[Event "Dilijan FIDE GP (Women)"]
[Site "Dilijan"]
[Date "2013.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ushenina, Anna"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2499"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "286"]
[EventDate "2013.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{A complicated game from the very beginning. Both players had chances in this
game. The rook and pawn against bishop and pawn endgame wasn't as simple as it
seemed to be.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. Bf4 Na6
7. e4 O-O 8. Rd1 c6 9. Nf3 Qa5 10. Qd3 b5 11. Nd2 Be6 12. a3 Nh5 13. Be3 f5 14.
exf5 Bxf5 15. Nce4 Qc7 16. g3 Rad8 17. Bg2 Kh8 18. O-O e5 19. Nb3 c5 20. Qxb5
cxd4 21. Qxa6 dxe3 22. Rc1 Qf7 23. Nbc5 Bh6 24. Rce1 exf2+ 25. Rxf2 Qe7 26. b4
Nf6 27. Nxf6 Rxf6 28. Qb7 Qxb7 29. Bxb7 Rfd6 30. Kg2 Rd2 31. Ne4 R2d3 32. a4
R3d4 33. b5 Rxa4 34. Nc5 Rc4 35. Rxe5 Bg7 36. Ne6 Re8 37. Rexf5 gxf5 38. Nxg7
Kxg7 39. Rxf5 Rc2+ 40. Kh3 Ree2 41. Bd5 Rcd2 42. Kg4 Rxh2 43. Rg5+ Kf6 44. Rf5+
Ke7 45. Rf7+ Ke8 46. Rf5 h6 47. Bc6+ Ke7 48. Re5+ Kf6 49. Rf5+ Kg7 50. Rf4 Rdf2
51. Ra4 Rf7 52. Rb4 Rd2 53. b6 axb6 54. Rxb6 Rd4+ 55. Kh3 Rd6 56. Ra6 Kf6 57.
Bb5 Rxa6 58. Bxa6 Ke5 59. Kg2 Kd4 60. Bb5 Ke3 61. Bc6 Rc7 62. Ba8 Rc2+ 63. Kg1
Rb2 64. Bc6 Kd4 65. Bf3 Ke5 66. Kf1 Kd4 67. Kg1 Rc2 68. Bb7 Ke3 69. Ba8 h5 70.
Bb7 Rc7 71. Bd5 Rc5 72. Bb7 Rg5 73. Kh2 Rb5 (73... Kf2 74. Kh3 Rxg3+ 75. Kh4
Rg7 76. Bc6 Rh7 77. Be8 Kf3 78. Bc6+ (78. Bxh5+ Kf4 $19) 78... Kf4 {wins.}) 74.
Bc6 Rc5 75. Be8 Re5 76. Bf7 Rf5 77. Be8 Re5 78. Bf7 Re7 79. Bxh5 Rh7 80. g4 Kf4
81. Kg2 Rd7 82. Kf2 Rd2+ 83. Ke1 Ke3 84. Bf7 Rd7 85. Be6 Rd6 86. Bf5 Rd8 87.
Bg6 Rd7 88. Bf5 Rd6 89. g5 Rd5 90. Bh7 Rxg5 {After the missed opportunity
Harika tried for 50 more moves to win this rook against bishop theoretical
draw ending. The defense is simple, so it was really a waste of time.} 91. Kd1
Rc5 92. Bg6 Rc6 93. Bf5 Rf6 94. Bh7 Rc6 95. Bf5 Kd4 96. Kd2 Rc3 97. Bg6 Rg3 98.
Bf5 Rg2+ 99. Kc1 Rg5 100. Be6 Kc3 101. Kb1 Rg1+ 102. Ka2 Rg6 103. Bf5 Ra6+ 104.
Kb1 Kb3 105. Bc2+ Kc3 106. Bf5 Rf6 107. Be4 Rf4 108. Bg6 Kb3 109. Ka1 Ra4+ 110.
Kb1 Rg4 111. Bf7+ Kc3 112. Be6 Rg2 113. Ka1 Rg1+ 114. Ka2 Rf1 115. Bd5 Re1 116.
Bf7 Re7 117. Bg6 Ra7+ 118. Kb1 Kb3 119. Bc2+ Ka3 120. Ka1 Ra5 121. Be4 Kb3+
122. Kb1 Re5 123. Bc2+ Kc3 124. Bg6 Rg5 125. Be4 Rg4 126. Bf5 Rf4 127. Bg6 Kb3
128. Bc2+ Ka3 129. Ka1 Rf7 130. Be4 Rf8 131. Bg6 Kb3 132. Be4 Re8 133. Bf5 Re5
134. Bg6 Kc3 135. Kb1 Kd2 136. Kb2 Rb5+ 137. Ka2 Rb6 138. Bf5 Rf6 139. Be4 Kc1
140. Bh7 Rb6 141. Bf5 Rb2+ 142. Ka3 Rf2 143. Bh7 Rf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 26th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2009.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2009.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Bd7 7. Qb3 c5 8.
dxc5 Bg7 9. e4 Nc6 10. Nf3 Qa5 11. Bc4 O-O 12. O-O Qxc5 13. Be3 Qh5 14. Be2 Qa5
15. Rfd1 Rfd8 {#} 16. Nd5 {Perhaps a little too aggressive.} ({After} 16. h3
Rac8 17. Rac1 {White keeps a plus.}) 16... Nxd5 (16... Nxe4 17. Qxb7 Rab8 18.
Nxe7+ $1 Nxe7 19. Qxe4 {is slightly better for White}) 17. exd5 Ne5 18. a4 Ng4
19. Bd4 Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Qb6 21. Qc3 (21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Nd2 Nf6 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24.
Rxe4 Kf8 25. Rb4 Ra5 26. Rxb6 Rxa4 27. Rxa4 Bxa4 28. Rxb7 Rxd5 $11) 21... Rac8
22. Bc4 e5 $1 23. dxe6 Bxe6 24. a5 {#} (24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxe6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1
fxe6 {favours Black}) 24... Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxc4 26. Nxe6 {The only move} Rxc3
27. Nxd8 Rb3 (27... Rc7 $5) 28. h3 Ne5 29. Re1 Nc6 30. Nxc6 bxc6 31. Re7 Rxb2
32. Rxa7 Ra2 33. Rc7 Rxa5 34. Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dilijan FIDE GP (Women)"]
[Site "Dilijan"]
[Date "2013.06.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ushenina, Anna"]
[Black "Cmilyte, Viktorija"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2499"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2013.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Bd7 7. Qd3 c5 8.
d5 Na6 9. e4 Bg7 10. e5 {This push is simply too early...} Ng4 11. f4 Nb4 12.
Qd1 Bf5 13. Qa4+ {... and now White can simply resign.} Kf8 14. h3 {She has no
satisfactory defence against} Nc2+ 15. Ke2 a6 $1 {a very nice move. Now
White's queen is in trouble.} 16. Qc4 b5 17. Qxc5 Rc8 18. Qa7 Nxa1 (18... Rc7
19. Qxa6 Rxc3 20. hxg4 (20. bxc3 Qxd5) 20... Bc8 21. Qa7 Rc7 {also wins.}) 19.
hxg4 Bxg4+ 20. Kf2 b4 21. Nce2 Qxd5 22. Qxa6 h5 23. Nf3 Bh6 24. Be3 Nc2 25. Ba7
Kg7 26. Kg3 Ra8 0-1

[Event "World-ch15 Euwe-Alekhine +9-8=13"]
[Site "Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.10.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D81"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1935.10.03"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "MainBase"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Analysing the games of the old champions we notice that archaic technical
methods have been slowly replaced by more sophisticated approaches. This
process always takes a long time, and today even a club player can't help
smiling when confronted with some of the primitive tricks that led to success
in the great games of the past. Every chess epoch had its visionary
contributors to the theory of our ancient game, but only the greatest
champions were able to jump through the generations, demonstrating ideas that
were far ahead of their time.  Wenn wir die Partien der alten Meister
analysieren, fallen uns mitunter archaisch anmutende technische Methoden auf,
die inzwischen durch weitaus anspruchsvollere Verfahren ersetzt worden sind.
Dieser Prozeß dauert seine Zeit. Heute können sich sogar Klubspieler ein
Lächeln nicht verkneifen, wenn sie einige der primitiven Tricks sehen, die in
den großen Partien der Vergangenheit zum Erfolg führten. Jede Schachepoche
hatte indes einige weitsichtige Vertreter, die zur Theorie unseres
altehrwürdigen Spiels beigetragen haben. Aber nur die größten Meister waren in
der Lage, ganze Generationen zu überspringen und Ideen zu entwickeln, die
ihrer Zeit weit voraus waren. Ein schönes Beispiel dafür finden wir in der
folgenden Partie.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. Bf4
c6 7. Rd1 Qa5 8. Bd2 b5 9. Qb3 b4 10. Na4 Na6 11. e3 Be6 12. Qc2 O-O 13. b3
Rab8 {[#] Black's opening would have been cursed by the founders of the
classical school. A backward pawn on c6, developed but uncoordinated pieces,
lack of control in the centre. Naturally Alekhine was aware of these factors,
but he was betting on the hidden dynamism of Black's position. The complexity
of comparing positional qualities and tactical potential makes it very
difficult, even for the strongest players, to evaluate the risk they are
undertaking. But the readiness to remain at the cutting edge can be amply
rewarded if the opponent misses the crucial moment of the explosion!  Die
schwarze Eröffnungsführung würde von den Vertretern der klassischen Schule
sicher aufs Schärfste verurteilt werden. Ein rückständiger Bauer auf c6,
entwickelte aber unkoordinierte Figuren, fehlende Kontrolle im Zentrum –
natürlich waren diese Faktoren Aljechin bewußt. Aber er setzte auf die
versteckte Dynamik der schwarzen Stellung. Er wußte, wie schwer es ist, sogar
für den stärksten Spieler, taktisches Potential gegen positionelle Merkmale
aufzuwiegen, das Risiko, das sie eingehen, korrekt einzuschätzen. Aber die
Bereitschaft, in einer gefährlichen Lage zu verweilen, kann gut belohnt werden,
besonders wenn der Gegner den kritischen Augenblick der Explosion nicht
erkennt.} 14. Bd3 (14. Bxa6 Qxa6 15. Nc5 {was an alternative, but even Euwe
didn't want to exchange his important light-squared bishop for the poorly
positioned black knight on a6. His classical sense demanded severe punishment
for Alekhine's anti-positional opening.  war eine Alternative, aber Euwe
mochte seinen wichtigen weißfeldrigen Läufer nur ungern gegen den
randständigen Springer auf a6 abtauschen. Sein klassischer Sinn verlangte nach
einer strengen Bestrafung für Aljechins antipositionelle Eröffnungsbehandlung.}
) 14... Rfc8 15. Ne2 {After} ({Nach} 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. Nc5 Qb5 17. Nxe6 fxe6
18. Nf3 c5 $1 {Black has nothing to fear.  hat Schwarz nichts zu befürchten.})
15... c5 $1 {Black's only chance to fight on equal terms. But this move was
not just a sign of despair, as Euwe may well have believed.  Das ist die
einzige Chance für Schwarz, unter gleichen Bedingungen zu kämpfen. Aber dieser
Zug war nicht nur ein Zeichen der Verzweiflung, wie Euwe sehr wohl geglaubt
haben mag.} 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Nxc5 Qb5 {Here the crucial moment comes. White
has the opportunity to cast doubt on Black's dangerous strategy: 18.e4!!...}
18. Nf4 $2 {Just one mistake and the roaring lion jumps! Nur ein kleiner
Fehler, und schon springt der brüllende Löwe!} ({Der kritische Augenblick ist
gekommen. Weiß hat die Möglichkeit, die wagemutige schwarze Strategie mit} 18.
e4 $3 {preparing to support the forepost on c5 with Bd2-e3 while at the same
time improving control of the central squares. Black must be quite resourceful
to stay alive: in Zweifel zu ziehen. Danach wird der Vorposten auf c5 durch
Bd2-e3 gestützt, und gleichzeitig verbessert sich die weiße Kontrolle des
Zentrums. Schwarz muß sehr erfinderisch spielen, will er in dieser Partie am
Leben bleiben.} Nd7 {The immediate 18...Bg4 (see above)} ({sofortiges} 18...
Bg4 {with the idea mit der Idee} 19. f3 ({wird durch} 19. Bf4 $1 {e.g.
widerlegt, z.B.} e5 20. Bxe5 Nxe4 21. Bxb8 Nxc5 22. dxc5 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Re8 24.
Be5 $1) 19... e5 $1 {is refuted by}) 19. Be3 Bg4 20. f3 e5 $1 21. fxg4 exd4 22.
Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 Qxc5 24. O-O (24. Qxc5 Nxc5) 24... Ne5 25. Qxc5 Rxc5 {
with compensation probably sufficient for a draw. Euwe decided correctly that
the knight on c5 is the key to the position, but he chose the wrong piece to
support this stronghold. wohl mit genügend Kompensation für ein Remis. Euwe
entschied korrekt, daß der Springer auf c5 den Schlüssel zu der Stellung
darstellt, aber er benutzte die falsche Figur, um diese Festung zu
unterstützen.}) 18... Bg4 $1 19. f3 e5 20. Nfd3 exd4 $3 {Now the open file is
more important than material. The white king is still in the centre!  Nun ist
die offene Linie wichtiger als das Material – der weiße König ist nämlich
immer noch in der Mitte!} 21. fxg4 dxe3 22. Bxe3 $2 {This plays straight into
the opponent's hands. The enemy pawn on e3 was the white king's only hope to
survive. After  Das spielt direkt in die Hände des Gegners. Der gegnerische
Bauer auf e3 war die einzige Überlebenschance für den weißen König.} ({Nach} 
22. Bxb4 $1 Nd5 23. a3 (23. a4 $2 Nxb4) 23... a5 {the trapped bishop is neatly
saved by wird der eingefangene Läufer elegant mit} ({Meiner Meinung nach ist} 
23... e2 {(statt 23...a5) vielversprechender. Nach} 24. Rc1 Qc6 $1 25. Bd2 Re8
{and the extra piece does not guarantee a quick end to the white king's
suffering. ist trotz der zusätzlichen Figur noch lange kein Ende des
Leidenswegs des armen weißen Monarchen in Sicht.}) 24. Qc4 $1 {and Black has
to be satisfied with befreit, und Schwarz muß sich zufriedengeben mit} axb4 25.
Qxd5 bxa3 26. Rf1 a2 $1 27. Ke2 (27. Rxf7 $2 Bc3+ 28. Ke2 Rxc5 $1 {winning.})
27... Rc7 {keeping some compensation for the piece. In my opinion more
promising is 23...e2! (above) womit er einige Kompensation für die Figur
behält.}) 22... Nxg4 23. Bf4 {Other retreats don't help either: Andere
Rückzugsfelder sind kaum besser:} (23. Bg1 Re8+ 24. Kf1 Rb6 $1 {with a
smashing attack. mit durchschlagendem Angriff.}) 23... Bc3+ 24. Rd2 {A sad
necessity. In case of Eine traurige Notwendigkeit.} ({Nach} 24. Ke2 Rxc5 25.
Bxb8 Qe8+ 26. Be5 Rxe5+ 27. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 28. Kf3 (28. Kf1 Ne3+) 28... Qe3+ $1 29.
