxe2 Rxe2 23.
Qxe2 Bxb3 24. Ne3 $14) 22. Nxe3 Be4 23. Rf1 Re6 $44 {with some similarities to
the Ruy Lopez Marshall Variation.}) 20... Qxd5 21. Nf1 Qb5 $1 (21... Re4 22.
Nxe3 Qe6 23. Nf1 Nc4 24. b3 Nd6 25. Ng3 $16 {and Black has nothing to show for
the lost material.}) (21... Qe4 22. Qa4 $1 Nc6 (22... e2 23. Qxa5 $16) 23. Rxe3
Qxf4 24. Rf3 $16) 22. Nxe3 (22. Qe2 $5 {deserved serious attention.} Re4 (22...
Nc4 23. b3 Nd6 24. Qxb5 Nxb5 25. Rac1 $1 {The weak e P will fall anyway.} (25.
Rxe3 Rxe3 26. Nxe3 Nxc3 $11) (25. Nxe3 Nxc3 26. Rac1 Nxa2 27. Rxc7 Nb4 $11)
25... e2 26. Ng3 Re3 27. Nxe2 Rae8 28. Kf2 $16 {and the pin is not dangerous.})
(22... Qxe2 23. Rxe2 Re4 24. Rxe3 $16) 23. Qxb5 axb5 24. Rxe3 Rxf4 (24... Nb3
25. Rxe4 fxe4 26. Rb1 Rxa2 27. Kf2 $16 {>< e4}) 25. Nd2 $14) 22... Re4 (22...
Qxb2 $2 {gives White good attacking chances as well.} 23. Nxf5 Rxe1+ (23...
Qxc3 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rc1 Qb4 26. Qg4) 24. Qxe1 $16) 23. Qd2 (23. Qe2 $2 {
falls into the pin after} Qxe2 24. Rxe2 Rae8 25. Rae1 g5 $1) 23... Rae8 24. b3
(24. b4 $5 Nc4 (24... Nc6 $2 25. a4 $18) 25. Nxc4 Qxc4 26. Kf2 $14 {and White
has an extra P, although the black heavy artillery is rather active.}) 24... b6
25. c4 (25. Nf1 $1 Re2 26. a4 $1 $16) 25... Qd7 26. Nc2 $14 (26. Nd5 Nc6 {>< d4
}) 26... Nb7 27. Rxe4 (27. d5 $5) 27... Rxe4 28. Re1 (28. d5 b5) 28... Nd6 29.
Rxe4 (29. d5 b5 30. Rxe4 Nxe4 31. Qd4) (29. Nb4 $5) 29... Nxe4 30. Qe3 {
White is a healthy P up!} b5 31. Nb4 a5 32. Nd5 (32. Nd3 bxc4 33. Ne5 Qb5 34.
Nxc4) 32... b4 33. Kh2 Qd8 34. Qd3 {Was it a time trouble?} (34. Qd3 Qd6 35. g3
g6 36. Kg2 Kf7 37. Kf3 c6 38. Ne3 $14) 1/2-1/2

[Event "NED-ch59"]
[Site "Leeuwarden"]
[Date "2004.07.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2004.06.30"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. Nbd2 Be6 {
This plan is not so popular these days.} 8. Bxe6 (8. O-O O-O) 8... fxe6 9. b4
Bb6 10. Nc4 {/\ a4 after which Black can easily find himself with two doubled
pawns, although this is still not the end of the world.} Ne7 11. Qb3 (11. a4 $1
{was the consequent continuation of the plan.} c6 (11... a6 12. Nxb6 cxb6 13.
Qb3 Qd7 14. O-O O-O 15. Be3 $16 {and the weaknesses begin to tell.}) (11... a5
12. Nxb6 cxb6 13. Qb3 Qd7 14. O-O O-O 15. Be3 $16) (11... d5 12. Ncxe5 dxe4 13.
a5 exf3 14. Nxf3 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 $14 {with a somewhat better P structure for
White.}) 12. a5 Bc7 13. O-O O-O {is probably the best defence for Black.})
11... Qd7 12. b5 (12. a4 {is again can be met by} c6 13. a5 Bc7 14. O-O O-O 15.
Be3 Ng6 {/\ d5}) 12... O-O 13. O-O Ng6 14. a4 c5 (14... a5 15. Nxb6 cxb6 16.
Be3 $14 {>< b6}) 15. bxc6 (15. a5 {would have led to a more complex game, for
example:} Bc7 16. Re1 {White has to fight against the freeing move d5.} Nh5 {
Black has the standard counterplay on the f <->, the N on f4 can be annoying.}
17. Be3 Nhf4 18. b6 axb6 19. axb6 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Bb8 21. Qc2 d5 22. Ncd2 (22.
Bxf4 dxc4 23. Be3 cxd3 24. Qb3 Qc6) 22... Qc6 23. g3 Bd6 (23... Qxb6 24. gxf4
exf4 25. Rb1 Qc7 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27. Rxb7 $16) 24. gxf4 (24. Kh1 Nh5 {/\ Nf6})
24... exf4 25. Bd4 cxd4 26. Nxd4 Qd7 27. N2f3 Bc5 (27... e5 $5 28. Nf5 Bc5 29.
Ra5 dxe4 30. dxe4 Qc6 31. h4 Bxb6 32. Qb3+ Kh8 33. Rd5 Bc7) 28. Qa4 Qd6 $13)
15... bxc6 16. Nxb6 (16. Ba3 c5) 16... axb6 17. Qxb6 Rfb8 18. Qe3 c5 19. a5 {
The a P will fall anyway.} Rb5 20. d4 (20. a6 Rb6 21. d4 cxd4 22. cxd4 Rbxa6
$11) 20... cxd4 21. cxd4 Rbxa5 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23. dxe5 (23. Bb2 Qb5 24. dxe5
dxe5 {- 23.de}) 23... dxe5 24. Bb2 $6 {White pushes too hard, he had to
realize that the advantage (if there was any) has disappeared.} (24. Ne1 $5) (
24. Qc3 Ra4 25. Qc2 Qb5 26. Re1 $11) 24... Qb5 $1 $15 25. Ra1 $2 {Continuing
the wrong plan.} (25. Bc3 Ra3 26. Qc1 Ra2 $15) 25... Rxa1+ 26. Bxa1 Ng4 $1 $17
{Now the black knights become monsters.} 27. Qe1 Nf4 28. g3 $6 (28. h3 Nd3 $15
{was the lesser evil.}) 28... Nd3 29. Qe2 (29. Qf1 Qc4 $17) 29... Ngxf2 30.
Bxe5 (30. Ne1 Nh3+ 31. Kf1 Qb6 $19) 30... Qb1+ 31. Qf1 Qc2 $19 {and White is
completely helpless against Black's threats.} 32. Ba1 Nxe4 33. Nd4 Qd2 34. Qe2
Qc1+ 35. Kg2 Ne1+ 36. Kf1 Nc2+ 37. Kg2 Ne3+ 38. Kh3 Ng5+ 0-1

[Event "ISR-chT"]
[Site "Ramat Aviv"]
[Date "2000.03.17"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Oratovsky, Michael"]
[Black "Lev, Ronen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2491"]
[BlackElo "2448"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2000.01.14"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Petah Tikva Elitzur"]
[BlackTeam "Herzliya"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d5 {The idea of attacking the [+] by d5 even with a loss of a tempo is
interesting.} ({The prophylactic} 8... Ba7 {is the main line.}) 9. exd5 {
This is the consequent try putting pressure on >< e5.} (9. O-O dxe4 (9... d4 {
wants to gain space in the [+], but Black cannot hold >< d4 in the long run.}
10. cxd4 Bxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Nf3 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Nd7 14. Be3 Qe7 15. Rac1 c6
16. Rfd1 Re8 17. Qc3 $14 {Belikov-Petelin, URS-ch U20 Sochi 1990}) 10. dxe4 Qe7
{/\ Be6. This symmetrical central P formation doesn't pose serious threats for
Black.} 11. Qe2 Be6 12. Re1 g6 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. Nc4 Nh5 15. Nf3 Kg7 16. Qd2 f6
17. Qh6+ Kh8 18. Ne3 Nf4 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Nh4 Qg7 21. Bxd5 Rfd8 $11 {
Velicka-Kholmov, Stary Smokovec 1996}) (9. Qe2 h6 10. Nf1 {This is the idea of
8.h3 waiting with castles.} Be6 11. Ng3 Qd7 12. O-O Rfe8 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ne4
{(Oratovsky-S.Polgar, Wch U20 Matinhos 1994)} Nxe4 15. dxe4 Bxb3 16. axb3 Rad8
(16... a5 17. Rd1 Qe6) 17. b4 Bb6 $11) 9... Nxd5 10. O-O Ba7 (10... Nf4 {
is the aggressive try.} 11. d4 (11. Ne4 $2 Nxd3) 11... exd4 12. Ne4 Bd6 13.
cxd4 (13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. cxd4 Be6 {blockading the isolated d P.}) 13... Bf5 14.
Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Ne5 $1 Nxh3+ $5 (15... Ne6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Be3 Be4 18. Re1 $14)
16. gxh3 Nxd4 17. Re1 Rae8 18. Bf4 Bxh3 $44 {with wild complications.}) 11. Ne4
(11. Nc4 Re8 12. Re1 {attacking >< e5 by all means.} f6 13. Ne3 (13. d4 $6 exd4
14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. cxd4 (15. Nd6 cxd6 16. Bxd5+ Be6) 15... Be6 {with a strong
blockader on d5.}) 13... Bxe3 {This is the simple solution.} (13... Be6 14.
Nxd5 Bxd5 15. d4 e4 16. Nd2 f5 17. Nc4 Qd7 18. Bf4 $14) 14. Bxe3 (14. fxe3 Be6
15. e4 Nb6 $13) 14... Na5 $1 (14... Be6 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 c6
18. Qf3 $14 {^^}) 15. d4 Nxb3 16. axb3 (16. Qxb3 Be6 $1 17. Qxb7 $2 Qd7 $17)
16... exd4 17. Bxd4 Bf5 $11 {with an easy equalization because of the ^-.})
11... Kh8 (11... f5 $6 12. Re1 Kh8 {- 11...Kh8}) 12. Re1 f5 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
Surprisingly enough this hyper-active move will cause Black's fall.} ({The
cold-blooded} 12... f6 {was required.} 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 Re8)
14... Nxd4 15. cxd4 Re8 $11) 13. Neg5 $1 $18 {Now White has an irresistable ->.
} f4 (13... Qd6 {is no escape from trouble} 14. d4 $1 e4 (14... exd4 15. Re8 $1
) 15. Ne5 Kg8 16. Qh5 h6 17. Ngf7 Qe6 18. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 19. Bxh6 $18) (13... h6
14. Nxe5 hxg5 15. Ng6+ Kg8 16. Qf3 $18) 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 c6 (15... Bf5
16. Qh5 Bg6 17. Qf3 $18) 16. Qh5 h6 (16... Nf6 17. Nf7+ $18) 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18.
Qxf7 Bxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Qh4+ 20. Kg1 Bxh3 21. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Hrokurinn"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.02.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2003.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. h3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
d6 9. Bb3 Nh5 (9... h6 10. Re1 Nh5 {- Mahjoob-Gyimesi, WchT Yerevan 2001 CBM 86
}) 10. Nxe5 (10. Re1 Nf4 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. d4 (12. Be3 {White has to eliminate
the active B on a7.} Ne7 13. Ng3 (13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3 Qg6 15. Kh2 Kh8 16. d4
f5 $13 {with the typical counterplay on the >>, Vratonjic-Flear, GMA-Open
Beograd 1988.}) 13... Be6 $142 (13... Neg6 $2 {falls into} 14. Nh5 $1 $16 {
Lakos-Krupkova, Zanka 1995}) (13... Bxe3 14. fxe3 $5 $14 {drives back the
strong N on f4 and opens the f <->.} (14. Rxe3 {is met by} Neg6 {maintaining
the pressure on the dark squares})) 14. Bxf4 (14. d4 Neg6 $1 15. Bc2 h6 $13 {
and the f4 N remains strong.}) 14... Qxf4 15. d4 {+/=/=}) 12... Re8 (12... h6)
(12... Ne7 13. Ng3 Neg6 $2 {falling into the well-known trap!} 14. Nh5 $1 Qe7 (
14... Nxh5 $2 15. Bg5 $18) 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 {Now White's mighty P 
[+] will soon advance.} 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. e5 dxe5 19. Rxe5 Bd7 20. Rae1 c5 21. d5
Rad8 22. Bc2 Bb8 23. R5e2 g6 24. b3 b5 25. c4 Bc7 26. Bd3 $16 {Tishin-Geller,
Samara 2002}) 13. Ng3 Bd7 $13) (10. Nc4 Qf6 11. Kh2 (11. Ne3 Nf4 (11... Ne7 $2
{(I.Werner-Van der Sterren, Hamburg 1997)} 12. Ng4 $1 {and the Q on f6 is in
trouble again.} Bxg4 13. hxg4 Nf4 14. g5 $1 Qg6 15. g3 $1 $18) (11... Bxe3 12.
Bxe3 Nf4 13. Kh2 h6 14. Ng1 {/\ g3, ^^} g5 {fiercly fighting against f2-f4,
but in vain.} 15. g3 Ng6 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. f4 $14 (17. d4 $6 Na5 $13 {Rabiega-C.
Sandor, GER-chT 1995})) 12. Kh2 (12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 h6 14. Bb3 Ne7 15. Kh1
Ng6 16. Nh2 Kh7 17. Qh5 Be6 18. Ng4 Qh4 $11 {Al Sayed,M-Ovsejevitsch,S/
Calcutta 2002/CBM 88 (20)}) 12... Ne7 $5 (12... Qg6 13. Nh4 Qg5 14. g3 (14. Nf3
Qg6 $11 {is only repetition of moves.}) 14... Bxh3 15. Rh1 Bd7 (15... Bxe3 16.
Bxe3 Be6 17. Kg1 $1 {with a nasty pin.}) 16. Nef5 Bxf5 (16... g6 $2 {loses to}
17. gxf4 $1 Qf6 18. Nh6+ Kh8 19. Kg2 $18 {K.Georgiev-Sack, Antwerp 1997}) 17.
Nxf5 (17. exf5 Bxf2 18. Qf3 Bb6 19. Bd2 Qh5) 17... Qh5+ 18. Qxh5 Nxh5 19. Bg5
g6 (19... h6 $2 20. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 21. Kg2 $16 {and the K is still in danger
despite of the exchange of queens.}) 20. Kg2 Nd8 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Nf5+ Kg8 $11
{with only a perpetual check.})) (11. d4 Nf4 12. Bxf4 Qxf4 13. Re1 {- Z.
Almasi-Piket, EU-ch 2nd playoff g15' rapid 2001 CBM 84}) 11... Nf4 12. Be3 (12.
Ng1 {/\ g3, but White's pieces have left the [+].} d5 13. Ne3 dxe4 14. dxe4 Rd8
15. Qf3 Ne7 16. g3 Nd3 17. Rd1 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 {covering >< d5 and f5 the
doubled pawns in the [+] are not bad at all.} 19. Kg2 Qg6 20. Qg4 b5 21. Qxg6
Nxg6 22. b3 a5 23. Kf1 Nc5 24. f3 b4 $15 {Tustanowski-Panczyk, Wisla 1998}) (
12. Ne3 $142 {- 11.Ne3}) 12... b5 13. Na3 {and the N is bad on the edge of the
board.} Ne7 14. Nc2 Kh8 15. a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4 Qh6 17. Ng1 f5 $13 {
Stefanek-Panczyk, Wisla 1998}) 10... Nxe5 11. Qxh5 Nxd3 12. Nf3 Qf6 (12... Nxc1
13. Ng5 $1 {This is the point, but White's -> is enough only for a draw.} h6
14. Nxf7 Nxb3 15. Nxh6+ $142 (15. Nxd8 Nxa1 16. Qd5+ Kh7 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. Qxe6
Rxf2 19. Rxf2 Rf8 20. e5 Rxf2 21. Kh2 dxe5 22. Qxe5 Nc2 (22... Bb6 $5 23. c4)
23. Qe4+ Kh8 24. Qe8+ {1/2-1/2 Te Llalemand-Sebag, Marsailles 2001}) 15... gxh6
16. Qg6+ $11 {Krayz-Nenashev, Groningen 1994}) 13. Bg5 Qg6 14. Qxg6 hxg6 15.
Rad1 Nc5 16. Bc2 Re8 (16... Bd7 17. e5 Bb5 18. Rfe1 dxe5 19. Be7 Rfe8 20. Bxc5
(20. Rxe5 Ne6 21. Bh4 $11) 20... Bxc5 21. a4 ({The light-hearted} 21. Bb3 $2 {
is punished by} e4 22. Ng5 e3 23. fxe3 Bxe3+ 24. Rxe3 Rxe3 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26.
Bxg6 Ke7 27. Be4 Rd8 28. Rxd8 Kxd8 29. Bxb7 Re1+ 30. Kh2 c6 31. a4 Kc7 32. axb5
Kxb7 33. bxa6+ Kxa6 $15 {Al Sayed-Kayumov, Doha 2003}) 21... Bc4 22. Nxe5 Be6
$11) 17. Rfe1 f6 $11 {Black has evened out comfortably.} (17... Bd7 18. Nd4 a5
19. Kf1 b5 $11 {Krayz-Nenashev, Groningen 1994}) 18. Be3 Be6 19. Nd2 g5 {
gaining control over the dark squares.} 20. Bd4 a5 21. Nb3 (21. a4 g4 22. hxg4
Bxg4 23. f3 Bd7 $11) 21... Bb6 (21... Nxb3 22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. Bxb3 Bxb3 24. axb3
Ra6 $11) 22. Bxc5 dxc5 {^^} 23. a3 Rad8 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 Re8 26. Nd2 {
White has to improve his N's position.} c4 27. Nf3 c6 28. Nd4 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pune"]
[Site "Pune"]
[Date "2004.09.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Sandipan, Chanda"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "182"]
[EventDate "2004.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 104"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Be3 (
8. Nbd2 {/\ h3, Re1, Nf1 is played more frequently.}) 8... O-O 9. Nbd2 Ne7 {
/\ Ng6} (9... Bxe3 10. fxe3) 10. Bxa7 (10. h3 {is rather useless now.} Ng6 11.
Re1 h6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Be6 $11 {with an almost total symmetry,
Esplana-Mannion, Bled 2002.}) (10. Nh4 $5 {fighting against Ng6 deserves
attention.} Bxe3 (10... Kh8 $6 {loks too slow.} 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. f4 $36 {
Now White grabs the |^ on the >>.} exf4 (12... Ng4 13. Qf3 $16) 13. Rxf4 $14 {
Tiviakov-Golod, Saint Vincent 2003}) (10... h6 $6 {is not logical at all.} 11.
Bxa7 Rxa7 12. f4 $16 {Cabrera-Rizouk, Malaga 2003}) (10... Ng6 11. Nxg6 hxg6
12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. f4 exf4 (13... Nh5 $6 {The N has no real perspectives here.}
14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nf3 Qe7 16. Qd2 Be6 17. Bxe6 (17. Bc2 {The B is simply
passive here.} Bg4 18. d4 Bxf3 19. Rxf3 c5 20. dxe5 Qxe5 $11 {Fedorov-Gyimesi,
Rabac 2003}) 17... Qxe6 18. Qe3 Raa8 19. d4 $16 {and White takes over the [+].}
) 14. Rxf4 Qe7 15. Rf1 Be6 16. Nf3 $14 {with some pressure in the [+] and the
f <->.}) (10... c6 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. f4 Ng6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nf3
$14 {Tiviakov-De Vreugt, Dieren 2003}) 11. fxe3 Ng6 (11... Be6 $5) 12. Nf5 (12.
Nxg6 $14) 12... c6 13. d4 $14 {Barua-Sasikiran, Nagpur 2002}) 10... Rxa7 11. d4
(11. Nh4 {is now answered by the forceful} g5 $1 $132) (11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 c5
13. d4 b5 {with Ruy Lopez motifs...} 14. a4 Rd7 15. axb5 axb5 16. d5 {In this
case the exchange of the dark-squared B helps for Black.} Qb6 17. Bc2 Ra7 18.
Rxa7 Qxa7 $15 {and White's bad B remains, Miroshnichenko-Socko, Barlinek 2002.}
) 11... Ng6 12. Re1 Ra8 13. Nf1 exd4 $5 {This is the last chance for changing
the P structure in the [+].} (13... Re8 14. Ng3 $14 {and the e4 P is
overprotected.}) 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 $142 (15. exd5 Nf4 $11 {/\ N4d5} (15...
Nxd5 {and in both cases Black can blockade the isolated P.})) 15... Ne4 16. Ng3
(16. Bc2 {is the flexible way.} Bf5 (16... Ng5 17. Ne3) 17. Ne3 $14) 16... Nxg3
17. hxg3 Bg4 18. Qd2 f6 19. Nh2 $5 (19. exf6 Rxf6 (19... Bxf3 20. fxg7 $1 Kxg7
21. gxf3 Rxf3 22. Re6 $16) 20. Ne5 $14) 19... Be6 20. Bc2 fxe5 $6 {Now White
gets the vital e5 square.} (20... f5 $5 {closes the position, but the passive
B on e6 will cause a lot of headache in the _|_.} 21. Nf3 $14 (21. f4 b6 (21...
Qe7 22. Nf3) 22. Nf3 Qe7 23. Rac1 $14)) (20... Ne7 21. Nf3 $14) 21. Bxg6 $1
hxg6 22. Rxe5 Qd6 23. Rae1 Bd7 (23... Bf5 24. Nf3 $16) 24. Nf3 Rae8 25. Qg5
Rxe5 26. dxe5 {White changes the P structure for some attacking chances.} (26.
Nxe5 $5) 26... Qb6 27. e6 $5 (27. Qh4 $16 {/\ Ng5}) 27... Bxe6 28. Qxg6 Bf5 29.
Qxb6 cxb6 30. Nd4 $16 {[%mdl 4096] The _|_ is ideal for White, his strong
blockading N dominates over the "bad" B, and Black's double pawns on the <<
cannot be mobilized.} Bd7 31. Re5 {Now Black gets some counterplay, since the
the R can penetrate on the c <->.} (31. Rc1 Re8 32. f3 {allows} Re3 {/\ Rd3}) (
31. f3 $1 Rc8 32. Kf2 $16 {neutralizing Black's pressure on the c <-> looked
more logical.}) 31... Rc8 $1 32. Rxd5 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 Bc6 {Now Black's B is alive
again, and after exchanging it a R _|_ arises which is usually difficult to
win.} 34. Rd6 b5 35. a3 $1 {fixing the pawns on the colour of the B.} (35. f4
b4 36. g4 Ra1 (36... Rd1 $4 37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. Nxc6) 37. Nxc6 bxc6 38. a3 bxa3
39. bxa3 Rxa3 40. Rxc6 a5 $14) 35... Rb1 36. b4 Ra1 37. Nxc6 bxc6 38. Rd3 Kf7 (
38... Rc1 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Ra8) 39. Rc3 (39. f4 $5 {deserved attention.} Ke6 (
39... Rc1 40. Rd7+ Kf6 41. Ra7) 40. g4) 39... Ke7 {[#]} 40. Rxc6 $2 (40. f4 $1
{again was worthy of consideration.} Kd6 41. g4 c5 $5 (41... a5 42. bxa5 c5 43.
a6 Re1 44. f5 Re4 45. g5 Ra4 46. Re3) 42. bxc5+ Kc6 43. f5 a5 (43... Rf1 44.
Rf3 $1 $18) 44. g5 b4 (44... Rf1 45. Rf3 $18) 45. axb4 axb4 46. Rf3 Kxc5 47. f6
$18) 40... Rxa3 41. g4 Ra4 42. Kg3 Kf7 43. Kh4 Rxb4 44. Rxa6 Rb2 {This _|_ is
drawish, Black's o^ is strong.} 45. f4 Rxg2 46. Kg5 Rc2 47. Rb6 Rc5+ 48. f5 b4
$1 49. Rxb4 Ra5 $11 {This is a theoretical draw.} 50. Rb8 (50. Rb7+ Kf8 51. Kg6
Ra6+ $11) 50... Rc5 51. Ra8 Rb5 52. Rc8 Ra5 53. Rd8 Rb5 54. Ra8 Rc5 55. Ra6 Rb5
56. Rc6 Ra5 57. Kh5 Rb5 58. Re6 Ra5 59. Kg5 Rb5 60. Kf4 Rb1 61. Ra6 (61. g5
Rf1+ 62. Kg4 Rg1+ $11) 61... Rb4+ 62. Kg5 Rb5 63. Kh5 Rc5 64. Ra7+ Kg8 65. Rd7
Ra5 66. Kh4 Rb5 67. Kg3 Rb3+ 68. Kf4 Rb6 $6 (68... Rb4+ $142 $1 69. Kg5 Rb6 70.
Kh5 Rh6+ 71. Kg5 Rb6 $11) 69. Kf3 (69. g5 $5 Rb1 $1 {This is the best defence
against Kh5-g6.} (69... Kf8 $2 70. Kg4 $1 {If the white K reaches h5
threatening Kg6 the position is lost.} (70. Ra7 $2 Rb1 $1 71. Kg4 Rh1 $1 $11)
70... Kg8 (70... Rb1 {is already late:} 71. Kh5 $1 $18) 71. Ra7 Kf8 (71... Rb5
72. Ra8+ Kf7 73. g6+ Ke7 (73... Kf6 74. Rf8+ Ke5 75. f6 $1 $18) 74. Rg8 Kf6 75.
Rf8+ Ke5 76. f6 $1 $18) 72. Kh5 Rc6 (72... g6+ 73. Kh6 $1 $18) 73. Ra8+ (73. g6
$2 Rc1 $1 $11) 73... Ke7 (73... Kf7 74. g6+ Ke7 75. Rg8 Kf6 76. Rf8+ Ke5 77. f6
$1 Rxf6 78. Rf7 $1 Ke6 (78... Rf5+ 79. Kg4 $1) 79. Rxg7 Rf8 (79... Rf1 80. Ra7
$18) 80. Kh6 Kf6 81. Kh7 $18) 74. f6+ $5 {This is not the only win.} (74. Rh8
Ra6 75. f6+ $1 gxf6 76. g6 Ra1 77. g7 Rh1+ 78. Kg6 Rg1+ 79. Kh7 Rh1+ 80. Kg8
Rg1 81. Rh5 Rg2 82. Kh8 Kf7 83. Rh7 $18) 74... gxf6 75. g6 Rc1 76. g7 Rh1+ 77.
Kg6 Rg1+ 78. Kh7 Rh1+ 79. Kg8 f5 (79... Rb1 80. Ra2 f5 81. Ra6 $1 {/\ Kh7} Rg1
(81... f4 82. Kh7 $18) 82. Kh7 Kf7 (82... Rh1+ 83. Rh6 $18) 83. g8=Q+ $1 $18)
80. Ra7+ Ke8 (80... Ke6 81. Kf8 $18) 81. Ra5 $18) 70. Kg4 Rh1 $1 $11) 69...
Rb3+ 70. Ke4 Rb4+ 71. Rd4 Rb1 72. g5 Kf7 73. Rd7+ Kf8 74. Kf4 Rf1+ 75. Kg4 Rh1
$1 {This is the only move!} (75... Ra1 $2 {allows} 76. Kh5 $1 {with a win, see
before.}) 76. Ra7 Kg8 77. Ra8+ Kf7 78. Ra7+ Kg8 79. Ra8+ (79. g6 Kf8 $11) 79...
Kf7 80. g6+ Ke7 (80... Kf6 $5 81. Rf8+ (81. Ra6+ Ke7 82. Ra7+ Kf8 {- 80...Ke7})
81... Ke5 82. Rf7 Ra1 $11) 81. Ra7+ Kf8 82. Ra8+ Ke7 83. Rg8 Rg1+ 84. Kf4 Rf1+
85. Ke4 Re1+ 86. Kd4 Kf6 87. Rf8+ Kg5 88. Kd5 Re2 89. Kd6 Re1 90. Rf7 Re2 91.
Re7 Rf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Selfoss Milk Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Selfoss"]
[Date "2003.10.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2541"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2003.10.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{SURVEY OPENING} 1. e4 {[%mdl 64]} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4
exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 {This old, forgotten line is used time by
time by Sveshnikov, who has a lot of romantic ideas against 1...e5.} Bb6 (8...
Bb4+ {-> Sveshnikov-Aleksandrov/ Moscow 2002}) 9. Nc3 {[%mdl 32768]} (9. h3 $6
{is too slow.} O-O 10. Be3 (10. O-O f6 $1 {This is the typical -> against
White's [+].} 11. Nc3 (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 (12. Nc3 Ba6 {Black has a mighty
^^.} 13. Re1 fxe5 14. Nxe4 dxe4 $15) 12... f5 13. Qc1 Qe8 14. Nc3 (14. Nbd2 $4
{founders on} f4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Ng5 fxe3 17. Qc4+ Kh8 18. fxe3 Bf5 19. e6
Rf6 $19 {Kirjak-Acs/ Paks 1995})) 11... fxe5 (11... Ne7 {is a rather passive
plan, Black has to do something against White's [+].} 12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Be3 c6
14. Qc2 fxe5 15. Nxe5 Nd6 16. Na4 Bc7 17. Nc5 Qc8 18. Bg5 Ng6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20.
Rae1 $14 {Vltavsky-Rajski/ Taby 1991}) 12. dxe5 (12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bc4+ (13.
Ng5 Qd5 14. Ba4 Na5 15. b4 Nc4 16. Bb3 Bxd4 {White cannot exploit the pin on
the a2-g8 /^.} 17. a4 c6 18. a5 Bxa1 19. Qe2 b5 20. axb6 Ba6 $19 {
Helvensteijn-Verdonk/ Amsterdam 1994}) 13... Kh8 14. Ng5 Bf5 $1 {Black is
happy to sacrifice the exchange in order to get a mighty P chain in the [+].}
15. Nf7+ Rxf7 16. Bxf7 exd4 17. Qh5 Qd7 18. Bb3 Ne5 19. a4 c5 20. a5 Bc7 21.
Bf4 Bg6 22. Qg5 Nd3 $17 {Hernandez-Sieiro/ Havana-B 1986}) 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3
Ne7 (13... Be6 $5 14. Ng5 Bf5 {is worthy of consideration.}) 14. Bd3 Qe8 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 c6 $5 $13 (16... c5 17. Bb5 $5 {deserved attention.} (17. Bc2 g5
18. Bg3 Be6 19. Nh2 Kg7 $5 (19... d4 $6 20. Ng4 Kg7 {1/2-1/2 Stock,M-Kachiani
Gersinska/ Badenweiler op 1990 (20)} 21. Nf6 $36)))) (10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O f6
{- 10.0-0} (11... c5 12. Be3 Ba6)) 10... f6 $1 $15 {-> Zorko-Atalik/ SLO-chT
Bled 2001}) (9. a4 $5 a5 10. O-O (10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Be3 Ba6 {and White's K
remains in the [+].}) 10... O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 Bg4 $1 {This pin is very
important.} ({On the immediate} 12... f5 $6 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Ne5 $1 $14 {
is very strong, Biro-Lukacs/ Budapest 1985}) 13. Qc1 f5 $1 {Now this push
works perfectly.} 14. Nc3 (14. exf6 Bxf3 $1 $15 {is the big difference!}) (14.
Ng5 $2 f4 $1 $17) (14. Nbd2 $2 f4 $17) 14... f4 (14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Qh4 16.
fxe4 Qg4+ $11 {is draw by perpetual checks.}) 15. Bxf4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qh4 17.
Nxe4 $5 (17. Bg3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qxd4 19. f4 (19. Kg2 g5 $15) 19... Qd3 $15) (17.
fxe4 Rxf4 18. Ne2 Rg4+ 19. Ng3 Bxd4 $15) 17... Qxf4 18. Nf6+ (18. Nc5 Bxc5 19.
Qxf4 Rxf4 20. dxc5 Re8 $15) 18... Rxf6 $1 19. exf6 Qxf6 {with a wonderful
compensation for the exchange.}) (9. O-O O-O 10. h3 {- 9.h3} (10. Nc3 {- 9.Nc3}
)) (9. Qc2 Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. O-O O-O 12. Be3 (12. Nc3 f6 $1 13. Bf4 g5 $1 {
Black has to play energetically!} 14. Bc1 g4 15. Nd2 Bxd4 16. Ndxe4 dxe4 17.
exf6 Qxf6 $17 {Abolina-Trofimova/ Szeged Wch U18 Girls 1994}) 12... Bd7 {
The B belongs to the c8-h3 /^.} 13. a4 (13. Nc3 Bf5 14. Qe2 Bg4 {This pin is
again rather nasty!} 15. h3 Bh5 {Black wants to keep the pin provoking} (15...
Bxf3 16. Qxf3 f5 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Qd1 (18. Qg4 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Qc8 $15 {and
Whie's P structure is weakened.}) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Qd7 $15) 16. g4 Bg6 {
when White's >> is more vulnerable.} 17. Rad1 c6 18. Nd2 Qh4 19. Kg2 f5 20.
Ndxe4 $1 dxe4 (20... fxe4 21. f4 exf3+ 22. Rxf3 Rxf3 23. Qxf3 Rf8 $15) 21. f4
exf3+ 22. Qxf3 Rad8 23. Qg3 Qxg3+ 24. Kxg3 fxg4 25. Rxf8+ Rxf8 26. Kxg4 h5+ $15
{and the strong ^^ secures Black the edge in the _|_, Szell-Lukacs/ Budapest
1983.}) 13... c6 14. b4 a5 15. Qb2 Qe7 16. bxa5 Bxa5 17. Rc1 Qb4 18. Qxb4 Bxb4
19. Bd2 Nxd2 {^^} 20. Nbxd2 Bf5 $15 {Brestian-Liss/ Haifa EU-chT 1989}) (9.
Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qc2 {is countered by another -> against White's [+]:} c5) (9.
Be3 O-O 10. Qc2 Bf5 $5 {Black is not afraid of sacrificing the P.} (10... Ne7 {
is a bit slow here.} 11. Bd3 (11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3
Qd7 15. h3 Qf5 16. Ke2 Qxd3+ 17. Kxd3 c6 18. Rab1 Rfb8 $11 {Schwan-Michaelson,
corr 1892/93}) 11... f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nc3 Qe8 14. Ne5 Be6 15. O-O Qc8 16.
Na4 $14 {Cojhter-Kapic, corr 1988}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qxc6 Ba5+ 13. Nbd2 Rb8
14. Qc1 c5 $44 {and Black has a strong ^^ and the |^ for the P.} 15. O-O (15.
dxc5 d4 $1) 15... c4 $44) 9... O-O 10. Bxc6 (10. Be3 {seems to be the precise
move order.} f5 $5 (10... f6 $143 {is not good in this special case because of}
11. Qb3 $1 Nxc3 12. Bxc6 $5 (12. bxc3 fxe5 $5 (12... Ne7 13. O-O c6 14. Bd3 Bg4
15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Ne5 $14 {Steinitz-Schlechter/ Vienna 1898}) 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14.
Nxe5 Qd6 $13) 12... bxc6 13. Qxc3 $14 {successfully blockading >< c5.} (13.
bxc3 Ba6 $132)) (10... Ne7 11. Bd3 f5 (11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bf5 {The exchange
of the light-squared B is important for Black.} 13. O-O Qd7 14. Nh4 Bxd3 15.
Qxd3 f5 {If Black can blockade the light squares, he cannot be worse.} 16. Bg5
Ng6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. a4 c6 19. e6 Qxe6 20. Rfe1 Qc8 21. a5 {1/2-1/2
Morozevich-Malaniuk/ Krasnodar op 1997 (21)}) 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Ne5 Nf5 $13 {
Steinitz-Pillsbury/ Vienna 1898}) (10... Bg4 11. Qc2 (11. h3 Bh5 12. Bxc6 {
- 11.Bc6} (12. O-O f5 $132) (12. g4 Bg6 13. Ne2 f6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. O-O fxe5
16. Nxe5 Qh4 17. Nf4 Rxf4 18. Bxf4 Rf8 $17 {Blatny-Beckenmeyer/ GER-chT 1996})
(12. Be2 {is a rather quiet approach.} f6 13. exf6 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qxf6 15. O-O
$13) (12. Qb3 {pushes too hard:} Bxf3 $1 13. gxf3 Ng5 $17 {Stanciu-Urzica/
ROM-ch 1974})) (11. O-O f5 $1 (11... f6 {is again met by} 12. Qb3) 12. exf6
Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qxf6 $11 {Steinitz-Schiffers/ Vienna 1898}) (11. Qb3 Be6 (11...
Ne7 $5) 12. O-O Ne7 13. Bd3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 $14 {Hromadka-Nyholm/ Baden 1914}) (
11. Bxc6 {- 10.Bxc6}) 11... Bf5 $5 (11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ng5 13. Bxc6 bxc6 (
13... Nxf3+ 14. Ke2 Nxd4+ 15. Bxd4 bxc6 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Rhe1 Qg5 18. Kf1 Qh5
19. f4 f6 20. e6 Rae8 21. f5 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 Qf3+ {Fernandez-Izeta/
Bilbao 1987/ 1/2-1/2 (26)}) 14. O-O-O $5 {is critical, for example:} (14. Qa4
$6 {looks overoptimistic.} Nxf3+ $1 15. Ke2 f6 $1 16. e6 (16. Kxf3 fxe5+ 17.
Ke2 exd4 18. Bxd4 Rf4 $15) 16... Nxd4+ $1 (16... Ng5 17. Qxc6 Qe8 18. Nxd5 $1
Nxe6 19. Qxe8 Rfxe8 20. Kd3 Bxd4 (20... Rad8 21. Nxb6 axb6 22. Kc4 $1 c6 23. a4
{(Sveshnikov-Balashov, SU 1985)} f5 24. f3 f4 25. Bf2 Ng5 26. Bh4 Rd5 $11) 21.
Bxd4 Rad8 $11) 17. Bxd4 c5 $17) (14. Qf5 Ne6 15. O-O-O Qh4 (15... Qe7 {/\ f6})
16. Qg4 Qe7 {/\ f5,g5}) 14... Nxf3 (14... Ne6 15. f4 f5 16. Na4 Qd7 17. Kb1 $14
) 15. Qf5 (15. h4 Qd7) 15... Nh4 16. Qg4 Ng6 17. h4 f5 $1 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. h5
Nf4 20. Rh4 $13 {Sveshnikov}) 12. Qb3 (12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Nxe4 (13. Qa4 c5)
13... dxe4 14. Rd1 exf3 15. Qxf5 fxg2 16. Rg1 Qd5 17. Qg4 f5 18. Qf4 Rae8 $17 {
Kashtanov-Lugovoi/ St Petersburg White Nights 2002}) (12. Qa4 Ne7 13. Nh4 (13.
O-O f6 $1) 13... f6 14. Nxe4 (14. Nxf5 Nxf5 15. Nxe4 (15. Nxd5 $2 Nxe3 $17)
15... dxe4 16. e6 Nxe3 $15) 14... Bxe4 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. f3 (16. O-O h6 $15)
16... Bf5 17. g4 $1 (17. O-O c6 18. Be2 h6 $15) 17... Bg6 18. O-O-O a6 19. Bd3
Re6 {1/2-1/2 Vera-Lukacs/ Havana 1986 (19)} 20. Rhe1 Bxd3 21. Rxd3 Qe8 $15) (
12. Qe2 Nb4 $1 (12... Ne7 13. O-O (13. Nh4 c5 $13)) 13. O-O (13. Ba4 Nxc3 14.
bxc3 Nd3+ 15. Kf1 c5 $15) 13... c6 14. Ba4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bd3 16. Qd2 Bxf1 17.
Rxf1 Na6 18. Bc2 f5 $15) 12... Ne7 13. O-O (13. Nh4 Be6 $13) 13... c6 14. Be2
Ng6 15. Na4 f6 $13 {and Black begins his assault against White's stronghold on
e5.}) 11. exf6 Nxf6 (11... Rxf6 $5) 12. O-O (12. Rc1 Qd6 13. O-O Bg4 14. Be2
Rae8 {Black has a nice piece play.} 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Ne7 $13 {
Steinitz-Lasker/ World Ch (6) USA 1894}) 12... Bg4 $13) (10. O-O Bg4 11. Be3 f5
12. exf6 {(Steinitz-Schiffers/ Wien 1898)} Nxf6 $1 13. Be2 Qd6 14. Rc1 Rae8 15.
Qd2 Ne4 $15 {Sozin}) 10... bxc6 11. Be3 f5 $5 (11... Bg4 12. Qa4 $1 {is
supposed to be the best answer here.} (12. h3 $6 Bh5 13. Qa4 {The insertion of
h3-Bh5 helps only for Black.} c5 $5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O-O d4
17. g4 Bg6 18. Rhe1 dxc3 $1 (18... Rb8 19. Rxd4 $1 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 $1 (20. Nxd4
Qg5+ 21. Re3 Qf4 $15) 20... Re8 21. Rd1 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 $1 (22. Rxd4 Rbd8 $1 $15)
22... f6 23. e6 Rbd8 24. f4 c5 25. Ndb5 Rxd1+ 26. Kxd1 {(Honfi-Lukacs/
Budapest 1982)} Rd8+ $1 27. Ke1 Be8 $15) 19. Rxd8 Rfxd8 20. Rd1 (20. bxc3 Rd3
$1) 20... Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Rb8 $17) (12. Qc2 Rb8 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Bxf3 15.
gxf3 Ba5+ 16. Kf1 f5 17. exf6 Qxf6 $17 {Valvo-Brooks/ New York op 1990}) 12...
c5 $5 (12... Nxc3 $5 13. bxc3 Qd7 $13) 13. dxc5 {Here is the difference, the B
on g4 is hanging.} (13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. dxc5 exf3 15. Qxg4 (15. cxb6 fxg2 16. Rg1
Bf3) 15... Qd3 $1 16. gxf3 Ba5+ 17. b4 Qc3+ 18. Ke2 Bxb4 $13) 13... Bxf3 14.
gxf3 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O-O Bxf2 $1 (16... Qe8 17. Qa5 Bxf2 18. Qxd5 Qe6
19. Kb1 Rac8 20. Rhf1 Bb6 21. f4 Qf5+ 22. Ka1 h6 23. Ne4 Kh7 24. Ng3 Qg4 25. a3
Qh3 26. Qe4+ Kh8 27. f5 $16 {Sveshnikov-Dautov/ Pinsk 1986}) (16... d4 17. Ne4
Qe7 18. f4 $14) 17. Nxd5 {White has the somewhat better P structure, but the
position remains sharp.} (17. Rxd5 Qg5+) 17... Qe8 $1 (17... Qg5+ 18. f4 Qh4
19. Qc6 $1 $14) 18. Qc2 Bb6 19. Rhe1 Qe6 20. Kb1 Rfd8 21. Qe4 c6 22. Nf4 Qh6
23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. e6 fxe6 25. Nxe6 $14 {Huerta-Estrada Nieto/ Carlos Torre op
2000}) (11... Nxc3 $5 {deserves serious attention by this move order.} 12. bxc3
Ba6 13. Qa4 Qc8 $1 (13... Bb5 14. Qc2 Ba5 15. Ng5 g6 16. h4 $40) 14. Qxc6 Qf5
$15 {with more than enough compensation for the P.}) 12. exf6 (12. O-O f4 13.
Bc1 Bg4 $132) 12... Qxf6 13. Qb3 (13. h3 {is again slow due to} Ba6 $40) (13.
Nxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 Qg6 15. Qc2 Bf5 $13 {and the pressure on the light squares
is annoying.}) 13... Qg6 $1 (13... Bh3 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Ng3 Ba5+
17. Kd1 Bxh1 18. Nxh1 $16) 14. Ne5 (14. O-O-O Qxg2 15. Ne5 {- 14.Ne5} (15. Nxe4
Qxf3 16. Ng5 Qf5 $17)) 14... Qxg2 15. O-O-O Nxf2 $1 {Now immense complications
arise.} (15... Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Bf5 17. Rhg1 Qe4 18. f3 Qh4 19. Qxc6 Rad8 20.
Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 21. Rg1+ Kh8 22. Bg5 Qxg5+ 23. Rxg5 Bxd4 24. Ng4 Bb6 $14) (15...
Be6 16. Rhg1 Qh3 17. Qc2 Rae8 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qxc6 Qh5 $13 (19... Bxa2 $2 20.
Rxg7+ $1 $16)) 16. Rhg1 (16. Rdg1 Qh3 17. Rg3 (17. Bxf2 $2 Rxf2 $19) 17... Qf5
18. Rhg1 (18. Rf3 $2 Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Nxe5 20. Rxf5 Nc4+ $17) 18... Kh8 $1 19. Qa3
$1 {This is the only move according to I.Sokolov} (19. Rxg7 Nd3+ 20. Nxd3 Qxd3
21. R7g3 Rf1+ $40) 19... Re8 $1 20. Ne2 (20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Rf3 Nd3+ 22. Qxd3
Qxd3 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Nh6+ Kh8 25. Nf7+ $11) (20. Rf3 $2 Nd3+ 21. Kd1 Nxe5 22.
Rxf5 Bxf5 $19) 20... Rxe5 21. dxe5 Nd3+ 22. Kd1 Ba6 $1 23. Qxa6 Nxb2+ 24. Kc1
Nd3+ 25. Kd1 (25. Kd2 $2 Nb4 26. Qa4 Qd3+ 27. Ke1 Nc2+) 25... Nb2+ 26. Kc1 Nd3+
27. Kd1 $11 {and draw by perpetual.}) 16... Nxd1 $2 {This gives White
excellent chances.} (16... Qh3 {was the best reply with the following
variations:} 17. Rg3 Nxd1 (17... Qf5 18. Bxf2 (18. Rf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Nxd1 20.
Qxd1 Bg4 $19) 18... Qxf2 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Qxd5+ Kh8 21. Qxa8 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 $1
Qxd4 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Nh6+ Kh8 25. Nf7+ $11) 18. Nxd5 $1 (18. Rxh3 Nxc3 19. Rf3
Rxf3 20. Nxf3 Ne4 $44) 18... Qe6 19. Ne7+ Kh8 20. N5g6+ hxg6 21. Rh3+ $1 Qxh3
22. Nxg6+ Kh7 23. Nxf8+ Kh8 24. Ng6+ $11 {I.Sokolov}) 17. Rxg2 Nxe3 {[#]} 18.
Re2 $2 ({Missing} 18. Rg1 $1 {defending the first rank in many lines.} Ba6 (
18... Be6 $2 19. Nxd5 $3 Nxd5 20. Qg3 g6 21. Nxg6 $18) (18... Rf2 $6 19. Nxd5
$1 $16) (18... Bxd4 $5 19. Nxc6 Bb6 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Qxd5+ Kh8 22. Re1 Bb7 $11
) 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Nxc6 (20. Qg3 Rf1+ $1 (20... g6 21. Nxg6 $18) 21. Rxf1 Bxf1
22. Qg4 Re8 23. Qf5 Rxe5 24. dxe5 Bg2 (24... Be3+ $2 25. Kc2 Bg2 26. e6 $18)
25. Qe6+ Kf8 $11) 20... Rad8 21. Rg5 Rf1+ 22. Kd2 Rf2+ 23. Kc1 Rf1+ $11) 18...
Bxd4 19. Nxc6 Bb6 (19... Rf1+ $1 {chasing the white K was much better.} 20. Kd2
Nc4+ 21. Kd3 $1 (21. Kc2 Bf5+ 22. Ne4 Re8 23. Nxd4 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxe4+ 25. Kc3
Rc1+ 26. Kb4 c5+ $19) (21. Qxc4 dxc4 22. Nxd4 Bg4 $19) 21... Bxc3 (21... Bc5 $5
22. Nxd5 Rf3+ 23. Re3 Ba6) 22. Ne7+ (22. bxc3 Ba6 $1 (22... Bg4 $17) 23. Kd4
Rf4+ 24. Kc5 Nb6 $19) 22... Kf8 (22... Kh8 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24. Qb7 $1 Nd6 25.
Qxc8+ $18) 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 (23... Rf3+ 24. Kc2 Rxc8 25. bxc3 d4 $17) 24. bxc3 (
24. Qb7 $2 Nd6) 24... Rf3+ 25. Kc2 (25. Kd4 Nb6 $1) 25... d4 $1 26. Kd1 Ne3+
27. Kc1 c5 28. Qb7 Rf1+ 29. Kb2 Re8 $19 {I.Sokolov}) 20. Nxd5 Rf1+ 21. Kd2 Rd1+
22. Kc3 Rc1+ 23. Kd2 Rc2+ $1 24. Ke1 Rxe2+ 25. Kxe2 Ba6+ 26. Kd2 Bc4 27. Nde7+
$6 $138 (27. Nxb6 $1 Bxb3 28. Nxa8 Bd5 29. Kxe3 Bxc6 30. Nxc7 $11 {would
simplify matters reaching a drawish _|_.}) 27... Kh8 28. Qc3 (28. Qa3 Be6 (
28... Rf8 $140 $4 29. Ng6+) 29. Kd3 Bc4+ 30. Ke4 Re8 31. b3 $13) 28... Rf8 $1
$19 29. Qe5 Bxa2 $6 (29... Rf2+ $1 30. Kc3 Re2 $3 {is not an easy move to find
without Fritz!} 31. Nc8 (31. Qh5 Rc2+ 32. Kb4 Rxb2+ 33. Kc3 Rc2+ 34. Kb4 Nd5+
$1 35. Nxd5 a5+ 36. Nxa5 c5+ 37. Ka4 Rxa2#) 31... Nd1+ 32. Kxc4 Rxe5 33. Nxe5
Nxb2+ 34. Kb5 Bg1 $19) 30. Qh5 (30. Kc3 Rf3 31. Qh5 Nd5+ 32. Kd2 Rd3+ 33. Kc2
Bb3+ 34. Kxd3 Nf4+ $17) 30... Rf2+ 31. Kc3 $2 (31. Kd3 Bf7) 31... Bf7 $19 32.
Qh3 Nd1+ 33. Kd3 Nxb2+ 34. Ke4 Re2+ 35. Kf4 Be6 $4 (35... Re6 $19 {would have
won easily!}) 36. Ng6+ Kg8 37. Nce7+ $4 ({Missing his last chance in this
extremely sharp game} 37. Nge7+ Kh8 ({but not} 37... Kf8 $2 38. Qxh7 Rf2+ 39.
Kg3 Ke8 40. Qxg7) 38. Ng6+ $11 {and draw with perpetual check.}) 37... Kf7 $19
38. Qxh7 Nd3+ 39. Kf3 Re3+ 40. Kg2 Bh3+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup-C"]
[Site "Shenyang"]
[Date "2000.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "Rizouk, Aimen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2000.09.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nf1
{Nowadays this idea of waiting with castles is getting more and more popular.
White wants to build up a pressure on the >> by h3-g4 and only then Ng3 and
the K may remain in the [+]. The other plan is Ng3 and then 0-0 sparing Re1 at
least for a while.} h6 (8... Ne7 9. Ng3 h6 (9... Ng6 $6 10. Bg5 $1 (10. O-O O-O
11. h3 h6 12. d4 Re8 (12... Ne8 13. Re1 c6 14. Bc2 Qc7 15. Be3 {1/2:1/2
Bologan-Onischuk, Tan Chin Nam Cup 2000}) 13. Bc2 c6 14. Be3 Qe7 15. Re1 $14 {
Degraeve-I.Sokolov, EUCup Sremic Krsko SLO 1998}) 10... h6 $5 (10... Be6 11.
Nh5 $1) (10... Kf8 $6 11. Nh5 (11. h3 h6 12. Be3 Nf4 {(Kreuzer-Lukacs, Spring
op Budapest 1992)} 13. O-O $14) 11... h6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ng3 Nf4 14. Rg1 $14)
11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. d4 Nf4 13. Rg1) 10. O-O Ng6 11. h3 O-O 12. d4) (8... Ng4 $5 {
is a direct approach to punish White for neglecting 0-0.} 9. Ne3 (9. d4 $6 {
is a successful provocation in the [+].} exd4 10. cxd4 Nf6 $1 {and now both ><
d4 and >< e4 are present targets.} (10... Qf6 {pushes too hard:} 11. h3 Nxf2
12. Kxf2 Bxd4+ 13. Be3 Bxe3+ 14. Nxe3 Qxb2+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Nxd2 Nd4 17. Nd5
$16 {and the piece is more valuable here than three pawns, Degraeve-Marciano,
Belfort 1997.}) 11. Ng3 (11. d5 {opens up the /^ for the a7 B and closes the /
^ of his own one.} Ne5) 11... Bg4 12. Be3 d5 $1 13. e5 Ne4 {and all the black
pieces are on their right place in this P structure.} 14. Bc2 f5 15. exf6 (15.
h3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nxg3 17. fxg3 Nxe5 $1 18. Qe2 Nc6 19. Bg5+ Ne7 20. O-O-O h6)
15... Nxf6 16. h3 (16. O-O O-O) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 (17. Qxf3 $2 {is simply
not correct.} Bxd4 18. Nf5 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bc3+ 20. Kf1 Qd7 21. Rxb7 O-O 22. g4
Na5 (22... Ne5 {is not bad either:} 23. Qd1 Nc4 24. g5 Nxe3+ 25. Nxe3 (25. fxe3
Ne8) 25... Qc6 $17) 23. Rb1 Nc4 24. g5 Ne4 25. Bxe4 {(Degraeve-Tkachiev,
Corsica rapid op 1997)} Nxe3+ $1 26. Qxe3 dxe4 $19) 17... Ne7 $132) 9... Nxe3
10. Bxe3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 O-O {This P structure is not so bad for Black in
general.} 12. O-O Na5 $6 (12... Be6 $5) 13. Bc2 Be6 14. b4 Nc6 15. d4 Bg4 16.
Qe1 Bh5 17. Qg3 Bg6 18. Nh4 Qe7 19. Rf3 Rae8 20. Raf1 $14 {with some some
space advantage, Tiviakov-Van den Doel, NED-ch Rotterdam 2000.}) 9. Ng3 O-O 10.
Qe2 (10. h3 Be6 (10... d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 {Now Black has a strong [+]. This sort
of position is only good for White if he can create direct tactical threats
against >< e5 or the >>.} 12. O-O Re8 13. Re1 Nf6 14. Bc2 Qd6 15. Nh4 Ne7 16.
Bb3 g5 {How brave!} 17. Nf3 Nf5 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Rad8 21.
Qe1 {(Tkachiev-Guyard, Corsica rap op 1997)} e4 $1 $11) 11. Nh2 Bxb3 (11... Qd7
12. Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Nh7 14. Ng4 Ne7 15. O-O c6 16. Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {This is a
typical exchange in this structure.} 17. fxe3 g6 18. d4 h5 19. Qd1 Rae8 20. c4
(20. dxe5 Nc8 21. exd6 h4 22. Ne2 Nxd6 $132) 20... Nc8 21. d5 cxd5 22. cxd5 f5
23. b4 Nf6 24. b3 {1/2:1/2 Kasimdzhanov-Piket, Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1999})
12. axb3 d5 13. Qf3 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh7 15. h4 Qd7 16. Ng4 Rad8 17. O-O Qd3 18.
Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {The same motif again!} 19. Bxe3 Ne7 {Black's worst piece is his N
on c6.} 20. Rfd1 Qb5 21. b4 b6 22. b3 Qc6 23. c4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 f5 $11 {
Tkachiev-Flear, Clichy 1995}) (10. O-O Be6 (10... Kh8 {/\ f5 seems to be a bit
sophisticated here.} 11. h3 Be6 12. Nh2 {/\ Qf3} Qd7 13. Qf3 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qe6
15. b4 d5 16. Ng4 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Ne7 19. Nf5 $14 {with an
excellent N on f5, Beshukov-Stefansson, New York op 1996.}) 11. h3 (11. Re1 Qd7
12. h3 Rad8 {/\ d5} 13. Qe2 Rfe8 14. Kh2 d5 15. Bc2 d4 $13 {Velicka-Sherzer,
Brno-B 1993}) 11... d5 12. Qe2 Re8 $13) 10... Ne7 {/\ Ng6} (10... Be6 11. O-O
Re8 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 d5 {Black has evened out completely.}
15. Rad1 Qf8 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. Qe2 g6 $11 {Nelksans-Ch.Gabriel, EU -chT Batumi
1999}) 11. Nh4 {against Ng6} (11. O-O Ng6 $11) 11... Be6 (11... Bg4 {looks
also sufficient for equalization.} 12. Qc2 (12. Nf3 Ng6 $15) (12. f3 {is a
successful provocation.} Be6 $15) 12... d5 $13) 12. h3 Kh7 (12... Bxb3 13. axb3
d5 14. Nhf5 Nxf5 15. Nxf5 c6 16. Qf3 $14 {and again the strong N on f5 secures
White a slight edge.}) 13. Bc2 Nfg8 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Ng6 16. Nf3 (16. Nhf5
Nh4 $1 {fighting against White's only hope, the excellent f5 N.} (16... N6e7
17. Qf3) 17. O-O g6 18. Nxh4 Qxh4 19. Qf3 Kg7 $11 {and there is no real
pressure on the f <->.}) 16... Nh4 17. O-O Nxf3+ 18. Rxf3 g6 19. Raf1 f6 20. d4
Qe7 {Black's position seems to be rock-solid.} (20... Bxa2 $2 21. b3) 21. a3 a5
22. R1f2 b6 23. Nf1 h5 24. Nd2 Nh6 25. Rf1 Rf7 26. Qf2 Raf8 27. Qh4 $2 {
White is pushing too hard, losing his sense of danger.} (27. b4 axb4 28. axb4)
27... Kg7 28. Rg3 (28. Qg3 g5) 28... Rh8 29. Nf3 $2 {[#] Overlooking Blacks
witty riposte.} (29. d5 Bd7) (29. Bb3 Bxb3 30. Nxb3 g5 $1) (29. Rgf3 g5 30. Qe1
h4) 29... Ng4 $1 $17 {[%mdl 64] and the Q is trapped!} 30. hxg4 hxg4 31. Rxg4
Rxh4 32. Rxh4 {White had to give his Q for a R and a N, which is not an
adequate compensation. However from now on with heroic efforts he defends
himself fiercly, and not without the help of his opponent saves the day.} Rf8
33. Kf2 Rh8 34. Rxh8 Kxh8 35. Ke1 Kg7 36. Kd2 Qe8 37. b4 (37. b3 c6) 37... axb4
38. axb4 Qa8 39. Rb1 g5 ({or} 39... Qa2 40. b5 Qa5 $19) 40. d5 Bg4 $6 {This
allows White to build up a blockade on the <<.} (40... Bd7 41. b5 Qa5 42. Bd3
Qa2+ 43. Bc2 g4 44. Nh4 (44. Ne1 f5) 44... f5 $1 $19 {ruins White's defensive
bastions.}) 41. b5 $1 Qh8 42. Bd3 Qa8 43. Ne1 Qa2+ 44. Bc2 f5 45. Nd3 $1 fxe4
46. Nb4 Qc4 47. Re1 Qxb5 48. Bxe4 Qe8 49. Rh1 Bh5 50. g4 Bg6 51. Bf3 Qa8 52. e4
Qf8 (52... Qa5 53. Rf1) 53. Ke2 Be8 54. c4 Bd7 55. Ra1 Qc8 56. Rg1 Qh8 57. Rc1
Qa8 58. Nd3 Bc8 59. Kd2 Qa2+ 60. Rc2 Qa1 61. Nf2 Qg1 62. Ke3 Ba6 63. Be2 Qg3+
64. Bf3 Qf4+ 65. Ke2 b5 $5 (65... Kg6 66. Nd3 Qh2+ 67. Nf2) 66. Ra2 Bc8 (66...
b4 $5 67. Rxa6 b3 68. Nd3 Qh2+ 69. Ke3 b2 70. Nxb2 Qxb2 71. Rc6 Qd4+ 72. Ke2
Qa7 $15) 67. Ra7 Kg6 $2 {Why to throw away the material gains?} (67... Qf7 68.
cxb5 Bd7 $1 69. Rb7 Kg6 70. Nd3 Qf8 71. Rxc7 Bxb5 72. Rc3 Qf4 $17) 68. Rxc7 Qf8
69. c5 {Now White has also a dangerous o^.} (69. cxb5 Qd8 70. b6 Ba6+ 71. Ke1
Qb8 72. Rc6 Bb5) 69... dxc5 70. Nd3 Qh8 (70... Kf6 $5 71. Rc6+ Ke7 72. Rxc5 Qh8
73. Rxb5 Qh2+ 74. Ke3 Qg1+ 75. Kd2 Bxg4 76. Bxg4 Qxg4 77. Rb7+ Kd6 78. Rb6+ Kc7
79. Rc6+ Kd8 80. Rd6+ Kc7 81. Rc6+ Kb8 82. Nc5 $132) 71. Rxc5 b4 72. Ke3 b3 73.
Rb5 Qh2 74. Rxb3 $11 {Now White can build up an unpregnable fortress.} Kg7 75.
d6 Qg1+ 76. Kd2 Qd4 77. Rb5 Qxd6 78. Rxe5 Kf6 79. Rc5 Qh2+ 80. Kc3 Be6 81. e5+
Ke7 82. Rc7+ Kd8 83. Rc6 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch 4th"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2003.06.11"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Sulskis, Sarunas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2578"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2003.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 Be6 (6... a6 {is the
most flexible move here and the main line as well.}) 7. Ng5 $1 {[%mdl 8] White
immediately wants to make profit from Black's move order.} (7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 {leads to the quiet main lines.} 9. Nc4 Ba7 10. a4 (10. Bg5 $5 {- Zhang
Pengxiang-Karpov, FIDE-Wch k.o. Moscow 2001}) 10... h6 11. a5 Ne7 {-
Benjamin-Kaidanov, USA-cg Salt Lake City 1999 CBM 73}) (7. Bc2 {/\ d4 is too
slow and Black reacts immediately in the [+]:} d5 $1 8. Qe2 dxe4 9. dxe4 O-O
10. Nbd2 a6 11. O-O Nd7 12. a4 Re8 13. b4 Bf8 14. Nc4 f6 15. a5 Qe7 {/\ Qf7}
16. Ne3 Qf7 17. Rd1 Red8 18. Nd2 Na7 {/\ Nb5 improving the bad N's position.}
19. Ndc4 Nb5 20. Bb2 Rac8 21. Bb3 c5 $1 $13 {Lau-Reichenbach, FRG-ch Bad
Neuenahr 1982}) 7... Bxb3 $6 {Now White wins a P, and Black has no adequate
compensation for him.} (7... d5 8. Nxe6 fxe6 {ruins Black's P structure and
loses the ^^, but black has at least a strong P [+].} 9. Nd2 (9. O-O {allows}
dxe4 (9... O-O 10. Nd2 {- 9.Nd2}) 10. dxe4 Qxd1 11. Bxd1 Nxe4 12. Bf3 Nd6 13.
Nd2 $44 {although only White can be better in the _|_.}) 9... O-O 10. O-O $14)
8. Qxb3 O-O 9. Qxb7 Qd7 10. O-O (10. Qa6 d5) 10... Bb6 11. Qa6 {White is a
clear P up, but Black is better developed, so things are far from easy from
practical point of view.} Ne7 12. Nd2 h6 13. Ngf3 Ng6 14. Nc4 Qe6 15. Qa4 Nh5
16. Qd1 {and the Q returned home safely, although losing a couple of tempi.} f5
17. Nh4 Nxh4 18. Qxh5 Ng6 19. Qh3 d5 20. exf5 Rxf5 (20... Qxf5 21. Qxf5 Rxf5
22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Bxe3 $16 {and the _|_ is pretty hopeless for black.}) 21. Ne3
Bxe3 22. Bxe3 Raf8 23. d4 (23. Rae1 Qf6) 23... e4 24. b3 Kh7 25. Rac1 Qa6 26.
c4 c6 {[#]} 27. cxd5 $6 {This exchange connected with the penetration on the
7-th rank is too early.} (27. Rc2 {was safe and good.} Nf4 28. Bxf4 Rxf4 29.
Qe3 $16) 27... cxd5 28. Rc7 $6 {/\ Qh6 continuing the wrong plan.} (28. Rc2 Nf4
29. Bxf4 Rxf4 30. Qg3 $14 {and although the _|_ with heavy artillery is
technically very complicated, White still keeps an edge.}) 28... Nf4 29. Bxf4
Rxf4 30. a4 (30. Rc2 Qg6 {/\ e3}) 30... Qg6 $1 31. Rc3 $2 {[#] Now suddenly
black grabs the |^ which is very important in this type of _|_.} (31. Qc3 Rf3
32. Qc2 R8f5 33. Rxa7 Rg5 34. g3 Qb6 $1 $132) 31... Rf3 $1 32. Rxf3 exf3 33.
Qg3 (33. g3 Rf4 34. Rd1 Qc2 35. Qf1 Re4 $15 {and Black is extremely active.})
33... Qd3 {Now Black gets back the P with a better position.} 34. Qe5 fxg2 35.
Re1 (35. Kxg2 $4 Qf3+ 36. Kg1 Rf5 $19) 35... Qxb3 $17 36. a5 Qa2 37. Qe3 (37.
Re2 Qxa5 38. Kxg2 Qa6 39. Re3 $17) 37... Qxa5 38. Kxg2 Qa6 39. Qe6 Qa2 {
Black certainly wants to avoid the "always drawish" R endgames.} 40. Qe2 $2 {
White wants to exchange Q at any rate, but now Black has a so called "Tarrasch
Rook" protecting the o^ from behind.} (40. Re2 $17 {was the persistant defence.
}) 40... Qxe2 41. Rxe2 a5 $1 $19 42. Re5 (42. Ra2 Ra8 {is completely hopeless
because of the passive R.}) 42... Rd8 43. Kf3 a4 44. Ke2 a3 45. Kd3 a2 46. Re1
Ra8 47. Ra1 Kg6 48. Kc3 Kf5 0-1

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2003.01.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Finegold, Benjamin"]
[Black "Muhammad, Stephen A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2368"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 14. Qh5 $6
{Leaving the main line in this well-analysed sharp variation is dangerous.} (
14. Nxf7 $6 {is also inferior in view of} Kxf7 15. Qf3+ (15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qf3+
Nf5 17. g4 Rf8 18. gxf5 Kg7 $15 {and the f5 P will fall.}) 15... Nf5 $1 16. g4
Rf8 17. gxf5 Kg8 18. Kh1 Bxf5 19. Rf4 Qf6 $17 {Singh-Chapman, Dubai ol 1986}) (
14. Bb5+ $6 {is another old mistake:} Bd7 15. Qe2 Bxb5 16. Qxb5+ Qd7 17. Qe2
Kf8 $1 $17 {and White's dreams of -> cannot be realized, Barczay-L.Portisch,
HUN-ch 1969.}) (14. Qe2 $142 {is the well-trodden path here.} hxg5 15. Re1 (15.
Re3 Bd7 16. Re1 O-O 17. Rxe7 Re8 {and White cannot make use of the e <->.} 18.
Re4 Qf6 19. Bd3 g6 $17 {Edelman-Lief, USA 1987}) (15. Bb5+ Bd7 16. Re1 Bxb5 17.
Rxe7+ Kf8 18. Qxb5 Qxe7 19. Rxe7 Kxe7 20. Qxb7 Rhc8 21. h3 Kd8 22. Qc6 Rab8 23.
Qc3 f6 {Two rooks are more valuable than the Q in this type of _|_.} 24. b4 {
(Girod-Multala, corr 1984)} Rb6 $1 25. a4 a6 26. Qd3 Ke7 27. Qg6 Kf8 $15) 15...
Be6 16. dxe6 (16. Re3 Kf8 17. dxe6 f6 {- 16.dxe6}) 16... f6 {White's dangerous
o^ is well-blockaded, and if Black can consolidate his position, his chances
are better.} 17. Re3 $1 {/\ Rh3 is a typical method here.} Kf8 $5 (17... c6 18.
Rh3 Rxh3 19. gxh3 Qa5 $1 $132) 18. Bd3 $1 (18. Qd3 {(Fuchs-Acs, Austria tt
1996)} c6 $1 {/\ d5} 19. Rh3 Rxh3 20. Qxh3 Kg8 21. Qh5 (21. Bd3 g6) 21... Qe8
$15) (18. Rh3 Rxh3 19. gxh3 g6 20. Qf3 (20. h4 gxh4 21. Qe4 Kg7 22. Qxb7 Qc8
23. Qe4 Rb8 24. b3 (24. Qxh4 Rb4 25. Qd4 Qb7 $17) 24... Qb7 25. Qxh4 Rh8 26.
Qg3 {(1/2:1/2 Le Blancq-Williams, Wales 1988)} Rh5 {In the _|_ Black's chances
are preferable.} 27. h4 (27. f4 Qb6+ 28. Kg2 d5 $17) 27... Nf5 28. Qg2 Qxg2+
29. Kxg2 Kf8 $1 $15) 20... Kg7 21. Qxb7 Qc8 $1 22. Qf3 Rb8 23. b3 (23. Bb3 Qb7
24. Qc3 Qb4 {Finally White cannot avoid the exchange of queens.} 25. Rd1 Qxc3
26. bxc3 Rb5 27. Rd4 f5 28. h4 g4 29. h3 gxh3 $15 {Videki-Pa.Petran, Ajka 1991}
) (23. Re2 Qb7 24. Qd3 d5 {if Black's [+] advances, White is in a big trouble..
.} 25. Ba6 Qc6 26. Rc2 Qd6 $17 {Rubach-Zacharias, Bargteheide op 1989}) 23...
Qb7 24. Qd3 Rh8 25. Ba6 Qb6 26. Rc1 Rh4 27. Qb5 c6 28. Qxb6 axb6 29. Bb7 Rh8
30. b4 {/\ a4} b5 31. Rc2 f5 32. a4 bxa4 33. Bxc6 Nxc6 34. Rxc6 Kf6 $11 {
Pyhala-Dobrovolsky, Odessa 1989}) 18... Qe8 (18... c6 $2 {allows White's
hidden threat} 19. Bg6 $1 Qa5 20. Bf7 $44 {Classen-Gypser, Goch op 1999}) 19.
Rh3 (19. Rc1 c6) 19... Rxh3 20. gxh3 g6 21. Qf3 (21. h4 gxh4 22. Qf3 Kg7 23.
Qxb7 Qb8 24. Qf3 Qb4 $13) 21... Kg7 22. Qxb7 Qb8 $1 23. Qe4 (23. Qf3 Qb4) 23...
d5 24. Qa4 c6 {(1/2:1/2 A.Perez-Y.Perez, Cuba 1996)} 25. Qa3 Qc7 26. Qc5 a5 $1
$13 {A.Perez}) 14... O-O $1 {Black can bravely castle into the " attack".} 15.
Rae1 (15. Nf3 Ng6 {consolidates Black's position completely.}) 15... Ng6 (15...
Nf5 {is less clear:} 16. Nf3 (16. Nxf7 $2 Qf6 $19) (16. Ne6 $2 {founders on
the blockading move} fxe6 17. dxe6 Ne7 $1 {after which the game is over.} 18.
Rg4 Rf6 19. Rg6 Rxg6 20. Qxg6 Qf8 21. Qe4 a5 22. Re3 d5 23. Bxd5 Ra6 24. Rf3
Qe8 25. Bb3 Qc6 26. Qf4 Bxe6 27. Qf8+ Kh7 $19 {Armanda-Dumitrache, Budapest
1993}) 16... Qf6 17. g4 Ne7 18. Rxe7 (18. g5 Qg6 19. Qxg6 Nxg6 $15) 18... Qxf3
19. h3 Qf6 20. b3 $44 {and Black has problems with his development.}) 16. Ne6
$6 {Continuing the wrong plan.} ({The modest} 16. Nf3 {was more to the point.}
Qf6 $15) 16... fxe6 17. Qxg6 e5 18. Rxe5 {White grabs his chances, but Black
has a witty defence.} (18. R4e3 {Here White has no compensation at all for the
P.} Bf5 (18... Qf6 19. Qc2 Bf5 $17 (19... Bd7 20. Rc1 Rae8 21. Qe2 Kh8 22. Rb3
$15 {1/2:1/2 Oliva-Voller, Bratislava 1993})) 19. Qg3 Qf6 $17) 18... dxe5 (
18... Qf6 $2 19. Qxf6 Rxf6 {allows the penetration on the e <->.} 20. Re7 Rf7
21. Re8+ Rf8 22. R1e7 Rxe8 (22... Bf5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Rxc7 $16) 23. Rxe8+ Kf7
{(Voicu-Orsagova, Bratislava 1993} 24. Bb5 $1 $16) 19. d6+ Kh8 20. Bd3 Bf5 $1 {
This strong defensive move was probably overlooked by White.} (20... Kg8 $2 {
leads only to perpetual after} 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Qg6+ $11 (22. Bc4+ $2 Kf6)) 21.
Bxf5 Rxf5 22. Qxf5 cxd6 {Black is a healthy P up in the _|_.} 23. Rc1 Qe7 24.
h4 Rd8 (24... Rf8 25. Rc8) 25. Rc8 {[#]} d5 $2 {Black gives back the P in
order to create an advanced o^ on the d <->.} ({However there is nothing wrong
with the quiet} 25... Rxc8 $1 26. Qxc8+ Kh7 27. Qf5+ g6 28. Qe4 h5 29. g3 b6
30. Qd5 Kg7 $17 {Bernhard-Hresc, Aschach 1994}) 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxe5 d4 28.
Kf1 d3 29. Ke1 {White can successfully blockade the o^.} Qxh4 30. Qb8+ Kh7 31.
Qxb7 {Now White has always good chances in a P _|_ because of the possibility
of creating a remote o^ on the <<.} Qg4 ({First} 31... Qf4 32. Kd1 {and now}
Qg4+ 33. f3 Qxg2 34. Qe4+ Qg6 35. Kd2 {- 31...Qg4} (35. Qe3 a6 36. Kd2 h5 $1
$19)) 32. f3 (32. Qe7 $5) 32... Qxg2 33. Qe4+ Qg6 34. Kd2 (34. Qe3 a6 35. Kd2
h5 $1) 34... h5 35. Kxd3 Kh6 36. Ke2 Qa6+ (36... Qxe4+ 37. fxe4 Kg5 $1 (37...
g5 $2 38. b4 g4 39. a4 $16) 38. Kf3 Kf6 39. b4 Ke5 40. b5 g5 41. a4 g4+ 42. Ke3
h4 43. a5 h3 44. Kf2 Kf4 45. b6 g3+ 46. Ke2 axb6 47. axb6 h2 48. b7 h1=Q 49.
b8=Q+ $11) 37. Kf2 Qxa2 38. Qf4+ Kh7 39. Qe4+ g6 40. Qe7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2003.01.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kaufman, Larry C"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2542"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 d6 7. Nf1 {/\ Ng3
and after 0-0 White has spared Re1.} O-O 8. Ng3 h6 (8... Ba7 9. Bb3 Be6 {
- Kazhgaleyev-Malaniuk, WchT Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) 9. Bb3 Ba7 10. O-O (10. h3 {
White can certainly wait with castles, but not for long.} Be6 (10... d5 11.
exd5 Nxd5 12. O-O {- 10.0-0}) 11. Nh2 {/\ Qf3, Ng4, Nf5} Bxb3 (11... Qd7 12.
Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Nh7 14. Ng4 Ne7 15. O-O c6 16. Ne3 Bxe3 $1 {This is the
typical equalizing method here.} 17. fxe3 g6 18. d4 h5 {White's light pieces
are out of play, the pressure on the semi-opened f <-> is not enough.} 19. Qd1
Rae8 20. c4 (20. dxe5 Nc8 {White's e pawns look rather pathetic.} 21. exd6 h4
22. Ne2 Nxd6 $132) 20... Nc8 21. d5 cxd5 22. cxd5 f5 23. b4 Nf6 24. b3 {
1/2:1/2 Kasimdzhanov-Piket, Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1999}) 12. axb3 d5 13. Qf3
dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh7 {/\ Ng5} 15. h4 Qd7 16. Ng4 Rad8 17. O-O Qd3 18. Ne3 Bxe3 $1
{The same old motif again!} 19. Bxe3 Ne7 {The N on c6 is badly placed in this
P structure.} 20. Rfd1 Qb5 21. b4 b6 22. b3 Qc6 23. c4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 f5 $11 {
Tkachiev-Flear, Clichy 1995}) (10. Qe2 Be6 (10... Ne7 11. Nh4 {-
Fedorov-Rizouk, FIDE World Cup- C Shenyang 2000 CBM 79} (11. O-O Ng6 $11)) 11.
O-O Re8 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 d5 {Black has fully equalized.} 15.
Rad1 Qf8 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. Qe2 g6 $11 {Nelksans-Ch.Gabriel, EU-chT Batumi 1999})
10... Re8 (10... Kh8 {is not so necessary now.} 11. h3 Be6 12. Nh2 {/\ Qf3,
Ng4, Nf5} Qd7 13. Qf3 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qe6 15. b4 d5 16. Ng4 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nxg4
18. hxg4 {White has some pressure on the >>.} Ne7 19. Nf5 $14 {
Beshukov-Stefansson, New York op 1996}) (10... Be6 11. h3 (11. Re1 Qd7 12. h3
Rad8 13. Qe2 Rfe8 14. Kh2 {This is not a usual plan here.} d5 15. Bc2 d4 $13 {
Velicka-Sherzer, Brno-B 1993}) 11... d5 12. Qe2 Re8 $13) 11. Re1 (11. h3 Be6 (
11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 {White has no real pressure against >< e5.} 13. Re1 Nf6
14. Bc2 Qd6 15. Nh4 Ne7 16. Bb3 g5 $5 17. Nf3 Nf5 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Be3 Bxe3
20. Rxe3 Rad8 21. Qe1 {(Tkachiev-Guyard, Corsica rapid op 1997)} e4 $11) 12.
Re1 (12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Nh4 Qd7 15. Qe2 Rad8 {Black gets the upper
hand in the [+], >< d3 remains a structural weakness.} 16. Ne4 Qe6 $15 {
Rossi-Estrada Nieto, Istanbul ol (Men) 2000}) 12... Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Rb8 14. Nf5
d5 15. Qc2 Qd7 16. N3h4 {The N on f5 is strong, but there is no clear
continuation of the ->.} Re6 {The R is a good defender here.} 17. Qe2 dxe4 18.
dxe4 Rd8 19. Qf3 Qd3 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Qc2 22. Re2 Qd3 23. Re3 {1/2:1/2
Hamdouchi-Tkachiev, Cap d'Agde-A 2002}) 11... Be6 (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 {
is strongly met by the thematic} 13. d4 $1 $14) 12. Bxe6 fxe6 {Even with a R
on e6 this recapture is not without logic. The central squares are
well-protected.} (12... Rxe6 13. d4 (13. Qb3 Rb8) 13... d5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bf4 Qxd1 18. Raxd1 g5 19. Bg3 Rf8 20. Rd7 Bb6 21.
Re2 f5 22. exf6 Rf7 $11) 13. d4 Qd7 (13... exd4 14. cxd4 $14) 14. h3 Rad8 (
14... exd4 15. cxd4 Qf7 {deserved attention.}) 15. Be3 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 $2 {[#]
} (16... Qf7 {was again required!} 17. Qb3 Bb6 $11) 17. Ne5 $1 $16 {The idea
is based on the undefended B on a7.} ({On} 17. e5 {follows Black's main idea}
Ne4 $1 $13) 17... Nxe5 (17... Qd6 18. Nxc6 Qxc6 19. e5 Ne4 20. Nh5 $1 $16 {
and the e4 N is in trouble.}) 18. dxe5 Bxe3 19. exf6 $1 Ba7 {Other moves fail
to impress as well:} (19... Bb6 20. e5 $16) (19... Bg5 20. e5 gxf6 21. f4 $1
Bxf4 22. Nh5 $1 $16) 20. e5 g6 {Now White's -> on the >> is hard to parry.} 21.
b4 {against c7-c5.} Kh7 22. Rc1 Bb6 23. h4 $1 {The signal for the ->!} a5 24.
Qd3 $1 {/\ h5, the << is not important anymore.} axb4 25. h5 Qf7 26. Ne2 {
/\ Nf4} Ra8 (26... Rg8 27. Nf4 $18) 27. Nf4 Rg8 28. Qb1 Ra3 29. Kf1 ({The
clear-cut} 29. hxg6+ {was also winning:} Rxg6 30. Nxg6 Qxg6 31. Qxb4 Rg3 32.
Qe7+ Kh8 33. f7 Rxg2+ 34. Kh1 $18) 29... c5 30. Rcd1 Ba5 {[#]} 31. Rxd5 $1 {
clearing the way for two connected passed pawns on the 6-th rank.} exd5 32.
hxg6+ Rxg6 33. e6 $1 Qxf6 34. e7 {and the new Q cannot be stopped.} Qxf4 35.
e8=Q Qc4+ 36. Kg1 Rd3 37. Qf7+ Rg7 38. Qf5+ 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 2nd"]
[Site "Ohrid"]
[Date "2001.06.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gunnarsson, Jon Viktor"]
[Black "Slobodjan, Roman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2366"]
[BlackElo "2529"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.06.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 {This is still a popular plan in the Italian Game. The N on c6
is not particularly well-placed, and on g6 he has better perspectives.} 10. Nf1
O-O 11. Ng3 (11. h3 {can be met by} Nh5 {against Ng3.} 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Nh4 Nhf4
{The N is usually well-placed on f4 putting pressure on the dark squares.} 14.
Nxg6 Nxg6 15. Ng3 Kh8 {/\ f6} 16. Nf5 Be6 17. Qh5 f6 18. Be3 Qf7 19. Bxe6 Qxe6
20. Qg4 Qf7 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. g3 Raa8 $11 {and the position still remains
rather symmetrical, Prihotko-Grabarczyk, Bydgoszcz 1999.}) 11... Be6 (11... h6
{/\ Be6 defending against Ng5 is the other possibility.} 12. h3 Be6 13. Bxe6
fxe6 {This P structure is not bad for Black because of the opened f line, and
>< d5 and f5 are also protected.} 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. d4 c6 (15... exd4 16. cxd4 (
16. Nxd4 d5 $1 {advancing in the [+].}) 16... c6 $11 {/\ d5 with conterchances
in the [+].}) 16. Be3 exd4 17. cxd4 d5 $11 {Klinger-Flueckiger, 1989}) (11...
c6 12. h3 (12. d4 h6 13. h3 {- 12.h3} (13. Nf5 $6 {is certainly met by} d5 $1 {
Stanic-Dokmanovic, Pula 1996})) 12... h6 13. d4 Re8 14. Bc2 (14. Be3 {closes
the e <->, so} exd4 {cannot be taken back by the c P.} 15. Bxd4 c5 16. Be3 Be6
17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Qd3 Qe8 19. Rad1 b5 20. b3 Bb6 21. Bd2 Qc6 $11 {/\ Rae8 with
a pressure on >< e4, Shaposhnikov-Solozhenkin, Petersburg 1998.}) 14... exd4
15. cxd4 (15. Nxd4 d5 $11) 15... Be6 $11) 12. Bc2 {Usually this manoeuvre is
slow here.} ({The critical move is} 12. d4 $142 {grabbing the |^ in the [+].}
Bg4 (12... exd4 13. cxd4) 13. Be3 (13. Nf5 {is again answered by} d5 {and the
N on f5 is hanging in many lines.} 14. h3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 exd4 16. cxd4 {
(Mateus-Hussain, Elista 1998)} c6 17. Bc2 dxe4 18. fxe4 Ne7 $15) 13... exd4 (
13... Nh4 $6 {corrupts White's P structure, but loses vital tempi.} 14. Bg5
Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Be6 16. Nh5 $40) 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 (15. Bg5 h6) 15... Ne4 16.
h3 Nxg3 (16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Nxg3 18. Qxg3 $14 {Gorelli Fagiolini-Di Fonzo,
Bratto 1998}) 17. hxg4 $1 (17. fxg3 Bf5) 17... Ne4 18. Bc2 $14 {^^, /\ f2-f3})
(12. h3 h6 13. d4 $1 Re8 14. Bc2 c6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Qd2 {looks more natural.} (
16. Qc1 {is a bit sophysticated.} Rad8 $1 (16... Kh7 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 Nf8
19. dxe5 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 dxe5 21. Rad1 Nd5 22. Qe4 Nd7 23. Qh4 $14 {Sivokho-A.
Petrov, Petersburg, 2000}) 17. Nf5 exd4 $1 18. N3xd4 Bxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxe3 20.
Rxe3 d5 $11 {is the typical freeing move in the [+] again.}) 16... Rad8 $1 (
16... Kh7 17. Nf5 $14) 17. Nf5 exd4 $1 {is the right answer.} (17... Bxf5 $6
18. exf5 Ne7 {allows White to destroy Black's >> :} 19. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 20. Qxh6
Ned5 21. c4 $16) (17... d5 $6 18. Nxg7 $1 {is the correct way destroying
Black's defensive wall:} ({Now} 18. Bxh6 $2 {is the wrong way of sacrificing
the piece:} Nxe4 $1 {This is an important intermediate move!} 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20.
Nxg7 exf3 21. Nxe8 (21. Qg5 $6 Qe7 22. Nxe6 {(A.Rodriguez-Sorin, Pico City
1996)} Qxe6 $1 23. Rxe5 Qd6 24. Rae1 Rxe5 25. dxe5 (25. Rxe5 fxg2) 25... Qe7)
21... Rxe8 $15) 18... Kxg7 19. Bxh6+ Kg8 20. Qg5 Nh7 21. Qg3 $16) 18. N3xd4 (
18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. N3xd4 d5 $132) 18... Bxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 d5 21. exd5
Rxd5 $11) 12... Re8 13. h3 d5 $6 {Black wants to grab the |^ in the [+], but
before that he had to make a prophylactic move.} (13... h6 $142 {against Ng5
was required.}) 14. Ng5 $1 {This is the punishment.} Bc8 $5 {This is a bit
passive.} (14... dxe4 $142 {allows White to eliminate the important B, but the
_|_ was the lesser evil.} 15. Nxe6 (15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Nf4 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 (
17... Rxe6 {- 15.Ne6})) 15... Rxe6 16. dxe4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Nf4 18. Kf1 (18. Nf5
Ne2+ 19. Kf1 Nxc1 20. Raxc1 g6) 18... g6 $14 {and White has a strong
light-squared B and ^^, but this is only the beginning of the battle.}) 15.
exd5 h6 (15... Nxd5 16. Bb3 $1 {and there are nasty threats on the a2-g8 /^,
against >< f7 and h7.} (16. Qh5 h6) 16... c6 17. Qh5 h6 18. N5e4 $36) 16. N5e4
Nxd5 17. Qf3 Be6 (17... Ndf4 $5 {/\ Nh4} 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 (18... exf4 19. Nh5 $16
{/\ d4 with a virtual P majority in the [+].}) 19. d4 $1 Qh4 $1 20. dxe5 (20.
Rad1 f5 $1 21. Nc5 e4) 20... Rxe5 21. Nd2 $1 $14 (21. Bb3 Bd7)) 18. Bb3 Ndf4 (
18... Rf8 $5 {/\ f5} 19. Nf5 Ndf4 $1) 19. Bxf4 (19. Bxe6 $6 Rxe6 20. Bxf4 exf4
21. Nf5 Re5 $15) 19... exf4 (19... Nxf4 {is met by} 20. d4 $1 (20. Bxe6 Rxe6 (
20... Nxe6 21. Nf5 $14) 21. d4 {is less clear.} Qd5 22. Nf5 Rae8 23. c4 $6 (23.
dxe5 Qxe5 $1 $15) 23... Qxc4 24. dxe5 Ng6 $1 (24... Rxe5 $2 25. Nf6+ $1 gxf6
26. Qg4+ $18) 25. Nxh6+ gxh6 26. Nf6+ Rxf6 27. exf6 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Bd4) 20...
Bxb3 21. axb3 Qd5 22. b4 $14 {and White has still the somewhat better chances.}
) 20. Nh5 Bxb3 $4 {[%mdl 8192] This is a serious blunder from a strong GM!} (
20... Qh4 21. d4 Rad8) 21. Nef6+ $1 $18 {This intermediate move wins outright.
Taking back a piece is not obligatory!} gxf6 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Nxf6+ 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 4th"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2003.06.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Sulskis, Sarunas"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2003.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 {This is the solid way of handling
the Evans Gambit.} (4... Bxb4 {is the real theoretical question.}) 5. c3 Nf6 6.
d3 d6 7. a4 a6 8. O-O h6 (8... O-O 9. Re1 (9. h3 Be6 $11) (9. Nbd2 Ne7 {/\ Ng6}
10. Bb3 {/\ Nc4} (10. Re1 Ng4 $5 {with the standard Kh8 f5 idea.} (10... Ng6)
11. Re2 Kh8 {/\ f5} (11... d5 $6 {is not consistant here.} 12. exd5 Nxd5 13.
Ne4 Bf5 14. Qc2 c6 15. h3 Ngf6 16. Ng3 Be6 17. a5 Ba7 18. Rxe5 $16 {
Lazic-Lejlic, Kladovo 1990})) 10... Ng6 (10... c6 $5 11. d4 ({On} 11. Nc4 Bc7 {
is Black's main idea with 10...c6} 12. Bg5 (12. Re1 Ng6 13. Bb2 $6 {The B is
not well-posted here.} Re8 14. Ne3 d5 15. Qc2 Nf4 16. Rad1 Qe7 $36 {
Werner-Svidler, Oakham 1990}) 12... Ng6 13. Nh4 Nf4 $5 $13) 11... Bg4 (11...
Ng6 $5 {is the consistant continuation.}) 12. dxe5 {If White gives up the [+]
he cannot claim any advantage.} dxe5 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Bc2
c5 17. Nc4 cxb4 18. cxb4 Nc6 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Rb1 $11 {Spasov-Ziatdinov,
Niksic 1991}) 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 (12. Ra2 {is rather useless here.} h6 13. Re1
Re8 14. h3 Be6 $11 {Ljubojevic-Furman, Portoroz/Ljubljana, 1975}) (12. h3 h6
13. Re1 Bd7 14. Ra2 Re8 15. a5 Qe7 16. Ba4 {1/2:1/2 Nunn-Byrne, Baden 1980}) (
12. a5 {White has some space advantage on the <<, but this is not relevant.
The important is the [+] and the >>.} Re8 (12... h6) 13. Re1 h6 14. Ra2 Be6 15.
Rd2 Nf4 16. Ne3 {(Lutz-Leko, Cap d' Agde 1894 )} Bc8 $1 $13) 12... Be6 13. Bxa7
Rxa7 14. Re1 Ra8 15. Ra2 h6 16. Rd2 (16. Na5 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Qc8 18. h3 Nf4 19.
Re3 N6h5 {and Black has some |^ on the >> balancing White's pressure on the <<,
Harding-Thorbergsson, North Atlantic Teams corr 1990-92.}) 16... Re8 {This is
the standard central strategy preparing for d5.} (16... Nh7 17. Ne3 Ng5 18.
Nxg5 Qxg5 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 Qf6 21. g3 $14 {Ljubojevic-Hjartarson, Linares
1989}) 17. Ne3 d5 $11) (9. a5 Ba7 10. Re1 (10. Bb3 Ne7 11. h3 Ng6 12. Re1 h6
$11 (12... c6 $1 13. Nbd2 (13. Bg5 h6) (13. d4 {is dubious because of} exd4 $1
14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 {with a very good Open Ruy Lopez for Black.} 16. Bc2 Bf5
17. Ra3 f6 18. Nbd2 fxe5 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rxe4 Qd5 22. Qe1 exd4
23. Bb2 Rf4 $19 {Palkovi-Karolyi, HUN-chT Zalaegerszeg 1998}) 13... d5 14. exd5
Nxd5 15. Ne4 (15. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Nxc3 $17) (15. Bxd5 Qxd5 $11) 15... Re8
$11 {and Black holds the [+].}) (12... h6 13. d4 Re8 (13... exd4 $5 14. cxd4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Bc2 Bf5 $132) (13... Qe7 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 Rfe8
$11 {Yudasin-Granda Zuniga, Madrid 1992}) 14. Bc2 Bd7 {This plan with the
following moves is usually dubious.} 15. Be3 Qc8 16. Nbd2 Kh8 17. Kh2 $16 {
Sermek-S.Polgar, Ljubljana op 1994})) 10... h6 11. h3 Nh5 {/\ Qf6, Nf4
attacking >< h3 and g2.} 12. d4 Qf6 13. Be3 Nf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Ne5 {
Black has pressure on the dark squares.} 16. Kh2 c5 17. Nc2 Rd8 18. g3 Nxh3 $1
19. Bxh3 Nf3+ 20. Kg2 Bxh3+ 21. Kxh3 Qe6+ 22. Kg2 Nxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Qxe4+ 24. Qf3
Qxf3+ $11 {Timoshenko-Jaracz, MK Cafe Cup-A 1999}) (9. Bg5 Kh8 {/\ Nh7} 10.
Nbd2 Ne7 11. d4 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {is not dangerous for Black, because he can
play f5 in time.}) 11... Ng6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. Nh4 h6 15. Nxg6+
fxg6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Be6 $11 {with doubled pawns on both
sides, Nun-Gretarsson, Pardubice Czeh op 1998.}) (9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 d5 {
This is the typical equalizing method in these types of position.} 11. exd5
Nxd5 12. Qd2 Be6 13. Na3 Qe7 14. e4 Nb6 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. Nc2 Rad8 17. Ne3 f6
18. a5 Nc8 19. Nd5 Qd7 20. Rad1 N6e7 $11 {eliminating the strong N,
Yermolinsky-Anand, Madrid Magistral 1998.}) 9... h6 (9... Ne7 10. a5 Ba7 11.
Bg5 {White wants to exploit the pin on the h4-d8 /^.} (11. Nbd2 {is similar to
the previous note.} Ng6 12. Nf1 h6 13. h3 Re8 14. Ng3 c6 15. d4 Be6 {1/2:1/2
Becerra Rivero-Arencibia, Mondariz op 1996}) 11... Ng6 12. Nh4) 10. h3 (10.
Nbd2 Kh8 {Black is playing for f5.} (10... Ne7 11. Bb3 c6 12. a5 Ba7 {- 9.Bb3
Ne7 10.a5 Ba7 11.h3 Ng6 12.Re1 c6}) 11. Nf1 Ng4 {This is the typical reaction
on Re1 if h3 hasn't been played.} 12. Ra2 f5 13. h3 fxe4 14. dxe4 Nf6 15. Ng3
Nh7 (15... Ne7 16. Nh4 Kh7 17. a5 Ba7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Qe8 {/\ Ng6} 20.
Rd2 Ng6 $13 {Nun-Arkhipov, NRW-Liga 1992}) 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Ng5 $11 {
and Black has play on the dark squares, Armas-Zude, BL 1989.}) 10... Ne7 (10...
Kh8 11. Ra2 Nh7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 f5 14. Rf1 fxe4 15. dxe4 Bd7 16. Raf2 Qe7
$11 {Ambroz-Honfi, Reti mem Trnava 1982}) 11. a5 (11. d4 $6 exd4 12. a5 Ba7 13.
cxd4 (13. Nxd4 d5 14. exd5 Nexd5 $11) 13... d5 $1 $11 {Bacrot-Z.Almasi, Szeged
2000 CBM 78}) 11... Ba7 12. Nbd2 Ng6 13. Bb3 $11 {is similar to the 9.Nbd2
lines.}) 9. Be3 (9. Nbd2 O-O (9... g5 $6 {Black overestimates his position, ><
f5 will be weak without any real pressure on the >>.} 10. Ba2 Ba7 11. Nc4 Ne7
12. Be3 Be6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. d4 $1 Nxe4 15. Qe1 d5 16. Ncxe5 O-O 17. Rc1 $14 {
Yudasin-Kosashvili, ISR-chT 1999}) 10. Bb3 (10. Ba2 Ne7) 10... Ne7 11. Nc4 Ba7
12. Be3 (12. Re1 Ng6 13. d4 {White is not strong enough to conquer the whole 
[+].} exd4 14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 d5 $1) 14... Bg4 15. Qc2 Re8 16. f3 c5 $1 17. Ne2
d5 $15 {De la Paz-Delgado, CUB-ch Santa Clara 1999}) 12... Be6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7
14. Re1 Ng6 15. d4 Bxc4 16. Bxc4 Ra8 {White has a good B and a bit better
central P formation, but it is not easy to make a progress.} 17. Qc2 c6 18. Bf1
Qc7 19. a5 Rfe8 20. c4 Rad8 $11 {Glek-Yermolinsky, Wijk aan Zee 1997}) 9...
Bxe3 (9... Ba7 10. Nbd2) 10. fxe3 Be6 (10... O-O 11. Nbd2 (11. Bb3 d5 12. exd5
Nxd5 13. Qe2 Be6 14. Bc2 f5 $15 {and Black grabs the |^ on the >>,
Gyorkos-Krastanov, HUN-ch op Eger 1987.}) 11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 $13) 11. Nbd2
Bxc4 {This exchange was not necessary at all.} (11... O-O $142) 12. Nxc4 O-O
13. b5 $1 Ne7 14. Qb3 (14. Nh4 $5 {immediately was worth of trying.}) 14... b6
$11 15. Nh4 axb5 (15... Nd7) 16. axb5 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 g6 {and the N has to
retreat.} 18. Nf3 Kg7 19. h3 Re8 20. g4 $2 {It is not easy to advance in this
position and White choses the wrong flank.} (20. Ncd2 {/\ c4, d4 advancing on
the << and in the [+] was the better idea.} Neg8 (20... Nd7 21. d4 $14) 21. c4
Nd7 22. Qc3 Ngf6 $11) 20... Neg8 $1 {regrouping the knights.} 21. Ra7 (21. Rf1
d5 $1 22. Ncxe5 Qd6) 21... Nd7 (21... d5 22. Ncxe5 Qd6 $15 {looked also
promising.}) 22. Kg2 Ngf6 23. Ncd2 (23. Qc2 Nc5 $15 {/\ d5}) 23... Nc5 24. Qc4
d5 $1 {Black finally grabs the |^ in the [+].} 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Kf2 Nf6 27. d4
e4 $1 28. dxc5 $2 {This loses outright, the opening of the position is fatal
for the white K.} (28. Ne1 {was the best defence.} Ne6 29. Ng2 (29. Qc6 Nf4 $1
$17) 29... Qb8 30. Ra2 Ng5 $15) 28... exf3 $19 29. Nxf3 Ne4+ 30. Ke2 bxc5 31.
b6 Qf6 $1 {Now the white K is in a big danger!} 32. Rxc7 Nxc3+ 33. Kd3 Nd1 $1
34. Qd5 Qc3+ 35. Ke2 Qc2+ 0-1

[Event "Nagykanizsa 1st"]
[Site "Nagykanizsa"]
[Date "2003.11.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vajda, Albert"]
[Black "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2537"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2003.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 O-O (7...
Ba7 {is the popular main line waiting a bit with the castles.}) 8. Bg5 {
can be the only problem with an early castles, but things are far from clear.}
h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 {White has provoked a considerable weakness, but his B on
g3 is completely out of play.} Bg4 {Black has to fight against d4.} (10... Ba7
{looks a bit slow.} 11. Nbd2 Bg4 $1 (11... Kg7 {looks rather light-hearted.}
12. Nc4 Ne7 13. Ne3 Nh5 14. d4 {Now White gets the advantage in the [+].} f6
15. Qd2 Qe8 $14 {Kuijf-Donner, NED-ch Amsterdam 1982}) 12. h3 (12. Kh1 Bh5 $1 (
12... Kg7 13. Qe1 Qd7 14. Ng1 Ne7 15. f3 Be6 16. Nc4 Ng6 17. Ne3 Nh5 18. Bf2
Nhf4 19. Rd1 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Bxb3 21. axb3 Qb5 $15 {Milosevic-Jenni, Zuerich op
2001}) 13. Qe1 Kg7 14. Bd1 Bg6 15. Nc4 Re8 16. Bc2 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rad8 (17... b5
18. Ne3 d5 $15) 18. a4 Nh5 19. Ne3 (19. b4 $6 d5 20. exd5 Qxd5 21. b5 e4 $17 {
Chandler-Karpov, Bath TV-A 1983}) 19... Bxe3 20. Qxe3 d5 $1 $17) 12... Bd7 {
weakening h3 but losing a "half" tempo.} (12... Bh5 $5 13. Nc4) 13. Nc4 Nh5 14.
Kh2 (14. Bh2 Nf4 15. d4) 14... Nxg3 15. fxg3 {<-> f} b5 16. Ncd2 Kg7 17. a4 Ne7
18. d4 f6 19. Qe2 Ng6 (19... g4 20. Nh4 gxh3 21. gxh3 exd4 22. Nf5+ $36) 20.
Qd3 $14 {Al Modiahki-Ch.Gabriel, Wch U18 Mamaia 1991}) 11. Nbd2 Nh5 {The black
pieces are well-activated.} (11... Ba7 {- 10...Ba7}) 12. Nc4 $6 {White forgets
about >< f3.} (12. Kh1 Qf6 13. h3 Bd7 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nf4 16. Nxc6 Bxc6
17. Qf3 {1/2:1/2 Nunn-Pinter, Helsinki 1983}) 12... Qf6 $1 13. Ne3 ({The
prophylactic} 13. Kh1 {can be met by the prophylactic} Kh8 $5 (13... Nf4 14.
Ne3 $14) (13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ne7 15. Ne3) 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Nxg3+ 16. hxg3
Qg6) 13... Bxf3 (13... Bxe3 14. fxe3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Ne7 $13) 14. Qxf3 Qxf3 15.
gxf3 {Now White's B on g3 is completely entombbed.} Kh7 (15... Ne7 16. Rfd1 $11
) 16. Rad1 Ng7 17. Bd5 f6 (17... f5 18. exf5 Nxf5 19. Be4 $14) 18. Kg2 Kg6 $6 {
This looks overoptimistic.} (18... Kh8 19. b4 Ba7 20. a4 f5 21. exf5 Nxf5 $11)
19. Rh1 Ne7 20. d4 Ba7 (20... Nxd5 21. Nxd5 $16) 21. Bb3 $2 {This allows Black
to grab the |^.} (21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Bxa6 Rxb2 23. a4 Ra2 24. Bb5 c6 25. Bc4
Rxa4 26. Ra1 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Bb6 $14) 21... exd4 $1 22. cxd4 f5 {allows the g3 B
to come out of his grave, but} 23. exf5+ Ngxf5 {with a much better P structure
for Black.} 24. Bc2 Kg7 25. h4 Nxd4 (25... Nxh4+ 26. Bxh4 gxh4 27. Rxh4) 26.
hxg5 (26. Be4 Ng6 $1 $15 (26... gxh4 27. Rxh4 Ndf5 28. Rg4+ $16)) 26... Nxc2
27. gxh6+ Kh7 28. Nxc2 Nf5 {White's >> pawns are well-blockeded and the future
belongs to Black's advance on the other flank.} 29. Nb4 (29. Bf4 Rae8 30. Kf1
Rf6 $15) 29... Rae8 30. Rd2 Rf7 31. Nd5 Re6 32. Nf4 Rxh6 33. Rxh6+ Kxh6 34. Ne6
b5 35. Nd8 Rg7 36. Nc6 Bb6 37. Rd3 Ne7 $2 {[%mdl 8192] This is a serious
tactical blunder!} (37... Kg6 $17) 38. Nxe7 Rxe7 39. Bxd6 $1 $11 {and White
has evened out!} Re2 40. Rd2 Re6 41. Bf4+ Kg6 42. Rc2 c5 43. b3 Rc6 44. Be3 Kf5
45. Kf1 Ke5 46. Ke2 c4 47. bxc4 bxc4 48. Bxb6 Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "CUB-ch"]
[Site "Holguin"]
[Date "2002.04.17"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Abreu Delgado, Aryam"]
[Black "Arencibia Rodriguez, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2002.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 b5 {
This is not a very useful move here.} 8. Nf1 {White wants to make use of the
fact that he didn't castle yet.} (8. O-O {The game has now a Ruy Lopez New
Arkhangelsk character with an extra tempo for White.} O-O 9. h3) 8... Bb7 (8...
d5 {is an interesting try to grab the |^ in the [+].} 9. Bg5 $1 dxe4 10. dxe4
Be6 (10... O-O 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Bd5 Bb7 14. Ng3 $14 {>< f5 is
very vulnerable.}) (10... Bb7 11. Ng3 $14) 11. Ng3 h6 (11... Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1
Bxb3 13. axb3 $14 {with some pressure on the light squares.}) 12. Bxf6 (12.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Bxf6 gxf6) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxe6 (13. Bd5 {White forces the
matters...} Bd7 14. Nh5 Qg6 15. Nh4 Qg5 16. Bxf7+ {(Komliakov-Ginsburg,
Nikolaev zt 1993)} Kxf7 17. Qxd7+ Ne7 {and finally two pieces are hanging!} 18.
Nf3 Qxh5 $15) 13... Qxe6 14. Qd5 $14) 9. Ng3 Qd7 $6 {The Q is usually not
well-placed here.} (9... h6 10. O-O O-O 11. d4 Bb6 $13) 10. O-O h6 11. a4 Bb6 (
11... O-O) 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8+ Bxa8 14. h3 Ne7 {This is the beginning of a
wrong plan.} (14... O-O 15. Nf5 d5 $1 $13 {was the natural reply with
counterchances in the [+].} (15... Ne7 16. N3h4 $1 (16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Nh4 d5
18. exd5 Bxd5 (18... Nxd5 19. Qg4 $14) 19. Nf5 (19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Qg4 Qf6 21.
Nf5 Kh8) 19... Qe6 $11) 16... d5 $1 (16... Nxf5 17. Nxf5 d5 18. Nxh6+ gxh6 19.
Bxh6 Rd8 20. Qf3 $14) 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nf5 Qe6 $13)) 15. Nh4 g5 $2 {[#] This
ugly move is punished by a nice zwischenzug!} (15... O-O 16. Qf3 $14) 16. Qf3
$1 $16 Nfd5 17. Nhf5 Nxf5 $2 {This is already the losing move.} (17... Nf4 18.
Bxf4 $1 (18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Nf5 Qf6) 18... gxf4 19. Nh5 $16 {was also much
better for White.}) 18. exf5 $1 $18 (18. Nxf5 Nf4 19. Bxf4 gxf4 $16) 18... Qc6
(18... c6 19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. Be3) 19. Ne4 Ne7 20. Qh5 Rf8 (20... d5 21. Bxg5 $1
$18) 21. Qxh6 Nxf5 22. Qxg5 Ne7 23. Nf6+ Kd8 24. Qg7 Ng6 25. Bd5 Qxd5 26. Nxd5
Bxd5 27. Be3 c5 28. h4 Rh8 29. Bh6 1-0

[Event "CUB-ch"]
[Site "Holguin"]
[Date "2002.04.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"]
[Black "Gomez Fontal, Felix Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2406"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2002.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. h3
O-O 9. Nf1 {Nowadays this idea of postponing castles becomes more and more
popular. However after a quick reaction in the [+] Black has sufficient
counterplay.} d5 (9... Be6 10. Ng3 (10. Ne3 h6 11. O-O d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ng4
{The main target is >< e5 here.} Qd6 14. Re1 f6 15. Nd2 Qd7 $13 ({The careless
} 15... Rfe8 $6 {is immediately punished by} 16. Ne4 $1 Qd8 17. Bxh6 $1 $18 {
Kobalija-Giorgadze, Frankfurt Ordix op rapid 1999})) 10... h6 11. O-O (11. Nh2
{/\ Qf3, Ng4, Nf5} Qd7 12. Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Nh7 14. Ng4 Ne7 15. O-O c6 16. Ne3
Bxe3 {This is the correct solution, the B on e3 is less dangerous than the N.}
17. fxe3 g6 18. d4 h5 $11 {Kasimdzhanov-Piket, Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1999})
11... Bxb3 12. axb3 d5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Nh4 {/\ Qf3} Rad8 15. Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4
Qe6 17. Nhf5 Kh7 {/\ Ng8, g6} 18. b4 Ng8 19. Qg4 Qg6 (19... g6 $2 {is inferior
due to} 20. Nxh6 $1 Nxh6 21. Qh4 $16) 20. Qe2 {(Yu Shaoteng-Jonkman, Corus-B
Wijk aan Zee 2002)} Nge7 $11) (9... Nh5 $5 {- Bauer-De Vreugt, Wijk aan Zee B
1999 CBM 69}) (9... h6 $6 {is running into White's main threat} 10. g4 $1 d5
11. g5 $1 $40 {- Rodriguez-Szmetan, Najdorf final KO 2000 CBM 79}) (9... Ne7 {
/\ Ng6} 10. Bg5 (10. Ng3 Ng6 (10... h6 11. O-O Ng6 {- 10...Ng6} (11... c6 12.
d4 Ng6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. a4 $14 {Bologan-Bjerke, Gausdal 1991})) 11. O-O h6 12.
d4 {White came first in the [+], which is usually favourable for him.} c6 (
12... exd4 {giving up the [+] is usually risky.} 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. Bc2
{and Black cannot hold his N on e4.} Nh4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3
Qxd4 19. Bf4 $16 {Bologan-Westerinen, Gausdal 1991})) 10... Ng6 11. Nh4 Kh8 (
11... Nf4 $5) 12. Nf5 h6 13. h4 {This idea is too sophysticated, although
quite original.} Nf4 $1 {Black is preparing his counterattack.} (13... Bxf5 14.
exf5 Nf4 15. Qf3 hxg5 16. hxg5+ Nh7 17. g6 fxg6 18. fxg6 Bxf2+ $1 (18... Nxg6
$4 19. Rxh7+) 19. Kd1 $1 Bh4 $1 20. gxh7 $16) 14. g3 Ng2+ $1 {looks risky, and
humans don't like to put their pieces into a "trap".} (14... Ne6 $2 15. N1e3
Nxg5 16. hxg5 Nh7 17. f4 $16 {Komliakov-V.Ivanov, Moscow 1994}) 15. Ke2 (15.
Kd2 d5 $1 $17 (15... hxg5 16. hxg5+ $18)) 15... hxg5 16. hxg5+ Nh7 17. Kf3 (17.
N1e3 Bxe3 $1 (17... Nxe3 18. g6 Nxf5 19. Rxh7+ Kg8 20. exf5 $18) 18. fxe3 Bxf5
19. exf5 Qxg5 $17) 17... Bxf5 18. exf5 Qxg5 19. Kxg2 Qxf5 $15 {and finally
Black has won material.}) 10. Qe2 (10. Ng3 {allowing the exchange of the Q may
lead to a quick draw.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Bxd1 h6 13. O-O Be6 14. b3 Rfd8
15. Bc2 a5 16. Bb2 a4 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb6 $11 {V.Atlas-Z.Almasi,
AUT-chT Austria 1997}) (10. exd5 {gives up the [+], when White is halfway of
finishing his development.} Nxd5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. O-O f6 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Qe4 Qd7
15. Bd2 Rad8 {Black has built up a strong central formation yielding him the
space advantage.} 16. Rad1 Qf7 $13 {Kofidis-Stefansson, Athens op 1993}) 10...
dxe4 (10... d4 {opens up the a2-g8 /^ for the B.} 11. Ng3 Qd6 12. O-O Bd7 13.
Nh4 Ne7 14. Kh2 dxc3 15. bxc3 Bb5 16. Bc2 Rfd8 17. Rd1 {White can hold his
weak d3 P, and has good prospects on the >>.} Qc5 18. a4 Qxc3 19. Ra3 Qc5 20.
axb5 axb5 21. Rb3 $16 {Jaracz-Krasenkov, POL-ch 58th Warsaw 2001}) (10... Re8 {
- A.Rodriguez-Flores, Najdorf final K.O. Buenos Aires, 2000 CBM 79}) (10... Qd6
11. Ng3 d4 (11... Be6 12. Ng5 {White gets now the ^^.} Ne7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Nh5
Nd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Rxf6 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. g3 c6 20. d4 Rf7
21. Rae1 $14 {Macieja-Acs, Budapest FS02 GM 1996}) 12. O-O Be6 13. Nh4 {>< f5}
Ne7 14. Bg5 Ne8 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nhf5 Qd7 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nxd4
Qxd4 {and the P structure cannot be better for White because of the backward P
on d3.} 20. Qc2 Rd8 21. Qb3 Qb6 22. Qxb6 cxb6 23. Rfd1 Rf7 24. Kf1 Rfd7 $11 {
Macieja-I.Sokolov, Elista ol (Men) 1998}) (10... h6 {is again dubious in view
of the standard} 11. g4 dxe4 12. dxe4 Be6 13. g5 $5 (13. Ng3 $6 Nd7 {
(Rossi-Bykhovsky, Reggio Emilia 1981)} 14. g5 $1 $40)) 11. dxe4 Nh5 12. g3 Nf6
13. g4 {provoking this move by losing a tempo is not a big deal.} (13. Bc2 {
is not important here.} Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 g6 17. Nd2 Be6
18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Raa8 20. Qf2 Re8 21. O-O-O Bxa2 22. e5 Nh5 23. Rdg1 Kh8
24. Bd1 Nxf4 25. Qxf4 Nxe5 $13 {Jaracz-Narciso Dublan, EU-ch 2nd Ohrid 2001}) (
13. Bg5 h6 14. Rd1 Qe7 $11) 13... Nd7 $6 {/\ Nc5-e6, but this is a
time-consuming operation.} (13... Qe7 {/\ Be6 looks better.} 14. Ne3 (14. Bg5
Rd8 15. Ng3 (15. Ne3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Be6) 15... h6 $11) 14... Bxe3 $1 {The same
motif again and again.} 15. Bxe3 Be6 $11) 14. Ne3 Nc5 15. Bc2 a5 {/\ b6, Ba6
but this costs again precious time.} (15... Ne6 16. Nf5 $14) 16. O-O (16. Nf5
Kh8 (16... b6 17. Bg5 f6 18. Rd1 Qe8 19. Be3 Ba6 20. Bb3+ Kh8 $13)) 16... b6
17. Rd1 Ba6 18. Qe1 Qf6 19. Kg2 {both >< d5 and f5 are vulnerable} (19. Nf5
Rad8 20. Bg5 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Qe6) 19... Ne7 $2 {Now White grabs the |^ with
series of forceful moves!} (19... Qe6 20. Nd5 Rac8 21. b4 Nd7 22. Bb3 $16) 20.
g5 $1 Qe6 (20... Qg6 21. Nd5 $16) 21. b4 $1 axb4 22. cxb4 Nb7 23. Nd5 $1 Rac8
24. Bb3 Nxd5 25. b5 $1 {winning a piece.} 1-0

[Event "WchT 5th"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2001.10.18"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Mahjoob, Morteza"]
[Black "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2366"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2001.10.12"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Iran"]
[BlackTeam "Hungary"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O O-O 8. h3
d6 9. Re1 h6 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Ne3 (12. Be3 $142 {eliminating the
dangerous a7 B looks more logical.} Nf4 13. d4 {- Z.Almasi-Acs, HUN-ch
Lillafured 1999 CBM 70} (13. Kh2 Be6 {- Nevednichy-Z.Almasi, Krynica zt 1998
CBM 67})) 12... Nf4 13. Kh2 {/\ Ng1, g3 seems to be rather slow to drive back
the active f4 N.} (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qg6 {- Hamdouchi-Tkachiev, Cap
d'Agde-A 2000 CBM 80}) (13. Ng4 {is the critical plan here.} Qg6 14. Bxf4 (14.
Nh4 Qg5 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Nf5 h5 17. Nh2 g6 18. Nf3 Qf6 19. N5h4 Re8 (19... Na5
20. Bc2 c5 $13) 20. d4 {White finally gets the upper hand in the [+], but the
N on h4 is very bad.} g5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qxf5 23. Bc2 Qf6 24. Qd3 Qg7 25.
Qf5 $44 {(Odeev-Landa, URS-qual U20 1989)} f6 $5) 14... exf4 (14... Bxg4 15.
hxg4 exf4 16. d4 {- 14...exf4}) 15. d4 (15. Nh4 Qg5 16. Nf3 (16. Nf5 {- 14.Nh4}
) 16... Bxg4 (16... Qg6) 17. hxg4 Qxg4 18. d4 {White has again a fine
compensation for the P because of his strong [+], and the passive B on a7, but
why to lose a tempo in comparision to 14.d4?} Ne7 19. e5 d5 20. Qd2 Rad8 21.
Nh2 Qg5 22. Nf3 Qg4 23. Nh2 {1/2:1/2 Zhang Pengxiang-Peng Xiaomin, Asian
Championships 2001}) 15... Bxg4 16. hxg4 Qxg4 17. Qd3 Rfe8 (17... Rae8 18. Bd5)
18. a4 a5 19. Bd5 Bb6 20. Qc4 Qd7 21. Qb3 g6 22. Rad1 Kg7 23. e5 {
(Bosboom-Sharif, EU Cup Volmac-Lyon 1991)} dxe5 24. dxe5 Rad8 25. e6 fxe6 26.
Bxe6 Qxd1 27. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Rxe6 $11) 13... Ne7 (13... Kh8 $5 14. Ng4 (
14. Ng1 $5) 14... Qg6 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Kg1 {doesn't seem to be a logical K
manoeuvre!} Bxg4 17. hxg4 Ne5 (17... Qxg4 18. d4) 18. Nh2 c5 19. Bd5 Rab8 20.
a4 Bb6 21. a5 Bd8 22. d4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nc6 24. Qd2 Bf6 25. Ra4 Qg5 $13 {
Bauer-Korneev, Open Metz FRA 1998}) (13... Be6 14. Ng1 (14. Ng4 Qg6 15. Bxf4
exf4) 14... Ne7 {- 13...Ne7}) 14. Ng1 {is at least consistant.} (14. d4 Re8 $15
{This is more flexible than the alternative} (14... Neg6 {although after} 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 c6 17. Bb3 Re8 $15 {still puts pressure on White's [+].}))
14... Be6 $1 {with simple developing moves Black gets a fine position.} (14...
Qg6 15. g3 Ne6 {is not so harmonious as the game continuation.} 16. Nf3 Nc5 (
16... f5 $2 17. Nh4 Qf6 18. exf5) 17. Bc2 f5 18. exf5 $13) 15. g3 (15. Bxe6
Qxe6 $15 (15... fxe6 {however fails on concrete tactical motifs after} 16. g3
Nfg6 17. Ng4 Qf7 18. Bxh6 $1 Bxf2 19. Rf1 Bxg1+ 20. Rxg1 Qf3 21. Be3 $14))
15... Bxb3 $1 {Black again choses the strong and simple way.} (15... Nfg6 16.
Qf3 $1 (16. Rf1 Bxb3 17. axb3 (17. Qxb3 Qe6 $15) 17... Qe6 $15 {- 15...Bb3})
16... Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Bxb3 18. axb3 f5 19. Kg2 fxe4 (19... f4 $15) 20. dxe4 Rf7
$15) 16. axb3 Nfg6 17. Rf1 (17. Kg2 Qe6 18. b4 f5 $15 {Magem-Badals-Izeta
Txabarri, ESP-ch 1999}) 17... Qe6 18. f4 $6 {White hasn't finished the
development yet, and has no advantage in the [+]. The opening of the position
helps only for the better developed black pieces.} (18. Ne2 f5 $15) 18... exf4
$1 19. gxf4 f5 $1 $17 20. Ra4 $2 (20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nxf5 Rxf5 $17 {was not
rosy either, but the text is worse.}) 20... Bxe3 21. Bxe3 b5 $19 {Now White
loses material, or...} 22. exf5 Qxe3 23. Re4 {[%mdl 64] [#]} Nxf5 $1 {Black
sacrifices temporarily the Q liquidating to a winning _|_.} 24. Rxe3 Nxe3 25.
Qf3 Nxf1+ 26. Qxf1 Nxf4 27. Qf3 d5 28. Qe3 Rae8 29. Qc5 Kh7 30. Qxc7 Nxd3 31.
Qd7 Re5 32. Qa7 Rf2+ 33. Kh1 Rf4 34. Qd7 Rg5 35. Qe8 Nf2+ 36. Kh2 Ne4 0-1

