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Главная страница Справка Коды ЭШД C00 - C99 C88

Коды ЭШД

C85 C86 C87

C88

C89 C90 C91

C88

Код энциклопедии шахматных дебютов (ЭШД)

Описание

RU: Испанская партия (закрытый вариант)
EN: Closed Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall Systems

Ходы

1. e4 e5 2. Кf3 Кc6 3. Сb5 a6 4. Сa4 Кf6 5. 0-0 Сe7 6. Лe1 b5 7. Сb3 0-0

Дебюты

Дебют королевского коня , Испанская партия , Уклонения от контратаки Маршалла

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Adams,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{At one time Alexei was a regular sparring partner, but this was only our
third game in the last decade.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3
b5 ({A small surprise Alexei has normally preferred} 5... d6 {here.}) 6. Bb3
Be7 7. a4 Rb8 (7... b4 {is more common, allowing White the open a-file is a
small concession.}) 8. axb5 axb5 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 d6 11. c3 ({After} 11. Nbd2
Nb4 {followed by ...c5 looked reasonable for Black.}) 11... Be6 {Otherwise
it's not easy for Black to develop.} 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Bg5 (13. d4 $1 {should
be critical here.}) 13... Nd7 ({I was intending} 13... h6 $5 14. Bh4 Nh5 15.
Bg3 {but on reflection it doesn't look too impressive.}) 14. Be3 d5 15. Nbd2 (
15. Ra6 $1 Nb6 16. Qb3 b4 17. Nbd2 {is the most challenging, keeping the
pressure on Black's ugly structure.}) ({I had originally thought that} 15. exd5
exd5 16. Ra6 Rf6 {was very good, but both} 17. Qb3 Nf8 ({and} 17... Kh8 {
intending} 18. Qxd5 Nb4 {are playable.})) 15... Nc5 16. Nb3 Na4 ({I spent some
time on} 16... dxe4 17. Nxc5 exf3 18. Nxe6 Qd7 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 {but there aren't
enough pieces in the attack:} 20. gxf3 Qh3 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Rg1 e4 23. f4 {
is one way to defend.}) 17. Qe2 Bd6 18. d4 $6 ({This pawn break wasn't a good
idea, although I somehow hypnotised my opponent into playing down my main line
of calculation, so it didn't work out too badly. I didn't see the clever
computer concept} 18. Bg5 $1 Qd7 19. Bh4 {- now White's bishop would be well
placed on g3.}) ({I only considered} 18. Ra2 {to keep the tension which is
less challenging.}) 18... dxe4 19. Nxe5 (19. Ng5 exd4 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4
Qf6 {is nothing special as Black's knight can gravitate towards d5.}) 19...
Bxe5 ({The other capture was also possible} 19... Nxe5 $5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Bd4
(21. Ba7 Ra8 22. Qxe4 Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Qd6+) 21... Bxd4 22. Nxd4 Qd5 {looks
likely to lead to mass liquidation.}) 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Ba7 Qg5 ({I thought} 
21... Ra8 $1 {wasn't very good and my opponent rejected it quickly but in fact
White should be careful there.} 22. Qxe4 (22. Qxb5 $2 Qg5 23. Qxa4 Nf3+ 24. Kh1
Nxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxf2 26. Qxe4 Rxa7) 22... Nd3 (22... Nf3+ $2 23. gxf3 Rxa7 24.
Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Nd4 $16) 23. Re3 {and now either the flashy} (23. Red1 Naxb2 24.
Qxe6+ Kh8 $15) 23... Nac5 ({or the simple} 23... Naxb2 {are fine for Black.})
24. Bxc5 Rxa1+ 25. Nxa1 Nxc5 26. Qd4) 22. Nd4 $1 (22. Bxb8 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Nxe1
24. Rxe1 Rxb8 25. Qxe4 Qd5 {is about equal.}) 22... Nf3+ (22... Ra8 $2 23. Qxe4
Rxa7 24. Nxe6 $18) 23. Nxf3 exf3 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. g3 Ra8 26. Bd4 c5 27. Be3 $6
({I wanted to play} 27. Be5 $1 {but failed to realise all the tactics are in
my favour enabling me to keep the bishop pointed at g7} Rae8 $2 (27... Nxb2 $2
28. Rxa8 Rxa8 29. Bb8 $1 $18) 28. Bxg7+ Qxg7 (28... Kxg7 29. Qd7+ $18) 29. Qxe8
$18) 27... Qh5 28. h4 Nxb2 ({I was happy to get the opportunity to swap rooks
but} 28... Rae8 29. Qc6 {is also not so pleasant} Qf5 (29... Qg4 30. Qxb5 Nxb2
31. Bxc5 Qh3 32. Qf1) 30. Bf4 $1) 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Qc6 Rg8 31. Qxb5 Qf5 $1 ({
After} 31... Qg4 32. Kh2 Nc4 33. Bf4 {Black's knight is in trouble, Alexei's
superior choice gives it a route back into the game.}) 32. Kh2 (32. Qxb2 $4 Qh3
) 32... Nd3 33. Rd1 Ne5 34. Qxc5 h5 ({I was expecting} 34... h6 35. Bd4 Ng4+
36. Kg1 Qe4 {but underestimated the strength of} ({The better} 36... Qxc5 $1
37. Bxc5 Re8 {looks likely to lead to a draw with my king imprisoned.}) 37. Qc7
$1 {when Black is passive.}) 35. Bd4 Re8 $2 ({I was pleasantly surprised when
I got the opportunity to get rid of the knight} 35... Ng4+ 36. Kg1 Qxc5 37.
Bxc5 Re8 {should hold after} 38. Be3 Nxe3 39. fxe3 Rxe3 40. Rc1 g5 {the number
of pawns is fast diminishing.}) 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. Qf8 $18 {
My opponent missed this decisive queen insertion, with only major pieces
remaining Black is not in time to target my king.} (38. Qc4 {with similar
ideas is equally effective} Qc2 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Rd6+ $18) 38... Kg6 ({After} 
38... Qxf8 39. Rxf8 {picks up another pawn with Black's monarch boxed in.}) 39.
Rd6+ Kh7 40. Rd8 Kg6 41. Qg8 Qe6 (41... Qc2 42. Rd6+ Kf5 43. Qf7+ {mates next
turn.}) (41... Re6 42. Rd7 Qf6 43. Rxg7+ $18) (41... Qf6 42. Rf8 $18) 42. Qxe6+
Rxe6 43. Rf8 {Black resigned, as after capturing on f3 my king can stroll to
the queenside to simplify the conversion.} (43. Rf8 Rf6 {loses swiftly} 44.
Rxf6+ Kxf6 (44... gxf6 45. g4 $18) 45. g4 hxg4 46. Kg3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 0506"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2006.04.01"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2005.10.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Godesberg"]
[BlackTeam "Baden-Baden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

{This was a crucial weekend for us. Baden-Baden needed to get past Godesberg
and Porz in order to clinch the title that had slipped out of our hands for
the last two years. This was the first of those games.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 {The Anti-Marshall
that is all the rage in recent years} Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. a3 Bxc3 12.
bxc3 Na5 13. Bg5 {A new idea. White allows his bishop to be captured on the
premise that the remaining bishops favor him.} h6 14. Bh4 c5 $1 {Blackґs aim
in this line is to "bury" the bishop with c5-c4 and I stick to this plan.
However, there is now a piece sacrifice in the air.} (14... Nxb3 15. cxb3 d6
16. b4 {White could try to go for Nd2-b3}) 15. Bd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 $2 {Here
however, Kasimdzhanov hesitates.} (16. exd5 g5 (16... d6 $2 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18.
Nd2 {Now the knight on a5 has no square!}) 17. Nxg5 {This is forced} (17. Bg3
d6 {Loses a pawn for very little}) 17... hxg5 18. Bxg5 Qb6 {Now White can
either take a 3rd pawn} 19. Bxf6 ({or even} 19. c4 Nb7 20. Rb1 Nh7 21. Bd2 {
with good compensation}) 19... Qxf6 20. Qg4+ Kh7 21. Qxd7 {It doesnt look like
White is worse here}) 16... Qxf6 17. exd5 Qd6 $1 {Of course not d6. Black now
benefits from the d6 square} 18. c4 bxc4 19. Qd2 Nb7 {This is what
Kasimdzhanov missed. The knight heads for d6} 20. dxc4 e4 (20... Qf6 $2 21. Qc3
e4 $8 (21... d6 {would leave the knight without a square}) 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23.
Nd2 Nd6 24. Rab1 $1 $16) 21. Nh2 Qg6 22. Qf4 Nd6 23. Nf1 (23. Ng4 Nxc4) 23...
f5 $1 (23... Nxc4 $2 24. Ng3 Nd6 25. Rab1 $1 {Before Black can get in f5,
White threatens Rb6} Nb5 26. Nxe4 $13) 24. Rab1 (24. Ng3 Qf6 25. Rab1 g5) 24...
Nxc4 25. Ng3 {Kasimdzhanov touched his knight and then realized that Ne3
allows Nd2. So he has to further worsen his position instead of playing, for
instance Rb7} (25. Ne3 Nd2 $1) 25... Re5 $1 26. Rb7 Qf7 {Now the game is over}
27. h4 Qxd5 28. Reb1 Rf8 {The computer wants to start taking pawns, but I
preferred to be methodical} 29. Rc7 e3 $1 30. Rbb7 (30. fxe3 Nxe3 31. Qf3 Qd4
$19) 30... Re7 31. f3 e2 {Happily, Baden-Baden won convincingly on Sunday to
take the German team championship title} (31... e2 32. Nxe2 Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Qxe2 {
leaves Black a piece up}) 0-1

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 h6 (9... Re8) 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. a4 Na5 13. Ba2 c5 (13... b4
14. Nf1 $14) 14. Nb3 Nc6 (14... Nxb3 15. Bxb3 (15. Qxb3 d5 16. axb5 axb5 (16...
c4 17. dxc4 dxe4 18. Nd2 $16) 17. Qxb5 Qc7 $44) 15... Qc7 (15... c4 16. dxc4
bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxe4 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Nxe4 20. Qd5+ Kf6 21. Qxe4 d5 22.
Qh4+ $13)) 15. Be3 d6 16. Nbd2 d5 $6 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 $14 Nxe3 19. Rxe3
Na5 20. Nfd2 $40 {>< f7} Rc8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rf3 $1 c4 23. Nf6+ $1 $18 gxf6
24. Rg3+ Bg7 25. Qg4 Kf8 26. Qxg7+ Ke7 27. Qxh6 (27. Rg6 Qd6) 27... Rg8 28.
Rxg8 (28. Nf1 {/\ Nf1-g3-f5}) 28... Qxg8 29. f3 Qg5 30. Qxg5 fxg5 31. Bxc4 Nxc4
32. dxc4 bxc4 33. Ra7 Rb8 34. Nxc4 Ke6 35. b4 e4 36. fxe4 Bxe4 37. Ra6+ Ke7 38.
Nd2 Bd3 39. Rc6 Ra8 40. Kf2 f5 41. Rc7+ Kf6 42. Rd7 Bb5 43. Rd5 Be8 44. g4 Bg6
45. Rd6+ Kg7 46. b5 Ra3 47. b6 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3 h6 11. Nbd2 (11. a4 {would transpose to our game from
Monaco, but it isnґt necessary to commit the a-pawn yet.}) 11... Bf8 12. a3 d6
13. Ba2 Nb8 14. b4 (14. Nh4 {was Topalovґs choice against Adams, but 7 years
later (!) he tries another approach}) 14... c5 15. Nb3 Nc6 16. Rb1 {Trying to
create some veiled threats on the b-line.} (16. Be3 a5 $1 17. bxc5 a4 {This
looks fine for Black}) 16... Bc8 $1 {The standard manouver in the
Anti-Marshall. The bishop has done its duty on b7 and can now neutralize Ba2.}
17. Be3 Be6 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Qb2 c4 (19... Nd7 {seems like a reasonable
alternative}) 20. dxc4 Bxc4 {Sane and solid.} (20... Nxe4 $5 {The computers go
for this of course} 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Bxh6 $5 Nxc3 $1 23. Qxc3 gxh6 {But the
comps have a point. The pair of bishops and the centrepawns should be more
relevant than some imaginary white kingside attack.}) 21. Nbd2 Bxa2 22. Qxa2 d5
23. Rbd1 d4 24. cxd4 exd4 25. Nb3 $6 (25. Bf4 $5 {Seems a much better chance,
especially as white can even fight for the initiative if Black plays the
principled:} Qd7 (25... a5 26. bxa5 Qxa5 {When} (26... Nxa5 27. Qb2) 27. e5 $1
{Followed by e6 annoys in time, before a3 starts dropping.}) (25... Re6 26. Qb1
) 26. Qb1 Rcd8 {leads to a complex position}) (25. Nxd4 Nxd4 26. Nb3 {leads to
equality.}) 25... Nxe4 26. Bxd4 $2 {This is the real mistake. with 26 Qb2!
white could still certainly keep the damage within limits.} Nxd4 27. Rxd4 Ng5
$1 28. Ne5 (28. Rxd8 Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 Rxe1+ 30. Kg2 Rxd8 $19) (28. Rxe8 Nxf3+ 29.
gxf3 Qxe8 $17) 28... Nxh3+ 29. gxh3 Qg5+ 30. Kh2 Qf5 $3 {However some exact
calculation finishes the game much more efficiently.} (30... Rxe5 31. f4 Qg6
32. Rxe5 Rc2+ 33. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 34. Nd2 {Leaves Black with a technical task.}) 31.
Rde4 (31. Qe2 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 Qxf2+ 33. Kh1 Rc3 $1 34. Rh4 Bd6 $1 $19) 31... Rxe5
$1 32. Rxe5 Bd6 33. Nc5 Bxe5+ 34. Kg2 Rc6 35. Qb3 Rg6+ 36. Kf1 Bg3 {36...Rg3!?
is maybe flashier, but this certainly is good enough. White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 {Survey CBM 51 [Ftacnik]} Bg4 11. Be3 d5 12. Nbd2
{Actually, White has very little choice here.} (12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 dxe4 14.
dxe4 Nd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qe2 (16. Rd1 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Nxe4 18. Bd5 Rad8 $1)
16... Rfd8 $1 (16... Qxb2 17. Nd2 $44)) 12... h6 $1 (12... d4 13. Bg5 $14) (
12... dxe4 13. dxe4 $14) 13. h3 (13. exd5 Nxd5 14. h3 Nxe3 15. Rxe3 Bxf3 16.
Nxf3 Bc5 $1) 13... d4 (13... Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Ba4) 14. hxg4 dxe3 15. fxe3
Nxg4 16. Bd5 (16. Nc4 $5 Bf6 {It's not so easy to prove an advantage for White
here, but he is definitely better because of the difference in Bs.} (16... Bc5
17. Ba4 $1 $16)) 16... Qd7 17. Nc4 Bf6 {Here I saw that the Q sac was possible
and that it gave White the advantage. I decided to go for it because I was in
a reckless mood that day!} 18. Nfd2 $1 h5 19. Rf1 Rad8 20. Rf5 $1 g6 (20... Ne7
21. Rxh5 g6 (21... c6 22. Nb6 Nxe3 23. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 24. Qh5+ $18) 22. Rh3 {
This all seems to work out.}) 21. Qxg4 $3 {Critical but very risky and of
course White has reached the point of no return.} hxg4 22. Rxf6 Ne7 23. Bxf7+
Kg7 24. Raf1 Qb5 25. g3 $1 {Otherwise Black himself plays g4-g3} Rd7 {/\ Nd5}
26. R1f2 $1 {Now the N can't move because Rg6+ is followed by Rh2#} Qc5 27. Nb3
(27. Kf1 $142 $1 {Ftacnik /\Ke2}) (27. b3 $142 {Ftacnik} Rdd8 28. Nf1 Rd7 29.
Nh2 $16) 27... Qa7 $2 (27... Qb5 $142 $8 28. d4 $1 exd4 (28... Nf5 $1 29. Nxe5
$1 (29. Rxg6+ Kxf7 $13) (29. exf5 $1 Kxf6 {As these things go, the solution is
to give more material!} 30. Nxe5 $1 (30. fxg6+ Kg7 31. Nxe5 Re7) 30... Re7 (
30... gxf5 31. Bc4 Qa4 32. Nc5 Qa1+ 33. Rf1 $18) 31. Bc4 $1 Qa4 32. Nc5 Qa1+
33. Rf1 Qxb2 34. Ne4+ Kg7 35. f6+ Rxf6 36. Nxf6 (36. Rxf6 Rxe5 37. dxe5 Qxc2 {
This is a mess}) 36... Rxe5) 29... Kxf6 (29... Rd6 30. Bc4 $18) 30. Bc4 Qa4 31.
Nc5 Qa1+ 32. Rf1 $18) 29. exd4 Kh8 $8 {White has a draw at least with Rh2 and
Rhf2, but does he have more?} (29... Nf5 30. Rxg6+ Kxf7 31. Rxf5+ $1 $18 Kxg6 (
31... Qxf5 32. exf5) 32. Rxb5 {The reason why exd4 is bad} axb5 33. Ne5+ $18)
30. Ne5 Rxd4 (30... Rd6 31. Bc4 Rdxf6 32. Rh2+ Kg7 33. Bxb5 axb5 34. Re2 $16)
31. Nxg6+ Nxg6 32. Nxd4 Qe5 33. Nf5 $1 Qxf6 34. Rh2+ Nh4 35. Bb3 Rf7 36. Bxf7
Qxf7 37. Rxh4+ $18 {The sting at the end of the tail.}) 28. Nxe5 $4 (28. Rxa6
$3 Qxa6 29. Nc5 Qc6 $1 {Ivanchuk} (29... Rxf7 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. Nxe5+ $1 {
And Black has a horrible position, which is probably lost.} (31. Nxa6 Nc6 {
This didn't seem so clear to me.})) 30. Ne6+ Qxe6 31. Bxe6 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 b3 $1
33. c3 $1 Rxd3 34. Ke2 Rd8 35. Nd2 $1 $16 {This seems to be the best that
White can achieve, but he does have good winning chances.}) 28... Qxe3 $1 {
Unfortunately, there is a gaping hole in this variation.} (28... Rd6 $4 29.
Rxd6 cxd6 30. Nd4 $1 $18 {I saw this and fell in love with the whole variation.
}) 29. Nxd7 Rh8 $1 {Now I suddenly realised that Black's threat is not Qg3,
but Qe1!} 30. Kg2 Rh3 {With the lethal threat of Qe1!} 31. Bxg6 (31. Bc4 Qe1
$17) (31. Bg8 Nxg8 32. Rf7+ Kh6 33. Nf8 Kh5 $1) 31... Nxg6 32. Kf1 $2 (32. Rf7+
Kh6 33. Nf8 (33. Nf6 Qxg3+ 34. Kf1 Rh1+ 35. Ke2 Nf4+ 36. Rxf4 Qe1#)) 32... Rh1+
33. Kg2 Rd1 34. Rxg6+ (34. Rf1 Nh4+ 35. gxh4 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Rxf1+ 37. Rxf1 g3 $19
) (34. Nbc5 $2 {Ftacnik} Nh4+ $1 35. Kh2 Nf3+ 36. R6xf3 Qh6+) 34... Kxg6 35.
Ne5+ Kg7 36. Nxg4 Qe1 37. Kf3 Qh1+ 38. Kf4 Rf1 39. Ke3 Qg1 40. Kf3 $4 {
Forgetting that c2 could no longer be protected.} (40. Ke2 $1 Re1+ (40... Rb1
$1 41. Nd4 {And the game chunders on}) (40... Rxf2+ 41. Nxf2 Qb1 42. Kd2 $1
Qxb2 43. Nd1 {/\ Ne3,Nc4}) 41. Kf3 {Black still has to work on realizing his
advantage.} (41. Kd2 Rb1)) 40... Rxf2+ 41. Nxf2 Qb1 {Now c2 and the whole <<
crumble.} 42. Nd4 Qxb2 43. Nf5+ Kf7 44. Ne3 Qa2 45. e5 Qxa5 46. d4 Qa1 47. Ke4
a5 48. d5 a4 {I decided to end my suffering here.} 0-1

[Event "Valjevo"]
[Site "Valjevo"]
[Date "2007.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Iordachescu, Viorel"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2587"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2007.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Black is perpared to enter the Marshall Defence. So far recent developments
make White shy away from it due to the drawish trendency.} 8. h3 {One of the
many Anti-Marshall weapons.} (8. a4 b4 $13) (8. d4 d6 9. c3 Bg4 $13) (8. d3 d6
9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 $13 {are believed to bring slightly less
than White's choice on the 8th move.}) 8... Rb8 $1 {A revolutionary move found
by me right after the Bosna Sarajevo tournament. The main idea is that Black
aims to keep the bishop on the c8-h3 diagonal.} (8... Bb7 {is everybody's
choice who wants to keep the game out of Chigorin's lines.} 9. d3 d6 (9... d5
$5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Nc3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 $1 $44 {N.
Timofeev-Sokolov Bosna Sarajevo 2007 is another fresh idea which gave me
inspiration that the position ripe for new ideas.}) 10. a3 $13 {is believed to
give White an easier hand to play.}) 9. c3 $5 {A brave decision. This brings
the game back into a Marshall type of a set up. Let us check the alternatives.}
(9. d3 d6 10. c3 $1 {may try to take advantage of Rb8. However, in principle
Black is not terrified by this slow line. Experience over the years suggests
that building up the centre with c3 and eventually d4 is White's most
dangerous attempt for the initiative in almost all Spanish lines.} (10. a3 $6
Be6 $11 (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 $11 {emphasizes the correct diagonal for the Bc8.
})) 10... Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 d5 $5 (13... b4 $5 $13) (13...
Be6 14. d4 cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qb6 $1 $132 {once again
making use of strangely placed rook.}) 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Bf6
17. Re1 b4 $44 {is how the inventor of the 9.h3 Rb8 line GM Gajewski treats
this closed approach.}) 9... d5 {The natural outcome.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5
Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Bb7 $8 {This has some advantages for Black in comparison with a
regular Marshall. White is deprived of Qf3 and the Na3 b4 Nc4 bc3 Na5
manoeuvre in the current position.} (12... c6 $6) (12... Nf6 $6) (12... Nf4 $6
{do not make the inclusion of extra moves with h3 for White and Rb8 for Black
justified.}) 13. d3 $6 {White aims for Nd2-e4. However, later he had to opt
for d4 anyway.} (13. d4 {I was anticipating} Bf6 14. Re1 Re8 15. Bd2 $1 Rxe1+
16. Qxe1 b4 $1 $44 (16... Qd7 $6 17. Na3 Re8 18. Qf1 $16)) 13... Bf6 14. Re1 (
14. Re2 Qd7) 14... b4 $1 $36 {This is the essence of Black's set up: play on
the queen's wing instead of a kingside assault.} 15. d4 $1 {A sad necessity.}
Re8 16. Rxe8+ ({After} 16. c4 {Black has tons of reliable alternatives.} Nb6 $5
$36 (16... Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 Qe8 $1 $36) (16... Ne7 17. d5 Nf5 $44)) 16... Qxe8
17. cxb4 {Hardly anything else can be suggested.} Qe4 $8 (17... Nxb4 $2 18. Nc3
Rd8 19. Be3 c5 20. d5 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxd5 22. Bg5 $1 $36 {and the initiative
changes hands.}) 18. Nd2 $6 (18. Qf1 $142 Qxd4 (18... Bxd4 19. Nd2) 19. Bxd5
Bxd5 20. Nc3 Bc4 21. Be3 Bxf1 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Kxf1 Rxb4 24. Rd1 $11) (18. Bc2
Qh4 (18... Qxd4 19. Qxd4 Bxd4 20. a3 Re8 21. Kf1 a5 22. b5 c6 $44) 19. Nc3 Nxb4
$15) 18... Qxd4 19. Nc4 $1 {The most tenacious set up possible for White under
the present circumstances.} Qxd1+ $1 (19... Qe4 20. Qf1 Nxb4 21. Be3 $1 (21.
Bd2 $2 Nc2 22. Rc1 Nd4 $17) 21... Rd8 $36 {The most concrete way to squeeze a
slight advantage in this position.}) (19... Nxb4 $2 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Be3 $14)
20. Bxd1 Nxb4 21. Bd2 Bd5 $1 (21... Nd3 22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 $11) 22. Bb3 $1 {
I had underestimated this one in my previous calculations.} Nd3 {The back rank
can become a problem for the luftless Black here with other moves.} (22... Nc2
$2 23. Bxc2 Bxc4 24. Bc3 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Kf8 26. Rb1 Rb6 27. a3 $11) (22... Bxc4
$2 23. Bxc4 Nc2 24. Rd1 $1 (24. Rc1 Rxb2 25. Bxa6 Rxa2 26. Bd3 $11) (24. Rb1 $4
Na3) 24... Rd8 25. Be2 $1 Bxb2 26. Ba5 $1 Nd4 27. Kf1 $16) 23. Bc3 (23. Ba5 c6
(23... Rb5 24. Bc3) 24. Bc7 Re8 $17) 23... Bxc4 24. Bxc4 Nxb2 25. Bxb2 (25.
Bxf6 Nxc4 26. Rc1 Rb4 $1 27. Be7 Ra4 28. a3 f6 $17 {is a clear pawn.}) 25...
Rxb2 26. Rd1 $1 (26. Bxa6 Bd4 $17) 26... Rb4 $1 $15 27. Bxa6 Ra4 {After a
bunch of forced moves the smoke has cleared and Black only seems to earn a
moral victory in the event of a proper defence by his opponent.} 28. Bb7 $2 {
The start of an incorrect plan connected with the wrong idea of developing a
counterattack on f7.} ({White had to bite his lips and organize a defence on
the second rank with} 28. Bd3 Rxa2 29. Rc1 Rd2 30. Be4 Be5 31. g3 g6 32. Rc2
Rd4 33. Bc6 $15) 28... Rxa2 29. Rd7 Ra1+ 30. Kh2 Kf8 $17 {Black's advantage
increases to serious dimensions with two more misplaced pieces by White. With
a king awy from the centre and a rook in a precarious position we may conclude
that Viorel is in trouble.} 31. f4 $2 {That explains this nervous move.} (31.
g3 Rc1 32. Kg2 Ke8 33. Rd2 c6 $17 {was to be played.}) 31... Rc1 32. Bd5 Be7
$17 (32... Rd1 $2 33. Rxf7+ Ke8 34. Be6 Rd6 35. Bb3 $11) 33. Bb3 $2 {Wrong
diagonal once again. Having in mind an attack on f7 Viorel makes the aftermath
of his previous mistakes even bigger.} (33. Kg3 $4 Ke8 $19) (33. Be4 g6 34. Kg3
f5 35. Bf3 Ke8 36. Rd1 Rc2 37. Bd5 c6 38. Bg8 Kf8 39. Be6 Rc3+ 40. Kh2 Bh4 $19)
(33. Bf3 Bd6 (33... Rc4 $5 34. g3 Rc2+ 35. Kg1 Ke8 36. Rd3 f5 $5 $17) 34. Bd5
Bxf4+ 35. g3 Rc2+ 36. Kh1 Be5 37. Rxf7+ Ke8 38. Rf3 Ke7 39. Re3 Kd6 40. Rd3
Rc1+ 41. Kg2 h6 $19 {with the eventual march of the c pawn.}) 33... Rc3 $19 34.
Ba2 $2 {This is a blunder leaving f4 unprotected.} ({I was only considering} 
34. Ba4 Bh4 35. Kg1 (35. f5 c5 $19) 35... c5 36. Bc6 c4 $140 37. Bd5 Bg3 $1 $19
) 34... Ke8 $5 {I was afraid of compromising my pawn structure.} (34... g5 $142
$1 {is more direct.} 35. Kg1 (35. fxg5 $2 Bd6+ 36. g3 Rc2+ $19) (35. Bb1 Bd6
$19) (35. Rd1 Bd6 $19) 35... Rc1+ 36. Kh2 gxf4 37. Bb3 Rc3 38. Ba4 Bh4 39. Kg1
c5 $19) 35. Rd2 (35. Rd4 Bh4 36. Bc4 Bg3+ 37. Kg1 Rc1+ 38. Bf1 Re1 $1 39. Rc4
Kd7 $19) 35... Bh4 $1 {Overlooking this idea really killed Viorel's appetite
to continue the game. However, his resignation is premature.} (35... Bh4 $1 36.
g4 $1 (36. Rd1 Bg3+ 37. Kh1 Bxf4 38. Rf1 g5 39. Re1+ Kf8 40. Rd1 c5 41. Bd5 c4
$19) 36... Bg3+ 37. Kg2 Bxf4 38. Rf2 Rg3+ (38... g5 39. Rf3 Rc5 40. Bb1 h6 41.
h4 $19) 39. Kf1 g5 40. h4 h6 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Rg2 Rc3 (42... Rxg2 $2 43. Kxg2
f5 $8 44. gxf5 Be5 45. Kf3 Ke7 46. Bc4 Bf6 (46... Kf6 47. Kg4) 47. Ke4 Kd6 48.
Be2 Kc5 49. Bd1 Kb4 50. Kd5 $11) 43. Re2+ Kf8 44. Bb1 $1 c5 $19 {is
technically lost, but Black has to sweat.}) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2005.12.02"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2005.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. Nc3 b4 12. Nd5 Na5 13. Ba2 Bc5 14. Bd2 Bxd5 15.
Bxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Qf6 17. c3 bxc3 $6 ({According to Svidler,} 17... Qb6 {
is much stronger.}) 18. Bxc3 Qb6 19. Rxe5 Nb3 ({Svidler recommends here} 19...
Bxf2+ 20. Kh1 f6 $1 (20... d6 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. b4 Nb7 23. Ra2 Bg3 24. Re2 Rd8
25. Nd4 a5 26. Nc6 Rf8 27. Bd4 Qa6 28. b5 Qa8 29. Re7 Be5 30. Nxe5 dxe5 31.
Bxe5 {1-0 Svidler,P-Leko,P/San Luis 2005/CBM 110 no vc})) 20. a5 Qb5 21. Rb1
Bd6 22. Rh5 Nc5 (22... f6 {is strongly met by} 23. Nh4 {, bringing the queen
into attack.}) 23. b4 $1 Nxd3 $2 ({After this mistake Black's postiion becomes
critical. Essential was} 23... Ne6 {. although after} 24. Nd4 Nxd4 25. Bxd4 {
, White retains a large advantage.}) {[%tqu "En","Black's pieces are far away
from their king. How should White continue his attack?","Try to expose the
enemy king.","Sacrifice your bishop!","c3g7","This amazing move destroys
Black's kingside and yields White a decisive advantage.",7]} 24. Bxg7 $3 {
[%csl Gg7,Rg8] This unexpected blow breaks Black's defense.} Kxg7 25. Nd4 Re1+
(25... Qc4 {fails to} 26. Qg4+ Kh7 (26... Kf8 27. Ne6+) 27. Rxh6+ $1 Kxh6 28.
Nf5+ Kh7 29. Qg7#) 26. Qxe1 Nxe1 27. Nxb5 axb5 28. Rxe1 Bxb4 29. Rb1 Bxa5 30.
Rxb5 {The ending is hopeless for Black.} Bb6 31. g4 Ra2 32. Rf5 d6 33. Rb4 Re2
34. Kg2 Ba5 35. Rc4 f6 36. Rf3 Rd2 37. Rcf4 Rxd5 38. Rxf6 Rc5 39. Rf7+ Kg8 40.
Rf8+ Kg7 41. R3f7+ Kg6 42. h4 Bc3 43. h5+ Kg5 44. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Azmaiparashvili"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Kh8 $5 $146 11. Nc3 Qd7 12. Bd2 Rab8 $6 (12... Ng8 13. Nd5
(13. a4) 13... f5 $13) 13. Ne2 $1 $14 Nd8 14. Ng3 Ne6 15. c3 c5 16. Bc2 Bd8 17.
Be3 Bc7 (17... Bb6 18. b4) 18. d4 $16 cxd4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Bxd4 $1 (20. Nxd4
d5 $1 $13) 20... Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Rbe8 (21... Ba8 22. Rad1) 22. Nf5 Re6 23. Rad1
Qc6 24. Qd2 Qb6 (24... Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Qg5 Rg8 27. Bxe4 Qxe4 28. Re1 Qd3
29. Nh6 Rf8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Re7) 25. Qg5 (25. N3d4 $1 Re5 (25...
Nxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Qg5 Rg8 28. Nh6 Rf8 29. Ndf5) 26. Qg5 Ne8 (26... Rg8 27.
Nh6 $1) 27. f4 f6 (27... Rc5 28. Qe7) 28. Qg3 $18) 25... Ne8 $8 26. Bb3 Rf6 $8
27. Ne7 $2 (27. Nxg7 $2 Rg6) (27. Bd5 $5 $16) 27... Qa7 $1 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29.
Rxd5 Bb6 30. Qd2 Nc7 31. Rd3 Bc5 32. e5 dxe5 33. Rxe5 $14 Qb6 34. Rd7 Ne6 (
34... Rd6 35. Rxd6 Qxd6 $14) 35. Bxe6 Rxe6 36. b4 Rd6 $8 37. Rxd6 (37. Rd5 $142
Rxd5 38. Rxd5 Be7 $14) 37... Bxd6 38. Rd5 Bb8 39. Ne5 Bxe5 40. Rxe5 h6 $14 41.
Qd7 Qf6 42. Qe7 Rd8 $1 43. Qxf6 gxf6 44. Re7 Kg7 45. Ra7 Rd6 46. g4 f5 $1 47.
gxf5 Rd3 48. Rxa6 Rxh3 49. Ra5 (49. Kg2 Rh5) 49... Kf6 50. Kg2 Rd3 51. Rxb5
Rxa3 52. f3 Rb3 53. Kg3 Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[Annotator "Bartel,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 {I haven't had too many opportunites in my life to play versus
opponents over 2700. Before meeting such a strong player you must choose an
opening, which is not the easiest task, because you are always worry that he
knows the openings much better than you. I usually play different lines in the
French, but I decided it wass much better to choose something more "central".}
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 {The Arkhangelsk Defence
is not very popular these days, but - to be honest - I don't know why.} 7. d3 {
This is surely not the most critical answer.} ({When you want to fight for a
real advantage you must choose between} 7. Re1) (7. c3) 7... Be7 ({The
alternative is} 7... Bc5 {, but it is not clear if the bishop is better on c5,
especially when White doesn't really want to push d4.}) 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 $6 {
I don't like this move. One can call this prophylactic, but with the bishop on
b7 there is really no reason to take under control the g4-square.} ({White
should choose between} 9. c3) ({and} 9. Nc3 {or}) (9. Nbd2) 9... h6 $5 {
White's bishop is on c1, so this move is justified; as well as that, Black's
plan is to play d7-d5 in a single move.} 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 {Everything
is ready to begin action in the centre. Now White should try to prevent d7-d5,
but this is hardly possible.} 12. a4 Na5 13. Bc2 ({It was possible to play} 13.
Ba2 {but after} c5 14. d4 exd4 {White will always face problems with his
hanging e4-pawn.} 15. cxd4 (15. e5 dxc3 16. bxc3 (16. exf6 cxd2 17. Rxe8 Qxe8
18. Bxd2 Nc4) 16... Nd5 {and Black is better.}) 15... cxd4 ({Also possible is} 
15... Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. Rxe4 Bxe4 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 d6
21. axb5 axb5 22. Bd2 Nc6 $5 {with equality.}) 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd4 Qb6 {
and with such active pieces Black must be ok.}) 13... c5 {Otherwise, at some
moment, White can play b4.} ({Probably after} 13... d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 (14...
Nxd5 15. Rxe5) 15. b4 Nc6 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. dxe4 {White can get a small edge.})
14. d4 $1 {Of course! White is not waiting for his opponent's d5.} cxd4 15.
cxd4 d5 $1 {Black is not giving up in fighting for the central squares.} ({
There is probably nothing wrong with} 15... exd4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd4 {but when
the bishop stays on c2 Black's king will always feel a bit uncomfortable.}) 16.
dxe5 ({It is possible to include} 16. axb5 axb5 {but White can also play it on
the next move - it doesn't make a difference.}) ({White can't achieve much
after} 16. exd5 exd4 17. Rxe8 Qxe8 18. Nxd4 Bxd5 {where only Black can be
better.}) 16... Nxe4 {Now the position is similar to the Open Ruy Lopez with
one - important - difference, Black's white-squared bishop is placed on b7 not
on e6, which must be better for him.} ({Probably it was also possible to play} 
16... dxe4 17. exf6 exf3 18. Nxf3 (18. Rxe8 Qxe8 19. Nxf3 Rd8 20. Qf1 Qc6 21.
Qe2) 18... Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Rc8 {but during the game taking with knight looked
more logical to me.}) 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qe2 {A smart move, which is keeping
the pressure.} ({Black's activity is helping to achieve a draw after} 18. Nxe4
dxe4 19. Qxd8 Rexd8 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Nb3 $1 22. Rb1 (22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23.
Bf4 Ra2 24. Re2 Ba3 $1) 22... Ra4 $1 23. Re2 (23. Rxa4 $2 Rd1+ $1) (23. Re1 Bb4
24. Rf1 Bc5) 23... Rd1+ 24. Re1 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Re4) 18... Rc8 $2 {Mistake. I
wanted to activate my rook on the c-file, but this is sensless.} ({Black had
two strong options. First was the sharp} 18... f5 $1 {which allows him to keep
the knight on the important e4-square.} 19. Qxb5 (19. exf6 Qxf6 20. Qxb5 Bc6
21. Qd3 Bc5 22. Re2) 19... Bc6 20. Qe2 Bc5 {and Black has a big initiative for
the sacrified pawn.}) ({Another option was} 18... Nc4 {which leads to a forced
draw after} 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nxe4 (20. Bxe4 {?} dxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe5) 20... dxe4
21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 Ra8 {!} 24. b3 Ra1 25. Re1 Na5 {and Black
is winning back the missing pawn.}) 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Nb3
22. Rb1 {In my imagination the black pieces look active. But White needs just
1-2 moves to consolidate its position.} Rc4 23. Qe2 f6 {This move looks awful,
but there is nothing better than that. Otherwise White can play Be3 and Black
will just be a pawn down.} 24. Rd1 Qc7 $2 {My second mistake in the game, but
already the decisive one. There were two places for the queen: c7 and c8. I
asked myself if there is a difference. I noticed that after ...Qc7 my rook on
e8 is not protected but I couldn't find any way to exploit it.} ({Necessary was
} 24... Qc8 25. Qe3 (25. Bxh6 $6 gxh6 26. Qd3 Nc1 $1 {and White is not winning.
}) 25... Nxc1 26. Rbxc1 fxe5 {. Black is of course much worse here, because of
his weaker pawn structure, but it is possible to survive.}) 25. Bxh6 $1 {
That's it! Only now I realised that it was better to protect the rook...} fxe5
(25... gxh6 {gives White the opportunity of a double attack after} 26. Qd3 {
and Black is helpless. One of my coaches - Mr. Vladimir Shishkin from Russia -
used to say that chess is a game of double attack. I should have listened to
him more carefully...}) 26. Be3 {White is a pawn up and also the troubles
which will surround the black position are merely a question of a few moves
away. The rest doesn't need any comments.} Qf7 27. Ng5 Qg6 28. Qf3 Nd4 29. Bxd4
exd4 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. Nf3 Bd6 32. Ra1 Rd8 33. Ne5 1-0

[Event "Sigeman & Co 05th"]
[Site "Malmo"]
[Date "1997.06.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.06.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. d4
{[%csl Yd4,Yd5,Ye4,Ye5]} (8. d3 O-O 9. a4 (9. Nbd2 Re8 10. c3 h6 11. d4 Bf8 12.
a4 exd4 13. cxd4 d6 14. h3 Nb4 15. e5 dxe5 16. dxe5 Nfd5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8
Bxa8 19. e6 fxe6 20. Nd4 Qd7 21. Qe2 Nf4 22. Qxb5 Qxb5 23. Nxb5 Nbd3 24. Nxc7
Nxe1 25. Nxe8 Bxg2 26. Bc4 Kf7 27. Bb5 h5 28. h4 g5 29. hxg5 Bb4 30. f3 Bc5+
31. Kh2 h4 32. Ne4 Nxf3# {0-1 Mortensen,E-Hector,J/Copenhagen BSF 1995}) 9...
d6 10. c3 (10. Nc3 Na5 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 Rb8 13. Ng3 c5 14. Nd2 (14. Bd2 Bc8
15. h3 Ne8 16. Nf1 Nc7 17. Ne3 Kh8 18. Qe2 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 $11 {0-1
Kruszynski,W-Hector,J/Berliner Sommer 1993 (40)}) 14... Ne8 15. Nc4 Nxc4 16.
Bxc4 Bg5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,F-Hector,J/Copenhagen op 1991 (31)}) 10... Na5 (
10... Re8 11. Na3 Qd7 12. Bd2 Na5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Ba2 c5 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4
Nc6 17. Nxb5 d5 $132 {1-0 Kupreichik,V-Hector,J/Norresundby op 1993 (40)}) 11.
Ba2 c5 12. Na3 Qd7 13. axb5 axb5 14. Bd2 $13 {1/2-1/2 Emms,J-Hector,J/
Copenhagen op 1995 (58)}) (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 (10. d4 exd4 11. cxd4
O-O 12. Nc3 Ncb4 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Qd6 (14... a5 15. Ne5 Bf6 16. Ra1 Re8 17.
Na4 Qd6 18. Nc5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 $14 {0-1 Wedberg,T-Hector,J/Sweden TV Cup
1993 (28)}) 15. Ne5 Rad8 16. Qh5 Qb6 17. Be3 c5 $132 {1-0 Liss,E-Hector,J/
Politiken, Copenhagen DEN 1996 (41)}) 10... Nxe5 11. Rxe5 O-O (11... Nf4 12. d4
Nxg2 13. Qe2 h6 14. Qh5 g6 15. Qg4 (15. Qh3 Qd6 16. Bg5 Qxe5 $13 {0-1 Ernst,
T-Hector,J/Sweden TV Cup 1993 (39)}) 15... Qd6 16. Nd2 f5 17. Qg3 g5 18. Nf3
Nf4 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Rxe7+ Qxe7 21. Qg6+ Kd8 22. Re1 Qh7 23. Qf6+ Kc8 24. Re7
$18 {1/2-1/2 Mortensen,E-Hector,J/Festuge op 1991 (60)}) 12. d4 Bf6 13. Re1 Qd6
14. Be3 Rae8 15. Nd2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bg5 $44 {Sawatzki,F-Hector,J/Hamburg
Wichern-op 1995/0-1 (48)}) (8. a4 Na5 9. Ba2 Nxe4 10. Nxe5 O-O 11. Qh5 Nc4 12.
d4 Bh4 13. g3 $14 {Slobodjan,R-Hector,J/BL2-N 1995/1-0 (63)}) 8... Nxd4 9.
Bxf7+ (9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 Ne4 (10... Nd5 $5 11. Qf3 (11. c3 O-O 12. Qf3 c6 13.
cxd4 d6 14. Nc3 dxe5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. dxe5 Qd7 17. Bc2 d4 18. e6 {0-1 Garcia,
G-Hector,J/Manila ol (M.02.06.2) 1992 (36)}) (11. Qg4 Kf8 12. Qf3 c6 13. c3 Qb6
14. cxd4 Qxd4 15. Nc3 Re8 16. Re4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,F-Hector,J/Copenhagen
PC 1991 (27)}) 11... c6 12. Bxd5 (12. Qg4 $22 Qb6 13. Qxg7 O-O-O 14. Qh6 $1
Rhg8 {14. - c5? 15.Bxd5! + -} 15. Bxd5 Rg6 16. Qxh7 cxd5 17. Nd2 $16 {
Kindermann-Yilmaz, Dubai (Ol) 1986.}) (12. c3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 O-O 14. Nxd5 cxd5
15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 d6 17. e6 Bf6 $132 {Romanishin,O-Hector,J/Taastrup 1992/
1/2-1/2 (53)}) 12... cxd5 13. Qg4 Qb6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 Bc5 17.
Bf4 Rc8 18. Red1 O-O 19. Rac1 Rfe8 20. h3 f6 $14 {1-0 Watson,W-Hector,J/London
WFW 1991 (45)}) 11. Qg4 (11. c3 Nc5 12. cxd4 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 O-O 14. Nc3 d6 15.
Bf4 $13 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Hector,J/Hamburg Wichern op 1993 (31)}) 11... Bg5
(11... c5 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Qxh7 c4 14. Rxe4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 cxb3 16. axb3 $16)
12. f4 Bh6 13. Qf5 $14 {0-1 Brinck Claussen,B-Hector,J/Copenhagen op 1995 (31)}
) 9... Kf8 (9... Kxf7 10. Nxe5+ Ke6 11. Qxd4 c5 12. Qc3 $14) 10. Bd5 (10. Bb3 {
10.Nxe5? d6! is good for Black.} Nxb3 11. axb3 d6 $10) 10... Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3
Bxd5 (11... c6 12. Bb3 $14) 12. exd5 Bd6 (12... d6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Nc3 Qd7 16. Ne4 Kf7 17. Re3 Raf8 18. Ra3 $16 {1-0 Lanc,A-Habinak,T/SVK-chT
1995 (31)}) 13. Bg5 $16 (13. Nd2 Qe7 14. a4 b4 15. Nc4 $16) 13... Kf7 14. Nd2 (
14. a4 b4 15. Nd2 $16) 14... h6 15. Bxf6 (15. Be3 Rf8 16. a4 $14) 15... Qxf6 (
15... gxf6 16. a4 $14) 16. Qh3 (16. Qg4 Qe7 17. a4 $16) 16... Qe7 (16... Rad8
17. Ne4 Qg6 18. a4 $16) 17. Ne4 (17. a4 Rhb8 $1 $13) 17... Rhe8 (17... g6 $6)
18. c3 Kg8 19. Qd3 {/\a4} Rab8 (19... Rf8 20. Re2 Rf7 $14) 20. b4 $1 (20. Re2
Rf8 $14) 20... Qf7 (20... Rf8 21. a4 $36 {ץd6}) 21. a4 Bf8 22. axb5 axb5 23.
Ra7 d6 (23... Rec8 24. Rea1 Bd6 $6 25. R1a5) 24. Rea1 $16 Rec8 (24... Re7 25.
R1a5 c6 26. Rxe7 Bxe7 27. dxc6 d5 28. Rxb5 Ra8 29. Nd2 Bg5 30. c7 Ra1+ 31. Nf1
Qxc7 32. Qxd5+ Kh8 33. Rc5 $18) 25. h3 (25. R1a5 Qf4 $1) 25... Kh8 26. R1a6 Qd7
27. Rc6 Be7 28. c4 $1 bxc4 29. Qxc4 Rb6 (29... Bf8 $142 30. b5) 30. b5 Rxc6 (
30... Bd8 31. Rxb6 cxb6 32. Rxd7 Rxc4 33. Rxd8+ $18) (30... Bf8 31. Rxb6 cxb6
32. Nxd6 Rxc4 33. Rxd7 Bxd6 34. Rxd6 Rc5 35. Rxb6 Rxd5 $18) 31. dxc6 (31. bxc6
$6 Qd8) 31... Qd8 32. Nc3 $18 Ra8 33. b6 $1 (33. b6 Rxa7 34. bxa7 Qa8 35. Qa6
e4 36. Qb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Blatny, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[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 "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. c3 (11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nf1 Nc5 14.
Bd5 Ne6 15. Ng3 $14 {Shirov,A-Anand,V/Monaco/1997/}) 11... Nc5 12. Bc2 (12.
axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Bc2 Ne6 (14... Bf6 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nf1 Bb7 17. Ne3
g6 18. Bb3 Bg7 19. h4 Bc8 20. h5 $1 $40 {Kasparov,G-Short,N/London (m7)/1993})
15. b4 Ng5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Nf1 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 g6 19. Ne3 Bg5 20. g3 h5 21. h4
Bh6 22. Nd5 Bxc1 {/\Kg7= Zagrebelny,S-Blatny,P/Moscow olm/1994}) 12... Nxa4 13.
Bxa4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Kh8 $1 {^^:קa6 Heute bin ich �berzeugt, dass diese
Fortsetzung stдrker ist als} (14... Qc8 $6 {Almasi,Z-Blatny,P/AUT-tch/1998/
was geschah in meiner Partie gegen Almasi in der Oesterreichischen Staatsliga.}
) 15. Nc4 (15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 Nb4 $132 {Korneev,O-Giorgadze,G/
Anibal op/ 1997/}) 15... f5 16. Ne3 (16. exf5 $6 Rxf5 17. Ne3 Rf4 18. Qb3 Rb8
19. Nd5 Rg4 $13) 16... fxe4 $146 {Erste kritische Entscheidung und Abweichung
von der bekannten Partie Anand-Timman. Meiner Meinung nach soll man die
Stellung offenhalten.} (16... f4 17. Nd5 g5 18. h3 h5 (18... Rg8 $5 $132 {
Timman}) 19. Qd1 $5 g4 $140 $2 20. Nh2 $1 f3 21. hxg4 hxg4 22. Nxg4 fxg2 23.
Kxg2 $18 {[%csl Rh8][%cal Ge1h1,Gh1h8]}) 17. dxe4 Qe8 $1 (17... Bg5 18. Nxg5 (
18. Nd5 Bxc1 19. Raxc1 Ne7 20. Rcd1 $13) 18... Qxg5 19. Nd5 $14) 18. Nf5 Bd8 {
Mit diesem und weiteren zwei Zuegen wollte ich einfach zuviel und wich daher
von eventuellen Ausgleichsfortsetzungen ab.} (18... Qg6 $5 19. Nxe7 Nxe7 20.
Qb4 $5 Rab8 (20... Rxf3 $2 21. Qxb7 Raf8 22. Be3 $18) 21. Nxe5 $1 dxe5 22. Qxe7
Bxe4 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24. Bxg5 Bd3 25. b4 {+/=/= _|_^-}) 19. Bg5 g6 (19... h6 20.
Bxd8 Nxd8 21. Qxe8 Rxe8 $14 {_|_}) (19... Bxg5 $5 20. Nxg5 Qg6 (20... Bc8) 21.
Nf3 Nd8 $1 {/\Ne6~~}) 20. Ne3 $1 (20. Bxd8 gxf5 $1 21. Bxc7 Qd7 22. Bb6 Rf6 $1
$44 {/\Rg8,Rh6}) 20... Kg7 $6 (20... Bxg5 $142 $1 21. Nxg5 Qe7 $132 {
/\Nd8-e6-f4,c5}) (20... Rxf3 21. Bxd8 Rf7 (21... Rxe3 $4 22. Bf6+ $18) 22. Bg5
$14 {><f6-g5-h6}) 21. Nd5 Qf7 22. Be3 h6 23. c4 $6 (23. Nd2 $142 Ne7 24. c4 $14
) 23... g5 $1 24. c5 Ne7 (24... g4 25. Nd2 Bg5 26. Qd1 Bxe3 27. fxe3 Kh8 $132 {
/\Qf2-d2}) 25. Nc3 {/\Qb4} Qe6 26. Rad1 $6 (26. cxd6 cxd6 27. Rad1) 26... Bc6
$1 27. Qc2 (27. Qa3 $2 Rxf3 28. gxf3 Ng6 $40 {/\Qh3,Nh4}) 27... Ng6 $1 {
Wдhrend der Partie dachte ich, ich habe eine vielversprechende
Qualitдtsopfermцglichkeit versдumt, aber in die Analyse fand ich, dass der
Partiezug die besten Chancen gibt.} (27... Rxf3 28. gxf3 Ng6 29. Kh1 Qh3 30.
Qe2 Nh4 31. Rg1 Nxf3 32. Rg2 $16) 28. Nd2 h5 $5 (28... Be7 29. Nf1 dxc5 30. Ng3
) 29. cxd6 cxd6 30. Nf1 h4 31. Qd2 h3 32. Ng3 $1 {In diese Partiephase spielte
Alexei einfach hervorragend und entdeckte auch mit kurzer restlicher
Bedenkzeit alle Gefahren.} (32. Bxg5 hxg2) (32. Qxd6 Qg4 (32... Qc8 33. Ng3 Be7
) 33. Ng3 Rf6 34. f3 Rxd6 35. fxg4 Rxd1 36. Rxd1 hxg2 $14) 32... hxg2 33. Qxd6
Qc8 $5 (33... Qxd6 34. Rxd6 Nh4 (34... Rc8 35. Nf5+ Kh7 36. Ra1 a5 $14) 35. Ra1
(35. Rxc6 Nf3+ 36. Kxg2 Nxe1+ 37. Kf1 Nd3 $17) 35... Be8 36. Raxa6 Rb8 37. Nf5+
Nxf5 38. exf5 Rxf5 39. Kxg2 Bc7 40. Rd2 $16) (33... Qh3 $4 34. Qxc6 Nh4 35.
Qd7+ $18) 34. Nd5 $1 {Wieder die richtige Entscheidung. Jetzt ist die
kritische Stellung entstanden. Leider spielte meine fehlende Erfahrung mit der
"Fischer-Uhr" eine wichtige Rolle. Statt alles genau durchzurechnen, hat mich
Alexei's hдngendes Blдttchen dazu verlockt, schnell "auf Zeit" zu ziehen...
Hier aber bekommt jeder 30 sec pro Zug!} (34. Nf5+ Rxf5 35. exf5 Nh4 $44 36.
Nd5 $2 Qxf5 $1 37. Qxc6 Nf3+ $1 (37... Qh3 38. f4 $1) 38. Kxg2 Qg4+ 39. Kh1 Qh3
40. Bf4 $8 exf4 41. Qb7+ Kf8 $8 (41... Kg6 $2 42. Nxf4+ $1 gxf4 43. Rg1+ $18)
42. Qb4+ Kf7 43. Qb7+ (43. Re7+ Bxe7 44. Qxe7+ Kg8 45. Nf6+ Kh8 46. Rd8+ $8
Rxd8 47. Qxd8+ Kg7 48. Ne8+ Kf7 49. Nd6+ Kg6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 (50... Kh5 $4 51.
Qh7+ Kg4 52. Qd7+ Kh4 53. Nf5+ Kh5 54. Qh7+ Kg4 55. Nh6+ Kh4 56. Ng8+ Kg4 57.
Nf6#) 51. Qd8+ Kg7 (51... Ke5 $2 52. Nf7+ Ke4 53. Nxg5+ Nxg5 54. Qxg5 $16) (
51... Kg6 52. Qg8+ $11) 52. Qe7+ Kh6 53. Qf6+ Kh7 (53... Kh5 $4 54. Qf7+ $18)
54. Qf7+ Kh8 55. Qf8+ $11) 43... Kf8 $11) 34... Ba4 $2 {Mit richtigem} (34...
Nh4 $142 $1 {ist die Stellung immer noch sehr unklar, z.B.:} 35. Qxe5+ $140 $6
(35. Nf5+ Rxf5 36. exf5 Qxf5 37. Qxc6 Nf3+ 38. Kxg2 Qg4+ 39. Kh1 Qh3 40. Bf4
exf4 41. Qb7+ Kf8 $11) (35. Re2 $2 Qh3 $1 $19) 35... Kf7 $1 $13) (34... Bxd5
35. Nf5+ $1 (35. Rxd5 Nh4 36. Rc1 Qh3 37. Qd7+ Qxd7 38. Rxd7+ $14) 35... Kh7
36. Rxd5 $18) 35. Nf5+ $1 Rxf5 36. Rc1 $1 Bc2 $2 {Nach diesem Fehler ist alles
gelaufen. Ich ьbersah den 38. Zug von Weiss. Ich sollte besser versuchen die
Damen zu tauschen, was gute praktische Rettungschancen bietet.} (36... Qd7 $142
37. Qxd7+ Bxd7 38. exf5 Nh4 39. Red1 Bxf5 40. f3 Rb8 $1 {+/-/+/= _|_} (40...
Nxf3+ 41. Kxg2 $16)) 37. exf5 Qxf5 38. Bd2 $1 $18 (38. Bb6 Nh4 39. Re3 $18)
38... Nh4 39. Re3 $1 (39. Qxe5+ Qxe5 40. Rxe5 Nf3+ 41. Kxg2 Nxe5 42. Rxc2 Kg6
$16) 39... Rc8 (39... Nf3+ 40. Rxf3 Qxf3 41. Bc3 (41. Nc7 Bb3 42. Nxa8 Qxa8 43.
Qd7+ Bf7 44. Rc8 $18) 41... Be4 42. Qxe5+ Kf7 43. Re1 $18) 40. Bc3 Kh7 41. Qxe5
Qxe5 42. Bxe5 Rc5 (42... Bf5 43. Rxc8 Bxc8 44. Bc7 $18) 43. Nb4 Bb6 44. Nxc2
Rxe5 45. Rxe5 Nf3+ 46. Kxg2 Nxe5 47. Ne3 Nd3 48. Rc6 Bd4 49. b3 1-0

[Event "MK Cafe Cup-A"]
[Site "Koszalin"]
[Date "1999.08.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Blehm, Pawel"]
[Black "Slobodjan, Roman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2479"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 {Andere Mцglichkeiten sind} (10... Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4
12. Nd2 (12. c3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 c5 14. Bf4 d5 $1 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17.
exd5 Bd6 $44 {0-1 Jansa,V-Blatny,P/Zlin 1998/CBM 66/ (57)}) 12... c5 13. Nf3
Nd7 14. a4 Ne5 15. Bf4 Bf6 $11 {0-1 Lanka,Z-Blatny,P/Debrecen 1992/EU-chT (40)}
) (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Adams,M/Linares 1999/CBM 70/[Blatny,P]
(65) Ausfьhrliche Analysen zu 10...Sa5 finden Sie in CBM 70.}) (10... Qd7 11.
Nc3 Rae8 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Na5 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. d4 $14 {Polgar,
J-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63}) 11. Nbd2 Re8 $5 $146 {Frьher wurde hier
nur} (11... Nbd7 {gespielt. Die Statistik war aber ziemlich schlecht fьr
Schwarz, es ist also logisch, dass man neue Wege sucht. Schwarz wartet mit der
Entwicklung von Nb8 und bereitet zuerst die "Modellverteidigung" (Re8, Bf8 und
h6) vor.} {Hier einige Beispile mit Sbd7:} 12. Nf1 c5 (12... Nc5 13. Ba2 Ne6
14. Ng3 g6 (14... Nd7 15. Nf5 Bf6 16. Nh2 Bg5 17. Qg4 h5 18. Qxh5 Bxc1 19.
Raxc1 g6 20. Qg4 Nf6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Nxf7 $1 {1-0 Pavlovic,M-Rieke,T/Biel
1998/EXT 99}) 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qd2 c5 17. Nh2 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Qh6 $14 {
1-0 Lanka,Z-Franzen,J/Trnava 1987/EXT 99 (63)}) (12... Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14. Nf5
Bf8 15. Nh2 d5 16. Qf3 Kh8 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 g6 19. Ne3 g5 20. Bg3 dxe4 21.
dxe4 c5 22. Bxf7 Bxe4 23. Qe2 Re7 24. Bh5 Nxh5 25. Qxh5 Bg7 26. Neg4 $40 {
1-0 Shirov,A-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63 (40)}) 13. Ng3 Rc8 14. Qe2 Qc7
15. Nf5 Bd8 16. Bg5 c4 17. Ba2 Re8 18. Rad1 d5 $5 $132 {1-0 Shirov,A-Sokolov,I/
Groningen1996/ (41)}) 12. Nf1 (12. Ng5 Rf8 (12... d5 $6 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ngf3
(14. Nde4 $5) 14... Bf6 15. Ne4 $14) 13. Nf1 h6 14. Nf3 Re8 15. Ng3 Bf8) 12...
Bf8 13. Ne3 (13. Ng3 $142) 13... h6 14. Nh2 Nbd7 15. Qf3 Nc5 16. Ba2 $6 {
"Automatisch" gespielt. Nach dem richtigen} (16. Nhg4 $1 Nxb3 (16... Be7 $2 17.
Nf5 Nxb3 $140 18. Ngxh6+ $1 Kh7 (18... Kf8 19. cxb3 $18) 19. Nxf7 Nxa1 (19...
Qd7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. cxb3 $18) 20. Nxd8 Bxd8 21. Bg5 Nxc2 (21... g6 22. Ne3 $18
) 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rc1 Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4 25. Rxc7 Re7 26. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 27.
Qh5+ Kg8 28. Qd5+ $18) 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. cxb3 $14 {[%csl Gc1,
Ge3,Gf5,Rf6,Rf8,Rh6][%cal Ge3f5,Gc1h6,Ge3d5] bekommt Weiss einen kleinen, aber
dauernden Vorteil.}) 16... Ne6 17. Nf5 (17. Nhg4 $5 Nxg4 18. Qxg4 $14) 17...
Kh7 18. c3 $6 (18. Ng4 Nxg4 (18... Ng8 $2 19. Nfxh6 $3 Nxh6 (19... gxh6 20.
Qxf7+ Bg7 (20... Ng7 $4 21. Qxg8+ Kg6 22. Bf7#) 21. Bxe6 $18) 20. Nxh6 gxh6 21.
Qxf7+ Ng7 (21... Bg7 22. Bxe6 $18) 22. Qg8+ Kg6 23. Re3 $1 Qh4 24. Rg3+ Qxg3
25. Bf7+ Kf6 26. fxg3 $18) 19. Qxg4 $14) 18... g6 19. Ng3 Bg7 20. Be3 c5 21.
Rad1 Qe7 22. Ng4 Ng8 $1 {Jetzt kann Schwarz richtig dem Tausch ausweichen, der
Ng4 wird zu einer "ьberflьssigen Figur" ...} 23. Qe2 (23. Bd5 $6 Bxd5 24. exd5
Nc7 25. b3 (25. c4 bxc4 26. dxc4 Qf8 $1 $15) 25... Qf8 $1 $15 {[%csl Re3,Rg3,
Rg4][%cal Gf7f5,Gf5f4]}) 23... Rf8 24. Nh2 Rad8 25. Bc1 Qd7 26. h4 Ne7 27. h5
g5 28. Qg4 Nf4 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. Ng4 d5 $6 31. exd5 Bxd5 32. Bxd5 $6 (32. Bxf4
$142 $1 exf4 (32... gxf4 33. Ne4 Bxe4 (33... f5 $2 34. Nxe5 $1 Rdd8 (34... Bxe5
35. Nxc5 Rfd8 36. Nxd7 Rxd7 37. c4 $18)) 34. dxe4 Rfd8 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxf7
Rd2 37. b3 $16) 33. Ne4 Bxe4 (33... f5 34. Nxc5 Rc7 35. Bxd5 $5 (35. Nxa6 Ra7
36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. Bxd5 fxg4 38. Be4+ $16 {_|_}) 35... Nxd5 36. Ne6 fxg4 37. c4
$1 Rfc8 $1 38. cxd5 Rd7 39. Nxg7 Kxg7 40. Re6 $16) 34. dxe4 Rfd8 (34... Rxd1
35. Rxd1 $16) 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxf7 Rd2 37. e5 $16) 32... Rxd5 33. d4 (33.
Bxf4 $142 gxf4 34. Ne2 f5 35. Nh2 Bf6 $15) 33... cxd4 34. cxd4 Rfd8 35. Nf1 $2
(35. Bxf4 $8 gxf4 36. Ne2 R5d7 $1 37. Rc1 f3 38. gxf3 exd4 $17) 35... Nf5 36.
Nfe3 $6 (36. Bxf4 gxf4 37. Rc1 exd4 $19) 36... Rxd4 $19 37. Rxd4 Nxd4 38. Kf1
Nxh5 (38... Nd3 $1 39. Rd1 Nb3 $19) 39. Nh2 Nf4 40. Rd1 Nfe6 41. b4 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1997.01.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1997.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 {Shirov,A (2685)-Sokolov,I (2670) Groningen 1996 (10)
1-0} (10... Nd4 $5 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Nd2 c5 13. Nf3 Nd7 $1 14. a4 Ne5 15. Bf4
Bf6 16. Nh2 Ng6 17. Bd2 Bg5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Qc1 Bxd2 21. Qxd2
Kh8 22. Nf3 h6 23. c3 dxc3 24. bxc3 f5 $36 {Lanka,Z-Blatny,P/EU-chT Debrecen
LAT-CSR 1992/ 0-1 (40)}) 11. Nc3 Rae8 12. Ba2 $146 (12. Ne2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5
14. Ng3 Nd4 $5 15. Nxd4 (15. Nxe5 Qd8 16. Ba2 Bd6 $40) 15... exd4 16. Bd2 c5
17. a4 Bh4 18. axb5 axb5 19. Qg4 Qxg4 20. hxg4 Bxg3 21. fxg3 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 h6
23. Re5 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Sokolov,I/Wijk 1996}) (12. Bd2 Nd8 13. Ne2 Ne6 14.
Ng3 c5 15. c3 Bd8 16. Bc2 Bc7 17. c4 Bc6 18. b3 g6 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Qd2 Kh8 $1
21. b4 Ng8 $1 22. bxc5 dxc5 23. Be3 Ne6 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Bb3 Nd4 $13 {Shirov,
A-Kamsky,G/Dos Hermanas 1996/ 1/2-1/2 (56)}) 12... Bd8 $1 13. Bd2 Ne7 14. Nh4
$5 Kh8 15. f4 exf4 16. Bxf4 Ng6 17. Nxg6+ hxg6 18. Qd2 Nh5 $1 19. Bh2 (19. Be3
Bh4 20. Rf1 f5 $36) 19... Bh4 20. Rf1 f5 21. Nd5 Bxd5 $1 (21... fxe4 22. dxe4 (
22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 23. dxe4 Bf2+ $40) 22... Rxf1+ $140 $6 23. Rxf1 Rxe4 $2 24. Nxc7
$1 Qxc7 25. Rf8+ Kh7 26. Bg8+ $40) 22. Bxd5 (22. exd5 $2 {[%csl Ra2]} Qe7 $1 {
[%csl Ra1,Ra2,Rg1,Rh2][%cal Ge7e1,Yh4g5,Yg5e3]}) 22... c6 23. Bb3 d5 24. exd5
cxd5 25. Rf3 $1 {/\g3,Raf1,g4} g5 $5 26. g3 g4 27. hxg4 fxg4 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 29.
Qg2 $1 (29. gxh4 $2 g3 $40) 29... Bf6 30. c3 (30. Qxd5 $2 Bd4+ 31. Kh1 Qxd5+
32. Bxd5 Bxb2 $17 {_|_}) 30... d4 31. c4 Bg5 $1 32. cxb5 axb5 (32... Be3+ 33.
Kh1 Rf2 $2 34. Qa8+ $18) 33. Rf1 Be3+ 34. Kh1 Rxf1+ 35. Qxf1 Qc6+ 36. Qg2 Qc1+
37. Bg1 Bxg1 38. Qxg1 (38. Qa8+ $2 Kh7 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qh8+ Kg5 41. Qd8+ Nf6
$19) 38... Qxb2 (38... Nxg3+ $2 39. Kg2 Qxg1+ 40. Kxg1 Ne2+ 41. Kf2 Nf4 42. Bc2
{[%csl Ga3,Gc2,Rf4,Rh8][%cal Ga3a8] /\Kg3+/- _|_}) 39. Bf7 $1 Nf6 40. Qh2+ $8
Qxh2+ 41. Kxh2 g5 42. Be6 $11 Kg7 43. Bc8 $1 Nd5 (43... Kf7 $2 44. Ba6 $16) 44.
Bxg4 Kf6 45. Bd7 b4 (45... Nc7 46. Kh3 $14) 46. axb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Brno"]
[Site "Brno"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Blatny, Pavel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1993.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Nd7 {In unsere Partie in Stare Mesto 1992 geschah} (10...
Re8 11. Na3 d5 $5 {Eine verspaetete "Marshall" Variation.} 12. exd5 Nxd5 13.
Nxe5 Bxa3 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Rxa3 b4 16. cxb4 Qd6 17. Bd2 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Re8 19.
Qf1 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 21. Ra1 Qxb4 {und wir einigten auf Remis. Schon damals
hatte ich den Gefuehl, dass mein Ge- genspiel sehr fraglich war, eine
hausarbeitete Verstaerkung war zu erwarten. Darum habe ich eine solidere
Variante gewaehlt.}) 11. Be3 Bf6 12. Na3 b4 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. a5 bxc3 15. bxc3
Ne7 16. Ba4 Ng6 17. Rb1 (17. Ba7 Ra8 18. Be3 Rb8 $8 19. Ba7 $10) 17... Ba8 18.
Qc2 Rxb1 19. Rxb1 Be7 20. d4 exd4 21. Nxd4 (21. cxd4 d5 $10) 21... Nge5 22.
Nxe5 Nxe5 23. c4 $6 (23. Nf5 $142 Bf6 {und Schwarz steht ein bischen besser.})
23... Bg5 $1 24. Nf5 $2 (24. f4 Ng4 $1 $36) (24. Re1 c5 25. Nb3 $15) 24... g6
$1 25. Bxg5 Qxg5 26. Ne3 {Diagram} (26. Ng3 $8 h5 $40 (26... f5 $5)) 26... Nf3+
27. Kh1 Qf4 $1 28. g3 $8 (28. gxf3 Qxf3+ 29. Kg1 Bxe4 $19) 28... Qh6 (28...
Qxe4 29. Qxe4 Bxe4 30. Bc2 {mit einigen Chancen fuer Weiss.}) 29. h4 Nd2 $1 $19
{Schwarz ereichte eine technisch gewonnene Stellung, seine Realisierung war in
weiterem Verlauf durch einigen Fehlern sehr erschwert, aber am Ende konnte
sich Schwarz doch noch durchsetzen.} (29... Nxh4 30. Nd5 $1) 30. Qxd2 Bxe4+ 31.
Kh2 Bxb1 32. Qb2 Bf5 33. Nd5 Qg7 34. Nf6+ Kh8 35. f3 h5 36. Bc6 Be6 37. Kg1 Rd8
38. Qd4 Rb8 39. c5 dxc5 40. Qe5 c4 41. Qd4 Rf8 $2 (41... Rb1+ 42. Kf2 Rd1 $1
43. Qb2 Rd2+ $1 $19) 42. Kf2 Rc8 43. f4 Rb8 44. Ke1 c3 45. Qxc3 Rd8 46. Qe5 Bf5
47. Qb2 Bg4 48. Qe5 Bh3 49. Qb2 Bf5 50. Kf1 Bd3+ 51. Kg1 Bb5 52. Bxb5 Rd6 53.
Bxa6 Rxf6 54. Bb7 Rf5 55. Qxg7+ Kxg7 56. a6 Ra5 57. Kf2 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Es ist eine "moralische" Genugtuung fьr jeden Marshallangriff-Anhдnger, wenn
man sieht, dass selbst der stдrkste Spieler auf der Erde lieber dieser
Erцffnung ausweicht. Und das nicht nur gegen Adams, auch im Wettkampf gegen
Short kam die andere Anti-Marshall Fortsetzung 8.a4 auf Brett. Man kann zwar
argumentieren, dass Kasparov als Spieler mit der besten Erцffnungsvorbereitung
anerkannt ist, aber warum dann nicht Marshall? Meiner Meinung nach ist die
richtige Antwort folgende: Bei allem Respekt fьr den Weltmeister,
Marshallangriff mit Weiss "passt nicht" zu seinem aktiven Still - da hat
Schwarz die Initiative (fьr einen Bauer).} Bb7 9. d3 d6 {Frьher wurde auch} (
9... Re8 {gespielt; ich versuchte es Ende 80er Jahre dreimal, das Ergebnis 0:3
lдsst wissen, warum heutzutage 9...d6 als Hauptvariante gilt.}) 10. a3 Na5 ({
Obwohl} 10... Nd4 {"anti-strategisch aussieht" (O-Ton GM Jansa), habe ich es
schon zweimal erfolgreich angewandt. Nach fast forciertem} 11. Nxd4 exd4 {
hat jetzt Weiss den Wahl zwischen} 12. c3 ({oder} 12. Nd2 c5 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. a4
Ne5 15. Bf4 Bf6 {und Schwarz hat keine Probleme,} 16. Nh2 Ng6 17. Bd2 Bg5 18.
axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Qc1 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 Kh8 22. Nf3 h6 23. c3 dxc3 24.
bxc3 f5 $36 {Lanka,Z-Blatny,P/Debrecen 1992/EU-chT}) {was ermoeglicht zwar
Weiss mit Tempo den Springer entwickeln, aber nach} 12... dxc3 13. Nxc3 c5 14.
Bf4 d5 $1 {(Ein strategisches Bauernopfer. Die weisse Struktur wird beschдdigt
und Schwarz besitzt die Initiative.)} 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Bd6
$1 18. Bd2 (18. Be3 Qf6 $44 {[%csl Rb2,Rd3,Rd5][%cal Ga8d8,Gd8d5,Gf6f5,Gf5d5]})
18... Qf6 19. Bc3 Qf5 20. Qg4 $6 (20. Qb3) (20. Re4 $5 Qxd5 $140 $6 21. Bxg7 $1
Kxg7 22. Qf3 $1 Rfd8 $8 23. Rg4+ Kf8 24. Qxd5 Bh2+ 25. Kxh2 Rxd5 26. Rc1 Rad8
$14 {_|_}) 20... Qxg4 21. hxg4 {hatte ich ein perspektivreiches Endspiel nach}
Rfd8 {Jansa,V-Blatny,P/Zlin 1998/CBM 66}) ({Adams hat sehr viel Erfahrung mit
der Stellung nach 10.a3, er probierte frueher auch andere Alternativen wie} 
10... Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15. Nh2 d5 16. Qf3
Kh8 17. Bg5 $36 {Shirov,A-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63}) ({oder} 10... Qd7
11. Nc3 Rae8 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Na5 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. d4 Bf6 17.
dxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. b3 Nc5 20. Bb2 Rxe4 21. Rxe4 Nxe4 22. Qd4 Nf6 23.
Qxb4 Re8 24. Qc4 $14 {_|_ Polgar,J-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63}) 11. Ba2
c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 $146 {Diesmal ist es Adams, der eine Neuerung bringt und die
gegnerische Vorbereitung eliminiert. Kasparov wollte sehr wahrscheinlich noch
lдnger bei dem "Vorbild" Murrey,J-Adams,M/Hilversum 1993/CBM 39 bleiben, wo
geschah} (12... h6 13. b4 $1 Nc6 (13... cxb4 $5 14. axb4 Nc6) 14. Nd5 $1 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Qc7 (15... cxb4 $5) 16. c3 Nd8 17. Qb3 Rc8 18. Be3 cxb4 19. cxb4 $14)
({Auch der interessante Plan} 12... b4 13. Nd5 b3 $5 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. cxb3
Nc6 {brachte keinen Erfolg fьr Schwarz nach dem weiterem} 16. Be3 a5 17. Nh4
Bc8 18. f4 $5 Nxe4 $6 (18... Ng4 $142) 19. Nf3 $1 (19. dxe4 $2 Qxh4 20. Qxd6
Bxh3 $1 $40) 19... Nf6 20. fxe5 Nxe5 (20... dxe5 21. Rc1 $16) 21. Bxc5 $1 dxc5
22. Rxe5 Be6 23. Rc1 $16 {Bologan,V-Zaitsev,I/Moscow 1998/CBM 63}) 13. Bg5 (13.
Nd5 Nd4 $5 (13... Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qd7 {/\ Nd4+/=/=} (14... Na5 15. b4 $1 $14))
14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $14) 13... Qd7 14. Nh2 {Es zeigt sich die alt bekannte Tatsache,
dass die Erfahrung von mehreren eigenen Partien eine grцssere Rolle spielt als
"speziell gezielte Vorbereitung". Im weiteren Verlauf sehen wir, wie sich
Adams in "seinen Wassern" wohl fьhlt und den richtigen Plan findet, wдhrend
Kasparov "auf dem unbekanntem Teritorium" einige ungenaue Zьge wдhlt.} Ne8 $1 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Ge8c7,Gc7d5,Gc6e7,Ge7d5,Gd6d5] Der Hauptplan von Schwarz ist
die Durchfьhrung von d6-d5, welche jetzt optimal vorbereitet wird.} 15. Bd2 (
15. Bxe7 $2 Nxe7 {hilft nur oben genanntem Plan.}) 15... Nc7 16. Nf1 Kh8 $1 {
[%cal Gf7f5,Ga2g8]} 17. Ng3 Nd4 $15 {Meine Meinung nach steht hier Adams schon
besser. Sein Plan ist klar, weil es fьr Weiss schwierig ist ein entsprechendes
gutes Gegenspiel zu finden.} 18. Nce2 Nde6 $1 {Der weisse Springer auf e2 ist
die typische sogenannte "ьberflьssige" Figur, welche Schwarz auf keinen Fall
tauschen soll.} 19. b4 $1 d5 20. bxc5 Bxc5 21. Bb4 $1 {Weiss hat die "richtige
Notbremse" gefunden.} Rfe8 ({Interessant ist auch} 21... dxe4 22. dxe4 (22.
Nxe4 {ist schlechter wegen} Bxb4 23. axb4 f5 {und Schwarz hat die Initiative
fest in seinen Hдnden.}) 22... Qc6 $5 {mit der Idee Tad8 oder f5, aber Weiss
kann sich in ein leicht schlechteres Endspiel retten mit} 23. Bd5 Nxd5 24. exd5
Qxd5 25. Qxd5 Bxd5 26. Bxc5 Nxc5 27. Nc3 Bc4 28. Rxe5 {Es ist zwar klar, dass
Schwarz nach Tac8 oder Se6 besser steht, aber wegen des stark reduzierten
Materials sollte es nicht zum Gewinn reichen.}) 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Nc3 Rad8 24.
Qh5 $6 {Diese Zug bereitet eine Komplikation vor, ьbersieht aber einen
Zwischenzug im 26. Zug,} ({deshalb war z.B. besser} 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 (25.
Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Qh5 Qc7 $11 (26... f6 27. Nxd5 (27. d4 $4 Bf7 $19) 27... Qxd5 $11
)) 25... Bxd5 26. Bxd5 ({Nicht aber die "Vereinfachung"} 26. d4 $2 Bxa2 27.
dxc5 Qc6 $1 28. Qh5 Bd5 $1 29. Rxe5 Bxg2 $17) 26... Qxd5 $11 {Schwarz steht
zwar optisch besser (aktiver), mit genauer weisser Verteidigung sollte aber
das richtige Ergebnis Remis heissen.}) 24... f6 25. d4 $2 (25. exd5 $8 Nxd5 26.
Bxd5 Bxd5 27. Nxd5 $11) 25... exd4 26. Nxd5 Re5 $1 {Jetzt gewinnt Schwarz
einen Bauern.} 27. Qh4 Nxd5 28. exd5 Bxd5 29. Rxe5 fxe5 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Re1
Ne6 $2 {Ein ungewцhnlicher Fehler fьr Adams, der normalerweise technisch sehr
stark ist. Wahrscheinlich spielte schon Zeitnot eine Rolle.} ({Nach dem
natьrlichen} 31... d3 $1 32. cxd3 Nxd3 33. Rd1 Qd4 $1 {ist das Endspiel fьr
Weiss nicht zu halten.}) 32. Nf5 Nf4 33. Qg5 Rd7 34. Nh4 h6 35. Qg4 g5 36. Nf3
e4 $4 {Das kann nur Zeitnot sein! Mit diesem unglaublichen Einsteller
"revanchiert" sich Adams und statt nach} (36... Re7 {seinen Mehrbauer zu
behalten und immer noch einige Gewinnchancen zu haben (obwohl seine
Kцnigstellung schwдcher aussieht), wird er sich jetzt selbst verteidigen
mьssen.}) 37. Rxe4 Qxe4 (37... Rd8 {verliert nicht weiteres Material, aber
Schwarz befьrchtete} 38. Re5 (38. Rxd4 $4 Ne2+) 38... Qd7 39. Rf5 $1 {[%csl
Re5,Rf7,Rg5][%cal Gf3e5,Ge5f7,Gh3h4] mit vielen unangenehmen Drohungen,
besonders kurz vor die Zeitkontrolle.}) 38. Qxd7 d3 $2 (38... Qxc2 $142 39.
Qxd4+ Kg8 40. Qd8+ Kg7 {und Weiss bekommt nicht den Bauern a6. Zwar sieht die
Stellung nach} 41. Qe7+ Kg8 42. Ne5 {gefдhrlich aus, aber Schwarz verteidigt
sich aktiv mit dem Gegenangriff} Qd1+ 43. Kh2 Qd5 $1 {und Weiss hat nichts
Besseres, als mit Dauerschach} 44. Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qe7+ {remis zu machen.}) 39.
cxd3 Qxd3 40. Qc8+ Kg7 41. Qb7+ Kg8 42. Qxa6 $16 {_|_} Ne2+ (42... Nxh3+ $2 {
funktioniert nicht wegen} 43. Kh2 $1 {und Weiss gewinnt entweder mit dem
Angriff nach} Nxf2 ({oder im Endspiel nach} 43... Nf4 44. Qxh6) 44. Qe6+ Kh8
45. Ne5 Qh7 46. Nf7+ $1 Kg7 47. Nd6 $1 Qg6 (47... Kh8 48. Qf6+ Qg7 49. Qxf2
Qe5+ 50. Qg3 $18) 48. Nf5+ Kh7 49. Qd7+ Kh8 50. Qd4+ Kh7 51. Qa7+ Kh8 52. Qxf2
$18) ({Auch} 42... Qd1+ 43. Kh2 Qf1 {scheitert nach} 44. Qc8+ Kg7 45. Qb7+ Kf6
46. Qc6+ Kg7 47. Nd4 $18) 43. Kh2 Qe4 $1 (43... Qf5 $1 44. Qd6 Qf4+ {fьhrt zur
Stellung aus der Partie.}) 44. Qf6 (44. Kh1 Qb1+ 45. Kh2 Qe4) ({Mit dem
besseren} 44. Qc8+ $5 Kg7 45. Qc5 $1 $16 {konnte Weiss die Damen auf dem Brett
behalten.}) 44... Qf4+ $1 {Nach diesem Tausch bietet das Springerendspiel die
besten Remischancen wegen der wenigen ьbrig gebliebenen Bauern.} 45. Qxf4 gxf4
$1 46. g4 {Zur Freilassung seines Kцnigs muss Weiss ein weiteres Bauernpaar
tauschen; das Gewinnpotential verringert sich weiter.} fxg3+ 47. fxg3 Nc3 48.
Nd4 h5 49. h4 {Einzige Chance, Schwarz hat einen optimal plazierten Springer
auf c3, dadurch geht nicht} (49. Kg2 Kf7 50. Kf3 Kf6 51. Kf4 $6 b4 $1 52. axb4
Nd5+ {mit sofortigem Remis.}) 49... Kf7 50. Kh3 Kf6 51. g4 hxg4+ ({Ein Versuch,
mit} 51... Ke5 $6 {eine Falle zu stellen scheitert an} 52. gxh5 $1 Kxd4 53. h6
Nd5 54. Kg4 $3 ({Nicht aber} 54. h7 Nf4+ 55. Kg4 Ng6 56. Kg5 Nh8 57. Kf6 Kd5 $1
58. Kg7 Ke6 $1 {mit Remis.}) 54... Ke5 $8 55. Kg5 Nf6 56. Kg6 Ke6 57. h7 (57.
h5 $4 Nh7 $1 58. Kxh7 Kf7 $11) 57... Nxh7 58. Kxh7 Kf5 (58... Kf6 59. Kg8 Kg6
60. Kf8 $18) (58... Kf7 59. h5 Kf6 60. Kh6 Kf7 61. Kg5 Kg7 62. Kf5 Kh6 63. Ke5
Kxh5 64. Kd5 Kg6 65. Kc5 Kf7 66. Kxb5 Ke8 67. Kc6 Kd8 68. Kb7 $18) 59. h5 ({
oder} 59. Kh6 Kf6 60. h5) (59. Kg7 $4 Kg4 60. Kf6 Kxh4 61. Ke5 Kg5 $11) 59...
Kf6 60. Kh6 Kf7 61. Kg5 Kg7 62. Kf5 $18) 52. Kxg4 Kg6 53. h5+ (53. Nxb5 Nxb5
54. a4 Nc3 $1 55. a5 Nb5 $11 {[%csl Ga7,Gb5,Gc8,Gd6] Schwarz bildet die
bekannte Verteidigung auf den Feldern b5,a7,c8 und d6; eine Variante zur
Illustration ist} 56. a6 Na7 57. Kf4 Kh5 58. Ke5 Kxh4 59. Kd6 Kg5 60. Kc7 Kf6
61. Kb7 Nb5 62. Kb6 Nd6 63. Kc6 Nc8 {mit Remis.}) 53... Kh7 $2 {Erst dieser
letzte Fehler verliert. Nцtig war} (53... Kf6 54. Kh4 Kf7 55. Kg5 Ne4+ {
und Weiss kommt nicht weiter, z.B.} 56. Kf5 (56. Kf4 Nf6 57. h6 (57. Nxb5 Nxh5+
$11) 57... b4 58. axb4 Nd5+ 59. Kf5 Nxb4 60. Ne6 Kg8 61. Kg6 Nd5 $11) (56. Kh6
Nd6 $1 (56... Nc3 $2 57. Nf5 $1 Kf6 58. Nd6 Ke6 59. Kg7 $18) 57. Kh7 Kf6 58. h6
Kf7 59. Nf3 $1 Ne4 $1 60. Ne5+ Kf6 61. Nc6 (61. Kg8 $2 Kxe5 62. h7 $4 Nf6+ $19)
61... Kf7 62. Nd8+ Kf6 63. Kg8 Kg6 $11) 56... Nd6+ 57. Kg4 Kf6 58. Kf4 Kf7 59.
Nf5 Nc4 60. Kg5 Nxa3 61. h6 Kg8 62. Kg6 Nc4 $11) 54. Kh4 Kg8 (54... Kh6 55.
Nf5+ Kh7 56. Nd6 Kh6 57. Kg4 Kh7 58. Kg5 Kg7 59. h6+ Kh7 60. Kh5 Nd5 $8 61.
Nxb5 Nf6+ {--> Partie}) 55. h6 Kh7 56. Kh5 Ne4 57. Nxb5 Nf6+ 58. Kg5 Ne4+ 59.
Kf5 Nc5 60. Ke5 Kxh6 61. Kd4 Na6 ({Bessere praktische Chance bietet} 61... Na4
{dennl Weiss hat nur einen einzigen mцglichen Weg zum Gewinn mit} 62. Nc3 Nb2
63. Nd1 $1 Nxd1 (63... Na4 64. Kc4 Nb6+ 65. Kb5 Nc8 66. a4 Kg7 67. a5 Kf7 68.
Kc6 Ke7 69. Kc7 Nd6 70. Nc3 Ne8+ 71. Kc6 Kd8 72. Nb5 Kc8 73. a6 Kb8 74. a7+ Ka8
75. Kb6) 64. a4 Nb2 65. a5 Kg7 66. a6 Na4 67. a7 Nb6 68. Kc5 Na8 69. Kc6 $18)
62. Kd5 Kg6 63. Nd4 Kf6 64. Kd6 $1 Kf7 (64... Nb8 65. Nc6 Na6 66. Nb4 $18) 65.
Ne6 (65. Ne6 Nb8 (65... Ke8 66. Nc7+) 66. Nc5 Ke8 67. Kc7) 1-0

[Event "Koop Tjuchem"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1996.12.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Endspiel-CD} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Nd7 11. Nbd2 Nc5 12. axb5 (12. Bc2 Ne6 13.
Nf1 Ng5 14. Ne3 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Bg5 $11 {Spraggett,K-Arduman,C/Erevan olm 1996/
1-0 (68)}) 12... axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 (13... Bxa8 $5 14. Bc2 Ne6 (14... d5 15. b4
Ne6 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Nf1 Rd8 18. h3 Qd7 19. N1h2 Nf8 20. Ng4 f6 21. Bb3+ Kh8
22. Rxe5 $5 Qxd3 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24. Re3 Rd8 $14 {Emms,J-Kosashvili,Y/EuCup
Tyniste 1995/ 1/2-1/2 (41)}) 15. b4 Ng5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Nf1 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 g6
19. Ne3 Bg5 20. g3 h5 21. h4 Bh6 22. Nd5 Bxc1 23. Rxc1 Kg7 {/\f5=/+ Zagrebelny,
S-Blatny,P/Moscow olm UZB-CZE 1994/ 1/2-1/2 (33)}) 14. Bc2 Bf6 (14... Ne6 $5)
15. b4 $146 (15. Nf1 Ne7 16. Ne3 Ng6 17. h3 Ne6 18. Bb3 Nef4 19. Ng4 d5 $5 20.
Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bxf4 Nxf4 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Qxd5 24. Re3 Kh8 25. Kh2 Rd8
$36 {Mueller,M-Goldberg,A/BL 1995/ 0-1 (51)}) 15... Ne6 16. Nf1 g6 (16... Qd8
$5 {/\Ng5}) 17. Ne3 Bg7 18. Bb3 Qd8 19. h4 $1 Ne7 20. Ng4 Bc8 (20... h5 $2 21.
Nh6+ Bxh6 (21... Kh7 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bxe6 $18) 22. Bxh6 $16) 21. Ng5 $1 Nf4 (
21... Nxg5 22. hxg5 $1 (22. Bxg5 $6 Kh8 $1 {/\f5<=>}) 22... Be6 23. g3 {
[%csl Rg8,Rh7][%cal Gg1g2,Ge1h1,Gh1h7,Gg4f6,Gg4h6] /\g3,Kg2,Rh1-> <->h}) 22.
Bxf4 exf4 23. Qf3 $1 Bxg4 (23... Bxc3 $2 24. Nh6+ Kg7 25. Nhxf7 $18) 24. Qxg4
Bxc3 25. Qxf4 $1 d5 $8 (25... Bxe1 $4 26. Bxf7+ Kg7 27. Ne6+ Kh8 28. Qf6#) (
25... Qe8 26. Rc1 Bxb4 27. Rxc7 $40) 26. Rc1 Bxb4 27. h5 $1 Bd6 $2 (27... h6
$142 $1 28. Nf3 Kh7) 28. Qh4 $1 Kg7 (28... h6 $2 29. hxg6 $18) 29. hxg6 Nxg6
30. Qxh7+ Kf6 31. Qh6 Rh8 (31... Bf4 32. Rc6+ Ke7 33. Rxg6 $1 fxg6 34. Qg7+ Kd6
35. Nf7+ Rxf7 36. Qxf7 $18) 32. Nh7+ Ke7 33. Qg5+ $2 (33. Bxd5 $1 Bf4 $140 (
33... Ne5 34. d4 Nc4 (34... Ng4 35. Qg5+ $18) 35. Qf6+ Kd7 36. Qf5+ Ke7 37.
Qxf7#) 34. Qg7 Bxc1 (34... Rxh7 35. Qxh7 Bxc1 36. Qxf7+ Kd6 37. Qxg6+ $18) 35.
Qf6+ Kd7 36. Bc6+ $1 Kc8 37. Qa1 $18) 33... Ke8 34. Bxd5 (34. Nf6+ Kf8 35. Bxd5
Bh2+ 36. Kf1 Bf4 37. Nh7+ Kg7 $19) 34... Qxg5 (34... Rxh7 $4 35. Bc6+ $18) 35.
Nxg5 Nf4 $1 36. Nxf7 $2 (36. Re1 Nxd3) (36. Rc2 $142 Nxd5 37. exd5 Rh5 38. Ne4
Ke7 $15 {_|_}) 36... Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Ng3+ $1 38. fxg3 (38. Ke1 $4 Rh1+ 39. Kd2
Bf4+ $19) 38... Rh1+ 39. Ke2 Rxc1 40. Nxd6+ cxd6 41. Kd2 Rc7 $15 {_|_} 42. g4 (
42. d4 $5 Ke7 $5 {/\Kf6} (42... Rg7 $2 43. Bc6+ $11) (42... b4 43. g4 Rg7 $140
$2 (43... Rc3 $142 44. g5 $1 (44. e5 dxe5 45. dxe5 Rc7 $1 46. Bb3 Rc5 $17)
44... Rg3 $140 (44... Ke7 45. g6 Kf6 46. Bf7 {/\e5+ =}) 45. Kc2 $1 Rxg2+ 46.
Kb3 Rd2 $1 47. g6 $1 Kf8 48. Kxb4 Rxd4+ 49. Kb5 Rd1 50. Kc6 $11) 44. Kc2 $1
Rxg4 45. Kb3 $11)) 42... Kf8 43. Ba2 (43. d4 $5) 43... Kg7 44. d4 Kf6 45. Kd3
b4 46. Bc4 Rc8 $22 47. g5+ $1 (47. Bd5 Rc3+ 48. Kd2 Rg3) 47... Kxg5 48. e5 dxe5
49. dxe5 Kf5 50. e6 (50. Kd4 Rd8+ $1 (50... Rb8 51. Bb3 $11) 51. Kc5 Rb8 $1 52.
Kd6 (52. Bb3 Kxe5 53. Kc4 Kf4 54. Ba4 Kg3 $19) 52... b3 53. Bd3+ Kg5 $1 54. Bb1
b2 55. e6 Kf6 56. e7 Rb6+ 57. Kc5 Re6 58. Kb4 Rxe7 59. Kc3 Rb7 $19) 50... Ke5 (
50... Kf6 51. Kd4 Rd8+ 52. Kc5 Rb8 53. Bb3 $11) 51. g4 Kd6 (51... Rg8 $2 52. g5
$1 Kd6 53. e7 $1 Re8 54. g6 Rxe7 55. Bf7 $11) 52. g5 $1 (52. Kd4 Rg8 $19) 52...
Rc5 $1 (52... Rg8 $4 53. e7 Re8 54. g6 Rxe7 55. Bf7 $11) 53. g6 Rg5 54. Bb3 $1
(54. e7 Kxe7 (54... Rg3+ $2 55. Kc2 $1 Kxe7 56. g7 $1 Rxg7 57. Kb3 $11) 55. Bf7
Rg4 $19) 54... Rg4 $5 (54... Rxg6 $2 55. Kc4 Rg4+ 56. Kb5 {/\Bc4=}) 55. e7 $4 (
55. Ba2 $142 $1 Rxg6 (55... Kc6 $2 56. e7 Rg3+ (56... Kd7 $4 57. Be6+ $1 $18)
57. Kc4 $11) (55... Ke7 56. Bb3 Kf6 57. Ba2 $11) 56. Kc4 Rg4+ 57. Kb5 $11)
55... Kxe7 56. Bf7 Kd6 57. Kc2 Kc5 58. Kb2 Rg1 $6 (58... Rg3 $142 59. Kc2 Kd4
60. Kb2 Rg2+ $1 61. Kb3 Kc5 $22 62. Be8 (62. Ka4 Rg3 $19) 62... Rg3+ 63. Kb2 b3
$1 64. Ka3 $1 Kc4 65. Bf7+ Kc3 $1 66. Bxb3 Rxg6 67. Ka4 Rg4+ 68. Ka3 Rg7 $19)
59. Kc2 Rg2+ (59... Rg3 $1) 60. Kb3 Rg3+ 61. Kb2 Kb5 62. Be8+ Kc4 63. Bf7+ Kc5
64. Kc2 Kd4 65. Kb2 b3 $2 (65... Rg2+ $1 66. Kb3 Kc5 $22 67. Be6 $5 (67. Be8
Rg3+ 68. Kb2 b3 $1 69. Ka3 Kc4 70. Bf7+ Kc3 71. Bxb3 Rxg6 $19) (67. Ka4 Rg3 $19
) 67... Rxg6 68. Bf7 Rf6 69. Bg8 Rf3+ 70. Kb2 Re3 $1 71. Bf7 Kb5 $1 72. Bd5 $8
Re5 $1 73. Bf7 (73. Bb3 Re2+ 74. Kb1 (74. Bc2 Kc4 $19) 74... Kc5 {/\Kd4-c3-+})
(73. Bb7 Re2+ 74. Kb3 Re3+ 75. Kb2 b3 76. Ka3 Kc4 $19) 73... Re2+ $1 74. Kb3
Re3+ $1 75. Kb2 Ka4 $19) 66. Bxb3 $11 {Endspiel-CD} Rxg6 67. Ba2 Rb6+ 68. Kc2 (
68. Ka3 $4 {Endspiel-CD} Kc3 $19) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pula zt 1.2"]
[Site "Pula"]
[Date "2000.04.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Palac, Mladen"]
[Black "Jakubovic, Nedzad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2368"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.04.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Bd2 b4 11. c3 bxc3 12. bxc3 (12. Nxc3 Na5 13. d4 Nxb3 14. Qxb3
Rb8 15. Qc2 d5 16. exd5 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd5 18. Nf5 Bf6 19. Ne4 Bc8 20. Nxf6+
Qxf6 21. Ne3 Be6 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Bc3 {1/2-1/2 Matulovic,M-Reshevsky,S/
Maribor 1967/EXT 99}) 12... Na5 (12... Nd7 13. a5 Nc5 14. Bc4 Nb8 15. Qc2 Nbd7
16. Be3 c6 17. Ba2 d5 18. Nbd2 Rb8 19. h3 Ba8 20. exd5 cxd5 21. d4 $14 {
Kupreichik,V-Rogic,D/Elista ol (Men) 1998/CBM 66 ext/1-0 (36)}) 13. Ba2 c5 14.
Na3 Rb8 (14... Qc7 15. Nc4 Nd7 16. Ne3 Nf6 17. Nf5 Bd8 18. Qc1 Ne8 19. Bg5 Bc8
20. Qe3 Be6 21. Reb1 Bxa2 22. Rxa2 $14 {Morgado,J-Viaud,A/Finjub-30 GM1 1995/1/
2-1/2 (67)}) (14... Bc6 15. Nc4 Rb8 16. Qc2 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 a5 18. Reb1 Nd7 19.
Bb5 $14 {Liberzon,V-Littlewood,P/Hastings 1980/Rebel - Century/1-0 (45)}) 15.
Qc2 Qc7 16. Nc4 h6 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. Bc4 {[%csl Ga4,Gc4,Gd5,Ge4,Gf5]} Nd7 19.
Reb1 Bc6 (19... Qc7 20. a5 {[%csl Gb6][%cal Gb1b6]}) 20. d4 $5 (20. Bb5 Qb6 (
20... axb5 21. axb5 Qc7 22. bxc6 Rxb1+ 23. Rxb1 Qxc6 $14) 21. a5 Qb7 22. Bxc6
Qxc6 $11) 20... Nf6 21. d5 (21. dxe5 Rxb1+ 22. Rxb1 Bxe4 $17) 21... Bd7 22. Be1
Rxb1 23. Qxb1 Ra8 (23... Bxa4 $2 24. Nd2 $18) 24. Bd3 Qc7 (24... Bxa4 $2 25. c4
Qc7 26. Rxa4 $18) 25. Nd2 Rb8 26. Qc2 a5 {[%csl Gb5,Gc4,Gc6,Gd5,Ge4][%cal
Gd2c4,Gc4a3,Ga3b5]} 27. Nc4 $14 Bd8 28. Na3 Be8 29. Bb5 Bxb5 (29... Bd7 30.
Bxd7 Qxd7 31. Nb5 $11) 30. axb5 c4 31. Qe2 Rc8 32. f3 Nd7 {[%csl Rb3,Rb6,Rc5,
Rd3][%cal Rd7c5,Rd7b6]} 33. Bf2 Nb6 34. Kf1 Na4 $2 (34... Qd7 $142) 35. Nb1 $1
$16 Nb6 (35... Nc5 36. Qxc4 Qd7 37. Nd2 $16) 36. Rxa5 Nxd5 (36... Qd7 $5) 37.
Ra7 $18 Qb8 38. exd5 Qxb5 (38... Bb6 39. Bxb6 Qxb6 40. Ra4 Qxb5 41. Qd1 $18)
39. Qd1 f5 (39... Rb8 40. Na3 Qb3 41. Qe1 $18) 40. Na3 Qb8 (40... Qb3 41. Qxb3
cxb3 42. Nb1 $18) 41. Qb1 (41. Qb1 Qxb1+ 42. Nxb1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tan Chin Nam Cup 7th"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2001.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{in our previous game earlier this year in Enghien I let Vlad play Marshall
and it was a side line.} (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12.
d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Bf5 {so I didn't want to sink into a deep thinking from the
very first round surprised by another revelation from Mr Tkachiev.}) 8... Bb7
9. d3 h6 10. Nc3 Bc5 11. Bd2 {!  The idea is to get an perspective control on
the a5 and b4 squares. Also is developping a piece.} (11. a4 {was played by
Shirov in Linares this year against Peter Leko.} b4 12. Ne2 Na5 13. Ba2 d5 14.
Nxe5 dxe4 15. d4 Ba7 16. Be3 Bd5 17. c4 bxc3 18. b4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Nxc3
Nd5 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 $13 {and he didn't get any substancial advantage even so he
managed to create later an attack which was easy repulsed by the hungarian
grandmaster.}) 11... Re8 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 Rb8 {the most logical, the two
other options were unsatisfactory for black:} (13... Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qf6 15. c3
$14 {or}) (13... Na5 14. Ba2 {and the knight on a5 is problem for black}) 14.
a5 {!? This is quite responsible. Some times when black manages to exchange
some pieces it might become a weakness. Still at this moment white gets an
extra square on a4 and also hinders black to conect his pawn structure with a5}
d6 {During the game I was also considering the capture on d5} (14... Nxd5 15.
exd5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. c3 bxc3 18. bxc3 Bc5 19. Qf3 $14 {and white is
slightly better}) (14... Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Nxb4 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Ba3 18. Bc4
$14 {with the same small advantage for white}) 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Ba7 17. Ne3
$14 {!? It's important for white to keep as more pieces is possible on the
board. His pawn structure assures him more space which permits him a better
possibilities for maneuvering.} Ne7 18. Nh4 d5 {The central breakthrough is
obligatory.} 19. exd5 {didn't work the tempting} (19. Ng4 {? because of subtle}
Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Bc8 {!}) (19. Nf3 {black would hold the centre} Ng6 20. exd5 Nxd5
21. Ng4 Qd6 $13) 19... Nexd5 20. Nc4 {? to be honest only home I realized that
this was a serious mistake. From now on black overtakes the initiative and his
bishop's pair finally starts working. My another and sound idea was to play} (
20. Nef5 $14 {which would hold white better chances}) 20... e4 {!} 21. d4 c5 {
?! here we both missed a hidden tactics} (21... Nxc3 {!} 22. Bxc3 Nd5 23. Qh5
$7 {doesn't help} (23. Nf5 Nxc3 24. Qg4 Bxd4 {!} 25. Nxh6+ Kf8) 23... Nxc3 24.
Ne5 (24. Ne3 Bd5 {!} 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 Rb5 $19) 24... Bd5 25. Nxf7 Qd7 {
and now white has various continuations but all them lead to an unpleasant
consequences.} 26. Nxh6+ {!? if} (26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxh6+ {then} (27. Ne5 Qe6
28. Rad1 Nc3 29. Rd2 c5 $17 {!}) 27... gxh6 28. Nf5 Re6 $17) 26... gxh6 27. Re3
Ne2+ (27... Bxd4 28. Bxd5+ Nxd5 29. Rg3+ Bg7 30. Nf5 Re5 31. Rxg7+ Qxg7 32.
Nxg7 Rxh5 33. Nxh5) 28. Rxe2 Bxb3 29. Nf5 Qh7 $17 {! who knows may be
Vladislav saw all this complications and he just wasn't sure?! I should ask
him.}) 22. Nf5 cxd4 23. cxd4 Bc8 24. Ncd6 Bxf5 25. Nxf5 Qd7 {? Already here
Tkachiev was short of time and he did the first most natural move which came
into his mind. Especialy when it provokes the weakening of the white kingside.
But with the two bishop on the board it won't harm me very much this weakness
and my knight on f5 becomes a serious threat. So much better was simply to
swap it} (25... Ne7 {! Tkachiev} 26. Nxe7+ Rxe7 27. Be3 Rb4 $15 {and it would
be my turn to suffer}) 26. g4 $14 Rec8 {?} (26... Qe6 {would still hold the
position} 27. Bc4 Rec8 28. Rc1 $14) 27. Bxd5 Nxd5 28. Rxe4 Rb2 29. Re5 $16 {
the key move for the next play for white. First of all it puts pressure on the
very important central black piece also it creates some direct tactical
threats.} Kh8 30. Qf3 Rd8 31. Bxh6 $40 {! Everything is ready for the final
attack.} gxh6 32. Nxh6 f6 (32... Rb7 33. Rh5 Kg7 34. Nf5+ Kg8 35. Qg3 $18) 33.
Rh5 Kg7 34. Re1 {White can have his time and bring his last piece to the
attack while the d4 pawn is poisoned} (34. Nf5+ Kg8 35. Qxd5+ Qxd5 36. Ne7+ Kg7
37. Nxd5 Bxd4 $16) 34... Rb5 35. Qe4 {?! lets away the win to escape. There
was no defence after} (35. Nf5+ Kg8 36. g5 $18) 35... Nc3 36. Qe7+ Kg6 37. Nf7
Qxe7 38. Rxe7 Rxd4 {??  To be honest last 6-7 moves Vlad made having only few
seconds on his Fischer clocks. So it's not surprising that he missed the mate
in one. After the best} (38... Ra8 {I should still had to show up some
technics to win the game.} 39. Nh8+ (39. Rh8 {!? This tactical idea was
sugested home by the ingenious machine when I started to look for a win. But
it looks that it doesn't yield white anything special.} Bb8 {!} (39... Rbb8 40.
Rh6+ Kg7 41. g5 fxg5 42. Rxa6 Bc5 43. Nd6+ Kf6 44. Rxa8 Rxa8 45. Rf7+ Ke6 46.
dxc5 Rxa5 47. Rc7 $18) 40. h4 Kg7 41. Rd8 Ra7 42. Rxa7 Bxa7 43. Rd7 Bxd4 (43...
Rb1+ 44. Kg2 Bb8 45. Nd8+ Kf8 46. h5 Ke8 47. h6 Kxd7 48. h7 Bc7 49. h8=Q Bxd8
50. Qh7+ Be7 51. g5 $18) 44. Nd6+ Kg6 45. Nxb5 Nxb5 46. Re7 Bc3 47. f4 Bxa5 48.
f5+ Kh6 49. Re6 Kg7 50. Rxa6 Be1 $14 {with good chances to draw}) 39... Rxh8
40. Rxh8 Bxd4 41. Rg8+ Kh6 $16) 39. Nh8# 1-0

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2003.02.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Smirnov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2572"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2003.02.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
With this move order Black is threatening with the Marshall Attack and
provokes White to go for an Anti-Marshall.} 8. h3 {Giving Black the last
opportunity to play a normal Ruy Lopez after 8...d6 9.c3. The other system to
avoid the Marshall is 8.a4.} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 {On of the most popular
replies to the Anti-Marshall with h3. In the fifth round Lastin used against
me another variation:} (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5
Qc7 {!N} 15. c4 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Kh8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 a5 19. Bd2 {1/2-1/2,
Bologan Victor Viorel - Lastin Aleksandr, Moscow 2003 Aeroflot Open}) 11. Nbd2
Nbd7 12. Nf1 Nc5 13. Ba2 Ne6 14. Ng3 Re8 15. Ng5 Bc8 {To be honest, I didn't
know the last game played on this line, I just considered logically that
before playing f4 it's not such a bad idea to send the bishop to f8.} 16. Nf5 {
The previous attempts were unsuccesful for White:} (16. f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 d5 18.
Qf3 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Nd4 20. Qd1 h6 21. Nf3 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 Rxe4 24.
dxe4 Be6 $11 {Acs Peter(2560) - De Vreugt Dennis(2477), Wijk aan Zee 2003 It 
(cat.11)}) (16. c3 c5 17. a4 Rb8 18. Nxe6 Bxe6 19. Nf5 d5 20. axb5 axb5 $11 {
Almasi Zoltan(2672) - Khalifman Alexander(2690), Bled 2002 Olympiad}) 16... Bf8
17. f4 {Looks very promissing but may be better was the simple} (17. c3 $5 g6
18. Nh6+ Bxh6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxh6 Bxa2 21. Rxa2 $14 {with a small but
stable advantage.}) 17... g6 $6 {Of course it's annoying to be under pressure
of the two knights and the bishop from e2. But weakening the h6-square is also
not good. The best for Black was to take on f4:} (17... exf4 18. Bxf4 d5 19.
Qf3 (19. Nxe6 Bxe6) 19... Nxg5 20. Bxg5 dxe4 21. dxe4 Bxf5 22. Qxf5 Qd4+ 23.
Kh1 Bd6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Bd5 Rad8 $11 {with a probable draw due
to the opposite coulored bishops.}) (17... h6 18. Nxe6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20.
Ng3 exf4 21. Bxf4 $14) 18. Qf3 $1 {One more piece into the attack and it looks
like the critical mass will break through soon.} Rb8 $1 {This strange move
seems to hold the position. Of course the piece was untouchable.} (18... gxf5
19. exf5 Nxg5 20. fxg5 Rb8 21. gxf6 Qxf6 22. Rf1 $40) (18... exf4 19. Bxf4 gxf5
20. exf5 Nxg5 21. Bxg5 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 d5 23. Qg3 Bd6 (23... Kh8 24. Re8 $18)
24. Qh4 Be7 25. Kh1 (25. Rxe7 Qxe7 26. Bxf6 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Bxf5) 25... Bxf5 26.
Rf1 Bg6 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Qxf6 $16) 19. fxe5 {Here I had to decide to which
structure I should stick. I spend a lot of time but I didn't find anything
substancial. So I went for a simple bishop against knight position.} (19. Ng3
exf4 20. Bxf4 h6 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Rf1 Bg7 24. Ne2 $14 {was also
possible.}) 19... dxe5 20. Nh6+ (20. Ng3 h6 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Be3 $14) 20...
Bxh6 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Bxh6 Bxa2 23. Rxa2 Nd7 24. Rf1 Qe7 25. b4 $6 {This
weakeness will help Black with his counterplay. Better was first to triple on
the f-file.} (25. Raa1 Rb6 26. Bg5 f6 27. Bh6 c5 28. Rf2 Rd6 29. Raf1 $14)
25... Rb6 26. Bg5 Qe6 27. Raa1 c5 $11 {Now Black equalized.} 28. c3 (28. Rf2 f6
29. Be3 Rc6 30. bxc5 Qe7 (30... Nxc5 31. Bxc5 Rxc5 32. Qxf6 Qxf6 33. Rxf6 Rxc2
34. Rxa6 Rd8 35. Rd1 $14) 31. a4 b4 32. d4 exd4 33. Bxd4 a5 34. Qb3+ Qe6 $11)
28... Rc6 29. Bd2 {At this stage I was very unhappy with my position and also
my time was running so I offered a draw. To which I've got a determinate
refuse.} (29. Be3 $11) 29... Rd6 (29... f6 30. Qe2 c4 31. a4 cxd3 32. Qxd3 Rd6
33. Qe2 bxa4 34. Rxa4 Rc8 35. Rfa1 $11) 30. Bh6 (30. Qe2 Rc8 31. Rf3 c4 32.
dxc4 Qxc4 33. Qf2 f6 $15) 30... Rc8 {Now I understand that White wasn't worse
in any moment of the game. But during the game I didn't like moves like} (30...
c4 {but after} 31. dxc4 Qxc4 32. Rad1 Rf6 33. Qg4 Rxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Qc6 $11 {
the position must be equal.}) 31. a4 $1 {At least I found some counterplay.
Now Black has to be careful because of his 8th rank.} bxa4 32. Rxa4 cxb4 33.
cxb4 Rc3 34. Qf2 {Threatening to activate the queen from a7.} Rb6 $6 {Better
was to take on d3:} (34... Rcxd3 35. b5 f6 36. Qc2 Kf7 37. Rxa6 Rxa6 38. Qxd3
$14 {and already Black has to equalize.}) (34... Rdxd3 $4 35. Rxa6 Qe8 36. Ra8
$18) (34... f6 {There were some more tricks in the position} 35. Qa7 Rb6 36. b5
axb5 37. Rxf6 $3 Qxf6 38. Qxd7 $18) 35. b5 $5 {At the moment I still was
fighting for the draw and b5 was good enough for that. But I had an even
stronger move:} (35. d4 $36) 35... Nc5 $4 {Pavel had about 7 minutes left at
this point so he could be more careful.} (35... axb5 36. Ra8+ Rb8 37. Rxb8+
Nxb8 38. d4 Nd7 39. d5 Qe8 40. Qb2 $44) 36. Ra3 $3 {Who said the tricks are
unuseful nowadays?} Nxd3 (36... Rxa3 37. Qxc5 $18) 37. Qh4 $1 {And everything
is hanging. This queen jump completely escaped from my opponents attention.
Even so he finished with a very good result +4.} 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 24th"]
[Site "Kallithea"]
[Date "2008.10.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.10.17"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[BlackTeam "Erevan MIKA"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{I think this is the most positional reaction for White against the potenctal
Marshall. Even more positional than 8.h3 which I used to play for many years.
The main idea is to provoke Black into some weaknesses on the queenside.} b4 9.
d4 {Another possibility is 8.d3 in which Black is compensated for the weakened
white squares after the bishop by a small space advantage on the queenside.} d6
10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 {If White manages to demonstrate his advantage
here then it would be a perfect line against Marshall players. A better
endgame with no risk, and practically no theory!} 12. Nbd2 {after} (12. Bg5 {
White normally says goodbye to his bishop which was not exactly my idea.} Rb8 (
12... Kf8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bd5 Bb7 15. Nbd2 Na5 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 17. Nc4 Nd6 18.
Na5 Rd7 19. Rad1 Ke8 20. Nd2 Nc8 21. Ndc4 $14 {Jones Gawain C 2522 - Nyback
Tomi 2587, Plovdiv 22. 4.2008 Ch Europe}) 13. Nbd2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Bd5 (
15. h3 Na5) (15. Rad1 Na5 (15... Kf8 16. h3 h5 17. Bd5 Ne7 18. Bc4 Rb6 {
Brkic Ante 2521 - Akopian Vladimir 2673, Moscow 17. 2.2008 It (open) "Aeroflot"
} 19. Bd3 {!?} Ng6 20. Nc4 Rc6 21. b3 $14) 16. Nc4 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Nxb3 18. cxb3
Bb7 19. Ncxe5 Bxe4 20. Nd7 Re8 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 $11) 15... Na5 16. Rad1 c6 17.
Nb3 Nxb3 18. Bxb3 Bg4 19. h3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 a5 21. Kf1 Kf8 $11 {Baramidze David
2569 - Harikrishna P 2668 , Germany 17. 3.2007 Bundesliga 2006/07}) 12... Bc5 {
Novelty. My opponent is trying to play as aggressively as possible. Besides
the fact that he is attacking f2 and setting the bishop on the best diagonal,
there is also the idea of supporting the move to d4 by the knight.} (12... h6 {
was played by two of my team-mates: from Tomsk Inarkiev, and from Bosna
Stojanovic.} 13. a5 Bd6 (13... Bb7 {Perhaps not the best place for the bishop}
14. Bc4 Bd6 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Nb3 Nc5 17. Nxc5 Bxc5 18. Be3 Bd6 19. Nd2 Nd4 20.
Nc4 $14 {Galic I2 2316 - Stojanovic Da 2455, 20.10.2008 24th ECC}) 14. Bc4 Kf8
15. Nb3 Ke7 16. Nfd2 Be6 17. Bf1 Nd7 18. Nc4 Nc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20. c3 f6 21.
Be3 {1/ 2-1/2, Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter 2684 - Inarkiev Ernesto 2684, France 1.
6.2008 Ch France (team) 2008}) 13. h3 (13. Nc4 {Facing the novelty over the
board I decided to play safe and home analysis proved that after} Be6 (13...
Nd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Be3 Be6 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Rad1 c5 18. e5 Nd7 19. a5 Ra7
20. Nd2 $14) 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxb3 16. cxb3 Nxe4 17. Be3 f6 18. Nc6 Rd6
19. Na5 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Nc5 21. Rc1 Rad8 {Black is fine.}) 13... Bb7 14. Bc4 h6
15. Nb3 Bd6 16. a5 {I am not sure about this move. Since the a5-square is
controlled by the knight, White can afford to continue with his main plan.} (
16. Bd3 Bc8 17. Be3 Be6 18. Nfd2 Be7 19. Rad1 (19. f3 Nh5) 19... Nd7 20. Bc4
$14 {Compared with the positions where the pawn is on a5, White controls the
very important square b5.}) (16. Bf1 Re8) 16... Ne7 17. Nfd2 Ng6 18. Bf1 Nf4 {
Black is following his plan. However, concrete play targetting the white
pieces and pawns would be much more unpleasant for me.} (18... Be7 $1 {Xe4} 19.
f3 (19. g3 Rd7) 19... Nh5 {Xg3, f4} 20. Nc4 Bh4 $1 {[%cal Rh4e1]}) 19. f3 Nd7
20. Nc4 Be7 21. Be3 {Finally White has managed to reach his goal and the ideal
setup. Now the question is how to use it.} Ne6 {Black has also brought his
knights into the battle for the c5- and d4-squares.} 22. Bf2 $1 {Good idea but
I am not sure whether Red1 first would be more accurate.} Bc6 23. Ne3 Ndc5 24.
Bc4 Nxb3 25. cxb3 Bb5 (25... Nd4 26. Nf5 Nxf5 27. exf5 Bd6 28. Rac1 $14) 26.
Bxb5 ({My first idea was to play} 26. Nd5 {but I didn't want to give the
possibility of} Bxc4 {which was not so dangerous in a view of} (26... Bd6 27.
Bxb5 axb5 28. a6 c5 29. a7 Rd7 30. Nb6 Raxa7 31. Nxd7 Rxd7 32. Red1 Nd4 33.
Bxd4 exd4 34. Ra5 Rb7 35. Ra6 $16) 27. Nxe7+ Kf8 28. Nc6 Rd6 29. Nxe5 Bxb3 30.
Rec1 Rd2 31. Nc6 $16) 26... axb5 27. Nd5 Bc5 $3 {The only way to save the game.
I saw that while making my 26th move, but for some reason or other I
completely misunderstood that winning am exchange is not winning the game yet.}
(27... Bd6 28. a6 c5 29. a7 {see above.}) 28. a6 (28. Bxc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc7 Ra7 $1
{and the pawn on b5 is poisoned}) 28... Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 c5 {Now by force White
wins an exchange for a pawn.} 30. a7 (30. Ra5 Ra7 31. Rxb5 (31. Rea1 Nd4) 31...
Rxa6) 30... Rd7 31. Nb6 Raxa7 32. Nxd7 Rxd7 33. Red1 Rxd1 (33... Nd4 {?} 34.
Ra8+ Kh7 35. Rc8 $18) 34. Rxd1 Nd4 {The position is a dead draw. Neither of
the sides can improve: if Black takes on b3 then after Rd5 his knight is
practically trapped.} 35. h4 g6 36. g3 g5 37. h5 Kg7 38. g4 Kf6 39. Ke3 Nc2+
40. Kf2 Nd4 41. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 20th"]
[Site "Izmir"]
[Date "2004.10.05"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2669"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2004.10.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 104"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[BlackTeam "Ekaterinburg Max Ven"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Bc5 10. Nc3 h6 11. Bd2 d6 12. Ne2 {'N!'} Bb6 (12... Re8 13. Ng3 $14)
13. c3 Na5 14. Bc2 d5 {'?!'} (14... Re8 15. Ng3 c5 $14) 15. exd5 (15. Nxe5 dxe4
16. d4 c5) 15... Qxd5 16. Ng3 Rfe8 17. Qc1 {'!'} Nh7 (17... Nc6 18. Bxh6 gxh6
19. Qxh6 $18 {->}) (17... Qd6 18. Nf5 Qd7 19. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 20. Bxh6+ Kh7 21.
d4+ e4 22. Qg5 Rg8 23. Qh4 $18) (17... c5 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qxh6 Re6 20. c4 $1
Qc6 21. d4 $1 Ne4 22. Qh4 $18) 18. b4 (18. c4 Qc5 (18... bxc4 19. dxc4 Qc5 20.
Be3 Qxc4 21. Bxb6 cxb6 22. Nxe5 Qd4) 19. d4 Qxc4 20. b3 Qc6) 18... Nc6 19. c4
Qd7 (19... bxc4 20. dxc4 Qxc4 $4 21. Bxh7+) 20. c5 Ba7 21. Bc3 Nd4 (21... f6
22. a4 (22. Qe3 Ng5) 22... Ng5 23. Nxg5 hxg5 24. Bb3+ Kf8 25. Qd1 $16) 22. Bxd4
Bxf3 {'!?'} (22... exd4 23. Qf4 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Ng5 25. Qf5 Qxf5 26. Nxf5 Ne6 27.
Bb3 $16) 23. Bxe5 Ng5 (23... Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Qd5+ 25. Re4 Rxe5 26. Bb3 Qc6 27.
Bxf7+ Kh8 28. Qf4 Re7 29. Kf1 Rxe4 30. Qxe4 Qxe4 31. dxe4 Ng5 32. Bd5 $18) 24.
Qf4 (24. Bf4 $1 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Re8 (25... Ne6 26. Be5 Bb7 27. Qe3 Re8 28. Bb3
Nf8 29. Qd4 Qxd4 30. Bxd4 Ne6 31. Be3 $18) 26. Qc1) 24... Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qxh3+
26. Kg1 Qd7 27. Qf5 Qxf5 28. Nxf5 Nf3+ 29. Kg2 Nxe5 30. d4 g6 (30... Ng6 31.
Rxe8+ (31. Be4 Rad8 32. Bb7 (32. Kf3 Re6 33. a4) 32... Re6 (32... Bb8 33. Bxa6
c6 34. Rxe8+ Rxe8 35. a4 bxa4 36. b5 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 g6 38. Nd6) 33. d5 Rf6 34.
Ne7+ Nxe7 35. Rxe7 Bb8 36. Rae1 Kf8 37. Bc6) 31... Rxe8 32. a4 (32. Kf3 Bb8 33.
a4 Kf8 34. axb5 axb5 35. Bd3 Ne7 (35... Rd8 36. Bxb5 Ne7 37. Nxe7 Kxe7 38. Ke3
$16) 36. Nxe7 Kxe7 37. Re1+ Kf8 38. Rxe8+ Kxe8 39. Bxb5+ Ke7 40. Ke4 Ke6 41.
Bc4+ Kd7 42. Bxf7) 32... Bb8 (32... Nf4+ 33. Kf3 Ne6 34. d5 Ng5+ 35. Kg2) 33.
axb5 axb5 34. Ra5 Nf4+ 35. Kf3 Ne6 36. d5 Ng5+ 37. Kg2 $18) 31. Rxe5 Rxe5 (
31... gxf5 32. Rxf5 Rad8 33. Bb3 Re7 34. Rh1 Kg7 35. Rh4 Rg8 36. Kf3 Bb8 37. a3
$18) 32. dxe5 gxf5 33. Rd1 Re8 34. Rd7 (34. Bb3 Rf8 35. Kg3 c6 36. Kf4 h5 37.
Kxf5 h4 38. Kf6) 1-0

[Event "Stepanakert-A"]
[Site "Stepanakert"]
[Date "2005.10.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2005.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{One of the possible ways to avoid the Marshall. Normally after this white has
a slight positional advantage.} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nd8 {Before
the game I already new that Aronian is playing this maneuvre and considered it
good for white.} 12. Ne2 Ne6 13. Ng3 g6 14. c3 $1 $146 {Better than exchanging
the bishops as it was in Gelfand -Shirov, Rethymnon (Greece) 2003} (14. Bh6
Rfe8 15. Ng5 Bf8 16. Bxf8 Rxf8 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Qd2 c5 19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4 d5
21. Qe5 c4 22. Ba2 Qc6 23. exd5 exd5 24. Qe6+ Qxe6 25. Rxe6 Rae8 $15 {Gelfand,
B-Shirov,A/Rethymnon 2003}) 14... c5 15. d4 c4 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Be3 (17. a4 $5
Rfd8 18. Be3 d5 19. Nxe5 Nxe4 20. Qg4 Nxg3 21. Qxg3 Bd6 22. f4 f6 23. Ng4 Rf8
24. axb5 axb5 25. Rxa8 Bxa8 26. Qh4 f5 27. Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nxh7 Qd8 29. Ng5 Nxg5
30. fxg5 Rh8 31. Qf2 Qc7 32. Qf3 $14) 17... a5 $1 {Levon tries to close the
queenside.} 18. Qd2 (18. a4 b4) 18... a4 19. Ng5 (19. d5 Nc5 20. Bh6 Rfe8 21.
Nh2 Bf8 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. f4 exf4 24. Qxf4 Nfd7 25. Nf3 f6 {=}) 19... Ne8 20.
Nxe6 (20. h4 $5) 20... fxe6 21. Bh6 (21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Qe2 Nf6 23. Rad1 $14)
21... Rf7 22. Ne2 Nf6 23. Qe3 Nh5 24. g4 $2 {Weakening the king without
necessaty is always bad. I should stick a regular} (24. Rad1 Bf8 25. Bxf8 Raxf8
26. f3 $14 {with a steady edge for white}) 24... Nf6 (24... Nf4 25. Nxf4 exf4
26. Bxf4 Raf8 27. Bg3 Rf3 28. Qh6 Qd8 29. h4 e5 $17) 25. f3 (25. Rf1 Bf8 26.
Bxf8 Raxf8 27. f4 exf4 28. Nxf4 e5 29. dxe5 dxe5 30. Ne6 Nxg4 31. Qa7 Rxf1+ 32.
Rxf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Qf7+ 34. Ke2 $13) 25... d5 $1 {The white king is already
in danger. I thought this is not possible but missed the simple intermediate
taking on f3.} 26. dxe5 (26. Rf1 exd4 27. cxd4 e5) 26... dxe4 $1 {The
temporary sacrifice permits black to discover white's king position completely.
} 27. fxe4 (27. exf6 {which I was hoping on is simply loosing} Bc5 28. Nd4 Qg3+
29. Kf1 exf3 30. Qf2 Qxh3+ 31. Kg1 Bd6 $19) (27. f4 Nd5 28. Qg3 Bf8 29. Bxf8
Raxf8 30. Bxe4 Nxf4 31. Nxf4 Rxf4 32. Bxb7 Qxb7 33. Rf1 Qb6+ 34. Kg2 Qc6+ $19)
27... Nd7 {More presize than} (27... Qxe5 28. Nd4 Bd6 29. Re2 $13) 28. Nd4 Nxe5
29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Nf7 {Now loosing the bishop white will serious problems
in controlling all weak squares.} 31. Kg2 (31. e5 $5 {was sugested after the
game by Aronian.} Nxh6 32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Qxh6 {but I think in our post-mortem
analysis we both didn't see the simple} Be4 34. Qf4 Bd5 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Qxg6
Qxe5 $19) 31... Nxh6 32. Qxh6 Qe5 33. Nf3 Bxe4 34. Bxe4 {Here the practical
chance for me was to go for a different coloured bishop ending.} (34. Qe3 Bxf3+
35. Rxf3 Qxe3 36. Rxe3 Kf7 $17) 34... Qxe4 35. Re1 Qc2+ 36. Qd2 Qxd2+ 37. Nxd2
Kf7 38. Rf1+ {When going for this position I very much hoped on} (38. Re5 {
but it leads to a lost anyway} Rd8 39. Nf3 Rd5 40. Rxd5 exd5 41. Nd4 Bg5 42.
Nxb5 Bc1 43. Kf3 Kf6 44. Ke2 Kg5 45. Kd1 Bf4 $19) 38... Ke8 39. Kf3 Rd8 40. Ke2
Rd3 41. Rf3 Rd5 42. Ne4 Re5 43. Re3 Kd7 44. Kf3 Kc6 $19 {White can simply
resign.} 45. Re2 Rd5 46. g5 Rf5+ 47. Kg4 Kd5 48. h4 e5 49. Kg3 Rf4 50. Nf2 Bd6
51. Rd2+ Ke6 52. Ng4 Bc7 53. Rf2 Rf5 54. Re2 e4+ 55. Kg2 Rf4 56. Nf2 Rxh4 0-1

[Event "URS-ch46 First League"]
[Site "Ashkhabad"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kupreichik, Viktor D"]
[Black "Savon, Vladimir A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Bulletin"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1978.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 $5 (10. Nc3) (10. Bd2) 10... Nd7 (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5
12. Nf1 Nd7 13. Ne3 Nb6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Bd2 b4 $10 {Matulovic,M-Dely,J/
Sarajevo/1964/}) 11. c3 Nc5 12. Bc2 Bf6 (12... d5 $2 13. exd5 Qxd5 14. d4 $16)
13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. Ng4 Ng6 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. d4 exd4 19.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Nxd4 $14 Qd8 21. f3 Qd7 22. Be3 Bc6 23. Nf5 Ne7 24. Ng3 Na4 (
24... Ne6 25. f4) 25. Bd4 f6 (25... Nxb2 26. Qc1 Nc4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Nh5+ Kh8
(28... Kg6 29. e5+ Kxh5 30. g4+) 29. Qh6 $16) 26. b4 Kh8 27. f4 Ng6 28. Rf1 Qf7
29. h4 Nb2 (29... Nxh4 30. f5) 30. Bb3 Nc4 31. h5 Nf8 32. h6 g6 33. f5 $2 $10 (
33. e5 $2 dxe5 34. fxe5 Qd5 35. Qe2 Ne6 $13) (33. Qd3 $14) 33... Nd7 34. Qg4
Nde5 35. fxg6 hxg6 36. Qh4 Rf8 37. Ne2 $2 g5 38. Qf2 Bxe4 39. Ng3 Bd3 40. Rd1
Bg6 41. Rf1 Qe6 42. Bc2 $2 Ng4 43. Re1 Nce5 44. Bf5 Bxf5 45. Qxf5 Nf3+ 46. Qxf3
Qxe1+ 47. Nf1 Qe6 48. Qh3 Kh7 49. Qd3+ Kxh6 50. Qxb5 Ra8 51. Qb7 Ra2 52. Qf3
Qe2 53. Qd5 Ra1 54. Qf5 c6 55. b5 cxb5 56. Bb6 Rd1 57. Bd4 b4 0-1