Kxg4 h5+ 30. Kh4 Bf6# {mate! wäre die Partie viel früher zu Ende.}) 24... Rxc5
25. Nxc5 (25. Bxb8 Qe8+ $1) 25... Qxc5 (25... Re8+ $1 {could have won faster:
hätte die Sache schneller beendet:} 26. Ne4 (26. Kd1 Bxd2 27. Bxd2 Nf2+) 26...
Bxd2+ 27. Kxd2 Qf5 $1) 26. Bxb8 {The line} ({Die Variante} 26. Kf1 Re8 {
would have pleased chess gourmands. There is no reasonable defence to the
threat of 27...Qxf2!! 28.Rxf2 Re1#. hätte Schach-Connaisseurs besser gefallen.
Es gibt keine vernünftige Verteidigung gegen die Drohung} {Man versuche} 27.
Qc1 ({Oder} 27. g3 Qc6 {with mate to follow. mit baldigem Matt.}) (27. Z0 Qf2+
28. Rxf2 Re1#) 27... Bxd2 $1) 26... Qe7+ 27. Kd1 Ne3+ 28. Kc1 Nxc2 29. Rxc2 {
It would seem that White has avoided the worst, but despite many exchanges and
an acceptable material balance his position is quite hopeless. The badly
co-ordinated pieces and permanent problems with the king make the black queen
much more powerful in this open position than the two rooks.  Es sieht beinahe
so aus, als hätte Weiß das Schlimmste überstanden, aber trotz der vielen
Abtausche und einer annehmbaren Materialbilanz ist die Stellung für ihn in
Wirklichkeit ganz hoffnungslos. Die schlechte Koordination der weißen Figuren
und Dauerprobleme mit dem König machen die schwarze Dame in dieser Stellung zu
einer wesentlich mächtigeren Figur als die beiden Türme.} h5 30. Rd1 Bg7 $1 {
Reminding the opponent that there is no safety on b1, because Black has total
control of the long diagonal.  Erinnert den Gegner daran, daß b1 kein sicheres
Feld für den König darstellt. Schwarz hat die totale Kontrolle über die lange
Diagonale.} 31. h3 a5 (31... Qg5+ {was also very good. war auch sehr gut.}) 32.
Bf4 Qe4 33. Bc7 Qe3+ 34. Kb1 a4 $1 {The white king never gets a minute of rest
in this game.  Der weiße König bekommt in dieser Partie keine Minute Ruhe.} 35.
bxa4 b3 36. axb3 Qxb3+ 37. Kc1 Bh6+ $2 {Very human! Alekhine simply chose a
technically winning endgame and overlooked a beautiful forced win with
"computer geometry". Sehr menschlich! Aljechin wählt ein klar gewonnenes
technisches Endspiel und übersieht dabei eine wunderschöne Gewinnvariante, die
mit computerhafter Geometrie durchgeführt wird:} (37... Qe3+ 38. Kb1 (38. Rdd2
Qe1+ 39. Rd1 Bh6+) (38. Rcd2 Qc3+ 39. Kb1 Qxc7) 38... Qa3 $1 {winning at least
the bishop on c7. und Schwarz gewinnt mindestens den Läufer auf c7.}) 38. Rdd2
Qxa4 39. Be5 Kh7 40. Bc3 $2 {Also a typical human mistake. After Wieder ein
typisch menschlicher Fehler.} ({Nach} 40. Bb2 $1 Qe4 41. Kd1 Bxd2 42. Rxd2 g5 {
White could prolong his resistance in a long lost endgame. Euwe did not notice
the difference between the two alternative squares for the bishop. hätte Weiß
in einem verlorenen Endspiel noch lange Widerstand leisten können. Euwe
bemerkte allerdings nicht den Unterschied zwischen den beiden Feldern, die dem
Läufer zur Verfügung standen.}) 40... Qb5 $1 {But Alekhine did! Zugzwang! Any
move now leads to material damage.  Aljechin erkannte ihn aber sehr wohl!
Zugzwang! Jeder Zug führt nun zum Materialverlust.} 41. Bd4 {After} ({Nach} 41.
h4 {the white pawns are taken with a nice geometrical manoeuvre of the black
queen: werden die weißen Bauern mit einem hübschen geometrischen Manöver der
schwarzen Dame erobert:} Qb6 $1 42. g3 Qd6 $1 43. Kb2 Qb8+ $1 44. Ka2 Bxd2 45.
Rxd2 Qxg3 {etc.}) 41... Qe2 $1 42. g4 Qe1+ 43. Kb2 Bxd2 44. Rc8 {White's first
threat in this game (Rh8#!) almost creates a miracle. The automatic defence 44.
..g5?? (below) Das ist die erste Drohung, die Weiß in dieser Partie aufstellt 
(Th8#!), und sie verursacht beinahe eine wunderbare Rettung.} Bc1+ $1 {The
miracle has disappeared! 45.Rxc1 Qd2+ is no longer viable, and White resigned.
I bet that a professional analyst having only the bare moves of this game
would date it to a period in the late sixties or early seventies! Das Wunder
bleibt aus!} ({Der automatische Verteidigungszug} 44... g5 $4 {leaves the
black king in a sealed box where he cannot escape from perpetual check. sperrt
den schwarzen König in eine luftdichte Kiste, wo er dem Dauerschach des
gegnerischen Turms nicht ausweichen kann:} 45. Rh8+ Kg6 46. Rg8+ Kh6 47. Rh8+ {
etc.  Ich wette, daß ein heutiger Schachexperte, der nur die Züge der Partie
zu sehen bekommt, sie auf die späten Sechziger oder frühen Siebziger datieren
würde!}) 0-1

[Event "World-ch15 Euwe-Alekhine +9-8=13"]
[Site "Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.10.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1935.10.03"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "MainBase"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Nc6 (6... Bd7 7.
Qxb7 (7. Qb3 Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. h3 Rb8 11. Be3 b5 12. e5 (12. Qc2 $2
b4 13. Nd1 b3 14. axb3 Nb4 $17 {Forintos-Adorjan/Wijk aan Zee/1971}) (12. Bd3
b4 $6 (12... Ne8 $5) 13. Ne2 a5 14. O-O a4 15. Qd1 Re8 16. Rc1 Rb7 17. Rc5 e6
18. Ne5 $1 Rb6 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Rc1 $16) 12... Ne8 13. Qd1 b4 14. Ne4 {Adorjan
}) 7... Bc6 (7... Nc6 $5 8. e3 Rb8 9. Qa6 Nb4 10. Qe2 c5 $1) 8. Qb3 Qxd4 9. Be3
$1 (9. Nf3 Qb6 10. Qc2 Bg7 11. e3 Qb7 $10) 9... Qe5 10. Nf3 (10. Bxa7 $5 Nbd7
11. Be3 $14) 10... Bxf3 11. exf3 Nbd7 12. Bb5 Bh6 13. O-O-O $1 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3
Qxe3+ 15. Kb1 Rb8 $2 (15... Rd8 16. Qa4 Qe6 $14) 16. Nd5 $1 {1-0 Tzur,
I-Bechalov/corr/1990} (16. Nd5 Qxb3 17. Nxf6+ exf6 18. Bxd7+ Kf8 19. axb3 $18))
7. Nf3 (7. Qxb7 $2 Nxd4 $19) 7... Rb8 (7... Nd5 8. Ne5 $1 (8. Qxb7 $2 Ndb4 9.
Qb5 (9. Nb5 Rb8 10. Nxc7+ Kd7 11. Nxe6+ (11. Ne5+ Nxe5 12. Nxe6+ Kxe6 13. Qe4
Qxd4 14. Qxd4 Nc2+ $19) 11... Kxe6 $19) 9... Nc2+ 10. Kd1 N2xd4 $17 {
Feigin-Flohr/Kemeri/1937})) 8. Ne5 (8. e4 $1 a6 9. Qd3 Bg4 10. d5 Bxf3 11. gxf3
Ne5 12. Qd1 $16 {Euwe}) 8... Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. d5 Nd4 11. Qd3 (11. Qxd7+ $2
Nxd7 12. Kd1) 11... e5 $10 12. e3 (12. dxe6 Nxe6 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 $15 {@}) 12...
Nf5 13. e4 $2 (13. Be2 $14) 13... Nd6 $2 (13... Nd4 $1 14. f4 Bd6 15. fxe5 Bxe5
16. Bf4 (16. Be3 c5 $10) 16... Qd6 $10 {Euwe}) 14. f4 (14. Be3 $2 a6 15. f4 Ng4
) 14... Qe7 $8 (14... Ng4 15. h3) (14... exf4 $2 15. e5 Qe7 16. Qe2 $18) 15.
Be3 $2 (15. fxe5 Qxe5 16. Be3 $1 Ndxe4 $2 17. Bd4 $1 Qe7 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxh8
Ng3+ 20. Kf2 Nxh1+ 21. Kg1 f6 22. Kxh1 {Euwe} Kf7 $145 23. d6 $1 $18) 15... Ng4
$2 (15... exf4 16. Bxa7 {? Euwe, etc.} (16. Bd4 $5) 16... Nfxe4 17. Nxe4 (17.
Bxb8 Nxc3+ 18. Kd2 (18. Be2 $145 Nxe2 (18... Qh4+ 19. Kd2 Nce4+ 20. Kc2 Qf2 21.
Rhf1 (21. Bxc7 Qc5+) 21... Qb6 22. Rxf4 f5 23. Qa3 Bg7 (23... Nc8 24. Qa4+ Kd8
25. Raf1 Bg7 26. Qb5 Qxb5 27. Bxb5 Be5 28. Rh4 Nb6 29. Rd1 Ke7) 24. Ba7) 19.
Qxe2 Kd7 20. Rc1 Qxe2+ 21. Kxe2 Nb5 22. a4 Bg7 23. axb5 Rxb8) 18... Nce4+ 19.
Kc2 Bg7 $1 20. Re1 O-O 21. Ba7 b6 $19 {Euwe}) 17... Ra8 18. Bd4 Rg8 19. O-O-O (
19. Bf6 $145 Qxe4+ 20. Qxe4+ Nxe4 21. Bb5+ c6 22. dxc6 Bb4+ 23. Ke2 $18) 19...
Qxe4 20. Qc3 Kd7 $17 {Euwe} (20... Rxa2 $145 $1 $19)) 16. Bxa7 Ra8 17. h3 Rxa7
18. hxg4 Bg7 (18... exf4 $4 19. Qd4 $18) 19. Qe3 {[%cal Yf4f5] /\f5} (19. f5 $2
Qg5 $1) 19... Ra5 20. f5 Bf6 $1 21. a4 $1 Bh4+ $6 22. g3 Bg5 23. Qf3 (23. Qf2
$2 O-O 24. b4 $2 Nxe4 $1 25. Nxe4 (25. Qc2 Qxb4 $19) (25. Qb2 Bd2+ 26. Kd1 Bxc3
$19) 25... Qxb4+ 26. Nd2 Rxd5 $19 {Euwe}) 23... O-O 24. b4 Raa8 25. Ra2 {
[%cal Ra2h2] /\Rh2} Ne8 26. Rb2 Nf6 27. Be2 c6 (27... Kg7 $5) 28. dxc6 bxc6 29.
O-O Rad8 30. Kg2 Rd4 31. b5 cxb5 (31... Qa3 32. Ra2) 32. axb5 Rb8 (32... Bd2
33. fxg6 fxg6 34. Nd5 Nxd5 35. Qxf8+ Qxf8 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. exd5 $16 Bc3 38.
Rb3 $18 {Euwe}) 33. fxg6 fxg6 (33... hxg6 $142) 34. b6 Qb7 35. Kh3 Rd6 (35...
Nxe4 36. Nxe4 Rxe4 (36... Qxe4 37. Qf7+ Kh8 $18 {Euwe} 38. b7 Rb4 {?RR} (38...
Rdd8 $145 $13) 39. Qc7 $18 {Varnusz}) 37. Qb3+ Kg7 38. Bf3 $16 {Euwe} Qa6 $145
$13 39. Bxe4 Qxf1+ 40. Bg2 Qc1 41. b7 $18 {Varnusz} Be7 $145 42. Be4 Qf1+ $10)
36. Nd5 $1 Kg7 (36... Nxd5 $2 37. Bc4) 37. Rc2 (37. Ra1 Nxd5 $1 38. Ra7 Nxb6
39. Rxb7+ Rxb7 $10) (37. Ra2 $1 Ra8 (37... Nxd5 38. Ra7 Nxb6 39. Rxb7+ Rxb7 40.
Qf8#) 38. Rfa1 $16 {Euwe} (38. Rxa8 Qxa8 39. Qc3 Nd7 40. Qc7 Qc6 41. Bc4 $18))
37... Nxd5 38. exd5 Rxb6 (38... Qxb6 39. Qf7+ Kh6 40. Rc7 $18) (38... Rd7 39.
Rc6 $16) (38... Rc8 39. Rc7+ $18) (38... Qxd5 $1 39. Rc7+ Kh6 40. Qxd5 (40. Kg2
Qxf3+ 41. Bxf3 Rd2+) 40... Rxd5 41. b7 (41. Rff7 Bd8 42. Rxh7+ Kg5 43. Rb7 Rxb7
44. Rxb7 Rd6 $10) 41... Bd8 42. Rcf7 Rd6 $14) 39. Rc6 $1 Rxc6 $2 $18 (39... Rb3
$14) (39... Rb4 40. Ba6 Qa7 41. d6 $1 e4 (41... Qd4 42. Rc7+ Kh6 43. Kg2 $18)
42. Qc3+ Qd4 $16 {Euwe}) 40. dxc6 Qe7 41. Bc4 {[%cal Rf3f7,Rc4a6,Rc6c7] The
sealed move /\42.Qf7 43.Ba6 44.c7+-} Kh6 (41... Rf8 $2 42. Qxf8+ Qxf8 43. Rxf8
Kxf8 44. c7 $18) (41... Bf6 $2 42. Qxf6+ Qxf6 43. Rxf6 Kxf6 44. Ba6 $18) (41...
Kh8 42. Qd5 $1 Rd8 (42... Qg7 43. c7 $1 Qxc7 (43... Qh6+ 44. Kg2 Rb2+ 45. Kf3
Qf8+ 46. Ke4) 44. Rf7 Be7 45. Qe6 Qd6 46. Rxe7 $18) 43. Qe6 $1 e4 (43... Qg7
$145 44. Bd5 (44. Rf7 $2 Qh6+ 45. Kg2 Rd2+) 44... Qe7 (44... Qh6+ 45. Kg2) 45.
Rf7 $18) 44. Rf7 Qxe6 45. Bxe6 e3 46. Rf1 (46. c7 $2 e2 $1 $19) 46... e2 47.
Re1 Rd1 48. c7 Rxe1 49. c8=Q+ Kg7 50. Qc3+ $18 {Euwe}) 42. Qh1 $1 {[%cal Rf1f7,
Rh3g2]} Rb2 43. Rf7 Qe8 (43... Qc5 44. Qd5 {[%cal Rf7h7]} Qxd5 45. Bxd5 Be3 $1
46. c7 Bg1 47. Bg2 $1 (47. g5+ $2 Kxg5 48. g4 Rh2+ 49. Kg3 Rc2 50. Bb7 Bh2+ 51.
Kf3 (51. Kh3 Bf4) 51... e4+ {Euwe}) 47... Rc2 48. Kh4 $1 Be3 $145 (48... g5+
49. Kh3 Bb6 50. Rf6+ $18 {Euwe}) 49. g5+ (49. Kh3 Bb6) 49... Bxg5+ 50. Kh3 Rc3
51. Bb7 Bf4 52. c8=Q Rxg3+ 53. Kh2 Rc3+ 54. Kg2 Rxc8 55. Bxc8 $18) 44. c7 {
[%cal Rh1d5,Rd5e6] /\45.Qd5, 46.Qe6} Rc2 (44... Qg8 45. Qc6 $18) (44... Rb4 45.
