[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 e6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Bd6 7. Nd2 Bxf4 8.
Qxf4 O-O 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Qb4 Qc7 13. c4 Rfd8 14. Nf3
Rac8 15. Rac1 a5 16. Qa3 Nce4 17. b3 Qb6 18. Qb2 dxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 20. Rc2 Nd6
21. Rfc1 Nxc4 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 Nd5 24. Qd4 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Kf8 26. Kf1 Ke8
27. Ke2 Nb6 28. Rc7 Rd7 29. Rc5 Rd5 30. Rc7 Rd7 31. Rc5 Rd5 32. Rc7 Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
exd5 cxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 Be7 12. h3 h6 13. Bf4 Nd7 14. Na4 Nb6
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. a3 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. Rfe1 Re8 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Qe3 Ra8 21.
Bxh6 Bf6 22. Qxe8+ Qxe8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Be3 Bxb2 25. Rb1 Bxa3 26. Rxb6 Re6
27. Rb7 Kg8 28. Rc7 Bb2 29. Rc8+ Kh7 30. g4 d4 31. Bf4 Ba3 32. Rc7 Kg8 33. Rc8+
Kh7 34. Rc7 Be7 35. Kg2 c5 36. h4 Re4 37. Kg3 f6 38. Rd7 Kg8 39. Kf3 Re6 40. h5
Kf8 41. c3 dxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 g6 3. Bb2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2 d5 7. O-O Bg4 8. d3
Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 e5 12. Nd2 h5 13. Qc2 Qe7 14. e3 Rad8 15.
Rad1 Nf8 16. a3 c5 17. Nf3 Qc7 18. Rfe1 b6 19. Qc1 Bh6 20. Qa1 d4 21. exd4 exd4
22. b4 N6d7 23. Bc1 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 Kg7 25. b5 Ne5 26. Nxe5 Rxe5 27. Bc6 a5 28.
Kg2 Ne6 29. h4 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Rd6 31. Re4 Qd8 32. Qd2 Qf6 33. Bd5 Nc7 34. Bc6
Re6 35. Qe2 Qe7 36. Qd2 Qf6 37. Qe2 Qe7 38. Qd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {It would have been interesting to make bets during the first few moves,
regarding which opening will actually be played. After each move, the
expectations will change drastically, as we will see.} d6 {So, Kramnik invites
his opponent to the Pirc, an opening that he has included in his repertoire
just a few years ago.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 {White prefers to threaten with a
transposition to the Sämisch King's Indian, after c4 and Nc3.} c5 {Declining
the offer and launching a new invitation to the Benoni!} ({I must confess that
recently I got tricked by this move order. I played} 3... g6 4. Be3 Nbd7 {
, being ready for either the Pirc or the KI, but then got out of my
preparation rather soon.} 5. Qd2 $1 {Inviting Black to define his intentions.}
({I was ready for} 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qd2 c5 {, which I had studied with
a pupil of mine some time ago.}) 5... c6 ({In the Pirc, I do not tend to
develop the bishop too soon:} 5... Bg7 6. Nc3 {followed by Bh6.}) 6. c4 (6. Nc3
b5 {was my last hope.}) 6... a6 7. Nc3 e5 8. O-O-O {Perez Mitjans,O (2452)
-Marin,M (2548) Barcelona 2011 (1-0, 42). Finally, I got trapped in a
variation that I had never studied and eventually lost.}) 4. Ne2 {After all
probabilities, it will now become a Sicilian English Attack.} (4. d5 {may
transpose to a Benoni, although some deviations are possible:} g6 (4... e6 5.
c4 b5 {Dreev,A (2676)-Saldano Dayer,H (2414)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092/[Erenburg]
(1-0, 31)}) 5. c4 Bg7 6. Ne2 O-O 7. Nec3 e6 {Sadler,M (2667)-Tkachiev,V (2634)/
Enghien les Bains 1999/CBM 070/[Tsesarsky] (0-1, 44). The position looks like
a Benoni, but the disposition of White's knights is slightly different.}) (4.
c3 {would lead to an Alapin Sicilian! One interesting way to fight for the
initiative is} e6 (4... cxd4 5. cxd4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 e5 9. d5
Nbd7 10. Be3 {unexpectedely leads to a genuine Sämisch KI!! Usually, the
exchange of the c-pawns takes place after d4-d5, ...c6xd5, as happened in some
of Kasparov's games.}) 5. dxc5 d5 $5 {Shibut,M (2336)-Khachian,M (2473)/
Minneapolis 2005/CBM 107/[Rogozenko] (0-1, 22)}) 4... e6 5. Be3 {Renewing the
invitation to a Sicilian.} (5. dxc5 Qa5+ 6. Nbc3 dxc5 (6... Qxc5 $5 7. Nd4 a6
8. Be3 {leads to a Scheveningen in which Black may wonder why he had developed
his queen so soon.}) 7. Be3 a6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qe1 Nc6 12.
Kh1 Qc7 13. f4 b6 14. h3 Bb7 $13 {Kurnosov,I (2419)-Zablotsky,S (2381)/
Vladimir 2002/CBM 087 ext (1-0, 40)}) 5... d5 $5 $146 {A new possibility pops
up: the French!} 6. dxc5 {Finally, the game takes an independent course. The
game belongs to B07. In other words, it is a Pirc, as I had announced a long
time ago!} (6. e5 Nfd7 7. f4 Nc6 {looks nice for Black. White's minor pieces
are far from optimally placed for the French structure.}) 6... Nbd7 {The
players are not too interested in solving the pawn tensions at this stage of
the game. Development is more important.} 7. Nbc3 (7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd4 Bxc5 $11
9. Bxg7 $2 Qb6 $40) 7... dxe4 8. b4 b6 $5 {Very sharp.} ({He could have
carried out a similar break under less complicated circumstances with:} 8... a5
9. a3 exf3 10. gxf3 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 b6 $132 13. c6 $2 Ne5 $17) 9.
c6 Bxb4 $1 10. cxd7+ Bxd7 $44 {At the cost of a piece, Black has obtained the
freer development and the possibility of taking the king to a safe place.
White will remain underdeveloped for almost all the rest of the game and his
king will be under permanent attack.} 11. a3 Ba5 12. Qd4 Qe7 13. fxe4 e5 {
Somehow, the central structure ressembles the Sicilian now, but maybe it is
now too late to speak about the opening.} 14. Qd3 O-O 15. Bg5 Rac8 16. Bxf6
Qxf6 $1 17. O-O-O (17. Qxd7 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qxe4 {[%cal Ga5c3]} 19. O-O-O Qxh1 $17)
17... Be6 18. Nd5 {The most natural way to try getting developed. Otherwise,
the knights would have remained immobile.} Bxd5 19. exd5 e4 $1 {[%cal Gf6a1] /
\ 20...Qa1#} 20. Qd4 (20. Qb3 Qa1+ 21. Qb1 Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40) 20... Qd6 21.
h4 $6 {After giving up his a3-pawn, White's material advantage will become
almost insignificant, while his king will be even more exposed.} (21. Kb2 {
was necessary, although Black would have good play anyway:} Rfe8 22. h4 b5 $44
{[%cal Gc8c4,Gb5b4,Ga5b6,Gb6c5]}) 21... Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40 23. Rh3 {The
counterattack initiated by this move is too slow.} (23. h5 $5 {[%cal Gh5h6]
may cause a bit more confusion.} h6 24. Rh4 f5) 23... e3 24. Rg3 Bd2+ 25. Kb1
g6 26. h5 Rfe8 $1 {Anticipating the threats with developing moves.} 27. hxg6 (
27. h6 Re5 $1 {[%csl Gc2]}) 27... hxg6 28. Rh3 Re5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gc5d5]} 29.
Nc1 Bc3 30. Qb3 $2 (30. Qa2 Re4 31. Nb3 Rb4 32. Ba6 Rc7 $40 {/\...b5, ...Ra4})
30... Re4 $19 31. Na2 (31. Qa2 Rb4+ 32. Nb3 a5 $19) 31... Qa5 32. Ba6 Rb4 33.
Bxc8 Rxb3+ 34. cxb3 e2 35. Nxc3 Qxc3 $1 {An imaginative attacking game,
reminding us of Kramnik's youth, when he frequently played the sharp lines of
the Rauzer Sicilian.} 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Nc6 11. Bg5 Bd7 12. Qe2 Re8 13. h4 h6 14. Bf4 Nb4 15.
Ne5 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bd3 Bb4 18. Red1 Rc8 19. Qf3 Be6 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Qb6 22. Qd1 Bd6 23. b3 a6 24. Be3 Qb4 25. Bb1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Kf1
Ne4 28. Bxe4 dxe4 29. Nc4 Bf8 30. d5 h5 31. Qc2 Bf5 32. Bf4 b5 33. Ne3 bxa4 34.
bxa4 Bd7 35. Kg1 Bc5 36. Kh2 Bxa4 37. Qe2 Bd6 38. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 39. Kg1 Bd7 40.
Qxh5 a5 41. Qg5 f6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Be7 6. O-O Nh6 7. b3 O-O 8. c4 Bg6
9. Bxh6 gxh6 10. Nc3 Nd7 11. Qd2 Kg7 12. Bd3 a6 13. Ne2 a5 14. Qe3 a4 15. c5
axb3 16. axb3 b6 17. b4 Qc7 18. Nf4 Qb7 19. h4 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Ra8 21. Qc1 Nf8
22. Ra3 bxc5 23. bxc5 f5 24. g3 Bd8 25. Qa1 Rxa3 26. Qxa3 Be8 27. Kg2 Kg8 28.
Ne1 Bf7 29. Be2 Ng6 30. Ned3 Nxf4+ 31. Nxf4 Kf8 32. Bh5 Bg8 33. Nd3 Bf7 34.
Bxf7 Kxf7 35. Nf4 Be7 36. Qa4 Bd8 37. Qd1 Qd7 38. Qa4 Qb7 39. Qd1 Qd7 40. Qh5+
Kg7 41. Qe2 Kf7 42. Qa6 Ke7 43. Nd3 Qc7 44. Nb4 Kd7 45. Qa8 Be7 46. Na6 Qc8 47.
Qa7+ Ke8 48. Qb8 Kd7 49. Qb6 Bd8 50. Nb8+ 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 a6 14.
Rh3 Qb4 15. Be2 Ne5 16. Rc1 Qd6 17. Rc2 Bd7 18. Rd2 Qc7 19. Rc2 Qd6 20. Rd2 Qc7
21. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. dxc5 Qe8 14. Bd5 Ne5
15. Nd4 e6 16. Bb3 Qe7 17. Be3 b6 18. cxb6 Ba6 19. c4 Qb7 20. Qe2 axb6 21. Nb5
Nc6 22. f3 Bxb5 23. cxb5 Nd4 24. Qf2 Nxb3 25. axb3 Rd3 26. Bxb6 Qd7 27. Kh1
Qxb5 28. Qe2 Rxb3 29. Qxb5 Rxb5 30. Bg1 h5 31. Rc2 g5 32. Rc5 Rxc5 33. Bxc5 Ra2
34. Kg1 Kh7 35. Rf2 Ra5 36. Be3 Ra3 37. Re2 Kg6 38. Kf2 Be5 39. h3 Rb3 40. Rc2
Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 {Kramnik popularised this plan of aiming to transfer
the king to b7 by using it against Kasparov, on the occasion of their historic
match. In the meantime, he has tried other plans, too.} 10. h3 b6 {[%cal Gd8c8,
Gc8b7]} ({Earlier this year, a game between the same players went} 10... h6 11.
b3 c5 12. Nd5 ({Karjakin also had this position with Black:} 12. Bb2 Nd4 13.
Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nd5 c5 15. f4 Bc6 16. c4 {Black is doing fine, but the next move
must have been caused by a miscalculation.} dxc3 $6 17. Bxc3 $1 {He may have
missed this! One move earlier, the d-file was obstructed and the knight could
not have stayed on d5 undefended.} Bxd5 18. Rad1 Kc7 19. Rxd5 Be7 20. Rfd1 Kc6
21. e6 $1 $16 {Shirov,A (2742)-Karjakin,S (2739)/Odessa 2010/CBM 136 Extra 
(1-0, 43)}) 12... c6 13. Nf4 g5 14. Bb2 Rg8 (14... gxf4 15. e6 Bg7 16. Bxg7
Nxg7 17. exd7 Kxd7 18. Rfe1 $44) 15. e6 Bxe6 16. Rad1+ Kc7 17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18.
g4 Bg7 19. Bxg7 Nxg7 20. Ne5 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Rxf4 $36 {
Karjakin,S (2776)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Monte Carlo 2011/CBM 142 (1-0, 44). Despite
his extra pawn, Black is struggling. His knight is very passive.}) 11. a4 $146
{The moves a2-a4 and ...a7-a5 are frequently played in the Berlin Variation 
(sometimes in reversed order), but in this concrete position the last move is
a novelty.} (11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 h5 (12... Be7 13. Rad1 a5 14. a4 h5 15. Ne4 c5
16. c4 Bc6 17. Nfg5 Kb7 $11 {Lahno,K (2518)-Bok,B (2453)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM
141 (1-0, 58)}) 13. g3 Be7 14. Rad1 a5 15. a4 {Smeets,J (2662)-Carlsen,M (2814)
/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM 141/[Kritz] (0-1, 33)}) (11. Bf4 Kc8 12. Rad1 h6 13. Bh2
a5 14. g4 Ne7 15. Nd4 h5 16. e6 fxe6 17. Rfe1 hxg4 18. hxg4 Rh6 19. g5 Rh5 20.
Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Rxe6 Rxg5+ 22. Kf1 Rf5 23. a4 $44 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2715)
-Carlsen,M (2814)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM 141 (1/2, 42)}) (11. g4 Ne7 12. Ng5 Ke8
(12... Be8 {would be similar to the main game.}) 13. Bd2 h5 (13... h6 14. Nge4
h5 {may have been better. Black wanted to attack the knight with the other
pawn, but this will leave him with weaknesses.}) 14. f3 f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16.
Nge4 Bg7 17. Rae1 Kf7 18. Ne2 Rae8 19. Nf4 $14 {Negi,P (2618)-Hammer,J (2606)/
Dubai 2011/CBM 141 Extra (1-0, 41). White has the better structure and a
perfect regroupment.}) 11... a5 12. g4 Ne7 13. Ng5 Be8 (13... Ke8 {is possible
here, too, but Kramnik sticks to his initial plan, of transferring the king to
b7.}) 14. f4 (14. e6 {does not offer anything special:} fxe6 15. Nxe6+ Kd7 16.
Nxf8+ (16. Re1 Nd5) 16... Rxf8 17. Rd1+ Kc8 18. f4 Kb7 19. Be3 c5) 14... h6 15.
Nf3 {White has an impressive pawn majority. (I remember that the first time I
came across this pawn formation, h3-g4-f4-e5 was on the occasion of the 13th
game of the Fischer-Spassky match.) During the next phase of the game, Kramnik
will constantly prevent the dangerous threat f4-f5.} g6 16. b3 (16. Ne4 {
can be answered with} c5 $1 {preventing the e8-bishop from being trapped.})
16... Kc8 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Ne4 c5 {A familiar idea already.} 19. Ng3 {It seems
that White is ready for his attack, but the king is not entirely safe for that.
} Rg8 $1 20. Kh2 Bd7 {For the time being, f4-f5 has been stopped and Black
intends to complete his development with ...Kb7 and ...Rad8. It may seem that
the black bishop is hanging on d7, but that is not true.} 21. c4 {It is
interesting to notice that even in a slow opening like the Berlin Defence,
time is important. White is short of just one tempo to prevent Black's
regrouping.} ({In principle, he would have liked to prevent ...Kb7 with} 21.
Rad1 {, but this would have allowed} c4 $1 $132 {for instance:} 22. Ne4 (22.
Nd2 cxb3 23. cxb3 Kb7 24. Nc4 Rad8) 22... Nc6 23. Kg3 cxb3 24. cxb3 Be6) 21...
Kb7 {Taking advantage of the tempo offered on the previous move.} 22. Rad1 Rad8
{Black has little to fear now.} 23. Rd3 Bc8 $1 {Keeping the bishop, which can
be useful if Black gets to play ...h5.} (23... Bc6 $5 {would get the control
of the open file at the cost of giving up the bishop for a knight:} 24. Rfd1
Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rd8 27. Bc3 Nc6 28. Kg2 Rd1 $132 {The intended
f4-f5 is not possible yet, because the e5-pawn is hanging.} 29. Ne4 (29. Rf1
Rd3 30. Rf3 $11) 29... Nd4 30. Bxd4 cxd4 $11) 24. Rfd1 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Re8 $6 {
Missing an excellent chance for counterplay.} (25... h5 $1 26. gxh5 Bh6 27. Bc1
Rh8 28. Nh4 (28. hxg6 Nxg6 $15) 28... gxh5 29. Be3 Ng6 30. Nxg6 fxg6 $15) 26.
Ne4 Nc6 27. Kg3 Kb8 {Slightly mysterious. The king should remain closer to the
centre. So far, Black has kept his bishop watching f5, so that it makes little
sense to prepare ...Bb7.} (27... Rd8 28. Rxd8 Nxd8 29. Nh4 $14) ({Any waiting
move, such as} 27... Rh8 {would have left White with the problem of proving a
constructive plan.}) 28. Bc3 Rd8 $6 {After the rook exchange, White gets
better possibilities of attacking on the kingside.} (28... Kb7) 29. Rxd8 Nxd8
30. e6 $5 {This is the kind of moves Black should permanently take into
account when playing the Berlin. Psychologically, it leads to an unpleasant
change of the course of the game. White gets an unexpected initiative in what
is supposed to be a slow-motion game.} ({Objectively,} 30. Nh4 {/\ f5, is at
least not worse:} Bb7 31. Kf3 Ne6 32. Ke3 g5 33. Ng2 $14) 30... Nxe6 (30...
Bxc3 $2 31. e7 $18) 31. Bxg7 Nxg7 32. Ne5 f5 $1 (32... Be6 33. Nf6 Kc8 34. Ng8
h5 35. Nh6 $16) 33. Nf6 {Black's kingside is in big danger. With the black
king far away on the queenside, White is practically a piece up.} g5 $6 (33...
fxg4 $5 34. hxg4 h5 {was a good opportunity to get some counterplay against
the white queenside pawns.} 35. f5 {A logical attempt to prevent Black from
getting the f5-square for his pieces.} Nxf5+ $1 36. gxf5 Bxf5 37. Nf3 Bc2 38.