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2007.12.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
(8. c3 d5 {leads to the Marshall Attack - a gambit, which offers Black a reach
compensation for the pawn and therefore became extremely popular in the past
years.}) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d5 {Black still sacrifices a pawn, but here White
didn't play c2-c3 and Black's initiative is not as strong as in the classical
Marshall. Nevertheless he achieves a decent compensation.} (9... d6) 10. exd5
Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 (11... Nxe5 12. Rxe5 $14) 12. Bd2 (12. Nd2 c5 13. a4 Nf4 14.
Nef3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Nxb3 16. cxb3 Ne6 17. Be3 Bf6 18. Qc2 Qd5 19. Rec1 h6 {
was good for Black in Karjakin,S (2694)-Bacrot,E (2695)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2007.})
({The usual continuation is} 12. Nc3 {after which Black plays either
immediately 12...Nb4, or after first exchanging on b3.}) 12... c5 ({Perhaps
even here the strange looking} 12... Nb4 $5 {is possible, but in a rapid game
it's not wise to go for such variations without home preparation.} 13. Bxf7+ $5
Rxf7 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Bxb4 Bxb4 16. c3 Nf3+ $1 (16... Qg5 17. Re4 $1) 17. gxf3
Qg5+ 18. Kf1 {with a complete mess} (18. Kh1 Bd6 {and then Qf4})) 13. Nc3 Nxb3
14. axb3 Nb4 15. Rc1 f6 16. Nf3 Qc7 17. Ne4 Rfe8 18. Bxb4 cxb4 19. c4 bxc3 20.
bxc3 Ba3 21. Rc2 Rad8 22. Qa1 Bf8 23. Rce2 $1 ({The immediate} 23. Nd4 $2 {
is bad due to the pin on the c-file} Bxe4 24. dxe4 Rxd4 {and Black wins a piece
}) 23... Re7 (23... Rxd3 $2 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Rxe8 $18) 24. Nd4 {Black's
bishop pair can offer compensation for the pawn only if White won't have
stable squares for his knights.} Rde8 $2 ({Necessary was} 24... b4 {in order
to weaken square d4.}) 25. b4 $1 {Now the knight on d4 secures White advantage
and the question is only if Black will be able to escape. This is a very
difficult task with limited time and the former winner of the World Cup failed
to do so.} Kh8 26. Ng3 g6 27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Rxe7 Qxe7 29. Qd1 f5 30. Qe2 Kg8
31. Qxe7 Bxe7 32. f4 h5 33. Nge2 Kf7 34. Kf2 Bf6 35. Nf3 Ke6 36. Ned4+ Kd6 37.
Ne2 Bd5 38. Ke3 Bd8 39. g3 Bb6+ 40. Nfd4 Bg2 $2 {Allowing White to advance the
c-pawn.} ({Better was a move like} 40... Bd8) 41. c4 $1 (41. h4 Bd5) 41... bxc4
42. dxc4 Ba7 43. Nc3 (43. h4 {is possible too, since after} Bf1 44. c5+ Kd5 45.
Nc3+ Kc4 {White has} 46. Nc6 $1 Bxc5+ 47. bxc5 Kxc3 48. Na5 {and Black must
give up his bishop for the c-pawn. However, Jakovenko's choice is the most
precise.}) 43... Kd7 (43... Bxh3 {doesn't help:} 44. c5+ Kd7 45. Nf3 Bb8 46.
Kd4 Bg2 47. Ne5+ ({or} 47. Nh4) 47... Bxe5+ 48. Kxe5 $18) 44. h4 Bf1 45. c5 a5
46. Ncb5 Bxb5 47. Nxb5 Bb8 48. Kd3 axb4 49. Kc4 Ke6 50. Nd4+ Kd7 51. Kxb4 {
The rest is elementary.} Bc7 52. Kb5 Bd8 53. Nf3 Kc7 54. Ne5 Bf6 55. c6 Be7 56.
Nxg6 Ba3 57. Ne5 Bb2 58. Nf7 Bd4 59. Nh6 Bg1 60. Nxf5 Bf2 61. Ng7 Bxg3 62. Nxh5
Bxh4 63. Kc5 Kd8 64. Kd6 Be1 65. Nf6 Bb4+ 66. Ke6 {In the second game Aronian
fought for 114 moves, but Jakovenko always kept good control and achieved a
draw confidently.} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 {In spite of the unfavourable result, Ivanchuk remains faithfull to the
variation he employed against Leko in Morelia. Apparently, he dislikes the
idea of weakening the c4-square at such an early stage of the game.} 9. d3 d6
10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 b4 ({Now that the knight has been installed on
the a5-square, from where it controls the critical c4- and b3-squares, Black
decides to block the position. The aforementioned game continued with} 12...
Bc8) 13. c3 ({Svidler deviates from a previous game of his, too. After} 13. Ne3
Rb8 14. Nd2 Bc8 15. Bc4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Be6 17. b3 Rb7 18. Rf1 Nd7 19. Qe2 Nb8
20. Nd5 Nc6 21. Bb2 Bg5 22. Rad1 a5 {Black gradually equalised in
Svidler-Adams, Moscow 2001. By playing 13.c3, White prepares the immediate
occupation of the centre.}) 13... bxc3 14. bxc3 {#} c4 {The typical reaction.
The insufficient defence of the e4-pawn allows Black disrupt White's central
structure.} 15. Ng3 cxd3 ({This natural move will leave White with strong
pressure against the backward d6-pawn. The more restrained} 15... Re8 16. d4
Qc7 {would have been worthy alternative. Although White has a clear supremacy
in the centre, the queen side situation looks to favour Black, because of the
weakness of the b3-square and of the a4-pawn.}) 16. Qxd3 Bc8 17. Ba3 ({This
might be even better than} 17. Bg5 Be6 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nf5 Nb7 20. Bd5 {
with just an edge for White in Nisipeanu-Solleveld, Santo Domingo 2003.}) 17...
Qc7 18. Red1 Nb7 19. Qc4 Qxc4 20. Bxc4 Re8 21. Rab1 Ra7 22. Rb6 Na5 23. Bf1 Nd7
24. Rbb1 Nc5 25. Bxc5 dxc5 26. Nxe5 g6 {#White has managed to win a clear pawn,
but the weakness of White's whole queen side as well as the black pair of
bishops make the technical phase far from easy.} 27. f4 Be6 28. f5 Bb3 29. Rxb3
Nxb3 30. Bc4 Bg5 31. Nxf7 Be3+ 32. Kh1 Nd2 33. Nd6+ Nxc4 34. Nxe8 Kf7 35. Nd6+
Nxd6 36. Rxd6 {#After some nice fireworks, White has won a second pawn, but
Black managed to activate his remaining army radically.} Rb7 37. fxg6+ hxg6 38.
h4 Bf4 39. Rd3 Ke6 40. Kh2 Rb3 41. Kh3 c4 42. Rf3 Ke5 {Little by little, it
becomes clear that White has no real chances to win.} 43. Nf1 a5 44. Kg4 Bh6
45. h5 gxh5+ 46. Kxh5 Bc1 47. Rf5+ Kxe4 48. Ng3+ Kd3 49. Rf3+ Kc2 50. Ne2 Bd2
51. Nd4+ Kb2 52. Nb5 Bxc3 53. Rf2+ Kb1 54. Rf4 Bb4 55. Rxc4 {A nice figthing
game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 75th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2013.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2013.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The biggest miss of the day was certainly by Levon Aronian. With very
powerful play, he sacrificed a pawn temporarily to obtain the pair of bishops
and a certain initiative.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Rb8 13.
Nc4 Nc6 14. h3 h6 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Bf4 b3 18. Bxb3 Be6 19. Ba2 d3
20. Qxd3 Nb4 21. Qe2 Nxa2 22. Rxa2 Rc8 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Rc2 Bf6 25. Qxe4 d5 26.
Qe2 dxc4 27. bxc4 Qa5 28. Be5 Bxe5 29. Qxe5 Qxa4 30. Nd4 Bxh3 $1 {After this
White's position becomes very difficult, the bishop being poisoned due to a
tactic on the e-file.} 31. Qf4 Bd7 32. Re7 Rce8 33. Rxe8 Rxe8 34. Qd6 Re1+ 35.
Kh2 Rd1 36. Rc3 Qa1 37. Qb8+ Kh7 38. Ne2 Bg4 $2 {In time pressure Aronian was
unable to correctly choose one of many winning continuations, but certainly
retained the initiative nonetheless.} 39. Qf4 Rh1+ 40. Kg3 h5 41. Re3 Qa5 $2 {
This allowed Karjakin back in the game.} ({His last chance to win was} 41...
Be6 $1 {after which Karjakin would have had to simplify into a hopeless
endgame.}) 42. Nd4 Qd8 43. Nf3 f6 44. Qe4+ Kh6 45. Nh4 Qd6+ 46. f4 Rxh4 47.
Kxh4 Qc5 48. Kg3 Bf5 49. Qe8 Qxc4 50. Qh8+ Bh7 51. Qb8 a5 52. Kh2 Bf5 53. Qh8+
Bh7 54. Qb8 Bf5 55. Qh8+ Bh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.06"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow Legacy Square"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{currently the main line against Black's "threat" to play the Marshall Gambit
after} (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 $44) 8... b4 9. d4 d6
10. dxe5 {Black threatened ...10...Bg4, putting the Nf3 into an annoying pin.
Therefore White clarifies matters in the center.} (10. h3 {stops ... Bg4, but
now Black can seize the initiative:} exd4 11. Nxd4 Na5 12. Ba2 c5 13. Nb3 (13.
Nf3 Bb7 $36 14. Nbd2 Qc7 {and White does not manage to regroup the Nd2.}) 13...
Nc6 14. Bf4 Be6 {0-1 (53) Vachier Lagrave,M (2745) -Karjakin,S (2756) Beijing
2013}) 10... dxe5 11. Nbd2 {Karjakin intends to play the knight to c4 with the
idea to play a5 which isolates the pawn b4.} Bc5 (11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4
Bg6 14. Nc4 $13 {1/2-1/2 (28) Lampert,J (2376) -Boguslavsky,O (2442) Germany
2014}) 12. a5 h6 13. h3 Qd6 {Svidler has faith in his opening strategies. In
2014 he played two games against Karjakin, in which this position was on the
board and Svidler has always opted for ...Qd6 - with success.} (13... Qe7 14.
Qe2 (14. Bd5 $5 Bb7 15. Nb3 Ba7 16. Qd3 $13) 14... Be6 15. Bc4 Nd4 16. Nxd4
Bxd4 17. Nb3 Rfd8 18. Nxd4 Bxc4 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Qf3 Kh7 21. b3 Bb5 22. Qg3 Rg8
23. Qh4 Ne8 24. Bd2 Nd6 25. Qe7 Rge8 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Bxb4 Nxf5 28. exf5 Ree8
29. Rad1 Bc6 30. Rd3 Rab8 31. Rc3 Bd5 32. Ba3 Rb5 33. Rxc7 Rxa5 34. Bd6 f6 35.
c4 Bg8 36. Re3 e4 37. Rg3 Rxf5 38. Rgxg7+ Kh8 39. Rg6 Rh5 40. g4 Rxh3 41. Kg2 {
1-0 (41) Caruana,F (2791) -Tomashevsky,E (2695) Dubai 2014}) 14. Qe2 {Karjakin
removes the queen from the d-file to win a tempo with Nc4.} Be6 (14... Nh5 $5 {
was successfully played by Svidler in October 2014. In CBM 163 Postny gives ...
Nh5 an exclamation mark. However, Svidler might not have been entirely
convinced about the merits of ...Nh5 and decided to play ...Be6 instead.} 15.
Nc4 Qf6 16. Be3 $146 (16. Ne3 $2 {is a mistake that allows Black to carry out
his plan without too much trouble:} Nf4 17. Qc4 Nxg2 $1 18. Kxg2 Bxh3+ 19. Kxh3
Qxf3+ 20. Kh2 Nd4 $40 21. Rf1 Qh5+ 22. Kg2 Qf3+ 23. Kh2 Bd6 24. c3 Qh5+ 25. Kg2
Qf3+ 26. Kh2 Qh5+ 27. Kg2 Qf3+ {1/2-1/2 (27) Karjakin,S (2767)-Svidler,P (2732)
Baku 2014 CBM 163 [Postny,E]}) 16... Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. c3 {and the pawn on
e5 is very weak.} Be6 (18... Bxh3 19. gxh3 Qg3+ 20. Kh1 Qxh3+ 21. Nh2 bxc3 22.
bxc3 Qxc3 23. Ba4 $14) 19. Ba4 $16) 15. Nc4 Qe7 16. c3 $146 {Karjakin's
improvement. In a previous game he played} (16. Be3 Rab8 17. Red1 Nxe4 18. Ba4
Ng3 19. fxg3 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Bxe3+ {and Black had no problems.} 21. Kh2 Nxa5 22.
Qe4 Bb6 23. Rd5 Nb7 24. Rxe5 Qf6 25. Qxb4 Nc5 26. Qf4 Qxf4 27. gxf4 Ba7 28. b3
Rb4 29. Bc6 Rxf4 30. Ra5 Ne6 31. Rxa6 Bc5 32. Re1 Nd4 33. Nxd4 Rxd4 34. Re2 h5
35. Ra4 Rfd8 36. Rxd4 Bxd4 37. Re8+ Rxe8 38. Bxe8 Kf8 39. Bc6 h4 40. g4 hxg3+
41. Kxg3 {1/2-1/2 (41) Karjakin,S (2770)-Svidler,P (2743) Kazan 2014}) 16...
bxc3 17. bxc3 Nh5 $5 {Apparently Karjakin did not spend too much time on this
move during his preparations. However, he now invested no less than 32 minutes
to find the best reply.} (17... Rab8 18. Bc2 (18. Ba4 $6 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nxa5 20.
Qxa6 Ra8 21. Qe2 Nb3 22. Ra2 Nxc1 23. Rxc1 $11) 18... Rb5 {is a typical motive.
} 19. Nfxe5 (19. Ba4 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Nxa5 (20... Rxa5 $6 21. Bxh6 $1 $16) 21. Qe2
Rbb8 $13) 19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 21. Qxf2 Rxe5 {and White has the pair of
bishops though his structure is shattered. Moreover, the pawn on a6 might
become weak and White might play Bf4 followed by e5 to start an attack.} 22.
Bf4 Rc5 23. e5 Nd5 24. Bd2 $14 {[%cal Gf2g3]} Nxc3 25. Rac1 $1) 18. g4 Nf4 (
18... Rab8 $1 {to push White's bishop to a2 first would have been better.} 19.
Ba2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 {[%cal Gh6h5] and Black's threat ...h5 forces White to
exchange the bishop on e6 - but under less favorable conditions than in the
game.} 21. Ncd2 Bxa2 22. Rxa2) 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Ncd2 Rfd8 21. e5 Rab8 {
White is under fire - the opening definitely did not go well for him: Black
occupies both open files, his king is safer and all his pieces are on good
positions. White, however, needs a couple of moves to consolidate his position.
} 22. Rab1 {White sacrifies a pawn to stop Black from becoming too active.} (
22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Qxa6 Rb2 {[%csl Gf2]} 24. Red1 (24. Rad1 Ra2 {[%cal Ga2a5]})
24... Qd5 $36 {Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn - the pawn
on e5 is weak.}) 22... Nxa5 23. Bc2 (23. Bxe6 Qxe6 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 $15 {and even
if White wins back his pawn with Qe4 and Qxf4 he is still worse.}) 23... Rxb1
24. Rxb1 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ge2e4,Ge4h7]} Bd5 $1 {preventing attacking ideas and
protecting f4.} 25. Be4 (25. Qd3 g6) (25. Qxa6 Nc4 $1 26. Nxc4 Bxf3 $19) 25...
Nc6 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Qe4 (27. Qxa6 Nxe5 28. Qa8+ Rd8 29. Rb8 Rxb8 30. Qxb8+
Kh7 31. Qb1+ g6 $17 {and Black is a solid pawn up.}) 27... Qe6 28. Nc4 (28. Nb3
Bb6 (28... Nxe5 $2 29. Nfd4 Qg6 $8 (29... Qd7 30. Nxc5 Rxc5 31. Rb8+ $18) 30.
Nxc5 Rxc5 31. Rb8+ Kh7 32. Qa8 $1 Qd3 33. Ne6 $3 fxe6 34. Rh8+ Kg6 35. Qe8+ Kg5
36. Qe7+ Kg6 37. Qe8+ $11) (28... Bf8 29. Nbd4 Nxd4 30. cxd4 {allows White to
consolidate.}) 29. c4 Rd8 30. c5 Ba7 31. Re1 $15) 28... Bf8 29. Qxf4 Rc5 30.
Ne3 Rxc3 $17 {the play is rather forced but in the end Black will remain a
pawn up.} 31. Rb7 Rc5 32. Rxc7 Nxe5 33. Rxc5 Nxf3+ 34. Qxf3 Bxc5 $17 {[#] The
dust has settled and Svidler is a clear pawn up which is supported by a
fantastic bishop and a strong black queen.} 35. Nf5 {Before making any
long-term decisions Svidler tries to improve his king's position.} Kh7 36. Qc3
Bf8 37. Ne3 g6 38. h4 Bg7 39. Qc5 Be5 40. h5 gxh5 41. gxh5 Kg7 42. Kg2 Bf4 43.
Nf5+ Kf6 44. Ng3 Bd6 45. Qd4+ Be5 46. Qc5 Kg5 47. Qa5 Kh4 $5 {the black king
joins the attack.} 48. Qa4+ Kg5 (48... Qg4 49. Qxa6 Qh3+ 50. Kg1 Bxg3 51. Qf6+
$1 Kg4 52. Qg7+ Kf3 53. Qc3+ $11) 49. Qa5 Qc6+ 50. Kh3 $6 (50. Kg1) 50... Kf6
51. Qd8+ Kg7 52. Nf5+ Kh7 53. Ng3 (53. Qd1 a5 54. Qe2 Bf6 55. Qa2 Qe6 $1 56.
Qc2 a4 $19) 53... Qf3 54. Qa5 Bd4 55. Qxa6 Bxf2 56. Qd6 Qxg3+ 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 (8... Bb7 {Leko-Ivanchuk, Morelia 4 2006}) 9. d3 d6 10. a5 ({A logical move.
Once the e5-pawn has been defended, Black threatens to place his queen's
knight on a5, putting certain pressure against the white queen side. For
instance,} 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb8 {
with good play for Black, Adams-Leko, Linares 2005}) 10... Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12.
Nc4 h6 {#} 13. h3 ({Svidler had reached this position before, but with
opposite colours.} 13. c3 Rb8 (13... bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb8 {has been recommended,
although this gives White the additional possibility} 15. Ba3) 14. d4 Bg4 15.
Ba4 Qb7 16. d5 Na7 17. Ne3 {with advantage of space for White, Leko-Svidler,
San Luis 2005. We can suppose that Svidler deviated from this variation
because he had found an improvement for Black. Or maybe he was just tird after
the complicated game from yesterday and did not feel like opening the position
at such an early stage?!}) 13... Rb8 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bf8 16. Nfd2 Qb7 ({
An interesting novelty. In the ame Adams-Anand, San Luis 2005 Black initiated
the generally desirable transfer of the queen's knight to g6 with} 16... Ne7 $5
{but after} 17. d4 $1 {White obtained some pressure in the centre. Aronian
decided to keep his knight on c6 untill the danger of d3-d4 dissapears.}) 17.
Qf3 Kh7 18. Nf1 Ne7 {Now that the e4-pawn is insufficiently defended, Black
finally transfers the knight to the king side.} 19. Ng3 Ng6 20. Nh5 {#With all
the pieces on board, there is a lot of play left, of course, but the opponents
seem to have decided to preserve their forces for the decisive rounds.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 {#} Nb8 ({This knight retreat, which gives the position
certain resemblance with the Breyer Variation, seems to have never been played
before. Topalov's previous game in this line went} 10... h6 11. Bd2 b4 12. c3
a5 13. d4 bxc3 14. Bxc3 $5 {(An interesting concept. For the sake of rapid
piece development, White gives up his central chain of pawns.)} exd4 15. Nxd4
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 {with a promissing position for White, Topalov-Grischuk, Wijk
aan Zee 2005}) ({The main variation is considered to be} 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {
but we shall see that Ivanchuk has entirely different plans regarding the
d5-square.}) 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 c6 {Not only defending the
b5-pawn, but also covering the d5-square. The passivity of the light-squared
bishp is of temporary nature.} 14. c4 $5 {To a certain extent, this is similar
to 14.Bxc3 from the previous note: White "sacrifices" the integrity of his
pawn structure for the sake of piece activity.} bxc4 15. Nxc4 Nbd7 16. Bd2 Re8
17. Qc2 Bf8 18. Ba2 Qb8 19. Bc3 h6 20. Ne3 Bb7 21. b4 d5 {After a laborious
manoeuvring phase, we finally have some tension in the centre.} 22. Ng4 Bd6 23.
Qb2 Nxg4 24. hxg4 c5 {#The situation becomes tenser and tenser. With his next
move, Topalov puts pressure against a far from obvious black weakness, the
f7-pawn.} 25. g5 hxg5 26. Nxg5 Qd8 27. bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bd2 f6 29. Be3 fxg5 {
The simplest way to equality, implying a pawn sacrifice.} 30. Bxc5 Bxc5 31.
Qxb7 Rf8 32. Qxd5+ Qxd5 33. Bxd5+ Kh7 34. Re2 g4 35. g3 Kh6 36. Kg2 Kg5 37. Rc2
{#White can hardly do anyhing more than move his rook along the second rank.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2014.10.14"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2844"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 {Tomashevsky is a great expert in many Spanish systems. The quick a4 line
is done to avoid the Marshall Gambit, but the Russian player is well prepared.
He loves playing variations where he has the chance of sacrificing with d5
later on anyways.} 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 bxa4 13. Ne3 Bc6
14. Nh4 Bd7 15. Nhf5 Rb8 16. Qf3 Kh8 17. Qg3 Nh5 18. Qg4 g6 19. Qf3 Nc6 (19...
gxf5 20. Qxh5 f4 21. Nf5 $14 {even though the attack is only a queen and a
knight, it is dangerous for Black. The back-up provided by the bishop on a2 is
sufficient to make it difficult for Black to repel White's pieces.}) 20. c3 Nf4
21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 f6 24. Qg3 Rb6 25. f4 (25. Rxa4 Nb4 $1 26.
Ra5 Nxd5 27. exd5 Bf5 $11) 25... exf4 26. Bxf4 Ne5 27. d4 g5 $1 {Most precise.}
(27... Nf7 $2 28. e5 $1 dxe5 29. dxe5 {gives White some initiative.}) 28. Bc1
cxd4 29. cxd4 Ng6 30. Qf2 Bc6 31. Be6 Rb4 32. Bf5 Nh4 33. d5 Bb5 34. Ra3 {
Black is up a pawn and a little better, but very far from winning.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.04"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2831"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. c3 Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 15.
d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Nf1 Bf6 18. d5 Ncb8 19. h4 Nc5 20. Ng3 Bc8 21. Ng5 h6
22. Nh5 Be7 23. Nh3 Qa2 24. Re3 g6 25. Rg3 Nbd7 26. Bxh6 Bxh4 27. Rg4 Be7 28.
Bg5 Bxg5 29. Nxg5 f5 30. exf5 gxh5 31. Rg3 Nf6 32. Ne6+ (32. Ne4+ Ng4 (32...
Kf7 33. Nxf6 Kxf6 34. Qxh5 e4 35. f4 Qxd5 (35... Qxc2 36. Rg6+ Ke7 37. Rg7+ Kd8
38. Qg5+ $18) 36. Rg6+ Ke7 37. Rg7+ $18) 33. Rxg4+ hxg4 34. Qxg4+ Kf7 35. Qg6+
Ke7 36. Qg7+ Ke8 37. f6 Rf7 38. Qg8+ Rf8 39. Nxd6+ cxd6 40. Bg6+ $18) 32... Kf7
33. Rg7+ Ke8 34. Nxc7+ Kd8 35. Ne6+ Ke8 36. Nc7+ Kd8 37. Ne6+ Ke8 38. Nc7+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 75th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2013.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. a3 Nb8 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Nf1 Nc5 12. Ba2 Be6 13. Bxe6 Nxe6 14. Ng3 g6 15.
c3 c5 16. Bh6 Re8 17. h3 Nd7 18. a4 Qb6 19. Nh2 Nf6 20. Ng4 {Giri: I thought
if he loses so much time I should punish him, and and I calculated a lot on
what if he takes, and not what if he doesn't.} Reb8 21. Re3 Qd8 22. Nf5 b4 23.
Rg3 bxc3 24. bxc3 Rb7 25. Rb1 Rxb1 26. Qxb1 Nxg4 27. Rxg4 Bf8 28. Qb7 Rb8 29.
Qd5 Nc7 ({Anand: My original idea was} 29... Nf4 {and after} 30. Bxf4 ({
At the last minute I saw} 30. Rxf4 exf4 31. Bxf8 Qxf8 32. Nxd6 {and with
enough pawns he is fine.}) 30... exf4 {the knight on f5 is basically doomed.})
30. Qc6 Ne8 31. Qxa6 Nf6 $2 ({Anand: after} 31... Qb6 {I get the game but with
two extra tempi and probably I'm just winning, or at least a better endgame.})
32. Rg5 $1 {Anand: This looks stupid, because he blocks the bishop -- blocks
everything -- but I cannot do anything with it.} Qb6 33. Qc4 Ne8 34. Rg3 Qb3
35. Qxb3 Rxb3 36. Bd2 Ra3 37. d4 Rxa4 38. dxe5 dxe5 39. Nh6+ Kg7 40. Rd3 Nf6
41. Ng4 Nxg4 42. hxg4 Rxe4 43. g5 Ra4 44. Kf1 Ra6 45. c4 Rd6 46. Ke2 Rxd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2009.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2009.01.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{No Marshall. Kariakin prefers to avoid a theoretical duel and saves his
novelties for another day.} Bb7 {Nowadays, Black leaves the pawn on d7 a
little longer. maybe he can still play d5 in one move, and aso the bishop
retains the chance to come to c5.} 9. d3 d5 {See the previous note. Black is
ready to part with a pawn.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. a4 ({White plays it safe. The
point is that after} 11. Nxe5 Nd4 $1 {Black manages to exchange off the
powerful Spanish bishop.}) 11... Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. axb5 {The speed of play
suggests that both players were prepared for exactly this variation.} axb5 14.
Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Na3 {I have seen this position before. Yes, now I remember! It
was in December, at the Grand Prix in Elista, the game Leko-Jakovenko. White
quickly achieves a decisive advantage, but could not win. Peter's team was
very upset, and Dima was delighted...} Bb4 {Virtually the only sensible move.}
({If} 15... Qd7 16. Qg4 $1 {is very strong.}) ({and after} 15... Bxa3 16. bxa3
c5 17. Qg4 {White's two bishops give him a strong initiative.}) (15... b4 {
is just positionally bad.}) 16. Bd2 ({In the above-mentioned game, the players
first repeated moves:} 16. Re5 Bd6 17. Re1 Bb4 {and only then was} 18. Bd2 {
played.}) 16... Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Qf6 {I remember we analysed the text in the
press-centre at Elista, and we humans could not find any advantage for White.
Now we will see what Kariakin and his computer have come up with. Black offers
the b5-pawn,but prepares the powerful Nd5-f4.} ({Novelty! The Leko-Jakovenko
game went} 17... Bc6 $2 18. Re5 $1 b4 19. Nb5 $1 Nf6 20. Qf4 Bd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5
22. Qxd4 c6 23. Na7 $1 Qc7 24. Nxc6 Qxc6 25. Rxd5 Qxc2 26. Qxb4 {and, believe
it or not, the Hungarian no. 1 and Super-GM could not realize the advantage of
two extra pawns.}) 18. Bxd5 {DRAW! A cynical decision, in my view. No fight at
all took place here. Poor show, Sergey. Poor show, Levon.} ({After} 18. Nxb5 {
there is} Nf4 19. f3 Qh6 20. Kh2 (20. Qf2 Qg5 $1) 20... Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qxh3+ 22.
Kg1 Qg3+ {and Black has at least a draw. Probably a draw at most, as well.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 5th"]
[Site "Sao Paulo/Bilbao"]
[Date "2012.10.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2012.09.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{A critical game. I felt I would have to win to keep chances for first place,
while for Levon it was the last chance to catch the leaders.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 {I decided to
avoid the dense theory of the Marshall with this forgotten move, which despite
its harmless appearance can be surprisingly venomous.} d6 9. a4 Bd7 10. c3 Na5
11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Re8 {So far we've both been making logical schematic moves,
but here I felt it was time to create some play in the center. Objectively I
should have continued quietly with 13.Nf1.} 13. d4 exd4 $5 {Levon showed that
he was ready for a sharp fight with this move.} ({During the game I tried to
evaluate the position after} 13... Bf8 14. d5 c4 15. b4 cxb3 16. Nxb3 Nc4 17.
Nbd2 ({Perhaps White can try} 17. Nfd2 Nb6 18. a5 Na4 19. c4 {, with a messy
position.}) 17... Nb6 18. a5 Na4 19. Bxa4 Qxa5 20. Ba3 bxa4 21. c4 Qc7 22. Rc1
{, which I was optimistic about, but the computer disagrees, offering the
strong idea to play ...Rb8, ...a5 and ...Rb4.}) (13... Qc7 $1 {was just a
clean way to equalize without any problems, indicating that 13.d4 was
premature.}) 14. cxd4 Bg4 {Black's play is very ambitious but also very risky.
His bishop is liable to get locked out of the game on g6, so he will have to
rely on tactics to keep White from consolidating.} 15. h3 Bh5 16. d5 ({I
didn't like} 16. g4 Bg6 17. d5 Bf8 {, because I couldn't see how to remove my
knight from d2.}) 16... Qc8 {A creative idea to solve Black's problems. Levon
wanted to prevent g4 by arranging a piece sacrifice. Black also plans the
manouver Bd8-b6.} ({Black could have considered} 16... Nd7 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nf1
h6 19. Ng3 Bf6 {, with plans to attack on the queenside with ...b4 and ...c4.
White on the other hand will continue with Kg2, h4 and g5. The play is very
double-edged but my feeling during the game was that White would be faster.})
17. Nf1 (17. g4 $6 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Qxg4+ 19. Kf1 {looks far too risky for White.
Black can continue slowly with} Bf6 $5 {, and it's not clear how to free
White's pieces.}) 17... Bd8 18. g4 {I thought I was being clever with this
move, but in this case simpler was better.} ({I should have played} 18. Ng3
Bxf3 (18... Bg6 19. Bf4 {, with Nh4-f5 coming next, doesn't look too pleasant
for Black.}) 19. Qxf3 g6 (19... Nxd5 {and now even stronger than 20.Nf5 is} 20.
e5 $1 Nb4 21. e6 $1 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Qh5 {, with a nasty attack.}) 20.
Bh6 {This is the move I underestimated, but it's the most natural so I don't
understand why. Nf5 next will give White a strong initiative.}) 18... Bg6 ({
Of course now} 18... Nxg4 $2 19. hxg4 Qxg4+ 20. Ng3 {is losing for Black.}) 19.
Ng3 b4 {Black is advancing very quickly on the queenside, and it could soon
get very dangerous for White if the pawns get to b3 and c3. However, White's
superiority on the kingside and in the center will secure an edge.} 20. Nh4 {
Not a bad move, but it allows too much of a mess.} ({As usual the most natural
is best:} 20. Bf4 $1 b3 (20... Qd7 {is met by the strong} 21. b3 $1 c4 22. bxc4
Nxc4 23. a5 $1) 21. Bb1 Qd7 22. Bd2 {, and Bc3 next gives White a pleasant
advantage.}) 20... b3 {This move prepares the following piece sacrifice. Black
had other options as well.} ({I spent a lot of time calculating} 20... c4 21.
Nhf5 (21. Bd2 c3 22. bxc3 bxc3 23. Bf4 Nc4 {should be fine for Black.}) 21...
b3 22. Bb1 Bb6 (22... c3 23. Nxd6 c2 {was also a concern during the game, but
White seems to come out on top after} 24. Bxc2 bxc2 25. Qd3) 23. Qf3 Qc5 {
and here there are many possibilities. One wild continuation is} 24. Bf4 c3 25.
Bxd6 cxb2 26. Bxc5 bxa1=Q 27. Bxb6 Qxa4 28. Bd4 {, and despite the material
deficit White has a powerful attack.}) 21. Bb1 Nxg4 $5 {A very enterprising
piece sacrifice, which is perhaps not fully correct, but leads to unstable and
violent positions.} 22. Nxg6 Nxf2 23. Ne7+ $1 {A very important move, without
which White would face an unpleasant situation. White has to avoid the
structure with pawns on g6 and g7, which cover all the important squares.} (23.
Kxf2 $2 fxg6 $1 24. Kg2 Bf6 {doesn't look like a great deal of fun to me. In
fact, I can't see how to free White's pieces at all.}) 23... Rxe7 $2 {This
awkward move is the decisive mistake.} (23... Bxe7 {is a lot harder to crack.}
24. Kxf2 Bf6 25. Nf5 c4 {Black has to play this as quickly as possible, before
White can extricate the bishop with Bd3.} 26. Rg1 ({After} 26. Kg2 Be5 {
, I don't see a clear continuation for White.}) 26... Kh8 27. Be3 $5 {If White
wants to stop Black from consolidating, this double-edged move is the way.}
Bxb2 28. Nxd6 ({After} 28. Rxg7 Bxg7 29. Nxg7 Qxh3 $1 {it all ends
surprisingly with perpetual.}) ({The position after} 28. Bd4 Bxd4+ 29. Qxd4 Qc5
30. Qxc5 dxc5 31. Rxg7 {is evaluated as good for White by the computer, but I
doubt I'd have the guts to go for it.}) 28... Qc7 29. Nxe8 (29. Bd4 Bxa1 30.
Bxa1 c3 31. Qd4 f6 32. Bxc3 Qxd6 33. Bxa5 {might be better for White, but it's
more likely Black will find a perpetual.}) 29... Rxe8 30. d6 Qb8 $1 31. e5 $1 (
31. Bd4 Bxa1 32. Rxg7 (32. Bxa1 b2 {is the point behind 30...Qb8!}) 32... Bxd4+
33. Qxd4 Nc6 34. Qf6 Qa7+ 35. Kf1 Re6 {and Black hangs on by a thread.}) 31...
Rxe5 (31... Bxa1 $2 32. Rxg7 Kxg7 33. Qg4+ Kh8 34. Qf5 {mates}) 32. Qf3 $3 {
An astonishing idea, which wins the game for White. The point is} Bxa1 33. Rxg7
$1 Kxg7 34. Bh6+ Kxh6 35. Qf6+ Kh5 36. Qxf7+ Kg5 37. Qg7+ Kh5 38. Qxh7+ Kg5 39.
Qg6+ Kf4 40. Qg3# {Of course this fantastic play is impossible to discover
over the board, with limited time on the clock. In a practical game any result
is possible.}) 24. Kxf2 Re5 {I understood Levon wanted to sacrifice the rook
with Bf4 Bf6, and achieve a dark square blockade, but White isn't obligated to
capture the rook at all.} 25. Kg2 (25. Bd3 {is also very strong.}) 25... c4 26.
Nf5 {Now the attack starts.} Bf6 ({Levon mentioned} 26... Rxf5 27. exf5 Bf6 {
as a possibility, but after the simple} 28. Re2 {Black has insufficient
compensation for the rook.}) 27. Qf3 c3 ({After} 27... Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Qxf5 29.
exf5 c3 {White wins without much difficulty:} 30. Re2 c2 31. Bxc2 bxc2 32. Ra3
Nc4 33. Rb3 Rc8 34. Kh1 Ne5 35. Rxc2 {, and it's all over.}) 28. Nh6+ Kh8 (
28... Kf8 29. Bd3 {is similar to the game.}) 29. Bd3 {Maybe even more accurate
than taking the pawn on f7.} Re7 30. e5 {Of course I was happy to open lines
to Black's king.} Bxe5 31. Qe4 {There's many other ways to win as well.} g6 32.
Qh4 f6 33. Rxe5 dxe5 34. Qxf6+ Rg7 35. Qxe5 Qe8 36. Qxc3 Rc8 37. Qxa5 Re7 38.
Bg5 Re2+ 39. Kg1 {A very important victory, which allowed me to stay in the
race for first place.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 f6 12. c3 {Not exactly a new move, but not
one which I had spent much time analysing. The main focus of attention in this
position has been 12.c4.} Kh8 {I spent a long time deciding between this move
and the principled 12...Na5. As usual, I probably maid the wrong choice.} 13.
Bc2 {This move may look passive, but it has a purpose: White is planning Nb3
and d4, when he can recapture on d4 with a piece.} ({During the game I was
most worried about} 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4) 13... Qd7 ({I spent some time trying
to make} 13... f5 {work, but I couldn't find sufficient compensation after} 14.
Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bd6 16. Re1 {, and next Nf3 covers everything.}) ({I was
also considering} 13... b4 14. c4 Nf4 15. Nb3 Ne6 16. d4 Ncxd4 17. Nfxd4 Nxd4
18. Nxd4 exd4 {, and felt it was very dangerous for Black, but in fact it
isn't easy for White to prove any advantage.}) 14. Nb3 a5 {Taking measures
against d4.} 15. a4 ({After} 15. d4 a4 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Rfd8 18. Qd3 g6 {
, Black has total control over the white squares.}) 15... bxa4 16. Rxa4 Ncb4 {
At this point I'm already committed to a pawn sacrifice. For the pawn I
eliminate White's bishop, and I was happy my king would finally feel secure.} (
{I can't afford to allow White's rook to h4:} 16... Nb6 17. Rh4 $1 f5 {, and
here I stopped calculating when I saw Ng5 with what seemed to be a tremendous
attack. Instead, the machine suggests} 18. d4 $5 {a move which, to put it
mildly, I find shocking. Since I don't understand much in this position, I'll
trust Houdini and say White has an advantage.}) 17. Rxa5 Nxc2 18. Qxc2 Nb6 {
Too hesitant.} ({I should have played the energetic} 18... g5 {, when the
position is completely unclear and Black has full compensation for the pawn.})
19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Nbd2 g5 {A little bit late, but it's still okay.} (20... c5
21. Ne4 Nd5 {was also a perfectly viable option. Black keeps reasonable
compensation.}) 21. Nh2 {In hindsight this looks like a mistake, but during
the game it was the move I expected.} (21. d4 g4 22. hxg4 Qxg4 {It seems risky
for White to allow this, and I felt like I would have a strong attack here,
but White has more than sufficient defensive resources. A possible variation is
} 23. Ne4 Rg8 24. Ng3 h5 25. Nxe5 fxe5 26. Rxe5 Bg5 27. Bxg5 Rxg5 {, and White
has a perpetual with} 28. Re8+ Rg8 29. Re5 {, but nothing more.}) 21... Rd8 22.
d4 exd4 ({I spent a lot of time on} 22... Qc6 {, but wasn't satisfied with} 23.
Qe4 (23. Ndf3 Rxd4 $1 {exploiting 2 pins, is the point behind Qc6.}) 23... Qxe4
24. Nxe4 exd4 25. Ng4 {, when I even felt I would be worse, which is of course
not the case, but Black also won't be better.}) 23. cxd4 Bb4 24. Re2 ({I was
mostly concerned about} 24. Ng4 {, when I planned the simple} Nd5 {The machine
is very optimistic for Black, but during the game I had no ambitions beyond
equality.}) 24... Qxd4 25. Ndf1 $2 {This is the first very serious mistake
Vishy made, and after it he is on the verge of losing.} ({Although it looks
risky, White should bite the bullet with} 25. Qxc7 {, when he will probably
survive. For example,} Qd5 26. Nhf3 Na8 27. Qc2 Rc8 28. Qd1 {is a variation I
gave in the press conference after the game, and White has gotten over the
worst of it.}) 25... Qc5 26. Qxc5 Bxc5 {This endgame is extremely unpleasant
for White. Black's advantage is enduring and there is no way for the defender
to release the tension.} 27. Rc2 Bd6 28. Ng4 Kg7 29. Bd2 Kg6 {I can calmly
start advancing on the kingside.} 30. Nge3 f5 31. Nc4 {Trades don't ease
White's defensive task. The bishop pair is a tremendous force even in
simplified positions.} Nxc4 32. Rxc4 Ra8 33. Rc1 f4 34. Bc3 h5 35. Nd2 Bd5 36.
f3 $2 {After this I encroach even more on White's territory.} Bc5+ 37. Kf1 Be3
{Now the situation has become really critical for White. Only with extremely
accurate play can he attempt to hold the balance. His next move, however, was
a blunder which loses immediately.} 38. Ke2 $2 Bc4+ {Now it's all over.} 39.
Ke1 (39. Kd1 Bf1 {picks up all White's kingside pawns. The tactical point is}
40. Nxf1 Bxc1 41. Kxc1 Ra1+) 39... Re8 40. Kd1 ({During the game I started to
get worried by the clever} 40. Be5 $5 {, which would have been a great last
chance. After} Bb5 41. Bxc7 {, I would have to find the study-like} Re7 $3 {
, and the bishop on c7 is trapped!} ({Instead, something like} 41... Bb6+ $2
42. Ne4 {gives Black nothing}) 42. Bd8 (42. Kd1 Ba4+ 43. b3 Bxb3+ 44. Nxb3 Bxc1
{wins.}) 42... Rd7 43. Ba5 Bxd2+ 44. Bxd2 Re7+ {and White is completely
dominated.}) 40... Bxd2 41. Kxd2 Re2+ {Mopping up White's kingside.} 42. Kd1
Rxg2 43. Bd4 Be2+ 44. Ke1 Bxf3 45. Rxc7 Re2+ 46. Kf1 Rh2 47. Rg7+ Kf5 0-1

[Event "New Delhi AAI"]
[Site "New Delhi"]
[Date "2011.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Negi, Parimarjan"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2622"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2011.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{This came as a big surprise. I had expected Parimarjan to play 8.c3.} b4 9. d4
d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bg5 {Now I was totally out of any knowledge,
and I began to feel very uncomfortable because I couldn't see any way to deal
with White's threat of Bxf6 and Bd5. After long thought I embarked on a
speculative exchange sacrifice, which I wasn't sure would work, but seemed to
be worth a shot.} h6 $5 {A bizarre move. I'm basically forcing White to do
what he wants. However, I played this with a concrete idea in mind.} ({The
main line is} 12... Rb8 13. Nbd2 h6 {, which I rejected because I assume White
would be better after} 14. Be3 {, but in fact Black obtains a reasonable
position with} Bd6 $1 15. a5 Ng4) 13. Bxf6 gxf6 {An essential move. I need the
e5-pawn to be secured.} 14. Bd5 {If White doesn't immediately use this pin he
will have nothing.} (14. Nbd2 Na5 {is of course not what White wants.}) 14...
Rd6 $1 {This exchange sacrifice was my idea with 12...h6.} ({After a
conventional sequence like} 14... Bd7 15. Nbd2 Rab8 16. Nb3 Bd6 17. a5 Ne7 18.
Bc4 {Black finds himself in a very unpleasant position with no chances for
active counterplay. This was what I was trying to avoid.}) 15. Nbd2 Be6 16. Nc4
{Principled and probably correct.} ({White can also try} 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Nc4
Rd7 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. Kf1 {, with a small edge but Black should
be able to hold.}) 16... Rxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Ne3 Be6 {During the game I
wasn't sure if I had full compensation, but at least I felt it wasn't easy for
White to prove an advantage. My bishop pair is very strong and controls a lot
of squares, and if I manage to advance my pawns with ...f5 White's position
could become unpleasant.} 19. Nh4 $6 {I don't like this move. White's knights
might look nice on e3 and f5 but they don't contribute much, and will probably
be chased around a lot.} ({After} 19. Rad1 f5 20. Nd5 Bd6 {I believe Black's
position is fine.}) ({During the game I was most worried about} 19. g4 $1 {
, when White plans Nd2-e4, and it could start to get really dangerous for
Black. I had planned} h5 20. h3 Kh7 21. Kh2 {, but I wasn't sure what to do
here. Black has a number of ways which probably can hold a draw, but there
isn't any forced way to equalize.} Bc5 ({After} 21... Rg8 22. Rg1 e4 23. Nd2
Ne5 {I'm worried about} 24. Nxe4 Nf3+ 25. Kh1 Nxg1 26. Rxg1 hxg4 27. hxg4 $14 {
, which looks harmless but I can't find anything satisfactory for Black.}) 22.
Rg1 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. c3 bxc3 25. bxc3 Bxc3 26. Rac1 Bd4 27. Rxc7 hxg4 28.
hxg4 Kg6 {This is a normal continuation, and Black can probably hold this, but
there's still work to be done.}) 19... Bc5 20. Nhf5 Kh7 {Now it's not clear
what White wants to do with his knights. In fact, it's much easier to play
Black's position because he has a clear plan to kick the f5-knight with ...Kg6
and slowly advance his pawns, while White has no targets for attack at all.} (
20... Nd4 {is inaccurate and is met strongly with} 21. Ng3 $1 {, when} f5 {
doesn't work due to} 22. Ngxf5) 21. c3 bxc3 22. bxc3 Rg8 {I wanted to prevent
White from playing g4.} (22... h5 $5 {was also good for this reason.}) 23. Kh1
$6 {This looks like a waste of time, and leads White to difficulties.} ({
A natural move like} 23. Rad1 {must be preferred.}) 23... h5 24. Rad1 ({
A logical continuation would be:} 24. h3 Rg5 25. g4 (25. Ng3 f5 26. h4 Bxe3 $1
{is a nice trick.}) 25... hxg4 26. hxg4 Bxe3 $1 (26... e4 $2 {first doesn't
work:} 27. Ng3) 27. Nxe3 e4 $1 {, and Black will have a good position after ...
Ne5. Most likely it will end in a draw, which White should be satisfied with
at this point.}) 24... Kg6 25. Nh4+ Kh6 26. g3 ({After} 26. Nhf5+ {Black can
already play for a win:} Kg5 $1 27. Ng3 f5) 26... Ne7 {Finally Black's pawns
are ready to go. Although the position probably remains about equal, I much
prefer to play Black's position.} 27. Rd2 $6 {An inaccuracy. Later on I'll
take advantage of this with ...Rb8, when White can't respond with Rb1.} (27. f4
$2 {doesn't work:} exf4 28. gxf4 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Bd5+ 30. Nf3 Nf5 $17) ({The
computer suggests} 27. Kg2 c6 28. c4 a5 {, with a roughly balanced position.} (
28... f5 $2 {loses:} 29. Nexf5+ Nxf5 30. Nxf5+ Bxf5 31. Rxe5 Bg4 32. f3 $18))
27... c6 28. Nhg2 Rb8 $1 {Suddenly White is in big trouble due to the threat
of ...Rb3. Negi was also in time trouble at this point, further complicating
his task.} 29. Red1 Rb3 30. Rd8 Rxc3 31. Ra8 Bb3 {Grabbing another pawn.} 32.
Ra1 (32. Re1 Bxa4 33. Rxa6 Bb3 {is similar to the game, but at least Black
doesn't have the extra tempo ...Bd4.}) 32... Bd4 33. Re1 Bxa4 34. Rxa6 ({
A very important variation is} 34. Re8 Nd5 35. Nf5+ Kh7 36. Rf8 {, and now
Black has the only but winning move} Bc5 $1 37. Rxf7+ Kg6 $19) 34... Bb3 $17 {
White's defensive task is really tough, because all Black's pieces are
dominating. In severe time trouble Negi couldn't cope.} 35. Ra8 Be6 36. h4 $2 {
A strange move, but I'm not sure what to suggest for White.} Ng6 37. Rb1 f5 {
With every move the position gets worse for White.} 38. Nd1 Rc2 39. Kg1 Rd2 40.
Ra3 c5 {And after the time control it's just hopeless...} 41. Ne1 e4 42. Ng2 c4
43. Nde3 Ne5 44. Ra6 Nf3+ 45. Kf1 c3 46. Rc6 Kh7 47. Rc7 Bxe3 48. Nxe3 f4 49.
gxf4 c2 0-1

[Event "Riga op"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sulskis, Sarunas"]
[Black "Berzinsh, Roland"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. Re1 Be7 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf4 12. d4 Nxg2 13. Qe2 (13. Bg5 f6 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 16. Be6+ $6 (16. Qf5+ Ke8 17. Qh5+ Kd7 18. Qf5+ $10)
16... Kc6 17. Bd5+ Kb6 18. Re6+ Ka7 19. Bxb7 Kxb7 20. Qf3+ Kb8 21. a4 (21. Kxg2
Qg8+) 21... Nh4 22. Qc6 Bd6 $19 {Majzlan,J-Habinak,T/SVK/1994/0|1/24/}) 13...
h6 14. Qh5 g6 15. Qh3 Qd6 (15... Qc8 16. Qg3 $14) 16. Bg5 $5 {N} (16. Nd2 Nh4
17. Ne4 (17. Re1 $6 f5 $4 (17... Qf6 $5) 18. Qxh4 $18 {Guedon,S-Filipowicz,L/
Torcy/1991/1|0/18/}) 17... Qxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe4 19. Bd1 Rd8 (19... h5 $5 20. Be3
g5 $44) 20. Be3 g5 21. f3 Bd5 22. Be2 $16 {Polovodin,J-Genin,A/URS/1981/1|0/45/
}) 16... Qxe5 $5 (16... f6 17. Re6 Nf4 18. Bxf4 Qxf4 19. Na3 Rh7 20. Rae1 $13)
17. dxe5 Bxg5 18. a4 Nf4 19. Qe3 (19. Qg4 h5 $1) 19... O-O-O $1 20. axb5 Rd3
21. Qa7 $6 (21. Qc5 $5 Rhd8 22. Na3 Nh3+ 23. Kf1 Rf3 24. bxa6 Bxa6+ 25. Nc4 Rd2
26. Ke1 $1 Rfxf2 (26... Rdxf2 $4 27. Nb6+ Kb8 (27... Kd8 28. Qf8#) 28. Qf8+ $18
) 27. Nxd2 (27. Nd6+ Kd7 28. Ba4+ Ke6 29. Bb3+ $10) (27. Nb6+ Kb8 28. Qf8+ Rd8
29. Nd7+ Kc8) 27... Re2+ 28. Kd1 (28. Kf1 Rxe5+ 29. Rxa6 Rxc5) 28... Rxd2+ 29.
Ke1 Re2+ 30. Kd1 Nf2+ 31. Qxf2 Rxf2 32. Rxa6) 21... a5 $1 22. Na3 (22. Rxa5 $2
Rhd8) (22. Qxa5 $2 Rhd8 23. Na3 Nh3+ 24. Kf1 Rf3 $19) 22... Bh4 $1 23. Nc4 Rf3
$5 (23... Nh3+ $5 24. Kf1 Bxf2 25. b6 Rf3 26. Ke2 Nf4+ (26... Rd8 $2 27. Qxb7+
$1) 27. Kd2 Rd8+ 28. Kc1 (28. Kc2 Be4+ 29. Kc1 Bxb6 30. Nxb6+ cxb6 31. Bc4 Nd3+
32. Bxd3 Rfxd3 33. Qa6+ Bb7 34. Qc4+ Kb8 $36) 28... Bxb6 29. Nxb6+ cxb6 30. Bc4
Nd3+ 31. Kb1 Rf2 32. Qxb6 (32. Bxd3 Rxd3 33. Ka2 (33. Qxb6 Rd1+ 34. Ka2 Bd5+
$19) 33... Kc7) 32... Rxb2+ 33. Qxb2 Nxb2 34. Kxb2 Rd2+ $19) 24. Kf1 (24. Nxa5
Bxf2+ $1 25. Qxf2 Nh3+ $19) 24... Nh3 25. Nxa5 Rxf2+ 26. Qxf2 (26. Ke1 Rxh2+
27. Kf1 (27. Kd1 Rd8+ 28. Kc1 Rh1+ 29. Kc2 Be4#) 27... Bf3 28. Qa6+ Kd7 29. e6+
Ke7 30. Nc6+ Kf6 $19) 26... Nxf2 27. Nxb7 Kxb7 28. Ra4 g5 29. Bxf7 Nd3 30. e6
Ne5 31. Bh5 g4 32. Re4 $6 (32. Bxg4 $5 Rf8+ 33. Kg2 Rf2+ $1 34. Kh3 Be7 $17)
32... Rf8+ 33. Ke2 (33. Kg2 $4 Rf2+ 34. Kh1 Nf3 $19) (33. Kg1 Rf5 34. Bxg4 Nxg4
35. Rxg4 Rg5 36. Rxg5 Bxg5 37. Kg2 Kb6 $19) 33... Rf5 34. Bxg4 Nxg4 35. Rxg4
Re5+ (35... Be7 36. Kd3 Rxb5 37. Rg7 Bd6 $19) 36. Kd3 Bg5 $6 (36... Be7 $5 37.
Rg6 (37. Re4 Rxb5 $19) 37... h5 38. c4 Kb6 $17) 37. Re4 Rxe4 $2 (37... Rxb5 38.
e7 Bxe7 39. Rxe7 Rxb2 $10) (37... Rd5+ $5 38. Kc4 Rd8 39. b4 $44) 38. Kxe4 Kb6
$6 (38... Kc8 $1 39. c4 Kd8 40. c5 Ke7 41. Kd5 Bf4 42. h3 h5 43. b4 Bg3 44. Kc6
$1 Kxe6 45. b6 cxb6 46. Kxb6 Kd5 $1 47. c6 Kc4 48. b5 Kb4 $10) 39. Kf5 Kxb5 40.
Kg6 Kc4 (40... Kc6 41. Kf7 Kd6 42. b4 Bh4 43. c4 c5 44. b5 h5 45. b6 $18) 41.
Kf7 $18 Kb3 42. e7 Bxe7 43. Kxe7 Kxb2 44. c4 Kc3 45. c5 Kb4 46. c6 (46. c6 Kc5
47. Kd7 Kb6 48. h3 h5 49. h4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Buenos Aires"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1980.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1980.10.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 (8... b4 $5 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Bxb3 $5 12. Nxb3 d5 13. Qe2 Re8
14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Nh5 16. Bg3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Bf8 $10 {Speelman,J-Smyslov,V/
Biel(izt)/1993/ Inf 58/367/}) 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 (10. Nbd2 $5 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.
Nf1 b4 $5 13. Ne3 Bc8 14. c3 Rb8 15. Nd2 Be6 $10 {Geller,E-Xie,Jun/Wien/1993/0:
1 (52) Inf 58/367/}) 10... Na5 (10... b4 $5) 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 c5 (12... b3 $6
13. cxb3 c5 14. b4 $1 $14) 13. Bd2 Rb8 (13... Bc8 $5 14. Ng3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6
16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb8 $10 {Kurajica,B-Jansa,V/Titova Uzice/1978/}) 14. Ng3
Bc8 15. h3 (15. c3 $5) 15... Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Be3 Qe8 (17... Nd7 $5) 18.
c3 bxc3 (18... Nh5 $6 19. Nxh5 Qxh5 20. cxb4 Rxb4 $140 21. Bd2) 19. bxc3 Nh5
20. Nxh5 Qxh5 21. Rb1 Qg6 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. d4 $1 exd4 (23... Qxe4 24. dxe5
dxe5 25. Bxc5) 24. cxd4 c4 (24... cxd4 25. Nxd4 Qxe4 26. Bg5 Qb7 27. Nxe6 $16)
25. d5 Nb3 (25... e5 26. Qc2 Rc8 27. Rb1 $16) 26. Nd4 Bf6 (26... exd5 $2 27.
Nc6 {1/4d5+-/}) (26... Nxd4 $5 27. Qxd4 Rc8 28. Qa7 (28. Rc1 Bf6) 28... Qe8
29. Qxa6 exd5 30. exd5 c3) 27. Nxe6 Bc3 (27... Qxe4 $2 28. Ba7 $18) 28. Re2
Qxe4 29. Qc2 (29. Ba7 $2 Qd3 $1) 29... Qd3 $6 (29... Qxd5 30. Nf4 Qa5 31. Qe4
$16) 30. Nf4 Qxc2 31. Rxc2 Be5 32. Rxc4 Nc5 33. g3 Rb1+ 34. Kg2 Ra1 35. Bxc5
$18 dxc5 (35... Bxf4 36. Bd4 $18) 36. Ne6 Bd6 37. Nxc5 Bxc5 38. Rxc5 Rxa4 39.
Kf3 Kf7 40. Ke3 Ra3+ (40... Kf6 41. Rc6+ Ke5 42. f4+ Kxd5 43. Rc7 Ra3+ 44. Kf2
Ke4 45. Re7+) 41. Ke4 Ra2 42. Ke5 (42. f4 Ra3) (42. f3 $5) 42... Re2+ 43. Kd6
Rxf2 44. Rc7+ Kf6 45. Rc3 $1 h5 (45... Rd2 46. Rf3+ Kg5 47. Ke6 $18) 46. Kc7
Rd2 47. d6 Ke6 48. Re3+ Kf7 49. d7 Rc2+ 50. Kd8 g5 51. Rf3+ Kg7 52. Rf5 (52.
Rf5 Kg6 53. Rd5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Europa-Meisterschaft"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1942.09.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Rabar, Braslav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1942.09.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. a4 Rb8 $2 (9... b4 $1) 10. axb5 axb5 11. d4 $1 exd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. Nc3
Qd7 14. Be3 Bd8 15. Qd3 $6 (15. d5 $1) 15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Ne7 $1 17. Kh1 Ng6
18. Rg1 $1 Nh5 19. Qf1 $1 Kh8 20. Ne2 c6 21. f4 d5 22. f5 Nh4 (22... Ne7 23.
Qh3) 23. f3 Qe8 (23... Re8 $1) 24. Nf4 Nf6 25. Qh3 Nxe4 (25... Nd7 26. Rg4 dxe4
27. Rxh4 Bxh4 28. Qxh4 exf3 29. Ng6+ $1) 26. fxe4 Qxe4+ 27. Ng2 Nxf5 28. Bf4
Rb7 29. Rae1 Qxd4 30. Qxf5 Qxb2 31. Be5 Qxb3 32. Re3 1-0

[Event "Paris FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elancourt"]
[Date "2013.09.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2013.09.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "2:00:00"]
[BlackClock "2:00:00"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:09] Giri was unable to breach
Tomashevsky's Spanish set-up. The Russian has shown to be unbelievably solid
in this opening and he obtained an easy draw again today.} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:
15]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4. Ba4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:
08]} 6. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 8. h3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
12]} d5 {[%emt 0:05:00]} 10. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 11.
Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nf4 {[%emt 0:04:26]} 12. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Na5 {
[%emt 0:00:41]} 13. Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} exf4 {[%emt 0:04:10]} 14. d4 {
[%emt 0:01:32]} Nxb3 {[%emt 0:30:49]} 15. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qd7 $146 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} (15... Re8 16. Qd3 f5 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. dxc5 Qg6
20. Re1 Rf8 21. Re7 Be4 22. Qd1 c6 23. b4 Bd5 24. c3 h6 25. Kh2 Rf7 26. Rxf7
Qxf7 27. Ne5 Qe7 28. Qd4 Qg5 29. Nf3 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Qh4 31. b3 Kh7 32. c4 Kg8
33. Kg2 Qg5+ 34. Kf1 Qh5 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Ke2 Qf7 37. Qd4 Qe7+ 38. Kf1 g5 39.
Qd6 Qe8 40. Kg2 Kg7 41. Qc7+ Kg6 42. Qd6+ Kg7 43. h4 Qc8 44. Qe7+ Kg6 45. h5+ {
Topalov,V (2752)-Svidler,P (2749) Astana 2012 1-0 (101)}) 16. Qd3 {[%emt 0:08:
30]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:01:57]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:22:30]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:14:43]} 18. Nc3
{[%emt 0:10:06]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:10:51]} 19. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 20. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 21. Re4 {[%emt 0:00:39]
} Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 22. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Qd4 {[%emt 0:02:07]} 23. Re4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 24. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Biel"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1986.07.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Klinger, Josef"]
[Black "Nunn, John DM"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1986.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3 d6 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Ba2 (12. Bc2 c5 13. d4 $13) 12... c5
13. Nf1 c4 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ne3 Rc8 17. axb5 axb5 18. dxc4 Nxc4 19.
Bxc4 bxc4 20. Nd2 Bg5 21. Nexc4 (21. Ndxc4 Bxe3 22. Nxe3 (22. Nxd6 Bxf2+ 23.
Kxf2 Qb6+ 24. Kf3 Rcd8 $19) 22... Bxe4 23. Nd5 $10) 21... d5 22. Na5 Ba8 23.
Qc2 (23. exd5 Qxd5 (23... Bxd5 24. Nf3 $44) 24. Ne4 $14) 23... Bxd2 24. Qxd2
dxe4 25. Qxd8 Rexd8 26. Red1 f6 (26... Rd3 27. Rxd3 exd3 28. f3 f5 29. Kf2 $14)
(26... f5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Nc4 Kf7 29. Nxe5+ Kf6 30. Nc4 $44) 27. Kf1 Kf7 28.
Ke2 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Ke6 30. c4 Rb8 31. b3 $6 (31. Rb1 $5 Rb4 32. b3 f5 33. Kd2 f4
34. Kc3 Rb8 35. b4 $13) 31... f5 32. g3 f4 33. Kd2 $2 Kf5 34. Kc3 e3 35. fxe3
f3 $19 36. b4 (36. c5 Ke4 37. Nc4 f2 $19) 36... Ke4 37. Nb3 f2 (37... Kxe3 38.
Re1+ Kf2 39. Rxe5) 38. b5 Kf3 39. Nd2+ Ke2 40. Rb1 Rd8 41. Nf1 Bg2 42. c5 Bxf1
43. c6 Bg2 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2020.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{[#] One of two popular ways to avoid Marshall Gambit (8.c3 d5!?), the other
being 8.a4!?} Bb7 9. d3 {The move everyone plays.} ({It is now quite
well-known that} 9. c3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Nf4 {is just an
improved Marshall for Black.}) 9... d6 (9... d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 {is again
another kind of Marshall, that Ding played many times as Black. However,
lately MVL won a convincing game against So against this line. Although that
was an internet blitz game, we may conclude that was the reason why Ding did
not repeat 9...d5.} 11. a4 $5 (11. Nxe5 Nd4 {is the start of some heavy theory
- for example we have seen this position between Kjakin and Carlsen (World
Championship match) and Wang Hao and Ding Liren (two of the Candidates). These
two games ended drawn and in general results are reasonable for Black.}) 11...
Nd4 12. Nbd2 $5 {Unexpectedly surrending the bishop pair!} (12. Nxd4 exd4 13.
axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Na3 Bb4 16. Bd2 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Qf6 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19.
Nxb5 Bxg2 $1 $11 {1-0 (40) Ivanchuk,V (2729)-Ding Liren (2781) Danzhou 2017})
12... Nxb3 13. Nxb3 Nb4 (13... f6 14. Na5 $1 Qc8 15. Bd2 $14) 14. Nxe5 Qd5 15.
Nf3 Qd7 16. Ne5 Qd5 17. f3 $1 Bd6 18. Ng4 (18. d4 $5) 18... Bg3 (18... Rae8 $5)
19. Re4 Qd6 20. Rd4 Qe7 21. Bd2 c5 22. Bxb4 cxb4 23. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 24. Rg4+ Kh8
25. Rxg3 Qe5 26. Qe1 Qxb2 27. axb5 a5 28. Qe7 Bd5 29. d4 {1-0 Vachier Lagrave,
M (2774)-So,W (2767) chess.com 2019.}) 10. a3 Qd7 {One of the three possible
plans.} (10... Nb8 $5 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Nc5 (12... Re8 {also deserves
attention:} 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Ng5 d5 $5 15. exd5 Nc5 $1 16. c4 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 c6
18. dxc6 Bxc6 19. cxb5 Bd5 20. Qd1 axb5 21. N5e4 h6 22. Qf3 (22. Bd2 $5) 22...
Ra6 23. Bd2 Ba8 24. Bb4 Nd5 $44 {0-1 (44) Zhigalko,S (2656)-Carlsen,M (2850)
Berlin 2015}) 13. Ba2 Ne6 14. Ng3 Re8 15. Ng5 Bc8 16. Qf3 h6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18.
Nf5 Bf8 {Here White should be a little better if he doesn't hurry up playing
g4.} 19. g4 (19. a4 $5) (19. h4 $5) 19... Bxa2 20. Rxa2 Re6 21. c3 d5 $11 {
½-½ (41) Shankland,S (2731)-Wojtaszek,R (2722) Prague 2019}) (10... Na5 11.
Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Bd2 ({It would have made sense to play} 13. Nd5 {first.}
) 13... Rc8 (13... Nd4 $5) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qd7 16. c3 Bf6 17. Nh2 $14 {
1-0 (74) Karthikeyan,M (2606)-Abdumalik,Z (2471) Caleta 2020}) 11. Nc3 $1 ({
Let's just remember that game Carlsen couldn't manage to eventually win in New
York, four years earlier:} 11. Nbd2 Rfe8 12. c3 Bf8 13. Nf1 h6 14. N3h2 d5 15.
Qf3 Na5 16. Ba2 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nc4 18. Bxh6 Qc6 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. Be3 Nxe4 $17 {
½-½ (94) Karjakin,S (2772)-Carlsen,M (2853) New York 2016.}) 11... Rfe8 $1 (
11... Nd8 {allows} 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nf5 $14 {½-½ (24) Ganguly,S 
(2636)-Nihal,S (2618) Wijk aan Zee 2020.}) 12. Bd2 $5 {Other moves did not
bring White much advantage.} (12. Ne2 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6 14. Nf5 Bd8 (14... Bf8 $5
) 15. Ng5 c5 16. Qf3 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxg5 19. Bxg5 Qxd5 20. Qg3 g6
$13 {½-½ (51) Shankland,S (2705)-Ding Liren (2811) chess.com 2019}) (12. Nd5
Nxd5 13. exd5 Na7 (13... Nd4 $5) 14. d4 exd4 15. Qxd4 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Qd3
Bf6 18. Bd2 Ne5 19. Rxe5 Rxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. c3 Qc6 22. f3 d5 {was close to
equal in Nakamura,H (2743)-Ding Liren (2805) Saint Louis 2019, ½-½ (47).})
12... Nd8 13. Nd5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (13... Ne6 {had been played in a correspondence
game, but after} 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Ng5 $5 {White should definitely have a
small advantage.}) 14. exd5 c5 (14... c6 15. c4 cxd5 16. cxd5 {wouldn't be
fuck for Black: he's lacking space and activity, while he can't attack the
theoretical d5-weakness.}) 15. a4 {Until there, both players had played
relatively fast...} f5 $4 $146 {...and Ding just blundered!} (15... f6 $1 {
was necessary, as a few correspondence games had shown. If White continues} 16.
axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. c4 {as in the game, now} Rf8 19. cxb5 Qxb5 {
is just fine, as there is no Nxe5.}) 16. axb5 $1 (16. Nxe5 $2 {would be
premature due to} dxe5 17. d6+ c4 $1 18. dxc4 Bf6 $132) 16... axb5 17. Rxa8
Bxa8 18. c4 $1 {An amazing way to win a pawn! Black cannot move his b5-pawn
due to Ba4, and he also cannot defend it!} Nf7 (18... Rf8 19. cxb5 Qxb5 $2 20.
Nxe5 $1 dxe5 21. d6+ $18) 19. cxb5 {And the b5-pawn is untouchable due to Ba4.
Black has just lost quite an important pawn: after Bc4, White will take
control of the position and play b4 soon or late.} g5 $2 {Probably upset with
his position, Ding tried to find counterplay on the kingside.} (19... Bd8 {
was a more solid defence.}) 20. Nh2 $1 {Preventing both ...h5 and ...g4.} Kg7
21. Bc4 Kg6 {Black is ready to do anything to push ...h5!} 22. g4 $1 {Just a
good positionnal move. Black is worse on both sides of the board!} Nh6 23. Qf3
Bd8 24. Qg2 $5 {White takes his time. Black has to be careful with his g5-pawn
in some lines!} f4 $2 {Definitely not a good move, but Black's situation
didn't leave Ding many hopes.} 25. b4 $1 Bb6 26. Qe4+ Kg7 27. bxc5 $1 {Black's
position collapses.} dxc5 (27... Bxc5 28. d4 $1 Bxd4 29. Nf3 Bb6 30. Nxg5 $18)
28. Nf3 Nf7 29. Bc3 $1 {Before Black goes ...Nd6.} Bc7 30. b6 Bb8 31. Qf5 {
Perhaps not the best move - but a good technical win.} Qxf5 32. gxf5 Kf6 33.
Nd2 $5 (33. Bb5 Re7 34. Bc6 Bb7 35. Nd2 {should also be an easy win.}) 33...
Rd8 (33... Kxf5 34. Bb5 {followed with Bc6.}) 34. d6 $1 {A very elegant move!
Black doesn't have a good way to take on d6.} Rxd6 (34... Bxd6 35. Ra1 {
(White has avoided ...Bxd5) followed with Ra7 or Ne4+ is an easy win.}) (34...
Nxd6 $6 35. Rxe5 {would lose even faster.}) 35. Rb1 $1 Nd8 $2 (35... Bc6 36.
Ne4+ Bxe4 37. dxe4 {would have been an easy technical win for White.}) 36. b7
$1 {Excellent finish!} Bxb7 (36... Nxb7 37. Ne4+ $18) 37. Ba5 {Winning a full
piece.} 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 15th"]
[Site "Gothenburg"]
[Date "2005.07.30"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2599"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2005.07.30"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Israel"]
[BlackTeam "Slovenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SLO"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Beliavsky is one of the greattest experts in Marshal lines, so, it was a
logical opening choice for white.} (8. d4 {Erenburg} d6 9. c3 Bg4 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V-Adams,M/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (58)}) (8. c3 {Erenburg}
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 {1/2-1/2 Alekseev,E-Aronian,L/Warsaw
2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (38)}) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {Nowadays very
fashionable line, as White faces some problems to get an advantage in Marschal
lines...} Na5 {Black attacks white's bishop, thus, making possible the c7-c5
advance. Other possibilities are:} (10... Nd7 {(Erenburg) 1/2-1/2 Kramnik,
V-Leko,P/Brissago 2004/CBM 103/[Lukacs] (43)}) (10... Qd7 {Shirov,A (2685)
-Sokolov,I (2670) Groningen 1996 (10) 1-0} 11. Nc3 Rae8 {1/2-1/2 Short,
N-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee 1997/CBM 057/[Blatny,P] (46)}) (10... Nd4 $5 11. Nxd4
exd4 12. Nd2 c5 13. Nf3 Nd7 $1 14. a4 Ne5 15. Bf4 Bf6 16. Nh2 Ng6 17. Bd2 Bg5
18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Qc1 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 Kh8 22. Nf3 h6 23. c3 dxc3
24. bxc3 f5 $36 {Lanka,Z-Blatny,P/EU-chT Debrecen LAT-CSR 1992/ 0-1 (40)}) 11.
Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 {White has two options of development the queenside knight...
Another one is:} (12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Nh2 Nd4 14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. hxg4 Bg5 $11 {
0-1 Leko,P-Grischuk,A/Cap d'Agde 2003/CBM 098/[Atlas,V] (36)}) 12... Nc6 ({
Immediate transfer of the light-squared bishop to e6 is possible as well:} 
12... Bc8 13. c3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. b4 cxb4 16. axb4 Nc6 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Bb2
h6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Rea1 $14 {0-1 Leko,P-Anand,V/Dortmund 2004/CBM 103/[Marin,
M] (83)}) 13. Nf1 ({White hasn't achieved anything special after} 13. c3 Qd7
14. Nf1 d5 15. Bg5 dxe4 16. dxe4 c4 17. Ne3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Qe6 19. Qe2 Bf8 20.
Bb1 h6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Leko,P/Brissago SUI 2004/The Week in Chess 517 (20)})
13... Bc8 {transfering the bishop to e6.} 14. Ne3 {White tried also:} (14. Bg5
$146 {1-0 Anand,V-Kasimdzhanov,R/Leon 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (39)}) (14. a4
$146 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. c3 Qd7 17. Ng3 h6 18. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {0-1 Gdanski,
J-Naiditsch,A/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (49)}) (14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6
fxe6 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. a4 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8 {
1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Topalov,V/Linares ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 539 (21)})
14... Be6 15. Bd5 $146 {White is moving his light-squared bishop before his
pawns, that will make possible to located the pawns on the light squares.
According to my database, this continuation is new. In previous game white
prefered} (15. Nd5 Nb8 (15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 17. Nd2 Nf5 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. b4
Rc8 20. Bd2 c4 21. dxc4 bxc4 22. a4 Nh4 23. Qh5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Shirov,A/
Cap d'Agde 2003/CBM 098 (61)}) 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Bb1 Nc6 18. Ng5 Bd7 19. f4
exf4 20. Bxf4 Rae8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Grischuk,A/Cap d'Agde 2003/CBM 098 (51)
}) 15... Rc8 {preparing the b8 square for the knight.} (15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4
17. Nd2 {[%cal Gc2c3]} Qd7 18. Ne4 Ne8 $1 19. c3 f5 20. Nd2 (20. cxd4 cxd4)
20... f4 21. Nec4 bxc4 22. cxd4 cxd3 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Nc4 (24. Rxe5 Bf6) 24...
Rd8 25. Qxd3 Nc7 $13) (15... Qd7 16. c3) 16. c3 {White is preparing either
d3-d4 or b2-b4 advance.} Bxd5 ({In case of} 16... Qd7 {, white can immediately
to carry out d3-d4.} 17. d4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21.
Qxd4 Rfe8 22. Bd2 $14) 17. exd5 Nb8 18. a4 {creating a tension on the
queenside.} Qd7 {covering the f5 square and protecting the b5 pawn.} (18... b4
19. a5) (18... Nbd7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qb3 Rb8 21. Nf5 $14 {[%cal Yc1g5,Ya1a7]})
19. axb5 {opening the "a" file.} axb5 20. c4 {strengthening the d5 pawn.} Rfe8
21. Nd2 $1 {Emil is planning to activate his kingside knight by transfering it
to the queenside.} Rc7 {[%cal Yc7b7] covering the seventh rank.} 22. cxb5 $1 {
In this way white gets the c4 spot.} Qxb5 (22... Rb7 23. Ndc4 Rxb5 24. Bd2 $14)
23. Ndc4 g6 {covering the f5 square.} 24. Bd2 Nbd7 25. Qf3 {White strengthens
his central d5 pawn, and he is intending to create some threats against
black's monarch.} Bf8 26. Bc3 {The dark-squared bishop is located excellently
on a long diagonal.} Rcc8 {Black suffers from lack of space, therefore, he
decides to change the rooks on the "a" file.} 27. Ra7 $1 Ra8 28. Rc7 $1 {
It is not easy for black to drive away white's rook from his camp.} Ra4 (28...
Ra6 29. Ng4 Nxg4 30. hxg4 $36) 29. Ng4 Qb8 (29... Nxg4 30. hxg4 {[%cal Gc4a3]}
Rd8 31. Rc6 $14) 30. Rc6 Nxg4 31. hxg4 Ra7 32. g5 {fixing black's kingside
pawns.} Rb7 33. Nd2 $1 {[%cal Yd2e4] transfering the knight to more active
position.} Nb6 {trying to prevent white's knight transfer to e4.} 34. Ne4 Nxd5
35. Nxd6 Bxd6 36. Qxd5 $16 {White's advantage is obvious, thanks to more
active pieces.} Rb6 {Other continuations are not better:} (36... Rd7 37. Rxc5
$16) (36... Rd8 37. Rxd6 $1 Rxd6 38. Qxe5 $18) 37. Rxb6 Qxb6 38. g3 {preparing
the g2 square for the king/} (38. Bxe5 {gives black some chances to survive:}
Bxe5 39. Rxe5 Rd8 $14) 38... Qc7 39. Ra1 {taking control over the only open
file.} (39. f4 {is met by} Rd8 40. Bxe5 Bxe5 41. Qxe5 Qxe5 $11) 39... Bf8 40.
Kg2 Qe7 41. Qc6 Rd8 42. Qf6 Qxf6 $2 {After this move, black is probably lost,
as his monarch will be paralized...} ({Black should have prefered a passive
defence:} 42... Re8 $16) 43. gxf6 Rxd3 {[%tqu "En","Please find the best move
for white.","","","a1a8","",10]} 44. Ra8 $1 {creating very unpleasant pin for
black!} e4 (44... h5 {doesn't change the evaluation of the position:} 45. Ba5 (
45. Bxe5 g5) 45... Rd5 46. Re8 $18 {[%cal Ya5d8]} (46. b4 c4)) 45. Ba5 $1 {
threatening to transfer the bishop to e7 via d8.} h5 (45... e3 46. Bd8 e2 47.
Be7 h5 48. Bxf8 Kh7 49. Bg7 g5 50. Re8 $18) (45... Rd5 46. Bd8 $18) 46. b4 ({
Strong enough as well:} 46. Re8 $18 {[%cal Ya5d8,Yd8e7]}) 46... Ra3 (46... Rd6
{loses as well:} 47. b5 Rd7 48. b6 g5 49. Ra7 Rd1 50. b7 Bd6 51. Ra6 Be5 52.
Rc6 $18) 47. Rc8 $1 $18 {[%cal Ya5b6] Now white is going to get a very obvious
material advantage, that promises him an easy victory.} e3 (47... c4 48. Bb6
$18) 48. fxe3 c4 (48... g5 49. Bb6 $18) 49. Bb6 c3 50. Bc5 (50. Bc5 c2 51. Bxf8
c1=Q 52. Rxc1 $18) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch sf 58th"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2005.09.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Smirnov, Pavel"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2005.09.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3
{transforming to C88. This continuation has its point, as white didn't lose
the time on h2-h3.} (7. c3 Nxe4 8. d4 {0-1 Hansen,S-Beliavsky,A/Germany 2004/
CBM 100/[Wedberg] (26)}) (7. Re1 Bc5 8. c3 {1/2-1/2 Leventic,I-Atalik,S/Neum
2004/CBM 102/[Atalik] (77)}) (7. Nc3 Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. Bd2 d6 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2
b4 {1-0 Kuzmin,G-Malaniuk,V/Kharkov 2004/CBM 103/[Wedberg] (31)}) 7... Be7 8.
Re1 O-O 9. a3 {preparing the a2 square for the light-squared bishop. Other
possibilities are:} (9. Nc3 d6 10. a3 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Ne2 c5 13. Ng3 d5
14. e5 Ne8 15. c3 f5 16. cxd4 cxd4 17. Qf3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Emms,J-Hebden,M/
Plymouth 1992/CBM 030 ext/[Bulletin] (40)}) (9. h3 d6 10. a3 {leads to popular
theoretical position.}) (9. Nbd2 Re8 10. Nf1 Bf8 11. c3 Na5 12. Bc2 d5 13. Qe2
c5 14. Ng3 d4 $11 {1-0 Vasiukov,E-Rantanen,Y/Belgrade 1988/TD/[Vasiukov] (33)})
(9. a4 Re8 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Nc3 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 d6 15.
Bd2 Na5 16. Bxb4 Bxd5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Qd2 Nc6 19. c4 Qe6 $11) 9... Re8 {
preparing the f8 square for the dark-squared bishop. Black tried also:} (9...
d6 10. Nc3 Qd7 11. Nd5 Bd8 12. c3 Kh8 13. d4 Na5 14. Nxf6 Bxf6 15. Bc2 Qe7 16.
b4 Nc4 17. Bd3 Nb6 18. Qc2 Rfc8 19. Bd2 Nd7 20. a4 $14 {1-0 Psakhis,
L-Katalymov,B/Krasnoyarsk 1980/EXT 2002 (79)}) (9... Bc5 10. Nc3 Ng4 11. Rf1 h6
12. Nd5 Re8 13. h3 Nf6 14. c3 d6 15. Nh2 Rb8 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Kh1 Qg6 18. f4
exf4 19. Rxf4 Nd8 20. Nf3 Ne6 21. Nh4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Loskutov,O-Yurtaev,L/Samara
2002/CBM 089 ext (40)}) 10. Nc3 {transfering the knight to d5. The alternative
is to bring the queenside knight to g3 via d2 and f1.} (10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 h6
12. Ba2 d6 13. c3 Nb8 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qf3 c6 16. Nf5 Nbd7 17. g4 Nh7 18. Qg3 Nc5
19. h4 a5 20. Bd2 a4 21. Rad1 $13 {1-0 Topalov,V-Delchev,A/FIDE WCh KO,
Tripoli LBA (2.2) 2004 (31)}) 10... h6 11. Nd5 $146 {According to my database,
this position appeared for the first time. In the previous game white continued
} (11. Be3 Bf8 12. Ba2 d6 13. h3 Ne7 14. Nh4 g5 15. Qf3 Bg7 16. Nf5 Nxf5 17.
Qxf5 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Qf3 c6 20. Ne4 $14 {0-1 Kulaots,K-Hector,J/TCh-SWE
2003 (67)}) 11... Bf8 (11... Bc5 $5 12. c3 d6 13. Ba2 $14 {[%cal Yb2b4]} (13.
d4 exd4 14. cxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd5 $17)) 12. c3 {preparing the breakthrough
in the centre.} d6 13. h3 {White is preparing the h2 square for the kingside
knight, and he is covering the g4 square, thus, making possible the
development of dark-squared bishop to e3.} Rb8 {protecting the light-squared
bishop.} 14. Nxf6+ (14. Be3 $5 Nxd5 (14... Bc8 $5) 15. Bxd5 Ne7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7
17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 $14) 14... Qxf6 15. Nh2 Bc8 {transfering the bishop to
g8-a2 diagonal, and, covering the g4 square.} 16. Re3 {bringing the rook to
the "g" file.} Be6 17. Ng4 Qh4 18. Bd5 {trying to force black to take on d5.} (
18. Rg3 Kh7) 18... Nd8 (18... Ne7 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. b4 $14 {[%cal Yd1b3,Ya3a4]}
) (18... Bxd5 19. exd5 Nd8 (19... Ne7 20. Re4 $18 {[%cal Gg4h6]}) 20. Qf3 $36 {
[%cal Ge3e4]}) 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Qf3 Bxd5 ({Worth consideration immediate} 20...
Qh5 $5 {[%cal Ge6d5,Yf7f5]} 21. Bxe6 (21. Be3 Bxd5 22. exd5 {-the game.}) 21...
Rxe6 22. d4 exd4 23. cxd4 d5 24. e5 Nc6 25. Be3 Ne7 {[%cal Ye7f5]} 26. Nh2 Qxf3
27. Rxf3 Kg8 28. Rc1 Rc6 $11) 21. exd5 Qh5 {protecting the f7 pawn.} 22. Be3 ({
Comes to consideration:} 22. Bd2 f6 23. b4 c6 24. dxc6 Rc8 25. a4 $16) 22... f6
$1 {preparing the f7 square for the queen or for a knight.} (22... f5 $4 23.
Nxe5 $18) 23. b4 {fixing black's "b" pawn, thus, preparing to open the "a"
file by a3-a4 advance.} (23. a4 {is met by} b4 {, closing the "a" file.}) 23...
c6 {opening the "c" file.} (23... Nf7 $4 {is refuted by} 24. Nxh6 $1 $18) 24.
dxc6 Rc8 25. a4 Nxc6 (25... Rxc6 26. axb5 axb5 27. Bd2 $16 {[%cal Ya1a8]}) 26.
axb5 axb5 27. Bd2 {strengthening the c3 pawn, as well as preparing the e3
square for the knight.} (27. Qd5 Ne7 $1 28. Qxb5 f5 29. Nh2 f4 30. Bxf4 Rb8 31.
Qa5 Nf5 $17) 27... Ne7 $1 {covering the d5 square, and, planning to transfer
the knight to f5.} 28. Ra5 Qf7 $1 $132 {preparing to push forward the "f" pawn.
In this way, black emphasizes the awkwardness in location of white's pieces on
the kingside.} (28... Nf5 $2 29. Nxf6 $1 $18) 29. h4 {liberating the h3 square
for the rook.} (29. Rxb5 f5 30. Ne3 f4 31. Rg4 Qf6 32. Nc4 h5 33. Rh4 Qxh4 (
33... g6 34. Bxf4 $14) 34. Nxd6 Ng6 $13 (34... Rb8 35. Rxe5 $18)) (29. Ne3 f5
30. Rxb5 f4 31. Rg4 {-29.Rxb5.}) 29... f5 30. Nh2 f4 31. Rh3 {Fritz still
evaluates white's position as good, but with such rook on h3 it should be
worse.} Nf5 {Black doesn't care about the "b" pawn. He activates his pieces in
order to use white's terrible-located h3 rook.} ({Deserves attention:} 31...
Rb8 $5) 32. Rxb5 ({Comes to consideration:} 32. h5 $5) 32... Ra8 33. g4 ({
In case of} 33. Ra5 Rxa5 34. bxa5 Rb8 $44 {black gets a serious compensation.})
33... fxg3 34. fxg3 Qd7 $1 35. Rb7 $2 {After this move white's position
becomes unpleasant... More to the point seems:} (35. Qb7 Ra1+ 36. Kf2 (36. Kg2
Qe6 37. Nf1 (37. Qd5 Ra2 38. Nf1 Ne3+ 39. Nxe3 Rxd2+ $19) 37... Ra2 $36) 36...
Qd8 (36... Qe6 37. Qd5 Qf6 (37... Ra2 38. Qxe6) 38. Bg5 $1 Qg6 39. Ra5 $13) 37.
Nf3 $13) 35... Qc8 36. Rf7 Nd4 $1 37. Qg4 Ra1+ ({Worse is} 37... Ne2+ 38. Kf2
Nxc3 $11) {blundering the piece.} 38. Rf1 $2 ({More resistant was} 38. Kf2 Qa6
$3 {[%cal Ga6a2,Ya6d3]} 39. Qg6 (39. cxd4 Qa2 $17 {[%cal Ga2f7,Ya2d2]}) 39...
Ra2 40. Nf1 Nb3 (40... Qc8 $1 41. cxd4 Qxh3 42. dxe5 dxe5 43. Rxg7 Bxg7 44.
Qxe8+ Kh7 $15) 41. Qf5 (41. Rxg7 Bxg7 42. Qxe8+ Kh7 $19) 41... Kg8 42. Ke3 (42.
Qd7 Qa8 $19) (42. Ke2 Nxd2 43. Nxd2 Rxd2+ 44. Kxd2 Qa2+ $19) 42... Nxd2 43.
Nxd2 Rxd2 44. Rxf8+ Rxf8 45. Qe6+ Kh8 46. Kxd2 Qa1 $19 {[%cal Gf8f2]}) 38...
Qxg4 39. Nxg4 Nf3+ $19 {winning the bishop.} 40. Kf2 Rxf1+ 41. Kxf1 Nxd2+ 42.
Ke2 Nb1 43. c4 d5 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 6th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2005.06.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gdanski, Jacek"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2544"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[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"]

{[%mdl 4]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. a4
$146 {trying to determine Black's pawn structure on the queenside. In the
previous games White has tried the following moves:} (14. Bg5 $146 {1-0 Anand,
V-Kasimdzhanov,R/Leon 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (39)}) (14. Ne3 Be6 15. Bd5
Rc8 16. c3 Bxd5 17. exd5 Nb8 18. a4 Qd7 19. axb5 axb5 20. c4 $14 {1-0 Sutovsky,
E-Beliavsky,A/15th European Team Championship 2005 - 2005 (50)}) ({Black
equalized easily after} 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18.
exd5 exd5 19. a4 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Topalov,V/
Linares ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 539 (21)}) 14... Be6 15. Bxe6 {Usually in
such type of positions White doesn't take on e6, because it helps Black to
cover the f5 square, as well as this move opens the "f" file for Black's heavy
pieces.} ({More common reaction in this variation is} 15. Ng3 {trying to
occupy the f5 square.}) 15... fxe6 16. c3 {[%cal Yd1b3,Yd3d4] opening the
d1-a4 diagonal for the queen, as well as preparing the breakthrough in the
centre.} Qd7 17. Ng3 $6 {White's knight has nothing to do on g3...} (17. d4
exd4 18. cxd4 c4 $1 $15 (18... cxd4 19. Nxd4 b4 $11)) ({Probably, better was} 
17. Bg5 $5 $11 {[%cal Yf1e3]}) 17... h6 $1 {In my opinion a very strong move.
Black limits the possibilities of White's dark-squared bishop.} 18. Bd2 (18. d4
exd4 19. cxd4 c4 $15) 18... Rfb8 19. Nh2 {hoping to develop an initiative on
the kingside by Nh2-g4 with following Ng3-h5.} bxa4 $1 {opening the "b" file.}
20. Bc1 Na5 $1 {transfering the knight to b3.} 21. Rxa4 ({In my opinion, more
logical was to exchange the queens by} 21. Qxa4 {, as White suffers from the
lack of space.}) 21... Nb3 22. Ra2 Kh8 {Good prophylactic move. Black moves
away his King from the a2-g8 diagonal.} 23. Nh5 a5 24. Nxf6 Bxf6 25. Ng4 Qe7
26. Be3 {allowing Black to play a5-a4.} (26. Nxf6 Qxf6 27. Be3 a4 $15) ({
May be White should have prevented Black's a5-a4 advance:} 26. Ra4 $5 Bg5 27.
Bxg5 Qxg5 28. Ne3 $11) 26... a4 27. f4 $6 {White should not be interested to
open up the game, as his queenside rook is out of the game.} (27. Nxf6 {
is better:} Qxf6 28. Rf1 $11) 27... exf4 28. Bxf4 Bg5 $1 {opening the "f" file
for the heavy pieces.} 29. Bxg5 (29. Rf1 Rf8 30. Bxg5 Rxf1+ 31. Qxf1 Qxg5 $15)
29... Qxg5 $15 {Black's position is slightly better, thanks to the more active
rooks.} 30. Ne3 Qh4 31. Rf1 Rf8 32. Ra3 (32. Nc4 Qg3 $15) 32... Qg5 33. Rxf8+
Rxf8 34. Qe2 d5 $6 ({Stronger was} 34... Nc1 $1 35. Qd2 Rf3 36. Qxc1 Rxe3 {
[%cal Gg5g3]} 37. Rxa4 Qg3 38. Ra1 Re2 $17) 35. Rxa4 (35. h4 Qxh4 36. exd5 Nc1
37. Qd2 Nxd3 38. Qxd3 Qf2+ 39. Kh2 Rf4 $19) 35... d4 36. Ng4 $2 {losing some
material...} ({Better was} 36. Nc2 $1 Qc1+ 37. Ne1 dxc3 38. bxc3 Qxc3 39. Rc4
Qd2 $15) (36. Nd1 {leads to unpleasant position as well:} Nc1 37. Qc2 Qf4 38.
Qf2 Nxd3 39. Qxf4 Rxf4 $17 {/-+}) 36... h5 $1 37. Nh2 (37. Nf2 {loses as well:}
Qe3 38. Qxh5+ Kg8 $19) 37... Qc1+ 38. Nf1 Nd2 $1 $19 39. Ra8 {The only way to
save the knight.} Rxa8 40. Qxd2 Ra1 41. Qxc1 (41. Qf2 Qe3 $19) 41... Rxc1 {
White is absolutely hopeless in this endgame.} 42. cxd4 cxd4 43. Kf2 e5 44. b4
Rc2+ 45. Kf3 Rb2 46. h4 g6 47. g4 hxg4+ 48. Kxg4 Kg7 49. Kf3 Kh6 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Georgiev, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Italy"]
[BlackTeam "Macedonia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ITA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "MKD"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 {The main
idea of this move, as compared to the plan with 7.Re1 with following d2-d4, is
that White is limiting Black's light squared bishop.} Be7 ({The less common
continuation nowadays is} 7... Bc5 {. In this case, White has the resource of
Bg5, which creates an unpleasant pin for Black. One of the model games in this
line is Carlsen's victory against Beliavsky from 2006:} 8. Nc3 d6 9. a4 Na5 10.
Ba2 b4 11. Ne2 Bc8 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 Bb6 14. Ng3 Be6 (14... h6 $142 $14) 15.
d4 Bxa2 16. Rxa2 O-O 17. Bg5 exd4 (17... h6 18. Bh4 g5 19. Nxg5 $18) 18. Nh5
dxc3 19. Nh4 Kh8 20. Nf5 {1-0 Carlsen,M (2625)-Beliavsky,A (2626)/Wijk aan Zee
2006/CBM 111}) 8. a4 {Creating some tension on the queenside and preparing the
shelter for the light-squared bishop.} O-O 9. Re1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Yb1d2,Yd2f1,
Gf1e3,Gf1g3,Re1e5,Rf3e5] Preventing the d7-d5 breakthrough in the centre and
preparing the f1-square for the queenside knight.} d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5
12. Nf1 {White brings the knight to e3 without wasting time on c2-c3.} ({
Earlier this year, Caruana played} 12. c3 {, but apparently was not very
satisfied with what he got:} Qc7 13. Nf1 c4 14. Ng3 Rfe8 15. Nf5 Bf8 16. Bg5
Nd7 17. Nd2 Nc5 18. dxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. Re3 Re6 21. Qe2 d5 22. exd5
Bxd5 23. Rg3 Rg6 24. h4 Ne6 25. Re1 Nxg5 (25... f6 $142 $1) 26. hxg5 $11 {
0-1 Caruana,F (2770)-Tomashevsky,E (2738)/Moscow 2012/CB23_2012 (32)}) 12... b4
{With the clear intention to shut in White's bishop by b4-b3. The other way to
accomplish the same idea is by pushing the c-pawn. Perhaps not right away
though...} ({GM Tomashevsky, who is one of the experts in this variation for
Black, has previously played} 12... Re8 13. Ne3 h6 14. Bd2 c4 {There we go!
But Grischuk brings his other knight to d2 to destroy Black's pawn
construction.} 15. Bc3 $1 {[%cal Yf3d2]} Bf8 16. h3 Qb6 17. Nd2 cxd3 18. cxd3
Nc6 (18... b4 19. Ndc4 Nxc4 20. Nxc4 $14) 19. Qb3 Re7 20. Rec1 $14 {1-0
Grischuk,A (2736)-Tomashevsky,E (2708)/Moscow 2009/CBM 134 (75)}) 13. Ne3 {
The point of White's opening strategy has become clear. White's light-squared
bishop has no challenge from its counterpart, which is blocked by White's
strong centre.} b3 $6 ({Perhaps it was a better idea to bring the bishop to e6
with} 13... Bc8 {\/} 14. Nd2 (14. Bd2 $5) 14... Rb8 15. Ndc4 Nc6 16. Bd2 Be6
17. a5 Rb5 18. Bb3 Nxa5 19. Nxa5 Rxa5 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Nc4 $11 Rxa1 22. Qxa1
Qc8 23. Qa2 Qc6 24. Na5 Qd7 25. Nc4 Qc6 26. Na5 Qd7 27. Nc4 {1/2-1/2 Milos,G 
(2633)-Adams,M (2755)/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001}) 14. Bxb3 $1 {Here is the
problem with Black's 13th move! White does not keep his bishop, but rather,
makes sure that the b-file is closed and White gets the excellent c4-outpost
for his knight.} ({Black did fine after} 14. cxb3 Nc6 15. Bd2 a5 16. b4 axb4
17. Nf5 Bc8 18. N3h4 Be6 $11 {0-1 Horvath,A (2413)-Ivanovic,Z (2334)/ICCF
email 2005/Corr 2008 (57)}) 14... Nxb3 15. cxb3 Bc8 $146 {Obviously, Black's
bishop should be placed on e6.} ({In the preceding game, Black tried} 15... Re8
16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Bd2 a5 18. Bc3 Nb8 19. Nfd2 Bg5 20. Ne3 Nc6 21. Ndc4 Bc8 22.
Nd5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Sjol,H (2244)-Taksrud,V (2157)/ICCF email 2008/Corr 2011 (33)}
) 16. Nc4 Rb8 17. Bd2 Be6 18. h3 Qc8 $6 {The c8-square was meant to be for the
kingside rook.} ({It made more sense to play} 18... Qd7 19. Rc1 Rfc8 $14) 19.
Rc1 Qb7 20. b4 cxb4 $6 {By closing the b-file and allowing White's pieces to
occupy active positions, Black gives up on his last hopes for counterplay.} ({
He was better off keeping the b-file open:} 20... Nd7 21. Na5 Qa8 22. bxc5 Nxc5
23. Be3 Rfc8 $16) 21. Na5 Qd7 22. d4 $16 {Now all White's forces get the ideal
spots and Black can not maintain the material balance any more.} exd4 23. Nc6
Rbc8 24. Nfxd4 d5 $4 {A blunder, though not an obvious one.} ({The least of
the evils was} 24... Rfe8 25. Bxb4 Bf8 $16 {/+-}) 25. Bg5 $1 $18 {Now it's
over. Black is going to lose too much material.} h6 (25... dxe4 26. Nf5 $1 Bxf5
27. Qxd7 $18) (25... Bd8 26. e5 $18) 26. exd5 Nxd5 27. Bxe7 {A model game by
GM Caruana.} (27. Bxe7 Nxe7 28. Nxe6 $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 15th"]
[Site "Gothenburg"]
[Date "2005.08.07"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2005.07.30"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Israel"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

{[%mdl 2048]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {In the first round of the same tournament Emil played 8.h3 and
won nice game against Beliavsky. In the last round he prepared another
anti-Marshal theoretical line, which was probably a surprise for a Czech
Grandmaster. Other possibilities are:} (8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {1-0
Sutovsky,E-Beliavsky,A/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg] (50) .'}) (8. d4
d6 9. c3 Bg4 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Adams,M/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] 
(58)}) (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 {1/2-1/2 Alekseev,
E-Aronian,L/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (38)}) 8... b4 {giving up on the
c4 spot, but, declining the tension on the queenside. Black has the following
alternatives:} (8... d5 $6 $146 9. Bxd5 $1 Nxd5 10. exd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12.
axb5 Bb7 13. c4 dxc3 14. dxc3 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Qd3 Bxd5 17. Qxb5 $16 {
1-0 De Firmian,N-Sokolov,I/Amsterdam 1996/CBM 055/[Wedberg] (40)}) (8... Rb8 9.
axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. c3 b4 12. d3 Bd7 13. d4 Ra8 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Bg5 h6
16. Bh4 Rd8 17. Nbd2 Be8 18. Qc2 $14 {0-1 Fedorov,V-Onischuk,A/Germany 1994/
GER-chT2 (99)}) (8... Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. bxa3 d5 $1 {1-0 Ivanchuk,
V-Adams,M/Linares 2002/CBM 088/[Ftacnik] (50)}) 9. d3 {Other attempts to fight
for an advantage are:} (9. c3 d5 $5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 13.
d4 Bd6 14. Re1 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 Bg4 17. Qd3 bxc3 $1 $13 {1-0 Topalov,
V-Sokolov,I/Linares 1995/CBM 046/[Topalov] (38)}) (9. d4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 exd4 11.
e5 Ne8 12. Qxd4 Bb7 13. Bf4 $146 c5 14. Qe3 d5 15. exd6 Bxd6 16. Nd2 Qc7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Beliavsky,A/Tripoli (m/1) 2004/ (37)}) 9... d6 {[%cal Yc6a5]
protecting the e5 pawn, thus, liberating the queenside knight for maneouvres.}
10. a5 $1 {fixing black's a6 pawn, and, robbing the a5 square from black's
queenside knight.} (10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3
Rb8 15. Qe2 Nh5 16. g3 Qe8 17. Ba3 Nb3 18. Ra2 Nxd2 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Leko,P/
Linares ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 538 (18)}) 10... Be6 11. Nbd2 Bxb3 (11...
Qc8 12. Bc4 h6 13. h3 Re8 14. b3 Bf8 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. Qe2 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 g6 18.
Nh2 Bg7 19. Ng4 Nh7 20. Nge3 $14 {1-0 Akopian,V-Svidler,P/GMA, Wijk aan Zee
NED 2004 (48)}) (11... Rb8 12. Nc4 h6 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Ba4 Na7 16.
Be3 Nb5 17. Qc2 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Ncd2 c5 20. Bb3+ Kh7 21. Ne4 Bg6 22. Ng3
Nc7 23. Qd1 d5 $11 {1-0 Shirov,A-Almasi,Z/Calvia ESP 2004/The Week in Chess
521 (44)}) 12. Nxb3 {Now white is ready to carry out the d3-d4 breakthrough.
Therefore, black prevents this with} d5 (12... Re8 13. h3 h6 14. Bd2 Bf8 15.
Nh2 Nd7 16. Ng4 Nc5 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Ne3 Rb8 19. Nc4 Be7 20. Be3 $14 {1-0
Lobron,E-Naiditsch,A/GMB Wijk aan Zee NED 2004/The Week in Chess 480 (59)}) 13.
Bg5 d4 $146 {The main drawback of this move is that white gets the c4 spot for
the knights, and black remains with dark-squared bishop, when almost all his
pawns are located on the dark squares...} (13... Rc8 14. Bh4 d4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6
16. Nfd2 g6 17. Nc4 Bg7 18. g3 Rb8 19. Qg4 h5 20. Qh3 Rb5 21. Re2 Nb8 22. Rf1
Nd7 23. Kh1 Nf6 24. f3 {1/2-1/2 Dimitrov,V-Hernandez,H/Vilagarcia de Arousa
ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 554 (24)}) (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nbd2 Re8 16.
Qe2 Rb8 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Qe4 Rb5 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. b3 Nxa5 21. Nxa5 (21. Ncxe5
$142 Re8 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Ng4 $14) 21... Rxa5 22. Qxb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qc6 24.
Ne1 e4 $15 {1-0 Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/Prague 2002/CBM 089 (50)}) (13... Re8 14.
Qe2 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qe4 Rad8 18. Nfd2 g6 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 20.
Re4 Bg5 21. Rc4 Nxa5 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23. Nxa5 Bxd2 24. Nb3 Bg5 25. Rxb4 $14 {
1-0 Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/Prague 2002/CBM 089 (54)}) ({Black doesn't equalize
after} 13... dxe4 14. Bxf6 (14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Raxd1 Rfd8 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Rd5
$14) 14... exf3 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qxf3 Qd6 17. Re4 $14) 14. Bxf6 $1 {[%mdl 4]
Great strategical decision. Now black will face seroius problems with his
dark-squared bishop.} Bxf6 15. Nfd2 {transfering the knight to c4.} g6 16. Nc4
Rb8 {Black transfers the rook to b5 in order to cover the 5-th rank' squares,
including the c5 spot.} 17. f4 $1 {[%mdl 548] White cannot lose the time:} (17.
Qg4 Bg5 $1 {[%cal Yf7f5,Yb8b5] and now black's position isn't bad at all:} 18.
Nc5 Rb5 19. Nxa6 Be7 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Gf7f5,Yd8c8]}) 17... exf4 {Black has to
take on f4, otherwise, white will continue to push forward his kingside pawns:}
(17... Rb5 18. f5 $36 {[%cal Yd1g4,Ye1f1]} (18. Qf3 exf4 19. Qxf4 Ne5)) 18. e5
{Emil sacrificed the pawn, but he got many positional pluses, like the long
diagonal (f3-a8) for the queen, the e4 spot for the rook, and strong e5 pawn.}
Bh4 19. Re4 $44 Rb5 20. Qf3 {threatening with the capture on f4 with the queen.
} Bg5 {protecting the f4 pawn. The material advantage is the only black's hope
in this position...} 21. Rae1 Re8 22. e6 $1 f5 (22... fxe6 23. Rxe6 Rxe6 24.
Rxe6 Nb8 25. Qe4 Kf7 26. Nxd4 $18) ({Worth consideration:} 22... f6 $5 23. e7
Qd7 $1 (23... Rxe7 24. Rxe7 Nxe7 25. Re6 $16) 24. Re6 Rd5 25. Kf1 $13 Ne5 $141
26. Qh3) 23. e7 Qd5 $2 {After this move, probably, white gets an obvious
advantage, almost decisive one...} ({Deserves attention:} 23... Qd7 $142 $5 24.
Re6 Rd5 $13) 24. Re6 Rxe7 (24... Qxf3 25. gxf3 Rxe7 26. Kf1 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Nb8
28. Nxd4 $16) (24... Nb8 25. Qf2 Nc6 26. h4 $1 Rxe7 27. Rxc6 Rxe1+ 28. Qxe1
Qxc6 29. hxg5 $16) 25. Qxd5 Rxd5 26. Kf1 $1 {protecting the rook.} Bh4 (26...
Rxe6 27. Rxe6 $16) 27. R1e2 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Ne7 {Other continuations are not
better:} (28... Nb8 29. Re8+ $18) (28... Nd8 29. Rxa6 Kf7 30. Ra8 Nc6 31. a6
Be7 32. a7 Ke6 33. Nca5 $18) (28... Na7 29. Rxa6 Nb5 30. Ra8+ Kf7 31. a6 Be7
32. a7 Ke6 33. Nca5 $18 {[%cal Ya5c6]}) 29. Rxa6 Rd8 $1 {covering the eigth
rank. It is the only way to stop white's passed pawn.} 30. Re6 $6 (30. Ra7 $2
Re8 $1 $132 {[%cal Ge7c6,Ge8e1,Yh4e1]}) ({Stronger was} 30. Ke2 $5 Re8 31. Kf3
Nd5 32. Nxd4 Re1 33. g3 $16) 30... Nd5 $6 (30... Kf7 {gives black more chances:
} 31. Nc5 $36 {[%cal Gc4e5]}) 31. Nxd4 $16 {White won back the sacrificed pawn,
and now thanks to more active pieces and passed "a" pawn, he has an obvious
advantage.} Ra8 (31... Ne3+ 32. Nxe3 Rxd4 33. a6 (33. Nc4 $16) 33... Kf7 34. a7
Rd8 35. Ra6 $16 {/+-}) 32. Re5 {driving away the knight from central position.}
Ne3+ (32... Nf6 33. Ne6 Ng4 34. Nxc7 $18) 33. Nxe3 Bf6 (33... fxe3 34. Nc6 $16)
34. Rb5 $6 ({Probably,} 34. Nc4 {was simplier} Bxe5 35. Nxe5 Rxa5 36. Nec6 $16
{/+-}) 34... fxe3 (34... Bxd4 35. Nc4 $16 {/+-} (35. Nd5 Bxb2 36. Nxc7 Rc8 37.
Nd5 Rxc2 {with some chances for black.})) 35. Nc6 Kf7 (35... Bxb2 36. Rb8+ $18)
36. Ke2 (36. Rxb4 Ra6 37. Rc4 $16) 36... Bxb2 37. Rxb4 Ba3 38. Rb8 (38. Ra4 {
was logical alternative:} Bc5 39. d4 Bd6 40. a6 $16) 38... Ra6 39. Ne5+ {
transfering the knight to c4.} Ke6 40. Nc4 Bd6 (40... Bc5 41. c3 {[%cal Yd3d4]}
f4 42. g3 g5 43. Rh8 $16) 41. Re8+ Kf7 ({Probably, more resistant was} 41...
Kf6 {, but, the position favours white anyway:} 42. Rxe3 (42. g3 Bb4 43. Re5 c5
44. Kxe3 Rxa5) 42... Bb4 $1 43. Re5 c5 44. d4 $1 cxd4 (44... Bxa5 45. Rxc5 $16
{/+-}) 45. Rb5 $18) 42. Rxe3 Bxh2 (42... Bb4 {loses as well:} 43. d4 c5 (43...
Bxa5 44. Ra3 Re6+ 45. Ne5+ $18) 44. d5 $18) 43. Rh3 Bd6 44. Rxh7+ Kf6 45. c3 {
covering the b4 square.} g5 46. Rh6+ {forcing the black king to move to more
passive position.} Kg7 47. Rh1 Kf6 48. Rh6+ Kg7 49. Rh1 Kf6 50. Ke3 {
activating the king.} Bf8 (50... Ke6 51. Rh5 g4 52. d4 Ra8 53. Rh6+ $18) 51. d4
Rc6 52. Ra1 Ra6 (52... Rxc4 53. a6 Rc6 54. a7 Re6+ 55. Kd3 Re8 56. a8=Q Rxa8
57. Rxa8 $18) 53. Ne5 {transfering the knight to b4 via d3.} Bd6 54. Nd3 Ke6
55. Nb4 Ra8 (55... Bxb4 56. cxb4 c6 57. Kd3 Ra7 (57... Kd5 58. Re1 $18) 58. Kc4
$18) 56. a6 c5 57. Nd3 cxd4+ 58. Kxd4 $18 {White is a pawn up, he has two
passed pawns and his pieces are consolidated better, than the black's ones...
The rest is an easy job for white.} Bb8 59. c4 g4 60. Kc5 Bd6+ 61. Kb6 Rb8+ 62.
Kc6 Rc8+ 63. Kb6 Rb8+ 64. Ka5 Bc7+ 65. Ka4 {White's "a" pawn is unstoppable.}
Bb6 (65... f4 66. a7 Ra8 67. Kb5 Kd7 68. Ka6 $18) 66. Rb1 {forcing to change
the rooks.} Ba7 67. Rxb8 Bxb8 68. Kb5 Kd7 69. Kb6 f4 (69... f4 70. Nxf4 (70.
Kb7 $18) 70... Bxf4 71. a7 Be3+ 72. c5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 $5 {Rare continuation. Usually Black reacts with 8...d6, which transforms
the game to C91 lines.} (8... d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Be3 {strengthening the centre.}
exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 {transfering the knight to c4.} 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3
{throwing away the knight from active position, as well as preparing to
fianchettoe the dark-squared bishop.} Nb6 {See commented game 1/2-1/2 Kramnik,
V-Adams,M/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (58)}) (8... exd4 {gives White
too many possibilities:} 9. e5 Ne8 10. Bd5 Bb7 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxb7 Ra7 13.
Qxd4 Rxb7 14. Nc3 d6 15. Qe4 Qc8 16. Qc6 dxe5 17. Nd5 Bd6 18. a4 Rb8 19. Rxe5
Qd8 20. Rf5 Qh4 21. Bf4 bxa4 22. Re1 Rxb2 23. Qxe8 g6 24. Bxd6 cxd6 25. Ne7+
Kg7 26. Rxf7+ {1-0 Tseshkovsky,V-Stambulian,A/Krasnodar 2002/CBM 091 ext (26)})
9. Nxd4 (9. Nxe5 {shouldn't be a good move.} Nxb3 10. axb3 Bb7 {and only Black
can be better.}) 9... exd4 10. e5 ({Of course not} 10. Qxd4 $2 c5 $19 {[%cal
Gc5c4]}) 10... Ne8 11. Qxd4 ({Another interesting attempt to fight for an
advantage is} 11. c3 {, but after} d5 12. cxd4 c6 13. Bc2 g6 14. Bh6 Ng7 15.
Nd2 f6 16. exf6 Bxf6 {Black equalizes:} 17. Nb3 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Qd2 Qxd2
20. Nxd2 Bf5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Short,N-Beliavsky,A/Warsaw POL 2004/The Week in
Chess 528 (46)}) 11... Bb7 {covering the long diagonal. Now White has to move
the queen from d4.} (11... c5 {is already met by} 12. Qe4) 12. Qg4 (12. c4 $5 {
seems as one of the most logical continuations.} bxc4 13. Qxc4 d5 14. exd6 Nxd6
15. Qg4 {and White's position is slightly better, thanks to a superior pawn
structure:} Bf6 16. Nc3 Re8 17. Bf4 $14 {1-0 Arakhamia,K-Hebden,M/ch-GBR,
Scarborough ENG 2004 (50)}) 12... c5 $146 {threatening with c5-c4 advance.} ({
Black easily eqaulized after} 12... d6 13. Bf4 c5 14. c4 dxe5 15. Bxe5 b4 16.
Bc2 g6 17. Rd1 Qb6 {1/2-1/2 Timofeev,A-Khalifman,A/Sochi RUS 2005/The Week in
Chess 547 (17)}) 13. c3 {preparing the c2 square for the bishop.} d6 {
intending to get a symetrical pawn structure.} 14. exd6 {Other continuations
are not better:} ({Dubious is} 14. e6 d5 15. Bc2 (15. exf7+ Rxf7 $15) 15... Nf6
16. Qh3 Bc8 $15) (14. Bf4 dxe5 15. Bxe5 Nf6 16. Qg3 Re8 $15) 14... Bxd6 $11 {
Black has got a symmetrical pawn structure. His pieces are located not worse,
than the White ones. Therefore, the position is equal.} ({In my opinion,} 14...
Nxd6 {equalizes as well:} 15. Bf4 (15. Bh6 Bf6 16. Bf4 Qc8 $11) 15... Qc8 16.
Qh5 Qc6 17. f3 Rae8 18. Nd2 $11) 15. Bg5 Nf6 ({Less clear is} 15... Qc7 16. Kh1
Qc6 17. Nd2 $13 {with some chances for white to get an advantage, due to
black's misplaced knight on e8.}) 16. Qh4 h6 {forcing White to exchange his
dark-squared bishop.} 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 {In spite of White's
superior pawn structure, Black compensates it with a bishops pair.} 19. Nd2
Rfe8 20. Bc2 Rad8 21. Ne4 {The opponents agreed for a draw, in view of the
following variation:} ({After} 21. Ne4 {the easiest way to get a draw in this
position is} Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Bc7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 6th"]
[Site "Beersheba"]
[Date "2005.11.01"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.11.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Israel"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 {giving up the spot c4 , but, declining the tension on the queenside. Black
has the following alternatives:} (8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 (9... Re8 10. Na3 Bxa3 11.
bxa3 d5 $1 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Adams,M/Linares 2002/CBM 088/[Ftacnik] (50)}) 10.
Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Qc7 13. Bb1 b4 14. Ba2 Bc8 15. Nc4 Nc6 16. Bg5 Be6
17. Ne3 Rab8 18. Bc4 Qa7 19. Nd2 $14 {1-0 Kobalija,M-Azarov,S/Warsaw 2005/CBM
108 (84)}) (8... d5 $6 $146 9. Bxd5 $1 Nxd5 10. exd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. axb5
Bb7 13. c4 dxc3 14. dxc3 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Qd3 Bxd5 17. Qxb5 $16 {1-0 De
Firmian,N-Sokolov,I/Amsterdam 1996/CBM 055/[Wedberg] (40)}) (8... Rb8 9. axb5
axb5 10. h3 d6 11. c3 b4 12. d3 Bd7 13. d4 Ra8 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4
Rd8 17. Nbd2 Be8 18. Qc2 $14 {0-1 Fedorov,V-Onischuk,A/Germany 1994/GER-chT2 
(99)}) 9. d3 {preparing the square d2 for the queenside knight with the
following occupation of the spot c4. Other attempts to fight for an advantage
are:} (9. d4 d6 (9... Nxd4 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. e5 Ne8 12. Qxd4 Bb7 13. Bf4 $146
c5 14. Qe3 d5 15. exd6 Bxd6 16. Nd2 Qc7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Beliavsky,A/
Tripoli (m/1) 2004/ (37)}) 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bg5 Kf8 13. Bxf6
gxf6 14. Bd5 Bb7 15. Nbd2 Na5 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Aronian,L/
ICC INT 2004/CBM 105 (34)}) (9. a5 d5 10. exd5 e4 11. dxc6 exf3 12. Qxf3 Bg4
13. Qd3 Qxd3 14. cxd3 Bc5 15. Bc4 Rfe8 $44 {0-1 Baramidze,D-Graf,A/
Altenkirchen 2005/CBM 106 (24)}) (9. c3 d5 $5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12.
Rxe5 c6 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re1 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 Bg4 17. Qd3 bxc3 $1 $13 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Sokolov,I/Linares 1995/CBM 046/[Topalov] (38)}) 9... d6 {
protecting the e5 pawn, thus, liberating the queenside knight for maneouvres.}
10. a5 $1 {fixing Black's pawn a6, and, robbing the square a5 from Black's
queenside knight.} ({White didn't get anything special after} 10. Nbd2 Na5 11.
Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb8 15. Qe2 Nh5 16. g3 Qe8 17. Ba3
Nb3 18. Ra2 Nxd2 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Leko,P/Linares 2005/CBM 106 (18)}) 10... Be6
11. Nbd2 Qc8 $5 {Black transfered his queen to c8, as from that square it gets
a possibility to be transfered to the kingside, as well as to the queenside.
Black has the following alternatives:} (11... Rb8 12. Nc4 h6 13. h3 (13. c3
bxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Ba4 Na7 16. Be3 Nb5 17. Qc2 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Ncd2 c5
20. Bb3+ Kh7 21. Ne4 Bg6 22. Ng3 Nc7 23. Qd1 d5 $11 {1-0 Shirov,A-Almasi,Z/
Calvia ESP 2004/The Week in Chess 521 (44)}) 13... Qc8 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bf8
16. Red1 Ne7 17. Nfd2 g6 18. d4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Nf3 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22.
Be5 Nhf4 23. Bxf4 Nxf4 24. Qe4 g5 25. Nce5 Bxb3 26. cxb3 Qe6 27. Qc4 Qxc4 {
1/2-1/2 Lutz,C-Almasi,Z/Germany 2005/CBM 106 (27)}) (11... Bxb3 12. Nxb3 {
Now white is ready to carry out the breakthrough d3-d4 . Therefore, Black
prevents this with} d5 (12... Re8 13. h3 h6 14. Bd2 Bf8 15. Nh2 Nd7 16. Ng4 Nc5
17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Ne3 Rb8 19. Nc4 Be7 20. Be3 $14 {1-0 Lobron,E-Naiditsch,A/
GMB Wijk aan Zee NED 2004/The Week in Chess 480 (59)}) 13. Bg5 d4 $146 {
The main drawback of this move is that White gets the spot c4 for the knights,
and black remains with his dark-squared bishop, when almost all his pawns are
located on the dark squares...} (13... Rc8 14. Bh4 d4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nfd2 g6
17. Nc4 Bg7 18. g3 Rb8 19. Qg4 h5 20. Qh3 Rb5 21. Re2 Nb8 22. Rf1 Nd7 23. Kh1
Nf6 24. f3 {1/2-1/2 Dimitrov,V-Hernandez,H/Vilagarcia de Arousa ESP 2005/The
Week in Chess 554 (24)}) (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nbd2 Re8 16. Qe2 Rb8 17.
exd5 Qxd5 18. Qe4 Rb5 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. b3 Nxa5 21. Nxa5 (21. Ncxe5 $142 {
Erenburg} Re8 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Ng4 $14) 21... Rxa5 22. Qxb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qc6
24. Ne1 e4 $15 {1-0 Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/Prague 2002/CBM 089 (50)}) (13... Re8
14. Qe2 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qe4 Rad8 18. Nfd2 g6 19. Qxd5 Rxd5
20. Re4 Bg5 21. Rc4 Nxa5 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23. Nxa5 Bxd2 24. Nb3 Bg5 25. Rxb4 $14 {
1-0 Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/Prague 2002/CBM 089 (54)}) ({Black doesn't equalize
after} 13... dxe4 14. Bxf6 (14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Raxd1 Rfd8 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Rd5
$14) 14... exf3 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qxf3 Qd6 17. Re4 $14) 14. Bxf6 $1 {A great
strategical decision. Now Black will face serious problems with his
dark-squared bishop.} Bxf6 15. Nfd2 {transfering the knight to c4.} g6 16. Nc4
Rb8 {Black transfers the rook to b5 in order to cover the 5-th rank' squares,
including the spot c5.} 17. f4 $1 {White cannot lose the time:} exf4 {Black
has to take on f4, otherwise White will continue to push his kingside pawns
forward:} (17... Rb5 18. f5 $36 {[%cal Yd1g4,Ye1f1]}) 18. e5 {Emil sacrificed
the pawn, but he got many positional pluses, like the long diagonal (f3-a8)
for the queen, the spot e4 for the rook, and the strong e5 pawn.} Bh4 19. Re4
$44 {1-0 Sutovsky,E-Hracek,Z/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg] (69)}) 12.
Nc4 ({Akopian himself prefered} 12. Bc4 {with the idea to force Black to take
on c4 after White's Ng5.} h6 13. h3 Re8 14. b3 Bf8 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. Qe2 Bxc4 17.
Nxc4 g6 18. Nh2 Bg7 19. Ng4 Nh7 20. Nge3 $14 {1-0 Akopian,V-Svidler,P/GMA,
Wijk aan Zee NED 2004 (48)}) 12... h6 {covering the g5 square.} 13. c3 {
starting to build a strong centre.} bxc3 {Black decides to exchange the
b-pawns to open the b-file for the queenside rook.} (13... Rb8 14. d4 Bg4 15.
Ba4 Qb7 16. d5 Na7 17. Ne3 Bc8 18. Qd3 Ng4 19. c4 Nxe3 20. Bxe3 c5 21. dxc6
Nxc6 22. Qd5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Svidler,P/San Luis ARG 2005/The Week in Chess
570 (36)}) 14. bxc3 Rb8 15. Ba3 {emphasizing the background of Black's capture
on c3.} Qd8 $146 {protecting the dark-squared bishop, thus, intending to
transfer the queenside knight to b5 via a7.} ({A few days later black continued
} 15... Rd8 {, but, anyway, White has got some advantage:} 16. Qc2 Bf8 17. Nfd2
Na7 18. Ne3 Bxb3 19. Nxb3 Qd7 20. Nd2 Rb5 21. d4 Rdb8 (21... Rxa5 22. Ndc4 Rb5
23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Red1 Qc8 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Bxf8 Qxf8 27. Rxa6 $16) 22. c4
R5b7 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Nd5 $14 {1-0 Kasimdzhanov,R-Sargissian,G/BL 0506 SV
Wattenscheid - Godesberger S 2005 (55)}) (15... Na7 $2 {is met by} 16. Nfxe5
$16) 16. Nfd2 {protecting the light-squared bishop.} (16. d4 $2 {is refuted by}
Rxb3 $1 17. Qxb3 Nxa5 $19) 16... Na7 17. d4 Nb5 18. Bb2 c6 {preparing to
attack White's centre with d6-d5 after the capture on d4.} (18... exd4 19. cxd4
d5 20. Ne5 $36) 19. Nb6 ({Worth considering is:} 19. Rb1 $5 exd4 20. cxd4 d5
21. Ne5 Qd6 22. Rc1 Rfc8 23. Qc2 $14) 19... exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. e5 Nd7 22. Bc2
{Black's pawn h6 compromises black's monarch position on the kingside very
much. White's plan is to build an unpleasant battery B+Q for Black along the
diagonal b1-h7.} (22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Bc2 Bg4 $15 {[%cal Yg4f5]}) 22... c5 $6 {
Probably not the best continuation. The following two ones lead to an unclear
position:} (22... Nxb6 23. axb6 Bb4 (23... Qxb6 24. Nb3 {[%cal Yd1d3]} Bb4 25.
Qd3 $44) 24. Rxa6 (24. Qf3 Rxb6 25. Qd3 g6 $17) 24... Rxb6 25. Ra4 $13) (22...
Bb4 $5 {[%cal Gd7b6,Yb4e1,Gb5c3]} 23. Nxd7 Qxd7 24. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Yf3d3]} f5
$13) 23. dxc5 Nxc5 (23... Bxc5 24. Nxd7 Qxd7 25. Nb3 $16 {[%cal Ob3c5,Cc5b4,
Cb4e1,Gd1d3]}) 24. Nb3 {intending to change Black's active knight.} Ne4 25. Qd3
g6 {covering the b1-h7 diagonal.} 26. Nd4 $6 {allows Black to get counterplay.}
({Better was} 26. Qe3 $1 {[%cal Ya1d1]} Bg5 27. f4 Bh4 28. Rf1 $16) 26... Bc5
$1 {After Black has succeeded to activate his dark-squared bishop, his chances
to equalize become much better.} 27. Nxe6 $5 {An interesting and nice decision.
But, probably, again not the best one...} (27. f3 Bf5 28. Qe3 (28. fxe4 Nxd4
$17) 28... Nec3 29. Bxc3 Bxc2 30. Rec1 Qh4 31. f4 Be4 32. Nd7 Rbc8 33. Bb2 Nxd4
34. Bxd4 Bxd4 35. Qxd4 Qxf4 36. Rf1 Qg5 37. Nf6+ Kh8 38. Nxe4 dxe4 $11) ({
More promising was} 27. Re2 Qh4 (27... Bxb6 28. axb6 Qxb6 29. Qe3 $16) 28. Rd1
$14) 27... fxe6 28. Rxe4 dxe4 29. Qxe4 Bxf2+ 30. Kh1 Qe8 $1 {Unfortunately,
this move parries White's attack.} 31. Qg4 Kg7 {protecting the g6 pawn.} (31...
g5 {anyway leads to a draw:} 32. Qh3 (32. Qe4 Qf7 33. Rf1 Qg7 34. Qc6 Nd4 35.
Bxd4 Bxd4 36. Qxe6+ Kh8 $17) 32... Bxb6 33. axb6 (33. Qxh6 Qf7 34. Qxg5+ Qg7
35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. axb6 Rf2 $17) 33... Rf2 34. Qxh6 Qf7 35. Bd3 Rxb2 36. Rf1
Rf2 37. Qxg5+ Kf8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 (38... Ke8 39. Rc1 {[%cal Gd3g6]} Qf4 40. Bg6+
Ke7 41. Qg7+ Kd8 42. Qg8+ Ke7 $11) (38... Ke7 39. Qh4+ $18) 39. Qg5+ $11) ({
Deserves attention:} 31... Kh8 $5 32. Nc4 $1 {[%cal Ch6h5,Ch5g4,Oc2g6]} (32.
Bxg6 Rg8 $17) 32... Bc5 33. Rc1 (33. Nd6 Nxd6 34. exd6+ Rxb2 $19) 33... Kg7 34.
h4 $13) 32. Nd7 $1 {distracting the queen from protecting the g6 pawn.} Qxd7 (
32... h5 33. Qe4 Qxd7 34. Qxg6+ $11) 33. Qxg6+ Kh8 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 35. Qg6+ Kh8
36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. Qg6+ Kh8 (37... Qg7 {doesn't change the evaluation of the
position.} 38. Qxe6+ Rf7 39. Bg6 Nc7 40. Bxf7+ Qxf7 41. Qg4+ Qg7 42. Qc4+ Qf7
43. Qg4+ $11) 38. Qh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Taastrup"]
[Site "Taastrup"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanishin, Oleg M"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1992.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. d4
(8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf4 12. d4 Nxg2 13. Qe2 $14 {
Jovcic - Trajkovic, Fernpartie 1967}) 8... Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 Nd5 11. Qf3
c6 12. c3 (12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Qg4 Qb6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 $14 {
Watson - Hector, London 1991.}) 12... dxc3 13. Nxc3 O-O 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5
Bxd5 16. Qxd5 d6 17. e6 Bf6 $1 18. Bd2 Rc8 19. Bb4 fxe6 20. Rxe6 Kh8 21. Rxd6
Bxb2 $1 {Sehr schцn, auf 22.Txd8 folgt Tfxd8 und gewinnt.} 22. Rf1 Qh4 23. Qd2
$1 (23. Rxa6 $4 Qxf2+ $3 $19) 23... Bc1 24. Qe1 Qc4 25. Re6 (25. Rxa6 $2 Rfe8
$17) 25... Rg8 26. a3 a5 $8 27. Re4 Qd3 28. Bxa5 Qxa3 $14 29. Qb4 Qd3 30. Rd4
Qf5 31. Qb3 Rc5 32. Bb4 Rc6 33. g3 Qc8 34. Qd5 Bb2 35. Rd2 Bf6 36. Qxb5 Rc1 37.
Rdd1 Rxd1 38. Rxd1 Qg4 39. Rf1 Bd4 40. Bd2 Qf3 41. Qc4 Bf6 42. Re1 Rd8 43. Qe4
Qxe4 44. Rxe4 Kg8 45. Be3 h5 46. Kg2 Kf7 47. h4 Rd5 48. Rc4 Kg6 49. Rc6 Kf5 50.
Kf3 Rb5 51. Rc8 Ra5 52. Rh8 Kg6 53. Kg2 Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-14a"]
[Site "Subotica"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Zapata, Alonso"]
[Black "Rodriguez Cespedes, Amador"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1987.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1988.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1988.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Bg5 $5 (10. c3) (10. Ng5) 10... d6 (10... h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6
12. Nc3 Nd4 (12... b4 13. Nd5) (12... Na5 13. Ba2 b4 14. Nd5 c5 15. c3 $16) 13.
Nxd4 exd4 14. Nd5 $14) 11. Nc3 b4 12. Ne2 h6 (12... Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Ng3 $14)
13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. a5 $1 Ne7 (14... Rb8 $5) 15. Ng3 c5 (15... d5 $2 16. Nh5 $16)
16. c3 (16. Qb1 $5 {/\ Qa2 >< f7}) 16... bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb8 18. Qc2 g6 19. Qa2
$16 {/^ a2-g8} Rf8 (19... d5 $5 20. Rab1 $16) 20. Nf1 $5 {/\ Ne3, >< d5} Kg7 (
20... d5 21. Rab1 $16 (21. Ne3 $5 dxe4 22. dxe4 Bxe4 23. Ng4 Bxf3 24. gxf3 (24.
Nxf6+ $2 Kg7 25. Rxe5 Kxf6 $1 26. Rae1 Nc6 27. Rxc5 Qd6 28. Qa3 Kg7 $19) 24...
Bg7 (24... Nf5 25. Rad1 Qe7 26. f4 $16 e4 $4 27. Rxe4 $18) 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26.
Rxe5 Nf5 27. Rae1 $14)) 21. Ne3 Bg5 22. Nc4 f5 23. Nb6 Bf6 24. Be6 Bc6 25. Rab1
Qc7 26. Nd2 Bh4 27. Nf3 Bf6 28. Nd2 Bh4 29. Re2 h5 30. Nf3 Bf6 31. Rbb2 Rb7 32.
Bc4 Ra7 33. h3 f4 34. Be6 {>< g4} g5 35. Re1 Bb5 36. Qb1 {/\ Qc2-e2, >< h5} Rh8
37. Qc2 Rb8 38. Reb1 Bc6 39. Qe2 Kh6 40. Nd2 Kg6 41. Ndc4 (41. Nd5 $142 Bxd5
42. Bf5+ Nxf5 43. exf5+ Kxf5 44. Rxb8 $18) 41... Rab7 42. Na3 {>< b5} Rf8 43.
Nbc4 Rxb2 44. Rxb2 (44. Qxb2 d5) 44... Rb8 (44... d5 $4 45. exd5 $18) 45. Rxb8
Qxb8 46. Nb6 {/\ Qa2+-} Be8 47. Qa2 Nc6 48. Nac4 {/\ 49.Bc8 >< a6, 49.Nc8 >< d6
} Bd8 49. Bd7 $1 (49. Bd7 $1 Bxd7 (49... Bxb6 50. Bxe8+ Qxe8 51. axb6 $18) (
49... Bc7 50. Nxe5+ $1 Nxe5 51. Qg8+ Kh6 (51... Kf6 52. Nd5#) 52. Qh8+ Kg6 53.
Bxe8+ $18) 50. Nxd7 Qc7 51. Ncb6 $18 {/\Qe6,Nd5}) 1-0

[Event "GBR-ch 105th"]
[Site "Hull"]
[Date "2018.08.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2018.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{There won't be a Marshall today.} b4 (8... Rb8 {is a concession, but it gets
an unfairly bad reputation.} 9. axb5 axb5 10. c3 d6 11. d4 {for instance and
now Black can consider ...Rb6-a6 with decent equalising chances.}) (8... Bb7 {
is possible, and now the interest in} 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 $5 {may have been
sparked by... Caruana,F-Adams,M Gibraltar 2007 (!)}) (8... Na5 9. axb5 Nxb3 10.
cxb3 d5 $14 {is not stupid, but Black doesn't quite get enough compensation
against good play.}) 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 {Trying to play 'safely but for a win',
but as every Russian schoolboy knows, there is play in even the driest of
endgames.} Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd8 (12. Qe2 {was an equally unsuccessful
earlier experiment.} a5 13. Bg5 Ba6 14. Qf3 h6 15. Rd1 $2 (15. Be3 Bd6 16. Nd2
Qe7 $11) 15... hxg5 $1 16. Rxd8 Raxd8 $15 {Giri,A-Aronian,L Leuven 2018; Black
was superbly co-ordinated and had great play for the material.}) 12... Rxd8 13.
Nd2 Bc5 14. Nf3 Bb7 {A novelty as far as I can see, but presumably one Jones
prepared against.} (14... Ng4 {is absolutely the most natural move for me.} 15.
Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Rd6 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11 {Robson,R-So,W Saint
Louis 2018}) (14... Re8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Be6 $11) 15. Nxe5 Nxe4 16. Kf1 (
16. Be3 $5 Bd5 17. Bxd5 Rxd5 18. Nc6 {could be something, because the b4-pawn
is loose.}) 16... Kf8 $1 17. a5 Bd4 $6 {This could be inaccurate.} (17... Nd2+
{Once more, Adams rejects winning the bishop pair, probably because for a
human it is not immediately obvious that the rook doesn't get trapped:} 18.
Bxd2 Rxd2 19. Nd3 Ba7 $11 {however nothing quite works and Black is simply
level here.}) 18. Nxf7 Rd7 19. Ng5 $1 Nxg5 20. Bxg5 Bxb2 21. Rad1 (21. Be3 $1
Bxa1 (21... Bd4 22. Bxd4 Rxd4 23. Re5 $16) 22. Bc5+ Rd6 23. Rxa1 {seems to be
a definite plus for White, because all of Black's pawns on the queenside will
be weak.}) 21... Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Bc6 $1 {Now Black gets back into the battle for
supremacy.} 23. Bf4 Bb5+ 24. Kg1 Rc8 {Bd6 would have been a big check.} 25. Rd5
Bf6 26. Rh5 h6 27. Rf5 Ke8 28. Rc5 (28. Bxh6 c5 $17) 28... Rd8 $15 (28... c6 {
followed by ...Bd8 is the machine idea, because it is confident White can't
land a meaningful Re5+.}) 29. h3 c6 30. Rf5 Bd4 31. Bc7 (31. Be5 {was White's
chance to be only slightly worse, but the keyboard warriors saying Gawain lost
his way completely here have it wrong, because it's not obvious that after} g6
32. Rf6 Bxe5 33. Re6+ Kf8 34. Rxe5 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 $15 {White doesn't simply
lose the pawn in almost as bad a way as in the game.}) 31... Rd7 32. Bb6 Bxb6
33. axb6 Rb7 $19 {The position could now already be technically lost. Better
analysts than me will unpick what follows, but I deem it appropriate to stop
commentary here.} 34. c4 bxc3 35. Rc5 Rxb6 36. Rxc3 a5 37. f4 a4 38. Ba2 Rb7
39. f5 Rd7 40. Rg3 Kf8 41. f6 gxf6 42. Rg8+ Ke7 43. Rg7+ Kd8 44. Rg6 Rd2 45.
Bg8 a3 46. Rxf6 a2 47. Bxa2 Rxa2 48. Rxh6 c5 49. Rh5 Rc2 50. h4 Ke7 51. g4 Bd3
52. Rd5 c4 53. h5 Ke6 54. Rc5 Kd6 55. Rc8 Ke5 56. Re8+ Kf4 57. h6 Kg5 58. Rh8
Kg6 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2834"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[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 0:00:10]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:06]
} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:07] No Breyer today.} b4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (8... Bb7 {
is more popular, but I have never understood the appeal of developing the
bishop to a diagonal that will remain closed, in the case when the Breyeresque
...c5-c4 is still some moves off.} 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 {is White's point; Black's
queenside pawns will not be permitted to advance abreast. The best he might be
able to do is} Na5 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 c5 13. Ng3 g6 (13... Bc8 14. c3 Rb8 15.
d4 $36 {Duda,J-Najer,E Czech Republic 2017}) 14. h3 {when White appears to
have extra tempi in his kingside attack, compared to most systems with an
early d3.}) (8... Rb8 {is slightly compliant: after} 9. axb5 axb5 10. c3 d6 11.
d4 {Black lacks the usual recourse of ...Na5 in the line} exd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13.
Be3 {so might have to make do with} d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. h3 Bh5 16. Nc3 $36 {
; furthermore, 13.Nc3!? might be unexpectedly strong in spite of the doubled
f-pawns.}) 9. d4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} (9. a5 d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 {
led to a nice win for Magnus himself in Carlsen,M-Aronian,L Saint Louis 2017;
one wonders where the improvement was?}) (9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.
c3 Rb8 {is now fine for Black, who has not wasted time on ...Bb7 unlike in the
8...Bb7 line.}) 9... d6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 10. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 11. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:05:48]} (11. Nbd2 Ned7 $5 {was an unusual
method of pressuring e4, but a successful one:} 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. c3 bxc3 14.
bxc3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Re8 16. f3 Nfd7 17. a5 d5 $11 {Nakamura, H-Svidler,P Saint
Louis 2017}) 11... dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} a5 {[%emt 0:
00:49] Possibly still affected by his own experience on the White side,
Carlsen decides to avoid White's a5-ideas.} (12... Bc5 {is of course fine
immediately.}) 13. Nd2 {[%emt 0:10:03]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 14. Nf3 {[%emt 0:
06:46]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:02:23]} 15. Be3 {[%emt 0:12:57]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:19:41]} 16.
Bxc5 {[%emt 0:02:31]} Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 17. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:52]} 18. Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rfe8 $11 {[%emt 0:02:35] Initially
this position looked to me to be slightly nicer for White, but this isn't
really the case. In fact, Black may have more ideas in the position, and in
the long term has the better bishop, so it would not surprise me if he was
vaguely thinking about winning here.} 19. c3 {[%emt 0:02:40]} (19. h3 c5 20.
Rd1 c4 21. Ba2 Kf8 $132 {is hard to get enthused about from the White side,
especially if we remember Adhiban-Carlsen from round 2.}) 19... Ng4 {[%emt 0:
01:23]} 20. Ng5 {[%emt 0:06:14] Simplifying quickly lest he end up worse.} Nxe3
{[%emt 0:02:28]} 21. Bxf7+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 22. Bxe8 {
[%emt 0:00:43]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 23. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} bxc3 {[%emt 0:
01:57]} 24. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 25. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:55]}
Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 26. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:54]} Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 27. Rd7 {
[%emt 0:00:11] Continuing to force pieces off, because if White plays slowly
the bishop will be superior.} Re7 {[%emt 0:03:06]} 28. Rd8+ {[%emt 0:00:23]} (
28. Rxe7 Kxe7 29. Nxe5 Ke6 30. Nc4 Kd5 31. Nxa5 Bc2 {leads to an odd position
where White is a pawn up but only he is taking risks.}) 28... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:
43]} 29. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 30. Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ke6
{[%emt 0:01:41]} 31. Nxa5 {[%emt 0:02:20]} Bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 32. Nb7 {
[%emt 0:00:59]} Re8 {[%emt 0:03:30]} (32... Bd7 {might be a try if Black is
desperate to play on.} 33. e4 (33. Nc5+ Kd6 34. Ne4+ Kc6 35. Kf2 Be8 $132)
33... Rf7 34. Nc5+ Kd6 35. Nd3 c5 $132 {Objectively this might be nothing for
Black, and so there is no reason to go for it, especially if one has looked at
Anish Giri's game and concluded he is unlikely to win.}) 33. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:00:
14]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 34. Rxe8 $11 {[%emt 0:01:04] Unlike the previous
note, here White gets to play Na6 immediately, and thus seal up the whole
position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 Bc8 {This manoeuvre has become
very popular lately.} 13. c3 (13. Bg5 Be6 14. Ne3 b4 15. Nh4 Bxa2 16. Rxa2 h6
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nhf5 $14 {Shakhov,A-Frolov,D/St Petersburg 1998}) (13. axb5
axb5 14. Bd2 Bg4 $6 15. Ne3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nc6 17. c3 g6 18. Nd5 Nh5 19. Bh6 Ng7
20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bd5 $16 {Rey,F-Maciel,J/Villa Ballester 2003}) 13... Bd7 14.
Ne3 Qc7 (14... bxa4 $5 {deserved attention:} 15. Nd2 Rb8 16. Bb1 (16. Ndc4 Nb3
17. Bxb3 Rxb3 18. Nf5 Ne8 $13) 16... Nb3 17. Ra3 (17. Nxb3 axb3 18. Rxa6 Qc7
$13 {[%cal Gc7b7,Gb8a8]}) 17... Nxc1 18. Qxc1 Nh5 19. Bc2 Qe8 $132) 15. axb5
axb5 16. b4 Nb7 $6 {[%csl Rb7] The knight is too passive on b7, so it looks
better to put it on c6.} (16... cxb4 17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Bd2 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20.
Qb3 Qd7 $11) 17. Bd2 Nd8 18. Bb3 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Re8 ({After} 19... cxb4 20. cxb4
Be6 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Qa2 $14 {Black is also deprived of active counterplay.})
20. bxc5 Qxc5 {Black is forced to take with the queen as after} (20... dxc5 21.
c4 $1 {[%csl Re5]} Bd6 22. Ba5 $1 (22. cxb5 Bxb5 23. Ba4 $14) 22... Qb8 23.
cxb5 Bxb5 24. Rb1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gb1b8] White has full control.}) 21.
Qa2 h6 22. h3 Ne6 23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Qc8 (24... Rf8) 25. d4 Bf6 26. Qb3 Bc6
$6 (26... Qa6 27. Be3 Qa5 $14 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Ge8c8]}) 27. Qb4 $1 $16 {
Threatening to take on c6.} (27. Bxc6 $6 Qxc6 28. d5 Nc5 29. dxc6 Nxb3 30. Be3
Rc8 31. Rb1 Na5 $11) 27... exd4 28. cxd4 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ng5 (29... Nc7 $5 30.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Qxd6 Qd8 32. Qxd8+ Bxd8 33. Ba5 Kf8 34. Ne5 Ke8 35. Nc6 b4 $16)
30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Bxg5 hxg5 32. Qxd6 Qe2 33. Qc5 (33. Qb8+ Kh7 34. d6 Bxd4 35.
d7 Qxf2+ 36. Kh2 Bb6 37. Nxg5+ Kg6 38. Nf3 $18) 33... Qc4 $6 (33... Qb2 {
would have left some survival chances .} 34. Qc8+ Kh7 35. d6 b4 36. Qf5+ Kg8
37. Kh2 $16) 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Kf1 $18 Kf8 36. d6 $1 {Black's king can't
approach the pawn, so the endgame is lost for Black.} Ke8 37. Ne5 Bxe5 38. dxe5
Kd7 39. g3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2564"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Re1
O-O 9. Nbd2 h6 10. a4 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. Ba2 {[%cal Gd1b3]} (12. Nf1 d5) 12...
d6 (12... d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 $14 {[%cal Gc1h6,Ga2d5,Ge4f6]}) 13. axb5 $5
{Up to this move the players were following the famous game Kasparov-Short/
London 1993, but with his last move White deviates from it in favor of
material gains!} (13. Nh4 Qd7 14. Ng6 Ne7 15. Nxf8 Kxf8 16. f3 $1 Rad8 $2 17.
b4 Ng6 18. Nb3 $14 {Kasparov,G-Short,N/London 1993}) 13... axb5 14. Qb3 Qd7 15.
Qxb5 Reb8 {Black has pressure on the a-file as compensation for the pawn. It's
hard to believe that it should be sufficient to keep the balance.} (15... Ba6
$2 16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Rxa6 $18) 16. Qb3 Ra7 17. Qc2 Rba8 18. b4 Ba6 19. Nc4 $6
{Deciding not to force things up. However after} (19. Bb2 $1 Bxd3 $8 20. Bxf7+
(20. Qxd3 Rxa2 21. Rxa2 Rxa2 22. Nc4 $14) 20... Qxf7 21. Qxd3 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 (
22. Bxa1 $5 $16) 22... Rxa1+ 23. Bxa1 Qa2 24. Qf1 $16 {[%cal Gf1c1,Gc1b2,Gb2b1,
Gg2g3] White keeps an extra pawn under rather fortunate circumstances.}) 19...
Bxc4 $8 20. dxc4 Nd8 21. Nd2 c5 $44 {[%csl Ra2] Now White's bishop is stuck on
a2 for a while, so Black gets almost a decent compensation.} 22. Nb3 Nc6 23.
Bd2 Ra4 {Forcing the advance of the pawn.} 24. b5 Ne7 25. Nc1 {[%cal Ga1b1,
Ga2b3] White has to take preventive measures against Rb1 and Bb3.} Qa7 $8 26.
Re2 Nc8 27. Rb1 Nb6 $6 ({Better was} 27... Rxa2 28. Nxa2 Qxa2 29. Qxa2 Rxa2 30.
b6 Nxb6 31. Rxb6 Nxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxd2 $14 {with good chances to survive.}) 28.
Bb3 Nxc4 {Black has no choice, but to enter the complications which turn up
favorable for White.} 29. Bxa4 Na3 30. b6 $1 Qb7 (30... Qxa4 31. Qxa4 Rxa4 32.
b7 $18) 31. Qb3 Nxb1 32. Be1 $1 Nxe4 (32... c4 33. Qb5 Na3 34. Qc6 $16) 33. Ra2
$1 $16 {[%csl Rb1] The knight is trapped on b1.} Nbxc3 34. Bxc3 Nxc3 35. Qxc3
Qxb6 36. Bb3 Rc8 {Black's pieces are too passive, so it's very hard to defend
this position.} (36... Rxa2 37. Bxa2 Qb7 38. Qd2 g6 39. Ne2 Kg7 40. h4 $16) 37.
Qc4 Rc7 38. Ra4 (38. Nd3 $2 d5 39. Qxd5 c4 $17 {[%csl Rg1]}) 38... g6 (38...
Rd7 39. Qd5 Qb7 40. Ne2 Qxd5 41. Bxd5 g6 $16) 39. g3 Kg7 40. Ne2 Rb7 41. Ba2
Qc6 (41... Ra7 42. Nc3 Qb7 43. Rxa7 Qxa7 44. Qd5 Qc7 45. Bc4 $18) 42. Ra3 Rd7
43. Nc3 Qf3 44. Qa4 Qb7 45. Bd5 Qc7 46. Kg2 Qd8 47. Qb5 Qe7 48. Qb6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{One of many possible ways to avoid the Marshall Attack.} b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5
Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 {The queen is well placed on c8 guarding a pawn on a6 in case
of Rb8. In their previous game Svidler opted for the more popular} (11... Rb8 {
and easily held the position.} 12. Bc4 Qc8 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ne3 Re8 15. Nd5 Bd8
16. Bd2 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Ne7 19. d4 Nxd5 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Bf6
22. Nc6 Ra8 23. Nxb4 Nxb4 24. Bxb4 Bxb2 25. Rb1 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Svidler,P/
Moscow 2002}) 12. Nc4 h6 {Aimed to prevent 13.Bg5, which allows White to take
control over the very important d5 square.} (12... Rb8 13. Bg5 $5 (13. h3 h6
14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bf8 16. Ncd2 Bxb3 17. Nxb3 Re8 18. Nfd2 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5
20. Qf3 Rb5 21. Nc4 Qd7 22. Rad1 f5 23. Bc1 g6 $11 {Smirin,I-Grischuk,A/Moscow
2002}) 13... h6 14. Bh4 Bg4 15. Ne3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd4 17. Qd1 Nxb3 18. cxb3 Nd5
19. Nxd5 $14 {Paehtz,T-Kasimdzhanov,R/Rethymnon 2003}) 13. c3 {Usually White
tries to refrain from ths move, since a pawn on b4 is a potential target for
the white pieces. On the other hand to transfer d4 seems to be the most
logical way to fight for the opening advantage.} Rb8 $6 (13... bxc3 14. bxc3
Rb8 {with the idea to meet} 15. d4 {with} exd4 16. cxd4 d5 $13 {deserved
attention.}) 14. d4 Bg4 ({It's too late for} 14... exd4 $6 15. cxd4 d5 {
as after} 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nce5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 $14 {White keeps a steady
advantage.}) 15. Ba4 Qb7 16. d5 Na7 17. Ne3 $14 {It's obvious that white
emerged out of the opening with advantage.} Bc8 {This awkward looking move is
pretty forced as after} (17... c6 $6 18. Nxg4 Nxg4 19. c4 $14 {White's chances
are clearly better.}) 18. Qd3 Ng4 19. c4 ({Another promising continuation was} 
19. cxb4 Qxb4 20. Bd2 Qb7 21. Rac1 $16) 19... Nxe3 20. Bxe3 c5 {This move had
to be played sooner or later as White would've pushed c5 himself.} 21. dxc6
Nxc6 22. Qd5 Bd7 23. c5 $5 dxc5 24. Bxc5 Bxc5 25. Qxc5 Rfc8 {Diagram [#]} 26.
Qe3 ({White could've posed Black serious problems after} 26. Bb3 $1 {
threatening to capture on e5 and not letting Black to put the bishop on e6.}
Qc7 (26... Nd4 27. Bxf7+ Kh8 28. Qxe5 Nc2 29. Bd5 Qa7 30. Qf4 $16) 27. Bc4 Ra8
(27... Nd4 28. Qxc7 Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 Rxc7 30. Bxa6 Be6 31. Bf1 $16) 28. Bd5 $16)
26... Be6 $1 {Now Black has nothing to worry about.} 27. h3 (27. Bxc6 $5 Rxc6
28. Nxe5 Rc2 29. Re2 b3 30. f4 Qb5 31. Rf2 $13) 27... b3 28. Bxc6 Rxc6 29. Nxe5
Rc2 30. Rab1 (30. Re2 Qb5) 30... Qb4 31. Nf3 Rd8 $1 {It's far more important
not to let the white knight to come to d4 than to capture a pawn on a5.} (31...
Qxa5 $6 32. Nd4 Rc4 33. Rbd1 $14) 32. Qb6 {Forcing a draw.} Qxb6 33. axb6 Rb8
34. Nd4 Rd2 35. Red1 Rxd1+ 36. Rxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{A popular way to avoid the Marshall counterattack.} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7
11. Nbd2 Rae8 {Black's plan is to push d5 at some point, so the rook might be
pretty useful on e8. On the other hand this move may turn out as a waste of
time if White opens up a-file or b-file.} 12. a4 (12. Nf1 Bd8 13. Be3 (13. Ne3
Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Qxg4 17. hxg4 d5 $1 $15 {L'Ami,E-Van
den Doel,E/Leeuwarden 2004}) 13... Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. Qd2 c5 16. Rad1 Qc7 $13
{1/2-1/2 Sowray,P-Hebden,M/Birmingham 2005 (34)}) (12. c3 d5 13. Ba2 dxe4 14.
dxe4 Nh5 15. Nb3 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Nf6 17. Re1 Nb8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Svidler,
P/Linares 1999 (35)}) 12... Na5 13. Ba2 b4 14. c3 $1 {This move is a very
logical novelty. White gives up his typical ''Spanish'' maneuvre Nd2-f1-g3 in
favor of Nc4.} (14. Nf1 Bd8 15. Ng3 Kh8 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 c5 18. Bg5 Bc6 19.
Qc1 Ng8 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. d4 Qc7 $11 {Karjakin,S-Aronian,L/Warsaw 2005}) 14...
bxc3 (14... c5 15. cxb4 cxb4 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Qc7 18. Qb3 a5 19. Be3 $14)
15. bxc3 c5 16. Nc4 $1 {[%csl Rd5] White's idea is to take over the b-file
taking advantage of the fact that Black's rook has left the queenside for e8.}
Nxc4 17. Bxc4 h6 18. a5 $1 $14 {[%csl Ra6]} Bd8 $6 {Black intends to bring the
rook to b7 via e7, but it's a bit artificial and slow. White easily increases
the pressure by natural developing moves.} (18... Qc7) 19. Be3 Kh7 20. Qb3 Bc8
21. Nd2 Qb7 22. Reb1 Re7 (22... Qxb3 23. Bxb3 $1 Bc7 24. Nc4 $16 {[%cal Gb3a4,
Gc4b6,Ga4c6]}) 23. Qc2 Qa8 24. d4 {Everything is set up for this break.} cxd4 (
24... exd4 $2 25. e5+ Ne4 26. Nxe4 f5 27. cxd4 fxe4 28. exd6 $18) 25. cxd4 Rb7
26. Rxb7 Qxb7 (26... Bxb7 27. dxe5 dxe5 28. Bc5 Rh8 29. Bxf7 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4
31. Qc4 $16) 27. Bd3 $1 $16 {Bringing the knight to c4.} exd4 28. Bxd4 Kg8 29.
Nc4 Qc6 30. Nb6 $1 {Exchanging the main defender!} Qxc2 31. Bxc2 Bb7 32. f3 Re8
{Black won't be able to protect for a long time his weaknesses on a6 and d6,
so may be he should've tried} (32... d5 33. exd5 $1 (33. e5 Nh5 34. Nd7 Re8 35.
Nc5 Bc8 36. Bd3 Nf4 37. Bf1 Ne6 38. Nxe6 Rxe6 39. Rb1 Rc6 40. Rb8 Kf8 $14)
33... Nxd5 34. Be4 Bxb6 35. axb6 Rd8 36. Kf2 $16 {even though this position is
also very tough for him.}) 33. Rb1 Re7 34. Nc4 Rc7 35. Bb3 $5 (35. Nxd6 Rxc2
36. Rxb7 Bxa5 37. Nxf7 Rc7 38. Nd6 $18) 35... Be7 (35... d5 36. Nd6 Bc6 (36...
dxe4 37. Bxf7+ Rxf7 38. Nxf7 Kxf7 39. Rxb7+ $18) 37. Bb6 Rd7 38. e5 Be7 39. Nf5
Nh7 40. Rc1 $18) 36. Ne3 Bc8 37. Bc4 Nd7 38. Rc1 Bd8 (38... Nc5 39. Nd5 Rd7 40.
Nxe7+ Rxe7 41. e5 Ne6 42. exd6 Re8 43. Bb6 $18) 39. Nd5 $1 Rc6 40. Ne7+ $1 {
The final blow.} (40. Ne7+ Bxe7 41. Bxf7+ Kxf7 42. Rxc6 Bb7 43. Rc7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{One of the most popular ways to avoid the Marshall Attack.} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10.
a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Bd5 {This move was
introduced by Sutovsky less than a year ago. It seems that Black experiences
certain problems in this line.} (15. Nd5 Nb8 (15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 17. Nd2
Nf5 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. b4 Rc8 20. Bd2 c4 $13 {Anand,V-Shirov,A/Cap d'Agde 2003 
(56)}) 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Bb1 Nc6 18. Ng5 Bd7 19. f4 exf4 20. Bxf4 Rae8 21. c3
Ne5 22. Bc2 Bc6 $11 {Anand,V-Grischuk,A/Cap d'Agde 2003}) 15... Bd7 {A couple
of rounds later Navara opted for 15...Bxd5 and managed to equalize, but
Aronian's choice appears to be quite reasonable.} (15... Rc8 16. c3 Bxd5 17.
exd5 Nb8 18. a4 Qd7 19. axb5 axb5 20. c4 Rfe8 21. Nd2 Rc7 22. cxb5 Qxb5 23.
Ndc4 $14 {Sutovsky,E-Beliavsky,A/Gothenburg 2005}) (15... Bxd5 $5 16. exd5 Nb8
17. b4 (17. a4 $5) 17... Nbd7 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. d4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Nfe4 21. Nc6
Qd7 22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qd4 Rfe8 $132 {Almasi,Z-Navara,D/Wijk aan Zee 2006}) 16.
Bb3 Be6 17. c3 {Once the bishop is on b3 White doesn't mind to trade it as his
queen takes the bishop's place on the diagonal a2-g8.} Bxb3 18. Qxb3 g6 19. Qa2
{[%cal Gb2b4]} a5 $5 {Preventing b4, which would've been played otherwise.
It's a rather risky decision from the strategical point of view as White gets
a great square for the knight on c4, but the alternative was hardly better.} (
19... Qd7 20. b4 a5 (20... cxb4 21. axb4 a5 22. Bd2 Qb7 23. bxa5 Rxa5 24. Qb3
$14) 21. bxc5 dxc5 22. Nd5 $14) 20. a4 b4 21. Bd2 Qc7 22. Nh2 {[%csl Gd5][%cal
Gh2g4] Starting a fight for the light squares in the center.} Rfd8 (22... h5 $6
23. Nf3 $14 {[%csl Rg5]}) 23. Nhg4 Nxg4 24. Nxg4 Bf8 25. Re3 ({Serious
attention deserved} 25. f4 $5 exf4 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Nd5 Qb7 28. Bxf4 $14 {
followed by Ref1, Rf3, Raf1.}) 25... Bg7 26. Rf3 {[%cal Gd2g5]} Qe7 27. Qd5
Rac8 28. Rd1 Rd7 $6 {A dubious decision after which Black has to work very
hard to keep the balance.} ({It was necessary to play} 28... Qe6 $1 {and it's
not so clear how White can benefit from penetrating to f6:} 29. Bg5 (29. Ne3
Bh6 {[%cal Gh6d2]}) 29... Rd7 30. Ne3 (30. Nf6+ Bxf6 31. Qxe6 fxe6 32. Rxf6 Re8
$11) 30... h6 31. Bh4 g5 32. Bg3 Qxd5 33. Nxd5 Rb8 $132) 29. Ne3 Qe6 30. Nc4 $1
{[%csl Ra5][%cal Gc4b6]} Rcc7 31. Bg5 h6 32. Bf6 $1 {Keeping an eye on e7.}
Qxd5 33. exd5 Ne7 34. Bxe7 Rxe7 35. Nxa5 $1 ({Less convincing is} 35. Re3 $143
$6 Ra7 36. Nxd6 Rad7 (36... Red7 37. Nb5 Ra8 38. d6 f5 39. cxb4 cxb4 40. Rc1
Kf7 41. b3 $16 {[%cal Ge3e2,Ge2c2,Gc2c6,Gc6b6]}) 37. Nc4 Rxd5 38. Nxa5 bxc3 39.
bxc3 e4 $14 {and Black should survive.}) 35... bxc3 36. bxc3 e4 37. Re3 exd3
38. Rdxd3 ({Also after} 38. Rexd3 Re4 39. Ra1 Ra7 (39... c4 40. Rf3 Rc5 41. Nc6
Rxd5 42. a5 Rc5 43. a6 Re8 44. a7 Ra8 45. Ra6 $16) 40. f3 Rh4 41. g3 Rxh3 42.
Kg2 Rh5 43. Nc6 Rb7 $132 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gb7b2] Black has serious
counterchances due to the exposed position of the white king.}) 38... c4 39.
Nxc4 Rxe3 40. Nxe3 Ra7 41. g3 Rxa4 42. Kg2 Bf6 43. Kf3 Bd8 (43... Kg7) 44. Rd4
$1 Ra3 45. Rb4 $6 ({I guess Anand wasn't sure if} 45. Rc4 Bb6 46. Rc8+ Kg7 47.
Nc4 Rxc3+ 48. Ke2 Bd4 49. Nxd6 $16 {is winning for White so he decided to keep
the pressure, but it looks like he missed his best chance to fight for a win
at this point.}) 45... Bf6 46. Rb6 Be5 47. c4 Kg7 48. g4 Ra1 49. Ke4 (49. Rc6
Rc1 50. Ke4 Bh2 51. f4 Bg1 52. Kd3 Rb1 53. Kc2 Re1 54. Nd1 Re4 $14) 49... Bh2
50. Kf3 (50. Rc6 Ra2 51. Nd1 (51. Kf3 Bg1 52. Rxd6 Rxf2+ 53. Kg3 Re2 54. Nf1
Rf2 $11) 51... Rd2 52. Nc3 Rxf2 53. Ke3 Rf1 54. Nb5 Rf6 $14) 50... Ra2 51. Rb1
Be5 52. Rd1 Bc3 $1 $11 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gc3b4,Gb4c5] Black's bishos comes to
the diagonal a7-g1 to put pressure on f2.} 53. Rc1 Bd4 54. Rc2 Ra3 55. Kg2 Bxe3
56. fxe3 Rxe3 57. c5 dxc5 58. Rxc5 Rd3 59. h4 Kf6 60. Rc6+ Ke5 61. g5 hxg5 62.
hxg5 Rxd5 63. Rf6 Ke4 64. Rxf7 Rxg5+ 65. Kh3 Rf5 66. Ra7 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 19th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2002.03.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. bxa3 d5 $1 12. exd5 (12. Bg5 dxe4 13.
dxe4 h6 14. Qxd8 Rexd8 15. Bxf6 gxf6 $11) 12... Nxd5 13. Bb2 $6 {The vision of
the play along the diagonal a1-h8 is very attractive, but his move is deeply
suspicious.} (13. Bd2 Qd7 14. axb5 axb5 15. c4 bxc4 16. dxc4 Nf6 17. Bg5 $14) (
13. Ng5 $5 bxa4 14. Bxa4 h6 15. Ne4 $14) 13... Nf4 $1 14. Bc1 (14. Qd2 Qf6 15.
Qe3 Qf5 $15) 14... Nxg2 $6 (14... Nd4 $5 15. Nxd4 (15. Bxf4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 exf4
$17) 15... Nxg2 $1 16. Qh5 (16. Ne2 Qh4 17. Ng3 Qh3 $19) 16... Nxe1 17. Bxf7+
Kf8 18. Bb3 Qf6 $17) 15. Ng5 $1 Nxe1 (15... Nd4 $5 16. Bxf7+ Kf8 17. Qh5 (17.
Ba2 g6 $1 (17... Qxg5 $2 18. Bxg5 Nxe1 19. Qh5 $16) 18. Nf7 Qh4 19. Bh6+ Qxh6
20. Nxh6 Nxe1 $15) 17... Nf3+ 18. Nxf3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxe1 20. Qf5 Qf6 21. Qxf6
gxf6 22. Bxe8 Kxe8 23. Bb2 $11) 16. Qh5 $1 Qd7 (16... h6 17. Nxf7 (17. Bxf7+
Kh8 18. Qg6 Nf3+ $17) 17... Qf6 18. Ng5+ Kh8 19. Nf7+ $11) 17. Bxf7+ Kf8 18.
Be3 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Ivanchuk is making miracles in the endangered position and
frustrated Adams is even falling into problem zone.} (18. Nxh7+ $6 Ke7 19. Bg5+
Kd6 20. Rxe1 Nd4 21. Kf1 Qc6 22. Qg6+ (22. Re4 Qxc2 23. Rxd4+ exd4 24. Bf4+ Kd7
25. Bxe8+ Rxe8 $19) 22... Re6 23. Qe4 Qxe4 24. dxe4 Nxc2 25. Rd1+ Nd4 26. Bxe6
Kxe6 $17) 18... Nd4 19. Rxe1 Nf3+ (19... g6 20. Qh6+ Ke7 21. Qh4 Qc6 22. f3 $13
) 20. Kf1 $1 (20. Nxf3 Qxf7 21. Bc5+ Kg8 22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 23. Nxe5+ Kg8 $17)
20... Nxg5 21. Bc5+ (21. Bxe8 Rxe8 22. Bxg5 Qc6 23. axb5 $11) 21... Re7 22.
Rxe5 Nxf7 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 24. Bxe7+ Kxe7 {Hecht: '[#] Materiell ist Schwarz
etwas im Vorteil, der aber bald verschwindet, da ihm etliche Bauern abhanden
kommen. Zudem gibt es Dissonanzen im Zusammenspiel seiner Figuren. Daher geht
Iwantschuk nicht auf Remis durch Dauerschach aus.'} 25. Qc5+ $1 Kd7 (25... Ke6
26. Qxc7 Bd5 27. Qb6+ Nd6 28. Qe3+ Kd7 29. Qe5 Bf7 30. Qxg7 Rc8 $14) 26. Qd4+
Ke7 (26... Nd6 {Hecht} 27. Qxg7+ Kc6 28. Qxh7 $16) 27. Qxg7 bxa4 $2 (27... Bd5
$1 28. Qxh7 (28. Qd4 c6 $11) 28... Rh8 29. Qf5 c6 $11) 28. Qc3 $1 Kd7 29. Qd4+
Nd6 30. Qxa4+ Ke6 31. Qg4+ Nf5 32. Qc4+ Bd5 $2 {Nobody was envying black's
defensive task, but after this move white connected passed pawns on c and d
files will become unstoppable.} (32... Kd7 33. Qf7+ Ne7 34. Qxh7 $16 {und
gegen die Einzelfreibauern kann Schwarz eher kдmpfen als gegen die verbundenen
wie im Text.}) 33. Qxc7 {'+-' Hecht.} h5 34. c4 Bh1 (34... Bf3 {Hecht} 35. Qf4
Bb7 36. d4 $18) 35. f4 Rf8 (35... Ne7 36. Qe5+ Kd7 37. f5 Rf8 38. Qe6+ Kd8 39.
Qd6+ Ke8 40. f6 $18) 36. Qb6+ Kf7 (36... Kd7 37. Qa7+ Kd8 38. Qxa6 $18) 37.
Qa7+ Ne7 38. Qxa6 Rb8 39. d4 Rb1+ 40. Ke2 Rb2+ 41. Kd3 Rb3+ 42. Kd2 Rh3 43. d5
$1 Rxh2+ 44. Kd3 Nxd5 45. cxd5 Bxd5 46. f5 {Black is finding no respite even
after piece sacrifice, in fact he will lose yet more material.} (46. Qa7+ Ke6
47. f5+ $1 Kxf5 48. Qc5 Ke6 49. Qc8+ Kf6 50. Qd8+ Ke6 51. Qg8+ $18) 46... Ra2
47. Qa7+ Kf6 (47... Kg8 48. Qb8+ Kg7 49. Qc7+ $18) 48. Qd4+ Kg5 49. Qxd5 Rxa3+
50. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2002.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2002.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Ne2 (13. Bg5 Qd7 (13... h6
14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Bd5 Qd7 16. Nh2 Bd8 17. Ng4 Kh8 18. Ne3 Bg5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Polgar,J-Adams,M/Frankfurt 1999/CBM 72 (44)}) 14. Nh2 Ne8 15. Bd2 Nc7 16. Nf1
Kh8 17. Ng3 Nd4 $15 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Adams,M/Linares 1999}) 13... Bc8 (13... d5
14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Ng3 Bf6 16. Ne4 Be7 17. Bg5 Nf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Ng3 Kh8 20.
Nh4 Nd4 21. c3 Ne6 22. d4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nxd4 24. Qh5 Rg8 {0-1 Westerinen,
H-Kraidman,Y/Netanya 1971/ (51)}) 14. Ng3 Be6 15. Nf5 (15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. b3 Nd7
$11) 15... Bxf5 $5 {[%mdl 32] Certainly a courageous strategic decision. Adams
is very strong in this field and can afford to play a bit originally.} 16. exf5
Qd7 17. g4 h6 18. c3 (18. Bd2 Bd8 19. b4 Bc7 $13) 18... Rfe8 19. b4 (19. d4 e4
20. Nh2 d5 $15) 19... cxb4 20. cxb4 (20. axb4 a5 (20... Bd8 21. d4 e4 22. Nd2
d5 23. Nb3 Bc7 24. Kg2 (24. Nc5 $2 Qd6 $19) 24... Qd6 25. Rh1 a5 $15) 21. bxa5
Rxa5 22. Qb3 Bd8 $11) 20... Bd8 21. Bb2 (21. Be3 $5 d5 $15) 21... a5 $5 (21...
Bb6 22. Rc1 Rac8 23. Bb3 $13) 22. bxa5 (22. d4 e4 23. d5 Nxb4 24. axb4 exf3 25.
Qxf3 axb4 $17) 22... Bxa5 23. Re2 Bb6 24. Qb3 $2 {Gelfand suddenly panics even
though a bishop pair was still giving him a great chance to keep the chances
balanced.} (24. d4 $5 Nxd4 (24... e4 25. d5 exf3 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. dxc6 Ne4
28. Qxf3 $11) 25. Nxd4 exd4 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 d5 29. Qd3
$11) 24... Qb7 $1 25. Qd1 (25. Ree1 b4 26. g5 $132) 25... Ra4 $6 (25... Nb4 $1
26. Rd2 (26. axb4 Qxf3 27. Qf1 Qxd3 $19) 26... Nxa2 27. Rxa2 Nd5 $17) 26. Rc2
Ne7 (26... Nd4 27. Nxd4 Bxd4 28. Bxd4 exd4 29. Bb3 Ra7 30. a4 Nd7 $15) 27. Nh2
$2 {The last serious mistake as black pieces will now sneak deeply into
white's territory.} (27. d4 $1 e4 28. Ne1 $11) 27... Ned5 28. Qf3 Rf4 29. Qg2
e4 $1 30. Re1 (30. dxe4 Nxe4 31. Nf3 Nxf2 32. Rxf2 (32. Nd4 Rxd4 33. Bxd4 Bxd4
34. Rxf2 Bxa1 $1 35. Bxd5 Re1+ 36. Rf1 Bd4+ 37. Kh2 Rxf1 38. Bxb7 Be5+ $19)
32... Re2 33. Bd4 Bxd4 34. Nxd4 Rfxf2 35. Qxd5 Rg2+ 36. Kf1 Ref2+ 37. Ke1 Rxa2
$19) (30. Bxf6 Nxf6 31. Re1 (31. Qg3 exd3 32. Qxd3 Rd4 33. Qf1 Qe4 $17) 31...
Qa8 $1 32. Rce2 Qxa3 33. dxe4 Nxe4 $19) 30... Rxf2 $1 31. Rxf2 Nf4 32. Qg3
Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Nxd3+ 34. Kf1 Nxb2 35. h4 Qd7 36. Kg2 Nd3 37. Rf1 e3 38. g5 hxg5
39. hxg5 Nh5 0-1