Kg2+ Bh4 46. Qxh4#) (44... e4 45. Qa1 $18) (44... Be3 45. Qe4 Bg5 (45... Bg1
46. g5+ Kxg5 47. Qh4#) 46. Qd5 $18) 45. Qb7 $1 {[%cal Rf7h7,Rc7c8] /\46.Rh7,
47.c8Q} 1-0

[Event "Piatigorsky Cup-01"]
[Site "Los Angeles"]
[Date "1963.07.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Black "Benko, Pal C"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Nc6 7. Nf3 Nd5 8.
e4 Ndb4 9. Qa4 Bd7 10. Qd1 e5 11. a3 exd4 12. Nb1 Na6 13. b4 Naxb4 $8 (13...
Nab8 $6 14. b5 Na5 15. Qxd4 $16 {Bogatyrev,A-Kotov,A/URS/1937/}) 14. axb4 Bxb4+
15. Bd2 Qe7 16. Bd3 Bxd2+ 17. Nbxd2 Nb4 18. Qe2 c5 19. O-O O-O 20. e5 Kg7 21.
Ne4 Bc6 22. h4 a6 23. Rfc1 $6 (23. Rac1 b6 24. Qd2 $16) 23... b6 24. h5 Rad8
25. Qd2 h6 $6 (25... a5 26. h6+ Kh8 $13) 26. Re1 b5 27. Nd6 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Qg5+
29. Qxg5 hxg5 30. Be4 gxh5 $2 (30... d3 $13) 31. Rec1 f6 (31... c4 32. Rcb1 $18
(32. Nxc4 $2 bxc4 33. Rxc4 Rb8 34. Rxd4 $10)) 32. Nf5+ Kf7 33. Rxc5 fxe5 34.
Rb1 Na2 (34... d3 35. Rxb4 d2 36. Ne3 $18) 35. Rc7+ Kf6 36. Ra7 Nc3 37. Rxa6+
Kf7 38. Rba1 g4 39. Bc2 gxf3 40. Bb3+ Nd5 41. Re1 Rg8+ 42. Kf1 Rg5 43. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2009.05.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Black "Khachiyan, Melikset"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2546"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 {The
line with 4.Qb3 against the Gruenfeld is gaining popularity. White is hoping
to postpone the move Nf3 and thus rob his opponent of the natural developing
move Bg4.} Nfd7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qd3 {The queen on d3 is definitely less exposed
than on c5, but the more active move has first induced the interest in the
whole system. Black can choose between attacking the center with 9...e5 and 9..
.f5. In both cases the second player is fighting for equality.} (9. Qc5 f5 (
9... e5 10. Nf3 N8d7 (10... exd4 11. Bxd4 Bg4 $5 (11... N8d7 12. Qa5 Bxd4 13.
Nxd4 Qf6 14. Rd1 Qe5 15. Qxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nec4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. b3 Ne3 19. Rd2
$14 {1/2-1/2 Yakovich,Y-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2002/ (83)}) 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Rd1
N8d7 14. Qd4+ Kg8 (14... Qf6 $2 15. e5 $18) (14... f6 $2 15. Ng5 $1) 15. e5
Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6 17. Bg4 f5 18. Be2 Qe7 19. f4 Nc5 20. O-O Rfd8 21. Qe3 Ne6 22.
a3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. g3 Kf8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Miton,K (2563)-Krasenkow,M (2609)/
Warsaw 2004/}) 11. Qa5 (11. Qa3 exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qg5 14. O-O Qc5 15.
Qxc5 Nxc5 16. Rfd1 c6 17. Rd2 a5 18. Rad1 Rd8 19. f4 Ne6 20. g3 Nxd4 21. Rxd4
Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Kf8 23. e5 Be6 24. a3 Bd5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A (2643)
-Rodshtein,M (2614)/Maalot-Tarshiha 2008 (35)}) 11... exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13.
Nxd4 Qe7 (13... Qf6 14. Rd1 Qe5 15. Qxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nec4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. b3
Ne3 19. Rd2 Rd8 20. Ndb5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yakovich,Y-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2002/ (83)}
) 14. O-O Nc5 (14... Rd8 15. Rad1 Ne5 16. Nb3 Re8 17. Qc5 Qxc5 18. Nxc5 c6 19.
Rd4 Ned7 20. Nb3 $1 a5 21. a3 (21. a4 $5) 21... Kf8 (21... a4 $5 22. Nd2 Nc5
23. Rb4 $1 Nbd7 24. f4 b5 $14) 22. f4 f6 23. h4 {1-0 Sakaev,K (2633)-Ftacnik,L
(2573)/Dresden 2007/ (54)}) 15. Qa3 Re8 16. Rfe1 Ne6 17. Qxe7 Rxe7 18. Nc2 Nc5
19. f3 {1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2729)-Svidler,P (2736)/Foros 2007/ Black has finally
showed the way to safe equality.}) 10. Rd1 {White is not yer fully prepared to
meet the challenges of the conflict in the center.} (10. Nf3 fxe4 11. Nxe4 N8d7
(11... Nc6 12. O-O Bf5 $11) 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. O-O Nbd5 14. Bc4 c6 15. Nc5 Kh8 16.
Ne5 Qd6 17. Qe2 Nh5 18. Ne4 Qd8 19. Ng5 Qe8 20. f4 {1-0 Bluvshtein,M (2548)
-Zugic,I (2457)/Montreal/2008/ (35)}) (10. Nh3 N8d7 11. Qa3 Nf6 12. Qb3+ e6 13.
exf5 gxf5 14. O-O a5 15. Rad1 a4 16. Qc2 Nfd5 17. Bg5 Qd6 18. Qc1 Bd7 19. Nf4
Bc6 20. Nh5 {1/2-1/2 Yakovich,Y (2596)-Sakaev,K (2665)/St Petersburg 2004})
10... fxe4 (10... N8d7 11. Qa3 fxe4 12. Qb3+ Kh8 13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Nxf6 exf6 15.
d5 Bd7 16. Rd2 c6 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bc5 (19. O-O $5 Re8 20. Rfd1
$11) 19... Re8 20. O-O Qa5 $11 {0-1 Yakovich,Y (2580)-Smikovski,I (2492)/
Samara 2000/ (31)}) 11. Nxe4 Be6 12. b3 Bd5 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. Nf3 Nb4 15. Qd2
Bxe4 16. Qxb4 Nd5 17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nxe3 19. fxe3 {1/2 Savchenko,S (2604)
-Feller,S (2513)/Le Touquet 2007/}) 9... f5 {Black is not obliged to
compromise his kingside pawn structure with this advance, since he can try for
the more traditional approach with the timely e7-e5 advance.} (9... Nc6 10. Nf3
(10. Rd1 e5 11. d5 Nd4 12. Nf3 Nxe2 13. Qxe2 Bd7 14. Nd2 Na4 15. Nb3 Nxc3 16.
bxc3 Qh4 17. O-O b6 18. f3 c6 19. c4 f5 {1/2-1/2 Babula,V (2581)-Ftacnik,L 
(2562)/Slovakia 2009}) 10... Bg4 11. O-O-O Bxf3 12. gxf3 e5 13. dxe5 Qxd3 14.
Bxd3 Nxe5 15. f4 Nxd3+ 16. Rxd3 Rfe8 17. Rhd1 c6 18. Bd4 Bh6 19. Be3 Bg7 20.
Bd4 Bh6 {1/2-1/2 Pashikian,A (2621)-Maslak,K (2541)/Moscow 2009}) 10. Rd1 Nc6 {
Very consequent and ambitious seems to be the idea of pushing dark square
bishop away with 10...f4 and then attacking the center. So far white were
unable to achieve any advantage, even though the defenders had to play really
well.} (10... f4 11. Bc1 e5 12. d5 c6 13. Nf3 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qxd5+ (15.
Qb3 Kh8 16. Bc4 Nc6 17. Bxd5 Qe7 18. h3 (18. Bd2 Bg4 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bb4 c5
21. Bc3 Rae8 {1/2-1/2 Aleksandrov,A (2636)-Zinchenko,Y (2527)/Moscow 2009 (44)}
) 18... Nb4 19. Bc4 b5 20. Bxb5 Nxa2 21. Bd2 Rb8 22. Qa4 Qb7 23. O-O Qxb5 24.
Qxa2 Qxb2 25. Qxa7 $11 {1-0 Carlsen,M (2776)-Dominguez Perez,L (2717)/Wijk aan
Zee 2009 (39)}) 15... Qxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. O-O Nd7 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Bd2 Rac8
20. Ng5 Rc2 21. Ne6 Rfc8 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Bc3 Kf6 {1/2-1/2 Jakovenko,D (2737)
-Mamedyarov,S (2731)/Elista 2008 (57)}) 11. Nf3 Nb4 $146 {[%mdl 4] Khachiyan
is finally deviating from the known games with consequent idea of occupying
the center with pieces.} (11... f4 12. Bc1 Bg4 13. e5 Qd7 14. Ne4 Rad8 (14...
Qd5 $5) 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qc3 e6 17. h3 Bh5 18. O-O Nd5 19. Qb3 Na5 20. Qc2 Nc6
21. Ng5 Ndb4 22. Qe4 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Rxd4 25. Ncxe6 c5 26. Nxf8
Bxf8 27. Nf3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2772)-Dominguez Perez,L (2719)/Dresden
2008 (45)}) 12. Qd2 (12. Qb1 fxe4 13. Ne5 Nd3+ 14. Nxd3 exd3 15. Qxd3 Bf5 $11)
12... fxe4 13. Nxe4 N6d5 (13... Bf5 14. Qxb4 Bxe4 15. d5 Bxf3 (15... Bxd5 $2
16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Rxd5 $1 $18) 16. Bxf3 Qd6 17. Qb3 a5 $11) 14. Bg5 (14. O-O
Bf5 15. Ng3 Bg4 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Rxf3 18. gxf3 Nxa2 $13) 14... Bf5 15. Ng3
Nc2+ $2 {Black might have been more or less satisfied with the outcome of the
opening. His positions was not so good as enabling a generous investment of
tempoes for the sheer prevention of castling.} (15... Bg4 16. O-O Nc6 17. Ne5
Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 c6 20. Nd4 $14) 16. Kf1 Ncb4 17. Nxf5 Rxf5 (17...
gxf5 18. Bc4 Kh8 19. a3 Nc6 20. h4 $16) 18. h4 $1 {Ibragimov his activating
his rook, attacking the vulnerable kingside and preparing the scope to
efficiently use his bishop pair.} Qd6 (18... h5 19. a3 Nc6 20. Rh3 $16) 19. h5
Raf8 (19... Nxa2 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Bd3 Rxf3 22. gxf3 Nab4 23. Be4 $16) 20. hxg6
hxg6 (20... Qxg6 $2 21. Bxe7 $1 Nxe7 22. Qxb4 $16) 21. a3 (21. Bc4 e6 22. a3
Nc6 23. Rh4 $1 $16) 21... Nc6 22. Bd3 {White feels confident enough to force
the crises with this daring bishop activation.} (22. Rh3 R8f7 23. Bc4 e6 24.
Rh4 $16) 22... Rxf3 (22... R5f7 23. Be4 $16) 23. gxf3 Nxd4 (23... Rxf3 24. Be4
Rf7 25. Qd3 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Rg1 Qf6 28. Rd2 $16) 24. Be4 Nf4 {The
defender must be looking for some special ideas as all the standard lines are
heavily favouring white.} (24... c6 25. Bh6 $1 Nxf3 26. Bxd5+ cxd5 27. Qxd5+
Qxd5 28. Rxd5 $16) 25. Bxf4 Rxf4 26. Rg1 $6 {Even better idea seems to be the
excentric move with a white queen.} (26. Qa5 $1 Qe5 (26... c6 27. Qxa7 $18) 27.
Qd5+ Qxd5 28. Bxd5+ Kf8 29. Bxb7 $16) 26... Nxf3 (26... Qa6+ 27. Qd3 Nxf3 28.
Qxa6 bxa6 29. Bxf3 Rxf3 30. Rxg6 $16) 27. Qd5+ $1 {All the endgames will be
better for white, but he must take special care to avoid the defensible ones.}
(27. Bxf3 Rxf3 28. Qe2 Qc6 $14) 27... Qxd5 (27... e6 28. Qxd6 cxd6 29. Bxf3
Rxf3 30. Rxd6 Bxb2 31. Rd7 $1 Rf7 32. Rxg6+ Kf8 33. Rxf7+ Kxf7 34. Rg3 $16) 28.
Bxd5+ Kf8 (28... Kh7 29. Rh1+ Nh4 30. Re1 Bxb2 31. Rxe7+ Kh6 32. Rh3 $16) 29.
Rxg6 c6 30. Ba2 $1 Nd4 31. Rd3 e5 (31... e6 32. Bxe6 Nxe6 33. Rxe6 Bxb2 34. Rb3
Bd4 35. Rxb7 Rxf2+ 36. Ke1 $18) 32. Rh3 $1 {Ibragimov is trying to decide the
game in direct attack of his active pieces.} e4 (32... Rf6 33. Rg5 Rh6 34. Rxh6
Bxh6 35. Rg8+ Ke7 36. Rh8 Bc1 37. Rh7+ Kd6 38. Rxb7 $18) 33. Rh7 e3 {Desperate
meassure, but at least black will not have to endure the hopeless fight in the
lost endgame.} (33... Nf5 34. Be6 Rh4 35. Rgxg7 Nxg7 36. Rxh4 Nxe6 37. Rh7 $18)
34. Rgxg7 Rxf2+ 35. Kg1 Ne2+ (35... Nf3+ 36. Kh1 Rf1+ 37. Kg2 Rg1+ 38. Kxf3
Rxg7 39. Rxg7 Kxg7 40. Kxe3 $18) 36. Kh1 Rf1+ 37. Kh2 Rf2+ 38. Rg2 1-0

[Event "Helsinki op"]
[Site "Helsinki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Ernst, Thomas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FIN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Bd7 7. Qb3 Nc6 8.
Nf3 Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. h3 Rb8 11. Be3 b5 12. Bd3 $146 (12. Qc2) 12... b4 $6 (
12... Ne8 $5) 13. Ne2 (13. Na4 Nxd4 $1 14. Bxd4 e5 15. Bxa7 Ra8 $13) 13... a5
14. O-O a4 15. Qd1 Re8 16. Rc1 Rb7 17. Rc5 e6 18. Qd2 (18. Ne5 $1 Rb6 (18...
Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nh5 20. g4 $18) 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Rc1 $16) 18... Bf8 19. Rcc1 e5
20. Nxe5 (20. d5 Na5 21. Bc5 Bd6 $132) 20... Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxe5 22. Rfd1 Bb5
23. Bd4 Re6 24. Bxb5 Rxb5 25. Qc2 $6 Nxe4 26. Nf4 (26. Qxc7 Qxc7 27. Rxc7 $10)
26... Re8 27. Qxa4 Nd6 28. Bc5 Qg5 29. Nd5 Re2 $1 $132 30. Be3 Qf5 31. Nxc7 Re5
32. Rf1 (32. Qc6 R5xe3 33. fxe3 Qf2+ 34. Kh1 Nf5 35. Ne8 Rxe3 36. Nf6+ Kh8 37.
Rg1 Ng3+ 38. Kh2 Qf4 39. Ng4 Nf1+ 40. Kh1 Qh2+ $1 41. Nxh2 Ng3#) 32... R5xe3
33. fxe3 Qg5 34. Qc6 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 Ne4 36. Nd5 (36. Rf3 Re1+ 37. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 38.