Nd2 $13 {This position is not easy to assess, but Black is very much in the
game.}) 34. Nc6+ {Just winning some time.} (34. Nf7 $1 {transposes to the line
from the next comment.}) 34... Kb7 35. Nd8+ Kb8 36. Nc6+ Kb7 37. Nd8+ Kb8 38.
fxg5 $2 {Helping Black to get rid of a weakness (h6).} (38. Nf7 $1 $16 {
leads to a very harmonious regrouping and retrieves the pawn under favourable
circumstances.} fxg4 39. hxg4 Nf5+ {does not work out well now:} 40. gxf5 Bxf5
41. Kf3 Bc2 (41... gxf4 42. Ne4 $18) 42. Ne4 {/\...f5} gxf4 43. Nd2 $18) 38...
hxg5 39. Nh7 (39. Nf7 {is not effective anymore:} fxg4 40. hxg4 Ne6 41. Ne4 Nd4
42. Nd2 Nc2 43. Ne4 (43. Nxg5 Ne3 $15) 43... Nd4 $11) 39... c6 $2 {Missing his
last chance:} (39... fxg4 40. hxg4 Nf5+ $1 41. gxf5 Bxf5 42. Nxg5 Bc2 43. Nc6+
Kc8 44. Ne5 Bxb3 45. Kf4 Bxa4 46. Ke3 Kd8 47. Ne4 Ke7 48. Nc3 Be8 {With three
pawns for a knight and a mobile bishop, Black is at least not worse.}) 40. Nxg5
Kc7 41. Ndf7 b5 {This counterplay is too slow.} 42. Kf4 fxg4 43. hxg4 Ne6+ 44.
Nxe6+ Bxe6 45. Ne5 Kd6 46. g5 bxa4 47. bxa4 {The queenside situation has
stabilised and the g-pawn decides.} Ke7 48. Nxc6+ Kd6 49. Nxa5 Kc7 50. Ke5 Bg8
51. Nb3 Bxc4 52. Nxc5 Kb6 53. Ne4 Bb3 54. Nc3 Bc2 55. Kf6 Kc5 56. g6 Kb4 57. g7
Bb3 58. Ne4 Bg8 59. Ke7 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {Grischuk admitted he wanted to win, so he opted
for a complex, but risky opening.} 4. f4 {Karjakin is rather persistent in his
opening choices, which is not bad in itself, but sometimes it eases his
opponent's preparation. A good example of this was Karjakin-Carlsen, Wijk aan
Zee 2010, in which Carlsen had success playing the French possibly for the
first time in his life (see his notes in CBM 135).} Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 ({Recently
Karjakin twice faced the other main move} 5... O-O 6. Bd3 Nbd7 {is a rare
alternative, which Ivanchuk took up subsequently.} (6... Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Nc7 $6 ({It has long been known that} 8... Rb8 {and}) (8... Bg4 {are both
stronger. Black retains the option to play Nb4 at a suitable moment.}) 9. a4 b6
10. Qe1 e6 $2 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. e5 Nfd5 (12... Nh5 13. exd6 (13. f5 $1 $40 {
Karjakin}) 13... Qxd6 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. Neg5 Bb7 (15... Nd5 $5 $132) 16. f5 gxf5
17. Qh4 Qe8 18. Bf4 Nd5 $2 (18... Rc8) 19. Bd6 h6 20. Nxe6 Bf6 21. Qe1 $16 {
Jakubiec,A (2535)-Gazik,I (2313)/Orlova op/2011/}) 13. Ne4 dxe5 14. fxe5 Bb7
15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Qh4 Nb4 17. Rad1 Qc6 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6
21. exf6 Rf8 22. Qg5 {1-0, Karjakin,S (2776)-Ivanchuk,V (2776)/Medias/2011/ A
real opening disaster, as Karjakin explains in his notes in CBM 143.}) 7. O-O (
{An ambitious way to go is} 7. e5 $5 Ne8 8. Ne4 $142 (8. Ng5 e6 9. h4 $6 (9.
O-O $13) {is too much, after} 9... c5 $1 {Black's [+]<=> is faster and more
concrete:} 10. h5 (10. Nxh7 Kxh7 11. h5 cxd4 12. hxg6+ Kg8 $17) 10... cxd4 11.
hxg6 hxg6 12. Qg4 dxc3 13. Qh4 Nef6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. bxc3 Re8 16. Bb2 Bd7 17.
c4 Qa5+ 18. Ke2 e5 19. fxe5 Rxe5+ 20. Bxe5 Qxe5+ 21. Kd2 Ng4 22. Rae1 Qf4+ 23.
Kd1 Nf2+ {0-1, Casser,A (1127)-Fischer,R (1094)/corr/2001/}) 8... c5 9. c3 Qb6
$14 {/<=>}) 7... e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. f5 Nc5 10. Bg5 Nxd3 11. Qxd3 Qxd3 12. cxd3
c6 13. Rae1 Nd7 14. g4 b6 15. Rf2 Re8 16. Rd2 Bf8 17. Kg2 a5 18. d4 f6 19. Be3
exd4 20. Bxd4 b5 21. h3 Ra6 22. Red1 Be7 23. Bf2 Nb6 24. Ne2 Nc4 25. Rc2 Bf8
$13 {Karjakin,S (2788)-Ivanchuk,V (2768)/WChT Ningbo/2011/}) 6. Bb5+ {Nowadays
White mostly plays the text move.} (6. dxc5 Qa5 {A paradoxical, but
interesting recent attempt to fight for an opening advantage is} 7. Qd4 $5 ({
The former main line} 7. Bd3 Qxc5 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Be3 Qa5 10. O-O Bg4 ({or} 10...
Nc6 {has been around since the World Championship match in Reykjavik 1972. It
resembles the Dragon Sicilian and gives Black reasonable <=>.})) 7... dxc5 8.
Qc4 O-O 9. e5 Be6 10. Qa4 (10. exf6 $5 Bxc4 11. fxg7 Rd8 12. Bxc4 Nc6 13. O-O
Qb4 14. Bd3 c4 15. Be4 Kxg7 16. Kh1 e6 17. Rb1 Ne7 18. Be3 Nf5 19. Bf2 Kg8 20.
Ne5 f6 21. a3 Qd6 22. Nxc4 Qxf4 23. b3 Qc7 24. Nb5 Qe7 25. Rbe1 $36 {
Grabliauskas,V (2494)-Samraoui,M (2420)/corr/2004/}) 10... Qxa4 11. Nxa4 Ne4 $5
(11... Nfd7 12. Be3 $14 f6 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Bxc5 Nc6 15. Bb5 fxe5 16. Bxc6
bxc6 17. fxe5 Bd5 18. Bxe7 Rxf3 19. gxf3 Bxe5 20. Kf2 Bxb2 21. Rad1 Bxa2 22.
Rd8+ Rxd8 23. Bxd8 Bc3 24. Rd1 $16 {Savchenko,B (2642)-Selbes,T (2263)/TUR-chT
Konya/2010/}) 12. Be3 (12. Bd3 Bd5 13. c4 Bc6 $11) 12... b6 13. Bb5 Bd7 14.
Bxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O-O Rad8 16. Rhe1 f6 17. Bg1 f5 18. Rd3 Nb8 19. Nc3 Rxd3 20.
cxd3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Rd8 22. Kc2 Nc6 23. Bf2 Bh6 $11 {1/2, Andersen,J (2130)
-Conterno,D (2190)/corr/2008/}) 6... Bd7 7. e5 (7. Bxd7+ {is rather harmless:}
Nfxd7 (7... Nbxd7 8. e5 (8. d5 O-O 9. O-O b5 $1 $132) 8... Nh5 9. exd6 O-O 10.
O-O exd6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qd2 Nhf6 13. Kh1 Nb6 14. b3 Nbd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bg1
Nf6 17. Rae1 Qd7 18. dxc5 dxc5 19. Qxd7 Nxd7 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Rd1 Re7 22. Bf2
b6 $11 {1/2, Carlsen,M (2714)-Mamedyarov,S (2752)/Moscow/2007/}) 8. d5 b5 {
is played more often and also gives Black suffcient <=> after} 9. Qe2 (9. Nxb5
$5 Qa5+ 10. Nc3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 Qc4 13. Qe2 Nb6 $132) 9... b4 10.
Nd1 Qb6 11. O-O Qa6 $1 12. Qe1 Nb6 13. Ne3 (13. Nf2 N8d7 14. a3 {Shirov,A 
(2737)-Tkachiev,V (2645)/Bastia rpd/2003/} O-O $13) 13... N8d7 14. c3 $2 bxc3
15. bxc3 Qd3 16. Bd2 Qxe4 17. Ng5 Qa4 18. f5 Nf6 19. Qe2 Qh4 20. Nf3 Qh5 21.
Qb5+ Kf8 22. a4 gxf5 23. a5 Nbd7 24. Rae1 f4 25. Nc4 Qxd5 26. Bxf4 a6 27. Qa4
Rc8 $17 {Livshits,G (2406)-Grischuk,A (2709)/Rishon Le Ziyyon blitz/2006/})
7... Ng4 8. e6 (8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (8... Nxd7 $2 9. e6 fxe6 10. Ng5 $16) 9. d5 dxe5
10. h3 e4 11. Nxe4 Nf6 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. O-O O-O 14. Be3 {was popular in the
mid-1990s, subsequent practice has shown Black has more ways to equalize:} Bxb2
(14... Qd6 $5 15. Ng5 (15. Ne5 Nd7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxc5 Rfd8 18. Re1 Qb5 19.
Ba3 Rxd5 20. Qf3 e6 21. c3 Rad8 $36 {Van de Oudeweetering,A (2388)-Gurevich,M 
(2694)/NED-chT/2001/}) 15... Nd7 16. Ne4 Qb6 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. f5 Qxb2 19.
Bxc5 Rfc8 (19... Qc3 $5 20. Bd4 Qc4) 20. Bd4 Qxc2 21. d6 (21. fxg6 $11) 21...
Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Nd5 23. Bf2 Nc3 24. d7 Rd8 25. Rd3 Ne4 26. Bh4 {Hnydiuk,A (2355)
-Mista,A (2240)/Trzebinia/1998/} Nc5 $15) 15. Rb1 Bg7 (15... Bf6 16. Ne5 Qc7
17. Ng4 Nd7 18. d6 (18. f5 $44) 18... Qc6 (18... exd6 19. Qd5 Rab8 20. f5 $13)
19. f5 e6 $6 (19... exd6 $142 {/\} 20. Qf3 d5 $5 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Bh6 Ne4 23.
Bxf8 Rxf8 $15) 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. fxe6 fxe6 22. Bh6 Rf7 23. Bg5 Nd7 24. Rxf7
Kxf7 25. Be7 $36 {L'Ami,E (2550)-Gurevich,M (2633)/EU-ch Kusadasi/2006/}) 16.
Bxc5 Rd8 17. Bd4 (17. c4 Qc7 18. Bd4 Qxc4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rxb7 Qxd5 21. Qxd5
Rxd5 22. Rxe7 Nc6 23. Rc7 Nd8 24. Re1 a5 25. Ree7 Ra6 26. Red7 Rad6 27. Rxd6
Rxd6 28. Ra7 Nc6 29. Ra6 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 {1/2, Palac,M (2573)-Lalic,B (2520)/Pula/
2000/}) (17. Ne5 Qc7 18. Ba3 Nc6 19. Rxb7 Qxb7 20. Nxc6 e6 21. Nxd8 Rxd8 22. d6
Bb2 23. Bxb2 Qxb2 24. Rf2 {Rajlich,V (2309)-Resika,N (2190)/Budapest/2000/} Qb6
25. d7 a5 $11 {[%cal Yb6a7] /\Qa7}) 17... Qxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 20.
Rxb7 Nc6 21. Rc7 Nd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxe7 Rc8 24. f5 g5 25. Rxa7 Rxc2 26. Rf3
h6 27. a4 Ra2 28. a5 Rdd2 {1/2, Nisipeanu,L (2611)-Badea,B (2486)/Sovata/2000/}
) 8... fxe6 {Introduced by Seirawan in 1988, this has replaced the older} (8...
Bxb5 9. exf7+ Kf8 $5 {possibly deserves more attention:} (9... Kd7 {has been
around for more than 50 years, but it doesn't seem ideal - in practice Black
has had problems with his more exposed K after} 10. Nxb5 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 cxd4 12.
Nxd4 h5 (12... Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Qc4 Qb6 15. Qe2 $36) 13. h3 Nc6 14. Nde2
Nh6 15. Be3 Nf5 16. Bf2 Raf8 17. O-O Rxf7 18. a3 $14) 10. Nxb5 Qa5+ 11. Nc3
cxd4 12. Nxd4 Kxf7 13. Qxg4 (13. O-O Qc5 14. Qxg4 Bxd4+ 15. Kh1 Bxc3 16. bxc3
Qf5 17. Qe2 Nd7 18. Rb1 b6 19. Be3 Rhe8 20. Rb5 Nc5 21. a4 Kg8 22. a5 Rab8 23.
axb6 axb6 24. h3 Qe6 25. Re1 Ne4 $132 {Karjakin,S (2732)-Mamedyarov,S (2760)/
Nice rpd/2008/}) 13... Bxd4 14. Bd2 Nc6 15. O-O-O Bf6 16. Rhe1 Qf5 17. Qxf5 (
17. Qe2 $5 {gives White more chances to fight for an advantage}) 17... gxf5 18.
Nd5 Rhg8 19. g3 Rad8 20. Nxf6 Kxf6 21. c4 Kf7 22. Bc3 Rd7 23. Rd5 e6 24. Rd3
Rc8 25. Kb1 b6 26. Red1 Rcd8 27. b3 h5 $11 {Haarr,J (2188)-Tjiam,D (2385)/
Tromsoe/2010/}) 9. Ng5 Bxb5 10. Nxe6 {Other moves have gradually disappeared
from practice.} (10. Nxb5 Qa5+ 11. c3 (11. Bd2 Qxb5 12. Nxe6 Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qxa2
14. Nxg7+ Kf7 15. O-O {brought White success in the past, but I doubt this
idea can survive the onslaught of computer analysis after} Nf6 {or} (15... h5
$5)) 11... Qxb5 12. Nxe6 Qc4 13. Qxg4 cxd4 14. Nxg7+ Kf7 15. Nf5 Qe6+ 16. Ne3
dxe3 17. Qxe6+ Kxe6 18. Bxe3 Nc6 $11 {leads to a dull _|_.}) (10. Qxg4 Bc4 11.
b3 (11. Nxh7 Kd7 12. Qxg6 Bxd4 $36) 11... Bxd4 12. Bd2 Bd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14.
O-O-O Nc6 15. Ne6 (15. Qe6 Qc8 16. Qf7+ Kd7 17. Qxd5 Qg8 18. Qxg8 Rhxg8 19.
Nxh7 b5 20. Ng5 b4 21. Rhe1 a5 $15 {Nunn,J (2620)-Seirawan,Y (2585)/Skelleftea/
1989/}) 15... Qc8 16. f5 Bf6 17. fxg6 Rg8 18. g7 Kf7 (18... Ne5 19. Qh5+ Kd7
20. Qf5 Kc6 21. Bh6 Qe8 {Van Tricht,M-Soh,E/corr/1998/} 22. g4 $1 $36) 19. Bh6
Ne5 20. Qh5+ Kxe6 21. Qh3+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ Ng6 23. Rhf1 Qc6 24. Rde1 Rxg7 25.
Rxe7+ Kg8 26. Rxf6 Rxe7 27. Rxg6+ hxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kh8 29. Qf6+ Kh7 30. Qxe7+
Kxh6 31. Qf6+ Kh7 32. Qf7+ {1/2, Sgherri,M-Viviani,E/corr/2009/}) 10... Bxd4
11. Nxb5 {The only way to continue the fight.} ({Many games have finished with
the uninspired} 11. Nxd8 Bf2+ 12. Kd2 Be3+ $11) (11. Nxd4 Bd7 (11... Bc4 $5)
12. Nf3 Nc6 $15 {is fine for Black - he has an extra P and White's B is
limited by the Pf4.}) 11... Qa5+ 12. Qd2 (12. c3 Bf2+ 13. Kd2 Be3+ 14. Kc2 Qa4+
15. Kb1 Qe4+ 16. Qc2 Qxc2+ 17. Kxc2 Bxc1 18. Kxc1 Kd7 19. Nec7 a6 20. Nxa8 axb5
21. a4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 Kc6 23. Ra7 c4 $5 (23... Na6 24. Re1 Re8 25. Kd2 Nc7 26.
Nxc7 Kxc7 27. h3 Nf6 28. Kd3 Nh5 29. Ra4 Kd7 30. g4 Nf6 31. b4 $14 {Nataf,I 
(2545)-Fressinet,L (2593)/Cergy Pontoise rpd/2003/}) 24. Re1 e5 25. Re4 d5 26.
Re2 e4 27. h3 Nf6 28. b4 cxb3 29. Rb2 Kd6 30. Nb6 Nh5 31. Rxb3 Nxf4 32. Rxb7 e3
33. Rxb8 Rxb8 34. Nc4+ Kc7 $11 {Acker,H (2020)-Kondziela,A (2077)/corr/2004/})
12... Qxd2+ {A rare continuation, Grischuk goes for an _|_ and avoids the main
line} (12... Bf2+ 13. Kd1 Ne3+ 14. Ke2 Qxb5+ 15. Kxf2 Ng4+ 16. Kg3 Na6 (16...
Qd7 17. Re1 $36) 17. Re1 (17. Kxg4 Qd7 18. Re1 Nc7 19. Qc3 (19. Qe2 Kf7 20. f5
gxf5+ 21. Kxf5 Rag8 $19 {[%cal Rg8g6] /\Rg6}) 19... Rf8 20. Qb3 d5 21. Qxb7
Nxe6 22. Qxd7+ (22. Qxa8+ Kf7 $40) 22... Kxd7 $11 {[%csl Gc5,Gd5,Ge7] /3,[+]})
17... Nh6 18. b3 Nf5+ 19. Kf2 h5 20. Bb2 Rg8 21. Rad1 Kd7 22. c4 $44 {leads to
the critical position. White has good long-term compensation, but the outcome
of the game remains open. After the game Grischuk stated he considered this
position rather dangerous for Black.}) 13. Bxd2 Kd7 14. Nbxd4 $146 {Karjakin
probably wasn't prepared for this line and chooses an insipid continuation.