[Event "URS-ch16 Final"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1948.11.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Taimanov, Mark E"]
[Black "Lilienthal, Andor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1948.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
(8. c3 {main line}) 8... Bb7 $1 (8... d5 $2 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5
$16) 9. Nc3 $6 (9. c3 $2 d5 {Fischer ,R-Szabo,L/Portoroz izt/1958/ TOP}) (9. d3
$5 d6 (9... h6 10. a4 $5) 10. a3 $5 Na5 11. Ba2) 9... d6 10. Nd5 $6 (10. d3
$142) 10... Na5 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. d3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nd7 $1 $15 {/\f7-f5} 14.
Qd2 (14. g4 $2 d5 $1) (14. d4 f5 $1 15. exf5 Rxf5 16. Nh2 Qh4 17. Be3 Raf8 $17)
(14. Bg5 $5) 14... f5 15. Qg5 Qf7 16. Qxf5 Qxf5 17. exf5 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rxf5 $17
19. f4 (19. Kg2 Nc5 {/\Ne6}) 19... exf4 20. Re7 Ne5 21. Rxc7 Re8 22. h4 (22.
Rxa6 $2 Rg5+ 23. Kh1 Nf3 $19) 22... Nf3+ 23. Kg2 Nxh4+ 24. Kh3 Ng6 25. Kg4 (25.
Rxa6 Rh5+ (25... Re1 $1 $19) 26. Kg4 (26. Kg2 Rg5+ 27. Kf3 Rg1 28. Bd2 Nh4+ 29.
Kxf4 g5#) 26... Rh4+ 27. Kf3 Ne5+ 28. Kg2 (28. Ke4 $142) 28... Rg4+ 29. Kh3 h5
30. Rxd6 Nf3 $19) 25... Rf6 26. Rxa6 Ne5+ 27. Kh3 Rh6+ 28. Kg2 Rg6+ 29. Kh3 Rf8
{/\h6,Rf5} 30. Re7 (30. Rca7 Rf5 31. Ra8+ Kf7 32. R6a7+ Ke6 33. Re8+ Kd5 34.
c4+ Kd4 $19) 30... Rg1 (30... h6 $2 31. Rxe5 $18) 31. Rxd6 Nf3 $19 {/\g7-g5-g4#
} (31... Nf7 $2 32. Bxf4) (31... Ng6 32. Rb7 Rxc1 33. Rdd7 $132) 32. Bxf4 Rxf4
33. Rd8+ Rf8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Re3 Nd4 36. c3 Nxb3 37. Re5 Nc1 38. Re3 Rd1 39.
d4 b4 40. Kg3 b3 0-1

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2008.04.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2008.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 {Kamsky is not afraid of the new trends and bravely
choses the transfer of the knight to e6 square. Classical solution of the
problems was connected with the knight jump to a5 and control of the center
with the help of the immediate c7-c5.} 11. Nbd2 Rfe8 12. Nf1 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6
14. Ba2 {It seems, that with this set up black is excellently prepared to
apply the freeing advance d6-d5. White are still searching, how to get
advantage in this system.} c5 15. Bd2 (15. Nf5 c4 16. dxc4 Bf8 $13) 15... Bf8
16. b4 $1 {Gashimov is giving up on the hope to open up the center with c3,d4,
since the opponent is perfectly prepared for it.} h6 (16... g6 17. Ng5 Nxg5 18.
Bxg5 Bg7 19. Qf3 $1 Qd8 20. Bd5 Rb8 21. a4 $14) 17. c4 Nf4 (17... Rac8 18. Ne2
Rc7 $11) 18. Re3 bxc4 (18... Rac8 19. Bc3 Ne6 $13) 19. dxc4 (19. Bxc4 cxb4 20.
axb4 d5 $1 21. exd5 Bd6 $11) 19... Ne6 20. Bb1 g6 21. Re1 Qc7 {Kamsky has no
reason to brag about the outcome of the opening. His pieces are harmonious and
the knight controls the sensitive d4 square.} (21... Bc6 22. Bd3 Rab8 $11) 22.
Bd3 Bg7 23. Rb1 Nd7 24. Ne2 Nd4 (24... cxb4 25. axb4 a5 26. bxa5 Ndc5 27. Nc1
Rab8 $13) 25. Nc3 Rec8 (25... Rab8 26. Nd5 Qd8 $11) 26. Rc1 Qd8 27. Nd5 Bc6 (
27... Ne6 28. Rb1 $13) 28. Bf1 (28. Nxd4 exd4 29. f4 Rab8 $13) 28... Nf8 $2 {
The play with this knight is for black quite unfortunate, on the square f8 it
has no perspectives.} (28... Ne6 29. b5 axb5 30. cxb5 Bxd5 31. exd5 Nd4 32.
Nxd4 exd4 33. a4 $14) 29. Nxd4 exd4 (29... cxd4 30. a4 Ne6 31. b5 $14) 30. f4
Nd7 31. Qf3 Rcb8 32. Qg3 cxb4 $2 (32... Ra7 33. Bd3 h5 $14) 33. axb4 a5 34. b5
Bxd5 $6 {The position is becoming worse with nearly every move played in time
trouble. The decision to exchange the light squared bishop will prove fatal
after the opening of the center.} (34... Bb7 35. f5 Be5 36. Bf4 $14) 35. cxd5
Nc5 36. e5 a4 37. Bb4 $1 (37. e6 a3 38. f5 g5 $14) 37... a3 {The tactical
combination will enable Kamsky to win the exchange, but it will cost him the
center and 3 pawns!} (37... Nb3 38. Rc6 dxe5 39. fxe5 Qxd5 (39... Qg5 40. Qxg5
hxg5 41. Bd6 Rb7 42. e6 $18) 40. Bc4 Qd8 41. Rxg6 $18) 38. Bxa3 d3 39. Bxc5 (
39. Bb4 Rxb5 40. Bxc5 Rxc5 41. Rxc5 d2 42. Rd1 Qb6 43. Qe3 $16) 39... d2 40.
Bxd6 Rb7 41. Red1 (41. Rc6 dxe1=Q 42. Qxe1 Bf8 43. Bxf8 Kxf8 44. Bc4 $18) 41...
dxc1=Q 42. Rxc1 {[%mdl 1024] Gashimov enjoys more than adequate compensation
for the missing exchange, the central pawns will have their say.} Rba7 43. Qb3
Ra1 44. Bc7 Qh4 (44... Rxc1 45. Bxd8 Rxd8 46. b6 Rb8 47. b7 $18) 45. Rxa1 Rxa1
46. Qf3 Qe1 (46... Rb1 47. b6 Qe1 48. d6 Qb4 49. b7 $1 Qxb7 50. Qxb7 Rxb7 51.
d7 $18) 47. b6 Qb4 48. d6 {It is unrealistic to stop both mighty candidates
for the advance to the promotion square.} Qd4+ 49. Kh2 (49. Qf2 $6 Qd5 $18)
49... Rb1 50. b7 Rxb7 51. Qxb7 Qxf4+ 52. g3 (52. g3 Qxf1 53. d7 Qf2+ 54. Qg2
$18) 1-0

[Event "Nalchik FIDE GP"]
[Site "Nalchik"]
[Date "2009.04.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 {White is
not obliged to play the most popular move 7.Re1 as this modern alternative
sidesteps some intricate lines connected with the early 6...Bb7 system.} Be7 (
7... Bc5 8. Nc3 d6 9. a4 b4 10. Nd5 $14) 8. a4 O-O 9. Re1 d6 10. Nbd2 {White's
setup gives the impression of being rather timid and Ivnachuk has no problems
to equalise the game.} Re8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ne3 Bf8 13. g4 $5 {Svidler was
surely aware, that normal developing moves have failed to promise any
advantage in current tournament praxis. His approach with the daring g-pawn
advance seriously compromises White's kingside pawn structure.} (13. Bd2 Ne7 (
13... Nb8 14. c3 Nbd7 15. Nd5 c6 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6 17. c4 bxc4 18. Bxc4 d5 19. Bb3
Bd6 20. Bc3 Nd7 $14 {1-0 Navarro Lopez Menchero,D (2076)-Rodriguez Lopez,R 
(2335)/Palma de Mallorca 2008 (39)}) 14. c4 c6 15. Qc2 Ng6 16. Nf5 bxc4 17.
Bxc4 d5 18. Ba2 c5 19. Ng3 c4 20. exd5 cxd3 21. Qxd3 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23.
Qxd5 Nxd5 24. Rad1 {was just equal in 1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2640)-Adams,M 2660)/
Pula 1997/.}) (13. c3 Na5 (13... Ne7 14. Nh4 c5 15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Qc8 17.
Qg3 c4 18. dxc4 bxc4 19. Ba2 Qe6 20. Nf3 Nc6 21. Nd2 Na5 $17 {1/2-1/2 Emms,J 
(2586)-Hebden,M (2510)/Port Erin 1999 (48)}) 14. Ba2 c5 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4
Nc6 17. Bd2 Qd7 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Ne7 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qb3 Reb8 22. axb5 {
1/2-1/2 Lutz,C (2590)-Strikovic,A (2560)/Pamplona 1998. With very small
advantage for White.}) 13... Nd4 (13... Na5 14. Ba2 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5
Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qe2 Nc6 $11) 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Nf5 d5 $1 {The
counterattack in the centre is from the strategic point of view the most
appropriate reaction to the aggressive white plans.} 16. axb5 (16. f3 c5 $11)
16... dxe4 (16... axb5 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. g5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 Nd7 $11) 17. dxe4 (
17. bxa6 exd3 18. Rxe8 Qxe8 19. cxd3 Rxa6 20. Rxa6 Bxa6 $15) 17... axb5 18.
Rxa8 Qxa8 {Black has no reason to complain about the activity of his well
placed pieces.} 19. e5 (19. f3 c5 $15) (19. Nxd4 Nxe4 20. c3 Nd6 $15) 19... Ne4
(19... Bf3 20. Qd3 Nxg4 21. e6 $1 fxe6 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Nh4 Rxe6 24. Rxe6 Bd5
25. Ng6+ Kg8 26. Re1 $16) 20. e6 $1 {Svidler must begin to look for active
ideas in order to keep the opponent busy and sidestep problem for himself.} (
20. c3 Rxe5 21. Bf4 Re8 22. Nxd4 Bd6 (22... Bc5 23. Bxc7 (23. h3 b4 $1 $15)
23... Ng5 24. h4 (24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Kf1 Qe4 $15) 24... Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Nf3+ 26.
Nxf3 Bxf3 27. Bg3 Bxg4 28. Qe5 $11) 23. Bxd6 Nxd6 24. Bc2 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 c5 26.
Nf5 Bh1 27. Qf1 Nc4 28. Ne3 $15) 20... fxe6 21. Nxd4 Rd8 (21... Nc5 $1 22. c3
Bh1 23. f3 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Qxf3 25. Bxe6+ Rxe6 26. Nxf3 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 Kf7 $15)
22. Bxe6+ $2 {Both great players seem to be carried away by their own agendas.
Objectively this natural move is unnatural, since it enables the enemy to
unleash a counterattack with the help of a queen move to a4.} (22. g5 $1 Nc5 (
22... Rxd4 23. Bxe6+ Kh8 24. Qxd4 Bc5 25. Qe5 $16) 23. Qg4 Nxb3 24. Qxe6+ Kh8
25. Nxb3 hxg5 26. Bxg5 Rd6 27. Qf5 $14) 22... Kh8 23. g5 Rxd4 $2 {Ivanchuk was
playing in Nalchik without his usual inspiration, very far from his optimal
chess strength. At the critical moment he falls for the obvious combination in
order to benefit from the strong centralised knight.} (23... Qa4 $1 24. c4 Qxd1
25. Rxd1 bxc4 $1 (25... c5 26. Bd5 Bxd5 (26... Rxd5 27. cxd5 cxd4 28. Rxd4 Nd6
29. gxh6 gxh6 30. Bf4 $14) 27. Ne6 Re8 (27... Bxe6 28. Rxd8 Kg8 29. gxh6 $18)
28. cxd5 hxg5 29. f3 Nf6 30. Bxg5 $16) 26. Bg4 $11) (23... c5 $2 24. gxh6 gxh6
(24... Rxd4 25. hxg7+ Kxg7 26. Qg4+ Kf6 27. Qf5+ Ke7 28. Qf7+ Kd8 29. Bf4 $18)
25. Qg4 $16) 24. Qxd4 Bc5 25. Qe5 Bxf2+ (25... Qf8 26. Bf4 Bxf2+ 27. Kf1 Bxe1
28. gxh6 $18) 26. Kf1 Qf8 27. gxh6 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Svidler is hinting with a
great dose of elegance, that White's forces will be much better coordinated in
the attack against the enemy king.} Bxe1+ (27... Bg3+ 28. Qf5 Qxf5+ 29. Bxf5
Bxe1 30. Kxe1 Nd6 31. Bd3 $16) 28. Bf4 $1 Nd2+ (28... Nf6 29. hxg7+ Qxg7 30.
Kxe1 $18) (28... Qf6 29. Qxc7 Nd2+ 30. Kxe1 Nf3+ 31. Kf2 Qh4+ 32. Kg2 Nd4+ 33.
Qxb7 Nxe6 34. hxg7+ $18) 29. Ke2 $1 (29. Ke2 $1 {The final touch is impressive.
White is underlining the hopelessness of black forces in active play and they
are all absent from the defence of their own king.} Qf6 30. Bf5 Bc6 31. Qxc7
$18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. d4 {White can hope to
end up with healthier bishop than enemy's e7, but Navara was keeping a very
good control in the center.} exd4 (13... Nc6 14. dxe5 Nxe5 (14... dxe5 15. Qe2)
15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Qe2 $16) 14. Nxd4 Qd7 (14... Qc8 $6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Rxe5 $16)
15. Nf1 (15. b3 g6 16. Qe2 e5 17. N4f3 Nh5 18. Nf1 Nf4 19. Bxf4 Rxf4 20. N3d2
Bg5 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. Ne3 Rf7 23. Nec4 Nxc4 24. Nxc4 Raf8 $17 {1/2 Leiber,B 
(2208)-Zur Bruegge,C (2103)/Bad Zwischenahn 2003 (43)}) 15... c5 (15... Nc6)
16. Nf3 Nc6 17. Ng3 Ng4 (17... Rad8 18. Qd3 a5 $11) 18. e5 Rad8 $6 {Opening of
the center and activity of black pieces can not fully compensate for the
deficiences of the pawn structure.} (18... d5 19. Qe2 (19. h3 Nxf2 $1 20. Kxf2
Bh4 21. Re4 Qe7 22. Rf4 g5 $17) 19... b3 (19... Rxf3 20. Qxf3 Ngxe5 21. Qe2 Nd4
22. Qd1 (22. Qxe5 $6 Bf6 23. Qh5 Nxc2 24. Be3 Nxa1 25. Rxa1 Bxb2 26. Rb1 $13)
22... Bd6 23. c3 $13) 20. c3 c4 $11) 19. exd6 Bxd6 (19... Qxd6 20. Qe2 (20.
Qxd6 Bxd6 21. Ne4 Nd4 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. f3 Nf6 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Rxe6 Kf7 $11)
20... Nd4 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Ne4 $14) 20. Bg5 Bxg3 (20... Be7 21. Qxd7 Rxd7 22.
Rxe6 $16) (20... Rde8 21. Ne4 Nd4 22. Nxd4 Bxh2+ 23. Kh1 $16) 21. hxg3 Qxd1 22.
Raxd1 Rxd1 $6 {For all Svidler's effort black could keep good chances to hold
with natural centralizing move. Instead the defender rushes into the flawed
counterplay.} (22... Rd5 $5 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. Re6 Rc8 $11) 23. Rxd1 Rf5 $2 (
23... Rc8 24. Rd6 Kf7 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. Kf1 h6 27. Bd2 $14) 24. Rd6 Rd5 25. Rxe6
Nce5 (25... Rd1+ 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 $16) 26. Kf1 $1 (26. Ne1 b3 27. Kf1 (
27. cxb3 Rd1 28. Kf1 Nd3 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Re2 h6 31. Be3 Nh2+ 32. Kg1 Ng4 33.
Kf1 $11) 27... bxc2 28. Nxc2 Nd3 29. Be3 $14) 26... Nxf3 27. gxf3 Rxg5 (27...
Nh2+ 28. Kg2 Rxg5 29. Rxa6 $1 (29. Kxh2 Rd5 30. Rxa6 Rd2 31. Kg2 Rxc2 $14)
29... Rd5 30. Rc6 b3 31. cxb3 Nxf3 32. Kxf3 Rd3+ 33. Ke4 Rxb3 34. a5 Rxb2 35.
a6 Ra2 36. Kd5 $18) 28. fxg4 Rxg4 29. Ke2 $1 {White's solution of the crises
was disarmingly simple and efficient. In the rook endgame he entertains better
rook and king position.} (29. b3 Rg6 30. Re8+ (30. Rxg6 hxg6 31. Ke2 Kf7 32.
Kd3 Ke6 33. Kc4 Kd6 $11) 30... Kf7 31. Rc8 Rg5 32. a5 $16) 29... b3 (29... Rc4
30. Kd2 Rd4+ 31. Kc1 a5 32. Ra6 $16) 30. cxb3 Rb4 31. a5 $1 {[%mdl 4096] This
charming move opens up the game the way to the texbooks. Svidler has noticed a
chance to transform the fight into a winning pawn endgame.} Rxb3 (31... Kf7 32.
Rxa6 Rxb3 33. Rb6 $18) 32. Rb6 $1 c4 (32... Rb4 33. Rxb4 cxb4 34. Kd3 $18) 33.
Rxb3 cxb3 34. Kd3 Kf7 {The key factor lays in the fact, that Navara can not
force the way up with his kingside pawns and has to use the help of hoplessly
slow king.} (34... h5 35. f4 $18) (34... g5 35. g4 $18) 35. Kc3 (35. Kd4 Ke6
36. Kc5 h5 37. f4 $18) 35... h5 36. f4 $1 Ke6 (36... g5 37. fxg5 Kg6 38. Kxb3
Kxg5 39. Kc3 Kg4 40. b4 Kxg3 41. b5 $18) 37. Kxb3 Kd5 (37... Kf5 38. Kc3 Kg4
39. b4 Kxg3 40. b5 $18) 38. Kc3 (38. Kc3 Ke4 39. b4 Kf3 40. b5 $18) 1-0

[Event "PCA-World-ch Kasparov-Short +6-1=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993.09.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1993.09.07"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "20"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
(8. c3 d5) 8... b4 9. d3 (9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 $1 11. Nxe5 dxe5 {Jansa,
V-Sokolov,I/Stary Smokovec/1990/}) 9... d6 (9... Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 Bb7
12. Nf3 d6 13. Nbd2 $16) 10. a5 $5 Be6 (10... Rb8 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. Ba4 $5 (12.
Bd5 $2 Nxa5 $1 13. Rxa5 c6 {Kuzmin,G-Smyslov,V/URS/1975/}) 12... Nd4 (12... Bb7
13. Nb3 {/\ d4}) 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Nf3 c5 (14... Bf6 15. Bf4 Nc5 16. e5) 15.
Bf4 Bb7 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Nd2 $14) 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Bc4 $1 Qc8 13. Nf1 (13. c3)
13... Re8 14. Ne3 Nd4 $2 (14... Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Nd8 $10) 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Nd5 $1
(16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Nc4 Nd7 18. Bf4 Rb5 $13) 16... Nxd5 (16... Bxd5 17. exd5 Nd7
18. Qg4 $1 Bf6 19. Bg5 $16) 17. exd5 Bd7 (17... Bg4 18. Bxa6 $1 Bxd1 19. Bxc8
Bxc2 20. Bd7 $16) 18. Bd2 Bf6 19. Rxe8+ Bxe8 20. Qe2 Bb5 21. Re1 Bxc4 22. dxc4
h6 (22... d3 23. Qxd3 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Bc3 25. Bxc3 bxc3 26. Rb3 $1) 23. b3 c5 24.
Bf4 (24. dxc6 Qxc6 25. Qf3 (25. Qh5 Qc5 26. Qxc5 dxc5 27. Kf1 Rd8 28. Ke2 Re8+
$2 29. Kd3 Rxe1 30. Bxe1 Bd8 31. Ke4 Bxa5 32. Kd5 Bb6 33. Kc6 $18) 25... Qc7
26. Bxh6 d3 $1 27. cxd3 Bc3 $17) 24... Qd7 25. h3 Rd8 26. Qe4 h5 27. Re2 g6 (
27... h4 $5) 28. Qf3 Bg7 (28... Kg7 29. Bh6+ Kxh6 30. Qxf6 Re8 31. Rxe8 Qxe8
32. Qxd6 (32. Kh2 Qf8 33. f4 $16) 32... Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qxf2 34. Qe5 f6 35. Qe4
$16) 29. Re4 Bf8 30. Qe2 Qc7 31. Bg5 Rc8 32. g4 $1 hxg4 33. Bf6 $2 (33. hxg4
Qxa5 34. Bf6 Qa1+ (34... Qc7 35. g5 Qd7 36. Qf3 Qf5 37. Qh1 (37. Rf4 Qxc2 38.
Rh4 Bg7 39. Qh3 $18) 37... Bg7 38. Bxg7 Kxg7 39. Qh6+ Kg8 40. Rh4 Qe5 41. Qh7+
Kf8 42. Qh8+ Ke7 43. Qxc8 Qxg5+ 44. Qg4 $18) 35. Kg2 d3 $1 36. Qf3 dxc2 37.
Bxa1 c1=Q 38. Qf6 Qh6 39. Re1 Bg7 40. Qxd6 Bxa1 41. Qxa6 Rf8 42. Qxa1 Qf4 43.
Qd1 f5 44. Qf3 Qxf3+ 45. Kxf3 fxg4+ 46. Kxg4 Rxf2 47. Re6 Kf7 48. Rc6 Rb2 49.
Rxc5 Rxb3 $13) 33... gxh3 34. Qg4 Ra8 $2 (34... Bg7 35. Re7 Bxf6 36. Rxc7 Rxc7
$10) 35. Qxh3 $2 (35. Qg5 $1 Bg7 36. Rh4 Qd7 (36... Re8 37. Bxg7 Re1+ 38. Kh2
Kxg7 39. Qh6+ Kf6 40. Rf4+ Ke5 41. Rf3 $1 (41. Qg5+ f5 $13) 41... f5 42. Qxg6
Qd7 43. Rxh3 $40) 37. Bxg7 Kxg7 38. Qh6+ Kf6 39. Rf4+ Ke5 40. Qg5+ f5 41. f3
$18 {/\ Re4}) 35... Bg7 36. Bxg7 $2 (36. Re7 $1 Qc8 (36... Qxa5 37. Rxf7 $1
Qa1+ 38. Kh2 Kxf7 39. Qe6+ Kf8 40. Qe7+) 37. Qxc8+ Rxc8 38. Bxg7 Kxg7 39. Rd7
Re8 40. Kf1 Rh8 41. Rxd6 Rh1+ 42. Ke2 Rc1 43. Kd2 Rf1 44. Rxa6 $18) 36... Kxg7
37. Rh4 Rg8 38. Rh7+ Kf8 39. Qg4 $2 (39. Kg2) (39. Qe6 fxe6 (39... Rg7 40. Rh8+
Rg8 41. Rh7) 40. Rxc7 exd5 41. cxd5 Rh8 $1 (41... g5 $2 42. Ra7 g4 43. Kf1 Rg5
44. Rxa6 Ke7 45. Ra8 Kd7 46. a6 Kc7 47. Rd8 $1 Kb6 48. Rxd6+ Ka7 $16) 42. Rc6
$1 (42. Rd7 $2 c4 $1 43. bxc4 b3 $1 44. cxb3 d3 45. Rd8+ Ke7 $19) 42... Ke7 43.
Rxa6 c4 44. Rc6 cxb3 45. cxb3 d3 46. Rc4 d2 47. Rd4 Rh3 48. Rxd2 Rxb3 49. a6
Ra3 50. Rb2 $10) 39... Ke8 $138 (39... Ke8 40. Qe6+ fxe6 41. Rxc7 exd5 42. cxd5
Rf8 43. Kf1 $5 (43. Rc6 Rf3 $1 (43... d3 $2 44. cxd3 Rf3 45. Rxd6 Rxd3 46. Rxa6
Rxb3 47. Rc6 $10 (47. Ra8+ $5)) (43... Kd7 44. Rxa6 Rf5 45. Rb6 (45. Ra8 Rxd5
46. a6 Kc7) 45... Rxd5 46. a6 d3 47. cxd3 Rxd3 $17) 44. Rxa6 Rc3 $19) 43... Rf3
44. Rc6 Kd7 45. Ke2 Rc3 46. Kd2 d3 47. cxd3 Rxb3 48. Rxa6 Rb2+ 49. Ke3 Ra2 50.
Ra7+ Kc8 51. Ra6 Kc7 52. Rc6+ Kd7 53. a6 b3 54. Rb6 b2 55. a7 Rxa7 56. Rxb2 $10
) 1-0

[Event "Poikovsky Karpov 07th"]
[Site "Poikovsky"]
[Date "2006.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Rae8 {Ponomariov is displaying the model set
up in Ruy Lopez defense from the point of modern theory. Black is very quickly
marshalling his pieces into play and prepares d6-d5 advance.} 12. c3 (12. Nf1
Bd8 13. Be3 (13. Ne3 Nd4 (13... Ne7 14. a4 c5 15. axb5 axb5 16. c4 Bc7 17. cxb5
d5 18. exd5 Nexd5 19. Nc4 Nb4 20. b6 Bb8 21. Ba4 Qxd3 22. Bxe8 Qxc4 {0-1
Antoniewski,R (2415)-Jackova,J (2230)/Rymarov 1999 (35)}) 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Nf1
(15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Qxg4 17. hxg4 d5 18. f3 dxe4 19. dxe4 c5 20. Bf4 Ba5 21.
Red1 Rd8 22. Ba2 Bb6 {1/2 L'Ami,E (2478)-Van den Doel,E (2599)/Leeuwarden 2004
(39)}) 15... c5 16. Ba2 (16. Bd2 Qc6 17. Ba2 d5 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 f6 20. exf6
Qxf6 21. Qh5 Qf7 22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 23. Nh2 Bh4 {0-1 Nijboer,F (2534)-Van der Wiel,
J (2529)/Wijk aan Zee 1999 (72)}) 16... Kh8 17. b4 Qc6 18. Bb2 d5 19. e5 Nd7
20. Nd2 Nxe5 21. bxc5 Qxc5 22. Nb3 Qd6 23. Nxd4 Bc7 24. Kf1 {1-0 Beliavsky,A 
(2626)-Almasi,Z (2646)/Wijk aan Zee 2006 (79)}) 13... Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. Qd2
c5 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Nf5 c4 18. Ba2 Kh8 19. Bg5 d5 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. dxc4 bxc4 {
1/2 Sowray,P (2342)-Hebden,M (2521)/Birmingham 2005 (34)}) (12. a4 Na5 13. Ba2
b4 14. c3 (14. Nf1 Bd8 15. Ng3 Kh8 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 c5 18. Bg5 Bc6 19. Qc1
Ng8 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. d4 Qc7 {1/2 Karjakin,S (2635)-Aronian,L (2693)/Warsaw
2005 (64)}) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3 c5 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 h6 18. a5 Bd8 19. Be3
Kh7 20. Qb3 Bc8 21. Nd2 Qb7 22. Reb1 {1-0 Cheparinov,I (2625)-Almasi,Z (2646)/
Wijk aan Zee 2006 (40)}) 12... d5 13. a4 $5 (13. Ba2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh5 15. Nb3
Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Nf6 17. Re1 Nb8 18. Nxe5 Bd6 19. Nd3 Bxe4 20. Nbc5 Bd5 21. Rxe8
Rxe8 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Kf1 f6 {1/2 Topalov,V (2700)-Svidler,P (2713)/Linares
1999 (35)}) 13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 {Bologan is clearly well prepared fo the duel.
The opponent will have to fight for equality due to the novelty 13.a4!?} (14.
dxe4 Rd8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Qe2 Qd3 $11) 14... Rd8 (14... Nxe4 15. axb5 axb5 16.
dxe4 $14) 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ng3 h6 (16... Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Rxd3 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19.
Rxe5 Bd6 20. Rxb5 Bc6 21. Rba5 Bxg3 22. Bc2 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Ne4+ 24. Kg1 $14)
17. Bc2 (17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Bd6 19. Re2 c5 $11) 17... Rfe8 {Blackґs set up
is not prepared for the defense of the e5 pawn, active pieces will try to
prove sufficient compensation.} (17... Ra8 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5
Bd6 21. Re1 Ra1 22. Qe2 $14) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bd6 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Bd2
$6 (21. Qf1 $1) 21... c5 (21... Qc6 22. Ne4 $14) (21... Bxg3 $1 22. fxg3 Qd5
23. Qf1 Qxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Re2+ 26. Kf3 Rxd2 $15) 22. Qf1 Qc7 (22...
Bc6 $5 23. Re1 Ra8 $13) 23. Ne4 $1 {Bologan has noticed, that his queen from
the square f1 is aiming at b5 pawn. The exchange in the center will reduce
enormous pressure of the black pieces.} (23. Nf5 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Bf4 25. Bxf4 (25.
Qd1 g6 26. Nxh6+ $2 Kg7 27. Qc1 Qd7 $1 28. Kg1 Qc6 $19) 25... Qxf4 26. Ne3 Nh5
$36) 23... Bxe4 (23... Nxe4 24. dxe4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 26. Qxb5 $16) 24. dxe4
Qc6 (24... c4 25. Qe2 Qe7 26. Re1 $16) 25. c4 $5 {Due to the problems along
the a4-e8 diagonal Ponomariov faced serious discomfort with the b5 pawn. The
stars are turning to the whiteґs favour.} (25. f3 c4 26. Be3 Nh5 $14) 25...
Bh2+ (25... Nxe4 26. Be3 Nf6 (26... bxc4 $2 27. Ba4 $18) 27. cxb5 $16) 26. Kh1
(26. Kxh2 Qd6+ 27. e5 $1 (27. Kg1 Qxd2 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Bxd1 bxc4 30. f3 Rb8
31. Be2 $14) 27... Qxd2 28. exf6 Qxc2 29. cxb5 Qxb2 30. fxg7 $16) 26... Bc7 27.
e5 $5 (27. Be3 Qd6 28. g3 Nxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxe4 30. cxb5 $14) 27... Bxe5 (27...
Ne4 28. cxb5 Nxd2 29. Qd3 (29. bxc6 Nxf1 30. Rxf1 Rxe5 31. Kg1 $16) 29... Ne4
30. Qxe4 Qxe4 31. Bxe4 Bxe5 32. b6 Bxb2 33. Ra4 $16) 28. cxb5 Qd6 $6 {The
puzzled exchampion of the world suddenly doesnґt know, how to complicate the
task for his opponent. Somewhat more challenging seems the active move 28..Qd5
with activity on the queenside.} (28... Qd5 29. Rd1 Qa2 30. Be3 (30. Re1 Qxb2
31. Qc4 Bd6 $14) 30... c4 31. b6 Bxb2 32. Qe2 $16) 29. Rd1 Qb6 (29... Bxb2 $2
30. Bc3 $18) 30. b3 Bb8 (30... Bd4 31. Re1 Ra8 32. Qe2 $16) 31. Bc3 Qc7 (31...
Be5 32. Bxe5 Rxe5 33. Qc4 $16) 32. g3 Qb7+ 33. Kg1 Nd7 (33... Be5 34. Bxe5 Rxe5
35. Rd8+ Ne8 36. Qa1 Re7 (36... Qe7 37. Qa8 $18) 37. Bd3 $16) 34. Qd3 Nf8 {
The modest defensive move serves as a bad omen for black. Active
centralisation 34...Ne5 would have let the white queen towards the black king
with a simple win.} (34... Ne5 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Be4 Qxb5 37. Rd2 $18) 35. Re1
Rxe1+ 36. Bxe1 Ne6 37. Bc3 (37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. Bc3 Qxb5 39. Bd1 Nd4 $16) 37...
Kf8 38. b4 $1 Qc7 (38... cxb4 39. Bxb4+ Ke8 40. b6 Qd7 41. Qa6 Kd8 42. Ba4 $18)
39. Bb3 Nd4 (39... cxb4 40. Bxb4+ Kg8 41. Bc2 Nf8 42. Qc3 $18) 40. b6 $6 {
[%mdl 64] The haunted 40th move is somewhat spoiling the artistic impression
of the huge white advantage. Under more favourable circumstances white would
easily have calculated the consequence of the attractive continuation 40.
bxc5!! with a brilliant win.} (40. bxc5 $3 Nxb3 41. b6 Qe7 (41... Qc6 42. Qd8+
Qe8 43. Bxg7+ $18) (41... Qc8 42. c6 Nc1 43. Bb4+ Kg8 (43... Ke8 44. Qe4+ Qe6
45. c7 Bxc7 46. bxc7 Kd7 47. Qb7 $18) 44. Qd7 $18) 42. Bb4 Nc1 43. Qc4 Ne2+ 44.
Kg2 $18) 40... Qxb6 (40... Qc6 41. bxc5 Nf3+ 42. Kh1 Nd4+ 43. f3 Be5 44. Bxd4
Qd7 45. Bd5 Qxd5 46. b7 $18) 41. bxc5 Qxb3 (41... Ne2+ $2 42. Kf1 Qc7 43. Kxe2
$18) 42. Qxd4 f6 43. c6 Bc7 (43... Kg8 44. Qd8+ Kh7 45. c7 $18) 44. Bb4+ Kg8 (
44... Kf7 45. Qd7+ Kg6 46. Qxc7 Qxb4 47. Qc8 $18) 45. Bd6 {The spare pawn on
the c6 square is the huge force and the queen endgames are hopeless for the
defender. The next phase is the fight for space, white needs to combine the
attack with actions against the black king.} Bb6 (45... Bxd6 46. Qxd6 Qb1+ 47.
Kg2 Qe4+ 48. Kh2 Qf5 49. Qd4 $18) 46. Bc5 Ba5 (46... Bc7 47. Qd7 Qb8 48. Kg2
$18) 47. Qd6 Qf7 48. Qb8+ Kh7 49. Qb7 Qc7 (49... Bc7 $2 50. Bb6 $18) 50. Qb1+
Kg8 (50... g6 51. Qb7 $18) 51. Qe4 Qd8 (51... Kf7 52. Qd5+ Kg6 53. Bd6 $18) 52.
Qe6+ Kh8 53. Bd6 Bb6 (53... Bc7 54. Bxc7 Qxc7 55. Qd7 $18) 54. Kh2 Kh7 55. h4
h5 {This move was not made with an easy heart, but otherwise white would have
occupied the light squares.} (55... Kh8 56. h5 $18) 56. Qf5+ g6 (56... Kh6 57.
Bf4+ g5 58. hxg5+ fxg5 59. Qe6+ Kh7 60. Qf7+ Kh6 61. Be5 $18) 57. Qe6 Kg7 58.
Kg2 Ba5 59. Be7 Qd4 60. Qd7 {Due to the open kingside defender stands no
chance, the bishop on a5 is not protecting the main master.} Qe4+ 61. Kh2 Qc2 (
61... Qf5 62. Qa7 Kh8 63. Bc5 $18) 62. Bc5+ Kh6 (62... Kh8 63. Qe8+ Kh7 64.
Qf7+ Kh8 65. Qxf6+ Kh7 66. Qf7+ Kh8 67. Bd4#) 63. Bf8# 1-0

[Event "Piatigorsky-Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1966.07.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivkov, Borislav"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel Herman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "186"]
[EventDate "1966.07.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 (8... Bb7) 9. d3 (9. d4 $1 {Matulovic}) 9... d6 10. Nbd2 Rb8 (10... Na5 $143
{/\ 11...Be6 Szabo/Damjanovic}) (10... Be6 $143 {Geller}) 11. Nc4 Bg4 12. Be3 (
12. Ne3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nh5) (12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 Bxf3 14. gxf3) 12... Nd7 13.
Ncd2 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 15. Nc4 Be6 16. Nfd2 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Nb6 {
Reshevsky offered a draw.} 19. Nd2 a5 20. c3 d5 21. exd5 bxc3 22. bxc3 Qxd5 23.
Qc2 (23. Nf3) 23... Rfd8 24. Reb1 f5 (24... Qxd3 25. Qxd3 Rxd3 26. Nc4 $13 {
Ivkov}) 25. Nf3 f4 26. c4 $1 $18 Qd6 27. Bd2 Bf6 28. Ra3 Ra8 29. Rab3 Nd7 30.
Be1 $2 (30. Rb5 $142) 30... Nb8 $1 31. Nd2 Qf8 32. Ne4 Nc6 33. Rb6 Nd4 (33...
Nb4 $142) 34. Qd1 Be7 35. Bc3 f3 $2 36. Bxd4 Rxd4 37. Qxf3 $4 (37. gxf3 $16)
37... Qxf3 38. gxf3 Rxd3 39. Re6 Bf8 40. Rxe5 Rxf3 41. Nxc5 Rc8 (41... Rc3 $10)
42. Rb5 Bd6 (42... Rc3 $142) 43. Rd5 Bxc5 44. Rbxc5 Rxc5 (44... Rcf8 45. Rd2
Rc3 46. Rxa5 Rxc4 $14) 45. Rxc5 Rc3 46. Kf1 Kf7 47. Ke2 Ke6 48. h4 Kd6 49. Kd2
Rf3 50. Rxa5 Rxf2+ 51. Kc3 Rh2 52. Rh5 h6 53. Rd5+ Kc6 54. h5 (54. Rd4 Kc5 $10)
54... g5 $1 55. hxg6 Rg2 56. Rb5 (56. Rh5 $142 {/\ Kb4}) 56... Rxg6 57. a5 Rg1
58. Rh5 Kb7 59. Rxh6 Rc1+ 60. Kb4 Rb1+ 61. Kc5 Rg1 62. Rb6+ (62. a6+ Ka7 63.
Rd6 Rh1 64. Kb5 Rb1+ 65. Kc5 Rh1 66. Kc6 Kxa6 67. Kc7+ Ka7 68. c5 Rh7+ 69. Rd7
Rh8 $10) 62... Kc7 63. Rc6+ Kb7 64. Rb6+ Kc7 65. Rd6 Kb7 66. a6+ Ka7 67. Kb5
Rb1+ 68. Kc6 Kxa6 69. c5 Ka7 70. Rd7+ Kb8 71. Rd8+ Ka7 72. Kc7 Rh1 73. c6 Rh7+
74. Rd7 Rh8 75. Rf7 Rg8 76. Rh7 Ka6 77. Rd7 Ka7 78. Rd8 Rg7+ 79. Kd6 (79. Kc8
Kb6 $10) 79... Rg6+ 80. Kc5 Rg5+ 81. Rd5 Rg1 82. Rd8 (82. c7 Kb7 83. Kd6 Rg6+
$10) 82... Rg5+ 83. Kd6 Rg6+ 84. Kc7 Rg7+ 85. Rd7 Rg8 86. Re7 Rh8 87. Rg7 Ka6
88. Rd7 Ka7 89. Re7 Ka6 90. Rf7 Ka7 91. Kd6+ Kb8 92. Kd7 Rg8 93. Rh7 Ka7
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.11.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Rfe8 12. a4 b4 13. Ne2 d5 14. exd5
Nxd5 15. Ng3 Bf8 16. Bd2 {Cheparinov works very hard on his openings together
with other members of Topalov's team of analysts. The novelty from this game
hopes to save the tempo in comparision with the known 16.a5.} a5 (16... Rad8
17. a5 $13) 17. Ba2 (17. Qe2 Nd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Qf3 g6 20. Ne4 Be7 $11)
17... Nd4 $6 {Navara rushes the decision in thecenter, but he might have payed
for his impatience.} (17... Rad8) 18. Nxe5 (18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Qf3 g6 $11) 18...
Qd6 19. Nf3 $6 {It is much easier to get into the grip of the position in the
comfort of home study armed with a computer programm. Despite that I find it
remarkable, that both players have considered 19.Qg4! flawed even though it
offers better chances for white.} (19. Qg4 $1 Rxe5 (19... Nxc2 $2 20. Nf5 h5 (
20... Qf6 21. Nh6+ $18) 21. Nxd6 hxg4 22. Nxb7 $18) (19... b3 20. Bxb3 Nxb3 21.
Nc4 $1 Qc6 22. cxb3 Ne3 (22... Nf6 23. Qf3 Qxf3 24. gxf3 $16) 23. Nxe3 Rxe3 24.
Nf5 h5 25. Qg5 Rxd3 26. Bc3 $16) 20. Qxd4 Rae8 21. Rxe5 Qxe5 22. Qxe5 Rxe5 23.
Ne4 $16) 19... Rxe1+ 20. Bxe1 (20. Nxe1 Qc6 21. Nf3 Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Qxa4 $11)
20... Nf4 {Black now sports excellent chances to get enough play for his
sacrificed pawn.} (20... Qf6 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Rb1 $14) 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Qg4
Re8 (22... Bd6 23. Nf5 Qxb2 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 (24... Kf8 $2 25. Rb1 Qe5 26. Nxd6
cxd6 27. Bb3 $16) 25. Nxd6+ cxd6 26. Qxf4+ Kg8 27. Qc4+ d5 28. Qa2 Qxa2 29.
Rxa2 Rc8 $11) 23. Nf5 h5 24. Nh6+ $6 {Cheparinov is getting full marks for the
courage and aggression, but much less for objectivity. White is toying with
open fire..} (24. Nxd4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Nxg2 26. Bd2 Bc5 $11) 24... Kh7 (24... Kh8
$2 25. Nxf7+ Kh7 26. Qf5+ g6 27. Ng5+ $18) 25. Qf5+ Kxh6 26. Bd2 Bd6 $1 (26...
g5 27. h4 $1 f6 (27... Ne2+ 28. Kf1 Qxh4 $1 29. Qf6+ Kh7 30. Qxf7+ Bg7 31. Qxe8
Nd4 $1 32. Bg8+ Kh6 33. f3 Qh1+ 34. Kf2 Qh4+ $11) 28. Bg8 $1 Re7 29. c3 (29.
hxg5+ fxg5 30. Qxf8+ Qg7 31. Qxg7+ Rxg7 32. Ba2 Nxg2 $15) 29... Qd6 30. hxg5+
fxg5 31. Qxf8+ Kg6 $15) 27. Bxf7 Qxf2+ $3 {[%mdl 64] Staggering combination in
the moment, when each advice has a value of gold.} (27... Re2 $4 28. Qxh5#) 28.
Kxf2 Re2+ 29. Kg1 (29. Kf1 $2 Bxg2+ 30. Kg1 Rxd2 $19) 29... Rxg2+ $6 (29...
Rxd2 $1 30. Re1 (30. h4 $2 Ne2+ 31. Kf1 Ng3+ 32. Ke1 Nxf5 33. Kxd2 Nxh4 $19)
30... g6 $1 31. Re6 (31. Qf6 Nxh3+ 32. gxh3 Bh2+ 33. Kf1 Bg2#) 31... Rxg2+ (
31... Rd1+ 32. Kf2 Rd2+ 33. Kg1 Rd1+ $11) 32. Kf1 Rg3 $1 $17) 30. Kf1 Rxd2 31.
Bg8 $2 {White is keeping the flame of his optimism burning brightly. Older,
more mature player would have surely preferred 31.h4! with a perpectual check.}
(31. h4 $1 Bg2+ 32. Ke1 Re2+ 33. Kd1 Bf3 34. Qg5+ Kh7 35. Qf5+ $11) 31... Bg2+
32. Ke1 Re2+ 33. Kd1 Bf3 $1 34. Qh7+ (34. Kc1 Re1+ 35. Kd2 Rxa1 $19) 34... Kg5
35. Ra2 (35. Qxg7+ Kh4 $19) 35... Rh2+ 36. Ke1 (36. Kc1 Nxd3+ $1 37. cxd3 (37.
Qxd3 Bf4+ $19) 37... Bf4+ 38. Kb1 Rh1+ 39. Kc2 Bd1+ 40. Kb1 Bb3#) 36... Nxd3+
$1 {Once again the spirit triumphs over the brute force, the white king is
naked and his forces scattered over the board. The mate that follows amounts
to justified punishment...} (36... Nxd3+ $1 37. cxd3 Bg3+ 38. Kf1 Rh1#) 0-1

[Event "PCA-World-ch Kasparov-Short +6-1=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993.09.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1993.09.07"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "20"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
(8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5) 8... Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nbd2 (10.
Na3 $5) 10... Bf8 11. c3 h6 (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. d4 Bd6 14. Ne4 Qd7 15.
Nc5 Bxc5 16. dxc5 Rad8 {Bashkov-Komissarov/Podolsk/1990/}) (11... g6 $5) 12.
Ba2 $1 $146 (12. h3 d6 13. Nh2 Nb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 {Sznapik,
A-Stempin/POL-ch/1990/}) (12. Nf1 d5) 12... d6 (12... d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4
$1 $16) 13. Nh4 (13. axb5 axb5 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Qxb5 Reb8 (15... Ba6 16. Bxf7+
Kxf7 17. Rxa6 $18) 16. Qb3 Ra7 17. Qc2 $16) 13... Qd7 (13... Ne7 14. axb5 axb5
15. Qb3 $16) 14. Ng6 Ne7 15. Nxf8 Kxf8 (15... Rxf8 {/\ Kh8, f5}) 16. f3 $1 (16.
Qf3 Ng6 17. Nf1 Qg4 18. Qe3 (18. Qxg4 Nxg4 19. f3 Nf6 20. Be3 $14) 18... Nf4
19. Ng3 $16) 16... Rad8 $2 (16... c5 $5 $14) (16... d5 17. Nf1 c5 18. Ng3 $16)
17. b4 Ng6 (17... d5 18. Qb3 $16) 18. Nb3 Bc8 (18... Nf4 19. Bxf4 (19. Be3 {
/\ Qd2, d4}) 19... exf4 20. Qd2 Nh5 21. Nd4 g6 22. g4 $1 $16) 19. Bb1 Nh5 (
19... Qe7 20. axb5 (20. Be3 Be6 21. Na5 Rc8 22. d4 $16) 20... axb5 21. Ra7 Be6
22. Re2 $16) 20. axb5 axb5 21. Be3 Nh4 (21... Nhf4 {/\ h5, h4, Qg5<=>} 22. Ra2
$5 (22. Ra7 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 Qh3+ 24. Kh1 Nh4 25. Qe2 Nxf3 26. Rc1 Bg4 27. Qg2 Qh5
28. Rxc7 Ne1 29. Qg3 $13)) 22. Ra2 Re6 23. d4 Rg6 24. Kh1 Re8 25. dxe5 Rxe5 26.
g4 $1 (26. f4 $2 Nxg2 27. Rxg2 Rxg2 28. Kxg2 Qh3+ 29. Kg1 Bg4 30. Qd2 Bf3 31.
fxe5 Qg4+ 32. Kf1 Ng3+ $1 33. hxg3 (33. Kf2 Nxe4+ 34. Kf1 Nxd2+ 35. Nxd2 Qg2#)
33... Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 Qg2#) (26. Rg1 $1 Ng3+ 27. hxg3 Rxg3 28. f4 Nf3
29. f5 (29. gxf3 Rh5+ 30. Rh2 Rxh2+ 31. Kxh2 Qh3#) 29... Nxg1 30. Bxg1 $18)
26... Rf6 27. Bd4 $2 (27. Nd4 $1 Nf4 (27... c5 28. Nf5 $18) 28. Nf5 $18) 27...
Ng3+ 28. hxg3 Nxf3 29. Bxe5 Qxg4 30. Rh2 Nxe1 $1 31. Qxe1 (31. Qxg4 $4 Rf1#)
31... dxe5 $2 (31... Qf3+ 32. Kg1 dxe5 33. Re2 (33. Bc2 $2 Rg6 34. Rg2 Bh3) (
33. Nc1 Rg6 34. Ne2 Qe3+ $1 35. Qf2 Qd2 $1 {x Bb1}) (33. Rh4 $6) 33... Bh3 $1
34. Kh2 Bf1 $1 $132) 32. Nd2 Rd6 33. Bc2 Be6 34. Kg1 Kg8 35. Nf1 Qg5 36. Qe3
Qd8 $2 (36... Qxe3+ 37. Nxe3 Rc6 38. Nd1 Bg4 39. Rd2 Bxd1 40. Bxd1 Rxc3 $132)
37. Rd2 c6 38. Rxd6 Qxd6 39. Qc5 $6 Qxc5+ 40. bxc5 h5 41. Nd2 Kf8 42. Kf2 Ke7
43. Bb3 Bd7 44. Nf3 Kf6 45. c4 $1 bxc4 (45... Be6 46. cxb5 Bxb3 47. b6 $18) 46.
Bxc4 Be6 47. Be2 Bg4 48. Bd1 g6 49. Ba4 Bd7 50. Ne1 Ke6 51. Bb3+ Ke7 52. Nd3 f6
53. Nb4 f5 54. Ba4 $18 fxe4 55. Bxc6 Bxc6 56. Nxc6+ Ke6 57. Ke3 g5 (57... Kd5
58. Ne7+ Kxc5 59. Nxg6 Kd5 60. Nh4 $18) 58. Kxe4 h4 59. gxh4 1-0

[Event "PCA-World-ch Kasparov-Short +6-1=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993.09.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1993.09.07"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "20"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 Qc7 (12... Nc6 13. Ng3
b4 14. Nf5 a5 15. Qd2 Nd4 16. N3xd4 cxd4 17. c3 bxc3 18. bxc3 dxc3 19. Qxc3 Bc8
20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bg5 h6 22. Bh4 Be6 23. Bb1 g5 24. Bg3 {Lipteinik,M-Pilberg,
W/Dortmund op/1988/1-0 (64)}) (12... b4 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Ng3 Bc8 15. h3 Ne8 16.
Nf1 Be6 {Wolff,P-Fedorowicz,J/San Francisco (4)/1991/0.5 (16)}) (12... c4 13.
Ng3 g6 14. Bd2 cxd3 15. cxd3 Nc6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Ng5 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxf7
Kxf7 20. Qf3+ Ke6 21. Ne2 Ncb4 22. Bb3 Qd6 23. d4 e4 24. Nc3 {Burnett,R-Ciano,
A/Los Angeles US-op/1991/1-0 (62)}) 13. Ne3 Rae8 14. h3 Nc6 15. c3 Nd8 16. Nh2
Kh8 17. Nhg4 g6 18. Nxf6 Bxf6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nc6 22. Qb3
Rb8 23. Ra6 Ne7 24. Be3 {Matulovic,M-Puig/Oberhausen EUchT (8)/1961/1-0 (47)})
11. c3 Nc5 (11... Nb6 $5) (11... Bf6 12. Bc2 Ne7 13. d4 c5 (13... c6 14. Nf1 g6
15. Bh6 Bg7 16. Qd2 Qc7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Ne3 Nf6 19. c4 Rfd8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21.
Qc3 Nd7 22. axb5 axb5 23. cxb5 c5 24. b6 {Swiecik,I-Van Ojik,M/Sitges op (09)/
1992/0.5 (26)}) 14. Nf1 cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc6 16. d5 Nb4 17. Bb1 bxa4 18. Qxa4 a5
19. Be3 Na6 20. N1d2 Nac5 21. Qa3 a4 22. Bc2 Be7 23. Nc4 f5 24. Nfxe5 {
Janosevic,D-Bisguier,A/Birmingham/1975/0.5 (33)}) 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 (
13... Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 15. d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 $14) 14. Bc2 Bf6 $6 (14... b4
15. d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Nf1 $16 (17. Nc4 exd4 18. cxd4 d5 $1 19. exd5 Nb4
$13)) (14... d5 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 Nd7 18. Be4 Qd6 19. Qc2 $16)
15. b4 $1 Ne6 16. Nf1 Bb7 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bb3 Bg7 19. h4 $1 Bc8 20. h5 Kh8 $6 (
20... Ne7 $5) 21. Nd5 $1 g5 $6 (21... Ne7 22. h6 $18) (21... gxh5 $5 22. g3)
22. Ne3 Nf4 (22... h6 $16) 23. g3 $1 Nxh5 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Qd7 (25... h6
26. Nxg5 $18) 26. Bxg5 h6 $6 (26... d5 27. Nh4 (27. Nh2 Nf6 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29.
Qh5 $18) 27... Nf6 28. Kg2) (26... Qxf5 27. Bd5 Nb8 (27... Qd7 28. Nh2 Nf6 29.
Bxf6 Bxf6 30. Qf3 $18) (27... Nd8 28. Be7 Re8 29. Nh4 $18) 28. Be7 Re8 29. Nh4
Qd7 30. Qxh5 Rxe7 (30... Qxe7 31. Bxf7 $18) 31. Nf5 Re8 32. Kg2 $18) (26... Nf6
$16) 27. Nh4 (27. Kg2 $1 Qxf5 (27... hxg5 28. Rh1) 28. Rh1 Qg6 (28... Nf6 29.
Qc1 Ng8 30. Bd5 Nce7 31. Bxe7 Nxe7 32. Rxh6+ Bxh6 33. Qxh6+ Kg8 34. Be4 $18)
29. Bd5 Nd8 (29... hxg5 30. Nxg5 Ne7 31. Rxh5+ Kg8 32. Be4 f5 33. Qb3+ $18) 30.
Nxe5 dxe5 31. Qxh5 Qxh5 (31... Qxd3 32. Bxh6 Qxd5+ 33. Kg1 $18) 32. Rxh5 Kh7
33. Be3 f5 34. Bc5 $18 (34. Rxf5 $5)) 27... Nf6 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29. Qh5 Kh7 30.
Ng2 $6 (30. Nf3 $1 Ne7 31. d4 exd4 32. cxd4 Ng8) 30... Ne7 31. Ne3 Ng8 (31...
d5 32. Ng4 Ng8 33. Qxh6+ $1 $18) (31... Bg5 $2 32. f4 exf4 33. gxf4 Bxf4 (33...
Rg8 34. Bxf7 Rg7 35. Bg6+ Nxg6 36. fxg5) 34. Bxf7 Bg5 35. f6 Bxf6 36. Ng4 Bg7
37. Nxh6 Bxh6 38. Rxe7 Qxe7 39. Qg6+ Kh8 40. Qxh6#) 32. d4 $1 exd4 33. cxd4
Bxd4 $2 (33... Bg5 $1 $10) 34. Ng4 Kg7 (34... Qd8 35. f6 $1 (35. Bxf7 Qg5 36.
Bxg8+ Rxg8) 35... Bxf6 (35... Nxf6 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. Bc2 $18) 36. Bc2+ (36.
Bxf7 Bg7) 36... Kg7 37. Qf5 Re8 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Rxe8+ Qxe8 40. Qxg8+ Kxg8 41.
Nxf6+ Kf8 42. Nxe8 Kxe8 43. Bd3 c6 44. Kg2 $18) (34... Bf6 35. Qxh6+ $1 Nxh6
36. Nxf6+) (34... Bc3 35. f6 $1 Bxe1 (35... Bxf6 36. Qxh6+ $1 Nxh6 37. Nxf6+
Kg7 38. Nxd7 Rd8 39. Re7) 36. Bc2+ Kh8 37. Nxh6 $18) 35. Nxh6 $1 Bf6 (35...
Nxh6 36. Qg5+ Kh7 37. Bc2 $1 (37. f6 Bxf6 (37... Bxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Qf5+ 39. Qxf5+
Nxf5 40. Bc2 Kg6 41. g4 $18) 38. Bc2+ $1 $18) 37... Bf6 (37... f6 38. Qg6+ Kh8
39. Qxh6+ Kg8 40. Re4 $18) 38. Qxf6 Re8 39. Re6 $1 fxe6 40. fxe6+ $18) 36. Bxf7
$1 (36. Bxf7 Ne7 37. Re6 $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 09th final"]
[Site "Hilversum"]
[Date "1993.12.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Murey, Jacob"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.12.10"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "La Dame Blanche Auxerre"]
[BlackTeam "Clichy Echecs 92"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 (9... h6 {Wedberg} 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. a4 Na5
13. Ba2 c5 14. Nb3 Nc6 15. Be3 d6 16. Nbd2 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 $36 Nxe3
19. Rxe3 Na5 20. Nfd2 Rc8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rf3 c4 23. Nf6+ gxf6 24. Rg3+ Bg7
25. Qg4 {Akopian-Adams/Oakham/1993/1-0/47}) 10. a3 $5 (10. a4) (10. c3 {Wedberg
}) 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 h6 13. b4 Nc6 14. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 (14... Nd4 $5
$132 {Wedberg}) 15. Bxd5 Qc7 16. c3 Nd8 17. Qb3 Rc8 18. Be3 cxb4 {?! Wedberg}
19. cxb4 Qc3 $2 (19... Bxd5 20. Qxd5 $14 (20. exd5 $5)) 20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. Rec1
$1 Rxc1+ (21... Rxd3 $2 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Rc7 $18) 22. Rxc1 Bxd5 23. exd5 f5
24. Rc7 Bf6 25. g4 $1 (25. Ra7 {Wedberg} Nf7 26. Rxa6 Rc8 $132) 25... f4 (25...
g6 26. Bxh6) 26. Bb6 Nf7 27. Rc6 (27. Ra7 $6 {Wedberg} Rc8 $132) 27... Ra8 28.
Nd2 Kf8 29. Ne4 Be7 30. Bc7 Rc8 31. Ba5 $1 Ra8 (31... Rxc6 $2 32. dxc6 Ke8 33.
Nc3 $16) 32. Nc3 Ke8 33. a4 $1 bxa4 34. Nxa4 Ng5 (34... Bd8 $5 $16) 35. Kg2 e4
36. h4 Nf3 37. dxe4 Nxh4+ 38. Kf1 Nf3 39. Nb6 Rb8 40. Nc4 Nh2+ 41. Kg2 Nxg4 42.
Nxd6+ Kf8 43. Nc4 Bf6 (43... Bxb4 44. Nb6 Bxa5 45. Nd7+ $18) 44. Kf3 Ne5+ 45.
Nxe5 Bxe5 46. Kg4 Kf7 47. Kf5 Re8 48. Rxa6 Bb8 49. d6 g6+ 50. Kxf4 Ke6 51. Bc7
Kd7 (51... Bxc7 52. dxc7+ Kd7 53. Rxg6 $18) 52. e5 Rf8+ 53. Ke4 Bxc7 54. Ra7 (
54. Ra7 Rc8 55. b5 Kd8 56. Rxc7 Rxc7 57. dxc7+ Kxc7 58. e6 h5 59. e7 Kd7 60. b6
$18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 18th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2001.03.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {McShane} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. a4 ({Avoiding the Marshall Gambit} 8. c3 d5) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2
Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 h6 14. Bd2 {McShane: 'I prefer White's
position because Kasparov's minor pieces seem to be more flexible,
coordinating better. A knight on f5 will be very irritating, especially with
h7-h6 having been played.'} c4 {'?' McShane. A serious strategical decision in
a lesser known branch of the Spanish defense labyrinth.} (14... Nc6 {seems a
more sensible way to deal with the positional threat of 15.Bxa5 Qxa5 16.axb5
Qxb5 (otherwise Bxf7+) when black has an isolated a-pawn and bad bishop on e7.
The move played is very loosening.}) 15. Bc3 Qb6 {'?!' McShane.} (15... cxd3
16. cxd3 {and all Kasparov's minor pieces look better placed than their
counterparts.}) 16. Nd2 (16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 b4 19. dxc6 bxc3 20.
Qxc3 Bxc6 21. Qxc4 (21. dxc4 Bf6) 21... d5 22. Qc3 Bc5 23. Rxe5 $14) (16. dxc4
b4 17. Bd2 Bxe4 {is the idea, but now Leko's queenside can blow up at any time
if the loose coordination is lost.}) 16... Nc6 {'?' McShane.} (16... cxd3 17.
cxd3 b4 18. Ndc4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Qc6 20. Bd2 $14) 17. Nd5 {'!' McShane. McShane:
'Now White acquires a clear advantage.'} Nxd5 (17... Qd8 18. dxc4 {wins a pawn.
}) 18. exd5 Na5 (18... Nd4 19. dxc4 b4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. Ne4 $1 Qxd1 22. Raxd1
f5 23. Ng3 Rf8 24. c5 $1 $16) 19. Bxa5 (19. dxc4 $5 b4 20. c5 Qxc5 21. Ne4 Qb6
22. Bd2 $14) 19... Qxa5 20. dxc4 Qxa4 $2 {[%mdl 128] This daring idea will
cost leko dearly, Kasparov attacks with a charming phantasy.} (20... b4 21. Qf3
$14) 21. c5 $1 {McShane: 'I cannot believe that Leko failed to see this coming,
but I see no other way to explain 16...Nc6.'} Qb4 $6 (21... dxc5 $2 22. d6 Bxd6
23. Bxf7+ $18) (21... Qh4) 22. Ne4 $1 (22. c6 $6 Bc8 $14) 22... Qxb2 (22...
dxc5 23. c3 Qxb2 24. Re2 Qa3 25. d6 $18) 23. cxd6 Bf8 (23... Bh4 24. g3 Bd8 25.
c3 f5 26. Re2 Qa3 27. Bb3 Qxa1 28. Qxa1 fxe4 29. Rxe4 $18) 24. c3 {'!' McShane.
McShane: 'A quiet move stopping Qd4 and threatening 25.Re2 Qa3 26.Bb3 trapping
the queen.'} f5 {McShane: 'Desperation.'} 25. d7 Red8 26. d6+ Kh8 27. Nc5 Bc6
28. Nd3 Qxc3 29. Nxe5 {White has managed to open the roads to the black king,
the defense is out of reach for the bad black's position suffocating under the
pawns d6 and d7.} Be4 30. Nf7+ Kh7 31. Ng5+ Kh8 32. Nxe4 fxe4 33. Qd5 Kh7 34.
Qg8+ Kg6 35. Bf7+ Kf6 36. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Astrakhan FIDE GP"]
[Site "Astrakhan"]
[Date "2010.05.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Gashimov,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 137"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {I was very happy with the results of the opening, but not
because White has an advantage, as the position is quite complicated. It is
simply that it is well-known that it is difficult to prepare against Ivanchuk,
because he can play any opening equally well. And in the anti-Marshall, I have
always done very well, and have won many games.} Nb8 {This plan seems to me to
be the worst of the three possibilities - Qd7-Nd8 or Na5-c5 were better than
the plan chosen by my opponent.} 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 $5 {Black
almost always plays Nc5 in such positions, and White has to move the bishop
away, so I decided to do it at once, whilst at the same time setting up a
hidden threat.} Bf8 $2 {It was essential to play h6 first.} 14. Ng5 Re7 15. f4
$1 {This is the point! White succeeds in advancing this pawn, and after the
opening of the f-file, the weakness of the f7-pawn will be felt.} h6 16. Nf3 d5
{He must shut out the bishop on a2, or else Back will be in a very bad way.}
17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf4 Re8 20. e5 Nh7 {Even though Black has shut
the diagonal, White still has a clear advantage. However, it still requires
accurate play from White, to activate his pieces and increase his advantage.}
21. d4 Ng5 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Be3 {With this setup, White can simultaneously
attack on the kingside and control events in the centre.} g6 {This cannot be
avoided, or else he will always have to reckon with Nf5 or Nh5.} 24. Rf1 Bg7
25. c3 c5 26. Qg4 Rc8 (26... h5 27. Nxh5 gxh5 28. Qxh5 Re7 29. Rf3 (29. Bb1
cxd4 30. cxd4 {with a very strong attack}) 29... cxd4 30. cxd4 Rc8 31. Raf1 {
and White should win.}) 27. Rf2 Rc7 {Now ...h5 would be met by the knight
sacrifice.} 28. Raf1 Bc8 {White's pieces have all taken up good positions, but
he does not need to rush things, since Black has no counterplay.} 29. Qd1 c4 $2
{After this, Black loses the possibility of opening the c-file, and without
this, he has a very bad position.} (29... cxd4 30. cxd4 Qh4 31. Ne2 Bb7 32. Nf4
Nxf4 33. Rxf4 Qd8 34. Bd2 $18) 30. Bb1 {The bishop has nothing more to do on
the a2-g8 diagonal.} Qh4 31. Kh2 a5 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Kh7 34. Rf6 $1 {
The black queen is caught.} Re7 (34... Bxf6 35. Rxf6 Re8 36. g3 Qh5 37. g4 Qh4
38. Ng1 $18) 35. R6f4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 {Despite this victory, and my generally
good and uncompronising play throughout the whole tournament, I did not
succeed in qualifying for the Candidates tournament. In any case, I would like
to thank my colleagues for their support - Boris Gelfand, Peter Svidler, Peter
Leko, Pavel Eljanov, Ernesto Inarkiev and others.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2005.12.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2005.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 {Anti-Marshall. By this move order White deprives Black of a
possibility to enter the sharp ... well, Marshall, of course, why esle would
it call it like that.} (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 {Black obtains a very lively
position, and the number of people willing to suffer for a pawn decreases from
game to game. Well, perhaps, "suffer" is a bit strong word, but advantage, at
least to date, seems to vary from marginal to none.}) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3
h6 11. Nc3 Re8 {Black has a pretty solid position, although White has a
spatial advantage and a more pleasant position in general.} 12. Nd5 (12. Ne2 d5
13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. c3 Qd7 16. Ne4 Kh8 17. Nh4 Nd8 18. Qg4 Qxg4 19.
hxg4 Ne6 20. g3 Rad8 21. a4 $1 b4 22. a5 $1 Rd7 23. Bc4 {was better due to a
weakness of the a-pawn. 1-0 Bologan,V (2580)-Sakaev,K (2620)/Elista 1998/CBM
065 (60) and White}) 12... Nxd5 ({After} 12... Bf8 {Svidler managed to prove
his superiority over Naiditsch in Dortmund 2004. The game followed} 13. c3 Nb8
14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. Nh2 Nd7 16. Re3 {White is threatening to build up a
profound attack on his enemy's king, so Black decided to hurry with a pawn sac:
} d5 17. exd5 Qd6 18. c4 c6 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Rg3 Nc5 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Ba2 {
1-0 Svidler,P (2727)-Naiditsch,A (2574)/Dortmund 2004/CBM 102 (39) and White
managed to win eventually.}) 13. Bxd5 Qc8 {Vacating d8 for the knight, as the
bishop on d5 has to be fought against. However, solving a local problem (Bd5)
Black makes concessions on more important issues (like piece placements and
the center).} 14. c3 Nd8 {Nd8-e6 is nothing unsual in the Ruy Lopez, but here
White manages to exploit that very instant. Black's pieces are disorganized,
and White obtains a very pleasant advantage.} ({Better seems to be} 14... Bf6 {
not allowing White to control the center}) 15. d4 $1 Bf6 {Although Black holds
on to his center for now, his pieces are completely disorganized, and Grischuk
makes use of it.} ({After} 15... Bxd5 16. exd5 {the knight will be deprived of
any future (no dreams, no goals, nothing), but he (Black) will have immediate
problems with the e-file.}) 16. Nh2 {While the Black pieces are gathered on
the queenside, and there is no obvious way for them to go kingside, White is
using his spatial advantage to develop a strong initiative on the king.
Traditionally in these positions, a knight is much better placed on g4 that on
f3, so this maneuver is not exactly new, but is still very strong.} exd4 17.
Ng4 $1 {The point, of course.} ({After} 17. cxd4 Bxd5 18. exd5 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1
Qf5 $1 {Black gets very good play.}) 17... Bg5 {Kamsky doesn't just protect
the bishop, but covers the very improtant h6 square, to avoid unpleasant
surprises.} ({For illistrational purposes only, one could suggest} 17... Bh4 $2
{as an alternative to the text:} 18. Bxh6 $1 {Or} gxh6 (18... Bxd5 {loses to}
19. Qxd4 $1 {(White has an intermediate move as well!)} Ne6 (19... gxh6 20.
exd5 $18 {and despite being a piece up, Black is hopeless.}) 20. Qxd5 gxh6 21.
Nxh6+ Kh7 22. Qh5 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Ng7 24. Qh4 Qd8 25. Nf5+ Qxh4+ 26. Nxh4 {
a pawn in the endgame should suffice White for a win.}) (18... dxc3 19. Qd4
gxh6 20. Nxh6+ Kh7 21. Nf5 Rg8 22. Qxc3 $1 {transferring the queen to the
kingside} Bxd5 23. Qf3 $1 Rg5 24. Ne7 Qe6 25. exd5 Qh6 26. Qe4+ Kg7 27. Rac1 $1
{and although White is a piece down, the knight on d8 is not a factor in this
game, whereas the weak king is.}) 19. Nxh6+ Kf8 $8 20. Nf5 {And again, with
all the army on vacation, the king cannot survive. The inevitable Qh5 will
decide the game.}) 18. cxd4 Bxd5 ({Not good is:} 18... Ne6 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. d5
Nf8 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Qd2 {with full control on both flanks for White.}) ({Also
} 18... c6 {doesn't really improve Black's position.} 19. Bb3 Ne6 20. f4 $1 {
and the pawn mass will just erase Black's position, while taking on f4 loses
by force:} Bd8 (20... Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Bxf4 22. Qf3 {winning an exchange, and
with it the game.}) 21. f5 Ng5 22. f6 {etc}) 19. exd5 {Watch the black knight
on d8. What a poor fella.} Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Kf8 {Of course, the queen cannot be
allowed to invade along the e-file:} ({After} 20... Qf5 21. Qe8+ Kh7 22. Bxg5
Qxg5 23. Ne3 {Black is as tied up as it's possible.}) 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Qe3 {
provoking further weakening of the kingside (after f6), and namely e6, as Qf5
is strongly met with a natural Re1.} f6 23. Re1 Qd7 {Although the first
invasion has been prevented, Black's position hasn't got any better. White
slowly increases the pressure, until Black's defense cracks under it.} 24. h4
$1 {And now it's time to create another weakness} ({With all the prettiness of
his position, White cannot waste time:} 24. Qd3 Nf7 25. Qh7 Re8 {and Black
holds.}) 24... Nf7 ({The point of White's last move can be observed after} 
24... gxh4 25. Nxf6 $1 gxf6 26. Qh6+ Kg8 (26... Qg7 27. Re8+ Kf7 28. Re7+ Kxe7
29. Qxg7+ {is easily won for White}) 27. Qxf6 $1 Qf7 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qh6+ Kg8
30. Re4 {Black's a piece up, but it's hardly a consolation for a lost game. e.g
} Qg7 31. Qxh4 {and Black cannot prevent losing a queen}) ({A switch from a
passive defense to a reckless attack proves to be too sharp for... Black, of
course:} 24... f5 25. Nh2 g4 26. Nf1 {the knight goes to g3, attacking a
new-born weakness on f5.} Nf7 27. Ng3 Nh6 28. Nh5 {and now to f4.. White's
advantage is very big.}) 25. Qe6 Rd8 {Black trusts he will be able to hold
passively, but he will soon realize that this is false.} ({For better or worse,
he should have gone for:} 25... Qxe6 26. dxe6 Re8 $1 ({Or} 26... Nh6 27. Ne3)
27. d5 c6 28. Rc1 Nd8 29. dxc6 Nxe6 30. hxg5 Nxg5 31. Ne3 {and White is
significantly better.}) 26. h5 f5 $2 {Loses immediately, but the position was
already very difficult.} (26... Qxe6 {again leads to a position analyzed
previously.} 27. dxe6 Re8 $1 28. d5 c6 $1 29. Rc1 Nd8 30. dxc6 Nxe6 31. Ne3)
27. Nf6 $1 {A great combination, leading to a logical conclusion of the game.
Of course, having such a control all over the board, it's anything but
surprising that there is one.} gxf6 ({After} 27... Qxe6 28. dxe6 {Black cannot
take the knight because of the fork}) 28. Qxf6 {the threat is painfully simple:
h6.} Re8 29. Re6 Qd8 (29... Rxe6 {also does not save Black:} 30. dxe6 Qe7 31.
Qxf5 {with a totally lost position}) 30. Qxf5 g4 31. Rf6 Re7 ({Or} 31... Re1+
32. Kh2 Ke8 33. h6 Qe7 (33... Nxh6 34. Rf8+ Ke7 35. Qf6+ Kd7 36. Qxd8#) 34. h7
{etc}) 32. h6 Qd7 (32... Ke8 {leads to a nice finish:} 33. h7 Qd7 34. h8=R+
Nxh8 35. Rf8#) 33. Qg6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.11"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Topalov likes the Anti-Marshall. He even won against Kasparov in this opening!
} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {Nowadays this seems to be the most dangerous
Anti-Marshal concept.} Qd7 ({Another approach is} 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {
for instance} 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. c3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. b4 cxb4 16. axb4 Nc6
17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Bb2 h6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Rea1 Qc8 21. Nf1 d5 22. Ng3 Kh8 23. Bc1
Bd6 24. Be3 $16 {0-1 Leko,P (2741)-Anand,V (2782)/Dortmund GER 2004 (83)}) ({
Also worth considering is} 10... Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14.
Nh2 d5 15. Qf3 g6 $1 $13 {Ponomariev-Ivanchuk, 2002.}) 11. Nc3 {This is a very
natural line if White doesn't want to take risks (which is obvoiusly the case
here). He will play d4 and get some plus, which is not easy to realize, but
almost impossible to lose.} ({More complicated is} 11. Nbd2 {For example, same
opponents played here:} Rae8 12. c3 d5 13. Ba2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh5 15. Nb3 Qxd1
16. Rxd1 Nf6 17. Re1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2700)-Svidler,P (2713)/Linares
1999/CBM 070 (35)}) 11... Nd8 {Instead of moving the knight to a5, Black is
looking for a better place for it, but it costs him - White gets an important
tempo - he has no need to withdraw the Bishop to a2 - and he makes use of it.}
({Less convincing is} 11... Rae8 12. a4 $1 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nd8 15.
Bxb7 Nxb7 16. d4 exd4 17. Qxd4 a5 18. Qd5 $14 {1-0 Svidler,P (2689)-De Vreugt,
D (2511)/Esbjerg 2000/CBM 078 (37)}) 12. d4 {Again, White chooses the less
risky way - a tiny advantage and no chance to lose.} (12. Ne2 $5 Ne6 13. Ng3 g6
14. Bh6 (14. c3 c5 15. d4 c4 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Be3 a5 $13 {0-1 Bologan,V (2682)
-Aronian,L (2724)/Stepanakert ARM 2005 (56)}) 14... Rfe8 15. Ng5 Bf8 16. Bxf8
Rxf8 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Qd2 c5 19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4 d5 $15 {0-1 Gelfand,B (2695)
-Shirov,A (2732)/Rethymnon 2003/CBM 098 (39)}) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 {The
statistics approve Topalov's decision - White has never lost a game in this
position, though he rarely won here, but it's not needed here.} Re8 14. Nf5 ({
Svidler himself played this variation on the white side, so he knows well that
Black has no right to err:} 14. Bg5 Nxe4 $4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 Bxg5 17. Qg4
{1-0 Svidler,P (2723)-Almasi,Z (2631)/Germany 2003/EXT 2004}) 14... Ne6 (14...
Nxe4 $2 15. Qg4 g6 16. Nh6+) (14... Bf8 $6 15. Bg5 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. Rxe4
Qxf5 18. Bxf6 Qxe4 19. Bd5 Qf4 20. Bxa8 Qxf6 21. c3 $18 {1-0 Anand,V (2782)
-Shirov,A (2725)/Mainz 2004/CBM 103 (30)}) 15. Nxe7+ (15. Be3 $5 Bf8 16. Qf3 c5
17. Bd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Nc7 19. Ne4 Nxd5 20. Qg4 Kh8 21. Nexd6 Nf6 22. Qf4 Nd5
23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qf4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Sutovsky,E (2665)-Almasi,Z (2628)/Paks HUN
2005/The Week in Chess 553}) 15... Rxe7 16. f3 Rd8 {Black is ready for d5,
which will liquidate all of White's dreams for an advantage- he does not have
many in this games anyway.} 17. Bxe6 (17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 {
1/2-1/2 Movsesian,S (2629)-Aronian,L (2675)/Porz GER 2004/The Week in Chess 528
}) 17... fxe6 (17... Rxe6 $6 18. Bg5 $14) 18. e5 {Forcing the draw.} dxe5 19.
Qxd7 Rdxd7 (19... Nxd7 20. Bg5 Nf6 21. Rxe5 {And the position is similar to
the game.}) 20. Rxe5 Rd6 $146 {It is funny, but there is a novelty here! Not
an extremely important, but still...} (20... h6 21. Be3 Nd5 (21... Re8 22. Re1
{1/2-1/2 Efimenko,Z (2601)-Aronian,L (2684)/Moscow RUS 2005/The Week in Chess
538}) 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Bxd5 24. a4 Kf7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra7 c6 27. Rxe7+
{1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2782)-Shirov,A (2725)/Mainz 2004/CBM 103}) 21. Bf4 {In this
game Topaliv showed how to play in case White if wants to ensure he doesn't
lose, while all accusations on Svidler not trying hard enough to win lack
ground.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 {The most popular way - Black is developing his pieces
quickly, preparing the thematic c5 advance as soon as possible. At the same
time, Na5 and Bb7 don't look very attractive together, which gives White hopes
to get an advantage.} 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 ({On} 12. Nc3 {Black knows how to
play:} Nc6 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Nh2 Ne8 15. Bd2 Nc7 {And he seems to be OK,
Kasparov-Adams, 1999.}) 12... Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 $1 {This manoeuvre is the basis
for Black's counterplay - the B traverses to e6 in order to restrain the
agressive thoughts of Ba2 and to fight for the d5 square.} 14. c3 (14. Ne3 Be6
15. Bd5 Rc8 16. c3 Bxd5 17. exd5 Nb8 18. a4 Qd7 19. axb5 axb5 20. c4 Rfe8 21.
Nd2 Rc7 22. cxb5 Qxb5 23. Ndc4 $16 {1-0 Sutovsky,E (2674)-Beliavsky,A (2599)/
Gothenburg SWE 2005/The Week in Chess 560 (50)}) ({Anand vs. Kasimdzhanov
opted for} 14. Bg5 Ne8 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Ne3 Nf6 17. c3 Qc7 18. Nh2 Be6 19.
Nhg4 Nd7 {with an unclear position.}) 14... Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. b4 {An
important move with the idea of pressing on the queenside, which would
automatically prevent Black's activities in the center (d5).} ({Less
convincing is} 16. Ng3 {for instance} Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. a4 Rb8
20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2804)-Topalov,V (2757)/Linares
ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 539}) 16... Qd7 $146 {A very interesting novelty!
Black is going to deviate from the usual plan: instead of hopelessly
manouevring on the kingside, he is going to concentrate his power on the
opposite flank. The plan seems to be very logical and adequate.} ({
Kasimdzhanov played this position in 2005 and tried} 16... Nh5 17. N1h2 Nf4 18.
Bxf4 Rxf4 19. Qb3 Qd7 20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4 cxb4 22. cxb4 Rb8 23. Rea1 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Adams,M (2741)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2678)/Linares ESP 2005/The Week in
Chess 539 (62)}) 17. Qb3 Rfb8 {Since Black's center is stable he feels free to
relocate most of his pieces on the Q side.} 18. N1h2 $1 {White's N change it's
path because of the "e6" pawn - it has nothing to do on e3 or g3 now, since
the "d5" and "f5" squares are protected. As a result the N goes to g4 where it
can tease the enemy's king... and to force the N on f6 to exchange on g4. This
idea looks not only good but is perhaps the only possible active plan for
White after Black's novelty.} ({After} 18. Ng5 $6 d5 $1 {Black is by no means
worse.}) 18... a5 19. Bd2 {Intending to reduce Black's activity on the Q side.}
(19. bxc5 $6 a4 20. Qc2 dxc5 $15) 19... h6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 $2 {Quite a serious
positional mistake - Rustam opens the "h" file, which hands White an advantage
virtually out of nowhere and, even more importantly, a simple plan for
attacking the king.} (20... axb4 $142 21. axb4 cxb4 22. cxb4 Nh7 $13 (22... Kf7
$5)) 21. hxg4 $14 axb4 22. axb4 cxb4 23. cxb4 Bf6 24. Rec1 Kf7 $1 {Releasing
the Q from its defensive duties, so it can join the fight for the 'a' file.}
25. g3 {Freeing the first rank for transferring to rooks to the 'h' file.} Qb7
26. Kg2 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Ra8 {Black's position looks very solid - if he exchanges
the rooks it will be almost a draw.} 28. Rh1 $1 {Topalov's taking advantage of
Black's mistakes. The 'h' file is going to cost Black a lot.} Nd4 $6 {
Exchanging White's active piece, and after the exchange getting a nice
forepost on c3 for own pieces. On the other hand, however, Black is creating
himself another weakness (on d4) which turns out to be more important than all
his gains.} (28... Qe7 $142 {Preventing g5, which along with pressing on b4 
(after Ra4) might be disturbing for White.}) 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Bf4 d5 $2 {
Forsake the pawn on d4 - now only the Queen will be able to protect it, but it
will be busy doing other things - is it an appropriate job for Her Majesty?} (
30... Qc6 {[%cal Gc6c3]} 31. Rc1 Qd7) 31. e5 $16 {Of course!} Be7 32. Qd1 $1 {
The Q squints on h5, making g5 a threat.} Bg5 (32... Kg8 33. g5 $1 hxg5 34. Qg4
$1 Qc6 35. Bxg5 $40) (32... Bxb4 $2 33. g5 hxg5 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35. Bxg5 $18) 33.
Bxg5 hxg5 {[%csl Rd4,Rg5] Black's position is a fellowship of weaknesses like
g5 and d4, while his main problem is the K.} 34. Rh5 Qe7 35. Qh1 Rf8 36. Rh7 {
Threatening Qh6.} Ke8 37. Qa1 $6 {Topalov is not in a hurry, waiting for his
opponent to lose the track of the position in time-trouble. His position is
too winning for that.} (37. Qh5+ $142 $1 Kd7 38. Qg6 Rf7 39. f4 $1 $18) 37...
Kf7 38. Qc1 Ke8 39. Qa1 Kf7 40. Qxd4 $2 {This actually throws out a big part
of an advantage. Now black has just enough time to organize counterplay.} (40.
Qh1 {with ideas mentioned in previous annotation.}) 40... Kg8 $1 $14 41. Rh1
Qf7 {Black has managed to get a decent compensation for the pawn.} 42. Qe3 d4
$1 {Tough defense.} 43. Qe2 (43. Qxd4 $2 Qf3+ 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Kh2 Qe2 46. Qb6
Rxf2+ 47. Kh3 Rh2+ $1 48. Rxh2 Qf1+ 49. Rg2 Qh1+ $11) 43... Qb7+ $1 {The Q
exchange takes us into rook endgame, with all its known tendencies.} 44. Qe4
Qxe4+ 45. dxe4 Rc8 {Rook activeness is a key factor for success in R endings.}
46. Rb1 Rc3 $2 ({Better was} 46... Rc2 {imprisoning the white king.} 47. Kf1
Kf7 48. Rb3 {And now the only idea for White is f4, but it's hardly enough:} (
48. Ke1 d3 49. Kf1 Re2 $11) 48... Rd2 $1 49. Ke1 (49. f4 $2 d3 $1 50. fxg5 Kg6
$17) 49... Rc2 $1 50. f4 $140 gxf4 51. gxf4 Rg2 $14) 47. Rb2 $1 {Allowing the
king to join the game.} Kf7 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 49. Ke2 Rc3 50. Ra2 {White cannot
hope for a win having such a passive rook, so it must be activated.} Rb3 51.
Ra7+ Kf8 52. Rb7 Rxb4 53. Kd3 Rb2 54. f4 Rb3+ $2 {It looks like Black has
missed a good chance to draw here:} (54... gxf4 $142 $1 55. gxf4 Rg2 56. f5 $1
(56. g5 Rg4 57. Kxd4 Rxf4 58. Kc5 Rg4 59. Kd6 Rxg5 60. Kxe6 Rg6+ 61. Kf5 Ra6
$11) 56... Rxg4 57. Rxb5 exf5 58. exf5 Rf4 59. e6 $11) 55. Kxd4 Rxg3 (55...
Rb4+ $2 56. Kc5 Rxe4 57. Kd6 gxf4 58. Kxe6 $18) 56. f5 {A pawn on f6 will give
White good winning chances now.} Rxg4 57. f6 Rg1 (57... gxf6 $2 58. exf6 $18)
58. Rxg7 b4 $2 $18 {This allows the white king to come near his black
colleague and personally strangle him.} (58... Rc1 $1 59. Rxg5 Rc4+ 60. Kd3 Rc5
{And the outcome remains unclear.}) 59. Kc5 b3 60. Rb7 Ra1 61. Rxb3 Ra5+ 62.
Kd4 (62. Rb5 $4 Rxb5+ 63. Kxb5 g4 $19) 62... Ra4+ 63. Ke3 Ra5 64. Rb8+ Kf7 65.
Rb7+ Kf8 66. Kd4 Ra4+ 67. Kc5 Ra5+ 68. Kd4 Ra4+ {And now the winning plan is:}
69. Ke3 Ra3+ 70. Kf2 $1 {intending Rd7} Ra5 71. Kg3 Rxe5 72. Kg4 Rxe4+ 73. Kh5
$1 {Without the pawn on g5 it would have been draw, but now it's all over.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{The oldest Anti-Marshall system.} b4 {A serious decision which proved itself
in the Elite tournaments.} 9. d3 d6 10. a5 {Seems like the only way to fight
for an advantage.} Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 {Black defends the pawn on b4 and gets
ready for openning the "b" file.} ({Another good possibilitiy is} 11... Qc8 {
as in the game Leko-Svidler from the same tournament.}) 12. Nc4 {The concept
of this move has been around for only a couple of years now, but it was enough
to realize that it doesn't promise White anything.} ({Interesting is} 12. Bc4 {
which was played by Kasparov.} Qc8 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ne3 Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16.
Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Bd2 Bf6 19. Rxe8+ Bxe8 20. Qe2 Bb5 21. Re1 Bxc4 22.
dxc4 h6 23. b3 $14 {Kasparov-Short, 1993.}) 12... h6 {Prepares for... d5! This
move is critical to avoid some White pieces paying a visit to g5.} (12... Bg4
13. Be3 Nd7 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bg5 $1 16. Ba4 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nd4 18. c3 bxc3
19. bxc3 Nb5 20. d4 Qe7 21. Rad1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2838)-Grischuk,A 
(2702)/Moscow 2002/CBM 090 (39)}) (12... Nd7 $6 {This is a different plan} 13.
Be3 Bf6 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 Rb7 16. Qc2 Na7 17. d4 Qb8 18. d5 Bg4 19. Nfd2 h6
20. h3 Bh5 21. Ba4 $16 {1-0 De Firmian,N (2537)-Beliavsky,A (2679)/Copenhagen
2004/CBM 101 ext (41)}) 13. h3 {White's plan is simple - bring the B to e3, so
he is preparing it with h3. Later on the N will come to d2 ,Q on e2. This
sounds like a plan, the problem is that this plan is not dangerous for Black.}
(13. c3 $5 bxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Ba4 Na7 16. Be3 Nb5 17. Qc2 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5
19. Ncd2 c5 20. Bb3+ Kh7 21. Ne4 Bg6 22. Ng3 Nc7 23. Qd1 d5 24. Bc2 Nb5 $13 {
1-0 Shirov,A (2726)-Almasi,Z (2650)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 no vc (44)}) 13...
Qc8 14. Be3 Rd8 $1 {As I said, d5 is the main idea here for Black.} 15. Qe2 Bf8
16. Nfd2 $146 {This typical multi-purpose White's manoeuvre is a novelty in
this position. White dreams of advancing d4, and in order to do so e4 must be
protected. In addition, this move defends the B on b3 which makes c3 and d4
possible in the future. And if this was not enough, this move releases the B
of defending the N on c4!} ({Anand himself tried here} 16. Red1 Ne7 17. Nfd2
Ng6 18. d4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh7 20. Be3 d5 21. exd5 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2766)
-Shirov,A (2736)/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext}) 16... Ne7 $5 {Black is preparing
for White's d4 and at the same time makes way for his own 'c' pawn.} (16... d5
$6 17. Ba4 $1 dxc4 (17... Qb7 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Nxe5 {and the compensation is
not obvious.}) 18. Bxc6 cxd3 19. cxd3 Bd7 20. Rec1 $16) 17. d4 $1 {The only
way to fight for an advantage. At least White is not worse here!} Ng6 (17...
exd4 $6 18. Bxd4 $36) (17... Nxe4 $2 18. Nxe4 d5 19. Nc5 $1 $18) 18. d5 $14 {
White is a little better. Very little...} (18. Red1 {Returns to the
Anand-Shirov game.}) 18... Bd7 19. Ba4 (19. c3 $2 bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxe4 $1 $36)
19... Bb5 $1 {A strong idea - if White wants to exchange Bishops, he should
pay for it.} 20. b3 $6 {And white wants to pay the price, but not losing the N
in the process. So he liberates the b2 for it. Unfortunatelly, straightforward
piece exhanges are not enough here.} (20. Bxb5 $2 axb5 $19) 20... Be7 21. Rec1
c6 $1 22. Bxb5 (22. c3 $2 bxc3 23. Rxc3 cxd5 $19) 22... Rxb5 23. Nb6 (23. c3 $6
bxc3 24. Na3 Rc5 $1 25. Ndc4 (25. Bxc5 $2 cxd2 $19) 25... cxd5 26. Nb6 Qb7 27.
Bxc5 d4 $1 28. Bb4 Nf4 29. Qf1 Qxe4 $36) 23... Qb7 24. dxc6 Qxc6 25. Qc4 {
Here the players agreed to a draw.} (25. Qc4 Qb7 26. c3 d5 $1 {And Black is
not worse.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Svidler invites his opponent to try the Marshall Attack, but lately heroes to
stand up to accept the challenge are quite hard to find.} 8. h3 {This move is
an entrance into the so called "Anti Marshall systems". The general idea here
is to postpone the c3 and d4 advances, and finish the development meanwhile.
Actually, there are different ways for Anti Marshal, in this game we will
observe one of them.} Bb7 (8... d6 {is a transposition into the classical Ruy
Lopez after} 9. c3) 9. d3 Re8 $5 {An infrequent and yet promising continuation.
Black tries to manoeuvre without d6 which allows the e7 bishop to find some
more appropriate places to live in (such as b4 or c5).} ({More popular is} 9...
d6) 10. a4 ({Kramnik tried here} 10. Nc3 {against Leko and after} Bb4 11. Ng5
Rf8 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 {he could have only thought about
equalizing.} 15. f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Bxd5 Qxg5 18. Bxb7 {And here the
opponents agreed to draw, Kramnik-Leko, 2004.}) ({Another, an even more
popular approach here is} 10. a3) 10... h6 {De facto, this is a novelty as
nobody played here h6 before. However, in a few moves we will realize that it
was just a different move order. The idea here is, in fact, very simple - h6
will be played anyway and Black doesn't want to run with d6, so why not now?}
11. Nc3 {Leko was hoping to advance d5 in one fling and Svidler deprives him
of this option.} ({It is very interesting in those schemes to develop the
knight via} 11. Nbd2 {which bring us to a very similar position to those in a
classical Ruy Lopez positions.}) 11... b4 {When Black plays b4 he should be
aware of some positional dangers, like White's advance a4-a5 at some point.}
12. Nd5 Na5 $146 {This is a real novelty, which looks very logical. a5 is
taken away which leaves White with one idea only - settling on d5.} (12... Bc5
{was examined, without big success though.} 13. a5 $1 Rb8 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3
Nxd5 16. Bxd5 d6 17. Rf1 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A (2606)-Tkachiev,V (2657)/New
Delhi/Teheran 2000/CBM 080}) 13. Ba2 Bc5 14. Bd2 $1 {Simple, but powerful -
Black is forced now to take on d5 which gives White the hope to isolate the
knight on a5.} Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 {Here Balck has to play very
carefully, trying to bring the knight back into the game. It looks
unbelievable now, but 10 moves from now Black's position will become
completely lost.} Qf6 $2 {With each move the knight is kept on a5 its chances
to see daylight in this game decrease.} ({For an answer why} 16... d6 $2 {
is not the most fortunate move, I'd suggest asking the knight on a5, which is
pinning all his hopes to this square.}) ({Interesting is} 16... c6 17. Rxe5 (
17. Nxe5 $6 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rxe5 19. Rxe5 Qf6+ 20. Qf3 Qxe5 {and only White can
have problems here.}) 17... Rxe5 18. Nxe5 Qf6 19. Nf3 cxd5 $14 (19... Qxb2 $2
20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Ne5 $16)) 17. c3 $1 bxc3 {Another inaccuracy which will be
obvious by the next move.} (17... Qb6 $142 18. Be3 (18. d4 $6 exd4 19. cxb4
Bxb4 20. Bxb4 Qxb4 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 c5 $1 {And Black is OK.}) 18... Bxe3
19. Rxe3 d6 20. Nh4 $14) 18. Bxc3 $16 Qb6 19. Rxe5 $1 {White is virtually a
piece up on the K side, so he tries to open it.} Bxf2+ 20. Kh1 d6 $2 {The
importance of the 'd6' square has already been mentioned. In addition, this
move weakens 'c6'. It's hard to say what Peter missed here, but it seems that
he underestimated White's 22nd move.} (20... Nb3 {is bad due to} 21. a5 Qb5 22.
Ra3 Nc5 23. Qe2 {and Black is hopeless.}) (20... Nb7 $142 {In order to insert
the poor thing into the game.}) 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. b4 $1 $18 {The beginning of
the end.} Nb7 23. Ra2 Bg3 {Gives no hope, but other continuations do not
really save the day either.} (23... Qa7 24. Re2 Rxe2 25. Qxe2 Qe3 26. Qxe3 Bxe3
27. a5 $1 $18) 24. Re2 Rd8 {The last mistake which finishes the game
immediately.} (24... Rf8 {would have prolonged the "battle".} 25. Nd4 a5 26.
Nf5 Be5 27. bxa5 Nxa5 28. Qe1 $1 Bxc3 (28... Ra8 29. Rb2 Qa6 30. Bxe5 dxe5 31.
Qxe5 Qf6 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33. Nxh6+ $18) 29. Qxc3 f6 30. Re7 {and Black can
resign.}) 25. Nd4 {The only reason why Black continues his suffering is the
time-trouble - a very common reason is those cases.} a5 (25... Rf8 26. a5 Qa7
27. Nc6 Qa8 28. Re7 {As in the game.}) 26. Nc6 Rf8 27. Bd4 Qa6 28. b5 Qa8 29.
Re7 {A great position.} Be5 30. Nxe5 dxe5 31. Bxe5 {Great technique by Peter
Svidler.} 1-0

[Event "London MSO Masters"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1999.08.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Golod, Vitali"]
[Black "Van den Doel, Erik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2568"]
[BlackElo "2528"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.08.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
$5 {Against attack of the Marshall:(8.c3 d5)} Bb7 ({Another alternative is:} 
8... d6) 9. d3 d6 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gc6a5]} 10. a3 $5 {[%csl Ya2][%cal Yb3a2]} (
{Another variation is:} 10. c3) 10... Na5 $5 {Besides black has few options:} (
10... h6) (10... Nd7) (10... Re8) (10... Kh8 $5 {See comments to Kasparov,
G-Kamsky,G/ Dos Hermanas,1996/CBM 53 (1/2-1/2) (Azmaiparashvili,Z)(53)}) (10...
Nb8 {See comments to Lautier,J-Sokolov,I/ Erevan,1996(1-0)(Makarichev,S)(44)})
(10... Nd4 {See comments toJansa,V-Blatny,P/Zlin, 1998/CBM 66(0-1)(Hecht)(57)})
({and} 10... Qd7 $5 {SeeTopalov,V-Svidler,P/Linares,1999 (1/2-1/2)(35)}) 11.
Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 $5 ({Dubious:} 12... h6 {in view of:} 13. b4 Nc6 (13... cxb4
14. axb4 Nc6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 $14 {Kuklin,A-Kovacs,G/HUN-chT,1992(0-1)(18)
}) 14. Nd5 $36 {-see comments to Murrey,J-Adams,M/ Hilversum,1993/CBM 39(1-0)
(Ftacnik)(54)}) ({Worse is:} 12... Rc8 13. Ne2 $5 (13. Bd2 $5 Nc6 14. Ne2 d5 $2
(14... Qd7 $5) 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nc3 {[%csl Re5]} Nxc3 17. Bxc3 $16 {Spasov,
V-Radulski,J/Plovdiv,1999(1-0) (61)}) 13... Rc7 14. Ng3 Bc8 15. Be3 Be6 16. b4
$14 {Emms,J-Herbrechtsmeier,C/OLBaden,1992 (1-0)(48)}) ({Also dubious:} 12...
b4 {in view of} 13. axb4 $5 (13. Nd5 $5 b3 $6 (13... bxa3 $5 $14) 14. Nxe7+
Qxe7 15. cxb3 $16 {Bologan,V-Zaitsev,I/Moscow,1998/CBM 63 (1-0)(38)}) 13...
cxb4 14. Nd5 $14 {Lanka,Z-Reichwehr,B/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1994(1-0)(36)}) 13.
Bg5 Ne8 $5 $146 (13... Qd7 $5 14. Nh2 Ne8 15. Bd2 $13 {Kasparov,G-Adams,M/
Linares1999(CBM70) (1-0)(Blatny,P)(65)}) ({and} 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Bd5
Qd7 16. Nh2 $5 {[%cal Gh2g4,Gg4e3]} Bd8 17. Ng4 Kh8 18. Ne3 Bg5 19. Qg4 $14 {
Polgar,J-Adams,M/Frankfurt,1999(1/2-1/2) (44) -was checked in the previous
games.}) 14. Bd2 Nc7 $5 ({Slightly worse is:} 14... Nf6 {because of:} 15. Nh2 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Gh2f1,Gf1e3]} (15. Bg5 Ne8 $11)) 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 {+/=/=}
Qd7 17. c3 $5 {/\d4;b4or a4} Nd8 18. Bxb7 $6 (18. a4 $1 {An strong move which
was mentioned by Erik Van den Doel after the game.} Bxd5 19. exd5 Rb8 20. axb5
axb5 21. Qb3 {[%csl Gb3,Rd8] with small advantage of white.}) ({After:} 18. b4
$6 {black equalizes:} Bxd5 19. exd5 Rc8 {[%cal Gc5c4]} 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. a4 $11
(21. Rxe5 $143 Bf6 $15 {[%csl Rd5]})) 18... Qxb7 19. d4 Nc6 $1 20. d5 $5 {
This move better than:} (20. Be3 $6 exd4 21. cxd4 Bf6 $11) ({or} 20. dxc5 dxc5
21. Qc2 c4 22. Be3 Rad8 23. Rad1 f6 24. Rd5 Na5 $11 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Ga5b3]})
20... Na5 {/\c4,Nb3} 21. b3 $8 {[%cal Gc3c4] Differently after:} (21. Be3 Nc4
22. Bc1 f5 {[%csl Rd5,Re4] black has a better position.}) 21... c4 $13 22. b4
Nb3 23. Rb1 f5 $5 ({Also good enough:} 23... a5 $5 {[%csl Ga8]} 24. Be3 axb4
25. axb4 Ra2 26. Re2 $13) (23... Nxd2 $143 24. Nxd2 {[%cal Ga3a4] +/=/=}) 24.
exf5 $5 ({Dubious:} 24. Bg5 {in view of:} f4 $1 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Nd2 Nxd2 27.
Qxd2 f3 $15) ({Interestingly:} 24. Ng5 {[%cal Gg5e6]} Bxg5 25. Bxg5 f4 {
[%csl Rg5][%cal Gh7h6]} (25... h6 $5) 26. f3 a5 27. Bh4 $13 {[%cal Gh4f2]})
24... Rxf5 ({Badly:} 24... Qxd5 {because of:} 25. Bg5 Qf7 (25... Qxd1 26. Rbxd1
Bxg5 27. Nxg5 Rxf5 28. Ne4 $16 {[%csl Rd6]}) 26. Bxe7 Qxe7 27. Qd5+ Kh8 28.
Rbd1 $16 {[%csl Rd6]}) 25. Be3 (25. Be3 {Is the right move,whereupon-equality:}
e4 (25... Raf8 26. Nd2 {[%csl Rb3]} Qxd5 27. Nxb3 Qxd1 28. Rexd1 cxb3 29. Rxb3
$11) 26. Qc2 $1 {[%csl Rf5]} Qxd5 (26... Rxd5 $2 27. Qxe4 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Rd5,
Ge4][%cal Gb1d1]}) 27. Nd4 Re5 (27... Nxd4 $143 28. Bxd4 Bf6 (28... Rf4 $6 29.
g3 $14 {[%csl Re4]}) 29. Rxe4 $14) 28. Nxb3 cxb3 29. Qxb3 $11) (25. Qc2 $2 {
is refuted by:} Rxf3 $1 (25... Raf8 $5 {[%csl Rd5]}) 26. gxf3 Qxd5 $17 {
[%csl Rd2,Rf3]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Black "Van der Wiel, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2534"]
[BlackElo "2529"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Rae8 12. Nf1 Bd8 13. Ne3 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15.
Nf1 c5 16. Bd2 Qc6 17. Ba2 d5 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 f6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Qh5 Qf7
22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 23. Nh2 Bh4 24. Rxe8 Kxe8 25. Rf1 Ke7 26. g4 g6 27. g5 Bg3 28.
Ng4 Kd6 29. Kg2 Bh4 30. Ne5 Nxe5 31. fxe5+ Ke7 32. Rf6 Rxf6 33. exf6+ Kf7 34.
Kf3 h6 35. Kg4 hxg5 36. Bxg5 Be1 37. Kf3 Ba5 38. h4 Bd8 39. Bb1 Bxf6 40. Kf4
Ke6 41. Bxf6 Kxf6 {[#] Wenn WeiЯ seinen schlechten Lдufer ins Spiel bringen
will, muЯ er den gegenerischen Mehrbauern entdoppeln.} 42. c3 dxc3 43. bxc3 Bc8
(43... d4 44. cxd4 cxd4 45. Ba2 a5 46. Bb3 {und wegen seiner Bauernschwдchen
d4 und g6 kommt Schwarz nicht recht weiter.}) 44. d4 cxd4 45. cxd4 Bf5 46. Ba2
Ke6 47. Bb3 a5 48. Bd1 a4 49. Ke3 b4 50. Kd2 bxa3 (50... b3 51. Kc3 Bc2 52.
Bg4+ Kf6 53. Bd7 Bd1 54. Kb2 {[%csl Ra4,Rb3]}) 51. Kc3 Bd3 52. Bg4+ Bf5 (52...
Kf6 53. Bd7 Bc4 54. Bxa4 Kf5 55. Bc2+ Kg4 56. Bxg6 Kxh4 57. Bf7 Kg3 58. Kc2 Kf2
59. Bxd5 Bxd5 60. Kb1 $11 {offenbart die Gewinnprobleme von Schwarz}) 53. Bd1
Bb1 54. Bg4+ Kf6 55. Bd7 Be4 56. Bg4 Ke7 57. Bd1 Ke6 58. Bg4+ Kf6 59. Bd7 Bf3
$1 60. Bxa4 (60. Bh3 Kg7 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Rg7h6,Rh6h5]}) 60... Kf5 61. Be8 Be4
(61... Bh5 $5 62. Kb3 $140 Ke4 63. Kxa3 Kxd4 {[%cal Yd4e3,Yd5d4,Yd4d3]}) 62. h5
g5 63. h6 (63. Bg6+ Kf6 64. Bxe4 dxe4 65. d5 a2 66. Kb2 e3 $19) 63... Kf6 64.
Bh5 Bf5 65. Bf3 Be6 66. Kb3 g4 67. Bh1 Kg6 68. Kxa3 Kxh6 69. Kb4 Kg5 70. Kc5
Kf4 71. Kd6 Bg8 72. Ke7 Kg3 0-1

[Event "CZE-ch"]
[Site "Zlin"]
[Date "1998.06.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jansa, Vlastimil"]
[Black "Blatny, Pavel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1998.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. c3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 c5 14. Bf4 d5 15.
Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Bd6 18. Bd2 Qf6 19. Bc3 Qf5 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21.
hxg4 Rfd8 22. Ba5 Rd7 23. b4 Bf8 24. bxc5 Bxc5 25. Bb4 Bf8 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 {
[#] Schwarz nutzt die weiЯen Bauernschwдchen zu einer aktiven Aufstellung
aller seiner Steine auf und gewinnt schlieЯlich Material. Meiner Meinung nach
ist bereits a4 der Anfang allen Ьbels.} 27. a4 $2 (27. Rac1 $1 {[%cal Gc1c8]})
27... b4 28. a5 Rxd5 29. Reb1 Rb8 30. Rb3 Rd4 31. f3 Ke7 32. Kf2 Kd6 33. Ke3
Kd5 34. Kd2 Kc5 35. Rh1 Kb5 36. Ra1 Re8 $1 $17 37. Rbb1 g6 38. Rb3 h5 39. gxh5
gxh5 40. Rh1 Re5 41. Ra1 f5 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Rf5f4,Re5g5]} 42. g3 f4 43. gxf4
Rxf4 44. Rc1 Kxa5 45. Rc4 Rxc4 46. dxc4 h4 47. Rb1 h3 48. Kd3 h2 49. Rh1 Rh5
50. f4 Kb6 51. f5 Kc5 52. f6 Rh7 53. f7 Rxf7 54. Rxh2 Rd7+ 55. Kc2 Kxc4 56. Rh5
Rd5 57. Rh4+ Kb5 0-1

[Event "Copenhagen KS"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Borge, Nikolaj"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Endspiel-CD} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 Bb7 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. a3 d6 11. Nf1 Nd4 12. Ba2 c5 13. c3 Nxf3+ 14.
Qxf3 h6 15. Ng3 Bf8 16. Nh5 Qe7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. f3 Red8 20. c4
Bc8 21. g4 Be6 22. Kf2 Rdb8 23. h3 a5 24. f4 exf4 25. Re2 bxc4 26. dxc4 Rb6 27.
Bxf4 Rab8 28. Rb1 a4 29. Rc2 h5 30. Kf3 hxg4+ 31. hxg4 Kg7 32. Bd2 Be7 33. Bc3
Rh8 34. Rg1 Kf8 35. Rf2 Rh3+ 36. Ke2 Rh4 37. Rfg2 Ke8 38. Rg3 Kd7 39. Kd3 Rb8
40. Bb1 Rh2 41. R1g2 Rxg2 42. Rxg2 Rh8 43. Rg3 Rh2 44. Bd2 Bxc4+ 45. Kxc4 Rxd2
{[#] wechselhafter Partieverlauf: 1. Bildung von je 2 Freibauern; 2. 1 wFrei-B
kostet den sL; 3. sorgloses weiЯes Spiel (Zug 76) kostet Material; 4. Finale
mit T+B vs D ist hoffnungslos, weil der wK nicht ferngehalten werden kann.} 46.
Kc3 Rf2 47. Bc2 Kc7 48. Bxa4 d5 49. exd5 Bd6 50. Rd3 Be5+ 51. Kc4 Rf4+ 52. Kb5
Kd6 53. b4 c4 54. Rg3 Rf2 55. Rg1 Kxd5 56. Rc1 c3 57. Bb3+ Kd4 58. Rc2 Rf4 59.
Rg2 f5 60. gxf5 Rxf5 61. Bc2 Rf1 62. a4 f5 63. a5 f4 64. a6 Ra1 65. Ba4 Rh1 66.
a7 Rh8 67. Bd1 Ra8 68. Kb6 Bb8 69. axb8=Q Rxb8+ 70. Ka5 Ra8+ 71. Kb6 Ra1 72.
Bg4 Rb1 73. b5 Rb2 74. Rg1 c2 75. Bf5 f3 {[#]} 76. Rf1 $2 (76. Bxc2 Rxc2 77.
Rg8 f2 78. Rf8 Ke3 79. Ka7 $10) 76... Rb1 77. Rxf3 c1=Q 78. Bxb1 Qxb1 79. Rf6 {
/\Rc6} Kc4 (79... Kc3 {Endspiel-CD} 80. Rc6+ Kb4 $19 {/\ Qf5}) 80. Rf4+ Kd5 81.
Rg4 Qf5 82. Rb4 Qf6+ 83. Ka5 Kc5 84. Re4 0-1

[Event "World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +2-2=10"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "2016.11.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2853"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[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"]

1. e4 e5 {I have spent my entire life as a chess player, trying to find
assymetry where I can find it. Magnus and Sergey operate from a more elevated
view-point than mine, and although they both occasionaly flirt with assymmetry,
I do not get the feeling that they believe it merits a proper relationship.} 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 ({In a sense the Ruy Lopez is a little more ambitious than the
G-whatever Piano (In Swedish we call it "the Italian", so I'm excused for not
acing the spelling bee). If we continue down the rabbit hole with} 3. Bc4 Bc5
4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O {, there is a big difference between... this position,
compared to the more easily spelled sibling; that Black has still not moved
the pawns on the queenside. This difference means that Black has fewer
weaknesses to take care of and it could turn out to be the whole difference
between a win and a big advantage (for White) later in the game.}) 3... a6 ({
I believe it was Julian Hodgson who said that the only problem with 1.e4,
compared to 1.d4, is that the e4-pawn is hanging. After} 3... Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 {
we reach one such position, the Berlin Defence. (The Petroff is another)} 5.
Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O {was seen in game three of the
match. Black argues that a reasonably symmetrical position makes White's extra
tempo less important. Time has told it is a decent argument.}) 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.
O-O Be7 6. Re1 (6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 {was played in the second game of the
match. The main difference here is that Black can play d6 before 0-0 without
having to fear a rapid c3/d4, which would lead to the one of the old main
lines.} (8. a4 {is also played frequently, but after} Bd7 {has been doing
quite well lately.})) 6... b5 7. Bb3 O-O {It sounds ridiculous to call such a
move "critical", but in a sense it is.} ({The reason is that} 7... d6 8. c3 O-O
9. h3 {leads to a one of the biggest theoretical tablelands in chess, whereas
the game move avoids that altogether by meeting 8.c3 with 8...d5. In days of
old, this line, the "Marshall Attack", led to slugfest bonanzas, but in the
age of engine-guided preparations it has a tendency to end in draws. This
explains why a defensively minded wielder of the dark forces is naturally
drawn to the Marshall Attack.}) 8. h3 {The consequence of Karjakin's last move
is that White is forced to play this move, unless he is happy to enter the
"old" lines after 8...d6 9.c3.} (8. a4 {After} Bb7 9. d3 Re8 (9... d6 {is more
popular.}) 10. Nc3 Nd4 11. axb5 Nxb3 12. cxb3 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Nxb5 d5 {
Dominguez Perez,L (2730)-Carlsen,M (2850) World Rapid 2015, Black equalised
with ease.}) (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 {is the starting
position of the above mentioned Marshall Attack. I'm too old to try to get
familiar with it. Perhaps I would, if jailed by nazis and left with only a
monograph (written by Peter Svidler) to fend for my sanity, eventually be able
to say something sensible about this position. And although the likelihood of
this scenario has increased lately, I'm afraid that you'll have to wait until
some time next year, at least. (Seeing the draw looming twenty moves ahead,
you'll have to excuse me for trying to pump up the drama a bit.)}) 8... Bb7 {
The most natural move if Black wants to avoid} 9. d3 (9. c3 $6 d5 $1 {is nice
for Black. It is not recommended to play} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 $2 (11. d4)
11... Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Nf4 {, when catastrophe strikes the white camp. Reading
the unfulfilled expectations of some kibitzers, I get the feeling that they
expect something like this, and nothing less. Sorry guys. You should stick
with risk.}) 9... d5 $5 {This Marshall Attack-inspired gambit can hardly have
come as a surprise for Karjakin, partly because it is a main line and partly
because it is played to draw. Especially the latter reason should have
appealed to Magnus after yesterday's rather wobbly performance.} ({In a rapid
game against Zhigalko last year, Magnus played} 9... d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2
Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Ng5 d5 15. exd5 Nc5 16. c4 {and had to fight
to equalise.}) 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 ({Neither of the players has room to
deviate. Here} 11. a4 Nd4 $1 {equalises immediately.}) 11... Nd4 $1 {Compared
to the Marshall Attack, Black doesn't have as much of an attack here. The
compensation is of a more positional character. While the bishop on b7 roams
freely, Black's queenside pawns don't have to worry about a2-a4 (since Nxb3
would completely ruin White's pawn structure) and c7-c5 will take a lot of
space. From a White perspective, the c2-pawn has to be taken care of and the
knight on e5 turns out to be in a rather awkward position...} 12. Nc3 Nb4 ({
An instructive illustration of my last comment about the knight on e5:} 12...
Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Bd2 f6 $1 15. Ng4 f5 $1 {The pawn is accelerated forward
as it attacks the knight.} 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. Na2 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Nc6 19. Re1 f4 20.
Bc3 $6 ({Black also has a strong attack after} 20. f3 Nd4 21. Rf1 Rf6) 20... f3
21. Re4 a5 $5 22. b4 {and now, instead of} axb4 {which was unclear, in
Timofeev,A (2658)-Sokolov,I (2655) Sarajevo 2007, Black should have played} (
22... Ne7 $1 {, with a very strong attack.})) 13. Bf4 {Perhaps there is
nothing better here, but this move doesn't feel right to me. Why? There is
something about putting the bishop in the line of fire (g5/Nd5) and striving
to tuck it in on h2 that rings false. I'd prefer to put it on c3. On the other
hand the bishop is not obstructing the queen and could come to e5. After
weighing the pros and cons, I must disagree with my first instinct. It does
indeed make sense.} ({I'd probably spend some time on} 13. Bd2 {according to
the principle "less is more" (and "don't put the bishop on a square where it
is likely to be attacked").}) (13. Ne4 {has been played a number of times and
the lines after} Nxb3 14. axb3 Qd5 15. Nf3 f5 {seem to hold no danger to Black.
}) 13... Nxb3 14. axb3 c5 15. Ne4 {Karjakin is trying to prove that the
inclusion of Bf4 and ...c5 somehow favours White.} f6 $1 {According to the
reports I read, Carlsen continued to blitz out the moves even now, so it's
pretty clear that this was all part of his preparations.} 16. Nf3 f5 $1 {
A recurring idea leaving White with little choice.} 17. Neg5 $1 (17. Ng3 Bxf3
$1 {and it becomes obvious why the attack on the c2-pawn is a problem for
White:} 18. gxf3 (18. Qxf3 Nxc2 $19) 18... Bf6 $36) (17. Ned2 {is the most
ambitious move, since it keeps some pieces on the board. After} Bf6 18. Be5 Re8
19. Rc1 h6 20. Re2 {What else?} Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Nd5 {White cannot let the knight
land on f4 and} 22. g3 f4 {gives Black a nasty initiative. So, it seems that
the most ambitious move was less than good.}) 17... Bxg5 18. Nxg5 h6 $1 19. Ne6
Qd5 20. f3 Rfe8 {The last five moves have basically been forced, but now White
has two alternatives; one human and one non human.} 21. Re5 (21. Nc7 Qd4+ 22.
Kh1 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qxf4 24. Nxa8 Nxc2 {looks like absolute disaster for White
from afar, but in fact White can get a draw in more than one way. One pretty
line is} 25. Qe8+ Kh7 26. Nb6 $3 Nxa1 27. Nd7 {and Black has no defence
against the Nf8/ Nd7-pendulum.}) 21... Qd6 22. c3 {The challenger goes for the
draw in the most solid manner.} ({The more complicated} 22. Re2 {also ends up
in equality after} Qd7 23. Nc7 (23. Nxc5 $2 Qd4+) 23... Rxe2 24. Qxe2 Rc8 25.
Re1 Qd4+ 26. Qe3 Nxc2 27. Qxd4 Nxd4 28. Re7 {Alas, how forced!} Nc6 29. Rd7 Rd8
30. Rxd8+ Nxd8 31. Bd6 Kf7 32. Bxc5 Ne6 33. Nxe6 Kxe6 {is a most drawish draw.}
) 22... Rxe6 23. Rxe6 Qxe6 24. cxb4 cxb4 {If White was allowed to play d4, Be5
and then put the queen or rook in such a place from where it would keep an eye
on g7; then White would be better.} 25. Rc1 Rc8 {But Carlsen will not let
White have three moves for free.} 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 27. Qe1 Qd7 28. Kh2 a5 29. Qe3
Bd5 30. Qb6 Bxb3 31. Qxa5 Qxd3 32. Qxb4 Be6 {Next Black will put the queen on
d7 and the position will reach a state of zero entropy. So, draw agreed.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2814"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Illingworth,M"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was one of the decisive ones for the tournament standings, as going
into this round, Aronian and Carlsen were sharing the lead, however Aronian
won this game while Carlsen lost to Grischuk. Furthermore, Nakamura finished
equal second, a point behind Aronian!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {This is the trendiest way of meeting
the Marshall nowadays.} b4 (8... Bb7 {[%cal Yd7d6,Yc6a5,Yc7c5] has been played
in several games by Tomashevsky of late, and does constitute a means of
avoiding the game's queen exchange.}) 9. d4 d6 {There wasn't much to say about
the earlier moves as they've already been seen in other games analysed in Mega
Database/CBM, plus Nakamura and Aronian had already reached this position in
the Sinquefield Cup two years ago.} 10. dxe5 dxe5 (10... Nxe5 {was Aronian's
choice in 1-0 (41) Nakamura,H (2772)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013 CBM 157
[Ramirez Alvarez], but he has since switched to the pawn recapture and
contributed significantly to the development of its theory.}) 11. Qxd8 (11.
Nbd2 {is also a line, but it has been addressed before, of course.}) 11... Rxd8
12. Nbd2 {The only real try as the old} (12. Bg5 Rb8 13. Nbd2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6
15. Bd5 Na5 $11 {offers White nothing.}) 12... h6 {The best continuation,
preventing Ng5/Bg5 ideas for good and waiting to see White's setup.} (12... Bd6
{could transpose to the game after} 13. a5 h6 14. Bc4 {.} (14. h3 $5 {[%cal
Yd2c4] however is an alternative, when playing as in the game with} Re8 $6 {
runs into} 15. Nc4 {followed by Ba4 with some annoying threats. I think this
is what Aronian wanted to avoid with his move order.})) (12... Bc5 {is another
option, but I think the following nice technical effort scared players off it:}
13. h3 Bb7 14. a5 h6 15. Ba4 Nd7 16. Nb3 Bd6 17. Be3 Ncb8 18. Nfd2 Bc6 19. Nc4
Bxa4 20. Rxa4 Nc6 21. Rd1 Be7 22. Raa1 Kf8 23. f3 Ke8 24. Kf2 Nf8 25. Rd5 f6
26. g3 Ne6 27. f4 Bd6 28. Rad1 $16 {1-0 (41) Harikrishna,P (2685)-Kamsky,G 
(2746) Istanbul 2012}) 13. Bc4 (13. a5 {occurred in 1-0 (70) Carlsen,M (2862)
-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013 CBM 157 [Stohl,I].}) 13... Bd6 14. a5 (14.
Nb3 $5 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Yc1e3] is a very serious alternative, where I haven't
found a clear way for Black to fully equalise:} a5 ({Stohl's suggestion} 14...
Re8 {would allow} 15. Be3 $5 Be6 16. Bxe6 Rxe6 17. Nfd2 Ng4 18. Bc5 Bxc5 19.
Nxc5 Rd6 20. Ndb3 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Yc5] with an endgame advantage because of the
c5 outpost.}) (14... Bb7 15. h3 {0-1 (98) Carlsen,M (2776)-Aronian,L (2750)
Nice 2009} Re8 16. Bd3 Nd4 17. Nfxd4 exd4 18. f3 c5 19. Na5 Bc8 20. f4 $14 {
[%csl Yc4][%cal Ya5c4,Ye4e5,Yc1d2] is also pretty nice for White as Black's
majority is entirely blockaded.}) (14... Be7 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rc1e3,Rd8d5] is
the machine's advice, but giving up two tempi like this is extremely hard to
believe. After} 15. h3 g5 16. Bd2 Kg7 17. Rad1 Bd7 18. Re2 $5 {[%csl Yd5,Yf5]
[%cal Yh2f1,Yf1e3,Yf3h2,Yf2f3] I slightly prefer White's position as Black's
knight on c6 is a bit awkward.}) 15. Be3 Ne7 ({or} 15... Ba6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17.
Nfd2 Ng4 18. Nc4 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6]}) 16. Bd3 Ng6 17. Nfd2 Ng4 18. Nc4 Nxe3
19. Rxe3 {and Black loses the a5-pawn for insufficient compensation.}) 14...
Re8 $1 {I really like this move, overprotecting e5 to avoid any tactical
issues, and also forcing White to commit to some scheme of development.} 15.
Bd3 {Nakamura went into thought on this move, even though the position has
been seen before. It also brought his opponent into a think as they both tried
to recall their home analysis.} (15. Nb3 Be6 16. Bd3 Red8 17. Bf1 Kf8 18. Nfd2
Nd7 {1/2-1/2 (22) Carlsen,M (2772)-Leko,P (2756) Dortmund 2009, was immediate
equality.}) ({I wonder if Nakamura mixed up his move order and intended} 15. b3
{which seems the most natural continuation, as now ...Nd7 runs into Bd5
options. Still, after} Bb7 16. Bb2 Rad8 17. Bd3 Nd7 $11 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Yd7c5]
0-1 (51) Ward,R (2112)-Telepnev,I (2505) ICCF email 2013, Black had similarly
good play to the game, with ...Nc5 coming.}) 15... Nd7 $1 {[%cal Yc8b7,Yc8e6]}
(15... Be6 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Be3 Nc5 {1/2-1/2 (28) Szabo,M (2213)
-Husemann,A (2113) LSS email 2013, was fine for Black, but Aronian's move
order is more accurate as he keeps the option of where to develop his queen's
bishop.}) 16. b3 $6 {Clearly White should get his bishop out somehow, but I
think this was inaccurate as now it will be harder to keep the a5-pawn safe.} (
16. Nb3 Nc5 17. Nxc5 Bxc5 {helps Black activate his pieces, so I would prefer})
(16. Nc4 $142 {, although} Bf8 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Bc4 Be6 $11 {is still entirely
fine for Black.}) 16... Nc5 17. Bc4 {It's unfortunate to lose two tempi with
the bishop like this.} (17. Bf1 Be6 18. Nc4 f6 19. Nxd6 cxd6 $15 {is also more
pleasant for Black, on account of the backward c2-pawn. Also the Black
structure complements his minor pieces well.}) 17... Be6 18. Bb2 {This looks
natural, but the problem is that the bishop will be quite passive on b2 when
the e5-pawn is protected (hence why the ...Nd7-c5 manoeuvre mattered).} (18.
Bxe6 Nxe6 19. Nc4 {[%cal Yc1e3,Ye3a7] is therefore preferable, so the White
bishop may find greater activity on e3, but Black is still for choice.}) 18...
f6 19. Bxe6+ Rxe6 $15 {[%csl Ra5,Ya6] Black has the advantage as his minor
pieces are better placed, and the exchange of the light-squared bishops was a
major achievement as now the a5-pawn remains a weakness, while the a6-pawn is
entirely safe.} (19... Nxe6 {was also possible, but I like the knight better
on c5 in connection with Aronian's plan in the game.}) 20. Nc4 Rb8 $1 {[%cal
Yb8b5,Yc5b7] The plan of attacking the a5-pawn is a lot more logical than the
engine's automatic move} (20... Rd8) 21. Nfd2 (21. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Yf5,Yg6] was
a much better defence, bringing the knight to f5 to exploit the slight gaps on
the light squares.}) 21... Rb5 22. Ra2 $2 {Nakamura was clearly concerned
about losing this pawn, but one might remember the Carlsen-Aronian game from
the 2013 Sinquefield Cup, where after taking on a5 Black's pieces were tied up
because of the a-file pin. So there was no need to freeze up White's major
pieces like this, and} (22. Nf1 Nd4 $1 (22... Nb7 23. Nfe3 Ncxa5 24. Nxa5 Nxa5
25. Red1 {[%csl Ra5,Ra6][%cal Ra1a6] leaves Black too tied up to easily make
progress.}) 23. Rac1 Nb7 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. g3 Nxa5 26. Nfd2 $15 {[%csl Yc4]
[%cal Yc1a1] should allow White to keep a fortress on the light squares.})
22... Nb7 23. Rea1 {[%csl Ra1,Ra2] This move is consistent with the plan of
defending the a-pawn, the problem is the plan is too passive!} Bc5 {Obviously
the bishop is fantastic on this diagonal and White should have taken it for
himself earlier.} 24. Kf1 (24. g3 {is a move but it doesn't change much.}) (24.
Nf1 $5 {[%cal Ya1d1,Ya2a1] may be best, at least giving White a chance to
partially correct his mistake with a later Rd1.}) 24... Re7 $1 {Aronian
continues to play exceptionally, now ensuring his rook owns the d-file.} 25.
Ke2 {From here White has to be a bit careful about a knight reaching d4, so
perhaps it's best (albeit still unpleasant) to play} (25. g3 $15 {and then
shuffle, hoping Black can't break through.}) 25... Rd7 26. Nf1 (26. f3 Kf7 27.
Nf1 Ke6 28. Nfe3 Bxe3 29. Nxe3 {is the same position as after 29...Ke6 in the
game...except it is Black to move, rather than White!}) 26... Bd4 {Black wants
to get his knight to d4, but I don't think this was the most precise; rather,}
(26... Nd6 $1 27. Nfd2 Rb7 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Yd6b5,Yb5c3] with the idea of ...
Nb5-c3 was the way to secure a clear advantage. If White tries} 28. Nxd6 cxd6
$1 29. Nc4 d5 30. exd5 Rxd5 $17 {[%csl Ra5,Rc2][%cal Yf6f5,Ye5e4] his problems
only increase as now c2 is also a weakness, and it is much easier for Black to
advance his kingside pawns.}) 27. Nfe3 ({White could also start with moves
such as} 27. f3 {, although I think he'll need to play Nfe3 at some point in
any case.}) 27... Bxe3 $1 {A very shrewd positional decision - White is now
stuck with his poor bishop on b2, and Black will find it easier to win the
a5-pawn at some point with one of White's knights exchanged.} (27... Kf7 28.
Rd1 $1 {meanwhile gives White ideas of Nf5 or even Nd5 at some point. Yes,
Black can take on a5 - that would give White the activity he desires!}) 28.
Nxe3 Kf7 {Aronian continues to incrementally improve his position - his king
will go to e6 and then White has to calculate the consequences of ...g6
followed by ...f5.} (28... Nbxa5 $2 {only serves to immobilise Black's pieces 
(at some point the a5-knight will have to move, and then a6 falls).}) (28...
Nd4+ $5 {is suggested by the machine, but the endgame after} 29. Ke1 Nd6 30. f3
f5 31. Bxd4 exd4 32. Nxf5 Nxf5 33. exf5 Rxf5 34. Kd2 $15 {[%cal Yd2d3,Ya1e1]
would be far from easy for Black to make significant progress in.}) 29. f3 Ke6
30. g4 $6 {[%csl Rf4] Nakamura's natural inclination is to defend as
aggressively as possible and this element of his style shows here, but
unfortunately the weakness of the f4 square is a much bigger issue than the ...
f5 break.} ({White can't just sit and wait as} 30. Ke1 $6 g6 31. Ke2 $2 f5 {
is already much better for Black.}) ({However, inserting} 30. h4 $1 {(to meet .
..g6 with h5)} h5 {is in White's favour, and now} 31. g3 g6 32. Re1 $1 f5 (
32... Rxa5 $6 33. Rxa5 Nbxa5 34. Ra1 $11) 33. exf5+ gxf5 34. Raa1 $1 $15 {
[%cal Ye3c4,Ye2f2,Ye1e2,Ya1e1] should enable White to defend, though Black is
of course better in various ways.}) 30... Nc5 {White has enough weaknesses
here that Black does not need to take urgent measures.} 31. Nc4 {It is easier
to criticise this move than offer a convincing improvement; maybe White had to
pass?} (31. Rb1 {is Komodo's suggestion, but I really do not understand the
idea.}) 31... Ke7 {Black continues with his plan, but it was stronger to play}
(31... h5 $1 32. gxh5 Rb8 33. Kf2 Rh8 34. Rh1 Rxh5 $17 {[%csl Ra5,Rc2,Rf3,Rh2]
[%cal Yd7d8,Yd8h8,Yc5e6,Ye6f4] when the h2-pawn can be added to White's
collection of weak pawns.}) 32. Bc1 (32. h4 $5 {[%cal Yh4h5,Gg4g5] deserves
attention, trying to lock up the kingside with h5 at some point, or create
counterplay with Bc1 and g5.}) 32... Ne6 33. Be3 $15 {Now White has managed to
coordinate his minor pieces to good squares, and thus has decreased his
disadvantage.} Ncd4+ 34. Kf2 Ng5 {This is probably the best try as White is
keeping all his weaknesses well defended otherwise.} 35. Bxg5 {While not
objectively a mistake, this makes it easier for Black to attack White's
kingside pawns, and so I think it's simpler to play} (35. Bxd4 Rxd4 36. h4 Ne6
37. Rh1 {when Black can play} Nf4 {but I don't see a breakthrough after} 38.
Raa1 {[%csl Yd1,Yd2,Yd3] .}) 35... fxg5 {At least now White must be slightly
careful about the f3-pawn.} 36. Rd1 $6 {The rook ends up a bit awkward on d3,
so I would recommend} (36. Kg2 {, to meet} Ke6 {with} 37. Rf1 {, when the key
difference is that after} Rb8 38. Rf2 {[%csl Yc2][%cal Ya2a1,Ya1d1,Yd1d3,Yd1f1]
the other rook is free to come to f1 or d3 to defend the f3-pawn. Black is
still better after} Nb5 39. Ra1 Nc3 40. Rh1 $11 {but White has h4 coming and I
don't see a way through for Black.}) 36... Ke6 37. Rd3 Rf7 (37... g6 {[%cal
Yh6h5,Yh5g4] followed by ...h5 is probably more accurate, to have the option
of opening another front and thereby stretch White's defences. However
Aronian's choice to go right after f3 soon prompted a mistake from White.}) 38.
Ra1 $1 Rb8 $1 (38... Nxc2 39. Rad1 $11 {[%csl Rc2][%cal Yd3d8] is fine for
White, who either gets his rook active with Ra8 or reestablishes material
equality with} Nd4 40. Nxe5) 39. Rad1 $2 {Nakamura miscalculates in time
pressure and makes a decisive mistake.} (39. Rf1 $1 {holds the position
together, as after} Nxc2 {White saves himself with} 40. Rc1 Nd4 41. Nxe5 $1
Nxb3 (41... Kxe5 42. Rc5+) 42. Rc6+ $1 (42. Rxb3 Kxe5 43. Rc4 $11 {is also
drawing, for those wanting a bit less drama.}) 42... Kxe5 43. Rd5+ Kf4 44. e5 {
[%cal Yc6c4]} Nd2 45. e6 $1 Rf6 46. Rxd2 Ke5 {and the crazy line ends in
equality.}) 39... Rbf8 {Now there is no defence.} 40. Nxe5 (40. Nd2 Nxc2 41.
Rc1 Nd4 {leaves White without any of the resources we saw before; if} 42. Rc5
Rb8 43. Nc4 Rb5 {is solid, though even here} 44. Rxe5+ $1 Rxe5 45. Rxd4 Rc5 46.
Rd8 $17 {[%csl Yc4] will make Black work for his win.}) 40... Kxe5 41. Rxd4
Rxf3+ 42. Ke2 Rf2+ 43. Ke1 Rf1+ {Black throws in a few checks so his other
rook can reach a more advanced square with gain of time.} 44. Ke2 R8f2+ 45. Ke3
Rf3+ 46. Ke2 R1f2+ 47. Ke1 Rxh2 {White is dead lost, and} (47... Rxc2 {was
equally strong.}) 48. Rd5+ Kf4 {Avoiding the last trick.} (48... Kxe4 $4 49.
R1d4+ Ke3 50. Rd3+ {is a draw as ...Kf4 would even lose the rook to Rf5.}) 49.
R1d4 Kxg4 50. Rc5 Rg3 51. Kf1 Rc3 {White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Illingworth,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[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 0:00:10]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:04]}
8. a4 $5 {[%emt 0:01:49] Until recently it was thought that 8.c3 was the only
serious move, but this has been played by Wei Yi recently as well as Dominguez,
so it's time the move received some attention. We could compare this with the
6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 variation, except that in some cases (such as the game)
White can play d4 in one go. Previously Dominguez had generally gone for the
main line or d3-systems against Svidler.} b4 {[%emt 0:03:33] This has been
Black's main move in recent games, although White can then try to transpose
back to an Anti-Marshall system.} (8... Na5 $6 9. axb5 Nxb3 10. cxb3 {clearly
doesn't give Black enough for the pawn.}) (8... Bb7 $6 {is a mistake before
White has played h3, and after} 9. c3 O-O 10. d4 $14 {White is effectively a
tempo up on the Zaitsev as a4 is far more useful than h3.}) (8... Bg4 $6 {
misplaces the bishop before White has played d4, and after} 9. c3 O-O 10. h3
Bxf3 (10... Bh5 $6 11. d3 Na5 12. Ba2 $1 c5 13. Na3 $1 b4 14. Nc4 Nxc4 15. Bxc4
bxc3 16. bxc3 Qa5 17. g4 $1 Bg6 18. Qc2 $36 {leaves the bishop badly misplaced
on g6.}) 11. Qxf3 Na5 12. Bc2 ({Not} 12. Ba2 b4 $1 13. cxb4 $6 Nc6 $11) 12...
c5 13. d3 b4 14. Nd2 {Black sorely misses his light-squared bishops. For
example:} Nd7 (14... Rb8 15. Nf1 bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd7 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bd2 Nb3 19.
Bxb3 Rxb3 20. Rab1 $1 $14 Qxa4 21. Nc4 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 $36) 15. Nf1 Bg5 16. Ne3
Rb8 17. Qg4 Bxe3 18. Bxe3 Nf6 19. Qf3 $14) (8... Bd7 9. c3 O-O {(this position
can also arise via. 8.c3 0-0 9.a4 Bd7)} 10. d4 (10. d3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2
{would transpose to a major line of the 6.d3 Ruy Lopez, nowadays considered
absolutely fine for Black.}) 10... h6 (10... Re8 $2 11. axb5 axb5 12. Bxf7+ $1
Kxf7 13. Qb3+ Kg6 (13... Kf8 $6 14. Ng5) 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Nh4+ Kh5 16. Qf7+ $1
g6 17. Nf5 $18 {gives White a winning attack.}) 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nf1 Bf8 13.
Bc2 (13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. d5 c4 16. h3 Qc7 17. Nh4 $5 $146 g6 18. Be3 Bg7
19. Ra3 Nb7 20. Qd2 h5 {leads to a very complex Breyer-style position, with
chances for both sides.}) 13... exd4 14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 bxa4 16.
Ng3 c5 $11 {is fine for Black.}) 14... b4 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. Ng3 {1-0 (40) Palac,
M (2573)-Beliavsky,A (2654) Bled 2000} Ne5 $1 (16... d5 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. e5
Nd7 19. f4 $14 {is better for White because of his strong majority, which can
easily translate to a big attack on the king after a later f5.}) 17. cxb4 d5
18. exd5 Bxb4 19. h3 Nxd5 $11 {and Black has good activity in this position,
which is likely to liquidate further.}) 9. d4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (9. d3 O-O {
transposes to the 8.a4 b4 9.d3 Anti-Marshall.}) 9... O-O {[%emt 0:25:24] Black
accepts the transposition to the 8.a4 b4 9.d4 d6 Anti-Marshall.} (9... Bg4 {
is an independent option, but I'm not a huge fan of it:} 10. dxe5 Nxe5 (10...
dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. h3 Bxf3 $6 14. Nxf3 Bc5 15. Bc4 $1 a5 16.
c3 Rd6 17. Bb5 Rfd8 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 $16 {1-0 (39) Wei,Y (2706)-Gonzalez
Vidal,Y (2557) Tsaghkadzor 2015  showed why Black shouldn't put the bishop on
g4 for this endgame.}) 11. Nbd2 Qc8 (11... O-O 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 $1 Bg6 14.
Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qf3 Bc5 16. Nc4 $14 {is slightly better for White because the
g6-bishop is so misplaced in this structure and} Qe7 $6 17. Bg5 $1 {would only
make things worse.}) 12. h3 Bh5 {Now we see the point of ...Qc8 - g4 runs into
Nexg4.} 13. Re3 $5 O-O 14. Qe1 Nfd7 (14... Nxf3+ 15. Nxf3 Qb7 16. Nh4 $1 $14 {
is slightly better for White as Nf5 is not easy to deal with.}) 15. Nxe5 dxe5
16. Nc4 {1/2-1/2 (48) Stojanovic,D (2504)-Blagojevic,D (2495) Belgrade 2014 
and again the offside Black light-squared bishop gave White some chances.}) 10.
dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:07] This move
has taken over from the old} (11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Nbd2 {which you can find
analysed in e.g. 1-0 (70) Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013
CBM 157 [Stohl,I]}) 11... Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:32] Svidler has defended this
position on multiple occasions as Black.} 12. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:09] This is
certainly a very natural move.} (12. h3 {is examined in ½-½ (35) Topalov,V 
(2785)-Aronian,L (2830) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160 [Postny,E]}) (12. a5 {
is the most common move and you can find it annotated in e.g. 1/2-1/2 (27)
Karjakin,S (2767)-Svidler,P (2732) Baku 2014 CBM 163 [Postny,E]}) 12... Qe7 {
[%emt 0:01:21]} (12... Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. c3 (14. a5 $1 Nd4 15. Qc4 Nxb3 16.
Nxb3 Bd6 17. Nh4 $1 $14) 14... Na5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Bc2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nd5 $5 {
1/2-1/2 (65) Grischuk,A (2779)-Caruana,F (2774) Thessaloniki 2013 was quite
playable for Black, but it is pretty obvious that Dominguez had some deviation
ready.}) (12... h6 $5 {might deserve further testing, just waiting for White
to commit himself.}) 13. a5 {[%emt 0:01:55]} (13. Nc4 {was analysed in 1/2-1/2
(41) Grischuk,A (2764)-Svidler,P (2747) London 2013 CBM 154 [Szabo,Kr]}) 13...
h6 {[%emt 0:02:26] I don't see anything wrong with this move, although it's
not needed right away.} (13... Rd8 {could be countered with} 14. Bc4 (14. h3
Be6 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. Nb3 Nd4 $1 $11) 14... Nd4 (14... Bg4 15. Qf1 Bxf3 16.
Nxf3 Nd4 17. Be3 $5 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 {gives White some minor
chances based on having the superior minor piece and Black's queenside pawn
weaknesses.}) 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Nb3 {1/2-1/2 (24) Ivanovic,B (2485)-Spassky,B 
(2625) Bugojno 1982} Bg4 17. Qf1 Be6 18. Nxd4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rxd4 20. Qc6 $1 Qe8
21. Qxe8+ Nxe8 22. b3 $11 {is really an equal endgame, though only White can
be better.}) 14. h3 {[%emt 0:01:42]} (14. Bd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4
17. Nb3 Qd6 18. Nxd4 exd4 $11 {is pretty dead equal.}) 14... Rd8 {[%emt 0:04:
56]} (14... Be6 15. Bc4 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Nb3 {1-0 (41) Caruana,F (2791)
-Tomashevsky,E (2695) Dubai 2014} Qd6 18. Nxd4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qxd4 20. Qb3 $1
Nxe4 21. Be3 Qd6 22. Qc4 Qg6 23. Rad1 $14 {with some initiative is typically
the sort of edge White is aiming for in this line.}) 15. Bc4 {[%emt 0:04:46]}
Nd4 {[%emt 0:07:48]} (15... Rd6 $5 16. Nb3 Ba7 {may be more precise, keeping
the position as is, although after} 17. Bd2 {White retains mild pressure.}) 16.
Nxd4 {[%emt 0:01:50]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} (16... Rxd4 17. Bd3 Rd6 $5 18. Nc4
Rd8 19. Be3 {is a little better for White as Black's pawns are quite
vulnerable, though Black should be able to defend after e.g.} Bb7 20. Bxc5 Qxc5
) 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:10:46]} c5 $6 {[%emt 0:12:05] I think this ambitious move
is the cause of Black's subsequent problems.} (17... Ba7 {is best, but once
again after} 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Be6 20. Qe2 $5 {White has a small but
stable advantage because of the queenside weaknesses.} (20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Qc5
Rab8 $1 {holds together for Black.})) 18. Nxd4 $1 {[%emt 0:27:01] A very smart
decision - the bishop pair will prove a very handy asset in the resulting
position.} (18. Nd2 Bb7 $11) 18... cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:53]} 19. Bd2 $14 {[%emt 0:
00:29] Black has clear problems here as the queenside pawns are weak and White
will later develop play on the kingside with a prepared f4.} Qc5 {[%emt 0:11:
57]} (19... Bb7 {might be a trickier defence.} 20. f3 (20. Bd3 Bc6 $1 21. Bxa6
Nxe4 22. Bd3 Nxd2 23. Qxd2 Qc5 24. a6 Re8 $132 {shouldn't be worse for Black
with such a centre.}) 20... Rdb8 {and Black wants to play ...Bc6-b5 again.
White is still better, but the position is not as clear-cut; probably} 21. Rf1
$5 Bc6 22. f4 $1 {is how White should prosecute his advantage.}) 20. b3 {
[%emt 0:08:43]} Be6 {[%emt 0:12:23] A good move, offering the a6-pawn as bait.}
21. Bd3 {[%emt 0:05:59]} (21. Bxa6 Ra7 $1 {will regain the pawn, and after} 22.
Bd3 Rxa5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24. f4 $14 {White is still better, but at least Black
has some counterplay.}) 21... Bd7 {[%emt 0:02:56] Black is angling to exchange
the light-squared bishop. Should he succeed, c2 will become weak and Black
will be totally fine, so White's reply is practically required.} 22. Bxa6 {
[%emt 0:12:04]} (22. Rf1 Re8 $1 {and only then ...Bb5 is fine.}) 22... Rdb8 {
[%emt 0:01:00]} 23. Bd3 {[%emt 0:10:10]} ({White must avoid} 23. Ra2 $4 Rxa6
24. Qxa6 Bb5 $19) 23... Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 24. Qf3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:12] White
initiates kingside threats with Bxh6 the immediate idea, but Qg3 and f4 are
also on the cards.} (24. Rxa5 Qxa5 25. f4 {is tempting, but after} Bb5 $1 26.
fxe5 Bxd3 27. cxd3 Qxe5 {Black's position proves fairly robust, though} 28. Rc1
$1 {might still keep an edge.}) 24... Rb6 $5 {[%emt 0:01:08]} (24... Kh7 {
was Svidler's post-game suggestion, but} 25. Rxa5 Qxa5 26. Qg3 Be8 $5 27. f4
Nd7 28. Bc4 $36 {is also in White's favour.}) (24... Ra3 25. Bxh6 Bb5 {might
be playable, but you probably have to be a machine to play like this...and
even then, after} 26. Qg3 Ne8 27. Rab1 $14 {Black is well short of full
compensation.}) 25. Qg3 $1 {[%emt 0:02:44] A very natural move and practically
speaking the strongest one as Black's best defence is far from obvious.} (25.
Rec1 {gives Black fairly easy moves in} Ra3 26. Rxa3 bxa3 27. Ra1 Be6 28. Qg3
Kh7 $11) 25... Nh5 $2 {[%emt 0:07:22] After this loss of time White takes
control of the game. I doubt Black really wanted to go for this, but he
probably couldn't prove the alternatives were better.} (25... Bc8 $1 $11 {
is the best move, clearing the way for ...Nd7-f8 to defend the king. Of course,
} 26. Bxh6 {fails to} Nh5 27. Qg5 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Rxh6 {and now the bishop is
safe on c8 (from d7, it would be lost to Qd8).}) 26. Qh4 {[%emt 0:01:36]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 27. f4 $1 {[%emt 0:01:58]} (27. Rxa5 Qxa5 {can be inserted
first before playing} 28. f4 {, but I prefer White's move order.}) 27... Rxa1 {
[%emt 0:01:35]} 28. Rxa1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 29. fxe5 {
[%emt 0:02:05]} Qxe5 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 30. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:56] Once White gets
in e5, the position becomes extremely hard to defend as Black lacks piece
coordination.} Qe8 {[%emt 0:04:00]} (30... Qe6 {fails to} 31. Bc7 Rb7 32. Ra8+
Ne8 33. Bc4 Qd7 34. Bg3 $18 {and White simply has too many threats.}) 31. e5 {
[%emt 0:08:17]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 32. Bg3 {[%emt 0:07:43] Good enough to
keep a winning advantage (Black can't defend his weak pawns), but} (32. Bxh6 $1
gxh6 33. Qxh6 Bb7 34. Bh7+ Kh8 35. Bg6+ Kg8 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Rf1 Rxg6 38. Qxg6
{was the flashy way.} Qe7 39. e6 f6 40. Qh6+ Ke8 41. Qh8+ Qf8 42. Qh7 $18)
32... Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 33. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Bxd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 34.
cxd3 {[%emt 0:00:35] White is up a pawn with the better minor piece and safer
king, so it's not surprising that the game was over soon.} Qc6 {[%emt 0:01:57]}
(34... Rb5 35. Qc4 {doesn't change much.}) 35. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:07]} Rb5 {
[%emt 0:00:58]} 36. Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:26]} h5 {[%emt 0:01:50]} 37. Qe4 {[%emt 0:
00:23]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 38. e6 {[%emt 0:00:21] Black resigned as he runs
into all sorts of havoc on the last two ranks.} 1-0