Kh2 Bd6+ $19) 36... Nf2+ (36... Ng3+ 37. Kh2 Nxf1+ 38. Rxf1 $17) 37. Rxf2 (37.
Kh2 Qe5+ 38. Kg1 Nxh3+ 39. Kh1 Nf2+ 40. Kg1 Qg3 41. Nf6+ Kg7 42. Rc2 Bd6 43.
Rxe2 Nh3+ 44. Kh1 Qh2#) 37... Qxf2 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. Ng4 Qf4 40. Rb1 Bd6 41. Qa6
Rxb2 $1 42. Rf1 (42. Rxb2 Qc1+) 42... Rxa2 43. Qd3 Rd2 44. Qb1 Qd4 45. Nf6 Be7
46. Ne4 Rb2 47. Qe1 Qe5 48. Qc1 f5 49. Ng5 Re2 50. Nf3 Qg3 51. Rg1 Bd6 52. Qa1+
Kh6 53. Qc1+ Bf4 54. Qc5 Qxf3 0-1

[Event "Hasselbacken"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "2001.08.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Ernst, Thomas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.07.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 {This old, simingly harmless line is often
(and successfully) applied by GM Yuri Yakovich.} dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qb5+ Nc6 (
6... Bd7 {is considered more accurate:} 7. Qb3 (7. Qxb7 Nc6 $5 (7... Bc6 8. Qb3
Qxd4 9. Be3 $1 Qe5 10. Nf3 (10. Bxa7 $5 Nbd7 11. Be3 $14 {I.Tzur}) 10... Bxf3
11. exf3 Nbd7 12. Bb5 Bh6 13. O-O-O $1 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3 Qxe3+ 15. Kb1 $14 Rb8 $2
(15... Rd8 16. Qa4 Qe6) 16. Nd5 $1 {1-0 Tzur,I-Bechalov/corr/1990}) 8. e3 Rb8
9. Qa6 Nb4 10. Qe2 c5 $1 $36) 7... Nc6 (7... Bc6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2
Nbd7 11. O-O Nb6 12. Qc2 Nbd5 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Bf3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Fine,R-Flohr,S/
Semmering 1937/HCL (25)}) 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. h3 Rb8 {leads to the game
position.}) 7. Nf3 (7. Qxb7 $2 Nxd4 $19) 7... Rb8 (7... Nd5 {is not good in
view of} 8. e4 (8. Qxb7 $2 Ndb4 9. Qb5 Nc2+ 10. Kd1 N2xd4 $17 {Feigin-Flohr/
Kemeri/1937}) (8. Qa4 Bg7 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Nb6 11. Qd1 Bf5 12. e4 Bg4 13. d5
Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nd4 15. Be3 c5 $132 {0-1 Morris,H-Santasiere,A/Ventnor City 1940/
HCL (37)}) (8. Nxd5 Bxd5 9. e3 e6 10. Bd2 a6 11. Qa4 Bd6 12. Be2 O-O 13. Qc2
Nb4 14. Qb1 f5 15. O-O Nc6 16. Bc3 Qe7 $15 {0-1 Feigin,M-Flohr,S/Kemeri 1937/
HCL (39)}) (8. Ne5 $5) 8... Ndb4 (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg7 10. Bd2 Bd7 11. Qxb7
O-O 12. Be2 Rb8 13. Qa6 Rb6 14. Qa3 e6 15. O-O $16 {1-0 Hartleb,G-Ackermann,D/
Omaha 1949/EXT 99 (34)}) 9. Qa4 Bd7 10. Qd1 e5 11. a3 exd4 12. Nb1 Na6 13. b4
Naxb4 (13... Nab8 $6 14. b5 Na5 15. Qxd4 $16 {Bogatyrev,A-Kotov,A/URS/1937/})
14. axb4 Bxb4+ 15. Bd2 Qe7 16. Bd3 O-O (16... Bxd2+ 17. Nbxd2 Nb4 18. Qe2 c5
19. O-O O-O 20. e5 Kg7 21. Ne4 Bc6 22. h4 $16 {1-0 Petrosian,T-Benko,P/Los
Angeles 1963/MCL/[Dolmatov] (43)}) 17. O-O a5 18. Bxb4 Qxb4 19. Na3 Bg4 20. Nb5
Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Ne5 22. Qg3 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 c6 24. Rfb1 Qe7 25. Nxd4 Rfd8 26. Qe3
$16 {1/2-1/2 Yudovich,M-Belavenets,S/Tbilisi 1937/EXT 2000 (36)}) (7... Bg7 {
was played in another game by Y.Yakovich:} 8. Qxb7 Na5 9. Qb5+ c6 10. Qa4 O-O
11. e4 Bd7 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 Qc8 14. Be2 Qxc5 15. O-O Bc6 16. Bd2 $1 Nxe4 17.
Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Qa4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nc4 20. Rac1 Nxb2 21. Qd7 Qd4 22. Qxd4 Bxd4 23.
Bxa8 Rxa8 24. Bc3 $18 {1-0 Yakovich,Y-Kallio,H/Gothenburg 2001/CBM 81 (28)}) 8.
e4 (8. Ne5 {was played in the stem game Euwe,M-Alekhine,A/NLD 1935/MainBase/
[ChessBase] (45), which saw} Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. d5 Nd4 11. Qd3 e5 12. e3 Nf5
13. e4 $6 (13. Be2 $14 {Euwe}) 13... Nd6 $6 (13... Nd4 $1 14. f4 Bd6 15. fxe5
Bxe5 16. Bf4 Qd6 $10 {Euwe}) 14. f4 Qe7 15. Be3 $2 (15. fxe5 Qxe5 16. Be3 $1
$16 {Euwe}) 15... Ng4 $2 (15... exf4 16. Bd4 $5 (16. Bxa7 Nfxe4 $1 {Euwe})) 16.
Bxa7 Ra8 17. h3 Rxa7 18. hxg4 Bg7 19. Qe3 Ra5 20. f5 Bf6 $1 $44) 8... Bd7 (8...
a6 {brings White the better prospects after} 9. Qd3 Bg4 10. d5 Bxf3 11. gxf3
Ne5 12. Qd1 Bg7 13. f4 Ned7 14. e5 Ng8 15. Bh3 $16 {1-0 Najdorf,M-Szabo,L/Mar
del Plata 1948/MCD (24)}) 9. Qb3 Bg7 10. h3 (10. d5 Na5 11. Qc2 {doesn't bring
White any dividends after} c6 $1 12. b4 cxd5 (12... Nxe4 $6 13. Bb2 Bf5 14. Nh4
) 13. e5 (13. bxa5 Nxe4) 13... Ne4 $1 14. Nxd5 (14. bxa5 Qxa5 15. Bd2 Nxd2 16.
Qxd2 Bh6 $1 17. Qd4 Rc8 18. e6 Qxc3+ 19. Qxc3 Rxc3 20. exd7+ Kxd7 $15 {_|_})
14... Bf5 15. Ne3 Nc6 {with good counterplay for Black}) 10... O-O 11. Be3 b5
12. Bd3 {GM Ernst's improvement.} (12. Qc2 $6 b4 13. Nd1 b3 $1 14. axb3 Nb4 15.
Qc1 Nxe4 16. Rxa7 c5 17. dxc5 Be6 18. Ra3 Qd3 $1 19. Bxd3 Nxd3+ 20. Ke2 Nxc1+
21. Bxc1 Nxc5 $15 {0-1 Forintos,G-Adorjan,A/Wijk aan Zee 1971/MCL (42)}) ({
Adorjan's recommendation} 12. e5 Ne8 13. Qd1 b4 14. Ne4 {has not yet been
tested}) 12... Ne8 (12... b4 $2 {was played in the previous game between the
same players and was confidently refuted:} 13. Ne2 $1 a5 14. O-O a4 15. Qd1 Re8
16. Rc1 Rb7 17. Rc5 e6 18. Qd2 (18. Ne5 $1 $16 {Ernst,Th}) 18... Bf8 19. Rcc1
e5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxe5 $14 {0-1 Yakovich,Y-Ernst,T/Helsinki 1992/Inf
55/[Ernst,Th] (54)}) 13. e5 $1 {[%csl Re8] An important move. White doesn't
allow the black knight to re-enter the game via d6.} Be6 14. Qd1 ({Of course,
not} 14. d5 Nxe5) 14... Nb4 $2 {This pawn sacrifice proves to be incorrect.
Black is too passive (especially his e8 knight) to obtain compensation.} (14...
b4 15. Ne4 Bd5 {,followed by ...f7-f6, should be tried.}) 15. Bxb5 Bf5 ({After
} 15... Nxa2 16. Bxe8 Nxc3 17. Bxf7+ Bxf7 18. bxc3 {White is still a pawn up
and the black g7 bishop is dead forever.}) 16. O-O Nc2 (16... c6 17. Be2 Nc2 {
is not enough either due to} 18. g4 $1) 17. Rc1 (17. g4 {was possible here,
too, but White doesn't need it.}) 17... c6 18. Bxc6 Nxe3 (18... Rxb2 19. Qe2)
19. fxe3 Rxb2 20. e4 Bd7 21. Na4 {Why? After} (21. Qa4 {White is a pawn up in
a comfortable position.}) 21... Rxa2 22. Qb3 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Re2 {It is not so
easy to trap this rook!} 24. Qd3 Qd7 $2 {A blunder which ends the game.} ({
In case of} 24... Ra2 {White could repeat the position:} 25. Qb3 Re2 {and then
continue} 26. Nc5 Qa8 27. Qa4 {with an overwhelming advantage.}) 25. Ra6 Ra2
26. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2814"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[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"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qa4+ {This move order
eliminates the line} (6. Qb5+ Nc6 (6... Bd7 7. Qb3 {- game}) 7. Nf3 Nd5 {
etc. but Black gets some other possibilities.}) 6... Bd7 (6... Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg7
8. e4 Bd7 9. Qa3 a5 10. d5 Nb4 11. Qb3 e6 12. a3 Na6 13. dxe6 Bxe6 14. Qxb7 $16
{1-0 (50) Guseinov,A (2430)-Bagirov,R (2305) Baku 1996}) (6... c6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8.
e4 O-O 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. Qc2 Qc7 12. h3 Rad8 13. Rd1 $14 {1-0 (62)
Kazhgaleyev,M (2626)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2684) Livry Gargan 2009}) (6... Qd7 7.
Qxd7+ Nbxd7 8. e4 c6 9. Bf4 Bg7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Nge2 Rfd8 12. Rd1 a5 13. O-O b5
{1/2 (22) Stark,M-Santasiere,A Ventnor City 1945} 14. b3 $14) 7. Qb3 c5 $1 {
The most energetic reply.} (7... Nc6 $143 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. e4 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] e.g.
} O-O 10. e5 Ng4 (10... Ne8 11. Be3) 11. h3 Nh6 {1-0 (35) Le Roux,J (2480)
-Pujos,S (2314) France 2004} 12. d5 $1 Na5 13. Qa3 b6 14. b4 Nb7 15. Ba6 $16)
8. d5 (8. dxc5 Na6 $1 9. Qa3 Rc8 10. b4 Nb8 {, and Black gets good counterplay
for the sacrificed pawn due to his development advantage:} 11. Qb3 Bg7 12. Bb2
a5 13. a3 Be6 14. Qa4+ Nfd7 (14... Bd7 $5) 15. e3 O-O 16. Nf3 b6 $132 {0-1 (70)
Najer,E (2661)-Paravyan,D (2478) Kaliningrad 2015}) 8... b5 {Again the most
energetic move but} (8... Qb6 {is possible, too:} 9. e4 e6 (9... Na6 10. Qxb6 (
10. Qd1 $5) 10... axb6 11. Bd2 e6 12. dxe6 Bxe6 13. Nf3 O-O-O 14. Bb5 h6 15.
O-O-O g5 16. Rhe1 Bg7 17. Na4 $36 {1-0 (28) Aleksandrov,A (2612)-Khusnutdinov,
R (2492) Moscow 2012}) 10. Nf3 Bg7 (10... exd5 11. e5 d4 12. exf6 dxc3 13. Qxc3
Be6 14. Bc4 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qe6+ 16. Qxe6+ fxe6 17. O-O Nc6 18. Re1 h6 19. Bf4 g5
20. Be5 Rh7 21. Rad1 Kf7 22. Bc3 $16 {1-0 (41) Mekhitarian,K (2566)-Tseitlin,M
(2389) Caleta 2014}) 11. dxe6 (11. Bc4 $5) 11... Bxe6 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. Ng5 Nc6
14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. f4 Nb4 $132 {1-0 (52) Khismatullin,D (2651)
-Khusnutdinov,R (2513) Moscow 2010}) 9. Nxb5 (9. e4 $143 c4 $1 10. Qc2 (10.
Bxc4 bxc4 $1 11. Qb7 Qb6 12. Qxa8 Ng4 13. Nd1 Bg7 14. h3 O-O 15. hxg4 Na6 16.
Qxf8+ Kxf8 $36) 10... Na6 11. Nf3 Bg7 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Nc5 14. Be3 Rc8 15.
Nd4 b4 16. e5 Ng4 $1 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 18. Nc6 Bf5 $1 $17 {0-1 (26) Dragun,K (2547)
-Rodshtein,M (2664) Germany 2013}) 9... Bxb5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (9... Qa5+ 10.
Nc3 Na6 11. e4 (11. f3 c4 12. Qd1 e6 13. e4 exd5 14. e5 $2 d4 $1 15. exf6 dxc3
16. bxc3 O-O-O $40 {0-1 (25) Svidler,P (2751)-Gelfand,B (2753) Jerusalem 2014})
(11. Bd2 $5) 11... Nb4 (11... c4 12. Qa3) 12. Bd2 Rb8 13. Qd1 Bg7 14. Bc4 $16 {
1-0 (42) Smyslov,V-Ragozin,V Sverdlovsk 1943}) (9... Na6 $5 {This developing
move looks appropriate. Here are some practical examples:} 10. Nc3 (10. Bf4 $5
c4 $1 (10... Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Bg7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Qa3 Qb6 14. e4 Nb4 15. Nf3 $14 {
1-0 (28) Dragun,K (2532)-Sliwicki,D (2027) Karpacz 2013}) 11. Qxc4 Rc8 $132)
10... Rb8 11. Qd1 Qa5 12. f3 (12. Nf3 Bg7 {[%cal Rf6e4]}) 12... Bg7 13. e4 Nc7
$44 14. Kf2 $6 c4 15. g3 O-O 16. Kg2 Nfe8 17. Qd2 Nd6 18. Nh3 f5 $36 {0-1 (28)
Djurhuus,R (2447)-Hansen,E (2587) Reykjavik 2014}) 10. Qxb5+ Nbd7 {
Surprisingly, it turns out that Black obtains decent counterplay.} 11. g3 Rb8
12. Qa4 (12. Qc4 Bg7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. Nf3 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Nb6 $1 16. Qh4 Qa6 $132)
12... Bg7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. Nh3 Nb6 15. Qxa7 Nfxd5 $44 {As a result of the
opening, Black has obtained a good compensation for the pawn: a big
development advantage. His pieces are very active, and White's bishop pair is
meaningless.} 16. O-O (16. Nf4 $5 Ra8 17. Qb7 Rb8 18. Qc6 $6 Nxf4 19. Bxf4 Bxb2
20. Rb1 Bc3+ 21. Kf1 Nc4 $1 $36) 16... Qc8 17. Qa3 Nb4 (17... e6 $5 {[%cal
Yf8d8,Rb6c4]}) 18. Qb3 Nc6 19. Bf4 Nd4 20. Qd1 e5 21. Be3 Rd8 22. Bxd4 Rxd4 (
22... cxd4 $5 $44) 23. Qc2 Rc4 24. Qd2 Rd4 25. Qc1 {White avoids the
repetition but he is not better anyway.} e4 (25... Rc4 26. Qe3) 26. e3 (26. Rb1
$5 Rc4 27. Qe3 $140 Nd5) 26... Rc4 27. Qd2 Rb4 28. Rac1 (28. Rab1 Nc4) 28...