The only way to fight for an advantage was to take the offered material with
the principled} (14. Nec7 $5 a6 (14... Nc6 15. Nxa8 Rxa8 16. Nxd4 (16. c3 Bg7
17. O-O e6 18. Rae1 a6 19. Na3 d5 20. Rf3 b5 21. Bc1 b4 22. Nc2 a5 23. Rd1 Kd6
$44 {Besozzi,F-Lanzani,P (1931)/corr/2009/}) 16... Nxd4 17. Rc1 Rf8 18. c3 Nf5
19. h3 (19. Ke2 $5 h5 20. g3 $14) 19... Nf6 20. g4 Ng3 21. Rg1 Nfe4 22. Rc2 h5
23. Be3 b6 24. Kd1 h4 25. Re1 e6 26. Rc1 Nf6 27. c4 d5 28. Kc2 d4 29. Rcd1 e5
$1 30. fxe5 Nfe4 31. Bxd4 cxd4 32. Rxd4+ {1/2 Vestergard,S (2306)-Pfiffner,P 
(2401)/corr/2009/} {Black's forces are so active that after} Ke6 33. Rdxe4 Nxe4
34. Rxe4 Rf3 35. b4 $1 $132 {White must play accurately to hold the balance})
15. Nxa8 axb5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Nb6+ Kc6 18. Nxa4 Nd7 19. Nc3 Nb6 20. Nd1 Nc4 21.
c3 Bg7 22. Ke2 (22. Bc1 h5 23. O-O h4 24. Re1 Bf6 25. h3 Nh6 26. Nf2 Nf5 27.
Ng4 Rf8 28. Nxf6 Rxf6 29. b3 Nb6 30. c4 Nd7 31. Bb2 Rf8 32. Bc3 $14 {1/2,
Radjabov,T (2729)-Ivanchuk,V (2750)/Monte Carlo rpd blindfold/2007/}) 22...
Nxd2 (22... e5 $142 $5 23. fxe5 Re8 $132) 23. Kxd2 Bh6 24. Ke2 Rf8 25. g3 e5
26. h3 Nf6 27. fxe5 Re8 28. Re1 Rxe5+ 29. Kf1 Ne4 30. Kg2 Bg7 31. Ne3 $14 {
/+/-, Muzychuk,A (2537)-Hamdouchi,A (2268)/Port Marly/2011/}) (14. Nbc7 $2 Na6
15. Nxa6 (15. Nxa8 Kxe6 $19) 15... bxa6 16. Nxd4 cxd4 $15 {/-/+}) 14... cxd4
15. Nxd4 Rc8 {[%csl Gd6,Gd7,Ge7][%mdl 4096] In the resulting _|_ Black has no
problems whatsoever. His K is well placed, while his [+]P can potentailly
become strong (compare with the situation after move 30). Grischuk's opening
choice has paid off, although objectively at this moment the position is
roughly equal, it's still full of play for players willing to fight.} 16. O-O
Rc5 $1 {[%cal Gc8c2] [+],<->c} (16... Nc6 17. Nf3 $11) 17. c3 ({Black's last
move activated the R and stopped the aggressive try} 17. f5 $2 Nc6 18. Nxc6
Rxc2 $1 $17) 17... Nc6 18. Nf3 (18. Nxc6 bxc6 {[%csl Gc6,Gd6,Ge7] strengthens
Black's [+]}) 18... b5 19. h3 (19. a4 $5 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Rb8 21. b4 Rc4 22. Nd4
$5 (22. Ra3 Nf6 $11) 22... Nxd4 23. Rxa7+ Ke8 24. cxd4 Rxd4 25. Re1 Rxd2 26.
Rexe7+ Kf8 27. Rf7+ Kg8 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. Rhg7+ $11) 19... Nf6 20.
Be3 ({White still had a chance to play more actively with} 20. a4 $5 bxa4 21.
Rxa4 Rb8 22. Ra2 Ne4 23. Re1 $132) 20... Rd5 21. Nd4 (21. a4 b4 $1 22. cxb4 (
22. c4 Rd3 $36) 22... Nxb4 $11 {/=/+}) 21... Na5 $5 22. Rad1 (22. b3 Ne4 $15 {
><c3}) (22. a4 $5 Nc4 23. Bf2 b4 24. cxb4 Ne4 25. Rfc1 $13) 22... Nc4 23. Bc1
a5 {[%mdl 32] Black's position is already more comfortable. He has () on the
<< and his well placed centralised Rd5 prevents White's most important active
ideas. Although it's still far from a tangible advantage, Grischuk's
purposeful strategic play will gradually force new concessions.} 24. Nc2 $6 {
Objectively speaking, it is only this passive move which is the first
inaccuracy.} (24. Rfe1 $142 a4 $5 (24... Rc8 25. b3 Nb6 26. Rd3 Rdc5 (26... e5
27. fxe5 dxe5 28. Rf3 $14 (28. Nf3 $6 e4 $1 $36)) 27. Bd2 Nbd5 28. Ne6 (28. b4
Rc4 29. bxa5 Ra4 30. Nxb5 Rcc4 $1 $44) 28... R5c6 29. Nd4 $11) 25. b3 Na5 26.
Rd2 {[%cal Yd2e2] /\Rde2<=>}) 24... Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rc8 $15 26. Kf1 (26. Nd4 b4
$15 (26... Rc5 $5)) 26... Nb6 {[%cal Rb5b4] /\} 27. a3 {This allows Black to
increase his positional advantage.} (27. Nd4 $142 $5 b4 28. cxb4 axb4 29. Ke2
Nfd5 $15 {/<=>}) 27... a4 $1 {[%csl Ra3,Ga4,Rb2,Gb5,Rc1,Rc3] The P are
blockaded on the dark squares, with 2 blackP fixing 3 whiteP. This - 1) limits
White's B. 2) gives Black a mobile extra P in the [+].} 28. Rd4 {[%cal Rd4b4,
Rc2d4] /\Rb4, Nd4} (28. Nd4 Nc4 {/\} 29. Nxb5 Rb8 30. Nd4 Nxb2 $17 {[%csl Ra3,
Rc3] ק}) 28... Nfd5 29. Ke2 e5 $36 30. fxe5 dxe5 {See the previous note -
Black has a [+]o^.} 31. Rd1 ({A serious and logical alternative was} 31. Rh4 $5
h5 32. g4 $15 {, promising White more <=>.}) 31... Ke6 32. Rf1 (32. Ne1 $142
$15 {Grischuk}) 32... Nc4 33. Rf3 h6 {()>>} (33... g5 $5 $36) 34. Nb4 Nxb4 35.
axb4 g5 36. g4 {[%cal Yh3h4] /\h4<=> By now White is clearly on the defensive.
His hopes are either to hold a fortress, or create some <=>.} Rg8 $5 {Prevents
h4.} 37. Rf1 Nb6 {[%cal Yb6d5,Yd5f4] /\Nd5-f4 Although the N was well placed
on c4, Black had no obvious way to penetrate into White's camp. Therefore
Grischuk transfers it to f4.} ({Trading R would probably be enough for a win,
but} 37... Rg7 {[%cal Yg7f7] /\Rf7 allows} 38. Rf8 $132) 38. Be3 Nd5 39. Rh1
Rc8 (39... Nf4+ $5 40. Kd1 (40. Bxf4 gxf4 $17) 40... h5 $36 {/\} 41. gxh5 Rh8
$17) 40. h4 $2 (40. Bc5 $142 $1 $15 {/-/+, Grischuk}) (40. Ra1 Nf4+ 41. Kd2 Kd5
$36) 40... a3 $1 41. bxa3 Rxc3 42. Bc5 (42. Bd2 Nf4+ $1 43. Bxf4 (43. Kd1 Rxa3)
43... gxf4 $19) (42. hxg5 Rxe3+ 43. Kd2 hxg5 (43... Rxa3 44. gxh6 e4 $1 45. Kc2
(45. h7 Ra2+ $19) 45... Ra2+ 46. Kb3 Ra8 47. h7 Rh8 $19) 44. Rh6+ Ke7 45. Rh7+
Ke8 46. Rh8+ Kf7 $1 47. Rd8 (47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rd7 Nf6) 47... Ke6 48. Rxd5 (48.
Re8+ Kd7 $19) 48... Kxd5 49. Kxe3 e4 $19) 42... Nf4+ 43. Kd2 Rxa3 ({The text
probably wins as well, but possibly more accurate was} 43... Rd3+ $5 {/\} 44.
Kc2 Rxa3 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Rh8 Kd5 47. Rb8 Kc4 48. Re8 Ra2+ {and contrary to
the similar line in the game, White's K must go to the back rank:} 49. Kd1 (49.
Kb1 Kb3 50. Rxe5 Rb2+ 51. Ka1 Nd3 52. Rf5 (52. Re3 Rd2) 52... Ne1 $19) 49...
Kd3 50. Rd8+ Kc3 $19) 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. Rh8 Kd5 (45... Rg3 $5 46. Rb8 Rxg4 47.
Rb6+ Kd5 48. Rxb5 Rg2+ 49. Ke1 (49. Kc3 Ne2+ 50. Kb3 g4 $19) 49... g4 $19) 46.
Rd8+ Kc4 47. Re8 Kd5 (47... Ra2+ $142 $1) 48. Rb8 (48. Rd8+ Kc4 $1 (48... Ke4
49. Rb8 (49. Rg8 Ne6 50. Rg6 $17) 49... Kf3 50. Rxb5 e4 51. Kc2 $17) 49. Re8
Ra2+ {transposes to the game.}) 48... Kc4 49. Re8 Ra2+ $1 50. Ke3 (50. Ke1 Nd3+
51. Kf1 Nxc5 52. bxc5 Kd5 53. c6 (53. Ke1 b4 54. Kd1 Rg2 $19) 53... Kxc6 54.
Rxe5 b4 55. Re3 Kd5 56. Ke1 Rg2 $19) 50... Nd5+ 51. Kf3 $8 (51. Ke4 Nf6+) 51...
Ra3+ 52. Ke2 Nc3+ 53. Ke3 Ra2 $1 $19 {[%csl Ge5] Indirectly protects the o^e5
and prepares its advance.} 54. Rc8 (54. Be7 Nd5+ 55. Ke4 Nxe7 56. Rxe7 Rf2 $1
57. Ke3 (57. Rxe5 $2 Re2+) 57... Rf4 58. Rxe5 Rxg4 59. Kf3 Rh4 60. Rxg5 Kxb4
61. Ke3 Rc4 62. Kd3 Rc7 $19 {is a TB win.}) (54. Rxe5 $4 Re2+) 54... Re2+ 55.
Kf3 e4+ 56. Kg3 Rc2 $1 57. Kh3 ({Once again the P was indirectly protected:} 
57. Be7+ Kb3 58. Bxg5 $2 Ne2+ $19) 57... Nd5 58. Be7+ {Loses by force.} (58.
Kg3 $5 {was more resilient:} Rc3+ 59. Kh2 Kb3 60. Rg8 {, but Black still wins
after} Nxb4 $5 (60... e3 61. Rxg5 e2 62. Bf2 Nf4 $19 {should also suffice}) 61.
Bxb4 Kxb4 62. Rxg5 Rc5 63. Rh5 Kc4 $19) 58... Kb3 59. Rxc2 Kxc2 60. Bxg5 Nxb4
61. Bh4 (61. Bd8 e3 62. Kg2 e2 63. Bh4 Nd3 64. g5 b4 65. Kf3 b3 66. g6 b2 67.
g7 b1=Q 68. g8=Q Qf1+ 69. Ke3 e1=Q+ 70. Bxe1 Qf4+ 71. Ke2 Nc1#) 61... Nd5 62.
g5 b4 63. Kg4 (63. g6 Nf4+ $19) (63. Kh2 Ne7 64. Bf2 b3 65. Bd4 e3 $19) 63...
b3 64. g6 b2 65. g7 b1=Q (65... b1=Q 66. g8=Q Qg1+ (66... Nf6+ 67. Bxf6 Qg1+)
67. Bg3 Nf6+ $19) 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Ne7 7. dxc5 Nd7 8. c3
Nc6 9. Nd4 Bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Nxf5 exf5 12. Qxd5 Bxe3 13. e6 Qb6 14. Qxd7
Qxb2 15. exf7+ Kh8 16. fxe3 Qxe2 17. Qxb7 Ne5 18. Na3 Qxe3+ 19. Kh1 Ng4 20. Qf3
Qe5 21. Qf4 Rxf7 22. h3 Qxf4 23. Rxf4 Ne3 24. Re1 Nd5 25. Rf3 g6 26. Re5 Nf6
27. Nb5 Rd7 28. Nd4 Ne4 29. Ra5 Rb8 30. Kh2 Rb1 31. h4 Rc1 32. h5 Kg7 33. Ra6
Rxc3 34. Ne6+ Kh6 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Rxc3 Nxc3 37. Nf8 Rg7 38. Ra3 Rc7 39. Ra6
Rg7 40. Ra3 Rc7 41. Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 f6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Nf3 Qe7 7. O-O Qf7 8. Re1
O-O-O 9. a4 Nge7 10. b4 Nxb4 11. Rb1 Nec6 12. Ne2 Qg6 13. Bd2 fxe5 14. Bxb4
Nxb4 15. Nxe5 Qxc2 16. Bxd7+ Rxd7 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Nf4 Qxd1 19. Rbxd1 Bd6 20.
Nxe6 Nc2 21. Re2 Re8 22. Nc5+ Bxc5 23. Rxe8 Kxe8 24. dxc5 Nb4 25. a5 a6 26. Kf1
Kd7 27. Rd4 Nc6 28. Rxd5+ Ke6 29. Rh5 h6 30. Ke2 Nxa5 31. Kd3 b6 32. cxb6 cxb6
33. Rh3 Nb7 34. Rg3 Nc5+ 35. Kc4 Kf6 36. Kd5 a5 37. Rf3+ Kg5 38. Kc6 Ne4 39.
Kxb6 a4 40. Kb5 Nd2 41. Rg3+ Kf6 42. Kxa4 g5 43. Kb4 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 e5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d4 {These lines with ...c5 and ...
e5 were subjected to intense testing during the Candidates' Matches in Khanty
Mansyisk (see also my theoretical survey published with CBM 143).} e4 6. Ne5 g6
7. Be2 $146 ({I had words of praise for} 7. Rb1 {, played in Kramnik,V (2785)
-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan 2011/CBM 143/[Marin] (1/2, 65), but, apparently, the
former World Champion has his own view.}) 7... Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 {Not
fearing any ghosts along the long diagonal, Kramnik decides that he can
develop normally, without the preparatory Ra1-b1.} ({In view of the possible
improvements for Black on the next move, I would think that} 9. Rb1 {deserves
serious attention, though. Let us check what could happen if Black plays as in
the game, or as in the lines recommended in the next comment.} {Finally, in
the event of the game plan:} cxd4 (9... Ne7 $2 {simply does not work now:} 10.
dxc5 Ne8 11. f4 ({In fact, even} 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Nxe4 $44 {is playable,
since the rook is not hanging anymore.}) 11... exf3 12. Nxf3 $16 {This way of
saving the knight is possible only because its colleague is defended.}) (9...
Re8 {can be met with} 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. dxc5 {, since there are no dangers
along the a1-h8 diagonal.} Nd7 12. Qc2 $1 (12. Na4 {places the knight on a
passive square and allows strong black counterplay on the opposite wing:} Qg5
13. b4 Ne5 14. Kh1 Bg4 $44) 12... Nxc5 (12... f5 13. b4 $16) 13. b4 Nd3 14.
Nxe4 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bf5 16. Bd3 {Despite the engines' lack of enthusiasm, I
see that White has an extra pawn, without any obvious plan for Black to
compensate for it.}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {, the rook can be
useful on b1, too:} 13. b4 {(planning a4, b5, etc)} d5 $140 14. c5 $1 {
followed by b4-b5, with strong queenside initiative.}) 9... cxd4 $6 {
Nepomniachtchi wrongly assumes that, once b2-b3 has been played, the bishop
would automatically go to b2, so that the opening of the c1-h6 diagonal does
not bother him. Instead of this unnecessary concession, he had at least two
good alternatives.} (9... Ne7 $5 {leaves the e5-knight in some danger:} 10. Bb2
(10. dxc5 Ne8 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 {does not work out well for White. He will have to
lose some time to solve the pin before becoming active.}) (10. f3 {is a bit
artificial and offers Black good counterplay against the d4-pawn.} d6 11. Ng4
Nxg4 12. fxg4 Nc6 13. Nxe4 Re8 {A dream position for a Grünfeld player.}) 10...
d6 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. Qxg4 f5 {Black has little to fear.}) ({
The immediate} 9... Re8 $1 {may be the simplest:} 10. Bb2 (10. Nxc6 dxc6 11.
dxc5 Nd7 $1 {[%cal Gg7a1] does not look right for White.}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4
d6 ({There is no real need for} 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Rxe5 13. Nb5 Re6 14. Qd2
$44 {with active play for White.}) 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {Compared with the game
position, this is a much better version for Black. The bishop is passive on b2,
being sort of dominated by its rival and failing to stabilise the centre (...
e4-e3 is a permanent threat).}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 $1 (11. Nxc6 dxc6 {
would open the d-file for Black's counterplay. This would be just what a
Grünfeld specialist would hope for, in order to exert pressure against the
d4-pawn.}) 11... d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 $14 {Despite Black's space advantage,
White's play is easier. His structure is more flexible and he has the
possibility of building up a queenside attack.} d5 14. Qd2 ({Under the given
circumstances, the plan based on} 14. c5 {does not promise anything special
anymore:} a5 15. a3 Ba6 $11 {Black has solved most of his strategic problems.})
14... Ba6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h3 {In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will be
restricting himself to half-waiting moves, as if he would not find a clear
plan. Maybe he hoped that his opponent would get bored of his passive position
and starts some premature counterplay. To a certain extent, the ulterior
course of the game will justify such an approach.} dxc4 {A first sign of
Black's impatience. By giving up the tension, he avoides being left with a
weak pawn on d5 and hopes to get some counterplay against White's central
pawns.} 17. bxc4 Nd7 (17... Qa5 18. Nxe4 ({This is not really necessary, since
the queen is not doing much on a5. The more neutral} 18. Qc2 Rcd8 19. Rb1 $14 {
/\Na4 also retains White's advantage.}) 18... Qxd2 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxd2 Rcd8
21. Rcd1 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 24. Bh6 f6 25. Rd7 $14) 18. Na4 $1 {
Possibly underestimated by Black.} Bf8 19. Bf1 (19. Rb1 $5 {/\Rb3}) 19... h5
20. Qc3 {A bit mysterious.} Qf6 21. Be3 c5 22. Qa5 {Now that pawn contact has
been established, Kramnik switches to dynamic mode.} (22. d5 $5 $14 {also
looks promising. The c5-pawn is a target, the a6-bishop is passive and the
d5-pawn can become dangerous in the event of mass simplifications.}) 22... cxd4
23. Bxd4 Qc6 24. Nc3 $1 {Re-centralising.} (24. Bxa7 $2 Re5 25. c5 $8 {[%csl
Ga4]} Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rg5 $40 {[%cal Ge4e3,Gc8a8]}) 24... Bh6 (24... Bc5 25. Bxc5
Nxc5 26. Nb5 Bxb5 27. cxb5 Qb6 28. Qa3 $14) 25. Nd5 $5 {Quite imaginative.