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Stillwater"]
[Date "2007.05.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2556"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Kaidanov,G"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
Bb7 9. a4 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ne3 Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Bd2 (14. Nh4 {
Brought a win for White, though Black was fine at some point.} d5 15. exd5 Nxd5
16. Qh5 c4 17. dxc4 Nf4 18. Qg4 h5 19. Qg3 bxc4 20. Nf3 h4 {Maybe interesting,
but unnecessary.} (20... e4 $5 $132) 21. Qxh4 Bxf3 22. Qxd8 Rexd8 23. gxf3 Rac8
24. Ng2 Nh3+ 25. Kf1 c3 26. bxc3 Rxc3 27. Ne3 Nc6 28. Rb1 Rd7 29. Rb3 Rxb3 30.
Bxb3 $16 {1-0 Stefansson,H (2566)-Adams,M (2745)/Bled 2002/EXT 2003 (50)})
14... b4 $1 (14... Nc6 15. c3 Qc7 16. Nh4 Nd8 17. Ng4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Emms,J 
(2520)-Howell,D (2323)/London 2003/CBM 097 (46)}) 15. h3 (15. Nc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4
d5 17. exd5 Qd6) 15... Rc8 {Now it's hard to find another useful move for
White.} 16. Nc4 $6 ({Still, something like} 16. Qe2 {would be better.}) 16...
Nxc4 17. Bxc4 d5 18. exd5 Qd6 $1 {Sergey missed this move, though it's kind of
typical for similar positions.} 19. Nh2 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 $15 {Black is
slightly better because of his space advantage. Bad bishop on f8 will enter
the game after either ...e4 or ...c4} 21. Nf1 e4 (21... Rcd8 22. Ne3 Qd4 $15 {
could be even better.}) 22. dxe4 Nxe4 23. Be3 Qe5 24. Qc1 c4 25. f3 Nf6 26. Bf2
Qc7 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Qd2 Qc6 $1 {Tying the rook to the a4 pawn.} 29. Ng3 Rc8 {
/\...c3} 30. c3 bxc3 31. bxc3 Nd7 $1 {/\ Nd7-e5-d3} 32. Qe2 Nb6 $1 33. Qe4 Nd5
34. Qd4 Be7 $6 (34... Re8 $142 $15) 35. Nh5 Nf6 36. Qe5 $6 (36. Re1 $142 $11)
36... Nxh5 37. Qxe7 Nf4 38. Qe5 Nd3 39. Qd4 Qe8 $15 40. Ra2 $4 {Since White
had to defend slightly worse position for quite a while, he was falling behind
on the clock. Here, with 3 min +30 sec/move for the rest of the game, he
commits a blunder.} Nc1 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Karjakin,S"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[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 "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 {A fresh idea which became popular 3 years ago. It looks like
after 8.h3 White has decided to play positional chess, but Black is forcing
White to take a pawn:-).} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Bd2 c5 {The main move
is considered to be 12...Re8. The text move was firstly played in
Jakovenko-Aronian 2007.} 13. Nc3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Nb4 15. Ne4 f5 16. Ng3 Qd5 17.
Nf3 Qd7 {My opponent played very quickly, but I was not sure about the nuances
of the position and decided to repeat moves in case of possible time-trouble.}
18. Ne5 Qd5 19. Nf3 Qd7 20. Bxb4 $1 cxb4 21. d4 Rac8 22. Qd3 {In my view this
is the most precise reaction! Here my opponent started to think and caught up
with me on time. The computer thinks it is about equal, but in my opinion,
Black has to prove the compensation for the pawn!} Bd6 $2 {A mistake, after
which the position is very bad!} ({It was better to keep the 2 bishops. After} 
22... g6 $1 23. c4 bxc3 (23... Bf6 {is worse:} 24. Ne5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 bxc4 26.
bxc4 Qc6 27. d5 Qxc4 28. Qd2 $36) 24. bxc3 Bf6 {Black keeps the two bishops
which assures him playable compensation, but it is far from full equality.}) ({
Black is also worse after} 22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Rxc2 24. Rxa6 $14) 23. Ne5 $16
Qc7 $6 {After this move Black is losing by force, but other moves are not much
better.} ({Probably at the beginning Alexander was hoping for} 23... Bxe5 24.
Rxe5 Qc6 (24... g6 25. Rae1 $16) 25. d5 Qxc2 {but overlooked the strong reply}
26. Qd4 $1 {with a big advantage for White!}) ({Also bad is} 23... Qe6 24. d5
Qe8 25. Re2 $16) 24. Nxf5 Bxe5 (24... Qxc2 $5 {does not save the game but was
perhaps a better option:} 25. Qxc2 Rxc2 26. Nxd6 Rfxf2 27. Nd3 $1 Rxg2+ 28. Kf1
h5 29. Rac1 Rcd2 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. Nf7 {And Black does not manage to create
counterplay, for example:} Rh2 32. Ke1 Bd5 33. Rh8+ Kg6 34. Nfe5+ Kg5 35. h4+
Kxh4 36. Nf4 g6 37. Nexg6+ Kg4 38. Rxh5 $18) 25. Rxe5 Qxc2 26. Ne7+ $1 {
It was completely the right decision to play for a mate!} (26. Qxc2 {was worse:
} Rxc2 27. Nd6 h6 $3 28. f3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Rxf3 30. Nf5 Rff2 31. Ne3 Rxb2 {
White retains a big advantage, but Black's resources are not finished yet.})
26... Kh8 27. Qg3 {Here it was not necessary to see all the lines. It was
enough to understand that White is dominating in the centre and aon the
kingside, and Black's bishop cannot help to defend... which assures White's
win!} Rcd8 ({Also lost is} 27... Qxb2 28. Rae1 Rc1 29. Kh2 Rxe1 30. Rf5 $3 Rc8
{If 30...Rg8, than 31.Ng6+, on all other moves on f8-a8 Qf4 is winning.} 31.
Rf7 Qxd4 32. Nxc8 $18) 28. Rae1 Qd2 {The only defence against Nf5.} 29. R1e3 $1
Qxb2 (29... Rf6 30. Nf5 ({Or} 30. d5 $18) 30... Rg8 31. Rc5 $1 {did not leave
Black any hope either.}) 30. Qh4 {Threating mate in 2.} Rd6 (30... Qc2 {
did not save the game either:} 31. Re2 Qd3 32. Rh5 $18) 31. Rf5 Ra8 32. Qf4
Rdd8 33. Rf7 {In view of the many threats Black resigned! Probably my best
game in the Olympiad!} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] Dramatisches Finale FIDE-Weltmeister Topalov musste einen
katastrophalen Start ausbьgeln und schlug in der vorletzten Runde den
enteilten Leko. Doch damit war der Bulgare letztlich nur der Steigbьgelhalter
fьr Levon Aronian, der den Ungarn in der Schlussrunde ebenfalls schlug und
sich so den alleinigen Turniersieg sicherte.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2
Qc8 12. Nc4 Rb8 13. Bg5 Kh8 $1 {Es ist bemerkenswert, dass Schwarz weder hier
noch einen Zug zuvor h6 spielt - wie sich zeigen wird, hat er ganz andere
Ideen.} 14. h3 Ng8 $1 {Aronian will f5 spielen, und auЯerdem soll der Springer
ьber e7 und g6 nach f4 gehen.} 15. c3 $6 ({Nach} 15. Be3 {(oder 15.Bd2) wдre
der Ng8 erstmal gestrandet.}) 15... bxc3 16. bxc3 f5 17. Ba4 $2 {Das ist ein
erstaunlicher Fehler Lekos.} ({Notwendig war} 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Be3 {und
Schwarz hat die angenehmere Stellung, aber nicht viel mehr.}) 17... fxe4 18.
Bxc6 ({Nach} 18. dxe4 Bxc4 19. Bxc6 Rxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxg5 {hдtte Schwarz zwei
Figuren fьr einen Turm gewonnen.}) 18... exf3 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. Bxf3 {Schwarz
ist nun hervorragend aufgestellt, die Tьrme stehen auf den halboffenen Linien,
der Lдufer zielt auf zwei Diagonalen ins gegnerische Lager und der Springer
kann auf seinem Weg nach f4 nicht gebremst werden. Kein Wunder, dass WeiЯ
schnell zusammenbricht.} Ng6 $1 21. Bg4 Nf4 22. Ra2 $6 {Es war nicht Lekos Tag.
..} (22. Ne3 Rb2 23. d4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 Qb7 {sollte aber letztlich das gleiche
Resultat ergeben.}) 22... Qb7 $1 {Дsthetisch macht das einen starken Eindruck:
die Dame zielt nach g2 und b3.} 23. Bf3 Qb3 {Materialverlust ist nicht mehr zu
vermeiden.} 24. Rc2 Nxd3 $1 25. Qxd3 Qxc4 26. Qxc4 Bxc4 27. Bc6 Rb3 28. g3 g5
29. Re3 Ra3 30. Be4 Rxa5 31. g4 Bd5 32. f3 Bxe4 33. fxe4 Ra1+ 34. Kg2 Rff1 35.
Ree2 Rg1+ 36. Kh2 Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Rag1+ 38. Rg2 Re1 39. Rgf2 Re3+ 40. Kg2 Rexh3
0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.01.21"]
[Round "7.5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Bereit zum Marshall-Angriff.} 8. h3 {Blatny: "Es ist eine 'moralische'
Genugtuung fьr jeden Marshall-Angriff-Anhдnger, wenn man sieht, dass selbst
der stдrkste Spieler auf der Erde lieber dieser Erцffnung ausweicht." Nun, das
hat er zu einer Partie von Kasparov gesagt, aber vielleicht kann es bald auch
fьr Ponomariov gelten?} (8. c3 d5 $5 {- Marshall}) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8
11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14. Nh2 {Es ist wohl keine gute Idee der
Vorgдngerpartie auszuweichen.} ({RR} 14. Nf5 Bf8 15. Nh2 d5 16. Qf3 Kh8 17. Bg5
h6 18. Bh4 $16 {1-0 Shirov,A-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63 (40)}) 14... d5
15. Qf3 g6 $1 {Damit wird der Sg3 kaltgestellt - die Schwдchung der schwarzen
Felder spielt dagegen keine Rolle.} 16. Ba2 Bf8 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 Bg7 19. Ng4
Nxg4 20. hxg4 {Das weiЯe Spiel macht keinen ьberzeugenden Eindruck.} Nc5 21.
Rad1 Rc8 22. Nf1 Ne6 23. Qg3 (23. Qh3 $5) 23... Kh7 24. Nh2 f6 25. Nf3 c5 26.
Qh2 $6 (26. Qh3) 26... Nd4 $1 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. c3 $6 ({Nach} 28. Rc1 {ist
WeiЯ noch im Geschдft.}) 28... dxc3 29. bxc3 dxe4 30. dxe4 Qe7 {Die weiЯen
Figuren sind unkoordiniert, Schwarz steht klar besser.} 31. a4 bxa4 32. Qh3 {
[%cal Gh3d7] WeiЯ droht jetzt 33.Lxh6! Lxh6 34.g5; wдre die Dame doch gleich
nach h3 gegangen.} Red8 {Schwarz hat keine Mьhe die Drohung abzuwehren.} (32...
Z0 33. Bxh6 Bxh6 34. g5 $18) 33. Qf3 Rc7 $1 34. Bc1 Rcd7 {Es ist nicht nur der
Mehrbauer: a4 ist schon recht weit vorn, e4 ist schwach, Schwarz hat die
d-Linie.} 35. Bb1 Qe6 {[%cal Re6b3]} 36. Rxd7 Rxd7 37. Bc2 Bc6 38. Rd1 Qa2 39.
Rxd7 Bxd7 40. Qd1 Bb5 (40... Bxg4 $5 {hat Ivanchuk sicher gesehen, und bei
knapper Zeit wegen} 41. Qxg4 Qxc2 42. Bxh6 $1 {verworfen; doch es geht weiter:}
f5 (42... Qxc3 43. Bxg7 Kxg7 44. Qd7+ Kh6 45. Qxa4 a5) 43. exf5 Qxf5 44. Qxf5
gxf5 45. Bc1 Bf8 {Schwarz sollte gewinnen.}) 41. Be3 Qc4 $19 42. Kh2 Bc6 43.
Qa1 Bf8 44. Bb1 a3 (44... Bxe4 {war sicher stark genug.}) 45. f3 Qb3 46. Qa2
Ba4 $1 {WeiЯ kann nun nicht mehr viel ziehen; allerdings ist es fьr Schwarz
technisch schwierig, irgendwann den Bc3 einzusammeln - WeiЯ hat dann meistens
einen Damenausfall. Am besten ist wohl der Ьbergang ins Endspiel.} 47. Kg3 Kg7
$2 {Wirft den Gewinn weg. Vermutlich ist hier schon das Endspiel gewonnen,
aber Ivanchuk kцnnte auch zunдchst ein paar nьtzliche Zьge machen.} (47... Be7
48. Kh3 Kg7 49. Kh2 a5 50. Bd2 Qxa2 51. Bxa2 Bc2 52. Kg1 a4 53. Bd5 Bb3 54. Bc1
a2 55. Bb2 Ba3 56. Ba1 Bc1 {Wдre der weiЯe Kцnig nдher dran, wьrde Schwarz mit
Kf8-e7-d6 gewinnen.} 57. Kf2 Bxd5 58. exd5 a3 $19) 48. Qd2 $1 g5 {Ivanchuk
verschmдht das Remis - wer will es ihm verdenken - und begibt sich in
Verlustgefahr.} (48... Qxb1 49. Bxh6+ Kg8 50. Qd5+ Kh8 51. Bxf8 Qe1+ 52. Kh2
Qh4+ $11) 49. Ba2 Qb7 50. Qd3 Be8 51. Qd5 Qxd5 (51... Qf7 52. c4 Z0 53. c5) 52.
exd5 {Objektiv sollte das Endspiel remis sein.} a5 53. c4 Bb4 54. c5 Kf8 55.
Kf2 Bb5 56. c6 Ke7 57. Ba7 Kd8 58. Bb6+ Kc8 $2 ({Nach} 58... Ke7 {sehe ich
nicht, wie WeiЯ Fortschritte machen will.} 59. Ke3 Ba4 60. Kd3 Bb5+ 61. Ke4 {
aber es gibt keinen Zugzwang.}) 59. Ke3 $18 a4 (59... Ba4 {war die einzige
Chance:} 60. Kd3 $1 (60. Bc4 Bd6 61. Bxa5 Bc2) 60... Bd6 (60... Bb5+ 61. Ke4
$18) 61. Bxa5 Bd1 62. Bc4 Ba4 63. Kc3 Bd1 64. Kd2 Ba4 65. Kc1 $18 {Zugzwang})
60. Ke4 Be2 61. Kf5 e4 62. Ke6 exf3 63. d6 Bxd6 64. Kxd6 {Wдhrend sich
Ponomariov das Remis in der 2. Partie mit einer starken Verteidigung verdient
hatte, ist nun dieser Punktgewinn дuЯerst glьcklich. Die fragwьrdige
Bedenkzeitregelung der FIDE verhinderte, dass Ivanchuk die Partie sauber nach
Hause fuhr. Schade auch fьr das Match, das nun wohl entschieden ist.} 1-0

[Event "St Petersburg-ch"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Yemelin, Vasily"]
[Black "Sivokho, Sergey V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[Annotator "Konikowski,J"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 056"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bd6 8. c3 (
8. a4 $5) 8... O-O (8... h6 $5) 9. Nbd2 (9. Bg5 Be7 10. a4 d6 11. Na3 b4 12.
Nc4 a5 13. Ne3 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 $10 {Abramovic-Michaltschischin,A/Postojna/
1991/}) 9... h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Bf8 12. Ne3 Na5 (12... g6 13. h3 Bg7 14.
Nh2 Na5 15. Bc2 d5 16. Qf3 c5 17. Nhg4 dxe4 18. dxe4 h5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Qxf6
Bxf6 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rad8 23. Be4 Bg7 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Nc4 $13 {
Hernandez Yadira-Fruteau/Santiago/1990/}) 13. Bc2 c5 14. h3 Qc7 15. Ng4 (15. b3
$5) (15. Nh2 d5 16. Nf5 dxe4 17. dxe4 Kh7 18. Qf3 Ng8 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh4 Bg7
21. Ne3 Nf6 $13 {Janocha-Czerwonski/Mikolajki/1991/}) 15... Nxg4 16. hxg4 d5 (
16... f6 $5) 17. g5 dxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. Qe2 hxg5 20. Nxg5 f6 21. Nf3 Bc8 22.
Nh4 Qf7 23. Nf5 g6 24. Ne3 Be6 25. a4 Nc4 26. Nd5 Nd6 (26... Bxd5 27. exd5 Rxd5
28. axb5 axb5 29. Be4 Rdd8 30. Bc6 Re7 31. Bxb5 Nd6 32. Rd1 $14) 27. f3 f5 28.
Rd1 fxe4 29. fxe4 Nxe4 30. Bxe4 Bxd5 31. Bg5 (31. axb5 Bc4 $1) 31... Bc4 32.
Qg4 Rxd1+ 33. Rxd1 Be6 (33... Qe6 $5 34. Qh4 Bg7 $15) 34. Qg3 c4 35. Be3 (35.
Qxe5 $4 Bf5 36. Bd5 Rxe5 37. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $19) 35... Bf5 36. Bd5 Be6 37. Be4 Bf5
$2 (37... bxa4 $5 38. Bxg6 Qg7 39. Bf2 Rb8 $132) 38. Bc6 Rc8 (38... Re7 39. Rd8
$16) 39. Bd5 Be6 40. Rf1 Qe8 41. Qxe5 Bxd5 42. Qxd5+ Kh8 (42... Kg7 43. Bd4+
Kh7 44. Rf7+ Kh6 45. Rf3 Qe1+ 46. Kh2 $18) 43. Rf3 Rc7 44. Rh3+ Rh7 45. Bd4+
Bg7 46. Bxg7+ (46. Bxg7+ Kxg7 47. Qb7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 10th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2018.12.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2018.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Qb8 {A new plan.} (12... Rb8 {
[%cal Yb8b5] was played in a number of games. However, Magnus Carlsen
outplayed the same opponent in the following game:} 13. c3 Qe8 {Probably Black
should choose one of the other continuations:} (13... bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb5 15. Nc4
(15. Nf1 $6 Qd7 16. Bg5 Rxa5 17. Rxa5 Nxa5 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 h6 20. Bh4 Nc6
$15 {1/2 (60) Vachier Lagrave,M (2791)-Wojtaszek,R (2736) Dortmund 2017}) (15.
d4 {- 13...bxc3} exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 (16... Nxa5 17. d5 e5 18. Qc2 Nd7 19. Qc3
Rc5 20. Qd3 Qc8 21. Rb1 Rb5 22. Rxb5 axb5 23. Qxb5 Nb7 24. Nb3 $16 {1-0 (60)
Smith,A (2499)-Hammer,J (2689) Drancy 2016}) 17. Nb1 c5 18. Na3 {1-0 (60)
Sasikiran,K (2666)-Mikaelyan,A (2500) Yerevan 2018} Rxa5 19. dxc5 d5 $13) 15...
Nd7 (15... Qe8 $5) 16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 Nc5 18. exd5 exd5 19. Qc2 Kh8 20. d4 $14
{1-0 (39) Kulaots,K (2571)-Nyback,T (2575) Finland 2017}) (13... Rb5 14. c4 (
14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 {- 13...bxc3}) (14. Nc4 $5) 14... Rb8 15. Nb3 Qc8 16. Qe2
Nd7 17. d4 exd4 18. Nbxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Ne5 20. f4 c5 21. Nb3 Nc6 22. Be3 e5
$11 {1/2 (44) Adams,M (2761)-Wojtaszek,R (2745) Shamkir 2017}) (13... d5 $5 14.
Qe2 (14. exd5 exd5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 {needs checking}) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3
Rb5 16. exd5 exd5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Bd6 $44 {1/2 (79) Robson,R (2676)
-Sasikiran,K (2671) Saint Louis 2018}) (13... Nd7 14. Nb3 (14. d4 $5) 14... d5
15. Be3 bxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 $6 (16... Bd6 $1 17. Rb1 h6 18. Qc2 Qe7 19. h3 $14 {
M.Roiz}) 17. dxe4 Rb5 $6 18. Qe2 $1 Qb8 19. Qc4 $16 {1-0 (64) Svidler,P (2751)
-Onischuk,A (2682) Tbilisi 2017 CBM 181 [Roiz,M]}) 14. Nc4 Qg6 15. h3 Nd7 (
15... Nh5 $5 {Kr.Szabo}) 16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nc5 19. Bxc5 $1 Bxc5
20. Qa4 $1 Rb2 21. Rf1 $1 $14 {1-0 (52) Carlsen,M (2822)-Aronian,L (2809)
Saint Louis 2017 CBM 180 [Szabo,Kr]}) (12... Qe8 13. c3 Rb8 {- see 12...Rb8}) (
12... d5 $5 13. c3 Bc5 14. Nb3 Ba7 15. Be3 bxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Qxd1 18.
Raxd1 Rab8 $11 {1/2 (46) Howell,D (2696)-Adams,M (2703) London 2018}) {Levon
Aronian moves his queen in a different direction.} 13. Nb3 {Of course, White
has a lot of other options like} (13. c3 {[%cal Yd3d4]}) ({or} 13. Nc4) 13...
Nd8 (13... Qb5 $5 {looks more logical.}) 14. d4 (14. c3 $5 {was probably more
solid.}) 14... exd4 15. Qxd4 c5 16. Qc4 Nd7 17. Be3 Bf6 18. Ra2 Re8 19. Nbd2
Nf7 {Black has successfully rearranged his pieces and obtained a good position.
} 20. Qb3 (20. Bf4 $142 $11) 20... Qb5 21. Rd1 Nde5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 $15 23. Qa4 (
23. h3 $5 Qe2 24. Raa1 $15) 23... Qxa4 24. Rxa4 Rac8 25. h3 g5 26. c3 d5 {
Black gradually outplays his opponent. His pieces are centralized, and his
central pawns are powerful.} 27. exd5 exd5 28. cxb4 Nd3 29. Bxc5 Nxb2 30. Raa1
Nxd1 31. Rxd1 Bc3 $6 {Probably too early. It was better to gradually improve
Black's position:} (31... h5) (31... Kf7) (31... Rcd8) 32. Nf3 d4 $6 (32... h6
$5 33. Rd3 (33. Rxd5 $143 $6 Rcd8) 33... Bf6 34. Rxd5 $140 Red8 {Even with two
pawns for the exchange White is worse as the position is open, and Black's
rook is very strong.}) 33. Nxg5 $6 (33. Rd3 $142 $1 Rb8 34. Bxd4 Bxb4 35. Bb6 {
with good drawing chances.}) 33... Rb8 $2 {Black misses his last chance:} (
33... Re1+ 34. Rxe1 Bxe1 35. Kf1 (35. Bxd4 $2 Bxb4 36. Bb6 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Ra1) (
35. Nf3 $2 d3) 35... Bc3 36. Ke2 Rb8 {[%cal Rc3b4] - see annotation to move 32.
..d4}) 34. Nf3 Bxb4 35. Bb6 Re4 36. Nxd4 Re1+ 37. Rxe1 Bxe1 38. Ne6 Re8 39. Nc5
Rc8 40. Nxa6 {After the fall of this pawn White is out of danger.} Bxa5 41.
Bxa5 Ra8 42. Bd2 Rxa6 {White even tries to play this position for a win but it
is an easy draw, of course.} 43. g4 Kf7 44. Kg2 Kg6 45. Be3 h5 46. f4 hxg4 47.
hxg4 Rf6 48. Kf3 Rf7 49. Bc5 Rf6 50. Bb4 Rf7 51. Ke4 Rb7 52. Bc5 Rb3 53. Be3
Rb4+ 54. Ke5 Kf7 55. Kf5 Rb5+ 56. Ke4 Kf6 57. Bd2 Rc5 58. Be1 Rc4+ 59. Kf3 Rc5
60. Bh4+ Kg6 61. Be7 Ra5 62. Kg3 Kf7 63. Bd6 Kg6 64. Kh4 Ra1 65. Bc5 Rd1 66.
f5+ Kf6 67. Be3 Rh1+ 68. Kg3 Rb1 69. Bc5 Rb5 70. Bd4+ Kg5 71. Be3+ Kf6 72. Bd4+
Kg5 73. Be3+ Kf6 74. Bd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elista FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2008.12.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2008.12.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Mit dieser Zugfolge hat Schwarz seine Bereitschaft angedeutet, den
Marschall-Angriff zu spielen. WeiЯ hat unterschiedliche Reaktionsmцglichkeiten.
Die Partiefortsetzung ist die ruhigste von allen.} 8. h3 (8. c3 {ist die
Hauptfortsetzung, die Marschall zulдsst.} d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11.
Rxe5 c6 {Es entsteht eine der umstrittensten und am hдufigsten gespielten
Stellungen der Spanischen Partie.}) ({Eine andere Spielmцglichkeit ist} 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 {und wieder entsteht eine fьr beide Seiten gut spielbare Stellung
mit zahlreichen Mцglichkeiten.}) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d5 $5 (9... d6 {gilt als
Hauptzug} 10. a3 {um den Lдufer gegen den Abtausch nach Na5 zu sichern.} Na5
11. Ba2 c5 $132 {Es ist natьrlich Geschmackssache, aber wenn man sich die
Stellung anschaut, dann kann man wohl wirklich kaum von weiЯem Vorteil
sprechen.}) 10. exd5 ({Nichts bringt} 10. Nc3 dxe4 11. dxe4 (11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12.
dxe4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Na5 $11) 11... Nd4 $1 12. Nxe5 Nxb3 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. axb3
b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Rxd5 $11) 10... Nxd5 11. a4 $5 $146 {Dieser Zug wurde
in der Turnierpraxis noch nicht gespielt. WeiЯ konzentriert sich nicht auf der
Eroberung des Materials, sondern will seine Entwicklung vollenden und sich
danach den schwarzen Schwдchen widmen.} (11. Nxe5 Nd4 {Die entstandene
Stellung дhnelt dem Marschall-Angriff - Schwarz opfert den Bauern, bekommt
dafьr ein sehr reiches Spiel. Wie man in den Beispielen sieht, kompensiert das
Lдuferpaar den Minusbauern auf Dauer.} 12. c3 (12. Bd2 Re8 13. Nc3 Nxb3 14.
axb3 Bd6 15. d4 Nb4 16. Ne4 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Rxe5 18. Bxb4 Rxe4 $11 {Jakovenko -
Grischuk (Elista, 2008)}) (12. Nd2 c5 13. c3 Nxb3 14. Nxb3 Re8 15. a4 Nf6 16.
Bg5 Bf8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Nd2 h6 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Nef3 Rd8 $44 {
Gashimov - Sargissian (Dresden, 2008). Das Lдuferpaar und der schwache Bauer
d3 garantieren Schwarz ein ausreichendes Gegenspiel.}) (12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Ne4
Nxb3 14. axb3 f5 15. Nd2 Bf6 $44 {Timofeev - Jakovenko (Moscow, 2008)}) 12...
Nxb3 13. axb3 Re8 14. Nd2 Bd6 15. d4 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Nf4 $44 {Kanarek -
Gustafsson (Warsaw, 2008)}) 11... Nd4 {Das sieht am logischsten aus, ansonsten
ist nicht zu sehen, wie der e5-Bauer verteidigt werden kann.} (11... b4 12.
Nxe5 Nd4 13. Nd2 $14 {Das Feld c4 wurde geschwдcht!}) (11... Bf6 12. Nbd2 $14 {
mit der Idee Ne4.}) 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 (14... Qxa8 $4
15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Rxe7 $18) 15. Na3 Bb4 {Hier kommen schon die ersten Fragen.
Das Nehmen auf a3 in Verbindung mit dem Einzug des Springers auf c3 sieht
verlockend aus, doch bringt es Schwarz eher in Nachteil.} (15... Bxa3 16. bxa3
Nc3 17. Qg4 $1 Re8 (17... c5 18. Bg5 Qc8 19. Be7 Qxg4 20. hxg4 Re8 21. Re5 Bb7
22. f4 $16) 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Bh6 Qf8 20. Bg5 $16) ({Einen taktischen Trick
erlaubt} 15... Bc6 $2 16. Nxb5 $1 Bxb5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Rxe7 Re8 19. Qe1 Kf8
20. Rxe8+ Bxe8 21. Bf4 $16 {Schwarz wird es schwirieg haben, seine Bauern des
Damenflьgel zu verteidigen.}) 16. Re5 Bd6 17. Re1 ({Natьrlich nicht} 17. Rxd5
Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Bxa3 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. bxa3 Qf6 $19) 17... Bb4 18. Bd2 Bxd2 19.
Qxd2 Bc6 (19... c6 $5 20. Qe2 Bb7 21. Qe5 $1 $14 {WeiЯ schafft es rechtzeitig,
seine Initiative zu entwickeln, bevor Schwarz den Lдufer ins Spiel gebracht
hat.}) 20. Re5 {WeiЯ ist am Drьcker, muss allerdings sehr dynamisch agieren -
der Springer auf a3 wird im statischen Kampf keine gute Rolle spielen.} b4 (
20... Qd6 21. Qg5 h6 (21... Nf6 22. Nxb5 $18) (21... f6 22. Rxd5 $1 (22. Bxd5+
Bxd5 23. Rxd5 fxg5 24. Rxd6 cxd6 25. Nxb5 Rb8 26. Nxd4 Rxb2 $17) 22... Bxd5 23.
Qxd5+ Qxd5 24. Bxd5+ Kh8 25. Nxb5 $18) 22. Qg3 Qc5 (22... Qd7 23. Nxb5 $18) 23.
Nb1 $1 {Die einzige schlechte Figur kommt ins Spiel, und das mit Tempo - nach
Nd2-Ne4 hдngt die Dame.} Rd8 24. Nd2 $16) 21. Nb5 $1 (21. Nc4 Qf6 22. Qg5 Qxg5
23. Rxg5 Rd8 $11 {Der Springer steht schцn auf c4, macht aber nichts.}) 21...
Nf6 (21... Bxb5 22. Rxd5 Qb8 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qxb8 Rxb8 25. Rxd4 $18) 22. Qf4 (
22. Qxb4 $18 {gewann ebenfalls einen Bauern, mit guten Perspektiven auch den
zweiten zu gewinnen.}) 22... Bd5 (22... Nd7 23. Rf5 Bxb5 24. Rxb5 c5 25. Qd6
$18 {Es ist offensichtlich, dass Schwarz auseinanderfдllt.}) 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24.
Qxd4 c6 25. Na7 Qc7 26. Nxc6 $1 Qxc6 27. Rxd5 Qxc2 28. Qxb4 $18 {Die Stellung
ist absolut gewonnen. Es ist mir ein Rдtsel, wie ein Spieler solcher Klasse
wie Leko den Punkt nicht nach Hause gebracht hat.} h6 29. Rd7 (29. g3 $1 $18 {
Das ist vermutlich der Zug, den man als Allererstes macht - die Struktur
f2-g3-h4 gilt als die beste.}) 29... Qc6 30. Qd4 Re8 31. b4 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Re1
33. h4 Qc6 34. Qd6 Qc1 35. Qb8+ Kh7 36. Rxf7 $2 {Wohl ein Einsteller.
Vermutlich hat Leko 37...Qc6 ьbersehen.} Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Qc6 $1 {Das Problem ist,
dass es gegen ...Qg6+ keine Verteidigung gibt.} 38. Rf4 $2 {Nach dem Fehler im
36. Zug folgt noch einer.} ({Immer noch gewann} 38. Qf4 $1 Qg6+ 39. Kf3 Qxd3+
40. Qe3 Qxe3+ (40... Qd5+ 41. Qe4+ Qxe4+ 42. Kxe4 Rxh4+ 43. f4 Rh2 44. Kf3 $18)
41. Kxe3 Rxh4 42. Rf4 Rh1 43. Kd4 $18) 38... Qg6+ $1 (38... Rg1 39. Re4 (39. f3
$4 Qc2 40. Kg4 Qxg2+ 41. Kf5 Re1 $17) 39... Qg6+ 40. Rg4 Rxg2+ 41. Kxg2 Qxg4+
42. Qg3 Qxb4 $14 {WeiЯ hat immer noch gute Chancen, aber es ist nicht mehr so
einfach.}) 39. Rg4 Qxd3+ 40. f3 Qe3 $1 {Schwarz hat es geschafft, aus dem
nichts einen Angriff zusammen zu basteln. Es gibt keinen klaren Gewinnweg mehr,
so entschied sich Weiss fuer einen sicheren halben Punkt.} 41. Qd6 Qe1+ 42. Kf4
Qc1+ 43. Kg3 Qe1+ 44. Kf4 Qc1+ 45. Ke5 Qc3+ 46. Qd4 Qc7+ 47. Qd6 (47. Ke6 Qc8+
48. Kf7 Qc7+ $11) 47... Qc3+ 48. Qd4 Qc7+ 49. Qd6 Qc3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 4th"]
[Site "Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2017.04.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2017.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Welcome everyone! This is GM Aleksandr Lenderman presenting you round 2 game
of the day. I decided to choose the game between Magnus Carlsen and Levon
Aronian since not only was it arguably the top matchup of the day, but also
the game was quite an interesting fight.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 ({Aronian has always played exclusively the text move, spurning
the Open Ruy Lopez with} 5... Nxe4) ({as well as the Arkhangelsk or
Neo-Arkhangelsk with} 5... b5) ({and} 5... Bc5 {respectively.}) 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {8)a4 is a very common high level Anti-Marshall move, which
leads to quieter games and very much to Magnus Carlsen's liking. Magnus
decides not to test Levon Aronian in the Marshall Attack this game.} (8. c3 d5
{is of course the Marshall Attack, in which Aronian is considered arguably one
of the biggest experts.} 9. exd5 (9. d4 dxe4 10. Nxe5 Bb7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Bg5
Nd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nd2 f5 15. f3 e3 16. c4 $2 (16. f4 $1 {/\} Kh8 17. Qf3
$14) 16... Nf4 $1 17. cxb5+ Kh8 {[%cal Re3e2,Re7e3,Re3f2]} 18. Nc4 e2 19. Qd2
Qg5 20. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Bxb5 22. Qe3 $15 {/-/+,Carlsen,M (2835)-Kamsky,G 
(2732)/Wijk aan Zee/2012/}) 9... Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13.
Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Bxd3 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. Qf3
Rfe8 20. Nd2 Qf5 21. Qxf5 Bxf5 22. Bd4 f6 23. f3 b4 24. Ne4 Bc7 25. Kf2 bxc3
26. bxc3 Rb8 $44 {Carlsen,M (2548)-Anand,V (2785)/Leon rpd/2005/ A typical
Marshall endgame, the bishop pair makes converting the extra pawn almost
impossible.}) ({The immediate} 8. d4 {gives Black a wider choice:} Nxd4 (8...
d6 9. c3 Bg4 {-C91 This line is not considered too dangerous for Black.}) 9.
Nxd4 (9. Bxf7+ Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11. Qxd4 Bb7 $5 $44 12. c4 c5 13. Qd3 Qc7 14.
Nf3 bxc4 15. Qxc4+ d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Qe2 Bd6 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 20.
Kf1 Rad8 (20... Be5 $5) 21. g3 Nh5 22. Qxh5 Rxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 24. Ke2 Qg2+
25. Ke3 Qg3+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ {1/2, Kamsky,G (2717)-Leko,P (2756)/Jermuk/2009/})
9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 (11. Qxd4 Bb7 12. c4 c5 13. Qg4 d6 14. Nc3 (14. Bf4
{Short,N (2707)-Fressinet,L (2702)/Bastia rpd/2012/} bxc4 15. Bxc4 d5 $11)
14... dxe5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 {Gilabert Mallol,E (2440)-Kyhos,A (2352)/
corr/2010/} Nf6 17. Qf5 Qb6 $132) 11... dxc3 12. Nxc3 d6 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Nd5
Rc8 15. Bf4 Bxd5 $5 (15... dxe5 16. Nxe7+ (16. Bxe5 Bd6 17. Rad1 Bxe5 18. Rxe5
Bxd5 19. Rexd5 Nd6 20. Qf4 Qe7 21. Re5 Qf6 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23. Rc5 Rfd8 24. Rdc1
Re8 25. g3 Re2 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Rxb2 28. Rc6 Ne4 29. Rxa6 Nc5 $11 {
Henrichs,T (2483)-Gustafsson, J (2584)/GER-ch Bad Koenigshofen/2007/}) 16...
Qxe7 17. Bxe5 Nd6 18. Qc3 Qg5 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rac1 $5 (20. b3 Qg6 21. Qc6 Nf7
22. Bg3 e5 23. Rac1 Qf6 24. h3 Rfd8 {Leko,P (2756)-Aronian,L (2768)/Jermuk/
2009/}) 20... Nc4 21. Bg3 Rfe8 22. b3 Nb6 23. Qa5 Nd5 24. Rc6 e5 25. Rxa6 c6
26. h4 Qf6 27. a4 $14 {Sievilainen,T (2179)-Laine,E (2234)/corr/2010/}) 16.
Bxd5 dxe5 17. Rxe5 Bf6 18. Re2 Nd6 19. Rd1 Bg5 20. Be5 Bf6 21. Bf4 {1/2,
Becerra Rivero,J (2598)-Onischuk, A (2670)/Lubbock/2008/}) 8... b4 ({For} 8...
Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. d3 d6 11. Nbd2 {- see Carlsen-Topalov}) 9. d3 {A slight
surprise.} (9. d4 {is a much more popular move, and Magnus himself has also
played this move in the 2013 Sinquefield Cup against Aronian in that famous
game where Magnus would have taken clear first with a draw, but when he had a
somewhat better position without much risk, he declined a draw despite the
fact that it would clinch him clear first.}) 9... Bc5 (9... d6 {is also quite
a common move, and also has been played by Aronian quite frequently. However,
in his last game in the World Rapid against Yu Yangyi, he did play ...Bc5, so
most likely Magnus did expect ...Bc5 more.}) 10. c3 $146 {Amazingly this move
according to my database is already a novelty.} (10. Be3 {This was played by
Yu Yangyi.} Bxe3 11. Rxe3 d6 12. Nbd2 Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nc4 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Be6
$11 {Black has no problems here, and the game was drawn in a few moves in 1/2 
(29) Yu Yangyi (2729)-Aronian,L (2785) Doha QAT 2016}) (10. Nbd2 {has also
been tried a few times, including once by GM Wei Yi.}) 10... bxc3 {First small
think here by Aronian for about 5 minutes.} (10... d6 {is also possible, but
then Black has to count with the move d4.} 11. d4 Ba7 12. h3 {and maybe White
can hope for something with some central control.}) 11. bxc3 {And about a
10-minute think by Magnus here. So, he probably didn't expect bxc3 so much. Or
maybe more likely it's just a delayed transposition. Since bxc3 seems like the
only logical move.} (11. Nxc3 $2 {seems anti-positional, leaving Black with a
strong d4-square and leaving White with backward pawns b2 and d3, for no real
compensation.} d6 $15) 11... Rb8 12. Bg5 $5 {This is an ambitious move, which
allows Black to hunt the bishop down in return for weakening his king somewhat.
} (12. Nbd2 $11 {was of course an alternative.}) 12... h6 13. Bh4 g5 $1 {
Aronian is not the type to back down from principled continuations.} 14. Bg3 (
14. Nxg5 $2 {just did not work tactically for White:} hxg5 15. Bxg5 Rxb3 $1 {
This is the point, otherwise White can hope for some compensation.} 16. Qxb3
Bxf2+ 17. Kxf2 Ng4+ 18. Kg1 Qxg5 $19 {and Black is completely winning here.
Material is roughly equal, but Black's pieces are much better and he has a
strong attack.}) 14... Nh5 $1 {Usually the rule is: in for a penny, in for a
pound. Very energetic play by Aronian here, and he had to foresee some other
interesting possibilites from White as well here. What's also impressive is
that Aronian executed the sequence of ...g5 and ...Nh5 quite quickly, in less
than 10 minutes.} (14... d6 $6 {was probably not the best idea. Seems a bit
slow.} 15. Nbd2 g4 (15... Nh5 $2 16. Nxe5 $18) 16. Nh4 Nh5 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18.
exf5 Qg5 19. Ne4 Qxf5 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Bd5 Nxg3 22. hxg3 Ne7 23. Bc4 $16 {
would be very strong for White.}) 15. Nbd2 {Played after about 20 minutes of
thought and rightfully so. White certainly had interesting alternatives here
as well.} (15. Nxe5 $5 Nxg3 16. Nxc6 dxc6 17. hxg3 {Seems like it's just
winning for White, but ...} (17. d4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Bd6 19. Nd2 c5 $11 {is
probably roughly equal.}) 17... Rxb3 $1 18. Qxb3 Qxd3 {This strong exchange
sacrifice shatters White's centre, and suddenly here, Black has very strong
threats with his very active pieces, and White has to think about defending
now.} 19. Qd1 Qxg3 20. Qf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Rd8 $44 {and I'd probably prefer
Black here, since he has a 2 bishop advantage and a pawn as well as very
active pieces for the exchange.}) (15. Bd5 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Qf6 {might be
something similar to the game.}) 15... Nxg3 16. hxg3 Qf6 {A very sensible
option, activating the queen.} (16... g4 {was also a possible alternative with
complex play.} 17. Nh2 h5 18. Nxg4 hxg4 19. Qxg4+ Kh7 20. Qh5+ Kg7 21. Qg4+ $11
{was a possible line.}) 17. Nc4 (17. Bd5 $5 g4 18. d4 Ba7 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20.
dxe5 Qg5 (20... Qxf2+ $2 21. Kh2 Rb2 22. Qxg4+ Kh7 23. Re2 $16) (20... Bxf2+ $4
21. Kf1 $18) 21. Qe2 {would lead to complex play.}) 17... d6 18. Ne3 Be6 {
Aronian continues to play the most ambitious way.} (18... Bxe3 $11) 19. Bxe6 {
Played after about 25 minutes of thinking and I'm not sure if it's the best
move since now Magnus helps Levon activate his rook on f8.} (19. Nd5 {was
probably more sensible.} Bxd5 20. Bxd5 (20. exd5 $5) 20... Ne7 21. Bc4 g4 {
wasn't so scary because of...} 22. d4 Ba7 23. Nh4 exd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4 25. Qxg4+
Qg5 26. Qxg5+ hxg5 27. Rad1 Bc3 28. Re3 {with a roughly equal game.}) (19. Nd2
Na5 {might be slightly unpleasant for white.}) 19... fxe6 20. Qc2 (20. g4 $5
Qf4 21. Qc2 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Qxg4 23. Qa2 $44 {is surprising compensation for
White since he activates his queen and can soon control the centre, whilst
Black's king is slightly weakened.}) 20... h5 21. Rab1 Rxb1 (21... Rbe8 {
perhaps keeping the rooks also deserved attention.}) 22. Rxb1 h4 {The computer
doesn't like this move, but it's not clear if Black would be able to make
sufficient progress if he played the line recommended by the computer.} (22...
g4 23. Nh4 Bb6 24. Rb2 {and even though it seems like Black is slightly better,
it does not seem so clear how Black should make progress.}) 23. gxh4 gxh4 24.
Rb7 (24. Nh2 $11) 24... h3 $6 {But this already seems to be a little bit over
ambitious. Now White will have the upper hand. Black had decent alternatives
here to maintain the balance.} (24... Qg7 25. Qe2 h3 26. g3 Bb6 27. Nh4 $1 Na5
28. Rxb6 cxb6 29. Qh5 $132 {Here White has enough counterplay for a draw.}) (
24... Rf7 25. Nh2 $11) (24... Bb6 25. Nc4 Qg7 26. Nxb6 Rxf3 27. Qe2 Rf7 28. Nc4
$11) 25. Rxc7 hxg2 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Ne1 $1 {Could it be that Aronian missed
this defensive move when he played ...h3? Hard to say what exactly Aronian
missed or underestimated.} Rb8 $6 (27... Qh6 28. N1xg2 Rf7 {might've been a
little bit more solid but still, White is up a pawn and is probably better.})
28. Qg4+ $2 {Magnus has used up a lot of time and energy to try to solve the
difficult problems that Aronian has posed him this game, and now it's taking
its toll. At this point both players are going to make a few mistakes in this
complex position.} (28. Qf3 $1 Qxf3 29. Nxf3 Ng6 {Perhaps Magnus thought this
would be annoying counterplay for Black but in fact White is actually doing
quite well here.} 30. Ng4 $1 {Not the most natural move, maybe the key move
that Magnus missed, since without this move things are not so clear. Black
might indeed have sufficient counterplay.} (30. Nxg2 $2 Rb1+ $11) (30. Kxg2 $2
Nf4+) 30... Nf4 $2 (30... Kf8 31. Kxg2 Nf4+ 32. Kh2 Rb3 33. Ng5 $1 Ke8 34. Nf7
$1 {and White thanks to combination of threats against Black's king, as well
as his weak pawns is winning despite the fact that Black's counterplay looks
real.}) 31. Nf6+ {this is the point.} Kf8 (31... Kh8 32. Rh7#) 32. Nd7+ $18)
28... Ng6 $2 {Black errs in return.} (28... Kf8 {Seems fine for Black.} 29. Nf3
{Maybe this was Magnus's plan, but here Black has also very strong counterplay
with...} (29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. Nxf3 Ke8 {Now Black is in time with his king to
kick out the annoying rook and White has to be careful not to be worse.} 31.
Ng5 (31. d4 Bb6 32. Rc4 exd4 33. cxd4 Kd7 $11) 31... Bb6 32. Rc4 Kd7 33. Nh7
Ng6 34. Nxg2 Bd8 35. Rb4 $11) 29... Qh6 $1 30. Kxg2 (30. Ng5 $4 Qh1#) 30...
Bxe3 31. fxe3 Rb2+ 32. Kg3 Qxe3 33. Qh4 Qf2+ 34. Kg4 Qg2+ (34... Qxh4+ $11) 35.
Qg3 Qf1 $15) 29. Nf3 $1 Rb2 {Maybe Aronian thought he is fine here, since it
seems like he has sufficient counterplay, but now Magnus finds a very nice
forced sequence to get what should've been a decisive advantage.} 30. d4 $1
exd4 31. e5 $1 dxe5 32. Nc4 $1 $18 Rb1+ 33. Kxg2 e4 $5 {The best chance to
muddy the waters. And it worked!} (33... dxc3 34. Rxc5 c2 35. Ncxe5 c1=Q 36.
Rxc1 Rxc1 37. Nxg6 $18 {is completely hopeless for Black.}) 34. Qxe4 $2 {
And now unexpectedly just a few moves before reaching the time control and
converting his winning position comfortably, Magnus makes a big slip.} (34.
Nfe5 $1 {was winning. I'm sure Magnus saw this move, but maybe he saw some
ghosts in some line.} e3 (34... dxc3 35. Rxc5 c2 {The critical testing line.} (
35... Qf5 36. Nd6 Qxg4+ 37. Nxg4 $18 {is a simple technical position.}) 36.
Rc8+ $1 Kg7 37. Nd6 $1 {Without the sequence of Rc8+! followed by Nd6! White
is actually not winning, so perhaps Magnus missed this very nice idea.} Qxe5 (
37... c1=Q 38. Rxc1 Rxc1 39. Ne8+) 38. Rc7+ {and White will mate in a few
moves here.}) (34... Qf5 35. Qxg6+ Qxg6+ 36. Nxg6 dxc3 37. Nf4 c2 38. Ne2 $18 {
is an easy win for White.}) 35. Rf7 $1 $18 {Or perhaps Magnus missed this?})
34... Nf4+ $1 35. Kg3 Ne2+ $1 {Or maybe Magnus just missed ...Ne2+ here?
Because without this move, White is winning.} (35... Nh5+ $2 36. Kg4 $18 {
Here Black runs out of counterplay.}) 36. Kg4 (36. Qxe2 Qg6+ {This line will
lead to a perpetual check.} 37. Kf4 Qf5+ 38. Kg3 Qg6+ 39. Kh2 Qh5+ 40. Kg2 Qg4+
$11) 36... Qf5+ 37. Qxf5 exf5+ 38. Kxf5 dxc3 $1 {It's also possible Magnus
missed this key move from far away. Without this move Black is still losing.
But now Black has just enough counterplay.} 39. Rxc5 c2 40. Rc8+ Kg7 41. Rc7+
Kg8 42. Kf6 Rg1 (42... Rb8 {was also drawing, but Levon understandably saw the
other drawing line and perhaps didn't see the need to calculate the
consequences of ...Rb8, since after ...Rb8, White has potentially a dangerous
initiative and if you miss something subtle, it can be deadly. Here are some
variations.} 43. Rg7+ {This is much more critical.} (43. Nce5 {isn't dangerous
because} c1=Q 44. Rg7+ Kf8 45. Rf7+ Kg8 $11 {and White has no more than a
perpetual.} (45... Ke8 46. Re7+ Kd8 47. Nf7+ Kc8 48. Nd6+ $11)) 43... Kf8 $1 (
43... Kh8 $2 44. Nd6 Rb6 45. Rd7 c1=Q 46. Rd8+ Kh7 47. Ng5+ Qxg5+ 48. Kxg5 Rb4
49. Rd7+ Kg8 50. Re7 Nc3 51. a5 $16 {with good winning chances for White.}) 44.
Ng5 $5 {Again the most critical.} (44. Nfe5 Nf4 45. Rf7+ (45. Nd6 $4 Nh5+ $19)
45... Kg8 46. Rg7+ Kf8 $11) (44. Nh4 Nf4 45. Ng6+ Nxg6 46. Nd6 c1=Q 47. Rf7+
Kg8 48. Rg7+ $11) 44... Nf4 (44... c1=Q $4 45. Ne6+ Ke8 46. Re7#) 45. Nh7+ Ke8
46. Rg8+ (46. Kf5 c1=Q 47. Nf6+ Kf8 48. Rg8+ Ke7 49. Rg7+ $11) 46... Kd7 47.
Rxb8 Nd5+ $1 {And this is the key move. 47.Nh5+ also works with a similar idea
to distract the white king.} (47... c1=Q 48. Nb6+ Kd6 49. Rd8+ Kc7 50. Rc8+ $18
) (47... Nh5+ {is also good.} 48. Ke5 (48. Kf7 c1=Q 49. Nb6+ Kd6 50. Rd8+ Ke5
$1) 48... c1=Q 49. Nb6+ Ke7 $11) 48. Ke5 (48. Kf7 c1=Q) 48... c1=Q 49. Kxd5
Qh1+ 50. Kc5 Kc7 51. Rb6 Qh5+ 52. Kd4 Qxh7 53. Rxa6 Qh4+ $11 {However, this
variation is a little bit complicated and it's very easy to miscalculate a
minor detail in a line like this and that can end up being very costly.}) 43.
Nxg1 (43. Ng5 $5 {is the computer's choice, but after further investigation I
came to the conclusion that it's probably just a positional draw, and most
likely both players saw that as well.} Rxg5 44. Ne3 (44. Nd6 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Nxc1
46. Kxg5 Nd3 {Is more or less the same thing.}) 44... c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Nxc1 46.
Kxg5 Nd3 47. Nd1 Kf7 48. f4 Nc5 49. Nc3 a5 50. f5 Kg7 51. f6+ Kf7 52. Kf5 Kg8
$1 (52... Kf8 $2 53. Kg6 Kg8 54. Nd5 Nxa4 55. f7+ Kf8 56. Nf6 $18) 53. Kg6 Kf8
54. f7 Nd7 55. Ne4 Ne5+ 56. Kf6 Nxf7 $11) 43... c1=Q 44. Nxe2 Qh6+ $1 {
Probably foreseen by Aronian in advance when he played 42...Rg1. Now Black
will win the knight on e2 by force, which practically makes the game a dead
draw.} 45. Ke7 Qh7+ 46. Kd6 Qd3+ 47. Kc5 Qxe2 48. Kb6 Qxf2+ 49. Kxa6 Kf8 50. a5
Ke8 51. Nb6 Qf5 52. Rd7 Qc5 {Of course not...} (52... Qxd7 $4 53. Nxd7 Kxd7 54.
Kb7 $18) 53. Rh7 Qe5 54. Rd7 Qc5 55. Rd5 Qc6 56. Rh5 Qc3 57. Kb7 Qg7+ 58. Ka6
Kd8 59. Rd5+ Kc7 {A neat move taking advantage of a stalemate idea.} (59... Ke8
{Of course this also draws.}) 60. Rd7+ Kb8 61. Rd8+ Kc7 62. Rc8+ {Magnus is
still playing for a win, but at this point the chance of Black making a
mistake is quite small.} Kd6 63. Nc4+ Kd7 64. Rc5 Qg1 65. Kb6 Qb1+ 66. Ka7 Qb4
67. Nb6+ Kd6 68. Rh5 Kc6 69. Rh6+ Kb5 {Still not too late to go wrong with...}
(69... Kc7 $4 70. Nd5+ $18) 70. Rh5+ Kc6 {A very nice fight between two top
players and both excellent warriors in a fighting mood. Sure, it wasn't
perfect from a mathematical standpoint of view, but it was a true battle, and
really reflects on the idea that chess is after all a sport!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 {In the 2-nd game Leko opted for 9...Re8} 10. a3 {This variation
is very popular these days, it's main idea is to avoid the Marshall Gambit and
play a complicated middlegame. It is hard to believe that it can yield any
substancial advantage for White, at least from theoretical point of view.} Nd7
(10... Na5) (10... Nb8 {are the other main continuations.}) 11. Nc3 Nd4 $5 {
[%mdl 4]} (11... Kh8 {looks a bit slow, it is not so easy to execute f7-f5
with a success.} 12. Be3 (12. Bd2 Nc5 13. Bd5 {White's main trumph is the d5
square.} Bf6 14. b4 Ne6 15. a4 Qd7 16. Qb1 $14 {Navara-Blatny, Kunzak 2001})
12... f5 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. Ne4 Nc5 15. Bd5 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Rf8 17. a4 {White
retains some pressure on the\<<.} Qd7 18. c3 Rae8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qd3 $14 {
Lanka-Emms, Paris 1990} Rxf3 21. gxf3 Qxh3 22. Qxb5 $16) (11... Nc5 12. Ba2 Qd7
13. Nd5 Rae8 14. Be3 Bd8 15. c3 Kh8 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Ne3 {White has got some
pressure on the light squares, the black ^^ has no future.} g6 18. Bd5 $14 {
Z.Almasi-Blatny, Austria 2001}) 12. Ba2 $5 $146 (12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14.
Ng3 g6 $13 {Black has a solid position.} 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qd2 Rc8 {/\ c4} 17.
Ba2 (17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Nb6 $132 {>< d5}) 17... Bf6 18. Bd5 Rc7 (18... Bxd5
$5 19. exd5 Rxe1+ (19... Nb6 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Ne4) 20. Rxe1 Nb6 $132) 19. a4
b4 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. b3 a5 22. Rf1 Bh4 $5 23. Ne2 d5 $1 24. exd5 Nb6 25. Nf4
Bg5 $1 $11 {Grischuk-Beliavsky, Tripoli 2004}) 12... Nxf3+ (12... c5 13. Nd5
$14) 13. Qxf3 Bg5 {Exchanging the passive B favours Black in this P structure.}
(13... Kh8 $5 {/\ f5}) 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Nd5 c6 (15... Kh8 $5 {There is no
need to defend the c P.} 16. Nxc7 Rac8 17. Nd5 Rxc2 $132) 16. Ne3 g6 17. Rad1 {
/\ d4 gaining space in the [+].} Rad8 18. c3 (18. d4 exd4 19. Rxd4 Ne5 $15)
18... c5 $1 {otherwise d4 comes and White gets the control in the [+].} 19. Bd5
{White wants to make profit from the weakness of >< d5.} (19. Nd5 Kg7 $132 {
/\ f5}) (19. d4 c4 $5 $13) 19... Bc8 $1 {Now the e3 N cannot get to d5, the
square is engaged by the white B.} (19... Bxd5 20. Nxd5 Kg7 (20... f5 $6 {
founders on tactics:} 21. Nc7 $1 Qe7 22. exf5 $16) 21. d4 Nf6 $14) 20. b4 Nb6
21. c4 $5 {White wants to create some weaknesses on the <<.} (21. Bb3 Be6 $11)
21... Nxd5 (21... Kg7 $5) 22. Nxd5 Be6 (22... f5 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. cxb5 axb5
25. Rc1 $1 $14 {>< c5}) 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. Rb1 Rb8 $1 (24... Bxd5 $6 25. exd5 {
Now the protected o^ is strong.} Rb8 26. Qe4 $14 (26. Rb2 $14)) (24... f5 $6 {
is again met by} 25. Nc7 $1 (25. Rbc1 Rd7 $36) 25... Bc8 26. cxb5 (26. exf5
Bxf5 27. Rxe5 Qd2 $132) 26... axb5 27. Qe3 $5 (27. Rxb5 {allows Black's
counterplay after} fxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxh3 29. Re3 Rd4 30. Qc6 e4 31. Rxh3 Qc1+ 32.
Kh2 Qf4+ 33. Rg3 Qh6+ $11) 27... Qxe3 (27... f4 28. Qf3) 28. Rxe3 f4 29. Ree1
$1 Rxd3 30. Rxb5 $14 {with somewhat better _|_ for White.}) 25. cxb5 (25. Nc7
bxc4 26. Rxb8 (26. Nxe6 $2 Rxb1 $1 (26... fxe6 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. dxc4 $14) 27.
Rxb1 fxe6 $15) 26... Rxb8 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. dxc4 {and despite of Black's
doubled pawns the _|_ is fairly drawish.}) 25... Bxd5 $6 {This is inaccurate.}
(25... axb5 $142 26. Nc7 (26. Rec1 Rfc8 $11) 26... b4 $5 $132 (26... Rb7 27.
Nxb5 (27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Qe2 Qf4 $11) 27... Rfb8 28. a4 (28. Nc3 $2 Rxb1 29.
Nxb1 Rb3 $15) 28... Bd7 $11)) 26. exd5 axb5 27. d6 $1 (27. Qe4 Rfd8 (27... Rfe8
28. d6) 28. Rb3 (28. Qxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxe5 Rd6 $11) 28... b4 29. axb4 cxb4 30.
Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 f6 $1 (31... Kf8 32. Kf1) (31... Rb5 32. Kf1 Rbxd5 33. Rxd5
Rxd5 34. Ke2 Re5+ (34... Rb5 35. d4 $16) 35. Kd2 $14) 32. Re7 (32. Re4 Rxd5)
32... Rxd5 $11) 27... b4 $1 {Black has to create a o^ as well.} 28. a4 (28. Rb3
$5 Rfd8 (28... bxa3 29. Rxa3 Rfd8 30. Ra7 $14) 29. Qd5 bxa3 (29... Qf6 30. Qxc5
$14) 30. Rxa3 Rb6 31. Qxc5 Rbxd6 32. Rxe5 $14) (28. axb4 cxb4 29. Qd5 Qf6 30.
Rxe5 Rfd8 31. Qc5 Rbc8 $1 $11) 28... Rfd8 29. Qd5 Qf6 30. Qxc5 (30. Rxe5 Rxd6 (
30... b3 31. Qxc5) 31. Qxc5 Rxd3 32. Rxb4 Qxe5 33. Qxe5 Rxb4 $11) 30... Qxd6 $1
{Black gives up the P but liquidates for a drawish R _|_.} 31. Qxd6 (31. Rxe5
Qxc5 (31... Qxd3 32. Rxb4) 32. Rxc5 Rxd3 (32... Ra8 33. Rxb4 $14) 33. Rb5 Ra8
34. R5xb4 Ra3 35. Rb8+ Rxb8 36. Rxb8+ Kg7 {is a theoretically drawish _|_,
although in practice it can be difficult.}) 31... Rxd6 32. Rxe5 b3 $1 (32...
Rxd3 33. Rb5 Ra8 34. R5xb4 Ra3 35. Rb8+ Rxb8 36. Rxb8+ Kg7 {leads again to the
well-known R _|_.}) 33. Rb5 Ra8 $1 34. R1xb3 Rxa4 35. Rb6 Rd7 {The d P is not
a remote o^ so the _|_ is theoretically drawn.} 36. Rf6 (36. Rb7 Ra1+ (36...
Rxb7 $2 37. Rxb7 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Kg3 Ra3 40. Rd7 $16) 37. Kh2 Rd5 $1 38.
Re7 Rd1 $11) 36... Ra1+ 37. Kh2 Rd1 38. Rf3 h5 39. h4 Rd2 40. g3 Kg7 41. Kg2
Rd1 42. Re3 Kh7 43. Kf3 Rd2 {and White cannot improve his position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villa Martelli"]
[Site "Villa Martelli"]
[Date "1998.05.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Black "Ginzburg, Maximiliano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Nb8 {This is a natural set-up here like in the Breyer
Variation. The difference is that instead of h3 White has played a4.} (10...
Nd7 {- CBM 57}) ({and} 10... Na5 {are playable alternatives.}) 11. axb5 (11.
Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 $5 (12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. d4 c5 {The same
position may arise from one of the main lines of the Breyer without h3, which
favours Black.} 16. b3 (16. d5 c4 $13 {/\ Nc5}) 16... d5 $1 (16... Bg7 $6 {
allows to close the [+], and seize the space advantage. Both of Black's Bs are
passive, only piece sacrifices on d5 may give him some chances for an active
play.} 17. d5 $1 b4 18. a5 $1 bxc3 19. Ne2 Nh5 20. Nxc3 h6 21. Nd2 Nf4 22. g3
Nh5 23. Nc4 $16 {Dolmatov-Wahono, World Cities 1997 with dangerous |^ on the
<<, while Black has no real counterchances on the >>, like in a bad King's
Indian.}) 17. exd5 (17. Nxe5 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 $11) 17... exd4 $11) 12... Nc5
13. Bc2 Nxa4 (13... Re8 $5 {comes into consideration, as in the real Breyer.})
14. Bxa4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Nd7 16. Be3 Nb6 17. Qb3 Bc8 18. d4 Be6 19. Qc2 $14 {
Kupreichik-Hoeksma, Leeuwarden op. 1993}) (11. Na3 $5 {This is an original
attempt to infuse life into a2-a4, but the a3N has it's drawback as well.} Nbd7
12. Bg5 Nc5 (12... c6 13. d4) 13. Bc2 Nxa4 (13... Bc6 $5) 14. Bxa4 bxa4 15. Nc4
Bc6 16. d4 $44 {Dgebuadze-Kholmov, Policka 1995}) 11... axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13.
Na3 c6 14. d4 (14. Ba2 Nbd7 15. b4 Qb8 $1 {It is not easy for White without d4
something real to achieve. Black wants to grab the |^ in the [+] with d6-d5,
while White's >> attemts are in vain.} 16. Qb3 (16. Nh4 $6 Re8 17. Nf5 Bf8 18.
Qf3 Qa7 $1 19. Bb3 g6 20. Ne3 Bg7 21. Ng4 d5 $1 22. Nc2 Nxg4 23. Qxg4 Nf6 24.
Qf3 c5 $1 $17 {Prelovsky-Adorjan, Hun. ch 1968}) 16... d5 $11 {Haag-Adorjan,
Hun. ch 1968}) (14. Nc2 Nbd7 15. Ne3 g6 (15... Re8 16. Nf5 Bf8 17. h3 d5 18.
Qe2 h6 19. Nh2 Kh7 20. Bc2 g6 21. Ne3 Bg7 22. Bd2 c5 23. Neg4 Nxg4 24. Nxg4 Nf6
$11 {Balashov-Wegner, Kusadasi op. 1990}) 16. h3 Nc5 (16... Re8) (16... d5 $5)
17. Bc2 h5 (17... b4 18. cxb4 Na6 19. d4 Qb8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Nc4 Bxb4 22. Bd2
$13 {Holmov}) 18. b4 Ne6 19. Bb3 Qc8 20. Qc2 c5 $1 $13 {Hracek-Kholmov,
Pardubice 1995}) 14... Nbd7 15. Nc2 $2 (15. Ba2 {/\ b4}) (15. Qe2) 15... c5 $1
{This central push shows the lack of harmony between the white pieces.} 16. Nd2
$2 {This is a very passive move, against all principles.} (16. dxe5 $5 dxe5 (
16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. f3) 17. Bd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Nb6 $15) (
16. d5 $2 c4 17. Ba2 Nc5 18. Na3 Nfxe4 $17) 16... c4 17. Ba2 {[#] The B is
completely out of play.} d5 $1 $17 {This is the typical central breakthrough
in the Ruy Lopez.} 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nf1 (19. dxe5 Nf4 20. Ne4 Nd3 $17) (19.
Nf3 e4 $1 20. Rxe4 $4 Nxc3 $19) 19... Bg5 20. Nce3 (20. dxe5 Bxc1 21. Qxc1 Nc5
$1) 20... Nf4 21. Bb1 g6 22. f3 exd4 23. Qxd4 Ne6 24. Qd6 Bf4 25. Qd1 Ne5 26.
Qxd8 Rxd8 {The black pieces dominate on the entire board.} 27. Bc2 Nc5 28. Nxc4
$6 {White has lost his temper, but it is hard to suggest a useful alternative.}
Ned3 $1 $19 29. Bxd3 Nxd3 30. Bxf4 Nxe1 31. Nd6 Nd3 32. Bg3 Bc6 33. c4 b4 34.
b3 f5 35. Nb5 Bxb5 36. cxb5 f4 37. Bh4 Rb8 38. Nd2 Rxb5 39. Bf6 Kf7 40. Bh8 Rb8
41. Bd4 Rd8 42. Bb6 Rd6 43. Ba5 Ra6 44. Nc4 Re6 45. g3 Re1+ 46. Kg2 Rb1 0-1

[Event "Krynica zt"]
[Site "Krynica"]
[Date "1998.09.08"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[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"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. c3 {This allows a version of the Marshall Gambit, which wanted to avoid
White with 8.a4.} (9. Nc3 {or}) (9. d3 {are the main lines here.}) 9... d5 (
9... d6 {transposes to 7...d6 6.a4 Bb7 9.c3 0-0.} 10. d4 Na5 {In comparision
to the Zaitsev main line h3 and Re8 is missing. In some lines the defence of
>< f7 is important.} 11. Bc2 (11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Bxe4 $11)
11... c5 $11 {-7...d6 8.c3 0-0 9.a4 Bb7 10.d4 Na5 11.Bc2 c5 C88}) (9... b4 $5 {
Szabo}) 10. d4 (10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. d4 (12. d3 dxe4 13. dxe4 Qxd1
$11) 12... Nxe4 13. dxe5 {is Filipenko's idea with similar positions to the
Opened Ruy Lopez, but it is hard to believe that this plan is good for an
advantage.} Bc5 14. Re2 Qe7 15. Bf4 Rd8 16. Nd4 Bb6 17. Bc2 Nxd4 18. cxd4 c5
19. Be3 b4 $15 {Filipenko-Zakharov, Rostov op 1993}) (10. d3 {cannot give any
advantage for White.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Na5 12. Nbd2 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Bd6 14. c4 b4
15. Qc2 Bc5 16. Nf1 b3 17. Qxb3 Bxe4 18. Nxe5 Qd4 19. Qg3 Rfe8 20. Nf3 Qxc4 $13
{Kveinys-Kaidanov, Groningen op 1990}) (10. exd5 Nxd5 11. d3 (11. axb5 axb5 12.
Rxa8 Bxa8 13. d3 (13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Bd6 {It is only White who
has problems with his development.} 16. Bc2 (16. Nd2 c5 $17 {Wilkmann-Jovcic,
corr 1957}) 16... c5 17. Qg4 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Qe4 Nf6 $11 {
Beninsh-Elburg, corr 1988/1989}) (13. Na3 Na5 14. Ba2 (14. Nxe5 $2 Nxb3 15.
Qxb3 Nf4 16. f3 Bd6 $17 {with a strong ->.}) 14... e4 15. Ne5 {
(Balashov-Tseitlin, SU-ch 1970)} Bxa3 16. bxa3 Qh4 $11 {Tal}) 13... Bf6 $13 (
13... b4 14. Ba4 $5 (14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bf6 16. Re4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxc3 18.
Nxc3 Bxc3 19. Rf4 Be5 $11 {with equalization, Kr.Georgiev-Kaidanov, Torcy 1981.
}) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3 Bf6 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Nxc3 $1 $11)) (
{Accepting the P sacrifice} 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 {is strongly met by} Nf4 $1
13. d4 Nxg2 14. axb5 (14. Qg4 $6 Nh4 15. Nd2 Bd6 16. Rg5 Ng6 17. Nf1 (17. h4
Kh8 18. h5 f5 $1) 17... Qf6 18. Ng3 Rae8 19. Be3 Bc8 20. Nh5 Qe7 21. Qg2 Kh8 $1
22. Bc2 (22. Re1 Nh4 23. Qh1 Qxg5+ $1 $19) 22... f5 $1 23. Bd3 Bd7 24. Re1 Qf7
$19) 14... Nh4 15. d5 Qd6 16. Re4 axb5 17. Rxa8 Rxa8 18. Na3 Bc8 19. Qh5 Ng6
$44) 11... Bf6 12. Nbd2 (12. Na3 b4 $1) 12... Nf4 13. Ne4 Nxd3 14. Nxf6+ gxf6
15. Bh6 Nxe1 16. Qxe1 Qd3 $1 17. Bxf8 (17. Rd1 Qg6 18. Bxf8 Nd4 $1) 17... Rxf8
18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Tal}) 10... dxe4 {This is the correct reply here.} (10... Nxe4
$143 11. dxe5 $142 (11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 c5 $13) 11... Na5 12. Bc2 $14) (
10... exd4 $143 11. e5 Ne4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 f5 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Nc3 Nxc3 (
15... Nc4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd5 19. Rg4 $1 $16) 16. bxc3 Nc4
17. Qd3 $16 {Cooper-Arandjelovich, Auckland op 1996}) 11. Nxe5 (11. dxe5 $6 {
is out of question because of} exf3 12. exf6 Bxf6 $17) 11... Nxe5 ({Less clear
is} 11... Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Bg5 (13. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 14. b4 $2 Bd6) 13... cxd4
14. cxd4 $13) 12. dxe5 Nd7 $1 (12... Qxd1 $6 {leads to forced lines, where
Black has serious problems, for example:} 13. Rxd1 (13. Bxd1 $2 Nd7) 13... Ng4
14. Rd7 Bc5 (14... Bd8 15. e6 $1) 15. Rxc7 Bxf2+ 16. Kf1 Rab8 (16... Be3 17.
Bxe3 Nxe3+ 18. Ke2 Bd5 19. Kxe3 Bxb3 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Nd2 $18)
17. h3 $1 (17. e6 fxe6 $1 (17... Bb6 18. Rxf7 Rxf7+ 19. exf7+ Kf8 20. h3 $1 (
20. Bf4 Rd8) 20... Ne3+ 21. Bxe3 Bxe3 22. axb5 axb5 23. Na3 $16) 18. Bxe6+ Kh8)
17... Be3 (17... Bb6 18. Rxb7 Nh2+ 19. Ke2 Rxb7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bf4 $16) 18.
Bxe3 Nxe3+ 19. Kf2 Nf5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra7 e3+ 22. Kg1 e2 23. Kf2 Bxg2 24.
Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Rxf7 $18) 13. e6 Nc5 $1 14. exf7+ Kh8 15. Bc2 (15. axb5 $2 Qxd1
16. Bxd1 Nd3 $19) 15... bxa4 (15... Nd3 $5 {was worthy of consideration.} 16.
Bxd3 exd3 17. Re3 (17. axb5 Qd5 18. f3 (18. Qg4 Qxf7 19. Be3 axb5) 18... Bc5+
19. Be3 (19. Kh1 axb5) 19... axb5) 17... Bc5 18. Rxd3 Qf6 19. Qf1 Rxf7 {
Black has a strong pressure on the f <->, and a good ^^.} 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Rxe3
Rd8 $1 $44) 16. Qh5 (16. Bxa4 Nd3 17. Re2 Rxf7 $13) 16... Bd5 $2 (16... Nd3 {
was again good for equalizing:} 17. Bxd3 exd3 (17... Qxd3 $6 18. Be3) 18. Be3
Qd5 $1 (18... Bd5 19. Nd2 Bxf7 20. Qg4) 19. Qxd5 Bxd5 20. Nd2 Rxf7 $11) 17. Nd2
Bxf7 {18.Qe2 was possible to continue the fight with somewhat better
perspectives for White.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.19"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Makarichev,S"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 {N/} (10... Kh8 $5 {Kasparov,G-Kamsky,G/Dos Hermanas/
1996/}) 11. Nbd2 c5 12. Nf1 Nbd7 (12... h6 $5 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 $14) 13.
Ng3 Rc8 14. Ba2 $5 (14. c3 c4 15. dxc4 bxc4 16. Bc2 $13) (14. Nf5 $5 $14 {
/\Nf5xe7+/=}) 14... Re8 15. Nf5 $40 Bf8 16. Bg5 $5 $40 (16. Ng5 $5 c4 $1 (16...
d5 $2 17. exd5 h6 (17... Bxd5 $2 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qh5 $18) 18. Ne6 $1 $16 (18.
Nf3 $2 Bxd5 $15) (18. Nxf7 $2 Kxf7 19. d6+ Kg6 $17)) 17. dxc4 bxc4 (17... h6 $6
18. Nxf7 $1 $40 Kxf7 19. cxb5+ Kg6 20. bxa6 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Nxe4 22. Qg4+ Ng5 23.
Nh4+ Kh7 24. Qf5+ g6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Qg8#) 18. Nxd6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 h6 $1 20.
Qb4 $1 (20. Nf3 Nxe4 21. Qb4 Qb6 $13) 20... Qb6 21. Nf3 (21. Bxc4 $2 hxg5)
21... Nxe4 $132) 16... h6 (16... Qc7 $5 $132) 17. Qd2 $3 c4 $5 (17... hxg5 $2
18. Qxg5 $1 Re7 (18... c4 19. Nh6+) (18... g6 19. Qxg6+) (18... d5 19. Nh6+ Kh7
20. Nxf7 Qe7 21. Qh4+ Kg8 (21... Kg6 22. Nh8#) 22. N3g5 $16) 19. Nxd6 Bc6 20.
Nxf7 Rxf7 21. Qg6 c4 (21... Qe8 22. Ng5 c4 23. dxc4 Re7 24. cxb5+ Kh8 (24...
Bd5 {- 21...c4}) 25. Nf7+ Rxf7 26. Bxf7 $18) 22. Ng5 Qe8 23. dxc4 Re7 24. cxb5+
Bd5 25. Qxe8 Rcxe8 26. exd5 $16) (17... d5 $5 $132) 18. Bh4 (18. Bxh6 $5 gxh6
19. Nxh6+ Bxh6 (19... Kg7 $4 20. Qg5+ Kh7 21. Nxf7 $16) 20. Qxh6 Nf8 $15 21.
Nh4 N6h7 22. Re3 Qf6 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Qh5 $15) 18... Qc7 19. Nh2 $1 d5 $1 $15 (
19... cxd3 $2 20. cxd3 Qc2 21. Qe3 $40 {/\22.Re2} Qxb2 $140 22. Qg3 $16) 20.
exd5 Nxd5 21. dxc4 bxc4 22. Rad1 Qc6 $40 23. Ne3 $1 $8 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Nc5 $5 (
24... Nb6 $13) 25. Rf1 (25. Bxc4 $2 Ne4 26. Qd7 Qxc4 (26... Qxd7 27. Rxd7 Rxc4
28. Rxb7 Rxc2 $15) 27. Qxb7 Qxc2 $17 {/\g7-g5} (27... Nc5 $6 28. Qb4 $13))
25... Rc7 26. Qe2 Ne4 27. Nf3 Kh8 28. Be1 Qb5 (28... c3 $2 29. Bd5 $1) 29. c3
Kg8 $138 30. Nh4 g6 31. Nf3 Kh7 $6 32. Nh2 $1 Bg7 $4 (32... f5 $5 $15) 33. Rxf7
$3 $18 Rxf7 34. Bxc4 Qd7 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxa6 Bxa6 37. Qxa6 Rd1 38. Nf3 Red8
39. Kh2 Rb1 40. Qb7 Nf6 41. Bh4 Rd7 42. Qc6 g5 43. Nxg5+ $1 hxg5 44. Bxg5 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 12th"]
[Site "Aix les Bains"]
[Date "2011.04.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[Annotator "Marchand,A/Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
(8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 (12. g3 Bd6 {Polgar,J 
(2728)-Svidler,P (2735) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 (1) 1-0} (12... Nf6 13. d4 Bd6
14. Re1 Bg4 15. Qd3 {Fischer,R-Spassky,B Piatigorsky-Cup 2nd 1966 (17) 1/2} (
15. f3)))) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 (9... d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Nc3 (12.
Bd2 {[%cal Gb1c3]}) 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Bf4 Qd4 15. Bg3 Bd6 16. Ne2 Qc5
{Gormally,D (2504)-Beliavsky,A (2606) EU Union-ch 4th 2008 (5) 1-0} (16... Qxb2
$5 {Beliavsky})) 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Bd2 Nd4 14. Nxd4 cxd4
15. Ne2 d5 16. Ng3 dxe4 17. dxe4 g6 $146 (17... Bc8 18. c3 Bc5 19. Qf3 Be6 20.
Nf5 Rc8 21. Red1 Re8 22. cxd4 Bxd4 23. Be3 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 g6 25. Qf3 Qb6 26. Rd2
Kg7 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. Re1 Qd6 29. g3 Re7 30. Qd3 Rce8 31. Qxd4 Qxd4 32. Rxd4 {
Topalov,V (2780)-Carlsen,M (2733)/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122/1/2-1/2 (56)}) 18.
c3 Bc5 $1 19. Qf3 Ne8 {[%cal Gf7f5,Gf8f3,Gd8f6]} (19... dxc3 20. Bxc3 Qe7 21.
Rad1) 20. Rad1 {[%cal Gd1d8]} (20. Bh6 Ng7) 20... Qf6 (20... Rc8) 21. cxd4 Qxf3
22. gxf3 exd4 (22... Bxd4 23. Bb4 {[%csl Rf8]}) 23. Bb4 Bxb4 24. axb4 Rd8 25.
Ne2 Ng7 26. Nxd4 Nh5 $1 {[%csl Gf4]} 27. h4 Nf4 28. Nb3 Bc8 (28... Nd3 $2 29.
Rxd3 $1 Rxd3 30. Nc5 {[%cal Gc5d3,Gc5b7]}) 29. Nc5 Kg7 30. Bd5 Rfe8 31. Bc6 Rg8
32. Kh2 Kf6 (32... h6) 33. Bd7 Bxd7 34. Nxd7+ Ke7 35. Nc5 h6 36. Nxa6 g5 37.
Nc7 gxh4 38. Nd5+ Nxd5 39. exd5+ Kd6 40. Re4 Rg6 41. Rxh4 Rdg8 42. Kh3 Rf6 43.
Rd3 Rg5 44. Ra3 Kxd5 45. Rc3 Kd6 46. Rd4+ Ke7 47. f4 Rg1 48. Re3+ Re6 49. Rd5
Rb1 50. Rxb5 Rxb2 51. Kg3 Kf6 52. Rb7 h5 53. Rd3 Kg7 54. f5 Rf6 55. Rf3 (55.
Kf4 Kh6) 55... Rd6 56. Kh4 Kh6 {[%cal Gd6d4]} 57. Rf4 f6 58. Rb8 Rd1 59. Rh8+
Kg7 60. Rxh5 Rh1+ 61. Kg4 Rhb1 62. Rh4 Rxb4 63. Rxb4 Rxb4+ 64. f4 Rb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates sf"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2007.05.29"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 {Of course, it is not Kamsky's style to embark on long theoretical
discussions in the Marshall Attack. However, the Anti-Marshall systems are
quite topical, too. Which method of avoiding the well-trodden paths could he
have had in mind when playing 1.e4 against a generally well-prepared opponent?.
..} 9. c3 $5 {Everything is as good as new if it is well-forgotten! This move
does not enjoy a good reputation, as a consequence of rather old games.} d5 10.
exd5 Nxd5 11. d3 {White prepares the development of his queenside, hoping that
the relative weakness of the e5-pawn will tell in the long run.} ({Of course,
capturing the pawn immediately with} 11. Nxe5 $6 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 {would lead to
a dream position for an adherent of the Marshall Attack after} Nf4 $40) 11...
Qd6 ({The other reasonable way of defending the e5-pawn was tried shortly
after our main game was played:} 11... Bf6 {This move avoids exposing the
queen, but the bishop does not stand too well on f6 either.} 12. a4 ({A more
ambitious continuation could be} 12. Nbd2 $5 {threatening Ne4, when Black has
nothing better than} Nf4 13. Ne4 Nxd3 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Re2 $44) 12... b4 13.
a5 Rb8 $32 14. d4 $5 exd4 15. cxd4 Ba8 16. Bc4 $132 {Aagaard,J (2477)
-Giorgadze,G (2610)/Torrelavega 2007 (1/2-1/2, 60)}) ({It is curious that
prior to that Giorgadze proved that defending the pawn is not absolutely
necessary:} 11... Qd7 $5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Rad8 (13... Bf6 $5 14. Re1 Rfe8
15. Be3 $6 c5 16. d4 $2 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rxe3 $1 $17 {Romantchouk,J
(2275)-Mitkov,M (2325)/Paris 1993/TD (0-1, 21)}) 14. Qg4 (14. d4 Bf6 15. Re1 c5
16. dxc5 Qc6 $36 {Giorgadze}) 14... f5 15. Qh5 (15. Qf3 c5 $1 $36 {Giorgadze})
15... Bf6 16. Re1 (16. Rxf5 g6 17. Rxd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5+ Qxd5 19. Bxd5+ Rxd5 20.
d4 c5 $17 {Giorgadze}) 16... Kh8 $44 {Zagrebelny,S (2480)-Giorgadze,G (2580)/
Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 (0-1, 25)}) 12. Nbd2 ({The first game where the system
based on 9.c3 and 11.d3 continued with} 12. d4 $6 exd4 13. Nbd2 $5 Nf6 (13...
dxc3 $2 14. Ne4 $18) 14. cxd4 {Fuentes,J-Keres,P/Madrid 1943/HCL (0-1, 29)}
Rad8 $15) 12... Rad8 ({Now,} 12... Nf4 $2 {is completely unplayable because of}
13. Ne4 Qxd3 $2 14. Bxf4 Qxd1 15. Raxd1 exf4 16. Rd7 Rac8 17. Neg5 $16) 13. Ne4
Qd7 $146 ({This queen retreat might look like a loss of a tempo, but after the
previously played} 13... Qg6 {the queen might be exposed in certain cases.} 14.
Ng3 ({This voluntary knight retreat, attacking the e5-pawn, looks a bit
premature, but it is not easy to suggest an improvement for White. If} 14. a4 {
, hoping for 14...f5 when 15.axb5 axb5 16.Ng3 would leave the e5-pawn weak,
then} b4 $1 15. Bd2 Bc8 $5 {and the white kingside is under some pressure. One
of the main problems is that, having had to defend the c3-pawn with Bd2, White
cannot play Ng3 because the d3-pawn would be hanging.}) 14... Bc5 $2 {It is
hard to refrain from creating the threat ...Qxg3.} (14... h6 $5 {[%csl Yg6]}
15. Nxe5 $6 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Bd6 17. Bxd5 Bxe5 18. Bxb7 Bxg3 $15 19. fxg3 Qb6+ $1
$17) 15. d4 $1 {The complications initiated by this move will eventually lead
to an equal position, but Black should consider himself very lucky.} exd4 16.
cxd4 $2 ({The future World Champion missed the incredible tactical resource} 
16. Nh4 $3 {, trapping the queen:} Qf6 17. Ne4 Qxh4 18. Bg5 $18) 16... Ndb4 17.
Be3 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 c5 20. Bxc5 $1 Rxd1 21. Raxd1 Nd3 22. Bxf8 Nxe1
23. Rd8 {Things seem to have gone extremely wrong for Black, but he had
prepared a nice defensive - counterattacking resource:} h5 $3 {Fischer,R-Szabo,
L/Portoroz 1958/IZT/(1/2-1/2, 33). Not only opening an escape for the king,
but creating the threat of ...h4 as an answer to the capture of the e1-knight
with Bb4+ and Bxe1.}) 14. a4 {A well-known way of activating the queen's rook
in the Ruy Lopez.} Kh8 15. axb5 axb5 {The critical moment of the game. Black
is better developed and has more space in the centre. However, his queenside
is weak, while the enemy knights display certain activity.} 16. d4 {Kamsky
correctly feels that he should not delay concrete action any more, because
this would allow Black consolidate his advantage of space.} exd4 $6 {After
this unpretentious move White's whole strategy will be crowned by success.} ({
The critical continuation was} 16... f5 17. Nc5 (17. Ng3 {offers White nothing
after} e4 18. Ng5 g6) 17... Bxc5 18. dxc5 e4 {for instance} 19. Nd4 Ne5 20. Ra7
{when Black's superiority in the centre is matched by White's counterplay on
the wings and the relative weakness of the dark squares.}) 17. cxd4 $14 f6 {
A necessary weakening move.} (17... Rfe8 18. Nfg5 $16 {/\Qh5}) 18. Nc3 $1 {
Curiously, Black will not be able to maintain his stability in the centre
after this move.} Ncb4 $6 (18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 $14) 19. Qe2 $1 {Winning a pawn.
} Bd6 20. Qxb5 Nxc3 21. Qxd7 Rxd7 22. bxc3 Nd3 23. Rd1 Nxc1 24. Raxc1 Bxf3 25.
gxf3 Bf4 26. Ra1 Rd6 27. c4 $16 {The presence of opposite coloured bishops
offers Black some chances of saving the game. However, the weakness of the
e6-square is more relevant than White's spoiled kingside structure.} Rb6 28.
Rd3 g6 29. c5 Rb5 30. Bc4 Rb4 31. Be6 Rd8 32. d5 Kg7 $6 33. d6 cxd6 $6 34. c6
$18 d5 35. Ra7+ Kh6 36. c7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {White advances this pawn to a3 and just two moves later
he moves it again. WeiЯ rьckt seinen Bauern nach a3, und nur zwei Zьge spдter
bewegt er ihn schon wieder.} ({This might seem a loss of time, but Dies mag
wie ein Zeitverlust wirken, aber} 10. a4 {is considered inoffensive because of
gilt als harmlos wegen} Na5 11. Ba2 c5) 10... Qd7 11. Nc3 Rfe8 12. a4 {Anyway,
if the game was played during the pre-computer era, I would have thought that
there must be a misprint in the newspaper. Wie dem auch sei, wenn die Partie
wдhrend der Prд-Computerдra gespielt worden wдre, hдtte ich gedacht, es mьЯte
ein Druckfehler in der Zeitung sein.} (12. Ng5 Nd8 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 h6 15.
Nf3 Ne6 16. Bh2 c5 {Black has satisfactory control over the centre and a
harmonious placement of his pieces. In the next phase of the game he will
carry out an interesting regrouping. Schwarz hat befriedigende Kontrolle ьber
das Zentrum und eine harmonische Figurenaufstellung. In der nдchsten Phase der
Partie wird er eine interessante Umgruppierung vornehmen.} 17. Qd2 Bd8 18. Kh1
Ba5 19. Ba2 Qd8 $5 {Preparing the activation of the queen on the dark squares,
on either wing. Bereitet die Aktivierung der Dame auf den dunklen Feldern vor,
auf einem der beiden Flьgel.} (19... c4 $5) 20. Rab1 {Everything looks ready
now for Alles scheint jetzt bereit fьr} c4 $36 {Lutz,C (2596)-Jenni,F (2503)/
Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (1/2-1/2, 59)}) (12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 (13. Bxd5 Nd8 14.
Bxb7 Nxb7 15. d4 exd4 16. Qxd4 Rad8 17. Bg5 Nc5 $132 {Sammalvuo,T (2441)
-Gustafsson,J (2614)/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109 (0-1, 57)}) 13... Nd4 14. Nxd4
exd4 15. a4 Bf6 {Svidler,P (2743)-Kamsky,G (2671)/Sofia 2006 (1/2-1/2, 33).
This is the kind of position that looks slightly more pleasant for White, but
which does not present real danger for Black. Dies ist die Art von Stellung,
die etwas angenehmer fьr WeiЯ aussieht, aber keine reale Gefahr fьr Schwarz
darstellt.}) (12. Ne2 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A (2699)-Adams,M (2734)/
Elista 2007/CBM 119/[Marin,M] (75)}) 12... b4 13. Ne2 d5 {Strategically, this
is a double-edged decision. Black wins space in the centre, but leaves the
c4-square chronically weak. Strategisch gesehen ist dies eine zweischneidige
Entscheidung. Schwarz gewinnt Raum im Zentrum, schafft aber eine chronische
Felderschwдche auf c4.} 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Ng3 Bf8 {Black has regrouped just in
time to defend his central pawn without the necessity of weakening his
kingside with ...f6. Schwarz hat sich gerade rechtzeitig umgruppiert, dass er
seinen Zentrumsbauern decken kann, ohne sich am Kцnigsflьgel mit ...f6
schwдchen zu mьssen.} 16. a5 {An important decision. White did not want to
live with the permanent threat of ...Na5 (and if Ba2, then ...b3!?). On the
other hand, the a5-pawn is cut off from his brothers and could become weak in
certain cases, but this also applies to the black a6-pawn. Eine wichtige
Entscheidung. WeiЯ wollte nicht mit der permanenten Drohung ...Sa5 leben (und
falls Ba2, so ...b3!?). Andererseits ist der a5-Bauer von seinen Kollegen
abgeschnitten und kцnnte in gewissen Fдllen schwach werden, dass gilt
allerdings auch fьr seinen schwarzen Gegenьber auf a6.} Nd4 17. Nxd4 (17. Nxe5
Qd6 18. Nc4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Qg6 20. Ba4 b3 {Leko}) 17... exd4 {Suddenly, it
appears that Black is better developed. White's defensive resources rely on
his solid position and his stability on the light squares. Plцtzlich wird klar,
dass Schwarz besser entwickelt ist. Die Defensivressourcen des Anziehenden
fuЯen auf seiner soliden Position und seiner Stabilitдt auf den weiЯen Feldern.
} 18. Bd2 Nf6 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Bg5 Qc6 21. Qf1 Qd6 {Believe it or not, this
is the first new move of the game. The point behind this apparent loss of time
(less difficult to understand than a3-a4) is to prevent the enemy queen from
developing naturally to d2. Kaum zu glauben, dies ist der erste neue Zug der
Partie. Die Pointe dieses scheinbaren Zeitverlustes (weniger schwierig zu
verstehen als a3-a4) ist, die feindliche Dame daran zu hindern, sich natьrlich
nach d2 zu entwickeln.} (21... Nd7 22. Ba4 Qd6 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. dxe4 Re6 25.
Bd2 $13 {Karjakin,S (2686)-Onischuk,A (2663)/Foros 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 38)})
22. Re1 {However, the tempo offered to White proves useful. He can simplify
the position further, neutralizing Black's lead in development. Doch das
dargebotene Tempo erweist sich als nьtzlich fьr WeiЯ. Er kann die Stellung
weiter vereinfachen und den schwarzen Entwicklungsvorsprung neutralisieren.}
Re5 {A typical method of fighting for the control of the only open file.} 23.
Rxe5 Qxe5 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Qe2 g6 26. Qg4 Bd6 27. Ne4 {The position seems to
have changed in White's favour. All his pieces are more active than their
rivals. Die Stellung scheint sich zugunsten von WeiЯ gewandelt zu haben. Alle
seine Figuren sind aktivere als ihre Rivalen.} Qf4 $1 {The simplest way to
avoid any kind of trouble. Der einfachste Weg, jegliche Schwierigkeiten zu
vermeiden.} 28. Qxf4 {At first glance, White's decision to offer a draw looks
premature. Auf den ersten Blick wirkt die Entscheidung von WeiЯ, remis
anzubieten, verfrьht.} ({After Nach} 28. Qxf4 Bxf4 29. Nc5 Bc8 30. Bc4 {
Black loses a pawn. However, after verliert Schwarz nдmlich einen Bauern. Aber
nach} Bd6 31. Bxa6 (31. Nxa6 {offers Black a choice between lдsst Schwarz die
Wahl zwischen} Bxa6 32. Bxa6 b3 33. cxb3 Bb4 {with a dead draw and 31...c5,
trying to trap the knight. mit totem Remis sowie 31...c5, um zu versuchen, den
Springer zu fangen.}) 31... Bxa6 ({Black can obtain an opposite coloured
bishops ending with Schwarz kann ein ungleichfarbiges Lдuferendspiel erreichen
mit} 31... Bxc5 32. Bxc8 {, but the structure is complex and the a-pawn rather
advanced. It is not easy to be 100% sure this is a draw. , aber die Struktur
ist komplex und der a-Bauer ziemlich weit vorgerьckt. Man kann nicht zu 100%
sicher sein, dass dies remis ist.}) 32. Nxa6 c5 {the knight is trapped. ist
der Springer gefangen.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 {Nothing really new or thrilling so far... De momento, nada
emocionante o nuevo...} d5 $5 {But this looks quite unexpected! Aronian wants
to play in the spirit of the Marshall Attack irrespective of White's cautious
opening choice. At this level, the move has never been played before. Pero
esta jugada es bastante sorprendente. Aronian quiere jugar en el espiritu del
Ataque Marshall independentemente del prudente juego de las blancas en la
apertura. A este nivel, nadie ha jugado asн todavнa.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. c3 $5 {
After the text move, it was Aronian's turn to sink into deep thought. It
appears that play has just transposed to a different variation, where the
moves c3 and d3 are played in reversed order... Despuйs de la jugada del texto,
fue Aronian quнen cayу en una larga reflexiуn. Resulta que la partida ha
transpuesto a una variante diferente, donde las jugadas c3 y d3 se efectuan en
orden inverso...} ({Grischuk played this move after a long thought. He
probably did not feel ready to check Aronian's analysis. The whole variation
had been successfully employed with Black earlier this year by Ivan Sokolov
and Peter Heine Nielsen. The main point is that after Grischuk efectuу esta
jugada tras un largo pensamiento. Probablemente, no se sintiу capaz de
comprobar los analisis caseros de Aronian. Toda la variante habнa sido
empleada con йxito en 2007 por Ivan Sokolov y Peter Heine Nielsen. La idea
principal es que despuйs de} 11. Nxe5 {Black does not capture on e5 (as he
does in the genuine Marshall Attack), but takes advantage of the fact that the
d4-square is not under white control with las negras no tienen que capturar en
e5 (como se hace en el Ataque Marshall "original"), sino aprovecharse de la
circunstancia que la casilla de d4 no estб defendida con} Nd4 $1 {The idea is
not new in fact, previously it was seen in an under 16 girl competition (1996).
.. En realidad, la idea no es nueva, ya que fue jugada en una partidas de
chicas sub-16...} 12. Nc3 {White is best adviced to develop as quickly as
possible.} (12. Nf3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nbd2 Re8 15. d4 c5 16. c3 Nd3 17. Re3
Nf4 $44 {Brkic,A (2567)-Ivanisevic,I (2614)/Vogosca 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2-1/2,
39)}) (12. Qg4 Nxb3 13. axb3 f5 14. Qf3 Rb8 15. Bf4 Bb4 16. Rf1 g5 $36 {
Spoelman,W (2428)-Sokolov,I (2655)/Hilversum 2007/CBM 119 (0-1, 34)}) 12...
Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 ({The initial game went} 13... Bf6 14. Bd2 Qd6 15. Nf3 Nxc3
16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Rae8 {Ushakova,E-Koroleva,V/Kaluga 1996/EXT 2000 (1/2-1/
2, 48). with only light compensation for the pawn.}) 14. Bd2 ({White's setup
after} 14. d4 Re8 15. Be3 Bd6 16. Nd3 Re6 {Quezada,Y (2541)-Nielsen,P (2649)/
Havana 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2-1/2, 21). looks slightly artificial, while
Black's threats become real.}) 14... f6 15. Ng4 f5 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. d4 ({
An attempt to improve over} 17. Na2 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Nc6 19. Re1 f4 20. Bc3 f3 $36
{Timofeev,A (2658)-Sokolov,I (2655)/Sarajevo 2007/CBM 118 (0-1, 40). With the
white knight on a2 and in the presence of opposite coloured bishops, Black's
attack is quite strong.}) 17... Qh4 18. Ne2 f4 19. f3 Nd5 20. Nc3 Ne3 $5 21.
Bxe3 fxe3 22. Rxe3 Rad8 $44 {Georgiev,K (2660)-Ivanisevic,I (2614)/Valjevo
2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 62). Black has sacrificed a second pawn, but his
position is very active, while the dark squares in White's camp are
chronically weak. For White, it is difficult to display any form of activity.})
11... Bf6 ({In the most recent example at high level wher this position
occured (with reversed move order, though), Black prefered En el ejemplo mбs
reciente a nivel muy alto donde se llegу a esta posiciуn (pero con orden
inverso de jugadas), las negras preferirieron} 11... Qd6 12. Nbd2 Rad8 13. Ne4
Qd7 {, with an acceptable position for Black, although he later went down
abruptly, Kamsky,G (2705)-Bacrot,E (2709)/Elista 2007/CBM 119/[Marin,M] (1-0,
36). conposiciуn aceptable para las negras, aunque mбs tarde se derrumbaron
rapidamente en Kamsky - Bacrot, Elista (m) 2007.}) ({In my understanding, if
Black was ready to sacrifice a pawn on the previous move, the most consequent
continuation was} 11... Qd7 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Rad8 {as in Zagrebelny,S 
(2480)-Giorgadze,G (2580)/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 (0-1, 25), which was examined in
the notes to Kamsky- Bacrot. We shall soon see, however, that Giorgadze
himself opted for 11...Bf6 in a more recent game.}) 12. Nbd2 (12. a4 b4 13. a5
Rb8 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Ba8 {(?!) Black is better developed and seems to have
an excellent position. However, the weakness of the queenside light squares
makes the situation far from one-sided.} 16. Bc4 Nde7 17. Bxa6 Nxd4 18. Nxd4
Bxd4 19. Nd2 Qd6 20. Bf1 Rbd8 21. Qg4 Ng6 22. Nb3 $14 {Aagaard,J (2477)
-Giorgadze,G (2610)/Torrelavega 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 60). The outside passed
pawn promises White an advantage in any type of endgame.}) 12... Nf4 (12... g6
{is more cautious from the point of view of the kingside structure, but after.
parece mбs prudente.} 13. Ne4 Bg7 {the c5-square remains at the mercy of
White's minor pieces. One interesting continuation would be} 14. Bg5 f6 15. Nc5
Bc8 16. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 c6 18. Rxd5 cxd5 19. Qf3 {and White will get two
pawns for the exchange and an active position.}) 13. Ne4 Nxd3 {Safely covering
the c5-square.} 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Re4 ({A logical novelty over} 15. Bh6 Nxe1
16. Qxe1 {, as played in Szalanczy,E (2353)-Vajda,S (2387)/Balatonlelle 2002/
EXT 2004 (1-0, 34). White can use his already developed king's rook for
attacking purposes, rather than sacrificing it.}) 15... Nxc1 16. Rg4+ ({
This intermediate check was not really necessary. After the immediate} 16. Qxc1
{Black does not get the additional possibility of} Ne7 17. Rg4+ Ng6 $2 {
because of} 18. Qh6 {[%csl Gg6][%cal Yf3h4,Rb3g8] with decisive attack, for
instance} Bxf3 19. Rxg6+ hxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. gxf3 $18 {[%csl
Gg8][%cal Yg1h2,Ya1g1]}) 16... Kh8 17. Qxc1 {White's compensation for the
sacrificed pawn is beyond any doubt. The chronic weakness of the enemy
kingside offers him excellent atacking chances. Imagine Black's frustration:
he intended to sacrifice a pawn himself, in order to take over the initiative
and all he got is the opposite situation! La compensaciуn de las blancas por
el peуn entregado es muy obvнa. La debilidad crуnica del flanco de rey negro
les ofrece excelentes posibilidades de ataque. Imaginense la frustraciуn de
las negras: intentaron entregar un peуn para hacerse con la iniciativa, pero
Ўtodo saliу al revйs!} Ne7 18. Bc2 {The start of a massive migration of
White's pieces towards the enemy kingside. El inicio de una migraciуn masiva
de las figuras blancas hacнa el flanco de rey enemigo.} ({Now,} 18. Qh6 {
is parried by} Nf5) 18... Rg8 ({Avoiding the trap Evitando la celada} 18...
Bxf3 $4 19. Qh6 Ng6 20. Rh4 $3 {with mate to follow. seguнdo por mate.}) 19.
Qh6 Ng6 20. Nh4 Qf8 21. Qh5 Qe8 {[%csl Yg6]} (21... Bc6 {provides indirect
defence of the g6-square, but White can continue as in the game with} 22. Re1
$44 ({Black's idea becomes clear after} 22. Nxg6+ $6 fxg6 23. Bxg6 $2 Rxg6 $1
24. Rxg6 Be8 {, pointed out by Shipov.})) 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Bf5 Bc8 {After the
exchange of the bishops White will find outposts for all his pieces, but
Black's desire to to relieve the pressure aginst the g6-knight is
understandable.} (23... Rd2 24. Re3 Rxb2 $6 25. Reg3 $1 $40) 24. Bxc8 Rxc8 25.
Nf5 Qd7 26. Ree4 Rcd8 27. Kh2 $44 {Tempting Black to start his "counterattack.}
Qd1 $2 {Under no circumstances should Black have left the f5-knight unattacked.
White disposes over a more or less forced win now, but, unexpectedely,
Grischuk decides to force a draw. Las blancas han acabado su larga
reagrupaciуn, pero, inesperadamente, Grischuk decidiу forzar las tablas.} ({
Black cannot release the kingside tension in any way. For instance} 27... Nf8
$2 28. Rxg8+ Kxg8 29. Nh6+ Kg7 30. Ng4 $18) ({However, after a neutral move
such as} 27... c5 {White would find it difficult to make progress in any way
and a draw by mutual inactivity would have not been out of question. If, for
instance} 28. Rh4 {, Black can somewhat free himself with} Nf8 29. Reg4 Rg6)
28. Nh6 $6 ({Instead, he could have obtained an overwhelming advantage with En
vez de esto, podнa haber obtenido una abrumadora ventaja con} 28. Qh6 $1 {
, threatening Rh4, and if ...Nxh4, then Qxf6+ followed by mate on g7. ,
amenazando Rh4, y si ...Nxh4, entonces Qxf6+ seguнdo por mate en g7.} Qd2 {
The only try. El ъnico recurso defensivo.} 29. f4 $1 Rd6 ({Defending f6. If
Defendiendo f6. Sн} 29... exf4 30. Rh4 {, Black is forced to sacrifice the
queen with , las negras tendrнan que entregar la dama con} Qxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Nxh4+
32. Kf2 Nxf5 {, but after , pero despuйs de} 33. Qxf6+ Ng7 34. Rd4 {he is too
passive to count on saving the game. su posiciуn es demasiado pбsiva para
permitir salvar la partida.}) 30. fxe5 Qxh6 (30... fxe5 $6 {shortens Black's
suffering because of acortarнa el sufrimiento de las negras por} 31. Rg5 $1 {
, with the terrible threat Qxh7+ followed by Rh5+ and mate on h6. , con la
terible amenaza Qxh7+ seguнdo por Rh5+ y mate en h6.}) 31. Nxh6 Rb6 32. exf6 $5
{The most ambitious continuation, although the g8-rook was not poisoned either.
La continuaciуn mбs ambiciosa, aunque la torre de g8 tampoco estaba envenenada.
} Rf8 33. Ref4 $1 {White calmly defends his important f6-pawn and Black is
helpless in view of the threat h4-h5. The point is that Las blancas defienden
con calma su peуn de f6, dejando a las negras sin esperanzas ante la amenaza
h4-h5. Lo importante es que el caballo no puede mover. Por ejemplo} Nxf4 {
allows mate in 2 with permitirнa mate en dos con} 34. Rg8+ $1 Rxg8 35. Nxf7#)
28... Rg7 29. Nf5 Rgg8 30. Nh6 $4 Rg7 31. Nf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{Two rounds earlier, Anand broke Svidler's defence in the Marshall Attack by
seemingly simple means. Now, he wisely avoids his opponent's specific
preparation, at the same time proving that there is some life left in the Anti
Marshall systems, too. Zwei Runden zuvor ьberwand Anand Svidlers Verteidigung
im Marshall-Angriff mit scheinbar einfachen Mitteln. Jetzt geht er klug der
spezifischen Vorbereitung des Gegners aus dem Weg, wobei er gleichzeitig
beweist, dass auch in den Anti-Marshall-Systemen noch einiges Leben steckt.
Dos rondas antes, Anand derrumbу la defensa de Svidler en el... Ataque
Marshall con aparente facilidad. Ahora, йl decide evitar la preparaciуn
especifica del contrincante, demostrando al mismo tiempo que queda vida
todavнa en los sistemas Anti Marshall.} b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 ({In the next
game when he faced this variation, Grischuk deviated with Als er sich in der
nдchsten Partie dieser Variante gegenьbersah, wich Grischuk ab mit} 10... Be6 {
(Leko-Grischuk, 8th round) (Leko-Grischuk, 8. Runde)}) 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 {
White immediately prepares the occupation of the centre with pawns. WeiЯ
bereitet sofort die Besetzung des Zentrums mit Bauern vor.} ({The main
alternative is Die Hauptalternative ist} 12. Nc4 {, aiming to establish a
blockade on the light squares. This is an entirely different approach, which
did not score too well in practice. I will mention just one game played at top
level, in which the drawbacks of this move will become obvious. , mit der eine
Blockade auf den weiЯen Felder angestrebt wird. Dies ist eine gдnzlich andere
Herangehensweise, welche in der Praxis nicht allzu gut gepunktet hat. Ich
werde nur eine Partie auf Topniveau erwдhnen, in welcher die Nachteile dieses
Zuges zutage treten werden.} Nc6 {The knight stands in the bishop's way now.
Nun steht der Springer dem Lдufer im Weg.} 13. c3 {Maybe White should refrain
from this move, but how else to fight for an advantage? Vielleicht sollte WeiЯ
diesen Zug unterlassen, aber wie soll er sonst um Vorteil kдmpfen?} Rb8 14. h3
h6 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bf4 (18. Qxd4 {is not too
favourable because of ist nicht sonderlich gьnstig wegen} b3 19. Bb1 d5 {
, opening the position in a moment when White's pieces stand in each other's
way on the queenside. , was die Stellung in einem Augenblick цffnet, wo sich
die weiЯen Figuren am Damenflьgel gegenseitig im Weg stehen.}) 18... Be6 {
But now, the knight is vulnerable on c4. Jetzt aber steht der Springer auf c4
unsicher.} 19. Rc1 Nd7 20. Bb1 (20. Qxd4 {leaves the knight unstable after
macht den Springer instabil nach} b3 21. Bb1 Rb4) 20... Bg5 $1 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 {
[%csl Gh3] Suddenly, it is not easy for White to win the pawn back. Plцtzlich
fдllt es WeiЯ nicht leicht, den Bauern zurьckzugewinnen.} 22. Bd3 Ne5 $17 {
Morozevich,A (2721)-Leko,P (2740)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext (0-1, 98)})
12... Nc6 {This move is rarely played. Dieser Zug wird selten gespielt.} ({
The main continuation is Die Hauptfortsetzung lautet} 12... Rb8 {. Once again,
13.Nc4 is an important variation, but I will only investigate . Erneut ist 13.
Nc4 eine wichtige Variante, aber ich mцchte lediglich} 13. d4 {, which is in
accordance with Anand's plan in the main game. analysieren, analog zu Anands
Plan in der Hauptpartie.} Qc7 (13... bxc3 {makes less sense, because it
removes the permanent threat of shutting off the enemy bishop. ergibt weniger
Sinn, da es die permanente Drohung aufhebt, den feindlichen Lдufer auszuperren.
} 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Nc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 exd4 17. cxd4 Bf6 18. Ba3 $16 {Palac,M 
(2566)-Candela Perez,J (2435)/Dos Hermanas 2004/CBM 099 ext (1-0, 41)}) 14. Nf1
b3 $5 {The most ambitious continuation. Die ehrgeizigste Fortsetzung.} (14...
exd4 15. cxd4 c4 16. Bg5 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Rc1 b3 20. Bb1 Ng6
21. Ne3 $16 {Megaranto,S (2439)-Almasi,Z (2650)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (1-0, 55)
. and White has developed his pieces in a very harmonious way, while Black's
far advanced pawns are more of a source of worries. und WeiЯ hat seine Figuren
sehr harmonisch entwickelt, wдhrend die weit vorgerьckten Bauern von Schwarz
eher ein Sorgenquell sind.}) 15. Bb1 c4 {An interesting situation. If Black
will manage to consolidate in the centre, White will play the rest of the game
without his light-squared bishop and queen's rook. However, Black's
coordination is far from perfect yet, and the c4-and e5-pawns need permanent
care in order to allow him to carry out the plan. Eine interessante Situation.
Wenn es Schwarz gelingt, sich im Zentrum zu konsolidieren, wird der Anziehende
den Rest der Partie ohne seinen weiЯfeldrigen Lдufer und Damenturm spielen.
Doch die Koordination von Schwarz ist bei weitem noch nicht perfekt, und die
Bauern c4 und e5 bedьrfen der permanenten Obhut, damit er seinen Plan
ausfьhren kann.} 16. Ne3 Bb7 ({Black can consolidate his e5-pawn with Schwarz
kann seinen Bauern e5 konsolidieren mit} 16... Nd7 $6 {, but after , doch nach}
17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qd5 {the c4-pawn is doomed. geht
der Bauer c4 verloren.}) 17. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxd5 $6 (18... Rbd8 $5) 19.
dxe5 Bxf3 20. exd6 Bxd6 21. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 22. Kf1 Bd6 23. Be4 $44 {[%csl Ya5]
Neelotpal,D (2462)-Addison,B (2251)/Edinburgh 2003/CBM 095 ext (1-0, 39). It
is Black who has problems with piece placement now. Nun ist Schwarz derjenige,
der Probleme mit der Figurenpostierung hat.}) 13. d4 $1 $146 {The most
consequent. Am konsequentesten.} (13. Nf1 Rb8 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Nd5 Na5 {[%cal
Yb4b3]} 16. cxb4 $6 (16. Nd2 $5) 16... Bxd5 17. exd5 Rxb4 $15 {Jackson,S (2190)
-Lematschko,T (2305)/Thessaloniki 1984/EXT 97-B (0-1, 32)}) 13... bxc3 14. bxc3
{White has succeded in winning space in the centre, while keeping his
"Spanish" bishop active. WeiЯ ist es gelungen, Raum im Zentrum zu gewinnen und
gleichzeitig seinen "spanischen" Lдufer aktiv zu halten.} exd4 15. cxd4 Nb4 {
Black made certain concessions in the centre, obtaining the b4-square for his
queen's knight in exchange. Schwarz hat im Zentrum gewisse Zugestдndnisse
gemacht, dafьr aber das Feld b4 fьr seinen Damenspringer bekommen. Las negras
hicieron ciertas concesiones en el centro, obteniendo en cambio la casilla de
b4 para su caballo dama.} 16. Bb1 Bg4 {Chess history is full of examples where
the Spanish pair of bishops delivered decisive blows against Black's kingside.
Therefore, Grischuk decides to transfer his own bishop to g6, anticipating an
eventual attack. Die Schachgeschichte wimmelt vor Beispielen, wo das spanische
Lдuferpaar entscheidende Schlдge gegen den schwarzen Kцnigsflьgel anbrachte.
Daher beschlieЯt Grischuk, in Erwartung eines eventuellen Angriffs seinen
eigenen Lдufer nach g6 zu ьberfьhren. La historнa del ajedrez esta llena de
ejemplos en los cuales la pareja de alfiles "Espaсola" entregу golpes
decisivos contra el flanco de rey enemigo. Grischuk decide transferir su alfil
de casillas blancas a g6, para anticipar un eventual ataque.} 17. h3 Bh5 18. g4
Bg6 {Black only needs to advance his d-pawn in order to establish a harmonious
cooperation between all his pieces. Schwarz muss nur noch seinen d-Bauern
vorьcken, um eine harmonische Kooperation zwischen all seinen Figuren
herzustellen. Las negras solo necesitan avanzar su peуn de d para que todas
sus figuras colaboren de forma harmoniosa.} 19. d5 $1 {After this well-timed
move, Black's bishop will remain out of play for a long time. Considering also
the immobility of the otherwise beautifully placed b4-knight and White's
advantage of space we can evaluate the position as favourable for White. Nach
diesem wohl getimten Zug wird der schwarze Lдufer lange Zeit auЯer Spiel
bleiben. Wenn wir auch noch die Unbeweglichkeit des ansonsten schцn
platzierten Springers b4 und den weiЯen Raumvorteil dazu nehmen, kцnnen wir
die Stellung als gьnstig fьr WeiЯ einschдtzen. Despuйs de esta jugada muy
oportuna, el alfil negro quedarб fuera del juego durante largo rato. Teniendo
en cuenta ademбs la inmovilidad del esteticamente colocado caballo de b4 y la
ventaja de espacнo de las blancas, podemos concluнr que las blancas estбn
mejor.} Nd7 $6 {Too straightforward. Zu direkt.} ({Before moving for the
second time with an already developed piece, Black should think whether he
could bring some other piece into play. This abstract thought could bring to
mind the move Bevor er zum zweiten Mal mit einer bereits entwickelten Figur
zieht, sollte Schwarz ьberlegen, ob er eine andere Figur ins Spiel bringen
kцnnte. Dieser abstrakte Gedanke einen auf den Zug} 19... Rb8 $5 {, which is
useful anyway. In this case, White would still have had to prepare the
desirable knight jump to c4, since bringen, welcher sowieso nьtzlich ist. In
diesem Fall mьsste WeiЯ den wьnschenswerten Springersatz nach c4 noch
vorbereiten, denn} 20. Nc4 $2 {loses a pawn to verliert einen Bauern wegen}
Nbxd5 $1 {and we can see how important it is to leave the king's knight on f6
for just one more move. und wir sehen, wie wichtig es ist, den Kцnigsspringer
noch einen Zug lдnger auf f6 zu lassen.}) 20. Nc4 Rb8 21. Bf4 Nb6 22. Nxb6 $1 (
{Avoiding the trap Umgeht die Falle} 22. Nfd2 $2 Bf6 $1 23. Ra3 N4xd5 $1 $17)
22... Rxb6 23. Nd2 Bg5 ({The main alternative was Die Hauptalternative war} 
23... Bf6 24. Ra3 {Grischuk might have thought that the bishop prevents the
activation of his colleague with an eventual ...f6, while there seem to be no
stable squares available along the f6-a1 diagonal. However, Grischuk mag
gedacht haben, dass der Lдufer die Aktivierung seines Kollegen mit eventuellem
...f6 verhindert, wдhrend es entlang der Diagonalen f6-a1 keine stabilen
Felder zu geben scheint. Doch} Bd4 {is entirely possible. White would play ist
absolut spielbar. WeiЯ wьrde spielen} 25. Be3 ({Avoiding the traps Vermeidet
die Fallen} 25. Nb3 $2 Bb2 $17) ({or oder} 25. Nf3 $2 Nxd5 $1 $17) 25... Bxe3
26. Raxe3 {with a similar position as in the game. mit дhnlicher Stellung wie
in der Partie.}) 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Nc4 Rbb8 26. Qd2 {After the exchange of
queens, Black's position will lose any trace of dynamism. Nach dem Damentausch
wird die schwarze Stellung jegliche Spur von Dynamik einbьЯen.} ({The d6-pawn
is indirectly defended. Der d-Bauer ist indirekt verteidigt.} 26. Nxd6 $2 {
drops a piece to verliert eine Figur wegen} Qe5 $1) 26... Qxd2 27. Nxd2 f6 28.
Nc4 {After the simplifications, Black finally managed to make a diagonal
available for his bishop. However, this is not enough yet to question the
stability of White's c4-knight. The bishop needs to be transferred to the
remote a6-square... Nach den Vereinfachungen ist es Schwarz endlich gelungen,
eine Diagonale fьr seinen Lдufer verfьgbar zu machen. Doch reicht dies nicht
aus, um die Stabiltдt des weiЯen c4-Springers in Frage zu stellen. Dazu mьsste
der Lдufer auf das entfernte Feld a6 ьberfьhrt werden... Despuйs de las
simplificaciones, las negras han conseguнdo por fin abrir una diagonal para su
alfil. Sin embargo, esto no es suficiente todavнa para cuestionar la
estabilidad del caballo blanco en c4; serнa necesarнo el traslado del alfil a
la remota casilla de a6...} Rfd8 29. f4 Bf7 30. Ra3 {White's advantage is
obvious, but it is not easy to make further progress. Black's strong pressure
against the d5-pawn makes the thematic central break e5 difficult to carry out,
but a slower plan based on Rg3, h4, g5 would be unpleasant for Black. Der
Vorteil von WeiЯ fдllt ins Auge, aber es nicht leicht, weitere Fortschritte zu
machen. Der starke Druck von Schwarz gegen den d5-Bauern erschwert den
thematischen Zentrumsdurchbruch e5, aber ein langsamerer Plan basierend auf
Rg3, h4, g5 wдre unangenehm fьr Schwarz. La ventaja de las blancas es obvнa,
pero no serб fбcil progresar. La fuerte presiуn de las negras contra el peуn
de d5 dificulta la ruptura temбtica e5, pero las blancas disponen de un plan
mбs lento de expansiуn, basado en Rg3, h4, g5, que podrнa resultar bastante
desagradable para las negras.} g5 {Grischuk aims to obtain a blockade on the
dark squares, but seriously weakens his king's position. The main defect of
his plan is that the knight will not be able to take advantage of the
e5-square. Grischuk will eine Blockade auf den dunklen Felder errichten,
schwдcht aber ernsthaft seine Kцnigsstellung. Der Hauptmangel seines Plans
liegt darin, dass der Springer nicht in der Lage sein wird, aus dem Feld e5
Vorteil zu ziehen. Grischuk intenta obtener un bloqueo en casillas negras,
pero la posiciуn de su rey quedarб muy dйbil ahora. El principal defecto de su
ъltima jugada es que la casilla de e5 no podrб ser aprovechada por el caballo.}
31. h4 gxf4 32. Rf3 Be8 33. Rxf4 Kg7 {Black only needs two tempi (...Bxa4-b5)
in order to obtain a playable position... Schwarz braucht nur noch zwei Tempi 
(...Bxa4-b5), um eine spielbare Stellung zu erhalten... Las negras solo
necesitan dos tiempos (...Bxa4-b5) para obtener una posiciуn satisfactorнa...}
34. h5 $3 ({A fantastic move. All White's pieces (with the exception of the
e1-rook) were placed on optimal squares already, but the attack did not seem
strong enough yet. For instance, after the immediate Ein phantastischer Zug.
Alle weiЯen Figuren (mit Ausnahme des Turms e1) standen bereits auf optimalen
Feldern, aber der Angriff schien dennoch nicht stark genug zu sein. Zum
Beispiel ist nach dem sofortigen Una jugada fantastica. Con excepciуn de la
torre de e1, todas las figuras blancas se encuentran en posiciones уptimas,
pero su ataque no parece demasiado peligroso todavнa. Por ejemplo, despuйs de} 
34. Ref1 Bxa4 35. Rxf6 Bb5 {the situation is not entirely clear. The
intervention of the modest h-pawn radically inclines the balance to White's
favour. die Situation nicht gдnzlich klar. Durch die Intervention des
bescheidenen h-Bauern neigt sich die Balance radikal zu weiЯen Gunsten. la
situaciуn no es enteramente clara. La intervenciуn del modesto peуn de h
inclinarб la evaluaciуn de la partida a favor de las blancas.}) 34... Bxa4 ({
If Black blocks the h-pawn with Falls Schwarz den h-Bauern blockiert mit Sн
las negras bloquean el peуn enemigo con} 34... h6 {, the weakness of the
g6-square would make itself felt after , wьrde sich die Schwдche des Feldes g6
bemerkbar machen nach , la debilidad de la casilla de g6 se harнa sentir
despuйs de} 35. Ref1 Bxa4 36. Rxf6 Bb5 37. Rg6+ {with a decisive attack. mit
entscheidendem Angriff. con ataque decisivo.}) 35. h6+ Kxh6 36. Rxf6+ Kg7 37.
g5 {The d6-pawn will perish soon and with it - any hope of maintaining a
reasonable position. Black is in big trouble now. Der d6-Bauer wird bald
fallen und damit - jegliche Hoffnung, eine ordentliche Stellung zu behalten.
Schwarz ist jetzt in groЯen Schwierigkeiten. El peуn de d6 perecerб pronto y,
con йl, toda esperanza de salvar la partida.} Rf8 38. Rxd6 Bc2 39. Ne5 Rf4 40.
Rf6 (40. Rd7+ $5 Kg8 41. d6 Bxb1 42. Rxb1 Rxe4 43. Re7 Rd8 44. Rd1 $16) 40...
Rh4 (40... Nxd5 $5 {On the last move before the control, Grischuk does not
find a curious tactical resource: Im letzten Zug vor der Zeitkontrolle entgeht
Grischuk eine kuriose taktische Ressource:} 41. exd5 Re4 $3 {White's pieces
are hanging suddenly, but he can maintain an advantage with Plцtzlich hдngen
die Figuren von WeiЯ, doch er kann Vorteil behaupten mit} 42. Rxe4 Rxb1+ 43.
Kf2 Bxe4 44. d6 Rb8 45. d7 Rd8 46. Ke3 {. However, Black can hope, because of
the reduced amount of material left on the board. Allerdings kann Schwarz
angesichts des reduzierten Materials auf dem Brett hoffen.}) 41. d6 Bxb1 42.
Rxb1 Rxe4 43. Rf7+ Kg8 44. Re7 Rd8 45. Rd1 c4 46. d7 Rf4 47. Rf1 Rff8 48. Rxf8+
Kxf8 49. Rxh7 c3 50. Ng6+ 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Be6 {This variation was fashionable at top level some...
40 years ago.} ({Grischuk refrains from Grischuk renuncнa a} 10... Na5 {
, which had led him to defeat in the previous round. Maybe it would have been
wiser to pick up a completely different opening, in order to avoid specific
preparation and the negative influence of... bad memories. que le habнa
llevado a la derrota en la ronda anterior. Tal vez debнo de cambнar la
apertura por completo, para evitar la preparaciуn especifica y la influencнa
negativa de... los malos recuerdos.}) 11. Bxe6 {Curiously, in most of the
previous games White refrained from this exchange. Curiosamente, en mayorнa de
las partidas anteriores las blancas evitaron este cambнo.} ({In the '60s, the
main line was considered to be} 11. Nc4 Rb8 {is more refined. Black
anticipates White's plan and prepares for the opening of the b-file,
maintaining the knight on f6 for one more move.} (11... Nd7 {intends to carry
out a regrouping that would keep White's centre under pressure. The main
drawback of the early knight retreat is that it allows} 12. Be3 Bf6 (12... a5
13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 d5 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Rb1 Re8 17. Ba2 f6 18. Rb5 Bf7 19.
Qc2 Nf8 20. d4 $16 {Ivkov,B-Petrosian,T/Bamberg 1968/MCD (1/2-1/2, 41).
White's pieces are more active in an almost symmetrical position.}) 13. c3 (13.
d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Re8 $11 {Ciric,D-Geller,E/Sukhumi 1966/MCD (1/
2-1/2, 34)}) 13... Rb8 $6 {The rook will remain passive here, because Black
will not be in time to open the b-file.} (13... bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb8 15. Rb1 Qe7
$132) 14. d4 exd4 (14... bxc3 $2 15. d5 $18) 15. cxd4 d5 16. Ncd2 dxe4 17. Nxe4
$16 {Ivkov,B-Geller,E/Leningrad 1964/EXT 2001 (1-0, 51)}) 12. h3 {This
certainly looks like a loss of time if compared to the lines with an immediate
11...Nd7.} (12. Be3 {is not effective now because of} Ng4 13. Bd2 Bh4 14. Rf1
Be7 15. Rc1 Nf6 {Firman,N (2505)-Ehlvest,J (2587)/Philadelphia 2003/EXT 2004 
(0-1, 40). and White has achieved very little.}) (12. c3 $5 {, continuing the
waiting policy, deserves attention. If} Nd7 $6 {then} 13. d4 $1) 12... Nd7 13.
Be3 Bf6 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc5 18. Re3 f6 $11 {
Minic,D-Spassky,B/Belgrade 1964/MCD (1/2-1/2, 30)}) (11. Bc4 {initiates a
regrouping on the light squares, but is a bit slow.} Nd7 {[%cal Yd7b6]} 12. a5
Bf6 13. Nb3 Ne7 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 Ng6 16. Qe2 Kh8 17. Qc4 exd4 18. Nbxd4
Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qh4 20. g3 Qf6 21. f4 c5 22. Nf3 Nde5 $132 {Ciric,D-Geller,E/
Leningrad 1964/EXT 2001 (0-1, 40). Black has active play and a strong central
pawn formation, severly restricting the enemy bishop.}) (11. c3 Rb8 {[%csl Ga6]
Once again, this move does not seem to be well-timed.} (11... Qd7 $5 {,
connecting rooks, deserves attention.}) 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. d4 bxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7
15. Qe2 $1 exd4 (15... Qc8 16. Qc4 $16) 16. Nxd4 (16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Rb1 c5 $132)
16... Nxd4 17. cxd4 $14 {Ostojic,P-Geller,E/Wijk aan Zee 1969/MCL (1/2-1/2, 32)
}) 11... fxe6 12. Nf1 $146 {The transfer of the knight to the kingside looks
more constructive for the purpose of central expansion than the mechanical
occupation of the c4-square.} (12. Nc4 Nd7 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. h3 Qe8 {1/2-1/2
Short,N (2535)-Olafsson,H (2515)/Vestmannaeyjum 1985/MCL}) 12... Qd7 13. Ng3
Na5 ({With this move, Grischuk probably wanted to anticipate the opening of
the b-file after c3. However, the control over the centre is weakened now. Con
esta jugada, Grischuk quнso probablemente anticipar la apertura de la lнnea de
b con c3. Sin embargo, el control sobre el centro se debilita. Una importante
alternativa era} 13... Rab8 {would have been a worthy alternative, inviting
White to declare his intentions. For instance, , invitando a las blancas a que
definen sus intenciones. Por ejemplo,} 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 Na5 $5) 14. d4 {
The logical reaction. La reacciуn lуgica.} exd4 15. Qxd4 c5 16. Qd3 Nc6 17. c3
bxc3 18. bxc3 Kh8 ({Starting with this moment, Grischuk plays a series of
moves without a clear plan. Here, he could have activated his play with
Empezando con este momento, Grischuk realiza una serie de jugadas sin plan.
Aquн, el podнa activar su juego con} 18... Ng4 {, aiming to install a knight
on e5 in order to control the relatively weak light squares from the centre.
The only way to cross this plan would be , aspirando a instalar un caballo en
e5, para asн tomar bajo control las relativamente dйbiles casillas blancas del
centro. La ъnica forma de prevenir esto serнa} 19. e5 $5 {but, among other
reasonable possibilities, Black could have answered with , pero, entre otras
posibilidades interesantes, las negras dispondrнan de} d5 $5 20. h3 Nxf2 $1 21.
Kxf2 Bh4 $44 {[%csl Gf3,Gg3][%cal Yf8f5,Yd7f7,Yf7g6] , leaving White under an
unpleasant double pin. The slow (but not really easy to parry) threat is ...
Rf5 followed by the transfer of the queen to g6, in order to win the g3-knight.
, dejando a las blancas con una desagradable doble clavada. La amenaza lenta 
(pero, realmente, nada fбcil de parar) serнa ...Rf5, seguнdo por la maniobra
de la dama hacнa g6, recuperando el caballo de g3.}) 19. h3 Qc7 (19... d5 $132
{looks more active. serнa mбs activo.}) 20. Ng5 Ne5 21. Qe2 Qc8 22. f4 Nf7 23.
Nf3 Rb8 24. c4 $14 {White's progress over the past few moves is obvious. El
progreso de las blancas durante las ъiltimas jugadas es evidente.} Qb7 25. Bd2
Qb2 26. Qd3 Qb7 27. Bc3 Qc6 28. a5 Kg8 29. Rad1 Rbd8 {White has regrouped in
the optimal way and is ready for concrete action. Las blancas han reagrupado
sus fuerzas de forma уptima y estбn preparadas para acciones concretas.} 30. f5
e5 $16 {Strategically, White's position is close to winning. In the
manoeuvring phase that follows, Leko will combine the threats of a direct
mating attack with the pressure along the d-file. Desde un punto de vista
estratйgico, la psociуn de las blancas no estб lejos de ganada. En la fase de
maniobras que sigue, Leko combinarб la amenaza de un ataque directo de mate
con la presion sobre las debilidades de la columna de d.} 31. Nf1 Rb8 32. g4 h6
33. N1d2 Qc7 34. Kh1 Qd8 35. Rg1 Nh7 36. Nf1 Bg5 37. Ne3 Bxe3 38. Qxe3 Rb3 39.
Rd3 Nhg5 40. Nd2 Ra3 41. h4 Nh7 42. Nf3 Nf6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5 Nh5 45. Bd2
Ra4 46. Qe2 Ra2 47. Qe1 Nf4 48. Bxf4 exf4 49. Qh4 Qe8 50. g6 Nh6 51. Qxf4 Re2
52. Ng5 Qa4 53. Qxd6 Qxc4 54. Qd5+ Qxd5 55. Rxd5 {Nowadays, it is not so easy
to mate the opponent in the middlegame, especially at this level. However, the
resulting ending is almost as good. Hoy en dнa, no resulta fбcil ganar por
mate en el medio juego, especialmente a este nivel. Sin embargo, entrar en
este final estб casi igualmente bien.} c4 56. Rd7 c3 57. Ne6 Rc8 58. Rgd1 Rd2
59. R1xd2 cxd2 60. Rxd2 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nd8 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nf5 Ne6 15.
Qf3 Bf8 16. Be3 c5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Nc7 20. Bd2 Rxe1+ 21.
Rxe1 Re8 22. Rxe8 Nxe8 23. b3 g6 24. Nh6+ Bxh6 25. Bxh6 {In spite of the
relatively advanced stage of the game, this position is not new: it had been
seen less than two weeks earlier in the game Ivanchuk-Grischuk, Sochi 2006.} f6
({The aforementioned game continued with} 25... Qe7 {featuring a similar
scenario: Black managed to hold a slightly inferior position. Apparently,
Kamsky was not aware of this detail, given the fact that he had consumed
considerable amount of time until this moment, which left him in slight time
trouble.}) 26. c4 Kf7 27. Qd3 Ke7 28. g4 Kd8 29. Kg2 Kc8 30. Bd2 Nc7 31. Bc3
Qf7 32. Qf3 Ne8 33. Qe4 Nc7 34. Kg3 Kd7 35. Ba5 Qe8 36. Kf3 Qxe4+ 37. Kxe4 bxc4
38. bxc4 Ne8 39. Bd2 Ke7 40. Kd3 Kd7 41. Kc3 Kc7 42. Kb3 Kb6 43. Bh6 Kb7 44. h4
f5 45. gxf5 gxf5 46. Bg5 Kc8 47. h5 Kd7 48. Kc3 h6 49. Bxh6 Nf6 50. Kb3 Nxh5
51. Ka4 Nf6 52. Bf4 Ng4 53. Bg3 f4 54. Bxf4 Nxf2 55. Bg3 Ne4 56. Bf4 Kc7 57.
Kb3 Kd7 58. Kc2 Nf2 59. Kd2 Ne4+ 60. Kd3 Nf2+ 61. Ke2 Ne4 62. Kd3 Nf2+ 63. Ke2
Ne4 64. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. Qxd4 {Safe, but ...unambitious. See my notes
to Carlsen,M (2693)-Leko,P (2738)/Dortmund 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 29) from
this same issue of CBM.} ({For the more consistent} 11. c3 {see Jakovenko,D 
(2708)-Karjakin,S (2686)/Foros 2007/CBM 119/[Marin] (1/2-1/2, 29)}) 11... Bb7 (
11... c5 $2 {does not win a piece as in some other lines of the Ruy Lopez
because of} 12. Qe4 $1 $16) 12. c4 (12. Qg4 {was examined in the notes to
Svidler,P (2738)-Naiditsch,A (2612)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Erenburg] (1/2-1/2,
21)}) (12. c3 {is too unpretentious and allows Black to obtain easy equality.}
d6 13. Bf4 dxe5 14. Qxe5 Bd6 15. Qg5 h6 16. Qg3 Qf6 17. Bxd6 Nxd6 18. Nd2 Rad8
$11 {Navarro,R (2400)-Peng Xiaomin (2480)/Moscow 1994/CBM 044 ext (0-1, 37)})
12... bxc4 13. Qxc4 d5 14. exd6 Nxd6 15. Qg4 {White's active queen gives him
some hopes for a minimal advantage, but this should be not too real, because
in fact he is slightly behind in development.} Nb5 {Anticipating the
development of the enemy knight to c3.} (15... Bf6 16. Nc3 Nb5 {Black should
provoke simplifications before White completes his development.} (16... Rb8 17.
Bf4 Bc6 18. Rad1 Rb4 19. Qg3 {offers White the kind of domination he hopes for,
although Black is very much in the game still.} Rd4 20. Be5 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Re8
22. f4 Qe7 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 $14 {Nijboer,F (2475)-Sokolov,I (2665)/
Netherlands 1996/CBM 054 (1/2-1/2, 31)}) (16... Re8 17. Bf4 Rb8 18. h3 Bc6 19.
Qh5 Qd7 20. Qa5 Bb5 21. Nxb5 axb5 22. Qd2 $14 {After creating a curious
triangle with her queen, White managed to obtain a stable advantage in the
shape of the pair of bishops, Arakhamia Grant,K (2446)-Hebden,M (2559)/
Scarborough 2004/CBM 101 ext (1-0, 50)}) 17. Ne4 $146 {Maybe this is the move
on which Carlsen pinned his hopes, but he will not get that chance.} (17. Nxb5
$6 axb5 18. Bf4 c5 19. Rad1 Qc8 {was just equal in Polgar,J (2575)-Nunn,J 
(2595)/Hastings 1992/CBM 033 (1/2-1/2, 33)}) 17... Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Bd4 19. Qf4 c5
20. Be3 Bxe3 21. fxe3 $5 {><d4} Qe7 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Red1 Rfe8 24. Rd5 Rxd5
25. Bxd5 $14 {with an active position for White, whose bishop is marvellous,
Balogh,C (2617)-Jenni,F (2518)/Dresden 2007 (1/2-1/2, 56)}) 16. Nc3 Nxc3 $146 {
Simple chess.} (16... Bf6 {would transpose above, and in fact this was the
move order actually played in some of the games.}) 17. bxc3 Bd6 $11 {in the
absence of knights, Black has little to worry about.} 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bxd6 cxd6
20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Re3 Rfe8 22. Rde1 Rxe3 23. Rxe3 g6 24. h4 h5 25. Qb4 Rd7 26.
Rd3 Re7 27. Qd4 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Qe7 29. Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Rb8 ({This is more popular and
possibly bettar than} 12... Nc6 {Anand,V (2792)-Grischuk,A (2726)/Mexico City
2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0, 50)}) 13. d4 Qc7 14. dxe5 {White releases the
tension in the centre in order to ensure the c4-square for his knight.} (14.
Nf1 {was examined in the comments to the aforementioned game.}) 14... dxe5 15.
Nc4 Rd8 {The obvious drawback of the early exchange of pawns, but there is no
such thing as the perfect move in the well-analyzed opening variations...} 16.
Qe2 b3 $5 {The operation initiated by this move is likely to lead to the loss
of a pawn, but, hopefully, White's normal development will be slowed down.
From strategic point of view, Black is more or less forced to play so, in
order to prevent White from obtaining a perfect blockade on light squares.} 17.
Nxa5 {Forced.} (17. Bb1 $4 {would be an irremediable blunder, because after}
Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 {followed by ...c4, White's would play the rest of the game
without his light-squared bishop and queen's rook. He cannot even get some
counterplay with} 19. Qxa6 {because after} c4 {the queen would share a similar
fate, being under the additional threat of being captured.}) 17... Qxa5 18. Bb1
c4 $5 $146 {The most consistent continuation. Black immediately gives up the
c-pawn, in order to keep the enemy bishop (and the a1-rook) passive for as
long as possible. At the same time, the c5-square is cleared for the black
pieces.} ({Half-measures would not work out well. After} 18... Qc7 $6 19. Bd3
$1 $14 {White achieved his main strategic aim.} a5 20. Bg5 {[%csl Rd5][%cal
Gg5f6,Gd3c4,Gf3d2]} Nh5 21. Be3 $1 {The exchange of the light-squared bishops
would relieve Black's position.} Bb7 22. Bc4 h6 (22... Bxe4 23. Ng5 Bg6 24.
Nxf7 Bxf7 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qxh5+ Kg8 27. Rad1 $14 {leaves Black with lots of
weaknesses. However, White should be careful not to allow the far advanced
enemy pawns become mobile by tactical means (for instance, with ...Ba3, in
case of mass simplifications).}) 23. Nd2 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Nxb3 $16 {
Carlsen,M (2714)-Adams,M (2729)/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008 (1-0, 63)}) 19. Qxc4 ({
The main alternative is to capture with the knight:} 19. Nd2 Bg4 $5 20. Nxc4 (
20. f3 $2 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 Be6 $19 {[%csl Ra1,Rb1]}) 20... Qc5 21. Qf1 Be6 22. Ne3
{[%csl Rd5][%cal Gc3c4,Gb1d3] True, White's position temporarily looks passive,
but Black has to work out some tactical details in order to prevent the
favourable occupation of the d5-square by means of c4 and Nd5.}) 19... Bc5 {
This tempting move will eventually lead to simplifications. Since the highest
priority is to prevent the re-development of the b1-bishop, it would have made
sense to double rooks along the d-file as soon as possible. However, choosing
the optimal form to do it is far from easy.} ({For instance,} 19... Rb7 {
[%cal Gb7d7] may not be that good, because it would create some problems of
coordination after} 20. Qe2 Rbd7 21. h3 {[%cal Gc1e3]} (21. Be3 Ng4 $15) {
For instance} 21... Qc7 (21... Bb7 22. Qc4 {[%cal Gc4b3]}) 22. Be3 Bb7 23. a5 {
[%cal Ge3b6]} Bc5 24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Ra3 {[%cal Ga3b3]}) 20. h3 {With his
development incomplete yet, White has to be careful.} (20. Qe2 $6 Ng4 21. Rf1
Qb6 22. Bd2 (22. h3 Nxf2 $1) 22... a5 23. h3 Ba6 24. c4 Nxf2 25. Rxf2 Bxc4 26.
Qxc4 Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Be3 $17) 20... Qb6 21. Be3 (21. Qe2 Qd6) 21... Bxe3 22. Rxe3
Rd1+ 23. Re1 Rxe1+ 24. Nxe1 {White's placement of his pieces does not look
that great, but he has maintained his extra pawn and enabled the
re-development of the bishop.} Be6 25. Qe2 Nd7 26. a5 Qd6 27. Bd3 Nc5 28. Bc4
Bxc4 29. Qxc4 g6 30. Nf3 Rd8 {Still, Black has stabilized the queenside
position, where he is a pawn down, maintaining firm control of the only open
file.} 31. Re1 Qc7 32. g3 Kg7 33. Re2 Rd3 34. Kg2 Qd6 35. Ng5 {The only wing
where White can hope to make some progress is the kingside.} (35. h4 {[%cal
Gh4h5] comes into consideration, too.}) 35... Qe7 36. Re3 $6 {White
unnecessarily spoils his pawn structure and weakens the king's position.} (36.
Nxf7 Qxf7 37. Qxc5 {is met by} Qf3+ {when White has to find the only saving
move} 38. Kh2 Qxe2 39. Qe7+ {with perpetual.} Kh6 40. Qf8+ Kh5 41. g4+ Kg5 $8
$11) ({He was under no immediate threat and could have started a slow
positional attack onthe kingside with} 36. h4 {for instance} Kg8 {What else?
Black is in some sort of zugzwang, with his pieces placed on optimal position
already.} (36... Rd1 $6 37. Re3 $1 {[%cal Ge3f3]} h6 38. Nxf7 Nd7 39. Qxb3 Rd2
40. Rf3 Nf6 41. g4 Nxg4 42. Qb8 Nf6 43. Nxe5 $16) (36... h6 $6 37. Nf3 Qd6 38.
h5 $36 {[%csl Rg6]}) 37. Nf3 Qd6 38. h5 $36 {In conclusion, the objective
merits of Black's novelty in this game are to be proved still.}) 36... Rxe3 37.
fxe3 Qd7 38. Nf3 Qd1 $1 $11 {Perpetual check cannot be avoided now.} 39. Qxc5
Qe2+ 40. Kg1 Qxf3 41. Qxe5+ Kg8 42. Qb8+ Kg7 43. Qe5+ Kg8 44. Qb8+ Kg7 45. Qe5+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 {Looking back at the number of games I have annotated over the past years,
I can safely conclude that this variation has been repeated quite intensively.}
9. d3 (9. a5 {Ponomariov,R (2703)-Aronian,L (2741) Moscow 2006 CBM 116 [Marin]
(1/2, 25)}) (9. d4 {Nisipeanu,L (2668)-Sokolov,I (2673) Kemer 2007 CBM 121 
[Marin,M] (1-0, 35)}) 9... d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 (10... Be6 {Leko,P (2751)-Grischuk,
A (2726) Mexico City 2007 CBM 120 [Marin,M] (1-0, 60)}) 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Rb8 (
12... Nc6 {Anand,V (2792)-Grischuk,A (2726) Mexico City 2007 CBM 120 [Marin,M]
(1-0, 50)}) 13. d4 {We have reached a position that is typical for the
Chigorin Variation. There are some small differences, though. Having played
d2-d4 in two moves, White did not have the time to insert h2-h3, which offers
Black the possibility to undermine the impressive centre with ...Bg4. The
a2-bishop stands more actively than in a normal Chigorin, but at the same time
it is exposed to being completely cut off from the play with ...b3 and ...c4.}
Qc7 {Strategically, a consistent move, maintaining the tension. In practice,
several ways of releasing the tension have been tried.} (13... bxc3 14. bxc3
cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc6 (15... Bb7 $6 {leaves the bishop misplaced after} 16. d5 $1
Qd7 17. Bb1 Bd8 18. Bd3 Bb6 19. Ba3 $14 {Kholmov,R (2445)-Rajskij,E (2420)/
Warsaw 1991/EXT 97 (1-0, 28)}) (15... Nd7 {weakens Black's control in the
centre, allowing White to build up his position freely.} 16. Ba3 exd4 17. Nxd4
Ne5 18. Nf1 Nec6 19. Ne3 $16 {Efimenko,Z (2654)-Jenni,F (2500)/Novi Sad 2009/
CBM 133 (1/2, 41)}) 16. Ba3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Nf3 Bb7 19. Qd3 (19. Qxd4
Nxe4 $1 20. Rxe4 $2 Bf6 $1) 19... d5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. exd5 {Rather dull.} (21.
e5 Ne4 22. Qxd4 {[%csl Gb7] may be worth a try.}) 21... Qd8 22. Rab1 Bxd5 23.
Rxb8 Qxb8 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd4 Nf6 26. h3 Qc7 $11 {Despite the final result
in Dominguez,L (2708)-Pelletier,Y (2569) Biel 2008 CBM 126 (1-0, 56), the
position looks rather drawish.}) (13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Qc7 (14... Nc6 15. h3
exd4 16. Nb3 Bb7 17. Bf4 Rc8 18. Nbxd4 $14 {Wang,J (2275)-Nie,X (1970)/Ningbo
2011/CBM 141 Extra (1-0, 34)}) 15. Nb3 (15. b3 Nd7 16. Bb2 Bf6 17. Rc1 Qb6 18.
Nc4 Nxc4 19. Rxc4 Bb7 20. Bb1 Rbc8 21. Rxc8 {1/2 Palac,M (2587)-Banusz,T (2481)
/Trieste 2008/CBM 126 Extra}) 15... Nxb3 16. Bxb3 Bg4 17. Bg5 exd4 18. Qxd4
Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nh5 20. Rac1 Qd7 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. e5 {In Carlsen,M (2815)
-Karjakin,S (2776)/Monte Carlo 2011/CBM 142/[Moradiabadi] (1-0, 34), White's
initiative eventually prevailed over Black's kingside strategic plusses.}) ({
Practice has not offered a clue as to what to do against} 13... Bg4 {yet.} 14.
h3 (14. Qe2 {Kupreichik,V (2500)-Piket,J (2630)/Germany 1998/CBM 063/[Piket] 
(0-1, 37)}) 14... Bxf3 15. Nxf3 b3 16. Bb1 Qc7 17. d5 c4 {Kulaots,K (2556)
-Bartel,M (2602)/Gjovik 2009/CBM 128 Extra (1/2, 70). With two of his pieces
immobilised on the queenside, White is doomed forever and probably lost.
However, Black needs some effort and accuracy in order to prova that.}) 14.
dxe5 dxe5 15. Nc4 {If White could stabilise the position, he would get a
decisive strategic advantage. Black needs to react quickly.} Rd8 16. Qe2 b3 $5
17. Nxa5 Qxa5 (17... bxa2 18. Nc4 Be6 19. Nfd2 ({There is no obvious
refutation to} 19. Nfxe5 $5 {, snatching an important pawn.}) 19... Nd7 20. b3
Nb6 21. Ne3 c4 $132 {Efimenko,Z (2706)-Onischuk,A (2675)/Ningbo 2011/CBM 144 
(1/2, 58)}) 18. Bb1 c4 {A necessary sacrifice, fighting against the blockade
on c4..} (18... Qc7 19. Bd3 a5 20. Bg5 Nh5 21. Be3 Bb7 22. Bc4 $14 {allowed
White a perfect regrouping in Carlsen,M (2714)-Adams,M (2729)/Moscow 2007/EXT
2008 (1-0, 63)}) 19. Qxc4 Rb7 $146 {Black hurries to take over the control of
the d-file in order to cause White problems with redeveloping the b1-bishop. I
analyzed this move in my notes to the Cheparinov-Aronian (see below),
concluding that it is not quite sufficient for equality. This game will not
question my evaluation at all..} (19... Bc5 20. Be3 (20. h3 Qb6 21. Be3 {
Cheparinov,I (2696)-Aronian,L (2763)/Sofia 2008/CBM 124/[Marin,M] (1/2, 45)})
20... Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Rd1+ 22. Re1 Be6 23. Qf1 Rxe1 24. Nxe1 Nd7 25. Bd3 Nc5 26.
Qe2 Rd8 27. Bc4 {Prathamesh,S (2392)-Pashikian,A (2611)/Al Ain 2008/CBM 127
Extra (1/2, 46). In view of his better coordination, Black has reasonable
compensation for the missing pawn.}) 20. Qe2 Rbd7 21. h3 $1 {White finally has
to play this typical Ruy Lopez move, this time with the aim of preventing ...
Ng4 (and not ...Bg4 as usual).} (21. Be3 Ng4 $15) 21... Rd6 {This finally
comes as a novelty with respect to my comments.} ({I examined only} 21... Qc7
22. Be3 Bb7 23. a5 {[%cal Ge3b6]} Bc5 24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Ra3 {[%cal Ga3b3]}) ({
and} 21... Bb7 22. Qc4 {[%cal Gc4b3]}) 22. Be3 h6 $2 {Rather pointless and
definitely too slow.} ({The best chance to get some counterplay would have been
} 22... Nh5 $5 {threatening ...Nf4 and clearing the sixth rank for the rook.})
23. Nd2 Be6 24. Nc4 Qc7 {Desperation.} ({Black does not get anywhere after} 
24... Bxc4 25. Qxc4 Rd1 26. Kf1 $1 $16 {followed by Qxb3, which would free
White's pieces.}) 25. Nxd6 Qxd6 26. a5 Rd7 27. c4 $18 {The advance of the
c-pawn prevents Black from maintaining the domination along the d-file. White
will soon develop and retain a decisive material advantage.} Qb4 28. Bd3 Bc5
29. Red1 Rc7 30. Bxc5 Qxc5 31. Qe1 Kf8 32. Qc3 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[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. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Given the tournament situation, Anand chooses the safe (nowadays) Marshall
Attack. A couple of decades ago, this comment would have been pure nonsense.
Teniendo en cuenta la situaciуn favorable en el torneo, Anand elije el seguro 
(hoy en dнa) Ataque Marshall. Hace unas docenas de aсos, este comentarнo no
hubiera tenido ningъn sentido.} 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 {Black is in no
hurry to consolidate his centre with ...d6, because he wants to keep the
possibility ...d5, in the spirit of the Marshall Attack in reserve. Besides,
the a3-f8 diagonal could be useful still, in case of an eventual Nc3, which
could eventually be answered with ...Bb4. White will try to combine the
pressure against the b5-pawn with the central plan c3 and d4, although this is
connected with a loss of time. Curiously, the variation had been seen twice
this year in games played between the same opponents, but with... reversed
colours.} 11. axb5 {It is not easy to decide which is the correct move order.}
({En Wijk aan Zee 2007, la partida entre los mismos contrincantes, pero con
colores inversos, continuу} 11. c3 b4 {Anand,V (2779)-Svidler,P (2728)/Wijk
aan Zee 2007/CBM 117/[Marin] (1-0, 21)}) (11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. c3 {Anand,V (2779)
-Svidler,P (2728)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM 117/[Mihail Marin] (1/2-1/2, 47)})
11... axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. c3 Bf8 ({Deviating from another game where
Svidler had black and which continued} 13... d6 {White immediately took
advantage of the fact that the a3-f8 diagonal has been closed and answered} 14.
Na3 {Ivanchuk,V (2750)-Svidler,P (2728)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM 117/[Mihail
Marin] (1/2-1/2, 44). True, this did not offer him an objective advantage.})
14. d4 d6 {Finally consolidating the centre, now that the possibility of ...d5
has been physically removed. The position is typical for the Zaitsev system.
La posiciуn se ha vuelto tнpica para la Variante Zaitsev.} ({What about the
e4-pawn? Is it not hanging? The first thought is that} 14... exd4 {is simply
bad because of} 15. e5 {, winning space for White in the centre. However,
Black can answer with the unexpected} Na5 $5 {, maintaining a playable
position.} 16. Bc2 {The only way to keep Black under pressure.} (16. exf6 $2 {
is simply bad because almost all White's pieces are hanging:} Bxf3 17. Rxe8
Qxe8 18. gxf3 Nxb3 19. Qxb3 Qe1+ 20. Kg2 Qxc1 21. Na3 d3 $19) (16. Ba2 {
leaves the e4-square available to the knight.} Ne4 17. cxd4 d5 $132 {and
Black's position looks normal.}) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 (17. Qxf3 Nc6 $1 $15 {
maintains Black's material advantage, without making any important concession.}
) 17... Nd5 18. Qxd4 $14 {White has advantage of space in the centre and a
mighty pair of bishops. However, he is slightly underdeveloped (which is
compensated by the fact that Black's already developed knights are unstable)
and has kingside weaknesses. Generally, the position looks shaky for Black and
it is not the kind of stuff one should embark in when a draw brings you closer
to the World Crown.}) 15. d5 {After Black's previous move, the threat against
the e4-pawn became real. Therefore, White should do something about it.
Svidler's move looks like a radical solution, but half-measures seem to offer
Black good counterplay in the centre. Which is quite logical, since he is in
fact a tempo up compared to the normal variations.} (15. Bc2 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4
$132 {[%csl Gc2]}) (15. Nbd2 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. d5 c6 $132) 15... Na5 16.
Ba2 c6 17. Na3 {Black has the more flexible structure, but White intends to
play b4, forcing ...Nb7, when the knight would remain passive for a long time.
Las negras tienen estructura mбs flexible, pero las blancas amenazan con b4,
cuando la retirada ...Cb7 dejarнa al caballo pбsivo por largo rato.} Qc7 $1 {
Solving the problems of coordination by simple tactical means. Resolviendo los
problemas de coordinaciуn por medios tбcticos sencillos.} 18. Qe2 (18. b4 {
would be answered by serнa contestado por} Nc4 {, for instance por ejemplo} 19.
Nxc4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 $2 (20. dxc6 $11) 20... cxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Qc4 {
recovering the pawn with excellent play. recuperando el peуn con excelente
juego.}) (18. dxc6 Bxc6 {[%cal Yc7b7] would solve Black's problems of piece
coordination.}) 18... cxd5 19. Nxb5 Qd7 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Rd1 Nf6
{In the long run, Black's centre should offer him the better chances, but a
draw brings Anand a step closer to his goal. A largo plazo, los peones
centrales les asegurarнan a las negras mejores posibilidades, pero unas tablas
le acercan a Anand a su meta.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Foros Aerosvit"]
[Site "Foros"]
[Date "2007.06.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2007.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
{A common way to avoid the Marshall these days.} Nxd4 ({In many games, Black
agrees to tanspose to the closed Ruy Lopez with} 8... d6 9. c3 Bg4 {However,
Jakovenko is the world's biggest specialist in the variation} 10. Be3 {, which
explains Karjakin's decision.} ({Recently, Jakovenko has also tried} 10. d5 {
against me. The opening was a success for White, but the final result - not.}))
9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 {The most ambitious continuation, in the spirit
of the 19th century. White sacrifices a pawn for the sake of rapid piece
development.} ({For the more modest} 11. Qxd4 {see my notes to Carlsen,M (2693)
-Leko,P (2738)/Dortmund 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 29) from this same issue of CBM.
}) 11... dxc3 12. Nxc3 d6 {All the recent theoretical discussions in this
gambit line had this move as a starting point. Black immediately starts the
fight against one of White's main trumps: his far advanced e-pawn, which
disturbs Black's normal development by keeping the knight captive on e8.} ({
The main alternative is} 12... Bb7 {, which has been frequently played in the
past, without a clear conclusion. It is possible that contemporary players
intuitively consider that this move offers White too wide a choice, by
refraining from questioning his supremacy in the centre.} 13. Qd3 (13. Nd5 {
has also been tried.}) 13... c5 14. Bd5 ({In fact,} 14. Bc2 {might be more
dangerous, but there are no relevant examples. In the following game Black
defended in far from the optimal way.} f5 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Bg5 c4 17. Qh3 h6
$2 18. Bxh6 gxh6 $2 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. Qg6 {1-0 Bes,R-Weegenaar,B/NED jub25 q
corr9193 1991/Corr Nr. 1}) 14... Bxd5 15. Nxd5 Nc7 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. Be3 d5 18.
exd6 Ne6 19. Rad1 Qxb6 20. dxe7 Rxe7 21. b4 Qc7 $15 {Black has completed his
development in the optimal way and White still has to work in order to win his
pawn back, Romanishin,O (2610)-Tseshkovsky,V (2570)/Ordzhonikidze 1978/EXT
2001 (1/2-1/2, 62)}) 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Bf4 {Another logical move. White
continues developing.} ({In the last game where} 14. Nd5 {was played, Black
managed to hold his own with deceptive ease:} Bxd5 $5 15. Bxd5 Rb8 16. Be3 c5
17. Rad1 Qc7 18. e6 fxe6 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Qh3 g6 21. b4 c4 {Black is not
fully coordinated yet, but his strong c-pawn forces White to be careful.} 22.
Bd5 Bf6 23. Be4 Qf7 24. Bd5 Qc7 25. Be4 Qf7 26. Bd5 {1/2-1/2 Timofeev,A (2657)
-Sutovsky,E (2607)/Montreal 2006}) 14... Bxb3 $146 {Before releasing the
tension in the centre, Black exchanges on b3 in order to avoid being left with
a weak pawn on e6. However, the obvious drawback of this move is that it opens
the a-file for the white queen's rook.} (14... dxe5 15. Bxe5 Bd6 (15... Nf6 16.
Rad1 Qc8 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qc6 Rf7 19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Rd7 $14 {Kosintseva,T 
(2479)-Wang Yu A (2390)/Ergun 2006/CBM 113 ext (1-0, 41)}) ({In fact, Black
can play} 15... Bxb3 {here, too, transposing to our main game.}) 16. Rad1 (16.
Bxe6 $1 fxe6 17. Qc6 $44) 16... Bxb3 17. axb3 Nf6 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Qc6 Re8 $11
{Polzin,R (2480)-Stern,R (2457)/Germany 2006/EXT 2007 (1/2-1/2, 42)}) 15. axb3
dxe5 16. Bxe5 Bd6 17. Nxb5 $1 {We can see that there is no such thing as the
perfect move order. Not when one is underdeveloped, at least. The open a-file
allows White to win his pawn back and maintain an active position.} (17. Rad1
Nf6 $11 {would transpose above.}) 17... Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Nd6 19. Nd4 $14 {The
mutual queenside weaknesses tend to compensate for each other, but White is
much more active.} Nb5 {This square has become available as a consequence of
White's previous pawn capture.} 20. Nc6 $6 {If White could maintain his knight
on this advanced square, he would maintain a clear advantage, but this will
not be the case.} (20. Nxb5 axb5 21. Rd1 $14 {looks more promissing.} Qb8 (
21... Qf6 22. Qxf6 gxf6 {fails to equalize completely, because of the chronic
weakness of the kingside.} 23. Rxb5 Ra2 (23... Rfd8 24. Rc1 Rd2 25. g3 $14) 24.
g3 Rxb2 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Rc6 Kg7 27. Rb7 $14 {and Black cannot free himself
easily, while White can try to gradually activate his kingside, starting with
Kg2, etc.}) 22. h4 Ra2 (22... Re8 $6 23. Rd7 $1) 23. h5 h6 (23... Rxb2 24. h6
$40) 24. Qe2 $14 {The uncomfortable situation of his king and White's space
advantage leaves Black struggling.}) 20... Nd4 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 $11 {A draw is
the most probable result now.} 22. Qc3 Qb6 23. Rc5 Ra7 24. Rc1 Rb8 25. Rxc7
Rxc7 26. Qxc7 Qxc7 27. Rxc7 g6 28. Rc3 Rd8 29. g3 (29. g3 Rd2 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.06"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. c3 Qd7 $5 {This move is not new, but it
deviates from two recent games played at top level.} (11... Qd6 {Kamsky,G 
(2705)-Bacrot,E (2709)/Elista 2007/CBM 119/[Marin,M] (1-0, 36)}) (11... Bf6 {
Grischuk,A (2726)-Aronian,L (2750)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2,
31)}) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Rad8 14. Qg4 f5 15. Qg3 $5 $146 {[%cal Gc1g5] A
logical novelty. White creates the strategic threat of exchanging the
dark-squared bishops with Bg5, when the weakness of the e5-square would become
quite relevant.} (15. Qh5 Bf6 16. Re1 (16. Rxf5 g6 17. Rxd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5+ Qxd5
19. Bxd5+ Rxd5 20. d4 c5 $17 {Giorgadze}) 16... Kh8 $44 {Zagrebelny,S (2480)
-Giorgadze,G (2580)/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 (0-1, 25)}) (15. Qf3 c5 $1 $36 {
[%csl Gb7][%cal Gb7f3] Giorgadze}) 15... Bf6 (15... c5 16. Bg5 $14 {Now,} f4 {
just loses another pawn with} 17. Bxd5+ (17. Bxf4 $2 c4 $1 $19 18. Bh6 $140 Bf6
) 17... Bxd5 18. Bxf4 {, when Black probably has compensation for one of them,
but not for both!}) 16. Re1 Kh8 $1 17. Nd2 ({After the king's removal from the
dangerous diagonal,} 17. Bg5 $6 {could already be met with} f4 $1 18. Qh4 f3
$36) 17... b4 $1 {The most logical way to set up pressure on White's position.}
({Completing the development with} 17... Rfe8 {would imply moving for the
second time with an already developed piece after} 18. Rxe8+ {, for instance}
Rxe8 19. Nf3 {and White only needs to play Bg5 to get a firm grip on the
position.}) 18. Nf3 {The most principled continuation. White continues the
mobilization of his forces, at the cost of returning the extra pawn.} (18. cxb4
Nxb4 $15 {[%csl Gd3]}) ({Although it looks "ugly",} 18. c4 {[%csl Rb3,Rd4]
deserves being investigated.} Ne7 {[%cal Ge7c6,Ge7g6]} 19. Nf3 f4 $1 (19... Nc6
20. Bg5 $14) (19... Qxd3 20. Bf4 {[%cal Ga1d1]} Bxf3 $8 21. gxf3 Ng6 22. Rad1
Nxf4 $8 23. Rxd3 (23. Qxf4 Rd4 24. Qg3 f4 25. Qg4 Qg6) 23... Nxd3 24. Re6 $14)
20. Qg4 (20. Bxf4 Bxf3 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gf6b2]}) 20... Ng6 21. Bc2 Qxg4 22.
hxg4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Nh4 $15) 18... bxc3 19. d4 f4 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21. hxg4 {
[%cal Gg4g5]} g5 $6 {Leko stabilizes his bishop on f6, but allows White an
essential tempo to consolidate.} ({His only chance to achieve full equality
consisted of} 21... c5 $1 $132 {, opening new perspectives for his bishop.} 22.
bxc3 Nxc3 23. Ba3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Bxd4 $15) 22. Ne5 Kg7 ({It is too late for} 
22... c5 $6 {already:} 23. bxc3 Nxc3 24. Ba3 $16) 23. bxc3 Nxc3 24. Bb2 Nd5 25.
Rac1 Rfe8 26. Ba3 $14 {The position has been stabilized completely, but White
has the more active position (espacially if we refer to the minor pieces). The
c7-pawn is weaker than the d4-pawn and the black king more exposed than its
counterpart.} Re6 27. Rc2 Be7 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Rxc7 Re8 30. Rd7 Bxa2 31. Rc1
Kg8 32. Rcc7 Bf6 33. Nc6 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Be6 35. Rd6 Bg7 36. Ne7+ Kh8 37. Nf5 Bf8
38. Rxa6 Bxf5 39. Bxf8 Rxf8 40. gxf5 Kg8 41. f6 Re4 42. Rg7+ Kh8 43. Re7 Rxe7
44. fxe7 Re8 45. Ra7 Kg7 46. d5 Kf7 47. d6 Rb8 48. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Shenzhen Du Te Cup"]
[Site "Shenzhen"]
[Date "2017.04.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.03.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 {It is quite typical for modern theory that such a static
position has been submitted to thorough analytical and practical examination.}
Nxe5 ({Abstractly it makes sense exchanging the knights as Black was defensive
and White's was keeping e5 under pressure. But in practice opinions are
divided. At the top level} 10... dxe5 {is frequently played, too:} 11. Nbd2 Bc5
12. a5 h6 13. h3 (13. Bc4 Bb7 {Chandra,A (2477)-Caruana,F (2795) Saint Louis
2016 CBM 172 [Schulz,A] (0-1, 53)}) 13... Qd6 {Karjakin,S (2779)-Svidler,P 
(2762) Sochi 2016 CBM 173 [CB] (0-1, 56)}) 11. Nxe5 ({I would have no worries
after} 11. Nbd2 {as this looks like a comfortable version of the Pirc/Philidor.
} Nfd7 12. Nd4 c5 ({But maybe this is premature activity. Black could try the
natural} 12... Nc5 $5 {based on the fact that} 13. Bd5 Rb8 14. f4 {fails to
win an exchange due to} Bg4 15. N2f3 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Bd7 $13) 13. Nf5 $14 {
Nakamura,H (2772)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013 CBM 157 [Ramirez Alvarez] 
(1-0, 41)}) 11... dxe5 12. Qe2 a5 $5 {An almost new move, played only once
before. Its immediate impact is not obvious, as Black will not play ...Ba6,
and I suspect it is intended more as a useful half-waiting move inviting White
to decide where he develops the bishop and only then defining his own plan.} (
12... Bb7 13. f3 Nh5 14. g3 {Nisipeanu,L (2668)-Sokolov,I (2673) Kemer 2007
CBM 121 [Marin,M] (1-0, 35)}) (12... Bc5 13. Be3 {This may be what Black
intends avoiding with the main game move. Black's dark-squared bishop would be
"bad" only in the endgame while in the middlegame it could become an attacking
piece so Black may wish keeping it.} Qe7 14. Nd2 Bg4 {Caruana,F (2779)
-Fressinet,L (2708) Elancourt 2013 CBM 157 [Stohl,I] (1-0, 39)}) 13. Bg5 $146 (
{The previous game went} 13. Nd2 Bc5 {Now is a good moment for activating the
bishop as White will need some effort exchanging it.} 14. Nc4 Qe7 {This does
not cross White's intentions.} (14... Ng4 $5 15. Ne3 Qf6) ({But} 14... Bg4 15.
Qf1 {[%cal Gc1e3] does not seem to bother White too much.}) 15. Be3 Ba6 16.
Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qe3 Qxe3 18. Nxe3 Rfd8 19. Rad1 (19. Rac1 $5 $14 {[%cal Gf2f3,
Gc2c3] offered chances to take advantage of the weaknesses created after the
exchange of bishops.}) 19... Kf8 {Ragger,M (2697)-Grandelius,N (2642) Wijk aan
Zee 2017 (½-½ , 130), and Black gradually equalised.}) 13... Bc5 {Now that
White has committed his bishop this move makes sense, even though Black will
need to solve the problem of the pinned knight.} (13... Ba6 {may be better
than it looks and it connects better with the previous move. True, White gains
the control over the light squares but concretely Black seems to be doing fine.
} 14. Bc4 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Nd7 16. Be3 Bg5 17. Nd2 (17. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. Qxc7 Rfd8 {
offers Black the initiative,}) 17... Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Nb6 19. Qe2 Qe7 {The
knights will soon be exchanged on c4, reducing the importance of the queenside
weaknesses. True, the pawns still look a bit exposed but play will mainly take
place along the d-file, with more or less equal rights.}) 14. Nd2 Bg4 15. Nf3
Qe7 16. h3 Bh5 {The most principled answr.} (16... Be6 17. Bxe6 Qxe6 18. Rad1 {
offers White good play on the light squares.}) (16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 {is also
risky as White's light-squared bishop is more effective than its rival on the
dark squares, while Black's kingside will inevitably be weakened.}) 17. Rad1 {
In the following short phase both players are a bit indifferent to the plans
g2-g4 and ...g7-g5.} (17. g4 Bg6 18. Nh4 {was stronger, yielding White the
more pleasant play after Nf5. One point is that} Bxe4 $2 {loses material:} 19.
Qxe4 Bxf2+ (19... Nxe4 20. Bxe7 Bxe7 21. Nf5 {[%csl Ge4,Ge7]}) 20. Kg2 Bxe1 21.
Rxe1 $18) 17... Rad8 ({Black could also have started kingside operations with} 
17... h6 18. Bh4 g5 19. Bg3 Rad8 $13) 18. g4 {Finally.} Bg6 19. h4 ({After the
insertion of the rook moves} 19. Nh4 {does not work out so well anymore.} Rxd1
20. Rxd1 (20. Qxd1 Bd4) 20... Bxe4 $1 (20... Bd4 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Kg2 Bxb2 23.
Qa6 $14) 21. Qxe4 Nxe4 22. Bxe7 Bxe7 {The difference is that the e4-knight is
not hanging any more.}) 19... h6 {This is likely to doom the bishop to
passivity.} ({The principled answer is} 19... h5 $5 {when Black seems to be
holding his own:} 20. Nh2 Rfe8 21. Bxf6 (21. gxh5 Bxh5 22. Qxh5 Nxh5 23. Bxe7
Bxe7) 21... Qxf6 22. gxh5 Bh7 23. Qf3 Qxh4 24. Bxf7+ Kh8 25. Bxe8 Rxd1 26. Rxd1
Bxe4 27. Qe2 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Qxh2 29. Ke1 Qg1+ 30. Kd2 Qg5+ $11) 20. h5 Bh7 21.
Bh4 Rd6 22. Rxd6 cxd6 23. Nd2 {The position has stabilised to White's favour
as the h7-bishop is cut off from the play. But Harikrishna will soon fail to
maintain his stability.} Kh8 (23... Bd4 24. Kg2 Bxb2 25. Nc4 Bc3 26. Rd1 Bd4
27. Nxa5 $14) 24. Qf3 $2 {Winter,W-Capablanca,J Victory Congress 1Chief
Tournament 1919 (5) 0-1 A natural move, hoping to provoke ...gxf6 after which
the h7-bishop would be buried alive forever, but at the same time a major
blunder, turning a better position into a lost one. Harikrishna probably
dreamt of a similar structure to that in} (24. Kg2 {It was essential to
prepare f2-f3 to stabilise the kingside.} g5 (24... Bd4 25. Rd1 g5 26. Bg3 Bxb2
27. Nc4 Bd4 28. f3 {[%csl Ga5]} Ra8 29. Rxd4 $1 exd4 30. Nxd6 Rf8 31. Qc4 {
with overwhelming activity for the exchange and a passive bishop on h7.}) 25.
Bg3 $14 {White threatens to stabilise things with f2-f3 and Black cannot get
sufficient counterplay by forcing matters:} Bd4 26. Rd1 Bxb2 27. Nc4 Nxe4 (
27... Bd4 28. Rxd4 exd4 29. Bxd6 $16 Qd8 30. Bxf8 Qxf8 31. f3) (27... Bc3 28.
Nxd6 $18) 28. Nxb2 Nc3 $14 {Black has managed to slightly complicate matters
but White's minor pieces are stronger than the rook.}) 24... g5 $1 25. Bg3 (25.
hxg6 fxg6 {[%csl Gf2,Gg4]} 26. Qh3 Qd7 27. Bxf6+ Rxf6 $40) 25... Kg7 $1 $19 {
Suddenly White cannot avoid losing either g4 or e4.} 26. Nc4 Qb7 27. Qd3 Nxe4
28. Nxa5 Qc7 29. Rxe4 {A desperate counterattack, which does not offer White
adequate compensation.} Qxa5 30. Qd5 Bxe4 31. Qxe4 Bd4 32. Qf5 Qc5 33. a5 Qxa5
34. c3 {Nice but insufficient. Ironically, it is White who has a passive
bishop now on g3.} bxc3 35. Bc2 Rh8 36. Bb3 Qc7 37. bxc3 Bxc3 38. Bd5 Bd4 {
Black's material advantage is decisive of course, but White has some sort of
stability making the technical process long.} 39. Kg2 Qe7 40. Qe4 Qf6 41. f3
Rb8 42. Kh3 Rb2 43. Bc4 Bf2 44. Bh2 Rb4 45. Kg2 Be3 46. Bg3 Bc5 47. Bh2 Rb2+
48. Kh3 Rf2 49. Be2 d5 50. Qd3 e4 51. Qxd5 Rxf3+ 52. Kg2 (52. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 53.
Bg3 Qh1+ 54. Bh2 Qf1+ 55. Kg3 Bf2#) 52... Rf2+ 53. Kh3 Rxh2+ 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.04"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. c3 d6 14. Na3 b4 15.
Nc4 Bf8 16. Bd2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nb8 18. Ne3 Nbd7 19. Ng4 Nc5 20. Bc4 Nxg4 21.
hxg4 d5 {After thorough preparation, Black finally plays the move that is
characteristic for the Marshall Attack. The similarity induced by the fact
that the e5-pawn is hanging here too is rather feeble. After capturing that
pawn, it will be White who will have to sacrifice material soon.} 22. exd5 Bxd5
23. Rxe5 Rxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxc4 25. dxc4 Ne4 26. Qf3 ({There is no way back. If} 
26. Nf3 $2 {then} Bc5 $1 {with advantage for Black.}) 26... Nxd2 27. Qxf7+ Kh7
28. Qf5+ Kg8 29. Qe6+ Kh7 30. Qg6+ Kg8 31. Qe6+ Kh7 32. Qg6+ Kg8 33. Qf7+ Kh7
34. Nd7 {Since the perpetual is always there, White can play for a while, in
spite of his material defficit.} Ba3 35. c5 Kh8 36. g5 hxg5 37. Qe6 Ne4 38.
Qh3+ Kg8 39. Qe6+ Kh8 40. Qxe4 Qxd7 41. Qa8+ Kh7 42. Qxa3 {Finally, White
recuperated the sacrificed material with interest, but now it is Black's turn
to force a draw by perpetual.} Qd1+ 43. Kh2 Qh5+ 44. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 {A peaceful
variation, showing that Anand is not completely unhappy with his tournament
situation.} 14. Bg5 Ne8 15. Bd2 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. b4 a5 18. c3 axb4 19.
axb4 Rxa1 20. Qxa1 Nc7 21. Ne3 Qd7 22. Qb2 Ra8 23. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 h6 11. Nd5 Na5 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Nh4 Nxb3 14. Nf5 Qe6
15. axb3 {For the second time in a row, Anand treats the Anti-Marshall in a
peaceful way.} d5 {Black is better developed and will have little trouble
extinguishing White's light initiative on the kingside.} 16. Qf3 dxe4 17. dxe4
Kh7 18. Qg3 Rg8 19. f3 Ne8 20. Bd2 Nd6 21. Ne3 {The exchange of knights would
have led to an obvious draw in view of the presence of opposite coloured
bishops.} Bxe4 {This trick has more of an aesthetic valuea, because White can
get the pawn back with his next move.} 22. Bc3 ({Remarkably, White cannot
defend both his attacked pieces after} 22. fxe4 $2 Nxe4) 22... Bg6 23. Qxe5
Qxe5 24. Bxe5 Rgd8 25. g4 f6 26. Bg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
$5 Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ $5 ({Later in the same tournament, Ivanchuk obtained an
advantage with the more normal continuation} 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 {, although
he later blundered a piece, Ivanchuk,V (2751)-Aronian,L (2739)/Morelia/Linares
2008/CBM 123 (0-1, 60)}) 9... Rxf7 (9... Kxf7 10. Nxe5+ Kg8 {transposes to the
game.}) 10. Nxe5 Rf8 (10... Nc6 $2 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5 Ng8 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14.
Qf5+ Ke8 15. Qxh7 $18 {1-0 Palkovi,J (2410)-Lochte,T (2230)/Budapest 1994/EXT
97 (21)}) (10... Ne6 $5 {makes more sense.} 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5 Bb7 13. exf6
Bxf6 14. Nc3 Kg8 15. Nd5 Bd4 {Davies,A (2187)-Atalik,E (2400)/Ottawa 2007/CBM
119 ext (1/2-1/2, 37)} 16. Be3 $5 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Be5 18. c4 $14 {White has
completed his development and retains a small material advantage, with
acceptable stability in the centre.}) 11. Qxd4 {White has won a pawn, but he
is behind in development, while two of his developed pieces are exposed and
will cause him additional loss of time. Besides, Black has the pair of bishops.
} c5 12. Qd1 Qc7 {Black refrains from developing his queen's bishop yet,
because he hopes to prove it to be useful on its initial square, too.} (12...
Bb7 {is the more popular alternative, at least in correspondence games.} 13.
Nc3 Qe8 {The most consistent continuation. Black intends to put the enemy
kingside under strong pressure.} (13... d6 14. Nf3 b4 {help White improve the
placement of his knights.} 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf6 17. Qd3 Bc8 18. a3 $1 $14
{Todorcevic,M (2425)-Belkadi,R (2340)/Nice 1974/EXT 2000 (1-0, 58)}) (13... b4
14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bf6 {Howell,J (2370)-Blatny,P (2395)/Groningen 1985/EXT
2000 (1-0, 73)} 16. Nc4 $5 $14) (13... Qc7 {makes little sense because after}
14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. Qxg4 $14 {Rantanen,Y (2435)-Pinter,J (2535)/Helsinki 1983/MCD
(1/2-1/2, 44). Black does not have ...d5 at his disposal anymore.}) 14. Ng4 $6
{This helps Black develop his attack, but practice has not shown a clear way
for White yet.} Qg6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Nd5 Rae8 $32 {Szczepanski,Z-Malinin,V/
URS corr 1990/Corr Nr. 1 [Malinin] (0-1, 29)}) 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Qh5
dxe4 16. Qd5+ Kh8 17. Qxa8 {After making 7 moves, the queen has captured a
whole rook. However, she will soon be lost, which will lead to almost material
equality.} Bb7 18. Qa7 $146 {This novelty does not really save the queen, but
it will considerably slow down Black's counterplay.} (18. Qxf8+ Bxf8 19. Nd2
Bd6 20. Nf1 Be5 21. c3 h6 22. Be3 Bd5 23. h3 Bc4 24. Nd2 Bd3 25. a3 Bh2+ 26.
Kh1 Bd6 27. b4 cxb4 28. cxb4 Qc3 29. f3 exf3 {1/2-1/2 Vorobiov,E (2580)-Novik,
M (2466)/Sochi 2007/CBM 118 ext}) 18... Ra8 19. Bf4 {As pointed out by Dorian
Rogozenko, the purpose of this move is to temporarily drive the enemy queen
away from controlling of h2-square.} Qc6 20. Qxa8+ Bxa8 21. Be3 {White has
stabilized the position and Black needs to spend some time before attacking
the h2-pawn and provoking the desirable weakening of the white kingside.} Qf6
22. c3 Bd6 23. Nd2 Qe5 $6 {Although this is part of Black's main plan, he
should have delayed it slightly.} ({As pointed out by Rogozenko,} 23... Bc6 $5
{would have been better, preventing the opening of the a-file.} 24. Nb3 (24. a4
bxa4 25. Nc4 Bf8 {is OK for Black.}) 24... Qe5 25. g3 Be7 26. Rad1 h6 $44 {
and White cannot activate his rooks easily.}) 24. g3 h6 ({It is too late for} 
24... Bc6 $2 {already:} 25. Bf4 Qe6 26. Bxd6 e3 27. Rxe3 Qxd6 28. Ne4 $16 {
White has considerable material advantage. If necessary, he will be able to
consolidate his knight with f3, removing any danger of an attack.}) 25. a4 $14
{Once he has an additional open file for his rooks, White will have the better
position.} Bc6 26. axb5 axb5 27. Nb3 (27. c4 $5 b4 (27... Qxb2 28. Ra6 $1 $18)
(27... Qe7 28. Ra6 Qc7 29. Rea1 bxc4 30. Nxc4 $16) (27... Qe8 28. Ra6 $36) 28.
Ra6 Qe8 29. Nb3 $14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 27... Bf8 28. Red1 Bd5 29. h4 $5 (29. Nxc5
Bxc5 30. Bxc5 e3 31. Bxe3 Qe4 32. Rxd5 Qxd5 $14 {White is very stable and,
strictly speaking, has a small material advantage, but it is not easy to
suggest a constructive plan to improve his position decisively.}) ({After} 29.
Nc1 $5 {Black could achieve a more favourable form of the game position with}
g5 $5 {, when his kingside would be less weak.}) 29... Kg8 (29... Bxb3 $5 30.
Rd8 Kg8 31. Raa8 Qf5 {White has an active position, but it is hard to prove
that he can get anything more than a... drawn opposite coloured bishops ending
with an extra pawn.} 32. Rac8 Be6 33. Rxf8+ (33. Rxc5 $2 Qf3 34. Kh2 h5 $3 35.
Rc7 Bh3 $1 36. Kxh3 Qh1#) 33... Qxf8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Bxc5+ Kf7 $11) 30. Nc1
g5 $6 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Ra5 $36 {Black's weaknesses along the 5th rank leave
him struggling.} Qc7 33. Ra6 Qf7 34. Rb6 Be7 35. Rxb5 Be6 36. Rb8+ Kg7 37. Rb7
Kh6 38. Re1 Qf6 39. Rb6 Qf5 40. Nb3 Kh5 41. Nd2 Bd7 42. Ra1 Bd8 43. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Svidler is not given the possibility of continuing the theoretical discussion
in the Marshall from the previous round, where he had been sitting on the
other side of the board against Aronian.} Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8
12. c3 Na5 13. Bc2 c5 14. d4 {White decides to play this move with loss of
time, probably relying on the fact that Black has not played ...d6 yet, which
could cause him problems maintaining his stability in the centre. The next
phase of the game will not justify his approach.} cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. e5 Nd5
17. Nxd4 Nb4 18. axb5 Nxc2 19. Qxc2 axb5 20. Nxb5 Qb6 21. Nc3 Qc6 22. Nf3 Nc4 {
Black's excellent development and his mighty light-squared bishop offer him
entirely satisfactory compensation for the pawn.} 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Bf4 Bb4 25.
Qb3 Ba5 26. Rc1 Qe6 27. Ne1 Bc6 28. Ne2 Nxe5 29. Qxe6 Rxe6 {After winning the
pawn back, Black has the better chanecs already, due to his strong pair of
bishops.} 30. Nd4 Bxe1 31. Rxe1 Nd3 32. Nxe6 Nxe1 33. Nd4 Nd3 34. Bd6 Nxb2 {
Things have calmed down now. Black's extra-pawn does not have too much
significance because of the presence of opposite-coloured bishops.} 35. f3 Nc4
36. Bb4 h5 37. Kf2 f6 38. Nf5 Ne5 39. Bc3 Kf7 40. Nd6+ Ke7 41. Nf5+ Kf8 42. Ke3
g6 43. Nd6 Ke7 44. Bb4 g5 45. Nc4+ Ke6 46. Nxe5 fxe5 47. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d5 {Although White has not weakened the d3-square, Aronian plays in
the spirit of the Marshall attack. The ground for such a daring action is that
White has remained far behind in development by advancing his a-pawn.} ({
In fact, the more restrained} 9... d6 {is entirely playable as well.} 10. d4 (
10. h3 Be6 11. d4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Qxd4 c5 14. Qd3 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16.
Nd2 Nc7 17. Qg3 Bh4 18. Qf3 Nb5 $11 {Hjartarson,J (2430)-Smyslov,V (2600)/
Copenhagen 1985/MCD (1/2-1/2, 32)}) 10... Nxd4 (10... Bg4 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12.
Nbd2 Nfd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Bd5 Rb8 17. Nc4 Bc5 $11 {
Nunn,J (2575)-Kortschnoj,V (2635)/Zuerich 1984/MCD (1/2-1/2, 35)}) 11. Nxd4
exd4 12. Qxd4 Rb8 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Ng4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nd2 Be6 $11 {
Klinger,J-Hort,V/Biel 1986.}) 10. exd5 e4 $5 {This is a deviation from the
typical Marshall Attack scenario.} ({In case of} 10... Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12.
Rxe5 c6 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re1 {the fact that the d3-square is securely defended
might help White repell the attack.}) 11. dxc6 exf3 12. d3 $146 {The safest
continuation. White has to continue his development at any cost.} ({After} 12.
Qxf3 Bg4 {White has a hard time finding an adequate square for the prematurely
queen.} 13. Qd3 (13. Qe3 Re8) (13. Qf4 Bd6) 13... Qxd3 14. cxd3 Bc5 $15 {
Baramidze,D (2550)-Graf,A (2637)/Altenkirchen 2005/CBM 106 (0-1, 24)}) ({
Copmared to the game continuation,} 12. d4 {exposes the d-pawn too early,
restricting the active possibilities of the own queen.} fxg2 13. Bg5 Nd5 14.
Bxe7 Nxe7 15. d5 Ng6 16. Nd2 Nf4 17. Re3 (17. Qf3 Nh3+ 18. Kxg2 Qg5+ $19 {
Suetin}) 17... Qg5 18. Rg3 Qe5 $36 {Suetin,A-Zaitsev,I/USSR 1983 (1-0, 25)})
12... fxg2 13. Qf3 {Now that the g2-square has become available and the d-pawn
is not hanging, this move is playable.} Rb8 {[%cal Yb8b5]} 14. Bc4 Ne8 15. Bf4
Bf6 16. Nd2 {Usually, time ismore important than pawns in such position.} (16.
Ra2 Nd6 $44 {[%csl Gc4]}) 16... Bxb2 (16... Nd6 $6 {is bad now because of} 17.
Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Ne4 $16) 17. Rab1 Bc3 {White has completed his development and
avoided immediate dangers. Now, he starts active operations already.} 18. Bg5
$5 Bf6 (18... Qxg5 $2 19. Qxf7+ $1 $18) 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Ne4 {White's
pressure becomes annoying...} Rxe4 $1 {Wisely liquidating to an equal endgame.}
(20... Bxg5 $2 21. Nxg5 $36 {[%csl Yf7,Yh7]}) 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23.
dxe4 Kf8 24. Kxg2 Ke7 25. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2007.06.10"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2007.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6
fxe6 {Aronian seems to enjoy this structure. Just remember the first game of
his semi-finalmatch against Carlsen.} 16. b4 ({Previously, Shirov had played} 
16. Ng3 {in two games.} Qe8 $5 {[%cal Yf6h5]} (16... Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5
exd5 {Black has built up an impressive pawn centre, but White will soon submit
it to strong pressure.} 19. b4 Kh8 20. Qb3 c4 21. dxc4 bxc4 22. Qa4 Qc8 23.
Rad1 Nf6 24. Qc2 e4 25. Nd4 Ne5 {If Black gets his knight to d3, his position
will be better. However, having a better coordination of forces, White can
prevent that by sacrificial means.} 26. Ndf5 Bd8 27. Bc5 Rg8 28. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5
29. Qxe4 Qe6 30. Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 Nxc3 32. Nd6 h6 33. Nxc4 Bf6 34. Rf5 Rge8
35. Nh5 Bd4 $11 {White has sufficient compensation for the exchange, but
probably not more than that. The exchange of the bishops is an important
element in Black's defensive strategy, Shirov,A (2746)-Onischuk,A (2627)/New
Delhi/Teheran 2000/CBM 080 (1/2-1/2, 49)}) 17. a4 (17. b4 Nh5 18. Qb3 Qg6 19.
Nxh5 Rxf3 $1) 17... Qd7 $5 {Now that the thematic pawn break b2-b4 is not
possible anymore, Black changes his plans.} (17... Nh5 $2 18. axb5 $1 $16) 18.
d4 exd4 19. cxd4 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rfb8 23. Qc4 (23.
Be3 Rxb2 $11) (23. Re2 $5 {/\Be3 might offer better chances for retaining an
advantage.}) 23... d5 24. exd5 exd5 25. Qa2 Bb4 {The d5-pawn is weak, but
Black's last move in conjunction with ...a5 will leave the a4-rook out of play,
causing White loss of time for the sake of regroupment.} 26. Rd1 Qe6 27. Bg5
Kh8 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Rxd5 a5 30. Qb1 Re8 31. Rd1 Rad8 $44 {and Black's better
coordination offers him certain compensation, although the draw agreement 10
moves later might be slightly premature, Shirov,A (2735)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2680)/
Sarajevo 2003/CBM 096 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 16... d5 {Aronian deviates from his
previous games with this line, too.} ({He had some previous experience with} 
16... Qd7 17. Ng3 (17. Qb3 Rfb8 18. Bd2 (18. N1h2 $1 {Topalov,V (2788)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)/San Luis 2005/CBM 110/[Gershon] (1-0, 73)}) 18... a5 19.
Ng5 axb4 20. axb4 cxb4 21. Nxe6 d5 22. Ng5 bxc3 23. Bxc3 b4 24. Bb2 Na5 $36 {
Ponomariov,R (2704)-Aronian,L (2724)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/CBM 111 (1/2-1/2, 31)
}) 17... a5 {This move weakens the b5-square, offering White chances for some
initiative.} ({The more restrained} 17... Rfb8 {is possible.} 18. d4 {But this
might pe premature. White should probably had effectuated some neutral move
such as 18.Bd2.} exd4 19. cxd4 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 {White seems to
have a pleasant position in the centre, but is slightly underdeveloped.
Besides, his queenside pawns placed on dark squares could cause him problems
in an eventual bishop ending.} Rc8 22. Bb2 Rc2 23. Rad1 Qa7 24. e5 dxe5 25.
Qxa7 Rxa7 26. Bxe5 Rd7 $11 {The activity of the black rook along the second
rank compensates for the minimal structural deffect, Leko,P (2738)-Kramnik,V 
(2772)/Miskolc 2007/CBM 118 (1/2-1/2, 52)}) 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. Qb3 Rab8 20. a4 {
The direct consequence of ...a5. White has chances to establish a blockade on
light squares.} b4 21. Rd1 bxc3 22. Qxc3 Nd4 23. Nxd4 (23. Nxe5 Qc7 24. Nc4 Nh5
$1 {[%csl Ye2]} 25. Qxa5 Qxa5 26. Nxa5 Nxg3 27. fxg3 Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Bf6 $13 {
and White has to sacrifice the exchange by developing his bishop, with unclear
consequences.}) 23... exd4 24. Qc2 Bd6 25. Bd2 $6 {This move does absolutely
nothing for the control of the c4-square.} (25. Nf1 $5 {[%cal Yf1d2,Yd2c4]} Qc7
26. Nd2 {[%cal Yd2c4]} Nh5 $5 27. Nc4 Rxf2 $5 28. Qxf2 Rf8 {White cannot move
the queen because of ...Bh2+ followed by ...Ng3 with mate to follow, but} 29.
Ra2 $14 {[%csl Yc4] leaves him in control.}) 25... Qc7 26. Nf1 c4 $1 $36 {
Bacrot,E (2708)-Aronian,L (2756)/Turin 2006/CBM 113 (1/2-1/2, 36)}) 17. Ng3
$146 {A logical move, strengthening White's control in the centre.} (17. exd5
Qxd5 18. Qe2 Rfd8 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Rxd3 22. Rxe6 Kf7 23.
Re3 Rad8 $44 {Black's better development and the weakness of the white
queenside pawns (placed on dark squares!) offers him entirely adequate
compensation for the minimal material defficit, Karjakin,S (2661)-Grischuk,A 
(2719)/Foros 2006 (1/2-1/2, 52). After Shirov's developing move, the threat to
capture on d5 becomes more realistic.}) 17... dxe4 $6 {Optically speaking, a
horrible move. Of course, Aronian was perfectly aware of the strategic
drawbacks of such a decision, but he probably over-estimated his dynamic
compensation.} ({Once again,} 17... a5 {prematurely weakens the b5-square,
allowing White to embark such interesting lines:} 18. exd5 Qxd5 (18... exd5 19.
bxc5 Bxc5 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 Bb6 22. Qd3 b4 23. Bg5 $14 h6 $2 24. Bxh6 gxh6
25. Qg6+ Kh8 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Nf5 Ra7 28. Re6 $40) 19. c4 $1 bxc4 20. b5 Nd4
21. dxc4 Qxc4 22. a4 $44 {White's strategic achievements (strong passd pawn on
the queenside, pressure against Black's weakneses along the e-file) are
obvious, but the strong centralized d4-knight keeps Black very much in the
game.}) ({However, the modest developing move} 17... Qc7 {, eventually
followed by ...Rae8, seems to be entirely playable for Black.}) 18. Nxe4 c4 {
Only this move gives some meaning to Black's previous move.} 19. dxc4 Qxd1 ({
The other way to force White allow the activation of a black piece was} 19...
Nxe4 20. Qxd8 Raxd8 {. However, after} 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Rxe4 Rd1+ 23. Re1 {
Black does not seem to have sufficient compensation.}) 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Rxd1
{Compared to the line from the previous comment, the bishop (and not the
queen's rook) has improved its position. Therefore, the next move is logical.}
e4 (21... bxc4 $6 22. Nd2 $1 Rad8 23. Re1 Rd3 24. Ne4 $16 {leaves White with a
stable advantage.}) 22. cxb5 $6 {This premature release of the tension allows
Black develop his queen's rook without... moving it and is one of the main
causes for the technical problems faced by Shirov in the final part of the
game.} (22. Ng5 Bxc3 23. Ra2 (23. Rb1 bxc4 {is less clear.}) 23... Rad8 24.
Rxd8 Rxd8 25. cxb5 axb5 26. Be3 $16 {[%csl Rb5,Re6][%cal Yg5e4]}) 22... axb5
23. Ng5 Nxb4 $1 {Could Shirov have overlooked the double pin? Hard to believe,
he must have simply underestimated Black's chances in the resulting position.}
(23... Bxc3 24. Rb1 $16) 24. Nxe4 Nd5 25. Rb1 Ra5 $14 {White has won a pawn
and has the more compact kingside structure. However, the situation on the
other wing is less favourable for him, because of Black's advantage fo space.
Although the c3- and a3-pawns can be defended, the stability of the d5-knight
requires from White a lot of effort in order to make further progress.} 26.
Nxf6+ {A paradoxical decision. White gives up the pride of his position, the
well centralized and stable knight. Shirov was probably afraid that after an
eventual bishop retreat to e7 followed by ...Rfa8, Black would provoke mass
simplifications and more or less force a draw in a rook ending with 2 P vs 3P
on the kingside.} gxf6 27. Rb3 Rc8 28. Bd2 Rc4 29. Rdb1 Nc7 {The queenside
position has stabilized and time has come for the players to turn their
attention towards the other wing. The centralization of the kings is an
important element, of course.} 30. Kf1 ({Maybe White should have fought for
space with} 30. g4 $5 Kf7 ({Optically,} 30... h5 {looks disturbing, but after}
31. gxh5 $5 {followed by h6 this pawn could become dangerous, distracting part
of Black's forces away from the queenside.}) 31. Kg2 Kg6 32. f3 $14 {[%cal
Yg2g3,Yh3h4] /+/-}) 30... Kf7 31. Rb4 $6 {Shirov noticed a small drawback of
the presence of the enemy king on the seventh rank and forces the exchange of
a pair of rooks, misjudging the resulting position.} (31. Ke2 Kg6 32. Kd3 $14)
31... Rxb4 ({The tactical point is that} 31... Rxa3 $2 {loses the knight to}
32. Rxc4 bxc4 33. Rb7 $18) 32. axb4 Ra2 33. Be1 Nd5 {White has managed to
consolidate his material advantage, but Black's activity will make the
technical part enormously difficult.} 34. Rd1 h5 {Since White has not cared
about winning space on this wing, Black starts advancing his pawns himself.}
35. Rd3 Ra1 36. g3 f5 37. Ke2 Ra2+ 38. Bd2 Nb6 39. Kf1 Nd5 40. Rd4 Nf6 $6 {
Quite risky. Black should have maintained his knight close to the c4-square,
with a probable draw.} 41. Be1 Rc2 42. Rd8 Ne4 43. Rh8 {Suddenly, White has
some concrete ideas. Black cannot defend both his wings at the same time.} Kf6
$3 ({After a long thought, Aronian finds an excellent practical chance. In
case of} 43... Kg6 44. Rb8 Nd6 45. Rb6 {it wold be all over.}) 44. Rxh5 Ng5 $1
45. f4 ({White has no time to activate his rook with} 45. Rh8 {because of} Nf3
{when he would have to part with the bishop.}) 45... Nf7 46. g4 Kg6 {A highly
pictoresque position. White is two pawns up, but his rook is trapped. The win
remains quite problematic.} 47. Kg1 {Black is in some sort of zugzwang. His
king and knight are busy keeping the rook trapped, while the own rook is
optimally placed on c2, by cutting the king away from the centre and keeping
the bishop passive.} Re2 {Obviously, the lesser evil.} 48. Bf2 Rc2 ({Attacking
the f4-pawn with} 48... Re4 {would lead nowhere because of} 49. Rh4 $1 {, when}
Rxf4 $6 {allows the activation of the previously trapped rook with} 50. gxf5+)
49. Bd4 {A first small achievement. The bishop is quite active now, but has no
possibility of cooperating with the rook.} Re2 50. Rh4 {Taking measures
against Black's next move in advance.} Re4 $6 {Black should have maintained
his rook along the second rank. The maximum what White could have achieved
would have been to transfer his king to c1 and then break the queenside with
c4, fllowed by the advance of the b-pawn. However, with the rook captive on h5
I do not believe that this would have offered any chances for success.} ({
Here is a sample line:} 50... Rc2 51. Kf1 Rd2 52. Ke1 Rc2 53. Kd1 Rh2 54. Kc1
Rg2 55. c4 ({Taking the a2-square under control with} 55. Kb1 {would leave the
d2-square undefended, which after} Rd2 56. Rh5 Re2 57. c4 bxc4 58. b5 {allows}
Rd2 {followed by ...Rd5, when the king is obviously misplaced on b1.}) 55...
bxc4 56. b5 Ra2 57. b6 Ra3 58. Kc2 Rb3 {Again, the rook is optimally placed,
keepng the pawn under control and preventing the activation of the enemy king.
This gives White the idea of playing for zugzwang with} 59. Rh5 {. However,
after} Rd3 60. Bc3 Rd6 61. Ba5 Rd5 62. Bc3 Rb5 63. Bd4 Rb3 {White has made no
progress.}) 51. Kg2 {This move allows Black repair his previous mistake to a
certain extent.} (51. Kf2 $5 {would have prevented the return of the rook into
play, leaving White with reasonable winning chances after} Rxf4+ 52. Kg2 {
followed by gxf5+. The bishop is clearly stonger than the knight and the
extra-pawn could count. For instance, in case of the exhange of rooks, a
well-timed pawn break c4 would leave Black with difficulties stopping the h-
and b-pawns.}) 51... Re2+ 52. Kf3 Rc2 {The rook has returned to the second
rank, but the white king has improved his position. Still, there is no clear
win yet.} 53. Ke3 Rc1 54. Kd3 Ra1 55. Be5 (55. c4 $6 Rd1+ $1) 55... Rd1+ 56.
Kc2 Re1 57. Bd4 (57. c4 Re4 58. cxb5 Rxb4 $11) 57... Re2+ 58. Kd3 Re1 59. Bc5
Re4 60. Be3 {Almost trapping the rook.} Rc4 61. Bd4 Nh6 62. Kd2 Nf7 63. Kc2 Nh6
64. Rh5 Nf7 65. Kb3 Rc8 {With the white rook on h5, the knight cannot move
because of Rg5+, meaning that Black has to retreat with his rook. Aronian's
accurate defence in the next phase of the game deserves the highest praise. At
certain points, he will find the only moves to maintain things under control,
as if reading his opponent's mind.} 66. Bc5 Rd8 67. Kc2 (67. c4 Rd3+ 68. Kc2
bxc4 $11) 67... Ra8 $1 68. Rh4 {By indirectly defending the f4-pawn, Shirov
prepares the long-awaited c4.} ({The immediate} 68. c4 {would have lost the
pawn to} bxc4 69. Kc3 Ra3+ 70. Kxc4 Rf3 {because White has no physical time
for Kb5 and Rh4. Also, gxf5+ is impossible because the rook is hanging.}) 68...
Ra1 $1 (68... Ra3 $2 {would be a typical mistake because of} 69. Kb2 Ra8 70. c4
bxc4 71. Kc3 Ra3+ 72. Kxc4 Rf3 {and White is just in time to play} 73. gxf5+
exf5 74. b5) 69. g5 ({Finally Shirov loses his temper. Blocking the kingside
will offer Black the possibility to more or less force a draw. However it is
not clear whether he had any opportunity to carry out the thematic break c4
under favourable circumstances. For instance, in this position} 69. c4 {
leads to a familiar situation after} bxc4 70. Bd4 {, when the b-pawn could
still cause Black troubles.} (70. Kc3 Rc1+ 71. Kd4 c3 72. Kd3 {allows strong
counterplay after} e5 $1) 70... Ra3 $11) 69... Ra2+ 70. Kd3 e5 $5 71. fxe5
Nxe5+ 72. Ke3 Kxg5 73. Be7+ Kg6 74. Rh8 Kg7 75. Rc8 f4+ 76. Ke4 Re2+ 77. Kf5 f3
78. Bc5 Nd3 79. Bd4+ Kf7 80. Rb8 f2 81. Rb7+ Re7 82. Rxe7+ Kxe7 83. Bxf2 Nxf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.03"]
[Round "11.3"]
[White "Quesada Perez, Yuniesky"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2614"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[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 "Cuba"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CUB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 ({After his insuccess against Karjakin with the sharper} 9... d5
{, Onischuk returns to a more solid continuation that he had employed
previously.}) 10. Nc3 {The most popular answer, aiming to complete the
development as soon as possible and start an attack against the vulnerable
f7-square.} (10. c3 {is a solid, but somewhat slower alternative.} Bf8 (10...
h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 {Sasikiran,K (2700)-Sargissian,G (2658)/Zafra 2007/CBM 117/
[Ftacnik] (0-1, 39)}) 11. Bg5 {Topalov,V (2670)-Short,N (2645)/Elenite 1995/
CBM 050/[Topalov] (1-0, 43)}) ({The same applies to} 10. a3 h6 11. Nc3 Bf8 {
Psakhis,L (2610)-Mitkov,N (2485)/New York 1997/CBM 057 ext/[Psakhis] (1-0, 49)}
) 10... Bb4 $5 {[%cal Gb4e1] A slightly speculative continuation, aimint to
take advantage of the drawbacks of White's previous move.} ({The main point
behind 10.Nc3 is that} 10... Bf8 $2 {loses to} 11. Ng5 Re7 12. Nd5 $1 {This
knight jump is not available in the lines starting with 10.c3 or 10.a3.} Nxd5
13. exd5 Nd4 14. d6 cxd6 15. Qh5 $18) (10... h6 {has a solid reputation,
partly because of Leko's efforts.} 11. a4 (11. Nd5 {Anand,V (2779)-Leko,P 
(2749)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM 117/[Mihail Marin] (1/2, 26)}) 11... b4 12. Nd5
{Jakovenko,D (2710)-Leko,P (2755)/Moscow 2007/CBM 122/[Postny] (1/2, 61)}) 11.
Ng5 (11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Na5 13. Bg5 {led to interesting play, not without
chances for Black in Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)-Anand,V (2792)/Germany 2006/CBM 113/
[Anand] (0-1, 31)}) 11... Rf8 {Black's play may seem a bit chaotic, with his
already developed pieces moving forth and back. However, the knight jump to g5
has left White's position a bit hanging; if the attack will fail, Black may
get strong counterplay in the centre.} ({Abstractly speaking,} 11... Re7 $6 {
may look stronger, but concretely it appears that the rook is exposed on e7,
rather than active.} 12. Nd5 Bxe1 (12... Nxd5 $2 13. exd5 Bxe1 (13... Nd4 14.
d6 cxd6 15. Qh5 $18) 14. Qh5 h6 15. dxc6 $18) 13. Nxe7+ (13. Nxf6+ $5 {is
interesting, but possibly not especially dangerous.} gxf6 14. Nxh7 Re6 (14...
Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Bh6 $18) 15. Qh5 Bb4 $1 {The bishop hurries back to the
defence.} 16. Qh4 Be7 {White's incomplete development causes him problems
finding an effective way of steaming up his attack. There are several ways of
forcing a draw, but possibly nothing more than that:} 17. Bh6 Kxh7 18. Be3+ Kg7
19. Qg4+ {Black has to accept a draw by perpetual, since after having blocked
the e7-square} Kf8 $4 {leads to mate:} 20. Bh6+) 13... Qxe7 14. Qxe1 $14 {
Borisek,J (2495)-Jenni,F (2481)/Brno 2006/CBM 114 ext (1/2, 57). White has the
bishops pair and chances for a kingside attack starting with f4.}) 12. a3 {
This looks like a paradoxical move to me. White spends a tempo on inviting his
opponent to carry out an exchange that made part of his plan anyway. I suppose
that the main idea is to clear the a2-square for the bishop.} ({Another aspect
of the matter is that the immediate start of kingside operation with} 12. f4 {
allows Black find new horisons to the bishop that has moved twice already.} d6
13. a3 Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Nd4 (14... h6 15. Nf3 Nh5 $5 {looks like a more natural
way of starting an effective counterplay.} 16. Nxe5 Ng3+ 17. Kh2 dxe5 18. Kxg3
exf4+ 19. Bxf4 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 21. Kf2 Nd4 $44 {[%cal Gd4b3]} 22. Ba2 Qc5
23. Kf1 Rae8 $40 {[%cal Gg8h8,Gf7f5]}) 15. Ba2 h6 16. Nf3 Re8 17. Nxd4 exd4 18.
Ne2 {The position is unclear. From structural point of view, White is better,
but his development is incomplete. Black felt like taking advantage of this
latter aspect immediately.} Ng4 $5 19. Rf1 ({The critical test to Black's
original idea is} 19. hxg4 {, for instance:} Qh4+ 20. Kg1 Rxe4 21. dxe4 d3+ 22.
Nd4 dxc2 23. Qe2 {I do not exclude the possibility that both players missed
this move.} Bxd4+ 24. Be3 Bxb2 25. Qxc2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 {[%cal Ge4e5] Black does
not seem to have enough compensation for the piece.}) 19... Qh4 20. Qe1 Qxe1
21. Rxe1 Ne3 22. Bxe3 dxe3 23. Ng3 Rad8 24. Rad1 {Apparently, both players
felt incomfortable in this position, since they agreed to a draw in 1/2
Grischuk,A (2717)-Onischuk,A (2663)/Sochi 2007/CBM 118. White cannot attack
the e3-pawn easily; for instance, d3-d4 would leave the e4-pawn undefended.})
12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 {Black immediately starts fighting against the active
"Spanish" bishop.} (13... h6 14. Nf3 d6 {is less ambitious, but quite solid.
Having temporarily been deprived of the possibility of opening the f-file with
f2-f4, White has got another attacking plan, based on Nh4-f5.} 15. Nh4 (15. a4
Na5 16. Ba2 c5 17. Nh4 {Lutz,C (2580)-Navara,D (2725)/Germany 2007/CBM 118 
(1-0, 43)} Bc8 $5) 15... Bc8 {This seems to solve Black's problems.} (15... Na5
16. Ba2 c5 {is more ambitious. Black neglects the kingside defence for a
couple of moves, but burries the enemy bishop on a2.} 17. Re3 c4 18. Rg3 Nxe4 {
A simplifying operation, which will eventually lose a pawn, but will
strengthen the wall around the enemy bishop.} 19. dxe4 Qxh4 20. Qxd6 Nc6 21.
Bxh6 Rfd8 22. Rxg7+ Kh8 23. Rg4 Qxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Rxd6 {Understandably, computers
are enthusiastic about White's position. They cannot understand that, for
practical reasons, Black is a piece up. In Akopian,V (2698)-Jenni,F (2500)/
Novi Sad 2009/CBM 133 (0-1, 59), White could not prove adequate compensation
for this element.}) 16. Qf3 Na5 17. Ba2 c5 $11 {Svidler,P (2743)-Anand,V (2803)
/Sofia 2006/CBM 113/[Marin,M] (1/2, 38)}) 14. f4 {The most energetic
continuation.} (14. Ba2 c5 15. f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Bxd5 Qxg5 18. Bxb7 {
1/2 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741)/Brissago 2004/CBM 103}) 14... d6 $1 $146 ({
A logical improvement over} 14... exf4 $6 {, which unnecessarily helps White
develop his bishop:} 15. Bxf4 c5 16. Bd6 c4 17. dxc4 bxc4 18. Ba4 Re8 19. e5 h6
20. Nxf7 $1 $36 {Dominguez,L (2678)-Nielsen,P (2649)/Havana 2007/CBM 118 ext 
(1-0, 40)}) 15. Rf1 ({Safer looks} 15. Ba2 {, keeping the bishop. Int his case,
} c5 {would transpose above.}) (15. f5 Nxb3 16. cxb3 d5 $132 {[%csl Ge4]
leaves White hanging in the centre.}) 15... Nxb3 16. cxb3 h6 17. Nf3 Nd7 {
Suddenly, it appears that White has set up kingside tension without being
sufficiently well developed. Black threatens to react with ...f5, clearing the
path to his bishop.} 18. fxe5 {Hoping to stabilize the position.} dxe5 19. Ne1
$6 {Aesthetically, this does not look good. White has all his pieces on the
back rank, while almost all his pawns are ligned up on the third rank. There
is a strong feeling of lack of coordination.} (19. Be3 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Qe2
{offers better chances to maintain the equality.}) 19... Nc5 20. Be3 Qd6 21.
Qc2 Rad8 $15 {Black is very active and White has problems with his backward
d3-pawn.} 22. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 f5 $1 24. exf5 ({The attempt to simplify the
position with} 24. Rxf5 $2 Rxf5 25. exf5 {leaves the kingside vulnerable after}
Rf8 $17 {[%cal Gf8f5]}) 24... Qe3 {[%cal Ge3h3]} 25. Kh2 e4 {Black has strong
initiative.} 26. Rd1 (26. d4 c5 $1 $17) 26... Rd5 27. Qd2 Qxd2 28. Rxd2 Rdxf5
29. Rxf5 Rxf5 30. Kg1 Rc5 31. c4 Rc6 32. Rc2 Rd6 33. Rc3 exd3 34. Nxd3 bxc4 35.
bxc4 Be4 36. Nc5 Bg6 37. Kf2 Rc6 38. Nb3 Bf7 39. Nd2 Kf8 40. Ke2 Bd5 41. g3 Kf7
42. h4 Kg6 43. Kd3 Bg2 44. Ke2 Kf5 45. Re3 Kg4 46. Kf2 Rd6 47. Ne4 Bxe4 48.
Rxe4+ Kh3 49. Re7 Rf6+ 50. Ke2 Rg6 51. Rxc7 Rxg3 52. h5 Kh4 53. Rc5 Rxa3 54.
Rd5 a5 55. Kd2 Ra2+ 56. Kc3 a4 57. c5 a3 58. Kb3 Ra1 59. Re5 Kg4 60. Re7 a2 61.
Rxg7+ Kxh5 62. Rc7 Kg6 63. Kb2 Rc1 64. Kxa2 h5 65. Kb3 h4 66. Rc8 h3 67. Rh8
Rxc5 68. Rxh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Primavara"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vasiesiu, Dan"]
[Black "Vajda, Levente"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 h6 10. Nc3 Re8 11. a3 Bf8 12. Nd5 d6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. Ba2 Ne7 15.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nh2 c6 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 c5 19. Ng4 Nf6 20. Rf1 c4 $5 {ץa2}
21. Bxh6 Nxg4 22. Qxg4 d5 23. Bg5 $6 (23. exd5 $142) 23... Qc5+ 24. Kh1 dxe4
25. dxc4 bxc4 $132 26. Rad1 Rac8 27. Qd7 Qxg5 28. Qxf7+ Kh7 29. Qxb7 (29. Rf5
Re7 30. Qxf8 Rxf8 31. Rxg5 Rf2 $44) 29... e3 30. Rfe1 e2 (30... e2 31. Ra1 Bd6
$19 {/\Qg3, /\Qe5}) 0-1