[Event "FRA-chT Top 16 GpB"]
[Site "Port Barcares"]
[Date "2005.05.06"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Galdunts, Sergey"]
[Black "Degraeve, Jean Marc"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2473"]
[BlackElo "2557"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2005.05.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O (6... a6 {/\ Ba7
is the main line waiting with castles and preparing Na5.}) 7. Bb3 Bb6 (7... a6
{/\ Ba7 looks more flexible, see the previous note.}) 8. h3 Ne7 {/\ Ng6
improving the N`s position.} 9. Bg5 $6 {White wants to use the pin on the
h4-d8 /^, but this plan is usually harmless.} (9. Re1 {/\ d4 invading the [+].}
Ng6 10. d4 (10. Nbd2) 10... h6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Bc2 {/\ Nc4} (12. Nc4 exd4 13.
Nxb6 axb6 $13) 12... c6 {Just in time, the black B can retreat to c7.} 13. Nf1
Nh5 {Black has a good counterplay on the dark squares, especially >< f4 is a
target.} 14. Ne3 (14. Nxe5 $6 dxe5 15. Qxh5 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 {opens up the
position to Black`s favour.} 17. Nh2 Ne5 18. Qe2 Be6 $15 {with
well-centralized black pieces, Tischbierek-Arencibia, Novi Sad 1990.}) 14...
Nhf4 $13) (9. Nbd2 $142 {looks a bit more precise, but transpositions may
occur very often.} Ng6 (9... c6 10. Re1 Ng6 11. d4 h6 {/\ Re8} (11... Qe7 {
The Q may become a bit more vulnerable here.} 12. Nf1 $14 {/\ Ng3} (12. Bc2 {
looks like an unnecessary retreat.} Be6 (12... h6 $5 13. Nc4 Bc7 14. Ne3 $14)
13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Nf5 $14 {Djurhuus-Skembris, Skei 1993})) 12. Nf1
(12. Nc4 Bc7 13. dxe5 (13. Bc2 Re8 $11) 13... dxe5 14. Qc2 Qe7 $11) 12... Re8
13. Ng3 $14 (13. Bc2 {- 9.Re1})) 10. Nc4 h6 (10... Qe7 11. a4 $14 (11. Re1 Nh5
12. Bg5 $1 {Here we see the necessity of ...h6!} Qe8 13. Nfxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxb6
axb6 15. Qxh5 Nxd3 16. Re3 $14 {with very active white pieces, Iordachescu-A.
Vajda, Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993.})) 11. a4 $14 (11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Be3 Be6 $11))
9... Ng6 10. Nh4 $6 {Following the wrong plan, White cannot make use of the
pin.} (10. Nbd2 h6 $11) 10... Kh8 $142 {/\ h6} (10... Nf4 $5) 11. Nd2 h6 $15
12. Nxg6+ fxg6 {The f file is opened, and it is Black, who grabs the |^ on the
>>.} 13. Bh4 $2 {The B is out of play completely after} (13. Bxf6 Qxf6 {
gives up the important ^^, but this was the lesser evil.} 14. Qf3 Qxf3 (14...
Bd7 15. Qxf6 $11) (14... Qe7 15. Qg3 g5 16. a4 a5 $13) 15. Nxf3 Rxf3 $5 (15...
Bxh3 $2 16. Nh4 $1) 16. gxf3 Bxh3 17. Rfd1 Rf8 $44) 13... g5 14. Bg3 g4 $1 $17
{Now Black has real attacking chances on the >>.} 15. Nc4 (15. h4 Nh5 $17 {
and the g3 B is really pathetic.}) 15... gxh3 16. Nxb6 axb6 17. f4 {White
wants to fish in troubled waters.} hxg2 (17... Bg4 $1 {was more forceful.} 18.
Qe1 (18. Qd2 Nh5) 18... Qe8 $17) 18. Kxg2 Bg4 19. Qd2 exf4 20. Rxf4 Qd7 {
Black is a healthy P up and the white K is not safe at all.} 21. Qf2 Bh3+ 22.
Kh1 Be6 {exchanging the ^^.} 23. Rg1 Bxb3 24. axb3 Qh3+ 25. Bh2 $2 (25. Qh2 {
transposing to the _|_ is not rosy, but at least White has no problems with
his K.} Qxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Ra2 $17) 25... Nh7 $19 {/\ Ng5} 26. d4 Rxf4 27. Qxf4 Ng5
28. e5 dxe5 29. Qxe5 Qf3+ 30. Rg2 Ra1+ 31. Bg1 Qh5+ 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Honor Gp2 49th"]
[Site "Sant Lluis"]
[Date "2005.08.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Galego, Luis"]
[Black "Gustafsson, Jan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2501"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2005.08.31"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8 {/\ f5} 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nf1 {This is the main line.}
(12. g4 $6 {- Crosa-Sorin, American Continental 2003 CBM 97}) (12. Nc4 {
Here the N is far from the >>, which will be the main battlefield soon.} f5 13.
Bg5 (13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. exf5 Bxf5 {opens the vital f and g lines for Black.} 15.
Rd2 Qf6 16. Nh2 Ne7 17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Qh5 Qg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5
c6 $15 {Van Mechelen-Winants, BEL-ch 2001}) 13... Qe8 14. Bxh6 gxh6 {This
exchange is usually good for Black, because he gets the ^^ and the g <->.} 15.
exf5 Bxf5 16. Nh4 Bd7 17. Rd2 Qe7 18. Qh5 Rf4 19. Nf3 Qf6 $15 {Hund-C.Flear,
Thessaloniki olw 1988}) 12... f5 13. d4 $5 (13. Bxh6 gxh6 {Black is happy to
get rid of his passive N for the ^^.} 14. exf5 (14. N1h2 Qf6 15. Qd2 f4 {
Now Black has threats against >< g2 and h3.} 16. Rd1 Qg6 17. Kh1 Qh5 18. d4 $13
{Modhiaki-Toh, Singapore 1990}) (14. Ng3 fxe4 15. Rxe4 (15. Nxe4 Bxh3) 15...
Qf6 $13) 14... Bxf5 15. Bd5 {- Chomet-Chabanon, FRA-ch Meribel 1998} (15. N1h2
$6 Qf6 16. Qd2 h5 (16... Rae8 $6 {This allows White to exchange the vital
light-squared B.} 17. Ng4 $1 (17. Kh1 Re7 18. a3 {White's play is very passive.
} (18. Bd5 $5) (18. Ng4 Bxg4 19. hxg4 Qf4 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. Rae1 $15) 18... Rg7
19. Rg1 h5 20. Ba2 (20. Bd5 Bd7 21. b4 Nd8 $17) 20... Bd7 21. b4 Ne7 22. d4
exd4 23. Nxd4 (23. cxd4 $6 Ng6 24. Re4 Nf4 $17 {Spraggett-Adams, France 2001})
23... Nf5 24. Nhf3 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 c6 26. a4 d5 $17) 17... Bxg4 18. hxg4 Re7 19.
Rae1 Rg7 20. Re4 $13 {Adams}) 17. Rd1 {/\ d4 with a counterblow in the [+].}
Ne7 18. d4 Ng6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qh6 Rae8 21. g3 h4 22. Ng5 Re7 $13 {
Kovelavskaya-Stefanova, Varna 2002}) (15. Kh2 {Overprotecting >< h3, but in
vain, as we will see...} Ne7 16. Ng3 Bd7 17. d4 Ng6 18. dxe5 Bxh3 $1 19. Re4 $1
(19. Kxh3 $2 Rxf3 $1 $19) 19... Bd7 20. e6 Bc6 21. Bd5 Bxf2 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23.
Qd2 d5 24. Rg4 Bxg3+ 25. Rxg3 Qf6 26. Qxh6 Nf4 27. Qxf6+ Rxf6 28. Re1 Nxe6 29.
Nd4 $11 {Lanc-Smagin, Trnava 1987})) (13. exf5 {helps only Black to finish his
development.} Nxf5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Qd2 h6 16. Nh4 Nxh4 17. Bxh4 g5 18. Bg3 Qg7
19. Rae1 Bd7 20. Kh1 Rae8 21. Bd5 b5 22. Nh2 Ne7 $13 {Hickl-Bischoff, Bern zt
1990}) (13. Bg5 Qe8 14. d4 {The opening of position helps for Black.} fxe4 15.
Rxe4 Bf5 16. Rh4 Nf7 17. Be3 Qe7 18. Ng3 Bg6 19. Bc2 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 g6 21. Ne4
exd4 22. Bg5 Nxg5 23. Nexg5 d3 $17 {Small-Hawelko, Dubai ol 1986}) (13. N1h2 {
looks rather defensive.} Qf6 14. Be3 Bxe3 (14... fxe4 15. dxe4 Bxe3 16. Rxe3
Ne7 17. Qf1 Ng6 18. g3 Bd7 19. Rd1 Nf7 20. Rd2 Rae8 21. Bd5 Bc8 $13 {
Luetke-Gyimesi, Groningen op 1995}) 15. Rxe3 f4 16. Re1 g5 17. d4 g4 {1/2-1/2
Lyrberg-Z.Almasi, Wch U16 Mamaia 1991}) 13... Qf6 (13... fxe4 14. Rxe4 Bf5 (
14... d5 15. Bg5 (15. Re1 exd4 {is the dynamical reply.} (15... e4 16. N3h2 (
16. Bg5 Qd6 $15) (16. Ng5 Na5 17. f3 Nxb3 18. axb3 c5 19. fxe4 cxd4 20. cxd4
dxe4 21. Be3 Qd5 22. Ng3 Nf5 23. Rf1 Bd7 24. Qh5 h6 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 $17 {
Frois-Izeta, San Sebastian op 1996}) 16... Nf5 $13) 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. cxd4 Bf5
{despite of his corrupted P structure Black has good tactical chances on the
semi-opened f and g lines and his ^^ is also active.} 18. Ng3 Bg6 (18... Qd6
19. Nxf5 Rxf5) 19. Qd2 Qd6 20. Rad1 Rxf3 $1 {This positional exchange
sacrifice destroys White's >> and the [+].} 21. gxf3 Nxd4 22. Qc3 c5 23. Ne2
Qf6 $13) 15... dxe4 $3 {This brave positional Q sacrifice is Black's main idea.
} 16. Bxd8 Rxd8 17. Ng5 exd4 18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. Qe2 Bf5 20. Ng3 Bg6 21. N5xe4 (
21. Kh1 Re8 22. Rf1 {1/2-1/2 Psakhis-Hector, Palma de Mallorca 1989}) 21... Re8
22. Re1 Rdxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 g6 26. Bd5 $1 Bb6 27. g4 $1
Kg7 28. Re8 $1 Nf7 29. Kg2 {(Gipslis-Hector, GER 1998)} Nd6 30. Rg8+ Kf6 31. f4
h6 $1 $13 {Gipslis}) (14... Qf6 15. Ng3 Nf5 16. Nh5 Qg6 17. Nh4 Nxh4 18. Rxh4
exd4 19. Nf4 Qe8 20. Qh5 Bf5 21. Bd2 Qxh5 22. Nxh5 d3 $17 {Nielsen-Brinck
Claussen, Lyngby op 1989}) 15. Rh4 (15. Re1 exd4 $1 {It is advisable for Black
to open the position for his active pieces.} (15... e4 16. Ng5 (16. Bg5 Qd7 17.
Nh4 d5 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qh5 Ne7 20. Qxh6 Ng6 21. Ne3 Nxh4 22. Qxh4 c6 {
/\ Bc7 with pressure on the f- and g-lines for the P.} 23. Bd1 Qg7 24. Bg4 Bg6
$44 {Frois-Shomoev, Cappelle la Grande 2003}) 16... d5 17. f3 exf3 18. Nxf3 $14
{and the B on a7 is out of play.}) 16. cxd4 Qf6 17. Bg5 Qg6 18. Qd2 Nf7 19. Bf4
Bxh3 $1 (19... h6 $2 20. Ng3 Qf6 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Bc2 Qf6 23. Qd3 $16 {
Hawelko-Lukacs, Rubinstein mem. 1984}) 20. Ng3 Bg4 21. Bc2 Qf6 22. Ne4 Qd8 23.
Bg5 Qc8 $17 {Song Daoxin-Lin Ta, PRC-chT 1987}) 15... d5 $5 (15... e4 $6 16.
Bg5 $1 (16. Ng5 $6 d5 {/\ Ne7}) 16... Qe8 17. N3d2 Qg6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Ne3 {
and White has created a successful blockade on e3.} Ne7 20. Qh5 (20. Nxf5)
20... Qxh5 21. Rxh5 Bg6 22. Rh4 (22. Rxh6 $6 {is too greedy!} c5 23. dxc5 (23.
d5 c4 24. Ndxc4 Nf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Ne3 Rf4 $17) 23... Bxc5 24. Rh4 d5 $44)
22... c5 {Black has to open up the position at any rate.} 23. Nxe4 $142 (23.
dxc5 $6 {helps only for Black in view of} d5 $1 {/\ Bxc5}) (23. d5 $6 {is met
by the positional P sacrifice} c4 $1 {in order to open up the dangerous g1-a7 /
^.} 24. Bxc4 (24. Ndxc4 Nxd5 25. Rd1 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 Rf6 $15 {/\ R af8}) 24...
Nf5 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Nxe4 $1 (26. Nf1 Bg6 27. Ne3 Bb6 $1 28. Rxh6 Rf4 29. Rf1
$2 Raf8 30. Rxg6 hxg6 $17 {Minasian-Peng Xiaomin, Luzern 1993}) 26... Bxe4 27.
Rxe4 Rxf2 28. Kh1 Rg8 $11) 23... cxd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd6 Bxb2 26. Rd1 b5
$14) 16. Ng3 (16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Rxh6 Be4 $44 {and Black has a fine
compensation for the P because of his strong ^^ and the semi-opened f- and
g-lines.}) 16... e4 17. Ng5 (17. Bg5 $6 Qd6 18. Nd2 Bg6 {/\ Nd8-e6, c5}) 17...
Ne7 18. Be3 Qd7 19. Qd2 Bg6 20. Bd1 Nef5 21. Nxf5 Nxf5 22. Bg4 Qe7 23. Bxf5
Rxf5 $15 {Jaracz-Wiliczkiewicz, Lubniewice 1994}) (13... f4 $5 14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Nh2 Re8 18. Nf3 Be6 19. Bc2 Nf7 20. b3 g5 $132
{Dobrovolsky-Kachiani, Mitropa Cup 1995}) 14. exf5 (14. Bg5 $2 {The B remains
only vulnerable here.} Qg6 {This is the best place for the Q anyway.} 15. exf5
(15. Bxh6 {is met by the zwischenzug} fxe4 $1 $17) 15... Bxf5 {Now Black's
pieces are well-developed and active. Kosteniuk-Mamedyarov, Lausanne YM 2003
CBM 98.}) (14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... Nxe5 {In most of the cases it is advisable for
Black to exchange the c6N.} 15. Nxe5 dxe5 {is the simple way keeping Black's
|^.} (15... Qxe5 $6 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Be3 {neutralizing the pressure against
>< f2.} Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Qg5 19. Qd5 Qf6 20. Rd1 Ng8 21. Bc2 g6 (21... Ne7 22. Qc4
c6 23. Qd3 $16) 22. Qc4 c6 23. Qb4 d5 24. c4 $16 {Ehlvest-Salov, Rotterdam 1989
}) 16. Be3 f4 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. f3 a5 19. Qe1 Nf7 20. Rd2 Ng5 21. Nh2 Ra6 22.
Rad1 Qe7 $40 {Stefanov-Kolev, Sofia 1992}) 15. Be3 f4 $13 {-
Reefat-Aleksandrov, Istanbul 2000}) 14... Nxf5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17.
Qd3 $1 {White has to play carefully in order to avoid a quick >> ->.} (17. Qd5
Nh4 $1 {and all the squares g2 h3 f2 are real targets.} 18. Be3 (18. Qxe5 Qxe5
19. Rxe5 Rxf2 $17) 18... c6 19. Qc4 Nxg2 20. Bxa7 Nf4 21. Bc5 Nxh3+ 22. Kh2 Qh6
$17) (17. Qe1 {is also met by the attacking move} Nh4 $1 18. Bd5 Qg6 19. Kh1 c6
20. Be4 Bf5 $19) 17... Nd6 (17... Nh4 {is now parried by} 18. Qg3 $1 $13) 18.
Be3 (18. Qg3 $2 Ne4 $1 $17) 18... Bf5 (18... e4 19. Qd5 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Qg6 21.
Kh2 Bd7 22. Qe5 $13 {and Black has no more attacking chances.}) 19. Qd2 (19.
Qd5 c6 20. Qf3 {and White can hold his position.}) 19... Ne4 20. Qe1 (20. Qd5
$5) 20... Nc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Bc2 Bd7 {Black certainly wants to avoid the
exchange of his valuable ^^.} 23. Be4 Bb5 24. Rd2 Rae8 {This looks a bit
mysterious.} (24... Rad8 {fighting for the poened <-> looked reasonable.} 25.
Ne3 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Bc6 $15) 25. Ne3 Bc6 {Without the ^^ Black has no real
winning chances.} 26. Bxc6 (26. Ng4 Qe6 (26... Qf4 27. Bxc6 bxc6 28. Rad1) 27.
Rad1 $13) 26... Qxc6 27. Rad1 e4 28. Qe2 h6 29. Rd5 Bb6 30. R1d2 Qe6 31. c4 c6
32. Rd7 Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 0506"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2005.10.23"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Meinhardt, Maximilian"]
[Black "Van den Doel, Erik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2372"]
[BlackElo "2582"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.10.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Eppingen"]
[BlackTeam "Porz"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Bb3 Be6 {
This looks like simple method fighting for equality.} (7... a6 {is the more
sophysticated main line.}) 8. Nc4 (8. O-O Bxb3 9. Qxb3 a6) (8. h3 a6 (8... d5
$5) 9. Qe2 $5 (9. Nf1 {This the idea behind 8.h3, White waits with 0-0 in
order to improve his N's position.} d5 {The counterattack in the [+] is the
best reply on the slow N manoeuvre.} 10. Qe2 d4 11. Ng3 Qd7 12. Bg5 Ne8 13. O-O
f6 14. Bc1 Nd6 15. Nh2 Bxb3 16. axb3 dxc3 17. bxc3 Rad8 18. Bb2 Kh8 19. Rad1
Nb5 20. Kh1 Rf7 21. f4 Qe6 22. Qc2 Rfd7 23. Ng4 Ba3 24. Ba1 $13 {
Belikov-Frolov, Sochi 1990}) 9... Ba7 10. g4 {White simply doesn't want to
castle, /\ Nf1-g3 to gain control over >< f5.} (10. O-O Nh5 $1) 10... Nd7 11.
Bc2 (11. Nf1 Nc5 12. Bc2 d5 $132) 11... d5 12. Nf1 f6 13. Ng3 {White has to
keep the [+] closed.} (13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ng3 Nc5 15. Rg1 Ne6 $13) 13... d4 14.
Nf5 Nc5 15. Rg1 Rf7 $13 {Kasparov-Huebner, Cologne 1992}) 8... b5 ({The
immediate reaction in the [+] by} 8... d5 {deserved attention.} 9. exd5 (9.
Ncxe5 dxe4 10. Nxc6 bxc6 $36) 9... Bxd5 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1 e4 12. dxe4 Nxe4
$11) 9. Ne3 d5 $6 {Here it is already late.} (9... a5 $5 10. a4 (10. O-O a4)
10... b4 11. O-O Qd7 $13 {with a Ruy Lopez type of position.}) 10. Ng5 $1 Bxe3
(10... Na5 $5 11. Nxe6 (11. Bxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 (12. exd5 Qxg5 13. dxe6 Bxe3 $15
) 12... Bxd5 13. exd5 Be7 (13... Qxd5 14. Qf3 $14) 14. Qh5 Bxg5 15. Qxg5 Qxd5
16. O-O Rad8 17. Rd1 Rd6 $13) 11... fxe6 12. Bc2 d4 13. b4 dxe3 14. fxe3 {
leads to immense complications.}) 11. Bxe3 Bg4 12. f3 Bc8 {White has a strong
^^, but his N is in a delicate situation.} (12... d4 $2 13. fxg4 dxe3 14. Nxf7
Rxf7 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. g5 $18) 13. Qe2 (13. Bc5 Re8 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. O-O Na5
$13) (13. O-O h6 $13) 13... Na5 (13... d4 $5 14. Bd2 a5 $132) 14. Bc2 (14. Bxd5
$142 Nxd5 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. O-O Bf5 17. Ne4 $14) 14... h6 15. h4 $6 {White
pushes it too hard.} (15. Nh3 {was the correct answer.} d4 16. cxd4 (16. Bd2
Nc6 $13) 16... exd4 17. Bd2 c5 18. Nf4 Nc6 $13) 15... Nb7 (15... d4 $5 {
looked more forcing.}) 16. g4 c5 {The N on g5 doesn't hurt...} (16... hxg5 $2
17. hxg5 Ne8 18. Qh2 $18 {leads to a quick mate.}) 17. O-O-O ({It was already
time for a retreat by} 17. Nh3 $5 d4 18. Bd2) 17... d4 18. Bd2 dxc3 19. Bxc3
Qe7 20. Rdg1 (20. Nh3 $5 {/\ g5}) 20... Nd8 (20... b4 21. Bd2) 21. f4 $2 {
White clearly overestimates his chances on the >>.} (21. Nh3 $1 {/\ g5} b4 (
21... Nc6 22. g5 $1) 22. Bd2 Ne6 23. g5 $1 Nd4 24. Qd1 hxg5 25. hxg5 Nh5 26. f4
$1 $40) 21... exf4 22. Qf3 (22. Nh3 $2 {This retreat is already late...} Nd5 $1
23. g5 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Qd6) 22... b4 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Nh3 Qd4 $6 {The black Q
takes the good square away from his own N.} (24... Qd6 $1 25. Nxf4 Nc6 26. g5
Nd4 $17 {with a phantastic centralized N.}) 25. Nxf4 (25. g5 h5 $1 {avoiding
the opening of the lines at any cost.}) 25... Nc6 26. g5 Ne5 27. Qg3 (27. Qe2
$1 {was the best way to continue the -> on the >>.} h5 $1 28. Nxh5 Rd8 (28...
c4 $4 29. Nf6+ $18) 29. Nf6+ $1 Kf8 (29... gxf6 $2 30. gxf6+ Kf8 31. Qh5 Ke8
32. Ba4+ $18) 30. g6 $1 Nxg6 (30... Be6 31. Nh7+ Kg8 32. Ng5 Nxd3+ 33. Bxd3
Qxd3 34. Qxd3 Rxd3 35. h5 Bxa2 36. gxf7+ Bxf7 37. h6 $16) 31. Rxg6 fxg6 32. Nd5
$36) 27... h5 $1 {This is the cool-blooded defence!} 28. Nxh5 c4 29. Nf4 $2 {
White's -> has vanished, now comes Black...} (29. Nf6+ Kh8 $17) (29. dxc4 Nxc4
30. Nf6+ Kh8 31. Qb3 gxf6 32. Qxb4 Be6 $1 $17) 29... b3 $1 {and the white K
will be mated soon.} 30. axb3 cxb3 31. Bxb3 Rb8 32. Kc2 (32. Kc2 Rxb3 $1 33.
Kxb3 Be6+ 34. Kc2 Rc8+ $19) 0-1

[Event "George Marx Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Paks"]
[Date "2005.06.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2005.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
Ba7 9. h3 Be6 {This is a solid system, Black simply wants to exchange the
"Spanish" B.} 10. Re1 h6 11. Nf1 d5 (11... Re8 {is a good preparatory move for
d6-d5.} 12. Be3 Bxe3 (12... d5 {Yudasin-Adams, EU Cup final 14th Belgrade 1999
CBM 69}) (12... Bxb3 {Kaidanov-Malaniuk, WchT 4th Luzern 1997 CBM 62}) 13. Nxe3
d5 {Adams-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2000 CBM 075}) 12. exd5 (12. Qe2 Re8 (12... dxe4
13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Qe7 {This P structure is good for Black, the weakness
of f5 is not a big deal.} 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. Nh4 Qd6 17. Nh5 (17. Nhf5 $1 Qe6 $13
(17... Qd3 {can be met by} 18. Nh5 $1 Nxh5 (18... Bxf2+ $2 19. Qxf2 Nxh5 20.
Bxh6 $40) 19. Qxh5 $36)) 17... Nxh5 18. Qxh5 Qf6 19. Nf5 Ne7 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {
exchanging White's active knights.} 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Rd2 23. Re2 Rfd8 {
Black has a strong pressure on the only opened d <->.} 24. Rae1 Qg5 $15 {
Yarulina-Yakovich, Serpukhov 2003}) 13. Ng3 Qd7 14. Nh2 {/\ Qf3, Nf5, Ng4} Rad8
15. Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qd3 17. Bxe6 fxe6 {The doubled pawns control all the
vital central squares depriving the white knights from their strongholds.} 18.
Ngf1 Rd7 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Klinova-Koskela, Bled 2002}) 12...
Nxd5 13. N1h2 (13. Nxe5 $2 {is parried by} Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 15. Kh1 c6 $1
$13) (13. Ng3 Re8 14. Re4 $5 (14. Nxe5 $4 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 {is again punished by}
Bxf2+ $1 16. Kh2 Bxg3+ 17. Kxg3 Qd6 $19) 14... Qd6 $13 {looks more flexible.} (
14... f5 $6 {weakening >< e5 a bit.} 15. Re1 $1 {looks more harmoniously.} (15.
Re2 $143 Qf6 16. Nh5 (16. Qe1 $2 Bf7 $15 {and White cannot strengthen the
pressure on >< e5, Unzicker-Lukacs, Budapest 1993.}) 16... Qg6 17. Rxe5 $1 Nxe5
18. Nxe5 Qh7 19. d4 $44) 15... Qd6 (15... Qf6 $2 {loses the P after} 16. Nh5 $1
Qg6 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 $16) 16. Qe2 Rad8 $13)) 13... Qd6 14. Ng4 Bxg4 (
14... f6 {runs into the typical central blow after} 15. d4 $1 Rad8 (15... e4
16. Rxe4 f5 {is answered by the typical exchange sacrifice} 17. Rxe6 $1 Qxe6
18. Ne3 Nce7 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bf4 $14) (15... exd4 $2 {loses material after}
16. c4 $1 $16) 16. dxe5 (16. c4 Nde7 17. c5 (17. d5 $2 Bxg4 18. hxg4 Nd4 $15)
17... Qd7 $13) 16... Nxe5 17. Ngxe5 fxe5 18. Qe2 $14 {targeting the isolani on
e5.}) 15. hxg4 {White has now the important ^^.} Rad8 16. g5 h5 (16... hxg5 17.
Bxg5 {This is the natural developing move.} (17. Nxg5 Nf6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4
Qxd3 20. Qg4 $1 Rd6 $1 $13) 17... Nf6 18. Bc2 {Modest, but useful.} (18. Bh4
Qxd3 19. Qxd3 Rxd3 20. Bc4 Rdd8 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Rd2 23. Re2 Rxe2 24.
Bxe2 Ne4 $11) 18... Rd7 19. Qe2 $14) 17. Qe2 Rd7 (17... Rfe8 18. Qe4 g6 19. Bd2
Nde7 20. d4 {White has to open up the position for his ^^.} exd4 21. Rad1 $14)
18. Bd2 (18. Bc2 Re8 19. Qe4 $14) 18... Nde7 19. Bc2 $14 ({Forcing matters
leads nowhere after} 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxd3 $1 (20... Qxe5 21. Rxe5 Rxd3
22. Rxe7 Rxd2 23. Rf1 $16) 21. Rad1 (21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Qf5 23. Rae1 Qxe5
24. Rxe5 Ng6 25. R5e2 Rfd8 $11) 21... Ng6 22. Qa5 Bb6 23. Qa4 Qf5 $13) 19...
Ng6 20. Rad1 Qd5 21. a3 $5 {White bulids up his position slowly but surely.}
Re7 (21... Rfd8 22. Bc1 $14) 22. Bc1 Rfe8 (22... Rd8 23. Qe4) 23. Qe4 $1 Qd7 (
23... Qxe4 24. dxe4 $14 {where both black knights are out of play, and the
light-squared B becomes a super-power.}) 24. Bb3 Kf8 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 {
White exchanges the ^^, but changes the P structure to his favour.} Qd6 (26...
Qg4 $2 27. Qxg4 hxg4 28. Nh2 g3 29. Nf1 $16 {and the P will fall.}) 27. Kf2 $5
(27. Nh4 Nxh4 28. Qxh4 g6 29. g4 $16 {was the clear-cut way for the ->.}) 27...
Nd8 28. Ba2 {/\ b4 gaining space on the other flank, too.} Ne6 29. b4 c5 30.
Rh1 cxb4 31. cxb4 Rc7 32. Rd2 Rc3 {Black's counterplay on the c <-> is not
frightening.} 33. Rxh5 Rd8 34. Nh4 (34. Qxb7 {was also possible, for example:}
Rd7 (34... Rxa3 35. Nh4 Kg8 36. Nxg6 fxg6 37. Rh3 Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Nxg5 39. Rh4
Qxd3 40. Qc6 Rf8+ 41. Kg3 Qxe3+ 42. Kh2) (34... Rxd3 35. Rxd3 Qxd3 36. Bxe6
fxe6 37. Rh7 Rd7 38. Qc8+) 35. Qa8+ Rd8 36. Qe4 Rxa3 37. Nh4 $1 $40) 34... Rxd3
$2 {[%mdl 8192] [#]} (34... Nxh4 35. Bxe6 (35. Qxh4 g6 36. Rh8+ Ke7) 35... Qxe6
36. Rxh4 Rxa3 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Rxd8 (38. Qxb7+ Qd7 39. Qxd7+ Rxd7) 38... Kxd8
39. Qxb7 Ra2 (39... Qf5+ 40. Qf3) 40. Rxa2 Qxa2+ 41. Kf3 Qe6 $14 {and there
are always practical chances in a Q _|_.}) 35. Nxg6+ $4 ({missing the win of a
piece after} 35. Rxd3 Qxd3 36. Qxd3 Rxd3 37. Bxe6 Nxh4 38. Bc4 $1 $18) 35...
fxg6 36. Rh8+ (36. Rxd3 Qxd3) 36... Ke7 37. Rxd3 (37. Re8+ Kxe8 38. Qxg6+ Kf8
39. Qf5+ Ke7 40. Rxd3 Rf8 41. Qxf8+ Nxf8 42. Rxd6 Kxd6 43. Kf3 Ng6 44. Kg4 Ne7
$11) 37... Qxd3 38. Qxd3 Rxd3 39. Bxe6 Kxe6 {The R _|_ is draw, as usual.} 40.
Rb8 Rxa3 41. Rxb7 Kf5 42. Rxg7 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Minneapolis HB Global op"]
[Site "Minneapolis"]
[Date "2005.05.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Goldin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bb3 h6 {
Since 8.Bg5 is not a big deal, he can opt for} (7... d6 {as well.}) 8. Nbd2 O-O
9. Re1 d6 10. Nf1 Ne7 {/\ Ng6} 11. Ng3 Ng6 12. h3 {/\ d4} Be6 {Black wants to
exchange White`s dangerous B.} (12... Re8 {is the other plan inserting more
pressure on e4.} 13. d4 c6 $5 (13... Bd7 {/\ Bc6 attacking >< e4.} 14. Be3 (14.
Bd2 Bc6 (14... Nh7 {is not logical.} 15. Nf5) (14... c5 {is similar to the Ruy
Lopez ideas, where the "bad" B on a7 may become strong, for example:} 15. d5 (
15. dxc5 Bxc5 $11) (15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Qc1 Qc7 $11) 15... b5 16. Bc2 c4 17. Be3
{The exchange of the dark-squared B is a strategical achievement for Black.}
Bxe3 18. fxe3 Qb6 $11 {Xie Jun-Sermek, Beijing 1997 CBM 61}) 15. dxe5 dxe5 16.
Qc1 {with some threats against >< h6.}) 14... Bc6 (14... Qe7 $5 15. Qd2 Kh7 16.
Rad1 Be6 17. Bc2 {White wants to keep the tension avoiding the exchange of his
"Ruy Lopez" B.} Qf8 18. Nh2 (18. Nf5 $5) 18... Kg8 19. Kh1 (19. b3 $6 {creates
some targets for Black on the <<.} a5 $1 20. Rf1 Qe7 21. Kh1 a4 22. f4 axb3 23.
axb3 exf4 24. Bxf4 Nh7 25. Be3 Bb6 26. Rde1 (26. Ra1) 26... Ra2 $132 {Vic
Ivanov-Notkin, RUS Cup 1998 CBM63})) 15. Bc2 exd4 16. Bxd4 {White cannot take
back with the P, this is the main idea of Black.} Nf4 17. Bxa7 (17. Qd2 $6 Ne6
$13) 17... Rxa7 18. Nd4 {(Dolmatov-Razuvaev, SU-ch 1980)} Bd7 $14) (13... b5
14. Bd2 $5 {This innocent-looking move contains more venom than it looks at
first sight.} (14. a4 {1/2:1/2 Sermek-Sasikiran, Goodricke op 2002}) 14... Bb7
15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Qc1 {/\ Bxh6!} Bc8 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 $40 {with a
dangerous -> for White, V.Atlas-Lutz, Ptuj zt 1995.}) 14. Be3 (14. Bc2 {
preparing against} Be6 {and White`s advantage in the [+] is undeniable.} 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. Qd2 Rad8 17. Nf5 {Black has serious problems with his weaknesses
g7 and h6.} d5 18. exd5 Rxd5 19. Nxg7 $1 {This is the point!} Kxg7 20. Bxh6+
Kh8 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Qg5 $16 {Anisimov-Lugovoi, RUS-chT Tomsk 2001}) 14... Qc7
(14... exd4 15. Bxd4 Bb8 {looks a bit sophysticated.} 16. Nh2 Bc7 17. Ng4 Nxg4
18. hxg4 Qg5 19. Nf5 d5 20. Be3 Bf4 21. Bxf4 Nxf4 22. Qf3 $14 {
Stefansson-Hjartarson, ISL-ch 1996}) 15. Qd2 Kh7 (15... Be6 16. Bc2 {- 12...Be6
}) 16. Bc2 Be6 {- 12...Be6}) (12... c6 13. d4 Qc7 (13... Re8 {- 12...Re8}) 14.
Be3 Re8 (14... b5 15. Qd2 $16 {Gipslis-Ruderfer, SU 1979}) (14... exd4 15. Nxd4
(15. cxd4 {was already possible.}) 15... Re8 16. Ndf5 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Bxf5 18.
Nxf5 Rad8 19. Qf3 $14 {and the white B is strong, A.Rodriguez-Van Riemsdijk,
American Continental 2001.}) 15. Qd2 {- 12...Re8}) (12... Nh7 13. d4 Qf6 14.
Be3 (14. Nh5 {The N is not well-placed here.} Qe7 15. Be3 Ng5 16. Bc2 (16. Nxg5
hxg5 17. Ng3 Nf4 18. Nf5 Qf6 $11) 16... Bd7 17. Ng3 Qf6 18. Nf5 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3
Kh8 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Qh5 Rfe8 22. Bb1 Nf8 23. Kh2 Nh7 24. Ng3 Nf8 $11 {
Ledger-Howell, GBR-ch 2002}) 14... Ng5 15. Nh2 (15. Nxg5 hxg5) 15... Nf4 {
Black has a counterplay on the dark squares.} 16. h4 Nge6 $5 (16... Nh7 {
The N is outplaced here.} 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Ng4 Qxh4 20. Nxe5 Ra8
(20... Ng5 $6 21. Nf5 $1 (21. Re3 Ra8 22. Nf3 Qg4 $11 {Nevednichy-Cozianu,
ROM-chT 1998}) 21... Ngh3+ 22. gxh3 Nxh3+ 23. Kg2 Nf4+ 24. Kf3 Qh3+ 25. Ng3 $18
))) (12... Bd7 13. d4 Re8 {- 12...Re8} (13... Qe8 {doesn`t look very esthetic.}
14. Nh2 $5 (14. Be3 $14) 14... Rd8 15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. hxg4 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18.
g5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 cxd4 20. Qh5 $16 {Beshukov-Aleksandrov, Krasnodar 1995 CBM 47}
)) 13. d4 (13. Be3 {may only lead to mass exchanges.} Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Nh7 15. d4
Qf6 16. Nf5 Rad8 17. Qc2 Kh8 18. Rd1 Nf4 19. Kh2 Bc8 $13 {Okhotnik-Zoler, Graz
op 2002}) (13. Bc2 {avoiding the exchange of the important B.} Nh7 14. d4 c6
15. Be3 Re8 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. d5 {deserves attention changing the P structure.} (
17. Nh2 Ng5 18. Nf5 Nxe4 19. Nxh6+ gxh6 20. Bxe4 exd4 21. cxd4 {
(Alekseev-Shinkevich, RUS-Cup Togliatti 2001)} Bxh3 22. Bxh6 Be6 $13) 17...
cxd5 (17... Bd7 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Rad1 $14) 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. exd5 Bd7 20. Nh5
Qe7 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Ng3 $14) 13... c6 (13... Qc8 14. Bc2 (14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qc2
c5 16. Bxe6 {In the Ruy Lopez P structure the exchange of the light-squared B
usually helps for White.} Qxe6 17. d5 Qd7 18. c4 b5 19. b3 $14 {White has a
space advantage and the a7 B is entombbed, Leko-Piket, Amber-blind rapid 2002.}
) 14... Re8 15. Be3 c5 (15... Bd7 $2 {Black has lost the thread.} 16. Qd2 Kh7
17. Rad1 Bc6 18. c4 $1 $16 {Vorobiov-Cvek, Pardubice 2002}) (15... Nh7) 16. Qd2
(16. d5 Bd7 17. c4 b5 18. b3 Bb6) 16... Qc7 17. d5 Bc8 18. Nf5 (18. c4 b5 19.
Bd3 Bb6 20. Rec1 $14) 18... Bxf5 (18... c4 19. Bxh6 $1) 19. exf5 e4 (19... Nf8
20. c4) 20. Nh2 Nf8 21. Ng4 Qd8 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bf4 $14 {Sutovski-Goldin,
Rishon le Zion 1995}) (13... Qd7 14. Be3 (14. d5 $2 {provokes the big threat of
} Bxh3 $1 15. gxh3 Qxh3 $40) 14... exd4 15. Bxd4 (15. cxd4 d5 16. Ne5 (16. e5
Ne4) 16... Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxd7 Bxd7 21.
Rxe4 c5 22. Rd1 b5 $11) 15... Bxd4 16. Nxd4 (16. cxd4 $5) 16... Bxb3 17. Qxb3
Rfe8 18. Rad1 b6 19. Qc2 $14 {Kuczynski-Socko, POL-ch 1997}) (13... Bxb3 14.
Qxb3 Qd7 15. Qc2 Rfe8 16. Be3 Qc6 17. Rad1 b5 18. Qb1 $14 {Kudrin-Garcia
Padron, Las Palmas op 1989}) 14. Bc2 Re8 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Qd2 (16. Nh2 Rad8 17.
Nf5 d5 $1 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Qf3 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 exd4 21. cxd4 c5 22. dxc5 Nxe3
23. fxe3 Qxc5 $11 {Klinova-Podgaets, Hoogeveen 1999}) (16. Qc1 $13) 16... Rad8
(16... Kh7 $142 {looks more caotious.} 17. Nf5 (17. Rad1 Rad8 $11) 17... Bxf5
$1 (17... Ng8 18. Nh2 $1 {White has to continue his assault on the >>.} (18.
Rad1 {is less impressive.} Rad8 19. Qc1 Kh8 20. h4 exd4 21. N3xd4 Bxf5 22. Nxf5
Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Nf6 24. Rde1 Re5 25. g3 d5 $11 {Perez-Gomez, Capablanca mem
Premier 1 2004}) 18... Rad8 19. Ng4 {Both white knights look excellent.} N6e7
20. Rad1 Bb8 21. a3 Kh8 22. f4 $16 {Schmaltz-Richter, GER-ch Internet blitz
2004}) 18. exf5 Nf8 19. dxe5 Bxe3 (19... dxe5 20. Bxa7 Rxa7 21. Qe3 Raa8 22.
Nxe5 {- 19...Bxe3}) 20. Qxe3 (20. Rxe3 dxe5 21. Rae1 N8d7 22. Nh2 Nb6 23. Qe2
Nbd5 24. Rg3 e4 $15 {De la Paz-Lugo, Havana op 1994}) 20... dxe5 21. Rad1 (21.
Nxe5 {runs into the pin on the e file.} N6d7 $1 (21... N8d7 22. f4 Re7 23. Qg3
$14 {Macieja-Golod, Ponormo 2001}) 22. Nxd7 (22. f4 f6 $17) (22. f6+ $2 Ng6 23.
f4 gxf6 $17 {1/2:1/2 Yudasin-Knezevic, Trnava 1983}) 22... Rxe3 23. Nxf8+ Rxf8
24. Rxe3 $11 {Macieja})) 17. Nf5 $1 (17. Rad1 {allows the equalizing push} d5
$1 18. Nxe5 (18. Qc1 dxe4 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Rxd1 22. Bxd1
Qxe5 $15 {Zuriel-Sorin, Villa Ballester op 2001}) 18... Nxe5 19. Bf4 Bxh3 20.
Bxe5 Rxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 $13 {Kudrin-Kosten, London 1988}) 17... d5 {[#]} (17...
Bxf5 18. exf5 Ne7 {is already met by the devastating blow} 19. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 20.
Qxh6 $18) 18. Bxh6 $1 {[%mdl 128] The sharp tactical battle begins!} (18. exd5
Rxd5 19. Nxg7 $1 {is the other version of the ->.} Kxg7 20. Bxh6+ Kh8 21. Bxg6
fxg6 22. Qg5 Nh7 23. Qxg6 $16 {Anisimov-Lugovoi, RUS-chT Tomsk 2001}) 18...
Nxe4 (18... dxe4 19. Nxg7 $1 exf3 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Qg5 Nh7 22. Qh5 $16) 19.
Bxe4 dxe4 20. Nxg7 exf3 21. Nh5 $1 {This is an improvement on} (21. Qg5 Qe7 $1
22. Nxe6 Qxe6 (22... Qxg5 $2 23. Nxg5 fxg2 (23... exd4 24. Nxf3) 24. Ne4 Re6
25. Bg5 Ra8 26. dxe5 Nxe5 27. Kxg2 $16 {A.Rodriguez-Sorin, Pico City op 1996})
23. Rxe5 Qd6 24. Rae1 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qe7 $15 {and the white -> is repelled.})
21... f6 $1 (21... exd4 22. Qg5 $1 $18) (21... e4 22. Qg5 $1 $18) (21... Bb8
22. Qg5 $1 $18) (21... Qe7 $5 22. Bg5 (22. Bg7 $5 Qh4 $1 (22... Nf4 23. Bf6 $18
) 23. Qh6 Qxh5 24. Qxh5 Kxg7) 22... Qf8 23. Nf6+ (23. Bh6 Qe7 $11) 23... Kh8
24. Bh6 Qe7 25. Qg5 $1 $18) 22. Nxf6+ Kf7 (22... Kh8 23. Qg5 Qf7 24. dxe5 $40 (
24. Qh5 Nf4 $1)) 23. Nxe8 Rxe8 24. Qd3 fxg2 (24... exd4 25. Qxf3+ Kg8 26. cxd4
Qf7) 25. Rxe5 Bb8 (25... Nxe5 $4 26. Qh7+ $18) 26. Rae1 Re7 (26... Rh8 27. Qf3+
Kg8 28. Qf6 $18) 27. Bg5 Re8 $2 (27... Nxe5 28. Rxe5 Ke8 29. f4 $16) 28. f4 $18
{From now on the game contains some errors which makes it rather confusing!}
Bd7 29. Rxe8 Be6 30. Bh6 Kxe8 31. Qd2 $2 Kf7 32. Re3 Ba7 $2 33. Rf3 Kg8 34. Re3
Kf7 35. Re1 Kg8 36. Ra1 Qd7 37. Qd3 Kf7 38. Qf3 Qc7 39. Bg5 Kg7 40. Bh6+ Kf7
41. Bg5 Ke8 42. Bf6 Qf7 43. Bg5 Qc7 44. Bh6 Kf7 45. Re1 Ke8 46. Re3 Kf7 47. Re1
Ke8 48. h4 Kd7 49. h5 Kc8 50. Ra1 Qd7 51. Qd1 1-0

[Event "BCF-ch 89th"]
[Site "Torquay"]
[Date "2002.07.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lee, Graham D"]
[Black "Flear, Glenn C"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2361"]
[BlackElo "2538"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2002.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 $5
{This well-forgotten line contains venom, as GM Flear has demonstrated in some
of his games.} (7... Bxd2+ {is the popular theoretical main line with equal
chances.}) 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 $5 (10... Kf8 11. Qxb4+ Qe7
12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 {If Black can finish his development the _|_ cannot be worse
for him.} 13. O-O (13. Na3 d6 14. O-O Re8 15. Rfe1 Kd8 16. Nc4 b6 17. d5 Bb7
18. Rad1 Nf6 19. Ne3 Kd7 $15 {Coleman-Parker, Monarch Assurance 1999}) (13. Nc3
Nxc3 14. bxc3 d6 {White's P structure is rather corrupted.} 15. Kd2 Be6 (15...
Bg4 16. Rhe1+ Kd7 17. Ng5 h6 18. Ne4 Rhf8 $15 {Herbrechtsmeier-Flear, FRA-chT
France 2001}) 16. Rhe1 Kd7 17. Ng5 Bc4 18. a3 a5 $15 {Van Haastert-Parker,
Hotafrancs op 2001}) 13... Re8 14. Re1 (14. Na3 d6 {- 13 Na3}) 14... Kf8 (14...
Kd8 $5 15. Ne5 (15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 d6) 15... d5) 15. Na3 (15. Nc3 Nxc3 16.
bxc3 Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 d6 18. d5 Bd7 19. Ng5 h6 20. Ne6+ Bxe6 21. Rxe6 Re8 $11 {
Leygue-Flear, Creon op 1999}) 15... Nf6 (15... d5 16. Nb5 Re7 $11) 16. Nb5 Nd5
17. Rxe8+ Kxe8 18. Re1+ Kf8 19. Rc1 c6 20. Nd6 Ke7 {and White cannot keep his
stronghold on d6.} 21. Nf5+ Kf6 22. Nd6 Ke7 {1/2:1/2 Berlinsky-Motwani,
Istanbul ol (Men) 2000}) 11. Ne5+ (11. Qxb4 Re8 12. O-O (12. Ne5+ Kg8 $11)
12... c6 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. Rae1 Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Rxe8 Nxe8 17. Re1 Nd6 $11 {
Zukertort-Steinitz, London 1872}) 11... Ke6 $1 {This is the brave decision
fighting with a "Steinitz K"!} (11... Kf6 $6 {(Albin-Tarrasch, Dresden 1892)}
12. f3 $1 $16 {Krause} Ng5 13. Qxb4 Qe7 14. Qd2 (14. Qxe7+ Kxe7 15. O-O c6 $11)
14... g6 15. Nc3 c6 16. O-O $14 {Hmadi-Norri, Moscow 1994}) (11... Kg8 {
and the h8 R is in trouble.} 12. Qxb4 Qf6 13. O-O g6 14. Nc3 $14) 12. Qxb4 c5
$5 {Black wants more than an equal _|_.} (12... Qf8 13. Qxf8 (13. Nd3 $6 {
is punished by} Nxf2 $1 14. O-O Qxb4 15. Nxb4 Ne4) 13... Rxf8 14. f3 Nd6 15.
Nc3 Nf5 16. O-O-O c6 $11 {Rossolimo-Addison, New York 1965}) 13. Qa3 cxd4 $142
(13... Qf8 14. O-O cxd4 15. Nf3 Qxa3 16. Nxa3 Bd7 17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. Nxd4+ Ke5
19. Nxb5 Rac8 20. f3 Rc5 21. a4 a6 {(Schjonsby-Moen, Namses 1995)} 22. b4 $5
Rcc8 23. Na7 $1 Ra8 24. fxe4 $14) 14. Nf3 Qb6 15. O-O Kf7 16. Nbd2 (16. Ne5+
Kf6 $5 (16... Ke6 17. Nf3 Kf7 $11 {Levenfish}) 17. Nd3 Bf5 $15) 16... Re8 $1
$15 {and the black K is more or less safe.} (16... Nxd2 17. Nxd2 Re8 18. Qf3+
Kg8 19. Rfe1 Be6 20. Nb3 Bf7) 17. Qb3 (17. Nb3 d3 18. Rad1 Bg4 19. Rxd3 Bxf3
20. Rxf3+ Kg8 $15) 17... Nxd2 18. Qxd5+ (18. Nxd2 Kg8 19. Qxd5+ (19. Rfe1 Be6
$17) 19... Be6 $17) 18... Be6 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Nxd2 Qxb2 21. Nf3 Bxa2 {Black
has annihilated White's whole <<, the win is only a matter of technique.} 22.
Qa5 Re2 (22... Be6 23. Rab1 Qc3) 23. Rad1 Qc3 (23... b6 $1 {was the clear-cut
win, for example:} 24. Qa6 Rf8 25. Qxa7 (25. Rxd4 Be6 26. Rb4 (26. Qxa7 Rxf3)
26... Qxb4 27. Qxe2 Bd5 $19) 25... Bd5 $19) 24. Qb5 Bc4 $6 ({Still} 24... Rae8
$1 {was very tempting:} 25. Nxd4 Re1 {/\ Bc4}) 25. Qxb7 Rae8 $6 (25... Rd8 26.
Qxa7 d3) 26. Qxa7 (26. Rc1 $5 Rc2 27. Rce1 $132) 26... R2e7 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28.
Nxd4 Bxf1 29. Rxf1 {This is already a theoretically drawish _|_, but White has
to defend himself very carefully.} Rd7 30. Nf3 h6 31. h4 Red8 32. g3 Rd1 {
The exchange of rooks is a vital part of Black's strategy.} 33. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 34.
Kg2 Kf7 35. Ng1 Ke6 36. Nh3 Kf5 37. Nf4 Ra1 38. Kf3 Ra3+ 39. Kg2 Ke4 40. Ne6
Ra7 41. Nf4 Rf7 42. Nh3 Kd3 43. Kf1 Rf5 44. Kg2 Ke4 45. Kf1 Ra5 46. Kg2 Rb5 47.
Nf4 Ra5 48. Nh3 Ra2 49. Nf4 g5 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ne6 Ra5 52. g4 Re5 53. f3+ Ke3
54. Ng7 Rd5 55. Kg3 Ra5 56. Ne6 Re5 57. Ng7 Ke2 58. Nf5 Rd5 59. Ng7 Ra5 (59...
Rd3 60. Ne6 Rxf3+ 61. Kg2 $11) 60. Kg2 Re5 61. Nh5 Ke3 62. Kg3 Ra5 63. f4 Ra1
64. fxg5 Rg1+ 65. Kh4 Kf3 66. g6 Rxg4+ 67. Kh3 Rxg6 68. Kh4 Rg4+ 69. Kh3 Ra4
70. Nf6 Rf4 71. Nh5 Rg4 72. Nf6 Rd4 73. Nh5 Rd6 74. Kh4 Rg6 75. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "ARM-ch"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2005.05.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Chibukhchian, Artur"]
[Black "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2406"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2005.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bb3
h6 9. h3 Ba7 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Ne3 (12. Be3 Nf4 {- Kramnik-Radjabov,
Linares 2004 CBM 100}) 12... Nf4 13. Ng4 (13. Kh2 {/\ Ng1, g3 seems to be
rather slow to drive back the active f4 N.} Ne7 (13... Kh8 $5 14. Ng4 (14. Ng1
$5) 14... Qg6 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Kg1 {doesn't seem to be a logical K manoeuvre!}
Bxg4 17. hxg4 Ne5 (17... Qxg4 18. d4) 18. Nh2 c5 19. Bd5 Rab8 20. a4 Bb6 21. a5
Bd8 22. d4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nc6 24. Qd2 Bf6 25. Ra4 Qg5 $13 {Bauer-Korneev, Open
Metz FRA 1998}) (13... Be6 14. Ng1 (14. Ng4 Qg6 15. Bxf4 exf4) 14... Ne7 {
- 13...Ne7}) 14. Ng1 {is at least consistant.} (14. d4 Re8 $15 {This is more
flexible than the alternative} (14... Neg6 {although after} 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16.
Bxd5 c6 17. Bb3 Re8 $15 {still puts pressure on White's [+].})) 14... Be6 $1 {
with simple developing moves Black gets a fine position.} (14... Qg6 15. g3 Ne6
{is not so harmonious as the game continuation.} 16. Nf3 Nc5 (16... f5 $2 17.
Nh4 Qf6 18. exf5) 17. Bc2 f5 18. exf5 $13) 15. g3 (15. Bxe6 Qxe6 $15 (15...
fxe6 {however fails on concrete tactical motifs after} 16. g3 Nfg6 17. Ng4 Qf7
18. Bxh6 $1 Bxf2 19. Rf1 Bxg1+ 20. Rxg1 Qf3 21. Be3 $14)) 15... Bxb3 $1 {
Black again choses the strong and simple way.} (15... Nfg6 16. Qf3 $1 (16. Rf1
Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Qe6 $15) 16... Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Bxb3 18. axb3 f5 19. Kg2 fxe4 (19...
f4 $15) 20. dxe4 Rf7 $15) 16. axb3 Nfg6 17. Rf1 (17. Kg2 Qe6 18. b4 f5 $15 {
Magem-Badals-Izeta Txabarri, ESP-ch 1999}) 17... Qe6 18. Ne2 (18. f4 $6 {
White hasn't finished the development yet, and has no advantage in the [+].
The opening of the position helps only for the better developed black pieces.}
exf4 $1 19. gxf4 f5 $1 $17 {Mahjoob-Gyimesi, Yerevan 2001 CBM 086}) 18... f5
$15) (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qg6 {- Hamdouchi-Tkachiev, Cap d'Agde-A 2000 CBM 80
}) 13... Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 (14... Bxg4 15. hxg4 exf4 16. d4 {- 14...exf4}) 15.
Nh4 $6 (15. d4 $142 Bxg4 16. hxg4 Qxg4 (16... Rad8 {looks rather useless.} 17.
Bd5 Ne7 18. Bxb7 a5 19. Qe2 Qxg4 {Black gets back the P, but his position
looks ugly.} 20. Qa6 Bb6 21. b4 axb4 22. cxb4 Ng6 23. a4 Nh4 24. Nxh4 Qxh4 25.
Qd3 f3 26. Qxf3 Bxd4 27. Rac1 $16 {Wang Yu-Vijayalakshmi, Asian ch 2001}) 17.
Qd3 (17. e5 dxe5 $142 (17... Rae8 18. exd6 cxd6 19. Qd3 g6 20. Bd5 $14 {
Kapnisis-Mastrovasilis, Kavala op 2003}) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Qxd1+ 20. Rxd1
Rfe8 $11) 17... Rae8 (17... Rfe8 18. a4 a5 19. Bd5 Bb6 20. Qc4 Qd7 21. Qb3 g6
22. Rad1 Kg7 23. e5 {(Bosboom-Sharif, EU Cup Volmac-Lyon 1991)} dxe5 24. dxe5
Rad8 25. e6 fxe6 26. Bxe6 Qxd1 27. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Rxe6 $11) (17... g6 $5
18. Bd5 Nd8 19. Nh2 $5 $44 (19. e5 c6 20. Bb3 d5)) 18. Bd5 Nd8 $1 19. Bxb7 {
White wins material, but Black has serious counterchances on the >>.} Nxb7 20.
Qxa6 {(Bosboom-Lacrosse, Ostende op 1992)} Re6 $1 21. Nh2 Qg5 22. Nf3 (22. Qxa7
$2 Rg6 $19) (22. Qxb7 Rg6 23. e5 c6 24. Qxc6 dxe5 25. Qf3 exd4 $13) 22... Qg4
$11 {with repetition of moves.}) 15... Qg5 16. Nf3 (16. Nf5 h5 17. Nh2 g6 18.
Nf3 Qf6 19. N5h4 Re8 (19... Na5 20. Bc2 c5 $13) 20. d4 {White finally gets the
upper hand in the [+], but the N on h4 is very bad.} g5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5
Qxf5 23. Bc2 Qf6 24. Qd3 Qg7 25. Qf5 $44 {(Odeev-Landa, URS-qual U20 1989)} f6
$5) 16... Bxg4 (16... Qg6 {is only a repetition of moves.}) 17. hxg4 Qxg4 18.
d4 {White has again a fine compensation for the P because of his strong [+],
and the passive B on a7, but why to lose a tempo in comparision to 15.d4?} Rae8
(18... Ne7 19. e5 d5 20. Qd2 Rad8 21. Nh2 Qg5 22. Nf3 Qg4 23. Nh2 {1/2:1/2
Zhang Pengxiang-Peng Xiaomin, Asian Championships 2001}) 19. Qd3 Re7 $6 (19...
g6 20. Bd5 Nd8 {is again met by the aforementioned blow} 21. Bxb7 $1 $16) (
19... Ne7 20. Bc2 g6 $13 {gave the best practical chances.}) 20. Re2 {/\ Rae1}
Rfe8 21. Rae1 Nd8 (21... Na5 22. Bc2 Re6 $1 {/\ Rg6} 23. Nh2 $1 (23. b4 {allows
} Rg6) 23... Qh5 24. e5 g6 25. b4 Nc6 26. Bb3 R6e7 27. Bd5 dxe5 28. Bxc6 bxc6
29. Nf3 $14 {and the black B is still entombbed.}) 22. e5 {There is a
significant difference between the two bishops to White`s favour.} Qd7 (22...
Ne6 23. Bd5 $14) 23. Nh4 $1 {White wants to keep the tension.} (23. exd6 {
leads to the exchange of the rooks.} Qxd6 24. Rxe7 Rxe7 25. Rxe7 Qxe7 26. Qf5
$14 {and White wins back the P with a better _|_.}) 23... d5 24. Nf5 Ne6 (24...
Re6 25. Qf3 $1 c6 26. Qg4 $16) 25. Qf3 c6 26. Bc2 g6 $5 {[#]} 27. Nxh6+ $4 {
White overestimates his attacking chances on the >>.} ({Grabbing the exchange
by} 27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 28. Qh3 $18 {was easy and effective.}) 27... Kg7 28. Ng4 Rh8
{Suddenly it becomes clear that it is Black who is attacking!} 29. Nf6 Qc8 {
Black has a lethal threat of doubling on the h file.} 30. Qg4 Rh6 31. Rd2 Qh8
32. Kf1 Rh4 33. Qf3 Ng5 34. Qd1 f3 $1 35. gxf3 Ne6 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.05"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Macieja,B"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {I have played this system in
dozens of games, however recently without visible opening success.} O-O 6. Bg5
{I decided to try Tiviakov's idea, as in my game against Fressinet played 9
months earlier, after} (6. b4 Be7 7. O-O d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. b5 Na5 10. Bxd5
Qxd5 11. c4 Qd7 12. Bd2 e4 13. Bxa5 exf3 14. Qxf3 a6 15. Bc3 axb5 16. cxb5 Qxb5
17. Qg3 Qg5 18. Qxc7 Ra6 {I got into serious troubles.}) 6... h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8.
Nbd2 d6 9. Bg3 {White tries to avoid an exchange of dark-squared bishops.} Na5
$1 {This solves the opening problems of Black instantly.} (9... Nh5 $2 10. Nxe5
Nxg3 (10... Nxe5 11. Bxe5 dxe5 12. Qxh5 $16) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. hxg3 d5 13. Bb3
Ba6 14. Qf3 $16) 10. Bb5 Nh5 11. d4 $6 ({White didn't understand in time that
he couldn't play for an advantage anymore. The correct move was} 11. O-O Nxg3
12. hxg3 $11) 11... Nxg3 12. hxg3 exd4 13. cxd4 $6 {Another dubious decision.}
({Still it was not too late to equalise with} 13. Nxd4 c5 14. N4b3 (14. Nc2 $2
Qb6) 14... a6 15. Be2 $11) 13... d5 $6 (13... c5 {was stronger, threatening ...
Qb6 and starting a fight for the domination over the black squares.}) 14. e5 $6
({Too optimistic. After} 14. O-O {White wouldn't have problems to equalise.})
14... Bf5 $6 (14... c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O {is preferable for Black.}) 15.
Rc1 $6 {White develops the rook and fights against c5, however the presence of
both rooks on the c-file is in favour of Black, as it secures additional
tactical possibilities.} ({The correct way to stop c5 is} 15. a3 $1) 15... Rc8
$1 16. Nh4 {White tries to obtain counterplay.} ({It is already too late for} 
16. a3 $6 c5 $1 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. b4 Bxf2+ $1 19. Kxf2 Qb6+ 20. Ke1 Rxc1 21.
Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qd1 Qxb5 23. bxa5 (23. Nd4 $2 Qd3 24. Nxf5 Qxf5 25. bxa5 Rc2 $1
$19) 23... Rc3 $1 24. Nd4 Qc5 $1 25. N2b3 (25. Nxf5 Rc1 $17) 25... Rxb3 $1 26.
Nxb3 Qe3+ 27. Qe2 Qxb3 28. Kf2 Qxa3 $17) 16... Bh7 17. Qg4 c6 18. Be2 Bb4 $1
19. Nf5 ({A more solid, but passive, move is} 19. Rd1 Nc4 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. a3
Bxd2+ 22. Rxd2 $15) 19... Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. Rxc4 c5 $1 {
Much stronger than} (22... Qa5 23. Qd3) 23. a3 {There is nothing better.} Bxd2+
24. Kxd2 Qd5 (24... b5 $6 25. Rc2 Qxd4+ 26. Kc1 {gives White good chances to
survive.}) 25. Rhc1 b5 26. R4c2 f6 $1 {Black does not need to hurry to recover
a pawn.} (26... Qxd4+ 27. Ke1 Rfe8 28. Re2 $15) 27. f3 $2 ({A better chance was
} 27. Re1 $1 fxe5 28. Qxe5 Rxf2+ 29. Kd1 Rf5 30. Qxd5+ Rxd5 31. Re4 Rcd8 32.
Ke2 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 cxd4 34. Kd3 $15) 27... Qxd4+ 28. Ke2 Rfe8 ({But not} 28...
fxe5 $2 29. Qe6+ Kh8 30. Rd2 Qa4 31. Rd7 $44) 29. e6 Rc6 $2 {Played too fast.}
(29... c4 30. Kf1 Rc5 $17) 30. Kf1 $1 {Now Black cannot win anymore.} Rcxe6 {
This leads to an equal position, however after} (30... Rexe6 31. Rxc5 Re5 32.
Qxe5 fxe5 33. Rxc6 Qxb2 34. R6c3 a5 35. Kg1 $1 {White also holds easily.}) 31.
Qxc5 Qd3+ 32. Kg1 Kh7 $6 (32... a6 {is much more natural.}) 33. g4 $6 ({
White could have taken a pawn} 33. Qxa7 {as after} Re1+ 34. Kh2 Qf1 35. Rxe1
Rxe1 36. g4 {the white king escapes.}) 33... Re5 $6 (33... a6) 34. Qc3 $6 ({
Once again White could have taken a pawn} 34. Qxa7 f5 $1 (34... Re1+ 35. Kh2
Qd6+ 36. Kh3) 35. gxf5 Re1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf5 37. Qc7 $1 Qh5+ 38. Kg3 Qg5+ 39. Kh3 {
and Black would have nothing better than a draw, as after} R8e5 40. Rxe1 Rxe1 {
White would have had} 41. g4) 34... Qg6 35. Rd2 {Sufficient.} h5 36. gxh5 Qg3
$5 ({After} 36... Rxh5 37. Qc2 f5 {White draws by playing} 38. g4 $1) 37. Rf2
$2 ({White had to include a check first} 37. Qd3+ Kg8 38. Rf2 Rxh5 39. Re2 Qh2+
40. Kf2 Qh4+ 41. Kf1 Qh1+ 42. Kf2 Rxe2+ 43. Qxe2 $11) 37... Rxh5 38. Qd3+ $2 {
This loses immediately.} (38. Rfc2 f5 {was more stubborn, although in the long
term White would not be able to defend.}) 38... Kh6 $4 {This mistake can be
explained only by time trouble.} (38... f5 39. Rff1 Re6 $19) 39. Rff1 Qh2+ ({
Now after} 39... f5 {White defends thanks to a trick} 40. Rce1 $1) 40. Kf2 Rg5
41. Rg1 Ree5 42. Qd2 $1 Rd5 {This draws immediately.} ({Perhaps Black should
have tried} 42... Kh7) 43. Qe3 Qg3+ 44. Kf1 Qe5 45. Qxe5 Rgxe5 46. Rc2 $1 Rd1+
47. Kf2 Rxg1 48. Kxg1 Re3 {The ending is drawn, however if Black places his
rook on b3 he can still push for more. For this reason it is very important
for White to look for a forced draw.} 49. Rc7 a5 50. Rc5 Rb3 51. a4 $1 bxa4 52.
Rxa5 Rxb2 53. Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "POL-ch 67th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2010.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Black "Rutkowski, Maciej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2405"]
[Annotator "Macieja,B"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 {Too solid or ... too
passive. The only correct answer is} (5... O-O {with the possible pawn
sacrifice} 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 {with compensation.}) 6. d4 $1 {It seems
like White has lost a tempo, but in fact Black is already in serious troubles.}
exd4 (6... Bb6 $2 7. d5 a6 8. Ba4 $18) 7. cxd4 Bb4+ (7... Bb6 $2 8. d5 a6 9.
Ba4 Ba5+ 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nbxd2 b5 12. dxc6 bxa4 13. Qxa4 $18) 8. Bd2 ({
It seems that} 8. Kf1 {can be promising, but after} d5 9. e5 Ne4 10. Qa4 a5 $1
11. Bxc6+ (11. a3 Be7 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxc6+ Bd7 $5 ({Black doesn't have
problems also after} 13... Qd7 14. Qxd7+ (14. Qxa8 Qb5+ 15. Kg1 (15. Ke1 $4 O-O
$19) 15... Qe2 $1 16. Qxc8+ Bd8 17. h3 Qxf2+ 18. Kh2 Qg3+ $11) 14... Bxd7 $44)
14. Qxd5 Nc5 $3 $146 (14... Ng5 {Paulsen - Rosenthal 1870}) 15. Nc3 c6 16. Qc4
Be6 17. Qe2 Nb3 $44) 11... bxc6 12. Qxc6+ Qd7 $1 (12... Bd7 13. Qxd5 $16) 13.
Qxd7+ (13. Qxa8 Qb5+ 14. Kg1 O-O $44) 13... Bxd7 {it is hardly possible that
White will manage to convert his extra pawn into a full point.}) 8... Bxd2+ 9.
Nbxd2 Bd7 ({During the game I considered} 9... O-O {to be more challenging,
but probably my opponent was not pleased with my possibility of} 10. Bxc6 (10.
O-O Ne7 {gaining a tempo}) 10... bxc6 11. Qc2 {, although after 11...Ba6
things are not so simple.}) 10. O-O O-O ({Perhaps} 10... Ne7 {was more precise.
}) 11. Re1 {The main battle in such structures is for the e4-square. If Black
manages to play ...d5, e5 Ne4, his position significantly improves. If he
fails, the whole position becomes much worse.} Ne7 12. Bf1 $1 {It is well
known that this is a great place for the white bishop. The bishop is not
disturbing other pieces, is not coming under attack (Nf4), it defends its king
and may enter the battle, whenever it is needed.} c6 ({I expected} 12... Ng6
13. h3 Re8 {with clear advantage for White.}) 13. b4 $1 {That's the right plan.
White controls the centre and has already gained some space advantage. The
minority attack will create more problems for Black.} Bg4 $6 {It is difficult
to recommend something concrete instead, but still I don't like this move. It
is true that Black is suffering from a lack of space, and thus exchanges are
helpful, but without the bishop the white squares will become very weak.} 14.
h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 a5 {Forcing action. Otherwise White continues his plan,
slowly leaving Black less and less air to breathe.} 16. b5 $1 ({Tempting} 16.
bxa5 Qxa5 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. e5 {doesn't work due to} Qd5) 16...
cxb5 17. Bxb5 Qb6 $6 ({The only way to complicate the position was} 17... Nc6
18. d5 ({Obviously} 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rac1 {leads to a small advantage.}) 18...
Nd4 19. Qd3 Nxb5 20. Qxb5 {with an advantage for White.}) 18. e5 $1 Nfd5 (18...
dxe5 19. dxe5 Nfd5 20. a4 $16) 19. a4 $1 {The simplest.} dxe5 20. dxe5 {
White has a clear advantage due to his better pawn structure and the strong
bishop.} Nc7 21. Bc4 ({Probably} 21. Bd3 $5 {with multiple threats was more
precise. I wanted my bishop to put pressure along the important a2-g8 diagonal.
}) 21... Nc6 22. Qe4 {As the black knight has been moved far from his king,
White starts regrouping his pieces, aiming for an attack.} Nb4 $6 {This is an
important tempo. Black was afraid of Bd3 fatally weakening the position around
Black's king. However I believe ...Rad8 was correct.} 23. Nf3 Ne6 (23... Qc6 {
was possible, but every ending is very tough for Black due to the bad pawn
structure and the dominating white bishop.}) 24. Rad1 Rad8 25. Bxe6 fxe6 ({
Probably the last chance was to search for a draw after} 25... Qxe6 {White can
simply win a pawn or continue} 26. Ng5 Qg6 (26... Qh6 27. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 28. e6+
$18) 27. Qxg6 {with a clear advantage.}) 26. Rd6 $1 {A typical pawn sac, but
always pleasant.} ({White could have played} 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Ng5 g6 28. Qh4
Rd7 {with a clear advantage, but 26.Rd6 is even stronger.}) 26... Rxd6 27. exd6
Qxd6 28. Ng5 Rf5 (28... g6 $2 29. Qxb7 $18) 29. Nxe6 Rd5 $2 ({The only try was
} 29... Qd5 30. Qg4 g6 {although after} (30... Rf7 31. Nxg7 $1 (31. Ng5 Rf8 32.
Re7 $18) 31... Rxg7 32. Qc8+ Kf7 33. Qc7+ Kg6 34. Qg3+ Kh6 35. Qf4+ Rg5 36. g4
Nd3 37. Qf8+ Rg7 38. Re7 $18) 31. Qg3 $1 Na6 $8 32. Qc3 {White would have won
easily, anyway.}) 30. Nf4 Rd2 31. Qc4+ 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 03rd"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Makarichev, Sergey"]
[Black "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Makarichev,S"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow CSKA"]
[BlackTeam "Kazan Sberbank-Tatarstan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Be6 9. Bc2 h6 (9... d5 10. Ng5 $14) 10. g4 Nh7 11. Rg1 d5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. Ne4
Be7 (13... Bxe4 $14 14. dxe4 Qxd1+ 15. Bxd1 Rad8 16. Ke2 Be7 17. h4 $40) 14.
Qe2 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 $1 (15. dxe4 Ng5 $1 $132 (15... Bg5 16. Nxg5 Nxg5 17. h4 Ne6
18. g5 hxg5 19. hxg5 g6 20. Qg4 Kg7 21. Bd2 $40)) 15... Bg5 $5 (15... Ng5 $5
16. Bxg5 Bxg5 17. d4 g6 $1 (17... f5 $2 18. gxf5 exd4 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. O-O-O
$16) 18. Nxe5 (18. dxe5 Re8 $13) 18... Nxe5 (18... Re8 $2 19. f4 $16) 19. dxe5
Qd2+ 20. Kf1 Rfe8 21. Rd1 Qf4 22. Rd7 Rxe5 (22... Rac8 23. Rg3 Rxe5 24. Qxb7
Rce8 25. Kg2 $1 $16) 23. Qxf4 Bxf4 24. Bb3 Rf8 25. Rxc7 Re1+ 26. Kxe1 Bxc7 $16)
16. d4 g6 (16... Nf6 $2 17. Bxg5 hxg5 18. Qf5 exd4 19. O-O-O $16) (16... f5 $5
17. gxf5 Bxc1 18. dxe5 (18. f6 $2 Nxf6 19. Rxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qg6+ Kh8 21. Rxc1 e4
$17) (18. Bb3+ $2 Kh8 19. Nh4 Nf6 20. Ng6+ Kh7) 18... Bg5 19. h4 $5 (19. f6
Nxf6 20. Qc4+ (20. exf6 $2 Re8) 20... Qd5 $1 (20... Nd5 $2 21. Nxg5 hxg5 22.
O-O-O Nce7 23. Rxg5 $16) (20... Kh8 $6 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Kf1 $1 $16) 21. Bb3
Qxc4 22. Bxc4+ Kh8 23. exf6 Bxf6 $10) (19. Rd1 Qe8 $1 $13) 19... Bf6 (19...
Nxe5 $2 20. Nxe5 Qd2+ 21. Kf1 Nf6 22. Qc4+ (22. Bb3+ $2 Kh7 $13) 22... Kh7 23.
hxg5 $18) 20. Rd1 Qe8 $1 (20... Qe7 21. Bb3+ Kh8 22. Be6 Rad8 23. exf6 Nxf6 24.
Qe3 $14) 21. exf6 (21. Bb3+ $2 Kh8 22. Be6 Be7 23. Qg4 Rg8 $15) 21... Nxf6 22.
Qxe8 $16 (22. Qe6+ $2 Qxe6+ 23. fxe6 Rfe8 $1 (23... Rae8 $2 24. Bf5 $1 Nd8 25.
Rxd8 Rxd8 26. e7 Rde8 27. Be6+ Rf7 28. Ne5 Rexe7 29. Bxf7+ Kf8 30. f4 $18) 24.
Bf5 Nd8 $10)) 17. dxe5 (17. d5 $2 Nf6 18. Bxg5 hxg5 $15) (17. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 18.
dxe5 Bxc1 19. Rxc1 Ng5 (19... Qh4 20. Rg3 Rae8 21. Bb3 Kh8 22. Kf1 Ng5 23. Qxb7
Rxe5 24. Qxc7 Rfe8 25. Kg2 Re2 26. Rc2 $16) 20. Qe3 Qd5 21. Kf1 Rad8 (21... Qf3
22. Rg3 $1 $16 (22. h4 $2 Qxe3 23. fxe3 Nf3 $15)) (21... Nf3 22. Rd1 $1 $16 Qc6
23. Be4 Qb5+ 24. Bd3 Qd5 $1 25. Be2 $18) 22. f4 Nf3 23. Rg3 $1 $16 (23. Rg2 Nh4
$1)) 17... Re8 (17... Bxc1 $6 18. Rxc1 Ng5 19. Nxg5 hxg5 (19... Qxg5 20. f4
Qh4+ 21. Ke2 $16) 20. e6 Re8 21. Bb3 Qf6 22. exf7+ Kf8 23. Qxe8+ Rxe8+ 24.
fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 25. Rg3 $16) 18. Bb3 $1 $8 Kg7 $8 19. Kf1 $1 (19. Nxg5 $2 Rxe5 $1)
(19. Bxg5 $2 Nxg5 20. Nxg5 Rxe5 $1 $17) 19... Bxc1 20. Rxc1 Ng5 21. Nxg5 (21.
Qf4 $2 Qd3+ 22. Kg2 Qxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Nxf3 24. Kxf3 Nxe5+ $15) 21... hxg5 (21...
Qxg5 22. f4 $16) 22. e6 Qf6 $1 (22... Na5 $4 23. Qe5+ Qf6 24. Qxa5 $18) 23. Rg3
(23. Bd5 Nd8 $132) 23... fxe6 $2 (23... Na5 $1 $132 24. Rf3 Nxb3 25. axb3 (25.
Rxf6 $2 Nd2+ $1) 25... Qxe6 26. Qxb7 Rab8 $1 (26... Qe2+ $2 27. Kg2 Qxb2 28.
Rd1 Rab8 (28... Rad8 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qxc7 $16) 29. Qxc7 Qxb3 30. Rd7 Rf8 31.
c4 $18) 27. Qxc7 Rxb3 28. Rd1 $1 (28. Rc2 $2 Re7 29. Qc5 Qe4 $1 30. Re3 Qh1+ (
30... Qxc2 31. Rxe7 Rxb2 32. Qd4+ Kf8 33. Rc7 $18) 31. Ke2 Rd7 32. Qe5+ Kh7 $40
) (28. Kg2 $2 Re7 $1 (28... Rxb2 29. Re1 $1 Rc8 $1)) 28... Re7 (28... Qe2+ $2
29. Kg2 Re7 30. Rd7 $16) 29. Qc5 Qe2+ 30. Kg2 Rxb2 31. Qxg5 $1 $16 (31. Rd8 $2
Rb1 32. Qd4+ Re5 $1) 31... Qe5 $2 32. Qxe5+ Rxe5 33. Rd7 $18) 24. Bc2 $1 Kh6 $2
(24... Rf8 $2 25. Rf3 $18) (24... e5 $1 $16 25. Rf3 Qe6 26. Bb3 Qe7 27. Rf7+
Qxf7 28. Bxf7 Kxf7 $16) 25. Rf3 Qg7 26. h4 $1 $18 gxh4 27. g5+ Kxg5 (27... Kh7
28. Rf6 Ne7 29. Rxe6 $18) 28. Qe3+ $1 (28. Qe3+ Kh5 29. Rf7 $1 Qxf7 30. Bd1+
Qf3 31. Bxf3#) 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 12th"]
[Site "Aix les Bains"]
[Date "2011.03.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Dragomirescu, Robin Alexandru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[Annotator "Marchand,A/Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2011.03.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.06.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.06.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O (4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bd6 6. d4 Nf6 7. O-O
O-O 8. Re1 h6 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. Qb3 Re7 11. Nh4 {Petrosian,T (2623)-Volokitin,A 
(2671) EU-ch 10th Budva 2009 (6) 0-1} (11. Bd3 b6 12. Nc4 $14 Ba6 13. Nxd6 Bxd3
14. Nf5 {Volokitin})) (4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Be2 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9.
Bd2) 4... Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 {[%cal Gb2b4]} O-O 7. h3 (7. b4 $5 {Peut-кtre un
peu meilleur car les Blancs gagnent un tempo par rapport а la partie} Bb6 8. a4
{[%cal Ga4a5]} a6 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. a5 $14 {Short,N (2701)-Zhang Zhong (2658)
Beijing Kings Challenge rapid 2003 (2) 1-0}) (7. Bb3 {La grande ligne}) 7... a6
{[%cal Gc5a7]} 8. Bb3 Ba7 9. Re1 (9. Nbd2 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 {[%csl
Gf4][%cal Gh5f4]}) 9... h6 {[%csl Rg6]} 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 $5
13. Qe2 ({RR} 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ng3 Qd6 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Ne4 Qe6 17. Nfd2 Nd7
18. Qh5 Ne7 19. Ng3 Qg6 20. Qxg6 Nxg6 21. Ngf1 f5 22. Ne3 Be6 23. Nb3 f4 24.
Nc4 Bd5 25. Ncd2 Nh4 26. Ne4 Re6 27. d4 Rg6 {Bologan,V (2688)-Efimenko,Z (2654)
/Kragujevac 2009/CBM 132 Extra/0-1 (40)}) 13... b5 ({RR} 13... Qd7 14. Ng3 Rad8
15. Bd2 Bc5 16. Rad1 d4 17. Bb1 b5 18. Rc1 dxc3 19. bxc3 Bf8 20. Be3 a5 21. d4
Bc4 22. Qb2 Qe7 23. d5 Nb8 24. Nd2 c6 25. Nxc4 bxc4 26. Nf5 Qa3 27. Qe2 cxd5
28. exd5 {Gelfand,B (2720)-Kramnik,V (2788)/Moscow 2008/CBM 126 Extra/1/2-1/2 
(36)}) 14. N3h2 dxe4 ({RR} 14... d4 15. Ng3 Qd6 16. a3 a5 17. Bd2 Red8 18. Rec1
dxc3 19. bxc3 b4 20. cxb4 axb4 21. Bxb4 Nxb4 22. axb4 Qxb4 23. Nf3 Nd7 24. Rab1
Qa3 25. Nf5 Bb6 26. Rd1 Qc3 27. Qd2 Qxd2 28. Rxd2 Kf8 29. Bb3 {Petrosian,T 
(2620)-Alekseev,E (2688)/Tashkent 2011/CBM 141 Extra/1/2-1/2}) 15. dxe4 Qe7
$146 ({RR} 15... Ne7 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Qf3 Nh7 18. Ng4 Ng6 19. Nfe3 Rd8 20. Nf5
Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Qd8 22. Qe1 h5 23. Nh2 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Rd1 Qe8 26. Qd2
Bxf5 27. exf5 Qe5 28. Re1 Qd6 29. Qxd6 cxd6 30. Re7 {Alekseev,E (2715)-Caruana,
F (2652)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2009/CBM 134/1/2-1/2 (55)}) (15... Na5 16. Ng3 c5 17.
Nf5 {[%csl Rg6,Rh6]}) (15... b4) 16. Ng3 (16. Ne3 {[%cal Ge3f5,Ge3d5]}) 16...
Rad8 17. a4 $1 b4 18. Qxa6 {[%csl Ga4][%cal Ga4a8]} Rd6 19. Qe2 b3 (19... Red8)
20. Bd3 Red8 21. Bb5 Na5 22. Qf3 Nh7 23. Nf5 $16 Bxf5 24. exf5 e4 {Les Noirs
espиrent exploiter l'avance de dйveloppement mais les compensations sont assez
faibles.} 25. Rxe4 Rd1+ 26. Nf1 Qf6 27. Re8+ $1 Nf8 28. Qg4 R8d6 $4 29. Bxh6 {
[%cal Ga1d1]} Rxf1+ (29... Rxa1 30. Bg5 {[%csl Rf6]}) 30. Rxf1 Qxh6 31. Qe4 Bb6
{Dominique PRIMEL} 1-0

[Event "Reggio Emilia 50th"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "2008.01.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ni, Hua"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2641"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.12.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Judging from the games available in the database,
Ni Hua took up the Italian Game specially for this tournament. Earlier he
played the Scotch Opening and the Ruy Lopez.} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 {
This move is probably unjustly considered as inoffensive. Unfortunately, I had
no time to prepare properly against it, because I finished my previous game 
(with Korchnoi) quite late and the last round was scheduled in the morning.} d5
7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. Qc2 ({White can avoid the
deviation mentioned on the 13th move with} 11. Bxc6 bxc6 {, but this exchange
consolidates Black's centre too soon.} 12. Qc2 (12. Qa4 f6 13. exf6 (13. Qxc6
Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 fxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rxf3 $15 {1/2-1/2
Macieja,B (2592)-De la Paz,F (2456)/Merida 2005/CBM 111 (96)}) 13... Bxf3 14.
fxg7 Re8 15. gxf3 Nxf2 $1 16. Kxf2 Qh4+ 17. Ke2 Bxd4 18. Ne4 (18. Nd1 Qf4 $19)
18... Bxe3 19. Kxe3 Rxe4+ $1 20. fxe4 Re8 21. Rhg1 $8 (21. Kd2 Qf4+ 22. Kc3
Rxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Rhg1 Qe3+ 25. Kc2 Qe2+ 26. Kc3 c5 $19) (21. Rag1 Rxe4+
22. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 23. Kd2 c5 $17) 21... Rxe4+ 22. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 23. Kd2 $11 {De la
Paz}) 12... f5 $5 {(As can be seen from a later comment, this move is not
possible in the absence of the exchange on c6).} 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Ne5 Bf5 15.
Qa4 (15. Qb3 Rab8) 15... c5 16. Nxd5 Qd6 $36) 11... Bxf3 (11... f5 $2 12. Nxd5
$1) ({In the first round of the tournament, Ni Hua faced the less principled
answer} 11... Bf5 12. Qb3 Ne7 13. Be2 c6 14. O-O f6 15. exf6 (15. Nh4 Nxc3 16.
Qxc3 fxe5 17. dxe5 d4 18. Qc4+ Qd5 $15) 15... Rxf6 16. Ne5 ({I was slightly
worried about} 16. a4 $5 $14) 16... Ng6 17. Na4 Nxe5 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. dxe5 Rg6
20. Bh5 (20. Bxb6 Qg5 21. g3 Nd2 22. Qc3 Nxf1 23. Bxf1 $44 {Black's pawns are
too immobile for my taste.}) 20... Re6 21. f3 Nc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Qxb7 g6 24.
Bg4 Bxg4 25. fxg4 Qe8 26. Rf7 Qxf7 27. Qxa8+ Qe8 28. Qxe8+ Rxe8 $13 {Ni Hua 
(2641)-Navara,D (2656)/Reggio Emilia 2007/08 (1/2-1/2, 44)}) 12. gxf3 Ng5 13.
Bxc6 bxc6 {After this move, Black's position is at least dangerous.} ({
Therefore,} 13... Nxf3+ $5 {deserves attention:} 14. Ke2 Nxd4+ 15. Bxd4 bxc6
16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Rhe1 Qg5 18. Kf1 Qh5 19. f4 f6 $44 {Fernandez Garcia,J (2450)
-Izeta Txabarri,F (2380)/Bilbao 1987/CBM 003 (1/2-1/2, 26)}) 14. O-O-O $5 (14.
Qa4 $6 Nxf3+ 15. Ke2 f6 $5 16. e6 Ng5 17. Qxc6 Qe8 $1 $15 {Sveshnikov,
E-Balashov,Y/USSR 1985 (1-0, 41)}) ({Against} 14. Qf5 {I had prepared} f6 $5
$146 (14... Ne6 {has been played in no less than 3 games between the same
players: Alonso,Y (2277)-Valdes,L (2375)/Cuba 2005. Cuban analysis in Chess
Informant claims that Black is doing fine, but I did not like the kingside
pressure exerted by White.}) 15. O-O-O (15. exf6 h6 $1) (15. Rd1 Bxd4 $1 $132
16. Rxd4 $2 fxe5 $17) 15... g6 16. Qg4 Qc8 17. Qxc8 Raxc8 18. f4 Ne6 $13) 14...
Nxf3 15. Qe2 $1 {This move was new to me.} ({Sveshnikov recommended} 15. Qf5
Nh4 16. Qg4 Ng6 17. h4 f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. h5 Nf4 20. Rh4 $44 {but after} Ne6
$17 {I see no compensation for White.}) 15... Nh4 (15... Ng5 16. f4 Ne4 17.
Nxe4 dxe4 18. f5 $40) 16. Rhg1 {With his bishop isolated on the queenside,
Black faces serious problems stopping White's slow but logical attack.} f6 $6 {
The plan initiated by this move will fail by just one tempo.} (16... Nf5 $6 17.
Qg4 Qc8 18. Bh6 $1 $16) ({Black should probably start with completing his
development with} 16... Qd7 $5 {, although White has plenty of play anyway.}
17. Qh5 (17. Rg4 Nf5 18. Rdg1 Qe6 $15) (17. Bg5 Qf5 $5 (17... Ng6 18. h4 $40) (
17... Nf5 18. Qg4 g6 19. Rd3 $40) 18. Rg3 (18. Bxh4 Qf4+ 19. Qe3 Qxh4 20. f4 f5
$13) 18... Ng6 (18... Rae8 19. Qh5 $40) 19. h4 $5 Nxh4 20. Bxh4 Qf4+ 21. Qe3
Qxh4 22. f4 $44) 17... Nf5 (17... Ng6 $2 18. Rg3 $40) 18. Bh6 Nxh6 19. Qxh6 (
19. Rxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Qf6+ Kg8 22. Rg1+ Ng4 23. h3 h5 $11 24. hxg4 $2
Kh7 $1 25. g5 Qe6 26. g6+ Kh6 27. Qg5+ Kg7 28. gxf7+ Kxf7 29. Qxh5+ Ke7 30. Rg6
Qf7 $17) 19... f6 20. e6 Qe7 21. Ne2 $44) 17. Qh5 $1 (17. exf6 $6 Qxf6 $1 18.
Bg5 Qf7 19. Bxh4 Qf4+ $15) 17... Ng6 18. Rg3 $40 {[%cal Gg3h3] White's attack
develops by simple means.} fxe5 $6 (18... Rf7 $6 19. e6 Re7 20. f4 f5 21. Qxf5
Nf8 22. Qg4 Nxe6 23. f5 $18) (18... Re8 $5 19. f4 (19. Rh3 Nf8 20. f4 $44)
19... fxe5 20. fxe5 $44 {Black has managed to stabilise the position, but his
kingside remains under pressure.}) 19. Rh3 Qf6 $6 {This seems to be the losing
move.} ({However, the fact that} 19... Kf7 {is the only way to keep Black
alive says a lot about Black's situation in general.}) 20. Rg1 $1 $18 exd4 (
20... Nf4 21. Qxh7+ Kf7 22. dxe5 Qxe5 23. Rf3 $1 {Ni Hua} (23. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 24.
Kb1 Bd4 25. Ne2 Qxf2 $13) 23... Ke8 24. Bxb6 Ne2+ (24... axb6 25. Re3 $18) 25.
Nxe2 Rxf3 26. Bc5 $18) 21. Qxh7+ Kf7 22. Rxg6 Qxg6 23. Rf3+ Qf6 24. Rxf6+ Kxf6
25. Qh4+ Ke5 26. Qe7+ Kf5 27. Qd7+ (27. Qg5+ Ke6 28. Qg4+ Ke5 29. Qxg7+ Rf6 30.
Bg5 $18) 27... Kg6 28. Bxd4 Bxd4 29. Qg4+ Kh7 30. Qxd4 Rf6 31. Nd1 a6 32. Ne3
Re8 33. Ng4 Rfe6 34. Qd3+ Kh8 35. Qxa6 c5 36. Qd3 c4 37. Qh3+ (37. Qxd5 Re1+
38. Kc2 R8e2+ 39. Kc3 Rc1+ 40. Kb4 Rxb2+ 41. Kc5 $18 Rxa2 42. Qh5+ Kg8 43. Qe8+
Kh7 44. Nf6+ gxf6 45. Qf7+ Kh8 46. Qxf6+ Kh7 47. Qh4+ Kg7 48. Qg5+ Kf7 49. Qxc1
$18) 37... Kg8 38. Ne3 c6 39. Qg4 Rf6 40. Qd7 Re4 41. Nf5 Rf7 (41... Re1+ 42.
Kd2 Rg1 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Ne7 $40) 42. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "Reggio Emilia 50th"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "2007.12.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2007.12.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 ({I expected} 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2 {, of
course.}) 3... Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. Bg5 {I knew that my
opponent tries to deviate from the classical paths of the Giuoco Pianisimo as
soon as possible and that one of his mehtods is to pin the f6-knight. This
partly explains why I did not retreat with the bishop to a7 yet.} h6 8. Bh4 Be7
$5 ({Since White has not castled short yet, it is dangerous to play} 8... g5 $6
{, for instance:} 9. Bg3 d6 10. Nbd2 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe2 Bg6 13. h4 Nh5 14.
hxg5 Nxg3 15. fxg3 hxg5 16. O-O-O Kg7 17. Nc4 f6 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 Ba7 20.
Ne3 Re8 21. Bc2 Qe7 22. e5 $40 {Ivanchuk-Marin,M/Ciudad Real blitz 2007 (1-0,
28)}) 9. Nbd2 (9. Bg3 d5 $5) 9... d6 ({When I looked at the whole variation,
shortly after my blitz game against Ivanchuk, I planned to play} 9... Nh5 10.
Bg3 Nxg3 (10... d6 $6 11. Nc4 (11. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. Qxh5 Qxd3 14.
Qxe5 $14) 11... Nf4 $2 (11... Nxg3 $1 $11) 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Qd2 $14 {Zaitsev,
M (2466)-Harikrishna,P (2599)/playchess.com INT 2004/CBM 099 ext (1-0, 53)})
11. hxg3 d6 $11 {, but during the game I did not feel like opening the h-file
too soon.}) 10. Bg3 {He was probably worried about ...Nh5 all the same, but I
believe that this voluntary bishop retreat is too passive to offer White an
advantage.} Re8 (10... Nh5 $6 11. Nxe5) 11. Nf1 Bf8 {This was the first round
of the tournament and, not being entirely sure about my sporting form, I aimed
to maintain the position closed for as long as possible. This strategy
eventually proved correct for this specific game, but objectively speaking
Black could have fought for the initiative already.} (11... d5 $5 12. Qe2 a5 $1
13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 a4 15. Bc2 a3 16. b3 Ng4 17. Bg3 dxe4 18. dxe4 Bf6 $36)
12. Ne3 Be6 13. Bh4 $5 {This is a good moment to put the knight under pin
again, but this bishop has moved quite a lot already.} g6 (13... Be7 14. Bxe6
fxe6 15. Qb3 Qd7 16. O-O $14) 14. Nd2 (14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. Nd5 Bg7 16. O-O Nb8 {
[%cal Gb8d7]}) 14... Bg7 15. Qf3 {Black seems to be under pressure, but
White's development is a bit artificial. Black only needs to find a way to
over-protect his f6-knight...} Nb8 $5 16. Bc2 Nbd7 17. g4 {My opponent was
inclined towards a slow course of events, too.} ({The dynamic alternative was} 
17. d4 {[%csl Ge6]} Nf8 (17... exd4 18. cxd4 c5 19. d5 Ne5 20. Qg3 $36 {
[%cal Gf2f4]}) 18. O-O-O N8h7 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Ndc4 Qe7 (20... Qc8 $5 21. Nxe5
Bxa2 $132) 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Qe6 23. Rc5 b6 24. Rxc7 Rec8 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8
26. b3 b5 27. Nd2 Ng5 28. Qe3 Bf8 $44) 17... Nf8 18. Nf5 N8h7 $1 (18... gxf5
19. gxf5 Bd7 20. Rg1 $18) 19. Nxg7 $6 {It was tempting to eliminate this
bishop, but the truth is that White releases the pressure too soon.} (19. Rg1
$5 c5 $13) 19... Kxg7 $15 {Black is better developed and has active
possibilities in the centre and on the queenside. White does not have a clear
attacking plan on the kingside.} 20. h3 c5 21. Bg3 {Tiviakov was probably
concerned about preventing the opening of the centre with ...d5, but the
bishop stands badly on g3..} (21. Nf1 {[%csl Gd5,Gf5][%cal Gf1e3]} Ng5 (21...
d5 $5 22. Ne3 d4 $15) 22. Qe3 Qb6 $36 23. b3 $2 Qa5 24. Kd2 d5 $19 {[%csl Gd2]}
) (21. O-O-O Qa5 22. a3 b5 $36 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gb5b4]}) (21. Qe3 $5) 21... h5
$6 {"One should not move pawns on the wing where one is under pressure."} (
21... Qb6 $5 22. Bb3 (22. O-O-O Bxa2 23. b3 $2 a5 $1 24. Kb2 $2 a4 $1 25. Kxa2
axb3+ $19) (22. b3 Qa5 23. c4 Qc3 $17) 22... Bxb3 23. axb3 d5 $15) 22. gxh5 $6
{A very "cooperative move", after which White's position becomes quite
unappealing because of the weakness of the f4-square.} (22. g5 $5 Nxg5 23. Qg2
{[%cal Gf2f4]} Qd7 {[%csl Gh3]} 24. Bxe5 dxe5 25. Qxg5 Qd6 $13) (22. Bh4 $5)
22... Nxh5 $15 {[%csl Gf4]} 23. a3 Qf6 24. Qe3 b5 25. O-O-O a5 {In order to
stop Black's attack, White has to block the queenside, which leads to chronic
weakness of the dark squares, d4 first of all.} 26. a4 b4 27. c4 Bd7 28. Rdf1
Nf4 {In view of the weakness of the dark squares, an exchange on f4 is out of
the question for White.} 29. Bd1 Rh8 ({I refrained from} 29... Ng5 $1 {because
of} 30. Bh4 Rh8 31. Qg3 {failing to notice that after} Rxh4 $1 32. Qxh4 Nxe4
33. Qxf6+ Nxf6 $17 {Black will win a second pawn.}) 30. h4 Nf8 31. b3 Rh6 32.
Rfg1 (32. h5 g5 33. Rfg1 N8e6 34. Bg4 Rg8 35. Nf3 Kf8 $15) 32... N8e6 33. Bg4
Rah8 34. Nf3 Nf8 $1 {[%csl Gh5] Black forces the exchange of the bishops for
two reasons. First of all, his own bishop was not doing much already, being
covered by the knight. Secondly, the presence of the enemy bishop enables an
eventual break with h5.} 35. Bxf4 $2 (35. Bxd7 Nxd7 36. Nh2 Qe6 $15 37. Bxf4 $2
exf4 38. Qxf4 Rxh4 $19 {[%csl Gh2]}) 35... exf4 $17 36. e5 dxe5 37. Qxc5 (37.
Qxe5 Bc6 $17) 37... e4 38. Nd4 Bxg4 39. Rxg4 Nd7 40. Qa7 (40. Nf5+ Kh7 $19) (
40. Qd6 Qxd6 41. Nf5+ Kf8 42. Nxd6 Ne5 43. Rg2 Nxd3+ 44. Kc2 Rxh4 $19) 40...
Ne5 41. Rg5 (41. Rxf4 Nxd3+) 41... Nxd3+ 42. Kb1 Rd8 43. Rd5 Rxd5 44. cxd5 Rh5
(44... Rh5 45. Ne6+ Kh6 46. Qd4 Qxd4 47. Nxd4 Rxd5 48. Ne2 f3 49. Ng3 Nxf2 50.
Re1 f5 $19) 0-1