Rxb2 29. Qd6 c4 30. Ng5 Rxa2 (30... c3 $5 31. Bxe4 Rxa2 $36) 31. Nxe4 Qf8 32.
Rfd1 Qxd6 33. Rxd6 Ra1 {Too straightforward. There was no need to trade an
active rook for a passive one.} (33... Rb2 $11) 34. Rxa1 Bxa1 {[%mdl 4096]} 35.
Rc6 Rc8 $5 {[%mdl 512] This temporary piece sacrifice leads to an endgame with
an extra pawn for White but with opposite-coloured bishops and pawns on the
same side. It looks risky but Black confidently holds his ground.} (35... f5
36. Nc5 c3 {doesn't guarantee a draw.}) 36. Rxb6 c3 37. Nxc3 Bxc3 38. Bd5 Rc7
39. h4 Kg7 40. g4 h6 41. g5 $6 {The exchange of these pawns helps Black.} (41.
h5 $5 gxh5 42. gxh5 {may be a better chance as Black's h6 pawn can be
vulnerable in some variations. Still, Black should survive.}) 41... hxg5 42.
hxg5 Rc5 $1 43. Rd6 (43. e4 Rc7 {[%cal Yc3d2]}) 43... Kf8 44. e4 Be5 45. Rd8+
Ke7 46. Ra8 Rc7 47. Kg2 Bf4 48. Ra5 Kf8 49. Bb3 Rc3 50. Rb5 Kg7 51. Bd1 Rd3 52.
Be2 Rc3 53. Rd5 Kf8 54. Bb5 Ke7 55. Kf1 Rc2 56. Be2 Rd2 57. Ra5 Rd4 58. Bf3 Rd3
59. Be2 Rd4 60. f3 Kf8 61. Ba6 Rd7 62. Bc4 Re7 63. Kg2 Re5 64. Ra8+ Re8 65. Ra5
Re5 66. Rxe5 Bxe5 67. Kh3 Bf4 68. Kg4 Bc1 69. f4 Ke7 70. f5 gxf5+ 71. Kxf5 Bb2
72. e5 Bc3 73. Bb3 Bb2 74. Bc4 Bc3 75. Bb3 Bb2 76. Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 53rd"]
[Site "Samara"]
[Date "2000.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Smikovski, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2000.06.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 {A very old, quite harmless line, recently
picked up by GM Y.Yakovich.} dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 (7... Na6
8. Be3 c5 9. dxc5 $1 {Comparing to the line often played by GM R.Kempinski (4.
Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Na6 8.Be3 c5 9.dxc5) Black can't push
White's bishop with 9...Ng4. Still, after} Be6 10. Qb5 Rc8 {White didn't find
anything better than} 11. Nf3 {and after} Ng4 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Bd4 Nxc5 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. O-O Rfd8 {the game equalized:} 16. h3 Nf6 17. e5 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Rxd5 19.
Rxd5 Bxd5 20. b4 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Ne6 22. Rd1 {Yakovich,Y-Elsness,F/Open 2000/1/
2-1/2 (47)}) 8. Be3 (8. Nf3 Nb6 (8... b6 $6 9. Bf4 c6 10. Qb3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8
12. Rac1 Qb7 13. Rfe1 Bxe2 14. Rxe2 Na6 15. e5 Nc7 16. Ng5 Nb8 17. e6 f6 18.
Nge4 Nba6 19. Bxc7 Nxc7 20. Nc5 Qc8 21. Nd7 Re8 22. d5 cxd5 {Sichov-Asafov/
corr 1966/1-0 (48)}) 9. Qd3 Bg4 {leads to a position from D99 with a premature
Be2}) 8... Nb6 9. Qc5 f5 {[%cal Rf5f4]} 10. Rd1 N8d7 11. Qa3 fxe4 12. Qb3+ Kh8
13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Nxf6 exf6 15. d5 {White has gained space but is behind in
development.} Bd7 {[%cal Rd7a4]} 16. Rd2 c6 {Conquering the d5 point.} 17. dxc6
bxc6 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bc5 (19. O-O $5 Re8 20. Rfd1) 19... Re8 20. O-O Qa5 21.
Qc4 Bh6 22. b4 Qc7 23. Rd4 Be6 24. Qc2 Nf4 (24... a5 $5) 25. Bc4 Bxc4 26. Rxc4
Re2 27. Qd1 Rd8 28. Rd4 Ree8 29. Bd6 Qb6 30. Be7 $4 {A typical blunder in an
attempt to obtain a non-existing advantage.} (30. Bxf4 $11) (30. Bc5 $11 Rxd4
$6 31. Nxd4 Qa6 32. Qf3 {[%cal Rf3c6,Yf3f6]}) 30... Qxd4 $1 31. Bxd8 $4 {
Just losing a piece but after} (31. Nxd4 Rxe7 32. Qc2 Rxd4 33. Qxc6 Kg7 {
Black is winning anyway}) 31... Qxd8 0-1

[Event "Noyabrsk Fakel Jamala"]
[Site "Noyabrsk"]
[Date "2003.11.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Kovchan, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2573"]
[BlackElo "2561"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2003.11.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 {About
this line - see CBM78, annotations to Yakovich-Smikovski.} a6 {A new idea.} (
7... Nfd7 {is the most common move:} 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qc5 f5 (9... e5 10. Nf3 $1 (
10. d5 Re8 $1 (10... f5 11. O-O-O N8d7 12. Qa5 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Bg5 Bf5
$13 {1-0 Zakharchenko,A-Demkovich,A/Kiev 1998/EXT 2000 (17)}) 11. Rd1 Bf8 12.
Qa5 Bd7 13. Nf3 Nc4 $1 14. Bxc4 b6 $17 {1/2-1/2 Avrukh,B-Gustafsson,J/
Amsterdam 2001/CBM 83 ext (18)}) 10... exd4 11. Bxd4 N8d7 12. Qa5 Bxd4 13. Nxd4
Qf6 14. Rd1 Qe5 15. Qxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nec4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. b3 Ne3 19. Rd2 $14
{1/2-1/2 Yakovich,Y-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2002/EXT 2003 (83)}) 10. Rd1 N8d7 11.
Qa3 fxe4 12. Qb3+ Kh8 13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Nxf6 exf6 15. d5 Bd7 16. Rd2 c6 $132 {
0-1 Yakovich,Y-Smikovski,I/Samara 2000/CBM 78/[Krasenkow] (31)}) (7... Na6 $5)
8. Bf4 b5 9. Qxc7 b4 $2 {This is wrong.} (9... Qxd4 $142 {Still, after} 10. Rd1
(10. Nf3 Qd7 $11) 10... Qb4 11. Rd2 Nbd7 ({but not} 11... Nxe4 $2 12. a3) 12.
Be3 $1 (12. Nf3 Qc5) 12... Rb8 13. a3 Qb3 14. Nf3 {White maintains some
initiative.}) 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Na4 $16 {[%cal Ra4b6] This is the point! Black
has no time to capture on e4.} Nc6 12. d5 Nd4 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Nb6 Bb5 {This
tactical trick doesn't help Black.} 15. Rd1 (15. Bxb5 $143 axb5 {[%cal Ga8a2]})
15... Rab8 $6 {If Black wanted to sacrifice an exchange, the better version was
} (15... Bxd3 16. Rxd3 Nxe4 17. Nxa8 Rxa8 $16) (15... Ra7 $5 16. Bxb5 Nxb5 17.
f3 Nh5 18. Be3 $1 $16 Bxb2 $140 $2 19. Na4) 16. Bxb8 Rxb8 17. Bxb5 Nxb5 18. Na4
Nxe4 19. Nf3 Rd8 20. O-O Nf6 (20... Nc7 21. Rfe1 f5 22. Nd4 $18) 21. Rfe1 {
The simplest course: White gives up a pawn but swaps a pair of rooks. Another
possibility was} (21. Ne5 {and Black doesn't recapture the pawn:} Nxd5 22. Nb6
$1 (22. Nc6 $143 Rd6) 22... Bxe5 (22... e6 23. Nc6 Rd6 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Nxb4)
23. Nxd5 Nd4 24. Nxb4 $18) 21... Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Rc1 $18 Nbc7 24. Ne1
Bd4 25. Rc4 Ba7 26. Nd3 a5 27. Nf4 (27. Ne5 $18 {[%cal Ye5c6]}) 27... Kg7 28.
Nxd5 Nxd5 29. Rc6 Bd4 30. Ra6 Nf4 31. Rxa5 Nd3 32. Rd5 e5 33. Kf1 Kf6 34. f3
Ke6 35. Rb5 f5 36. a3 bxa3 37. bxa3 e4 38. fxe4 fxe4 39. Nb6 e3 40. Nd5 Nc5 41.
Nf4+ Kd6 42. Ke2 g5 43. Nd3 Ne4 44. Rb7 h5 45. Ne1 Bc5 46. Nc2 Nc3+ 47. Kd3 Nd5
48. g3 Ke6 49. Rb8 h4 50. Re8+ Kf5 51. a4 h3 52. Nxe3+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[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 "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nb6 9. Qd3 $146 {[%mdl 8] This move looks quite normal; surprisingly, it
had never been played before.} (9. Qc5 {has been examined in several CBM
issues, most recently in CBM 126, annotations to Alekseev-Kamsky.}) 9... Nc6 ({
The immediate} 9... f5 {deserves attention.}) 10. Rd1 f5 11. Nf3 f4 ({After} 
11... Nb4 12. Qd2 {the white queen takes a comfortable square.}) 12. Bc1 Bg4
13. e5 {White hardly has anything better. The resulting position presents a
typical conflict: which is more important - Black's "dead" g7 bishop or his
outpost on d5?} Qd7 (13... Nb4 $5) 14. Ne4 Rad8 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qc3 e6 $6 {
It was essential to push the white knight from c5:} (16... Nd5 17. Qb3 (17. Qc4
b6) 17... b6 18. Ba6 Qb8 19. Ne4 Na5 20. Qa4 c5 $13) 17. h3 Bh5 $6 (17... Bxf3
18. Bxf3 Nxd4 $1 19. Bxb7 Qb8 20. Be4 Bxe5 21. Nxe6 $13) 18. O-O Nd5 19. Qb3
Na5 20. Qc2 Nc6 21. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Re6]} Ndb4 22. Qe4 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Nxd4 (23...
Rfe8 $142 $14) 24. Rxd4 $1 Rxd4 25. Ncxe6 c5 26. Nxf8 Bxf8 27. Nf3 Rd5 28. e6
Be7 29. Bxf4 $16 {White has won a pawn but he has yet to parry Black's
counterplay.} Nd3 {[%csl Gd3]} 30. Bg3 c4 31. Qe4 Qc6 32. Nd4 (32. b3 $1) 32...
Qc5 33. Nc2 Qc6 34. Ne3 $6 (34. b3 $1 b5 (34... c3 35. Nd4 Qc5 36. Qxd3 Rxd4
37. Qf3 $18) (34... cxb3 35. Nd4 $1 Qc4 36. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rf3f7,Rd4b3]}) 35.
Rd1 $16 cxb3 $2 36. Nd4) 34... Rc5 35. Qg4 b5 (35... Nxb2 $13 {was quite
possible.}) 36. f4 $2 {This "pseudo-active" move compromises White's position.}
(36. b3 $1 $14) 36... Qe4 37. Qf3 Qxf3 38. Rxf3 Rc6 (38... Nxb2 $2 39. f5 $1
Kg7 40. f6+ $1 Bxf6 41. Bd6 Rc8 42. Ng4 $16) 39. f5 gxf5 40. Nxf5 Bc5+ 41. Kh2
Rxe6 $17 {Everything has turned around. Black has recaptured the pawn, and his
queenside pawn advantage gives him an upper hand.} 42. b3 h5 (42... Ra6 $5 $17)
43. bxc4 bxc4 44. Bc7 Re2 (44... Ra6 $142) 45. Bd6 Bb6 $15 {Black's prospects
are better but the position remains complex; the Cuban GM probably didn't want
to take a risk.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2009.01.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[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. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nb6 9. Qd3 {A relatively new move, first applied by Kramnik against
Dominguez several months ago - see CBM 128.} f5 (9... Nc6 10. Rd1 f5 11. Nf3 f4
12. Bc1 Bg4 13. e5 Qd7 14. Ne4 Rad8 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qc3 e6 $6 (16... Nd5 17.
Qb3 b6 18. Ba6 Qb8 19. Ne4 Na5 20. Qa4 c5 $13) 17. h3 Bh5 $6 (17... Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Nxd4 $1 19. Bxb7 Qb8 20. Be4 Bxe5 21. Nxe6 $13) 18. O-O Nd5 19. Qb3 Na5
20. Qc2 Nc6 21. Ng5 $1 $14 {[%csl Re6] 1/2 Kramnik,V (2772)-Dominguez Perez,L 
(2719)/Dresden 2008/CBM 128/[Krasenkow] (45)}) 10. Rd1 f4 11. Bc1 e5 12. d5 c6
13. Nf3 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qb3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (15. Qxd5+ Qxd5 16. exd5
Bf5 17. O-O Nd7 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Bd2 Rac8 20. Ng5 Rc2 21. Ne6 Rfc8 22. Nxg7 Kxg7
23. Bc3 Kf6 24. Bf3 b5 $13 {1/2 Jakovenko,D (2737)-Mamedyarov,S (2731)/Elista
RUS 2008/The Week in Chess 737 (57)}) 15... Kh8 (15... Be6 $5 16. exd5 Bf7 17.
Qxb7 Nd7 $44 {S.Zagrebelny Of course, this line needs further analysis.}) 16.
Bc4 Nc6 17. Bxd5 Qe7 (17... Qb6 {doesn't change much:} 18. h3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4
{[%cal Yg7e5]} 20. Bd2 $14 {The black bishop will be strong on e5 but White's
d5 bishop is even stronger!}) 18. h3 (18. Bd2 Bg4 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bb4 c5 21.
Bc3 Rae8 22. h3 Bc8 23. Kd2 Rd8+ 24. Kc1 Rd4 $5 25. Bxd4 exd4 26. Rhe1 Be6 27.
Qa3 Rd8 28. Re2 Qc7 29. e5 Qb6 30. Ng5 Bd5 31. e6 Re8 $44 {1/2 Aleksandrov,A 
(2636)-Zinchenko,Y (2527)/Moscow RUS 2009/The Week in Chess 744 (44)}) 18...