[Event "Candidates sf"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2007.06.03"]
[Round "1.9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[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"]

{In order to understand better the psychological situation of the players, it
should be taken into account that Shirov had won the first two games of the
play-off and needed just a draw out of the remaining two games in order to
qualify to the finals. I remember that some 15 years ago I read an amusing
comment by Shirov. On the basis of two decisive games played in the last round
of tournaments of that time, he wrote something like: "If I play for a win, I
get a losing position. If I play for a win - the same happens. Maybe I should
play for a loss?!" In fact, at the turning point of the games he displayed the
required fighting spirit and both games ended successfully for him. To a
certain extent, the same will happen in this game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11.
Nc3 Rfe8 ({The main alternatives are} 11... Rae8 {followed by ...Nd8-e6}) ({and
} 11... Nd8) 12. Ne2 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6 {Both sides have improved the placement
of their queen's knights and are close to completing the first phase of
mobilisation. Optically, Black seems to be slightly ahead in development, but
the difference of activity between the king's bishops is at least as important
(a typical feature of the Ruy Lopez).} 14. c3 {The most consistent
continuation. White is better prepared to occupy the centre with d4, because
his e4-pawn is better defended.} (14. Ng5 {is aimed to increase the activity
of the b3-bishop, but releases the pressure against the e5-pawn and allows
active counterplay.} d5 (14... Nxg5 15. Bxg5 h6 16. Bd2 d5 {also proved
sufficient for equality:} 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Bc3 Bc5 20. Ne4 {
1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2786)-Leko,P (2749)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext}) 15. Nf5 Bf8
(15... Nc5 $5 {[%csl Yb3,Ye4]} 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Qxd5 $15)
16. Qf3 Nc5 (16... c5) 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxd5 $15 {Shirov,A (2699)
-Svidler,P (2736)/Foros 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 29)}) 14... c5 (14... Bf8 15.
Ng5 {Now that the f6-knight is not supported by the bishop any more, this
makes some sense.} ({However,} 15. d4 {is more consequent.}) 15... c5 (15...
Nxg5 16. Bxg5 $14 {[%csl Yf6]}) (15... d5 $1 {and the move ...Bf8 is more
useful than c3, if we compare with the game Shirov-Svidler.}) 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17.
d4 Qf7 18. Bg5 ({After} 18. dxc5 dxc5 {it is not easy to take advantage of the
weakness of the e5-pawn, while Black has every chance to take over the control
of the d-file.}) 18... Nd7 19. Qd2 h6 20. Be3 d5 $5 $132 {Dominguez,L (2638)
-Ponomariov,R (2723)/Cuernavaca 2006/CBM 112 (1/2-1/2, 82)}) 15. d4 exd4 16.
cxd4 d5 {The critical position. White has occupied the centre, but Black
reacts immediately.} 17. dxc5 $6 $146 {Probably played under the influence of
the situation in the match. After this release of the tension in the centre
several pieces will be exchanged, but in the endgame Black will maintain the
more active position.} ({The more consistent continuation is} 17. e5 Ne4 18.
Nf5 Bf8 19. Be3 {, with a structure typical for the Open Variation of the Ruy
Lopez (5...Nxe4). White has an advantage of space in the centre and chances
for a kingside attack, but Black's knights are very actively placed. The way
White will take advantage of the d4-square will be of great importance for the
final outcome of the battle.} a5 (19... Rac8 20. dxc5 N6xc5 21. N5d4 Nxb3 22.
Qxb3 Nc5 (22... Rc4 $5) 23. Qd1 a5 24. Qb1 Ne4 25. Rd1 $14 {Kamsky,G (2671)
-Ponomariov,R (2738)/Sofia 2006 (1-0, 41)}) 20. Bc2 Rad8 21. dxc5 N6xc5 22.
N5d4 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Ne2 (24. Nb3 $5 Nxb3 25. Bxb3 $14 {[%cal Ye3d4] /\Bd4
}) 24... Qc7 25. Rc1 Qb8 26. Ned4 Rc8 27. h4 h6 28. Nf5 Rcd8 29. Bd4 b3 30. Bb1
Bc8 31. Nd6 $5 Bxd6 32. exd6 Qxd6 33. Ne5 $44 {Morozevich,A (2730)-Grischuk,A 
(2719)/Sochi 2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2-1/2, 56)}) 17... dxe4 18. Qxd7 Nxd7 19. c6
Bxc6 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Ndc5 22. Re3 Nxb3 23. Rxb3 Nc5 {A tempting move,} (
{but the immediate occupation of the central files with} 23... Rac8 24. Be3
Red8 $15 {deserves attention as well.} {In the event of} 25. a4 {Black can
prevent the activation of the white rooks with} b4 $1) 24. Re3 Bf6 $15 {
Black is better developed, but the symmetrical character of the position
offers White good chances of keeping the damage within bearable limits.} 25.
Rb1 Rad8 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Be3 Na4 28. Bd4 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Re4 30. Nc6 Re6 31.
Nb4 Kf8 32. Kf1 Ke7 33. b3 Nc5 34. Nd5+ Kd7 35. b4 Rd6 36. Nc3 Rd3 37. Rd1
Rxd1+ 38. Nxd1 Na4 39. Ke2 Kd6 40. Kd3 Ke5 41. g3 g5 42. Ne3 f5 43. f3 f4 44.
Ng4+ Kf5 45. gxf4 Kxf4 46. Ke2 Nc3+ 47. Kf2 Nd5 48. Nh6 Ne3 49. Ng4 Nd1+ 50.
Ke2 Nc3+ 51. Kf2 h5 52. Nf6 h4 53. Nd7 Nd1+ 54. Kg2 Ne3+ 55. Kf2 Nc2 56. Nc5
Nxa3 57. Nxa6 Nc2 58. Nc7 Nd4 59. Nd5+ Ke5 60. Nc3 Kf4 61. Nd5+ Kf5 62. Nc3 Ke5
63. Kg2 Kd6 64. Kf2 Kc6 65. Ke3 Ne6 66. Ne2 Kd5 67. Kd3 Ke5 68. Ke3 Nc7 69. f4+
gxf4+ 70. Nxf4 Nd5+ 71. Nxd5 Kxd5 72. Kd3 Ke5 73. Ke3 Kd5 74. Kd3 Ke5 75. Ke3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Actually, I am quite puzzled about the fact that nobody enters the Marshall
Attack in top level tournaments any more. To my understanding, this represents
some sort of stagnation of the researching process. The Anti-Marshall systems
are not bad, of course, and offer practical chances for both sides, but, if
objectively speaking White has nothing better than keep his pawn on d3, one
natural question is whether he shouldn't just deviate at an earlier stage of
the game, with, say, 2.f4. Hopefully, the slight decline in White's result in
this tournament will give a new impulse to the investigation of the main line
starting with 8.c3} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 (11. Nc3 {is by far more
popular in this position. Anand's desire to try something different is
explainable by the fact that Kamsky had very recent experience with it, just
two days earlier, in his game against Ponomariov.}) 11... Nd8 ({Kamsky remains
faithfull to the regroupment that he employed in his previous game. The main
alternative consists of} 11... Rae8 {eventually followed by ...Bd8 in order to
consolidate the d4-pawn.}) 12. c3 ({A new move. After} 12. Nf1 c5 13. Ng3 Ne6
14. Nf5 Bd8 15. Be3 Bb6 {Black managed to put the d4-square under strict
observation in Zhigalko-Staniszewski, Warsaw 2005. However, the immediate
occupation of the centre carried out by Anand makes the moves a3 and d3 look
like mere losses of time.}) 12... Ne6 13. d4 {[#]} Rad8 $1 {A very instructive
moment. Anand might have hoped that Black would be forced to give up the
centre because of the pressure against the e5-pawn. Instead of that, Kamsky
simply brings another piece into play, underlining the fact that he is 3 whole
tempi ahead in the development, which makes the opening of the position
undesirable for White, even if this would yield him an extra-pawn.} 14. d5 ({
There is no clear refutation of} 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 {but after} Qd6 {
it is quite obvious that Black has excellent compensation for the pawn. For
instance} 16. Ng4 ({Sligthly trickier than} 16. Nef3 {when Black could win his
pawn back with} Nxe4) 16... Nc5 ({Now,} 16... Nxe4 $6 17. Nxe4 Qxd1 {could be
met by} 18. Nef6+ $1 {when after} Bxf6 {there is a reserve-knight available to
provoke the deterioration of Black's queen side with} 19. Nxf6+) 17. Bc2 (17.
e5 {is undangerous because of} Qc6) {and now, even such a "neutral" developing
move as} 17... Rfe8 {leaves White with problems releasing the pressure. By
blocking the centre, White intends to make Black's advance in development lose
part of its significance.}) 14... Nf4 ({In spite of winning a tempo,} 14... Nc5
$6 {is hardly adequate in view of} 15. Bc2 {when Black has problems finding a
favourable way of ensuring stability of his knight, for instance} a5 16. b4 Na4
17. Bxa4 bxa4 18. c4 {when the b7-bishop would be strongly restricted by the
white central pawns.}) 15. Nf1 Ng6 {The knight has reached this square after
jumping around none less than 5 times, slightly more than this usually happens
in this type of structure. The retreat was necessary in view of the positional
threat Bxf4, when Black would lose stability in the centre.} 16. Ng3 {White
has managed to reduce his delay in development to bearable proportions. Black
has to react energetically before his opponent manages to consolidate his
spatial advantage.} c6 $1 {In the following phase of the game, the fight will
be focused around the d5-square. The outcome of this fight will be to a
certain extent determining for the further course of the game.} 17. Bg5 cxd5
18. Bxf6 {Quite logical. White eliminates one of the main defenders of the
d5-square. However, I would allow myself to make a general remark here. Along
the game, we shall see several similar situations: whenever two enemy pieces
will be in contact with eachother, it will be mostly White who will release
the tension, sometimes helping Black to slightly improve his position. Event
though in certain cases such exchanges are compensated by other positional
factors (as is the case with Bxf6), my personal feeling is that the
psychologic tendency favoured Black.} Bxf6 19. Bxd5 Nf4 {The knight jumps back
to the square that was made available by the previous exchange of minor pieces.
} 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qc2 g6 22. Rad1 d5 {Black has managed to unblock this pawn
with relative ease. However, this is not by far not the end of the story:
after the exchange of the central pawns, the gravity centre will move to e4.
Here we can appreciate the merits of the exchange on f6, because the black
knight controlled the e4-square, too.} 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Qxd5 25. Rd1 {
White has lost ground in the centre, but he manages to take over the control
of the only open file.} Qe6 {The queen is well placed here, keeping both wings
under control.} 26. Qe4 {[#]} ({The same can be said about Her white Majesty.
Besides creating some threats against the queen side, she blocks the e5-pawn,
putting it under some pressure at the same time, thus causing Black problems
with his regroupment. Usually, the knight is considered to be the best
blocking piece, but after} 26. Ne4 Be7 {we can hardly speak about a blockade,
in view of the threat ...f5 (eventually after the preliminary ...h6). After 26.
Qe4 the position is very interesting from strategic point of view. Both sides
face problems in the desirable process of putting into motion their pawn
majorities. However, there is a significant difference regarding the reasons
for this situation in each case. The immobility of the white queen side pawns
has a relatively stable character: Black's structure on that wing is simply
better. On the contrary, Black's king side majority has no organic deffects.
In order to prevent this dangerous majority from advancing, White employs
piece pressure alone, which is entirely sufficient for the time being but has
a basically temporary character in general. This means that Black will manage
to keep his opponent's activity under control, in the long run he could count
on an advantage. As for White, he should find ways of maintaining his slight
initiative, or to convert it into something of more stable nature.}) 26... Rb8
$1 ({From the point of view of the previous comment, quite a logical move.
Black prevents the infiltration of the enemy queen to b7 and threatens to
unblock his pawns by means of ...h6, ...Bg7 and ...f5. In fact, the control of
the d-file and the h1-a8 diagonal does not yield White anything concrete now,
because all the important squares of these lines of communication are under
strict Black observation. Here is an illustrative line of what could happen if
Black neglects this aspect:} 26... Re8 27. Qb7 Be7 28. Rd7 f5 29. Kh2 {White's
pressure along the seventh rank is quite annoying, counter-balancing Black's
supremacy in the centre. The generally desirable} e4 {would leave Black with
some problems of coordination after} 30. Nd4) 27. Ne2 {By exchanging his
passive knight for the active black knight, White makes some central light
squares available for his major pieces.} Nxe2+ 28. Qxe2 Re8 $5 ({Now that the
enemy queen has been temporarily removed from e4, Kamsky decides that the rook
does not need to guard the b7-square any more and transfers it to a central
file. The possible usefullness of such a move can be seen from the following
line:} 28... e4 $6 29. Nd2 Rd8 30. Re1 {and Black has to sacrifice a pawn with}
e3 {when his compensation would remain uncertain.}) ({The attempt to make use
of the rook on b8 with} 28... a5 29. Qe4 Qc4 {leads tounclear consequences
after} 30. Qe3 {when the threat Qa7 is quite unpleasant.}) ({However, Black
could have initiated the plan of regroupment based on} 28... h6 {followed by ..
.Bg7 and f5 immediately, leaving for later the decision about where the rook
really belongs.}) 29. Qe4 {The queen gladly returns to this (still) stable
square, taking advantage of Black's slight indecision.} h6 {[#]} 30. g4 $6 ({
This move marks the start of White's gradual decline. Anand probably felt that
he was about to lose stability in the centre and tried to remedy this problems
with the help of the pawns, but he seem to have chosen the wrong pawn! His
last move not only fails to block the black mass of pawns, but also weakens
the king'sposition. According to Mikhail Golubev in Chess Today, Kamsky
recommended} 30. h4 {during the press conference, with the obvious intention
of weakening Black's light squares with h5. Anand suggested} Bg7 31. h5 f5 32.
Qd5 g5 {. Together with GM Constantin Ionescu, we worked out such a
continuation:} 33. Qxe6+ Rxe6 34. g4 $5 f4 (34... fxg4 35. Nh2 {followed by
the installment of the knight on g4 should be avoided.}) 35. Re1 ({White
cannot transfer the knight to e4 yet with} 35. Nd2 {because of} Rd6 {when after
} 36. Kf1 e4 37. Ke2 Re6 {Black is certainly not worse.}) 35... e4 $1 {(This
move implies a pawn sacrifice, but otherwise Black would be clearly worse
after Nd2-e4.)} 36. Nd2 e3 37. fxe3 fxe3 38. Nf1 Bf8 $1 {(The only way to
activate the bishop)} 39. Nxe3 ({The attempt to restrict the bishop with} 39.
b4 {only weakens the c3-square and can be met by} Bg7 $1) 39... Bc5 40. Kf2 Re4
{. Black's activity combined with the weakness of the g4-pawn maintains the
balance even.} 41. Kf3 Rf4+ 42. Kg3 Kf7 $5 ({This neutral move puts White in
some sort of zugzwang. neither} 42... Bd6 43. Rd1 $1) ({nor} 42... Re4 43. Nc2
{are satisfactory for Black.}) 43. Re2 ({What else? In view of the fork on f2,
the only possible knight move would be the passive} 43. Nd1 {allowing} Bd6 $1 {
with strong initiative for Black.}) ({while a waiting move such as} 43. b3 {
could be answered with the same method by} Bb6) 43... Re4 44. Kf3 Rf4+ {
with a draw by repetition.}) ({The other reasonable way of using the temporary
absence of threats from Black's part would consists of advancing the other
marginal pawn with} 30. a4 {aiming to weaken the black queen side structure
and improve the own. In this case, too, White would be out of danger.}) 30...
Bg5 $1 ({This is much more ambitious than} 30... Bg7 {. Because of the
possibility of ...Bc1, White cannot offer the exchange of queens on d5 without
prior capturing the bishop.}) 31. Nxg5 {From the situations mentioned in the
comment on White's 18th move, this is the first major concession. Black's king
side structure becomes more threatening now. On the other hand, it is hard to
recommend anything else for White.} hxg5 32. Qd5 ({But this looks like aiming
for a draw too openly. In fact, it will be precisely in the absence of queens
when Black will be able to advance his strong mass of pawns without fearing to
weaken his king's position. From this point of view, strengthening the control
of the d-file with} 32. Rd5 {looks better, when} f5 $6 {would be at least
dangerous for Black after} 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. Qd3) 32... Kg7 33. Qxe6 Rxe6 {
During the last two moves, Black has improved the position of his both
remaining pieces.} 34. Rd7 {After the recent exchanges, the static elements of
the position have become more significant, inclining the balance to Black's
favour already. From the former piece activity, White has only retained the
control of the only open file.} Kf6 35. Kf1 Rc6 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. Rd8 e4 {[#]}
38. f3 $2 ({As mentioned in the comments to the game Kamsky-Bacrot from the
previous round, rook endings are rarely suitable to definitive evaluations.
Therefore I shall refrain from naming this move the decisive mistake; I would
just mention that now White has huge problems defending his position. This was
the last moment when Anand could have improved his queen side situation with} 
38. a4 {for instance} bxa4 39. Rd4 Ke5 (39... a3 {does not work because after}
40. Rxe4+ Kd5 {Black has the intermediate} 41. Rd4+ {leading to an obvious
draw after} Ke5 42. bxa3 Rxc3 43. Ra4) 40. Rxa4 f5 41. f3 Kf4 42. fxe4 fxe4 {
and now Black's supremacy in the centre can be met by active queen side
counterplay starting with} 43. c4) 38... exf3+ 39. Kxf3 Rd6 $1 {[#]Black can
ensure the free wandering around of his king because White cannot really
exchange rooks: this would remove the last remaining element of activity from
his position, when the static balance would be hopeless for him.} 40. Re8+ ({
I shall support the rather abstract previous comment with some concrete lines
that I analyzed with Constantin Ionescu:} 40. Rxd6+ $2 Kxd6 41. Ke4 Ke6 ({
Of course, not} 41... Kc5 $2 {because of} 42. Ke5 {when White is suddenly
winning.}) 42. b4 $5 {(In view of Black's threat of creating a passed pawn
with ...f5, White has to look for some queen side counterplay.)} f5+ 43. Kd4 f4
44. c4 ({White cannot defend his fortress passively because after} 44. Ke4 Kd6
45. Kd4 {Black forces the opening of play with} a5 {. Indeed, continuing the
neutral policy with} 46. Ke4 {leads to disaster after} a4 47. Kd4 f3 {followed
by the march of the black king to b3.}) 44... bxc4 45. Kxc4 Ke5 $1 {(Just in
time to push the white king back.)} 46. Kd3 Kd5 47. a4 Ke5 48. Ke2 Kd4 49. Kf3
Kc4 50. b5 axb5 51. axb5 Kxb5 {and now the pawn break} 52. h4 {does not save
White after} gxh4 53. Kxf4 ({or if} 53. g5 {then} h3 $1) 53... g5+ $1) 40...
Kd5 41. b3 {[#]} ({A depressing image. The numerous weaknesses along the third
rank will soon be very difficult to defend. However, there was no other way of
preventing the enemy king from penetrating through c4-b3. For instance,} 41.
Rc8 {would be met by} Rc6) 41... Rf6+ 42. Kg2 ({Sad necessity.} 42. Ke3 {
allows the exchange of rooks with} Re6+) 42... Rc6 43. Re3 f5 44. gxf5 ({
As in so many other moments of this game, White needs to releasethe tension in
order to get some breathing space, something he would definitely lack after} 
44. Kf3 f4 45. Rd3+ Ke5 46. Ke2 Rd6 47. Rf3 Ke4) 44... gxf5 45. Rg3 Ke4 $1 {[#]
} 46. a4 ({This move comes much too late and in the worst possible form. True,
after} 46. Rxg5 Rxc3 {White cannot defend his third rank with} 47. Rg3 $2 {
because of} Rxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Ke3 49. Kg2 f4 $1 (49... Ke2 {would lead nowhere
because of} 50. Kg3 $1) 50. Kf1 Kf3 {and Black manages to win the h-pawn
without losing his own. However, 47.Rg6 would have faced Black with some
technical problems in view of the reduced quantity of material remaining on
board, although the f-pawn would probably decide the outcome of the battle.})
46... bxa4 47. bxa4 Kf4 48. Rf3+ Ke5 49. Re3+ Kf6 50. Rd3 f4 {Black slowly
increases his spatial advantage, while White is reduced to passivity.} 51. Kf3
Ke5 52. Kg4 Rd6 53. Rxd6 ({This is making things faster and is a possible
consequence of a mistake of calculation, but one can hardly blame Anand for
avoiding such a line as} 53. Rf3 Rd1 54. Kxg5 Rg1+ 55. Kh5 Ke4 {with an easy
win for Black.}) 53... Kxd6 54. h4 gxh4 55. Kxh4 Kd5 56. Kh3 Ke4 57. Kg2 Ke3 $1
({Quite possibly, Anand counted on} 57... Kd3 $4 {when after} 58. Kf3 {the
white king would be just in time to reach the saving c1-square.}) ({After the
accurate} 57... Ke3 {Black wins a decisive tempo, for instance} 58. Kf1 {
(forced, in view of the threat ...Ke2)} Kd3 ({The sadistic} 58... a5 {is also
possible, but not really necessary.}) 59. Kf2 Kxc3 60. Kf3 Kb4 61. Kxf4 Kxa4
62. Ke3 Kb3 63. Kd2 Kb2 {and the a-pawn is unstoppable. After Wijk aan Zee,
this is Anand's second defeat by hands of Kamsky in a relatively short period
of time. The reader might remember that in the mid-nineties these two
outstanding players had to cross swords in two of Candidate's Matches from the
parallel cycles of the FIDE and PCA World Championships. Each of them won one
of the matches to become challenger of the respective version, meaning that
they both remained with a mixture of pleasant and annoying memories. Botwinnik
once wrote that he considered the repeated confrontations along the years with
certain players as making part of a "life-long" match, with the same
psychologic implications as a normal match. Judging from the recent results,
we can state that, at least for the moment, Kamsky managed to deal with this
delicate psychological issue better than his opponent. Which cannot mean that
there will be no further returns of the balance...}) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Na5 {Topalov had already some previous experience with
this position. Although played quite differently in those games, White
employed the same queen side plan as in the present game.} (10... h6 11. Bd2 b4
12. c3 a5 13. d4 bxc3 14. Bxc3 $1 {Instead of maintaining the flexibility of
his structure, White aims for rapid activation of pieces.} exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4
16. Qxd4 $14 {Topalov,V (2757)-Grischuk,A (2710)/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105}) (
10... Nb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 c6 14. c4 {Once again ruining
his pawn structure, followed by the transfer of the bishop to c3.} bxc4 15.
Nxc4 Nbd7 16. Bd2 Re8 17. Qc2 Bf8 18. Ba2 Qb8 19. Bc3 {Topalov,V (2801)
-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Morelia/Linares 2006 with complicated, balanced, fight.})
11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nd7 $146 (12... Bc8 {was tried in Anand,V (2803)-Svidler,P
(2743)/Sofia 2006}) ({Soon after the M-Tel tournament, the following game was
played, in which Black delayed for one move the trabsfer of the bishop to e6,
possibly waiting for White to define his intentions:} 12... Qc7 13. Nf1 Bc8 14.
Bd2 ({More to the point seem to be} 14. Ne3 $5) ({or} 14. Bg5 $5 {fighting for
the d5-square.}) 14... b4 15. c3 bxc3 16. Bxc3 Nc6 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. Nh2 Be6 19.
Nhg4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Bg5 $15 {Amonatov,F (2569)-Beliavsky,A (2622)/Turin Ol 2006}
) 13. Nf1 Nb6 14. Bd2 b4 15. c3 bxc3 16. Bxc3 {Same pattern again. In the long
run, Topalov intends to concentrate his pieces against the enemy king.} Nc6 {
In the next phase of the game, both sides will manoeuvre with their pieces in
such a way that they take under control the numerous important squares made
available after the structural modifications. Besides, White will aim to open
the long dark diagonal by means of f4.} 17. a5 Nc8 18. Ne3 N8a7 19. Nf5 {
This is a highly commital move, revealing Topalov's intentions to play
everything on one single cart: a king side attack. However, after this knight
jump, White's position loses part of its harmony.} ({More natural looks to be} 
19. Nd2 Nb5 20. Ndc4 Rb8 21. Nb6 {taking the numerous weak squares under
control. True, the weaknesses from the own camp are also under black control,
which causes the position to be more or less equal.}) 19... Bc8 20. Nd2 Rb8 21.
f4 Bxf5 22. exf5 exf4 23. Qg4 Nd4 24. Ne4 Nab5 25. Bd2 {Of course, Topalov is
not the kind of player to be afraid of "losing" an exchange after the fork on
c2. According to the terminology instituted by Rudolf Spielmann (the last of
the romantic platers, as he was frequently named) this is a passive sacrifice.
White does not force, but allows his opponent to win the exchange. Although
his compensation will prove to be insufficient, the position will be rather
difficult to handle over-the-board, which will cause Ponomariov to lose
control.} Nc2 26. Bxf4 Kh8 27. Qh5 Nxe1 (27... Nxa1 28. Rxa1 Nd4) 28. Rxe1 Qxa5
29. Ra1 {The only way to defend both attacked pieces, which, if underestimated,
could become a very dangerous attacking move at the same time.} Rbd8 $2 (29...
f6 {looks like a relatively safe way to parry White's incipient threats.} 30.
Kh2 $145 {/\ 31.Bg8!} d5 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 $19 {(Poldauf/Schach 7-2006)}) 30. f6 $2
(30. Kh2 $145 $1 {(Poldauf)} Qc7 (30... d5 31. Bxd5 $1 Qxa1 32. f6 gxf6 (32...
Qf1 33. fxg7+ Kxg7 34. Bh6+ Kh8 35. Qe5+ $18) 33. Ng5 fxg5 34. Be5+ f6 35. Be4
$18) (30... Nd4 $2 31. Bxf7 $1 Qxa1 32. Bg6 h6 33. Bxh6 $18) 31. Bxf7 Rxf7 32.
Qxf7 Rf8 33. Qd5 $16 {(Poldauf)}) 30... gxf6 {This is the correct way to
capture.} (30... Bxf6 $2 31. Nxf6 gxf6 32. Qh6 Qb4 (32... Rg8 33. Qxf6+ Rg7 34.
Bh6 Rdg8 35. Bxf7 $18) 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 {and now,} 34. Bc4 $1 $18 {[%csl Gd4]
[%cal Yf4h6] prevents ...Qd4 and threatens Bh6 followed by mate.}) 31. Kh2 $1 {
Removing the king from the exposed g1-square, White threatens 32.Bxf7 Qxa1 32.
Bg6.} d5 $2 {This natural move is the decisive mistake in fact. Black had
several reasonable continuations at his disposal.} (31... Nd4 32. Bxf7 Qxa1 33.
Bg6 Rf7 34. Bxf7 Qf1 35. Bg6 (35. Be3 Qf5) 35... Qxf4+ 36. g3 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Ne1+
38. Kh2 $11) (31... Qc7 32. Bxf7 f5 33. Rxa6 Rxf7 (33... fxe4 34. Be5+ dxe5 35.
Rh6 $18) 34. Qxf7 Rf8 35. Nxd6 Bxd6 (35... Nxd6 $2 36. Be5+) 36. Qxf8+ Bxf8 37.
Bxc7 Nxc7 38. Rf6 $13) ({Possibly best would have ben} 31... Rg8 $5 {when it
is hard to suggest an efficient way of continuing the attack for White.}) 32.
Nxf6 Bxf6 33. d4 $3 {A brilliant move, turning the tables to White's favour.
The threat Bb1 can be parried only by sacrificing the queen.} Qxa2 34. Rxa2
Nxd4 {Black has some hopes to build up a fortress, but White's energetic play
demolishes his plan little by little.} 35. b4 $1 Ne6 (35... cxb4 {loses
material to} 36. Be5) 36. Be5 Bg7 37. bxc5 Rc8 38. Bd6 Rfd8 39. Ra5 Kg8 40.
Rxa6 Rd7 41. Qxd5 Bf8 42. Qf3 Bxd6+ 43. cxd6 Rcd8 44. Qd5 Ng7 45. Ra8 Ne6 46.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 47. g4 {Black's fortress cannot last for tyoo long, because his
king's position is too weak.} h6 48. h4 Rb8 49. Kg3 Re8 50. Kf3 Nf8 51. Qd2 Kg7
52. Qd4+ Kg8 53. Qf6 Re6 54. Qe7 Kg7 55. Qc7 Kg8 56. d7 Nxd7 57. Qxd7 Kg7 58.
Qd4+ Kg8 59. Kf4 Rg6 60. Kf5 Re6 61. Qd7 {Threatening Qxe6, which would
transpose to a winning pawn ending.} Rg6 62. h5 Rg5+ 63. Kf6 Kh8 64. Qe8+ Rg8
65. Kxf7 1-0

[Event "Jermuk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jermuk"]
[Date "2009.08.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2009.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 132"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ $5 ({This leads to somewhat more irrational play than} 9. Nxd4 {
Leko,P (2756)-Aronian,L (2768)/Jermuk 2009/CBM 132/[Marin] (1/2, 45)}) 9...
Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 (10... Nc6 $2 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5 Ng8 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14. Qf5+
Ke8 15. Qxh7 $18 {1-0 Palkovi,J (2410)-Lochte,T (2230)/Budapest 1994/EXT 97 
(21)}) (10... Ne6 $5 {makes more sense.} 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5 Bb7 13. exf6 Bxf6
14. Nc3 Kg8 15. Nd5 Bd4 {Davies,A (2187)-Atalik,E (2400)/Ottawa 2007/CBM 119
ext (1/2-1/2, 37)} 16. Be3 $5 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Be5 18. c4 $14 {White has completed
his development and retains a small material advantage, with acceptable
stability in the centre.}) 11. Qxd4 {White has managed to win a pawn, but two
of his developed pieces are quite unstable. Besides, the queenside is
completely undeveloped. If we add that Black has the pair of bishops and his
c- and d-pawns are ready to advance, it becomes clear that it is hard to claim
an advantage with White.} Bb7 {Leko wisely deviates from his previous 
(unsuccessful) experience with this line.} (11... c5 {Ivanchuk,V (2751)-Leko,P
(2753)/Morelia/Linares 2008/CBM 123/[Marin] (1-0, 43)}) 12. c4 $5 {This is a
rare move. White intends to hold his own in the centre, but neglects his
development.} ({The developing} 12. Nc3 {, which has been played numerous
times, is not without drawbacks either. Here is what seems to be Black's most
clear-cut way to equality:} c5 13. Qd1 b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bd6 {The
weakness of the d5-pawn and the probability of reaching an opposite coloured
ending make a draw quite probable.} 16. f4 (16. Nc4 $2 Bxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Qh4+ 18.
Kg1 Qxf2+ 19. Kh2 Qh4+ 20. Kg1 Qxc4 $19) (16. Qd3 Qf6 17. f4 Rae8 $132) 16...
Qc7 17. c4 (17. Qd3 Rae8 18. Re4 {is more tricky, but also insufficient for an
advantage.} Bxe5 19. fxe5 c4 {The e5-pawn is taboo because of Bf4.} 20. Qd4 Qa5
21. Bd2 Qxd5 22. Qxc4 a5 {Black has the initiative and the e5- and c2-pawns
are vulnerable.} 23. Qxd5+ (23. Rae1 Rxe5 $1) 23... Bxd5 24. Re2 Rf5 25. Rae1
Bc4 $11 26. Re3 $6 Ref8 $36) 17... bxc3 18. bxc3 Rae8 19. c4 (19. Rb1 c4) 19...
Bxe5 20. fxe5 Rxe5 21. Bb2 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Qf4 23. Qe2 {Blatny,F-Weiner,M/
Prague 1954/MCD (1-0, 64). The simplest way to equality is} d6 $5 $11 {[%cal
Gb7c8]}) 12... c5 $146 {It is reported that Leko played this move quickly,
which make us think that he had not been surprized by Kamsky's rare move at
all.} (12... Bd6 $6 {Kristiansen,E (2257)-Ljubarskij,J (2329)/Saint Vincent
2002/CBM 090 ext (0-1, 17)} 13. Nd3 $1 $14) 13. Qd3 Qc7 {White loses stability
in the centre.} 14. Nf3 bxc4 15. Qxc4+ d5 {After the opening of the long
diagonal, the white king comes under strong attack.} 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Qe2 Bd6
18. Nc3 {In critical positions, development should come before anything! Sadly,
White has no time to defend his h2-pawn.} (18. h3 Rae8 19. Be3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3
Bh2+ 21. Kh1 Ne4 22. Qd1 Rxf2 $40) 18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 20. Kf1 (20. Kh1 {
would have made the threat of g3 more dangerous, practically forcing} Be5 {
, but Kamsky may have feared that his king (as well as the f2-pawn) would be
more vulnerable than in the game.} 21. Nd5 Qd6 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qd5+ Kh8 24.
Qxe5 Rae8 $1 25. Qxe8 Qh4+ $11) 20... Rad8 {Black is also concerned about
development. As we will see, there is no need to retreat with the bishop.
After the previous exchanges, Black has some small structural defects, but
White's chances to take advantage of them are illusory because of his lack of
development and the vulnerability of the king.} (20... Be5 21. Nd5 Qd6 22.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 {[%csl Gf2]} 23. Qxf6 Bxf6 $11) 21. g3 {White hardly has anything
better than this.} ({The developing} 21. Be3 $6 {, which takes the d4-square
under control, may be answered with} Rde8 $5 {Once the e-file has been
obstructed by the bishop, Black can afford such apparent losses of time, since
he is fully developed already.} 22. Qh3 (22. Nd5 Qd6) (22. Rad1 Ne4 $40) 22...
Be5 $15) (21. Bg5 h6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Qe3 Rd4 $132) 21... Nh5 $1 $11 {This
leads to a forced draw by perpetual.} 22. Qxh5 Rxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 24. Ke2
Qg2+ 25. Ke3 Qg3+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ 27. Ke3 Qg3+ 28. Ke2 Qg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 {Not the most frequently played, but a rather logical
move. White immediately puts the enemy queenside under pressure.} ({Usually,} 
10. a3) ({or} 10. Nc3 {are being played.}) 10... h6 ({This move is almost
authomatically played. However,} 10... d6 {is possible too. After} 11. Bd2 b4
12. c3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bf6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. cxb4 Bxb2
18. Ra2 Be5 $44 {Topalov,V (2778)-Adams,M (2737)/Sofia BUL 2005/ (1/2-1/2, 26)
Black got what he initially wanted: a characteristic position of the Marshal
Attack.}) 11. c3 ({White has been quite successfull with} 11. Nc3 {lately. By
choosing the rare game move, Anand probably took into account the fact that
Svidler himself had played 11.Nc3 with White, which means that he had a good
understanding of the position.} b4 12. Nd5 Na5 13. Ba2 Bc5 14. Bd2 $1 Bxd5 15.
Bxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Qf6 17. c3 $1 bxc3 18. Bxc3 $16 Qb6 19. Rxe5 $1 Bxf2+ (19...
Nb3 {Bruzon Bautista,L (2677)-Onischuk,A (2640)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/CBM 111/
[Atlas,V] (1-0, 44)}) 20. Kh1 d6 $2 (20... f6 $1) 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. b4 $1 $18
{Svidler,P (2738)-Leko,P (2763)/San Luis 2005/CBM 110/[Gershon]}) 11... b4 $146
{Black decides to release the queenside tension, hoping to prove that the
weakness of the c4-square is only relative.} (11... Bf8 12. axb5 (12. Nbd2 $5)
12... axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Na3 $6 Bxa3 15. bxa3 Na5 16. Nh4 d5 $15 {
Safranska,A (2285)-Adams,M (2615)/London 1991/TD (0-1, 46)}) (11... Bc5 12.
Nbd2 Bb6 13. Ba2 Rf8 14. Nf1 d6 15. Ng3 Ne7 16. Nh4 Kh7 17. Qf3 $14 {Topalov,V
(2801)-Anand,V (2792)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2-1/2, 38) White exerts
strong kingside pressure.}) 12. Nbd2 d5 $5 {A brave decision, in the spirit of
the Marshall Attack. However, the objective merits of the move are to be
proved yet.} 13. a5 {Anand decides to maintain the game in a slow manoeuvring
mode. With his last move, he physically prevents the thematical knight jump to
a5. This static approach will prove quite unpleasant for Black.} ({Actually,
the consequences of the acceptance of the sacrifice are not easy to evaluate.
After} 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 (14... bxc3 $6 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. Qf3+ $16
) 15. Rxe5 bxc3 16. bxc3 {Black's compensation for the pawn is restricted by
the weakness of the f7-square. For instance} Nxc3 {can be met by} 17. Qh5 Rf8
18. Bb2 $14 {, when White completes his development and retains an active
position.}) 13... dxe4 14. dxe4 Bc5 {This seemingly active move does not
really cause White any problems with the defence of the f2-square.} ({The
modest} 14... Bf8 {migh be just better, maintaining the own kingside defended.}
) 15. Qe2 Qe7 $6 {Practically inviting White to play the next move.} 16. Nh4
$16 {Once the black queen's bishop has been developed to b7, this standard
manoeuvre is quite unpleasant, because the f5-square is undefended.} Nd7 17.
Nf5 Qf6 18. Qg4 {White only needs one more move (Nf3) to build up an attack
with his queen and all the minorpieces against the enemy king. Notably, all
Black's minorpieces are relatively uselessly grouped on the other wing.} Ne7 {
This move loses a pawn, but it was hard to give an advice for Black.} (18...
Rad8 19. Nf3 Kh8 (19... Kf8 20. Ng5 $1 {[%cal Yg5h7,Yg5f7]} hxg5 21. Qh5 Kg8
22. Bxg5 $18 {and the black queen is trapped.}) 20. Bg5 $1 (20. Ng5 Rf8 {
and Black is alive.}) 20... Qg6 (20... hxg5 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Nxg5 $18 {[%cal
Yh5h7,Yh7h8]} g6 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Nh7 {[%csl Gf6]}) 21. N5h4 Qd6
22. Bxd8 $18) 19. Nxh6+ Qxh6 20. Qxd7 Red8 $2 {Just inviting White to grab
another pawn.} 21. Qxc7 {Black will not really lose a piece, because after
defending the c5-bishop with 21...Rdc8 or 21...Qd6, 22.Qxb7 leaves the queen
trapped to 22...Ra7. However, with two extra-pawns and a better structure,
White will have a relatively easy technical task.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2009.01.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.01.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
{There has been some theoretical dispute in this line lately.} Nxd4 ({Black
can transpose to the Yates variation with} 8... d6 9. c3 Bg4 {, but this is
one of the lines the adherents of the Marshall Attack wish to avoid.}) 9. Nxd4
(9. Bxf7+ $5 {Ivanchuk,V (2751)-Leko,P (2753)/Morelia/Linares 2008/CBM 123/
[Marin,M] (1-0, 43)}) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 {This is the most ambitious
move, aiming for rapid piece development, at the cost of a pawn.} (11. Qxd4 {
Carlsen,M (2693)-Leko,P (2738)/Dortmund 2007/CBM 119/[Marin] (1/2, 29)}) 11...
dxc3 12. Nxc3 d6 13. Bd5 $5 {Although this move is not entirely new (it had
been played just once, in an old and not very relevant game), it may have come
as a surprise for Aronian. White starts chasing the enemy rook, which will
eventually lead to the win of an exchange.} (13. Qf3 {Jakovenko,D (2708)
-Karjakin,S (2686)/Foros 2007/CBM 119/[Marin,M] (1/2, 29)}) 13... Rb8 14. Be3
Be6 $1 $146 {This seems to be the best move. Black develops a piece, preparing
a very intelligent way to give up the exchange.} (14... c5 $6 15. exd6 Bxd6 $6
(15... Nxd6 $6 16. Bxc5 $16 {leaves White with the much better development in
conditions of material equality.}) ({Black's position looks dangerous after
the relatively better} 15... Qxd6 16. Qd2 $44 {[%cal Ge3f4,Ga1d1] , too}) 16.
Ne4 Qc7 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 (17... Nxd6 18. Bf4 $44) 18. Qf3 $6 (18. Rc1 $1 c4 19.
Ba7 $16) 18... Nf6 $6 (18... Bg4 $1 $11) 19. Bf4 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. Bxb8
Be6 $14 {Michailow,S-Muuss,K/Osterroenfeld 1996/EXT 2002 (1/2, 81)}) (14... b4
$6 {does not offer entirely adequate compensation after} 15. Ba7 (15. Na4 $2
dxe5 16. Ba7 Rb5) 15... bxc3 16. Bxb8 Bf5 17. Qb3 $14) ({the same as} 14...
dxe5 $6 15. Ba7 Bd7 16. Bxb8 Qxb8 17. Rxe5 $14) 15. Ba7 Bxd5 16. Bxb8 Bb7 17.
Ba7 Qa8 {This is the point. Black attacks the bishop and the g2-square.
However, White has resources still.} 18. exd6 Bxd6 19. Bd4 b4 $1 {In view of
the following forced line, it is essential to drive the enemy knight onto a
passive square.} 20. Na4 (20. Qg4 $2 {loses material to} h5 $1 21. Qg5 f6 $1
$17) 20... Bxg2 21. Rxe8 $1 (21. Qg4 $2 Bf3 $17) 21... Qxe8 (21... Rxe8 22. Qg4
$16) 22. Kxg2 c5 23. Be3 Qc6+ 24. f3 Re8 25. Bf2 {This is the critical moment
for the evaluation of White's 13.Bd5. Black has two pawns for the sacrificed
piece. White is underdeveloped still and his king is vulnerable. Optically, it
looks like if Black should have compensation.} c4 $2 {This is too slow and
allows White regroup in time.} ({The correct continuation of the attack was} 
25... Re5 $1 {The rook enjoys higher mobility on the fifth rank than on the
sixth. The importance of this detail will be revealed slightly later.} 26. Rc1
{This looks strongest. White develops a piece, putting the c5-pawn under
pressure.} ({After} 26. b3 {, consolidating the knight, Black could play} Rg5+
27. Bg3 f5 $5 28. Kf1 f4 29. Bf2 Qd7 $44) 26... Rg5+ 27. Bg3 ({It looks safer
to accept a draw by repetition with} 27. Kh1 Rd5 $1 {This is the kind of move
Black would not dispose over after Re8-e6.} 28. Qb3 Rf5 29. Kg2 Rg5+ $11 30.
Bg3 $2 Bxg3 31. hxg3 Qd6 32. f4 Qd2+ 33. Kf3 Rd5 $19) 27... h5 ({One point
behind the move Rc1 is that} 27... f5 $2 {loses to} 28. Nxc5 $1 Bxc5 29. Qd8+
$18) 28. Kf2 (28. Qd2 Rg6 {[%csl Ga4,Gf3][%cal Gh5h4]}) 28... Rd5 29. Qc2 h4
30. Bxh4 Rh5 31. Bg3 Bxg3+ 32. Kxg3 Qh6 $1 $40 ({Better than the modest} 32...
Rh3+ $6 $11)) 26. Nb6 $16 {Black is simply a piece down.} c3 (26... Re5 {
does not work anymore because of} 27. Nxc4 $1 $18) 27. bxc3 bxc3 28. Qd5 Qc7
29. Nc4 Bb4 30. Rc1 Re2 31. Rxc3 h6 32. Re3 Rxa2 33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Ne3 Rxf2+ 35.
Kxf2 Bc3 36. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 {The transfer of
the bishop to e6 is considered to be a reliable method of neutralizing White's
control over the relatively weak d5-square.} 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 {Such
double pawns can eventually become weak, but for the moment their presence
improve Black's control over the centre. Besides, the pressure along the
f-file could become annoying for White in certain cases.} 16. b4 ({White aims
to prevent Black's expansion in the centre, which happened in, for instance,
Shirov-Onischuk, New Delhi/Teheran 2000} 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 exd5
19. b4 Kh8 20. Qb3 c4 21. dxc4 bxc4 {with active play for Black.}) 16... Qd7
17. Ng3 a5 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. a4 b4 20. Be3 c4 21. dxc4 Qxd1 22. Rexd1 bxc3 23.
c5 c2 24. Rdc1 Nb4 25. Ne1 Rfc8 26. Nxc2 Bxc5 27. Nxb4 Bxe3 28. Rxc8+ Rxc8 29.
fxe3 axb4 30. Rb1 Rb8 31. a5 Ra8 32. Rxb4 Rxa5 {Queen side complications have
led to almost perfect symmetry. Instead of asking for permission to agree to a
draw, players preferred repeating moves.} 33. Rb6 Kf7 34. Rb7+ Kg6 35. Rb6 Kf7
36. Rb7+ Kg6 37. Rb6 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 ({The main alternative is} 11... Qc8 {
. The reader might remember that after} 12. Nc4 Rb8 13. Bg5 {Aronian surprized
Leko in the last round of Linares 2006 with the slightly exotic} Kh8 $5 {
. Leko went down quickly and in the notes to that game I recommended} 14. d4 {
as a possible improvement for White. Apparently, Leko came to the same
conclusion, and tried it with the very next occasion, but the king move proved
to be more than just an experiment:} exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ng8 17. Bf4 f5
18. exf5 Bf6 19. Qd3 Bxf5 20. Qg3 Bg6 21. Bg5 Rb5 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. f3 Nh5 24.
Qh4 Nf4 25. Ne3 Rh5 26. Qg3 Qd8 {and, just like against Aronian, Leko found
himself under very strong king side pressure in Leko-Anand, Monte Carlo 2006.})
12. Bc4 Qc8 13. b3 Nd7 14. Nf1 Bf6 15. Ne3 g6 16. Bb2 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 ({After
this re-capture, the whole knight manoeuvre can be regarded as a loss of two
whole tempi, laeving Black with an entirely adequate position. However, in
case of} 17. dxc4 {, aiming to strengthen the control over the d5-square,
White's structure would have lost flexibility, allowing Black prepare the
thematic king side break ...f5 by means of, say,} Nc5 18. Nd5 Bg7 19. Qd2 Qd7)
17... Re8 18. d4 {Slightly careless.} exd4 19. Nxd4 Nce5 ({Black misses the
opportunity to win a pawn with the simple trick} 19... Bxd4 $5 20. Bxd4 d5 {
, when the exposed position of the bishop does not allow White obtain
counterplay along the a1-h8 diagonal easily, something Bacrot might have
feared when refraining from this line.}) 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Rb1 Qb7 22. f3 Nf6
23. Qd2 c5 $6 ({Offering White an unexpected chance. Black could have played} 
23... Nh5 {with the idea of activating his position by means of ...Nf4, ...
Qa7-c5, ...d5, etc. If} 24. g3 {then} c5 25. Ne2 Bxb2 26. Rxb2 d5 $5 {could
raise interesting complications, where White pieces would be slightly
uncoordinated.}) 24. Nf5 $1 {Black's king starts feeling uncomfortable now.}
Bxb2 25. Rxb2 Rbd8 26. Rbb1 Qc7 27. Qh6 Nh5 28. Ne3 Nf6 29. Nf5 Nh5 30. Rbd1 {
(White had no reasons to agree to a draw by repetition, of course.)} gxf5 31.
Qxh5 $6 ({Ponomariov misses the chance to obtain a powerful attack with} 31.
exf5 $5) 31... fxe4 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Rd5 Re6 34. Rxe4 Rde8 35. Qh5 Qxa5 36.
Qxh7 Qa1+ 37. Kf2 Rxe4 38. fxe4 Re6 39. Rd3 Rf6+ 40. Rf3 Rxf3+ 41. gxf3 Qc1 42.
Kg3 Qxc2 43. Qh6+ Kg8 44. Qg5+ {Finally switching to the B-plan: giving
perpetual check.} Kh7 45. Qh5+ Kg7 46. Qg5+ Kh7 47. Qh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 23rd"]
[Site "Kemer"]
[Date "2007.10.06"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[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 "Baden-Baden"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 {White has chosen an unfashionable
setup, combining an early opening of the centre with the definition of the
queenside structure. In doing so, he hopes to establish a firm blockade on
light squares. The only drawback of this line is that it leaves Black with a
slight advance in development.} 12. Qe2 ({Sokolov had had this position twice,
a long time ago.} 12. Bg5 Qxd1 $5 {An improvement over his previous game. The
exchange of the queen is justified by the fact that the white king's rook had
spent a tempo already, which makes Rxd1 look like a loss of time.} (12... Bb7
13. Nd2 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Qe2 a5 16. Bc4 Rfd8 17. Nb3 {Jansa,V (2485)
-Sokolov,I (2570)/Stary Smokovec 1991/CBM 026 (0-1, 39). This is the kind of
position White is aiming for. Black is in no immediate danger, but his
queenside is under some long-term pressure.}) 13. Rxd1 Bc5 $5 {An interesting
approach. Black aims to compensate the structural deffects by piece activity.}
14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd2 Bg4 16. Re1 ({After} 16. Nf3 Rad8 17. h3 Bxf3 18. gxf3 {
the kingside structure has become symmetrical, while on the other wing Black
is slightly more active.} Bd4 19. Rab1 a5 20. Kf1 Rd6 21. Rd3 Rb8 22. c3 Bc5
23. Rxd6 cxd6 $15 {Mokry,K (2530)-Sokolov,I (2625)/Strasbourg 1994/CBM 043 ext
(1/2-1/2, 61)}) 16... Rfd8 17. Nf1 (17. Bd5 $6 c6 $1 18. Bxc6 Rxd2 $1 19. Bxa8
Bxf2+ 20. Kf1 Bxe1 21. Rxe1 Rxc2 $17) 17... Rd6 18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Be6 $11 {
The control over the only open file compensates for the pawn weaknesses.})
12... Bb7 13. f3 ({The tempting} 13. Rd1 {is in fact a premature commitment of
the rook that had moved already before. The d1-square should be reserved for
the other rook. However, from the practical point of view it is not easy for
Black to find the best answer to White's straightforward play.} Qe8 14. f3 Nh5
$1 {Having seen the course of our main game, it is easy to understand that
this plan is working even better here.} (14... Bc5+ $6 15. Be3 Nd7 16. Nd2 a5
17. Nf1 Bxe3+ 18. Nxe3 Nb6 19. Qf2 Bc6 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5 f6
23. b3 Qe6 24. Rad1 Rf7 25. Qc5 $14 {Korneev,O (2475)-Wegner,H (2365)/Hamburg
1992/EXT 97 (1/2-1/2, 46)}) 15. g3 Kh8 16. Be3 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Nd2 Qg6 $36
{[%cal Ga8f8,Gh5f4,Ge7d6] Compared to the main game, Black is well ahead in
carrying out his attacking plan.}) 13... Nh5 (13... Bc5+ {deserves the same
evaluation as 13.Rd1. This bishop was developed already and moving it again
will only help White complete his own development.} 14. Be3 Qe7 15. Nd2 Rad8
16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Na5 Bxe3+ 18. Qxe3 Ba8 19. Bd5 $14 {Fishbein,A (2525)
-Chudnovsky,J (2285)/Philadelphia 1995/EXT 2000 (1-0, 37)}) 14. g3 Kh8 15. Be3
f5 {Once the f3-square has been weakened, this plan is logical. However, it
will soon become clear that after the text move Black faces some problems
achieving an optimal regroupment.} ({Therefore, the plan might require some
adjustment with} 15... Qc8 16. Nd2 f5 17. exf5 Qxf5 {[%cal Ge7d6]} 18. g4 $6
Qg6 $1) 16. exf5 Rxf5 {Black has the initiative on the kingside, but if White
manages to defend, the weakness of the e4-square and of the e5-pawn would
become the telling factors.} 17. Nd2 Qd6 18. Bc4 $1 {A well-timed move. White
needs to consolidate the light squares (e4 and f3 first of all).} ({The
mechanical completion of development with} 18. Rad1 {would have allowed Black
coordinate his forces with} Qg6 19. Bc4 Bg5 $1 20. Bxg5 (20. Bd3 $2 Bxe3+ 21.
Qxe3 Nxg3 $1) 20... Rxg5 21. Ne4 Rf5 $132) 18... Raf8 19. Rf1 $6 {Too passive.}
({This was the right moment to complete the development with} 19. Rad1 $1 {
The g6-square is not really available because of Bd3, while after} Qf6 {
[%csl Rd1][%cal Gf5f3] /\Rxf3! צd1} 20. Rf1 {it is not easy for Black to give
his initiative concrete forms, while the weakness of the e4-square and the
e5-pawn will tell in the long run.} Nf4 $5 (20... Bxf3 21. Nxf3 Rxf3 22. Rxf3
Qxf3 23. Qxf3 Rxf3 24. Rd7 $16) 21. gxf4 exf4 22. Ba7 $1 (22. Bf2 $6 Re5 23.
Qd3 Rd8 24. Qb3 Qg6+ 25. Kh1 Qh5 26. Bg1 Qh3 27. Rf2 (27. a5 Bh4 {/\...Be1})
27... Re3 $40) 22... Re5 (22... Ra8 23. Rfe1) 23. Qf2 {and the a7-bishop is
not easy to keep out of play for a long time. Even ...c5 would just place the
pawn on a vulnerable square.}) 19... e4 $1 ({Once again, the consequences of} 
19... Nf4 $5 {are not very clear.} 20. gxf4 $1 ({After} 20. Qe1 {, the least
Black can do is force a draw by perpetual with} Nh3+ 21. Kg2 Rxf3 $5 22. Nxf3
Rxf3 23. Rxf3 Bxf3+ 24. Kxf3 Qc6+ 25. Kg4 Qd7+ $11) ({Or} 20. Qd1 Qg6 {and it
is not easy to suggest White's next move.}) 20... exf4 21. Ba7 $1 {Again this
slightly awkward move. The f2-square is needed for the queen.} (21. Bf2 Rg5+
22. Kh1 Qxd2 $1 $17) 21... c5 (21... Ra8 22. Rfe1 $1) 22. Qd3 Rg5+ 23. Kh1 Qh6
24. Rae1 {and Black's attack has come to a dead end.}) 20. f4 $8 (20. fxe4 $2
Nxg3 $1 $19 {[%csl Ge3]}) (20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Nxg3 $1 $19 {[%csl Ge3]})
20... g5 $1 {The only logical continuation. Otherwise, several black pieces
would remain misplaced, concentrating their efforts against the well-defended
f4-pawn.} 21. Qxh5 gxf4 22. Qg4 $8 (22. Qh3 $2 fxe3 $1 23. Rxf5 exd2 $19 {
[%csl Gb7,Gd2,Rg1][%cal Gf2b6]}) 22... Rg5 {This move cannot be criticized
from an objective point of view, but for practical reasons White's position
will be easier after the queen sacrifice.} ({Therefore,} 22... h5 23. Qh3 Rg5
$1 {deserves attention. Black will retrieve the sacrificed material, because
of the lack of coordination of White's pieces (here, too, a rook on d1 would
have been most useful). It is important that the g5-rook defends the h5-pawn
quite safely, leaving the enemy queen out of play.}) 23. Qxf4 Rxf4 24. Rxf4 {
At the cost of small material investment, White has finally achieved the
desired stability all over the board. He can hardly be better, and what he has
to do is easier: occupy open files, etc., while Black needs to find a useful
job for the mighty queen.} Qe5 25. Nb3 c5 26. Rd1 h6 ({If Black had prevented
the intrusion of the enemy rook to d7 with} 26... Bc6 {, White would have
disposed over the unexpected} 27. Rd8+ $1 {However, the final consequences of
this move are far from one-sided.} Bxd8 28. Rf8+ Kg7 29. Rg8+ Kf6 30. Bxg5+
Qxg5 31. Rxg5 Kxg5 32. a5 (32. Nxc5 $2 Bb6 $19) (32. Bxa6 Bxa4 $15) 32... h5
33. Kf2 (33. Bxa6 Bd5 34. Nxc5 Bxa5 $44) 33... h4 $132 {Black's pawns are
somewhat weak, but his pair of bishops offers him excellent chances to
transpose to a drawn opposite bishops ending.}) 27. Rd7 Bc6 28. Ra7 Rg6 $2 {
The losing move.} ({After the prophylactic} 28... Rg7 {, aiming to question
White's stability with ...Bd5, the position would have become double edged,
for instance} 29. Rxa6 Bd5 $1 30. Rxh6+ Kg8 31. Bxd5+ (31. Nd2 Bxc4 32. Nxc4
Qd5 33. b3 Qd1+ 34. Rf1 Qxc2 $17) 31... Qxd5 32. Rf2 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Rf7 $44 {
and, depsite his temporary material advantage, White risks to lose
coordination (or, at least, just a couple of pawns!)}) 29. Rf7 $18 {[%csl Yg8,
Yh7,Rh8][%cal Gf7h7,Gc4g8]} Rxg3+ 30. hxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kf1 Qh3+ 32. Ke2 Qh5+ 33.
Kd2 Qh2+ 34. Kc1 Qg3 35. Kb1 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 {By leaving the d-pawn on its initial square, Black maintains
the possibility of developing his dark-squared bishop on more active positions
than e7 or f8 or, in certain cases, to break the centre with ...d5, in the
spirit of the "rarely seen" nowadays Marshall Attack.} 10. Nc3 ({If White
prevents the pin of this knight with} 10. a3 {, Black can nonetheless obtain
good play with} Bc5 11. Nc3 d6 12. Nd5 h6 13. c3 Ba7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nd7
16. Ba2 Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Ng4 {and a draw was agreed in
Kramnik-Anand, Dortmund (m/3-rapid) 2004}) 10... Bb4 11. Ng5 ({The immediate} 
11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 {also left White with structural problems after} Na5 13.
Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 c5 15. Bd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. exd5 Qd6 18. c4 bxc4 19. Qd2
Nb7 20. dxc4 e4 21. Nh2 Qg6 22. Qf4 Nd6 23. Nf1 f5 {in Kasimdzhanov-Anand,
Bundesliga 2005/2006. RR: See also the comments from Anand to this game in
113CBM.}) 11... Rf8 12. a3 ({If White finds himself in a peacefull mood, he
can offer a repetition of moves with} 12. Nf3) 12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 {The
weakness of the c-pawns will considerably restrict White's active
possibilities.} h6 $5 ({A novelty, aiming to prevent White from opening the
position with an early f4. True, in a previous game where this position was
seen, White did not get any advantage out of this pawn break:} 13... Na5 14.
Ba2 c5 15. f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Bxd5 Qxg5 18. Bxb7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik-Leko,
Brissago Wch m-2 2004}) 14. Nf3 d6 15. Nh4 Bc8 16. Qf3 Na5 17. Ba2 c5 18. Nf5
Bxf5 19. Qxf5 c4 {There is little life left in the position now.} 20. Rd1 Qc8
21. Qf3 Qe6 22. a4 Rfc8 23. Ba3 Ne8 24. Qe2 Qd7 25. Bb4 Qc7 26. dxc4 Nxc4 27.
Bxc4 bxc4 28. a5 Qe7 29. Rd2 Rc6 30. Rad1 Qe6 31. Qf3 Rb8 32. Rd5 f6 33. R5d2
Rb7 34. Kh2 Kf7 35. Qh5+ Kg8 36. Qf3 Kf7 37. Qh5+ Kg8 38. Qf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jermuk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jermuk"]
[Date "2009.08.22"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 132"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Nxd4 ({For the more spectacular} 9. Bxf7+ {see Kamsky,G (2717)-Leko,P 
(2756)/Jermuk 2009/CBM 132/[Marin] (1/2, 28)}) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 dxc3
12. Nxc3 {In a way, this may be frustrating for a Marshall player. Instead of
obtaining an advance in development in exchange of the sacrificed pawn, Black
finds himself in the reversed situation! This probably explains why this line
has become increasingly popular lately.} d6 13. Qf3 {White develops with gain
of time, but leaves the d5-square free for the knight.} ({The alternative is} 
13. Bd5 $5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2717)-Aronian,L (2750)/Wijk aan Zee 2009/CBM
129/[Marin] (1-0, 36)}) 13... Be6 14. Nd5 {White intends to eliminate one of
the enemy bishops, which, given the open character of the position and Black's
poor coordination, is likely to offer him long term compensation.} (14. Bf4 {
Jakovenko,D (2708)-Karjakin,S (2686)/Foros 2007/CBM 119/[Marin] (1/2, 29)})
14... Rc8 ({Optically, it looks dangerous to give up the light squared bishop
with} 14... Bxd5 {, but in the latest game at high level, White failed to find
ways to develop his initiative.} 15. Bxd5 Rb8 (15... Rc8 $6 {only gives White
time to develop his initiative with} 16. Bb7 {[%cal Gb7a6]}) 16. Be3 {This
developing move threatens to win the exchange with Ba7, in a similar way as
this happened in the 8th game of the Fischer - Spassky match, back in 1972.} (
16. Bf4) (16. Rd1 c5 17. a4 Qc7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bd2 dxe5 20. Ba5 Qc8 21. Bc3)
16... c5 (16... dxe5 $6 17. Ba7 $14 {does not seem to offer Black sufficient
compensation for the exchange, because his pawns are not too dangerous.}) 17.
Rad1 (17. Red1 {Espejo Hava,F-Hofmann,A/ICCF-Cup8/9 V050 corr 1990/Corr 2000 
(1-0, 21)} Qc7) 17... Qc7 18. e6 fxe6 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Qh3 g6 {White has a
very active position, and some domination on the light squares, but Black
threatens to occupy the d4-square after ...Ng7-f5 and ...Bf6.} 21. b4 c4 22.
Bd5 Bf6 23. Be4 Qf7 24. Bd5 Qc7 25. Be4 Qf7 26. Bd5 {1/2 Timofeev,A (2657)
-Sutovsky,E (2607)/Montreal 2006/CBM 114}) (14... Rb8 15. Bf4 (15. Nxe7+ Qxe7
16. Bf4 {transposes to a similar position as in the main game, but with the
black queen's rook more passively placed, since it does not defend the
backward c7-pawn.}) 15... Bxd5 16. Bxd5 dxe5 17. Bxe5 Bf6 18. Rad1 Bxe5 (18...
Nd6 19. Bc6 $44) 19. Rxe5 (19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Qc6 Nf6 $17 {
Popovic,D (2557)-Jenni,F (2638)/playchess.com INT 2007/EXT 2008 (1-0, 75)})
19... Qf6 {White has some compensation in view of the weakened Black queenside,
but not more than that.}) 15. Bf4 dxe5 ({Preserving the bishop from exchange
with} 15... Bg5 $6 {loses time and allows White get a perfect development and
excellent attacking chances with} 16. Rad1 $1 Kh8 (16... Bxf4 $2 17. Nxf4 Bxb3
18. Qxb3 Kh8 19. e6 $1) 17. Bc2 ({The spectacular} 17. Bg3 c6 18. exd6 {
eventually led to complete simplifications and a draw:} Bxd5 19. Bxd5 cxd5 20.
Qxd5 Rc2 21. d7 Nc7 22. Bxc7 Rxc7 23. Qd6 Ra7 24. Qxf8+ Qxf8 25. Re8 Ra8 {
1/2 Tseshkovsky,V (2510)-Malaniuk,V (2575)/Minsk 1987/URS-ch}) 17... f5 18. Qh5
h6 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. Qxg5 hxg5 21. Ne7 $18 {Gurevich,I (2510)-Nunn,J (2595)/
Hastings 1992/CBM 033 (1-0, 30)}) 16. Nxe7+ (16. Bxe5 Bd6 17. Rad1 Bxe5 18.
Rxe5 Bxd5 19. Rexd5 Nd6 20. Qf4 $44 {Henrichs,T (2483)-Gustafsson,J (2584)/Bad
Koenigshofen 2007/CBM 116 ext (1/2, 33)}) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxe5 Nd6 18. Qc3 $5
$146 {With this new move, White puts both enemy wings under pressure.} (18.
Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qc6 Qe8 20. Rac1 Nc4 21. Qe4 Qf7 {1/2 Adams,M (2726)-Aronian,L 
(2739)/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122}) 18... Qg5 (18... Bxb3 $2 19. Bxg7 Be6 20.
Bf6 $18) (18... Nf5 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Qc6 $14) 19. Bxe6 fxe6 {White has an
active bishop and the more compact structure. Black faces some problems
defending his numerous weaknesses. The only question is whether White's
compensation is enough to offer him anything else than the more pleasant side
of a draw.} 20. b3 {As will be seen, this move is intended to restrict the
enemy knight only, but not to prepare a retreat for the bishop to b2.} Qg6 21.
Qc6 {White's queen and bishops have occupied excellent squares. Black has to
start fighting against them before White's domination becomes too strong.} Nf7
({The alternative way to start carrying out the aforementioned plan is} 21...
Qe8 $6 {, but this would allow White to retrieve the pawn and keep all the
positive aspects of his position.} 22. Rac1 $1 (22. Qxa6 $2 Ra8) 22... Qxc6 23.
Rxc6 $16) 22. Bg3 {The more ambitious retreat. White does not wish to give up
his active bishop.} (22. Qxa6 $14) ({The bishop would be less stable after} 22.
Bb2 {, failing to protect the own kingside at the same time.}) 22... e5 {
Finally, Black has managed to establish some connection between his opposite
wings. He is ready to return the pawn in order to provoke some simplifications.
} 23. Rac1 Qf6 {This is the best way to maintain the tension.} (23... Rfd8 {
would leave the black structure weak after} 24. Qxg6 hxg6 25. Rc6 Rd6 26. Rec1
Rcd8 27. Kf1 $14) 24. h3 $6 {This looks too slow. There was no immediate need
to insure the king against back rank problems.} (24. Qxf6 gxf6 {consolidates
Black's e5-pawn and leaves the g3-bishop somewhat out of play.} 25. Rc6 Nd6
$132) (24. a4 $1 {seems to recover the pawn under favourable circumstances:}
bxa4 25. Qxa4 Rfd8 26. Rc6 Rd6 27. Rxc7 $1 $14 {The crucial move, which is not
easy to foresee, though.} Rxc7 $2 28. Qe8#) 24... Rfd8 25. Rc2 h5 {Black has
activated his position and has little to fear.} 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Rc6 Kg7 {
It seems that it is White who has to look for ways to reach a draw already.
Black has a harmonious position and the g3-bishop ceased to be a dangerous
piece.} 28. f4 (28. Rxa6 Rd3 {[%cal Gf7d6]}) 28... Rd3 29. Kh2 Rd6 30. Rc5 Re6
31. a4 bxa4 32. bxa4 Kg6 33. fxe5 Nxe5 34. Bxe5 fxe5 35. Kg3 Kf6 36. Kf3 c6 37.
Rec1 Rd6 38. R1c4 Kf5 39. g4+ hxg4+ 40. hxg4+ Kf6 41. Ke4 Rg8 42. Ke3 Ke6 43.
Rxc6 Rxc6 44. Rxc6+ Kd5 45. Rxa6 Rxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 {Kamsky does not mind playing this variation with both
colours. This is the third time in this tournament that he reaches this very
position. The first time it happened against the same opponent, but with
reversed colours.} 11. Nbd2 ({But now he deviates from Ponomariov's} 11. Nc3)
11... Rfe8 ({Ponomariov shows that he has his own ideas, too.} 11... Nd8 {
was succesfully tried in Anand-Kamsky, Sofia 2006.}) 12. Nf1 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6
14. c3 c5 15. d4 {If we compare with the game Anand-Kamsky, Black cannot hold
his e5-pawn here, because White is much better developed and the threat of
winning a pawn is quite real.} exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Be3
Rac8 20. dxc5 N6xc5 21. N5d4 {The almost absolute stability on the d4-square
offers White the more pleasant position.} Nxb3 22. Qxb3 Nc5 23. Qd1 a5 24. Qb1
Ne4 25. Rd1 b4 26. axb4 Bxb4 27. Nc2 Qe7 28. Nxb4 Qxb4 29. Qa2 Ra8 30. Rd4 Qb5
31. Ra4 Bc6 32. Rxa5 Rxa5 33. Qxa5 Qxb2 34. Rc1 Ba8 35. Rc7 {In spite of
simplifications, White maintains unpleasant pressure. With his next move,
Ponomariov tries to solve his problems by unblocking the d4-square and
activating the a8-bishop (something Nimzovich would certainly recommend from
general point of view) but misses Kamsky's spectacular reply.} d4 $2 36. e6 $3
{This successive pawn moves are very much related to each other regarding
their basic ideas but differ enormously from the point of view of their
objective merits. White cleares the fifth rank for his queen and the long dark
diagonal for his bishop, forcing Black to weaken his seventh rank at the same
time. Can we ask for more from a modest pawn?} Qb1+ ({Removing the queen from
the exposed b2-square. The immediate} 36... fxe6 {would have been met by} 37.
Rxg7+ $1) 37. Kh2 fxe6 38. Qh5 {The Black king is helpless against the
combined action of the white pieces.} Nd6 39. Bxd4 {The bishop captures this
pawn 3 moves later than Ponomariov might have expected and with devastating
effect we must say.} Bxf3 40. Rxg7+ Kf8 41. Qh6 ({After} 41. Qh6 Re7 {(What
else?)} 42. Qf6+ {Black has a choice betwen two echo-variations:} Rf7 ({
In case of} 42... Nf7 43. Rg8+ Kxg8 {the mate is delivered on a different
square:} 44. Qg7#) 43. Rg8+ Kxg8 {and now} 44. Qh8#) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. c3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. b4
cxb4 16. axb4 Nc6 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Bb2 h6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Rea1 Qc8 21. Nf1 d5
22. Ng3 Kh8 23. Bc1 Bd6 24. Be3 Qb7 25. exd5 exd5 26. Nf5 Bf8 27. d4 e4 28. Ne5
Re8 29. Bf4 Kh7 30. Ng4 Nxg4 31. hxg4 Red8 32. Ne3 Ne7 33. Ra3 Ng6 34. Bg3 Bd6
35. Qa2 Bxg3 36. fxg3 Rd6 37. Rf1 Rf8 38. Rf5 Rxf5 39. gxf5 Ne7 40. Qf2 Ng8 41.
Qf4 Qe7 42. g4 Qg5 43. g3 Nf6 44. Kg2 Rc6 45. Kf2 Kg8 46. Ke2 Kh7 47. Kd2 Kg8
48. Ra1 Kf7 49. Kc2 Kg8 50. Kb3 Kf7 51. Re1 Kg8 52. Qb8+ Kh7 53. Qb7 Rd6 54.
Qc7 Rd7 55. Qc6 h5 56. Qxa6 Nxg4 57. Qxb5 Rd8 58. Nxg4 Qxg4 59. Qb6 Rf8 60.
Qg6+ Qxg6 61. fxg6+ Kxg6 62. b5 Kg5 63. c4 dxc4+ 64. Kxc4 Kg4 65. Rxe4+ Kxg3 {
This is a remarkable example where the isolated pawns are (or should have been)
a perfect match for the connected pawns. Dies ist ein bemerkenswertes Beispiel,
wo die isolierten Bauern die verbundenen Freibauern absolut aufwiegen (bzw.
hдtten aufwiegen sollen).} 66. Re5 Kg4 {Black has to preserve both his pawns
in order to avoid trouble. Schwarz muss seine beiden Bauern behalten, um sich
Unanehmlichkeiten zu ersparen.} (66... h4 $2 67. Rg5+ Kf2 68. Rxg7 h3 69. Rh7
Kg2 70. b6 h2 71. d5 Rf1 $5 (71... h1=Q 72. Rxh1 Kxh1 73. d6 $18) 72. d6 Rc1+
73. Kb5 Rb1+ 74. Kc6 Rc1+ 75. Kd7 Rb1 76. Kc7 Rc1+ 77. Kb8 Rd1 78. b7 $1 Rxd6
79. Kc7 $18 {[%cal Rb7b8,Rc7d6]}) 67. Re4+ Kg3 68. Re5 Kg4 69. d5 $5 {A brave
decision, which doesn't change the evaluation of the position, however. Eine
tapfere Entscheidung, die allerdings nichts an der Stellungsbewertung дndert.}
h4 70. d6 h3 71. Re1 h2 72. Kc5 Kh3 73. Kc6 $6 {White places his king on an
unfavourable square. WeiЯ platziert seinen Kцnig auf einem ungьnstigen Feld.} (
{Simpler would have been Einfacher gewesen wдre} 73. d7 g5 74. Kd6 g4 75. Re8
h1=Q 76. Rxf8 $11 {when Black has nothing better than give perpetual check. ,
wonach Schwarz nichts Besseres hat als Dauerschach.}) 73... g5 74. d7 g4 75.
Kc7 $6 {Although this is not the decisive mistake yet, it certainly creates
White huge practical problems. Leko probably overlooked Black's 76th move.
Obwohl dies noch nicht der entscheidende Fehler ist, stellt er den WeiЯen doch
vor groЯe praktische Probleme. Leko hat wahrscheinlich den 76. Zug von Schwarz
ьbersehen.} (75. Re8 $2 {is bad in view of ist schlecht wegen} h1=Q+ {. Here
we can see that the king is exposed on c6. Hier kцnnen wir sehen, dass der
Kцnig auf c6 exponiert steht.}) (75. Kd6 $1 g3 76. Re8 Rf1 (76... h1=Q 77. Rxf8
$11) 77. Rh8+ Kg2 (77... Kg4 78. Rg8+ Kf3 79. Rf8+ Kg2 80. Rxf1 Kxf1 81. d8=Q
h1=Q 82. Qf6+ $11) 78. d8=Q (78. b6 $11) 78... Rd1+ 79. Kc7 Rxd8 80. Kxd8 Kf1
81. b6 $11) 75... g3 76. Re8 (76. b6 g2 $19) 76... Rf7 $1 $19 {Pinning the
pawn and winning a decisive tempo. Fesselt den Bauern und gewinnt ein
entscheidendes Tempo.} 77. Rh8+ Kg4 {Compared with a previous line (see 75.Kd6)
the black king can find a shelter on the f-file. Im Vergleich zum vorigen
Abspiel (siehe 75.Kd6) kann der schwarze Kцnig in der f-Linie Zuflucht finden.}
78. b6 $2 {Only this is the decisive mistake. Erst das ist der Verlustzug.} ({
However, for a human it would have been practically impossible to foresee that
after Doch fьr Menschen ist es fast unmцglich vorauszusehen, dass nach} 78. Kc8
Rxd7 79. Kxd7 g2 80. Rxh2 g1=Q {the move der Zug} 81. Rh6 $8 {draws (according
to tablebases). Therefore, from a practical point of view Leko should put his
blame mainly on his 75th move. remisiert (gemдЯ den Tablebases). Deshalb
sollte sich Leko vor allem ьber seinen 75. Zug дrgern.}) 78... g2 79. b7 g1=Q
80. Rg8+ Kf3 81. b8=Q {Both sides have promoted their main candidates, but
Black's turn to move proves decisive. Beide Seiten haben ihre Hauptkandidaten
umgewandelt, aber die Tatsache, dass Schwarz am Zug ist, erweist sich als
entscheidend.} Qc5+ 82. Kb7 (82. Kd8 Qe7+ 83. Kc7 Qxd7+ 84. Kb6 Qd4+ 85. Ka5
Rf5+ $40) 82... Rxd7+ 83. Ka6 Rd6+ 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "205"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {One of the numerous forms of the Anti-Marshall variations.
By advancing several of his pawns with just one step in a moment when the
whole queen side is undeveloped, White intends to maintain the maximum of
flexibility regarding the choice of the main plan.} Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {A natural
reaction in the spirit of the Chigorin variation. Black wins space in the
centre at the cost of the relative weakness of the d5-square.} 12. Nc3 {
Immediately taking under observation the newly created weakness. Had White
hurried with the development of the knight to d2, he would have needed two
additional tempi (Nf1-e3) to approach the critical d5-square.} Nc6 {The
presence of the enemy knight on c3 makes the d4-square available for Black, at
least on short term.[#]} 13. Rb1 $5 {This is a new move, preparing the advance
of the b-pawn in order to put Black under some pressure on the wing where he
is supposed to be more active. This method of play (involving a3, Rb1 and Bd2)
has been repeatedly employed by the former World Champion Boris Spassky in a
completely different opening: the Closed Sicilian. Curiously, in the other
game of the second round where the Anti-Marshall was played, White also played
b4, although in a different form. Previously to our main game, several other
moves have been tried. I shall review them briefly.} (13. Nd5 {enables taking
the d4-square under control with c3, but has the slight drawback of defining
the intentions of the knight too soon.}) (13. Bg5 {prepares the elimination of
the main defender of the critical square, the same as}) (13. Nh2 {in view of a
further Ng4.}) (13. Ne2 {with the intention of transferring the knight to g3
means abandoning the initial idea behind 12.Nc3. Besides, if White intends to
transfer the knight to the king side it is better to do it by means of Nd2-f1,
retaining the possibility of choosing between Ng3 and Ne3.}) 13... Rc8 14. Bd2
Nd4 {With his last two moves Black anticipates White's plan by putting the
c2-pawn under indirect pressure.} 15. b4 Nxf3+ $6 {But this willing exchange
of the central knight is an obvious concession. Black should have developed
the queen, for instance to c7 in order to increase the pressure along the
c-file.} 16. Qxf3 c4 $6 {The logical consequence of the previous move, but, in
fact, a... further concession.} 17. dxc4 bxc4 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Bg5 {Now,
besides the d5-square, Black has worries about his c-pawn.} Ne8 $5 ({Black
obviously disliked such a course of events:} 19... Rfe8 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Rbd1
Bg5 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 {when putting the c3-pawn on a safe square with} c3 {
would leave the white bishop unchallenged along the a2-g8 diagonal, while
otherwise White would simply play c3 himself maintaining the control of the
position. At the cost of losing the weak pawn immediately, Black gets rid of
his passive bishop and hopes to get counterplay along the c-file.}) 20. Bxe7
Qxe7 21. Bxc4 Nf6 22. Rbd1 a5 {Eliminating another weakness: the a6-pawn.} 23.
Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 axb4 25. axb4 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Qc7 {The activity of the black
pieces along the c-file makes the conversion of the material advantage still
problematic, in spite of the mass exchanges.} 27. Rc1 Qc3 28. b5 Rfd8 29. Qd1
h6 30. Kh2 $1 ({A nice prophylactical move, in the style of Kasparov. White
would not make significant progress by the imediate capture of the d6-pawn with
} 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31. Qxd6 {because of} Qb2 {, winning the b5-pawn.}) 30... Rc5 (
{But now, in case of a neutral move such as} 30... g6 {White already could play
} 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qxd6 {when} Qb2 {can be strongly met by} 33. Qd7 {,
leaving Black with problems stabilising the position. However, Bacrot's move
is also not without drawbacks: after the exchange of one pair of rooks, the
significance of the passed b-pawn increases considerably.}) 31. Rxc5 Qxc5 32.
Qe2 Rc8 33. c4 Qd4 34. Rc2 {[#]White has managed to consolidate, but he needs
to find a favourable way to exchange the c4-pawn for the d6-pawn in order to
make further progress.} g6 35. f3 Kg7 36. Rd2 Qxc4 37. Qxc4 Rxc4 38. Rxd6 Rb4
39. b6 h5 40. h4 {[#]Such rook endings are hard to analyse and even harder to
play over the board. In order to describe the situation, one cannot use such
evaluations as "=" or "+-". The system suggested by Bronstein (for instance:
White has 40% chances to win) applies better.} f5 $2 ({However, if my analysis
below is correct, we can safely consider this move the decissive mistake.
Bacrot's desire to obtain some counterplay in the centre is entirely
understandable, but allowing the enemy pawn to advance to the seventh rank is
hardly a wise idea. Black should have adopted a waiting strategy with, say,} 
40... Kf8 {followed by ...Rb2, in order to cross White's plan of transferring
the king to the other wing.}) 41. Rd7+ $1 Kf6 42. b7 fxe4 43. fxe4 g5 {[#]
Obviously the only chance for survival. Black tries to get rid of one more
weakness before activating his king.} 44. g3 $2 ({A very "cooperative" answer.
By allowing the king side to be blocked, White leaves his king in a very
passive situation. True,} 44. Kh3 {does not seem to suffice for an advantage
after} gxh4 45. Kxh4 Rxe4+ 46. Kxh5 Rb4 47. g4 Ke6 $1 ({It is best to question
the stability of the white rook along the seventh rank at once. In case of the
careless} 47... e4 $2 {White gets winning chances with} 48. g5+ Ke6 49. Rc7 Kd6
50. Rf7 {when 50...Ke6 can be answered with 51.g6 already, while} e3 {loses to}
51. Rf3) 48. Rc7 Kd6 49. Rf7 Ke6 50. Rh7 {and now that the rook has no access
to the first rank, the advance of the e-pawn with} e4 {ensures a draw.}) ({
However, Kamsky missed the possibility of changing the course of the game to
his favour with} 44. Rd6+ $1 {. Play becomes very interesting now.} Kg7 ({
The only good square for the king.} 44... Ke7 $2 {loses immediately to} 45. Rh6
gxh4 46. Rh8 $1) (44... Kf7 {is not much better because of} 45. Rh6 Kg7 46.
Rxh5 gxh4 47. Rxe5 Rxb7 48. Kh3 {, leaving White with two sound extra-pawns.
In case of} Rb2 {the simplest answer is} 49. Kxh4 $1 {since} Rxg2 {leads to a
winning pawn ending after} 50. Rg5+ $1) {For a long time I have oriented my
analytical efforts in the following direction:} 45. hxg5 $6 Rxb7 46. Re6 Rb3 $3
({This move, suggested by Levente Vajda, prevents the activation of the white
king at the cost of a second pawn. Passive defence with} 46... Rb5 $2 {would
lead Black to defeat after} 47. Kh3 Kf7 48. Rf6+ Kg7 49. Rf5 Kg6 50. Kh4 Ra5
51. g4 $1 hxg4 52. Kxg4 Rb5 53. Rf6+ Kg7 54. Kf5 {when Black is too passive to
put up any resistence.}) 47. g3 Re3 $1 {Forcing the enemy rook tocapture on e5
and allow the activation of the black king.} 48. Rxe5 Kg6 49. Kh3 ({With the
deadly threat of Kh4 followed by Re6. I could not find a way to strengthen
White's position after} 49. Kg2 Ra3 50. Kf2 Rb3) 49... Re1 $1 50. g4 {
Apparently, White has managed to get rid of his weakness and can count on
converting his material advantage.} Rg1 $1 {However, this simple move (once
again suggested by Vajda) leads to an easy draw after} 51. Re6+ $5 ({The last
chance.} 51. gxh5+ Kxh5 {followed by ...Rxg5is just too simple.}) 51... Kxg5
52. Re5+ Kf4 53. Rxh5 {and now the simplest way to a draw is} Rg3+ $1 {
followed by 54...Rxg4,but not 53...Rxg4?? 54.Rf5, winning the rook.}) ({
Quite dissapointing, is it not? However, after} 44. Rd6+ Kg7 {White can do
better with} 45. Re6 $1 Rxb7 46. Rxe5 gxh4 47. Rxh5 {. The endings with the e-
and g-pawns are generally winning if White's pieces are placed favourably, but
recquire a lot of technical effort in any case. Here, Black can complicate
matters a bit by the radical activation of his forces with} Kg6 48. Rxh4 Kg5
49. Kh3 Rb3+ 50. g3 Re3 {Tablebases prove that the correct winning plan does
not consist of keeping the pieces grouped together,but to transfer the rook to
the eighth rank in order to harrass the enemy king.} {First of all, the enemy
rook has to be driven away from the e-file, in order to free the own rook from
its defensive task.} 51. Kg2 ({Even without tablebases it is easy to
understand that} 51. Rf4 Re2 {leads to zugzwang}) ({The remarkable thing is
that after the trickier} 51. Rg4+ Kh5 52. Rf4 Re2 53. g4+ Kg5 54. Rf5+ Kg6 55.
e5 {White cannot win.}) 51... Re1 52. Kf2 Ra1 53. Rh8 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Ra3+ 55. Kg2
Ra2+ 56. Kh3 Re2 57. Re8 {. Normally, a comment would end around this point
with some brief "and so on". In certain sense, this would apply here, too:
White wins by continuing his series of hardly understandable moves and plans;
tablebases are sure about that!}) 44... Rb2+ 45. Kg1 gxh4 46. gxh4 Ke6 47. Rh7
Kd6 48. Rxh5 ({White has to abandon his b-pawn. In case of} 48. Kf1 Kc5 $1 {
Black's conterplay is sufficient for an immediate draw, for instance:} 49. Rxh5
Rxb7 50. Rxe5+ Kd4) 48... Rxb7 49. Kg2 Rb4 50. Kf3 Rb1 51. Rg5 Ke6 52. h5 Rf1+
53. Ke2 Rf4 54. Ke3 Rh4 55. Rf5 Rh3+ 56. Kf2 Rh4 57. Kf3 Rh3+ 58. Kg4 Re3 59.
h6 Rxe4+ 60. Kg5 Re1 61. Rf6+ {[#]} Kd5 $6 ({Black creates himself unnecessary
problems. By keeping the king on a defensive position with} 61... Ke7 $1 {
he would have obtained an easy draw, because the h-pawn is not dangerous.}) 62.
h7 Rg1+ 63. Kh6 Ke4 64. Rf8 $1 ({Winning an important tempo over} 64. h8=Q Rh1+
) 64... Rh1+ 65. Kg6 Rxh7 66. Kxh7 {White has won the enemy rook, but the
e-pawn is not easy to stop.} Kd3 67. Rd8+ Ke3 68. Kg6 e4 69. Kf5 Kf3 70. Rh8 e3
71. Rh3+ Kf2 72. Kf4 e2 73. Rh2+ Kf1 74. Kf3 {[#]} e1=N+ {Obviously forced.
Black has to promote the pawn with check in order to avoid getting mated. The
ending with R vs. N is considered by theory to be easily drawn, but I know
from my own experience that things are not that rosy in practice. After a
while of moving around with the pieces, the defending side risks losing the
automatisms and starting to fear ghosts. The further course of the game seems
to sustain my point of view.} 75. Kg3 Nd3 76. Rd2 Ne1 77. Rf2+ Kg1 78. Rf8 Ng2
79. Kf3 {[#]} Kf1 $2 ({Only five moves have passed and Black already commits a
decisive error.} 79... Nh4+ $1 $11 {would have maintained things under control.
}) 80. Kg3+ $2 {Kindly returning the favour.} Kg1 81. Kf3 Kf1 $2 82. Rf7 $1 ({
Finally hitting on the right track.} 82. Rf6 {would have been just as good,
too.}) 82... Ne1+ (82... Nh4+ {loses the knight to the discovered check} 83.
Kg3+) 83. Ke3+ Kg1 84. Ke2 Ng2 85. Rh7 {Black is in zugzwang now.} Nf4+ 86. Kf3
{Finally, the knight has been isolated from the own king, which is the start
of a tragic end.} Nd3 87. Rh4 Ne5+ {[#]} 88. Ke2 $2 ({Humanly speaking, it is
hard to believe that this move is letting the win slip away, but this is what
the computer thinks. Apparently,} 88. Ke3 $1 {is the correct move, for instance
} Kg2 89. Re4 Nd7 90. Kf4 Kf2 91. Rc4 Nb6 92. Rd4 {(safely trapping the knight.
)} Ke2 93. Ke4 {and Black has to retreat with the king, allowing Kd3 followed
by the capture of the knight.}) 88... Kg2 89. Re4 {[#]} Nf7 $2 ({Apparently,
Black could have saved the day with} 89... Nd7 $11 {, although it is not easy
to believe that, either.}) 90. Re7 Nd6 91. Rg7+ Kh3 92. Kf3 {Now, the black
king is in danger, too.} Kh4 93. Kf4 Kh5 94. Re7 ({Here,} 94. Rc7 $1 {would
have made the win shorter, for instance} Ne8 95. Re7 {[#]} Nd6 ({or} 95... Nf6
96. Kf5 Ng8 97. Rh7+ Nh6+ 98. Kf6 {and Black loses the knight because of
zugzwang.}) 96. Re5+ Kh4 97. Re6 {(Threatening mate in one and attacking the
knight at the same time.)} Nf7 98. Rf6 {and Black cannot move the knight
because of mate.}) 94... Nc4 95. Re6 Nd2 96. Rc6 Nb3 97. Ke3 {[#]It's all over
now. The knight has been trapped and will perish without glory.} Kg4 98. Rc4+
Kg3 99. Rc3 Na5 100. Ke4+ Kf2 101. Kd5 Nb7 102. Rb3 Nd8 103. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Paris FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elancourt"]
[Date "2013.09.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2013.09.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "2:00:00"]
[BlackClock "2:00:00"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Be6 $5 {I made a survey of this variation in my comments
to the game Leko,P (2751)-Grischuk,A (2726)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M]
(1-0. 60), see below.} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. c3 ({The aforementioned game went} 12.
Nf1 {Leko,P (2751)-Grischuk,A (2726)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0.
60)}) 12... d5 $5 $146 {Bacrot confessed that this came as a surprise for him,
although he had some previous experience with this line... as Black!
Tomashevsky declared that he did not find clear equality for Black in the
games played before. This must have come as the result of very deep analysis,
since at first sight things seem to be balanced. Anyway, Tomashevsky thought
that his novelty would be a better try than anything tried before.} (12... Rb8
13. Qe2 (13. Nf1 bxc3 14. bxc3 Na5 15. Ra2 c5 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 Nb3 18. dxc5
Nxc5 19. Ng3 Rb1 $132 {Carlsen,M (2714)-Bacrot,E (2695)/Heraklio 2007/CBM 121 
(1/2, 30)}) 13... Qe8 (13... Nh5 14. Nf1 Qe8 15. d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 exd4 17. Nxd4
Nxd4 18. cxd4 Qf7 19. Be3 Nf4 20. Qc2 c5 $132 {Ter Sahakyan,S (2580)-Fressinet,
L (2703)/Leon 2012/EXT 2013 (1/2, 42)}) (13... Qd7 14. Nc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 Rb3
16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Bf8 18. Rec1 Qc8 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Qa2 $14 {Dominguez Perez,L
(2723)-Almasi,Z (2689)/Havana 2013/CBM 154 (1/2, 54)}) 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3
exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Rb4 $132 {Hou,Y (2527)-Bacrot,E (2700)/Wijk aan
Zee 2008/CBM 122 (0-1, 76)}) 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nb3 Ba7 {Black has activated his
bishop and the better control in the centre and the pressure against the
f2-pawn compensate in principle for the weakness of the doubled pawns.} 15. Be3
{This cautious move reduces the tension a lot, gradually leading to a logical
draw.} (15. c4 {would lead to more interesting play.} dxc4 ({White's main idea
is revealed after a neutral move such as:} 15... Qd6 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Be3 $14
{[%cal Ga1c1,Gc1c7]}) 16. dxc4 Nd4 ({There is no time for} 16... Nd7 {hoping
for ...Nc5, exchanging the b3-knight and only then ...Nd4 because of} 17. Be3
Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qe7 19. Rad1 a5 20. c5 $14) 17. Nbxd4 exd4 (17... Bxd4 {loses a
pawn:} 18. Rd1 c5 19. Nxe5 $16) 18. Ne5 Nd7 19. Nd3 {White's blockade looks
comfortable, but he is slightly underdeveloped and Black can pose some
concrete problems.} Nc5 20. Bd2 a5 21. f4 (21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Qd3 e5) 21... Nb3
22. Ra2 (22. Rab1 Qd7 {[%csl Ga4]}) 22... Qd7 23. Qd1 Nc5 24. Bc1 {[%cal Gb2b3,
Ga2f2]} b3 25. Ra1 Rab8 $13 {Play is far less one-sided than White would have
hoped for.}) ({Tomashevsky also mentioned} 15. h3 $5 {as an alternative, but
it is not too clear what White should do next apart from Bc1-e3 anyway.}) 15...
Bxe3 16. Qxe3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Qd6 18. Nbd2 h6 $5 {Tomashevsky had a relatively
long think before playing this move: 17 minutes! He thought that White would
not have any other constructive plan than d3-d4, so he intended to be prepared
in the best way for it.} (18... Rab8 {[%csl Ga6,Gg5,Gg8]} 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4
Nxe4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qxe4 Rf4 23. Qxe6+ Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26.
Rxa6 $14 {/=}) 19. d4 {Also played after a long period of thought: 16 minutes!
It may also be a bit premature.} (19. exd5 {is ineffective for several reasons.
} Nxd5 (19... exd5 20. Nxe5 Rae8 21. d4 Ng4 $1 $11) 20. Qe4 Rf4 (20... Nxc3 21.
Qc4 Nd5 22. Rac1 Ndb4 23. Ne4 Qd5 24. Nc5 Rf4 25. Qxd5 exd5 26. Nxe5 Nd4 $13)
21. Qg6 Nde7 $11) ({White could try to continue the sit and wait game, keeping
d3-d4 in reserve. In the event of mass exchanges, it might be useful to avoid
back rank problems.} 19. h3 $5) 19... exd4 {The simplest.} 20. cxd4 Nxe4 21.
Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qxe4 Rf4 23. Qxe6+ Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 {Play has
simplified and White cannot avoid a drawn rook ending.} 26. Rc6 ({It would be
too late now for} 26. h3 {with the hope of doubling rooks on the seventh rank:}
a5 27. Rc1 Rc8 $11) 26... Rad8 {Had he played h2-h3 at some earlier point,
White would have retained chances for an advantage due to the presence of four
rooks and the weakened seventh rank. The way it is, Black is in time to
exchange one pair of rooks.} 27. g3 R8d6 28. Rxc7 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Kg2
Rd4 31. Rc8+ Kf7 32. Rc7+ Kg8 33. Rc8+ Kf7 34. Rc7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a3
Bc5 $5 {This move certainly looks like a loss of tempo. However, since this
tempo was used by White to play the modest move a3, Black's position should be
entirely viable.} 9. c3 d6 10. d4 Bb6 11. Be3 h6 12. h3 {After this
prophylactic move, Black will have to develop his bishop to b7 sooner or later.
This will transpose to the Arhangelsk variation, where the presence of the
pawn on a3 instead of a2 makes little or no difference.} Re8 ({In the
Arhangelsk, after} 12... Bb7 13. Nbd2 {one of the main line goes} exd4 14. cxd4
{and now 14...Nb4, which is impossible in the given circumstances of our
present game. This is the only moment when the move a3 seems to be useful, but
Black has other viable continuations at his disposal.}) 13. Nbd2 Bb7 14. dxe5
$146 {Technically speaking, a novelty in the position with the pawn on a3 and
a very rare move in the Arhangelsk.} ({Svidler must have got his inspiration
from the following game, where he had White:} 14. Bc2 {This move is possible
because the typical counterplay based on exd4 followed by ...Nb4 is impossible.
In the Arhangelsk, only few games with this move are available.} Nb8 15. dxe5
dxe5 16. Bxb6 cxb6 17. a4 bxa4 18. Bxa4 b5 19. Bb3 Nbd7 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. Bc2 Qc7
22. Qe3 a5 23. Nh4 Rad8 24. Nf5 Bc8 25. Nf3 Bxf5 26. exf5 b4 $132 {Svidler,P 
(2765)-Leko,P (2740)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2-1/2, 46)}) ({The main
moves in the Arhangelsk are} 14. d5 {followed by Bxb6}) ({and} 14. Qb1) 14...
dxe5 15. Bxb6 cxb6 16. Nh2 Qe7 17. Ng4 Rad8 $11 {Black has succesfully solved
his opening problems.} 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qe2 Na5 20. Ba2 Bc8 21. Nf1 Qg6 22.
Kh2 Be6 23. Bxe6 Rxe6 {By maintaining the e4-pawn under pressure, Black
prevents the transfer of the enemy knight to d5.} (23... Qxe6 24. Ne3 $14) 24.
a4 $2 {A curious mistake.} (24. Rad1 $11) 24... Nb3 25. Rad1 $6 (25. Ra3 bxa4
26. Rxa4 Nc5 27. Ra2 Red6 $15) 25... Rxd1 26. Rxd1 bxa4 $17 {Black is just a
pawn up.} 27. Qxa6 Qxe4 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Rd8 Qf4+ 30. Ng3 Nd2 31. h4 Qxh4+ 32.
Kg1 e4 33. Rxd2 e3 34. Rd3 Qf4 35. Rxe3 Rxe3 36. fxe3 Qxg3 37. Qf5+ Qg6 38. Qd5
Qe6 39. Qd4 g6 40. Qxa4 Qxe3+ 41. Kh2 h5 42. Qd1 Kg7 43. Qd6 f6 44. Qc7+ Kh6
45. b4 Kg5 46. Qc6 Qe5+ 47. Kg1 b5 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. Bd2 $5 {A fresh idea from Grischuk. White stops ...Na5 for now and wants
to see Black's intentions before defining how to play on the queenside.} Kh8 {
This move looks odd to me. Maybe Aronian wanted to wait to see White's
intentions, but Grischuk just continues with natural moves. Later on Black has
ideas to play ...f5, but it seems way too early to think about it.} (9... Bg4
10. c3 $1 (10. h3 {was played in the debut game of the variation. 10.c3 as in
the Caruana - Aronian game, would be more challenging} Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nd4 12.
Qd1 a5 13. c3 Nxb3 14. axb3 $11 {0-1 (40) Calzetta Ruiz,M (2317)-Atalik,E 
(2393) Turin 2006}) 10... d5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe2 Rb8 13. Bg5 {inviting Black to
take on e4:} dxe4 14. dxe4 h6 15. Bc1 $1 {now White threatens the typical
Nbd2-Nf1-Ng3 plan, which is normally very annoying after Black already had the
bishop placed on either g4 or h5. That's why it was understandable that
Aronian played it when the white bishop was on d2.} Bg6 16. Nbd2 Nh5 17. Nf1
Bc5 18. g3 Kh7 19. Kg2 Qe7 20. Bc2 $16 {1-0 (39) Caruana,F (2784)-Aronian,L 
(2794) Berlin 2018, and White achieved a big positional advantage, that later
turned into a tactical mess.}) (9... Bb7 {played exactly one day after the
Caruana-Aronian game} 10. a4 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. c3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 Qd7 14. d4
$6 {this simply weakens the position.} (14. Ne2 $1 $14 {with the idea of Ng3,
White retains better prospects}) 14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. exd5
Bf6 $6 (17... a5 {followed by ...Bf6 and ...Rfe8, Black is just fine.}) 18. Be3
$6 (18. Bxb4 $1 Qf5 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Bxd4 21. Rac1 $14) 18... c6 19. Qb3
cxd5 20. Qxd5 Rac8 $11 {0-1 (38) Martirosyan,H (2586)-Kravtsiv,M (2685) Batumi
2018}) 10. h3 Nd7 11. Nc3 $5 (11. a4 $5 Bb7 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Nc3
Nc5 15. Bd5 $14 (15. Nxb5 $6 {always gives decent compensation for Black after
ruining White's structure.} Nxb3 16. cxb3 Bd8 $132 {potentially followed by
f5! opening the line of the b7-bishop against the white king.})) 11... Na5 {
Black achieves a strategic goal in the Ruy Lopez, which is taking the
b3-bishop, but on the other hand, White installs a strong knight on d5.} 12.
Nd5 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. c4 f5 (14... c6 $2 15. Ba5 $1 {is the key move,
Black is not able to play ...c6 kicking the knight away.}) 15. Ba5 Rc8 (15...
Bxd5 $2 {is always a huge strategic mistake. The light-squared bishop is
Black's pride here, he has to try to keep it at all costs.} 16. cxd5 $16 {
[%cal Ga1c1]}) 16. Rc1 (16. exf5 {looks promising, trying to open the position
when Black has somewhat passive pieces; but on the other hand, opening the
a8-h1 diagonal is usually dangerous. When we reach such conceptual dilemmas
while choosing a move, we have to strongly rely on our calculations. And we
have to remember, that we may let go of strategic advantages we have built up
to this point and change the character of a position.} Rxf5 17. d4 Nf6 $1 $132
{with complex play.} (17... Qf8 $5 $132)) 16... bxc4 (16... Nc5 $5 {similar to
the game, maybe keeping more flexibility. Black should not be scared of 17.
cxb5, opening the c-file, since the black knight will go to ...e6 next move,
controlling the c7-pawn.}) 17. bxc4 fxe4 18. dxe4 Nc5 19. Bc3 $5 (19. Re3 $5 {
not allowing Black to play ...Qe8 yet (White keeps an eye on c7). White's idea
is to play Bb4 next move, take on e7 and then play c5, ruining Black's
structure. In these lines, the rook will stand better on e3.} Ne6 {Another
standard move gets answered by a strong temporary pawn sacrifice:} 20. c5 $1
Nxc5 $2 (20... dxc5 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Qb3 $1 Bc6 23. Qc3 $16 {followed by Qxe5}
) 21. Bxc7 $1 Rxc7 22. Nxc7 Qxc7 23. b4 $18) (19. Bb4 Ne6 20. Nxe7 (20. Nxe5 $2
c5 $1 $17) 20... Qxe7 21. c5 dxc5 22. Ba3 Rf4 $1 $132 {followed by ...Rcf8.})
19... Qe8 20. b4 Ne6 21. Bd2 c6 $2 (21... Bd8 {threatening c6} 22. c5 $1 {
when White retains some slight pressure.}) 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Be3 $2 {White has
lost the chance to play c5 now and break Black's structure.} (23. c5 $1 dxc5
24. bxc5 {This is very dangerous in the long-term for Black - the e5-pawn is
weak, and White should win it without much trouble, after which he will have 4
pawns against 2 pawns on the kingside} Rcd8 {during the Press Conference,
Grischuk mentioned this move and said he wasn't sure how to evaluate the
position after 25.Nxe5 Nf4} 25. Re3 $1 (25. Nxe5 $6 Nf4 $1 $132) 25... Nxc5 26.
Qc2 Ne6 27. Ba5 {followed by Qb2, grabbing the e5-pawn, depending on where the
rook goes} Rd6 28. Qb2 Nd4 $2 (28... c5 29. Qxe5 $16 {[%csl Re4,Rf2,Rg2,Rg7,
Rh3,Rh7]}) 29. Bb4 $1 $18) 23... c5 $1 {Now there is no advantage for White,
Black is solid and the only weakness on d6 will not be a serious problem.} 24.
bxc5 Nxc5 25. Bxc5 Rxc5 26. Nd2 Bc8 27. Nf1 Be6 28. Ne3 $11 {The position has
simplified, both sides have improved their pieces to the best squares and the
outcome should be a draw.} Rc6 29. Qa4 Rfc8 30. Rb1 h6 31. Rb8 Rxc4 32. Rxc8+
Rxc8 33. Qxa6 Qc7 34. Rd1 Rd8 35. Qd3 Qc5 36. Kh2 Qc7 37. Kg1 Qc5 38. Rd2 Qc7
39. Qa3 Qe7 40. Rd1 Kh7 41. Qb4 Qc7 42. Rd3 Kg8 43. Qd2 Qe7 44. Kh2 Qf8 45. Kg1
Qe7 46. Qd1 Kh7 47. Rd2 Qf8 48. Rd3 Qe7 49. Rd2 Qf8 50. Nf1 Rd7 51. Ng3 Qb8 52.
Kh2 Qf8 53. Kg1 Qb8 54. Kh2 Qf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Metz op 31th"]
[Site "Metz"]
[Date "2013.04.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Dgebuadze, Alexandre"]
[Black "Greenfeld, Alon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "Metz Alekhine/Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. Nc3 $6 {[%csl Rc2][%cal Gc6a5,Ga5b3] Les Blancs veulent
éviter le dangereux gambit Marshall mais le coup Nc3 manque de souplesse et
Na5 gagne la paire de B} (10. exd5 $142 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 {Transpose sur le gambit
Marshall} (11. c3) (11. Nbd2) 11... Nd4 12. Bd2 (12. Nc3) 12... c5 13. Nc3 Nxb3
14. axb3 Nb4 15. Ne4 f5 16. Ng3 Qd5 17. Nf3 {Karjakin,S (2747)-Onischuk,A 
(2688) Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th 2010 (4.3) 1-0}) (10. exd5 Nxd5 11. a4 Nd4
12. Nxd4 exd4 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Na3 Bb4 16. Re5 Bd6 17. Re1 Bb4
18. Re5 Bd6 19. Re1 Bb4 {1/2-1/2 (19) Topalov,V (2774)-Caruana,F (2782) Warsaw
2013}) 10... dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1 12. Nxd1 $146 (12. Rxd1 Nd4 $1 $146 {
Psychologiquement, c'est un trés fort coup car les Blancs voulaient éviter
les complications du gambit Marshall et maintenant, ils doivent faire face à
un gambit inconnu!} (12... Bd6 13. Re1 Na5 14. Bg5 Nxb3 $11 {Bilic,V (2257)
-Brenjo,S (2505) BIH-chT Vogosca 2007 (6) 1/2-1/2}) 13. Nxe5 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bd6
$44 {[%csl Gb7,Gd6] Récupère le P} 15. Ng4 (15. Bf4 Nxe4 (15... b4 16. Nd5))
(15. Nd3 Nxe4) 15... Nxe4 16. f3 $6 Ng3 17. Be3 Rfe8 18. Bd2 b4 $36 {les
pièces Blanches sont mal coordonnées et la paire de B des Noirs est trés
forte} 19. Na2 (19. Na4 {Probablement un moindre mal} Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nd4 21. Ne3
a5 (21... Bf4 $2 22. Nf5 $1) 22. Rac1) 19... Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nd4 (20... a5 {
[%csl Ra1,Ra2] La position Blanche est déjà critique}) 21. Rac1 {Les Blancs
ne peuvent même pas profiter de l'ouverture de la colonne "a"!} a5 $40 {
[%csl Ra2] le Na2 n'a plus de cases!}) (12. Rxd1 Bd6 13. Re1 Na5 14. Bg5 Nxb3
15. axb3 Nd7 16. Rad1 Nc5 17. Nd5 f6 18. Bc1 Rfd8 19. b4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Bf8 21.
Nxe5 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Bxd5 23. Rd4 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 fxe5 25. Rd7 Bd6 26. Be3 Bxb4 27.
Rxc7 e4 28. c4 bxc4 29. Rxc4 a5 30. Rxe4 {1/2-1/2 (30) Bilic,V (2257)-Brenjo,S
(2505) Vogosca 2007}) 12... Nd4 $1 {Psychologiquement, c'est un trés fort
coup car les Blancs voulaient éviter les complications du gambit Marshall et
maintenant, ils doivent faire face à un gambit inconnu!} 13. Nxe5 Nxb3 14.
axb3 Bd6 $44 15. Ng4 $6 (15. Bf4 {Il semble plus sain de tenter de terminer le
développement}) 15... Nxe4 $15 16. f3 Ng3 17. Nc3 Rfe8 18. Bd2 b4 19. Na2 $6 {
[%csl Ra2]} (19. Nd1 $142 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nd4 21. Nde3 {[%cal Ge3c2]} f5 22. Nf2
f4 23. Nc4 Nxc2 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rc1 Nd4 26. Nxd6 cxd6 27. Rc7 $44) 19...
Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nd4 $40 {[%csl Gd4]} 21. Rac1 {la Ra1 ne peut même pas profiter
de l'ouverture de la colonne "a"!} a5 $19 {[%csl Ra2] le Na2 n'a plus de cases!
} 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Ne3 Ba6+ 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 1415"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2015.04.12"]
[Round "15.1"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2014.10.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Dresden TU"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {Diese ruhige,
geschlossene Herangehensweise - дhnlich dem Anderssen-Angriff (5.d3) - erfreut
sich (neben 6.Re1) steigender Beliebtheit.} b5 7. Bb3 O-O ({Oder} 7... d6 {
mit Eljanov-Beteiligung:} 8. a3 (8. a4 Bd7 9. c3 (9. Be3 O-O 10. h3 Na5 (10...
Be6) 11. Ba2 bxa4 12. Nc3 Rb8 {(C84), remis/35, Guseinov,G (2623) - Eljanov,P 
(2678), Moscow 2013}) 9... O-O 10. Re1 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 {(C84), remis/
52, Jakovenko,D (2730) - Eljanov,P (2732), Poikovsky 2014}) 8... O-O (8... Be6
9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Ng4 12. c4 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qd7 $13 {, 1:0/42,
Leko,P (2737) - Eljanov,P (2707), Kiev 2013}) 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4
exd4 12. Nd5 c5 13. a4 Be6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2 Qd7 17. b3 $13
{, 1:0/42, Motylev,A (2687) - Eljanov,P (2732), Poikovsky 2014}) 8. Re1 {
nebst Ьbergang zu C88 (6.Re1) wird am hдufigsten gewдhlt. Sehr gebrдuchliche
Alternativen sind 8.a4 und 8.c3, z.B.:} (8. a4 {, z.B.} b4 (8... Na5 9. Ba2 d6
$2 10. axb5 axb5 $4 11. b4 $18) 9. Nbd2 (9. h3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.
c3 Nc6 13. Nc4 h6 14. Ne3 Rb8 $13 {, 0:1/37, Naiditsch,A (2710) - Karjakin,S 
(2782), Kiev 2013}) (9. a5 d6 10. Nbd2 Be6 $13 (10... h6 $13)) 9... Bc5 10. Nc4
d6 11. h3 (11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 Be6 13. Qe1 a5 14. h3 Ne7 15. Nh4 Kh8 16. Rf3
Nd7 17. Nd2 Bxb3 18. Nxb3 g6 19. Qf2 f6 20. Rf1 $13 {/=, remis/47, Areshchenko,
A (2709) - Beliavsky,A (2628), Legnica 2013}) 11... h6 12. c3 Rb8 13. a5 bxc3
14. bxc3 Be6 $13 {/=, 0:1/85, Safarli, E. - Eljanov, P., Gashimov-Memorial-B,
Shamkir 2014}) 8... d6 9. a3 ({Oder ebenfalls mit Areshchenko-Beteiligung: I} 
9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. h3 {remis/50, Areshchenko,A 
(2653) - Aronian,L (2724), Khanty-Mansiysk 2005} (13. Ng3 {remis/43,
Areshchenko,A (2645) -Zhao,Z (2487), Gibraltar 2008})) ({II} 9. a4 Na5 10. Ba2
c5 {remis/24, Areshchenko,A (2714) - Baramidze,D,(2613), Germany 2014}) 9... h6
10. Nc3 Be6 (10... Bg4 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Bxd4 exd4 13. Nd5 c6 (13... Nd7) 14. h3
Bxf3 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Qxf3 g6 (16... Qc7) 17. a4 $14 {, 1:0/48, Firman,N 
(2546) - Beliavsky,A (2646), Kharkov 2009} (17. e5 $14)) 11. Nd5 Na5 12. Ba2 c6
({Genauer ist} 12... c5 $142 {, z.B.} 13. b4 Nb7 (13... Nc6 14. c3) 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Bd2 $13 (16. c4 $143 bxc4 17. dxc4 d5)) 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6
14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. b4 $14 Nb7 16. c4 Qd7 (16... bxc4 17. dxc4 d5 18. c5 (18.
exd5 $143 e4 19. Nd4 exd5 20. Be3 Qd7 21. cxd5 cxd5 $13 {/=}) 18... d4 (18...
dxe4 19. Nd2) 19. Nd2 a5 20. Bb2 Qb8 21. Nc4 $14) 17. Be3 Nd8 $6 ({Die hiermit
eingeleitete Springerwanderung nach f7 wirkt recht umstдndlich und passiv,
besser gefдllt} 17... bxc4 $142 18. dxc4 a5 {/\...d5~~}) 18. Nd2 (18. c5 $1 d5
19. a4 $14) 18... Nf7 (18... a5) (18... d5) 19. Nb3 Bg5 20. Rc1 (20. Bxg5 $142
Nxg5 21. c5) 20... Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Ng5 $6 (21... Rac8 $142 {, z.B.} 22. c5 d5 $14
) 22. h4 Nh7 ({Auch hier wird der Rьckzug} 22... Nf7 {mit} 23. c5 $1 {
wirkungsvoll bekдmpft:} d5 24. Qh5 $1 {/\Rg3+/-}) 23. c5 $1 $16 {Endlich
ergreift WeiЯ mit diesem VorstoЯ klar die Initative.} d5 24. exd5 Qxd5 25. Na5
Nf6 (25... Rf5) 26. Qe2 Nd7 {Spдt nimmt der Rappe wieder am Kampf teil, denn
sein Antagonist auf a5 vermag nun einen krдftigen taktischen Schlag
auszufьhren.} 27. Nc4 $1 Rf5 (27... bxc4 $4 {verbietet sich natьrlich wegen}
28. dxc4 Qd4 29. Rd1 {mit Damenfang.}) 28. Nb6 $1 {Zum Ende von beiderseitigen
Springermanцvern verschafft sich WeiЯ mit dem erzwungenen Tausch auf b6 einen
дuЯerst lдstigen Freibauern und цffnet sich zudem die c-Linie.} Nxb6 29. cxb6
Raf8 30. Rf3 $6 {Eine etwas merkwьrdige, unnцtige Reaktion. Sogar das zwar
schlichte, aber solide 30.f3 kam m.E. eher in Betracht.} ({Doch ganz abgesehen
davon hдtte die glдnzende Fortsetzung} 30. Rg3 $3 {die Situation siegbringend
gemeistert. Hierzu eine gehaltvolle Analyse:} Qd4 (30... Rxf2 31. Qe4 $1 R2f4 (
31... R2f7 32. Rxc6 Rd8 (32... Re7 33. h5) 33. Qxd5 exd5 (33... Rxd5 34. Rc8+
Kh7 35. Rc7 Rdd7 36. b7 $18)) 32. Qxd5 exd5 (32... cxd5 33. Rc7 R4f7 34. Rf3
$18) 33. Rxc6 $18 {, z.B.} e4 (33... Rf1+ 34. Kh2 R1f7 (34... e4 35. dxe4 dxe4
36. Rc7 {, siehe 33...e4}) 35. Rxh6 e4 (35... Re7 36. Rd6 Rb8 (36... e4 37. Re3
$18) 37. Re3 d4 38. Re2 Kf7 39. Rf2+ Ke8 40. Kg3 e4 41. dxe4 Rxe4 42. Rf4 Re3+
43. Kg4 Re2 44. g3 d3 45. Kf3 Re7 (45... Rb7 46. Rxd3 Re6) 46. Rfd4 Reb7 47.
Rg6 $18 {, z.B.} Kf7 (47... Rd8 48. Rxd8+ Kxd8 49. Ke3 Rd7 50. Kd2 $18) (47...
Rxb6 48. Rxg7) 48. h5 Rxb6 49. Rd7+ Kf8 50. Rgxg7 Rf6+ 51. Kg4 d2 52. Rh7 Kg8
53. Rhe7 Kf8 54. Re2) (35... Rf6 36. Rhg6 Rxg6 (36... R8f7 $2 37. b7) 37. Rxg6
e4 38. dxe4 dxe4 39. b7 e3 40. Rxa6 e2 41. Re6 Rb8 42. Rxe2 Rxb7 43. Re5 $18)
36. Rd6 Rb7 (36... Rf6 37. Rxd5 exd3 (37... Rxb6 38. Rdg5 Rf7 39. dxe4 $18) 38.
Rd7 R8f7 39. b7 Rb6 40. Rgxd3 Rxb7 41. Rxb7 Rxb7 42. Rd6 Ra7 43. h5 Kh7 44. Rb6
$18) 37. dxe4 dxe4 38. Rc6 Re7 (38... Re8 39. Rc7 Rxb6 (39... Re7 40. Rxb7 Rxb7
41. Rg6 e3 42. Kg1 $18) 40. Rgxg7+ Kh8 41. Rh7+ Kg8 42. h5 Rf6 (42... e3 43.
Rcg7+ Kf8 44. Ra7 Kg8 45. Rhg7+ Kh8 46. g4 e2 47. Rh7+ Kg8 48. Rag7+ Kf8 49.
Rh8+ Kxg7 50. Rxe8) 43. Rcg7+ Kf8 44. Rh8+ Kxg7 45. Rxe8 Kh6 46. Re5 $18) (
38... Rf4 39. h5 Kh7 (39... Rh4+ 40. Rh3 Rf4 41. Rhc3) 40. Rgc3 Rh4+ (40... Rf5
41. R3c5 $18) 41. Kg1 Rxh5 42. Rh3 $1 Rxh3 43. gxh3 Rf7 44. Rc7 Rf8 45. b7 e3
46. Re7 Rb8 47. Kf1 $18) 39. Rc7 Rfe8 40. Re3 Kf8 41. Kg3 Rb8 42. Rc6 Reb7 43.
Rxe4 Rxb6 44. Ree6 Rxc6 45. Rxc6 Ra8 46. Kg4 $18) 34. dxe4 dxe4 35. Rc7 Rf1+
36. Kh2 R1f7 37. Rgc3 Rb8 38. R3c6 e3 39. Rxf7 Kxf7 40. Kg1 Ke8 41. Kf1 Kd7 42.
Rg6 $18) 31. Qe3 $3 Rc8 (31... Qxh4 32. Rxc6 $18 Qd4 33. Rxe6) 32. b7 Rb8 33.
Rxc6 Rxb7 34. Rxe6 Rc7 35. Qxd4 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 exd4 37. Rxh6 $18) 30... Rxf3 31.
gxf3 Rb8 32. Rc5 $5 ({Ebenso zu erwдgen war} 32. Qe3 $5 {, z.B.} Qd6 33. Rc5
Rxb6 34. Rxe5) 32... Qd4 33. Rxc6 $2 {Allem Anschein nach die falsche Wahl.} ({
Die gegebene und feine Fortsetzung lautet} 33. Rxe5 $142 Rxb6 34. Rxe6 Qxh4 35.
Qe5 $3 {und nach dieser bдrenstarken Zentralisation wird Schwarz unweigerlich
niedergerungen:} Rb7 (35... Qg5+ 36. Qxg5 hxg5 37. d4 Rb7 (37... Kf7 38. d5 Rb7
39. Rxc6 $16 {/+-}) 38. Rxc6 Rd7 39. Rxa6 Rxd4 40. Ra5 Rd3 41. Kg2 Kf7 42. Rxb5
Rxa3 43. Rxg5 {und vermutlich +-}) 36. Rxc6 Rf7 37. Rc8+ Kh7 38. Qe4+ Qxe4 39.
fxe4 Rd7 40. Rc3 g5 41. f3 h5 42. Kf2 h4 43. Ke3 Kg6 44. Rc6+ Kh5 45. Rc8 Rh7
46. Kf2 Rd7 47. Rh8+ Kg6 48. Ke3 Kg7 49. Rc8 h3 50. Rc2 Kf6 51. Rh2 Rh7 52. d4
g4 $5 53. fxg4 (53. Kf4 $2 gxf3 54. Kxf3 Rh4 $1 $11) 53... Kg5 54. e5 Kxg4 55.
Ke4 $18) 33... Rxb6 34. Rxb6 Qxb6 35. Qxe5 $14 {Obwohl der weiЯe Vorteil
angesichts des Doppelbauern merklich geschrumpft ist, bleibt die Verteidigung
schwierig.} Kf7 $2 ({Eljanov verpasst die gute Remischance} 35... Qc6 $142 $3 {
nebst ggf. ...Qd5 mit konkurrierender Zentralisierung der schwarzen Dame und
Blockade im Zentrum. Eingedenk mцglicher Transformationen ins Bauernendspiel
sind prдzise Vorausberechnungen freilich vonnцten. Dank unserer Silikon-Helfer
ist heuzutage auch eine verlдsslichere Analyse derartiger Damenendspiele
mцglich. Dazu ein paar aufschlussreiche Anregungen:} 36. Kg2 (36. Qe4 Qd5 $1
37. Kg2 Kf7 38. Kg3 Kf6 {, z.B.} 39. Qf4+ (39. Qxd5 exd5 40. Kf4 h5 41. d4 g6
$8 $11) 39... Kg6 (39... Qf5 $2 40. Qxf5+ $1 Kxf5 41. f4 $18 {, z.B.} h5 42.
Kf3 Kf6 43. Ke4 g6 44. d4 Kf7 45. Ke5 Ke7 46. f5 gxf5 47. f4 Kf7 48. d5 $1 $18)
40. d4 h5 41. Kg2 Qf5 42. Qd6 Kf6 43. Qxa6 Qg6+ $11 44. Kh2 Qc2) (36. f4 Kh8 $1
37. d4 (37. h5 $2 Qf3 $1 38. Qxe6 Qxd3 $11) (37. f5 $2 exf5 38. Qxf5 Qc1+ 39.
Kg2 Qxa3 $11) 37... Qf3 38. Qxe6 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qxd4 40. Qc8+ Kh7 41. Qf5+ Kh8
42. Qe5 Qc4 $14) (36. d4 {, z.B.} Kf7 37. Kg2 (37. Qf4+ Ke7) 37... Qd5 38. h5
Kf8 39. Kg3 (39. Qxd5 exd5 $11) 39... Kf7 40. Kf4 Qc4 41. Qc5 g6 $1 42. Qxc4
bxc4 43. hxg6+ Kxg6 44. a4 c3 45. Ke3 h5 46. b5 axb5 47. axb5 h4 48. b6 h3 49.
b7 h2 50. b8=Q h1=Q $13 {/=}) 36... Qd5 $1 37. Qxd5 (37. d4 Kf7 {wie gehabt})
37... exd5 38. Kg3 Kf7 39. Kg4 Kf6 40. f4 g6 $8 $11 41. h5 (41. Kf3 Kf5 42. Ke3
h5 43. Kd4 Kg4 $8 {!} 44. Kxd5 Kxh4 45. d4 Kg4 46. Kc5 h4 47. d5 h3 48. d6 h2
49. d7 h1=Q 50. d8=Q Qc1+ $1 51. Kb6 Qxf4 52. Kxa6 Qxf2 (52... Kf3 $13 {/=})
53. Kxb5 g5 $13 {/=}) 41... Kf7 $8 {!} (41... Kg7 $2 42. f5 gxh5+ 43. Kxh5 Kf6)
42. f5 (42. d4 Kf6 $11) 42... gxh5+ 43. Kxh5 Kg7 $8 {!} 44. f6+ (44. Kh4 Kf7 $8
45. d4 Kf6 $11) (44. d4 Kf6 45. Kg4 h5+ 46. Kxh5 Kxf5 $11) 44... Kxf6 45. Kxh6
d4 $8 {!=} 46. Kh7 Kf7 $8 47. Kh8 Kf8 $8 $11) 36. f4 {Da nun die Auflцsung des
weiЯen Doppelbauern nicht vereitelt werden kann - ...36...g6? 37.h5! etc.
spielt WeiЯ offenbar in die Hдnde, siehe weiter unten -, spitzt sich fьr
Schwarz gleich das resultierende Damenendspiel bei einem glatten Minusbauern
zu.} Qd8 ({Alternativen, z.B.: I} 36... g6 $2 37. h5 $1 gxh5 38. Qxh5+ Kg7 39.
Qe5+ Kf7 40. f5 exf5 41. Qxf5+) ({II} 36... Qc6 $2 37. f5 $1 (37. h5 $2 Qc2 $1)
37... exf5 38. Qxf5+ Kg8 39. d4 $16 g6 40. Qd3 Kf7 41. d5 Qf6 42. d6 Qxh4 (
42... Ke8 43. Qe4+ Kd7 44. Qb7+ Ke6 (44... Kxd6 45. Qxa6+ {ist Zugumstellung})
45. Qc8+ Kxd6 46. Qxa6+ Ke7 47. Qxb5 $18) 43. Qd5+ Ke8 44. Qc6+ Kf8 45. Qc8+ $1
Kf7 46. Qd7+ Kf8 47. Qe6 $18 {, z.B.} Qg5+ 48. Kh2 Qh4+ 49. Kg2 Qg5+ 50. Kf3
Qh5+ 51. Ke3 Qg5+ 52. Kd4) ({III} 36... Kg8 $5 {erscheint am zдhesten, z.B.}
37. Qe4 Qd6 38. Kg2 (38. f5 $2 exf5 39. Qxf5 Qd4 $1) 38... Qd7 39. Kf3 Qc8 40.
Kg4 Kh8 41. f3 Qd7 42. f5 exf5+ 43. Qxf5 $16) 37. f5 $1 $16 Qxh4 ({Falls} 37...
exf5 38. Qxf5+ Kg8 {, so} 39. Qe4 $1) 38. fxe6+ Ke7 39. Qxg7+ Kxe6 40. Kg2 Qf4
41. Qg8+ Kd7 42. Qd5+ Kc7 43. Qc5+ Kd7 44. Qe3 $5 (44. Qa7+ $5 Kd8 45. Qb6+ Kd7
46. Qg6) 44... Qf6 45. Kg3 Qa1 ({Oder z.B.} 45... h5 46. Qe4 Qa1 47. f4 Qg1+
48. Qg2 Qe1+ (48... h4+ 49. Kh3 Qe3+ 50. Kxh4 Qxf4+ 51. Qg4+ $18) 49. Qf2 h4+
50. Kg2 Qc3 51. Qa7+ Ke8 52. Qa8+ Ke7 53. Qe4+ Kf6 54. Kh3 Qxa3 55. Kxh4 Qc3
56. Kg4 {und vermutlich +-}) 46. Qxh6 $6 {Eine weitere Ungenauigkeit
Areschchenkos, der ebenso wie sein ukrainischer Landsmann den groЯen
Endspiel-Komplikationen in dieser Partie reichlich Tribut zollt.} (46. d4 $142
$1 Qg1+ 47. Kh4 Qg6 48. Qe5 Qd3 (48... Qg2 49. Qf5+ Kc7 50. d5) 49. f4 $1 Qxa3
50. Qd5+ Ke7 51. Qe4+ Kf6 52. d5 $18) 46... Qxa3 47. Qg7+ Kc8 48. Qf8+ Kb7 49.
Qe7+ Kc8 50. Qc5+ Kb7 51. Qd5+ Kc7 52. Qe5+ Kc8 53. Qf5+ Kb8 54. Qf4+ Kc8 55.
Kg4 Qa4 $2 {Der letzte schwere Fehler gegen Ende eines langen und verlorenen
Bundesliga-Matches.} ({Erforderlich war} 55... a5 $5 $132 {mit
Freibauernbildung und hartem Widerstand, z.B.} 56. Qf5+ Kd8 57. Qg5+ Kc8 58.
Qc5+ Kd8 59. Qb6+ Kc8 60. Qc6+ Kd8 61. Qd5+ Kc8 62. bxa5 Qxa5 (62... b4 $2 63.
Qc4+ Kb7 64. Qb5+ Kc7 65. a6 $18) 63. Qc5+ Kd7 64. f4 Qa6 65. Qd4+ Ke8 $14) 56.
Qf5+ {Da die schwarze Dame etwas im Abseits steht, nutzt WeiЯ die Gelegenheit,
seine Krдfte effizienter aufzustellen.} Kc7 (56... Kd8 57. Qd5+ Ke7 58. Qc5+
Kf7 59. Kg5 Qa2 60. Qe5 a5 61. Qc7+ Ke6 62. Qb6+ Kf7 63. bxa5 $18) 57. Qc5+ Kb7
58. Qe7+ Kc8 59. Qe8+ Kc7 60. Qe5+ Kc8 61. Qc3+ Kd7 (61... Kb7) 62. Kf5 (62.
Qd4+) 62... Qd1 63. Qd4+ Kc6 64. Qe4+ Kb6 65. Ke6 (65. f4 $142 $1 {, z.B.} Qh5+
66. Ke6 Qe8+ 67. Kf6 Qd8+ (67... Qf8+ 68. Kg5 $1) (67... Qh8+ 68. Kf7 $1) 68.
Qe7 $1 Qd4+ (68... Qh8+ 69. Kf7 $1 $18 Qh5+ 70. Ke6) (68... Qxd3 69. Qc5+ $1
Kb7 70. f5 $18) 69. Kg5 Qg1+ (69... a5 70. Qe6+ Kb7 71. bxa5 $18) 70. Kf5 {
und voraussichtlich ebenfalls +-}) 65... a5 $2 {Dieser an sich wьnschenswerte
GegenstoЯ kommt in einem denkbar schlechten Moment!} ({Eine Alternative wie} 
65... Qg1 {hдtte dem Gegner noch viel Sorgfalt und Geduld abverlangt, z.B.} 66.
Qd4+ Kb7 67. Kf6 $1 Qh2 (67... Qg8 68. Qd7+ Kb8 69. Qd6+ Kb7 70. f4 Qh8+ 71.
Kg6 Qg8+ 72. Kh5 Qf7+ (72... Qh8+ 73. Kg4 Qg8+ 74. Kf3 {etc. ist Zugumstellung
zum Text}) 73. Kg5 Qg7+ 74. Kh4 Qh7+ 75. Kg4 Qg8+ 76. Kf3 Qh7 77. Qd5+ Kb8 (
77... Kb6 $2 78. Qd4+ Kb7 (78... Kc7 79. Qa7+) 79. Qe4+ $18) 78. Qe5+ Kc8 79.
Qc5+ Kb7 80. f5 $18) 68. Qe4+ Kb6 69. f4 Qh6+ 70. Kf7 a5 71. bxa5+ Kxa5 72. f5
Qh7+ 73. Ke6 Qg8+ 74. Kd7 Qf7+ 75. Kc6 Qf6+ 76. Qe6 $18) 66. Qd4+ Kb7 67. Qd5+
Ka7 68. Qc5+ Ka8 69. Qc8+ $18 {und Schwarz gab sich geschlagen im Hinblick auf}
(69. Qc8+ Ka7 70. Qc7+ Ka8 71. Qxa5+ Kb7 72. Qxb5+ {- ein sehr interessanter
und instruktiver Arbeitssieg von GM Alexander Areshchenko, der einmal mehr
einer der Zuverlдssigsten im Bundesliga-Team des SV Werder Bremen ist.}) 1-0