Decades ago, I had come in contact with Petrosian's positional exchange
sacrifices and started carrying them out myself. More than once, I ignored
such threats as ...Bxc1, by making some active move on another sector of the
board. Subjectively, I like Kramnik's last move a lot, although objectively
the position did not require it really.} (25. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Gc3d5]}) 25...
Bxc1 26. Rxc1 $44 {White is strongly centralised and Black is poorly
coordinated and weak on the dark squares.} Bb7 $2 {This is the right time to
mention the psychological impact of the positional exchange sacrifice,
something Petrosian liked to speak about. Black has "won" an exchange for no
pawn, which may cause either some sort of euphoria or panic in front of 
(possibly illusory) threats. This depends on the player's character, of course.
With his last move, Black aims to regroup as soon as possible and exchange the
molesting knight. However, since ...Bxd5 is not a threat yet anyway, the move
order chosen by him is wrong.} (26... Qd6 $1 {is the only way to parry the
game threat under favourable circumstances.} 27. Bb2 Bb7 $1 {This is
well-timed now.} 28. Rd1 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Qe7 30. Qc3 f6 31. Qe3 Nb6 32. Rd4 {
White has pressure on both wings and his bishops look threatening. From the
practical point of view, it may be not that pleasant to play with Black, since
there is no immediate way to release the pressure, for instance:} Rcd8 33. c5
$1 {based on} Qxc5 $4 34. Rxd8 Qxe3 35. Rxe8+ Kf7 36. fxe3 $18) 27. Qb4 $1 $16
{Suddenly, the threat of Ne7+ (attacking four pieces at the same time!) cannot
be parried adequately.} a5 28. Ne7+ Kf8 (28... Kh7 29. Qa3 $16) 29. Nxg6+ Kg8
30. Ne7+ Kf8 31. Ng6+ Kg8 32. Ne7+ Kf8 33. Nxc6+ axb4 34. Nxb4 Nc5 35. Rb1 $16
{White has two pawns for the exchange, an unchallenged dark-squared bishop,
and the safer king position. This is enough to claim a clear advantage.} Red8 (
35... Nd3 {has been recommended by Zagrebelny, but it fails to solve Black's
problems if White just ignores the knight.} 36. Be3 $1 (36. Nxd3 exd3 37. Bxd3
Be4 $11 {Zagrebelny}) 36... Red8 37. a4 (37. Nxd3 exd3 38. Rxb7 d2 39. Bxd2
Rxd2 $11) 37... Rd7 38. Bxd3 exd3 39. c5 {/\a5} d2 40. Rd1 $16) 36. Nc2 Ba8 (
36... Ba6 $5 $16 {[%csl Gb5] ><b5}) 37. Rb5 Nd3 38. Rxh5 $18 {White has some
material advantage already, while keeping all his previous trumps.} Ke8 (38...
Ke7 39. Ne3 $1 Rxd4 $2 40. Nf5+) (38... Rxc4 39. Bf6 $1 $18) 39. Bb6 Rd6 40. c5
{Consolidating the bishop and planning the advance of the a-pawn.} Rd5 41. Rh6
Rg5 (41... Nxc5 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Bb5+ Bc6 44. Rxc8 Kxc8 45. Bxc6 Rd6 46. Nb4
Nd3 47. Nd5 $1 $18) 42. Nd4 Rg6 (42... Nxc5 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Bb5+ $18) 43. Rh5
Ke7 44. a4 Nf4 45. Re5+ Kf8 46. g3 Nd3 47. Rh5 Kg8 48. a5 Re8 49. a6 Re5 50.
Rxe5 Nxe5 51. Bb5 e3 52. a7 Kf8 53. Bc7 (53. Bc7 {The knight is sort of
trapped.} f6 $8 54. Kf1 $5 {Not the only move, but the simplest one. The
e3-pawn is neutralised and the strength of the threat f2-f4 is increased, by
avoiding ...Rxg3+.} exf2 55. Bxe5 fxe5 56. c6 Ke7 57. c7 Rg8 58. Nf5+ {It
appears that preventing Nd6 with} Ke6 {drops material to} 59. Bc4+ Bd5 60.
Bxd5+ Kxd5 61. Ne7+) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O e5 8. a3
Be7 9. b4 O-O 10. bxc5 Bxc5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. d3 Nb5 15.
Nfg5 Nc7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 18. e3 Qa5 19. Rc4 Red8 20. Rfc1 Qb6 21. Qc2
Na5 22. Rc3 Rd7 23. Nd2 Rbd8 24. Nf3 Rd5 25. Ba1 Qa6 26. Rb1 Nc6 27. Bf1 Bxa3
28. d4 Qa5 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Rxc5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Qxa1 32. Qf5 Rf8 33. Rxf7 Rxf7
34. Qxe6 e4 35. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8.
e3 Ne7 9. Bd3 Bf5 10. Bxf5 Nxf5 11. Qc2 Ne7 12. Qb3 Ra7 13. e4 O-O 14. e5 Qd8
15. Qc2 f6 16. O-O fxe5 17. Nxe5 Nf5 18. Qd3 Nd7 19. Rae1 Ra8 20. Na4 Nxe5 21.
Rxe5 g6 22. Nc5 Rf7 23. Rfe1 Ng7 24. g3 Qf8 25. R1e2 Re8 26. Rxe8 Nxe8 27. Re5
Ng7 28. Qe2 Qd6 29. Kg2 Qf6 30. h4 h6 31. Nd3 Nf5 32. Re6 Qg7 33. Qg4 Kh7 34.
h5 gxh5 35. Qxh5 Rf6 36. Rxf6 Qxf6 37. Nf4 Nxd4 38. Qe8 a5 39. b3 b5 40. Qd7+
Qg7 41. Qe8 Qf6 42. Qd7+ Qg7 43. Qd6 Qf7 44. g4 c5 45. Kg3 h5 46. Nxh5 Qf3+ 47.
Kh4 Qxf2+ 48. Kg5 Qe3+ 49. Nf4 Ne2 50. Qd7+ Kh8 51. Qc8+ Kg7 52. Qc7+ Kh8 53.
Qd8+ Kg7 54. Qc7+ Kh8 55. Qd8+ Kg7 56. Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. h3 {A quiet,
very rare move.} ({Botvinnik's} 7. g4 {is the main continuation here.}) 7...
Nd7 (7... Qb6 8. Qd2 Nf6 9. Nge2 O-O 10. f3 Bg6 11. g4 Na6 12. a3 Rfe8 13. Kf2
Qd8 14. Bg3 Nc7 15. h4 h5 16. g5 Nd7 17. Bh3 Nb6 18. b3 Bd6 19. Nf4 $14 {
1-0 Kasparov,S (2465)-Malakhatko,V (2568)/Kiev 2000/CBM 077 (62)}) (7... Nf6 8.
Nf3 {leads to the position which usually arises after 5...Nf6 6.e3 Bf5 7.h3 c6}
({and} 8. g4 Be6 {leads to the 7.g4 system})) 8. Nf3 (8. Nge2 Bg6 9. g4 h5 10.
Rg1 hxg4 11. hxg4 Nb6 12. Qb3 Bd6 13. a4 Rb8 14. a5 Nc8 $13 {1/2 Ward,C (2456)
-Cox,J (2411)/Southend 2007/CBM 117 ext (27)}) 8... Qb6 {Black tries to
exploit White's "loss of time" (h2-h3), to which Alexander Morozevich replies
in an unusual manner.} (8... Nb6 9. Be2 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11. g4 Be6 12. Bd3 c5
13. Bg3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. g5 Ne8 16. g6 $1 $16 {1-0 Dao Thien Hai (2480)
-Miranovic,M/Hungary 1995/EXT 1997 (54)}) (8... Ngf6 {- see 7...Nf6}) 9. Qe2 $5
(9. Qd2 Ngf6 {[%cal Rf6e4] was what Black reckoned with}) (9. Bd3 $5 Qxb2 10.
O-O {was an interesting pawn sacrifice in order to obtain an advantage in
development.}) 9... Ngf6 (9... h5 $5 {, preventing g2-g4, was a fitting reply.}
) 10. g4 Bg6 (10... Be4 $5) 11. Nh4 Qa5 12. Bg2 Ne4 13. Nxg6 Nxc3 14. Qd2 hxg6
15. bxc3 Nb6 16. O-O Nc4 {Black has a good position but in the long run he
misplays it.} 17. Qe2 O-O (17... Qxc3 18. e4 Qxd4 19. Rfe1 $44) 18. e4 Bd6 (
18... Rfe8 $142 19. Qd3 Bd6 20. e5 Ba3 {to gain a tempo after ...Bb2 and ...
Qxc3.} 21. Bc1 $5 $13) 19. e5 Ba3 20. Rab1 Qxc3 21. Rfd1 b5 22. Rb3 Qa5 23. g5
$40 {[%mdl 128] Black is a pawn up but it is not easy for him to parry White's
kingside attack!} Rfe8 (23... Bb4 $5) 24. h4 Bf8 25. h5 $2 {Too early.} (25.
Rh3 $142 {[%cal Yh4h5]}) 25... gxh5 26. Qxh5 g6 27. Qh4 Qxa2 28. Rh3 Bg7 {
Black has consolidated his position.} 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Rf3 Qe2 31. Rdd3 Re6 32.
Bg3 (32. Bh3 Rae8 $1) 32... a5 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A sudden blunder. Black
overlooks White's only threat!} (32... Nd2 $1 33. Rfe3 Qd1+ 34. Kh2 Rae8 {
, and White's attack is safely parried, e.g.} 35. f4 Qc2 $1 36. Kg1 Qb1+ 37.
Kh2 (37. Kf2 Ne4+) 37... Nf1+ 38. Bxf1 Qxf1 39. Rf3 Qe2+ 40. Bf2 Qe4 {, and
Black should win.}) 33. Bf1 Qe4 {This loses the queen but what else can he do?}
(33... Qc2 34. Rxf7+ $1 {the point!} Kxf7 35. Rf3+ Qf5 36. Rxf5+ gxf5 37. Qxf5+
Ke7 38. Bh3 $18) 34. Rf4 Qxf4 35. Bxf4 a4 36. Rd1 a3 37. Bxc4 dxc4 38. Bd2 Ra4
39. Be3 Re7 40. d5 a2 41. d6 Rd7 42. Bd4 b4 43. Qxg7+ $1 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5
b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 10. Be2 {A very rare move order.} (10. e6) (10. h4) (10. Be3 {
are main continuations}) ({Carlsen's experimental} 10. Ng5 {has also been
tried in a dozen games. The whole system was examined in my article in CBM 139.
The text move was not even mentioned there; however, Alexander Morozevich
infuses meaning into it.}) 10... c5 (10... Nb6 $5 11. O-O Be6 12. Qd1 c6 13. b3
Nd5 14. Bd2 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Bd5 {1/2 Kruppa,Y (2544)-Grebionkin,V (2475)/Samara
2002/CBM 089 ext}) 11. e6 fxe6 (11... c4 $5 12. exf7+ Rxf7 13. Qd1 Nb6 14. Be3
{etc. needs checking.}) 12. Qxe6+ Kh8 13. dxc5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (13. Qd5 cxd4
$1 14. Nxd4 Qb6 $1 15. Nf3 Bb7 16. Qd1 Bxf3 {1/2 Hoffman,A (2480)-Ricardi,P 
(2575)/Villa Gesell 1997/CBM 058} 17. Bxf3 Ne5 $1 $15) (13. Qe4 cxd4 $1 14.
Nxb5 (14. Nxd4 $2 Nc5 15. Qxa8 Bxd4 $19 {0-1 Bekker Jensen,S (2305)-Sokolov,I 
(2635)/Koge 1997/EXT 2000 (20)}) 14... d3 $1 15. Qxa8 Qa5+ 16. Nc3 Bxc3+ 17.
bxc3 Qxc3+ 18. Bd2 Qxa1+ 19. Bd1 Qxa2 $15) 13... Ne5 (13... Nxc5 14. Qe3 Nbd7
15. O-O $14) 14. Qd5 (14. Qb3 Nd3+ 15. Bxd3 Qxd3 16. Be3 Nc6 17. Rd1 Qf5 $44)
14... Qxd5 15. Nxd5 Bb7 $6 (15... Nxf3+ $142 16. Bxf3 (16. gxf3 Nc6) 16... Bb7
17. Nc7 (17. Nb6 $5 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Ra7 19. Rb1 Rxf3 20. Be3 Nc6 21. O-O $14 {/=}
) 17... Bxf3 18. gxf3 Ra7 19. Ne6 Rxf3 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. Be3 $14 {/= In both
cases the position is close to equal but White can try to push on, thanks to
his strong c5-pawn.}) 16. Nc7 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 $1 {This is the difference!} Bxf3
$2 {A very bad decision. Black recaptures the piece but ends up in a poor
position.} ({After} 17... Ra7 18. Ne6 Bxf3 (18... Rf5 $5 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. h4
$5) 19. Nxf8 Bxh1 20. Ne6 Bd5 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. b4 $14 {White keeps the bishop
pair, which gives him more chances than in the event of 15...Nxf3, but that
was a must for Black in any case.}) 18. Bxf3 Ra7 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Ke2 $16 {
White has an extra pawn and the bishop pair. However, his poor development
creates serious technical difficulties. Fortunately for him, Black fails to
display any tenacity.} Ra6 (20... Nd7 $142 21. Rd1 $1 Nxc5 22. Be3 Bxb2 (22...
Rc7 23. Rac1 Ne6 24. Rxc7 Nxc7 25. Rd7 $16) 23. Bxc5 Rc7 24. Bd4+ (24. Rac1 $5
Bxc1 25. Rxc1 $16) 24... Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Rc2+ 26. Kd3 Rxf2 27. Bd5 Rxh2 28. Re1
$16) 21. Bb7 $1 Re6+ 22. Be3 Bxb2 $6 (22... Nc6 {was more stubborn}) 23. Rab1
Bd4 24. Rxb5 Na6 25. c6 Nc7 26. Rb3 Rf4 27. Rd1 Kg7 28. a4 Bc5 29. Rd7 Bd6 30.
Rd3 Ne8 31. a5 {The game is over but another chapter of the Grünfeld Defence
has been opened.} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8. f3
Be6 9. Nbc3 Bc4 {This line was covered in many CBM issues, most recently in
CBM 111, annotations to Mamedyarov-Bacrot by GM A.Huzman.} 10. Bxc4 Nxc4 11. e6
(11. Qb3 {(played in the above-mentioned game) is more common but the text
move, freezing Black's kingside, is even more accurate.}) 11... fxe6 12. O-O (
12. Qb3 Nb6 {leads to the 11.Qb3 line with transposition of moves:} 13. Be3 $5
(13. Qxe6 Qd7 $1 (13... Nxd4 14. Qe4 Nxe2 15. Kxe2 c6 16. Rd1 $36 {1-0 Volkov,
S (2587)-Kharlov,A (2600)/Ekaterinburg 1999/CBM 075/[Huzman] (84)}) 14. Qxd7+
Kxd7 15. Bf4 e6 16. O-O-O Nd5 17. Ne4 b6 18. Bg3 Bd6 $11 {Beliavsky,A (2653) -
Mikhalchishin,A (2525)/Lviv 2007/Inf 101/(310)/[Mikhalchishin,A] (26)}) 13...
Qd7 14. O-O g6 (14... O-O-O 15. Ne4 $5 Qd5 16. Ng5) 15. Ne4 Qd5 16. Qd1 O-O-O
17. Nf4 Qf5 18. g4 Qf7 19. Qb3 Bh6 20. g5 Bg7 21. Qxe6+ Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Nc4 $1
23. Bf2 Bxd4 24. Bxd4 Nxd4 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Rf2 Rf8 $44 {1/2 Zhu Chen (2480)
-Rasmussen,A (2530)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (78)}) 12... Nb6 {This
voluntary retreat is hardly the best solution.} (12... g6 13. Qb3 Nb6 14. Qxe6
Qd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. d5 Nb4 17. Rd1 Bg7 18. a3 Na6 19. Be3 $14 {1-0 Comas
Fabrego,L (2490)-Markowski,T (2587)/Istanbul 2003/CBM 096/[Huzman] (51)}) (
12... Qd7 $142 13. Qb3 Nb6 14. Rd1 $5) 13. Ne4 $1 {[%cal Re4c5]} (13. Be3 g6
14. Bf2 $5 Bh6 {1/2 Skacelik,P (2214)-Reznicek,J (2239)/Czechia 2008/EXT 2010 
(73)} 15. Re1 $5 {[%cal Ye2g3]} Qd7 $140 16. Ne4) 13... g6 $2 {Here, when
White is already threatening Ne4-c5, this move is completely inappropriate.} (
13... Qd5 14. Be3 O-O-O 15. Nf4 Qf5 16. g4 Qf7 17. Qb3 $14 {1-0 Zhao Xue (2500)
-Ushenina,A (2502)/Krasnoturinsk 2007/CBM 119 ext (41)}) 14. Nc5 Qd6 (14... Qd5
{may be more stubborn:} 15. Be3 O-O-O 16. Nf4 Qf5 17. Nfxe6 Rd6 18. Qb3 $16)
15. Nxb7 Qd5 16. Be3 {Black's pawn structure is ruined.} Bg7 (16... Nc4 17. Bf2
Nxb2 18. Qc2 Nc4 19. Nc3 $18) 17. Nf4 Qf5 18. Rc1 $1 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20.