Nb4 (18... Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Bd2 a5 21. Rc1 $14 {[%csl Gb3,Gd5][%cal Gc1c7]
}) 19. Bc4 $6 {A tempo was more important than this bishop!} (19. O-O $142 $1
Nxd5 $140 20. exd5 {[%csl Gd5,Re5]} e4 21. Rfe1 Re8 22. d6 Qd8 23. Nh2 $18 {
[%cal Rc1f4,Rd6d7]}) 19... b5 $5 20. Bxb5 $6 (20. Bd2 $1 a5 (20... bxc4 21.
Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Bxb4 Re8 23. O-O $16 {[%csl Re5]}) 21. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 22. Qxb4 axb4
23. Bd5 $14) 20... Nxa2 (20... Be6 $5 21. Bc4 Bxc4 22. Qxc4 Rac8 $44) 21. Bd2 (
21. Qxa2 Qb4+) 21... Rb8 22. Qa4 Qb7 23. O-O Qxb5 24. Qxa2 Qxb2 25. Qxa7 Qb7
$11 {Black has solved all his opening problems. But equal doesn't quite mean
drawn! Several minor inaccuracies - and the Cuban GM loses this game...} 26.
Qc5 Be6 27. Qd6 Bb3 28. Rb1 Qxe4 29. Bc3 Rbd8 (29... Qd5 $11 {R.Sherbakov}) 30.
Qa3 Bc2 $6 {This bishop will be out of play and hanging.} (30... Bd5 $11) 31.
Rb5 Qa4 $6 (31... Qc6 $142 32. Rxe5 $1 (32. Qb2 Rc8 33. Bxe5 Bxe5 34. Rxe5 Qc3
$1) (32. Rc5 Qa4 33. Qb2 Rb8) 32... Ra8 33. Qb2 Be4 34. Nd4 Qb7 35. Rb5 $36 {
- analysis by IM M.Notkin.}) 32. Qb2 Bd3 $2 (32... Be4 33. Bxe5 Qa7 $1 34. Ra1
Qe7 35. Bxg7+ Qxg7 36. Ne5 $16) 33. Rb7 $1 $18 {[%mdl 128] Suddenly White
obtains a killing attack.} Qc2 (33... Bxf1 34. Bxe5 Rd7 35. Bxg7+ Kg8 36. Rxd7
Qxd7 37. Bxf8 $18 {M.Notkin}) (33... Rd7 34. Nxe5 Rxb7 (34... Bxe5 35. Bxe5+
Kg8 36. Rxd7 Qxd7 37. Rc1 $18) 35. Qxb7 Qa6 36. Qe7 {[%cal Re5g6]} Kg8 37. Nd7
Rf7 38. Qd8+ Bf8 39. Nxf8 Rxf8 40. Qd5+ Rf7 41. Ra1 $18) 34. Qb4 Rfe8 35. Re1 (
35. Bxe5 $1 Bxe5 36. Nxe5 Rxe5 37. Qxf4 Rf5 38. Qh6 $18) 35... Be2 36. Nxe5
Bxe5 37. Bxe5+ Rxe5 38. Qxf4 Qf5 39. Qh6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nb6 9. Qc5 {This line was examined in several CBM issues: CBM 78 (Yakovich
- Smikovsky), CBM 101 (Miton - Krasenkow), CBM 118 (Sakaev - Ftacnik).} c6 $146
{A new idea. Here are some recent games with more common plans:} (9... f5 10.
Nf3 (10. Rd1 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Be6 12. b3 Bd5 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. Nf3 Nb4 15. Qd2 Bxe4
16. Qxb4 Nd5 17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nxe3 19. fxe3 {1/2 Savchenko,S (2604)
-Feller,S (2513)/Le Touquet 2007/EXT 2008}) 10... fxe4 11. Nxe4 N8d7 12. Qc2
Nf6 13. O-O Nbd5 14. Bc4 c6 15. Nc5 Kh8 16. Ne5 Qd6 17. Qe2 Nh5 18. Ne4 Qd8 19.
Ng5 Qe8 20. f4 e6 21. Rae1 Bd7 22. g4 Nhf6 23. Bd2 Rd8 24. Qf3 Bc8 25. Qh3 $36
{1-0 Bluvshtein,M (2548)-Zugic,I (2457)/Montreal CAN 2008/The Week in Chess
721 (35)}) (9... e5 10. Nf3 N8d7 11. Qa3 (11. Qa5 exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4
Qe7 14. O-O Nc5 15. Qa3 Re8 16. Rfe1 Ne6 17. Qxe7 Rxe7 18. Nc2 Nc5 19. f3 {
1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2729)-Svidler,P (2736)/Foros 2007/CBM 119}) 11... exd4 12. Bxd4
Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qg5 14. O-O Qc5 15. Qxc5 Nxc5 16. Rfd1 c6 17. Rd2 a5 18. Rad1 Rd8
19. f4 Ne6 20. g3 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Kf8 23. e5 Be6 24. a3 Bd5 $11 {
1/2 Moiseenko,A (2643)-Rodshtein,M (2614)/Maalot-Tarshiha 2008/CBM 122 (35)})
10. O-O-O Be6 11. h4 {A typical attack but Black decreases its strength by
exchanging queens.} Qd6 12. Qxd6 exd6 13. h5 Re8 14. Nh3 N8d7 15. Nf4 Bc4 16.
hxg6 hxg6 17. Bf3 {Of course, White evades the bishop exchange in order to
exploit disharmony in the position of Black's minor pieces.} a5 18. Nfe2 {
It is not easy for White to make progress.} (18. b3 Ba6 19. Kc2 Rac8 $5 20. Bg4
Rc7 {[%cal Yd7f6,Yc6c5]}) 18... a4 19. Bh6 d5 {This counter-attack in the
centre is not the simplest way.} (19... Bxh6+ $142 20. Rxh6 Kg7 21. Rdh1 Nf6
$11 (21... Rh8 $5)) 20. Ng3 (20. e5 c5 $1) 20... Nf6 {A bit artificial but
after} (20... dxe4 21. Ngxe4 {[%cal Re4d6] White retains some pressure despite
his isolated pawn.} Bxh6+ (21... Re7 22. Nd6 $14) 22. Rxh6 Kg7 23. Rh4 Nf6 24.
Nd6 $36) (20... Bxh6+ 21. Rxh6 Kg7 22. Rdh1 Rh8 23. Rxh8 Rxh8 24. Rxh8 Kxh8 25.
Kc2 {[%cal Rb2b3] and Black has hardly anything better than} Nf6) 21. e5 Nfd7
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Bg4 c5 (23... f5 $5 $11) 24. f4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Nc5 26. Kc2 Ne6
(26... Rh8 $5 $132) 27. Bxe6 fxe6 28. b3 axb3+ 29. axb3 Ba6 30. Nf1 $6 {
This knight should rather go to d4:} (30. Rdd1 Rh8 31. Nge2 $11) 30... Rh8 {
Seizing the open file, Black has more ambitions than equality after} (30...
Bxf1 31. Rxf1 Nd7 $11) 31. Rxh8 Rxh8 32. Ne3 Nc8 (32... Rh4 $5) 33. Rd2 $6 (33.
b4 $1 Na7 34. Nexd5 exd5 35. Rxd5 $13) 33... Rh4 $36 34. g4 Rh3 (34... Ne7 $142
) {The course of events becomes unfavorable for White so he decides to change
it.} 35. Nexd5 $1 {[%mdl 512]} exd5 36. Nxd5 Kf8 (36... Rg3 37. f5 Rxg4 (37...
gxf5 38. gxf5 Rg5 39. Ne3) 38. f6+ Kf7 39. Nc7 $132) 37. Nc7 Na7 38. e6 Nc6 39.
Rd7 Rf3 $2 {An unexpected blunder, after which White ends up with an extra
pawn.} (39... Ne7 40. Rd8+ Kg7 41. Ne8+ Kf8 $11) (39... Nb4+ 40. Kb2 Re3 41. f5
Nd3+ 42. Kc2 Nf4 $11) 40. e7+ Nxe7 41. Ne6+ Kf7 $8 42. Ng5+ Ke8 43. Rxe7+ Kxe7
44. Nxf3 {[%mdl 4096] However, accurate defence enables Black to survive. In
such open positions, with pawns on both sides, the bishop is stronger than the
knight - also in defence.} Be2 45. Ne5 Kf6 46. Kd2 Bf1 47. Nc4 g5 $5 48. Ne3
Bb5 49. Nd5+ Kf7 50. f5 Bc6 51. Ne3 Bf3 {[%csl Rg4]} 52. Kd3 Ke7 53. Kc4 Kd6
54. Kb5 Kc7 55. b4 Bc6+ 56. Kc5 Bf3 57. Kb5 Bc6+ 58. Kc4 Kd6 59. b5 Bf3 60. Kd4
Be2 61. b6 Bf3 62. Nc4+ Ke7 63. Ne5 Bd1 64. Kc5 Be2 65. Kd5 Bd1 66. Kd4 Kf6 67.
Ke4 Ke7 68. Kd5 Be2 69. Kd4 Bd1 70. Nc6+ Kf6 71. Na5 Bxg4 72. Nxb7 Bf3 73. Nd6
Ba8 74. Ke3 Ke5 75. b7 Bxb7 76. Nxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "POL-ch"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2004.04.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Miton, Kamil"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2004.04.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 101"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 {About
this line - see CBM78, annots to Yakovich-Smikovski.} Nfd7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qc5 e5
{A logical plan.} 10. Nf3 (10. d5 {is harmless:} Re8 (10... f5 11. O-O-O N8d7
12. Qa5 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Bg5 Bf5 15. Nc3 $13 Ne4 $4 16. Bxd8 Bh6+ 17. Kb1
Nxc3+ {1-0 Zakharchenko,A-Demkovich,A/Kiev 1998/EXT 2000 (17)}) 11. Rd1 Bf8 12.
Qa5 Bd7 13. Nf3 $6 (13. b4 $13) 13... Nc4 $1 14. Bxc4 b6 15. Bg5 Qc8 16. Qb5
Bxb5 17. Bxb5 Be7 18. Bxe8 Qxe8 $15 {1/2-1/2 Avrukh,B-Gustafsson,J/Amsterdam
2001/CBM 83 ext (18)}) 10... exd4 11. Bxd4 {White relies on his space
advantage.} Bg4 $5 $146 (11... N8d7 12. Qa5 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qf6 14. Rd1 Qe5 15.
Qxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nec4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. b3 Ne3 19. Rd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yakovich,
Y-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2002/EXT 2003 (83)}) 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Rd1 N8d7 14. Qd4+
Kg8 (14... Qf6 $2 15. e5 $18) (14... f6 $2 15. Ng5 $1) 15. e5 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6
({Black avoids opening up the position for the white bishop, e.g.} 16... Re8
17. Bxb7 Nxe5 18. O-O Qxd4 19. Rxd4 Rab8 20. Ba6 c5 $14) ({or} 16... Qe7 17.
Bxb7 Rad8 $5 {Miton} 18. Qe3 (18. O-O $2 Nc5 19. Qb4 a5 $1) 18... Qxe5 (18...
Nc5 $6 19. Bd5) (18... Nc4 19. Nd5) 19. Qxe5 Nxe5 20. O-O $14) 17. Bg4 f5 (
17... Qe7 18. Bxd7 Rad8 19. Ne4 Nxd7 20. f4 {[%csl Rd6,Rf6]} f6 21. Qd6 $1 {
didn't guarantee Black full equality.}) 18. Be2 ({After} 18. exf6 Qxf6 $5 19.
Qxf6 Nxf6 {Black has no serious problems.}) 18... Qe7 19. f4 Nc5 (19... Rfd8 $5
20. O-O Nf8 21. Qe3 Qb4 22. g4 $5) 20. O-O Rfd8 21. Qe3 (21. Qb4 Kf8 $11) 21...
Ne6 22. a3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. g3 Kf8 $11 {Black has set up a good blockade
but the white passed e5 pawn restricts his active possibilities.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch 8th"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2007.04.14"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Black "Ftacnik, Lubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2007.04.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nb6 9. Qc5 e5 10. Nf3 exd4 11. Bxd4 {This system was examined in CBM 78
and CBM 101 (annotations to Miton-Krasenkow). White wants to achieve a quiet
position with a small edge.} Bxd4 (11... Bg4 {was played in the
above-mentioned game:} 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Rd1 N8d7 14. Qd4+ Kg8 15. e5 Bxf3 16.
Bxf3 c6 17. Bg4 f5 18. Be2 Qe7 19. f4 Nc5 20. O-O Rfd8 21. Qe3 Ne6 22. a3 Rxd1
23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. g3 Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Miton,K-Krasenkow,M/Warsaw 2004/CBM 101}) {
The text move doesn't solve the problem of Black's light-squared bishop.} 12.
Nxd4 N8d7 13. Qa5 Qe7 (13... Qf6 14. Rd1 Qe5 15. Qxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nec4 17. Bxc4
Nxc4 18. b3 Ne3 19. Rd2 Rd8 20. Ndb5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yakovich,Y-Ernst,T/
Gothenburg 2002/EXT 2003 (83)}) 14. O-O Rd8 15. Rad1 Ne5 16. Nb3 Re8 17. Qc5
Qxc5 18. Nxc5 c6 19. Rd4 {[%mdl 32]} Ned7 20. Nb3 $1 {No exchanges when your
opponent is constricted!} a5 21. a3 (21. a4 $5) 21... Kf8 (21... a4 $5 22. Nd2
Nc5 {[%cal Yc8e6]} 23. Rb4 $1 Nbd7 24. f4 b5 $14) 22. f4 f6 23. h4 Ke7 24. g4
h6 25. Kf2 g5 26. f5 $1 {Great! Lasker would be happy to shake hands with his
follower. White gives up the e5 square but further restricts Black's pieces,
especially his poor c8 bishop.} (26. hxg5 hxg5 27. fxg5 fxg5 28. Rh1 a4 29. Nd2
Ne5 {was certainly less convincing.}) 26... Ne5 $6 {With this (and the
following) move Black surrenders the key h-file to the white rook. Its
invasion will be decisive.} ({Perhaps} 26... gxh4 {was a better option:} 27.
Rh1 a4 28. Nc1 Rh8 29. Rxh4 Ra5 {[%cal Yd7e5] although the h6 pawn is quite
weak.}) 27. hxg5 hxg5 $6 (27... fxg5 $142 {although now Black should
additionally reckon with White's passed f5 pawn.}) 28. Rh1 Rf8 29. Nc5 Nbd7 $6
{Desperation. But the invasion to the 8th rank was inevitable anyway and it
was hardly possible to organize a stubborn defense:} (29... Rf7 30. Bd1 $1 ({
even better than} 30. Rh8 Rf8 31. Rxf8 Kxf8 32. Rd8+ Ke7 33. Rh8 Kd6 34. N3a4
Nxa4 35. Nxa4 Nd7 36. Re8 Rb8 37. e5+ $1 Nxe5 38. Nc3 Kc7 39. Ne4 Bxf5 $5 40.
Rxe5 $1 fxe5 41. gxf5 $16) 30... Nbd7 31. Ne6 Nf8 32. Nxf8 Rxf8 33. Bb3 $1
Nxg4+ 34. Kg3 Ne5 35. Rh7+ Ke8 36. Na4 $18) 30. Ne6 Rf7 31. Rh8 Rb8 32. Kg3 b5
$2 (32... b6 {was relatively better but hopeless enough:} 33. b3 $22 Ba6 34.
Rxb8 Nxb8 35. Rd8 Bxe2 36. Rxb8 Bxg4 37. Rxb6 $18) 33. b4 $6 ({Missing} 33.