[Event "ROM-chT"]
[Site "Predeal"]
[Date "2007.10.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nevednichy, Vladislav"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "194"]
[EventDate "2007.10.13"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. h3
Ba7 9. Be3 {This move cannot be found in any opening books. However, in recent
years it has caused Black some trouble in games between strong players. This
game will be no exception. White's idea is that Black cannot afford to play
symmetrically. Bxa7 is a much more unpleasant threat than ...Bxe6. The former
would provoke the undesirable misplacement of one of Black's pieces, while the
latter can be answered comfortably with either Qxb3 or axb3.} Bxe3 (9... Be6
10. Bxe6 {One of the possible continuations.} (10. Nbd2 {is likely to
transpose to the main game. If Black refrains from the exchange on e3 with,
say,} Qe7 {the a7-bishop would remain passive after} 11. d4) 10... fxe6 11.
Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. d4 Qf6 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Rae1 Na5 16. Qc2 Nc6 17. Qb3
Na5 18. Qd1 Raa8 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Qe2 $14 {[%csl Re5,Re6] Nevednichy,V (2594)
-Pavasovic,D (2527)/Sibenik 2005/CBM 108 ext (1-0, 60)}) 10. fxe3 {It will not
be easy for Black to question White's domination in the centre. Besides, the
pressure along the f-file is likely to become annoying in the long run.} Be6 (
10... Ne7 $6 {allows} 11. Nh4 $1 $36 {Harikrishna,P (2673)-Sokolov,I (2696)/
Hoogeveen 2005/CBM 110/[Lukacs] (1-0, 40)}) 11. Nbd2 Qe7 $146 {I believe that
this is a good square for the queen, allowing its optimal cooperation with the
knights.} (11... Qd7 12. d4 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Rfe8 14. Rae1 $14 {[%csl Rf7]}) (
11... Bxb3 12. Qxb3 b5 13. d4 Nd7 14. Rf2 (14. a4 $5 $14) 14... Na5 15. Qc2 c5
16. dxc5 $6 (16. d5 $1 $14 {[%cal Ya1f1] would have led to a similar situation
as after Black's inaccuracy in the main game.}) 16... dxc5 17. c4 Qe7 18. Raf1
Nb6 19. b3 Nc6 $132 {Nevednichy,V (2581)-Jovanic,O (2477)/Nova Gorica 2006/CBM
110 ext (0-1, 41). With the d-file open, White cannot concentrate on his
kingside attack.}) 12. d4 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Rab8 (13... exd4 14. exd4 (14. Qxb7
dxe3 $1) 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 $1 (15. Qxb7 Qd7 $1 16. Qb3 $8 Ng3 17. Rfe1 d5 18.
Qc2 Rae8 19. Qd3 Qd6 20. Qxa6 (20. Nb3 f5 $132 {[%csl Ye4][%cal Gg3e4]}) 20...
Ne2+ $1 $11 21. Rxe2 $2 Nxd4 $1 $17) 15... Qxe4 16. Qxb7 (16. Rae1 Qf5 17. Ne5
Qh5 {is less clear.}) 16... Rab8 17. Qxc7 Rxb2 18. Qxd6 Qe3+ 19. Kh2 Qxc3 20.
Rac1 Rc2 21. Rxc2 Qxc2 22. d5 $14) 14. Rae1 g6 $6 {A stereotypical plan. Black
intends to transfer his king's knight to g7, as in the Czech Benoni. This plan
also works in some lines of the Chigorin Ruy Lopez, but with the f-file under
pressure, Black will not manage to play ...f5 and his knight will remain
passive.} ({Once the white queen's rook has abandoned the a-file,} 14... b5 {
deserves serious attention already.} 15. Rf2 (15. Nh4 {is inoffensive because
of} g6 $1 {[%csl Gh4]}) 15... Nd7 16. Ref1 Nd8 17. Qc2 (17. d5 c6 $132) 17...
c6 (17... Ne6 18. d5 $14 Ng5 19. Nh2 $1) 18. b3 Ne6 19. c4 exd4 20. exd4 c5
$132 21. d5 $6 Nf4 $1 $15 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Gf4g6]}) 15. Rf2 Nh5 16. g4 Ng7 17.
Ref1 Nd8 18. Kh2 (18. d5 $5 $14) 18... Nde6 19. d5 Ng5 20. c4 ({I planned to
meet} 20. Ng1 {with} f5 $6 (20... h5 {is tempting, but weakening the kingside
is risky, especially since the g7-knight will remain passive anyway.}) {
, but White seems to be able to repel Black's "attack".} 21. exf5 gxf5 22. gxf5
e4 23. f6 (23. Rf4 Nh5 24. Rg4 Kh8 $132) 23... Qe5+ 24. Kh1 Nh5 25. Nc4 Qxd5
26. Rd1 {[%cal Gb3g8,Gg2g8]}) 20... Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 $14 {Black has no
constructive plan and has to play a defensive game.} f6 $6 {Careless.} (21...
c5 $2 22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Rxf7 $1 $16) (21... Kh8 {[%cal Gf7f6]}) 22. R3f2 $6 {
Missing a good chance to open the queenside, too.} (22. c5 $1 dxc5 $2 23. d6+
Qe6 (23... Qf7 24. dxc7 Rbc8 25. Rxf6 Qxb3 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.
c8=Q+ $18) 24. dxc7 Rbc8 25. Qxb7 $16) 22... Rf7 23. Qc2 c5 24. b3 Rbf8 25. a3
a5 26. Rf3 Qd7 27. R1f2 Ne8 28. Qd3 Nc7 29. a4 (29. Nf1 a4 30. b4 cxb4 31. axb4
Na6 32. Qa3 b5 $132) 29... Ne8 30. Nf1 Ng7 {Once the queenside has been
blocked, Black is out of any real danger. White can increase his pressure
gradually, but has little chance of a successfull attack.} 31. Ng3 Ne8 32. Kg2
Ng7 33. Kf1 Ne8 34. Ke1 Ng7 35. Kd2 Ne8 36. Kc2 Ng7 37. Qf1 Ne8 38. Qe1 b6 39.
Qf1 Kh8 40. Qe2 Ng7 41. Rf1 Kg8 42. R3f2 Kh8 43. Kd3 Kg8 44. h4 h6 (44... Kh8
45. h5 g5 46. h6 Ne8 47. Nf5 {looks too passive for Black.}) 45. Rg2 Kh7 46.
Rfg1 Kh8 $11 {By this point, my opponent's team was leading with 3-2 and our
game was the last one left. Nevednichy's team mates were waiting for a good
moment to tell him to offer a draw (which I could hardly have refused), but he
was faster than them and delivered the suicidal blow:} 47. Nf5 $2 (47. Qf3 Kh7
$11 48. Nf5 $2 gxf5 49. gxf5 Rh8 50. Rg6 Kg8 $17) 47... gxf5 48. gxf5 Ne8 $17
49. Rg6 Rh7 50. Qg4 Ng7 51. h5 Rf7 52. Qh4 Qe7 53. R6g2 Kg8 54. Rg6 Kf8 55. Kc3
Ke8 56. Kd3 Kd7 57. R1g4 Ne8 58. Qg3 Rfg7 59. Ke2 Rxg6 60. hxg6 Rh8 61. Rh4 Qg7
62. Rh5 Ke7 63. Qh2 Kf8 64. Kf3 Kg8 65. Qh3 Qf8 66. Qh1 Kg7 67. Qf1 Nc7 68. Qe2
Na6 69. Qf1 Nb8 70. Qh1 Nd7 71. Qe1 Qb8 72. Qe2 Qa7 73. Qc2 Nb8 74. Qe2 Na6 75.
Qf1 Nc7 76. Qe2 Ne8 77. Qc2 Nc7 78. Qe2 Na6 79. Qf1 (79. Qd2 Nb8 80. Qc2 Nd7
81. Rh1 h5 $1 (81... b5 82. axb5 a4 83. bxa4 Nb6 84. Ra1)) 79... Nb8 80. Qe2
Nd7 {I should have executed this manoeuvre with the queen on several squares,
in order to secure half an hour for the rest of the game, but was too ashamed
to do that. Later, when I missed finding the win because of time trouble, I
understood that I was not too professional.} 81. Qc2 b5 82. axb5 $2 (82. cxb5
$17) 82... a4 $19 83. bxa4 Nb6 84. Qc3 Qxa4 85. Rh1 Ra8 (85... Nxc4 86. Ra1
Nd2+ $1 87. Ke2 Nxe4 88. Qc1 (88. Qb2 Qxb5+ $1) 88... Qxb5+ 89. Kf3 Ng5+ 90.
Kg3 h5 $19) 86. Qe1 Qa5 87. Qf1 Rh8 88. Rh2 Qa4 $2 (88... Qa3 $1 {Ioan Cosma}
89. Qb1 Nxc4 90. Ra2 Qxe3+ 91. Kg2 Na3 $19) 89. Qb1 $1 Qxc4 90. Ra2 $44 Ra8 91.
Rxa8 Nxa8 92. b6 Nxb6 93. Qxb6 Qf1+ 94. Kg3 Qg1+ 95. Kf3 Qf1+ 96. Kg3 Qg1+ 97.
Kf3 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cupa Dinamo"]
[Site "Brasov"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svetushkin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Rogozenco, Dorian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1998.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
d6 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Ng3 g5 14. Nh2 Qg6 15. Qd2
Ne7 16. d4 h5 17. Bc2 Kg7 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Qe3 Qb6 $6 21. Nxh5+
Nxh5 22. Qxg5+ Ng6 23. Qxh5 Qxb2 24. Bb3 Qxc3 25. Rac1 Qb4 26. Nf3 Qe7 $16 27.
Bxf7 $2 (27. Qg5 $142) 27... Rxf7 $2 (27... Qxf7 $142 28. Ng5 $140 $2 Qxf2+ 29.
Kh2 Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Nf4+ $19) 28. Ng5 c6 (28... Rf6 29. Rxc7 Qxc7 30. Qh7+) 29.
Re3 (29. Nxf7 $13) 29... Rf6 30. h4 $44 Be6 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. h5 Bg8 (32... Nf4
$5 33. Qh8+ Bg8 34. Nh7+ Kf7 35. Ng5+ $2 Ke8 36. Qxg8+ Rf8 37. Qc4 Qxg5 $19)
33. Qh6+ Qg7 34. Qxg7+ Kxg7 35. hxg6 Bxa2 36. Nf3 a5 37. Nxe5 a4 38. g3 Bg8 39.
Rd3 b5 40. f4 a3 41. f5 a2 42. Kf2 b4 43. Ng4 b3 44. Rd2 Rb7 45. Rb2 c5 46.
Nxf6 Kxf6 47. Ke3 c4 48. Kf4 Rb6 49. g4 c3 $1 50. Rd2 $3 Rb7 $2 (50... cxd2 $2
51. Rc7 $18) (50... b2 51. Rxc3 b1=Q 52. e5+ Ke7 (52... Kg7 53. Rd7+ $18) 53.
Rc7+ Ke8 54. Rc8+ Ke7 $11) 51. e5+ Kg7 (51... Ke7 52. f6+ Ke8 (52... Ke6 53.
Rd6#) 53. Rxc3 Rb8 (53... Be6 54. Rh3 $18) 54. Rc7 Be6 (54... a1=Q 55. Re7+ Kf8
56. g7#) 55. g7 $18) 52. Kg5 Kf8 (52... cxd2 53. f6+ Kh8 54. Rh1+ Bh7 (54...
Rh7 55. g7#) 55. f7 Rxf7 56. gxf7 Kg7 57. Rf1 Kf8 58. e6 $18) 53. Rxc3 a1=Q $2
(53... Rb8 54. Rc1 b2 55. Rxb2 Rxb2 56. Rc8+ Ke7 57. f6+ Kd7 58. f7 Bxf7 59.
gxf7 Rf2 (59... a1=Q 60. f8=Q) 60. Ra8) 54. Rc8+ Ke7 55. f6+ Ke6 56. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 76th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2014.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 159"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 {Quite a curious deccision.
This line is known as harmful for decades already. We can only speculate
whether Harikrishna had prepared any surprize in one of the lines, or he
simply wanted to neutralize the jetlag with a simple first round draw.} exd4 6.
cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 ({The simplest continuation is} 7... Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9.
exd5 Nxd5 {, see Lukacs' extensive survey in the notes to Van den Doel,E (2599)
-Sokolov,I (2690)/Leeuwarden 2004/CBM 102/[Lukacs] (0-1, 57)}) 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Ke6 {Could Harikrishna have hoped that Aronian
would not know that this extravagant move, in the spirit of some of Steinitz'
games, is the best? Nah...} 12. Qxb4 Qf8 {Going the safe way.} ({For} 12... c5
{there is another Lukacs survey in the notes to Lee,G (2361)-Flear,G (2538)/
Torquay 2002/CBM 091/[Lukacs] (1/2, 75) I would add that 11...Ke6 is known to
be the best at least since the following game lost with white by the then
World Champion:} 13. Qa4 Qb6 14. Nd3 c4 15. Nf4+ Kf5 {Even more Steinitzian
thinking.} ({Unfortunately,} 15... Kf7 {is better.}) 16. Nxd5 Qxd4 17. Ne3+ Kg6
$13 {Lasker,E-Paredes/USA 1906/EXT 1999 (0-1, 32)}) 13. Qxf8 Rxf8 14. Nc3 ({
The old theory had} 14. f3 Nd6 15. Nc3 Nf5 16. O-O-O c6 17. Rhe1 Kd6 $11 {
Rossolimo,N-Addison,W/New York 1965/MCL (1/2, 45)}) 14... c6 15. f3 Nd6 16. Kf2
Nf5 17. Rhe1 Kd6 18. Rad1 g6 19. b4 Bd7 20. Na4 b6 21. Rd2 Rae8 22. Nc3 Re7 23.
Rc1 Be8 24. Ne2 Ng7 25. Re1 Ne6 26. Nc1 Rf4 27. Ne2 Rf5 28. Nc3 Rf4 29. Ne2 Rf5
30. Nc3 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. d3 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 $5 {Anand
had faced this relatively unexplored line with Black recently and despite
winning the game he must have found it interesting enough to include it in his
repertoire for the Candidates tournament.} Ba7 (7... O-O 8. Re1 h6 {Giri,A 
(2798)-Anand,V (2784) Zuerich 2016 CBM 171 [Marin,M] (0-1, 45)}) 8. Na3 Ne7 9.
Nc2 ({Four rounds later he deviated with} 9. Bg5 c6 10. Nc2 (10. Bxf6 gxf6 {
[%cal Gd6d5,Gh8g8]} 11. d4 d5 12. Bd3 f5 $36) 10... O-O 11. Nh4 d5 12. exd5
Nexd5 13. Nf3 Qd6 14. Re1 Bg4 15. Bh4 Rae8 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bg3 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4
19. d4 c5 $36 {Anand,V (2762)-Giri,A (2793) Moscow 2016 (1/2-1/2, 52)}) 9...
Ng6 10. Be3 ({Since the knight will soon land on e3. it does not make sense to
waste a tempo on preventing ...Bg4 with} 10. h3 O-O 11. Re1 c6 12. Ba2 Re8 13.
d4 exd4 14. Ncxd4 Nxe4 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Rxe4 Rxe4 17. Ng5+ Kg8 18. Nxe4 d5
19. Ng3 Qf6 $11 {Pacher,M (2502)-Kantor,G (2418) Budapest 2016 (1-0, 33)})
10... O-O (10... Bxe3 11. Nxe3 O-O {transposes to the line from the next
comment.}) 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Ne3 Ng4 $6 {Aronian probably felt like taking
advantage of Anand's omitting h2-h3, but his last move will eventually prove a
waste of time resulting in delayed development.} (12... Ra8 13. a5 c6 {[%cal
Gd6d5] looks normal for Black.}) {Anand does not seem keen to play with
doubled pawns.} 13. Qd2 ({Actually, the position resulting after} 13. a5 Ra8
14. h3 Nxe3 15. fxe3 {[%cal Gd1b3,Gd3d4];Anand,V (2784)-Aronian,L (2792)
Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th 2016 (1) 1-0 yields White some initiative.
In this structure it is useful to have the queen on d1 as it could later go to
b3 or in some cases to f3. Compare with} {If} Be6 (15... Qe7 16. Qb3) 16. Bxe6
fxe6 17. Qb3 Qc8 18. h4 Nh8 19. d4 $14 {White's chances are better despite the
almost symmetrical structure.}) 13... a5 {Black keeps neglecting his
development for the sake of strategic moves.} ({A simpler way was} 13... Ra8
14. a5 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qe7 {[%cal Gc8e6]}) 14. d4 Ra8 (14... Nxe3 15. Qxe3 b6 {
highlights White's advance in development after} 16. dxe5 dxe5 (16... Nxe5 17.
Nxe5 dxe5 18. Rad1 Qe8 19. b3 Be6 20. Bd5) 17. Rfd1 Qf6 (17... Qe7 18. g3) 18.
Qg5 Qxg5 19. Nxg5 $14) 15. dxe5 $1 {A principled decision: the better
developed side should open the centre.} N4xe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bb3 $14 {
White has more space and is better coordinated. Black has no significant
weaknesses but needs to act with care.} Nd7 $5 {Anticipating the permanent
threat f2-f4 and aiming to trasfer the knight to a better square. But on c5
the knight will not enjoy the desired stability either.} (17... Be6 18. Bd5
Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Nd7 $14) 18. Bc2 Re8 19. f3 b6 $6 {To a certain extent the same
policy as when Black played ...a6-a5. Black's structure looks nice, but the
last move does not help developing the queenside. Moreover, the weakness of
the long diagonal will cause him huge problems in the endgame.} 20. Rfd1 Nc5
21. b4 Nd7 22. Bb3 {This knight has jumped around a lot without achieving
anything concrete.} Nf6 ({Aronian probably rejected} 22... Bb7 {because he
wanted to neutralise the enemy bishop with ...Be6. But this will not happen.})
23. Qd4 Qe7 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Ra7 ({Had Aronian anticipated the problems
with freeing this caged rook, he might have preferred} 25... Rb8 {even though
it implies weakening his queenside.} 26. bxa5 bxa5 27. Qa7 Be6 (27... Rb2 28.
Ra2 $16) 28. Bxe6 fxe6 29. Rab1 Ra8 30. Qb7 $14) 26. b5 $1 Bb7 27. c4 $1 {
After White's precise pawn moves Black can free his rook only by strenghening
White's structure with ...Bxd5, cxd5, when the c7-pawn would be chronically
weak.} Qe5 28. Rac1 Qxd4+ 29. Rxd4 {The endgame is very unpleasant for Black.
White can start a slow kingside attack, enjoying practically an extra rook!}
Kf8 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. f4 f6 32. Rc3 Kd7 33. Rh3 h6 34. Rg3 Re7 35. Rg6 Bxd5 {
A necessary concession.} ({The tortuous regrouping started with} 35... Kc8 {
is too slow:} 36. h4 Ra8 (36... h5 37. Bc6 Bxc6 38. bxc6 Ra8 39. Rd5 $18 {
[%csl Gh5]}) 37. h5 Rb8 (37... Kb8 38. Rd3 Ka7 39. Rdg3 Bxd5 40. exd5 $16 Rg8
$2 41. Rxh6 $1 $18) 38. e5 $1 fxe5 (38... dxe5 39. Rxg7 $3 {[%cal Ge7g7,Gd5e6]}
Bxd5 40. Rxe7 exd4 41. cxd5 $18) 39. Be6+ Rxe6 (39... Kd8 40. fxe5 $18) 40.
Rxe6 exd4 41. Re8+ Kd7 42. Rxb8 Be4 43. Rg8 $18) 36. cxd5 Ra8 37. Kf3 Rae8 {
Black has finally managed to regroup properly. His only chance to survive
White's crushing space advantage is the pressure on e4.} 38. Kg4 ({The most
consistent plan starts with} 38. f5 {for instance} Kc8 39. Kf4 Kd7 40. Rg3 Kc8
41. Rc4 Kd8 42. Re3 Kc8 43. Kg4 Kb7 44. Kh5 Re5 45. Kg6 R8e7 46. g4 Kc8 47. h4
Kd7 48. Rg3 Kd8 49. g5 hxg5 50. hxg5 fxg5 51. Rxg5 Rd7 52. Kh7 Ree7 53. Rg6 Kc8
54. Re6 Kd8 55. Rc2 $18 {[%cal Gc2g2]}) 38... Rxe4 39. Rxg7+ Kc8 {Evacuating
the king from the centre leaves White a free hand on the kingside.} 40. Rd2 Kb8
(40... Rxa4 41. Rc2 Re5 $2 {does not work any more due to} 42. Rgxc7+ Kd8 43.
Rc8+ Ke7 44. R2c7#) 41. Rc2 Rc8 42. Ra2 $18 {For the time being White keeps
his a-pawn. When his kingside attack will reach more advanced phases the rook
will be able to return into play.} Rd4 43. Kf5 Rxd5+ (43... Rf8 44. g3 Rxd5+
45. Ke6 Rd4 46. Ke7 $18) 44. Kxf6 Rf8+ 45. Rf7 Rxf7+ 46. Kxf7 Rf5+ 47. Kg6 Rxf4
48. g3 Rc4 49. Kxh6 {Black has a passive king and an inferior structure. With
just one passed pawn he cannot generate enough counterplay.} d5 50. Kh5 {
The simplest way to start advancing the pawns.} d4 51. g4 d3 52. h4 Rd4 (52...
Rc2 53. Ra1 d2 54. Rd1 $18) 53. Rd2 Kc8 54. g5 Kd7 55. Kg6 Rxh4 56. Rxd3+ Ke8
57. Ra3 {Same comment as on move 42.} Rc4 58. Kg7 Kd7 59. g6 c6 60. Kf6 cxb5
61. g7 Rg4 62. axb5 Rg1 63. Rd3+ Ke8 64. Re3+ Kd7 65. Re5 Rxg7 66. Rd5+ (66.
Rd5+ Ke8 67. Kxg7 {leaves the king cut off from the play, preventing any
counterplay based on advancing the passed pawn.}) 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 8th"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2007.04.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Andriasian, Zaven"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2523"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.04.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 a6 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. h3 h6 {This is a Jussupov specialty.} ({Other popular moves are} 9...
Ne7) ({and} 9... Be6) 10. Nc4 {White intends to save a tempo (Re1) while
transferring his knight to the kingside. However, there are two small
drawbacks of this move. First of all, the knight will only have access to e3;
sometimes g3 is a better square, which gives meaning to Re1 /\Nf1. It is true
that in many cases, this could be of little relevance, since the final target
is the f5-square anyway. The second aspect is slightly more important. Before
jumping to e3 with his knight, White would like to exchange the dark-squared
bishops with Be3, but with the knight on c4 this could cause some problems
after ...b5.} ({The main line goes} 10. Re1 {. About two decades ago, Jussupov
designed the plan} Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6) 10... Be6 11. Re1 (11. Be3 {It would be
nice if Black would just capture on e3, or if he would allow Bxa7 followed by
Ne3, but...} b5 ({Another drawback of the move Nc4 is that it allows the
simplifications with} 11... Bxc4 12. Bxc4 Na5 13. Bb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 Bxe3 15.
fxe3 b5 16. a4 c6 $11 {Gunnarsson,J (2419)-Babula,V (2567)/Plovdiv 2003/CBM
098 (0-1, 31)}) 12. Ncd2 {The knight has to abandon its dreams of reaching e3
in the near future.} (12. Bxa7 $2 bxc4 $19) 12... d5 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Qe2 Re8
15. a4 b4 16. a5 Qd6 17. Ba4 Bd7 $13 {Kaminski,M (2440)-Almasi,Z (2470)/
Duisburg 1992/TD (1/2-1/2, 30)}) (11. a4 {fails to bother Black.} b5 $1 12. Ne3
d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 {Given the lack of pressure against the e5-pawn, Black has
managed to open the centre under favourable circumstances.} 14. Ng4 Qd6 15. Re1
Rfe8 {Defending the e5-pawn by indirect means, in order to avoid the weakening
move ...f6.} 16. Nh4 (16. Nfxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxc3 $1 18. bxc3 Bxb3 19. Qxb3
Rxe5 $11) 16... h5 17. Nh2 g6 18. N2f3 b4 $132 {Svidler,P (2455)-Almasi,Z 
(2470)/Duisburg 1992/TD (1-0, 47). Black has managed to put the enemy
queenside under pressure while maintaining White's kingside initiative within
bearable limits.}) 11... Re8 12. Ne3 $146 (12. Be3 Qd7 (12... b5 $1 $11) 13.
Bxa7 Nxa7 $5 {An interesting way to re-capture, clearing the way for the
c-pawn.} 14. Ne3 c5 15. Nd2 b5 {The queenside structure is typical for the
Chigorin variation of the closed Spanish. Instead of ...Na5, Black has played .
..Nxa7, which actually offers the knight additional manoeuvring possibilities.}
16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Qf3 Nc8 18. Nf5 Ne7 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Nf1 Qe6 21. Ne3 Rad8
$11 {Prie,E (2335)-Abramovic,B (2485)/Paris 1989/TD (1/2-1/2, 51)}) 12... Bxb3
{Black's play in this phase of the game looks a bit "cooperative", allowing
White to obtain some pressure. Maybe Jussupov relied on his huge experience in
this kind of position and on his belief that Black's defensive resources are
quite rich.} (12... d5 {[%csl Gc1] looks like a more ambitious continuation,
taking advantage of Black's slightly better dveelopment.}) 13. Qxb3 Rb8 ({
The b7-pawn can be defended indirectly with} 13... Qd7 {, but maybe Black
wanted to maintain the freedom of action of his queen.}) ({Eliminating the
aspirant to the f5-square with} 13... Bxe3 {also comes into consideration.})
14. Nf5 Ne7 15. N3h4 Nxf5 16. Nxf5 {White has put the enemy kingside under
some pressure and intends to increase it by transferring the quuen to g3.} Qd7
({The attempt to neutralise White's pressure by occupying the d-file with} 
16... d5 17. Qc2 dxe4 18. dxe4 Qd7 19. Qe2 Rbd8 {fails by one tempo because of}
20. Qf3 {when there is no time for the generally desirable} Qd3 {because of}
21. Nxh6+) 17. Qd1 Kh7 {Black's play in the next phase of the game proves that
White's kingside initiative can be kept under control. However, White can
combine it with the opening of the centre by means of d4.} 18. Qf3 {[%cal
Yf5h6]} Qe6 {[%csl Yf6]} 19. Qg3 Rg8 20. Qh4 Nd7 21. Bg5 {Not really an
attacking move. White just connects his rooks.} Rbe8 22. Rad1 Qg6 23. Bc1 $14 {
White has managed to complete his development without exchanging the
dark-squared bishops, which increases his attacking possibilities. Given
White's more active position, the h6-square is more vulnerable than the
f2-square, which transforms the a7-bishop into a spectator. Another important
achievement is that the f5-knight cannot be exchanged too easily.} Qf6 24. Qh5
Qg6 25. Qf3 Nf8 26. d4 $1 {White's play on two fronts can be quite unpleasant
for Black.} Nd7 27. b3 (27. g3 $14 {[%cal Yg1h2]}) 27... Bb6 28. d5 $6 {
White releases the tension in the centre too soon, allowing Black orientate
his play in a relatively simple way..} (28. g3 $14) 28... Qf6 29. Qe2 Nf8 30.
Rd3 Ng6 {Once he has been absolved by any worries regarding the pressure
against the e5-pawn and the possibility of an invasion along the d-file, Black
can manoeuvre freely with his knight.} 31. g3 Ne7 32. Ne3 ({White does not get
anything from preserving this knight from exchange.} 32. Nh4 g6 (32... g5 $6
33. Rf3 $1 Qg7 34. Nf5 $16) 33. Kg2 Qg7 $132 {[%cal Yf7f5]}) 32... Bxe3 $1 {
Finally eliminating this irritating knight.} 33. Qxe3 Qg6 {[%cal Yf7f5]} 34. f4
{In view of Black's threatened ...f5, White has to play this move in less
favourable circumstances than he would have liked to.} exf4 35. Qxf4 {
Unfortunately, the capture with the pawn is impossible.} Nc8 $1 $11 {[%cal
Yc8b6,Yb6d7,Yd7e5]} 36. c4 Nb6 37. Rde3 Nd7 38. Qf5 Re7 39. Bb2 Rge8 40. Kf2
Ne5 41. Qxg6+ Kxg6 42. g4 f6 43. Bxe5 Rxe5 44. Kg3 a5 45. Kf4 Kf7 46. a3 Ra8
47. Rc1 b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 $5 {Anything is preferable to a Petroff.} Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3
d6 5. c3 Nc6 {From the Bishop's Opening, play has transposed to the Italian
game, the Giuoco Pianisimo variation. Although there are more subtleties here
than the quiet character of the position might suggest, I have the feeling
that it better suits Kramnik's style than Leko's, which makes me doubt whether
the opening choice was really inspired. Or maybe Leko just wanted to take some
sort of additional day-off after his defeat from the previous round?!} 6. Bb3
a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. N3h2 {We have
reached one of the main tabyias of the Giuoco Pianissimo. White concentrates
his forces on the kingside, in order to generate some threats against the
enemy king, while Black is supposed to combine defence with counterplay in the
centre.} Bxb3 13. axb3 (13. Qxb3 {makes less sense, because the queen would
have to return to the kingside anyway.}) 13... Qd7 {A logical move, as one
would expect from Kramnik. Black completes his development by connecting his
rooks. Although play is carried out in "pianissimo mode", neither side should
neglect natural development, especially from the perspective of the possible
opening of the centre with either d4 or ...d5.} (13... a5 {prevents the
generally desirable b4, but does not contribute to development in any way.} 14.
Ng3 d5 {This also looks premature.} 15. Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Re6 17. Nf5 {The
threat Bxh6 forces Black into a slightly contorted regrouping.} Qf8 18. Qg3 Kh8
19. Ng4 Nh7 (19... Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qc5 21. g5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 $40 {Gavrikov;
Chebanenko}) 20. Nge3 Rg6 21. Qh4 $14 {Gavrikov,V (2550)-Van der Sterren,P 
(2520)/Tallinn 1987/EXT 97 (1-0, 35). White has strong pressure on the
kingside and in the centre.}) (13... Re6 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Qf3 Kh8 {Black
focuses on defence, giving up the idea of opening play in the centre. This
will give White the possibility to consolidate his domination.} 16. Nf5 Rg8 17.
b4 Bb6 18. Ng4 Nh7 ({The opening of the h-file with} 18... Nxg4 19. hxg4 $16 {
is very dangerous for Black, because of the placement of his king.}) 19. Nge3
Bxe3 20. Bxe3 $14 {White has completed his development, has more space and an
active bishop.} Rf6 21. Qg4 Rg6 22. Qf3 Rf6 23. Qd1 Ne7 24. Ng3 Nc6 25. Qb3 Qe6
26. Qa4 Rg6 27. b5 axb5 28. Qxb5 Rb8 29. d4 $16 {Ye Jiangchuan (2510)-Pinter,J
(2595)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext (1-0, 71). The greater mobility of White's
pieces have allowed him to increase his advantage, by switching to the other
wing. The g6-rook and the h7-knight have remained mere spectators.}) (13... Ne7
14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Ng4 {This might be slightly premature.} (15. Qf3 Qe6 16. b4 {
transposes to our main game.}) 15... Nxg4 16. hxg4 d5 {And this is very
slightly premature, too.} (16... Qe6 17. b4 d5 {is a slightly improved form of
the main game from Black's point of view, because he saved the move ...c6.})
17. Qf3 dxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 Qe6 21. b4 f6 22. Be3 {
Svetushkin,D (2486)-Sharma,D (2327)/Linares 2000/CBM 075 (1-0, 77). White is
only minimally (possibly, optically) better, because of the relative weakness
of the enemy kingside. However, the symmetrical character of the position
should entitle Black to hope for full equality.}) 14. Qf3 Qe6 15. Ng3 Ne7 {
[%csl Gf5]} (15... Qxb3 $2 16. Nf5 $1 $40 {[%cal Yf5h6,Yf3g3,Yc1h6]} (16. Bxh6
Qxb2 $5 $132 {[%csl Gf2]})) 16. b4 (16. Ng4 $6 Nxg4 17. hxg4 Qxb3) 16... c6 17.
Ng4 {White builds up his typical kingside attack, but Black is slightly better
developed and has the possibility of reacting in the centre.} Nxg4 ({This is
probably better than} 17... Nh7 {, as played in Leko-Anand, Sarajevo 1999.
White maintained some pressure for a while, but later lost a pawn and had to
fight for a draw.} 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Rad8 20. d4 (20. f4 $5 {might be a
better way to fight for space.}) 20... exd4 21. Qxd4 (21. cxd4 Qg6 {/\f5, /\Nd5
} 22. Ra5 d5 $5 $132 {<->5}) 21... Qg6 22. Ne3 Ng5 $11 {Leko,P (2694)-Adams,M 
(2716)/Sarajevo 1999/CBM 071 (1/2-1/2, 61)}) 18. hxg4 d5 19. Nf5 Rad8 {Black
has completed the mobilisation of his forces and has at least equal chances.}
20. g3 f6 21. Kg2 dxe4 22. dxe4 Nxf5 23. gxf5 Qc4 24. Be3 {White decides to
complete his development, practically giving up any hope of a sacrificial
attack based on Bxh6 and tacitly offering a draw.} ({It is instructive to
check that White's attack has no real chances for success, mainly because his
development is incomplete. However, this does not mean he could not have tried
it:} 24. Qg4 Kf8 $1 (24... Kh8 $4 25. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 26. Rh1 $18) 25. Rh1 (25. f4
{is risky, because it sets up tension which White is not prepared for:} Rd3 $5
26. fxe5 Bb8 $1 $15 {[%cal Yb8e5]}) 25... Rd7 (25... Rd3 $2 26. Bxh6 gxh6 27.
Rxh6 Ke7 28. Rh7+ Kd8 29. Qg7 $18) (25... Re7 $5) {Unfortunately, White cannot
activate the other rook BEFORE making this sacrifice.} 26. Bxh6 gxh6 27. Rxh6
Ke7 $1 28. Rh7+ Kd8 29. Rd1 Ree7 30. Rxd7+ Rxd7 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33.
Qxb7 Qxe4+ $11 {Anyway, this would have been a more entertaining way of
forcing a draw.}) 24... Bxe3 {Black controls the only open file, but White has
no weaknesses and his king has a safer residence. Therefore, the draw
agreement is entirely justified.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Foros Aerosvit 3rd"]
[Site "Foros"]
[Date "2008.06.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 {
This apparently modest pawn move is not without venom. The way Svidler will
play, White will basically get this extra move for free, which will have an
almost decisive influence over the outcome of the battle. Chess is indeed the
tragedy of one tempo...} ({In order to understand the significance of h3, let
us compare with the lines where White plays} 8. Be3 {immediately.} d5 9. Bxa7
$5 {The same move as in our main game.} (9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 11. Re1 Nf4
12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 {This active developing move would not have been
possible in our main game.} 14. Nc3 Ra8 15. Re4 Qf6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. Rxg4 Rad8
18. Qd2 {Zagrebelny,S (2521)-Aleksandrov,A (2679)/Moscow 2004/EXT 2005/ (1-0,
32)} Rfe8 $11) {Even better may be} 9... dxe4 $5 (9... Rxa7 10. d4 (10. Nbd2 {
is completely inoffensive:} dxe4 11. dxe4 Ra8 12. a4 Bg4 13. a5 Qe7 14. h3 Bh5
15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Bc2 Rxd2 17. Qxd2 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $44 {1/2-1/2 Sandipan,C (2585)
-Kaidanov,G (2596)/Gausdal 2008/CBM 124}) 10... exd4 (10... dxe4 11. Nxe5 Nxe5
12. dxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Ng4 {is another attempt to make use of the g4-square,
but White seems to retain an advantage in development after} 14. Nd2 e3 15.
fxe3 Nxe5 16. Nf3 $32 {, partly because of the badly placed black queen's rook.
}) 11. e5 Ne4 12. cxd4 {and now,} Bg4 {offers Black counterplay against
White's centre.}) 10. Bc5 exf3 11. Qxf3 Bg4 {Winning an important tempo.} 12.
Qe3 (12. Qg3 Re8 13. Nd2 Be2 $15) 12... Re8 13. Nd2 Nd5 14. Qg3 Be6 $11 {
and Black has little to fear.}) 8... d6 ({Black can try to take advantage of
White's slow development by imemdiately opening play in the centre:} 8... d5 9.
exd5 Nxd5 10. Re1 {The solid} f6 {is also possible:} (10... Be6 $5 11. Na3 (11.
Nxe5 $2 {is impossible because of} Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 $17) (11. Nbd2 $2 {
leaves the f4-square at Black's mercy.}) (11. Ng5 Qf6 12. Qe2 Rad8 13. Nxe6
fxe6 $15) 11... b5 12. Qe2 b4 13. Nb1 f6 14. d4 Bf7 15. dxe5 Nxe5 $132 {
Arizmendi Martinez,J (2534)-Cruz Lopez Claret,C (2293)/Andorra 2004/CBM 101
ext (1/2-1/2, 27)}) 11. Nbd2 (11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Nc3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 c6
15. Bf4 Rf7 16. Bg3 Bf5 17. a4 Qb6 18. Qxb6 Nxb6 19. Re2 Rd8 20. Rae1 Rfd7 21.
Bf4 g5 22. Bc1 Kf7 23. b3 Nc8 {De la Paz,F (2452)-Short,N (2683)/Ottawa 2007/
CBM 119 ext (0-1, 43)}) 11... Kh8 12. Ne4 Be6 13. Ng3 Qd7 14. Nh4 Rad8 15. Qh5
Bf7 16. Qf3 Nde7 17. Bc2 $11 {Xu Yuhua (2475)-Short,N (2701)/Ji Nan 2003/CBM
098/[Hecht] (0-1, 89)}) 9. Be3 d5 $6 {As mentioned before, giving up a whole
tempo is risky.} ({Once the pawn is on d6 already,} 9... Bxe3 {should be
preferred, as in Nevednichy,V (2531)-Marin,M (2551)/Predeal 2007/CBM 121/
[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 97)}) 10. Bxa7 (10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Re1 Nf4 13.
d4 {would have been a better form for White of the game Zagrebelny,S (2521)
-Aleksandrov,A (2679)/Moscow 2004/EXT 2005/ (1-0, 32), above.}) 10... Rxa7 ({
AFter} 10... dxe4 11. Bc5 exf3 12. Qxf3 {the queen would be more stable than
in the similar variation without h3.} (12. Bxf8 fxg2 $44) {However, Black
seems to be holding his own after} 12... Re8 13. Nd2 Be6) 11. d4 dxe4 12. Nxe5
Qd6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Nd2 $14 {White is better developed and the a7-rook will
require some time to be recycled.} Ra8 {This is too slow to equalize.} (14...
a5 $5 15. a4 Ra6) 15. Re1 Bf5 16. g4 {Once again, the presence of the pawn on
h3 contributes to the development of White's initiative.} Bg6 17. g5 Nh5 18. d5
Qd7 19. Qg4 f5 (19... Qxg4+ 20. hxg4 Nf4 21. Nxe4 Nd3 22. Re3 Rae8 (22... Nxb2
23. f3 $16) 23. Rxd3 Rxe4 24. Rd4 Rxd4 25. cxd4 Rd8 (25... Re8 26. Rc1 Re7 27.
d6 $1 $18) (25... Rc8 26. Rc1 Kf8 27. f4 Be4 28. Kf2 $18 {[%cal Gf2e3,Gd5d6]})
26. Rc1 Rd7 27. f4 Bd3 28. Rd1 Bb5 29. a4 Be2 30. Re1 $18) 20. gxf6 Qxg4+ 21.
hxg4 Nxf6 22. g5 Nd7 23. Nxe4 $16 {White is a pawn up, without any
compensation for Black.} Rf4 24. Ng3 Kf8 25. Rad1 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Kxe8 27. d6 Kd8
28. Rd4 Rf8 29. dxc7+ Kxc7 30. f4 h6 31. gxh6 gxh6 32. Be6 Nc5 33. Bd5 h5 34.
b4 Na4 35. Bb3 Nb6 36. f5 Be8 37. Be6 Nd7 38. Kf2 Nf6 39. Ke3 Rh8 40. Rh4 Kd6
41. Kd4 Rh7 42. c4 Rg7 43. Ne4+ Nxe4 44. Rxe4 Ke7 45. Bd5+ Kf8 46. f6 Rh7 47.
Rh4 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4 ({
I find it interesting comparing the following game with the line given in the
comments to 9.Be3 below:} 8. Bb3 h6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nf1 g4 11. N3d2 h5 12. Nc4
h4 13. Be3 h3 14. g3 d5 {As Irina told me after the game, this whole variation
was some sort of bluff, but she relied on the fact that the refutation is not
easy to find for White.} 15. Na3 (15. exd5 $1 Qxd5 16. f3 $1 gxf3 17. Qd2 Ng4
18. Nxe5 f2+ 19. Qxf2 $1 $18) 15... d4 16. Bg5 Rh5 17. Qd2 Nxe4 18. Bxd8 Nxd2
19. Nxd2 Kxd8 $17 {Klinova-Bulmaga, Baku 2016.  Unlike in the game below, the
c4-square is available for the knight.}) 8... h6 $5 {Dubois,S-Steinitz,W
British CA-05 Casual Games 1862 0-1 This may mean many things. Black may only
wish to avoid Bg5 or Ng5, which are not dangerous at this point in the game,
or wait for White to disclose his cards by playing a useful move before
castling. But most likely Black may wish to start a kingside attack in the
spirit of, for instance,} ({The main line goes} 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 Ng4 10.
Re2 Kh8 {Topalov,V (2761)-Nakamura,H (2787) Leuven 2016 CBM 173 [Besenthal,K] 
(1-0, 45)}) 9... h6 (9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 {Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772)
New York 2016 CBM 176 [Navara,D] (1/2-1/2, 84)}) 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12.
Ng3 c6 {Giri,A (2793)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] (1/
2-1/2, 53)}) 9. Be3 $5 $146 {Aticipating Black's planned attack, White decides
on neutralising the annoying pressure along the g1-a7 diagonal.} ({Here is a
recent example when the kingside plan was successful:} 9. Nbd2 g5 $5 10. Nf1 ({
Actually it makes sense keeping the knight on d2 so as to be able to answer
the later ...Nxe4 with Nxe4. For instance:} 10. b4 g4 11. Nh4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4
Qxh4 13. d4 f5 14. Ng3 e4 15. b5 {The a7-bishop is passive and the king is
exposed in the centre.}) 10... g4 11. Nh4 (11. N3d2 h5 12. Ne3 h4 {[%cal Gg4g3,
Ga7g1]}) 11... Nxe4 12. dxe4 Qxh4 13. Be3 Be6 {Anand,V (2770)-Wei,Y (2694)
Leon 2016 (½-½, 45), with an extra pawn and adequate play for Black.}) 9...
Bxe3 10. Rxe3 O-O ({Actually there are no obvious reasons for refraining from
the initial plan (if this was the plan, indeed). The exchange of bishops has
only increased Black's stability on the dark squares without reducing the
impact of the pawn attack too much:} 10... g5 11. d4 g4 12. Ne1 h5 13. Nc2 h4
14. Nd2 Nh5 $13) 11. Nbd2 Re8 {Taking the usual measures against d3-d4.} ({
Due to the exposed rook on e3, Black could think of breaking in the centre
himself:} 11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Re4 $5 {This practically wastes a tempo,
but it more or less forces Black into exposing one of his pieces.} (13. Re1 Nf4
14. Nxe5 $2 Qg5 $19) 13... Bf5 (13... Nf4 14. Nxe5 Qg5 15. Rxf4 Qxf4 16. Ng6
$16) (13... Re8 14. d4 $14) (13... Qd6 14. Re1 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Gd2e4] will
retrieve the tempo on the next move with Ne4.}) 14. Re1 Nf4 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 (
15... Qg5 $2 16. Qf3 $16 {is good for White as with the bishop on f5 the
e5-knight is not hanging any more.}) 16. Rxe5 Bxd3 17. Qf3 Qf6 18. Re3 Bxc4 19.
Nxc4 {with just some symbolic initiative for White.}) 12. d4 {The most active
move but} (12. Qb3 Re7 13. a5 {would have offered White a small plus, delaying
the central committment.}) 12... exd4 $5 {An enterprising move.} ({If Black
wanted to play ...Bc8-g4, it is better, indeed, to release the tension first.
If} 12... Bg4 13. Qb3 Qd7 14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Rd3 Qe7
17. Qxb7 $14) 15. Rd3 Qe7 16. Qxb7 Na5 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. cxb4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bxf3
(19... Nxe4 20. Nfxe5 $16) 20. gxf3 {Defending e4.} Rab8 21. Rb3 Nh5 22. Rc1
$14 {Black's structure is imperfect but he is a pawn up after all and Black
also has weaknesses on the queenside.}) 13. cxd4 Bg4 {This will eventually
lead to an interesting structure.} (13... d5 {is playable, but Black is mainly
struggling a bit:} 14. exd5 Rxe3 15. fxe3 Nxd5 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. e4 Nb6 18. Qe3
Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb4 {White's chances to put his impressive centre into motion
are slightly marred by his queenside weaknesses.}) 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Bd3 {
The most solid move.} (15. e5 {leads to simplifications and approximate
equality:} Na5 16. Bxf7+ Qxf7 17. Qxf7+ Kxf7 18. exf6 Rxe3 19. fxe3 Kxf6 $11) (
15. a5 Bxf3 {wins one of the central pawns.}) 15... d5 16. e5 (16. exd5 {
only makes sense if White goes for the b7-pawn but this is dubious:} Nxd5 17.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 18. Qxb7 Ndb4 19. Be4 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nxd4 $15 {Black has two
excellent knights, dominating the board.} 21. Qxb4 $2 Nc2 22. Qc4 Nxa1 {
[%csl Gd2][%cal Ge1g1]}) 16... Nh5 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gh5f4,Gf4e6] Black
concentrates his forces on the kingside, believing in his attacking chances.} (
16... Ne4 {is not an entirely sound pawn sacrifice:} 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4
Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxd4 20. Qxb7 $14) 17. g3 {[%csl Gh5]} f5 {Adding more strategic
tension.} ({A player with a cautious style might have considered} 17... g6 {
[%cal Gh5g7,Gg7e6]}) 18. Ree1 {By keeping the kingside closed Kramnik shows
that he believes in his space advantage, but takes up the risk that Black's
slow attack would prevail.} (18. exf6 {is simpler and not necessarily less
strong.} Rxe3 19. fxe3 Bxf3 {Clearing the g4-square for the knight in view of
the possible sequence below.} (19... Nxf6 $2 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nh7 22. Qxb7
$18) 20. Nxf3 Nxf6 21. Ne5 (21. e4 Qg4 22. Rf1 Rd8 {allows Black to complete
his development with effective pressure against the white centre.}) 21... Nxe5
22. dxe5 Ng4 23. Qxb7 {Black has obvious chances for kingside counterplay but
the plan of grabbing a6 and advancing his own pawn is simple and relatively
quick.}) 18... a5 19. Rac1 $6 {After this indiferrent move, allowing the
c6-knight's activation, Black can solve a big part of his problems.} ({The
only way to prevent Black's next move was} 19. Bb5 {Kramnik might have feared
moving with the bishop far from the kingside (with the possible plan of
exchanging it on c6) but it seems that he could have maintained the control:}
f4 20. Rac1 Qe6 21. Rc5 Rad8 ({White seems to be a bit hanging after} 21... Rf8
22. Rxd5 Kh8 {but} 23. Bc4 $16 {consolidates.}) 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qc3 $16 {
Black's queenside will soon be in ruins and there is no obvious way of
including the passive knight in the attack.}) 19... Nb4 {Black is rock solid
and safe on the queenside and the main events will most likely take place on
the opposite wing.} 20. Bf1 {This passive move absolves Black of any problem.}
(20. Bb1 {inhibits ..f5-f4 but allows the active} Ra6 (20... f4 $6 {[%cal
Gb1g6]} 21. e6 $1 Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Bg6 $16) 21. Kg2 f4 22. Ng1 g5 $132) ({
Kramnik misses the last chance for figthing for the initiative:} 20. e6 $5 Qd6
$5 (20... Rxe6 21. Ne5 Qe7 ({In principle d6 is a better square for the queen,
but} 21... Qd6 {allows} 22. Ndc4 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gc4e3]} dxc4 $2 23. Bxc4
$18) 22. Bb1 Bh3 23. Ndf3 {[%cal Yf3h4]} g5 24. Nd3 Nf6 25. Nc5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1
Ne4 27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $36) 21. Kg2 $5 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gh2h3]} (21. Ne5
Bh3 22. Ndf3 Rxe6 23. Nh4 g6 {With the queen on e7 the g6-pawn would be
hanging.})) 20... f4 {[%cal Ge8e7,Gc7c6,Ga8f8,Gg7g5] Black's initiative
threatens to become concrete.} 21. e6 {After Black cleared the path backwards
for his bishop this is less strong than one move earlier, allowing White only
to avoid the worse of it.} Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Qf3 {Retrieving the pawn.} Nf6
24. Qxf4 c6 25. f3 Nd7 26. Nb3 Rf8 27. Qe3 Bf5 28. Qd2 $11 {White has an
advantage on the right half of the board, but Black is better on the queenside.
The position remains complicated but balanced.} Na2 {The move repetition
initiated by this move may hint at Mamedyarov's wish to reach a draw.} ({
But Black could have also played some consolidating moves for instance} 28...
b6 29. f4 Rae8) ({or} 28... g5 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 b6 $11) ({He could have
also embarked on the strategically riskier but also promising} 28... Nxe5 29.
dxe5 Qc7 30. Nd4 Qb6 {[%cal Gf5h7] It is far from clear whose pawns are
stronger but the b4-knight surely plays an important part.}) 29. Ra1 Nb4 30.
Nxd7 $2 {A serious concession. The knight was a dominant piece restricting
Black's possibilities. In the last line above the exchange on e5 freed the
d4-square for the reserve knight. Kramnik will later install a rook on e5, but
this will put less pressure on Black, who will be able to exchange only when
the circumstances are ripe for it.} Bxd7 31. Qc3 b6 $1 {A move with long term
consequnces. For the time being Black restricts the b3-knight, but in the long
run it will allow ...Rxe5 and if dxe5 then ...c6-c5.} 32. Re5 Rae8 33. Rae1 Qg6
34. Nd2 Qc2 {[%csl Ga4,Gd4]} 35. f4 Rxe5 36. dxe5 Be6 37. Qxc2 Nxc2 38. Rc1 Nb4
39. Nf3 c5 $15 {Black's pawns are more mobile than White's and both his minor
pieces more active.} 40. h4 {If Black would play '''h6-h5 the structure on the
opposite wings would be almost symmetrical (with the main difference that
Black has not played ...d5-d4). But of course it makes no sense offering the
white knight such a good square on g5.} Kf7 41. h5 {Strategically correct but
concretely losing a pawn.} Bg4 42. Nh4 Bxh5 43. Nf5 Bg4 44. Ne3 Bd7 45. Bg2 (
45. f5 Bxa4 $19) 45... d4 {Exchanging the b6-pawn for the a4-pawn.} ({Keeping
the tension was also possible as the maximum White could achieve on the
kingside after losing the h5-pawn was pushing his central pawns to f5 and e6,
thus allowing Black to block them:} 45... Bc6 $17 46. f5 $6 Re8 47. e6+ Kf6 $19
) 46. Nc4 Bxa4 47. Nxb6 Bc2 48. Nc4 d3 $6 {Conceding the control over e3 and
restricting his own bishp too soon.} (48... a4 $1 $17 49. Bf3 Ke7 {[%cal Gg7g5]
} 50. Na3 d3 51. Kf2 Rd8 52. Bd1 Rb8 {[%cal Gb4a2]}) 49. Nd2 $6 (49. Bf3 $1 {
[%csl Gd1] offered good chances for a fortress.} Ke6 50. Kf2 d2 {[%cal Gb4d3]}
(50... g5 51. Ke3 {[%csl Ge3][%cal Gd4d3]}) 51. Ra1 $1) 49... a4 50. Kf2 c4 {
The pawn is temporarily taboo, but later it will be vulnerable.} (50... Ke6 $5)
51. Ke3 (51. Nxc4 d2 $19) 51... Rc8 52. Ne4 Kf8 53. Nc3 Rb8 54. Rf1 $6 {
White's counterplay is too slow. He should have kept his majority as a latent
threat and taken preventive measures to save the b2-pawn.} (54. Bf3 $5 {
[%cal Ge3d2]} Na6 $6 55. Bd1 $1) 54... Na6 55. f5 Rxb2 56. f6 $2 (56. Bd5 $5
$17) 56... Nc7 $19 57. Bh3 d2 $1 58. Bg4 (58. Kxd2 Bd3+ 59. Kc1 Rc2+) 58... a3
59. e6 gxf6 60. Rxf6+ Kg8 61. e7 a2 62. Ra6 d1=Q 63. Nxd1 Bxd1 64. Ra8+ Kg7 65.
Bxd1 Rb1 66. Rxa2 Rxd1 67. Ra7 Ne8 68. Ra4 Rd3+ 69. Kf4 c3 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 8th"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2007.04.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Iordachescu, Viorel"]
[Black "Volke, Karsten"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2587"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2007.04.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bb3 d6 {A surprising
decision. Theory recommends maintaining this pawn on its initial square until
White defines his intentions, in order to avoid the loss of a tempo with ...
d6-d5.} (6... a6 7. Nbd2 Ba7 8. Nf1 d5) 7. h3 a6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. Nf1 {One of
the numerous positional schemes designed by the late Moldavian trainer
Chebanenko and employed by most of the Moldavian GMs. Although Iordachescu has
considerably widened his repertoire, he frequently switches back to the
trusted weapon of his youth.} d5 {This is the typical reaction in the centre,
enabled by the fact that White cannot set up strong pressure against the
e5-pawn with exd5 followed by Re1, as would be the case after 9.0-0.} 10. Qe2
d4 $5 {A very ambitious (but not too popular) move. Instead of fighting for
equality by exchanging on e4, Black fights for space in the centre. At some
point, ...b5 followed by ...dxc3 and ...b4 could yield him the absolute
control of the d4-square. On the other hand, the b3-bishop becomes quite
active now.} 11. N1h2 $146 {Since White's extra-tempo can be considered to be
h3, White imemdiately tries to take advantage of it. However, since the
g4-square is well controlled by Black, it is not easy to see a possible
activation of this knight in the near future.} ({Other continuations, such as
11.Ng3 or} 11. g4 $6 {were examined in the notes to the game Maiorov,O (2458)
-Lastin,A (2625)/Krasnodar 2002/CBM 091/[Lukacs] (0-1, 31)}) 11... Qd6 {
A good square for the queen, especially that Nf5 is not a threat now. Black
simply consolidates the central dark squares.} 12. O-O Be6 {Annihilating the
dangerous Italian bishop.} 13. Bxe6 fxe6 $1 {[%cal Yf6h5,Yh5f4,Ra7f2] Another
strategically ambitious move. Black opens the f-file, setting up some indirect
pressure against the f2-pawn.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 13... Qxe6 {
, of course, but this would have given White the possibility of starting some
active kingside operations with} 14. Nh4) 14. cxd4 {This obvious positional
concession was induced by Black's previous move.} ({In case of a neutral move
such as} 14. Rd1 {Black could transfer his knight to f4 with} Nh5 {since} 15.
g3 $2 {is impossible in view of} dxc3 16. bxc3 Nxg3 $17) ({Or if} 14. Bg5 {
, aiming to maintain the f2-pawn safely defended, then} Nh5 {anyway. The X-ray
attack along the d1-h5 diagonal does not offer White any favourable tactical
possibility, for instance} 15. Nxd4 $2 (15. cxd4 $6 Bxd4 $1 16. Nxd4 Nf4 $3 17.
Bxf4 Nxd4 $17 {[%cal Ye5f4]}) 15... exd4 16. Qxh5 dxc3 17. bxc3 Bxf2+ $1 {
It appears that because of the unfavourable placement of the h2-knight, the
f2-square is not sufficiently well defended.} 18. Rxf2 Rxf2 19. Kxf2 Qxh2 $19 {
and the white king is in trouble.}) 14... Bxd4 $1 (14... Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 {
would have offered White chances to activate his knight with} 16. Nf3) 15. Be3
Rad8 $11 {/=/+ Black has completed his development and has a very good
position. The weakness of the d4-square and of the d3-pawn invites White to
permanent prudence. We can conclude that Iordachescu's novelty was not very
inspired.} 16. Rad1 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 h6 18. Rd2 Nh5 19. g3 Rd7 20. Rfd1 Rfd8 21.
Kg2 Nf6 22. a3 Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Qe1 c5 25. Rc2 Rc7 26. b4 Nd7 27. Nf3 b6
28. Rdc1 e5 29. Nd2 Rdc8 30. Nc4 Qe6 31. Nb2 Qb3 32. Qd1 Qe6 33. Na4 Qb3 34.
Nb2 Qe6 35. Na4 Qb3 36. Nb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2007.11.28"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Nevednichy, Vladislav"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.11.24"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 {Even in such an
apparently peacefull opening like the Gioco Pianisimo the move order can make
a lot of difference. If White castles quickly, there is no difference at all,
but there is the additional idea of pinning the f6-knight with Bg5. With both
kings in the centre or on the kingside, the pin is not dangerous because of ...
h6 followed by ...g5. However, if Black castles early and White maintains the
possiblity of castling long, things can be more delicate for Black.} ({
Personally, I prefer} 6... O-O {Tiviakov,S (2643)-Marin,M (2551)/Reggio Emilia
2007/08 2007/CBM 122/[Marin] (0-1, 44)}) 7. h3 $5 {Still waiting.} d6 (7... O-O
{is slightly dangerous because of} 8. Bg5 ({It is curious that Moldavian
players play} 8. Nbd2 {here anyway. In the database, there are two games by
Nevednichy and one by Sanduleac which continued this way, but after this move
Black can play} d5 {without loss of time, gaining a whole tempo over our main
game.}) 8... d6 ({It probably makes sense to avoid weakening the kingside
before Black can get out of the pin.} 8... h6 9. Bh4 d6 10. Nbd2 Qe7 11. g4 g5
12. Bg3 b5 13. h4 Bxg4 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. Qc2 Nh5 16. Rg1 Ng7 17. Bh4 $1 $40 {
Nepomniashchy,Y (2602)-Bindrich,F (2469)/Kirishi 2007/CBM 118 ext (1-0, 24)})
9. Nbd2 Be6 (9... Re8 {This move does not contribute to unpinning the knight
in any way.} 10. Nf1 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Nxg5 $5 {This is not really necessary.
White could retreat with the bishop and castle long.} hxg5 13. Bxg5 $44 Bxf2+
$6 14. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 15. dxe4 Qxg5 16. Qf3 Be6 17. Ne3 $14 {[%csl Gd5,Gf5]
Cherniaev,A (2454)-Bick,J (2292)/Biel 2000/CBM 077 ext (1-0, 58)}) (9... Ne7
10. Nh4 Kh8 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qf3 Ng6 13. Nf5 c6 14. h4 d5 15. g3 $16 {
Nepomniashchy,Y (2602)-Kurnosov,I (2566)/Sochi 2007/CBM 118 (1-0, 41). Black's
kingside structure and the passivity ofhis knight are not compensated by his
better control over the centre.}) 10. Nf1 Qe7 $1 {Bringing the queen closer to
e6.} 11. Ng3 ({After} 11. Qe2 h6 12. Bh4 g5 {the sacrifice is not danmgerous
already:} 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qe6 $1 {followed by ...Nh7.})
11... h6 12. Bd2 d5 $11 {By carrying out this thematic opening of the centre,
Black has solved his opening problems.} 13. Bc2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Rfd8 15. O-O b5
16. Qc1 Nd7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qc5 19. Nf5 Qxe3 {1/2-1/2 Belikov,V (2500)
-Gorelov,S (2480)/Moscow 1996/EXT 99}) 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 {White intends to
build up a massive kingside attack, keeping the king in the centre (or,
eventually, castling long) in order to maintain the possibility of advance the
g-pawn at the right moment. Black's obvious way to counter this plan is to
open the centre, although this supposes the loss of one tempo.} d5 10. Qe2 dxe4
11. dxe4 Qe7 12. Ng3 Be6 13. Bc2 {An important moment. Those familiarized with
the Ruy Lopez would doubtlessly prefer preserving this bishop from exchange.
However, it is not always clear whether this decision really favours White.
First of all, the f5-square will be more difficult to invade now, while the
pressure exerted by the e6-bishop against the white queenside can become quite
effective. During the Merano match (1981) against Kortschnoj, Karpov employed
the Italian Game twice, in order to allow his seconds (from Merano and...
Moscow) to find an effective solution against the open variation of the Ruy
Lopez. Karpov castle short quickly, but soon after the opening he had to
decide whether to meet ...Be6 with Bc2 or just allow the exchange of bishops.
On the first occasion he chose the former and in the second-the latter. In his
comments, he stated that the former decision had been correct, but careful
analysis of the games clearly prove that the opposite was true. We cannot know
whether Karpov tried to be slightly tricky when annotating the games or if his
respect for the Spanish bishop influenced his evaluation, but one thing is
clear: there is no simple answer to the mentioned question.} (13. O-O Bxb3 $6 {
I find this exchange premature, because it allows White win some space on the
queenside.} ({I would prefer the developing move} 13... Rad8 {, when White has
problems making a useful move. The c1-bishop has no stable squares available
for development, while starting the standard "attacking" plan with} 14. Nh4 {
allows Black react in the same way as in our main game:} Bxb3 15. axb3 Qe6 16.
b4 Ne8 17. Nhf5 Nd6 $11) 14. axb3 Qe6 15. b4 Ne7 ({With the knights
harmoniously placed on g3 and f3,} 15... Ne8 {can be met by} 16. Ng5 Qd7 17.
Nf5 $14 {with strong pressure.}) 16. Nh4 Rfe8 17. Nhf5 Nxf5 18. Nxf5 g6 19.
Nh6+ Kg7 20. Bg5 Ng8 21. Nxg8 $6 (21. Ng4 $14 {would have been better, aiming
to provoke additional kingside weaknesses.}) 21... Rxg8 22. b5 axb5 23. Qxb5
Bb6 $11 {Hendriks,W (2426)-Overeem,M (2243)/Amsterdam 2006/CBM 113 ext (1-0,
70). Black has solved all his problems.}) 13... Ne8 $1 $146 (13... Rfe8 14. Nh4
$1 {Tiviakov,S (2593)-Sargissian,G (2614)/Tripoli 2004/CBM 102/[Lukacs] (1-0,
29)}) 14. O-O {White continues playing in slow mode, in accordance with
pre-established schemes.} ({Now or on the next move,} 14. Nf5 {deserved
attention, leading to interesting strategic play.} Bxf5 15. exf5 Nd6 16. Be4 (
16. O-O e4 17. Re1 Rfe8 18. Ng5 Qf6 19. Nxe4 Qxf5 {Black's better development
compensates for White'a pair of bishops.}) 16... Nxe4 17. Qxe4 f6 (17... Rad8
18. f6 $5) 18. O-O Rad8 $132) 14... Nd6 15. Re1 f6 16. Nh2 $6 {Nevednichy's
somewhat limited style of play makes itself felt. He continues with his
"attacking" plan, failing to notice that after Black's regrouping there is
nothing to be attacked on the kingside already.} (16. Nf5 $5 Qf7 $5 $13) 16...
Rad8 $15 {In the meanwhile, Black continues strengthening his position.} 17.
Ng4 Qf7 {[%csl Ga2]} 18. Bb1 $6 {In conjunction with the 20th move, this is
completely illogical.} (18. b3 Rd7 19. Bb2 Rfd8 20. Rad1 $15) 18... Kh8 19. Ne3
Rd7 20. b3 Rfd8 $17 {The difference of activity between the enemy armies has
become obvious. Black has only made useful moves, While White has pointlessly
jumped around with his knigths.} 21. Ngf1 Ne7 22. h4 Nb5 23. Bb2 Bc5 {[%csl
Gc3][%cal Gc5a3]} 24. a4 Nd6 25. c4 Nc6 26. Ng3 {Black's position is almost
identical to that after 20 moves (the bishop is on c5 instead of a7), but in
the meanwhile a lot of weaknesses have been created in White's camp. The
tactical explosion that followes is hardly surprising.} Nxc4 $1 27. Nxc4 (27.
bxc4 $2 Rd2 $19) 27... Bxc4 28. Qxc4 (28. bxc4 $2 Rd2 $19) 28... Qxc4 29. bxc4
Rd2 30. Bc3 (30. Re2 Rxe2 31. Nxe2 Rd2 32. Nc1 Nb4 33. Ba3 Bd4 34. Bxb4 Rd1+
35. Kh2 Rxc1 $17) 30... Bxf2+ 31. Kf1 Bxe1 32. Kxe1 Rxg2 $19 {Black has an
active position and a material advantage. However, Fressinet needed only a
draw to qualify, which explains the final result...} 33. Ne2 Rh2 34. Bc2 Rxh4
35. Kf2 Rh2+ 36. Kf1 h5 37. Re1 Rh1+ 38. Ng1 Rh2 39. Ne2 Rh1+ 40. Ng1 Rh2 41.
Ne2 Rh1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a5 $5 {
A curious plan. Black displays early queenside ambitions, but if he will not
be able to gain queenside space with ...a5-a4 or ...b7-b5, or at least provoke
a2-a4, his last move will turn into a weakness.} ({The usual setup is based on
} 7... a6 {not only preparing the bishop retreat to a7 but also threatening to
gain the bishop pair with ...Na5, thus more or less forcing Bc4-b3.}) 8. h3 {
White has to choose his move order with care.} ({If} 8. Re1 a4 $1 (8... Ng4 $6
9. Re2 Kh8 10. h3 {Waechter,N (1754)-Benzen,M (1927) Germany 2014 (0-1, 30)}
Nh6 {is a usual plan in the position with 7...a6 8.Bb3 Ba7, but here the
exposed position of the c5-bishop tells after} 11. Nf1 f5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Bxh6
gxh6 14. d4 $1 $36) 9. Bb5 Bd7 $1 10. Bxa4 $2 Rxa4 $1 11. Qxa4 Nb4 12. Qb3 Nxd3
13. Rf1 Nxf2 $19 {[%cal Gf6g4]}) (8. Bb5 {allows Black gaining space with} Na7
9. Ba4 b5 10. Bc2 Nc6 11. a4 b4 12. h3 h6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Nc4 Be6 15. Ne3 d5
16. exd5 Nxd5 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Bb6 $5 {[%csl Gd4]} (18... Bf8 19. Qd3 g6 {
Bastian,H (2339)-Schellmann,F (2098) Saarbruecken 2013 (1/2-1/2, 66)} 20. Ng4
$36) 19. Qd3 g6 20. Ng4 (20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. Bxh6 Nxd4 $15) (20. Nc4 Bf5 21.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Qd2 Bxc2 23. Nxb6 Nxb6 24. Qxc2 Nxd4 $1 25. Nxd4 Qe1+ 26. Kh2
Qe5+ 27. g3 Qxd4 28. Bxh6 Re8 $132 29. Rd1 $2 b3 $1 {[%csl Ga4,Gd1,Gf2]} 30.
Qxg6+ fxg6 31. Rxd4 Re2 $17) 20... Bxg4 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. hxg4 Nxd4 $1 23.
Nxd4 $2 (23. Bxh6 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rd8 $132) 23... Qe1+ 24. Kh2 Qe5+ $17) (8. a4
h6 9. Re1 Ne7 10. d4 exd4 11. cxd4 Bb4 {[%csl Ga4]}) 8... Be6 ({Even with the
f2- and g4-squares defended,} 8... a4 $5 {is worth a try:} 9. Bb5 Bd7 (9... a3
10. b4 $14) 10. Bxa4 Rxa4 11. Qxa4 Nb4 12. Qd1 Nxd3 13. b4 Ba7 14. Qc2 Nxc1 15.
Raxc1 Nh5 16. Kh2 Nf4 {[%cal Gd8f6,Gg7g5,Gh7h5] with a strong initiative for
the exchange.}) 9. Re1 (9. Bb5 {leads to a familiar picture:} Na7 10. Ba4 b5
11. Bc2 Nc6 {Nedev,T (2497)-Kacakovski,D (2131) Struga 2013 (1-0, 31)}) ({
The paradoxical} 9. b3 $5 {is interesting, though. White takes measures
against ...a5-a4 without losing the queenside mobility as is the case after
a2-a4.} d5 10. exd5 Bxd5 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Re1 Qd6 13. Bb2 Rad8 14. Rad1 {
Both sides have completed their development but White's position is more
flexible.} Bxc4 $2 {Missing the hidden force of the b2-bishop.} (14... Bxf2+
15. Kxf2 Bxf3 16. Nxf3 b5 17. Bxb5 Qc5+ 18. Kf1 Qxb5 19. c4 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) (
14... Qf8 $5 $13) 15. Nxc4 Qd5 16. Ncxe5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Rxe5 18. c4 $16 {
1-0 (70) Areshchenko,A (2677)-Parligras,M (2586) Al Ain 2015}) 9... h6 ({
In a recent correspondence game (which is still in course as I am writing
these lines) I faced} 9... a4 $5 10. Bb5 Qb8 $1 11. Bxc6 (11. Bxa4 $2 Qa7 $19)
11... bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb6 14. Qc2 Qa7 15. Qxc6 Rfe8 $44 {White's
poor development prevents him from enjoying the extra pawn.}) 10. Bb5 Ba7 (
10... Na7 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bb6 14. Ng3 Ne7 {Kotan,L (2297)-Frink,
F (2250) Slovakia 2006 (1-0, 36)} 15. d4 Ng6 16. Be3) 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Ng3 (12.
d4 exd4 (12... c6 13. Bd3 Qc7 {leads to similar play to that in the game but
with two extra tempi for White, who retreated with his bishop to d3 without
loss of time.}) 13. Nxd4 {Clearly a slight concession, but a necessary one.} (
13. cxd4 d5 $1 14. e5 Ne4 {This explains why Karjakin preferred
over-protecting e4 before occupying the centre.}) 13... Bd7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15.
Ng3 Rfe8 16. Qf3 {[%cal Gc1h6]} Bxd4 $6 (16... Kh7 $5 $13) 17. cxd4 d5 $6 18.
e5 Nh7 19. Be3 $14 {1-0 (46) Fedorov,A (2562)-Loetscher,R (2414) Riga 2014})
12... c6 13. Ba4 Ng6 14. Bc2 Qc7 {Black keeps developing normally.} (14... d5
$6 {is premature:} 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Bb3 Qd6 17. Bxe6 Qxe6 18. d4 e4 19. Nd2
$16) ({But} 14... b5 $5 {would be a logical attempt to justify the exotic ...
a7-a5:} 15. d4 (15. a4 b4 16. d4 Re8 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Qd2 Rab8) 15... a4 {
Keres,P-Portisch,L October Revolution 50 1967 (2) 0-1 With a similar structure
but with different minor piece placement as in the classical game}) 15. d4 Rad8
16. Be3 Bb8 17. Bd3 Rfe8 18. Qc2 $1 ({Avoiding} 18. Qd2 d5 $1 {[%cal Gd8d2]})
18... Qe7 (18... d5 $2 {doesn't work now:} 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Bxg6) 19. Rad1 Bc7
20. c4 {White consolidates his space advantage, partly due to the fact that
Black has refrained from ...b7-b5.} Bc8 $6 {Too passive.} ({Now was a good
moment to fight for counterplay:} 20... Nf4 21. Bf1 {[%cal Gg3f5]} ({White's
achievements after} 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. exf5 Qd7 {are far from
clear.}) 21... N4h5 (21... g6 $6 22. Nf5 $1 Qf8 (22... gxf5 23. exf5 {[%cal
Ge3f4,Ge1e7]} Nxh3+ 24. gxh3 Bc8 25. Bxh6 $40) 23. Nxd6 $1 Rxd6 (23... Bxd6 24.
dxe5 $18) 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. e5 $36) 22. Ne2 g5 $5 $14 {/<=>}) 21. a3 {[%cal
Gb2b4]} exd4 $6 {This practically loses without too much fight.} (21... Nf4 $5
{looks again like the only chance to fight back.}) 22. Nxd4 $16 Qf8 23. f4 {
There is nothing to stop White's slow attack.} Nd7 24. Qf2 Nf6 25. Nf3 Re7 26.
Kh1 Kh8 27. Bc2 Ree8 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 d5 $2 {Black obviously lost patience,
which is quite understandable in such a passive position.} 30. e5 $18 Ne4 31.
Bxe4 dxe4 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Bc5 Qe8 34. Rxe4 Ne7 35. Nd4 b6 36. Bd6 Bxd6 1-0

[Event "Candidates sf"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2007.06.03"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2007.05.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O d6 8. h3 {
Even in such a "slow" variation as Giuoco Pianissimo, there are certain
subtleties regarding the move order. Adams' last move looks at least premature
and the further course of the game more or less sustains this point of view.} (
{The main variation goes} 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 {and so on.}) ({However, White has
recently tried with relative success the slightly unusual setup} 8. h3 O-O 9.
Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 {with chances to bulid up a kingside attack, based on the
pressure along the f-file and on the outpost on f5. It is obvious that there
is no better waiting move than h3. If Re1, then Black would be absolved by any
worries along the f-file, while Nbd2 would make Be3 physically impossible.}) ({
One good question is why not play} 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 {immediately. In
practice, Black has generally castled kingside, leaving him under serious
pressure. Adams probably feared that Shirov's king would go to the other wing
after, let's say,} Bg4 10. Nbd2 Qd7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe1 O-O-O) 8... h6 9. Re1 ({
Probably hoping to transpose to the main line where the usefulness of ...h6 is
questionable after} 9. Re1 O-O 10. Nbd2) ({However, after ...h6,} 9. Be3 {
makes more sense already, because the weakness of the f5-square becomes more
notable even if Black castles long.}) 9... g5 $5 {Such an attack would
obviously be premature in the absence of the weakening move h3. The way it is,
Black weakens the light squares on his kingside, but obtains strong pressure
along the g-file.} 10. Nh2 (10. Be3 g4 11. hxg4 Bxg4 12. Bxa7 Nxa7 13. Nbd2 Qd7
14. d4 Nc6 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Nf3 Qe7 18. Qd3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 O-O-O
20. Rad1 Rdg8 21. Rd3 Rg5 22. Red1 Rhg8 23. g3 h5 $132 {Nikac,P (2375)
-Vujosevic,V (2405)/Niksic 1996/EXT 2000 (0-1, 35)}) 10... g4 11. hxg4 Rg8 12.
Qf3 (12. g5 hxg5 13. d4 g4 14. g3 exd4 $17 {Tritt,M (2273)-Marcotulli,G (2220)/
IECG email 2003/Corr 2004 (0-1, 27)}) 12... Qe7 $146 (12... Na5 13. Bd5 c6 14.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. b4 Bxg4 16. Nxg4 Rxg4 17. Be3 b5 18. bxa5 Qxa5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20.
d4 Re7 21. dxe5 Rxe5 22. Nd2 {Rodriguez,A (2575)-Sorin,A (2505)/Villa
Ballester 1996/CBM 051 ext (1-0, 37). A very interesting position. Black has
excellent piece control of the centre, but in the long run his king could be
in danger.}) 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Bxg4 15. Nxg4 Nxg4 16. Qh3 Nd8 $5 {
Transferring this knight to e6 before castling saves a whole tempo.} 17. Nd2
Ne6 18. Re2 O-O-O 19. Rf1 Kb8 20. Nf3 h5 21. Qh4 f6 $11 {White's pressure
along the f-file and his slightly more compact structure are compensated for
by the relatively insecure position of his king.} 22. Nh2 Rdf8 23. Rf5 Nxh2 24.
Qxh2 h4 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. c4 Rh8 27. Ref2 Rh6 28. Qh3 Rg8 29. R5f3 Qe7 30. Kf1
Rg5 31. Ke2 Qg7 32. Qh1 Rhg6 33. Kf1 Rg3 34. Qxh4 Rxg2 35. Rh3 Ka7 36. Rh2 Rg1+
37. Ke2 Rb1 38. Kf3 Re1 39. Qh3 a5 40. Rfg2 Rf1+ 41. Ke2 Rb1 42. Kf3 Rf1+ 43.
Ke2 Rg1 44. Rxg1 Rxg1 45. Kd2 Rb1 46. Kc3 Qg1 47. Qg2 Rc1+ 48. Kb3 Qd1+ 49. Ka3
Qxd3+ 50. b3 Rxc4 51. Rh7 Qc3 0-1

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2015.05.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
17]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. cxd4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb4+ {[%emt 0:00:05] All this is known as inoffensive for
Black. The last check is essential in order to prevent White from keeping his
massive centre.} 7. Nbd2 $5 {[%emt 0:00:04] A rare move, which was not tried
in the old games at all.} ({Greco's favourite was} 7. Nc3 {(see below)}) ({
while the main line goes} 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 {with
comfortable equality for Black. White's last move sacrifices a pawn and could
rightly be called "original". But just as when we speak about the rightness of
the surname Piano, everything is relative. For a player like Nakamura, who
only ten years ago used to experiment with 2.Qh5 in the open games, the whole
line can safely be considered as "classical"!}) 7... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:01:57]
Kindly picking up the gauntlet.} (7... Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Nxe4 (8... d5 9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O $14 {offers White some pressure due to his bishop pair.})
9. d5 Ne7 10. O-O Nxd2 11. Qxd2 {would transpose to the game.}) ({Another try
is} 7... d5 8. exd5 Qe7+ (8... Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 {may cause Black some
problems. He has to either part with the bishop or face some problems of minor
piece coordination after the bishop's retreat.}) 9. Be2 Nxd5 10. O-O {The
tempo won with ...Qe7+ will soon be lost after Re1 followed by Bc4 and Black
still did not find an optimal way to consolidate his minor piece control over
the d5-square.}) 8. d5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:15] This is the spirit of the line!
White is fighting for space and advance in development. But Black has enough
resources to hold his own.} Nxd2 {[%emt 0:09:04]} 9. Bxd2 {[%emt 0:00:37]}
Bxd2+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 10. Qxd2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 11. d6 {
[%emt 0:01:11] Another typical move, slowing down the black queenside
development.} cxd6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. O-O {[%emt 0:00:08] White's superior
development surely compensates for the missing pawns, but Black does not have
to stick to his material advantage.} d5 $1 {[%emt 0:02:16] Clearing the path
for the d7-pawn and making the c8-bishop's development inevitable.} 13. Bxd5 {
[%emt 0:00:49]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:18]} 14. Rad1 {[%emt 0:05:22]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:
08:03]} 15. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:38]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16. Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00:52]
There seems to be nothing better than this, but now the game simplifies to an
ending in which only White could have slight problems.} Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00:44]}
17. Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 18. a3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rfd8 {
[%emt 0:00:43]} 19. Rd4 $1 {[%emt 0:06:35] The most accurate.} ({If} 19. Rfd1
Rxd6 20. Rxd6 Rc8 21. h4 Kf8 {Black could hope to prove the superiority of his
bishop over the knight in an ending with an open centre and pawns on both
wings.}) 19... Rxd4 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 20. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} 21. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 22. f3 {[%emt 0:01:54]} Kf7 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 24. Ke3 {[%emt 0:
01:27] White has achieved perfect centralisation and Black does not find
anything better than a draw by repetition.} Re5+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 25. Kd3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 26. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:
30]} 27. Kd2 {[%emt 0:02:30]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 28. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
Rc5+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 29. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 30. Kc3 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} Rc5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:07] Since we have
mentioned Greco a lot so far, it would be interesting to follow one of his
most spectacular achievements with this line:} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 ({Curiously, the game will soon transpose to the
following Giuoco Pianissimo line:} 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7.
Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. d4 Re8 12. Bc2) 3... Nf6 4. d3
Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 {This has become a main trend lately.} 8. Re1
{White plays in Pianissimo style, refriaining from the early occupation of the
centre.} (8. d4 Bb6 9. Re1 (9. Nbd2 c6 10. Ba4 Ng6 {Kosintseva,T (2496)-Zhao,X
(2552) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160 [ChessBase Website] (1/2-1/2, 75)}) (9. Bd3
d5 {Carlsen,M (2863)-Kramnik,V (2783) Shamkir 2015 CBM 166 [Pavlovic,M] (1-0,
49)}) 9... d5 10. Nxe5 Nxe4 11. Nd2 {Svidler,P (2769)-Karjakin,S (2767)
Stavanger 2013 CBM 155 [Szabo,Kr] (1-0, 57)}) 8... a6 9. Ba4 Ba7 10. d4 {
Of course, it would not make sense delaying this advance forever.} Ng6 11. Bc2
Re8 12. Nbd2 c5 $5 $146 {Transposing to some sort of Chigorin Ruy Lopez
structure, with a different layout of the minor pieces. The queen's knight
surely stands better on g6 than on a5, but things are not entirely clear with
the dark-squared bishop. It can either have a killing force on the g1-a7
diagonal or remain completely out of play, depending on the circumstances.} (
12... Bd7 13. Nf1 d5 14. Nxe5 Nxe4 15. Nxd7 (15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Nd2 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (22) Andriasian,Z (2610)-Michalik,P (2577) Groningen 2013}) 15... Qxd7
{1/2-1/2 Rublevsky,S (2684)-Georgiev,K (2654) Valjevo 2011. Due to his bishop
pair, White could have tried fighting for a long term advantage.} 16. Be3 c6
17. f3 Nd6 18. b3 Nf5 19. Bf2 Rxe1 20. Qxe1 Re8 21. Qd2 Bb8 22. Re1) (12... b5
13. Nf1 Bb7 14. Ng3 h6 {transposes to another Italian setup, with an early
defining of the queen's bishop. For instance:} 15. a4 Bb6 16. Bd2 c5 17. d5 Rb8
18. Qc1 Bc8 19. Nh2 c4 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nhf1 Bd7 {Atabayev,Y (2428)-Grischuk,
A (2771) Baku 2015 (1/2-1/2, 46)}) (12... Nh5 13. Nxe5 $2 (13. Nf1 $14 {
[%cal Gc1e3,Gd1d2]}) 13... Rxe5 14. Nc4 (14. dxe5 Qh4) 14... Rg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5
$19 {Shyam,S (2485)-Maze,S (2582) Sitges 2015 (0-1, 38)}) 13. d5 {Karpov,A 
(2705)-Unzicker,W (2535) Milan 1975 (4) 1-0 As usual in these structures,
White has the choice between three possibilites in principle: maintaining the
tension, exchanging on e5 or blocking the centre. With the bishop on the c8-h3
diagonal still, Hou Yifan's choice is not the most principled. If we compare
with Atabayev-Grischuk above, Black will have two extra tempi! But it is also
worth mentioning that Anatoly Karpov had a similar inclination towards
blocking the centre even when this would not cause Black immediate problems
with one of his queenside minor pieces. See for instance} (13. Nf1 $2 {leaves
White hanging after} cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15. Nxd4 d5 {[%csl Gd4]}) ({The
strongest move is} 13. dxe5 $1 {Fischer,R-Unzicker,W Zuerich 1959 (8) 1-0 in
the spirit of the young Fischer (later he learned how to maintain the tension).
Compare with} dxe5 14. Nc4 {[%csl Gd5,Gd6]} Qc7 (14... Qxd1 15. Rxd1 b5 16. Nd6
Rd8 17. Be3 Ne8 18. Nxc8 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rxc8 20. a4 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Gc2]}) 15.
Qd6 Bb8 16. Qxc7 Bxc7 17. Ne3 b5 18. a4 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Gf5][%cal Ga1a8]}) 13...
b5 14. b3 {Taking measures against the bishop's activation with ...c5-c4, but
as we will see this will be a temporary solution only.} Bd7 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Ne3
$5 {Karpov,A (2645)-Gligoric,S (2595) Leningrad Interzonal 1973 (13) 1-0 The
knight is keeping an eye on both wings. This is not a typical regrouping in
the blocked Spanish, but I remember another example from Karpov's collection:}
({White cannot take advantage of the relative vulnerability of the f6-knight:} 
16. Bg5 Nh5 17. Nxe5 $2 Rxe5 18. Qxh5 h6 $19) ({The standard regrouping is} 16.
Ng3 {but here it does not look too effective.} h6 17. c4 (17. Be3 c4 18. b4 a5
19. a3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Ra6 $36) 17... Bb6 {[%cal Gb6a5] White has to either
exchange the dark-squared bishops, depriving herself of an important kingside
attacking piece, or else alow the enemy bishop's infiltration to c3-d4.}) 16...
Bb6 17. a4 Nf4 18. Nh2 {[%cal Gh2g4]} c4 $1 {Black needs to make use of his
slight advance in development (a direct consequence of having saved on the
regrouping ...Bb7-c8-d7) to get some queenside play before White's kingside
attack becomes too strong.} 19. bxc4 (19. b4 a5 $36) 19... Ba5 $1 (19... bxc4
20. Nf3 {[%cal Gf3d2] would force Black to exchange on e3 in order to save the
c4-pawn.}) 20. Bd2 bxc4 {This capture is safe now that the d2-square is not
available anymore.} 21. Nhg4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 Rab8 23. Ra3 $5 {A confusing (at
least for the opponent) prophylactic move. White does not achieve much by
starting active kingside operations:} (23. g3 Nd3 24. Rf1 Nc5 25. Kg2 (25. Nxc4
$2 Nxe4 $1) 25... Nb3 $132) (23. Qf3 Rb2 (23... Nd3 24. Reb1 Nc5 $6 25. Nxc4 {
and now} Nxe4 $2 {does not work any more due to} 26. Qxe4) 24. g3 {[%csl Rh7]
[%cal Gg1g2,Ge1h1,Gg4g5,Gf3h5]} Nd3 25. Reb1 Reb8 26. Rxb2 Rxb2 27. g5 {
White seems on her way to starting the attack along the h-file, but Black can
cross her intentions with the following possible variation resulting in a draw.
} Bb6 28. Nxc4 Qxc4 29. Bxd3 Qc8 30. Be3 Bg4 31. Bxa6 Qd7 32. Bb5 Rxb5 33. axb5
Bxf3 34. Ra8+ Qd8 (34... Bd8 35. Bb6 Kf8 36. Rxd8+ Ke7 $11) 35. Rxd8+ Bxd8 36.
b6 Bxe4 37. b7 Bc7 38. Ba7 Bxd5 39. b8=Q+ Bxb8 40. Bxb8 $11) ({The last move
acted as some sort of magnet in So's planning, but objectively} 23. Ra2 {
might have been a bit more accurate.}) 23... Qc5 $6 {So doesn't find the right
plan, wasting a tempo for nothing.} (23... Bb6 $1 24. Ra2 (24. Qf3 Bxe3 25.
Bxe3 Rb2 $36) 24... Qc8 25. g3 (25. g5 $2 Bd8) (25. Nf5 g6 {White does not
have any way to justify a knight sacrifice on f5 while after} 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27.
g5 Bd8 {the g5-pawn is doomed.}) 25... Nd3 26. Rf1 Bxe3 27. Bxe3 Bxg4) 24. Ra2
Rb7 {This slow plan will soon lead to troubles.} ({The same plan as above is
by one move too slow now:} 24... Bb6 25. Qf3 Qc8 26. Nf5 {Moreover, after the
uninspired ...Qc5, Black does not have ...Nd3-c5 any more.}) 25. g3 Nd3 26. Rf1
Reb8 27. Qe2 Rb2 28. Rxb2 Nxb2 29. Rb1 ({White could have started a promising
kingside attack already:} 29. g5 g6 (29... Nxa4 30. Qh5 Nxc3 31. Kg2 $18) 30.
Kg2 Nxa4 31. Bxa4 Bxa4 32. Ng4 (32. Ra1 Bd7 33. Qxc4) 32... Bd8 33. Ra1 (33.
Nf6+ Bxf6 34. gxf6 Bc2) 33... Bb5 34. Nf6+ Bxf6 35. gxf6 Qc8 36. Qe3 Qd8 37.
Qg5 $40 {Polgar,J (2728)-Sokolov,I (2685) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 (12) 1-0
Without generalising, I cannot help remarking that in this game Hou Yifan
clearly missed the killer instinct of Judit Polgar. See for example:}) 29...
Bc7 (29... g6 $2 30. Nd1 $18) 30. Ra1 (30. g5 $1 Nxa4 31. Ra1 Nb6 32. Qh5 $40)
30... g6 31. Kg2 {But now, combining the plans on the opposite wings will
result in a loss of a tempo, making Black's position bearable.} (31. Bc1 $5 {
[%csl Gb2]} Qa7 (31... Bd8 $2 32. Rb1) (31... Qa5 32. Qd2 Bb6 33. Nf5 $1 gxf5
34. Qg5+ Kf8 35. Qf6 $18 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Gc1h6,Gc1b2]}) 32. Ra2 Nd3 33. Ba3
$16) 31... Bd8 32. Bc1 {Even now this is strong.} Qc8 33. Ra2 Nd3 34. Ba3 (34.
Bxd3 cxd3 35. Qxd3 Bg5 36. f3 Rb3 37. Bd2 Bxe3 38. Qxe3 Qc4 $36) 34... Bb6 (
34... Be7 $5 $14 {[%csl Gd6]}) 35. Nxc4 Ne1+ $1 (35... Qxc4 36. Bxd3 Qxc3 37.
Bxd6 $18) 36. Qxe1 Qxc4 37. Rb2 Qc7 (37... Bc7 {is a more accurate way of
getting the same kind of fortress as in the game.} 38. Rxb8+ Bxb8 39. Qb1 Bc7
$14) 38. Bd1 (38. g5 $1 {would have prevented Black from setting up his
fortress later.}) 38... Rc8 39. Qe2 a5 40. Qa6 (40. Qf3 $5 {would have still
offered some chances to keep Black under pressure on both wings.}) 40... Rb8
41. Qd3 f6 42. Qc2 Ba7 43. Rxb8+ Qxb8 44. Qb3 Qc7 45. Be2 g5 $11 {Black has
managed to block the position completely, making White's extra pawn irrelevant.
} 46. Kf1 Kf7 47. f3 Ke7 48. Bd3 Qb6 49. Qxb6 Bxb6 50. Bb5 Bc8 51. Ke2 Bc5 52.
Bc1 Kd8 53. Bd2 Kc7 54. Be1 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 12th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2019.03.09"]
[Round "5.6"]
[White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Black "McShane, Luke J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "McShane,L"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2019.03.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. a4 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. b4 {
An unusual move in this exact position.} (8. Re1 {and}) (8. Na3 {are more
common}) 8... O-O 9. Re1 h6 ({The immediate} 9... Ne7 {was Karjakin's choice
against Carlsen during their 2016 World Championship match}) 10. h3 Ne7 11. d4
(11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. Nf1 c6 {1/2-1/2 (44) Vachier Lagrave,M (2783)-Giri,A (2764)
Leuven 2017}) 11... exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. exd5 (13. e5 {was an interesting
alternative leading to a sharper game.} Ne4 (13... dxc4 {is very risky, but
playable} 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Bxh6 Re8 16. Nc3 Bf5 {and White probably has some
advantage in this unbalanced middlegame.}) 14. Bd3 Bf5 $13 ({I was also
considering} 14... a5 $5 15. bxa5 c5)) 13... Nexd5 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Be6 $11
16. Qb3 Bb6 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Bd2 Ba5 {Since it's hard to bring any extra
pressure to bear on the d4-pawn, the bishop looked a bit passive on b6. So I
decided it would make sense to exchange it.} 19. Nc3 (19. Bxa5 Qxa5 20. Nbd2
Ra8 $11) 19... Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Re8 21. Bd2 Qc8 22. Re5 {This move looks a bit
too optimistic here. Since he was also short of time, and the position is
rather equal, that was a bad combination.} (22. Qc2 {is the move that I
expected, anticipating Nd5-b6} Qd7 (22... Nb6 $2 23. Bxe6 Rxe6 24. Rxe6 fxe6 (
24... Qxe6 25. Qxc7 $16) 25. Bxh6 $1 {is the point of 22.Qc2}) 23. Ne5 Qd6 {
with a balanced game.}) 22... Qd7 23. Ne1 $2 {Trying to bring the knight to d3,
but there isn't time for this.} (23. Qc2 {is still about equal}) 23... Nb6 {
Now White gets into trouble surprisingly fast.} 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Nd3 (25. Rxe6
Qxe6 26. Qxe6 fxe6 {is quite uncomfortable for White, as the knights can hop
around and attack the pawn on b5.}) 25... Rxe5 26. dxe5 (26. Nxe5 Qd5 $15 {
once again, with the weak pawn on b5, exchanging queens is not appealing for
White.}) 26... Ne4 27. Be3 (27. Ba5 Qd5 28. Qxd5 Nxd5 {looks pretty unpleasant
for White, although apparently} 29. Nb4 $1 {is just about OK.}) 27... Qd5 $1
28. Qc2 Nc4 $17 29. b6 $5 {A tricky idea, although it falls short.} (29. Nf4 {
is the move White would like to play, but} Nxe3 30. fxe3 Qxe5 {wins a clear
pawn.}) 29... c5 $1 (29... cxb6 30. Nb4 $1 Qb5 (30... Nxe3 $4 {reveals the
point of 29.b6} 31. Qc8+ {wins the queen!}) 31. Qxe4 Qxb4 32. e6 $11) 30. e6 (
30. Bc1 Nxb6 $17) 30... Qxe6 31. Bxc5 $2 (31. Nf4 Nxe3 32. fxe3 Qe5 $17 (32...
Qc6 33. Qd3 {is a bit less clear: White threatens Qd3-d8-c7})) 31... Nxc5 32.
Nxc5 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2840"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 {Magnus is exploring
these positions from all possible angles. In the recent match against Sergey
he tried this line with the bishop on b5.} d6 (6... h6 7. Bh4 Be7 {is a
frequent reaction, defusing any worries about the pin and anticipating a
welcome exchange of dark-squared bishops.}) 7. Nbd2 h6 8. Bh4 g5 $2 {According
to Karjakin's tweet "Loran" Fressinet told him Nxg5 never works in the Italian.
I am quite sure that Magnus's on- and off-second informed his boss about the
exceptions!} 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Kg7 11. Qf3 Be6 {Armed with engines, many
wrote Karjakin off already. But in the meantime, Wesley So was running away
with tournament victory as Nepomniachtchi had already(!) self-destructed. I am
sure this unsettled Magnus...} 12. b4 $2 (12. Bd5 $1 {This creates a terrible
bind, since Black is at pains to defuse the pin. Nb8-d7 is the only manoeuvre
left to do so, but drops the exchange.} Nb8 (12... a5 13. O-O-O Nb8 14. Qg3
Nbd7 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 17. Nf3 Bc5 18. Bxf6+ Kxf6 19. Qg5#) 13. Qxf6+
Qxf6 14. Bxf6+ Kxf6 15. Bxb7 Nd7 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 17. b4 Bb6 18. Ke2 {With 3
pawns and a rook for 2 pieces, White of course has a significant edge, but
some difficulties remain, as the white rooks won't be active for a long time.})
(12. O-O-O $2 {allows a main defensive idea:} Bxc4 13. Nxc4 Qe7 {and the queen
gets to e6 - consolidating.}) 12... Bb6 13. Bd5 a5 $1 {Given a second lease on
life Karjakin is going to play very well from here on. A main reason for him
being dubbed "World Defence Champion" by colleague Giri and others must be
that he seems so unaffected by his mistakes. He can commit the most despicable
errors and then show world-class toughness from the next second!} 14. b5 Nb8 {
Not only will the rook not drop, but Black has secured squares on the
queenside forever. Stable squares are very significant in all types of
positions with minor against major pieces.} 15. Bxb7 Ra7 (15... Nbd7 16. Bc6
Rb8 17. Nc4) 16. Bd5 $2 {Allowing Black to overprotect f6.} (16. Bc6 $1 {
was definitely stronger, and may give great winning chances, but Black's
position is still full of eye-popping resources.} Nxc6 17. bxc6 Ra8 18. h4 Rh8
19. d4 $1 (19. Nc4 {Slow play is not enough, after} Bc5 20. h5 Rh6 21. Ne3 Bxe3
22. Qxe3 Qh8 23. Bxh6+ Qxh6 24. Qxh6+ Kxh6 {Black is very well coordinated.})
19... exd4 $1 (19... Rh6 20. d5 Bc8 21. Nc4 Bc5 22. Bxh6+ Kxh6 23. Ne3 {
looks hopeless for Black.}) 20. e5 dxe5 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxd8 f5 {Here we have
a complete mess and direct attempts appear to run into powerful counterplay.}
23. Be7 $1 {The sane approach, just sticking to the material.} (23. g4 {
Opening literally all the gates, but Black can respond in kind!} d3 $1 24. Bxc7
d2+ 25. Kd1 Bxc7 26. gxf5 Bd5 27. Rg1+ Kf7 28. Rg6 {Looks like Black ran out
of steam?} Rab8 {Reinforcements!} 29. c4 (29. Kc2 Rb5 {calmly doubling on the
b-file!}) 29... Rb2 30. cxd5 Rxh4 31. Rh6 $1 Rg4 $1 (31... Rxh6 $4 32. Qxe4 $18
) 32. Rh7+ Kf6 33. Rh1 Rf4 34. Rh6+ Kg7 35. Rh7+ Kxh7 36. Qh5+ $11) (23. Bg5
Nxg5 24. Qg3 $1 {Neat, but not quite enough.} Kf7 25. Qxg5 Rag8 26. Qd2 dxc3
27. Qe2 {Black only has 2 bishops for the queen, but wonderful coordination
after} Rg4 $1 28. O-O-O Re4 {and White is obliged to part with an important
pawn or go:} 29. Qc2 (29. Qb5 Bxf2) 29... Bc5 30. Rd7+ Kf6 31. h5 Ba3+ 32. Kd1
Bb4 33. a3 Bxd7 34. cxd7 Rd4+ 35. Ke1 Rd2 36. Qc1 c2 37. axb4 Rd1+ 38. Qxd1
cxd1=Q+ 39. Kxd1 axb4 $11) 23... Kf7 24. Ba3 d3 25. O-O-O $1 (25. Rf1 d2+ 26.
Kd1 Rad8) 25... Nxf2 26. g4 $1 Nxg4 (26... Rad8 27. c4 $1) 27. Qxd3 Kf6 28. h5
{sees White consolidating without having to give up much material yet.
Whenever neccesary, an exchange will be sacrificed to extinguish the
counterplay.}) 16... Nbd7 17. Nc4 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qe8 {Black has consolidated
and will be able to untangle gradually.} 19. Ne3 Rg8 20. O-O Nh7 21. Nf5+ Kh8 {
Relative safety, finally.} 22. Bh4 Ra8 23. Rae1 f6 {It's hard to formulate a
plan for White here, while Black will just keep on improving his position,
until opportunities come up.} 24. Re4 Nc5 {Karjakin felt it was time to invite
a repetition.} (24... Qf7 $5 25. Nh6 Qg6 26. Nxg8 Rxg8 {and again, Black's
position seems easier to play, at the very least.}) 25. Re3 Nd7 26. d4 $5 {
I don't think White holds an advantage at this point, but as everybody knows,
Magnus wants to fight it out!} Qg6 $1 {I like the concept of giving up a rook
for the very strong Nf5. After that Black's position becomes very solid.} 27.
Ne7 Qg4 28. Nxg8 Rxg8 29. Qxg4 Rxg4 30. g3 exd4 $2 {Opening files should be
done with great care only, when opposing the rooks. And here Black could just
regroup to go after the stranded - but nagging - Bh4 first.} (30... Nhf8 31. h3
(31. Rd1 exd4 32. cxd4 Ng6) 31... exd4 32. Re8 Rg8 33. cxd4 Ng6) 31. cxd4 Bxd4
32. Re8+ {Of course White infiltrates immediately} Rg8 33. Re7 {Mysterious -
exchanging Black's rook would greatly weaken the defence.} (33. Rxg8+ $142 Kxg8
34. Kg2 Nhf8 35. g4 Ng6 36. Bg3 $14) 33... Rg7 34. Re4 Ne5 35. Kg2 Bb6 36. f4
Ng6 37. Kh3 $2 {Here Carlsen passed up on his last chance to force the
favourable rook exchange.} (37. Re8+ Rg8 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. f5 (39. Kh3) 39...
Ne7 40. g4 Nxd5 41. Bf2 Bxf2 42. Kxf2 Ng5 43. Re1 Kf8 44. h4 Nf7 {Black may
hold, but he has to suffer without counterplay.}) 37... Kg8 38. Rfe1 Kf7 {
It's hard to play constructively as White here, which usually means that the
opponent will in a practical game make progress one way or another.} 39. Re6
Rg8 40. R1e4 f5 41. Re2 Rh8 {Black is step by step improving his position and
would eventually shatter White´s pawn structure and try to go after the weak
pawns one by one.} 42. a4 Kg7 43. Rxg6+ $1 {A very very important decision!
Carlsen uses his last chance to disturb Black's regrouping, and secures
activity for his remaining pieces.} (43. Re7+ $1 Nxe7 44. Rxe7+ {is the same})
({while} 43. Re8 $2 Nhf8 {would leave White helpless already.}) 43... Kxg6 44.
Re6+ Kf7 45. Re7+ Kg8 (45... Kg6 $5 46. Re6+ Kh5 {looks awkward, as the black
king is not that far from a mating net, but some calculation shows that Black
is in time to regroup after} 47. Be7 Bd4 48. Kg2 Re8 49. Kf3 {(h3-g4 would be
a big threat...)} Nf6 50. Bxf6 Rxe6 51. dxe6 Bxf6 {Still, White survives with
perfect play:} 52. h3 Kg6 53. Ke3 Bb2 54. g4 fxg4 55. hxg4 Kf6 56. f5 d5 57.
g5+ Ke7 58. g6 $11) 46. Kg2 Nf8 47. Bg5 Rh7 48. Re8 Kf7 49. Rd8 {Black has no
space to regroup now.} Kg8 50. Re8 Rf7 51. Bh6 Rf6 52. Bg5 ({Even} 52. Rxf8+
Rxf8 53. Bxf8 Kxf8 {is a fortress for White.}) 52... Rf7 53. Bh6 {What a
full-blooded struggle, after the game seemed to be almost over early on!
Karjakin's composure is admirable time and again.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {The Giuoco Piano, (or Italian Opening) has become
quite fashionable lately, running away from forced lines of the Ruy Lopez (or
Spanish) with 3.Bb5. And White has been doing very well, as did Giri in this
game.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 {Normally White plays 7.Bb3 to
save the bishop (from a possible ...Na5). But this is a standard alternative
as well.} O-O 8. Re1 (8. Bg5 $5 {isn't supposed to be a great move here,
because Black plays h6-g5 quickly, but I think the sacrifice on g5 is
underrated and could be interesting for White:} h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Nxg5 (10. Bg3
$13 {this is what we see normally after h6-g5, with a complex game}) 10... hxg5
11. Bxg5 Kg7 12. Qf3 {and I feel like there is a lot to be explored here. I
mean, it could be just bad for White, but it doesn't look easy for Black, and
it's weird that there haven't been any games with 10.Nxg5. White's dream plan
could be Nd2-Kh1-Qg3-f4.}) 8... Ba7 9. h3 (9. Na3 $5 {Carlsen,M (2844)-Adams,M
(2744) Tata Steel-A 78th 2016 (9) 1-0 it's not easy to find the reference
games, because either White or Black could have some minor piece placed
somewhere else compared to the other games, but this Na3 has been used a lot,
following with Nc2 and Ne3. Wesley So was able to keep a slight edge, and
there was also a great win from the world champion Magnus Carlsen in Wijk an
Zee 2016:} h6 10. Nc2 Re8 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. d4 (14.
Ne3 $5 {would be in the same spirit as Carlsen's game, first putting the
knight on f5 and only then d4}) 14... exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ra8 17. f3
a5 18. Ne3 Qd7 19. Red1 b6 20. Qc4 Rae8 21. Qb5 Qc8 22. b4 Qa8 23. Qd3 c6 24.
bxa5 bxa5 25. c4 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (38) So,W (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Wijk aan
Zee 2016. White probably had something earlier, here Black should be ok.}) 9...
h6 10. Nbd2 Ne7 {Black places his knight on g6 trying to eliminate this
problem (the knight on c6 sometimes becomes an awkard piece) and equalise the
game. Nevertheless, White is always one tempo ahead in the centre for playing
d4.} (10... Re8 {would be a solid alternative, played by the current Women's
World Chess Champion} 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 15.
Qc2 Qd7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Nf5 Qe8 18. b4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nd2 Ne7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (31) Muzychuk,M (2554)-Hou,Y (2673) Lvov 2016}) 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 c6
13. Ba2 Be6 (13... d5 {it is always somewhat risky to try getting the
initiative with Black. For example:} 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. d4 $1 (15. Nxe5 $2 {
is a typical trap in these positions} Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 17. Kxf2 Qf6+ $17)
15... exd4 16. Nxd4 $14 {as Black I wouldn't be happy here, White has a slight
but comfortable edge because of having the rook already developed to e1.}) 14.
Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 $1 $14 {Securing an advantage for White. Black already
doesn't have an easy life.} exd4 (15... Qe7 $5 {keeping the structure was an
alternative. dxe5 is not scary for Black:} 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Be3
Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Rad8 20. Qb3 $14 {White probably maintains a slight edge here as
well.}) 16. cxd4 d5 17. exd5 $1 {Suddenly Black starts getting into trouble,
there is no good way to take the pawn back.} (17. e5 {did not make much sense,
because Black plays ...Nd7 and prepares ...c5 soon, opening up routes for all
his pieces} Nd7 $132) 17... exd5 (17... Qxd5 18. Qc2 Ne7 19. Ne2 $1 Qd7 20. Nf4
Ned5 21. Nd3 $16 {when White probably is going to play Bd2, double on the
e-file and decide when and how to use the c5- and e5-squares for his knights.})
(17... Nxd5 $6 {just loses a pawn} 18. Rxe6 Nh4 19. Ra3 $1 $16 {An important
move. Now it is clear that 7.a4 helped a lot!}) 18. Qd3 Ne7 19. Bd2 Bb8 {
Positionally Black is supposed to be fine, but the pressure on the e-file
starts to become stronger every move.} 20. Bb4 $16 Bd6 21. Bxd6 (21. Qa3 $5 Nc8
22. Bc5 {(threatening Re6)} Re8 23. Ne5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 $40 {Avoiding 24...Nd6
and threatening Nf5. On the other hand, this gives a passed d5-pawn for Black.
White has the advantage naturally, but there is a lot of play.}) 21... Qxd6 22.
Re3 Rae8 23. Ne5 Qc7 24. b4 Nc8 25. Rc1 Qd8 $6 (25... Nd6 $1 {was a good
defensive resource, had Black followed this line precisely:} 26. b5 axb5 27.
axb5 Nc4 $1 28. Rxc4 {has to be tried, but probably Black defends himself:} (
28. Nxc4 cxb5 $1 $15 {this is the key move, making use of the pin on c1, Black
is suddenly better.}) 28... dxc4 29. Qxc4+ Nd5 30. Re4 Kh7 31. bxc6 bxc6 $13)
26. b5 axb5 27. axb5 cxb5 28. Qxb5 $16 {Now White has a big advantage, with
nicely placed pieces, and Black has a horrible pawn structure and a weakened
king. But probably both players were approaching time trouble, so it wasn't
easy to be precise. Besides, this is the kind of position that I personally
think is one of the most difficult in chess. Maybe not only for me, but for
everybody. The reason is that there are no pawn breaks, and the board is wide
open with major pieces on it, meaning there are a lot (and by that I mean a
lot!) of options in every single move, and we, humans, can not find patterns
in such positions. Even with a computer, it is very hard to analyse and come
to a sensible explanation about what is going on. In any case, it goes to show
how strong these players are, because the game maintains a good level, despite
the difficulty of the position, and the probable time trouble they were under.}
Nd6 {.} 29. Qb3 b5 30. Rce1 Qa5 31. Qb1 Qb6 32. Qg6 $6 {This gives Black a
golden opportunity to fight for equality.} (32. Qb4 $1 {keeping the pressure,
possibly releasing it at some point with Ng6. For example:} Re7 33. Ng6 Rxe3
34. Rxe3 Rd8 35. Ne7+ Kh8 36. Re6 $16) 32... Qc7 $2 (32... Qxd4 $1 {and White
doesn't have anything decisive. For example:} 33. Nc6 (33. Nh5 Nxh5 (33... Qa7
$5 $11) 34. Qxd6 Rf6 35. Qc7 Qf4 $11) 33... Rxe3 34. Rxe3 (34. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 35.
Kh2 Nfe8 $13 {still looks hard to evaluate, but this is definitely not bad for
Black}) 34... Qc5 35. Ne7+ Kh8 $11) 33. Qd3 Re6 34. Ne2 Rfe8 (34... Nh5 $5 $14
{a weird way to stop ...Nf4, but it looks acceptable.}) 35. Nf4 R6e7 36. Nfg6
Re6 37. Qb1 Qb7 38. Qb4 Nf5 39. Rf3 Ne7 40. Nf4 Nc6 41. Qb2 R6e7 $6 (41... Rd6
$1 {this had to be played} 42. Rfe3 Qb6 43. Nxc6 Rxe3 44. Rxe3 Rxc6 45. Re5 $14
) 42. Rfe3 $1 $16 {Creating strong pressure on the e-file, and threatening
Nfg6 followed by Nxc6 winning (White has ideas with Ne7+ after the massive
exchanges). To defend this, Black has to make an awkard move like ...Na7 in
the game.} Na7 43. Qb3 Nc8 44. Qb4 Nd7 45. h4 Nxe5 46. dxe5 Rf7 47. Nh5 Qe7 48.
Qd4 Ref8 49. e6 Rf5 50. Nxg7 $2 {After a great series of moves by Giri, he
allows Nakamura to escape.} (50. Re5 $1 Nd6 51. Rxf5 Nxf5 52. Qxd5 Nxh4 53.
Qxb5 $16 {and White should win this, but there is still work to be done.})
50... Qxg7 51. Rg3 Rg5 $1 {And there is nothing decisive.} 52. Rxg5 hxg5 53.
Qxd5 (53. Qxd5 {a draw was agreed. For example:} Ne7 54. Qxb5 gxh4 55. Qh5 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Many top players have been choosing this move to
play flexible middlegame positions, and generally with great success.} Bc5 4.
O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 h6 8. Re1 a5 {Not a common move, normally
Black plays ...a6 or ...Re8/Be6.} 9. Bb3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 Ba7 (11...
Qb8 $5 {played a month later by the great Micky Adams, threatening b5} 12. d4 (
12. Bb5 Qa7 13. Qe2 a4 {threatening something like ...Qb6:} 14. Nc4 Bd7 15. Be3
Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Qb6 $11 {and Black is ok}) 12... exd4 13. cxd4 b5 $1 14. dxc5
bxa4 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nb1 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Be3 Rc8 20. Nc3
Bxf3 21. Qxf3 a3 22. Qe2 Qe5 $11 {0-1 (53) Harika,D (2528)-Adams,M (2745)
Douglas 2016. Black solved his opening problems, and went on to win the game
later.}) 12. Nf1 Rb8 13. Bb5 $1 {An original way to stop ...b5.} Bd7 (13... d5
14. exd5 $1 (14. Qe2 $5) 14... Bxd5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 {and White has an
annoying pressure on e5:} e4 {if Black tries to eliminate it, then he still
has some things to worry about:} 17. dxe4 Bxe4 18. Nd2 $1 Bg6 19. Nb3 $14 {
with good play on the queenside.}) 14. Ng3 Ne7 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. d4 Ng6 17. Be3
{It feels like White had success in achieving a small edge from the opening.}
exd4 (17... Ra8 $5 {trying to maintain the stronghold on e5 was another option}
18. Qc2 {also looks slightly better for White, but it would be better to keep
the pawn on e5 for a longer time.} (18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Qxd7 Nxd7 20. Rad1 Ngf8
21. Bxa7 Rxa7 $11 {looks fairly equal. White shouldn't achieve an advantage
only because of the misplaced rook on a7.})) 18. Bxd4 (18. cxd4 $2 Nxe4 $17)
18... Bxd4 19. cxd4 $14 {Now Black has to fight this centre somehow, and
Karjakin chooses the wrong path by playing ...d5 - that looks extremely
natural, but allows a strong attack on the kingside.} a4 (19... c5 $5 {doesn't
solve all of Black's problems, but it is a different try to fight White's
centre:} 20. Qd2 (20. dxc5 {leads nowhere} dxc5 21. Qxd7 Nxd7 22. Rad1 Nde5 23.
Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Nf5 c4 $11 {followed by b5}) (20. d5 {whenever this is played,
Black has a comfortable way to expand on the queenside and should not be worse
because it is not easy at all for White to prepare a central advance with
f4-e5 (even if f4 is played, then there is a big difficulty to defend the
d5-pawn).} b5 $1 $132) 20... b6 21. Rad1 $14 {keeping a stable advantage.}) 20.
Rc1 d5 $2 21. e5 Nh7 22. Nh2 $1 {Suddenly there is huge attacking potential
being created on the kingside, and Black doesn't have a good way to deal with
it.} Ng5 (22... Nhf8 23. Nh5 Ne6 24. Qd2 $16 {followed by f4.}) (22... f6 $2
23. Qc2 $16 {winning the c7-pawn.}) 23. Nh5 {Preparing f4 and/or Ng4, with
annoying threats.} a3 24. b4 Ne6 25. Qd2 {Now f4 is coming, Black is already
in trouble.} Ng5 26. Ng4 (26. f4 $5 {was interesting, but not necessary, since
Harikrishna's play was risk-free and even stronger:} Ne4 27. Rxe4 dxe4 28. Ng4
Kf8 29. Nxg7 Red8 30. Rd1 Kxg7 31. f5 Qxd4+ 32. Qxd4 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 h5 $1 $132)
26... Qf5 $2 {The position was already bad, but this makes it easier for White.
} (26... Kh8 $1 {was more stubborn, forcing White to play precisely:} 27. f4 (
27. Nxg7 Kxg7 28. f4 Ne4 $2 (28... Nf3+ $1 29. gxf3 Qf5 $44 {and Black is
still fighting}) 29. Rxe4 dxe4 30. f5 $18 {transposes to 27.f4, with Black
playing 29...Kxg7}) 27... Ne4 28. Rxe4 dxe4 29. Nxg7 {now we have the same
position from the 26th move analysis, with the king on h8. Probably Karjakin
saw this and thought it was hopeless.} Red8 $1 (29... Kxg7 30. f5 Rh8 31. fxg6
fxg6 32. d5 $18) 30. Rxc7 $3 {distracting the queen from d4, this is the
difference from the king being on h8 - now White's queen will join the attack
on h6 with mate if Black takes the rook.} (30. Rc4 $5 $18) 30... Qxd4+ (30...
Qxc7 $2 31. f5 Nf8 32. Qxh6+ Nh7 33. Nf6 $18) 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxf7 e3 33. Ne6
$1 Rd1+ (33... e2 34. Nf6 $3 e1=Q+ 35. Kh2 Rd7 36. Rxd7 Ne7 37. Rxe7 Qb1 38.
Nc5 $18 {with a calm and decisive Nce4 threat}) 34. Kh2 Re8 35. f5 $1 Rxe6 36.
Nxe3 $1 {White had to find a series of very difficult moves, now finally to
obtain a won endgame after:} Re1 37. fxe6 Rxe3 38. e7 Nxe7 39. Rxe7 b5 40. e6
Kg8 41. Ra7 Rxe6 42. Rxa3 $18) 27. Nhf6+ Kh8 (27... gxf6 28. Nxh6+ $18) 28.
Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Rxc7 $18 Nf4 30. Qe3 Nge6 31. Rc3 Qg6 32. Qg3 Ra8 33. Kh2 {
And everything is under control, the rest is a matter of technique.} h5 34. Ne3
Qh7 35. Rec1 Qe4 36. Rc8+ Rxc8 37. Rxc8+ Kh7 38. Qf3 Qxf3 39. gxf3 Nxd4 40. Rc7
b5 41. Rxf7 Nde6 42. Rd7 d4 43. Nc2 d3 44. Ne1 {A very good win from
Harikrishna!} 1-0

[Event "Pocos de Caldas op"]
[Site "Pocos de Caldas"]
[Date "2016.02.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Supi, Luis Paulo"]
[Black "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2563"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.02.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. h3 O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ng3 {a common position that has been
played a lot already. Black chooses between 12...d5 or 12...Bxb3 now} Bxb3 13.
Qxb3 Qd7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 (15. fxe3 $5 {played by Anand in 1996:} d5 16.
exd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Rd2 b6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (62) Anand,V 
(2725)-Kamsky,G (2735) Monte Carlo 1996, with a balanced endgame.}) 15... d5
16. Rae1 (16. Re2 {was played by Harikrishna, but Black also got a fine
position after} dxe4 17. dxe4 Na5 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. Rd2 Qe6 20. b3 Rxd2 21. Qxd2
Nc6 22. Rd1 Rd8 23. Qe2 Rd6 24. Nh4 Ne7 (24... g6 {was possible right away})
25. Qf3 g6 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Nf3 Nc6 28. Kh2 Qd7 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. a4 Na5 $6 (
30... Nd8 $1 $15 {it's always important in these positions to improve the
c6-knight, most of the times the only problem that Black has. Here it is not
really a problem, but on e6 it stands a lot better. Black is looking for an
advantage already, after White weakened his queenside}) 31. b4 Nc6 32. Qc4 Nd7
33. a5 $11 {1-0 (43) Harikrishna,P (2737)-Stern,R (2538) Berlin 2015. White
was able to achieve something here. It was a blitz game, so it ended on move
43 soon after some blunders.}) 16... dxe4 (16... Na5 $5 {a creative way to
solve the attack on b7} 17. Qc2 (17. Qa3 Nc6 18. R3e2 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nd5 20. Nc5
Qf5 $132 {with counterplay threatening ...Nf4}) 17... dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nd5 {
Black solves all his problems, because White doesn't have Nc5 as in the game.})
17. Nxe4 Nxe4 (17... Nd5 $2 18. Nc5 $1 $16) 18. Rxe4 (18. dxe4 {leads to clear
equality} Red8 $11) 18... Qxd3 $5 {Forcing massive exchanges.} 19. Qxb7 (19.
Nxe5 {I wasn't so sure during the game how to meet this, but I felt there must
be something} Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 b6 22. Re7 (22. Qd5 Qxd5 23. Rxd5 Re8
24. Kf1 Kf8 25. Rd7 Re7 $11) 22... Qb1+ 23. Kh2 Qf5 {the check on b1 is
important because now I attack on f2} 24. Re2 Rd8 $11) 19... Qb5 $1 20. Qxb5 {
This leads to a rook endgame that should be drawn, but White can naturally
play on.} (20. Qxc7 $1 {was the best practical try} Rac8 21. Qd7 Qxb2 {was my
idea during the game} (21... Red8 $5 22. Qf5 Qxb2 23. Rg4 Ne7 $1 {An important
defensive resource to stop any Qf6 ideas} 24. Qxe5 (24. Qh5 Ng6 25. Nxe5 Re8
26. Rge4 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Nxe5 28. Qxe5 Qxc3 $11) 24... Ng6) 22. Rf4 {I did not
see this move, but apparently Black is still doing fine} (22. Rc4 Qb5 (22...
Red8 23. Qf5 Qb8 24. Rg4 Qd6 $11) 23. Rf4 f6 24. Rg4 g5) 22... Ne7 {
threatening to take on f4} 23. Nxe5 Rcd8 24. Qg4 Qxc3 25. Re3 f5 26. Qh5 Qa1+
27. Kh2 Rf8 28. Ng6 Nxg6 29. Qxg6 Qf6 30. Re6 Qxg6 31. Rxg6 a5 32. Ra6 Rd5 $14
{White keeps a slight initiative and his king is better placed. Nevertheless,
it should end in a draw.}) 20... axb5 21. Nxe5 (21. a3 f6 $11 {is fine for
Black.}) 21... Rxe5 22. Rxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 b4 $1 (23... Rxa2 $2 24. Rxb5 $16 {
would mean endless suffering for Black.}) 24. cxb4 $6 (24. Rb5 $1 {was the
only try} bxc3 25. bxc3 Rxa2 26. Rb7 {I missed this idea at the beginning of
the exchanges. White maintains a passed pawn and additional chances} g5 $5 {
Gelfand,B (2748)-Grischuk,A (2797) Baku FIDE GP 2014 (3) 1-0 avoiding the
h4-g3-f2 setup, that should be the most confortable for White. It's hard to
search for the exact same endgame in the database, but I found this structure
in the following endgame (White had h4-g3 already, and somehow was able to
bring his king closer to the c-pawn)} (26... c5 27. Rb5 {wouldn't change
anything}) 27. Rxc7 Rc2 28. g3 Kg7 {From what I learned so far, in these
endgames the defending side tries to push his pawns, to create counter-chances
(because White will try to support his own passed pawn with his king, leaving
the kingside abandoned), or approaches the passed pawn with his king. In this
case, since the c-pawn is close to the centre, I believe Black also has that
option. And eventually if the h-pawn is lost for the c-pawn, we go into a
drawn endgame, 3 pawns against 2, on the same flank.} 29. Kg2 Kg6 30. Kf3 h5
31. c4 {and now both h4 or g4, bothering White's kingside structure should be
decent for Black} h4 $5 (31... g4+ $5 32. hxg4 hxg4+ 33. Ke3 (33. Kxg4 Rxf2 $11
) 33... f6 34. c5 Kf5 35. c6 Ke5 $1 {the second defensive method. It looks
like white will be able to grab the g-pawn in exchange for the c-pawn, but
still, it leads to a drawn endgame (2 pawns against 1, with rooks, on the same
flank).} 36. Kd3 Rxf2 $2 (36... Rc1 37. Rc8 Kd6 38. Rf8 Ke7 $1 39. Rg8 Rxc6 40.
Rxg4 $11) 37. Re7+ $1 Kd6 38. c7 $18) 32. gxh4 gxh4 33. c5 f6 34. c6 Kf5 35.
Ke3 (35. Rc8 Rc3+ 36. Kg2 Kf4 37. c7 f5 $11) 35... Ke5 $1 {with the same idea,
approaching the passed pawn. Black should make a draw without much trouble})
24... Rxa2 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Re7 Rxb2 27. Rxc7 Rxb4 28. Rxf7 $11 {Reaching a
simple drawn endgame.} h5 29. g3 Kh6 30. Kg2 Rb3 31. g4 hxg4 32. hxg4 g5 33.
Rf6+ Kg7 34. Rf3 Rb6 35. Ra3 Kg6 36. Kf3 Re6 37. Ra4 Kf6 38. Re4 Rb6 39. Ke3
Rb3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT Top 12"]
[Site "Brest"]
[Date "2019.05.27"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Ragger, Markus"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2019.05.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bischwiller"]
[BlackTeam "Asnieres"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 6. O-O {
[%emt 0:00:06]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:43]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:01:42]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:02:48]
} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:54]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:28]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:03:10]} h6 {
[%emt 0:02:46]} 10. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:52]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 11. h3 {[%emt 0:
08:53]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:57]} 12. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Bxb3 {[%emt 0:08:28]} 13.
Qxb3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:04:52]} 14. Be3 {[%emt 0:03:23]} Bxe3 {
[%emt 0:02:59]} 15. Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} (15. fxe3 d5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5
Nxd5 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Rd2 b6) 15... d5 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 16. Rae1 {[%emt 0:08:
16]} (16. Re2 dxe4 17. dxe4 Na5 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. Rd2 Qe6 20. b3 Rxd2 21. Qxd2
Nc6 22. Rd1 Rd8 23. Qe2 Rd6 24. Nh4 Ne7 25. Qf3 g6 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Nf3 Nc6 28.
Kh2 Qd7 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. a4 Na5) 16... Na5 $146 {[%emt 0:02:47]} ({RR} 16...
dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 ({RR} 17... Nd5 18. Nc5) 18. Rxe4 ({RR} 18. dxe4 Red8) 18...
Qxd3 19. Qxb7 ({RR} 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 b6 22. Re7 ({RR} 22.
Qd5 Qxd5 23. Rxd5 Re8 24. Kf1 Kf8 25. Rd7 Re7) 22... Qb1+ 23. Kh2 Qf5 24. Re2
Rd8) 19... Qb5 20. Qxb5 ({RR} 20. Qxc7 Rac8 21. Qd7 Qxb2 ({RR} 21... Red8 22.
Qf5 Qxb2 23. Rg4 Ne7 24. Qxe5 ({RR} 24. Qh5 Ng6 25. Nxe5 Re8 26. Rge4 Rxe5 27.
Rxe5 Nxe5 28. Qxe5 Qxc3) 24... Ng6) 22. Rf4 ({RR} 22. Rc4 Qb5 ({RR} 22... Red8
23. Qf5 Qb8 24. Rg4 Qd6) 23. Rf4 f6 24. Rg4 g5) 22... Ne7 23. Nxe5 Rcd8 24. Qg4
Qxc3 25. Re3 f5 26. Qh5 Qa1+ 27. Kh2 Rf8 28. Ng6 Nxg6 29. Qxg6 Qf6 30. Re6 Qxg6
31. Rxg6 a5 32. Ra6 Rd5) 20... axb5 21. Nxe5 ({RR} 21. a3 f6) 21... Rxe5 22.
Rxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 b4 ({RR} 23... Rxa2 24. Rxb5) 24. cxb4 ({RR} 24. Rb5 bxc3
25. bxc3 Rxa2 26. Rb7 g5 ({RR} 26... c5 27. Rb5) 27. Rxc7 Rc2 28. g3 Kg7 29.
Kg2 Kg6 30. Kf3 h5 31. c4 h4 ({RR} 31... g4+ 32. hxg4 hxg4+ 33. Ke3 ({RR} 33.
Kxg4 Rxf2) 33... f6 34. c5 Kf5 35. c6 Ke5 36. Kd3 Rxf2 ({RR} 36... Rc1 37. Rc8
Kd6 38. Rf8 Ke7 39. Rg8 Rxc6 40. Rxg4) 37. Re7+ Kd6 38. c7) 32. gxh4 gxh4 33.
c5 f6 34. c6 Kf5 35. Ke3 ({RR} 35. Rc8 Rc3+ 36. Kg2 Kf4 37. c7 f5) 35... Ke5)
24... Rxa2 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Re7 Rxb2 27. Rxc7 Rxb4 28. Rxf7 h5 29. g3 Kh6 30.
Kg2 Rb3 31. g4 {Supi,L (2470)-Mekhitarian,K (2563) Pocos de Caldas 2016 CBM
172 [Mekhitarian,K] 1/2-1/2 (39)}) 17. Qa3 {[%emt 0:01:34]} ({RR} 17. Qc2 dxe4
18. Nxe4 Nd5) 17... Nc6 {[%emt 0:03:29]} 18. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} ({RR} 18.
R3e2 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nd5 20. Nc5 Qf5) 18... Na5 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 19. Qa3 {
[%emt 0:05:14]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:01:50]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Metz op 31th"]
[Site "Metz"]
[Date "2013.04.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Degraeve, Jean Marc"]
[Black "Greenfeld, Alon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2567"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "Metz Alekhine/Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2013.04.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400:1800+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:00"]
[BlackClock "1:30:00"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O (5. c3 {La grande ligne} a6 (
5... d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 (7. Nbd2)) 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. h3 d5 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Bg5 dxe4
10. dxe4 h6 11. Bh4 Qe7 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. Bc2 g5 14. Bg3 Nd7 15. h4 f6 16. O-O-O
Bg4 $2 {Tiviakov,S (2658)-Sammalvuo,T (2453) Kurdistan op 2nd 2013 (5) 1-0} (
16... g4 $8 17. Nh2 h5 $132)) 5... d6 6. c3 a6 (6... O-O) 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 (9. h3) (9. Nc4) 9... Ng4 {[%cal Ga7f2,Gf7f5]} 10. Re2 Kh8 11. h3
Nh6 {[%cal Gf7f5]} 12. Nf1 (12. g4 {L'alternative pour empêcher la poussée
f5 mais au détriment d'un sérieux affaiblissement des cases Noires de
l'aile-roi} Nxg4 $1 13. hxg4 Bxg4 14. Nh2 Qh4 $44 {Izmukhambetov,S (2530)
-Aronian,L (2390) RUS-Cup2 Moscow 1996 (2) 1/2-1/2}) 12... f5 $132 13. Bg5 (13.
Bxh6) (13. d4 fxe4 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Bg5 (15. Rxe5 $5 $146 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qf6 17.
Be3 $44) 15... dxe4 $13 {Gipslis,A (2465)-Hector,J (2470) BL2-Nord 9798 1997 
(4.1) 1/2-1/2}) (13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bd5 Qf6 16. Qd2 Ne7 17. Bxb7
Rab8 18. Be4 Bxh3 19. gxh3 Rg8+ 20. Kh1 d5 21. N1h2 dxe4 22. Rxe4 Ng6 23. Qxh6
Rxb2 24. Nxe5 Rxf2 25. Nxg6+ Qxg6 26. Qxg6 Rxg6 27. d4 Rc2 28. Re3 c5 29. Re7
Bb8 30. Ng4 Rxc3 31. Rb1 Rxh3+ 32. Kg2 Rg3+ 33. Kf2 R3xg4 34. Rxb8+ Rg8 35.
Rxg8+ Kxg8 36. dxc5 Rc4 37. Ra7 Rxc5 38. Rxa6 {1/2-1/2 (38) Vocaturo,D (2581)
-Haslinger,S (2543) Hoogeveen 2010}) 13... Qd7 (13... Qe8 {Plus naturel} 14.
exf5 Nxf5 $132 {Winge,S (2346)-Barkhagen,J (2521) SWE-chT 0405 2004 (4) 0-1})
14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. exf5 Rxf5 $146 (15... Qg7 16. Ne3 Ne7 17. Kh1 Nxf5 18. Ng4
Ne7 {1/2-1/2 (18) Hiermann,D (2310)-Eidner,F (2000) Germany 2008}) 16. Bd5 {
[%csl Gd5][%cal Gd5e4]} Qg7 17. d4 Bd7 18. Ne3 Rh5 (18... Rxf3 19. Bxf3 exd4
$44) 19. dxe5 Bxh3 $1 20. exd6 cxd6 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Qxd6 Rf8 {[%csl Rf3]
[%cal Gf8f3]} 23. Qg3 $13 Qxg3 24. fxg3 Bg4 {Suite illisible et gain Noir au
86ème coup.} 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 0506"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2005.11.11"]
[Round "7.8"]
[White "Skripchenko, Almira"]
[Black "Sebastian, Dirk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2462"]
[BlackElo "2362"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2005.10.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Hamburger SK"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Be3
Ba7 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. h3 {Jetzt ziemlich nutzlos, P. Lukacs/CBM. Alternativen:} (
{I} 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 11. d4 (11. Nh4 g5 $1 $132) (11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 c5 13. d4 b5
14. a4 Rd7 15. axb5 axb5 16. d5 Qb6 17. Bc2 Ra7 18. Rxa7 Qxa7 $15 {
Miroshnichenko-Socko, Barlinek 2002.}) 11... Ng6 12. Re1 Ra8 13. Nf1 exd4 $5 (
13... Re8 14. Ng3 $14) 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5 $142 (15. exd5 Nf4 $11 {/\ N4d5})
15... Ne4 16. Ng3 (16. Bc2 Bf5 (16... Ng5 17. Ne3) 17. Ne3 $14) 16... Nxg3 17.
hxg3 Bg4 18. Qd2 f6 19. Nh2 $5 (19. exf6 Rxf6 (19... Bxf3 20. fxg7 $1 Kxg7 21.
gxf3 Rxf3 22. Re6 $16) 20. Ne5 $14) 19... Be6 20. Bc2 fxe5 $6 (20... f5 $5 21.
Nf3 $14 (21. f4 b6 (21... Qe7 22. Nf3) 22. Nf3 Qe7 23. Rac1 $14)) (20... Ne7
21. Nf3 $14) 21. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 22. Rxe5 Qd6 23. Rae1 Bd7 (23... Bf5 24. Nf3 $16)
24. Nf3 Rae8 25. Qg5 Rxe5 26. dxe5 (26. Nxe5 $5) 26... Qb6 27. e6 $5 (27. Qh4
$16 {/\ Ng5}) 27... Bxe6 28. Qxg6 Bf5 29. Qxb6 cxb6 30. Nd4 $16 {, R.
Kasimdzhanov - C. Sandipan, Pune 2004, CBM 104/Lukacs}) ({II} 10. Nh4 $5 {
(um ...Ng6 zu entkrдften)} Bxe3 (10... Ng6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. f4
exf4 14. Rxf4 Qe7 15. Rf1 Be6 16. Nf3 $14) 11. fxe3 Kh8 (11... Ng6 12. Nf5 (12.
Nxg6 $14) 12... c6 13. d4 $14 {Barua-Sasikiran, Nagpur 2002, Lukacs}) 12. h3
Neg8 13. a4 g6 (13... Nxe4 $5 14. Nxe4 Qxh4 15. Bxf7 Qh6 $13) 14. Nhf3 $14 {
, P. Motwani - N. Short, Catalan Bay 2004}) 10... Ng6 11. d4 (11. Re1 h6 12.
Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Be6 $11 {Esplana-Mannion, Bled 2002.}) 11... Qe7 12. Re1 h6 13.
Nh2 (13. Nf1 Nh7 14. Qd2 Nh4 15. Nxh4 Qxh4 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Ng3
Ra8 19. Qe3 b6 20. Rad1 g6 21. Rf1 Qf4 22. Qxf4 exf4 23. Ne2 g5 24. Bd5 Rb8 25.
Nd4 Bd7 26. Bc6 {remis, Rathnakaran,K-Iuldachev,S, Mumbai IND 2004}) 13... Be6
14. Bc2 c6 15. Nhf1 Bb8 16. Ng3 Nh4 17. Nf3 Nh7 18. Nxh4 Qxh4 19. dxe5 dxe5 20.
Nf5 Bxf5 21. exf5 Nf6 22. a4 Re8 23. a5 Nd5 ({Um das weiЯe Lдuferpaar zu
kappen, aber besser war vermutlich} 23... e4 $142 $5 {, und falls} 24. Qe2 {
/Ra4/Bd4, so jeweils Be5.}) 24. Ra4 $1 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Qf6 26. Rb4 Ba7 27. Rg3
Rad8 28. Qe2 e4 $1 ({Jetzt mag dieser Sperrzug schon erzwungen sein, da der
Turmschwenk Rbg4 sonst zu einem massiven Angriff fьhren wьrde: I} 28... Re7 $2
29. Rbg4 Rd6 30. Bb3 $1 Kh8 (30... e4 31. Rg6 Qe5 32. f6 $18) 31. Rxg7 Qxg7 32.
Rxg7 Kxg7 33. Qg4+ Kh7 34. Qh4 f6 35. Qh5 $18 {und Schwarz wird ьberlastet:}
Rg7 36. Qe8 Rdd7 (36... Bxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Rd2+ 38. Ke1 Rdxg2 39. Bf7) 37. Bg8+) ({
II} 28... Rd7 $2 29. Rbg4 Kh8 30. Rxg7 e4 (30... Qxg7 31. Rxg7 Kxg7 32. Qg4+
Kh8 33. f6 $18) (30... Rdd8 $2 31. Qh5 $18) 31. Qg4 (31. Qh5 $4 e3 $1) 31...
Rdd8 32. Bxe4 $16 Bb8 33. f4 Ba7+ 34. Kf1 {, und Schwarz hat sein Pulver
verschossen:} (34. Kh2 $4 Bf2) 34... Be3 35. Bc2 {/\Bb3+-}) 29. Rxb7 e3 $1 $132
{Auf diesen weiteren VorstoЯ des e-Bauern stьtzt sich das Gegenspiel.} 30. fxe3
(30. Rxa7 $4 Rd2) 30... Qe5 {Nun ist auch WeiЯ ernsthaft gefordert, und kurz
vor der ersten Zeitkontrolle tauchen hцchst komplizierte Fragen auf.} (30...
Re7 $6 31. Rxe7 Qxe7 32. Rf3) 31. Kf2 $4 ({Dieser schwere Fauxpas hдtte nicht
nur die Partie, sondern das gesamte Match (Stand 3,5:3,5) beinahe auf den Kopf
gestellt! Eher in Betracht kamen: I} 31. Rxg7+ $6 {reicht nach} Kxg7 32. Rxa7
Qc5 $1 (32... Qxe3+ $2 33. Qxe3 Rxe3 34. Bb3 $16 {/+-}) 33. f6+ {gerade zum
Remis:} Kf8 34. Qg4 Qxe3+ 35. Kh2 Qe5+ 36. Qg3 Qxf6 37. Bb3 Re7 38. Rxe7 Qxe7
39. Bc4 c5 40. Bxa6 Ra8 41. Bc4 Rxa5 42. Qb8+ Kg7 43. Qg3+ Kh8 44. Qf4 Kg7 45.
Qg3+ $11) ({II Korrekt war} 31. Rf3 $1 Bxe3+ 32. Rxe3 $1 Qxe3+ 33. Qxe3 Rxe3
34. Bb3 $14 {, und fьr die geopferte Qualitдt hдtte WeiЯ mehr als
ausreichenden Ersatz gehabt.}) 31... Qf4+ 32. Rf3 (32. Qf3 $4 Bxe3+ 33. Kf1
Qc4+ 34. Qe2 Qxe2+ 35. Kxe2 Rd2+ 36. Kf3 Rxc2 $19) 32... Bxe3+ 33. Kf1 $2 ({
Und hier war} 33. Qxe3 {vonnцten:} Qh4+ (33... Rd2+ 34. Kg1 Qxe3+ 35. Rxe3 Rxe3
36. Ba4 $13 {/=}) 34. g3 Qxh3 35. Rd7 $1 (35. Re7 $6 Qh2+ 36. Ke1 (36. Kf1 $4
Rxe7 37. Qxe7 Rd2 $19) 36... Rxe7 37. Qxe7 Qd2+ 38. Kf1 Qc1+ 39. Kg2 Rd2+ 40.
Rf2 Rxf2+ 41. Kxf2 Qxc2+ 42. Ke3 Qxf5 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Qxc6 Qxa5) 35... Qh2+
36. Kf1 Qxc2 37. Rxd8 Rxd8 38. Rf2 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Qf3 Qxf3+ 41. Kxf3 Rd5
42. Ke4 Rxa5 43. Rd2 $15 {, und WeiЯ sollte das Turmendspiel halten.}) 33...
Qe5 $2 ({I} 33... Qg5 $1 34. Bb3 Bc5 $1 {hдtte den EinfluЯ auf die dunklen
Felder mustergьltig vergrцЯert und damit das Match zugunsten von Hamburg
umgekippt:} 35. Bxf7+ Kh8 36. Qxe8+ Rxe8 37. Bxe8 Qc1+ 38. Ke2 Qc2+ 39. Ke1
Qe4+ 40. Kd1 Qxe8 $17 {und z.B.} 41. Rd3 Bf2 42. g4 h5 {usw. Das war die
einzige echte Gewinnchance des Schwarzen.}) ({II} 33... Qh2 $2 34. Rxe3 Qf4+
35. Qf3 (35. Rf3 $4 Qc1+) 35... Qxe3 36. Qxe3 Rxe3 37. Bb3 $13 {/=} (37. Ba4 $2
Re5 38. Bxc6 Rxa5)) 34. Bb3 $1 ({Mit} 34. Rxe3 $2 Qxe3 35. Qxe3 Rxe3 36. Bb3
$13 {/= (wie vorher) muЯ sich WeiЯ nun nicht mehr zufrieden geben.}) 34... Rd2
(34... Qh2 $2 35. Rxe3 Qf4+ 36. Qf3 Qxe3 37. Qxe3 Rxe3 38. Rxf7 Kh8 39. Bc4 $16
{/+-}) 35. Rxf7 $2 ({Das Geschehen wird immer dramatischer. I} 35. Qxe3 $1 {
war richtig:} Qxe3 36. Rxe3 Rxe3 37. Rb8+ $1 Kh7 38. Bxf7 g5 39. fxg6+ Kg7 40.
Rb7 (40. Bc4 Rg3 41. Be2 Rxg6 42. Rb7+ Kf6 43. b4 $16) 40... Kf6 41. Bc4 Rg3 (
41... Kxg6 42. Rb6) 42. Be2 Rxg6 43. b4 $16 {Die Idee der weiЯen
Qualitдtshergabe taucht des цfteren auf.}) ({II} 35. Bxf7+ $2 Kf8 $8 36. Bc4
Qh2 37. Rf7+ Kg8 38. Re7+ Kh7 39. Qxd2 Qh1+ 40. Ke2 Bxd2 41. Rxe8 Qe1+ 42. Kd3
Qxe8 43. Kxd2 Qd8+ 44. Bd3 Qg5+ 45. Re3 Qxg2+ 46. Re2 Qd5 (46... Qxh3 $4 47.
f6+ g6 48. Bc4 $18) 47. Kc2 (47. f6+ Kg8) 47... Kg8 48. b4 $13) 35... Rxe2 $2
$138 {Zeitnot verengt den Blick und gebiert eben Fehler.} ({Alternativen: I} 
35... Qh2 36. Re7+ Kh7 37. Qxd2 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Bxd2 39. Rxe8 Qe1+ 40. Kd3 Qxe8
41. Kxd2 Qb8 ({oder} 41... Qd8+ 42. Kc2 Qxa5 43. Bf7 Qa4+ 44. Kd2 h5 45. Bxh5
Qa2 46. Bg6+ Kh6 47. Kc2 Qa4+ $11) 42. Kc2 Qb5 $13 {/=}) ({II} 35... Kh7 36.
Qxe3 Qxe3 37. Rxe3 Rxe3 $13 {/=} 38. Rf8 (38. f6 Rg3 39. Bc4 Rgxg2 $13 {/=}) (
38. Bc4 Rxb2 39. f6 Rxc3 40. Rxg7+ Kh8 41. Rg8+ $11) 38... h5 (38... g5 $6 39.
Rf7+ Kh8 40. f6) 39. h4 Rxb2 40. Bg8+ Kh6 41. Bc4 Kh7 42. Bg8+ $11) 36. Re7+
Kh8 $4 $138 {Die schlechteste Wahl.} ({I} 36... Kf8 $1 37. Rxe5 Rxe5 (37...
Rf2+ 38. Rxf2 Rxe5 39. Re2 Rxf5+ 40. Ke1 Bf4 41. Ba4 Rxa5 42. Bxc6 Re5 43. Be4
a5 $14) 38. Kxe2 Bc1+ (38... Bb6+ $2 39. Kd3 Rxa5 40. Bc4 $16) 39. Kd1 Bxb2 40.
Ba4 Rxa5 41. Bxc6 $14 Ba1 42. Be4 Ra3 43. Kc2 a5) ({II} 36... Kh7 $2 37. Rxe5
Rxe5 38. Kxe2 Bc1+ 39. Kd1 (39. Kd3 Bxb2 40. g4 Rxa5 41. Re3) 39... Bxb2 40.
Kc2 Ba3 41. Ba4 Rxa5 42. Bxc6 $16) 37. Rxe5 Rxe5 38. Kxe2 Bc1+ ({I} 38... Bg5+
39. Kd3 Rxa5 40. Bc4 $16 Kh7 41. Kc2 Bf6 42. b4 Ra1 43. Bf7 $18) ({II} 38...
Bb6+ 39. Kd3 Rxa5 40. f6 gxf6 (40... Bc5 41. Rf5 gxf6) 41. Rxf6 Rb5 42. Kc2 $18
) 39. Kd1 Bxb2 40. Rd3 $1 {Die Zeitkontrolle war geschafft, und es zeigt sich,
daЯ der schwarze Kцnig auf h8 fatal steht.} h5 41. h4 ({Nachdem Anspannung und
Zeitdruck gefallen waren, findet die Anziehende trotz lдngerem Nachdenken den
eigentlich naheliegenden Gewinnweg nicht! Zwar ist der Textzug auch okay, aber
logischer erscheint} 41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. h4 {, was а tempo die Mattdrohung 43.
Bg8+ Kh8 (43...Kh6 44.Rd6+ g6 45.Rxg6#) 44.Bf7+ Kh7 45.Bg6+ Kh6 46.Rh8#
schafft. Um das Mattnetz zu verhindern, gibt es darauf zwei Verteidigungen,
nдmlich den Aufzug des g-Bauern und Ba3. Da aber 42...g5 wegen 43.hxg5 bzw. 42.
..g6 wegen 43.f6 nebst technischer Gewinnstellung auszuschlieЯen sind, bleibt
nur der Lдuferzug. Also 42...} Ba3 {, worauf WeiЯ mindestens zwei exzellente
Mцglichkeiten hat, z.B.:} {I} 43. Bg8+ ({II} 43. Rc8 Rc5 44. Bg8+ ({oder auch} 
44. Kd2 Bb2 (44... g6 45. f6 $18) 45. Kc2 $1 Ba3 (45... Bxc3 46. Bg8+ Kh6 47.
Bc4 $18) 46. Bg8+ Kh6 47. Kb3 Bc1 48. Bf7 g5 49. f6 $18) 44... Kh6 45. Be6 Kh7
46. Kc2 Bb4 47. Bg8+ Kh6 48. Kb3 (48. Bc4 Kh7 49. cxb4 Rxc4+ 50. Kb3 $18) 48...
Bxa5 49. Bc4 Kh7 50. Re8 $1 $18) 43... Kh6 44. Bc4 g5 (44... Kh7 45. Bd3 $1 $18
) 45. Rh8+ (45. f6) 45... Kg7 46. Rg8+ Kf6 47. Rg6+ Kxf5 48. Rxg5+ {nebst
Turmtausch plus Bxa6+-}) 41... Kh7 {Tatsдchlich hat Schwarz nichts Besseres.}
42. Be6 $4 ({Ein Fall fьr den Schachpsychologen? Jedenfalls dachte die
GroЯmeisterin, den Bauern f5 decken zu mьssen und realisierte dabei nicht, daЯ
sich durch den Einschub des Zugpaares Rd8/Kh7 die Schrдge c2-f5(h7) fьr den
Bb3 цffnet und der f-Bauer tabu ist.} 42. Rd8 {hдtte wieder auf den o.a.
Gewinnweg gefьhrt.}) 42... g6 ({Keineswegs das geringere Ьbel ist} 42... Rxa5 {
, z.B.} 43. Rg3 Ra4 44. Kc2 Ba1 (44... Ba3 45. Kb3 Ra5 (45... Bd6 46. Rd3 Ra3+
47. Kb2 Bc5 48. Rd8) 46. Rg5 Bc1 47. Rxh5+ Bh6 48. g4) 45. Rh3 Ra5 46. Bc4 Kh6
47. Re3 Rxf5 48. Kb1 Ra5 49. Ba2 Bxc3 50. Rxc3 {und vermutlich +-}) 43. Rd7+
Kh6 44. Kc2 gxf5 ({Vorteil behдlt WeiЯ auch nach: I} 44... Ba1 45. Rd6 $1 (45.
Rf7 Re3) 45... Rc5 46. Kb3 Rxc3+ 47. Ka2 Rc1 48. Bd7 Kg7 49. Rxg6+) ({II} 44...
Ba3 45. Rf7 $1) 45. Rd6 $2 ({Mit} 45. Kxb2 $1 {bot sich ein eleganter Ьbergang
ins Turmendspiel an:} Rxe6 46. Ra7 c5 (46... Re2+ 47. Kb3 Rxg2 48. Rxa6 $16)
47. Kb3 $16) 45... Ba3 46. Rxc6 Rxa5 47. Bxf5+ Kg7 48. Bd3 Be7 49. g3 Ra2+ 50.
Kb3 Rg2 51. Re6 Kf8 52. Re3 Bd6 53. Rf3+ Kg7 54. Rf5 Rxg3 55. Bxa6 Be7 56. Kc2
Bxh4 $4 ({Statt dessen hдtte der Hamburger ganz locker mit} 56... Kg6 $11 {
die Friedenspfeife reichen kцnnen.}) 57. Rxh5 Bf6 58. c4 Kg6 59. Rd5 Kf7 60.
Bb5 Ke6 61. Rd2 Be5 62. Re2 Rf3 63. Rd2 Ra3 64. Rd8 Bd6 65. Re8+ Be7 66. Rc8
Rg3 67. Rc6+ Ke5 68. Rc7 Bb4 69. Rd7 Bd6 70. Bc6 Rh3 71. c5 $2 {Ьbersieht eine
Riposte!} Bf8 $2 $138 ({Bei einer Restbedenkzeit von knapp 2 Minuten entgeht
Schwarz die geschickte Abwicklung} 71... Bxc5 $1 72. Rd5+ Ke6 73. Rxc5 Kd6 74.
Rc4 Rh5 $1 {/\Rc5=}) 72. Bb7 Rg3 73. c6 Rg7 $4 $138 ({Nach der gegebenen Folge
} 73... Bd6 74. c7 Bxc7 75. Rxc7 {hдtte die Anziehende noch etwas das 
(praktisch chancenreiche) Endspiel R+B vs R ьben und den Gegner ьber die Zeit
heben mьssen.}) 74. Rxg7 {aufgegeben. Zwar nicht die fehlerloseste, aber mit
Sicherheit die spannendste und nervenaufreibendste Werder-Partie dieses langen
Bundesliga-Wochendendes im Bremer Weserstadion.} 1-0

[Event "EU-chT 22nd"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2019.10.31"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Ragger, Markus"]
[Black "Nyback, Tomi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.10.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Austria"]
[BlackTeam "Finland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AUT"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FIN"]

{TAKTISCHES "GUSTOSTÜCKERL" (Gute/schlechte Planfassungen, provozierter
Opferangriff, Varianten berechnen) Ein sehenswertes und mächtiges taktisches
Feuerwerk konnte der österreichische Spitzenspieler Markus Ragger gegen
seinen hier etwas indisponiert wirkenden finnischen Widersacher abbrennen.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 a5 9.
Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 {plant das hier meist gespielte Damenmanöver Qd8-b8-a7}
11. Nf1 (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 14. a3 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 {1/2-1/2 
(43) Giri,A (2797)-Ding,L (2809) Shenzhen 2019}) 11... Qa7 12. d4 (12. Re2)
12... exd4 13. Bxc6 {[#]} bxc6 $6 $146 (13... dxc3 $142 14. Ba4 Bxf2+ 15. Kh2
Bxe1 (15... d5 16. e5 Ne4 $13 {1/2-1/2 (107) Anand,V (2767)-Ding,L (2805)
Stavanger 2019}) 16. Qxe1 d5 (16... Qc5 17. bxc3 d5 18. e5 $5 Ne4 19. Bb2 $13 {
/=} b5 $5 (19... f6 $6 20. Ng3 fxe5 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qxe4 $14) (19... f5 $5
20. Ng3 c6 21. Nd4 Bc8 (21... Rae8 $6 22. Bb3 Bc8 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Qg3 (24.
Qxe4 $4 a4) 24... Qe7 (24... h5 25. h4 Qe7 26. c4 a4 27. Bxa4 dxc4 28. e6 $16
Rf6 29. Bc2 Ref8 30. Bxe4 $16) 25. c4 $1) 22. Rb1 Ra6 23. Bc2 b5 $13 (23... Rb6
24. Qe3 $1)) 20. Bc2 a4 21. a3 f5 $13) 17. Ng3 $11) 14. cxd4 Bb6 15. Ng3 Rfe8
16. Be3 {[#]} d5 $2 {Ziemlich fahrlässige Raumgestaltung im Zentrum!
Alternativen:} ({I} 16... a4 $2 17. Qc1 $1 Bd7 (17... a3 18. b4 $16) 18. e5 $1
Nd5 19. Bxh6 Re6 (19... gxh6 $4 20. Qxh6 Re6 21. Qh4 Rg6 22. Ng5 $40 {+-}) 20.
Be3 Rg6 21. Kh2 $16) ({II} 16... Bd7 $142 $5 {war geboten, z.B.:} 17. Qc2 Re7 (
17... a4 18. Rac1 $14) 18. Rad1 Rae8 19. Bd2 a4 20. Bc3 $14) 17. e5 Ne4 {[#]}
18. Nh5 $5 {Der Schimmel entzieht sich dem Abtausch und peilt ein lukrativeres
Ziel an.} ({I} 18. Qc1 Nxg3 19. fxg3 Bf5 20. Qxc6 Be4 $14) ({II} 18. Qc2 $5 c5
19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Rad8 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Rac1 $16) 18... c5
$6 {[#] Um eine passable Antwort bereits verlegen löst Schwarz mit diesem
geplanten Gegenstoß einen gewaltigen Sturm auf seine Königsfeste aus.} ({
Auch nach dem relativ besseren} 18... Bd7 {wird er hart rangenommen:} 19. Nd2
$1 Ng5 (19... Nxd2 $143 20. Qxd2 Re6 21. Rac1 $16) (19... Bf5 $2 20. Nxe4 Bxe4
(20... dxe4 21. Nxg7 $1 $18) 21. Rc1 $18) 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Nf3 Re6 22. Qd2 Rg6
23. e6 $1 Bxe6 24. Rad1 (24. Ne5 Rh6 25. Qxg5 Rxh5 26. Qxh5 Bxd4 27. Qh4 Qb6
28. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 29. Qxf2 Qxc6 30. Rac1 $16) 24... g4 25. Ne5 Rh6 26. hxg4 {
/\Qg5!} Qb8 27. Qe3 $16 {mit mächtigem Druck.}) 19. Qc1 $1 (19. Bxh6 $5 {
ist zwar Futter für die Ungeduldigen, aber am Brett viel zu verwickelt, wie
dieser abenteuerliche Ausflug zeigt:} gxh6 (19... cxd4 20. Qc1 $1 $18 Kf8 21.
Nxg7) 20. Qc1 Kf8 (20... Kh7 21. Qf4 Rg8 (21... c6 22. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 (22... Bd8
23. Re2 $18) 23. Ng5+ hxg5 24. Qxg5 $18 f5 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qh6+ Qh7 27. Qxh7#)
22. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. d5 $18 exf3 (24... Bxd5 25. Nh4 Be6 26. Nf5+
Bxf5 27. Qxf5 Kf8 28. Qh7 Rg6 (28... Ke7 29. Nd5+ Kd7 (29... Ke6 30. Rd1 c6 31.
Qxh6+ Kd7 32. e6+ fxe6 (32... Kc8 33. exf7) 33. Qh7+ Kc8 34. Nxb6+ Qxb6 35.
Qxg8+) 30. Qxf7+ Kc8 31. Ne7+ Kb7 32. Qd5+ c6 33. Nxc6) 29. Rd1 c6 30. Rd7) (
24... c6 25. dxe6 fxe6 (25... exf3 26. Qf5 Kf8 27. Nd7+)) (24... Bxh3 25. Qg3+)
25. dxe6 $1 c4 (25... c6 26. Qf5 Kf8 27. Nd7+) 26. Ng4 $1 Bxf2+ 27. Kh2 Be3 28.
Nxe3 Kh7 29. Rd1 Qb6 30. exf7) 21. Qxh6+ Ke7 22. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 23. d5 Bxd5 24.
Rd1 Rad8 (24... Kd7 25. Rxd5+ Kc8 26. Nd2 Kb7 27. Nxe4 $18 Rad8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8
29. Qf6 Rd7 30. Qf5 Re7 31. Nhf6 $18) 25. Nf6 c6 (25... c4 26. Nxd5+ Rxd5 27.
Rxd5 $18) 26. Nh4 Be6 {[#] Analyse} (26... Rh8 27. Nf5+ Ke6 28. Qg5) (26... Ke6
27. Nf5) 27. Nd7 $3 $18 {Wow!} Rxd7 28. Qf6+ Kf8 29. Ng6+ Kg8 30. Qh8#) 19...
Kf8 {[#]} ({Für das scheinbar prophylaktische} 19... Kh7 {war es auch schon
zu spät:} 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qf4 $40 {+- wie gehabt}) 20. Nxg7 $1 {[#] Das
Rochadeopfer leitet die spektakuläre Zertrümmerung der Königsfeste ein,
während die Qa7 und ihr Bb6 völlig abgemeldet sind.} ({Oder auch} 20. Bxh6 $1
gxh6 21. Qxh6+ Ke7 22. Rxe4 $1 $40 {+- wie vorher - alles ein Spiel auf ein
Tor!}) 20... Kxg7 ({Ablehnungen sind ebenso hoffnungslos: I} 20... Ke7 21. Nxe8
(21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxc5+ Qxc5 23. Qxc5+ Nxc5 24. Nxe8 $18) 21... Rxe8 (21...
Kxe8 22. dxc5) 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. Bxc5+ Qxc5 24. Qxc5+ Nxc5 25. Rec1 $18) ({II} 
20... cxd4 21. Bxh6 Ke7 22. Qc6 d3 23. Rxe4 Bxf2+ 24. Kh1 dxe4 25. Nxe6 fxe6
26. Bg5+ Kf8 27. Qxe4 $18) 21. Bxh6+ Kh7 {[#]} (21... Kh8 22. Rxe4 dxe4 23. Bg5
Kg8 24. Bf6 Kh7 25. Qg5 $16) 22. Rxe4 $1 {Die hier thematische Beseitigung
dieses Verteidigers ist unerlässlich.} ({Oder auch} 22. Qf4 $1 Rg8 (22... c6
23. Rxe4 $18) {- und nach Verzögerung -} 23. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 (23... Rg6 24. Ng5+
Kg8 25. Re3 $18) 24. Ng5+ Rxg5 25. Bxg5 $18 f6 26. exf6 c6 27. Qxe4+ Kh8 28.
Qxe6) 22... dxe4 23. Qg5 Rg8 {[#]} 24. Qh5 ({Natürlich ist der Partiezug gut
genug, indes "Taktik-Gourmets" sei die Alternative} 24. Qh4 {nicht
vorenthalten:} Rg6 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Nxe4 f5 27. Nf6+ Kf7 28. d5 c6 (28... Rd8
29. dxe6+ Kxe6 30. Qh5 Rxh6 31. Qxh6 c4 32. Nh5+ Kd7 33. Rd1+ Bd4 34. e6+ Kc8
35. e7 Bxf2+ 36. Kh2 Re8 37. Rd8+ Rxd8 38. Qe6+ $18) 29. dxe6+ Kxe6 30. Qc4+ $1
{die Pointe von 24.Qh4} Kxe5 (30... Ke7 31. Rd1 Rd8 32. Rxd8 Bxd8 33. Qd3 $1
$18) 31. Re1+ Kxf6 (31... Kd6 32. Qf4#) 32. Qe6#) 24... Rg6 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26.
Nxe4 {[#] Die Ausbeutung der dunklen Felderschwächen am Königsflügel ist
für den Anziehenden ein wahres Fest, zumal das ausgesperrte schwarze Trio am
anderen Brettrand wie unbeteiligte, ohnmächtige Zuschauer wirkt.} Bf5 ({Oder} 
26... Qa6 27. Nf6+ Rxf6 28. exf6 Qd3 29. Re1 Qg6 {, aber die Dame kommt zu
spät zurück ins Spiel:} 30. Qxg6+ fxg6 31. Rxe6 $18) 27. Nf6+ $1 (27. Qxf5
$143 Rxh6 28. d5 $16 c6 (28... c4 29. Rc1) 29. d6) 27... Rxf6 28. exf6 {[#]}
Bg6 (28... Bh7 29. Bf8 $1 $18 Qb8 30. Qg5+ Bg6 31. Be7 {Matt in 4}) 29. Qh4
cxd4 (29... c4 30. Bg7 Bh7 31. Qg5 Bxd4 32. Bh8+ Kf8 33. Qg7+ Ke8 34. Qxh7 $18)
30. Bg7 Bh7 {[#]} 31. Qg5 ({Umständlich, kurzen Prozess machte dagegen} 31.
Bf8 $142 $1 Qb8 (31... Rxf8 32. Qh6) (31... Kxf8 32. Re1 $18 {/\Qh6+}) 32. Qg5+
Bg6 33. Be7) 31... Bc5 $2 {[#]} (31... d3 $142 32. Bh8+ Kf8 33. Qh6+ Ke8 34.
Qxh7 Bxf2+ 35. Kh1 Rd8 36. Qg8+ Kd7 37. Qxf7+ Kc8 38. Qe6+ Kb8 39. f7 Qe3 40.
Qxe3 Bxe3 41. Bg7 Bc5 42. g4 Bf8 43. Bc3 Rd7 44. Rd1 Rxf7 45. Rxd3 $18) 32.
Bh8+ $1 Kf8 (32... Bg6 33. Qh6 Bf8 34. Bg7 Bh7 35. Bxf8 Rxf8 36. Qg7#) 33. Re1
$18 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 1617"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2016.12.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.10.15"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Aachen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