Qxd4 e5 21. Qb4 Qxf4 22. Qb5+ c6 (22... Kf7 23. Qb3+ $1 Kg7 24. Rxc7 $18) 23.
Qxc6+ Kf7 24. Nc5 Qd4+ 25. Kh1 Qd5 26. Qxd5+ Nxd5 $16 {[%csl Re5] _|_} 27. Nd3
(27. Rfe1 $142) 27... Kf6 28. Rc6+ e6 29. Re1 Rhc8 (29... Rab8 30. Ra6 Nb4 31.
Nxb4 Rxb4 32. b3 Rc8 33. Rxa7 Rc2 {gives Black drawing chances.}) 30. Ra6 Rc2
31. h4 Rc4 32. Re4 (32. Nxe5 $5 Rxh4+ 33. Kg1 Rb4 34. b3 Rb7 35. Ng4+ Kg7 36.
Rexe6) 32... Rd4 33. Nc5 Nf4 34. Rxd4 exd4 {[%mdl 4096]} 35. g3 Rc8 $1 36. b4
Nd5 37. Rxe6+ $2 (37. a3 {stops Black's counterplay, after which White wins a
pawn and keeps a strong position.} Rxc5 38. bxc5 d3 39. Ra4 e5 40. Ra6+ Nb6 41.
cxb6 d2 {doesn't work due to} 42. b7+ (42. bxa7+ Ke7 43. a8=Q d1=Q+ 44. Kg2 {
is good enough, too, as Black has no perpetual}) 42... Ke7 43. Rd6 $1 $18 {
- that's what White missed, according to A.Morozevich.}) 37... Kf7 38. Ra6 Nxb4
$132 {[%csl Gd4]} 39. Rxa7+ {Black lost on time.} (39. Rxa7+ Kf6 40. Ne4+ Ke6
41. Rxh7 Rc2 {, and it requires a deep analysis to conclude whether White
still can win here.}) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Rb1 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Rb8 14. Qc2 f5 15.
Rd1 Kh8 16. Bg2 Bd6 17. a4 Qe7 18. Bd2 Qf7 19. Rf1 Nd7 20. f4 Nf6 21. fxe5 Bxe5
22. Bf4 Bxf4 23. Rxf4 Qe7 24. Rbf1 Nh5 25. Rh4 Nf6 26. Nd1 Ng4 27. Qc3 f4 28.
Be4 h6 29. Bf3 fxg3 30. hxg3 Qg5 31. Kg2 Rf6 32. Rfh1 Rbf8 33. Rh5 Ne3+ 34.
Nxe3 Qxe3 35. Qe5 Qd2 36. Qg5 Qa2 37. R5h4 c6 38. bxc6 bxc6 39. Rxh6+ Rxh6 40.
Rxh6+ gxh6 41. Qxh6+ Kg8 42. Qg5+ Kh8 43. Qh5+ Kg7 44. Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Qf4
Rc8 15. Bd3 Qf6 16. Qg3 Qg6 17. Qh4 Qf6 18. Qh3 Qf4 19. d5 Nc5 20. Bb1 h6 21.
Rd4 exd5 22. exd5 Qf6 23. Qg3 Rcd8 24. Rfd1 Rfe8 25. h4 Rd7 26. h5 Rde7 27. Kh2
Re2 28. Rf4 Qb2 29. Nd4 Ne4 30. Bxe4 R2xe4 31. d6 Rxf4 32. Qxf4 Rd8 33. Rd3 Qb4
34. Rg3 Qxd6 35. Rxg7+ Kh8 36. Rxf7 Qxf4+ 37. Rxf4 a5 38. Ne6 Rg8 39. f3 Bd5
40. Rf6 Kh7 41. Nf8+ Kg7 42. Nd7 Bxa2 43. Rg6+ Kf7 44. Rxb6 Ra8 45. Rxh6 a4 46.
Rh7+ Ke6 47. Nc5+ Ke5 48. Re7+ Kf6 49. Re1 a3 50. g4 Bf7 51. Ne4+ Kg7 52. Nc3
a2 53. Nxa2 Rxa2+ 54. Kg3 Ra3 55. Re7 Kf6 56. Re4 Ra1 57. Rf4+ Kg7 58. Rf5 Ra4
59. f4 Ra1 60. Kh4 Rg1 61. Rc5 Bb3 62. Rc7+ Kf6 63. Rc6+ Kf7 64. h6 Bd1 65.
Rc7+ Kg8 66. g5 Rg4+ 67. Kh5 Rxf4+ 68. Kg6 Bg4 69. h7+ Kh8 70. Kh6 Bf5 71. g6
Rh4+ 72. Kg5 Rg4+ 73. Kxf5 Rxg6 74. Kxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bh4 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5+ 10. c3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. O-O Bd6 13. Qf3 Qh5 14. Qxh5
Nxh5 15. f3 Nf4 16. Be4 Bc5 17. Bf2 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Ne2+ 19. Kf2 Nxd4 20. cxd4
Ke7 21. Rfe1 Kd6 22. Re3 Rab8 23. Ra3 a6 24. Rc1 Rhc8 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. f4 Bd7
27. Ke3 f5 28. Bf3 g5 29. h3 Bc6 30. Bxc6 Kxc6 31. Rc3+ Kd6 32. Rb3 Kc6 33. a4
Rg8 34. fxg5 Rxg5 35. Kf3 h5 36. g3 Rg7 37. Re3 Kd5 38. Re5+ Kd6 39. Kf4 Rc7
40. Kg5 Rc4 41. Kf6 Rxd4 42. Rxe6+ Kc7 43. Kxf5 Rxa4 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Rb4
46. Re2 Kd6 47. g5 Rb3 48. g6 Rg3 49. Re6+ Kd7 50. Rb6 Kc7 51. Rb4 a5 52. Rg4
Rf3+ 53. Kg5 Rf8 54. g7 Rg8 55. Kf6 Kc6 56. Kf7 Rd8 57. g8=Q Rxg8 58. Kxg8 Kc5
59. b3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. c4 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d3 Nbd7 8.
Nc3 Bc5 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 O-O 11. Qc2 d4 12. Nb1 Qe7 13. Nd2 Ne5 14. Bg2 Rfe8
15. b4 Bxb4 16. Nb3 Bc3 17. Bb2 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 c5 19. Qa3 c4 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 21.
dxc4 Nxc4 22. Nxd4 Rd8 23. e3 g6 24. Rfc1 Nd6 25. a4 Rdd7 26. Kf1 Rc7 27. Ke2
Kf8 28. Nb5 Nxb5 29. axb5 b6 30. f4 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Ne4 32. Rc8+ Kg7 33. Bxe4
Rxe4 34. Rc7 Rb4 35. Rxa7 Rxb5 36. g4 Rb2+ 37. Kf3 Rh2 38. Kg3 Re2 39. Kf3 Rh2
40. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 $5 Bg6 8.
Nh4 {Such radical measures at this stage of the game are not too common. The
whole plan would be less effective if Black had delayed the development of the
queen's knight with 5...e6, because of a possible regroupment such as: 8...
Nfd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 /\...Bd6, ...Qe7, ...Na6-c7, ...e5, ...Ne6. The way it is,
the f6-knight does not seem to have good squares to which to retreat.} e6 (8...
e5 {weakens the d5-square, justifying White's plan directed against the
g6-bishop.} 9. c4 (9. e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qe7 {was fine for Black in Kritz,L (2571)
-Erdos,V (2523)/Differdange 2007/CBM 119 ext (0-1, 35)}) 9... Bc5 {Bradford,J 
(2453)-Georgiev,K (2661)/Gibraltar 2007/CBM 116 ext (0-1, 129)} 10. Qb3 $5 $36)
9. e3 Bd6 ({The paradoxical} 9... Ng8 {was played in an old game at GM level.
Although it seems that Black loses a lot of time, provoking the exchange on g6
at an early stage helps him define his general plan of regrouping.} 10. Nxg6
hxg6 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. b3 Qf6 13. d4 g5 14. Bb2 Ne7 15. O-O-O Ng6 16. Nf3 Qe7 17.
c4 a5 $132 {Quinteros,M (2500)-Giorgadze,T (2495)/Hannover 1983/MCL (0-1, 46).
With perfect regrouping for Black and reasonable counterplay.}) 10. Qe2 Qc7 {
It is not easy to criticise a move played by an ex World Champion twice (!) at
such an early stage, but I fail to understand the point behind it. First of
all, the indirect pressure against the h4-knight is released. Secondly, the
battery Q + B is set up in the wrong way (the queen should be in front of the
bishop), failing to create any threats against the h2-b8 diagonal.} ({I would
prefer} 10... Qe7 {Let us see what can happen if White plays in the same way
as in the main game:} 11. O-O ({The only game that actually reached this
position went:} 11. Ndf3 O-O 12. Bd2 {White refrains from the more natural b3
followed by Bb2, in order to avoid the exchange of the dark-squared bishops
with ...Ba3. This would not be a possibility after ...Qc7.} Rfe8 13. Nxg6 hxg6
14. Ng5 Nc5 15. h4 Nfd7 16. e4 Qf6 $13 {Panno,O (2505)-Ricardi,P (2335)/Buenos
Aires 1985/MCD (1-0, 38). We can notice that even here the queen was well
placed on e7.}) 11... O-O-O 12. Rb1 (12. f4 Ne8 13. Nxg6 hxg6 $132 {[%cal
Gg6g5] Being slightly underdeveloped, White has problems preventing Black's
counterplay on the dark squares.}) 12... e5 13. a3 e4 $132 {[%cal Ge7e5]}) ({
Even the not too natural} 10... Qb6 {may have been preferable, winning a tempo
over the game after} 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Rb1 Bb8 {[%cal Gb6c7] , although I do
not like the congestion of the black pieces around their own king.}) 11. O-O
O-O-O {A very interesting position. It is not customary for Black to castle
long in these lines of the Reti.} 12. Rb1 $5 $146 {[%cal Gb2b4,Gb4b5] With
both kings on the kingside, the plan based on b4-b5 would just create
weaknesses, but the way it is the black king which starts to sense some danger.
} ({It is possible that Svidler based his preparation for this occasion on an
older blitz game won by Kramnik:} 12. f4 h6 $5 {Spoiling his own structure for
the sake of opening the centre before White gets fully developed.} 13. Nxg6
fxg6 14. Nf3 e5 15. Nh4 exf4 16. exf4 Rhe8 17. Qf2 Bc5 18. d4 Bb6 19. b4 (19.
Nxg6 Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3 Rde8 $44) 19... Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3 Rde8 22.
Nxg6 c5 $5 23. bxc5 Nxc5 $132 {Morozevich,A (2755)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Moscow 
(blitz) 2007/EXT 2008 (0-1, 38)}) 12... Qa5 $6 {Black cannot not afford to
lose so much time.} ({A possible coherent plan would be} 12... Nf8 $5 13. b4 h6
{[%cal Gg6h7,Gg7g5]} 14. Nxg6 Nxg6 $132) 13. a3 Bb8 14. f4 e5 {This piece
sacrifice is a logical consequence of Black's previous play, but is not
entirely sound. Taking into account also his game against Galkin, I get the
feeling that Kramnik is aiming for a slight change of style. He may wish to
have the positional piece sacrifice in irrational positions in his fighting
arsenal. In the present game, he will come close to justifying his adventurous
play, while in the other game he will win outright.} (14... Qc7 15. b4 e5 {
would not change much, either.} 16. f5 e4 17. Rf4 Qb6 18. Qf2 $16) 15. f5 e4
16. dxe4 (16. b4 Qc7 17. Rf4 {transposes above.}) 16... Qc7 17. Rf4 Rde8 18.
fxg6 {There was no need to open the h-file, which causes the h4-knight to lose
stability.} (18. Qf2 $5 $16 {leaves Black with serious problems proving his
attacking idea.}) 18... hxg6 19. Nhf3 Qb6 20. e5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Rf3 Nh7
23. c4 Ng5 24. cxd5 cxd5 {Black has improved his position somewhat and can
reduce the material defficit if he so wishes. However, he is still a long way
from equality.} 25. Nf1 $6 {This is too passive. By retreating into defence
completely, White allows his opponent to take over the control of the whole
board.} (25. b4 Kb8 26. Nb3 $16 {followed by Nc5, with the permanent
possibility of Qb5 would have restricted Black's active possibilities.}) 25...
Kb8 26. b4 d4 27. Bd2 Re7 28. Rc1 dxe3 $2 {Probably caused by a miscalculation.
} (28... Qd6 $1 $44 {/\...d3 leaves White in a passive position, despite his
material advantage.}) 29. Bxe3 Bd4 $6 (29... Nxf3+ 30. Qxf3 $16) 30. Rg3 Bxe3+
31. Nxe3 Rhe8 32. Rc3 $18 {The g5-knight cannot join the attack and White has
no problems defending his doubly-pinned knight.} a6 {A clear sign that Black
has exhausted his attacking resources.} 33. Qf2 {The rest does not require
comments; Black played a few more moves from inertia.} f6 34. Nc2 Qxf2+ 35.
Kxf2 Re2+ 36. Kf1 Rd2 37. Rgd3 Ree2 38. Rxd2 Rxd2 39. Ne3 Ne6 40. Nc4 Rd1+ 41.
Kf2 Nf4 42. Bf3 Ra1 43. h4 g5 44. h5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({Instead of his usual} 1. e4 {, Svidler played this in 3 out his 4
White games. His opponents were surprised and the result was excellent - 2.5/3.
}) 1... c5 ({In the first 2 rounds Svidler faced} 1... d5 2. g3 Nf6 (2... c6 3.
Bg2 Bg4 4. c4 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d3 Nbd7 8. Nc3 Bc5 (8... Be7 {
is played more often, but after} 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 O-O 11. e4 {White scores
well in practice.}) 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 O-O 11. Qc2 (11. e4 {[%csl Gc5] is now
rather dubious - the Bc5 is placed more actively here, than on e7.}) 11... d4 (
{Prevents e4, but the less committal} 11... Re8 $132 {also deserves attention.}
) 12. Nb1 Qe7 $5 $146 (12... Bd6 13. Nd2 Ne5 14. Bg2 h5 15. Nb3 Qb6 16. a3 Ng6
17. Qc4 c5 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Qb5 Qe7 21. e3 dxe3 22. Bxe3 Bxg3 23.
Bxc5 Bd6 24. Qxb7 Bxc5 25. Rxc5 Qxb7 26. Bxb7 Rcd8 27. d4 Nf4 $44 {Bauer,C 
(2637)-Al Sayed,M (2498)/Biel op/2011/}) 13. Nd2 Ne5 14. Bg2 Rfe8 15. b4 Bxb4
16. Nb3 Bc3 17. Bb2 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 c5 19. Qa3 c4 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 21. dxc4 Nxc4 22.
Nxd4 Rd8 23. e3 $14 {/=,Svidler,P (2739)-Karjakin,S (2788)/RUS-ch Moscow/2011/
White has a slight pull, which Black gradually neutralised by careful defence.}
) 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4 e6 ({Black
follows his own gameplan and shortly after this dsplays some serious ambitions
on the /^ b8-h2, but a more popular and roughly equivalent move is} 8... e5) 9.
e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Rb1 $5 $146 ({A good novelty, White
doesn't commit himself on the >> yet and prepares a <<->.} 12. f4 h6 13. Nxg6
fxg6 14. Nf3 e5 15. Nh4 exf4 16. exf4 Rhe8 17. Qf2 Bc5 18. d4 Bb6 19. b4 Ne4
20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3 Rde8 22. Nxg6 c5 $1 23. bxc5 Nxc5 $44 {|^,Morozevich,A 
(2755)-Kramnik,V (2785)/WCh blitz Moscow/2007/}) 12... Qa5 ({Very ambitious; a
more reasonable try is} 12... h6 $142 $1 13. Nxg6 fxg6 $13) 13. a3 Bb8 14. f4
e5 $6 (14... Qc7 15. e4 $14 {was Svidler's intention. The piece sacrifice is
hardly correct.}) 15. f5 e4 16. dxe4 Qc7 17. Rf4 Rde8 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Nhf3
Qb6 20. e5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Rf3 Nh7 23. c4 $6 (23. h4 $1 $16) 23... Ng5
24. cxd5 cxd5 25. Nf1 Kb8 26. b4 d4 27. Bd2 Re7 28. Rc1 dxe3 $6 (28... d3 $142
29. Qd1 $14) (28... Qd6 $5 $132) 29. Bxe3 Bd4 $2 (29... Nxf3+ $142 30. Qxf3 Qf6
$16) 30. Rg3 $18 {Svidler,P (2739)-Kramnik,V (2781)/RUS-ch Moscow/2011/ White
smoothly and quickly converted his extra piece.}) 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 {The game
heads for English waters.} (3. e3 {allows transpositions into different
openings:} e5 $5 {gives the game an independent character:} (3... Nf6 4. Nc3 (
4. d4 cxd4 5. exd4 d5 6. Nc3 {-Caro-Kann Panov}) 4... e6 5. d4 d5 {-Queen's
Gambit.}) 4. Nc3 Nf6 {Later Kramnik went for} 5. d4 {here Black can either
resolve, or retain the [+] tension:} (5. Be2 d5 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 {leads to a
position, which can (and often does) arise from a Sicilian via the move-order
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4.} Be6 8. Be3 ({
Recently White has been quite successful with} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. dxc5
$5 {, the _|_ after} Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bxc5 13. Ng5 O-O 14. Bf4 Rfe8
15. Kf1 Rad8 (15... Nd8 $5) 16. Nxe6 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rxe6 18. Rd7 Re7 19. Rd5
Bb6 20. g3 h6 21. h4 Bc7 22. Bc1 Re5 23. Rd7 Re7 24. Rxe7 Nxe7 25. Bf3 b6 26.