[Event "World Women-ch k.o."]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2012.11.22"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Sebag, Marie"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2491"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2012.11.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. a4
O-O 9. Re1 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 b4 {Of course, this is logical
and other moves do not promise Black comfortable play.} (12... Bc8 13. Ne3 (13.
c3 $5 Bd7 14. Ne3 (14. d4) (14. axb5) 14... Qc7 $6 (14... bxa4) 15. axb5 $1
axb5 16. b4 Nb7 17. Bd2 $14 Nd8 $1 18. Bb3 (18. h3 $5) 18... Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Re8
$1 20. bxc5 $5 Qxc5 21. Qa2 h6 $1 22. h3 Ne6 23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Qc8 $1 {
Leko,P (2740)-Ivanchuk,V (2725)/Morelia/Linares 2006; and Black is still
fighting for full equality.})) (12... Re8 13. Ne3 $5 (13. Ng3) 13... h6 14. Bd2
c4 (14... b4 15. Nh4 $1 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Bxh4 17. Qh5 $40) 15. Bc3 $5 Qb6 16. Nd2
$1 Nc6 {Kasparov,G (2849)-Leko,P (2745)/Linares 2001; and Black is close to
equality.}) 13. c3 {This is a logical plan to start attacking the opponent's
pawn structure. Other plans are less direct:} (13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Ne3 Bc8 15. Nc4
(15. h3) (15. c3) 15... Nc6 16. c3 h6 17. h3 Be6 18. a5 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nd7 20.
Qa4 Qc7 21. Ne3 {Sebag,M (2521)-Stefanova,A (2491)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2012;
with better play.}) (13. Bg5 Bc8 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bd5 Rb8 17. Nd2
Qd7 18. Bc4 Nxc4 19. dxc4 Bg5 20. Ndf1 g6 21. Nd5 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Qh5 Qg7
{Davletbayeva,M (2220)-Kosintseva,T (2515)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2012; with good
counterplay.}) (13. Ne3 Bc8 (13... Rb8 14. Nd2 Bc8 15. Bc4 $146 (15. Ndc4 {
Ue 81/(285)}) 15... Nxc4 16. dxc4 Be6 17. b3 Rb7 18. Rf1 Nd7 19. Qe2 Nb8 20.
Nd5 Nc6 21. Bb2 Bg5 {Svidler,P (2686)-Adams,M (2731)/Moscow (m/5) 2001; and
the position is completely equal.}) 14. c3 (14. Nc4 Nc6 $1 15. h3 Rb8 (15... h6
$5 {/\ Be6}) 16. Bd2 Ne8 $1 17. Ne3 Nc7 18. Nd5 Be6 19. Nxc7 $146 (19. c3 Bf6
$1 $15 {Lutz,C (2645)-Beliavsky,A (2650)/Deutschland 2002/Inf 87/[Beliavsky,A]}
) (19. Bc4 Na5 20. Nxc7 Bxc4 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 c4 $1 $13) 19... Qxc7 20.
Bc4 Qc8 21. b3 h6 22. Bc1 f5 23. Qe2 f4 $15 24. Bb2 Kh7 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. Nh2
Bd8 (26... Qf7 $1 {/\ h5}) 27. Qf3 Qe8 {Hracek,Z (2601)-Beliavsky,A (2649)/
Deutschland 2003; Blacks counterplay looks to be very serious.}) 14... Rb8 15.
Nd2 $5 Be6 $11 16. Nd5 $6 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Nc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 a5 20. cxb4
$5 Rxb4 21. b3 Bg5 $1 $15 {0-1 Geller,E (2515)-Xie,J (2470)/Wien 1993/}) 13...
bxc3 ({It is not necessary to fix the pawn structure on the queenside:} 13...
Rb8 14. cxb4 $5 cxb4 15. Bd2 $1 Bc8 16. Rc1 Bg4 (16... Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. d4
exd4 19. Nxd4 Qd7 20. Qe2 Bd8 $1 (20... Rb6 21. Be3 $16) 21. Qxa6 Bb6 22. Be3
Bxd4 (22... Nxe4 23. Nxe6 Bxe3 24. Nxf8 Bxf2+ 25. Kh1 $16) 23. Bxd4 Nb3 24.
Rcd1 Ra8 25. Qc4 $16) 17. Ne3 Be6 $1 (17... b3 18. Nxg4 Nxg4 19. Bb1 Qb6 20.
Qe2 Nc6 21. Rc4 $16) (17... Bxf3 18. Qxf3 b3 19. Bb1 $16) 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nc4
{Svidler,P (2765)-Jenni,F (2520)/Deutschland 2006/ White keeps a slight
advantage.}) 14. bxc3 Rb8 ({Black can start immediate operations:} 14... c4 15.
Ng3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 Bc8 17. Ba3 (17. Bg5 $5 Be6 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nf5 Nb7 20. Bd5
Nc5 21. Qd1 Rc8 22. Bxe6 Nxe6 23. Rc1 Qa5 24. Qxd6 Qxa4 $11 {Nisipeanu,L (2592)
-Solleveld,M (2457)/Santo Domingo 2003}) 17... Be6 $2 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rad1
Ne8 (19... Qc8 20. Nxe5 Rd8 21. Qc2 $16) (19... Nb7 20. Qb1 Qc8 21. Qa2 Kh8 22.
Nxe5 $16) 20. Bb4 {Adams,M (2734)-Kamsky,G (2705)/Sofia 2007; and White keeps
small pressure.}) 15. Ng3 ({Always a very serious plan is to control the key
central square d5:} 15. Bg5 Bc6 16. Ne3) 15... Bc8 {A typical move to stop Nf5,
but a sharper approach can be tested here too with} (15... c4 $1) 16. d4 ({
Slower development would allow Black to reduce the activity of the opponent's
bishop on the important diagonal:} 16. Be3 Be6) 16... Qc7 {A classical setup,
as other typical ideas from the Chigorin System are not very logical here:} (
16... cxd4 17. cxd4 Nc6 18. h3 Bd7 19. Ba3) 17. h3 {It is very smart in the
Spanish not to play this move, but sooner or later it becomes clear that it is
a very useful move.} Re8 ({Nothing was wrong with the other typical setup:} 
17... g6 18. Bh6 Rd8 19. d5 c4) 18. Nh4 $6 {A very dubious move, but another
logical plan did not promise too much either:} (18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nf5 c4 20.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Rb1 Rxb1 22. Bxb1 Nb3 23. Bg5 Qd7) 18... g6 19. Bg5 c4 20. Qf3 (
{It was better to return the stupidly placed knight:} 20. Nf3) 20... Ng4 $5 (
20... Qd8 {was not very logical, but very solid:} 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Rad1 Nd7
23. Bxe7 Qxe7) ({or} 20... Nd5 21. Bxe7 Nxe7 22. Qf6 Nb3 23. Rab1 Nc6) 21. Bxe7
Qxe7 22. Nxg6 ({Black would have a very comfortable position after} 22. Nhf5
gxf5 23. hxg4 fxg4 24. Qe2 Qf6 25. dxe5 dxe5 26. Bxc4 Nxc4 27. Qxc4 Rd8) 22...
hxg6 23. hxg4 Qh4 ({A very similar try was} 23... Nb3 24. Rad1 Qg5) 24. dxe5 ({
Black could create some attacking chances on the h-file after} 24. Reb1 Bxg4
25. Qe3 Nb3 26. Bxb3 cxb3 27. Ra3 Kg7) 24... dxe5 25. Qe3 Bxg4 26. Qc5 $6 ({
White is sligtly worse, so it was necessary to fight on the queen's flank:} 26.
Rab1 Nb3 27. Bxb3 cxb3 28. c4 $15) 26... Nb3 27. Qxc4 ({White is forced to
sacrifice an exchange, as the other option is very bad and passive:} 27. Bxb3
cxb3 28. Rab1 Qe7 29. Qd5 b2 30. Qd2 Red8 31. Qc2 Qa3 $19) 27... Be6 28. Qc7
Rbc8 29. Qb7 Rb8 ({Once more} 29... Nxa1) 30. Qa7 Ra8 31. Qe3 ({Or} 31. Qb7
Nxa1 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. Rxa1 Qe7 $17) 31... Nxa1 32. Rxa1 Bxa2 33. Rxa2 Red8 {
Now White's situation is simply hopeless.} 34. Ra1 Rd7 35. Qc5 Qf4 36. Nf1 Qxe4
37. Ne3 Rb8 38. c4 Rdb7 39. Rf1 Rb1 40. f3 Rxf1+ 41. Kxf1 Rb1+ 42. Kf2 Rb2+ 43.
Kg3 Qf4+ 44. Kh3 Rb1 45. g3 Qxf3 0-1

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[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 0:00:09]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:10]
} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} 10. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 11. Ba2 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:03] This line is a
speciality of Tomashevsky. Other ways which have been tried against him:} (12.
c3 c4 (12... Qc7 13. Nf1 c4 14. Ng3 Rfe8 15. Nf5 Bf8 16. Bg5 Nd7 17. Nd2 Nc5 {
Caruana,F (2770)-Tomashevsky,E (2738)/Moscow 2012, with very good play.}) 13.
b4 cxb3 14. Nxb3 bxa4 15. Nbd2 Bc6 16. Ba3 Rc8 17. Bb4 Bd7 18. Nf1 Nc6 {
Svidler,P (2732)-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/Baku AZE 2014, Black has absolutely no
problems.}) 12... bxa4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:40] After years of great practice
Tomashevsky came to this move as the best solution to decrease the tension on
the queenside.} (12... b4 13. c3 Rb8 14. cxb4 cxb4 15. Bd2 Bc8 16. Rc1 b3 17.
Bxa5 Qxa5 18. Bxb3 Bg4 19. N1d2 Nd7 20. Rb1 Nc5 {Svidler,P (2750)-Tomashevsky,
E (2595)/Moscow 2006/, with sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) (12... Re8
13. Ng3 g6 14. Ng5 c4 15. Bd2 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Rxe5 Nc6 18. Re1 Ndb4 19.
dxc4 Nxa2 20. Rxa2 bxc4 21. Nf3 Nb4 {Svidler,P (2727)-Tomashevsky,E (2646)/
Moscow 2008, once more with good compensation for the pawn.}) 13. Ne3 {[%emt 0:
00:34]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:01:19]} ({A few years before he tested} 13... Bc8 14. Nh4
(14. Bd2 Bd7 15. Bxa5 Qxa5 16. c3 Rab8 17. Bb3 Qb6 18. Bxa4 Bxa4 19. Qxa4 Qxb2
20. Qxa6 Qxc3 21. Nf5 Rfe8 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxd6 {Dominguez Perez,L (2726)
-Tomashevsky,E (2716)/Tbilisi GEO 2015, Black has still some problems.}) 14...
g6 15. Nf3 Bd7 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Rb8 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Qd2 Bc6 20. Bxc6 Nxc6
21. c3 Qd7 22. Qc2 a5 23. Rxa4 Red8 {Giri,A (2776)-Tomashevsky,E (2749)/
Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2015 (58), Black has no problems here,.}) 14. Nf5 {[%emt 0:
25:18]} (14. Nh4 {was not logical here:} Bd7 (14... g6 $5) 15. Nhf5 Rb8 16. Qf3
Kh8 17. Qg3 Nh5 18. Qg4 g6 19. Qf3 Nc6 20. c3 Nf4 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Nd5 Nxd5
23. Bxd5 f6 {Caruana,F (2844)-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/Baku AZE 2014, Black
obtained a very good position.}) 14... Bd7 {[%emt 0:06:27]} 15. N3h4 {[%emt 0:
02:10]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} (15... Ne8 {is playable:} 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Nf5
Bxf5 18. exf5 Qd7 19. Qf3 Rb8 20. Bd5 Nf6 21. Bd2 Nxd5 22. Qxd5 Nc6 {Rysbayeva,
A (2219)-Dogodkina,J (2066)/Voronezh 2010, and White is the only one who can
be facing problems.}) 16. f4 {[%emt 0:09:07]} ({The other option is} 16. Bg5
Nc6 17. Re3 Nd4 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. c3 h6 20. cxd4 hxg5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5
cxd4 {Umudova,N (2235)-Rzayev,B (2370)/Baku 2012, White has no real attack.})
16... Nc6 {[%emt 0:10:11]} 17. c3 {[%emt 0:14:07]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:06:20]} 18. Rf1
{[%emt 0:12:21]} ({Much more logical was} 18. Nf3 exf4 19. Bxf4 Rxb2 20. Qc1 a3
21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Bc4) 18... exf4 $1 {[%emt 0:28:15]} 19. Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:28]}
Ne5 {[%emt 0:02:47]} 20. Nxe7 {[%emt 0:02:54]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 21. Nf5 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Bxf5 $1 {[%emt 0:12:49] This knight has to be eliminated
immediately.} 22. Rxf5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} c4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:36] With this move
Black starts destroying his opponent's central pawn structure.} 23. Bxc4 $6 {
[%emt 0:13:26]} ({White evaluated a forced line as clearly better for Black:} 
23. d4 Nd3 24. Bxc4 Nxb2 25. Bxb2 Rxb2 26. Qf3 Rfb8 27. Bd3 {, but it was
still better than the game.}) 23... Qa7+ {[%emt 0:09:47]} 24. d4 $6 {[%emt 0:
09:52] White tries tactical counterplay.} ({Black has a very strong central
position after} 24. Kf1 Nxc4 25. dxc4 Nxe4 26. Rxa4 Rfe8) 24... Nxc4 {[%emt 0:
01:34]} 25. Qf1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} a3 $1 {[%emt 0:07:04]} 26. bxa3 {[%emt 0:01:
24]} Nxe4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:32] It is much better to give the piece back than to
try to keep it. The sacrifice on f6 was very unpleasant.} 27. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:
40]} Rbc8 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 28. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 29.
Be3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} ({Some slight drawing chances were kept in the endgame
after} 29. Bd2 Qxd4+ 30. Qxd4 Ne2+ 31. Kf2 Nxd4 32. Rd5 Nc2 33. Ra2 Rc6 34. Bf4
) 29... Rfe8 {[%emt 0:06:31]} 30. Raf1 {[%emt 0:02:48]} f6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:10]
Now White's powerful looking rooks are completely useless!} 31. Ra5 {[%emt 0:
10:18]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:05:54]} 32. Rf3 {[%emt 0:02:55]} Qb2 $1 {[%emt 0:06:08]
Now Black is ready to hunt the white king.} 33. h3 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Ne4 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} 34. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:03:20]} d5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:04] The pawns are
equal now, but the black pieces are excellently placed. The rook threatens to
enter the second rank.} 35. Ra5 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 36. Qf1 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Qa2 $1 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 37. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:38]} h6 $1 {
[%emt 0:00:52] Extremely precise technical play. Now the back rank is not weak
and the rook from e8 is ready to come to the first rank via the b-file.} 38.
Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:59]} (38... Re2 {was simpler:} 39. Bxh6
gxh6 40. Rxf6 Rxg2+ 41. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Nxf6) 39. Raxd5 {[%emt 0:01:02]} (
39. Rh5 {was slightly more complicated:} Kg8 40. Rh4 g5 41. Rxh6 Rxg2+ 42. Qxg2
Rb2) 39... Rxg2+ {[%emt 0:01:31]} ({And here a much simpler way was} 39... Rbb2
{, but in such positions there are different ways to win.}) 40. Qxg2 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} Rb2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Bf2 Nxf2 {[%emt 0:02:22]} 42. Kg3 {[%emt 0:04:
42]} Rb3+ {[%emt 0:11:34]} 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.11"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{Since White is short of constructive ideas in the Marshall he's trying to
deviate from it with either move in the text or with 8.h3. Each of these moves
was tested in San Luis three times and for the moment the statistics is on the
side of 8.h3.} Bb7 ({Both Svidler and Anand preferred} 8... b4 {and both games
were played simultaneously in the 10th round.} 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8
(11... Qc8 12. Nc4 h6 13. c3 Rb8 14. d4 Bg4 15. Ba4 Qb7 16. d5 Na7 17. Ne3 Bc8
18. Qd3 Ng4 19. c4 ({It seems that White could develop an unpleasant pressure
by means of} 19. cxb4 $5 Qxb4 20. Bd2 Qb7 21. Rac1 $14) 19... Nxe3 20. Bxe3 c5
21. dxc6 Nxc6 22. Qd5 Bd7 23. c5 dxc5 24. Bxc5 Bxc5 25. Qxc5 Rfc8 {1/2-1/2
Leko,P-Svidler,P/San Luis ARG 2005 (36) and Svidler succeeded to maintain the
balance.}) 12. Nc4 h6 13. h3 Qc8 {It's interesting that this position was
reached in both games by transposition of moves and only here Leko and Adams
went their own way.} 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bf8 16. Nfd2 Ne7 17. d4 Ng6 18. d5 Bd7
19. Ba4 Bb5 20. b3 Be7 21. Rec1 c6 $1 {and soon Black equalized. 1/2-1/2 Adams,
M-Anand,V/San Luis ARG 2005 (25). (24)}) 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Qd7 $5 {[%cal Gc6a5]
Black prepares Na5.} (10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {leads to Chigorin's-like setup.})
11. c3 {[%cal Gb3c2]} Rfe8 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ne3 {[%csl Gd5,Gf5]} ({The new World
Champion played} 13. Ng3 {though back then he was just a top GM.} Na5 14. Bc2
c5 15. d4 Bf8 16. d5 c4 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nd2 Bc8 19. h3 Bd7 20. Qf3 Be7 21. Ra2
Reb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rea1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 2004.})
13... Na5 {Black has to move the knight to adjust the pawn structure on the
queenside, although earlier the knight went in a different direction. The move
in the text looks pretty logical as it wins a tempo.} ({Three preceding games
saw} 13... Nd8 {In all of them Black's position was defended by the English GM
Mark Hebden.} 14. Nf5 (14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Nf5 Bf8 17. N3h4 Ne6 18.
Re3 $6 (18. Qf3 $5 {see Zhang Zhong-Hebden below.}) 18... d5 19. Rg3 Kh8 {
0-1 Hurn,R-Hebden,M/Newport 2004. and Black seized the initiative.}) 14... Bf8
15. N3h4 Kh8 16. axb5 (16. Qf3 Ng8 17. Qg4 (17. Ng3 $5) 17... Ne6 18. Ng3 Nf6
19. Qf3 Ng8 20. Qg4 Nf6 21. Qf3 Ng8 {1/2-1/2 Apicella,M-Hebden,M/Clichy 2001/
CBM 85 (21).}) 16... axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Qf3 Ng8 19. Ne3 Ne6 20. Nhf5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Zhang Zhong-Hebden,M/Hastings 2002/CBM 087 (53) Probably Adams didn't
like this passive position and that was one of the reasons for playing 13...
Na5.}) 14. Bd5 {The idea behind 13.Ne3. White wants to exploit an unfortunate
position of the knight on a5.} ({In case of} 14. Bc2 c5 {the knight would be
better placed on g3.}) 14... Bxd5 {Black wants to exchange the d5-pawn later
on by means of c6 and thus to obtain a nice position. White has to hurry up
and that's exactly what he is doing.} ({After} 14... c6 15. Ba2 c5 16. b4 cxb4
17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Bd2 $14 {White is slightly better thanks to the control of
the d5-square.}) 15. exd5 Nb7 ({In case of the immediate} 15... c6 16. b4 Nb7
17. dxc6 Qxc6 18. c4 {the tension on the queenside is in White's  favour.
Moreover the knight on b7 is restricted by the b4-pawn.}) 16. d4 {White forces
the e-pawn to e4 and then cuts it off the other pawns.} ({Now} 16. b4 {trying
to restrict the b7-knight can be answered by} a5 17. axb5 axb4 (17... Qxb5 $5)
18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. c4 Nc5) 16... e4 17. Nd2 c6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. axb5 axb5 20.
d5 $1 {[%csl Re4] A strong move which was probably underestimated by Adams.}
Qc7 ({In case of} 20... Nxd5 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Nf5 $1 {[%cal Gd2e4] The
key-move. Instead of exchanging the knights White develops a strong initiative.
} ({Worse is} 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. Nxe4 Qxd1 24. Rxd1 Ra1) 22... e3 (22... Bg5 23.
Nxe4 Bxc1 24. Qd4 $1 f6 25. Rxc1 $14) 23. fxe3 Re8 24. Qf3 {[%csl Rc6,Rf7]
[%cal Gf3c6] with a very unpleasant pressure along the f-file and the
a8-h1-diagonal.}) 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Qe2 {[%csl Rb5]} (22. Nf5 {doesn't reach
the goal in view of} Nc5) 22... Nc5 $1 {The only way to create counterplay.}
23. Qxb5 Nd3 24. Rd1 Ra5 25. Qc4 $6 {An inaccuracy.} (25. Qb3 $1 {[%cal Gc3c4]
was probably the only chance to fight for advantage. This way White keeps the
c4-square available for the c-pawn.} Qa7 26. c4 Ra1 27. Qc3 $14 {with the idea
of Nb3.}) (25. Qc6 $6 Qb8 $1 26. Ndc4 Rc5 27. Qb6 Qa8 $1 {winning back the
d5-pawn.}) 25... Qb7 $6 {For some reason Adams decided to go for an endgame a
pawn down instead of winning it back right away.} ({The simple} 25... Qxc4 {
was sufficient for equality.} 26. Ndxc4 (26. Nexc4 Rxd5 (26... Ra4 $5 {with
the idea of Nxd5.}) 27. Ne3 Rb5 28. Nxe4 Nxc1 29. Nxf6+ Bxf6 30. Rxc1 Rxb2 $11)
26... Ra1 27. Bd2 Rxd1+ 28. Nxd1 Nxd5 $11) 26. Nxe4 Nxc1 27. Rxc1 $1 (27. Nxf6+
{allows to activate the bishop. F.e.} Bxf6 28. Rxc1 Qxb2 29. Qf1 Bg5 $1 {
and Black obtains counterplay.} (29... Bxc3 $2 30. Nc4 Qxc1 31. Qxc1 Ra1 32.
Qxa1 Bxa1 33. Nxd6 $16) 30. Nc4 $6 (30. c4 {is better.}) 30... Bxc1 $1 31. Nxb2
$2 (31. Nxa5 Qxc3 $11) 31... Bxb2 $19 {with Ra1 coming and Black even wins.})
27... Qxb2 ({After} 27... Nxd5 $6 28. Nxd5 Rxd5 29. b4 $16 {Black is just a
pawn down.}) 28. Rf1 (28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Rf1 Nxe4 30. Qf5+ Kg8 31. Qxe4 {
reaching the game position two moves later seems to be more precise as on the
way White prevents the option 28...Qb7.}) 28... Nxe4 (28... Qb7 {is not much
different from the text.} 29. Rd1 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Qc7 31. c4 Bf6) 29. Qxe4 Ra7
30. c4 $16 (30. Nf5 {looks senseless in view of} Bf8 31. c4 g6) 30... g6 {
Covering the f5-square. It turns out that in the arisen position it is not
easy for White to make progress despite an extra pawn.} 31. g3 Kg7 32. Rb1 Ra1
33. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 34. Kg2 Bf6 {Now Black just has to avoid an exchange of queens.}
35. Qd3 ({White could try an immediate agression on the kingside, but after} 
35. h4 h5 36. g4 $1 hxg4 37. Qxg4 Qe5 38. h5 $1 Bg5 $1 39. hxg6 fxg6 40. Qd7+
Kf8 {Black seems to hold the balance.}) 35... Qb2 36. Nc2 h5 37. h4 Kf8 38. Qe4
Qb1 {Black exploits an unfortunate position of the knight on c2.} 39. Qe2 Qb2
40. Qd3 Qb1 41. Qf3 Be5 42. Ne3 Bd4 {During the last few moves Black succeeded
to improve the position and White tries his very last chance.} 43. g4 hxg4 44.
Nxg4 Qc1 $1 {Black covers the f4-square and thus stops the only serious threat
of Qf4.} (44... Qc2 $2 45. Qf4 $1 Bc5 46. Nf6 $16) 45. Qd3 Ba7 {The bishop is
on the right diagonal, the c-pawn stopped, White's king is vulnerable: all
these factors allow us to evaluate the position as equal.} 46. Ne3 ({Also after
} 46. Qe4 Qd2 47. Ne3 Bc5 {White can't hope for anything serious.}) 46... Bxe3
$1 47. fxe3 Qe1 $11 {Now White's king can't escape the checks without giving
up a pawn and so after} 48. Qd4 {[%csl Rg2] a draw was agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Karlsbad Czech Coal"]
[Site "Karlovy Vary"]
[Date "2007.09.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Movsesian,S"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.09.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 Rb8 $5 {David played this interesting move in the 3rd round against
Akopian, so I had to be ready for this option.} 9. c3 d5 10. exd5 (10. d4 exd4
11. e5 Ne4 12. Nxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 b4 $13 {and Black was doing fine in
Akopian-Navara, Carlsbad 2007}) 10... Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Bb7 13. d4 ({
White was not too successful with} 13. d3 $6 Bf6 14. Re1 b4 15. d4 Re8 {
with good compensation in Iordachescu-Atalik, Valjevo 2007}) 13... Bf6 14. Re1
Re8 {This position without the moves h2-h3 and Ra8-b8 occurs in one of the
lines in the Marshall Attack.} 15. Na3 $5 ({Navara himself faced 8...Rb8 in
his rapid match against Short shortly before this tournament.} 15. a4 b4 16. c4
Ne7 17. d5 Nf5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Nd2 Nd4 20. Nf1 c6 $44 {Navara-Short, CEZ
Trophy Praha 2007}) 15... b4 16. cxb4 Nxb4 (16... Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 Bxd4 18. Nc4
Qf6 19. Bd2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 $44) 17. Be3 (17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Be3 c5 $5 $13)
17... Be4 $5 18. Qe2 Nd3 19. Red1 Bxd4 20. Nc4 $6 (20. Rxd3 $2 Bxd3 21. Qxd3
Bxb2 22. Qxd8 Rexd8 23. Nc2 Rxb3 $1 24. axb3 Bxa1 25. Nxa1 Rd1+ $19) (20. Rd2
$1 Qf6 (20... Bxe3 21. fxe3 $16) 21. Bxd4 Qxd4 22. Qf1 $1 Red8 23. Rad1 $16)
20... Bxe3 21. Nxe3 (21. fxe3 Rb5 $1) 21... Rb6 (21... Qd4 22. Bc4 Rxb2 23.
Rxd3 Qf6 (23... Qxc4 24. Rd8 $1) 24. Ng4 Rxe2 25. Nxf6+ gxf6 26. Rg3+ $18) 22.
Bc4 Rd6 23. Bxd3 Bxd3 24. Qf3 h6 25. Rac1 Be4 26. Qf4 Ree6 27. b3 Qe7 28. Nc4
$2 (28. Rxd6 cxd6 (28... Rxd6 29. Nf5 $11) 29. Rc8+ Kh7 30. Rc4 $11) 28... Rf6
29. Qe5 Rde6 30. Qd4 Rg6 31. Ne3 Kh7 32. Qc5 (32. Qd8 Bxg2 33. Qxe7 (33. Nxg2
Re1+ $1 {I overlooked this trick, playing 28.Nc4...}) 33... Bf3+ $17) 32... Qh4
33. Qxc7 Ref6 34. Rd2 Qxh3 $2 (34... Bxg2 $1 {was winning much quicker here:}
35. Nxg2 Rf3 36. Qc4 Qg5 $19) 35. Qh2 Qf3 36. Re1 (36. Kh1 Rxg2 $1 37. Nxg2 Rg6
38. Rg1 Rg5 $19) 36... Rf5 37. g3 (37. Kf1 Bd3+ 38. Kg1 Rh5 39. Qc7 Be4 $19)
37... Rh5 38. Qg2 Qf4 $4 {An incredible blunder, which costs Black a whole
point.} ({After} 38... Rh1+ 39. Kxh1 Qh5+ 40. Kg1 Bxg2 41. Nxg2 {Black is
still very close to a win.}) 39. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.14"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Negi, Parimarjan"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UZB"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 {There was a time, not long back, when this line used to
be considered harmless but now it has become one of the main tries against the
Marshal!} dxe5 (10... Nxe5 {is a very different system, but it doesn't seem as
logical. Now besides the option to go for a less usual structure with
Nakamura's Nbd2, White can play the solid way with} 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qe2 (12.
Qxd8 $5 Rxd8 13. Nd2 Bc5 14. Nf3 Ng4 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6
18. h3 Nf6 19. Rad1 Rd6 20. Nxe5 Rad8 21. Rd3 Nxe4 22. Rd4 $1 $14 {gave White
a nice win in Hovhannisyan,R (2589)-Babujian,L (2474) Yerevan 2012, although I
suspect Black's play could be improved upon earlier. Still, it's nice to have
no risk and play for an edge.}) 12... Bc5 13. Be3 Bd4 $5 {An unusual,
computerish idea.} (13... Qe7 14. Nd2 Bg4 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Qe3 Qxe3 17. Rxe3
Rad8 18. Nc4 Rfe8 19. Na5 $14 {and White won an instructive game in Caruana,F 
(2779)-Fressinet,L (2708) Elancourt 2013 CBM 157 [Stohl,I]}) 14. c3 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Qe7 17. Nd2 Be6 18. Bxe6 Qxe6 19. Qc5 Nd7 20. Qxc7 Rac8 21.
Qa5 Nc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (41) Dominguez Perez,L (2768)-So,W (2731) Havana 2014})
11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. a5 ({Initially, White used to play} 12. Qe2 {but this allows}
Bg4 $1 13. h3 Bh5 14. c3 Na5 15. g4 Bg6 $13 {1/2-1/2 (65) Grischuk,A (2779)
-Caruana,F (2774) Thessaloniki 2013}) ({After that White started playing} 12.
h3 {as I did against Aronian a couple of days back as well. But I didn't
achieve much in the game so I decided to change to the more trendy a5 for this
game.} Bb7 13. c3 Qd6 14. Nc4 Qxd1 15. Bxd1 Rad8 16. Bc2 Nd7 17. a5 f6 {
and Black's position is too solid. I did not really succeed in putting any
problems to him in: Negi,P (2645)-Aronian,L (2805) Tromso NOR 2014}) 12... Be6
$5 $146 {A very unusual idea... the Bxe6 - fxe6 structure is certainly not
good for Black, but here it's possible due to concrete threats on f2.
Therefore I decided to play it safe with} 13. Qe2 (13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. h3 (14.
Nb3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nxe4 $15) (14. Qe2 Ng4 $1 15. Rf1 Nd4 $36) 14... Nh5 {
and I was worried about Black's quick counterplay on the kingside.}) 13... Qe7
14. Bxe6 Qxe6 (14... fxe6 15. Nb3 $16 {now the structure is just bad.}) 15. Nb3
Nd4 $5 {I completely missed this idea... now I spent a long time trying to
figure out a way, and ended up choosing a rather passive setup.} 16. Nfxd4 (16.
Nbxd4 Bxd4 17. c3 $1 {seems the best way.} bxc3 (17... Bc5 18. Bd2 bxc3 19.
Bxc3 {and White can claim to have a pleasant position at least.}) 18. Nxd4 {
the point.} exd4 19. bxc3 dxc3 20. Ra3 Rfe8 21. f3 {and White might have some
pressure.}) 16... Bxd4 17. h3 {Preventing ...Ng4 at times.} (17. Rb1 {was my
original intention but after} c5 18. Nd2 {I suddenly realised Black has the
simple} Qa2 19. Qc4 Qxa5 {and he's just a pawn up.}) 17... c5 18. Nd2 c4 $2 {
I think Kasim just felt so happy with his position that he forgot that White
can do anything besides simplifying into a drawish endgame. Instead, he had to
play the precise ...Rfd8.} (18... Rac8 19. Qc4 {seems good for White although
the computer doesn't agree.}) (18... Rfd8 $1 {so White has to possibly play}
19. Nf3 (19. Nc4 Nxe4 $1) (19. Qc4 $140 Bxf2+ $1 20. Kxf2 Rxd2+ $19) 19... c4 {
and Black is very comfortable.}) 19. Nxc4 Nxe4 20. Be3 $1 {Suddenly, White's
all developed and Black's weak pawns are targets!} Bxe3 21. Nxe3 {Here, Kasim
sank into a long thought as the position suddenly becomes very critical. I
simply can't suggest any move for Black that doesn't seem very unpleasant:} Nc5
(21... Rad8 {/\ Rd4 is a sophisticated computer idea... but even he doesn't
like it much.} 22. Rad1 $14) (21... Nf6 22. Nc4 e4 23. Nb6 Ra7 24. Rad1 $14)
22. Rad1 Rad8 (22... b3 23. Rd5 $5 $14) 23. b3 {The simplest continuation -
and also building pressure on Black. Especially with time running out it's a
very hard position to play...} f6 24. Qf3 $1 h6 {This doesn't have any point
as such... but there weren't many useful moves anyway.} (24... e4 25. Qh5 {
would be very unpleasant.}) 25. Rd5 $6 {I suppose I just wanted to play a move
that looked smart.} ({I have no idea why I didn't just play} 25. Nf5 Kh7 26.
Qg4 g6 27. Qxb4 gxf5 28. Qxc5 {with a big advantage.}) 25... Rxd5 26. Nxd5 Rb8
(26... e4 $1 27. Qh5 f5 28. Nxb4 Rb8 {would really complicate matters... but
such is time pressure chess.}) 27. Rd1 {Now again I'm back in control.} Kh8 28.
h4 {Again, just a smart looking move in my opponent's time pressure... which
wasn't particularly required.} (28. Ne3 $16 {/\ Nc4.}) 28... f5 (28... Qc6 $1 {
was a strong defence.} 29. h5 Ne6 {perfectly regrouped.}) 29. Nb6 Ne4 30. Qd3 {
The next few moves were almost normal, and were played out in a flash:} Nc3 31.
Qd6 $1 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Ne2+ (32... Nb5 $1 {/\ Na3 was still a good defence.}) 33.
Kf1 Nd4 34. Nc4 $1 Ra8 35. Nxe5 Nxc2 36. Nd3 $5 {A rather unpleasant move in
time trouble - since Black is all tied up. Also possibly my last decent move
in this game... the next part of the game was a blunderfest - at least from
White's side, until Black repaid all the favours in one move at the end.} Rc8 (
36... Kh7 {was required, to prevent the mating threats that were there in the
game.}) 37. Rxa6 Rc3 38. Ne5 $2 {Surprisingly even the computer's top choice...
but from a practical standpoint completely missing an easy win.} (38. Nf4 $1 {
would instantly be over since Black can no longer play} Rxb3 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40.
h5 {and White wins. The knight on e5 unfortunately just hangs after Rb1...Re1.}
) 38... Rxb3 39. Ra8+ (39. Nc6 {/\ Rb6...a6...a7 is apparently a simple win,
but I was too excited about the mating net.}) 39... Kh7 {And suddenly I
realise that Rb1...Re1 is a very real possibility. So instead I just play a
desperate idea to keep the pieces on in the last move before time control...}
40. g4 $2 (40. h5 Rb1+ 41. Ke2 Re1+ 42. Kd3 Rxe5 43. Kxc2 f4 $1 {might not be
winning actually, but it was certainly a much better try than the game.} 44.
Kb3 Rxh5 45. Kxb4 f3 $1 46. gxf3 Rh1 {and this position deserves a lot more
analysis, but the combination of rook checks from behind and the h-pawn might
offer Black excellent defensive chances.}) (40. a6 $1 {was still winning, and
not a very hard move to find. Because now after} Rb1+ 41. Ke2 Re1+ 42. Kd2 Rxe5
43. Kxc2 {the pawn on h5 won't be hanging, and Black is not in time to keep
the b4-pawn - for instance:} Rb5 (43... h5 44. Kb3 Rb5 45. Rc8 $18) 44. Kb3 Rb6
45. a7 $1 Ra6 46. h5 $1 $18 {now after Kxb4, the f5-pawn will fall, and White
will have a typical smooth win:} Ra1 47. Kxb4 Rb1+ 48. Kc5 Ra1 49. Kd6 Ra6+ 50.
Ke5 Ra5+ 51. Ke6 f4 52. f3 Ra2 53. Ke5 Ra4 54. Kf5 Ra1 55. Kxf4 Ra2 56. Ke5 Ra1
57. g4 Ra2 58. f4 Ra1 59. f5 $1 (59. g5 hxg5 60. fxg5 g6 $1 61. hxg6+ Kg7 {
is suddenly just a draw.}) 59... Ra2 60. g5 hxg5 61. h6 $1 {the key technique
to win.} gxh6 62. f6 $18) 40... Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Ne1+ (41... Re1 {would have been
insanely complicated as well, but there is nothing wrong with the game move.})
42. Kg3 Rb3+ 43. Kf4 Nd3+ $5 {Finding a rather brilliant drawing setup, but
I'm not sure if it was really needed.} (43... fxg4 {was logical, and the} 44.
Kxg4 (44. Ke4 {was my initial idea, but it seems too much. Black just continues
} Nf3 45. Nc6 Ra3 $1 {and the b-pawn is actually more dangerous.}) 44... Nd3
45. f4 $1 {There is still some pressure, although the position looks very
close to a draw after} Ra3 46. Kf5 Nxe5 47. fxe5 b3 48. Rb8 Rxa5 $11) 44. Kxf5
Nxe5 45. Kxe5 Rd3 $1 {The only move. Otherwise the White king will just return
to 'catch' the b-pawn, and when the pawn is on a6, White should have an easy
win. Another plan for Black is to go after the kingside pawns... and try to
create a passed pawn there before sacrificing the rook for the a-pawn... but
the pawn will be far from as well advanced, and it' simpossible to calculate
all the consquences now, so it would be a very risky plan indeed. The Rd3...
Rd1 plan forces White to commit to a7...which is the key to Black's defence.}
46. a6 Rd1 $1 47. a7 (47. h5 {is too slow because of} b3 48. Rb8 Ra1 49. Rxb3
Rxa6 $11) 47... Ra1 48. Kd4 g5 {The drawing setup.} 49. hxg5 hxg5 50. Kc4 b3
51. Kxb3 Kg7 52. Kc4 Ra2 $1 {The key idea is to keep the rook on the same rank
as the f-pawn, so the white king can always be checked if he tries the typical
winning plan of keeping it on the 6th rank and trying to exchange the rooks...
the other plan of going after the enemy pawns is impossible for White if the
black rook keeps the f-pawn in check since the king going to the f-file will
be met by ...Rf3+! ...and the the position with the pawn on a7 and extra
g-pawn is a simple theoretical draw.  Realising this, I had pretty much given
hope to win and was just moving my king around while watching the other boards.
..} 53. Kd5 Rd2+ 54. Ke4 Re2+ 55. Kd3 Ra2 56. f3 Ra3+ 57. Kd4 Ra1 58. Ke5 Ra5+
{Very strange last moves... of course there is nothing wrong with them, but
the simple plan to draw is to keep the rook on a3, and then just move Kh7...
Kg7. It is impossible to go wrong with that plan... and that is essential in a
time pressure situation like this when one is tired... I began to feel that
for some reason he didn't want to move the king at all, which gave me the
slightest glimmer of hope...} 59. Kd6 Ra6+ 60. Kc7 Ra3 61. Kc6 Rc3+ (61... Ra1
62. Rd8 {would just win.}) 62. Kd5 Ra3 63. Kc5 $5 {A trap...} Ra6 {Again... he
refuses to move the king, and finds the only square for the rook instead...} (
63... Ra1 {would lose to} 64. Kb6 $1 {since now the rook does not have the
f-pawn in its sights and it can't give checks:} Rb1+ 65. Kc6 Rc1+ 66. Kd6 Rd1+
67. Ke6 Re1+ (67... Ra1 68. Rd8 Rxa7 69. Rd7+ $18) 68. Kf5 $18) (63... Kh7 {
and Kg7 is a draw.}) 64. Kc4 Ra3 65. Kb5 $5 {A more sophisticated trap, since
now ...Ra6 isn't possible and it is neccessary to move the king.} Ra1 $4 {
Alas...the Olympiad is a tiring event.} 66. Kb6 {And suddenly it's all over,
as was shown in the previous comment.} Rb1+ 67. Kc6 Rc1+ 68. Kd6 Rd1+ 69. Ke6
1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,143,19,38,25,16,14,23,25,0,10,12,19,-11,10,-4,22,18,26,51,45,40,40,40,
40,34,12,29,20,29,39,40,22,9,44,0,86,15,15,16,76,86,90,97,97,96,88,88,59,87,
378,158,158,60,53,62,62,31,31,45,56,47,51,42,44,47,42,53,53,49,73,54,52,61,54,
43,93,70,101,60,101,80,101,101,292,241,321,258,321,138,134,133,150,201,209,212,
212,212,235,243,284,112,219,218,319,252,252,253,236,220,220,212,214,176,190,
206,209,146,158,155,121,164,164,169,178,183,183,183,226,183,183,183,183,183,
183,140,183,204,224,241,304,332,427,424,343,349]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 {Astonishingly this
continuation has rarely been employed against the main proponent of the
Marshall Counter-attack - against Aronian various questions have been posed in
the central files. Erstaunlich, aber gegen den Hauptverfechter des
Marshall-Gegenangriffs wurde diese Fortsetzung ziemlich selten angewendet -
öfter bevorzugte man gegen Aronian verschiedene Prüfungen in zentralen
Linien.} Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ $5 ({A more popular move is Populärer ist} 9. Nxd4 exd4
10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 {as, e.g., in the game Harikrishna - Aronian (Tata Steel
India blitz, 2018). wie es z. B. in der Partie Harikrishna - Aronian (Tata
Steel India blitz, 2018) gespielt wurde.}) 9... Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 ({All
attempts to get two pieces for the rook are doomed. Alle Versuche, zwei
Figuren für den Turm zu erhalten, sind zum Scheitern verurteilt:} 10... Ne6
11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5) (10... Nc6 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5) (10... c5 11. Nxf7 Kxf7
12. e5) 11. Qxd4 {Peter Leko had to face this somewhat forgotten variation at
least three times with Black. When it became clear to me that even such a
meticulous theoretician had some problems to deal with here, the reputation of
the whole system rose in leaps and bounds. Peter Leko musste gegen diese etwas
in Vergessenheit geratene Variante mindestens drei Mal mit Schwarz antreten.
Als es mir klar wurde, dass sogar so ein sorgfältiger Theoretiker hier mit
einigen Problemen zu kämpfen hatte, stieg für mich die Reputation des ganzen
Systems um das Vielfache.} Bb7 ({Black also has another plan available to him:
Schwarz verfügt auch über einen anderen Plan:} 11... c5 12. Qd1 (12. Qc3 Qc7
13. a4 Bb7 14. axb5 Nxe4 15. Qb3+ c4 16. Qxc4+ Qxc4 17. Nxc4 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8
19. Ncd2 Ra1 $11 {, Kamsky - Anand, Amber-blindfold 2009}) 12... Qc7 (12... Bb7
13. Nc3 {leads to the main game by transposition of moves. führt durch
Zugumstellung zur Hauptpartie}) 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Qh5 dxe4 16. Qd5+
Kh8 17. Qxa8 Bb7 18. Qa7 Ra8 19. Bf4 $5 Qc6 20. Qxa8+ Bxa8 21. Be3 {Ivanchuk -
Leko, Morelia/Linares 2008 , where White's two rooks turned out to be stronger
than his opponent's queen. , und dort erwiesen sich zwei Türme des
Anziehenden stärker als die gegnerische Dame.}) 12. Nc3 c5 13. Qd1 b4 ({
In the event of Im Falle von} 13... Qc7) ({or oder} 13... Qe8 {the struggle
would have less of a forcing nature. It should be pointed out that almost
everywhere Black has considerable compensation for the pawn. wäre der Kampf
weniger forciert. Es sei zu erwähnen, dass Schwarz fast überall
beträchtliche Kompensation für den Bauern hat.}) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bd6
16. c4 ({Here White has mainly played Hauptsächlich spielte Weiß hier} 16. f4
{, after which it is difficult to avoid simplifications: , wonach es schwer
ist, Vereinfachungen aus dem Weg zu gehen:} Bxe5 17. fxe5 (17. Rxe5 d6 18. Re6
Rf5 $11) 17... Qh4 18. Be3 Qc4 19. b3 Qxd5 20. Qxd5+ Bxd5 21. Red1 Be6 22. Bxc5
Rfc8 23. Bxb4 Rxc2 {Amin - Leko, Ningbo 2011 which was soon drawn. mit
baldigem Remis.}) 16... bxc3 ({For the first time in this game Levon had a
long think. It is difficult to explain that - there are no alternatives to
taking en passant. For example, Hier dachte Levon das erste Mal in dieser
Partie lange nach. Schwer zu sagen, womit das zu erklären ist - das Nehmen en
passant hat doch keine Alternativen. Zum Beispiel,} 16... Bxe5 $2 17. Rxe5 Rxf2
(17... Qf6 18. Qe1) 18. Bg5 Qf8 19. Qg4 {, and Black is in a bad way. , und um
Schwarz ist recht schlecht bestellt.}) 17. bxc3 a5 $2 {There are many levels
to this move but it does not correspond to the rhythm of the position.
Although the comfortable a6-square has now become available for the bishop (or
the rook), Black should instead have acted more quickly: the white pieces are
ready to get into the game and then Black's compensation will evaporate.
Dieser Zug ist vielschichtig, aber er entspricht nicht dem Rhythmus der
Stellung. Obwohl für den Läufer (oder den Turm) das bequeme Feld a6 jetzt
zuganglich wird, hätte der Nachziehende statt dessen schneller agieren
müssen: die weißen Figuren sind bereit, ins Spiel zu kommen, und dann wird
die schwarze Kompensation sich in Luft auflösen.} ({The principled
continuation is Die prinzipielle Fortsetzung ist} 17... Qf6 {. After the game
Levon said that he turned it down on account of the variation . Nach der
Partie sagte Levon, dass er darauf wegen der Variante} 18. Ng4 (18. f4 Rae8 19.
Be3 Bxe5 20. fxe5 Rxe5 $11) (18. Nf3 Qxc3 19. Rb1 Rab8 $13) 18... Qxc3 (18...
Qf5 $1) 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Rb6 {with a crushing initiative for White. But a
stronger move is the quiet 18...Qf5! (instead of taking on c3), after which
Black obtains excellent counterplay. mit vernichtender weißer Initiative
verzichtete. Aber stärker ist der ruhige Zug 18...Qf5! (statt des Nehmens auf
c3), wonach Schwarz vorzügliches Gegenspiel erhält.}) 18. Nf3 $5 ({Perhaps
Vielleicht ist} 18. f4 {is better, but I considered that compared to the line
17...Qf6 18.Nf3 Black has in practical terms been gifted a move in the game.
besser, aber mir hat zugesagt, dass im Vergleich zum Abspiel 17...Qf6 18.Nf3
Schwarz in der Partie einen Zug praktisch geschenkt hat.}) 18... Qf6 {The most
logical reply. The threat was c3-c4.  Die logischste Antwort. Es drohte c3-c4.}
19. Bg5 {White plays actively without hanging on to material. Weiß spielt
aktiv, ohne sich ans Material zu klammern.} Qg6 ({As Homer's Iliad taught us,
it is dangerous to accept gifts from Greeks: after Wie die "Ilias" lehrt, ist
es gefährlich, die Danaergeschenke anzunehmen: nach} 19... Qxc3 20. Rb1 (20.
Rc1 Qa3 21. Be7 Bxe7 22. Rxe7 $36) 20... Ba6 21. Rb3 Qc4 22. Be7 Bxe7 23. Rxe7
$16 {the white pieces force their way into Troy. dringen die weißen Figuren
in Troja ein.}) 20. Be7 {The predatory sight sof the black bishops fixed on
the kingside made me nervous, So I considered it urgent to swap off one of
them. Die raubgierigen, auf den Königsflügel gerichteten Blicke der
schwarzen Läufer machten mich nervös, deshalb hielt ich es für dringend,
einen von denen abzutauschen.} Bxe7 21. Rxe7 Qd6 ({It is easy to win the white
pawns, but doing so turns out to have serious consequences. It was perhaps
better to devote his energies to the struggle for the e-file: Die weißen
Bauern sind leicht zu erobern, aber das zu machen erweist sich als
folgenschwer. Vielleicht lohnte es sich, sich dem Kampf um die e-Linie zu
widmen:} 21... Rae8 22. Rxe8 (22. Rxd7 $2 Bc8 23. Rc7 Bh3 $40) 22... Rxe8 23.
c4 d6 24. Nd2 Bc8 25. Nf1 Bf5 $14 {with certain though not quite sufficient
compensation. mit gewisser, obwohl nicht ganz ausreichender Kompensation.}) 22.
Qe2 ({The artificial Das gekünstelte} 22. Qe1 $2 {, so that the queen does
not come under attack in certain variations led to a change of scenery: ,
damit die Dame in einigen Varianten nicht angegriffen wird, führte zum
Kulissenwechsel:} Rxf3 $1 23. gxf3 Qg6+ 24. Kh1 Bxd5 {, and White has to look
for ways of saving the game. , und Weiß muss nach Rettungsmöglichkeiten
suchen.}) 22... Bxd5 (22... Rxf3 $2 {does not work on account of funktioniert
nicht wegen} 23. gxf3 Qg6+ 24. Kh1 Bxd5 25. Rg1 $18) 23. Rd1 Rab8 (23... Bxf3
$6 24. Qc4+ ({The endgame which arises after das nach} 24. Rxd6 Bxe2 25. Rxe2
Ra7 {is rather unpleasant, but in no way hopeless: entstehende Endspiel ist
ziemlich unangenehm, aber keineswegs hoffnungslos:} (25... Rfe8 26. Kf1 $14))
24... Bd5 25. Rxd5 (25. Qxd5+ Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Rfe8 {with good chances of a draw.
mit guten Remischancen}) 25... Qxe7 26. Rxd7+ Qf7 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. a4 $1 $16 {
and the white queen has good reason to hope it will annihilate the opposing
weak pawns. und die weiße Dame hat gute Gründe zu hoffen, die gegnerischen
schwachen Bauern zu vernichten.}) 24. Ne1 $6 ({After Nach} 24. h3 Bxf3 25. Qc4+
Bd5 26. Qxd5+ ({In the event of im Falle von} 26. Rxd5 Rb1+ $1 27. Rd1+ Kh8 {
Black has survived the worst. hat Schwarz das Schlimmste überstanden}) 26...
Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Rf7 28. Re2 {White has a significant advantage in the rook
ending, but with my opponent approaching time trouble I did not want to allow
any simplifications of the position. besitzt Weiß einen bedeutenden Vorteil
im Turmendspiel, aber vor der sich nähernden Zeitnot des Gegners wollte ich
keine Stellungsvereinfachungen zulassen.}) (24. Re5 Bxf3 25. Qc4+ Bd5 26. Rexd5
Qe6 {leads to similar positions: it may be that White's advantage is not
sufficient and that the result will be the appearance on the board of the
well-known drawing position "3 against 2". führt zu ähnlichen
Stellungsbildern: es kann sein, dass sich der weiße Vorteil als nicht
ausreichend erweist und im Endeffekt die bekannte Remisposition "3 gegen 2"
aufs Brett kommt.}) 24... Qc6 $8 25. Qe5 Bf7 {Suddenly this pussy-footing
bishop has taken aim at the a2-pawn and White has to demonstrate incredible
legerdemain so as not to let his advantage finally slip through his fingers.
Plötzlich hat dieser Läufer-Leisetreter den Bauern a2 aufs Korn genommen,
und Weiß muss unglaubliche Fingerfertigkeit demonstrieren, um seinen Vorteil
nicht endgültig zu verschütten.} 26. Rdxd7 ({But Nichts verspricht} 26. Rd6
Qc7 {promises nothing, and Black is close to equality. , und Schwarz ist dem
Ausgleich nahe.}) 26... Rfe8 27. Qf4 (27. Qf5 $142 Rxe7 (27... Qf6 28. Qxc5)
28. Rxe7 Qd5 29. Qf4 Rb7 30. Re2 $14) 27... Qf6 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qd2 Qe6 $2 {
A serious mistake - Black allows the exchange of rooks in circumstances which
are unfavourable to him. Ein schwerer Fehler - der Nachziehende erlaubt
Turmtausch unter für ihn ungünstigen Umständen.} ({After Nach} 29... Qb6 30.
h3 Qb1 31. Rd8 h6 {Black would have been ok. wäre Schwarz in Ordnung gewesen.}
) ({But there is the more accurate Aber noch genauer ist} 29... Qf4 $1 30. Nf3
Qxd2 31. Rxd2 a4 32. a3 Bh5 {with equality. mit Ausgleich.}) 30. Rd8 $14 h6 31.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. a3 {White has a sound extra pawn. As for the knight, it will
find a good square sooner or later. Additionally, Black was in time trouble
which made his task even more difficult. Weiß besitzt einen gesunden
Mehrbauern. Was den Springer betrifft, wird er früher oder später einen
guten Platz finden. Außerdem befand sich Schwarz in Zeitnot, was seine
Aufgabe zusätzlich erschwerte.} Qa4 33. Qc1 Bg6 (33... Bd5 34. Nc2 Be4 35. Ne3
$14) 34. Nf3 Qb3 35. Ne5 Bc2 36. Ng4 {Now the c3-pawn is protected indirectly.
Jetzt ist der Bauer c3 indirekt gedeckt.} a4 (36... Qxc3 $4 37. Ne3) 37. h3 Bf5
38. Ne5 Kh7 39. Kh2 Qa2 40. Kg1 Kg8 {The time control has been reached. Levon
managef to get in his final move literally one second before his clock ran out,
so it does not make much sense to look into the quality of the final decisions
taken by the players.  Die Zeitkontrolle ist geschafft. Levon ist gelungen,
seinen letzten Zug wortwörtlich eine Sekunde vor dem Zeitablauf auszuführen,
deshalb macht es keinen großen Sinn, sich mit der Qualität der letzten
Entscheidungen der Gegner zu beschäftigen.} 41. Qf4 (41. c4 {would also have
very much been in tune with the position, but I wanted to clarify whether my
opponent was going to sacrifice his bishop and thus make it easier for me to
convert my advantage. O sancta simplicitas! wäre auch sehr stellungskonform,
aber ich wollte klären, ob mein Gegner nicht seinen Läufer opfern und mir
damit die Verwertung meines Vorteiles erleichtern möchte. O sancta
simplicitas!}) 41... Qxa3 ({Also after Auch nach} 41... Bc2 42. Qc4+ (42. Qd2
Qb3 (42... Qa1+ 43. Kh2 Bb3 44. h4 $1 Qxa3 45. c4 $1 {with a decisive attack
mit entscheidendem Angriff}) 43. Kh2 $16) 42... Qxc4 43. Nxc4 Kf7 44. f4 Bb3
45. Nd2 {Black's fate would not be enviable. wäre das schwarze Schicksal
nicht beneidenswert.}) 42. Qxf5 Qxc3 (42... Qb3 {would not, on account of the
variation hätte dem Schwarzen wegen der Variante} 43. Nd3 a3 44. Nxc5 Qd1+ 45.
Kh2 a2 46. Qe6+ Kh7 47. Qxa2 Qd6+ 48. g3 Qxc5 49. Qc2+ {have helped Black to
maintain the tension. nicht geholfen, die Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten.}) 43.
Nc6 $2 {"For the first time he cast his net into the sea - but all he hauled
back to the bank was mud." (Here and later Nepomniachtchi quotes from the work
by A. Pushkin "The tale of the fisherman and the fish", in which an old
fisherman after two failed attempts caught a golden fish in his net / Note by
the translater) "Einstmals warf er sein Sacknetz ins Meer aus- doch nur
Schlamm zog das Netz ans Ufer." (Hier und weiter zitiert Nepomniachtchi das
Werk von A. Puschkin "Märchen vom Fischer und dem Fischlein", in dem ein
alter Fischer nach den ersten zwei unglücklichen Versuchen bei seinem dritten
Netzwurf ein goldenes Fischlein fing/ Anm. d. Übers.)} ({As has long been
known mate is of greater value than anything else! It is a pity that I first
found the nice idea Wie es seit langem bekannt ist, besitzt Matt einen
höheren Wert als alles andere! Schade, dass ich die sympathische Idee} 43.
Qe6+ Kh8 44. Ng6+ Kh7 45. Qe8 a3 46. h4 $1 a2 47. h5 a1=Q+ 48. Kh2 {but could
not believe my luck. fast sofort fand, aber an mein Glück nicht glauben
konnte.}) 43... Kh8 44. Qf7 Qb3 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qe4+ Kh8 47. Na5 {After some
tricky manoeuvres White has managed to stop his opponent's pawns. In der Folge
von kniffligen Manövern ist dem Weißen doch gelungen, die gegnerischen
Bauern zu stoppen.} Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qd6+ 49. f4 a3 (49... Qd4 50. Qxd4 cxd4 51.
Kg3 a3 52. Nb3 $18) 50. Qa4 $2 {"Once more he cast his net into the sea - But
all it brought out was seaweed." "Wieder warf er das Sacknetz ins Meer aus -
doch nur Seegras brachte das Sacknetz."} ({It turned out to be anything but
simple to find the continuation Es erwies sich alles andere als einfach, in
der sechsten Spielstunde die Fortsetzung} 50. Nc4 $1 Qa6 51. Ne5 $1 a2 52. Nf7+
Kg8 53. Qe8+ Kh7 54. f5 {in the sixth hour of play. In any case the desire to
liquidate the dangerous pawns is easily achievable. zu entdecken. In jedem
Fall ist der Wunsch, die gefährlichen Bauern zu liquidieren, leicht
nachvollziehbar.}) 50... c4 (50... Qd3 {does not save him either: rettet auch
nicht:} 51. Qb3 c4 52. Qa2 h5 53. Nxc4 h4 54. Qxa3 Qxc4 55. Qf8+ Kh7 56. Qf5+
Kg8 57. Qg5 $18) 51. Qxc4 Qd2 52. Nb3 ({The typical combination when playing
with queens Die für das Damenspiel typische Kombination} 52. Qc8+ Kh7 53. Qf5+
Kg8 (53... Kh8 54. Qf8+ Kh7 55. Qxa3 $18) 54. Nc4 Qb4 (54... Qc3 55. Qd5+ Kh7
56. Qe4+ Kh8 57. Qa8+ Kh7 58. Nxa3) 55. Qd5+ Kh7 56. Qd3+ Kh8 57. Nxa3 {
could have crowned this long suffering game. hätte diese Partie leidgeprüfte
Partie krönen können.}) 52... Qe3 53. Nc1 h5 {Of course Black has no real
chance of saving the day, but such a "psycho-attack" is also a weapon and to
be sure a really effective one.  Selbstverständlich hat Schwarz keine realen
Rettungschancen, aber ein solcher "Psycho-Angriff" ist auch eine Waffe, und
zwar recht wirksame.} 54. h4 $6 ({There was the stronger Stärker war} 54. Ne2
h4 55. Ng1 {, and the knight heads to g5. , und der Springer begibt sich nach
g5.}) 54... Qe7 55. Qc8+ Kh7 56. Qf5+ g6 57. Qh3 Qf7 {Here I was really no
longer amused. Firstly, the ending "queen and g- and h-pawns against queen" is
according to the endgame tablebases fundamentally drawn (although when the
weaker side is being defended by a human, it is practically impossible for him
to achieve this result). Secondly, such series of mistakes and failings seldom
go unpunished.  Hier war ich gar nicht mehr zu Scherzen aufgelegt. Erstens ist
das Endspiel "Dame mit g- und h-Bauern gegen Dame" laut Endspieltabellen
grundsätzlich Remis (obwohl es, wenn die schwächere Seite ein Mensch
vertritt, für ihn praktisch unmöglich ist, dieses Ergebnis zu erreichen).
Zweitens bleiben solche Reihen von Fehlern und Versäumnissen selten
ungestraft.} 58. f5 $2 (58. Qe3 a2 59. Nxa2 Qxa2 60. Qe7+ Kg8 61. f5 gxf5 (
61... Qf7 62. Qxf7+ Kxf7 63. Kg3 $1 $18) 62. Qg5+ {leads to the aforementioned
queen ending with g- and h-pawns against bare queen. führt zum oben
erwähnten Damenendspiel mit den g- und h- Mehrbauern.}) (58. Qxa3 Qxf4+ 59.
Kg1 Qd4+ 60. Kf1 Qf4+ 61. Ke2 Qe4+ 62. Kd1 Qxh4 (62... Qxg2 63. Qe7+ Kh6 64.
Qf8+ Kh7 65. Qf7+ Kh6 66. Qf4+ Kh7 67. Ne2 $18) 63. Qf3 {should bring the win
without major difficulties, whilst according to all appearances the move
played in the game could lead to a sharing of the points. sollte den Gewinn
ohne große Schwierigkeiten bringen, während der Partiezug allem Anschein
nach zu einer Punktteilung führen könnte.}) 58... Qc7+ 59. Qg3 Qxc1 60. Qxg6+
Kh8 61. Qxh5+ Kg7 62. Qg6+ Kf8 63. Qf6+ Ke8 $2 {The wrong square!  Das falsche
Feld!} 64. Qe6+ $2 ({After Nach} 64. Qe5+ $1 Kf7 65. f6 Qh6 66. Qe7+ Kg6 67. f7
Qf4+ 68. Kh3 Qf5+ 69. Kg3 Qxf7 70. Qxa3 {the aforementioned queen ending would
have arisen. wäre der besagte Damenendspiel entstanden.}) 64... Kf8 65. Qd6+
Kf7 66. Qe6+ Kf8 67. Qf6+ Kg8 $1 {There is no need to ask Levon twice - now he
chooses the lesser evil.  Das zweite Mal muss man Levon nicht bitten - jetzt
wählt er das kleinere Übel.} 68. Qe5 Kf7 $2 ({The move Der Zug} 68... Qh6 $1
{looks counter-intuitive, because it leaves the a3-pawn unprotected, but this
is precisely the continuation which forces a draw. An important variation, for
example, is sieht antiintuitiv aus, weil er den Bauern a3 ohne Schütz lässt,
aber gerade diese Fortsetzung forciert Remis. Eine wichtige Variante ist zum
Beispiel} 69. Qg3+ Kf7 $8 70. Qb3+ Ke8 $8 71. Qxa3 Qxh4+ 72. Qh3 Qf4+ 73. Kg1
Qc1+ 74. Kf2 Qd2+ 75. Kg3 Qe3+ 76. Kg4 Qd4+ {, and Black saves the day. , und
Schwarz rettet sich.}) 69. f6 {"And for the third time he cast his net - lo
and behold! the net brought him a little fish, a very rare little fish, a
golden one." "Und zum dritten Mal warf er das Netz aus - sieh, da brachte das
Netz ihm ein Fischlein, ein ganz seltenes Fischlein, ein goldenes."} Qc4 (69...
Qh6 70. Qe7+ Kg6 71. f7 Qf4+ 72. Kh3 Qf5+ 73. Kg3 Qxf7 74. Qxa3 {would be a
relatively better option. wäre eine verhältnismäßig bessere Option.}) 70.
Qe7+ Kg6 71. Qg7+ Kf5 72. Qg5+ {Black resigned. A game characterised by nerves,
well conveying the atmosphere of knockout tournaments. Schwarz gab auf. Eine
von Nervosität sehr kennzeichnete Partie, die die Atmosphäre der
Knockout-Turniere gut überträgt.} ({With the king exiled on the other flank
resistance is futile: Bei dem zum anderen Flügel verbannten König ist
Widerstand sinnlos:} 72. Qg5+ Ke4 73. Qg4+ Kd5 74. Qxc4+ Kxc4 75. f7 a2 76.
f8=Q a1=Q 77. Qf4+ {with an easy win. mit leichtem Gewinn.}) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-B 82nd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2020.01.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Black "Nihal, Sarin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Nihal,Sarin"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2020.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 {This was slighly unexpected. My opponent had never played this line
before.} d6 (9... d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 {is of course another option and a
very interesting position, but somehow I didn't feel like entering this on
this day.}) 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nd8 {A move order inaccuracy with unintended
consequences. My trainer Srinath had a recent game here in Sitges against
Tabatabei with the same inaccurate move order. So the credit (blame) for this
is wholly deserved by him :-)} (11... Rfe8 12. Ne2 Nd8 13. Ng3 Ne6 {is of
course the mainline here.}) 12. d4 {I had seen this beforehand, but I severely
underestimated it.} exd4 13. Nxd4 {Initially I felt quite uncomfortable in
this position. However, pretty soon I realized that the position is not bad as
it appears at first sight.} Re8 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Qf3 {A natural move.} (15.
Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. f3 {In hindsight, White should perhaps have gone for something
like this, with a slight edge.}) 15... c5 16. Nd5 {Again, the most natural
move.} (16. Be3 c4 17. Ba2 Bf8 {is the first choice of engines. However, it is
really hard for White to commit to a position where the a2 bishop is shut like
that. Such things can go either way.}) 16... Nxd5 17. exd5 c4 18. dxe6 fxe6 19.
Nh6+ gxh6 20. Qg4+ Kf7 (20... Kh8 21. Qd4+ e5 22. Rxe5 Bf6 {I had seen this,
but I didn't really believe that something like this could work.} 23. Rxe8+ Kg7
24. Qf4 {After the game, me, my opponent, Anish, Erwin and Anton Smirnov were
looking at this variation. Initially none of us could believe that something
like this could work for Black.} (24. Bxh6+ Kg6 {should just be better for
Black.}) 24... Rxe8 25. Qxh6+ Kf7 26. Qxh7+ Ke6 27. Qg6 Qf7 28. Qg4+ Ke7 29.
Bd2 {And here, at the end, Black apparently gets better after} Qd5 $1) 21. Qh5+
Kg8 22. Qg4+ Kf7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 77th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2015.01.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Avoiding the Marshall is a common choice for White.} Bb7 9. d3 d5 $1 {It
seems that this gambit at this place is totally sound as we will see further
in the text.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 Qd7 {An interesting choice; alternatives
have been preferred but as we will see a very interesting idea is connected
with the main move in the text.} (11... f6 12. c4 (12. a3 Kh8 13. Ne4 Na5 (
13... Qd7 $5 14. Bd2 Rad8 15. Qe2 Rfe8 16. Rad1 $13) 14. Ba2 c5 15. c3 c4 16.
d4 f5 17. Neg5 e4 18. Ne6 Qe8 19. Nxf8 exf3 20. Ne6 Qg6 21. Qxf3 $16 {1/2-1/2 
(34) Al Modiahki,M (2549)-Negi,P (2645) Tromso 2014. Black overpushed, but he
still managed to escape with a draw.}) (12. c3 Kh8 13. Bc2 Qd7 14. Nb3 a5 15.
a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4 Ncb4 17. Rxa5 Nxc2 18. Qxc2 Nb6 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Nbd2 g5 $5
21. Nh2 Rd8 $44 {0-1 (48) Anand,V (2786)-Caruana,F (2774) Moscow 2013}) 12...
bxc4 13. Nxc4 Bc5 14. Ne3 Bxe3 $5 (14... Na5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxb3 17. Qxb3
Bxd4 18. Qxb7 Bxe3 19. Bxe3 Qd7 20. Rad1 Rfd8 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Qa3 Qb5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (47) Adams,M (2729)-Bacrot,E (2705) Baku 2008}) 15. Bxe3 Kh8 16. Bc5
Re8 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. Ba4 Red8 19. Qb3 Qf7 $1 $13) (11... Nf4 12. Ne4 Na5 13.
Bxf4 exf4 14. d4 Nxb3 15. axb3 Qd7 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. c4 Bb4 18. Nc3 bxc4 19.
bxc4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxd4 21. Re4 Qd2 22. Re2 Qd4 23. Re4 Qd2 24. Re2 Qd4 {
1/2-1/2 (24) Giri,A (2737)-Tomashevsky,E (2703) Elancourt 2013. Black was fine.
}) 12. Nxe5 $6 {We can consider this now as a rather suspicious move.
Alternatives are better but also don't give White anything.} (12. Ne4 Kh8 13.
Ng3 f6 14. c3 Rad8 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Rfe8 17. Bd2 Bf8 18. a3 $11) (12. a4
Rad8 ({Black can play safe here} 12... f6 $5 13. c3 Kh8 {with unclear play})
13. axb5 axb5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Nf4 16. Ne4 $1 (16. Qg4 Nxg2 17. Qxd7 Rxd7
18. Rxb5 Bc6 19. Rba5 Nf4 $44 {0-1 (20) Guliyev,N (2557)-Ragger,M (2651)
Wroclaw (blitz) 2014}) 16... Ng6 (16... Nxg2 17. Qg4 Nh4 18. Rxe7 Qxe7 19. Bg5
$16) 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Rxc5 Nh4 19. Qg4 $16) (12. Nf1 $5 $146 Bf6 (12... f6 13.
c4 $1 $18) 13. N1h2 Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. c3 $13) 12... Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Nf4 $1
14. Nf3 Nxg2 $1 15. Kxg2 a5 $1 {A key point of the black sacrifice, a nice
idea indeed! It had been worked out by computers and it had already been
tested in tounaments as well, for that reason it is really suprising that
Ivanchuk was not aware of that.} 16. Rxe7 {Confronted with something new this
was Ivanchuk's reaction over the board, but it doesn't help much either.} (16.
a4 Ra6 17. Qe2 Rg6+ 18. Kh2 Bd6 19. Nh4 Bxe5+ 20. Qxe5 Re8 21. Qf4 Rf6 22. Qg3
Re1 23. Bh6 Rxf2+ 24. Qxf2 Rxa1 25. Nf5 Rh1+ 26. Kg3 Bc8 $17 {1/2-1/2 (37)
Guliyev,N (2556)-Gustafsson,J (2636) Baden-Baden 2014}) (16. c3 Ra6 17. d4 Rg6+
18. Kh2 Rf6 19. d5 Bd6 20. Kg2 Rxf3 21. Qxf3 Bxe5 $15) 16... Qxe7 17. c3 Ra6
18. d4 Rf6 {Black is completely winning already, and he could have done it
even more simply.} (18... Rg6+ 19. Kf1 Qd7 20. Ne5 Qxh3+ 21. Ke2 a4 22. Bc2 Rg2
23. Be3 f6 $19) 19. d5 a4 20. Bc2 Rd8 21. Qe1 Qd7 22. Ng5 h6 23. Ne4 Rg6+ 24.
Kh2 f5 25. Ng3 Qxd5 26. Qg1 Qf3 0-1

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[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 0:00:02]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:29]
} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} d6 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} 10. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 11. Ba2 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 12. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} bxa4 $5 {[%emt 0:
01:23] Usually they go 12..b4, but Tomashevsky has been experimenting with
computer-type moves for a while now, and with good results. I must add here
that such an idea was played against me by well known GM Djuric Stefan a long
time ago, but in a worse version than this.} 13. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Bc8 {
[%emt 0:01:54] Tomashevsky also played in a slightly different manner:} (13...
Bc6 14. Nf5 (14. Nh4 Bd7 15. Nhf5 Rb8 16. Qf3 Kh8 17. Qg3 Nh5 18. Qg4 g6 19.
Qf3 Nc6 20. c3 Nf4 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 f6 24. Qg3 Rb6 {1/2-1/2
(34) Caruana,F (2844)-Tomashevsky,E (2701) Baku 2014, Black is ok here}) 14...
Bd7 15. N3h4 Kh8 16. f4 Nc6 17. c3 Rb8 18. Rf1 exf4 19. Rxf4 Ne5 20. Nxe7 Qxe7
21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 c4 $1 23. Bxc4 Qa7+ 24. d4 Nxc4 25. Qf1 a3 $17 {0-1 (42)
Svidler,P (2734)-Tomashevsky,E (2749) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 14. Nh4 {[%emt 0:
01:14] Tomashevsky was under a serious challenge in the next game:} (14. Bd2
Bd7 15. Bxa5 Qxa5 16. c3 Rab8 17. Bb3 Qb6 18. Bxa4 Bxa4 19. Qxa4 Qxb2 20. Qxa6
Qxc3 21. Nf5 Rfe8 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxd6 $16 {1/2-1/2 (38) Dominguez Perez,L 
(2726)-Tomashevsky,E (2716) Tbilisi 2015}) 14... g6 {[%emt 0:01:51] This is a
novelty in a way because with 14...Bd7 we would have Caruana-Tomashevsky.} 15.
Nf3 {[%emt 0:07:17]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:04:09]} 16. Nd5 {[%emt 0:05:25]} Nxd5 {
[%emt 0:03:10]} 17. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18. Bh6 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:59]} 19. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:28] Somehow the early
...g6 gave White more motifs to count on.} Bc6 {[%emt 0:06:39]} (19... Nc6 20.
Ng5 $1 Bxg5 21. Bxg5 Qa5 22. c3 $16 {White has a dangerous attack.}) 20. Bxc6 {
[%emt 0:14:16]} (20. Qc3 $5 {the computer chess idea is Bd2} Bxd5 21. exd5 Bf6
22. Re4 c4 $5 23. Rxa4 (23. dxc4 Nb7 $1 $13) 23... Nb7 $5 24. Be3 cxd3 25. Qxd3
a5 {an interesting position, White should have a slightly more pleasant
position but the potential ...f5 can give Black counterplay.}) 20... Nxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 21. c3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:42:23]} 22. Qc2 {[%emt 0:
00:46]} a5 {[%emt 0:03:21]} 23. Rxa4 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Red8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24.
Bc1 {[%emt 0:13:29]} d5 {[%emt 0:02:10] It may look like equal, but Black
still didn't equalise. Due to his slightly more compromised structure White
can still hope for some play.} 25. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]}
26. Rae4 {[%emt 0:05:06]} f6 {[%emt 0:04:17]} (26... f5 27. R4e2 Bf6 28. Qa4
Bg7 29. Nd2 Qe6 30. f4 Rxd3 31. fxe5 $14) 27. Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Rbc8 {
[%emt 0:01:44]} 28. R4e3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:10:09]} 29. Nd2 $1 {
[%emt 0:03:45]} Rcd7 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 30. Nc4 {[%emt 0:06:59] That was best
what White could do at the moment, now he still has one or two more ideas.} Qe6
$6 {[%emt 0:00:23] The queen is potentially a bit exposed along the e-file.} (
30... Rb7 31. Rg3 Bf8 32. f4 (32. h4 $5 {also gives the initiative.}) 32...
exf4 33. Bxf4 {Black is close to equality} Rdd7 $1 {[%cal Gd7e7]}) 31. Qc2 {
[%emt 0:00:39]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:07:19]} 32. f4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:18] This is it!} Bc7
{[%emt 0:04:35]} 33. Rf3 {[%emt 0:02:30]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 34. Qe2 {
[%emt 0:03:30]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:09:32]} 35. Qf1 $1 {[%emt 0:13:22] Now f5 is in
the air.} f5 {[%emt 0:02:46]} 36. Rfe3 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:25]}
37. Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 38. g4 $5 {[%emt 0:05:01]} Qh4 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} 39. gxf5 {[%emt 0:06:56]} gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 40. Kh1 {
[%emt 0:00:00] Now White is clearly better.} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Rg1 {
[%emt 0:28:43]} e4 {[%emt 0:17:38]} 42. Qg2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:04:
27]} 43. Rg3 {[%emt 0:08:40]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:03:50]} 44. b3 {[%emt 0:01:03]} (44.
b4 $3 $18 {[%cal Gc1b2] Black is not able to maintain his structure any longer.
}) 44... Bd8 {[%emt 0:08:57]} 45. dxe4 {[%emt 0:01:21]} fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:56]}
46. f5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:05:27]} 47. Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:37] Here too
White reached a winning position.} Ne5 {[%emt 0:06:18]} 48. Rxe4 {[%emt 0:01:
35]} Rdd8 {[%emt 0:05:16]} 49. Bg5 {[%emt 0:02:31]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 50.
Qe2 {[%emt 0:12:50]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 51. Re6 {[%emt 0:01:21]} Rg8 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} 52. Qf3 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Rbe8 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 53. Qg4 {
[%emt 0:02:31]} Ref8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 54. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Bxd6 {[%emt 0:
00:13]} 55. Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qxf5 {[%emt 0:03:07]} 56. Rxd7 {[%emt 0:02:
52]} Qxg4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 57. Rxg4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 58.
Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 $5 {Recently on top level they started to use
a lot this thematic but a bit forgotten idea. It does remind me on an old game
Karpov-Jussupow, Bugojno 1986, which came from the Italian Game, where the Ex
World Champion executed nice positional ideas.} fxe6 12. Nbd2 d5 {Another
interesting thing is that I found only one game played in same manner dated
all the way back to 1962!} (12... Nd7 13. c3 Bf6 (13... Rb8 14. Nf1 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Rb5 16. Be3 {again with a complicated game}) 14. Qa4 bxc3 15. bxc3 Na7 16.
Qc4 Qe8 17. Qxa6 Nc5 18. Qc4 Qb5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Nb3 22. Rb1
Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Be3 Nc6 25. Rb7 Bxe3 26. Nxe3 Rfc8 27. Rc1 $14 {1/2-1/2
(43) Parma,B-Sanguineti,R Mar del Plata 1962}) (12... Qe8 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3
Qg6 15. Nf1 {with an interesting game ahead of us.}) 13. c3 {Taking the pawn
is not much advisable here:} (13. exd5 exd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bc5 16. Nf3
Ng4 17. Re2 Qd6 $19) 13... Bd6 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 dxe4 17. Nxe4
Bb4 18. Bd2 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 20. Bxb4 Qxe4 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Rc1 {Massive
changes didn't help Black to reach an equal play, still White has the easier
play and pawns on a6 and c7 are much more vulnerable than White's counterparts
on a5 and d4.} h6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Qe3 Qd5 25. h3 Rb4 $4 {A blunder that loses
a piece.} (25... Rb5 26. Qc3 Nxa5 27. Qxc7 Nb3 28. Re1 Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30.
Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qc2+ Kg8 32. Rxe6 {Due to the better king we can say that White
still has the initiative but chances for Black to equalise are high.}) 26. Qc3
$1 Nxd4 27. Qxb4 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 {Black resigned due to} (28. Kh1 Nxc1 29. Qb8+
Kh7 30. Qb1+ Nd3 31. Ne1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9798"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1998.01.11"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Kupreichik, Viktor D"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Piket,L"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1997.10.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Plettenberg"]
[BlackTeam "Solingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Bg4 9. c3 O-O 10. d3 (10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Na5 12. Ba2 (12. Bc2 c5 13. d3 b4) (
12. Bd1 c5 13. d3 b4 14. Qg3 Nd7 15. Rf1 Bf6) 12... b4 $1 13. cxb4 $6 Nc6 14.
Qc3 Qd7 15. Na3 d5 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Nd4 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 $44)
10... Na5 11. Ba2 $1 (11. Bc2 b4 12. Nbd2 c5 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Rb8 15. d4
bxc3 (15... b3 16. Bd3 exd4 17. cxd4 c4 18. Bb1 d5 19. e5 Ne8 (19... Ne4 $5 20.
Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rxe4 Qd5 $44)) 16. bxc3 Qc7 {jpp11-1'98} 17. d5 $1 c4 (17... Nd7)
18. Ba3 Nd7 19. Bb4) 11... b4 (11... bxa4 $2 12. Qxa4 Bxf3 13. Qxa5) (11...
Bxf3 12. Qxf3 bxa4 13. Qd1 Qd7 14. Nd2 Rfb8) 12. Nbd2 Rb8 (12... c5 13. Nc4 $14
) 13. d4 $6 (13. Nc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 c6 $5 (15... a5 $11 16. h3 Be6
) (15... Qc8 16. h3 Bh5 17. d4) 16. Bxa6 Qa5 17. Bc4 Bxf3 18. gxf3 (18. Qxf3
Qxc3 19. Be3) 18... d5 $13) 13... c5 $1 14. Qe2 (14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Nc4 Bxf3 (
15... bxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxe4 $17) 16. gxf3 (16. Qxd8
Bxd8 17. gxf3 b3 18. Nxa5 Bxa5 19. Bb1 c4 $17) 16... b3 (16... Qc7 17. Nxa5
Qxa5 18. Qc2 $14) 17. Nxa5 $16) 14... bxc3 $6 (14... b3 $1 15. Bb1 Bxf3 $3 (
15... Qc7 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bd3 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $16) 16. Nxf3 (16. gxf3 cxd4 17.
cxd4 Nc6) 16... Qc7 $15 17. Qxa6 c4) 15. bxc3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 17. Qe3 (17. d5
Nb4 (17... Nd4 18. Qd3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Nxf3+ (19... Nd7 $5) 20. Qxf3 Qa5 21. Qd1
Qc3 22. Bd2 Qd4) 18. Bb3 Nd7) 17... Nd7 18. Ba3 $8 Nb4 (18... exd4 19. Nxd4
Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Bf6 21. Qxd6 Be5 22. Qxa6 (22. Qd3 Nc5) 22... Rb6 23. Qd3 Bxh2+
24. Kxh2 Qh4+ 25. Kg1 Rh6 26. f3) 19. Bb3 a5 20. Rac1 Bf6 21. h3 $2 (21. dxe5
Nxe5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 $11 23. Nf3 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Nd3 25. Bxf8 Rxb3 (25... Nxe1 26.
Rxe1 Qxf8 $14) 26. Rb1 Rc3 27. Red1 Kxf8 28. Rb5 $1 Qd4 29. Rd5 Qxa4 30. R5xd3)
(21. d5 Bxf3 22. Nxf3 Qb6 23. Qxb6 (23. Bc4) 23... Rxb6 24. Bc4 (24. Rc7 Nc5
25. Bd1)) 21... Bxf3 22. Nxf3 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nc5 24. Bd5 (24. Bc4 Re8 25. Bxb4 (
25. f3 Bg5) 25... Bxd4 26. Qxd4 Rxb4 27. e5 Nb3 28. Qf4 Nxc1 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30.
Rxc1 dxe5) (24. Nb5 Bg5 25. f4 Nxb3) (24. Red1 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Nxb3 26. Qxb3 Nc6)
(24. Rcd1 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Nxb3 26. Qxb3 Nc6) 24... Nxd5 25. exd5 Bxd4 26. Qxd4
Nb3 27. Qf4 Nxc1 28. Rxc1 Re8 29. Bxd6 Rb7 $17 30. h4 h6 31. h5 Qd7 32. Kh2
$138 f5 33. f3 Qf7 $19 34. Bc7 Qxd5 35. Bd6 Qf7 36. Qh4 Rd7 37. Bf4 Rd4 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{Avoiding the Marshall Attack.} b4 (8... Bb7 {is the main alternative, but
Levon always prefers to seize some space on the queenside.}) 9. a5 {Preventing
Nc6-a5 and also fixing the Pa6 as potential target. On the other hand the Pa5
might also become vulnerable.} (9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 {leads to another
important tabia, where Levon also has a lot of experience. A few months ago
this line appeared in an interesting game between the same players:} 11. Nbd2
Bc5 12. a5 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qe2 Ng4 15. Rf1 Bxf2+ $2 {Perhaps this was a
small bluff from Levon or maybe he just mixed up something.} (15... Nd4 16. Qc4
Qd6 {should be played}) 16. Rxf2 Nd4 17. Qc4 $2 (17. Qd3 $1 Nxf2 18. Kxf2 {
looks like a refutation of Black's idea. The queen should take part in the
defence.}) 17... Nxf2 18. Kxf2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 Qg4 20. h3 Qg3 21. Qd3 Rxf3 22.
Nxf3 Rf8 23. Nxd4 Qe1+ 24. Kh2 Rf1 25. Qxf1 Qxf1 26. Nf3 $13 {1/2-1/2 (38) So,
W (2788)-Aronian,L (2805) London 2017}) 9... d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 {
Black has got rid of White's annoying bishop and the doubled pawns on the
e-file are not necessarily bad. The Pe6 covers the important squares d5 and f5.
} 12. Nbd2 Rb8 13. Nb3 (13. c3 Qe8 14. Nc4 Qg6 15. h3 Nd7 (15... Rb5 {looks
okay for Black. Later he can consider the aggressive manoeuvre Nf6-Nh5-Nf4})
16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nc5 19. Bxc5 Bxc5 20. Qa4 $14 {1-0 (52)
Carlsen,M (2822)-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis 2017}) 13... Qc8 $1 14. h3 $146 (
14. Qe2 Nd8 15. d4 exd4 16. Nbxd4 c5 17. Nb3 e5 18. Nbd2 Ne6 19. Nc4 Nd4 20.
Nxd4 cxd4 21. Nb6 Qc6 22. Bg5 Bd8 23. Bxf6 Bxb6 24. axb6 Rxf6 25. Rxa6 h6 26.
Qd3 Rxb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (43) Caruana,F (2807)-Carlsen,M (2822) Saint Louis 2017})
14... Nd8 {Black wants to play c7-c5 and then return the knight back to c6,
getting more control in the centre.} (14... Na7 15. d4 exd4 16. e5 dxe5 17.
Nxe5 c5 18. Nc4 $44) 15. Be3 (15. d4 exd4 16. Qxd4 (16. e5 $6 {Here it doesn't
work. Compared to the line 14...Na7, the knight on d8 is more useful
protecting the Pe6.} dxe5 17. Nxe5 c5 18. Nc4 Nd5 {here White's compensation
is not sufficient.}) 16... c5 17. Qc4 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. Qe2 Bd6 $11) 15...
c5 16. Nbd2 Nc6 17. c3 Rb5 {[%csl Ra5]} 18. d4 $1 {The Pa5 is attacked but
Wesley doesn't bother to defend it.} ({After} 18. Nc4 h6 {it's not clear what
White can do next. The d3-d4 push is not good anymore as the Pe4 and in some
lines the Nc4 will be hanging.}) 18... exd4 (18... cxd4 19. cxd4 Nxa5 20. Qe2
Qb7 21. Qd3 $14) (18... bxc3 19. bxc3 exd4 20. cxd4 c4 $1 21. Nxc4 Nxe4 22. Nb6
Qe8 23. d5 Nc3 24. Qd3 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Qxa6 Bf6 {is okay for Black
according to an engine. Although a human player would be seriously concerned
about the a-passer.}) 19. cxd4 Nxa5 20. dxc5 (20. e5 dxe5 21. dxc5 Nd5 22. Ne4
Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Nb7 24. Nxe5 Nxc5 25. Rc1 Qd8 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 27. Nc6 Nxe4 28. Nxd8
Bg5 29. Nxe6 Bxe3 30. fxe3 a5 $11) 20... dxc5 21. Ra2 $1 {A useful and
somewhat mysterious rook move.} (21. Rc1 Rd8 22. Qa4 Qb7 {was another option,
but I like the move in the game.}) 21... Qb7 (21... Nd7 22. Qe2 Nb8 $1 {
This would be a good plan. Later Black will bring the knight from a5 to c6
back into play, then maybe rook back to b7. The knight from b8 protects the
Pa6. The position should be balanced, though it's easier to be on the White
side here.}) 22. b3 $1 {Simply playing for positional compensation. Black is
up a pawn, but he has numerous pawn weaknesses and his pieces on the queenside
are awkwardly placed. From a practical point of view it's much easier to
handle this position as White.} Kh8 {It appeares that this move is not
necessarily useful.} (22... Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qxe4 24. Bg5 Qb7 25. Rd2 {[%cal
Gd2d7] White's forces are so harmonious, also thanks to 21.Ra2!} Qa7 $8 26.
Rde2 $1 $36) ({Again, the manoeuvre} 22... Nd7 {[%cal Ge7f6] was preferable.})
23. Qc2 Nd7 24. Rea1 Bd8 25. Nc4 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Bf6 27. Rd1 Qc6 28. Rad2 {
The white rooks quickly switch to the d-file.} Nb6 29. Qc2 Qc7 $6 (29... Qc8
30. Rc1 Be7 31. h4 $14) 30. e5 $1 Be7 (30... Bxe5 $2 31. Ng5 $18 {[%csl Re6,
Rh7]}) 31. Nd4 {[%cal Gd4b5,Gd4e6]} Rc8 (31... Qxe5 32. Nxb5 axb5 33. Re2 Qc3
34. Rc1 Nd5 35. Qd2 Qf6 36. Bxc5 Nc3 37. Bxe7 Nxe2+ 38. Qxe2 Qxe7 39. Qxb5 $16)
32. Nxe6 {Of course. Who needs that silly rook on b5?!} ({After} 32. Nxb5 $6
axb5 {[%cal Gb6d5] Black would be okay. His pawn mass on the queenside has
potential.}) 32... Qxe5 33. Nf4 (33. Rd6 $3 {Stunning move.} c4 (33... Bxd6 $2
34. Ng5 $18 {[%cal Gc2h7,Gg5f7]}) 34. Bd4 Qxd6 35. Bxg7+ Kg8 36. Rxd6 Bxd6 37.
Qd1 $1 Rd5 38. Bd4 Kf7 39. Ng5+ $1 Rxg5 40. Bxb6 Ke7 41. Qf3 {[%cal Gf3b7] and
Black can't keep his passed pawn and coordinate his rooks.}) 33... Rf8 $2 {
This logical move is a fatal mistake.} (33... c4 $2 34. bxc4 Qf5 35. cxb5 $1
Rxc2 36. Rd8+ Bf8 37. Ne6 Rc8 38. Rxc8 Nxc8 39. Rd8 b3 40. Bd4 Kg8 41. Rxf8+
Qxf8 42. Nxf8 Kxf8 43. bxa6 $18 {[%cal Gg1f1,Gf1e2,Ge2d3]}) ({The variation
after 33...c4 underlines the drawback in Black's position - the weakness of
the back rank. Therefore, he should move his king away from h8.} 33... Kg8 $1
34. Re2 Bf8) 34. Re2 $1 Qc3 (34... Bf6 35. g3 $1 {[%cal Ge3d4]} Qc3 36. Qa2 $1
$18) 35. Qb1 (35. Qa2 $1 {was more precise, avoiding the exchange of queens
and attacking Pa6.}) 35... Qf6 36. Bc1 c4 (36... Qf7 37. Bb2 Bf6 38. Bxf6 Qxf6
39. Ne6 Rg8 40. Rd8 $1 c4 (40... Rxd8 41. Nxd8 Qxd8 42. Qe1 $18 {[%cal Ge2e8]})
{[%tqu "En","Find the best move for White.","","","e6f8","",10]} 41. Nf8 $1
Rxf8 42. Rxf8+ Qxf8 43. Qe1 {Black's pieces on the queenside are ridiculously
placed and can't help to prevent 44.Re8.} Nd7 44. Re8 Rb8 45. Rxf8+ Nxf8 46.
Qe5 Rc8 47. bxc4 b3 48. Qg3 b2 49. Qb3 Rxc4 50. Qxb2 {and White will win
eventually.}) 37. bxc4 Nxc4 38. Re6 {Black can not avoid heavy material losses.
} Qg5 (38... Qf7 39. Rd7 $18) 39. Ng6+ Qxg6 40. Rxg6 hxg6 41. Qe4 Bf6 42. Qxc4
b3 {This passed pawn is Black's last hope but White's material advantage is
just too big.} 43. Ba3 Rfb8 44. Rb1 b2 45. h4 $1 {The most accurate, fixing
the Pg6.} Ra5 46. Qd3 Rd8 47. Qb3 Rc8 48. Qb7 Rd8 49. Qb3 {Some of these queen
moves were not necessary, but the evaluation does not change - White is
winning.} Rc8 50. Qb4 Rb5 51. Qg4 Rc3 52. Bxb2 Rxb2 53. Rxb2 Rc1+ 54. Kh2 Bxb2
55. Qxg6 Ra1 56. g4 a5 57. Qh5+ Kg8 58. Qb5 Ba3 59. Qe5 Rd1 60. Qe6+ Kh7 61.
Qe4+ Kh8 62. Qa8+ Kh7 63. Qxa5 {Black's last hope has gone. Levon continued
for fifteen more pointless moves. I can easily understand his disappointment
with his overall result, but this particular game was a good achievement for
Wesley.} Bd6+ 64. Kg2 Rd4 65. Qf5+ Kh8 66. Qh5+ Kg8 67. g5 Kf8 68. Qg6 Be7 69.
Qf5+ Ke8 70. Kh3 Rd6 71. Qh7 Kf7 72. f4 Rd4 73. Qf5+ Ke8 74. Qe5 Rb4 75. Kg4
Kf8 76. Qf5+ Ke8 77. Qe6 Rd4 78. Qe5 1-0

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2014.10.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2014.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{One of the common ways to avoid the Marshall Attack.} b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 {
This looks like a concession, but the move is very popular on the highest
level. White does have grounds to hope for a slight edge in the resulting
structure.} dxe5 11. Nbd2 {This is more ambitious than the queen swap. White
is hoping to outmanoeuvre his opponent using some weakened light squares.} (11.
Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Nbd2 h6 13. a5 Bc5 14. Bc4 Ng4 15. Re2 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. h3
Nf6 18. Re1 Rab8 19. Nc4 Rb5 20. b3 Bd4 21. Bb2 Rc5 22. Ra2 Bxb2 23. Rxb2 Ne8
$15 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Ge8d6] 1-0 (70) Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint
Louis 2013}) 11... Bc5 12. a5 {Karjakin deviates first, not checking the
improvement Svidler had in mind over his previous games. The move in the text
fixes the Pa6 as potential target.} (12. h3 Qe7 (12... Bb7 {might be more
flexible.}) 13. Bd5 Bd7 14. Nb3 Bd6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. Qe2
Nb8 19. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (59) Topalov,V (2784)-Svidler,P (2732) Bilbao 2014}) (12.
Qe2 Qe7 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 h6 (15... Rab8 16. Bc2 Nh5 $5 17. h3
$140 $2 Ng3 18. Qd1 Rfd8) 16. Bc2 Qe6 17. Ne3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Na5 19. Nd2 $14 {
1/2-1/2 (41) Grischuk,A (2764)-Svidler,P (2747) London 2013}) 12... h6 13. h3 (
13. Bc4 Be6 (13... Qd6 $5) 14. Qe2 Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxd4 17. Be3 $14
{1-0 (50) Howell,D (2657)-Adams,M (2758) Douglas 2014}) 13... Qd6 (13... Qe7
14. Qe2 Be6 15. Bc4 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Nb3 Rfd8 18. Nxd4 Bxc4 19. Nf5 Qe6
20. Qf3 $36 {1-0 (41) Caruana,F (2791)-Tomashevsky,E (2695) Dubai 2014}) 14.
Qe2 Nh5 $1 $146 {I like this aggressive idea. The knight is heading to f4,
while the queen may join the attack on the sixth rank.} (14... Rd8 15. Nc4 Qe7
16. Be3 Rb8 17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. c3 bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxe4 21. Qc2 Nf6
22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Ncxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Bd5 25. Rd1 Rd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (30)
Guartambel,G-Domancich,E (2394) ICCF email 2007}) 15. Nc4 (15. Nf1 {is another
possible route for the knight.} Rb8 $1 {It's useful to move the rook from a8,
so that it won't get attacked by the white bishop. In some cases Rb8-b5,
targeting the Pa5, might be an idea. This position requires further practical
testing. Here is what might follow:} (15... Qf6 $2 16. Bd5 {That's the
difference, compared to 15.Nc4. The diagonal a2-g8 is not obstructed.}) 16. Be3
Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nf4 18. Ng3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qd2 Qe5 21. Ne2 Nxe2+ 22. Rxe2
{[%cal Gf2f4] with mutual chances.}) 15... Qf6 16. Ne3 $2 {I am puzzled how
Karjakin allowed the black knight to settle on f4 so comfortably.} ({He should
have exchanged the dark-squared bishops by} 16. Be3 {Objectively, Black has no
problems. A possible draw may occur after} Bxe3 17. Nxe3 (17. Qxe3 Nf4 18. Kh2
Be6 $132) 17... Nf4 18. Qc4 Nxg2 $1 19. Kxg2 Bxh3+ 20. Kg1 (20. Kg3 $6 Qf4+ 21.
Kxh3 Qxf3+ 22. Kh2 Nd4 23. Qf1 Qxe4 $36) 20... Qxf3 21. Qxc6 Qh5 22. Rad1 Qg5+
23. Kh2 Qh4 24. Kg1 Qg5+ $11) 16... Nf4 {Dark clouds gather over the white
king.} 17. Qc4 Nxg2 $1 (17... Nd4 {was another attractive option.} 18. Nxd4 (
18. Qxc5 $2 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Nxh3+ 20. Kg2 Nf4+ 21. Kg3 h5 $1 {Preventing the
defending resource Ne3-g4.} 22. Rh1 Qg5+ 23. Kh2 Bh3 $1 {Setting a cute mating
net.} 24. Bd2 Qh4 25. Kg1 Ne2+ 26. Kh2 Bf1#) 18... Bxd4 19. Nf5 (19. Qxb4 $2
Bxh3 $1 $19) 19... Be6 $1 20. Qxc7 Bxf5 21. exf5 Qxf5 22. Bxf4 (22. Rf1 $2 Ne2+
23. Kh2 e4 $19 {[%cal Gd4e5]}) 22... Qxf4 $17) 18. Kxg2 (18. Qxc5 Qxf3 19. Nxg2
Bxh3 20. Ne3 Rad8 $1 21. Qxc6 Rd6 22. Qxd6 cxd6 $17) (18. Nxg2 Qxf3 19. Qxc5
Bxh3 {- identical to 18.Qxc5.}) 18... Bxh3+ 19. Kxh3 (19. Kg3 Qf4+ 20. Kxh3
Qxf3+ {would lead to the same position.}) 19... Qxf3+ 20. Kh2 Nd4 $1 ({After} 
20... Qxf2+ $2 21. Ng2 Nd4 22. Rf1 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Qg3 24. Rxf3 Qxf3 25. Qxc5 {
White eliminates all Black's minor pieces.}) 21. Rf1 {The only reasonable
defence.} (21. Qxc5 $2 Qxf2+ {and Black wins either the rook, or the queen
after} 22. Ng2 Nf3+ {[%csl Rc5]}) 21... Qh5+ 22. Kg2 Qf3+ 23. Kh2 Bd6 $2 {
Too solid for such a position!} (23... Qf4+ $1 24. Kg2 Qxe4+ 25. f3 (25. Kg1 $2
Qg6+ 26. Kh1 Qh5+ 27. Kg2 Qf3+ 28. Kh2 Bd6 $19 {[%cal Ge5e4] That's why it was
important to capture the Pe4.}) 25... Qg6+ 26. Kf2 (26. Kh1 Qh5+ 27. Kg2 e4 {
is exactly the same as after 26.Kf2.}) 26... Qh5 27. Kg2 e4 28. Qd5 Qg6+ 29.
Kh1 (29. Kf2 Ba7 $1 30. Qxe4 Qd6 $40 {[%cal Ga8e8,Gd6h2]}) 29... Nxb3 30. cxb3
Bxe3 31. Bxe3 Rad8 32. Qc5 (32. Qxe4 Qh5+ 33. Kg1 Rfe8 34. Qf4 Qg6+ 35. Kh1 Rd5
36. Rf2 Rf5 $1 37. Qd4 c5 38. Qd2 Rh5+ 39. Rh2 Rxh2+ 40. Kxh2 Re5 $19) 32...
Rfe8 {It's clear that Black is nearly winning here. He has three pawns for the
piece, but more importantly - a powerful initiative. The white king is in bad
shape.} {An attempt to close some lines by} 33. f4 $2 {loses to} Qg3 {[%cal
Gd8d3]}) 24. c3 {Now Black has to succumb to perpetual check.} Qh5+ (24... Nxb3
25. Qxb3 Qxe4 26. Rg1 {can be better only for White.}) 25. Kg2 Qf3+ 26. Kh2
Qh5+ 27. Kg2 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{This is one of the ways to avoid the Marshall.} Bb7 9. d3 d5 {Still, if Black
insists on sacrificing the pawn, he can do just that.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 {
Anand repeats the move he employed last year against Caruana.} ({After} 11.
Nxe5 {Black has a choice between} Nxe5 ({or} 11... Nd4) 12. Rxe5 Qd6 {In both
cases he has adequate compensation.}) (11. c3 {has appeared numerous times as
well, but Black has achieved fine results after} Qd7) 11... Qd7 $146 {Levon
immediately comes up with a novelty.} (11... f6 12. c3 (12. c4 bxc4 13. Nxc4
Bb4 14. Bd2 Kh8 15. d4 exd4 16. Bxb4 Ndxb4 17. a3 Nd5 18. Nxd4 Nf4 19. Nxc6
Bxc6 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 (50) Dominguez Perez,L (2726)-Kasimdzhanov,R 
(2696) Tashkent 2012}) 12... Kh8 13. Bc2 (13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 {is worthy to
be checked in practice. The isolated pawn is a drawback, but White will have
some dynamic play exploting some weak spots in Black's camp.}) 13... Qd7 14.
Nb3 a5 15. a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4 Ncb4 17. Rxa5 Nxc2 18. Qxc2 Nb6 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 $44 {
0-1 (47) Anand,V (2786)-Caruana,F (2774) Moscow 2013}) (11... Nf4 12. Ne4 Na5
13. Bxf4 exf4 14. d4 Nxb3 15. axb3 Qd7 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. c4 Bb4 18. Nc3 bxc4 19.
bxc4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 (24) Giri,A (2737)-Tomashevsky,E (2706)
Elancourt 2013}) 12. Nxe5 {Accepting the challenge.} Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Nf6 (13...
Nf4 $6 14. Nf3 {and now the piece sacrifice} Nxh3+ $2 {doesn't work in view of}
15. gxh3 Qxh3 16. Bd5 Qg4+ 17. Kf1 Qh3+ 18. Ke2 {The king escapes safely.}) 14.
Re1 {The rook should go back as it is vulnerable in the centre.} Rae8 {Black
doesn't have immediate threats, but the activity of all his pieces normally
yields him enough play to maintain the balance, which is quite typical for
this line.} 15. Nf3 Bd6 (15... Qf5 $6 16. Nh4 {and the queen has to go back,
losing time.}) 16. Be3 Re7 $6 {This is too innocuous. Black's play should be
somewhat more dynamic.} (16... Nd5 {It's recommended for Black to get one of
the opponent's bishops.} 17. a4 (17. Bd2 Rxe1+ 18. Nxe1 Qf5 19. Qg4 Qe5 {
With a double threat on h2 and b2.} 20. Nf3 Qxb2 21. Re1 $11) (17. Bxd5 Bxd5 {
[%csl Gd5,Gd6] is clearly okay for Black.}) 17... Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Rxe3 19. fxe3
Re8 $5 (19... c5 {is also perfectly playable.}) 20. Ng5 {Some exciting
variations could arise here.} Qe7 $1 21. Bxf7+ Kf8 (21... Kh8 $6 22. Bxe8 Qxe3+
23. Kh1 Qxg5 24. Qg1 $8 (24. Qg4 $4 Qe5 $19 {[%cal Ge5h2,Ge5e8]}) 24... Qf5 {
[%csl Rh3]} 25. Qe3 Bc5 26. d4 Bxd4 27. Qg3 $14) 22. Bxe8 (22. Qf1 Qxe3+ 23.
Kh1 Qxg5 24. Bd5+ Bf4 25. Bxb7 Qg3 26. Qg1 Re2 27. Rf1 Rxc2 28. Rf3 Rc1 29.
Rxg3 Rxg1+ 30. Kxg1 Bxg3 $11) 22... Qxe3+ 23. Kh1 Qxg5 24. Qe2 g6 $1 25. Rf1+
Kg7 26. axb5 Qg3 27. Rf7+ Kg8 28. Kg1 Bc5+ 29. Kf1 Qg5 30. bxa6 Bxg2+ 31. Qxg2
Qc1+ 32. Ke2 Qxc2+ 33. Kf3 Qxd3+ 34. Kg4 Qc4+ 35. Rf4 Qe6+ {Black gives a
perpetual check.}) 17. d4 (17. a4 {It also makes sense to open the a-file, but
after} c5 {it won't be easy for White to play d3-d4 and perform the
simplifying idea that Anand realised a couple of moves later.}) 17... Rfe8 (
17... Nd5 18. Bd2 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 Qf5 20. Qg4 $16 {Black doesn't have the move
Qf5-e5 as in the line 16...Nd5.}) 18. c3 h6 {Probably Levon underestimated the
consequences of the move that now follows. On the other hand, it seems that
White is already better. The pressure along the e-file doesn't bring Black any
dividends.} (18... Nd5 19. Bd2 Rxe1+ 20. Nxe1 c5 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Nd3 Bb6 23.
Qg4 $14) 19. Ne5 $1 {Sacrificing back the pawn just at the right moment.} Bxe5
20. dxe5 Rxe5 (20... Qc6 21. f3 Rxe5 22. Qd2 $14) 21. Qxd7 Nxd7 22. Red1 {
White's two bishops are not going to allow Black to enjoy this endgame.} Nf6 $6
{I think here was the last chance to change the course of the game.} (22... Nc5
$5 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Rd7 Re2 25. Bxf7+ (25. Rxf7 Bd5 26. Rf5 c6 27. Rb1 g6 $14
{getting rid of the pin across the fifth rank}) 25... Kh7 {Black is a pawn
down, but has decent chances to hold thanks to his active rook.}) 23. c4 $1 c6
$6 {This is an ugly move to play, but Black's position is really unpleasant.} (
23... bxc4 24. Bxc4 Nd5 25. Bd4 R5e7 26. Rac1 Nf4 27. Bf1 $16) 24. Rac1 R5e7
25. a4 $1 bxc4 26. Bxc4 {Now White enjoys the pair of powerful bishops and the
superior pawn structure.} Nd5 27. Bc5 Re4 28. f3 R4e5 29. Kf2 {Slowly, but
surely Anand improves his position.} Bc8 30. Bf1 R5e6 31. Rd3 {The rook is
going to find some penetration squares on the b-file.} Nf4 32. Rb3 Rd8 33. Be3
(33. Rb8 Ree8 34. Ba3 Nd3+ 35. Bxd3 Rxd3 36. Rxc6 {was also great for White,
but, at least here Black has some hope thanks to the opposite coloured bishops.
}) 33... Nd5 34. Bd2 Nf6 (34... Bd7 35. Bxa6 Ra8 36. Bc4 Rxa4 37. Ra3 Rxa3 38.
bxa3 {The passed a-pawn will most likely decide the game in White's favour.})
35. Ba5 Rde8 36. Rb6 Re5 37. Bc3 Nd5 38. Bxe5 Nxb6 39. Bd4 $1 (39. Rxc6 Nd5 40.
Rc5 $18) 39... Nxa4 {The knight will not be able to come out alive from a4,
but I wouldn't even put a question mark to this move, as Black's position is
beyond saving anyway.} 40. Rxc6 Rd8 41. Rc4 Bd7 (41... Nxb2 42. Bxb2 Rd2+ 43.
Ke3 Rxb2 44. Rxc8+ $18) 42. b3 Bb5 43. Rb4 Nb2 44. Bxb5 axb5 45. Ke3 Re8+ 46.
Kd2 Rd8 47. Kc3 {A very good game by Anand, which definitely gave him a boost
of confidence from the very beginning of the Candidates tournament.} (47. Kc3
Nd1+ 48. Kc2 {[%csl Rd1] capturing the knight.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{Topalov chooses another way to avoid the Marshalll counterattack.} b4 9. d4 d6
10. dxe5 dxe5 {Aronian has a lot of experience in this line.} 11. Nbd2 {
The exchange of queens woudn't really suit Topalov's aggressive style.} (11.
Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Nbd2 h6 (12... Bd6 13. a5 h6 14. Bc4 Kf8 15. b3 Ke7 $6 ({After} 
15... Bb7 {Black is only slightly worse.}) 16. Bd5 $1 Nxd5 17. exd5 Na7 18.
Nxe5 $16 {1-0 (34) Karjakin,S (2721)-Aronian,L (2754) Nalchik 2009}) 13. a5 Bc5
14. Bc4 Ng4 15. Re2 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. h3 Nf6 18. Re1 Rab8 19. Nc4 Rb5 20.
b3 Bd4 $11 {1-0 (70) Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013}) (11.
Bg5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nxe4 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Nxe5 Nc5 15. Nd2 Nxb3 $6 (15... Bf5 {
followed by Ra8-d8 looks like an improvement for Black.}) 16. Nxb3 f6 17. Nd7
Re8 18. Na5 Nf5 19. Nc5 Nd6 20. Nd3 Rb8 21. Nc6 Rb6 22. Ncxb4 $16 {0-1 (58)
Giri,A (2732)-Aronian,L (2801) Antalya 2013}) 11... Bc5 12. h3 Bb7 13. Qe2 {
This position is rather typical. Objectively, it should be equal. However, if
Black makes a few inncuous moves, he may find himself under pressure. White's
idea is to play Nd2-c4, attacking the Pe5 and bringing the knight to e3 and d5
or f5, according to circumstances.} Nd4 (13... Qe7 14. Nc4 a5 {followed by
Bb7-a6 at some point should be playable as well.}) 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Bc4 $146 (
15. Qf3 Kh8 {1/2-1/2 (15) Jansa,V (2485)-Razuvaev,Y (2525) Kolkata 1986}) (15.
a5 $5 {is another option, typically fixing the Pa6 as a potential weakness.})
15... a5 16. Bd3 Nd7 $6 {This is a dubious manoeuvre.} (16... Qe7 17. Nf3 c5 $1
$132 {is a slightly strange idea to lock in his own bishop in the centre. But,
I don't see how White can trap it.}) 17. Nf3 Nc5 (17... Bb6 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3
$14 {The light squares in Black's camp are seriously weakened.}) 18. Nxd4 exd4
19. Bf4 Re8 20. Qh5 Qe7 (20... Nxe4 $6 {was definitely risky.} 21. f3 g6 (21...
Nf6 22. Qc5 Nd5 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Bg3 $16) 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Qh4 Nd5 24. Bg5 Qd6
25. Qxd4 c5 26. Qh4 $16) 21. Bb5 {Provoking the move that now follows, closing
the long diagonal for Black's bishop.} c6 22. Bc4 Ba6 (22... g6 {was also
possible, but the weakness of the dark squares near the king may become
apparent after} 23. Qf3 Ba6 24. Ba2 Ne6 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. Bg5 $36 {[%cal Gg5f6]
}) 23. Bd6 $1 Qxd6 24. Bxf7+ Kf8 25. e5 Qd7 26. e6 Nxe6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qxh7
$6 {It was a tough dilemma for Topalov, which pawn to take. From a human point
of view it's really tempting to grab the one near the opponent's king. However,
objectively the other capture offered White more chances for a win.} (28. Qxa5
Bb7 29. Qxb4+ c5 30. Qb6 {I can understand why Veselin didn't go for this
position. It looks as if Black has good attacking chances on the long diagonal.
The concrete variations, however, are in White's favour.} Qd5 (30... Bc6 31. a5
Qd5 32. f3 Nf4 33. Rxe8+ Bxe8 34. Kh1 $1 Qg5 35. Qd6+ Kf7 36. Rg1 $16) 31. f3
Bc6 32. b4 c4 33. a5 d3 34. cxd3 cxd3 35. Rad1 Kf7 36. a6 d2 37. Re2 Qb5 38.
Qxb5 Bxb5 39. Rexd2 Bxa6 40. Rd6 {White's rook plus two pawns are superior to
Black's two minor pieces.}) 28... Qd5 29. f4 $1 d3 $1 {Both players are
playing the best moves, and this exciting position is heading into a forced
draw.} 30. f5 d2 31. Qh8+ Kf7 (31... Ke7 $5 {is very non-human, but also leads
to a draw after} 32. Qh4+ g5 $1 33. Qxg5+ Kd7 34. Rxe6 $1 d1=Q+ 35. Rxd1 Qxd1+
36. Kh2 Rxe6 37. fxe6+ Kxe6 38. Qg6+ Kd7 39. Qf5+ $1 Kd6 40. Qxa5 Qxc2 41.
Qxb4+ $11) 32. Qh5+ {Neither side can avoid the perpetual check.} Kf8 33. Qh8+
Kf7 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Avoiding the Marshall attack.} Bb7 (8... d6 9. c3 {is a transposition into
the classical Ruy Lopez.}) 9. d3 Re8 {This order of moves has become popular
in the last few years. Black refrains from playing d7-d6 immediately, hoping
to get the d7-d5 thrust without losing a tempo.} 10. Nc3 ({Another, an even
more popular approach here is} 10. a3) 10... h6 {Typical prophylaxis against a
possible knight/bishop move to g5.} (10... Bb4 {played by Anand a couple of
times, and by Leko himself as well, in one of the games of his match against
Kramnik in Brissago.} 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 {he
could only have been thinking about equalizing.} 15. f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17.
Bxd5 Qxg5 18. Bxb7 {And here the opponents agreed to a draw, Kramnik-Leko,
2004.}) 11. a4 (11. a3 Bc5 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. c3 Bc5 15. Ne3 d5 16.
exd5 Nxd5 17. Qf3 Bxe3 18. Bxe3 Qd6 19. Rad1 Rab8 20. d4 e4 21. Qg3 {1/2-1/2
Leko,P (2763)-Adams,M (2719)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108}) (11. Nd5 Na5 12. Nxe7+
Qxe7 13. Nh4 Nxb3 14. Nf5 Qe6 15. axb3 d5 16. Qf3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Kh7 18. Qg3 Rg8
19. f3 Ne8 20. Bd2 Nd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2779)-Leko,P (2749)/Morelia/
Linares 2007/CBM 117 (26)}) 11... b4 12. Nd5 (12. Ne2 Na5 13. Ba2 Bf8 14. Ng3
d5 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. Qe2 c5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qe4 Nc6 20. Nf5 Re6
21. Qg4 Kh8 22. Qc4 Na5 23. Qe4 Nc6 24. Qc4 Na5 25. Qe4 Nc6 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P
(2750)-Leko,P (2741)/Moscow 2006/CBM 116}) 12... Na5 13. Nxe7+ $146 {It would
have been interesting to see what Leko prepared after 13.Ba2, the move that
Svidler beat Leko with.} (13. Ba2 Bc5 14. Bd2 $1 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5
Qf6 $2 ({Interesting is} 16... c6 17. Rxe5 (17. Nxe5 $6 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rxe5 19.
Rxe5 Qf6+ 20. Qf3 Qxe5 {and only White might have problems here.}) 17... Rxe5
18. Nxe5 Qf6 19. Nf3 cxd5 $14 {Gershon}) 17. c3 $1 bxc3 18. Bxc3 Qb6 19. Rxe5
$1 Bxf2+ 20. Kh1 $16 {1-0 Svidler,P (2738)-Leko,P (2763)/San Luis 2005/CBM 110
(31)}) 13... Rxe7 {It was also possible to recapture with the queen.} (13...
Qxe7 14. Ba2 d5 15. exd5 Qd6 16. Nh4 b3 $1 17. cxb3 Bxd5 18. Bd2 Nc6 19. Nf5
Qd7 {with good compensation for the pawn.}) 14. Ba2 d5 {The point of black's
opening strategy.} 15. Nh4 $5 {A standart knight move, but this time it is
connected with some sacrifices.} ({White can't win the Pe5:} 15. exd5 $6 Bxd5
16. Nxe5 Bxa2 17. Rxa2 Qd5) 15... dxe4 16. Nf5 Rd7 17. Re3 $1 (17. Bxh6 $2 gxh6
18. Qd2 Qf8 19. Nxh6+ Kh7 20. Nxf7 Rxf7 21. Bxf7 Qxf7 22. Qxb4 Rg8 $1 {and
Black's counterattack is crushing.}) 17... b3 $1 {Both players had a lot to
calculate in this position.} (17... exd3 18. cxd3 (18. Rg3 $2 d2 19. Rxg7+ Kh8
20. Bxd2 Rxd2 21. Qe1 Ne4 22. Bxf7 Rxf2 23. Bg6 Rxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Qg5+ 25. Kh2
Qf4+ 26. Kg1 Ng5 $19) 18... Be4 (18... b3 19. Bxb3 Be4 20. Nxh6+ gxh6 21. Rg3+
Kf8 22. Bxh6+ Ke8 23. Bc2 $44) 19. Rxe4 Nxe4 20. Qg4 Ng5 21. h4 b3 22. hxg5 h5
23. Qe2 bxa2 24. Qxe5 Qf8 25. Qxa5 $14) 18. Rg3 {White's threats are dangerous,
Leko has to be careful.} g6 (18... bxa2 $2 19. Rxg7+ Kh8 (19... Kf8 20. Qd2 {
[%csl Ra5,Rh6]} (20. Bxh6 $40) 20... Ng8 21. Qxa5 Qf6 22. Qb4+ $18) 20. Bxh6
$40 (20. Qd2 $2 Ng8 21. Qxa5 Qf6 $19)) 19. Nxh6+ Kg7 20. Nf5+ Kg8 $6 {Leko
didn't take the risk of playing for a win by 20...Kf8; he passes the decision
about the repetition of moves to Jakovenko.} (20... Kf8 21. Qd2 (21. Bh6+ Kg8
22. cxb3 Rxd3 23. Qe2 Nh5 $15) 21... gxf5 22. Qxa5 (22. Qh6+ $2 Ke7 23. Bg5 Qh8
$19) 22... bxa2 23. Qxe5 (23. Bh6+ Ke8 24. Qxe5+ Qe7 $17) 23... Qe7 24. Qxf5
Rd5 25. Qf4 Ke8 $15) 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Nf5+ Kg8 23. cxb3 $1 {Correctly
continuing the fight!} Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Qxd3 25. Ne7+ (25. Bg5 Qxd1+ 26. Rxd1 gxf5
27. Bxf6 Nc6 28. b4 Nxb4 29. Bc4 $14) 25... Kg7 26. Qd2 $1 {[%cal Gd2h6]} Qxd2
27. Bxd2 Re8 28. Nxg6 $2 {Jakovenko got tempted to grab the pawn and lost all
the benefits of his position.} ({It was better to make a somewhat unhuman move
} 28. Bb4 $1 {followed by Ra1-c1 with initiative for White.}) 28... Nc6 29. Nh4
Nd4 {Black's knight has occupied a dominant outpost in the centre, while its
white counterpart is poorly placed on the side of the board. Black is at least
not worse.} 30. Be3 Bc8 31. Rd1 (31. Kh2 $6 Rh8 32. g3 Nf3+ 33. Nxf3 exf3 $17)
31... Rh8 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. g3 Rd8 34. b4 Bxh3 $6 {Probably Leko should not be
in a hurry to regain the pawn.} (34... d3 35. Bc4 Nd5 {Despite being a pawn
down, Black is better thanks to strong central pawns and White's misplaced
knight.}) 35. Bc4 Bg4 36. f3 $1 exf3 37. Rd3 {Now, White's knight will come
back into the game. Still, White is clearly on the defensive.} f2+ 38. Kxf2 c5
39. Nf3 (39. bxc5 $2 Ne4+ 40. Kf1 Nxc5 $17) 39... Bf5 (39... Ne4+ 40. Kg2 Rb8
41. Rb3 Bxf3+ 42. Rxf3 Rxb4 (42... Nd2 43. Rxf7+ Kg6 44. Bd5 Rxb4 45. b3 Nxb3
46. Rc7 $11) 43. b3 Ng5 44. Rf5 $11) 40. Rd1 Bc2 41. Rc1 Ne4+ 42. Ke2 d3+ 43.
Ke3 cxb4 44. Bxd3 $1 {[%mdl 256] This little combination makes White's
defensive task easier.} Bxd3 (44... Rxd3+ 45. Kxe4 Rc3+ 46. Kd4 Rxf3 47. Rxc2
Rxg3 48. Kc5 b3 49. Rf2 $11) 45. Ne1 Bf1 (45... Nxg3 46. Nxd3 Nf5+ 47. Ke4 Kf6
48. Rc6+ Kg5 49. Nc5 {White's activity is sufficient to hold the balance.}) 46.
Kxe4 Rd2 47. Rb1 Bc4 48. b3 Be6 49. Ke3 Rd8 50. Rb2 Rc8 51. a5 Bf5 52. g4 Re8+
53. Kf4 Rxe1 54. gxf5 {Jakovenko defended very well through the last 20 moves.
The rook endgame which has arisen is completely equal.} Ra1 55. Rg2+ Kf8 56.
Rc2 Rxa5 57. f6 Kg8 58. Rg2+ Kf8 59. Rc2 Ke8 60. Re2+ Kf8 61. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2009.11.25"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Nyback, Tomi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2009.11.21"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{This is one of the ways to avoid the Marshall attack.} Bb7 9. d3 {In this
line White does not pretend for a real opening advantage, hoping to outplay
the opponent in a long-term manoeuvering battle.} d6 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.
Nbd2 b4 {There is nothing wrong with this move, but Black does not have to
play this immediatly. Possible alternatives are 12...Qc7 played by Beliavsky,
or 12...Nc6 employed by Kasimdzhanov.} 13. c3 Rc8 14. Nf1 (14. cxb4 cxb4 15.
Nf1 d5 16. exd5 b3 17. Bxb3 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Bxd5 (18... Qxd5 $6 19. Qxd5 Nxd5 20.
Nxe5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2728)-Aronian,L (2744)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/CBM 117 
(32)}) 19. Qd1 e4 20. dxe4 Nxe4 21. Qe2 Re8 22. Rd1 Qa5 23. Ne3 Ba8 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2728)-Anand,V (2779)/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (27)})
14... bxc3 15. bxc3 c4 16. Bg5 {The next day Svidler clinched another victory
in rapid, even though Nyback had a satisfactory position.} (16. Ng3 cxd3 17.
Qxd3 Nd7 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Nf5 Qc7 21. Red1 Rd8 $11 {1-0 Svidler,P
(2754)-Nyback,T (2628)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2009/The Week in Chess 786 (41)})
16... cxd3 17. Qxd3 Qc7 18. Ng3 g6 $6 {It's understandable to cover the
f5-square against the annoying knight jump, however this move is the source
for Black's troubles as it weakens the dark squares.} (18... h6 $1 19. Bd2 (19.
Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nf5 Rfd8 21. Rad1 Bc6 $11 22. Nxd6 $4 Nb7 $19) 19... Nc4 20. Nf5
Nxd2 21. Nxd2 g6 22. Nxh6+ $6 (22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $11) 22... Kg7 23. Qe3 (23. Nxf7
Rxf7 24. Bxf7 Kxf7 $15) 23... Qxc3 (23... Nh5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gh5f4]}) 24. Qg5
Rh8 25. Nf5+ Kf8 26. Nxe7 Kxe7 {White can't really get the wandering king,
even though this looks risky for Black.}) 19. Rab1 Bc6 $6 {Black shouldn't
neglect the Pa6.} (19... Rfd8 20. Be3 Nd7 $14) 20. Bh6 Rfd8 21. Be3 {[%cal
Ge3b6]} (21. Ng5 d5 22. Qxa6 Ba8 $1 $132 {[%csl Rc3]}) ({Doesn't work:} 21. Nf5
$2 gxf5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Qg3+ Ng4 24. exf5 Kh8 25. hxg4 Bd5 $17) 21... Nd7 22.
Qxa6 Nc5 $6 (22... Ra8 {looks more logical, but White keeps the advantage
anyway by:} 23. Qe2 (23. Qd3 $6 Nb7 $1 {[%cal Gb7c5]}) 23... Nb7 24. Nh2 $1
Nbc5 25. Ng4 Bf8 26. Qf3 Ne6 27. a5 $1 Qxa5 28. Bxe6 fxe6 29. Nf6+ Kg7 30. Bg5
$16) (22... Bxa4 $2 23. Bb6 $1 Nxb6 24. Qxa5 Rb8 25. Rxb6 Rxb6 26. Qxa4 $18)
23. Bxc5 dxc5 24. Bd5 $1 $16 Ra8 (24... Bxa4 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Qxa5 $16) 25.
Qe2 Bxd5 26. exd5 Rxd5 27. Nxe5 Bf8 28. Ng4 {Now the weakness of the dark
squares near the black monarch becomes very apparent.} Bg7 29. Ne4 Rdd8 30.
Nef6+ Kh8 (30... Bxf6 31. Nxf6+ Kg7 32. Ng4 h5 33. Ne3 {was the least of the
evils for Black. He is a pawn down, but at least his king is not in such a
danger as in the game.}) 31. Ne8 $1 Qf4 32. g3 Qf5 {Allowing the elegant
combination that now follows.} (32... Qc4 33. Qe7 Nc6 34. Qc7 Rxe8 35. Rxe8+
Rxe8 36. Qxc6 {should be lost for Black, but was more stubborn.}) {[%tqu "En",
"Please enter a move for White.","","","e8d6","",20]} 33. Nd6 $3 {[%mdl 128]}
Rxd6 {[%tqu "En","Continue the combination.","","","e2e8","",10]} 34. Qe8+ $1
Rxe8 35. Rxe8+ Bf8 36. Rxf8+ Kg7 37. Rbb8 Rd1+ 38. Kh2 Rh1+ (38... f6 39. Rg8+
Kf7 40. Nh6+ $18) 39. Kxh1 Qd5+ 40. Kg1 f5 41. Rfd8 {Brilliant game by Svidler!
} 1-0