Bxb5 $1 cxb5 34. Nd5+ Kd6 35. Nxf6+ Kc6 (35... Ke7 36. Nd5+ Kd6 37. Nb6+) 36.
Nd8+ Kc7 37. Nxf7 Nxf7 38. Nxd7 $18 {but not missing the win, of course.})
33... axb4 34. axb4 Ba6 35. Rxb8 Nxb8 36. Rd8 Nbd7 37. Ra8 Bb7 38. Ra7 Bc8 39.
Rc7 Ba6 40. Ra7 Bc8 41. Rc7 Ba6 42. Nc5 {Wasn't it better to play 11...Bg4
after all?} Rf8 43. Nxd7 Nxd7 44. Rxc6 Bb7 45. Nd5+ Kd8 46. Re6 Bxd5 47. exd5
Kc7 48. Bxb5 Rb8 49. Bxd7 Kxd7 50. Rxf6 Rxb4 51. Rg6 Rb3+ 52. Kf2 Rb2+ 53. Ke3
Rb3+ 54. Ke4 1-0

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 {The queen is usually developed on this
square only after 4.Nf3. After the text move, transpositions to the main
system are possible if White plays Ng1-f3 in the near future. Topalov will
choose a rather extravagant approach, leaving the knight on its initial
position until the 22nd move!} dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 ({One of the
points behind this move order is to avoid the possible structural damage after
} 7. Nf3 Nfd7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qb3 Bg4 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. d5 Ne5 {etc. Still, such
an unnatural way of developing is likely to allow Black the possibility of
obtaining excellent counterplay.}) 7... a6 8. Bf4 ({Another way to delay the
knight's development is} 8. Be3 b5 9. Qb3 {In practice, White has constantly
obtained the slightly more pleasant position.} c5 {I believe that this
untested move is the only way to question the viability of White's plan.} (9...
Bb7 10. f3 Nfd7 11. Nh3 Nc6 12. Rd1 Nb6 13. d5 Na5 14. Qc2 Nac4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4
16. Bc5 Re8 17. O-O $14 {Alekseev,E (2708)-Pelletier,Y (2569)/Biel 2008/CBM
126 (1-0, 43)}) (9... Nc6 10. Rd1 b4 11. Na4 Nxe4 12. Bf3 Bf5 13. g4 Nxd4 14.
Rxd4 Bxd4 15. gxf5 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 $14 {Atalik,S (2599)-Van der Weide,K (2502)/
Augsburg 2008/CBM 122 Extra (1-0, 22). Despite approximate material equality
and an apparent black lead in development, White's chances are superior
because of the numerous weaknesses in Black's camp. In case of simplifications,
White's knights could get on c6 and c5, paralysing Black.}) (9... Ng4 10. Bxg4
Bxg4 11. h3 Bc8 12. Nf3 Nc6 13. Rd1 Na5 14. Qc2 f5 15. O-O Nc4 16. Bc1 fxe4 17.
Qxe4 Bf5 18. Qe2 Qd6 19. Rfe1 $14 {Riazantsev,A (2634)-Safarli,E (2564)/Moscow
2009 (1/2, 32). Black has disrupted the white structure, but his position has
by far more weaknesses.}) 10. dxc5 Be6 11. Qc2 Qa5 $1 {White cannot parry the
threat Nxe4 without making some concession. Had he played the normal 8.Nf3
instead of 8.Be3, both 12.Bd2 and 12.0-0 would have neutralised Black's
initiative. The way it is, the former simply loses a tempo, while the latter
is illegal.}) 8... b5 $5 9. Qxc7 Qxc7 $5 $146 {Black forces the enemy bishop
to occupy a vulnerable square.} (9... b4 $2 {Yakovich,Y (2573)-Kovchan,A (2561)
/Noyabrsk 2003/CBM 099/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 52)}) (9... Qxd4 10. Rd1 Qb4 11. Rd2
Nbd7 12. Be3 Rb8 13. a3 Qb3 14. Nf3 e5 15. O-O Bb7 16. Rfd1 Rfc8 17. Qa5 $14 {
Yakovich,Y (2596)-Shomoev,A (2487)/Sochi 2004/CBM 100 ext (1/2, 33). The
position is almost symmetrical, but White's pieces are more active.}) 10. Bxc7
{A pawn is a pawn, but in this case it costs White a lot of time. Everything
is prepared now for Black to get quickly mobilized.} b4 {Judging from the
relatively high speed with which Kamsky played during this phase of the game,
we may assume that this move was part of his preparation still. There is
another possibility, though. Having lost the previous game because of getting
into desperate time trouble, he may have decided to play quickly at any cost.
In any case, I am sceptical about his last move. Black is insufficiently well
developed for weakening his position in such radical way.} ({I would prefer a
developing course, such as} 10... Bb7 11. f3 (11. e5 Ne8 $1 {[%csl Gc7][%cal
Gb7g2]}) 11... Nc6 $44) 11. Na4 Nc6 12. d5 {This move has the drawback of
opening the long diagonal for the Gruenfeld bishop.} ({Just three (!) days
later, the following game was played:} 12. e5 Nd5 13. Bf3 Be6 14. Ne2 Nxc7 15.
Bxc6 Rad8 16. Nc5 f6 17. f4 fxe5 18. dxe5 g5 19. g3 gxf4 20. gxf4 $14 {Bareev,
E (2645)-Maslak,K (2541)/Moscow Aeroflot 2009 (1-0, 43). The g7-bishop has
remained passive and the black king is somewhat exposed.}) 12... Nd4 13. Bd3
Bd7 {For the first time in the match, Topalov had spent more time than Kamksy
at this height of the game. We may assume that the Bulgarian grandmaster was
taken out of his home preparation rather early, but can only guess until which
point Kamsky was on familiar paths, since he soon started thinking a lot.} 14.
Nb6 Bb5 $1 {A strong move, aimed to eliminate the defender of the e4-pawn and
c2-square.} 15. Be5 (15. Bxb5 axb5 16. Nxa8 {is too risky because of} Nc2+ 17.
Kd1 Nxa1 18. Nb6 Nxe4 {The a1-knight is impossible to trap while White is
underdeveloped still.}) (15. Rd1 $5 {is an interesting way to maintain the
tension, but it does not seem to offer more than just equality.} Ra7 16. Be5
Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Nc2+ 18. Ke2 (18. Kd1 Nxe4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nh3 Rb7 $11 21. Nc4
$6 Rc8 $1 $17) (18. Kd2 $2 Nxe4+ 19. Kxc2 Bxe5 $17) 18... Nxe4 19. Nf3 {
It may seem that the c2-knight is in danger, but the b6-knight is exposed, too.
} Rb7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nc4 Rc8 $11 {If everything else fails, a well-timed
b4-b3 would save the c2-knight from troubles.}) 15... Nxe4 ({This is a rare
case when Kamsky played his move almost instantly. Curiously it was precisely
the moment when he had an alternative worth considering. His move leads to a
position where Black needs to play carefully in order to maintain equality,
while} 15... Bxd3 {would have offered him chances to fight for the initiative,
for instance} 16. Bxd4 Rab8 17. e5 ({The more solid} 17. f3 {fails to
stabilize the position.} Bb5 {Taking the d7-square away from the b6-knight and
threatening to trap it with Ne8 or Nh5.} 18. Rc1 {Preparing the return of the
knight with Nc4.} Nh5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nc4 f5 {Black is two tempi ahead in
development and the white centre is vulnerable.}) 17... Rxb6 18. Bxb6 Nxd5 19.
Bd4 Rc8 {Black has a strong initiative for the sacrificed exchange. I suspect
Topalov would have liked to switch sides, since he is a great specialist in
sacrificing exchanges himself. When choosing the simplifying continuation,
Kamsky may have found himself under the impression of the previous game in
which he failed to convert his advance in development and initiative into
anything concrete. This time, he preferred to play with equal pawns...}) 16.
Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bxe4 Rab8 18. O-O-O Nf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. d6 Rxb6 21. dxe7 Re8 ({
It is difficult to say whether the intermediate} 21... Rc8+ {would have been
better. The pros of this move are that the king is driven away from the centre
and forced to occupy a light square, which may allow an intermediate bishop
check later.}) 22. Nf3 Rxe7 23. Nd4 Bd7 24. Rhe1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 {The position
looks dangerous for Black. If White manages to advance his pawns to f4 and g3
and consolidate his knight with the help of his king, he could blackmail his
opponent with the threat of exchanging queens. In a pure knight versus bishop
ending, all the black pawns would remain vulnerable.} Rh6 $1 (25... Rd6 {
would be premature because of} 26. Rd1 {and White's stability would not be
threatened in any way.}) 26. Re7 ({White is not willing to weaken his
structure with} 26. h3 {Black would continue with} f4 {, leaving the g2-pawn
vulnerable.}) 26... Rd6 $1 {Black has managed to drive the annoying knight
away from the centre, which offers some freedom of action to his king.} 27. Ne2
Kf6 28. Re3 Ba4 29. b3 Bc6 30. Nf4 a5 31. g3 Be4 32. f3 Bc6 33. h4 {Both sides
have achieved almost absolute stability and a draw is the most likely result.}
Rd4 34. Kc2 Bb5 35. Nh5+ Kg6 36. Nf4+ Kf6 37. Nh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Ich war nicht unbedingt schlecht vorbereitet auf dieses Turnier. Ich hatte
schließlich viel Zeit und Energie in die Stabilisierung meiner
Schwarzeröffnungen gesteckt, was sich teils auszahlte. Aber mein "Aufschlag"
erwies sich schon als zu ausgeleiert für Dortmund. Die Varianten, die ich
immer wieder anwende, wurden gar zur Zielscheibe! Ich stand in keiner meiner
Weißpartien wirklich besser nach der Eröffnung oder geriet gleich unter Druck.
Zeit in Zukunft ein paar neue Sachen zu probieren...!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 {Dortmund 2013 bedeutet vielleicht das Ende für dieses System.} (
{Wenn, dann} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 Be6 $2 7. Qb5+ Bd7 8. Qxb7 Nc6 9.
e4) 4... dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 $1 {Hier wird man sich von nun an die Zähne
ausbeißen.} 6. Qb5+ (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qc2 c5) (6. Qd3 c5) 6... Bd7 7. Qb3 (7.
Qxb7 $2 {verbietet sich} Nc6 8. e3 Rb8 9. Qa6 Nb4 10. Qe2 c5) (7. Qd3 c5 8. d5
Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. e5 (10. Nf3 e6) 10... Bf5 $1 $146 (10... Ng4 11. f4 Na6 12.
Qd1 Nh6 13. Nf3 Nf5 $13 {0-1 (53) So,W (2677)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2705) Saint
Louis 2012}) 11. exf6 Bxd3 12. fxg7 Re8 $1 13. Bxd3 e6) 7... c5 8. dxc5 ({
Brachland ist nach wie vor} 8. d5 {Bei der Autogrammstunde waren meine
Nachbarn unterschiedlicher Meinung über diese Alternative. Laut Arkadij
"Haupt-", nach Leko ein "schlechter Zug".}) 8... Bc6 $146 {Eine spielbare
Neuerung, die Weiß aber geradezu in ein sehr sicheres Endspiel drängt.} ({
In meiner nächsten Weißpartie griff Leko zu dem deutlich ambitionierteren} 8...
Bg7 9. e4 O-O $1 $146 (9... Nc6 10. Nf3 Qa5 11. Bc4 O-O 12. O-O Qxc5 13. Be3
Qh5 14. Be2 $14 {1/2-1/2 (34) Carlsen,M-Ivanchuk,V Linares 2009}) 10. f3 (10.
Nf3 Qa5) 10... Qc7 11. Be3 Nc6 12. Nge2 Rfd8 $44 {1/2-1/2 (41) Meier,G (2610)
-Leko,P (2737) Dortmund 2013}) 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Nd4 Nxc5 11. Qc4 Qb6 12. Nxc6
Qxc6 13. b4 (13. Qb5 $5 Qxb5 14. Nxb5 Nd5 15. g3 a6 16. Bg2 axb5 17. Bxd5 e6
18. Bf3 Ra4 $1 $11 (18... Nb3 $2 19. Bxb7)) 13... Ncd7 14. Qxc6 bxc6 15. e3 {
Es ist nun an Schwarz schnell zu agieren, um seine Schwächen am Damenflügel zu
dezimieren und die Stellung auszugleichen. Jedes Abwarten erlaubt Weiß die
Konsolidierung seiner strategischen Vorteile in Form der Bauernstruktur und
des Läuferpaars.} e6 16. a3 $1 (16. Rb1 a5 17. b5 $140 $6 Bb4) 16... Bg7 17.
Rb1 Nb6 $2 {Ein grober strategischer Fehler, der es mir erlaubte den schwachen
schwarzen Damenflügel zu fixieren.} (17... a5 $1 18. b5 cxb5 (18... Nd5 $5 19.
Nxd5 cxd5) 19. Nxb5 O-O 20. Be2 Nc5 $11) 18. Ba6 $1 Rb8 19. Bd2 Nfd5 20. Nxd5 (
20. Rc1 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 22. Rxc3 $16 {kam durchaus in Betracht und
erscheint mir mittlerweile noch stärker als der Text.}) 20... cxd5 $6 ({
Ich rechnete mit} 20... Nxd5 21. Ke2 Rb6 22. Bd3 Nc3+ 23. Bxc3 Bxc3 24. Be4 {
wonach Schwarz noch einige Verteidigungsarbeit leisten müsste.}) 21. Ke2 {
Typisch für mich, nach längerer Spielpause verbrauchte ich in dieser ersten
Runde viel zu viel Zeit und begann nun, die scheinbar offensichtlichen Züge
schnell auszuführen, um eine allzu große Zeitnot zu vermeiden. Tatsächlich
vernachlässigte ich hier die Regel Nr. 1 bei strategischem Vorteil:
Möglichkeiten zu Gegenspiel im Auge behalten und verhindern!} (21. Rc1 $142 $1
$16 d4 $2 22. e4) 21... Kd7 $2 {Geht an der letzten Chance vorbei den Springer
zu aktivieren.} (21... d4 $142 $1 22. Rhc1 (22. Rbc1 Nd5 23. Bc4) 22... Nd5 23.
Rb3 O-O 24. Rc5 $14) 22. Rhc1 $16 Na4 $2 ({Mit} 22... Na8 $1 23. Rc2 Nc7 {
war der Störenfried letztmalig zu vertreiben.}) 23. Rc2 {Nun beginnt das Spiel
auf ein Tor über die c-Linie - in Überzahl.} Rb6 $2 (23... Be5 $142) 24. b5 $18
({Selbst} 24. Rbc1 Rxa6 25. Rc7+ Ke8 26. b5 Rd6 27. Rxa7 Nb6 28. Ra6 {/\Bb4
gewinnt bereits.}) 24... Rhb8 25. Rbc1 Be5 26. f4 Bd6 27. Bb4 Ke8 (27... d4 28.
exd4 Bxb4 29. axb4 Rd6 30. Rc7+ Ke8 31. Rxa7 Rxd4 32. Bb7 Kf8 33. Rc7 $18 {
hatte ich als Einziges berechnet.}) 28. Rc7 $1 (28. Ba5 $18 {war mir zu
kleinlich.}) 28... Bxb4 29. axb4 Nb2 30. R1c6 (30. Rxa7 Nc4 31. e4 $18) 30...