Ke2 $14 {[%csl Gc1,Gf3] ^^,Grachev,B (2669)-Lysyj,I (2629)/Taganrog/2011/ is
pleasant for White. See also my notes to Grachev-Socko in CBM 143.}) 8... dxc4
9. O-O cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 $5 ({Recently the most topical
continuation, after the standard} 11... Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ {White
regains the P with a slight |^.}) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qc2 Be7 15. Qe4
Qc5 (15... f5 16. Qxb7 Qc5 17. a3 Rd7 18. Qb8+ Rd8 19. Qb5+ Kf8 20. Rac1 Rd4
21. Qb8+ Rd8 22. Qf4 h6 23. Rcd1 Kg7 $132 {Van Damme,L (2261)-Staratorzhsky,V 
(2200)/corr/2006/}) 16. Qxb7 O-O 17. Ne4 Qb4 18. Qxa7 Rd7 19. Qe3 Qxb2 20. Rac1
Qd4 $13 {Kramnik,V (2785)-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan Candidates/2011/ (21)
Black's active pieces compensate for his ׻. See notes to this game by Caruana
in CBM 143.}) 5... cxd4 ({Nowadays Black is experimenting with} 5... e4 6. Ne5
g6 {, but so far without much success:} 7. Be2 (7. Rb1 h5 8. Be2 Qe7 9. b3 cxd4
10. exd4 d6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bg5 Bf5 13. O-O Bh6 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. Qc1 Rh8 16.
Qf4 Kf8 17. b4 Kg7 18. Rb3 h4 19. h3 Rae8 20. b5 c5 21. Qe3 Rd8 22. a4 (22. Rd1
$1 $36) 22... d5 $5 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. dxc5 Qxc5 26. a5 $14 {
Kramnik,V (2785)-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan Candidates tiebreak/2011/}) 7... Bg7
8. O-O O-O 9. b3 cxd4 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 d5 14. Qd2
Ba6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h3 dxc4 17. bxc4 Nd7 18. Na4 Bf8 19. Bf1 h5 20. Qc3 Qf6
21. Be3 c5 22. Qa5 cxd4 23. Bxd4 Qc6 24. Nc3 $14 Bh6 25. Nd5 ({This sacrifice
seems rather ambitious.} 25. Rc2 $142 $14 {/\} Bxc4 26. Nxe4 $36) 25... Bxc1
26. Rxc1 Bb7 $2 (26... Qd6 $142 $1 $13 {/=/+}) 27. Qb4 $40 {[%cal Rd5e7] /\Ne7,
Kramnik,V (2781)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2711)/RUS-ch Moscow/2011/}) 6. exd4 e4 7.
Ne5 (7. Ng5 Bb4 8. d5 Ne5 $132 (8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Na5 $13)) 7... Bb4 (7... Bd6
$6 8. c5 Bb8 9. Nc4 d5 10. cxd6 O-O 11. Bf4 Na5 12. Ne3 Bxd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14.
d5 Qe5 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Rxd4 Nf5 20. Nxf5
Bxf5 21. Kd2 Ne8 22. g4 Bg6 23. Rc1 Rac8 24. Nxe4 Rxc1 25. Kxc1 Bxe4 26. Rxe4
Kf8 $14 {/=, Kramnik,V (2785)-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan Candidates/2011/ See
notes to this game by Moradiabadi in CBM 143. Although Black held the _|_, one
can hardly imagine he is going to enter it again voluntarily.}) 8. Be2 Qa5 9.
Nxc6 dxc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd2 Re8 12. a3 (12. Qb3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14. Bxc3
Bg4 15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Rfe1 f5 17. h3 Nf6 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. d5 cxd5 {1/2,
Jirovsky,M (2475)-Hracek,Z (2631)/CzE-chT/2011/}) 12... Bxc3 13. Bxc3 {[%csl
Gc3,Gc4,Gd4,Ge2] White's position looks very enticing (^^,[+]), but Black's
>><=> can't be underestimated.} Qg5 14. Bd2 (14. Qc1 Qg6 15. Qf4 h5 16. Rfe1
Bg4 17. Bf1 h4 18. h3 Bxh3 19. Qxh4 Bg4 20. Re3 Nh5 21. Rae1 f5 22. d5 c5 23.
g3 Kf7 $1 $36 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Ye8h8] /\Rh8,ףh4, Marin,M (2557)-Movsesian,S 
(2666)/EU-Cup Neum/2000/}) 14... Qg6 {A recent game went} 15. Qb3 (15. Bf4 Bh3
(15... h5 $132) 16. Bg3 Bg4 17. Bxg4 Nxg4 18. Re1 Rad8 19. Qb3 b6 20. Rad1 f5
$11 {Kharlov,A (2628)-Jakovenko,D (2608)/RUS-chT Sochi/2005/}) 15... h5 16.
Rfe1 h4 17. h3 $2 e3 $1 18. Bxe3 Bxh3 19. Bf1 Bxg2 20. Bxg2 h3 21. Bg5 Qxg5 22.
Qxh3 Nh5 $40 {[%csl Rg1] ע, Potkin,V (2682)-Alekseev,E (2673)/Taganrog/2011/})
3... Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 ({The text move is very natural, but especially
thanks to Kramnik} 5. d4 {became a worthy alternative. Players with superb
technique may hope to torture their opponents in the _|_ after} cxd4 6. Nxd4
dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 (12.
Na5 Rc8 13. Bd2 Be7 14. Rc1 c5 15. b3 O-O 16. O-O Rfd8 17. Bf3 Kf8 18. Rfd1 Bf6
$1 19. e4 Nb4 20. Rxc5 Rxc5 21. Bxb4 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Be7 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 24. Bc2
e5 25. a4 f6 26. Nc6 Bb7 27. Na5 Ba6 28. Nc6 Bb7 29. Na5 Ba6 30. Nc6 {1/2,
Kopylov,M (2463)-Berelowitsch,A (2571)/Hamburg/2006/}) 12... Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+
14. Nxd2 Nb4 15. Kd1 $5 (15. Be4 Ke7 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Rhc8 18. f4 c5 19. Kf2
Rab8 20. Rc2 Nf6 21. Bf3 Rd8 22. Rhc1 Bb7 23. Ke3 Bxf3 24. exf3 Nd7 25. Rc3 Rb5
26. Ke2 h5 $132 {Gulko,B (2595)-Topalov,V (2630)/Novgorod/1995/}) 15... Ke7 (
15... O-O-O 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Kb7 18. Ke1 e5 19. e3 Kb6 20. Bf1 Bb5 21. Bc4 f6
22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Rc2 a5 24. Rhc1 Ne7 25. Bxb5 $5 cxb5 26. a4 Rhd8 27. axb5 Kxb5
28. Ne4 Ra7 29. g4 h6 30. h4 $36 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Gg4g5] /+/=,Kramnik,V (2772)
-Leko,P (2738)/Miskolc m/2007/ In the end White's pressure on the >> and
against the exposed Kb5 brought him success.}) 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 (17. Ne4 $5
$14 {Gelfand}) 17... Rac8 18. Ne4 c5 $1 19. Nxc5 Rhd8 20. Ke1 Nb6 21. f4 Nd7
22. b4 Nxc5 23. bxc5 Rc7 24. c6 Bb5 25. Rc5 a6 26. Kf2 Rdc8 $11 {Gelfand,B 
(2665)-Leko,P (2630)/Vienna/1996/}) 5... Nxd5 6. Bg2 (6. d4 $6 cxd4 7. Nxd4
Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qd5 9. f3 e5 $36 {already causes White opening problems.}) 6...
Nc7 {Heads for a Maroczy setup with opposite colours. This scheme brought
Botvinnik great success, but naturally since his days these positions have
been explored more deeply. We will see how White can use his slight lead in
development to to fight for the initiative by challenging Black's centre from
the flanks with b4, f4 and even directly with d4.} 7. O-O {Natural, but White
has tried other moves as well.} ({Statistically the most popular is} 7. d3 e5
8. Nd2 Bd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Nc4 f6 ({The P-sacrifice} 10... O-O $5 11. Bxc6 Bxc6
12. Nxe5 Be8 {has also been tested quite often and deserves attention:} 13. Qb3
b6 14. Be3 Kh8 15. Rad1 f6 16. Nf3 Bf7 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. d4 $5 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Qc7
20. d5 {Tomashevsky,E (2684)-Najer,E (2669)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/} a6 $14 {/<=>
}) 11. f4 b5 12. Ne3 Rc8 13. a4 b4 14. Nb5 exf4 {More promising, but very
complex is} 15. Nc4 $5 {, which has been tested mostly in correspondence play:}
(15. gxf4 Nxb5 16. axb5 Nd4 17. Rxa7 Nxb5 18. Ra6 O-O 19. f5 Nd4 20. Rf4 Kh8
21. Qf1 Bb5 22. Bd5 $5 (22. Ra7 c4 $1 23. dxc4 Bxc4 24. Nxc4 Rxc4 25. Be3 Nc2
$1 $17 {Lputian,S (2605)-Leko,P (2725)/Wijk aan Zee/2000/}) 22... Bxa6 23. Rh4
h6 24. Qh3 Kh7 (24... Rf7 25. Bxf7 Qf8 26. Nd5 $1 Nxe2+ 27. Kf1 Nxc1 28. Nxe7
Qxf7 29. Rxh6+ gxh6 30. Qxh6+ Qh7 31. Qxf6+ Qg7 32. Qh4+ $11) 25. Ng4 Qxd5 26.
Rxh6+ gxh6 27. Qxh6+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ $11) 15... fxg3 $5 16. Nbd6+ Kf8 17. Bf4 $5 (
17. hxg3 Rb8 18. Be3 Ne6 19. Ne4 Be8 20. g4 h6 21. Bf2 h5 22. g5 h4 23. gxf6
gxf6 24. Kh1 Ned4 25. Bxd4 Nxd4 26. Bh3 Bd7 27. Bxd7 Qxd7 28. Rf2 Nf5 29. Ne5
Ng3+ 30. Kg2 Qe6 31. Ng6+ Kg7 32. Nxh8 Nxe4 33. dxe4 Qxe4+ 34. Rf3 Kxh8 $13 {
/=, Alvarez,J (2403)-Dominguez Perez,L (2594)/CUB-ch Holguin/2002/}) (17. Nxc8
gxh2+ 18. Kxh2 Qxc8 $13 {Black has two pawns for the exchange. The Nc4 has an
excellent position, but as compensation Black is controlling the d4-square.
Both players have some problems with their king position. Schwarz hat zwei
Bauern für die Qualität. Der Nc4 steht ausgezeichnet, dafür kontrolliert
Schwarz das Feld d4. Beide Spieler haben einige Problemen mit der eigenen
Königsstellung.}) 17... gxh2+ 18. Bxh2 Rb8 19. e3 g6 20. Qf3 Kg7 21. Qg3 Ne5
22. Qxe5 $1 fxe5 23. Bxe5+ Kg8 24. Nf7 Qf8 25. Nxh8 Bf5 26. Bxc7 Bf6 27. Bh2
Re8 28. e4 Bd4+ 29. Kh1 Kxh8 30. exf5 gxf5 $44 {Godat,T (2311)-Daurelle,H 
(2337)/corr/2009/}) ({Glancing forward at the game, one might ask - why
doesn't White play} 7. a3 {immediately? The answer is Black has a fully
satisfactory reaction in} g6 $1 (7... e5 8. b4 $1 $36 {suits White}) {A
reasonable change of plan is} 8. d3 (8. b4 Bg7 9. bxc5 Ne6 10. Bb2 (10. O-O
$142 Nxc5 11. Rb1 O-O 12. Na4 $5 $11) 10... Nxc5 11. Na4 $6 Bxb2 12. Nxb2 Be6
13. O-O O-O 14. Rc1 Qa5 $36 15. Nc4 Bxc4 16. Rxc4 Qxa3 17. d4 Nd7 18. Qd2 Qd6
19. Qh6 f6 20. e3 Nb6 21. Rcc1 Rac8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Ne4 Qe7 $17 {Andersson,U 
(2585)-Portisch,L (2625)/Biel izt/1976/}) 8... Bg7 9. O-O {, but here White
can hardly hope for an advantage:} (9. Be3 b6 10. O-O O-O 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. Qd2
Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxg2 14. Ne6 Nxe6 15. Kxg2 Qd7 16. Bh6 Rfd8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Ne4
Rac8 $15 {(),Espig,L (2440)-Hjartarson,J (2535)/Bundesliga 9091/1991/}) 9...
O-O 10. Bd2 b6 $5 (10... Bd7 11. Rb1 a5 12. Na4 Ne6 13. Rc1 b6 14. e3 Rb8 $6 (
14... Rc8 {/\} 15. Bc3 Ncd4 $1 $15) 15. Bc3 Be8 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. Nc3 e5 18.
Nd2 Nf5 19. Nd5 Kg7 20. Nc4 f6 $6 21. Qc2 Nce7 22. Ncxb6 $1 $16 {Mamedyarov,S 
(2761)-Leko,P (2734)/Dortmund/2010/}) 11. Rb1 (11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Qa4 Nd4 13. Nxd4
Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Bxd4 15. Bh6 (15. b4 Ne6 $11) 15... Re8 16. Rfd1 Ne6 17. e3 Bh8
18. Qe4 Qd7 19. g4 Red8 20. h3 Rac8 21. Rc2 Rc6 22. Ne2 Rd6 23. Rcd2 Bf6 24. f4
Bg7 25. Bxg7 Nxg7 26. d4 Ne8 27. Qf3 cxd4 28. Rxd4 $11 {Vaganian,R (2590)
-Sokolov,A (2645)/Moscow/1987/}) 11... Bb7 12. b4 Nd4 13. Ne4 $5 (13. Ne1 Bxg2
14. Nxg2 cxb4 15. axb4 Qd7 16. Ne3 Rfc8 $132 {Ubilava,E (2533)-Dourerassou,J 
(2413)/Sunningdale/2011/}) (13. bxc5 Nxf3+ 14. exf3 Ne6 15. cxb6 axb6 $11 {/=/+
}) 13... Bxe4 14. dxe4 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 c4 16. Rc1 b5 17. e5 Rb8 18. Be3 Qxd1 19.
Rfxd1 Bxe5 20. Bxa7 Rbd8 $11 {Pogosian,M (2365)-Biriukov,I (2285)/Donskoj/2010/
}) ({Black found an antidote against the manoeuvre} 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. Qe4 {long
ago, after} g6 $1 9. Ne5 Bg7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. O-O O-O 12. a3 (12. Qa4 Rab8 {
[%cal Yb7b5] /\b5<=>}) 12... Rac8 13. Rb1 Ne6 14. b4 b6 15. Nd5 Ned4 16. bxc5
bxc5 17. e3 Ne2+ 18. Kh1 e6 19. Qd3 (19. Nf4 Nxc1 20. Rfxc1 Qxd2 21. Rxc5 Ne5
$1 $15) 19... exd5 20. Qxe2 Rb8 21. Rxb8 Rxb8 $11 {/=/+,Smejkal,J (2540)
-Sokolov,A (2505)/Novi Sad/1984/ Black's active pieces comfortably balance the
^^.}) 7... e5 8. a3 {White has postponed this till Black plays e5 - now
fianchettoing the Bf8 doesn't make sense anymore. The text move is warmly
recommended by Marin is his English Opening book.} ({Another original
alternative is} 8. Ne1 {[%cal Ye1d3,Yf2f4,Yg2c6] /\Nd3,f4,Bc6 White opens the /
^ h1-a8, his N heads for d3 to support f4. However, Black probably has more
than one plausible reaction:} Bd7 {is the most usual choice.} (8... Be6 9. Nd3
f6 10. f4 $6 (10. b3 $142) (10. Bxc6+ $5) 10... c4 11. Nf2 exf4 12. gxf4 Qd7
13. d3 Rd8 14. Be3 Bb4 15. dxc4 Bxc4 16. Qxd7+ Rxd7 17. Rfd1 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nd5
19. Bd2 f5 20. e4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 O-O $15 {[%csl Ra2,Rc3,Rf4,Rh2] ק,Smyslov,V 
(2595)-Huebner,R (2625)/Velden Candidates/1983/}) (8... Bg4 $5 9. Bxc6+ (9. Nd3
$6 Qxd3 $15) 9... bxc6 10. Qa4 Qd7 11. Nd3 f6 12. f3 Be6 13. b3 Nb5 14. Bb2 c4
15. bxc4 Qd4+ {Mastrovasilis,A (2461)-Parligras,M (2511)/Kavala/2002/} 16. Kg2
Qxc4 17. Rfc1 $11) 9. Nd3 Bd6 $5 (9... f6 10. b3 Be7 11. f4 exf4 12. Nxf4 O-O
13. Bb2 Kh8 14. e3 Be8 15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Rad1 Bf7 17. Bh3 Qd8 18. Ne4 $14 {
Kosten,A (2540)-Coenen,N (2335)/San Sebastian/1995/ White has rich piece play
and good -> chances.}) 10. Ne4 Qe7 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 f6 $1 (12... Rae8 $6 13.
Rc1 b6 14. b4 $1 Nxb4 15. Nxb4 cxb4 16. d4 $36 {Kharlov,A (2638)-Korotylev,A 
(2564)/Moscow/2002/}) 13. f4 (13. Nxd6 $142 Qxd6 14. f4 $11) 13... exf4 14.