{"SLOW ITALIAN" (Entscheidung in Zeitnot) Am dritten Bundesliga-Wochenende in
Aachen gab es für den SV Werder Bremen nach einem mißglückten 2:
6-Saisonstart endlich den erhofften Doppelschlag gegen den Aufsteiger Aachen
sowie gegen Trier. Allerdings waren beide Siege tatsächlich knapp und auch
etwas glücklich. Der scheinbar deutliche 5:3-Erfolg über den DJK Aufwärts
Aaachen, der erstmalig am Spitzenbrett seinen Topstar GM Julio Granda Zuniga
aufbot, kam auch "dank Caissas Hilfe" zustande: Der Peruaner, der im Februar
nächsten Jahres 50 wird, konnte gegen Alexander Areshchenko (30) nach einem
schweren Fehler des Ukrainers im 28. Zug mit einer gekonnten taktischen
Wendung die Partie auf der Stelle für sich entscheiden. Doch Granda Zuniga
verpasste seine Großchance, verlor dann in Zeitnot die Übersicht und ging
sang- und klanglos unter.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 {
"Slow Italian" ist - ähnlich dem geschlossenen Spanier mit d3 - wieder groß
in Mode, wie auch kürzlich im WM-Match zwischen Carlsen und Karjakin gesehen.}
d6 ({Oder z.B. ein paar Alternativen mit Areshchenko-Beteiligung: I} 5... O-O
6. a4 (6. c3 d5 {"and Black can equalize without too many problems", A. Kuzmin}
7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 10. a5 c6 11. axb6 cxb5 12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13.
bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Re1 Bb8 16. Na3 b4 17. cxb4 Qd5 18. Nec4 Bxd3 {
- remis, Anand,V (2770) - So,W (2771), Saint Louis 2016}) (6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a5
8. h3 Be6 9. b3 $146 (9. Bb5) 9... d5 10. exd5 Bxd5 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Re1 Qd6 13.
Bb2 Rad8 14. Rad1 Bxc4 $2 (14... Qf8 $142 $13) 15. Nxc4 $16 Qd5 16. Ncxe5 Nxe5
17. Rxe5 Rxe5 18. c4 Qxf3 $2 (18... Re2 19. Qxe2 Qf5 20. d4 Re8 21. Ne5 $16)
19. gxf3 $18 {1:0/70, Areshchenko,A (2677) - Parligras,M (2586), Al Ain 2015})
6... d6 (6... a6 7. c3 d6 8. Re1 Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 $13 {2.
Tiebreak-Partie Carlsen - Karjakin, New York 2016}) 7. c3 a6 8. b4 Ba7 9. Re1
Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 $13 {5. WM-Partie Carlsen-Karjakin, New York 2016}) ({
II} 5... a6 6. c3 Ba7 7. Bb3 d6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Ne7 (9... h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11.
Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. d4 Ne7 14. N1h2 Neg6 15. Kh1 c5 16. d5 Qd8 17. a4 f5
18. Bc2 fxe4 $2 19. Bxe4 Bf5 20. Qc2 Qd7 21. c4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qf5 23. Qxf5 Rxf5
24. Ra3 e4 $2 25. Nd2 Nd3 26. Rf1 (26. Rb1 $142 $1 Re8 27. f3 $16) 26... Raf8
$2 (26... Re8 $142 $5 27. Rb3 Rfe5 (27... Re7 $2 28. f3 $1) 28. Rxb7 R5e7 29.
Rb3 $14) 27. Nxe4 Nxb2 28. Nxd6 R5f6 29. Rb3 $16 {- 1:0/45, Areshchenko,A 
(2640) - Johannessen,L (2537), Bundesliga 2007}) 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. d4
Qe8 13. Ne3 Nhf4 14. Nf5 Ne6 $2 (14... Be6 $142 $14) 15. Be3 (15. h4 $142 $1
$16) 15... Nd8 $4 (15... f6 $142 16. h4 Kh8) 16. Ng5 $1 $40 {/+-} Ne6 (16...
Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 (17... g6 18. Bg3) 18. Qh5 h6 19. Nxh6+ gxh6 20. Qg6+ Kh8 21.
Qh7#) (16... h6 17. Qh5 $1 Bxf5 18. exf5 Ne7 19. f6) 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qh5 h6
19. Qxg6 {- 1:0, Areshchenko,A (2672) - Deac,B (2455), Mamaia 2015}) 6. c3 Bb6
7. a4 ({Viel häufiger geschieht} 7. Bb3 {, z.B.} Ne7 8. Nbd2 c6 9. Nc4 Bc7 10.
Bg5 Be6 (10... Ng6 11. Nh4 $13) 11. Ne3 d5 (11... Ng6) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nh4
Ng6 $2 (13... Qd7 $142 $5 14. Qf3 O-O-O 15. Qxf6 Ng6 $14) 14. Nhf5 Qd7 15. Ng7+
Kf8 16. Nh5 $16 {1:0/47, Harikrishna,P (2740) - Granda Zuniga,J (2663),
Linares 2015}) 7... a5 8. Na3 Ne7 {Leitet noch vor der Rochade die typische
Umgruppierung des Springers nach g6 ein.} 9. Ba2 ({Etwas unübliche
Stellungsbilder könnten hier nach dem aggressiven} 9. Ng5 O-O 10. Qb3 {
entstehen:} d5 (10... Qe8 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 Bd7 13. Qxb7 Rc8 $13) 11. exd5
Nexd5 12. Re1 c6 13. Nf3 (13. Rxe5 $2 Bxf2+) 13... Re8 14. Bg5 Bc7 15. Nd2 (15.
Bxf6 gxf6) 15... Rf8 16. Ne4 h6 17. Nxf6+ (17. Bh4 g5) 17... Nxf6 18. Bh4 Rb8
19. Rad1 Bg4 20. Rd2 Bh5 $13 {/=}) 9... c6 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. Bg5 Ng6 12. Nh4 Nf4
$6 {Etwas ungestüm, das vorsichtige} (12... O-O $142 {verdient den Vorzug:}
13. Ne3 Kh8 $13) 13. Bxf4 ({Und hier gefällt} 13. Nf5 $142 {besser, z.B.} O-O
(13... Bxf5 14. exf5 O-O 15. Re1 h6 16. Bh4 N4d5 17. Nd2 Qd7 18. Qf3 $14) 14.
Nce3 d5 (14... Kh8 15. Ng4 Bxf5 (15... N4h5 16. Nxf6 Nxf6 17. f4 $14) 16. exf5
N4h5 17. d4 $14) 15. exd5 h6 (15... Bxf5 16. Nxf5 Qd7 17. Nh6+ $14) 16. Bh4 Ng6
17. dxc6 Nxh4 18. Nxh4 bxc6 19. Nf3 $14) 13... exf4 14. Nf3 O-O 15. e5 (15. h3)
15... dxe5 16. Ncxe5 Nd5 $11 17. d4 f6 18. Nd3 Kh8 ({Oder} 18... g5 19. Re1 (
19. h3 g4 20. hxg4 Bxg4 21. c4 Nb6 $13 (21... Ne7 $13)) (19. c4 Nb4 20. Nxb4
axb4 21. c5+ Kh8 22. h3 g4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24. d5 Be5 $13) 19... g4 20. Nd2 Kh8
$13) 19. Re1 ({Falls} 19. c4 {, so} Nb4 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. h3 g5 22. c5 g4 $13 {
mit Übergang zur vorigen Variante.}) 19... b6 (19... g5) 20. c4 Ne7 21. c5 $5
g5 (21... bxc5 22. Nxc5 Rb8 $13 (22... Nd5 $13)) 22. h3 Nf5 (22... Rb8 23. cxb6
Rxb6 24. Rc1 Nd5 $13) 23. Re4 Rb8 24. Rc1 (24. Qc2 $142 Ng7 25. Qc3 Bf5 26. Re2
$14) 24... bxc5 25. dxc5 $6 ({Das gibt Weiß gar nichts, besser war} 25. Nxc5
$142 {, z.B.} Rxb2 26. Be6 Ng7 27. Bxc8 Qxc8 28. Re7 Bd6 29. Rd7 Rd8 30. Rxd8+
Qxd8 31. Qd3 $14) 25... Ba6 (25... Ng7 {kam ebenso in Betracht:} 26. Re2 Bf5
27. Bc4 Re8 28. Rxe8+ Qxe8 $11) 26. Rc3 Re8 27. Qe2 Re7 28. Be6 $4 {Einmal
mehr wirkt der Ukrainer an diesem Tag etwas indisponiert. Diese Aufstellung in
der e-Linie erweist sich als zu leichtfertig, sie provoziert ein ziemlich
tückisches Fesselungsmotiv, das allerdings von beiden Akteuren unbemerkt
bleibt!} (28. Rxe7 $142 Qxe7 29. Qxe7 Nxe7 30. Bc4 $11) 28... Ng7 $4 {Eine
ebenso typische wie fatale Reflexantwort bedingt durch knappe Bedenkzeit.
Derart verpasste Chancen erweisen sich häufig als Bumerang ...} ({Die
bärenstarke Widerlegung lautet} 28... Rb4 $3 {mit der Kardinalidee der
Beseitigung der Bastion e4 und Ausnutzung des verkappten Visavis Re7/Qe2:} 29.
Bxf5 (29. Qc2 {büßt nach} Rxe4 30. Bxf5 {ersatzlos die Qualität ein:} Re2
$19 31. Qb3 (31. Qb1 Qd5) 31... h5) 29... Rbxe4 30. Bxe4 (30. Qd1 Re2) 30... f5
$19 {mit tödlichem Fesselungsangriff.}) 29. Bc4 $16 {Nun ist für Weiß
wieder alles bestens im Lot. Angesichts diverser gegnerischer Felder- und
Bauernschwächen sowie einer echten Bauernmajorität des Weißen am
Damenflügel spielen weitere Abtäusche und Vereinfachungen ihm in die Hände.}
Rxe4 30. Qxe4 Bc8 ({Andere Läuferzüge sind auch nicht besser: I} 30... Bxc4
31. Rxc4 Qd5 32. Rd4 Qxe4 33. Rxe4 Kg8 34. Re7 Bd8 35. Rd7 Ne6 36. Kf1 (36. Rd6
Kf7 37. Nfe5+ fxe5 38. Nxe5+ Kg7 39. Nxc6 Rxb2 40. Rxe6 Bf6 41. Re4 Rc2 42.
Nxa5 Rc1+ 43. Kh2 Rxc5 44. Nc4 $16) 36... Rc8 37. Ke2 Rc7 38. Rxc7 Bxc7 39. Kd2
Kf7 40. Kc3 Ke7 41. b4 axb4+ 42. Kxb4 $16) ({II} 30... Bb7 31. Rc2 Qe8 32. Re2
Qxe4 33. Rxe4 Nf5 34. Re6 Kg7 35. Nd2 Rd8 36. Ne4 $16) 31. b3 $2 {Hektisch
geht es nun drunter und drüber.} ({Dagegen konnte Areshchenko seinen Vorteil
mit} 31. Rc1 $142 $1 $16 {festhalten. Man sehe:} Qd7 (31... Bd7 32. Re1 Nf5 33.
Be6 Ng7 34. Nd4 $1) (31... Qe8 32. Qxe8+ Nxe8 33. Re1 Bd7 (33... Ng7 34. Nd4
Bd7 35. Re7) 34. Re7 Rd8 35. Nd4 Ng7 36. b4 $1) (31... Bf5 32. Qxc6) 32. Re1
Nf5 33. b3 Kg7 34. h4 $1 h6 35. h5 {drohend Nd4!, z.B.} Kf8 36. Nd4 $3 Nxd4 (
36... Qe7 37. Ne6+ Bxe6 38. Bxe6 Ng7 39. Qxc6 $18) 37. Qg6 Be5 38. Rxe5 fxe5
39. Qf6+ Ke8 40. Nxe5 $18) 31... Bd7 $13 32. Rc1 Qf8 33. Qd4 ({Oder} 33. Nd4 f5
34. Qe1 Re8 35. Qc3 Qf6 $13 (35... g4 $13)) 33... Bf5 34. Re1 Bxd3 $4 $138 {
Ein letzter und furchtbarer Fauxpas in Zeitnot: Nach diesem Tausch können die
Schwächen im schwarzen Lager wie die Punkte h7 und c6 weidlich ausgebeutet
werden.} ({Indes wäre Schwarz nach beispielsweise} 34... Rd8 $142 35. Qc3 Rd7
$13 {/= völlig okay gewesen.}) 35. Bxd3 $18 Rd8 ({Oder} 35... Rxb3 36. Qe4 f5
37. Qxc6 Rxd3 38. Qxc7 {und Weiß gewinnt.}) 36. Qe4 f5 ({Eine weitere
Lockerung, aber auch nach} 36... Qg8 37. Bc4 {ist Schwarz verloren:} Qe8 (37...
Qf8 38. Qxc6) 38. Qxe8+ Rxe8 (38... Nxe8 39. Nd4) 39. Rxe8+ Nxe8 40. Bf7 Ng7
41. Nd4) 37. Qxc6 {und Schwarz gab in hoffnungsloser Lage auf.} ({Nach} 37.
Qxc6 {könnte beispielsweise noch folgen:} g4 (37... Rxd3 38. Qxc7 Qd8 (38...
g4 39. Ne5 Rc3 40. Nf7+ Kg8 41. Nh6+ Kh8 42. Qd6 Qxd6 43. cxd6 Rd3 44. Re7) 39.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 40. c6 g4 41. Nd4) 38. Bc4 gxf3 39. Qxc7 Rc8 (39... fxg2 40. c6 Rc8
41. Qb7 Rb8 42. Qe7) 40. Qd6 fxg2 (40... Qxd6 41. cxd6 Rd8 42. Re5 Rxd6 43.
Rxa5) 41. Kxg2 Nh5 42. Qxf8+ Rxf8 43. Re5 Kg7 44. c6 $18 {in jedem Fall mit
leichtem Gewinn.}) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 34th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2018.10.13"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Potkin, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2839"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.10.12"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Valerenga"]
[BlackTeam "Molodezhka"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. b4 Bb6 8. Bb3
(8. a4 {is also typical, but it can't harm Black:} a5 9. b5 Ne7 $13) 8... Ne7 {
A typical improving manouevre à la Karpov.} 9. Nc4 ({It is also possible to
start flank activity faster:} 9. a4 c6 $1 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. Bg5 (11. O-O Ng6 12.
Re1 Re8 13. Qc2 d5 14. Ncd2 Nf4 $13 {Goetz-Neunhoeffer, Germany 1995} (14... h6
$5 {/\ ...Be6, ...Qd7})) 11... Ng6 $1 (11... d5 $5) 12. Nh4 (12. O-O h6 13. Be3
d5 $13 {with a good position} (13... Be6 $13 {is also good.})) 12... Kh8 (12...
d5 $1 {is even better.} 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Ne3 Nf4 $15) 13. Nxg6+ fxg6 14. Ne3
h6 15. Bh4 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 $132) 15... Bb6 $1 {Activating the bishop.} (15... a5
$5 {or}) (15... g5 $5 {is also good.}) 16. Qe2 a5 $1 {with counterplay,
Fressinet,L (2711)-Hammer,J (2638) Malmo 2014.}) 9... Ng6 10. O-O ({In my
opinion more interesting here is} 10. a4 c6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Be3 d5 13. Bc2
Qc7 14. h3 Rd8 15. Qb1 dxe4 16. dxe4 Be6 17. O-O h6 18. a5 Nd7 19. Rd1 bxa5 20.
bxa5 Rxa5 21. Rxa5 Qxa5 22. Bb6 $1 {winning material, Onischuk,V (2627)
-Buckels,V (2363) Dresden GER 2018}) 10... c6 ({An even preciser equalizing
way was demonstrated in an old game:} 10... Be6 11. Re1 h6 12. Nxb6 Bxb3 13.
Qxb3 axb6 14. b5 Re8 15. Bd2 Qd7 16. a4 d5 {1/2 (16) Nunn,J (2610)
-Azmaiparashvili,Z (2575) Amsterdam 1990}) 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. a4 Re8 ({Not bad
was to exchange the double pawn with} 12... b5 13. Re1 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Rxa4 15.
Bxa4 Be6) 13. Be3 Be6 14. Bc2 {White must retreat with this important bishop
since after the Black is very comfortable.} (14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. Qc2 d5) 14... d5
15. h3 Qc7 16. Re1 h6 17. exd5 Nxd5 ({A more risky, but very much playable
approach would be} 17... Bxd5 18. d4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nf4 20. Bxf6 gxf6) 18. Bd2
Bf5 19. d4 {Now forced play starts for some moves.} Bxc2 20. Qxc2 exd4 21. Nxd4
c5 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Nf5 ({Much weaker was another position of the knight:} 23.
Nb5 Qc6) 23... Qc6 24. c4 Ndf4 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 27. Ne3 Rd8 (27...
b6 28. Rb1 Qd6) 28. Rb1 ({Nothing promised} 28. a5 Ra8 $1) 28... h5 ({It was
possible to keep the pawn structure more compact:} 28... b6 29. Rb5 Qf6) 29. a5
h4 30. Rb6 ({More energetic was} 30. Qf5 Qc7 31. Rb5 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 Nd4 33. Rxc5)
30... Qd7 31. Qb2 Nd3 ({A bit more precise was the defence} 31... Qc7 32. Rxb7
Qxa5 33. Nf5 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Ne6) 32. Qb1 {[#]} Nb4 $2 ({It was necessary to keep
counterattacking with} 32... Qa4 33. Rb5 g6) 33. Qe4 Qd4 {Black's best chance
seems to be pawn sacrifice transferring to a rook ending, but Carlsen shows
great technique.} 34. Qxd4 cxd4 35. Rxb4 dxe3 36. fxe3 Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Ra1 38. Rb5
Ra2+ 39. Kf3 g6 (39... Ra4 40. c5 Kf8 41. e4 Ke8 42. Kf4 g6 (42... Kd8 43. Rxb7
Rxa5 44. Rxf7 Rxc5 45. Rxg7) 43. Ke5 {with decisive activation of the king.})
40. c5 Kg7 41. Ke4 Rxg2 ({Also no rescue was} 41... Kf6 42. Rb6+ Ke7 43. Rxb7+
Ke6 44. Rb6+ Kd7 45. a6 Rxg2 46. a7 Ra2 47. Rb7+ Kc6 48. Rxf7 Kxc5 49. Ke5 Ra6
50. e4) 42. Rxb7 g5 ({Black has no real chances for a defence:} 42... Ra2 43.
c6 Rxa5 44. Kd4 Ra2 45. Rb4 Ra8 46. Kc5 Rc8 47. Kd6 Rd8+ 48. Ke7 Rd3 49. c7 Rc3
50. Kd6 Kh6 51. Rb5 g5 52. Rc5) 43. c6 {Now the win is very simple.} g4 44. c7
Rc2 45. Kd3 Rc1 46. Kd2 Rc6 47. a6 gxh3 48. a7 h2 49. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Washington op 1st"]
[Site "Rockville"]
[Date "2012.07.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Herman, Matthew J"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2394"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2012.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:18"]
[BlackClock "0:46:10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. Nbd2 ({Castling is too dangerous} 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12.
Bg3 Qd7 13. Nbd2 h5 $1 14. g5 Qxh3 15. gxf6 Qxg3+ 16. Kh1 Qh3+ 17. Nh2 gxf6 18.
Qf3 Qxf3+ 19. Nhxf3 O-O-O 20. Nh4 Na5 {0-1 Hoolt,S (2122)-Borosova,Z (2210)/
Balatonlelle 2006; with an advantage for Black.}) 9... g5 $1 {This is a
powerful flank strategy, a bit similar to the famous Winter-Capablanca game.
This idea has been tried in a different manner in a few games.} (9... Qe7 10.
Qe2 g5 (10... Be6 11. Nc4 g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Ne3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nf4 15. Rg1
O-O-O 16. Ba4 Bd7 17. O-O-O Kb8 18. Nd2 Nd4 19. Bxd7 Nde2+ 20. Kb1 Nxg1 21. Bf5
Nxg2 22. Rxg1 Nxe3 23. fxe3 d5 24. d4 dxe4 25. Bxe5 Qxe5 26. dxe5 Rxd2 27. h4
Rd5 28. Bg4 Rxe5 {0-1 Tschohl,C (2160)-Steflitsch,E (2371)/Austria 2009}) 11.
Bg3 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Nc4 Nh5 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Nf4 16. Bxf4 gxf4 17. Qe2
Rg8 18. Rg1 O-O-O 19. O-O-O Bxb3 20. axb3 Qe6 21. Kc2 d5 22. Nh4 d4 23. Nf5
dxc3 24. bxc3 Ne7 25. Nxe7+ Qxe7 26. g3 fxg3 27. fxg3 Rg6 {0-1 Zafesov,T (2149)
-Kim,S (2290)/Moscow 2008; and the white king is weaker than the black one.})
10. Bg3 Nh5 (10... Qe7 {was possible:} 11. O-O (11. O-O) 11... Bd7 12. Nc4
O-O-O {and then to prepare an attack slowly. Kamsky tries to complicate things
as soon as possible.}) 11. Nxe5 Nxg3 12. Bxf7+ Ke7 13. Ng6+ Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Qxh8
15. hxg3 Qf6 16. Qe2 ({It was possible to start a central action immediately:} 
16. d4) 16... Kg7 17. Nc4 Bd7 18. Ne3 Rf8 19. Rf1 ({Now and for the next few
moves there was the very strong and logical} 19. d4) 19... Ne7 20. O-O-O Qe6
21. Kb1 d5 22. f3 Bb5 $2 ({It was better to centralise the bishop by} 22... d4
23. cxd4 Bxd4 24. Nc2 Nc6) 23. Qd2 (23. c4 {would be very unclear:} dxc4 24.
dxc4 Bxe3 25. cxb5 Bb6 26. bxa6 Ra8) 23... Rd8 24. f4 $2 ({White could get a
clear advantage after} 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. exd5 Qe3 (25... Qxd5 26. c4 Bxc4 27.
Qc3+) 26. Qxe3 Bxe3 27. g4) 24... dxe4 25. f5 Bxe3 26. fxe6 Bxd2 27. c4 (27.
Rf7+ {does not help:} Kg6 28. Rxd2 Bxd3+ 29. Rxd3 Rxd3 30. Rxe7 e3 31. Rd7 e2)
27... e3 $1 28. Rxd2 exd2 29. cxb5 Rxd3 30. Kc2 d1=Q+ 31. Rxd1 Rxd1 0-1

[Event "Dov Porath Memorial"]
[Site "Givataim"]
[Date "2004.10.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ribshtein, Nati"]
[Black "Mikhalevski, Victor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2384"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2004.10.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 104"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. h3 {
For some reason I thought that this moves order is inaccurate. So during the
game I decided to exploit it by playing} (8. Nf1 {is the main alternative.})
8... Nh5 $5 $146 {The idea behind the move is very simple. Black wants either
to bring his knight to f4 or to force weakening of the kingside g3, which
would make castling more difficult.} ({Usually Black chooses between 8...Ne7
and 8...0-0. Here are two recent examples:} 8... Ne7 9. Nf1 Ng6 10. Ng3 O-O 11.
O-O Be6 12. d4 Re8 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 Rxe5 16. Qxb7 Bb6 17.
Qc6 Qe8 18. Qxe8+ Raxe8 $15 {1/2-1/2 Rodriguez,A-Sasikiran,K/Calvia ESP 2004/
The Week in Chess 519 (23). (23)}) (8... O-O 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4
Qe7 12. Ng3 Be6 13. Bc2 Rfe8 14. Nh4 Qf8 15. Nhf5 Ne7 16. Bg5 Bxf5 $2 17. exf5
Ned5 18. O-O-O $16 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Sargissian,G/Tripoli LBA 2004/CBM102[Lukacs]
}) 9. Nf1 Nf4 10. Bxf4 exf4 {Black gives up the centre, but obtains an
advantage of a bishop pair. Moreover the white knight on f1 is misplaced and
has to return to d2. I though that this would be a sufficient ground to
consider my idea playable.} 11. N1d2 Qf6 12. d4 O-O 13. O-O Bd7 {I wanted ny
queen rook on e8 as the other rook may be useful on f8, for example preparing
f5.} 14. Ne1 {Preparing regrouping of pieces. The knight goes to d3 and the
queen to either f3 or h5.} Rae8 15. Nd3 $6 {This allows Black to equalize, if
he wants.} (15. Qh5 $5 {was interesting preventing Qh6.}) ({Another idea which
I was considering during the game is} 15. Qf3 Qh4 $5 {Preparing a double
sacrifice.} 16. Nd3 Bxd4 $1 17. cxd4 (17. Qxf4 Bf6 $1) 17... Nxd4 18. Qd1 Bxh3
$1 19. gxh3 Qxh3 20. Nxf4 Qh6 $13 {[%csl Rd2,Rg1][%cal Gh6d2] with a
complicated endgame.}) 15... Qh6 {Preparing an offensive on the kingside.} ({
I thought that it's too difficult to win a position which would arise after} 
15... f3 $5 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Rxe4 $11 {and so played differently.}) 16.
Re1 (16. Qf3 g5) 16... Kh8 17. Qf3 g5 (17... f5 $2 {is wrong in view of} 18.
Qxf4 Qxf4 19. Nxf4 fxe4 20. Nd5 {[%csl Rc7,Re4] and Black loses a pawn.}) 18.
e5 dxe5 19. d5 $2 {White has completely missed my idea.} (19. Nxe5 {was
necessary and after} Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bc6 21. Qg4 (21. Bd5 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 Rd8 23.
Qxb7 Bxf2+ $1 {is dangerous for White.}) 21... Qg6 22. Nf3 {and White doesn't
run risks.}) 19... f5 $1 {A very strong move, which puts White on the edge.
There are too many black pawns on the kingside!} 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. Qd1 e4 22.
Nc4 (22. Nb4 e3 $1 23. Re2 f3 $1 {is also hopeless for White.}) 22... Qh4 $1 {
The pawns are stronger than pieces!} (22... exd3 $5 {was also enough for a
decisive advantage, but I want more!}) 23. Nce5 f3 $5 {[%cal Gh4g3] With a
very unpleasant threat of Qg3, which White suddenly misses.} ({Probably now} 
23... exd3 $1 {[%csl Rf2] was objectively better.} 24. Nxd3 $140 Qg3 $19) 24.
Nxc6 $2 {loses at once.} ({However even after the best} 24. Kh2 Bxf2 $1 25.
Nxf2 Qxf2 26. Nxf3 exf3 {White is completely lost.}) 24... Qg3 $1 {Now White
can't avoid mate in a few moves and so he resigned. Philidor would be happy to
see the march of the black pawns!} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2016.05.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2016.05.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Bg5 {
A rare move, tried by Andreikin against Nyback at the World Cup in 2009.} h6 9.
Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ne7 {[%cal Ge7g6] A typical manoeuvre in the open games.} ({
The above mentioned game went} 10... Bg4 11. Nbd2 (11. h3 $5) 11... Nh5 12. Kh1
Nf4 13. b4 O-O 14. b5 axb5 $5 15. axb5 Ne7 16. Qc2 Neg6 $132 {1-0 Andreikin,D 
(2636)-Nyback,T (2628)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009/CBM 134 (37)}) 11. d4 {[%cal Gc6e7,
Gd3d4] A standard reaction, but in this position it comes with a sacrifice.} ({
Previously White tried} 11. Nbd2 {but did not pose any major problems for
Black. For example} Ng6 12. Re1 (12. d4 Qe7 13. Re1 Nh7 14. h3 h5 15. Nf1 g4
$36 {0-1 Yudin,S (2530)-Harutyunian,T (2452)/Kazan RUS 2016}) 12... O-O 13. Nf1
Kg7 14. Ne3 Nf4 $132 {1/2-1/2 Mucha,A (2005)-Bensdorp,M (2288)/Khanty Mansiysk
2010}) 11... Nxe4 12. Nxe5 O-O {A safe move. Probably Caruana wanted to avoid
Mamedov's preparation and chose to keep the waters calm.} (12... dxe5 13. Bxe5
(13. Qf3 $2 Bf5 14. Bxe5 f6 $19) (13. Qh5 Ng6 $19) 13... O-O (13... f6 $6 14.
Qh5+ $40) (13... Nd6 $5 14. Bxh8 (14. Bb3 Rg8 $15) 14... Nxc4 15. Re1 Be6 $13)
14. Qf3 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gf3e4,Gf3f6]} (14. Re1 Bf5 (14... Nd6 15. Qh5 $16) 15.
g4 Bg6 16. Qf3 {- 14.Qf3.}) 14... Bf5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Re1 (16. Nd2 {[%cal Gf3f6]
} Nxd2 17. Qf6 Nf3+ $1 18. Qxf3 Nc6 $17) 16... Nc6 (16... c5 $5 17. Rxe4 Nc6
$132) 17. Rxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 (19. dxe5 Qd1+ 20. Kg2 {[%cal Ge4g6,
Gc4d3,Gg6h7]} Kg7 21. Qf5 Rad8 22. Qf6+ Kh7 23. Qf5+ Kg7 $11) 19... Qd7 {
[%cal Gd7g4]} (19... Qe8 20. Qf6 $11) 20. Qe4 {[%cal Ge4g6]} Kg7 21. Bd3 Rh8
22. Nd2 $13 {Things are still a bit unclear for example} Rae8 23. Qf3 c5 24.
Ne4 {[%cal Ge4f6,Ge4g3] with chances for both sides.}) 13. Nxf7 $6 {White
continues to play sharply.} ({Black is doing fine after} 13. Nd3 $5 Bf5) ({
as well as} 13. Ng4 Bxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Bd3 f5 $13) 13... Rxf7 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7
15. f4 g4 $1 {It seems very sensible to keep the position closed, considering
the material imbalance and a vulnerable Black K.} 16. f5 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Ng8 {
Giving up material to simplify the position.} ({Black could have kept the P
with} 17... Qg8 $5 {although after} 18. Qd3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gd3c4] White
keeps some compensation and activity with the Qs on the board.} (18. Nd2 Nxf5
$15 (18... d5 $5 $15)) 18... Nd5 19. Qc4 (19. c4 $2 Nb4 $19 {[%csl Rd4][%cal
Gb4c6]}) 19... Kf8 20. Nd2 Bd7 21. Rae1 Qf7 $15) 18. Qxg4 Qg5 $1 19. Qxg5 $6 ({
In line with the 17...Qg8 18.Qd3 variation, here too White could have kept
decent practical chances by keeeping his Q active (and avoiding the Q exchange)
with the move} 19. Qe2 {.} {Black's best try would probably be} c5 (19... Bd7 {
is slow.} 20. Nd2 Re8 21. Ne4 $1 $16) 20. Nd2 $1 (20. Qc4+ Kg7 $17 {gives
nothing to White.}) 20... cxd4 21. cxd4 Nf6 (21... Bxd4+ 22. Kh1 d5 $132) 22.
Qd3 (22. Rae1 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qh5+ 24. Qxh5+ Nxh5 $17) (22. Rf4 {[%cal Gf4d4]}
Bd7 $15 (22... Qxg3 23. Re1 $1 $132 {[%cal Ge2e7] with a likely draw after}))
22... Bd7 $13 {with chances for both sides.} (22... d5 23. Rae1 {[%cal Gd2f3,
Gf3e5]})) 19... hxg5 20. Nd2 Nf6 {This natural move gives White breathing
space.} ({Black had a powerful option in} 20... c5 $1 21. Ne4 (21. Nb3 Nf6 $19)
(21. dxc5 $6 Bxc5+ 22. Kh1 Nf6 $17 {[%cal Gc8d7,Ga8h8,Gc5g1]}) (21. d5 c4+ 22.
Kh2 Nf6 $15) 21... cxd4 22. cxd4 (22. Nxg5+ Kg7 $17 (22... Kf6 $5 {allows
unnecessary complications with} 23. Ne4+ Ke5 24. Rae1)) (22. Nxd6+ Ke7 23.
Nxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rae1+ Kf7 $19) 22... Bxd4+ 23. Kh2 Nf6 24. Nxg5+ (24. Rad1 Bg1+
$1 25. Kxg1 Nxe4 $17) 24... Kg7 25. Rac1 Bd7 {[%cal Ga8h8,Gf6g4,Gd7c6]} 26. Rc7
Rh8+ 27. Nh3 Kf8 28. Rxb7 $2 Ng4+ 29. Kh1 Rxh3+ 30. gxh3 Bc6+ $19) 21. Nf3 Nh7
$5 {[%csl Ge5,Rf3,Gg5,Gh4] Not allowing White's pieces to become active, so
that Black can get enough time to coordinate his own pieces.} (21... Ne4 $6 22.
Rae1 d5 23. Rxe4 dxe4 24. Nxg5+ $36) (21... g4 22. Ng5+ Kf8 23. Rae1 $132) ({
Although, It was worth considering} 21... Bxf5 $5 22. Nxg5+ Kg6 23. Nf3 Bd3 24.
Nh4+ Kg7 25. Nf5+ (25. Rf3 Be4 26. Rf4 c5 $15) 25... Bxf5 26. Rxf5 c5 $15 {
with practical chances for Black.}) 22. g4 (22. Nh2 c5 $1 $17) 22... Bd7 23.
Rfe1 Rg8 ({Exchanging a R would make matters worse for Black as the N would
remain stuck, defending g5. For example} 23... Re8 24. Rxe8 Bxe8 25. Kf2 {
[%csl Rh7][%cal Ga1h1,Gh1h7]} Bc6 26. Rh1 Kg7 27. Re1 Kf7 28. a5 $16 {[%csl
Ra7,Rh7] White can bring his K to the << and start pushing slowly.}) 24. Kf2 ({
Doubling the Rs did not offer enough, and would be somewhat similar to what
happened in the game later. For example} 24. Re2 Nf6 25. Rae1 Kf8 26. Re7 c5
27. d5 Bb6 28. Nd2 Bd8 $15 29. Rxd7 $5 Nxd7 30. Re6 Be7 $15) 24... Nf6 25. Kg3
c5 26. Re2 (26. dxc5 Bxc5 27. Re2 {was another try, but Black is pretty safe
and can slowly try to improve his position with} Bb6 {[%cal Gb6c7,Gd6d5]} ({
or the prophylactic} 27... Kf8 {[%cal Gd6d5]})) 26... cxd4 27. cxd4 Bb6 28. b3
$6 ({It made sense to take away some squares from the black B with} 28. b4 {
[%csl Rb6] giving White some chances to organise his play. For example} Bc6 29.
a5 Bd8 30. Rae1 Bd5 $11 {[%csl Re6,Re7,Rg5] and it's hard to find progress for
any side.}) 28... Bc6 29. Rae1 $6 (29. Rc1 $142 Bd8 30. b4 $5 {There is hardly
anything else.} (30. Rh1 $2 Ne4+ $17) (30. Rce1 Ba5 {transposes to the game.})
30... Bxa4 31. Rc8 Bc6 32. Ra8 Be4 $15) (29. b4 $2 Ne4+ 30. Kh2 Rh8+ 31. Kg1
Ng3 $19) 29... Ba5 30. Re7+ $6 {Missing Black's point.} (30. Rc1 Ne4+ 31. Kh2
Bd5 $15 {would be a comfortable advantage for Black, but was still White's
best chance.}) 30... Kf8 {Now White loses the exchange, no matter what.} 31.
R1e2 (31. R1e6 Bd8 32. Rxf6+ Kxe7 $17) 31... Bd8 32. R7e6 (32. R7e3 Nd5 33. Re6
(33. Rd3 Nf4 $17) 33... Nf4 $17) 32... Bd7 33. R6e3 (33. Rxd6 $4 Bc7 $19) 33...
Nd5 34. Re4 Nc3 35. d5 Bf6 (35... Rh8 36. Nd2 Nxe2+ 37. Rxe2 Rh1 $19) 36. Nd2
Rg7 (36... Nxe2+ $142 37. Rxe2 Be8 38. Ne4 Be5+ 39. Kf2 ({or} 39. Kf3 Bf7)
39... Bf7 $19) 37. Re1 Nxe4+ 38. Nxe4 Re7 $6 {The play around these moves was
inaccurate, probably due to time trouble for both sides.} (38... Be5+ $142 39.
Kf3 b5 40. axb5 Bxb5 $17) 39. Kf3 Kg7 40. Rh1 (40. Rd1 $142 Be8 41. Nxd6 Bf7
42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. d6 Re8 (43... Rd7 44. Ke4 {[%cal Ge4d5]}) 44. d7 (44. Rd3 Re1
45. d7 Bd8) 44... Rd8 45. Rd6 Be5 $17) 40... Be8 {[%cal Ge8f7]} 41. Nxd6 Bf7
42. Nxf7 (42. Rd1 Rd7 43. Nxf7 Kxf7 $17) 42... Kxf7 {Finally the question of
time has cleared. Although White has 3 Ps for the B, the unfortunate
structural defects give Black a clear winning advantage.} 43. Rc1 (43. Rd1 Rc7
$17 {[%cal Gc7c3]}) 43... Bd4 44. Rc4 Bb6 (44... Re3+ $142 45. Kf2 Bb6 46. a5
Ba7 47. Kf1 Bb8 $1 48. Kf2 Rxb3 $19) 45. Re4 (45. Rc3 Kf6 $19) (45. d6 Re3+ 46.
Kf2 Rxb3+ $19) 45... Rxe4 46. Kxe4 Ke7 47. b4 (47. Ke5 Bc7+ 48. Kd4 (48. Ke4
Bg3 49. Kd4 Kd6 50. Ke4 (50. f6 Be5+ 51. Ke4 Bxf6 $19) 50... Be5 $19) 48... Bg3
49. Kc5 Bf2+ 50. Kc4 Kd6 $19) 47... Bd8 $1 {[%cal Ge7d6,Gd8f6] Finding the
right square for the right piece.} 48. a5 (48. Ke5 Bc7+ 49. Kd4 b6 $19) 48...
Kd6 49. Kd4 Bf6+ 50. Kc4 Bg7 51. b5 Bf6 (51... Bf6 52. bxa6 bxa6 $22 {[%csl
Rd5]}) 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. a4 Ba7
9. Re1 h6 (9... Ne7 {has been a common choice of many top players like Carlsen,
Anand, Nakamura and Wesley So himself, but it has seen some uninspiring
results recently} 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 (11... h6 12. Bb3 Re8 13. Bc2 b5 14.
b4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. c4 exd4 17. cxb5 d3 18. Bxd3 Nf4 19. Bf1 Nxe4 20. Nxe4
Bxe4 21. bxa6 $16 {1-0 Karjakin,S (2773)-Svidler,P (2749)/St. Louis USA 2017 
(39)}) 12. Bd3 ({Interestingly Karjakin and So played this position with
reversed colors previously -} 12. Bf1 Re8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 b5 15. b4 Be6
16. Nb3 Qe7 17. Bd2 h6 18. c4 $14 {1/2-1/2 So,W (2812)-Karjakin,S (2781)/
Stavanger 2017 (71)}) 12... Re8 (12... Nh5) 13. Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 c5
16. d5 $14 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2808)-Carlsen,M (2832)/Stavanger 2017 (40)}) ({
Another major option for Black is} 9... b5 10. Bb3 (10. Ba2 b4 11. Bg5 Rb8 12.
Nbd2 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Bc4 g5 15. Bg3 Na5 $5 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. d4 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Harikrishna,P (2737)-Mamedyarov,S (2800)/Geneva 2017}) (10. axb5 $6
axb5 11. Bxb5 Bxf2+) 10... h6 (10... b4 11. a5 Rb8 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. Bc2 $5 h6
14. Nf1 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Vachier-Lagrave,M (2789)-Aronian,L 
(2799)/St. Louis USA 2017}) 11. axb5 axb5 12. Be3 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Nbd2
Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nh5 16. Nf1 Qf6 {looked fine for Black in So,W -Nakamura,H St.
Louis USA 2017(69).}) 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 ({Just a day
previously this position had arisen in a game played in China:} 12. Nf1 Nh5 13.
Be3 a5 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4 Qf6 16. Re3 Nf4 17. h4 $6 Qg6 $40 {0-1 Ding Liren 
(2777)-Giri,A (2772)/Wenzhou CHN 2017(45)}) 12... Qe8 $146 {This transfer of
the queen to the kingside is a natural novelty} ({The World Champion had
chosen a different square for his queen:} 12... Nh5 13. Ra2 Qf6 14. Nc4 b5 15.
Ne3 Bb6 16. Ng4 Qe7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Rab8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra6 Nd8 21. d4
$14 {Anand,V (2786)-Carlsen,M (2832)/Stavanger 2017(34), was pleasant for
White.}) 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 {Neutralising some of the pressure on the
kingside.} Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nf4 16. Rb1 b5 {Stopping White's push on the
queenside.} ({It was interesting to ignore it with} 16... Qg6 $5 17. Ng3 Rf7 {
[%cal Ga8f8]} 18. b5 (18. d4 Raf8) 18... Na5 {but that would be another story.}
) 17. Ra1 Qg6 {A natural follow-up but...} ({...Wesley So missed a chance to
fight for the initiative in the centre with} 17... d5 $5 {[%cal Gd5d4] The
threat of ...d4 makes things a bit ugly for White, for example} 18. axb5 (18.
Qb3 $2 d4 $19) (18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Qg6 21. Ng3 h5 $36) (18. Re1
d4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 (21. Qb3 Nxh3+ $19) 21... Qxa8 22. Qb3)
18... axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. d4 dxe4 21. Nxe5 Nd5 $15) 18. Ng3 Qf6 19. Ne2 Ng6
20. Qb3 Kh8 21. Rf1 Rab8 22. g3 Qf7 {Probably out of form, Black misses
another opportunity.} ({This was a chance for} 22... Nf4 $1 23. gxf4 (23. axb5
axb5 (23... Nxe2+ 24. Rxe2 Qxf3 25. Re3 Qh5 26. g4) 24. Nxf4 exf4 25. Ree1) (
23. Nxf4 exf4 24. Ree1 bxa4 25. Qxa4 (25. Qa3 Ne5 26. Nxe5 Qxe5 27. g4 Qb5)
25... fxg3 26. fxg3 Qxc3) 23... Qg6+ (23... exf4 24. Nxf4 Qxf4 25. axb5 axb5
26. Qxe6) 24. Kh1 exf4) 23. Nh2 d5 {[%csl Rc5] Starting activity in the centre
but weakening the c5-square. There is a difference between 17...d5 and now. At
move 17 the b4-pawn was unsupported which made ...d4 more powerful. The knight
on f3 was another target (for ...Nxh3) if White moved the queen from d1 and
the rook on e3. But now White freely exchanges the rook on e3 and his knights
are placed well enough to avoid any threats.} 24. Rf3 Qd7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Kg2
Rxf3 (26... d4 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. cxd4 exd4 29. Rc1 $36) 27. Nxf3 Rf8 28. Neg1
(28. Ra1 $6 dxe4 29. dxe4 Rxf3 $1 30. Kxf3 Qd3+ 31. Kg2 Qxe2 $17) 28... Ra8 29.
Rc1 Qd6 30. Ne1 Nge7 31. Ngf3 Ng8 32. Nc2 Nf6 33. Re1 Rf8 34. Na3 Rb8 35. Nc2
Rf8 36. Na3 Rb8 {Both sides have been manoeuvring with their knights and rooks
and the position seems pretty much equal.} 37. Nb1 {[%cal Gb1d2,Gd2b3,Gb3c5]
Now, Karjakin shows his cards. He must have been eyeing up the c5-square for a
long time but it is only now that he deems fit to go for it.} Nd7 38. Nbd2 d4
$6 {This second commitment in the centre makes things a bit difficult for
Black. Wesley So could have continued waiting as he had his weakness covered
for now.} ({For example} 38... Ra8 39. Rc1 Ra4 (39... Nb6 {[%cal Gb6a4]} 40. c4
) 40. Qb2 Kg8 41. Nb3 Kh7 (41... d4 42. Nc5 dxc3 (42... Nxc5 43. bxc5 Qxc5 44.
cxd4 $16) 43. Qxc3 Nxc5 44. Qxc5 Qxc5 45. Rxc5 Nxb4 46. Nxe5 $36) {Now if
White exchanges with} 42. Ra1 Rxa1 43. Qxa1 (43. Nxa1 Nb6 44. Nb3 Na4) {
then Black has} 43... d4 $132 {[%csl Rb4]}) 39. Rc1 dxc3 $6 {As often happens
one mistake follows the other.} (39... Rb7 $142 40. cxd4 exd4 (40... Nxd4 41.
Nxd4 exd4 42. f4 $36) 41. Rxc6 $5 Qxc6 42. Nxd4 Qd6 43. Nxe6 $14) (39... Rb6
$142 40. c4 (40. cxd4 exd4 $13) 40... Nxb4 (40... Qxb4 41. cxb5 Qxb3 42. Nxb3
Rxb5 43. Rxc6 Rxb3 44. Rxc7 Nf6 45. Nxe5 $18) 41. c5 Nxc5 42. Qxb4 Nxd3 43.
Qxd6 cxd6 44. Rc7 $14 {[%cal Gd2b3]}) 40. Qxc3 Rb6 (40... Nxb4 41. Qxc7 Qxc7
42. Rxc7 Rd8 43. Ne1 (43. Rc3 Rb8 44. Nb3) 43... Nf6 (43... Na6 44. Rb7 b4 45.
Nb3 $16) 44. Rc3 Rb8 45. Ndf3 Nd7 46. Rc7 Rd8 47. Rb7 Nc5 48. Rxb5 Nbxd3 49.
Nxd3 Nxd3 50. Nxe5 $16) 41. Nb3 {Finally White is ready to use the c5-square
which was weakened by Black on move number 23.} Nxb4 {Instead of waiting
passively So decides to clear things up.} ({After} 41... Ra6 $5 {White can
play some useful move as Black is stuck} 42. h4 $14 (42. Nc5 Nxc5 43. bxc5 Qd7
44. Nxe5 Nxe5 45. Qxe5 Qxd3 46. Qxc7 Qxe4+ $11) 42... Kg8 43. Nc5 Nxc5 44. bxc5
Qd7 45. Nxe5 Nxe5 46. Qxe5 Qxd3 47. c6 $16) (41... Qxb4 42. Qxb4 Nxb4 43. Rxc7
{[%csl Rd7]} Rd6 44. d4 $16) 42. Qxc7 Kh7 (42... Nxd3 $2 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Rc8
$18) 43. d4 {Exchanging one weakness for another.} Qxc7 (43... exd4 $6 44.
Nfxd4 {[%csl Rb5]} Qxc7 (44... Na6 45. Qxd6 Rxd6 46. Nxb5) 45. Rxc7 Nf6 46. e5
Nfd5 47. Rd7 $16 {[%cal Gd7d6]}) 44. Rxc7 Nf6 {[%cal Gf6e4]} 45. Nc5 Na6 (45...
exd4 {had the potential to go into some complications} 46. Re7 (46. Nxd4 Na6
47. Nxa6 Rxa6 48. Kf3 Rb6 49. Kf4 b4 50. Nb3 Kg6 51. Ke5 Rb5+ 52. Kxe6 Nxe4) (
46. e5 Nfd5 47. Rc8 d3 48. Nd7 Rc6 $17) 46... d3 47. Nxe6 (47. Nd2 $142 {
[%csl Re6]} e5 48. Rxe5) 47... Ra6 48. Rxg7+ (48. Nxg7 Nc6 49. Rc7 Nxe4) 48...
Kh8 49. Re7 Nc6 50. Rc7 Nxe4) 46. Rc8 $1 {A very nice idea. In the post game
interview Karjakin said that he was very happy to have found this manoeuvre of
Nc5 and Rc8.} Nxc5 ({The point is that} 46... exd4 {can be answered by} 47. e5
$1 Nxc5 (47... Nd5 48. Nd7 $18 Rb7 49. Nf8+ Kg8 50. Nxe6+ $18) 48. exf6 Nd7 49.
f7 $18) 47. dxc5 Ra6 48. Nxe5 Nxe4 49. c6 {The passed pawn is too strong and
White is technically winning, although with knights on the board he has to be
careful of some tricks.} Ra2 (49... Nd6 50. Rd8 $18 {[%cal Gc6c7,Gc7c8]}) 50.
Kf3 Ng5+ $6 {Going after a corner and making White's task easy. Karjakin said
that he did not expect his opponent to go for the h3-pawn as the black knight
would remain out of play over there.} (50... Nf6 $142 51. Rb8 Ra3+ (51... Nd5
52. Rxb5) 52. Kg2 Rc3 53. Rxb5 $18) (50... Nxf2 51. c7 Rc2 52. Rb8 Rxc7 53.
Kxf2 $18) 51. Ke3 Nxh3 52. Rb8 Rc2 (52... Ra3+ 53. Kd4 Ra4+ 54. Kc5 Ra1 55. Kb6
$18) 53. f4 h5 54. Rxb5 Nf2 55. Kd4 Rd2+ (55... Ng4 56. Rc5 $18) 56. Kc5 Ne4+
57. Kb6 Rc2 58. c7 Nd6 59. Rb3 Ne8 60. Nc6 Nxc7 61. Kxc7 Rc4 62. Kd6 h4 63. Ne5
1-0

[Event "USA-ch U16"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.07.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shen, Arthur"]
[Black "Liang, Awonder"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2339"]
[BlackElo "2404"]
[Annotator "Molner,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:34:25"]
[BlackClock "0:31:59"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 {An opening that has a quiet reputation,
usually leading to slow maneuvering} Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 {Always a useful
move for Black. Now Black can guarantee that they will not lose the bishop
pair to a move like Na4. In addition to this point, Black may soon consider
Na5, winning the bishop pair.} 7. Bb3 {Taking the sting out of Na5} Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bc2 Ne7 12. Nf1 Ng6 13. d4 {'!' After this move,
the secures a more pleasant position for White.} c6 {In a few moves Black
plays c5, which seems inconsistent with this move. If this were Black's plan,
it probably makes more sense to play c5 immediately.} (13... c5 $5 14. Be3 {
With similar play to the game}) 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Ng3 c5 16. Qd2 Rfd8 17. Nf5 d5
{By this point, the game had reached a critical boiling point. d5 was an
extravagant but unsound choice. Watching this game live, it didn't seem like
such an easy choice to began the necessary sacrifices that are the only way to
take advantage of Black's move.} 18. Bxh6 {'!?' Shen is up to the task, and
finds this strong move.} (18. Nxg7 $3 {Sacrifices on g7 like this are very
uncommon, not to mention much more unnatural for a person than taking on h6.
The computer makes a strong case that this is quite a powerful move though. A
sample variation could be} Kxg7 19. Bxh6+ Kh8 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22.
Nxe5 Rg8 23. Qg5 {White's threats are too numerous for Black to handle.}) 18...
Nxe4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Nxg7 exf3 21. Qg5 (21. Nh5) 21... Qe7 22. Nxe6 Qxg5 (
22... Qxe6 {Despite holding on to extra material, White's pieces here are too
strong after} 23. Rxe5 Qd6 24. Rae1 {Threatening Re6!!} Kh7 25. Qh5) 23. Nxg5
fxg2 {'?' This is probably the last point in the game where Black could have
offered serious resistance.} (23... exd4 $1 {This keeps Black's material
disadvantage to a mimimum although White is still clearly better.}) 24. dxe5
Re8 25. e6 {'!'} fxe6 26. Nxe6 c4 27. Re4 Re7 28. Kxg2 Rae8 29. Rae1 b5 30. Bg5
Rf7 31. f3 Rf5 32. h4 Bb8 33. f4 {'!' This move signaled the end for Black.
White's position is rock solid on the kingside and there is no counterplay for
Black. White can slowly improve with moves like h5 as well as Kf3-g4} Rd5 34.
Nd4 Rf8 35. Re8 Ba7 36. h5 Nxf4+ 37. Bxf4 Bxd4 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. cxd4 Rxh5 40.
Re6 Rh4 41. Be5 {A disappointing loss for Awonder but Shen must be pleased
with this strong performance.} 1-0

[Event "World Women-ch k.o."]
[Site "Teheran"]
[Date "2017.02.13"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Kashlinskaya, Alina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2558"]
[BlackElo "2418"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.02.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IRI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {The Giuoco "calm" Piano. I am not sure but it may
have come as a surprise to Kashilinskaya since this is not Muzychuk's first
choice against 1...e5, as far as I remember.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 Ba7
7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3 {Accurate play in my opinion.} (8. Re1 {would have given
Black the famous Ng4 idea.} d6 9. Bb3 Ng4 {1/2-1/2 (67) Socko,B (2600)-Banusz,
T (2621) Katowice 2016}) 8... d6 9. Bb3 Nh5 {Not the most common but this move
has proven itself in this opening's theory.} 10. Re1 Nf4 (10... Qf6 11. Nf1 h6
{is more common and well-reputed.} (11... Nf4 {transposes.})) 11. Nf1 Qf6 12.
Ng3 {A rare and playable move.} h5 $2 {Not the right pawn!} (12... g5 13. d4
exd4 14. h4 gxh4 (14... dxc3 $5) 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Qxf5 17. Nxh4 Qh5 18.
Bxf4 Qxh4 19. g3 Qh3 20. Qf3 dxc3 21. bxc3 Qf5 22. Bd5 Ne5 23. Bxe5 Qxf3 24.
Bxf3 dxe5 25. Rxe5 Rae8 26. Rg5+ Kh8 27. Bxb7 Rg8 28. Rxg8+ Rxg8 29. Kg2 Rb8
30. Bxa6 Rb2 31. Rf1 Rxa2 32. Bc4 Rc2 33. Bxf7 Rxc3 34. Ra1 Bb6 35. Be6 Rc2 36.
Ra2 Rxa2 37. Bxa2 Kg7 38. Bb3 Kf6 39. f4 h6 40. g4 Ba5 41. Ba4 Bb6 42. Bb3 Ba5
43. Ba4 Bb6 {1/2-1/2 (43) Wei,Y (2634)-Naiditsch,A (2705) Danzhou 2014}) (12...
Bxh3 $2 13. gxh3 Nxh3+ 14. Kg2 Nxf2 15. Qe2 {and Black won't get anywhere.})
13. d4 h4 {But this is too much. After this move, Muzychuk did not give Black
a second chance.} (13... g6 {was necessary.}) 14. Nf5 $1 g6 15. Bxf4 gxf5 16.
dxe5 dxe5 17. Bg5 Qg6 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Qc1 $1 Bd3 20. Nxh4 Qh5 21. Bf6 Kh7 22.
Bc2 Bg6 23. Re4 Rae8 24. Nf3 {A flawless performance by current world women's
rapid and blitz champion.} 1-0

[Event "Corus-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Smeets, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[Annotator "Movsesian,S"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1
Qe7 $5 {Black is trying to castle long quickly and lauch an attack on kingside.
} (8... O-O) 9. Nbd2 (9. h3 h6 $5 {preparing the typical g5-g4 break.}) 9...
Ng4 10. Re2 f5 11. exf5 ({I didnґt like} 11. d4 {due to} f4 12. Bd5 Bd7 13.
dxe5 dxe5 14. Nc4 O-O-O) 11... Bxf5 12. d4 O-O-O 13. Ne4 Rhf8 $6 {This looks a
bit too slow.} (13... h6 14. Ng3 Bh7 15. h3 Nf6 16. Ba4 $14) (13... Nf6 $5 14.
Ng3 Bd7 $13) 14. Ng3 Bd7 15. Qc2 $5 {Creating a positional threat: 16.h3 Nf6
17.Nf5 and maybe even grabbing a pawn on h7.} h6 {Leading Black to a difficult
position, but it is already not easy to offer any good advice.} 16. h3 Nxf2 {
A desperate try to change the course of the game.} (16... Nf6 17. Nh4 Be8 18.
Be3 $16) (16... Rxf3 17. gxf3 Nf6 18. Be3 $1 {and I donґt think Black has
enough compensation here.}) 17. Kxf2 Rxf3+ 18. gxf3 Qh4 19. Be3 Nxd4 (19...
exd4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Qe4 Qxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 Bxe3 24. Kxe3 $16) 20.
Qe4 Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe2 22. Kxe2 Bxe3 23. Kxe3 Bxh3 24. Rg1 Rd7 $2 (24... g5 25.
Rh1 Bd7 26. Rxh6 g4 27. f4 $18) 25. Rh1 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 23rd"]
[Site "Kemer"]
[Date "2007.10.08"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Movsesian,S"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2007.10.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Keystone"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. N3h2 $5 ({
My opponent has played the position after} 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Kh2 Kh8 16. Nh4 Ng8
17. Qf3 Bc5 18. Ngf5 Bf8 19. g4 $14 {Areshchenko-Aleksandrov, Moscow Aeroflot
2007}) 14... Ne7 {Black moves the N to g6, where it protects the king better
and also c7-c6 becomes possible.} 15. Qf3 Nh7 16. Ng4 Ng6 17. Nfe3 c6 18. Nf5
f6 {This move was not forced, but I wanted to provoke my opponent to some
sharp action...} ({The prophylactic} 18... Kh8 $5 {looks like a good
alternative.}) 19. d4 $5 exd4 20. Nxd4 (20. e5 fxe5 21. Nfxh6+ gxh6 22. Bxg6
Bxg4 23. hxg4 Ng5 $1 24. Bxg5 hxg5 25. Bxe8 Rxe8 {and Black is doing fine.})
20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 dxe4 22. Qg3 $2 (22. Rxe4 {was necessary} f5 23. Rxe6 Rxe6
24. Bxf5 Re1+ 25. Kh2 Qf7 26. Bxg6 $1 Qxg6 27. Qb3+ Qf7 28. Qg3 $44) 22... Bf7
$1 {Now White can never take on e4.} 23. Qc3 Rad8 24. Be3 h5 25. Nh2 f5 26.
Rad1 f4 27. Bc1 Nf6 {Black is simply a pawn up and also has a big positional
advantage.} 28. Nf1 Re7 29. Nd2 Rde8 30. Nc4 Bxc4 31. Qxc4+ Nd5 32. f3 exf3 33.
Rxe7 Qxe7 ({Also} 33... Ngxe7 34. Qd3 fxg2 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qxh5 Nf6 37. Qf3
Ned5 {looks quite convincing.}) 34. Qd3 (34. Bxg6 Qg5 35. Qc2 Re2 $19) 34...
Ne3 35. Qxg6 f2+ 36. Kxf2 (36. Kh2 Ng4+ $1 $19) 36... Nxd1+ 37. Kg1 Qe1+ 38.
Kh2 Qg3+ $19 39. Qxg3 fxg3+ 40. Kxg3 Ne3 41. Bg6 Re6 42. Bxh5 Nf5+ 43. Kf4 Nxd4
44. Bg4 Re7 45. Be3 $4 (45. Be3 g5+) 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 9th"]
[Site "Plovdiv"]
[Date "2008.04.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Werle, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Movsesian,S"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.04.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 (5... a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. O-O d6
8. h3 h6 9. Be3 g5 $5 10. Bxa7 Nxa7 11. d4 Qe7 12. Nbd2 g4 13. hxg4 Nxg4 (13...
Bxg4 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nc4 Nc6 16. Ne3 Rg8 $11 {Pavasovic-Fressinet, Plovdiv
2008}) 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. g3 Rg8 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. Rfd1 O-O-O 18. Nc4 h5 $13 {
Khamrakulov-Vallejo, Pamplona 2007}) 6. Bb3 h6 7. O-O g5 $6 {Generally, g7-g5
is a one of the most aggressive plans against White's modest setup, but in
this position it looks just too optimistic...} (7... O-O {would lead to some
of the main lines.}) 8. Be3 {White hasn't yet weakened his king's position by
h2-h3, and can concentrate on development and building a strong centre.} Bb6 9.
Nbd2 Ne7 10. a4 $1 {Forcing Black to solve matters with the bishop or to
weaken the centre by c7-c6.} Ng6 11. d4 g4 12. Ne1 c6 13. Nd3 {Increasing the
pressure and already threatening f2-f4, after which Black's position would be
critical.} d5 {This is the only way to avoid an immediate catastrophe.} 14.
Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Qxd8+ ({Inaccurate would be} 17. Bxb6
axb6 18. Qxd8+ Kxd8 19. Bxf7 Ra5 $1 {and Black has chances to survive.}) 17...
Bxd8 18. Rfe1 Bf5 19. Bc2 Be7 20. a5 $1 {White is not hurrying to win a pawn
on e4, improving the position first.} c5 (20... h5 21. Ra4 $16) 21. Rad1 h5 22.
Ba4+ {Switching the plan. Now there are more squares for the white pieces and
the black pawn on e4 is not important any more. In a couple of moves Black
would be practically stalemated without any conterplay.} Kf8 23. Bd7 Bg6 24.
Rd5 Rd8 25. Red1 b6 26. a6 Kg7 27. Kf1 Rb8 28. c4 f5 {Jan didn't want just to
sit back and wait and decides to force matters.} 29. Bf4 Rbd8 30. e6 Bf6 31.
Bc7 Rdg8 32. Bb5 {The easiest way to win - exchanging all 4 rooks followed by
Bb8 or Bxb6...} Rh7 33. Rd7+ Kh8 34. Rxh7+ Kxh7 35. Rd7+ Rg7 36. Bxb6 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 6th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2005.06.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Godena, Michele"]
[Black "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2527"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Mueller,Karsten"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2005.06.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Re1 h6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 Bb6 13. Bxb6 cxb6 14. Ne3 b5 15.
Bc2 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Be4 Qd7 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21.
Qxd4 Rad8 22. Qxd7 Rxd7 23. Rad1 Red8 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. a3 Kf8 26. Bf3 Bb3 27.
Re5 b6 28. Bc6 Re7 29. Rxe7 Kxe7 30. Bb7 a5 31. Bc6 Bc4 32. f4 Kd6 33. Bf3 Bd5
34. Be2 Bc4 35. Bd1 b4 36. axb4 axb4 37. Kf2 Kc5 38. g3 bxc3 39. bxc3 Be6 40.
Be2 Bxh3 41. Ke3 Kd5 42. Bd3 Bd7 43. Be2 f6 44. Bh5 Bf5 45. Bf7+ Kc5 46. Kd2
Bh7 47. Ke3 Bf5 48. Kd2 Be4 49. Ke3 Bb1 50. Kd2 g5 51. Ke3 Bf5 52. Bb3 h5 53.
Bf7 h4 54. fxg5 h3 55. Kf2 fxg5 56. Kg1 Kd6 57. Bb3 Kc5 58. Kh2 Kb5 59. Kg1 Kc5
60. Kh2 Kd6 61. Kg1 Ke5 62. Kh2 Bc8 63. Bc2 Kd5 64. Bd3 Bd7 65. Kg1 Kc5 66. Be2
Bf5 67. g4 Bb1 68. Kh2 Kd5 69. Kxh3 Ke4 70. Kg3 Ke3 71. Bb5 Bd3 72. Bd7 Bc4 73.
Bc6 Be2 74. Bd7 Bd3 75. Bc6 Be4 76. Bd7 Bf3 77. Bb5 Be2 78. Bd7 Bd1 79. Be6 Kd3
{Nun geht es endlich zur Sache:} 80. Kf2 (80. c4 Bb3 81. Kf3 Bxc4 82. Bf5+ Kd4
$19) 80... Kxc3 81. Ke3 (81. Bd7 Kd2 $19) 81... b5 82. Ke4 b4 83. Kf5 (83. Ke5
Bb3 84. Bf5 Bc4 85. Kf6 b3 86. Kxg5 Bd3 87. Be6 b2 88. Ba2 Kb4 $19) 83... Bb3 (
83... Bb3 84. Bd7 Bc2+ 85. Kxg5 b3 86. Be6 b2 87. Ba2 Kb4 88. Kf6 Ka3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2882"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,19,38,25,7,30,27,27,7,3,9,16,2,13,-5,17,-8,10,0,24,2,3,-8,3,13,26,
24,27,27,22,19,4,5,6,-13,-24,-17,-24,-13,0,-34,-42,-5,0,-13,-19,7,53,53,44,-12,
8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 $5 {Starting off with 9 draws the strategic situation
for the world champion was pretty simple, nothing short of 2 wins would leave
any chance of first place. This being his 6th white, it was still the first
game where Magnus opened with the king's pawn, having recently preferred a
more 1.d4 based approach, but in the moment of need, it felt like time for a
surprise.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Wesley is loyal to his solid approach, inviting to a
Berlin.} 3. Bc4 {This used to be considered basically inferior to 3.Bb5 and
the Ruy Lopez, but as this position appeared 10(!) times in the Sinquefield
Cup, it indicates the present preferences of the top players. Compared to 3.
Bb5 it has the advantage of leading to less forced lines.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3
O-O 6. c3 d6 7. h3 h6 $5 ({Earlier in the tournament Wesley had tried the more
extravagant} 7... a6 8. a4 Ba7 9. Re1 Kh8 $5 {ambitiously aiming for ...Ng8
and ...f5, but fearing Magnus preparation he sensibly chooses one of the main
lines.}) 8. Re1 a6 9. a4 a5 $5 {Obviously a strange looking move, moving the
a-pawn continiously. But there is logic behind it:} ({After the immediate} 9...
Be6 {, then} 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Nbd2 {leads to troubles for Black
like in e.g. Anand-Carlsen from Stavanger 2017 as White's expansion on the
queenside makes a lot of difference in the ...fxe6 structures. The space
itself obviously, but also that a rook on a2 will defend the f2-pawn
eventually.}) {Now, however, Black uses the possibility to fix the queenside
structure. One could argue why not 8...a5 then? It is a reasonable move,
played by Ding, but there potentially White has the option of a3+b4, while now
the b4-square is definitely under Black's control.} 10. Nbd2 Be6 {As explained
previously, the benefit of having played ...a5 is that Black now can play ...
Be6 without fearing the ...Bxe6 fxe6 structures, and So obviously exploits
that:} 11. Bb5 $5 Na7 12. d4 Nxb5 13. dxc5 $5 {Earlier this year in Wijk Aan
Zee, Giri took back on b5 against Anand, with the game ending in a quick draw.}
Na7 14. b3 Re8 {Still common ground, White's concept is that 14...Nc6 is met
by 15 cxd6 cxd6 ( 15...Qxd6? 16 Ba3! wins an exchange, and is the point of 14
b3) 16Ba3 Re8 17 c4! when the resulting pawn structure heavily favours White,
explaining why So had to put his rook on e8, in order to be able to take back
on d6 with the queen.} 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 c5 {Grischuk played 16...Qa6
against MVL in the 2017 World Cup, but while he got a good position in the
game, the computer very much prefers 16...c5.} 17. Nc4 $5 {Over the board
inspiration, and making the inclusion of b3 having a positive effect. MVL had
a later game with Karjakin in 2019 where he continued 17.Qe2, but Magnus' move
is, despite the exchange of queens, somewhat more aggressive.} Qxd1 18. Raxd1
Bxc4 {For a human, an obvious choice, but the computers actually insists that
18...Nd7 also is a reasonable move as after 19 Ne3, which seems to nicely give
White control over the d5 square, after 19...Red8 20 Nd5 Rb8, it indeed is
difficult for White to make any reasonable progress. Being a human being, So,
however, obviously took the knight.} 19. bxc4 {Explaining the games to the
commentators, Magnus said that this was paying a bit of hommage to Mikhail
Botvinnik who in numerous games showed the dynamic potential of this exact
pawn structure where the doubled pawns obviously are potential weaknesses and
thus the position is much sharper than it appears at first sight: Black needs
to hurry, as seen in the game White's potential is huge if the position
stabilizes.} b6 $6 ({The computers strongly suggest} 19... Rac8 $1 {the idea
being to protect the b7-pawn from c7, and then regrouping with ...Nc8/d6
immediately attacking White's fragile c4-pawn. At first the computers says
Black is better, but after a while settles on} 20. Nh2 (20. Nh4 g6 21. f3 {
followed by g4/Ng2-e3 leads to similar positions.}) 20... Rc7 21. Nf1 Nc8 22.
Ne3 Nb6 23. Rb1 Nxa4 24. f3 {when White has sacrificed a pawn, and offers a
second on c3, but as compensation gets serious initiative combing threats via
the b-line with the knight landing on d5. White is neither better nor worse,
but the position is very interesting with rich possibilities for both to
outplay the opponent.}) {So instead chooses solidity, but this permanently
places the initiative with White.} 20. Nh4 Rad8 21. f3 g6 22. g3 {22.g4
intending the same knight regrouping as in the game, but at the same time
stopping Black's ...Nh5 had merits, but Magnus wanted to keep his own kingside
structure as flexible as possible.} Nh5 23. Kf2 Nc6 $6 {Again Wesley's choice
is more solid than good.} (23... Nc8 {23...Nc8!? would reroute the knight to
d6, attacking the c-pawn and after} 24. Ng2 Nd6 25. Ne3 f5 {create some
counterplay.}) {But So believes in the solidity of his position.} 24. Bc1 Kg7
25. Be3 Rxd1 ({Once again} 25... Ne7 26. Ng2 f5 $1 {was called for, creating
some counterplay, but its repeating the previous remark, as Black's play is
based on the wrong assumption that he has an impregnable fortress.}) 26. Rxd1
Rd8 27. Rb1 $1 {Keeping a pair of rooks is an absolute neccesity.} Rb8 28. Ng2
Nf6 29. Ke2 Ne8 30. Bf2 Nd6 31. Ne3 Ne7 $2 {Blacks position was bad, much
worse than it looks, but with this it becomes just plainly lost. But again:
Black thinks he has a fortress.} 32. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 33. cxd5 Rb7 34. Kd3 {One
could argue a slight inaccuracy, the computer prefers 34 c4!?.} f5 {This
created a weakness on e5, but as White anyway could force that with f4xe5
after a black ...f6, it makes no difference.} ({But even after} 34... c4+ 35.
Kd2 Nc8 36. Bc5 $1 {followed by the f4 break, Blacks position will collapse
rather quickly.}) 35. c4 fxe4+ $5 {Facing reality, So alternates his plan,
tries to complicate.} ({The problem is, as Magnus happily explained after the
game, that the "fortress" after} 35... Kf6 36. g4 f4 37. Be1 g5 38. Bc3 $1 {
has one problem: Yes, everything is solididly protected and White can do no
harm to Black's position on his own. But as Black is not allowed to "pass",
Zugzwang here plays its deadly consequence. Black has to make a move, and that
makes his position instantly collapse. The rook needs to protect the b-pawn,
but if it goes to b8, it allows Bxa5. The knight on d6 is needed there to
protect the rook on b7, else Bxa5 again is possible, and as the king is stuck
on f6 protecting e5, and Black has run out of pawn moves, this is a pure and
illustrative zugzwang. Black's position will fall like a cardhouse, when
removing one bit, will eventually make it all fall.}) 36. fxe4 Rf7 {A good try,
even allowing the hope for the trap below.} 37. Rxb6 (37. Be3 Rf3 38. Rxb6 $4
Rxe3+ $1) 37... Rxf2 38. Rxd6 Rf3+ 39. Ke2 $6 {Sloppy technique.} (39. Kd2 Rf2+
40. Ke3 Rc2 41. Kd3 Ra2 42. Rc6 {was a very trivial win. as White gets
connected passed pawns while keeping Black's counterplay to a minimum.}) 39...
Rc3 40. Re6 Rxc4 41. Rxe5 Rxa4 42. Re7+ Kf6 $2 {Returning the favour and
making the win trivial.} (42... Kf8 $1 {would surprisingly force a huge degree
of precision on White's part.} 43. Re6 $1 {is the only winning move.} ({After} 
43. d6 $2 Rd4 44. e5 a4 45. Ke3 a3 46. Ra7 Rd5 $1 {White cannot successfully
advance his connected passed pawns, as after} 47. Ke4 ({or} 47. Kf4) 47... Rd4+
$1 {the king is forced back, and Black will just return the rook to d5, again
attacking the e5 pawn forcing a repetition.}) 43... Rb4 {again forces
precision, as} 44. Kf3 $1 {is needed. The difference is that after} a4 45. Rxg6
a3 46. Ra6 Rb3+ {now} 47. Kg4 $1 {is available, the point being that after} c4
48. d6 c3 49. Ra8+ Kf7 50. d7 c2 {White simply plays} 51. d8=Q {soon mating
the black king, but if the white king were on f4, then 51...c1Q would be a
check, reversing the table.  Very much a line that the World Champion would be
able to calculate, but still an unneccesary risk to take indeed.}) 43. d6 {
44.e5+ follows next, and the pawns marches through.} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +2-2=10"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "2016.11.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Nunn,J"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2016.11.11"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Carlsen had pressed strongly in Games 3 and 4 so now, with the white pieces
in front of him, would this be the game for the champion's breakthrough in the
match?} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {So far Carlsen has adopted three different
openings in his three games with White. Gone are the days of
Alekhine-Capablanca when they played the Queen's Gambit Declined in almost
every one of the 34 games.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 {The quiet form of the Giuoco
Piano, often called the Giuoco Pianissimo. White aims for a slow build-up,
sometimes trying to gain space on the queenside with c3 and b4, or playing for
a delayed action in the centre after transferring the knight from b1 to d2, f1
and g3, much as in the Spanish. It's tempting to just comment that such quiet
methods are unlikely to bring White much of an objective advantage, but that
isn't the way Carlsen plays. Like another world champion, Emanuel Lasker, he
is often not so concerned with playing the most critical lines, but more in
reaching a position in which he can show his strengths. Quiet methods have
secured Carlsen many victories from positions that initially didn't appear to
offer many winning chances.} O-O 6. a4 {But this is really unusual.} ({White
generally prefers to prepare central expansion by} 6. c3 {or to pin the knight
by}) (6. Bg5 {The ChessBase online database gives a mere 22 games with this
move, with White scoring a respectable 66%.}) 6... d6 7. c3 {Now we have
transposed into a more standard line. Black has to take action against the
threat to trap his bishop.} a6 8. b4 Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 {A standard plan in such
positions. Black transfers his knight to the kingside in order to generate
play there. With only one minor piece on that side of the board, White is
slightly vulnerable there especially if he does not undertake the knight
transfer to g3.} (9... Ng4 {can be met by} 10. Ra2 {a benefit of White's early
queenside pawn advance.}) 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 {I'm not very enthusiastic about
this move, even though my computer likes it. Is White playing on the queenside
or in the centre? True, the knight transfer to g6 has weakened Black's hold on
d4, allowing White to push in the centre, but it is better to wait for this
type of move until White is more prepared. Playing d3 and then d4 involves an
inevitable loss of tempo and White's development is not yet good enough to
give a central advance any real bite.} c6 {A good response by Karjakin. Noting
the slight fragility in White's position, he prepares to play actively in the
centre himself.} 12. h3 {It's unfortunate that White has to play another
non-developing move, but} (12. Nf1 {is strongly met by} Bg4 {White has not
achieved any advantage from the opening.}) 12... exd4 $6 {Karjakin plans to
break apart White's centre, but the results are not especially favourable. He
could have kept the balance by the simple} (12... Re8 {or, if he really wanted
some central action, by}) (12... d5) 13. cxd4 Nxe4 14. Bxf7+ $1 {A somewhat
surprising decision, but a good one.} (14. Nxe4 d5 15. Bd3 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Be6 {
doesn't give White anything, so Carlsen prefers to keep his knights, which are
effective despite the relatively open position.}) 14... Rxf7 15. Nxe4 d5 16.
Nc5 (16. Neg5 $6 Rf6 {only puts the g5-knight in jeopardy.}) 16... h6 {Ruling
out any possible ideas involving Ng5 followed by Qh5.} 17. Ra3 {Thanks to
White's earlier queenside advance, White can save time by doubling rooks
without developing the c1-bishop first.} Bf5 18. Ne5 {This looks slightly
premature. White would have had more chances of an advantage with the natural}
(18. Rae3 Qf6 19. Ne5 Re7 20. Nxg6 Rxe3 21. Rxe3 Bxg6 22. Qe2 {with a solid
control of the open file, although admittedly any advantage is rather slight.})
18... Nxe5 19. dxe5 (19. Rxe5 {achieves nothing after} Bb8 20. Nxb7 Qf6 21.
Re8+ Kh7 {attacking the knight and threatening ...Bh2+.}) 19... Qh4 {Attacking
b4 and taking aim at f2.} 20. Rf3 {A good defensive move maintaining the
balance.} Bxc5 $6 ({The tactical justification for White's play is} 20... Qxb4
$2 21. Ba3 Qa5 22. e6 Rf6 23. Nxb7 Qb6 24. e7 {and wins, but Karjakin's
response is not the best.}) (20... Bg6 21. Rxf7 Bxf7 {would have been fine for
Black, since the e-pawn is not well enough supported to be a real danger.}) 21.
bxc5 {The exchange on c5 has altered the structure of the position. White's
queenside pawns are broken, but they are not really vulnerable, while Black's
b-pawn is now permanently backward. Perhaps the main worry for Black is that
White's 4 vs 2 kingside majority is far more mobile than Black's queenside
pawns. The outlines of real problems for Black are visible in the position and
it is surprising that Karjakin went in for a line which allowed Carlsen to
exercise his famous grinding skills when he had a reasonable alternative which
kept some active play.} Re8 {.} 22. Rf4 Qe7 23. Qd4 {White now a very safe
advantage. At the moment it may appear small, but it could easily increase.
The big question is whether White can advance his kingside pawns without
exposing his king too much.} Ref8 24. Rf3 Be4 25. Rxf7 Qxf7 26. f3 Bf5 27. Kh2
({It might appear that White can start pushing his pawns at once, but after} 
27. g4 Qg6 28. Kh2 Be6 29. f4 Qc2+ 30. Bd2 g6 31. Rg1 Kf7 {Black sets up a
line of defence which is hard to break through. Carlsen therefore manoeuvres
in the hope of finding a more favourable moment to start his pawn advance.
However, the extra time allows Black to improve his position and it becomes
more rather than less difficult to advance the pawns.}) 27... Be6 28. Re2 Qg6
29. Be3 Rf7 30. Rf2 Qb1 31. Rb2 Qf5 32. a5 Kf8 {An interesting plan. If White
does eventually push on the kingside, it could be that Black's king will be a
tactical weakness. Karjakin therefore decides to transfer his king to the
queenside, where his numerical superiority of pawns offers good shelter.
Additionally, the king can defend the b7-pawn, relieving his other pieces of a
rather menial job.} 33. Qc3 {Carlsen cannot see any way to make progress, and
for the moment just moves around without achieving very much.} Ke8 34. Rb4 g5
$1 {An interesting and highly committal decision. Black could have set up a
light-square blockade with ...g6, aiming to hold on to the f5-square at all
costs, but he decides instead to take pre-emptive action to prevent White's
pawns even getting as far as f4 and g4. The danger is that in any ending the
kingside pawns on dark squares will be vulnerable to attack by White's bishop,
especially if his king is far away on the queenside. In my view, Karjakin made
the right decision and, by taking action himself rather than simply waiting,
he has forced Carlsen to come up with a counterplan.} 35. Rb2 Kd8 36. Rf2 Kc8
37. Qd4 Qg6 {Black is now even ready to play ...h5 followed by ...g4, which
would completely kill any winning prospects for White, so Carlsen decides to
block Black's advance.} 38. g4 h5 39. Qd2 Rg7 {I don't see how White can make
progress here since any pawn advance of the kingside would expose the white
king too much. If White could swap off the major pieces the g5-pawn would fall,
but there is no way to achieve this.} 40. Kg3 Rg8 41. Kg2 $2 {This move, which
blocks the path of White's major pieces to the h-file is a serious error after
which White is even worse. Any normal move, such as} (41. Rh2 {would have
maintained the balance.}) 41... hxg4 42. hxg4 (42. fxg4 $2 Qe4+ 43. Kg1 Rh8 {
loses at least a pawn,.}) 42... d4 $1 {Karjakin strikes with a pawn sacrifice
allowing him to activate his bishop.} ({This is even stronger than} 42... Qh6
43. Qd4 {White must block the d-pawn since} (43. Kf1 d4 44. Bxd4 Qh1+ 45. Ke2
Rd8 {gives Black a very dangerous attack}) 43... Rh8 44. Kf1 Qh1+ 45. Ke2 Qb1
46. Bxg5 {when White can at least run with his king to f4.}) 43. Qxd4 (43. Bxd4
Qh7 44. Kg1 Qh3 45. Qe2 Rf8 46. Rh2 Qg3+ 47. Rg2 Qxf3 48. Qxf3 Rxf3 {is an
unpleasant ending for White, since all his pawns are weak, but this might
actually have been the lesser evil.}) 43... Bd5 $2 {Karjakin fails to make the
most of his chances. After} (43... Rh8 44. Qe4 Qh6 45. Kf1 Qh1+ 46. Ke2 Bd5 {
would have been deeply unpleasant for White. His king is floating around in
the middle of the board, while Black's piece press from all sides. After} 47.
Qd3 Qa1 48. Bxg5 Qxe5+ 49. Be3 Qa1 {it is unlikely that White will survive in
the long run. As is so often the case in opposite-coloured bishop positions
with major pieces, it's the initiative and attacking chances which count, and
not the odd pawn or two.}) 44. e6 {In an echo of Karjakin's ...d4, Carlsen
returns the pawn in order to gain space for his pieces. However, it would have
been even simpler to play} (44. Kg3 {allowing the rook to switch to h2, after
which I can see nothing for Black.}) 44... Qxe6 ({Or} 44... Qh7 45. e7 Qxe7 46.
Bd2 Qh7 47. Qf6 Rh8 48. Qf5+ Qxf5 49. gxf5 g4 50. Kg3 gxf3 {and with his king
active White should have no trouble holding the ending.}) 45. Kg3 {The crisis
is essentially over and the game is once more on course for a draw.} Qe7 46.
Rh2 Qf7 47. f4 {Further activating White's pieces and fully equalising.} gxf4+
48. Qxf4 (48. Bxf4 Qf5 49. g5 {was also safe for White.}) 48... Qe7 49. Rh5 Rf8
50. Rh7 Rxf4 51. Rxe7 Re4 {Forcing the draw.} ({After} 51... Re4 52. Rxe4 Bxe4
53. Kf4 Bd3 54. Ke5 Kd7 55. Kf6 Ke8 56. Bh6 Bc2 57. g5 Bd3 58. g6 Bc2 59. g7
Bb3 {Black is not in any danger.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 {Another recent
example from a similar type of play used by the World Champion:} (6... h6 7. a4
a5 $5 {not an usual reaction} 8. Na3 $5 O-O 9. Nc2 Re8 10. Re1 Ba7 11. Be3 $1
Be6 12. Bb5 $1 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 Be6 15. Bxe6 Rxe6 16. Ne3 Nc8 17. Nf5
Ne7 18. d4 exd4 19. N3xd4 Re5 20. Ng3 Ng6 21. Qc2 c6 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Ndf5 $14
{1-0 (66) Carlsen,M (2844)-Adams,M (2744) Wijk aan Zee NED 2016}) 7. Re1 {
A similar move order but the idea is the same as was also seen just recently:}
(7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 h6 9. h3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3 Qd7 13. Nbd2
Qf7 14. g3 Nd7 15. Kg2 (15. b4 $1 {In my opinion this simply had to be played.}
) 15... a5 $1 16. Qc2 Nc5 17. Rf1 Qd7 18. b3 Ne7 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb5 Qxb5 21.
Rb1 Nc6 $132 {0-1 (45) Giri,A (2798)-Anand,V (2784) Zurich 2016}) 7... Ba7 8.
a4 $5 {As we see this little idea has been enjoying some popularity.} Be6 (8...
O-O 9. Na3 $5 h6 10. Nc2 Re8 11. Be3 $1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. d4
exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ra8 17. f3 a5 18. Ne3 Qd7 19. Red1 b6 20. Qc4 Rae8
21. Qb5 {½-½ (38) So,W (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Wijk aan Zee 2016. With a
tiny plus, nevertheless an interesting strategy.}) 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 Qc8 11.
Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3 O-O 13. Nbd2 Na5 14. Qa2 c5 15. d4 c4 16. b4 cxb3 17. Nxb3
Nc4 18. Ree1 Qc6 $6 {Imprecise play; a better way was:} (18... Nh5 $5 19. Nbd2
Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Nf4 21. Re3 exd4 22. cxd4 Qe8 23. Qb2 Qg6 24. Ne1 Rf7 $13) 19.
Nc5 $1 {Now the initiative is on the white side.} dxc5 20. Qxc4 exd4 21. cxd4
Nd7 22. a5 Rac8 23. d5 exd5 24. exd5 Qd6 25. Re6 Qf4 26. Re4 Qd6 27. Rb1 $16
Rb8 28. Re6 Qf4 29. Qe2 c4 $1 {Black finds an interesting way to simplify even
at the cost of a pawn.} 30. Re4 Qf5 31. Qxc4 b5 32. axb6 Nxb6 33. Qe2 Nxd5 34.
Rxb8 Rxb8 35. Re8+ Rxe8 36. Qxe8+ Qf8 37. Qe6+ Qf7 38. Qxa6 {Pawn up for White,
but he was not able to break down Black's very good defence.} h6 39. Qc8+ Kh7
40. h4 Qg6 41. Qb8 Qe4 42. Qb7 Qf5 43. Qb5 Qe4 44. Nd2 Qe1+ 45. Nf1 Nf6 46.
Qd3+ Kg8 47. g3 Kf7 48. Kg2 Qe4+ 49. Qxe4 Nxe4 50. Ne3 h5 51. Kf3 Nc5 52. Nd5
g6 53. Nf4 Kf6 54. Ke3 Kf5 55. f3 Nd7 56. Nd3 Nf8 57. Nc5 Ke5 58. g4 hxg4 59.
fxg4 Nh7 60. Nd3+ Ke6 61. Kf4 Nf6 62. Kg5 Kf7 63. Nf4 Kg7 64. Ne6+ Kf7 65. Nc5
Kg7 66. Kf4 Nd5+ 67. Ke5 Ne3 68. Kf4 Nd5+ 69. Ke4 Nf6+ 70. Kf3 Nd5 71. Nd3 Kf6
72. Nf2 Ke6 73. Ke4 Nf6+ 74. Kf4 Kf7 75. Ke5 Ke7 76. g5 Nd7+ 77. Kf4 Ke6 78.
Ng4 Nb6 79. Nf6 Nc4 80. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 a5 $5 {
An unorthodox approach. I found an old game played by Spassky! This means that
the idea can't be taken lightly. The usual move is 7...a6 and indeed Eljanov
didn't repeat this experiment at a later stage of the tournament, but simply
went ...a6.} 8. Bg5 {Considering that any move is possible, this one is
probably the sharpest.} (8. Nbd2 Kh8 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Ng3 Bb6 12. Be3
Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Ne7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. d4 Nc6 16. a4 Rfe8 17. h3 Kg8 {1/2-1/2 (22)
Ehlvest,J (2620)-Spassky,B (2580) Clermont Ferrand 1989. Black has a solid
position.}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Na3 $1 {Using the fact that the
b5-square is now vacant.} Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nc2 Bg6 {There are other ideas as
well:} (13... Nd7 {(with the idea ...Qf6)} 14. Ne3 Bxe3 $5 15. Rxe3 Nb6 16. Bb3
a4 17. Bc2 f5 (17... d5 $5 18. Bh2 f6 $13) 18. exf5 Rxf5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4
Rf7 21. a3 Qf8 22. Qd3 Qg7 23. Rae1 Raf8 {Ok. That is one possible interesting
line which would lead us to chances for both sides.}) 14. Bh2 Nh5 15. d4 {
The knight on c2 supports the d4-pawn, also having in mind Ne3 at some point,
but there is one problem: the pawn on e4 is not well defended.} Nf6 $1 16. dxe5
Nxe4 {An alternative was very much possibe but required really good
calculation:} (16... dxe5 17. Bd5 g4 18. hxg4 (18. Bxc6 gxf3 19. Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.
Bxe5 Rd2 21. Ne3 Bxe4 22. Ba4 Nd5 {doesn't look bad for Black}) 18... Nxg4 19.
Bg3 Ne7 20. Bc4 Qxd1 21. Raxd1 Rfd8 22. Nd2 h5 23. Kf1 Rd7 24. Ke2 Rad8 25. Rf1
{with f3 in mind and perhaps some small advantage for White.}) 17. Ne3 Nxe5 ({
Another idea is} 17... dxe5 18. Qc2 $1 Kh7 19. Bd3 Nc5 20. Bxg6+ fxg6 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Qd3 23. Bd4 $14) 18. Nxe5 {Logical and good.} (18. Bxe5 dxe5 19.
Qc2 $5 Kg7 20. Nxe5 (20. Bd3 g4 $1 (20... Nxf2 21. Bxg6 e4 22. Bf5 Nd3 23. Bxe4
Nxe1 24. Rxe1 $14) 21. hxg4 Nxf2 22. Qxf2 Qxd3 $15) 20... Qd2 21. Qxd2 Nxd2 22.
Bd5 c6 23. Rad1 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Rad8 25. Rxd2 Rxd5 26. Rxd5 cxd5 27. Nxg6 fxg6 {
After one of many possible long sequences of moves we have reached an equal
endgame.}) 18... dxe5 19. Ng4 h5 $6 (19... Kh7 20. Bd5 (20. Qxd8 Raxd8 21. Rxe4
Bxe4 22. Nf6+ Kg6 23. Nxe4 f5 24. Ng3 Rd2 $17) 20... Nf6 21. Bxe5 Nxg4 (21...
Nxd5 22. Qxd5 Qxd5 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Nxd5+ f6 25. Bg3 $16) 22. hxg4 c6 23. Bf3
Qxd1 24. Raxd1 Rfe8 $11 25. Rd7 $2 Bb8 $17) 20. Rxe4 $1 Bxe4 21. Qxd8 Rfxd8 22.
Nf6+ Kg7 (22... Kf8 23. Nxe4 f5 24. Nxg5 Rd2 25. Rf1 $18) 23. Nxe4 f6 {This
structure is bad because Black lacks the possibility to make progress.} 24. g4
$1 h4 25. a4 {Engines give the position as equal, but we know that it is not
like that. Black has no entry point for either of the rooks and a slow
build-up will eventually prevail.} c6 26. Kf1 Kg6 27. Ke2 Rab8 28. Be6 Kg7 29.
f3 Re8 30. Bc4 Red8 31. Bd3 {Black is runing out of useful moves...} Kf7 32.
Nd2 Ke7 $6 {A mistake that loses at once.} (32... Ra8 33. Nc4 Bc5 34. Bg1 Bxg1
35. Rxg1 $16) 33. Nc4 Rd5 34. Be4 Rc5 35. Nd2 {The rook is trapped in the
middle of the board.} b5 36. Bg1 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a5 $5 {Once when I
was on the black side of an Italian Game against Efimenko I opted for the
usual ...a6; it was only later in the game that I discovered that an
additional push of the a-pawn once more to a5 was necessary in order to gain
space. Therefore I am familiar with such a positional idea and it's worth
investigating further.} 7. Re1 h6 {I found one similar example:} (7... O-O 8.
Nbd2 h6 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Ng3 Bxc4 11. dxc4 Ne7 12. h3 Qc8 13. Nh4 Qe6 14. Qf3 Kh7
15. Nhf5 Nfg8 16. Nxe7 Nxe7 {1/2-1/2 (44) Fercec,N (2473)-Kuljasevic,D (2580)
Bosnjaci 2014. Black is fine}) 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Ba7 10. Nf1 Be6 11. Ng3 Bxc4
12. dxc4 Ne7 13. Nh2 Qd7 14. Qf3 Qe6 15. b3 a4 16. Bd2 Kh7 {We can say that
Black is ok here.} 17. Nhf1 {The idea will be seen on the next move.} (17. Ng4
Nxe4 $5 18. Qxe4+ f5 19. Qc2 Qg6 {Black has the initiative.}) 17... c6 18. Be3
$1 {If Black trades bishops then at least White can take back with the knight
which is good.} Bb8 19. Nd2 axb3 20. axb3 Bc7 {Neither side can do much but
somehow Karjakin finds a better plan.} 21. Nh5 Nd7 (21... Nxh5 22. Qxh5 f5 23.
exf5 Nxf5 24. Ne4 Kg8 {looks ok for Black.}) 22. Qg4 $1 Qxg4 (22... g6 23. Qxe6
fxe6 24. Ng3 c5 {with the idea ...Nc6 next would give Black some kind of
interesting fortress.}) 23. hxg4 b5 (23... Bb6 24. Bxb6 Nxb6 25. Ng3 g6 26. f3
Kg7 27. Nh1 $5 Ng8 28. Nf2 Nf6 29. Nd3 Nfd7 30. Kf2 {with an interesting
endgame ahead of us, surely it's balanced.}) 24. cxb5 cxb5 25. Ng3 Bb6 (25...
g6 26. b4 Rfc8 27. Red1 Bb6 28. Rxa8 Rxa8 29. Ngf1 Kg7 {Here too Black is
doing OK.}) 26. Bxb6 Nxb6 27. Nf5 Nxf5 28. exf5 f6 29. Ne4 {White has achieved
some pressure here.} d5 30. Nd6 b4 31. cxb4 d4 (31... Rab8 $1 32. Nb5 Nc8 33.
Nc7 Rxb4 34. Nxd5 Rxb3 35. Ra8 Rg8 36. Rc1 Nb6 37. Rxg8 Kxg8 38. Ne7+ Kh7 39.
f3 Ra3 $11) 32. Ra5 $1 Rab8 33. Ne4 Rfd8 34. b5 Nd5 (34... Nc8 $1 35. Kf1 Nd6
36. Nxd6 Rxd6 37. Ke2 Rd5 38. Kd3 Rbxb5 39. Rxb5 Rxb5 40. Kc4 Rb8 41. Rb1 Kg8
42. b4 Kf7 43. b5 Ke7 44. b6 Kd6 45. Kb5 d3 $11) 35. Rc1 Rbc8 36. Rc6 Nc3 37.
Nd2 e4 38. Rxc8 Rxc8 39. Nc4 d3 40. b6 Ne2+ $4 (40... h5 $1 {great idea!} 41.
g5 $1 {White doesn't have to be cooperative...} (41. gxh5 Rxc4 $1 42. bxc4 d2
43. Ra1 Ne2+ 44. Kh2 Nc1 45. b7 d1=Q 46. b8=Q Qxh5+ 47. Kg1 Qd1+ $11) 41...
fxg5 42. Ra7 Nd5 (42... Ne2+ 43. Kf1 $18) (42... Rxc4 43. bxc4 d2 44. Rd7 $18)
43. Rd7 Nf6 44. Rd4 g4 {White is still better but the game is not over.}) 41.
Kf1 Nd4 42. b7 d2 43. Ra1 Rb8 44. Na5 Nb5 45. Rd1 Nd6 46. Rxd2 Nxb7 47. Nxb7
Rxb7 48. Rb2 h5 {Doesn't help...} (48... Rb4 49. Ke2 h5 50. gxh5 Kh6 51. Kd2
Kxh5 52. Kc3 Rb7 53. Kd4 Kg4 54. Kxe4 Rb4+ 55. Kd5 Kxf5 56. Kc5 $18) 49. b4 $1
hxg4 50. Ke2 g6 51. fxg6+ Kxg6 52. Ke3 g3 53. fxg3 Kf5 54. b5 Rb6 (54... Ke5
55. b6 f5 56. Rb5+ Ke6 57. Kf4 $18) 55. g4+ $18 Ke5 56. Rf2 Re6 57. Rc2 Re7 58.
b6 Rb7 59. Rb2 Kd5 60. g3 Kc6 61. Kxe4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 76th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2014.01.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2014.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 159"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3 h6
{All standard Giuoco Piano so far. It's interesting that Giri doesn't spend a
tempo on Bc5-a7 - a move that is often automatically played.} (8... Ba7 9. Nbd2
h6 10. Re1 {has appeared in hundreds of games.} {Now the most ambitious plan
for Black is} Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 $132) 9. Be3 (9. d4 Ba7 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bc2 b5 {
followed by 12...Bb7 is okay for Black.}) 9... Bxe3 {Black, sort of, gained a
tempo by exchanging dark-squared bishops without playing Bc5-a7.} 10. fxe3 {
Now White's structure is somewhat damaged, but he hopes to make use of the
f-file.} Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 b5 13. Qe1 Rb8 $146 (13... Nc6 14. Nh4 Kh7 15.
Rf3 a5 16. Qf2 a4 17. Rf1 Ra7 18. Nf5 Ne8 19. Qg3 Qg5 20. Qf2 g6 21. Ng3 $11 {
0-1 (47) Velikhanli,F (2283)-Lahno,K (2450) Baku 2007}) 14. Qg3 {White will be
trying to create something on the kingside. Black, for his part, should be
careful not to come under serious attack and, at the same time, he should
develop his play on the queenside.} Nh5 15. Qf2 Nf6 16. Qg3 Nh5 17. Qh2 {
White is not better, but ready to continue the fight.} Qe7 18. Rf2 Bd7 19. g4
Nf6 20. Raf1 Nh7 21. Qg3 ({It makes sense to play} 21. a3 $5 {at some point.
So that after} c4 22. d4 {Black needs more time to open the b-file by
preparing the advance b5-b4.}) 21... g6 22. Nh4 $6 {This looks odd to me. The
sacrifice Nh4-f5 is unlikely to work, but then the question is what the knight
is doing on h4? It was more to the point to create pressure in the centre.} (
22. d4 {looks more to the point. Now it's not easy to choose how to defend the
Pe5. 22...f6 is an ugly move, 22...Rbe8 moves the rook away from the b-file
which Black hopes to open, while 23...Rfe8 leaves Pf7 unprotected.}) 22... c4
23. d4 b4 24. Ndf3 {[%csl Re5]} b3 $5 {This is somewhat controversial. Giri
decided not to open the b-file, but to get the c4-square and potentially
strong Pb3.} (24... Nc6 25. Bd1 (25. Ba4 $2 bxc3 26. bxc3 Nxd4 $1 27. exd4 Bxa4
28. dxe5 dxe5 29. Nxe5 Qd6 $1 $17 {[%cal Gh7g5]}) 25... bxc3 26. bxc3 Ng5 27.
Nxg5 hxg5 28. Nf3 f6 29. Nd2 Na5 $11) 25. axb3 cxb3 26. Bd3 Bb5 27. Bxb5 axb5
28. dxe5 Nc4 29. exd6 $2 (29. e6 $1 Qxe6 30. Nf5 Qxe4 31. Nxh6+ Kg7 32. Nxf7 $1
(32. Qh4 $2 f6 $17) 32... Qxe3 (32... Rxf7 $2 33. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Re4,Rf7]}) (
32... Nxe3 $2 33. Qxd6 Rxf7 34. Nd2 Rxf2 35. Qc7+ $1 Kh6 36. Rxf2 Rb7 37. Qxh7+
Rxh7 38. Nxe4 $16) 33. Re1 Qa7 34. Nxd6 Rxf3 35. Qxf3 Nxd6 {This position is
evaluated by an engine as 0.00, but from a human point of view it's a game for
three results, anything can happen.}) 29... Nxd6 {Now White is forced to swap
queens and go into an ugly endgame.} 30. Qe5 Qxe5 31. Nxe5 Ng5 {White has no
more play on the kingside, as the queens are off, while his pawn weaknesses
are a factor now.} 32. Rh2 (32. Kg2 Ngxe4 33. Nd7 Nxf2 34. Rxf2 Nc4 35. Nxf8
Rxf8 $17 {[%csl Rb2,Re3][%cal Gf8a8,Ga8a2]}) 32... Rb7 33. Nc6 $6 {White
shouldn't give away control over the c4-square so easily.} (33. Nhf3 Ngxe4 34.
Nd2 {with reasonable chances to hold.}) 33... Nc4 34. Nd4 b4 35. Rc1 Ra8 $6 (
35... Ne5 $1 $17 {was extremely unpleasant as practically none of White's
pieces can move.}) 36. cxb4 Rxb4 37. Nhf3 Nxf3+ 38. Nxf3 Ra2 39. Rb1 Nxe3 40.
Re2 Nc2 41. Nd2 Ra7 42. e5 (42. Nxb3 Rc7 $1 (42... Rxb3 43. Rxc2 Rxh3 44. b4
$11) 43. Rc1 Rxb3 44. Rcxc2 Rxc2 45. Rxc2 Rxh3 46. Kg2 Re3 47. Rc4 Re2+ 48. Kf3
Rxb2 {White should hold it with tenacious defence.}) 42... Nd4 43. Re3 Rc7 44.
Nf3 Ne6 $17 45. Ne1 Rd7 46. Nd3 $6 {Difficult defence for Harikrishna, it's
very easy to go astray.} (46. Nf3 {is preferable, so that White's rook always
keeps an eye on Pb3.}) 46... Rc4 47. Nf2 $6 (47. Kf2 {was better, not allowing
Black's knight to move to c5.}) 47... Nc5 {The knight is protecting the Pb3
now. Black's rooks are invading White's camp with decisive effect.} 48. Rf1 Rc2
$19 49. Kg2 Rd3 ({It was possible to capture the pawn right away:} 49... Rxb2
50. Kf3 Rb7 $19) 50. Kf3 Rxe3+ 51. Kxe3 Rxb2 52. Rd1 Kf8 53. Rd8+ Ke7 54. Rb8
Rc2 $6 {Inaccuracy.} (54... Rb1 55. Nd3 Nxd3 56. Kxd3 Rh1 $19) 55. Ne4 Nxe4 56.
Kxe4 b2 57. h4 Kd7 58. h5 g5 59. Kd5 Rd2+ 60. Kc5 Ke7 61. Rb6 Rd1 $1 {[%mdl
4096] Anish figured out that he needs to sacrifice his passed pawn in order to
get his king forward.} (61... Rg2 62. Kd5 Kd7 63. Kc5 {would make no progress.}
) 62. Rxb2 Ke6 {White's king is cut off the kingside, the position is lost.}
63. Rf2 (63. Rb6+ Kxe5 64. Rxh6 Rc1+ 65. Kb5 Rg1 66. Rh7 Ke6 $19 {[%cal Gg1g4]}
) 63... Rd5+ 64. Kc4 Rxe5 65. Kd3 f5 66. gxf5+ {[%tqu "En","What would you
choose here, 66...Rxf5 or 66...Kf6?","","","e6f6","An important nuance.",15,
"e5f5","",0]} Kf6 $1 {An important nuance.} (66... Rxf5 $2 67. Ra2 Ke5 68. Ra4
$1 Rf3+ 69. Ke2 Rh3 70. Kf2 Kf5 (70... Rxh5 71. Kg2 {This is an easy draw as
Black's rook can't come out}) 71. Ra6 Rxh5 72. Kg2 Rh4 73. Kg3 Rg4+ 74. Kh3 h5
75. Ra5+ Ke6 76. Ra6+ Kd5 77. Ra5+ Kc6 78. Rf5 Kd6 79. Ra5 $11) 67. Ra2 Kxf5
68. Ra6 Re6 69. Rxe6 Kxe6 70. Ke4 Kf6 71. Kf3 Ke5 ({It's never too late to
spoil everything:} 71... Kf5 72. Kg3 g4 $4 73. Kh4 Kf4 {Stalemate!}) 0-1

[Event "POR-chT 49th"]
[Site "Evora"]
[Date "2007.08.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Khamrakulov, Ibragim S"]
[Black "Prusikin, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2592"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[Annotator "Prusikin,M"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2007.07.28"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.09.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.09.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 Ne7 10. Ng3 Ng6 11. O-O Be6 12. Bxe6 $6 (12. d4 $1) 12... fxe6 13.
Be3 $146 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Nd7 $1 {Objektiv ist die Stellung wohl ausgeglichen,
jedoch muss der Anziehende aufgrund der etwas "aufgeweichten" Bauernstruktur 
(xd3) etwas vorsichtig sein.} 15. Kh2 Nh4 $1 16. Qb3 $6 {Schwächt unnötig
den König sowie die Bauernstruktur.} (16. Nxh4 Rxf1 17. Nxf1 Qxh4 18. Qe2 Rf8
19. g3 Qg5 20. Nd2 $11) 16... Nxf3+ 17. Rxf3 Rxf3 18. gxf3 (18. Qxe6+ $4 Rf7)
18... Nc5 19. Qc2 Qg5 20. d4 Nd7 21. Qf2 $6 (21. Qb3 Re8 22. Re1 $11) 21... Rf8
$15 22. Rg1 Qh6 23. Ne2 Nf6 24. Qg2 Nh5 25. Ng3 Nxg3 26. Qxg3 Rf7 27. Qf2 Qh5
28. Rg4 exd4 $1 29. exd4 Qb5 $1 30. Rg1 Qd3 31. Kg2 c5 32. Rf1 cxd4 33. Qxd4
Qxd4 34. cxd4 Rc7 $15 {Dieses Turmendspiel sollte Weiß zwar halten können,
die Verteidigung ist jedoch unangenehm.} 35. Rf2 Kf7 36. f4 Rc4 37. Rd2 d5 38.
Kf3 b5 39. h4 a5 (39... g6 $5 40. exd5 exd5 41. Ke3 Rc1 42. h5 $1 gxh5 43. Rg2
$1 $11) 40. f5 $2 (40. exd5 exd5 41. b3 Rc3+ 42. Kg4 $11) 40... exf5 41. exd5
g6 42. b3 Rc1 43. Re2 Rd1 44. Ke3 Ke7 $2 {Seltsamer Fehler. Nichts sprach
dagegen, den Bauern h4 abzuholen:} (44... Rh1 $19) 45. Rc2 Rh1 46. Rc7+ Kd6 47.
Rxh7 Kxd5 48. Rd7+ Kc6 49. Rh7 $2 (49. Rg7 $11) 49... b4 $2 (49... Rh3+ $1 50.
Kf4 Kd5 51. Rd7+ Ke6 52. Rh7 Kf6 53. d5 Rxh4+ 54. Rxh4 g5+ $19) 50. Rh6 Kd5 51.
Rxg6 Rh3+ 52. Kf4 $2 (52. Kf2 $11) 52... Rxh4+ $1 53. Kxf5 Rh2 54. Kf4 Kxd4 55.
Rd6+ Kc3 $1 (55... Kc5 $4 56. Rg6 $1 Rxa2 57. Ke4 Ra3 58. Rg5+ $11) 56. Rc6+
Kb2 57. Rc5 Kxa2 58. Rxa5+ Kxb3 59. Ke3 Kb2 60. Kd3 b3 61. Rg5 Ka2 62. Ra5+ Kb1
63. Kc3 b2 64. Rg5 Rh3+ 65. Kd2 Ka2 66. Ra5+ Ra3 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Quintiliano,R"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Ne7 $5 {
Aronian came up with this different move order to surprise Hou Yifan.} 8. Nbd2
(8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 (9. dxe5 Ng4 {[%csl Ye5,Yf2] is the point which justifies 7...
Ne7}) 9... Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 11. Bb3 {would transpose to more theoretical
positions.}) (8. a4 a5) 8... Bb6 9. Bb3 c6 10. Nf1 Ng6 {The difference is that
by playing this way Black avoided the a4 variations which are in fashion, and
quickly organised the position to play ...d5 soon.} 11. Ng3 h6 12. h3 {We have
now reached a better known path by transposition.} d5 $1 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 (
14. Nxe5 $2 {is bad} Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Kxf2 Qf6+ {[%csl Re5]}) 14...
exd4 15. Nxd4 Be6 $5 {Aronian plays dynamically to solve the only problem of
his position - how to develop the Bc8.} (15... Bc7 {is more played, but after}
16. Qf3 $14 {White keeps a little pressure.}) 16. Nxe6 {The principled way to
explore Black's last move.} (16. Bc2 {has also been tried} Ndf4 (16... Bxd4 $6
17. Qxd4 Ndf4 $2 18. Re4 $1 {[%csl Gf4];Souleidis,G (2410)-Sonntag,H (2391)
Oberliga NRW 1011 2010 (8.3) 1-0 and suddenly Black is already losing material
-}) 17. Nxe6 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Nxe6 19. Nf5 Rad8 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 Rxd1+ 22.
Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Nxd8 $14 {Brkic,A (2597)-Wagner,D (2485) Styrian op-A 2014 
(7) 1/2}) 16... fxe6 17. Rxe6 $1 {Hou Yifan accepts the challenge.} Rxf2 {
Judging by his time management, Aronian had all this stuff analysed beforehand
and knew the safer path and the danger of this position.} ({For example} 17...
Bxf2+ $2 18. Kh1 Nh4 (18... Bxg3 $2 19. Rxg6 {[%cal Gc1h6]} Bf4 20. Qd4 $1 {
[%cal Yd4f4,Yd4g7]} Qc7 21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Rxg7+ $1 Qxg7 23. Qxf4 $18) 19. Nh5
Qd7 20. Qg4 Nf5 21. Rg6 $1 {with a strong attack for White} (21. Rxh6 $2 Ng3+
$1 22. Nxg3 Qxg4 23. hxg4 Bxg3 $19 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rf8f1]}) 21... Rf7 22. Bxd5
cxd5 23. Bxh6 $1 Nxh6 24. Rxg7+ $1 Rxg7 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qh5 $1 Qe7 27. Qxh6+
Rh7 28. Nxh7 Qh4 $1 (28... Qxh7 29. Qf6+ $18) 29. Qxh4 Bxh4 30. g3 $8 Kxh7 31.
gxh4 $16) 18. Kh1 Nh4 {This position is a very critical one, and Hou Yifan
invested a great amount of time to calculate and evaluate the resulting
positions.} 19. Qg4 $1 {And finally, she played the best move.} Qf8 $6 {
A clever idea, as White has the possibility to play for a win, or secure the
draw - the second one is Hou Yifan's choice.} 20. Qxh4 {With less than 30
minutes for the next 20 moves, against 1:20 hour(!) for Aronian, Hou Yifan
takes the wisest decision, namely to force the draw.} (20. Bxh6 $1 {could had
been the alternative, however, many variations end in a much better position
for White, but not winning, so it is a very difficult choice to make when you
are short of time} Rxg2 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bf4 {[%csl Rh4]} Qc5 (22... Qf7 23.
Rh6 $1 Rxg3 24. Bxg3 Nf5 25. Rg6 Ne3 26. Qe6 $16) 23. Re3 (23. Be3 Qc4 $1)
23... Qf8 $1 (23... Qc6 24. Qxh4 Bxe3 25. Kxg2 d4+ 26. Kh2 dxc3 27. b3 $1 Bxf4
28. Qxf4 Rf8 29. Qd4 $16) 24. Ree1 $1 Rf2 (24... Qf6 25. Re6 Qf7 26. Rh6 {
transposes to 22...Qf7}) 25. Nh5 $1 Ng2 26. Re5 $3 {a very difficult idea to
see} Nxf4 (26... Rxf4 27. Nxf4 Qxf4 28. Qe6+ $18) 27. Rf5 Nxh5 (27... Qe7 28.
Nf6+ $18) 28. Rxf8+ Raxf8 29. Qxh5 R8f5 30. Qg4 $16) (20. Qxh4 Rf1+ 21. Kh2
Bg1+ 22. Kh1 Bb6+ 23. Kh2 Bg1+ (23... Qf2 $2 24. Be3 $1)) 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT CECLUB Honor"]
[Site "Melilla"]
[Date "2011.11.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2011.11.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Colegio Marcote EIKM"]
[BlackTeam "Taldea Gros Xake"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Be2 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 O-O 11. O-O f6 12. a3 Ba5 13. Bb5 Ne7 14. Qc2 Bf5
15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Ng6 17. g3 c5 18. b4 cxb4 19. Nb3 bxa3 20. Nxa5 Qxa5 21.
Qb3 fxe5 22. Rxa3 Qd8 23. dxe5 Qd7 24. e6 Qxe6 25. Qxb7 a5 26. Nd4 Qe4 27. Rd1
Rab8 28. Qa6 Rb1 29. Rad3 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Ne5 31. Qxa5 Ng4 32. Nc6 $2 (32. Qe1
Qxe1+ 33. Rxe1 $15) 32... Ne3 $1 $19 33. fxe3 Qxe3+ 34. Kg2 Rf2+ 35. Kh3 Qh6+
36. Kg4 Qg6+ 0-1

[Event "Vandoeuvre op 11th"]
[Site "Vandoeuvre"]
[Date "2014.12.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Dourerassou, Jonathan"]
[Black "Wagner, Dennis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2469"]
[BlackElo "2488"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2014.12.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {01h30} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4) (5. O-O) 5...
O-O 6. Bb3 d5 {91} (6... d6) (6... a6) 7. exd5 {Une ligne secondaire qui ne
semble pas poser trop de problèmes aux Noirs pour égaliser} (7. Qe2 $142 h6
8. O-O Re8 9. Nbd2 {Lederer,Y (2283)-Mikhalevski,V (2531) ISR-chT Israel 2002 
(2) 1/2}) (7. Nbd2 $142 Be6 8. O-O $14 {Godena,M (2530)-Delchev,A (2635)
EU-chT (Men) 17th 2009 (1) 1/2}) 7... Nxd5 8. O-O Bg4 $32 {[%csl Rb1,Rc1]} 9.
h3 Bh5 10. Bg5 $6 {70} f6 11. Bh4 {le B va se faire enfermer} (11. Be3 $142)
11... Kh8 12. Bg3 {[%csl Rg3]} Nce7 {45} 13. Bh2 $6 {Les Blancs ont raté
l'ouverture et ils doivent maintenant se battre pour éviter aux Noirs de
prendre l'avantage. Bh2 est une mesure prophylactique contre Ne7f5 mais si les
Noirs jouent Ng6, le coup Bh2 risque d'être inutile.} a6 {26 Les Noirs ont
une trés bonne position mais en sortant rapidement de la théorie, ils ont
perdu du temps et il reste maintenant moins de 30 mns pour passer le contrôle
de temps} (13... Re8 14. Nbd2 a6 (14... a5 $5 {[%cal Ga5a4]})) 14. Nbd2 {47}
Ba7 {Les Noirs veulent éviter de perdre un temps sur la poussée d4 mais
cette manoeuvre n'était pas forcément indispensable} 15. Qe2 Be8 (15... Re8
$142) 16. Rfe1 Ng6 17. d4 Ngf4 18. Qf1 exd4 19. c4 {Espérant une surcharge du
Nf4 en zeitnot mais les Noirs vont profiter de la position hors-jeu du Bh2} Ne3
$1 20. fxe3 dxe3 21. Kh1 Nd3 (21... Nxh3 22. gxh3 exd2 23. Red1 Bc6 {L'idée
du sacrifice Nh3}) 22. Re2 {22} Bg6 {Les Noirs n'ont plus qu'une minute (plus
l'incrément) pour jouer 18 coups et la position n'est plus si claire} (22...
Bc6) 23. Bg1 $132 {Le B trouve enfin un peu d'activité} Re8 24. Nh4 Bh5 25.
Ndf3 Nf4 26. Rd1 Nxe2 27. Qxe2 Qe7 28. Nf5 Qe4 29. Bc2 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Qe6 $17
31. Kg2 g6 32. Nd4 Qe5 33. Bh2 Qg5+ 34. Bg3 Rad8 35. Ne6 $2 Rxd1 36. Qxd1 Qa5 (
36... e2 $1 37. Qxe2 Qc5 {[%csl Re2,Re6][%cal Gc5g1]}) 37. Nf4 (37. Nxc7 e2 38.
Qe1 {Le Pe2 est bloqué et les blancs ont des bonnes chances de nulle.}) (37.
Bf4 $2 Qd2+ $1 {Le renard est rentré dans le poulailler} 38. Qxd2 exd2 39. Kf1
c6 40. b3 Bb8 41. Kf2) 37... Qd2+ 38. Qxd2 exd2 39. Kf1 c6 40. b3 Bb8 41. Kf2
Re1 42. Nxg6+ hxg6 43. Bxb8 Rc1 0-1

[Event "Vandoeuvre op 11th"]
[Site "Vandoeuvre"]
[Date "2014.12.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vovk, Yuri"]
[Black "Savina, Anastasia"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2592"]
[BlackElo "2397"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2014.12.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {88} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. b4 Bb6 7. O-O d6 {75
} 8. Nbd2 a6 9. Bb3 (9. a4 $142 Ne7 {Fedorchuk,S (2669)-Wagner,D (2488)
Vandoeuvre op 11th 2014 (7) 1-0}) 9... d5 (9... h6 10. Nc4 Ba7 11. Be3 {
Ermenkov,E (2480)-Marin,M (2490) Balkaniad 20th 1988 (2.4) 1/2}) 10. exd5 Nxd5
11. Ne4 Bf5 {52} 12. Bd2 $146 (12. Bg5 {Piscopo,P (2406)-Malloni,M (2285)
ITA-ch sf 71st 2011 (8) 1/2}) 12... h6 13. Qe2 Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Rfe1 Re8
16. Rad1 a5 {30} 17. b5 Ne5 18. d4 {Un coup naturel un peu douteux car la Qe2
est assez exposée.} Ng6 {[%csl Re2,Re4]} 19. Nfd2 a4 20. Bc2 Qd7 21. Qd3 Rad8
22. Bb1 Kh8 23. Qc4 Nh4 24. Qxa4 $2 (24. f3) 24... Bh3 $1 25. g3 Qg4 26. f3
Nxf3+ 27. Nxf3 Qxf3 28. Qc2 f5 29. Qf2 fxe4 0-1

[Event "POL-chT 66th"]
[Site "Katowice"]
[Date "2010.09.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kuczynski, Robert"]
[Black "Chojnacki, Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2431"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.09.04"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Wroclaw AZS WSB"]
[BlackTeam "Poznan Pocztowiec"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Re1
d6 9. h3 Be6 10. Nbd2 Qd7 (10... Bxb3 11. axb3 d5 12. Qe2 Qd7 13. Nf1 d4 14. b4
Rad8 15. Rd1 Ne8 16. Ng3 f6 17. Qe1 Kh8 18. c4 Bb8 19. h4 Nd6 20. h5 Rde8 21.
c5 Nc8 22. Nh4 N8e7 23. Bd2 Qg4 24. Nhf5 Nxf5 25. exf5 Ne7 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27.
Nxe4 c6 28. g4 Nd5 29. Kf1 h6 30. Ke2 Kg8 {1/2-1/2 (30) Hou,Y (2673)-Ivanchuk,
V (2715) Wijk aan Zee 2015}) 11. Nf1 Bxb3 $146 (11... h6 12. Ng3 Rfe8 13. Bc2
d5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2719)-Mamedyarov,S (2731) Wch Blitz 4th 2008 (3) 1-0})
12. Qxb3 Nh5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Nf4 $132 {[%csl Gf4]} 15. Rad1 Rfe8 16. Kh2
{[%cal Gg2g3,Gf3g1]} Rab8 17. Ng1 Kh8 18. g3 Ng6 19. Rf1 $1 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Qe6
20. f4 Qxb3 21. axb3 f6 22. Ne2 (22. f5 Nge7 23. Nf3 {[%cal Gg3g4,Gf1g1,Gh3h4,
Gg4g5]}) 22... Rbd8 23. Nd5 Rd7 24. f5 Nge7 25. Nxe7 Rexe7 26. b4 Kg8 27. Nc1
Rd8 28. Nb3 Rf8 29. h4 Kf7 30. g4 h6 31. Kg3 g5 32. Rh1 Kg7 33. Rh2 Rh8 34. Nd2
Ree8 35. Kf2 Rd8 36. Rdh1 Ne7 37. Ke2 d5 38. Ra1 dxe4 39. dxe4 gxh4 40. Nb3 b6
41. Rxa6 h5 42. Rxh4 hxg4 43. Rxg4+ Kf7 44. Rg2 Rh4 45. Nd2 Nc8 46. Ra8 $14 Rf8
47. Kd1 Nd6 $11 {[%csl Re4]} 48. Rxf8+ Kxf8 49. Re2 Ke7 50. Kc2 Rh3 51. Re1 Ke8
52. Re2 Ke7 53. c4 Ke8 54. b3 Ke7 55. Nb1 b5 56. c5 Nf7 57. Nc3 c6 58. Rd2 Ng5
59. Re2 Nf3 60. Kb2 Nd4 61. Rg2 Kf7 62. Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT CECLUB Honor"]
[Site "Melilla"]
[Date "2011.11.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2608"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2011.11.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Cajacanarias"]
[BlackTeam "Taldea Gros Xake"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
h6 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. Nh4 Rad8 15.
Nhf5 Ne7 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Ng4 d5 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. d4 Rg6 21.
Kh1 dxe4 22. Rxe4 Qc6 23. f3 Qb6 24. Qd2 exd4 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. cxd4 Rd6 27.
Rd1 c6 28. b4 Qd8 29. a3 h5 30. Qf4 g6 31. Qe5 Rd5 32. Qe4 Kg7 33. Kg1 a5 34.
Kh1 axb4 35. axb4 Qd6 36. Qb1 Rb5 37. Qa1 Kh7 38. Qa2 Kg8 39. Qa8+ Qf8 40.
Qxf8+ Kxf8 41. Rb1 Ke7 42. Kg1 Kd6 43. Kf2 Kd5 44. Ke3 Kc4 45. Ke4 $2 (45. Rc1+
Kxb4 46. h4 $15) 45... f5+ $19 46. Kf4 Rxb4 47. Rc1+ Kxd4 48. Rd1+ Kc3+ 49. Kg5
Rd4 50. Rb1 Rd6 51. Rb6 Kd4 52. g4 hxg4 53. hxg4 fxg4 54. fxg4 Kd5 55. Rxb7 c5
56. Kf4 c4 57. Ke3 c3 58. Rc7 Rc6 59. Rd7+ Ke5 60. Rd1 c2 61. Rc1 g5 62. Kd2
Kf4 63. Rf1+ Kxg4 64. Kc1 Rc5 0-1