[Event "Belgrade RAD 30"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1977.01.15"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Matulovic, Milan"]
[Black "Velimirovic, Dragoljub"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1977.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/9000:16/5400:0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{VELIMIROVIC serait probablement très à l'aise en jouant le gambit d5} (8. c3
d5) 8... Bb7 9. d3 Na5 ({La grande ligne} 9... Re8 10. Nc3 (10. Nbd2)) 10. Ba2
d6 11. Bd2 (11. Nc3) (11. Nbd2 {[%cal Gd2f1,Gf1g3]}) 11... c5 (11... Nc6 12.
Nc3 {[%csl Gd5]} Na7 13. d4 $1 exd4 14. Nxd4 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 a5 17. c3
Bf6 18. Qg4 bxc3 19. Bxc3 Nc8 20. Rac1 Nb6 21. Nc6 Bxc6 22. dxc6 d5 23. Bb1 g6
24. Qf4 Bxc3 25. Rxc3 Re8 26. Rce3 Rxe3 27. Rxe3 Nc4 {1/2-1/2 (27) Keres,
P-Ivkov,B Belgrade 1956}) 12. Bxa5 $5 {L'idée de la ligne secondaire Bd2} Qxa5
13. axb5 $1 {[%cal Ga1a5,Ga2f7] L'idée cachée pour justifier de donner la
paire de B} Qb6 $6 $146 {Un sacrifice risqué} (13... Qxb5 14. Na3 Qd7 15. Nc4
Bd8 16. Bb3 Bc7 17. Qd2 Nh5 18. Ne3 g6 19. g3 Bd8 20. Rf1 Kg7 21. Qe2 Qh3 22.
Kh1 f5 23. Be6 Ra7 24. Qd1 Nf6 25. exf5 Kh8 26. Ra4 Nh5 27. Bd5 Bxd5 28. Nxd5
Rxf5 29. Ne3 Rf8 30. Ng1 Qd7 31. Qg4 Qb7+ 32. f3 Nf6 33. Qe6 Qc6 34. Rfa1 Re8
35. Qh3 d5 36. Qg2 e4 37. dxe4 dxe4 38. f4 a5 39. Nc4 Qe6 40. Re1 Rb7 41. Nh3
Bc7 42. b3 Rb5 43. Ng5 {Toennemann,W-Bierwisch,B Germany 1975 1-0}) 14. bxa6
Rxa6 15. Na3 $1 Qxb2 16. Bc4 Raa8 (16... Rxa3 17. Rb1 Qc3 18. Rxb7 $36 {
[%csl Gb7,Gc4]}) 17. Rb1 Qxa3 18. Rxb7 Ra7 19. Qb1 $14 {[%csl Gc4,Rf7][%cal
Gf3g5]} Bd8 $6 (19... Qa5 $5 {[%csl Gb6] Un moindre mal pour éviter Qb6} 20.
Qb2 {[%cal Ge1b1]}) 20. Ng5 $36 {[%csl Rf7]} Be7 21. Qb6 $1 Rxb7 22. Qxb7 Qb4
$6 23. Rb1 $1 $32 Qxb7 24. Rxb7 $40 {La Rf8 est immobilisée à la défense de
la faiblesse "f7"} d5 $1 25. Bb3 Bd6 (25... h6 26. Nf3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gf3e5]}
) 26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. exd5 h6 28. Ne4 Rd8 29. Nxd6 Rxd6 30. c4 $18 {[%csl Rc5,
Gd5][%cal Gb7c7]} Ra6 31. Kf1 Kf8 32. Rb5 Ra2 33. Rxc5 Ke8 34. Rb5 Rd2 35. Rb3
1-0

[Event "New York op"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Black "Mitkov, Nikola"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1997.04.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 (9... h6 10. Nc3 $5 d6 11. a3 Re8 12. Ba2 Bf8 13. Nh4 $5 b4 14.
axb4 Nxb4 15. Bb3 d5 16. exd5 $5 (16. Qf3 g6 17. exd5 Nbxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19.
Qe4 Bg7 20. Ba4 c6 21. Nf3 Kh7 22. Bb3 c5 23. Qc4 Rc8 {Ioseliani-Xie Jun/
Borshomi cfW (7)/1990/0-1/63/}) 16... Nbxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Ba4) 10. a3 h6
11. Nc3 Bf8 12. Bd2 $146 (12. Nd5 Nd4 (12... Na5 13. Ba2 Bxd5 $2 14. exd5 d6 $6
15. b4 Nb7 16. c4 $16) 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bf4 d6 15. Bg3 Nxd5 16. exd5 g6 17.
Qd2 Qd7 18. a4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Re8 20. Qa5 $14 {Wang Zili-Xie Jun/Beijing/1995/
1-0/}) 12... d6 13. Nd5 $5 (13. Ne2 d5) 13... Nb8 (13... Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Rb8 15.
b4 $14) 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. Nh2 $5 Nd7 16. Ng4 (16. Re3 $5 Qh4 17. Rf3 d5 $8 (
17... Nf6 18. Rf5 $1 $18) 18. exd5 (18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qd4 20. Bc3 Qxd5 $11
) 18... Nf6 19. Rf5 $5 Bc5 $132) 16... Qg6 (16... Qh4 17. Re3 Nc5 18. Rg3 $36)
17. Re3 h5 (17... Be7 $2 18. Rg3 Bg5 19. h4 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 $18) 18. Nh2 (18. Rf3
$6 hxg4 19. Bxf7+ Qxf7 20. Rxf7 Kxf7 21. Qxg4 Nf6 $17) 18... Nc5 19. Rg3 Qh7
20. Ba2 h4 (20... Ne6 $6 21. Nf3) 21. Rf3 Ne6 22. Ng4 Rad8 (22... Qg6 $5) 23.
Rf5 (23. Ba5 Rd7 24. Rf6 $5 Kh8 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Rf3 $14) 23... Bc8 24. Bxe6
$1 Rxe6 (24... Bxe6 25. Rh5 Qg6 26. Rg5 Bxg4 27. Qxg4 Qe6 28. Rf5 $14) 25. Rh5
Qg6 26. Rxh4 Ree8 (26... Be7 27. Rh5) 27. Rh5 f6 28. f4 $5 exf4 (28... d5 29.
f5 Qf7 (29... Bc5+ 30. Kh1 Qf7 31. Rh6 $1 dxe4 32. Rxf6 Qd7 33. Rg6) 30. Qf3
dxe4 31. Qg3 Bc5+ 32. Kh1 Kf8 (32... Qe7 33. Nh6+ Kf8 34. Qg6) 33. Rh8+ Ke7 34.
Nxe5 $1 fxe5 35. Qxe5+ Kd7 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. Qxc5 $18) 29. Bxf4 c6 30. Qf3 Be6
31. Qg3 Kf7 (31... d5 32. Nxf6+ (32. Rh4 $1 Bc5+ (32... Kf7 33. Bc7 Rd7 34.
Ne5+ $18) (32... Bf7 33. Nh6+ $1) 33. Kh1 Kf8 34. Rf1 $1 dxe4 35. Bc7 $18 Rd7
$140 36. Rh8+ Ke7 37. Nxf6 $18) 32... Qxf6 33. Be5 Bc5+ $1 34. Kh1 Bf2 $1 35.
Bxf6 Bxg3 36. Rg5 Bb8 37. Rxg7+ Kf8 38. Rf1 Rd7 $1) 32. Qh4 d5 $2 $138 (32...
Bxg4) 33. Ne5+ $3 (33. Rg5 fxg5 34. Ne5+ Kg8 $1 (34... Kf6 $2 35. Qf2 $1 Qh7
36. Bxg5+ Kxg5 (36... Kxe5 $2 37. Qg3+ Kd4 38. Be3#) 37. h4+ Qxh4 (37... Kh5
38. Qf3+ Kxh4 39. g3+ Kg5 40. Qf4+ Kh5 41. Qh4#) 38. Nf3+ $18) 35. Bxg5 Bc5+
36. Kh1 Bf2 $1 37. Nxg6 Bxh4 38. Bxh4 Rd7 $13) 33... fxe5 34. Rf1 $6 (34. Bg5
$1 Bc5+ (34... Re7 35. Rf1+ Ke8 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Bxe7+) 35. d4 $1 Bxd4+ 36.
Kh1 Rd7 37. Rf1+ Bf5 38. Rxf5+ Ke6 39. Qg4 $1 $18) 34... Bxh3 $2 $138 (34...
exf4 $1 35. Rxf4+ Qf6 $1 36. Rxf6+ (36. e5 Qxf4 37. Qxf4+ Kg8) 36... gxf6 37.
Rh7+ Bg7 38. Qh5+ Kf8 $1 (38... Kg8 $2 39. Qg6 Re7 40. e5 $1 fxe5 41. Rxg7+
Rxg7 42. Qxe6+ $18) 39. Qg6 Rd7 $13) 35. Bg5+ (35. Bg3+ $1 Ke6 36. Rxe5+ Kd7
37. Qxh3+ Re6 38. exd5 Bc5+ 39. Kh2 cxd5 40. Rxd5+) 35... Ke6 36. Qxh3+ Kd6 37.
Bxd8 Rxd8 38. Rh8 (38. exd5 $142 $1 cxd5 39. Rxe5 Kxe5 40. Qe3+ Kd6 41. Qb6+)
38... Be7 39. Rxd8+ Bxd8 40. Qf5 $6 Bb6+ 41. Kh2 Qh6+ 42. Qh3 (42. Kg3 $5 $18)
42... Qd2 43. exd5 cxd5 44. Qh5 (44. Rf7 $5) 44... Be3 $8 (44... Bf2 45. Qg6+
Kc5 46. Rxf2) 45. Qg6+ Kc5 46. b4+ Kd4 47. Qc6 $1 Bf4+ 48. Kh3 Ke3 (48... e4
49. Qc5+ Ke5 50. Qc7+ Kf5 (50... Kd4 51. Rxf4) 51. g4+ Kg5 52. Qxg7#) 49. Qxd5
1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 16 GpA"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.02.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Pinter, Jozsef"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2006.02.03"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Bischwiller"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
(8. c3) (8. a4) 8... Bb7 9. d3 d6 (9... Re8 {la grande ligne}) (9... d5 {
La derniиre mode} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. c3 {Grischuk,A (2726)-Aronian,L (2750)
World Championship 2007 (3) 1/2}) 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Rae8 12. Nf1 Bd8 13. Ng3
Kh8 14. a4 Na5 15. Ba2 b4 16. Be3 $146 ({RR} 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 c5 18. Bg5
Bc6 19. Qc1 Ng8 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. d4 Qc7 22. Qa3 Ba8 23. Rad1 Nf6 24. Rd2 Rde8
25. dxc5 dxc5 26. Nh2 Rd8 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Ng4 Nxg4 29. hxg4 g6 30. Qc1 c4 {
Karjakin,S (2635)-Aronian,L (2693)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108/1/2-1/2 (64)}) 16... c5
17. Nd2 Qc6 18. Nh5 (18. Qf3 $142 $14 {Adams}) 18... Bc8 19. Nxf6 Bxf6 20. Bd5
Qc7 21. c3 bxc3 22. bxc3 Be6 23. Rb1 $14 Rb8 24. Qc2 Bxd5 25. exd5 c4 $6 26.
Rb4 $36 {[%csl Ra5,Gc6]} Rfc8 27. Reb1 Bd8 28. Bb6 $1 Qxb6 29. Rxb6 Bxb6 30.
Ne4 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Ge4d6]} Rd8 31. dxc4 h6 32. Nxd6 Rxd6 33. c5 Rxd5 34. cxb6
Nc4 35. Qe2 Rc5 36. Rb4 {NAO a remportй le match 6-0} 1-0

[Event "POL-chT 66th"]
[Site "Katowice"]
[Date "2010.09.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Black "Kravtsiv, Martyn"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[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 "Gorzow Wielkopolski"]
[BlackTeam "Prokonex"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. c3 Nc6 14. Nf1 Be6 15. Bxe6
fxe6 16. b4 Ne8 (16... Qd7 17. Ng3 cxb4 18. axb4 a5 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxa5 Nxa5
21. Bd2 Bd8 22. Qc2 Bc7 23. Qa2 h6 24. Rb1 Ra8 25. Rb4 d5 26. exd5 exd5 27. Ne4
Rf8 28. Nxf6+ Rxf6 29. Be3 Kh7 30. Qb1 Nc6 31. Rxb5 d4 32. cxd4 exd4 33. Bd2
Rxf3 34. gxf3 Qxh3 35. f4 Qg4+ 36. Kf1 Ne7 37. Qe1 Qh3+ 38. Kg1 Qg4+ 39. Kf1
Qh3+ 40. Ke2 Ng6 41. Qf1 Qe6+ 42. Kd1 Qc6 43. Rb4 Bxf4 44. Rxd4 Qf6 45. Rc4
Qa1+ 46. Rc1 {Leko,P (2720)-Beliavsky,A (2617) Porto Carras 2011 1/2-1/2}) 17.
Bb2 Nc7 18. Ne3 Bf6 19. Qe2 Qd7 20. Red1 cxb4 21. axb4 a5 22. bxa5 Rxa5 23.
Rxa5 Nxa5 24. Qc2 Qc6 25. Ba3 Nb7 26. Ng4 Ra8 27. Bb4 Na6 28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29.
Qd2 Rf8 30. Nh2 Nbc5 31. Ng4 $14 {[%csl Rf6,Rh6]} Qe8 32. Bxc5 Nxc5 33. Qe3 (
33. f3 Qg6 34. d4 $16 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4]}) 33... Qg6 34. Rb1 h5 35. Nh2 f5 36.
Rxb5 fxe4 37. dxe4 Nxe4 38. Nf3 Nf6 39. c4 $1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gc4c5]} Qf5 40.
Nd4 (40. c5 $36 {[%csl Re5]}) 40... Qe4 41. Nxe6 (41. Qg3+ $1 Kh8 42. Nxe6)
41... Qxe3 42. fxe3 Rc8 43. c5 Kf7 44. Ng5+ Kg6 45. cxd6 (45. h4 dxc5 {[%cal
Gc5c1]}) 45... Kxg5 46. Rxe5+ Kg6 47. e4 Rc1+ 48. Kf2 Rd1 49. Re6 Kf7 50. Re7+
Kg6 51. e5 $44 {[%csl Gd6,Ge5]} Ne4+ 52. Kf3 Nc5 53. Re8 Rd3+ 54. Kf4 Rd4+ 55.
Kf3 Rd3+ 56. Kf4 Rd4+ 57. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.24"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 {Tomahevsky had already employed this system
against Yu Yangyi last year, so it is unclear why Kamsky's opening wasn't
particularly well prepared. Despite the fact that the move 8.h3 is
specifically made with the idea of avoiding the Marshall, Black players have
found ways of sacrificing a pawn for counterplay anyways.} 11. a4 {unusual.
Taking the pawn is the main line and the critical continuation.} Nd4 12. Nbd2
Nxb3 13. Nxb3 Nb4 $1 {An interesting novelty that shows that Tomashevsky is
prepared in every variation. Karjakin had employed f6 previously with success,
but the engines insist this is a stronger move. Taking the pawn on e5 is
possible.} 14. axb5 Bxf3 15. gxf3 axb5 (15... Qd7 $5 16. bxa6 Qxh3 {looks
dangerous for White.}) 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Rxe5 Bd6 18. Rxb5 {White is up two
pawns, but with his weak kingside and discoordinated pieces he must be very
careful against any kind of aggression.} Re8 (18... Nxc2 $5 19. Qxc2 Qxf3 {
is actually interesting, and its very likely the game ends in some sort of
perpetual.}) 19. Kg2 h6 {This is the point in which Kamsky maybe should have
tried to kick back some of Black's pieces.} 20. Nc5 (20. c3 $1 Nd5 21. Ra5 $1
Qb7 22. Nc5 {and White is in a better position than in the game.}) 20... Nd5
21. Ne4 Qc6 22. Nxd6 $6 (22. c4 $1 Nf4+ 23. Bxf4 Bxf4 24. Ng3 {White hasn't
fully consolidated but at least with the strong knight on g3 the defense on of
the kingside is much easier.}) 22... Qxd6 23. c4 c6 24. Rb3 Nf4+ 25. Bxf4 Qxf4
{Unlike the other variation we saw earlier, here White's king is completely
exposed and Black will have a draw by perpetual in many variations.} 26. d4
Qg5+ 27. Kf1 Qh5 28. Re3 $5 {Keeping the game alive. Black probably wouldn't
have had anything better than repetition had white protected his h3-pawn.}
Qxh3+ 29. Ke2 Rb8 30. Qc2 h5 $5 {Interestingly, this pawn becomes quite
dangerous even though it seemed non-threatening from h6.} 31. b3 $6 {A little
bit of a waste of tempo - but more important than that the weakening of the
second rank gives Black extra chances.} Ra8 32. d5 cxd5 33. cxd5 Qd7 34. Qd1
Ra6 35. b4 $6 (35. Qd4 $1 {stopping the pawn on the h-file and taking control
of a1 looks risky because of ...Ra2+, but it actually keeps the balance in the
position.}) 35... h4 $1 36. Qd4 $6 {Too late.} h3 $1 37. Kf1 {Kamsky thinks he
can stop the pawn... and he can, but at a huge price.} h2 38. Kg2 h1=Q+ $1 39.
Kxh1 {The h-pawn has vanished, but now White's king falls to a swift attack.}
Qh3+ 40. Kg1 Rg6+ {The game really turned in the time pressure in which Kamsky
greatly overestimated his chances. Tomashevsky shows great tenacity and
patience and was able to capitalize on Kamsky's time-pressure induced mistakes.
} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[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 0:00:04]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:06]
} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 9. d4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} d6 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} 10. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 11. Nbd2 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 12. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:05:
38]} 13. h3 {[%emt 0:02:30]} h6 {[%emt 0:08:00]} (13... Rd8 14. Nc4 Nd4 15.
Nxd4 Rxd4 16. Be3 Rxe4 17. Qf3 Bb7 18. Na5 Rxe3 19. Qxb7 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Re8 21.
Qxa6 e4 22. Nc4 e3 23. Nxe3 Ne4 24. Qc4 g6 25. Ng4 Nd2 26. Qxf7+ {1-0 (26)
Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Aronian,L (2785) Doha 2016}) 14. a5 {[%emt 0:09:26]}
Rd8 {[%emt 0:13:08]} 15. Bc4 {[%emt 0:12:04]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:03:10]} 16. Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:29]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:06:29]} Be6 {[%emt 0:19:
35]} 18. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:11:00]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 19. Nf5 {[%emt 0:25:59]}
Qe6 {[%emt 0:08:00]} 20. Qe3 $146 {[%emt 0:01:56]} (20. Qf3 Kh7 21. b3 Bb5 22.
Qg3 Rg8 23. Qh4 Ne8 24. Bd2 Nd6 25. Qe7 Rge8 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Bxb4 Nxf5 28.
exf5 Ree8 29. Rad1 Bc6 30. Rd3 Rab8 31. Rc3 Bd5 32. Ba3 Rb5 33. Rxc7 Rxa5 34.
Bd6 f6 35. c4 Bg8 36. Re3 e4 37. Rg3 Rxf5 38. Rgxg7+ Kh8 39. Rg6 Rh5 40. g4
Rxh3 41. Kg2 {1-0 (41) Caruana,F (2791)-Tomashevsky,E (2695) Dubai 2014}) 20...
Ne8 {[%emt 0:09:46]} 21. Qc5 {[%emt 0:01:49]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:13:27]} 22. Qxb4 {
[%emt 0:02:28]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:03:39]} 23. Ng3 {[%emt 0:05:59]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:
57]} 24. Qc3 {[%emt 0:03:24]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:04:08]} 25. f4 {[%emt 0:01:44]} Bc6
{[%emt 0:04:26]} 26. f5 {[%emt 0:13:32]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 27. Kh2 {[%emt 0:
00:30]} Nb5 {[%emt 0:04:06]} 28. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 29.
Qf2 {[%emt 0:04:57]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 30. Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Be8 {
[%emt 0:02:02]} 31. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 32. Rg3 {[%emt 0:
00:47]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 33. Rc3 {[%emt 0:02:27]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:02:33]} 34.
Ng3 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Be8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 35. Nh1 {[%emt 0:00:55]} c4 {[%emt 0:
04:11]} 36. Qh4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 37. Qf2 {[%emt 0:01:31]}
Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 38. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 39. Rf1 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:02:45]} 40. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:
51]} 41. Re3 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 42. Nh5 {[%emt 0:03:09]} Be8
{[%emt 0:07:03]} 43. Qh4 {[%emt 0:08:52]} Bxh5 {[%emt 0:04:03]} 44. Qxh5 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 45. Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nxc2 {[%emt 0:02:
23]} 46. Rg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 47. Rg6 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Rd3
{[%emt 0:08:01]} 48. Qg4 {[%emt 0:18:16]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 49. Qh5 {
[%emt 0:01:37]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 50. Qg4 {[%emt 0:10:50]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:
55]} 51. Qh5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 52. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Nd4
{[%emt 0:02:41]} 53. Rxd3 {[%emt 0:02:00]} cxd3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 54. Bd2 {
[%emt 0:01:08]} Ne2 {[%emt 0:16:33]} 55. Qf3 {[%emt 0:03:41]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:
17]} 56. Qf2 {[%emt 0:01:24]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 57. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:57]} Rd7
{[%emt 0:01:01]} 58. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:02:59]} 59. Be3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:04:13]} 60. Qe1 $2 (60. Bxd4 exd4 61. e5 Qc7 (
61... fxe5 62. Rxa6 $5 (62. Qf3 {gives White at least enough counterplay here.}
)) 62. Qf3 $1 Qxe5+ 63. g3 {and the threat of the perpetual cannot be avoided.}
) 60... Rxe4 61. Qd2 Rxe3 (61... Qd5 {was cleaner, but who is counting?}) 62.
Qxe3 Qd7 {Now White has no perpetual possibilities and the pawn on d3 is a
monster. The rook on g6, without the possibilities of breaks on f6, seems
completely stuck and out of place.} 63. Qb6 Nf4 64. Rg3 d2 65. Qb8+ Kf7 66.
Qb3+ Qd5 67. Qd1 e4 68. Qg4 g5 69. fxg6+ Kg7 70. Rc3 Qd6 {Black queens next
move.} 0-1

[Event "Barcelona Casino 18th"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2013.10.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2013.10.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{it is for this reason that many players prefer to play 7...d6 instead of
castling, but then Black loses the possibility of playing the Marshall.} b4 9.
d3 Bc5 $5 {Despite the cost of a tempo, this move makes sense. White's knight
can no longer go to c3, which makes the pin on the h4-d8 diagonal less
threatening as White would never have Nd5 to reinforce Bg5. Hansen is not only
a talented player, but he is a very hard worker and this shows that he has
been studying his Spanish and has new ideas.} (9... d6 {has been played almost
exclusively.}) 10. h3 d6 11. c3 bxc3 12. bxc3 Rb8 13. Ba2 Ne7 {The transfer of
the knight might be too soon.} (13... Be6 {works well with putting the bishop
on c5 as the f-file opening will favor Black.}) 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bb4 16.
Bd2 a5 $6 {a little slow. There was no reason to reinforce the bishop.} (16...
d5 $1 17. e5 Ne4 18. Bxb4 Rxb4 19. Nbd2 Bf5 {with chances for both sides.
Black is active while White has the better pawn structure.}) 17. Nc3 Bb7 18.
Qc2 Ng6 19. Nb5 c6 20. Nc3 {A clever maneouver, how Black's bishop is locked
behind its own pawn.} Ba6 21. Rad1 Nd7 22. e5 $1 {Perfect timing.} dxe5 23.
dxe5 Nc5 24. Bg5 Qc8 (24... Bd3 {is not a human move; no one wants to pin
themselves like this.}) 25. Re3 $1 {Very powerful! The rook joins the fray by
allowing itself to transfer to the kingside as well as taking control of d3
and defending the knight on c3.} Re8 26. h4 Nf8 27. Nd4 Qc7 $2 {Losing, but it
was hard to suggest something.} 28. Nf5 Nce6 29. Nxg7 $1 {A pretty way of
demolishing Black's defenses.} Nxg7 30. Nd5 $1 {This is the point.} Qa7 31.
Nf6+ Kh8 32. Nxe8 Rxe8 33. Bf6 {Material is about even, but with Black's
king's position it is impossible for him to survive. Black is a few tempi
short to be able to save his majesty.} Kg8 34. Rg3 Ng6 35. h5 {The Spanish is
a tricky opening. It seems equal at point to the eyes of the uninitiated, but
suddenly a couple of precise strikes gives one side a winning edge.} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 1st"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2013.09.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.09.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Aronian was the last person on his board, arriving only a few minutes before
the opening moves.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nbd2 {The players
confidently blitzed to this position, but here Aronian began to think. Maybe
he was not anticipating this in his preparation, but it seemed that he wasn't
out of his own book as he quickly replied...} Nfd7 12. Nd4 c5 13. Nf5 {Hikaru
has nothing to complain out of the opening. His powerful control of the
lightsquares a dangerous knight on f5 should give him the better position.} Nf6
14. Ne3 (14. Nf3 $5 {was maybe a better move, trying to mobilize all of
White's pieces, but Black can try to create counterplay after} Bxf5 15. exf5
Qc7 {preparing c4.} (15... c4 $2 {this move immediately does not work because}
16. Nxe5 cxb3 17. Nc6 {is a deadly fork.})) 14... Bb7 15. f3 Ng6 $6 {White
retains strong pressure after this. Levon spent a lot of time on this move but
maybe he was not confident in his calculations nonetheless.} (15... d5 $1 {
Breaking in the center is the only reason to put the bishop on b7.} 16. exd5
Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxe5 Bxb3 19. Rxe7 $1 (19. cxb3 $2 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Qxe5 {
and Black wins.}) 19... Qxe7 20. Nxb3 Rad8 21. Qf1 c4 $1 22. Nd2 Qc5+ $1 23.
Qf2 Qe5 {Despite White's material advantage, it's very hard to see how exactly
he will untangle. It is more pleasant to be Black, but maybe Aronian was
worried that White would be able to develop and utilize his material advantage.
}) 16. Ndc4 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Nxe7+ Ngxe7 20. Bg5 {White's pair
of bishops secures him a slight but stable advantage. Also, Black's pawn
structure on the queenside is not the best.} Nf5 21. c3 (21. Na5 $5 {would've
been a very interesting move, since after} Qxa5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Qxd5 {
White's pieces are clearly dominating the board.}) 21... bxc3 22. bxc3 h6 23.
Qd3 g6 24. Bd2 Rad8 25. Qe2 Nf4 {It seems that with this move Black starts
regaining control of the position and equality. White's only advantage is the
pair of bishops and without it Black should hold without problems.} 26. Bxf4
Qxf4 27. Rad1 Bd5 28. Nd2 Bxb3 29. Nxb3 Qxa4 30. Nxc5 Qb5 $4 {A stunning
blunder!} (30... Qc6 31. Ne4 {would have led to an easy draw.}) 31. Qxb5 axb5
32. Nd7 {Nakamura played this instantly, after which Aronian was visibly
shaken. He might have completely forgotten about this resource which wins an
exchange. The Armenian was very fidgety before he decided his best chance was
to immediately take on d7.} Rxd7 33. Rxd7 Ra8 {Without the queenside pawns
Black might have some hope of holding the draw.} 34. Kf2 Ra6 35. g4 Nh4 36. f4
Rc6 37. Re8+ Kg7 38. Ree7 Rf6 39. Kg3 g5 40. f5 h5 41. Re6 {Nakamura starts
the tournament with an unexpected win.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ronchetti, Niccolo"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2419"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Reeh,O"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Italy II"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ITA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 h6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 Nc5 16. Ba2 Bc8 17. Ng4 Be6 18. Qf3 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Bxa2 20. Rxa2 c6 21. Ra1
d5 22. Qg3 f6 23. Be3 Ne6 24. Rad1 Rc8 25. d4 $2 {Prematurely opening the
centre. Eine verfrьhte Цffnung des Zentrums.} exd4 26. Nxd4 Nxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxe4
28. Rxe4 dxe4 $15 29. Bf4 Qd5 30. Qe3 g5 31. Bg3 Re8 32. Qe2 {[%tqu "En",
"White threatens to play 32.Rd1, conquering the d-file. How can this be
prevented most effectively?","Black can try to weaken the diagonal c5-g1, on
which the white king is placed.","Make use of the pawn on e4.","e4e3","Very
good, if you noticed that White can't well take on e3.",10,"De","WeiЯ droht,
mit 32.Td1 die d-Linie zu erobern. Wie lдsst sich das am wirksamsten
verhindern?","Schwarz kann versuchen, die Diagonale c5-g1 zu schwдchen, auf
der ja der weiЯe Kцnig steht.","Setzen Sie den Bauern e4 ein.","e4e3","Sehr
gut - sofern Sie berechnet haben, dass WeiЯ schlecht auf e3 schlagen kann.",10]
} e3 $1 33. f3 {The e-pawn has become a very strong passed pawn, cramping
Whites game enormously. Aus dem e-Bauern ist ein bдrenstarker Freibauer
geworden, der das weiЯe Spiel enorm einengt.} (33. fxe3 Rxe3 {, and , und} 34.
Qxe3 {fails to scheitert an} Bc5) 33... Bc5 (33... Rd8 $2 {would allow erlaubt}
34. Bc7 Rd7 35. Bb6 {and the pawn on e3 falls. und der Bauer e3 fдllt.}) 34.
Rd1 $4 {White want's to conquer the d-file, but... WeiЯ will die d-Linie
erobern, aber...} {[%tqu "En","34.Rd1 was exactly the continuation Black had
prevented with his last move. Why?","Black's passed pawn on e3 is not as
safely blocked as it seems. The bishop on c5 targets the king on g1.","Black
can lure the white queen away from the blockade square e2, enabling the passed
pawn on e3 to advance with check.","d5d1","Forcing a decisive discovered check.
",10,"De","34.Td1 war genau die Fortsetzung, die Schwarz mit seinem letzten
Zug verhindert hatte. Warum?","Der schwarze Freibauer auf e3 ist nicht so
sicher blockiert, wie es scheint. Der Lдufer auf c5 zielt gegen den Kg1.",
"Schwarz kann die weiЯe Dame von dem Blockadefeld e2 weglocken, wonach der
Freibauer auf e3 mit Schach vorrьcken kann.","d5d1","Erzwingt ein
entscheidendes Abzugsschach.",10]} Qxd1+ $1 {Winning the house. Gewinnt Haus
und Hof.} (34... Qxd1+ 35. Qxd1 e2+) 0-1

[Event "Capablanca Memorial Elite 31st"]
[Site "Cienfuegos"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rodriguez Cespedes, Amador"]
[Black "Garcia, Gildardo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Rodriguez,Am"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3 (10. Bg5 $5 {it is a sound alternstive even though very
few GMs play it}) 10... h6 (10... Bf8 11. Bg5 $5 {Topalov-Short, Elenite 1995,
CBM 50}) 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 Na5 13. Bc2 c5 14. Ng3 d5 15. Nh2 $5 c4 $5 16.
Ng4 cxd3 17. Qxd3 Nxg4 (17... Nxe4 18. f3 (18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qg3 Kh7 20. Nxe5
$36) 18... Bc5+ 19. Kh2 h5 (19... Nxg3 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Qh8+ Ke7 22. Qxg7 $16)
20. Nh6+ gxh6 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Qe2 $44) 18. hxg4 dxe4 (18... d4 $5) 19. Qe2 $1
$14 {[%cal Gc2h7]} Nc4 20. Nxe4 {[%cal Rg4g5]} Nd6 21. Rd1 {[%cal Re4d6,Ye2d3,
Yd3h7]} Qb6 {The critical moment, Black would be clearly worse after 21...Bxe4
so he decides to allow the apparently devastating exchange on d6 followed by
Qd3. Here I thought for nearly 40 minutes.} 22. Be3 {A safe move not entering
the complications.} (22. Nxd6 Bxd6 23. Qd3 Qc6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. f3 {Black now
has many alternatives, of all of them 25...e4 seems the best to avoid a rapid
disaster.} e4 $1 (25... Bc5+ 26. Kh2 (26. Kf1 Ba7 $1 (26... Bb6 27. b3 b4 (
27... Qc5 $2 28. Ba3 $3 Qxa3 29. Rd7 $18) 28. cxb4) 27. Qh8+ (27. b3 b4 28.
cxb4 Qb6) 27... Ke7 28. Qxg7 Qc5 29. Bg5+ hxg5 30. Qxg5+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ $10) (26.
Kh1 Rad8 (26... Re6 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Qxg7) (26... e4 27. Bxe4 Qc7 (27... Qf6
28. g5 Qe5 29. Rd7) 28. Bxh6 gxh6 29. Qxh6+ Ke7 30. Qh4+ Kf8 31. Bxb7 Qxb7 32.
Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qe5+ $18) (26... Ke7 27. Qxg7) 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxg7
) 26... e4 27. Qh8+ (27. Bxe4 Qf6 28. g5 Qe5+ 29. g3 Bxe4 30. fxe4 Qxe4 31.
Qxe4 Rxe4 32. gxh6 Re2+ 33. Kh3 Kg8 34. Rd5 Bf8 $44) 27... Ke7 28. Qxg7 Bd6+ (
28... Qc7+ 29. g3 Rg8 30. Qxh6 $1 Rh8 31. Bg5+ $18) (28... exf3 29. Re1+ Kd8
30. Bf4 $40) 29. g3 (29. Kh3 $5) 29... Qc5 $13) (25... Ke7 26. Qxg7 Rh8 (26...
Rg8 27. Qxh6 Rxg4 (27... Rh8 28. Bg5+ Kd7 29. Be4) 28. Qxd6+ Qxd6 29. Rxd6 Bxf3
30. Rd2 Rag8 31. Kf2) 27. Bb3) 26. Bxe4 (26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. Qxg7 exf3 28. Re1+
Kd8 29. Qf6+ Re7 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Rd6c5]} 30. Qh8+ (30. Rd1 Qb6+ 31. Rd4 Bd5 $1
$13 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Rd6h2]}) 30... Kc7 31. Rxe7+ Bxe7 32. Bf4+ Kb6 33. Be3+
Bc5 $17) 26... Qc5+ 27. Kh1 (27. Kf1 Bxe4 28. fxe4 Rad8 $1 {[%cal Rc5c4]}) (27.
Rd4 Bxe4 28. fxe4 Rad8 $5 (28... Be5 29. Be3) 29. Be3 Qe5 $36) 27... Bxe4 28.
fxe4 Qf2 29. Rxd6 Qh4+ 30. Kg1 Qe1+ $10) 22... Qc6 23. f3 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Qc7 25.
Bxb7 Qxb7 26. Rd2 Rad8 27. Rad1 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 Qc8 (28... e4 29. f4 Qc8 30. Qd7)
29. Kf2 e4 30. Qd7 Qb8 31. f4 $16 Be7 32. Qa7 Qc8 33. Rd7 Bh4+ $1 34. g3 Rd8
35. Rxd8+ Bxd8 36. Qd4 Bf6 $5 (36... Qa8 37. Qd7 $16) 37. Qxe4 Qxg4 38. Qa8+ (
38. Qe8+ Kh7 39. Qxf7 h5 40. Bd4 $14) 38... Kh7 39. Qxa6 h5 40. Qxb5 (40. Qc6
$1 h4 41. Qf3 Qe6 42. Qh5+ Kg8 43. gxh4 Qxa2 44. Qxb5 Bxc3 45. Bc1 $16) 40...
h4 41. Qd3+ Kg8 42. Bd4 (42. Bd2 Qh3 $3 43. Kg1 hxg3 44. Qe2 Bd8 45. Qg2 Bb6+
46. Kf1 Qg4 47. Qa8+ Kh7 48. Qe4+ g6 $44) 42... hxg3+ 43. Kg2 Bxd4 44. cxd4 (
44. Qxd4 Qh4 45. Kf3 Qh2 (45... f5 $5 46. Qd5+ Kh8 47. Qxf5 Qh2) 46. Qd8+ Kh7
47. Qd3+ Kg8 48. Qe2 Qh5+ 49. Ke3 Qh1) 44... Qxf4 45. Qxg3 Qe4+ 46. Qf3 Qxd4
47. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +2-2=10"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "2016.11.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2857"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "187"]
[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"]

{Another marathon game in the match, another triumph of defence and another
draw... At the beginning of game four it seemed as if Karjakin had not yet
recovered from the previous tiring encounter, as some of his decisions right
after the opening were doubtful, to say the least. But then, in a very
critical situation, where most of the specialists predicted a sure win for
Carlsen, the Russian grandmaster again displayed his fantastic skills in
defending inferior positions and succeeded in getting the desired draw after
almost 7 hours of play.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 {
In the second game of the match Karjakin went for 6.d3.} 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O
8. h3 {A popular Anti-Marshall system, which tends to lead to a complicated
strategical battle, with many theoretical subleties.} Bb7 9. d3 d6 ({Here
Black can still play in Marshall-style with} 9... d5 {but Karjakin has a lot
of experience with such positions which he plays with both colours. So Carlsen
decides to go for a positional game.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 (11. Nbd2 f6 12.
a3 Kh8 13. Ba2 Nf4 14. Ne4 Ng6 15. Be3 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. h4 f5 18. Neg5
Nxh4 19. Ne6 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Qd6 21. Nxf8 Rxf8 22. Kf1 Bg5 23. Re6 Qf4 24. Qe2
Bxf3 25. Qe5 Qh4 26. Qg3 Qh1+ 27. Qg1 Qh5 {0-1 (27) Topalov,V (2752)-Karjakin,
S (2779) Astana 2012}) 11... Nd4 12. Bd2 c5 13. Nc3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Nb4 15. Ne4
f5 16. Ng3 Qd5 17. Nf3 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qd5 19. Nf3 Qd7 20. Bxb4 cxb4 21. d4 Rac8
22. Qd3 Bd6 23. Ne5 Qc7 24. Nxf5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 {Karjakin,S (2747)-Onischuk,A 
(2688) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010, and White went on to win.}) 10. a3 Qd7 ({Both} 
10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5) ({and} 10... Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 {had been played by
Carlsen before. However, Karjakin's answer came instantly.}) 11. Nbd2 Rfe8 {
This move might have been a surprise for the contender. He thought for 12
minutes before coming up with a reply and also spent a lot of time on his next
moves. In previous games Karjakin had faced 11...Rae8 and 11...Nd8.} 12. c3 {
Why did it take Karjakin so long to play this natural move? First of all,
despite his huge experience in these types of position, Karjakin never had
this particular one in his practice before. Secondly, the position is quite
complicated strategically and it is not easy to figure out whether White needs
to play c2-c3 at all. For instance it looks logical to postpone it and start
with 12.Nf1. Generally speaking, modern theory considers this type of position
as slightly better for White. But again, with a lot of strategic subtleties.
As grandmaster Nigel Short put it: "In such positions, with White I always
feel I have no advantage, but with Black that I can't equalise".} Bf8 13. Nf1
h6 14. N3h2 {Preparing the typical action on the kingside, which is met by the
standard counterplay in the centre.} d5 15. Qf3 {White now threatens to take
on h6 and actually has a simple plan: he wants to play Ng3, Ng4 and so on.
Black must react very precisely and Carlsen is up to this task.} Na5 16. Ba2
dxe4 {Played after ten minutes.} ({Possibly the World Champion wondered
whether he had compensation in variations like} 16... c5 17. Bxh6 c4 18. Rad1 (
18. Bg5 {allows} dxe4 19. dxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 f5 {which is very unlear}) 18...
dxe4 19. dxe4 Qc6 {but then decided to go for the more solid game continuation.
}) 17. dxe4 Nc4 18. Bxh6 {A curious moment. After a long think Karjakin makes
the most principled move, but soon ends up in a very unpleasant position.
Taking on h6 is not a mistake yet, but White must have missed something, as
his next move is clearly not the best way to continue.} (18. Ng4 {maintains
equality.}) 18... Qc6 $1 {Very precise play by Carlsen. Black had several
sharp alternatives, but the World Champion rightly rejected them.} (18... Nxb2
19. Bg5 Nh7 20. Bh4 c5 21. Re2 Nc4 22. Bxc4 bxc4 23. Rd2 {and White has an
advantage.}) (18... Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Bxe4 (19... f5 $2 {loses due to} 20. Rxc4
Bxf3 21. Rxc7+) 20. Qxe4 gxh6 21. Ng4 Bg7 22. Nfe3 {with good positional
compensation for White.}) 19. Bxc4 $6 {This doubtful move was played after 16
minutes of thinking! Maybe Karjakin already disliked his position so much,
that he decided to go for a clearly worse endgame, hoping to hold it.
Amazingly, this worked out in the end...} ({There was still nothing wrong with
White's position after} 19. Bc1 {For example:} Nxe4 20. Ne3 Ned6 21. Qxc6 Bxc6
22. Nhg4 {which is about equal.}) 19... bxc4 (19... Qxc4 20. Nd2 $1 {and White
keeps his extra pawn}) 20. Be3 Nxe4 21. Ng3 Nd6 ({Both} 21... Nxg3) ({and} 
21... Qg6 {were good alternatives as well. In all cases Black has the
advantage.}) 22. Rad1 Rab8 23. Bc1 f6 24. Qxc6 Bxc6 25. Ng4 Rb5 26. f3 {
Thanks to his bishop pair and the pressure on b2 Black has a clear advantage.
Basically there are two ways to treat the position: to play slowly with a move
like 26...Kf7, improving the pieces step by step, or take immediate action -
which is what Carlsen did in the game.} f5 {Black takes advantage of the fact
that the knight cannot go to e3, but slow play might have been more unpleasant
for Karjakin, who was already feeling some time pressure.} 27. Nf2 (27. Ne3 $2
f4) 27... Be7 ({Perhaps} 27... Kf7 {was more accurate, as now} 28. f4 {would
be a mistake due to} exf4 29. Ne2 Rbe5) 28. f4 $1 {As usual, in a difficult
situation Karjakin starts to defend extremely well. White needs to simplify
the position, as otherwise he will soon run out of air.} Bh4 ({Another
attractive option was} 28... exf4 29. Ne2 Ne4 (29... g5 30. Nd4 Rb6 31. Nxc6
Rxc6 32. Rd5 {followed by h4 gives White sufficient counterplay.}) 30. Nxe4
Bxe4 31. Nxf4 Rbb8 {In both cases Black is better and it is not easy to decide
which position leaves Black with more winning chances.}) 29. fxe5 Bxg3 (29...
Rbxe5 {is not convincing:} 30. Rxe5 Rxe5 31. Bf4 Rb5 32. Rd2 {and White has
good chances to escape.}) 30. exd6 Rxe1+ 31. Rxe1 cxd6 32. Rd1 Kf7 ({After the
principled} 32... Re5 33. Nh1 $1 (33. Kf1 Re6 {with ideas like ...Rg6}) 33...
f4 (33... Bh4 {leads nowhere:} 34. Rxd6 Re1+ 35. Kh2) ({but maybe} 33... Ba4
34. Rf1 Bh4 35. Bf4 Rd5 {is the best}) 34. Nxg3 fxg3 35. Kf1 Be4 {Black has a
clear advantage. However, the question remains the same: is it enough for a
win?}) 33. Rd4 Re5 34. Kf1 Rd5 35. Rxd5 Bxd5 36. Bg5 Kg6 37. h4 {A very
committal decision in time trouble, as the pawn on h4 will fall soon. In
return White gets the possibility to activate the knight via h3.} Kh5 38. Nh3
Bf7 39. Be7 Bxh4 40. Bxd6 Bd8 {The time trouble is over and we can reach some
conclusions: White has succeeded in avoiding the worst and simplified the
position. However, even if Black fails to increase his advantage, he still has
reasonable winning chances, as the bishop pair together with the chance to
create a passed pawn on the kingside are strong arguments in Black's favour.}
41. Ke2 g5 42. Nf2 Kg6 43. g4 {Another committal decision by Karjakin, which
again worked out well.} Bb6 44. Be5 a5 45. Nd1 f4 $2 {The decisive mistake, as
it considerably limits Black's winning ideas. Carlsen gets a nice passed pawn,
but closes the kingside and it will turn out that White can defend his
queenside weakness successfully.} ({After} 45... Be6 {Black must be winning.
The World Champion tries hard to win for another 50 moves, but his efforts are
in vain and Karjakin again achieves a very important draw.}) 46. Bd4 Bc7 47.
Nf2 Be6 48. Kf3 Bd5+ 49. Ke2 Bg2 50. Kd2 Kf7 51. Kc2 Bd5 52. Kd2 Bd8 53. Kc2
Ke6 54. Kd2 Kd7 55. Kc2 Kc6 56. Kd2 Kb5 57. Kc1 Ka4 58. Kc2 Bf7 59. Kc1 Bg6 60.
Kd2 Kb3 61. Kc1 Bd3 62. Nh3 Ka2 63. Bc5 Be2 64. Nf2 Bf3 65. Kc2 Bc6 66. Bd4 Bd7
67. Bc5 Bc7 68. Bd4 Be6 69. Bc5 f3 70. Be3 Bd7 71. Kc1 Bc8 72. Kc2 Bd7 73. Kc1
Bf4 74. Bxf4 gxf4 75. Kc2 Be6 76. Kc1 Bc8 77. Kc2 Be6 78. Kc1 Kb3 79. Kb1 Ka4
80. Kc2 Kb5 81. Kd2 Kc6 82. Ke1 Kd5 83. Kf1 Ke5 84. Kg1 Kf6 85. Ne4+ Kg6 86.
Kf2 Bxg4 87. Nd2 Be6 88. Kxf3 Kf5 89. a4 Bd5+ 90. Kf2 Kg4 91. Nf1 Kg5 92. Nd2
Kf5 93. Ke2 Kg4 94. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a3
Bc5 9. c3 {The combination of a2-a3 and c2-c3 does not impress much.} d6 10. d4
Bb6 11. h3 Re8 $1 $146 {This new move shows that Black can save time and
manage without ...h7-h6.} (11... h6 12. Be3 Bb7 13. Nbd2 Re8 14. Bc2 Nb8 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. Bxb6 cxb6 17. a4 bxa4 18. Bxa4 b5 19. Bb3 Nbd7 $11 {1/2-1/2
Svidler,P-Leko,P/Monte Carlo (rapid) 2006 (46)}) 12. Bg5 {Accepting the
challenge. Other moves can't even pretend to fight for an advantage. On the
other hand this is a highly risky decision and objectively Black is doing more
than fine after it.} h6 13. Bh4 exd4 {Black also must go for complications,
otherwise it is not clear why he allowed the pin of his f6-knight.} (13... Bb7
14. Bc2 $14) 14. cxd4 g5 (14... Bb7 15. Nc3 $14) 15. Bg3 g4 ({Taking on e4
loses:} 15... Rxe4 $2 16. Rxe4 Nxe4 17. Bd5 Qe8 18. Qc2 Nxg3 19. Qg6+ $18) (
15... Nxe4 $2 16. Bd5 $18) 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Bh4 (17. d5 Nd4 $36) 17... Nxd4
18. Nc3 {The battle has reached its culminant point: Carlsen sacrificed a
central pawn, considering that the pin of the knight f6 is highly unpleasant
for Black. White's main threat is Nc3-d5. Besides, Black must also reckon with
the advance e4-e5 followed by Ne4.} Bxf3 $5 {In this wild position Levon found
an interesting queen sacrifice. Unfortunately for him he will soon miss an
important detail.} ({After the natural and good} 18... c6 {White still must
prove that he has compensation for the pawn, since} 19. e5 dxe5 20. Ne4 {
doesn't work well in view of} Nxe4 21. Bxd8 Raxd8 22. Rxe4 Nxf3+ 23. gxf3 Rxd1+
24. Bxd1 Bf5 {with advantage for Black}) 19. gxf3 Kh8 $2 ({Now} 19... c6 20. e5
dxe5 21. Ne4 {is already not good for Black, but instead of taking on e5 Black
can play 20...Qc8! and bring the queen to h3 with sufficient activity to hold
the balance.}) ({However, the strongest move is} 19... Kh7 {with a similar
idea from the game. The point is that after} 20. Nd5 Rg8+ 21. Kf1 Ng4 $1 {
the move} 22. Qxd4 {is without check and therefore Black can take the bishop}
Qxh4 {Then after} 23. Nxb6 cxb6 24. fxg4 Qh3+ 25. Ke2 Qxb3 26. f3 Rac8 {
White is fighting for a draw.}) 20. Nd5 Rg8+ 21. Kf1 ({Aronian's idea would
have worked well after} 21. Kh1 $2 Ng4 $1 22. Qxd4+ Bxd4 23. Bxd8 Nxf2+ 24. Kh2
Raxd8 {and it is Black who wins}) 21... Ng4 {The bishop on h4 is hanging,
while taking the queen 22.Bxd8 leads to a nice mate with the knight on h2. But
in fact White has a counter queen sacrifice.} 22. Qxd4+ $1 Bxd4 23. Bxd8 Nh2+ {
Before taking the bishop the knight must run away. Nevertheless he won't have
a long life on h2 either.} 24. Ke2 Raxd8 25. Rad1 $1 $18 {The knight is
trapped on h2 and it turns out that White is simply winning.} Bxb2 26. Rh1 {
Black can't save the knight. Several pawns won't be enough for being a piece
down.} c6 ({Other moves don't help either:} 26... Be5 27. f4 c6 28. fxe5 cxd5
29. Rxh2) ({or} 26... Rg2 27. Ne3 Rdg8 28. Bxf7 R8g7 29. Nxg2 Rxg2 30. Rdg1)
27. Nf4 Be5 28. Nd3 Nxf3 29. Kxf3 Bg7 30. Rh5 {In spite of having three pawns
for the knight, Black is lost. His position contains a lot of weaknesses and
White's pieces are active. The rest is an easy task for Carlsen, who played
very precisely until the end.} d5 (30... c5 31. Bxf7 Rgf8 32. Rf5 {is also
hopeless}) 31. exd5 Rd6 32. Rf5 cxd5 33. Rc1 $1 Rf6 34. Rxf6 Bxf6 35. Rc6 Kg7
36. Nf4 Bg5 37. Nh5+ Kh8 38. Rxa6 d4 39. Ke4 Rg6 40. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
{This move can lead to many forced variations, but from the theoretical point
of view it has never been a serious problem for Black.} Nxd4 9. Nxd4 {Ivanchuk
deviates from a second-round game versus Leko.} (9. Bxf7+ Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11.
Qxd4 c5 12. Qd1 Qc7 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Qh5 dxe4 16. Qd5+ Kh8 17. Qxa8
Bb7 18. Qa7 Ra8 19. Bf4 Qc6 20. Qxa8+ Bxa8 21. Be3 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Leko,P/
Morelia/Linares 2008 (42). And in this complex middlegame the Ukrainian
managed to score a full point.}) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. Qxd4 Bb7 12. c4 bxc4
13. Qxc4 d5 14. exd6 Nxd6 15. Qg4 Nb5 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bd6 18. Bf4 Qf6 19.
Bxd6 cxd6 20. Rad1 Rad8 {The long opening variation has led to a position
considered equal by theory, but Ivanchuk shows that White can still exert some
pressure.} 21. Qb4 $1 $146 (21. Re3 Rfe8 22. Rde1 Rxe3 23. Rxe3 g6 24. h4 h5
25. Qb4 Rd7 26. Rd3 Re7 27. Qd4 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Qe7 29. Re3 {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M 
(2693)-Leko,P (2738)/Dortmund 2007}) 21... Ba8 (21... Rd7 22. Re3 {is also a
plus for White, since unlike in the aforementioned game Carlsen-Leko, Black
can't exchange a pair of rooks.}) 22. Re3 {This is a great square for the rook.
It protects pawn c3, can be switched to the kingside if needed and at the same
time White is ready to double on either the d- or the e-file.} g6 ({After} 
22... Rfe8 $2 {White has} 23. Qxd6 $1 ({which is even stronger than} 23. Rxd6
Qg5 24. g3 Rxe3 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. fxe3 $16) 23... Qxd6 24. Rxd6 {and Black
loses one more pawn!}) 23. Qb6 $1 {With simple, but precise moves Ivanchuk
wins a pawn.} Qg5 24. Rg3 Qb5 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 (25... Qxb6 26. Rxb6 Rfe8 27. Re3
$1 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Be4 29. Rb4 ({or} 29. Rxa6 Rd2 30. Ra4 $16) 29... Bc6 30. Rd4
$16) 26. Qxd6 a5 27. Qf4 $16 Bd5 28. Rg5 {White is a pawn up and has the
initiative. Black's only hope is to somehow exploit his opponent's back rank
weakness.} f5 $2 ({The only move which would have left chances to survive was} 
28... Qe8 {when after} 29. Qd2 Bxb3 30. axb3 a4 {White can't keep all the
queenside pawns with} 31. b4 {due to} Qe4 32. h3 Ra8 {with good counterplay
for Black.}) 29. Qe5 Rd8 30. h4 ({Both players missed} 30. Qxf5 $1 Bxb3 31.
Qxb5 Rd1+ 32. Qf1 {winning at once}) 30... a4 31. Bc2 Qb8 32. Qxf5 Bxa2 33.
Bxa4 Bf7 34. h5 Qb6 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Qf4 Rc8 {With two pawns up White is
completely winning, but in severe timetrouble Ivanchuk blunders.} 37. Rg3 $4 {
This move defends against the threat 37...Rxc3, but Black also had the second
threat.} ({Several moves win, for instance 37.Qd2, or} 37. Qb4 {and if} Qxb4
38. cxb4 Rc4 {then simply} 39. Rb5) 37... Rc4 {An unexpected double attack.
However, even after this White can make a draw.} 38. Qh6 $4 {As often happens,
a bad mistake is followed by a bigger one. White should have prevented the
black queen from coming to f6.} ({After the forced} 38. Qe5 Rxa4 39. Rh3 Ra1+ (
39... Kf8 {loses the rook:} 40. Rh8+ Bg8 41. Rxg8+ Kxg8 42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qxa4)
40. Kh2 Kf8 41. Rh8+ Bg8 {White makes a draw:} 42. Rxg8+ ({The computer even
prefers} 42. Qf4+ Kg7 43. Rh3 {with attack for White, but nevertheless that
must be a draw as well}) 42... Kxg8 43. Qe8+ Kg7 44. Qe7+ Kh6 45. Qh4+ {
with a perpetual check}) 38... Rxa4 39. Rh3 Ra1+ 40. Kh2 Qd6+ 41. f4 Qf6 {
Black has defended and kept the extra piece, which Aronian converts into a win.
} 42. Qh7+ Kf8 43. Qh6+ Ke7 44. Re3+ Kd7 45. Kg3 Ra4 46. Rd3+ Kc6 47. Rd4 Ra3
48. Rd3 Bd5 49. Qh3 Qf5 50. Qxf5 gxf5 51. Kh3 Ra1 52. Rd2 Rh1+ 53. Kg3 Rh6 54.
Re2 Re6 55. Rd2 Rg6+ 56. Kh3 Kc5 57. Re2 Kc4 58. Rd2 Be4 59. g4 Kxc3 60. gxf5
Bxf5+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.10"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 ({The more aggressive} 9. d4 {has also been employed by Peter.}) 9...
d6 10. a5 {This advance makes the b4-pawn much more vulnerable.} Rb8 {
Alexander is assuming White will push c2-c3, so Black is taking control over
the b-file in advance.} (10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 {frequently
transposes to the text.}) 11. Nbd2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 {This change of pawn
structure is always double-edged: opening the f-file favours Black, but the
doubled e-pawns might cause him some problems in the long run.} 13. c3 {
White hardly can claim any superiority without advancing the d-pawn.} ({
The other way of preparing the thematic d3-d4 break:} 13. Nb3 {led to a
complex strategic struggle in the following top-level game:} Qc8 14. Qe2 Nd8
15. d4 exd4 16. Nbxd4 c5 17. Nb3 e5 18. Nbd2 Ne6 19. Nc4 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21.
Nb6 Qc6 $132 {Caruana,F -Carlsen,M Saint Louis USA 2017}) 13... Nd7 ({After} 
13... Qe8 14. Nc4 Qg6 15. h3 Nd7 16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nc5 19. Bxc5
Bxc5 20. Qa4 $14 {Carlsen,M - Aronian,L Saint Louis USA 2017, Black was under
strong pressure.}) 14. Nb3 $146 {This natural move is a novelty.} ({The
previosuly played} 14. Nc4 {is inviting the freeing d6-d5 advance:} d5 15. exd5
exd5 16. Ne3 Nc5 $132 {Saltaev,M - Smagin,S Moscow 1995}) 14... d5 {This
committal move seems the only way of activating the pieces.} ({In the event of
} 14... Qe8 15. Be3 Qg6 16. Nbd2 Rb5 17. Qe2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Rfb8 19. Rec1 $14 {
the control over the b-file wouldn't yield Black real counterplay.}) 15. Be3
bxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 $6 {This exchange makes Black's setup more shaky: the
c4-spot and the a6-pawn are very weak.} ({After} 16... Bd6 $1 17. Rb1 h6 18.
Qc2 Qe7 19. h3 {White's position looks somewhat better, but it's very hard to
make any real progress.}) 17. dxe4 Rb5 $6 {This inaccurate move is inviting
fresh troubles.} ({A better one was} 17... Nf6 18. Qc2 Ng4 19. h3 Nxe3 20. Rxe3
Rb5 $14) 18. Qe2 {The queen is heading to c4.} ({Possibly, an even stronger
try was} 18. Qd3 $5 Qc8 19. Red1 Ndb8 20. Qc4 $16) 18... Qb8 ({The knight is
untouchable:} 18... Rxb3 $2 19. Qc4 Nxa5 20. Rxa5 Ra3 21. Rxa3 Bxa3 22. Ng5 $18
) 19. Qc4 Nd8 {This move looks awkward, but this is the only way to avoid
major loss of material.} 20. Rad1 $6 {This move is actually a loss of tempo.
Perhaps, Peter had underestimated Black's reply.} ({A much better move was} 20.
Nbd2 Qb7 21. Reb1 $16) 20... Bd6 $1 (20... Nf6 {is worse:} 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22.
Bxc5 Re8 23. Nxe5 Rxa5 24. Ra1 $16) 21. Rb1 Qb7 $6 {Returning the favour.} ({
Alexander should have played} 21... Qa8 $1 22. Red1 h6 $14) 22. Nbd2 $1 {
The exchange of the powerful Rb5 makes White's advantage bigger.} Qc6 23. Rxb5
axb5 24. Qb3 $16 {Now Black is mainly suffering from the powerful a-passer.} (
24. Qa2 $5) 24... Qa6 25. Ra1 Nc5 26. Qb1 Nf7 (26... Ndb7 27. h4 h6 28. h5 $16)
27. c4 $1 {Peter is aiming at opening files for his major pieces.} c6 28. cxb5
cxb5 29. Nb3 {The knight isn't located so well now.} ({A more precise move was
} 29. Qa2 $1 Re8 30. h4 h6 31. g4 $16 {extending the initiative on both sides
of the board.}) 29... Nd7 ({It made sense to lock the a-file:} 29... Na4 $5 30.
Qf1 Qb7 $14) 30. Qd3 Rc8 31. h3 h6 32. Nfd2 ({A more promising route for the
knight seems to be} 32. Ne1 $1 Rc4 33. Nd2 Rc7 34. Nc2 $16) 32... Nb8 33. Nf3
b4 {Alexander is reasonably deviating from repeating the moves.} ({Another
possibility was} 33... Rc4 $5 34. Ne1 Ra4 $14) 34. Qd1 Qb7 35. Nfd2 Rc3 {
Obviously, GM Onischuk's position has been improved - Black has managed to
activate almost all of his pieces.} 36. Nc1 Na6 37. Ne2 $6 {Once again, GM
Svidler chooses a wrong location forr the knight.} ({The correct way was} 37.
Na2 $1 Rc6 (37... Ra3 $2 38. Nc4 $18) 38. Rc1 $14) 37... Rc8 $6 ({A much
better move was} 37... Rc6 $1 {taking care of the weak e6-pawn:} 38. Nb3 (38.
Qb3 Bc5 $11) 38... Be7 39. Rc1 Nd6 {and Black should be able to achieve a draw.
}) 38. Qb3 Qe7 $6 {The continuation of a wrong strategy.} ({Black's defensive
task would be much easier had Alexander played} 38... Bc5 $1 39. Qxe6 Bxe3 40.
fxe3 Qc6 41. Qg4 Qc5 $14) 39. Rc1 {Now Black is doomed to a passive defence
again.} Rxc1+ 40. Nxc1 {After the exchange of rooks the a5-pawn becomes more
dangerous.} Bc5 41. Nd3 ({It was better to avoid the doubled pawn by means of} 
41. Nf1 $1 Bxe3 42. Nxe3 $16) 41... Bxe3 42. fxe3 Qd8 43. Nc4 Ng5 $2 {The
decisive mistake.} ({Once again, Alexander has missed a golden opportunity for
activating all his pieces at the cost of a pawn:} 43... Qe8 $1 44. Ndxe5 Nxe5
45. Nxe5 Kh7 46. Qc4 Qa4 $1 47. Qxe6 (47. Qxa6 Qa1+ 48. Kf2 Qxe5 $11) 47...
Qxa5 48. Qg6+ Kg8 49. Qf7+ Kh7 50. Nd7 Qd8 51. e5 Kh8 $14 {Black would obtain
excellent drawing chances.}) 44. Nb6 (44. Nxb4 $1 {was even simpler:} Qb8 45.
Nb6 Nc5 46. Qc2 Ngxe4 47. Nc6 Qd6 48. a6 $1 Qxc6 49. a7 $18) 44... Nc7 (44...
Kh7 $5 {was worth considering,} {forcing White to find a couple of precise
moves:} 45. Qc2 $1 (45. Qc4 $2 Nb8 46. h4 Nf7 47. Nxb4 Qd2 $11) 45... h5 46.
Nf2 b3 47. Qxb3 Qd2 48. Qd1 Qxd1+ 49. Nxd1 Nxe4 50. Nc4 $18 {this endgame is
winning for White, but the technical part is still not trivial.}) 45. Qc4 b3 {
Alas, Alexander fails to put up much resistance.} ({A much more stubborn line
was} 45... Kh7 $1 46. Na4 $1 (46. Kh2 Ne8 $1 47. Nxe5 Qd6 48. Qd4 Qxd4 49. exd4
Nxe4 $16 {and it isn't yet over.}) 46... Na8 $1 {and Black manages to
liquidate the a5-pawn. Still after} 47. Nac5 Qxa5 48. h4 Nb6 49. Qb3 Nf7 50.
Qxe6 Qa7 51. h5 b3 52. Nxb3 Qd7 53. Qg6+ Kg8 54. Nbc5 Qd8 55. Qe6 $18 {White
should be able to convert his positional (and material) advantage into a full
point.}) 46. Qxb3 Nxe4 47. Qc2 Qg5 (47... Nd5 48. Qc8 Qxc8 49. Nxc8 Nxe3 50. a6
$18) 48. Nc4 $1 $18 {Now White is firmly in control.} Nd5 {A desperate attempt
to create some threats on the kingside.} (48... Ng3 49. Ndxe5 Qf6 50. Qf2 $18)
49. a6 $1 {The most effective.} Nxe3 50. a7 Nxc2 51. a8=Q+ Kh7 52. Qxe4+ {
White is a piece up, but the game goes on.} Qf5 53. Nd6 $1 ({After} 53. Qxf5+
exf5 54. Ncxe5 {Black's pawn structure would be improved.}) 53... Qxe4 54. Nxe4
Kg6 55. g4 {No activity for the opponent's monarch! The rest is just an agony.}
Kf7 56. Nxe5+ Ke7 57. Kf2 Nb4 58. Kf3 Nd5 59. Ng6+ Kf7 60. Nf4 Nf6 ({Or} 60...
Ne7 61. Nc5 e5 62. Nfd3 $18) 61. Nxf6 gxf6 62. Kg3 f5 63. gxf5 exf5 64. Ng2 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 34th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2018.10.18"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Efimenko, Zahar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2641"]
[Annotator "Sadorra, Julio"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[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 "Alkaloid"]
[BlackTeam "Beer Sheva"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 {This position can occur in various move-orders and is a typical
one for Anti-Marshall systems.} 10. c3 ({The most popular way to continue here
is to develop the knight on c3,} 10. Nc3 {but practice has shown that Black is
okay after the typical} Na5 11. Ba2 (11. axb5 Nxb3 12. cxb3 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8
14. Nxb5 Rb8 15. Nc3 Bc8 $44 (15... h6 16. h3 c5 $5 $44)) 11... b4 12. Nd5 $6 (
12. Ne2 c5 13. Ng3 Bc8 {with a complex middlegame ahead.} (13... Rb8 $5)) 12...
Nxd5 13. Bxd5 (13. exd5 b3 $1 14. cxb3 Bxd5 $15) 13... Bxd5 14. exd5 c5 $11 (
14... Re8)) 10... Qd7 11. Nbd2 Nd8 $1 {transferring it to a more active square
on e6.} ({The other square to place the knight is on a5 but it there's a risk
of it being misplaced later.} 11... Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ng3 Rfe8 15.
d4 exd4 (15... Bf8 16. d5 c4 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nd2 Bc8 19. h3 Bd7 20. Qf3 Be7 21.
Ra2 Reb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rea1 Qd8 {White's position is slightly more
pleasant to play but Black's position is holdable. ½-½ (39) Topalov,V (2735)
-Adams,M (2720) Wijk aan Zee 2004}) 16. cxd4 Bf8 17. d5 (17. Bf4 cxd4 18. Nxd4
Nc4 $132) {And here it's best for Black to play the position like a Benoni
starting with:} 17... g6 (17... Nc4 $6 18. b3 Ne5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Nf5 Qc7 21.
Qf3 $16 {1-0 (30) Vetoshko,V (2521)-Morozov,N (2429) Konya TUR 2018}) 18. b3
Bg7 19. Rb1 b4 20. Bb2 $14 {Black has a problematic piece on a5.}) 12. Nf1 Ne6
13. Ng3 c5 14. d4 (14. Nf5 {doesn't achieve anything after} Bd8) 14... exd4 15.
cxd4 d5 {This is a typical breakthrough in Spanish middlegames.} (15... cxd4 $2
{is not the way to do it} 16. Nxd4 d5 17. e5 Ne8 (17... Ne4 18. Nxe6 $18) 18.
Qg4 $40) 16. e5 ({Worth considering is} 16. Nf5 $5 c4 (16... dxe4 17. d5 $1 Nd8
18. N3h4 $13) 17. e5 Ne4 {transposes to the game.}) 16... Ne4 17. Nf5 ({
The only other game in this exact position went:} 17. dxc5 $6 N4xc5 {gave
Black the initiative.} 18. Nf5 (18. Bc2 d4 19. Nf5 d3 $36) 18... Nxb3 19. Nxe7+
(19. Qxb3 d4) 19... Qxe7 20. Qxb3 d4 $1 (20... Qd7 21. Bd2 d4 $15 {1/2-1/2 (43)
Vovsha,E (2402)-Kuzmin,A (2582) Biel 2002}) 21. axb5 (21. Bd2 bxa4 22. Rxa4 Qd7
23. Ra5 (23. Rea1 Nc5) 23... Rab8 $36) 21... axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Qxb5 Bxf3
24. gxf3 Rc8 $15 {Black clearly has more than enough compensation for the pawn.
}) 17... c4 18. Bc2 Bb4 {logically keeping the bishop pair.} ({The engine
suggests} 18... g6 {but it too risky positionally} 19. Nxe7+ (19. Nh6+ Kg7 20.
Be3 $13) 19... Qxe7 20. Be3 b4 (20... f6 21. exf6 Qxf6 22. Ne5 $1) 21. Nd2 Nxd2
22. Qxd2 a5 23. f4 $14) 19. Re3 $5 Rad8 20. Ng3 Bc6 $1 (20... Nxg3 $6 {will
only help White develop his kingside attack:} 21. hxg3 Rfe8 22. Nh4 $40 {
[%csl Gf5][%cal Gd1g4,Gg3g4,Ge3h3]} (22. Nh2 $5 {[%cal Gc2f5,Gg3g4,Ge3h3]}))
21. h4 (21. Nxe4 $2 {gives Black what he want which is an open center.} dxe4
22. Bxe4 Nxd4 $17) (21. axb5 axb5 {and Black will eventually take over the
a-file.} 22. b3 Ra8 $36) 21... bxa4 $6 ({Now that there's a pawn on h4, it's
better to go for exchange on g3 because White won't have the same attacking
ideas like in the previous move.} 21... Nxg3 22. fxg3 bxa4 23. g4 (23. Bxa4 $2
Bxa4 24. Rxa4 a5 $17) 23... Be7 $1 (23... Rb8 24. Ng5) 24. Bd2 Rb8 25. Bc3 Nf4
26. Bf5 Qa7 $1 $15) 22. h5 ({An interesting possibility is} 22. Ng5 $5 N6xg5
23. hxg5 Nxg5 $2 (23... g6 24. f4 $13) 24. Nh5 $40 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge3g3,
Gg3g7]}) (22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Nc5 {is very nice for Black.})
22... a5 {Efimenko's refusal to get rid of his knight on e4 is understandable
as it keeps White's bishop locked in but eventually concrete reasons have to
prevail over general concepts and impressions} (22... Nxg3 {is once again good}
23. fxg3 {as White doesn't have anything special after} Rb8 24. h6 g6 25. Nh2
Be7 $1) 23. Ra2 {Ding Liren chooses to keep the tension, giving Black the
choice on how to clarify the central situation.} g6 $2 {This simply helps
White obtain clearer tagrets to attack!} ({It was time to take concrete action
with either:} 23... Nf4 24. h6 (24. Nh4 Nd3 $1 25. Bxd3 cxd3 26. Rxd3 f6 $36)
24... g6 25. Nh2 f5 $1) ({Or} 23... Nxg3 24. fxg3 Nc5 $1 25. dxc5 d4 26. Re4
Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Bxc5 $17) 24. Nh2 Kh8 (24... Qa7 {A flank attack must be met
with counterplay in the center!} 25. Ne2 gxh5 26. Rh3 (26. f3 N4c5 27. f4 f5 $1
) 26... f6 $1 $132) 25. Ne2 $6 Ng7 ({As in the previous note, Black can obtain
strong counterplay with a pawn break:} 25... gxh5 26. Rh3 f6 $1 $132) 26. Rh3
$1 Be7 (26... Nxh5 27. f3 {is very unpleasant to face} Nc5 28. Ng4 $1 $40) 27.
f3 {Here, Efimenko most probably realized the flaw in his original idea and
changed plans, but in any case the position was already practically very
difficult to defend.} Nxh5 ({The logical follow-up to the previous move is} 
27... Ng5 28. Bxg5 Bxg5 29. hxg6 fxg6 30. Bxg6 h6 31. f4 $1 $18 Bxf4 (31...
Rxf4 32. Nxf4 Bxf4 33. Ng4) 32. Nxf4 Rxf4 33. Rxh6+ Kg8 34. Ra3 $18) 28. fxe4
$18 {White now wins a piece for nothing and the rest was smooth clean up
routine for the top Chinese player.} dxe4 29. Bxa4 f6 30. exf6 Bxf6 31. Bxc6
Qxc6 32. Bh6 Rf7 33. Ng4 c3 34. Rxc3 {Taking material while activating a piece,
no better move than that!} Qe6 35. Nxf6 Nxf6 36. Rxa5 {Taking material while
activating a piece again!} Ng4 37. Bf4 Rdf8 38. Qc1 e3 39. Rc7 Qe4 40. Rxf7 {
Overall, this game featured a tense and balanced struggle in a typical Spanish
middlegame structure. With the use of pressure play, both psychologically and
on the board, the Chinese top player caused the experienced and solid
Ukrainian player to crack and weaken his kingside defenses. In turn, Ding
Liren makes the most of his chances on the kingside which caused Efimenko to
make further errors, eventually losing material and the game.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
{The Anti-Marshall variation of the Ruy Lopez is currently the only way to
give Marshall players any theoretical problems.} d6 9. Bd2 $5 {This move was
used by Grischuk in the 12th round of the same event. Its idea is to prevent
the typical move of the Black knight to a5 while preparing to play either
a2-a4, Nc3 or c3 depending on what Black does next. According to my Megabase,
this was actually first intoduced by Andrew Muir (now IM) into tournament
practice way back in 1978!} Bg4 ({Grischuk's game in the 12th round went} 9...
Kh8 $5 10. h3 Nd7 11. Nc3 Na5 12. Nd5 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. c4 $14 {½-½ (54)
Grischuk,A (2767)-Aronian,L (2794) Berlin GER 2018. White obtained an edge
from the opening}) ({The aforementioned first game continued} 9... Nd7 10. a4
Bb7 {which actually transposes to a line in the old Arkhangelsk Ruy Lopez!} {
Now the most precise is} 11. Nc3 $1 Nd4 (11... b4 12. Nd5) 12. Nxd4 exd4 13.
Nd5 $14) 10. c3 d5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe2 $5 $146 {This useful, flexible move is
Caruana's team's novelty.} ({Previously seen was} 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. g4 $6 Bg6
14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Nb6 16. d4 Bd6 17. Bg5 Qd7 $44 {1-0 (46) Jackson,S 
(2185)-Littlewood,P (2475) London 1984. Black had the typical Marshall
compensation, and probably even more.}) 12... Rb8 13. Bg5 $1 {Surrendering
central control is simply not part of Caruana's chosen plan.} (13. exd5 $6 Nxd5
14. g4 Bg6 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 c6 $44 17. Bxd5 (17. d4 Bd6) 17... Bf6 $1 18.
Qg3 cxd5 19. Bf4 Rc8 20. g5 Be7 21. Nd2 f6 $1 $132) 13... dxe4 14. dxe4 h6 15.
Bc1 $1 {A tough move to make which Caruana said was still part of his preps.
On c1, the bishop will not get in the way of the other pieces. As one
principle goes, development doesn't matter much in a closed game or when the
enemy cannot easily open up the game.} ({Retreating the bishop the other way
is also not part of Caruana's plan:} 15. Bh4 Nd7 16. Bg3 {Now this bishop will
get in the way of the queen's knight later.} (16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nbd2 Qf6 $1 {
preventing the typical knight manoeuvre to f1-g3/e3.}) 16... Bd6 17. Nbd2 Nc5
18. Bc2 a5 $132 19. Nf1 $6 {White cannot simply ignore Black's queenside
activity:} b4 (19... a4 $5 20. a3 Na5 $15) 20. Ne3 Qf6 21. Nf5 (21. Nd5 Qe6)
21... bxc3 22. bxc3 Rb2 $36) 15... Bg6 16. Nbd2 Nh5 {preventing White's
knights from coming to h4 and g3.} (16... Bc5 17. Nh4 (17. a4 $5 {it also
looks good for White to pressure Black on the queenside.}) 17... Bh7 (17... Bh5
18. Ndf3 $36 {[%cal Gg2g4,Gh4f5]}) 18. Nf5 $14) 17. Nf1 Bc5 (17... Nf4 $6 {
This active move is not according to the spirit of Black's position.} 18. Bxf4
exf4 19. Bd5 $1 (19. Rad1 Qc8 20. Qd2 $16) 19... Na5 20. Rad1 Qc8 21. Ne5 $16
Bh7 22. Qh5 $40) 18. g3 {A useful move, preventing any future possibility of
Black's knight going to f4, and preparing for White's knight to go to h4.} Kh7
19. Kg2 Qe7 (19... f5 $2 {is still premature.} 20. exf5 Rxf5 (20... Bxf5 21.
Ng5+ $1) 21. Bc2 Rf6 22. Ng5+ $1 $18) 20. Bc2 $1 {A nice double-purpose or a
"double-positional-threat" move. The first and more obvious idea is to
overprotect e4 enabling the knight to go to e3 then d5.} Rfd8 (20... a5 21. Ne3
) 21. b4 $1 {This was the second positional threat.} ({There is also nothing
wrong with} 21. Ne3 Nf6 22. Nh4 $16 {but Caurana's choice dominates Black on
both sides of the board.}) 21... Bb6 22. a4 {Caruana creates a second weakness
as his kingside play will always be there for him.} Nf6 23. Nh4 {A good
practical decision.} ({According to Caruana, he didn't want the game to go out
of control after} 23. axb5 axb5 24. Qxb5 Bxf2 25. Qxc6 Bxe1 26. Nxe1 $16 {
while White is still better, but there's a chance he could miss something or
for Black to create some counterplay.}) 23... Qe6 24. Bd3 ({Caruana also
pointed out that White also has the option} 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. Bd3 Rf8 26. f3 {
which is very accurate and is objectively the better choice.}) 24... Bh5 $1 {
Black cannot just sit and watch White create play on both sides of the board
so Aronian tries to muddle things up and "swim against the tide."} ({If} 24...
Ne7 {Caruana was once again sharp in spotting the important idea:} 25. Nxg6
Nxg6 26. axb5 axb5 27. Bxb5 Bxf2 28. Bc4 $1 $18 (28. Kxf2 Qb6+)) 25. g4 Bxg4 {
The logical follow-up.} (25... Bg6 {doesn't make sense as it only helps White
improve his position after} 26. axb5 (26. Ng3 $16 {Caruana}) 26... axb5 27.
Nxg6 (27. Bxb5 Nxe4) 27... fxg6 28. Bxb5 $16) 26. hxg4 Nxg4 ({If} 26... Qxg4+ {
Caruana correctly thought that the ending will be technically winning for
White.} 27. Qxg4 Nxg4 28. Be2 Bxf2 (28... Nxf2 29. axb5 axb5 30. Bxb5 Ne7 31.
Bc4 f6 32. Be3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 $18) 29. Rd1 Bxh4 30. Bxg4 {mainly because "the
black pawns are not moving and the knight on c6 is still bad." His assessment
is once again confirmed accurate by the engine!}) 27. Nf5 Nxf2 28. Bc2 g6 29.
N1e3 $6 {While this is a good practical move as it gives Black a difficult
position to play afterwards, it cannot be considered best because it allows
Black some counter-attacking ideas.} (29. N5e3 $1 {is a better way to keep the
advantage but White still has to find a few accurate moves. Both Caruana and
Aronian actually thought that this line leads to a draw, but they missed a few
important details:} Nh3 30. Nd5 Ng1 (30... Nf4+ 31. Nxf4 exf4 32. Bxf4 $16) 31.
Qd3 Ne7 {[%csl Rd5]} 32. a5 ({Both players only saw} 32. Nfe3 Qh3+ 33. Kxg1
Qg3+ 34. Kf1 Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Qg3+ $11) (32. Qg3 $5 Nxd5 33. exd5 Qxd5+ 34. Be4 Qc4
35. Nd2 $16) 32... Ba7 33. Qg3 Nxd5 34. exd5 Qxd5+ 35. Be4 Qc4 36. Nd2 $18 {
Black doesn't have enough compensation for the piece, and he is about to lose
another one.}) ({Another way is to stabilize the queenside first with} 29. a5
$1 Ba7 30. N5e3 Nh3 31. Nd5 Nf4+ (31... Ng1 32. Qd3 {transposes to the
previous note.}) 32. Nxf4 exf4 33. Bxf4 Qf6 34. Qf3 $16) 29... gxf5 30. exf5
Qf6 31. Qxf2 (31. Kxf2 $2 {loses by force to} Qh4+ 32. Kf1 Nd4 33. Qg2 (33. f6+
Kh8) (33. Qf2 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Nxc2 $19) 33... Rg8 $19) {This is the most
critical moment for Black, and of the game!} 31... e4 $2 {After this, Black's
attack eventually runs out of steam and White's pieces take over.} (31... Nxb4
$1 32. cxb4 Rd4 $1 {In the post-game interview, Aronian was frustrated with
himself for not even seeing the idea of bringing the rook into the attack this
way.} 33. Kh3 $1 {Controlling h4 is the only way for the king to survive. Now
from here, Black must find some precise moves to keep things unclear, or keep
drawing chances, which is almost impossible in a practical game. Nevertheless,
let me share some beautiful tactical ideas used by the engine to show that
this ridiculously imbalanced game is still a draw with best play!} Qg5 $1 (
33... Rg8 34. Nd5 $3 {Taking control of g5 through which the enemy could
invade.} Rxd5 35. Qf3 Rd4 36. Be4 $16) 34. f6+ Kh8 35. Nf5 Qh5+ (35... Qg4+ 36.
Kh2 Qh5+ 37. Kg2 {transposes}) 36. Kg2 Rg8+ 37. Qg3 $1 (37. Ng3 $2 Rh4 $19)
37... Rc4 $1 {Another precise move.} (37... Rdg4 38. Bxh6 $18 {[%cal Gh6g7,
Ge1h1]}) (37... Rxg3+ 38. Nxg3 Rg4 39. Ra3) 38. Bd3 (38. Be4 $2 Rxe4 $1 39.
Qxg8+ Kxg8 40. Nxh6+ Kf8 41. Rxe4 Qd1 $19) 38... Rxg3+ 39. Nxg3 Rg4 40. Bf4 $3
{Just say "Woah..."} (40. Ra3 Bf2 $1 $19) {Now the only way to keep the
balance is to find the equally stunning} 40... Bg1 $3 {"Woah..."} (40... exf4
41. Re8+) (40... Rxf4 41. Nxh5) (40... Qh4 41. Rh1 $16) 41. Bxe5 Bh2 {The
point. Black gains piece coordination to create counterplay.} 42. Re3 Bxg3 43.
Bxg3 Qd5+ 44. Kh2 Qh5+ 45. Kg2 Qd5+ $11 {and White cannot avoid repetition.}
46. Kf2 $2 Rxg3 $1 47. Kxg3 Qg5+ 48. Kf2 Qxf6+ $19) (31... Nd4 {is not as
effective as after} 32. Be4 $1 Nb3 33. Rb1 bxa4 34. Kh3 $16 {White has
everything under control.}) 32. Rh1 Rd6 33. Bxe4 Rg8+ (33... Re8 {doesn't help
after the programmed} 34. Qf4 $1 Qe5 35. Qxe5 Rxe5 36. Kf3 $19) 34. Kf1 Ne5 35.
Qf4 c6 36. axb5 Rg5 ({If} 36... axb5 {I'm sure Caruana would've found the
forcing solution:} 37. Rxh6+ Qxh6 38. f6+ Rg6 39. Qxh6+ Kxh6 40. Nc4+ $1 $18 (
40. Nf5+ $6 Kh5 41. Nxd6 Rxf6+ 42. Nf5 Kg4 $132)) 37. bxa6 Qd8 {Many roads
here lead to Rome.} 38. f6+ Ng6 39. Rxh6+ {...and Aronian resigned here due to
the obvious forcing moves that can follow:} (39. Rxh6+ Kxh6 40. Qh2+ Rh5 41.
Nf5+ $18 {An impressive game by the current world #2 and winner of the
Candidates event Fabiano Caruana. His superb opening prep, understanding of
middlegame subtleties and evaluation skills that are almost as accurate as the
engine's rightfully make him a deserving challenger to the World Championship
crown!}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[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"]

{An emphatic victory for Anand. Let's have a look at the game to see what
really went right for him and wrong for Svidler.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
{Svidler is one of those top level grandmasters who doesn't like to play the
Berlin. He sticks to the normal lines of the Ruy Lopez.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {Allowing Svidler to play the Marshall was not in
Anand's plans.} ({The following game between Anand and Svidler with the
inclusion of h3 and h6 is very similar to the main game. And Svidler played
much better back then.} 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. c3 Na5
13. Bc2 c5 14. d4 cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd4 Nb4 18. axb5 Nxc2 19.
Qxc2 axb5 20. Nxb5 Qb6 $15 {1/2-1/2 (47) Anand, V (2779)-Svidler,P (2728)
Morelia/Linares 2007}) 8... Bb7 {Although this is the main move in the
position, Anand thought for a good ten minutes. Why? Because Svidler has got
this position 13 times in his games and all the while he had chosen b4.
Although this is the main move in the position, Anand thought for a good ten
minutes. Why? Because Svidler has had this position 13 times in his games and
on every occasion he had chosen b4.} (8... b4 {is Svidler's move.}) 9. d3 Re8
10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. c3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 {This is all very standard Ruy Lopez stuff.
Now White must remain consistent and break in the centre with d4.} 13. d4 exd4
{This came as a bit of a surprise to Anand. But Peter was mainly trying to
play very concrete chess.} (13... d6 14. d5 {Leads to a slightly passive
position for Black. leads to a slightly passive position for Black.}) 14. cxd4
d5 $6 {Although this is very thematic. It is extremely dangerous. The main
reason being that the two bishops on c1 and c2 are opened up against the black
king.} (14... cxd4 {looks like the best way for Black to proceed.} 15. e5 Nd5
16. axb5 axb5 17. Nxd4 Nb4 18. Bb1 {The pieces are quite weirdly placed but
after} Nbc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Nf3 g6 $11 {Black seems to have a pretty fine
position.}) 15. e5 Ne4 {This was a critical position where Anand took a lot of
time. There are a lot of captures. As Anand correctly pointed out, the main
question for him was whether to take on b5 or not. On one hand keeping the
a-file closed keeps the rook on the back rank safeguarding it. On the other
hand the rook doesn't take part in the game. It is a very difficult decision
to make and almost impossible to see what possibilites may arise after say
eight to ten moves. But this is where intuition comes into picture and Anand
felt that bringing the a1-rook into the game was more important and that
explains his next move.} 16. axb5 (16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 {This exchange
sacrifice is not as effective now as in the game.} (17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd5
$1 {It is important to blockade the d-pawn before attacking it.} 19. Re3 (19.
Qe2 Nb3 $17) 19... Nc6 $15) 17... Nb3 $1 18. Ng5 (18. Rh4 Bxf3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8
20. Rh3 Bxd1 21. Bg6+ $11 {All of these analyses lead us to the concusion that
Anand's decision to take with axb5 was better than not taking.}) 18... Nxa1 19.
Qh5 Qxg5 $1 20. Bxg5 g6 (20... Nxc2 21. Rh4 h6 22. Bxh6 g6 23. Rg4 Nxd4 24.
Rxg6+ fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 $11) 21. Qd1 Nxc2 22. Qxc2 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 cxd4 $15 {
Only Black can be better here.}) 16... axb5 (16... Nxd2 $2 17. Bxd2 axb5 18.
Bxh7+ $1 {wins! It's a standard Greek Gift!} Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 (19... Kg6 20.
Qg4 $18) 20. Qh5 $18) (16... cxd4 $6 17. bxa6 Rxa6 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4
20. Rxe4 Bc5 21. b4 $1 Bxb4 22. Rxd4 Qb8 (22... Qb6 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. Qd3 $1 {
Threatening Rxb4.} Raa8 25. Rh4 $18) 23. Qd3 Ra8 24. Ng5 $18) 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18.
Rxe4 $1 {This move might be natural for a player like Anand, but for us who
from a young age are taught about the relative value of the pieces, it is not
easy to consider a such a move. Once you see it, though, and you realise that
the bishop on e4 will be a complete monster, breathing fire in both directions.
..} (18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 $11 {gives Black excellent chances to hold.})
18... Nb3 {This is what Svidler had prepared, but it falls just short.} (18...
Bxe4 19. Bxe4 {[%cal Ge4a8,Ge4h7]} Ra7 (19... Rb8 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Ng5+ Kg8
22. Qh5 $18) (19... g6 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21. Bd2 b4 22. Qa4 $18) 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.
Ng5+ $18) 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 {At this point I went into the tournament hall to
check out what exactly was going on. I expected Anand to be looking happy
while Svidler would be on the board with his head in his hands. But the scene
I saw was completely the opposite. Peter had just captured the rook on a8 and
was moving around confidently. Anand on the other hand was nervous, fidgety,
biting his nails and looked as if he was the one on the back foot. But it was
clear that Vishy was calculating the details of his final attack, anxious to
make sure that his opponent had no defensive resources. And in the above
position he picked up his knight and made the best move 20.Ng5!} 20. Ng5 $1 {
Svidler came back and saw this move. I thought that he would think for a while
before making his move but he blitzed it out. He was showing that he had
things under control.} (20. Rh4 Bxf3 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Rh3 Bxd1 23. Bg6+) 20...
Nxc1 (20... Bxe4 21. Bxe4 $18 {[%cal Gd1b3,Gd1h5]}) 21. Qh5 $1 {[%csl Rf7,Rh7]
Once again the only move. There is an attack on both the h7- and f7-pawns.} h6
{This move was also made quickly.} (21... Qxg5 {was a way to avoid an
immediate defeat, but doesn't really serve any purpose as after} 22. Qxg5 Bxe4
23. Qxc1 $1 Bxc2 24. Qxc2 $18 {the position is technically winning. It won't
be so difficult for a player of Anand's calibre to turn this into a full point.
}) (21... Bxe4 22. Bxe4 h6 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qg6 $18) 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 {At this
point Peter once again stood up from the board and started walking around.
Anand was making his final calculations, the other players were all coming to
the board, disbelief showing in their faces. Nakamura stood right next to
Svidler's seat for almost a minute. He just didn't want to leave. He checked
the scoresheet, then the board and couldn't believe that Anand was just
winning. He went back to his board, Anand lifted his hand and once again made
the only winning move in the position.} 23. Rg4 $1 {The rook defends the
knight and now the threat is Qg6. Black doesn't really have a way to stop the
attack.} (23. Rf4 Ne2+ $19) 23... Qa5 {With the engine on it seems like a
trivial win here but on the board when you see moves like Qe1+ followed by Ne2,
those are tense moments!} (23... Ne2+ 24. Kf1 $1 {wins!} (24. Kh1 $4 {however
loses in an amazing fashion.} Qa5 $3 {Suddenly the back rank weakness turns
out to be the critical factor in the game.} 25. h4 Qe1+ 26. Kh2 Qg1+ 27. Kh3
Qh1#)) 24. h4 $1 {Svidler resigned as he saw no point in continuing. His bluff
of playing quickly had not worked. Many of you might be wondering why this is
the only move. Wouldn't h3 also win? The point is subtle. The h3-square has to
be kept for the knight to control g1.} (24. h3 $2 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Ne2 26. Nf3 Bxf3
27. gxf3 Nxd4 $17) (24. h4 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Ne2 26. Nh3 $18 {Like a gentleman
Svidler analysed the game with Anand, kept a very calm face in the press
conference, and showed great sportsmanship. Anand on the other hand had made
his point clear, he was looking for another Candidates victory!}) 1-0

[Event "Shenzhen Du Te Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Shenzhen"]
[Date "2019.04.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[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 0,157,19,38,25,16,16,3,15,-10,3,-3,24,0,-2,7,7,7,9,-13,-16,-11,0,-40,-9,
-12,11,-22,-15,-20,-18,-33,-20,-11,-21,-34,0,2,-3,-15,21,11,21,4,27,10,6,5,6,
-17,-14,-70,-16,-35,-44,-30,25,15,8,27,29,31,30,38,42,45,52,43,53,43,37,39,39,
48,46,23,30,78,83,89,93,87,99,91,91,84,84,74,79,91,92,92,76,79,91,83,81,80,68,
63,78,80,86,80,80,80,80,90,96,96,85,104,110,117,117,117,148,145,127,126,150,
152,131,129,146,146,124,116,126,129,111,124,153,151,151,141,139,138,150,147,
159,143,182,138,208,146,183,181,170,163,199,159,165,180,185,156,162,193,191,
222]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O
8. d3 {Harikrishna takes measures against Ding's Marshall.} (8. c3 d5) 8... d6
9. Bd2 $5 {[%cal Ga2a4] This move has been played before and Ganguly has done
so against Anand and Karjakin at the Tata Steel event in India. White wants to
stop Na5. But isn't the bishop coming in the way of the knight developing on
d2? Well, according to white players, the fact that Black cannot move his
knight from c6 immediately and play c5 means that he has to find some other
move to play and it is not so easy to do something without committing a piece.}
(9. Nbd2 {[%cal Gd2f1,Gf1g3]}) (9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5) 9... Bg4 (9... Bb7 {
is another way to play and White's idea here is} 10. a4) (9... Na5 {[%cal
Gc7c5]} 10. Bxa5) 10. c3 {[%csl Rg4] So White did play this move and now Black
can go Na5 and c5, but White can argue that he forced Black to play Bg4, which
he wouldn't have done if he hadn't played Bd2.} Na5 11. Bc2 {[%csl Gd2,Rg4]} c5
12. h3 Bh5 {[%cal Gh5g6,Ga2a4] Placing the bishop on h5 is always a risky
strategy. On one hand you are keeping up the pin, but on the other the bishop
may become irrelevant to the action on the queenside and centre once it is
pushed back to g6.} (12... Be6 {was the game Ganguly vs Anand.} 13. d4 Qc7 14.
b3 Rac8 15. d5 Bd7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Be3 c4 18. b4 Nb7 19. a4 Ra8 20. axb5 axb5
21. Ba7 Rfc8 22. Nbd2 Nd8 23. Be3 Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Qb7 25. Qb2 Ra8 26. Ra1 Ne8 27.
Ra5 Rxa5 28. bxa5 Qa6 29. Qb4 f6 30. Nxc4 bxc4 31. Qb6 Bb5 32. Ba4 Qxb6 33.
Bxb6 Bxa4 34. a6 Nc6 35. Nd2 Na7 36. Nxc4 Bb5 {0-1 (36) Ganguly,S (2615)-Anand,
V (2773) Kolkata 2018}) 13. Bc1 $5 {[%cal Gb1d2,Gd2f1,Gf1g3] The knight is
going to move from d2, f1 to g3 and the bishop on h5 is not going to feel very
comfortable.} Nc6 14. Nbd2 d5 {Ding Liren understands that White has a simple
plan of playing his knight to f1-g3 and tries to stir up some play in the
centre.} 15. Nf1 dxe4 16. dxe4 {[%cal Gd8d1]} Qxd1 17. Bxd1 {[%csl Gc6,Rd3,Rd5,
Ge7,Gf6,Gh5][%cal Ga8d8,Gd8d7,Gf8d8,Gd1c2] It seems as if Black should be
better here. Mainly because he is so well developed and his rooks will be the
first ones to reach the open d-file. However, this is not a position where
activity will trump static factors. Black has to do something concrete,
otherwise White will regroup and on a long-term basis have a small edge
because his position has no real weaknesses, while there is a gaping hole on
d5 for Black and also White always has the option to play a4 to open up the
queenside.} Rfd8 18. Ng3 Bg6 (18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 {is not much for White but
is something. The bishop pair will definitely give White something to play for.
}) 19. Nh4 $5 {[%cal Gh4g6,Gg3f5,Gh4f5] When it comes to finding tactical
solutions in placid positions, Hari is right up there with the best.} (19. Bc2)
(19. Z0 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Rxd1+) 19... Nd7 (19... Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4
{The knight on e4 cannot be taken as the bishop on d1 is hanging, but} 21. Nf5
$1 {[%cal Gd1f3,Gf3a8] I have a feeling that Hari would have gone for this
move. The threat now is Bf3.} (21. Bf3 $1 {is also possible.} Bxh4 22. Bxe4
Rac8 23. Be3 {[%csl Ge3,Ge4] To even make a correct assessment of this
position, shows great understanding of chess. Harikrishna felt that his bishop
pair gives him excellent compensation and he is 100% correct.} Na5 24. b3 $44)
21... Nf6 (21... Nd6 22. Nxe7+ Nxe7 23. Rxe5 $14) (21... Bf8 $2 22. Bf3 $18)
22. Bg5 {[%cal Gf5e7,Gc6e7,Ge1e5,Gd1f3] For one pawn, White has excellent
pressure on the position. One line could go} (22. Bf3 e4 $1) 22... Ra7 23. Bf3
e4 (23... Nd5 24. Bxe7 Ndxe7 25. Nxe7+ Nxe7 26. Rxe5 $14 {When White is
slightly better.}) 24. Bxe4 (24. Nxe7+ Rxe7 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rxe4 Ne5 $13)
24... Nxe4 25. Nxe7+ Nxe7 26. Rxe4 $14 {[%csl Gg5]}) (19... Nxe4 $2 20. Nxg6
hxg6 (20... Nxg3 21. Nxe7+) 21. Nxe4 $18) 20. Ngf5 {[%cal Gh4g6]} (20. Nhf5 {
looks more natural, but Hari wanted to keep the option of taking on g6 open
all the time.}) 20... Bf8 21. b3 {[%cal Gc5c4,Gd7c5,Gc5d3] Hari prevents the
plan of c4 followed by Nc5 and Nd3. But Ding finds another interesting idea.}
b4 $5 (21... c4 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Be2 $14 {[%csl Rc4] The c4 pawn is extremely
weak.} Na5 24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Ne3 $14) 22. Bb2 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Gd7c5,Gc5d3]
Here Ding finds an exciting way to imbalance the position and activate his
pieces.} (22. cxb4 Nxb4 {Black is pretty active here.} (22... cxb4 {is
possible.})) 22... c4 $1 {[%cal Gd7c5,Gc5d3,Yc5c4] An excellent move to free
up the c5 square for the knight.} 23. bxc4 Nc5 {[%cal Gc5d3,Gd8d2]} 24. Bc2 {
White is a pawn up and he needs only one more move to consolidate, but that's
the move that Ding Liren is not going to give Hari easily.} Rd2 $1 25. Rac1
Bxf5 26. Nxf5 Rad8 27. Kf1 $1 {[%csl Rb4]} (27. Ne3 Nd3 28. Bxd3 R8xd3 {
Now imagine that in this position White had his king on f1, then he could just
defend everything with Re2!}) 27... a5 (27... g6 28. Ne3 Bh6 {[%cal Gh6c1]
This should have been considered.} 29. Nd5 Nd3 30. Bxd3 Rxb2 31. Rc2 Rxc2 32.
Bxc2 bxc3 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Gh6d2] Black should be perfectly fine.} 33. Ke2 (33.
Nxc3 $6 Bd2 $1 $17) 33... Bd2 $11) (27... Nd3 28. Bxd3 R8xd3 29. Re2) 28. Ne3 {
Now the knight is coming to d5, so Black must do something quickly.} Nd3 29.
Bxd3 Rxb2 {[%cal Gd8d2]} (29... R8xd3 30. Re2) 30. Re2 $1 {A nice move to get
rid of Black's active rook.} Rxe2 31. Bxe2 Rd2 {Ding continues to play
actively and naturally, but by now White pieces have regrouped well and Hari
is now ready for activity of his own.} 32. cxb4 Bxb4 (32... axb4 {was a better
move but after} 33. Rc2 {Black anyway has a long defensive task ahead as he is
a pawn down.}) 33. c5 $1 Ba3 (33... Rxa2 34. Bc4 {[%cal Gc4d5,Gc5c8]} Rb2 35.
Bd5 $1 {The knight will be evicted and the pawn on c5 would be extremely
strong.}) 34. Rd1 (34. Rb1 {was also possible as after} Bxc5 35. Rc1 Bxe3 36.
Rxc6 Bg5 37. Rc8+ Bd8 38. Bc4 {[%csl Ga2,Gc8,Ge4][%cal Gc4d5] White is going
to torture Black in this endgame.}) 34... Rxd1+ 35. Bxd1 Bxc5 36. Nc4 {[%csl
Rc6][%cal Gc4a5,Gc4e5,Gd1a4] Hari has seen that he will be able to win another
pawn here.} Bd4 $6 {The bishop had to be kept on c5.} (36... g5 {Computers
prefer this move here.} 37. Ba4 Nb4 38. a3 Nd3 {[%cal Gc5a3]} 39. Nxa5 Bxa3 {
And Black shouldn't have too much difficulty in holding the draw here.} (39...
Nxf2 {is also possible.})) 37. Ba4 Nb4 38. a3 Nd3 39. Nxa5 Nc5 (39... Nxf2 40.
Bc2 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gf2h1,Gh1g3,Ga3a6] Already it feels as if Black is in big
trouble.}) 40. Bc6 {White is now a pawn up and Hari doesn't go wrong from here.
} Kf8 41. Nc4 Ke7 42. f3 Kd8 43. Ke2 Kc7 44. Bd5 f6 45. Bg8 h6 46. h4 Nb7 47.
a4 Nd6 48. Nd2 Kb6 49. Nb3 Bc3 50. Bd5 Bb4 51. h5 Bc3 52. Kd3 {[%csl Gb3,Gd5,
Re5,Rf6,Rg7,Gh5,Rh6][%cal Gb3a5] White has improved his position. He has
clamped the kingside pawns, the minor pieces are actively posted and now the
king joins in.} Be1 53. Kc2 Bf2 54. Nc1 f5 55. Nd3 Bg3 56. Kb3 fxe4 57. Bxe4
Ne8 58. Kb4 Nf6 59. a5+ Ka7 60. Bg6 Nd5+ 61. Kb5 Nc7+ 62. Ka4 Nd5 63. Be4 Nf6
64. Nb4 {The h5 pawn is given up, but White gets the e5 pawn in return.} Nxh5
65. Nc6+ Ka8 (65... Ka6 66. Bf5 {[%cal Gf5c8]} Kb7 67. Kb5 $18 {[%cal Ga5a6]})
66. Nxe5+ Kb8 67. Nc6+ Kc7 68. Kb5 Nf6 69. Nd4 Ne8 70. a6 Nd6+ 71. Kc5 Bf2 72.
Kd5 Nc8 73. Nf5 Nb6+ 74. Ke6 Nd7 75. Kf7 (75. Nxg7 Nc5+) 75... g5 76. Nxh6 Kb6
77. Bb7 Be3 78. Ke6 Nc5+ 79. Kf5 {A clinical effort by Harikrishna. To beat a
solid player like Ding Liren in such style is never easy.} 1-0

[Event "Zafra Ruy Lopez"]
[Site "Zafra"]
[Date "2007.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Black "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[Annotator "Sargissian,K"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Sasikiran almost always plays 1.d4. naturally his first move was a
surprise, and naturally was a sign that he had prepared something for my
Marshall. Even so, I decided to play my favourite line and let him show his
preparation.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 {here I relaxed a little, since I understood that I had not landed
in a lost position in the opening. I think that if White has anything here, it
has to be with c3.} Bb7 9. d3 Re8 ({I did not play this because i was afraid
of the main line} 9... d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {I am convinced that White has
nothing serious here. However, I thought the text would not be so well-known
to my opponent, and also, it interests me.}) 10. c3 {10.Nc3 and 10.a4 are also
played.} h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 {There are two other possibilities: 11...d6 and 11...
Bc5. But the text move seems the most logical to me. I did not want to play 11.
..d6 because I wished to retain the chance of playing d5 in one move, whilst
the idea 11...Bc5 for some reason does not appeal to me.} 12. a4 Na5 13. Bc2 c5
14. d4 {Shamed though I am to admit it, I did not know the game Anand-Svidler
from Linares 2007. This position is of course very interesting and complicated.
Black has five interesting continuations!} d6 ({1) After} 14... d5 {I did not
like the simple} 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Qe2 {with a position in the style of the
Open Spanish, where it is not easy for Black to find play on the queen's side,
whilst thanks to the pawn on e5, White will gradually develop a kingside
attack.}) ({2) After} 14... exd4 15. cxd4 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nxe4
dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 {I did not see how to regain the pawn, although I
understood that Black has reasonable compensation.}) ({3)} 14... cxd4 15. cxd4
d5 16. axb5 axb5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qxd8 Raxd8 20. Rxa5 exf3 21.
Rxb5 {and White has an extra pawn and good winning chances.}) ({4)} 14... cxd4
15. cxd4 exd4 {is the way Svidler played against Anand, but here too, during
the game I thought that White has good prospects after} 16. e5 Nd5 17. axb5
axb5 18. Nxd4 {. Since none of these lines satisfied me, I chose a fifth
option.}) 15. b3 {This move pleased me, because after 15...exd4 16.cxd4 d5, in
almost every variation, either the pawn on b3 hangs, or the weakness of c3 is
felt. It seems to me that White should play 15.d5, although after 15...c4
Black has normal counterplay.} exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19.
Bxe4 ({Here I have to confess that I did not see the possibility of the
exchange sacrifice} 19. Rxe4 {and for a moment, I was quite upset, since it is
clear that after} Bxe4 20. Bxe4 {White has an excellent position.}) ({But
everything returned to normal once I noticed that after} 19. Rxe4 {there is
the counterblow} Nxb3 20. Bxb3 Bxe4 {and Black is close to winning.}) 19...
Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Qd5 {I was surprised that my opponent went in for this position
rather quickly. Maybe it was the result of his lack of experience on the white
side of the Spanish. Black has a good game, and already it is White who must
think about equalizing.} 21. Re3 Nc6 22. Rd3 ({Maybe it was more accurate to
play} 22. axb5 {although even there after} axb5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Bd2 cxd4 25.
Rd3 Bc5 {White is still far from equality.}) 22... Rad8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Be3 {
This move is tied up with an oversight.} ({Of course, he had to play} 24. Bb2
cxd4 25. Rc1 Bc5 {although here it is hard to recommend anything wonderful for
White. Evidently after 21...Nc6 White already stands badly.}) 24... cxd4 25.
Nxd4 {It was still not too late to play 25.Bf4.} Nxe5 26. Rd2 Bb4 27. Rc2 {
I suspect that Sasikiran headed for this position from afar, hoping to defend
after 27...Qe4 28.Qe2 although even here, Black has a clear advantage. But
here I managed to find a very strong resource I have to admit that I am very
pleased with my next move. The difficult part of finding it is that when one
sees that after Qe4 Black has a large advantage, it is not easy to force
oneself to look for something better.} f5 {After this move, one can
confidently state that White has a lost position.} 28. Rc7 {Since f4 cannot be
prevented, White tries to get some sort of attack. But thanks to his excellent
centralised knight, Black is able to beat off all White's attempts to achieve
anything.} f4 29. Qh5 {Actually, White has few ideas here. Virtually the only
try is the rook sacrifice, which as we will see, does not give anything.} ({
After} 29. Raa7 Bf8 {Black is also winning easily.}) 29... fxe3 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7
31. Nf5+ {Here no particular commentary is needed. Of course, both Kf8 and Kg8
win, but I wanted to play more actively.} Kf6 32. Ra6+ Re6 33. Qxh6+ Kxf5 34.
g4+ {I think the only reason my opponent did not resign was that he was in
time-trouble.} Nxg4 35. hxg4+ Kxg4 36. Qg7+ Qg5 37. Qxg5+ Kxg5 38. Rxe6 exf2+
39. Kxf2 Rd5 0-1

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.04.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Chandra, Akshat"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.04.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
b4 9. d4 O-O (9... Bg4 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Qe3 Nxf3+ 14.
Nxf3 Re8 15. Bd2 Bf8 16. Qf4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Qxe6 18. Bxb4 Qc4 19. Bc3 Rxe4 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (60) Salgado Lopez,I (2622)-Anand,V (2785) Dubai 2014}) 10. dxe5 dxe5
11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. a5 {Eine bekannte Methode, um den Bauern a6 festzulegen.
Bauer a5 wird allerdings auch oft schwach.} (12. Qe2 h6 13. h3 Qe7 14. Nc4 Be6
15. Be3 Nd7 16. a5 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 Bxb3 18. cxb3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Nf5 Qf6
21. Nxd4 $14 {0-1 (62) Dominguez Perez,L (2732)-Karjakin,S (2762) Berlin 2015})
12... h6 13. Bc4 Bb7 14. c3 Qd6 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Nf1 ({Nach} 16. Bxa6 Bxa6 17.
Qxa6 {gewinnt} Ra8 (17... Ng4 {Schwarz kann auch die Abwesenheit der Dame am
Königsflügel ausnutzen.} 18. Rf1 bxc3 19. bxc3) 18. Qb5 Rfb8 {den Bauern auf
Wunsch sofort zurück.}) 16... Ne7 17. Ng3 Ng6 18. Be3 bxc3 19. bxc3 Bxe3 20.
Qxe3 Qc6 21. Bf1 Bc8 22. h3 Be6 23. Reb1 Nd7 $11 24. Rb4 Kh7 25. Rab1 Qc5 26.
Bxa6 Qxa5 27. Bf1 Qc5 28. Qxc5 Nxc5 29. Bc4 (29. Rb5 {mit Blick auf e5 hält
das Gleichgewicht.}) 29... Nd3 30. Ra4 Ngf4 31. Ne1 Nxe1 32. Rxe1 Rd2 33. Bf1
Rb8 34. Rb4 Ra8 35. Rb7 Raa2 36. Nh1 {[#] Wenn man seinen Springer in die Ecke
ziehen muss, weiß man, dass etwas schief gelaufen ist.} c5 $17 37. Rc7 Ra5 38.
Ng3 Rc2 39. c4 g6 40. Rb1 Kg7 {[#]} 41. Rcb7 $2 {Nun verliert der Youngster
den Bauern c4 und die Partie ist gelaufen.} (41. Rd1 $17 Raa2 42. Nh1 {und nach
} Bxc4 $6 {ginge} 43. Bxc4 Rxc4 44. Rdd7 {mit Gegenspiel.}) 41... Raa2 42. Nh1
Bxc4 43. Bxc4 Rxc4 44. Re7 Rb4 (44... Kf6 $19) 45. Rd1 (45. Rxb4 cxb4 46. Rxe5
Ne2+ 47. Kf1 (47. Kh2 b3 48. Rb5 b2 49. Rb8 Nc3 $19) 47... b3 48. Rb5 Nd4 49.
Rb4 Ra1#) 45... Rd4 46. Rb1 Ne6 47. Rbb7 Nd8 48. Rbc7 Kf6 49. f4 Rd1+ 50. Kh2
exf4 (50... Rdd2 $19) 51. e5+ Kg5 52. Rxc5 Ne6 53. Rc3 Rdd2 0-1

[Event "Groningen"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John P"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1990.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 Na5 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 Rb8 13. Ng3 c5 14. Nf5 Bc8 15. N3h4
$5 {For 15.Se3 see game 93 at this disk.} Ne8 16. Qh5 Bxh4 17. Nxh4 b3 $1 18.
cxb3 Nxb3 19. Bxb3 Rxb3 20. Qd1 Rb4 21. g3 Be6 $17 22. Ra3 Qb8 23. Qe2 f6 24.
Ng2 Bb3 25. a5 Be6 26. Ne3 Nc7 27. Nc2 Rb7 28. Ra1 Rb3 29. f4 Nb5 30. f5 Bd7
31. g4 Nd4 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33. g5 fxg5 34. Bxg5 Rxb2 35. Qg4 d5 36. Bh6 Rf7 37.
Qg3 Qd6 38. Bc1 Rb3 39. Qg5 Rxd3 40. Qd8+ Qf8 41. Qxf8+ Rxf8 42. exd5 Rxf5 43.
Rb1 Bb5 44. d6 Rf6 0-1

[Event "Groningen"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Arnason, Jon Loftur"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1990.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 Na5 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 Rb8 $5 (12... c5 13. c3 bxc3 {
13. - c4 14.cxb4!, Nijboer-Nunn, Wijk aan Zee 1990.} 14. bxc3 c4 15. Ng3 Nd7
16. Ba3 Re8 17. Nf5 $16 {Arnason-Nunn, (ol) Novi Sad 1990}) 13. Ng3 c5 14. Nf5
Bc8 15. Ne3 Ne8 16. Nd2 Nc7 17. Ndc4 Nc6 18. Nd2 Kh8 19. c3 Bf6 20. Nd5 Nxd5
21. Bxd5 Ne7 22. Bc4 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Qc2 Bb7 $15 25. Ne4 Be7 26. Ng3 Bd6
27. Ne4 f5 28. Bg5 Qd7 29. Bxd5 Bxd5 30. Nxd6 Qxd6 31. f4 bxc3 32. bxc3 e4 33.
c4 Ba8 34. Rad1 e3 35. Re2 h6 36. Bh4 Qxf4 37. Bg3 Qg5 38. Bxb8 Rxb8 39. Rb1
Rxb1+ 40. Qxb1 Bf3 41. Qf1 Bxe2 42. Qxe2 f4 43. Qf3 Qe5 0-1

[Event "London WFW"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Watson, William N"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1991.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 024"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Nxd4 (9. Bxf7+ Kf8 $1 10. Bb3 {10.Nxe5? d6! is good for Black.} Nxb3
11. axb3 d6 $10) 9... exd4 10. e5 Nd5 $5 (10... Ne4 11. Qg4 c5 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13.
Qxh7 c4 14. Rxe4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 cxb3 16. axb3 $16) 11. Qf3 c6 12. Bxd5 (12. Qg4
$22 Qb6 13. Qxg7 O-O-O 14. Qh6 $1 Rhg8 {14. - c5? 15.Bxd5! + -} 15. Bxd5 Rg6
16. Qxh7 cxd5 17. Nd2 $16 {Kindermann-Yilmaz, Dubai (Ol) 1986.}) 12... cxd5 13.
Qg4 Qb6 14. Nd2 {14.Qxg7 0-0-0 is unclear.} Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 Bc5 17.
Bf4 Rc8 18. Red1 O-O 19. Rac1 Rfe8 20. h3 f6 $14 21. exf6 gxf6 22. Nxd4 Re4 23.
Be3 f5 $6 24. g3 b4 25. c3 bxc3 26. Rxc3 d6 27. b4 $1 Bxb4 $6 {27. - Bxd4} 28.
Rb3 Rc4 29. Rdb1 $16 Bc5 30. Rxb7 Bxd4 31. Rd7 Rc8 32. Bxd4 Rxd4 33. Rbb7 Ra4
34. Rxd6 Rxa2 35. Rxg6+ Kh8 36. Rf6 d4 37. Rd7 a5 38. Rxf5 a4 39. Rxd4 $18 Kg7
40. Ra5 a3 41. Ra7+ Kg6 42. Rd6+ Kf5 43. Rd3 Rc1+ 44. Kg2 Rcc2 45. Rf3+ Kg5 46.
Ra6 $5 {White plays for mate. Also winning is 46.Raxa3.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Renet, Olivier"]
[Black "Geller, Efim P"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1991.03.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nc3 Na5 11. Ba2 b4 12. Ne2 c5 13. c3 Rb8 $5 (13... bxc3 14.
bxc3 c4 15. Ng3 $1 $14 {Arnason,J-Nunn,J, Novi Sad (ol) 1990.}) 14. Ng3 (14.
cxb4 cxb4 15. Bd2 d5 16. Ng3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Bc5 18. Be3 {White has a minimal
advantage (Marinkovic,S-Tosic,M Vrnjacka Banja 1991 CBM 23 game 935).}) 14...
b3 15. Bb1 Re8 16. c4 Bc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York Manhattan"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Brooks, Michael A"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1990.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Nxd4 (9. Bxf7+ $5 Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 $5 11. Qxd4 c5 12. Qd1 Qc7 13. Ng4
Nxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Qh5 dxe4 16. Nc3 Rf5 17. Qe8+ Rf8 18. Qh5 Rf5 19. Qe8+ {
Draw agreed Smejkal-Zajcev, I Soviet Union 1970.}) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11.
Qxd4 c5 12. Qe4 Nc7 13. c4 bxc4 14. Bc2 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Nc3 Rb8 17. Qxc4 Rb4
18. Qd3 Rh4 19. Be3 d5 20. exd6 Bxd6 21. h3 Bxh3 22. gxh3 Rxh3 23. Qf1 Rh2 24.
Qc4 Rxe3 25. Rxe3 Qg5+ 26. Rg3 Bxg3 27. Ne4 Qh4 28. fxg3 Rh1+ 29. Kf2 Qh2+ 30.
Kf3 Rxa1 31. Nf2 Ne6 32. Bb3 Nd4+ 33. Ke3 Qxg3+ 34. Ke4 Re1+ 35. Qe2 Rxe2+ 36.
Kd5 Qe5+ 37. Kc4 Nc6 38. Bd1 Na5+ 0-1

[Event "Koop Tjuchem"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "225"]
[EventDate "1996.12.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Endspiel-CD} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 c5 13. Ng3 Rc8 14.
Qe2 $5 $146 (14. Ba2) 14... Qc7 $5 15. Nf5 Bd8 16. Bg5 c4 17. Ba2 Re8 18. Rad1
d5 $1 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. dxc4 bxc4 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Nxe5 g6 $1 $44 23. Nh6+ Kg7
24. Qe3 (24. c3 $5 Rb8 $44) 24... Qb7 25. Qf4 Be6 $1 (25... Qxb2 $2 26. Nf5+
gxf5 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Rxd5 $18) 26. Nhg4 (26. Nxc4 $6 Bc7 $44) 26... Nxg4 27.
Nxg4 Bxg4 $1 (27... Qxb2 $6 28. Rb1 $1 Bxg4 (28... Qxa2 $2 29. Qd4+ f6 30. Rb7+
Kg8 31. Nxf6+ Bxf6 32. Qxf6 Bd7 33. Rxd7 Rxe1+ 34. Kh2 $18) 29. Rxe8 $1 Qxa2
30. Rbe1 $1 Bf6 31. hxg4 Rxe8 32. Rxe8 $16) 28. Qxg4 Rxe1+ $2 (28... h5 29. Qf4
Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxb2 31. Bxc4 Bf6 $11) 29. Rxe1 h5 30. Qe4 $1 Qxe4 (30... Qxb2
31. Bxc4 $16) 31. Rxe4 Rb8 32. b4 cxb3 33. Bxb3 f5 $2 (33... Rb7 $14) 34. Re8
a5 35. a4 Kf6 36. Kf1 Bc7 37. Re6+ Kg5 38. Rc6 Bd8 39. Ke2 Rb6 40. Rc8 Bf6 41.
Rc5 Ra6 42. Kd3 $18 h4 43. Bd5 Bd8 44. Rc8 Rd6 45. Kd4 Kf4 46. c4 Bf6+ 47. Kc5
Be7 48. Re8 Re6+ 49. Rxe7 $4 (49. Kb5 Re2 50. Kxa5 Bb4+ 51. Kxb4 Rxe8 52. a5
$18) 49... Rxe7 50. Kd6 Re8 51. c5 Rd8+ 52. Ke6 Re8+ 53. Kd7 Ke5 $3 (53... Rh8
54. c6 Ke5 55. Bf7 $18) 54. Kxe8 $2 Kxd5 55. f4 (55. Kf7 f4 56. Kxg6 Kxc5 57.
Kg5 Kb4 $11) 55... Kxc5 56. Kf7 Kb4 57. Kxg6 Kxa4 58. Kxf5 Kb5 59. Kg5 a4 60.
f5 a3 61. f6 a2 62. f7 a1=Q 63. f8=Q Qe1 $1 $11 64. Qf4 Kb6 65. Kf5 Ka7 66.
Qd4+ Ka6 67. Qd6+ Kb7 {Endspiel-CD: Im Hinblick auf das kommende Endspiel Q+P
vs. Q muЯ der sK sich in die andere Richtung orientieren, denn dort gilt: Je
weiter weg der verteidigende K vom Umwandlungsfeld weg ist, desto besser. Aber
Schwarz muЯ natьrlich aufpassen, daЯ kein Unfall wie Damentausch passiert.} (
67... Kb5 $4 {Endspiel-CD} 68. Qe5+ $18) 68. Qd5+ Ka7 69. Kf6 Qa1+ 70. Ke6 Qe1+
71. Kd7 Qf2 72. Kc7 Qc2+ 73. Qc6 Qh7+ 74. Qd7 Qc2+ 75. Kd6+ Kb6 76. Qd8+ Kb7 (
76... Kb5 $4 {Endspiel-CD geht wieder nicht, wegen} 77. Qg5+ Kb6 78. Qxh4 Qxg2
79. Qd4+ Ka6 80. Qc4+ Ka7 81. Qc7+ Ka6 82. Qc6+ $18) 77. Qxh4 Qc6+ (77... Qxg2
$4 {Endspiel-CD} 78. Qb4+ Ka7 79. Qc5+ Kb8 80. Qc7+ Ka8 81. Qc6+ $18) 78. Ke5
Qc5+ (78... Qxg2 $4 {Endspiel-CD} 79. Qe4+ $18) 79. Ke6 Qc6+ 80. Kf5 Qd5+ (
80... Qxg2 $4 {Endspiel-CD} 81. Qe4+ $18) 81. Kf4 Qxg2 {Wenn Schwarz versucht
weiter Schach zu bieten, versteckt sich der weiЯe Kцnig auf h2.} 82. Qe7+ Kc8
$2 {Verdirbt noch nichts, aber der sK muЯ in die andere Richtung laufen.} (
82... Kc6 83. h4 Qd5 $11) (82... Kb6 $142 {[%cal Yb6b1] Endspiel-CD}) 83. h4
Qf2+ 84. Kg5 Qg3+ {Jedes Schach hдlt Remis (auЯer auf e3 und c5 natьrlich).}
85. Kf5 Qd3+ 86. Kf6 Qf3+ 87. Kg7 Qg3+ 88. Kf7 Qf3+ (88... Qb3+ $4 {Endspiel-CD
} 89. Qe6+ $18) 89. Qf6 Qh5+ (89... Qb7+ $11 {Endspiel-CD}) (89... Qd1 $11 {
Endspiel-CD}) 90. Kg7 {Nun gibt es nur noch ein Feld, von dem man Schach
bieten kann, aber das reicht zum Remis. Was hat Schwarz vom Schachgebot
abgehalten?} Qe2 $2 (90... Qg4+ 91. Kh6 (91. Kf7 {Endspiel-CD} Qh5+ (91... Qd7+
$11) (91... Qd1 $11) 92. Kg8 Qg4+ $8 93. Kf8 Qb4+ $8 94. Kf7 (94. Qe7 Qf4+ $11)
94... Qb7+ 95. Kg8 (95. Qe7 Qf3+ $11) 95... Qg2+ (95... Qb3+ $11) 96. Kf8 Qd5
$8 97. Qf7 Qd6+ (97... Qc5+ $11) 98. Kg8 Qg3+ $11) (91. Kf8 Qb4+ 92. Kf7 Qb7+
$11) 91... Qd1 92. h5 Kd7 93. Qf7+ Kd6 94. Kg7 Kc5 95. h6 Qg4+ $11 {-CDROM})
91. Qf8+ {Theoretischer Gewinn in 60 Zьgen.} Kd7 (91... Kb7 $142 {Endspiel-CD})
92. Qf7+ $2 (92. Qf5+ $18) (92. Qf5+ $8 $18 {Endspiel-CD} Kc6 93. h5 {und nun
geht die Verteidigung mit Kb5, die nach 92.Df7 mцglich ist, nicht.}) 92... Kc8
$2 (92... Kc6 93. h5 Kb5 $1 $11 (93... Kb5 $1 {Endspiel-CD und nun werden
Schachgebote wieder mцglich, weil das Dazwischenziehen mit der Dame auf f6oder
g6 kein Gegenschach mehr mit sich bringt.} 94. h6 Qg4+ $8 95. Qg6 {sondern}
Qd4+ $8 ({und nun nicht} 95... Qd7+ $4 {wegen} 96. Kf8 {und Schwarz hat kein
Schach mehr} Kb4 (96... Qc8+ $4 97. Qe8+) 97. Qe4+ $8 (97. h7 $4 Qd8+ $11)
97... Kb3 98. h7 $8 Qd8+ 99. Kg7 Qc7+ 100. Kg6 Qd6+ 101. Kf5 Qf8+ 102. Kg4 Qg7+
103. Kh5 Kb2 104. Qg6 Qe5+ 105. Kg4 $8 Qh8 106. Kf5 (106. Qg8 $4 Qd4+ $11)
106... Qc8+ (106... Z0 107. Qg8 $140) 107. Qe6 $8 Qc2+ 108. Qe4 $8 Qc8+ 109.
Kg6 Qc3 (109... Qa6+ 110. Kf7 Qa7+ 111. Qe7 Qf2+ $140 112. Qf6+ $18) 110. Qg2+
Kb3 111. Qd5+ Kb2 112. Qe4 Kb3 113. Qe6+ Kc2 114. Qd6 Kc1 115. Qf4+ Kd1 116.
Qe4 Qg3+ 117. Kf7 Qc7+ 118. Qe7 Qf4+ 119. Ke8 $18) 96. Kh7 Qd7+ 97. Qg7 Qd3+
98. Kh8 $11)) 93. h5 {In 53 Zьgen.} Qg2+ 94. Kf8 Qh3 95. Qe8+ $1 Kb7 96. Qg6 $1
Qc8+ 97. Kg7 Qc3+ 98. Kh7 Qh3 $2 (98... Qc4 99. h6 Ka7 100. Qf6 Qd5 101. Kg7
Qg2+ 102. Kf7 Qd5+ 103. Qe6 Qf3+ 104. Ke7 Qh1 $1 $16) (98... Qc7+ $1 {
Endspiel-CD 49} 99. Qg7 Ka8 100. h6 Qf4 101. Kh8 Qf2 102. Kg8 Qa2+ 103. Qf7
Qg2+ 104. Kf8 Qc2 105. h7 Qc5+ 106. Kg8 Qg5+ 107. Kh8 Qe5+ 108. Qg7 Qf4 {
etc. 39 Zьge bis zum Gewinn.}) (98... Qc4 $1 {Endspiel-CD 49}) 99. h6 Ka7 (
99... Qh4 $142 {Endspiel-CD}) 100. Qf6 $2 (100. Qf7+ Kb6 101. Kg7 Ka5 102. h7
Qg3+ (102... Qg4+ {Endspiel-CD} 103. Kh6 $18) 103. Qg6 Qc7+ 104. Kh6 $18)
100... Qd3+ $2 (100... Qb3 $1 $16) (100... Qb3 $1 {Endspiel-CD 46}) 101. Kh8 $6
(101. Kg8 $142 $18) (101. Kg8 $142 {Endspiel-CD} Qd5+ $140 102. Qf7+ $18)
101... Qh3 (101... Qd5 $142 {Endspiel-CD} 102. h7 Kb8 103. Qf8+ Kc7 104. Qg7+
Kd6 105. Qf6+ Kd7 106. Kg7 Qg2+ 107. Kf7 Qd5+ 108. Kg6 Qg2+ 109. Qg5 Qc6+ 110.
Kg7 Qc3+ 111. Qf6 Qg3+ 112. Kf7 Qb3+ 113. Kg6 Qg3+ 114. Qg5 $18) 102. h7 (102.
Kg8 $142 {Endspiel-CD}) 102... Qc8+ 103. Kg7 Qg4+ 104. Kf8 Qc8+ 105. Kf7 Qc4+
106. Qe6 Qf4+ 107. Kg7 Qg3+ 108. Kf8 Qb8+ 109. Qe8 Qb2 110. Qe3+ (110. Qf7+
$142) 110... Ka8 111. Qf3+ Ka7 (111... Kb8 112. Qg3+ Ka8 113. Qg8 Qf6+ 114. Ke8
$18) 112. Kg8 Qb8+ 113. Qf8 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 1st"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2013.09.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2862"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2013.09.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 ({Aronian has always
played exclusively the text move, spurning the Open Ruy Lopez with} 5... Nxe4)
({as well as the Arkhangelsk or Neo-Arkhangelsk with} 5... b5) ({and} 5... Bc5
{respectively.}) 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {Just like Kasparov, also Carlsen
avoids the Marshall. However, contrary to his ex-trainer, he did allow it a
few times:} (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 (9. d4 dxe4 10. Nxe5 Bb7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Bg5
Nd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nd2 f5 15. f3 e3 16. c4 $2 (16. f4 $1 {/\} Kh8 17. Qf3
$14) 16... Nf4 $1 17. cxb5+ Kh8 {[%cal Re3e2,Re7e3,Re3f2]} 18. Nc4 e2 19. Qd2
Qg5 20. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Bxb5 22. Qe3 $15 {/-/+,Carlsen,M (2835)-Kamsky,G 
(2732)/Wijk aan Zee/2012/}) 9... Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13.
Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Bxd3 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. Qf3
Rfe8 20. Nd2 Qf5 21. Qxf5 Bxf5 22. Bd4 f6 23. f3 b4 24. Ne4 Bc7 25. Kf2 bxc3
26. bxc3 Rb8 $44 {Carlsen,M (2548)-Anand,V (2785)/Leon rpd/2005/ A typical
Marshall endgame, the bishop-pair makes converting the extra pawn almost
impossible.}) ({The immediate} 8. d4 {gives Black a wider choice:} Nxd4 (8...
d6 9. c3 Bg4 {-C91 This line is not considered too dangerous for Black.}) 9.
Nxd4 (9. Bxf7+ Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11. Qxd4 Bb7 $5 $44 12. c4 c5 13. Qd3 Qc7 14.
Nf3 bxc4 15. Qxc4+ d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Qe2 Bd6 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 20.
Kf1 Rad8 (20... Be5 $5) 21. g3 Nh5 22. Qxh5 Rxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 24. Ke2 Qg2+
25. Ke3 Qg3+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ {1/2, Kamsky,G (2717)-Leko,P (2756)/Jermuk/2009/})
9... exd4 10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 (11. Qxd4 Bb7 12. c4 c5 13. Qg4 d6 14. Nc3 (14. Bf4
{Short,N (2707)-Fressinet,L (2702)/Bastia rpd/2012/} bxc4 15. Bxc4 d5 $11 {/=/+
}) 14... dxe5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 {Gilabert Mallol,E (2440)-Kyhos,A (2352)/
corr/2010/} Nf6 17. Qf5 Qb6 $132) 11... dxc3 12. Nxc3 d6 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Nd5
Rc8 15. Bf4 Bxd5 $5 (15... dxe5 16. Nxe7+ (16. Bxe5 Bd6 17. Rad1 Bxe5 18. Rxe5
Bxd5 19. Rexd5 Nd6 20. Qf4 Qe7 21. Re5 Qf6 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23. Rc5 Rfd8 24. Rdc1
Re8 25. g3 Re2 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Rxb2 28. Rc6 Ne4 29. Rxa6 Nc5 $11 {
Henrichs,T (2483)-Gustafsson,J (2584)/GER-ch Bad Koenigshofen/2007/}) 16...
Qxe7 17. Bxe5 Nd6 18. Qc3 Qg5 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rac1 $5 (20. b3 Qg6 21. Qc6 Nf7
22. Bg3 e5 23. Rac1 Qf6 24. h3 Rfd8 {Leko,P (2756)-Aronian,L (2768)/Jermuk/
2009/}) 20... Nc4 21. Bg3 Rfe8 22. b3 Nb6 23. Qa5 Nd5 24. Rc6 e5 25. Rxa6 c6
26. h4 Qf6 27. a4 $14 {Sievilainen,T (2179)-Laine,E (2234)/corr/2010/}) 16.
Bxd5 dxe5 17. Rxe5 Bf6 18. Re2 Nd6 19. Rd1 Bg5 20. Be5 Bf6 21. Bf4 {1/2,
Becerra Rivero,J (2598)-Onischuk,A (2670)/Lubbock/2008/}) 8... b4 {Nowadays
Black's main reaction.} ({For} 8... Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. d3 d6 11. Nbd2 {
- see Carlsen-Topalov}) 9. d4 {This alternative has recently been getting more
attention.} ({Earlier White used to prefer} 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 (10. a5 {was
Kasparov's choice and White used it well up to 2006. Nowadays it seems rather
tame:} Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Qe2 h6 13. h3 Bxb3 14. Nxb3 Re8 15. Nh2 Nh7 16. Ng4
Bg5 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. Kh2 Nf8 19. Nf5 Bxc1 20. Raxc1 Ne7 21. Nxe7+ Rxe7 22. d4
Rb5 23. Rcd1 Ne6 24. Qg4 Qf8 25. d5 Nc5 26. Re3 g6 27. Qe2 Re8 28. Rf3 Nxb3 $11
{1/2,Adams,M (2698)-Bacrot,E (2700)/ESP-chT Linares/2009/}) 10... Na5 (10...
Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nf1 ({A typical manoeuvre, but in recent games White has
tried other moves:} 12. Nb3 Qe8 13. d4 Nd7 14. d5 Nd8 15. dxe6 Nxe6 16. Qd5 Qf7
17. Na5 c5 18. Be3 Nf6 (18... Nb6 $5 19. Qd3 Nd4 $132) 19. Qc4 Nd4 20. Qxf7+
Kxf7 21. Ng5+ Kg6 22. Rac1 Nd7 23. Nh3 Nb6 24. c3 bxc3 25. bxc3 Ne6 $13 {
/=,Caruana,F (2772)-Ivanchuk,V (2757)/RUS-chT Loo/2013/}) (12. c3 Rb8 ({For} 
12... d5 $5 {see Bacrot-Tomashevsky, Paris 2013.}) 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Nc4 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Rb3 16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Bf8 18. Rec1 Qc8 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Qa2 Rb8 21. Be3
Nf6 22. Rab1 Qd7 $14 {/=,Dominguez Perez,L (2723)-Almasi,Z (2689)/Havana/2013/
The resulting position is more pleasant for White, but with circumspect
defence Black maanged to hold the game.}) 12... Qe8 $5 (12... Qd7 13. Ng3 Nd8 (
13... Na5 14. d4 exd4 15. Qxd4 c5 16. Qd3 Nc6 17. c3 bxc3 18. bxc3 Kh8 19. h3
Qc7 20. Ng5 Ne5 21. Qe2 Qc8 22. f4 Nf7 23. Nf3 Rb8 24. c4 $36 {[%csl Gc4,Ge4,
Gf4] (),Leko,P (2751)-Grischuk,A (2726)/WCh Mexico City/2007/}) (13... h6 14.
h3 Nh7 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Rab8 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 d5 19. Ba3 Bxa3 20. Rxa3
Rb4 21. Rae3 a5 22. exd5 Qxd5 23. Ne2 Ng5 24. Nxg5 hxg5 25. Nc3 Qxd4 26. Qh5 {
Sedlak,N (2568)-Brkic,A (2558)/Zupanja/2008/} Rb3 $132) 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 c5
16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 Nc6 (17... cxd4 18. Nxd4 Rc8 $14 {/=}) 18. Ba3 Rac8 19.
dxc5 dxc5 20. Qe2 Nb4 $2 (20... Nd4 $5 $13) 21. Qc4 $16 {Carlsen,M (2776)
-Svidler,P (2723)/Gjovik rpd/2009/}) 13. Ng3 Kh8 14. c3 (14. b3 h6 15. h3 Rd8
16. Bb2 Nd7 17. Qe2 Bf6 18. Rad1 Qf7 19. d4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4
22. Rxd4 a5 23. Red1 Qf6 24. Rc4 Rc8 25. Rc6 Kh7 26. Ra6 Ra8 27. Nh5 Qc3 28.
Rd3 Qa1+ 29. Rd1 Qc3 $11 {Goze,T (2456)-Jansen,J (2467)/corr/2009/}) 14... bxc3
15. bxc3 Na5 (15... Rb8 $5 16. d4 Nd7 $132) 16. d4 Nd7 17. Qd3 c5 18. Rb1 c4
19. Qe2 exd4 20. cxd4 Rc8 21. Be3 (21. Ba3 $5) 21... Nb3 22. Nd2 Nxd2 23. Qxd2
Nf6 24. Rb7 Bd8 25. d5 c3 $132 {Chuprov,D (2577)-Najer,E (2670)/Novokuznetsk/
2008/}) 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Rb8 (12... Nc6 {- see Anand-Grischuk}) 13. d4 $5 ({
Rather slow is} 13. Nc4 Nc6 14. h3 h6 (14... Be6 15. Ng5 Bd7 16. f4 {gives
White a slight pull. An important line is} h6 (16... Rb7 17. a5 Qb8 18. Nb6 Be8
19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Be3 Qd8 21. Nf3 Bd6 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 $14 {Karjakin,S 
(2782)-Caruana,F (2774)/Moscow/2013/}) 17. Nf3 exf4 18. Bxf4 Be6 19. d4 $5 cxd4
20. cxd4 $36 b3 21. Bxb3 $1 Rxb3 22. Qxb3 Na5 23. Qc2 Bxc4 (23... Nxc4 24. d5
$16) 24. b4 $14) 15. Ne3 (15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Bf4 b3 18. Bxb3 Be6 19.
Ba2 d3 $1 20. Qxd3 Nb4 21. Qe2 Nxa2 22. Rxa2 Rc8 23. b3 Nxe4 $1 $15 {Karjakin,
S (2780)-Aronian,L (2802)/Wijk aan Zee/2013/ Opening the centre favoured Black.
}) (15. Nh2 Be6 16. f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 Rb7 18. Ne3 {Prathamesh,S (2358)
-Sethuraman,S (2332)/Dindigul/2007/} d5 $1 $15) 15... Be6 16. Bc4 Bxc4 17. Nxc4
Re8 18. Be3 (18. Bd2 $142 $11 {prevents the following central push}) 18... Bf8
19. Nfd2 d5 $1 20. exd5 Qxd5 21. Qf3 Qxf3 22. Nxf3 Nd5 23. Bd2 f6 24. a5 Kf7
$15 {[%csl Rd3] Caruana,F (2786)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2696)/Tashkent/2012/}) 13...
bxc3 (13... Qc7 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nc4 b3 $5 ({For} 15... Rd8 {see
Caruana-Tomashevsky}) 16. Nxa5 bxa2 17. Nc4 Be6 18. Qe2 Nd7 19. Rxa2 Nb6 20.
Nfd2 (20. Nfxe5 Bd6 21. a5 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 Bxh2+ 23. Kh1 Rfe8 24. Ra1 Bxc4 25.
Qxc4 Re6 26. Qe2 Rbe8 27. Ra4 Bd6 $44 {Muri,H (2374)-Kayser,P (2055)/corr/2011/
}) 20... Rfd8 21. Ra1 Nxc4 $6 (21... Bg5 $142) (21... a5 $5 $44) 22. Nxc4 Bxc4
23. Qxc4 Qd6 24. Ra2 $6 (24. Rb1 $14) (24. Kf1 $14) 24... a5 25. Be3 h6 26. h3
Qb6 27. Kh2 Qd6 28. Rb1 Qd3 29. Qxd3 Rxd3 30. Kg1 c4 $11 {Karjakin,S (2775)
-Grischuk,A (2764)/Moscow rpd/2012/}) 14. bxc3 cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc6 16. Ba3 exd4 (
{Solid is} 16... Nxd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Nf3 Bb7 19. Qd3 d5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21.
exd5 (21. e5 Ne4 22. Nxd4 $5 {seems more enterprising}) 21... Qd8 22. Rab1 Bxd5
23. Rxb8 Qxb8 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd4 Nf6 26. h3 Qc7 $11 {Dominguez Perez,L 
(2708)-Pelletier,Y (2569)/Biel/2008/}) 17. Nb3 Bg4 $5 (17... Bb7 {could lead
to Pelletier's game.}) 18. Nbxd4 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nh5 21. Rad1 (21.
e5 $5 d5 22. Bc1 $14) 21... Qc8 22. Qe3 (22. Bc1 $5 Bf6 (22... Qh3 $6 23. e5
dxe5 24. Qg4 $1 $16 {[%csl Ga2,Gc1]}) 23. Qxd6 Rd8 24. Qa3 Qh3 $44) 22... Qc2
23. Rd2 Qxa4 24. e5 {Cheparinov,I (2681)-Dzhumaev,M (2499)/Istanbul olm/2012/}
Nf4 $1 $132 {/\} 25. Rd4 Qa5 26. Rxf4 Bg5 27. Ra1 Bxf4 28. Qxf4 Qxa3 29. Bxf7+
Rxf7 $11) 9... d6 {After the insertion of 8.a4 b4 this modest reaction is
Black's best choice.} (9... Nxd4 10. Nxd4 ({In this version also} 10. Bxf7+ $5
Rxf7 11. Nxe5 Rf8 12. Qxd4 Bb7 13. Nd2 $14 {deserves more attention.}) 10...
exd4 11. e5 Ne8 12. Qxd4 Bb7 13. Bf4 c5 14. Qe3 d5 15. exd6 Bxd6 16. Nd2 Qc7
17. Be5 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 Qc6 19. f3 Nd6 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21. Bxc4 Rae8 22. Qf4 a5 23.
Bb5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qd5 25. h3 Bc8 26. Bc4 Qf5 27. Qc7 $16 {Grischuk,A (2719)
-Beliavsky,A (2667)/FIDE WCh Tripoli/2004/}) 10. dxe5 {White can't
advantageously retain the central tension.} (10. d5 Na5 11. Ba2 Rb8 12. Nbd2 c6
13. dxc6 Qc7 $5 $11 (13... Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qe2 Qb6 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4
d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. Qb3 e4 20. Ne5 Bc5 21. Be3 Bxe3 {Aronian,L (2562)
-Minasian,A (2480)/Yerevan/2001/} 22. Qxe3 $16)) (10. c3 bxc3 11. bxc3 exd4 12.
Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. exd5 Bb7 15. Bg5 Bxd5 16. Nd2 h6 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18.
Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Nf3 Qd6 20. h3 Rab8 21. Rc1 Rb4 22. Qc2 Nd5 23. Re4 Nf6 24. Re2
Nd5 {1/2,Stein,L-Tal,M/Moscow/1967/}) 10... dxe5 (10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 (11. Nbd2
Nfd7 $146 (11... Nxf3+ $5 12. Nxf3 Bb7 13. e5 Nd7 14. e6 fxe6 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16.
Bd5 c6 17. Ba2 c5 18. Bd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Nb6 20. Qe6 Bf6 21. a5 Nd7 22. Qd5 Ne5
23. Nd2 Ng4 24. Nf3 Ne5 25. Nd2 Ng4 {1/2,Anand,V (2782)-Naiditsch,A (2574)/
Dortmund/2004/}) 12. Nd4 c5 13. Nf5 Nf6 14. Ne3 (14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Nc4 $14 {/=
}) 14... Bb7 15. f3 Ng6 16. Ndc4 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Nxe7+ Ngxe7
20. Bg5 Nf5 21. c3 (21. Na5 $5) 21... bxc3 22. bxc3 h6 23. Qd3 g6 24. Bd2 Rad8
25. Qe2 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Qxf4 27. Rad1 Bd5 28. Nd2 Bxb3 29. Nxb3 Qxa4 30. Nxc5 {
Nakamura,H (2772)-Aronian,L (2813)/Saint Louis/2013/} Qc6 $11) 11... dxe5 12.
Qe2 Bc5 ({The most usual move, but maybe Black should consider} 12... Bb7 {, or
}) (12... a5 $5) 13. Be3 Qe7 $146 (13... Bd4 $5 14. c3 ({Engines have tested
both} 14. Bxd4 Qxd4 15. Rd1 {and}) (14. Qd3 c5 15. c3 {- see the notes to
Caruana-Fressinet}) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Qe7 17. Nd2 Be6 18. h3
Rfd8 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Nf3 Ne8 21. c4 Nd6 22. c5 Nc8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. Red1 Na7
25. Rd5 Nc6 $11 {Baklan,V (2578)-Pinter,J (2535)/AUT-chT/2005/}) 14. Nd2 Bg4 $6
15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Qe3 Qxe3 17. Rxe3 Rad8 18. Nc4 Rfe8 19. Na5 $1 Be6 20. f3 Rd2
21. Rc1 Nd7 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Nb3 Rdd6 24. c3 $1 bxc3 25. Rexc3 $16 {Caruana,F
(2779)-Fressinet,L (2708)/Paris/2013/ The lost tempo cost Black dearly, as his
queenside crumbles.}) 11. Qxd8 {White wants to profit from the queenside holes
in a simplified position.} (11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. Qe2 ({Jansa's} 12. h3 Bb7 $11 {
is rather slow.}) 12... Qe7 $5 (12... Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. c3 (14. Qf1 $5 Qd7 15.
a5 Qe7 16. Bc4 Ra7 17. Nh4 g6 18. c3 bxc3 19. bxc3 Rb8 20. Nb3 Bd6 21. g4 $16 {
Zinchenko,E-Manyakhin,A/corr/2006/}) 14... Na5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Bc2 bxc3 17. bxc3
Nd5 $1 18. Nb1 {Grischuk,A (2779)-Caruana,F (2774)/Thessaloniki GP/2013/} Qf6
$5 19. g5 Qe6 20. exd5 Qxh3 21. Nh2 Bh5 22. Qe4 Bg6 23. Qe2 Bh5 $11) (12... Bb7
13. Nc4 {Black must be careful.} Qe7 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bg3 Nh5 (16...
Nd4 $5 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Qf3 Rad8 $132 {Zajontz,R (2492)-Feco,J (2331)/corr/
2009/}) 17. Ne3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Na5 20. Bd5 Rad8 21. Bxb7 Nxb7 22.
Rad1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rd5 Rxd5 25. exd5 Qc5 $11 {/+/=,Guilloux,J (2046)
-De los Reyes,A (1141)/corr/2003/}) 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. c3 bxc3 (14... Nh5 15. g3
Qf6 16. Kg2 Rad8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Bxf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 20. Kxf3 Na5 21.
Bd5 bxc3 22. b4 c6 23. Ba2 Nb7 24. Rec1 $36 {Inarkiev,E (2693)-Onischuk,A 
(2667)/Poikovsky/2013/}) 15. bxc3 h6 16. Bc2 Qe6 17. Ne3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Na5 19.
Nd2 Qc6 20. h3 Be6 21. Qg3 Nd7 22. Rb1 Rfb8 $11 {Grischuk,A (2764)-Svidler,P 
(2747)/London Candidates/2013/}) 11... Rxd8 12. Nbd2 ({After} 12. Bg5 {Black
can play} Rb8 $11 ({, as well as Caruana's provocative} 12... h6 $6 13. Bxf6
gxf6 14. Bd5 Rd6 {- see Negi-Caruana})) 12... h6 {Black makes a useful move
without committing his bishops.} (12... Bc5 13. h3 $5 (13. Bc4 Ng4 14. Re2 Na5
15. Bd5 Rb8 16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. cxb3 h6 18. h3 Nf6 19. Nxe5 Nxd5 20. exd5 $6 (20.
Nc6 Nc3 21. bxc3 Rd1+ 22. Kh2 Rb6 23. cxb4 Bd6+ 24. e5 Rxc6 25. exd6 Be6 $1 $11
) 20... Rxd5 21. Bf4 Be6 22. Rc1 Bd6 23. Bg3 Re8 24. Re3 c5 $15 {[%csl Rb3,Gd6,
Ge6] Anand,V (2783)-Adams,M (2727)/Paris/St Petersburg/2013/}) 13... Bb7 (13...
Re8 14. a5 Be6 15. Ba4 Bd7 16. Nb3 Bd6 17. Bg5 $14) (13... h6 14. Nc4 Re8 15.
a5 Bb7 16. Ba4 Re6 17. c3 Rd8 (17... Rb8 $5) 18. Bc2 Re7 19. Nfd2 Ba7 20. Nb3
Ne8 21. Ne3 Red7 22. Ra4 bxc3 23. bxc3 Nd6 24. Ba3 Ne7 {Inarkiev,E (2669)
-Akopian,V (2679)/Elista/2008/} 25. Bc5 $14) 14. a5 (14. Bc4 h6 15. Nb3 Bd6 16.
Bd3 $5 (16. a5 Ne7 17. Nfd2 Ng6 18. Bf1 Nf4 19. f3 Nd7 20. Nc4 Be7 21. Be3 Ne6
22. Bf2 Bc6 23. Ne3 Ndc5 24. Bc4 Nxb3 25. cxb3 Bb5 {Bologan,V (2682)
-Sargissian,G (2642)/Kallithea/2008/} 26. Nd5 $14 {Bologan}) 16... Bc8 17. Be3
Be6 18. Nfd2 Be7 19. Rad1 Nd7 20. Bc4 $14 {Bologan: Compared with the
positions where the pawn is on a5, White controls the very important square b5.
}) 14... h6 15. Ba4 Nd7 (15... Nxa5 $5 16. Nxe5 Bd4 17. Nd3 c5 $132) 16. Nb3
Bd6 17. Be3 Ncb8 18. Nfd2 Bc6 19. Nc4 Bxa4 20. Rxa4 Nc6 21. Rd1 Be7 22. Raa1
Kf8 23. f3 Ke8 24. Kf2 Nf8 25. Rd5 f6 26. g3 Ne6 27. f4 $36 {Harikrishna,P 
(2685)-Kamsky,G (2746)/Istanbul olm/2012/}) ({Black has had more success with
the prophylactic} 12... Bd6 13. a5 h6 14. Bc4 Re8 $1 (14... Kf8 15. b3 (15. Nb3
Ke7 16. Nfd2 ({Bologan recommends} 16. Be3 Be6 17. Bxe6 Kxe6 18. Nfd2 {, but}
Rab8 {[%cal Yb8b5] seems about equal.}) 16... Be6 17. Bf1 Nd7 18. Nc4 Nc5 19.
Nxc5 Bxc5 20. c3 f6 21. Be3 {1/2,Nisipeanu,L (2684)-Inarkiev,E (2684)/Evry/
2008/} Bxe3 22. Nxe3 Rd2 $11) 15... Ke7 $6 (15... Bc5 {is the engine move, but
why then go to d6 at all?}) 16. Bd5 $1 Nxd5 17. exd5 Na7 18. Nxe5 Kf8 19. Ndc4
Bxe5 20. Rxe5 Nc6 21. Bg5 $1 $14 {Karjakin,S (2721)-Aronian,L (2754)/Nalchik/
2009/}) (14... Bb7 15. b3 (15. Nb3 Re8 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nd8 18. Nfd2 Ne6
19. f3 Bc6 20. Bf1 Reb8 21. Ba3 Kf8 22. Nc1 Bb5 23. Nc4 Bxa3 24. Rxa3 Nd7 25.
Rd1 f6 $11 {/=/+,Felgaer,R (2570)-Tomashevsky,E (2730)/Istanbul olm/2012/})
15... Bc5 16. Bb2 Rd7 17. h3 Re8 18. Ra4 {Kritz,L (2618)-Kaplan,S (2422)/Biel/
2010/} Nh5 $132 {[%cal Yh5f4]}) 15. Nb3 (15. b3 Be6 16. Bb2 Nd7 17. h3 f6 18.
Nh4 Nc5 19. Nf5 Bf8 20. Ne3 Bxc4 21. Ndxc4 Ne6 22. Rad1 Red8 23. Rd5 Nf4 $11 {
Negi,P (2642)-Sargissian,G (2663)/WChT Ningbo/2011/}) (15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Nb3 Nc5
17. Be3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Be6 19. Nfd2 Nb8 20. Rec1 Nd7 $11 {Sargissian}) 15... Be6
16. Bd3 Red8 17. Bf1 (17. Nfd2 Nd7 18. Bc4 Nc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21.
Nb3 Ba7 22. Be3 Nd4 23. Rac1 Nxb3 24. cxb3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 c5 $11 {Antipov,M 
(2462)-Heimann,A (2493)/Athens/2012/}) 17... Kf8 18. Nfd2 Nd7 19. Nc4 Nc5 20.
Nxc5 Bxc5 21. c3 f6 22. Be3 Bxe3 {1/2,Carlsen,M (2772)-Leko,P (2756)/Dortmund/
2009/}) 13. a5 ({Carlsen and Aronian already had this position once.} 13. Bc4
Bd6 (13... Bc5 $5) 14. Nb3 Bb7 (14... Re8 $142 $5 {[%cal Yc8e6]}) 15. h3 Kf8
16. Bd3 Bc8 17. Be3 Be6 18. Nfd2 Ke8 19. f3 Be7 20. Bc4 Bc8 21. Red1 Bb7 22.
Bf2 Nd7 23. Bd3 Nf8 24. Nc4 Ne6 25. Nba5 $16 {Carlsen,M (2776)-Aronian,L (2750)
/Nice rpd/2009/ gave White a substantial advantage, but Aronian undoubtedly
prepared an improvement here.}) (13. Nc4 Bd6 14. a5 Be6 15. Be3 Rab8 16. Nfd2
Ng4 17. h3 Nxe3 18. Nxe3 Bc5 19. Bxe6 Rxd2 20. Bd5 Bxe3 (20... Nd8 $5) 21. fxe3
Ne7 22. Bc4 Rxc2 23. b3 Rxc4 24. bxc4 Kf8 $44 {Wan,Y (2477)-Tkachiev,V (2662)/
Jakarta/2012/}) 13... Bc5 $146 {Until now Black played mostly} (13... Bd6 {
which transposes into the aforementioned 12...Bd6 lines.}) 14. Bc4 {[%cal
Yb2b3,Yc1b2,Yc4d3,Yd2c4] White's long-term plan is to target e5, but the text
move is not ideal.} (14. Ba4 Nxa5 15. Nxe5 Ng4 16. Nxg4 Bxg4 $132 {and Black's
active pieces give him reasonable counterchances.}) (14. h3 $142 $5 {gives
better chances for an edge. Now} Bb7 {leads to Harikrishna - Kamsky above,} ({
while} 14... Re8 15. Nc4 {transposes to Inarkiev-Akopian})) 14... Ng4 15. Re2
Be6 $1 {Swapping the important bishop complicates White's development and
gives Aronian the initiative.} 16. Bxe6 ({White has no time for} 16. Bd3 b3 $36
) 16... fxe6 17. h3 Nf6 18. Re1 Rab8 19. Nc4 Rb5 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb5e5] An
excellent outpost for the rook, attacking and defending at the same time.} 20.
b3 (20. Ncxe5 $6 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Rxe5 $15 {[%csl Re4] /-/+}) (20.
Be3 Ne8 $36 {[%cal Ye8d6]}) 20... Bd4 21. Bb2 (21. Nxd4 exd4 $15 {[%csl Ra5]})
21... Rc5 $1 {[%cal Rc5c4]} 22. Ra2 Bxb2 ({After} 22... Ne8 {White can already
consider} 23. Bxd4 $5 exd4 24. e5 $132) 23. Rxb2 Ne8 24. Ra2 Nd6 25. Nfd2 Nb7 (
25... Nd4 $15) ({, or} 25... Nb5 $15 {was probably better, but even here it's
not simple to increase Black's pressure.}) 26. Nf3 Kf7 (26... Nbxa5 27. Nfxe5
Nxe5 28. Rxa5 Rxa5 29. Nxa5 Rd2 30. Rc1 $11 {[%cal Yg1e1]}) ({Aronian is
playing for a win and spurns} 26... Nd6 $11) 27. Kf1 Kf6 28. Ra4 Nbxa5 29. Ne3
$5 (29. Nxa5 Nxa5 30. Re2 Rd1+ 31. Re1 Rd6 $5 32. Rxb4 Rxc2 33. Nxe5 c5 $15 {
Carslen is not intent on winning the pawn back immediately, this cool retreat
leaves Black's kinights sidetracked.}) 29... h5 30. Rea1 Rd4 31. Ne1 Ke7 (31...
Rxe4 $6 32. Nd3 {/\} Rb5 33. c4 $1 Nxb3 34. cxb5 axb5 35. Ra6 $14) 32. f3 Rd2
33. Rd1 (33. Nd3 $2 Rxd3 34. cxd3 Nxb3 35. Rd1 a5 $17 {[%csl Ga5,Gb4][%cal
Rc5b5,Rb3c5] /-+}) 33... Rd6 ({Keeps the tension, after} 33... Rxd1 34. Nxd1
$11 {[%cal Yd1e3,Ye1d3] Black has no obvious way to untangle.}) 34. Rda1 Kd7 ({
Still aiming for more than} 34... Rd2 35. Rd1 $11) 35. Nd1 Rd2 36. Nf2 $5 Kc8
37. Nfd3 Rb5 38. h4 (38. Nxb4 Nxb4 39. Rxa5 Kb7 {is still slightly unpleasant
for White. Carlsen was short of time, so he doesn't change the character of
the position.}) 38... Kb7 39. R1a2 Ka7 40. Kg1 Kb6 41. Kf1 g6 42. Kg1 Kb7 43.
Kf1 Kc8 44. Nf2 Rd8 $6 ({This is already pushing it too far, Black should have
resigned himself to} 44... Rc5 45. Nfd3 Rb5 $11) 45. Ned3 $44 {The retreat of
the active rook allows White to further improve his piece coordination and put
serious pressure on Black's weaknesses. Carlsen realised this was the turning
point of the game and somewhere around here he already declined a draw offer.
Aronian was late to realise he has to defend accurately and without much
resistance.} Kb7 46. Ke2 Kb6 47. Ke3 Kb7 {Awkward.} (47... Ra8 48. Nb2 $1 {
doesn't allow the knight to leave a5, but after} Rc5 49. Kd2 Rf8 $14 {Black
can still fight on.}) 48. Nd1 (48. Nh3 $5 $14 {is interesting, but White has a
different plan.}) 48... Kc8 49. N1b2 Rd6 50. Ra1 $1 {An important finesse,
which clearly indicates aggressive intentions.} ({Carslen avoids the immediate
} 50. Nc4 Nxc4+ 51. bxc4 Rb8 52. c5 Rd7 53. Rxa6 b3 $1 $11) 50... Kd8 $2 {
The decisive mistake, the rook should have left the exposed d6-square as soon
as possible.} (50... Rd7 51. Nc4 Nxc4+ 52. bxc4 Rb8 53. Rxa6 Nd4 54. Rc1 $16 {
[%csl Re5,Re6] /\} b3 55. c3 Nc2+ 56. Ke2 {[%csl Rb3]}) (50... Rd4 $142 $5 {
and the forcing} 51. Nxe5 (51. g3 $5 $36 {[%cal Yf3f4] is perhaps stronger})
51... Rxe5 52. Rxa5 Rdxe4+ 53. fxe4 Nxa5 (53... Rxa5 $2 54. Rxa5 Nxa5 55. Kf4
$18 {[%cal Rf4g5]}) 54. Nd3 Rb5 55. Nf4 Kd7 $14 {gives Black chances for a
successful defence.}) 51. Nc4 Nxc4+ 52. bxc4 Rb8 53. c5 Rd7 ({Even after the
more resilient} 53... Rxd3+ 54. Kxd3 a5 55. Kc4 $16 {/+- White should graually
win.}) 54. Rxa6 $18 b3 {Hopeless, but} (54... Nd4 {was no better:} 55. Ra8 $1
Rxa8 (55... Nxc2+ 56. Kd2 Nxa1 57. Rxb8+ Ke7 58. Rxb4 $18 {[%csl Ra1,Re5]}) 56.
Rxa8+ Ke7 57. Nxe5 $5 (57. Nxb4 $18) 57... Nxc2+ 58. Ke2 $18 {[%csl Rd7] and
Black's rook is trapped!}) 55. Rxc6 bxc2 56. Ne1 {[%csl Rc2]} (56. Rxe6 $142 $1
$18) 56... Ke7 (56... Rb2 57. Rxe6 {[%cal Ra1a8]} Rd1 58. Nxc2 $18) (56... Rd1
57. Nxc2 Rxa1 58. Nxa1 Ra8 59. Rxe6 (59. Nc2 $2 Kd7) 59... Rxa1 60. Rxg6 $18)
57. Nxc2 Rb3+ 58. Ke2 Rb2 59. Rc1 Ra2 {Now the Rc6 is temporarily trapped, but
Black has no way to attack it and he is already a piece down. The rest doesn't
require any comment.} 60. Ke3 Kf7 61. f4 Kf6 62. fxe5+ Kxe5 63. Ne1 Ra3+ 64.
Kf2 Rd2+ 65. Kf1 Rd7 66. Nf3+ Kf4 67. Rxe6 g5 68. hxg5 Kg3 69. Rf6 Ra2 70. Ne5
1-0