Nxd6 f3 $1 15. Bxf3 Qxd6 16. Qc2 (16. Nf4 Rad8 17. Rc1 b6 $15) 16... Ne6 17. e3
Rad8 18. Nf2 Nb4 19. Qc3 Ng5 $1 $36 20. Ne4 $2 Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 Qc6 22. Qxc5 Nd3
{0-1, Span,P (2295)-Goloshchapov,A (2536)/Hoogeveen/2002/}) (8. d3 Be7 9. Nd2
Bd7 {transposes to 7.d3.}) 8... f6 {Black has to decide if he will allow, or
prevent (at least for the time being) b4. The text move reinforces e5 and is
the most usual choice; on the other hand it may weaken Black's position if
White manages to open up the [+]. Black has numerous alternatives:} (8... Be7 {
allows} 9. b4 O-O (9... cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 $6 11. Nxe5 $16 {/\} Nxe5 12. Qa4+)
({It's already late for} 9... f6 {after White already started his << play:} 10.
bxc5 Bxc5 11. Qb3 $5 Bb6 12. a4 Be6 13. Qa3 Na5 14. Ne4 Nc4 15. Qb4 Ba5 16. Qb1
Rb8 17. d3 Nd6 18. Nxd6+ Qxd6 19. Ba3 $36 {Dizdarevic,E (2495)-Sibarevic,M 
(2380)/Mendrisio/1988/}) 10. bxc5 ({Marin prefers} 10. b5 Nd4 11. Nxe5 {, e.g.}
Bf6 12. f4 Ncxb5 13. Nxb5 Nxb5 14. Rb1 $14) 10... Bxc5 (10... Ne6 $5 {is
interesting:} 11. e3 Nxc5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. Nd5 Bg4 15. Qc2 Rc8 16.
Nf5 Bf6 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Rac1 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 Nf3+ 20. Bxf3 Bxb2 $132 {Franco
Ocampos,Z (2495)-Izeta Txabarri,F (2380)/Elgoibar/1991/ Black is close to full
equality here.}) 11. Bb2 Re8 (11... Bf5 12. Na4 $1 (12. d3 Qe7 13. Nd2 Ne6 14.
Nde4 Bd4 15. e3 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Rfd8 17. Qb1 {Vaganian,R (2640)-Claesen,P (2415)/
Antwerp/1997/} Ng5 $1 $11) 12... Bd6 13. d4 $14) 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. d3
Nb5 $2 (14... Bf5 15. Nc5 $14) (14... f6 $142 $11 {/+/=}) 15. Nfg5 $1 {/\Qb3}
Nc7 (15... Qc7 16. a4 Nd6 17. Nxd6 Bxd6 18. Bd5 $36 {[%csl Rf7] ><f7}) 16. Qb3
Be6 (16... Ne6 $2 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Rxc6 $18) 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 18. e3 Qa5 19. Rc4
Red8 20. Rfc1 Qb6 21. Qc2 Na5 22. Rc3 Rd7 23. Nd2 Rbd8 24. Nf3 $14 {/+/-,^^,
Kramnik,V (2781)-Timofeev,A (2665)/RUS-ch Moscow/2011/ Black lacks outposts
for his N and the active ^^ gives White an advantage. Quite possibly this game
inspired Svidler to try out 8.a3.}) (8... a5 9. d3 Be7 10. Be3 {[%csl Rb6]
><b6 and due to his loose << it's not so simple for Black to protect c5:} Rb8
11. Na4 b6 12. b4 $1 axb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Nxe5 $14 {Marin}) (8... Bd7 9. e3 (
9. Rb1 {is not energetic enough:} f6 10. d3 Be7 11. Qb3 Rb8 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13.
Qxd5 Bf5 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Be3 Be6 16. Qa4 Nd4 $11 {Miroshnichenko,E (2628)
-Shomoev,A (2540)/RUS-chT Sochi/2005/}) 9... Ne6 (9... Be7 10. d4 $14 {is
riskless and pleasant for White.}) 10. Rb1 a5 11. d3 Bd6 12. Ne4 Be7 13. b3 O-O
14. Bb2 Qc7 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. Rbc1 Qb8 17. Qb1 Rfd8 18. Qa1 f6 19. Rfe1 Be8 20.
Qb1 Bf7 21. Nh4 Bf8 22. f4 exf4 23. gxf4 $13 {/+/=, Marin,M (2543)-Lysyj,I 
(2523)/playchess.com blitz/2006/}) ({Another interesting option is} 8... Rb8 $5
9. Rb1 (9. b4 $2 {fails to} cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ Nc6
$19) 9... f6 ({There is also the interesting} 9... Be7 10. b4 cxb4 11. axb4 b5
$5 $13 {[%csl Rb4] <=>><b4}) (9... a5 {again weakens the <<} 10. d3 Be7 11. Nd2
$1 {/\Nc4|^}) 10. d3 ({With the inserted R-moves} 10. e3 $2 {runs into} Bf5 $17
) {A more circumspect move is} 10... Be6 (10... Be7 11. Be3 Bd7 (11... O-O 12.
b4 $1 cxb4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Bxa7 $1 $14 {Marin}) 12. Nd2 O-O 13. b4 $1 Ne6 14.
b5 (14. Nd5 $142 Re8 15. Nb3 $1 $14) 14... Ncd4 15. Nc4 b6 $6 (15... Be8 $1 16.
Bd2 Bh5 $132) 16. a4 Kh8 17. Bd2 {White will repulse the Nd4 and has a clear
edge after} g5 18. e3 Nf5 19. Qe2 Nfg7 20. Nd5 Nc7 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. Rb3 Nf5
23. Bc3 Be6 24. Rb2 Rbd8 25. Bc6 Rf7 26. a5 Nd6 27. e4 Nxc4 28. dxc4 $16 {
Marin,M (2539)-Spassov,L (2363)/Cullera/2003/}) 11. Be3 Qd7 12. Nd2 b6 (12...
Be7 13. b4 $1 cxb4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Rxb4 Qxc3 17. Qb1 $44 {/+/=}
) 13. Qa4 (13. f4 $5 {deserves attention.}) 13... b5 14. Qc2 Rc8 15. Nce4 Nd5
$1 16. Rfc1 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Nd8 18. b4 cxb4 19. Qxc8 Qxc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. axb4
$13 {[%csl Rb4] /<=>><b4,Tomashevsky,E (2595)-Jakovenko,D (2671)/RUS-ch Moscow/
2006/ The resulting _|_ is not quite clear, White's forces are more active,
but his P-structure is not ideal.}) (8... Qd7 9. Rb1 (9. Qa4 $5 f6 10. e3 Be7
11. Rd1 Qd3 $6 (11... Ne6 12. Nh4 Ng5 $5 $13) 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Bd7 14. b5
Nd8 15. Ba3 $1 $36 Nxb5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nxb5 Qxb5 18. Qa3+ Ke8 19. d4 e4 20.
Nd2 f5 21. Rdc1 Nf7 22. Bf1 Qd5 23. Bc4 {1-0, Donaldson,J (2394)-Chapa,E (2183)
/Los Angeles/2009/}) 9... f6 10. e3 $5 ({White must act quickly to take
advantage of his better development:} 10. d3 {is harmless:} Be7 11. Bd2 Rb8 12.
Qc2 b6 13. Rfc1 Bb7 14. Ne4 Nd5 15. Qc4 Nd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 $11 {Smyslov,
V-Kortschnoj,V/URS-ch Tbilisi /1966/}) 10... Be7 (10... Ne6 11. Nh4 Bd6 12. b4
$1 cxb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Ne4 Bf8 15. f4 $32 {-> Marin} (15. d4 $5 $36)) 11. b4
$1 cxb4 12. axb4 Bxb4 (12... Nxb4 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 a5 15. Qb3 $44 {[%csl
Re8] ->עe8}) 13. Nxe5 fxe5 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. Qh5+ Qg6 16. Qxe5+ Be7 17. Qxc7
Qf7 18. e4 O-O 19. Nd5 $36) 9. e3 $5 {Still endorsed by Marin. White intends
to blow up the [+] with the temporary P-sacrifice d4.} ({Other moves are
rather slow, although Black must play with care:} 9. d3 Be7 10. Be3 Be6 11. Nd2
Qd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Na4 b6 14. b4 Nd5 $1 15. Bxc5 $6 ({Dubious, but White
wants to avoid} 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Nc3 Qd7 $15) (15. bxc5 Nxe3 16. fxe3 b5 17.
Nb2 Na5 $15) 15... bxc5 16. Ne4 cxb4 17. Nac5 Bxc5 (17... Nd4 18. axb4 (18.
Nxd7 Rxc1 19. Ndxf6+ gxf6 20. Qa4+ Kf7 21. Rxc1 Nxe2+ 22. Kf1 Nxc1 $17) 18...
Rxc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 $15) 18. Nxc5 Qe7 $2 (18... Qf7 $142 $1 19. Nxe6 Nc3 {/\}
20. Qb3 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Qxb3 22. Nxb3 Nxe2+ 23. Kh1 Nxc1 24. Nxc1 bxa3 $17) 19.
Nxe6 Nc3 (19... Qxe6 20. Qb3 Rd8 21. Qa4 Rd6 22. Rc5 $44) 20. Qb3 Na5 $2 (20...
Nd8 $142 21. Nxg7+ $1 Qxg7 22. Bf3 $14) 21. Rxc3 $1 Rxc3 22. Qa4+ Kf7 23. Bd5
$18 {Jakubiec,A (2532)-Ftacnik,L (2544)/CZE-chT/2008/}) (9. Rb1 Be7 (9... Rb8 {
-8...Rb8}) 10. b4 O-O 11. bxc5 Bxc5 $11 {is acceptable for Black, contrary to
Kramnik-Timofeev above White has wasted time on the not too useful Rb1.}) 9...
Qd3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty. Black physically prevents d4,
but on the other hand exposes his Q. After other previously tested moves he
faces some problems:} (9... Ne6 {stops d4, but does nothing to help Black's
development and moreover doesn't prevent White from opening the position with}
10. Nh4 $5 g6 11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 f5 13. Nf3 Bg7 14. b4 $1 O-O ({A typical
line is} 14... cxb4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qa4+ Nc6 17. Ba3 $16 {[%csl Re8] ->עe8})
15. Qb3 Kh8 16. Bb2 a5 17. b5 Ne7 18. Na4 Nd5 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. Ne5 Nb6 21.
Nxb6 Qxb6 22. Qc3 Kg8 23. a4 Qd8 24. Rac1 Ra7 25. Rf2 Re8 26. Bf1 Qd6 27. Bc4
b6 28. Rg2 Rg7 29. Nc6 Kh8 30. h4 Bb7 31. h5 $18 {Gamundi Salamanca,A (2440)
-Magem Badals,J (2570)/Andorra/1997/ A model game from White's viewpoint!}) ({
After} 9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 (10... Be6 11. d4 exd4 12. exd4 cxd4 13. Ne2 d3 14.
Nf4 Bc4 {Marin,M (2531)-Musat,A (2406)/Tusnad/2004/} 15. b3 Ba6 16. Ra2 {
/\Rd2+/-} g5 $6 17. Nxg5 fxg5 18. Qh5+ $40) {Black's B is missing on the << and
} 11. Qa4 (11. g4 $6 Bf7 $15) (11. d4 exd4 12. exd4 cxd4 13. Nb5 Nxb5 14. Qe2+
Be7 15. Qxb5 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qb6 $11) 11... Qd7 12. b4 $1 ({Again Marin's idea.} 
12. d4 {is boring and drawish:} cxd4 13. exd4 exd4 14. Nb5 Nxb5 15. Qxb5 Bf7
16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 18. Rd1 Bc5 19. Be3 Rad8 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Rxd4+ {
1/2, Bolbochan,J-Petrosian,T/Stockholm izt/1962/}) 12... cxb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 (
13... Bxb4 14. Nxe5 fxe5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxb4 Qxh3 17. Ba3 O-O-O 18. Qe4 Rhe8
19. Bc5 Bg6 20. Qb4 $40) 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. d4 $44 {Black even despite the
extra P and Q-swap faces a difficult defensive task.}) ({More circumspect, but
still not quite ideal is} 9... Be7 10. d4 cxd4 11. exd4 exd4 (11... Nxd4 12.
Nxd4 Qxd4 $5 (12... exd4 13. Ne2 Ne6 14. Nf4 $5 Nxf4 15. Bxf4 O-O 16. Rc1 $32 {
|^}) 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Rac1 $44 {is untested and
perhaps deserves more attention.}) 12. Ne2 Ne6 (12... d3 13. Nf4 O-O 14. b4 $5
$14 {- White doesn't have to hurry to regain the P.}) 13. b4 d3 (13... a6 14.
Bb2 d3 15. Nc1 $14) 14. Nf4 Nxf4 15. Bxf4 O-O 16. b5 Ne5 $5 (16... Na5 17. Rc1
Bd6 18. Bd2 (18. Be3 $5 Bxa3 19. Ra1 Be7 20. Qa4 b6 21. Nd4 Bd7 22. Rfd1 $44 {
Marin} Rc8 23. Nc6 $1 $36) 18... a6 19. Rc3 (19. a4 $5) 19... Bc7 $2 (19...
axb5 20. Rxd3 Nc4 21. Bb4 Ra6 $132 {activates Black's forces}) 20. Qb1 axb5 21.
Rxd3 Qe8 22. Re1 Qh5 23. Nd4 $32 {+/-|^, Delchev,A (2625)-Nikolov,M (2571)/
BUL-ch Bankia/2011/}) 17. Qb3+ Kh8 18. Rad1 Bg4 19. Bxe5 fxe5 20. Rxd3 Qc7 21.
Rc3 Qd6 22. Re3 $11 {/+/=, Lobron,E (2595)-Smejkal,J (2520)/Bundesliga 9596/
1995/ is pleasant for White, but Black is close to equality.}) 10. Ne1 {
Svidler expressed some doubts about his choice, but said he liked the
alternatives even less.} (10. Nh4 Be6 11. f4 (11. Be4 Qd7 12. Qh5+ Bf7 $5 (
12... Qf7 13. Qf3 (13. Bg6 $2 hxg6 14. Qxh8 g5 $17 {->}) 13... Qd7 $11) 13. Ng6
O-O-O 14. Nxf8 Rdxf8 15. Qf3 Bb3 {[%csl Rc1] ץc1 and Black can fight for an
advantage.}) 11... exf4 12. gxf4 Qd7 $132) 10... Qg6 {The players are in
unknown territory and it's difficult to give a definite evaluation - both
sides still have a choice of alternatives.} ({After} 10... Qd7 {Svidler
intended} 11. Nc2 {, now there is the interesting and generous} Be7 12. b4 $5
cxb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Nxb4 Bxb4 15. Qb3 $44 {with typical play on the << and
against the עe8.}) (10... Qa6 $5 {also allows} 11. Nc2 (11. f4 $5 $13 {
is an attempt to profit from the absence of the Q on the >>.}) 11... Bf5 (11...
c4 12. f4 $5 $32) 12. d4 $1 cxd4 13. exd4 Bxc2 14. Qxc2 Nxd4 15. Qe4 $44) 11.
d3 {White had more aggressive alternatives to the simple text move.} (11. f4
exf4 12. Rxf4 (12. gxf4 $6 Bh3 $15) {/\} 12... Bd6 13. Re4+ Be6 14. Nb5 $5 {
, but even this is highly unclear after} O-O-O $1 15. Nxc7 Bf5 $132) (11. d4
cxd4 12. exd4 Nxd4 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Qa4+ Bd7 15. Qc4 $13) ({Perhaps the best is
Shipov's recommendation} 11. Rb1 $1 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4} Bg4 (11... Bf5 12. d3
Rd8 13. b4 $1 {/\} Bxd3 $2 14. Nxd3 Rxd3 15. Qa4 Rxc3 16. Bd2 $18 {[%csl Re8]
->עe8}) 12. Qa4 (12. Qb3 Na5 $5 13. Qa4+ Bd7 14. Qd1 c4 $13) 12... Bd7 13. f4
$5 Nd4 (13... exf4 14. Qxf4 Rc8 (14... Ne6 15. Qc4 $36) 15. b4 $14) 14. Qd1 Bg4
15. Nf3 $14) 11... Be6 {Although the consequences of this move are not fully
clear, it does lose a tempo.} ({After} 11... Be7 $5 {Nepomniachtchi was
probably worried about} 12. Qb3 {, but} Qf7 (12... Na5 13. Qc2 Qf7 $11) (12...
h5 $5 $13) 13. Nd5 Kf8 $1 $13 {[%cal Yg7g6,Yf8g7] /\g6, Kg7 is far from clear,
as the pin on the Nd5 makes it difficult for White to develop his play.}) 12.
Qa4 Bd7 13. Nb5 {White is naturally worried about possible discoverd attacks
by the Nc6, but} (13. f4 $1 {was possible and probably stronger. We had a
similar position above (with Rb1 instead of d3), White has chances to fight
for the |^.}) 13... Nxb5 ({Also a logical reaction, but perhaps even better was
} 13... Rc8 $5 {(Shipov) Black will protect b7 more reliably, after} 14. Bd2 h5
15. h4 Qf7 16. b4 a6 17. Nxc7+ Rxc7 $11 {he has a solid and promising position.
}) 14. Qxb5 Rb8 15. Qc4 Bd6 ({After} 15... b5 16. Qc3 Bd6 {Svidler wanted to
play} 17. b4 $5 cxb4 18. axb4 Bxb4 (18... Rc8 $142 $5 $13) 19. Qb3 Be7 20. Ra6
$36 {However, Black doesn't have to weaken his <<.}) 16. b4 $5 {[%mdl 512]
Slower play doesn't promise much, so Svidler sacrifices a P to exploit Black's
K in the [+] - we have already seen enough of this motif in the notes.} (16.
Bd2 Ne7 {/\Qf7=} (16... Qg4 $5 $11)) 16... cxb4 17. axb4 Ke7 $2 {A serious
error, as now White gets a dangerous |^ for free.} (17... Bxb4 18. Bxc6 bxc6
19. Rxa7 $14) ({Best is the principled} 17... Nxb4 $142 $1 18. Bd2 (18. Rxa7 $2
Rc8) 18... Nc6 (18... Rc8 19. Qb3 Qf7 20. Qxf7+ Kxf7 21. Rxa7 Rc7 22. Rxb7 Rxb7
23. Bxb7 Rb8 $11 {/+/= is only a fight for a draw.}) 19. Nc2 (19. d4 $5) 19...
Ke7 (19... a6 20. Rfb1 $44 {|^<<}) 20. Nb4 Rhc8 21. Qb3 $13 {White has
compensation, but still nothing concrete.} (21. Qh4 $5)) 18. b5 Nb4 19. Qb3 $1
(19. Bd2 Be6 20. Qh4 Nxd3 {is less convincing:} 21. Nxd3 (21. Be4 Bf5 22. Bxf5
Qxf5 23. Nxd3 (23. e4 Nxe1 $1 $11 {holds tactically}) 23... Qxd3 24. Bb4 $44)
21... Qxd3 22. Bb4 $44) 19... Be6 20. Qb1 $36 {[%csl Ra7,Rb4,Re7] עe7,Nb4,a7}
Qe8 (20... a6 21. Bd2 Nd5 22. Nf3 $1 ({During the game Svidler considered
mainly} 22. bxa6 bxa6 23. Qd1 Nc7 24. Ba5 $14 {, although this will win a P,
it squanders part of White's advantage.}) 22... Qe8 23. d4 $1 Qxb5 24. Qe4 Nc7
25. dxe5 fxe5 26. Rfc1 $40 {+/- Black is in great trouble, as he has no
obvious way to consolidate his position and safeguard his K.}) 21. Rxa7 (21.