[Event "Cappelle op 31st"]
[Site "Cappelle la Grande"]
[Date "2015.03.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grover, Sahaj"]
[Black "Bachmann, Axel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2601"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2015.02.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. d4 Nhf4 13. Bxf4 (13. Ng3 Qf6 14. Nh5
Qe7 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. e5 c5 18. Qd3 cxd4 19. exd6 Qxd6 20. Ng5 g6
21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. Qc4 Qc7 23. Re8+ Kg7 24. Rxc8 Qxc4 25. Rxc4 Rd7 26. cxd4 Re8
27. Kf1 b5 28. Rc6 Bxd4 29. Ne6+ Kf7 30. Re1 Bxb2 31. Rxa6 Bc3 32. Ng5+ Kf8 33.
Rxe8+ Kxe8 34. Ne4 b4 35. Ke2 Ke7 36. h4 Be5 37. Nc5 Rd5 38. Ra7+ Kd8 39. Ne6+
Kc8 40. Kf3 Rd2 41. Ra4 Bd6 42. Ng5 Rd3+ {Delchev,A (2628)-Agdestein,S (2625)
LLucmajor 2014 1-0}) 13... exf4 14. Qd3 Re8 $146 (14... Be6 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. e5
dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nh4 18. Nf3 Rae8 19. N1d2 Qd8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Nxh4 Qxh4 22. Nf3
Qh6 23. Re4 c6 24. Rde1 Bb8 25. Nh2 Qg6 26. Qe2 Kf7 27. Nf3 h6 28. c4 Qf5 29.
Ne5+ Kg8 30. Nd7 f3 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. gxf3 Rxf3 33. Rxe6 Rxe6 34. Rxe6 Bc7 35.
Re8+ Kh7 36. Nf8+ Kg8 37. Ne6+ Kf7 38. Rf8+ Kxe6 39. Rxf3 Bb6 40. Rf4 g5 41.
Re4+ Kf5 42. f3 {1-0 (42) Magem Badals,J (2485)-Flear,C (2225) Palma de
Mallorca 1991}) 15. Bc2 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. b4 Ba7 18. N1d2 Be6 19. Bb3 Rc8
20. Rac1 Rc7 {Une nulle rapide mais c'était la seconde ronde de la journée.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS Cup final"]
[Site "Magnitogorsk"]
[Date "2011.11.14"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Ponkratov, Pavel"]
[Black "Smirnov, Pavel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2011.11.13"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 d5 8.
exd5 Nxd5 9. Qe2+ Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bb5 Ndb4 12. a3 Nc2 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ra2
Be6 15. b3 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qxd4 17. Rc2 Bd6 18. Nc4 Bd5 19. Bb2 Qe4 20. Ne3 Rae8
21. Rd2 Qh4 22. h3 Qf4 23. g3 Qe4 24. Kh2 f5 25. Rd4 $6 (25. Re1 f4) 25... Qg2+
$5 26. Nxg2 Rxe2 27. Bc1 Bc5 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Bxd2 Bxb3 30. Rc1 Bxa3 31. Rc3
Bb4 32. Rxb3 Bxd2 33. Rb7 Ra8 34. Rxc7 a5 35. Nh4 g6 36. Nf3 Bc3 37. Rxc6 Bg7
38. Ng5 a4 39. Rc7 a3 40. Ne6 Be5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Be6 {
This specific move order is already very unusual. The Italian is interesting
in that, even though the plans are quite repetitive, the specific
implementations and move orders seem to vary greatly.} 8. Bxe6 fxe6 9. O-O O-O
10. b4 Ba7 11. a4 Nh5 12. Nb3 Qe8 13. Qe2 Nf4 14. Bxf4 Rxf4 {Black's pressure
on the f-file coordinated with his bishop on a7 shohuld ive him enough
counterplay for any queenside or central action that White undertakes.} 15. b5
Ne7 16. d4 exd4 17. Nbxd4 Ng6 18. bxa6 bxa6 19. Qc4 Rxe4 20. Qxc7 Qc8 {the
pawn sacrifice is only temporary.} 21. Qxd6 Bc5 22. Qc6 (22. Qg3 e5 {leaves
White in an already dangerous situation since retreating the knight allows Rg4}
23. Nc2 Rg4 $19) 22... Qxc6 23. Nxc6 Rc4 {White cannot defend the pawn on c3
and the discovered attack against the knight on c6.} 24. Ncd4 Nf4 {Black
doesn't even have to rush taking on c3...} (24... e5 $11) (24... Rxc3 $6 25.
Nxe6 $14) 25. g3 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 e5 27. gxf4 exd4 28. cxd4 Rxd4 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 77th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2015.01.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {The Italian Game has a lot of
similarities with the Spanish, but due to the reduced pressure on the center
it gives Black freer development.} a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bd5 {A strange move for
sure. It's as if White is taking the long way on playing the Spanish! The
simple move 7...d6 looks acceptable, but So has other ideas.} Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7
9. Nxe5 d6 10. Nf3 Nxd5 {Black does have the pair of bishops, but White has a
very slight initiative. He has to use these few moves to create something.} 11.
Bg5 f6 12. Re1+ Kf7 {Brave! The point is simply that once Black finishes
development he will enjoy the pair of bishops.} 13. Qb3 Be6 14. c4 $6 (14. Rxe6
$5 Kxe6 15. Nbd2 c6 16. Bh4 {gives White some obvious compensation as the king
is on e6 and there are threats against b7 and potentially d6. However it is
unclear if it really justifies being down the exchange.}) (14. Bd2 $13) 14...
fxg5 15. cxd5 Bd7 {After Jobava's decision Black's king looks exposed, but he
is only a couple of moves away from safety. Once Black plays Rf8 and Kg8 he
will have a strong initiative with his bishops and a weak f2 pawn.} 16. Nc3 (
16. Qxb7 Bb6 {simply traps the queen with Ra7 next move.}) 16... g4 {precise.}
(16... Rf8 $6 17. Ne4 g4 18. Nfg5+ Kg8 19. Ne6 $1 {is nowhere near as clear.})
17. Nd2 Rf8 18. Nce4 Kg8 19. Rac1 b5 {Simply defending the b-pawn and
restricting White's knights. Black is clearly better.} 20. Qc3 Bb6 21. a4 bxa4
22. Nc4 Ba7 23. Na5 Qh4 {The attack on the kingside rages on. The pressure is
mounting slowly.} 24. Rc2 Rf7 25. Qxc7 Bb5 $2 {Actually a serious mistake.
Wesley must ha ve underestimated the simple retreat here.} (25... Bf5 $1 {
it's strange why Black did not go for this line.} 26. Qxf7+ {looks forced.} (
26. Qxd6 Bxe4 27. g3 Rxf2 $1 28. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Qxh2+ {and White is not
totally lost yet, but very close to that.}) 26... Kxf7 27. Nxd6+ Kf8 28. Nxf5
Qd8 {and even though technically White has enough material for the queen, his
coordination just is not there and Black will take both the d5 and d3 pawns.})
26. Qxd6 $2 (26. Qc3 $1 {asks the simple quesion: how is Black going to defend
d6? bringing the queen back looks too passive as it loses the pressure on f2,
but what else to do?}) 26... Bxd3 {Now the attack crashes through.} 27. g3 Qh5
28. Rc7 Re8 $1 {The pin on the e4-knight is deadly.} 29. Rxa7 Rxa7 30. Nc6 Rf7
31. Qb4 Ref8 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. f4 gxf3 {White is down too much material and he
has no real th reats.} 34. Nf2 Be2 35. d6 Qb5 36. Qd4 Qd7 37. Rc1 Rf6 38. Rc6
Bb5 39. Rb6 Qe6 {Despite the one inaccuracy from So, it was a very nice game.}
0-1

[Event "EU-ch 12th"]
[Site "Aix les Bains"]
[Date "2011.03.31"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[Annotator "Reeh,O"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2011.03.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.06.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.06.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Be6 10. Bc2 h6 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ng3 Qd7 15.
Nh4 Rad8 16. Nhf5 Ne7 17. Rxe5 Nxf5 18. Rxf5 Qc6 19. d4 $1 {Ignoring the
threat to the g2-pawn. Ignoriert die Bedrohung des Bauern g2.} ({The passive
Das passive} 19. Qf1 {is not necessary ist nicht nцtig.}) 19... Bxg2 {Not good,
but it's not easy for Black to justify his pawn deficit anyway. Nicht gut,
aber es fдllt auch sonst Schwarz nicht leicht, sein Bauerndefizit zu
rechtfertigen.} ({For example Zum Beispiel} 19... g6 20. Rxd5 $5 Nxd5 21. Bxh6
{, with two pawns for the exchange and light-squared superiority. , mit zwei
Bauern fьr die Figur und weiЯfeldriger Ьberlegenheit.}) {[%tqu "En","How
should White continue?","The black queen is tied to the Bg2.","","f5f6",
"Forcing the black queen to abandon the Bg2, since 20...gxf6 21.Qg4+ gives
White a lethal attack.",10,"De","Wie soll WeiЯ fortsetzen?","Watch out for the
themes: Vernichtung einer Deckungsfigur , Ablenkung , Zerstцrung der
Bauernstruktur , Doppelangriff .","","f5f6","Zwingt die schwarze Dame, den Bg2
aufzugeben, denn 20...gxf6 21.Qg4+ gibt WeiЯ tцdlichen Angriff.",10]} 20. Rxf6
$1 {Leaving Black with the unpleasant choice to either allow a weakening of
the kingside or abandon the Bg2. Stellt Schwarz vor die unangenehme Wahl,
entweder eine Schwдchung des Kцnigsflьgels zuzulassen oder den Bg2 aufzugeben.}
Qxf6 (20... gxf6 {immediately leads to disaster: fьhrt sofort in die
Katastrophe:} 21. Qg4+ Kh8 (21... Kf8 22. Bxh6+ Ke7 23. Re1+ Kd6 24. Bf4+) 22.
Qf5 {and the mate on h7 can be protected only by giving up a lot material on
e4 - und das Matt auf h7 lдsst sich nur durch massenweise Materialhergabe auf
e4 verhindern -} Kg7 23. Bxh6+ Kxh6 24. Qh7+ Kg5 25. Qh5+ Kf4 26. Qf5#) 21.
Kxg2 c5 22. Qd3 $1 cxd4 (22... g6 {weakens f6 and allows schwдcht f6 und
erlaubt} 23. Ne4 Qc6 24. Qf3 $1) ({but relatively better was relativ besser
war aber} 22... Qc6+ 23. Kh2 (23. Ne4 $2 f5) {and only now und erst jetzt}
23... g6) 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. b3 $1 {Late but strong bishop development on the
diagonal a3-f8. Spдte, aber starke Lдuferentwicklung - es winkt die Diagonale
a3-f8.} ({Instead, after Nach} 24. Nf5 $6 g5 $1 {Black could still struggle.
kцnnte Schwarz dagegen noch strampeln.}) 24... Re5 ({After Nach} 24... Bc5 25.
cxd4 Rxd4 {White wins with gewinnt WeiЯ mit} 26. Bb2 Qc6+ 27. Kg1) ({and
escaping to the queenside won't take the black king very far either: und auf
der Flucht zum Damenflьgel kommt der Kцnig auch nicht weit:} 24... Ke7 25. Qe4+
$1 Kd6 (25... Kd7 26. Qxb7+) (25... Kf8 26. Ba3+ Kg8 27. Qh7#) 26. Bf4+ Kc5 27.
Qxb7) 25. Ba3+ Ke8 26. Bf5 $1 {Renewing the threat 27.Qg8+. Erneuert die
Drohung 27.Qg8+.} Bc5 27. Bxc5 Rxc5 28. Bg4 d3 29. Re1+ $1 {Initiating the
final checking sequence. Leitet die finale Schachsequenz ein.} Re5 30. Rxe5+ ({
Not Nicht} 30. Qg8+ Ke7 31. Nf5+ $2 (31. Rxe5+ $1) 31... Qxf5 $1 32. Bxf5 Rxe1
33. Qxg7 d2 {and the game starts all over again. und die Partie beginnt von
neuem.}) 30... Qxe5 31. Qg8+ Ke7 32. Nf5+ $1 {and Black resigned since after
32...Qxf5 33.Qxd8+! followed by 33.Bxf5 he remains a piece down. und Schwarz
gab auf, denn nach 32...Qxf5 33.Qxd8+! nebst 33.Bxf5 hat er eine Figur weniger.
} ({and und} 32. Nf5+ Kd7 (32... Kf6 33. Qxd8+) {fails to scheitert an} 33.
Qxf7+ Kc8 (33... Kc6 34. Bf3+) 34. Nd6+ Kb8 35. Qxb7#) 1-0

[Event "Terrassa op"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Martin Gonzalez, Angel"]
[Black "Rodriguez Cespedes, Amador"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "Rodriguez,Am"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8 11. Nf1 $6 {More logical is 11.h3 first, to drive
the knight to the less favourable square h6.} f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Ng3 Bd7 (
13... d5 $5 14. Nxf5 Rxf5 15. Be3 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bc5 {Yudasin-Malanjuk, Minsk
1985}) 14. h3 $2 {Too late.} (14. Bg5 $1 {/\ d4=} Nf6 15. Be3 $11) (14. d4 exd4
15. Bg5 $8 (15. cxd4 $2 Nxd4 $1 16. Nxd4 Qh4 17. Nf3 (17. h3 Nxf2) 17... Rxf3
$1 18. gxf3 Qxh2+ 19. Kf1 Bxf2 20. Re4 Bxg3 21. Qd2 Ne3+ {0-1/Fornari-Rieke/
Biel op (5)/1985/}) 15... Nf6 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 h6 18. Bc1 Ng4 $36 {
Vujacic-Lukacs/Beograd/1984/}) 14... Rxf3 $3 15. gxf3 Qh4 $1 {It was not easy
to play this move, 15...Nf2 was very interesting, in fact, many variations may
transpose to the game.} 16. d4 $8 (16. Ne4 Nxf2 $1 (16... Qxh3 $2 17. fxg4 Bxg4
18. Ng5 (18. Qf1)) 17. Rxf2 $8 (17. Nxf2 Bxh3 $1 $19 {/\ Qg3}) 17... Bxf2+ $1
18. Nxf2 Qg3+ 19. Kf1 e4 $3 20. Nxe4 (20. fxe4 Rf8 21. Qe2 Ne5 $19) (20. dxe4
Ne5 $19 {/\ Nd3; /\ Bb5}) 20... Bxh3+ 21. Ke2 Qg2+ 22. Ke3 Ne7 $1 23. d4 d5 24.
Nc5 b6 25. Na4 Nf5+ 26. Kd3 Qf2 $1 27. Bd2 Ne3 $1 28. Bxe3 Bf5#) 16... Nxd4 $3
17. cxd4 Bxd4 (17... Nxf2 $4 18. Kxf2 $1 Bxd4+ 19. Be3 $18) 18. Qxd4 $8 (18.
Ne4 Nxf2 $1 19. Rxf2 (19. Nxf2 Bxh3 $19) 19... Bxf2+ $1 20. Nxf2 Qg3+ 21. Kh1 (
21. Kf1 Bb5+ 22. Ke1 Qg1+ 23. Kd2 Qxf2+ 24. Kc3 Rf8 25. Bd5 Qc5+ 26. Kb3 c6 27.
Be4 Bc4+ $1 $19) 21... Qxf2 $19) 18... exd4 19. hxg4 Bc6 $1 {White has
aproximate compensation for his queen, but without development and
coordination, his pieces are unable to save him.} 20. Nf5 (20. Ne4 $142 Re8 21.
Bf4 d5 (21... Rxe4 22. Rxe4 (22. Bg3 $2 Rxg4 $1) 22... Bxe4 23. Bg3 Qh3 24.
fxe4 Qxg4 $15) 22. Ng3 Rxe2 23. Nxe2 Qf6 $1 {/\ d3} 24. Rd1 Bb5) 20... Qh3 21.
Nxd4 Bxf3 22. Nxf3 Qxg4+ $1 23. Kh2 (23. Kf1 Qxf3 24. Re1 d5 $1 {/\ Rf8, d4})
23... Qxf3 24. Bd1 {/\ Re8+} Rf8 25. Bd2 {Hoping to bring his a-rook to the
third file via c1} (25. Be3 $2 Rf5) 25... d5 $1 {Decisive.} 26. Rc1 d4 27. Rxc7
d3 28. Ree7 Qxf2+ 29. Kh3 Qxd2 0-1

[Event "Noumea op"]
[Site "Noumea"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rogers, Ian"]
[Black "Davidovic, Aleksandar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[Annotator "Rogers,I"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 $5 {
A old-fashioned gambit which is not particularly dangerous but requires
precise play by Black.} Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 $1 Bf6 $1 10. Re1 O-O $6 {
The first step in the wrong direction.} (10... Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 {is Black's
best defence.}) 11. Rxe4 Nb8 $2 12. d6 $1 cxd6 13. Bf4 Be5 ({It is too late for
} 13... Bxb2 14. Bxd6 $1 Bxa1 15. Qxa1 {when White's attack is overwhelming.})
14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 d5 $5 {Black is hoping to avoid a looming sacrifice on
f7 by gaining a tempo to develop his knight on d7.} 16. Nxf7 $3 (16. Bxd5 Nd7
17. Nxf7 Qf6 (17... Rxf7 $2 18. Rf4 {wins.}) 18. g3 {should now be good for
White but White had prepared something even more convincing.}) 16... Kxf7 ({
Black has little choice since} 16... Rxf7 $2 17. Qxd5 $1 Qxd5 18. Re8+ $1 {
leads to checkmate}) ({and} 16... Qf6 17. Qxd5 {is also highly unpleasant for
Black.}) 17. Bxd5+ Kg6 18. Re5 $1 Bf5 19. Rxf5 $3 Kxf5 ({Since} 19... Rxf5 {
loses to} 20. Bf7+ $1 {Black's king is drawn further up the board.}) 20. Qf3+
Kg6 21. Be4+ Kh6 22. Qh3+ Kg5 23. Bxb7 $5 {Unable to find a clear checkmate,
White decides to grab material - a practical but unromantic decision.} Nc6 24.
Bxc6 Rc8 25. Qe3+ Kg6 26. Be4+ Kf7 27. Bf5 Rc6 28. Qb3+ Kf6 29. Qf3 Rd6 $1 30.
Bd3+ $2 {Faced with a huge choice of discovered checks, White fails to find
the correct path to victory.} (30. Bg4+ {hoping for} Kg5 $2 31. h4+ {is not so
clear after} Kg6 $1) ({but as post-game analysis showed that} 30. Bc2+ $1 {
should win.}) 30... Ke7 $1 31. Qe3+ Kf7 $1 32. Bc4+ Kg6 33. Qxa7 $2 Rd2 $1 {
Now Black eliminates one of the connected queenside pawns and should have no
problems.} 34. Rf1 Rxb2 35. Qe3 Rd2 36. h4 $5 Rd4 37. g3 h6 $1 38. Bb3 Kh7 39.
Rc1 Qd6 40. Rc6 Qxc6 41. Qxd4 Kh8 42. Bd5 Qd7 {With Black's king safe and
material equal, White advantage has disappeared but White played on for 25
pointless moves before conceding the inevitable.} 43. Qe4 Re8 44. Qf3 Qh3 45.
Be4 Qe6 46. Bd5 Qh3 47. Be4 Qe6 48. Bc6 Rc8 49. Bd5 Qh3 50. Qe3 Rd8 51. Qe6
Qxe6 52. Bxe6 g5 53. hxg5 hxg5 54. Kg2 Kg7 55. Bb3 Kf6 56. Kf3 Ke5 57. Kg4 Rf8
58. f3 Kf6 59. a4 Rb8 60. Bc2 Rb2 61. Bd1 Ra2 62. f4 gxf4 63. gxf4 Ra1 64. Bc2
Ra2 65. Bb3 Ra3 66. Bd1 Ra1 67. Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2017.05.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Nowadays more and more players include the Italian
in their repertoire.} Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 {A modern approach. White
is aiming to seize some space on the queenside and secure the placement of the
light-squared bishop.} d6 7. c3 a5 (7... a6 {is somewhat more popular.}) 8. Bg5
{The most ambitious choice - since Black's dark-squared bishop cannot unpin
the Nf6, the committal advance g7-g5 is almost unavoidable now. On the other
hand, White's bishop is going to be misplaced for a while.} (8. h3 h6 9. Re1
Ba7 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 c6 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 $11 {Karjakin,
S (2783)-Kramnik,V (2811) Shamkir AZE 2017}) 8... h6 {Most probably, this line
was expected by GM Ding Liren before the game.} ({A few weeks ago, Hoo Yifan
didn't manage to claim superiority after} 8... Ne7 9. Nh4 (9. Bxf6 $5 {seems
more challenging:} gxf6 10. d4 Ba7 11. Nbd2) 9... d5 10. Bb3 dxe4 11. Bxf6 gxf6
12. Nd2 Ng6 13. Nxe4 Be7 $132 {Hou Yifan (2649)-Ivanchuk,V (2732) Shenzhen CHN
2017}) 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 ({The typical piece sac} 10. Nxg5 $6 hxg5 11. Bxg5 {
hasn't been tried in practice. Indeed, it looks like after} Kg7 12. Qf3 Rh8 13.
Nd2 Kg6 {White's compensation is questionable.}) 10... Kg7 $5 $146 {This
flexible continuation is a novelty. Black is unpinning the f7-pawn and
intending to remove the knight from f6 at some point.} (10... Bg4 {seems
insufficient for equality:} 11. h3 Bh5 12. Na3 Qd7 13. Nc2 Bb6 14. Ne3 Ne7 15.
Bb3 Kh8 16. Bc2 Rg8 17. d4 $36 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2795)-Gledura,B (2602)
Chartres FRA 2017}) (10... g4 {also seems playable:} 11. Nh4 ({The spectacular
} 11. Bh4 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Kg7 {doesn't offer White more than a draw:} 13. Nd2 Be6
14. Rfd1 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qe7 16. Qg3+ Kh7 17. Qf3 Kg7 $11) 11... Nh5 12. Na3 Qf6
$1 (12... Qg5 $6 13. Nb5 Bb6 {Nijboer,F (2535)-Janssen,R (2520) Delft NED 2017,
} {can be strongly met by} 14. Qb3 $1 Nxg3 15. hxg3 $16 {and the threat of 16.
Nxd6 puts Black in a difficult situation.}) 13. Nb5 Bb6 $132) 11. Re1 ({
The other natural continuations do not seem to bother Black:} 11. Na3 Be6 12.
Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nc4 Qe8 $132) (11. Nbd2 Ba7 12. Re1 Ng8 $1 13. h3 Nge7 $132 {
followed by f7-f5.}) 11... g4 12. Bh4 (12. Nh4 Nh5 13. Nd2 Qg5 14. Nf1 Nxg3 15.
hxg3 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 {feels unpleasant for White in view of the strong
pressure along the f-file.}) 12... Ne7 $5 {Now the position definitely
contains a mutual risk.} ({Ding Liren isn't satisifed with a short draw:} 12...
gxf3 13. Qxf3 Be6 14. Qg3+ Kh7 15. Qf3 Kg7 $11) 13. Bxf6+ $6 {A concession -
the exchange of such a powerful bishop makes Black's play much easier.} (13. d4
{was preferable:} Ng6 (13... exd4 14. cxd4 Bb4 15. e5 dxe5 16. dxe5 Nh5 17.
Nfd2 $132) 14. Nxe5 Nxh4 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Bxf7 Kxf7 17. dxc5 $132 {with wild
complications.}) 13... Kxf6 14. d4 Bb6 15. Nh4 $6 {Another step in the wrong
direction - the knight does not have good prospects in the corner.} ({A better
move was} 15. Nfd2 exd4 16. Be2 h5 17. Nc4 Ba7 18. cxd4 Nc6 19. d5 Ne5 $15 {
even though the control over the dark squares gives Black the upper hand.})
15... Kg7 16. Na3 ({Alas, releasing the tension with} 16. dxe5 {runs into} Ng6
$1 17. Nf5+ Bxf5 18. exf5 Qh4 $1 19. Rf1 (19. g3 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 21. Kf1
Qxg3 $19 {is even worse.}) 19... Nxe5 20. Be2 Rg8 $17) 16... exd4 17. cxd4 Nc6
18. Nf5+ Bxf5 19. exf5 h5 {Now White has no compensation for a couple of
weaknesses. Moreover, one of pawns will fall soon.} 20. Nc2 Qf6 21. Re4 Qxf5 $6
{Grabbing the poor Pf5 wasn't necessary - now White's pieces are getting much
more active.} ({The quiet} 21... Rfe8 22. Rf4 Ne7 23. Ne3 c6 $17 {should have
been played.}) 22. Bd3 Qg5 23. g3 f5 24. Rf4 {Now Black's pieces are tied to
protecting the Pf5.} Rae8 ({Possibly, a better practical choice would be} 24...
Ne5 $5 25. dxe5 dxe5 26. Rc4 Rad8 $36 {obtaining a powerful initiative.}) 25.
h4 ({White could have changed the character of the game by playing} 25. b4 $5
Nxb4 (25... axb4 26. a5 Nxa5 27. Nxb4 $132) 26. Nxb4 axb4 27. a5 Ba7 28. Qb1
$132 {, but this resource is easy to miss!}) 25... gxh3 (25... Qg6 26. Qd2 d5
27. Qc3 $44) 26. Qf3 {There are no obvious moves in such a complex position!}
d5 27. Rd1 $2 {Alas, White doesn't withstand the pressure. Hou Yifan is
underestimating the idea behind Black's last move.} ({The correct way was} 27.
Rh4 $1 Re6 28. Rf1 $1 {maintaining the balance.} (28. Rxh5 {is weaker:} Qg4 29.
Qxg4+ fxg4 30. Rxd5 Rd6 $15)) 27... Re4 $1 {White has to accept the challenge,
but it leads to terrible strategic consequences.} 28. Bxe4 fxe4 29. Qe3 Rxf4
30. Qxf4 Qxf4 31. gxf4 Ne7 $2 {Suddenly Hou Yifan gets another chance to save
the game! Now White's pieces are not tied to protecting the Pd4.} (31... Kf6 $1
32. Kh2 Nb4 33. Ne3 (33. Nxb4 axb4 34. Kxh3 Kf5 35. Kg3 h4+ 36. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19)
33... c6 34. Kxh3 Nd3 {would be completely lost for White.}) 32. Kh2 Ng6 33. f5
({Another possibility was} 33. f3 exf3 34. Kxh3 Nxf4+ 35. Kg3 Ne6 36. Kxf3 Kf6
37. Rh1 $11) 33... Nf4 (33... Nh4 34. Kxh3 Nxf5 35. Ne3 Ne7 36. Kg2 {doesn't
offer Black any winning chances.}) 34. f3 $2 {The decisive mistake. This
careless move helps Black to create another powerful passer.} ({Instead, White
had to open the files for her rook:} 34. b4 $1 axb4 35. Nxb4 c6 (35... Kf6 36.
Nc2 Kxf5 37. Rb1 Kg4 38. Rb3 $11) 36. Nc2 Bc7 37. Rb1 $11) 34... c6 {The
bishop is coming back with great effect.} 35. fxe4 dxe4 36. Re1 ({Now it was
too late for} 36. b4 Bc7 37. Rb1 axb4 38. Nxb4 Kf6 39. Nc2 b6 40. a5 bxa5 41.
Rb7 Bd6 $19) 36... Bc7 37. Rg1+ Kf7 38. Rf1 Kf6 $19 39. Kg3 Kxf5 40. Ne3+ Kg5 {
White cannot do anything with the opponent's passers. The rest was simple.} (
40... Ke6 {was also good enough.}) 41. Nc4 h4+ 42. Kf2 Nd3+ 43. Ke2 Bf4 44.
Nxa5 h2 45. Nxb7 Nc1+ 46. Kf2 e3+ 47. Kg2 e2 48. Re1 Bd2 49. Rh1 Nb3 50. Kxh2
e1=Q 51. Rxe1 Bxe1 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 d6 7. c3 a6 8. h3 h6
9. Nbd2 Ba7 10. Re1 {This way of handling the Italian is getting more and more
popular.} Ne7 ({A few days later Wesley went for} 10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12.
b4 Qe8 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nf4 $132 {Karjakin,S - So,W Saint
Louis USA 2017}) 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. d4 {White has a superiority in the centre,
but the Pe4 is under pressure now.} Re8 13. Bc2 {As a result, White has to
move the bishop once again.} Bd7 $146 (13... b5 {was employed by Peter Svidler
in the same event:} 14. b4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. c4 $14 {Karjakin,S - Svidler,P
Saint Louis USA 2017}) (13... c6 {didn't offer Black full equality in the
following top-level encounter:} 14. Nf1 d5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Bxe4
dxe4 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Ng3 (19. Be3 $14) 19... Bb8 20. Be3 Bxe5 $11 {Anand,V -
Aronian,L Saint Louis USA 2016}) 14. a5 {Maxime is seizing more space on the
q-side. Now White can choose between different possible routes for the Nd2.} ({
The natural} 14. Nf1 $5 {also deserved serious attention. For instance,} c5 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. Ne3 Bc6 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Nf5 Ne7 19. Ng3 $1 {, and Black still
has some problems to solve.}) 14... c6 ({In the event of} 14... Qc8 15. Nf1 c5
(15... Bxh3 $2 {doesn't work:} 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Qd3 $18 {, and the attack
ends.}) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. c4 $1 Bc6 18. N3d2 Nf4 19. Ne3 $14 {Black would
suffer from the poor Ba7.}) ({After} 14... Nh5 15. Nf1 Nhf4 16. Ng3 Qf6 17. Be3
$14 {Black's activity on the k-side is only visual.}) 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nc4 {
Now the vulnerablity of the dark squares in Black's camp cannot be
underestimated.} Qe7 ({Possibly, a more accurate move was} 16... Qc7 $5 {
, intending to meet} 17. Qd6 {with} Qc8 $1 18. Qd3 Qc7 (18... Bxh3 19. Nh2 $1
Be6 20. Nd6 Qc7 21. Nxe8 Rxe8 $14) 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Be6 $14 {, and Black
is only slightly worse.}) 17. Qd6 Qxd6 $6 {This is a serious concession - the
penetration of White's knight would cause Wesley serious problems.} ({A much
better try was} 17... Qd8 $1 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Be6 20. Qxd8 Rexd8 21. Rad1
Kf8 $14) 18. Nxd6 Re6 19. Rd1 Rb8 20. Kf1 {Maxim isn't in a rush.} ({Another
promising way of handling the position was} 20. b4 $5 Re7 21. c4 Be6 22. Bb2
$16 {, slowly squeezing the opponent's pieces.}) 20... Re7 21. Nc4 Rbe8 22. b3
Be6 23. Nb6 $6 {An unsuccessful decision - in the resuting closed position
White would hardly benefit from having the bishop pair.} ({A much stronger
move was} 23. Ba3 $1 Bxc4+ 24. bxc4 Rd7 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Rb1 b5 (26... Bc5 27.
Rxb7 Bxa3 28. Rxd7 $16) 27. Rd1 Nf6 28. Rd6 $16) 23... Bxb6 24. axb6 Rd7 25.
Be3 Rc8 $1 {GM So manages to fully consolidate.} 26. c4 (26. Ne1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1
c5 28. c4 Nd7 29. Nd3 {would lead to the same.}) 26... Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 c5 28.
Ne1 Nd7 29. Nd3 f6 {The position is almost equal - both sides have their
troubles now.} 30. Ra1 Ne7 31. Ke2 Kf7 32. Kd2 f5 $2 {Till now Wesley was
defending very well, but this move enables White to activate the bishops again!
} ({The precise} 32... g5 $1 {would most likely allow Black to achieve a draw:}
33. Bd1 (33. g4 Rc6 34. Kc3 Rxb6 35. Nxc5 Nxc5 36. Bxc5 Rc6 37. Be3 Ng6 $11)
33... f5 34. exf5 Bxf5 35. Bh5+ Kg7 $11) 33. f4 $1 exf4 (33... fxe4 34. Nxe5+
Nxe5 35. fxe5 Bf5 36. Kc3 Ke6 37. g4 Bg6 38. Rd1 Rc6 39. Rd8 $18 {is
completely lost for Black, whose pieces are tied to protecting the weak pawns.}
) 34. Nxf4 g5 (34... Nxb6 {is hardly any better:} 35. Nd5 Rd8 36. Rf1 $16) 35.
Nxe6 Kxe6 36. exf5+ Nxf5 37. Bg1 Nd4 $6 (37... Nd6 {was better:} 38. Re1+ Kf6
39. Bd1 Ne5 $16) 38. Re1+ $6 {Returning the favour.} ({The precise} 38. Bxd4
cxd4 39. Be4 Rb8 40. Bf3 Nxb6 41. Kd3 Nd7 42. Kxd4 Kd6 43. b4 Nf6 44. Re1 $18 {
would yield White a decisive positional advantage.}) 38... Kf6 39. Rf1+ Ke7 40.
Re1+ Kd8 $2 {Alas, Wesley chooses a wrong way for deviating from repeating the
moves.} (40... Kf6 41. Bxd4+ cxd4 42. Rf1+ Ke7 43. Bf5 Rc6 44. Re1+ Kd8 45. Re4
Nxb6 46. Bg4 $16 {looks extremely unpleasant for Black, but the limited
material balance offers Black some drawing chances.}) 41. Be4 $1 Nxb3+ (41...
Nxb6 42. Bxd4 cxd4 43. Bxb7 Rb8 44. Bxa6 $18) 42. Kc3 Nd4 43. Bh2 $1 {Black
cannot avoid the major loss of material, so he resigns.} 1-0

[Event "WchT 10th"]
[Site "Tsaghkadzor"]
[Date "2015.04.22"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.04.19"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Daniel deviates from the ''Berlin endgame'' and
chooses a quiet theoretical line, which usually leads to a long strategic
battle.} Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 {A tricky order of moves. White
doesn't want to allow the early d7-d5 advance.} d6 7. c3 a6 {Most players
prefer to secure their dark-squared bishop by making this prophylactic move
sooner or later.} 8. Bb3 Ba7 {Dmitry prefers to remove the bishop from a
somewhat vulnerable square.} ({There is another fashionable way of handling
the position:} 8... Be6 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 {keeping the bishop on c5 for a
while. In some cases, it can be safely placed on f8, like in the following
example:} 11. Nf1 d5 12. Ng3 Bf8 13. Nh2 g6 $11 {1-0 (86) Dominguez Perez,L 
(2719)-Mamedyarov,S (2719)/Moscow 2009}) 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12.
Bc2 {The most ambitious choice - keeping the light-squared bishops on the
board offers White more attacking potential. On the other hand, now Black has
more reasons for pushing d6-d5.} ({White had some logical alternatives at his
disposal:} 12. Ng3 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Rb8 14. a4 d5 $11 {0-1 (86) Kamsky,G (2714)
-Jakovenko,D (2726)/Loo RUS 2014}) (12. N3h2 Bxb3 13. axb3 d5 14. Qf3 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Qd6 16. b4 Qe6 17. Ng3 Ne7 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Red8 $11 {1-0 (44)
Bologan,V (2672)-Akopian,V (2691)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2013}) (12. Be3 d5 (12...
Bxe3 $5 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. Nh4 Rad8 15. Qf3 d5 16. Nhf5 Kh7 $11) 13. Bxa7 Rxa7
14. Qc2 Ra8 15. Rad1 Qd7 16. d4 exd4 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nxd4 $14 {1-0 (30) Saric,I
(2661)-Brkic,A (2562)/Porec CRO 2014}) 12... d5 13. Qe2 ({Black gets
comfortable play in the event of releasing the pressure in the centre:} 13.
exd5 Qxd5 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Qe2 Qd7 $11 {1-0 (36) Radjabov,T (2788)-Naiditsch,A
(2712)/Istanbul 2012}) 13... b5 {A principled response. Now White's queen is
not completely safe, since it can be disturbed by Black's bishop after
exchanging on e4. However, Daniel's next move proves, that this advance has
its drawbacks.} ({The most solid way looks to be} 13... Qd7 {connecting the
rooks and intending to put some pressure along the d-file:} 14. Ng3 Rad8 15.
Bd2 Bc5 16. Rad1 d4 17. Bb1 b5 $132 {1/2-1/2 (36) Gelfand,B (2720)-Kramnik,V 
(2788)/Moscow 2008/CBM 126 Extra}) 14. Rd1 $1 $146 {An interesting approach -
now the potential idea of d3-d4 is quite unpleasant, so Black should be ready
to release the pressure in the centre sooner or later. This important novelty
definitely poses Black some practical problems.} ({In the preceding games
Black had no reasons for worries:} 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Ng3 Qd7 16. a4 Rad8 17.
Nh4 Bc5 18. Nhf5 Bf8 19. Be3 Ne7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (38) Onischuk,V (2629)
-Mekhitarian,K (2556)/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2015}) (14. N3h2 d4 15. Ng3 Qd6
16. a3 a5 17. Bd2 Red8 18. Rec1 dxc3 19. bxc3 b4 $15 {1/2-1/2 (30) Petrosian,T
(2620)-Alekseev,E (2688)/Tashkent 2011/CBM 141 Extra}) 14... d4 {Jakovenko's
decision looks natural from the human point of view.} ({The following logical
alternatives couldn't really suit Black:} 14... Qd7 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. d4 $1 Nxe4
17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 $14) (14... Qd6 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. Nh4 Qd7
17. Qf3 $14) 15. Ng3 ({It was worth considering the immediate} 15. Bb3 $5 {
to try to get full control over the f5-square. The play might continue:} Bxb3
16. axb3 a5 17. Ng3 Qd7 18. Bd2 $14) 15... a5 {Obviously, Black's queenside
counterplay is based on some space advantage.} 16. Bb3 $1 {Correctly
exchanging the bishops. Otherwise Black could make the light-squared bishop
''dead'' by means of a5-a4.} (16. a4 $6 b4 17. cxb4 axb4 18. Nd2 Na5 $15) 16...
a4 ({After} 16... Bxb3 17. axb3 Nd7 18. Nf5 Qf6 19. cxd4 (19. Qc2 Nc5 20. Bd2
dxc3 21. bxc3 Qe6 $132) 19... Bxd4 20. N3xd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Bd2 b4 23.
Rdc1 c5 24. f4 {White's position is preferable from a human point of view,
since his kingside play looks more realistic than Black's counterplay on the
queenside.}) 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 (17... fxe6 {would restrict the Ng3, but I prefer
White after} 18. Bd2 Qd6 19. Rac1 $14 {due to a better pawn structure.}) 18.
Nf5 {The appearance of White's knight on f5 is always a cause of worries for a
second player!} a3 {Jakovenko is looking for active counterplay on the
opposite side.} 19. Qc2 {A slight inaccuracy.} (19. Rb1 $1 {was stronger:} axb2
20. Bxb2 dxc3 21. Bxc3 Rb8 22. Rb3 $14 {with definite pressure.}) 19... axb2
20. Bxb2 dxc3 21. Bxc3 Qe8 {Returning the favour.} ({It was the right moment
for seizing more space on the queenside and fighting for control over the
d4-square:} 21... b4 22. Bb2 Qf8 23. Rdc1 Bb6 $11) 22. Qb2 Rb8 23. Rac1 Kh7 (
23... b4 24. Bd2 Nd7 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 $14) 24. a3 $14 {Now Black is
doomed to a passive defence, though the position remains very solid.} g6 {
Dmitry manages to push the knight away, but his king is not completely safe
anyway.} 25. Ne3 Bxe3 {Giving up the dark-squared bishop looks like the best
decision from a practical point of view.} ({Allowing the knight's move to the
centre isn't a good idea:} 25... Nd7 26. Nd5 Rb7 27. Qa2 $36) 26. fxe3 Nd7 $6 {
Black is playing too passively. Their last move helps White to develop the
initiative by means of d3-d4.} (26... Qe7 $142 27. Be1 Rb6 $14) 27. Be1 $1 {
Correctly freeing a way for the rook along the c-file.} Rb6 28. Bg3 b4 {
Dmitry is desperately trying to activate his pieces.} (28... Re7 29. Rf1 f6 30.
d4 $16) 29. a4 (29. d4 $5 exd4 30. exd4 Rxe4 31. Bxc7 Ra6 32. axb4 Re2 33. Qb3
Nxb4 34. Re1 $36) 29... Ra6 30. Qb3 {Black's practical task is tough, as there
is no way to stop d3-d4.} ({The immediate} 30. d4 $5 exd4 31. exd4 Rxe4 32. Qb3
$1 Re3 33. Qc4 $16 {might be even stronger, but Daniel's move doesn't spoil
anything.}) 30... Rb6 (30... Nb6 31. d4 Rxa4 32. d5 Na5 33. Qb2 $36) (30... Nf6
31. d4 exd4 32. exd4 Nxe4 33. d5 Re7 34. Bh4 $36) 31. d4 exd4 $2 {Opening up
the position is a decisive mistake.} ({The patient} 31... Re7 32. Rf1 f6 $16 {
looks awkward, but it was the lesser evil.}) 32. exd4 Na5 (32... Rxe4 {brings
no hope:} 33. Bxc7 Re3 (33... Ra6 34. Qd3 Rxa4 35. Rxc6 $18) 34. Rd3 Rxd3 35.
Qxd3 Ra6 36. Qxa6 Qe3+ 37. Kh2 Qxc1 38. Qb7 $18) 33. Qd5 (33. Qd3 $1 {was a
bit cleaner:} c5 34. dxc5 Rb7 35. Nd4 Ne5 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Qa6 $18) 33... c5
34. dxc5 Nf6 {Dmitry has managed to activate his knights, but the position is
still terrible.} 35. Qd8 {Naroditsky prefers to simiplify matters.} (35. Qd3
Rb7 36. Nd4 Rxe4 37. c6 $18) 35... Ra6 36. Qxe8 Rxe8 ({Or} 36... Nxe8 37. Nd4
Rxe4 38. c6 {and the c-passer decides the game.}) 37. Rd6 Rc6 ({The more
stubborn} 37... Rea8 {didn't change much:} 38. Nd2 Ne8 39. Rb6 Nc6 40. Nc4 $18
{with domination.}) 38. Ne5 $18 {Destroying Black's blockading setup.} Rxd6 39.
cxd6 Nxe4 (39... b3 40. d7 Rd8 41. Be1 $1 $18) 40. d7 Rd8 41. Be1 $1 {The most
convincing.} f6 42. Rc8 Nb7 43. Rxd8 Nxd8 44. Bxb4 ({There was also nothing
wrong with} 44. Nd3 b3 45. Bf2 Nc6 46. a5 $18) 44... fxe5 45. a5 Nf6 46. a6
Nxd7 47. a7 Nb6 48. Ba5 Na8 49. Bxd8 {The resulting endgame is completely
hopeless, since White is practically a piece up.The next few moves were just
an agony.} Kg7 50. Kf2 Kf7 51. Ke3 {An excellent game by the young American
grandmaster!} 1-0

[Event "ISR-ch"]
[Site "Tiberias"]
[Date "2016.12.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Drori, Saar"]
[Black "Roiz, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2318"]
[BlackElo "2608"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.12.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. a4 {The setup with
White's pawn on a4 is becoming extremely popular.} d6 7. O-O O-O {The latest
fashion.} ({Both} 7... h6) ({and} 7... Ba7 {have been tested many times on the
highest level.}) 8. Bg5 {The most aggressive choice - now, when Black's king
is on the k-side this pin is more dangerous.} (8. b4 Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 10. Nbd2
Ng6 11. d4 c6 12. h3 {Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York USA 2016.
This led to a complex position, where Black's chances are not worse.}) 8... h6
9. Bh4 g5 ({In the following recent game Black didn't manage to solve the
problems after} 9... Qe7 10. Nbd2 Ba7 11. Kh1 Be6 12. Bd5 Nd8 13. d4 $36 {
Bacrot,E (2692)-Karpov,A (2628) Cap d'Agde FRA 2016}) 10. Bg3 ({The typical
piece sac doesn't work in this situation:} 10. Nxg5 $6 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 12.
Qf3 Rh8 13. Nd2 Kg6 14. h4 (14. Be3 $142 Qd7 $1 15. h3 Kg7 $17) 14... Bg4 15.
Bxf6 Qd7 16. Qg3 Kxf6 $19 {Caruana,F (2804)-Nakamura,H (2787) Paris FRA 2016})
10... Ba7 {It's vital to prevent White from pushing d3-d4.} (10... g4 {is too
risky:} 11. Bh4 $1 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Kg7 13. Nd2 Rg8 14. Rfe1 $40 {Schroeder,J 
(2507)-Fressinet,L (2677) Helsingor DEN 2016}) 11. Nbd2 ({Another standard
knight's route -} 11. Na3 $5 {has been checked out only once so far:} Ne7 12.
Nc2 Kg7 ({Perhaps,} 12... Ng6 $5 13. Ne3 c6 {was safer.}) 13. Kh1 Nh5 14. d4
$14 {So,W (2770)-Anand,V (2770) Leuven BEL 2016}) 11... Kg7 {Following the
recent game Van Foreest - Leko, where the higher-rated player was nicely
outplayed.} ({During the game, I also considered} 11... Nh7 $5 12. h3 h5 $132 {
, trying to save a tempo. Possibly, this is more precise.}) 12. Re1 Nh7 13. Nf1
$146 {A natural innovation. The knight is heading to e3, unlocking the d-file,
so the d3-d4 advance is again on the cards.} ({The above-mentioned high-level
encounter saw} 13. d4 g4 (13... h5 $5 14. h3 g4 15. Nh4 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 17.
hxg4 hxg4 $132) 14. Nh4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nf1 $44 {Van Foreest,J (2615)
-Leko,P (2709) Douglas ENG 2016, White had a full compensation for a pawn.})
13... f5 $6 {For some reasons, this move was played without any thought...I
was convinced, that opening up the f-file should favour Black.} ({However, a
better way of handling the position was:} 13... h5 $1 14. h4 (14. h3 h4 15. Bh2
g4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Ne3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Ng5 $15) 14... g4 15. N3d2 Ne7 16. Ne3
Ng6 $132 {The hanging h4-pawn is putting White under definite psychological
pressure.}) 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. d4 $1 exd4 ({Now it was too late for playing} 
15... h5 {, though refuting it is not a trivial task:} 16. h3 (16. h4 {is
weaker:} Bg4 $1 17. N1h2 gxh4 18. Bxh4 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Bxd1 20. Raxd1 exd4 21.
Rd3 Ng5 22. Rg3 Kh6 23. Rxg5 Kxg5 24. N2f3+ Kh6 25. Re6+ Kg7 26. Rg6+ Kh8 27.
Rh6+ Kg7 28. Rg6+ $11) 16... h4 17. Bh2 g4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Ne3 $1 Bxf3 20.
gxf3 exd4 21. Nd5 $1 dxc3 22. bxc3 Kh8 23. Re4 $36 {with a powerful initiative.
}) 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 {Obviously, Black's rook does not have much of a job
along the -file, whereas the Kg7 is in big dangerf} Qd7 {One more inaccuracy,
that makes my position difficult.} (17... Bg6 {was safer:} 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19.
Qxd3 Qd7 20. Ne3 Rae8 $14) 18. Rc1 $6 {This move is not bad, but it gives
Black an important tempo for consolidating.} ({Instead, Saar had 2 promising
continuations:} 18. Ne3 $5 Be4 19. f3 Bg6 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Rae8 22. Rac1
$36) ({and} 18. Qb3 Bxd4 19. Ne3 $36) 18... Rae8 $6 {Returning the favour.} ({
Black should have improved the placement of his knight:} 18... Nf6 $1 19. Ne3
Rae8 20. Qb3 Be4 21. f3 Bc6 $132) 19. Ne3 ({A more energetic try would be:} 19.
Qb3 $1 Bb6 (19... Bxd4 20. Qxb7 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Kh8 22. Ne3 $16) 20. Ne3 Be4 21.
f3 Bc6 22. Qc3 Bxa4 23. Nd5 Ba7 24. Kh1 $36 {and Black suffers from a lack of
harmony in his camp.}) 19... Be4 20. Bb3 {Frankly speaking, I completely
missed the main idea behind this move.} ({Possibly, the more consistent} 20. f3
$5 Bg6 21. Bf2 {would be stronger.}) 20... Nf6 21. a5 $1 Re7 {At this moment I
wasn't intending to touch my c7-pawn.} ({However,} 21... c6 $1 22. Nc4 d5 23.
Ne5 (23. Nb6 Qd8 24. Be5 Bb8 $132) 23... Qf5 24. h3 Nd7 25. Nxd7 Qxd7 26. Rc3
Qf7 27. f3 Bg6 28. Rce3 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 Re8 $11 {would enable Black to simplify
matters and solve the problems.}) 22. Ba4 c6 ({Of course, making a move like} 
22... Qd8 {isn't much fun. Indeed, the position after} 23. Bc2 c6 24. f3 Bxc2
25. Rxc2 $14 {the knight is heading to f5.}) 23. Nc4 Bb8 $2 {An awful decision
- after this move Black is doomed to a passive defence.} ({It was necessary to
leave the h2-b8 diagonal unlocked:} 23... d5 24. Nb6 Bxb6 25. axb6 g4 26. Rc3
Ref7 27. Be5 Kh7 28. Rg3 Rg8 29. f3 gxf3 30. gxf3 Bf5 31. Bc2 $14 {White is
better, but the play is quite complex.}) 24. Nb6 $1 Qd8 25. f3 Bg6 ({After} 
25... Bd5 26. Qd3 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Re8 28. Nxd5 Rxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Nxd5 30. Bc2 Qg8
31. Qg6+ Kf8 32. Qxh6+ Qg7 33. Qxg7+ Kxg7 34. Bb3 {White should be able to
convert the extra pawn into a full point.}) (25... Bf5 {wasn't better either:}
26. d5 c5 27. Bf2 Rff7 28. b4 $1 cxb4 29. Bd4 $18) 26. d5 $1 {Of course, White
is happy to seize more space and squeeze Black's pieces.} c5 (26... Nxd5 27.
Nxd5 cxd5 28. Rxe7+ Qxe7 29. Bf2 $1 Kh7 30. Qxd5 {also would yield White a
decisive positional advantage.}) 27. Rxe7+ ({An even stronger move was} 27. b4
$1 Nh5 28. Qd2 Nxg3 29. hxg3 cxb4 30. Re6 $18) 27... Qxe7 28. Qd2 Bc7 {White's
position is winning, but Saar was under strong time pressure, so I was still
optimistic.} 29. Qc3 {The first step in the wrong direction.} (29. b4 $1 cxb4
30. Bf2 Kg8 31. Bd4 $18 {would offer White full domination.}) 29... Kh7 30. Re1
Qf7 31. Bb3 $6 {Spoiling the significant part of his advantage.} ({After} 31.
Re6 $1 g4 32. fxg4 Nxg4 33. Qf3 Qxf3 34. gxf3 Ne5 35. Bxe5 dxe5 36. d6 {
the d-pawn should secure a win.}) 31... Bf5 32. Bc4 $2 (32. Bc2 $142 $1 Bxc2
33. Qxc2+ Kg7 34. Nc4 $16) 32... Re8 {Only now is my position becoming
playable - though the strategic problems (poor Bc7) are not fully solved yet.}
33. Rxe8 Nxe8 34. Qe3 (34. b4 cxb4 35. Qxb4 Qg7 36. h3 $14) 34... Nf6 35. h4 g4
{Black is aiming to complicate matters.} ({Objectively, a better move was} 
35... Qe8 36. Qxe8 Nxe8 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Bh2 Nf6 39. g4 Bg6 {, though after}
40. Kf2 {White's position is absolutely safe.}) 36. fxg4 (36. Be2 $1 {was
stronger:} gxf3 37. Bxf3 Qg7 38. Kh2 Ng4+ 39. Bxg4 Qxg4 40. Qe8 $14) 36... Nxg4
37. Qf3 Qg6 38. Na8 $4 {A nervous decision - Saar was hoping to repeat moves
and cross the time control.} ({White should have played} 38. Nc8 Qf6 (38... Be4
$2 39. h5 $1 Qf5 40. Qxf5+ Bxf5 41. Nxd6 $18) 39. Nxd6 Bxd6 40. Bxd6 Qd4+ 41.
Kh1 Ne3 {The activity of the pieces should secure a draw.}) 38... Bd8 $6 ({
Somewhow, I completely missed} 38... Bxa5 39. Bxd6 Ne3 $1 {, exchanging the
powerful Bd6 and leaving White with a poor knight:} 40. Qxe3 Qxd6 41. Bd3 Bxd3
42. Qxd3+ Kg7 43. Qe4 b5 $19) 39. Bxd6 Bf6 $2 {Spoiling the lion's share of
the advantage!} ({I can hardly explain why I rejected the obvious} 39... Bxh4
40. Bxc5 Be4 $1 ({Compared to the game, now} 40... Ne5 41. Qe2 Nxc4 42. Qxc4
Be4 {also would offer Black a stable advantage, but it's still weaker}) 41. Qh3
Qg5 $1 {, developing a decisive attack:} 42. b4 h5 43. Bf1 Kg6 {No hurry!} 44.
g3 Ne5 $19 {and White is helpless.}) 40. Bxc5 Ne5 41. Qf4 Nxc4 42. Qxc4 Be4 {
This was my idea - the d5-pawn falls. However, White still manages to keep
another extra pawn!} 43. Qe2 Bxd5 {Even though White is a pawn up, Black's
position is completely safe now.} 44. Nb6 ({A simpler way was} 44. Nc7 Bc6 45.
Ne6 Qb1+ 46. Kh2 Qf5 47. Bd6 Bxh4 48. Nf4 Bf6 49. b4 $11 {, and Black cannot
make any progress.}) 44... Bc6 45. h5 $1 {Not only avoiding the loss of a pawn,
but also putting Black's king under some pressure.} Qb1+ 46. Kh2 Qf5 (46...
Qxb2 47. Qxb2 Bxb2 48. Bb4 {is just a dead draw.}) 47. Bd6 $5 {White is ready
to give up the a5-pawn in order to consolidate.} ({I was expecting} 47. b4 Be5+
48. Kg1 Qb1+ 49. Kf2 Bf6 50. Nc4 {, and it looks like White should be OK.})
47... Qxa5 48. Nc4 {Finally the knight is back in the game.} Qf5 49. Bg3 $6 {
Inviting new troubles.} ({More to the point was} 49. Be5 Bxe5+ 50. Qxe5 Qxe5+
51. Nxe5 Bd5 52. g4 Kg7 53. Kg3 Kf6 54. Kf4 $11) 49... Bg7 $6 {Returning the
favour.} (49... Bb5 {was much stronger:} 50. b3 Bg7 $15) 50. Nd6 ({Missing
another opportunity of exchanging the bishops:} 50. Be5 $1 $11) 50... Qd5 51.
Ne8 $2 {A blunder.} ({After} 51. Bf4 $1 Ba4 52. Qg4 Bc2 53. b4 $11 {White
would have enough counter-play.}) 51... Bd4 $2 {Alas, this was played rapidly..
.} ({Instead,} 51... Bb5 $1 52. Qc2+ Bd3 {would allow Black to grab the Ph5
and win the game:} 53. Qc8 Qxh5+ 54. Kg1 Bd4+ 55. Bf2 Bxf2+ 56. Kxf2 Qf7+ 57.
Ke3 Bg6 $19) 52. Nd6 a5 (52... Bf6 $5 {was the best practical chance, but had
Saar played} 53. Bf4 Bg5 54. Qc2+ {it would still end in a draw.}) 53. Qd3+ Kh8
({A draw was agreed in view of} 53... Kh8 54. Nf7+ $1 Qxf7 55. Qxd4+ Kh7 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Palma de Mallorca FIDE GP"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "2017.11.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2017.11.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Since Maxime's only chance to qualify for the Candidates tournament was
winning the game, he definitely had to go all in!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11.
b4 {Both players have some experience in this fashionable line.} Ne7 $5 {
Quite a rare move, though Ne7-g6 is a usual route for the knight in the
Italian.} (11... Be6 {is what Dmitry has employed earlier:} 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13.
Qc2 {Most probably, Dmitry wasn't fully satisfied with Black's recent
performance in this position. Indeed, White mostly manages to make some
progress on the q-side:} (13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. d4 Qd7 16. d5 Ree8 17. a5
c6 $132 {Vachier Lagrave,M - Carlsen,M Paris FRA 2017}) 13... Nh5 (13... Qd7
14. Nf1 Ne7 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. c4 Rae8 17. a5 c6 18. Be3 $14 {Karjakin,S -
Mamedyarov,S Paris FRA 2017}) (13... Ne7 14. Nf1 Ng6 15. c4 a5 16. bxa5 Ne7 17.
Rb1 $14 {Karjakin,S - Carlsen,M Paris FRA 2017}) 14. Nf1 Qf6 15. N1h2 Ree8 16.
Ng4 Qe6 17. Rb1 $14 {Grischuk,A - Jakovenko,D Novosibirsk RUS 2016}) 12. Qb3
Rf8 13. d4 exd4 $1 {GM Jakovenko is deciding to release the tension in the
centre.} ({In the event of} 13... Ng6 14. a5 c6 (14... Nh5 15. Nf1 c6 16. Be3
Nhf4 17. Ng3 $14) 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nf1 Qc7 17. Ng3 {White's positon is
somewhat preferable, but Black is very solid.}) 14. cxd4 $146 (14. Nxd4 Bxd4 (
14... Bd7 $11) 15. cxd4 d5 16. exd5 Nexd5 17. Ne4 Nb6 $11 {Zavoronkov,V -
Zjukin,S Tallinn EST 1996}) 14... d5 15. exd5 Nexd5 {The control over the
d5-spot fully compensates for the activity of White's pieces.} 16. b5 Be6 $6 {
This move is a serious concession - Black is left with a permanent structural
drawback.} ({More to the point was} 16... axb5 17. axb5 Be6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19.
Rxe4 c6 {, and Black should be able to slowly neutralise the activity of
White's pieces:} 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Ne5 Qf6 $1 22. Be3 Qf5 $1 23. f3 Rfc8 24.
Bf2 Rab8 25. Qa4 (25. Qc2 Bb6 $11) 25... Rc7 26. Nxc6 Nc3 27. Bxe6 fxe6 28. Qa6
Nxe4 29. fxe4 Qxe4 30. Nxb8 Bxb8 $11) 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Ba3 Re8 19. Ne5 {
Now the activity of White's pieces is becoming threatening.} Nf4 {Naturally,
Black is aiming for simplifications.} 20. Ndf3 $1 ({Perhaps, Maxime correctly
rejects the tempting} 20. Nc6 Qd7 21. Qf3 Bxd4 22. Rad1 Bxc4 23. Nxc4 Rxe1+ 24.
Rxe1 Bxf2+ {The only move!} 25. Qxf2 Nxh3+ 26. gxh3 Qxc6 27. Qg2 $1 Qxg2+ 28.
Kxg2 Rd8 {and the limited material balance offers Black good drawing chances.})
20... Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Qd5 22. Qxd5 N6xd5 23. Nc6 {GM Jakovenko is defending very
well, but his position is still very unpleasant.} Rxe1+ ({Possibly, more
accurate was} 23... Re2 $5 24. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 25. Kf1 Nec3 26. a5 Nb5 $14 {and
Black manages to consolidate, although the poor Ba7 leaves the position
unpleasant.}) 24. Rxe1 a5 25. g3 Ng6 ({Of course, not} 25... Nxh3+ $2 26. Kg2
Ng5 27. Nxg5 hxg5 28. Re5 $18) 26. Nxa7 {It's a bit pity to exchange such a
strong Nc6, but this decision isn't bad.} (26. Nfe5 $5 Bb6 27. Nc4 $16) 26...
Rxa7 27. Re8+ Kh7 28. h4 {White's pieces are still firmly in control!} Rb7 {
Dmitry is desperately trying to develop any counterplay.} 29. Nd2 $6 {The
first step in the wrong direction.} ({A much stronger try was} 29. Bc5 $1 Rb3 (
29... Nc3 30. h5 Nh8 31. Ne5 $16) 30. Nd2 Rc3 (30... Rd3 31. Nc4 $16) 31. Rd8
$16 {and Black is doomed to passive defence.}) 29... Nc3 30. h5 Nh8 {The Nh8
looks ugly, but it can be easily improved!} 31. Nc4 Nxa4 $11 {The advantage is
gone.} 32. Ne5 (32. Nxa5 Rb5 33. Re5 c5 $1 {is absolutely safe for Black.})
32... Nb6 33. Bc5 a4 {The a-passer can be potentially dangerous, but White is
still OK due to his active pieces.} 34. d5 f6 35. Nc6 $6 {This move is already
inviting some troubles.} ({A better one was} 35. Bxb6 cxb6 (35... fxe5 36. Bc5
Rb5 37. Ba3 Rxd5 38. Re7 $11) 36. Nd3 Ra7 (36... b5 $2 37. Nc5 Rc7 38. Ne6 Rc1+
39. Kg2 Nf7 40. Nf8+ Kg8 41. Ng6+ Kh7 42. Rf8 Rc7 43. Rb8 $16) 37. Nf4 $1 a3
38. Ne6 Ng6 {The only way of avoiding the immediate draw} 39. hxg6+ Kxg6 40.
Nf4+ Kf7 41. Re1 b5 42. Ne6 b4 43. Nd4 a2 44. Ra1 $11 {and White is safe.})
35... Nd7 $6 {Dmitry returns the favour.} ({There was nothing wrong with
capturing the pawn:} 35... Nxd5 $142 36. Nd4 Nf7 37. Ra8 Rb1+ 38. Kg2 Rc1 39.
Ba3 Ra1 40. Rxa4 Ra2 $15 {and Black is a sound pawn up.}) 36. Bd4 Rb5 37. Nd8
$2 {Alas, GM Vachier Lagrave doesn't withstand the pressure.} ({After} 37. d6
$1 cxd6 38. Re7 Ne5 39. Bxe5 dxe5 40. Ra7 {the game would end in a draw.})
37... Rb8 $19 {This pin is decisive.} 38. Bb2 {Desperation.} Rxb2 39. Ne6 a3
40. Re7 Nf7 41. Rxf7 a2 42. Rxg7+ Kh8 43. Rxd7 a1=Q+ 44. Kg2 Qe1 {What a
dramatic end!} 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Levon Aronian rarely starts the game with this move, but I guess,
Michael wasn't shocked and went for his usual opening.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bg5 {Quite a rare contiunation. In most cases,
pinning the f6-knight is more effective after short castling.} h6 7. Bh4 a6 8.
Nbd2 (8. a4 Ba7 9. O-O {can lead to a fashinable position which was recently
tested on the top level.}) 8... Ba7 9. Bb3 {White hardly can pose Black any
problems without seizing space on the queenside.} (9. a4 {, switching to the
above-mentioned theoretical position seems more challenging.}) 9... Qe7 $1 {
Michael is leaving the king in the centre for a while, keeping in mind the
opportunity of queenside castling.} ({But} 9... Be6 $6 {seems dubious:} 10.
Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qb3 $14 {Hristodoulou,H-Markidis,K (2275) Kavala 1999}) 10. Nc4
$146 ({The previously played} 10. Qe2 {can be well met by} Bd7 (10... Nd8 $6
11. d4 g5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bg3 $36 {Al Modiahki,M (2571)-Nezad,H (2400) Abu
Dhabi 2013}) 11. Nc4 O-O-O 12. Ne3 g5 13. Bg3 Be6 {with comfortable play. It
would take a long time to activate the poor Bg3.}) 10... Be6 11. Ne3 g5 12. Bg3
O-O-O {Since White didn't push the q-side pawns, Black's monarch feels safe
now.} 13. Ba4 Nb8 $1 {One more excellent manoeuvre à la Breyer by GM Michael
Adams. Black's setup seems more harmonious now.} 14. Qc2 (14. b4 Nbd7 15. O-O
Nh5 $15) 14... Bxe3 ({Another possibility was} 14... Nbd7 15. Bb3 Bxe3 16. fxe3
Nh5 17. Bf2 f5 18. Bxe6 Qxe6 19. exf5 Qxf5 $15) 15. fxe3 Nh5 16. Bf2 f5 17.
exf5 Bxf5 18. Qe2 Bxd3 $6 {An untypical positional mistake by GM Michael Adams.
Perhaps, he was far from his best at the start of event.} (18... Rdf8 19. Nd2
Nf6 20. h3 Be6 $15 {Black would benefit from having the knights in the closed
position.}) 19. Qxd3 e4 20. Qd4 c5 {This is forced.} (20... exf3 $2 {runs into}
21. Qg4+ Nd7 22. Qxh5 fxg2 23. Rg1 $18) 21. Qd1 exf3 22. Qxf3 Nf6 23. Bc2 {
Obviously, now White's bishops are much stronger than a few moves ago.} Nbd7 {
Still, the control over e5-spot makes Black's position quite solid.} (23... Nc6
24. O-O-O Rhf8 25. Bg3 Kb8 26. Rhe1 Ne5 27. Qe2 d5 $132) 24. O-O-O (24. Bg3 $5
Rhf8 (24... Ne5 25. Qe2 Rhf8 26. O-O $14) 25. O-O-O Ne5 26. Qe2 Qe6 27. Rhf1
$14) 24... Ne5 25. Qe2 Qe6 {Possibly, Michael had underestimated White's
dynamic resourses.} ({Otherwise, he would have fixed the favourable pawn
structure:} 25... d5 26. Bg3 Ne4 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 $11) 26. Bg3 $1 {
I guess, this strong move was underestimated by GM Adams. White gives up a
pawn in order to maintain the tension.} ({Instead, the natural} 26. Kb1 {
could have led to a drawish endgame:} Qg4 $1 27. Qxg4+ Nexg4 28. Bg3 Nxe3 29.
Rxd6 Rxd6 30. Bxd6 Nxc2 31. Kxc2 Ne4 $11) 26... Qxa2 27. Rhf1 (27. Bxe5 $5 dxe5
28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Bb1 Qa4 30. Rd2 {would offer White full compensation for a
pawn, at the very least.}) 27... Nd5 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Bb1 Qb3 30. Bc2 Qa2 31.
Qg4+ {Levon sensibly doesn't repeat the moves.} Kb8 {The position is still
equal, but Black had to find some precise moves while under time pressure.} 32.
Qe4 Nb6 (32... Ka7 33. Rf7 Qa1+ 34. Bb1 Rhf8 $1 35. Rxd5 (35. Rxf8 Nxc3 $1 36.
bxc3 Qxc3+ 37. Bc2 Qa1+ 38. Bb1 Qc3+ $11) 35... Rxf7 36. Rxd8 Rf1+ 37. Rd1 Rf2
38. Rd2 Rf1+ $11) 33. Qxe5+ Ka8 $4 {As a result, Michael commits a blunder and
loses on the spot.} ({Instead,} 33... Ka7 34. Qxc5 Qa1+ 35. Bb1 Rxd1+ 36. Rxd1
Rc8 {would leave White nothing better than accepting a draw:} 37. Qd4 Rc4 38.
Qd6 Rc6 $11) 34. Rxd8+ Rxd8 35. Qf6 {That's it! The rest is just an agony.} (
35. Qc7 $18) 35... Nc4 36. Qxd8+ Ka7 37. Qd3 Nxb2 (37... Qxb2+ 38. Kd1 Ne5 39.
Qd5 Qxc3 40. Rf5 $18) 38. Qf5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Nc4+ 40. Ke2 Qxc3 41. Qxc5+ 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 15th"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2014.03.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Roiz, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2014.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 {Baadur's
favourite line. He has excellent results here, but during my preparation I
mainly focused on sharper stuff.} a6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O Ne7 {This manoevre is
not necessary, but the knight wouldn't be vulnerable anymore.} 10. Bb3 Ng6 11.
Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 h6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 {I had briefly looked at this position during
my preparation.} 14. Ne3 (14. g3 Bh3 15. Re1 Ra8 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qc2 Rfe8 18.
Rad1 Be6 19. a5 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 Rad8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Jobava,B (2710)-Fressinet,L 
(2718)/Plovdiv 2010/CBM 139 (42)}) 14... Ra8 $5 $146 {In my opinion, Black
shouldn't hurry with exchanging the light-squared bishops.} ({After} 14... Be6
15. Re1 Ra8 16. a5 Qd7 17. Ba4 c6 18. Qc2 Ng4 19. d4 Nxe3 20. Rxe3 Qc7 21. Bb3
Bxb3 22. Qxb3 {White had a slight edge in 1/2-1/2 Fressinet,L (2718)-L'Ami,E 
(2624)/Germany 2011/EXT 2012 (60)}) 15. g3 c6 {A good prophylactic move. Now
White always has to deal with the d6-d5 advance.} (15... Bh3 16. Re1 Qd7 17. a5
Rad8 18. Qc2 Be6 $11) 16. Re1 Re8 ({I rejected} 16... d5 $5 17. exd5 cxd5 18.
d4 {but Black would hardly face any problems after} e4 19. Ne5 Be6 20. Nxg6
fxg6 21. c4 dxc4 22. Bxc4 Bxc4 23. Nxc4 Rc8 $11) 17. a5 Be6 $6 {An
unsuccessful decision. The exchange of bishops is in White's favour. I can
hardly understand why I spent so much time in the opening, but at this moment
I had only 30 minutes left on my clock.} ({There was no reason from deviating
from the brave line with a sacrifice:} 17... d5 18. exd5 cxd5 19. d4 e4 20. Ne5
Rxe5 $1 (20... Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxe5 22. Qd4 Rh5 23. c4 $14) 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22.
Bxd5 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Nxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxd5 25. Nxd5 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 Bg4 $11) 18. Bxe6
Rxe6 (18... fxe6 19. Nd2 d5 20. Nb3 $14) 19. Nd2 ({It was possible to sieze
more space without any preparations:} 19. c4 $5 d5 20. Qc2 $14) 19... Rc8 {
I didn't know if there is a good square for my queen yet, but that rook lift
looks quite weird.} (19... d5 20. c4 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. dxe4 Rd6 23. Qf3
$14) (19... Qc7 20. Qc2 Rd8 21. Rad1 d5 22. Nb3 $14) 20. Qb1 Rc7 21. Ra2 Re8
22. Kg2 d5 {Finally this natural advance comes, but this version is much worse
than earlier.} 23. c4 $1 Nf8 {I completely missed Baadur's reply.} (23... d4
24. Nf5 Ne7 25. Nxe7+ Rcxe7 26. c5 Rf8 27. Nc4 Ne8 28. Qb3 $14) (23... Qc8 $1
24. Nb3 (24. cxd5 cxd5 25. exd5 Qd7 $11) 24... Ne7 25. Rae2 h5 26. h4 Rd8 $14)
24. Nf3 $1 {That is the point! Black's centre is under pressure now, so I had
no time for improving my pieces.} Rd7 $6 {Allowing an unpleasant penetration
of White's knight.} (24... g6 25. c5 Rce7 26. Rae2 $14) 25. Nf5 {Now the
pressure seems very strong.} dxe4 (25... Qb8 26. exd5 cxd5 27. c5 $16) 26. dxe4
Re6 $138 {Missing the last opportunity to change the character of play.} ({
The pawn sacrifice was called for:} 26... g6 $142 $1 27. Nxh6+ Kg7 28. Qc1 Qc7
29. Rd2 (29. Qg5 N8h7 30. Qe3 Qd6 31. c5 Qd3 $132) 29... Rxd2 30. Qxd2 Ne6 31.
Ng5 Rd8 32. Nxe6+ fxe6 33. Qg5 Qd6 $14) 27. c5 $16 Ne8 {The knight is heading
to b5 - this is definitely the most useful thing I could do in such a passive
position.} 28. Ree2 Nc7 29. Rad2 {Taking control of the open file.} Nb5 30.
Rxd7 Qxd7 31. Rd2 Qc7 32. h4 {Baadur is not in a rush.} (32. Qd3 Re8 33. Nd6
Nxd6 34. cxd6 Qd7 35. Qc4 $16) 32... Re8 33. Qa1 Nd7 34. Rd3 Nf6 35. Nd2 {
Improving the position step by step.} g6 ({Unfortunately, an attempt to
simplify the position fails to:} 35... Rd8 $2 36. Rxd8+ Qxd8 37. Qxe5 Qxd2 38.
Qb8+ Kh7 39. Qf8 Nh5 40. Ne7 Nf6 41. e5 $18) 36. Nd6 Nxd6 37. Rxd6 (37. cxd6 $5
Qd8 38. f3 Re6 39. Nc4 Nd7 40. Qg1 $16) 37... Qe7 38. Qc3 Rd8 39. Nc4 $2 {
The only serious mistake of Baadur in this game! I do not understand why he
allowed me to exchange the central pawns.} ({I had expected} 39. Qd3 $142 Rxd6
40. cxd6 Qd7 41. Nc4 Ne8 42. f3 $16 {and Black has a very difficult position.})
39... Nxe4 40. Rxd8+ (40. Qxe5 Re8 41. Qxe7 Rxe7 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Nd6 h5 $11)
40... Qxd8 41. Qxe5 Nf6 $2 ({It was a tough task for me to find:} 41... Qd3 $1
42. Qe8+ (42. Nd6 Nxd6 43. cxd6 h5 $1 44. Qe8+ Kg7 45. d7 Qd5+ 46. Kh2 Qd2 $11)
42... Kg7 43. Qxf7+ Kxf7 44. Ne5+ Ke6 45. Nxd3 g5 46. Kf3 (46. hxg5 hxg5 47. f3
Nf6 48. g4 Kd5 49. f4 Nh7 $11) 46... Nf6 47. Ke3 Kd5 $11 {with a sufficient
counterplay.}) 42. Nd6 Kf8 43. Qf4 h5 44. Qh6+ Kg8 $2 {A terrible tactical
blunder.} ({At the same time, it would be very difficult for Baadur to make
any progress after:} 44... Ke7 45. Qe3+ Kf8 46. Qf3 Qe7 $1 ({but not} 46... Kg7
47. b5 Qd7 48. b6 $16) 47. Nxb7 Nd5 48. Nd6 Qe6 49. Kf1 $1 Kg7 $14) 45. Qh8+ $1
Kxh8 46. Nxf7+ Kg7 47. Nxd8 Nd5 48. Kf3 $1 {The last precise move. It is
important to prevent the activation of Black's king.} (48. Nxb7 $2 Kf6 49. Kf3
Ke5 50. Nd8 Nxb4 $16) 48... Nxb4 (48... Kf6 49. Ke4 {is just the same.}) 49.
Ke4 Kf6 50. Nxb7 $18 {White is completely winning. The rest is just an agony.}
Ke7 51. Nd6 Ke6 52. Nc4 Nd5 (52... Na2 53. Nd2 Nc3+ 54. Kf4 Kf7 55. Kg5 $18)
53. Kd4 Nc7 54. Na3 Kf5 55. Nc2 Nb5+ 56. Ke3 Ke5 57. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2015.05.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03] This line is rarely seen on
the highest level, though GM Baadur Jobava consistently uses it.} exd4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 7. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 8. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. h3 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} ({Black gets decent counterplay after} 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 {
, since White's pawn centre is under pressure.}) 9... O-O {[%emt 0:01:10]} 10.
O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:50] The most principled response -} 11.
Bxc6 {[%emt 0:03:32]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 12. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} fxe5 {
[%emt 0:02:56]} 13. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb7 $146 {[%emt 0:08:25] The players
were following the previous encounter of Baadur in the tournament, but it
looks like GM Dominguez wasn't satisfied with a short draw.} ({The
above-mentioned game between Jobava and Grischuk ended in a short, but
exciting draw after} 13... Ba6 14. Re1 Ba5 ({Another move deserving serious
attention was} 14... Qh4 $5 15. Nf3 (15. Qg4 $6 Qxg4 16. hxg4 Rae8 17. Nc3 Nxf2
$17 {0-1 (37) Kiroski,T (2362)-Georgiev,V (2586)/Struga 2010/CBM 137 Extra})
15... Rxf3 16. Qxf3 Rf8 17. Qg4 Qf6 18. Nc3 Nxf2 19. Qg3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21.
Kh2 Qf6 $132) 15. Nxc6 (15. b4 Bxb4 16. Nxc6 Qd6 17. Nxb4 Qxb4 18. Nd2 Nxd2 19.
Qxd2 Rab8 $11) 15... Qh4 16. Nxa5 Rxf2 $1 17. Nc3 Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Qg3+ {with a
perpetual} 19. Kh1 Qxh3+ 20. Kg1 Qg3+ 21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Qh3+ {
1/2-1/2 Jobava,B (2699)-Grischuk,A (2780)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2015}) 14. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} (14. Nc3 c5 {doesn't leave White anything better than} 15. Nxe4
{, so that transposes to text.}) 14... c5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 15. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:
08:24]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 16. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:06:40]} dxe4 $11 {[%emt 0:01:
43] White's pawn structure is preferable, but the activity of Black's pieces
fully compensates for that.} 17. Qb3+ {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bd5 {[%emt 0:20:56]
Obviously, keeping the queens on the board leaves Black more hopes for seizing
the initiative.} ({A safe route for a drawish endgame is:} 17... Qd5 18. Rfd1
Qxb3 19. axb3 Rad8 20. Bxb6 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 axb6 22. Rd7 Rf5 23. Nc4 Rf7 $11)
18. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:02:23]} ({Another possibility was:} 18...
Qe7 19. b3 Rad8 (19... c5 20. Be3 Bc7 21. Nc4 $14) 20. Rac1 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 c6 {
the strong Bd5 consolidates Black's posiiton.}) 19. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Qh5 $6
{[%emt 0:05:14] Black can hardly create any serious threats on the k-side, so
the queen would be more useful in the centre.} (19... Qf6 $142 20. Rac1 Bxa2 $1
21. b3 Rfe8 22. Nc4 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rab8 25. Ra1 Bxb3 26. Rxa7 Bxc4
27. Rxc4 Re7 $11) 20. Rad1 {[%emt 0:05:03]} ({Possibly, stronger was:} 20. a4
$5 Rae8 21. Ng4 Qg6 22. a5 Bxe3 23. Nxe3 $14 {with a small, but stable edge
for White.}) 20... Be6 {[%emt 0:13:37]} (20... Rad8 21. a4 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+
23. Rxf1 $14) 21. Rde1 {[%emt 0:09:18] Baadur correctly doesn't force matters,
since Black's position is rather unpleasant from the strategic point of view.}
({There would be nothing special after} 21. Bxb6 axb6 22. Qxc7 Qg5 $1 23. Nd7
Bxh3 24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Qxe4 Ra4 $132) ({However, a more promising try might be} 
21. a4 $5 Rae8 22. a5 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Rxf1+ 24. Rxf1 Bxh3 25. Qc4+ Be6 26. Qxc7
Qg5 27. Rf4 $14) 21... Bd5 {[%emt 0:18:40]} 22. a4 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Ba5 $2 {
[%emt 0:04:06] A serious positional mistake. Perhaps, Leinier was trying to
force the simplifications and achieve a draw, but in the resulting position
White gets full control over the dark squares.} ({At the same time, after the
natural} 22... Rae8 23. Nd7 Rf7 24. Nxb6 cxb6 {White's advantage is rather
symbolic.}) ({Another good possibility is:} 22... Qe8 23. a5 Bxa5 24. Qxa5 Qxe5
25. Rc1 Rac8 26. Qxa7 c6 $11) 23. Qxa5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qxe5 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
24. Rc1 $1 {[%emt 0:00:37] The most precise. Unfortunately, Black cannot
consolidate the position by means of c7-c6, so the material loss is
unavoidable.} Rac8 {[%emt 0:13:41]} (24... c6 25. Rxc6 $18) (24... Rf7 25. Rfd1
Rd8 26. Rc5 Rfd7 27. b4 $18) 25. Rfd1 $6 {[%emt 0:11:19] A strange decision.} (
{For some reason, Baadur rejects} 25. Qxa7 c6 26. Qd4 Qf5 27. b4 $18) 25... c6
{[%emt 0:00:27]} 26. b4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} ({Now after} 26. Qxa7 Ra8 27. Qd4 Qxd4
28. Rxd4 Rfb8 29. Rc2 Rb3 $14 {Black gets excellent drawing chances due to the
activity of his rooks.}) 26... Qe6 {[%emt 0:03:55]} ({The most stubborn seems
to be} 26... a6 $1 {though after} 27. Qxa6 Ra8 28. Qf1 Rxa4 29. b5 Bb3 30. Rc5
Qe8 31. bxc6 Bxd1 32. Qxd1 $16 {Black's position is very difficult.}) 27. b5 $1
{[%emt 0:08:15] Now Baadur is on the top again.} Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (27...
cxb5 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. axb5 $18 {was hopeless; the Pa7 falls, so White's
passer will decide the game.}) 28. Rd2 {[%emt 0:07:13]} cxb5 {[%emt 0:01:44]}
29. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Qxc8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Bc4 {
[%emt 0:01:47]} ({Possibly, the best try was:} 30... Qb7 31. Bc5 $1 (31. Qxa7
Qxb5 32. Bc5 Rc8 33. Rd7 Qxc5 34. Rd8+ Rxd8 35. Qxc5 {is not that clear.})
31... Rc8 32. Rd8+ Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Qf8+ Kg6 35. Qf4 Be6 36. Qg3+ Kf7 37.
Bd4 Ke8 38. Qe5 $18) 31. Rc2 $1 {[%emt 0:03:07] The poor coordination of
Black's pieces enables White to win the pawn.} Qe6 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 32. Qxa7 {
[%emt 0:00:38]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:07:01]} ({The pawn was poisoned:} 32... Bxb5 33.
Rc7 Rf7 34. Qb8+ Be8 35. Rc8 Rf8 36. Bc5 $18) 33. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rf7 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 34. Qb8+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 35. Qc7 {
[%emt 0:00:06] Now White liquadates into a winning rook endgame.} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 36. Qxc4+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 37. Rxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 38. Rb4 $18 {[%emt 0:00:04] The rest is
quite easy.} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:29]}
(39... Rb6 {Or} 40. Ke2 Ke6 41. Rxe4+ Kd6 42. Rb4 Kc5 43. Rb1 $18) 40. Rxe4+ {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Rd4+ {[%emt 0:00:53]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:
44]} 42. Rb4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 43. Rh4 {[%emt 0:03:11] Not
the only, but a convincing way.} h6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 44. Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
g5 {[%emt 0:01:24]} (44... Rb7 45. Rg6 Kc5 46. b6 $18) 45. Rb4 {[%emt 0:00:27]}
Kc5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 46. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:01:19]} (46... Rxb5
47. Rxb5+ Kxb5 48. Ke2 $18) 47. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 48.
Re6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 1-0

[Event "Bilbao Masters 9th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2016.07.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2016.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4
{This fresh idea recently has recently gained some popularity at the highest
level.} a6 ({The more consistent way to secure the bishop -} 8... a5 {was
tested by Levon Aronian and was well known for Anish, since he was on White's
side:} 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 Bd6 13. Re1 Na7 14. d4 Nxb5
15. axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Rd1 Rfe8 19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Qxb7
dxc3 21. bxc3 $14 {Giri,A (2782)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven BEL 2016}) 9. a5 ({
Possibly,} 9. Nbd2 $5 {is a more promising way of handling the position.
Indeed, in the following games Black was unable to equalize:} Nb6 10. Ba2 Qxd3
(10... Bf5 11. a5 Nc8 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Re1 $14 {Vitiugov,N (2724)-Zhukova,N 
(2488) Doha QAT 2015}) 11. a5 Nd7 12. Bb1 Qd6 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. Qc2 Ne7 15. Nge4
Bf5 16. Nxd6 Bxc2 17. Nxb7 Bxb1 18. Nxc5 $14 {Cornette,M (2583)-Naroditsky,D 
(2634) Ajaccio FRA 2016}) 9... b5 {This advance is connected with a
significant strategic risk, but I guess it was still a part of Giri's
preparation.} ({Still, quite logical seems} 9... Bf5 $5 10. Nbd2 Nf6 11. b4 Ba7
12. Qc2 h6 {with complex battle.}) 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 $146 {A logical
innovation - the pin of Nf3 causes White definite problems.} ({In one
preceding game Black didn't get compensation for the exposed kingside pawn
structure:} 11... Bf5 12. Bc2 Qd7 13. Qe2 Rfe8 14. Nbd2 a5 15. Ne4 Bf8 16. Ng3
Be6 17. Ng5 Bd5 18. Qh5 h6 19. N5e4 $14 {Piorun,K (2591)-Lampert,J (2469)
Dresden GER 2016}) 12. Qe2 {This move seems somewhat slow - Black gets an
important tempo for protecting the Pe5.} ({It looks like the energetical} 12.
h3 Bh5 13. Bg5 $1 {would pose Black some problems:} Be7 (13... Qd6 14. Nbd2 $1
Qxd3 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxh5 $14) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Re1 Qd6 16. Nbd2 Qxd3) 12...
Kh8 $1 13. Be3 (13. h3 Bh5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 f6 16. Nbd2 a5 $132) 13... Bd6
$5 {An ambitious choice. Anish's play is mainly based on the k-side attack, so
he prefers to keep more pieces on the board.} ({The more quiet way of handling
the position was:} 13... Bxe3 14. Qxe3 f6 15. Nbd2 a5 $11) 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 {
Quite a risky continuation, but it was hard to do with a pin of Nf3 any longer.
} (15. Nbd2 f5 16. Bxb6 cxb6 17. Bd5 Qc7 18. Qe3 Rae8 19. Rxa6 (19. Bxc6 Qxc6
20. Rxa6 Bc7 $44) 19... Nb8 20. Ra4 Nd7 $44) 15... Bg6 16. Nbd2 Be7 $1 {
An excellent prophylactic move. Now, when the g5-spot is under control, Black
feels free to touch the f-pawn.} ({Premature seems} 16... f5 17. Ng5 Qe8 18. h4
$1 fxg4 19. Nde4 $36) 17. Ne4 f5 18. gxf5 Bxf5 19. Kh2 {The control over
e4-spot allows Sergey to maintain the ballance.} Qe8 (19... Nd5 $5 20. Ba4 Qe8
$132) 20. Nfd2 ({The more aggressive} 20. Nfg5 $5 Nd8 21. f4 {would force
Anish to play very precisely in order to neutralize the activity of White's
knights:} Qb5 $1 (21... h6 22. fxe5 hxg5 23. Bxg5 Nc6 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Rf4 $40
) 22. Ba2 exf4 23. Rxf4 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Raf1 Ne6 $11) 20... Qd7 21. Rg1
Bxh3 $2 {This time Anish doesn't trust his excellent sense of danger and grabs
the ''poisoned pawn''!} ({Correct was} 21... a5 22. Qf3 Bg6 23. Qg3 Nd5 24. Ba4
Nxe3 25. fxe3 Rab8 $132 {with very complex, double-edged play.}) 22. Qh5 ({
Another way to admit the lack of harmony in Black's camp was:} 22. Rg3 $5 Be6
23. Bxe6 Qxe6 24. Rag1 g6 (24... Nd5 25. Rxg7 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. R7g3 $16)
25. Nf3 Nd5 26. Rh3 Qd7 27. Nfg5 Bxg5 28. Nxg5 Nf6 29. Bc5 $16) 22... Bf5 23.
Rxg7 $2 {This decision was definitely connected with miscalculation!} ({
At the same time, another tactical resourse} 23. Bh6 $1 Rg8 {The lesser evil} (
23... gxh6 24. Qxh6 Bg4 25. f3 Rf4 26. fxg4 $18) (23... g6 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25.
Qh6 $18) 24. Rxa6 $1 ({Less offers} 24. Bxg8 Rxg8 25. Bg5 Rf8 $14) 24... Rab8
25. Bxg8 Rxg8 26. Qf7 Bg4 27. Be3 $16 {would let Sergey to acquire the
material advantage and keep all his pieces very active.}) 23... Kxg7 24. Rg1+
Kh8 25. Qh6 Bd6 ({Correctly rejecting} 25... Rg8 $2 26. Ng5 Rg7 27. Nf7+ Rxf7
28. Bxf7 Bg4 29. Bg6 Bf8 30. Qh4 $18) 26. Bxb6 $2 {One more wrong decision -
there was no reason for exchanging such a powerful bishop.} (26. Nxd6 cxd6 27.
Bxb6 Qe7 28. Bd5 Rf6 29. Qh4 {would force Black to accept a draw:} Rg6 30. Qxe7
Rh6+ 31. Kg3 Nxe7 32. Bxa8 Rg6+ 33. Kh2 Rh6+ $11) 26... Bxe4 27. Nxe4 cxb6 28.
Rg6 Na5 $2 {Returning the favour!} ({Anish has a golden opportunity of
converting his material advantage into a full point:} 28... Bc5 $1 29. Rxc6 Rf4
30. Qg5 (30. Rf6 Rxf6 31. Qxf6+ Qg7 $19) 30... Qxc6 31. Qxe5+ Rf6 32. Qxf6+
Qxf6 33. Nxf6 Bxf2 $19) 29. Rxd6 Qg7 30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. Rd7+ Kh8 32. Be6 {
Despite the limited material ballance, the activity of White's pieces offers
full compensation for the exchange now.} h6 $6 {Anish is playing with fire!} ({
He had to force a draw by repetition:} 32... Rad8 33. Ra7 Ra8) 33. b4 Nc6 34.
Bd5 Rac8 35. Rb7 $6 ({Stronger was} 35. Nd6 $1 Rcd8 ({After} 35... Nb8 36. Nf7+
Kg7 37. Rb7 Rxc3 38. Nxe5+ Kf6 39. f4 $18 {White is just dominating over the
board!}) 36. Bxc6 Rxd7 37. Bxd7 Rxf2+ 38. Kg3 Rd2 $14 {- The a-pawn offers
Black decent drawing chances, but White's advantage is undisputable!}) 35... b5
36. Kh3 {All White's pieces are perfectly placed, but it's hard to make
further progress.} Rf4 37. Kg2 (37. Kg3 $5 {was more tricky, avoiding the
rook's transfer to g7. In this case Black should have played:} a5 $1 38. bxa5
Nxa5 39. Rxb5 Nc6 40. Rb7 Rff8 41. Kg4 Nb8 $1 {(It's tough to find such a
defensive idea!)} 42. Kh5 Na6 $1 43. Rb6 Nc7 44. Rxh6+ Kg7 45. Rg6+ Kh8 $11)
37... Rg4+ 38. Kf1 Rg7 39. Rb6 Ne7 40. Rxh6+ Rh7 41. Rd6 Nxd5 42. Rxd5 Re7 {
Black was able to consolidate, so the position is drawn now.} 43. Rd6 Ra8 44.
Kg2 Rf7 45. Kf1 Re7 46. Ke2 a5 {Inviting further simplifications.} 47. bxa5
Rxa5 48. Rb6 Rc7 49. Ke3 Kg8 50. Re6 b4 51. cxb4 Rb5 52. Nc5 Ra7 ({Of course,
not} 52... Rxb4 $2 53. Na6 $18) 53. Rxe5 Rxb4 54. Ne4 Kf7 55. f4 Ra1 56. f5
Re1+ 57. Kd2 Rf1 58. Nd6+ Kf8 59. Re8+ Kg7 60. Re6 Rbf4 61. f6+ Kg6 62. f7+ Kg7
63. Re8 Rf6 64. Rg8+ Kh7 65. Rd8 Kg7 66. Ke2 R6f2+ 67. Ke3 Rxf7 68. Nxf7 Kxf7
$11 {The rest of the moves are of no special interest.} 69. Rd4 Ke6 70. Rf4
Rxf4 71. Kxf4 Kd5 72. Ke3 Ke5 73. d4+ Kd5 74. Kd3 Kd6 75. Kc4 Kc6 76. d5+ Kd6
77. Kd4 Kd7 78. Ke5 Ke7 79. d6+ Kd7 80. Kd5 Kd8 81. Ke6 Ke8 82. d7+ Kd8 83. Kd6
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch 18th"]
[Site "Minsk"]
[Date "2017.06.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BLR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4
{This advance is frequently seen in various lines of the Italian nowadays.} Nb6
{GM Howell chooses a considerably rare way of handling the position.} (8... Nf6
{doesn't offer Black full equality:} 9. Nbd2 Bf5 10. Qe2 Qe7 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12.
dxe4 Be6 13. b4 Bd6 14. a5 $14 {Shankland,S (2656)-Nakamura,H (2814) Baku AZE
2015}) ({Quite popular is also} 8... a5 {, but exposing the b5-spot might
cause Black some problems. For instance,} 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. Re1 Bg4
12. Ne4 Na7 13. h3 Bh5 14. d4 Nxb5 15. axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6
18. Rd1 $14 {Giri,A (2782)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven BEL 2016}) ({The flexible
response} 8... a6 $5 {looks perfectly playable and leads to a complicated
struggle:} 9. Nbd2 Kh8 10. Re1 f6 11. d4 Ba7 (11... exd4 12. Nb3 Ba7 13. Nbxd4
Nxd4 14. Nxd4 $14 {Giri,A (2755)-Tomashevsky,E (2731) Moscow RUS 2016}) 12.
dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 fxe5 14. Nf3 c6 $6 (14... Bxf2+ $142 $1 15. Kxf2 Qh4+ 16.
Kg1 Qxc4 17. Rxe5 Nf6 $11) 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Qxb2 18. Bxa7 Rxa7
19. Qxd5 $16 {1/2 (44) Kramnik,V (2808)-Karjakin,S (2781) Stavanger NOR 2017})
9. Bb5 {The most challenging - the pressure on the Pe5 is one of Black's main
worries.} ({The modest} 9. Bb3 a5 10. Bg5 Qd6 $11 {offers Black comfortable
play.}) 9... Ne7 {This is a positional pawn sac - the exchange of the powerful
Bb5 is Black's undisputable achievement.} 10. Nxe5 ({Another way of grabbing
the pawn is} 10. a5 c6 11. axb6 cxb5 12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5
15. Na3 ({After} 15. Be3 Bb8 16. d4 f6 17. Nf3 Nd5 $44 {Alekseev,E (2636)
-Eliseev,U (2606) St Petersburg RUS 2016, Black had decent compensation for a
pawn à la Marshall.}) 15... Bb8 16. d4 f6 $2 ({The correct} 16... b4 $1 17.
cxb4 Qd6 18. Nac4 Qxb4 19. b3 Qb5 {wouldn't yield White real winning chances.})
17. Nd3 Qd7 18. Re1 $16 {Mamedov,R (2666)-Balogh,C (2614) Baku AZE 2016}) 10...
c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. a5 $1 $146 {This innovation is a definite improvement} ({
over} 12. Nf3 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Qc7 $44 {Sedina,E (2275)-Loiacono,A (2085) Trieste
ITA 2016; Black was fine.}) 12... Bxe5 $6 {David manages to regain the pawn,
but the lack of coordination enables White to seize the initiative.} ({A
better choice would be} 12... Nxc4 13. Nxc4 Bc7 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bh4 Nf5 16. Bg3
Nxg3 17. hxg3 {though in the resulting position Black still has to claim
sufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 13. axb6 Qxb6 14. Re1 Qc7 (14... Bd6 15.
Nd2 Qc7 16. Qh5 {is just a transposition.}) 15. Qh5 $1 Bd6 16. Nd2 $14 {
White's pieces are suddenly getting very active.} Nd5 17. Ne4 Be6 18. d4 Rfe8
19. Nxd6 {Obtaining the bishop pair secures White a small, but long-lasting
advantage.} ({It was also possible to keep the tension by means of} 19. Bd3 $5
g6 20. Qh4 Bf5 21. f3 $36) 19... Qxd6 20. Bd3 Nf6 {The most natural.} ({
Of course, David isn't happy with exposing his king with} 20... g6) 21. Qg5 $6
{An unsuccessful decision - the queen is clearly misplaced there.} ({The
correct way was} 21. Qf3 Bg4 22. Bf4 $1 Qd7 23. Qg3 $14) 21... h6 22. Qf4 $6 {
Another inaccuracy, which drastically changes the course of the game.} ({
It was necessary to connect the rooks:} 22. Bf4 hxg5 23. Bxd6 {even though in
the subsequent position Black is able to set up a blockade and solve the
problems:} Nd5 24. f3 a5 25. Kf2 b5 $11) 22... Bc4 $1 23. Rd1 Qe6 $1 ({Black's
position would be better also in the event of} 23... Qxf4 24. Bxf4 Bxd3 25.
Rxd3 b5 26. Kf1 a5 $15 {but the simplifications might make White's defensive
task easier.}) 24. Bxc4 Qxc4 {Unfortunately, there is no good square for
White's bishop at the moment.} 25. Qg3 $6 ({A better move was} 25. Qf5 Nd5 26.
Bd2 a5 $15) 25... Re6 $1 {This strong move is connected with a pawn sacrifice.}
26. Rxa7 {Accepting the challenge.} ({In the event of} 26. Bf4 Nh5 27. Qf3 Nxf4
28. Qxf4 Re2 $17 {the penetration of Black's rook puts White in big danger.})
26... Rxa7 27. Qb8+ Kh7 28. Qxa7 Ng4 $1 {The activity of Black's pieces is
threatening.} 29. d5 $2 {Alas, Anton Guijarro doesn't withstand the pressure.}
({White's position was desperate, but had he played} 29. Bf4 Nxf2 30. Rf1 Nd3
31. Bg3 Re7 $17 {the result still would be unpredictable.}) 29... Qe2 30. Rf1
Rf6 31. Be3 ({The alternative -} 31. dxc6 bxc6 32. f3 {was equally bad:} Nxh2
33. Rf2 Nxf3+ $1 34. Rxf3 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Rxf3 36. gxf3 Qxc1 $19) 31... Nxh2 $1 {
The major loss of material is unavoidable now.} 32. Kxh2 Qxf1 33. Qxb7 Qc4 ({
An even stronger move was} 33... c5 $1 34. d6 (34. Bxc5 Rf5 35. Be3 Qd3 $19)
34... Qd3 35. d7 Rd6 36. d8=Q Rxd8 37. Qxf7 Qe4 $19) 34. Bd4 ({After} 34. dxc6
Qh4+ 35. Kg1 Qe4 36. Qc7 Rxc6 37. Qb7 Qb1+ 38. Kh2 Qg6 {Black should be able
to convert the material advantage into a full point, but the task is not
trivial.}) 34... Rg6 $1 35. Qxf7 c5 $1 {GM Howell is playing precisely - now
the vulnerablity of White's king starts to tell.} 36. Be5 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 Qh5 (
37... Qe4 $1 38. Bg3 Rf6 39. Qa7 Rf5 {wins on the spot.}) 38. Bg3 Qd1+ 39. Kh2
Rg5 40. f3 Qxd5 41. Qxd5 Rxd5 {The resulting endgame is hopeless.} 42. b4 c4
43. Kg1 h5 44. Kf1 Rd2 {Now White is almost paralysed.} 45. Be5 g5 46. Bd4 Rb2
47. Kg1 Kg6 48. Kh2 Kf5 49. Be3 Rb3 50. Bd2 ({Or} 50. Bd4 Kf4 51. Kg1 g4 $19)
50... Rb1 51. Be3 Rd1 52. Bf2 Rd3 53. Be1 Re3 0-1

[Event "WchT 11th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2017.06.20"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Black "Negi, Parimarjan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2017.06.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 9. Nf1 $5 {Bold play by Xiong. He is not afraid that ...Na5 will win his
c4-bishop. Usually White would play Bb3 in such positions to preserve the
light squared bishop. But that's a tempo loss and Black usually replies with ..
.Be6.} Na5 10. b4 $5 {This was Xiong's idea which has been seen in the game
between Giri and Mamedyarov.} Nxc4 11. bxc5 Na5 12. a4 (12. cxd6 cxd6 13. a4 b5
14. axb5 axb5 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Nb7 18. Nh4 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20.
Rxb5 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3 22. Nf3 Ra5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24. Qd2 Qb5 25. Qc3 f6 26. d4
exd4 27. Nxd4 Qd7 28. Rxe8+ Qxe8 29. Ne3 Nd6 30. Qc5 Qe5 31. Qxe5 fxe5 32. Nc6
e4 33. Kh2 Kf7 34. Kg3 g5 35. h4 Nf5+ 36. Nxf5 Bxf5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Ne5+ Kf6
39. Nc4 Be6 40. Ne3 {1/2-1/2 (40) Giri,A (2755)-Mamedyarov,S (2761) Moscow 2016
}) 12... Re8 13. cxd6 Qxd6 14. Ba3 Qd8 15. Ng3 b6 {The bishop will be well
placed on b7, but this does seem a tad slow.} 16. d4 $1 {Xiong is quick to
realise that this is his opportunity.} Nc4 17. Nxe5 (17. Qb3 Nxa3 (17... Na5
18. Qc2 $16) 18. Nxe5 $16) 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qxd1 19. Raxd1 Rxe5 20. f4 Re8
21. e5 {White is pushing on. And optically it does seem that he is better. But
Black has no weaknesses and it is not so easy to find out, which is the point
that White should be attacking in Black's position.} Nd7 22. a5 {A little bit
too over-ambitious.} (22. Nf5 {was interesting, threatening Ne7 and Nxc8.} Nc5
23. Ne3 Nxa4 24. Nd5 Ra7 25. Ne7+ Kh7 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. Rd7 {with good play
for the pawn.}) 22... Kh7 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. Rd4 f6 $1 {Black's position
doesn't look too attractive. The rooks are disconnected, the pawns seem
isolated, yet there is no way for White to take advantage of it and hence the
position is equal.} 25. f5 $2 {Now this just loses a pawn.} Rxe5 26. Rxe5 fxe5
27. Rg4 Bd7 {It would be interesting to know what was it that Jeffery had
prepared. Because he just lost a pawn!} 28. c4 a5 29. Kf2 a4 30. Ke1 Rg8 (30...
Be8 $1 {The idea is to play ...Bf7 and get the knight to c4 and evict the
bishop out of a3.} 31. Ne4 Rd8 (31... Bf7 32. Nd2) 32. f6 g5 $19) 31. Bb2 g6 {
Parimarjan plays in a very pragmatic fashion. He gives back the pawn, just so
that he can free up his position.} 32. c5 Nd5 33. fxg6+ Rxg6 34. Rxg6 Kxg6 35.
Bxe5 {The material is even, but the a4-pawn is a real trump.} a3 36. Kd2 a2 37.
Ne2 Nb4 38. Nc1 Kf5 39. Bb2 Be6 40. Nd3 Na6 41. Ke3 Bc4 42. Ne5 (42. Kd4 Bxd3
43. Kxd3 Nxc5+ 44. Kc4 Ne4 45. Kb3 {This should end in a draw.}) 42... Bd5 43.
g4+ Kg5 44. c6 Nb4 45. Kd4 Be6 46. Kc3 Nd5+ 47. Kd4 Kh4 48. Ke4 Nb4 49. Nd3
Nxc6 {By nimble manoeuvring Black has won a pawn!} 50. Bf6+ Kxg4 {And another!}
51. Ne5+ Nxe5 52. Bxe5 Kh3 53. Kf3 c5 {This opposite coloured bishop endgame
is completely winning because Black will give up his a-pawn to win the h2-pawn
and the resulting two pawns would be just too far away for White to handle.}
54. Kf2 a1=Q 55. Bxa1 Kxh2 56. Bg7 h5 57. Bf8 c4 58. Bb4 Bd5 59. Bc3 Kh3 60.
Be5 Kg4 61. Ke3 h4 62. Kd4 h3 63. Ke3 Bf7 64. Bd6 Be8 (64... Be8 65. Be5 Bb5
66. Bd6 c3 67. Be5 Ba4 68. Kd3 c2 69. Kd2 Kf3 $19) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.19"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:12] Black goes for the solid 1...e5 in
response to 1.e4. In such important encounters, it makes sense not to go for
Najdorfs and Caro-Kanns!} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bc4 {
[%emt 0:00:00] Wesley plays the Giuoco Piano. After the game he said that he
thought MVL was also White and there would be two Giuoco Pianos on the board!}
Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:22] Ding is not afraid of the move 4.Ng5!? Usually we see top
players reaching the main lines of Giuoco Piano through 3...Bc5 move order.} 4.
d3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. c3 {[%emt 0:00:56]} d6 {[%emt 0:02:
56]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:35]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:15]} a5 {
[%emt 0:00:47] The first person to play this move was Boris Spassky in 1989.
Later Eljanov and l'Ami played it in 2016. The idea is to create breathing
space for the dark squared bishop, but at the same time prevent queenside
expanstion by White. This does weaken the b5 square though.} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:
07:05] Wesley had a good seven minute think and made this move.} Be6 {[%emt 0:
03:36]} 9. Bb5 {[%emt 0:05:15] The b5-square was weakened, so White makes use
of it. We are already in virgin territory.} Qb8 $5 {[%emt 0:01:08] What an
interesting idea by Ding Liren, taking a leaf out of the book of Akiba
Rubinstein, who made a similar manoeuvre against Janowski in Karlsbad 1907.
The queen will come to a7 and put more pressure on the a7-f2 diagonal.} 10. Nf1
{[%emt 0:17:51]} Qa7 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 11. Be3 {[%emt 0:08:03] Exchanging the
bishops is the most logical thing to do here.} Bxe3 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 12. Nxe3 {
[%emt 0:01:06]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:12] Black is preparing ...c6 and if possible
also ...d5.} 13. a4 {[%emt 0:02:06]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:07:09]} (13... c6 14. Bc4 d5
15. exd5 cxd5 16. Bb5 {and there can be some pressure on the e5-pawn in the
future.}) 14. Bc4 {[%emt 0:04:06]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:05:25]} 15. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:
06] Such positions are deceptive. One might feel that they are equal and
perhaps they are. But one lapse in concentration and things can start going
wrong pretty quickly. Mainly I would say White has the chances here if he can
engineer the d4 break.} Qa6 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 16. g3 {[%emt 0:04:33] Stopping a
...Nf4 move.} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 17. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:03:
58]} 18. Qb5 {[%emt 0:05:50] The White queen is well placed. Taking it will
move the pawn to b5 and help White to create some play down the a-file. But
can you tolerate this queen on b5?} Qxb5 {[%emt 0:08:59] After the game Ding
Liren said that he shouldn't have taken the queen and instead should have
continued with ...Ne6 or ...b6.} 19. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
20. Ra3 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:02:18]} 21. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Nc5 {
[%emt 0:05:32]} 22. c4 {[%emt 0:00:11] This might seem like a move where White
has agreed to a locked position, but it turns out that Wesley has something to
play for here. Mainly to put his knight on c2 from e1 and then try for the b4
break.} a4 {[%emt 0:20:47] Ding Liren thought for nearly 20 minutes and came
up with this move.} ({Let's give the move to White to understand what he is
trying for.} 22... Z0 23. Rea1 {Now threatening b4} Rac8 24. Ne1 $14 {The
knight will go to c2 and prepare b4. It won't be an earth shattering advantage,
but White is better.}) 23. Rea1 {[%emt 0:08:02]} Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 24. Rd1 {
[%emt 0:01:45]} Rec8 {[%emt 0:01:10]} (24... Nc5 25. Ne1 $14) 25. Nd2 {[%emt 0:
01:05]} Nxd2 {[%emt 0:14:50]} (25... Nc5 26. Rda1 $14 (26. Nc2 {was what Ding
thought was pretty strong.} c6 {This seems like an error, but if this is not
played then White will just go from c2 to b4 and control the c6-square.} 27.
bxc6 Rxc6 28. b4 $16)) 26. Rxd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 27. Rd1 {
[%emt 0:07:05]} ({After the game Ding said that he would have gone for d3-d4
here.} 27. d4 exd4 28. Rxd4 Nc5 29. Nd5 $14) 27... Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:12] The
other knight has settled on c5, but White's knight on e3 has quite a lot of
scope as well. He will go to d5 and then to b4 and c6 or he can go to d1 and
c3. In general White has more ideas. Also the a4-pawn can become weak at some
point.} 28. Nd5 {[%emt 0:02:57]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 29. f4 {[%emt 0:00:02]
Wesley starts turning the screws on the kingside as well.} Ra5 {[%emt 0:03:00]}
30. Nb4 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Raa8 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 31. Kf2 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Ke8 {
[%emt 0:00:37]} 32. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:40] Bringing the king to defend d3 is a
good idea. The rooks are now free to do something better.} f6 {[%emt 0:02:19]}
33. f5 {[%emt 0:07:57] At this point I entered the tournament hall and saw
that Wesley was looking extremely focused and confident. Ding on the other
hand was a tad nervous.} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 34. g4 {[%emt 0:00:20] White's
plan is simple - go for a kingside breakthrough with g5.} Rh8 {[%emt 0:03:18]}
35. h4 {[%emt 0:01:40]} h6 {[%emt 0:02:00]} 36. Nd5 {[%emt 0:07:19]} Ra5 {
[%emt 0:00:50]} 37. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Kc8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 38. g5 $1 {
[%emt 0:02:21] I was expecting White to make a lot of moves before going for
this break. But Wesley makes this bold breakthrough on move 38, just two moves
away from the time control and having just one and a half minutes on his clock.
A bold decision for sure.} hxg5 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 39. hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rh3+
{[%emt 0:00:25]} 40. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb3+ $6 {[%emt 0:02:15][%cal Ga3b3]
A mistake on the 40th move.} (40... Rh2+ 41. Kc3 Rh3 42. gxf6 {Wesley has
calculated very accurately.} gxf6 (42... Rxd3+ 43. Kc2 $18) (42... Nxe4+ 43.
Kb4 Nxf6 44. Ne7+ Kb7 45. Rxg7 $16) 43. Kc2 Rh2+ 44. Kb1 $14) 41. Kc3 $2 {
[%emt 0:03:10] Wesley lets his opponent off the hook.} ({This was surely the
best move in the position. Whether it was winning or not is unclear, but it
surely gives White the best practical chances.} 41. Rxb3 $1 axb3 42. gxf6 gxf6
43. Kc3 $1 $16 {It is important to start with this move to not let Black's
rooks co-ordinate on the seventh rank.} (43. Rg7 $5 Rh2+ 44. Kc3 Ra2 45. Rxc7+
Kd8 $1 {I left the engine running for more than an hour when I went for
diinner in this position and I can confidently say that ...Kd8 draws.} (45...
Kb8 46. Rc6 $1 Raxb2 47. Rxb6+ Kc8 48. Rxd6 Rb1 49. Kb4 b2 50. Nb6+ Kb8 (50...
Kc7 51. Rd7+ Kxb6 52. c5#) 51. Rd8+ Kb7 52. Rd7+ Kb8 53. Kc5 $1 Ra1 54. Kc6
b1=Q 55. Rb7# {A very nice variation showing the co-ordination of White's
pieces.}) 46. Rc6 Raxb2 47. Rxd6+ Ke8 {Komodo 11.01 64-bit:} 48. Re6+ (48. Rxb6
Rb1 49. Rb8+ Kf7 50. Rb7+ $11) ({Komodo 11.01 64-bit:} 48. Nxf6+ Kf7 49. Rxb6
Rb1 50. Ng4 Rc2+ 51. Kb4 b2 52. Nh6+ Ke7 53. Re6+ Kf8 {[%eval 0,46]} 54. Rf6+
Ke8 55. Re6+ Kf8 {[%eval 0,46]}) ({Komodo 11.01 64-bit:} 48. Rxf6 Rb1 49. Kb4
b2 50. Re6+ Kf7 51. Rf6+ {[%eval 0,46]} Kg8 52. Rg6+ Kf7 53. Rf6+ {[%eval 0,46]
}) 48... Kf7 49. Rxf6+ Kg7 (49... Ke8 50. Nxb6 Rb1 51. Na4 b2 52. Kb3 Rd1 53.
Nxb2 Rb1 54. Kb4 (54. Re6+ Kf7 55. Rxe5 Rhxb2+ 56. Kc3 Rb3+ 57. Kd4 Rd1 $11)
54... Rbxb2+ 55. Kc5 Rhd2 56. Rd6 Rb3 57. Kc6 Rbxd3 58. Rxd3 Rxd3 59. b6 Rd4
60. b7 Rxc4+ 61. Kb5 $18 {and having the king on the last rank spells Black's
doom.}) 50. Rg6+ Kf7 51. Nxb6 Rb1 52. Na4 b2 53. Kb3 Ra1 54. Nxb2 Rb1 55. Kb4
Rbxb2+ 56. Kc5 Rb3 57. Rd6 Rd2 58. Kc6 Rdxd3 59. Rxd3 Rxd3 60. b6 Rd4 $11 {
[%eval 0,46]} 61. Kc5 Rd7 62. Kc6 Rd4 $11 {[%eval 0,46]}) (43. Rg8+ $1 {
This is an update! White is winning after this move.} Kd7 (43... Kb7 44. Rg7
Rh2+ 45. Kc3 Ra2 46. Rxc7+ Kb8 {The most important part being that the king is
stuck on the wrong side.} 47. Rc6 Raxb2 48. Rxb6+ Kc8 49. Rxd6 $1 {and this is
already winning as seen in variations starting with 43.Rg7.} Rb1 50. Kb4 b2 51.
Nb6+ Kb8 52. Rd8+ Kb7 53. Rd7+ Kb8 54. Kc5 Rc1 55. Kc6 b1=Q 56. Rb7#) 44. Nb4
$1 {Nc6 is a mating threat hence the king has to get out of there. This is a
very powerful move.} Ke7 45. Rc8 Rh2+ (45... Kd7 46. Rb8 $1 $18 {Nc6 will
either weave a mating net or attack the a5 rook.}) (45... Ra2 46. Nxa2 Kd7 47.
Rxc7+ $18) 46. Kc3 Ra2 (46... Ra1 47. Nd5+ Kf7 48. Rxc7+ Kf8 49. Nxb6 Rc1+ 50.
Kxb3 Rb1 51. Na4 $18 {White is completely winning.}) (46... Kf7 47. Rxc7+ Ke8
48. Rc6 $18) 47. Nxa2 Kd7 48. Rxc7+ $1 {A very strong idea pointed out by
ChessBase newspage reader Mark S.} (48. Ra8 bxa2 49. Rxa2 {This might also be
winning albeit with some effort.}) 48... Kxc7 49. Nb4 $1 {and this knight vs
rook endgame is completely winning. For eg.} Rh6 50. Nd5+ Kb7 51. Kxb3 Ka7 52.
Kc3 Kb7 53. b4 Ka7 (53... Rh2 54. Nxf6 $18) 54. c5 $1 bxc5 55. bxc5 dxc5 56.
Kc4 $18 {White's co-ordinated forces are no match for Black.}) 43... Rh7 {
This is what Wesley said after the game that he saw.} (43... Rh2 44. Kxb3 $16)
(43... Kb7 44. Rg7 $18) 44. Nxf6 Rf7 45. Nd5 Kb7 46. Kxb3 Ra8 {The discussion
can start at this point whether this is really better for White. But I think
it can also end at this point, saying that Wesley should have gone for this
variation irrespective of whether he is winning or not because he has the best
chances to press here. According to the official commentator Mirochnichenko,
White can put his rook on g6 and then try for something like b4-c5. Although I
am not really sure as both rooks can penetrate after b4 and start perpetual
checks. What do you think?}) 41... Nd4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:13]} 42. gxf6 {[%emt 0:
00:47]} Rh2 $1 {[%emt 0:01:54] Wesley sees that things have gone wrong and
immediately forces the draw.} (42... gxf6 43. Rg2 $1 $16 {And White is pushing
here.} (43. Rg7 $2 Rh2 $11)) (42... Ne2+ $2 43. Kd2 Nxg1 44. fxg7 Rg3 45. f6
$18) 43. Nxb6+ {[%emt 0:07:05]} (43. fxg7 $4 {would have ended the game
prematurely.} Rc2+ 44. Kb4 c5+ 45. bxc6 Nxc6#) 43... cxb6 {[%emt 0:07:41]} 44.
fxg7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rc2+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 45. Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rxb2+ $11
{[%emt 0:00:04] Ding can be happy with this result. He did equalise out of the
opening, but after that he was clearly worse. And So played really well to
only go back with the half point.} 46. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rc2+ {[%emt 0:00:
04]} 47. Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rb2+ $11 {[%emt 0:00:03] Ding Liren can be happy
with this result. He did equalize out of the opening, but after that he was
clearly worse. And Wesley played really well to only go back with the half
point.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Shenzhen Du Te Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Shenzhen"]
[Date "2019.04.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,79,80,4,89,-8,16,17,21,55,4,-2,-1,-17,15,18,20,14,34,46,52,60,44,-12,
-8,-36,45,54,59,24,26,28,33,26,69,46,52,38,34,50,52,53,56,67,78,58,106,109,117,
118,156,153,147,130,133,128,128,128,136,136,130,118,123,122,123,120,135,120,
151,137,176,183,209,238,234,199,196,209,177,145,132,127]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nb6
10. h3 Bh5 (10... Bxf3 11. Qxf3 $14) 11. Bb3 Qxd3 12. Nxe5 {[%cal Gd3f5]} Bxd1
(12... Qf5 13. Nef3 {was seen recently in Raghunandan vs Sanal which was
analyzed on ChessBase India. Hari chooses to simplify. As the game progressed,
this decision does seem dubious.}) 13. Nxd3 Bxb3 14. axb3 (14. Nxc5 {is also a
move that has to be considered.} Bd5 15. Nxb7 $5 $16) 14... Be7 15. b4 a6 16.
Ne4 {White has his pieces better centralized looking at the c5 square and
Black has to be very careful not to land into a passive position.} Nd7 17. Bf4
Rac8 18. Rad1 {[%csl Gd1,Gd3,Ge1,Ge4,Gf4] Beautiful centralization!} Rfd8 19.
g4 {The king is the last piece that needs to be improved!} Bf8 20. Kg2 $1 {
[%csl Gg2] The sign of a classy player.} Re8 21. Bg3 f6 22. f4 Re7 23. f5 Rce8
24. Nf4 Nd8 {Hari blunders tactically, but his position was already very
difficult.} (24... Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Rxd7 Re7 27. Rd2 $18 {The knight
lands on e6 with great effect.}) 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxe8 {
The rest is just a matter of technique for a player of Anish's calibre.} Kf7
28. Re3 Rd2+ 29. Re2 Rd1 30. Ne6 Nxe6 31. fxe6+ Ke8 32. Bxc7 Rd3 33. Bf4 Rd5
34. Kf3 Ke7 35. Re4 Bg7 36. Be3 f5 37. Bg5+ Bf6 38. Bxf6+ Kxf6 39. g5+ Kxg5 40.
Re3 1-0