Nc4 31. Rxa7 Nd6 32. Rcc7 $2 {Ich machte meine Züge in Zeitnot impulsiv, bis
dieser fürchterliche Schablonenzug dabei herauskam. Weiß droht NICHTS auf der
7. Reihe. Der Sieg war dabei nur noch 3 Züge bzw. 1 Minute ruhiges Nachdenken
entfernt...} (32. Kd3 Kf8 33. Rxb6 Rxb6 34. Kd4 {und Schwarz kann aufgeben.})
32... h5 $1 {...verhindert die Einschnürung durch g4-g5, und da ich vom
rechten Weg abgekommen war, konnte ich nun keinen guten Weg mehr sehen...} 33.
g3 (33. Rc6 $142) 33... Kf8 34. h3 Kg7 35. Kd3 Kf6 36. g4 g5 $6 {Spielte
Arkadij etwa auf meine Zeitnot?} (36... hxg4 37. hxg4 g5 $11) 37. gxh5 gxf4 38.
exf4 Kg7 39. Kc3 Kh6 40. Rc6 {Es hat lange gedauert, bis mir die richtige Idee
wieder einfiel. Immerhin gab ich dadurch meinem Gegner bei seinerseits
hängendem Blättchen nochmal Probleme zu lösen.} Nxb5+ $4 {Panik} (40... Kxh5
41. Rxb6 Rxb6 42. Kd4 Rxb5 $1 {musste mit den verbliebenen Sekunden bei Zug 40
gefunden werden.} (42... Nxb5+ 43. Kc5 $18) 43. Ra8 Rxb4+ 44. Kc5 Rxf4 45. Kxd6
Kh4) 41. Bxb5 Rxb5 42. Rxf7 Kxh5 (42... d4+ 43. Kd3 R5b6 44. Rxb6 Rxb6 45. Kc4
Rd6 46. Rf6+ Kxh5 47. f5 Kg5 48. Rxe6 Rd8 49. Kd3 Kxf5 50. Re4 $18) 43. Rxe6 {
Ich hatte wieder alle Sinne beisammen und eine Stunde auf der Uhr. Jetzt
konnte nichts mehr schief gehen.} Kh4 44. Rg7 Rh8 45. Rd6 Rh5 (45... Kxh3 46.
Rg5) 46. Rg5 $1 Rxg5 47. fxg5 Kxg5 48. Kb3 Kf5 49. Ka4 Rb8 50. Rxd5+ Ke6 51.
Rd3 Ra8+ 52. Kb3 Rb8 53. h4 {Ein nervöser Auftakt, der mich wieder erinnerte,
wie schön es ist, mit Weiß ein solches Rundenturnier zu beginnen. Letztes Jahr
gewann ich auch die Auftaktpartie, während ich in Baden-Baden die erste Runde
als Schwarzer ähnlich schlecht wie meine eigenen Opfer aussah...} 1-0

[Event "Canadian op"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2008.07.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bluvshtein, Mark"]
[Black "Mikhalevski, Victor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2592"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2008.07.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 {This rare line is an
attempt to exploit the early Qb3.} (5... Bg7 {is the main line.} 6. e4 O-O 7.
Be2 Nfd7 (7... c6 8. Nf3 b5 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. O-O b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13.
Qxc3 Qxc3 14. bxc3 Ba6 15. Re1 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I (2602)-Rodshtein,M 
(2614)/Maalot-Tarshiha ISR 2008/The Week in Chess 688 (51)}) 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qc5
e5 $1 10. Nf3 N8d7 11. Qa3 (11. Qa5 exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qe7 14. O-O Nc5
15. Qa3 Re8 16. Rfe1 Ne6 17. Qxe7 Rxe7 18. Nc2 Nc5 19. f3 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V 
(2729)-Svidler,P (2736)/Foros 2007/CBM 119}) 11... exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4
Qg5 14. O-O Qc5 15. Qxc5 Nxc5 16. Rfd1 c6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A (2643)
-Rodshtein,M (2614)/Maalot-Tarshiha ISR 2008/The Week in Chess 688 (35). leads
to a slight edge for White, but close to equality.}) 6. Qb5+ Bd7 (6... Nc6 {
has been known since 1-0 Euwe,M-Alekhine,A/Netherlands 1935/MainBase/
[ChessBase] (45)}) 7. Qb3 (7. Qxb7 $6 Nc6 8. e3 Rb8 9. Qa6 Nb4 10. Qe2 c5 $36 {
give Black a strong initiative.}) 7... a5 $146 {[%cal Ga5a4] A novelty, which
may be good as a surprise weapon.} ({Earlier Black played mostly} 7... Nc6 {
0-1 Yakovich,Y (2520)-Ernst,T (2570)/Helsinki 1992/CBM 032/[Ftacnik] (54)}) 8.
e4 $5 {The most logical reaction.} (8. Qxb7 $2 Nc6 $1 {is in Black's favour.})
(8. Nf3 $5) 8... Nc6 (8... a4 $5 {was possible, preparing to meet} 9. Qxb7 (9.
Qd1 {looks better.}) {with} 9... Nc6 10. Nb5 Rc8 {with the idea} 11. Bf4 $2 (
11. Nf3 $5) 11... e5 $1 $17 {and Black suddenly develops a strong initiative.})
9. Bc4 {This obvious move turns out to be an inaccuracy.} (9. Nf3 {was more
precise, but White missed my reply.}) 9... Bg7 $3 {Ignoring the threat.} 10.
Nf3 $1 ({After} 10. Bxf7+ $2 Kf8 {[%csl Rd4,Rf7][%cal Gc6d4,Ga5a4] with the
ideas of Nxd4 and a4 White is in trouble.}) 10... a4 11. Qd1 (11. Nxa4 $2 {
is bad in view of} Na5 $1 $17) 11... Bg4 $1 {[%csl Rd4]} 12. d5 ({An unclear
position arises after} 12. e5 Bxf3 13. gxf3 (13. Qxf3 Nxd4 14. Qd1 Ng8 {
The only, but sufficient retreat.} 15. Bf4 Nh6 (15... e6 $5) (15... c5 $6 16.
Qd2 $1) 16. Bd5 Nhf5 17. g4 Ra5 $15) 13... Nh5 $13) 12... Ne5 13. Be2 Nxf3+ 14.
gxf3 ({After} 14. Bxf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 a3 $1 $11 {Black is fine.}) 14... Bh5 {
[%cal Gd8d7,Gd7h3] Putting some pressure on f3 and leaving the h3 square for
the queen.} (14... Bh3 {was a possible alternative, but I prefer the text.} 15.
Nxa4 Qd6 16. Nc3 O-O $44) 15. Nxa4 O-O 16. Nc3 Qc8 $1 {[%cal Gc8h3,Ge7e6,Gf8d8]
Black prepares both Qh3 and Rd8 followed by e6.} 17. e5 Nd7 18. f4 Bxe2 19.
Qxe2 Nb6 $1 $44 {White has obtained an extra pawn, but his pawn structure is
damaged and the position of the king is not secure.} 20. O-O (20. Be3 Na4 $1
$44) 20... e6 $5 (20... Rd8 21. Rd1 Na4 {was a possible alternative.}) 21. Qe4
({White should prefer} 21. dxe6 Qxe6 22. Rd1 (22. Be3 f6 $1 $36) 22... Rfd8 $44
) 21... exd5 22. Nxd5 {Now Black is out of risk.} Qg4+ 23. Kh1 Ra4 $1 ({
The intermediate} 23... Qh3 $6 {is not so good.} 24. Be3 (24. Rg1 $5 {is also
possible.}) {and now} 24... Ra4 $2 {can be met by means of} 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26.
Qxb7 $16 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) (23... Nxd5 {also leads to a comfortable position for
Black.} 24. Qxd5 c6 25. Qe4 Rfd8 $44) 24. Qd3 (24. Ne7+ $6 Kh8 25. Qxb7 Qd7 $36
{[%csl Re7,Rh1] is dangerous for White.}) 24... Qd7 {Somehow I believed that
the only way to unpin the knight is to play Nf6 either now or a move later.} ({
After the correct} 24... Nxd5 $1 25. Qxd5 c6 {White has to be very careful, e.
g.} 26. Qd1 Qh3 $36) ({I could force a draw by means of} 24... Rd4 25. Qxd4 (
25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qxd4 Qf3+ $11) 25... Qf3+ 26. Kg1 Qg4+ $11 {, but I liked my
position and wanted to play on.}) 25. Rd1 {After this move I realized that
White has additional options after 25...Rd8.} (25. Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Qxd7 Nxd7 27.
exf6 Nxf6 $15 {was my hope.}) 25... Nxd5 (25... Rd8 {leads to equality after}
26. Nxb6 $1 (26. Ne7+ Kf8 27. Qxd7 Nxd7 $1 28. Nd5 Nb6 29. Nc3 Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1
f6 $1 31. Nc3 Rb4 {with pressure.}) 26... Qc6+ 27. Nd5 Ra5 28. Qf3 Raxd5 29.
Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Kg2 (30. Be3 $4 {loses to} Rd1+ $1 $19) 30... f6 $1 31. Be3 $1 {
[%cal Ga1c1]} Qd7 $1 32. exf6 Bxf6 33. Rc1 $1 c6 34. b3 $11) 26. Qxd5 Qg4 $1
27. Be3 c6 ({After} 27... c6 28. Qd7 $1 {is the best way to equality.} ({
In case of} 28. Qg2 Qf5 {[%cal Gg7e5]} 29. b3 (29. Rd6 Rxa2 $1 (29... Bxe5 $2 {
doesn't work in view of} 30. fxe5 Rg4 31. Rf6 $1 $18 {Moiseenko}) 30. Rxa2 Qb1+
31. Qg1 Qxa2 $15) 29... Re4 30. Qg5 Qxg5 31. fxg5 Bxe5 32. Rac1 Bf4 33. Rd7 Rb8
34. Bxf4 Rxf4 35. Rc2 Rf5 36. h4 Rf4 37. Kg2 Rxh4 38. Kg3 Re4 {Black gets a
minimal edge.}) 28... Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Bh6 (29... g5 $2 {is strongly met by} 30.
Rd3 $1 $16) 30. Rd4 Rxd4 31. Qxd4 Qg4+ $11 {An interesting fighting draw.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "St Petersburg op"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "Svidler,P"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1993.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Bf4 Nc6 $1 {N
} 8. Rd1 (8. d5 e5 $1 9. Bg5 Nd4 $10) 8... Nd7 9. Nf3 $6 (9. d5 Nce5 10. Qb3 c6
11. Be2 $10) 9... Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. d5 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ne5 (12... Nd4 13. Qxc7
$1 (13. Rxd4 e5 $1 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Rd2 Qf6 $40) 13... Nxf3+ 14. Ke2 $13) 13.
Be2 Qd6 $1 $15 14. Qe3 (14. Qxd6 cxd6 $17 {/\ Nec4}) (14. Be3 f5 $1 15. f4 Ned7
16. Qxd6 cxd6 17. exf5 Rxf5 $15) 14... f5 (14... Qb4 $5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5 16. f4
Bg7 17. Rd2 $13) 15. Kf1 $1 $8 (15. Nb5 Qb4+ $1 (15... Nxf3+ $5 16. Kf1 $1 (16.
Bxf3 Qb4+ 17. Nc3 Nc4 $19) (16. Qxf3 fxe4 $1 17. Bxd6 exf3 18. Bxe7 fxe2 $17)
16... Qf6 17. Nxc7 $13) 16. Qd2 (16. Kf1 Nbc4 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18. axb3 fxe4 $17)
16... Nxf3+ $17) (15. O-O $6 fxe4 16. fxe4 Nf3+ 17. Bxf3 Rxf4 $17) 15... Nec4 (
15... fxe4 16. Qxe4 $1 $13 {/\ Bg3,Kg2} (16. Nxe4 Qd7 $40 {/\ Qh3; /\ 17...
Nxd5 18.Qb3 e6-/+})) (15... Nbc4 16. Bxc4 Nxc4 {- 15...Nec4}) 16. Bxc4 (16.
Bxd6 Nxe3+ 17. fxe3 cxd6 $1 18. exf5 gxf5 $17 {>< Be2}) 16... Nxc4 17. Bxd6
Nxe3+ 18. fxe3 cxd6 19. exf5 Rxf5 20. Ke2 (20. Kg2 Rc8 21. Rd3 b5 $1 $17) 20...
Raf8 (20... Rc8 21. Rc1 $1 Bxc3 22. e4 Rg5 23. Kf1 $1 {=/+/=}) 21. Rhf1 Rh5 22.
Rf2 Rff5 23. Rd3 $1 (23. e4 $6 Rf4 $17 {/\ Rfh4,Be5}) 23... a6 (23... Bxc3 $5
24. e4 $1 Bxb2 25. exf5 Rxf5 $44) (23... Rfg5 $1 $15 {(A.Chernosvitov) /\ Bxc3,
Rg1}) 24. Kf1 (24. f4 Bxc3 $1 25. e4 Rxf4 26. Rxf4 Rxh2+ 27. Rf2 Rxf2+ 28. Kxf2
Bxb2 29. Rb3 Bd4+ $17) 24... Rh3 (24... b5 25. e4 Rf4 26. Ne2 $13 {/\ Ng3}) 25.
f4 (25. e4 $6 Rfh5 26. Kg1 Be5 27. Rdd2 Bg3 $1 $19 28. Rg2 $140 Bf4 $1 29. Rdf2
Be3 $19) 25... Bxc3 26. bxc3 g5 $5 (26... b5 27. Rg2 Rfh5 28. Kg1 Kf7 29. Re2
$13 {/\ Rd4,a4}) 27. Kg2 $1 g4 {/\ b5} 28. c4 $1 Rfh5 29. Kg1 b5 30. cxb5 axb5
31. Rg2 Kf7 32. Rxg4 Rxh2 33. Rg2 $10 Rh1+ 34. Kf2 {/\ Kf2-f3-e4} Kf6 35. e4 (
35. Kf3 Kf5 36. e4+ Kf6 37. Ke3 $10) 35... R5h4 36. Rf3 Ra1 (36... Rc1 37. Kg3
Rhh1 38. Re3 $10) 37. Ke3 Rhh1 38. Kd4 $1 Rac1 39. e5+ Kf7 40. Rfg3 $138 (40.
Ke4 $5 Rc4+ 41. Kf5 Rh5+ 42. Rg5 Rxg5+ 43. Kxg5 Rd4 $15) 40... Rc4+ 41. Ke3
dxe5 (41... Re1+ 42. Kf2) 42. fxe5 (42. Rg7+ $2 Kf6 43. fxe5+ Kxe5 44. Rxe7+
Kd6 $1 $17) 42... Re1+ 43. Re2 Rxe2+ 44. Kxe2 Re4+ (44... Rc2+ 45. Kd3 Rxa2 46.
Kd4 $10) 45. Kd3 (45. Re3 $2 Rxe3+ 46. Kxe3 b4 $1 $19 47. Kf4 Kg6 48. Ke4 h6 $1
49. Kf4 (49. d6 exd6 50. exd6 Kf7 51. Kd5 Ke8 $1 $19) 49... h5 $19) 45... Rxe5
46. Kd4 $10 Rf5 47. Rb3 b4 48. Ke4 (48. Rxb4 $2 Rf4+ 49. Kc5 Rxb4 50. Kxb4 h5
51. a4 Ke8 $1 52. Kc5 Kd7 53. Kb6 Kc8 $19) 48... Rh5 49. a3 bxa3 50. Rxa3 Rg5
51. Rd3 Rg6 52. Rh3 h6 53. Kf4 1/2-1/2