Ra5 $5 a6 22. Ba3 b6 23. Rxa6 Nxa6 24. Bxd6+ Kxd6 25. bxa6 Qa4 26. Nf3 {
[%cal Rd3d4] /\d4-> is also strong, but not too practical - White can retain
his advantage without too much risk.}) 21... Qxb5 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Ra3 $1 (23.
Ra4 $2 Nd5 $11) 23... Bc5 $1 {The best defence.} (23... Ra8 24. Nc2 Rxa3 25.
Nxa3 {[%cal Ra3c4] /\Nc4|^}) (23... Rhc8 24. d4 exd4 25. Nf3 $1 $16 {->}) 24.
d4 exd4 25. exd4 Na6 $8 {Black forces a Q-swap and eases his task.} (25... Nc6
$2 26. Qxb6 Bxb6 27. d5 Rhd8 28. Be3 $18) 26. Qxb6 Bxb6 27. Bf4 Bc7 (27... Rbd8
28. Nc2 $5 $14 {/+/-} (28. Bxb7 Nb4 {is unconvincing}) {and Black will
probably lose the Pb7 without winning anything on d4, as} 28... Bxd4 29. Rb1
Nc5 30. Ra5 Nb3 31. Rb5 $16 {will cost him 2 pieces for a R.}) 28. Nd3 $36 {
[%cal Ra3a6] /\Ra6 Svidler applies pressure by activating all his pieces.} (28.
Rxa6 $6 bxa6 29. Bxc7 Rbc8 {[%cal Re6c4] /\Bc4~~} (29... Bc4 $5 {are both far
from clear.})) 28... Bxf4 (28... Rhc8 $6 29. Re1 {and Black already won't
manage to trade the B:} Kf7 30. d5 Bd7 31. d6 Bd8 32. Bd5+ Kf8 33. Be3 {
[%cal Re3a7,Yd3f4] /\Ba7, Nf4+-}) (28... Bf5 29. Re1+ Kd8 30. Bxc7+ Nxc7 31.
Nc5 $16 {/\} b6 $2 32. Nb7+ Kd7 33. Rc3 $18) 29. Nxf4 Bc8 {Too passive; a more
resilient move was} (29... Bc4 $16) ({, or} 29... Bd7 $5 30. Rb1 Rhd8 $16 {
Black is willing to give up the Pb7 to coordinate his forces.}) 30. Re1+ ({
The text is tempting, but even stronger is} 30. Rb1 $1 $36 {/\Rb6 and} b5 $2 {
runs into} 31. Re1+ Kd6 32. Rxa6+ Bxa6 33. Re6+ $18) 30... Kd6 31. Rae3 (31.
Ra5 $5 Nc7 32. Rc5 Bd7 33. Nd5 Rhe8 (33... Ne6 34. Nb6 $1 Nxc5 35. dxc5+ Kc7
36. Re7 $18) 34. Ne3 $1 b5 35. Ra1 $40 {Shipov}) 31... Nb4 $2 (31... Nc7 $142
$1 32. Re7 Rg8 $14) 32. Rb1 Nc6 33. Rc3 $1 {[%cal Rc3c6] /\Rc6} Bf5 $6 (33...
Bd7 34. d5 Nd4 35. Rb6+ Ke7 36. d6+ Kd8 37. Rc4 $16) 34. Rb6 Kc7 (34... g5 35.
Bxc6 bxc6 36. Rcxc6+ Kd7 37. Rd6+ Kc8 38. Rbc6+ Kb7 39. Nd5 $18 {->}) (34...
Ke7 35. d5 Ne5 36. Rc7+ Bd7 37. d6+ Kd8 38. Rbxb7 Rxb7 39. Rxb7 Nc4 40. Bc6 Bc8
(40... Bxc6 41. Ne6+ Kc8 42. Rc7+ Kb8 43. Rxc6 $18) 41. Rxg7 Nxd6 42. Nd5 f5
43. Kg2 $18 {[%csl Rf5,Rh7] /\Kf3-f4-e5 The _|_ is hopeless, Black's forces
are very passive and he can't hold his ׻P on the long run.}) 35. Rb5 $18 {
[%cal Rb5f5,Rd4d5] /\Rf5, d5 The game is over, Black loses a piece.} Bd7 36. d5
Rhe8 37. h4 Re5 38. Rb2 Rc8 39. Nd3 Ree8 40. dxc6 Bxc6 41. Nb4 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nge2 Nh6 8. Ng3 g6
9. Bf4 Kf8 10. Qd2 Kg7 11. Bg5 a6 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxg5 15.
hxg5 Ng8 16. Nge4 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Ne7 18. Rad1 Nf5 19. Nf6 Qe7 20. Qa5 Rhd8 21.
Rfe1 Nf8 22. Qb6 Rac8 23. Bb3 Nh7 24. f4 Qc7 25. Qc5 Nxf6 26. gxf6+ Kh7 27. Kh2
Nh6 28. Rd2 Rd7 29. Bd1 Qd8 30. Bf3 Qf8 31. Qc3 Rcd8 32. Red1 Kg8 33. Kg1 Kh7
34. b4 Kg8 35. a3 Kh7 36. Rd3 Kg8 37. Bxh5 Nf5 38. Bg4 Qh6 39. Bxf5 exf5 40.
Rf1 Qh4 41. Rh3 Qg4 42. e6 fxe6 43. Qe1 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 Nc6 7. Be3 e5 8. Nde2
Be6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Ne7 11. c4 Nf5 12. Bc1 g6 13. Nc3 Bg7 14. Bd3 Rc8 15.
O-O O-O 16. Re1 Re8 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 e4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. Bxe4
Rxc4 22. Bd3 Rd4 23. Bc3 Rxd5 24. Qf3 Rc5 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qxb7 a5 27. b4 Qf6
28. Rd1 axb4 29. Qxb4 Nd4 30. a4 Nc6 31. Qb6 Qd4 32. Bc2 Qb4 33. Qxb4 Nxb4 34.
Bb3 Rc3 35. Rb1 d5 36. a5 d4 37. Bxf7 Kxf7 38. Rxb4 Ra3 39. Rxd4 Rxa5 40. Kh2
h5 41. Kg3 Ra2 42. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nge7 5. c3 g6 {This relatively unexplored
system of development could be called the "Accelerated Deferred Steinitz
Variation". Black refrains from an early ...d6, maintaining the possibility of
opening the centre with ...d5 at once.} 6. d4 {But now, he has to give up the
tension in the centre at once.} exd4 7. Nxd4 $5 {A rare move. White refrains
from building up a strong pawn centre for the sake of keeping the d-file open.}
({Black has come up with several new ideas after the more natural} 7. cxd4 {
lately. One critical position arises after} b5 8. Bb3 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 d6
{From a classical point of view, it looks as if White should have a big
advantage. He has a natural development and a strong centre. However, in
practice it is not easy to find a constructive plan, since Black does not have
major weaknesses.} 11. Nd5 {It may seem illogical to exchange the generally
passive e7-knight, but White gets the possibility of putting pressure on the
c-file.} ({One of the latest games at GM level went} 11. h3 Bb7 12. Bf4 Na5 13.
Bc2 Qd7 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. e5 {This makes Black's life easier, by giving up the
compact character of the centre. White probably was fed up with the permanent
uncertainty about Black's intentions and decided not to wait for undermining
moves like ...f5 or ...c5.} Nd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 {Quesada
Perez,Y (2626)-Alvarez Pedraza,A (2538)/Havana 2011/CBM 143 (0-1, 61)} Nc4 $5
$146 19. Qc2 c5 20. b3 Na3 21. Qb2 b4 $132) 11... h6 {Not only preventing Bg5,
but also preparing ...Kh7 followed by ...f5.} 12. Nxe7+ Nxe7 13. Be3 Kh7 14.
Rc1 f5 $5 (14... Bb7 {does not fit together well with the previous moves:} 15.
d5 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Bd5 Qd7 18. Qd2 $14 {Brunello,S (2455)-Godena,M (2517)/
Martina Franca 2008/CBM 127 Extra (1/2, 40). White is more active and has a
comfortable target on d6.}) 15. e5 Bb7 16. Re1 a5 17. Qe2 f4 18. Bd2 Bxf3 19.
Qxf3 dxe5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2719)-Aronian,L (2786)/Moscow 2009. White's
compensation for the pawn is obvious, but Black has managed to achieve his
initial aim: unbalancing the position.}) 7... Bg7 8. Be3 (8. Nxc6 Nxc6 9. O-O
O-O 10. Nd2 Ne5 11. Nf3 {1/2 Savon,V (2460)-Murey,J (2450)/Podolsk 1991/CBM
026 ext} (11. f4 Nd3 $11) 11... Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 d6 $11 {In the absence of
knights, the control over the d5-square as well as the space advantage lose
relevance.}) 8... O-O 9. O-O b5 {In many systems of the Ruy Lopez, this move
is played almost automatically. In this position, its usefulness is
questionable. The bishop is somewhat out of play on a4, because it does not
contribute to increase the pressure against the (already non-existent) e5-pawn.
Moreover, the b5-pawn will become a target soon, while the c5-square is
slightly weakened.} ({The immediate knight manoeuvre} 9... Ne5 $5 {may be more
advisable.} 10. Nd2 d5 11. Bg5 (11. h3 {[%csl Gg4][%cal Gf2f4] McCormick,
E-Ulvestad,O/Baltimore 1948/EXT 2000 (1/2, 40)} c5 12. N4f3 Nd3 $36 {After the
insertion of the moves 9...b5 and 10.Bc2, the d3-square will not be available.}
) 11... f6 12. Bh4 c5 13. N4f3 b5 (13... Nd3 $5 $132) 14. Bb3 Nxf3+ (14... Nd3
$5 $132) 15. Nxf3 Bb7 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Re1 Bxb3 18. Qxb3+ c4 19. Qa3 Nf5 20.
Qc5 Rc8 21. Qa7 Rc6 $13 {Tazbir,M (2520)-Malaniuk,V (2455)/Polanica Zdroj 2011
(1/2, 30)}) 10. Bc2 Ne5 11. a4 $1 $146 {Immediately taking advantage of the
first drawback of ...b7-b5.} (11. Nd2 {was played in two not too relevant
games at a lower level.}) 11... Rb8 12. axb5 axb5 13. Nd2 {Going the natural
way.} ({Playing against the b5-pawn too obstinately with, say} 13. b4 d6 14.
Na3 Bd7 15. Qe2 Qe8 16. Rfb1 {(preventing ...c5) would allow some counterplay
on the opposite wing with} f5 $5 $132) 13... d6 ({Under the changed
circumstances, the central break} 13... d5 {is less effective. Svidler
probably feared that after a useful move such as} 14. Re1 {, the weakness of
the c6- and c5-squares may tell.}) 14. h3 c5 15. N4f3 $5 {An interesting
decision. White is ready to exchange the knight that seemed to lose stability
in view of the threat of f2-f4, just created one move earlier (after h2-h3).
In fact, White faces some slight problems of piece congestios, which prevent
him from taking full advantage of Black's weaknesses along the d-file.} ({
The more brutal} 15. Ne2 Re8 $5 {(As we will see, an useful move, anticipating
the weakening of several squares along the e-file)} 16. f4 {does not yield any
palpable advantage.The main problem is that the e2-knight remains passive and
vulnerable.} Nc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18. Ra2 Qc7 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Gd6d5,Gf7f5] ><c5,
/\...d5, ...f5} 19. f5 $5 Nxf5 $1 20. Bf4 Qe7 21. exf5 Qxe2 22. Bxd6 Bb7 23.
Qxe2 Rxe2 24. Rf2 Re1+ 25. Kh2 Rd8 $11) 15... N5c6 {Not an easy decision to
take. Black avoids the exchange, hoping that White will not be able to
coordinate his minor pieces. His immediate threat is ...b4.} (15... Nxf3+ 16.
Nxf3 $14 {[%cal Gd1d2,Gf1d1,Ge3f4] Frees White's play, leaving Black with
problems activating his knight, for instance} Nc6 17. Qd2 Na5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 (
18... Nc4 19. Qf4 $1 $16 {[%csl Gb8]}) 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Rxa5 $16) (15... N7c6
{looks solid, but after} 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Nc4 18. Nxc4 bxc4 {White's
position remains more pleasant, because of his more compact structure. The
absence of the e2-knight certainly favours White if compared with the similar
line examined above.}) (15... b4 {offers White strong initiative after} 16.
Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bh6 (17. Nc4 {is less clear:} bxc3 18. Nxe5 cxb2 19. Ra7 dxe5 20.
Qxd8 Rxd8 21. Rxe7 Be6 $44 {White's imperfect coordination makes the black
pawns quite dangerous.}) 17... bxc3 18. bxc3 Bxc3 19. Bxf8 Qxf8 20. Ra3 {
/\Rg3, Bb3, -> Black does not seem to have entirely adequate compensation for
the exchange.}) 16. Bf4 {[%csl Gd6]} (16. Re1 b4 $1) 16... Rb7 {[%cal Gb7d7]} (
16... b4 $6 17. Nc4 $1) (16... Be6 17. Qe2 (17. Ng5 b4 18. Nxe6 $6 {leaves
White's pieces hanging:} fxe6 19. Qg4 bxc3 20. bxc3 Bxc3) 17... b4 18. Nc4 bxc3
19. bxc3 Bxc3 20. Ra6 $36) 17. Qe2 c4 {[%csl Gc2] Black gives up the plan
based on ...b4. His last move restricts the c2-bishop and prepares ...d5.} 18.
Rfd1 Rd7 19. Nf1 {By taking the knight away from the defence of the e4-pawn,
White literally invites his opponent to play ...d5. It is not easy to find a
way of delaying Nd2-f1 in a constructive fashion, though.} (19. Qe3 Re8 $5 {
/\...Nd5} (19... d5 $6 20. Qc5 $1 $36) 20. Nf1 (20. Bg5 $5) 20... d5 21. Qc5
dxe4 22. Ng5 (22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Bxe4 f5 24. Bc2 Nd8 $13 {[%csl Gc2,Gf1]}) 22...
Rd5 $1 23. Rxd5 Nxd5 $1 24. Rd1 (24. Bd2 Ne5 $132) 24... Nd4 $1 25. Be3 (25.
Bc1 Ne2+ 26. Kh1 Bb7 {[%cal Ge2c1]}) 25... Nxe3 26. fxe3 $2 Bf8 $3 27. Qxd4
Qxg5 $17) 19... d5 {Black cannot do without this pawn break, but White's
superior development should offer him the best chances under the circumstances
of central tension.} 20. Bg5 ({Both sides could continue maintaining the
tension:} 20. Ne3 $5 Re8 $5) 20... Qc7 (20... d4 21. cxd4 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd4
23. Ne3 $5 Bxb2 24. Rab1 Bg7 25. Rxb5 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 $14 {The c-pawn is more
of a weakness than a strength, while White's overall activity is superior.})
21. Qe3 b4 22. Bf4 Qd8 23. Bh6 $2 {Allowing strong counterplay.} (23. Ba4 $5
$14) 23... d4 $6 {The correct idea, but not in the best form.} ({The
intermediate} 23... b3 $1 {would have improved Black's position a lot:} 24. Bb1
(24. Bxg7 bxc2 $1 25. Bf6 cxd1=Q 26. Qh6 Nf5 $1) 24... d4 25. cxd4 Nxd4 $15 26.
Bxg7 Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Rxd1 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Qc3 Kg8 $17) 24. cxd4 Nxd4 25. Bxg7
Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 Kxg7 27. e5 {[%cal Gf3f6] It looks as if the next phase was
played in mutual time trouble.} f6 $2 (27... f5 $1 $11) 28. Ne3 $6 (28. Ra7 $1
$16 {would have left Black badly pinned. The point is that with tension on f6,}
Rxa7 {loses to} 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. exf6+ {. This would not have been the case
after 27...f5!}) 28... b3 29. Be4 Qc7 30. Rdc1 $6 {Unnecessarily giving up the
tension and leaving Black in control of the central file.} (30. Rxd7 Bxd7 31.
exf6+ Rxf6 32. Qd1 $14 {would leave White better coordinated and with the
safer king.}) 30... Rd4 $15 31. Qg3 $2 f5 32. Bf3 f4 33. Qh4 h6 34. Ng4 $2 Nf5
0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bg5 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bb5 a6 14. Ba4
b5 15. Bb3 a5 16. Rc5 a4 17. Bc2 Bd7 18. Rc7 f6 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Rb1 Na6 21. Rb7
Rab8 22. Ra7 Ra8 23. Rb7 Rab8 24. Ra7 Bc8 25. Bd3 Rd7 26. d5 exd5 27. exd5 f5
28. Rxb5 Rxb5 29. Bxb5 Rxd5+ 30. Nd4 Bxd4 31. Bc4 Bxa7+ 32. Bxd5+ Kf8 33. Bxa7
Ke7 34. Bc4 Kd6 35. Bb5 Bb7 36. g3 Nb4 37. a3 Bc6 38. Bc4 Nd5 39. Kd3 Nf6 40.
Kc3 g5 41. f4 gxf4 42. gxf4 Bd5 43. Bd3 Be4 44. Be2 Bg2 45. Kd4 Ng4 46. h4 Nh2
47. h5 Bf3 48. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 49. Kc4 Nd2+ 50. Kb4 h6 51. Bf2 Kc6 52. Kxa4 Ne4 53.
Bd4 Ng3 54. Bg7 Nxh5 1/2-1/2