[Event "Shenzhen Du Te Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Shenzhen"]
[Date "2019.04.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2019.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,152,19,34,31,38,13,20,20,17,17,19,8,21,30,26,30,35,32,5,32,5,29,-18,0,
-15,-5,6,1,0,1,-12,-4,18,31,32,-38,-18,0,-49,0,0,0,0,0,0,-11,-1,-2,-40,-51,-64,
-77,-98,-87,-80,-94,-85,-81,-75,-68,-80,-72,-72,-76,-61,-68,-70,-49,-53,-34,
-26,-19,-15,-10,-10,0,-4,-20,-44,-28,-34,-33,-34,-21,-27,-27,-61,-44,-54,-49,
-49,-20,-85,-94,-171,-183,-205,-165,-175,-187,-183,-120,-116,-87,-128,-112,
-109,-54,-123,-130,-88,-39,-28,-35,-27,-26,-28,-28,-38,-6,-3,0,0,0,-436,-448,
-448,-448,-445,-448,-476,-476,-477,-477,-477,-482,-482,-482,-482,-482,-482,
-629,-565,-563,-572,-818,-982,-992,-1002,-1002,-1012,-1032,-1032,-29972] After
two wins against Rapport and Ding Liren, it seemed as if Harikrishna would
have a quiet day at the office, but it turned out to be just the opposite!
With the black pieces he ground out a tremendous win! Let's have a look and
learn from the man in form.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6
6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nf1 Ba7 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6
{All of this is pretty standard and has been seen in numerous games.} 13. b4 d5
14. Qb3 (14. Qc2 {has been played before. But Yu Yangyi chooses the more
active option with Qb3.}) 14... Qd7 15. h3 {It is useful to prevent idea like
Ng4 which will hit the f2 point.} Rd8 16. Bb2 dxe4 17. dxe4 Rd6 $1 {This move
deserves an exclamation because Hari saw that the move b4-b5 doesn't work.} 18.
Qc2 (18. b5 {It was important to make sure that this move doesn't work because
the e5 pawn is hanging.} Na5 $1 19. Qb4 {It seems as if Black is losing a pawn,
but here Black has} (19. Qa2 Qe6 $1 20. Ba3 Qxa2 21. Rxa2 Rd1 {Black has the
c4 square to play with.}) 19... c5 $3 {Not an easy move to spot.} 20. Qxa5 (20.
bxc6 Nxc6 $17) 20... Bb6 $19 {The queen is trapped.}) 18... Qe6 19. Red1 Rxd1+
20. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Qc4 {Black has this small nagging edge which
Harikrishna is just so good at milking.} 22. Qb1 a5 $1 {I would call this a
typical Harikrishna move. He is looking for small tactics in a relatively
sterile position to unsettle his opponent.} 23. Nd2 (23. b5 Ne7 24. Nxe5 Qxa4
$13) 23... Qe6 24. Ba3 $6 {This cedes the all important d4 square.} (24. b5 {
might have been a better choice.} Nb8 25. c4 Nbd7 {Black still has squares to
play with but the position is much better than the game for White.}) 24... axb4
25. cxb4 Nd4 26. b5 Qb6 27. Kh2 Ne6 28. Nh1 $5 {A very awkward move to make,
but Yu Yangyi didn't want to play f2 and weaken his position.} (28. f3 Qf2 $17)
28... Qd4 29. Qc2 Qa1 30. Bb2 Qa2 31. Qb3 Qxb3 32. Nxb3 Nxe4 33. Bxe5 f6 (33...
Nxf2 34. Nxf2 Bxf2 35. a5 {is what Hari didn't want to allow.}) 34. f3 N4c5 35.
Nxc5 Bxc5 36. Bg3 {At first glance this would look like a position which is
around even. But there a few things that are going well for Black. His minor
pieces are more active and his king can quickly come to the game. White, on
the other hand, has the knight on h1 which is relatively passive and it is
difficult for the king to join the game.} b6 37. Nf2 Kf7 38. Nd3 Ke7 {[%cal
Rh2h1,Gd3c5]} 39. Kh1 $2 (39. Nxc5 $1 Nxc5 40. Bxc7 Nxa4 41. Kg3 Kd7 42. Bf4
Nc3 43. Be3 Kc7 44. Kg4 Nxb5 45. Kf5 {And White should be able to hold this
endgame with ease. Perhaps even start pushing.}) 39... Bd6 40. Bf2 Nd8 41. Be3
Nb7 42. Kg1 Ke6 43. Kf2 Kd5 44. Nf4+ Bxf4 45. Bxf4 Nd6 46. g4 (46. Kg3 {
It was important to use the king to threaten infiltration on the kingside.} g6
$5 47. Kf2 (47. Bxh6 Nf5+) 47... h5 48. g4 {Somehow White is getting more play
than what he did in the game.}) 46... Kc4 47. Bd2 Kb3 48. a5 bxa5 49. Bxa5 Nxb5
{This is still not trivial but Black is much better here.} 50. Ke3 Kc4 (50...
c5 {Getting the pawn going was the best.} 51. Ke4 g5 52. Kf5 Nd4+ 53. Kxf6 c4
54. Kg6 c3 55. Bxc3 (55. Kxh6 Nxf3 56. Bb6 Kc2 57. Be3 Kd1 {Somehow the bishop
is dominated and Nd2 followed by c2, c1 will win the game.}) 55... Kxc3 56.
Kxh6 Nxf3 $19) 51. Kf4 Nd4 52. Ke4 (52. Bxc7 Ne6+ $19) 52... c5 53. f4 Kb5 54.
Bc3 Ne2 55. Ba1 Kc4 56. g5 Ng3+ 57. Kf3 Nf5 $5 58. gxf6 gxf6 {[%cal Rf3g4,
Ga1f6]} 59. Kg4 (59. Bxf6 {This is not at all clear. I am not sure what
Harikrishna had in mind here.} Kd3 (59... h5 60. Ke4 $14) 60. Kg4 Nd4 61. f5 c4
62. Bxd4 Kxd4 63. f6 $11) 59... Ne3+ 60. Kh5 Nd5 61. Kxh6 Kb3 {The bishop has
been dominated on a1, but to win it will take time, so White should start
pushing his pawns.} 62. Kg6 {This looks like a losing move, but the tablebases
show that it is not!} (62. h4 Ka2 63. h5 Nxf4 (63... Kxa1 64. Kg7 Ne3 65. h6
Nf5+ 66. Kxf6 Nxh6 67. Ke5 $11) 64. Bxf6 $11) 62... Ka2 {[%csl Ra1]} 63. Bxf6
Nxf6 64. Kxf6 c4 65. f5 c3 66. Kg7 c2 67. f6 c1=Q 68. f7 Qg5+ 69. Kh7 Qf6 70.
Kg8 Qg6+ 71. Kf8 Kb3 72. h4 {[%csl Gg5]} Kc4 73. h5 $2 (73. Ke7 Qh7 74. Kf6 $1
(74. Ke8 $2 Kd5 75. f8=Q Ke6 $19) 74... Qh6+ (74... Qxh4+ 75. Kg7 {is a draw
already.}) 75. Ke7 Qe3+ (75... Qxh4+ 76. Ke8 Qh5 77. Ke7 Qe5+ 78. Kf8 (78. Kd7
{is also fine.} Qf6 79. Ke8 Qe6+ 80. Kf8 {Once the queen is on the e6 square,
the white king can come in front of the pawn and Black is not in time to get
his king.}) 78... Qh8+ 79. Ke7 Qh7 80. Kf6 $1 $11) 76. Kd7 Qf4 77. Ke7 Qe5+ 78.
Kd7 Qf6 79. Ke8 Qe6+ 80. Kf8 Kd5 81. Kg7 Qg4+ 82. Kh8 Qf5 83. Kg7 $11 Qg4+ 84.
Kh8 Qh5+ 85. Kg7 Qg4+ 86. Kh8 Qf5 87. Kg7 $11) 73... Qh7 74. Ke8 Kd5 $1 {
Hari finds the key move.} 75. h6 (75. f8=Q Ke6 $19) 75... Qe4+ (75... Ke6 76.
f8=N+ {You have to be careful!}) 76. Kd8 Ke6 (76... Ke6 77. f8=Q Qa8+ $19) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
Ne7 9. Bb3 Ng6 10. d4 Bb6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. h3 (12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Ncxe5 Bxb3 (
13... Qxd1 14. Bxd1 $14) 14. Qxb3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qd6 $1 16. Nc4 (16. Nf3 Ng4 17.
Rf1 Rad8 $44) 16... Bxf2+ $1 17. Kxf2 Qxh2 $13 (17... Ng4+ 18. Ke2 Qxh2 $13))
12... c6 13. dxe5 dxe5 $6 (13... Bxc4 14. Bxc4 (14. exf6 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qxf6 $11
) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 $11 {Black has no real problems.}) 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 Re8 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Bc2 $14 {White is a pawn up, but Black is
completely developed. The next few moves are crucial for the evaluation of the
position.} g5 18. Nf3 g4 {[%cal Gg5g4] Let's pause for a minute and look
carefully at this position. White is a pawn up here. What he would really like
to do is take the pawn on g4 with h3. However, for that you must look deeper.
Anand chose Nd4. But we must analyse what happens after hxg4.} 19. Nd4 $5 {
This is not a bad move, but as compared to hxg4 it is clearly a concession.} (
19. hxg4 Nxg4 20. Nd4 {It is at this point you must look at your opponent's
best possibility.} (20. Re2 {is already bad because of} Bc4 $1 $17) 20... Rxd4
$1 {Anand saw this move for his opponent. But he didn't stop just as yet.} (
20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Rxd4 {It is important to see that this is completely bad
for Black after} 22. f3 Ne5 23. Bxh6 $16 {White is up a pawn, has the bishop
pair and is cruising towards victory.}) 21. cxd4 Bxd4 {Now f2 is hanging. You
must protect it somehow.} 22. Re2 $1 (22. Be3 $2 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Bxb2 24. Rab1
Bc3 25. Rf1 Re7 $11 {Black has a pawn for the exchange and White's structure
is a complete wreck. This is nothing for White.}) 22... Bc4 23. Rd2 {The rook
attacks the bishop. And if it moves back, White can unravel with b3-Bb2. Hence,
c5 is forced.} c5 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1,Gc4,Rd2,Gd4,Ge8,Gg4] It is after reaching
this position in his head and analysing the possibilities that Anand started
to feel uncomfortable. He saw that the bishops are just excellently placed in
the centre and with ...f5 coming up, he will lose a pawn and be in trouble.
But he had a nice move which was missed.} 24. Rb1 $1 {Giving up the a2 pawn.
This is not an easy move to foresee. The threat is now b3.} (24. Rxd4 {is a
move that I like as well.} cxd4 25. Bd2 $14 {White should be better here.
Enough for victory? Maybe not. But in general he is better and quite
substantially.} d3 26. Bd1 $16) 24... Bxa2 25. Ra1 Bc4 26. Rxa7 {The rook has
activated itself, the b-pawn is free to move and it would be fine to end your
calculations at this point and go for the variation beginning with 19.hxg4!
That's the level at which these guys work!} Ba6 27. b4 $16 {White is clearly
pushing here.} Bc3 $6 (27... Kg7 28. b5 Bxb5 29. Rxb7 $16) 28. f3 $1 Bxd2 29.
Bxd2 Ne5 30. Ba4 Rd8 31. Bc3 $18 {And with b5 coming up, White is winning.})
19... gxh3 20. gxh3 (20. Nxe6 Rxe6 21. gxh3 Rde8 22. Bxh6 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Rxh6
24. Bg2 (24. Bh7+ Kf8 $11) 24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Kf8 $14 {White will be pushing
here, but it will not be easy to convert into a full point.}) 20... Bxh3 21.
Re3 (21. Bxh6 {I think this move should be given serious consideration.} Ng4
22. Bf4 $14 Rxd4 23. cxd4 Bxd4 24. Bg3 Re6 (24... Bxb2 25. Rab1 Bc3 26. Red1
$18) 25. Bd1 c5 $16 {Black has compensation but overall it shouldn't be enough.
}) 21... Bg4 22. Rg3 Bc7 23. f4 (23. Rg2 $5) 23... h5 24. e5 Nd5 25. Bf5 Bb6
26. Bxg4 hxg4 27. Rxg4+ Kf8 28. Bd2 Ke7 $1 (28... Nxc3 $2 29. bxc3 Rxd4 30.
cxd4 Bxd4+ 31. Kg2 Bxa1 32. Bb4+ $18) 29. Kf2 Nxc3 $1 30. bxc3 Rxd4 31. cxd4
Bxd4+ 32. Be3 (32. Be3 Bxa1 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.17"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00] Maxime believes in his preparation in
the Italian and goes for it.} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:
00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:11]}
10. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:01] All these little moves in the Giuoco Piano are well
known. The main idea is to build up the position before getting down to a
fist-fight.} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 11. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Na7 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
({In the classical section Svidler had chosen} 11... Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4
Bd7 14. Nf1 Re8 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. f4 Bxb5 17. axb5 Qd7 {½-½ (27)
Vachier-Lagrave,M (2804)-Svidler,P (2756) Tbilisi GEO 2017, leads to a complex
position where both sides had their chances.}) 12. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} exd4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} ({In an earlier round we saw this between MVL-Grischuk:} 12...
Nxb5 13. dxc5 Na7 14. b3 Re8 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 Qa6 17. b4 axb4 18. cxb4 b5
19. Bb2 Nc6 20. Nxe5 Nxb4 21. Re3 bxa4 22. Rg3 {1/2-1/2 (56) Vachier-Lagrave,M
(2804) -Grischuk,A (2788) Tbilisi GEO 2017. It was a game filled with mind
boggling complications that ended in a draw.}) 13. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bb4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 14. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. e5 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:01] Peter played all of this pretty fast, which meant
that he was very well prepared.} 16. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:41]}
17. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:06:10]} 18. Bc2 {[%emt 0:01:52]} (18.
Nxd4 Nc6 $13 {Black seems to be doing fine.}) 18... Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:48]
preventing Qd3 seems quite logical.} (18... Nc6 19. Qd3 g6 20. Bxh6 {seems to
be quite dangerous for Black.}) 19. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04] Black is now sitting
on a time bomb. He has clearly a fine position on the queenside. However,
White's plan of f4-f5 looks terribly dangerous. Peter must prepare for it.} Nc6
$1 {[%emt 0:00:42] The first part is to get rid of the monster on d4.} 20. Ng3
{[%emt 0:00:24]} (20. f4 $6 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Ne4 $1 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Qd1 $1
$17) 20... Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 21. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:17]}
(21... Rc8 {looks more in the spirit of the position.} 22. Be3 Rc6 (22... Nd7
23. Nh5 Bc5 24. Qd3 $16) 23. Nh5 Ne4 24. Nf4 $14 {White is still better.}) 22.
exf6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} (22. Nh5 {Going to f4 can be a good idea.} Ne4 23. Nf4
Bc5 24. Qd3 Qb6 25. Be3 $16) 22... Qxf6 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 23. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:
42]} (23. Qxf6 Rxf6 24. Nh5 Rff8 25. Be3 $14) 23... Qxd4 {[%emt 0:03:27]} 24.
Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:33] Positionally White looks better as
the pawn on d5 is weak. But Black has active pieces and he is able to maintain
the balance without too many difficulties.} 25. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:09]} (25. Nh5
Ne6) 25... Rae8 {[%emt 0:02:51]} (25... Nxa4 $6 26. Nh5 $16) (25... Bxa4 $2 26.
Bxc5 Bxc2 27. Rxc2 $18) 26. Rxe8 {[%emt 0:01:08]} Bxe8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} (26...
Rxe8 $2 27. Bxc5 Bxc5 28. Rxd5 $18) 27. b3 {[%emt 0:02:59]} (27. Bxc5 Bxc5 28.
Rxd5 Bxf2+ $15) 27... b5 {[%emt 0:00:14] Peter keeps reducing the pawns on the
board and moves closer to a draw.} 28. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} 29. Be3 {[%emt 0:01:25]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 30. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Ne4
{[%emt 0:00:33]} 31. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 32. Bd3 {
[%emt 0:01:03]} (32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. Nc2 Be6 34. Nxb4 axb4 35. Rd4 Bxb3 36. Rxe4
Rb8 37. Bd2 Bd5 38. Rxb4 Rxb4 39. Bxb4 $11) 32... Rb8 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 33. f3 {
[%emt 0:00:38]} Nc3 {[%emt 0:02:15]} 34. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:
12]} 35. bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 36. Kh2 {[%emt 0:02:28]}
Bd6+ {[%emt 0:00:37]} 37. f4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nd1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 38. Bd2 {
[%emt 0:00:51]} Nf2 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 39. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:01:
18]} 40. Be6+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 41. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 42. Nf5 {[%emt 0:01:01]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 43. Bf7 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 44. Nxd6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Re7 {[%emt 0:
00:31]} 45. f5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Be8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 46. Be6 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
g6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:14] Black does lose a pawn, but transposes into a drawn game.
} 47. Nxe8 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Nxe8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 48. fxg6+ {[%emt 0:00:02]}
Kxg6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 49. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:01] The
chances of beating Svidler from such a position are absolutely zero.} 50. Bf3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Re5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 51. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rg5+ {[%emt 0:00:
02]} 52. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 53. Rc4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Kg5
{[%emt 0:00:28]} 54. h4+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 55. g4 {[%emt 0:
00:01]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 56. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 57.
Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Re7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 58. Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rd7 {
[%emt 0:00:38]} 59. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Re7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 60. Bf5 {[%emt 0:
00:09]} Re3+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 61. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Re7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 62.
Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 63. Be6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Ra3+ {
[%emt 0:00:20]} 64. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Ra4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 65. Bc4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 66. h5 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:
39]} 67. Rc7+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 68. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:47]}
Re5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 69. Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Nxg4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:37] With
this sacrifice the game is over.} 70. Rf8+ {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:00]
} 71. Rf7+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 72. Kxg4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Re4+
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 73. Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxf4+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 74. Kxf4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 75. Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:
01]} 76. Kg6 {A well played game by both sides.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. a4 a5 {The
players are following the game Carlsen-Adams from Wijk aan Zee 2016. Here
Carlsen went Na3 but Caruana first inserts Re1.} 8. Re1 O-O 9. Na3 Re8 10. Nc2
Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 Nc8 {Caruana thought that
this manoeuvre was a little odd, but according to Topalov Black should be
completely fine here.} 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Bb3 c6 17. h3 Be6 18. Bc2 Qc7 19. d4 {
White has a slight more pleasant position.} Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Qd2 Rad8 22.
Rad1 Be6 23. Qe3 b6 24. Nd2 c5 25. Bd3 Re7 $6 {This doesn't seem to be a very
useful move. Emil Sutovsky was very critical about it in his facebook post:
"Topalov didn't have much of a problem out of the opening, but he simply
stunned me by making a move Re8-e7 in a very complex position literally within
a few seconds. The position required quite some thought, and it could have
been a critical point"} 26. d5 Bd7 27. Ra1 {The idea of Ra1 followed by b4 is
very interesting.} Nh5 28. b4 Nf4 {The knight is well placed on f4 but later
on it becomes the sole reason why Black's position goes downhill. It comes in
the way of other pieces.} 29. bxa5 bxa5 30. Reb1 Rf8 31. Bb5 Bc8 32. Bf1 f5 {
It is an interesting position with White playing on the queenside and Black on
the other wing. But soon Topalov goes wrong.} 33. c4 Ref7 34. Ra3 fxe4 35. Nxe4
Bf5 36. Rab3 {As previously pointed out the knight on f4 really stops Black
from getting his required counterplay.} Bg6 37. Rb6 Qe7 $2 (37... Bxe4 {
was necessary and although White is clearly better, Black doesn't lose
material. Instead Topalov hallucinated and committed a blunder.}) 38. Nxd6 {
White has simply won material and stands just better.} Nxh3+ 39. Qxh3 {True
the rook on b1 is hanging but so is the guy on f7. So it just a complete piece
up position.} Rf6 40. Nc8 $1 Qd8 41. R1b5 $2 {An error on the 41st move. Very
surprising.} (41. Rxf6 Qxf6 42. Rb2 {is just curtains. White is a piece up and
there is nothing more to play for as} Bf5 {fails to} 43. Qxf5 $18 {[%csl Rf5,
Rg8][%cal Rc8e7]}) 41... Rxf2 {Now it gets a little complicated.} 42. Rxg6
Rxf1+ 43. Kh2 Qxc8 44. Qxc8 (44. Qxh6 {would have still given White excellent
winning chances.}) 44... Rxc8 45. Rc6 (45. Rb7 Rf7 46. Rc6 $5 {was an option.
But it is not enough to win because after} Rxb7 47. Rxc8+ Kf7 48. Rxc5 Rb4 $11
{it is just equal.}) 45... Re8 {The two black rooks combined with the e-pawn
give Black enough counterplay to hold a draw.} 46. Rcxc5 e4 47. d6 Rd8 48. Rc6
Rd1 49. c5 e3 50. Rb2 Rd2 51. Rb1 e2 52. Re1 Rf8 {Quite a heartbreak for
Caruana who could have been on 2.5/4 with this win.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A 18th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chigaev, Maksim"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "Sasikiran,K"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. a4 a5 8. Be3 {
My opponent played this quickly. He had played it in an earlier game in 2018,
however, this cannot be a serious try for an advantage.} (8. Na3 {is the main
line.}) 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 Ne7 $5 10. d4 (10. Nh4 $5) (10. Qe1 $5) 10... O-O (
10... Ng6 11. Nbd2 (11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Bxf7 Ke7 15.
Bd5 c6 $15) 11... O-O 12. Qe1 {transposes to the game.}) 11. Nbd2 (11. dxe5 $6
Nxe4 12. Nbd2 d5 (12... Nc5 $5) 13. Nxe4 dxc4 $1 $15) 11... Ng6 12. Qe1 c6 $5 {
[%mdl 8] A normal idea to take some initiative in the centre with d5 besides
opening the possibility of Qb6 in certain lines.} (12... b6 $5 {was played in
a game between computers in 2018:} 13. Nh4 Nxh4 14. Qxh4 Bb7 15. Bd3 Re8 $11) (
12... Bd7 $5 {is also solid.}) 13. Nh4 Nxh4 $1 {The knight cannot be allowed
to reach f5.} (13... Kh7 14. Nf5 $1 (14. Nxg6 $6 fxg6 $1 $15 {is a nice idea
creating a safer king.}) 14... d5 15. Bd3 $14) 14. Qxh4 Be6 $5 (14... d5 15.
exd5 cxd5 16. Bb5 exd4 17. exd4 Bd7 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. Rxf6 gxf6 20. Rf1 $13 {
looks outright scary for a human but the comp says Black has nothing to fear.
Typical.}) 15. Bxe6 fxe6 {I offered a draw here as I thought there was not
much to play. Besides it was double round day. To his credit my opponent
declined the draw offer.} 16. Qh3 $5 (16. dxe5 $6 dxe5 17. Nc4 Qd3 $1 $15) (16.
Rf3 Qe7 17. Raf1 exd4 $1 {The key exchange on which I was counting on for
equality.} 18. exd4 e5 $11) 16... Qe7 {This is more natural than Qe8, although
g6 has to be watched now.} (16... Qe8 $5 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nc4 Nxe4 19. Rxf8+
Qxf8 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. Nxe5 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 Qxe3 $11) 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nc4 Nd7 $1
{The idea of sacrificing a5 for getting counterplay very much appealed to me
over the board.} (18... Nxe4 19. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Rd8 21. Ng6 Qd6 $11) 19.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 $1 {The f-file is more important than the a-pawn as the pieces can
quickly co-ordinate.} (19... Kxf8 20. Qg3 Kg8 21. Rd1 $5 Nc5 22. Nxe5 Nxe4 23.
Qf4 Nc5 24. h4 $5 $14) 20. Nxa5 $6 {Leaving the kingside to fend for itself
and going for pawn hunting.} (20. Qg3 Qc5 21. b3 b5 22. Rd1 bxc4 23. Rxd7 Rf7
24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qf2+ Ke7 $11) 20... Nc5 $1 21. Nc4 $6 {White wants to bring
back the knight quickly but now the queen black enters the game with tempo.} (
21. Qg4 $1 {The queen had to be activated first.} Qd8 22. h3 Qd3 23. Rd1 Qxe3+
24. Kh2 Qf4+ 25. Qxf4 exf4 26. e5 $11) 21... Qd7 $1 {The most difficult move
of the game. Qd8 was also possible, but i wanted to keep e6 protected to have
the possibility of Ne4.} (21... Qd8 $5 22. b4 Qd3 23. bxc5 Qxc4 24. Rb1 Rf7 $15
{and the White pawns fall one by one.}) 22. Qg3 $2 (22. b4 Nxe4 (22... Qd3 $5 {
Transposes}) 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Nf3 Nxc3 $15 {Black is better but it is still a
fight.}) 22... Nxe4 $1 {.13} 23. Qe1 $5 {The best defense. My opponent offered
a draw here. Despite mutual time trouble, i thought Black's pieces were better
co-ordinated and decided to continue.} (23. Qxe5 Qd3 $1 24. Qxe6+ Kh7 25. Qg6+
(25. h3 Rf6 $19) 25... Kh8 $1 $19) 23... Qd5 $1 {It is clear the knight has no
retreat squares.} 24. b3 (24. Qe2 Rf2 $19) (24. Na3 Qd3 $1 25. Rd1 Rf1+ $1 26.
Qxf1 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Nxd1+ 29. Kh1 Nxb2 $19) 24... b5 $1 {White
cannot be allowed to play a5 consolidating knight on c4.} 25. Nb6 (25. Rd1 Qc5
26. Nd2 Nxc3 27. Ra1 (27. Rc1 Ne2+ $19) 27... Nd5 $19) (25. axb5 cxb5 26. Rd1
Qc5 27. Nd2 Nxc3 $19) 25... Qxb3 $5 {Not the most efficient according to the
comp. But for a human it is natural to take the material especially in time
trouble.} (25... Qd3 $1 26. a5 Rf2 $1 $19) 26. a5 (26. axb5 cxb5 27. Nd7 Rc8
$19) (26. Nd7 Rd8 27. Rd1 Ra8 $19) 26... Rf2 $5 {Trying to create play along
the seventh rank and stopping any Qh4 ideas.} (26... Qc2 $1 27. Rc1 (27. a6 Rf2
$19) 27... Qd3 28. h3 (28. a6 Qd8 $1 $19) (28. Rd1 Rf1+ 29. Qxf1 Qxe3+ 30. Kh1
Nf2+ 31. Kg1 Nxd1+ 32. Kh1 Nf2+ 33. Kg1 Nd3+ 34. Kh1 e4 $19)) 27. Kh1 (27. a6
Qc2 28. Rc1 Re2 $1 $19 {Not taking the pawn because of back rank mate.}) 27...
Qb2 $1 28. Rb1 Qa2 29. Ra1 Qb2 30. Rb1 Qa3 $6 {Time trouble, and I decided to
take care of the a-pawn first as White still has to create luft for the king.}
(30... Qc2 31. Rc1 Re2 $19 {was winning on the spot.}) 31. c4 (31. Ra1 Ra2 32.
Rxa2 Qxa2 33. Nc8 Qxa5 34. Ne7+ Kf7 35. Nxc6 Qxc3 $19) 31... b4 $1 {Creating a
passer.} 32. a6 Qxa6 (32... b3 33. Rxb3 Qa2 $3 $19) 33. Qxb4 Qa2 34. Nd7 Kh7 $1
{Simply avoiding all the checks.} 35. Qb8 (35. Nf8+ Rxf8 $19) 35... Rf7 $5 (
35... h5 $1 $19 {Creating space for the king in case of Nf8+.}) 36. Nxe5 Rf8 $5
(36... Nf2+ 37. Kg1 Nd1 $1 $19) 37. Qb4 c5 $6 (37... Rf2 $1 38. c5 Qc2 $19) 38.
Qe1 Nd2 $5 {I saw a forcing sequence keeping the edge to finish the control.} (
38... Rd8 $5) 39. Ra1 Qb2 40. Nd3 Qc3 $1 41. Nf4 e5 $1 42. Rc1 (42. Ne2 Qxe3
43. Ng3 Qf4 44. Rd1 Rd8 $19) (42. Nd5 Qxc4 $1 $19) 42... Qa5 $1 43. Ra1 (43.
Rd1 exf4 44. Rxd2 fxe3 45. Re2 Qxe1+ 46. Rxe1 Kg6 47. g3 Re8 48. Kg2 (48. Re2
Kf5 49. Kg2 Ke4 $19) 48... e2 49. Kf2 Kf5 $19) 43... Qb4 (43... Qb4 44. Rd1
exf4 45. Rxd2 fxe3 46. Re2 Qxc4 $19) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 ({Anyone hoping for something brash like} 
4. Ng5 {or 4 d4 would have been disappointed. Magnus is not trying to provoke
a slugging match because his opponent would love that. He is going to play it
nice and slow. His style reminds me of those weird cycling races where they
start by pootling round the track like old grannies doing their shopping, and
only start pedalling furiously during the last couple of laps.}) 4... Bc5 5. c3
d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 Ba7 {Beginners are always told by their coaches not to
move a piece twice in the opening unless they have to. And yet Magnus and
Hikaru have both done it already. But they know what they are doing, just as
the ancients who developed this line did when they called it the Giuoco Piano
- 'quiet game'.} 8. Nf1 h6 9. Ng3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. h3 Qd7 ({Perhaps Hikaru
would have been better off trying to provoke something a bit sharper with} 
11... d5 {here. As played, Magnus gradually works his way towards the sort of
manoeuvring position he favours.}) 12. Be3 {"I was pretty happy to get in Be3"
(Carlsen)} Ne7 13. Nh4 Ng6 ({When you've played h3, you always have to make
sure you are in control if your opponent plays} 13... Bxh3 {. In this case,
White's plan is to continue} 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. gxh3 Qxh3 16. Ng2 $1 (16. Nf3 $2
{loses to} Ng6 $1) 16... Ng4 17. Re1 Qh2+ 18. Kf1 Qh3 {and now} 19. f3 $1 {
secures White a winning advantage. Both players had foreseen this. However,
the move played is also a little suspect as it cedes White a tiny plus. And a
tiny plus is sometimes all Magnus Carlsen needs to work on.}) 14. Nhf5 Ne7 15.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. f4 c5 {"I think it's easier to play for White" 
(Carlsen). Nakamura later admitted he spent too much time thinking around
moves 14 and 15 - a sign that he wasn't in his comfort zone.} 18. Bc2 $5 ({
Magnus said he was thinking about} 18. a4 {instead, while Vlad Kramnik
expressed surprise that he should have retreated his bishop from b3. My
analysis engine is a little surprised too. Perhaps it is these small, filigree
differences between Magnus and the other top players which define his unique
style.}) 18... b5 19. Qd2 Rb7 20. a3 a5 21. Rf2 {"I think this position should
be fine. I'm a little confused as to what happened" (Nakamura). Incidentally,
it was very good of Hikaru to come to the commentary room after his defeat,
and honest of him to make such a candid confession.} b4 22. axb4 axb4 23. Raf1
bxc3 24. bxc3 exf4 25. Rxf4 Nh7 26. d4 cxd4 27. cxd4 Qg5 28. Kh2 Nf6 29. Bd1
Rfb8 ({"I guess it's losing. It's a little bit strange," said a bemused
Nakamura in the commentary, still unable to understand quite why he lost. He
had seen the exchange sacrifice coming but wasn't concerned about it during
the game. It would be no consolation but chess engines don't seem to
understand this position either. Nakamura wondered about} 29... Ra8 {so that if
} 30. h4 {Black can play} Qa5 {and offer a queen exchange.}) (29... Ng4+ $5 {
was another Nakamura suggestion in the commentary room.}) 30. h4 Qg6 {[diag]}
31. Rxf6 $1 {Not conclusive by any means but it complicates the game and gives
Magnus the sort of game he likes to play. For the exchange, White has weakened
the black pawns and he will have some dangerous piece play against Nakamura's
king and queen. Meanwhile the two black rooks are some way from reaching posts
where they can threaten retribution.} gxf6 32. Qf4 (32. d5 Bd7 33. Qc3 {
is what Deep Rybka advocates here but 'Deep Carlsen' has other ideas.}) 32...
Rb2 ({Nakamura's instincts are to be active but with hindsight one wonders
whether he might have been better off digging in with a move like} 32... Rd8)
33. Bh5 Qg7 34. Bf3 Ra8 $2 ({Hikaru starts to wilt under pressure of clock and
position.} 34... Rd8 35. Nh5 Qg6 36. d5 Bc8 37. Nxf6+ {is good for White but
Black is still in the game.}) 35. d5 Bc8 36. Nh5 Qf8 (36... Qg6 37. Qxd6 {
is also very difficult for Black.}) 37. Nxf6+ Kh8 {[diag] If you count the
material, Black is still OK but the black king is very weak while its opposite
number is rock solid. And White has piece which is not doing much which he can
deploy very effectively.} 38. Rc1 $1 {It seems a little ironic, because White
only has one rook to his opponent's two, but the c1 rook packs the more
powerful punch. It's coming to c7, to threaten Rxf7 followed by Qxh6+ and mate,
or Rc6 and simply Rxd6.} Kg7 ({If, for example, the a8 rook moves forward with
} 38... Ra6 {, then White plays} 39. Rxc8 $1 {followed by 40 Qxh6 mate.}) 39.
e5 $1 {Opening the long diagonal but also giving his bishop the use of the e4
square. The black pieces find themselves out of play and the end is in sight.}
dxe5 40. Nh5+ (40. Qxe5 {wins in much the same way.}) 40... Kh7 41. Be4+ (41.
Be4+ Kg8 42. Qg3+ Kh8 43. Qxe5+ f6 44. Qxb2 {is crushing.}) 1-0

[Event "Congres International"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1878.06.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bird, Henry Edward"]
[Black "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Schallopp,E"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1878.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{032 Giuoco piano .} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. Qb3
O-O 7. d3 d6 8. Bg5 ({Bird selbst gibt} 8. a4 {als die richtige Fortsetzung an.
}) 8... Ne7 9. Nbd2 Ng6 10. O-O h6 11. Be3 c6 12. d4 d5 {Damit nimmt Schwarz
den Angriff auf, gleichviel wie Weiß entgegnet.} 13. Bd3 dxe4 14. Bxe4 ({
Wenn der Springer schlägt} 14. Nxe4 {, führt Schwarz genau ebenso fort, wie
im Text.}) 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Be6 16. Qb2 f5 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 f4 19. Bc1
Bd5 {[#]  Zukertort zieht Figurenangriff vor.} ({Auch der Bauernangriff} 19...
e4 {, jetzt oder im vorigen Zuge, war sehr zu empfehlen.}) 20. Qc2 ({Auf} 20.
Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 {fährt Schwarz mit} Qh4 22. f3 Rf5 {fort, doch dürften
sich dann die Spiele ausgeglichen gestalten.}) 20... Bxf3 21. Qxg6 {Dies
genügt nicht, wie die Folge zeigt.} ({Mit} 21. gxf3 Nh4 22. Kh1 Z0 {nebst} 23.
Qe4 {ließ sich das Spiel noch recht gut verteidigen.}) 21... Rf6 22. Qd3 e4 {
Im elegantesten Stile.} 23. Qc4+ Kh8 {[#]} 24. Re1 ({Man beachte, dass sowohl} 
24. gxf3) ({wie} 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Rg6+ 26. Kh1 Qg5 {zu sofortigem Matt
führt.}) ({Ähnlichen Erfolg hat} 24. Bxf4 Rxf4 25. gxf3 Qg5+ 26. Kh1 exf3 27.
Rg1 Qh5 {nebst} 28. Z0 Rh4) 24... Rg6 25. g3 Qh4 26. Bxf4 {Notwendig.} ({
Es drohte} 26. Z0 fxg3 27. hxg3 ({oder} 27. fxg3) 27... Rxg3+) 26... Qxf4 27.
Rab1 Qc7 28. d5 Qf7 29. Qb4 Qd7 ({Auf} 29... Qd7 30. Qxb7 {entscheidet} Qh3) ({
Auf} 29... Qd7 30. Qc4 {folgt} cxd5 {und das Übergewicht des Nachziehenden
sichert leichten Gewinn.}) 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O h6 7. d4 Bb6 8. dxe5
Nxe4 9. Bd5 {[#]} Nxf2 {Eine Neuerung. Ein ähnliches Motiv kennt man aus
einer bekannten Variante des offenenen Spaniers.} (9... Nc5 10. Bf4 Ne7 11. Bc4
Ne6 12. Bc1 d5 13. exd6 cxd6 14. Na3 d5 15. Be2 Ng6 16. Nc2 Nef4 17. Nfd4 Nxe2+
18. Qxe2 Re8 19. Qf3 Ne5 20. Qg3 Kh8 21. Bf4 Nc6 22. Nb5 Qf6 23. Be3 Ba5 24.
Nc7 Bxc7 25. Qxc7 Bf5 26. Nd4 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Qe7 28. Qf4 Qg5 29. Qxg5 hxg5 30.
Be3 f6 31. Rfd1 Be6 32. Rd4 Kg8 33. Rb4 Re7 34. a4 a6 35. a5 Kf7 36. h4 gxh4
37. Rxh4 Bd7 38. Rd1 Bc6 39. Kf1 Rae8 40. Ke2 Re4 41. Rxe4 {1/2-1/2 (41)
Gelfand,B (2720)-Eljanov,P (2716) Moscow 2008}) 10. Rxf2 d6 11. exd6 Qxd6 12.
Bb3 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Qf6 14. Qd2 g5 {Verhindert vor allem den Damentausch. g4
droht nicht so sehr, weil Weiß Sxh6 hat.} 15. Kg1 Bg4 16. Qf2 Rfe8 17. Be3 $5
{So bringt weitere Würze ins Spiel.} (17. Nbd2 {wäre der "Normalzug" gewesen.
Aber dann hat Weiß probleme mit der Entwicklung.}) 17... Bxf3 18. Nd2 {
Das war die Idee.} Rxe3 $1 {Die Rückgabe der Qualitär löst alle Probleme.} (
18... Qe5 19. Nc4 Qf5 20. gxf3 b5 21. Nd2) 19. Qxe3 Bh5 20. Qh3 Be2 21. Re1 Re8
22. Bc4 Qd8 23. Qxh6 (23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rxe2 Rxe2 25. Qh5+ {wäre eine andere
Lösung gewesen.}) 23... Bxc4 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 26. Qc5+ Kg8 27.
Qg5+ Kf8 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "BCF-chT 1516 (4NCL)"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "5.151"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Adair, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2662"]
[BlackElo "2454"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.11.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.02.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.02.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Guildford"]
[BlackTeam "White Rose"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bb3 d5 7. Qe2 a5 (7... h6
) (7... dxe4 8. dxe4) 8. a4 Be6 9. Nbd2 (9. Bc2 h6 10. O-O d4 11. h3 Re8 12.
Nbd2 dxc3 13. bxc3 Nh5 14. Nb3 Ng3 15. Qd1 Bxb3 16. Bxb3 Nxf1 17. Qxf1 Qf6 18.
Bb2 Rad8 19. Rd1 Bb6 20. Bd5 Ne7 21. Bc4 Ng6 22. Nh2 h5 23. Nf3 Nf4 24. Kh2 g5
25. d4 Nxh3 26. Nxe5 Rxe5 27. dxe5 Qxe5+ 28. g3 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 g4 30. Qd8+ Kg7
31. Ba3 Bc5 32. f4 Bg1+ {0-1 (32) Hou,Y (2588)-Naiditsch,A (2689)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}) 9... h6 10. exd5 (10. Bc2 Re8 11. O-O Nh5 12. Nb3 Bb6
13. Ng5 hxg5 14. Qxh5 dxe4 15. dxe4 g4 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Bc1 Qf7 19.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 20. Rfe1 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rh8 23. Nd2 g6 24. Nf1 f5 25.
exf5 gxf5 26. Be3 Bxe3 27. Nxe3 Ne7 28. Bd3 Rd8 29. Be2 Rxd1+ 30. Bxd1 Kf6 31.
g3 Ng6 32. f3 gxf3 33. Bxf3 e4 34. Bd1 Ne5 35. b4 axb4 36. cxb4 Nd3 37. b5 b6
38. Kf1 Ke5 39. Ke2 f4 40. gxf4+ Nxf4+ 41. Kd2 Ng6 42. Ng2 Bh3 43. Ne1 Kf4 44.
Kc3 Nh4 45. Kd4 Nf5+ 46. Kc3 Ne3 47. Be2 Ke5 48. Nc2 Nxc2 49. Kxc2 Kd4 50. Kd2
e3+ 51. Ke1 Ke4 {1/2-1/2 (51) Stopa,J (2471)-Gareev,T (2590) Philadelphia 2009}
) 10... Bxd5 11. Bc2 Nd7 {[#]} 12. g4 $6 {Zumindest riskant. Die Engines
mögen diesen Zug gar nicht.} Nf6 ({Die Vorschläge der Automaten sind} 12...
f5) ({oder} 12... Qe7) 13. Rg1 {[#]} Bxf3 $2 {Ein seltsamer Zug. Mit dem
Tausch wird der Sd2 aktiviert und der Lc1 kommt ins Spiel.} ({Die Maschine
schlägt} 13... Qd7 {vor:} 14. g5 Ng4 15. Rg2 f5 16. gxh6 Rae8 {mit der Idee}
17. Z0 e4) 14. Nxf3 {Nun steht Weiß besser. Der Angriff am Königsflügel
wird real.} Re8 15. g5 hxg5 ({Ein beachtlicher taktischer Versuch war:} 15...
Nd4 $5 16. cxd4 (16. Qd1 Nxc2+ 17. Qxc2 e4 18. dxe4 Nxe4 $19) 16... exd4 17.
Ne5 (17. gxf6 Rxe2+ 18. Kxe2 Qxf6 $11) 17... Qd5 18. f4 hxg5 19. Rxg5 {aber
nach beispielsweise} Nh7 20. Rg2 f6 {ist} 21. Bb1 {mit der Drohung La2 recht
hässlich.}) 16. Bxg5 Qd6 17. O-O-O Qe6 18. Nd2 Bf8 19. Qf3 Nh7 20. Bb3 Qd7 21.
Ne4 (21. Bh6 $18) 21... Nd8 22. d4 Ne6 23. dxe5 Qc6 24. Bf6 Kh8 25. Qg4 Nxf6
26. Nxf6 (26. Nxf6 gxf6 27. Qg8#) 1-0

[Event "World Women-ch"]
[Site "Lvov"]
[Date "2016.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Muzychuk, Mariya"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.03.02"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 {Überraschung! Sonst spielt Yifan Hou meist nur Sizilianisch oder
Französisch.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O ({In der Vergangenheit hat die
Weltmeisterin ganz ordentlich mit dem Evand-Gambit gepunktet, verzichtet hier
aber auf ihre Hauptwaffe.} 4. b4) 4... Nf6 5. d3 O-O (5... d6 6. h3 Be6 7. Bb3
h6 8. c3 Bb6 9. Ba4 Bd7 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Re1 O-O 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Qe7 14. Be3
Bxe3 15. fxe3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Bb3 Nf6 18. Nh4 Be6 19. Ngf5 Qd7 20. Rf1 Kh7
21. Qf3 Ng8 22. Ng3 Nf6 23. Nhf5 Ng8 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. d4 exd4 26. exd4 Rd8 27.
Rad1 Rg6 28. d5 Nce7 29. Qd3 Nxf5 30. Nxf5 Kh8 31. c4 Re8 32. d6 cxd6 33. Nxd6
Qc6 34. Rd2 Re7 {1/2-1/2 (34) Muzychuk,M (2268)-Balbashova,V (2127) Simferopol
2004}) 6. c3 (6. Nc3 d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nd5 Qg6 10. Kh1 Kh8 11. Nxc7
Rb8 12. Nd5 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Nd2 Be6 15. Qe2 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Nd4 17. Qd1 b5
18. Be4 Qf6 19. Nf3 Nxf3 20. Bxf3 Qe6 21. Qe2 Rf6 22. Bg4 Qf7 23. Bf3 g5 24. c3
g4 25. Bxg4 Bxf2 26. Rad1 Re8 27. Bh5 Qf8 28. Bxe8 a6 29. Bh5 a5 30. b4 a4 31.
c4 bxc4 32. dxc4 a3 33. c5 dxc5 34. bxc5 Qxc5 35. Rd8+ Kh7 36. Qe4+ Kg7 37.
Qb7+ Rf7 38. Qxf7# {1-0 (38) Muzychuk,M-Kornejuk,M Nikolaev 1999}) 6... d6 7.
h3 (7. a4 a6 8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Bb6 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. Bg5
h6 14. Bh4 Nb8 15. d4 Nbd7 16. Qb3 Qc8 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nf5 Nc5 19. Qa3 Nfxe4
20. Rxe4 Qxf5 21. Re2 e4 22. Nd4 Qh5 23. Bg3 Nd3 24. Re3 Rad8 25. Qb3 Qg5 26.
Rd1 Nc5 27. Qc2 h5 28. h4 Qf6 29. b4 Nd3 30. Qb3 Bxd4 31. cxd4 Rxd4 32. Bxd3
Red8 33. Bc2 Rxd1+ 34. Bxd1 Qa1 35. Re1 Rd3 36. Qc2 e3 37. Qe2 Rd2 38. Qxe3
Rxd1 39. Qe8+ Kh7 40. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 41. Kh2 Qxa4 42. Qxa4 {1-0 (42) Muzychuk,M 
(2529)-Stefanova,A (2517) Beijing 2014}) 7... h6 8. Re1 a6 9. a4 ({Häufiger
geschieht} 9. Bb3) 9... Ba7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 (12... fxe6
13. Be3 Qd7 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Raa8 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. e5 Nd7
19. exd6 cxd6 20. Ng3 Nf6 21. a5 Rad8 22. Qa4 Qxa4 23. Rxa4 Rd7 24. f4 g6 25.
Rd4 Kf7 26. Red1 Ke7 27. Ne4 Nxe4 28. Rxe4 Kf6 29. Red4 Ke7 30. c4 Rc8 31. b4
Rc6 32. Re1 Kf7 33. c5 Ke7 34. Red1 d5 35. g4 Rc8 36. Kf2 Rf8 37. Kg3 Kf6 38.
h4 h5 39. Re1 hxg4 40. Kxg4 Rh8 41. Rd3 Rdh7 42. Rh1 Rh5 43. Kg3 R8h7 44. Re3
Kf7 45. Rc3 Kf6 46. Re3 {1/2-1/2 (46) Seils,J (2327)-Kramer,J (2323) Germany
2015}) 13. Be3 (13. Ng3 d5 14. Qe2 Qd7 15. a5 Rd8 16. Nf5 dxe4 17. dxe4 Qd3 18.
Qxd3 Rxd3 19. Nd2 Re8 20. Nc4 Red8 21. Kf1 Rd1 22. f3 Rxe1+ 23. Kxe1 Nd7 24. b4
Nf8 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. Nfxe3 Ne6 27. Nd5 f6 28. Nce3 Kf7 29. Rd1 {1/2-1/2 (29)
Viela,A (2183)-Pires,G (2132) Matosinhos 2012}) 13... Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 15. Qc2
Qd7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Nf5 Qe8 18. b4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nd2 Ne7 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7
22. Nb3 dxe4 23. dxe4 Red6 24. Nc5 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Qd6 27. Qe2 c6
28. g3 Nd7 29. Nxd7 Qxd7 {[#] Das war's.} 30. Kg2 Qd6 31. Qe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT 21st"]
[Site "Loo"]
[Date "2014.04.13"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "2014.04.07"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Kazan"]
[BlackTeam "Yugra"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 (6... O-O 7. Bb3 h6
8. Nbd2 a6 9. Re1 Be6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Qd7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7 14.
Rad1 Ng6 15. Nf5 Rfe8 16. c4 Rab8 17. Qc3 Ne7 18. N3h4 c5 19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.
Nf5 Re6 21. b4 b5 22. Rb1 Rc8 23. Qa3 cxb4 24. Rxb4 bxc4 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. dxc4
Qc6 27. Qg3 Ne8 28. Qd3 Nf6 29. h3 Kh7 30. Kh2 g6 31. Ng3 Nd7 32. Qd5 Qb6 33.
Re2 Kg7 34. Qd3 h5 {1/2-1/2 (34) Zhigalko,S (2671)-Alekseev,E (2692) Riga 2014}
) 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Re1 (8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 {ist Zugumstellung.}) 8...
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 (10... Nh5) (10... Be6) 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ng3 (12. Bc2
d5 13. exd5 (13. Qe2)) 12... Bxb3 (12... d5 13. Qe2 (13. exd5)) 13. Qxb3 (13.
axb3 Kh7 14. Nh2 d5 15. Qf3 Ne7 16. Ng4 Nxg4 17. hxg4 Kg8 18. Nf5 Nxf5 19. gxf5
dxe4 20. dxe4 Bc5 21. g3 Qf6 22. Kg2 Qc6 23. f6 Qxf6 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. Bxh6
Rad8 26. b4 Bf8 27. Be3 Kg7 28. Rh1 Kg6 29. g4 Bg7 30. Rh5 Rh8 31. Rah1 Rxh5
32. gxh5+ Kh7 33. Kf3 b6 34. Kg4 a5 35. bxa5 bxa5 36. Ra1 Rb8 37. Rxa5 Rxb2 38.
Ra7 Bh6 39. Rxc7 Bxe3 40. fxe3 Kg7 {1-0 (40) Korneev,O (2554)-Aleksandrov,A 
(2639) Ourense 2009}) 13... Rb8 14. a4 $146 (14. Nf5) 14... d5 15. Qc2 a5 (
15... dxe4 16. dxe4 Qd7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Rbd8 19. Ree1 Qd3 20. Qxd3 Rxd3
21. Kf1 $11) 16. Bd2 Qd7 17. b4 axb4 18. cxb4 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Rab1 (20.
Bc3 Qc6 21. Rec1 $11) 20... Rbd8 $11 (20... Re6 $5) 21. Re2 (21. Bc3 $11) 21...
c6 22. Kh2 Rc8 23. Nf5 Ba7 24. Rb3 d4 25. a5 b5 $5 (25... Nd5 $11) 26. Re1 Qe6
27. Qd1 Kh7 28. Rb2 Ng8 29. f4 (29. Qg4 $5 g6 30. Nh4 $14) 29... Bb8 30. Qf3
Qf6 31. Rf1 c5 32. bxc5 Rxc5 33. fxe5 Bxe5+ 34. Kg1 Rec8 35. Qg4 Rc2 36. Rfb1
g6 37. Ng3 $2 {Stellt eine Figur ein.} (37. Nh4 h5 38. Qg5 $16) 37... h5 38.
Nxh5 (38. Qf3 Qxf3 39. gxf3 Bxg3 $19) 38... gxh5 39. Qxh5+ Nh6 40. Rf1 Qg6 41.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 {Mit zwei Bauern für die Figur ist die Partie noch lange nicht
entschieden.} 42. Rfb1 f6 43. Kf1 Nf7 44. Ke1 Rxb2 45. Rxb2 Nd6 46. Kd1 Kf7 47.
Rc2 Rg8 (47... Rxc2 $6 48. Kxc2 {erleichtert die weiße Aufgabe, da die
schwarzsne Leichtfiguren alleine die weißen Bauern weniger gut angreifen
können als der Turm.}) 48. g4 Ke6 49. Bb4 Kd7 50. Rc5 Rh8 (50... Ke6 51. Rc6
Kd7 52. Rc5) 51. g5 Rxh3 52. gxf6 Ke6 53. Kc2 Bxf6 54. a6 Rh8 55. Rd5 Be5 56.
Bxd6 $6 ({Nach} 56. a7 Ra8 57. Bc5 Nb7 58. Bb6 {wäre ein Gewinn sehr
schwierig.}) 56... Bxd6 57. Rxb5 Rc8+ 58. Kb2 Bc5 59. Kb3 Kd6 60. Rb7 Rc6 61.
Rh7 Rb6+ 62. Kc2 Rb8 63. Rh6+ Kc7 64. Rg6 Ba7 65. Rh6 Rb5 66. Rg6 Rb4 (66...
Bc5 67. Rg7+ Kb6 68. Rg6+ Ka5 $19) 67. e5 $2 ({Sofort remis macht} 67. Rg7+ Kb8
({Nicht etwa} 67... Kb6 $2 68. Rb7+ {und plötzlich gewinnt Weiß.}) 68. Rg8+
Kc7 69. Rg7+) 67... Rb8 68. e6 Bc5 69. Rh6 Kd6 70. Rg6 ({Ein Versuch war noch} 
70. Rh5 {mit der Idee} Bb4 (70... Ra8 $17) 71. a7 Rc8+ 72. Kb3 Bc5 73. Rh7 Kxe6
74. Rc7 $1 $11) 70... Re8 (70... Ba3 $19) 71. e7+ Kc7 (71... Kxe7 $6 72. Kb3 {
und Weiß hält sich.}) 72. Kb3 Rxe7 73. Kc4 Ba7 74. Rh6 Rd7 75. Rh1 $2 (75.
Kb5 $2 Rd5+ 76. Kc4 Rc5+ 77. Kb4 Rc6 $19) (75. Rh4 $1 Rd6 76. Kb5 Rd5+ 77. Kb4
Kc6 78. Kc4 Rc5+ 79. Kb4 Rc2 80. Rh6+ Kd5 81. Rh5+ {reicht offenbar noch zum
Remis.}) 75... Rd6 76. Ra1 Rc6+ 77. Kd5 (77. Kb5 Rc5+ 78. Kb4 Kb6 79. Ra2 Rc3
$19) 77... Rc5+ 78. Ke4 Kd6 79. Rh1 Re5+ 80. Kf4 Re7 81. Rb1 Kc6 82. Kf5 Bb6
83. Ra1 Kb5 84. Ra2 Ra7 85. Ke5 Rxa6 86. Rb2+ Kc6 0-1

[Event "Batumi FIDE GP (Women)"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2016.04.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Zhao, Xue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2504"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2016.04.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:22:06"]
[BlackClock "0:32:07"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb6 {Geht schon mal möglichen
Anrempelungen aus dem Weg.} (5... d6 6. b4) 6. a4 {Ein Zug, der im
Profibereich hier noch nicht vorkam. Wenn es passt, will Weiß gelegentlich b4
folgen lassen und den Lb6 attackieren.} ({Weiß hat stattdessen schon eine
Vielzahl von Zügen probiert.} 6. O-O) (6. Nbd2) (6. Bb3) ({oder} 6. b4 d6 {
mit Zugumstellung zur Variante im 5. Zug.}) 6... d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 a6 9. Nbd2
Be6 10. b4 Ne7 $5 {Schwarz hat nichts gegen Lxf6 einzuwenden, was ihr die
g-Linie für einen Königsangriff öffnet.} 11. Qb3 Qd7 12. d4 exd4 13. Bxf6
gxf6 {Nachdem Schwarz auf d4 genommen hat, führt der Tausch auf f6 sogar zu
einem isolierten Doppelbauer.} 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 {Das Läuferpaar lässt sich
ohnehin nicht halten und so verpasst Schwarz der Gegnerin noch einen
isolierten Bauern auf d4, öffnet aber auch die c-Linie.} (14... d5 $5 15. exd5
Bxd5) 15. cxd4 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. O-O Rg8 18. g3 O-O-O 19. b5 a5 20. Rac1 b6
21. Rfe1 {Droht Txe7} Qh3 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Nc4 {[#]} Qg4 (23... Nf4 {ist ein
Schlag ins Wasser:} 24. Qf3 Ne6 25. Nxb6+ Kb8 26. Qa8#) 24. Qc2 Qd7 ({Für
Angriffszüge wie} 24... h5 {war keine Zeit:} 25. Nxb6+ Kb8 26. Nxd5 Rxd5 27.
Qxc7+ Ka8 28. b6 $19) (24... Rd7 $5 {war vielleicht besser} 25. Re4 $14) 25.
Ne3 Rge8 (25... Nxe3 26. Rxe3 Kb8 27. Rc3 Rc8 28. Rc6 $16) 26. Qc6 {Erzwingt
Damentausch, was angesichts der schwachen schwarzen Bauern für Weiß günstig
sein muss.} Qxc6 27. Rxc6 Nb4 28. Rxf6 Rxd4 29. Rxf7 Nd3 30. Rd1 Ne5 31. Rxd4
Nxf7 32. g4 Re6 33. Nf5 c5 34. bxc6 Ne5 35. Kg2 Nxc6 36. Rd6 Rxd6 37. Nxd6+ Kc7
38. Nb5+ Kd7 39. f4 Ke6 40. Kf3 Nb4 41. h4 Nd3 42. Nc7+ Kd6 {[#]} 43. g5 hxg5 (
43... Kxc7 44. gxh6 $18) 44. hxg5 Nb4 45. Nb5+ (45. g6 {war auch OK:} Nc6 46.
g7 Ne7 47. f5 Ng8 (47... Ke5 48. Nd5 $18) 48. f6 Nxf6 49. Ne8+ $18) 45... Kd5
1-0