[Event "Paris FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elancourt"]
[Date "2013.09.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.09.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 (10... dxe5 {is slightly more common - see
Grischuk-Svidler, Negi-Caruana and Carslen-Aronian.}) 11. Nxe5 (11. Nbd2 Nxf3+
$5 (11... Nfd7 $146 12. Nd4 c5 13. Nf5 Nf6 14. Ne3 (14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Nc4 $14
{/=}) 14... Bb7 15. f3 Ng6 16. Ndc4 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Nxe7+
Ngxe7 20. Bg5 Nf5 21. c3 (21. Na5 $5) 21... bxc3 22. bxc3 h6 23. Qd3 g6 24. Bd2
Rad8 25. Qe2 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Qxf4 27. Rad1 Bd5 28. Nd2 Bxb3 29. Nxb3 Qxa4 30. Nxc5
{Nakamura,H (2772)-Aronian,L (2813)/Saint Louis/2013/} Qc6 $11) 12. Nxf3 Bb7
13. e5 Nd7 14. e6 fxe6 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16. Bd5 c6 17. Ba2 c5 18. Bd5 Bxd5 19.
Qxd5 Nb6 20. Qe6 Bf6 21. a5 Nd7 22. Qd5 (22. Qxd6 Ne5 $44) 22... Ne5 23. Nd2
Ng4 24. Nf3 Ne5 25. Nd2 Ng4 $11 {1/2,Anand,V (2782)-Naiditsch,A (2574)/
Dortmund/2004/}) 11... dxe5 12. Qe2 (12. Qf3 Be6 $5 13. Nd2 Bc5 14. h3 Nd7 $5
15. Qe2 Qe7 16. Bc4 a5 (16... Bxc4 17. Qxc4 a5 18. Nf3 Qd6 19. Be3 Bxe3 20.
Rxe3 Nc5 $11 {Dominguez}) 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Bd2 $6 (18. Bxe6 Qxe6 $14) 18... Rfd8
19. c3 Qf6 20. Rf1 Qg6 21. cxb4 Bxh3 22. Qf3 Bg4 23. Qg3 Nf6 24. Qxe5 Nxe4 25.
Be3 {Dominguez Perez,L (2647)-Navara,D (2658)/Turin olm/2006/} Bf3 26. Qh2 Nd6
$17) 12... Bc5 {The most usual move, but maybe Black can consider other
alternatives:} (12... Bb7 13. f3 (13. Rd1 Qe8 (13... Bd6 14. f3 Nh5 (14... Qe7
$5) 15. Be3 Kh8 (15... Nf4 $142 $132) 16. Bd5 $5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Qe7 18. Nd2 c6
19. Ra5 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Rxa6 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Bd4 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Nc4 $16 {
Sutovsky,E (2565)-Brito Garcia,A (2395)/Benasque/1996/}) 14. f3 Bc5+ 15. Be3
Nd7 16. Nd2 a5 17. Nf1 Bxe3+ 18. Nxe3 Nb6 19. Qf2 Bc6 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5
Nxd5 22. Rxd5 $36 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gd1d8] Korneev,O (2475)-Wegner,H (2365)/
Hamburg/1992/}) 13... Bc5+ (13... Nh5 14. g3 Kh8 15. Be3 Qc8 {Marin's
recommendation} (15... f5 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Nd2 Qd6 18. Bc4 Raf8 19. Rf1 (19.
Rad1 $1 Qf6 20. Rf1 $14 {Nisipeanu}) 19... e4 20. f4 $8 (20. fxe4 $2 Nxg3 $1
21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Qh3+ 23. Kg1 Bc5 $1 $19) 20... g5 21. Qxh5 gxf4 22. Qg4
Rg5 23. Qxf4 Rxf4 24. Rxf4 Qe5 25. Nb3 c5 26. Rd1 $44 {1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2668)
-Sokolov,I (2673)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M] (35)}) 16. Qg2 (16. Nd2 $142 f5
17. exf5 Qxf5 $132) 16... f5 17. exf5 Qxf5 18. g4 $2 Qd7 19. gxh5 Bxf3 20. Qg3
Bb7 21. h3 Bh4 $1 22. Qg4 (22. Qxh4 Qc6) 22... Qc6 23. Kh2 Bxe1 24. Qg1 Qf3 25.
Nd2 Qe2+ {0-1,Roser,K (2429)-Brunello,S (2467)/Chur/2010/}) 14. Be3 Bd4 $5 15.
c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxe3+ 17. Qxe3 Qe7 18. Nd2 Nd7 19. Rab1 Rab8 20. a5 Rfd8 $11 {
Rapp,J (2092)-Makovsky,P (2305)/corr/1998/}) (12... Qd4 13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Kh1 a5
15. f3 Rfd8 16. Nc4 Ba6 17. Be3 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Qd7 19. Red1 Qe8 {Palac,M (2591)
-Aronian,L (2610)/Lausanne/2003/} 20. Bb3 $36 {[%csl Ra5,Gb3,Ge3]}) (12... a5
$5 13. Rd1 (13. Nd2 Bc5 14. Nc4 Ng4 15. Ne3 Nf6 16. h3 Qe7 17. Bd2 c6 18. Qf3
Be6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Rad8 21. Red1 h6 22. Be1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Bd4 24. c3
bxc3 25. bxc3 Ba7 26. Bc2 Rb8 $132 {Rowies,A (2375)-Dos Santos,M (2412)/corr/
2011/}) 13... Ba6 14. Qf3 Qc8 15. Bg5 c5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Bd5 Ra7 18. c4 Qc7
19. Nd2 Bc8 20. Nf1 Bg5 21. Ng3 Ra6 22. Nf5 g6 23. Ne3 Kg7 24. Rd3 f5 $13 {
Turcan,M (2093)-Botta,M (2222)/corr/2007/}) 13. Be3 (13. Nd2 a5 {transposes
into 12...a5!?}) 13... Qe7 $146 (13... Bd4 $5 14. c3 {The human move, which
leads nowhere. Perhaps Caruana wanted to test one of the engine continuations,
, but even here White's edge is at best only minimal:} (14. Bxd4 $5 Qxd4 15.
Rd1 Qc5 (15... Qa7 16. Nd2 Bg4 17. Nf3 Qc5 18. Rd3 Rad8 19. Rad1 $11 {/+/=})
16. Qc4 Qe7 $5 17. Nd2 a5 18. Qc6 $5 (18. Qe2 Rd8 19. Bc4 Bb7 (19... Rd4 20.
Nf3 Rd6 21. Rxd6 cxd6 22. Rd1 Bg4 23. Qe3 h6 24. b3 Rb8 25. h3 Bh5 26. Re1 Bg6
27. Nd2 Qc7 28. f3 Rd8 $11 {DavideBENEDETTO,H (2348)-Next-Level,H (2588)/
Engine Room/2012/}) 20. f3 Bc6 21. Qf2 h6 22. Bb3 Kh7 23. h4 Nh5 24. Nc4 Rd7
25. Ne3 Nf4 26. Kh1 Rdd8 27. Kh2 Bb7 28. g3 Ne6 29. Bxe6 Qxe6 30. b3 Qf6 31.
Kg1 c5 {love u chess,h (2548)-geisterjДger,h (2541)/Engine Room/2011/}) 18...
Ra7 19. Re1 Rd8 20. Nf3 Bg4 21. Ng5 Rf8 22. h3 Bh5 23. Re3 Qd6 24. Qc4 c5 25.
Nf3 Rc8 26. Rd3 Qe7 $11 {/+/=,pablitoo,d (2463)-sweaty carpenter,r (2472)/
Engine Room/2012/}) (14. Qd3 c5 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Rb8 18. Nd2
Qc7 19. Bc4 Rd8 20. Reb1 (20. Nb3 Rd6 21. Rad1 Rdb6 22. Qxc5 Rc6 23. Rd8+ Qxd8
24. Qxc6 Bd7 {skypilot,k (2626)-dynamic coins,h (2494)/Engine Room/2012/} 25.
Qxa6 Qc7 26. f3 Rb7 $1 27. Rd1 Ra7 28. Qd6 Qxc4 29. Qb8+ Be8 30. Qxa7 Qxb3 $11)
20... Rxb1+ 21. Rxb1 Bd7 22. Bxa6 Bxa4 23. Bc4 Qd6 24. Nf1 g6 (24... Bc2 25.
Ra1 Bxe4 26. Ra6 $14) 25. f3 Kg7 26. Qf2 Bc6 27. Ne3 Ra8 28. Bf1 Nd7 29. Rd1
Qe7 $11 {/+/=,cyclops_,h (2718)-no fear,h (2727)/Engine Room/2011/}) 14... bxc3
15. bxc3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Qe7 17. Nd2 Be6 18. h3 Rfd8 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Nf3 Ne8
21. c4 Nd6 22. c5 Nc8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. Red1 Na7 25. Rd5 Nc6 $11 {Baklan,V (2578)
-Pinter,J (2535)/AUT-chT/2005/}) 14. Nd2 Bg4 $6 {This will in the end just
cost Black time.} (14... Rd8 $142 15. Nc4 a5 16. f3 $11 {/+/=}) 15. Bxc5 Qxc5
16. Qe3 Qxe3 {In an endgame the queenside pawns will be more vulnerable.} (
16... Qe7 $5 $14) 17. Rxe3 Rad8 18. Nc4 {[%csl Re5]} Rfe8 19. Na5 {[%cal Ra5c6,
Rc6b4]} Be6 (19... Rd2 20. Rd3 $5 (20. Nc6 Be6 $14) 20... Rxd3 (20... Rd8 21.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Nc6 $16) 21. cxd3 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rb4,Rc7]}) 20. f3 $1 Rd2 {
Black's activity will be only temporary.} (20... Rd6 21. Rc1 $36 {[%cal Yb3e6,
Yc2c3] can be similar to the game.}) 21. Rc1 Nd7 $6 (21... Bxb3 $142 22. Rxb3
c5 23. c3 Nh5 $5 (23... bxc3 24. Rcxc3 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 Rd2+ 26. Kf1 Red8 27. Nc4
$16 {[%csl Ra6,Rc5,Re5]}) 24. g3 bxc3 25. Rcxc3 Rd1+ 26. Kg2 Rd2+ 27. Kh3 Nf6
$14 {[%cal Yg7g5,Yh7h5]}) 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Nb3 Rdd6 $8 24. c3 bxc3 (24... c5
25. cxb4 cxb4 26. Rc8+ Nf8 27. Na5 $16) 25. Rexc3 $16 Rb6 (25... c6 26. Na5 c5
{was more resilient.}) 26. a5 $1 Rb5 27. Rxc7 Rxb3 28. Rxd7 h5 (28... g6 29.
Rcc7 Rf6 (29... Rxb2 30. Rxf7 Rd6 31. Rfd7 Rxd7 32. Rxd7 {/\} Rb5 33. Rd5 $18)
30. Rb7 Rxb7 31. Rxb7 $16 {/+-}) 29. Rc8+ Kh7 30. Rxf7 Rxb2 31. Rf5 Rb1+ (31...
h4 32. Rh5+ Rh6 33. Rxh6+ (33. Rxe5 $6 h3 $132) 33... gxh6 (33... Kxh6 34. Rc6+
Kg5 35. h3 $18) 34. h3 $5 (34. Rc7+ Kg8 35. Rc5 $5 Rb1+ 36. Kf2 Rb2+ 37. Ke3
Rb3+ 38. Kd2 Rb2+ 39. Kd3 Rxg2 40. h3 Rg3 41. Ke3 $16) 34... Rb5 35. Rc7+ Kg8
36. Rc6 Rxa5 37. Rxh6 Kg7 $5 38. Rxh4 Rb5 39. Rg4+ Kh7 (39... Kf7 40. h4 a5 41.
h5 Rb6 42. Rg5 Re6 43. h6 Rxh6 44. Rxe5 Ra6 45. Rc5 a4 46. Rc2 a3 47. Ra2 $16 {
/+-}) 40. f4 exf4 (40... a5 41. f5 a4 42. Rg3 {/\} Rb3 43. Rg6 $18) 41. Rxf4
$16 {/+-}) 32. Kf2 Rb2+ (32... h4 $142 33. Rh5+ Rh6 34. Rxh6+ (34. Rxe5 $5 Rb2+
35. Ke3 Rxg2 36. f4 Rxh2 37. f5 Rf6 38. Ree8 $40) 34... gxh6 35. Rc7+ Kg8 36.
h3 $5 {- 31...h4!?}) 33. Kg3 Rg6+ 34. Kh3 Rgxg2 35. Rxh5+ Kg6 36. Rxe5 Rxh2+
37. Kg3 $18 {Black is lost, as he will drop another pawn.} Rhg2+ (37... Rbg2+
38. Kf4 Rh4+ 39. Ke3 Rh6 40. Rc6+ Kf7 (40... Kh7 41. Rxh6+ gxh6 42. Re7+ Kg8
43. Re6) 41. Rf5+ Kg8 (41... Ke7 42. Rc7+ Ke8 43. Rff7 $18) 42. Rxh6 gxh6 43.
Rf6 $18) 38. Kf4 Rb5 39. Rc6+ (39. Rc6+ Kf7 40. Rxa6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow-ch61"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1983.01.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Suetin, Alexey S"]
[Black "Zaitsev, Igor A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[Annotator "Suetin,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1983.01.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d5 $5 10. exd5 e4 $5 11. dxc6 exf3 12. d4 fxg2 13. Bg5 (13. c4 $5)
13... Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. d5 Ng6 16. Nd2 $6 (16. Kxg2) 16... Nf4 17. Re3 (17.
Qf3 $2 Nh3+ 18. Kxg2 Qg5+ $19) 17... Qg5 18. Rg3 Qe5 19. Nc4 Qe4 20. f3 Qf5 $2
(20... Qxd5 21. Qxd5 Nxd5 22. Rxg2) (20... Qe2) (20... Qe8) 21. Qd2 $1 Rd8 22.
Re1 Be6 23. Qd4 $1 $16 {[%cal Gd4g7,Gg3g7] (+-)} g5 24. Ne3 Qg6 25. h4 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[Annotator "Sutovsky,E"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Nils plays the most principled Najdorf and Marshall lines - why did I play 1.
e4 then? Well, because I always play 1.e4!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. Bc4
{keeps being popular, and justly so. But probably these Giuocci Piani are too
subtle for me...}) 3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {
The topical continuation. From time to time White challenges Black's memory in
the Marshall - but I was looking for a real battle - but of course not only a
desire to fight, but good preparation was required.} b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5
(10... dxe5 {used to be the main line for many years - but Black failed in his
attempts to fully equalise there. Of course, the line is very much alive, but
the ball is rather in the black court.}) 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qe2 {A new approach,
recently tried in several games. The line with 12.Qf3 has been covered by the
top players (and the Marshall is played almost exclusively by the
grandmasters!), but White found other ideas...} a5 13. Rd1 (13. Nd2 {was tried
in Ragger-Grandelius earlier this year, but Black does OK there.}) 13... Ba6
14. Qf3 Qe8 {Here comes the novelty.} ({I expected} 14... Qc8 {as was played
in Giri-Ding. The computer will indicate 0.00 as an evaluation in all the
lines here, but I had my own opinion about the position after moving it for a
few hours on the wooden board. The move made by Nils is also playable, and I
did check it during my preparation.}) 15. Be3 $5 {Engines slightly prefer 15.
Bg5, but again I had my own opinion here - and it came as a surprise to the
Swedish grandmaster, who spent quite some time before coming up with the
logical reply} Qc6 16. Nd2 Bc5 {Tempting, but not the strongest. 16...Rad8 or
16...Bb7 were the moves I had analysed - while from now on I was also on my
own.} 17. Bd5 $1 {Of course if it works, it should be played - but it was not
so clear during the game. However the temptation to get the e4-square for the
knight was too strong.} Nxd5 18. exd5 Qb6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Ne4 {Most logical,
but my pet friend advises that 20.Rac1 followed by 21.c4 was stronger. It
seems to be correct!} Qb6 (20... Qe7 {seemed much more logical during the game,
but I liked my position after} 21. d6 cxd6 22. Nxd6 {The computer holds it
somehow, and actually prefers not to hurry and start with 20.Rd2! I am not
sure I would be able to contain myself...}) {Here I took another long think.
Of course, 21.d6 is very tempting, but it is also a very responsible decision.
Especially, when I have another nice options like 21.Qf5 or 21.c4 - but, as
you could already guess by now - I chose the most tempting option. Not the
best one according to his Majesty the computer, but I never pretended to play
perfect chess!} 21. d6 cxd6 (21... Bb7 $1 {would preserve the balance. Of
course, 22.dxc7 is harmless now - although it would be the strongest option
with equality, whereas} 22. d7 Rad8 (22... Qc6 23. Nc5 $1 {was one of the
important lines I saw}) 23. Rd2 {is strongly met by} Kh8 $1 {threatening f7-f5,
and if} 24. Qe2 Qc6 {Black wins a pawn and stand clearly better. Now when you
look at it with the computer it seems so easy, but my opponent spent nearly
half an hour here. During this time I also kept calculating the lines, and
this sequence didn't cross our mind. Sometimes things are more complex than
they look.}) 22. Rxd6 Qc7 {Now White has a lot of tempting options, but
neither of them brings an advantage.} 23. Qf5 ({For quite some time I
considered} 23. Nf6+ gxf6 24. Qxf6 {and now if} Qxc2 (24... Bb7) (24... Rfd8)
25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Qxe5+ f6 27. Rxf6 Rxf6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Qe6+ Kg7 30. Qe5+ Kg6
31. Qd6+ Kg7 32. Qd4+ {and finally get his rook or deliver mate after} Kh6 33.
Re1 {but then I realised, he can play 24...Bb7 or 24...Rfd8, and I don't have
anything more than a draw. Hence I preferred the move in the text.}) 23... Bb7
{Black has finally mobilised his pieces, but it is White to move!} 24. Ng5 g6
25. Qxe5 $1 (25. Qh3 h5 {looked tempting for a while, but White doesn't have
any breakthrough - while playing the move in the text I already spotted a
beautiful combination.}) 25... Qxc2 {That was played quickly to my elation.} ({
I was not sure how big my advantage is after} 25... Rac8 26. Rad1 h6 $1 (26...
Qxc2 27. Nxf7 $1 $18) 27. Nf3 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Qxc2 {Now, I know how big it is.
It is 0.00. But Nils grabbed the pawn on c2 quickly, missing the following
combination.}) 26. Nxh7 $3 {One of the most unusual combinations I have ever
managed to play. It may seem not so complex, but in fact the motif is very
unusual, and the decisive move is hard to spot in advance. Well, I should not
try to convince you - take a look yourselve!} Kxh7 27. Rd4 $1 Kg8 {Only move.
27...f6 loses quickly, while 27...g5 is refuted with a nice geometrical motif:}
(27... g5 28. Qxg5 Qg6 29. Qh4+ $1 Qh6 30. Qe7 $1 $18) 28. Rh4 f6 29. Qe6+ {
Only here my opponent realised he might be in trouble.} Rf7 ({After} 29... Kg7
30. Rc4 $1 {the difficult move to spot in advance. White changes the direction
of attack and wins a piece back with some dividend. However, after} Qf5 31.
Rc7+ Kh6 32. Qe3+ $1 (32. Qxf5 gxf5 33. Rxb7 Rfb8 $1 {and after mass
liquidation, we'll get 3 vs 2 in the rook endgame, where double f-pawns do not
make a draw much more complex, even if the defensive task is unpleasant.})
32... g5 $1 (32... Qg5 33. Qh3+ Qh5 34. Qd7 $1 {Black is going down} Bd5 (34...
Rad8 35. Qg7+ Kg5 36. h3 $1 {with mate to follow soon}) 35. Qg7+ Kg5 36. Rf1 {
and the house divided won't stand.}) 33. Rxb7 Rae8 34. Qg3 {Of course, it is a
much better version for him, compared to what actually happened in the game,
but Black's position is still very unpleasant.}) 30. Qh3 $1 {Another point of
the combination. So, in one line it was Rc4, changing the direction, and in
this one Qh3 - now using the opposite side of the board. Cruel computers
destroy the magic, claiming Black still could hold a draw here.} f5 ({After} 
30... Re7 $1 31. Rh8+ (31. Rf1 {I can improve my position slowly, but after}
Bd5 32. Rh8+ Kf7 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ Kf7 36. Qxa8 Qxb2 {
it is still a draw.}) 31... Kf7 32. Rh7+ Ke8 33. Rxe7+ Kxe7 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35.
Qxb7 Rd8 {It is true. I just have to say we both hadn't seen it, and of course,
Nils used all his time, trying to find the defence, but with just two minutes
left he made the move in text.}) 31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. Qh6+ $1 (32. Rh7+ Kg8 33.
Rxf7 Kxf7 34. Qh7+ Kf6 35. Qxb7 Re8 {and Black should hold - was the line
planned by Nils, but I found the stronger way.}) 32... Kf6 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34.
Qh8+ Rg7 35. Qxa8 {Now his king is too exposed, and he is not in time to bring
his rook into play!} Qd2 $1 {The only move not to lose at once.} (35... Rd7 36.
Qh8+ $1) (35... Re7 36. Qf8+) (35... Qxb2 36. Qd8+ Re7 37. Re1) 36. h4 Rc7 37.
Qh8+ {The most important thing is to have his king under attack. The pawn on
a5 can wait.} Ke6 38. Qe8+ Kf6 39. Re1 {Finally the rook joins the game.} Kg7
40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. h5 $1 {After the time control I took my time and found the
cleanest path to a victory.} gxh5 42. Re3 Qd7 43. Rg3+ Kh7 44. f4 $1 {Now my
king will be guarded against the checks, and I simply snatch all the pawns or/
and deliver mate.} Rc4 45. Kh2 $1 (45. Rg5 Qd4+ $1) 45... Qf7 46. Rg5 Re4 47.
Rxf5 Rxe5 48. Rxf7+ Kg6 49. fxe5 Kxf7 50. Kg3 {I like this game a lot. Yes, it
was not as smooth as I initially thought, but the unusual combination was
quite complex, and even if Black could have held it with brilliant defence
does not make take away much of the impression. But of course, it is just a
subjective feeling. Still I hope you enjoyed the game and my attempt to convey
the way I felt while playing.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{A perfectly reasonable way of avoiding the Marshall attack, in which Svidler
is a great expert.} b4 9. d4 (9. d3 {is the more positional main line.}) 9...
d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 (10... Nxe5 {is also a playable alternative.}) 11. Nbd2 {
An ambitious move. Grischuk avoids the exchange of Q.} ({On the other hand} 11.
Qxd8 {is more popular} Rxd8 12. Bg5 ({or} 12. Nbd2 {and White can hope for
some small advantage thanks to the weak c4-square, but in most games Black was
able to hold the position.})) 11... Bc5 {A perfectly reasonable way of
avoiding the Marshall attack, in which Svidler is a great expert.} 12. Qe2 Qe7
13. Nc4 $146 {A logical novelty. The N immediately occupies the weak c4 square,
from where it can move to e3 at a good moment.} (13. a5 Rd8 14. Bc4 Nd4 15.
Nxd4 Bxd4 {Black easily equalised in Ivanovic-Spassky, Bugojno 1982.}) (13. Bd5
{looks more attractive; this happened in a correspondence game, but} Nxd5 14.
exd5 Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Nb3 Qd6 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Qe4 Bb7 {and draw was
agreed soon, Helmreich-Miciak, corr 2009.}) 13... Bg4 {Threatening with Nd4,
so the next move is forced.} 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 h6 16. Bc2 ({The natural} 16.
h3 {is an interesting alternative, but probably Grischuk wanted to win a tempo
with Ne3.} Be6 (16... Bh5 $6 17. Ne3 Na5 18. Nf5 $36) 17. Bc2 Nd7 18. Ne3 Rfb8
19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Rd1 Na5 $132) 16... Qe6 (16... Nh5 {was also possible followed
by Qf6 and Nf4.} {The unsuspecting} 17. h3 $6 {could have been met by} Ng3 $1
18. Qd1 Rad8 $36 {with a strong initiative.}) 17. Ne3 Bxe3 (17... Rfd8 $5 {
is an interesting alternative. Black gives up his strong g4 B} 18. Nxg4 Nxg4
19. Rf1 Na5 20. h3 Nf6 $13 {but Black has also a comfortable position.}) 18.
Qxe3 {White has gained the pair of B, but thanks to the closed centre, it
doesn't give an advantage to White.} ({After} 18. Bxe3 {the pin can be a
little bit unpleasant for White.} Rfd8 19. h3 Bh5 20. Rad1 Na5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8
22. Rd1 Re8 $11) 18... Na5 ({The immediate} 18... Bxf3 {also deserved
attention to avoid the Nd2.} 19. Qxf3 Na5 20. Ba3 Rfd8 21. Bb4 Nc4 ({or} 21...
Nc6) 22. Bb3 Qc6 {and Black can easily hold the position.}) 19. Nd2 Qc6 {
An important move.} ({In the event of} 19... Rfd8 $6 {White can play} 20. h3 $1
{and the B will be out of play.} Bh5 21. Qc5 $14 {White has some initiative.})
20. h3 Be6 {Now Black has under control the a2-g8 diagonal and the c4 square
too. His chanches are not worse.} 21. Qg3 (21. Ba3 Rfe8 (21... Rfb8 $5) 22. Bb4
Nc4 23. Nxc4 Bxc4 24. a5 Nh5 $13 {with some play.}) 21... Nd7 22. Rb1 (22. Ba3
Rfe8 23. Bb4 Nc4 {similar to the previous line.}) 22... Rfb8 23. Ba3 (23. Nf3 {
could be a tricky option, but after} Bb3 $1 (23... Rxb1 $6 24. Bxb1 $16 {
White wins a P.}) 24. Bd3 (24. Bxb3 Rxb3 25. Rxb3 Nxb3 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Qxe5
Re8 $132 {and Black gets back the material.}) 24... Bc4 {forces to exchange
the B.}) 23... Nc4 24. Nxc4 Qxc4 25. Bb4 a5 {The following moves are forced:}
26. Bd3 Qa2 27. Ra1 Qd2 28. Red1 Qf4 29. Qxf4 exf4 {After the exchange of Qs
it is White who has to play some exact moves to equalise the position, however
for a great player as Grischuk, it is not a big task.} 30. Be7 Re8 31. Ba3 Bb3
32. Bb5 $1 Bxd1 33. Bxd7 (33. Rxd1 {is also leads to a draw after} Nb6 34. Bxe8
Rxe8 35. Rd4 $11) 33... Bc2 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 $11 {We have reached an endgame with
opposite colourod B with same material. The rest is an easy draw.} 35. f3 Rd8
$11 {We have reached an endgame with opposite colourod B with same material.
The rest is an easy draw.} 36. Be7 Rd7 37. Bh4 g5 38. Be1 Rd1 39. Rxd1 Bxd1 40.
c4 Bxa4 41. Bxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "George Marx Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Paks"]
[Date "2006.07.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Efimenko, Zahar"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2006.07.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bg5 Rb8 (12... Bb7) 13. Nbd2 h6 14.
Bxf6 (14. Be3 Bb7 15. h3 Bd6 16. a5 Ne7 $11 {Kovalev-Timman, Mallorca 2004})
14... Bxf6 15. Bd5 Ne7 (15... Na7 16. Nb3 $14) (15... Nd4 16. Nxd4 exd4 17.
Rab1 (17. Nb3 $6 d3 18. cxd3 Bxb2 19. Ra2 Bc3 20. Rd1 Rxd5 $1 21. exd5 Bb7 $36)
(17. Nc4 b3) 17... Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. e5 (19. Nb3 d3 20. cxd3 Rxd3 21. Nc5
Rd2 22. e5 Be7 23. Nxa6 Rb6 24. Nxc7 Rc6 25. Nb5 Rcc2 $132) 19... Be7 20. Nc4
d3 21. cxd3 Rxd3 22. Red1 Rbd8 23. Rxd3 Rxd3 24. b3 (24. Kf1 b3 $1 25. Ke2 Rd4
26. Rc1 Bb4 27. Ke3 c5)) 16. Bc4 Rb6 17. Bb3 Nc6 18. Nc4 Rb8 19. h3 Be6 20.
Rad1 Bxc4 $6 (20... Kf8) 21. Bxc4 a5 22. Kf1 $6 (22. Bb5 Nd4 (22... Na7 23. Bd7
) 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 exd4 25. e5 Be7 26. Kf1) 22... Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nd4 24.
Nxd4 Rd8 (24... exd4 $2 25. f4 $16) 25. Ke2 Rxd4 26. Rxd4 exd4 27. Kd3 Kf8 28.
f4 (28. Bd5 $1 Be5 29. Kc4 c6 30. Bxc6 g5 31. b3 Ke7 32. Kc5 Kd8 (32... Bc7 33.
Kxd4 Bb6+ 34. Kc4 Bxf2 35. Kb5 Kd6 36. Bd5 f5 37. Kxa5 fxe4 38. Bxe4 Kc5 39.
Ka6 $18) 33. Kd5 f6 34. Ke6 h5) 28... c6 $1 29. e5 Bh4 30. Kxd4 Bf2+ 31. Ke4
Ke7 32. f5 Bg3 (32... h5 $1 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4 f6 $11) 33. Be2 Bf2 34. g4 f6
35. e6 Kd6 36. Bf3 Bc5 37. Kf4 Bd4 38. b3 Bc5 (38... Bf2 $1 $11) 39. Kg3 Bd4
40. Kh4 Ke7 41. Bxc6 Be5 42. Kh5 Kf8 43. Kg6 Bd6 44. Kh7 Bc5 45. Bf3 Bd6 46.
Bd1 Bc5 47. Kg6 Bd6 48. Be2 Bc5 49. Bb5 Bd6 50. h4 Be7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.06.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 {The most common move. Nowadays 9...d5 is becoming more popular
than ever, but Kamsky preferred a solid line.} 10. a3 Qd7 ({Other main lines
are} 10... Na5) ({and} 10... Nb8) 11. Nbd2 ({The main line is by far} 11. Nc3 {
, but the text move also has a huge amount of theory.} Rfe8 12. Ne2 Nd8 13. Ng3
{White's N chose another way, but it transposes to the game.}) 11... Rfe8 ({
Other options are} 11... Nd8) ({or} 11... Rae8) 12. Nf1 Nd8 13. Ng3 g6 $146 {
The first novelty in the game. It's funny, but there are two novelties in this
game.} (13... Ne6 {is the main line, with some top games. For example:} 14. Ng5
c5 (14... Nxg5 15. Bxg5 h6 16. Bd2 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Bc3 Bc5
20. Ne4 {1/2 Anand-Leko, Monaco (blindfold) 2005}) 15. Nxe6 (15. Bxe6 fxe6 16.
Nf3 Rf8 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. Bd2 Qe8 19. b3 Nh5 20. Nxh5 Qxh5 21. Nh2 Qxe2 22. Rxe2
Bc6 $11 {Anand-Aronian, Mainz rapid 2007}) 15... fxe6 16. c3 Bd8 17. a4 Bb6 18.
Be3 Kh8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Nh5 Bd8 22. Nxf6 Bxf6 23. Qg4 Bc8 24.
Rd1 Qe7 $11 {With an equal position, Leko-Aronian, Nice (blindfold) 2008.}) 14.
Bh6 Ne6 {Now we are back in the line with 11.Nc3 Nd8 12.Ne2 Ne6 13.Ng3 g6 14.
Bh6 Rfe8.} 15. Qd2 $146 {The second novelty.} ({Before only} 15. Ng5 {was
played} Bf8 $1 (15... Nxg5 {Shirov} 16. Bxg5 $16) 16. Bxf8 Rxf8 17. Bxe6 {
Shirov} (17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Qd2 (18. d4 exd4 19. Qxd4 (19. e5 $6 {Too
optimistic.} dxe5 20. Rxe5 Rae8 21. a4 Qd6 22. Qe2 Nd5 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 $17 {
and Black is better, Stefansson-Chudinovskih, Plovdiv 2008.}) 19... c5 20. Qe3
c4 {Black looks nicely placed.}) 18... c5 19. f4 (19. c3 $5) 19... exf4 20.
Qxf4 d5 $1 $132 {with a double-edged fight, Gelfand-Shirov, Rethymnon 2003.})
17... fxe6 18. c3 $14) 15... c5 16. Ba2 $1 {A very logical prophylactic move.
The B has found a safe place, preparing for the next move.} Rac8 17. c4 {
A strange move, but Caruana wanted to avoid ...c4. On the other hand, it is
not so easy to find a logical plan with White.} Kh8 {Kamsky prepares for Ng8.}
18. Ng5 Nxg5 19. Bxg5 Ng8 20. Bxe7 Rxe7 21. b4 $1 {A good move, White wants to
open the position, because now he has the "bad" B.} f5 {Kamsky is also very
ambitious, he immediately tries to take the initiative. Now Black threatens f4.
} 22. cxb5 ({Immediately} 22. f4 {is similar to the game.}) 22... axb5 23. f4
$5 {A very interesting tactical move.} ({The engine suggests} 23. Rac1 {
, but in a practical game, the players don't want to allow} f4 {. For example:}
24. Nf1 Nf6 {and Black has an acceptable position.}) 23... cxb4 ({In the event
of} 23... exf4 24. Qxf4 fxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 {and White
looks nicely placed, as his pieces are more active and also in such positions
the B is stronger than the N.}) 24. axb4 Rf8 {A cold-blooded move, Black
ignores the hanging centre P...} (24... fxe4 {helps only White, because} 25.
Nxe4 $36) ({or} 24... exf4 25. Qxf4 $36 {and White has some initiative.}) 25.
Rf1 {but White too...} Rg7 26. Rae1 {Both players have played the logical
moves, but now Black has to find an acceptable answer.} h5 $6 {Too dangerous.}
(26... Qd8 {was an interesting move} 27. Rf2 Qh4 {and Black activates his Q on
the K side. The position is very unclear.}) 27. Rf2 $1 {A good move, White
frees the f1-square for his N.} h4 28. Nf1 {Still Black is very optimistic. On
the other hand, he needs to play aggressively, because the h4 P is a big
weakness on his K side.} exf4 29. Rxf4 g5 {It's forced.} 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 31. exf5
Qxf5 32. Re8 ({The computer suggests} 32. Ne3 {, but I like the text move too.}
Qf4 33. Qc3 Nf6 34. Be6 $16 {Followed by Nf5.}) 32... Bd5 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 34. Ne3
Qd4 35. Qd1 $1 Kh7 $2 {Loses immediately, probably a move made in time trouble.
} (35... Qf6 {was the only defence} 36. Ng4 Qd4+ 37. Nf2 Qf4 {and maybe Black
can hope for survival.}) 36. Qh5+ Nh6 37. Re6 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 {A relatively new idea. White exchanges the
bishops, opens the f-file for Black, but he hopes that the double-pawns on the
e-file will be a weakness for Black.} (11. Nbd2 {is the another main move.})
11... fxe6 12. Nbd2 Rb8 13. c3 ({In the first round Carlsen had this line with
Black too,} 13. Nb3 Qc8 14. Qe2 Nd8 15. d4 exd4 16. Nbxd4 c5 17. Nb3 e5 18.
Nbd2 Ne6 19. Nc4 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Nb6 Qc6 22. Bg5 Bd8 23. Bxf6 Bxb6 24.
axb6 Rxf6 25. Rxa6 h6 26. Qd3 Rxb6 $11 {Caruana-Carlsen, Saint Louis 2017,
with an equal position.}) 13... Qe8 14. Nc4 $146 {A novelty by Carlsen.} ({
Recently} 14. d4 {was played by Topalov,} bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Rb5 17.
Nc4 Qg6 18. Qe2 Nd7 $13 {Topalov-Adams, Shamkir 2017, with an unclear
middlegame.}) 14... Qg6 15. h3 Nd7 {A typical continuation, Black prepares for
...d5.} ({Nevertheless I prefer} 15... Nh5 $5 {like an active move to play for
...Nf4.}) 16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 {Of course White doesn't exchange. The e5- and
e6-pawns became weaker.} bxc3 18. bxc3 Nc5 19. Bxc5 $1 {At first this seems a
strange move. Why does White give up his nice bishop? The knight was exerting
pressure on d3; moreover after removing the knight White has an extra
possibility on the next move.} Bxc5 20. Qa4 $1 {This was the point of White's
previous move.} Rb2 $5 {Ambitious reply!} 21. Rf1 $1 {Very deep move! Carlsen
protects his f2-pawn in advance, now the c6-knight is hanging already.} ({
The careless} 21. Qxc6 $2 {loses immediately, because of} Bxf2+ $1 22. Kxf2
Rxd2+ $19 {and Black is winning.}) 21... Na7 $6 {Too passive a move!} (21...
Qe8 {should have been played, however} 22. Rab1 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 $14 {and White
is more comfortable.}) 22. Nxe5 Qh6 23. Ndf3 Nb5 24. Rae1 $1 {White doesn't
protect the c3-pawn and he solves the problem with a nice idea.} ({Moreover} 
24. Rac1 $2 {could have been met by} Rxf2 $1 25. Rxf2 Qxc1+ $19 {and Black
wins.}) 24... Nxc3 ({In the event of} 24... Bd6 25. exd5 exd5 (25... Nxc3 26.
Qa1 $1 $16 {important tempo!}) 26. Qa1 $1 Rc2 27. c4 $1 $16 {White is better
too.}) 25. Qc6 $1 {Suddenly Black has a lot of weaknesses on the queenside.
White is safe, his pieces are active, the white queen is threatening to take
the pawns.} Bb4 26. Kh1 {Probably this is not the strongest move, but a good
practical prophylactic reply. The king moves away from a possible ...Ne2+.}
dxe4 (26... Ne2 27. Rb1 $16 {is similar to the text move.}) 27. dxe4 Ne2 28.
Rb1 {White simplifies the position, so Black's pressure is decreasing.} Rxb1
29. Rxb1 Bd6 30. Qxa6 {Carlsen starts to eat the pawns.} Nf4 31. Qb5 c5 32. a6
{It's time to advance the passed pawn.} Bxe5 33. Nxe5 Qg5 34. Ng4 h5 35. Ne3 {
White is safe.} Nxg2 {Still the best practical chance, otherwise White
promotes his a-pawn without any counterplay.} 36. Nxg2 Rxf2 37. Rg1 Kh7 38. Qd3
{It is important to come back with the queen especially in time pressure.} Qe5
39. Qe3 Ra2 40. Qf4 {The best practical move. White doesn't protect his a-pawn,
he wants to exchange the queens and then he can win without any difficulties.}
Qc3 41. Ne3 Qf6 ({Or} 41... Rxa6 42. Qg5 $18 {and Black has no hope.}) 42. Qxf6
gxf6 43. Rc1 Rxa6 44. Kg2 $1 {Correct reply!} ({The greedy} 44. Rxc5 {could
have been met by} Ra3 {and Black wins the h3-pawn and he survives.}) 44... Ra2+
45. Rc2 Ra5 46. Kf3 Kg6 47. h4 Rb5 48. Ra2 Rb1 49. Rc2 Rb5 50. Rc3 f5 (50...
Ra5 51. Ng2 $18 {is also hopeless for Black.}) 51. exf5+ exf5 52. Rd3 {A very
nice victory by Carlsen!} 1-0

[Event "Nordic-ch VISA"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1997.10.22"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Hansen, Curt"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "Tisdall,J"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1997.10.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Curt has switched to this move after a lifetime in quieter lands. His
only deviation from his new faith came in the earlier critical duel, against
Hjartarson. There Curt wavered, went back to 1.c4, and was ground down. I was
a bit surprised nonetheless since Hector's fortй, to me at least, is his
repertoire of obscure and venomous defences to 1.e4, but Curt has come well
prepared.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7
8. d4 ({Hector has a lot of experience in the kind of pseudo-Marshall
positions arising after} 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. d4 $5 exd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12.
Nc3 Ncb4 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Qd6 15. Ne5 {which led to an impressive white
win in Liss-Hector, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 1996. Hansen heads for the
latest word in the opening debate.}) 8... Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ {Curt goes for the
most fashionable line, despite the fact that the fashion involves other Hector
games.} (9. Nxd4 {is a bit less critical:} exd4 10. e5 Ne4 11. Qg4 Bg5 12. Bf4
(12. f4 Bh6 13. Qf5 d5 14. Rxe4 g6 15. Qh3 dxe4 16. Qxh6 e3 17. Qg7 Rf8 18.
Qxh7 c5 19. c4 Qd7 20. Qh4 f6 21. exf6 Qc6 22. Qg3 O-O-O {led to a black win
in Brinck Claussen-Hector, Copenhagen Open 1995.}) 12... Bxf4 13. Qxf4 Ng5 14.
Qxd4 Ne6 15. Qd2 Qh4 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qb4 19. Rab1 Rad8 {
and black was solid enough in Hellers-Hector, Sigeman and Co, Malmц 1997 (1/
2-1/2, 35).}) 9... Kf8 ({At the closing ceremony Hector mentioned to me
Larsen's suggestion of} 9... Kxf7 10. Nxe5+ Ke6 {but only shook his head - I
gather this is the wrong kind of romantic position for him. Still, it is an
interesting position for greedier types to investigate.}) 10. Bd5 (10. Nxe5 $2
d6 11. Qxd4 dxe5 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 {is fine for black.}) 10... c6 $1 {This got
Hansen to stop and think. Jonny explained to me later that after his loss to
Timman, Jan explained that of course this move had to be played. Hector said
that the game continuation had worried him, but that Timman did not trust it.}
(10... Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Bxd5 12. exd5 Bd6 (12... d6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Nc3 Qd7 16. Ne4 {was similarly grim in Lanc-Habinak, SVK-chT 1995 (1-0, 31).})
13. Bg5 Kf7 14. Nd2 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qh3 Qe7 17. Ne4 Rhe8 18. c3 Kg8 19.
Qd3 Rab8 20. b4 Qf7 21. a4 Bf8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra7 d6 24. Rea1 {with a
miserable position for black, Timman-Hector, Sigeman and Co, Malmц 1997 (1-0,
32).}) 11. Nxe5 $5 (11. Bb3 Nxb3 12. axb3 Qc7 {is the main idea, with black
having some long-term trumps, notably Hector's favored bishop pair, to set off
against his temporarily clumsy development. Hansen prefers to open the
position and make threats before black gets reorganized.}) 11... cxd5 12. Qxd4
dxe4 13. Qd1 {To create a retreat route for the Se5. I must agree with Timman
that this seems very unlikely to be promising for white. Black has only to
solve his king position and he will hold most of the trumps.} Qe8 ({It may be
simplistic, but} 13... Qc7 $5 14. Ng4 Kf7 {to put the h-rook in the center and
the king where it usually belongs appeals to me. The sooner black's position
approaches normality, the sooner white's plan comes into doubt.}) 14. Ng4 d5 {
I would like to do without this if black - it seriously hampers the Bb7.
Perhaps} (14... Rd8 {is more flexible.}) 15. Nxf6 $1 {Now at least white has a
very simple plan of development, and black must beware that his former pride,
the light-squared bishop, does not become a tall pawn.} Bxf6 16. c3 Rd8 17. Be3
{Now black must tread rather carefully - his minor pieces have been restricted,
white can activate by opening the a-file, and black is still far from
achieving harmony, as long as his king interrupts meaningful conversation
between his rooks.} Qg6 18. Nd2 Bc8 19. Nf1 Bh3 {Black needs to shift the
emphasis to the kingside. Rolling forward with} (19... h5 $5 {looks tempting,
but perhaps black feared the disruptive effect of} 20. Bb6 $5 {. Still, the
bishop keeps an eye on the potentially weak a6-pawn while the black h-pawn can
probe for weaknesses.}) (19... Be6 20. a4 {allows white to improve his
position in peace.}) 20. Bc5+ $1 {White gains the e3 square for his knight and
can so defend his kingside in a more active manner.} Kf7 21. Ne3 $1 Rhe8 (21...
Bg5 22. Ng4 Bxg4 23. Qxg4 {robs black's position of most of its potential.})
22. Bd4 Bh4 (22... Bg5 23. Ng4 Bd2 (23... Bxg4 {may be best but, needing a win
at all costs, black really wants to avoid this simplification.}) 24. gxh3 Bxe1
25. Kh1 {does not appeal since} h5 {is met by} 26. Ne3 Bxf2 27. Qf1) 23. a4 {
Now the combination of white's rook and the monster on d4 will keep black
occupied.} Re7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Qb3 {Now the abandoned queenside pawns begin
to drop.} Kg8 (25... Rb7 26. Ra5 Bg5 27. Re2 {and black cannot defend his
queenside.}) (25... Bg5 26. Nxd5 $1 Qe6 (26... Be6 27. Nxe7) 27. gxh3 Rxd5 28.
Ra6 $1 {and white crashes through.}) 26. Qxb5 Rf7 27. g3 {White's ability to
use the a-file to harrass or eliminate the pieces on the opposite flank allows
him to remain active despite crowd gathering around his king.} Rdf8 (27... Be6
28. Ra6 Bg5 29. Qb6 Re8 30. Qc6 {is typical of how white can creep in and help
himself to pawns. Hector decides to toss the d-pawn overboard and try to
breath life into his attack, but he is asking for more than the position can
give.}) 28. Qxd5 Bd8 {Black is now really reduced to defensive moves, and this
is designed to hinder exchanges on the eighth rank.} 29. Ng2 {Hitting e4 and
envisaging a brighter future for the knight. Hansen's efficient technique
never leaves the result in doubt.} Bf5 30. Ra8 Be6 31. Qd6 Rd7 32. Qc6 Rc7 33.
Qa6 $1 {Continuing the thematic harrassment along the sixth rank.} (33. Qxe4 $2
Qxe4 34. Rxe4 Bd5 {should be avoided.}) 33... Qf5 34. Nf4 Bc4 35. Qd6 Rd7 36.
Qc6 Bd5 37. Nxd5 Rxd5 38. Qc4 h5 39. Qe2 Rd7 40. Rb8 (40. Qxe4 Re7 41. Qb1 {
was also possible, but Hansen continues to batter black "sideways", now
intending to use the fifth rank.}) 40... h4 41. Rb5 Qf7 42. Re5 Bf6 43. Rxe4
Bxd4 44. cxd4 {and Hector had to admit to his first defeat.} 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. c3 d5 $5 10. exd5 Nxd5 (10... e4 11. dxc6 exf3 12. d4 fxg2 13. Bg5 Nd5 (
13... Bg4) (13... Re8 14. Qf3 Bg4 15. Qxg2 Bf5 16. Nd2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb8 18.
Re5 Bg6 19. Rae1 Kf8 20. h4 Ng8 21. Qf3 f6 22. h5 Bxh5 23. Qxh5 Rxb3 24. Nxb3
fxe5 25. Nc5 {1-0 Yudasin,L-Plachetka,J/Trnava 1983}) 14. Bxe7 (14. Bxd5 Bxg5
15. Bxg2) 14... Nxe7 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Nd2 Rb8 17. Bxe6 (17. Rab1 Rb6) 17... fxe6
18. Qg4 bxc3 19. bxc3 (19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. Qxe7 cxd2 $14) 19... Ng6 20. Nc4 Nf4
21. Re4 h5 22. Qf3 Qh4 23. Rae1 g5 24. Qe3 Nh3+ 25. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 26. Kh1 Rxh2+
27. Kxh2 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 Qg4+ {0-1 Martin del Campo,R-Pein,M/Mexico open (11) 1991
}) 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 (12... Nf6 $5) (12... Nf6 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re2 Rb8
15. c4 Nh5 16. Nd2 Nf4 17. Re3 c5 18. d5 Qg5 19. Rg3 Qe5 20. Re3 Ne2+ 21. Kf1
Qxh2 {-/+ Kremenietsky,A-Zaitsev,I/USSR 35/(437) 1983}) 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re1 Qh4
15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 (16. Bc4 Bg4 17. Bf1 Qh5 18. Be2 Rae8 $1 (18... f5 $5) 19.
Bxg4 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Qxg4 $15) 16... Bg4 17. Qd3 bxc3 $1 (17... Rae8 $6) 18.
Nxc3 (18. bxc3 $6) 18... Rfb8 $1 19. Bd1 $1 $8 (19. Bc4 Rxb2 20. Nxd5 Bxg3 $1
21. hxg3 Bf3 $19) 19... Rxb2 $2 (19... Bf5 20. Qd2 Nf6 21. Bg5 $8 Ng4 22. f3
Bxg3 23. fxg4 (23. hxg3 $2 Qxg3+ $19) 23... Bxe1 24. Qxe1 $10) 20. Bxg4 Qxg4
21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. Reb1 Rxb1+ 23. Rxb1 $16 {Es droth Rb6.WeiЯ stehet klar
besser dankbar beherschung des Offene b-Linie;Schwarze schwache bauern am
Damenflьgel a6 und d5;bessere Kцnigslage(schwache 8-Reihe).[Donev,I]} a5 $2 (
23... Qe4 24. Qxe4 dxe4 25. Rb6 $16) (23... Qf3 24. Rb6 Bf8 25. Rxa6 Rc8 26.
Qf1 $16) 24. Rb5 Qf3 25. Qb3 Bb4 26. Qxd5 Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Rf8 28. Qc4 $1 h6 $2 (
28... Qxa4 29. Bd2 Qa3 30. Bxb4 axb4 31. Rxb4 $16) 29. d5 Qxa4 30. d6 $1 $18
Qa1 31. d7 Qf6 32. Bb6 Be7 33. Bxa5 Qa6 34. Qd5 Kh7 35. Qe4+ g6 36. Re5 Bd6 37.
Rd5 Qa8 38. f3 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 $5 Bb7 (8... d6 9. c3) 9. d3 Re8 (9... d6 {Dolmatov} 10. c3 Na5 11.
Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ng3 d5 15. exd5 $14 {Psakhis,L-Malaniuk,V/
URS/1987/}) 10. c3 Bf8 (10... h6) 11. Bg5 $1 (11. Nbd2 d5) (11. Ng5 $6 d5 12.
exd5 Na5 13. c4 h6 $44) 11... h6 12. Bh4 d6 13. Nbd2 (13. a4 $5 {/\ 14.Na3+/=})
13... g6 (13... Nb8 14. Nf1 Nbd7 15. Ne3 $14) 14. Nf1 Bg7 15. Qd2 $1 (15. Ne3
Qd7) 15... Qe7 (15... Nb8 16. Ne3 Nbd7 17. Ng4 g5 18. Nxh6+ Bxh6 19. Bxg5 Bg7
20. Nh4 $40) (15... Qd7 {Dolmatov} 16. Ne3 Kh7 (16... Ne7 $2 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Ng4 $16)) 16. Ne3 Qf8 17. a4 (17. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. a4 $36 (19. Nh2
{Dolmatov} Kh7 (19... Na5 $6 20. Ng4 Nxb3 21. Ngf6+ Kh8 22. axb3 Re6) 20. f4
$40) (19. d4 Na5)) 17... Ne7 18. Bxf6 (18. axb5 $142 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20.
Bxf6 $36) 18... Bxf6 19. Ng4 Bg7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. d4 Nc8 $6 (
22... h5 $1 23. Ne3 c5 $13) 23. Qd3 $14 exd4 (23... c6 {Dolmatov} 24. d5 $14)
24. Nxd4 h5 25. Nh2 d5 $5 (25... Bxd4 26. cxd4 c5 27. dxc5 dxc5 28. Qxb5 Rxe4
29. Rxe4 Bxe4 30. Nf1 $14) (25... c6 {Dolmatov} 26. Nhf3 Qe7 $14) 26. Nxb5 Qc5
$1 (26... dxe4 $6 27. Qg3 Kh7 28. Qxc7 Re7 29. Qa5 $16) 27. Ra1 $1 (27. Rd1
dxe4 (27... Rxe4 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Re1+ 30. Nf1 Qxd5 31. Rxd5 c6 32. Rd8+
Bf8 33. Nd4 $16) 28. Qd7 Rf8 $1 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Nd4 Nb6 31. Qe6 Bd5 $19)
27... Nb6 $1 (27... dxe4 $2 28. Qd7 Bc6 29. Qxf7+ Kh7 30. Nxc7 Rf8 31. Qxg7+
$18) (27... Bc6 28. Nxc7 dxe4 29. Qc4 Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd8 $132) 28. exd5 Bxd5 29.
Bxd5 Nxd5 30. Nf3 $1 $14 Rb8 (30... Nf4 {Dolmatov} 31. Qd7 Re2 32. Nbd4 $16)
31. Nbd4 Rxb2 $5 (31... Bxd4 32. cxd4 $14) 32. Ra8+ Bf8 (32... Kh7 {Dolmatov}
33. Ng5+ $18) 33. Ne5 $1 Qxc3 $1 $8 (33... Nxc3 34. Rxf8+ Qxf8 35. Qxc3 $16) (
33... Nb6 34. Re8 $16) (33... Qd6 34. Nc4 $18 (34. Nc4 {Dolmatov} Nf4 35. Qe4
$16)) 34. Qxc3 Nxc3 35. Nd7 Kg7 (35... Rd2 {Dolmatov} 36. Nxf8 $18) 36. Nxf8
Rd2 37. Nb3 $1 (37. Nf3 $6 Rd1+ 38. Kh2 Ne4) (37. Nc6 $6 Ne4 38. f3 Ng3 39. h4
Nf5) 37... Rd5 $10 {>< Nf8} 38. Kh2 (38. h4 Ne2+ 39. Kh2 Nd4 40. Nd2 Nf5 $10)
38... h4 (38... Ne4 39. f3 Nf6 $10) 39. Re8 Nb5 40. Rc8 Nd4 $2 $138 (40... Rg5)
(40... g5) (40... Nd6 {Dolmatov} 41. Rd8 $18) 41. Nd2 $1 {/\ Nd2-e4, Nf8-h7} c5
42. Ne4 $18 Nb3 43. Nh7 $1 Nd2 (43... Nd2 44. Nhf6 Nf1+ 45. Kg1 Rd1 46. Rg8+
Kh6 47. Ng4+ Kh5 48. Rh8#) 1-0

[Event "Belgrade GMA op"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vasiukov, Evgeni"]
[Black "Rantanen, Yrjo A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "Vasiukov,E"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1988.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Re1
O-O 9. Nbd2 (9. a4 Re8 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Nc3 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 d6 15. Bd2 Na5 16. Bxb4 Bxd5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Qd2 {N} (18. c4 Qa8 19. Bc3
c5 $11) 18... Nc6 19. c4 Qe6 20. Bc3 f6 { d5} (20... Qg6 $5 21. b4 Nd8 {
 e6-f4 Sokolov,I}) 21. b4 d5 22. b5 Nd8 23. Ba5 (23. Qa2 dxc4 $15) 23... Qd7
24. Qa2 Nf7 $11 (24... Nb7 $5) 25. Qb3 dxc4 26. Qxc4 Bd6 {1/2-1/2 Geller,E
2480-Sokolov,I 2580, Dortmund 1989}) 9... Re8 10. Nf1 Bf8 {/\ d5} (10... h6 {
- 35/434}) 11. c3 (11. Bg5 $5 Na5 12. Bd5) 11... Na5 12. Bc2 d5 13. Qe2 c5 14.
Ng3 d4 (14... h6 $5) 15. cxd4 cxd4 (15... exd4 $13) 16. Bd2 { b4} Rc8 17. Rec1
$1 {/\ 18.Qe1 Nc6, 19.b4,  Bb3} b4 18. Qe1 Qb6 19. a3 $1 Nc6 20. Ba4 a5 21.
Qd1 Nd7 (21... g6 $5) 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nf5 Nc5 24. Ng5 Rc7 $6 (24... Nxa4 $2
25. Qh5 h6 26. Nxh6+ $1 $18) (24... h6 $6 25. Rxc5 $1 Qxc5 (25... Bxc5 26. Nxf7
$1 Kxf7 27. Bb3+ Kf8 (27... Re6 28. Qh5+ g6 29. Qxh6 $1 $18) 28. Bxh6 $1 Re7
29. Qh5 $1 gxh6 30. Qg6 $18) 26. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 27. Bb3+ Kg6 (27... Re6 28. Rc1
Qb6 29. Qf3 $1 $18) 28. Qh5+ $3 Kxh5 (28... Kh7 29. Bxh6 $1 g6 30. Bg8+ $1 Kh8
31. Bg7+ Kxg8 32. Qxg6 {/\ Nh6#}) 29. Bf7+ g6 30. h3 { g4#}) (24... Ne6 25.
Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Bb3 Rf6 27. h4 $36) (24... g6 $5 $13) 25. Qh5 h6 26. Nxf7 $3 Rxf7
(26... Nxa4 $2 27. Qg6 $1 { 5h6#} Rxf7 28. Nxh6+ Kh8 29. Nxf7+ Kg8 30. Ng5 $18
) 27. Rxc5 $1 Bxc5 (27... Qxc5 28. Bb3 Nd8 29. Qg6 $1 $18 {/\Nxh6}) 28. Qg6 $1
Kf8 (28... Rxf5 29. exf5 Rf8 30. Bxh6 Qc7 31. Bb3+ Kh8 32. Bg5 $18) 29. Bxh6
Ree7 (29... gxh6 30. Qxh6+ Kg8 31. Bb3 {/\ g7#} Bf8 32. Qg6+ Kh8 33. Bxf7 $18)
30. Qh7 $1 Ke8 $8 (30... Rxf5 31. Qh8+ Kf7 32. exf5 $18 { b3}) 31. Qg8+ Kd7 (
31... Rf8 32. Nxg7+ Rxg7 33. Qxg7 $18) 32. Nxe7 Kxe7 $2 (32... Rxe7 33. Bxg7 {
/\ h4-h5+-}) 33. Bg5+ 1-0

[Event "Karlsbad-02 International Masters"]
[Site "Karlovy Vary"]
[Date "1911.08.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Teichmann, Richard"]
[Black "Rubinstein, Akiba"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Annotator "Vidmar,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1911.08.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "25"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "HCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {1)Vidmar: Karlsbad 1911. 2)Brandenburgische SZ 1925, S.157: "Richard
Teichmann gestorben."} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. a4 Bb7 13. Nf1 Qc7
14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 Rad8 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qc1 Rfe8 18. h3 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20.
Nh2 Bc8 21. f4 {[%mdl 128]} Ne8 (21... exf4 $142) 22. f5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5 Qe7 24.
Qh6 Qf8 25. Qc1 Qg7 26. Rf1 g5 $2 (26... gxf5 27. Nxf5 Bxf5 28. Rxf5 Ne7 29.
Rf3 d5 30. Qe1 $14) 27. Ng4 $18 (27. Nh5 $18 Qh6 28. g4 Nf6 29. h4 $18) 27...
Nf6 28. Nxf6+ Qxf6 29. h4 $1 h6 (29... gxh4 30. Nh5 Qe7 31. Qh6 f6 32. Nxf6+
Kh8 33. Rf3 $18) 30. Nh5 Qd8 31. f6 Kh7 32. hxg5 Bg4 33. Ng7 Kg6 34. Bd1 Qd7
35. Nf5 Bxf5 36. exf5+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Wahls,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {HarZvi Dolmatov Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 $5 {In der erцffnungstheoretischen Debatte hat der 
(nach 8.c3 d5 entstehende) Marshall-Angriff momentan einen recht guten Stand.
Dies erklдrt dann auch die Popularitдt der Anti-Marshall-Systeme. Im Vergleich
zu 8.a4 und 8.d3 ist 8.h3 der am seltesten gespielte Zug, was sich jedoch bald
дndern kцnnte. Immerhin bediente kein geringerer als Kasparov sich seiner,
also der Trendsetter par excellence. Meiner Meinung nach besteht ein groЯer
Vorteil von 8.h3 darin, daЯ er den Schwarzen dazu einlдdt, mit 8...d6 (worauf
9.c3 folgen wьrde) doch noch in den geschlossenen Spanier ьberzuleiten. Die
daraus entstehenden Stellungen sind einfach gehaltvoller und interessanter als
die der Anti-Marshall-Systeme!} Bb7 9. d3 h6 {Schwarz mцchte sich zunдchst mit
Te8 und Lf8 zuende entwickeln, um dann eventuell seinen d-Bauern gleich zwei
Felder nach vorne zu schieben. Da WeiЯ diesen Plan allerdings, wie in der
Begegnung Topalov-Short, mit Lg5 vereiteln kцnnte, investiert er einTempo.} (
9... Re8 10. c3 Bf8 11. Bg5 $5 (11. Nbd2 {Wedberg} d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. d4 Qd6
14. Ne4 Qd7 15. a4 bxa4 16. Bxa4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nb6 $10 {Perenyi,B-Djuric,S/
Saint John op-2/1988}) 11... h6 12. Bh4 d6 (12... g5 13. Nxg5 $5 hxg5 14. Bxg5
Bg7 15. Re3 Na5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qh5 Nxb3 18. Rg3+ Kf8 19. Qh6+ Ke7 20. Rf3
Ke6 21. axb3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Blodstein,B-Malachi,A/ISR-chT (01) (Givataim-AFEK) ;
EXP 52 1996 (32)}) 13. Nbd2 g6 14. Nf1 Bg7 15. Qd2 $1 Qe7 16. Ne3 Qf8 17. a4 (
17. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. a4) 17... Ne7 18. Bxf6 $6 (18. axb5 axb5 19.
Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Bxf6 $36) 18... Bxf6 19. Ng4 Bg7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22.
d4 Nc8 $6 (22... h5 $1 23. Ne3 c5 $13) 23. Qd3 $14 exd4 24. Nxd4 h5 25. Nh2 d5
26. Nxb5 Qc5 27. Ra1 Nb6 28. exd5 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 Nxd5 30. Nf3 Rb8 31. Nbd4 Rxb2
32. Ra8+ Bf8 33. Ne5 Qxc3 34. Qxc3 Nxc3 35. Nd7 Kg7 36. Nxf8 Rd2 37. Nb3 Rd5
38. Kh2 h4 39. Re8 Nb5 40. Rc8 Nd4 41. Nd2 c5 42. Ne4 Nb3 43. Nh7 Nd2 {
Topalov-Short, Elenite 1995 1-0}) (9... d6 {Dies ist vielleicht die beste, auf
jeden Fall aber die solideste Fortsetzung.} 10. a3 $5 (10. a4) (10. c3) (10. c3
{Dolmatov} Na5) 10... Kh8 $6 (10... Na5) (10... Re8) (10... Nd4) 11. Nc3 Qd7
12. Bd2 Rab8 13. Ne2 Nd8 14. Ng3 Ne6 15. c3 c5 16. Bc2 Bd8 17. Be3 Bc7 18. d4
$14 cxd4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Bxd4 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Rbe8 22. Nf5 Re6 23. Rad1 Qc6 24.
Qd2 Qb6 25. Qg5 Ne8 26. Bb3 Rf6 27. Qh5 $1 (27. Ne7 $6 {Kasparov-Kamsky,Dos
Hermanas 1996}) 27... h6 28. Ng5 $18) 10. Nc3 $5 {Mir ist diese klassische
Springerentwicklung, wonach Schwarz endgьltig auf den Befreiungsschlag d7-d5
verzichten muЯ, sympatischer als 10.Sbd2. DaЯ allerdings gerade dieser
Befreiungsschlag durch seinen цffnenden und damit schwдchenden Charakter dem
WeiЯen Angriffsflдchen bieten kann, zeigt eindrucksvoll das folgende Fragment:}
(10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. a4 (12. Nh2 {Wedberg} Na5 13. Bc2 c5 14. Ndf1 d5
15. Ng4 Re6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Ne3 d4 $10 {Sokolov,A-Mitkov,N/Cannes op (07) ;
EXP 46 1995/1-0 (51)} (17... d4 {HarZvi} 18. cxd4 cxd4 19. Ng4 Qh4 20. Bd2 b4
21. a3 $16 {Sokolov,A-Mitkov,N Cannes op 1995})) (12. Nf1 {HarZvi 9/228}) 12...
Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nb3 Nc6 (14... Nxb3 {HarZvi} 15. Qxb3 $14) (14... bxa4 {
HarZvi} 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bb3 $14) 15. Be3 d6 16. Nbd2 d5 (16... Qc7 $13 {
HarZvi}) 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 $36 Nxe3 19. Rxe3 Na5 20. Nfd2 Rc8 21. axb5 axb5
22. Rf3 c4 $6 23. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 24. Rg3+ Bg7 25. Qg4 $18 {Akopian-Adams/Oakham/
1993/1-0/47}) 10... Re8 (10... d6 11. a3 {WeiЯ reagiert auf die Drohung 11..
Sa5 und macht seinem Lдufer ein Schlupfloch. Gleichzeitig wird die Stellung
des Damenspringers gesichert. Nach} (11. a4 {ensteht eine Stellung aus dem
System 8.a4 mit der zusдtzlichen Einschaltung der beiden h-Bauernzьge. Wem
dieser Umstand entgegenkommt, ist mir nicht ganz klar. In der folgenden,
eindrucksvollen Partie gelang es jedenfalls dem WeiЯen ihn fьr sich zu nutzen:}
Na5 12. Ba2 b4 13. Ne2 c5 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 c4 16. Ng3 cxd3 17. Qxd3 Bc8 18.
Nh4 {Mit dem Bauern auf h7 wдre nun 18...g6 denkbar.} Kh7 19. Nhf5 Nb7 20. Be3
Be6 21. Bd5 Qc7 22. Rab1 Rfb8 23. Rb6 Bf8 24. Reb1 Bxd5 25. exd5 g6 26. R1b4
Nd8 27. Nxh6 Rxb6 28. Bxb6 Qb7 29. Ng4 Nxd5 30. Qxd5 {1-0 Balaschow-Geller/50.
UdSSR-Championat 1983}) 11... Re8 12. Ba2 {Nach dem Wegzug des Sf3 soll Sd4
nicht mit Tempogewinn erfolgen.} Qd7 (12... Bf8 13. Nh4 $5 b4 14. axb4 Nxb4 15.
Bb3 d5 16. Qf3 (16. exd5 $5 Nbxd5 (16... Nfxd5 $2 17. Qh5) 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 (17...
Nxd5 $6 18. Qg4 Nf6 19. Qg3) 18. Ba4 (18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Nf5 e4 20. Ne3 Qd4)
18... Re6 19. Nf5 Bb7 $13) 16... g6 17. exd5 Nbxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Qe4 Bg7
20. Ba4 c6 21. Nf3 Kh7 22. Bb3 c5 23. Qc4 Rc8 24. Qh4 f6 25. Nh2 Ne7 26. Bd2
Qd6 27. Qg4 Nd5 28. Nf3 h5 29. Qg3 Ne7 30. h4 Nf5 31. Qh3 Rc7 32. Bc4 Rce7 33.
Bc3 Qc6 34. Bb3 Qd6 35. Bc4 Nd4 36. Nxd4 exd4 37. Bd2 Re2 38. Ba5 Qf4 39. Qg3
Qxg3 40. fxg3 Rxg2+ 41. Kf1 Re3 42. Bxa6 Ba8 43. Bc7 Bh6 44. Bc4 Rxe1+ 45. Rxe1
Be3 46. Bf4 Rg1+ 47. Ke2 Bf3+ 48. Kxf3 Rxe1 49. Bd6 Bc1 50. Bxc5 Bxb2 51. Kf2
Re8 52. Kf3 Bc3 53. Bb3 g5 54. Bf7 Re3+ 55. Kg2 gxh4 56. gxh4 Kg7 57. Bb3 Re2+
58. Kg3 f5 59. Bb6 Kg6 60. Ba4 Be1+ 61. Kh3 Bf2 62. Bd8 f4 63. Bc6 Bg1 {
0-1 Ioseliani,N-Xie Jun/Borshomi cfW (07) ;EXP 21 1990}) 13. Nh2 Nd4 14. f4 a5
15. Nf3 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 b4 17. Ne2 $14 {Der durch den f-BauernvorstoЯ
entstandene Raumvorteil in Verbindung mit dem starken La2 sichert dem WeiЯen
nun einigen Vorteil. Mit seinem nдchsten Zug verliert Schwarz die Nerven.} d5
$2 18. fxe5 dxe4 19. Qf2 exd3 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. cxd3 $16 bxa3 22. Bxh6 (22. Rb1
$5 $16) 22... Ra6 23. Be3 axb2 24. Rab1 a4 25. Nf4 a3 26. Bc5 Re5 27. Kh2 Ra8
28. d4 Rf5 29. Qg3 Rg5 30. Qb3 Bc6 31. d5 Qf5 32. Rf1 Ba4 33. Qxa3 Be5 34. Kh1
Bxf4 35. Rxb2 Qe5 {Lanka,Z-Djuric,S/Adelaide op (11) ;EXT 90op 1990/0-1 (81)})
11. a3 (11. Bd2 $5 Bf8 12. Nd5 d6 13. a4 Nb8 14. Ne3 Nbd7 15. c3 Nc5 16. Bc2
bxa4 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Be3 Nfd7 19. Nfd2 g6 20. Na5 Ba8 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Ne6
23. Bxa4 $36 Bg7 24. Ndc4 Rb4 25. Qd2 Rxa4 26. Rxa4 Nb6 27. Nxb6 cxb6 28. d5
Nc5 29. Bxc5 dxc5 30. Nb3 $16 Bb7 31. Nc1 Qd7 32. Ra3 h5 33. Rf3 Re7 34. Nd3 c4
35. Nf4 Qd6 {Pritchett,C-Fleck,J/BL 8990 (1990) ;BL 90 1990/1/2-1/2 (81)}) (11.
a4 $5 b4 12. Ne2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. a5 Nf4 16. Ne4 Ne6 17. c3 Nc5
18. Bc4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd7 20. Qe2 Rad8 21. Bd2 bxc3 22. bxc3 Qf5 23. Kh2 Nb8
24. g4 Qc8 25. g5 Qf5 26. Nh4 Qd7 27. gxh6 Bxe4 28. Qxe4 Qc6 29. Qf5 Re6 30.
h7+ Kh8 31. Qxf7 {1-0 Rechel,B-Blatny,P/Bad Mergentheim op ;EXT 89op 1989}) (
11. Nd5 {Dolmatov} Na5 $10) 11... Bf8 12. Nd5 $14 {Die Kontrolle des Feldes d5
und der geschwдchte schwarze Damenflьgel sichern dem WeiЯen ein angenehmes
Spiel.} Na5 (12... Nd4 13. Nxd4 (13. Nxf6+ {Dolmatov} Qxf6 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. f4
d6 $14) 13... exd4 14. Bf4 d6 15. Bg3 Nxd5 16. exd5 g6 17. Qd2 Qd7 18. a4 {
Wie so oft im Spanier gibt das Bauernduo a6-b5 AnlaЯ zur Besorgnis.} Rxe1+ 19.
Qxe1 Re8 20. Qa5 $14 c5 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qb6 Ra8 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Qb8 Bb7 25.
Ba2 Kg7 26. b4 $1 Be7 (26... cxb4 27. Qa7 $16) 27. bxc5 dxc5 28. Be5+ f6 29. d6
Bd8 (29... fxe5 $2 30. Qg8+ Kf6 31. Qf7+ Kg5 32. Qxe7+ $18) 30. Be6 $1 Qxe6 31.
Qxb7+ Kf8 32. Qb8 Ke8 33. Bg3 Qd7 34. Qa8 Kf8 35. Qd5 Bb6 36. Qe4 Kg7 37. h4 {
Wang Zili-Xie Jun/Beijing Tan Chin Cup (02) ;CBM 49 1995/1-0 (69)}) (12... d6
13. Bd2 $14 (13. Ba2 $5 {Idee Sh2-g4 und eventuell f4.})) 13. Ba2 Bxd5 $2 {
This move is the sole root to all Blacks ensuing problems. very strange
decision to give up this bishop,and putting your knight on a5 which after
white's recapture on d5 is out of the game, and indeed black's position became
very bad. Ein grober positioneller Fehler. Schwarz gibt das Lдuferpaar auf und
schwдcht, wie spдter leicht ersichtlich, den weiЯen Felderkomplex am
Damenflьgel. Zudem wird nun der Sa5, seines natьrlichen Rьckzugsfeldes beraubt,
zum Problem.} (13... c5 $14 14. Bd2 $5 Nc6 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Bd5 {Idee c3,a4})
(13... c5 $142) (13... d6 {Dolmatov} 14. Bd2 Nc6 (14... c5 $2 15. Nxf6+) 15.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Bd5 Nd8 17. a4 $14) 14. exd5 d6 $6 {Der schwarze Damenspringer
ist fortan ein Zombie, ein lebender Toter! Nach} (14... e4 15. dxe4 Nxe4 16.
Qd3 Nf6 {Idee Sb7-c5 (d6) ist die schwaze Stellung zwar nicht gerade
berauschend, aber auch nicht hoffnungslos.}) 15. b4 Nb7 {[%csl Rb7] This is a
really bad N. Like so often in the Ruy Lopez Black ends up with his N on the
rather short circuit b7-d8.} 16. c4 $16 {White has a clear advantage, pair of
bishops, black knight on b7 is terrible, and black some weak white squares.}
Qd7 17. Be3 Nd8 $6 {Black hopes for some K-side action with Nh7, f5 and Nf7.} (
17... a5 $5 {Wedberg}) (17... Rec8 {Dolmatov} 18. Rc1 c6 19. Qb3 $16) (17... c5
$5 18. Rc1 cxb4 19. axb4 a5) 18. Rc1 c6 {Bei 17...Sb8 hoffte Schwarz
wahrscheinlich darauf nach 19.dc6? mit dem Springer zurьcknehmen zu kцnnen.
Aber natьrlich denkt WeiЯ ganz und gar nicht daran auf c6 zu tauschen und
behдlt den Sargnagel d5 auf dem Brett.} (18... a5 $5 {Wedberg}) 19. Nd2 $1 cxd5
$6 {Hiernach stabilisiert sich die Lage vollends. Es gibt nun kein Entrinnen
mehr. 19...a5 war wohl die letzte Chanche.} (19... Nh7 $5 {Dolmatov} 20. Nb3 (
20. dxc6 Nxc6 21. cxb5 axb5) 20... Be7 21. Na5 cxd5 22. cxd5 Bg5) (19... g6 $2
{HarZvi} 20. Qf3 $1 Nh7 21. dxc6 Nxc6 22. cxb5) (19... bxc4) 20. cxd5 Nh7 (
20... a5 $5 {Wedberg}) 21. Bb6 $18 {Mit dem Springer d8, dem Bauern a6 und den
Feldern c6 und c7 gibt es im schwarzen Lager weitaus mehr Schwдchen als eine
Stellung verkraften kann.} (21. Nb3 {Dolmatov} Be7) 21... Rc8 (21... Qb7 22.
Ba5 Rc8 23. Rxc8 (23. Qg4 {Dolmatov}) 23... Qxc8 24. Qc1 $18) 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23.
Qc1 $18 {After the exchange of queens white has a winning endgame.} Qb7 (23...
Nb7 {Dolmatov} 24. Qc6 $16) 24. Qc7 Qxc7 25. Bxc7 {Black is so weak on the
Q-side that the win is quite simple. Just look at black's miserable knight,no
place for this knight} Nb7 (25... f5 26. Rc1 Nf6 27. Bb6 Nb7 28. Rc7 Re7 29.
Rc6 Kf7 30. Bc7 Rd7 31. Bb8 Rd8 32. Ba7 a5 33. Bb6 $18) 26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Rc6 $18
Nd8 (27... f5 28. Bxd6 $18 Nxd6 29. Rxc8 Nxc8 30. d6+ Kh8 31. d7) (27... Nf6
28. Bb6 Ra8 29. Rc7 Nd8 30. Ne4 Nxe4 (30... Ne8 31. Rd7) 31. dxe4 Rb8 32. Be3
Ra8 33. Ra7 Rxa7 34. Bxa7 {In diesem Endspiel ist Schwarz vollkommen hilflos.
WeiЯ macht sich einfach ьber den Damenflьgel her.} g6 35. Bb3 h5 36. Be3 Kh7
37. a4 Bh6 38. Bxh6 bxa4 39. Bxa4 Kxh6 40. Bd7 Kg5 41. g3 f5 42. Bc8 fxe4 43.
Bxa6) (27... Be7 {Dolmatov} 28. Bb6 $18) (27... Nf6) 28. Bxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxa6 {
Black has finally done something with his knight changed it for white's bishop
but white has won a pawn and the b5 pawn is very weak white will play Nb1-Nc3
after it will be very difficult to defend this pawn} Rc8 30. Rc6 Ra8 31. Nb1
Nf6 32. Kf1 (32. Rb6 Rc8) 32... Be7 33. Ke2 e4 34. Bb3 exd3+ 35. Kxd3 Nd7 36.
f4 g5 (36... Nf6 37. Rb6) 37. Rc7 Rd8 38. Nc3 gxf4 39. Nxb5 Ne5+ 40. Ke4 Re8
41. Ba4 (41. Ba4 Bd8 42. Nxd6 Bxc7 43. Nxe8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 9697"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Wahls, Matthias"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Wahls,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1996.10.12"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Solingen"]
[BlackTeam "Hamburger SK"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. a3 Re8 10. h3 h6 11. Nc3 Bf8 12. Bd2 Rb8 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Ne7 15.
Ba2 Ng6 16. d4 c5 17. c3 Bb7 18. d5 Bc8 19. b4 c4 20. Bb1 Be7 21. a4 Rf8 22.
Bc2 f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 Ra8 26. Rb7 Rb8 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28.
Bxf5 Rxf5 29. Qc2 Rf6 30. Nh2 Qe8 31. Ra1 Rf8 32. Ra7 Bd8 33. Rb7 (33. Be3 Nf4
34. Bxf4 exf4) 33... e4 $138 (33... Ne7 $5 34. Ng4 Qf7 35. Bxh6 Qxd5 36. Rb8 e4
37. Nf6+ (37. Be3 Nc6 (37... Nf5) 38. Rc8 Ne7 39. Rb8 Nc6) 37... Rxf6 38. Rxd8+
Rf8 39. Rxf8+ Kxf8 40. Be3 Qd3 $13) 34. Be3 Nf4 35. Qd1 Nd3 36. Ng4 h5 37. Bd4
Rf7 $6 ({Nach} 37... Be7 {kann WeiЯ das Gleichgewicht vielleicht gerade so
eben noch halten:} 38. Ne3 (38. Nh2 Bf6 39. Bxf6 Rxf6 $19) 38... Bf6 (38...
Nxf2 39. Qa1 Bf6 40. Bxf6 Rxf6 41. Qa7 Qg6 42. Rb8+ Kh7 43. Qa8 Qf7 $11) (38...
Rxf2 $2 39. Nxc4) 39. Nf5 Bxd4 40. Nxd4 Nxf2 (40... Rxf2 $2 41. Ne6) (40... e3
$5 41. f3 Nf4) 41. Qe1 (41. Qe2 $2 Qa8 $1) 41... Nd3 42. Qg3 Rf7 43. Rxf7 Qxf7
44. Qxd6 (44. Nxb5 Qxd5 45. Nxd6 e3)) 38. Nh6+ gxh6 39. Qxh5 Ne5 $2 (39... Nf4
40. Qxh6 Ne2+ 41. Kh2 Nxd4 42. Qg6+ Kf8 43. Qh6+ (43. Qxd6+ Kg7 $17) 43... Kg8
$11) 40. Bxe5 dxe5 41. Qg6+ $18 Kf8 42. Qxh6+ Kg8 43. Qg6+ Kf8 44. Rb8 Rf6 45.
Qh7 e3 46. fxe3 Rd6 47. Qh8+ Kf7 48. Rb7+ Be7 49. Qxe5 Kf8 50. e4 Qd8 51. Qh8+
Kf7 52. Qh7+ Kf8 53. Kh1 Qe8 54. e5 (54. e5 Rxd5 55. Qh8+ Kf7 56. e6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Nussloch"]
[Site "Nussloch"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 a5 $146 (9... d6 10. a5 Bg4 11. Be3 d5 12. Nbd2 h6 13. h3 d4 $6 14.
hxg4 dxe3 15. fxe3 Nxg4 16. Bd5 Qd7 17. Nc4 $14 {Anand,V-Sokoov,I/Wijk/1996/
0-1/ ;CBM 51}) 10. Nbd2 (10. c3 $5) 10... Bc5 11. Nf1 d6 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3
h6 14. Be3 $10 (14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bb4 16. Re3 $13) 14... Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Ne7
16. Rb1 Bd7 17. Qc2 Bc6 18. Nd2 d5 $6 (18... Qd7 $142) 19. Nf3 $1 dxe4 20. Nxe5
exd3 21. Qa2 Ne4 $2 (21... Qe8 $142) 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kh8 24. Nd1 $1 Qd6
25. Qe6 d2 (25... Qxe6 26. Bxe6 d2 27. Re3 Bxa4 28. Bb3 $1 {+-}) 26. Rxe4 Qd3
27. Rh4 $2 (27. Rd4 $1 Qxb1 28. Rxd2 Qc1 (28... Bxa4 29. Qxe7 Bxd1 30. Rd8+
Rxd8 31. Qxd8+ Kh7 32. Qg8#) 29. Rd4 Qg5 30. Ne3 Rb8 31. h4 $16) 27... Qxb1 28.
Rxh6+ gxh6 29. Qxh6+ Qh7 30. Qf6+ Qg7 31. Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hastings 9394"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Hebden, Mark"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nb4 $5 (10... Nd7 {! in Nunns book on the Marshall Attack
} 11. c3 Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Bc2 Bf6 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nf1 $14 {
Kasparov,G-Short,N/London(m7)/1993/1-0/36}) 11. Nf1 c5 12. Ng3 Rc8 13. Bd2 Nc6
14. Nf5 Ne8 15. Nxe7+ (15. Bd5 Nc7 $13) 15... Nxe7 16. c3 Ng6 $10 17. d4 Nf6
18. Bc2 Re8 19. d5 c4 20. b4 Rb8 21. h3 Bc8 22. Nh2 Bd7 23. Nf1 h6 24. Ng3 Rf8
25. Qc1 Nh7 26. axb5 Bxb5 27. Ba4 Nh4 $1 28. Bxb5 axb5 29. Ra6 f5 30. exf5 Ra8
31. Qa3 Nf6 32. Ra1 Rb8 33. Rd1 Qd7 34. Ra7 Rb7 35. Ra8 Rbb8 36. Ra7 Rb7 37.
Ra8 Rbb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Parnu-A"]
[Site "Parnu"]
[Date "1996.02.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1996.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "EST"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hansen,LB} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Bg4 {Hansen,LB: An interesting new idea.} 11.
Nbd2 (11. c3 bxc3 (11... Rb8 12. Nbd2 Kh8 13. Bc4 Qc8 14. Qa4 Bd7 15. Qa2 Nd8
16. d4 $16 {Martin del Campo,R-Schepel,K/Novi Sad olm/1990}) 12. bxc3 Be6 13.
Nbd2 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Qb8 15. Qa2 Qb5 16. Nc4 Na7 17. Ba3 Qd7 18. Rad1 $14 {
Wallace,J-Bussachini,M/Moscow olm/1994}) (11. Be3 d5 12. Nbd2 h6 13. h3 d4 $6
14. hxg4 dxe3 15. fxe3 Nxg4 16. Bd5 $14 {Anand,V-Sokoov,I/Wijk/1996} (16. Bd5 {
Hansen,LB} Qd7 17. Nc4 Bf6 $13 {Anand,V - Sokolov,I/Wijk/1996/})) 11... Nd4 12.
Bc4 c6 (12... c5 $6 13. h3 Bd7 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15. f4 exf4 16. Nf3 $16 {
Goloshchapov,A-Talla,V/Ceske Budejovice/1995}) (12... Qc8 {Hansen,LB} 13. h3
Nxf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bh5 15. Bg5 $1 $14) 13. h3 Nxf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bh5 (14... Be6 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 $14 {/\d4}) (14... Bc8 $5 {Hansen,LB}) 15. g4
Bg6 16. Nh4 Ne8 $6 (16... Kh8 $5 17. Nxg6+ (17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. gxf5 d5 19. exd5
cxd5 20. Bb3 Qd6 $13) 17... fxg6 $13) (16... d5 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Bb3 Qd6 19.
Qe2 Nd7 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Qf3 $14) 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. gxf5 Bg5 (18... d5 19. Bb3
$14) 19. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 20. Qg4 Qh6 (20... Qf6 $5 {Hansen,LB}) 21. h4 Nc7 22. Qg5
$14 Qf6 23. f4 Rfe8 24. Kf2 Kf8 25. Bb3 exf4 (25... Nb5 $5 {Hansen,LB}) 26.
Qxf6 gxf6 27. Kf3 Ke7 28. Kxf4 Rg8 29. Rg1 Rab8 30. Ba4 Nb5 31. Ke3 Rxg1 32.
Rxg1 c5 33. Rg7 Kf8 34. Rg2 (34. Rxh7 $4 Kg8 35. Rh5 Kg7 $19 {[%csl Rh5]})
34... h6 35. Rg1 Ke7 36. Rg2 Kf8 37. Rg3 Nd4 38. Rg1 Nb5 39. Rg2 Ke7 40. Bb3
Kf8 41. Rg1 Nd4 42. Ba4 Nb5 43. Rc1 Ke7 44. Ra1 Rb7 45. Rc1 Rb8 46. c3 $1 {
Hansen,LB: Already here Hracek must have seen, that the rook ending following
his brilliant 52. move is advantageous for White.} bxc3 47. bxc3 Na7 48. d4 Rb2
49. dxc5 dxc5 50. Rd1 Nb5 51. Bxb5 Rxb5 (51... axb5 52. Ra1 $16) 52. Kd3 {
Hansen,LB: Very strong! In the coming rook ending White is a pawn down, but
the activity of his pieces gives him the better chances.} Rxa5 $2 {Black
forgets to bring his king into play.} (52... Kd6 53. Kc4+ Ke5 (53... Kc7 54.
Rg1 Kd6 55. Rg7 Ke7 56. Kd5 Rxa5 57. c4 $16) 54. Rd5+ Kxe4 55. Rd6 (55. Rxc5
Rxc5+ 56. Kxc5 Kxf5 57. Kb6 Ke4 58. c4 f5 59. c5 f4 60. c6 f3 61. c7 f2 62.
c8=Q f1=Q $13) 55... Rxa5 56. Rxf6 $14) 53. Kc4 h5 54. Kd5 $1 Rb5 55. c4 Rb8
56. Kxc5 Rc8+ 57. Kb4 Rb8+ 58. Ka5 Rc8 59. Kb4 Rb8+ 60. Ka5 Rc8 61. Rd4 $1 {+-}
Rc6 62. Kb4 Rb6+ 63. Kc5 Rb1 64. Kc6 Rb4 65. Rd7+ Ke8 66. c5 Rxe4 67. Rd3 Rxh4
68. Kb6 Rh1 69. c6 Rb1+ 70. Kxa6 Ra1+ 71. Kb7 Rb1+ 72. Kc8 Rb5 73. c7 Rxf5 74.
Re3+ Kf8 75. Kd7 Rc5 76. Re8+ Kg7 77. c8=Q Rxc8 78. Rxc8 Kg6 79. Kd6 Kf5 80.
Kd5 h4 81. Rh8 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 09th final"]
[Site "Hilversum"]
[Date "1993.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tolnai, Tibor"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1993.12.10"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Budapest Honved"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 (11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. c3 Bf6 14. Qa4
bxc3 15. Qxc6 cxd2 16. Bxd2 Nc5 17. Ra3 {+/- ECO}) 11... Qc8 (11... Bxb3 12.
Nxb3 Re8 13. d4 exd4 14. Nfxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bf8 16. Nc6 Qd7 17. Nxb4 Qb5 18.
c3 Nxe4 {Szabo-Unzicker/Bern/1987}) (11... Rb8 12. Bc4 Qc8 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ne3
Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Bd2 {+/=/Kasparov,G-Short,N/
London(m1)/1993/1-0/39}) 12. Bc4 Rd8 13. Nf1 h6 (13... Bxc4 $6 14. dxc4 $14 {
><d5,f5}) 14. Ne3 Bf8 {/\d5} 15. Bd2 Rb8 (15... d5 $2 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5
Bxd5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bxc4 20. dxc4 Qd7 21. Rd5 $16) 16. h3 Bxc4 17. Nxc4
Rb5 $10 18. c3 Qe6 19. cxb4 Nxb4 20. Bxb4 Rxb4 21. Ra4 Rbb8 22. Qc2 Nh5 23. Ne3
Nf4 24. Rc4 c5 25. Nd2 Rb5 26. Rc3 (26. Ra1 Rdb8 27. Ra2 Be7 $36 {/\Bd8}) 26...
Rxa5 27. Ndc4 Rb5 28. Ra3 $10 {><a6} Qg6 29. Kh2 d5 (29... Ra8 30. Rea1 $10)
30. exd5 Nxd5 31. Nxe5 Nxe3 32. Rxe3 Bd6 33. Kg1 Bxe5 34. Rxe5 c4 35. Re3 Rg5
36. g3 Rc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Baburin: In this game both players castled King side, however the monarchs
found themselves on the opposite flanks anyway!} 1. e4 {Baburin Timman} e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6
10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. c3 Nc5 12. Bc2 {N} (12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Bc2 Ne6 (
14... Bf6 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nf1 Bb7 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bb3 Bg7 19. h4 Bc8 20. h5 Kh8
21. Nd5 g5 22. Ne3 Nf4 23. g3 Nxh5 24. Nf5 $16 {Kasparov,G-Short,N/London (m7)/
1993}) 15. b4 Ng5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Nf1 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 g6 19. Ne3 Bg5 20. g3 h5
21. h4 Bh6 22. Nd5 Bxc1 23. Rxc1 $14 {Zagrebelny,S-Blatny,P/Moscow olm/1994 
(23)}) 12... Nxa4 13. Bxa4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Kh8 15. Nc4 f5 16. Ne3 $6 (16. exf5
Rxf5 17. Ne3 Rf8 18. Nd5 $13) 16... f4 $40 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Yg7g4,Yh7h4]} 17.
Nd5 g5 18. h3 Qd7 $6 {Baburin: Black prepares a dangerous attack upon the King
after h7-h5 and g5-g4, but Anand comes up with an excellent defensive idea.} (
18... h5 $5 19. Kf1 (19. Nh2 $142 {/\Qd1}) 19... g4 20. hxg4 hxg4 21. Nd2 f3
$40 {[%csl Rf1]}) (18... Rg8 $142 $1 {Timman}) 19. Kf1 $1 {Baburin: The main
object of Black's attack is about to disappear!} h5 (19... g4 $5 20. hxg4 Qxg4
21. Ke2 Qxg2 22. Rg1 Qh3 23. Bd2 $13) 20. Ke2 $1 g4 21. hxg4 hxg4 22. Nd2 Kg7 (
22... f3+ 23. gxf3 gxf3+ 24. Kd1 $132) 23. Nc4 a5 24. Kd1 Bh4 25. Rf1 Rf7 26.
Bd2 Qe6 27. Kc2 {[%csl Gc2]} Nd8 28. g3 $1 $40 {[%csl Rg7]} Bg5 (28... fxg3 29.
fxg3 Bxg3 30. Nce3 $40 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ye3f5,Ye3g4,Yf1h1,Ya1g1,Yf1f8,Yg1g8,
Yh1h8]}) 29. gxf4 exf4 30. Rg1 Bc6 31. Qa2 Nb7 32. b4 $1 Bb5 (32... a4 $142)
33. Nxa5 Rxa5 $2 (33... Nxa5 34. bxa5 $16) 34. bxa5 Bxd3+ 35. Kxd3 Nc5+ 36. Kc2
Qxe4+ 37. Kb2 Nd3+ 38. Ka3 Ne5 39. Nb4 c5 40. Rae1 cxb4+ 41. cxb4 Qd3+ 42. Ka4
Ra7 43. Qb2 Bf6 44. Bxf4 Nc4 (44... Nf3 45. Rxg4+ Kf7 46. Qa2+ d5 47. Rc1 {+-})
45. Rxg4+ Kf7 46. Qb3 Qd5 47. Bd2 $1 $8 1-0

[Event "Tiraspol"]
[Site "Tiraspol"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Saltaev, Mihail"]
[Black "Geller, Efim P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "MDA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Na7 (10... Bg4 11. Be3 Be6 12. Nbd2 Ng4 13. Nc4 Nxe3 14.
Nxe3 Rb8 15. Nd5 Bg4 $13 {Malniuk-Smagin/Minsk/1985}) (10... Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8
12. Bc4 Rd8 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ne3 Bf8 $10 {Tolnai,T-Sokolov,I/EuCup/1993/1/4-1/4/
36}) (10... Rb8 11. Nbd2 Kh8 12. c3 Nh5 13. d4 Bf6 $13 {Nunn}) 11. c3 bxc3 12.
bxc3 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Nd7 14. Nc4 Nb5 15. Bb2 (15. Bd2 $5) 15... Nc5 16. Bc2 f5 17.
exf5 Bxf5 18. Ne3 Bg6 19. d4 Ne4 20. Nd5 $36 Nxf2 $5 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Kxf2
Nxd4 23. cxd4 Rxb2 24. Rc1 Rxc2+ (24... e4 25. Kg1 $16) 25. Rxc2 Qh4+ 26. Kg1
Rxf3 27. Rd2 Rb3 $4 (27... Rf8 28. dxe5 dxe5 29. Rxe5 $14) 28. Qxb3+ 1-0

[Event "Donner Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.08.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1996.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson King} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 d5 $6 $146 {Sokolov wants to test if 8.a4 really is a true
anti-marshall.} (8... b4) (8... Bb7) (8... Rb8) 9. Bxd5 $1 (9. axb5 dxe4 10.
bxc6 exf3 11. Qxf3 e4 12. Qe3 Bd6 $14 {This looks a bit like a Marshall.}) (9.
exd5 Na5 $5 (9... Nd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Nxe5 Bb7) 10... exd4 11. axb5 Bb7 12. bxa6
Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Nxd5 $16 {but not without some chances to Black.}) 10. Nxe5 Bb7
$132) 9... Nxd5 10. exd5 Nd4 (10... Qxd5 11. Nc3 $16) 11. Nxd4 (11. Nxe5 Bb7
12. Nc3 b4 13. Ne2 Qxd5 14. Nf4 Qd6 $13) 11... exd4 12. axb5 Bb7 13. c4 dxc3
14. dxc3 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Qd3 Bxd5 17. Qxb5 $16 {White is a healthy P up.
Compared to the usual Marshall lines Blacks counterplay is thin.} Bd6 {
Petursson: A nice looking pair of bishops but the attack never really takes
off.} 18. Nd2 Qa8 {King: Black's strategy certainly looks elegant, but he
doesn't have quite enough compensation for the pawn. The problem is that White
has no weaknesses that Black can latch on to, in spite of his great freedom of
movement.} 19. f3 Qa7+ 20. Kh1 Qf2 21. Qe2 Qh4 22. Nf1 h6 23. Be3 Re8 24. Qd2
Qh5 25. Bf2 Rxe1 26. Qxe1 f5 27. Bg3 f4 28. Bf2 Qf5 29. Qd1 Bc4 30. Kg1 Bd3 31.
Nd2 Kh7 32. h3 Qb5 33. b3 Qe5 34. Bd4 Bc5 $2 (34... Qe6 $142) 35. Ne4 $1 {
Petursson: A very neat clarifying move} Bxd4+ $6 (35... Bxe4 36. fxe4 $16) 36.
cxd4 Qb5 $8 (36... Qxd4+ $2 37. Nf2 $18) 37. Nc5 Bf5 38. Qe1 $1 $18 {/\Qe5 /
\Qe5} Bc2 39. Qc1 Qe2 40. Qxf4 1-0

[Event "Politiken Cup 18th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Liss, Eran"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Chekhov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
Bb7 8. c3 (8. d4 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. e5 Nd5 (10... Ne4 11. Qg4 Bg5 $5 $146 (
11... c5 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Qxh7 c4 14. Rxe4 cxb3 15. cxb3 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 $13 {ECO
}) 12. f4 Bh6 13. Qf5 (13. f5 Bxc1 14. Qxg7 Rf8 15. Rxc1 c5 $13) 13... d5 14.
Rxe4 (14. exd6 O-O 15. Rxe4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Qxd6 $44) 14... g6 15. Qh3 dxe4 16.
Qxh6 e3 $132 {0-1 Brinck Claussen,B-Hector,J/Copenhagen op (09) ;EXP 47 1995 
(31)}) 11. Qf3 (11. c3 O-O 12. Qf3 c6 13. cxd4 d6 14. Nc3 dxe5 15. Nxd5 cxd5
16. dxe5 Qd7 $10 {0-1 Garcia,G-Hector,J/Manila(ol) 1992 (36)}) 11... c6 12. c3
(12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Qg4 Qb6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 Bc5 17. Bf4 Rc8
18. Red1 O-O $13 {1-0 Watson,W-Hector,J/London WFW 1991 (46)}) 12... dxc3 13.
Nxc3 O-O 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 d6 17. e6 Bf6 18. Bd2 Rc8 19. Bb4
fxe6 20. Rxe6 Kh8 21. Rxd6 Bxb2 22. Rf1 Qh4 $10 {Romanishin,O-Hector,J/
Taastrup 1992/1/2-1/2 (53)}) 8... d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. d4 (10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11.
Rxe5 Nf4 12. d4 Nxg2 13. Qe2 (13. Bg5 f6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 16. Qf5+
Ke8 17. Qh5+ $10 {Boudre,J-Jaksland,T/DEN/1989/0,5/17/}) 13... h6 14. Qh5 g6
15. Qh3 (15. Qg4 Qd6 16. Nd2 f5 17. Qg3 g5 18. Nf3 Nf4 $132 {Mortensen,
E-Hector,J/Festuge/1991/0,5/60/}) 15... Qd6 $5 (15... Qc8 16. Qg3 $14) 16. Bg5
$2 (16. Nd2 $142) (16. Nd2 {Chekhov} Nh4 17. Ne4 Qxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe4 19. Bd1 Rd8
20. Be3 g5 21. f3 Bd5 22. Be2 $14 {Polovodin,I-Genin,A/URS/1981/1|0/45/}) 16...
Qxe5 $1 17. dxe5 Bxg5 18. e6 (18. a4 Nf4 19. Qe3 O-O-O 20. axb5 Rd3 21. Qa7 a5
22. Na3 Bh4 $36 {Sulskis,S-Berzinsh,R/Riga/1995/1|0/46/}) 18... f5 19. Qd3 Rd8
20. Qe2 Nh4 $17 {Ernst,T-Hector,J/SwedenTV-cup/1993}) 10... exd4 11. cxd4 O-O
12. Nc3 Ncb4 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Qd6 (14... a5 15. Ne5 Bf6 16. Ra1 Re8 17. Na4
Qd6 18. Nc5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 $13 {Wedberg,T-Hector,J/SwedenTV-cup/1993}) 15.
Ne5 Rad8 (15... Bf6 {Chekhov} 16. Ne4 Qd8 17. Nc5 $16) 16. Qh5 Qb6 (16... f6 {
Chekhov} 17. Nc4 Qd7 18. Ne3 $16) 17. Be3 c5 $2 (17... Bf6 $142 $132) (17... c6
$5) 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Ne4 Qb6 21. Ng5 $40 h6 (21... Qh6 22. Qxh6
gxh6 23. Ngxf7 Rxf7 24. Nxf7 Kxf7 25. Rxb4 $18) 22. Ngxf7 Rd6 $5 23. Nc4 (23.
Rf1 $16) (23. Nxd6 $4 {Chekhov} Qxf2+ $19) 23... Re6 24. Rf1 $6 (24. Rxe6 Qxe6
25. Nce5 $18) 24... Qd4 25. Ncd6 Nf4 $2 (25... Rf6 26. Rxb4 (26. Qd1 Qxd1 27.
Rxd1 Bc6 28. Ra5 R8xf7 29. Nxf7 Kxf7 30. Raxd5 Nxd5 31. Bxd5+ Bxd5 32. Rxd5 Rb6
$14) 26... Qxb4 27. Bxd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5 R8xf7 29. Nxf7 Rxf7 $14) (25... Bc6 {
Chekhov} 26. Rxb4 Qxb4 27. Bxd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5 $18) 26. Nxh6+ (26. Qf5 $18)
26... Kh7 (26... gxh6 27. Bxe6+ Nxe6 28. Qg6+ Ng7 29. Nxb7 $18) 27. Nhf5+ $1
Nxh5 28. Nxd4 Rxd6 29. Rxb4 Ba8 30. Ne6 Rf6 31. Rh4 g6 (31... Rh6 {Chekhov} 32.
Ng5+ Kg6 33. Nf7 $18) 32. g4 $18 Rb6 33. Bc4 Rbxe6 34. Bxe6 Rxe6 35. gxh5 g5
36. Rg4 Kh6 37. f4 Kxh5 (37... gxf4 {Chekhov} 38. Rg6+ Rxg6+ 39. hxg6 f3 40.
Kf2 Kxg6 41. Rd1 $18) 38. Rxg5+ Kh4 39. Rg8 Bb7 40. f5 Rf6 41. Rg6 Rf8 42. f6
1-0

[Event "Tan Chin Nam Cup 1st"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wang, Zili"]
[Black "Xie, Jun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 h6 (9... d6 10. a3 (10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. Nf1 Be6
14. Ne3 g6 15. Nh2 b4 $10 {Anand,V-Wahls,M/Munich/1991}) 10... h6 (10... Na5
11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 (12. b4 Nc6 13. bxc5 dxc5 14. Bg5 Nd4 15. Nxe5 Qc7 16. f4 c4
$132 {Savko,A-Packa,L/Sala op/1993}) 12... h6 13. b4 Nc6 14. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 (14...
Nd4 $5 $132) 15. Bxd5 Qc7 16. c3 Nd8 17. Qb3 $14 {Murey,J-Adams,M/EUCup/1993})
11. c4 Na5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nc3 b4 15. axb4 cxb4 16. Ne2 d5 $132 {
Shabalov,A-Sammalvuo,T/Moscow olm/1994}) (9... Re8 10. c3 Bf8 11. Nbd2 d5 12.
exd5 Nxd5 13. d4 Qd6 14. Ne4 Qd7 15. a4 bxa4 16. Bxa4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nb6 $10 {
Perenyi,B-Djuric,S/Saint John op-2/1988}) 10. Nc3 (10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12.
a4 (12. Nh2 Na5 13. Bc2 c5 14. Ndf1 d5 15. Ng4 Re6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Ne3 d4
$13 {Sokolov,A-Mitkov,N/Cannes/1995}) 12... Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nb3 Nc6 15. Be3
d6 16. Nbd2 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 $14 {Akopian-Adams/Oakham/1993}) 10... Re8
11. a3 Bf8 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bf4 d6 15. Bg3 Nxd5 16. exd5 g6 17.
Qd2 Qd7 18. a4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Re8 20. Qa5 $14 c5 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qb6 Ra8 23.
Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Qb8 Bb7 25. Ba2 Kg7 26. b4 $1 Be7 (26... cxb4 27. Qa7 $16) 27.
bxc5 dxc5 28. Be5+ f6 29. d6 Bd8 (29... fxe5 $2 30. Qg8+ Kf6 31. Qf7+ Kg5 32.
Qxe7+ $18) 30. Be6 $1 Qxe6 31. Qxb7+ Kf8 32. Qb8 Ke8 33. Bg3 Qd7 34. Qa8 Kf8
35. Qd5 Bb6 36. Qe4 Kg7 37. h4 h5 38. Qd5 Ba7 39. Bf4 Bb6 40. g3 Ba7 41. Qa8
Bb6 42. Qe4 Bd8 43. Qd5 Bb6 44. Bd2 b4 45. Bf4 Ba7 46. Qe4 Kf7 47. Qa8 Kg7 48.
Qe4 Kf7 49. Qd5+ Kg7 50. Kf1 $1 Bb6 51. Ke2 Ba7 52. Kd2 Bb6 53. Kc1 Ba7 54. Kb2
Bb6 55. Kb3 Qa7 56. Kb2 Qd7 57. Qe4 Bd8 58. Qa8 Kh7 59. Qd5 Bb6 60. f3 Kg7 61.
g4 $1 hxg4 62. fxg4 Kh7 63. g5 f5 64. Be5 b3 65. cxb3 f4 66. Bxf4 Ba5 67. Qe4
Bc3+ 68. Kc2 Qf7 69. h5 1-0

[Event "Sigeman & Co 10th"]
[Site "Malmo"]
[Date "2002.06.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2513"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2002.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 $5 {
A strange hybrid and the Closed and Archangel Variations with a good deal of
Marshall Gambit in the spirit of the line too.} 8. d4 {The sharpest choice
against yet another side-line which can boast Jonny Hector as its chief
contemporary adherent. The move has a perfectly reasonable reputation, and in
the quest to explain white's rapid defeat in this game, there is no doubt -
the mistake comes later. Still, it is interesting that a strong Grandmaster,
and indeed a player whose disparity of result when commanding the white as
opposed to the black forces is great enough to describe him as a real 'white
specialist', should go down to such a rapid defeat here. I would say, that
adopting this sharp line against Jonny demands considerable preparation. White
has two other main options. I don't want to explore them in depth here, but I
would say that} (8. c3 $5 d5 {( this Marshall Gambit variant is the consistent
way to give distinctive character to black's unusual opening )} 9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Nxe5 {Critical.} (10. d4 {tends to lead to IQP positions of the 'open
e-file type' ( cf Russian Game etc ). Black has a moderately serious weakness
on c5, but perfectly respectable piece-play which would be a major attraction
for a dynamic player like Hector.} exd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Nc3 Ncb4 13. a4 bxa4
14. Rxa4 a5 {[%csl Gb4]} 15. Ne5 Bf6 16. Ra1 Re8 17. Na4 {[%csl Rc5][%cal
Ya4c5]} Qd6 18. Nc5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 20. Ne4 Qg6 21. f3 h6 {Wedberg,T (2455)
-Hector,J (2470) Sweden TV Cup 1993 0-1 was fine for black in}) 10... Nxe5 11.
Rxe5 Nf4 {[%cal Gb7g2]} 12. d4 $1 (12. Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. Rf5+ Bf6 14. Rxf4 Qd3 {
looks fine for black, and scores accordingly.}) 12... Nxg2 13. Qe2 h6 (13...
Nh4 $2 14. Rxe7+) 14. Rxb5 $1 {[%csl Rb7,Rg2] looks like the most dangerous
idea for trying to refute black's set-up. Suddenly the active minor pieces
that constitute black's compensation come under fire.} axb5 (14... Qc8 15. Rxb7
({It might be a bit risky, but not actually bad to allow black the extra
counterplay associated with} 15. Re5 $5 O-O 16. Rxe7 Nh4 17. d5 Qh3 18. f4 Nf3+
19. Kf2 {where arguably the rewards on offer are even higher.}) 15... Qxb7 16.
Qh5 Nh4 (16... g6 17. Qe5 $1 $16 (17. Qd5 Qxd5 18. Bxd5 Ne1 $13 {[%cal Ge1c2]})
) 17. Bxf7+ Kd8 18. Bd5 c6 19. Be4 {Popovic,P (2518)-Strikovic,A (2508)
JUG-chT Herceg Novi 2001 (1) 1-0 and white stands well. This seems to be quite
a serious challenge to black's idea.}) 15. Qxb5+ Kf8 16. Qxb7 Nh4 17. Bf4 Rc8
18. Nd2 Bg5 19. Bd6+ $1 {[%csl Rf7]} Kg8 20. Nf1 Kh7 21. Be5 {Martin,B (2375)
-Bezzy,M Yerevan ol (Men) 1996 (14) 1-0 and white has no material deficit, a
healthy control of the light squares and a potentially very potent a-pawn.}) ({
Also, if I were considering playing this line with black, I think I would be a
little concerned about the quiet treatment} 8. d3 $5 {The argument is simply
this. In lines of the Spanish where white settles for this modest d-pawn
advance there is often an argument that black should not commit this bishop (
useful defender of the f5 square that it is ) to b7 too early. However, this
is by no means to say that an early ...Bb7 is inferior. The rough and tumble
of 'practice' has too much going on for such a simple argument to carry the
day. It is largely a matter of taste.}) 8... Nxd4 (8... exd4 9. e5 $16) 9. Nxd4
({Or} 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 $1 (9... Kxf7 10. Nxe5+ Ke6 (10... Kg8 11. Qxd4 {also
affords black insufficient compensation.}) 11. Qxd4 c5 12. Qc3 $16) 10. Bd5 (
10. Bh5 Nc6 11. Ng5 Nxh5 12. Qxh5 Qe8 13. Qd1 h6 14. Nf3 d6 15. c4 Qf7 16. Nc3
bxc4 17. Nd5 Nd8 18. Nxc7 Rc8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 21. exd5 Nb7 {Yemelin,
V (2540)-Mikheev,S (2335) RUS-Team Smolensk 2000 (11) 1/2 is a playable, but
not threatening alternative.}) 10... c6 $1 11. Bb3 (11. Nxe5 cxd5 12. Qxd4 dxe4
{[%csl Re5][%cal Gd7d6]} 13. Qd1 {Hansen,C (2600)-Hector,J (2470) Nordic-ch
VISA 1997 (13) 1-0 leads to a strange position in which white might try to
show that black suffers some awkwardness based on his king's position in
conjunction with the fact that the obvious strengthening of the defence of the
e4 pawn involves damaging the scope of the b7 bishop.} {Tisdall's suggestion}
Qc7 {doesn't seem to be a panacea after} 14. Bf4 $1 d6 15. Ng4 {However, it is
in general difficult to believe that black's bishop pair and development
shouldn't add up to a decent position.}) 11... Nxb3 12. axb3 d6 (12... Qc7 $5 {
might be more flexible.}) 13. c4 Qc7 14. Qc2 Rd8 15. Nc3 b4 16. Ne2 h6 17. Ng3
g6 18. Nh4 Kg7 19. c5 Bc8 20. cxd6 Rxd6 21. Nf3 Rdd8 22. Be3 {[%csl Ra6,Rc5,
Re5];Rogovoi,M (2240)-Golovchenko,G (2106) St Petersburg White Nights 2001 (3)
0-1 black's position looks rather loose.}) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ne4 $1 {My
impression is that this is the move black really wants to work, and indeed
that it probably does!} ({since the alternative} 10... Nd5 {allows white to
force ...c6 with} 11. Qf3 c6 {after which various things look a bit depressing
for black eg.} 12. Qg4 (12. Bxd5 $5 cxd5 13. Qg4 Qb6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6
16. Nf3 Bc5 17. Bf4 Rc8 18. Red1 O-O 19. Rac1 $14 {Watson,W (2505)-Hector,J 
(2465) London WFW 1991 1-0}) (12. c3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 O-O 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5
Bxd5 16. Qxd5 $14) 12... Qb6 13. Qxg7 O-O-O 14. Qh6 Rhg8 15. Bxd5 Rg6 16. Qxh7
cxd5 17. Nd2 $14 {although at least in this case black has some potential for
king-side counterplay.}) 11. Qf3 $6 (11. Qg4 {is a major alternative, but the
unusual defence of g7 with} Bg5 $1 {seems to be just OK for black eg.} 12. f4 (
{or} 12. Bf4 Bxf4 13. Qxf4 Ng5 14. Qxd4 Ne6 15. Qd2 Qh4 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Bd5
Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qb4 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,F-Hector,J/Malmo 1997/CBM 60 (36) with no
special difficulties for black.}) 12... Bh6 13. Qf5 (13. f5 Bxc1 14. Qxg7 Rf8
15. Rxc1 c5 $132) (13. c3 $5) 13... d5 14. Rxe4 (14. exd6 O-O $36) 14... g6 15.
Qh3 dxe4 16. Qxh6 e3 17. Qg7 Rf8 18. Qxh7 c5 19. c4 Qd7 {black has great
counterplay. If you want a game to understand the appeal of the variation for
black, try this one.} 20. Qh4 f6 21. exf6 Qc6 22. Qg3 O-O-O 23. f7 b4 $17 {
[%csl Ra1,Rb1,Rc1][%cal Gb7g2];Brinck Claussen,B (2355)-Hector,J (2540)
Copenhagen op 17th 1995 (9) 0-1}) 11... O-O 12. Rxe4 c5 $1 $15 {Black's mobile
pawn mass is the key to his attempts to recover the missing material. The more
I look at this, the more I conclude white should simply deviate earlier!} 13.
c4 f5 $1 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Nd2 (15. cxb5+ Kh8 {doesn't help white.}) 15... Kh8
$1 $146 (15... Bh4 {has a bit of a 'cashing in prematurely' feel about it} 16.
Qg4 Bxf2+ 17. Kh1 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 d5 19. Bh6 Ra7 20. cxb5 c4 21. Nxf2 Rxf2 22.
Qxd4 Raf7 23. Bxc4 $1 gxh6 24. Qxd5 {[%csl Gf1][%cal Yc4g8] The pin indirectly
secures f1.} Qxd5 25. Bxd5 axb5 26. Kg1 Rd2 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Rb1 $16 {
1-0 Sibarevic,M-Barlocco,C/Mendrisio 1989/EXT 97 (39)}) 16. Bc2 (16. cxb5 axb5
17. Bc2 (17. Qh5 c4 18. Re1 cxb3 19. Nxb3 Qb6 $132) 17... c4 $1 $36 {is not
the solution. Note that all the time black gives priority to his irritating
centre pawns rather than prematurely recouping some material.}) 16... bxc4 17.
Nxc4 d5 18. Re2 $6 {[%csl Re2] looks like a serious mistake. The rook is
simply vulnerable here to a barely disguised tactic. In fact though, it is
hard to find a good square} (18. Rf4 dxc4 19. Qxb7 d3 20. Bd1 d2 21. Qf3 Re8
$17 {[%csl Rf4] the rook is 'dangling' on f4.}) (18. Re6 dxc4 (18... Bh4 19.
Qd3) 19. Qxb7 d3 20. Qe4 dxc2 21. Qxc2 Qd3 22. Re2 Rab8 {[%csl Gf6][%cal Gf6b2]
and black forces paint a very pleasing picture of purposeful activity.}) 18...
dxc4 19. Qxb7 d3 $17 20. Qe4 Re8 $1 21. Qxc4 dxe2 22. Be3 Rxe3 $1 (22... Rxe3
23. fxe3 Qd2 {[%cal Ge2e1] A nice win for Hector. If white wants to punish
black's opening I think he should look to 8 c3!?}) 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vassily V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[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. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Bxb3 $5 (11... Rb8 12. Bc4 $1 Qc8 13. Nf1 Re8
14. Ne3 $14 {Kasparov-Short, Times World Championship (1) 1993}) 12. Nxb3 d5 $1
13. Qe2 (13. exd5 Qxd5 $10) 13... Re8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Nh5 $1 16. Bg3 Nxg3
17. hxg3 Bf8 18. Nfd2 Qd6 19. Nf1 dxe4 20. dxe4 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 $10 22. b3 c6
23. Nd2 Qa7 24. Nc4 Bc5 25. g4 Rad8 26. Rad1 Qc7 27. g3 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29.
Kg2 (29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Nxe5 Qd6 $1 {><g3}) 29... Rxd1 30. Qxd1 f6 31. Qd3 Kf8
32. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pinsk"]
[Site "Pinsk"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Black "Ginsburg, Gennadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BLR"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Donev} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. a4 Bb7 (8... b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Bb7 (10... Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 (11... Bxb3
$5 12. Nxb3 d5 $1 $132 {Speelman-Smyslov, Biel izt 1993}) 12. Bc4 Qc8 13. Nf1
$14 {Kasparov-Short, W(ch) London 1993} (13. b3 $5 {/\ Bb2})) 11. Nbd2 Re8 12.
Nf1 Bf8 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Bc8 15. Ba4 Bd7 16. Ne3 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5
Rb8 19. Qd2 $16 {Dimitrov,V-Sokolov,I Elenite (03) 1993}) 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Na5
11. Ba2 c5 12. Na3 b4 $6 (12... Qd7 $142 13. axb5 axb5 14. Bd2 (14. Bg5 $5)) (
12... Qd7 $5 {Donev}) (12... c4 $5 {Donev}) 13. cxb4 (13. Nc4 {Donev} Nxc4 14.
Bxc4 a5 15. Bg5 Nd7 $1 $10) 13... cxb4 14. Nc4 $14 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Rc8 16. Qb3 a5
17. Be3 Nd7 (17... Ng4 {Donev} 18. Be6 $3 Nxh2 $8 (18... fxe6 $2 19. Qxe6+ Kh8
20. Qxg4 Rc2 21. b3 $14) 19. Bxc8 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Bxc8 21. d4 Bg5 $44) 18. Bd5
Ba6 (18... Bxd5 19. Qxd5 (19. exd5 Nb8 $1 {><c6} 20. Rac1 Qd7 21. Nd2 Qb7 $1
$132 {><d5}) 19... Rc2 20. Qb3 Rc8 21. Rac1 $16) (18... Nc5 {Donev} 19. Bxc5
Bxd5 $8 20. exd5 Rxc5 21. d4 exd4 22. Nxd4 $14 {/\ Nc6}) 19. Rac1 Bf6 20. Rxc8
Qxc8 21. Rc1 Nc5 (21... Qb8 $5 {Donev}) 22. Qd1 $1 {/\d3-d4} Qc7 (22... Re8 {
Donev} 23. Nxe5 $1 Bxe5 24. d4 Bxd4 25. Bxd4 $16) 23. Nxe5 $1 Bxe5 24. d4 Bxd4
25. Qxd4 Qd7 (25... Re8 {Donev} 26. Bf4 Qb6 27. Bxd6 $1 $16) 26. b3 Bb7 27. f3
Rc8 28. Bc4 h6 29. Rd1 Ba6 30. Bxa6 Nxa6 31. Qb6 (31. Qxd6 $2 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Nc5
33. Bxc5 Rxc5 34. Rd5 (34. Rd3 Rc3 $1) 34... Rc3 35. Rxa5 Rxb3 $14 {Black can
force the exchange of the b-pawn for the a-pawn, and so the game will become
R+4P versus R+3P, which should be drawn.}) 31... Qc6 (31... Rc6 {Donev} 32.
Qxa5 Qe6 33. Rd5 $16) 32. Rc1 $1 Nc5 (32... Qa8 $142 {Donev} 33. Qxa5 Rxc1+ 34.
Bxc1 Qc8 $132) 33. Qxa5 Qb7 34. Qb5 (34. Bxc5 {Donev} dxc5 35. Rxc5 Rxc5 36.
Qxc5 $18) 34... Qxb5 35. axb5 Ra8 (35... Kf8 {Donev} 36. b6 Rb8 37. Rc4 Rxb6
38. Rxc5 $1 dxc5 39. Bxc5+ $18) 36. Bxc5 (36. b6 {Donev} Ra5 37. e5 $1 $18)
36... dxc5 37. Rxc5 (37. Rxc5 Ra3 (37... Rb8 38. Kf2 $18 {/\Ke3-d4-c4}) (37...
Ra5 38. Rc8+ Kh7 39. b6 Rb5 40. Rb8 $18 {/\b6-b7, Kf2-e3-d4}) 38. b6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Chalkidiki Afitos"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1993.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
$5 Bg4 9. c3 O-O {Usually this variation is reached by the move order 8.c3 O-O
9.a4 Bg4, but then Black has other ninth move options.} 10. d3 Na5 11. Ba2 (11.
Bc2 b4 12. Nbd2 (12. cxb4 $2 Nc6 $17) 12... Rb8 (12... bxc3 $142 13. bxc3 c5
$10 14. h3 $140 Bd7) 13. h3 Bxf3 $5 (13... Bd7 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 $14) 14.
Nxf3 c5 15. d4 b3 (15... bxc3 $142 16. bxc3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Qc7 $132 {׫}) 16.
Bd3 exd4 17. cxd4 c4 18. Bb1 d5 19. Bd2 $1 Nc6 (19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21.
Rxe4 Nc6 22. Qe2 $16) 20. Bc3 Rb7 (20... dxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Qd5 23.
Qe2 $14 {/\ Ne5}) 21. Ne5 $1 Nb4 (21... Nxe5 22. dxe5 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24.
Rxe4 Qxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rc8 26. Rdd4 Rbc7 27. g4 $16) 22. exd5 Qxd5 23. Ng4 $1 $16
{Adams,M-Kolev,At Elenite (08) 1993}) 11... b4 $6 (11... c5 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Na3
Rab8 14. axb5 axb5 15. Nc2 (15. b4 $5) 15... b4 16. cxb4 cxb4 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Bd5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nc6 $10 {Kupreichik-Abramovic, Hastings 1984}) 12. Nbd2 Rb8
13. h3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 $14 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Qe2 $1 {><a6} Qc8 18.
dxe5 dxe5 19. Nc4 Nb3 (19... Nxc4 20. Qxc4 Rf6 (20... Nb6 21. Qa2 $16) 21. Bg5
(21. Be3 $5) 21... Nb6 22. Qc6 (22. Qa2 Rxf3 $1 23. Bxe7 Rxc3) 22... Rxf3 $1
23. Bxe7 Rf7 24. Bb4 Qd7 $14) (19... Nc6 20. Be3 $16) 20. Ra2 Nxc1 21. Rxc1 Bc5
22. Rd2 Qe8 23. a5 $16 Rf4 24. Qd3 $1 Nf6 25. Re1 Qa4 26. Nfxe5 Rf8 27. Ree2
Bd6 28. Nxd6 cxd6 29. Qxd6 Rxe4 30. Qxe6+ Kh8 31. Rxe4 Qxe4 32. Rd8 $1 Rxd8 33.
Nf7+ (33. Nf7+ Kg8 34. Nh6+ Kh8 35. Qg8+ $1 Nxg8 36. Nf7#) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 {Levon has been relying on this capture} ({instead of
} 10... Nxe5 {ever since he lost to Nakamura in the Sinquefield Cup 2013.
There's a different opinion, though. Ding Liren recently won a nice game
against Inarkiev in FIDE Grand Prix in Palma, and there have been efforts from
Carlsen and Svidler to uphold this line.}) 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. a5 Be6 $5 {The
newest idea.} ({Levon twice tried} 12... Ng4) ({While others, including
Caruana, Tomashevsky and Svidler, have preferred the restrained} 12... h6) 13.
Bxe6 {Surprisingly this has never been played before, at least not in high
profile games.} ({Dominguez-Aronian, St. Louis Blitz 2017 saw} 13. Qe2 Qe7 14.
Bc4 Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Nb3 ({White doesn't get anywhere after} 16. Bxa6 Qc5)
16... Rfd8 17. Nxd4 Bxc4 18. Nf5 Qe6 19. Qf3 Ne8) 13... fxe6 14. Qe2 {It seems
like White is about to take all the commanding squares, but Black has active
counterplay.} Ng4 $5 15. Rf1 Bxf2+ ({Another option was} 15... Nd4 {but Levon
must have seen the good reply} 16. Qc4 $1 (16. Nxd4 Rxf2 $1 17. Rxf2 Qxd4 {
is Black's main idea.}) 16... Qd6 17. h3 {Now Black has to go all the way.}
Nxf3+ (17... Nf6 18. c3 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nxf3+ 20. Nxf3 $16) 18. Nxf3 Nxf2 19.
Rxf2 Qd1+ 20. Qf1 Qxc2 {he seems to be getting enough pawns, but} 21. Qe1 Bxf2+
22. Qxf2 Qxe4 23. Be3 $14 {allows White to keep enough material on the board,
which is critical for success in battles between two minor pieces and a rook.})
16. Rxf2 Nd4 17. Qc4 $2 {Wesley chooses the wrong square for his queen.} ({
Black would be under some pressure to prove his compensation after the correct
} 17. Qd3 Nxf2 18. Kxf2) 17... Nxf2 18. Kxf2 Qh4+ ({In turn, Levon misses the
best move} 18... Qg5 $1 {The only way for White to untangle would be} 19. Kg1 {
but then Black gets his material back:} Rxf3 20. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 21. Kh1 Qh5 {
The knight is taboo, as} 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. gxf3 {loses to} Qxf3+ 24. Kg1 Qd1+
25. Kg2 Qe2+ 26. Kg1 Qe1+ 27. Kg2 Rf8) 19. Kg1 Qg4 ({Possibly} 19... Qf4 {
was better.}) 20. h3 $6 {Again, Wesley So is not precise with his calculations.
} (20. Qd3 Rad8 21. h3 {would bring Black's attack to its end.} Nxf3+ ({Else,} 
21... Qg3 22. Nxd4 Qe1+ 23. Kh2 Rxd4 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25. Kxg3 Rfd8 26. Nf1 Rxe4
27. Be3 Rc4 28. Rc1 Rd5 29. Nd2 Rc6 30. b3 Rxa5 31. Nc4 {holds the black
rooks' activity in check.}) 22. Nxf3 Rxd3 23. hxg4 Rd1+ 24. Kf2 {There's a
question whether White can win this, but he'll have his chances.}) 20... Qg3
21. Qd3 Rxf3 $1 {Aronian was not going to miss that. The following is forced.}
22. Nxf3 Rf8 23. Nxd4 Qe1+ 24. Kh2 Rf1 25. Qxf1 Qxf1 26. Nf3 c5 {On paper
White has enough for a queen, and his king is safe, but the pin on the back
rank holds him down.} 27. b3 $6 {Wesley decides to address this issue, even at
the cost of some pawns.} ({Objectively, White is safe after} 27. c3 b3 28. c4
Qd1 29. Nxe5 h6 $11 {but it's impossible to play this position for a win.})
27... Qd1 28. Bb2 Qxc2 29. Bxe5 Qxb3 30. Rf1 h6 $2 {Aronian shows too much
respect to White's non-existent threats.} (30... Qc2 $1 {would have kept White
from activating his rook.} 31. Kg3 (31. Ng5 h6 $19) 31... c4 32. Rf2 Qxe4 33.
Rd2 Qg6+ 34. Kf2 Qe8 {leaving Black with decent chances of victory.}) 31. Rf2
$1 {Just at the last moment Wesley's rook breaks out into the open.} c4 32. Rd2
c3 33. Rd8+ Kf7 34. Rc8 Qb1 35. Rc7+ Ke8 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Rc7+ Ke8 38. Rc8+ Kf7
({There is no escape for the king, as can be seen from} 38... Kd7 39. Rc7+ Kd8
40. Nd4 Qxe4 41. Nxe6+ Ke8 42. Nxg7+) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Palma de Mallorca FIDE GP"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "2017.11.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[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"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 {A playable alternative} ({to Aronian's favorite} 
10... dxe5) 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qf3 (12. Qe2 a5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. Qf3 Qc8 {
Giri-Ding Liren, 2017}) 12... Bc5 13. h3 (13. Nd2 Ng4 14. Rf1 Qh4 15. h3 Nf6 {
Mamedov-Kravtsiv, 2017 saw Black's pressure against e4 sufficient to offset
his Q-side weaknesses.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 Kh8 $1 {A nice one from Ding. The
obvious idea is to unpin the f-pawn for a shot on e4, but there's more to
Black's plans than meets the eye.} 15. Qg3 $6 ({One line to calculate was} 15.
c3 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 f5 17. Nxc5 Bxf3 18. Ne6 Qh4 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. gxf3 Qxh3 {
Most likely, Black is not going to get more than a draw by perpetual out of it,
but I can understand why Ernesto found it unnerving.}) ({One radical way to
deal with all that was} 15. g4 $5 {Seemingly, Inarkiev didn't learn this
lesson from his previous round game with Aronian.}) 15... Qe7 16. Qh4 $6 g5 $3
{This must have come as a shock to the system.} 17. Qxg5 Rg8 18. Qf5 Rg7 $1 {
Precision is required.} (18... Rg6 19. Nf3 Rag8 20. g4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Bc8 $4 {
and now} 22. Qxe5+ {is check.}) 19. Nf3 ({The only way for White to survive was
} 19. Nf1 Rag8 20. g3 {though it even then it is not a given that he'd have
succeeded.}) 19... Rag8 20. Bg5 Nxe4 $1 {This is already over.} 21. h4 (21.
Rxe4 Rxg5 22. Nxg5 Rxg5 23. Qf3 f5) (21. Bxe7 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rxf2#) 21... Nxg5
22. hxg5 Rxg5 23. Nxg5 Rxg5 24. Qh3 Qf6 {Ding forces a win of material.} 25.
Re3 Rxg2+ 26. Qxg2 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Bxe3 28. fxe3 c5 29. Bc4 Qg6+ 30. Kf3 Qf5+ 31.
Kg3 Qe4 32. b3 Qxe3+ 33. Kg2 Qd2+ 34. Kh1 f5 35. Rg1 Qh6+ 36. Kg2 Kg7 37. Rd1
Qg5+ 38. Kf2 Qf4+ 39. Ke2 Qh2+ 40. Ke3 f4+ 41. Ke4 Qxc2+ 42. Rd3 Kf6 43. Bxa6
Qg2+ 44. Rf3 Ke6 0-1