[Event "Moscow Veterans"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gipslis, Aivars P"]
[Black "Kholmov, Ratmir D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 025"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 {An idea is to delay this
move in order to make the advance d5 more attractive. See Djurhuus,R-Arkhipov,
S (CBM 25/game 355) for an ultra-rapid d5 and Svidler, P-Steingrimsson,H for a
slower version of the d7-d5-idea.} 6. O-O {Other popular plans involves an
early a2-a4 or an early b4 (to gain space on the Q-side). Possible is also 6.
Nbd2 followed by Nf1 to save the tempi Re1. See Bologan-Westerinen (CBM 25/
game 331) and Bologan-Bjerke (CBM 25/ game 327)} a6 7. Bb3 Ba7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9.
Re1 (9. Nc4 $5 Ne7 10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Nf5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nce3
Bxf5 15. Nxf5 Nh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Qf3 c6 $10 {Berezjuk,S-Moldobaev,E (CBM 25/
game 717).}) 9... Kh8 10. h3 {10.Nf1!?} Ne7 11. d4 Ng6 12. Nf1 Be6 13. Bxe6
fxe6 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Rad8 19.
Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Re2 Kg8 21. Nd2 $14 Kf7 22. Kf1 b5 23. Ke1 Nh5 24. g3 Rd3 25. Nb3
Nf6 26. Nc5 Rd6 27. Rd2 Ke7 28. b4 Rc6 29. g4 {29.Rd3 + =} h6 30. Ke2 $6 Rxc5
$1 $10 31. bxc5 Nxe4 32. Rc2 Nxc5 33. f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ljubljana op 5th"]
[Site "Ljubljana"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sermek, Drazen"]
[Black "Polgar, Sofia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Sermek,D"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. a4 a6
9. Bb3 Ne7 10. a5 Ba7 11. h3 Ng6 12. Re1 h6 13. d4 Re8 $5 (13... Qe7 {Sermek,
D-Polgar,S, Portoroz 1994}) 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Be3 Qc8 16. Nbd2 Kh8 (16... Bxh3
17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Qe2 $16) 17. Kh2 exd4 (17... Nh5 18. Nxe5 $16) 18. cxd4 Ne7
19. Rb1 (19. Nf1 Nc6) 19... Bc6 20. Rc1 $1 (20. d5 Bxe3 21. Rxe3) 20... Bb5 (
20... Qd7 21. d5 Bb5 (21... Bxe3 $2 22. dxc6) 22. Bxa7) 21. Bb3 d5 (21... Kg8
22. e5 dxe5 23. Nxe5 Ned5 24. Qf3 $16) 22. Ne5 Rf8 (22... Kg8 23. exd5 Nexd5
24. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 25. Bxd5+ Nxd5 26. Qh5+ $16) 23. Qf3 Qe6 (23... dxe4 24. Nxe4
Nxe4 25. Qxe4 $16) 24. exd5 Qd6 $6 (24... Nexd5 25. Bxh6 $16) (24... Nfxd5 $1
25. Rxc7 Bb8 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Qxd5 f6 28. f4 fxe5 29. dxe5) 25. Bf4 Qxb4 $2 (
25... Nfxd5 26. Nxf7+ Rxf7 27. Bxd6 Rxf3 28. Bxe7 Rxf2 29. Bxd5 Rxd2 30. Bxb7
Re8 31. Bc6 Bxc6 32. Rxc6 Bxd4 33. Rxa6) 26. Rxc7 Ng6 $1 {[#]} (26... Rae8 27.
d6 $18) 27. Bxh6 $3 (27. Nxf7+ $2 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 Nxf4 29. Qxf4 Bb8) (27. Rxf7
Nxe5 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 29. dxe5 Nxd5 30. Re4 Qc5) 27... Qd6 (27... Nxe5 28. dxe5
Ne8 29. Re4 $1 $18 Qxa5 30. Rxf7) (27... Bb8 28. Nxg6+ fxg6 29. Bxg7+ Kh7 30.
Bxf8+ Bxc7+ 31. d6 $1 Rxf8 (31... Bxd6+ 32. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 33. Kg1 $18) 32. dxc7
Qxd2 33. Re7+ Kh6 34. c8=Q Rxc8 35. Qxf6 $18) 28. Qg3 $1 $18 Kh7 29. Nxg6 Qxg3+
30. fxg3 Rfc8 (30... Kxg6 31. Bf4 Kh7 32. Be5 $18) 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Ne7 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Sethuraman, SP."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Sethuraman,SP"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{I was paired against my compatriot GM Harikrishna in the second round. Is it
World Cup 2015? No 2017!! Yes strangely enough we had faced each other in the
exact same second round of the 2015 edition as well, which ended in my favour.
The first game was a short draw with the black pieces in the Berlin Defence
and the second game was very complicated and also ended into a draw forcing
the playoffs. This was the first time I had been in the playoffs in the World
Cup considering that I won the first two matches in the World Cup 2015 without
having the need to play the tiebreak as well as here in the first round too
against Ruslan I didn't have the need to play the tiebreak.  So it was
completely new to me, whereas my opponent had some hiccoughs getting through
the first round after having to play several tiebreak rounds. So he had the
experience of facing the tiebreaks and I was new to it. On one hand it can be
an advantage for my opponent but on the other hand he might be tired too after
having to play tough games every day.  It is very hard to say but it was an
interesting fight. In the first game I had a big advantage but failed to
convert it and it ended in a draw. So in the second one I got to play a fine
positional game, not making a single mistake!} 1. e4 {So yeah the second game
heated up.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {The Italian is very fashionable nowdays just
bypassing all the Spanish Ruy Lopez systems and of course the Berlin.} Bc5 4.
c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 {There are many move orders for both sides and this is
one of the orders where Black gets to play ...d5 but White makes use of his a4
to expand immediately by a5 which is not possible when he has castled.} (6. O-O
) 6... d5 $1 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a5 a6 9. O-O Bf5 {I was in my prepartion.} 10. Bg5
$6 (10. Nbd2 b5 $1 11. axb6 Nxb6 12. Nb3 Be7 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. Rxa6 Bxd3 15.
Ra1 Bxf1 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Kxf1 f6 {Alekseev,E (2636)-Predke,A (2587) Sochi
2016, and Black had a comfortable game.}) (10. Qb3 Nf6 11. Qxb7 (11. Ng5 Bxd3
$17) 11... Qd7 12. Qb3 Bxd3 13. Bxd3 Qxd3 14. Qa4 Qd5) 10... Be7 11. Bxe7 (11.
Qb3 Bxg5 12. Bxd5 Rb8) 11... Ndxe7 12. Nh4 (12. Re1 Ng6) 12... Be6 $1 13. Nd2 (
13. Bxe6 fxe6 {and Black gets his knight to f4 completely justifying allowing
his pawns to be shattered (e6)!}) 13... Nd5 14. g3 Nf4 $1 {Nevertheless the
knight reaches its destination.} 15. Ndf3 (15. Ne4 Bxc4 16. dxc4 f5 17. Qxd8
Raxd8 18. Nc5 Ne2+ 19. Kg2 Rd2 $132) 15... Bxc4 (15... Nh3+ 16. Kg2 Bc8 $5 {
of course without any doubt this is a computer's idea. It is too subtle} (16...
Bd7 17. d4 $1 g5 (17... exd4 18. Nxd4) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 gxh4 20. e6 $1
fxe6 21. Kxh3) 17. Ng1 {and it goes on! But Black gets a pleasant position.})
16. dxc4 Ne6 (16... Nd3 {First I wanted to play this move but was not sure
what the knight was doing there as White can exchange any time by Ne1.}) 17.
Re1 $6 (17. Qe2 $142 {White has to keep the queens on the board so as not to
end up defending an unpleasant ending} f6 18. b4 $11) 17... Qxd1 18. Raxd1 f6 {
I was happy with my position as I had a good pawn structure.} 19. b4 Rad8 20.
Nd2 (20. Kf1 $142) 20... Kf7 {Bringing the king into play is a imprtant tool
in the endgame.} 21. Nb3 Ne7 $1 {The knight on c6 is restricted by White's
pawn so let's re-route it to a better square...} 22. Kf1 g5 $1 23. Ng2 Nf5 {
Already the white position is unpleasant and his pieces are slowly going back
and now he lost the thread with Rd5! It's very difficult to play such
positions and defend them for a long time in rapid play.} 24. Rd5 (24. Ke2 {
trying to exchange some pieces by Ne3 as the knight is clearly bad on g2.} h5
25. Ne3 Nd6) 24... Nd6 25. c5 $2 (25. Nd2 h5 $15) 25... Nb5 $1 {The knight is
jumping all over, slowly attacking pawns one by one. All the white pawns are
now vulnerable.} 26. c4 Nc3 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Ne3 Rd3 {[%cal Gc3a2]} 29. Nc1
Rd2 30. Ne2 Na2 31. Nd5 (31. Rb1 Rxe2 {was the little trick} 32. Kxe2 Nc3+ 33.
Kd3 Nxb1 34. Kc2 Na3+ 35. Kb3 Nxc4 36. Kxc4 Nd4 $17) 31... Rb2 $19 {The rest
is just a matter of technique.} 32. f4 gxf4 33. gxf4 Nxb4 34. fxe5 Nd3 35. Rd1
Nxe5 36. Rc1 c6 37. Ne3 Nxc5 38. Rd1 Rb3 39. Nc2 Nxc4 40. Rd8 Ne3+ 41. Nxe3
Rxe3 42. Ng3 Ra3 43. Rh8 Kg7 44. Re8 Rxa5 45. h4 Ra3 46. Kg2 Rd3 47. Re7+ Kg6
48. h5+ Kh6 49. Kh3 Kg5 50. Rg7+ Kf4 51. Kh4 Rd7 52. h6 a5 53. Ne2+ Ke5 54. Nc3
b5 55. Rg1 b4 56. Re1+ Kd6 57. Ne2 b3 58. Nd4 a4 59. Rc1 b2 60. Rb1 Rb7 61. Nc2
Rb3 62. Kg4 Ne4 {I was really happy and excited to repeat my World Cup 2015
result, winning for the second time and thus qualifying for the third round.}
0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick G"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 a6 $5 7. Nbd2 d6 8.
Bb3 h6 $6 (8... Ba7 9. Re1 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 {/\ f5}) 9. Re1 Ne7 (9...
Nh5 10. Nf1 Qf6) 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bc2 Re8 13. d4 Bb6 14. h3 c6 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. Rc1 $5 Rad8 17. Bb1 $1 Ba7 $6 (17... d5 18. exd5 (18. dxe5 Nxe4) (
18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bf4 Nfd7 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Qc2 g6 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nh5 $1 (
23. c4 Nf3+ $1) 23... Re6 $1 24. c4 $1 Bxc4 $1 25. Rxe5 (25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Ng4
$2 Nf3+) 25... Rxe5 26. Nf6+ (26. Qxc4 gxh5 27. Qc2 f6 $1 $10) 26... Kg7 27.
Ng4 Re1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxf4 29. Re4 Qxe4 $3 (29... Qd2 30. Rxc4 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Rd1 32.
Re4 $1 Bc7+ 33. f4 Qg1+ 34. Kg3 Rxb1 35. Qc3+ $18) 30. Qxe4 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Bc7+
32. f4 (32. g3 $2 Bd5) 32... Bd5 33. Qe3 Rxb1 34. Qd4+ Kf8 35. Nxh6 (35. Nf6
Ke7 $1 36. Nxd5+ cxd5 $10) 35... g5 $1 36. Qh8+ Ke7 37. Ng8+ Kd7 38. Nf6+ Ke7
39. Nxd5+ cxd5 $13) 18... Bxd5 19. Bxg6 (19. dxe5 Bxe3 (19... Nxe5 20. Bxb6
Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxb6 22. Qf5 Be6 23. Qc2 g6 $10) 20. Rxe3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Nxe5)
19... exd4 $1 (19... Bxf3 20. Bxf7+ $1 (20. Qxf3 fxg6) 20... Qxf7 21. Qxf3 $14)
20. Bxf7+ $1 Qxf7 21. Bxd4 Bxa2 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 $13) 18. Qa4 b5 19. Qc2 Bb8 $6 (
19... c5 20. d5 Bd7 21. c4 Rb8 $1) 20. Rcd1 Ba7 21. Qc1 Bb6 22. Bc2 $1 (22. Nf5
Bxf5 23. exf5 e4 24. fxg6 exf3 25. gxf3 Qd7 $13) 22... c5 $2 (22... a5 23. Bb3
a4 24. Bxe6 fxe6) 23. d5 Bc8 (23... Bd7 24. Bxh6 gxh6 25. Qxh6 $18) 24. c4 $1
Kh7 25. Bd3 Bd7 26. Rf1 bxc4 27. Bxc4 Bb5 28. Qc2 $2 (28. Nf5 $1 Ng8 (28... Ne7
$2 29. Bxb5 axb5 30. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 31. Bxh6+ Kh7 32. Qg5 Ng6 33. Qxf6 Kxh6 34.
Nh4 $1 Kh7 35. Nf5 Rg8 36. Qg5 $18) 29. Nh2 $1 $16) 28... Qd7 29. b3 Ba5 30.
Nh2 Rb8 31. f4 $2 (31. f3 $1 Bxc4 32. Qxc4 Qb5 33. Qc1 $1 Ne7 34. Rf2 $16)
31... Bxc4 32. Qxc4 Rb4 $1 33. Qxa6 exf4 $5 (33... Nxe4 34. Nxe4 Rxe4 35. f5
Nh4 36. Qd3 Rb4 $13) 34. Bxf4 Bc7 $1 35. Bxh6 $3 (35. Bd2 Nxe4 $1 36. Bxb4 Nxg3
) 35... Kxh6 36. Rxf6 $1 (36. Qe2 Rbxe4 $1 37. Nxe4 Nxe4 $17) 36... gxf6 37.
Qe2 Kg7 38. Rf1 (38. Ng4 Re5 $1 39. Nxe5 fxe5 40. Nf5+ Kf8 41. Qe3 Ke8 $1)
38... Re5 39. Ng4 Qe7 40. Qd2 $1 (40. Nxe5 Qxe5 41. Nh5+ Kh8 42. Nxf6 Bd8 $1
$17) 40... Kf8 (40... Bd8 $1 41. Nf5+ (41. Rf5 Kf8 $1 42. Nxe5 (42. Rxe5 fxe5
43. Qh6+ Ke8 44. Nf5 Qg5 45. Nxd6+ Kd7) 42... fxe5 43. Rh5 Qf6) (41. Qh6+ Kg8
42. Rf5 {/\ Nh5!} Qf8 $1 43. Qe3 (43. Qh5 Rbxe4 $1 44. Nxe4 Rxe4) 43... Rxf5
44. Nxf5 c4 $1 $17) 41... Rxf5 42. exf5 Ne5) 41. Nxf6 Kg7 42. Ngh5+ (42. Rf5
Rxf5 43. Nxf5+ Kxf6 44. Nxe7 Kxe7) (42. Ng4 Qg5 43. Qf2 Nh8 $1) 42... Rxh5 43.
Nxh5+ Kh7 44. Nf6+ Kg7 45. Nh5+ (45. Qg5 Bd8 $1) (45. Ng4 Qh4 $1) 45... Kh7 46.
Nf6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Silver,A"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 b5 (9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 12. Bd3 Re8 13.
Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 {1-0 (40) Kramnik,V (2808)-Carlsen,M (2832)
Stavanger 2017}) 10. Ba2 $146 (10. Bb3 b4 11. a5 Rb8 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. Bc4 Qc8
14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Nc4 Rb5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 bxc3 18. bxc3 Rxa5 19. Rxa5
Nxa5 20. Qa4 {1/2-1/2 (20) Shankland,S (2676)-Tari,A (2593) Khanty-Mansiysk
2017}) 10... b4 11. Bg5 Rb8 12. Nbd2 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Bc4 g5 15. Bg3 Na5 16.
Bxe6 fxe6 17. d4 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nh5 19. Bh2 exd4 20. cxd4 Nc6 21. Rc1 Qd7 22.
Re3 Rb7 23. Nb3 e5 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25. Qxh5 {It is quite clear here that Black
is in a world of pain. His king is wide open, Qg6+ is threatened, Rec3 is
threatened, and e5 is under pressure as well.} Kh7 26. Rec3 $1 Nxd4 27. Bxe5 ({
The best move was} 27. Na5 $1 {as per the computer, but one would need to be
very confident no oversight had been made in the main line after} Ne2+ 28. Qxe2
{Forced since both Kh1 and Kf1 lose for White.} Rxf2 29. Qc4 $1 {Probably the
move Harikrishna missed, and White is winning.} (29. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rb2+
31. Kg1 Qd2 32. Rxc7+ Kg8 {with a draw.})) 27... Rxf2 $2 (27... Nxb3 28. Rc6 $1
$18) (27... Ne6 28. Rf3 Qe8) 28. Kh2 $2 ({Not} 28. Kxf2 $2 Nxb3+ 29. Kg3 Nxc1
30. Rc6 $1 Rb3+ 31. Kh2 Rxh3+ $1 32. Qxh3 (32. gxh3 Qd2+ 33. Kg3 Qe1+ 34. Kf3
Qe3+ 35. Kg4 Qxe4+ 36. Kg3 Ne2+ $19) 32... Qxc6 $11) (28. Nc5 $18 {is the
winner, cutting off the bishop and thus the threats.} Qf7 (28... Bxc5 29. Rxc5)
29. Qxf7+ Rxf7 30. Bxd4) 28... Ne6 $16 {Keeping tight control over c7.} ({
But not} 28... Nxb3 $2 29. Rc6 $18) 29. Rd1 Qe7 ({Avoiding the trap} 29... Qxa4
$2 30. Rf3 $18 Rxf3 31. Qxf3 Qe8 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33. Qf6) 30. Qg4 Qf7 $11 {
The danger is mostly past, and Black has now balanced the game with threats of
his own.} 31. Rc6 h5 32. Qg3 $1 (32. Qxe6 {leads to mate after} Rxg2+ $3 33.
Kh1 Rh2+ $3 34. Kxh2 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qf3+ 36. Kh2 Qe2+ 37. Kh1 Qxd1+ 38. Kg2 Qg1+
39. Kf3 Qf2#) 32... Rf1 33. Qd3 Rxd1 34. Qxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 82nd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2020.01.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "So,Wesley"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2020.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in Round 2. I drew my first game with Black against
Fabiano and then here I was playing the legendary Viswanathan Anand, one of my
biggest heroes in chess. A true living legend, he is one of the most talented
chess players of all time. Before our game I spent some time studying his best
games and they are truly aesthetically pleasing to analyse. The fact that this
man is still one of the best players in the world at the age of fifty is
incredible.} 1. e4 {In India Vishy played the Sicilian against me in blitz,
and won handily. However in classical games he mostly plays 1...e5. He has
tons of experience with 1.e4 e5 with both White and Black.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {
Here I was not sure which line exactly Vishy planned to play against the Ruy
Lopez with 3.Bb5. He usually prepares something new and very solid for Black
in his repertoire. To get an advantage against him and his preparation is
almost impossible...he prepares very deeply. So I decided to play 3.Bc4, the
Giuco Piano.} 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {With this move-order White gets the
option to delay castling and develop his other pieces first. If Black castles
short, then White gets extra options. For example the pin with Bg5 becomes
more annoying.} d6 ({If Black castles right away} 5... O-O {then 6.Bg5 or 6.
Nbd2 are very serious moves.}) 6. Nbd2 O-O {Of course there is nothing wrong
with this move, but I thought that possibly more precise was 6...a6 or 6...a5.
Black did not have to castle right away but could delay it for the time being.}
7. h3 {Controlling the g4-square, but also in some cases White can actually
attack on the kingside with g4.} a6 {Threatening to win the bishop pair with
Na5. In my preparations I noticed that Vishy has gone for the ...a6 setup more
often recently. So I thought he would play it here. He probably was thinking
that I would castle sooner or later and transpose to normal paths, but for
this game I wanted to try something different.} ({The other main alternative is
} 7... a5 {when after} 8. O-O {there have been played many games and lots of
theory.}) ({Black does not necessarily have to move his a-pawn. Another good
alternative is} 7... Ne7 {a very solid move, regrouping the knight to a better
square on g6. Black wants to play c6 and d5 in the future. This variation is
super solid also.}) 8. Bb3 {Keeping the bishop pair.} (8. a4 {is another good
way to keep the bishop, when Black can play ...a5.} a5 9. g4) 8... Be6 {
Now that White lost a tempo moving his bishop, Black offers a trade. He has
many alternatives here and the position is very flexible. Black is very solid
of course, and as typical in Giuco Piano structures, the position is very
close to equal.} 9. Bc2 ({In my view Black is completely fine after} 9. Bxe6
fxe6 10. b4 Ba7 11. O-O Qe8 {just because White has lost a tempo moving the
light-squared bishop to b3.}) 9... d5 (9... h6 {prevents Ng5, but it gives
White a hook to target on the kingside. So White can play} 10. g4 {right away,
or prepare it first with 10.Qe2.}) 10. Ng5 {[%cal Gg5e6,Gg5e4,Gg5h7] This was
the idea of the variation. White threatens to grab the bishop on e6 and win
the bishop pair. If Black retreats his e6-bishop then this knight can aim to
go to e4 instead (after exd5).} dxe4 (10... Nxe4 11. Ndxe4 dxe4 12. Qh5 h6 13.
Nxe4 Be7 14. g4 $14) ({Retreating the bishop was possible when I was going to
take} 10... Bc8 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. O-O {with a small advantage.}) 11. Nxe6 fxe6
12. dxe4 {Still following my preparation. Here I knew that 12...Qe8 was enough
to equalize, but Vishy thought for a really long time and went for it.} Bxf2+
$5 {Objectively a very good sacrifice, but perhaps not practically! Black
makes a draw here, but the problem is he has to be very precise and exact! So
it's a high risk, high reward move.} (12... Qe8 {is the solid alternative.
After} 13. O-O (13. Qe2) 13... Rd8 {White does not have time to regroup and
consolidate his forces. Black is very active and Nh5 is coming next move.}) ({
After the game Vishy mentioned} 12... Nd5 {but here White can simply play 13.
Nf3, with a better ending.} 13. Nf3 Nf4 14. Qxd8 Raxd8 15. Bxf4 Rxf4 16. O-O
$14) 13. Kxf2 {The next few moves are forced.} Ng4+ 14. Kg1 Ne3 {Black wins
the piece back, but his knight ends up trapped on c2.} 15. Qe2 Nxc2 16. Rb1
N6d4 $1 {Very precise. Black cannot afford to give White time to consolidate
his position.} 17. cxd4 Qxd4+ ({Not} 17... Nxd4 18. Qe1 Qg5 19. Kh2 {when the
White Queen will come to g3 next, and defend against all the threats.}) 18. Kh2
Rf2 19. Qg4 {This is the only move.} Ne3 20. Qxe6+ {Besides forcing Black to
spend a tempo to defend against the check, I manage to pick up a pawn or two.}
Kh8 21. Rg1 {Defending the crucial g2 spot. Now White wants to get rid of the
knight on e3. He can do this by playing Nf3 or Nb3 next, attacking the Black
Queen and allowing his bishop to capture the annoying knight next.} Qd3 $1 {
This immobilizes White's forces right now. Black is also threatening Qe2.} 22.
Qxe5 {Not only grabbing a pawn, but also the Queen is on the way to g3, where
it will defend crucial squares. Here Vishy has played perfectly so far, and he
has a way to make a draw. Your computer will probably show the drawing line in
seconds, but over the board it's not so simple to see. The problem is Black
does not even have a pawn for the piece, and one mistake immedaitely loses the
game.} Raf8 $2 {The losing mistake. This looks very natural, but after this
White manages to consolidate and defend his king.} ({Black can force a draw by
} 22... Nxg2 $1 {the variation is not that simple though; Black still has to
be very precise.} 23. Kh1 (23. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Qe2+ {leads to a perpetual
right away.} 25. Kg1 (25. Kg3 Qe1+) 25... Qe3+ $11) 23... Raf8 $1 (23... Qxh3+
24. Qh2 Qg4 25. b4 {[%cal Gb1b3] followed by Rb3 next move. White is better.})
24. Qc3 Qe2 25. Qg3 {And now Black has to find the only move} R8f7 $1 {
protecting the vital g7 pawn. Black draws in all lines, as your computer can
show you.} 26. Rxg2 (26. Qg4 Ne3) 26... Rxg2 27. Qxg2 Rf2 $11) 23. Qg3 {
[%csl Gf2,Gg1,Gg2,Gh2][%cal Gg3g7] The queen is the best defender for the king.
From g3 it controls so many squares. The game is lost for Black, just with one
mistake.} Qe2 24. b4 {Vishy missed this move. Now White activates the rest of
his queenside and it turns out that Black's threats are not lethal.} Rxg2+ (
24... Nxg2 {is simply met by} 25. Kh1 {[%cal Gg1g7] when the knight cannot
move as it would open up the g-file. Black has no attack.}) 25. Rxg2 Nxg2 {
Here White has a couple of winning moves. My choice was actually not the most
precise.} 26. Qg4 {But here Vishy resigned, although he could have played a
few more moves.} ({Stronger was} 26. Bb2 Nf4+ 27. Kh1 {[%csl Gg7] when it
turns out the counter attack on Black's king is impossible to face.} Nh5 28.
Qg2 Rf2 29. Rf1 {[%cal Gf1f8] and White wins.}) ({After} 26. Qg4 {White forces
the exchange of queens, and Black has to play} Nf4+ 27. Qxe2 Nxe2 {Now White
cannot allow Rf2+, and he has to shed a pawn} 28. Kg2 Nf4+ 29. Kf3 Nxh3+ 30.
Ke3 Nf2 31. Bb2 {this ending should be easily winning, but at least Black has
two pawns for the piece.  With this win I started the long Tata Steel Chess
journey most pleasantly. Wijk Aan Zee is one of my favorite places to play but
truthfully it is an exceptionally long tournament in the dead of Dutch winter
in a remote though lovely village on the North Sea. You need some good
encouragement early on to keep your focus all the way through. Also, this was
also only my 2nd win against Anand in classical chess and it made me feel like
I am improving!}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "So,Wesley"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{I think this year's Olympiad was significantly harder than those of other
years. First of all, it seemed like everyone was intense, strong, focused and
competitive. Secondly, it was the first time that a team had to win 10 out of
11 matches in order to gain first place (normally 9.5/11 suffices). So even
though everyone was saying we had a strong team, nothing was ever easy or
guaranteed. Every single step was dangerous. Then finally, when we should have
been able to relax knowing we'd nailed it, there was a strangely complex
tiebreak that kept everyone holding their breath.   This game was played in
the 8th round. Our team was leading 6.5/7 and Russia was only half a point
behind (they lost their match against Ukraine). I don't need to tell you how
crucial this match was in the fight for an Olympic gold medal.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 {Ian is purely a 1.e4 player with an aggressive and imaginative style.
Before this game he was very much on fire with 7 out of 7 and it wasn't a
surprise that the Russians gave him the white pieces for this match. Usually
he goes 3.d4 for a Scotch Game.} 3. Bc4 {The Giuoco Piano is an evergreen
opening and it is one of the oldest in chess, having roots all the way back to
the 17th century. It has become popular once again as a way to get a game.} Bc5
4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O ({I think he must have been inspired by a game played by
GM Karjakin in the previous round:} 5... d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3
Re8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 d5 14. Nb3 b5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16.
Rxe3 Rd6 17. Nc5 $16 Qc8 18. Ree1 Nh5 $2 19. exd5 Rxd5 20. Qa2 $18 {Karjakin,
S-Navara,D Baku 2016, and White won super quickly.}) 6. a4 {A relatively new
move, reintroduced this year by GM Grischuk. White makes sure that d3 is
firmly defended in case of a breakthrough in the center with ...d5.} ({A month
earlier Vishy Anand played} 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 (8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5)
8... Nb6 {but had to agree to a draw later on.}) (6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3 {
is the old main line. But unable to get much with it, White players found this
plan of a2-a4. The idea is to be able to develop the knight on a3 in some
cases, and to gain space on the queenside.}) 6... d6 (6... d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Nbd2 Bb6 9. Re1 $14 {White gets good control over the center and has nice
outposts for his pieces.}) 7. c3 a6 (7... a5 {is possible too.}) 8. h3 {
I think in general White does not want to commit his kingside pawns right away,
but he cannot play Re1 without fear of Ng4.} (8. Re1 {might allow} Ng4 (8...
Ba7) 9. Re2 {when my analysis runs} (9. d4 $2 exd4 10. cxd4 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4
Qh4 $19) 9... Kh8 10. d4 Ba7 11. h3 Nf6 12. Re1 exd4 (12... h6 13. Bb3) 13.
cxd4 d5 (13... Nxe4 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Rh4 dxc4 16. Qc2 f5 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Nc3 Qg6
19. Ne2 $14 {gives White too strong an initiative for the pawn.}) 14. exd5 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Nc3 Qd8 (16... Qd6 17. d5 Nb4 18. Re4 Bf5 19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Re2
$14) 17. d5 Nb4 18. Bf4 {with a position that should be close to equality.}) (
8. Nbd2 Ba7) 8... Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 {The most typical plan in this kind of pawn
structure. Black puts his knight on g6 and prepares the c6-d5 break in the
center.} ({I was also considering} 9... Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 {but I wasn't very
sure.... The point is that White really doesn't mind the exchange of
light-squared bishops and with the appearance of a knight on c4 it is not
clear if the time spent by Black is worth it.}) (9... Be6 {Even here the
exchange of the light-squared bishops on e6 will lead to the opening of the
f-file (so in my next round against Aryan Tari, I went for} 10. Nbd2 {).} Bxc4
11. Nxc4 b5 12. Ne3 $14 {in this position White remains with a slight
advantage.}) 10. d4 ({Later even Vladimir Kramnik tried his hand at the Giuoco
Piano outplaying Radjabov in a nice way:} 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 h6 (11... c6 12.
Bf1 (12. Bb3 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Nh5) 12... exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Nh5 $13
{might be better.}) 12. Bf1 (12. Bb3 Re8 13. Bc2 $14 {looks like a slight edge
for White.}) 12... Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 $6 (14... d5) 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4
Nf4 17. c5 g5 $6 {Now the position looks like a Bayonet King's Indian (an
opening you would expect from a Kramnik-Radjabov game) with a bishop on a7!}
18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Be3 $16 {Kramnik,V-Radjabov,T Baku 2016, and White won
relatively quickly from here.} (19. Ra3 $5 {as in the spirit of the King's
Indian-rook lift on the third rank!})) (10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Nxg6+ fxg6
{is excellent for Black.}) 10... Ng6 {I just continue manoeuvring my pieces.} (
{I was also looking at} 10... exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. exd5 h6 (12... Nexd5 13. Bg5
h6 14. Bh4 {gives an annoying pin on the diagonal-} g5 15. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 16.
Bxg5 $18) 13. Nc3 Nexd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qb3 c6 16. Bd2 $14 {but apparently
Black does not completely equalize here. White has a lead in development and
pressure in the open files to compensate for his isolated d-pawn.}) 11. Bd3 (
11. Nbd2 {transposes to the Kramnik game-see 10.Nbd2.}) 11... c6 (11... Nh5 {
right away is possible too.}) ({However if Black does not like all these
Nh5-f4 knight moves then} 11... Re8 12. Qc2 Be6 {is a good option. Black is
simply preparing the ...d5 break, and if this operation is successful he
equalizes completely.} (12... h6 13. Be3 d5 14. Nbd2 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16.
Nxd4 Nf4 $11)) 12. Be3 Nh5 13. Nbd2 (13. Bf1 {might be a possible improvement.}
) 13... Nhf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15. Bxd4 (15. Nxd4 d5) 15... Bxd4 (15... d5 16. Bxa7
Rxa7 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. a5 $16 {this is clearly better for White. Black's dark
squares on the queenside are far too weak to defend comfortably.}) 16. cxd4 (
16. Nxd4 Ne5 17. Re3 Qf6 {leads to a balanced position, as my knights have
good outposts in the center.}) 16... d5 17. e5 f6 (17... a5 {right away makes
a lot of sense too.}) 18. Ra3 (18. a5 fxe5 19. dxe5 Qe7) 18... fxe5 19. dxe5 {
GM Ian Nepomniatchi is always interesting and keeps surprising me by making
unexpected and quick decisions. For example here, I was almost sure that he
would recapture with the knight and then try to make use of the open e-file.} (
19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Ng6 21. Re1 Qf6 22. Nf3 Bf5 $11) 19... a5 {I wanted to
clarify the pawn structure on the queenside and not have to worry about a
possible dark square bind.} 20. Qc1 Qe7 (20... Ne6) 21. Rb3 Bf5 {I have plenty
of options here and perhaps what I chose is not the most accurate. But playing
Black in a team event means that you have to guarantee your safety first and I
chose to finish my development.} ({Both} 21... Rf7) ({and} 21... Ne6 22. g3 Qf7
{give Black good play. The undeveloped bishop on c8 gives me a moment of
concern though.}) 22. Nd4 Ne6 (22... Nh4 $5 {Stockfish's suggestion.}) 23. Nxf5
$2 {This is where the battle starts to turn in my favour.} ({White maintains
equality by} 23. Nxe6 Bxe6 24. g3 Rf7 25. f4 Raf8 $11 {when White has a strong
pawn chain although he always has to be wary of a piece sacrifice on f4.})
23... Rxf5 24. Bd3 Rf4 {There is no point in taking the pawn on e5 yet.} 25.
Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qd1 ({A more stubborn line is} 26. Rg3 Raf8 27. Nf3 Rxa4 28. Rxg6
$15) 26... Raf8 27. Rf3 Qb4 $17 {Black has a dream position. Blockading knight
on e6, full control of the f-file, and on top of that I am threatening to pick
up his queenside pawns.} 28. Rxf4 Rxf4 29. Nf3 (29. Qc2 Qc5 30. Qxc5 Nxc5 31.
b3 Kf7 $17 {and Black starts picking up loose pawns.}) 29... Qxa4 (29... Qxb2 {
might be even stronger, but I prefer to take his a-pawn as it is well-known
that a knight has the most trouble when defending against a passed rook pawn.
And besides I keep the b-file closed.}) 30. Qd3 Rf5 (30... Re4 $142 31. Rxe4
Qxe4 32. Qa3 Qb4 33. Qd3 Kf7 $19 {would make the conversion much easier but I
couldn't decide whether to keep the rooks or trade them.}) 31. Qb1 Qf4 (31...
Qb4 32. Nh2 a4 33. Ng4 c5 $19) 32. Qc2 {Preventing Ng5 by protecting the f2
pawn.} Kh7 $1 33. Re3 Qc4 {I don't mind the exchange of queens at all.} (33...
Qb4) 34. Qd1 (34. Qxc4 dxc4 35. Ra3 b6 36. Kf1 (36. Ra4 Rf4) 36... Kg8 $17)
34... Rf4 {I was getting low on time and therefore my main objective was to
reach move 40 while maintaining my substantial advantage.} (34... Qb4) 35. Rc3
Qb4 36. Qc1 (36. Rb3 Qa4 37. Qd3 b5 $19) 36... a4 {Pushing my a-pawn one step
closer to promotion.} 37. h4 Kg8 (37... Nd4 $19) 38. Qb1 Qe4 (38... Nd4) 39.
Qd1 Nd4 40. Re3 (40. Nxd4 Qxd4) 40... Nxf3+ 41. gxf3 Qf5 {Suddenly Ray Robson
on board 4, lost his game and quickly resigned against GM Grischuk. Fabiano
and Hikaru had both drawn their games against Sergey Karjakin and big Vlad
respectively. Yikes. Now I really had to win this game to tie the match.
Initially I was distracted by disappointment that we wouldn't win this match 
(which would ensure almost certain gold) but at the end of the day you have to
move on, refocus and wait for another chance.} 42. e6 Rxh4 (42... Qh3 {is
enough for a win too.}) 43. Re4 $5 {Probably the most shocking move played
against me for a long time. So Ian! I was taking my time, making sure I wasn't
missing any tricks and then suddenly he comes up with this move. Fortunately I
am too many pawns up.} (43. e7 Qh3 44. e8=Q+ Kh7) (43. f4 Qxf4 (43... Kf8) 44.
e7 Qg5+ 45. Kf1 Rh1+ 46. Ke2 Qh5+ 47. Rf3 Rxd1 48. e8=Q+ Kh7 $19) 43... Rxe4
44. fxe4 Qxe4 45. Qd2 Qxe6 46. Qa5 Qg4+ 47. Kf1 b5 48. Qc7 g5 49. Qb8+ Kh7 50.
Qd6 b4 {This is the way it went in this exciting Olympiad. Every fight was a
tough one to the absolute end. There were no sliders!} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 ({Even after} 6...
h6 {White can try the analogous} 7. a4 a5 8. Na3 O-O 9. Nc2 Re8 10. Re1 Ba7 11.
Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 Be6 (14... Nc8 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Bb3 c6
17. h3 Be6 18. Bc2 Qc7 19. d4 Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Qd2 Rad8 22. Rad1 Be6 23.
Qe3 b6 24. Nd2 c5 25. Bd3 Re7 26. d5 Bd7 27. Ra1 Nh5 28. b4 Nf4 29. bxa5 bxa5
30. Reb1 Rf8 31. Bb5 Bc8 32. Bf1 f5 33. c4 Ref7 34. Ra3 fxe4 35. Nxe4 Bf5 36.
Rab3 $14 {Caruana,F (2794)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow 2016}) 15. Bxe6 Rxe6 16. Ne3
Nc8 17. Nf5 Ne7 18. d4 exd4 19. N3xd4 Re5 $2 (19... Rxe4 $1 20. Rxe4 Nxe4 21.
Qg4 Ng5 22. h4 Nxf5 23. Nxf5 Ne6 24. Nxh6+ Kf8 25. Nf5 Qf6 $11) 20. Ng3 Ng6 21.
Qc2 c6 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Ndf5 Rd8 24. Qd2 $16 {Carlsen,M (2844)-Adams,M (2744)
Wijk aan Zee 2016 For more details see the notes to this game by Carlsen in
CBM 171.}) (6... O-O 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 g4 10. Nh4 Nh5 11. a4 a6 12.
Na3 Qg5 13. Nc2 Ba7 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. d4 Qg7 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nef5 Bxf5 18. exf5
Bc5 {Muzychuk,M (2554)-Hou,Y (2673) WChW Lvov 2016} 19. f6 $1 $36) 7. a4 $5 {
A new wrinkle instead of the more common} (7. Nbd2 {and}) (7. Bb3 {White keeps
open various options to develop his Nb1; it doesn't necessarily have to go via
d2...}) 7... Ba7 (7... O-O 8. Re1 ({After} 8. Na3 {White has to reckon with}
Na5 $5 $132) 8... Ba7 (8... h6 $5 9. h3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3
Qd7 13. Nbd2 Qf7 14. g3 Nd7 15. Kg2 a5 16. Qc2 Nc5 17. Rf1 Qd7 18. b3 Ne7 19.
Nc4 b5 20. axb5 Qxb5 21. Rb1 Nc6 $132 {Giri,A (2798)-Anand,V (2784) Zuerich
rpd 2016}) 9. h3 (9. Na3 h6 10. Nc2 Re8 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7
14. d4 exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ra8 17. f3 a5 18. Ne3 Qd7 19. Red1 b6 20.
Qc4 Rae8 21. Qb5 Qc8 22. b4 Qa8 $11 {So,W (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Wijk aan
Zee 2016}) (9. Nbd2 Ng4 $1 10. Re2 Kh8 {[%cal Yf7f5]} 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nf1 f5 13.
Bxh6 gxh6 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bd5 Bg6 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. Ng3 Qf4 18. Qxf4 Rxf4 19.
Be4 Bf7 20. Bxc6 bxc6 $132 {/=/+, Movsesian,S (2624)-Morozevich,A (2718)
Prague rpd 2002}) 9... h6 10. Nbd2 Ne7 ({The immediate} 10... Be6 {seems
stronger than the knight manoeuvre:} 11. b4 (11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nf1 Qe7 13. Be3
Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Nh5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nf4 $15 {Gundogan,S (1795)-Unlu,A (1575)
Kemer 2014}) (11. Bb3 Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. Bc2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Qxd1 {½, Wang,Y 
(2445)-Maiorov,N (2558) Moscow 2016}) 11... Qd7 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nf1 Nh5 14.
Be3 Nf4 15. b5 Ne7 16. bxa6 bxa6 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Neg6 19. N1h2 a5 20. h4
Qf7 21. g3 Nh5 22. Rc1 Nf6 23. Qc2 Bb6 24. Nd2 d5 25. e5 Nd7 26. Nb3 Ne7 27. f3
Nf5 $132 {½, Karthikeyan,M (2435)-Vaibhav,S (2535) Mumbai 2013}) ({Another
solid option is} 10... Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5
15. Qc2 Qd7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Nf5 Qe8 18. b4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nd2 Ne7 21.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Nb3 dxe4 23. dxe4 Red6 $11 {Muzychuk,M (2554)-Hou,Y (2673) WChW
Lvov 2016}) 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 c6 13. Ba2 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 $1 exd4 16.
cxd4 d5 ({Playing for the better B has concrete drawbacks, but the engine move
} 16... c5 17. Be3 $14 {is also pleasant for White.} (17. Qb3 $5)) 17. exd5 $1
exd5 18. Qd3 Ne7 19. Bd2 Bb8 20. Bb4 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Re3 Rae8 23. Ne5 $36
{Giri,A (2793)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016}) 8. Na3 Ne7 (8... O-O 9. Bg5 h6
10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 (11. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 12. Bxg5 $44 {[%cal Yd1f3,Yb3c2,Yc2e3] is
probably a good version of the positional sacrifice, White's Na3 can quickly
join the attack.}) 11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Qe2 Ne7 14. Nc2 Ng6 15. Ne3 Kh7 16.
Nf5 Ne7 17. Ne3 Ng6 18. Nf5 {½, Chocenka,D (2403)-Jasinski,M (2393) email 2014
}) (8... h6 9. Nc2 O-O 10. Ne3 Ne7 11. a5 (11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Nf5 d5 13. Qc2 Be6
14. Be3 c5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. N3h4 Nxh4 17. Nxh4 c4 18. dxc4 dxc4 19. Ba2 Bxe3
20. fxe3 Qc5 21. Rde1 Rfd8 $17 {Arakhamia Grant,K (2363)-Kantane,A (2280)
Germany 2016}) 11... c6 12. Bb3 Be6 (12... Ng6) 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qb3 Qd7 15.
Nc4 Ng6 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. Qd1 Ngf4 18. Be3 Qe7 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. g3 Ng6 21. d4
exd4 22. Ne1 Nf6 23. Qxd4 Raa8 24. Qxd6 $16 {Siebarth,M (1788)-Ritter,U (1740)
GER email 2012}) 9. Bg5 $146 {Anand decides to change tack and deviates from
his earlier win against Aronian. The players now enter uncharted territory
with a full board of pieces and an interesting position.} (9. Nc2 Ng6 10. Be3 (
10. h3 O-O 11. Re1 c6 12. Ba2 Re8 13. d4 exd4 14. Ncxd4 Nxe4 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16.
Rxe4 Rxe4 17. Ng5+ Kg8 18. Nxe4 d5 19. Ng3 Qf6 20. Be3 Bd7 21. Qb3 {Pacher,M 
(2502)-Kantor,G (2418) Budapest 2016} Rb8 $11) 10... O-O 11. Bxa7 (11. a5 $5)
11... Rxa7 12. Ne3 Ng4 ({Black wants to simplify the position, but} 12... a5
$142 {[%cal Yc7c6,Yd6d5] gives him better chances to gradually neutralise
White's pressure.}) 13. Qd2 a5 14. d4 $1 Ra8 15. dxe5 N4xe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17.
Bb3 Nd7 18. Bc2 Re8 19. f3 $1 b6 20. Rfd1 Nc5 21. b4 Nd7 22. Bb3 Nf6 23. Qd4
Qe7 $6 (23... Bd7 $142 $14 {/\} 24. Nd5 Be6) 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Ra7 26. b5
Bb7 27. c4 Qe5 28. Rac1 Qxd4+ 29. Rxd4 $16 {[%csl Ra7] Anand,V (2762)-Aronian,
L (2786) Moscow 2016/ Suddenly as if out of nowhere White has strong pressure
- to reanimate the Ra7 Black will sooner or later have to take on d5.}) 9... c6
{Giri is not worried about the doubled pawns.} (9... Ng6 {seems more
consistent, when Anand possibly intended} 10. Nh4 c6 (10... Nxh4 11. Bxh4 h6
12. d4 $5 $13) 11. Nf5 Bxf5 (11... O-O 12. Qf3 Bxf5 13. Qxf5 d5 14. Bxf6 gxf6
15. Ba2 $14) 12. exf5 Ne7 $13) 10. Nc2 O-O (10... Ng6 11. Nh4 Nf4 $5 12. Bxf4
exf4 $13 {/\} 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Qxf4 $2 Nh5 $19) 11. Nh4 (11. Bxf6 $5 gxf6 12. d4
{is principled, but far from clear and White might miss his dark
squared-bishop further on:} Bg4 (12... d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Ba2 Qd6 (14... e4
15. Nh4 f5 16. Qh5 f4 17. f3 (17. Qg5+ $6 Ng6 $15) 17... e3 18. g3 $36) 15. Ne3
Rd8 16. g3 Kh8 $132) 13. Ne3 (13. Re1 d5 14. Ba2 f5 $13) (13. Bb3 Kh8 $13)
13... Bh5 14. Be2 Kh8 15. Nh4 Bg6 $132) (11. Ne3 Ng6 {[%csl Yh7][%cal Yh7h6]}
12. Nh4 Nf4 $1 $15) 11... d5 $1 12. exd5 (12. Ba2 Qd6 {is comfortable for
Black.}) 12... Nexd5 (12... cxd5 $142 $1 13. Ba2 (13. Bxf6 dxc4 14. Bxe5 Nc6
$17) 13... Bg4 14. Qd2 Qd6 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5] seems stronger, if anyone is better
here it's Black with his centre.}) 13. Nf3 (13. Bxd5 $5 cxd5 14. Qf3 {is
interesting:} h6 ({A cooperative line is} 14... Be6 15. Nf5 e4 16. Qh3 Qd7 (
16... h6 17. Bh4 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Qd7 19. Ne3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Qxf5 21. Rxf5 Ng4 22.
Re1 exd3 23. Rxd5 $14) 17. Nce3 Ne8 18. dxe4 Nd6 19. Nxd5 Nxe4 (19... Nxf5 $2
20. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 21. Bxf6 h6 22. exf5 $18) 20. Nde7+ Kh8 21. Qg4 Nxg5 22. Qxg5
Bxf5 23. Nxf5 $14) 15. Bxf6 $8 (15. Be3 d4 $36) 15... Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17. d4
$13 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Ya1d1,Yc2e3] /+/=}) 13... Qd6 (13... Bg4 $143 14. h3 Bxf3
15. Qxf3 {is pleasant for White.}) ({However,} 13... Qc7 $5 {is at least
equivalent to the text move.}) 14. Re1 Bg4 (14... Re8 15. d4 exd4 (15... e4 16.
Ne5 $14) 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Ncxd4 $32 {+/=}) 15. Bh4 (15. Ne3 Nxe3 16. Bxe3
Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Nd5 $11 {/=/+}) (15. h3 Bh5 {/\} 16. g4 $2 e4 $1 $36 {[%cal
Rd6g3]}) 15... Rae8 16. h3 (16. Bg3 Nh5 $15) 16... Bh5 17. Bg3 Nf4 18. Bxf4
exf4 19. d4 c5 {[%csl Ga7,Gh5] Black's active piece play fully compensates for
the doubled pawns - Anand must tread with care.} 20. Be2 ({It's safer to
simplify and seek equality with} 20. Rxe8 $5 Rxe8 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Qd4 Ne4 (
22... Bxf3 23. Qxc5 Bxc5 24. gxf3 $11) 23. Qxc5 Bxc5 24. Nfd4 $11) 20... cxd4
21. Ncxd4 (21. Nfxd4 Bg6 $15) 21... Re4 22. Qc2 Rc8 (22... Bxd4 $1 23. Nxd4
Rfe8 (23... Qe5 24. Qd2 Re8 25. Kf1 Bxe2+ 26. Nxe2 $1 (26. Rxe2 f3 $40)) 24.
Red1 Bxe2 25. Nxe2 Qc5 26. Nd4 f3 $1 27. b4 (27. Nxf3 $2 Re2) (27. g3 Qh5 $36)
27... Qc7 (27... Qa7 28. g3 {[%csl Rf3]}) 28. Nxf3 Rxb4 $15) 23. Rad1 Bxf3 (
23... Qc7 24. Ng5 Rxe2 (24... Rxd4 25. Bxh5) 25. Rxe2 (25. Nxe2 $2 Qc5) 25...
Bxe2 26. Qxe2 $11) 24. Nxf3 Bxf2+ $6 {[%mdl 576] This tempting sacrifice is
the point behind Black's two previous moves, but objectively the tactics
should have worked well for White.} (24... Qc5 $142 25. Bd3 Rxe1+ $11) 25. Kxf2
Qb6+ 26. Kf1 (26. Nd4 $2 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Qxd4+ $17) 26... Nh5 27. g4 $1 ({
White can already fight for more than} 27. Nd4 Ng3+ 28. Kg1 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Qxd4+
30. cxd4 Rxc2 31. Bxa6 g5 32. Bxb7 Rxb2 33. Bd5 $132) 27... fxg3 28. Bd3 {
Anand repays the favour.} (28. Rd4 $142 $1 Rce8 $5 (28... Rxd4 29. Nxd4 Nf4 (
29... Qxd4 30. Bxh5 $18) 30. Qf5 $18) 29. a5 $1 (29. Bd1 Rxe1+ 30. Nxe1 Qe6 31.
Ng2 $14 {/+/- /\} Qxh3 $2 32. Rh4) 29... Qc6 (29... Qc5 30. Qxe4 Rxe4 31. Rd8+
Qf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Bd1 $18) 30. Rxe4 Rxe4 31. Qd2 Nf4 (31... h6 32. Bd1
Rxe1+ 33. Qxe1 $16) 32. Bd1 Rxe1+ 33. Qxe1 Qd7 34. Qd2 Qxh3+ 35. Kg1 Ne6 36.
Bb3 $16 ({or} 36. Qd7 $5 $16 {Although Black has 3 pawns for the piece, they
are not too threatening, while White's pieces are very active - he has great
winning chances.})) 28... Rxe1+ (28... Rf4 $6 29. Kg2 {leads nowhere.}) 29.
Rxe1 Nf4 (29... g6 30. Re4 Rd8 31. Bc4 $36) 30. Nd4 (30. Bxh7+ Kh8 31. Nd4 g6
32. Qe4 Qc7 33. Bxg6 fxg6 34. Qe7 Qxe7 35. Rxe7 Rc4 $11) 30... g6 31. Be4 $6 {
White has two better tries to keep an edge:} (31. Qd2 Qf6 (31... g2+ 32. Kg1
Nxd3 33. Qxd3 Qxb2 34. Qf3 $14) 32. Re3 $1 Nxd3+ (32... Qh4 33. Be4 Qxh3+ 34.
Bg2 Qd7 35. a5 $14) 33. Rf3 Qh4 34. Rxd3 Qxh3+ 35. Qg2 Qh6 36. Qxg3 Re8 (36...
Qc1+ 37. Qe1 Qxb2 38. Nf5 $1 Qc2 39. Rf3) 37. Kg2 $14) (31. Re3 $5 Qf6 (31...
Nxh3 32. Bf5 $1 $16) (31... g2+ 32. Kg1 $16) 32. Qd2 {transposes to 31.Qd2.} (
32. Rf3 Qh4 33. Qd2 Qxh3+ 34. Kg1 Nxd3 35. Rxd3 Rc5 $132)) 31... Qf6 32. Bf3 (
32. Kg1 {gives Black at least a draw with} Nxh3+ ({, but he can even play for
more with} 32... Re8 $1 $36) 33. Kg2 Nf4+ 34. Kxg3 Qg5+ 35. Kf3 Qh5+ $11) ({
Maybe the safest is} 32. Nf3 $5 Qb6 (32... Qe6 33. Qd2 $5) 33. Nd4 $11) 32...
g2+ {Wins the exchange and leads to a roughly equal endgame.} (32... Qxd4 $2
33. Re8+ Kg7 34. Rxc8 Qe3 35. Bg2 Nd3 36. Re8 $1 Qxe8 37. Qxd3 $16) (32... Rc5
33. Qe4 $1 {with the computer-like idea} g2+ 34. Kg1 Rg5 (34... Nxh3+ 35. Kxg2
$16) 35. Bg4 h5 36. Bf5 $1 Qd6 37. h4 Rxf5 38. Nxf5 gxf5 39. Qd4 $16) 33. Bxg2
(33. Kg1 $2 Qxd4+ $19) 33... Nd3+ 34. Nf3 (34. Ke2 $2 Nxe1 35. Kxe1 Qxd4 $19)
34... Nxe1 35. Kxe1 $132 b5 (35... Re8+ 36. Kf2 Qf4 $5 {seems more testing,
Black keeps the a-pawn on the board as a possible target.} 37. a5 Qc7) 36. axb5
axb5 37. Qe4 Rb8 (37... Qa6 38. Kf2 Qa2 39. Qb4 {[%cal Yf3d4]}) (37... Rd8 38.
Bf1 $11) 38. Qd4 Qe6+ 39. Kf2 Qb3 40. Ne5 {A plausible pawn sacrifice, but
White had other ways to hold the balance:} (40. Qd2 b4 41. Nd4 Qc4 42. Qe2 $11)
(40. Qb4 Qc2+ (40... Qxb4 41. cxb4 Rc8 42. Nd4 {/\} Rc4 43. Ke3 Rxb4 $2 44. b3
$18 {[%csl Rb4]}) 41. Kg3 Qe2 42. Qf4 Re8 43. Ng5 Re7 (43... Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qe5
45. Kg3 Qxf4+ 46. Kxf4 Re2 47. Bd5 $11) 44. Bf3 $11 {/\} Qxb2 $2 45. Qb8+ Kg7
46. Qd6 Re1 47. Qd4+ $40) 40... Qxb2+ 41. Kg1 (41. Kg3 $2 b4 $19) 41... Rc8 (
41... b4 42. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 (42... bxc3 $2 43. Nh6+ Kf8 44. Qf6+ Ke8 45. Bc6#)
43. Qa7+ Kf6 44. Qxb8 Qc1+ 45. Kh2 bxc3 $11) 42. Qf4 (42. Qd7 $2 Qc1+ 43. Bf1 (
43. Kh2 Qf4+ {[%cal Rc8c3]}) 43... Qg5+ 44. Kh1 Qf5 $17) (42. Nc6 $5 Re8 $5 (
42... Qb1+ 43. Kh2 (43. Kf2 Qf5+ 44. Kg1 Qe6 $15) 43... Qe1 44. c4 bxc4 45. Ne5
$11 {[%cal Yg2d5,Ye5g4]}) 43. Ne7+ Rxe7 44. Qd8+ Kg7 45. Qxe7 Qxc3 $11 {/=/+})
42... Qa2 43. c4 Qa7+ 44. Kh2 bxc4 45. Bd5 Rf8 $6 {Throws away any winning
chances. A trickier line was} (45... Rc5 $5 46. Qd4 $1 (46. Bxf7+ Kg7 47. Bxc4
Qc7 48. Nxg6 Qxf4+ 49. Nxf4 Rxc4 $19) 46... Rc7 47. Qxa7 Rxa7 48. Bxc4 Kg7 49.
Nxf7 (49. Bxf7 $2 Kf6) 49... Rc7 (49... Rxf7 50. Bxf7 Kxf7 51. Kg3 Kf6 52. Kg4
$8 (52. Kf4 $2 g5+ 53. Kg4 Kg6 54. Kg3 Kf5 55. Kf3 h5 56. Ke3 Ke5 57. Kf3 Kd4
$19) 52... h6 53. Kf4 Ke6 54. Ke4 $11 {is a TB draw}) 50. Nd6 $1 (50. Bd5 $2
Rc5 51. Bb3 Rc3 52. Bd5 Rd3 53. Bc4 Rd4 54. Bb3 Rd2+ 55. Kg1 Rd3 56. Be6 Kf6
57. Bc4 Rxh3 $19) 50... Rc6 51. Ne8+ Kf8 52. Bb5 Rc2+ 53. Kg3 Ke7 54. Kf3 $15 {
/= looks dangerous, but Black has no obvious way to exploit the position of
White's minor pieces.}) (45... Kg7 46. Nxf7 Qa2+ 47. Bg2 $1 (47. Kg3 Qa3+ 48.
Kg2 Qb2+ 49. Kg3 Qc3+ 50. Bf3 (50. Kh2 Qc2+ 51. Bg2 Qf5 $19) 50... Qf6 $19)
47... Rf8 48. Qe5+ Kxf7 49. Kg3 Qb3+ (49... Qa3+ 50. Kh2 Qe7 51. Bd5+ Ke8 52.
Bc6+ $11) 50. Kh4 $1 g5+ (50... Rd8 51. Qc7+) 51. Kh5 Qd1+ 52. Kh6 Rd8 $8 53.
Qf5+ Ke7 54. Qxg5+ Ke6 55. Qe3+ Kd6 56. Qb6+ Ke7 57. Qe3+ $11) 46. Qf6 {
[%cal Ye5g6,Ye5g4] This guarantees a draw, Black can only get into trouble, if
he wants more.} ({Also sufficient is} 46. Bxc4 Kg7 47. Nxf7 Rxf7 48. Bxf7 Qxf7
49. Qxf7+ Kxf7 50. Kg3 $11) 46... Qa2+ (46... c3 47. Nxg6 Qc7+ (47... Qb8+ $2
48. Kg2 hxg6 49. Qxg6+ Kh8 50. Qh6+ Kg8 51. Be4 $19) (47... hxg6 48. Qxg6+ $11)
48. Ne5 (48. Kg2 hxg6 49. Qxg6+ $11) 48... c2 49. Qg5+ $11) 47. Kg3 Qa7 $8 (
47... Qa3+ $4 48. Kh4 Qa7 49. Ng4 $18) 48. Kg2 (48. Kf3 Qa3+ 49. Ke4 Qa7 50.
Bxc4 Qa4 51. Kf4 {already forces Black to find} Qb4 $1 $11 {[]}) (48. Ng4 Qg1+
49. Bg2 h5 50. Nh6+ Kh7 51. Nf5 gxf5 52. Qxf5+ Kh6 53. Qf6+ $11) 48... Qa2+ 49.
Kf3 Qa3+ 50. Kg4 Qa7 51. Kf3 Qa3+ 52. Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wenzhou m"]
[Site "Wenzhou"]
[Date "2017.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2017.08.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O {The popularity of the Giuoco Piano
remains unabated, with various move-orders being refined and explored in depth.
Last year I commented on Anand-Giri, Moscow Candidates 2016 and
Karjakin-Navara, Baku olm 2016; Carlsen also mostly prefers immediate castling.
I'll follow up on my earlier notes from CBM 172 and 175 respectively.} ({
However, despite the numerous transpositional options, there can be some
differences between the text-move and} 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {, when Black is at a
crossroads:} {In CBM 176 we analysed Topalov-So, London 2016, which went} a6 (
5... O-O {I have mentioned} 6. O-O (6. a4 a5 (6... a6 {is less committal, after
} 7. O-O d5 $5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Re1 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nbd2 Nb6 12. Ba2 Qxd3 13.
a5 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nc8 16. b4 Ba7 17. Re1 {Black returned the pawn
and readily equalised with} Nd6 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfe8 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.
Kf1 Ne4 22. Bd5 c6 $11 {Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Stavanger 2017}) 7. Bg5 h6
8. Bh4 Be7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Bg3 Nh7 11. O-O Kh8 12. Qb3 Qe8 13. Rfe1 Bf6 14. Nf1
Ng5 15. Nxg5 Bxg5 16. Ne3 Ne7 17. d4 f6 18. f3 Rb8 19. Bf1 Bxe3+ 20. Rxe3 Bd7
21. Ree1 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Qa3 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qb5 25. Rf2 f5 26. Rd2 fxe4 27.
fxe4 Ng6 28. h3 {Karjakin,S (2773)-Anand,V (2783) Saint Louis blitz 2017} Qc6
29. d5 Qb6+ 30. Bf2 Rxf2 $1 31. Rxf2 Nf4 32. Qxa5 Ne2+ 33. Kf1 Ng3+ $11) (6.
Bg5 h6 (6... d6 7. Nbd2 h6 8. Bh4 g5 $2 {is unlikely to be repeated, after} 9.
Nxg5 $1 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Kg7 11. Qf3 Be6 {Carlsen,M (2840)-Karjakin,S (2785) Wijk
aan Zee 2017} 12. Bd5 $1 $16 {White would have a powerful attack. For details
see the notes in CBM 177 by G.Meier.}) 7. Bh4 {is well met by} Be7 8. Bg3 (8.
Nbd2 d6 9. a4 Nh5 $5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14. g4
Nc7 15. Nf5 d5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Qe2 Ne6 18. g3 Re8 19. Kf1 b6 20. Kg2 Bb7 21.
Rh2 c5 $132 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2783)-Kramnik,V (2789) Leuven rpd 2017}) 8...
d6 9. Nbd2 Na5 (9... g6 10. a3 Nh5 11. Nf1 Kh7 12. Ne3 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. d4
f4 15. Nh4 Nxg3 16. Qc2+ Kh8 17. Ng6+ Kg7 18. Nxf8 Qxf8 19. fxg3 fxe3 20. Rf1
Bf6 21. Qe4 exd4 22. Bd3 Qf7 23. O-O-O e2 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qxh6+ Ke7 $13 {
Salem,A (2633)-Inarkiev,E (2727) Moscow 2017}) (9... Nh5 10. Nxe5 $5 $14) 10.
Bb5 Nh5 $1 (10... a6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 Bb7 14. Ne3 Re8 15. O-O Bf8
16. Re1 Rc8 17. Bh4 c4 18. Nd2 $1 g5 19. Bg3 d5 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. dxc4 Nf4 22.
cxb5 axb5 23. Be4 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3 {Anand,V (2783)-Le,Q (2739) Saint Louis
blitz 2017} 25. Ng4 $16) 11. O-O (11. d4 Nxg3 12. hxg3 exd4 $11 {/=/+}) 11...
Nxg3 12. hxg3 a6 13. Ba4 b5 14. Bc2 c5 15. Re1 Be6 16. d4 Qc7 (16... exd4 $142
$1 17. cxd4 Bg4 $132) 17. d5 Bd7 18. b3 Nb7 19. Qe2 Rfc8 20. a4 c4 21. b4 a5 $6
(21... g6 $11) 22. axb5 axb4 {Anand,V (2783)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint
Louis blitz 2017} 23. b6 $1 $36) 6... d5 $5 {Last year, here an important game
went} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 (8. Nbd2 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4
f5 13. Ng3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qd7 15. Bd2 a6 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. c4 Na4
19. Bc1 Rad8 20. Nf1 Nc5 $17 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint
Louis blitz 2017}) 8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. a5 $1 Bxe5 (
12... Nxc4 $5 13. Nxc4 Bc7 $44) 13. axb6 Qxb6 14. Re1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Bd6 16. Nd2
Nd5 17. Ne4 Be6 18. d4 Rfe8 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Bd3 Nf6 {Anton Guijarro,D (2660)
-Howell,D (2684) Minsk 2017} 21. Qf3 Bg4 22. Bf4 $1 $14 {For details see the
notes in CBM 179 by Roiz.}) ({After} 5... d6 {White can already play} 6. O-O {
without hesitation, possibly transposing into lines from our game.} (6. a4 a6
7. Bg5 {- 5...a6})) 6. a4 d6 7. Bg5 ({The bishop sortie doesn't promise White
an advantage, but} 7. O-O {is Kramnik-Navara again, after} Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3
{we transpose into our game!}) 7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Bh4 {So played} g5 ({
A viable alternative is} 9... Qe7 10. b4 (10. O-O g5 11. Bg3 Nd7 12. d4 h5 13.
h4 g4 14. Ne1 exd4 15. Nd3 dxc3 16. bxc3 Nce5 17. Nf4 c6 18. Ba2 Nc5 19. Nc4
Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Nd7 21. Nd3 Ne5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. a5 Be6 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Rb1
Qe7 26. Qb3 O-O-O 27. Bxe5 Rh6 28. Bf4 Re6 $11 {/=/+, Demchenko,A (2645)
-Ragger,M (2656) Linares 2017}) 10... Bd7 11. Rb1 g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. b5 axb5
14. axb5 Na5 15. Bd5 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Qf6 17. Qe2 O-O 18. Nh2 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20.
Ba2 Kg7 21. Ndf1 Rfb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Be6 24. Qe2 Bxa2 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26.
Qxa2 Qe6 $11 {/=/+, Salem,A (2638)-Giri,A (2775) Geneve 2017}) 10. Bg3 O-O 11.
O-O Nh7 $5 {and even later Black did well with this idea:} 12. h3 (12. Kh1 Kh8
13. b4 (13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qb3 Bxd4 18.
Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qxa6 h5 20. f4 Rxb2 21. Rad1 h4 22. Bf2 Bg7 $36 {Swiercz,D (2647)
-Bacrot,E (2695) chess.com INT rpd 2017}) 13... f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. b5 Ne7 (
15... Na5 $142 $5) 16. bxa6 (16. Nxe5 $5 $44) 16... bxa6 17. d4 e4 18. Ne1 Bg6
19. Nc2 Nf6 20. Ne3 a5 21. Bb3 Qd7 $13 {Sethuraman,S (2619)-Yu,Y (2750) Fufeng
2017}) 12... h5 (12... Kh8 $5 13. d4 g4 14. hxg4 Bxg4 15. Be2 (15. dxe5 $5 Nxe5
16. Be2 $13) 15... Rg8 16. Kh1 Qf6 17. d5 Ne7 18. Bh4 Ng5 19. Nh2 Bc8 20. Bg4
Qg6 21. Bh5 Qg7 22. g3 Bh3 $17 {Salem,A (2656)-Ding,L (2760) Sharjah 2017}) 13.
Ne1 ({Topalov played} 13. d4) 13... g4 14. h4 Kg7 (14... Ne7 $5 $13 {[%cal
Ye7g6] /=/+}) 15. d4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nb3 exd4 $6 (17... Nf6 $142 $1 $13 {
[%cal Yf6e4]}) 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Qf6 20. Nc2 Rae8 21. Ne3 Be4 22. Qb3 Bxd4
23. Rad1 (23. Bd5 $1 $14) 23... Bc5 $2 (23... Bxe3 24. fxe3 Qe7 $13) 24. Nd5
Bxd5 25. Rxd5 $40 {Bartel,M (2641)-Brkic,A (2569) Zurich 2016}) 4... Nf6 5. d3
O-O {In this game Giri sucessfully opposed the light-squared bishop with Be6,
but this is not a universally valid method:} (5... d6 6. c3 Be6 $6 7. Bxe6 fxe6
8. b4 Bb6 9. Nbd2 a6 10. a4 Qd7 11. Ba3 Ba7 12. b5 Na5 13. Bb4 Bb6 14. Rb1 O-O
15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 axb5 17. axb5 Rfd8 18. Qe2 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4]} d5 $6 (18...
c5 19. bxc6 Nxc6 20. Bc3 $36) 19. e5 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxe4 Qd5 22. Qc2 Qc4
23. Rfc1 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 $16 {[%csl Ra5,Rb6] Fedoseev,V (2726)-Wang Yue (2699)
Dortmund 2017 Black has no compensation for his pawn, moreover his minor
pieces are misplaced.}) 6. h3 {Ding wants to limit Black's options.} ({For} 6.
c3 d5 $5 {see above} ({Naturally Black also has the restrained} 6... d6)) 6...
d6 {This is the main alternative.} ({However, even} 6... d5 {doesn't deserve
unequivocal condemnation:} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 (8. a4 f6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Nb3
Be7 11. Re1 Kh8 12. Bd2 Bg8 13. d4 {Carlsen,M (2832)-Karjakin,S (2781) Paris
rpd 2017} Bd6 $11) 8... Be6 $142 $5 (8... Re8 $6 9. Ng5 ({or even} 9. d4 $5 {
gives White a notable pull.})) 9. c3 (9. Nbd2 Bb6 10. Bb3 f6 11. Nc4 Qd7 12.
Qe2 Rad8 13. c3 Rfe8 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bc2 Kh8 16. Kh1 Bf5 17. Kg1 g5 18. Nh2
Nf4 $36 {Van Foreest,L (2350)-Gustafsson,J (2628) Germany 2017}) (9. Nxe5 $2
Nxe5 10. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 $17) 9... Bb6 10. Bb3 f6 $2 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Aronian,
L (2780) Wijk aan Zee 2017} (10... Re8 11. Ng5 Qf6 $13) 11. c4 $1 $18 {[%cal
Rc4c5]}) 7. c3 a6 8. a4 Ba7 9. Re1 {Ding ignores the bishop sortie and goes
for a manoeuvring struggle.} (9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 ({But} 11. Nxg5 {
is unconvincing:} hxg5 12. Bxg5 Kg7 13. Qf3 Rh8 14. Nd2 Kg6 (14... Qe7 $5 {
and White must still prove his compensation.}) 15. Be3 Kg7 16. Bg5 Kg6 17. Be3
Kg7 18. Rae1 ({White wants more than repetition after} 18. Bg5) 18... Be6 $6 (
18... Bxe3 19. Qg3+ Kf8 20. fxe3 Rh6 $15) 19. Qg3+ Kf8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Bxa7
Rxa7 22. f4 Rg8 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Fressinet,L (2672) Doha rpd 2016} 23.
Qf2 $44) 11... Nh5 12. Bh2 Nf4 (12... Ng7 13. Kh1 Kh8 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 f5
16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nc3 g4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qh4 21. Ne2 Nxd4
22. Bxb7 Rab8 23. Bxa6 Rxb2 24. Ra3 {½, Johnson,B (2269)-Gabris,V (2343)
email 2010} Nxe2 25. Bxe2 Rxf2 26. Rh3 Qg5 $11) 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. Nbd2 Qf6 15.
Kh2 Bd7 16. a5 Kh8 17. Qe2 Rg8 18. b4 Ne7 19. Rg1 Rg7 20. Ra2 Rag8 21. Qf1 Ng6
22. Bb3 c6 $132 {Semmler,R (2212)-Mueller,A (2130) email 2011}) 9... h6 {
Giri already played this standard move in 2017.} ({Recently in St Louis Black
tested the less usual} 9... b5 $5 10. Bb3 (10. Ba2 b4 11. Bg5 (11. d4 bxc3 12.
bxc3 Re8 13. Be3 h6 14. Nbd2 Na5 15. Rb1 Be6 16. Qc2 Bxa2 17. Qxa2 Bb6 18. Qc2
Nd7 19. Qd3 Qe7 20. Rb2 Nc6 21. Qc4 Na5 22. Qd3 Nc6 {½, Karjakin,S (2773)
-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis 2017}) 11... Rb8 12. Nbd2 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Bc4
g5 15. Bg3 Na5 $6 (15... Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Re8 $13) 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. d4 bxc3 18.
bxc3 Nh5 19. Bh2 exd4 20. cxd4 Nc6 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Re3 Rb7 23. Nb3 e5 24. Nxe5
dxe5 25. Qxh5 Kh7 26. Rec3 Nxd4 27. Bxe5 Rxf2 {Harikrishna,P (2737)-Mamedyarov,
S (2800) Geneve 2017} 28. Nc5 $1 $18) 10... b4 $5 (10... h6 11. axb5 axb5 12.
Be3 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Nbd2 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nh5 16. Nf1 Qf6 17. Qd1 b4 18. d4
bxc3 19. bxc3 Nf4 20. Ne3 Qg6 21. Kh2 Re8 (21... exd4 22. cxd4 Nb4 $132) 22.
Ba4 $1 $14 {So,W (2810)-Nakamura,H (2792) Saint Louis 2017}) 11. a5 Rb8 12.
Nbd2 Be6 13. Bc2 $5 (13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nc4 Qe8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qg6 17.
Ncd2 Nh5 18. Qf1 Rb5 19. Kh2 Qh6 20. Kg1 Qg6 21. Kh2 Qh6 22. Kg1 Kh8 23. d4 Nf4
24. h4 g5 $1 25. hxg5 Qh5 26. Qc4 exd4 27. cxd4 Nxa5 {Jakovenko,D (2703)
-Aronian,L (2809) Geneve 2017} 28. Qxc7 Rxg5 29. Nxg5 Qxg5 30. Rg3 $132) (13.
Bc4 Qc8 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Nc4 Rb5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 bxc3 18. bxc3 Rxa5 19.
Rxa5 Nxa5 20. Qa4 {½, Shankland,S (2676)-Tari,A (2593) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017}
Nb7 $11) 13... h6 14. Nf1 d5 (14... b3 15. Bb1 d5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Be3 Bxe3
18. Nxe3 Qd6 19. Ra4 Rb5 {Anand,V (2783)-Nakamura,H (2792) Saint Louis rpd 2017
} 20. d4 $1 $13 {/+/=}) 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 b3 17. Bb1 Qd6 18. Qe2 Rbe8 19.
Ra3 f5 20. Nxe5 Bd7 (20... Bc5 $5) 21. d4 Nxd4 22. cxd4 Bxd4 23. Rxb3 {Vachier
Lagrave,M (2791)-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis 2017} Bxe5 $132) ({Black has
lately faced some problems after the other main move} 9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11.
Nbd2 c6 (11... h6 {- 9...h6 & 10...Ne7}) 12. Bf1 (12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bc2 h6 14.
Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 c5 16. d5 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rxa8
Qxa8 21. b4 Qa7 22. Qa1 Qc7 23. Bxh6 cxb4 24. Bxg7 Qxc2 25. Qxf6 {Kramnik,V 
(2808)-Carlsen,M (2832) Stavanger 2017} Bxf2+ 26. Kh2 Qc3 $14 {/~~}) 12... Re8
13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 b5 15. b4 Be6 16. Nb3 Qe7 17. Bd2 h6 18. c4 Rac8 19. c5
Bb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra6 Red8 22. Na5 Qe8 23. Bc3 Nh7 24. g3 Nhf8 25. Rb6 Kh7
26. Rxb8 $1 Rxb8 27. Nxe5 $44 {/+/-, So,W (2812)-Karjakin,S (2781) Stavanger
2017}) 10. Nbd2 Be6 $5 {[%mdl 2080] Black seeks active counterplay even at the
cost of disrupting his pawn structure.} (10... Ne7 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13.
Bc2 Bd7 (13... b5 14. b4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. c4 exd4 17. cxb5 d3 18. Bxd3 Nf4
19. Bf1 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. bxa6 Qf5 22. Ra3 $1 $16 {Karjakin,S (2773)
-Svidler,P (2749) Saint Louis 2017}) 14. a5 c6 (14... Bc6 $142 $5) 15. dxe5 $1
dxe5 16. Nc4 Qe7 17. Qd6 Qxd6 18. Nxd6 Re6 19. Rd1 Rb8 20. Kf1 Re7 21. Nc4 Rbe8
22. b3 Be6 23. Nb6 (23. Ba3 $5 $14) 23... Bxb6 24. axb6 Rd7 25. Be3 Rc8 26. c4
Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 c5 28. Ne1 {1-0 (43) Vachier Lagrave,M (2791)-So,W (2810) Saint
Louis 2017} Nf4 $1 $11) (10... Re8 11. b4 (11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11 {
is too soft}) 11... Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 (13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. d4
Qd7 16. d5 Ree8 17. a5 c6 18. c4 cxd5 19. cxd5 Rac8 20. Qd3 Rc7 21. Bd2 Rec8
22. Nf5 Rc4 23. Rac1 Rxe4 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 25. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 26. Nxe1 Qd7 $15 {
Vachier Lagrave,M (2796)-Carlsen,M (2832) Paris blitz 2017}) 13... Qd7 ({
again leads to Karjakin-Navara, where Black's defensive task is far from
simple:} 13... d5 14. Nb3 Ne7 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. c4 Qd6 17. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 18. bxc5
Qxc5 19. Ba3 Qa5 20. d4 Ng6 21. Bb2 e4 $146 22. d5 Ree8 23. Nd2 e3 24. Rxe3
Rxe3 25. fxe3 Qc5 26. Bd4 Qe7 27. Qf5 c5 28. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2
gxf6 31. Rb1 Rb8 32. Ne4 Ne5 33. Nxc5 Rc8 34. Nxb7 Rxc4 35. a5 $36 {Fressinet,
L (2662)-Amin,B (2660) Sharjah 2017}) (13... Ne7 14. d4 $5 $146 ({More
energetic than} 14. Nf1) 14... Ng6 15. Bb2 c6 16. a5 Qe7 17. c4 exd4 18. Bxd4
Qc7 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. c5 $1 $36 Ra8 21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. e5 $1 $16 {Areshchenko,A
(2649)-Onischuk,A (2685) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017} {/\} Nxe5 $2 23. Rxe5 Rxe5 24.
Nc4) 14. Nf1 Ree8 (14... d5 15. Be3 $1 (15. Ng3 Rd8 16. Qb3 Ne7 17. c4 dxc4 18.
dxc4 Nc6 19. Bb2 Qd3 20. Qc3 a5 21. bxa5 Bc5 22. Rab1 Bb4 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24.
Red1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Re8 $15 {Sethuraman,S (2623)-Inarkiev,E (2723) Moscow 2017}
) 15... Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Rd8 17. b5 axb5 18. axb5 Ne7 19. c4 dxe4 20. dxe4 Ng6 21.
Ra7 $36 {Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Leuven blitz 2017}) 15. Ng3 $5 (15. Be3
Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nd8 17. Nc4 Ne6 18. a5 Rad8 19. Rad1 Nf4 20. Kh2 Qc6 21. Qb3 Ng6
22. Kg1 d5 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. d4 exd4 25. Rxd4 Qf5 26. Nce5 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 Qc8
$11 {Van Foreest,J (2551)-Tkachiev,V (2660) Stockholm 2016}) 15... a5 (15...
Ne7 16. a5 Rad8 17. c4 c6 18. Bb2 Ng6 19. d4 Bb8 20. Rad1 Qc8 21. Nf5 Bc7 22.
Rc1 Qb8 23. d5 Nf4 24. g3 Ng6 25. Qd3 {(), Chigaev,M (2531)-Sychev,K (2449)
Moscow 2017}) ({Now is maybe the right moment for} 15... d5 $5 $132) 16. b5 Ne7
17. d4 Ng6 18. Be3 Qe6 19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qe7 21. Ndf5 Qe6 22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23.
c5 $36 {Pruijssers,R (2529)-Michalik,P (2584) Germany 2014}) 11. Bxe6 {
Accepting the challenge is probably the only way to fight for an edge.} (11. b4
Nh5 12. Nf1 Qf6 13. Ne3 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Nf4 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Ng6 17. b5 axb5
18. axb5 Nce7 19. Qb3 d5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ncd2 c6 22. d4 Qd6 $132 {Carlsen,M 
(2832)-Giri,A (2771) Stavanger 2017}) 11... fxe6 12. Nf1 (12. b4 Qe8 $5 (12...
Nh5 13. Ra2 $5 $146 (13. Nf1 Nf4 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Qf6 16. b5 Ne7 17. d4
Neg6 18. Kh2 axb5 19. axb5 Rxa1 20. Qxa1 Nh4 21. Nxh4 Qxh4 22. Qa2 exd4 23.
cxd4 {Leko,P (2693)-Kobalia,M (2628) Tallinn blitz 2016} Qg5 24. g3 Qxb5 $11)
13... Qf6 14. Nc4 {[%csl Gc4]} b5 15. Ne3 Bb6 16. Ng4 Qe7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3
Rab8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra6 Nd8 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Nf7 23. Qc2 Nf6 24. Nxf6+
Qxf6 25. Rc6 Ng5 $132 {Anand,V (2786)-Carlsen,M (2832) Stavanger 2017}) 13. Nf1
Nh5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nf4 16. Rb1 b5 17. Ra1 Qg6 18. Ng3 Qf6 19. Ne2 Ng6
20. Qb3 Kh8 21. Rf1 Rab8 22. g3 Qf7 (22... Nf4 $1 23. gxf4 Qg6+ $36) 23. Nh2 d5
24. Rf3 Qd7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Kg2 Rxf3 27. Nxf3 Rf8 28. Neg1 Ra8 29. Rc1 Qd6
30. Ne1 Nge7 31. Ngf3 Ng8 32. Nc2 Nf6 33. Re1 Rf8 34. Na3 Rb8 35. Nc2 Rf8 $11 {
Karjakin,S (2773)-So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017 This game was played one day
later than Ding Liren-Giri.}) 12... Nh5 13. Be3 $146 (13. d4 Qf6 14. Be3 Nf4
15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Re3 Raa8 19. Nh2 Rf7 20. Nf3 Qc5
21. b4 Qh5 22. a5 Raf8 23. Nd4 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 e5 25. Nf5 Kh7 26. Ree1 g6 $11 {
Wen,Y (2614)-Lin,C (2526) China 2016}) (13. b4 $5 {prevents the following move,
but after} Qe8 {we are back in Karjakin-So.}) 13... a5 $5 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4
{Central expansion is usually laudable, but this allows the knight to f4,
where it will be a nuisance.} ({Another move deserving attention was} 15. g3 $1
{After} Qf6 16. N1d2 Qg6 17. Kh2 {[%cal Yd1e2,Ye1f1] White will first
consolidate his kingside and only then contemplate central or flank activity.
However, the position remains balanced after} Raa8 $132) 15... Qf6 16. Re3 (16.
dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxf2+ (17... Qxe5 $5 18. g3 $11) 18. Kh1 Qxf1+ 19. Rxf1
Rxf1+ 20. Qxf1 Ng3+ 21. Kg1 Nxf1 22. Kxf1 dxe5 23. Rd1 $44 {/=}) 16... Nf4 {
[%csl Gf4]} 17. h4 {To prepare g3, White must soften his kingside.} Qg6 18. g3
Raa8 $5 {Even though the doubled pawns could be real weakness in the future,
Giri has sufficient trust in his piece coordination to keep his central
outpost.} ({That said, even giving up the centre with} 18... exd4 19. cxd4 Nb4
$13 ({or} 19... Ra6 $5 {is far from clear.})) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 {
[%cal Rf4h3]} 21. f3 Rad8 22. Qc2 Nh5 23. Kh2 Rf6 24. Rd1 Rdf8 $1 {[%csl Rf3,
Rg3,Rh4] White's kingside is vulnerable, so Black retains the major pieces to
create more pressure.} 25. Rdd3 (25. Kg2 Rf4 $1 $15 {[%cal Rf4h4]}) 25... Qf7
26. Qd1 $6 {[%cal Yd1d8] White seeks play on the d-file, but it's ineffective
and the text move just loses time.} ({It was safer to huddle closer to the >>
with} 26. Qg2 {However, Black still has} g5 $5 (26... Rg6 27. Qf2 Qe7 28. Rd1 {
and} Rxg3 $6 {leads nowhere after} 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kf1 Rf6 32.
Ne2 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke1 $14) 27. hxg5 hxg5 (27... Rg6 28. Qd2 Rxg5 29.
Rd8 Nxg3 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Nxg3 Qf4 32. Qf2 Rxg3 33. Qxg3 Qxe3 34. Qxe5 Qf2+
35. Kh3 Qxf3+ 36. Kh2 $15 {/<=> should probably be enough for a draw.}) 28. Kg1
g4 29. Nh2 gxf3 30. Rxf3 Qg6 $15 {with nagging pressure.}) (26. Qf2 g5 $36)
26... Rg6 27. Qe1 {A sad necessity - active moves fail:} (27. Rd7 $2 Qf6 {
[%cal Rh5g3]} 28. Qe1 Nxg3 $1 (28... Rd8 29. Rxd8+ (29. Rxc7 $2 Nxg3 30. Nxg3
Qxh4+ 31. Kg2 Rd1 $1 32. Qxd1 Qxg3+ 33. Kf1 Qg1+ 34. Ke2 Rg2+ $19) 29... Qxd8
$11) 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Rg5 $1 $19 {[%cal Rf8f6,Rf6g6]}) (27. Rd8 $2 Nxg3
28. Rxf8+ Qxf8 29. Nxg3 Qf4 30. Qe1 Qxh4+ 31. Kg2 h5 32. Qf2 (32. Rd3 Qg5 $19 {
[%cal Rh5h4]}) 32... Qf4 33. Kh3 Rxg3+ 34. Qxg3 Qxe3 $17) 27... Qe7 28. Kh3 $2
{This allows a powerful sacrifice.} ({A far more resilient defence was} 28. Qf2
$142 Rxg3 $1 (28... Nf6 {[%cal Rf6g4]} 29. Qe1 Nh5 $11) (28... Nxg3 29. Nxg3
Rf4 (29... Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 {[%cal Yd3d1,Yd1h1]}) 30. Kg2 Rxh4 31. Rd1 Rh5 32. f4
(32. Rh1 Rxg3+ 33. Qxg3 Rg5 $17) 32... exf4 33. Qxf4 e5 34. Qf3 Qh4 35. Qe2 Kh7
$44) 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Qg5 $1 {[%cal Rf8f6,Rf6g6]} (30... Nf4+ 31. Kf1 Rf6
32. Ne2 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke1 Nxd3+ 35. Rxd3 Rxf3 36. Rd8+ Kh7 37. Rd7 Qh4+
38. Kd2 $16) 31. Kf1 (31. Kh2 Rf4 32. Nxh5 Rh4+ 33. Qxh4 Qxh4+ 34. Kg2 Qxh5 $17
) 31... Nxg3+ 32. Ke1 Nh5 $15 (32... h5 33. Kd1 h4 34. Kc2 $132)) (28. Rd2 $2
Nxg3 $1 (28... Rxg3 $2 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg1 $1 Nxg3 31. Rh2 Qf4 32. Rh3 $19)
29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Rff6 $19 {[%cal Rg6g5,Rf6g6]}) 28... Rxg3+ $1 {[%mdl
512]} 29. Nxg3 Nf4+ 30. Kh2 (30. Kg4 $4 Qf6 {[%cal Rf6g6]} 31. h5 Qg5#) 30...
Qxh4+ 31. Kg1 Rf6 32. Rd8+ ({The K can't escape from the danger zone:} 32. Kf2
$2 Qh2+) 32... Kh7 33. Rd2 Rg6 34. Rg2 h5 $1 (34... Qh3 $2 35. Rh2 Qxg3+ 36.
Qxg3 Rxg3+ 37. Kf2 $16) 35. Rh2 {Giving up the knight prolongs the game.} (35.
Kf2 Qh3 $1 36. Qg1 h4 $19) (35. b3 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 Qg5 $19 {[%cal Rh5h4]} (36...
Qf4 37. Kh3 Rxg3+ $19)) 35... Rxg3+ 36. Kh1 Qg5 37. Qf1 h4 38. Re1 h3 39. Rd1
Qh5 $19 40. Rd7 (40. Rf2 Rg2 41. Rdd2 Qh4 42. Rc2 c5 43. b3 Kg6 $22 44. Ra2 Kg5
45. Rfc2 Qg3 $19) 40... Qxf3+ (40... Rxf3 41. Qg1 (41. Rf2 Rg3) 41... Ng2 $19)
41. Qxf3 Rxf3 {[%cal Rf3f1]} 42. Rhd2 Kh6 43. Rd8 (43. Rxc7 g5 {[%cal Rg5g2]}
44. Rdd7 Rf1+ 45. Kh2 Rf2+ 46. Kg1 Rg2+ 47. Kf1 (47. Kh1 Nh5 $1 $19) 47... Kh5
$19) 43... Kh5 44. Rh8+ Kg4 45. Rd1 Ne2 (45... Ne2 46. Rg8 g5 47. Rgd8 Rf2 48.
R8d2 Kh4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-B 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gledura, Benjamin"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{With a powerful finish Vladislav Kovalev clearly won the Challengers group
without a single loss and 1,5 point lead. In a few games he showed mature
technique, but he was not against a complex struggle as well.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 ({The sharper line} 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 {
was the topic of my opening survey in CBM 158. Since then theory has moved
foreward somewhat:} {The more usual follow-up is} 7. Bb5 (7. Be2 d3 $5 8. exf6
dxe2 9. Qxe2+ Be6 {saw White testing} 10. b4 {, but after} Bd6 (10... Bf8 $5)
11. b5 Na5 12. fxg7 Rg8 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nd4 ({White can deviate
on more than one occasion, e.g.} 15. O-O Rxg7 16. Nbd2 Bh3 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 18.
Rfe1+ {, but I don't think Black is in serious danger after} Kf8 19. g3 a6 $132
) 15... Rxg7 16. g3 Bh3 17. Nd2 a6 18. a4 c5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qxe7+
Kxe7 22. Ne2 Bf5 23. Rb2 Rgg8 24. Nf4 Kd6 25. O-O Rab8 26. Ra2 Kc6 27. Rd1 Rgd8
28. Nf3 {Aronian,L (2765)-Harikrishna,P (2729) Kolkata blitz 2018} Nc4 $1 $15)
7... Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 {and now:} {
After} Bg6 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 f6 ({Too passive is} 13... Ne7 14. Bd3 Bg6 15.
O-O Rc8 16. Bxg6 Nxg6 17. Qb3 c5 18. a4 cxd4 19. cxd4 Ne7 20. Bg5 f6 21. exf6
gxf6 22. Bh6 $16 {Lagno,K (2541)-Yildiz Kadioglu,B (2350) Heraklio 2017}) {
However, critical seems to be} 14. Bxc6 $142 $1 (14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Be2 Bg6 16.
Bd3 (16. Qb3 Qd6 17. O-O Rae8 18. a4 a6 19. Rae1 Kh8 20. Qa2 Qd8 21. Bg5 Qd6
22. Bc1 Qd8 23. Nh2 $6 Be4 24. Ng4 Rf7 25. Ne3 Ne7 26. f3 Bg6 27. Ba3 c6 28.
Qd2 Bc7 29. Bd3 Bg3 30. Re2 Bxd3 31. Qxd3 Ng6 $17 {Maghsoodloo,P (2679)
-Chigaev,M (2604) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 16... Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Rae8 18. O-O Qf5 19.
Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Rab1 Na5 21. Ne5 c6 22. g4 Rff8 23. f4 Bc7 24. Rbe1 g6 25. Bc1
Nc4 $11 {Tauber,H (2431)-Anderson,B (2456) ICCF email 2010}) 14... bxc6 15.
exf6 Qxf6 (15... gxf6 16. Nh4 $36 {[%csl Rb6,Rg8]}) 16. Ne5 {[%csl Rb6,Ge5]
The Bb6 is misplaced, the Ne5 is powerful and Black is struggling here:} Qd6
17. O-O c5 18. f4 c4 19. Kh1 $16 Bg6 $6 20. f5 Be8 21. Rae1 Rb8 22. Bf4 $40 {
Kravtsiv,M (2623)-Petrosyan,T (2469) Al Ain 2015}) 13. Qb3 (13. Bxc6 bxc6 14.
Qa4 (14. Qd1 c5 $5 $132) 14... c5 (14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bd3 16. Qxc6 Re8 $44)
15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Nxe4 Bxe3 17. Nc3 Bb6 18. Rd1 c6 19. Qxc6 d4 $44) 13... Ne7 {
, the new wrinkle is} 14. O-O (14. Nh4 c5 $1 15. Nxg6 hxg6 $11) 14... c6 15.
Bd3 Nd2 (15... Kh8 16. Nh4 c5 17. Nxg6+ fxg6 18. Bxe4 cxd4 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20.
Bd2 $16 {[%csl Gd2,Ge4] Jones,G (2677)-Aronian,L (2780) Douglas 2018}) 16. Nxd2
(16. Bxd2 Bxd3 17. Rfe1 Bg6 18. Na4 Be4 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Bb4 Re8 21. Bxe7 Rxe7
22. Nd2 Bg6 23. Qc3 c5 24. dxc5 Rc8 25. b4 bxc5 26. bxc5 {Aronian,L (2765)
-Vidit,S (2702) Kolkata blitz 2018} Rec7 $132) 16... Bxd3 17. Rfe1 (17. Rfd1
Nf5 18. Nxd5 Be2 19. Re1 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Rxe2 Bxd4 22. Nf3 Bxe3 23. fxe3
Rac8 24. Rd1 Ne7 $11 {Inarkiev,E (2693)-Ding,L (2772) Antalya 2017}) 17... Bg6
18. Na4 Nf5 (18... Ba5 $5 19. Qxb7 Nf5 $44) 19. Qc3 (19. Nxb6 axb6 20. a4 f6
21. exf6 Qxf6 22. Nf3 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Qf4 24. Ne5 Qxe3 25. Rxe3 Rf4 26. Rb3 b5
27. Rb4 Be8 28. Nd3 {Harsha,B (2474)-Liang,A (2575) Manavgat 2018} Re4 $132)
19... f6 ({Here Black's game requires improving and already this doesn't seem
ideal, perhaps} 19... Bc7 $5) 20. Nxb6 Qxb6 21. Nf3 Nxe3 $6 (21... Rae8 22. Bf4
$14) 22. Rxe3 Rae8 23. Rae1 $36 {Lobanov,S (2515)-Malakhov,V (2691) Sochi 2018}
) 4... Nf6 5. O-O {Needless to say, the flexible Giuoco Piano remains popular
at the highest level and this was also evident in Wijk 2019.} ({We even saw
two games with the rare} 5. Nc3 {and now:} d6 (5... a6 6. Nd5 (6. Bg5 h6 7.
Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nd5 Qd8 9. c3 d6 10. d4 {is the older approach, Black has
counterplay after} exd4 11. cxd4 Ba7 $132) 6... h6 (6... Nxd5 7. Bxd5 d6 8. c3
(8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O 10. O-O Nb8 11. Qd2 (11. b4 {Kramnik,V (2800)-Aronian,
L (2794) Berlin 2018 is rather risky - see the notes in CBM 184 by Roiz}) 11...
Nd7 12. h3 c6 13. Bb3 Nc5 14. Rf2 a5 15. c3 Nxb3 16. axb3 Be6 17. c4 b5 18. Qc3
f6 $11 {/=/+, Anand,V (2759)-Aronian,L (2764) Leuven 2018 With two doubled
pawns White's pawn structure is compromised and he must tread with care.}) 8...
O-O 9. b4 Ba7 10. a4 h6 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Bb3 Ng6 13. O-O Kh8 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15.
d4 Qf6 16. Qd3 Bg4 (16... a5 $5 $132) 17. Bd1 Be6 18. g3 Bh3 19. Re1 Raa8 {
Karjakin,S (2782)-Aronian,L (2764) Leuven blitz 2018} 20. a5 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 7.
c3 d6 {is also fully viable:} 8. O-O ({White equalized (!) only with some help
after} 8. d4 $6 exd4 9. cxd4 Ba7 {[%csl Rd4,Re4]} 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. d5 Nd4 (
11... Ne5 12. Be2 Qg6 $36) 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Qc2 Qg6 14. g3 O-O (14... Bh3 15.
Bf1 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 O-O $32) 15. O-O f5 16. Be3 $1 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Bd7 18. Bd3 fxe4
19. Bxe4 Qg5 20. Rf4 Qe7 21. Raf1 g5 22. Bh7+ Kh8 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8
25. Qxc7 Qe7 26. Be4 $11 {Sermek,D (2547)-Sargissian,G (2611) Mallorca 2004}) (
8. h3 Ba7 9. a4 Be6 10. a5 $6 ({Risky, but} 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Bxe6 Qxe6 $11 {
is too sterile.}) 10... Bxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. g4 Nexd5
15. Kf1 Qd7 16. h4 {and now Stockfish indicates an effective, but difficult
solution:} Rae8 (16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne7 18. Be2 Qc6 19. Rh3 Qd5 20. Qxd5 Nfxd5
21. Bf3 c6 22. Ra4 b5 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. Re4 Rfe8 25. g5 hxg5 26. Bxg5 f6 27.
Bc1 d5 28. Rg4 $44 {[%csl Gc1,Gf3] Kramnik,V (2777)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan
Zee 2019}) 17. g5 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 (18. gxf6 Nxf6 19. Qxd4 Qc6 20. Rg1 Re4 $19) (
18. cxd4 Qc6 $19) 18... Re4 19. Qd3 Rfe8 $1 20. Bd2 (20. gxf6 Re1+ 21. Kg2 Ne3+
$1 22. Bxe3 Qg4+ 23. Kh2 Qxh4+ $19) 20... Qc6 $19) 8... O-O 9. Be3 Bxe3 (9...
Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Ne7 $11) 10. fxe3 Na5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. Bd5 c6 13. Bxf7+ $5 Qxf7
14. b4 Nc4 (14... b5 15. bxa5 Be6 16. Nh4 Qa7 $132) 15. dxc4 Qxc4 (15... Qg6
$44) 16. Qxd6 Qxc3 17. Kh1 Bh3 18. Nxe5 Qxe3 19. Qg6 {Fedoseev,V (2733)
-Mamedyarov,S (2791) Sochi rpd 2017} Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Qd4 21. Nf7 Qc4 22. Nxh6+
Kh8 23. Rg1 Be6 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Rf8 $132 {/=}) 6. Na4 {and now the
standard reaction is} Bb6 (6... Qe7 7. a3 Be6 8. Bxe6 Qxe6 9. b4 Bb6 10. O-O
O-O 11. c4 Nd7 12. Bb2 Nd4 13. Nd2 f5 14. Rc1 c5 15. exf5 Nxf5 16. Ne4 cxb4 17.
Nxb6 axb6 18. axb4 Qg6 19. Ra1 Rxa1 20. Bxa1 $11 {/+/=, Giri,A (2783)
-Shankland,S (2725) Wijk aan Zee 2019 White had a slight pull, but nothing too
serious. However, this game will be remembered for a different reason -
Shankland hallucinated in the end, resigning in a drawn position.}) 7. a3 h6 ({
Black should now, or at least on move 8 prevent the pin:} 7... O-O 8. O-O Ne7
9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Bg5 $1 Be6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nh4 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 c6
15. Re1 b5 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Qh5 e4 18. f3 b4 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe4 Ra5 21.
Qh6 Qd5 22. Rf4 bxa3 23. bxa3 Qg5 24. Qxf6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 Rc8 26. Rf2 $16 {
Karjakin,S (2778)-Topalov,V (2749) Shamkir 2018 For details see the notes to
this game in CBM 184 by Kr.Szabo.}) 8. h3 O-O (8... Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. O-O
O-O 11. b4 Qd7 12. c3 Qf7 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. a4 Nh5 15. Kh2 b5 16. Be3 bxa4 17.
Rxa4 b5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Qb3 d5 20. Re1 Nf6 21. Bd2 dxe4 22. dxe4 Ne8 23. Be3
Nd6 $11 {Riazantsev,A (2659)-Matlakov,M (2714) Sochi 2017}) 9. O-O Be6 (9...
Qe8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. b3 Nd7 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. d4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4
exd4 16. Qxd4 Qe5 17. Bb2 Qxd4 18. Bxd4 b5 19. Bb2 Rfe8 20. Rad1 Re6 21. f3 Nf6
22. Kf2 Ne8 23. Rd5 c6 24. Rd2 Nc7 25. f4 $11 {/+/=, Karjakin,S (2782)-Anand,V
(2759) Leuven blitz 2018}) 10. Re1 Bxc4 11. dxc4 Nd4 12. Nh4 Nd7 13. g3 Qf6 14.
Nxb6 Nxb6 15. c3 Ne6 16. b3 a5 17. a4 {Artemiev,V (2691)-Mamedyarov,S (2799)
Huaian blitz 2017} Nd7 $13) (5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. h3 h6 8. Nbd2 d6 9. Nf1 {
transfers the N to the >> before castling, but Black reacted sensibly and
equalized easily after} Be6 10. Ng3 Qd7 11. Qe2 Bxb3 12. axb3 Ne7 13. O-O Ng6
14. Nf5 O-O 15. Nh2 Qe6 16. b4 Ne7 17. Ng3 Ng6 18. Nf5 Ne7 19. Ng3 Ng6 20. Nf5
Ne7 $11 {½, Chigaev,M (2604)-Kovalev,V (2687) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 5... d6 6.
c3 a5 $5 {Karjakin,S (2769)-Navara,D (2742) Baku ol (Men) 42nd 2016 (7.1) 1-0
Although this isn't the main continuation, games as Karjakin-Navara, Baku op
2016 have certainly forced Black to give some thought to preventing queenside
expansion:} (6... a6 7. a4 ({Playing the Bg5 sortie before Black castles
invites a possible kingside pawn-storm:} 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Qe7 10.
b4 g5 $5 11. Bg3 Nh7 {[%cal Yh6h5]} 12. d4 $6 (12. a4 h5 13. h4 $13) 12... h5
13. h4 g4 14. Ne1 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nd3 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 O-O 18. Nf4 Qf6 19.
Qc1 Be6 20. Bd5 (20. Nxh5 Qh6 $17) 20... Bxd5 21. Nxd5 Qg7 22. Ne3 Nd4 23. Qc4
b5 24. Qd3 Rad8 25. Nb3 c5 26. Nxd4 Qxd4 $19 {Kuipers,S (2470)-Chigaev,M (2604)
Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 7... O-O (7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Re1 Nh5 $5 10. Nf1 Qf6 11.
Ne3 Bxe3 ({More natural is} 11... Nf4 $13) 12. Bxe3 Nf4 13. Nd2 g5 14. d4 $1
O-O 15. Nf1 Ne7 16. dxe5 ({White is better, but shows too much respect and
simplifies the the position instead.} 16. Ng3 $36) 16... dxe5 17. Bc5 Be6 18.
Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ne3 Bxc4 20. Nxc4 Rad8 21. Qc2 Qe6 22. Ne3 Rd7 23. Rad1 Rfd8 24.
Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Rd1 Nh5 26. Nf5 Kh7 27. h3 Ng7 28. Ne3 Ne8 29. Nf5 Ng7 $11 {
Praggnanandhaa,R (2539)-Maghsoodloo,P (2679) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 8. Re1 (8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Nh7 12. h3 h5 13. d4 h4 (13... exd4 {Topalov,
V (2760)-So,W (2794) London 2016 For details see the notes to this game in CBM
176}) 14. Bh2 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. b4 h3 $2 (17... Re8 18. Bxf7+
$5 Kxf7 19. b5 Na5 20. Nxe5+ Rxe5 21. Qxg4 Rg5 22. Qh3 Qc8 23. Qxh4 Kg8 $13)
18. b5 (18. gxh3 Bxh3 19. Kh1 $1 Bxf1 20. Qxf1 $16 {[%csl Re5,Rg8]}) 18... Ne7
19. gxh3 Bxh3 20. Nxe5 Kg7 (20... Bxf1 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Nxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bxf7 $18
{[%cal Rh2e5]}) 21. Nxf7 $6 (21. Qh5 $1 Bxf1 22. Nxf1 $40) 21... Rxf7 22. Bxf7
Bxf1 23. Bb3 Bh3 24. Be5+ Nf6 25. Bxf6+ Kxf6 26. Qf3+ {Duda,J (2738)-Kramnik,V
(2777) Wijk aan Zee 2019} Kg7 $1 27. Qf7+ Kh6 (27... Kh8 $2 28. Qf6+ Kh7 29.
Nf3 $18) 28. Qf4+ Kg7 29. Kh1 Ng6 30. Qf7+ Kh8 (30... Kh6 $143 31. Rg1 Bf5 32.
Rg2 $1 $16) 31. Qxg6 Qh4 32. Nf3 Bg2+ $1 33. Kxg2 Qxf2+ 34. Kh3 Qxf3+ $11) 8...
h6 (8... Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 (10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 {was played in
Ding Liren-Giri, for details see the notes to this game in CBM 180:} 12. b4 Qe8
13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Ra2 Qf7 (14... Nf4 15. Kh2 Qf7 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 Kh8 18.
Ng1 d5 19. Qc2 d4 20. Nc4 dxc3 21. Qxc3 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Nxb4 23. Qd2 Nxa2 24.
Nxe5 Qxf2 {Ganguly,S (2621)-Tabatabaei,M (2587) Makati 2018} 25. Ng6+ Kg8 26.
Re2 $16) 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Ne7 17. g3 a5 18. b5 Nf6 19. N1h2 Rad8 20. d4
exd4 21. cxd4 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2779)-Nakamura,H (2777) chess.com blitz 2018}
c6 $5 $132) 11. Qb3 $5 (11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bb2 (13. Qc2 Qd7 (13... d5
$143 {is the aforementioned game Karjakin-Navara.}) 14. Rb1 Rd8 15. b5 Ne7 16.
Nc4 Ng6 17. b6 {½, Van Foreest,J (2612)-Radjabov,T (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2019} (
17. Be3 $11) (17. b6 Bxb6 18. Nxb6 cxb6 19. Rxb6 d5 $11 {/=/+})) 13... Qd7 (
13... Ne7 14. c4 $5 Ng6 15. Nf1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Ng3 bxc4 18. dxc4 Re8 19.
Qc2 Qb8 20. Reb1 Qb7 21. c5 dxc5 22. bxc5 $36 {Radjabov,T (2757)-Kramnik,V 
(2777) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 14. Nf1 Ree8 15. Ng3 b5 16. Qc2 d5 17. Bc1 Rad8 18.
Bd2 dxe4 19. dxe4 Qe6 20. Rec1 Qc4 21. Be1 Bb6 22. Nd2 Qd3 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24.
Nf3 bxa4 25. Rxa4 a5 $11 {Giri,A (2772)-Sethuraman,S (2618) WCup Tbilisi 2017})
11... Qe7 12. a5 Nd8 (12... Rb8 13. Nf1 Be6 14. Be3 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qd7 16. b4
Qe6 17. Qxe6 Rxe6 18. Bxa7 Nxa7 19. Ne3 Rd8 20. c4 c6 21. Nd2 d5 22. exd5 cxd5
23. Nb3 $14 {Fedoseev,V (2703)-Negi,P (2670) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017}) 13. Nf1 Be6
14. Be3 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Ne6 17. d4 Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. dxe5 dxe5
20. Nf5 Qd7 {Chigaev,M (2604)-Esipenko,A (2584) Wijk aan Zee 2019} 21. Red1 $14
) 9. h3 a5 $5 {is the current fashion, Black goes a5 even losing a tempo, once
White has committed himself to a4:} 10. Nbd2 (10. d4 Bb6 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Be3
exd4 $5 13. cxd4 Re8 14. d5 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Ne5 (15... Nb4 $5 $13) 16. Nxe5 Rxe5
17. Nc3 c6 18. Bc4 cxd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Bc6 $11 21. f4 Re7 22. Raa3 Bxd5
23. Qxd5 Qd7 24. Qd4 Rae8 25. Rg3 f6 26. Qxf6 Kh8 27. Qf5 Qxf5 28. exf5 Rf8 $11
{Langeveld,R-Chytilek,R van Oosterom mem email 2018}) 10... Be6 {is more
testing, preparing Bb2 and retaining Bb5 as an option:} 11. b3 $5 (11. Bb5 Na7
12. d4 Nxb5 13. axb5 (13. dxc5 Na7 14. b3 $1 Re8 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 Qa6 17.
b4 axb4 18. cxb4 b5 19. Bb2 Nc6 20. Nxe5 Nxb4 $132 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)
-Grischuk,A (2783) WCup Tbilisi 2017}) 13... exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 15. Nf1 Bc4 $5
$146 (15... Bd7 16. Ng3 c6 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Qf3 d5 19. e5 Ne4 20. Bf4 Qb6 21.
Qg4 g6 22. Re2 Kh7 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Nxc6 Qxc6 25. Bg3 $16 {Leko,P (2690)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2662) Batumi 2018}) 16. Ng3 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19.
Rxe4 Qd5 20. Qf3 (20. Qg4 $1 h5 $1 21. Qf4 Bd3 22. Re3 Bxb5 23. Rg3 Rxe5 24.
Qf6 Re1+ 25. Kh2 Bf8 26. Nf5 Qe5 27. Nh6+ Kh7 28. Qxf7 $1 Qe6 $8 29. Qxh5 gxh6
30. Qxb5 (30. Bxh6 Re5 31. Bg5+ Qh6 $11) 30... Bd6 31. f4 Rg8 32. Qd3+ Rg6 33.
h4 Qf6 34. h5 Qh4+ 35. Rh3 Bxf4+ 36. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 37. Rg3 Qh4+ 38. Rh3 Qf4+ $11 {
is a line, given by D.Howell}) 20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Re6 22. Rf4 {½, Giri,A 
(2783)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee 2019} Qxb5 $15 {/\} 23. Rxf7 $2 Rg6 {
[%cal Rc4d5,Rd5f7]}) 11... d5 (11... Bxc4 12. bxc4 Nd7 {Jumabayev,R (2612)
-Grischuk,A (2772) Riadh blitz 2017} 13. Nf1 $14) 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bb6 14.
Ra2 f5 15. Ng3 Qf6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Nh5 Qf7 18. Rxe5 Nxc3 19. Rxe6 Nxd1 20.
Re7 Rad8 21. Rae2 Nc3 22. R2e5 c6 23. Rxb7 Nd5 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Re6 {All this
was Ding's preparation...} Kh7 (25... Rc8 $5 26. Bb2 $44) 26. Rxc6 Re7 27. Bxh6
gxh6 28. Bxd5 Rd6 29. Rxd6 $6 (29. Rc2 $142 $14) 29... Re1+ 30. Kh2 Bc7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (40) Ding,L (2813)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 7. Re1 (7. Nbd2
O-O 8. h3 Ba7 (8... h6 {is somewhat more popular, when we might still
transpose into our game.}) 9. Re1 Ne7 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13.
Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 (13... Qxe5 14. Qxh5 Nf4 (14... Qb5 $5) 15. d4 $8 Nxh5 16. dxe5
dxe5 17. Be3 $11 {/+/=}) 14. d4 Nf6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. dxe5 fxe5 (16... Qxe5 17.
Qf3 Be6 18. Ne3 a4 19. Bd5 (19. Bc2 $5 c6 20. Ng4 $36) 19... Kh8 20. Rad1 Rg8
21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Ng4 Qg5 23. Qxf6+ Qxf6 24. Nxf6 Raf8 25. e5 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2
dxe5 27. g4 Rxf6+ 28. Kg3 Rgf8 $132 {Praggnanandhaa,R (2539)-Korobov,A (2699)
Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 17. Qf3 (17. Qh5 $5) 17... Be6 18. Ng3 Qe7 19. Rad1 Kh8 20.
Re2 Rg8 $132 {Nguyen,A (2175)-Swicarz,M (2333) Pardubice 2018}) 7... O-O 8. h3
(8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 (10. Nxg5 $2 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 12. Qf3 Rh8 13. Nd2
Kg6 14. h4 Bg4 $1 15. Qg3 (15. Bxf6 Qd7) 15... Qd7 $17) 10... Nh7 $5 $146 (
10... Ba7 11. Na3 Nh7 (11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nc2 Bg6 14. Bh2 Nh5 15. d4 Nf6
16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Ne3 {is considered clearly advantageous for White by MVL,
but after} Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Ng4 {Giri,A (2790)-Eljanov,P (2765)
Stavanger 2016} {Black should have played} Kh7 {This is far from clear, as
shown in the notes in CBM 172 by M.Pavlovic.}) 12. Nd2 g4 13. Nb5 Bb6 14. Bb3
a4 15. Bc2 (15. Bxa4 $2 h5 16. h4 gxh3 {and White can't take no h5.}) 15... h5
16. h4 d5 $2 (16... gxh3 17. Qxh5 Kg7 18. Nc4 Ng5 19. Bh4 f6 20. g3 $1 $36 {
Vachier Lagrave}) 17. d4 dxe4 18. dxe5 Ra5 19. c4 e3 20. fxe3 Nb4 21. a3 Nd3
22. b4 (22. Re2 $142 $1) 22... axb3 23. Nxb3 Nxe1 24. Qxe1 Ra6 25. c5 Ba7 26.
Qb1 f5 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2778)-Ding,L (2816) Shenzhen 2018} 27. Nxa7 Rxa7 28.
Nd4 $18 {[%csl Rf5]}) (10... g4 11. Bh4 $1 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Kg7 13. Nd2 Rh8 14.
Bd5 Nb8 15. d4 exd4 16. Nb3 c6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxc5 cxd5 19. Qg3+ Bg4 20. Rxe5
Qc8 21. Bxf6+ Kxf6 22. Rxd5 Nc6 23. Re1 Re8 24. Rd6+ Kg5 25. Ne4+ Rxe4 26. Rxe4
Qf5 27. h4+ {1-0 (27) Areshchenko,A (2652)-Balogh,C (2629) Hungary 2018}) 11.
d4 Bb6 12. dxe5 h5 13. h4 Bg4 14. Nbd2 (14. exd6 gxh4 15. Bh2 cxd6 $13) 14...
Nxe5 15. Be2 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18. Bh2 h3 19. e5 $6 (19. Bxh5
$1 Qg5 20. Qg4 f5 21. Qxg5+ Nxg5 22. e5 Ne4 23. Re2 {is riskless for White,
when Black is the one fighting for equality}) 19... Qh4 20. Qd2 dxe5 21. Rxe5
Rad8 22. Qe2 Ng5 23. Bxb7 f6 24. Re7 Rf7 25. Rxf7 Kxf7 26. Re1 Kg6 $15 {
->, Van Foreest,J (2612)-Ding,L (2813) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) (8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Bb5
Qb8 {was played in a handful of MVL-Nakamura blitz games and is very similar
to our game.}) 8... h6 9. Nbd2 Be6 ({A sharper, but interesting idea is} 9...
a4 $5 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nf1 (11. Bxa4 Rxa4 12. Qxa4 Nb4 13. Qd1 Nxd3 14. Rf1 Ba7
15. Qc2 Nxc1 16. Raxc1 Nh5 $44 {[%csl Ga7,Gd7] Black has excellent
compensation, in practical games White hasn't been able to come up with a
constructive plan:} 17. Nc4 f5 18. Ne3 fxe4 19. Qxe4 Bc6 20. Qh4 Qe8 21. Ne1
Rf4 22. g4 Nf6 23. N1g2 Ne4 24. Qh5 Qf8 25. Nxf4 Qxf4 26. Rc2 Ng5 {0-1,
Bilguun,S (2479)-Robson,R (2670) Ulaanbaatar 2018}) (11. Nc4 Nb8 12. Bxd7 Nbxd7
13. d4 Ba7 14. dxe5 dxe5 {Papp,G (2587)-Harikrishna,P (2768) Novi Sad 2016} 15.
Qc2 $11) 11... Ne7 12. Bxd7 Nxd7 $5 (12... Qxd7 13. Ng3 Ng6 14. d4 Bb6 15. Be3
Rfe8 16. Qc2 exd4 17. Bxd4 Ne5 (17... Bxd4 18. cxd4 Qc6 19. Qd3 Qa6 $132) 18.
Nxe5 (18. Nh4 $5 $14) 18... dxe5 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. Rad1 Qe6 21. a3 b5 22. Qe2
Qc4 23. Rd3 Rad8 24. Red1 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 g6 26. f3 Kg7 27. Qd2 Re7 28. Nf1 Qc5+
29. Ne3 Rd7 $11 {Anand,V (2773)-Harikrishna,P (2729) Kolkata rpd 2018}) 13. d4
Bb6 14. Ng3 f5 15. exf5 Nxf5 16. Nxf5 Rxf5 17. Be3 e4 (17... exd4 18. Bxd4 Qf8
19. Qc2 Qf7 20. Nh4 Rg5 21. Rad1 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Nf6 23. Rd3 Rh5 24. g3 Qd7 $132
{Noble,M (2482)-Holroyd,K (2510) email 2015}) 18. Nd2 d5 19. Qg4 Qf6 20. Bxh6
Rf8 21. Be3 c5 22. Rad1 cxd4 23. cxd4 Ba5 24. Rf1 Nb8 25. Nb1 Nc6 $44 {Anand,V
(2760)-Caruana,F (2822) Stavanger blitz 2018}) 10. Bb5 Qb8 {[%cal Yb8a7];
Janowski,D-Rubinstein,A Karlsbad-01 International Masters 1907 (5) 0-1 Black
uses the fact that he hasn't played Ba7 yet to activate his Q on the /^g1-a7 -
shadows of} 11. Bxc6 {Radically changing the character of the position.} (11.
Nf1 Qa7 {After the more sedate} 12. Be3 (12. Re2 a4 13. Ng3 (13. d4 exd4 14.
Bxc6 d3 15. Qxd3 bxc6 16. Ng3 Qa6 17. Qd1 Bc4 18. Re1 Qb6 19. Nd4 Rfe8 $132 {
½, Svidler,P (2763)-Eljanov,P (2707) Palma de Mallorca 2017}) 13... Qa5 14.
Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nh4 (15. d4 Bb6 16. Be3 Rfe8 17. Qd2 exd4 18. Bxh6 dxc3 19. bxc3
Nh5 $1 $17 {Bogner,S (2588)-Anton Guijarro,D (2647) Batumi 2018}) 15... Rfe8
16. Re1 Kh7 17. Qf3 d5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Qf5+ g6 20. Nxg6 fxg6 21. Qxf6 Rf8 22.
Qh4 g5 23. Bxg5 Rxf2 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Qg6+ Kh8 {½, Mamedyarov,S (2808)
-Karjakin,S (2782) Stavanger 2018 Obviously deep preparation by both players!})
12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7 {Black should equalize without too much trouble:} 14.
a4 Ng6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qa6 (16... Rfe8 17. Qb3 Qc5 18. Ne3 Qc6 19. Qb5
Qxb5 20. axb5 Nf4 21. Red1 b6 22. Kh2 Rad8 23. g3 Ne6 $11 {Karjakin,S (2753)
-Svidler,P (2737) St Petersburg blitz 2018}) 17. g3 Rfe8 18. Qb3 Nf8 19. Qb5
Ne6 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 Qxb5 22. axb5 b6 23. Ncd2 a4 24. Nb1 d5 25. exd5 Ng5
26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 28. Nxf3 Re2 $11 {Carlsen,M (2837)-Ding,L (2774)
Saint Louis rpd 2017}) 11... bxc6 12. d4 {Consistent.} (12. Nh2 a4 13. Ndf1 Qb6
14. Qf3 Nh7 15. Ng3 Ng5 16. Qe2 f6 17. Rf1 d5 18. h4 Nf7 19. Qf3 Nd6 20. Nh5
Kh7 21. g4 Rf7 22. Ng3 g6 23. h5 g5 $15 {Andriasian,Z (2604)-Menezes,C (2415)
Montebelluna 2018 After safeguarding his kingside, Black can proceed to
develop active play on the other flank.}) 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Kovalev would prefer swapping his B to getting it sidelined.} ({
Until now Black has played only} 13... Bb6 14. Nf1 (14. b3 d5 15. e5 Nd7 16.
Nf1 c5 17. Ng3 Kh8 $6 (17... cxd4 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Qc2+ {is a
only a draw - was Black trying to avoid this?}) 18. Nh4 Qe8 19. f4 cxd4 20. f5
d3+ 21. Kh2 Bf2 22. Rf1 Bxg3+ 23. Kxg3 Nc5 24. fxe6 Qxe6 25. Kh2 Qxe5+ 26. Bf4
Qe6 27. Nf3 $16 {Stevic,H (2579)-Deac,B (2594) Batumi 2018}) 14... d5 (14... a4
15. Ng3 Ba5 16. Re3 Qb5 17. Nh4 Rfe8 18. Rf3 Nh7 19. Nhf5 Kh8 20. Nh5 Bxf5 21.
Rxf5 Qc4 22. Ng3 f6 23. Be3 Bb6 24. h4 Re7 25. a3 Qe6 26. d5 cxd5 27. Bxb6 cxb6
28. Rxd5 $16 {[%csl Ra4,Rb6,Rd6] Anand,V (2773)-Vidit,S (2702) Kolkata blitz
2018}) 15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 a4 17. Qc1 (17. Qc2 Ba5 18. Rec1 Bf5 $1 $13) 17...
Qe8 18. Ng3 Nxg3 19. fxg3 {½, Baklan,V (2608)-Kravtsiv,M (2644) Kiev 2018} Bf5
$132) 14. Re2 {I don't see a way for White to get a clear-cut advantage, but
the text move is rather passive.} (14. a3 Bxd2 15. Qxd2 Qb6 $11) (14. Re3 a4
15. a3 Ba5 16. b4 axb3 17. Nxb3 Bb6 18. a4 Re8 $13) (14. Qc2 $142 a4 $5 (14...
Qb5 15. a3 Bxd2 16. Bxd2 Bb3 $132 (16... Rab8 17. b4 $14)) 15. a3 (15. Qxc6 $2
Bc5 $1 16. dxc5 Bd7 17. Qxa8 Qxa8 $17) 15... Ba5 $5 (15... Bxd2 $11) 16. Qxc6
Re8 $32 {~~}) 14... a4 {Natural. Black had reasonable alternatives in} (14...
Qb5 {and}) (14... Re8 {, but now he can preserve his dark-squared B, which
exerts pressure on the enemy position.}) 15. a3 (15. Nf1 Qb5 $15 (15... Bc4 16.
Re3 Bxf1 17. Qxf1 d5 $15)) (15. e5 Nd5 (15... Nd7 16. Ne4 dxe5 17. dxe5 Rd8 18.
Qc2 $13) 16. Ne4 a3 $5 $15) 15... Ba5 16. e5 {Weakens the light squares, but
White has no other active possibility.} Nd5 {Very natural, but maybe not ideal.
} (16... Nd7 $5 {might be better, retaining d5 for the B:} 17. Ne4 f5 (17...
Bc4 18. Re3 f5 19. exf6 Bb3 20. Qe2 Nxf6 21. Nxf6+ Rxf6 22. Bd2 $11) 18. exf6
Bb3 19. Qd3 Nxf6 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21. Bd2 Bd5 $15) ({Interesting is also} 16...
Nh5 17. Re4 f5 18. Rh4 Qe8 $13 {, but this is a typical engine idea. Human GMs
hardly consider such moves...}) 17. Ne4 f5 (17... Ne7 {already gives White the
option} 18. Bxh6 (18. exd6 cxd6 19. Bf4 Bc7 $11) 18... gxh6 19. Nf6+ $11) 18.
Ng3 (18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Qxa4 (19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. Qxa4 Qb5 21. Qxb5 cxb5 $44)
19... Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qb3 $5 (20... Bd5 21. Rg4 Bxf3 22. gxf3 $14) 21. Qxb3 Bxb3
$44) 18... Nb6 (18... Qc8 $5 $13) 19. d5 $5 {[%mdl 576] Although maybe
objectively not the best, this sacrifice leads to murky tactical complications.
} (19. Nh4 f4 20. Nh5 Bb3 21. Qd3 Qe8 22. Qf3 Bd1 23. Bxf4 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 Qe6
25. Qc2 $44) (19. Bf4 {/\} Bc4 20. Nh4 $44) ({Gledura wants to spice it up,} 
19. Bd2 $11 {would have kept it simple instead.}) 19... Bxd5 (19... Nxd5 $5 20.
exd6 (20. Nd4 Qc8 21. exd6 Bd7 $15) 20... Qc8 21. Ne5 f4 22. Nh5 cxd6 23. Nxc6
Bb6 $5 24. Rxe6 Qxe6 25. Qxd5 Rae8 $32 26. Qxe6+ Rxe6 27. Bd2 Re2 28. Bc3 Rxf2
$44) 20. Nd4 (20. Nh4 {gives Black an extra option} Bb3 (20... Qc8 21. exd6 {
[%cal Re2e7]}) (20... f4 21. Ngf5 {leads to the game}) 21. Qd4 c5 (21... dxe5
22. Qxe5 Re8 $132) 22. Qf4 Bc4 23. Nhxf5 Bxe2 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Ng6+ Kg8 $11)
20... f4 $2 {Black needs his forces on the kingside as soon as possible.} ({
The right move was} 20... Qe8 $142 $1 21. exd6 (21. Ndxf5 dxe5 22. Bf4 Nc4 $15)
21... Qg6 22. Qc2 cxd6 23. Bf4 $5 (23. Ndxf5 Kh8 24. Ne3 $11) 23... Kh7 24.
Ndxf5 Bb3 25. Qb1 Rae8 $132) 21. Ngf5 {[%cal Rf5e7,Rc1f4,Re5d6]} Rxf5 $1 {
With all the threats looming and his Ra8+Qb8 offside, Black has hardly any
choice.} (21... f3 22. Ne7+ Kh8 23. Nxf3 $1 Bxf3 (23... Rxf3 24. Nxd5 $16) 24.
Ng6+ Kg8 25. gxf3 {/\} Rxf3 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 28. exd6 $18 {->})
22. Nxf5 Qf8 23. Nd4 $2 {Gledura returns the favour, the strong attacking
piece should have been kept in place.} ({The engine mercilessly proves White
is on top after} 23. Qc2 $1 f3 (23... Bb3 24. Qb1 $16) 24. gxf3 Re8 (24... Bxf3
25. Re3 $18) 25. Kh2 $16 {[%cal Rf5h6]}) 23... c5 24. Nf3 $8 (24. Nb5 Bb3 25.
Qf1 Bc4 26. Nxc7 Rc8 $19) 24... Bb3 25. Qd3 (25. Qf1 Bc4 26. exd6 cxd6 $17 {
and Black has a healthy extra pawn.}) 25... Bc4 26. Qc2 d5 $5 {The rook has no
escape, so Black can improve his position.} (26... Bxe2 27. Qxe2 Qf5 $17) 27.
e6 Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Nc4 (28... Qd6 $2 29. e7 {/\} Re8 30. Qb5) 29. Ne5 $2 {
Loses almost by force.} ({More resilient was} 29. Qd1 c6 (29... Nb6 30. Qe2 {
only repeats}) 30. Qxa4 Qe8 31. Qc2 Qxe6 32. b3 (32. Bxf4 Qf6 $17) 32... Nd6 (
32... Ne5 33. Nxe5 Qxe5 34. Bb2 Qd6 35. b4 $15) 33. Bxf4 Ne4 $17 {and although
Black has strong pressure, at least the material is equal.}) 29... Nxe5 30.
Qxe5 Qd6 $1 31. Bxf4 (31. Qxd6 cxd6 32. Bxf4 Ra6 $5 {[%cal Rd5d4,Rc5c4,Rg8f8,
Rf8e7]} (32... Bc7 33. Re1 Kf8 34. g4 Rb8 $19) 33. Rd1 d4 34. Bd2 Bxd2 35. Rxd2
g5 36. g3 Kg7 37. f4 gxf4 38. gxf4 Kf6 39. Re2 Ra8 $19) 31... Qxe5 32. Bxe5 Re8
33. Rd1 Rxe6 $1 $19 34. Bc3 (34. Rxd5 c6 35. Rxc5 Bb6 $19 {[%csl Re5]}) 34...
Bxc3 35. bxc3 c6 36. c4 dxc4 (36... d4 $19) 37. f3 (37. Kf1 Kf7 38. Rd7+ Kf6
39. Ra7 Re4 40. Rxa4 (40. f3 c3 $19) 40... Ke5 41. f3 Rd4 42. Ke2 c3 43. Rxd4
cxd4 44. a4 Kd5 $19) 37... Re3 38. Rc1 Rxa3 39. Rxc4 Ra1+ 40. Kf2 a3 41. Rxc5
a2 42. Rc2 (42. Ra5 c5 $19 {[%cal Rc5c1]}) 42... Rf1+ 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 {The Giuoco Piano is here to stay, at
least for a while. Only one issue back in CBM 175 I annotated the game
Karjakin-Navara, Baku olm 2016 and there have been numerous high-level
examples since - last, but not least in the World Championship match...} ({
However, in this game both players will postpone castling for quite a few
moves. while both Karjakin and subsequently Carlsen preferred} 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3
O-O 6. a4 (6. c3 d5 $5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 $5 (8. h3 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Bxc6
bxc6 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nbd2 Bf5 13. Ne4 Bg6 14. Qb3 Bf8 15. Qc2 c5 16. b3 h6 17.
Bb2 Nd5 18. Rad1 Qd7 19. c4 Nb4 20. Qb1 f6 21. Re3 Rad8 22. Rd2 Qc6 $17 {
Fedoseev,V (2667)-Shirov,A (2673) Moscow rpd 2016}) 8... Bf5 $5 ({1a)} 8... a6
9. a5 (9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Ba2 Qxd3 $5 (10... a5 11. d4 exd4 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Nbxd4
Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. Bb3 Bc6 16. Ne5 Bxe5 17. Qxe5 Re8 18. Qg3 Bd5 19. Bg5 f6
20. Bh6 Qe7 21. Bc2 Qf7 22. Rfe1 {Kryvoruchko,Y (2701)-Almasi,Z (2702) Hungary
2016} Nc4 $11) 11. a5 Nd7 12. Bb1 Qd6 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. Qc2 Ne7 $1 (14... g6 15.
Nge4 Bf5 16. Nxd6 Bxc2 17. Nxb7 Bxb1 18. Nxc5 Bc2 19. Nc4 Ne4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21.
Re1 f5 22. f3 Bc2 23. Nxe5 Rfe8 24. Bf4 $14 {Schroeder,J (2507)-Shirov,A (2674)
Helsingor 2016}) 15. Nge4 Bf5 16. Nxd6 Bxc2 17. Nxb7 Bxb1 18. Nxc5 Bf5 19. Nc4
Nc6 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. b4 Nd7 22. Be3 Nxc5 23. Bxc5 f6 24. Ne3 Be6 $11 {Cornette,
M (2583)-Naroditsky,D (2634) Grosseto Prugna 2016}) 9... Bf5 $5 (9... b5 10.
axb6 Nxb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 {Karjakin,S (2773)-Giri,A (2785) Bilbao 2016} 12. h3 Bh5
13. Bg5 $1 $14 {Roiz}) 10. Nbd2 b5 11. axb6 Nxb6 12. Nb3 Be7 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14.
Rxa6 Bxd3 15. Ra1 Bxf1 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Kxf1 f6 18. Ke2 Kf7 19. Nfd2 f5 20. g3
Bf6 $11 {Alekseev,E (2636)-Predke,A (2587) Sochi blitz 2016}) (8... a5 9. Nbd2
Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. Ne4 (11. Re1 Bg4 12. Ne4 Na7 13. h3 Bh5 14. d4 Nxb5 15.
axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Rd1 {½-½ (88) Giri,A (2782)
-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven 2016} (18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bxc7 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Nd5 21. Bxa5
dxc3 22. bxc3 Rfc8 23. Red1 Nf4 24. Kh2 h6 25. Bb4 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd5 $11 {
Kramnik,V (2812)-Aronian,L (2792) Paris rpd 2016}) 18... Qc5 19. Rxd4 Qxb5 20.
Qxb7 Rac8 $132) 11... Na7 $5 (11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Re1 Ne7 14. d4 exd4 {
Anand,V (2770)-So,W (2770) Leuven blitz 2016} 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Qxd4 $36) 12.
d4 Nxb5 13. axb5 exd4 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Qxd4 (15. Nxd4 Be6 16. Qf3 Bd5 17. Qg4
Qg6 18. Qxg6 fxg6 $1 19. b3 a4 20. Ba3 Rfd8 $15 {Asis Gargatagli,H (2499)
-Naiditsch,A (2684) Barcelona 2016}) 15... Bd7 16. Bf4 Qxd4 17. Nxd4 Rfc8 18.
Rfc1 c5 19. bxc6 Bxc6 20. b3 Bd7 21. Bd2 a4 22. bxa4 Nxa4 23. Rcb1 Nc5 $11 {
Predojevic,B (2639)-Banusz,T (2611) Austria 2015}) (8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 $1 10.
a5 (10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. Nf3 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Qc7 14. Re1 {Sedina,E (2275)
-Loiacono,A (2085) Trieste 2016} Bf5 $44 {[%cal Ya8d8]}) 10... c6 11. axb6 cxb5
12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 (14... Bb8 15. d4 Nd5 16. Nd2 f6 17.
Nef3 Bf5 18. Re1 Re8 19. Nf1 Bg6 20. Ng3 Qd7 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Bd2 Qd7 23. Qa1
Bxg3 24. hxg3 h6 25. Qf1 Qc6 26. Qe2 Bf7 27. Nh4 Qe8 28. Qxe8+ Bxe8 $44 {
Bok,B (2613)-Georgiadis,N (2470) Biel 2016}) 15. Be3 (15. Na3 Bb8 16. d4 {
Mamedov,R (2666)-Balogh,C (2614) Baku 2016} b4 $1 $44) 15... Bb8 16. d4 f6 17.
Nf3 Nd5 18. Re1 g5 (18... Qd7 $44) 19. Nfd2 Bg6 20. Nf1 h5 21. Qb3 Qd7 22. Na3
b4 23. Nc2 bxc3 24. bxc3 b5 25. Na3 b4 26. cxb4 Bf7 $132 {Alekseev,E (2636)
-Eliseev,U (2606) St Petersburg 2016}) 9. Re1 Nb6 10. Bb5 Ne7 {is a new
version of the 8...Nb6 idea, possibly a promising one:} 11. a5 c6 12. axb6 cxb5
13. Rxa7 (13. Be3 $5 $11) 13... Qxb6 14. Rxa8 Bxf2+ 15. Kh1 Rxa8 16. Rxe5 Bc5
17. Na3 Bd7 18. Nc2 Bd6 19. Re1 Nf5 20. d4 f6 21. Nb4 Bxb4 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23.
Qxb4 Qc6 24. Bf4 Be6 25. Qc5 Bd5 26. Qxc6 bxc6 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Rf4] ^-, Mamedov,
R (2688)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Doha 2016}) ({After} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 {
the safest, but not the only choice is} Be7 $5 (7... d6 8. c3 a6 9. a4 g5 10.
Bg3 (10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 12. Qf3 (12. b4 Bb6 13. Qf3 Qe7 (13... Rh8 $142
$5) 14. Na3 Be6 15. Bd5 Rh8 16. Nc4 Rag8 17. b5 Nb8 18. Nxb6 cxb6 19. Bxb7 a5
20. d4 Nbd7 21. Bc6 Kf8 22. h4 $14 {Daulyte,D (2421)-Abdumalik,Z (2389) Baku
olw 2016}) 12... Rh8 13. Nd2 Kg6 14. h4 Bg4 $1 15. Bxf6 Qd7 16. Qg3 Kxf6 17. d4
exd4 18. e5+ Ke7 19. Ne4 Rag8 20. Nf6 Qf5 21. Bd3 Qe6 22. b4 Ba7 $17 {Caruana,
F (2804)-Nakamura,H (2787) Paris blitz 2016}) 10... Ba7 (10... g4 $6 11. Bh4 $1
$44) 11. Na3 (11. Nbd2 Nh7 $1 {transposes to our game}) 11... Bg4 (11... Ne7
12. Nc2 Kg7 13. Kh1 Nh5 14. d4 f5 15. exf5 e4 16. Nxg5 Nxg3+ 17. fxg3 hxg5 18.
f6+ Rxf6 19. Rxf6 Kxf6 20. Qf1+ Bf5 21. g4 d5 22. Be2 Qd6 23. Ne3 Qf4 24. Qg1
Kg7 25. Rf1 $16 {So,W (2770)-Anand,V (2770) Leuven blitz 2016}) (11... Kg7 12.
Nc2 Be6 13. Ba2 b5 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. Bb1 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nd7 17. d4 f6 18. Bd3 c6
19. Nd2 Bf7 20. b4 Qc7 21. c4 bxa4 22. c5 a5 23. cxd6 Qxd6 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25.
Rxa4 Rxa4 26. Qxa4 $36 {Muzychuk,M (2545)-Cramling,P (2463) Chengdu 2016}) 12.
Re1 (12. Nc2 d5 $6 (12... Nh5 $142) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bh5 16.
Ra3 Kh8 17. Qd2 f5 18. Be5+ Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Kg7 20. Rg3 f4 21. Rh3 Be8 22. Qd3
$14 {[%csl Rg7] 1/2-1/2 (45) Dragun,K (2594)-Gajewski,G (2633) Poznan 2016}) (
12. h3 Bh5 13. Qe2 Ne7 14. Nc2 Ng6 15. Ne3 Kh7 16. Nf5 Ne7 17. Ne3 Ng6 18. Nf5
$11 {½,Chocenka,D (2403)-Jasinski,M (2393) email 2014}) 12... Nh5 13. h3 Bxf3
14. Qxf3 Nxg3 15. Qxg3 Qf6 16. Re2 Ne7 17. Nc2 Kg7 18. Rd1 Qf4 19. Qxf4 exf4
20. d4 Ng6 21. Ne1 Rae8 $11 {Neiksans,A (2614)-Lalith,B (2565) Warsaw 2016}) 8.
c3 (8. Bg3 d6 9. a4 $5 $13 {/\} Nh5 $6 10. Nxe5 $1 $14) 8... d6 9. Nbd2 Nh5 (
9... Na5 10. Bb5 a6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. a4 Bg4 15. b4 Nc6
16. h3 Bd7 17. Re1 Nf4 18. Nf1 Qf6 19. Ne3 Ne7 20. d4 Neg6 21. Kh2 a5 $1 $132 {
Karttunen,M (2445)-Stefansson,H (2521) Rhodes 2013}) 10. Bxe7 (10. Bg3 Nxg3 11.
hxg3 Bf6 12. Nh2 g6 13. f4 Na5 14. Ng4 Bg7 15. Bb5 c6 16. Ba4 Qb6+ 17. Rf2 exf4
18. gxf4 Qxb2 $17 {Thorhallsson,T (2454)-Godena,M (2522) Saint Vincent 2005})
10... Qxe7 11. d4 Nf4 12. Re1 Qf6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Nf1 Rd8 16.
Qb3 Qg6 17. Ng3 h5 18. h4 b6 19. Qb5 Qf6 20. Rad1 Bg4 $15 {Starostits,I (2489)
-Berzinsh,R (2422) Riga 2012}) ({3)} 6. h3 d6 (6... d5 $6 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1
Re8 9. Ng5 $1 Be6 10. c3 Nf4 11. Nxe6 Nxe6 12. Nd2 Bf8 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Bd5 Qf6
15. Be3 h6 16. Qa4 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qc4 Qd6 20. Rad1 Rad8
21. Rd2 Re7 22. Rde2 $16 {Karthikeyan,M (2435)-Monnisha,G (2070) Golden Sands
2013}) ({However, Black can postpone the advance of the Pd7 with} 6... a6 {, or
}) (6... h6 {Both are useful waiting moves and in most cases play just
tranposes into the main line,}) 7. c3 h6 (7... a6 8. Re1 Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2
Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 ({We mentioned some relevant games
after} 13... Nxd5 14. Ng3 Qd6 15. Nh4 {and}) (13... Bxd5 14. Ng3 Qd7 $5 15. Nh4
{in CBM 175}) 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Qe2 (15. Bd2 Qd6 16. Qc1 Nd5 17. d4 exd4 18.
Bxh6 Ne3 19. fxe3 d3 20. Ne4 Qd5 21. Bxd3 Qxd3 22. Nf2 Qg6 23. Bf4 Bb6 $44 {
Ponomariov,R (2709)-Anton Guijarro,D (2650) Tallinn rpd 2016}) 15... Qd7 16.
Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nd5 (17... Bd5 18. e4 Be6 $13) (17... Qd6 $5) 18. d4 exd4 19.
exd4 Bxh3 (19... Bf5 $2 20. Ne5 $1 Rxe5 (20... Nf4 21. Qf2 Nxe5 22. Bxf5 Ned3
23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Qd2 Qb5 25. b3 c5 26. Bxd3 Qxd3 27. Qxf4 Qxc3 28. Rc1 $18 {
Radjabov,T (2788)-Naiditsch,A (2712) Istanbul olm 2012}) 21. dxe5 Nf4 22. Qf2
Bxc2 23. Qxf4 Qe6 24. b3 $16 {Radjabov,T (2724)-Anand,V (2785) Dubai rpd 2014})
(19... Nf6 $5 20. Qf2 $14 {/=}) 20. Qd3 g6 21. gxh3 Qxh3 22. Nh2 $6 (22. Ne4 $1
$16) 22... Ncb4 23. cxb4 Nxb4 24. Qb3 Nxc2 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rf1 Re6 $15 {
Gauri,S (2307)-Chirila,I (2542) Chicago 2015}) 8. Re1 a5 (8... a6 9. Bb3 b5 $5
(9... Ba7 {-7...a6}) 10. Nbd2 Bb6 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. a4 Rb8 13. d4 Ng6 14. Be3
exd4 $5 15. Bxd4 c5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ne3 Qd8 19. Nd5 Bb7 20.
Nxb6 Qxb6 $11 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Carlsen,M (2857) Baku olm 2016}) 9. Bb3 (9.
Nbd2 a4 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nc4 (11. Bxa4 Rxa4 12. Qxa4 Nb4 13. Qd1 Nxd3 14. Rf1
Bc6 15. Qc2 Nf4 16. b4 Ba7 17. c4 Qc8 18. c5 Bd7 19. Nh4 Bxh3 20. Nc4 Qg4 21.
Bxf4 exf4 22. Qd3 Bxg2 23. Nxg2 f3 24. Nce3 Qg6 $40 {Drozdowski,K (1725)
-Vyzharov,I (2148) email 2010}) 11... Nb8 12. Bxd7 Nbxd7 13. d4 Ba7 14. dxe5
dxe5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 a3 17. b4 Nxe4 18. Nf5 Ndf6 19. Qc2 Qd7 20. g4 Qa4
21. Qxa4 Rxa4 22. Re3 g6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 24. h4 Kxh6 25. g5+ Kg7 26. gxf6+ Nxf6
27. Rxe5 Rd8 $15 {Papp,G (2587)-Harikrishna,P (2768) Novi Sad 2016}) 9... Re8
10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 (11. Bc2 Ba7 12. Nf1 d5 13. Qe2 b5 14. Rd1 d4 15. Ng3 a4
16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxa4 cxd3 18. Qxd3 Bd7 19. Bd2 Ne7 20. Bb3 Nc8 21. Rac1 c5 22.
Be1 Nd6 $15 {Beradze,I (2327)-Javakhadze,Z (2415) Poti 2012}) 11... Qb8 $5 (
11... Ba7 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Karjakin,S (2769) Baku 2016}) 12. d4 exd4 13.
cxd4 b5 14. dxc5 bxa4 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nb1 (16. Qxa4 Nb4 $44) 16... d5 17.
exd5 Bxd5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Be3 Rc8 20. Nc3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 a3 {Harika,D (2528)
-Adams,M (2745) Douglas 2016} 22. bxa3 Ne5 23. Qf5 Rxc3 24. Bd4 $11) 6... d6 7.
c3 a6 {was the move order, employed in New York - we will get to the
Carlsen-Karajkin games below.}) 4... Nf6 5. d3 {Technically only this move is
characteristic of the Giuoco Piano.} (5. d4 exd4 6. e5 {is (was?) a favourite
of Jobava, leading to a more open and completely different type of struggle.
This line was the topic of an opening survey in CBM 158.}) 5... a6 ({The
alternative to the typical text move is} 5... d6 6. O-O a5 $5 {, fighting for
queenside space at the cost of slightly weakening b5.} ({Black still has the
flexible} 6... h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 a6 {, now} 9. Nf1 ({The last chance to
keep more tension and play} 9. a4 $142) 9... Na5 $1 10. b4 Nxc4 11. bxc5 Na5
12. cxd6 cxd6 13. a4 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rb1 Qc7 $1 16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Nb7 18.
Nh4 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Rxb5 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3 22. Nf3 Ra5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24.
Qd2 Qb5 25. Qc3 f6 26. d4 exd4 27. Nxd4 Qd7 $11 {Giri,A (2755)-Mamedyarov,S 
(2761) Moscow 2016 petered out into sterile symmetry.}) {There followed} 7. Re1
h6 (7... O-O 8. Nbd2 Kh8 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Ng3 Bb6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13.
Rxe3 Ne7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. d4 Nc6 16. a4 Rfe8 17. h3 Kg8 18. Qe2 Ra6 19. Rd1
Qe7 20. Rd2 g6 21. Qd1 Rb6 22. Rde2 Qf8 {½, Ehlvest,J (2620)-Spassky,B (2580)
Clermont Ferrand 1989}) 8. a4 O-O 9. Na3 Be6 $5 ({For} 9... Re8 10. Nc2 Ba7 11.
Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 {see Carlsen-Adams (notes by Carlsen
in CBM 171) and Caruana-Topalov (notes by Sagar Shah in CBM 172).}) 10. Bxe6
fxe6 11. Nc2 Qe8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qg6 14. Qb3 Nd8 15. Nf5 Qf7 16. Ng3 b6
17. Rad1 Nc6 18. Qc4 Qd7 19. h3 Rf7 20. Qb5 Raf8 21. Re2 Ne7 22. Qxd7 Nxd7 23.
d4 Ng6 24. Rc2 {Aronian,L (2795)-Tomashevsky,E (2731) Moscow blitz 2016} exd4
25. cxd4 Nb8 $1 $11 {[%cal Yb8a6,Ya6b4]}) 6. a4 {This move is an integral part
of the modern treatment of the Italian.} ({For a long time White did without
it, the position after} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. O-O g5 10. Bg3 O-O
11. Bb3 {can arise via different move orders. Here Black has had good results
with} Bg4 ({The analoguous} 11... Nh7 $5 {also deserves attention.}) 12. Kh1 $6
(12. h3 $142 Bh5 13. Nc4 $5 $13 Kh7 14. Bc2 Bg6 15. Re1 Nh5 16. Bh2 Qf6 17. Ne3
Rae8 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. d4 Nf6 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qe2
Rd8 24. Rad1 Rfe8 25. Ba4 c6 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 h5 $11 {
Nikac,P (2350)-Blagojevic,D (2532) Tivat 2011}) 12... Bh5 13. Qe1 Kg7 14. Bd1
Bg6 15. Nc4 Re8 16. Bc2 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rad8 18. a4 Nh5 {[%cal Yd6d5,Yf7f5]} 19. b4
d5 20. exd5 Qxd5 21. b5 e4 $1 $17 {Chandler,M (2485)-Karpov,A (2710) Bath 1983}
) 6... d6 7. Bg5 {Topalov finally opts for this active sortie, but the two of
them had already played this line earlier and So was well prepared this time.}
({Transposing into Karjakin-Navara (CBM 175) is} 7. O-O {and now:} h6 (7... Ba7
8. Re1 (8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 Ng6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Ne3 {is
Anand-Aronian, Candidates 2016 - see the notes to this game in CBM 172 by
Marin.} a5 $5 (12... c6 13. Qc2 d5 14. Bb3 {Grischuk,A (2747)-Karjakin,S (2774)
Almaty blitz 2016} a5 $5 $132) 13. Qc2 c6 14. Rfe1 d5 15. Ba2 b6 16. Rad1 Re7
17. Nf5 Ree8 18. c4 Be6 19. cxd5 {½, Kozionov,K (2453)-Mastrovasilis,A (2555)
Riga 2016}) 8... O-O 9. h3 Ne7 (9... h6 {- 7...h6}) 10. Nbd2 (10. d4 Ng6 11.
Bd3 (11. Nbd2 {- 10.Nbd2}) 11... c6 (11... Re8 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Be3 d5 14. Nbd2
exd4 15. cxd4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Bc6 17. Bg5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 c6 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Qxb6
Bxb6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. a5 Ba7 23. d5 Rab8 24. Rad1 Bc5 25. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1
hxg6 27. Rc1 Bb4 $11 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2784) Stavanger 2016}) 12.
Be3 Nh5 13. Nbd2 Nhf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 f6 18. Ra3
fxe5 19. dxe5 a5 20. Qc1 Qe7 21. Rb3 Bf5 22. Nd4 Ne6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)
-So,W (2782) Baku 2016} 23. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 24. g3 $13 {[%cal Yf2f4]}) 10... Ng6
11. d4 c6 (11... h6 12. Bf1 $1 Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 $6 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4
Nf4 17. c5 {(), Kramnik,V (2808)-Radjabov,T (2722) Baku olm 2016}) 12. Bf1 $5 (
12. b4 exd4 13. cxd4 Nxe4 $5 (13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Be6
17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ra6 Bb6 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Ng5 Bxd4 21. Ndf3 Bf6 22. Nxe6 fxe6
23. Rxe6 $36 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Matlakov,M (2694) Doha rpd 2016}) 14. Bxf7+
Rxf7 15. Nxe4 d5 16. Nc5 h6 17. Ra3 Bf5 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qh4 20. Rf3 {
Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York 2016} Bg6 $5 $132) 12... a5 13.
dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 Be6 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. b4 axb4 17. cxb4 b5 18. Ne3 bxa4 19. Rxa4
Bxe3 20. Bxe3 (20. Rxe3 $14) 20... Rxa4 21. Qxa4 Nxe4 22. Rc1 Bd5 23. b5 $44 {
Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York rpd plof 2016}) 8. Nbd2 (8. Na3 O-O
9. Nc2 (9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb3 Ne7 11. Nc2 Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Re8 14. Qc2 Ng4
15. Qa2 Rf8 16. h3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Qe7 18. Rf2 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Raf1 Rf6 21.
a5 Raf8 22. c4 Nh4 $11 {Jakovenko,D (2712)-Matlakov,M (2684) Poikovsky 2016})
9... Ne7 (9... Re8 {see Anand-Kramnik, Moscow blitz 2016.}) 10. a5 (10. d4 exd4
11. cxd4 Ba7 12. Bd3 c5 13. b3 cxd4 14. Ncxd4 Bg4 15. Bb2 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Re1
Nf5 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qg5+ 22. Rg4 Qe7 $44 {
Abasov,N (2552)-Golubov,S (2481) Baku op 2016}) 10... Ng6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3
Ng4 13. h3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qe7 15. Qb3 Kh8 16. Rf2 Bd7 17. Raf1 Rab8 18. Kh2 f6
19. Kg1 Rfe8 20. Nd2 Nf8 21. Nf3 Ng6 {½, Salgado Lopez,I (2662)-Lenic,L (2622)
Baku olm 2016}) 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Re1 Be6 10. b4 (10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nf1 Nh5
12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qe8 14. b4 Nf6 15. Ng3 a5 16. b5 Ne7 17. c4 Ng6 18. Rf1
b6 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Qe2 Rd7 21. Nh5 Rdf7 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Rxf6 Rxf6 $11 {
Anand,V (2770)-Kramnik,V (2812) Leuven blitz 2016}) 10... Ba7 11. h3 Bxc4 12.
Nxc4 Re8 13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qc2 Raa8 18.
Nc4 Qd5 19. Ne3 Qd7 20. Nc4 Qf5 21. b5 axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 e4 24. bxc6
exf3 $132 {Topalov,V (2761)-Kramnik,V (2812) Paris blitz 2016}) 9... Re8 (9...
Ba7 10. Re1 (10. b4 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. b5 Bd7 14. Qc2 Nh5 $5 15.
bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa6 exd4 17. Bc4 d3 18. Bxd3 Qf6 19. Nb3 Ngf4 20. Nbd4 Qg6 21.
Bf1 Nxh3+ 22. Kh1 Ng5 $40 {Rebord,M (2488)-Sadowski,M (2510) email 2010}) 10...
Nh5 $5 (10... Re8 {can after} 11. b4 {lead to positions from the 9...Re8 line.}
) 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 (12. Ne3 Nf4 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. d4 Bxg4 16.
hxg4 Qxg4 17. e5 (17. Qd3 {see Giri-So, Bilbao 2016}) 17... Rae8 18. exd6 cxd6
19. Qb3 Qd7 20. Bd5 g5 21. Be4 Re7 22. Qd5 Rfe8 23. Nxg5 Ne5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25.
Bh7+ Kg7 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. Qxf7+ Qxf7 28. Nxf7 Re2 $11 {Espinosa Aranda,A 
(2438)-Antoli Royo,J (2441) Monzon 2016}) 12... Nf4 (12... Bxe3 $142 13. Nxe3
Nf4 $13) 13. d4 $5 (13. Ng3 g5 14. Nh2 Ne7 15. Ng4 Qg6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Ne3 h5
18. d4 Be6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Qd7 {Seils,J (2366)-Rabiega,R (2524)
Germany 2004} Qf7 22. f3 Nc6 23. Rad1 Raa8 $11) 13... Ne7 14. N1h2 Neg6 15. Bf1
Re8 16. Qd2 exd4 17. Bxd4 Qe7 18. Rad1 Bd7 19. a5 Ba4 20. Ra1 Bc6 21. g3 Ne6
22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. Nd4 Nxd4 24. cxd4 Raa8 25. Bg2 $14 {Antipov,M (2557)-Gledura,
B (2585) Bastia 2016}) ({2a)} 9... Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Nc4 $13 {
/+/= A similar position arose in Giri-Kramnik. Leuven blitz 2016. This version
with the rook on f1 is perhaps slightly better for White.}) 10. Re1 Be6 11.
Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 {Now in my opinion the most logical is} Qd7 ({2b1)
} 13... Re8 14. Nf1 Ne7 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. c4 Nd7 17. a5 Ndf8 18. Be3 Ne6 19. c5
d5 $6 (19... Ngf4 $142) 20. d4 $1 dxe4 21. Nxe5 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxg6 e3
24. fxe3 Qxb4 25. Nf4 $16 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Nguyen,N (2629) Doha rpd 2016}) (
13... d5 14. Nb3 dxe4 (14... b5 $6 {[%csl Rc5]} 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 {
Karjakin,S (2769)-Navara,D (2742) Baku olm 2016} Re8 $5 17. Nc5 Qd6 $14 {
For more details see the notes to this game in CBM 175.}) 15. dxe4 Ne7 (15...
Qe8 16. Bd2 $14 {[%cal Yc3c4]}) 16. Be3 (16. c4 $5) 16... Bxe3 17. Rxe3 b6 18.
a5 Nc8 19. Qe2 (19. c4 $14) 19... Nd6 20. Nfd2 Qc8 21. c4 Nb7 22. Nf3 bxa5 (
22... c5 $1 $11) 23. Nxa5 Nxa5 24. Rxa5 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Borisek,J 
(2561) Doha rpd 2016} Qf8 25. Qe1 Rb8 $132) ({2b4)} 13... Nh5 14. Nf1 Qf6 15.
N1h2 (15. b5 $142) 15... Ree8 16. Ng4 Qe6 17. Rb1 Nf6 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. c4 Bxe3
$1 20. Bxe3 Ng6 21. d4 exd4 22. Bxd4 Nd7 $132 {[%cal Yd7e5] Grischuk,A (2752)
-Jakovenko,D (2714) Novosibirsk 2016}) (13... Ne7 {is another solid and
patient move - see CBM 175.}) 14. Nf1 (14. Nb3 Ree8 15. Bd2 Ne7 16. c4 Ng6 17.
Bc3 $2 (17. d4 $11) 17... Nh5 18. d4 Nhf4 19. Re3 Nxg2 $1 20. Kxg2 Nf4+ 21. Kg1
Qxh3 22. Ne1 Qg4+ 23. Kf1 Qh5 24. Kg1 Re6 $1 25. Ra2 Rae8 26. c5 {Khairullin,I
(2630)-De Jong,J (2447) Novi Sad 2016} Rg6+ 27. Rg3 Rg4 $1 $40 {[%cal Rg4h4]})
14... Ree8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Ne7 (16... Nd8 17. Nc4 Ne6 $11 {Van Foreest,J
(2551)-Tkachiev,V (2660) Stockholm 2016}) 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nc6 19. Nef5 d5
20. Nxc6 Qxc6 21. e5 Ne4 22. Nd4 Qc4 23. Re3 c5 24. bxc5 Qxc5 $132 {Van
Foreest,J (2614)-Kharchenko,B (2450) Novi Sad 2016}) 7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 (8. O-O {
won't force Black to automatically follow suit and castle. Interesting is} h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ne7 $5 (10... Bg4 11. Nbd2 Nh5 12. Kh1 (12. b4 Nxg3 13. hxg3
Qf6 14. b5 Na5 15. bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa6 h5 17. Re1 h4 18. Nf1 Be6 19. d4 hxg3 20.
Nxg3 g4 $17 {Castellanos Rodriguez,R (2481)-Sasikiran,K (2639) Benasque 2016})
12... Nf4 13. b4 O-O 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Ne7 16. Qc2 Neg6 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. g3
Nh3 19. Kg2 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. d4 Qe8 $13 {Andreikin,D (2636)-Nyback,T 
(2628) Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}) 11. d4 (11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. d4 Qe7 13. Re1 Nh7 $1
14. h3 h5 15. Nf1 g4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Ne3 O-O-O 18. Nxg4 hxg4 19. Nh2 Nf6 20.
Qd3 Nh5 21. Bxa6 Nxg3 22. fxg3 c6 23. Nxg4 exd4 24. cxd4 Ne5 $19 {->, Yudin,S 
(2530)-Harutyunian,T (2452) Kazan 2016}) 11... Nxe4 12. Nxe5 O-O 13. Nxf7 Rxf7
14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. f4 g4 16. f5 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Ng8 $1 18. Qxg4 Qg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5
20. Nd2 Nf6 21. Nf3 Nh7 22. g4 Bd7 23. Rfe1 Rg8 24. Kf2 Nf6 25. Kg3 c5 $15 {
[%csl Ga7,Gd7] Mamedov,R (2655)-Caruana,F (2804) Shamkir 2016 For more details
see the notes to this game in CBM 173 by Mokal.}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 O-O
11. O-O Nh7 $1 $146 {[%cal Yh6h4][%mdl 8] A strong move, which seems to have
occurred previously only in an engine game. Black goes for direct cunterplay
by preparing h5.} (11... g4 $143 $6 12. Bh4 $1 Kg7 13. Kh1 gxf3 14. Qxf3 Nb8 $2
(14... Rg8 $1 15. Rg1 $5 {[%cal Yg2g4,Yd2f1,Yf1e3,Yf1g3]} (15. g4 Bxg4 16.
Bxf6+ Qxf6 $11) (15. Bd5 $36 Nb8 16. Qe2 {[%cal Rf2f4]} Kh7 17. h3 c6 18. Bxf7
Rf8 19. Bb3 Qe8 20. f4 Nh5 21. f5 $44 {Tuncer}) 15... h5 16. h3 Qe7 17. Nf1 Be6
18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Rh8 20. Qg3+ Kf8 21. Raf1 Rh6 22. Bd5 $1 $14) 15. g4 Nbd7
(15... Bxg4 16. Rg1 h5 17. h3 $18) 16. Rg1 Rh8 17. Nf1 Qe8 18. g5 $18 Ng8 19.
gxh6+ Kf8 20. Qg3 Ngf6 21. Qg7+ Ke7 22. Rg6 Rg8 23. Bxf6+ Nxf6 24. Qxf6+ Kd7
25. Bxf7 {1-0, Demchenko,A (2589)-Howell,D (2671) Gjakova 2016}) ({Previously
the usual move was} 11... Kg7 12. Re1 Be6 (12... Nh7 {allows} 13. d4 $5 g4 14.
Nh4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nf1 $44 {[%csl Rg7]} Bf6 $6 (16... Nf6) (16... Kh8 {
and}) (16... Qg5 {are all possible improvements}) 17. Nf5+ Bxf5 18. exf5 h5 19.
Bf4 Bg5 20. Ng3 Kh6 21. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Rh2h4]} Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Ne5 23. Ba2 (23. f6
$1 Qxf6 24. Bd3 $40) 23... Nf6 24. Qd2+ Kh7 25. Qg5 Rg8 26. Qh4 {Van Foreest,J
(2615)-Leko,P (2709) Douglas 2016} Rg7 $14) 13. b4 (13. h3 $5 {also deserves
attention}) 13... g4 14. Nh4 Ne7 $2 ({Passive; he had to play} 14... Nh5 $1 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxg4+ Qg5 $132) 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nc4 (16. d4 $5 {/\} exd4 17. e5
$16) 16... b5 17. Ne3 h5 18. Kh1 Ng6 19. Nxg6 Kxg6 {Topalov,V (2761)-So,W 
(2770) Leuven blitz 2016} 20. d4 $1 exd4 21. cxd4 Nxe4 22. axb5 $36 {/\} axb5
23. Nxg4 $1 Nxg3+ 24. fxg3 $40 {[%csl Rg6]}) 12. h3 {Subsequent attempts
didn't threaten Black's concept:} (12. Ne1 Kg7 13. Nc2 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Ne3
Bg6 16. Re1 Nf6 17. b4 Qd7 18. b5 Ne7 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Ne4 Nh5 21. Rb1 {
Mamedov,R (2688)-Leko,P (2693) Tallinn blitz 2016} Nf4 $15 (21... Qc6 $5)) (12.
b4 h5 13. h3 h4 14. Bh2 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. Kh1 Qf6 17. Qe1 h3 18. Ng1 $6 (18.
Rg1 Kh8 19. Bg3 $11) 18... hxg2+ 19. Kxg2 Kh8 20. f4 $2 Rg8 21. Kh1 Qg6 22. Qg3
Qh5 23. Ndf3 {Ponomariov,R (2709)-Sychev,K (2453) Tallinn blitz 2016} Bxf3+ 24.
Qxf3 Rxg1+ $1 $18) 12... h5 13. d4 {A thematic reaction, White parries a flank
attack with a central advance.} (13. b4 {- 12.b4}) ({The aforementioned engine
predecessor went} 13. Kh1 Kh8 (13... Qf6 $5) 14. b4 h4 15. Bh2 g4 16. Ng1 (16.
hxg4 Bxg4 $11) 16... Rg8 ({There is also the interesting} 16... Nf6 $5) 17.
hxg4 Bxg4 18. f3 Bd7 19. f4 Bxg1 20. Rxg1 exf4 21. d4 (21. Bxf7 $6 Rg3 $1 $36 {
is risky}) (21. Bxf4 Qf6 22. Qf1 $13) 21... Qf6 22. Qe2 $2 (22. Qh5 $8 $13 {
Tuncer}) 22... Rg3 $1 23. Raf1 Ng5 24. Bd5 Kg7 25. Qf2 Ne7 26. Bxb7 Rb8 27.
Bxa6 Ng6 28. b5 Qe6 29. e5 d5 30. Rb1 Rh8 $40 {Pacificrabitt-Chessgott Engine
Room 2016}) 13... exd4 ({Advancing the Pg5 was not ideal in the previous notes;
even now} 13... g4 14. Bh4 Qd7 15. Nh2 ({Here White can maybe afford even} 15.
hxg4 hxg4 16. Nh2) 15... exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 (16... Nxd4 17. Ra3 $1 $44) 17. Ra3
$44 ({or} 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Be2 $13 {leads to a double-edged position, in
which Black's king could end up seriously exposed.})) 14. Nxd4 ({A suggestion
for the future might be} 14. cxd4 h4 15. Bh2 Nxd4 ({Maybe Veselin didn't like} 
15... g4 {, but this is at best unclear after} 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Be2 $5 h3 18.
d5 $13 {/+/=}) 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Nf3 $44) 14... g4 {Now White's B doesn't have
the h4 square and So prefers active play to material. Although this aggressive
advance will quickly pay off, this was mainly due to Topalov's poor form in
London.} (14... h4 $143 $6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bh2 $36 {[%csl Ra7,Rg8] and the
Ba7 is sorely missed on the kingside.}) ({Objectively speaking, possibly the
best move was} 14... Nxd4 $5 15. cxd4 h4 16. Bh2 Bxd4 17. Nf3 (17. Qh5 Bxb2 18.
Rab1 Be5 19. f4 $44 {/=}) {We have already mentioned this position above, after
} 17... Bxb2 18. Rb1 Bg7 19. e5 {Black should try to return some material to
finish his development:} g4 $5 (19... dxe5 $6 20. Qc2 $1 $32 e4 (20... Re8 $2
21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxh7 $16) 21. Qxe4 Qf6 22. Qe3 $5 $14) (19... d5 20. Bxd5 c6
21. Be4 Qxd1 22. Rbxd1 Re8 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Nxg5+ Kg8 25. Ne4 $14) 20. hxg4
Bxg4 21. exd6 (21. Rxb7 Ng5 $132) 21... cxd6 22. Rb4 (22. Bxd6 Bxf3 23. gxf3
Qg5+ 24. Kh1 Qf5 25. Qd5 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 Kh8 27. Bxf8 Rxf8 28. Qh5 $8 Bd4 29. Bxf7
$8 Qg3+ $11) 22... Qd7 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Bxd6 Rfd8 $11) 15. hxg4 $6 {[%mdl 128]
Opening the <->h gives Black attacking chances and So will fully exploit them.}
(15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. h4 Re8 17. Re1 Nf8 18. Nb3 $14 {[%csl Rg4,Rg8,Rh5] >< Kg8})
15... hxg4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. e5 {Topalov is again in a hurry to resolve the
central position.} (17. Nb3 $142 $1 Qg5 18. Re1 $13 {[%cal Ye4e5,Yb3d4] /+/=})
17... d5 18. Be2 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} ({As Black's Q is aiming for g5
anyway, more to the point was} 18. Bd3 Qg5 19. Nb3 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Qc1 $1
Qxc1 (21... Qh5 $6 22. Re1 {[%cal Ye1e5]} Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Rxe4 Rf6 25.
Re5 Bf5 26. Nd4 Rh6 (26... Bxd4 27. cxd4 Rh6 28. Kf1 $16) 27. Qxh6 Qxh6 28.
Nxf5 $16) 22. Raxc1 Rb8 23. Nd4 Rxb2 24. Nxc6 Bc5 $132 {/=}) 18... Qg5 19. a5
$2 {And on the other hand activating the R via a4 is too slow.} ({He had to
play} 19. Nb3 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Qd2 Qxd2 (21... Qh5 $5 22. Bd3 Bf5 $15) 22.
Nxd2 Nh5 23. Bh4 (23. Bxc7 Rf7 24. Bd6 (24. Bh2 Bd7 $17 {[%cal Ra8f8]}) 24...
g3 $1 25. Bxh5 gxf2+ 26. Kh2 Rh7 $36 {[%csl Gf2,Rh2]}) {, although Black
already has the upper hand after} 23... Nf4 $15 (23... Rb8 $5 24. b3 a5 $15))
19... f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Ra4 (21. Bxc7 Kg7 $19 {[%cal Rf8h8,Rg5h5] Veselin
must have been regretting his 15th move here...} (21... g3 $2 22. Bb6)) 21...
Rf7 $1 {The final prophylaxis/preparation.} (21... Nh5 22. Bxg4 Nxg3 23. Bxc8 {
[%cal Ra4g4]} Rf4 24. Nf3 Qh6 25. Bh3 Rxa4 26. Qxa4 Nxf1 27. Kxf1 $15 {is
unconvincing.}) 22. Re1 Nh5 $19 {The defence collapses, Black doesn't even
need his queenside pieces.} 23. Bxg4 Nxg3 24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rxc8 Bxf2+ 26. Kh2
Qe5 {The quickest, So forces mate.} 27. Kh3 Ne2 (27... Ne2 {[%cal Re5g3]} 28.
Nf1 Ng1#) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {This year has seen an explosion of interest in the
Giuoco Piano, with many new games not only on GM level, but also elite clashes.
In March at the Moscow Candidates White was successful with the Italian and
its popularity soared. The resulting positions can resemble the ubiquitous
Antiberlin line} (3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O {, but of course there
are notable differences as well - the main one being in the Ruy Lopez Black
always has to reckon with Bxc6 motifs.}) 3... Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 ({The sharp
} 5. d4 Bxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. f4 d6 8. fxe5 dxe5 9. Bg5 {has lost most of it's
appeal mainly due to the prophylactic} Qe7 10. Na3 Rg8 $1 $15 {The seemingly
mysterious rook move takes the sting out of a later Bxf6 - Mark Dvoretsky,
rest in peace, you won't be forgotten!}) 5... d6 {Already here Black faces a
complex decision. The text-move postpones castling and is rather more popular.}
({On the other hand with} 5... O-O {Black can get in d7-d5 in one move:} 6. h3
(6. c3 d5 $5 ({The point,} 6... d6 {leads to standard positions.}) 7. exd5 Nxd5
8. a4 $5 {[%cal Yb2b5]} ({The topical try. After} 8. Re1 Bg4 $1 9. h3 Bh5 {
Black is fine, as} 10. g4 $6 Bg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 $32 {is downright
dangerous for White (exposed king & lag in development).}) (8. Nbd2 Nb6 9. Bb5
Bd6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 Re8 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 a6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16.
Ng3 Bf7 17. d4 Nc4 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Qc1 Qe8 21. b3 Nxe3 22. Rxe3
Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxe3 24. fxe3 Rd8 $132 {Carlsen,M (2855)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven
blitz 2016}) {The most reliable antidote seems to be} 8... Nb6 (8... a6 9. a5
b5 (9... Bf5 $5) 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 12. Qe2 (12. h3 Bh5 13. Bg5 $1 $14 {
Roiz}) 12... Kh8 13. Be3 Bd6 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Nbd2 Be7 17. Ne4 f5 18.
gxf5 Bxf5 19. Kh2 Qe8 20. Nfd2 Qd7 21. Rg1 Bxh3 $6 (21... a5 $13) 22. Qh5 Bf5 {
Karjakin,S (2773)-Giri,A (2785) Bilbao 2016} 23. Bh6 $1 $36 {For more details
see the notes to this game in CBM 174 by Roiz.}) (8... a5 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5
Bd6 11. Ne4 (11. Re1 Bg4 12. Ne4 Na7 13. h3 Bh5 14. d4 Nxb5 15. axb5 exd4 16.
Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Rd1 Rfe8 19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Qxb7 dxc3 21. bxc3 Rac8
22. Qc6 Qxc6 23. bxc6 {Giri,A (2782)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven rpd 2016} Nc4 24.
Rd4 Ne5 $11) 11... Bg4 (11... Na7 $5 12. d4 Nxb5 13. axb5 exd4 $11) 12. h3 Bh5
13. Re1 Ne7 14. d4 exd4 {Anand,V (2770)-So,W (2770) Leuven blitz 2016} 15. Nxd6
Qxd6 16. Qxd4 $14) 9. Bb5 Ne7 $1 10. a5 c6 11. axb6 cxb5 12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7
Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Re1 (15. Na3 Bb8 (15... b4 16. cxb4 Nd5 $44 (16... Nc6
17. Nxc6 bxc6 $132)) 16. d4 f6 $2 (16... b4 $142 $1) 17. Nd3 Qd7 18. Re1 Nd5
19. Nc5 Qd6 20. g3 b6 21. Na6 b4 22. cxb4 $16 {Mamedov,R (2666)-Balogh,C (2614)
Baku olm 2016}) 15... Bb8 16. Na3 b4 17. cxb4 Qd5 18. Nec4 Bxd3 19. Rxe7 Bxc4
20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Rd7 Bc6 22. Rd1 Ba4 23. Rd3 Bc7 24. b3 Bc6 25. f3 Rd8 $11 {
Anand,V (2770)-So,W (2771) Saint Louis 2016}) ({Black must tread with care
after} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 $5 (7... d6 8. c3 a6 9. a4 g5 10. Bg3 g4 $6 (10...
Ba7 11. Nbd2 Nh7 $5 {[%cal Yh6h5]} 12. h3 h5 13. Kh1 Kh8 $132) 11. Bh4 $1 gxf3
12. Qxf3 $44 Kg7 13. Nd2 Rg8 14. Rfe1 Kg6 15. h3 Be6 16. Bd5 Qe7 17. Nf1 Raf8
18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Ng3 Re8 20. d4 Ba7 21. Rad1 Bc8 22. Nf5 Qd8 {Schroeder,J 
(2507)-Fressinet,L (2677) Helsingor 2016} 23. Rd3 $36) 8. Bg3 d6 9. c3 (9. a4
$142 $5) 9... Na5 10. Bb5 a6 11. Ba4 Nh5 12. d4 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Bf6 14. Qd3 b5
15. Bc2 c5 16. d5 Bd7 17. Nbd2 c4 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Nh4 g6 20. Qe3 Bg5 $15 {
Sipila,V (2417)-Hammer,J (2628) Sastamala 2016}) 6... d6 ({Now} 6... d5 {
isn't ideal:} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 {/\} Re8 9. Ng5 $14) 7. c3 h6 (7... a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 (13... Nxd5 14.
Ng3 Qd6 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. Qf3 Qe7 17. Nhf5 Qf8 {Giri,A (2778)-So,W (2767) Bilbao
blitz 2015} 18. d4 $1 exd4 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Qh5 Bxf5 21. Nxf5 Nce7 22. Nxh6+
Kg7 23. Re4 $40) 14. Ng3 Bc5 ({Risky, but perhaps objectively better is} 14...
Qd7 $5 15. Nh4 Rad8 16. Nhf5 Kh8 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxg7 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 {Giri,A 
(2773)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger blitz 2015} d3 $1 20. Bxd3 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qxd3
22. N7f5 Qd5+ $132) 15. b4 Bf8 16. a4 g6 (16... b5 17. Be3 $14) 17. Bb2 b5 18.
Ne4 Rb8 19. Bc1 Nd7 20. Bb3 Bxb3 21. Qxb3 Re6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3 Nf6 24.
Rad1 Nxe4 25. dxe4 Qe8 26. Rd5 Nd8 27. Ra1 $14 {Kramnik,V (2808)-Anand,V (2776)
Moscow 2016}) 8. Re1 a6 (8... a5 9. Bb3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 $1 Ba7 12. Nf1
Rb8 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. Ng3 Ne7 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. d4 Ng6 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4
19. cxd4 a4 20. Rc1 d5 21. e5 Nh7 22. Nh2 Ng5 23. Nh5 a3 24. b4 Ne6 25. Qd2 Ng5
26. Ng4 $36 Qf5 $2 27. Nhf6+ $18 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Karjakin,S (2769) Baku
olm 2016 This game was played 3 days later and Karjakin himself become a
victim of the Giuoco Piano.}) 9. Bb3 b5 $5 (9... Ba7 {transposes to
Kramnik-Anand above}) 10. Nbd2 Bb6 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. a4 Rb8 13. d4 Ng6 14. Be3
exd4 15. Bxd4 c5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ne3 Qd8 19. Nd5 Bb7 20. Nxb6
Qxb6 21. Bd5 Rfe8 22. Bxb7 Rxb7 23. Qd2 Rbe7 24. Rad1 Re6 $11 {Harikrishna,P 
(2752)-Carlsen,M (2857) Baku olm 2016 Carlsen demonstrated his treatment of
the line a day after Harikrishna-Karjakin.}) 6. c3 a6 {A useful wait-and-see
move, but it does have one drawback - White can get a space advantage on the
queenside. Black has more than one plausible alternative:} (6... h6 7. a4 (7.
Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 a6 9. Nf1 Na5 10. b4 Nxc4 11. bxc5 Na5 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. a4 b5
14. axb5 axb5 15. Rb1 Qc7 $1 16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Nb7 18. Nh4 (18. Rxb5 Nc5)
18... d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Rxb5 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3 22. Nf3 Ra5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5
24. Qd2 Qb5 25. Qc3 f6 26. d4 exd4 27. Nxd4 Qd7 $11 {Giri,A (2755)-Mamedyarov,
S (2761) Moscow 2016}) 7... a5 8. Na3 O-O (8... Bxa3 $5 9. Rxa3 O-O 10. Re1 Re8
11. h3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Be3 Ne7 14. Bc4 Ng6 15. Qb3 {Caruana,F (2804)
-Carlsen,M (2855) Paris blitz 2016} Qe7 16. Raa1 b6 $11) 9. Nc2 Re8 10. Re1 {
transposes into the 6...a5 line below.}) (6... a5 {weakens b5, but prevents
future queenside expansion:} 7. Re1 h6 8. a4 O-O 9. Na3 (9. h3 Be6 10. Na3 Bxa3
11. Bxe6 Bxb2 $5 (11... fxe6 12. Rxa3 Qe8 $11) 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. Bxb2 Qd7 14.
c4 Raf8 15. Nh4 Kh7 16. f4 exf4 17. d4 Re8 18. Qb1 Kg8 19. Nf3 Rfe7 (19... b6
$5 20. e5 dxe5 21. d5 e4 22. dxc6 Qxc6 $15) 20. d5 $44 {Hou,Y (2649)-Caruana,F
(2813) Douglas 2016}) 9... Be6 $5 (9... Re8 10. Nc2 Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7
13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 Be6 15. Bxe6 Rxe6 16. Ne3 Nc8 17. Nf5 Ne7 $11 {Carlsen,M
(2844)-Adams,M (2744) Wijk aan Zee 2016 For more details see the notes to this
game by Carlsen in CBM 171.}) 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nc2 Qe8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3
Qg6 14. Qb3 Nd8 15. Nf5 Qf7 16. Ng3 b6 17. Rad1 Nc6 18. Qc4 Qd7 19. h3 Rf7 20.
Qb5 Raf8 21. Re2 Ne7 22. Qxd7 Nxd7 23. d4 Ng6 24. Rc2 {Aronian,L (2795)
-Tomashevsky,E (2731) Moscow blitz 2016} exd4 25. cxd4 Nb8 $1 $11 {[%cal Yb8a6,
Ya6b4]}) ({Black still doesn't want to commit his king, as then the Bg5 pin is
more dangerous. However,} 6... O-O 7. Re1 a5 $5 {is far from clear:} 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Na3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nc2 Bg6 14. Bh2 Nh5 15. d4 Nf6
16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Ne3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Ng4 {Giri,A (2790)-Eljanov,P 
(2765) Stavanger 2016} Kh7 $13 {See the notes to this game in CBM 172 by M.
Pavlovic.}) 7. a4 (7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4 O-O 9. h3 h6 (9... Ne7 10. Nbd2 (10. d4 Ng6
11. Bd3 $6 (11. Nbd2 $142 {- 10.Nbd2}) 11... c6 12. Be3 Nh5 13. Nbd2 Nhf4 14.
Bf1 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 f6 18. Ra3 fxe5 19. dxe5 a5 20. Qc1
Qe7 21. Rb3 Bf5 22. Nd4 Ne6 23. Nxf5 Rxf5 24. Bd3 Rf4 $15 {Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2740)-So,W (2782) Baku olm 2016}) 10... Ng6 11. d4 h6 12. Bf1 $1 Re8 13. a5 {
()} Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4 Nf4 17. c5 g5 $6 (17... dxc5 18. Nc4 Ng6
19. Bb2 $44) 18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Be3 Bb5 20. Rc1 Nxe4 21. cxd6 Nxd6 22. Bxf4 gxf4
23. Ncxe5 Bxf1 24. Kxf1 $16 {[%csl Rc7,Rf4,Rf7,Rg8,Rh6] Kramnik,V (2808)
-Radjabov,T (2722) Baku olm 2016}) 10. Nbd2 Re8 (10... Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3
(12. Ba2 Re8 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. d4 Qd7 16. Be3 Ree8 17. dxe5 dxe5
18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Qxd7 Nxd7 20. Rad1 Nc5 21. a5 Raa8 22. b4 Na4 23. Ne2 Rad8
24. Kf1 f6 25. g3 Ne7 26. Rd2 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Rd8 28. Nc4 Rd3 29. Rc1 Nc8 30. Ke1
b5 $11 {Giri,A (2782)-Caruana,F (2804) Leuven blitz 2016}) 12... c6 13. Ba2 Be6
14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. Qd3 Ne7 19. Bd2 Bb8 20.
Bb4 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Re3 Rae8 23. Ne5 Qc7 24. b4 Nc8 25. Rc1 Qd8 26. b5
$16 {Giri,A (2793)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow Candidates 2016 See the notes to
this game in CBM 172 by Mekhitarian.}) (10... Nh5 $5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 (12.
Ne3 Nf4 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. d4 Bxg4 16. hxg4 Qxg4 17. Qd3 Ne7 18. Re2
Rad8 19. b4 Bb8 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 c6 22. Rb1 d5 23. Ba2 dxe4 24. Rxe4 Bd6
$11 {Giri,A (2785)-So,W (2770) Bilbao 2016}) 12... Nf4 (12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Nf4
$132) 13. d4 $5 Ne7 14. N1h2 Neg6 15. Bf1 Re8 16. Qd2 exd4 17. Bxd4 Qe7 18.
Rad1 Bd7 19. a5 Ba4 20. Ra1 Bc6 21. g3 Ne6 22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. Nd4 Nxd4 24. cxd4
Raa8 25. Bg2 $14 {Antipov,M (2557)-Gledura,B (2585) Bastia 2016}) 11. Nf1 (11.
Bb3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. b4 d5 14. Qc2 {is the game position, but White is a
tempo down, as it's not his move...} Ne7 $5 15. exd5 Nfxd5 16. Rxe5 Rxe5 17.
Nxe5 Nxc3 $1 18. Ndf3 Ncd5 19. Bd2 Qd6 20. Re1 Rd8 21. Qc4 c6 22. b5 $11 {
Bologan,V (2665)-Jakovenko,D (2711) Evry 2008}) (11. b4 $5 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6
13. Qc2 {is our game.}) 11... Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 15.
Qc2 Qd7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Nf5 Qe8 18. b4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nd2 Ne7 21. Nxe7+
Qxe7 22. Nb3 dxe4 23. dxe4 Red6 $11 {Muzychuk,M (2554)-Hou,Y (2673) WChW Lvov
2016}) 7... h6 (7... Ba7 8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 (9. Bg5 c6 10. Nc2 {Anand,V (2762)
-Giri,A (2793) Moscow Candidates 2016 For more details about this game see the
notes in CBM 172}) 9... Ng6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Ne3 c6 (12... Ng4 $6
13. Qd2 a5 14. d4 Ra8 15. dxe5 N4xe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bb3 Nd7 18. Bc2 Re8 19.
f3 b6 20. Rfd1 Nc5 21. b4 Nd7 22. Bb3 Nf6 23. Qd4 Qe7 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Ra7
26. b5 $36 {Anand,V (2762)-Aronian,L (2786) Moscow Candidates 2016 See the
notes to this gme in CBM 172 by Marin.}) (12... a5 $5) 13. Qc2 d5 14. Bb3 Ra8 (
14... a5 $5 15. exd5 cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Be6 $132) 15. Rfd1 Re8 16. a5 h6
17. Ba2 Be6 18. b4 Qd7 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Nb3 Qe7 21. Nc5 Bc8 $14 {/<=>,
Grischuk,A (2747)-Karjakin,S (2774) Almaty blitz 2016}) 8. Nbd2 {White finally
commits his Nb1 and develops it in the more usual fashion.} (8. Na3 O-O 9. Nc2
Re8 10. b4 (10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. b4 Ne7 14. c4 c6 15.
Re1 Ng6 16. g3 Qd7 17. Rb1 Rd8 18. Nf5 Ree8 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 d5 21. bxc6
bxc6 22. Qc2 dxe4 23. dxe4 Qd3 $132 {Anand,V (2776)-Kramnik,V (2808) Moscow
blitz 2016}) 10... Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 (11... a5 $5 12. b5 Ne7 $132 {[%cal Yc7c6,
Yd6d5,Ye7g6]}) 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Ne3 d5 15. Qc2 c6 16. Rfd1 Qe8
17. d4 dxe4 18. Nxe5 Nc8 {Alekseev,E (2626)-Gavrilov,A (2466) Kolomna 2016} 19.
c4 $14) 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Re1 Be6 (9... Ne7 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Bb3 c6 12. h3 d5
13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Bxf2+ (14... Nxe5 15. d4 $36) 15. Kxf2 Nxe5 16. d4 Ng6
17. Kg1 Qh4 18. Bd2 Bd7 $6 (18... Be6 $132) 19. Qf3 Rae8 20. Ng3 Re6 21. Nh5
Rfe8 22. Rf1 Qe7 23. Qg3 Re2 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 $16 {Giri,A (2785)-Wei,Y 
(2696) Bilbao 2016}) 10. b4 Ba7 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nf1 Nh5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3
Qe8 15. Ra2 Nf6 16. h3 a5 17. b5 Nb8 18. g4 $6 Nbd7 19. Rg2 Nc5 20. h4 Nfd7 $15
{Giri,A (2782)-Kramnik,V (2812) Leuven blitz 2016}) 9... Re8 {Black prepares
the B swap.} ({While this is a solid choice, he has also} 9... Ba7 10. b4 (10.
Re1 {transposes to the 7.Re1 line - see above.}) 10... Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4
Re8 13. b5 Bd7 14. Qc2 Nh5 $5 15. bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa6 exd4 17. Bc4 d3 18. Bxd3
Qf6 19. Nb3 Ngf4 20. Nbd4 Qg6 21. Bf1 Nxh3+ 22. Kh1 Ng5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. g3
Nf6 25. Bg2 Bb6 26. Kg1 Ng4 $40 {Rebord,M (2488)-Sadowski,M (2510) email 2010})
10. Re1 Be6 (10... Ba7 {can again lead to Muzychuk-Hou Yifan above.}) 11. Bxe6
Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 d5 {While this central advance fits Black's plans,
it's possibly more sensible to coordinate his forces first. In the following
examples he held the balance in a manoeuvring struggle:} (13... Ne7 14. Nf1 Ng6
15. Ng3 d5 (15... c6 16. d4 Qc7 17. Be3 a5 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Nf5
b5 21. g3 {Shankland,S (2679)-Sevian,S (2591) Atlantic City 2016} Ne7 $5 $11)
16. c4 c6 17. a5 Qd7 18. c5 Rae8 19. Nf5 Bb8 20. g3 Nh7 21. Be3 Ne7 22. N3h4 h5
23. Rad1 g6 24. Nxe7+ R6xe7 25. Kg2 Qe6 26. Qe2 Rd7 27. Nf3 Red8 $11 {Hracek,Z
(2591)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2693) Baku olm 2016}) (13... Qd7 14. Nf1 Ree8 15. Be3
Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nd8 17. Nc4 Ne6 18. a5 Rad8 19. Rad1 Nf4 20. Kh2 Qc6 21. Qb3 Ng6
22. Kg1 d5 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. d4 exd4 25. Rxd4 Qf5 26. Nce5 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 Qc8
$11 {Van Foreest,J (2551)-Tkachiev,V (2660) Stockholm 2016}) 14. Nb3 ({
Karjakin plays it slow, he is not thrilled by the prospects of} 14. b5 axb5 15.
axb5 Bxf2+ $5 16. Kxf2 Rxa1 17. bxc6 Rxc6 18. Nb3 (18. Nxe5 Rca6 $15) 18... Ra4
19. Kg1 $13) 14... b5 $6 {[%mdl 16384] Navara is unnerved by the potential
b5-advance, but this reaction is strategically suspect and seriously weakens
the queenside.} ({In subsequent games Black tried} 14... Ne7 {, but he ran into
} 15. exd5 Qxd5 (15... Nexd5 16. Rxe5 Rc6 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 Rxc5 19. Bb2
Nb4 20. Qe2 Rxe5 (20... Nxd3 $2 21. Rd1) 21. Nxe5 Nc6 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. c4 $14
{Korotylev}) 16. c4 Qd6 17. Nc5 $5 (17. Ba3 Rd8 18. Red1 $5 c6 19. b5 $14)
17... Bxc5 18. bxc5 Qxc5 19. Ba3 Qa5 20. d4 Ng6 21. Bb2 Rae8 (21... Nd7 22. Bc3
Qb6 23. dxe5 Qc5 24. Rad1 Nb6 25. Re4 Nxc4 26. Nd4 Ree8 27. e6 $40 {Demchenko,
A (2629)-Sanal,V (2469) Mersin 2016}) (21... e4 22. d5 Ree8 23. Nd2 $36) 22.
Bc3 Qb6 23. Rab1 Qa7 24. dxe5 Nd7 25. Rbd1 Ndf8 26. h4 $1 Qc5 27. h5 Ne7 28.
Re4 $16 {[%cal Yf3d4] Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)-Mamedyarov,S (2761) Moscow 2016})
(14... dxe4 15. dxe4 Qe8 16. Bd2 $11 {[%cal Yc3c4] /+/= is somewhat more
pleasant for White, but it was a lesser evil.}) 15. Be3 {[%csl Rc5] Suddenly
Black is under strong pressure - it's difficult for him to retain the tension
in the centre and on the queenside without positionla concessions.} Bxe3 (15...
d4 16. cxd4 exd4 (16... Nxb4 17. Qc3 $16) 17. Bd2 {[%cal Gc1c7]} Nd7 18. Rec1
$36) (15... Bb6 $5 {doesn't let the knight to c5, but is still unpleasant after
} 16. Ra3 $36) 16. Rxe3 Rd6 (16... dxe4 17. dxe4 Rd6 18. Nc5 $16 (18. Qe2 $16))
(16... Re8 $142 $1 17. Nc5 Qd6 $14 {[%cal Yf6d7] is more resilient.}) 17. Nc5 {
[%cal Rc5b7]} Qc8 18. Ree1 $1 $16 {Stops d4 with tempo and challenges Black to
find a way to free himself.} Nh5 $2 (18... Nd7 19. Qa2 $5 {[%cal Ra4b5,Re4d5]
seems even more convincing:} (19. d4 dxe4 (19... exd4 20. e5 d3 21. Qa2 Rg6 (
21... Nxc5 22. exd6 Nxa4 23. Qxd5 $18) 22. Nxd3 $18 {[%cal Rd3f4,Ra2d5,Ra4b5]})
20. Nxe5 (20. Nxe4 Rd5 21. Qa2 Nb6 22. a5 Nc4 23. Ned2 exd4 24. Nxc4 bxc4 25.
Qxc4 Qd7 26. Rad1 $16) 20... Ncxe5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Qxe4 Nc6 23. Re3 Qf8 24.
a5 $16 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Ge1e8]}) 19... Nb6 (19... Nxc5 20. bxc5 Rg6 21. exd5
Qxh3 22. g3 $18) (19... dxe4 20. Nxe4 Rxd3 21. axb5 $18) 20. a5 Na4 21. Nxa4
dxe4 22. dxe4 bxa4 23. Qxa4 $16) (18... d4 19. Qa2 $5 (19. c4 Nxb4 20. Qb3 Rc6
21. Qxb4 a5 22. Qxb5 Rb6 23. Nxe5 Rxb5 24. axb5 $16) 19... bxa4 (19... dxc3 20.
axb5 Nxb4 21. Qb3 Nxd3 22. Nxd3 Rxd3 23. Nxe5 $18) 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Nxe5 Qe8
22. Nc4 $16) (18... dxe4 19. Nxe4 $5 (19. dxe4 Rb8 ({or} 19... Nh5 {enables
Black to fight on})) 19... Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Re6 (20... Rg6 21. Kh2 $16) 21. Rae1
$16 {was very difficult, but now Black's position collapses.}) 19. exd5 ({
More forcing, than} 19. axb5 axb5 (19... Nf4 20. bxc6 Rg6 21. Nd7 $18) 20. Rxa8
Qxa8 21. d4 exd4 22. e5 Rd8 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. cxd4 $16) 19... Rxd5 20. Qa2 $1
$18 {[%cal Ra4b5,Ra2d5]} Nf4 ({A truly desperate attempt, but after} 20... Rd8
21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nf4 23. Qd2 Ng6 24. Re4 $18 {White has an extra pawn
and dominant position.}) 21. axb5 Rd6 (21... Ne7 22. Nxe5) 22. bxc6 Rg6 23. Nd7
Nxg2 (23... Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Qd8 25. Re4 $18 {[%cal Re4f4]}) 24. Nfxe5 {[%csl Rf7,
Rg6]} 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.05"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belorechensk Univ"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{[%mdl 2] The important match for gold between the leading teams.} 1. e4 ({
Jobava doesn't play only} 1. b3 {, actually in the past few months the only
classical tournament game in which he fianchettoed his Bc1 was two weeks later
against the same opponent in Khanty-Mansiysk.}) 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 (
{The other main move is} 3... Nf6 {, after} 4. d3 ({Naturally Black must
seriously reckon with} 4. Ng5 $5 {From all the archaic open games this sortie
has the best reputation, enabling White to fight for an advantage.}) {Black
can develop his bishop differently with} 4... Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 (6. Bb3 d5
7. exd5 Nxd5 8. h3 a5 9. a4 Nd4 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Re1 Ra6 $1 $44 {Karjakin,S 
(2723)-Gelfand,B (2758) WCup Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 This brilliant game was
annotated by Gelfand in CBM 134.}) 6... d6 7. a4 (7. c3 {usually transposes
into the Ruy Lopez after} Na5 8. Bb5 a6 9. Ba4 b5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12.
Nf1 Re8 13. a4 b4 14. h3 h6 15. Ne3 Rb8 16. Nc4 Be6 17. Bb3 Bf8 18. Bd2 Qc7 19.
Ba2 Qb7 20. cxb4 Nxb4 21. Na5 Qc7 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Nc4 Nc6 24. Bc3 Nd7 25. Ne3
Nf6 26. Nc4 Nd7 {Radjabov,T (2724)-Fressinet,L (2717) Dubai rpd 2014}) 7... Kh8
{White usually inserts} 8. a5 {and only after} (8. h3 Ng8 9. d4 f5 10. dxe5
fxe4 11. Rxe4 Bf5 (11... Rxf3 $5 12. gxf3 Bxh3 $44 13. f4 Bf5 14. Nc3 {
Malakhov,V (2691)-Predojevic,B (2566) Sarajevo 2006} Bxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe5 $11)
12. Re1 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. Nc3 Nb4 15. Rxe5 Nxc2 16. Ra2 Bd6 17. Re2 Nb4
18. Ra1 Nc2 19. Ra2 Nb4 20. Ra1 Nc2 $11 {½, Hou,Y (2673)-Giri,A (2784) Wijk
aan Zee 2015}) 8... a6 {plays} 9. h3 ({, or} 9. c3)) 4. c3 ({The Evans Gambit} 
4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 {has lost most of its attraction, here a plausible equaliser
is} Ba5 6. d4 d6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 Bb6 {More logical and usual is} 9. Nbd2 {
, but White's compensation was enough only to hold the balance after} (9. a4
Na5 10. Qa2 Nxc4 11. Qxc4 Ne7 12. exd6 cxd6 13. O-O (13. a5 Bc5 $11) 13... O-O
14. Qd3 Ng6 15. a5 Bc5 16. Be3 Re8 17. Nbd2 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 d5 19. Rfe1 dxe4 20.
Nxe4 Qe7 21. Nd6 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Rd8 23. Red1 Rb8 24. Rd4 Be6 $11 {Nakamura,H 
(2775)-Anand,V (2793) London 2014}) 9... dxe5 10. Ba3 Na5 11. Qb4 c5 12. Qb2
Nxc4 13. Nxc4 f6 $5 (13... Qe6 14. Nfxe5 Nf6 15. Qb5+ Nd7 16. Rd1 a6 17. Qb3
Bc7 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Qxe6+ fxe6 20. Nxd7 Bxd7 21. Rxd6 $14 {Najer,E (2664)
-Melkumyan,H (2649) Germany 2012}) 14. Rd1 Qc6 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. O-O Nh6 17.
Nxc8+ Raxc8 18. Qb3 Rhd8 19. Rd5 Kf8 20. Rfd1 Nf7 21. c4 Kg8 22. h3 Rxd5 23.
Rxd5 Rd8 24. Nd2 $44 {Fritsche,F (2359)-Borkovec,M email 2009}) 4... Nf6 5. d4
({In current practice the prevailing choice is the more restrained} 5. d3 {
, but the Giuoco Piano is nothing for Baadur and after} a6 6. O-O Ba7 {he
tried to mix it up with} 7. Bd5 $6 ({The common moves} 7. Nbd2 {and}) (7. Bb3 {
lead to a heavy positional struggle.}) {However, Black accepted the challenge
with} 7... Nxd5 $1 8. exd5 Ne7 9. Nxe5 d6 10. Nf3 Nxd5 11. Bg5 f6 12. Re1+ Kf7
13. Qb3 Be6 14. c4 (14. Bd2 $142 $5 $132) 14... fxg5 15. cxd5 Bd7 16. Nc3 g4
17. Nd2 Rf8 18. Nce4 Kg8 19. Rac1 b5 20. Qc3 Bb6 $36 {[%csl Gb6,Gd7] Jobava,B 
(2727)-So,W (2762) Wijk aan Zee 2015}) 5... exd4 6. e5 {Jobava has used this
advance already in the past.} ({White has nothing after the more usual} 6. cxd4
Bb4+ {The new attempt} 7. Nbd2 {can hardly disturb Black:} (7. Bd2 Nxe4 $5 (
7... Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Na5 11. Qa4+ Nc6 {often leads to
quick repetition after} 12. Qb3 $11 {Black strives to keep more tension in the
position.}) 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ (11. Qxb4 Rf8 12.
O-O Kg8 $11 {/=/+ is pleasant for Black.}) 11... Ke6 $1 12. Qxb4 Qf8 ({The
Q-swap is the safest continuation, but Black has also} 12... c5 $5 {, e.g.} 13.
Qa3 cxd4 14. f4 Qb6 15. Nd2 d3 16. O-O-O Qc5+ $5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Rhe1 Kf6 $13
) 13. Qxf8 Rxf8 14. Nc3 (14. f3 Ng5 15. Nc3 c6 16. h4 Nf7 17. Nd3 Kd6 18. Kf2
Nd8 19. g3 Ne6 20. Ne2 a5 21. Ndf4 Ra6 22. Rad1 Rb6 23. Rd2 Rb4 24. Re1 Nxf4
25. Nxf4 Rc4 26. a3 Bf5 $11 {Hou,Y (2673)-Aronian,L (2797) Wijk aan Zee 2015})
14... c6 15. f3 Nd6 16. Kf2 Nf5 17. Rhe1 Kd6 18. Rad1 g6 19. b4 Bd7 20. Na4 b6
21. Rd2 Rae8 22. Nc3 Re7 23. Rc1 Be8 24. Ne2 Ng7 25. Re1 Ne6 26. Nc1 Rf4 27.
Ne2 Rf5 28. Nc3 Rf4 $11 {Harikrishna,P (2706)-Aronian,L (2812) Wijk aan Zee
2014}) ({After Greco's} 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O {Black is spoiled for choice:} Bxc3
9. d5 Bf6 (9... Ne5 $5 10. bxc3 Nxc4 11. Qd4 O-O 12. Qxe4 Nd6 $13 {/=/+}) 10.
Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 $1 {was introduced by Portsich
and still has a good reputation. The defence holds strong after} 14. Qe2 hxg5
15. Re1 Be6 16. dxe6 f6 17. Re3 c6 18. Rh3 Rxh3 19. gxh3 g6 $15) 7... Nxe4 (
7... d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 (10. Ne5 Nb6 (10... Na5 $5 11. Bd3 Nf4)
11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd3 Qxd4 13. Nf3 Qd5 14. Qc2 Qh5 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Bg3 c5 17.
Be4 Rb8 18. Rad1 Bxg3 19. fxg3 c4 $11 {Smirnov,P (2626)-Khismatullin,D (2680)
Izhevsk 2014}) 10... Be7 11. Re1 Be6 12. Ba2 Nf4 13. Nc4 Ng6 14. Be3 Bf6 15.
Qd3 Bd5 16. Ncd2 Bxa2 17. Rxa2 Qd5 18. Raa1 Rad8 19. Ne4 Bxd4 20. Rad1 Nge5 21.
Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Ng5 g6 23. Nf3 Qh5 24. Bxd4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 c5 $11 {Hector,J (2512)
-Sokolov,I (2642) Malmo 2013}) 8. d5 Nxd2 (8... Ne7 9. O-O {is usually only a
transposition, the independent continuation is} Bxd2 10. Nxd2 Nxd2 11. Bxd2 d6
12. Re1 O-O 13. Qh5 $44) 9. Bxd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Ne7 11. d6 (11. O-O $6 d6 $15)
11... cxd6 12. O-O d5 13. Bxd5 O-O 14. Rad1 (14. Bb3 d5 15. Rfe1 a5 $5 16. Rad1
Ra6 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Be6 20. Rb5 Bxa2 21. b3 a4 22. bxa4
Rxa4 23. Rxb7 Bd5 $11 {Ponkratov,P (2593)-Aleksandrov,A (2609) St Petersburg
2011}) 14... Nxd5 15. Qxd5 d6 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Be6 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Rd4
Rxd4 20. Nxd4 Rd8 21. Rd1 f6 $11 {Nakamura,H (2799)-Giri,A (2776)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 Here returning the pawn also led to a sterile endgame.})
6... d5 7. Bb5 (7. exf6 $6 dxc4 $15 {and contrary to the Max Lange White has
played the less useful c3 instead of castling.}) ({Jobava plays the main move,
but this could have been a suprise, as until now he preferred the less usual} 
7. Be2 $5 {This was covered in Postny's survey in CBM 155 and to a lesser
extent in my article in CBM 158. Jobava's games help us understand this branch:
} Ne4 ({Already here an interesting alternative is} 7... d3 $5 8. exf6 dxe2 9.
Qxe2+ Kf8 (9... Be6 $5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Bh6 Bf6 13. Nbd2 Bxg7 14.
Bxg7 Rxg7 15. g3 Qf6 16. Nb3 O-O-O $132 {Okhotnik,V (2391)-Kristofori,A (2003)
Mukachevo 2013}) 10. b4 Bd6 11. b5 Na5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Qxe8+ Kxe8 14. fxg7 Rg8
15. Bf6 Be7 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nbd2 a6 18. a4 Rxg7 19. O-O Bh3 20. Rfe1+ Kd6 21.
g3 f6 22. Nd4 Re7 23. Red1 c5 $11 {Jobava,B (2717)-Timman,J (2601) Hoogeveen m
2014}) 8. cxd4 {There is the solid} Bb6 {[%cal Gb6d4] , targetting d4.} (8...
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 O-O 11. O-O f6 {Black has exchanged his strong Ne4
and must proceed energetically:} 12. Rc1 fxe5 (12... Kh8 $143 $6 13. Nb3 Bg4
14. a3 Be7 15. Re1 fxe5 16. dxe5 Rf4 $2 17. h3 Bh5 18. Nc5 $1 Bxc5 19. Rxc5 d4
20. e6 Bg6 21. Bd3 $16 {Jobava,B (2702)-Karjakin,S (2786) Loo 2013}) 13. dxe5
Ba5 $5 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. Nc5 Kh8 16. Re1 Ba5 17. Rf1 Bb6 18. Re1 Ne7 19. b4 Ng6
20. g3 c6 21. Qd2 a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Ra3 24. Rc3 Rxc3 25. Qxc3 d4 26. Qxd4
Qxd4 27. Nxd4 Nxe5 $11 {Bukavshin,I (2578)-Maletin,P (2598) Taganrog 2014}) (
8... Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxf2 {is for the adventurous types:} 10. Kxf2 Qh4+ 11. g3
Bxd4+ 12. Be3 (12. Ke1 $5 Qe4 13. Rf1 Bxe5 14. Nc3 $14 {is Postny's
improvement. He seems to be right, although White's edge is not so convincing
after} Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Bg4 (15... O-O $5)) 12... Bxe3+ 13. Kxe3 Qh6+ 14. Kf3 O-O
(14... Be6 15. Qa4+ c6 16. Qh4 Qg6 17. Rf1 (17. Nc3 $1 $36) 17... Qf5+ 18. Qf4
Qh3 19. Nd2 f6 20. Kf2 Qxh2+ 21. Ke1 {Jobava,B (2702)-Zeng,C (2504) China 2013}
O-O $132) 15. Qd4 (15. Qxd5 $5 b5 16. Nc3 Rb8 17. Qc5 Bb7+ 18. Kf2 Rbd8 19. h4
$14) 15... Be6 16. Qf4 Qh3 17. Qh4 Qxh4 18. gxh4 f6 19. exf6 Rxf6+ 20. Ke3 Re8
21. Nc3 Bg4+ 22. Kd3 Bxe2+ 23. Nxe2 Rf3+ 24. Kd2 Rf2 25. Rae1 d4 26. Kd1 Re3
27. h3 c5 28. b3 {Hou,Y (2617)-Zhao,J (2589) Xinghua 2013} Rd3+ 29. Kc1 Rdf3
$11) {It's better to develop the N as soon as possible:} 9. Nc3 $142 (9. O-O
O-O (9... Bg4 10. Be3 f5 $5 11. exf6 (11. Nc3 $142 $13) 11... Qxf6 12. Nc3
O-O-O $1 13. Na4 Kb8 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Rhe8 17. b4 Nd6 18. a5
b5 $132 {Jobava,B (2730)-Kamsky,G (2744) Amsterdam 2012}) 10. Be3 f6 $1 11.
exf6 (11. Nc3 $5 $11) 11... Qxf6 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Rc1 Rad8 14. h3 h6 15. a3 Ne7
16. Na4 c6 17. Qb3 Bc7 18. Qxb7 Rd7 19. Qb3 Bxh3 $1 $40 {Jones,G (2661)
-Caruana,F (2839) London rpd 2014}) 9... O-O 10. O-O Bf5 (10... Bg4 11. Be3 f6
12. exf6 Nxf6 $11) (10... f6 $5 $132 {/\} 11. Qb3 fxe5 12. Nxe4 Na5 {, winning
the piece back.}) 11. Na4 f6 12. a3 (12. Be3 Qe7 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Rc1 Raf8 15.
Nxb6 axb6 16. Ne5 h6 17. f4 Nd6 18. Bf2 Be4 19. Bh4 g5 20. fxg5 Rxf1+ 21. Bxf1
Nxe5 22. dxe5 Nf5 $13 {Jobava,B (2722)-Anton Guijarro,D (2607) Doha 2014})
12... fxe5 (12... Qe7 $5 {/\} 13. b4 fxe5 14. dxe5 Nxf2 15. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2
Be4 $36) 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nc5 (15... Qd7 $5) 16. Be3 Ne6
17. g4 (17. Qb3 $142 $1 $14) 17... Bg6 18. f4 Be4 19. Qb3 $2 (19. Bf3 $11)
19... Qh4 20. Rf2 Qh3 21. Bd1 Rxf4 $1 $19 {->, Jobava,B (2734)-Malakhov,V 
(2700) Burgas 2012}) 7... Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 {The main move.} (8... Bb4+ {is far
less usual in high-level games, White was on top after} 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2
O-O 11. O-O (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. O-O c5 13. a3 Bxd2 14. Qxd2 Bg4 $5 15. dxc5 Bxf3
16. gxf3 c6 17. Rfe1 Qd7 18. Qd3 Rae8 19. Re3 Re6 20. f4 f6 21. Rh3 h6 22. Re1
fxe5 23. fxe5 Rf4 24. b4 Qe7 $44 {Sveshnikov,E (2565)-Aleksandrov,A (2645)
Moscow 2002. See the notes to this game in CBM 088 by Lukacs.}) 11... Ne7 (
11... Bd7 12. a3 {/\} Bxd2 13. Bxc6 $14) 12. a3 Ba5 ({Black will exchange this
bishop later on; a more natural way was the immediate} 12... Bxd2 $5 13. Qxd2
c6 14. Bd3 Bf5 $14 {/=}) 13. Bd3 Bf5 14. Bxf5 Nxf5 15. b4 Bb6 16. Nb3 f6 17.
Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 c6 19. Qd3 g6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Ne5 Rfe8 22. f4 b6 23. Rac1
$14 {[%csl Rc6] Kryvoruchko,Y (2678)-Negi,P (2643) WCup Tromsoe rpd 2013}) 9.
h3 {True to his style, Baadur chooses an offbeat line.} ({White tries to avoid
the pin, but this costs time, so more usual is} 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 (
11. Qc2 Bf5 (11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ng5 13. O-O-O $1 (13. Bxc6 Nxf3+ $5 14. Ke2
Nxd4+ 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxb7 Rb8 $44 {|^}) 13... Nxf3 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Qe2 Nh4
16. Rhg1 Qd7 (16... f6 $6 17. Qh5 Ng6 18. Rg3 fxe5 19. Rh3 $40 {Ni,H (2641)
-Marin,M (2551) Reggio Emilia 2008}) 17. Qh5 Nf5 18. Bh6 $44) 12. Qb3 Na5 $5 ({
More concrete than} 12... Ne7 13. Be2 c6 14. O-O f6 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Ne5 Ng6
17. Na4 Nxe5 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. dxe5 Rg6 20. Bh5 Re6 21. f3 Nc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5
23. Qxb7 g6 24. Bg4 Bxg4 25. fxg4 Qe8 $11 {Ni,H (2641)-Navara,D (2656) Reggio
Emilia 2007}) 13. Qb4 (13. Qxd5 $2 Qe7 $1 {[%csl Rd5] /\} 14. Nxe4 Be6 $19) (
13. Qa4 c6 14. Be2 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bc7 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. O-O h6 18. Bh4 b5 19. Qd1
Nc4 20. Ne1 c5 21. Nd3 cxd4 22. cxd4 {Nozdrachev,L (2434)-Matlakov,M (2690)
Moscow 2014} Bb6 $15) 13... c6 14. Bd3 Nc4 $1 15. Bxc4 Ba5 16. Qb3 dxc4 17.
Qxc4 Qb6 18. Bc1 c5 19. O-O Nxc3 20. bxc3 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Rac8 22. Qe2 Bd7 $11 {
/=/+, Merrow,C (2119)-Kamanel Zamora,J (2354) email 2010}) (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12.
Qa4 (12. Qc2 c5 $5 (12... f5 $13) (12... Bf5 $11) 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rd1 c6 15.
Bxc5 Bxc5 16. Nxd5 Re8 17. Qxc5 Bxf3 18. Ne7+ $5 $11) 12... f6 13. exf6 (13.
Qxc6 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 fxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rxf3 18. Ke2 {
Macieja,B (2592)-De la Paz Perdomo,F (2456) Merida 2005} Rf8 $15 {Lysyj}) 13...
Bxf3 14. fxg7 Re8 15. gxf3 Nxf2 $1 16. Kxf2 Qh4+ 17. Ke2 Bxd4 18. Ne4 (18. Nd1
$2 Qf4 $1 $18) 18... Bxe3 19. Kxe3 Rxe4+ $1 20. fxe4 Re8 {White loses his Q
and barely draws after} 21. Rhg1 $1 {[]} Rxe4+ 22. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 23. Kd2 $11)
11... Bh5 12. O-O {is the preferred engine move.} (12. Qb3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nxf2
$1 14. Bxf2 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qh4+ 16. Kd2 Qxd4+ (16... Bxd4 $5) 17. Kc2 c6 18. Bd3
Rae8 19. Rad1 {Bologan,V (2672)-Hracek,Z (2635) WCup Tromsoe rpd 2013} Qxe5 $44
) ({Ani} 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14. Nh4 c5 $1 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17.
Bxc5 Bxc5 18. O-O Bd4 19. Rad1 Bxe5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 Qf6 22. Rfd1 Rac8
23. Qe3 Bxb2 24. Qxa7 b6 $11 {[%csl Gb2,Gb5] Ivanchuk,V (2731)-Kramnik,V (2793)
Antalya 2013}) (12. Be2 f6 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. O-O {- 12.0-0}) {The human
reaction is} 12... f6 ({A computer solution is} 12... Nxd4 $5 13. Bxd4 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 (14. gxf3 Qg5+ 15. Kh1 Qf5 $11 {and White can't avoid a perpetual.}) 14...
Bxd4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qxe4 c6 $11 (16... c5 $5)) 13. exf6 Nxf6 (13... Nxc3 14.
bxc3 Qxf6 15. Be2 Rae8 16. a4 Qd6 17. Re1 Kh8 18. Qc2 Bg6 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3
Kg8 21. Re2 Re7 22. Bg5 Rxe2 23. Qxe2 h6 24. Bh4 Ba5 25. Qb2 Qd7 26. Bg3 $14 {
[%csl Ra5] Svetushkin,D (2588)-Lysyj,I (2641) EU-ch Legnica 2013}) (13... Rxf6
$5 14. Be2 Qd6 $132) 14. Be2 Qd6 15. Na4 Ne4 16. Nxb6 axb6 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18.
Qxd2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Rae8 20. Qd2 Ne7 21. Rae1 c6 22. f3 Ng6 23. Re2 Re6 24. Bf2
Rxe2 25. Qxe2 Nf4 $11 {Bauer,C (2633)-Le Roux,J (2588) FRA-ch Nancy 2013 For
more detailed info see the aforementioned survey in CBM 158.}) 9... Bd7 {
Jakovenko reacts carefully.} ({Later Jobava faced the more direct} 9... O-O $5
10. O-O (10. Be3 f6 {will tranpose, as White should castle}) 10... f6 11. Bxc6
bxc6 12. Be3 fxe5 (12... c5 $5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 $11) 13. Nxe5 Ba6 (13... Bb7 14.
Nd2 c5 15. Nxe4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 dxe4 17. Qb3+ Bd5 18. Qc3 Qg5 19. Be3 Qh5 20.
Rad1 Be6 21. Rde1 Bd5 22. a4 $11 {/+/=} Ba5 $2 23. Qxa5 Qxe5 24. Rc1 $36 {
[%csl Rd5,Ge3] Jobava,B (2699)-Dominguez Perez,L (2734) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015})
14. Re1 {More forcing is} Ba5 (14... Qh4 15. Nf3 $142 $1 (15. Qg4 Qxg4 16. hxg4
Rae8 17. Nc3 $6 (17. a4 c5 $36) 17... Nxf2 $1 18. Bxf2 Rxf2 $17 {Kiroski,T 
(2362)-Georgiev,V (2586) Struga 2010}) 15... Qf6 (15... Rxf3 16. Qxf3 Rf8 17.
Qg4 Qf6 18. Nc3 $1 Nxf2 19. Qg3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. Kh2 $13 {/+/=}) 16. Nc3
$13) 15. Nxc6 Qh4 16. Nxa5 Rxf2 $1 17. Nc3 (17. Bxf2 Qxf2+ 18. Kh2 (18. Kh1 $2
Bf1 19. Rxf1 Ng3+ 20. Kh2 Nxf1+ 21. Kh1 Qf4 $19) 18... Qg3+ 19. Kg1 Nf2 $5 (
19... Qf2+ $11) 20. Qh5 Nxh3+ 21. Qxh3 Qxe1+ 22. Kh2 Rf8 23. Nd2 Qxa1 24. Qe6+
Kh8 25. Qxa6 Qxb2 26. Nab3 $11) 17... Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Qg3+ {1/2, Jobava,B (2699)
-Grischuk,A (2780) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 10. Ba4 $146 {[%mdl 8] Although new,
this move has been analysed by Lysyj.} ({It's certainly better than} 10. Bd3
$143 $6 Nb4 11. Be2 (11. O-O Nxd3 12. Qxd3 O-O $15) 11... c5 $1 12. Be3 cxd4
13. Nxd4 Nc6 (13... Qc7 $5 $36) 14. O-O Nxe5 15. Qb3 Nc4 $5 (15... Bc6 $15 {
is OK, but Black prefers to retain the initiative instead of the P.}) 16. Bxc4
dxc4 17. Qxc4 O-O 18. Rd1 Rc8 19. Qd3 Re8 20. Nd2 Bf5 21. Qb5 Nd6 $15 {[%csl
Gb6,Gf5] |^, Vachier Lagrave,M (2573)-Eljanov,P (2675) Wijk aan Zee 2007})
10... f6 11. O-O (11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O (12. Nxd5 $6 Ba5+ 13. Kf1 fxe5 14. dxe5
Nxe5 $1 $36 {[%csl Rf1]}) 12... fxe5 13. dxe5 Be6 14. Bb3 Nxf2 $5 15. Rxf2 Nxe5
16. Bxd5 Bxf2+ 17. Kxf2 Bxd5 18. Qxd5+ Qxd5 19. Nxd5 Rad8 $44) 11... fxe5 (
11... O-O 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Nc3 {transposes to Januszewski,P (1874)-Zielinski,M 
(1888) Ostroda 2009. Here Lysyj recommends} Kh8 $5 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Nxd5 Bxd5
16. Bxd5 Nxf2 $1 17. Rxf2 Nxd4 18. Kh1 Nf5 19. Bg5 Qd6 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. Qxd6
cxd6 $11) 12. dxe5 Ne7 ({Rather passive, the computer move is} 12... Be6 $5 13.
Nd4 (13. Nc3 O-O {-11.Nc3}) 13... Bxd4 14. Qxd4 O-O 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nc3 c5
$132) 13. Nbd2 (13. e6 Bxa4 14. Qxa4+ c6 15. Nc3 Nxf2 (15... Nc5 16. Qf4 Rf8 $1
(16... Nxe6 17. Qe5 $40) 17. Qg4 Qd6 $13) 16. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 17. Kxf2 O-O $44 {
[%csl Re6,Rf2]}) ({Possibly more promising is} 13. Nc3 $5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxa4 (
14... O-O $5 15. Bc2 Bf5) 15. Qxa4+ Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Re1 Rae8 $13 {
/+/= In the complex endgame White's pawn are more mobile, but his edge is
volatile.}) 13... Nxd2 {Helps White's development.} (13... Nc5 $5 14. Bc2 O-O
$132) 14. Bxd2 O-O (14... Bxa4 $143 15. Qxa4+ Qd7 16. Qa3 $1 $36 {[%cal Ye5e6,
Yd2b4]}) 15. Bc2 Bf5 16. a4 {[%mdl 64]} (16. Bxf5 Nxf5 17. Qb3 c6 $11 {is
solid. Jobava tries a more original approach and initiates tactical
complications.}) 16... a5 17. Ra3 $5 Nc6 18. Bxf5 Rxf5 19. Re1 Nd4 (19... Qd7
20. Be3 ({, or} 20. Rd3 {prevents the knight move.})) 20. g4 $1 (20. Nxd4 Bxd4
21. Rf3 (21. Be3 $2 Bxe5 {is nothing}) 21... Rxe5 22. Rxe5 Bxe5 23. Qb3 Bd4 $5
(23... b6 $2 24. Rf5 Qd6 25. Bf4 $1 $16) 24. Qxb7 Rb8 $132) 20... Rf8 (20...
Rxf3 21. Rxf3 Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 $14) 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Be3 {The point of White's
ambitious and double-edged 20th move.} Bxb2 $5 (22... Bxe5 $6 23. Bc5 Bd6 24.
Qxd5+ $36) (22... Bxe3 23. Raxe3 $14) 23. Rd3 ({The fighting choice,} 23. Rb3
Bxe5 24. Bc5 Bd6 25. Qxd5+ Rf7 {[%cal Rd6h2]} 26. Bxd6 (26. Rd1 Qf6 $11) 26...
Qxd6 27. Qxd6 cxd6 $11 {is drawish.}) 23... Bxe5 $8 {Black must run with the B.
} (23... c6 $2 24. Bc5 $1 (24. Qe2 $6 Bxe5 25. Bc5 Bf6 26. Bxf8 Qxf8 $132)
24... Re8 25. Re2 $1 Bxe5 26. Rde3 $16 {[%csl Re5] /+-}) 24. Rxd5 Bd6 (24...
Qf6 $5 25. g5 Qf5 26. Bc5 (26. f4 Qxh3 27. Rxe5 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Qh3+ $11) 26...
Rfe8 (26... Qxg5+ $6 27. Kf1 Rf5 28. Qb3 Kh8 29. Qe3 $1 $14 {[%csl Re5] /+/-
again gains a piece with winning chances.}) 27. Qb3 Qf7 $1 28. Qxb7 Bf4 29.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Qc6 Qg6 $14 {/<=> and Black should hold the slightly inferior
endgame after} 31. Qxg6 hxg6 32. h4 (32. Ba7 Re4 33. Rxa5 Bd2 $11) 32... Re1+
33. Kg2 Ra1) 25. Qb3 Kh8 ({Contrary to humans, engines seriously consider the
self-pinning} 25... Rf7 26. Rf5 Qf8 {White is only marginally better after} 27.
Bg5 $5 $14 {[%cal Re1e3,Re3f3]}) 26. Qxb7 ({The engine line} 26. Rh5 Bf4 27.
Bc5 Bd6 28. Qb1 h6 29. Re6 Rf6 30. Rxf6 Qxf6 31. Rf5 Qc3 32. Qxb7 Re8 33. Bxd6
cxd6 34. Qb5 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Qe4 36. Qxa5 {wins a pawn, but after} Ra8 $14 {
Black should hold with all pawns on one flank.}) 26... Qe8 {[%cal Re8a4]
Direct, but perhaps not the best.} ({After} 26... h6) ({or} 26... Qf6 {Black
should have enough play against the vulnerable Kg1 to hold the position.}) 27.
Qb1 (27. Rh5 $142 $5 Qg6 (27... Rb8 28. Qd5 $14) 28. Qb1 Qxb1 29. Rxb1 $14)
27... Rb8 $5 28. Qc2 Rb4 29. Rxa5 Re4 30. Rb5 c5 {Black has sacrificed a pawn
to activate his Ra8; now he has sufficient counterplay.} (30... Qe6 $5 {/\} 31.
a5 Bb4 32. Rd1 (32. Rxb4 Rxb4 33. Qc5 Rbb8 34. Qxc7 Rfc8 $11) 32... Rxg4+ 33.
hxg4 Qxg4+ 34. Kf1 Qh3+ 35. Ke2 Qg4+ $11 36. Kd3 $4 Qg6+) 31. Rb6 Bf4 (31...
Bc7 $5 32. Rbb1 (32. Rb7 Qg6 33. Qxc5 Rxg4+ 34. hxg4 Qxg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh3+ 36. Ke2
Qf3+ $11 37. Kd2 $6 Rd8+) 32... c4 $44 {[%csl Rg1]}) 32. Qxc5 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 (
33. fxe3 Qf7 34. Qf5 Qe8 35. Qb5 Qd8 36. Rf1 Ree8 $11 {[%csl Rg1] White's K is
too exposed to convert the extra material.}) 33... Rxe3 34. fxe3 (34. Qxe3 Qxa4
$14 {gives mostly practical chances, with careful defence Black should hold.
As Wojtaszek misplayed his advantage against Kramnik, Jobava feels forced to
strive for more.}) 34... Qf7 35. Qf5 Qe8 $138 ({Black can immediately force a
draw with} 35... Qe7 $142 $1 36. Qd3 (36. Re6 Qb4 $36) (36. Qe6 Qc7 37. Rb1
Qg3+) 36... Qc7 (36... Qh4 $44) 37. Rd6 Qc1+ 38. Kg2 Qe1 39. Rd8 Qf2+ $11) 36.
Qd3 Qxa4 37. Rb1 (37. Rb2 Qa1+ 38. Rb1 $11 {/+/= can transpose to the game.})
37... Qa7 (37... h6 $5) 38. Rf1 Re8 39. Qd4 Qe7 (39... Qc7 40. Qf4 Qe7 {
is similar.}) 40. Kg2 h6 {[%csl Rg2] The time-control is over, White's king is
too exposed to give him realistic winning chances.} 41. Rf3 Qb7 42. h4 Rf8 43.
e4 Re8 44. Rf4 (44. Re3 Rf8 ({or} 44... Ra8 $5 {doesn't change the evaluation.}
)) 44... Qc7 45. Kg3 ({After} 45. Qf2 Kh7 {Black should hold, now he will
directly force a draw...}) 45... Rd8 46. Qe3 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A tragic error,
which throws away even the half point.} ({He had to play} 46. Qf2 $8 {, White
has a perpetual after} g5 (46... Qc3+ 47. Rf3 Qe5+ 48. Kh3 $11) 47. hxg5 hxg5
48. Qb2+ $11 (48. Qh2+ Kg8 49. Qa2+ $11)) 46... g5 $19 {[%csl Rf4]} 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 21st"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2017.11.04"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Rodshtein, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nf1
Ng4 (8... d5 {is the other continuation.}) 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb6 $146 {
A novelty by Rodshtein.} (10... Bb4+ {was played before,} 11. N1d2 Nf6 12. d5
Ne7 13. O-O c6 14. dxc6 Nxc6 15. h3 h6 16. a3 Bc5 {Hamdouchi-Sargissian,
Reykjavik 2006; with a balanced poisition.}) 11. Ng3 (11. h3 {is less accurate,
as} Nf6 12. Ng3 d5 $1 13. e5 Ne4 {and Black looks OK.}) 11... Be6 12. O-O ({
The fork with} 12. d5 $2 {does not work because of} Nxf2 13. Qe2 Nxh1 14. Nxh1
Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. dxe6 fxe6 $17 {and Black is very active, he is
threatening ...Qh4.}) 12... Bxb3 13. axb3 h6 14. d5 Ne7 ({In the event of} 
14... Nce5 15. h3 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Ne5 17. Qc3 $14 {and White is more
comfortable. His plan is Be3 followed by f4.}) 15. Nh4 {The basic plan in this
structure. White wants to put a knight on f5.} Ne5 16. b4 (16. Nhf5 $5 {
was the alternative,} Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Re8 18. Bd2 $14 {with a slightly better
middlegame for White.}) 16... N5g6 ({Probably} 16... Nxd5 $5 {could reach the
draw,} 17. Nhf5 Nf6 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Qxh5 Qf6 20. Bxh6 ({or} 20. Ra3 $6 Rfe8
21. Rg3 Ng6 $15 {and Black looks nicely placed.}) 20... gxh6 21. Nxh6+ Kg7 22.
Nf5+ Kg8 $11 {and perpetual checks.}) 17. Nxg6 (17. Nhf5 Nxf5 18. Nxf5 Nh4 $132
{and Black removes the strong f5-knight.}) 17... fxg6 $5 {Black changes his
structure and he hopes the f2 can be weak.} ({Nevertheless} 17... Nxg6 {
was also possible,} 18. Bd2 Re8 {with a balanced position.}) 18. Ra3 Kh7 $6 {
An inaccuracy, because the king can be in trouble on the b1-h7 diagonal.} (
18... c6 $1 {would be better,} 19. Be3 (19. dxc6 Nxc6 $132) 19... cxd5 20. exd5
Nf5 $13 {with a double-edged fight.}) 19. Ne2 $1 {White starts his manoeuvre;
he is threatening Nf4-e6.} c6 $6 {Another dubious move, which allows the white
knight to reach the e6-square.} (19... g5 {was important, however} 20. Be3 $14
{and White is already slightly better.}) 20. Nf4 Qd7 21. Ne6 Rf6 22. Rf3 $1 {
The best reply!} ({The tempting} 22. Qg4 $2 {could have been met by} Kg8 $1 {
and suddenly the d5-pawn will be lost, Black is better.}) 22... Rxe6 {Black
sacrifices an exchange to remove the e6-knight, but this also doesn't really
help him.} (22... Rxf3 23. Qxf3 $16) 23. dxe6 Qxe6 24. Be3 Bc7 25. Bd4 Re8 26.
Bc3 g5 27. Qd4 Rg8 28. b3 {Prepares for Qc4.} ({The smart} 28. Rf8 $2 {was a
trap, because of the intermediate} c5 $1 {and suddenly White loses his f8-R.})
28... Ng6 (28... Qxb3 {could have been met by} 29. Qa7 $1 $16) 29. Qc4 Nf4 $6 {
Loses quicker, but Black was already in a difficult situation.} (29... Qc8 30.
Rf7 Nh8 31. Rf5 $16 {is also unpleasant for Black.}) 30. Qxe6 Nxe6 31. Rf7 $18
{The white R gains the 7th rank; he is completely winning.} Re8 (31... Kg6 32.
Re7 $18) 32. Bxg7 $1 {Not a difficult, but a nice move!} Kg6 33. Rd7 Nxg7 34.
Rxc7 Rxe4 35. Rxb7 Nf5 36. Rd1 d5 37. Kf1 Kf6 38. Rb6 Ne7 39. Ra1 d4 40. Rbxa6
1-0

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 3rd"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2015.02.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.02.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7
9. O-O O-O 10. h3 c6 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Nbd2 d5 14. Nf1 dxe4 $146 {
Novelty by Anand.} (14... h6 15. Ng3 Be6 16. bxc6 (16. Rb1 cxb5 17. axb5 dxe4
18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. dxe4 Qc7 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Red8 $15 {and Black looks
nicely placed, Vazquez-Bachmann, Asuncion 2013.}) 16... bxc6 17. Rb1 {with a
balanced middlegame.}) 15. Ng5 {An important intermediate move.} ({The natural
} 15. dxe4 {could have been met by} Qxd1 16. Bxd1 cxb5 17. axb5 Be6 $15 {
and Black has a comfortable position with his passed pawn on the a-file.})
15... Re7 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. dxe4 Be6 (17... cxb5 $5 {was the alternative} 18.
Qxd8+ Bxd8 19. axb5 Rc7 20. Rd1 $11 {with a nearly equal position.}) 18. Rb1
Rd7 19. Qc2 Nf8 {The N already wasn't useful on g6. Now he protects the e6 B,
and sometimes ...Bxb3 followed by ...Ne6 can be fine for Black.} 20. Ne3 {
White activates his N, now he is ready to play Bxe6 followed by Nc4.} Bxe3 ({
The natural} 20... Qc7 {was also possible,} 21. Bxe6 Nxe6 22. bxc6 bxc6 (22...
Qxc6 23. Nd5) 23. Nc4 Bc5 {Anand was probably scared of some sort of position
like this, in which the N on c4 can attack a5 and e5, but his position is
solid, White can't improve his position so easily.}) 21. Bxe3 h6 22. Red1 ({
The engine suggests} 22. bxc6 $5 bxc6 23. Bxe6 Nxe6 24. Rb6 {with some
pressure on the queenside, for example} c5 25. Qb3 {and however Black is solid,
still it is not so easy for him to equalise.}) 22... Rc8 23. Rxd7 (23. bxc6
Rxc6 {and the R is fine on the c-file.}) 23... Qxd7 24. Rd1 Qe8 ({It wa salso
possible to simplify with} 24... Bxb3 25. Qxb3 Qe6 26. Qxe6 Nxe6 $11 {with an
equal endgame.}) 25. bxc6 Qxc6 {The symmetrical structure is a little bit
changed, but still the position is equal.} 26. Bd5 {An ambitious reaction.
Caruana tries to complicate the position.} Qxc3 ({In the event of} 26... Bxd5
27. Rxd5 Nd7 (27... Qxc3 $6 {is dubious, because of} 28. Qxc3 Rxc3 29. Rxe5 $16
{and White will be a P up, moreover the B is stronger than the N.}) 28. Rxa5
Qxc3 29. Qxc3 Rxc3 30. Rb5 Rc7 {and Black can hold his position.}) 27. Qxc3
Rxc3 28. Bxb7 Nd7 $1 {It's important to bring the N back into the game.} 29.
Ba6 (29. Bd5 Nc5 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Rd8+ Kf7 33. Ra8 Rc4 34. Rxa5
Rxe4 {and it should be a draw.}) 29... Nc5 $1 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Bb5 Kh7 32. Rd6
Bc4 {Finally Anand exchanges the Bs, so the draw is obvious.} 33. Rb6 Bxb5 34.
Rxb5 Rxb5 35. axb5 a4 36. b6 a3 37. b7 a2 38. b8=Q a1=Q+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Salem, AR Saleh"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 (6. O-O) ({and} 6.
Bb3 {are the other main lines.}) 6... Be7 {This is the reason why Black didn't
play ...d6 earlier.} (6... h6 7. Bh4 Be7 {is more popular.}) 7. a4 (7. Nbd2 {
is the most natural.}) 7... d6 8. Nbd2 h6 $146 {A logical novelty by Hou Yifan.
} (8... a5 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Nh7 (10... Nh5 $5) 11. Bg3 Ng5 12. h3 Ne6 13. Re1
Bg5 14. Nf1 Bf4 15. Ne3 $14 {Demchenko-N.Nestorovic, Sarajevo 2017, with a
comfortable position for White.}) 9. Bxf6 {White gives up the bishop pair and
he prepares for the Nf1-e3 manoeuvre.} (9. Bh4 {is the alternative,} Nh5 10.
Bxe7 Qxe7 (10... Nxe7 $2 {could have been met by} 11. Nxe5 $1) 11. O-O Nf4 $132
{and Black looks active on the kingside.}) 9... Bxf6 10. Nf1 Ne7 11. Ne3 c6 {
Black controls the d5-square with his pawn. Now his pawn structure is also
flexible.} 12. Qb3 Rb8 ({The immediate} 12... Ng6 {was more natural for me.})
13. Qa2 Ng6 14. Rd1 Bg5 {Black activates his bishop.} ({The straightforward} 
14... Nf4 $5 {was also possible.}) 15. O-O Bxe3 (15... Bf4 $5) 16. fxe3 Qe7 17.
d4 Kh8 {A useful move. The king moves out from the pin and sometimes Black can
play for ...f5.} 18. Qa3 {A smart move, White puts pressure on d6. However
it's not a big danger for Black.} (18. b4) 18... Bg4 19. Ba2 (19. dxe5 $2 {
could have been met by} Bxf3 $1 20. gxf3 (20. Rxf3 {loses, because of} Nxe5 $19
) 20... Nxe5 $17 {and Black is better.}) 19... Rbd8 20. h3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 f5 $1
{Very ambitious play!} 22. dxe5 ({In case of} 22. exf5 Nh4 $1 $17) ({or} 22.
Rxf5 Nh4 $1 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 $17 {with ...Qg5 threatening.}) 22... Qxe5 23. Qb4
f4 $1 {Another great reply!} 24. Qd4 (24. exf4 $6 {is dubious because of} Nxf4
$17 {with strong pressure.}) 24... Qg5 {Black avoids the exchange of queens,
because he wants to continue the attack on the kingside.} 25. exf4 Nxf4 26. Qd2
Rf6 27. Kh2 Rdf8 28. Rg3 $6 {A dubious move, as the R will be trouble on g3.} (
28. g3 {was the best to simplify the position,} Ne6 29. Rxf6 Rxf6 30. Bxe6
Qxd2+ 31. Rxd2 Rxe6 {with a nearly equal endgame.}) 28... Qe5 29. Qd4 {
Otherwise ...Nh5.} Qh5 $6 {An inaccuracy, which allows White's possible next
move.} (29... Ng6 $1 $15 {is the most precise move, because the knight also
controls the important e5-square.}) 30. Qd2 $4 {The decisive blunder in time
trouble!} (30. e5 $1 {was the correct reply,} Rg6 (30... Qxe5 31. Qxe5 dxe5 32.
Rd7 $14 {and White has a comfortable endgame.}) (30... dxe5 31. Qd7 $1 {
and suddenly White gains the initiative.}) 31. Rxg6 Qxg6 32. Rd2 d5 {with a
double-edged fight.}) 30... Ne2 $1 $19 {The right move! White loses
immediately, because he can't avoid ...Qe5.} 31. Rf3 (31. Rd3 Qe5+ $19) 31...
Rxf3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Be6 (6... O-O) ({and} 
6... a6 {are the main lines.}) 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. b4 Bb6 9. Nbd2 a6 10. a4 Qd7
$146 {The first new move in the game.} (10... O-O 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Qb3 Qe8 13.
Be3 Bxe3 (13... Nh5 $2 14. b5 $1 Nd8 15. b6 $16 {Agnew-Myall, England 2014,
and White crushes Black's position.}) 14. Nxe3 Nh5 $11 {with a balanced
middlegame.}) 11. Ba3 (11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Bg5 O-O {leads to a normal Italian
position.}) 11... Ba7 {A prophylactic move, which avoids Nc4.} ({However the
straightforward} 11... O-O {was more logical for me, however} 12. Nc4 Ba7 13.
b5 axb5 14. axb5 Ne7 15. Rb1 $14 {is more comfortable for White.}) 12. b5 Na5 {
A brave decision, because the knight can be in trouble on a5.} (12... axb5 13.
axb5 Ne7 {was the alternative, because the knight is on a5 can be a target for
White. Nevertheless} 14. Nc4 O-O 15. Qb3 $14 {is also tempting for White.}) 13.
Bb4 {White exploits the fact that Black lost a tempo with ...Ba7.} Bb6 14. Rb1
O-O 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 axb5 17. axb5 Rfd8 18. Qe2 d5 $6 {A dubious move.
Black starts an idea, which is not good.} (18... c5 {would be better,} 19. bxc6
Nxc6 20. Bc3 Ba5 {and Black can fight for equality.}) 19. e5 Ne4 $6 {Black
sacrifices a pawn for the d5-square, but in my view this is not correct.} (
19... Ng4 {was more accurate,} 20. h3 Nh6 {followed by ...Nf5 and although
White has a space advantage, Black controls the light squares.}) 20. Nxe4 dxe4
21. Qxe4 Qd5 22. Qc2 {White accepts the pawn, but doesn't exchange queens. Now
he is thereatening Ng5.} ({In the event of} 22. Qxd5 $2 Rxd5 $44 {White's
pawns are weak.}) 22... Qc4 (22... h6 23. Rfc1 {is also difficult for Black,
for example:} Qxb5 24. Be7 $1 $16) 23. Rfc1 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 Rd5 25. Be1 Rf8 26.
Rb4 {White has protected all his weaknesses and he is a clear pawn up, so he
can activate his king.} Rf5 27. h4 h6 28. Bd2 Rf8 29. Ra2 Kf7 30. Bc3 Ra8 ({
In the event of} 30... Rc8 31. Nd2 c6 {gives more practical chances for Black,
but} 32. Rb1 $1 cxb5 33. Bxa5 Ra8 34. Nb3 b4 35. Rba1 $18 {and Black is a
piece down.}) 31. Nd2 $1 {White prepares for an unpleasant (for Black) knight
manoeuvre with Nf1-e3. Black's position is hopeless.} Ke7 32. Nf1 Ra7 33. Ne3
Rd8 34. Rc2 Rc8 35. h5 Raa8 36. Ra2 Ra7 37. Ra1 Rca8 38. Rab1 Rg8 39. Kf1 {
and Black didn't want to continue with his losing position, so he resigned. A
great positional game by Fedoseev!} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 ({2 months
previously Eljanov played} 6... d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nbd2 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Ne4
Be7 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. Re1 Bf6 13. Ne4 Nb6 14. Bb5 Re8 15. a4 a6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17.
a5 Nd5 18. Qa4 $14 {Areshchenko-Eljanov, Emsdetten 2015, and White was
slightly better.}) 7. Nbd2 (7. Bb3 {is the other main move, but usually these
transpose.}) 7... a6 8. Bb3 Be6 {A natural move.} (8... Ba7 {is a far more
popular line.}) 9. Bc2 {The most ambitious reaction. White doesn't want to
exchange the B; she hopes it will be more useful in the future.} h6 10. h3 Re8
11. Re1 d5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. b4 Ba7 14. a4 b5 15. Bb2 Qb8 $146 {This is the
new move in the game.} (15... Qd6 16. Ne4 Qe6 17. Nfd2 Rad8 18. Qe2 Nh7 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Ng3 Ng5 $13 {Bok-Abasov, Wijk aan Zee 2016, with an unclear
middlegame.}) 16. Nf1 Qb6 17. Ne3 Rad8 18. a5 (18. axb5 {was the alternative,}
axb5 19. Nd2 {with a balanced middlegame.}) 18... Qb7 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Nh4 Re6
21. d4 Rf6 22. Qh5 Qc8 23. Be4 $2 {A mistake, which allows Black's subsequent
attack.} (23. Nf5 {was better} exd4 24. cxd4 Ncxb4 25. Be4 {with some
compensation for the P.}) 23... Nf4 $1 24. Qf3 Ng6 $6 ({Probably the greedy} 
24... exd4 $1 {worked, for example} 25. Bxc6 dxc3 26. Qxc3 (26. Bxc3 Nxh3+ 27.
Qxh3 Bxf2+ $19) 26... Nd3 $1 $19 {and Black wins.}) 25. Qg3 (25. Nf5 $5) 25...
Nxh4 26. Qxh4 exd4 27. Bf3 d3 (27... Qf5 $5 {was also possible.}) 28. Rad1 Qf5
$6 {A tempting and ambitious move, but not the best.} ({The engine suggests} 
28... g5 $5 29. Qg4 (29. Qe4 $2 Re6 $19) {and only now} 29... Qf5 {, because}
30. c4 $2 {could have been met by} Qxg4 31. hxg4 Rxf3 $1 {This is the point!}
32. gxf3 bxc4 $19 {and suddenly Black is winning.}) 29. c4 $1 g5 30. Qe4 Bd4 $6
{A dubious move.} (30... Qxe4 {was important,} 31. Rxe4 Nd4 $132 {with a
double-edged fight.}) 31. Bxd4 $6 (31. Qxf5 $1 {was more accurate} Rxf5 32.
cxb5 Bxb2 33. Bxc6 {and White's chances are slightly better.}) 31... Nxd4 32.
Rxd3 Ne2+ 33. Rxe2 Rxd3 34. Qe8+ $2 {A blunder, which misses the chance to
equalise.} (34. Qxf5 $1 {was the right reply,} Rxf5 35. cxb5 Rxb5 36. Re8+ Kg7
37. Be2 $11 {with a drawish R ending.}) 34... Kg7 35. Be4 $6 {This only helps
Black.} ({Nevertheless} 35. cxb5 Rd1+ 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Qxe1 Qxb5 $19 {is also
winning for Black.}) 35... Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Qf4+ 37. g3 Qd6 38. cxb5 Rd2 {This is
not a bad move, but} (38... Qd4 $1 $19 {was much stronger and White has to
resign.}) 39. Bg2 Rxf2 40. Rxf2 Rxf2 41. Qe3 Rf6 $6 {This looks a safe move,
but it isn't the strongest.} (41... Ra2 $1 $19 {was more accurate to keep up
the pin on the g2-B.}) 42. bxa6 Qxa6 43. Qc5 ({Probably} 43. Qc3 $142 {was
tougher.}) 43... Qd6 44. Qc3 Kg8 45. b5 Rf2 $1 46. Qe1 Ra2 47. a6 Qd5 48. Qf1
Qd4 49. Qg1 Qxg1+ 50. Kxg1 Kf8 $19 {Black is a clear exchange up, the a6-P
looks dangerous, but the R controls it, so this endgame is winning for Black.}
51. Bd5 Ra3 52. Kf2 Ke7 53. g4 f6 54. Ke2 Kd6 55. Be4 Kc5 56. Bd3 Kd4 57. Bf5
Rxh3 58. Bd7 Ra3 59. Bc6 Kc5 60. Bd7 Kb6 61. Kf2 c5 62. bxc6 Rxa6 63. Kf3 Ra4
64. Ke3 Kc7 65. Kf3 Kd6 66. Ke3 Ra5 67. Ke4 Re5+ 68. Kf3 Re7 {...followed by ..
.Rxd7, so White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Biel GM 50th"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2017.08.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.07.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Nf1 ({Two months ago Anand played} 11. Bb3 {,}
Be6 12. d4 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Qd7 14. Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. N1d2 c5
18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 cxd4 20. e6 fxe6 21. Rxe6 Kh8 $132 {Anand-Nakamura,
Stavanger 2017, with a complicated position.}) 11... c6 12. Bb3 d5 13. Ng3 Be6
14. exd5 Nxd5 $146 {A logical novelty by Bacrot.} (14... Bxd5 15. Be3 (15. Bxd5
Qxd5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Rad8 $11 {is also heading for an equal position.})
15... Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qb6 17. Ra3 Qc7 $11 {Howell-Svidler, Hockenheim 2016, with
a balanced position.}) 15. d4 {White immediately opens the centre and he is
hoping that his knight will be strong on d4.} (15. a5 $5 {was also an
interesting option.}) 15... exd4 16. Nxd4 Qc7 $1 {A very nice tactical
solution for the protection of the e6-bishop.} 17. Bxd5 ({Now} 17. Nxe6 $2 {
could have been met by} Bxf2+ $1 {This intermediate check is the point!} 18.
Kxf2 fxe6+ 19. Kg1 Qxg3 $17 {and suddenly Black is much better.}) (17. Ngf5 $5
{was an alternative choice,} Rae8 18. Bg5 Ndf4 {and Black looks nicely placed.}
) 17... Bxd5 18. Ndf5 {White activates his knight and prepares for
neutralising the a7-bishop with Be3.} Rad8 19. Qg4 Be6 20. Be3 ({The tempting} 
20. Nh5 $2 {could have been met by} Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Rd5 $1 22. Qf3 Bb8 23. g3 (
23. Ng3 Ne5 $1 $17) 23... Qd7 $17 {and suddenly Black becomes very active.})
20... Bb8 $1 {An ambitious move! Black keeps his bishop pair and he hopes the
queen and bishop battery can be dangerous on the b8-h2 diagonal.} 21. Bc5 $4 {
A decisive mistake, which loses immediately. White blunders, missing Black's
reply!} (21. Rad1 {was the natural move,} Rfe8 22. Bc5 $13 {and Black has the
bishop pair, but White's pieces are active, so this is still a double-edged
fight.}) 21... Bxf5 $1 $19 {Black immediately finds the tactical motif.} 22.
Nxf5 ({The point is that,} 22. Qxf5 {could have been met by} Rd5 $19 {and
White loses his bishop.}) 22... Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Rd2 {White can't avoid the mating
attack.} 24. f4 h5 25. Qf3 Qh1+ 26. Bg1 Ba7 27. Re3 Bxe3 28. Nxe3 Re8 29. Nc4
Rc2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 {The most ambitious
continuation. White avoids the exchange of light-squared bishops and he
prepares for d4.} d5 13. exd5 (13. Qe2 {is far more popular.}) 13... Bxd5 14.
Ng3 Bc5 ({Last year Anand played} 14... Qd7 {in a blitz game,} 15. Nh4 Rad8 16.
Nhf5 Kh8 17. d4 $1 $132 {Giri-Anand, Stavanger blitz 2015, with a double-edged
fight.}) 15. b4 Bf8 16. a4 g6 $146 {A logical novelty by Anand. A typical move,
Black prepares for ...Bg7.} (16... b5 {has been played in a few games,} 17. Be3
(17. Bd2 Rb8 18. Qe2 Qd7 19. Nh2 Be6 $13 {Bologan-Stefansson, Dresden 2008,
with a complicated middlegame.}) 17... Rb8 (17... Qc8 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. Bb3 Bxb3
20. Qxb3 Qb7 21. Qd5 {1/2 Predojevic-Sargissian, Germany 2007, and a draw.})
18. axb5 axb5 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nfd2 Ra8 21. Qf3 Kh8 22. Nb3 Qd7 23. Nbc5 Bxc5
24. Nxf6 Bxf3 25. Nxd7 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Bd5 27. Nc5 $14 {Petrosian-Melkumyan,
Martuni 2011, and White looks more comfortable.}) 17. Bb2 b5 {A similar idea
to that behind the previous move. White has gained some space on the queenside
and Black tries to rein him in a bit.} 18. Ne4 Rb8 19. Bc1 {Kramnik thought
the bishop was useless on b2, so he activates it on the c1-h6 diagonal.} (19.
Bb3 $5 {was the alternative choice.}) 19... Nd7 $6 {A little bit passive.} (
19... Nh5 {looks more ambitious, for example} 20. Be3 Kh7 {and Black will play
on the kingside with ...f5.}) 20. Bb3 $1 {The right plan. Black's
light-squared bishop was already too strong and White can't continue his
queenside play, so he exchanges the bishops.} Bxb3 (20... Nb6 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Be3 $14 {looks more comfortable for White.}) 21. Qxb3 Re6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3
Nf6 24. Rad1 Nxe4 ({I think} 24... Nd5 $5 {was more accurate to keep the
tension, however White controls the c5-square.}) 25. dxe4 Qe8 {The pawn
structure is symmetrical again. White is more flexible, because Black's knight
is passive and difficult to activate. White is obviously slightly better.} 26.
Rd5 Nd8 27. Ra1 Nb7 28. Ra7 c6 29. Rd1 Nd6 30. Nd2 Ra8 31. Rda1 Rxa7 32. Rxa7
Re7 {Black tries to simplify the position, he would have more chances to hold
his position.} 33. Ra6 {Of course White avoids the exchange.} Rc7 34. Qa2 Kg7
35. Bb6 Rb7 36. Bc5 Be7 37. Ra8 Rb8 (37... Qd7 $5 {was the other option and it
is hard to continue the pressure with White.}) 38. Ra7 Rd8 39. Bb6 Rc8 40. Bc7
Qd7 41. Bb6 Qe8 42. g3 Bg5 43. Bc7 Bxd2 $6 ({Probably} 43... Be7 {was more
accurate, however} 44. c4 bxc4 45. Nxc4 $14 {is slightly better for White.})
44. Bxd6 Bxc3 45. Re7 $1 {White has sacrificed a pawn, but he is very strongly
placed on Black's 7th rank.} Qg8 {At first the engine says this is a decisive
mistake, but 45...Qf8 is also similar.} ({In the event of} 45... Qf8 46. Qe6 $1
Ra8 47. Qd7 Bd4 48. h4 {Black is under pressure like in the game and} Ra2 $2 {
loses on account of} 49. Re8 $18) 46. Qe6 $1 {Another strong reply!} Qf8 47.
Kg2 $1 {A very nice cool-blooded move. Black can't do anything, just hold his
position.} ({The engine suggests} 47. Rc7 Rxc7 48. Bxf8+ Kxf8 49. Qd6+ Re7 {
as a clear winning position for White, but by human measures this is a good
chance to survive for Black.}) 47... Rd8 (47... Ra8 {also leads to a similar
position,} 48. Qd7 ({, but not} 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Ra2 $1 $11 {and a draw.})
48... Bd4 49. h4 Rc8 50. g4 $16 {and it is very difficult to continue with
Black.}) 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Kg8 $6 {This loses immediately, but Black's
position was difficult.} (49... Bxc5 {was tougher,} 50. Qxc5 Kg8 51. Qxe5 h5
$16 {and White should be much better, but it is not easy to play with his rook,
as the b4-pawn will be hanging.}) 50. Qxb5 Rb8 51. Rxf7 $1 {Nice victory by
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2015.05.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
08]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:07] Jobava likes to play rare
sidelines, but as we will see, he studies them very deeply and he is able to
cause real surprises.} (5. d3 {is the solid main continuation.}) 5... exd4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. e5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} (6. cxd4 {is the another line.}) 6... d5
{[%emt 0:00:16]} 7. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} ({Jobava also tried} 7. Be2 Ne4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 O-O 11. O-O f6 $1 12. Rc1 $1 fxe5 $1 (12... Kh8
13. Nb3 $1 Bg4 14. a3 Be7 15. Re1 fxe5 16. dxe5 Rf4 17. h3 Bh5 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19.
Rxc5 d4 20. e6 $1 Bg6 21. Bd3 $16 {Jobava-Karjakin, Loo 2013, and White is
better; later he managed to win.}) 13. dxe5 Ba5 $1 {should have been played,
followed by ...Bb6 and Black is fine.}) 7... Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 8. cxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:48]
} ({A few weeks ago Jakovenko played} 9... Bd7 {against Jobava,} 10. Ba4 f6 11.
O-O fxe5 12. dxe5 Ne7 13. Nbd2 Nxd2 14. Bxd2 O-O 15. Bc2 Bf5 16. a4 a5 17. Ra3
Nc6 18. Bxf5 Rxf5 19. Re1 Nd4 $13 {Jobava-Jakovenko, Sochi 2015, with a
balanced middlegame.}) 10. O-O {[%emt 0:00:12]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 11. Bxc6 {
[%emt 0:01:20]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 12. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} fxe5 {[%emt 0:
00:48]} 13. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 14. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:51]}
Ba5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:47] A completely acceptable and correct novelty by
Grischuk.} (14... Qh4 $5 {has also been played,} 15. Nf3 (15. Qg4 $6 {was
dubious, as} Qxg4 16. hxg4 Rae8 17. Nc3 Nxf2 $1 18. Bxf2 Rxf2 19. Nxc6 {
(Kiroski-V.Georgiev, Struga 2010)} Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Rxb2 21. Nxd5 Bb5 22. Nxb6
Bxc6 $15 {and Black looks nicely placed.}) 15... Rxf3 (15... Qh5 16. Nbd2) 16.
Qxf3 Rf8 17. Qg4 Qf6 18. Nc3 Nxf2 19. Qg3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. Kh2 Qf6 $44 {
with a double-edged fight.}) 15. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:06:48]} Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 16.
Nxa5 {[%emt 0:01:42]} Rxf2 $1 {[%emt 0:01:02] This is the point! Now Black
forces the draw.} 17. Nc3 {[%emt 0:05:21]} (17. Bxf2 $2 {does not work, because
} Qxf2+ 18. Kh2 (18. Kh1 $2 Bf1 $1 19. Rxf1 Ng3+ 20. Kh2 Nxf1+ 21. Kh1 Qf4 $1
22. Kg1 Rf8 $19 {and Black wins.}) 18... Qg3+ 19. Kg1 Ng5 $1 {A very strong
move. Black is a clear R down, but he continues the attack! For example:} 20.
Kh1 Nxh3 $1 21. gxh3 Qxh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Rf8 $1 24. Nc3 Qh3+ 25. Kg1 Rf4
26. Re8+ Kf7 $19 {and White's position is hopeless.}) 17... Rxg2+ {[%emt 0:01:
54]} 18. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qg3+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 19. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
Qxh3+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 20. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qg3+ {[%emt 0:01:11]} 21. Kh1 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Qh3+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 22. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qg3+ {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 23. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qh3+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 h6 ({The natural} 11... c6 {was played by
Carlsen,} 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 c5 16. d5 b5 17. axb5
axb5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 $13 {Kramnik-Carlsen, Stavanger
2017, with an unclear middlegame; later White managed to win.}) 12. Bb3 Re8 13.
Bc2 b5 ({On the same day So Wesley played} 13... Bd7 14. a5 c6 15. dxe5 dxe5
16. Nc4 Qe7 17. Qd6 Qxd6 18. Nxd6 Re6 19. Rd1 $14 {Vachier Lagrave-So Wesley,
Saint Louis 2017, and Black was under pressure.}) 14. b4 $146 {A logical
novelty by Karjakin. White's idea is to play on the queenside with Bb2, c4.} (
14. Nf1 {is the straightforward continuation,} Bd7 15. Ng3 c5 16. Be3 exd4 17.
cxd4 c4 18. Qd2 $36 {Grandelius-E.Hansen, Wijk aan Zee 2017, with the
initiative.}) 14... Bb7 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. c4 {This is the idea of White's setup.
Normally it is very rare that White has 5 pawns next to each other on the 4th
rank.} exd4 $6 {A dubious move, because Black will have problems on b5.} (16...
bxc4 {was better,} 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Nxc4 Bd4 {and Black is also
active,}) ({or even the cool-blooded} 16... Nh5 $5 {is also possible, for
example:} 17. axb5 (17. dxe5 $2 Nhf4 $1 18. exd6 Nxg2 $1 19. Kxg2 Nf4+ $19 {
with a decisive attack.}) 17... axb5 18. c5 Nhf4 $132 {with a complicated
middlegame.}) 17. cxb5 $1 {The right reply!} d3 $6 {Another inaccuracy. At
first sight 17...d3 is a logical intermediate move, because ...Nf4 will come
with tempo. On the other hand the light-squared bishop will be strong on the
a6-f1 diagonal.} ({However} 17... axb5 18. Nxd4 bxa4 19. Bxa4 c6 20. Qc2 $14 {
is also comfortable for White.}) 18. Bxd3 Nf4 19. Bf1 $1 {This is the right
square for the bishop. White sacrifices the e4-pawn, because on the queenside
he will be stronger.} Nxe4 (19... axb5 20. Bxb5 $16 {is also better for White.}
) 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. bxa6 Qf5 {Threatening ...Nxh3.} 22. Ra3 $1 {A great move,
White activates his R from the 3rd rank and protects the f3-knight.} c5 23. Nh4
{A strong intermediate move! Now it is not easy to choose for Black where he
will put his queen, moreover Rg3 can be unpleasant at an appropriate moment.}
Qe6 (23... Qg5 $2 {loses, as} 24. Rg3 Qxh4 25. Rxg7+ Kf8 26. Qxd6+ $18 {
and wins.}) 24. b5 $18 {White's queenside pawns are very dangerous. a5, b5 is
his main threat.} c4 25. Bd4 {The best practical move. White frustrates all
counterchances; now he neutralises the a7-bishop.} (25. a5 Bc5) 25... Bxd4 26.
Qxd4 d5 27. Rg3 ({The careless} 27. a5 $2 {could have been met by} Qe7 {
double attack,} 28. Rg3 Ne6 $132 {and White loses the h4-knight, the position
is not easy.}) (27. f3 {was also fine, but} Qd6 (27... Qe7 $2 28. Nf5 $1 $18)
28. Rxe4 Rxe4 29. fxe4 Qxa3 30. Nf5 Ne6 {gives some practical chances for
Black.}) 27... g5 28. f3 Nh5 29. Rg4 Nf6 ({The good-looking} 29... f5 {is also
losing, because of} 30. Nxf5 $1 Qxf5 31. fxe4 $18 {and White is winning.}) 30.
Rgxe4 $1 Nxe4 ({In the event of} 30... dxe4 31. Bxc4 Qe5 32. Qxe5 Rxe5 33. b6
$18 {the pawns reach the 6th rank.}) 31. fxe4 gxh4 32. Rd1 Qxe4 (32... dxe4 33.
Bxc4 $18 {is also hopeless for Black.}) 33. Qxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxd5 c3 35. Rc5 Rxa4
36. b6 Kg7 37. b7 Re8 38. Rxc3 Ra1 39. a7 ({The immediate} 39. Rc8 $4 {would
be a blunder, as} Ree1 $1 {and suddenly the white king is in trouble.}) (39. a7
Rxa7 {and the rook has left the 1st rank, so} 40. Rc8 $18 {and White is
winning.}) 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Salem, AR Saleh"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 a6 (7... g5
{is the other main continuation.}) 8. a4 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Qe7 (9... g5 10. Bg3 O-O
11. O-O Nh7 12. h3 h5 $132 {Topalov-So Wesley, London 2016, with a complicated
middlegame.}) 10. b4 Bd7 $146 {A novelty by Giri.} (10... g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12.
Nf1 Be6 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 a5 16. b5 Ne7 $11 {
Vocaturo-Romanov, Gjakova 2016, with a balanced position.}) 11. Rb1 g5 12. Bg3
Nh5 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Na5 15. Bd5 Nxg3 (15... O-O $5) 16. hxg3 Qf6 {Black
protects the h6-pawn and is threatening with ...g4.} ({Or} 16... c6 17. bxc6
bxc6 18. Ba2 {with a similar position to that after the text move.}) 17. Qe2
O-O 18. Nh2 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Ba2 Kg7 (20... Rab8 21. O-O Kg7 {is also fine
for Black.}) 21. Ndf1 $6 {White postpones castling, first he would like to
improve his knight. Moreover he is threatening Ne3, Nhg4 to exert pressure on
h6. Nevertheless this is an inaccuracy, because Black can gain the initiative.}
(21. O-O {was the most natural.}) 21... Rfb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 {Of course the
knight has to be taken, otherwise Nhg4.} 23. Qxe3 Be6 {A logical continuation.}
({The smart} 23... Nc4 $1 {was the strongest reply,} 24. dxc4 Rxa2 25. O-O (25.
Rxb8 Ra1+ 26. Ke2 Rxh1 $17) 25... Rxb1 26. Rxb1 c5 $15 {and White's pawn
structure is weak.}) 24. Qe2 Bxa2 25. Rxb8 (25. Qxa2 $2 {loses immediately,
because of} Nc4 $1 26. Qc2 Na3 $19) 25... Rxb8 26. Qxa2 Qe6 27. Qa1 $6 {
Too passive.} (27. Qxe6 {was important,} fxe6 28. Ke2) ({or} 27. Qc2 $11 {
followed by 0-0 and White can hold his position.}) 27... Nb3 $1 28. Qd1 Nc5 {
This was a good knight manoeuvre, now the c3- and d3-pawns are weak.} 29. O-O
Rb3 30. Qc2 Ra3 $1 {Giri continues the pressure with very deep moves!} 31. Rb1
$6 ({Still} 31. d4 {was more accurate, but after} Qb3 $1 $15 {Black's chances
are better.}) 31... Qa2 $1 32. Qxa2 Rxa2 {Now White loses a pawn.} 33. Ng4 (33.
Rd1 Ra3 $17) 33... Rd2 ({The immediate} 33... Nxd3 {could have been met by} 34.
Rd1 {and it is still not easy.}) 34. Ne3 Rxd3 35. Nf5+ Kf6 36. f3 g4 37. Kf2
gxf3 38. gxf3 d5 $1 39. Rb6 dxe4 40. Ne3 Rd2+ 41. Ke1 Rd6 42. fxe4 Nxe4 43. g4
Kg5 0-1

[Event "World-ch06 Lasker-Steinitz +10-2=5"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1896.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Steinitz, William"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Tartakower/du Mont"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1896.11.07"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 18,68,-48,-87,-93,-103,-76,-77,-73,-73,-77,-75,-73,-88,-91,-90,-68,-72,
-75,-91,-41,-74,-75,-80,-80,-79,-79,-88,-66,-162,-117,-126,-104,-108,-98,-104,
-58,-46,71,-268,-216,-206,-157,-240,-207,-29985,-293,-562,-341,-756,-743,-747,
-775] C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3} {Source:
Tartakower & du Mont, 500 Master Games of Chess, pp.10-11. All comments are
Tartakower's unless otherwise noted. In the following game we see the
application of that important principle—economy of means. Black, faced with
the dilemma either of having an extra piece and submitting to an attack, or of
having an extra pawn only, with the superior position, unhesitatingly
renounces spurious possessions.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4
exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ ({After a passive retreat--} 6... Bb6 {White would soon
exploit his superiority in the centre by} 7. d5 Ne7 8. e5 Ne4 ({after} 8... Ng4
{, the same energetic thrust} 9. d6 {secures White's advantage}) 9. d6 {
(forming a wedge); 9 ....} cxd6 10. exd6 Nxf2 11. Qb3 Nxh1 (11... O-O 12. Ng5 {
, with a winning attack}) 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Bg5 {, forcing the win.}) 7. Nc3
Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 ({After} 8... Nxc3 {, the high-mettled continuation} 9. bxc3
Bxc3 10. Qb3 {(already indicated in 1619 by the "Calabrese") gives White the
better chances.}) 9. bxc3 {The coup juste is here 9.d5, which prevents Black
from freeing his game. White will soon recover the piece so sacrificed. 9....}
d5 ({A good move, consolidating Black's position, whereas} 9... Nxc3 {would be
a blunder because of} 10. Qe1+ {, followed by 11. Qxc3.}) 10. Ba3 ({This
sacrifice proves to be not quite sound. But after} 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Bxe4 (11.
Qc2) 11... dxe4 12. Ng5 Qd5 {, Black would also maintain the advantage.}) 10...
dxc4 11. Re1 Be6 ({Giving back the piece of his own free will, relying all the
more on his extra pawn. Much more dangerous would be} 11... f5 {because of} 12.
Nd2 {(threatening 13.f3);} Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rxe4 Qd5 {, and the Black
king is not yet in safety. Editor's note: this very same variation was played
out in Budva, Montenegro, in 2013 between Oltian and Veinberg. The remainder
of the moves follow with White winning:} 15. Qf3+ Bf5 16. Rae1 Rad8 17. g4 Rhe8
18. gxf5 Rxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd7 20. d5 Na5 21. Re7+ Qxe7 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qg3 Rxd5
24. Qxg7+ {Oltian,V (2013)-Veinberg,N (2147) EU-ch U18 23rd 2013 (8) 1-0}) 12.
Rxe4 Qd5 13. Qe2 $146 O-O-O {Black has thus overcome all the difficulties of
the opening.} 14. Ne5 Rhe8 15. Nxc6 {He estimates that with bishops of
opposite colours the draw will be easier to achieve. 15....} Qxc6 16. Re1 Rg8 {
Whilst his bishop obstructs the open e file, Black now tries to organize an
attack on the king side.} 17. Re5 b6 18. Bc1 g5 {A well-founded sacrifice of a
pawn. White would have done better to refuse it.} 19. Rxg5 Rxg5 20. Bxg5 Rg8
21. f4 Bd5 {Threatening 22 .... h6, which would also be available after 22.
Qh5 h6 (instead of 22 .... Bxg2 23.Qxf7); 23. Qxh6 Qxh6 24.Bxh6 Rxg2+, with
advantage to Black.} 22. g3 Kb7 23. h3 Qb5 24. Kh2 Rg6 25. Qf2 f6 {Not only
driving back the hostile bishop, but preventing also the irruption 26. Re5.}
26. Bh4 Bc6 27. g4 Qd5 {After the regrouping of queen and bishop, Black's
pressure on the long diagonal becomes evident.[#]} 28. Qc2 ({Greater
resistance was possible after} 28. f5 {(and if then 28 ....} Rh6 {White
replies,} 29. Bg3 ({not with} 29. Qc2 Rxh4) 29... Qf3 30. Qe2 {, for now Black
is able to throw another unit into the fight.}) 28... h5 29. g5 fxg5 30. Bxg5 {
[#]} h4 {Blockading the hostile position. If now, e.g. 31.Rg1, , there follows
equally 31.... Rxg5 (32.Rxg5 Qh1#, or 32.fxg5 Qd6+).} 31. Rf1 Rg8 32. Qd2 a5
33. a4 Re8 $19 {Threatening ...Re3.} ({Weak would be} 33... Bxa4 $2 {, because
of} 34. Qg2 {, forcing the exchange of queens.}) 34. f5 Rg8 {White Resigns. A
Zugzwang position, any move by White leading to loss in material. Editor's
note: Tartakower notes end here but the game did not end for another five
moves.} 35. Re1 Qxf5 36. Re5 Qf3 37. d5 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qxe5 39. dxc6+ Kxc6 40.
Qg2+ Qd5 41. Qxd5+ Kxd5 42. Bc1 0-1

[Event "Karlsbad freehand"]
[Site "Karlovy Vary"]
[Date "1907.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, Rudolf"]
[Black "Duras, Oldrich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Tartakower/du Mont"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1907.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 23,41,-26,68,75,76,0,26,-11,88,79,102,106,468,477,974,955,29991,29992,
29992,514] C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3} {
Source: Tartakower & du Mont, 500 Master Games of Chess, pp.11-12. All
comments are Tartakower's unless otherwise noted. The dangers of a denuded
king's field are well illustrated in the following game, in which White, with
great ingenuity, gains access to the critical square at h7.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 {This move of Greco's 
(instead of 7.Bd2) is rarely seen in modern tournament practice, as it does no
more than secure a draw for White.} Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 {The Muller attack,
thought out in 1898, strengthens White's chances. 9....} Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11.
Rxe4 d6 ({If at once} 11... O-O {, White has the choice between the thrust} 12.
d6 ({and the "bayonet attack"} 12. g4)) 12. Bg5 ({Here also} 12. g4 {is a
noteworthy continuation.}) 12... O-O ({Allowing his king position to be broken
up. A continuation which has been thoroughly analysed is:} 12... Bxg5 13. Nxg5
O-O 14. Nxh7 ({the only way to maintain the attack, for if} 14. Qh5 h6 {
, and Black has nothing more to fear.}) 14... Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Rh4 f5 17.
Qh7+ {(other continuations such as 17.Re8 or 17.Be2 lead to no clear-cut
result); 17 ....} Kf7 18. Rh6 Rg8 19. Re1 Qf8 20. Bb5 {(cutting off the king's
line of retreat); 20 ....} Rh8 21. Qxh8 gxh6 22. Qh7+ Kf6 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 24.
Qxh6+ {forcing a perpetual check.}) 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nh4 {The value of this
move lies in the fact that the queen can now reach the critical sector with
the utmost rapidity. 14....} Ng6 15. Qh5 Kh8 16. Rae1 Bd7 17. Bd3 {Preparing
the final assault. 17....} Rg8 {Hoping to consolidate his position by 18 ....
Rg7.[#]} (17... f5 $142 18. Nxf5 Qf6 $16) 18. Re7 {Unmasking the bishop, so
that after 18 .... Nxf7; White can play 19.Qxh7#. 18....} Rg7 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20.
Nxg6+ Kg8 ({Or} 20... Rxg6 21. Qxh7#) 21. Rxg7+ {Black resigns (For after 21...
.Kxg7 22.Re7+, and Black has no resource.)} 1-0

[Event "Valle d'Aosta op 11th"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2003.02.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Golod, Vitali"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2532"]
[Annotator "Tiviakov,S"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2003.02.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 092 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.03.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.03.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[This game from the 5th round of the St. Vincent (Italy)open tournament is
one of my best games of the last months.]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {[I have
started playing this variation frequently in the last tournaments. Nowadays it
is not easy to get the advantage after 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 or 3...Nf6 4.
Bb5 what I used to play earlier.]} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 (5... Bb6 {is
another possible approach to play against the Italian. After it White's
strategy with Bc1-e3 is useless. But ...Bb6 has a drawback. After Nb1-a3-c4,
or Nb1-d2-c4 the bishop on b6 can be exchanged, giving White the pair of
bishop. I managed to exploit the drawbacks of the move in the following game.}
6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 Be6 (7... O-O) (7... h6) (7... Ne7) 8. Nc4 O-O $146 (8... h6)
(8... Qd7) 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 $16 Qe7 11. Nfd2 Rad8 12. Qe2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14.
O-O Rfe8 15. Rfe1 Qe6 16. Ba4 Qf5 17. Ne3 Qg6 18. Bc2 Rd7 19. d4 Qh5 20. Nxd5
Rxd5 21. Bxf6 Qxe2 22. Rxe2 gxf6 23. Ne4 Kg7 24. Ng3 Rdd8 25. Nh5+ Kf8 26. d5
Nb8 27. Nxf6 Re7 28. Rd1 Nd7 29. Ng4 h5 30. Nh6 Nf6 31. Nf5 Ree8 32. Ba4 c6 33.
dxc6 Rxd1+ 34. Bxd1 bxc6 35. h3 Nd5 36. Bb3 Nf4 37. Rd2 Rd8 38. Rxd8+ Bxd8 39.
Bc4 Bb6 40. Nd6 f6 41. Nc8 h4 42. b4 Ke8 43. a4 Kd7 44. Nxb6+ axb6 45. Kh2 e4
46. g3 Ng6 47. gxh4 Nxh4 48. Kg3 Ng6 49. h4 f5 50. Bf1 Ke6 51. h5 Ne7 52. a5 {
1-0 Tiviakov,S-De la Paz,F/Malaga 2003 (52)}) 6. Bb3 d6 7. O-O Ba7 (7... b5
$146 {can not be recommended. In comparison with the same position from the
Ruy Lopez, White has an extra tempo here.} 8. a4 Bb7 $6 (8... Rb8 {was better})
9. Na3 $16 {and because of the weak pawn on b5 White is much better. E.g.} h6 (
9... O-O 10. Bg5 $16) (9... b4 10. Nc4 $16) 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 bxa4 $8 (
11... b4 12. cxb4 Nxb4 13. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 14. Qb3+ $18) 12. Bxa4 O-O 13. Nc4 Ne7
14. Na5 (14. b4 $5) 14... Bc8 15. b4 $16 c5 $2 (15... Be6) 16. bxc5 Qxa5 17.
cxd6 Ng6 18. Bc6 $18 Qb6 19. Bxa8 Ng4 20. Qd2 Nxe3 21. Qf2 Nf4 22. Nxe5 Nfxg2
23. d7 Qd6 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Godena,M/Saint Vincent ITA 2003 (23)}) 8. Be3 O-O 9.
Nbd2 Ne7 ({After} 9... Be6 $5 $146 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Qb3 Qe7 13.
d4 $14 {Black was not able to neutralise White's pressure. For example,} Nd7
14. a4 a5 15. Qb5 Qf6 16. d5 Ncb8 17. b4 exd5 18. exd5 Qg6 19. bxa5 Nc5 20.
Nxe5 Qf5 21. Rae1 $16 Nba6 22. Nef3 Qxd5 23. Ne4 h6 24. Nd4 Qa2 25. Nxc5 Nxc5
26. Re7 c6 27. Qb6 Raa8 28. Qc7 Rf7 29. Qxd6 $18 {Tiviakov,S-Jonkman,H/Santo
Domingo DOM 2002}) ({Other moves have been played here as well. But it is not
easy for Black to find a suitable plan.} 9... Kh8) (9... Re8) (9... Qe7) (9...
Bxe3) (9... Bg4) (9... h6) 10. Nh4 $1 $146 ({Stronger than} 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 {
because after} 11. Nh4 $140 {Black has} g5 $1) (10. h3 {has been played here
before}) 10... Kh8 $6 ({Having started my games carefully, Alexis Cabrera
easily won the following game against Rizouk at the latest tournament in
Malaga. I have spoken with Rizouk after that game. He didn't study my latest
games with .Bc1-e3.} 10... h6 $6 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. f4 $16 Kh7 13. Qf3 Ra8 14.
fxe5 dxe5 15. Nc4 Nc6 16. d4 Qe7 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5+ Kh8 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20.
Qxe5 Qxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7 22. Bxf7 Nxe5 23. Bb3 Rfe8 24. Rad1 Re7 25. h3 Rae8 26.
Rf2 Rc8 27. Kh2 Ree8 28. Kg3 Re7 29. Rfd2 Ree8 30. Ba4 Rf8 31. Rf2 c6 32. Rxf8+
Rxf8 33. Bb3 a5 34. Rd6 Re8 35. Kf4 Kh7 36. Be6 Ng6+ 37. Ke3 Nf8 38. Bb3 Re7
39. Kd3 g6 40. a4 Kg7 41. Bc4 Nd7 42. Be6 Nf8 43. Bc8 Rc7 44. Bg4 Re7 45. h4 {
1-0 Cabrera,A-Rizouk,A/Malaga ESP 2003/The Week in Chess 434 (45)}) (10... Bxe3
{is, probably, the most stubborn defence against the White plan, although
still not enough to equalise completely. After} 11. fxe3 Ng6 (11... Be6 $5) 12.
Nf5 ({or} 12. Nxg6 $14 {with a plus.}) 12... c6 13. d4 $14 {White is slightly
better} d5 14. Qf3 Be6 15. Rae1 a5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Qg3 Ng6 19.
Nd4 Ra6 20. a4 Rb6 21. h3 Nd7 22. e4 Nc5 23. Bxd5 Rxb2 24. Nc4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4
Bxc4 26. Rb1 Ra2 27. Rfd1 Qe7 28. Re1 Qf6 29. Rxb7 Rxa4 30. Rb8 Ra2 31. Bxg6
fxg6 32. Rxf8+ Qxf8 33. Rb1 Bd5 34. Rb8 Rxg2+ 35. Qxg2 Bxg2 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37.
Kxg2 a4 38. Nb5 Ke7 39. Kf3 Kd7 40. Ke4 Kc6 41. Na3 Kd6 42. Kd4 g5 43. Nb5+ Kc6
{1/2-1/2 Barua,D-Sasikiran,K/Nagpur IND 2002/The Week in Chess 376 (43)}) 11.
Bxa7 Rxa7 12. f4 $36 {[Now White has a very strong initiative in the center
and on the king's side. Also Black has to spend time bringing back Ra7 into
play.]} exf4 (12... Ng4 {is answered by} 13. Qf3 $16) 13. Rxf4 d5 $6 ({When
keeping behind in the development it is better to keep the position closed.
All following moves were, probably, better than the text.} 13... Nc6 14. Nf5) (
13... Be6) (13... Ra8) 14. Qf3 $1 ({During the game my opponent was afraid of} 
14. Qf1 $5 {but why to make passive moves when there is a nice active
possibility?!}) 14... Neg8 ({After} 14... dxe4 15. Nxe4 $16 {Black can't take
on e4 because the pawn f7 is hanging after} Nxe4 $140 16. dxe4 $18 {(><f7)} f6
17. e5) 15. e5 $1 g5 (15... Nd7 {loses by force after} 16. Qxd5 $1 {The
following variations illustrate that Black can't save the game.} (16. d4 g5 17.
Rxf7 gxh4 18. Bxd5 $40) 16... g5 (16... Ne7 17. Qe4 g5 18. Rxf7 (18. e6 $5)
18... Rxf7 19. Bxf7 gxh4 20. e6 Nf6 21. Qxh4 Nc6 22. Qg5 $1 $18) 17. e6 $1 gxf4
(17... Nb6 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Rxf7 gxh4 20. e7 Nxe7 21. Rxe7 $18) 18. exd7 Qxd7
(18... Bxd7 19. Qd4+ $18) 19. Qe5+ f6 20. Qc5 $18) 16. Rxf6 Nxf6 17. exf6 gxh4
18. Bxd5 {[The critical position of the game. My opponent spent lot of time
here. Both of us thought during the game that 18...c6 loses after 19.Be4 Qb6
20.d4 Qb5 21.d5, but it is not so. 18...c6 was Black's best chance as after
the text 18...Qd7 he gets a technically lost ending. Please, note that 18...
Rg8 loses as well.]} Qd7 $6 (18... c6 $142 $5 19. Be4 Qb6+ 20. d4 Qb5 (20...
Qxb2 21. Qh5 $18) 21. Qf4 (21. d5 cxd5 22. Bd3 (22. Bxh7 d4) 22... Qc5+ 23. Kh1
d4 24. Nb3 $16) 21... Rg8 22. Nc4 Qg5 23. Qxg5 (23. Ne5 Be6 $16) 23... Rxg5 24.
Nd6 Be6 25. c4 $16 {White keeps the upper hand in the ending.}) (18... Rg8 {
loses after} 19. Nc4 $1 (19. Bxf7 Rf8 20. Qe3 Ra8 21. Qe7 Bf5 $14) 19... Rg5
20. Re1 $18) 19. Be4 Qb5 $8 {[The only move.]} 20. Qe3 $1 ({Black holds the
position after} 20. Qf2 Ra8 $1 ({not} 20... b6 21. Qxh4 Bf5 22. a4 Qd7 23. Qg5
Bg6 24. Nf3 $18 {/\Ne5}) 21. Qxh4 $140 Bf5 $13) (20. Qf4 Rg8 21. Nc4 Qc5+ 22.
d4 $16 {is worse than the text.}) 20... Qb6 $8 {[The only move.]} 21. Qxb6 cxb6
22. Rf1 $5 {[Threatening to play Rf4-h4-h7]} (22. Nc4 $5 b5 23. Ne5 $16 {
was possible as well.}) 22... Rg8 (22... Be6 {loses after} 23. Rf4 h3 24. Rh4
$18) ({the same as} 22... b5 23. Rf4 $18) 23. Nc4 {[Threatening to catch the
rook on a7 by Nb6.]} b5 24. Ne5 Be6 25. d4 $6 ({An inaccurate move, missing
the possibilty to finish the game elegantly by} 25. Rf5 $1 {(Black can't play
Rg8-g5 now)} h3 ({or} 25... h6 26. Rh5 Rg5 27. Rxh6+ Kg8 28. Nf3 $18 {winning})
26. Rh5 Rxg2+ 27. Bxg2 hxg2 28. a3 $18) (25. Rf4 Rg5 26. d4 {leads to the same
position as 25.d4 Rg5 26.Rf4}) 25... Rg5 26. a3 ({Not giving Black any chance.
The pawn on a2 can be valuable. After} 26. Rf4 h3 $1 27. Rh4 (27. g3 Bxa2 $16)
27... hxg2 $16 {Black is still fighting.}) 26... h3 27. g3 b6 $6 (27... a5 $142
$18 {followed by b4, was stronger.}) 28. Rf4 $18 {[Now Black can't do anything
against the march of White king to f4 and the advance of the d pawn.]} Kg8 29.
Kf2 (29. Rh4 {wins as well, for example} h5 (29... Bf5 30. Bxf5 Rxf5 31. Nc6
$18) 30. Kf2 {(/\Ke3-f4)} Bg4 31. Ke3 Kf8 32. Bh7 $18 {the Rg5 is trapped.})
29... Rc7 30. Ke3 Rh5 31. Rf2 Rg5 32. Kf4 h6 33. d5 {[The real triumph of the
White strategy. Being th exchange down White has the total domination. Black
rook are cut off, the king on g8 does nothing. White pawn d simply advances.]}
Rc5 34. Rd2 ({Or} 34. dxe6 Rcxe5 35. e7 $18 {winning}) 34... Bc8 35. Rd3 Bb7
36. b4 Rc8 37. d6 ({Or} 37. Nf3 $18) 37... Bxe4 38. d7 Rd8 39. Kxe4 {(/\Nc6)}
Kh7 40. Nxf7 Rg4+ 41. Kf5 1-0

[Event "NED-ch55"]
[Site "Rotterdam"]
[Date "2000.05.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Van den Doel, Erik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2567"]
[BlackElo "2522"]
[Annotator "Tiviakov,S"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 Ba7 8. Nf1
$5 Ng4 (8... Be6) (8... d5) (8... Ne7) (8... O-O) (8... h6) 9. Ne3 $146 (9. d4
exd4 (9... Nf6 10. Ng3 Bg4 (10... exd4 11. cxd4 {- 9...exd4 10.cxd4 Nf6 11.Ng3}
) 11. d5 Na5 12. Ba4+ b5 13. Bc2 $14 Nh5 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 h6 16. Nxe5 Qh4
17. Ng4 Nf6 18. Qe2+ Kf8 19. Nxf6 gxf6 20. O-O Nc4 21. Qe4 Qxe4 22. Bxe4 Kg7
23. Re1 Rhe8 24. Kf1 Re7 25. Bf3 Rxe1+ 26. Kxe1 Re8+ 27. Kf1 Bb6 28. g4 Ba5 29.
a4 b4 30. Be2 bxc3 31. Bxc4 Re1+ 32. Kg2 c2 33. Bd3 Bd2 34. Bxd2 Rxa1 35. Bxc2
h5 36. gxh5 Ra2 37. Bc3 Ra1 38. a5 Kh6 39. Bd3 Rd1 40. Bxa6 Rxd5 41. Bc8 Rd1
42. b4 Rd3 43. Bxf6 Rb3 44. a6 Rxb4 45. Bb7 Ra4 46. Bd8 c5 47. Bb6 c4 48. a7 {
1-0 Kramnik,V-Mikhalevski,V/Junior ch 1990 (48)}) 10. cxd4 Nf6 (10... Qf6 11.
h3 Nxf2 12. Kxf2 Bxd4+ 13. Be3 Bxe3+ 14. Nxe3 Qxb2+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Nxd2 $16
Nd4 17. Nd5 Nxb3 18. Nxb3 Kd8 19. Rhd1 Rb8 20. Na5 c6 21. Nb4 Kc7 22. Rac1 Be6
23. Nbxc6 bxc6 24. Rxc6+ Kd7 25. Rcxd6+ Ke7 26. Nc6+ Kf6 27. Nxb8 Rxb8 28. Kf3
a5 29. Ra6 Rb2 30. a4 Rb3+ 31. Kf2 Rb2+ 32. Kg1 Ke5 33. Rxa5+ Kxe4 34. Ra1 Bc4
35. Rg5 g6 36. Rg4+ Kd3 37. Ra3+ Rb3 38. Rxb3+ Bxb3 39. Rg3+ {1-0 Degraeve,
J-Marciano,D/Belfort 1997/CBM 62 (39)}) 11. Ng3 Bg4 (11... O-O $5) 12. Be3 d5
13. e5 Ne4 14. Bc2 (14. Ba4 $6 O-O 15. Bc2 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. O-O Qd7 18. Qd2
Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qf7 20. f4 Rae8 21. Kh1 Ne7 22. Rg1 Kh8 23. Qd3 Ng6 24. Ne2 Ne4
25. Rg3 Qe6 26. Rf1 Nh4 27. Ng1 Nxg3+ 28. hxg3 Nf5 29. Nf3 Qe4 30. Qxe4 dxe4
31. Ne5 Rxe5 32. dxe5 Bxe3 33. Bxe4 Bd4 34. Rd1 c5 35. b4 b6 36. bxc5 bxc5 37.
Rb1 g6 38. Kg2 Ng7 39. Rb7 g5 40. fxg5 Rxf2+ 41. Kh3 Bxe5 42. Ra7 Ne6 43. Rxh7+
Kg8 44. Rh5 Kf8 45. Bd5 Nc7 46. Bb3 Rf3 47. Kg4 Rxg3+ 48. Kf5 Re3 49. Kg6 Rd3
50. Rh1 Rd6+ 51. Kh7 Ne6 52. Rf1+ Ke7 53. Kg6 Nd4+ 54. Kh7 Nxb3 55. axb3 Rd3 {
0-1 Nevednichy,V-Aleksandrov,A/Nikolaev 1993/CBM 35 (55)}) 14... f5 15. exf6
Nxf6 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Bxd4 18. Nf5 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bc3+ 20. Kf1 $44 Qd7 21.
Rxb7 O-O 22. g4 Ne5 23. Qd1 Nc4 24. g5 Ne4 25. Bxe4 Rxf5 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Bc1
Rf8 28. f4 Qe4 29. Rh2 d4 30. Qb3 {1/2-1/2 Degraeve,J-Tkachiev,V/Corsica 1997/
EXT 99 (30)}) 9... Nxe3 10. Bxe3 Bxe3 $6 (10... Bg4 $11 {/\Qf6}) (10... O-O $11
) (10... Qf6 $11) 11. fxe3 $14 {[|^ <->f, /^a2-g8, ><f7]} O-O (11... Be6 12.
Bxe6 fxe6 13. Qb3 Qc8 14. Ng5 $14 (14. O-O $14) (14. d4 $5)) 12. O-O Na5 (12...
Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qb3 (14. d4 $5) 14... Qd7 15. Ng5 Rxf1+ 16. Rxf1 Nd8 17.
d4 $14 {[+]}) 13. Bc2 Be6 $6 (13... c5 14. d4 $5 $14 {|^[+]}) (13... f5 14.
exf5 (14. d4 fxe4 15. Bxe4 $14) 14... Bxf5 15. b4 (15. e4 $14) (15. d4 $5)
15... Nc6 16. Bb3+ Kh8 17. e4 $14) (13... Bg4 14. Qe1 $14) 14. b4 $1 Nc6 15. d4
{[+]} Bg4 (15... Bc4 16. Rf2 {ץc4}) 16. Qe1 Bh5 $6 (16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 $5 $14
{[+], /\Kh1, Rg1 |^<->g, /\f4} (17. Rxf3 $14)) 17. Qg3 (17. Nh4 $5 Qg5) 17...
Bg6 18. Nh4 $16 {[/\Rf3, Raf1 -> >>, <->f, /^a2-g8, ץg6, f7]} Qe7 19. Rf3 $1
Rae8 (19... exd4 20. exd4 (20. Nxg6 fxg6 21. exd4 $16 (21. Rxf8+ Rxf8 22. exd4
$16)) 20... Bxe4 $140 21. Bxe4 $1 (21. Re1 Bxc2 $1 (21... d5 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23.
Nf5 Qf6 24. Rxe4 $18) 22. Rxe7 Nxe7 $14) 21... Qxe4 22. Nf5 g6 23. Re1 Qc2 (
23... Qd5 24. Qg5 $18) 24. d5 $1 $40 Ne5 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Qxe5 Qb1+ (26... f6
27. Qxc7 $18) 27. Rf1 Qxf1+ 28. Kxf1 gxf5 29. Qg3+ Kh8 30. Qxc7 $18) (19... Kh8
20. Raf1 $16 (20. Qg4 $5 $16)) (19... Nd8 $5 $16) 20. Raf1 Kh8 (20... Bh5 21.
Rf5 $16 (21. R3f2 $16)) (20... Nd8 21. Nxg6 hxg6 $16 (21... fxg6 22. Bb3+ Kh8 {
- 20...Kh8 21.Bb3 Nd8 22.Ng6 fxg6})) 21. Bb3 $1 {[#]} a5 $5 (21... Nd8 22.
Nxg6+ (22. Qxg6 $6 Qxh4 $1 $11) (22. Qg4 $16) 22... fxg6 23. Qxg6 $1 $18 (23.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. dxe5 $16)) (21... Bh5 22. Rf5 Bg6 23. Nxg6+ fxg6
24. Rf7 Qd8 (24... Rxf7 25. Rxf7 Qd8 26. Bd5 $16) 25. Qh3 $16 (25. Bd5 $16))
22. Nxg6+ (22. b5 Nd8 (22... Na7 23. a4 $18 {-> פa7}) 23. Nxg6+ fxg6 24. Qxg6
$16 (24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Rxf8+ Qxf8 26. dxe5 $16)) (22. Qh3 $5 h6 $8 (22... Bxe4
23. Bxf7 Ra8 24. d5 $1 $18 g5 (24... Na7 25. Ng6+ Bxg6 26. Bxg6 h6 27. Qd7 $18)
(24... Nd8 25. Ng6+ Bxg6 26. Bxg6 $18) 25. Ng6+ Bxg6 26. Bxg6 Rxf3 27. Rxf3 $18
) 23. Nxg6+ fxg6 24. Bf7 Ra8 {- 22.Nxg6 fxg6 23.Bf7 Ra8 24.Qh3 h6}) (22. Qxg6
$6 Qxh4 $8) (22. bxa5 $5 $16) 22... fxg6 23. Bf7 (23. Qxg6 $6 axb4 24. Rh3 (24.
Bf7 Qh4 $13) 24... Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 Qf6+ 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. d5 Na5 $11) (23. Rf7
Qd8 $14 24. d5 $140 Rxf7 25. Rxf7 Ne7 26. bxa5 Ng8 {/\Nf6, צf7}) 23... Ra8 (
23... Rc8 24. Qh3 h6 25. d5 $18 {/\Bg6}) (23... Rd8 24. Qh3 h6 25. d5 $18 {
/\Bg6}) 24. Qh3 h6 25. d5 $1 (25. b5 Na7 {><b5, /\26...exd4 27.exd4 Qe4}) 25...
Nd8 (25... Na7 $5 26. Bxg6 (26. Qe6 Qxe6 27. dxe6 Nc6 $16) 26... Rxf3 27. Qxf3
Nb5 $16) 26. Bxg6 Rxf3 27. Qxf3 Kg8 $8 28. b5 b6 $6 {[/\Nb7-c5]} (28... c6 $142
29. dxc6 bxc6 30. bxc6 Nxc6 (30... Rc8 31. Qd1 Nxc6 (31... Rxc6 32. Qd5+ Kh8
33. Qxa5 $18) 32. Qd5+ Kh8 33. Bf5 Rc7 34. Rd1 $18 {><d6}) 31. Bf7+ (31. Qd1 $5
{/\Qd5}) 31... Kh8 32. Bd5 $16) (28... a4 29. a3 b6 (29... c6 30. dxc6 bxc6 31.
bxc6 $18 {><a4}) 30. Qf5 {- 28...b6 29.Qf5 a4 30.a3}) 29. Qg4 $6 (29. Qf5 $142
$1 a4 (29... Qf6 30. Bh7+ $1 (30. Qg4 $2 Qg5 {- 29.Qg4 Qg5}) 30... Kh8 31. Qd7
Qg5 32. Bf5 Qxe3+ 33. Kh1 Nb7 34. Qc6 $18) (29... Nb7 30. Qe6+ Qxe6 31. dxe6
$18 {o^e6}) 30. a3 {(/\h4)} Qf6 31. Bh7+ $1 Kh8 32. Qd7 Qg5 33. Bf5 Qxe3+ 34.
Kh1 Nb7 35. Qc6 $18) 29... Qg5 $8 (29... a4 30. h4 $1 (30. a3 Qg5 31. Qxg5 hxg5
32. Rf5 {- 29...Qg5 30.Qxg5 hxg5 31.Rf5 a4 32.a3}) 30... a3 31. g3 $22 Ra5 $140
32. Qc8 (32. c4 Ra4 33. Qc8 Rxc4 34. Rf7 $18) 32... Rxb5 33. Rf7 $18) (29...
Nb7 30. Qe6+ $18 {- 29.Qf5 Nb7 30.Qe6}) 30. Qxg5 hxg5 31. Rf5 (31. a4 Nb7 $132
{/\Nc5, ><a4}) 31... a4 32. a3 $2 {[><a3]} (32. Kf1 $142 Ra5 (32... a3 33. Ke2
Ra5 34. Be8 {- 32...Ra5 33.Be8 a3 34.Ke2}) 33. Be8 $18 a3 $140 (33... Nb7 34.
c4 $5 $18 (34. Ke2) (34. Bf7+)) 34. Ke2 Ra4 35. Kd3 Nb7 36. Bf7+ Kh8 37. Rxg5
Nc5+ 38. Kc2 g6 39. Bxg6 $18) 32... Nb7 33. Bf7+ Kh7 $2 (33... Kf8 34. Be6+ Ke7
(34... Ke8 35. Rxg5 $18) 35. Rf7+ Ke8 36. Rxg7 $18 (36. Rxc7 Nc5 37. Rxg7 $18))
(33... Kh8 $142 $1 $13 {(/\Na5-c4, ><a3)} 34. Rxg5 $140 g6 35. Bxg6 Na5 36.
Rh5+ Kg7 37. Bf5 Nc4 38. Rh7+ Kg8 39. Rxc7 Nxa3 $17 {o^a4}) 34. Rxg5 $18 g6 35.
Bxg6+ $1 (35. Rxg6 $4 Rf8 $19) (35. h4 $2 Na5 36. Bxg6+ Kh8 {/\Nc4-a3}) 35...
Kh6 (35... Kh8 36. Bh5 $1 Na5 (36... Nc5 37. Bf3 $18) 37. Be2 $18) 36. Rg4 $8
Na5 (36... Rg8 37. Bf5 Rxg4 38. Bxg4 Na5 $140 39. Be2 $18) 37. Bf5 $1 Nc4 38.
Rg6+ Kh7 (38... Kh5 39. g4+ Kh4 40. Rh6+ Kg5 41. Rh5+ Kf6 42. g5+ Kg7 43. Rh7+
Kg8 44. Rxc7 Nxa3 45. Be6+ $18 {/\g6}) 39. Rxd6+ Kh8 40. Rh6+ $1 Kg8 41. Rc6
Nxa3 42. d6 cxd6 43. Be6+ (43. Rxb6 Kf7 $140 $5 44. Ra6 Rxa6 45. bxa6 Nb5 46.
Bd7 $18) 43... Kg7 (43... Kf8 44. Rxb6 $18 {/\Ra6}) 44. Rxb6 Nb1 45. Ra6 Re8 (
45... Rf8 46. Rxa4 Nxc3 47. Ra7+ {/\Bc4}) 46. Bd7 Re7 47. Bc6 1-0

[Event "Congres International"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1878.06.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anderssen, Adolf"]
[Black "Bird, Henry Edward"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Von Gottschall,H"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1878.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{(Source: Adolf Anderssen, Altmeister Deutscher Schachspielkunst; Leipzig 1912,
p. 493.)  (Quelle: Adolf Anderssen, Altmeister Deutscher Schachspielkunst;
Leipzig 1912, S. 493.)} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6.
cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12.
Rfe1 c6 13. Ne5 Qb6 {Up till this point, the moves are those recommended by
the latest opening theory. However a number of players have preferred 13.Ne4
for White.  Bis hierher sind die auch von der modernen Theorie empfohlenen
Zьge geschehen. Eine Anzahl Spieler bevorzugt allerdings fьr WeiЯ im 13. Zuge
13.Ne4} 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15. Qd3 ({The safe line is Die sichere Spielweise ist} 
15. Qxb6 {But Anderssen is playing attacking chess and offers a pawn sacrifice.
, Anderssen spielt aber auf Angriff und bringt deshalb ein Bauernopfer.}) 15...
Qxb2 16. Ne4 Nb4 $2 {The black queeen, threatened by 17.Reb1, would do better
to go back to b6. After the text move the following pretty combination should
decide matters in White's favour. Die durch 17.Reb1 bedrohte schwarze Dame
ginge besser nach b6 zurьck. Auf den Textzug muЯte die nachfolgende hьbsche
Kombination zugunsten von WeiЯ entscheiden.} 17. Nf6+ $1 {Elegant and
extremely forceful. Elegant und von durchschlagender Kraft.} gxf6 18. Qg3+ Bg4
{Forced. Erzwungen.} ({After Auf} 18... Kh8 {there would follow wьrde} 19.
Nxf7+ {etc. usw. folgen.}) 19. Qxg4+ $2 {And Anderssen lets a certain victory
slip out of his hands and deprives his combination of its beauty. After 19.
Nxg4 Black was lost. Damit gibt Anderssen einen sicheren Sieg aus der Hand und
beraubt seine Kombination ihrer Schцnheit. Nach 19.Nxg4 war Schwarz verloren.}
({Consider the following variations: Man sehe folgende Varianten} 19. Nxg4 Kh8
({or oder} 19... Qxd4 20. Red1 ({Fritz5:} 20. Ne3+ Kh8 21. Nf5 $18) 20... Qb2
21. Rab1 Qc2 22. Ne3+ Qg6 23. Rxb4 {etc. usw.}) ({or oder} 19... Qc2 20. Re4
Nd5 21. Nh6+ {[? Fritz5]} ({[Fritz5:} 21. Ne3+ $18 {]}) 21... Kh8 22. Rg4 {
and then 23.Rg8 etc. nebst 23.Rg8 usw.} {[Fritz5:} Ne7 23. Qd6 $18 {]}) ({
or oder} 19... Nd5 20. Nxf6+ Kh8 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. Qe5+ f6 23. Qxd5 Rad8 24.
Qb3 {etc. This final variation is the only one in which Black had slight
chances of a draw. usw. Nur in dieser letzten Variante hдtte Schwarz schwache
Aussichten auf Remis.}) 20. Nh6 Qd2 (20... Qxd4 $2 21. Nf5 {etc. usw.}) 21. Re3
Nd5 22. Qh4 {and then 23.Rh3 etc. nebst 23.Rh3 usw.} {[Fritz5:} a5 23. Rh3 Rae8
$19 {]}) 19... Kh8 20. Qf5 ({Here Hier war} 20. Rab1 {deserved serious
consideration. sehr zu ьberlegen.}) 20... Nd5 21. Rab1 Qc3 ({Fritz5:} 21...
Qxd4 22. Re4) 22. Nd7 $2 {Quite wrong. Das ist ganz verfehlt.} ({White had
nothing better than forcing a draw by WeiЯ hatte jetzt nichts Besseres als
durch} 22. Re3 Nxe3 23. Qxf6+ {etc. Now Black quickly gains the upper hand.
usw. Remis zu erzwingen. Nun kommt Schwarz schnell in Vorteil.}) 22... Rfe8 23.
Rec1 Qxd4 24. Rxb7 Re6 25. h3 Rg8 26. Nc5 Re5 27. Qd3 $2 {Another serious
mistake. But even after other moves Black had an easy win. Noch ein schwerer
Fehler. Schwarz hдtte aber auch bei anderen Zьgen mit Leichtigkeit gewonnen.}
Rxg2+ {Anderssen threw this game away. Aufgegeben. Diese Partie hat Anderssen
weggeworfen.} 0-1

[Event "UKR-ch"]
[Site "Ordzhonikidze"]
[Date "2001.09.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fedorchuk, Sergey A"]
[Black "Ovsejevitsch, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2529"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.09.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {More and more popular. White sidesteps
theory and just plays chess.} Bc5 {The active choice - compare with the
Italian.} (4... d6 5. c3 g6 {is the other setup.}) 5. O-O (5. c3 O-O 6. Bxc6
bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 {is tricky, but probably not very good for White - see
Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 2001/CBM 81/[Wedberg] (38) 0-1}) 5... d6 6.
c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 (7. Re1 $6 Ng4 $5 8. Re2 (8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 $1 10. Nxd4
Qh4 $40) 8... f5 $36 {Hunt,H-Wedberg,T/Rilton Cup 2001/2002}) 7... a6 8. Ba4
Ba7 (8... b5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. a4 Re8 11. b4 Bb6 12. Nb3 d5 13. Bg5 d4 $13 {
1-0 Borocz,I-Acs,P/Budapest 1994/EXT 97 (49)}) 9. h3 (9. Re1 $6 Ng4 $36 {
1-0 Socko,M-Wiliczkiewicz,Z/Suwalki 1999/EXT 2000 (42)}) 9... Ne7 10. d4 $5
$146 (10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Be3 Nhf4 $132 {1-0 Vujosevic,V-Obralic,E/
Banja Vrucica 1991/EXT 97 (83)}) 10... Ng6 11. Bc2 h6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Nf1 c6
14. Ng3 Bb6 15. Be3 Bc7 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Rad1 {[%mdl 4] White has made all the
typical moves and have a slight but clear advantage.} Qe7 18. b4 Be6 19. Nf5 $1
Qf8 (19... Bxf5 20. exf5 Nf8 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Bc5 Qd7 23. Qc1 Qc8 24. Bxf8
Rxf8 25. Nxe5 $16) 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bc5 Qh8 22. Bb3 Red8 (22... Nxe4 $2 {
gets a nice refutation in} 23. Rxe4 Bxf5 24. Bxf7 Bxe4 25. Ng5+ $1 hxg5 26.
Qxg5 {and mate next.}) 23. Qc2 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Bd6 Bxb3 26. axb3 Bxd6 27.
Nxd6 Rd7 28. Rd2 Qf8 29. Qd1 Qe7 30. c4 Ne8 31. c5 Nf8 32. Nxe8 $6 Qxe8 33.
Rxd7 Qxd7 34. Qxd7 Nxd7 35. Nd2 {White has given away most of his advantage,
but there are some tricks left still to play out.} a5 $2 (35... b5 $142) 36.
bxa5 Nxc5 37. Kf1 Kg6 38. b4 Ne6 39. Nc4 Kf6 40. Nd6 Ke7 (40... Nd8 41. Nxb7 $1
Nxb7 42. a6 $18) 41. Nxb7 Kd7 42. a6 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
d6 9. h3 b5 $5 {An active move, first played in Shankland-Tari, 2017.} ({
Routine is} 9... Ne7 {played by Nakamura at least five times. Also, Carlsen,
Karjakin and Leko have tried their hand at it.}) 10. Bb3 b4 11. a5 Rb8 12. Nbd2
Be6 13. Bxe6 $6 {I'm far from being an expert on this structure, but it seems
to be White shouldn't take on e6 unless he can immediately follow up with
d3-d4.} ({In the above mentioned game Sam played} 13. Bc4) 13... fxe6 14. Nc4
Qe8 15. Be3 (15. d4 Qg6 16. dxe5 {fails to} Nxe4 $1) 15... Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qg6
17. Ncd2 Nh5 18. Qf1 Rb5 19. Kh2 Qh6 20. Kg1 Qg6 21. Kh2 Qh6 22. Kg1 Kh8 {
Levon says no to Dmitry's silent draw offer.} 23. d4 Nf4 24. h4 {Move of the
Day coming up.} g5 $3 {Directed against White's intended g2-g3, but how does
one come up with such an idea. Simply put, Aronian is a genius.} 25. hxg5 Qh5
26. Qc4 (26. c4 Rbb8 27. dxe5 (27. d5 Nd4) 27... dxe5 28. g3 Nh3+ 29. Kg2 Rbd8
30. Rd1 Qg4 {puts White under considerable pressure.}) 26... exd4 27. cxd4 Nxa5
{Action all over the board.} 28. Qf1 {Jakovenko is not exactly brimming with
confidence these days. Lots or rating points have been lost since his glory
days of finishing third in the Grand Prix cycle two years ago.} ({Perhaps,
Dmitry could have survived} 28. Qxc7 Rxg5 29. Nxg5 Qxg5 {based on} 30. Rg3 Ne2+
31. Kh2 Nxg3 32. fxg3 Qxd2 33. Rxa5 {and the open black king keeps the Rf8
from joining the party.}) 28... h6 29. e5 d5 30. Rc1 c6 31. Ne1 $2 {More
backward moves.} ({While} 31. gxh6 Rg8 32. g3 Rb7 33. Nh2 Rh7 {is indeed, bad
for White,}) ({The right move} 31. g6 $1 Rg8 32. Nh2 Qxg6 33. g3 {keeps him
fighting on equal terms.}) 31... hxg5 32. Nd3 g4 33. Nxf4 Rxf4 34. Rd3 g3 $6 {
Levon overdid it a bit.} ({There was no need for fireworks, when} 34... Rb7 35.
g3 Rh7 {was there. After} 36. Qg2 {Black has a killer shot in} Qf5 37. Qf1 Rxf2
38. Qxf2 Rh1+) 35. Rxg3 Rh4 36. f4 Rh1+ 37. Kf2 Rxf1+ 38. Rxf1 {Suddenly it
transpires Black is going to lose his queen back.} Nc4 39. Nb3 ({The rook
endgame after} 39. Nxc4 dxc4 40. Rh3 Qxh3 41. gxh3 c3 {is no picnic for White,
but he can fight on with} 42. b3 $1 (42. Ke2 b3 43. Kd3 ({no time for} 43. bxc3
b2 44. Rb1 a5 45. Kd2 a4 46. Kc2 a3 $19) 43... c2 44. Kc3 a5 45. h4 a4 {
has this hopeless look of gloom and doom.}) 42... a5 43. Ke3 Rd5 44. f5 exf5
45. Rxf5 Kg7 46. Rf1 c5 {is probably winning for Black though.}) 39... Qh4 40.
Kf3 a5 41. Ra1 Qh5+ 42. Kf2 Nxb2 43. Rh3 (43. Nxa5 Nd1+ 44. Kg1 Qe2 {blocks
the other white rook from ever reaching h1.}) 43... Qxh3 44. gxh3 a4 {It's
over.} 45. Nc5 b3 46. f5 exf5 47. e6 Nc4 48. e7 Nd6 49. Nxa4 Kg7 50. Nc3 Rb8
51. Ra6 Kf7 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Nh5 13. Ra2 Qf6 14. Nc4 {
This Italian Giuoco Piano/Anti-Berlin Ruy Lopez is a staple of top level chess
these days. Between the two of them Anand and Carlsen must have played it a
hundred times, including many battles against one another.} b5 $6 {I don't
particularly like this move and I suspect Magnus didn't much fancy it either.}
({The thing is, the normal} 14... Ne7 {allows} 15. d4 $1 {and even if Black
can hold his own after} exd4 16. cxd4 Ng6 17. e5 $1 Qf5 {which is not a fact
yet, the position after} 18. exd6 Qd5 19. Rc2 cxd6 {offers White a chance to
wrap it up with repetition:} 20. Ne3 Qe4 21. Nc4) 15. Ne3 ({White has to be
slightly careful not to walk into} 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ne3 $2 Bxe3 17. Rxa8 Bxf2+
) 15... Bb6 16. Ng4 Qe7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {In the resulting symmetrical
structure White holds two advantages: pressure against b5 and better posts for
his knights. Granted, it's not much yet, but White's prospects look much
brighter.} Rab8 {Concession no.1} 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra6 Nd8 {Concession no.2
of the same} 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Nf7 23. Qc2 $2 {Not a bad move in itself,
but I mark it down for a missed opportunity.} (23. e5 $1 Ng3 24. Qc2 Nf5 (24...
Ng5 {offers no compensation whatsoever:} 25. Nxg5 Qxg5 26. exd6 cxd6 27. Rxd6
h5 28. Ne5 $16) 25. e4 Ng3 (25... Nh4 26. Nf6+ gxf6 27. Nxh4 Kg7 28. exd6 cxd6
29. d5 {is disastrous for Black.}) 26. Rc6 {would put Magnus on the ropes yet
again. We are used to his indifference to playing for an opening advantage
with White because we know of his ability to win from equal positions. Getting
in trouble with Black, as consistently happened to Carlsen in this tournament,
is another kettle of fish.}) 23... Nf6 $1 {At the last moment the hapless
knight escapes.} 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Rc6 Ng5 $1 {Now Carlsen has a clear path
to counterplay.} 26. Nxg5 Qxg5 27. Rxc7 Qg3 $1 28. Qe2 ({Still,} 28. Re2 Ra8
29. Qc1 Ra4 30. Qe1 {was worth trying.}) 28... Ra8 29. Rcc1 Ra3 30. Ra1 Rb3 31.
Rab1 Ra3 32. Ra1 Rb3 33. Rab1 Ra3 34. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 Ne7 8. Nbd2
Ng6 9. Re1 Bb6 10. Bb3 c6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. d4 Bc7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nc4 Be6 15.
Qe2 h6 16. Qf1 Nh7 17. Ne3 Nf4 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 Nf6 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Rad1
Qc8 22. Qc4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qf8 24. Bb3 Re8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Qb4 b5 27. Qd4 Bb8
28. a4 Qe7 29. Qd3 a6 30. Kf1 Qd7 31. Qxd7 Nxd7 32. Nd4 Ne5 33. axb5 axb5 34.
Bc2 Ba7 35. b4 f3 $6 ({Hou had chances of building a fortress after} 35... Bxd4
36. cxd4 Nd7 37. Be4 Nb8 38. Ke2 Kf8 39. Kf3 Ke7 40. h4 $1 ({not the greedy
and mindless snacking on pawns} 40. Kxf4 {as Black then has} Kd6 {followed by .
..Na6}) 40... Kd6 41. Kg4 Nd7 (41... Na6 42. Kh5 $1) 42. Kxf4 Nf6 43. g4 Nd7 {
It's going to be very hard for White to break it down.}) 36. g4 Bxd4 37. cxd4
Nc4 $2 (37... Nd7 $142 38. Be4 Nb8 39. Bxf3 Kf8) 38. Ke1 Nb6 39. Be4 Nd5 40.
Bxd5 $1 cxd5 41. Kd2 Kf8 42. Ke3 Ke7 43. Kxf3 {The ending is a forced win for
White.} Kd7 {Hou was hoping to barricade all possible approaches for the white
king.} ({Yet, she would have failed even in the event of the most stubborn
defence,} 43... g5 44. fxg6 fxg6 45. Kf4 $1 Ke6 (45... Kf6 46. g5+ hxg5+ 47.
Kg4) 46. h4 Kd6 (46... Kf6 47. g5+ hxg5+ 48. hxg5+ Ke6 49. Kg4 Kd6 50. f4 Ke6
51. f5+ gxf5+ 52. Kf4) 47. h5 $1 (47. g5 $2 h5 $11) 47... gxh5 48. g5 $3 (48.
gxh5 Ke6 $11) 48... hxg5+ 49. Kxg5 Ke6 50. f4 $18) 44. Kg3 $1 {Pavel knows
what he's doing: the king ahead of the pawns is the way to play pawn endgames.}
(44. h4 Kd6 45. Kf4 f6 46. g5 h5 $1) 44... Ke7 45. Kh4 $1 g6 46. g5 $1 h5 47.
f4 Kf8 48. fxg6 fxg6 49. f5 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 9. Nf1 Re8 10. a4 Ba7 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. b5 Ne7 15.
bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Qb3 c6 18. Rab1 Ng6 19. g3 a5 20. Ne3 Re8 21. Nc4
Kh7 22. Qc2 Qe6 23. Ne3 d5 24. Kg2 Kg8 25. h4 Rd7 26. c4 $1 {For a long time
White has maintaned a slight but persistent pull, and, finally, as Adams
started getting a bit uncomfortable on the clock, Kramnik turned the screw.}
Red8 $2 {A big error. It was hard enough to contain White's threats to
infiltrate on the b-file, but with two files open it'll become simply
impossible.} (26... d4 {was the only way to continue:} 27. Nf5 Ne7 28. Nxe7+
Rdxe7 {Perhaps, Mickey worried about his a-pawn after} 29. c5 {but then there's
} Nh5 30. Nd2 Qg6 31. Nc4 Qg4 {with some counterchances, provided by the ...
Nf4 idea.}) 27. cxd5 cxd5 28. Rb5 Ne7 $2 ({Once again,} 28... dxe4 29. dxe4 Nh5
{and hope for the best.}) 29. Rc5 Rd6 30. Rc1 Ra6 31. Qb2 Ng6 32. Qb7 Ne7 33.
Nf5 $1 {White drives the stake through the heart of Black's position.} Rd7 ({
The endgame after} 33... Nxf5 34. exf5 Qb6 (34... Qd6 35. Nxe5) 35. Qxb6 Rxb6
36. Nxe5 {wouldn't be any fun to play against Vladimir Kramnik.}) 34. Rc7 Rb6
35. Qa7 Ra6 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Rc8 $1 Ng6 (37... Nxf5 38. exf5 Qxf5 39. Nxe5 {
is just mate from h8.}) 38. Rh1 $1 {A very elegant switching of the tracks.}
Nh5 39. Ng5+ hxg5 40. hxg5 Ngf4+ 41. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 6. c3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:01:01]}
8. Na3 {[%emt 0:01:07]} (8. Re1 h6 9. Na3 O-O 10. Nc2 Ne7 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3
c6 13. a5 d5 14. Bb3 Ng6 15. exd5 cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Ne7 18. f3 Be6 19.
fxe4 Nxe4 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. c4 Qe6 23. Rxe4 f6 24. Qg4 f5 25. Qh3
Nc6 26. Rd1 Rad8 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. Re7 Qxc4 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. bxc3 Rf7 31. Rxf7
Kxf7 32. Rb1 Rd7 33. Kf2 Rc7 34. Rb3 f4 35. Kf3 g5 36. Ke4 Kg6 37. Rb6+ Kh5 {
Carlsen,M (2840)-Inarkiev,E (2709) Doha 2016 1-0}) 8... h6 {[%emt 0:07:13]} 9.
Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qe7 $146 {[%emt 0:05:20]} (9... O-O 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3
Ne7 12. Qc2 c6 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Bd7 15. a5 c5 16. Nb3 b5 17. axb6 Qxb6 18.
Rfd1 Rfd8 19. Nd2 Bc6 20. Bf1 a5 21. g3 d5 22. exd5 Nexd5 23. Nec4 Qc7 24. Nb3
a4 25. Nbd2 Nb6 26. Ne3 a3 27. b3 Qe5 28. Bg2 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Nbd5 30. Nxd5 Rxd5
31. Nc4 Rxd1 32. Qxd1 Qxc3 33. Rxa3 Re8 34. Qf3 Qd4 35. Ra8 Rxa8 36. Qxa8+ Kh7
37. Qf3 Kg8 38. Qa8+ Kh7 39. Qf3 {Cornette,M (2597)-Bacrot,E (2689) London
2016 1/2-1/2 (63)}) 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Be6 {[%emt 0:09:20]} 11. Bxe6 {
[%emt 0:00:55]} Qxe6 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 12. Bxa7 {[%emt 0:01:40]} Rxa7 {[%emt 0:
00:15]} 13. d4 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 14. Nd2 {[%emt 0:12:42]}
O-O {[%emt 0:02:04]} 15. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Raa8 {[%emt 0:03:26]} 16. g3 {
[%emt 0:04:50]} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:06:20]} 17. a5 {[%emt 0:06:06]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:20:
20]} 18. d5 {[%emt 0:11:39]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 19. Ne3 {[%emt 0:01:18]} Nh7
{[%emt 0:07:25]} 20. Ra3 {[%emt 0:04:21]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:05:23]} 21. Rb3 {
[%emt 0:05:09]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 22. Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:37]} f5 {[%emt 0:03:
54]} 23. exf5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nxf5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 24. Qg4 {[%emt 0:01:30]}
h5 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 25. Qxh5 {[%emt 0:18:23]} Nxe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 26. fxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 27. Qh4 {[%emt 0:06:58] Although he took
it sportingly, White missed a chance to obtain a decisive advantage three
straight moves with the same shot.} Ng5 {[%emt 0:07:57]} (27... Rbf8 $1 28. g4
R5f6 29. c4 Qe7 {threatening Rf1+ with a discovered attack on the queen.} 30.
Qg3 Qf7 {and Black's attack becomes unstoppable.}) 28. Rb4 {[%emt 0:10:31]} e4
{[%emt 0:04:02]} (28... Rbf8 $1 29. Rg4 Nh7 30. c4 Qf7 31. Qh3 Ng5 {and again
Black's advantage should be decisive.}) 29. Kg2 {[%emt 0:07:49]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:
08:09]} ({This was the most definitive as th king exposed on g2 means the Rf2+
threat has that much more bite.} 29... Rbf8 $1 30. Nxe4 Nf3 31. Qh3 Qe8 32. Qg4
Qf7 {and Black is winning.}) 30. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:02:44]} (
30... Nf3 {was the last chance to keep the edge.} 31. Qh3 Qxd5) 31. Rd4 {
[%emt 0:00:52]} Nf3 {[%emt 0:04:09]} 32. Nf6+ {[%emt 0:01:06]} Rxf6 {[%emt 0:
00:04]} 33. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxh4+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. gxh4 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} Rbf8 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 35. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Rg6+ {[%emt 0:00:31]} 36.
Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 37. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:09]} Re6 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 38. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 14th final"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1999.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Yudasin,L"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.01.11"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Petah-Tikva Elitzur"]
[BlackTeam "Breda Panfox"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. e4 {Tyomkin,D} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 (5. b4 {-71/327})
5... a6 6. O-O {The transfer of Nb1 to-g3 before castling is usefull while
black bishop is on e7 or g7.It doesn't get anything in this position because
of black's counterplay in the center:} (6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Nf1 d5) 6... Ba7 7. Re1
(7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 $5 O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bg4 12. Nbd2 Bh5 13. Re1
Bg6 14. Nf1 Nh5 $13) 7... d6 8. Bb3 (8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 h6 10. Ng3 Re8 11. h3
d5 $132) 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Bg5 $5 {/\Nf1-e3}) 9... h6 (9... Kh8 {-73/365}) 10.
Nbd2 Be6 (10... Nh5 $5 {This way(Nf6-h5-f4) black doesn't get the attack on
white's king:} 11. Nf1 (11. Nxe5 $140 Nxe5 12. Qxh5 Nxd3) 11... Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4
(12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Nf4 14. h4 $1 $14 {/\g3} (14. Nd5 $11)) 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14.
Ne3 {/\h4,g3,/\Kh2,/\d4}) (10... Re8 {with the idea to simplify position in
the center.} 11. Nf1 d5 $2 (11... Be6 {-10...Be6}) 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ng3 $14 {
and pawn e5 is vulnerable,because of uncomfortable arrangment of black pieces.}
(13. d4 $1 e4 14. N3d2 f5 15. f3 $16)) 11. Nf1 (11. Ba4 $5 {trying to create
weeknesses on the queenside.} b5 12. Bc2 $14 {/\a4,/\d4}) 11... Re8 (11... Bxb3
$5 12. Qxb3 ({After} 12. axb3 {white can not move d4,because after ...exd4,
cxd4 b4-square becomes week.Although after this white can get some initiative
(see game Kaidanov-Malaniuk,Elista(ol),1998.}) 12... Qd7 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3
Rfe8 $14) 12. Be3 (12. N3h2 d5 13. Qf3 Na5 14. Bc2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Nc4 {/\Nd6})
12... d5 (12... Bxb3 {Atlas,V} 13. axb3 $5 {[%csl Rf3,Rf5,Rg4][%cal Gf3h2,
Gh2g4,Yd1f3,Rf1g3,Rg3f5]} Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Qd7 15. Nh4 d5 16. Qf3 {[%csl Rd5,Rf5]
[%cal Ge3d5,Gh4f5,Ge3f5]} d4 17. Nd5 Re6 18. Nf5 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gf5h6,Gd5f6,
Gf3f6]} Kh7 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Qg3 Ne8 21. Rac1 g6 22. Nh4 Rc8 23. f4 $1 $16 {
1-0 Kaidanov,G-Malaniuk,V/Lucerne 1997/CBM 62/[Atlas,V] (35) White clearly won
the positional battle and obtained a large advantage. His initiative on the
kingside seems very dangerous and Black faces serious problems.}) 13. Bxa7 Rxa7
({Black almost equalizes after:} 13... dxe4 $5 14. dxe4 (14. Bc5 exf3 15. Qxf3
$14) 14... Qxd1 15. Raxd1 Bxb3 16. axb3 Rxa7 17. Ne3 $14) 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Ba4
$1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. d4 exd4 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.
Nxd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,M-Suetin,A/Moscow-ch 1981 (28)}) 15... b5 (
15... Qd6 16. Ne3 {xe5}) 16. Bc2 {In many variations Bd5 could be the weekness.
} ({To the boring equal position leads:} 16. Bb3 Bxb3 (16... Ra8 17. Ne3 Be6
$11) 17. axb3 Qd6 $11 {/\a5,b4,Ra-a8}) 16... Ra8 (16... Qd6 $5 17. a4 b4 $14 {
/\a5,/\Rb7}) 17. a4 {Careless move.White can try to get something after:} (17.
Ne3 $5 Be6 (17... Rb8 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. d4) 18. a4 b4 (18... Rb8 19. axb5 axb5
20. Ra6 $36) 19. d4 (19. cxb4 Nxb4 (19... Rb8 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 {/\Ba4}) 20.
Nxe5 Qd4 21. N3c4 $4 Bxc4 $19) 19... bxc3 20. bxc3 exd4 21. cxd4 Nb4 22. Bb3
$14 {xc6,a6}) 17... b4 $1 18. Ne3 Rb8 $1 {/\b3,/\bxc3,<->b} 19. Nxd5 (19. a5 $5
{To this move black replies with tactic:} bxc3 (19... b3 20. Bb1 Qd6 21. Ra3
$36) 20. bxc3 e4 $1 21. Nxd5 (21. dxe4 Bxe4 $11) 21... Nxd5 22. dxe4 Nxc3 $132
{/\Nb5,/\Nb4}) 19... Nxd5 (19... Qxd5 20. d4 $1 $36 {/\Bb3,/\Qd3,xa6,h7}) 20.
d4 $5 {In case white doesn't break in the center,black can put pressure on
white's weeknesses-c3,d3,g2(with Nf4) via the center.} (20. Qd2 bxc3 21. bxc3
Qd6 $11 {/\Nf4,/\Rbd8,/\a5,Nb6}) 20... bxc3 (20... exd4 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Qd3
$16 {/\Re1,cxd4,xa6,c7,|^>>}) 21. bxc3 e4 $1 (21... Nxc3 22. Qd3 e4 23. Qxc3 {
xNc6}) (21... exd4 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Qd3 Nf6 24. Nxd4 $14 {xa6}) 22. Bxe4 {
Draw was agreed because of forthcoming equal ending which is getting after 22..
.Rxe4!} (22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Bxe4 Nxc3 {-22.Be4}) (22. Bxe4 Rxe4 $1 (22... Nxc3
$4 23. Bxc6 $1) 23. Rxe4 Nxc3 24. Qc2 Nxe4 25. Qxe4 (25. Qxc6 Ng5 $1 {[]} 26.
Nxg5 hxg5 27. Qxa6 Qxd4 28. Rc1 g6 $1 $132 {/\Rb2}) 25... Qd6 $11 {/\Nb4})
1/2-1/2